Movie Release :

Monday, May 16, 2016

Latest Movie News From Moviefone

Latest Movie News From Moviefone

5 Binge-Worthy TV Series You Should Watch Now

Posted:

5 Binge-Worthy TV Series You Should Watch NowAs a term, "binge" hasn't always had the most positive connotations. But that negativity is all in the past, now that streaming services have made marathoning full seasons of TV shows as easy as pressing a button and keeping your eyes open. Binge-watching is now a badge of honor -- something to brag about at the office or over drinks. And with so much great content out there, locking out the world and plugging into a series for several hours a week (or a night) is really the only way to keep up.

But here's a fact many fledgling binge-watchers don't realize. A great show isn't necessarily a binge-able one. There are shows like the dark British anthology "Black Mirror," with individual chapters so peculiar and haunting that they demand some contemplation to really land. And there are shows like the gruesomely beautiful "Hannibal," which requires a stomach of iron just to get through one episode per sitting.

But never fear. There are plenty of well-made series that satisfy the need for a good TV bender. So silence your phone and pop the popcorn. These five shows are ideal material for a good, long binge-watch.

1. 'Friday Night Lights'

If you're a football fan, you'll appreciate this much-adored drama for its scenes of gridiron glory and defeat in pigskin-obsessed Texas. If you're not a football fan, you'll still fall in love with the show's vibrant, heartbreaking characters and its often idyllic but never naive vision of the American family. A perfect indie-rock/modern-country soundtrack, intimate camerawork, and a photogenic cast contribute to the binge-ableness of "Friday Night Lights."

2. 'The West Wing'

It's an election year, so it's pretty much required of registered voters to embark on a first-time binge or an umpteenth rewatch of Aaron Sorkin's wordy White House drama, "The West Wing." You'll be hooked on the breakneck pace of the show's signature rhythmic dialogue and on the personal and professional lives of the idealistic staff who support the most iconic of fictional U.S. presidents, Jed Bartlet.

3. 'Broad City'

Hilarious life partners Abbi and Ilana are your tour guides through this comedy's fun-house mirror version of New York City. In "Broad City," watch them deal with lost cell phones, drugged-up recovery from wisdom tooth surgery, impossibly disgusting roommates, and more annoyances of pseudo-adult life. The girls' friendship is the glue that holds the whole crude mess together and will keep you hitting that "next episode" button until there are no episodes left.

4. 'Doctor Who'

The long-running British science fiction series, "Doctor Who," is a dream to marathon, because it's actually several different shows in one. The basic premise -- a near-immortal humanoid alien picks up companions and makes trouble throughout time and space -- gives the series boundless freedom to bounce between high comedy, life-and-death action, historical fiction, and hard sci-fi, from episode to episode. Start with the first episode of the 2005 reboot, though there's lots of fun, great performances, and goofy rubber masks to be found in the original 1963 series.

5. 'The Great British Baking Show'

A warning: You may want to hide your keys from yourself so you don't proceed immediately to the bakery after the final bake-off is complete. The reality competition show, "The Great British Baking Show," is scrumptious and charming, pitting amateur bakers of all ages and backgrounds -- a construction worker versus a grandmother versus a high school student -- in challenges both sweet and savory.

This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

'Neighbors 2' Stars Reveal What Feminism Means to Them

Posted:

Wanna know surprising fact about "Neighbors 2"? It's actually a feminist film. Stars Chloë Moretz, Kiersey Clemons, and Beanie Feldstein sat down with Moviefone to tell us what feminism means to them.

This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

Margot Robbie to Star in Harley Quinn Movie With More Female DC Characters: Report

Posted:

Based on all the buzz surrounding upcoming DC villains team-up flick "Suicide Squad," it makes sense that sequels would eventually follow. But one character in particular has already so seized audiences' imaginations that studio Warner Bros. reportedly wants to build a film specifically around her, while also highlighting other female heroes and villains from the comics-verse.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Margot Robbie is currently developing a spinoff starring her "Suicide Squad" alter ego, Harley Quinn, though it won't exactly be a Quinn solo flick. Instead, THR says that the project would "focus on several of DC's female heroes and villains," including rumored participants like Batgirl and the Birds of Prey.

