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      Perry Kurtz, Comedian Who Appeared on ‘America’s Got Talent,’ Dies at 73

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      Mr. Kurtz, who was killed in a hit-and-run on Thursday, honed his routine over decades and eventually became a recognizable face at comedy institutions.Perry Kurtz, who worked stand-up comedy circuits for decades and appeared on “America’s Got Talent” and “The Late Late Show With James Corden,” died on Thursday night in a hit-and-run in Los Angeles. He was 73.A daughter, Zelda Velazquez, confirmed his death. Mr. Kurtz was crossing Ventura Boulevard when he was struck by a car, according to the authorities. He was pronounced dead at the scene, and the driver was later arrested.Mr. Kurtz was a familiar face in long-established comedy halls, such as the Comedy Store in Los Angeles, but rose to prominence on the national stage with an appearance on “America’s Got Talent” in 2013 in which he performed a rap wearing a silver suit that gleamed like a disco ball.The performance did not go over well with the judges, who eliminated him from the competition, but it fit a campy persona that Mr. Kurtz embraced.On “The Late Late Show With James Corden” in 2018, Mr. Kurtz walked onstage wearing thick suspenders and a Hawaiian shirt, a keytar hanging around his neck. He proceeded to play “Louie Louie,” made famous by the Kingsmen, using his tongue.“In 1979 I moved to San Francisco to pursue my dream,” Mr. Kurtz said in a 2022 interview with Shoutout LA. “Since then, the only job I’ve had is making people laugh.”We are having trouble retrieving the article content.Please enable JavaScript in your browser settings.Thank you for your patience while we verify access. If you are in Reader mode please exit and log into your Times account, or subscribe for all of The Times.Thank you for your patience while we verify access.Already a subscriber? Log in.Want all of The Times? Subscribe. More

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      Rob Rausch and Aaron Evans Talk ‘Love Island’ Bromance

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      The “bromance” between Rob Rausch and Aaron Evans has helped make this season a hit. We talk to the pair about their special bond.The premise of “Love Island” is simple — put a bunch of attractive people on a remote island in Fiji where they have no communication with the outside world, are filmed 24/7 and endure silly (and often gross) challenges with the ultimate goal of coupling up with another islander.Like many dating shows, “Love Island” (which now has U.S., U.K. and Australia versions, among many others) doesn’t actually yield that many enduring romances. Instead, the friendships that form can often define the show. The bromance playing out between Aaron Evans and Rob Rausch on the current season of “Love Island U.S.A.” is a prime example.From left: Evans, Kaylor Martin and Rausch on “Love Island USA.”Ben Symons/PeacockViewers have seen both of them pursue romantic relationships — Evans with Kaylor Martin and Rausch with a handful of different islanders. But just as often as they were schmoozing and canoodling with women, they were sitting at the end of the villa’s dock shedding tears, laughing or talking about their feelings. This set off a range of comments online — some viewers celebrated their friendship with TikTok edits of their best moments, while others implied (or said outright) that they both wanted to be more than friends. Their displays of affection were startling to some viewers, as male friendships on TV are rarely cast in that light. The pair’s bond has been one of the major reasons this season of “Love Island” has become a breakout hit, topping most-watched charts during its summer run and finally matching up to the original U.K. version in the eyes of many fans. Over a Zoom call — where Evans was in a lodge in Britain that was shaking thanks to a rambunctious washing machine and a shirtless Rausch was in and out of bed in a house in Los Angeles — we discussed the response to their friendship and the portrayal of men’s vulnerability onscreen.When Evans (from the coastal area of southwest England) and Rausch (a self-described “snake wrangler” from Alabama) met, it was not friendship at first sight. They bonded when Evans offered Rausch a cigarette, but Rausch thought that Evans was too wild.

      @loveislandusa Brotherhood has kept these two afloat. Bye for now, Dock! #LoveIslandUSA @Robert Rausch @Aaron.evans ♬ original sound – Love Island USA We are having trouble retrieving the article content.Please enable JavaScript in your browser settings.Thank you for your patience while we verify access. If you are in Reader mode please exit and log into your Times account, or subscribe for all of The Times.Thank you for your patience while we verify access.Already a subscriber? Log in.Want all of The Times? Subscribe. More

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      Richard Kind Is Still Waiting for His Big Break

