Wicked fans knew this day would come — the end of the Yellow Brick Road. As we approach the release of Universal Pictures’Wicked: For Good, rumors about the second movie’s conclusion have already spread, and some fans are wondering whether there is a post-credits scene after the film.
Co-stars Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande, who play Elphaba and Glinda, respectively, have been hard at work over the past two years promoting both Wicked films. From their iconic interviews to on-stage performances, the multi-talented singers are finding it difficult to bid Oz “farewell.” Earlier this month, the duo performed for NBC’s Wicked: One Wonderful Night, and they brought viewers to tears in March with their Academy Awards collaboration.
Here, Hollywood Life has compiled everything we know so far about Wicked: For Good! (Warning: spoilers are ahead for Wicked: For Good)
Does Wicked: Part One Have a Post-Credits Scene?
No, the first Wicked movie does not have a post-credits scene. The first installment of the dual film series concludes with Elphaba (Erivo) flying away into the west as she closes out the movie with “Defying Gravity,” leaving Glinda behind with Madame Morrible.
Is There a Post-Credits Scene in Wicked: For Good?
The only hint of any post-credits scene for Wicked: For Good was the Dunkin’ Donuts commercial that Erivo and Jonathan Bailey filmed ahead of the film’s release. In the ad, the pair promotes the doughnut company’s limited-time matcha and pink refreshers and Munchkins while calling it the “Dunkin’ End-Credit Scene, Wicked: For Good.” Bailey and Erivo call it their “bonus scene” as they act out a melodramatic scene between their characters, Elphaba and Fiyero.
Who Plays Dorothy in Wicked: For Good?
Actress Bethany Weaver plays Dorothy Gale from Kansas. As fans of the original Wizard of Oz already know, the role was originally played by the late Judy Garland.
How Does Wicked: For Good Conclude? The Ending
If the movie follows the Broadway musical, it should end with the Wizard discovering that he is actually Elphaba’s biological father. So, he leaves Oz in Glinda’s hands. After Elphaba and Glinda sing one final time together (“For Good”), Dorothy splashes Elphaba — now the “Wicked Witch of the West” — with water, causing her to melt. But Elphaba later reveals that she faked her death and re-emerges through a trap door.
Now with Fiyero, who is a scarecrow as a result of Elphaba’s spell, the pair leaves Oz together, and Glinda informs the people of Oz that the Wicked Witch of the West is dead.
The Foreign Office has issued fresh warnings about the dangers of methanol poisoning across 11 countries worldwide. Even tiny quantities of methanol can prove toxic.
This industrial alcohol, produced through wood distillation, features in numerous commercial products including antifreeze, fuel and paint thinners.
However, in certain regions across the globe, methanol products are illegally blended with genuine alcohol in spirit-based beverages and cocktails. The Foreign Office reports a surge in serious illness cases linked to methanol-contaminated alcoholic drinks at popular holiday destinations worldwide.
A campaign is now underway to help travellers reduce their risk and identify methanol poisoning symptoms. The revised travel advice now includes Bangladesh, India, Iran, Jordan, Libya, Malawi, Malaysia, Morocco, Nepal, Papua New Guinea and Rwanda, following “a global increase in the number of reported cases” of methanol poisoning.
Identifying methanol poisoning proves challenging initially, as early symptoms mirror those of regular alcohol consumption. The Foreign Office warns travellers to watch for vomiting, impaired judgement, loss of balance and drowsiness, reports the Liverpool Echo.
Within 48 hours of consumption, additional symptoms may emerge including abdominal pain, vertigo, hyperventilation, breathlessness, blurred vision and/or blindness, coma and convulsions. Official guidance states: “If you or someone you are travelling with has any of these symptoms, seek urgent medical attention.”
Problems with vision are another warning sign, as methanol poisoning can lead to blurred vision, sensitivity to bright lights, and in severe cases total blindness.
Seeking immediate medical help could prove lifesaving or prevent lasting damage.
The Foreign Office states: “It is not possible to completely remove the risks from methanol poisoning when drinking alcohol, but you can take steps to reduce the risk.”
