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James Cameron's latest blockbuster continues to dominate North America's box offices. "Avatar -- The Way of Water" earned another 45-million-dollars in its fourth week of release in the U.S. and Canada. Coming in second is the horror comedy "M3GAN" [[ Megan ]] which made just over 30-million-bucks in its debut weekend. In third place is "Puss in Boots -- The Last Wish" with just over 13-million-dollars. Rounding out the Top Five are "A Man Called Otto" starring Tom Hanks followed by "Black Panther -- Wakanda Forever."
The Eagles are extending their Hotel California Tour into Florida. The legendary rock band, featuring Don Henley, Joe Walsh, Timothy B. Schmit and country star Vince Gill, is adding six new dates in 2023. They include Amalie Arena in Tampa on March 28th. The band sets out on February 19th and wraps up on April 7th. Tickets go on sale Friday.
Composer John Williams is coming up with a new theme song for ESPN's College Football National Championship as TCU and Georgia face off tonight. Variety reports the song is titled "Of Grit and Glory" and will score a series of visuals that convey "the feeling behind the night, fear and anticipation, triumph and failure." Williams composed the score with a 96-piece orchestra last month and ESPN filmed the entire session.
Mel Gibson will no longer be part of the 2023 Mardi Gras parade in Lousiana. On Friday, the Krewe of Endymion announced Gibson would lead the February 18th parade. But the group backtracked on their decision after receiving backlash from Jewish leaders in New Orleans who called the move "completely insulting and shortsighted." Gibson is infamous for his anti-semitic comments, including reportedly calling Jewish people "oven-dodgers" and going on an antisemitic rant while arrested for DUI in 2006.
The Penguin is set to waddle back into Gotham City. Colin Farrell says last year's movie, "The Batman," is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to exploring his character The Penguin. Speaking to Variety, Farrell said he had no idea he would be getting his own spinoff series, but knew he wanted to do more in the role. Production for the "The Penguin" series begins next month, but there's no word on when the series will hit HBO Max.
https://variety.com/2023/tv/news/colin-farrell-the-penguin-series-the-batman-1235480534/
The TSA has made yet another bizarre discovery at a security checkpoint. A four-foot long boa was found coiled up in a woman's carry-on baggage at Tampa International Airport on December 15th after passing through the X-ray machine. The nonvenomous reptiles are native to Mexico and Argentina, and it's unclear exactly why it was inside the traveler's luggage. There's no word on possible charges against the snake-carrying traveler.