CHR News

Nicolas Cage opens up about playing John Madden, finding happiness in his life

Nicolas Cage as John Madden in ‘Madden.’ (Chuck Zlotnick/Prime)

Nicolas Cage is opening up about his latest movie role and the happiness he has found in his personal life.

The Oscar-winning actor, 62, stars as legendary NFL coach John Madden in the upcoming film Madden, directed by David O. Russell and executive produced by Good Morning America co-anchor Michael Strahan.

In an interview with ABC News' Chris Connelly that aired on Monday on GMA, Cage spoke about his transformation into the Super Bowl-winning coach, his experience working with co-star Christian Bale and the personal connection he found with Madden.

Madden, who died in 2021 at age 85, led the Oakland Raiders to victory in 1977's Super Bowl XI before becoming an Emmy-winning NFL broadcaster and the face of the popular Madden NFL video game franchise.

For the role, Cage gained 25 pounds and wore prosthetics to transform into the football legend.

Despite portraying one of the most recognizable figures in football history, Cage said his own experience with the sport growing up was not quite as successful.

"I was trying to play touch football and I think I made a play for the wrong team," Cage recalled. "I was wearing an Incredible Hulk T-shirt."

"I must've looked like the biggest geek," he continued, laughing as he recalled other children teasing him. "I never played sports again."

Cage, who went on to win an Academy Award for his performance in Leaving Las Vegas and star in films including Moonstruck and Face/Off, said he found a personal connection to Madden through his late father, August Coppola.

"What I really appreciated about John Madden is that he's a teacher," Cage said. "My father was a professor of comparative literature and I really cherish teachers."

He continued, "The more I listened to him, the more apparent it became to me that he really cared, and he wanted to empower these athletes and guide them."

Cage also opened up about working with Bale, who portrays Raiders owner Al Davis in the film.

The actor said the two had a natural chemistry on set that allowed them to improvise during scenes.

"We were flying, and the strangest inspirations would come to me," Cage said, recalling how he drew inspiration from a Bill Murray sketch on Saturday Night Live.

"That's what happens when you're riffing," he said. "With an actor like Christian, you can do that."

Cage said he and Bale also had different approaches to preparing for their scenes, particularly while spending time together in the makeup trailer.

"Normally I'm alone, isolated," Cage said, explaining that he typically uses the time to focus on the emotions needed for a scene.

Bale, however, preferred listening to music.

"He's playing punk rock and whatnot," Cage said with a laugh. "But I got used to it."

"He's like, 'Why are you so quiet, Nic? Why are you so quiet?'" Cage said, joking that his response was, "Because I'm working!"

Outside of his acting career, Cage also reflected on his personal life, including being temporarily displaced from his Malibu home because of a sinkhole in his driveway.

Despite the disruption, Cage said he remains grateful for his life, particularly his relationship with his daughter.

"I'm fine. I'm very happy ... I'm not complaining. I'm not a victim by any stretch of the imagination. I never will be," he explained. "I am someone that is very thankful and I feel blessed that I have my daughter and we have a wonderful relationship."

"I'm happy. I mean, that's not something that I say often because it's such a fragile word. It's probably better to say I'm content," he added.

When Connelly brought up a line from the film, "If you love life, life will love you back," Cage said he agreed with the sentiment.

"I agree with that. I totally agree with that," Cage said. "What we all have here is a gift. Let's enjoy it."

Madden opens in select theaters Nov. 11 and will be available to stream on Prime Video Nov. 18.

 

Copyright © 2026, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.


'Overcompensating' gets season 2 premiere date

Benito Skinner and Wally Baram star in 'Overcompensating' season 2. (Sabrina Lantos/Prime Video)

Overcompensating is so back.

Prime Video has announced the release date for season 2 of the hit comedy series from creator and star Benito Skinner. The second season of the show will debut on Feb. 17, 2027. All episodes of the season will be available to stream at once.

The first season of Overcompensating premiered in May 2025. It followed Benny (Skinner), a closeted former homecoming king who heads to college and "becomes fast friends with Carmen (Wally Baram), a high school outsider on a mission to fit in at all costs," according to its official synopsis. "With guidance from Benny’s older sister (Mary Beth Barone) and her campus-legend boyfriend (Adam DiMarco), Benny and Carmen juggle horrible hookups, flavored vodka, and fake IDs. Deeply funny and personal, the show explores the lengths to which we all overcompensate while on the path to finding out who we really are."

Rish Shah, Owen Thiele, Connie Britton, Kyle MacLachlan and Kaia Gerber also appeared in season 1. Charli XCX guest starred in the first season and served as its executive music producer.

The show was renewed for season 2 in September 2025. At the time, Skinner took to Instagram to celebrate the renewal news.

"WE’RE OFFICIALLY GOING BACK 2 SCHOOL," he captioned his announcement post. "Thank you so much for all your insane love for this show ... And thank you for being so patient while Daddy’s been cooking season 2. One guy at Hudson News told me he’s watched it 7 times… that’s mental illness my love <3."

Copyright © 2026, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.


Pink announces 1st Las Vegas residency at Sphere in 2027

Pink hosts the 79th annual Tony Awards, live from Radio City Music Hall in New York City, on June 7, 2026. (CBS Photo Archive/CBS via Getty Images)

Pink is heading to Las Vegas.

