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Articles by Jonathan Abrams
LL Cool J Makes His Way Back Home With ‘NCIS: New York’
You have a preview view of this article while we are checking your access. When we have confirmed access, the full article content will load. LL Cool J again walked the St. Albans streets on a recent summer weekday, just like he did when he was James Todd Smith. He began rapping as an audacious 9-year-old on Farmers Boulevard in Queens. (Somehow, that was nearly half a century ago.) He recorded his first demo from his grandmother’s basement.
As Mr. Belding on “Saved by the Bell,” Dennis Haskins Made Principals Your Pal
As Mr. Belding on “Saved by the Bell,” Dennis Haskins Made Principals Your Pal - The New York Times
Kadeem Hardison Can Tell You Some Stories About the ’80s
You have a preview view of this article while we are checking your access. When we have confirmed access, the full article content will load. The flip glasses, Kadeem Hardison thought wishfully, could be a disguise if nothing else. He was early in his career, a late addition to a young cast nearly 40 years ago.
‘The Late Show With Stephen Colbert’ Goes Out With an Emmy Win
You have a preview view of this article while we are checking your access. When we have confirmed access, the full article content will load. ‘The Late Show With Stephen Colbert’ Goes Out With an Emmy Win For its final season, the series won an overhauled variety category in which any or all of the nominees could have claimed an Emmy Award. “The Late Show With Stephen Colbert” was named best variety show for its final season.Credit...Scott Kowalchyk/CBS, via Associated Press Sept.
Morgan Freeman: "Treballaré tant com pugui, mentre algú em continuï dient: 'Vols fer aquest paper?'"
Et pot interessar El Marroc explicat als ingenus Morgan Freeman insisteix que encara no entén què té d’especial la seva veu. L’actor, guanyador d’un Oscar i de 89 anys, ha posat veu a Déu i a presidents dels Estats Units, i és el narrador de referència de molts dels documentals preferits del públic. Tot i això, continua traient importància a l’impacte del seu baríton, profund i immediatament recognoscible.
Can ‘Old World’ Skills Revive a Small Mountain Town?
You have a preview view of this article while we are checking your access. When we have confirmed access, the full article content will load. Clay in hand, Tammy Cooper asked her instructor how to mold the mud into a flower petal. Erica Koester advised her to scratch the clay on one side and use a drop of water as glue. Clay can be particular depending on its source of origin, she added.
Who Shot Tupac? Despite a Conviction, Not Everyone Has Found Closure.
You have a preview view of this article while we are checking your access. When we have confirmed access, the full article content will load. Who Shot Tupac? Despite a Conviction, Not Everyone Has Found Closure. When a man was found guilty of orchestrating the murder of Tupac Shakur, it brought catharsis to many who knew the rapper. But questions remain even after the trial.
Who is the former gang leader convicted in Tupac Shakur’s death?
Duane Keith Davis, the former gang leader who on Monday was found guilty of first-degree murder in the 1996 killing of Tupac Shakur, long claimed that he had orchestrated the drive-by shooting as retribution for a beating of his nephew by Shakur and his associates. Davis, 63, made those declarations in interviews with the police, for a documentary and in his memoir, which became a catalyst for the authorities to reopen Shakur’s case.
Who Is the Former Gang Leader Convicted in Tupac Shakur’s Death?
Who Is the Former Gang Leader Convicted in Tupac Shakur’s Death? Duane Keith Davis, once a high-ranking member of the South Side Compton Crips, long said he was in a Cadillac with the shooter in 1996. Then he began to recant his accounts. Duane Keith Davis was convicted of murder in the 1996 shooting death of Tupac Shakur.Credit...Pool photo by John Locher Aug.
Tupac Shakur Was at His Cultural Peak When He Was Killed Shortly before he was murdered in 1996, the rapper had released “All Eyez on Me,” a landmark album that turned him into a superstar. Tupac Shakur performing in Milwaukee in 1994.Credit...Raymond Boyd/Getty Images Aug. 31, 2026, 8:14 p.m. ET Tupac Shakur was at the peak of his craftsmanship and popularity when he was killed at the age of 25 in 1996.
