Jimmy Kimmel wins President’s Award – ‘I thought he hated me!’

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. –Jimmy Kimmelis being venerated by the president. No, not that one.

The unfiltered late-night host – andoutspoken critic of President Donald Trump– was honored with the President's Award at the International Cinematographers Guild (ICG) Publicists Awards, where he was recognized for "his strength of character, his resilience and his unwavering adherence to principle in the face of adversity," according to a statement by the organization.

The trophy was bestowed by ICG national president John Lindley, months after "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" wassuspended for six daysfollowing comments that Kimmel, 58, made about conservative commentator Charlie Kirk.

"When they told me I'd be getting the President's Award, I said, 'Wow, that's great! I thought he hated me!' He called me a 'no talent' and tried to force me off the air," Kimmel told the crowd at the Beverly Wilshire hotel, where he was feted on March 13. "Then I found out the president was John, so thank you, John. I like you more than him."

Jimmy Kimmel takes shots at Timothée Chalamet, nemesis Matt Damon

Kimmel proceeded to thank the publicists being celebrated, cracking some timely jokes about Oscar-nominated actor Timothée Chalamet, who hasrecently come under firefor saying that "no one cares" about ballet and opera.

"Publicists have a very difficult job, especially when their clients have strong opinions about opera and ballet," Kimmel quipped. "I love them. Remember when they used to say there's no such thing as bad publicity? That was a lot of Kanyes and Diddys ago."

The comedian received a pretaped introduction from Ben Affleck andKimmel's noted "rival" Matt Damon, who had an expletive-filled message for his archenemy: "ICG? More like 'I see you, Jimmy.' The only thing you ever do publicly is suck."

2014 | Best supporting actress: Lupita Nyong'o in Prada | The "12 Years A Slave" star hit the red carpet wearing a custom light blue silk georgette gown with a deep V-neck top and low-cut sides. "It's a blue that reminds me of Nairobi, and so I wanted to have a little bit of home," she told E!'s Ryan Seacrest.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 2015 | Best actress: Julianne Moore in Chanel | Moore, who won for "Still Alice," wore a shimmering, strapless custom gown designed by Karl Lagerfeld. It took a whopping 927 hours to create.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 2015 | Best supporting actress: Patricia Arquette in Rosetta Getty | The "Boyhood" actress took home her statuette in a black-and-white one-shoulder gown, and memorably called for wage equality from the Oscars stage.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 2024 | Best actress: Emma Stone in Louis Vuitton | Stone suffered a wardrobe malfunction in her mint-green gown with a peplum waistline when she collected her second best-actress Oscar for "Poor Things." She held the zippered back of her dress closed as she left the stage and looked stunning every step of the way.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 2024 | Best supporting actress: Da'Vine Joy Randolph in Louis Vuitton | A radiant Randolph wept when she won for "The Holdovers" wearing a periwinkle-blue sparkly halter gown with poofy off-the-shoulder sleeves and a lengthy train.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 2025 | Best actress: Mikey Madison in Dior | The "Anora" newcomer accepted her first Oscar in a strapless soft pink gown with a black bodice, finished off with a bow and an elegant train, and accessorized with diamonds.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 2025 | Best supporting actress: Zoe Saldaña in Saint Laurent | The "Emilia Pérez" star cut a striking figure in a deep burgundy bubble gown paired with sheer black opera gloves.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" />

See top red carpet looks that made Oscar best actress winners shine

After getting a few of his own jabs in at Damon, Kimmel earnestly thanked the audience for having his back amid the Kirk controversy andattacks from the Trump administration.

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"I especially want to thank you for your support over the last year," Kimmel said. "I heard from many of you personally. I heard from many of your clients over my brief vacation in September, and I will never forget it. I do want to thank you."

Kate Hudson jokingly apologizes for her 'wild years' ahead of Oscar night

Journalists and publicists alike received trophies at the 2026 luncheon, as did "The Pitt" leading man Noah Wyle, who was given the television showperson of the year award.

Kate Hudson, who is nominated for best actress at the Oscars this weekend, also got a trial run at the podium, where the "Song Sung Blue" star was feted as the motion picture showperson of the year.

