On this episode of the Post Podcast Hays Arts Council executive director Brenda Meder stops by to share the latest from the council.

On this episode of the Post Podcast Hays Arts Council executive director Brenda Meder stops by to share the latest from the council.<div><iframe title="Hays Arts Council prepares next exhibitions" allowtransparency="true" height="300" width="100%" style="border: none; min-width: min(100%, 430px);" scrolling="no" data-name="pb-iframe-player" src="https://www.podbean.com/player-v2/?i=gd98a-12cfd14-pb&from=pb6admin&square=1&share=1&download=1&rtl=0&fonts=Arial&skin=3267a3&font-color=auto&logo_link=podcast_page&btn-skin=3267a3&size=300" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>

🎙 Post Podcast: Hays Arts Council prepares next exhibitions

<a href="https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search/?query=byline:%22MARK%20KENNEDY%22&amp;mediaType=text&amp;st=keyword&amp;sortOrder=newest">By MARK KENNEDY AP Entertainment Writer</a>

NEW YORK (AP) — There's a new nature documentary series that promises to show viewers incredible animal behavior in vibrant clarity. Heard that all before? Well, this one is on steroids.

<a href="https://disneyplusoriginals.disney.com/show/super-natural">“Super/Natural,”</a>&nbsp;a six-part series from National Geographic now streaming on Disney+, has tapped “Avatar” creator James Cameron as executive producer, and he's added special effects on top of leading-edge filmmaking technology.

The effects sometimes morph the animals into something like stars in a Marvel movie, with their bellows distorting the air, lumbering attacks that cause shock waves in sand or pheromones from an insect rendered as bursting noxious clouds. Even trees light up when sugars move through their roots.

“We’re not actually falsifying or turning it into a superhero movie. We’re giving an access portal for our limited senses into a natural world that goes far, far beyond anything that we can sense directly,” Cameron told reporters recently.

The episodes are arranged by theme — eat or be eaten, the mating game and bloodlines are some of the topics — and viewers get a visual treat as cameras capture everything from fireflies in Mexico producing a synchronized light show to bottlenose dolphins teaming up with Brazilian fishermen to catch mullet.

Videographers armed with the latest science data underwent 80 animal shoots in 25 countries to create the series, using such high-tech gear as high-speed cameras and drones. Cameron listed what they tried to capture — infrasound, ultrasound, ultraviolet and infrared, among them.

“What’s our purpose in this? Not just to entertain, but absolutely to teach and to show the wonder, the majesty, the complexity, of nature,” said Cameron. “We’re going to pull out every trick we know as entertainers, as storytellers, to try to get that engagement.”

So unlike a traditional nature documentary where adding effects is a strict non-no, “Super/Natural” allows us to feel what bat sonar might look like, see what a bumblebee sees or how bears communicate with invisible clues.

“The bear can smell pheromones, but we can’t see it. It’s a visual medium; it’s not a smell medium,” he said. “It is real. It’s just that we can’t see it. So we have to use the effects to see as they see or to smell as they smell.”

The series is narrated by Benedict Cumberbatch, who is lively, sly and delicious in his descriptions. "The female of the species is into some pretty freaky stuff,” he says of vampire spiders. Of cicadas popping out after 17 years underground, he drily adds: “America’s biggest speed dating event is about to begin.”

Cameron was full of praise for Cumberbatch: “He doesn’t just narrate it; he acts it,” he said. “He gets you inside what’s happening in a way that I think is very relatable.”

Cameron, an ardent environmentalist and vegan, sees “Super/Natural” as a logical extension of his latest filmmaking, which includes the upcoming fantasy&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/james-cameron-avatar-sequel-blockbuster-movies-b6d3d8a5877e129a4b4ece1fc8c077af">“Avatar: The Way of Water.”</a>&nbsp;In both, he hopes to reawaken a sense of wonder for the natural world.

“The natural history stuff is not just a side gig to making ‘Avatar’ movies. To me, they go together perfectly as something that’s equally exciting to me,” he said. “It always awakens in me this sense of amazement at how complex nature is.”

That amazement is captured in the series with images of glow-in-the-dark flying squirrels soaring the length of a football field, burrowing owls copying the sound of a snake rattle to scare away predators and devil rays leaping 6 feet out of the ocean.

Cameron's last documentary series on animals was “Secrets of the Whales" narrated by Sigourney Weaver. The director has fond memories from growing up in Canada of exploring the woods, trapping insects and watching birds.

“It blows your mind how amazing nature is, things that we just take for granted, and how nature has developed all these different amazing strategies for these animals and these plants over millions of years.”

He also took a gentle swipe at the attention the latest images from the James Webb Space Telescope have garnered, from Neptune's rings to galaxy clusters.

“This is the only planet we know of for sure — evidence-based — that has life. And it’s an amazing planet,” he said. "There’s hundreds of millions of species here as opposed to Mars, where we don’t even know if there’s one species.

“I love Mars. I love exploration in space and underwater. But we have to take care of this planet. We have to understand it before we destroy it.”

<a href="https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search/?query=byline:%22MARK%20KENNEDY%22&amp;mediaType=text&amp;st=keyword&amp;sortOrder=newest">By MARK KENNEDY AP Entertainment Writer</a>NEW YORK (AP) — There's a new nature documentary series that promises to show viewers incredible animal behavior in vibrant clarity. Heard that all before? Well, this one is on steroids.<a href="https://disneyplusoriginals.disney.com/show/super-natural">“Super/Natural,”</a>&nbsp;a six-part series from National Geographic now streaming on Disney+, has tapped “Avatar” creator James Cameron as executive producer, and he's added special effects on top of leading-edge filmmaking technology.The effects sometimes morph the animals into something like stars in a Marvel movie, with their bellows distorting the air, lumbering attacks that cause shock waves in sand or pheromones from an insect rendered as bursting noxious clouds. Even trees light up when sugars move through their roots.“We’re not actually falsifying or turning it into a superhero movie. We’re giving an access portal for our limited senses into a natural world that goes far, far beyond anything that we can sense directly,” Cameron told reporters recently.The episodes are arranged by theme — eat or be eaten, the mating game and bloodlines are some of the topics — and viewers get a visual treat as cameras capture everything from fireflies in Mexico producing a synchronized light show to bottlenose dolphins teaming up with Brazilian fishermen to catch mullet.Videographers armed with the latest science data underwent 80 animal shoots in 25 countries to create the series, using such high-tech gear as high-speed cameras and drones. Cameron listed what they tried to capture — infrasound, ultrasound, ultraviolet and infrared, among them.“What’s our purpose in this? Not just to entertain, but absolutely to teach and to show the wonder, the majesty, the complexity, of nature,” said Cameron. “We’re going to pull out every trick we know as entertainers, as storytellers, to try to get that engagement.”So unlike a traditional nature documentary where adding effects is a strict non-no, “Super/Natural” allows us to feel what bat sonar might look like, see what a bumblebee sees or how bears communicate with invisible clues.“The bear can smell pheromones, but we can’t see it. It’s a visual medium; it’s not a smell medium,” he said. “It is real. It’s just that we can’t see it. So we have to use the effects to see as they see or to smell as they smell.”The series is narrated by Benedict Cumberbatch, who is lively, sly and delicious in his descriptions. "The female of the species is into some pretty freaky stuff,” he says of vampire spiders. Of cicadas popping out after 17 years underground, he drily adds: “America’s biggest speed dating event is about to begin.”Cameron was full of praise for Cumberbatch: “He doesn’t just narrate it; he acts it,” he said. “He gets you inside what’s happening in a way that I think is very relatable.”Cameron, an ardent environmentalist and vegan, sees “Super/Natural” as a logical extension of his latest filmmaking, which includes the upcoming fantasy&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/james-cameron-avatar-sequel-blockbuster-movies-b6d3d8a5877e129a4b4ece1fc8c077af">“Avatar: The Way of Water.”</a>&nbsp;In both, he hopes to reawaken a sense of wonder for the natural world.“The natural history stuff is not just a side gig to making ‘Avatar’ movies. To me, they go together perfectly as something that’s equally exciting to me,” he said. “It always awakens in me this sense of amazement at how complex nature is.”That amazement is captured in the series with images of glow-in-the-dark flying squirrels soaring the length of a football field, burrowing owls copying the sound of a snake rattle to scare away predators and devil rays leaping 6 feet out of the ocean.Cameron's last documentary series on animals was “Secrets of the Whales" narrated by Sigourney Weaver. The director has fond memories from growing up in Canada of exploring the woods, trapping insects and watching birds.“It blows your mind how amazing nature is, things that we just take for granted, and how nature has developed all these different amazing strategies for these animals and these plants over millions of years.”He also took a gentle swipe at the attention the latest images from the James Webb Space Telescope have garnered, from Neptune's rings to galaxy clusters.“This is the only planet we know of for sure — evidence-based — that has life. And it’s an amazing planet,” he said. "There’s hundreds of millions of species here as opposed to Mars, where we don’t even know if there’s one species.“I love Mars. I love exploration in space and underwater. But we have to take care of this planet. We have to understand it before we destroy it.”

James Cameron turns to Earth before release of new 'Avatar'

<a href="https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search/?query=byline:%22JOE%20REEDY%22&amp;mediaType=text&amp;st=keyword&amp;sortOrder=newest">By JOE REEDY &nbsp;AP Sports Writer</a>

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Amazon Prime Video's first regular-season game as the exclusive home of “Thursday Night Football” was a big hit.

Kansas City’s 27-24 victory over the Los Angeles Chargers last Thursday averaged 15.3 million viewers across all platforms according to Nielsen and Amazon's first party measurement.

Prime Video vice president Jay Marine said in a note to staff earlier this week that “our measurement shows that the audience numbers exceeded all of our expectations for viewership.”

The game averaged 13.0 million using only Nielsen's ratings. That is a 47% increase from last year's Week 2 game between Washington and the New York Giants, which averaged 8.84 million on NFL Network.

It was also the most-watched program across broadcast or cable, with CBS' “Young Sheldon” coming in second at 3.5 million.

Amazon has told advertisers it is estimating an average audience of 12.6 million viewers for the season based on Nielsen numbers. The additional numbers from Amazon's tracking comes from the company's ability to measure viewing across connected TVs, their apps and who might be watching a separate feed on Twitch.

Amazon signed a three-year agreement with Nielsen last month to track ratings. It is the first time Nielsen is tracking and include ratings from a streaming service.

The game also brought in a record number of subscribers to the company's Prime service. Marine said signups to Prime during the game outpaced Prime Day, Cyber Monday and Black Friday.

This is the first season of an 11-year agreement for Prime Video to air 15 Thursday night games.

<a href="https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search/?query=byline:%22JOE%20REEDY%22&amp;mediaType=text&amp;st=keyword&amp;sortOrder=newest">By JOE REEDY &nbsp;AP Sports Writer</a>LOS ANGELES (AP) — Amazon Prime Video's first regular-season game as the exclusive home of “Thursday Night Football” was a big hit.Kansas City’s 27-24 victory over the Los Angeles Chargers last Thursday averaged 15.3 million viewers across all platforms according to Nielsen and Amazon's first party measurement.Prime Video vice president Jay Marine said in a note to staff earlier this week that “our measurement shows that the audience numbers exceeded all of our expectations for viewership.”The game averaged 13.0 million using only Nielsen's ratings. That is a 47% increase from last year's Week 2 game between Washington and the New York Giants, which averaged 8.84 million on NFL Network.It was also the most-watched program across broadcast or cable, with CBS' “Young Sheldon” coming in second at 3.5 million.Amazon has told advertisers it is estimating an average audience of 12.6 million viewers for the season based on Nielsen numbers. The additional numbers from Amazon's tracking comes from the company's ability to measure viewing across connected TVs, their apps and who might be watching a separate feed on Twitch.Amazon signed a three-year agreement with Nielsen last month to track ratings. It is the first time Nielsen is tracking and include ratings from a streaming service.The game also brought in a record number of subscribers to the company's Prime service. Marine said signups to Prime during the game outpaced Prime Day, Cyber Monday and Black Friday.This is the first season of an 11-year agreement for Prime Video to air 15 Thursday night games.