There Are Few Witnesses to Tupac Shakur’s Drive-by Shooting
18 hours ago Almost 30 years after hip-hop legend Tupac Shakur’s murder, the only person ever charged in his death is going to trial. Duane Keith Davis, also known as “Keffe D,” is accused of orchestrating Shakur’s killing via a drive-by shooting on September 7, 1996, after his nephew got into a fight with …
There Are Few Witnesses to Tupac Shakur’s Drive-by Shooting
There Are Few Witnesses to Tupac Shakur’s Drive-by Shooting Prosecutors say Duane Davis and three other men who are now deceased were involved in the fatal confrontation in 1996. The rapper Tupac Shakur was riding inside a vehicle when he was shot four times.Credit...Barry King/Alamy Aug. 17, 2026, 5:03 a.m. ET The night still buzzed with electricity as revelers spilled out onto the Las Vegas Strip after Mike Tyson knocked out an opponent less than two minutes into a 1996 heavyweight prizefight.
Tupac Shakur Murder Trial Updates: Prosecutors Call First Witnesses After Opening Statements
Nearly three decades after the fatal shooting of Tupac Shakur, the trial of a man accused of orchestrating the murder began Monday, putting a tangled story of gang rivalries and old hip-hop beefs in front of a jury. Opening statements in the case -- among the most notorious murders that remain unresolved -- were delivered as the defendant, Duane Keith Davis, listened intently.
30 Years After Tupac Shakur's Murder, Opening Statements Are Underway in the Trial
Nearly three decades after the fatal shooting of Tupac Shakur, a man is standing trial in Las Vegas on a charge of orchestrating the murder, putting a tangled story of gang rivalries and old hip-hop beefs in front of a jury. Opening statements in the case -- among the most notorious murders that remain unresolved -- began Monday. Prosecutors say the defendant, Duane Keith Davis, played a central role in the 1996 drive-by shooting that killed Shakur, one of the most prominent rappers of all time.
There Are Few Witnesses to Tupac Shakur's Drive-by Shooting
The night still buzzed with electricity as revelers spilled out onto the Las Vegas Strip after Mike Tyson knocked out an opponent less than two minutes into a 1996 heavyweight prizefight. A black BMW, part of a loose convoy of vehicles, stopped at a red light on Flamingo Road near Koval Lane around 11:15 p.m. After a white four-door Cadillac pulled up on the right side of the BMW, someone inside fired the shots that killed hip-hop artist Tupac Shakur. Nearly 30 years after that shooting on Sept.
What to Know About the Tupac Murder, Trial and Suspect
LAS VEGAS - Las Vegas Raiders coach Klint Kubiak faced one of his first major challenges as an NFL head coach this weekend. He passed the test with …
What to Know About the Tupac Murder, Trial and Suspect
You have a preview view of this article while we are checking your access. When we have confirmed access, the full article content will load. What to Know About the Tupac Murder, Trial and Suspect Three decades after the rapper Tupac Shakur was killed in Las Vegas, a man who prosecutors say provided the murder weapon is scheduled to go to trial.
What to Know About the Tupac Murder, Trial and Suspect
For decades, the identity of Tupac Shakur's killers has been a burning question. A key figure in the East Coast-West Coast rivalry of the 1990s, Shakur was a hip-hop titan capable of penning sensitive ballads about his mother and visceral odes to his rivals when he was fatally shot in 1996. The mystery faded in recent years as Duane Keith Davis, who goes by Keffe D, repeatedly stated that he was involved in the killing and wrote about it in "Compton Street Legend," his 2019 memoir about gang life.
Morgan Freeman, a punto de cumplir 90, sigue sin entender por qué su voz fascina al mundo
Morgan Freeman, a sus 89 años, sigue en plena actividad y resta importancia al impacto de su voz: "Aún no me he dado cuenta. Solo me lo dicen" (Foto: REUTERS/Eduardo Muñoz) Morgan Freeman insiste en que todavía no entiende el alboroto que genera su voz. El actor, ganador del Óscar, de 89 años, ha interpretado a Dios y a presidentes, y es el narrador favorito de los documentalistas más reconocidos. Sin embargo, sigue restando importancia al impacto de su inconfundible y resonante barítono.
