Bruno Mars Breaks Record for Most Weeks at No. 1 on Billboard Global Excl. U.S. Chart with ROSÉ-Collaboration “APT.”

Bruno Mars is making history on the global charts…

The 39-year-old part-Puerto Rican Grammy-winning superstar and ROSÉ’s “APT.” claims a record-breaking 15th week at No. 1 on the Billboard Global Excl. U.S. chart.

Bruno Mars, RoseThe team-up, which in November debuted as the stars’ second leader each on the list, one-ups Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas Is You” for the longest command in the chart’s four-year-plus history. 

Meanwhile, Mars’ Lady Gaga-collaboration “Die With a Smile” rebounds for a ninth week atop the Billboard Global 200 chart, and its first since October.

“APT.” holds atop Global Excl. U.S. with 103.9 million streams (down 4% week-over-week) and 11,000 sold (up 5%) outside the U.S. January 31-February 6.

Lady Gaga and Mars’ “Die With a Smile” keeps at No. 2 on Global Excl. U.S., following eight weeks at No. 1 starting last September;

On the Global 200, “Die With a Smile” returns to No. 1, from No. 2, with 131.1 million streams (up 3%) and 16,000 sold (up 61%) worldwide. The ballad won the Grammy for best pop duo/group performance, while Gaga and Mars performed a cover of the Mamas & the Papas’ “California Dreamin’” as a tribute to Los Angeles during the Grammys.

“Die With a Smile” spent its first eight weeks at No. 1 on the Global 200 in September-October and ends a 15-week break from the summit, the longest such gap in the chart’s archives, excluding Mariah Carey’s seasonal “All I Want For Christmas is Christmas.”

ROSÉ and Mars’ “APT.” drops to No. 2 on the Global 200 following 12 weeks at No. 1 beginning in October.

The Billboard Global 200 and Global Excl. U.S. charts rank songs based on streaming and sales activity culled from more than 200 territories around the world, as compiled by Luminate. The Global 200 is inclusive of worldwide data and the Global Excl. U.S. chart comprises data from territories excluding the United States.

Chart ranks are based on a weighted formula incorporating official-only streams on both subscription and ad-supported tiers of audio and video music services, as well as download sales, the latter of which reflect purchases from full-service digital music retailers from around the world, with sales from direct-to-consumer (D2C) sites excluded from the charts’ calculations.

“Saturday Night Live” Alum Fred Armisen to Appear on “SNL:50 The Anniversary Special”

Fred Armisen is returning to Studio 8H.

The 58-year-old half-Venezuelan American actor, comedian, musician, writer and former Saturday Night Live cast member will be appearing on SNL:50 The Anniversary Special.

Fred ArmisenArmisen is among a roster of SNL alums returning for the show’s 50th anniversary special.

He starred on the late-night sketch comedy and variety series from 2002 to 2013.

Some of Armisen’s iconic SNL characters include Garth and Manuel Ortiz. He’s also known for his impressions of Barack Obama, Steve Jobs, Ira Glass, Prince and Michael Bloomberg.

Other former/current cast members and guests set to appear on the show include

Adam Sandler, Amy Poehler, Andy Samberg, Chevy Chase, Chris Rock, Eddie Murphy, Garrett Morris, Jane Curtin, Jason Sudeikis, Jimmy Fallon, Kate McKinnon, Kenan Thompson, Kristen Wiig, Laraine Newman, Maya Rudolph, Molly Shannon, Pete Davidson, Seth Meyers, Tina Fey, Tracy Morgan, Will Ferrell, Will Forte and more.

They join previously announced A-listers Adam Driver, Ayo Edebiri, Bad Bunny, Dave Chappelle, John Mulaney, Kim Kardashian, Martin Short, Miley Cyrus, Paul McCartney, Paul Simon, Pedro Pascal, Peyton Manning, Quinta Brunson, Robert De Niro, Sabrina Carpenter, Scarlett Johansson, Steve Martin, Tom Hanks and Woody Harrelson.

The live three-hour telecast from Studio 8H in Rockefeller Center is set for Sunday, February 16 at 8:00 pm ET/5:00 pm PT on NBC and simulcast on Peacock.

Ahead of Sunday’s special, Peacock will livestream the SNL50: The Homecoming Concert from Radio City Music Hall, hosted by Jimmy Fallon, on Friday, February, 14 at 8:00 pm ET/5:00 pm PT.

Executive produced by Lorne Michaels and Mark Ronson, the concert will include performances by Arcade Fire, Backstreet Boys, Bad Bunny, Bonnie Raitt, Brandi Carlile, Brittany Howard, Chris Martin, David Byrne, DEVO, Eddie Vedder, Jack White, Jelly Roll, Lady Gaga, Miley Cyrus, Mumford & Sons, Post Malone, Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Robyn, The B-52s, The Roots and more to be announced.