Measures you can take to minimise the danger include steering clear of homemade or street-sold alcohol, patronising licensed establishments only, inspecting bottles carefully and exercising caution with complimentary drinks.
Should you suspect methanol poisoning, whether in yourself or a companion, the Foreign Office advises swift action is essential.
You should secure insurance suited to your travel requirements. Travelling without adequate cover can prove extremely costly should problems arise whilst you are overseas.
If you opt for a basic policy offering insufficient medical protection, you risk facing a substantial bill should an unforeseen health matter occur during your holiday.
Since the decision was made to split Wicked into two films, “The first half of the stage musical is the better half” has been a frequent concern about Wicked: For Good. After all of that fretting, I’m here to say that… Yeah, that worry was pretty dead-on. In the end, among several missteps, it’s up to the lead duo of Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande to keep the audience invested. Fortunately, that’s a task they are well-suited for.
Picking up after a strangely nebulous time jump – at first it seems like just a few months, but then some changes in the characters’ lives insinuate it’s been many years – the sequel finds Elphaba (Erivo) firmly established to the public as the fiendish boogeyman of Oz, a.k.a. The Wicked Witch. And while her friend, Glinda (Ariana Grande), knows the terrible things said about Elphaba aren’t true, she is simultaneously keeping up appearances as the protective Good Witch of Oz, even if her lack of actual magical abilities means it’s all achieved through trickery.
Wicked: For Good often has a very haphazard feeling to it. Underlining that a film’s length and its pacing are not automatically intertwined, For Good drags far more than the first movie at times, despite being about a half hour shorter. With the characters much more spread out, no longer tied to the first movie’s university setting, there’s a lot more jumping around to catch up with everyone, and some sequences work far better than others. It is amusing to see Elphaba evoking Batman with a broomstick as she makes some vigilante-style appearances early on, and there are funny moments involving Glinda’s fake magic, most notably her floating bubble device. But some of the material with supporting players like Fiyero (Jonathan Bailey, whose innate charm was better served in the first movie) and Boq (Ethan Slater) is clunky and stilted.
Some story choices in the second half of the Wicked musical were always a bit forced, yet they still managed to mostly work within that environment, where their heightened nature felt more appropriate. But there are elements that now notably fall flat in the context of this movie alone, particularly how things play out with Boq and Elphaba’s lovestruck sister, Nessa (Melissa Bode). Director Jon M. Chu is trying to walk a fine line that Wicked: For Good sometimes stumbles off of, succumbing to the cheesier, more laughable side of melodrama.
Universal Pictures
The second half of For Good is where this Wizard of Oz prequel shifts into full “sidequel” mode, as Dorothy Gale (Bethany Weaver) arrives from Kansas, and we begin to see bits and pieces of some very familiar scenes. Something that was already a problem on stage is exacerbated here, as these scenes only really work or fully make sense if you have familiarity with The Wizard of Oz. Otherwise, what’s depicted often plays as outright confusing or bizarre, including a seemingly pivotal character we never get a good look at (Weaver’s face is purposely obscured in what becomes a distracting touch) and the interweaving of important Wicked characters into these moments in a way that feels frustrating because things happen so quickly or without full explanations. And yeah, the argument might be, “Well, everyone knows The Wizard of Oz,” but besides the tenuous nature of that argument in 2025 is the fact that Wicked: For Good still plays like an incomplete movie at times, regardless of your background with the story that begat it.
And yet, despite all of these issues – especially compared to the first movie – Wicked: For Good still ends up as just good enough. A key reason for that continues to be its strong central casting, as Erivo and Grande once more shine in these roles. It’s honestly quite remarkable that their energy and demeanor are so different, yet still somehow complementary, much in the same way Elphaba and Glinda co-exist as an extreme case of opposites attracting. The inner strength and resolve that Erivo projects is crucial, helping Wicked sell some of its messier aspects – like the use of talking animals as a wonky sort of analogy for an oppressed minority – in a manner it might have collapsed under with a less invested actress. Grande, meanwhile, continues to make Glinda a very funny and uniquely charming narcissist, simultaneously tapping into the despair the character frequently feels due to what is occurring around her.
