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Tina Fey’s ‘Four Seasons’ is a ‘family’ affair with Erika Henningsen
Colman Domingo On Returning To Comedy In ‘The Four Seasons’ On Netflix
‘The Four Seasons’ is a breath of fresh air for two-time Oscar nominee Colman Domingo.
Decider.com
NEW YORK — When you think of quintessential preteen movies, you likely don’t imagine a cozy marriage dramedy starring Alan Alda and Carol Burnett.
But growing up, “The Four Seasons” was a formative touchstone for a young Tina Fey, who worshipped at the altar of “M*A*S*H” and “The Carol Burnett Show.”
“I was like, they’re married? It was basically my version of ‘Twilight’ fan fiction,” says Fey, 54, who has now reimagined the 1981 film as a Netflix series (streaming May 1). Also, “at that time, there was something about it that defined for me, ‘Oh, that’s what grownup life should and will be like: caring, intelligent people who wear sweaters and walk around in the fall.’”
“That’s goals,” adds actress Erika Henningsen, 32, reuniting with Fey after Broadway’s “Mean Girls” and Peacock’s “Girls5Eva.” “And we did that! We really wore sweaters and walked around!”
Tina Fey gets to flex a new muscle with dramatic ‘Four Seasons’
Co-created with Lang Fisher (“Never Have I Ever”) and Tracey Wigfield (“Great News”), “The Four Seasons” follows three sets of couples – Kate (Fey) and Jack (Will Forte), Nick (Steve Carell) and Anne (Kerri Kenney-Silver), and Danny (Colman Domingo) and Claude (Marco Calvani) – as they navigate children, health, divorce and marital frustrations. Like the movie, the eight-episode series is set over one year and four (seasonal) vacations.
The show was “an exercise in restraint” for the razor-sharp Fey, who spent nine seasons as a writer and cast member on NBC’s “Saturday Night Live” and went on to make offbeat, joke-dense comedies “30 Rock” and “Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt.”
“It was like, ‘OK, so we’re not going to end this on a joke? These people are just going to have their feelings and the scene’s going to end?’” Fey quips. But anecdotally, “people seem to appreciate it. Sometimes, when there’s 10,000 jokes, it can inhibit you from actually caring about the story.”
The series follows many of the same beats as the film while giving added depth to characters such as the bubbly, outgoing Ginny (Henningsen), whom Nick starts dating after leaving Anne. The close-knit pals initially rebuff her as the younger “other woman” but come to discover someone who is patient, empathetic and right for Nick at that stage in his life.
“She’s a disruption to the friend group, but not an antagonist,” Henningsen says. “Between Ginny and Anne, you’re given two compelling, interesting partners for Nick. The goal is that you walk away loving both these women.”
The show’s candid, droll observations will be recognizable to anyone who’s been in a long-term partnership. “Many of us in the writers’ room have known each other for 20 years, so everyone was very generous about sharing specifics of their relationships,” says Fey, who has two daughters – Alice, 19, and Penelope, 13 – with composer husband Jeff Richmond.
“Four Seasons” proved cathartic for the nine-time Emmy winner, who filmed the project last fall, mere months after she lost her mom, Jeanne, and Alice went off to college.
“It definitely kept me in the world, because I could have easily kept more and more in my house,” Fey says. “There are certainly themes and topics in this that were a little close to the bone, and it has been good for me to reenter the world.”
The series also resonated with Henningsen, who in 2023 married her “Mean Girls” co-star Kyle Selig. Both actors are back on Broadway this spring: she in Bobby Darin bio-musical “Just in Time,” and he in the Stephen Sondheim revue “Old Friends.”
During filming, “I was soaking up life experience through this cast, just hearing them talk about how they’ve maneuvered their incredible careers, remained very present parents, and are still with their spouses,” Henningsen says. “I would come home and tell my husband, ‘I’m working with people who are doing it the way I want to do it.’”