The Grammy-winning singer announced Monday that she will perform her first-ever residency at Sphere in Las Vegas in 2027, becoming the first solo female pop artist to headline the venue.

The residency will kick off Sept. 29, 2027, and include nine shows through Oct. 30.

Pink shared the news in an Instagram post Monday, revealing that the idea had been in the works for some time.

"This idea has been bubbling up for years," she wrote in the post's caption. "And I finally get to share it with all of you! Let's celebrate!"

"The highs, the lows, the new, the scary, the never been done before," she continued. "For the first time, I'm giving a show a home and I hope you'll visit."

She added, "It's my FIRST EVER residency. I can't wait to have you over."

The residency, promoted by Live Nation, will feature shows on Sept. 29 and Oct. 1, 2, 6, 8, 9, 27, 29 and 30, 2027.

Fans can register now for an artist presale at pinkspage.com, with tickets going on presale Nov. 18 at 10 a.m. PT.

Tickets will go on sale to the general public Nov. 20 at 10 a.m. PT.

Pink's performances will make use of Sphere's immersive technology, including its high-resolution LED display that wraps around the audience and its advanced audio system, according to a press release announcing the residency.

The residency follows Pink's recent global tours, including her Summer Carnival tour and Trustfall Tour, which ran from 2023 to 2024 and helped sell more than 4 million tickets across 15 countries, the release stated.

The announcement also comes as Pink celebrates the 25th anniversary of her breakthrough album, "Missundaztood," which featured hits including "Get the Party Started," "Just Like a Pill" and "Don't Let Me Get Me."

Copyright © 2026, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.


Taylor Swift, Karlie Kloss reunite at Kansas City Chiefs game

Taylor Swift watches the Kansas City Chiefs with Karlie Kloss as they take on the New York Jets in the second half at Arrowhead Stadium on Nov. 8, 2026, in Kansas City, Missouri. (Amy Kontras/Getty Images)

Bad blood no more.

Taylor Swift sat next to her former best friend Karlie Kloss while observing her husband, Travis Kelce, play in Sunday's Kansas City Chiefs football game.

Swift and Kloss sat side by side inside a private suite at Arrowhead Stadium to watch the Chiefs defeat the New York Jets. The pair were joined by Swift's mother, Andrea Swift, and her mother-in-law, Donna Kelce.

This marks the first time Swift and Kloss have been photographed together in over a decade. The pair were last seen together in August 2018 when Kloss was backstage at Swift's Reputation Stadium Tour in Nashville.

Their rumored falling out occurred around that time and is reportedly due in part to Kloss remaining close to Scooter Braun after he purchased the master recordings of Swift's first six albums.

Swift did not appear at Kloss' wedding to Josh Kushner in October 2018. She was still on her Reputation Tour at the time. She also did not attend their second wedding ceremony in 2019. Braun was on the guest list for that event, however.

Years after the alleged falling out, Swifties were sent reeling when Kloss was spotted in the crowd of one of Swift's 2023 Eras Tour concerts in LA. Notably, Kloss was not watching from the VIP section, but seated in the crowd as a paying concertgoer.

Then, when Swift married Kelce at Madison Square Garden this July, fans were shocked to see Kloss and Kushner arriving as guests of the ceremony.

Kloss was asked about attending the July 3 wedding during an appearance on Today a few weeks after the event.

"Listen, I try to protect the privacy of my friends’ personal lives," Kloss said at the time. "But what I will say is that they’re an amazing couple and I’m so happy for them."

Copyright © 2026, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.


James Gunn, Peter Safran step down as heads of DC Studios

Peter Safran and James Gunn attend the 'Clayface' Los Angeles world premiere at Hollywood Legion Theater on Oct. 13, 2026, in Los Angeles, California. (Michael Kovac/Getty Images for Warner Bros. Pictures)

James Gunn and Peter Safran are exiting DC Studios.

The pair are unexpectedly stepping down as CEOs and chairmen, Gunn confirmed in a statement shared to his Instagram on Monday.

ABC Audio has reached out to DC Studios for further comment.

Gunn's statement started off by thanking all who have supported him and Safran during the four years they served as the heads of DC Studios.

"When I was a kid growing up in Manchester, Missouri, I used to write and draw my own comics with a mix of DC Comics characters and my own characters. Having full access to these characters to do whatever we wanted has been a dream come true. I didn't know if I wanted this job when it was offered to me, but I just couldn't pass up the unique opportunity. I'm glad I took the job," Gunn wrote.

He then described the many high points of the job, including the release of the films Superman and Clayface, as well as making the Superman sequel Man of Tomorrow, "which thus far has been the best filmmaking experience of my life," Gunn wrote.

"The highest of the highs have been all the talented and wonderful people I've worked with and grown to love: the DC Studios crew, our talented collaborators, our casts and crews, and the boisterous and hilarious fans. And the best part of all has been working with Peter Safran, the smartest and most competent person I know. You've been the best partner a person could ask for, and, more so, a truly good friend," Gunn wrote.

Gunn said that despite the good times, there have also been difficulties.