A script is already in the works, with a female writer, though THR's report says that details about the project are so shrouded in secrecy that not only is the plot being kept heavily under wraps, but not even the screenwriter's name is known. Robbie herself is shepherding the project at Warner Bros., and will produce the flick as well.

According to THR, the actress is extremely passionate about Harley Quinn, and the DC Comics universe in general:

Sources say that Robbie was the impetus for the project, adding that when she got the part for ["Suicide Squad"], she dove deep into the comics to learn as much as possible about the character. In the process, she fell for DC's female characters. She brought on the writer to help develop the project and brought it to Warners, which snapped it up.


As excitement for "Suicide Squad" continues to grow ahead of its August bow, it makes sense for Warner Bros. to strike while the iron is hot. And after the disappointing dearth of female-centric Marvel movies, DC is certainly poised to snap up a new quadrant of the superhero movie market, thanks to this project and the upcoming "Wonder Woman." Here's hoping with Robbie's support, this film can get off the ground.

[via: The Hollywood Reporter]

Photo credit: Warner Bros.

This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

9 Reasons Danny Tanner Will Always Be the Dad of Our '90s Dreams

Posted:

It's time to give some props to one of the best sitcom fathers ever. Danny Tanner managed to do it all. He made us laugh, taught us valuable life lessons, and his house was so clean you could eat off every surface. "Full House" would be nothing without him.

Here are 9 reasons he'll always be the ultimate '90s dad. Hug it out and remember the good times.

This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

CBS Renews 'Code Black,' 'Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders,' Two More

Posted:

code black, cbs, renewals, renewed, season 2After announcing which new shows would be added to its schedule for the upcoming TV season, CBS has also renewed four additional series.

The news broke during the annual network upfronts presentation in New York City, with reports surfacing that freshman dramas "Code Black" and "Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders" will be be back for sophomore seasons next year. Long-running reality series "Undercover Boss" has also been renewed for an eighth season.

Despite so-so ratings, Matthew Perry comedy "The Odd Couple" will also be back, securing a season three renewal. That means that CBS will have two former "Friends" stars on its airwaves next year, following the pickup of Matt LeBlanc sitcom "Man With a Plan."

There's no word yet about the fate of freshman series "Limitless" and "Rush Hour," which are currently on the renewal bubble, though TVLine reports that "Limitless" has a better shot than its fellow based-on-a-movie show. The former's renewal chances are about 50-50, the site says, while the latter is "as good as dead."

The four pickups announced on Monday join the following already-renewed shows: "The Big Bang Theory," "NCIS," "NCIS: Los Angeles," "NCIS: New Orleans," "Survivor," "The Amazing Race," "Blue Bloods," "Hawaii Five-0," "Elementary," "Scorpion," "Madam Secretary," "Criminal Minds," "Life in Pieces," "Mom," and "2 Broke Girls." As for "Supergirl," it will see a season two, but is moving from CBS to The CW.

That large crop of returning series, plus the sizable stable of new shows waiting in the wings, should make for a crowded 2016-2017 season. Viewers will have to wait until CBS releases its full schedule to plan out their viewing (or DVR programming) accordingly.

[via: TVLine]

Richard Cartwright/CBS

This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

Kelly Ripa and Jimmy Kimmel Joke About Michael Strahan on 'Live with Kelly'

Posted:

You need someone to break the ice after an awkward departure? Call Jimmy Kimmel. The king of mean tweets co-hosted the newly re-branded "Live with Kelly" on Monday, in the first show since Michael Strahan's "bittersweet" departure. It was clear from the jump that Strahan's absence was not going to be ignored or quickly glossed-over -- instead, it became a main focus of the episode.

