Barrett Strong, one of Motown’s founding artists and most gifted songwriters who sang lead on the company’s breakthrough single “Money (That’s What I Want)” and later collaborated with Norman Whitfield on such classics as “I Heard It Through the Grapevine,” “War” and “Papa Was a Rollin' Stone,” has died. He was 81. His death was announced Sunday on social media by the Motown Museum, which did not immediately provide further details."Barrett was not only a great singer and piano player, but he, along with his writing partner Norman Whitfield, created an incredible body of work," Motown founder Berry Gordy said in a statement.Strong had yet to turn 20 when he agreed to let his friend Gordy, in the early days of building a recording empire in Detroit, manage him and release his music. Within a year, he was a part of history as the piano player and vocalist for “Money,” a million-seller released early in 1960 and Motown’s first major hit. Strong never again approached the success of “Money” on his own, and decades later fought for acknowledgement that he helped write it. But, with Whitfield, he formed a productive and eclectic songwriting team.While Gordy’s “Sound of Young America” was criticized for being too slick and repetitive, the Whitfield-Strong team turned out hard-hitting and topical works, along with such timeless ballads as “I Wish It Would Rain” and “Just My Imagination (Running Away with Me)." With “I Heard it Through the Grapevine,” they provided an up-tempo, call-and-response hit for Gladys Knight and the Pips and a dark, hypnotic ballad for Marvin Gaye, his 1968 version one of Motown’s all-time sellers.As Motown became more politically conscious late in the decade, Barrett-Whitfield turned out “Cloud Nine” and “Psychedelic Shack” for the Temptations and for Edwin Starr the protest anthem “War” and its widely quoted refrain, “War! What is it good for? Absolutely ... nothing!”“With ‘War,’ I had a cousin who was a paratrooper that got hurt pretty bad in Vietnam,” Strong told LA Weekly in 1999. “I also knew a guy who used to sing with (Motown songwriter) Lamont Dozier that got hit by shrapnel and was crippled for life. You talk about these things with your families when you’re sitting at home, and it inspires you to say something about it.”Whitfield-Strong’s other hits, mostly for the Temptations, included “I Can’t Get Next to You,” “That’s the Way Love Is” and the Grammy-winning chart-topper “Papa Was a Rollin' Stone” (Sometimes spelled “Papa Was a Rolling Stone”). Artists covering their songs ranged from the Rolling Stones (“Just My Imagination”) and Aretha Franklin (“I Wish It Would Rain”) to Bruce Springsteen (“War”) and Al Green (“I Can’t Get Next to You”).Strong spent part of the 1960s recording for other labels, left Motown again in the early 1970s and made a handful of solo albums, including “Stronghold” and “Love is You.” In 2004, he was voted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame, which cited him as “a pivotal figure in Motown’s formative years.”Whitfield died in 2008.The music of Strong and other Motown writers was later featured in the Broadway hit “Ain’t Too Proud: The Life and Times of the Temptations.”Strong was born in West Point, Mississippi and moved to Detroit a few years later. He was a self-taught musician who learned piano without needing lessons and, with his sisters, formed a local gospel group, the Strong Singers. In his teens, he got to know such artists as Franklin, Smokey Robinson and Gordy, who was impressed with his writing and piano playing. “Money,” with its opening shout, “The best things in life are free/But you can give them to the birds and bees,” would, ironically, lead to a fight — over money.Strong was initially listed among the writers and he often spoke of coming up with the pounding piano riff while jamming on Ray Charles’ “What’d I Say” in the studio. But only decades later would he learn that Motown had since removed his name from the credits, costing him royalties for a popular standard covered by the Beatles, the Rolling Stones and many others and a keepsake on John Lennon’s home jukebox. Strong’s legal argument was weakened because he had taken so long to ask for his name to be reinstated. (Gordy is one of the song's credited writers, and his lawyers contended Strong's name only appeared because of a clerical error).“Songs outlive people,” Strong told The New York Times in 2013. “The real reason Motown worked was the publishing. The records were just a vehicle to get the songs out there to the public. The real money is in the publishing, and if you have publishing, then hang on to it. That’s what it’s all about. If you give it away, you’re giving away your life, your legacy. Once you’re gone, those songs will still be playing.”

His death was announced Sunday on social media by the Motown Museum, which did not immediately provide further details

Barrett Strong, Motown artist known for ‘Money,’ dies at 81

Screenwriter Gregory Allen Howard, who skillfully adapted stories of historical Black figures in “Remember the Titans” starring Denzel Washington, “Ali” with Will Smith and “Harriet” with Cynthia Erivo, has died. He was 70. Howard died Friday at his home in Miami after a brief illness, according to a statement from publicist Jeff Sanderson.Howard was the first Black screenwriter to write a drama that made $100 million at the box office when “Titans” crossed that milestone in 2000. It was about a real-life Black coach coming into a newly integrated Virginia school and helping lead their football team to victory. It had the iconic line: “I don’t care if you like each other or not. But you will respect each other.”Howard said he shopped the story around Hollywood with no success. So he took a chance and wrote the screenplay himself. ″They didn’t expect it to make much money, but it became a monster, making $100 million,” he said. “It made my career,” he told the Times-Herald of Vallejo, California, in 2009. The film made the Associated Press' list of the best 25 sports movies ever made.Howard followed up “Remember the Titans” with “Ali,” the 2002 Michael Mann-directed biopic of Muhammad Ali. Smith famously bulked up to play Ali and was nominated for a best actor Oscar.Howard also produced and co-wrote 2019′s “Harriet,” about abolitionist Harriet Tubman. Erivo lead a cast, that included Leslie Odom Jr., Clarke Peters and Joe Alwyn.“I got into this business to write about the complexity of the Black man. I wanted to write about Martin Luther King, Malcolm X, Muhammad Ali, Marcus Harvey. I think it takes a Black man to write about Black men,” he told the Times-Herald.Born in Virginia, his family moved often due to his stepfather's career in the Navy. After attending Princeton University, graduating with a degree in American history, Howard briefly worked at Merrill Lynch on Wall Street before moving to Los Angeles in his mid-20s to pursue a writing career.He wrote for TV and penned the play “Tinseltown Trilogy,” which focused on three men in Los Angeles over Christmastime as their stories interconnect and inform each other.Howard also wrote “The Harlem Renaissance,” a limited series for HBO, “Misty,” the story of prima ballerina Misty Copeland and “This Little Light,” the Fannie Lou Hamer story. Most recently, he wrote the civil rights project “Power to the People” for producer Ben Affleck and Paramount Pictures.He is survived by a sister, Lynette Henley; a brother, Michael Henley; two nieces and a nephew.