Erika Henningsen feels ‘lucky’ to be part of Fey’s TV multiverse
Fey and Henningsen met in 2017 in a sweaty audition room for the “Mean Girls” musical, in which Henningsen played brainy new kid Cady Heron. “I remember Erika was very clearly a great choice from the moment she came in,” Fey recalls. “She has this intelligent, wholesome quality to her,” which worked for Ginny, too.
Henningsen always appreciated the way that Fey would ask for her feedback throughout the show’s inception, and the two soon became good friends. They fondly remember their post-pandemic hangs, when Fey’s family rented a house outside New York and invited Henningsen and her husband to come barbecue by the pool.
“Penelope made me act in a music video; Jeff had gotten really into meats,” Henningsen says with a laugh. “You really make everybody feel right at home.” Through the years, “just seeing the way you take care of your deep-rooted friendships, it’s not surprising that you wanted to work on ‘The Four Seasons.’”
Fey has long kept a close circle of collaborators, beginning with her “SNL” days. (“The women there were so strong,” she says. “We were, in some ways, raising each other.”) Fisher and Wigfield also wrote for “30 Rock” as they were starting out.
“It was huge for me, to see her be a mom and running the show,” Wigfield says. “Now, I’m happy to say there are lots of women who do it all, but it didn’t seem possible before her.”
Forte (“SNL”) and Carell (“Date Night”) both worked with Fey previously, and much of this show’s crew came from her past TV projects. She’ll next reunite with “30 Rock” favorite Tracy Morgan on a potential NBC comedy.
“When you work with someone who’s great and smart and a good person, you want to do that again,” Fey says. “Why would you want to do it any other way?”
“You’ve crafted a little family that you carry with you,” Henningsen adds. “I feel lucky to be one of those people in the Tina Fey ‘Avengers Assemble’ Universe. The world is burning – let’s have a good time.”
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Katy Perry addresses critics amid Blue Origin backlash
Katy Perry fans don Blue Origin-inspired jumpsuits to Mexico concert
During a show in Mexico, Katy Perry invited two fans wearing blue jumpsuits to join her band for a performance.
Katy Perry refuses to be grounded by her haters.
The “Roar” singer, 40, reflected in an Instagram comment on April 29 that “the ‘online’ world tries to make me a human Piñata.” The remarks came after Perry faced backlash for her decision to briefly fly to space on a Blue Origin flight that critics slammed as out of touch.
Perry left a comment on a video showing a billboard in Times Square congratulating her on the opening of her tour. In a comment left on a fan account, the Grammy nominee, whose latest album, “143,” received negative reviews in 2024, said she is “so grateful” for her supporters.
“Please know I am ok, I have done a lot work around knowing who I am, what is real and what is important to me,” she wrote. “My therapist said something years ago that has been a game changer, ‘no one can make you believe something about yourself that you don’t already believe about yourself’ and if I ever do have any feelings about it then it’s an opportunity to investigate the feeling underneath it.”
She continued, “When the ‘online’ world tries to make me a human Piñata, I take it with grace and send them love, cause I know so many people are hurting in so many ways and the internet is very much so a dumping ground for unhinged and unhealed.”
Perry concluded that “somehow through my battered and bruised adventure I keep looking to the light and in that light a new level UNLOCKS.”
On April 14, Perry joined a six-woman team, including Gayle King, on a Blue Origin flight to space. The trip sparked backlash and invited many negative comments on Perry’s social media accounts. One follower on Instagram described it as a “totally tone deaf moment” of a “bunch of rich people playing in space while the world is falling apart for the rest of us.”
Some celebrities also criticized the flight, with Olivia Munn slamming it as “gluttonous” and Emily Ratajkowski saying in a TikTok, “Look at the state of the world and think about how many resources went into putting these women into space, for what? I’m disgusted.”
Lily Allen also criticized the flight as “so out of touch” at a time when the United States is “on the brink of recession,” arguing that Perry was going to space for no “reason.” The singer later apologized on her “Miss Me?” podcast for “being mean about Katy Perry,” saying there was “no need for me to bring her name into it, and it was my own internalized misogyny.”
