For this week’s B-List, big changes in the entertainment world: new awards categories, studio contracts, and Marvel losing its hold on the box office. Ella Smith has more.
WELCOME TO THE B-LIST, YOUR WEEKLY ROUNDUP OF CELEBRITY MESS AND POP CULTURE. THIS WEEK: GRAMMY NOMINATIONS, NEW MUSIC FROM PINK PANTHERESS, THE END OF THE ACTOR’S STRIKE, AND A DISAPPOINTING OPENING WEEKEND FOR THE MCU’S THE MARVELS.
GRAMMY NOMINATIONS WERE ANNOUNCED NOVEMBER 10TH. SZA LEADS WITH 9 NOMINATIONS, OWING TO THE RELEASE OF HER ALBUM SOS. BEHIND HER, TIED WITH 7 NOMINATIONS, ARE VICTORIA MONET, PHOEBE BRIDGERS, AND MIXING ENGINEER SERBAN GHENEA. THE RECORDING ACADEMY INTRODUCED 3 NEW CATEGORIES THIS YEAR IN THE HOPE OF CREATING A FAIRER NOMINATIONS AND AWARDS PROCESS. THE NEW CATEGORIES ARE: BEST AFRICAN MUSIC PERFORMANCE, BEST ALTERNATIVE JAZZ ALBUM, AND BEST POP DANCE RECORDING.
MISSING FROM NOMINATIONS IS RISING ARTIST PINK PANTHERESS, WHOSE DEBUT ALBUM, HEAVEN KNOWS, WAS RELEASED THIS PAST FRIDAY. THE ALBUM RECEIVED MIXED REVIEWS, GETTING A 6.4 ON PITCHFORK.
ON NOVEMBER 9TH, SAG AFTRA’S HISTORIC STRIKE ENDED AFTER 118 DAYS. 86% OF THE BOARD VOTED IN FAVOR TO THE TENTATIVE AGREEMENT WITH THE ALLIANCE OF MOTION PICTURE AND TELEVISION PRODUCERS, WHICH WILL GO THROUGH ITS RATIFICATION PROCESS IN THE FOLLOWING WEEKS. THE CONTRACT COVERS AI PROTECTIONS FOR ACTORS, COMPENSATION FOR PERFORMANCES IN STREAMING SERVICES, AND WAGE INCREASES. JUST WEEKS AFTER THE WRITERS GUILD OF AMERICA REACHED AN AGREEMENT WITH STUDIOS, THE END OF THE STRIKE MEANS A RETURN TO SETS AND PRESS TOURS FOR ACTORS, MANY OF WHOM CELEBRATED THE ACHIEVEMENT THURSDAY NIGHT.
THE MARVEL CINEMATIC UNIVERSE’S LATEST INSTALLMENT, THE MARVELS, DISAPPOINTS AT THE BOX OFFICE ITS OPENING WEEKEND. IT GROSSED A TOTAL OF $47 MILLION DOMESTICALLY, THE LOWEST FOR A MARVEL MOVIE SINCE 2015’S ANTMAN. THE FILM IS RATED FRESH ON ROTTEN TOMATOES WITH A RATING OF 62% MEANWHILE, VIDEO GAME ADAPTATION FIVE NIGHTS AT FREDDY’S SURPASSED $250 MILLION AT THE GLOBAL BOX OFFICE ON A BUDGET OF $20 MILLION LAST WEEK. TAYLOR SWIFT | THE ERAS TOUR, PRISCILLA, AND KILLERS OF THE FLOWER MOON REMAIN IN THE TOP 5 FOR LAST WEEK’S BOX OFFICE.
THE NEW YORK GIANTS NOW HAVE A 3 GAME LOSING STREAK AFTER LOSING 17-49 TO THE DALLAS COWBOYS. THE 76ERS NOW HAVE AN 8 GAME WINNING STREAK AFTER SCORING 136 POINTS TO THE PACERS 126 YESTERDAY. THE CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS LOST TO THE FLORIDA PANTHERS 3-4 YESTERDAY.
THAT’S ALL FOR THE B-LIST THIS WEEK. CHECK IN NEXT MONDAY TO HEAR ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS THIS WEEK IN POP CULTURE. FOR WNUR NEWS, I’M ELLA SMITH.
