Alamo Drafthouse Celebrates 25th Anniversary With Free Summer Screening Series (EXCLUSIVE)

Chris Willman Senior Music Writer and Chief Music CriticDowntown Los Angeles is a very different place than it was when the Los Angeles Conservancy kicked off its  “Last Remaining Seats” film screenings in movie palaces 35 years ago. When the annual series hits key theaters this month (after taking the last couple of Junes off for the pandemic), there will be far less trepidation in the air about the fate of some of the key theaters and the neighborhoods they’re in than there was back in 1987.

Isidoro Raponi, whose skills brought E.T., King Kong and more to life for millions of moviegoers, has died. He was 76 and died May 27 of congestive heart failure at a Los Angeles rehabiliation center, according to veteran Disney communications executive Howard Green, who described Raponi as “a great guy and an unsung hero”

Wilson Chapman editorIsidoro Raponi, a mechanical effects artist who worked on blockbuster films such as “Alien” and “E.T.,” died May 27, a representative confirmed to Variety. He died of congestive heart failure at a rehab facility in Los Angeles.

Kelly Ripa couldn't have been more proud on the latest installment of Live with Kelly and Ryan as she had some big news to share.MORE: Kelly Ripa shares fond memory of Ray Liotta from LIVE! following his deathALSO: HELLO! launches Jubilee T-shirt collection to celebrate Queen Elizabeth in style"Settle down, settle down, I have a big announcement to make," she said as she took her seat next to co-host Ryan Seacrest.VIDEO: Kelly Ripa's children steal the show on Live with Kelly and Ryan"It is the birthday of my firstborn! Hi Mikey," she adorably said to the camera as the studio audience cheered in honor of Michael Consuelos' 25th birthday.Ryan then revealed a gaff he made while preparing his own birthday surprise for Michael, sharing that he had a box of gifts ready for the Riverdale star.MORE: Kelly Ripa makes impassioned plea to viewers following Texas tragedy"I tried to Facetime him, and then I realized I was calling Mark Consuelos," he told Kelly. "I sent a 'Happy Birthday' text to your husband."Kelly then hilariously shared that her phone was starting to confuse pictures of Michael with her husband Mark.

New season, new hair! Selena Gomez is preparing for the warm weather with a “summer” ‘do. The “Ice Cream” singer, 29, visited Zero One Salon in Los Angeles and documented her hair transformation.

Not here for the speculation. Michelle Young clapped back after she was surreptitiously filmed without her engagement ring, leading many fans to think there was trouble in paradise for her and Nayte Olukoya.

Sharing her side. Aliana Mawla denied that she and boyfriend Liam Payne began dating while he was still involved with his former fiancée Maya Henry.

Bill Bruford. Had White’s health not been failing, the band’s forthcoming tour next month would have marked his 50 years with it. White joined Yes just as they were about to begin touring with their fifth album, Close to the Edge (1972), which comprised three extended tracks and is regarded by many as the pinnacle of Yes’s elaborate, quasi-classical prog-rock.

Manori Ravindran International EditorKISS takes the stage in the first exclusive clip to emerge from hotly anticipated musical biopic “Spinning Gold.”The long-gestating movie about Casablanca Records founder Neil Bogart — directed by his son Tim Bogart and now in post-production — has finally landed, and is being screened to buyers at the Cannes Film Festival market this week.Founded in 1974 by Neil Bogart, Casablanca Records was the home to KISS, Donna Summer, the Village People and Parliament Funkadelic, among others. The company contributed the first smash extended single to clubs and radio stations all over the world with Summer’s 17-minute 1975 banger “Love to Love You,” and released 289 albums from more than 140 artists.

Marc Malkin Senior Film Awards, Events & Lifestyle EditorWelcome to this week’s “Just for Variety.”Is “Bridgerton” star Nicola Coughlan going to be in the Margot Robbie-led “Barbie” movie? Sure sounds like it.It all begins with the speculation that Coughlan would be on the next season of “Doctor Who” after she was photographed at the BAFTA TV Awards with Ncuti Gatwa. Just minutes before, it was announced that the “Sex Education” actor would be the new Doctor.

Peter Caranicas Deputy EditorLaw firm Willkie Farr & Gallagher has announced the addition of entertainment transactions lawyer Steven E. Hurdle Jr.

The stars are stepping out for the season four premiere of Stranger Things!

EXCLUSIVE: Tia Napolitano (Cruel Summer) has joined CBS’ newly picked up drama series Fire Country as executive producer and showrunner. Her hire was already in the works when the network yesterday gave an official series order to the buzzy pilot, executive produced by and starring Max Thieriot.

CBS has ordered three new series for the 2022-23 broadcast season: “East New York,” “So Help Me Todd” and “Fire Country.”In “East New York,” Amanda Warren stars as Regina Haywood, “the newly promoted deputy inspector of East New York, a working-class neighborhood at the edge of Brooklyn. She leads a diverse group of officers and detectives, some of whom are reluctant to deploy her creative methods of serving and protecting in the midst of social upheaval and the early seeds of gentrification,” per a logline from the network.It costars Kevin Rankin, Jimmy Smits, Ruben Santiago-Hudson, Richard Kind, Elizabeth Rodriguez, Lavel Schley and Olivia Luccardi.It’s from writers and executive producers William Finkelstein and Mike Flynn and director and EP Michael M.

Allen Stone, one of the few contestants on American Song Contest who are already famous performers, will not be singing live on the show’s finale.