Kimmel delved right in after he and Kelly Ripa sat down, joking, "Where's Michael?" Ripa and the audience laughed, and Ripa replied, "That's right you don't read newspapers." Kimmel pretended to have no idea what was going on, asking if everything was all right. Ripa said it was great, and added that it was a tradition that whenever they re-launch the show, Jimmy Kimmel is her first co-host.

Check out this clip from Us Weekly:


As the New York Daily News noted, Kimmel had just come from an appearance on "The Howard Stern Show" and had some questions from Stern to Ripa and executive producer Michael Gelman. "Gelman, will you ever talk to Strahan again?" Kimmel asked. Gelman laughed and said yes. But it was a maybe on Strahan returning to guest host.

Although the show is now "Live with Kelly," Ripa joked to Kimmel they still have photos of Strahan backstage because "We haven't gotten around to" taking them down yet.

They continued to poke fun at the situation in a game called "Wheel of Co-hosts," which featured the names of potential show co-stars, including Derek Jeter, Kylie Jenner, and a "party-sized summer sausage." When the wheel landed on the sausage, Kimmel quipped that he just got a call and was told "The sausage is leaving to go to 'Good Morning America.'"

What do you think -- well played, or too soon?

Want more stuff like this? Like us on Facebook.

This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

AMC Announces New Live After-Show, 'Talking Preacher'

Posted:

Dominic Cooper as Jesse Custer - Preacher _ Season 1, Episode 1 - Photo Credit: Lewis Jacobs/AMCChris Hardwick is certainly keeping his "Talking" seat warm.

The host of "The Walking Dead" and "Fear the Walking Dead" after-show "Talking Dead," and "Better Call Saul" after-show "Talking Saul," and "Breaking Bad" after-show "Talking Bad," will soon lead another live post-show discussion, this time for AMC's new comic book adaptation, "Preacher." However, as for "Saul," it's just for two very special episodes.

"Preacher" premieres with a 90-minute episode this Sunday, May 22 at 10 p.m. ET, after the midseason finale of "Fear." The new after-show "Talking Preacher" will debut Memorial Day weekend, on Sunday, May 29 at 10:30 p.m., following an encore airing of the "Preacher" pilot episode. Series star Dominic Cooper and executive producers Seth Rogen, Evan Goldberg, and Sam Catlin will be the "Talking Preacher" guests.

New episodes of "Preacher" will resume Sunday, June 5 at its regular time of 9 p.m. ET. The second installment of "Talking Preacher" will air following the season finale on Sunday, July 31 at 10 p.m. ET.

AMC's Breaking Bad PanelWhat's "Preacher" about? Here are the details straight from AMC:

"Based on Garth Ennis and Steve Dillon's popular '90's comic book franchise of the same name, "Preacher" is a supernatural, twisted and darkly comedic drama that follows a West Texas preacher named Jesse Custer, who is inhabited by a mysterious entity that causes him to develop a highly unusual power. Jesse, his badass ex-girlfriend Tulip and an Irish vagabond named Cassidy come together and when they do, they are thrust into a crazy world populated by a cast of characters from Heaven, Hell and everywhere in between.

'Preacher,' which films at Albuquerque Studios in New Mexico, stars Dominic Cooper as Jesse Custer, Joseph Gilgun as Cassidy, Ruth Negga as Tulip, Lucy Griffiths as Emily, W. Earl Brown as Sherriff Root, Anatol Yusef as DeBlanc, Tom Brooke as Fiore, Derek Wilson as Donnie Schenck and Ian Colletti as Eugene/Arseface."


Joel Stillerman, president of original programming and development for AMC and SundanceTV, issued a statement about the new after-show:

"It's very clear that Chris Hardwick knows how to lead and navigate a conversation about hordes of zombies on 'Talking Dead' and shifty lawyers on 'Talking Saul,' so we can't wait to see how he'll handle this new batch of insanely, out-of-this-world characters from 'Preacher,' "It's amazing to see Garth Ennis and Steve Dillon's comic creation come to life and I know that Chris and our special guests on 'Talking Preacher' will have a great time engaging fans in a lively discussion around this twisted and unpredictable new series."


