timeline

Whether you’re already on the inside or new to the party, the Canadian meta-comedy “Nirvanna the Band the Show the Movie,” about a music duo’s epic undiscoveredness, shows little audience favoritism as it ping-pongs between timelines, formats, realities, cultural shout-outs and its two indefatigable lead characters. Make that four leads, since director and co-writer Matt Johnson and his composer-best friend Jay McCarrol each play themselves twice, thanks to archival footage presented in this zippy mockumentary as evidence of time travel.

Don’t be confused. Or rather, be confused but adventurously so! Especially if you aren’t familiar with the cult web series from which this film derives. Indie-savvy viewers might know Johnson’s work from the moon-landing conspiracy lark “Operation Avalanche” or the cheeky docu-dramedy “BlackBerry,” both of which he directed and acted in. But there’s no getting around the fact that if you haven’t encountered them before, then for a good while they’ll come across as Motormouth Clown in a Fedora (Johnson) and Understated Guy at the Piano (McCarrol).

With three Ns to their band name (no relation to a slightly better-known group), a dream of booking Toronto’s longstanding live venue and only a cluttered suburban home to show for it, the duo’s act seems primarily to be coming up with boneheaded ideas for exposure. Johnson’s latest bolt of inspiration is for them to parachute from the top of downtown Toronto’s 2,000-foot CN Tower into the open Rogers Centre stadium below, a plan which meets with amusingly alarmed concern from a very real employee at the hardware store. It’s the first of many encounters with unsuspecting citizens, à la the oeuvre of Sacha Baron Cohen.

Though their stunt fails — yet succeeds for us as a piece of guerrilla filmmaking wizardry — it spurs Johnson toward an even crazier notion: time traveling in an RV to 2008 to change their fates and secure their inevitable fame. Think “Back to the Future” and think about it a lot, since from here on out, that 1985 classic becomes this movie’s lodestar of structural, comedic and musical reference. (McCarrol’s enjoyably overwrought orchestral score shouts out to composer Alan Silvestri.)

That the filmmakers could play against themselves using video of the 2008 versions of their characters (when they had the web series) is undeniably clever, if not always the laugh riot it promises to be. But it also helps foster the jealousy-driven farce that takes over the current-day narrative and is genuinely funny: a rejiggered timeline in which McCarrol becomes a massive pop star and Johnson gets left behind.

Invariably these wacky scenarios will be more amusing to longtime fans, for whom a frantic climax akin to the lightning-meets-DeLorean ending of “Back to the Future” will play like nostalgia for nostalgia. To the uninitiated, though, even amid steady laughter and a sneaking concern for this silly friendship to right itself, it may come off as much ado about who knows what.

But Johnson is nothing if not a punchy ringmaster of deadpan humor and his grab-bag mindset generates enough goodwill to appreciate the DIY brashness of it all. I’m one of those who had no clue of this act’s history and I’m fairly certain I’d look forward to “Nirvanna the Band the Show the Movie the Sequel.”

Nancy Guthrie appeared to have been abducted just minutes after a security camera at her home was disabled, according to a new timeline officials shared in the case Thursday.

The new facts — including that blood found at her home belonged to the 84-year-old — were shared the day after her children made a desperate plea to a possible abductor or abductors to communicate with them.

Officials also announced a $50,000 reward for information leading to the recovery of the mother of “Today” show host Savannah Guthrie or to an arrest and conviction in the case.

“Right now we believe Nancy is still out there. We want her home,” Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos said at a Thursday news conference. He said a massive team of local and federal partners are still “working round the clock.”

In a tearful video posted to Instagram Wednesday night, Savannah Guthrie and her two siblings begged for the return their mother and seemed open to communicating with her captors about a possible ransom.

“We live in a world where voices and images are easily manipulated. We need to know, without a doubt, that she is alive and that you have her,” Savannah Guthrie said. “We want to hear from you, and we are ready to listen. Please reach out to us.”

The heartbreaking video was the latest twist in a case that has captured the nation’s attention — with alleged ransom notes sent to media outlets and the president offering to deploy resources to help — as true crime crime fanatics and pundits speculate about the whodunit in real time.

Nancy Guthrie was first reported missing Sunday morning from her Tucson-area home after she didn’t show up for church. Almost immediately, family and officials noted suspicious circumstances, with the 84-year-old nowhere to be found, but her essentials — her cellphone, wallet, car and medications — still at home. Her family had last seen her around 9:30 p.m. Saturday night, officials have said.

Although she is of sound mind, Guthrie has physical ailments that keep her from walking very far and needs to take a daily medication that she appears to be without.

There was also evidence that someone had forced their way inside her home, according to law enforcement sources not authorized to discuss the case publicly. Images reviewed by The Times showed a trail of blood droplets near the front door of the home.

Officials have said they believe she was “taken from her home against her will.”

Several news outlets have also reported receiving possible ransom notes requesting money in exchange for Nancy Guthrie’s release. The Pima County Sheriff’s Department said it was aware of those notes but did not verify their authenticity.

As Guthrie described her mom in the video plea, she appealed to the humanity of her mother’s captors.

“She loves fun and adventure. She is a devoted friend. She is full of kindness and knowledge. Talk to her, and you’ll see,” Guthrie said through tears.