Prime Video averages 15.3M viewers in its NFL season opener

The Copper Street Brass is the premier brass chamber ensemble in Minnesota and one of only a handful of self-sustaining brass groups in the country. They were founded in 2008 as a professionally trained classical chamber music ensemble with two trumpets, horn, trombone and tuba. They perform&nbsp;exclusively their own music, which is an original blend of musical styles from Mozart to&nbsp;Madonna, and&nbsp;perform dozens of concerts and outreach programs each season.&nbsp;In Colby, they will present “That 70s Show," which includes music from 1770s, 1870s and 1970s.&nbsp;

The Mission of the Copper Street Brass is to represent the “Evolution of the Brass Quintet” through inventive concerts, engaging educational programs, and original musical arrangements. Also used in instrumentation are keyboards, guitar, percussion, and electronic instruments. Copper Street Brass performs their concert at 3 p.m. CDT Sunday, Oct. 2, in the Cultural Arts Center, Colby, KS. Partial support for this program is given by the Dane G. Hansen Foundation. Admission is season ticket or at the door; Adults, $20; Students, $10.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/9/1663681211371.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>News releaseThe Copper Street Brass is the premier brass chamber ensemble in Minnesota and one of only a handful of self-sustaining brass groups in the country. They were founded in 2008 as a professionally trained classical chamber music ensemble with two trumpets, horn, trombone and tuba. They perform&nbsp;exclusively their own music, which is an original blend of musical styles from Mozart to&nbsp;Madonna, and&nbsp;perform dozens of concerts and outreach programs each season.&nbsp;In Colby, they will present “That 70s Show," which includes music from 1770s, 1870s and 1970s.&nbsp;The Mission of the Copper Street Brass is to represent the “Evolution of the Brass Quintet” through inventive concerts, engaging educational programs, and original musical arrangements. Also used in instrumentation are keyboards, guitar, percussion, and electronic instruments. Copper Street Brass performs their concert at 3 p.m. CDT Sunday, Oct. 2, in the Cultural Arts Center, Colby, KS. Partial support for this program is given by the Dane G. Hansen Foundation. Admission is season ticket or at the door; Adults, $20; Students, $10.

Copper Street Brass will present 'That 70s Show' in Colby

<a href="https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search/?query=byline:%22STEPHEN%20SMITH%22&amp;mediaType=text&amp;st=keyword&amp;sortOrder=newest">By STEPHEN SMITH Associated Press</a>

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Actor Anthony Mackie was not carrying his Captain America shield when he returned to his hometown of New Orleans to help repair hurricane-damaged roofs but for people in his old neighborhood knowing their tarp-covered roofs were getting repaired was a blockbuster hit.

Mackie is working with GAF, one of the country’s leading roofing manufacturers, to fix roofs for homeowners in New Orleans who sustained damage during last year’s Hurricane Ida. The project is especially close to Mackie’s heart. The actor who is currently portraying Captain America in the Marvel Cinematic Universe grew up in New Orleans working at his family’s roofing business.

“It gives me a sense of pride that I’m doing my people a service. I know what people go through in this neighborhood because I was born in this neighborhood, I grew up in this neighborhood,” he said. “It’s important to me to bring back the gifts and blessings I received outside the city.”

GAF, a subsidiary of Standard Industries that makes things like shingles, underlayment and other roofing related products for homes and businesses, has committed to installing 500 roofs throughout the Gulf Region. That includes 150 roofs in the 7th Ward of New Orleans, an area that was hammered by both Hurricane Katrina in 2005 and then Ida that hit on the same day 16 years later. The roofing effort is part of the company’s Community Matters program started in 2020 that has already repaired or replaced 3,000 roofs.

New Orleans resident Larae Barard said she had just been talking with her mother about her concerns for her roof when she got the call saying her roof would be fixed.

“They said, ‘We want to fix your roof.’ I said, ’Really?! This must be a miracle,” she said. “After Ida, my roof was in terrible shape. It had a blue tarp on it for now almost a year and a month... So thank God I have a new roof.”

GAF is also training people in roofing skills through their GAF Roofing Academy. They teamed with Rebuilding Together New Orleans who is supplying the labor while GAF is supplying the materials and paying the costs. William Stoudt, Executive Director of Rebuilding Together New Orleans, said the groups were specifically looking to help those who didn’t have the financial or physical wherewithal to repair their roof on their own — homeowners who were often elderly or disabled and were making less than $35,000 a year.

“Who are the people that are going to struggle the most to come back? We’re talking about low-income homeowners. We’re talking about elderly, disabled, maybe veterans or single female family head of household. We’re talking about people who make New Orleans who it is,” Stoudt said.

The company and Mackie were in New Orleans recently to remove blue tarps on homes that had been damaged by Ida and replace the tarps with new roofs.

Mackie, whose family owns Mackie One Construction, grew up working in the roofing business before going on to an acting career that has included such hits “We Are Marshall” and “The Hurt Locker.” In recent years he’s appeared in numerous Avengers movies as Sam Wilson — aka Falcon — and is taking over the Captain America role.

Mackie jokingly remembers the time he fell off a roof when he was working in his family’s construction business. A thick layer of mud cushioned his fall. That memory didn’t stop him this time around from getting back on the roof and helping pull off tarps and pop off old shingles. Mackie said the resources that GAF is putting toward the project is helping people who wouldn’t be able to otherwise afford to get their home repaired.

“There’s so many houses in this neighborhood and city that are still tarped. When you fly into New Orleans, it’s become a sea of blue tarps. The hundred and fifty homes that GAF is doing in the 7th ward, that breaks a lot of barriers down for people that won’t be able to afford to do that. The 500 homes that they’ve committed to doing, that breaks a lot of barriers down for people,” he said.

<a href="https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search/?query=byline:%22STEPHEN%20SMITH%22&amp;mediaType=text&amp;st=keyword&amp;sortOrder=newest">By STEPHEN SMITH Associated Press</a>NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Actor Anthony Mackie was not carrying his Captain America shield when he returned to his hometown of New Orleans to help repair hurricane-damaged roofs but for people in his old neighborhood knowing their tarp-covered roofs were getting repaired was a blockbuster hit.Mackie is working with GAF, one of the country’s leading roofing manufacturers, to fix roofs for homeowners in New Orleans who sustained damage during last year’s Hurricane Ida. The project is especially close to Mackie’s heart. The actor who is currently portraying Captain America in the Marvel Cinematic Universe grew up in New Orleans working at his family’s roofing business.“It gives me a sense of pride that I’m doing my people a service. I know what people go through in this neighborhood because I was born in this neighborhood, I grew up in this neighborhood,” he said. “It’s important to me to bring back the gifts and blessings I received outside the city.”GAF, a subsidiary of Standard Industries that makes things like shingles, underlayment and other roofing related products for homes and businesses, has committed to installing 500 roofs throughout the Gulf Region. That includes 150 roofs in the 7th Ward of New Orleans, an area that was hammered by both Hurricane Katrina in 2005 and then Ida that hit on the same day 16 years later. The roofing effort is part of the company’s Community Matters program started in 2020 that has already repaired or replaced 3,000 roofs.New Orleans resident Larae Barard said she had just been talking with her mother about her concerns for her roof when she got the call saying her roof would be fixed.“They said, ‘We want to fix your roof.’ I said, ’Really?! This must be a miracle,” she said. “After Ida, my roof was in terrible shape. It had a blue tarp on it for now almost a year and a month... So thank God I have a new roof.”GAF is also training people in roofing skills through their GAF Roofing Academy. They teamed with Rebuilding Together New Orleans who is supplying the labor while GAF is supplying the materials and paying the costs. William Stoudt, Executive Director of Rebuilding Together New Orleans, said the groups were specifically looking to help those who didn’t have the financial or physical wherewithal to repair their roof on their own — homeowners who were often elderly or disabled and were making less than $35,000 a year.“Who are the people that are going to struggle the most to come back? We’re talking about low-income homeowners. We’re talking about elderly, disabled, maybe veterans or single female family head of household. We’re talking about people who make New Orleans who it is,” Stoudt said.The company and Mackie were in New Orleans recently to remove blue tarps on homes that had been damaged by Ida and replace the tarps with new roofs.Mackie, whose family owns Mackie One Construction, grew up working in the roofing business before going on to an acting career that has included such hits “We Are Marshall” and “The Hurt Locker.” In recent years he’s appeared in numerous Avengers movies as Sam Wilson — aka Falcon — and is taking over the Captain America role.Mackie jokingly remembers the time he fell off a roof when he was working in his family’s construction business. A thick layer of mud cushioned his fall. That memory didn’t stop him this time around from getting back on the roof and helping pull off tarps and pop off old shingles. Mackie said the resources that GAF is putting toward the project is helping people who wouldn’t be able to otherwise afford to get their home repaired.“There’s so many houses in this neighborhood and city that are still tarped. When you fly into New Orleans, it’s become a sea of blue tarps. The hundred and fifty homes that GAF is doing in the 7th ward, that breaks a lot of barriers down for people that won’t be able to afford to do that. The 500 homes that they’ve committed to doing, that breaks a lot of barriers down for people,” he said.

'Captain America' fixes hurricane hit roofs in New Orleans

Smoky Valley Arts and Folklife Center

LINDSBORG - A look at the works of John Heter will be the next exhibition at the Smoky Valley Arts and Folklife Center in Lindsborg.

The center, in partnership with The Raymer Society, will host a John Heter (1944-2013) retrospective exhibition from Sept. 30 through Oct. 30. A reception for the exhibition is scheduled for 2-4 p.m. Oct. 2.

The Smoky Valley Arts and Folklife Center, 114 1/2 S. Main Street, is open 1-5 p.m. Friday through Sunday.

Heter was a lifelong artist and craftsman who worked in many mediums and was a talented musician. He came to Lindsborg in 1970 to attend Bethany College and spent the rest of his life as a Lindsborg resident. His early paintings were the street scenes of Lindsborg, as viewed from his southwest corner studio/apartment in the second story of the Sundstrom Building. Heter and many other Bethany art students lived in these second-story apartments called “The Slums” during the late 1960s and 1970s.

Heter worked for The Simmental Shield Magazine and Kansas Business News in the 1970s as a layout and paste-up artist. Several of his paintings were featured on the covers of these publications. After his tenure with the magazines, he worked for MCDS in McPherson, until his retirement in 2006. He continued to work on his art after retiring.

Over his life, Heter painted scenes from his experiences in various subjects. His unique style of not blending the colors in his work gives a “paint by number” effect that makes his paintings distinctive. Heter was always experimenting with different mediums, including scratchboard drawings, scrimshaw on old piano ivories, and assemblages from piano parts that he called “Kachinas” or “Piano Men.” Drawing from his musical talents, he created musical instruments as art objects and as actual working instruments later in his life.

This retrospective represents many of the mediums in which Heter worked. Heter’s work is in private collections thought out the United States, and the works in this exhibition are all on loan from many of them.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/9/1663808745766.jpeg" alt=""Untitled," a view of the corner of Lincoln and Main from John Heter's studio in the Sundstrom, circa the mid-70s. Image courtesy Smoky Valley Arts and Folklife Center." />
 <figcaption>"Untitled," a view of the corner of Lincoln and Main from John Heter's studio in the Sundstrom, circa the mid-70s. Image courtesy Smoky Valley Arts and Folklife Center.</figcaption>
 </figure>Smoky Valley Arts and Folklife CenterLINDSBORG - A look at the works of John Heter will be the next exhibition at the Smoky Valley Arts and Folklife Center in Lindsborg.The center, in partnership with The Raymer Society, will host a John Heter (1944-2013) retrospective exhibition from Sept. 30 through Oct. 30. A reception for the exhibition is scheduled for 2-4 p.m. Oct. 2.The Smoky Valley Arts and Folklife Center, 114 1/2 S. Main Street, is open 1-5 p.m. Friday through Sunday.Heter was a lifelong artist and craftsman who worked in many mediums and was a talented musician. He came to Lindsborg in 1970 to attend Bethany College and spent the rest of his life as a Lindsborg resident. His early paintings were the street scenes of Lindsborg, as viewed from his southwest corner studio/apartment in the second story of the Sundstrom Building. Heter and many other Bethany art students lived in these second-story apartments called “The Slums” during the late 1960s and 1970s.Heter worked for The Simmental Shield Magazine and Kansas Business News in the 1970s as a layout and paste-up artist. Several of his paintings were featured on the covers of these publications. After his tenure with the magazines, he worked for MCDS in McPherson, until his retirement in 2006. He continued to work on his art after retiring.Over his life, Heter painted scenes from his experiences in various subjects. His unique style of not blending the colors in his work gives a “paint by number” effect that makes his paintings distinctive. Heter was always experimenting with different mediums, including scratchboard drawings, scrimshaw on old piano ivories, and assemblages from piano parts that he called “Kachinas” or “Piano Men.” Drawing from his musical talents, he created musical instruments as art objects and as actual working instruments later in his life.This retrospective represents many of the mediums in which Heter worked. Heter’s work is in private collections thought out the United States, and the works in this exhibition are all on loan from many of them.

