CLEVELAND (AP) — LeBron James is bringing a little Hollywood to his Ohio hometown.
The NBA superstar is hosting a private screening of “Trainwreck,” a new comedy in which he plays himself in a supporting role as the best friend of star Bill Hader.
James is showing the movie to family and friends in Akron on Friday, a few days before its premiere in New York. The R-rated film will be released nationally on July 17.
This is the first major acting role for James, who guided the Cavaliers to the NBA Finals this season. The four-time league MVP is currently a free agent but is expected to re-sign with the Cavs this month.
Hader, actress Amy Schumer and director Judd Apatow are expected to attend the invitation-only screening. James previously worked with Hader when he hosted “Saturday Night Live.”
Harry Shearer back at ‘The Simpsons’ after contract dispute
NEW YORK (AP) — Harry Shearer and his many voices are returning to “The Simpsons” after a contentious and public contract dispute.
Dueling tweets in May between Shearer and “Simpsons” executive producer Al Jean suggested Shearer might be leaving the Fox cartoon series, where he has voiced numerous key characters since it debuted in 1989.
But Fox announced Tuesday that he will be alongside fellow cast members Dan Castellaneta, Julie Kavner, Nancy Cartwright, Yeardley Smith and Hank Azaria for the series’ 27th and 28th seasons.
Shearer voices characters including Simpsons neighbor Ned Flanders, billionaire Mr. Burns and his kowtowing aide, Smithers.
The multitasking Shearer, 71, has charted a diverse career on numerous projects as an actor, writer, musician and producer, both before and since becoming part of the “Simpsons” troupe.
New Sarah Palin book coming in November
NEW YORK (AP) — Sarah Palin has a new book coming out, with a new publisher.
Regnery Publishing, a conservative press based in Washington, D.C., announced Tuesday that it is planning a November release for Palin’s “Sweet Freedom: A Devotional.” The book, Palin’s fourth, will feature 260 “meditations” that apply “biblical principles” to contemporary issues.
The former Alaska governor and GOP vice presidential candidate published her other books, notably the million-selling “Going Rogue,” through HarperCollins. Her most recent work, “Good Tidings and Great Joy: Protecting the Heart of Christmas,” came out in 2013.
Broadway’s Idina Menzel readies US tour like a pop star
NEW YORK (AP) — Idina Menzel, who has crossed over from the Broadway stage to the Billboard charts, is still surprised that she’s able to sell concert tickets like a proper pop star.
“It’s hard to cross over like that and that’s what this whole last year has been about for me,” Menzel said in a recent interview. “So I’m trying to take it in and be proud of that.”
Menzel, 44, will kick off a North American tour Tuesday in Richmond, Virginia. She’ll play nearly 40 shows, including stops in Philadelphia, Houston, Atlanta, Chicago and Washington, D.C. The tour will wrap up Oct. 3 at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles.
“It’s amazing to go into new territories and have people buy tickets to your show that you never knew in a million years would know your name,” Menzel said, smiling.
The tour will feature music from her career, including songs from Broadway shows like “Wicked” and “If/Then,” and the animated hit “Frozen,” which includes the Oscar- and Grammy-winning song “Let It Go,” which peaked at No. 5 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
Menzel will also perform songs from her lesser-known pop albums. “I’m even doing a couple things from albums that I did earlier … I’m like, ‘You know what, I’m going to do that song now!’” she said.
She may work on new music after the tour.
“I’ll come back and forth, and do some recording, you know, we’ll see,” she said. “There’s only so much you can do at one time.”
