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  • Hallmark partners with Buffalo Bills for Christmas movie: What to know

    Hallmark partners with Buffalo Bills for Christmas movie: What to know

    Get ready, Bills Mafia. Filming on ‘Holiday Touchdown: A Bills Love Story,’ will kick off later this year, with the entire movie being shot in and around Buffalo, New York.

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    First it was a Kansas City Chiefs love story. Now it’s time for the Buffalo Bills to find their happily ever after in the world of Hallmark.

    Hallmark announced on Thursday that it’s collaborating with the National Football League and Skydance Sports once again “on the heels of its winning partnership last year.” They’re putting together a Christmas special called “Holiday Touchdown: A Bills Love Story.”

    The network said the new movie will premiere during the “GOAT of festive films, Hallmark Channel’s 16th annual Countdown to Christmas,” adding that last year’s inaugural collaboration for “Holiday Touchdown: A Chiefs Love Story” was cable television’s most-watched movie of the year.

    While details about the plot and cast will be announced at a later date, Hallmark said production will kick off later this year and the film will be entirely shot “at locations in and around Buffalo, New York, including (the) iconic Highmark Stadium, which is making its last stand as the Bills home field in the upcoming 2025 NFL season.”

    ‘Go Bills’

    Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin expressed his excitement about the upcoming film in a social media video shared by the Hallmark channel.

    “We have big news today,” he says. “Hallmark Channel and the NFL have selected the Buffalo Bills in the 2025 ‘Countdown to Christmas’ movie draft. Stay tuned this holiday season.”

    Hamlin said he’s excited to celebrate the team, their fans and gave a shout-out to Bills Mafia, as the Bills fandom is known, and their “shared love for football and Hallmark Christmas movies.”

    “Go Bills. Let’s go,” he added.

    Movie will be ‘filled with heart, family’

    Buffalo Bills Chief Operating Officer Pete Guelli said in a statement that the team was “honored” to “participate in this amazing project that will showcase two powerful brands – Hallmark and the Buffalo Bills.”

    “This is an incredible opportunity to feature Western New York and Bills Mafia on the Hallmark platform,” Guelli added. “It is a privilege to be part of this project, and we hope this film will be a hit during the holiday season!”

    Hallmark said it has extensive plans for the film and its release with “fan activations, unique co-branded merchandise, and on-air, social, and digital promotion,” to engage “audiences both on and off the field.”

    Last year, Hallmark had released “Holiday Touchdown: A Chiefs Love Story” based on the Kansas City Chiefs, with Jason and Travis Kelce’s mom, Donna Kelce, also making a special appearance.

    Saman Shafiq is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at [email protected] and follow her on X and Instagram @saman_shafiq7.

  • Philadelphia renames city street after Will Smith

    Philadelphia renames city street after Will Smith

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    • Philadelphia renamed 2000 N. 59th St. to Will Smith Way on Wednesday.
    • The street is just a block away from Overbrook High School, where Smith graduated in 1986.

    In time for his first album release in 20 years, Philadelphia has renamed a street after its local icon, Will Smith.

    On Wednesday, Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker sang a few lines from The Fresh Prince’s “Brand New Funk” before gifting Smith a key to the city and a replica of the street sign that now bears his name, Will Smith Way.

    The new street name replaces 2000 N. 59th St., just a short jaunt away from Overbrook High School, from which Smith graduated in 1986.

    “The name ‘The Fresh Prince’ was coined in that building,” Smith said at Wednesday’s ceremony, pointing back to his alma mater. “I added the ‘Fresh,’ because it was hip-hop slang,” he continued with a laugh.

    According to Smith, it was a teacher by the name of Mrs. Brown who began calling him “Prince Charming” when he was in the 10th grade. It was from there that he deemed himself “The Fresh Prince,” which would carry over to his 1990s sitcom, “The Fresh Prince of Bel Air.”

    On Friday, Smith released his new album, “Based on a True Story.” It is his first album since “Lost and Found” in 2005.

    Greta Cross is a national trending reporter at USA TODAY. Story idea? Email her at [email protected].