Heter retrospective exhibition next up for Lindsborg cultural center

By LESLIE EIKLEBERRY Salina Post

The Sunset Sinners opened the Salina Downtown entertainment season in May, so its only fitting that they close the summer with another downtown concert.

The&nbsp;End of Sinner Summer&nbsp;event is scheduled for 3-6 p.m. Saturday at the downtown stage at N. Santa Fe Avenue and W. Ash Street.

"We're looking forward to playing back in Salina this Saturday. We kind of kicked off the new downtown stage the first part of May, so it will be cool to end the summer series with the&nbsp;End of Sinner Summer!" Sunset Sinners drummer Blake Blackim told Salina Post.

"The weather should be great! Live music and beer...What could go wrong?" Blackim continued, giving a hat tip to one of the band's songs,&nbsp;What Could Go Wrong.

Image courtesy&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063523718596">Doc &amp; the Disorder Facebook page</a>

Doc and The Disorder are scheduled to open the concert at 3 p.m. with the Sunset Sinners taking the stage at 4 p.m., according to information from Salina Downtown. The event, sponsored by Salina Downtown and Wedel Financial Group, is open to the public at no charge.

"We do ask that you please do not bring your dogs," Salina Downtown noted in a news release.

Beer, hard seltzer, and water will be available for sale in the beer garden and the Food by Bonnie food truck will be on hand.

Additionally, there will be information about BOOM!, the upcoming street art and mural festival.

READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://salinapost.com/posts/c30e7886-4121-4150-95e2-7664f45a8bb8">Street art and mural festival coming to downtown Salina</a>

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1658023054552.jpeg" alt="The Sunset Sinners, from left,&nbsp;Brad Johnson, Tony Bowell, Blake Blackim, and Chris Brungardt.&nbsp;Photo by Jeff Haines Photography courtesy Blake Blackim&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>The Sunset Sinners, from left,&nbsp;Brad Johnson, Tony Bowell, Blake Blackim, and Chris Brungardt.&nbsp;Photo by Jeff Haines Photography courtesy Blake Blackim&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>By LESLIE EIKLEBERRY Salina PostThe Sunset Sinners opened the Salina Downtown entertainment season in May, so its only fitting that they close the summer with another downtown concert.The&nbsp;End of Sinner Summer&nbsp;event is scheduled for 3-6 p.m. Saturday at the downtown stage at N. Santa Fe Avenue and W. Ash Street."We're looking forward to playing back in Salina this Saturday. We kind of kicked off the new downtown stage the first part of May, so it will be cool to end the summer series with the&nbsp;End of Sinner Summer!" Sunset Sinners drummer Blake Blackim told Salina Post."The weather should be great! Live music and beer...What could go wrong?" Blackim continued, giving a hat tip to one of the band's songs,&nbsp;What Could Go Wrong.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/9/1663708924093.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Image courtesy&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063523718596">Doc &amp; the Disorder Facebook page</a>Doc and The Disorder are scheduled to open the concert at 3 p.m. with the Sunset Sinners taking the stage at 4 p.m., according to information from Salina Downtown. The event, sponsored by Salina Downtown and Wedel Financial Group, is open to the public at no charge."We do ask that you please do not bring your dogs," Salina Downtown noted in a news release.Beer, hard seltzer, and water will be available for sale in the beer garden and the Food by Bonnie food truck will be on hand.Additionally, there will be information about BOOM!, the upcoming street art and mural festival.READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://salinapost.com/posts/c30e7886-4121-4150-95e2-7664f45a8bb8">Street art and mural festival coming to downtown Salina</a>

'End of Sinner Summer' set for Saturday on downtown stage

By MIKE COURSON Great Bend Post

Homecoming has been a long-time coming for Jason Lamb. The 1990 Great Bend High School graduate moved east to pursue a television journalism career shortly after graduation. But now he's back - sort of. Last month, Lamb was hired by KSN in Wichita to handle the noon news broadcast among other duties. Now Lamb is able to share the news with many friends and family in the western half of the state.

"To be back here is a lot of fun because this is the station I grew up watching," he said. "I grew up watching "NBC News with Tom Brokaw." He was my guy. I was watching "The Today Show" when 9/11 happened. I grew up with Tim McQuade doing the local news cut-ins from the studio in Great Bend on channel three. I loved the sports guys on KSN. So for me to come back to KSN and work here now, is kind of nostalgic. It feels like home."

While at GBHS, Lamb gained a taste for journalism while working for the high school paper, earning several awards along the way. After graduating, he attended Barton Community College and worked at KHOK for some hands-on experience.

"I always knew I wanted to be in the broadcasting end of it," said Lamb. "For me, working at KHOK was like an internship, even though it was a part-time job. That's kind of the way I approached it, and I loved it."

Back then, the KHOK studios were located on west 10th Street in Great Bend. And back then, not everything was digital. Casey Kasem's "Weekly Top 40" still required a little manpower.

"Back then we played CDs, so everything was on CD," Lamb said. "Casey's Top-40 would come in a box with (several) CDs. You just had to make sure you were playing the right ones in the right order. I learned a lot from Scott (Donovan), and Craig Watkins, and there were several other long-time DJs I picked stuff up from."

Being a college student and doubling as a DJ was also fun. In the 1990s, KHOK was still playing Top-40 hits. Except on Friday nights when the music turned to dance.

"We called it the Friday Night Hot Mix with Jammin' Jason Lamb," Lamb laughs. "I was Jammin' Jason Lamb there for a short couple years. I really loved doing that show."

After BCC, Lamb moved on to the University of Kansas. He worked at a radio station in Lawrence and a TV station in Topeka before interning at EPSN in the summer of 1994, otherwise known as the summer O.J. Simpson went on the run.

"I was in the programming department at ESPN so they would put us on to watch all the competition, to see how the other networks were covering the O.J. arraignment and the trial," Lamb recalled. "They wanted to know if NBC or CNN were going non-stop, or if they were taking commercial breaks and when they were taking the commercial breaks. They'd buy us lunch and sit us down in front of these four or five TVs and leave us in a room to watch the competition to log how they were handling it."

Upon graduating from KU in 1995, Lamb accepted his first job at WIBW in Topeka, then later took a job at KTKA, working as a sports reporter and weekend anchor at both stations. He was named sports director at KTKW before the station abruptly shut down and laid off the newsroom staff.

That was just before Lamb's 30th birthday, but after spending a few months unemployed, he took a position with WDAF Fox 4 in Kansas City, where he spent the next 16 years covering some of the biggest sports stories in the city's history. At Fox 4, Lamb worked alongside fellow GBHS graduates John Holt, David Stonebraker, and Derek Kenyon, another former KHOK employee.

Lamb covered the 2012 Major League Baseball All-Star game at Kauffman Stadium, and he saw both the 2014 and 2015 World Series runs. And he's seen the rise and continued rise of Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes.

"I witnessed Patrick Mahomes being just a goofball in the locker room when Alex Smith was the starter, and nobody knew anything about Mahomes," said Lamb. "Nobody paid any attention to him, to all of a sudden taking over for Alex Smith and becoming an all-world quarterback. It was unbelievable."

After Fox 4, Lamb spent a brief period at KY3 in Springfield, Mo. He left there around Thanksgiving last year and did some freelance work prior to taking the KSN job in August. That freelance work brought him home for the first time in three decades as he did play-by-play for the KSHSAA Class 1A, Div. II State Basketball Championships in March.

"That's kind of when I thought, you know what, it'd be fun to work in Wichita someday because I enjoyed being back in Great Bend and seeing old friends," he said. "My first day on the air, I had messages from friends on 28th Street where I grew up. I got a message a few days later from my fourth-grade teacher, Mrs. Esfeld, wondering if that was really me. That part of it has been fun."

Lamb moves to Wichita with his wife, Amy, and a son, Jayce, and a mini Goldendoodle named Riggs.

By MIKE COURSON Great Bend Post<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/9/1663619387679.jpeg" alt="Jason Lamb, a 1990 graduate of Great Bend High School, recently took to the airwaves at KSN after a long stint in Kansas City." />
 <figcaption>Jason Lamb, a 1990 graduate of Great Bend High School, recently took to the airwaves at KSN after a long stint in Kansas City.</figcaption>
 </figure>Homecoming has been a long-time coming for Jason Lamb. The 1990 Great Bend High School graduate moved east to pursue a television journalism career shortly after graduation. But now he's back - sort of. Last month, Lamb was hired by KSN in Wichita to handle the noon news broadcast among other duties. Now Lamb is able to share the news with many friends and family in the western half of the state."To be back here is a lot of fun because this is the station I grew up watching," he said. "I grew up watching "NBC News with Tom Brokaw." He was my guy. I was watching "The Today Show" when 9/11 happened. I grew up with Tim McQuade doing the local news cut-ins from the studio in Great Bend on channel three. I loved the sports guys on KSN. So for me to come back to KSN and work here now, is kind of nostalgic. It feels like home."While at GBHS, Lamb gained a taste for journalism while working for the high school paper, earning several awards along the way. After graduating, he attended Barton Community College and worked at KHOK for some hands-on experience."I always knew I wanted to be in the broadcasting end of it," said Lamb. "For me, working at KHOK was like an internship, even though it was a part-time job. That's kind of the way I approached it, and I loved it."<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/9/1663619482196.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Back then, the KHOK studios were located on west 10th Street in Great Bend. And back then, not everything was digital. Casey Kasem's "Weekly Top 40" still required a little manpower."Back then we played CDs, so everything was on CD," Lamb said. "Casey's Top-40 would come in a box with (several) CDs. You just had to make sure you were playing the right ones in the right order. I learned a lot from Scott (Donovan), and Craig Watkins, and there were several other long-time DJs I picked stuff up from."Being a college student and doubling as a DJ was also fun. In the 1990s, KHOK was still playing Top-40 hits. Except on Friday nights when the music turned to dance."We called it the Friday Night Hot Mix with Jammin' Jason Lamb," Lamb laughs. "I was Jammin' Jason Lamb there for a short couple years. I really loved doing that show."After BCC, Lamb moved on to the University of Kansas. He worked at a radio station in Lawrence and a TV station in Topeka before interning at EPSN in the summer of 1994, otherwise known as the summer O.J. Simpson went on the run."I was in the programming department at ESPN so they would put us on to watch all the competition, to see how the other networks were covering the O.J. arraignment and the trial," Lamb recalled. "They wanted to know if NBC or CNN were going non-stop, or if they were taking commercial breaks and when they were taking the commercial breaks. They'd buy us lunch and sit us down in front of these four or five TVs and leave us in a room to watch the competition to log how they were handling it."Upon graduating from KU in 1995, Lamb accepted his first job at WIBW in Topeka, then later took a job at KTKA, working as a sports reporter and weekend anchor at both stations. He was named sports director at KTKW before the station abruptly shut down and laid off the newsroom staff.That was just before Lamb's 30th birthday, but after spending a few months unemployed, he took a position with WDAF Fox 4 in Kansas City, where he spent the next 16 years covering some of the biggest sports stories in the city's history. At Fox 4, Lamb worked alongside fellow GBHS graduates John Holt, David Stonebraker, and Derek Kenyon, another former KHOK employee.Lamb covered the 2012 Major League Baseball All-Star game at Kauffman Stadium, and he saw both the 2014 and 2015 World Series runs. And he's seen the rise and continued rise of Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes."I witnessed Patrick Mahomes being just a goofball in the locker room when Alex Smith was the starter, and nobody knew anything about Mahomes," said Lamb. "Nobody paid any attention to him, to all of a sudden taking over for Alex Smith and becoming an all-world quarterback. It was unbelievable."After Fox 4, Lamb spent a brief period at KY3 in Springfield, Mo. He left there around Thanksgiving last year and did some freelance work prior to taking the KSN job in August. That freelance work brought him home for the first time in three decades as he did play-by-play for the KSHSAA Class 1A, Div. II State Basketball Championships in March."That's kind of when I thought, you know what, it'd be fun to work in Wichita someday because I enjoyed being back in Great Bend and seeing old friends," he said. "My first day on the air, I had messages from friends on 28th Street where I grew up. I got a message a few days later from my fourth-grade teacher, Mrs. Esfeld, wondering if that was really me. That part of it has been fun."Lamb moves to Wichita with his wife, Amy, and a son, Jayce, and a mini Goldendoodle named Riggs.