"But what only the closest people to me have known over the past four years is my time at DC Studios has been trying, to say the least. I dislike the at-times corporate nature of the job (thanks to Peter for taking the brunt of that). I'm always a very hard worker, but as a filmmaker I would at least get to take short breaks to unwind, and I've stolen even that time from both myself and my loved ones over the past four years," Gunn wrote. "And the thing my ADHD hyperfocus has had the most difficulty with has been dividing my time between projects I'm incredibly passionate about and the ones I'm not so much and all the things I have to do as a studio head."

The former head of DC Studios concluded his statement by saying he will miss the people at the job, as well as "being the co-caretaker of these great characters," but that he's "also incredibly relieved and excited to get back to pure filmmaking."

Gunn noted he is not finished working at DC Studios quite yet.

"We have Man of Tomorrow out this summer. And we've just been engaged on another DC project which I'm writing, and we'll see where it goes after that. And, of course, the characters we set up will live on," Gunn wrote. "Thank you so very, very much for embracing the characters and stories we've put on screen."

As for who will replace Gunn and Safran in the role, Variety reports Jeremy Latcham, a Marvel veteran, will now serve as president and chief creative officer. ABC Audio has reached out to DC Studios to confirm.

Gunn and Safran were made the co-CEOs and chairmen of DC Studios in 2022 by former Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav.

Copyright © 2026, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.


Russell Brand sentenced to 10 years, 6 months in prison for rape, sexual assault

A prison vehicle believed to be carrying British comedian and actor Russell Brand leaves after the sentencing hearing for Russell Brand at Southwark Crown Court, Nov. 9, 2026, in London. (Alishia Abodunde/Getty Images)

Actor Russell Brand was sentenced Monday in a U.K. courtroom to 10 years and 6 months in prison after he was found guilty last week of one count of rape and three counts of sexual assault involving four victims.

Before Brand's sentencing, Judge Joel Bennathan of London's Crown Court in Southwark said the sexual assaults and rape Brand committed against the four women between 2004 and 2009 were fueled by his "staggering arrogance."

"About 20 years ago, Russell Brand, you were becoming famous. You were clever and, in many people's eyes, funny and charismatic. You had also become a sexual predator," Bennathan told Brand.

Brand, 51, was sentenced to 35 months total for the three sexual assault counts, the longest sentence of which was 18 months, with Bennathan declaring that those sentences would run concurrently. Brand was sentenced to nine years in prison for the rape count, with the sentence to be served consecutively to the sexual assault sentences, making a total of 10 years and 6 months.

Bennathan said he reduced the sentence on the rape count by one year after taking into account that Brand did not have a substantial criminal record and had done "good work" helping people struggling with addiction.

Brand must serve two-thirds of the sentence before he is eligible to be released from prison, Bennathan said. Upon his release, Brand must also be "indefinitely subject to the notification requirements under the Sexual Offense Act of 2003," Bennathan further said.

The judge noted that at his trial, Brand claimed he never touched a woman sexually without her consent.

"In light of the jury's verdict, that was one of a series of lies you told," Bennathan said.

Bennathan also said he considered the "humiliation" to which Brand had subjected some of the victims, noting that it in some cases it had occurred in front of others.

"The whole episode reeks of casual disrespect and your belief that fame meant you could act how you liked, when you liked, unhindered by the rules by which decent people live," Bennathan said.

The judge also noted "the determination and bravery of all the women whose evidence I have been recounting," saying they had to face "being confronted and being told they’d lied, or twisted the truth, and/or they’d agreed to your sexual demands."

"That was all done because of you, on your instructions," Bennathan told Brand.

Earlier Monday, Bennathan heard victim impact statements from Brand's victims.

The prosecution read three of their statements, while one woman whom Brand was found guilty of sexually assaulting read her statement, telling the court she felt like "damaged goods" after the assault, and that it had left her struggling with anxiety and lack of confidence for years.

The woman Brand was found guilty of raping wrote in her impact statement that the attack on her, which occurred in 2009 when she was 21 and Brand was 33, has seriously affected her intimate relationships, career and everyday life.

Another victim wrote that Brand is a "sexual predator who has shown no remorse" and that she hopes he will never again be able to hurt any women.

Brand's defense attorney argued prior to sentencing that the rape and sexual assaults were "isolated incidents." Brand's attorney told the court that the rape should be seen as a "short and momentary" failure to respect the woman's consent as he continued to engage in sex with her without a condom and against her will following consensual sex.

Saying the case has had a "devastating" impact on Brand’s wife, who was in the courtroom on Monday, and his children, the attorney asked the judge for "mercy."

Brand had faced a total of seven charges against six women. He pleaded not guilty to three counts of rape, three counts of sexual assault and one count of attempted indecent assault.

An attorney for Brand did not reply to ABC News' request for comment on last week's verdict.

The U.K.'s Metropolitan Police has said that detectives began investigating Brand in 2023 after allegations against the actor were reported by multiple U.K. news outlets.

In April 2025, Brand was charged with one count of rape and one count of oral rape, one count of indecent assault and two counts of sexual assault in connection with alleged incidents from around two decades ago, according to the Metropolitan Police.

In a social media post that same month, Brand responded to the initial charges, writing, "I've always told you guys that when I was young and single, before I had my wife and family ... I was a fool, man, I was a fool before I lived in the light of the Lord. I was a drug addict, a sex addict and an imbecile. But what I never was, was a rapist. I've never engaged in nonconsensual activity. I pray that you can see that by looking in my eyes."