Check out this new "Look at the Series" video from AMC:

Are you excited to see AMC's latest comic book story come to life?

Want more stuff like this? Like us on Facebook.

This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

Emilia Clarke: 'That Ain't No Body Double' in New 'Game of Thrones' Nude Scene

Posted:

Premiere Of HBO's "Game Of Thrones" Season 6 - ArrivalsNo disrespect to "Game of Thrones" star Lena Headey for using a body double in Cersei Lannister's naked walk of shame, but Emilia Clarke did not go that route for Daenerys Targaryen's fire walk-off at the end of last night's Season 6, Episode 4.

In "Book of the Stranger," Dany endured still more mockery and threats of rape, this time from the Dothraki men in Vaes Dothrak, but she showed them who was boss by setting the place on fire and emerging unscathed. 'Cause she's a dragon queen like that.

Emilia Clarke and showrunners Dan Weiss and David Benioff reacted to the scene after it aired, with Clarke telling Entertainment Weekly, "It's so exciting, very tingly-making. Every season I get at least one spine-chilling moment. I just stand up and I go, 'I'm hearing what you're all saying, but funny thing, I'm going to kill you all. I forgot that I have an ace in my back pocket and now I win.'"

In terms of shooting the scene nude, Clarke made a point to say, "I'd like to remind people the last time I took my clothes off was Season 3. That was a while ago. It's now Season 6. But this is all me, all proud, all strong. I'm just feeling genuinely happy I said 'Yes.' That ain't no body double!"

EW said production shot her portion of the scene on a private closed set in Belfast, Northern Ireland, while the rest of the scene with the Dothraki actors was shot at the Vaes Dothrak village set in Spain. Clarke preferred this set up to the last time Dany had her clothes burnt off in the first season's finale. "Taking off my clothes is not the easiest thing, but with the magic of the effects, I don't have to do a Season 1 and go on a cliff and do it. I'm in control of it."

The point of the nude scene was to show, once again, how fire is basically (as Weiss put it) Dany's "superpower" and helps her take down the Dothraki leadership and become the leader of another army. "She realizes that this is the missing piece," Clarke told EW. "The Dothraki are the missing piece of her crew – she's seemingly indestructible having Dothraki on her side."

It was also a way to remind the audience of Dany's intelligence, strategy, wit, resourcefulness, and cool, calm, collected ability to save herself, even without the help of one of her dragon babies. And hopefully she is indestructible, since she has many miles to go from here. Long live the Unburnt queen!



Want more stuff like this? Like us on Facebook.

This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

What's New on TV, Netflix, Digital, and DVD/Blu-ray This Week: May 16-22

Posted:

At a loss for what to watch this week? From new DVDs and Blu-rays, to what's new on Netflix and TV, we've got you covered.

TV Worth Watching

"Castle" (Monday on ABC at 10 p.m.)
This is another gigantic week for TV finales, including the "Mike & Molly" and "Castle" series finales, plus season finales for "Bates Motel," "NCIS," "Chicago Med," "NCIS: New Orleans," "Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.," "Chicago Fire," "The Middle," "The Goldbergs," Empire," "Modern Family," "Black-ish," "DC's Legends of Tomorrow," "The 100," "Grey's Anatomy," "Mom," "The Blacklist," "The Catch," "Grimm," "The Originals," "Shark Tanks," Banshee," "Saturday Night Live," "America's Funniest Home Videos," "The Simpsons," "Family Guy," "Bob's Burgers" and "Mr. Selfridge." Whew! And that's not even counting the two shows below.

On May 16, "Castle" is saying goodbye not just to Stana Katic's Detective Kate Beckett and Tamala Jones's Lanie Parish, who were already announced as leaving, but to the entire show, after eight seasons. Even though several stars (including Nathan Fillion, aka Richard Castle) were reportedly finalizing Season 9 contracts, ABC decided to cancel "Castle" after all. So this is it.