“It was just completely unnecessary to pile on with her,” Allen said. “I mean, I disagree with what it was that they did, but she wasn’t the only person that did it.”
Even the official X account for Wendy’s joined in on the backlash, posting, in response to news that Perry had returned from space, “Can we send her back.” Representatives for Wendy’s told Entertainment Weekly and People, “We always bring a little spice to our socials, but Wendy’s has a ton of respect for Katy Perry and her out-of-this-world-talent.”
King addressed the Blue Origin backlash in an interview with “Extra,” telling critics of the flight to “do more due diligence.”
“And then my question is, ‘Have y’all been to space?’” King asked. “Go to space or go to Blue Origin and see what they do and then come back and say, ‘This is a terrible thing.’”
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Sarah Jakes Roberts, husband Touré will step in for T.D. Jakes
Sarah Jakes Roberts, the daughter of Bishop T.D. Jakes, made a heartfelt tribute to her father after he announced that he is stepping down from leadership at the Potter’s House Church in Dallas.
Jakes shared the change during a sermon at the nondenominational church on April 27. He informed the congregation that Jakes Roberts and her husband, Touré Roberts, will take over.
The couple are co-pastors at ONE: A Potter’s House Church in Los Angeles and Potter’s House of Denver.
In an April 29 Instagram post, Jakes Roberts acknowledged her father’s contributions to the church, which he founded in 1996.
“The carpet is stained with your sweat. The walls rehearse your sermons,” she wrote. “The pews have been baptized with testimonies of wanderers turned believers. There is no Potter’s House Dallas without Bishop T. D. Jakes.”
It is unknown what role T.D. Jakes will play at The Potter’s House Church since the announcement was made.
Who is Sarah Jakes Roberts?
Sarah Jakes Roberts, 36, is the daughter of T.D. and Serita Jakes. According to a 2022 Los Angeles Times article, she was born in West Virginia but raised in Dallas, watching her father in the church.
She has four siblings: Thomas Dexter Jakes Jr., Jermaine Jakes, Jamar Jakes, and Cora Jakes.
Jakes Roberts has been open about her journey with teenage pregnancy. During an interview on “The Breakfast Club” in 2021, she said that giving birth at just 14 years old was challenging but ultimately has “contributed to my work ethic, made me wise for my years.”
Per the Times, Jakes Roberts attended Texas Christian University.
She is a New York Times best-selling author and CEO of Women Evolve. The movement, which focuses on women’s empowerment through faith, has spawned books, a podcast, and most notably, a conference that draws thousands each year which often includes other well-known names in ministry and celebrities. Beyoncé’s mother Tina Knowles, and Kelly Rowland attended the conference in 2023.
The event this year will be held in Atlanta in July and is already sold out. Her father hosted a similar conference called “Women Thou Art Loosed!” which started in 1996 and ended in 2022, where he eventually passed the torch to his daughter to continue the legacy of it.
Who is Touré Roberts?
Roberts is also an entrepreneur, investor, producer, humanitarian, and podcast host. Touré is the founder of ONE, which opened in 2014. According to his website, he is also a best-selling author, spiritual thought leader, speaker, and podcast host.
Sarah and Touré got married in 2014
The couple has been married since November 2014, reported Essence. This is both Roberts’ and Jakes Roberts’ second marriage.
Together, the two have five children from their previous marriages and a sixth child together, reported the lifestyle magazine.
Jakes Roberts pulled off her first sermon in 2014 after being invited to ONE in Los Angeles by her now-husband, whom she met through a friend.
“She did great,” Touré recalled to the outlet. “She was very calm and very serene. And she delivered a message.”
‘I’m scared but I’m ready’
Jakes Roberts’ recent Instagram post includes a photo of her embracing her father. She praised him for leading with an “unrelenting force.”
Jake’s decision comes on the heels of health issues. In November, he suffered a heart attack on stage during a sermon. Months later, Jakes Roberts said she’s ready to take on her new role.
