This Week in Pop Culture: December 1 - 7, 2018

Friends fans thought that Netflix was dropping their favorite at the end of this year, but Santa came early for these Ross and Rachel aficionados. Netflix will pay $100 million dollars for the right to run the series through 2019, which is more than triple the amount it initially paid to license the sitcom. Apoplectic means distraught and upset.

The Cher Show opened on Broadway this week, and Kanye West and Kim Kardashian were spotted in the night audience were . Apparently everyone in the theater was very aware of West's presence, as he was focused on his phone instead of the performance. Jarrod Spector, who plays Sonny Bono in the musical, called Kanye out on Twitter. Kanye later apologized for his behavior and complimented the show.

Ron Burgundy, the lead character in "Anchorman," will get his own podcast next year. It will be interesting to see how the Will Ferrell character, who'd be the first to tell you how good looking he is, adjusts to a medium where he can't be seen.

The American Film Institute released its list of the best films of the year. The AFI list is always a mix of critically acclaimed movies and box office favorites. A Star is Born, Black Panther, and Mary Poppins Returns all made the list. There is a lot of Oscar buzz around A Star is Born, and its appearance on the AFI list, along with its National Board of Review wins, confirm its status as a an early favorite.

Comedian Kevin Hart confirmed on Tuesday night that he will host the Academy Awards in February. Talk show host Jimmy Kimmel has hosted for the last two years. In an interview, Hart said that hosting the Oscars is something he's long dreamed of doing. Hart's most recent movie was Night School co-starring Tiffany Haddish.

Another Jonas brother got married this week, crushing the dreams of many fans. Nick Jonas married Quantico star Priyanka Chopra in a lengthy ceremony which combined, or melded, Western and Indian traditions. The wedding, with 225 guests, was held in Jodhpur, India.

Prince will reign again, this time on movie screens. The Purple One's music catalog has been optioned by Universal, which hopes to make a musical out of the material. Executives at the studio stress that the film they envision will not be a biography of Prince's life, but rather an original story that includes Prince's songs.

The new Captain Marvel movie trailer was released. It features Brie Larson as lead character Carol Danvers in some high-octane action clips. Fans will have to wait until March to see the film.

A concert was held in Malibu to benefit the victims of the recent fires there. Katy Perry, Gwen Stefani and Robin Thicke were among the acts that performed to help raise money for the people whose homes were destroyed or badly damaged in the wildfires. The concert also functioned to keep the public at large aware of the fact that people in the area still need help. Other performers included Alanis Morrisette and Brandi Carlile.

The Kennedy Center Honors were held this week. For the first time ever the awards, which usually celebrate individuals, honored a project — the musical Hamilton. Writer and star Lin-Manuel Miranda, as well as the director and choreographer of the show, were given special recognition. Other Kennedy Center honorees this year include Cher, Reba McEntire, Jazz saxophonist Wayne Shorter and composer Philip Glass.