Universal Pictures
And of course, both Erivo and Grande are stellar (and then some) when it comes to carrying a tune. Yes, the best songs from Wicked were also in the first half, but Erivo once more kills it on her big solo, “No Good Deed,” while the two actresses perform a poignant and powerful duet with the song that gives the sequel its subtitle, “For Good.” Musical moments like these really are key to the narrative of Wicked: For Good, impressively bringing emotional weight to a film that might otherwise lack it.
With a lot more screen time, Jeff Goldblum is also a highlight of Wicked: For Good, reprising his role as the Wizard himself. His big number (alongside Elphaba and Glinda), “Wonderful,” lives up to its title. It’s not only a fun, energetic sequence, with Goldblum looking like he’s having a ball performing it, but also plays more than a little topical in focus: once the public has bought into a con man’s lie, it’s nearly impossible to get them to break free of that lie.
There are scenes in Wicked: For Good that are outright cheesy and silly, and amongst Chu’s movie musicals, it doesn’t reach the heights of either the first Wicked or the appropriately titled In the Heights. But as it nears its conclusion, For Good wisely leans heavily into its best selling point, Erivo and Grande, who manage to end the movie on a poignant note. Despite the film’s earlier eye-rolling moments, Erivo and Grande’s talents make it easy to stay invested in the friendship between Elphaba and Glinda, and to feel the impact as we watch their story unfold.
Warning: Spoilers ahead for both Stephen King’s The Running Man & Edgar Wright’s 2025 adaptation
Edgar Wright’s The Running Man is a pretty faithful adaptation of Stephen King’s 1982 novel of the same name (published under his pseudonym, Richard Bachman). It hits all the main beats of the original story, preferring to tweak more than outright change. But the ending is the most significant exception.
In interviews ahead of his film’s release, Wright admitted he knew from the beginning that King’s ending had to change, and it’s not hard to see why. The book is propulsive and entertaining, but also very cynical about protagonist Ben Richards’ chances of surviving this deadly game show, and his story gets progressively darker. By the end, he’s offered a chance to replace McCone as lead hunter, but is also informed his wife and daughter were killed days ago, in an act of random violence. He ultimately chooses to fly the plane he’s on into the Games Network building, killing himself, Killian, and untold others.
Not exactly a Hollywood ending, is it? It may have been fascinating as a way to conclude the new adaptation, but it wouldn’t have sent audiences out on an action-blockbuster high. For Wright and star Glen Powell, who were aiming to create some big-screen fun, changing the book was absolutely the right move.
The Running Man Gives Itself The Perfect Excuse To Deviate From King’s Book
Ben Richards is looking at the security guard in The Running Man
If you haven’t read the book but found my summary of its ending familiar, that’s because Wright and co-writer Michael Bacall cleverly make it part of their movie. In keeping with the commentary on today’s reality TV, the game show is shown to chase certain narratives to deliver on the entertainment audiences expect, even manufacturing footage of its contestants to do it. And Josh Brolin’s version of Killian is essentially scripting things the way King wrote them.
Ideally, he wants Powell’s Richards to wipe out McCone and his hunters and fly triumphantly to safety, where he’ll become the star of his own spinoff show, Hunter Number Six. Killian even tells him that McCone killed his family to provide the necessary motivation. But if he doesn’t play along, the producer’s alternate ending would make it seem like Richards tried to fly his plane into the Network building, giving them no choice but to blow it out of the sky.
This approach is smart for multiple reasons. Because the movie sticks close to the plot of the book, the story is naturally building to the way King finishes it; tacking on a new, brighter conclusion without properly seeding it would feel sudden and unsatisfying. This way, the movie arcs toward King’s ending because it’s the Network’s ending, giving our hero a chance to subvert it without leaving us feeling cheated.
The New Ending Is Far Too Happy For This Story (& Cheats To Get There)
Ultimately, though, Wright’s The Running Man does too much. The video “debunking” Richards’ death is a nice way to disrupt the official narrative, leave things on a more hopeful note, and set up that the Richards Lives resistance has continued to grow regardless. There’s a version of the movie that ends there – but that’s perhaps a more muted high than the filmmakers wanted to leave us with.
