City San Francisco Showbiz Latest News and Updates

Searchlight Pictures’ Sundance-winning original comedy Theater Camp will take in an estimated $281,172 or $46.9k per theater at six locations opening weekend — the best limited opening for the distributor since Jojo Rabbit in the fall of 2019 ($349k in five locations). That’s after the A CinemaScore film on Sunday pulled ahead of Searchlight’s The Banshees Of Inisherin four-theater debut last year.

Pickle is scheduled to be officially installed Sunday, International Drag Day, as West Hollywood’s first Drag Laureate.

Todd Spangler NY Digital Editor Not a joke: Comedian and author Sarah Silverman is one of the lead plaintiffs in a pair of lawsuits against Meta and OpenAI accusing the tech companies of illegally using copyrighted works to train their artificial-intelligence systems. The books cited in the lawsuits include Silverman’s 2010 best­selling memoir “The Bedwetter: Stories of Courage, Redemption and Pee.” The federal lawsuits, filed Friday, July 7, allege that OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Meta’s LLaMA both ingested text from “The Bedwetter” and other works to train their large language models (LLMs) — without the consent of (or compensation to) authors such as Silverman.

Ethan Shanfeld George Tickner, co-founder and original rhythm guitarist of Journey, has died. He was 76. Neal Schon, the co-founding lead guitarist of the Grammy-nominated rock band, announced the news on Facebook, writing, “Journey Junkies, I have some very sad news. George Tickner, Journey’s original rhythm guitarist and songwriting contributor on their first three albums, has passed away. He was 76 years old.” Schon added, “Godspeed, George… thank you for the music. We will be paying tribute to you on this page indefinitely. Our condolences to his family and friends, and to all past and present band members. So heartbreaking. I think we need to do a group hug, JJ’s.”

A Fourth of July miracle appears extremely unlikely for the millions of DirecTV customers who lost access Sunday to programming from Nexstar-owned local stations or cable network NewsNation.

More than 10 million DirecTV customers are without Nexstar stations as of Sunday evening after the two companies failed to come to terms on a new deal.DirecTV removed Nexstar’s 159 TV stations from its satellite, cable and streaming systems as a result, which includes major broadcast networks CBS, Fox, ABC, NBC and The CW as well as NewsNation, the cable news channel. Subscribers in 113 markets, including Los Angeles, Chicago, Philadelphia, San Francisco and Denver, are all affected.“Nexstar remains hopeful that a resolution can be reached quickly to return to viewers their favorite network programming, live sporting events, in-depth local news, and other local content relevant to their communities, as well as critical emergency updates for which DirecTV is charging its subscribers,” Nexstar said in a statement.“Nexstar has a long track record of forcing programming outages in an effort to unnecessarily raise prices for everyone at the expense of the communities they are licensed and entrusted to serve,” Rob Thun, DirecTV chief content officer, said in a statement to TheWrap.

Frameline, the San Francisco International LGBTQ+ Film Festival concluded its 47th iteration on Saturday, June 24, with a screening of Taylor Mac’s 24-Decade History of Popular Music, directed by Oscar-winning duo Rob Epstein and Jeffrey Friedman (The Celluloid Closet). The documentary feature about the titular performer’s singular spectacle was preceded by the Festival’s annual Award Ceremony, which reaffirmed the dynamic future of queer cinema.

The theatrical requirements for movies vying for the Oscars top prize are getting a little tougher.

Before “The Underground Railroad.” Before “If Beale Street Could Talk.” Before his Best Picture-winning “Moonlight,” there was “Medicine for Melancholy.” The debut feature from writer/director Barry Jenkins, “Medicine for Melancholy” is a mumblecore journey through the streets of San Francisco shared by Micah (Wyatt Cenac) and Jo (Tracey Heggins), two brief lovers who share a day together after a one-night stand.  Released in 2008, the low-budget film captures a specific moment in San Francisco before it gentrified from a vibrant denizen for young artists into a moneyed landscape composed of tech giants.

Girl time! Christine Brown and daughter Truely had the time of their lives in San Francisco and got into some — pretend — trouble to kick off the summer.