Howard died Friday at his home in Miami after a brief illness, according to a statement from publicist Jeff Sanderson

Gregory Allen Howard who wrote 'Remember the Titans' dies

Tom Verlaine, guitarist and co-founder of the seminal proto-punk band Television who influenced many bands while playing at ultra-cool downtown New York music venue CBGB alongside the Ramones, Patti Smith and Talking Heads, has died. He was 73. He died Saturday in New York City, surrounded by close friends after a brief illness, said Cara Hutchison from the Lede Company, a public relations firm.“Tom Verlaine has passed over to the beyond that his guitar playing always hinted at. He was the best rock and roll guitarist of all time, and like Hendrix could dance from the spheres of the cosmos to garage rock. That takes a special greatness,” Mike Scott of The Waterboys tweeted.Though Television never found much commercial success, Verlaine’s jaggedly inventive playing as part of the band's two-guitar assault influenced many musicians. Television issued its groundbreaking debut album “Marquee Moon” in 1977 — including the nearly 11-minute title track and “Elevation" — and the sophomore effort “Adventure” a year later.“'Marquee Moon' has become something of a holy grail of independent rock in the years since. It has been a clear influence on such artists as Pavement, Sonic Youth, the Strokes and Jeff Buckley,” Billboard magazine wrote in 2003.Increasing tension between Verlaine and fellow guitarist Richard Lloyd led Television to disband after its second album “Adventure.” The group would reunite for a self-titled 1992 album for Capitol Records and sporadic live appearances.“We wanted to strip everything down further, away from the showbiz theatricality of the glitter bands, and away from blues-iness and boogie,” Television co-founder Richard Hell wrote in his autobiography, “I Dreamed I Was a Very Clean Tramp.” “We wanted to be stark and hard and torn up, the way the world was.”Verlaine released eight solo albums, his most commercially successful being his 1981 sophomore solo album “Dreamtime,” which peaked at No. 177 on the Billboard album chart. He frequently served as accompanist to former paramour Patti Smith.Tributes online included those from Susanna Hoffs and Billy Idol, who said Verlaine made music that influenced the US and UK punk scene. Smith shared a tribute on Instagram, posting a photograph of the two of them together: “Farewell Tom, aloft the Omega.”He was born Tom Miller — later taking the last name of the 19th-century French poet Paul-Marie Verlaine after he met Hell, born Richard Meyers, at a Delaware prep school. They were tall, skinny, sardonic kids who dropped out and made their way to the East Village, where they worked in bookstores and wrote poetry together.“He was noted for his angular lyricism and pointed lyrical asides, a sly wit, and an ability to shake each string to its truest emotion,” said a statement from his publicist. “His vision and his imagination will be missed.”

He died Saturday in New York City, surrounded by close friends after a brief illness, said Cara Hutchison from the Lede Company

Guitarist Tom Verlaine, co-founder of Television, dies at 73

When Bill Lawrence was developing his new Apple TV+ comedy ”Shrinking,” he introduced one character in the pilot script as a “Harrison Ford-type” — but never dreamed he would get the real deal. Although the showrunner has had comedy success working with big names and executive-producing hits like “Scrubs,” “Cougar Town” and “Ted Lasso,” nabbing a huge movie star like Ford seemed unrealistic. But he decided to take a shot and send Ford the script.He was gobsmacked when the “Indiana Jones” actor liked the story and eventually agreed to play the part of a tough therapist who works with star Jason Segel in a mental health practice.“If he had not shown up on set, I would not have been shocked,” Lawrence told the Associated Press in a recent interview. “But he showed up. He’s lovely, he’s inspiring. He’s 80 years old and still challenging himself.”For “Shrinking” — which starts streaming Friday — Lawrence teamed with Segel and writer Brett Goldstein (also Roy Kent in “Ted Lasso” ) to help create and write the show. They had the lofty goal of making a comedy about grief, set it in an office shared by therapists and starring Segel, Ford, Jessica Williams, and Christa Miller.Segel plays a character whose wife dies suddenly, leaving the father of a teen daughter lost and willing to ignore his ethics to start telling his patients what he really thinks. Ford's character is a curmudgeonly colleague and mentor who delivers zingers with restrained glee.Lawrence calls working with Ford a “career highlight,” and says there’s only one downside.“Everybody’s terrified of … telling him to do anything,” Lawrence said with a laugh. “But he’s so much fun to work with. Every scene gets ruined — at least one take — by me or one of the actors in the middle of it going ‘It’s Harrison Ford!’ It’s crazy.”Goldstein — who isn't acting in this show but serves as another executive producer — describes Ford as “dream casting” and says they still don’t know how they got him.“He really loved the scripts and related to a lot of the aspects of the character,” Goldstein said. “We talked to him a lot about character, and it was so easy that … I feel like I should have had to complete a series of Herculean tasks to get him, you know what I mean?”Segel appreciated how Ford “breaks through the awe really quickly so that you can get down to work.”“One of the things that’s really cool about Harrison Ford is that he considers himself a tradesman, like a craftsman. He was a carpenter and now he’s an actor,” Segel said. “His job is to come in and build these scenes and you’re his partner in that.”Williams — who plays another therapist — shares witty banter with Ford in many scenes and says it was "surreal” to work with the acting legend she watched in movies as a kid. She says it took about a week to remain present and get used to his face staring at her.“He is delightful, charming, nice, giving. And he’s magic to watch, honestly.” Williams said. “You just watch him do some takes and … he’s got the glimmer in his eye. He’s got the thing. And it’s really inspiring to see someone that’s like over 80 hitting his marks and staying so sharp while also, you know, really caring about the work.”Goldstein agrees that Ford never made the cast feel like he needed special treatment.“He’s as wonderful and amazing as ever,” Goldstein said. “But he’s also a very generous actor and he is part of this ensemble. It’s not like he takes over. He fits into this world. He plays the character, he disappears into it. He’s a brilliant actor.”Williams says working on the show was fun because of the cast chemistry, and the license to ad lib at times to make scenes funnier felt “very fulfilling.”One of the secrets to a successful show, especially in comedy — according to Lawrence — is if the cast gets along and is friendly, even outside of the show: “We try to put together groups of people that have similar voices and that interact really well,” Lawrence said.“If you see a lack of chemistry behind the camera, even when the cameras aren’t rolling,” he said, "if it’s a show about a family or a dysfunctional family or people who are supposed to care about each other, it won’t work.”

He was gobsmacked when the “Indiana Jones” actor liked the story and eventually agreed to play the part of a tough therapist

Harrison Ford, left, a cast member in "Shrinking," looks over at fellow cast member Jason Segel at the premiere of the Apple TV+ series

Harrison Ford inspires cast in new comedy 'Shrinking'