Saturday Night Live is produced in association with Broadway Video. The creator and executive producer is Lorne Michaels.

Kartiah Vergara Starring Opposite Russell Crowe in Action Thriller “Bear Country”

Kartiah Vergara is ready to bear her emotions…

The Latina up-and-coming actress has landed a supporting role alongside Academy Award winner Russell Crowe in Bear Country.

Kartiah VergaraThe action thriller hailing from director Derrick Borte has begun principal photography in the Australian state of Queensland.

Based on the novel Strip by Thomas Perry, Bear Country has Crowe playing the aging yet formidable club owner, Manco Kapak, who has been robbed by a masked gunman. Now, his aspirations of selling his club and riding off into the sunset alongside his girlfriend appear more distant than ever. Cartel bosses are breathing down his neck and a young upstart has been posing as the new guy in town eager to purchase the club.

Borte adapted the screenplay with Daniel Forte.

The production is supported by the City of Gold Coast and by the Australian Government through the Location Offset.

Recently wrapping a role opposite Sarah Snook in Peacock’s limited series All Her Fault, Vergara has previously tackled supporting roles in romantic comedy Ticket to Paradise, opposite Julia Roberts and George Clooney, and Dora the Explorer: The Lost City of Gold.

Bruno Mars’ Lady Gaga-Collaboration “Die With a Smile” Returns to No. 1 on Billboard Hot 100

Bruno Mars is on the rebound….

The 39-year-old part-Puerto Rican Grammy-winning superstar and Lady Gaga’s smash “Die With a Smile” has returned to the No. 1 for a fifth total week atop the Billboard Hot 100 songs chart.

Bruno Mars“Die With a Smile,” released via Streamline/Interscope/Atlantic/ICLG, totaled 62.5 million radio airplay audience impressions (essentially even week-over-week), 28.6 million official streams (up 3%) and 10,000 sold (up 96%) in the United States during the week of January 31-February 6.

The ballad became Gaga’s sixth Hot 100 leader and Mars’ ninth.

Gaga moves to within one week of tying her longest No. 1 stay – she dominated for six weeks in 2011 with “Born This Way.” Mars logs his third reign of five or more weeks.

“Die With a Smile” also ascends to its first week at No. 1 on the Radio Songs chart, marking Gaga’s third leader – and first since “Born This Way” – and Mars’ milestone 10th.

The ballad won the Grammy for best pop duo/group performance, while Gaga and Mars performed a cover of the Mamas & the Papas’ “California Dreamin’” as a tribute to Los Angeles during the Grammys.

“Die With a Smile” rises 2-1 for its first week atop Radio Songs; dips to No. 2 after three weeks leading Streaming Songs; and keeps at No. 4 on Digital Song Sales, which it led for two weeks.

Gaga claims her third Radio Songs leader – and first since “Born This Way,” which led for a week in April 2011. Before that, “Paparazzi” spent a week on top in November 2009. She sets two records in her return to No. 1 on the chart: She ends the longest gap between time on top (13 years, 10 months and two weeks) and now boasts the longest span of leading the list (15 years, two months and three weeks; Chris Brown previously held both marks).

Mars earns his 10th Radio Songs No. 1, the third-most since the chart began in December 1990. Rihanna leads with 13, followed by Mariah Carey with 11.

“Die With a Smile” halts the record 27-week Radio Songs reign of Shaboozey’s “A Bar Song (Tipsy).

The Hot 100 blends all-genre U.S. streaming (official audio and official video), radio airplay and sales data, the lattermost metric reflecting purchases of physical singles and digital tracks from full-service digital music retailers; digital singles sales from direct-to-consumer (D2C) sites are excluded from chart calculations.

 

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Carlos Alcaraz Defeats Alex de Minaur in Rotterdam Open to Secure First Career Indoor Title

It’s another career first for Carlos Alcaraz.

The 21-year-old Spanish tennis star beat Alex de Minaur in the final of the Rotterdam Open on Sunday to claim his first indoor title.

Carlos AlcarazThe top-seeded Alcaraz won 6-4, 3-6, 6-2 to become the first Spanish champion in the tournament’s 52-year history.

It was a 17th title for the Alcaraz.

“This week has been a really good week,” Alcaraz said. “Putting in really good work. Coming here (not) feeling 100% well with the cold but after every day I’m feeling better and better.

“It was the first time that I (was) playing here and you (fans) made it like I’ve been playing this tournament for a long time.”

De Minaur lost to Jannik Sinner in last year’s Rotterdam final.

“We’re pushing for bigger and better things,” the Australian said. “It’s been two years now with this runner-up trophy. I’m hoping I’ll get my hand on the winners’ one day.”