Christine Brown had some fun with her 12-year-old daughter, Truely Brown, over the weekend.The stars took a trip to California, and saw some of the sights on their fun-filled getaway.Taking a visit to Madame Tussauds San Francisco, Christine and Truely both posed for mugshots, holding up cards. Christine's read, «The Accomplice,» while Truely's read, «The Mastermind.»Truely even pulled a silly face sitting behind bars with a wax figure.Truely also posed next to a wax figure of Taylor Swift in a blue-and-gold dress.«We enjoyed our trip @tussaudssf tussaudssf while in San Francisco.

First Lady Jill Biden will headline a fundraiser next week in Los Angeles to raise money for Joe Biden’s reelection campaign and the Democratic National Committee.

An employer that allowed rap music with sexually explicit and violent lyrics to be played loudly on its premises will face a sex discrimination suit brought by eight ex-employees, the San Francisco Chronicle reports. The Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco ruled on Wednesday 3-0 in its decision overturning a motion to dismiss by Chief U.S.

Queens Of The Stone Age have announced a 2023 North American tour titled ‘The End Is Nero’ that kicks off in August.The 28-city-date tour will commence in Sterling Heights, Michigan at the Michigan Lottery Amphitheatre. From there, the band will make stops in Toronto, Philadelphia, Washington D.C., New York, Atlanta and more.

Last month, the board of the Temecula Valley Unified School District voted to block a social studies textbook whose supplemental resources mention gay civil rights activist and politician Harvey Milk as a historical figure of note, with the president of the conservative-leaning board calling the former San Francisco Supervisor a “pedophile.”The textbook, titled Social Studies Alive, was recommended to be approved for students in first through fifth grades. Although the textbook itself doesn’t mention Milk, the board’s conservative Christian majority – which took power during the 2022 midterms – objected to a supplemental reading package mentioning Milk that accompanies the textbook. Milk, a U.S.

EXCLUSIVE: HBO and Words + Pictures have launched production on a documentary about Barry Bonds, one of baseball’s greatest players – and one of the most polarizing figures in all professional sport.

Robin Wagner, one of Broadway’s most prolific and celebrated set designers with three Tony Awards and a roster of major credits including Angels in America, Dreamgirls, A Chorus Line, The Producers and Jelly’s Last Jam, died Monday in his sleep in New York City. He was 89.

From rags to riches! Tony Bennett has had a long and successful career as a jazz artist – but the “Because of You” singer started out with humble beginnings.

Frameline announced the full program for the 47th annual San Francisco International LGBTQ+ Film Festival (Frameline47). Running June 14–24, with a streaming encore to follow from June 24–July 2, Frameline47 returns with nearly 90 film screenings, including 12 World, 16 North American, and 9 U.S. premieres. In celebration of the Festival’s 47th iteration, Frameline will host 47 screenings at the Castro Theatre, which equates to an average of four screenings per day throughout the 11-day event.

Dave Chappelle slammed San Francisco during a surprise show at the SF Masonic Auditorium on Thursday night. The 49-year-old comedian took aim at the homelessness crisis in the Golden City, which he referred to during the set as his "second home," according to a report by SFGate.

Dave Chappelle returned to San Francisco Thursday night with a surprise show at the Masonic Auditorium. He didn’t like what he’s seen in the City by the Bay.

the Golden State these days.While doing a surprise performance in San Francisco on Thursday evening at the Masonic Auditorium, the controversial comedian expressed his contempt for the city, asking the crowd a very important question.“What the f—k happened to this place?” he asked during his set, according to SFGATE’s review of the show. During the performance, Chapelle, 49, spoke about the homelessness problem in San Francisco, and allegedly told a story about seeing someone poop right in front of the restaurant he was about to dine at.According to a February 2023 report by the Public Policy Institute of California, 30% of all people who experienced homelessness last year in the United States resided in California.Chapelle also said that The Bay Area had become “half ‘Glee,’ half zombie movie,” and joked that they needed “a Batman,” the outlet reported.

The stars of Joy Ride brought their movie to San Francisco!