  • Gospel star Marvin Sapp responds to backlash over $40,000 fund request

    Gospel star Marvin Sapp responds to backlash over $40,000 fund request

    Renowned gospel artist Marvin Sapp is responding to criticism over a resurfaced clip that shows him telling church ushers to close the doors while asking for donations in what some say was an overly aggressive move.

    The controversy stems from a viral video in which Sapp speaks in front of the congregation at the 109th Pentecostal Assemblies for the World Convention in Baltimore, Maryland, in July. In the video, he called on churchgoers in the building −and those watching online − to help raise $40,000 by giving $20 each.

    “Ushers close the doors,” the “Praise Him In Advance” singer said repeatedly. “There’s 1,000 of you tonight, and … it’s 1,000 watching online. This is a small seed.”

    Additionally, he asked preachers standing beside him to give a $100 contribution: “Giving is worship,” he said.

    Sapp is responding to criticism over the hard sell, arguing that it’s been taken out of context.

    Here’s what you need to know about the controversy.

    Social media reacts to resurfaced clip

    Although collecting donations, or tithes, has long been a tradition in Black churches, the video has sparked plenty of interest, with memes, parodies, and criticism abounding on social media.

    “Marvin Sapp would be getting Marvin SLAPPED if he held me hostage for money when he could go in the studio and make my annual salary in a couple months.,” one X user joked. “That ain’t the work of the Lord.”

    “NEVER WOULD’VE PAAAAAAAAID IT,” another user wrote, referencing the Grammy-nominated singer’s popular song, “Never Would Have Made It.”

    Comedian KevOnStage made a skit of an usher shaking him down for cash before leaving the building.

    In a statement on his Facebook page on Wednesday, Sapp provided additional context behind his request for money. He said that as a minister, fundraising was part of his job at the international convention, calling it “stewardship” rather than “manipulation.”

    “Some have taken issue with a particular moment when I instructed the ushers, rather firmly, to close the doors during the offering,” Sapp wrote. “To those unfamiliar with the church context or who may not regularly attend worship gatherings this has been misinterpreted as holding people hostage as well as offensive. That was never my intent.”

    He continued to say that “finances are being received in any worship gathering” and that “it is one of the most vulnerable and exposed times for both the finance and security teams.”

    “Movement during this sacred exchange can be distracting and, at times, even risky,” he said. “My directive was not about control it was about creating a safe, focused, and reverent environment for those choosing to give, and for those handling the resources.”

    Internet reactions to Marvin Sapp’s donation request

    Taylor Ardrey is a news reporter for USA TODAY. You can reach her at [email protected].

  • Damian Lewis returns as King Henry VIII in 'Wolf Hall'TV

    Damian Lewis returns as King Henry VIII in 'Wolf Hall'TV

    Damian Lewis returns as King Henry VIII in ‘Wolf Hall’TV

  • Black Ribbon Books is a cozy community hangout in Arkansas

    Black Ribbon Books is a cozy community hangout in Arkansas

    Independent bookstores are the heartbeats of their communities. They provide culture and community, generate local jobs and sales tax revenue, promote literacy and education, champion and center diverse and new authors, connect readers to books in a personal and authentic way and actively support the right to read and access to books in their communities.

    Each week we profile an independent bookstore, sharing what makes each one special and getting their expert and unique book recommendations.

    This week we have Nannette Crane-Post, owner of Black Ribbon Books in Hot Springs, Arkansas.

    What’s your store’s story?

    Black Ribbon Books is a woman-owned bookstore. I’m a full-time community college faculty member who splits her time between teaching, grading and maintaining a community space for books and reading. The shop is located in a historic hotel in Hot Springs National Park.

    What makes your independent bookstore unique?

    My customers are a mix of tourists and locals and all describe the store as welcoming and cozy. I am located next to a record store in the shopping gallery of the Arlington Hotel with a distinct art deco and 1920s vibe. I host author events, a book club and a safe place for local high school students to hang out. I sell both new and used books at all price points because I believe books should be affordable for everyone. I also carry gift items from local artists.

    What’s your favorite section in your store?

    My favorite section is the lounge area that has a couch, cozy chair and a coffee table with an ongoing jigsaw puzzle.

    What book do you love to recommend to customers and why?