Two scenes follow: one confirming Richards’ wife and daughter are alive and showing his reunion with them; and another of an audience revolt at the next season’s taping of The Running Man, during which Richards reappears to shoot Killian. Either of these, on their own, are probably satisfying. Both are overkill. The script may have given itself an opening to subvert King’s ending, but it still doesn’t feel right for this movie to end this happily.
Firstly, it’s a cheat for Richards to survive the plane crash and for the Network to be seemingly unaware, given the control they’ve exerted so far. It would be more believable that he was either killed or offered a public death in exchange for a quiet reunion with his family, and that (in either scenario) this still failed to quash the revolution sparked by his performance on the show. And, if he did somehow escape, it’s another cheat to suggest the Network wouldn’t watch his wife and kid, assuming that’s where he’d eventually reappear.
You can watch The Running Man without consciously thinking of these things. But odds are you’ll feel their impact regardless.
Secondly, the current ending leaves the film thematically toothless. It would have been more impactful for the unruly Running Man audience to tear the set (and Killian) to pieces in Richards’ name, whether he actually died in the crash or is gifted the tearful reunion with his family. If he is the kind of action movie superhero who can overcome all the odds, save his family, and take down Killian himself, then the uprising he’s inspired has no real purpose other than to cheer on his victory.
We’re meant to feel like the viewing public has finally woken up, and are turning against the scourge of violent, numbing entertainment. But it ends up feeling more like Killian was right, and Hunter Number Six would’ve made all this anger go away. They’re less upset about being oppressed than seeing their favorite character killed off too soon. This ending is a win for Richards, perhaps, but not really for the rest of society, and the movie needed to aim for more than that to truly be meaningful.
Christmas, they say, comes once a year, but “once” now lasts for days and weeks and months, as Friday’s inflatable Frankenstein’s monster becomes Monday’s inflatable snowman. The yuletide is now upon us, even before Thanksgiving, its autumnal opening act, has served its first pumpkin pie.
For someone growing up in Southern California, the season was largely understood through television, and old movies on television, where snow fell and sleighs slid and no one was walking around in shorts on Dec. 25. Back in the three-network, four-network and even five-network days, one could see all the specials and special episodes and still lead a relatively normal life. But in this time of many platforms (and with ever-more recycled content swelling the pot), one can go snow-blind. And so, to help you make your way through this blizzard, we are here, dependable as Santa, with the gift of a holiday guide.
The only guide you need for holiday entertainment.
A caveat: I have watched only a couple of this year’s new programs, which are largely unavailable to see as of this writing. (Trailers were helpful.) In some cases, networks have provided only a vague indication of what’s in store. But years of experience tell me that there’s a good chance that what’s listed here will provide reliable entertainment, depending on your age, level of Grinchiness or how far you’ve gotten into the eggnog. Enjoy!
Musical events to match the season
Derek Trucks, Susan Tedeschi and BeBe Winans performing in the “CMA Country Christmas” special filmed in Nashville earlier this year; it will air Dec. 2 on ABC.
(John Russell / CMA)
‘The Wonderful World of Disney: Holiday Spectacular’ (ABC, Dec. 1)
Disney, which owns its own television network, always sets itself a place — or two —at this cross-promotional table, celebrating its 10th anniversary. New musical performances by host Derek Hough and other acts, including Aloe Blacc, Good Charlotte, Gwen Stefani and Trisha Yearwood, arrive from Florida’s Walt Disney World, Hawaii’s Aulani Resort & Spa and our own little Disneyland. For more of the same, and more, see “40th Anniversary Disney Parks Magical Christmas Day Parade” below.
‘CMA Country Christmas’ (ABC, Dec. 2)
Filmed at the Fisher Center for the Performing Arts in Nashville, the 16th annual edition of this special is hosted by Christian music superstar Lauren Daigle and hitmaker Jordan Davis, with appearances from Riley Green, Lady A, Little Big Town, Parker McCollum, Megan Moroney, Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Susan Tedeschi, Derek Trucks and the ever-present BeBe Winans.
