Entertainment

FILE - In this Dec. 9, 2019, file photo, Kevin Hart poses for photographers at the premiere of “Jumanji: The Next Level,” in Los Angeles. Hart is bringing more of his funny back to SiriusXM. The satellite radio company announced, Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2020, a new multi-platform deal with Hart and his comedy network Laugh Out Loud. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP, File)

Kevin Hart inks new multi-platform deal with SiriusXM

New programs to provide more ‘real, raw and authentic conversations’

  • Sep 22, 2020
FILE - In this Dec. 9, 2019, file photo, Kevin Hart poses for photographers at the premiere of “Jumanji: The Next Level,” in Los Angeles. Hart is bringing more of his funny back to SiriusXM. The satellite radio company announced, Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2020, a new multi-platform deal with Hart and his comedy network Laugh Out Loud. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP, File)
Jann Arden is shown in an episode from the second season of “Jann” in this undated handout photo. Real-world Jann Arden is handling the COVID-19 pandemic better than she thinks TV Jann Arden would.”She would have been doing crowdfunding for herself,” the singer and actress said of her messy, self-involved alter-ego on the Calgary-set CTV sitcom “Jann,” which returns for its second season Monday. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO - Bell Media, Michelle Faye Fraser

Jann Arden’s messy alter-ego returns for second season of Calgary-set sitcom

‘Jann’ returns Monday

Jann Arden is shown in an episode from the second season of “Jann” in this undated handout photo. Real-world Jann Arden is handling the COVID-19 pandemic better than she thinks TV Jann Arden would.”She would have been doing crowdfunding for herself,” the singer and actress said of her messy, self-involved alter-ego on the Calgary-set CTV sitcom “Jann,” which returns for its second season Monday. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO - Bell Media, Michelle Faye Fraser
Actor and musical performer Saul Williams, left, and Donisha Prendergast are seen in an undated still image from the film Akilla’s Escape. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-TIFF)

Charles Officer’s ‘Akilla’s Escape’ shows cycle of violence hurting Black boys

‘Akilla’s Escape’ makes its premiere at Toronto International Film Festival

Actor and musical performer Saul Williams, left, and Donisha Prendergast are seen in an undated still image from the film Akilla’s Escape. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-TIFF)
Anthony Hopkins and Kate Winslet are among the acting honourees at the second annual TIFF Tribute Awards, in a Sept. 15, 2020 story. (Photo by THE CANADIAN PRESS)

Anthony Hopkins and Kate Winslet on being honoured at virtual TIFF fundraiser

Second annual TIFF Tribute Awards happens tonight

Anthony Hopkins and Kate Winslet are among the acting honourees at the second annual TIFF Tribute Awards, in a Sept. 15, 2020 story. (Photo by THE CANADIAN PRESS)
FILE - In this Sept. 10, 2019, file photo, Canadian author Margaret Atwood holds a copy of her book “The Testaments,” during a news conference in London. Atwood, whose sweeping body of work includes “The Handmaid’s Tale,” depicting a nightmarish future for the United States, is this year’s winner of a lifetime achievement award celebrating literature’s power to foster peace, social justice and global understanding, officials of the Dayton Literary Peace Prize officials announced Monday, Sept. 14, 2020. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant, File)

Margaret Atwood honoured with Dayton Literary Peace Prize

Dayton lifetime achievement award carries a $10,000 prize

FILE - In this Sept. 10, 2019, file photo, Canadian author Margaret Atwood holds a copy of her book “The Testaments,” during a news conference in London. Atwood, whose sweeping body of work includes “The Handmaid’s Tale,” depicting a nightmarish future for the United States, is this year’s winner of a lifetime achievement award celebrating literature’s power to foster peace, social justice and global understanding, officials of the Dayton Literary Peace Prize officials announced Monday, Sept. 14, 2020. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant, File)
FILE - Drew Barrymore attends The Charlize Theron Africa Outreach Project fundraiser on Nov. 12, 2019, in New York. Barrymore’s first show on Monday, Sept. 13, 2020, distributed by the CBS television studio, features former “Charlie’s Angels” co-stars Cameron Diaz and Lucy Liu as guests, along with Adam Sandler. Her show, retrofitted for the COVID-19 era, will originate from New York, where she’s now living to raise her two daughters. (Photo by Charles Sykes/Invision/AP, file)

Barrymore sets high standard in her models as talk show host

‘The Drew Barrymore Show’ retrofitted for the coronavirus era

  • Sep 11, 2020
FILE - Drew Barrymore attends The Charlize Theron Africa Outreach Project fundraiser on Nov. 12, 2019, in New York. Barrymore’s first show on Monday, Sept. 13, 2020, distributed by the CBS television studio, features former “Charlie’s Angels” co-stars Cameron Diaz and Lucy Liu as guests, along with Adam Sandler. Her show, retrofitted for the COVID-19 era, will originate from New York, where she’s now living to raise her two daughters. (Photo by Charles Sykes/Invision/AP, file)
Toronto-born percussionist Jacqueline Acevedo, left, performs alongside David Byrne, centre, and Mauro Refosco in “American Utopia.” The Spike Lee-directed concert film opens this year’s Toronto International Film Festival. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO - HBO, David Lee