Given the occasion, she took a moment to honor Brad Cafarelli, her longtime publicist since her breakthrough role in "Almost Famous" at age 19.

"He's seen me throughout every version of me in this industry," Hudson, 46, said. "My early years, my learning years, my wild years − and then the 'figuring it out' years. He probably experienced a few interviews that he would love a redo on."

She offered a lighthearted apology to all publicists on behalf of her fellow A-listers.

"I have a feeling that the people in this room are much more used to putting out fires than starting them," Hudson said with a grin. "A lot of us artists have very excited amygdalas. So I'd like to thank you for being our prefrontal cortex when we need it."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Jimmy Kimmel roasts Timothée Chalamet amid ballet, opera backlash

byVaclavien Pynzarien

in

March 14, 2026

Jimmy Kimmel wins President’s Award – ‘I thought he hated me!’

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. –Jimmy Kimmelis being venerated by the president. No, not that one. The unfiltered late-...

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What happened to “The Jeffersons ”cast? Here’s what became of the ‘70s sitcom stars

It's been over 50 years since the Jeffersons first moved into Colby East, but the iconic TV family continues to have a lasting influence on sitcoms today.

A spinoff ofNorman Lear'sAll in the Family,The Jeffersonsis about an affluent family — George (Sherman Hemsley), Louise (Isabel Sanford), and their son Lionel — who uproot their lives from Archie Bunker's neighborhood to a high-rise apartment in Manhattan.

The Jeffersonsaired on CBS from 1975 to 1985, scooping up two Emmy Awards and 14 nominations over its 11 seasons. As one of the first shows to depict an upper middle-class Black family, the groundbreaking series paved the way for future Black sitcoms and shed light on hot-button topics like interracial relationships, class differences, and mental health.

Read on to see what the cast went on to do afterThe Jeffersonswrapped.

Isabel Sanford (Louise "Weezy" Jefferson)

Isabel Sanfordplayed Weezy, George's wife and Lionel's mother.

Sanford first gained attention for playing the housekeeper Tillie in the Oscar-winningGuess Who's Coming to Dinner(1967), leading Lear to cast her inAll in the Family. Already a stage veteran, she also landed bit parts in acclaimed films likeLady Sings the Blues(1972) andThe New Centurions(1972).

She nabbed an Emmy in 1981 for her performance onThe Jeffersons, becoming the first Black woman in history to win the Lead Actress in a Comedy Series category.

The New York native subsequently headlined her own sitcom,Isabel Sanford's Honeymoon Hotel, but it was canceled after just five episodes. She later reprised Weezy (alongside Hemsley's George) on two episodes ofThe Fresh Prince of Bel-Air(1995–1996) and elsewhere guest starred onLiving Single(1993),Hangin' with Mr. Cooper(1994),The Steve Harvey Show(1996), andThe Parkers(2001).

The actress married William Richmond in 1945, and the couple had three children before eventually separating. She died in 2004 at 86 years old.

Sherman Hemsley (George Jefferson)

Sherman Hemsleystarred as hot-headed patriarch George, who was first introduced as Archie and Edith Bunker's neighbor onAll in the Family. In 1982, his performance won him an NAACP Image Award and he later scored Emmy and Golden Globe nominations.

Unlike his brash on-screen counterpart, Hemsley was known for being shy and private.

"That [playing George Jefferson] was hard for me," he said ina 2003 interview. "But he was the character. I had to do it."

OnceThe Jeffersonswrapped, the late actor continued to work his magic on sitcoms. He headlinedAmen(1986–1991) and became a ubiquitous '90s guest star — namelyDesigning Women(1993),Family Matters(1994–1995), Martin(1996), Sister, Sister(1995–1998) — before scoring another lead role onGoode Behavior(1996–1997).

The Philadelphia native reprised the role of George not only onFresh Princebut also an episode ofTyler Perry's House of Payne(2011), along with costar Marla Gibbs.

Hemsley died of complications from lung cancer in 2012. He was 74 years old. Shortly before his death, he was inducted into the Television Academy Hall of Fame.

