DEBBIE ALLEN

Kim Raver is the latest cast member in that spotlight, playing both the new hospital chief in front of the camera and a first-time director behind it. Raver, who portrays surgeon Teddy Altman, has directed “Training Day,” an episode airing Thursday with a storyline that discusses reproductive rights. “That’s really important in storytelling and that we have that, that we have that freedom to approach different uncomfortable storylines where we’re all bound to, you know, disagree," Raver said. “There’s this thing that we say on ‘Grey’s’ in terms of in medicine, ‘see one, do one’ and that’s what doctors do, right? Raver laughs off the suggestion of taking over Meredith’s iconic voiceovers or rebranding the show as “Altman’s Anatomy,” calling it an ensemble series — although she is enjoying being in charge.

“Grey’s Anatomy” has long championed women’s rights and female leadership on and offscreen.

Oscar, Golden Globe and two-time Grammy winning singer-actress Irene Cara, who starred in and sang the title cut from the 1980 hit movie “Fame” and then belted out the era-defining hit “Flashdance.

Tyler Perry has directed his first screenplay, 27 years after writing it.

Tributes to Sidney Poitier poured in from Hollywood and elsewhere following the death of the groundbreaking actor and cultural icon.

2021 Primetime Emmy Awards - Winners Walk Brendan Hunt, left, and Jason Sudeikis pose with their awards for outstanding comedy series and outstanding lead actor in a comedy series for "Ted Lasso" at the 73rd Primetime Emmy Awards on Sunday, Sept. 19, 2021, at L.A. Live in Los Angeles. The crowd, in a tent in downtown Los Angeles, was much smaller than in normal years. Cedric the Entertainer proved an infectiously joyful and hard-working host, but the comedy bits were spotty at best. Then Jason Sudeikis, the titular coach, made it a happy trio, winning best actor. He told castmates and crew: “I’m only as good as you guys make me look.” The Apple TV+ show capped off the night by winning best comedy.

It definitely wasn’t the Pandemmys, or the Zoomemmys, or whatever you want to call last year’s virtual Emmy ceremony.

"Most of the people behind me really deserve this Emmy right now," Colbert said in his acceptance speech as O'Brien stood behind him.

Kennedy Center Honors FILE - In this Oct. 14, 2005 file photo, Violinist Midori performs with New York Philharmonic conducted by Marin Alsop at Lincoln Center in New York. This year’s Kennedy Center Honors will be a slimmed-down affair as the nation emerges from the coronavirus pandemic. (AP Photo/Osamu Honda) (OSAMU HONDA)NEW YORK — (AP) — The New York Philharmonic will resume subscription performances in September following a historic 18-month gap caused by the coronavirus pandemic, presenting a shortened schedule of 78 concerts in a season shifted from Lincoln Center’s David Geffen Hall while the orchestra’s home is remodeled. Geffen Hall, the Philharmonic’s home since 1962, is undergoing a $550 million renovation whose timetable was moved up during the pandemic. In its last full season, the Philharmonic presented 104 subscription concerts and 15 non-subscription concerts.

Kennedy Center Honors FILE - In this Oct. 14, 2005 file photo, Violinist Midori performs with New York Philharmonic conducted by Marin Alsop at Lincoln Center in New York. This year’s Kennedy Center Honors will be a slimmed-down affair as the nation emerges from the coronavirus pandemic. Geffen Hall, the Philharmonic’s home since 1962, is undergoing a $550 million renovation whose timetable was moved up during the pandemic. The pandemic led to the cancellation of the final 27 subscription concerts of the 2019-20 season plus six non-subscription concerts, all 103 subscription concerts of the 2020-21 season plus 16 non-subscription concerts, and the loss of additional events such as concerts for young people, late night shows plus tours. In its last full season, the Philharmonic presented 104 subscription concerts and 15 non-subscription concerts.

The New York Philharmonic will resume subscription performances in September following a historic 18-month gap caused by the coronavirus pandemic, presenting a shortened schedule of 78 concerts in a season shifted from Lincoln Center’s David Geffen Hall while the orchestra’s home is remodeled.

Howard University announced that it will name its newly re-established College of Fine Arts after famed alum Chadwick Boseman.

Kennedy Center Honors Actor Dick Van Dyke, and choreographer, and actress Debbie Allen laugh during a press event at the 43nd Annual Kennedy Center Honors at The Kennedy Center on Friday, May 21, 2021, in Washington. They were honored Friday night at a medallion ceremony that had been delayed from December 2020. Singer Gloria Estefan hosted the ceremony and cellist Yo Yo Ma performed; both are previous Kennedy Center Honors recipients. Midori said it made her happy, “coming out of these very dark times, to be able to see the arts coming back.”Allen is a veteran of tribute programs for previous Kennedy Center Honors recipients. The 44th Kennedy Center Honors program should take place, back on its usual schedule, in December.

This year’s Kennedy Center Honors may be a slimmed-down affair as the nation emerges from the coronavirus pandemic — but honoree Dick Van Dyke still says it’s “the capper on my career.”.