‘Christmas in Rockefeller Center’ and ‘Christmas in Nashville’ (NBC, Dec. 3)
Reba McEntire heads to New York to host a two-hour special, highlighted by the lighting of a really big tree in the network’s own backyard. Next we head to Music City, where you might have expected to find McEntire; who we will find is so far a mystery.
‘A Motown Christmas’ (NBC, Dec. 9)
Smokey Robinson and Halle Bailey are your hosts. Expect something old, something new(er).
‘iHeartRadio Jingle Ball 2025’ (ABC, Dec. 17)
Something for the youngsters, as Ed Sullivan used to say. While the tour performers are known, the artists featured in the special are yet to be announced as of this writing. You will know some of them, all of them, or none of them.
‘40th Anniversary Disney Parks Magical Christmas Day Parade’ (ABC, Dec. 25)
More or less live from (as above) Disney outposts in Orlando, Anaheim and Hawaii, the fun starts at 5 a.m. Pacific time (though at 10 a.m. on the East Coast, so I’m not sure how that works exactly). There will be stars, and if John Stamos isn’t among them, I’ll eat my Mouseketeer ears.
Cultural performances that enlighten
The Public Theater’s performance of “Twelfth Night,” which starred Junior Nyong’o, Lupita Nyong’o and Peter Dinklage, is available to stream on PBS.org and the PBS app.
(Joseph Sinnott)
‘Great Performances: Twelfth Night’ (Now streaming on PBS.org and PBS app)
Shakespeare’s cross-dressing comedy of sexual confusion and mistaken identity (named for and originally performed on the last of the 12 days of Christmas), was filmed at an August performance at Central Park’s Delacorte Theater as part of the Public Theater’s Free Shakespeare festival. Cleverly cast brother and sister Lupita Nyong’o and Junior Nyong’o play castaway twins Viola and Sebastian, with Peter Dinklage, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Sandra Oh and Daphne Rubin-Vega among other well-known actors rounding out the cast.
‘Great Performances: The Nutcracker’ (PBS, PBS.org and PBS app, Dec. 16)
Even those with scant interest in classical music or dance will be osmotically familiar with Tchaikovsky’s 1892 Christmas ballet, with its hit-filled score and Sugarplum Fairy. This one is performed by the English National Ballet against an Edwardian backdrop (Act I) and a Candyland (Act II) full of exotic flavor.
Family friendly viewing
In “A Paw Patrol Christmas,” on CBS and Paramount+ Nov. 28, the rescue dogs have to save Christmas.
(CBS)
‘A Loud House Christmas Movie: Naughty or Nice’ (Nickelodeon, Nov. 21)
This feature-length special is spun from the long-running, highly hectic cartoon. Lincoln Loud, a boy with 10 sisters, spins the world upside down when he hacks into Santa’s Naughty/Nice lists, turning good bad and bad good. (Santa does not escape this transformation.) Something must be done, and will.
‘A Chuck E. Cheese Christmas’ (Prime Video and YouTube, Nov. 27)
Christmas spirit is low, Santa is depressed and cartoon versions of characters from the famous pizza place decide to buck him up by throwing a surprise party, as a dark-hearted elf taking fashion cues from Orlando Bloom’s Legolas gets in the way. Reportedly a back-door pilot for a full-service cartoon series — there is an audience for this.
‘A Paw Patrol Christmas’ (CBS and Paramount+, Nov. 28)
In this “save Christmas” special of the kid-popular series, computer-animated puppies in knit sweaters step in when a cold sidelines a sick Santa, threatening the delivery of presents and the true meaning of Christmas.
I’m a fan of this witty IP, unusually original to the small screen, featuring elves Wayne (Dave Foley) and Lanny (Derek Richardson), whose job it is to advance Santa’s household appearances. In this third edition, a sort of short-story omnibus relating post-Christmas work disasters, we get good slapstick, a Busby Berkeley homage, spa parody, office comedy and a succession of coffee mugs bearing the legends “It’s Nog or Never,” “Nice List or Bust!” and “Fa La La La Latte.” (This show I’ve seen.)
