Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders made a cameo appearance on Saturday Night Live at the weekend, three days before the New Hampshire primary, appearing in a skit with host Larry David, who has previously done a dead-on impersonation of him. The NBC comedy resisted the temptation to have the Vermont US senator appear alongside David as he was playing him – instead, Sanders portrayed a passenger on an endangered ship who argued with David about who should be allowed on a lifeboat. Sanders is the third presidential candidate to appear on SNL this season. Fellow Democrat Hillary Clinton made an appearance last fall, and Republican Donald Trump hosted in November. In Saturday's skit, David played a ship's crew member who was angry about women and children getting priority for the lifeboats. David said he deserved a seat because he was richer than the other passengers. Sanders appeared, saying he was sick of the top one per cent getting all of the advantages, echoing his campaign's call for the super-rich not to be gifted so many benefits in society. "We need to unite and work together if we're all going to get through this," Sanders said. "Sounds like socialism to me," David said. "Democratic socialism," Sanders said. "What's the difference?" David asked. "Yuge difference," Sanders replied, imitating how Trump often pronounces "huge". David had made two appearances on SNL portraying Sandersin skits. He reprised it on Saturday in a pre-filmed segment, Bern Your Enthusiasm, a play on David's character in the HBO comedy Curb Your Enthusiasm. David, playing Sanders, refused to shake a woman's hand at a campaign event because she had just coughed into it, and he denied a woman's request that he help pop her separated shoulder back into place so she could vote for him in the Iowa caucus. The people he slighted were then showed voting for Clinton in a caucus she won in real life by a razor-thin margin. – AP
Marriott launches Dubai-set short-film sequel
JW Marriott Hotels & Resorts' Marriott International Content Studio has debuted the second instalment in its Dubai-filmed Two Bellmen short film series, following a black carpet premiere last weekend in Los Angeles. The movie also received a premiere at the JW Marriot Marquis in Dubai last week. The film, which stars Hollywood stuntmen William Spencer (Spider-Man) and Caine Sinclaire (Grimm, How I Met Your Mother), alongside Freida Pinto (Slumdog Millionaire) and Emirati comedian Ali A0l Saeed is available on in-room movie channels at Marriot hotels, and at www.twobellmen.com – The National staff
Priyanka Chopra lands role as Ms Marvel in video game
Here is the latest in the rapidly growing list of Priyanka Chopra's international assignments – the 33-year-old will provide voice of superhero Ms Marvel in a new mobile game called Marvel Avengers Academy. She will voice Ms Marvel, Kamala Khan, who was the first Muslim character to headline a Marvel comic. Chopra announced the news on Twitter, saying: "Say hello to Ms Marvel – I'm her voice and she's my alter ego in Marvel Avengers Academy!" she tweeted, along with an image of her character. Other stars in the Avengers Academy include WWE wrestler-turned-actor John Cena as the voice for the Hulk, Dave Franco as Iron Man, Alison Brie as the Black Widow, Alexandra Daddario as Wasp, Colton Haynes as Thor, Bella Thorne as Tigra and Kiernan Shipka as Spider-Woman. – Sonali Kokra
Sundance picks 10 ‘must-see’ films from 2016 festival
The Sundance Channel has picked its 10 "must-see" films from this year's Sundance Festival, and there was good news for Dubai/London-based production house WigWam Productions, with Tehran-based horror Under the Shadow making the final cut. Other movies the channel recommends include the audience splitting Swiss Army Man, in which Harry Potter star Daniel Radcliffe stars as flatulent corpse, which drove some people out of the theatre at its Sundance premiere, the Casey Affleck-starring Manchester by the Sea, about a man who returns to his hometown to care for his dead brother's son, and Nate Parker's The Birth of a Nation, which retells the story of Nat Turner's 1831 slave rebellion in Virginia and is already being tipped for an Oscar next year. – Staff
Beyoncé releases free single ahead of Super Bowl show
Beyoncé had social media in a tizzy over the weekend, after releasing a new song online on Saturday, the day before of her appearance in the 2016 Super Bowl half-time show. Beyoncé released Formation as a free download on her artist page on streaming service, Tidal, which she co-owns with husband Jay Z, Rihanna and other artists. She said the song, and its music video, was a gift to her fans. It can be downloaded without having a subscription to Tidal. – AP
Iman thanks fans for support after death of David Bowie
David Bowie's wife Iman has posted a message on social media for the first time since the rock legend's death last month, tweeting simply "Love and gratitude". It was her first tweet in almost a month, and follows one from Duncan Jones, Bowie's eldest son with previous wife, Angie Bowie, on January 23 that said: "Just wanted to thank you for the incredibly kind words & thoughts." Bowie died in January of cancer. His latest album, Blackstar, released just days before his death, is riding high in charts around the world, but it is unlikely to be his last – there are reports that he lined up a series of records for release following his death. – The National staff
Director George Miller to head Cannes prize jury
Mad Max director George Miller will be president of the jury at the 2016 Cannes Film Festival in May. The event will mark his return to Cannes, following the debut the long awaited Mad Max sequel Fury Road, which had its premiere out of competition in 2015. He said: "What an unmitigated delight. To be there in the middle of this storied festival at the unveiling of cinematic treasures from all over the planet. To spend time in passionate discourse with fellow members of the jury. Such an honour. I'll be there with bells on." –The National staff