Jacqueline Acevedo marks drive-in homecoming with TIFF opener ‘American Utopia’

”David Byrne’s American Utopia” opens pandemic edition of TIFF

Toronto-born percussionist Jacqueline Acevedo, left, performs alongside David Byrne, centre, and Mauro Refosco in “American Utopia.” The Spike Lee-directed concert film opens this year’s Toronto International Film Festival. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO - HBO, David Lee
FILE - Ellen DeGeneres poses in the press room at the 77th annual Golden Globe Awards on Jan. 5, 2020, in Beverly Hills, Calif. DeGeneres says she’ll be ready to talk when her daytime show returns this month after a staff shake-up prompted by allegations of a toxic workplace. “I can’t wait to get back to work and back to our studio. And, yes, we’re gonna talk about it,” DeGeneres said in a statement announcing the show’s Sept. 21, 2020, start of its 18th season. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello, File)

DeGeneres vows candour as clouded talk show charts its return

Tiffany Haddish will join DeGeneres for kick-off episode

  • Sep 9, 2020
FILE - Ellen DeGeneres poses in the press room at the 77th annual Golden Globe Awards on Jan. 5, 2020, in Beverly Hills, Calif. DeGeneres says she’ll be ready to talk when her daytime show returns this month after a staff shake-up prompted by allegations of a toxic workplace. “I can’t wait to get back to work and back to our studio. And, yes, we’re gonna talk about it,” DeGeneres said in a statement announcing the show’s Sept. 21, 2020, start of its 18th season. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello, File)
FILE - In this Aug. 17, 2011 file photo, from left, Khloe Kardashian, Kylie Jenner, Kris Jenner, Kourtney Kardashian, Kim Kardashian, and Kendall Jenner arrive at the Kardashian Kollection launch party in Los Angeles. After more than a decade, “Keeping Up With the Kardashians” is ending its run. “It is with heavy hearts that we say goodbye” to the reality show, Kim Kardashian and other members of the extended Kardashian-Jenner family said in a statement Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2020. (AP Photo/Matt Sayles, file)

‘Keeping Up With the Kardashians’ will end in 2021

Launch pad fashion and beauty business empires

  • Sep 9, 2020
FILE - In this Aug. 17, 2011 file photo, from left, Khloe Kardashian, Kylie Jenner, Kris Jenner, Kourtney Kardashian, Kim Kardashian, and Kendall Jenner arrive at the Kardashian Kollection launch party in Los Angeles. After more than a decade, “Keeping Up With the Kardashians” is ending its run. “It is with heavy hearts that we say goodbye” to the reality show, Kim Kardashian and other members of the extended Kardashian-Jenner family said in a statement Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2020. (AP Photo/Matt Sayles, file)
This image released by JEOPARDY! shows Ken Jennings, a 74-time champion the the set of the popular quiz show. Jennings will serve as a consulting producer on season 37, which premieres on Sept. 14. (JEOPARDY! via AP)

‘Jeopardy!’ returns with new setup and new role for Jennings

Set redesigned for coronavirus era

  • Sep 4, 2020
This image released by JEOPARDY! shows Ken Jennings, a 74-time champion the the set of the popular quiz show. Jennings will serve as a consulting producer on season 37, which premieres on Sept. 14. (JEOPARDY! via AP)
Heather Ogden performs in Lulu in this undated handout photo. The National Ballet of Canada is dancing into the virtual world.Earlier this month the company announced the COVID-19 pandemic had forced it to cancel its physical performances set for November and December, including its annual production of “The Nutcracker.” THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO - The National Ballet of Canada, Lookout

National Ballet of Canada announces virtual season, including digital films

Digital premieres and new works to be offered

Heather Ogden performs in Lulu in this undated handout photo. The National Ballet of Canada is dancing into the virtual world.Earlier this month the company announced the COVID-19 pandemic had forced it to cancel its physical performances set for November and December, including its annual production of “The Nutcracker.” THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO - The National Ballet of Canada, Lookout
Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and his family tested positive for COVID-19. (File photo by THE CANADIAN PRESS)

The Rock, his family tested positive for the coronavirus

Virus caught from close family friends

  • Sep 3, 2020
Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and his family tested positive for COVID-19. (File photo by THE CANADIAN PRESS)
TIFF has downsized its film slate to about 50 and the bulk of the action will be online. (File photo by THE CANADIAN PRESS)