Mike Evans (Lionel Jefferson; seasons 1, 6-8, 11)

Mike Evans was the OG Lionel, George and Louise's son.All in the Familywas his entry point into Hollywood, with Lionel being his first-ever role.

The actor initially leftThe Jeffersonsafter filming just one season of the series, and Damon Evans (no relation) subsequently took over the role of Lionel for the next three seasons. But, in classic sitcom fashion, he ended up returning for four later seasons.

Outside ofAll in the FamilyandThe Jeffersons, the North Carolina native is best known for co-creating another classic Black family sitcom,Good Times(1974–1979), a spinoff ofMaude. His other notable credits includeRich Man, Poor Man(1976) and the short-lived legal sitcomThe Practice(1976–1977).

Evans died of throat cancer in 2006 at 57 years old. He was survived by two daughters.

Damon Evans (Lionel Jefferson; seasons 2-4)

As the second actor to play Lionel, Damon Evans had to quickly learn the ropes when he took over the role in season 2.

Outside ofThe Jeffersons, he's known for starring as young Alex Haley onRoots: The Next Generations(1979). He's also had a bustling musical theater career, appearing in Broadway productions likeVia Galactica,Lost in the Stars, andThe Me Nobody Knows.

Roxie Roker (Helen Willis)

Roxie Roker made history with her role as Helen, Louise's best friend and George's nemesis. Roxie's marriage to Tom (Franklin Cover), a white man, marked one of the first interracial couples in television history.

The actress also had a successful stage career, winning an Obie Award and nabbing a Tony nomination in 1974 for her acclaimed lead performance inThe River Niger.Elsewhere on television, she had a role on the originalRoots(1977) in addition to later guest spots onFantasy Island(1982),Cagney & Lacey(1985),Punky Brewster(1988), andMurder, She Wrote(1991).

Like her on-screen counterpart, Roker was in an interracial marriage, having wed news producer Sy Kravitz in 1962. The couple had a son, rock starLenny Kravitz, before divorcing in 1985. She's also the grandmother to actressZoë Kravitz.

Roker died of breast cancer in 1995 at 66 years old.

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Franklin Cover (Thomas "Tom" Willis)

Franklin Cover shook up the neighborhood with his role as Tom, Helen's husband. They were one of the first interracial marriages portrayed on television.

Largely a TV bit player at the time, Cover was one of the husbands in the cult classicThe Stepford Wives(1975) shortly beforeThe Jeffersonsbegan. He continued to be a familiar face on television in the years afterward, appearing onWho's the Boss?(1991),In the Heat of the Night(1991),ER(1994), andWill & Grace(1999), among others.

The Cleveland native also had a small part in Oliver Stone'sWall Street(1987) and foundregular work on the Broadway stage.

Cover married Mary Bradford Stone in 1965, and they had two children together. He died of pneumonia in 2006 at 77 years old.

Zara Cully (Olivia "Mother" Jefferson)

Zara Cully starred as Mother Jefferson, the original monster-in-law with a slightly sweet side (at least, for anyoneexcepther daughter-in-law).

The late actress made her first appearance as Mother when she guest starred onAll in the Family, and eventually became a regular onThe Jeffersons.

Prior to taking on the Jefferson family name, Cully had booked a few prominent films, including William Wyler'sThe Liberation of L.B. Jones(1970) and the Blaxploitation faveSugar Hill(1974). She was also known as a respected acting coach.

The Massachusetts native married James M. Brown, Jr. in 1914, and the couple had four children together.

Cully died of lung cancer in 1978 at age 86, while season 4 ofThe Jeffersonswas already underway. The NAACP posthumously honored her with a special Image Award in recognition of her legacy.

Berlinda Tolbert (Jenny Willis-Jefferson)

Berlinda Tolbert played Jenny, the daughter of Helen and Tom who later marries Lionel.

"For someone who was just beginning a career at that time, what a learning environment for me to be in," the actresstoldJetmagazine in 2013. "It was that experience that really taught me what I know about television. From the producers to the writers to the crew to the actors — I worked with exciting, creative people. It colored my impressions of the industry in an extremely positive way."

