Entertainment News Roundup: Netflix backs Sacred Games S-2, Julia Louis-Dreyfus gets U.S. humor prize

The PGA Tour and pay TV operator Discovery Inc unveiled a live and on-demand video-streaming service on Monday that will allow golf fans access to nearly 150 tournaments annually.

Following is a summary of current entertainment news briefs.

Freddie Mercury's spontaneity challenged 'Bohemian Rhapsody' star

When television actor Rami Malek took on the role of colourful rock star Freddie Mercury in the film "Bohemian Rhapsody," he found the biggest challenge was capturing the Queen lead singer's commanding presence on stage. Malek, the Emmy-winning star of TV drama "Mr. Robot," portrays Mercury from his early days with Queen in the 1970s, through its rise to worldwide fame with anthems such as "We Will Rock You," to a rousing performance at the Live Aid benefit concert in July 1985 at London's Wembley Stadium.

Actress Amber Heard says birth on U.S.-Mexico border sparked rights activism

U.S. actress Amber Heard, a star of the upcoming "Aquaman" superhero movie and a U.N. human rights champion, said on Monday her childhood in Texas near the Mexican border helped spark her activism. Her father, a Texas construction worker, accrued more and more godchildren on the Mexican side of the border, and young Amber considered many of them as friends and family.

Netflix backs Sacred Games season 2 after probe

Netflix Inc will stick with the existing producers of its hit Indian show "Sacred Games" for a second season after conducting an independent investigation into allegations of sexual harassment, the company said on Tuesday. In an email to Reuters, Netflix said it was standing by Vikramaditya Motwane and Anurag Kashyap, whose production house was behind the Mumbai-set thriller.

Geoffrey Rush tells court he was 'numb' after misconduct allegation published

Australian actor Geoffrey Rush said on Monday he was distraught when he read newspaper articles accusing him of inappropriate conduct, as a court began a hearing into his lawsuit against the publisher. In the first such case in Australia of the #MeToo era, Rush is suing News's Corporation's Australian arm over a series of articles saying he was the subject of a complaint to the Sydney Theatre Company in relation to its 2015 production of King Lear.

'Crocodile hunter' Steve Irwin's family launch new show

The family of late Australian conservationist and "Crocodile Hunter" Steve Irwin are following in his footsteps with a new television show dedicated to their wildlife conservation work. "Crikey! It's the Irwins" will follow Irwin's wife Terri and their two children, Bindi and Robert, looking after animals at their Australia Zoo in Queensland as well as heading out on various expeditions.

Julia Louis-Dreyfus, star of Seinfeld and Veep, awarded U.S. humor prize

Julia Louis-Dreyfus, an American comedian whose career on the improv stage led to iconic roles on shows such as Seinfeld, was honoured on Sunday for contributing to the national culture. Louis-Dreyfus gained fame as Elaine - the perpetually single neurotic in Jerry Seinfeld's ensemble sitcom - but her role as a blundering politician on the HBO show Veep has brought more acclaim.

Discovery, PGA Tour to launch video streaming platform

The PGA Tour and pay TV operator Discovery Inc unveiled a live and on-demand video-streaming service on Monday that will allow golf fans access to nearly 150 tournaments annually. The new service, GOLFTV, will launch on Jan. 1 outside the United States and will carry more than 2,000 hours of live action each year, including tournaments such as the Players Championship, the FedEx Cup playoffs and the Presidents Cup.

Frank Underwood is dead but looms large in final 'House of Cards' season

In the final season of Netflix Inc's "House of Cards," Frank Underwood is physically gone, having died unexpectedly in his sleep. But the ghost of the win-at-all-costs politician played by Kevin Spacey haunts his wife and her young presidency. Writers of the acclaimed drama had to rework the story after Spacey was accused of sexual misconduct a year ago and dropped from the show that made Netflix a player in premium television. The ending of the Underwoods' story, which the producers called a "season of reckoning," will be available on Netflix on Nov. 2.

(With inputs from Reuters)