Great Bend-native Lamb returns 'home' as journalist at KSN

<a href="https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search/?query=byline:%22JAKE%20COYLE%22&amp;mediaType=text&amp;st=keyword&amp;sortOrder=newest">By JAKE COYLE AP Film Writer</a>

NEW YORK (AP) — After a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/golden-globe-awards-entertainment-arts-and-entertainment-1ac9492d657cf39427c886bf65ed37b1">year spent off-air</a>, the Golden Globe Awards are returning to NBC in January, as the embattled Hollywood Foreign Press Association seeks a primetime comeback after more than a year of turmoil.

NBC, the Hollywood Press Association and dick clark productions on Tuesday made the Globes' return official. The 80th Golden Globes will be held January 10, airing both on NBC and Peacock.

For the past year and half, Hollywood has effectively boycotted the Globes, for years one of the most-watched award shows after the Academy Awards. But after the Los Angeles Times reported ahead of the 2021 broadcast that the HFPA's&nbsp;<a href="https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/business/story/2021-02-21/hfpa-golden-globes-2021-who-are-the-members">87 members of non-American journalists included no Black members</a>, studios, publicists and stars said they would cease participating in the Globes. Tom Cruise returned his three Golden Globe awards.

Since then, the HFPA has reorganized itself, revamped its membership and enacted reforms designed to curtail the kinds of unethical behavior the group has long been criticized for. The HFPA added new members, including six Black voting members, and recently added 103 international, nonmember voters. The HFPA on Tuesday said their voting body is now 52% female, 19.5% Latino, 12% Asian, 10% Black and 10% Middle Eastern.

“We recognize the HFPA’s commitment to ongoing change and look forward to welcoming back the Golden Globes to NBC for its landmark 80th Anniversary in January 2023,” said Frances Berwick, chairman of entertainment networks for NBCUniversal.

NBC had reason to want to get the Globes back on the air. In 2018, the network signed an eight-year deal to continue airing the awards through 2026. Citing the HFPA's ongoing reforms, NBC elected not to televise the previous Golden Globes in January. The organization went ahead announcing awards, anyway, in an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/golden-globe-awards-7807652153518b2df70e636dd22654c2">untelevised and little-noticed</a>&nbsp;gathering unattended by nominees.

This year’s ceremony, the organizations said, will be broadcast in a one-year agreement. Terms were unavailable but the deal is expected to be less than the approximately $60 million the network previously paid annually to air the Globes. With backlash swirling and the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/golden-globes-at-home-dogs-c7185f9e1b90b3a3a0ca98d0531282e3">ceremony scaled down because of the pandemic</a>, the 2021 Globes were watched by 6.9 million people, according to Nielsen, down from more than 18 million the year before.

Whether NBC's endorsement will be enough to return the Globes to Hollywood's good graces, however, remains to be seen. Would Cruise and “Top Gun: Maverick” want anything to do with the Globes? Or how about Brendan Fraser, a major best actor contender this year for his performance in “The Whale,” who said the HFPA dismissed his allegation of groping by then HFPA president Philip Berk at a luncheon in 2003 as a “joke.”

But the Globes have long played a vital role in Hollywood's awards season as a bridge between the rush of December releases and the Oscars, this year to be held March 13 — long after the contenders have debuted. For studios, the Globes are an important marketing opportunity that may not directly influence the Academy Awards but can impact box office. Nominations to the Globes will be announced Dec. 12.

The HFPA is currently being run by interim Chief Executive Todd Boehly, whose investment firm, Eldridge Industries, bought the Globes and turned it from a nonprofit into a for-profit venture. Boehly’s firm is also the parent company of dick clark productions, the awards’ producer, and an owner of the Globes’ longtime home, the Beverly Hilton.

<a href="https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search/?query=byline:%22JAKE%20COYLE%22&amp;mediaType=text&amp;st=keyword&amp;sortOrder=newest">By JAKE COYLE AP Film Writer</a>NEW YORK (AP) — After a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/golden-globe-awards-entertainment-arts-and-entertainment-1ac9492d657cf39427c886bf65ed37b1">year spent off-air</a>, the Golden Globe Awards are returning to NBC in January, as the embattled Hollywood Foreign Press Association seeks a primetime comeback after more than a year of turmoil.NBC, the Hollywood Press Association and dick clark productions on Tuesday made the Globes' return official. The 80th Golden Globes will be held January 10, airing both on NBC and Peacock.For the past year and half, Hollywood has effectively boycotted the Globes, for years one of the most-watched award shows after the Academy Awards. But after the Los Angeles Times reported ahead of the 2021 broadcast that the HFPA's&nbsp;<a href="https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/business/story/2021-02-21/hfpa-golden-globes-2021-who-are-the-members">87 members of non-American journalists included no Black members</a>, studios, publicists and stars said they would cease participating in the Globes. Tom Cruise returned his three Golden Globe awards.Since then, the HFPA has reorganized itself, revamped its membership and enacted reforms designed to curtail the kinds of unethical behavior the group has long been criticized for. The HFPA added new members, including six Black voting members, and recently added 103 international, nonmember voters. The HFPA on Tuesday said their voting body is now 52% female, 19.5% Latino, 12% Asian, 10% Black and 10% Middle Eastern.“We recognize the HFPA’s commitment to ongoing change and look forward to welcoming back the Golden Globes to NBC for its landmark 80th Anniversary in January 2023,” said Frances Berwick, chairman of entertainment networks for NBCUniversal.NBC had reason to want to get the Globes back on the air. In 2018, the network signed an eight-year deal to continue airing the awards through 2026. Citing the HFPA's ongoing reforms, NBC elected not to televise the previous Golden Globes in January. The organization went ahead announcing awards, anyway, in an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/golden-globe-awards-7807652153518b2df70e636dd22654c2">untelevised and little-noticed</a>&nbsp;gathering unattended by nominees.This year’s ceremony, the organizations said, will be broadcast in a one-year agreement. Terms were unavailable but the deal is expected to be less than the approximately $60 million the network previously paid annually to air the Globes. With backlash swirling and the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/golden-globes-at-home-dogs-c7185f9e1b90b3a3a0ca98d0531282e3">ceremony scaled down because of the pandemic</a>, the 2021 Globes were watched by 6.9 million people, according to Nielsen, down from more than 18 million the year before.Whether NBC's endorsement will be enough to return the Globes to Hollywood's good graces, however, remains to be seen. Would Cruise and “Top Gun: Maverick” want anything to do with the Globes? Or how about Brendan Fraser, a major best actor contender this year for his performance in “The Whale,” who said the HFPA dismissed his allegation of groping by then HFPA president Philip Berk at a luncheon in 2003 as a “joke.”But the Globes have long played a vital role in Hollywood's awards season as a bridge between the rush of December releases and the Oscars, this year to be held March 13 — long after the contenders have debuted. For studios, the Globes are an important marketing opportunity that may not directly influence the Academy Awards but can impact box office. Nominations to the Globes will be announced Dec. 12.The HFPA is currently being run by interim Chief Executive Todd Boehly, whose investment firm, Eldridge Industries, bought the Globes and turned it from a nonprofit into a for-profit venture. Boehly’s firm is also the parent company of dick clark productions, the awards’ producer, and an owner of the Globes’ longtime home, the Beverly Hilton.

Golden Globes to return to NBC in January after year off-air

<a href="https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search/?query=byline:%22The%20Associated%20Press%22&amp;mediaType=text&amp;st=keyword&amp;sortOrder=newest">By The Associated Press</a>

Here’s a collection curated by The Associated Press’ entertainment journalists of what’s arriving on TV, streaming services and music platforms this week.

— Less than a year after the death of Sidney Poitier, who died in January at the age of 94,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/entertainment-toronto-race-and-ethnicity-canada-e8272b06818caa977217eb58627ffbc4">arrives the Oprah Winfrey-produced documentary “Sidney.”</a>&nbsp;Premiering Friday on Apple TV+, it’s a poignant portrait of the groundbreaking actor who paved the way for countless Black actors in Hollywood and revolutionized how they were portrayed on screen. Shot largely before Poitier’s death by director Reginald Hudlin,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZIt0bGwe1rY">“Sidney”</a>&nbsp;was made with the cooperation of the Poitier estate (several of Poitier’s daughters appear in the film) and a number of luminaries. Denzel Washington, Spike Lee, Morgan Freeman, George Nelson, Robert Redford and Halle Berry are all interviewed in “Sidney,” as is Winfrey.

— In&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vRunUkdkK8s">“Athena,”</a>&nbsp;director Romain Gavras brings spectacular flare and long, sinewy shots to a panoramic thriller about a police siege in a fictitious housing projecting in a Paris suburb. The film, which premiered at the Venice Film Festival and debuts Friday on Netflix, is a violent but balletically filmed urban Greek tragedy by the youngest son of the Oscar-winning Greek director, Costa-Gavras. It’s the French filmmaker’s third feature (he’s also made music videos for Kanye West, Jamie xx and others); he wrote with Elias Belkeddar and Ladj Ly, whose 2019 film “Les Miserables” covered some similar territory.

— Based on the best-selling 2019 young-adult novel by Angie Thomas (“The Hate U Give”),&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5B7AXY4xXyQ">“On the Come Up”</a>&nbsp;is about a 16-year-old girl (Jamila Gray) whose rap ambitions have both urgency (her family is in need of money) and poignancy (her late father was a hip-hop legend killed by gang violence). The film, which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival, streams Friday on Paramount+ while also playing in some theaters.

— Kelsea Ballerini may sound pretty good on her new album but it’s the title of the 15-track set that seems pretty perfect: “Subject to Change.” On the poppy first single,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h_ep_lYEoKs">“Heartfirst,”</a>&nbsp;she decides to jump into a relationship not knowing if it will last. “Who knows what’ll happen/Ain’t that always kinda magic?” she sings. On the ballad&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NIipGxCrG6c">“Love Is a Cowboy,”</a>&nbsp;Ballerini sings: “All the bad ones say they’re the good and all the good ones ride way.” The new music comes after she and her husband Morgan Evans decided to divorce after nearly five years of marriage. The album comes out Friday.

— We’ve already had the album “Denim &amp; Rhinestones” from Carrie Underwood so get ready for “Denim &amp; Diamonds” from Nashville singer and songwriter Nikki Lane. For Lane’s first album in five years, she enlisted Queens of the Stone Age’s frontman Joshua Home for production and mixing, with further contributions from Arctic Monkeys’ Matt Helders. Singles include&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d9I1rfbpevY">“Black Widow”</a>&nbsp;and “First High,” with the splendid lyric: “Take me back to the first dream/501 blue jeans/Tighter than goddamn Springsteen.”

— Coming just as fall approaches is a new 5 Seconds of Summer album. “5SOS5” — their fifth album — has already spawned the tracks “Blender”, “Take My Hand”, “Me, Myself &amp; I” and the pop-rock anthem&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aQM_zeZPkQE">“COMPLETE MESS.”</a>&nbsp;Another early single is the ballad&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ELTaMB41OQ">“Older,”</a>&nbsp;which features vocals and a co-writing credit from lead singer Luke Hemmings’ fiancée, Sierra Deaton, and the lyrics: “On the day that you leave me/I’ll forever be bleeding love.” The majority of the new album was written by the band with Michael Clifford leading on production.