"Fear the Walking Dead" (Sunday on AMC at 9 p.m.)
FTWD is starting to get pretty good in its second season, but the slow slide in the ratings suggests it may be too little, too late for some fans. But you should consider catching up on DVR/On Demand before this Sunday's midseason finale. Season 2 of AMC's "Walking Dead" companion series has a total of 15 episodes this year, but they are doing the hiatus thing by splitting up the season. Episode 7, titled "Shiva," airs May 22 with this synopsis from AMC: "The family faces their biggest test yet; Nick, Madison, Travis and others try to stay close to each other."

"Survivor" (Wednesday on CBS at 8 p.m.)
Who will win the under-hyped Season 32, "Survivor: Kaho Rong": Aubry, Michele, Cydney, Tai, or Mark the Chicken? Find out in the big finale, plus reunion special, when they air May 18. #TeamMark or #TeamAubry


New on DVD and Blu-ray

"Kindergarten Cop 2"
Dolph Lundgren takes the reins from Arnold Schwarzenegger in this sequel to the 1990 comedy "Kindergarten Cop," co-starring Bill Bellamy ("White Collar," "Royal Pains") and a bunch of cute kids. Lundgren plays a gruff FBI agent assigned to recover sensitive stolen data; he goes undercover as a kindergarten teacher, but the school's politically correct environment is more than he bargained for. "Kindergarten Cop 2" will release on DVD, Digital HD, On Demand, and on Netflix on May 17. Bonus features include deleted scenes, a gag reel, and a behind-the-scenes look at the making of the film.

Check out this exclusive clip from the movie:

"Orange Is the New Black" Season 3
You've got tiiiii--iiii-iiiime before the release of OITNB Season 4 -- one month to be exact, from the release of Season 3 on DVD/Blu-ray/Digital HD on May 17 to the June 17 premiere of Season 4 on Netflix. Season 3's home release comes with audio commentary, gags, "The Classified Files: Getting to Know the Cast" featurette, and "Sophia: The New Beginning of Laverne Cox" featurette.

"The Witch"
Head back to New England, circa 1630, for this creepy, critically acclaimed horror thriller from writer/director Robert Eggers. It's out on DVD/Blu-ray on May 17, and bonus features include audio commentary from the director; a Salem Panel Q&A, design gallery, and "The Witch: A Primal Folklore" featurette.


New Video on Demand, Rental Streaming, and Digital Only

"Triple 9"
A giant heap of A-listers (including Woody Harrelson, Anthony Mackie, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Aaron Paul, Norman Reedus, Casey Affleck, and Kate Winslet) star in this action-packed thriller about cops, corruption, conspiracy, and betrayal. The Digital HD release is May 17, then May 31 for the Blu-ray, DVD, and On Demand. Bonus features include deleted scenes, and two featurettes with the cast and director going behind-the-scenes on the making of the film.

"Race"
Jesse Owens ran circles around Hitler's vision of Aryan supremacy by winning four track-and-field medals at the 1936 Berlin Olympics; he was the most successful athlete at those games, and he happened to be African-American. Watch his true story play out in this biodrama starring Stephan James, Jason Sudeikis, Eli Goree, Shanice Banton, Carice van Houten, Jeremy Irons, William Hurt, and Chantel Riley. It's out May 17 on digital, and May 31 on disc.

"19-2" (Acorn TV)
NPR called Acorn TV the "Netflix for the Anglophile," since it has become a premier streaming service in North America for the best TV from Britain and beyond. Acorn TV recenty premiered Season 1 of the noir thriller "Jack Irish," starring Guy Pearce, and next is the return of the character-driven cop drama "19-2," starring Adrian Holmes ("Arrow") and Canadian Screen Award winner Jared Keeso ("Falling Skies"). "19-2" recently won Canada's top drama award, and Tribune News Service called it "one of the best cop dramas ever." The U.S. premiere of Season 2 is Monday, May 16 exclusively on Acorn.tv.

