News Briefs

Displaying 1 - 10 of 3898

Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2019

YouTube cracks down on racist, sexist and similar insults

This April 4, 2018, file photo shows a YouTube logo on a t-shirt worn by a person near a YouTube office building in San Bruno, Calif. YouTube is taking another step to curb hateful and violent speech on its site. The video streaming company said it will now take down videos that lob insults at people based on race, gender expression or sexual orientation. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu, File)

By Rachel Lerman, Technology Writer

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) --

YouTube is taking another step to curb hateful and violent speech on its site.

The video streaming company said it will now take down videos that lob insults at people based on race, gender expression, sexual orientation or other "protected attributes." The Google-owned company will also prohibit veiled threats of violence, taking a step further into moderating what people can say on the videos they create and upload.

YouTube has been slapped with criticism from politicians, viewers and video creators for the material it allows on — and bans from — the site. The site has been accused of allowing and fostering hate speech and extremism and creating spaces for harassment to linger online, along with other digital sites that allow people to upload their own material, such as Facebook and Twitter.

YouTube has been reviewing its policies and guidelines for about two years, Matt Halprin, the company's vice president of trust and safety More

Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2019

Weinstein could face jail, bail hike over monitoring issues

Harvey Weinstein, center, arrives for a court hearing, Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2019 in New York. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan)

By Michael R. Sisak

NEW YORK (AP) --

Harvey Weinstein's bail was increased from $1 million to $5 million on Wednesday over allegations he violated bail conditions by mishandling his electronic ankle monitor.

But Judge James Burke rejected prosecution calls to put the disgraced movie mogul in jail over the alleged violation.

Weinstein, 67, arrived at court in the morning using a walker, and his lawyer said he will be undergoing back surgery on Thursday. In his last court appearance, he hobbled into court and looked more pained than usual.

On Wednesday, Burke warned that he would revoke his bail and issue a warrant for his arrest if other issues crop up.

"If you have any further medical issues, the court will not be terribly understanding," Burke said.

Weinstein was calm and respectful during the hearing and indicated that the surgery would help ensure his appearance at his trial. The disgraced movie mogul is scheduled to stand trial in New York City More

Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2019

Peloton shares tumble as bearish report adds to ad woes

This Sept. 26, 2019, file photo shows the Peloton logo on the company's stationary bicycle in New York. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan, File)

NEW YORK (AP) --

Shares of exercise bike company Peloton were under pressure Tuesday from a scathing research report that comes on the heels of blowback from its widely mocked ad.

Andrew Left of Citron Research is well known on Wall Street for targeting companies he thinks have flawed business models and placing bets that their stocks will fall. He's now taking aim at New York-based Peloton Interactive Inc.

He put a price target of $5 on the stock Tuesday. That would be an 86% drop from where it stood at the close of trading Monday. Peloton went public in September at $29 a share.

The stock ended trading Tuesday down $1.99, or 5.7%, at $32.78.

The shares took a hit last week after Peloton aired an ad in which a husband gifts one of its internet-connected stationary bikes to his wife for the holidays. Critics called the ad sexist and tone deaf.

Peloton did not immediate respond to a request for comment on the Citron Research report More

Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2019

Netflix says more than 26M watched "The Irishman" in 7 days

This image released by Netflix shows, from left, Robert De Niro, Al Pacino and Ray Romano in a scene from "The Irishman." (Netflix via AP)

By Jake Coyle, Film Writer

NEW YORK (AP) --

Netflix says that 26.4 million households worldwide watched "The Irishman" in its first week of streaming.

That figure includes those who watched at least 70% of Martin Scorsese's 3 1/2 hour crime epic. Netflix selectively announces viewership for its films and series, and they aren't substantiated by third-party data firms.

Nielsen last week estimated that "The Irishman" had an average viewership of 13.2 million in its first five days in the U.S. About one in five viewers watched the film in its entirety over its first day of streaming on Nov. 27, Nielsen said.