Should you care to see how the Duchess of Sussex of Montecito, Calif., gets set for Christmas, Meghan Markle’s inviting you in for a bit of cooking, crafting, hall-decking and who knows what, with “simple how-tos to follow at home.”
‘The First Snow of Fraggle Rock’ (Apple TV, Dec. 5)
The puppet gang still tended by the reliable Jim Henson Co. return for the holidays. When only a single snowflake arrives at Fraggle Rock — they live underground, so, you know, not that surprising — Gobo, having trouble finishing his annual holiday song, heads up into the world of humans, where he meets YouTube powerhouse Lele Pons. Meanwhile, there’s a new baby at the Gorgs’ house.
Streaming holiday films for (almost) everyone
Alexandra Breckenridge as Santa Claus in “My Secret Santa,” streaming Dec. 3 on Netflix.
(Diyah Pera / Netflix)
‘A Merry Little Ex-Mas’ (Netflix, now streaming)
Alicia Silverstone is a divorced architect about to sell her house who decides to throw one last holiday party. Her ex-husband (Oliver Hudson) arrives packing new girlfriend Jameela Jamil, which would make anyone jealous. Melissa Joan Hart is in it, too, always a recommendation.
‘A Very Jonas Christmas Movie’ (Disney+, now streaming)
I can’t name a single Jonas Brothers song, but I can heartily recommend this trains-planes-and-automobile story, which finds the trio supernaturally hindered from getting home from Europe for Christmas. (Santa may be involved.) This is the other show I’ve seen.
‘Champagne Problems’ (Netflix, Nov. 19)
Minka Kelly plays a hotshot executive — shorthand for misguided, unfulfilled — out to acquire a French Champagne vineyard. Stopping over in Paris before heading out into the countryside — shorthand for life as it should be lived — she has a magical night with handsome Frenchman Henri (Tom Wozniczka), who, wouldn’t you know, turns out to be the son of the man (Thibault de Montalembert, from “Call My Agent”) whose company she’s out to buy.
‘Jingle Bell Heist’ (Netflix, Nov. 26)
Love and larceny combine as Olivia Holt, “a sharp-witted retail worker,” and Connor Swindells, “a down-on-his-luck repairman,” independently plan to rob the same London department store on Christmas Eve. (Strangely enough, this is how I met my wife.) The presence of Peter Serafinowicz and Lucy Punch is icing on the gingerbread.
‘The Merchants of Joy’ (Prime Video, Dec. 1)
This documentary outlier follows five families (like, you know, the Mafia, but nicer) who fight for dominance and survival in the New York City Christmas tree trade. The title does not appear to be ironic.
‘Oh. What. Fun.’ (Prime Video, Dec. 3)
Michelle Pfeiffer plays a type A supermom (last name Clauster, for the Santa vibe) who, having been accidentally abandoned by her family (for the “Home Alone” vibe) closes up shop, hits the road and lets the rest of them mishandle Christmas themselves. The not-to-be-sneezed-at cast includes Denis Leary, Eva Longoria, Joan Chen, Felicity Jones, Chloë Grace Moretz, Dominic Sessa, Danielle Brooks, Devery Jacobs, Havana Rose Liu and America’s sweetheart, Jason Schwartzman. It also comes with a new Gwen Stefani song, “Shake the Snow Globe.”
‘My Secret Santa’ (Netflix, Dec. 3)
In order to score her daughter half-price snowboard lessons, single mom Taylor (Alexandra Breckenridge) disguises herself as an old man in order to play Santa at a ski resort, like you do. Ryan Eggold is the handsome hotel manager who, as you might expect, complicates matters.
‘Merv’ (Prime Video, Dec. 10)
When Anna (Zooey Deschanel, out of her “Elf” costume) and Russ (Charlie Cox) split up, it sends their adorable terrier into a depression. (Also, it’s Christmas.) When all three leave the snowy north for Florida sun, it’s anyone’s guess what’ll happen.