WASHINGTON — (AP) — This year’s Kennedy Center Honors will be a slimmed-down affair as the nation emerges from the coronavirus pandemic. Instead of the usual packed several-hour black-tie event, followed by dinner, Friday's festivities will run just 90 minutes with a limited audience. Kennedy Center President Deborah Rutter, speaking to The Associated Press in January when the plan was announced, said her staff had planned a host of mini-events and tributes that used the entire Kennedy Center campus. The performing arts center is planning a full-scale reopening in September with events slowly ramping up until then. The 44th Kennedy Center Honors program should take place, back on its usual schedule, in December.

Biden President Joe Biden speaks before signing the COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act, in the East Room of the White House, Thursday, May 20, 2021, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) (Evan Vucci)WASHINGTON — (AP) — President Joe Biden spent Thursday morning in a star-studded meeting with this year’s Kennedy Center honorees. They were joined by the honorees’ guests, the chairman of the board of trustees and the president of the Kennedy Center, and Biden’s sister, Valerie Biden Owens. He dropped the traditional White House invitation for honorees and skipped the ceremony after a number of the 2017 honorees said they would boycott the White House reception in protest against Trump’s policies. Now, planners are filming various events across the Kennedy Center campus this week, some with socially-distanced audiences and many without.

President Joe Biden spent Thursday morning in a star-studded meeting with this year’s Kennedy Center honorees.

Famed actor Phylicia Rashad is returning to her alma mater as the new dean of the Howard University College of Fine Arts.

Mary-Louise Parker attends the Broadway opening of "After Midnight" on Nov. 3, 2013 in New York, left, and Meryl Streep arrives at the premiere of the film 'The Laundromat' at the 76th edition of the Venice Film Festival, Venice, Italy, on Sept. 1, 2019. Parker and Streep have signed on to perform in a new virtual play series this spring while Broadway is closed. (AP Photo)NEW YORK – Meryl Streep, Mary-Louise Parker, Audra McDonald, Kevin Klein, Carla Gugino and Keanu Reeves have signed on to perform in a new virtual play series this spring while Broadway is closed. The series kicks off Thursday with “The Thanksgiving Play” by Larissa FastHorse, directed by Leigh Silverman starring Reeves, Bobby Cannavale, Heidi Schreck and Alia Shawkat. The next show — on April 8 — will feature “Angry, Raucous and Shamelessly Gorgeous” by Pearl Cleage directed by Camille A.

(Photo by Brent N. Clarke/Invision/AP)WASHINGTON – Five months after they were postponed because of the coronavirus, the annual Kennedy Center Honors are coming back in May, possibly in a series of small events, organizers announced Wednesday. The centerpiece event for Washington’s Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts normally happens in December, but it was postponed last year amid the pandemic. But even with COVID-19 vaccines gradually rolling out across the country, Kennedy Center President Deborah Rutter knew the usual concert would not be possible in May. “It's normally such a festive event, and I'm sure that will come across.”Brooks is no stranger to the Kennedy Center Honors process. Trump and first lady Melania Trump generally stayed away from Kennedy Center events, but Rutter hopes to get President-elect Joe Biden involved this year.

Host Alicia Keys speaks at the 62nd annual Grammy Awards on Sunday, Jan. 26, 2020, in Los Angeles. “We are standing her literally heartbroken in the house that Kobe Bryant built.”Bryant, his 13-year-old daughter Gianna, and seven others were killed in the crash on a steep hillside in dense morning fog in Southern California. Music artists including Billy Ray Cyrus, Rick Ross and Kirk Franklin paid tribute to Bryant, the 18-time NBA All-Star and five-time champion. Long live Kobe Bryant. “If you’re from Los Angeles, depending on which sector you’re in, that (expletive) is really heavy," the rapper continued.

KensingtonPalace/Matt Porteous/Twitter via CNN(CNN) - Lara Spencer formerly apologized Monday on "Good Morning America" for her recent comment mocking Prince George's interest in ballet. Controversy arose last week after "GMA" aired a segment that mentioned that the future king of England's favorite activities include ballet lessons. "We'll see how long that lasts," Spencer deadpanned about the 6-year-old's interest before chuckling. Viewer response was swift, with even dance legend Debbie Allen offering a video rebuttal on social media that was posted with the hashtag #boysdancetoo. Wall had earlier shared on social media that Spencer wanted to make amends for her comment.

NEW YORK (CNN) - "Good Morning America" co-anchor Lara Spencer has apologized after she was accused of making a sexist and stereotypical comment about one of Prince George's favorite pastimes. The controversy arose on Friday after the ABC morning news show aired a segment that mentioned that the future king of England's favorite activities include ballet lessons. Spencer later posted a mea culpa on her Instagram page. "My sincere apologies for an insensitive comment I made in pop news yesterday," she wrote in conjunction with a picture of an open field and outdoor skyline. "From ballet to anything one wants to explore in life, I say GO FOR IT.