He then thanked his supporters, adding that he was "incredibly grateful" to defend the charges in court.

Several months later, in December 2025, the Crown Prosecution Service announced it had authorized further charges against Brand concerning two additional women.

Following Brand's guilty verdict, David Roberts, senior Crown Prosecutor in the London Rape and Serious Sexual Assault Unit, issued a statement, saying in part, "Russell Brand was predatory and used his celebrity status to commit sexual crimes. ... Although his tactics varied, at the centre of every assault was an abuse of power and sexual greed, with a complete disregard for the impact of his actions."

In addition to acting and comedy, Brand has worked as a political commentator and wellness influencer.

In 2017, Brand married Laura Gallacher, who appeared with him in court throughout the trial. The couple has three children.

If you or someone you know is in need of help, the National Sexual Assault Hotline -- 800-656-HOPE -- is free, confidential, and available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. You can also use the hotline's online chat option.

Copyright © 2026, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.


In brief: The Further Mis-Adventures Of Cliff Booth new trailer and more

Brad Pitt stars in a new trailer for The Further Mis-Adventures Of Cliff Booth. Netflix has released the second official trailer for the David Fincher-directed sequel to Quentin Tarantino’s Once Upon a Time ... in Hollywood. The new movie releases in IMAX on Nov. 25 and will stream on Netflix starting on Dec. 23 ...

The End of Oak Street is headed to HBO Max. The Anne Hathaway-starring film makes its global streaming debut on streaming service Nov. 14. The film is written and directed by David Robert Mitchell, and also stars Ewan McGregor and Maisy Stella ...

Moviegoers can expect new release dates for a couple of high-profile films. Deadline reports that Danny McBride's upcoming reimagining of G.I. Joe for Paramount Pictures will now hit theaters on Oct. 20, 2028. Additionally, the new Paranormal Activity film has shifted its release from its previous date of May 21, 2027, to the new date of Oct. 22, 2027 ...

Copyright © 2026, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.


'Nobody Wants This' renewed for season 4 at Netflix

Kristen Bell as Joanne and Adam Brody as Noah in season 3 of 'Nobody Wants This.' (Netflix)

Everybody wants this.

Netflix has renewed its hit comedy series Nobody Wants This for season 4. The fourth season will continue to film in Los Angeles.

Kristen Bell and Adam Brody star as the agnostic podcaster Joanne and unconventional rabbi Noah who navigate their romantic relationship despite the challenges that get thrown their way.

The show's creator, Erin Foster, alongside her co-showrunners Jenni Konner and Bruce Eric Kaplan, said they couldn't be more excited for a fourth season in a joint statement shared in a press release.

"We are so happy and thrilled to do another season of our favorite show on television, which coincidentally is the one we run," they said.

Tracey Pakosta, Netflix’s vice president of comedy series, US, said, "Great love stories never go out of style, and Nobody Wants This has become a true cultural phenomenon. This incredible creative team has built a show that grows with its audience, and our members around the world have embraced it season after season. We cannot be more excited for season 4."

Season 3 premiered on Netflix on Oct. 22. It featured many updates for Joanne and Noah's relationship, including moving in together and becoming engaged.

"That 'first time' feeling, all over again. After recommitting to each other at the end of last season, Joanne and Noah are moving into a home — and a relationship — that finally feels solid, embracing every exciting 'first' that comes with building their life together," according to the season's official synopsis. "Sasha (Timothy Simons) and Esther (Jackie Tohn) are thrust back into the dating world, whether they like it or not, stumbling through all the awkwardness (and unexpected thrill) of getting to know someone new, right as Morgan (Justine Lupe) takes her career to the next level, on her way to becoming an (almost) media sensation. Meanwhile, Sasha and Morgan have been circling something neither of them has been able to admit to."

Stephanie Faracy, Michael Hitchcock, Paul Ben-Victor, Tovah Feldshuh, Andrew Rannells, Sarah Silverman, Shiloh Bearman and Sherry Cola also starred in season 3.

Copyright © 2026, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.


Weekend Watchlist: What's new in theaters, on streaming

Ready, set, binge! Here's a look at some of the new movies and TV shows coming to theaters and streaming services this weekend:

NBC
St. Denis Medical: The third season of the sitcom makes its premiere.

The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins: Daniel Radcliffe once again stars in season 2 of the comedy series.

Apple TV
Stick: Owen Wilson leads the second season of this series about a former golf star mentoring a young prodigy.

Prime Video
The Greatest: This new series about Muhammed Ali makes its debut.

Hulu
All's Fair: Fans can stream season 2 of this much-discussed series starring Kim Kardashian.

Movie theaters
The Cat in the Hat: This animated movie adaptation of Dr. Suess' classic story features Bill Hader as the voice of the titular troublemaker.

That’s all for this week’s Weekend Watchlist – happy streaming!

Copyright © 2026, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.


Netflix announces live-action 'Stranger Things' spinoff series 'Other Worlds'

The title treatment for 'Other Worlds: A Stranger Things Adventure.' (Netflix)

A Stranger Things spinoff is officially in the works.

Netflix has announced a live-action spinoff series to the popular sci-fi show. The show, titled Other Worlds: A Stranger Things Adventure, comes from Stranger Things creators Matt Duffer and Ross Duffer and original series writer Kate Trefry.

