Entertainment
Marlon Wayans on “Him,” and on veering from comedy to horror
Just a stone’s throw from the concert halls of New York’s Lincoln Center is another place where creative dreams come true: LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts, a launching pad for the most talented teens in New York. Liza Minnelli studied here; so did Billy Dee Williams, Jennifer Aniston, Timothée Chalamet, and Adrien Brody. “A two-time Oscar-winner, look at that!” said Brody’s former classmate, Marlon Wayans, Class of 1990. “Makes me so proud. We used to give him wedgies!”
CBS News
As an actor, writer and producer, Wayans is behind some of the best-loved projects in recent memory, like the “Scary Movie” franchise, a comic satire of horror films. There have been five “Scary” movies (some without the Wayans brothers), but they’re back at the helm for the upcoming #6 next year.
And when he’s not making movies, Marlon Wayans tours on the live stand-up comedy circuit. He also turns out streaming comedy specials like clockwork. “Probably a year that I had a day off,” he said. “Probably three years since I had a vacation.”
I asked, “What are you chasing?”
“I don’t know if I’m chasing, or if I’m running from something!” he laughed. And for his latest role, he had to do both.
In the new psychological horror film “Him,” a rookie quarterback (played by Tyriq Withers) wants to be the greatest. Marlon Wayans is an aging football superstar who’s going to help him. At first he’s a likeable coach, but he morphs into a something evil.
Is he the Devil in this film? “No, I think I’m just one of the people that the Devil uses to entice the people who sell their soul,” Wayans said.
To watch a trailer for the film “Him,” click on the video player below:
The notion of trading your soul for athletic immortality is one of the all-time great storylines. You might recall “Damn Yankees,” with a hopeful fan striking a deal with the Devil. And as the Devil’s advocate in “Him,” Wayans’ character puts the rookie quarterback through hell. “The movie seems like, ‘Oh, you’re selling your soul to the Devil.’ The Devil exists every day, everywhere,” Wayans said. “At least 20 times a day you are gonna be faced with God or the Devil. So, it’s a choice. Everything you do is a choice.”
It’s a big change for someone raised on comedy. Marlon Wayans is the youngest of 10 siblings, in the comedy dynasty known as the Wayans family. He often worked with his brothers, like when he teamed up with Shawn as an undercover FBI agent in the 2004 cult favorite “White Chicks.”
Family is still the bedrock of Wayans’ life, and the passing of some close relatives and friends over the past few years hit especially hard, as he described in his 2024 special “Good Grief”:
“I’ve been dodging depression for the last three years. I lost my momma three years ago. And let me tell you y’all something, ain’t no pain, ain’t no nothing like losing your momma.”
I asked, “Do you think losing all these people in such a short span of time, that pain, informs your acting?”
“Yes, because I used to have to manufacture tears,” Marlon said. “My mother died … it’s all I gotta think about. It’s right there. It’s right behind my eyes. I don’t need 20 minutes to go think about stuff no more.”
Wayans has learned how to turn personal loss into dramatic power. He was told he was the only one considered for his role in “Him,” a sign that his time may have finally come.
He said, “It took me doing the work for 53 years to feel special.”
“You didn’t feel special?” I asked.
“I felt like I was working towards something.”
“And now you feel like that something is here?”
“I feel like it’s never there, but it’s getting closer,” he replied.
CBS News
To date, Marlon Wayans’ movies alone are said to have grossed nearly $2 billion, and there are more on the way. But he says he’ll never forget LaGuardia, the unique school where it all started. “I’ll always love this city, and I’ll always love this school. This is my baby for life. I hope these kids know how good they got it.”
He almost didn’t get to go. His father didn’t want him to attend. “Nah, my dad, he was super-religious, and he was kind of a homophobe; he didn’t want me wearing tights! ‘Cause you have to wear tights when you come to this school.”
The late LaGuardia drama teacher Peter Treitler gave him permission to wear sweatpants instead, a little thing that changed Marlon’s life forever.
Mr. Treitler’s words are still alive in Marlon’s heart: “He said, ‘I’ll make a deal with you: If you go to this school, you work harder than anybody else here, and you be special.’ Young people need people that believe in them and see they’re great. But young people gotta do the work so they can see they’re great.”
“Well, that’s the thing, is you took that and ran with it,” I said.
Wayans replied, “I’m still running with it.”
For more info:
Story produced by John D’Amelio. Editor: Steven Tyler.
See also:
Entertainment
Britney Spears case ends with guilty plea in reckless driving matter
Britney Spears will not go to jail after reaching a deal in a driving case that started earlier this year.
The 44-year-old singer was arrested on March 4 in Southern California after police said she was driving her BMW in a way that looked dangerous and at a high speed.
Britney was later suspected of driving under the influence.
In court on Monday, the Toxic singer’s lawyer appeared for her and accepted a lesser charge of reckless driving linked to alcohol or drugs. However, she did not attend the hearing herself.
After the arrest, the music icon reportedly went to a rehab facility as her team said the situation was not acceptable but also shared that she has been trying to make positive changes in her life.
The Gimme More singer’s lawyer went on to add that she has taken responsibility for what happened and has been working on improving herself.