“I hear the rasp in your voice. I see the pace of your steps. I know just a little about what it costs you. I selfishly wish you’d keep going forever so I could be daddy’s little girl and stay hidden behind your shoulders, but God’s called me to stand on them instead,” she continued. “The same God that was with you will be with me, too. I’m scared, but I’m ready. I bet you get that, too.”
Taylor Ardrey is a news reporter for USA TODAY. You can reach her at [email protected].
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What to expect at Los Angeles shows
Beyoncé Knowles-Carter rocked the stage during the opening show of her Cowboy Carter and the Rodeo Chitlin’ Circuit Tour, and she’s expected to bring the heat for the remainder of her first set of shows in Los Angeles.
The megastar brought the debut concert of her “Cowboy Carter” tour to the SoFi Stadium stage in Los Angeles on April 28. The night was filled with family, powerful messages — and of course soaring vocals, incredible costumes and masterful choreography.
Unless you’ve been completely off the grid, you’ve probably seen the set list for the 3-hour show and top moments —like Beyoncé’s daughter Blue Ivy owning the stage. In addition to experiencing the show in-person, there are some other highlights to look forward to during the show.
Find Beyoncé concert tickets
Beyoncé’s Cécred hair salon
Beyoncé’s Cécred hair care line has been named the official beauty brand of the “Cowboy Carter” tour. Dubbed the Cécred Roadshow, the brand is delivering a nationwide mobile pop-up, and Los Angeles concertgoers will be the first to experience it before it hits a number of other cities and Ulta Beauty stores around the country.
Once on SoFi grounds, fans can look forward to a Cécred oasis filled with live activations, photo opportunities and merchandise.
Of course, Beyoncé released her hair care line last year. Prior to the announcement, she teased her new business venture on Instagram while opening up about the impact of growing up in her mom’s hair salon.
Beyoncé’s SirDavis whiskey sets up shop at the concert
During Beyoncé’s opening show, many fans sang along with her as she sang the lyrics “Davis in my bones” from her 2024 song “Bodyguard.” And for many of those in the crowd it was a true statement thanks to Beyoncé’s SirDavis Whisky — the official spirit of the tour.
The American whiskey was founded by Beyoncé and crafted in partnership with Moët Hennessy, and fans headed to Beyoncé’s concerts have abundant opportunities to get their hands on a glass. There are multiple SirDavis bars and specialty cocktails, and fans can expect to see SirDavis mini shot glasses and many mason jar-esque cups topped with white cowboy hats filling the stadium.
These cups are one of many cute trinkets, and they are selling for $43.
Merchandise, trivia games and more
During the first show, many fans were excited to purchase never-before seen “Cowboy Carter” merchandise, some of which incorporated Beyoncé’s other brands, such as a Cé Lumière perfume car freshener.
During the kickoff performance, fans had the chance to participate in different trivia games. At one point, Beyoncé’s publicist Yvette Noel-Schure made her way around the stadium to crown Beyhive members “queens of the rodeo” for their outfits.
The takeaway — Cowboy Carter and the Rodeo Chitlin’ Circuit is more than a show; it’s an experience. And for many die-hard Beyoncé fans it’s a one-stop shop for all thing Beyoncé and her many business ventures.
Follow Caché McClay, the USA TODAY Network’s Beyoncé Knowles-Carter reporter, on Instagram, TikTok and X as @cachemcclay.
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Alec Baldwin’s statements about ‘Rust’ shooting ahead of film’s debut
The Baldwins to star in TLC reality show before Alec’s ‘Rust’ trial
Alec and Hilaria Baldwin announced a new TLC reality show to air in 2025 after Baldwin’s scheduled trial in the fatal “Rust” film set shooting.
Alec Baldwin’s movie “Rust” hits theaters and video on demand May 2. Typically, a star such as Baldwin, who also served as producer of the Western, would be doing interviews to promote the film. But his representatives have indicated he will not be doing so.
