🎭 Culture & Entertainment
June 20th, 2026
Today's top 5 stories, curated by Daily Direct.
Rolling Stone
James Burrows, ‘Cheers’ Co-Creator and Famed TV Director, Dead at 85
James Burrows, the legendary television director whose fingerprints are on some of the most beloved sitcoms in history, has died at 85. Over a career spanning decades, he helmed more than 1,000 episodes across landmark series including Cheers, Friends, Frasier, Taxi, and The Mary Tyler Moore Show. His unmatched body of work helped define the modern American sitcom, making him one of the most influential figures in television history.
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Variety
Knicks Stars Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart Confront ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith, Who’s Booed Out of Theater, During Podcast Taping
Stephen A. Smith found himself on the wrong end of a hostile crowd after Knicks stars Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart confronted him during a live podcast taping, with the audience booing him out of the theater. The moment came just a day after an estimated two million fans packed Lower Manhattan for the franchise's first championship parade in 53 years, with New York's triumphant mood still running hot. Smith, a longtime skeptic of the Knicks, paid the price for his takes in front of the most motivated possible crowd.
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Variety
Tony Leung Reflects on ‘Silent Friend,’ Wong Kar-wai and Why His Films Must Be Seen in Cinemas at Shanghai Masterclass
Tony Leung Chiu-wai took the stage at the Shanghai International Film Festival to defend the irreplaceable value of cinema, arguing that his signature minimalist performances — conveyed through subtle gestures, even a flicker of the fingers — are simply lost on smaller screens. The remarks came during a masterclass tied to a screening of his film "Silent Friend" and echoed a broader conversation about theatrical exhibition in an era of streaming dominance. For one of Hong Kong cinema's most celebrated actors, the message was clear: some performances require the full frame to land.
Read article →Hollywood Reporter
“We Lost a Giant”: James Burrows Mourned by Eric McCormack, Tony Danza and More
James Burrows, the legendary television director behind some of the medium's most beloved comedies, died Friday at 85. An 11-time Emmy winner, Burrows shaped the DNA of American sitcoms across five decades, leaving an indelible mark on shows from "Cheers" to "Will & Grace." Co-stars and collaborators including Eric McCormack and Tony Danza were among the many paying tribute to a career that defined what great TV comedy could look like.
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Variety
‘Taxi’ Star Tony Danza Pays Tribute to Director James Burrows: ‘We Have Lost the Greatest of All Time’
James Burrows, the legendary television director behind some of America's most beloved sitcoms, died Friday at 85. Tony Danza, who collaborated with Burrows on 75 episodes of "Taxi," led an outpouring of tributes, calling him "the greatest of all time." Burrows' influence on the sitcom format is virtually unmatched, with credits spanning decades of defining American television.
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