She had a long succession of guest-starring roles on television both before and after her time onThe Jeffersons, fromSanford and Son(1974) to Hemsley's later sitcom,Amen(1987). She also popped up on the big screen as Richard Pryor's wife inHarlem Nights(1989) and as Samuel L. Jackson's girlfriend inGoodfellas(1990).

In later years she appeared onER(2004),Six Feet Under(2005), andCSI(2007).

Tolbert married journalist Bob Reid in 1979.

Paul Benedict (Harry Bentley)

Paul Benedict played Harry, the Jeffersons' British neighbor who works at the United Nations as a translator.

Outside ofThe Jeffersons, the New Mexico-born actor is fondly remembered for portraying The Number Painter onSesame Street. He had a steady career on the big screen as well, including supporting roles inJeremiah Johnson(1972) andThe Goodbye Girl(1977).

He took over as the title character's butler inArthur 2: On the Rocks(1988) in addition to other comedies likeThe Addams Family(1991) and Christopher Guest'sWaiting for Guffman(1996) andA Mighty Wind(2003).

But it was his performance as Harry Bentley that would largely define his career.

"I can't help it if people always think of me as Mr. Bentley onThe Jeffersons," he said in an interview withThe Hamilton Spectator. "It certainly proves the power of television and the force of appearing in a series that continues on the air for weeks and weeks. To be perfectly honest, I don't think I ever thought of it as my finest hour."

Benedict died of a brain hemorrhage in 2008 at 70 years old.

Marla Gibbs (Florence Johnston)

Last, but certainly not least, Hollywood iconMarla Gibbsstole audiences' hearts as fan-favorite Florence, the Jefferson family's maid. She scored five Emmy nominations for her performance.

"I didn't know what it was. It was calledThe Jeffersons, that's all I knew," she toldThe Hollywood Reporterabout her original audition. "The part they wanted me to read for, Florence the maid, reminded me of my grandmother and my aunt in Chicago. So that's how I played her. And the casting director liked it. She took me right over to the producers, and they liked it. By the time I got home, I had the job."

WhileThe Jeffersonswas still on the air, Gibbs starred on her own short-lived spinoff,Checking In(1981), but it didn't make it a full season. She later scored the lead role on NBC's227(1985–1990) and has remained a small-screen fixture, in roles big and small, ever since. That includes a recurring role as D.J. Hughley's mother onThe Hughleys(1998–2002), a handful ofGrey's Anatomy(2022–2024) episodes, and, most recently, a spot onChicago Med(2026).

The actress has won a whoppingeight NAACP Image Awardsduring her career. Her film career includes roles inThe Meteor Man(1993),The Brothers(2001), andMadea's Witness Protection(2012),

Gibbs has reprised herJeffersonscharacter multiple times, including joining costars Hemsley, Sanford, Roker, and Cover for atheatrical reunion tourin 1993. In 2019, she made asurprise appearanceon Lear and Jimmy Kimmel'sLive in Front of a Studio Audience: Norman Lear's All in the Family and The Jeffersons.

The Chicago native married her high school sweetheart, Jordan Gibbs, in 1955. The couple had three children together before divorcing in 1973.

Read the original article onEntertainment Weekly

byVaclavien Pynzarien

in

March 14, 2026

What happened to “The Jeffersons ”cast? Here’s what became of the ‘70s sitcom stars

It's been over 50 years since the Jeffersons first moved into Colby East, but the iconic TV family continues to have ...

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Steven Spielberg shades Timothée Chalamet's ballet and opera remarks at SXSW

Steven Spielbergis weighing in on theTimothée Chalametdiscourse.

TheE.T. the Extra-Terrestrialfilmmaker made a subtle jab at theCall Me By Your Nameactor during a broader conversation about the theatrical experience withThe Big Picture's Sean Fennessy atSXSWon Friday.

"Netflixis a great company to work with, but the real experience comes when we can influence a community to congregate in a strange, dark space," Spielberg said. "It happens in movies. It happens at concerts. And it happens in ballet and opera!"