<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G3I0SpwjVK8">— “Quantum Leap” i</a>&nbsp;s jumping back to TV with a sequel to the 1989-93 sci-fi series about a scientist trapped in the past by an experiment gone awry. Three decades later, physicist Ben Song (Raymond Lee) is part of a team attempting to decipher the nature of the quantum-leap accelerator when he suffers a similar fate. But his colleagues (including co-stars Ernie Hudson and Caitlin Bassett) are determined to rescue him. Scott Bakula, star of the original series, affirmed online he’s not connected with NBC’s newcomer but wishes it “good luck and happy leaping!” It debuts Monday.

<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VC0tosYozso">— Hulu’s “Reboot”</a>&nbsp;is a clever take on the resurrection of an early 2000s cheesy family sitcom and its former stars whose careers haven’t exactly flourished. The ensemble cast is appealing — Keegan-Michael Key, Johnny Knoxville, Judy Greer, Paul Reiser, Rachel Bloom, Calum Worthy and Krista Marie Yu — but the marquee name is creator-executive producer Steven Levitan. “Reboot” marks a return to TV for the award-winning “Modern Family” co-creator, and he takes delight poking fun at network TV’s fondness for repeating itself. The series debuts with three episodes on Tuesday.

— Norman Lear turned 100 last July, but it be nitpicking to begrudge the legendary TV producer and activist a belated party, especially one that’s pulling out all the stops. “Norman Lear: 100 Years of Music and Laughter,” airing Thursday on ABC, will celebrate Lear’s life and achievements, among them the groundbreaking sitcoms “All in the Family” and “The Jeffersons.” George Clooney, Rita Moreno, Anthony Anderson, Jennifer Aniston, Jimmy Kimmel and Octavia Spencer are among those set to appear in the two-hour special that promises comedy, performances and surprise reunions.

This story has been updated to correct that ‘On the Come Up’ will stream on Paramount+, not Peacock.

<a href="https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search/?query=byline:%22The%20Associated%20Press%22&amp;mediaType=text&amp;st=keyword&amp;sortOrder=newest">By The Associated Press</a>Here’s a collection curated by The Associated Press’ entertainment journalists of what’s arriving on TV, streaming services and music platforms this week.MOVIES— Less than a year after the death of Sidney Poitier, who died in January at the age of 94,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/entertainment-toronto-race-and-ethnicity-canada-e8272b06818caa977217eb58627ffbc4">arrives the Oprah Winfrey-produced documentary “Sidney.”</a>&nbsp;Premiering Friday on Apple TV+, it’s a poignant portrait of the groundbreaking actor who paved the way for countless Black actors in Hollywood and revolutionized how they were portrayed on screen. Shot largely before Poitier’s death by director Reginald Hudlin,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZIt0bGwe1rY">“Sidney”</a>&nbsp;was made with the cooperation of the Poitier estate (several of Poitier’s daughters appear in the film) and a number of luminaries. Denzel Washington, Spike Lee, Morgan Freeman, George Nelson, Robert Redford and Halle Berry are all interviewed in “Sidney,” as is Winfrey.— In&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vRunUkdkK8s">“Athena,”</a>&nbsp;director Romain Gavras brings spectacular flare and long, sinewy shots to a panoramic thriller about a police siege in a fictitious housing projecting in a Paris suburb. The film, which premiered at the Venice Film Festival and debuts Friday on Netflix, is a violent but balletically filmed urban Greek tragedy by the youngest son of the Oscar-winning Greek director, Costa-Gavras. It’s the French filmmaker’s third feature (he’s also made music videos for Kanye West, Jamie xx and others); he wrote with Elias Belkeddar and Ladj Ly, whose 2019 film “Les Miserables” covered some similar territory.— Based on the best-selling 2019 young-adult novel by Angie Thomas (“The Hate U Give”),&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5B7AXY4xXyQ">“On the Come Up”</a>&nbsp;is about a 16-year-old girl (Jamila Gray) whose rap ambitions have both urgency (her family is in need of money) and poignancy (her late father was a hip-hop legend killed by gang violence). The film, which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival, streams Friday on Paramount+ while also playing in some theaters.— AP Film Writer Jake CoyleMUSIC— Kelsea Ballerini may sound pretty good on her new album but it’s the title of the 15-track set that seems pretty perfect: “Subject to Change.” On the poppy first single,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h_ep_lYEoKs">“Heartfirst,”</a>&nbsp;she decides to jump into a relationship not knowing if it will last. “Who knows what’ll happen/Ain’t that always kinda magic?” she sings. On the ballad&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NIipGxCrG6c">“Love Is a Cowboy,”</a>&nbsp;Ballerini sings: “All the bad ones say they’re the good and all the good ones ride way.” The new music comes after she and her husband Morgan Evans decided to divorce after nearly five years of marriage. The album comes out Friday.— We’ve already had the album “Denim &amp; Rhinestones” from Carrie Underwood so get ready for “Denim &amp; Diamonds” from Nashville singer and songwriter Nikki Lane. For Lane’s first album in five years, she enlisted Queens of the Stone Age’s frontman Joshua Home for production and mixing, with further contributions from Arctic Monkeys’ Matt Helders. Singles include&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d9I1rfbpevY">“Black Widow”</a>&nbsp;and “First High,” with the splendid lyric: “Take me back to the first dream/501 blue jeans/Tighter than goddamn Springsteen.”— Coming just as fall approaches is a new 5 Seconds of Summer album. “5SOS5” — their fifth album — has already spawned the tracks “Blender”, “Take My Hand”, “Me, Myself &amp; I” and the pop-rock anthem&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aQM_zeZPkQE">“COMPLETE MESS.”</a>&nbsp;Another early single is the ballad&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ELTaMB41OQ">“Older,”</a>&nbsp;which features vocals and a co-writing credit from lead singer Luke Hemmings’ fiancée, Sierra Deaton, and the lyrics: “On the day that you leave me/I’ll forever be bleeding love.” The majority of the new album was written by the band with Michael Clifford leading on production.— AP Entertainment Writer Mark KennedyTELEVISION<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G3I0SpwjVK8">— “Quantum Leap” i</a>&nbsp;s jumping back to TV with a sequel to the 1989-93 sci-fi series about a scientist trapped in the past by an experiment gone awry. Three decades later, physicist Ben Song (Raymond Lee) is part of a team attempting to decipher the nature of the quantum-leap accelerator when he suffers a similar fate. But his colleagues (including co-stars Ernie Hudson and Caitlin Bassett) are determined to rescue him. Scott Bakula, star of the original series, affirmed online he’s not connected with NBC’s newcomer but wishes it “good luck and happy leaping!” It debuts Monday.<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VC0tosYozso">— Hulu’s “Reboot”</a>&nbsp;is a clever take on the resurrection of an early 2000s cheesy family sitcom and its former stars whose careers haven’t exactly flourished. The ensemble cast is appealing — Keegan-Michael Key, Johnny Knoxville, Judy Greer, Paul Reiser, Rachel Bloom, Calum Worthy and Krista Marie Yu — but the marquee name is creator-executive producer Steven Levitan. “Reboot” marks a return to TV for the award-winning “Modern Family” co-creator, and he takes delight poking fun at network TV’s fondness for repeating itself. The series debuts with three episodes on Tuesday.— Norman Lear turned 100 last July, but it be nitpicking to begrudge the legendary TV producer and activist a belated party, especially one that’s pulling out all the stops. “Norman Lear: 100 Years of Music and Laughter,” airing Thursday on ABC, will celebrate Lear’s life and achievements, among them the groundbreaking sitcoms “All in the Family” and “The Jeffersons.” George Clooney, Rita Moreno, Anthony Anderson, Jennifer Aniston, Jimmy Kimmel and Octavia Spencer are among those set to appear in the two-hour special that promises comedy, performances and surprise reunions.— AP Television Writer Lynn Elber___This story has been updated to correct that ‘On the Come Up’ will stream on Paramount+, not Peacock.

New this week: 'Athena,' 'Sidney' and 'Quantum Leap' returns

<a href="https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search/?query=byline:%22LYNN%20ELBER%22&amp;mediaType=text&amp;st=keyword&amp;sortOrder=newest">By LYNN ELBER AP Television Writer</a>

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Jimmy Kimmel celebrated his 20th anniversary as ABC's late-night host early, signing a three-year contract extension for&nbsp;<a href="https://abc.com/shows/jimmy-kimmel-live">“Jimmy Kimmel Live!”</a>

“After two decades at ABC, I am now looking forward to three years of what they call ‘quiet quitting,’” Kimmel quipped in a statement Tuesday.

His show debuted in January 2003, and the new deal means he will remain with it into the 2025-26 season — giving him a generous window to make comedic hay out of politicians, who are favorite monologue targets, and the 2024 presidential election.

Among network late-night hosts, Kimmel, CBS' Stephen Colbert and James Corden and NBC's Seth Meyers wade regularly into political humor, with Kimmel amping up the focus during the Donald Trump years inside and outside of the White House.

Kimmel's decision contrasts with changes in late-night programming.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/conan-obrien-entertainment-arts-and-entertainment-cbb0c2a2dfd5eacd527c58c77bcd3d6c">Conan O'Brien wrapped his show in 2021</a>, Corden announced that he's leaving “The Late Late Show” next year for other opportunities, and TBS said that “Full Frontal with Samantha Bee” was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/samantha-bee-amber-ruffin-discovery-inc-4e99b7d12f658333487ec3db4ef77b0d">ending after seven seasons</a>.

Besides his late-night job, Kimmel has become a mainstay as an awards hosts — including for 2017 Oscars when he tried to smooth over the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/academy-awards-entertainment-ap-top-news-music-movies-10ee223eaefb4754ae962185a0ac2b7d">best picture envelopw mix-up</a>&nbsp;that led presenters Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway to wrongly announce “La La Land” as the winner over “Moonlight.”

The three-time Emmys host had a misstep of his own at the Sept. 12 TV awards ceremony, during the presentation of the comedy series writing trophy to Quinta Brunson, creator-star of ABC’s comedy “Abbott Elementary.”

A pretend-drunk Kimmel had been dragged on stage by co-presenter Will Arnett, who announced Brunson’s award, and Kimmel remained flat on his back during her acceptance speech. He was roasted online as thoughtless by some and cited as an example of white-male arrogance by others, and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/quinta-brunson-emmys-jimmy-kimmel-reaction-7c28af2facc0e0fc64e93596a05bce93">offered an on-air apology to Brunson two days later</a>&nbsp;on his show.

“The last thing I would ever want to do is upset you, because I think so much of you. I think you know that. I hope you know that,” he told her, with Brunson replying, “It’s very kind of you to say that.”

Kimmel also hosts and, with Norman Lear, is executive producer of ABC’s specials “Live in Front of a Studio Audience,” which revisit episodes of classic Lear sitcoms including “All in the Family.” Kimmel also is the creator of the game show, “Generation Gap,” hosted by Kelly Ripa.

He’ll be taking his late-night show, nominated 12 consecutive times for best variety-talk series, to Brooklyn for a week this month. Kimmel, whose long-time sidekick is Guillermo Rodriguez, is known for comedy bits including “I Told My Kids I Ate All Their Halloween Candy,” which are seen on the show and on the YouTube channel that has extended his audience.

Craig Erwich, president of ABC Entertainment, said in a statement that Kimmel has not only entertained viewers with his irreverent humor and interviews but also “gotten us through some of the most momentous events in our history with optimism and heart.”

The host has shared moving details about his young son’s medical issue and called for health care reforms.