Morgan Freeman Is Pushing 90, With No Plans to Stop Original
Morgan Freeman insists he still does not understand the fuss over his voice. The 89-year-old Oscar-winning actor has voiced God and presidents, and he is the go-to narrator for your favorite documentarian. He still brushes aside the impact of his immediately recognizable, resonant baritone. Freeman, whose career did not take off until later in life, is nearly a nonagenarian, but is still going strong.
For ‘Ted Lasso’ actor, fútbol really is his life now
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready... For Cristo Fernandez, fútbol really is life. For three seasons, he portrayed the infectiously joyful and endlessly dedicated soccer player Dani Rojas on Apple TV’s “Ted Lasso.” While the show makes a shift in its coming fourth season with Lasso returning to Richmond to coach a second-division women’s team, Fernandez is also headed in a new (and old) direction.
Interpretó a una estrella del fútbol en 'Ted Lasso'. Ahora está de vuelta en la cancha
Cristo Fernández fue futbolista antes que actor. Tras alcanzar el estrellato en la televisión, hace un improbable regreso a su primera carrera. Para Cristo Fernández, el fútbol en verdad es la vida. Durante tres temporadas interpretó a Dani Rojas, un futbolista de alegría contagiosa e infinitamente dedicado en la serie Ted Lasso de Apple TV.
Interpretó a una estrella del fútbol en ‘Ted Lasso’. Ahora está de vuelta en la cancha
You have a preview view of this article while we are checking your access. When we have confirmed access, the full article content will load. Para Cristo Fernández, el fútbol en verdad es la vida. Durante tres temporadas interpretó a Dani Rojas, un futbolista de alegría contagiosa e infinitamente dedicado en la serie Ted Lasso de Apple TV.
He Played a Soccer Star on 'Ted Lasso.' Now He's on the Pitch as a Pro.
For Cristo Fernandez, fútbol really is life. For three seasons, he portrayed the infectiously joyful and endlessly dedicated soccer player Dani Rojas on Apple TV's "Ted Lasso." While the show makes a shift in its coming fourth season with Lasso returning to Richmond to coach a second-division women's team, Fernandez is also headed in a new (and old) direction.
How 'The Wire' Star Jamie Hector Spends a Hot Day in Brooklyn
(Routine) NEW YORK -- Nearly two decades have passed since "The Wire" ended, yet Jamie Hector's haunting turn as drug kingpin Marlo Stanfield still resonates. Jay-Z recently referred to the character during a freestyle at the Roots Picnic. "I respect the fact that artists find time to appreciate another artist in that way," Hector said. "I consider the work that we do at the highest level with great art. His is literary.
How ‘The Wire’ Star Jamie Hector Spends a Hot Day in Brooklyn
Nearly two decades have passed since “The Wire” ended, yet Jamie Hector’s haunting turn as the drug kingpin Marlo Stanfield still resonates. Jay-Z recently referred to the character during a freestyle at the Roots Picnic. “I respect the fact that artists find time to appreciate another artist in that way,” Mr. Hector said. “I consider the work that we do at the highest level with great art. His is literary.
How Teaching AI Endangered Languages Can Help Save Them
LAFAYETTE, LA -- While relaxing a couple of years ago, professor Joshua Caffery found himself in the mood to unwind with some old-time Cajun music. He asked Amazon's Alexa to play selections from Dewey Balfa, a celebrated fiddler and singer credited with popularizing the genre. Instead, Alexa frustratingly steered him to the catalog of modern pop artist Dua Lipa, Caffery said.
Taye Diggs is a veteran actor who has starred on Broadway, in feature films and in prestige television shows. Yet when he pitched potential collaborators on his latest creative endeavor, he sensed apprehension. “We’ve met with writers that didn’t want to put their name on the project,” Diggs said in a recent interview. “I’m proud to put my name on this.
When Sly Stone Got Married at M.S.G., He Had 20,000 Fans There With Him
A celebrity wedding at the New York arena? The funk and soul star did just that in 1974.
