عربي English Türkçe اردو فارسى
Logo
Latest News
Entertainment

Saudi Soap Opera 'Al Mirath' Wins Best TV Production of the Year Award

A scene of Al Mirath series in which a number of Saudi actors took part. Asharq Al-Awsat
A scene of Al Mirath series in which a number of Saudi actors took part. Asharq Al-Awsat
TT
TT

Saudi Soap Opera 'Al Mirath' Wins Best TV Production of the Year Award

A scene of Al Mirath series in which a number of Saudi actors took part. Asharq Al-Awsat
A scene of Al Mirath series in which a number of Saudi actors took part. Asharq Al-Awsat

The Saudi series "Al Mirath", the first Arab-produced soap opera, has won the “Best TV Production of the Year” award for the year 2020 at the ASBU BroadcastPro Summit and Awards 2020 in Abu Dhabi.

Shahid VIP (Watch VIP) and MBC1 are currently airing the first season’s final episodes. As soon as the first season ends, which has 250 episodes, the second will be aired.

Al Mirath came as part of a strategic partnership between MBC Studios, twofour54 and Image Nation Abu Dhabi. A show about life in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the soap is a melodramatic saga that grapples with the country’s social, economic and cultural aspects of Saudi life and their evolution.

It tells the story of an old and deeply entrenched rivalry between two families (the Bahitanis and the Khawatnis). However, Romance comes into play as a young man and woman from the rival families fall in love. The story develops under many thrilling circumstances.

Each episode is around 25 minutes long, and the show stars an array of Saudi actors, including Rashid Al-Shamrani, Faisal Farid, Hind Mohammed, Mohammad Al-Hajji, Nour Hussein, Captain Rima, Muhannad Bin Hathail, Rana Al-Shafei and Turki al-Kreidis.

A team of writers led by Tony Jordan- the screenwriter and former executive producer of the long British soap opera East Enders- were involved in writing the script for the first season.

Nour al-Shishakli, Giscar Lahoud, Mazen Taha and Thaer Al-Akl also took part. Behind the camera, Christine Melek, Indra Bose, Tamer Bassiouni and Abdullah Al-Junaibi collaborated to direct it.

Most Viewed

 
 
Entertainment

The Grammys Add 5 New Categories and Announce Changes to Best New Artist

Grammy awards are displayed at the Grammy Museum Experience at Prudential Center in Newark, N.J. on Oct. 10, 2017. (AP)
Grammy awards are displayed at the Grammy Museum Experience at Prudential Center in Newark, N.J. on Oct. 10, 2017. (AP)
TT
TT

The Grammys Add 5 New Categories and Announce Changes to Best New Artist

Grammy awards are displayed at the Grammy Museum Experience at Prudential Center in Newark, N.J. on Oct. 10, 2017. (AP)
Grammy awards are displayed at the Grammy Museum Experience at Prudential Center in Newark, N.J. on Oct. 10, 2017. (AP)

The Recording Academy has tweaked some of its rules for the 2026 Grammy Awards, including the addition of five new categories.

The academy on Tuesday announced the addition of a best Asian pop music performance category — celebrating releases across K-pop, J-pop, C-pop and beyond — awarded to the performer.

A new best traditional pop vocal performance category will be awarded to performers whose music “cannot properly be intermingled with present forms of pop music,” according to a press release.

Also, a new best Latin song category will recognize songwriters for their work on Latin songs recorded predominantly in Spanish.

The other changes affect the R&B and folk categories. A new best R&B collaboration or duo/group performance award joins the reimagined best R&B solo performance category.

Folk has experienced a similar change that country experienced last year: Best folk album has become best contemporary folk album. A best traditional folk album category has been added.

In addition to the five new categories, changes have been made regarding the criteria of a few releases. Most noteworthy: alterations to the best new artist category.

The Grammys will now allow artists to submit in the category four times, up from three. That is in an attempt to better reflect the current music market, where it can take time for an artist to break through.

There is no specified maximum number of previous releases and a screening committee is tasked with determining “whether the artist had attained this high degree of impact in the music industry prior to the eligibility year,” according to the rule book. An artist who has received a Grammy nomination in the past is not eligible.

The Grammys will also allow certain qualified members to vote in more categories.

“2027 is going to be an amazing year for the Grammy Awards, and one that reflects the extraordinary growth we’re seeing across music,” Harvey Mason jr., CEO of the Recording Academy said in a statement.

“The changes advanced by our Recording Academy members speak to the breadth of today’s music industry and the many genres, crafts and creators shaping it. We’re excited to see these updates come to life in the year ahead as we celebrate the music people who are driving music forward.”

