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Steve

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'La La Land' wins top BAFTA Awards; Prince William and Kate Middleton attend gala
The contemporary musical romance La La Land was named Best Film of 2016 at the BAFTA Awards ceremony in London Sunday.

The film's leading lady Emma Stone also earned the Best Actress honor and Damien Chazelle won the Best Director title for helming the picture. La La Land won the awards for Best Original Music and Cinematography, as well.

Casey Affleck took home the Best Actor statuette for his performance in Manchester by the Sea, a heartbreaking drama that won Kenneth Lonergan the trophy for Best Original Screenplay.

I, Daniel Blake was named Best British Film, while 13th was declared Best Documentary, Son of Saul Best Foreign Language Film and Kubo and the Two Strings Best Animated Feature.

Lion garnered the accolades for Best Supporting Actor for Dev Patel and Best Adapted Screenplay for Luke Davies.

The Best Supporting Actress prize went to Viola Davis for her work in Fences and Tom Holland received the Rising Star Award.

Comedian Stephen Fry hosted the event at Royal Albert Hall where hundreds of high-profile artists, as well as Britain's Prince William and his wife Kate Middleton, gathered to celebrate excellence in cinema.


Beyonce, 'black-ish,' 'Hidden Figures' win big at the NAACP Image Awards
Beyoncé, Taraji P. Henson, the family sitcom black-ish and the NASA-themed movie Hidden Figures were the big winners at the 48th NAACP Image Awards in Pasadena Saturday night.

black-ish was named Outstanding Comedy Series, while its leads Anthony Anderson and Tracee Ellis Ross went home with the prizes for Outstanding Actor and Actress in a Comedy Series.

Henson picked up the statuettes for Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series for her work in Empire and Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture for her performance in Hidden Figures.

Hidden Figures was declared Outstanding Motion Picture, as well.

Queen Sugar won for Outstanding Drama Series, and the Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series trophy went to Sterling K. Brown for his turn in This Is Us.

The Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture title was bestowed upon Fences lead Denzel Washington and Dwayne Johnson was deemed Entertainer of the Year.

Beyoncé cleaned up in the music categories, winning for Outstanding Female Artist, Outstanding Duo, Group or Collaboration and Outstanding Song -- Contemporary for "Freedom" featuring Kendrick Lamar, Outstanding Music Video for "Formation" and Outstanding Album for Lemonade.

Anderson hosted the event at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium.


LOOSE LIPS:
"I love getting dressed up and looking beautiful. But that's one tiny piece of me."
--America Ferrera, on embracing other traits she has to offer, to Redbook



??? Guess Who ???
Which 'Westworld' actress is in talks to join Han Solo spinoff film?


Nick Cannon to leave 'America's Got Talent' amid drama
Nick Cannon will reportedly leave America's Got Talent after eight seasons as host.

The 36-year-old actor and television personality announced in a Facebook post Monday that he won't return to the NBC reality competition after the network reportedly took issue with a joke he made during a stand-up comedy special.

"After days of deliberating over some extremely disappointing news that I was being threatened with termination by Executives because of a comedy special that was only intended to bring communities closer together, I was to be punished for a joke. This has weighed heavily on my spirit," Cannon wrote.

"It was brought to my attention by my 'team' that NBC believed that I was in breach of contract because I had disparaged their brand," he elaborated. "I find myself in a dark place having to make a decision that I wish I didn't have to, but as a man, an artist and a voice for my community I will not be silenced, controlled or treated like a piece of property. There is no amount of money worth my dignity or my integrity."

"To be publicly reprimanded and ridiculed over a joke about my own race is completely wrong and I have to do something about it," the star said. "I wish AGT and NBC the best in its upcoming season but I can not see myself returning."

TMZ reported Friday that Cannon was filming a stand-up comedy special more than a month ago when he joked that NBC was making him lose his "black card" -- suggesting the network wanted him to tone down his persona on AGT.

Sources said the joke violated Cannon's contract with NBC, which reportedly prohibits the star from discussing the network without permission. Executives reportedly discussed firing Cannon before deciding to keep him on.

Cannon made his debut as host in Season 4 of America's Got Talent, which was renewed for a 12th season in August. The actor made headlines last week for saying ex-wife Mariah Carey's relationship with Bryan Tanaka and E! reality series seem "fake."


'LEGO Batman' director Chris McKay talks about mocking beloved superheroes
The LEGO Batman Movie director Chris McKay says the jokes the film makes at the expense of superheroes is done with the utmost affection.

The critically acclaimed, animated adventure is in theaters now. Featuring the voices of Will Arnett, Rosario Dawson, Ralph Fiennes and Michael Cera, it is a colorful, pop-culture extravaganza that mines for laughs -- among other superhero properties -- Suicide Squad and Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice.

Asked by UPI in a phone interview Thursday if there was ever a danger of him going too far in teasing the iconic figures, McKay replied: "The thing that everyone's really nervous about, you know... Warner Bros. is very committed to those movies and loves those movies and we're doing a different thing."

"I'm the first guy in line to go see any of that stuff. I love superhero movies. I love Batman. I want them all to be great, even though they are all different," he added. "Even [LEGO Batman dialogue lines] like, 'Iron Man sucks...' and that kind of thing. We're all friends and we're all kind of making fun. It's like the way your friends might rib you about something or kid you about something... A lot of it is coming out of love or history... The audiences have a relationship with these characters and a relationship with these different iterations. They had a relationship with Suicide Squad long before they went to go see the movie and, also, maybe, a relationship with an actor like Will Smith and that kind of thing. They come to it with a lot of stuff and I think that's why a movie like ours, hopefully, can work in that we know that you come to the movie with a lot of baggage and we like playing with that."


??? Guess Who ???
Which 'Westworld' actress is in talks to join Han Solo spinoff film?

Thandie Newton is being eyed to join the cast of Disney's upcoming Star Wars standalone film about a young Han Solo.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, the Westworld star is in negotiations to join the film starring Alden Ehrenreich, who is stepping into the title role made famous by Harrison Ford.

Newton's potential role is being kept under wraps.

In addition to Ehrenreich, the cast also includes Donald Glover as Lando Calrissian, Emilia Clarke in an unspecified role and Woody Harrelson, who is rumored to be portraying Han Solo's mentor.

Fleabag actress Phoebe Waller-Bridge is also in talks for a key role in the project that takes place before A New Hope.

Directed by Phil Lord and Chris Miller, the Han Solo spinoff film is expected to arrive in theaters on May 25, 2018.