The new series is set to debut in 2028. The announcement was made as part of Netflix's Stranger Things Day celebration. In the first season of the live-action series, Will Byers went missing on Nov. 6, 1983. In the years after Stranger Things first premiered in 2016, fans have used that date as a special day to celebrate the show.

Other Worlds: A Stranger Things Adventure serves as a prequel. It is set before the events of the original show as well as the stage play Stranger Things: The First Shadow.

Netflix has released a teaser for the series in tandem with the official announcement. The teaser reveals information about the new series' setting. A date reads April 19, 1955, and the location will be Marion, Nevada.

BAFTA and Golden Globe-winning director Joe Wright is set to direct the show's first three episodes. Production will take place in New Mexico.

"We’ve been dreaming of Other Worlds: A Stranger Things Adventure for many years now, and to see it become a reality is surreal and exhilarating. We’re so grateful to our incredible team of collaborators: our showrunner Kate Trefry, who has been in the trenches with us since season 2 and wrote Stranger Things: The First Shadow; and our director, Joe Wright, a brilliant artist whose work we’ve long admired," the Duffer brothers said in a press release. "We can’t wait for you to see what they’re cooking up. It’s Stranger Things, but also thrillingly fresh, with a new setting, new heroes and villains, and new… actually, we’re not allowed to say any more. Now, on to casting. In the meantime — watch the skies, nerds!"

Trefry said that the Duffer brothers gave her "my first paying job in Hollywood, and it has been a joy and a fever dream ever since."

"Now, it is my insane honor and privilege to be bringing this new chapter of Stranger Things to life alongside them and our incredible director Joe Wright," she continued. "We have had the time of our lives returning to all the horror, wonder and mystery of the flagship, while also telling a wholly new story, one we hope will blow your minds and break your hearts all over again. There are so many more mysteries to explore. Welcome to Other Worlds."

Stranger Things ended its run last year. The first volume of the three-part drop of season 5 was released on Nov. 26, 2025. Volume 2 dropped on Dec. 25 the same year, while the two-hour series finale premiered on Dec. 31.

Copyright © 2026, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.


Dolly Parton's estate moves to dismiss lawsuit against nephew

 Dolly Parton speaks onstage during Kicking Off CMA Fest: A Special Conversation With Dolly Parton on June 6, 2024, in Nashville, Tennessee. (Terry Wyatt/WireImage)

Dolly Parton's estate has moved to dismiss its lawsuit against the late country music legend's nephew and former security guard, Bryan Seaver.

In a notice filed Thursday in Tennessee state court, She's Alive LLC, the company overseeing Parton's professional assets, requested the voluntary dismissal of its lawsuit against Seaver and his security company, Squadron Augmented Protection Services.

The filing states that the dismissal is "without prejudice," meaning the estate could potentially bring the claims again.

ABC News has reached out to Seaver and Parton's estate for comment.

The move comes three days after Seaver and his company filed an 18-page response denying allegations that he had threatened and intimidated people associated with Parton's estate.

The estate filed its lawsuit in September, accusing Seaver of making threats and creating a "culture of fear" following Parton's death in August.

In his response filed Monday, Seaver denied engaging in an "escalating campaign of intimidation" and argued that private messages cited in the lawsuit had been taken out of context.

Seaver also disputed allegations that he had tried to obtain money through intimidation, saying his security company had been owed approximately $251,000 for services already provided and that the amount had since been paid.

The latest development follows months of legal back-and-forth between Seaver and the estate.

In September, Parton's estate was granted a temporary restraining order against Seaver and his security company after a judge found a "present and continuing disruption and threat" to She's Alive.

The following month, the estate alleged in an Oct. 5 court filing that Seaver had attempted to evade being served with the lawsuit, claiming his residence had a "no-trespassing sign in the front yard and barbed wire draped across the handrails leading to the front door."

Reached for comment at the time, Seaver told ABC News that the restraining order prevented him from speaking publicly about the case.

Parton died in August after what her family described as a "brief battle with cancer." Seaver, who provided security services to his aunt for approximately two decades, announced her death in a video statement on social media.

Copyright © 2026, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.


'Beverly Hills, 90210' actress Kimmarie Johnson dies at 50

Kimmarie Johnson attends the 6th annual Television Academy Honors on May 9, 2013, in Beverly Hills, California. (Mark Davis/Getty Images)

Actress and model Kimmarie Johnson, known for her appearances on Beverly Hills, 90210 and in the film Dude, Where's My Car?, has died. She was 50.

In a statement to ABC News on Thursday, her niece Rhonda Scott confirmed Johnson's death.

"She radiated a light so strong and bright, people who came in contact with her felt nothing but positive energy," the statement read. "We will miss her tremendously and will continue to honor her life forever."

Scott told ABC News that Johnson died Wednesday after being taken to Cedars-Sinai Hospital, where doctors diagnosed her with what she described as a "heart aneurysm condition."

An aneurysm occurs when a weakened area of an artery wall bulges outward. Aneurysms can develop in different parts of the body, including the aorta, the main artery that carries blood from the heart to the rest of the body, according to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.

Johnson's official cause of death has not been confirmed.

Johnson appeared in a 1998 episode of the hit teen drama Beverly Hills, 90210, playing a character named Judy.