She also reiterated that her mom is without her medication that she needs “to survive and and she needs it not to suffer.”

Experts have called this case increasingly extraordinary, due to its circumstances but also because of decisions made by investigators.

Retired LAPD Lt. Adam Bercovici, who supervised the agency’s Special Investigation Section of Robbery Homicide Division which included kidnappings, said the usual playbook for handling such a case is already out the window because law enforcement typically tries to not share its involvement or pursuit of any suspects.

Bercovici said he was surprised that local officials initially called Guthrie “missing,” despite several pieces of early evidence pointed to an abduction. He was also surprised to see detectives returning to the crime scene after they initially cleared the home, appearing to do additional evidence gathering after family might have returned and reporters were all over the property.

“This is like something from 1940s with a very public kidnapping playing out in the media,” Bercovici said. It was also surprising, he said, that alleged kidnappers have sent ransom notes to the media and not directly to the family or someone who could pay.

While unusual, Horace Frank, the former assistant chief of the Los Angeles Police Department who oversaw kidnapping investigations, said he was glad the entire note wasn’t disclosed publicly.

Given the circumstances, he understands why the family came out with the video plea.

“They are appealing to the humane side of whoever the abductors [is] or someone who has some kind knowledge,” Frank said. “You are trying to make it difficult for the those behind this.”

The Guthrie siblings, in the video, also appealed directly to their mom.

“Mama, if you’re listening, we need you to come home,” Annie Guthrie said. “We miss you.”

“We will not rest, your children will not rest, until we are together again,” Savannah Guthrie said.

Walt Disney Co. named a new chief executive this week, tapping theme parks veteran Josh D’Amaro as its new leader.

D’Amaro succeeds Bob Iger, who is expected to retire on Dec. 31 when his contract expires after nearly two decades on the job.

The issue of corporate succession has been a fraught one at Disney — and the subject of intense speculation across Hollywood in recent years.

Here’s a look at key developments in the succession drama:

Bob Chapek Named Chief Executive Officer of The Walt Disney Company

(Business Wire)

Feb. 25, 2020: Chapek named CEO

Disney announces that Bob Chapek, a 27-year Disney veteran who led the company’s massively important parks and consumer products business, would succeed Iger.

Chapek, 60, was one of several top Disney executives who were potential successors, including Disney direct-to-consumer chairman Kevin Mayer, who oversaw the successful launch of streaming service Disney+.

But the announcement contained a wrinkle: Iger wasn’t leaving the company — at least not right away. He would assume the role of executive chairman, leading the company’s creative endeavors, while guiding the leadership transition until the end of his contract on Dec. 31. 2021.

In this Sept. 11, 2015, file photo, Chairman of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts Bob Chapek poses with Minnie Mouse during a ceremony at the Hong Kong Disneyland, as they celebrate the Hong Kong Disneyland’s 10th anniversary.

(ASSOCIATED PRESS)

Nov. 20, 2022: Chapek fired, Iger returns

Disney’s board fires Chapek after less than three years on the job and asks Iger to serve two additional years as chief executive, postponing his exit.

The stunning announcement came after a series of missteps and miscalculations by Chapek, Iger’s hand-picked successor, that raised questions about his leadership.

Directors were said to be increasingly impatient with the company’s shaky financial performance and organizational changes Chapek made at the Mouse House.

“The board came to the conclusion they were losing the heart and soul of the company,” one longtime Disney observer who was not authorized to comment publicly said at the time.

(Jim Cooke/Los Angeles Times; Photo by Vianney Le Caer/Invision/AP)

July 12, 2023: Board extends Iger’s contract amid challenges

Disney’s board decides to keep Iger in the top job through December 2026, once again delaying his retirement.

The decision is a recognition of the serious challenges facing the company. Among them: struggles in animated movies, steady subscriber losses at sports giant ESPN and political and cultural battles with conservatives in Florida.

Iger moves swiftly to cut costs and eliminates thousands of jobs across the company. He also directs the company to slow down production of films and TV shows to focus on quality.

James Gorman, then chairman and chief executive of Morgan Stanley, in Davos, Switzerland, on Thursday, Jan. 19, 2023.

(Bloomberg/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

Oct. 21, 2024: Board taps Gorman to lead succession

After the fiasco with Chapek, Disney turns to someone with a track record of successful succession planning at Morgan Stanley: James Gorman.

Gorman is named the new chairman of the company’s board of directors, replacing Nike Chief Executive Mark Parker, who leaves after nine years.

Facing pressure from critics such as the activist investor Nelson Peltz, Disney also announces it will pick Iger’s successor by early 2026.

Josh D’Amaro, who previously ran Disney’s theme parks division, was named Disney CEO.

(Paul Morse)

February 3, 2026: Disney picks Josh D’Amaro as new CEO

Disney selects Josh D’Amaro as its new leader. D’Amaro, 54, beat out three other internal candidates for the job and was a Wall Street favorite.

The charismatic 28-year Disney veteran had the edge because of his deep affinity with company’s corporate culture and his success in growing the all-important theme parks business, which is in the midst of an ambitious 10 year, $60-billion parks and cruise line expansion. He was also a Wall Street favorite, which didn’t hurt.

Disney Entertainment Co-Chair Dana Walden was named the company’s president and chief creative officer.