Here's everything that's been happening in the world of Pop Culture this past week... in case you missed it! Feel free to comment on any of the stories and info shared here, add any news bits that you caught going on that may have been missed, or at least show us some love if you read the post but have nothing to comment on by clicking on that little heart icon at the bottom of the post... 

- NAMES, HASHTAGS, MEMES, AND TRENDS FROM THIS PAST WEEK –

SYDNEY SWEENEY nude sports betting ad backlash; A.I. doomsday fears; MACKLEMORE pro-Palestine comments/ ED SHEERAN backlash; LADY GAGA baby news

THIS PAST WEEK IN SPORTS -

- WTA: Tennis player ELENA RYBAKINA of Kazakhstan defeated Belarussian tennis player ARYNA SABALENKA in three sets to win the US Open Women’s Singles title. It was the third Grand Slam title for Rybakina and her second this year. The win also secured Rybakina the No. 1 ranking, replacing Sabalenka, who had a 19-match win streak at the US Open dating back to 2023 prior to this Final match.

- ATP: German tennis player ALEXANDER ZVEREV bested American tennis player BEN SHELTON in four sets to win the US Open Men’s Singles title. Zverev is the first German man to win a Grand Slam title in 30 years (the last being BORIS BECKER’s Australian Open win in 1996) and he is just the fourth man in history to win his first two Grand Slam trophies in the same year (Zverev also won the French Open this year) and the victory marked his 25^th match win at a Slam in 2026, making him just the seventh man to win that many major matches in a calendar year. Shelton was the first Black American man to reach the US Open Final since ARTHUR ASHE won in 1972.

AWARDS UPDATE -

- The 78^th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards: “Widow’s Bay” was the big winner at this year’s Primetime Emmy Awards, earning a total of 14 wins (including wins from the previous week’s Creative Arts Emmys) – a new record number for a comedy (breaking the prior record of 13 set just last year by “The Studio”) - including Best Comedy Series, writing, directing, and three of the comedy acting categories. “The Pitt” repeated as the winner of Best Drama Series, as did its Lead Actor NOAH WYLE, while “DTF St. Louis” made a strong showing in the limited series categories including wins for Best Limited Series, and both supporting acting awards (for DAVID HARBOUR and LINDA CARDELLINI). Actors MATTHEW RHYS, JEAN SMART, and ALLISON JANNEY made Emmy history this week: Rhys became the first performer in history to win a lead acting Emmy in all three acting genres and the first man to win two lead-acting trophies in a single night after taking home Best Lead Actor in a Comedy Series for “Widow’s Bay” and Best Lead Actor in a Limited Series for “The Beast In Me” (Rhys previously won Best Actor in a Drama Series in 2018 for “The Americans”); Smart earned her fifth straight Emmy for Lead Actress in a Comedy Series for “Hacks”, becoming the first actress to win an Emmy for every season of a series; and Janney won Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series for “The Diplomat”, her eighth career Emmy win, tying the all-time record for the most Emmys won by a performer. Other big winners include “The Traitors”, “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert”, and “Remarkably Bright Creatures”. For the complete list of Primetime Emmy Award winners, check out the following link: https://www.tvline.com/2258301/emmys-2026-winners-list/

GOVERNMENT 101 -

- US: A federal judge stated that the Kennedy Center must give the court 30 days’ notice before proceeding on any demolition of the complex after US President DONALD TRUMP told reporters, “For me to get involved, and to take on long term, and to carry it, I think the Trump administration should certainly have recognition. Because frankly, if we don’t do that, it’s going to close. It will end up being ripped down.” Earlier in the week Trump posted on social media that the renovation will not take place unless federal courts lift a judge’s order that has prohibited his name from being inscribed on the façade of the complex. The center’s main building was closed this week; the center’s executive director and COO claims the closure was due to “acute risks to public safety resulting from continued structural deterioration at the center,” and claimed the closure would last for at least a week to assess safety risks.

MOVIE NEWS:

- Sony Pictures’ “Spider-Man: Brand New Day” has surpassed “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” to become the highest-grossing movie ever at the US domestic box office, earning more than $936.7 million as of earlier this week.

- MOVIE CASTING UPDATE -
- Actor JOHN LEGUIZAMO has joined the cast of Universal’s “Miami Vice ‘85”, JOSEPH KOSINSKI’s film revival of the ‘80s tv series set to star MICHAEL B. JORDAN and AUSTIN BUTLER. Leguizamo will be playing the villain in the remake.

TV NEWS:

- The Country Music Association will honor late country icon DOLLY PARTON, who died earlier this month, with a live tribute special said to be a “joyful, emotional celebration of the artist, songwriter, entertainer, humanitarian, and entrepreneur… told through performances, archival footage, and personal stories”. “CMA Presents I Will Always Love You: A Celebration of Dolly Parton”, a two-hour special, will air October 21^st at 9pm ET/PT on ABC and Disney+ (it will also be available the next day on Hulu). Performers for the special will be announced at a later date.

- Former “Bachelor” host CHRIS HARRISON will return to the reality competition dating format with the new Fox Nation series “Chris Harrison’s The Vow”. The series, which Harrison will host, will see 30-year old bachelor JACE CATES embark on a “relationship journey with ten women, each seeking lasting commitment and marriage.” “Chris Harrison’s The Vow” will debut on Fox Nation on November 11^th with its first two episodes; new episodes will air weekly after that.

- CBS announced it will air “The JLo Show: Live in Las Vegas”, a two-hour film chronicling singer/actress JENNIFER LOPEZ’s 2025 Las Vegas residency, on November 26^th at 8pm ET/PT. The special will also be available via Paramount+, which will also offer an extended version.  

 TV CASTING UPDATE –

- SAIDAH BELO-OSAGIE and GRACE REITER have been added to the season 52 cast of NBC sketch comedy series “Saturday Night Live” as featured players.

- TV RENEWALS* AND PICKUPS/EXTENSIONS** -

* “Slow Horses”, Apple TV, renewed for season 8

* “The Traitors”, Peacock, renewed for three more seasons (through season 8)

- TV CANCELLATIONS* AND TRIMMED/NOT-EXTENDED SEASONS** -

* “M.I.A.”, Peacock, cancelled after one season

MUSIC NEWS:

- Pop icon MADONNA is set to make her return to the MTV Video Music Awards stage for the first time in 23 years, she is scheduled to open the ceremony. The last time the singer performed at the show was in 2003 – the year of her iconic show-opening collaboration with BRITNEY SPEARS and CHRISTINA AGUILERA. Madonna is nominated for 11 VMAs this year, the most of any performer.

- LAST WEEK’S NEW #1 SINGLES AROUND THE WORLD –

Argentina: “Bby WOW” by KAROL G with JUDELINE & RUSOWSKY

Ireland: “The Swell” by AMBLE

Italy: “La Testa Gira” by FRED DE PALMA, ANITTA, & EMIS KILLA

Japan: “Yes! Tokyo” by EBIDAN

Singapore: “Ain’t In LA” by ADELA

UK: “Great Expectation” by SIENNA SPIRO

- LAST WEEK’S NEW #1 ALBUMS AROUND THE WORLD –

Australia: “Karaoke Bar” by ANGUS & JULIA STONE

Ireland: “You Seem Pretty Sad for a Girl so in Love” by OLIVIA RODRIGO

UK: “Act III” by KASABIAN

US: “Dandelion” by ELLA LANGLEY