She also appeared in the 2000 comedy Dude, Where's My Car?, starring Ashton Kutcher and Seann William Scott, as well as the television series V.I.P. and Wanda at Large, according to her IMDb profile.

In addition to acting, Johnson worked as a model and producer and launched her own skincare brand, SkinGlow by Kimmarie.

In August, Johnson appeared on the cover of a digital edition of Grazia Slovenia magazine.

Johnson also attended the Los Angeles premiere of Michael, the biopic about Michael Jackson, in April, according to an Instagram post.

Copyright © 2026, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.


Matt Damon reveals wife underwent brain aneurysm surgery before 2024 Oscars

Matt Damon and Luciana Barroso Damon pose during the special event for Netflix's 'Animals' on Oct. 4, 2026, in Mexico City, Mexico. (Toya Sarno Jordan/Getty Images)

Matt Damon has opened up about a health scare involving his wife, Luciana Damon.

The Oscar winner revealed in a new interview with GQ, published on Thursday, that his wife underwent surgery for a brain aneurysm just one week before the 2024 Academy Awards.

"We had this whole scary thing happen where my wife had a brain aneurysm," Matt Damon, 56, told the magazine. "She's totally fine, thank God, but [she] had this brain surgery the week before the Oscars."

"It was the first night she felt good enough to get up and had her energy back," he said.

A brain aneurysm occurs when a weakened area in the wall of an artery in the brain bulges outward and fills with blood, according to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.

Some brain aneurysms cause no symptoms, while others can rupture and cause bleeding in or around the brain, potentially leading to a stroke, brain damage or death, according to the agency.

Matt Damon did not disclose whether his wife's aneurysm ruptured or provide additional details about her surgery.

Despite undergoing surgery just days earlier, Luciana Damon surprised Matt Damon by getting dressed up and joining him at an Oscars after-party, where his film Oppenheimer was being celebrated after winning seven awards, including best picture.

"And she surprised me and got a dress and we went out to the after-party, because she remembered that the last time it happened, I didn't do it," Matt Damon recalled. "And she was like, 'This time we're going out.'"

The actor was referring to the 2007 Oscars, when he and Luciana Damon watched from home as his film The Departed won four awards, including best picture and best director for Martin Scorsese.

"I remember I was shooting second unit for The Bourne Ultimatum during that Oscars [where The Departed won], so I didn’t go," Matt Damon recalled. "I was living in Miami at the time, and I had an infant."

Matt Damon said he was so excited when Scorsese won that he began jumping up and down in his bedroom, only to realize moments later that he had missed an opportunity to celebrate in person.

"And I turned to Lucy and I was like, 'S***, we should be there!'" he recalled. "I totally blew it."

Reflecting on his wife's determination to celebrate with him nearly two decades later, Matt Damon said, "And it was pretty f****** heroic of her to do that and really meaningful."

Copyright © 2026, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.


In brief: Cameron Diaz stars in 'Bad Day' trailer and more

Vince Vaughn stars in the new trailer for Bad Monkey season 2. The second season of the Apple TV comedy series debuts on Dec. 2. It features an all-new original story and is based on Carl Hiaasen’s bestselling novel. A new installment of the 10-episode season debuts every Wednesday through Feb. 3, 2027. Natalie Martinez, Charlotte Lawrence and John Ortiz star in the season, which also features John Malkovich and Yvonne Strahovski ...

We now know when to expect the reboot of The Rockford Files. NBC has set its premiere date for the new version of the 1970s series on Jan. 7, 2027. A special preview of the show will air on Jan. 2, 2027, immediately following the network's telecast of the NFL. Buffy the Vampire Slayer's David Boreanaz stars in the upcoming series about a private investigator who solves cases in Los Angeles ...

Cameron Diaz is having a Bad Day in the official trailer for the upcoming Netflix film. The actress plays a single mom named Joy who strives to keep a promise to her daughter on the worst day of her life. Dealing with everything from a towed car, being accused of bank fraud and gossiping neighborhood moms, Joy tries to make it to her youngest daughter's soccer game. The film arrives to the streaming service on Dec. 11. It also stars Danielle Brooks, John Higgins, Ed O’Neill, Mark Duplass and Retta ...

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'The Odyssey' will return to theaters in December

Matt Damon stars as Odysseus in 'The Odyssey.' (Melinda Sue Gordon/Universal Pictures)

The Odyssey is journeying back to theaters.

Universal Pictures is putting Christopher Nolan's adaptation of Homer's epic poem back in theaters nationwide on Dec. 11. It will return to over 1,000 theaters in North America in all formats, including IMAX and IMAX 70mm.

The film previously got an extended run in 70mm IMAX that lasted throughout the month of September. This rerelease arrives just as awards season is heating up, with The Odyssey poised for consideration for nominations at the Academy Awards.

The Odyssey has earned $626 million at the domestic box office and has a global total of $1.8 billion. It is the first film shot entirely with IMAX cameras and is also the highest-grossing R-rated movie ever. Matt Damon stars as Odysseus in the film, which opened in theaters on July 17.

In addition to Damon, the movie stars Robert Pattinson, Tom Holland, Anne Hathaway, Lupita Nyong’o, Zendaya and Charlize Theron.

The Odyssey, of course, tells the story of the Greek hero Odysseus' 10-year journey home to Ithaca after the Trojan War. He encounters interruptions in his quest to return home to his wife, Penelope, and his grown son, Telemachus, who fights off suitors who are desperate to steal his father's throne.