FRAMELINE, the arts nonprofit that hosts San Francisco’s International LGBTQ+ Film Festival, announced a new partnership with the Colin Higgins Foundation entitled the Colin Higgins Youth Filmmaker Grant, a new initiative centered on providing young LGBTQ+ filmmakers with financial support to continue their work. 

Paul Stanley’s statement regarding his own thoughts on the trans community and gender-affirming care for children. “You know what? There was a time where ‘I felt pretty’ too.

Zendaya and Tom Holland have taken their romantic travels back to the Bay Area for some date night fun in San Francisco. On Thursday, the couple checked out Game 2 of the Western Conference Semifinals, watching the Golden State Warriors defeat the Los Angeles Lakers 127-100.The stars kept it casual for their date night, with the Oakland native sporting a white shirt, black cap and gold-rimmed glasses.

who was killed last month in San Francisco, died from multiple stab wounds, the city's medical examiner determined. Lee suffered three stab wounds, two to the left side of his chest and one to his right hip, the report obtained by CBS News said. One of the stab wounds went into part of his lung and the right ventricle, according to the report.Ketamine, cocaine and cocaethylene — a substance that is produced by concurrent use of alcohol and cocaine, according to the National Institutes of Health — were also detected, although the amounts were not given in the medical examiner's report.Nima Momeni, 38, was arrested and charged with Lee's murder about a week and a half after the April 4 stabbing.

Frameline Film Festival will open with a screening of the Sofia Coppola-produced movie “Fairyland.” The 11-day, LGBTQ-focused festival will return to San Francisco and Oakland from June 14-24. “Fairyland” will be followed by the festival’s Oakland Centerpiece event, which will screen “Cora Bora” on June 15. Its Pride Kickoff screening will be of “God Save the Queens” on June 22.

Sky Ferreria's upcoming music release schedule still has as big a question mark as ever hovering over it, but the pop auteur has confirmed a handful of west coast tour dates for later this summer. The shows, part of the fifth anniversary celebrations of the promotor Minty Boi, take place in Maryland, Wilmington, San Francisco, San Diego, and Los Angeles from June 29 to July 8.

According to Bay Area homicide investigators, Cash App co-founder Bob Lee was stabbed by his killer amid an argument over the suspect’s sister. New court docs filed late this week by

An arrest has been made in the murder of Cash App founder Bob Lee.

San Francisco police have arrested a suspect in the April 4 stabbing death of Cash App founder Bob Lee, and say the alleged killer and his victim knew one another.

The San Francisco Police Department has made an arrest in the Bob Lee murder case.

K.J. Yossman Elon Musk has called his take-over of Twitter “quite painful” in an unexpected late-night interview with the BBC. The tech billionaire sat down with BBC North America tech reporter James Clayton at Twitter’s headquarters in San Francisco on Tuesday evening local time. Asked about his previous comments regarding Twitter being “painful,” Musk acknowledged that was still the case but added, “I wasn’t stabbed, like some people around here.” The comment is understood to refer to the murder of Cash app founder Bob Lee, who was stabbed to death in San Francisco last week.

“Star Trek: Picard” fans curious to see how the Paramount+ series comes to an end will have a chance to watch the final two episodes a day early, in a movie theater no less. 10 participating Imax theaters will showcase the last two episodes of the series on Wed, April 19, a day before the series finale is available to stream on Paramount+. The screenings will be free to attend and fans can sign up and register at http://startrekpicardfinalescreenings.com on Wed., April 12 at 10:00 a.m., PT/1:00 p.m.

McKinley Franklin author Paramount+ and CBS Studios have announced an Imax live screening opportunity for the final two episodes of their original series “Star Trek: Picard,” Variety can exclusively reveal. On Wednesday, April 19, ten participating Imax theaters in the U.S. will provide an early screening of the last two episodes of the third and final season, including the series finale, ahead of its Paramount+ debut on Thursday, April 20.  Tickets to the screenings are free and fans can sign up and register at http://startrekpicardfinalescreenings.com on Wednesday, April 12, at 10 a.m. PT/1 p.m. ET. The exclusive screening event will take place at 10 participating Imax theaters in Los Angeles, New York, Phoenix, San Francisco, Seattle, Orlando, Washington, D.C., Atlanta and Dallas.