The story of “Rust” – about an orphaned boy who journeys to Mexico with his grandfather (Baldwin) after being sentenced to hang for an accidental killing – has long been overshadowed by the death of the film’s cinematographer, Halyna Hutchins, on Oct. 21, 2021.
Baldwin, whose prop gun fired the bullet, and others have faced criminal and civil lawsuits from state officials and Hutchins’ family alike as a result of the shooting during rehearsal in New Mexico. The movie set, like all others, should have only had blanks on hand, but somehow a number of live rounds made their way to the location and one such bullet ended up in the gun that went off as Hutchins and Baldwin lined up a shot in an old church.
While the film’s young armorer, Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, 24 at the time of the shooting, is serving 18 months for involuntary manslaughter, Baldwin’s case was vacated by the judge on legal technicalities. He has since sued New Mexico prosecutors, contending he was defamed and his civil rights violated.
‘Rust’ later resumed production in Montana partly at the behest of Hutchins’ family and widower, Matthew, who was made a producer on the movie.
Baldwin and his wife Hilaria and their seven children are currently the subjects of a TLC reality series, “The Baldwins.” While the actor isn’t commenting on the film these days, he has referenced the shooting on that reality show as well as various other times over the past years.
Here are some of Baldwin’s statements dating back to the 2021 “Rust” tragedy:
Shortly after the deadly shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the ‘Rust’ set, Alec Baldwin surfaced on X
After the incident, Baldwin issued this statement on X, formerly Twitter: “There are no words to convey my shock and sadness regarding the tragic accident that took the life of Halyna Hutchins, a wife, mother and deeply admired colleague of ours. I’m fully cooperating with the police investigation to address how this tragedy occurred and I am in touch with her husband, offering my support to him and his family. My heart is broken for her husband, their son, and all who knew and loved Halyna.”
Alec Baldwin tells ABC’s George Stephanopoulos ‘the trigger wasn’t pulled’ when the gun discharged
That December, in his first public interview following the incident, Baldwin told ABC News’ George Stephanopoulos, “The trigger wasn’t pulled, I didn’t pull the trigger … I would never point a gun at anyone.”
Baldwin also said he had fitful dreams as a result of the incident. “I wake up constantly where guns are going off. … I haven’t slept for weeks. I’ve really been struggling physically. I’m exhausted from this. I might have killed myself if I thought I was responsible, and I don’t say that lightly.”
Alec Baldwin rails against coverage of the ‘Rust’ shooting and his role in it during a podcast with Chris Cuomo
In August 2022, Baldwin spoke with former CNN anchor Chris Cuomo on his podcast and complained about harsh press coverage. “It doesn’t matter what you do. The ones that are out to get you. And in this case, not even so much that kind of trash press, I mean anything Murdoch and anything (New York) Post.”
The actor said the people on hand that day “know what happened. … And the people that are talking loudest about what happened or speculating about what happened were not on the set of the film – theLA Times, The Hollywood Reporter,they talk on and on and on about ‘what if this?’ and ‘what if that.’ “
Alec Baldwin tells CNN he is losing Hollywood work as a result of ‘Rust’ lawsuits, backlash
Later that same month, Baldwin told CNN filming had compromised both his ability to work and his health. “I got fired from another job yesterday,” he said. “There I was all set to go to a movie, jump on a plane … I’ve been talking with these guys for months and they told me yesterday we don’t want to do the film with you because of this.” The overall stress, he said, has “taken years off my life.”
‘Rust’ resumes filming in Montana, but Alec Baldwin says he and his wife are just eager to put the movie in the past
In spring 2023, “Rust” resumed filming in Montana. In November 2024, the completed movie had its premiere at a Polish film festival. Baldwin did not attend. That December, Baldwin was asked by Variety about whether he had seen or intended to see the final cut.
“Right now, no,” he said. The “Rust” shoot “was the most difficult thing I’ve ever dealt with in my life.” He added that he wanted “all things ‘Rust’ to just leave my windshield.” He and Hilaria were just “trying to get the wind in our sails, to get away from this stuff,” he said.