Late legend Frank Sinatra’s presence on Billboard’s charts stretches from the first national ranking in 1940 to today, 85 years later.
Sinatra debuts at No. 26 on the Adult Contemporary chart (dated Nov. 22) with Pentatonix on “I’ve Got My Love to Keep Me Warm.” The song drew 282,000 in audience from plays on 18 stations Nov. 7-13, according to Luminate.
The carol is from Pentatonix’s new album, Christmas in the City, which debuted as the vocal group’s 11th top 10 on the Top Holiday Albums chart earlier in November.
“We met someone with the estate, and the Sinatras had to give their blessing, and we are beyond honored,” the group’s Scott Hoying recently told iHeartRadio’s Ellen K of the team-up with Sinatra, who died in 1998. “They blessed us with his sweet voice and we got to release an unheard vocal, and it’s wild if you listen to it. You can hear the papers ruffling and the bleed of the orchestra from the other room. It was really, really powerful and magical, amazing.”
Added Pentatonix’s Kirstin Maldonado, “I feel like we went back in time and were those singers with him in that booth that we were inspired by. To have our names next to Frank Sinatra is just, like, that’s iconic. It’s such an honor.”
Sinatra bookends Billboard chart archives, as he sang on the first No. 1 — “I’ll Never Smile Again,” billed as by Tommy Dorsey — on the first nationwide sales chart, the National List of Best Selling Retail Records, published in the July 27, 1940, issue.
Meanwhile, the Chairman of the Board appears on Adult Contemporary (or any current-based Billboard radio chart) for the first time since Sept. 29, 1984. He lands his highest rank since May 31, 1980, when his revered “Theme From New York, New York” hit No. 10, becoming his 20th top 10. He boasts the longest span of making the tally (more than 64 years and four months), as he placed on the inaugural edition dated July 17, 1961.
Holiday music continues to grant Sinatra new chart honors. In December 2023, his take on “Jingle Bells” hit No. 16 on the Billboard Hot 100, marking his first appearance in the top 20 since 1967. Plus, last holiday season, Ultimate Christmas became his 33rd top 10 album on the Billboard 200, extending his record for the most among male soloists.
Do you have the smarts and stamina to win? The new Netflix game show, What’s In the Box?, tests contestants’ stamina, smarts, and strategy. Hosted by Neil Patrick Harris, it features jaw-dropping prizes, wild surprises, and unexpected reveals.
James Fox, Dom Waugh, Wes Kauble, and Leanne Witcoop of Rollercoaster Television are executive producing the show.
Here is everything we know about What’s in the Box? including when the game show will premiere.
What is the premise of What’s In the Box?
The show’s logline reads, “Giant boxes conceal jaw-dropping prizes, wild surprises, and unexpected reveals in What’s In the Box, a high-stakes arching game show that tests smarts, strategy, and stamina. Over several episodes, pairs of contestants face off in fast-paced, addictive trivia rounds, racing to correctly guess what’s inside each box. But winning a prize is just the beginning. As the game unfolds, shifting alliances and unexpected twists mean only those with sharp instincts — and a little luck — will hold onto their winnings and claim victory.”
Who hosts What’s In the Box?
Neil Patrick Harris will host What’s In The Box? This isn’t the first time he has hosted a game show. Harris has been the host of Genius Junior and Best Time Ever with Neil Patrick Harris.
Where can you watch the game show?
What’s in the Box? will only be available to watch on Netflix. The game show will not premiere on network TV.
When does What’s In the Box? premiere?
What’s in the Box? will premiere on December 17 at 3 am on Netflix. Six, 45-minute episodes will drop all at once.
Is there a trailer?
Not yet. Check back here for updates.
See first look photos below, including the set and Harris.
Many AI projects fail because they are built atop legacy IT systems, Han said, adding that modifying a company’s technology stack, workflows, and processes will maximize what AI can do.
Humans also still need to oversee AI projects and outcomes — especially when agentic AI is involved, Han said. “Let the machines do what machines do best and let the humans do what humans do best,” Han said.