<a href="https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search/?query=byline:%22LYNN%20ELBER%22&amp;mediaType=text&amp;st=keyword&amp;sortOrder=newest">By LYNN ELBER AP Television Writer</a>LOS ANGELES (AP) — Jimmy Kimmel celebrated his 20th anniversary as ABC's late-night host early, signing a three-year contract extension for&nbsp;<a href="https://abc.com/shows/jimmy-kimmel-live">“Jimmy Kimmel Live!”</a>“After two decades at ABC, I am now looking forward to three years of what they call ‘quiet quitting,’” Kimmel quipped in a statement Tuesday.His show debuted in January 2003, and the new deal means he will remain with it into the 2025-26 season — giving him a generous window to make comedic hay out of politicians, who are favorite monologue targets, and the 2024 presidential election.Among network late-night hosts, Kimmel, CBS' Stephen Colbert and James Corden and NBC's Seth Meyers wade regularly into political humor, with Kimmel amping up the focus during the Donald Trump years inside and outside of the White House.Kimmel's decision contrasts with changes in late-night programming.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/conan-obrien-entertainment-arts-and-entertainment-cbb0c2a2dfd5eacd527c58c77bcd3d6c">Conan O'Brien wrapped his show in 2021</a>, Corden announced that he's leaving “The Late Late Show” next year for other opportunities, and TBS said that “Full Frontal with Samantha Bee” was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/samantha-bee-amber-ruffin-discovery-inc-4e99b7d12f658333487ec3db4ef77b0d">ending after seven seasons</a>.Besides his late-night job, Kimmel has become a mainstay as an awards hosts — including for 2017 Oscars when he tried to smooth over the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/academy-awards-entertainment-ap-top-news-music-movies-10ee223eaefb4754ae962185a0ac2b7d">best picture envelopw mix-up</a>&nbsp;that led presenters Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway to wrongly announce “La La Land” as the winner over “Moonlight.”The three-time Emmys host had a misstep of his own at the Sept. 12 TV awards ceremony, during the presentation of the comedy series writing trophy to Quinta Brunson, creator-star of ABC’s comedy “Abbott Elementary.”A pretend-drunk Kimmel had been dragged on stage by co-presenter Will Arnett, who announced Brunson’s award, and Kimmel remained flat on his back during her acceptance speech. He was roasted online as thoughtless by some and cited as an example of white-male arrogance by others, and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/quinta-brunson-emmys-jimmy-kimmel-reaction-7c28af2facc0e0fc64e93596a05bce93">offered an on-air apology to Brunson two days later</a>&nbsp;on his show.“The last thing I would ever want to do is upset you, because I think so much of you. I think you know that. I hope you know that,” he told her, with Brunson replying, “It’s very kind of you to say that.”Kimmel also hosts and, with Norman Lear, is executive producer of ABC’s specials “Live in Front of a Studio Audience,” which revisit episodes of classic Lear sitcoms including “All in the Family.” Kimmel also is the creator of the game show, “Generation Gap,” hosted by Kelly Ripa.He’ll be taking his late-night show, nominated 12 consecutive times for best variety-talk series, to Brooklyn for a week this month. Kimmel, whose long-time sidekick is Guillermo Rodriguez, is known for comedy bits including “I Told My Kids I Ate All Their Halloween Candy,” which are seen on the show and on the YouTube channel that has extended his audience.Craig Erwich, president of ABC Entertainment, said in a statement that Kimmel has not only entertained viewers with his irreverent humor and interviews but also “gotten us through some of the most momentous events in our history with optimism and heart.”The host has shared moving details about his young son’s medical issue and called for health care reforms.

Jimmy Kimmel signs 3-year extension for ABC late-night show

<a href="https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search/?query=byline:%22DARLENE%20SUPERVILLE%22&amp;mediaType=text&amp;st=keyword&amp;sortOrder=newest">By DARLENE SUPERVILLE Associated Press</a>

WASHINGTON (AP) — Celebrities are back at the White House following a pop-culture backlash during the Trump years, when just about anyone considered high-wattage refused to show up.

Rocker&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-entertainment-jill-donald-trump-70e2a27ce862288348226126dca375d1">Elton John is bringing his farewell tour to the South Lawn</a>&nbsp;on Friday, the White House announced Tuesday, one week after singer James Taylor and hosts Jonathan and Drew Scott, of HGTV's “Property Brothers,” helped celebrate a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-economy-prices-government-and-politics-89706a04bc727d3e58ab6bb4b2efa995">new health care and climate change law</a>.

John is among a slew of entertainers who refused to perform for then-President Donald Trump.

Taylor sang and strummed his guitar to open last week's event while the Scotts were among hundreds of people in the audience. They also joined second gentleman Doug Emhoff, Vice President Kamala Harris' husband, to film a&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/SecondGentleman/status/1571137391397842944?s=20&amp;t=bONCuCkYy2qDVE73IhUBXA">snazzy video promoting the law's climate change provisions</a>.

Since taking office during a pandemic, which put a pause on too much togetherness, the 79-year-old Biden has also opened the White House to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/olivia-rodrigo-visits-white-house-vaccines-07aeaeb169aa7daed999dd48d57e06a0">teen singer Olivia Rodrigo</a>, to talk about young people and COVID-19 vaccinations, and the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-entertainment-crime-music-ac45b9c4e96f1f4f349dbf61253d1de3">South Korean boy band BTS,</a>&nbsp;to discuss Asian inclusion and representation.

Last year, the Democratic president resumed the tradition of hosting an in-person White House&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-donald-trump-joe-biden-entertainment-health-c54b29d117b7d53abf733b58cfdce601">reception for the artists receiving honors from the Kennedy Center</a>.

Actor&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jill-biden-coronavirus-pandemic-health-government-and-politics-064767953414611469d3d4a206b8e74a">Jennifer Garner accompanied first lady Jill Biden to West Virginia</a>&nbsp;last year to visit a school-based COVID-19 vaccination site in Charleston. Garner also hosted a PBS “In Performance” special celebrating the holidays at the White House.

John's concert is called “A Night When Hope and History Rhyme,” a reference to a poem by Irishman Seamus Heaney that Biden often quotes. The performance is part of a collaboration with A+E Networks and the History Channel that “will celebrate the unifying and healing power of music, commend the life and work of Sir Elton John and honor the everyday history-makers in the audience,” the White House said. Guests will include teachers, medical professionals, students, LGBTQ+ advocates and others.

John also has a gig scheduled for Saturday night at Nationals Park in Washington as part of a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/entertainment-music-philadelphia-north-america-2e8e56c3b90dadc6ebe670617518b38f">tour wrapping up his 50-plus-year career.</a>&nbsp;He opened the final leg of his North American farewell series in Philadelphia in July.

The 75-year-old British singer is among celebrities who avoided the Trump White House, starting with the Republican's 2017 inauguration. John had declined an invitation to play at Trump's inaugural festivities, saying he didn't think it was appropriate for someone with British heritage to play at the swearing-in of an American president.

Trump had included high praise for John in a few of his books and played John’s songs at his presidential campaign rallies, including “Rocket Man” and “Tiny Dancer.” Trump had also&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/27bd4d9bd59f4de5863e40ca351918e9">nicknamed North Korean leader Kim Jong Un “rocket man”</a>&nbsp;because of Kim’s habit of test-firing missiles.

Country music singers Toby Keith and Lee Greenwood were among the more notable entertainers who performed to help usher Trump into office. Bigger names from other genres refused or weren't considered.

Hollywood has always leaned heavily Democratic.

For the inauguration of Democrat Biden, singers Lady Gaga, Jennifer Lopez and Garth Brooks were among those who performed.

Aretha Franklin and Beyonce were among celebrities who turned out in a huge show of force for Democrat Barack Obama, from fundraising to his two inaugurations to performances inside the White House or on the grounds.

They disappeared under Trump, but are returning for Biden.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/virus-outbreak-election-2020-ap-top-news-music-entertainment-bb255b54c48d67eeebffd0bc64814fac">Biden relied on celebrities during his 2020 presidential campaign</a>, when in-person schmoozing was largely suspended because of the coronavirus. A parade of movie and TV stars, pop icons and sports standouts stepped up to help Biden raise money and energize supporters.

Sir Elton — he was knighted in 1998 by Queen Elizabeth II — has sold over 300 million records worldwide, played over 4,000 shows in 80 countries and recorded one of the best-selling singles of all-time, his 1997 reworking of “Candle In The Wind” to eulogize Princess Diana, which sold 33 million copies.

He has scored over 70 top 40 hits, including nine No. 1s, and released seven No. 1 albums in the 3 1/2-year period from 1972 to 1975, a pace second only to that of the Beatles. John has five Grammy awards, a Tony award for “Aida,” and Academy Awards for songs from “The Lion King” and “Rocketman.”

He has played at the White House in the past.

John and Stevie Wonder performed together at a 1998 state dinner hosted by Democratic President Bill Clinton honoring British Prime Minister Tony Blair. They performed under a tent on the West Colonnade roof.

John was critical of Republican President George W. Bush, telling a British magazine in November 2004 that Bush and his administration “are the worst thing that has ever happened to America.”

But he was more diplomatic at a reception at the White House in December 2004 for a group of Kennedy Center honorees that included himself.

The rock legend said receiving the honor “is about the icing on the cake. ... It's incredible for someone who's British to be given such an accolade from America, which has given me so much already in my career.”

<a href="https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search/?query=byline:%22DARLENE%20SUPERVILLE%22&amp;mediaType=text&amp;st=keyword&amp;sortOrder=newest">By DARLENE SUPERVILLE Associated Press</a>WASHINGTON (AP) — Celebrities are back at the White House following a pop-culture backlash during the Trump years, when just about anyone considered high-wattage refused to show up.Rocker&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-entertainment-jill-donald-trump-70e2a27ce862288348226126dca375d1">Elton John is bringing his farewell tour to the South Lawn</a>&nbsp;on Friday, the White House announced Tuesday, one week after singer James Taylor and hosts Jonathan and Drew Scott, of HGTV's “Property Brothers,” helped celebrate a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-economy-prices-government-and-politics-89706a04bc727d3e58ab6bb4b2efa995">new health care and climate change law</a>.John is among a slew of entertainers who refused to perform for then-President Donald Trump.Taylor sang and strummed his guitar to open last week's event while the Scotts were among hundreds of people in the audience. They also joined second gentleman Doug Emhoff, Vice President Kamala Harris' husband, to film a&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/SecondGentleman/status/1571137391397842944?s=20&amp;t=bONCuCkYy2qDVE73IhUBXA">snazzy video promoting the law's climate change provisions</a>.Since taking office during a pandemic, which put a pause on too much togetherness, the 79-year-old Biden has also opened the White House to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/olivia-rodrigo-visits-white-house-vaccines-07aeaeb169aa7daed999dd48d57e06a0">teen singer Olivia Rodrigo</a>, to talk about young people and COVID-19 vaccinations, and the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-entertainment-crime-music-ac45b9c4e96f1f4f349dbf61253d1de3">South Korean boy band BTS,</a>&nbsp;to discuss Asian inclusion and representation.Last year, the Democratic president resumed the tradition of hosting an in-person White House&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-donald-trump-joe-biden-entertainment-health-c54b29d117b7d53abf733b58cfdce601">reception for the artists receiving honors from the Kennedy Center</a>.Actor&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jill-biden-coronavirus-pandemic-health-government-and-politics-064767953414611469d3d4a206b8e74a">Jennifer Garner accompanied first lady Jill Biden to West Virginia</a>&nbsp;last year to visit a school-based COVID-19 vaccination site in Charleston. Garner also hosted a PBS “In Performance” special celebrating the holidays at the White House.John's concert is called “A Night When Hope and History Rhyme,” a reference to a poem by Irishman Seamus Heaney that Biden often quotes. The performance is part of a collaboration with A+E Networks and the History Channel that “will celebrate the unifying and healing power of music, commend the life and work of Sir Elton John and honor the everyday history-makers in the audience,” the White House said. Guests will include teachers, medical professionals, students, LGBTQ+ advocates and others.John also has a gig scheduled for Saturday night at Nationals Park in Washington as part of a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/entertainment-music-philadelphia-north-america-2e8e56c3b90dadc6ebe670617518b38f">tour wrapping up his 50-plus-year career.</a>&nbsp;He opened the final leg of his North American farewell series in Philadelphia in July.The 75-year-old British singer is among celebrities who avoided the Trump White House, starting with the Republican's 2017 inauguration. John had declined an invitation to play at Trump's inaugural festivities, saying he didn't think it was appropriate for someone with British heritage to play at the swearing-in of an American president.Trump had included high praise for John in a few of his books and played John’s songs at his presidential campaign rallies, including “Rocket Man” and “Tiny Dancer.” Trump had also&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/27bd4d9bd59f4de5863e40ca351918e9">nicknamed North Korean leader Kim Jong Un “rocket man”</a>&nbsp;because of Kim’s habit of test-firing missiles.Country music singers Toby Keith and Lee Greenwood were among the more notable entertainers who performed to help usher Trump into office. Bigger names from other genres refused or weren't considered.Hollywood has always leaned heavily Democratic.For the inauguration of Democrat Biden, singers Lady Gaga, Jennifer Lopez and Garth Brooks were among those who performed.Aretha Franklin and Beyonce were among celebrities who turned out in a huge show of force for Democrat Barack Obama, from fundraising to his two inaugurations to performances inside the White House or on the grounds.They disappeared under Trump, but are returning for Biden.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/virus-outbreak-election-2020-ap-top-news-music-entertainment-bb255b54c48d67eeebffd0bc64814fac">Biden relied on celebrities during his 2020 presidential campaign</a>, when in-person schmoozing was largely suspended because of the coronavirus. A parade of movie and TV stars, pop icons and sports standouts stepped up to help Biden raise money and energize supporters.Sir Elton — he was knighted in 1998 by Queen Elizabeth II — has sold over 300 million records worldwide, played over 4,000 shows in 80 countries and recorded one of the best-selling singles of all-time, his 1997 reworking of “Candle In The Wind” to eulogize Princess Diana, which sold 33 million copies.He has scored over 70 top 40 hits, including nine No. 1s, and released seven No. 1 albums in the 3 1/2-year period from 1972 to 1975, a pace second only to that of the Beatles. John has five Grammy awards, a Tony award for “Aida,” and Academy Awards for songs from “The Lion King” and “Rocketman.”He has played at the White House in the past.John and Stevie Wonder performed together at a 1998 state dinner hosted by Democratic President Bill Clinton honoring British Prime Minister Tony Blair. They performed under a tent on the West Colonnade roof.John was critical of Republican President George W. Bush, telling a British magazine in November 2004 that Bush and his administration “are the worst thing that has ever happened to America.”But he was more diplomatic at a reception at the White House in December 2004 for a group of Kennedy Center honorees that included himself.The rock legend said receiving the honor “is about the icing on the cake. ... It's incredible for someone who's British to be given such an accolade from America, which has given me so much already in my career.”