Entertainment

Luke’s ‘Empire’ Light Saber, ‘Wizard of Oz’ Witch Hat and Lebowski Rugs Going up for Auction

This combination of images released by Heritage Auctions show the light saber used on screen by Mark Hamill's character Luke Skywalker in the 1980 "Star Wars" sequel "The Empire Strikes Back." (Heritage Auctions via AP)
This combination of images released by Heritage Auctions show the light saber used on screen by Mark Hamill's character Luke Skywalker in the 1980 "Star Wars" sequel "The Empire Strikes Back." (Heritage Auctions via AP)
TT
TT

Luke’s ‘Empire’ Light Saber, ‘Wizard of Oz’ Witch Hat and Lebowski Rugs Going up for Auction

This combination of images released by Heritage Auctions show the light saber used on screen by Mark Hamill's character Luke Skywalker in the 1980 "Star Wars" sequel "The Empire Strikes Back." (Heritage Auctions via AP)
This combination of images released by Heritage Auctions show the light saber used on screen by Mark Hamill's character Luke Skywalker in the 1980 "Star Wars" sequel "The Empire Strikes Back." (Heritage Auctions via AP)

A light saber with Luke Skywalker's severed hand from “The Empire Strikes Back” that is expected to sell for seven figures headlines an upcoming auction of valuables from movies, music and other corners of pop culture.

The Hollywood & Entertainment Signature Auction presented by Heritage Auctions announced Tuesday and held July 13-17 also includes hats from “The Wizard of Oz” and “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory,” hoverboards from “Back to the Future II,” rugs from “The Big Lebowski” and a pair of Rocky 's boxing boots.

A major Beatles artifact will also be up for sale: John Lennon's handwritten lyrics for “If I fell,” written on the back of a Valentine card while he was in New York for the Fab Four's first appearance on “The Ed Sullivan Show” in 1964. The bidding for it will open at $500,000.

The light saber, used onscreen by Mark Hamill in the climactic Cloud City fight in the 1980 “Star Wars” sequel, where Darth Vader declares “I am your father,” includes a severed hand effects rig. It’s never been up for auction before and bidding opens at $1 million.

Bidding starts at $100,000 for a Wicked Witch of the West hat worn by actor Margaret Hamilton in 1939's “The Wizard of Oz” and at $50,000 for the brown top hat worn by Gene Wilder as the title character in 1971's “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.”

The auction will also include a pair of boxing boots worn by Sylvester Stallone in “Rocky III.” Stallone wears the showy boots featuring tassels and a Nike swoosh in the opening montage of the 1982 film. Bids will begin at $100,000.

Also up for sale are the two rugs that are essential to the plot of “The Big Lebowski,” including the rug belonging to Jeff Bridges' the Dude that is soiled at the beginning of the 1998 film that “really tied the room together,” and the other that he takes from his wealthy namesake. Bidding on them opens at $15,000 apiece.

“This auction represents the full spectrum of entertainment history, from Hollywood’s Golden Age to modern blockbuster cinema and the most influential moments in popular music,” Joe Maddalena, executive vice president of Heritage Auctions, said in a statement.

Many other items including a Paul Newman hockey jersey from “Slap Shot,” a necklace worn by the title character in “The Bride of Frankenstein” and the inflatable “Otto the Autopilot” from “Airplane” will be up for auction.

Entertainment

Singer Bonnie Tyler Out of Coma

(FILES) Britain's Bonnie Tyler performs during the finals of the 2013 Eurovision Song Contest on May 18, 2013. (Photo by John MACDOUGALL / AFP)
(FILES) Britain's Bonnie Tyler performs during the finals of the 2013 Eurovision Song Contest on May 18, 2013. (Photo by John MACDOUGALL / AFP)
TT
TT

Singer Bonnie Tyler Out of Coma

(FILES) Britain's Bonnie Tyler performs during the finals of the 2013 Eurovision Song Contest on May 18, 2013. (Photo by John MACDOUGALL / AFP)
(FILES) Britain's Bonnie Tyler performs during the finals of the 2013 Eurovision Song Contest on May 18, 2013. (Photo by John MACDOUGALL / AFP)

Singer Bonnie Tyler, known for mega-hits "Total Eclipse of the Heart" and "Holding Out for a Hero," has come out of a coma following emergency surgery last month, her family said.

The 75-year-old Welsh star, who shot to fame with her hits in the 1980s, was put into a coma at a hospital in Faro, Portugal, in May to aid her recovery.

A message from her team and family posted on her website late Monday said she is "no longer in a coma but remains very unwell and in intensive care" in Portugal.

"Her doctors remain confident that she will make a good recovery but it is going to take time," they added.

All her planned concerts until the end of August are set to be cancelled or postponed as a result, AFP quoted them as saying.

Tyler had been due to perform this year in Germany and Austria and at a festival in Britain.

The family thanked fans for their "huge outpouring of love,” saying Tyler was aware of this.

Tyler shot to fame in the 1970s with hits including "Lost in France" and "It's a Heartache.”

"Total Eclipse of the Heart" later topped the charts in both Britain and the United States.

"Holding Out For A Hero" came out in 1984 and featured on the soundtrack to the huge US box office hit "Footloose.”