In a separate survey, AI vendor Cleanlab found very few companies had AI agents in production stage. “Between 60% and 70% of everyone that we chatted with, both in survey and also in sales calls, they were changing their entire stack — their LLM, the AI stack that they built an agent on — they’re just tinkering, every three months at least,” said Cleanlab CEO Curtis Northcutt.
Black Friday is nearly here but, in good news for anyone who wants to stock up on tech accessories, a whole slew of Anker gear is already on sale. If you’re familiar with the brand, you know it makes some of the most reliable charging gear out there. If you’re new to Anker, you’re in for a treat. Anker gear ranks among the top brands we’ve tested, which is why you’ll find it in our guides to MagSafe power banks, wireless charging stations and more. So if you want to get a jump on Black Friday and score deals on hardworking peripherals right now, check out the best Black Friday Anker deals below.
Best Black Friday Anker deals: Power banks
Power banks revive dead phones, let you work longer while away from an outlet and let you play with your tablet/ereader/gamepad while it charges without being tethered to the wall. Anker power banks are among the best. After testing out brands from a slew of different makers, our picks just keep coming back to Anker. The mix of value, capacity and clever features make Anker batteries just a little bit better than most brands out there.
Anker makes the Laptop Power bank, which our reviewer (me) called the culmination of all the best battery features. The brand is also responsible for our top MagSafe battery pick (the MagGo Qi2) thanks to its clever stand, excellent charging speeds and generous capacity. Many of the other banks we’ve tested and tried are also on sale for Black Friday, so consider this your opportunity to make sure your phone never goes dead on you again.
Best Black Friday Anker deals: Wireless chargers
A rats nest of cables on your desk is not the slickest look. Now that phones, earbuds, smartwatches and even ereaders can refill on a charging coil, wireless chargers are a tidy solution. There are options that’ll let you view your phone while it charges, as well as some that will charge three devices at once. We’ve tested units from dozens of brands for our buying guides and keep putting Anker on our lists of winners. The brand makes some of the top picks in both our wireless charger guide and our list of the best multi-device chargers. Now, thanks to Black Friday, you can keep your devices topped off with quality accessories that are an even better value than usual.
Best Black Friday Anker deals: Power adapters
While wireless charging is faster than it’s ever been, cords are still the fastest way to charge your phone. Bigger devices like your laptop will reup faster on a high-wattage brick than on a dinky 20-watt adapter and if you want to keep your outlets more streamlined, go for a multi-port power adapter that will let you charge multiple devices at once. Again, after testing many brands, some of our most reliable picks continue to be from Anker. It shows up three times in our guide to the best fast chargers and we recommend the brand in a number of our accessoriesguides. Now that Black Friday is here, some of our favorite Anker power adapters are on sale — so we rounded them all up here.
Best Black Friday Anker deals: Soundcore audio
We mostly think of Anker as a charging accessory brand. But they’ve expanded their scope by getting into audio equipment — and the effort was a success. You might not immediately pick up that these are Anker speakers — Soundcore shows up on the products themselves, but it’s the same company. We recommend a couple Soundcore music makers in our guide to the best Bluetooth speakers. With Black Friday deals, these are the best Anker Soundcore deals we could find.
More Anker Black Friday deals
My personal favorite USB-C cable is made by Anker. It’s rated at 240 watts, has a durable build, plus it’s long enough and has a handy right angled connector at one end. Anker of course also makes plenty of other gear, from webcams to mice — that continually show up in our guides to the best accessories. Here are the best Black Friday deals on Anker gear that don’t quite fit into the categories above.
President Donald Trump said on Monday that he plans to approve the sale of US-made F-35 fighter jets to Saudi Arabia, speaking a day before hosting Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for a day of diplomacy, telling reporters in the Oval Office, “I will say that we will be doing that… We’ll be selling the F-35s.” The Reuters Gulf Currents newsletter brings the latest on geopolitics, energy and finance in the region. A sale would represent a major policy shift, potentially reshaping the military balance in the Middle East and challenging Washington’s longstanding commitment to maintaining Israel’s “qualitative military edge.” Senior Resident Scholar at Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington DC, Hussein Ibish, joins us for more.
