Just in time for the holidays, the United States Congress finally passed a COVID relief bill which will help independent concert halls, live theatres and movie theaters with some $15 billion in grants and loans. Shuttered since the beginning of the pandemic, many of these venues would probably close for good without financial assistance.
Meanwhile, Creative Artists Agency and the Writers Guild have now officially buried the hatchet, reaching a deal on a new franchise agreement. William Morris Endeavor is now the only talent agency that hasn’t agreed to the WGA’s terms.
Of course we also cover some of the week’s top entertainment headlines including why the video game Cyberpunk 2077 has been trying to work the bugs out with its release, Mariah Carey returns to the top of the music charts with her Christmas hit and film critics associations from New York to Los Angeles name the years best movies.

‘Monster Hunter’ Takes In $2.2M Before ‘Wonder Woman 1984’ Shakes Up Theatrical Window
https://deadline.com/2020/12/monster-hunter-wonder-woman-1984-croods-2-weekend-box-office-1234659802/
Box Office: ‘Wonder Woman 1984’ Sputters in China, Grosses $38.5 Million Overseas
https://variety.com/2020/film/box-office/box-office-wonder-woman-1984-china-grosses-1234867283/
LA Film Critics Awards: Steve McQueen’s ‘Small Axe’ Wins Best Picture, ‘Nomadland’ Is Runner-Up
https://www.indiewire.com/2020/12/la-film-critics-announce-2020-award-winners-list-1234605778/
New York Film Critics Circle Names ‘First Cow’ Best Movie of 2020
https://www.latimes.com/world-nation/story/2020-12-19/first-cow-named-2020s-best-film-by-new-york-film-critics
China Tightens Censorship After Monster Hunter Debacle
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/china-tightens-censorship-after-monster-hunt-scandal-delays-release-of-hit-anime-demon-slayer-exclusive
Russo Brothers Received Close to $50 Million From Saudi Bank
https://variety.com/2020/film/news/russo-bros-agbo-saudi-arabia-investment-avengers-endgame-1234866387/
New Video Game CyberPunk 2077 Dies Hard
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/18/technology/cyberpunk-2077-refund.html
Taylor Swift Tops Billboard Charts With Eighth #1 Album
https://www.billboard.com/articles/business/chart-beat/9503234/taylor-swift-evermore-tops-billboard-200-albums-chart/
Trending in China: Japanese Viewers’ Complaints About Sexist Manga Cartoon Go Viral in China
http://china...