March 2023 Entertainment Quiz: What was the color of the red carpet at the Oscars?

On Feb. 22, 2023, the creator of Dilbert, Scott Adams, appeared on his YouTube show, referred to Black people as “a hate group,” and urged white people to “get the hell away” from them. These comments were in response to a Rasmussen Reports survey that asked whether Black people agreed with the statement, “It’s OK to be white.” By Feb. 26, several newspapers across the US, including The Los Angeles Times, The San Antonio Express-News, The USA Today Network, and NJ Advance Media, decided to drop Dilbert in response to Adams’ remarks.

Russian President Vladimir Putin awarded actor Steven Seagal the Order of Friendship on February 27, 2023, for his “humanitarian work,” which included his cooperation with Russia and his adoration for Putin. Seagal got Russian citizenship after expressing admiration for Putin in 2016 and is known for backing the annexation of Crimea.

Chris Rock’s sixth standup special and his second for Netflix, Selective Outrage, was performed live from Baltimore on Mar. 4, 2023. The special featured jokes about Will Smith slapping Rock at last year’s Oscars ceremony, abortion, pronouns, O.J. Simpson, Meghan Markle, and more. Netflix’s first-ever global live show was preceded by a pre-show hosted by Ronny Chieng, David Spade, and Dana Carvey and followed by a post-show featuring Bono, Rosie Perez, Matthew McConaughey, and more.

Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor, the first child of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, was born on May 6, 2019, in London, England. He is seventh in line to the British throne but does not have a royal title. Archie’s fourth birthday coincides with the coronation of his grandfather, King Charles III, who will be crowned at Westminster Abbey on May 6, 2023. Although they officially received an invitation on Mar. 5, 2023, it is not yet confirmed whether Archie and his parents will attend the ceremony or send their best wishes from afar.

Fun Fact: Harry appeared in a pay-per-view live-streamed conversation with author and therapist Gabor Maté on Mar. 4, 2023, where he said he felt “free” after the release of his memoir and “strange” being in the royal family.

Marvel Comics released the first issue of the Planet of the Apes comic book series on Feb. 29, 1974. This series was adapted from Pierre Boulle’s 1963 novel. It ran for 29 issues until October 1977. Marvel Comics announced on Mar. 3, 2023, that the company would launch a new imprint focusing on 20th Century Studios’ movies, like Planet of the Apes, Alien, and Predator. This series is a new adaptation of the franchise that will feature original stories and characters. The first issue of the new Planet of the Apes comic book series is due Apr. 5.

“Sweet Home, Alabama” was written by Gary Rossington, Ed King, and Ronnie Van Zant, who was the lead singer of Lynyrd Skynyrd and died in a plane crash in 1977. The song was a response to Neil Young’s songs Southern Man and Alabama, which criticized the South for its history of slavery and segregation. The song also references the Watergate scandal and Alabama governor George Wallace. It became one of the band’s most famous hits and a symbol of southern pride. Gary Rossington, the last surviving original member and guitarist of the band, died at 71 on Mar. 5, 2023.

In 1998, George Michael was arrested by an undercover police officer for engaging in a lewd act in a public restroom in Beverly Hills, California. The arrest led to him being outed as gay by the tabloids, who had been trying to expose his sexuality for years. As a result of the scandal, Michael released Outside, which featured him dressed as an LAPD cop dancing in a bathroom. The incident and its aftermath are explored in the documentary Outed. It aired on Channel 4 in the UK on March 6 and 7, 2023, followed by an American broadcast on March 13 and 14 on HBO. Watch the trailer.

“History of the World, Part I” was a 1981 comedy film written, produced, and directed by Mel Brooks, who also played five roles in the film. The film consisted of five shorts that spoofed different periods of history, such as the Roman Empire and the French Revolution. The film also teased a sequel with segments like “Hitler on Ice” and “Jews in Space,” which were never made until 2023, when Brooks collaborated with current star comedians to finally create “History of the World, Part II” for Hulu. The series debuted in the US on March 6, 2023, and has a March 13 airdate in the UK. Watch the star-studded trailer.

Michelle Yeoh won Best Actress at the 95th Academy Awards for her role in “Everything Everywhere All at Once.” She dedicated her award to her father, who passed away last year. Yuh-Jung Youn won Best Supporting Actress in 2021 for her performance in “Minari.”

The Oscars laid a champagne-colored carpet instead of the usual red one, presumably to add some sparkle to the ceremony. However, the choice also led to some last-minute scrambling after a rainy weekend. This left organizers cutting up sections of the carpet ruined by bad weather and dirty shoe soles.

Stevie Nicks and Billy Joel teamed up for a co-headlining tour that kicked off at Inglewood’s SoFi Stadium on March 10, 2023. They surprised fans by singing a duet during each other’s set: Joel sang “Stop Draggin’ My Heart Around” with Nicks, and Nicks sang “And So It Goes” with Joel. Nicks also paid tribute to her late Fleetwood Mac bandmate Christine McVie with “Landslide.”

Lindsay Lohan announced that she was expecting her first child with her husband, Bader Shammas, by posting a photo of a baby onesie that reads “coming soon” on Instagram on Mar. 14, 2023. Lohan expressed her happiness in the caption, “We are blessed and excited!” along with emojis of praying hands, a heart, a baby face, and a baby bottle. No other details about the pregnancy were revealed. The actress and financier married in July 2022 after dating for three years.