"Hard Sell"
Kristin Chenoweth, Katrina Bowden, and Skyler Gisondo star in this drama/comedy being released both in theaters and on Video On Demand on May 20. The story is set on the Gold Coast of Long Island, following Hardy Buchanan (Gisondo), a senior at an elite private school who struggles to support his unstable mom, Lorna (Chenoweth); with the help of a runaway named Bo (Bowden) they come up with a plan to rip off of the wayward teens at the school.


New on Netflix

"Lady Dynamite" Season 1 (Netflix Original)
Comedian Maria Bamford stars in this half-hour series from Mitch Hurwitz ("Arrested Development") and Pam Brady ("South Park"), inspired by Bamford's own life. As Netflix described it, "It's the sometimes surreal story of a woman who loses -- and then find s-- her sh-t." The great supporting cast includes Ana Gasteyer, Sarah Silverman, Jenny Slate, Dean Cain, and Fred Melamed. Check it out starting May 20.

Here's the trailer:

"Benders" Season 1
This comedy about a group of hockey-obsessed friends only got one season on IFC, but it's arriving on Netflix May 19. Co-star Chris Distefano tweeted some hope for the series when it was canceled, writing, "Check it out when it comes to Netflix hopefully continues from there! Thanks for watching really appreciate it."

Want more stuff like this? Like us on Facebook.

This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

'Black Panther': Michael B. Jordan Joins the '90 Percent' Black Cast

Posted:

Marvel's Captain America: Civil WarBlack Panther/T'Challa (Chadwick Boseman)Photo Credit: Film Frame© Marvel 2016 just made his debut as Black Panther/T'Challa, warrior king of Marvel's African nation Wakanda, in "Captain America: Civil War," and now fans are more curious than ever about his upcoming solo film.

Thankfully, it sounds like fans don't have to worry about whitewashing for "Black Panther"; Marvel boss Kevin Feige told Empire Film Podcast (via ComicBook.com) that "90 percent of the cast is either African or African-American." He added that it "will be amongst the best ensembles we've ever had."

Just recently, American Michael B. Jordan ("Fantastic Four") and Kenyan-Mexican Lupita Nyong'o ("Star Wars: The Force Awakens") were announced as joining the cast.

88th Annual Academy Awards - Backstage And AudienceAs The Hollywood Reporter noted, this will be the third time that Jordan works with his "Creed" and "Fruitvale Station" director , who is helming the Marvel film. A source told THR that Jordan could be playing a villain in the movie, but that was not confirmed.

What about the remaining 10 percent? Collider said they'd be surprised if Martin Freeman's Everett K. Ross didn't appear, and further guessed "Maybe we'll even see Andy Serkis' Ulysses Klaue make a return."

Production on "Black Panther" is scheduled to start in early 2017, with a current release date of February 16, 2018.

Want more stuff like this? Like us on Facebook.

This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

Natalie Portman Won't Be in 'Thor: Ragnarok' for 'Many Reasons'

Posted:

Sorry, Jane. Thor is apparently moving on without you. Maybe try Tarzan?

Natalie Portman co-starred in 2011's "Thor" and the 2013 sequel "Thor: The Dark World," but Marvel honcho Kevin Feige confirmed that Portman's Jane Foster will be absent from the third movie, "Thor: Ragnarok," which is scheduled for release on November 3, 2017.

In a podcast with Empire Film (via Heroic Hollywood), Feige sort of explained why the Oscar-winning star won't be returning:

"Many reasons. Many of which are in the film so you will see that. There are only a couple of scenes on Earth in this movie; 80 to 90 percent takes place in the cosmos."


What, Jane isn't allowed to leave the planet again, but everyone else is?

When "Creed" star Tessa Thompson was announced to join the cast, it was taken as a hint that Jane was getting the boot so Thompson could be Thor's new love interest. (First Pepper, now Jane. It's a bad year for OG girlfriends.) But it's not clear if one of the "many reasons" was that Portman just didn't want to do the film, or that they couldn't agree on a contract, etc.

