‘Dancing With the Stars’ Ratings: Prince Night Hits Season High, Becomes Most Watched Semifinals in 7 Years (EXCLUSIVE)

Variety's Awards Circuit section has released its official predictions for the upcoming Oscars, highlighting films such as 'Frankenstein', 'Hamnet', 'One Battle After Another', and 'Sinners'. These predictions, curated by chief awards editor Clayton Davis, reflect the current standings in the awards race without personal biases.

Variety's Awards Circuit section provides official predictions for the Oscars, Emmys, Grammys, and Tony Awards, curated by chief awards editor Clayton Davis. The predictions reflect the current standings in the race for these prestigious awards, focusing on the upcoming Oscars and the newly introduced Best Casting award, which is expected to be highly competitive.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is introducing a new Oscar category for casting, set to debut at the 98th Academy Awards. This marks the first new competitive category since the best animated feature was added in 2001. The decision follows decades of advocacy for recognizing the essential role of casting in filmmaking.

Andy Richter has publicly defended Whitney Leavitt following her unexpected elimination from 'Dancing With the Stars' alongside partner Mark Ballas. The elimination occurred just before the season finale, despite the duo achieving the third-highest score of the week. Richter described the decision as 'insane,' highlighting the shock among fans and supporters.

The Television Academy has announced the return of the Televerse festival for a second season, scheduled for August 2026. This decision follows positive feedback from the inaugural event, and Academy president Maury McIntyre indicated plans for enhancements based on this year's experience.

Dea Lawrence has taken over as the new publisher and co-president of Variety, succeeding Michelle Sobrino Stearns. She will share the co-president role with Ramin Setoodeh. Lawrence has outlined her vision for the future of Variety as it approaches its next 120 years, aiming to solidify its position as Hollywood's magazine of record.

The latest installment of the 'Paranormal Activity' franchise has shifted away from its traditional found-footage style, opting for live scares instead. Despite the franchise's previous success in creating fear through suggestion and home surveillance, this new approach has not resonated with audiences, leading to a negative reception. The series, once known for its innovative use of technology to depict ghostly encounters, now struggles to maintain its relevance.

Chris Willman, the senior music writer and chief music critic for Variety, received the Country Music Association's Media Achievement Award on Tuesday. The award was presented to him by nominees and performers Shaboozey and Stephen Wilson Jr. during the CMA Awards ceremony in Nashville.