    I love recommending Louise Erdrich’s book, “The Sentence.” Tookie, the main character, is deeply flawed yet looking for love, inclusion and a tribe. I think many of us can relate to her.

    “Pilgrim at Tinker Creek” by Annie Dillard deserves more attention because it is a deep, slow study of our environment as a way to heal us and understand our lives. It asks us to slow down and focus our attention on things that may be overlooked (like the tiny inhabitants of a creek) because we deem them unimportant in our hurry to always be on the go.

    Why is shopping at local, independent bookstores important? 

    Shopping at local indie bookstores is important because bookstores define the coupling of community and the world at large. Where else can one go to feel included and authentic, yet also connected with the world? I love how social barriers are removed in bookstores because our sense of self is sustained by having access to what speaks to us and what we identify with. At the same time, we are expanded by exposure to new subjects we otherwise would never discover.

    What are some of your store’s events, programs, or partnerships you would like to share?

    Every month we host a monthly book club. Past events include author readings and signings, student art receptions, birthday parties, photo shoots and even a wedding proposal. 

  • ’60s teen heartthrob battling disease

    ’60s teen heartthrob battling disease

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    Bobby Sherman, an actor and singer who rose to teen idol status in the 1960s, has been diagnosed with cancer.

    Sherman’s wife Brigitte Poublon announced the diagnosis in a post to Facebook Tuesday and thanked his “cherished fans” for “remembering him.” She did not specify the type of cancer.

    “As many of you know, Bobby has been retired for some time and is no longer able to participate in cameos, sign autographs, or make appearances,” wrote Poublon, who wed Sherman in 2011.

    “It is with a heavy heart that we share Bobby has recently been diagnosed with stage 4 cancer,” she continued. “During this challenging time, we kindly ask for your understanding and respect for our privacy.”

    A rep for Sherman was not immediately available for comment.

    Sherman, 81, exemplified a classic California pop king. Hailing from Santa Monica, he charmed audiences with ballads like the gold-record-winning “Little Woman” and “Easy Come, Easy Go” and blended yacht rock with doo-wop sensibilities.

    More Monkees than Beach Boys, his sound was not the only source of success for Sherman. His heartthrob look and singing chops also landed him on several television shows. In 1968, he made his debut on “Here Come the Brides,” a Western comedy series.

    He was later cast as the house singer on the ABC variety show “Shindig!” and appeared in several cameos on “The Patridge Family” and “The Love Boat.”

    For Sherman, teen stardom represented only a first act. In the 1990s he left entertainment to become a paramedic and work with local law enforcement, teaching first aid to recruits at the Los Angeles Police Department Academy, according to a 1993 profile of him in The Los Angeles Times.

    He later became a technical reserve officer for the department.

    “Thank you so much for still remembering him,” Sherman’s wife concluded in her statement. “We really appreciate it.”

  • Selena Gomez values Taylor Swift’s opinion: ‘She’s super honest’

    Selena Gomez values Taylor Swift’s opinion: ‘She’s super honest’

    Selena Gomez is grateful for “very sweet” support from her longtime friend Taylor Swift.

    “Taylor Swift gave you the ultimate shout out over the weekend,” reporter Emily Curl asked the Only Murders in the Building star on Thursday. “How did it feel seeing that and seeing her support?”

    “You know with Taylor I value her support and her opinion so much, because she’s super honest,” Gomez responded.

    Swift shared the “I Said I Love You First” cover art to her Instagram story on Saturday with the caption, “I LOVE THIS ALBUM SO MUCH OH MY GODDDDDDDDDDDD.”

    iHeartRadio shared the interaction on X where the 32-year-old singer was promoting her emotionally rich album she collaborated with fiancé Benny Blanco.

    Long live the Eras Tour with our enchanting book

    Gomez admitted before any songs hit the airwaves or streaming sites, she sends songs to Swift. “I have always played her – off any of my albums – the top two I like to see and what she thinks.”

    After almost two decades of friendship, Gomez said Swift offers an unfiltered opinion. Some songs are “OK” while others are “knockouts”: “Like when I played her ‘Lose You to Love Me’ before it came out and she and her amazing mom started crying and then I started crying and it’s very sweet.”

    Don’t miss any Taylor Swift news; sign up for the free, weekly newsletter This Swift Beat.