"Thor: Ragnarok" stars , , , Cate Blanchett, and , following Hulk and Thor, who were absent in "Captain America: Civil War."

Want more stuff like this? Like us on Facebook.

This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

The 'Nancy Drew' Pilot Was 'Too Female' for CBS? Twitter Reacts

Posted:

An Evening With NBC UniversalGirls have cooties anyway, right? According to Deadline, CBS decided to pass on the "Nancy Drew" pilot starring Sarah Shahi ("Person of Interest"), because the wrong half of the population was into it. Here's how Deadline's Nellie Andreeva described the rejection:

"'Drew' is not going forward at CBS but is being shopped to other outlets by CBS TV Studios. I hear the pilot tested well but skewed too female for CBS' schedule. In the end of the day, I hear the network had no 8 PM or 9 PM slot available.

Written/executive produced by [Joan] Rater and [Tony] Phelan, 'Drew' stars Sarah Shahi as Nancy — now in her 30s — a detective for the NYPD where she investigates and solves crimes using her uncanny observational skills, all while navigating the complexities of life in a modern world. Anthony Edwards, Felix Solis and Rob McClure co-star in the project, also executive produced by Dan Jinks."


Sounds like there were a lot of dudes involved, despite the project skewing "too female." Bustle had a good response to the decision:


"But instead of giving Drew a chance and providing a rare female-centric show, CBS didn't pick it up. It did manage, however, to find room on its schedule for a Training Day reboot, a MacGyver reboot, a show about a young Dr. Phil, and three male-centric sitcoms, so I guess being 'too male' is not a thing. It should be noted that CBS also shipped Supergirl over to The CW and cancelled the Patricia Arquette-led CSI: Cyber. Add that to the fact that The Good Wife was also cancelled in the 2015-2016 season, leaving Madam Secretary, Mom, and 2 Broke Girls as the only returning CBS shows that focus on female leads, this is hugely frustrating. [...] Even more, calling a show "too female" is that it suggests men will not watch a show about women, that it's too much of a stretch to ask them to relate to a female character."


Twitter picked up the "too female" reference and got it trending on Twitter Sunday:


Deadline did say the show was being shopped to other networks -- and it sounds like just about any other network would be better at this point -- and would-be star Sarah Shahi thanked fans for their support:

Many cable channels aim for specific demographics, but it's troubling to hear that one of The Big Three TV networks was reportedly willing to pass on a primetime program for threatening to appeal to more women than men, especially when "women" as a group represent more than half of the population of the U.S. and the larger world. Wouldn't a network want to appeal to both genders and maybe even pick up some new viewers?

Want more stuff like this? Like us on Facebook.

This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

Kit Harington Spoiled Jon Snow's 'Game of Thrones' Fate to Avoid Speeding Ticket

Posted:

BRITAIN-ENTERTAINMENT-THEATRE-OLIVIER-AWARDSJon Snow may know nothing, but a certain police officer out there could give Varys tips on how to quickly get top secret intel.

As you know if you've been watching "Game of Thrones" Season 6, Jon Snow came back to life at the end of Episode 2. But there was a 10-month gap between the character's death in the Season 5 finale and the start of Season 6. In the meantime, actor Kit Harington was told by the producers to keep it a secret from everyone -- but he told his parents and his girlfriend (Rose Leslie, who played Ygritte) right away. And then he ended up telling a cop.

Kit Harington shared the story in a recent appearance on "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon."

Kit: "A few people knew quite quickly, but they were all very trusted people. But no member of the public, no stranger. Well, actually, that's not strictly true."

Jimmy: "What are you talking about? You told a stranger you were alive?"

Kit: "OK, one policeman. There's a story behind it in that I was driving back from my parents's house and I was driving too fast. Actually I was being a bit naughty, I was going over the speed limit. I [see] the sirens go off behind me. This policeman comes up, pulls me over. I'm a bit sheepish, 'I'm really sorry, I wasn't looking at the clock.' He said, 'Do you really how fast you were going? That's a bookable offense.' I said 'Yes, I'm very, very sorry, sir.' He said, 'Look, there's two ways we can do this. You can either follow me back to the police station now and I book you in. Or you can tell me whether you live in the next series."