“Emilia Perez” Star Zoe Saldaña Wins Critics Choice Awards Trophy for Best Supporting Actress

Zoe Saldaña is the critics’ choice… 

The 30th annual Critics Choice Awards have been doled out, with the 46-year-old Puerto Rican and Dominican American actress taking home an award.

Emilia Perez, Zoe Saldaña,Saldaña claimed the award for Best Supporting Actress for her acclaimed performance in Emilia Perez.

The victory cements her place as an Oscar frontrunner

Emilia Pérez had 10 nominations coming in, picking up three wins.

The Netflix Spanish-language film from France also won in Best Foreign Language Film and for Best Song (“El Mal”).

This year’s Critics Choice Awards aired live on the East Coast and were tape delayed in the West until 7:00 pm PT on E! in the debut of a new deal with the network and Peacock. The show will drop on the streamer on Saturday.

Here’s the complete list of winners:

MOTION PICTURES

BEST PICTURE: Anora
BEST ACTOR: Adrien Brody – The Brutalist
BEST ACTRESS: Demi Moore – The Substance
BEST DIRECTOR: Jon M. Chu – Wicked
BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY: Peter Straughan – Conclave
BEST SONG: “El Mal” – Emilia Pérez
BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN: Nathan Crowley, Lee Sandales – Wicked
BEST COSTUME DESIGN: Paul Tazewell – Wicked
BEST HAIR AND MAKEUP: Hair and Makeup Team – The Substance
BEST VISUAL EFFECTS: Paul Lambert, Stephen James, Rhys Salcombe, Gerd Nefzer – Dune: Part Two
BEST SCORE: Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross – Challengers
BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY: Coralie Fargeat – The Substance
BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM: Emilia Pérez
BEST COMEDY (tie): A Real Pain & Deadpool & Wolverine
BEST EDITING: Marco Costa – Challengers
BEST YOUNG ACTOR / ACTRESS: Maisy Stella – My Old Ass
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY: Jarin Blaschke – Nosferatu
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR: Kieran Culkin – A Real Pain
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS; Zoe Saldaña – Emilia Pérez
BEST ANIMATED FEATURE: The Wild Robot
BEST ACTING ENSEMBLE: Conclave 

TELEVISION

BEST DRAMA SERIES: Shōgun (FX / Hulu)
BEST ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIES: Kathy Bates – Matlock (CBS)
BEST ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES: Hiroyuki Sanada – Shōgun (FX / Hulu)
BEST COMEDY SERIES: Hacks (HBO | Max)
BEST ACTRESS IN A COMEDY SERIES: Jean Smart – Hacks (HBO | Max)
BEST ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES: Adam Brody – Nobody Wants This (Netflix)
BEST LIMITED SERIES: Baby Reindeer (Netflix)
BEST ACTRESS IN A LIMITED SERIES OR MOVIE MADE FOR TELEVISION: Cristin Milioti – The Penguin (HBO | Max)
BEST ACTOR IN A LIMITED SERIES OR MOVIE MADE FOR TELEVISION: Colin Farrell – The Penguin (HBO | Max)
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIES: Moeka Hoshi – Shōgun (FX / Hulu)
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES: Tadanobu Asano – Shōgun (FX / Hulu)
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A LIMITED SERIES OR MOVIE MADE FOR TELEVISION: Jessica Gunning – Baby Reindeer (Netflix)
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A LIMITED SERIES OR MOVIE MADE FOR TELEVISION: Liev Schreiber – The Perfect Couple (Netflix)
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A COMEDY SERIES: Hannah Einbinder – Hacks (HBO | Max)
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES: Michael Urie – Shrinking (Apple TV+)
BEST MOVIE MADE FOR TELEVISION: Rebel Ridge (Netflix)
BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE SERIES: Squid Game (Netflix)
BEST ANIMATED SERIES: X-Men ’97 (Disney+)
BEST TALK SHOW: John Mulaney Presents: Everybody’s in L.A. (Netflix)
BEST COMEDY SPECIAL: Ali Wong: Single Lady (Netflix)

David Archuleta Releases Cover of George Michael’s “Freedom! ’90”

David Archuleta is letting Freedom ring.

The 34-year-old half-Honduran & part-Spanish American singer and American Idol runner-up released a cover of George Michael’s hit single “Freedom! ’90.”

David ArchuletaIt’s been 35 years since Michael released the career-defining anthem — and now, Archuleta would like to take a moment to celebrate its legacy.

With his interpretation of the track, Archuleta keeps the formula simple — not quite recreating the song note for note, but sticking as closely as possible to Michael’s version as possible.

Backed up by a full chorus and placing his larger-than-life voice front and center, Archuleta does a service to Michael’s legacy with this moving cover.

Sony Pictures Classics to Release Jacob Elordi’s Drama “On Swift Horses” in Theaters This April

Jacob Elordi’s latest project will be hitting theaters swiftly this spring.