Judge dismisses Alec Baldwin’s criminal case, actor thanks fans on Instagram
In July 2024, a New Mexico judge stunned prosecutors by dismissing the charges against Baldwin. The defense had argued the state had withheld evidence, including live ammunition that was critical to pleading Baldwin’s case, and the judge agreed.
After an emotional reaction in court where he appeared to sob in the arms of his wife, Baldwin took to Instagram to thank his friends and fans. “There are too many people who have supported me to thank just now,” Baldwin wrote. “To all of you, you will never know how much I appreciate your kindness toward my family.”
In the debut of ‘The Baldwins,’ Alec Baldwin says the aftermath of the ‘Rust’ shooting left him bereft and drifting
In the first episode of “The Baldwins,” which aired this past February, Baldwin was seen talking about “Rust” with his wife.
“I can’t even believe we’re going through this,” he said. “I always feel more in pain about you than me. I’ll try my best to get through it, but when I think of what it’s done to you and how much it hurt you and everything. … This past year has been just terrible. There was times I’d lay in bed and I’d go, ‘Wow, I can’t get up.’ That’s not like me. I’m not like that at all.”
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Meghan Markle gives new insight into marriage with Prince Harry
Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, renames lifestyle brand to ‘As Ever’
As she began promoting her new Netflix show titled “With Love, Meghan,” the Duchess of Sussex took to Instagram on Tuesday to share a video filmed by her husband, Prince Harry.
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Duchess Meghan has a new royal metaphor for marriage.
In an appearance on “The Jamie Kern Lima Show” − her first as a podcast guest rather than host − Meghan gushed about her relationship with Prince Harry, comparing him to her knight in shining armor.
“I always think about it like the end of Super Mario Bros. When you get to the final, final level and they go, ‘Slay the dragon, save the princess.’ I’m like, that’s my husband,” she said.
“There is something that is not something to be taken for granted when you have a partner, a spouse, who is just so behind you,” Meghan continued. “H, that man loves me so much. Look what we’ve built? We have a beautiful life, we have two healthy, beautiful children.
“He’s constantly going to do whatever he can to make sure that our family is safe and protected, and we’re uplifted and still make time for date nights,” she said.
The comments offer a rare insight into a union that has weathered speculation since its conception. The pair tied the knot in 2018 and spent several years as royal principals before officially stepping back from their senior duties in a bitter family dispute that saw the couple move out of the U.K. and back to Meghan’s native California.
Since then, the two have carved out a new path: settling in the Montecito hills to raise their two children, Prince Archie, 5, and Princess Lilibet, 3, and venturing into the entertainment space.
Prince Harry authored a tell-all memoir, and Meghan recently launched a bevy of new projects, including a cooking show on Netflix, a podcast and a much-talked-about lifestyle brand.
Meghan’s video-game comparison came after Kern shared a recent quote from Prince Harry, lauding his wife for her latest string of successes.
“He’s such a great partner,” the duchess said, unaware of his comments, after revealing she tries to avoid the headlines about herself. She added that the current moment feels more like a “honeymoon period” than their original courtship, which was mired in tabloid rumours.
“You can just enjoy each other in a new way,” she said.
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What to know about prices in Los Angeles
Beyoncé Knowles-Carter brought the house down on the first night of her “Cowboy Carter” tour, and ticket sales and availability seem to be on the minds of those who could and could not attend.
The 35-time Grammy winning singer kicked off her Cowboy Carter and the Rodeo Chitlin’ Circuit Tour at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles on April 28. As the rodeo continues, here’s a breakdown of what you need to know about “Cowboy Carter” ticket prices and more information for those who might want to snag last-minute seats in Los Angeles.
Are there still tickets available for Beyoncé’s Los Angeles shows?
Yes, fans are still able to purchase tickets for the remainder of Beyoncé’s shows in Los Angeles on May 1, May 4, May 7, and May 9. As of April 30, the most affordable seats were priced around $85 on Ticketmaster for the most outer section inside SoFi Stadium, with prices increasing as seats get closer to the stage.