He added that these steps helped the court reduce the charge and drop the DUI case.
Because of this agreement, Britney will avoid jail time.
The case is still being followed, and more details may come out as the situation continues to develop.
Entertainment
Emily Blunt celebrates as ‘Devil Wears Prada 2’ dominates box office
Emily Blunt has been seen all smiles as she stepped out to celebrate the strong success of the new Devil Wears Prada sequel, which is already making big money at the box office.
The film brings back major stars like Meryl Streep, Anne Hathaway and Stanley Tucci and it has clearly connected with audiences very well.
Reports say it that has already earned around 233 million dollars worldwide in its opening days, with strong numbers from both US and other countries.
Emily, who plays Emily Charlton in the film, was seen out in New York with her husband John Krasinski on Sunday night.
The couple attended an awards event and looked very happy as they celebrated the film’s success.
Emily wore a clean white outfit with simple jewellery and heels, while John also looked sharp in a white suit.
They both, however, seemed relaxed and in a good mood as cameras caught them at the event.
Devil Wears Prada 2, released on May 1, has even done better than the original film’s opening.
It also saw a large female audience turnout as the story continue the old characters but also shows new changes in the media world.
Critics have mostly praised it for its style, fashion, and nostalgic feel.
Entertainment
Lizzo opens up about new music amid yearslong legal battle: “The truth will come out”
Lizzo is opening up about her new music amid a yearslong legal battle and why she indefinitely placed a project on hold last year.
Her highly anticipated album is set to be released on June 5 and the singer hopes it empowers women with the use of a single word.
“The album is called ‘Bitch,'” Lizzo said. “After the song … I always have a title track.”
The album’s title track samples Meredith Brooks’ feminist anthem of the same name as well as Missy Elliott’s song, “She’s a Bitch.”
“I feel like what both of those women did was they pushed that word forward in a way that empowered it, instead of taking the power away. Like that’s a word that used to get hurled at women,” Lizzo told “CBS Mornings” co-host Gayle King in an exclusive interview. “It’s my favorite word.”
“The truth will come out”
The Grammy winner’s new music comes amid her legal trouble.
In 2023, three of her former backup dancers filed a lawsuit against the singer, alleging a hostile work environment and sexual harassment during her world tour. One dancer also claimed she was shamed for her weight.
The weight shaming allegation was ultimately dismissed.
But some of the sexual harassment claims still remain, including the dancers’ allegation that Lizzo pressured them to engage with nude performers at a burlesque club in Amsterdam.
Lizzo is appealing that ruling and said she will not settle.
“I’m fighting the case because I know that it’s not true,” she said. “Just like the fat shaming one is not true.”
If the case goes to trial, Lizzo said she’s ready to testify, saying, “the truth will come out, and that’s why I’m not afraid of it.”
“The truth is less salacious than the headlines,” she added.
Lizzo said because it is an ongoing case, she can’t talk about the details, but added she “cannot wait for it to be dismissed.”
Last year, the singer was set to release another studio album, “Love in Real Life.” Two of the singles didn’t reach the Billboard charts and later the project was put on hold indefinitely, which Lizzo said was her decision.
“I didn’t delay anything,” she said. “I think that I have been working on an album and I put a lot of pressure on me for a long time, and I think what I learned last year was like, I’m here to make music. I’m here to give music to my fans.”
Weight loss journey
Lizzo has also made headlines for her weight loss journey.
“I released the anxiety I was going through. I released depression and I also released some weight on my body.”
She said she’s “not a skinny person” and is not trying to be.
“I mean if I came out today as a brand new artist with this body, I would still get the same criticisms I got back in 2019.”
Responding to rumors that she used weight loss medications, Lizzo explained her weight loss journey was done “with a calorie deficit, cardio and protein.”
But she admitted she tried a GLP-1 drug years ago, and said it didn’t work for her.
“I’m scared of needles and it just did not work out for me,” she explained. “So when I decided to do the weight release journey in 2023, which was years after, I was like, ‘I’m gonna have to do it the old fashioned way.'”
Focusing on music
As for the future, the four-time Grammy winner said she’s looking forward to touring again soon.
“I know the music is good and I know my heart is good,” she said. “So if I know that, I have nothing to worry about. People are gonna say what they wanna say. They’re gonna think what they are going to think.”
She said believing in her heart and craft she hopes to “inspire other people to do it too.”
-
Tech1 week agoA Brain Implant for Depression Is About to Be Tested in Humans
-
Tech1 week agoAlmost 90% of women leave tech industry within 10 years | Computer Weekly
-
Business1 week agoPakistan’s oil market is fuelling the crisis | The Express Tribune
-
Business7 days ago‘I had £20,000 stolen and had to fight a 13-month fraud reporting rule to get it back’
-
Sports6 days agoPro wrestling star Steph De Lander reveals how colleague’s advice helped lead her to title triumph at ACW
-
Entertainment7 days agoNorway joins Type 26 Frigate Programme to boost NATO naval power
-
Entertainment1 week agoMelania Trump says ABC should ‘take a stand’ on late-night host Kimmel
-
Tech6 days agoThis Ambitious Laptop Doesn’t Leave Much Room for Your Hands