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      In a scene from the most recent season of the Netflix series “Girls5eva,” the character actor Richard Kind appears as a sort of guardian angel for one of the heroines, a member of a pop girl group. His advice to her: Don’t try to make it big. The middle is where you want to be.“I’ve spent the past 40 years striking the perfect balance between constantly working and never getting bugged in a deli,” he says.That’s not exactly true. During a recent lunch — not at a deli but rather at an upscale Mediterranean restaurant on the Upper West Side — a woman walked up and recalled something she had seen him in (a play in the Hamptons; she didn’t remember which one) and asked what he was doing next. He told her he was in the coming season of the Hulu mystery comedy “Only Murders in the Building.”He said this kind of thing happened all the time. Beloved by some of Hollywood’s biggest stars, Kind himself is down-to-earth and approachable. Sitting at a table trying to scoop the last bit of fruit out of his raspberry lemonade, he could have been any other hard-working New Yorker who would never let a quality bite go to waste. But his face, with its hangdog expressions, and his aggressively nasal voice were unmistakable.Richard Kind said he was told by an early acting teacher, “‘Hollywood doesn’t want you — you’re not a pretty face.’” Now he has close to 300 acting credits on IMDb.Danielle Amy for The New York TimesPut another way, he is a consummate Everyman who is also, if you can pardon the expression, one of a kind. He specializes the kinds of dads or colleagues many of us know well — boisterous, sometimes desperate men who are quick to anger and even quicker to flop-sweat. Offscreen, he has a workaday approach to his job that belies the glamour of his profession, and he talks often about the hardships of being a working actor even though he is constantly on television.We are having trouble retrieving the article content.Please enable JavaScript in your browser settings.Thank you for your patience while we verify access. If you are in Reader mode please exit and log into your Times account, or subscribe for all of The Times.Thank you for your patience while we verify access.Already a subscriber? Log in.Want all of The Times? Subscribe. More

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      Late Night Tackles Trump’s Tic Tac Show and Tell

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      “That is not an example of inflation; it’s just two different sizes of breath mints,” Desi Lydic said on Thursday’s “The Daily Show.”Welcome to Best of Late Night, a rundown of the previous night’s highlights that lets you sleep — and lets us get paid to watch comedy. Here are the 50 best movies on Netflix right now.Tic Tac TacticsDuring a campaign rally on Wednesday, former President Donald Trump held up two boxes of Tic Tacs, one smaller than the other, in an attempt to demonstrate inflation.“That is not an example of inflation; it’s just two different sizes of breath mints,” Desi Lydic said on Thursday’s “The Daily Show.”“I mean, my understanding of macroeconomics is limited, but I do know for a [expletive] fact that inflation is not defined as ‘big Tic Tac, little Tic Tac.’” — DESI LYDIC“And, by the way, Donald, if someone hands you a breath mint, they’re not suggesting you talk about inflation; they’re suggesting you take a breath mint.” — DESI LYDIC“Then Trump said, ‘And it’s very sad that China is spying on us through Tic Tac.’” — JIMMY FALLONThe Punchiest Punchlines (Off Message Edition)“Trump has reportedly been rattled and disoriented by Harris’s surge, and now he’s struggling to adjust and stay on message — mainly because he has no message.” — SETH MEYERS“Look, I hate to nitpick, but in this speech about the economy, do you think at any point you want to say something about the economy?” — DESI LYDIC“First of all, it is incredibly troubling that he thinks Tic Tacs are groceries. Second, people say Trump is an entertainer, and it’s true — what’s more entertaining than watching a 78-year-old man fumble around inside his coat pocket for a container of tiny Tic Tacs? He’s like a drunk magician at a 5-year-old’s birthday.” — SETH MEYERSThe Bits Worth WatchingThe pop superstar Billie Eilish took The Colbert Questionert on Thursday’s “Late Show.”Also, Check This OutGena Rowlands in “A Woman Under the Influence,” one of her many collaborations with her husband, the director, writer and actor John Cassavetes.Faces InternationalWith her inspired performances in films like “A Woman Under the Influence” and “Broken English,” Gena Rowlands was widely regarded as one of the best actresses of her generation. More

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      Matthew Perry’s Assistant and Doctors Charged With Getting Him Ketamine

