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Toronto Sun
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Toronto Sun
Alf Clausen, Emmy-winning composer for 'The Simpsons,' dies at 84
Published Jun 02, 2025 • 2 minute read Animated character Homer Simpson is projected on screen at the 71st Primetime Emmy Awards, Sept. 22, 2019, at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles. Photo by Chris Pizzello / Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP Reviews and recommendations are unbiased and products are independently selected. Postmedia may earn an affiliate commission from purchases made through links on this page. LOS ANGELES — Alf Clausen, the Emmy-winning composer whose music provided essential accompaniment for the animated antics of 'The Simpsons' for 27 years, has died. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account His daughter Kaarin Clausen told The Associated Press that Alf Clausen died Thursday at his home in Los Angeles after struggling with Parkinson's Disease for about a decade. He was 84. Clausen, who also scored TV series including 'Moonlighting' and 'Alf' ('no relation,' he used to joke) was nominated for 30 Emmy Awards, 21 of them for 'The Simpsons,' winning twice. Al Jean, an early 'Simpsons' writer who was one of the key creative figures on the show in the 1990s, said in a post on X Friday that 'Clausen was an incredibly talented man who did so much for The Simpsons.' While Danny Elfman wrote the show's theme song, Clausen joined the Fox animated series created by Matt Groening in 1990 and provided essentially all of its music until 2017, composing nearly 600 scores and conducting the 35-piece orchestra that played it in the studio. Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. His colleagues said his music was a key component of the show's comedy, but Clausen believed the best way to back up the gags of Homer, Marge Bart and Lisa was by making the music as straight as possible. 'This is a dream job for a composer,' Clausen told Variety, which first reported his death, in 1998. 'Matt Groening said to me very early on, 'We're not a cartoon. We're a drama where the characters are drawn. I want you to score it like a drama.' I score the emotions of the characters as opposed to specific action hits on the screen.' Groening, in a 1996 interview, called him 'one of the unacknowledged treasures of the show.' Clausen was born in Minneapolis and raised in Jamestown, North Dakota. He graduated from the Berklee College of Music in 1966, and moved to Los Angeles seeking a career in music. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. In the 1970s he was a musical director on several TV variety shows including 'Donny & Marie.' Clausen worked as an orchestrator for composer Lee Holdridge in his scores for 1980s films including 'Splash' and 'The Beastmaster.' It was Holdridge who first got the composing job on 'Moonlighting,' the late-80s ABC rom-com detective series starring Bruce Willis and Cybil Shepherd, but he handed the gig off to Clausen, who would get six Emmy nominations for his music on it. Clausen won his Emmys for 'The Simpsons' in 1997 and 1998 and also won five Annie Awards, which honor work in animation in film and television. He was fired from 'The Simpsons' in a cost-cutting move in 2017, to the outrage of his collaborators and fans. He sued over his dismissal. Clausen is survived by his wife Sally, children Kaarin, Scott and Kyle, stepchildren Josh and Emily, and 11 grandchildren. Olympics Toronto Maple Leafs News Sunshine Girls Celebrity
CTV News
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- CTV News
Noah Kahan to headline first ‘Rock the Runway' show in London
Noah Kahan performs "Stick Season" during the 59th annual Academy of Country Music Awards on Thursday, May 16, 2024, at the Ford Center in Frisco, Texas. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello) (Chris Pizzello/Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP)
Newsweek
12-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Newsweek
Right Symptoms, Wrong Diagnosis
Advocates for ideas and draws conclusions based on the interpretation of facts and data. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. When President Donald Trump warned the U.S. film industry was "DYING a very fast death" and that he wanted to make Hollywood great again, the doctor may have been noticing some very real symptoms in the patient. But his prescription—to levy 100 percent sanctions on "foreign made" films (whatever that actually would mean in practice)—is merely a slogan and not a fix to actual problems, some of which are facing us right now and some of which are looming. Hollywood is a national treasure. American films—not only films made here but also films about this country—are a huge "soft power" asset, creating dreams and luring investment and visitors. But not all is well in Tinseltown. Consumer behavior is shifting. People watch films on streaming in their living room and less in the theater. Foreign markets that used to be hungry for anything made in the U.S.A. now demand local films with local stars and with a distinct local flavor. And as new generations supplant the old, new habits become more powerful. Will the TikTok generation have the interest or patience for a long film, or will their "likes" be forever impacted by their life experience of short videos on the phone? A view from behind the Hollywood sign on September 29, 2022, in Los Angeles. A view from behind the Hollywood sign on September 29, 2022, in Los Angeles. AP Photo/Chris Pizzello, File Technology is creating revolutionary changes: Artificial Intelligence transforms the way we write and create. Computer-generated graphics vary and subvert the whole idea of sets and shooting and create a whole new way of storytelling. And, yes, foreign competitors and overseas locations are challenging American