Here’s a collection curated by The Associated Press’ entertainment journalists of what’s arriving on TV, streaming services and music and video game platforms this week.<h2>Movies</h2>— If you haven’t managed to catch “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” yet, the Marvel sequel arrives on Disney+ on Wednesday with a batch of five Oscar nominations to its name, including best supporting actress for Angela Bassett and original song (“Lift Me Up,” music by Tems, Rihanna, Ryan Coogler and Ludwig Göransson; lyrics by Tems and Ryan Coogler). In his review, AP Film Writer Jake Coyle wrote that, “‘Wakanda Forever’ is overlong, a little unwieldy and somewhat mystifyingly steers toward a climax on a barge in the middle of the Atlantic. But Coogler’s fluid command of mixing intimacy with spectacle remains gripping.”— Pamela Anderson has been making headlines again for revelations in the documentary “Pamela, A Love Story,” coming to Netflix on Tuesday. After many people trying tell her story for her — including in the recent Hulu series “Pam &amp; Tommy” which Anderson chose not to contribute to and called “salt on the wound” and “not necessary” — she tells her story herself through archival footage and personal journals. Ryan White (“The Keepers,” “Ask Dr. Ruth” and “Goodnight Oppy”) directs.— For the kids, “Lyle, Lyle Crocodile” also comes to Netflix on Saturday, Feb. 4. The movie based on the popular Bernard Waber series is hybrid live action/ CGI and a musical as well, featuring Shawn Mendes as the titular Crocodile Lyle. Constance Wu, Javier Bardem and Scoot McNairy also star. The story focuses on a family who has recently relocated to New York City and their son (Winslow Fegley) is struggling to adapt until the caviar-loving crocodile enters his life.— AP Film Writer Lindsey Bahr<h2>Music</h2>— Shania Twain kicks off her new album with a strut — the infectious line-dance-inducing “Giddy Up!” “I want people to feel good when they hear the new album. I want to set a celebratory tone,” she explains. The five-time Grammy award-winning singer and songwriter’s sixth album “Queen of Me” is released on Friday, Feb. 3. Songs among the 12-track set include the glistening pop of “Waking Up Dreaming” and “Inhale/Exhale Air,” which she wrote after her battle with COVID-19.— The Eurovision Song Contest will be held in May and you can get ahead by listening to one of Ireland's shortlisted entries, the moving “Hawaii” from Public Image Ltd. It's the band's first music in eight years and it's a love letter to band leader John Lydon's wife, who is living with Alzheimer’s disease. “It is dedicated to everyone going through tough times on the journey of life, with the person they care for the most,” says the former Sex Pistols frontman. All six of Ireland's hopefuls will compete on Ireland’s “The Late Late Show” on Friday, Feb. 3 streaming worldwide.— Take a trip back in time to 2012 for a front-row seat to what The Rolling Stones call “one of the most memorable shows in the band’s history.” That was the night in New Jersey that featured guest appearances by The Black Keys, Gary Clark Jr., John Mayer, Lady Gaga and Bruce Springsteen. The set is being released as “GRRR Live!” and a video on demand from the band’s website will stream for $9.99. Tune in Thursday, Feb. 2 at 8 p.m. GMT, 8 p.m. ET, 8 p.m. PT and 8 p.m. AWST on Friday, Feb. 3. It has not been available to fans since it originally aired on pay-per-view in 2012.— Entertainment Writer Mark Kennedy<h2>Television</h2>— Drew Barrymore and Savannah Guthrie have teamed up to executive produce a new animated children’s series on Netflix called “Princess Power.” The show centers around Penny Pineapple, Kira Kiwi, Bea Blueberry, and Rita Raspberry, all princesses who are devoted to help others while teaching young viewers about inclusivity, diversity, teamwork and friendship. It’s based on Guthrie’s bestselling children’s book “Princesses Wear Pants.” Guest stars on “Princess Power” are voiced by Rita Moreno, Andrew Rannells, Tan France, Jenna Ushkowitz and Guthrie as well. All 14 episodes drop Monday.— The relationship between the U.S. and Russia’s President Vladimir Putin may be strained now due to the war in Ukraine, but his clashes with American presidents goes back further than with President Biden. A new PBS “Frontline” documentary called “Putin and the Presidents,” delves into Putin’s interaction with the last five U.S. presidents as rebuilding the Russian empire seems to be his priority. It debuts Tuesday at 10 p.m. ET on PBS but check station listings to confirm local broadcast info.— The fishing industry in Iceland is a major export commodity but a controversial quota where individuals and companies are allowed to catch and sell a predetermined number of fish per year, is a politically-charged issue. A new series called “Blackport,” is based on a true story and follows a couple who take advantage of that quota in the 1980s to control a large part of the market. The success goes to their heads leading to greed, corruption, jealousy and deception. The eight-episode series has been picked up by the streaming service Topic where you can subscribe directly or add its channel on Amazon Prime Video, AppleTV or Roku. The first three episodes drop Thursday with the remaining five doled out weekly.— Alicia Rancilio<h2>Video games</h2>— From Fallout to The Last of Us to Horizon, there are post-apocalyptic video games in every flavor. But what do people do before the apocalypse? That’s the question Scavengers Studio tries to answer in Season: A Letter to the Future. The protagonist, Estelle, knows a cataclysm is coming, so she sets out on her bicycle to record the wonders and unravel the mysteries of her strange world before all heck breaks loose. It’s a remarkably chill journey, given the stakes — Estelle is equipped with a camera and a notebook rather than a rocket launcher or a flamethrower. But if you’re in the mood for a more pensive approach to the end of the world, Season debuts Tuesday on PlayStation 5/4 and PC.

Here’s a collection curated by The Associated Press’ entertainment journalists of what’s arriving on TV