If Netflix's figures are accurate, that would make "The Irishman" one of this year's most widely watched Oscar contenders. The film, made for about $160 million, played exclusively in theaters for about three weeks, but the largest chains refuse to play movies that don't adhere to a traditional theatrical window. Netflix has declined to disclose box-office receipts.

Monday, Dec. 9, 2019

AMP Awards set for May 2020, will return to NY’s Sony Hall

Pictured at the 2019 AMP Awards are (l-r): Vicky Ferraro, EP of Wave Studios in New York, which won Best in Show for “Fearless” for The New York Times out of Droga5; AMP president Elad Marish of Swell Music + Sound; and AMP Show chair Katy Hornaday, EVP, executive creative director at Barkley.

NEW YORK --

The AMP Awards for Music & Sound has announced its date and venue for the 2020 gala awards presentation, honoring excellence in music and sound for brands in all media. Sponsored by the Association of Music Producers, the show will take place on Tuesday, May 19, 2020, and returns for the second time to the incredible venue, Sony Hall in New York.

An official AMP Awards call for entries, which signals the opening of its online entry portal, will be announced early next year, to be followed by more news about the competition, including naming of the AMP Awards Show chair, its Curatorial Committee and its inductee into the AMP Hall of Fame.

The 2019 AMP Awards show was a sold-out affair and included a number of major highlights. Apple was honored with induction into the AMP Hall of Fame, where it was recognized for Outstanding Achievement in the Use of Music to Define the Brand. It joined a list of past honorees that includes Mars, Inc., More

Sunday, Dec. 8, 2019

Sesame Street puppeteer Caroll Spinney dies at age 85

In a May 21, 2000 file photo, Carrol Spinney, center, best known for his TV character "Big Bird" from Sesame Street, receives an honorary doctor of Humane Letters degree from Eastern Connecticut State University President David G. Carter, right, during commencement in Willimantic, Conn. Spinney, who gave Big Bird his warmth and Oscar the Grouch his growl for nearly 50 years on “Sesame Street,” died Sunday, Dec. 8, 2019 at his home in Connecticut, according to the Sesame Workshop. He was 85. (AP Photo/Steve Miller, File)

By Andrew Dalton, Entertainment Writer

LOS ANGELES (AP) --

Caroll Spinney, who gave Big Bird his warmth and Oscar the Grouch his growl for nearly 50 years on "Sesame Street," died Sunday at the age of 85 at his home in Connecticut, according to the Sesame Workshop.

The Sesame Workshop said in a statement that the legendary puppeteer lived for some time with dystonia, which causes involuntary muscle contractions.

Spinney voiced and operated the two major Muppets from their inception in 1969 when he was 36, and performed them almost exclusively into his 80s on the PBS kids' television show that later moved to HBO.

"Before I came to 'Sesame Street,' I didn't feel like what I was doing was very important," Spinney said when he announced his retirement in 2018. "Big Bird helped me find my purpose."

Through his two characters, Spinney gained huge fame that brought international tours, books, record albums, movie roles, and visits to the White House.

"Caroll was an artistic genius More

Thursday, Dec. 5, 2019

Veteran producer of "WarGames," "Blue Bloods," dies at 85

In this Sunday, Aug. 7, 2011 file photo, Executive producer Leonard Goldberg talks about "Charlie's Angels" at the Disney ABC Television Group summer press tour in Beverly Hills, Calif. Leonard Goldberg, a network and studio executive and producer whose TV credits ranged from “Starsky and Hutch” in the 1970s to the current drama series “Blue Bloods” and whose independent movies included “WarGames” and “Sleeping with the Enemy,” has died on Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2019. (AP Photo/Jason Redmond, File)

LOS ANGELES (AP) --

Leonard Goldberg, a network and studio executive and producer whose TV credits ranged from "Starsky and Hutch" in the 1970s to the current drama series "Blue Bloods" and whose independent movies included "WarGames" and "Sleeping with the Enemy," has died. He was 85.

