L.A. Times Entertainment

Los Angeles has long been a magnet for those chasing their big break in film and TV, but conversations about a growing exodus are getting louder. L.A.’s entertainment industry workforce has been rocked by a series of unprecedented shocks, from a global pandemic to last summer’s double labor strikes by writers and actors. As the streaming boom has faded, entertainment companies have hemorrhaged jobs, and networks, studios and streamers have pared back their programming slates. With the industry in the grips of a slowdown and the cost of living in L.A. still high, the motto for those struggling to remain in the city has become “Survive till ’25,” in hopes of a rebound next year. Reporter Josh Rottenberg talked with three different creatives about leaving L.A.’s entertainment industry. Read more at the link in @latimes_entertainment ’s bio. 📸 : @zoecranfill / Los Angeles Times; @ginaferazzi / Los Angeles Times; Shlomit Ovadia

There were lime-green tube tops, lime-green beanies, lime-green hoodies and cowboy hats and sunglasses and at least one lime-green mesh vest like something an especially with-it street paver might wear. But even those not dressed in the glaring color of Charli XCX’s glaring new album, #Brat , were showing their devotion to the English pop singer this month, shouting along with every word as she performed all 15 of the album’s tracks for a capacity crowd vibrating with excitement at the Shrine Expo Hall in Los Angeles. @charli_xcx ’s sudden ascent is just one of several we’re seeing this summer, including @sabrinacarpenter and @chappellroan , both of whom are putting up huge numbers after years of work in the trenches of pop music. So why now for these women — and in a year crowded with activity, no less, by veteran A-listers like Taylor Swift, Beyoncé and Billie Eilish? The Times’ pop music critic has your answers and talks with industry insiders at the link in @latimes_entertainment ’s bio. 📸 Andy Kropa, Evan Agostini and Amy Harris / Invision / Associated Press; Lexie Moreland / WWD via Getty Images; @therealchristinahouse / Los Angeles Times; @ginaferazzi / Los Angeles Times

Thousands of Kendrick Lamar fans hit @thekiaforum in Inglewood for “The Pop Out — Ken & Friends” show on Juneteenth, with many telling The Times’ @michaelblackshire_ that the concert was the best way to celebrate the holiday. Hit the link in @latimes_entertainment ’s bio for more pictures from the show and more thoughts from the fans. 🎥 @michaelblackshire_ , @ducassi #kendrick #notlikeus #losangeles #juneteenth

#Hacks star Hannah Einbinder stopped by the L.A. Times to answer our #VeryImportantQuestions ! Watch more episodes at the link in @latimes_entertainment ’s bio. Presented by @20thcenturystudios , @marvelstudios and @Lucasfilm 🎥@markpottslat #Television #tv #funny #trending #emmys #comedy

@katedelcastillo , 52, didn’t let weak cellphone reception get in the way of celebrating her invitation to join @theacademy . “I’m shooting in the middle of nowhere with a terrible signal,” Del Castillo said on Wednesday via text. “I’m humbled by this invitation and also very aware of this huge responsibility. I’ll do my best to honor the academy and its members by being honest and fair.” Known for her work in films like “Under the Same Moon” and the TV narcocrime drama “La Reina del Sur,” the Mexican-born actress is among the 487 artists and executives invited to join the academy on Tuesday. Of these, 41 are Latino, less than 10%. Fellow actors such as #JessicaAlba , #StephanieBeatriz and #AlfredoCastro also were selected. Other notable Latino inductees include Linda Yvette Chávez, writer of “Flamin’ Hot”; casting director Alejandro Reza; and Kyle Patrick Alvarez, who directed “The Stanford Prison Experiment.” ➡️ Read the full story through @delosangelestimes ’ link in bio. ✍️ @noitsnotcerys 🎨 @a_martinaibanez

You can’t spell “laugh” without “LA” (or “ugh”…). Introducing a new digital series from the L.A. Times: “Jokes On L.A.” It’s — well, it’s exactly what it sounds like: #JokesOnLA . 😂 In this episode, we spotlight the comics of @laughingstock_la : @itsliarich @seanhamrin @celinekuk @jonathan.adam.dunn @notallinfluencers @jennmarsala @cee_everything & @lizpollack You might have seen them perform at their sell-out Saturday night show at the @lyrichyperion in Silver Lake or their back-to-back month-long sellout runs at the 2022 and 2023 #EdinburghFringe Festivals. You can catch ‘em later this Summer on their upcoming tour of the UK and collaboration with @donttellcomedyparis — or at their last U.S. show pre-tour, Saturday June 29th at the @lyrichyperion . But more than buzz or individual success, Laughing Stock founders and producers Charley Lanyon and Jennifer Marsala say that their comedy collective “represents a growing movement that goes to the heart of what is wrong with the notoriously toxic stand-up scene.” “Instead of putting on traditional comedy shows, we have modeled ourselves on historic artistic collectives,” and fostered a sense of community and collaboration through writing groups and annual retreats, “where ideas and punchlines are shared freely— all in the spirit of community and mutual support.” Dive deep into L.A.’s robust comedy scene at the link in @latimes_entertainment ’s bio or at latimes.com/comedy 🎥 Produced by @ducassi #comedy #losangeles #standup #funny #la #standupcomedy #comedyvideos #comedyreels