New this week: Shania, 'Princess Power' and Pamela Anderson

“A Thousand and One,” a drama about an impoverished single mother and her son in New York City, won the Sundance Film Festival’s grand jury prize in the U.S. dramatic competition, while “Going to Mars: The Nikki Giovanni Project” was awarded the top prize in the U.S. documentary category. This year’s winners were announced at an awards ceremony Friday afternoon in Park City, Utah, which included an audience prize for the documentary “ 20 Days in Mariupol.” Writer Jeremy O. Harris, filmmaker Eliza Hittman and actor Marlee Matlin judged the U.S. dramatic competition.Harris, through tears, said he asked to give the grand jury prize to “A Thousand and One” and writer-director A.V. Rockwell himself.“Never have I seen a life so similar to my own rendered with such nuance and tenderness” Harris said. “This film reached into my gut and pulled from it every emotion I’ve learned to mask in these spaces.”Rockwell, who made her feature debut with the film, was similarly emotional.“This has been such a long journey for me but the institute has been such a beautiful support system,” Rockwell said.“20 Days in Mariupol,” a first-person account of the early days of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, won the audience prize for world cinema documentary. A joint project between The Associated Press and PBS “Frontline,” the film utilizes 30 hours of footage AP journalist Mstyslav Chernov and his colleagues shot in the besieged Ukrainian city before they were extracted.“I want to thank everyone who believed in us: AP, Frontline and Sundance and all the audiences who did not turn away,” Chernov said. “This is not an achievement, this is a privilege.”Sing J. Lee won the directing award in U.S. dramatic for “The Accidental Getaway Driver.” The team from “ Theater Camp ” was recognized with a special jury prize for ensemble. Lío Mehiel, who goes by they/them pronouns, received the special jury award for their performance in “Mutt,” about a trans-masculine person one day in New York. And the drama “Magazine Dreams,” in which Jonathan Majors plays an amateur bodybuilder, was recognized for creative vision.“Everyone in this room, everyone, every person, we give you our deepest props and our deepest respect,” Matlin said through an interpreter. She also gave a shout-out to her “CODA” team, who won big at the festival two years ago. Her Oscar winning co-star Troy Kotsur was in the audience cheering her on.Other grand jury prizes winners were: “Scrapper,” in world cinema, about a 12-year-old girl living alone on the outskirts of London after her mother’s death; and “The Eternal Memory,” in world cinema documentary, about the effects of Alzheimer’s on a relationship of 25 years. “Kokomo City,” about the lives of Black, trans sex workers, won the NEXT innovator award and the audience award in the NEXT category.Other audience award winners included “The Persian Version,” for U.S. Dramatic, “Beyond Utopia,” for U.S. Documentary and “Shayda” for World Cinema Dramatic. The “festival favorite” award went to “Radical,” starring Eugenio Derbez as an inspirational teacher in a Mexican border town.In total, 12 films premiered in the world cinema documentary section, including films about climate change, Syria, growing up during apartheid and the International Chopin Piano Competition. “The Eternal Memory,” about a couple dealing with Alzheimer’s, won the category’s grand jury prize.Other prize winners in the category included “Fantastic Machine,” for creative vision, “Against the Tide” for verité filmmaker, and “Smoke Sauna Sisterhood” for directing.Several Sundance winners from last year were recently nominated for Oscars, including documentaries “Navalny” and “All That Breathes.”Many Sundance films came to the festival with distribution in place. Apple TV+ debuted “Still: A Michael J. Fox Story” and “Stephen Curry: Underrated.” Neon had “Infinity Pool,” A24 brought six films including “All Dirt Roads Taste of Salt,” “You Hurt My Feelings,” “Past Lives." Searchlight had the South London rom com “Rye Lane.”There were also several big acquisitions made at the festival this year. Apple TV+, who got its first best picture win when it paid $25 million for “CODA” out of Sundance, scooped up John Carney’s (“Once”) musical rom com “Flora and Son,” with Eve Hewson and Joseph Gordon Levitt. Netflix secured the rights to the corporate thriller “Fair Play,” with Alden Ehrenreich and Phoebe Dynevor, made and sold by MRC. Both films went for a reported $20 million. Searchlight also bought Molly Gordon and Nick Lieberman’s mockumentary “Theater Camp” for a theatrical release later this year.This year’s festival, the first in-person gathering since 2020, debuted 111 feature films and 64 short films. Over 75% of the films are available on Sundance’s online platform through Sunday, January 29.“We’re already thinking about the next one,” Sundance CEO Joana Vicente said.

Writer Jeremy O. Harris, filmmaker Eliza Hittman and actor Marlee Matlin judged the U.S. dramatic competition

A poster advertises the 2023 Sundance Film Festival in front of the Egyptian Theatre, Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2023, in Park City, Utah. The annual independent film festival runs from Jan. 19-29. 

‘A Thousand and One’ wins Sundance grand jury prize

For 17 seasons the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra has been under the musical direction of Carlos Miguel Prieto. That changes this summer when conductor Matthew Kraemer takes the reigns. The orchestra's Board of Trustees recently announced that Kramer will take over in July and make his official introduction to music lovers in mid-September.Kraemer called the appointment an “opportunity of a lifetime.”“I am thrilled. I can't wait to relocate. Summer can't come fast enough," he told The Associated Press. He described the Louisiana Philharmonic as “part of the cultural fabric of New Orleans and Louisiana” and said that he's “grateful for the LPO's trust.”The Louisiana Philharmonic is a musician-owned cooperative created in 1991 after the New Orleans Symphony Orchestra collapsed under debt. It describes itself as the nation’s oldest full-time musician-governed and collaboratively operated orchestra.Dr. Bernard Jaffe, the board president, said the organization had been searching “for a leader to take our talented musicians to new artistic heights and firmly plant roots in our great city, and we found exactly that person in Matthew.”Kraemer, a native of Indiana, was appointed music director and principal conductor of the Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra in 2015. He also served as music director of the Butler County Symphony in Pennsylvania and artistic director of Orchestra Indiana. In addition, he is a frequent collaborator with Broadway star Idina Menzel and has served as conductor for many of her engagements across the U.S.“I'm a collaborative conductor,” Kraemer said of his style. “I am comfortable in how I work with musicians. I believe in being efficient and using rehearsal time strategically." He said he believes in a lot of preparation beforehand to create an environment where the musicians "feel they can play their best.”“He has exquisite musical intelligence and interpretive skills, considerable organizational leadership experience, and all the qualities of a modern music director," Jaffe said.Kraemer noted that under Prieto's leadership the Louisiana Philharmonic was very successful at promoting the orchestra — and has left a lasting impact on it and the community.“I look forward to continuing the great work that’s been done as well as exploring new collaborations,” he said. “The possibilities are great as we work toward what the orchestra looks like in the 21st century.”“Orchestras are no longer only classical music,” he said. “It's anything, from rock to opera and beyond." He said that in recent years the Louisiana Philharmonic has heralded the city's local talents, such as Tank and the Bangas, Big Freedia and the Lost Bayou Ramblers. “Though as an art form its 400 years old, it's very in tune with today,” he said. "It's not unusual to hear the ‘Star Wars’ theme alongside the more typical pieces from Mozart or Beethoven. ”As director, Kraemer said he looked forward to “making a deeper impression on youth in the community.”“I really want to get instruments into their hands and show them that such learning is really a lifetime reward,” he said. “Through music they learn determination, perseverance and how to work together to create something magical. It's fascinating what music can do. It imparts life lessons and shows them the value of work and staying invested in something."Kraemer said accepting the Louisiana Philharmonic's offer to lead it was an opportunity he couldn't turn down.“The challenge, the creative possibilities all are present with this orchestra,” he said. “And, the city is absolutely fascinating to me. Me and my family embrace change, and we're so looking forward to getting to know the city's history and culture.”

The orchestra's Board of Trustees recently announced that Kramer will take over in July and make his official introduction to music lovers

The Louisiana Philharmonic is a musician-owned cooperative created in 1991 after the New Orleans Symphony Orchestra collapsed under deb

Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra gets new music director

Billy Packer, an Emmy award-winning college basketball broadcaster who covered 34 Final Fours for NBC and CBS, died Thursday. He was 82. Packer's son, Mark, told The Associated Press that his father had been hospitalized in Charlotte for the past three weeks and had several medical issues, and ultimately succumbed to kidney failure.Packer’s broadcasting career coincided with the growth of college basketball. He worked as analyst or color commentator on every Final Four from 1975 to 2008. He received a Sports Emmy for Outstanding Sports Personality, Studio and Sports Analyst in 1993.“He really enjoyed doing the Final Fours,” Mark Packer said. “He timed it right. Everything in life is about timing. The ability to get involved in something that, frankly, he was going to watch anyway, was a joy to him. And then college basketball just sort of took off with Magic Johnson and Larry Bird and that became, I think, the catalyst for college basketball fans to just go crazy with March Madness.”Packer played three seasons at Wake Forest, and helped lead the Demon Deacons to the Final Four in 1962, but it was his work as an analyst that brought him the most acclaim.He joined NBC in 1974 and called his first Final Four in 1975. UCLA beat Kentucky in the title game that year in what was John Wooden’s final game as coach.Packer was also part of the broadcast in 1979 with Dick Enberg and Al McGuire when Magic Johnson’s Michigan State team beat Larry Bird's Indiana State squad in the title game. That remains highest-rated game in basketball history with a 24.1 Nielsen rating, which is an estimated 35.1 million viewers.Packer went to CBS in the fall of 1981, when the network acquired the rights to the NCAA Tournament. He remained the network’s main analyst until the 2008 Final Four.In 1996 at CBS, Packer was involved in controversy when he used the term ``tough monkey″ to describe then-Georgetown star Allen Iverson during a game. Packer later said he ``was not apologizing for what I said, because what I said has no implications in my mind whatsoever to do with Allen Iverson’s race.″Sean McManus, the chairman of CBS Sports, said Packer was “synonymous with college basketball for more than three decades and set the standard of excellence as the voice of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament.”“He had a tremendous impact on the growth and popularity of the sport.” McManus said. “In true Billy fashion, he analyzed the game with his own unique style, perspective and opinions, yet always kept the focus on the game. As passionate as he was about basketball, at his heart Billy was a family man. He leaves part of his legacy at CBS Sports, across college basketball and, most importantly, as a beloved husband, father and grandfather. He will be deeply missed by all.”Packer was inducted into the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame in 2008.ESPN broadcaster Dick Vitale took to Twitter as word of Packer's death spread. “So sad to learn of the passing of Billy Packer who had such a passion for college basketball," Vitale tweeted. "My (prayers) go out to Billy’s son Mark &amp; the entire Packer family. Always had great RESPECT for Billy &amp; his partners Dick Enberg &amp; Al McGuire-they were super. May Billy RIP.”College basketball analyst Fran Fraschilla tweeted: “We fell in love (with) college basketball because of you. Your voice will remain in my head forever.”Packer was viewed as a controversial figure during his broadcasting days, often drawing the ire of college basketball fans, particularly on North Carolina's “Tobacco Road.”“As a kid, I was a big NC State fan growing up, and I would watch a game and the next day I'd be like, ‘Boy you sure have it out for NC State, don’t you?’ And he would just laugh,” Mark Packer said.The younger Packer, who is the host of ACC PM on the ACC Network, said it didn't matter what school — most fans felt the same way about his father.“He would cover North Carolina game and Tar Heels fans would be like, ‘you hate North Carolina,’” Mark Packer said. “Wake (Forest) fans would be like, ‘you hate us.’ And Billy just sort of got a kick out of that."Mark Packer said that while most fans will remember his father as a broadcaster, he'll remember him even more for his business acumen. He said his father was a big real estate investor, and also owned a vape company, among other ventures.“Billy was always a bit of a hustler — he was always looking for that next business deal," Packer said.

He joined NBC in 1974 and called his first Final Four in 1975

CBS announcers Billy Packer, left, and Jim Nantz laugh during a break in the championship game in the Big Ten basketball tournament in Indianapolis

College basketball broadcaster Billy Packer dies at 82

A University of Michigan student is one of the world’s foremost “speedcubers,” a person capable of quickly solving a Rubik’s Cube. He also is an accomplished violinist. Stanley Chapel says the two fields go hand in hand.Not only does Chapel say he has equal interest in both, but the 21-year-old says the violin has aided in his speedcubing success.<h2>Chapel solved his first Rubik’s Cube as a 14</h2>“Repetition, breaking things down into their smallest fundamental elements, all of these different things that we use to improve at an instrument, and being able to take these into the world of cubing has certainly been a huge help to my progression,” said Chapel, a junior majoring in violin performance at the university's school of music, theater and dance.Chapel, who grew up in Ann Arbor not far from the Michigan campus, solved his first 3x3 Rubik’s Cube as a 14-year-old. Five weeks later, Chapel entered his first competition, solving the cube in an average of 22 seconds.Fast-forward a year to 2017 in Paris, with Chapel placing fifth in both the 4x4 blindfolded and 5x5 blindfolded categories at the World Cube Association World Championship.At the 2019 world championship in Melbourne, Australia, the recent high school graduate won both events.Factoring in the time it takes for him to review the cube before placing the blindfold over his eyes, Chapel can solve one in around 17 seconds.“The deeper I go into the realm of cubing technique, the more I find interest in pushing the boundaries of what’s possible there,” he said.Chapel has certain inherent abilities: He is capable of remembering and applying thousands of algorithms to solve a Rubik’s Cube and performing one of Johann Sebastian Bach’s violin sonatas from memory.<h2>It’s not going to pay the bills when I’m older</h2>But he also spends hours upon hours honing his craft, including doing regular hand stretches that help Chapel avoid the kinds of aches and pains that come with the frequent and frenetic turning of the cube’s sides.Chapel says years of playing the violin also has contributed to him having “very, very fine motor control already built up.”Later this year, Chapel intends to defend his world titles in South Korea. Since the 2021 event was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Chapel is the reigning champion in both heading into the 2023 event in Seoul.Once he's done with school, though, Chapel isn't sure how speedcubing fits into his future plans.“I guess it’s cool to know that nobody is able to do this,” he said. “But, at the same time, giving myself a little bit of a reality check, it’s like, ‘How much does that actually matter?’”“It’s not going to pay the bills when I’m older,” Chapel said, laughing.

Repetition, breaking things down into their smallest fundamental elements

University of Michigan student Stanley Chapel solves a Rubik's Cube while blindfolded

World champion says Rubik's Cube and violin go hand in hand

Torrential rain and wild weather in Auckland on Friday caused disruptions throughout the city and an Elton John concert to be canceled just before it was due to start. About 40,000 people were expected to attend the evening concert at Mt Smart Stadium in New Zealand's largest city. Thousands were already at the venue when organizers decided to cancel not long before John was due to take the stage at 7:30 p.m.The concert was billed as a final farewell tour for John. Frontier Touring, one of the concert promoters, tweeted the concert had been cancelled due to unsafe weather conditions.Many concertgoers who had braved the conditions were frustrated the decision hadn't been made hours earlier.Weather agency MetService warned of flash flooding and hazardous driving conditions throughout the city. On Friday night, transport authorities closed parts of State Highway 1, the main highway that bisects Auckland.Video posted online showed waist-deep water in some places, and authorities were asking residents in flood-prone areas to be prepared in case they needed to evacuate.Lawmaker Ricardo Menéndez posted a video of water surging into residential houses. “We’ve just had to evacuate our home as the water was already rising rapidly and coming in aggressively,” he tweeted.Fire and Emergency New Zealand said it had taken over 1,000 calls for help, but that many calls were from people who had flooded properties. The agency was urging callers to clear the lines for those in immediate danger.The unseasonable weather also caused some flights to be delayed or canceled.Auckland Airport said it had reduced its runway operations after an arriving aircraft had damaged runway lighting.“This is largely impacting international arrivals and departures and larger aircraft travelling domestically,” the airport wrote on Twitter. “Our maintenance team is on site and is working hard to fix the damage.”Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown told Radio New Zealand “We need the rain to stop. That’s the main issue."