TheLincolndirector's comments prompted cheers from the crowd, who undoubtedly recognized that last statement as a response to Chalamet's recent comments about the performing arts.

During a CNN/Varietytown hall conversation withMatthew McConaugheylast month, Chalamet discussed the possibility of theatrical filmgoing become a more niche form of entertainment that is constantly on the brink of collapse.

"I've done it myself — go on a talk show and go, 'Hey, we gotta keep movie theaters alive. You know, we gotta keep this genre alive,'" he said. "And another part of me feels like, if people wanna see it, likeBarbie, likeOppenheimer, they're gonna go see it and go out of their way to be loud and proud about it."

Chalamet continued, "And I don't wanna be working in ballet or opera, or, you know, things where it's like, 'Hey, keep this thing alive,' even though it's like, no one cares about this anymore."

Though theDunestar's comments seemed to primarily stem from concern about the mainstream appeal and financial longevity of moviegoing, skeptics saw Chalamet's remarks as a dig at the value and quality of the performing arts, prompting backlash from ballet and opera performers as well as appreciators of both disciplines.

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One such responder was legendary dancerMisty Copeland, who was part of theMarty Supremepromotional campaign that saw numerous celebrities wear specialty jackets with the film's title emblazoned on the front.

"First I have to say that it's very interesting that he invited me to be a part of promotingMarty Supremewith respect to my art form," Copelandsaid. "But I think that it's important that we acknowledge that, yes, this is an art form that's not 'popular' and a part of pop culture as movies are, but that doesn't mean it doesn't have enduring relevance in culture."

Others who have responded to Chalamet's comments include theMetropolitan Opera,Nathan Lane,Jeopardy,Bradley Whitford,Karla Sofia Gascón, andDoja Cat(who laterretracted her criticism).

Get your daily dose of entertainment news, celebrity updates, and what to watch with ourEW Dispatch newsletter.

Elsewhere in the SXSW conversation, Spielbergrevealed that his next directorial project will be a Western. "It's gonna have horses," he promised. "There will be guns."

However, Spielberg noted that his Western will be pointedly distinct from earlier examples of the genre."There'll be no tropes, I can just tell you that," he said. "There are gonna be no stereotypes, no tropes."

Reporting by Tiffany Kelly and Selena Schorken.

Read the original article onEntertainment Weekly

byVaclavien Pynzarien

in

March 14, 2026

Steven Spielberg shades Timothée Chalamet's ballet and opera remarks at SXSW

Steven Spielbergis weighing in on theTimothée Chalametdiscourse. TheE.T. the Extra-Terrestrialfilmmaker made a...

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DOJ drops case against veteran arrested after burning U.S. flag near White House

The Justice Department on Friday moved to dismiss charges against a veteran whoset an American flag on fireacross the street fromthe White Housefollowing an executive order seeking to crack down on flag burning.

U.S. Park Police arrested Jan "Jay" Carey in August after he set the flag ablaze in Lafayette Square on the same day President Donald Trump signed the order. He pleaded not guilty to two misdemeanors — igniting a fire in an undesignated area and lighting a fire causing damage to property or park resources — brought by the office of Jeanine Pirro, U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia.

Carey was not charged with flag burning.

Mara Verheyden-Hilliard, a lawyer for Carey, called Friday's filing by the Justice Department "long overdue."

"This is a very significant victory for not only the First Amendment rights of Mr. Carey but the rights of all Americans to stand up and speak out on issues that they care about without being targeted for punishment by the Justice Department," Verheyden-Hilliard told NBC News in a phone call.

Pirro did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The decision to drop the case follows a ruling by a federal judge in January that would have led to further inquiries into whether the prosecution of Carey was driven by Trump's executive order, which directs Attorney General Pam Bondi to "vigorously prosecute" people who burn the American flag while engaged in other offenses.

In 1989, the Supreme ruled in a 5-4 decision that the Constitution protects flag burning.

Chief Judge James Boasberg, in his January ruling, said that while the misdemeanor charges apply to Carey's flag burning, "he is entitled to proceed with a further inquiry into whether he is being prosecuted to punish him for his allegedly illegal actions or for his constitutionally protected speech."