Goldberg died Wednesday at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center from injuries suffered in a fall, according to a statement issued Thursday on behalf of his family, who were with him at the hospital.

During his tenure as president of Twentieth Century Fox, the studio produced hit films including "Broadcast News," "Big," "Die Hard" and "Wall Street."

Goldberg was head of programming for ABC when the network's lineup included "Mod Squad," "That Girl" and "Marcus Welby, M.D."

Starting in the 1970s, he joined with prolific TV producer Aaron Spelling to make shows including "Charlie's Angels," "Hart to Hart" and "Fantasy Island" and TV movies including "The Boy in the Plastic More

Thursday, Dec. 5, 2019

Henderson, Lewis named recipients of special DGA Awards

Duncan S. Henderson (l) and Arthur E. Lewis (photo of Henderson by Howard Wise; Lewis photo by Marcie Revens; both photos courtesy of DGA)

LOS ANGELES --

Unit production manager Duncan S. Henderson and stage manager Arthur E. Lewis will receive special Directors Guild of America (DGA) Awards recognizing their extraordinary contrubutions to the Guild. Henderson and Lewis will be honored at the 72nd Annual DGA Awards on Saturday, January 25, 2020, at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in downtown L.A.

Henderson will receive the DGA’s 2020 Frank Capra Achievement Award, which is given to an assistant director or UPM in recognition of career achievement in the industry and service to the DGA.

Lewis will receive the DGA’s 2020 Franklin J. Schaffner Achievement Award, which is given to an associate director or stage manager in recognition of service to the industry and to the DGA.

“Duncan Henderson and Arthur Lewis represent the highest examples of Guild service through their dedication, advocacy and representation on behalf of their fellow members, all while maintaining successful, demanding careers More

Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2019

Don Mischer to receive ICG Publicists Lifetime Achievement Award

Don Mischer

LOS ANGELES --

Don Mischer has been named the recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award from the International Cinematographers Guild (ICG, IATSE Local 600) Publicists, honoring his prolific career as an internationally acclaimed producer and director of television and live events. The 57th Annual ICG Publicists Awards ceremony, which traditionally occurs the week leading up to the Academy Awards®, will be held in the International Ballroom of The Beverly Hilton Hotel on Friday, February 7, 2020. More than 800 industry leaders are expected to attend this year’s luncheon, celebrating excellence in publicity and promotion for motion pictures and television programs.

“Having spent the early years of my career working in live event television, the name Don Mischer is legendary to me. I am so pleased that Don will be receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award at this year’s ICG Publicists Awards. I can’t think of anyone more deserving of this honor,” said Lewis More

Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2019

Farrelly brothers to receive award for casting people with disabilities

In this Aug. 10, 2015 file photo, Peter Farrelly, left, and Bobby Farrelly attend The Project Greenlight Season 4 premiere of "The Leisure Class" at The Theatre At The Ace Hotel in Los Angeles. The Boston-based Ruderman Family Foundation said Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2019, that the brothers are recipients of its sixth annual Morton E. Ruderman Award in Inclusion for pressing Hollywood to do a better job of casting and portraying people with disabilities. (Photo by Paul A. Hebert/Invision/AP, File)

By William J. Kole

BOSTON (AP) --

In Peter Farrelly's 2018 Oscar-winning film, "Green Book," chauffeur Tony Lip quips: "The world's full of lonely people afraid to make the first move."

Neither Farrelly nor his brother, Bobby Farrelly, the director of 1998's "There's Something About Mary," fits that description. Both are being recognized for pressing Hollywood repeatedly and publicly to do a better job of casting and portraying people with disabilities.

The Boston-based Ruderman Family Foundation, a leading voice in calling for more opportunities for the disabled, said Wednesday the brothers are the recipients of its sixth annual Morton E. Ruderman Award in Inclusion.

The foundation told The Associated Press it picked the Farrellys for their outspoken efforts to make movies more inclusive and authentic. They'll be presented with the award next spring.

"When you tell a story, you want it to take place in a real world — and it's not a real world if they don't More