Auckland Airport said it had reduced its runway operations after an arriving aircraft had damaged runway lighting

Elton John concert canceled due to wild New Zealand weather

Citrus fruits are a staple in my house 365 days a year, but I appreciate these fruits the most during the colder months. Other fruits are in scarcer supply in the winter, which is the peak season for citrus. Plus, when most of our cooking tends to include heavier foods with deeper flavors, that’s when I think citrus has the chance to shine best. A wonderful foil to richer ingredients.Citrus is a genus of flowering trees and shrubs that includes lemons, limes, oranges and grapefruits. There are dozens of varieties of each type. Citrus fruits are all grown in warm climates, and the U.S. gets most of its oranges and grapefruits from Florida, lemons from California, and limes from Mexico.Citrus fruits are often both sweet and sour because of the inherent natural combination of sugar and citric acid. They can add subtle or powerful flavor to countless savory and sweet dishes. You can include citrus in beverages, vinaigrettes, dips, marinades, meats, salads, seafood, pastas, vegetables, and desserts and baked goods of all kinds.A little gives dishes a lift — think a sprinkle of zest over chicken marsala. A lot makes it the star of the show — hello, lemon bars!The zest and the juice are the two main ways to incorporate citrus into your cooking. The zest is the brightly colored outer skin of the fruit. Zest adds a flavor note that can really only be described as citrusy! The zest isn’t really acidic, though it can hold a hint of pleasant bitterness.The juice is acidic, to varying degrees. And a bit of acid is what makes most dishes sing, and taste “balanced.” Acidity makes rich foods sparkle a bit, and adds brightness in general. A squeeze of juice over a fish fillet or grilled vegetables can make the dish.<h2>Citrus tips</h2>All citrus should be firm and bright in color. It is wise to always wash and dry the fruits before using to remove the waxy outer layer often sprayed on to preserve them through shipping. This is most important if using the peel in any recipes.If you are cooking with citrus zest, leave the fruit whole and use a vegetable peeler, microplane or extra-fine grater. Just make sure to zest only the colored part of the skin as the white “pith” beneath tends to be bitter.If the recipe calls for citrus juice, cut the fruit in half across the widest middle point. Then use a reamer, juicer or juice-extracting tool to squeeze the juice out. Don’t have one of those tools? Good old-fashioned hand squeezing works – stick a fork into the fruit and turn and squeeze to extract the most juice! Whatever way you go, make sure to strain for any pits that escape.To get the most juice from citrus fruit, a little kitchen hack is to gently but firmly roll the fruit back and forth with the palm of your hand along its widest part. This “tenderizes” it and makes it easier for juice to be extracted.The best way to get the longest life out of your citrus fruits is to store them in the crisper or vegetable drawer of your refrigerator. They can last approximately three weeks. Oranges and grapefruits should be stored similarly but have a shorter life, usually about two weeks in the fridge.<h2>Recipe&nbsp;</h2>Here is a two-ingredient recipe for Brussels sprouts that showcases the appeal and versatility of lemon. You don’t even have to juice or zest the citrus; just give the little roasted wedges a squeeze.<h2>Lemony roasted brussels sprouts</h2>Servings: 62 lemons2 pounds Brussels sprouts, trimmed and halved2 tablespoons olive oilKosher salt and freshly ground pepper to tastePreheat the oven to 400° F. Spray a rimmed baking sheet with nonstick spray.Cut each lemon in half crosswise, then cut each half into 6 little wedges (or 4 or 8; it doesn’t matter so much). Place the Brussels sprouts on the baking sheet, drizzle over the olive oil, sprinkle with salt and pepper, and add the lemon wedges. Use your hands or a spoon to toss to combine so that everything is well coated with the oil. Spread the Brussels sprouts and lemon pieces out on the baking sheet in a single layer.Roast for 30 to 35 minutes until the Brussels sprouts are fairly tender and browned in spots. Toss halfway through and spread back out on the baking sheet, if you remember to.Carefully pick up some of the roasted lemon wedges, about half, and give them a squeeze over the Brussels sprouts. Transfer everything to a bowl, including the pieces of lemon that haven’t been squeezed, and serve. The remaining lemon wedges they will add color and flavor to the Brussels sprouts, and diners can squeeze out a bit more juice if they like.

Citrus is a genus of flowering trees and shrubs that includes lemons, limes, oranges and grapefruits

Citrus fruits are a staple in my house 365 days a year

Brighten up winter cooking with citrus, from juice to zest

A federal appeals court has ordered a Detroit museum to hold onto an 1888 painting by Vincent van Gogh amid a Brazilian collector's dispute with the museum over the painting. Wednesday's order from the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Cincinnati comes days after U.S. District Judge George Caram Steeh in Detroit dismissed a lawsuit filed by collector Gustavo Soter’s art brokerage company, The Detroit News reported.The suit claims Soter bought the painting of a woman with a book, titled “The Novel Reader,” in 2017 for $3.7 million, but that a “third party” took possession of the artwork and it has been missing for nearly six years.The oil-on-canvas painting, which the suit says is worth more than $5 million, was part of the Detriot Institute of Arts' recent “Van Gogh in America” exhibition.Steeh said in his Jan. 20 ruling that the painting could not be seized because it was protected by a federal law granting immunity to foreign artwork on display in the United States.The appeals court judges ordered the museum to retain possession of the painting, saying that an appeal filed by Soter's brokerage firm, Brokerarte Capital Partners, LLC, “raises issues in its motion that deserve full pleading and reasoned consideration."Brokerarte lawyer Aaron Phelps declined to comment Thursday.Detroit Institute of Arts spokesperson Megan Hawthorne said in an email that the museum “will fully comply with the order from the U.S. Court of Appeals regarding the custody of ‘The Novel Reader’ and will be responding on January 30 to the plaintiff’s recent pleading.”She said the museum would have “no additional comment prior to a ruling by the court.”Attorneys for Soter filed their lawsuit in early January, seeking a court order directing the museum to surrender the painting.The monthslong van Gogh exhibition ended Sunday at the Detriot Institute of Arts. Dozens of paintings by the Dutch master are on loan to the museum.The museum hasn’t publicly disclosed how it obtained the painting for the show, saying only that it came from Brazil. The painting was not listed as stolen by the FBI or the international Art Loss Register, the museum said.