    Follow Bryan West, the USA TODAY Network’s Taylor Swift reporter, on Instagram, TikTok and X as @BryanWestTV.

  • Mike Wolfe announces hiatus from ‘American Pickers.’ Why?

    Mike Wolfe announces hiatus from ‘American Pickers.’ Why?

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    “American Pickers” star Mike Wolfe is taking a break from the show for the first time, six months after former co-star Frank Fritz’s death.

    In a People magazine exclusive published Friday, Wolfe revealed he will take a brief hiatus from the History Channel hit.

    “We haven’t done that in 15 years, so that’s going to feel good. For 15 years, we have just been going and going and going,” Wolfe told People, adding that the show’s longest break so far has been for “a month around Christmas.”

    “American Pickers” follows Wolfe and his brother Rob Wolfe, who replaced Frank Fritz, as the pair traverses the country searching for antique treasures.

    “I think we’re going to have at least four or five months off, so it’s going to be good,” he continued.

    The news comes as Wolfe is set to star in a film “Day of Reckoning” alongside girlfriend Leticia Cline.

    “A struggling sheriff teams up with a tough U.S. Marshal to detain a cunning female outlaw. As tensions rise within their posse, they must face an approaching gang led by the prisoner’s violent husband,” the film’s description reads on IMDb.

    Wolfe added that he originally wanted to “stay in my lane” but added that “I was like, ‘Okay, maybe I can.’ I don’t know if I’m fighting above my weight here, but it wasn’t like I had a ton of lines.

    “I think the best experience out of it, or the most surreal experience for me, was meeting a lot of the cast,” he said.

    ‘American Pickers’ hiatus comes after Frank Fritz’s October death

    The news of a hiatus comes six months after Wolfe’s co-star Frank Fritz died at 60.

    In an Instagram post on Oct. 1, Wolfe mourned “with a broken heart” the loss of his longtime former co-star.

    “I’ve know Frank for more then (sic) half my life and what you’ve seen on TV has always been what I have seen, a dreamer who was just as sensitive as he was funny,” he wrote. “The same off camera as he was on, Frank had a way of reaching the hearts of so many by just being himself.”

    Wolfe continued: “Who would have ever dreamed we would share the cockpit of a white cargo van in front of millions of people interested in our adventures. Before the show we would take off together to places we never knew existed with no destination in mind and just the shared passion to discover something interesting and historic.”

    The History Channel star added that the pair have “been on countless trips and shared so many miles and I feel blessed that I was there by his side when he took one last journey home. I love you buddy and will miss you so much I know your in a better place.”

    In July 2021, Wolfe confirmed Fritz would no longer appear on the show, writing that he would “miss Frank.” While Wolfe described the pair’s close relationship with Fritz then, his late co-star revealed to The Sun in July 2021 that he hadn’t spoken to Wolfe in “two years” and that he “didn’t leave the show.” 

  • JLo reunites with ‘Selena’ co-star amid Yolanda Saldivar parole denial

    JLo reunites with ‘Selena’ co-star amid Yolanda Saldivar parole denial

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    Jennifer Lopez is having a “Selena” reunion in a new Netflix movie.

    In an Instagram post Thursday, the multi-hyphenate announced that her former co-star Edward James Olmos, who played her on-screen dad in the 1997 film about the death of singer Selena Quintanilla-Pérez, will star in her upcoming film “Office Romance.”

    “From ‘Selena’ to now, this journey has come full circle…SWIPE to see the big news. We’re thrilled to welcome the incredible Edward James Olmos to ‘Office Romance’!” Lopez captioned the post, which was also posted in Spanish.

    Lopez posted the photo carousel with a throwback picture of the duo and an updated photo.

    Olmos will star with Lopez in “Office Romance,” a romantic comedy film from Brett Goldstein and Joe Kelly, the creators of HBO hit “Ted Lasso.” Last year, Deadline reported that Lopez will produce the film. The movie also stars Goldstein, “Glow’ actress Betty Gilpin and “The Blacklist” actor Zuhdi Boueri.

