Pop Culture

Variety reports: “Barbie” is saying “hiya” to the billion-dollar club. Greta Gerwig’s pink-coated fantasy comedy has surpassed $1 billion at the global box office, including $459 million in North America and $572 million internationally. This makes Gerwig the first-ever solo female filmmaker with a billion-dollar film. Three other billion-dollar blockbusters were co-directed by women, including “Frozen” ($1.3 billion) and “Frozen …

Gothamist reports: This summer, The DiscOasis will set up shop at Wollman Rink in Central Park, so New Yorkers can get back in touch with the city’s famed disco roots. Running from June 16th until October 1st, The DiscOasis will bring a mix of open skate sessions and theatrical performances—some with playlists crafted by Nike Rodgers the legendary songwriter, producer …

Deadline Hollywood reports: Regine, who claimed to have invented the term “discotheque” as she ran a nightclub empire that stretched from Paris to Los Angeles, has died. She passed on Sunday at age 92, according to her granddaughter. At its height, her nightlife empire had 22 venues. Born Regina Zylberberg in Belgium, Regine opened her first nightclub in Paris’s Latin …

Politico reports: In a move that may surprise some ambitious Massachusetts Democrats, Sen. Elizabeth Warren says that she’s going to run for reelection in 2024. “Yep,” the 71-year-old said simply in a POLITICO interview, when asked if she planned to make the run. That answer came as some Massachusetts Democrats have been gaming out a competitive primary in a few …

Via press release from Burning Man organizers: The past 14 months have been a turbulent journey of evolution and change for every human on this planet. We have had to adapt to the twists and turns of a global crisis, complex public health information, and the growing hope that we can start rebuilding our lives together soon. Although here in …

Page Six reports: Kim Kardashian and Kanye West are over. Multiple sources tell Page Six that “divorce is imminent” for the Hollywood couple, with Kardashian hiring divorce attorney to the stars, Laura Wasser. “They are keeping it low-key but they are done,” says a source. “Kim has hired Laura Wasser and they are in settlement talks.” Kim, 40, hasn’t been …

ABC News reports: Everybody’s favorite singing frog has made a special video of one of his beloved classic. The Muppets’ official YouTube page posted a video of Kermit the Frog performing “Rainbow Connection.” The video simply shows the well-known Disney character strumming the tune on his banjo in front of a swampy background as if performing a stay at home …

The New York Times reports: Siba, a black standard poodle with a meticulously groomed coat and a taste for chicken, won best in show at the 144th Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show on Tuesday night, defeating a final group of contenders that included a wildly popular golden retriever and two repeat best in show contestants. Siba is the fifth standard …

The New York Times reports: Lil Bub, the perma-kitten whose droopy tongue and eyes that could vacuum in your soul made her one of the internet’s most beloved feline celebrities, has died, her owner said on Monday. She was 8. With millions of followers on social media, and a mini-empire of commercial appearances elsewhere, Lil Bub was, to many, as …

The Verge reports: Netflix has released a trailer for its upcoming science fiction series Another Life, starring Battlestar Galactica’s Katee Sackhoff. The 10-episode series premieres on July 25th, and it looks like a fun cross between the first-contact film Arrival and the Syfy Channel’s Dark Matter. The series seems to have the feel of some of the big, goofy science …

Variety reports: Jake Owen, who recently had his seventh No. 1 single at country radio, is at the top of the charts with a lot of gay country fans now that he’s expressed his solidarity with the LGBT community — a move that doesn’t come without at least some controversy among the genre’s fan base. His cheeky way of coming …

From the Hollywood Reporter: Gloria Vanderbilt, who was thrust into the spotlight as a child heiress before going on to establish herself as an actress, artist, author, fashion icon and socialite, has died. She was 95. Vanderbilt, whose life included a nasty battle for her custody when she was 10, a string of high-profile relationships that began when she was …

TechCrunch reports: The number of U.S. households without a traditional cable or satellite TV subscription that instead receive broadcast stations using a digital antenna has jumped by nearly 50 percent over the past 8 years to reach 16 million homes, according to a new report from Nielsen. Today, 14 percent of all U.S. TV households are watching television over the …

From movie reviewer Steve Hayes: Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, Rosemary Clooney and Vera Ellen have a musical filled day singing and dancing to the tunes of the legendary Irving Berlin in Michael Curtiz’s WHITE CHRISTMAS (1954). Along for the festivities are Oscar winner Dean Jagger and the irascible and hysterical Mary Wickes. It’s a Technicolor, musical extravaganza that will have …

CNET reports: On Friday, Lin-Manuel Miranda shared a new remix of the song One Last Time from his hit musical Hamilton. The rework, a gospel version titled One Last Time (44 Remix), features original cast member Christopher Jackson, who played George Washington; Grammy Award-winning artist BeBe Winans; a gospel choir; and none other than former US President Barack Obama. At …

Variety reports: YouTube has released its annual Rewind video highlighting 2018’s biggest viral events, trends, and more. Epic Games’ battle royale phenomenon “Fortnite” features prominently in the montage. The video begins with Will Smith wishing for a mashup of “Fortnite” and technology-focused YouTuber Marques Brownlee. Cut to a Battle Bus full of YouTube personalities (Ninja is driving, naturally). They parachute …

The Verge reports: Tumblr is permanently banning adult content from its platform as of December 17th in a move that will eradicate porn-related communities on the platform and fundamentally alter how the service is used. The ban includes explicit sexual content and nudity with a few exceptions, the company tells The Verge. Its announcement comes just days after Tumblr was …

CBS News reports: One winning ticket was sold for the record Mega Millions jackpot of what turned out to be just under $1.6 billion. The winning ticket was purchased in South Carolina. South Carolina Education Lottery spokesperson Holli Armstrong told CBS News officials aren’t releasing the address yet of the outlet that sold the winner — or even the city …

Gothamist reports: Three years after buying The Village Voice, and a year after the paper shut down its print edition, owner Peter Barbey told the remaining staff today that the publication will no longer be posting any new stories. “Today is kind of a sucky day,” Barbey told the staff, according to audio obtained by Gothamist. “Due to, basically, business …

CNN reports: Prince Harry stole the show at London’s West End after bursting into song at the hit US hip-hop musical Hamilton. The Duke of Sussex gave those in the theater something to remember on Wednesday night after breaking into song at the end of a charity performance of the show, treating the cast to a song sung by the …