The oil-on-canvas painting, which the suit says is worth more than $5 million, was part of the Detriot Institute of Arts' recent “Van Gogh in America”

Court orders Detroit museum to hold onto disputed van Gogh

A lawyer for Eva Green on Thursday accused producers of a collapsed film of trying to damage the performer’s reputation by depicting her as a “diva.” The French actress, who played Vesper Lynd in James Bond thriller “Casino Royale,” is suing producers for a $1 million fee she says she is owed for “A Patriot."<h2>This case is designed to paint my client&nbsp;</h2>Green, 42, was lined up to star in the sci-fi thriller alongside Charles Dance and Helen Hunt, and was also an executive producer on the project, which collapsed in late 2019.Production company White Lantern Film is fighting the claim and is countersuing, saying Green made “unreasonable demands” and undermined the production. Hearings in the case opened Thursday at the High Court in London.Green’s lawyer, Edmund Cullen, said the movie had been a “passion project” for Green and she had “bent over backwards to get this done.”He said Green “loved the script and wanted the film to be made,” but “the financial plan was never going to work.”“This case is designed to paint my client as a diva to win headlines and damage her reputation,” the lawyer said.Lawyers for the production company argue in written submissions that Green had expressed “a lack of confidence and dissatisfaction” regarding some of the production team and had grown increasingly reluctant to be involved in the project.White Lantern’s evidence includes expletive-filled text messages in which Green called one of the film’s executive producers, Jake Seal, “evil” a “devious sociopath” and a “mad man,” and branded production manager Terry Bird a “moron.”Max Mallin, a lawyer for the production company, said that in the messages Green accused Seal of wanting to make a “cheap B movie” and called local crew members at the production facility in southern England “peasants.”Mallin said Green had “a vitriolic aversion to making a film that White Lantern could and was going to make.”<h2>Green is scheduled to testify on Monday</h2>“We have got a critical split between the expectation of Eva Green and the film she wanted to make and what the budget could afford,” he said.Green’s attorney, Cullen, said the text message had to be seen “in context” as “an informal venting of a stream of consciousness” during a tense stage of the film’s production.He accused the production company of seeking “to lay every failure of the production at Ms. Green’s door.”“It seems to be designed to blacken the name of an actor who has not breached a contract or missed a day’s shooting in a career spanning 20 years,” he said in written arguments.Green is scheduled to testify on Monday. The case is due to last for about two weeks.

This case is designed to paint my client as a diva to win headlines and damage her reputation, the lawyer said

Actress Eva Green poses as she arrives at the Cesar award ceremony, on Feb. 28, 2020 in Paris.

Eva Green, producers battle in UK court over collapsed film

The experimentalism and audacity of 1980s club kids inspired Valentino, one of the last high-octane shows of this Paris Fashion Week couture season. Thousands of fans lined the Pont Alexandre III bridge on a chilly Wednesday night to scream as their idols went in and out — from K-pop star Suga of BTS fame to Anne Hathaway and Kylie Minogue — some of whom danced into the wee hours of Thursday.But screams also echoed inside the aptly named Bridge Club venue as supermodel Kristen McMenamy took a tumble as she walked the runway. Director Baz Luhrmann also spoke to The Associated Press about his Academy Award nomination for “Elvis.”All eyes now look toward Fendi on Thursday, to cap the season:<h2>Valentino le club couture</h2>The iconic sound of 80s’ hit “Fade to Grey” by Visage echoed through the stone arches of the underground club venue, as fashion insiders — including Anna Wintour and couture favorite Luhrmann — tapped their feet and watched on.It was a co-ed show for club kids.In an irreverent take on classical couture, designer Pierpaolo Piccioli played with Valentino codes to make micro tops out of tulle bows, jumpsuits out of thousands of feathers and evening jackets out of metal beading.He had a lot of fun along the way, lining the myriad designs with polka dots in the spirit of '80s euphoria.Sheer lace trenches and ruffled poet’s blouses — almost straight from the wardrobe of late Visage singer Steve Strange — had guests reaching for their cameras.Minogue, who looked thrilled, said the show was about how “to break free of the rules and inhabit your true self ... You’re in Paris tonight. You’re in the middle of it all.”Valentino continued its club couture at the iconic Maxime’s with a couture DJ set, as guests were whisked away by limousines to escape the screaming crowds.<h2>‘Elvis nominations'</h2>When Wintour introduced Luhrmann to Hathaway and other VIP guests, there was a flurry of ‘congratulations’ about his Elvis biopic that has just garnered eight Oscar nominations, including for best picture.Luhrmann spoke to the AP of his “pride” — and his humility.“There’s no ‘me’ in it — only ‘we.’ Then there’s this thing called the miracle of Austin Butler,” he said, referring to the 31-year-old playing Elvis Presley who has received a best actor nomination. “That doesn’t happen every day,” he added.Luhrmann also had words for Lisa Marie Presley, Elvis’ daughter, who died earlier this month.“I really feel for the family. We miss her dearly.”<h2>Model tumbles</h2>McMenamy caused gasps and screams across the Valentino venue when she tumbled twice in a row, falling to her knees, as she trod the boards.Dressed in all white, with a cape draped off a baseball cap, the veteran 58-year-old model was helped to her feet on the runway by onlookers — to applause. McMenamy cast her high heels to the side and continued on, though some pointed out that her ankle looked injured.Praising her resilience, YouTube Head of Fashion &amp; Beauty Derek Blasberg said in a video: “They don’t call her a supermodel for nothing! ... Bravo.”<h2>Aelis gets its fringe on</h2>Classical couture was on display at Aelis on Thursday, as Italian designer Sofia Crociani channeled her Mediterranean heritage. Crociani launched the house six years ago to widespread praise as an ecological, ethical, and sustainable label.For spring, loose gowns featuring bands of embroidered sequins defined hemlines with a Grecian style, appearing over dramatic twisted white sustainable fabric that evoked Ancient Athens.Embellished ribbons, meanwhile, cascaded like curtain tassels from the shoulder to create a stylish swag when the model walked.Fringing and sparkle were used throughout for a show that oozed an archetypal glamour.Lengths of heavy satin and silk were used generously on full skirts in pastel shades that were sometimes gathered, draped or ruffled.Then Crociani went to the disco — with sparkling threads creating tiers of fringing on one shoulderless micro gown.

McMenamy caused gasps and screams across the Valentino venue when she tumbled twice in a row, falling to her knees, as she trod the boards

A model wears a creation as part of the Valentino Haute Couture Spring-Summer 2023 collection presented in Paris

Couture season ends with disco, celebrity, classic glamour

Shakira’s two outfits worn during a Super Bowl halftime performance, her handwritten lyrics and her heavily crystalized electric guitar are among the items that will be on display for a museum exhibit in Los Angeles. The Grammy Museum announced Thursday that the multi-Grammy winner will have her first exhibit opening on March 4. The exhibit called “Shakira: The Grammy Museum Experience” will feature 40 artifacts from her personal archive in the museum's permanent Latin music gallery.The museum exhibit will explore Shakira’s musical evolution, from her origin as a Latin performer in Colombia to reaching global superstardom as a multi-genre performer, who spans several genres including bachata, rock, Bhangra and reggaetón.“It’s an honor to have the journey of my career displayed at the Grammy museum,” Shakira said in a statement. “These pieces are a testament to so many indelible moments that I cherish, and I’m so happy to be able to relive these memories with those who have and continue to support me as an artist.”Shakira’s electric guitar that’s covered in 70,000 black crystals and acoustic guitar used for songwriting will be displayed. Other items include her outfits from her El Dorado tour in 2018 and the leaf-covered bikini she wore on the “Oral Fixation, Vol. 2” album in 2005.“Shakira is the rare superstar who has discovered a way to keep evolving as an artist while growing her expansive audience along with her,” said Jasen Emmons, the chief curator and vice president of curatorial affairs at the Grammy Museum. “She’s a serious student of music, and the Grammy Museum is excited to offer a dynamic exhibit that reflects her intelligence and artistry.”

