Regression – Syndication

Taylor Swift will become the most awarded artist in MTV VMAs history: A guide to the 2026 show

Taylor Swift will break records at the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards on Sunday. She will receive the inaugural Artist Director Honors, making her the most awarded artist in VMA history. Currently, Swift is tied with Beyoncé, each having 30 awards. The new honor will bring her total to 31. The awards show will air live on CBS and stream on Paramount+. Madonna leads with 11 nominations, followed by Swift with nine. The event will feature performances by Madonna and others. Nirvana will receive the Video Vanguard Award. Fan voting ends September 25. The two-hour show will broadcast live on CBS on Sunday, Sept. 27, at 7:30 p.m. Eastern and 4:30 p.m. Pacific.

NBC's 'Line of Fire' is what happens when you combine a procedural TV show with a soap opera

TV creator Joshua Safran is introducing "Line of Fire," a new NBC show blending elements of a crime procedural with a soap opera. The series follows a family of law enforcement officers, including an FBI agent and a U.S. marshal, whose work and home lives overlap dramatically. Safran, known for "Quantico" and "Gossip Girl," mixes these influences with a touch of French farce. The show stars Peter Krause and Hope Davis as a complex couple at the heart of the Hollingsworth family. Each episode features a new case while exploring long-term story arcs, including a deadly conspiracy. Jenna Bush Hager serves as an executive producer.

Celebrity birthdays for the week of Sept. 27-Oct. 3 include Naomi Watts and Tommy Lee

Celebrities having birthdays during the week of Sept. 27-Oct. 3 include actor Naomi Watts, Motley Crue drummer Tommy Lee and rapper Lil’ Wayne. Actor Mira Sorvino turns 59, singer Halsey reaches 32 and “This Is Us” actor Chrissy Metz welcomes 46. Other celebrities with big days include actor Kieran Culkin, rapper T-Pain and actor-comedian Zach Galifianakis. Actor Brie Larson turns 37, actor-talk show host Kelly Ripa hits 56 and singer Brittany Howard of Alabama Shakes reaches 38. Other musicians celebrating include rapper A$AP Rocky, singer Gwen Stefani, singer Kevin Richardson of the Backstreet Boys and singer G. Love.

Tiny wild cat newly identified as a species draws curious visitors in Bolivia

A tiny wild cat newly identified as a species in Bolivia has become an unlikely tourist attraction. Visitors have flocked to a wildlife sanctuary near La Paz hoping to catch a glimpse of Tigrino. The small, spotted feline species was described by scientists last week. Most visitors won’t get the chance to see it, though. Tigrino is easily stressed by people, so caretakers keep him out of public view. The cat weighs just 3 pounds and is smaller than the average house cat. Scientists say Leopardus tilcayo is the first living wild cat species to be described in more than a century.

Louisa Proske’s Met debut will be ‘Macbeth,’ ‘a terrifying tale for terrifying times’

Louisa Proske is making her Met debut directing Verdi’s “Macbeth.” The opportunity for the co-founder of the scrappy Heartbeat Opera company arose less than a year ago after another director left. Met general manager Peter Gelb chose Proske for her innovative work. She quickly assembled a team, including choreographer Jorrell Lawyer-Jefferson and designers with Met experience. Proske is familiar with the Shakespeare play and has immersed her cast in what she calls “a terrifying tale for terrifying times.” The production opens Tuesday and runs for 10 performances. Despite the bigger stage, Proske says she aims to maintain Heartbeat’s inventive storytelling values.

Cheers! Wrexham's celebrity owners buy 'The Turf' pub that's adjacent to the club's stadium

The pub that is adjacent to Wrexham’s Racecourse stadium and a regular feature in the award-winning “Welcome to Wrexham” series has been bought by the club’s celebrity co-owners. Wrexham’s ownership fronted by Hollywood stars Ryan Reynolds and Rob Mac describes the acquisition of The Turf as a “continuation of the strategy to protect the future of the club and its interests by ring fencing key areas related to the life of the club.” It was inside The Turf where Wrexham AFC was founded in 1864. The pub has a central role in the TV docuseries that is into its fifth season and has helped to make Wrexham a popular club around the world.