    Selena Quintanilla Pérez killer denied parole

    But JLo’s timing comes almost 30 years to the day after pop singer and Tejano legend Quintanilla-Pérez, who she played in the beloved 1997 movie, was murdered – and the same day her killer was denied parole.

    On Thursday, Yolanda Saldívar, 64, who is currently serving a life sentence for Selena’s murder, was denied parole.

    The crossover star died March 31, 1995, at 23 years old in Corpus Christi, Texas, after Saldívar shot and killed her.

    Selena’s killer Yolanda Saldívar denied parole 30 years later, family responds

    On Thursday, the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles issued a press release announcing that a three-person parole panel determined after “thorough consideration” that Saldívar should not be granted release on parole due to the nature of the offense. In 1995, she was convicted on the charge of murder with a deadly weapon.

    The panel’s decision was based on her parole review file, which included confidential interviews, court documents, criminal history, information both in support and protest of her parole, “institutional adjustment” and a statement provided by Saldívar.

    Contributing: KiMi Robinson, USA TODAY; Olivia Garrett, Corpus Christi Caller Times

  • Studio Ghibli AI portraits spark outrage, make it to the White House

    Studio Ghibli AI portraits spark outrage, make it to the White House

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    From its inception, artificial intelligence has stoked fear among the creative community.

    Amid the rapid expansion of AI and ever-growing discussions of how machine learning may upend modern life, many artists have begun to sound the alarm on what they fear may be a free-for-all of unauthorized use and theft.

    No scenario better depicts that tension than the current controversy roiling OpenAI’s new image generator and the popular animation house Studio Ghibli, known for its animated movies including “Spirited Away” and “My Neighbor Totoro.”

    Here’s a rundown on how it all started, and why it has creative critics of the technology up in arms.

    David Attenborough is ‘profoundly disturbed’ by AI voice

    The Studio Ghibli, AI controversy explained

    On Tuesday, OpenAI, perhaps the most powerful mover in the machine learning space, released a new Image generator, powered by GPT-4o.

    When fans of animator Hayao Miyazaki, the co-founder of Studio Ghibli, noticed that they could ask the technology to recreate modern memes and scenarios in his style, social media became became awash with the images.

    Want to see the Pillsbury Doughboy as a character in “Howl’s Moving Castle” (one of Miyazaki’s most famous films)? No problem. How about a Troll, but Ghibli-style? Done!

    OpenAI founder Sam Altman even joined in, changing his profile photo on X to an image of him in Ghibli style.

    In a more sinister example, the official White House X account posted an AI-generated, Ghibli-style portrait of a woman crying amid deportation.

    While the software does issue a disclaimer before spitting out its design, seemingly to avoid trademark issues, some fair-use hawks are not convinced.

    Many musicians are speaking out against AI in music. But how do consumers feel?

    “I can’t create images in the exact style of Studio Ghibli due to content policies, but I can generate a troll with a soft, whimsical, and painterly look inspired by Ghibli’s magical worlds,” the new image generator said in a trial run by USA TODAY. “Would you like me to proceed with that?”

    In a technical paper posted Tuesday, OpenAI insisted it would take a “conservative approach” to image generation as it learned more about how the tool was being used by the “creative community.”

    “We added a refusal which triggers when a user attempts to generate an image in the style of a living artist,” it reads.

    In a statement sent to USA TODAY Friday, a spokesperson for OpenAI said the company’s goal was “to give users as much creative freedom as possible.”

    “We continue to prevent generations in the style of individual living artists, but we do permit broader studio styles—which people have used to generate and share some truly delightful and inspired original fan creations,” the statement said. “We’re always learning from real-world use and feedback, and we’ll keep refining our policies as we go.”

    USA TODAY has reached out to Studio Ghibli for comment.

    Fans were quick to point out, however, that the content warning does little to silence the fears of artists that the technology will result in widespread copyright infringement − violations that will remain unpunished on a technicality. Machine learning, after all, generates its knowledge from first-hand documents, which are products of a real person’s labor.

    Miyazaki himself is also an AI critic.

    Shown a demo of the technology in 2016, the animator said he was “utterly disgusted” by the display, according to documentary footage. Miyazaki went on to say he would “never wish to incorporate this technology into my work at all.”

    “I strongly feel that this is an insult to life itself,” he added.