When Sly Stone Got Married at M.S.G., He Had 20,000 Fans There With Him
You have been granted access, use your keyboard to continue reading. When Sly Stone Got Married at M.S.G., He Had 20,000 Fans There With Him A celebrity wedding at the New York arena? The funk and soul star did just that in 1974.
How Teaching A.I. to Speak Cajun Can Help Save a Language
While relaxing a couple of years ago, Prof. Joshua Caffery found himself in the mood to unwind with some old-time Cajun music. He asked Amazon’s Alexa to play selections from Dewey Balfa, a celebrated fiddler and singer credited with popularizing the genre. Instead, Alexa frustratingly steered him to the catalog of the modern pop artist, Dua Lipa, Caffery said. “I love Dua Lipa,” said Caffery, the director of the Center for Louisiana Studies at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette.
Microdramas, Often Dismissed as Lowbrow Curiosities, Eye the Mainstream
Taye Diggs is a veteran actor who has starred on Broadway, in feature films and in prestige television shows. Yet when he pitched potential collaborators on his latest creative endeavor, he sensed apprehension. "We've met with writers that didn't want to put their name on the project," Diggs said in a recent interview. "I'm proud to put my name on this.
Microdramas, Often Dismissed as Lowbrow Curiosities, Eye the Mainstream
Microdramas, Often Dismissed as Lowbrow Curiosities, Eye the Mainstream Major networks like Fox, Bravo and BET are translating shows to the short-form video format that last year made $11 billion in global revenue.
Clive Davis and Whitney Houston’s Successful and Tragic Story
The record industry titan guided Houston from a young star to worldwide phenomenon. But their story together was not without controversy.
The Defining, Imperfect Partnership of Clive Davis and Whitney Houston
Of the many pop stars christened by record industry titan Clive Davis, none may be more closely associated with him than Whitney Houston. Their working relationship of nearly three decades resulted in huge successes, but their story was also complex and the subject of much debate, and it ended in tragedy. Davis, who died Monday at the age of 94, signed Bruce Springsteen, nurtured Barry Manilow and helped reinvent Aretha Franklin.
The Defining, Imperfect Partnership of Clive Davis and Whitney Houston
The Defining, Imperfect Partnership of Clive Davis and Whitney Houston The record industry titan guided Houston from a young star to worldwide phenomenon. But their story together was not without controversy. In Whitney Houston, Clive Davis recognized the potential of a powerful mezzo-soprano as an instrument to reshape modern pop music.
The New York Hip-Hop Soundtracking the Knicks’ Run to the N.B.A. Finals
The New York Hip-Hop Soundtracking the Knicks’ Run to the N.B.A. Finals From old-school stars to young upstarts, the birthplace of hip-hop is basking in the big moment. The Rapper Fat Joe has been one of the most visible supporters of the Knicks on their playoff run.Credit...Jamie Squire/Getty Images June 8, 2026, 5:02 a.m. ET From his courtside seat at Knicks games, the rapper Fat Joe and the rest of the faithful at Madison Square Garden are serenaded with the sounds of New York hip-hop.
The New York Hip-Hop Soundtracking the Knicks' Run to the NBA Finals
NEW YORK -- From his courtside seat at New York Knicks games, rapper Fat Joe and the rest of the faithful at Madison Square Garden are serenaded with the sounds of New York hip-hop. Often, Fat Joe hears his own banger, Terror Squad's "Lean Back," after a resounding defensive stop or heading into a timeout. "Every time I hear it, whether I'm at a game or watching on TV and it goes 'ba-ba-ba,' it's unreal," Fat Joe said.
Multiple Artists Drop Out of Freedom 250 Concerts Hours After Announcement
A concert series honoring the country's 250th anniversary announced its first wave of artists on Wednesday. Also on Wednesday: Multiple announced artists dropped out. The concerts, scheduled to take place in June and July in Washington, D.C., were heavy on hitmakers of the 1980s and 1990s. Some posted that they were not aware the event was part of the initiative planned by the Trump administration celebrating the nation's milestone anniversary.
Multiple Artists Drop Out of Freedom 250 Concerts Hours After Announcement
Multiple Artists Drop Out of Freedom 250 Concerts Hours After Announcement Young MC and Morris Day said they would not perform at the series on the National Mall that is part of the summer celebration of America’s founding.