Sony Pictures Classics has scheduled an April 25 theatrical release date for the The 27-year-old half-Spanish Australian actor’s drama On Swift Horses.

Jacob Elordi, On Swift HorsesThe announcement comes in the wake of news that the film, which co-stars Daisy Edgar-Jones, will close out this year’s South by Southwest Film & TV Festival (SXSW).

Based on the novel by Shannon Pufahl, the film is directed by Daniel Minahan and follows Muriel and her husband Lee as they are beginning a bright new life in California upon Lee’s return from the Korean War. But their newfound stability is upended by the arrival of Lee’s charismatic brother, Julius, a wayward gambler with a secret past. A dangerous love triangle quickly forms. When Julius takes off in search of the young card cheat he’s fallen for, Muriel’s longing for something more propels her into a secret life of her own, gambling on racehorses and exploring a love she never dreamed possible.

Will Poulter, Sasha Calle and Diego Calva also star.

The film is presented by Ley Line Entertainment, FirstGen Content, Cor Cordium, The Dan Corp, Wavelength and Killer Films.

The film is executive produced by Nate Kamiya, David Darby, Claude Amadeo, Randal Sandler, Chris Triana, Jenifer Westphal, Joe Plummer, Christine Vachon, Mason Plotts, Alvaro R. Valente, Bryce Kass, Lauren Shelton, Jeffrey Penman, Elordi, Edgar-Jones, Teddy Schwarzman and John Friedberg.

Elordi’s previous credits include The Kissing Booth film series, Euphoria, Priscilla and Saltburn.

Cardi B & Pardison Fontaine Release Highly Anticipated Collaboration “Toot It Up”

Cardi B is tootin’ it up

The 32-year-old half-Dominican American Grammy-winning rap superstar has joined voices with Pardison Fontaine to release “Toot It Up.”

Cardi B, Toot It UpCardi B and Fontaine’s highly anticipated collaboration dropped on Friday (February 7) via Hitmaker Music Group.

“You guys keep asking for ‘Toot It.’ Where’s ‘Toot It’? Where’s ‘Toot It’ at? Can we get ‘Toot It’? Here go the song, here go ‘Toot It.’ Take it, play it, do whatever y’all gon’ do with it, shake ass. Here go the song, don’t ask for that sh– no more,” Fontaine said in an Instagram video earlier this week with the caption “it’s BEEN 8 YEARS @iamcardib GET THIS SONG OFF MY HARD DRIVE!!! N THEY KEEP ASKING FOR THIS !!! IM DROPPIN IT 2/7!!!!”

The last time the two properly collaborated on a song was in 2018 with “Backin’ It Up,” and they performed it together at the 2018 BET Hip Hop Awards.

It reached No. 40 on the Billboard Hot 100 and reached the top 20 of Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (No. 18) and Rhythmic Airplay (No. 11).

Pardi has co-written several hits for Cardi, including her 2017 breakthrough smash “Bodak Yellow,” her other Hot 100 No. 1s “I Like It,” featuring Bad Bunny and J Balvin, “WAP” with his ex Megan Thee Stallion and “Up,” and much of her 2018 Grammy-winning debut album Invasion of Privacy.

He teased them being back in the studio together last April on Instagram.

“Toot It Up” isn’t the only new music Cardi B has on the way.

On Thursday (Feb. 6), the trailer for the new Smurfs movie film teased the “Higher Love” track by Desi Trill featuring DJ Khaled, Cardi B, Natania and Subhi.

FX Renews Brian Jordan Alvarez’s Comedy Series “English Teacher” for Second Season

Brian Jordan Alvarez is returning to the classroom for another school year…

FX has renewed English Teacher, the comedy series created by and starring the 37-year-old Colombian American actor, comedian and filmmaker.

Brian Jordan Alvarez, English Teacher,The 10-episode second season will premiere in 2025.

English Teacher was one of the most critically acclaimed new shows of 2024 and we are grateful to the producers, writers, cast, directors and crew for the show’s creative excellence,” said president Nick Grad. “We look forward to the new season.”

 

Alvarez plays Evan Marquez, a high school teacher in Austin, Texas who often finds himself at the intersection of the personal, professional and political aspects of working at a high school. Over the first season, Evan navigates his relationships, his students and his fellow faculty and tries to answer the question: can you really be your full self at your job?

 

The comedy’s first season was highlighted by good reviews and nominations by Critics Choice, the Film Independent Spirit Awards, and the WGA.

 

But it was also put under heavy scrutiny when a former indie film colleague named Jon Ebeling made allegations of sexual assault against Alvarez on his Instagram page in August of 2024.

 

Alvarez’s previous credits include The Gay and Wondrous Life of Caleb Gallo, M3GAN, 80 for Brady.

 

He’ll next appear in M3GAN 2.0.