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      Five people have been charged with a conspiracy to distribute the powerful anesthetic that led to the death of the “Friends” star. Three of them are pleading guilty.Matthew Perry’s personal assistant, two doctors and two others have been indicted and charged with providing the ketamine that caused his death.Jason LaVeris/FilmMagicMatthew Perry’s personal assistant, two doctors and two others have been indicted and charged with providing the ketamine that caused the death of Mr. Perry, a star on the television show “Friends,” the authorities said on Thursday.In documents filed in federal court in California, prosecutors said that Mr. Perry’s assistant and an acquaintance had worked with two doctors and a drug dealer to procure tens of thousands of dollars worth of ketamine for Mr. Perry, who had long struggled with substance abuse and addiction.The actor, who gained sitcom superstardom as Chandler Bing on “Friends,” was discovered floating face down in a hot tub at his home in Los Angeles on Oct. 28. The Los Angeles County medical examiner’s office said in an autopsy report that Mr. Perry, 54, had died of “acute effects of ketamine.”An indictment filed in federal court on Wednesday detailed grand jury charges against Jasveen Sangha, who prosecutors said was known as “the Ketamine Queen,” and Dr. Salvador Plasencia, known as “Dr. P.”Ms. Sangha maintained a “stash house” in North Hollywood, the indictment said, and Dr. Plasencia, a physician at an urgent care center, was among those who worked to get the ketamine to Mr. Perry despite knowing he had a history of drug abuse.Court documents say that Mr. Perry’s personal assistant, Kenneth Iwamasa, injected him with at least 27 shots of ketamine in the five days leading up to his death, including at least three on the day he died. An indictment said that the defendants used coded language to discuss drug deals, referring to bottles of ketamine as “Dr Pepper,” “cans” and “bots.” And it said that when Dr. Plasencia texted with another doctor about how much to charge Mr. Perry for ketamine, he wrote, “I wonder how much this moron will pay” and “Lets find out.”We are having trouble retrieving the article content.Please enable JavaScript in your browser settings.Thank you for your patience while we verify access. If you are in Reader mode please exit and log into your Times account, or subscribe for all of The Times.Thank you for your patience while we verify access.Already a subscriber? Log in.Want all of The Times? Subscribe. More

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      Peter Marshall, Longtime Host of ‘The Hollywood Squares,’ Dies at 98

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      He played straight man to all manner of celebrities, asking questions on what was for many years the most popular game show on television.Peter Marshall, who coaxed cheeky rejoinders from celebrities like Burt Reynolds, Mel Brooks, Joan Rivers and Paul Lynde as the longtime host of “The Hollywood Squares,” for years one of the most popular game shows on television, died on Thursday at his home in Encino, Calif. He was 98.His wife of 35 years, Laurie Marshall, said the cause was kidney failure.Mr. Marshall, an actor, singer and comedian with an authoritative baritone, hosted “The Hollywood Squares” from 1966 until 1981. The show brought him four Daytime Emmy Awards.“The Hollywood Squares,” which stuffed celebrity guests and risqué humor into a daytime game show, was a variation on tic-tac-toe, played by two contestants on a set that featured a grid of nine squares rising above the stage, a celebrity guest seated in each.A contestant would choose a square, Mr. Marshall would ask the star inside it a question, and the star would usually respond with a quip — a zinger, in the show’s parlance — before giving a serious answer. The contestant would then tell Mr. Marshall whether he or she thought the star had answered correctly, and the square would be won if the contestant was right. The first contestant to complete a line won the game; the first to win two games won cash and prizes.The center square was reserved for the funniest celebrity; the comedian Paul Lynde occupied it for much of the show’s run.Mr. Marshall, center, with an early group of “Hollywood Squares” panelists. From left: Wally Cox, Abby Dalton, Rose Marie and Morey Amsterdam.NBC, via Everett CollectionWe are having trouble retrieving the article content.Please enable JavaScript in your browser settings.Thank you for your patience while we verify access. If you are in Reader mode please exit and log into your Times account, or subscribe for all of The Times.Thank you for your patience while we verify access.Already a subscriber? Log in.Want all of The Times? Subscribe. More

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      ‘Chimp Crazy’ Is a Jaw-Dropping Look at ‘Monkey Love’

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      From a director of “Tiger King,” the four-part HBO documentary dives into the wild, salacious and dangerous world of people who have chimpanzees as pets.The four-part documentary series “Chimp Crazy,” debuting at 10 p.m. Sunday, on HBO, has plenty of chimps, and boy is it crazy. Sad and gruesome, too, and sometimes poignant and philosophical. “Monkey love,” we’re told, is a unique, radicalizing kind of love — more profound than the one between two humans. “The bond is much deeper,” says Tonia Haddix, one of the show’s central figures. “It’s just natural; it’s like your love for God.”Can she get an amen? Actually, no: Haddix, who describes herself as “the Dolly Parton of the chimps,” is an advocate for and a participant in the private chimpanzee market. She says she has a special, spectacular bond with Tonka, an adult chimp who was in several movies and whom she considers particularly docile and soulful. She insists, repeatedly, that Tonka, among others, is more of a “humanzee” — as much a person as he is a chimp. In one scene, she and Tonka watch Instagram videos of other chimpanzees, including his offspring.“Chimp Crazy” and “Tiger King” share an executive producer and director in Eric Goode, and they also share an ecstatic tabloid salaciousness. One woman breastfed a chimp baby alongside her human daughter. A man describes the chimp his mother housed as “the Tom Brady of chimpanzees,” on account of his handsomeness.Everyone in this documentary is suffering, and some of them are ridiculous. And others of them are chimps. “Chimp Crazy” is more textured than “Tiger King,” partly because of its closer attention to the plight of animals. Intertwined with Haddix’s saga are stories of other people who thought they could raise chimps and live together in unending familial bliss — until the chimps reached adolescence, at which point they attacked someone. These attacks are horrific and often fatal, though the chimp owners are rarely deterred.Haddix’s battle with the animal rights group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals shapes much of the action of the documentary, and jaw-dropping details and twists are never more than a doleful recollection away. “Crazy” is both compassionate and manipulative, and the filmmakers themselves deceive some of their subjects and become major players in Haddix and Tonka’s story. (Also a player: the actor Alan Cumming, who once acted alongside Tonka and eventually offers a $10,000 reward for information leading to the animal’s whereabouts.) There’s an endless “OMG” feeling to everything here, the kind of show that puts the outrage in outrageousness. More

