Aretha stretches anthem; ‘Star Wars’ actor dies:

Show some respect for Aretha Franklin’s national anthem performance at the Thanksgiving football game between the Detroit Lions and the Minnesota Vikings. The 74-year-old diva put a jazzy spin on the “Star-Spangled Banner,” extending the song for nearly 5 minutes while playing piano. Some fans criticized her hymn-like rendition as too long or slow — “at this rate the game will start at 2pm,” one Twitter user joked — but ESPN’s Dan Graziano defended Franklin as “pretty far up at the top of the list of folks who can take however long they want with the national anthem.”

“Star Wars” actor Peter Sumner is dead at age 74, his agent has confirmed. He only worked two days on George Lucas’ 1977 film and had a relatively small role as Lieutenant Pol Treidum on the Death Star, but was the only Australian actor to appear in the original space opera and had a memorable line, “TK-421, do you copy?” Sumner also appeared in the Mick Jagger film “Ned Kelly,” the children’s TV show “Play School” and Australian series like “Spyforce” and “Heartbreak High.

SUNY Cortland alumnus Kevin James had fun with Jimmy Fallon in a Thanksgiving-themed return to a “Tonight Show” spoof of ’80s cop shows. The “Kevin Must Wait” star and late-night host played a member of the “Point Pleasant Police Department,” uncontrollably spitting out food and drinks every time they pronounced a “P” word. Thanks to poultry, pumpkin and parades, things to pretty messy pretty fast.

And Apple’s Frankenstein-themed holiday commercial is dividing fans who either love it or hate it. Frankenstein’s monster, a.k.a. “Frankie,” appears dressed like Ebenezer Scrooge as he attends a Christmas tree lighting. Villagers are scared at first, especially when he plugs two lights into his neck bolts, but he ends up leading a heartwarming singalong of “There’s No Place Like Home For The Holidays” — backed by an instrumental played on his iPhone, of course.

More Buzz:
» ‘Brady Bunch’ mom Florence Henderson dies at 82 (Associated Press)
» ‘Emerald City’ reimagines ‘Wizard of Oz’ as more like ‘Game of Thrones’ (SF)
» Dylan O’Brien spotted on set for first time since ‘Maze Runner’ accident (ET)
» Spice Girls reunion trio GEM’s first single leaks online (E! News)
» Kendall Jenner shows off plump pout after sis denied getting lip fillers (DM)
» Kanye West spends Thanksgiving in hospital, sleep/dehydration issues (NYDN)
» Tyga pays off $200K jewelry debt to protect girlfriend Kylie Jenner (TMZ)
» ‘Goon: Last of the Enforcers’ trailer: Seann William Scott is back on ice (SF)
» The Weeknd releases ‘Starboy’ album feat. Daft Punk, Future, Kendrick (BB)
» Justin Bieber’s ex Sahara Ray shares topless photos after skinny dipping (DM)
» The CW’s ‘Supergirl,’ ‘Arrow,’ ‘Flash,’ ‘Legends’ crossover looks great (E!)
» Catherine Zeta-Jones hits back at paparazzi with her own bikini photos (NYDN)
» ‘Rogue One: A Star Wars Story’ tickets will be available on Monday (Slashfilm)
» David Beckham’s son Cruz covers Justin Bieber, eyes music career (TMZ)
» Mariah Carey flaunts cleavage on Thanksgiving, accused of Photoshop (DM)
» 2Pac’s ‘All Eyez on Me’ biopic release date set for June 16, 2017 (Billboard)
» DJ Khaled introduces son Asahd with fiancee Nicole Tuck (NY Daily News)

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