Celebrities coming back to White House after Trump drought

<a href="https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search/?query=byline:%22JAKE%20COYLE%22&amp;mediaType=text&amp;st=keyword&amp;sortOrder=newest">By JAKE COYLE AP Film Writer</a>

Somewhere around when TikTok videos were analyzing, with the intensity of the Zapruder film,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/music/story/2022-09-08/harry-styles-spit-joke-chris-pine-dont-worry-darling">whether spit flew</a>&nbsp;at the Venice Film Festival premiere of Olivia Wilde's “Don't Worry Darling,” it became clear that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/harry-styles-venice-film-festival-olivia-wilde--54b69289f86e9034245126dd69981c4a">the melodrama of the movie's promotional tour</a>&nbsp;had easily eclipsed the movie, itself.

The tabloid frenzy that engulfed&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FgmnKsED-jU">“Don't Worry Darling”</a>&nbsp;was so public, so out in the open that it quickly passed into something kind of exhausting. I would definitely rather re-watch “Don't Worry Darling” the movie than replay that media storm. But in some ways, the on-screen and off-screen dramas go hand-in-hand. Like that fraught Venice debut, Wilde's movie, set in a Palm Springs fantasy world, brings together beautiful faces in a sunny, fashionable locale with the possibility of sinister doings afoot.

“Don't Worry Darling,” which opens in theaters Friday, takes a kind of “Stepford Wives” or “Truman Show” concept and reorients it with a potent #MeToo lens. All the ingredients are here for a powerful dystopic drama: Wilde, an ascendant filmmaker coming off her terrific debut,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/3fe5dcccb160472f92e2796d81a81096">the 2019 teen comedy “Booksmart"</a>;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/7467ab00649f46e3872eb705148e23b7">Florence Pugh</a>, one of the most electric young actors working in film today; Harry Style's pop presence; and some sensational mid-century modern production design thanks to&nbsp;<a href="https://thespaces.com/richard-neutra-kaufmann-desert-house-for-sale/">Richard Neutra's Kaufmann Desert House</a>.

Yet for all its promise, “Don't Worry Darling" at every twist and turn lacks the right balance of suspense. Wilde, working from a script by Katie Silberman, conjures a kind of '50s-style utopia in which the young married couple Alice (Pugh) and Jack Kramden (Styles) live on a picturesque cul-de-sac. Every morning the devoted housewives kiss their suit-clad husbands goodbye before they drive off to a mysterious dirt mountain in the desert to do whatever keeps this strange male fantasy humming.

At least since&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/1948/06/26/the-lottery">Shirley Jackson's “The Lottery,”</a>&nbsp;marrying routine and ritual with ominous cracks in a social facade has been a fine foundation for conspiratorial thrillers of all kinds, from “The Twilight Zone” to “Get Out.” And though it's a compelling starting framework for “Don't Worry Darling,” every little revelation is bluntly over-the-top, sapping the movie of any mystery. The town is named Victory and its only Black resident is a traumatized woman (KiKi Layne) who shouts “Why are we here?” before quickly being disappeared. No more subtle is the town's cult-like leader, Frank (Chris Pine, smoothly devious), preaching about keeping “chaos” at bay.

But it's still easy enough to go along with the film because, well, Pugh. If her devotion to the film has been uncertain during its release, Pugh's commitment to the role is far harder to question. It's often riveting following her increasingly paranoid psychology as Alice's growing suspicions cause her to doubt everything, maybe even her own seemingly perfect husband.

For a while, “Don't Worry Darling” seems to be an almost perfect Hollywood embodiment of the King Princess song,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LNxWTS25Tbk">“1950."</a>&nbsp;("I like it when we play 1950.") Pugh and Styles have a glamorous chemistry together, even if their codified gender roles — Alice greets him at the end of the day at the front door with a cocktail in hand — are increasingly dubious. Style's performance, along with his in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/entertainment-music-toronto-canada-1d69b925d8adc12b743b595c81c53d3f">the upcoming “My Policeman,</a>&nbsp;” hint at real possibility for him as a movie star of cryptic allure.

“Don't Worry Darling” is ultimately neither worthy of all the off-screen fuss nor quite the on-screen disappointment it's been made out to be. It's a promising but clunky thriller that feels to me like it's mistaken two acts for three, overly drawing out the portentous set-up and leaving off the story, after its big twist ending, just as it's getting interesting.

“Don't Worry Darling,” a Warner Bros. release, is rated R by the Motion Picture Association of America for sexuality, violent content and language. Running time: 123 minutes. Two and a half stars out of four.

<a href="https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search/?query=byline:%22JAKE%20COYLE%22&amp;mediaType=text&amp;st=keyword&amp;sortOrder=newest">By JAKE COYLE AP Film Writer</a>Somewhere around when TikTok videos were analyzing, with the intensity of the Zapruder film,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/music/story/2022-09-08/harry-styles-spit-joke-chris-pine-dont-worry-darling">whether spit flew</a>&nbsp;at the Venice Film Festival premiere of Olivia Wilde's “Don't Worry Darling,” it became clear that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/harry-styles-venice-film-festival-olivia-wilde--54b69289f86e9034245126dd69981c4a">the melodrama of the movie's promotional tour</a>&nbsp;had easily eclipsed the movie, itself.The tabloid frenzy that engulfed&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FgmnKsED-jU">“Don't Worry Darling”</a>&nbsp;was so public, so out in the open that it quickly passed into something kind of exhausting. I would definitely rather re-watch “Don't Worry Darling” the movie than replay that media storm. But in some ways, the on-screen and off-screen dramas go hand-in-hand. Like that fraught Venice debut, Wilde's movie, set in a Palm Springs fantasy world, brings together beautiful faces in a sunny, fashionable locale with the possibility of sinister doings afoot.“Don't Worry Darling,” which opens in theaters Friday, takes a kind of “Stepford Wives” or “Truman Show” concept and reorients it with a potent #MeToo lens. All the ingredients are here for a powerful dystopic drama: Wilde, an ascendant filmmaker coming off her terrific debut,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/3fe5dcccb160472f92e2796d81a81096">the 2019 teen comedy “Booksmart"</a>;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/7467ab00649f46e3872eb705148e23b7">Florence Pugh</a>, one of the most electric young actors working in film today; Harry Style's pop presence; and some sensational mid-century modern production design thanks to&nbsp;<a href="https://thespaces.com/richard-neutra-kaufmann-desert-house-for-sale/">Richard Neutra's Kaufmann Desert House</a>.Yet for all its promise, “Don't Worry Darling" at every twist and turn lacks the right balance of suspense. Wilde, working from a script by Katie Silberman, conjures a kind of '50s-style utopia in which the young married couple Alice (Pugh) and Jack Kramden (Styles) live on a picturesque cul-de-sac. Every morning the devoted housewives kiss their suit-clad husbands goodbye before they drive off to a mysterious dirt mountain in the desert to do whatever keeps this strange male fantasy humming.At least since&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/1948/06/26/the-lottery">Shirley Jackson's “The Lottery,”</a>&nbsp;marrying routine and ritual with ominous cracks in a social facade has been a fine foundation for conspiratorial thrillers of all kinds, from “The Twilight Zone” to “Get Out.” And though it's a compelling starting framework for “Don't Worry Darling,” every little revelation is bluntly over-the-top, sapping the movie of any mystery. The town is named Victory and its only Black resident is a traumatized woman (KiKi Layne) who shouts “Why are we here?” before quickly being disappeared. No more subtle is the town's cult-like leader, Frank (Chris Pine, smoothly devious), preaching about keeping “chaos” at bay.But it's still easy enough to go along with the film because, well, Pugh. If her devotion to the film has been uncertain during its release, Pugh's commitment to the role is far harder to question. It's often riveting following her increasingly paranoid psychology as Alice's growing suspicions cause her to doubt everything, maybe even her own seemingly perfect husband.For a while, “Don't Worry Darling” seems to be an almost perfect Hollywood embodiment of the King Princess song,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LNxWTS25Tbk">“1950."</a>&nbsp;("I like it when we play 1950.") Pugh and Styles have a glamorous chemistry together, even if their codified gender roles — Alice greets him at the end of the day at the front door with a cocktail in hand — are increasingly dubious. Style's performance, along with his in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/entertainment-music-toronto-canada-1d69b925d8adc12b743b595c81c53d3f">the upcoming “My Policeman,</a>&nbsp;” hint at real possibility for him as a movie star of cryptic allure.“Don't Worry Darling” is ultimately neither worthy of all the off-screen fuss nor quite the on-screen disappointment it's been made out to be. It's a promising but clunky thriller that feels to me like it's mistaken two acts for three, overly drawing out the portentous set-up and leaving off the story, after its big twist ending, just as it's getting interesting.“Don't Worry Darling,” a Warner Bros. release, is rated R by the Motion Picture Association of America for sexuality, violent content and language. Running time: 123 minutes. Two and a half stars out of four.

Review: Is 'Don't Worry Darling' worth all the drama?

<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G-UnzRM24IM">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G-UnzRM24IM</a>

<div><iframe title="Mix 103.3’s Friday Night Finds: Sept. 16, 2022" allowtransparency="true" height="300" width="100%" style="border: none; min-width: min(100%, 430px);" scrolling="no" data-name="pb-iframe-player" src="https://www.podbean.com/player-v2/?i=rifzb-12ca95e-pb&from=pb6admin&square=1&share=1&download=1&rtl=0&fonts=Arial&skin=3267a3&font-color=auto&logo_link=podcast_page&btn-skin=3267a3&size=300" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>&nbsp; Play the song below:<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G-UnzRM24IM">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G-UnzRM24IM</a>

Friday Night Finds: Sept. 16, 2022

It's almost time for the Smoky Hill Museum Street Fair!

The event is scheduled for Saturday in and around the museum, 211 W. Iron Avenue in downtown Salina. Entry to the street fair is open to the public at no charge.

According to information from the museum, the street fair is a time to celebrate the Old West with a chili cook-off, music, activities, food vendors and, of course, the museum itself.

Salina's Old West is the theme for this year's parade, which is scheduled to kick off the festivities at 10 a.m. at the N. Santa Fe Avenue/Elm Street intersection. The parade will travel south on Santa Fe Avenue and conclude at South Street.

A variety of activities will then be available in the area of the museum, including an Old West chuck wagon, horseshoe tossing, roping, archery, blacksmithing, chili cook-off, free make-and-take crafts, a caricaturist, and Color Me Crazy airbrush tattoos, according to information from the museum.

Those attending will get the opportunity to taste a various chili samples and vote for the winner of the street fair chili cookoff from noon to 1:30 p.m. The cost is $2 to sample chili from six booths. The People’s Choice Award and best decorated booth winners will be announced at 2 p.m. on the main stage.