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      New Movies and TV Shows Coming to Netflix in August: ‘Emily in Paris,’ ‘Kaos’ and More

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      This month sees the return of “Emily in Paris” and a superhero ensemble, along with a heartbreaking documentary about the daughters of imprisoned men.Every month, Netflix adds movies and TV shows to its library. Here are our picks for some of the most promising new titles in August. (Note: Streaming services occasionally change schedules without giving notice. For more recommendations on what to stream, sign up for our Watching newsletter here.)‘A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder’ Season 1Stream it hereThe charming young actress Emma Myers (seen recently as an irrepressibly cheerful werewolf on “Wednesday”) gets a starring role in this adaptation of the best-selling young adult novel by Holly Jackson. Myers plays Pip, a sweet but somewhat naïve British schoolgirl, who for a class project decides to reinvestigate the death of a popular teen and her boyfriend — a crime that her small town’s local police force classified as a murder-suicide. To get closer to the truth, Pip relentlessly pesters her peers and tries to cozy up to her worldlier, more party-minded classmates. “A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder” is a mystery series with a somewhat unusual hero: an awkward amateur detective who is learning as much about herself and her neighbors as she is about the crime.‘The Umbrella Academy’ Season 4Stream it hereThe fourth and final season of this surreal superhero series brings back the world-saving, reality-bending Hargreeves family for one more adventure, set in another of their many timelines. This time, the siblings find themselves stuck in a world where none of them have superpowers, and where some new enemies intend to take advantage of their sudden weakness. Based on a comic book franchise created and written by Gerard Way (the lead singer for the rock band My Chemical Romance), “The Umbrella Academy” retains the wildness of its source material, converting Way’s love of science-fiction and teen angst into a visually imaginative, absurdly funny and frequently unpredictable show about a fractious family whose members have to learn over and over that they are stronger together.‘Daughters’Stream it hereFor over a decade, Angela Patton has helped lead a program called Girls for a Change, which offers resources and guidance to young women whose lives have been affected by poverty, crime and incarcerated parents. Patton is also the co-director (with Natalie Rae) of the documentary “Daughters,” which takes an intimate look at one remarkable G.F.A.C. program, which gives imprisoned men an opportunity to attend a dance with their daughters. The film spends time with the children and their fathers, both in the weeks leading up to the dance and in the weeks after. “Daughters” blends hope and heartbreak into a story about how broken families can stay broken for generation after generation until someone makes an effort to fix them.‘Emily in Paris’ Season 4, Part 1Stream it hereSeason 3 of this breezy romantic-comedy series ended with the American influencer Emily Cooper (Lily Collins) suddenly single after a breakup with her boyfriend Alfie (Lucien Laviscount), prompted by her feelings for the seemingly unavailable Gabriel (Lucas Bravo). Season 4 will be released in two parts (the second comes on Sept. 12) and will see Emily contemplating new romantic opportunities while still dealing with her attraction to both of the men in her life. As always, this new set of “Emily in Paris” episodes will emphasize the glamorous locations and fashions of Europe, as the heroine shares her travails and her travels on social media — often to the consternation of her friends, colleagues and potential lovers.‘Kaos’ Season 1Starts streaming: Aug. 29The fantastical comedy “Kaos” imagines a world where the gods and heroes of Greek myths are still around in our modern times, meddling in mortals’ lives and receiving their tribute. Jeff Goldblum plays Zeus, whose immense power and popularity doesn’t keep him from feeling anxious about his legacy and future. Aurora Perrineau plays Eurydice, who receives a dire prophecy that shakes up her relationship with her pop star husband, Orpheus (Killian Scott). An eclectic cast — including Janet McTeer as Hera, Cliff Curtis as Poseidon, David Thewlis as Hades and Stephen Dillane as Prometheus — fills out the creator Charlie Covell’s satirical epic, which deals with the perils of fame and fortune and the dangers of divine caprice.We are having trouble retrieving the article content.Please enable JavaScript in your browser settings.Thank you for your patience while we verify access. If you are in Reader mode please exit and log into your Times account, or subscribe for all of The Times.Thank you for your patience while we verify access.Already a subscriber? Log in.Want all of The Times? Subscribe. More