Shakira’s electric guitar that’s covered in 70,000 black crystals and acoustic guitar used for songwriting will be displayed

Shakira performs during the halftime show of the NFL's Super Bowl 54 football game between the San Francisco 49ers and Kansas City Chiefs on Feb

Shakira’s Super Bowl outfits, lyrics coming to Grammy Museum

You surely knew that, given not only the plethora of wedding-themed movies Jennifer Lopez has made over the years, from “The Wedding Planner” to “Monster-in-Law” to the recent “Marry Me,” but also her own offscreen life, of course. And now comes “Shotgun Wedding,” where the ageless pop star and rom-com queen dons a pouffy white concoction that gradually sheds layers of tulle to become increasingly sexy as Lopez fights off not only cringey wedding guests but machine-gun toting pirates. She switches at one point to combat boots — plucked from a dead guy! —- over wedding heels, and here’s another spoiler alert: if anyone can make combat boots work with pouffy tulle while running in slow motion, it’s Lopez.<h2>She’s the delightfully ditzy Carol</h2>But all the charm and style in the world, and J.Lo has more than anyone, can’t make up for the bizarre tonal imbalance of “Shotgun Wedding,” a movie too violent to be funny and too funny (in the odd, weird sense) to be fun. The movie, directed by Jason Moore, also commits the unlikely crime of under-using that other bulletproof Jennifer of the moment, Jennifer Coolidge, who often seems to be searching palpably for decent lines. Come on, people! You had BOTH Jennifers! This should have been a slam dunk.Kudos, though, to whoever picked the stunning resort for this particular destination wedding (the shoot took place in the Dominican Republic, standing in for the Philippines). It's here that we first meet Darcy, our bride, at the rehearsal dinner, already looking so much better than everyone else, in resort wear and turquoise chunky jewelry — but we digress.Darcy is navigating a guest list filled with proverbial hand grenades, even before the real grenades start flying. There’s her icy mother (Sonia Braga, also sadly underused), who is divorced from her father (Cheech Marin) and appalled at the oddly ditzy new girlfriend he’s brought to the wedding (D'Arcy Carden). Mom tells Darcy she should have accepted her dad’s millions (or billions?) to make the wedding perfect, but Darcy replies that the couple wanted to do it their way. Besides, they’re grownups.The groom, you ask? We’re getting to that. Initially the part was to be played by Ryan Reynolds, a tantalizing comedic possibility. Then it was to be Armie Hammer, who stepped aside for obvious reasons, and now we have Josh Duhamel, perfectly handsome and agreeable but … the chemistry rests with Lopez, and not between them.In a clever twist, Tom is the “groomzilla,” obsessed with wedding details, and spray-painting the pineapples all night long. As for his mother, well, she’s the delightfully ditzy Carol (Coolidge), obsessed with “South Pacific” and eager to have a good time. (Coolidge, hot off “White Lotus,” knows her way around a resort).It must be said that Coolidge — who at this point in her career would be anyone’s top choice to play any mother — more than pulls her weight. But there’s only so much she can do with dialogue that seems slapped together with minimum effort. True, Coolidge can make almost anything sound funny, but at times it feels like her script instructions said nothing more than “Carol says something wacky.”Anyway, things get wacky overall pretty fast, starting with the arrival of a surprise guest by helicopter – it’s Sean, Darcy’s ex-fiance, a swaggering, shirt-unbuttoned, walking Y chromosome played by Lenny Kravitz. Tom is immediately perplexed by Sean's presence.But there's no time to fret. The next day, with everyone dressed for the wedding, more unexpected guests arrive — and they definitely weren’t on the list. They're pirates, and they’re after Darcy’s dad’s money.The pirates take everyone hostage, confining them to, well, OK, an infinity pool, but still confining them! In a stroke of rom-com luck, the bride and groom are elsewhere, having a little talk about their relationship. Soon, though, the relationship is beside the point — they have to save themselves and everyone else, too. And that’s when the killing starts.Not to give away too much, but there’s lots of automatic gunfire and grenade-throwing and other mayhem that feels out of place anyway you slice it — oh yes, knives too! — and this rom-com doesn’t end up feeling very romantic OR comedic.<h2>Running time: 100 minutes</h2>Not to detract from Lopez’s appeal, which is timeless. She's the one actor in the whole enterprise whose every line reading seems to ring true, no matter how silly on paper — as when she says she can’t breathe, and Tom assumes it’s, you know, the machine guns, but she says no, “It’s the shapewear.” J.Lo makes it work. (She's also a producer on the film.)There is one charming scene, to be fair, where we’re all allowed to relax and have fun. People are singing and dancing and doing karaoke, and it feels like a blast. Finally these are people we’d want to get to know. Unfortunately, it’s all during the closing credits.Stick around for them, though. It'll feel like a cool dip in an infinity pool.“Shotgun Wedding,” an Amazon Studios release, has been rated R by the Motion Picture Association of America “for language and some violence/bloody images.” Running time: 100 minutes. Two stars out of four.

There is one charming scene, to be fair, where we’re all allowed to relax and have fun

“Shotgun Wedding,” an Amazon Studios release, has been rated R by the Motion Picture Association of America

Barrett Strong, Motown artist known for ‘Money,’ dies at 81

Gregory Allen Howard who wrote 'Remember the Titans' dies

Guitarist Tom Verlaine, co-founder of Television, dies at 73

Harrison Ford inspires cast in new comedy 'Shrinking'

New this week: Shania, 'Princess Power' and Pamela Anderson

‘A Thousand and One’ wins Sundance grand jury prize

Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra gets new music director

College basketball broadcaster Billy Packer dies at 82

World champion says Rubik's Cube and violin go hand in hand

Elton John concert canceled due to wild New Zealand weather

Brighten up winter cooking with citrus, from juice to zest

Court orders Detroit museum to hold onto disputed van Gogh

Eva Green, producers battle in UK court over collapsed film

Couture season ends with disco, celebrity, classic glamour

Shakira’s Super Bowl outfits, lyrics coming to Grammy Museum

Review: Even J.Lo can't save this 'Shotgun Wedding'

Entertainment

Barrett Strong, Motown artist known for ‘Money,’ dies at 81

Gregory Allen Howard who wrote 'Remember the Titans' dies

Guitarist Tom Verlaine, co-founder of Television, dies at 73

Harrison Ford inspires cast in new comedy 'Shrinking'

New this week: Shania, 'Princess Power' and Pamela Anderson

‘A Thousand and One’ wins Sundance grand jury prize

Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra gets new music director

College basketball broadcaster Billy Packer dies at 82

World champion says Rubik's Cube and violin go hand in hand

Elton John concert canceled due to wild New Zealand weather

Brighten up winter cooking with citrus, from juice to zest

Court orders Detroit museum to hold onto disputed van Gogh

Eva Green, producers battle in UK court over collapsed film

Couture season ends with disco, celebrity, classic glamour

Shakira’s Super Bowl outfits, lyrics coming to Grammy Museum

Review: Even J.Lo can't save this 'Shotgun Wedding'