Though she’s just over 5 feet tall, Nuyorican actress Liza Colón-Zayas seemed smaller seated at the tabletop of @mofongosla , a family-run North Hollywood Puerto Rican eatery where The Times’ Yvonne Villarreal met her just before the third season premiere of #TheBear . Unlike her character on @thebearfx , the no-nonsense cook Tina Marrero, @lizacolonzayas_lcz isn’t stingy or curt with her words and is more likely to insist you sample her order of mofongo de carne guisada than try to sabotage the cooking of your stock by turning up the flame to high heat. But much like her character, Colón-Zayas knows what it’s like to be in plain sight, putting in the work for years, hoping for the nexus of potential and opportunity. With a nearly 30-year career, Colón-Zayas is an Off Broadway veteran. She’s performed on a string of television shows and films over the years, often in day-player roles but also in roles that tapped her range. Then came “The Bear,” @fxnetworks ’ critical and audience darling, which has nabbed a slew of awards to back up the hype. For two seasons, her character has simmered on the back burner — active and essential but not at a full boil just yet. As a new regime takes over at the Original Beef of Chicagoland following the death of its owner, Michael “Mikey” Berzatto (Jon Bernthal), Tina’s guard is up, resistant to the orders being slung at her by new, younger bosses. In time, she relaxes enough to see that change could be for the better — last season, she enrolled in culinary school and was promoted to sous chef. “I get her,” Colón-Zayas says. “She’s on guard, like, ‘You’re walking into my territory.’ This is not just a job. This is a made family. Restaurants, old-school traditional ones, are shutting down all around us. She doesn’t know what the changes Carmy is trying to make will mean. And we’ve just lost a family member, Mikey.” In the third season, Tina comes into focus. And so does Colón-Zayas. The Times’ @villarrealy sits down with Colón-Zayas at the link in @latimes_entertainment ’s bio. 🖊️ @villarrealy 📸 @therealchristinahouse 🎥 @ducassi #TheBear #TheBearFX #Comedy #Television #emmys

What dish would you add to The Bear’s menu? Let us know 👇 after you watch @thebearfx stars @oliverplatt , @lizacolonzayas_lcz and @edwinleegibson weigh in. Times TV critic Robert Lloyd says season 3 of “The Bear” “is as magnificent as television ever gets.” Hit the link in @latimes_entertainment ’s bio for our full review. 🎥 @ducassi #thebearfx #tv #comedy #food

After a year-long battle, Marilyn Monroe’s Brentwood home has been saved from destruction. On Wednesday, the L.A. City Council unanimously voted to designate the iconic Spanish Colonial-style residence as a historic cultural monument, protecting it from being razed by its current owners. The battle over the home on 5th Helena Dr. has been brewing since last summer, evolving into a greater discussion of what exactly is worth protecting in Southern California — a region chock-full of architectural marvels and Old Hollywood haunts swirling with celebrity legend and gossip. Monroe fans claimed the residence is an indelible piece of Hollywood history; the actress bought the house for $75,000 in 1962 and died there of an apparent overdose six months later, making it the last home she ever occupied. Read more at the link in bio. 📸: Sunset Boulevard / Corbis via Getty Images and Anne Cusack / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images

L.A. or New York? How would Elsbeth respond to being stopped by a TikTok interviewer on the streets of NY? Which of the lawyers from #TheGoodWife universe would Preston want to represent her in court? @elsbethcbs star @carriepreston stopped by the L.A. Times to answer our #VeryImportantQuestions ! Watch more episodes at the link in @latimes_entertainment ’s bio. Presented by @20thcenturystudios , @marvelstudios and @Lucasfilm 🎥@markpottslat #Television #tv #funny #trending #emmys #comedy #elsbeth

“We didn’t have a Black lead in this franchise for 15 years, and that’s inexcusable,” #TheBachelor executive producer Bennett Graebner said of the franchise’s turbulent track record with regard to race. After years of silence, the executive producers behind the reality franchise are responding to the racial issues that have clouded ABC’s hit series. After Matt James — who remains the only Black Bachelor — was cast in 2020, his stint became embroiled in controversy when photographs surfaced of contestant Rachael Kirkconnell at an antebellum South-themed party. He later accused the producers of failing him. “I’m going to be really frank — we let Matt down,” Graebner told The Times. “Here was this great Black man, and we should have been celebrating his love story. Instead, what we saw was a man burdened and overwhelmed by issues of racism,” Graebner added. “It was really sad for me personally.” Up next for the franchise is a new season of #TheBachelorette starring Jenn Tran, the first Asian lead on any of the “Bachelor” dating shows. Much of Tran’s season will have intense conversations about race and faith, executive producer Claire Freeland said. Still to be seen is whether Tran will be targeted by the increasingly vocal legion of #BachelorNation on social media that has been resistant to embrace contestants who are not white. “We can’t change the minds of people who aren’t interested in this new direction. What we have the power to do is change the program,” Freeland said. “There’s a reason why this show has been around for 20 years. The dream and desire for true love will never go out of style. We hope that people can look at the last couple of years and see that we are intending and taking steps to make the change.” Read their full comments and more about the franchise at the link in @latimes_entertainment ’s bio. 📸 Ross May / Los Angeles Times; photos by Getty Images; Piera Moore / For The Times; John Fleenor / Disney

Film and TV crew members have reached a tentative contract deal with the major Hollywood studios after months of bargaining. The tentative deal — struck Tuesday by the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers — includes updated terms related to pay, pension and health benefits, work-life balance, job security, subcontracting, residuals and artificial intelligence. IATSE’s Hollywood Basic Agreement spans three years and covers some 50,000 craftspeople primarily based in Los Angeles. Read more about the deal at @latimes_entertainment ’s link in bio. 📸 : @jason_armond