Can 'A Different World' sequel change lives like the original series? Hillman is back in session

Netflix’s new “A Different World” sequel arrives with high expectations. The original series inspired many viewers in their college and career choices. Kadeem Hardison, who played Dwayne Wayne, still hears about its impact. The sequel premieres Sept. 24. It follows Deborah Wayne, the daughter of Dwayne and Whitley, as she starts at Hillman College. Creator Felicia Pride wants the new series to resonate with today’s generation, tackling issues like social media and identity. The cast aims to create relatable characters for young Black women. They hope the show connects with audiences despite the competitive streaming landscape.

Rebel Wilson appears in Sydney court over 'The Deb' producers' sabotage allegations

Australian actor Rebel Wilson has returned to a court in Sydney over her directorial debut, “The Deb,” with producers accusing her of sabotaging the 2024 musical comedy.AI Film Production Limited began suing Wilson in the New South Wales state Supreme Court on Monday alleging she undermined and blocked the release of the film, causing the Britain-based production company financial and reputational damage.Wilson won a defamation suit in the Federal Court in Sydney in July. That suit had been brought by the star of the “The Deb,” Australian actor Charlotte MacInnes.Wilson’s social media posts in 2024 are at the center of both suits.

Sound of Music museum opens where the von Trapp story met Hollywood

An Austrian museum is now alive with “The Sound of Music.” The first-ever venue devoted to the 1965 film has opened Sunday in Salzburg. The museum is housed in the 17th-century Hellbrunn Palace, where many scenes were filmed. It distinguishes the Rodgers & Hammerstein musical from the real-life von Trapp family story. Visitors can see nearly 450 objects, including props, costumes and the famous gazebo. Fans of the film, which won five Oscars, have long flocked to Salzburg. The exhibition is open daily until Nov. 1 and will reopen next March.

As Russian strikes destroy millions of books, Ukraine's literary future hangs in the balance

Ukraine’s book industry is facing its worst crisis yet, driven by targeted Russian attacks on publishing infrastructure. A Russian drone recently struck a major publishing house, Ranok, in Kharkiv, destroying millions of books, including textbooks for schools. Ukraine’s Ministry of Culture says more than 13 million books have been lost in two months, and about a quarter of the country’s printing capacity has been destroyed. The destruction threatens the future of Ukrainian literature, as publishers are expected to invest less in debut authors, and small independent houses may close altogether. Publishing industry leaders say that without outside financial support Ukrainian publishing may not make it through the crisis.

What to stream: 'A Different World,' 'Toy Story 5' and Kenny Chesney

Disney+ is adding “Toy Story 5" to its lineup this week. The film about toys battling tech for Bonnie's attention arrives on the service on Wednesday. HBO Max is offering “Backrooms,” a thriller by YouTuber-turned-filmmaker Kane Parsons, starting Friday. Paramount+ features “Tuner,” a thriller about a piano tuner caught in the criminal underworld. Netflix debuts “UNABOMBER” on Friday, with Jacob Tremblay as Ted Kaczynski. Kenny Chesney's 21st album, “Silver Sands Marina,” is out this week. Tinashe's new album “Popstar” showcases her experimental pop style. New series include “Brothers” with Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson on Apple TV, and a revival of “A Different World” on Netflix. “S.W.A.T.: Exiles” premieres on Starz.

For Palestinian aid groups, Macklemore's $1M pledge brings relief and attention to ongoing suffering

Macklemore's $1 million donation pledge is coming at a critical time for Palestinian relief nonprofits. The Grammy-winning rapper committed to donate his net earnings from Ed Sheeran's Loop Tour after he was dropped for making pro-Palestinian comments onstage. With his gift, Macklemore wants to shift the attention now to where he says it belongs: the Palestinian people. More than a funding windfall, the recipients' leaders welcome the renewed public awareness to the ongoing suffering they continue to treat amid a fragile ceasefire.

Converse apologizes and pulls sneaker ad that critics said included racist imagery

Converse has removed a social media ad after backlash over an image critics said evoked racist symbols. The Instagram ad featured K-pop singer Karina holding a pair of Chuck 70 X sneakers. Critics say a white triangular image created by lighting on Karina's skirt resembled a Ku Klux Klan hood, and she held the sneakers in a way that looked like the dangling feet of a lynching victim. Converse, owned by Nike, apologized in a statement, saying it understands why the image was upsetting and promising to do better. Some online commenters defended Converse, saying they believed the ad's imagery wasn't intentional. Converse declined to provide further details about the ad on Sunday.