Also on the main stage will be some returning favorites and some new acts. Following is the schedule and performer information as provided by the museum.

11 a.m.: Steel Skarecrow.&nbsp;The Wichita-area band's unique sound is a blend of '90s country, modern country, red dirt, and southern soul.

Noon: Everyday Lights.&nbsp;These Salina-based musicians have a love for folk and jazz rhythms. Their unique instrumentation and improvised harmony gives them a fresh, creative sound.

1 p.m.: Don Wagner and Friends.&nbsp;This group is comprised of four local musicians. Because of their diverse musical backgrounds, the band arranges and performs a variety of musical genres ranging from folk and country to rock and blues as well as original compositions.

2:15 p.m.: David Zerf.&nbsp;A singer-songwriter from Manhattan, this original Kansas Cowboy Minstrel's repertoire consists of Kansas cowboy and pioneer tunes, and original songs of Kansas frontier towns and characters.

The museum gallery is scheduled to be open from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. with its special exhibit, Let’s Play. In addition, there is the popular hands-on interactive exhibit, The Curiosity Shop. The Museum Store also is scheduled to be open with selections of Kansas-made items and locally made artwork.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/9/1663609354689.jpeg" alt="Just a part of the crowd at the 2021 Smoky Hill Museum Street Fair.&nbsp;Salina Post file photo&nbsp;&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Just a part of the crowd at the 2021 Smoky Hill Museum Street Fair.&nbsp;Salina Post file photo&nbsp;&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>By SALINA POSTIt's almost time for the Smoky Hill Museum Street Fair!The event is scheduled for Saturday in and around the museum, 211 W. Iron Avenue in downtown Salina. Entry to the street fair is open to the public at no charge.According to information from the museum, the street fair is a time to celebrate the Old West with a chili cook-off, music, activities, food vendors and, of course, the museum itself.Salina's Old West is the theme for this year's parade, which is scheduled to kick off the festivities at 10 a.m. at the N. Santa Fe Avenue/Elm Street intersection. The parade will travel south on Santa Fe Avenue and conclude at South Street.A variety of activities will then be available in the area of the museum, including an Old West chuck wagon, horseshoe tossing, roping, archery, blacksmithing, chili cook-off, free make-and-take crafts, a caricaturist, and Color Me Crazy airbrush tattoos, according to information from the museum.Those attending will get the opportunity to taste a various chili samples and vote for the winner of the street fair chili cookoff from noon to 1:30 p.m. The cost is $2 to sample chili from six booths. The People’s Choice Award and best decorated booth winners will be announced at 2 p.m. on the main stage.Also on the main stage will be some returning favorites and some new acts. Following is the schedule and performer information as provided by the museum.11 a.m.: Steel Skarecrow.&nbsp;The Wichita-area band's unique sound is a blend of '90s country, modern country, red dirt, and southern soul.Noon: Everyday Lights.&nbsp;These Salina-based musicians have a love for folk and jazz rhythms. Their unique instrumentation and improvised harmony gives them a fresh, creative sound.1 p.m.: Don Wagner and Friends.&nbsp;This group is comprised of four local musicians. Because of their diverse musical backgrounds, the band arranges and performs a variety of musical genres ranging from folk and country to rock and blues as well as original compositions.2:15 p.m.: David Zerf.&nbsp;A singer-songwriter from Manhattan, this original Kansas Cowboy Minstrel's repertoire consists of Kansas cowboy and pioneer tunes, and original songs of Kansas frontier towns and characters.3 p.m.: Steel SkarecrowThe museum gallery is scheduled to be open from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. with its special exhibit, Let’s Play. In addition, there is the popular hands-on interactive exhibit, The Curiosity Shop. The Museum Store also is scheduled to be open with selections of Kansas-made items and locally made artwork.

Smoky Hill Museum Street Fair Saturday in downtown Salina

NEW YORK (AP) — Thirteen years after James Cameron plunged moviegoers into the cosmic world of “Avatar,” the lush, distant moon of Pandora is finally orbiting back into view.

Cameron's “Avatar” industrial complex has been whirling in high gear for some time; production on the upcoming sequel,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a8Gx8wiNbs8">“Avatar: The Way of Water,"</a>&nbsp;began back in 2017. But after shuffling through half a decade's worth of release dates, Cameron's science-fiction epic is poised to again blanket movie screens and transport willing travelers back, in 3-D, to the land of the Na'vi.

For even the visionary filmmaker of “Titanic” and “The Terminator," the relaunch of “Avatar” is, as Cameron said in a recent interview from Wellington, New Zealand, “a big bet.” A third “Avatar” is already in post-production, and production has begun on a fourth. The record-breaking $2.8 billion in box office that “Avatar” grossed made the coming “Avatar” armada a far-from-risky wager. But a lot has changed since the original's release, when Netflix was still renting DVDs by mail and Cameron was working for 20th Century Fox.

<a href="https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search/?query=byline:%22JAKE%20COYLE%22&amp;mediaType=text&amp;st=keyword&amp;sortOrder=newest">By JAKE COYLE AP Film Writer</a>NEW YORK (AP) — Thirteen years after James Cameron plunged moviegoers into the cosmic world of “Avatar,” the lush, distant moon of Pandora is finally orbiting back into view.Cameron's “Avatar” industrial complex has been whirling in high gear for some time; production on the upcoming sequel,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a8Gx8wiNbs8">“Avatar: The Way of Water,"</a>&nbsp;began back in 2017. But after shuffling through half a decade's worth of release dates, Cameron's science-fiction epic is poised to again blanket movie screens and transport willing travelers back, in 3-D, to the land of the Na'vi.For even the visionary filmmaker of “Titanic” and “The Terminator," the relaunch of “Avatar” is, as Cameron said in a recent interview from Wellington, New Zealand, “a big bet.” A third “Avatar” is already in post-production, and production has begun on a fourth. The record-breaking $2.8 billion in box office that “Avatar” grossed made the coming “Avatar” armada a far-from-risky wager. But a lot has changed since the original's release, when Netflix was still renting DVDs by mail and Cameron was working for 20th Century Fox.To whet moviegoers' appetites ahead of the Dec. 16 debut of the three-hour “Avatar: The Way of Water” — and remind them of a movie world they may have lost touch with — the Walt Disney Co. on Friday will rerelease “Avatar”&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jm2sNLIPPvA&amp;t=63s">in a remastered, 4K, HDR version</a>&nbsp;that he says is “better than it’s ever looked.”It's an opening salvo in Cameron's ambitious plan to sketch a yet-grander sci-fi saga, and to again conjure a cinematic experience, as he says, “that you simply cannot have in the home.” Taking a break from all the “Avatar” juggling, Cameron talked re-watching the original, his expectation for “The Way of Water" and why he nearly quit the “Avatar” business.Remarks have been edited for clarity and brevity.AP: Does “Avatar” seem like a long time ago to you?CAMERON: It feels like yesterday at times and then obviously it feels like more than a decade other times. The time has passed quickly. I've been doing all sorts of interesting things. Deep ocean research. Building submersibles. Writing four epic movies. Now finishing up “Avatar 2” and we're mid-process in post on “Avatar 3.” So “Avatar” has never been far from my mind. I constantly go back to it, obviously in the remaster process making it better than it's ever looked before. I'm kind of just living on Pandora right now.AP: When you went back to watch “Avatar,” how did it look to you?CAMERON: I see a lot of good work by a lot of good people in terms of the production design, the visual effects, the groundbreaking strides that were made at that time in capturing the performances of the actors, and the great work of the actors. It was tough to live up to. We had set the bar very high for ourselves back then and we had to live up to that bar this time with the new films. I remind our VFX team all the time: “Look at the bugs in the forest in the first movie. We had better bugs!”AP: Moviegoing rebounded this summer but there's been a late-summer lull that the “Avatar” re-release may help jumpstart. How do you see the health of theatrical right now?CAMERON: It's shown resiliency that I don't think we expected. The pandemic, quite rightly, scared everybody. There was a period of time where you were basically risking your life to go to the movies. People did it anyway. Now, we feel like we're past the hump or at least it's a manageable problem. We're seeing a resurgence back in cinemas. It's not where we were before. Streaming has taken a bite. The pandemic has taken a bite. We're probably down 20, 25% from where we were pre-pandemic. I think it's going to be a very long tail on this thing before we're back to where we were before. It's incumbent on us to double down on showmanship.AP: Over the years, some have argued that “Avatar," despite its stature as the highest grossing film of all time,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cnet.com/culture/avatar-the-blockbuster-movie-that-history-forgot/">hasn't stuck in the culture</a>&nbsp;the way you'd expect. Do those arguments irk you?CAMERON: I think it's true for a specific reason, which is that we didn't immediately follow it up with another film in two or three years, and another film in two or three years. We didn't play the Marvel game. We're playing a longer game here. “Avatar” isn't going anywhere, it just didn't follow up with a continuous barrage to keep it in the public eye and the public consciousness, which is what you have to do. Taking a lesson from that, we basically architected four sequels so that if “Avatar 2” is successful, we can follow it up with a regular cadence — two years, maybe three years at the most between “3” and “4.” It will be in the public consciousness more and more regularly, but only if people embrace “Avatar 2.”AP: Your films have grossed more than $6 billion. I imagine you're not a filmmaker who gets nervous before opening a movie.CAMERON: You bet I do. Anyone who says they don't get nervous before a movie drops is a lying son of a (expletive).AP: And there is an awful lot riding on “The Way of Water.”CAMERON: Yeah, it's a big play. It's a big bet. And we won't know where we are until the second or third weekend. The success of the first film — we had a pretty good opening at $75 million. But openings are dwarfing that by factors of two or even three these days. Even if we have a stellar opening, we won't really know where we are for a couple weeks because it was the return visits on the first one. It was people wanting to go share. If we get that again, we'll probably be on solid ground.AP: I think the odds are in your favor.CAMERON: Nobody knows. The market has changed. Twenty-five percent could be our entire margin. It's one thing to make a lot of money, it's another thing to actually make a profit. We're not going to keep making movies that lose money even though they look good and make a ton of money. This is a wait-and-see, let's-put-it-out-there-and-see-if-people-embrace-it kind of situation.AP: “Avatar” was especially rich in an ecological subtext. In the 13 years since, much has only gone worse for the climate and the health of the planet. How much was that on your mind making the sequels?CAMERON: Very much so, even to the extent that I very strongly debated with myself and discussed with my wife whether I should stop filmmaking and work on the sustainability issues. But we managed to be able to do that in parallel with the filmmaking process. We're doing all of our sustainability efforts — I don't want to say as a side hustle, but in parallel. I put as much effort into that as I do the filmmaking.That said, the new “Avatar” films aren't any more like a lecture on climate or environmentalism than the first one was. The first one was an adventure. It captured you at the level of character, at a level of storytelling. I think subtext is a useful way of looking at it. It's there but it's not what's driving the story. And we kept that in mind with the new films. Yes, “Avatar: The Way of Water” is about the oceans and our relationship with the oceans and the animals that live in it. But it's driven by character.AP: “Avatar: The Way of Water" will bring back 3D and feature high-frame rate footage, both of which moviegoers&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/4bb468a82bc748c4aec1ba47111e29da">have mixed opinions on</a>. What do you think has been the biggest technological leap in the last 13 years?CAMERON: In terms of the presentation, we're authoring in high-dynamic range, which I think is very important. Projection out there in the field is brighter now than it was a decade ago, which is much better for 3D. We're judiciously using high-frame rates in the process of authoring our 3D because people become more sensitive to rapid lateral motion. Your mind is more sensitive, so we solved that by judiciously applying high-frame rate here and there throughout the film. That's all at the service of making it a better viewing experience.I don't think anybody should go see a movie because it's authored a certain way. That's just part of our showmanship. I think the reasons to see this film are the same reasons to see the first one. You enter a world. You become fully immersed in it. You feel like it surrounds you and you become an inhabitant there, and you get to linger there. You go on that journey. Of course, in the new film, it's a bit longer because we have more characters and more story to service. I think people are very story-driven. When they get a set of characters they like and they get involved in their problems, they'll follow it for scores of hours across multiple years of limited series. I'm not worried about that part of it.