Smith/Ward Maloney

Comedy steps up as a respite from our current woes

A funny thing happened on the way to 2021. Let Nicolas Cage, Rachel Brosnahan and Keegan-Michael Key provide comic relief from our current woes.

Selena Gomez hopes her knife skills make the cut in new season of 'Selena + Chef'

Selena Gomez is putting it on all the line -- including her fingers -- in the new season of "Selena + Chef."

'The White Tiger' presents a searing look at India's caste system

"The White Tiger" is one of those movies that would likely struggle to claw out much attention without Netflix's muscle behind it, underscoring the streaming service's ability to lead people to worthwhile films they might not see -- in this case, a sobering adaptation of Aravind Adiga's award-winning book that dissects India's caste system.

What Dakota Johnson's moving performance as a dying woman taught her a lot about living

Dakota Johnson's latest role in the poignant film "Our Friend" taught her life lessons she plans to carry with her.

Dave Chappelle asymptomatic after testing positive for Covid-19

Comedian Dave Chappelle has tested positive for Covid-19 but is asymptomatic, according to a statement from his representative obtained by the Hollywood Reporter.

Trump's 'reality TV presidency' gets a new, more produced look with Biden TV

Much has been written about Donald Trump's "TV presidency," and how the former reality-TV star sought to produce his time in the White House. Throughout his presidential campaign, however, Joe Biden's team -- in its adherence to Covid protocols -- has been shaped through the language of television, creating crowd-pleasing TV moments minus the crowds.

'In & Of Itself' brings Derek DelGaudio's unique magic act into your living room

Magic and monologues turn out to be a potent streaming combination, conjuring a taste of the theatrical experience that many sorely miss. The latest example, "In & Of Itself," transforms Derek DelGaudio's long-running stage show into an absorbing Hulu special, one that actually builds on the in-person experience by mashing together numerous shows as opposed to filming just one.

'The Simpsons' seemed to get it right again -- by predicting part of the inauguration

First things first: No, "The Simpsons" cannot actually predict the future.

Cheers, my dears. 'Bridgerton' is returning for a second season

"Bridgerton" fans can breathe a sigh of relief after Netflix announced a second season of the hit show.

What made 'Celebrating America' soar

Other inaugural celebrations have festooned chilly Washington, DC, nights in white ties, gilded gowns, and crowded dance floors. Not this one.

Dustin Diamond completes first round of chemotherapy for cancer treatment

Former "Saved by the Bell" star Dustin Diamond is making progress in his fight against cancer.

Chrissy Teigen lost a tooth in a Fruit Roll-Up at the inauguration

Good news and bad news for Chrissy Teigen. President Biden followed her on Twitter but she also lost a tooth.

'Walker' gets a new look with Jared Padalecki as the Texas Ranger

Occasionally a reboot comes along that's so different from the original you wonder why they bothered. "Walker" is one of those, dropping the "Texas Ranger" part of the title from the CBS series that signed off 20 years ago, and trading in Chuck Norris for "Supernatural's" Jared Padalecki, in what feels more like a family drama than a butt-kicking crime show.

'The Masked Dancer' reveals the celebrity hiding under Cricket

Singer Brian McKnight was revealed to be the person who has been performing under the Cricket costume on Wednesday's "The Masked Dancer."

Mick Norcross, 'The Only Way Is Essex' star, found dead at 57

British reality TV star Mick Norcross has been found dead at his home at the age of 57.

Randy Parton, the country singer and Dolly Parton's younger brother, has died after a battle with cancer

Country music singer Randy Parton, brother to Dolly Parton, has died after a battle with cancer.

Lady Gaga and Jennifer Lopez deliver moving inauguration performances

Lady Gaga and Jennifer Lopez are among the artists scheduled to perform at Wednesday's inauguration.

11 sources for comic relief this winter

The world was really ready for 2020 to end, but 2021 is feeling like a sequel no one asked for.

Marvel, like 'WandaVision,' looks to the future while holding on to the past

With its opening episodes, Marvel's "WandaVision" has turned out to be a pretty good symbol of the crossroads at which Disney's pop-culture titan finds itself: Trying to move forward without letting go of the past.

'The Muppet Show' is coming to Disney+

If you thought you'd never get a chance to stream "The Muppet Show," fuhgeddaboudit!

Chris Gethard's highly addictive 'Beautiful/Anonymous' podcast hits 250 episodes

Comedian Chris Gethard started a podcast a few years ago with the simple premise he would tweet out a phone number, answer a random call, and have an hour-long conversation with the individual on the the other end of the line.

Cole Sprouse not interested in a 'Suite Life of Zack and Cody' reboot

Sorry fans of "The Suite Life of Zack and Cody," but Cole Sprouse has moved on.

New Orleans Jazz Fest pushed to October due to Covid-19

The 2021 New Orleans Jazz Fest has been postponed until October, according to a statement posted on the festival's website.

Michael Douglas meets newborn grandson for the first time

Michael Douglas is a proud grandpa.

'One Night in Miami' packs a powerful dramatic punch

A fascinating historical meeting of the minds provides the foundation for Regina King's impressive feature film directorial debut in "One Night in Miami," a creative extrapolation about Malcolm X, Muhammad Ali, Jim Brown and Sam Cooke coming together in 1964. It's a small but riveting movie, anchored by a quartet of knockout performances.

See what's streaming in January

See some of what's streaming on Netflix, HBO Max, Disney+ and more in January.

'Tiger' puts Tiger Woods' life and career back under the microscope

There's inevitably a salacious aspect to "Tiger," an HBO documentary about the rise and fall of Tiger Woods, since what happened in Vegas -- and elsewhere -- definitely didn't stay there. Overall, though, this engrossing two-part film captures the forces that shaped the golf legend, renewing appreciation for his staggering talent while waving a cautionary flag regarding how it was forged.

'WandaVision' flexes some different muscles as Marvel adds its power to Disney+

Marvel flexes different muscles with "WandaVision," leveraging major assets while stretching its creative formula in this first series for Disney+. The result wields more of a scalpel than a hammer, wryly celebrating the history of television while slowly, very slowly, pulling the viewer into an enticing "The Twilight Zone"-esque mystery.

'Mr. Mayor' elects Ted Danson to play TV's latest politician

Ted Danson has a way of classing up even a so-so premise, and so it is with "Mr. Mayor," a new sitcom from the "30 Rock" tandem of Robert Carlock and Tina Fey. Returning to NBC fresh off "The Good Place," the show allows its star to cut loose as L.A.'s unlikely new mayor, which is a pretty good place to start.

'Locked Down' turns quarantine into a romantic heist movie for the Covid time capsule

Anyone who has felt their relationship tested by quarantine (no need to raise hands, we see you) will at least partially relate to "Locked Down," which takes the idea of a couple trapped by those circumstances, then builds an improbable heist plot around it. Thanks to Chiwetel Ejiofor and Anne Hathaway it's mildly watchable, but mostly an artifact that might look better after a few years in the Covid time capsule.