AP Entertainment Digest for Wednesday, July 8, 2020

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WEDNESDAY, July 8

UPDATES with MEDIA-CNBC-SMITH, THE 1619 PROJECT-OPRAH WINFREY, LITHUANIA-RUSSIA TELEVISION CHANNEL, PEOPLE-KANYE WEST

VIRUS OUTBREAK-SMALL BUSINESS LOANS-ENTERTAINMENT — From a Godfather of cinema to Kermit the Frog, the U.S. government’s small business lending program sent money into every corner of the entertainment industry. While legendary names like Francis Ford Coppola and Jim Henson hardly evoke the image of “small” business, the leaders of the companies that bear their names say the funds were essential to keeping ordinary workers afloat during the coronavirus pandemic. By Entertainment Writer Andrew Dalton. SENT: 805 words, photos.

THE 1619 PROJECT-OPRAH WINFREY — Oprah Winfrey and Lionsgate are partnering with Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Nikole Hannah-Jones to adapt The New York Times’ 1619 Project for film and television. Lionsgate said Wednesday that it will work alongside “The 1619 Project” architect Hannah-Jones to develop a multi-media history of the legacy of slavery in America for a worldwide audience. By Film Writer Lindsey Bahr. SENT: 234 words, photos.

BOOKS-JIM CARREY — The main character in Jim Carrey’s debut novel, “Memoirs and Misinformation,” is named Jim Carrey. He’s a huge movie star with a fragile ego, trying to get over his break-up with Renee Zellweger. In an interview, Carrey discusses his equally surreal and real book. By AP Film Writer Jake Coyle. UPCOMING: 900 words by 5 p.m. EDT, photos.

MEDIA-CNBC-SMITH — Former Fox News Channel anchor Shepard Smith is resurfacing. CNBC said Thursday that he will join the network to host a weeknight news program airing at 7 p.m. Eastern. By Media Writer David Bauder. SENT: 170 words. UPCOMING: 500 words, photo.

BOOKS-ASTERIX TAKES ON AMERICA — Americans have long adored things from France, like its bread, cheese and wine. But they’ve been stubbornly resistant to one of France’s biggest imports: “Asterix.” One U.S. publisher hopes to change that. By AP Entertainment Writer Mark Kennedy. SENT: 800 words, photos.

BRITAIN-JOHNNY DEPP — Johnny Depp has denied an allegation by ex-wife Amber Heard that he is a “Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde” monster who turned violent when he drank and took drugs, though he acknowledged in a London court that he may have done things he can’t remember while he was under the influence. Depp underwent a second day of cross-examination from a lawyer for British tabloid The Sun on Wednesday. By Jill Lawless. SENT: 915 words, photos.

PEOPLE-KANYE WEST— Kanye West says he is no longer a Trump supporter. The rapper, who once praised President Donald Trump, tells Forbes in a story published Wednesday that he is “taking the red hat off” — a reference to Trump’s trademark red “Make America Great Again” cap. West insisted that his weekend announcement that he’s running for President was not a stunt. SENT: 197 words, photo.

BRITAIN-HARPER'S LETTER — Dozens of artists, writers and academics have signed an open letter decrying the weakening of public debate and warning that the free exchange of information and ideas is in jeopardy amid a rise in what they call “illiberalism.” By Danika Kirka. SENT: 350 words, photo.

BOOKS-BUTTIGIEG -- Pete Buttigieg will release a new book, “Trust: America’s Best Chance,” in October. The publisher says it has a unifying message and combines history and personal reflections in an “urgent and soul-searching” exploration into creating a stronger democracy. SENT: 185 words, photo.

TV-LITTLE VOICE — Sara Bareilles says her new Apple TV+ series “Little Voice” about a songwriter is not autobiographical, but “is an amalgamation of so many of the struggles that I’ve seen.” By Gary Gerard Hamilton. SENT: 425 words, photos, video.

BOOKS-CHARLES BLOW — New York Times columnist Charles M. Blow will combine political history and personal reflections for a book he felt compelled to take on amid the coronavirus pandemic and Black Lives Matters protests. SENT: 170 words, photo.

NIELSENS — Coverage of the top prime-time programs from the week of June 29-July 5 By AP Media Writer David Bauder. UPCOMING: 450 words, photo if available.

LITHUANIA-RUSSIA TELEVISION CHANNEL — Lithuania’s media watchdog says it has banned the broadcasts of the state-controlled Russian television channel RT in Lithuania, effective Thursday, following a similar decision made in Baltic neighbor Latvia last week. SENT: 254 words.

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REVIEWS

FILM REVIEW-THE OLD GUARD. By Film Writer Jake Coyle. UPCOMING: 700 words by 6 p.m. Wednesday, film stills.

FILM REVIEW-GREYHOUND. By National Writer Jocelyn Noveck. SENT Wednesday: 814 words, film stills.

FILM REVIEW-PALM SPRINGS. By Film Writer Lindsey Bahr. SENT Wednesday: 630 words, film stills.

FILM REVIEW-FIRST COW. By Film Writer Jake Coyle. SENT Wednesday: 800 words, film stills. (Note, this is a re-send of a review sent in March for the film’s limited release.)

MUSIC REVIEW-BTS. By Cristina Jaleru. UPCOMING Friday: 300 words, album cover

BOOK REVIEW-WICKED CONSPIRACY BY PAUL STAROBIN. Reviewed by Michael Hill. SENT Tuesday: 350 words, cover image.