Additionally, there are some floor seats available, with a majority of them well over $1,000 on Ticketmaster and other ticket resale sites.
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Has interest in tickets increased?
Yes, there seems to be rising interest in Beyoncé’s highly acclaimed show. According to data from Vivid Seats, the ticket marketplace saw a 190% increase in clicks for the “Cowboy Carter” tour page on April 28 — the same day the show debuted.
Additionally, search interest for the term “beyonce tickets” increased 250% in the past seven days. These searches peaked at 11 p.m. PT in California the night of the first show, according to a Google Trends report.
A ticket expert previously explained that prices would continue to fluctuate leading up to each show. And Beyoncé’s ticket prices seem to be on trend.
Why do ticket prices fluctuate?
According to spokesperson Adam Budelli for Stubhub, a ticket resale marketplace, it’s very normal for ticket prices to change leading up to and throughout a tour.
“When it comes to those initial on sales, a lot of the recommendations we give to StubHub fans is actually to hold out and wait a little bit,” says Budelli. “That’s typically going to be the highest demand time.”
In addition to Ticketmaster, many tickets have been and will continue to be sold on the resale market, including sites like StubHub, Vivid Seats and Gametime. As far as prices varying by city, Budelli says, there are a number of factors that may contribute, including the number of shows in each city.
“First and foremost you’re going to have some cities with up to five dates,” he says. “So that certainly becomes a great opportunity because there’s multiple windows for shopping within the budget.”
Of course, the spectacle in Los Angeles marked the launch of 32 stadium shows on Beyoncé’s highly anticipated “Cowboy Carter” tour. Fans from all over the world traveled to witness Beyoncé’s debut show, which was a powerful blend of family, politics, soaring vocals, incredible costumes and masterful choreography.
Follow Caché McClay, the USA TODAY Network’s Beyoncé Knowles-Carter reporter, on Instagram, TikTok and X as @cachemcclay.
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How ‘Star Wars’ Day started, what it means
For Star Wars fans, May 4 is a day to celebrate the cherished cinema saga. The saying, ‘May the force be with you,’ comes from the original 1977 movie that launched George Lucas’ space opera.
Ryan Gosling to star, Shawn Levy to direct new ‘Star Wars’ movie
Ryan Gosling will star in “Star Wars: Starfighter,” directed by Shawn Levy, that takes place five years after the events of “The Rise of Skywalker.”
May 4 is always a special day for fans of Star Wars and that’s why on Sunday and you will likely hear someone utter “May the 4th be with you.”
The saying comes from a line of dialogue in the 1977 film, “Star Wars,” which gained the expanded title “Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope” as George Lucas’ space opera saga expanded over the decades. In the film, before the rebel fighters begin their assault on the Death Star, General Dodonna encourages them with the command: “Then man your ships! And may the Force be with you!”
“May the Force be with you” is a saying that, excuse the pun, flows through the Star Wars movies, TV series, books and comics. It’s a saying used by Jedi Knights such as Obi-Wan Kenobi referencing the Force, a form of energy connecting the galaxy, which some Force-sensitive individuals can tap into and enhance their abilities. Saying, “May the Force be with you,” is akin to wishing someone “Good Luck.”
How did ‘May the 4th’ come about?
The origins of the saying “May the 4th be with you,” may be surprising.
While it was used in headlines for July 4 back to 1978, according to starwars.com, the first reported official use of the phrase came in May 1979, when Margaret Thatcher became the U.K.’s prime minister. To celebrate, the U.K. Conservative Party paid for a newspaper advertisement saying, “May the Fourth Be With You, Maggie. Congratulations!” wrote Steve Sansweet on starwars.com in 2013.
Over the years as the Star Wars universe grew with 1980’s “The Empire Strikes Back” through the prequel films and subsequent sequel trilogy, which included 2015’s “The Force Awakens,” the “May the 4th be with you” phenomenon grew into an unofficial “Star Wars Day” holiday with fans holding “Star Wars Day” parties or watching the movies in observance of the day.