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'Yellowjackets' gets fourth, final season official trailer

Sophie Nélisse as teen Shauna in 'Yellowjackets' season 4. (Darko Sikman/Paramount+)

It may sting that Yellowjackets is coming to a close, but at least we get one last season.

Paramount+ has released the official trailer for the fourth and final season of the survival drama series.

The series follows what happens to a team of high school girls soccer players after they survive a plane crash in the remote wilderness.

"Equal parts survival epic, psychological horror story and coming-of-age drama, the series chronicles their descent from a complicated but thriving team to savage clans, while also tracking the lives they’ve attempted to piece back together nearly 25 years later, proving that the past is never really past and what began out in the wilderness is far from over," according to an official description.

The trailer for the final season finds the girls welcomed home after surviving in the wilderness. We see how they adjust to their arrival back in society set to the Alanis Morissette song "Ironic."

"It's surreal to be here. Feels like going back to a different life," Jasmin Savoy Brown's young Taissa says in the trailer. "When you wish for something for so long, and then it actually happens, you're never really prepared."

Season 4 of Yellowjackets will span 10 episodes.

Alongside Brown, the series stars Melanie Lynskey, Christina Ricci, Tawny Cypress, Sophie Nélisse, Sophie Thatcher, Hilary Swank, Samantha Hanratty, Courtney Eaton and Liv Hewson.

June Squibb, Elijah Wood, Molly Ringwald and Dulé Hill guest star in the final season.

Yellowjackets season 4 arrives on Paramount+ Premium on Nov. 20.

Copyright © 2026, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.


Prime Video gives first look at 'Criminal'

Charlie Hunnam and Adria Arjona as Leo Patterson and Greta Watson in ‘Criminal.’ (Andrew Casey/Prime Video)

Prime Video’s new series looks criminally good.

The streamer released the teaser and first-look photos for Criminal, giving fans a taste of the crime series before its first installment, Criminal Part One: “Coward,” starts streaming on Jan. 13. Based on Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips’ graphic novel series by the same name, the upcoming show stars Monster: The Ed Gein Story’s Charlie Hunnam, Andor’s Adria Arjona and Nine Perfect Strangers' Luke Evans. Emilia Clarke, Richard Jenkins, Kadeem Hardison, Gus Halper, John Hawkes and Logan Browning also star in the upcoming series.

Per part one’s logline, “family secrets buried for decades are revealed as two criminals, Leo Patterson (Hunnam) and his best friend Ricky Lawless (Halper), are haunted by a murder from their childhood and a heist that goes wrong, bringing them face-to-face with a past they can’t run from.”

The show’s second part, Criminal Part Two: “Lawless,” will hit streaming on Jan. 27. The novel adaptation has been a long time coming, with Prime Video first announcing the project in January 2024.

Brubaker and Phillips are executive producers on the show, with the former also co-showrunning the project alongside crime fiction author Jordan Harper. 

“Criminal is a beloved graphic novel created by the most iconic team in the history of comics,” Nick Pepper, head of U.S. SVOD wholly owned development at Amazon MGM Studios said in the Jan. 8, 2024, press release announcing the news. “I know our global Prime Video customers will immediately embrace this story."

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Met Gala announces new 2027 theme after backlash over John Galliano exhibit

Joshua Henry performs during The 2026 Met Gala Celebrating "Costume Art" at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, May 4, 2026, in New York City. (Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images)

Fashion's biggest night, the annual Met Gala, has a new theme for 2027 after an exhibit on controversial designer John Galliano was canceled earlier this year.

The 2027 theme for the star-studded gala, held each spring on the first Monday of May, will be extraORDINARY: Fashion and the Poetics of the Everyday, Vogue and the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute announced Thursday.

The theme and exhibit will focus on everyday, "seemingly unremarkable" clothing like T-shirts, jeans and puffer jackets that "can inspire delight, surprise, and wonder," according to the museum.

"The ordinary is never quite as simple as it appears. A pair of jeans, a white shirt, or a sweatshirt can hold traces of a life — the habits, memories, and attachments that make something our own," Andrew Bolton, curator of The Costume Institute, said in a statement Thursday. "Designers work with that familiarity, revealing unexpected possibilities within forms and materials we think we already know. The exhibition invites us to discover how much imagination the everyday can hold, and how looking again might change what we value and care for."

Each spring, the Costume Institute's new exhibit is opened by the star-studded Met Gala.

The gala, chaired by Condé Nast chief content officer Anna Wintour, is a major fundraiser for the museum and the Costume Institute in particular.

The 2027 extraORDINARY theme was announced two months after the museum announced it would not go forward with its initial planned exhibit on Galliano.

That exhibition, John Galliano: Horizons, was met with backlash when it was announced in late July because of Galliano's history of antisemitic remarks.

Galliano was fired as the creative director of Christian Dior in 2011, and was found guilty of antisemitic behavior by a French court later that same year and sentenced to an $8,400 suspended fine for verbally abusing an English language teacher and two others in separate incidents at a restaurant in Paris.

At the time, Galliano's lawyer said he was "relieved" by the court's leniency — the designer did not receive prison time — adding that Galliano was "looking forward to a future of forgiveness and understanding, hopefully, and to put all of this behind him."