Multiple Artists Drop Out of Freedom 250 Concerts Hours After Announcement
A concert series honoring the country's 250th anniversary announced its first wave of artists on Wednesday. Also on Wednesday: Multiple announced artists dropped out. The concerts, scheduled to take place in June and July in Washington, D.C., were heavy on hitmakers of the 1980s and 1990s. Some posted that they were not aware the event was part of the initiative planned by the Trump administration celebrating the nation's milestone anniversary.
A Broadway Star Is the Savannah Bananas’ Phantom of the Bullpen
Derek Klena had a plan for the most ambitious merging yet of his two worlds: Broadway and baseball. Months ago, Klena joined the Savannah Bananas, the barnstorming baseball club that has become nothing short of a sensation with its playful take on America’s pastime. Joining the club known for both choreography and curveballs meant Klena had to put his Tony-nominated theater career on hold. But that doesn’t mean the drama had to stop.
A Broadway Star Is the Savannah Bananas' Phantom of the Bullpen
Derek Klena had a plan for the most ambitious merging yet of his two worlds: Broadway and baseball. Months ago, Klena joined the Savannah Bananas, the barnstorming baseball club that has become nothing short of a sensation with its playful take on America's pastime. Joining the club known for both choreography and curveballs meant Klena had to put his Tony-nominated theater career on hold. But that doesn't mean the drama had to stop.
A Broadway Star Is the Savannah Bananas' Phantom of the Bullpen
Derek Klena had a plan for the most ambitious merging yet of his two worlds: Broadway and baseball. Months ago, Klena joined the Savannah Bananas, the barnstorming baseball club that has become nothing short of a sensation with its playful take on America's pastime. Joining the club known for both choreography and curveballs meant Klena, 34, had to put his Tony-nominated theater career on hold. But that doesn't mean the drama had to stop.
Drake Releases 'Iceman' and Two Surprise Albums: What to Know
Drake, who has maintained a cryptic, mostly online presence since his 2024 battle with Kendrick Lamar, delivered "Iceman," an anticipated new solo album, on Friday. In an unexpected move, he simultaneously released two companion albums, "Habibti" and "Maid of Honour," announcing the flood of new music -- 43 tracks across 149 minutes -- in a YouTube livestream Thursday night that showcased new videos.
Drake Releases ‘Iceman’ and Two Surprise Albums: What to Know
Drake Releases ‘Iceman’ and Two Surprise Albums: What to Know The chart-topping Canadian rapper released an anticipated new album, “Iceman,” on Friday and two previously unannounced LPs, “Habibti” and “Maid of Honour.” Between albums, Drake headlined the three-day Wireless Festival in London last summer.Credit...Emli Bendixen for The New York Times May 15, 2026, 10:02 a.m. ET Drake, who has maintained a cryptic, mostly online presence since his 2024 battle with Kendrick Lamar, delivered...
The Villains Who Shaped ‘Survivor’
Quintavius Burdette does not consider himself a villain. Few “Survivor” villains do. Burdette, who goes by Q, was a Season 46 contestant who returned for the reality show’s landmark 50th season, which is drawing closer to its May 20 finale. He took issue with a ranking that listed him 18th among the show’s long list of antagonists. While it described him as “charismatic and lovable,” it also noted his tendency to switch alliances and create chaos.
The Villains Who Shaped 'Survivor'
Quintavius Burdette does not consider himself a villain. Few "Survivor" villains do. Burdette, who goes by Q, was a Season 46 contestant who returned for the reality show's landmark 50th season, which is drawing closer to its May 20 finale. He took issue with a ranking that listed him 18th among the show's long list of antagonists. While it described him as "charismatic and lovable," it also noted his tendency to switch alliances and create chaos.
The (Printable) Highlights from the Kevin Hart Roast
Now “Nothing in this world fills my life with more meaning and joy than being a mom,” the supermodel wrote. Gisele Bündchen celebrated Mother’s Day with a new photo of her youngest child, whose name has still never been publicly revealed over a year after his birth. On May 10, the supermodel shared the …
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