norms and tempting American producers. From new ideas to innovative tax incentives, the Hollywood way is no longer the only way. Slapping on tariffs is not the right medicine, however. First, it is unclear if the president even has the authority to levy tariffs on films. And even if he does, what exactly would it mean? Doubling ticket prices? Increasing production costs if a film has some foreign content? And how, exactly, would that be defined? Would it apply only to films made by the big studios for theater use, or would it apply to streaming platforms like Netflix and Amazon, which increasingly produce original content? Worryingly, a tit-for-tat tariff war over films could hobble American content creators in overseas markets, just the places where they need to grow. Instead of the stick of tariffs, America needs the carrot of investment and incentives. We need investment in technology to ensure that our innovation in the creative industries is ahead of that happening elsewhere. And since, yes, other countries are using tax incentives to help their film industry and to lure U.S. producers, we need to play that game too and play it better. The film industry focuses on the costs of production. Tax breaks could help that. Tariffs wouldn't solve the problem. Making a film in the U.S., which lacks federal tax incentives of the sort found in the U.K., Europe or Australia, can be 30 percent to 40 percent more expensive than doing it there. Add to that the cost of U.S. crews, which are pricier than their international counterparts, and even slapping on tariffs might not make the difference to keep production at home. Exchange rates mean a production house's dollars go a lot further in Canada or Australia. Tariffs won't fix that problem either. And remember, film production is a very risky business. There's no guarantee a film will make money (in fact sometimes it even seems the guarantee goes the other way). A lot of television is being co-produced with production companies in multiple countries to spread the risk. A tariff situation could kill those deals. Who would take or share the risk? Instead, Congress should pass a law with federal incentives for film studios. This would be a positive act, far less disruptive and destructive than tariffs. Not only is the film industry vital for America's "soft power" influence in the world, but it is a huge driver of local economies. It creates jobs, injects revenue, and can even boost tourism. Productions can also lead to infrastructure development and increased tax revenue for state and local governments. Film and television productions require a wide range of personnel, from actors and directors to technicians, catering staff and transportation services. This creates jobs and provides wages to residents, directly pouring money into the local economy. Film crews need accommodations, food, transportation and other services, boosting revenue for local businesses like hotels, restaurants and car rentals. In some recent examples, Marvel's Black Panther involved more than 3,100 local workers and generated more than $26.5 million in wages in Georgia. In California, 20th Century Fox's This Is Us contributed more than $61.5 million to the state's economy. And in New York, films like The Post and The Greatest Showman collectively contributed more than $108 million to the local economy. So President Trump is absolutely right that the industry should be—needs to be—helped. But let's make Hollywood great the right way, with investment and incentives. Not with tariffs, which could choke off the very growth we need. Bryan Sullivan is an attorney who has represented high-profile clients in entertainment, intellectual property and corporate investments.
Toronto Sun
07-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Toronto Sun
The 2025 Academy of Country Music Awards are Thursday. Here's who's performing and presenting
Published May 07, 2025 • 3 minute read Host Reba McEntire speaks during the 59th annual Academy of Country Music Awards on Thursday, May 16, 2024, at the Ford Center in Frisco, Texas. Photo by Chris Pizzello / AP Photo Reviews and recommendations are unbiased and products are independently selected. Postmedia may earn an affiliate commission from purchases made through links on this page. NEW YORK — Excuse me, you look like you might want to see the next generation of country music acts clean up at the 2025 Academy of Country Music Awards. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account Fans of the genre have long committed Ella Langley and Riley Green's throwback duet, 'You Look Like You Love Me' to memory, and soon, they'll get to celebrate them and many others at the awards show. New stars like Langley as well as veteran acts like Cody Johnson, Morgan Wallen, Lainey Wilson, Chris Stapleton and many more will be celebrated. And because the 60th annual ACM Awards are almost here, it is time to get your viewing plans in order. The awards ceremony will take place Thursday at the Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas, just north of Dallas. Reba McEntire, a 16-time ACM Award winner, will once again host. But where is it streaming, who is nominated, what's noteworthy this year and who will perform? Read on for those answers and more. How to watch the ACM Awards The ACM Awards will stream on Prime Video and the Amazon Music channel on Twitch Live at 8 p.m. EDT, 7 p.m. CT and 5 p.m. PT. No Prime membership is required to view the livestream. Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. First-time nominee Langley leads the ACM Awards this year with eight nominations. And ahead of the award show, she's already taken home one: In April, it was announced that Langley won the title of female new artist; the male award went to Zach Top. Johnson, Wilson and Wallen closely follow Langley's nominations with seven each. Stapleton has six nominations; Riley Green and Post Malone are tied with five. Johnson, Wilson, Wallen and Stapleton are up for the night's top category, entertainer of the year. Kelsea Ballerini, Luke Combs and Jelly Roll are also nominated for the award. In the album of the year category, Top's 'Cold Beer & Country Music' and Megan Moroney's 'Am I Okay? (I'll Be Fine)' faces off against Wilson's 'Whirlwind,' Jelly Roll's 'Beautifully Broken,' and Post Malone's 'F-1 Trillion.' And in the single of the year category, Shaboozey's 'A Bar Song (Tipsy)' competes with Johnson's 'Dirt Cheap,' Malone and Wallen's 'I Had Some Help,' Stapleton's 'White Horse' and Langley and Green's 'You Look Like You Love Me.' This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Six of Langley's nominations stem from her smash hit 'You Look Like You Love Me' with Green. It's up for single of the year, song of the year as both an artist and songwriter, music event of the year and visual media of the year as an artist and director. Controversially, there are no nods for Beyonce's landmark 'Cowboy Carter,' which won the Grammy for both album of the year and country album of the year in February. Miranda Lambert's 'Postcards from Texas' was also not nominated. Keith Urban will be awarded the coveted ACM Triple Crown Award, marking the first time an artist has received the trophy on stage since Carrie Underwood was honoured in 2010. The ACM Triple Crown Award is given to musicians who've previously taken home three distinct titles at the ACM Awards: new artist, artist and entertainer of the year. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Wilson, who took home the entertainer of the year prize in 2024, will perform. Other performers will include Langley, Top, Stapleton, Ballerini, Lambert, Moroney, Blake Shelton and Alan Jackson. There will be a few star-studded duets as well. Backstreet Boys and Rascal Flatts will take the stage together, as will Jelly Roll and Shaboozey. Brooks & Dunn will perform with Cody Johnson. And perhaps most exciting of all: the 2025 ACM Awards will open with a 14-minute 'Songs of the Decades' performance highlight 60 years of country music and featuring McEntire, Clint Black, Dan + Shay, Wynonna Judd, LeAnn Rimes, Sugarland and more. Who's presenting A who's who of country music is presenting at Thursday's show: Shelton, Judd, Green, Black, Carly Pearce, Crystal Gayle, ERNEST, Gabby Barrett, Gretchen Wilson, Jordan Davis, Lee Ann Womack, Lionel Richie, Little Big Town, Martina McBride, Parker McCollum, Rita Wilson, Sara Evans, Sugarland and The Oak Ridge Boys. Also joining will be NASCAR driver Chase Elliott. 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Time of India
02-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Did Shannon Sharpe's $100 million contract lead to his $50 million lawsuit? Here's everything to know
Shannon Sharpe has been sued for $50 million. (Image via Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP) Shannon Sharpe, the NFL legend, is facing an expensive lawsuit as he was sued for a whopping $50 million. Shannon Sharpe's sexual assault scandal has completely confused his fans as he has been accused of sexually assaulting a young woman multiple times, while the NFL legend claims it was a 'consensual' relationship. But there are also speculations that the young woman accused Shannon Sharpe of sexual assault only when he was about to sign a $100 million contract. Here is everything about the $100 million contract that has divided fans. Everything about Shannon Sharpe's $100 million deal that many believe is the reason behind his sexual assault scandal — LegionHoops (@LegionHoops) Shannon Sharpe has a successful career in hosting and has different sources of income, including his own popular YouTube show, Club Shay Shay and the Nightcap podcast. Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Regain confidence with WAYT-less®. This Rapid Dissolve Tablet could support your weight loss. Nu Image Medical Shop Now Undo According to Front Office Sports, before the sexual assault scandal, Shannon Sharpe was ready to sign a media deal with Colin Cowherd's The Volume podcast. Apparently, sources have revealed that Shannon Sharpe has had multiple offers and the contract was set to be worth more than $100 million. For the unversed Shannon Sharpe had previously signed a deal with The Volume back in August 2023. Since then, Club Shay Shay and Nightcap has really attracted a lot of engagement. With the deal expiring soon, the NFL legend was all set to sign a expensive deal that would have included all the shows on the Shay Shay network. As per The US Sun, the deal might have already fallen apart but there are no confirmations on it yet. Fans are convinced that Shannon Sharpe has been sued because of the news about his $100 million deal But fans are convinced that Shannon Sharpe's $100 million deal was the reason he was sued for $50 million. A fan took to X and posted, 'I'm not a fan of Shannon sharp, but this comes out right after it's talked about him signing a $100 million contract?', while another fan wrote, 'Look at black men, laughing and hoping Shannon Sharpe miss out that 100 Million deal…Sh*t Disgusting….' A third fan wrote, 'Reports come out that Shannon sharpe is about to sign a 100m media deal and all of a sudden allegations start coming out of nowhere . Women should have to face the same consequences as the man if they are caught lying.' Another user posted, 'Super ironic a week after Shannon Sharpe gets a 100 million podcast deal he then gets a new lawsuit for 50 million. From the same money hungry lawyer that targets rich celebrities.' For now, Shannon Sharpe claims innocence and as per his lawyer, had even offered the young woman a whopping $10 million before she decided to sue him. Also Read: "I believe him": Stephen A. Smith defends Shannon Sharpe days after making controversial comments on the scandal