In August this year, the Metropolitan Museum of Art said it had made the decision not to proceed with the Galliano exhibit, in the wake of the backlash, adding that a new theme would be announced at a later date.

Galliano also released a statement at the time, saying in part, "I understand that meaningful atonement is not achieved through an exhibition, institutional recognition or a single public gesture. It is a continuing responsibility, demonstrated through listening, learning and one’s conduct over time."

He added, "I do not want the debate surrounding me to place The Met in a difficult position or to distract from the remarkable work of the Costume Institute. I also recognize and respect that an exhibition honoring my work would be painful for some."

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Russell Brand found guilty in UK rape, sexual assault trial

Russell Brand arrives at Southwark Crown Court on Nov. 5, 2026, in London, England. (Alishia Abodunde/Getty Images)

Russell Brand was found guilty by a London jury Thursday on one count of rape and three counts of sexual assault.

Brand had faced a total of seven charges against six women, pleading not guilty to three counts of rape, three counts of sexual assault and one count of attempted indecent assault.

He is scheduled to be sentenced on Nov. 9 after a trial that began in mid-October.

The jury of four women and eight men deliberated for more than eight hours before delivering their verdict, according to The Associated Press.

The U.K.'s Metropolitan Police said detectives began investigating Brand in 2023 after allegations against the actor were reported by multiple U.K. news outlets.

In April 2025, Brand was initially charged with one count of rape and one count of oral rape, one count of indecent assault, and two counts of sexual assault in connection with alleged incidents from around two decades ago, according to the Metropolitan Police.

Brand responded to the initial charges on social media that same month, saying, "I've always told you guys that when I was young and single, before I had my wife and family ... I was a fool, man, I was a fool before I lived in the light of the Lord. I was a drug addict, a sex addict and an imbecile. But what I never was, was a rapist. I've never engaged in nonconsensual activity. I pray that you can see that by looking in my eyes."

He then thanked his supporters, adding that he was "incredibly grateful" to defend the charges in court.

Several months later, in December 2025, the Crown Prosecution Service announced it had authorized further charges against Brand concerning two additional women.

Following Thursday's verdict, David Roberts, senior Crown Prosecutor in the London Rape and Serious Sexual Assault Unit, issued a statement, saying in part, "Russell Brand was predatory and used his celebrity status to commit sexual crimes. ... Although his tactics varied, at the centre of every assault was an abuse of power and sexual greed, with a complete disregard for the impact of his actions."

Roberts added, "I would like to thank all the women in this case for their courage in coming forward and seeing this sexual abuser brought to justice."

In a separate statement on Thursday, Detective Superintendent Andy Furphy of the Metropolitan Police Service said, "I want to pay tribute to the team of detectives and specialist staff who worked tirelessly on this investigation. Their professionalism, determination and compassion for the victims represent the very best of the Metropolitan Police."

He added, "Finally, I would urge anyone who may have been a victim of rape or serious sexual assault to speak to us. You will be listened to, supported and treated with dignity and respect."

In addition to acting and comedy, Brand has worked as a political commentator and wellness influencer.

He was previously married to singer Katy Perry from 2010 until their divorce in 2012.

In 2017, Brand married Laura Gallacher, who appeared with him in court throughout the trial. The couple has three children.

ABC News has reached out to Brand's attorney for comment.

If you or someone you know is in need of help, the National Sexual Assault Hotline — 800-656-HOPE — is free, confidential, and available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. You can also use the hotline's online chat option.

Copyright © 2026, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.


Ella Langley, Miranda Lambert among performers for CMA Awards

Ella Langley attends the 59th annual CMA Awards at Music City Center on Nov. 19, 2025, in Nashville, Tennessee. (Tibrina Hobson/FilmMagic for Getty Images)

Looks like these artists are choosin’ Nashville.

ABC and the Country Music Association announced the performers for the 2026 CMA Awards, airing on Nov. 18. The star-studded lineup includes Ella Langley, Tim McGraw, Miranda Lambert, Kacey Musgraves, Cody Johnson, The Red Clay Strays, Tucker Wetmore and Zach Top.

It’s only fitting that Langley would perform at the biggest night in country music. The artist leads this year’s nominations with nine, tying the record for most nominations by a female artist in a single year.

Her 2025 single “Choosin Texas,” which is nominated for three CMA awards, including song of the year, surpassed 23 consecutive weeks at number one on the Billboard Hot 100, breaking a record previously held by Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas is You.”

Lambert, who co-wrote and produced Langley’s hit single, earned seven nominations this year, including producer of the year for her work on Langley’s 2025 album, Dandelion.

Twelve-time CMA Awards winner Lainey Wilson is set to once again host the highly anticipated night in Nashville.

“I couldn’t be more excited to be hosting the CMA Awards again this year, especially with it being the 60th anniversary,” Wilson said in a Thursday press release. “I’ve had so much fun hosting the last two years, and this one’s going to be extra special.”

This year's show will also include a special tribute to the late queen of country Dolly Parton, who died in August at the age of 80 after what her family described as a "brief battle with cancer."

The 2026 CMA Awards air from 8 p.m. ET to 11 p.m. ET on ABC and Disney+ on Wednesday, Nov. 18. The program will be available to stream the next day on Hulu.

Copyright © 2026, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.


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