At the recent Star Wars Celebration Japan event, it was announced that an event to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the initial movie’s debut will be held in Los Angeles in 2027.
How to celebrate Star Wars Day
The easiest way to celebrate is to stream some of the movies, all 11 of which are available on Disney+ (Disney acquired Lucasfilm in 2012).
Also on the streaming service is Season Two of “Andor,” a series that is set before the events of 2016 film “Rogue One,” which leads up to “Star Wars: A New Hope.” The first six episodes of the series are available; six more are scheduled.
Many restaurants, movie theaters and other businesses hold Star Wars Day events, too. Check social media for #Maythe4th.
You can also shop the Disney Store’s May the 4th Be With You 2025 Collection, which includes includes T-shirts, pins, hats and more. There’s also special Star Wars products on Lego.com and merchandise from Star Wars Celebration Japan on Amazon.com.
If you are also a fan of Fortnite, you can get a head start on the upcoming “Star Wars: Tales of the Underworld,” a six-episode animated series. It hits Disney+ on May 4, but you can see the first two episodes May 2 inside the video game.
This story was updated to fix an inaccuracy.
Mike Snider is a reporter on USA TODAY’s Trending team. You can follow him on Threads, Bluesky, X and email him at mikegsnider & @mikegsnider.bsky.social & @mikesnider & [email protected]
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‘Tylenol Murders’ docuseries dissects unsolved cold case that killed 7
A new Netflix docuseries is diving into the 1982 unsolved Tylenol murders case, which involved seven victims killed in Chicago, created mass panic and led to a safety overhaul of over-the-counter medication packaging.
Premiering in May, “Cold Case: The Tylenol Murders” chronicles one of the largest U.S. criminal investigations in three parts, featuring an exclusive interview with one suspect, Netflix said.
“Is there one mastermind behind these horrific deaths, or is that simply a convenient scapegoat in a darker conspiracy and potential cover-up?” Netflix’s series synopsis reads. “The series reopens the case that turned the world’s best-selling drug into a terrifying symbol − and changed forever how we view the products in our own medicine cabinets.”
The series is directed by Yotam Guendelman and Ari Pines, known for their work on the 2016 documentary, “Shadow of Truth.” “Conversations with a Killer: The Ted Bundy Tapes” creator Joe Berlinger serves as an executive producer on the series.
A new trailer for the series dropped April 30 teasing an interview with suspect James Lewis, conducted before his death in July 2023.
Here’s what to know.
Watch ‘Cold Case: The Tylenol Murders’ trailer
When does ‘Cold Case: The Tylenol Murders’ come out?
“Cold Case: The Tylenol Murders” drops on Netflix on Monday, May 26.
What are the 1982 Tylenol murders?
In 1982, seven people, including a 12-year-old girl, died after taking over-the-counter painkillers laced with cyanide.
While no one was ever charged in the deaths, James W. Lewis served more than 12 years in prison for sending an extortion note to manufacturer Johnson & Johnson in which he demanded $1 million to “stop the killing.”
Officers arrested Lewis in 1982 following a nationwide search. He gave investigators a detailed explanation as to how the killer might have operated and later admitted he sent the letter to Johnson & Johnson. He said he never planned on collecting any money and just wanted to embarrass his wife’s former employer by having money sent to their bank account.
He later told the Associated Press in prison that his account to investigators was simply an assumption about the killer’s actions, calling the person responsible “a heinous, cold-blooded killer, a cruel monster.”
What happened to James Lewis?
Lewis was released from prison in 1995, and he and his wife moved to Massachusetts. While remaining a suspect, he always denied any role in the deaths, even going as far as creating a website devoted to claiming he was framed. In 2010, Lewis gave DNA samples to the FBI.
He and his wife briefly lived in Chicago in the early 1980s. Lewis said they were in New York City at the time of the poisonings.
In 2009, the FBI seized Lewis’ computer and other items from his home after Illinois officials renewed the investigation.
He died in July 2023, according to the New York Times.