Toronto businesses brace for little or no business from COVID-era TIFF

Film festival downsized to about 50 films

TIFF has downsized its film slate to about 50 and the bulk of the action will be online. (File photo by THE CANADIAN PRESS)
FILE - In this July 20, 2017, file photo, Carole Baskin, founder of Big Cat Rescue, walks the property near Tampa, Fla. The family of Don Lewis, a Florida man who disappeared in 1997 and who appeared on the hit TV series “Tiger King,” has hired a lawyer and is offering $100,000 in exchange for information to help solve the case. Attorney John Phillips held a news conference Monday, Aug. 10, 2020 and announced the investigation into Don Lewis’ disappearance. (Loren Elliott/Tampa Bay Times via AP, File)

‘Tiger King’ star Carole Baskin to ‘Dancing With the Stars’

New season premieres Sept. 14

  • Sep 2, 2020
FILE - In this July 20, 2017, file photo, Carole Baskin, founder of Big Cat Rescue, walks the property near Tampa, Fla. The family of Don Lewis, a Florida man who disappeared in 1997 and who appeared on the hit TV series “Tiger King,” has hired a lawyer and is offering $100,000 in exchange for information to help solve the case. Attorney John Phillips held a news conference Monday, Aug. 10, 2020 and announced the investigation into Don Lewis’ disappearance. (Loren Elliott/Tampa Bay Times via AP, File)
Hamza Haq stars as Bashsir “Bash” Hamed in the television drama Transplant in this undated handout photo. When “Transplant” creator Joseph Kay conceived the idea for the series, the 2016 U.S. presidential election had just happened and thousands of Syrian refugees were resettling in Canada. A story about a refugee Syrian doctor trying to form a new life in Toronto struck Kay as an apt and unique take on the medical drama genre. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO, Yan Turcotte, Bell Media

Canadian medical drama ‘Transplant’ set to cross border for U.S. debut on NBC

Show debuts Tuesday

Hamza Haq stars as Bashsir “Bash” Hamed in the television drama Transplant in this undated handout photo. When “Transplant” creator Joseph Kay conceived the idea for the series, the 2016 U.S. presidential election had just happened and thousands of Syrian refugees were resettling in Canada. A story about a refugee Syrian doctor trying to form a new life in Toronto struck Kay as an apt and unique take on the medical drama genre. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO, Yan Turcotte, Bell Media
Carrie Underwood and Miranda Lambert were among those nominated for female vocalist of the year for the 54th Annual CMA Awards on Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2020. (AP Photo)

Miranda Lambert leads CMA noms, Luke Combs’ streak continues

Lambert earns seven nominations

  • Sep 1, 2020
Carrie Underwood and Miranda Lambert were among those nominated for female vocalist of the year for the 54th Annual CMA Awards on Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2020. (AP Photo)
Proceeds from Telus film collection to go to Black Health Alliance

Proceeds from Telus film collection to go to Black Health Alliance

Telus speaks out against racial injustice

Proceeds from Telus film collection to go to Black Health Alliance
Lady Gaga dominates at MTV VMAs, The Weeknd wins top award

Lady Gaga dominates at MTV VMAs, The Weeknd wins top award

Gaga takes home five honours

  • Aug 31, 2020
Lady Gaga dominates at MTV VMAs, The Weeknd wins top award
Sterling K. Brown as Randall, left, and Susan Kelechi Watson as Beth in “This Is Us.” (Mitchell Haddad/NBC/TNS)

NBC sets November return for ‘This Is Us,’ ‘Chicago’ dramas

Fifth season kicks off Nov. 10

  • Aug 28, 2020
Sterling K. Brown as Randall, left, and Susan Kelechi Watson as Beth in “This Is Us.” (Mitchell Haddad/NBC/TNS)
FILE - In this Sept. 28, 2019, file photo, Carole King waves to the crowd as she takes the stage at the 2019 Global Citizen Festival in New York. Poised over the piano, King was set to play “I Feel the Earth Move” during a recent virtual fundraiser for Joe Biden when the Democratic presidential nominee himself beat her to it. “On my playlist, Carole!” Biden proclaimed, holding up his phone and letting a few seconds of the song blast.(AP Photo/Julius Constantine Motal, File)

Biden campaign ‘flooding the zone’ with celebrity backers

WILMINGTON, Del. — Poised over the piano, Carole King was set to…

  • Aug 26, 2020
FILE - In this Sept. 28, 2019, file photo, Carole King waves to the crowd as she takes the stage at the 2019 Global Citizen Festival in New York. Poised over the piano, King was set to play “I Feel the Earth Move” during a recent virtual fundraiser for Joe Biden when the Democratic presidential nominee himself beat her to it. “On my playlist, Carole!” Biden proclaimed, holding up his phone and letting a few seconds of the song blast.(AP Photo/Julius Constantine Motal, File)