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On the day he was arrested, Carey said in asocial media videoposted by The Bulwark that included the flag burning that he was protesting Trump's policies.

"This was a direct protest about an illegal order that President Trump tried to put in place. I did not do this just for myself, but for everyone who believes in the Constitution and the protections for all that it provides," Carey said in astatement releasedby his legal counsel after his arraignment.

Carey's lawyer told NBC News that the DOJ's filing comes ahead of a Monday deadline in the case.

"The timing is surely not accidental, that they are moving to dismiss the charges immediately in advance of their obligation to provide information into their internal decision-making to prosecute Mr. Carey, as well as directives related to an executive order that we believe is not constitutionally sound," said Verheyden-Hilliard, a co-founder of the Partnership for Civil Justice Fund, a Washington-based civil rights law firm.

Trump's executive order does not make burning the American flag a crime or assess a penalty for it, but instead argues that flag burning is "likely to incite imminent lawless action." It also gives the attorney general the opportunity to "pursue litigation to clarify the scope of the First Amendment exceptions in this area."

The dropped case marks another setback for Pirro, a Trump ally, during her tenure as U.S. attorney.

In November, a juryacquitted the so-called D.C. sandwich guywho was charged with hurling a sub at a federal agent. The acquittal came after a federal grand jury refused to indict him on the felony charge sought by Pirro's office.

Last month, a federal grand juryunanimously rejected an effort by prosecutorsto indict Democratic lawmakers over a video posted to social media urging members of the military not to comply with illegal orders.

And on Friday, subpoenas from Pirro's office targeting Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell were blocked by Boasberg, who said prosecutors "produced essentially zero evidence" to suspect Powell of a crime.

byVaclavien Pynzarien

in

March 14, 2026

DOJ drops case against veteran arrested after burning U.S. flag near White House

The Justice Department on Friday moved to dismiss charges against a veteran whoset an American flag on fireacross the str...

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Additional images recovered from cameras at Nancy Guthrie's home: Sources

The FBI has recovered additional imagery from cameras at the Arizona home of Nancy Guthrie, themissing motherof "Today" show host Savannah Guthrie, sources briefed on the investigation told ABC News.

The images were recovered in recent weeks from motion-activated cameras trained on the swimming pool, backyard and side yard, the sources said.

Investigators were unable to recover video footage, but thumbnail images captured when the cameras were triggered by motion.

The cameras recorded nothing suspicious, the sources said.

Nancy Guthrie latest: Person who left DNA on recovered glove has been cleared, sheriff says

Investigators were able to observe several people in the back and side yards over an unspecified period prior to the abduction. After Nancy Guthrie was taken, law enforcement officers are seen near the pool.

However, the cameras captured nothing on the night of the abduction, the sources said. Investigators have drawn no conclusions as to why, but one source described it as "odd."

The Pima County Sheriff's Department said Friday that it "continues to analyze various forms of evidence in the Nancy Guthrie case, including material from laboratories as well as images and videos captured by cameras."

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"At this time, we will not comment on the details or status of this analysis," the statement continued.

Nancy Guthrie was taken from her Tucson-area home nearly seven weeks ago, in the early hours of Feb. 1.

The FBI has previously released photos and videos of an unknown armed suspect in front of Nancy Guthrie's home on the morning of her disappearance, appearing to tamper with a security camera.

The masked man appears to have been at her front door earlier than Feb. 1, sources familiar with the investigationtold ABC News.

Nancy Guthrie abduction: The full timeline

The Pima County sheriff has repeated this week that he believes Guthrie was targeted, but investigators have released no motive and have identified no suspect.

Savannah Guthrie has offered a $1 million reward, bringing the combined reward between the family and law enforcement to $1.2 million.

Anyone with information is urged to call 911, the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI, or the Pima County Sheriff's Department at 520-351-4900.

byVaclavien Pynzarien

in

March 14, 2026

Additional images recovered from cameras at Nancy Guthrie's home: Sources

The FBI has recovered additional imagery from cameras at the Arizona home of Nancy Guthrie, themissing motherof "Tod...

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