The audience and Jimmy laughed.

Kit said he laughed at the time too, but the cop's face was serious. He said, "I have to tell you, whether I take you into the police station depends on what your answer is." So Kit looked at him and said, "I'm alive next season." So the cop nodded and said, "On your way, Lord Commander. Keep your speed down this far south of the wall."

Classic! If only we could all get out of tickets like that. But speaking of being a bit naughty, that cop's ethics sound closer to Robert Baratheon than Stannis, since that's not quite how it's done by the book. But oh well, he got the confirmation that everyone wanted and not even President Obama got before the episode aired. Varys would be jealous.

Watch Kit tell the story, and share his very odd private-scratching superstition, in these "Tonight Show" videos:

"Game of Thrones" Season 6 is now airing, and Kit has been in every episode so far, including the emotional Episode 4, "Book of the Stranger."

Want more stuff like this? Like us on Facebook.

This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

​'Money Monster': Are George Clooney and Julia Roberts Still Box Office Draws?

Posted:

15 years ago, a movie starring George Clooney and Julia Roberts would have been automatic box office gold -- a guaranteed $35 million opening weekend. This weekend, however, the pair's "Money Monster" opened in third place, with an estimated $15.0 million, and even that was better than analysts predicted.

Because it came behind "Captain America: Civil War" (which held the top spot for the second week in a row) and Disney's "The Jungle Book," "Money Monster" will probably engender a lot of hand-wringing about how original movies and old-fashioned star power no longer attract audiences like they once did. Even though the film earned a modest $3 million more than expected.
There was similar discussion this time last year, when Clooney's "Tormorrowland" flopped, followed by the failure of Cameron Crowe's "Aloha," despite the presence of Bradley Cooper and Emma Stone. Many observers saw those failures as a death knell for both original screenplays and star power at the box office. What was overlooked was that neither of those movies turned out to be very good. Plus, they were followed almost immediately by original-screenplay hits that were either a testament to the stars who brought them to life (Dwayne Johnson in "San Andreas," Melissa McCarthy in "Spy") or to stellar execution ("Inside Out.")

But the truth is, the right star in the right role-- in the right movie -- can still sell tickets. Clooney's earlier 2016 movie, "Hail, Caesar!", featured him as a pampered-doofus 1950s Hollywood star, a role with limited appeal to most Clooney fans, which is why the movie topped out at $30.1 million. On the other hand, it's not that long since Clooney appeared in "Gravity," an enormous ($274 million) hit based on an original idea (and also a triumph of digital filmmaking and 3D spectacle). Of course, the star whose appeal really sold that movie was Sandra Bullock, but Clooney helped.

Other recent Clooney pictures, such as "The Monuments Men" and "The Descendants," aren't generally thought of as huge hits, but they did both gross about $80 million. "Tomorrowland," considered an even bigger flop because of its failure to recoup its massive budget, still earned $93 million in North America. None of these movies would have approached $100 million with a lesser star. "Money Monster" will definitely struggle to reach that height, but at least it will help that Clooney plays a familiar part in it, that of a smug professional who's brought low, then struggles toward redemption.
Roberts, too, is considered a waning star, but she has two films right now in the top five. "Mother's Day" opened modestly but held on well enough to add 150 more screens in its third weekend and managed a fifth-place take of $3.3 million. If anything, "Money Monster," which opened with nearly twice the sales that "Mother's Day" did, should do even better over the long run.

In any case, summer is generally a bad time to test star-drawing power at the box office, since it's the time when concept, brand, and spectacle define movies more than stars do.

This weekend, however, we'll see whether Russell Crowe and Ryan Gosling have enough combined star power to sell "The Nice Guys," a period buddy-sleuth action-comedy whose original concept is hard to summarize on a poster.

Next month, Andy Samberg stars in the pop-documentary spoof "Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping" and Dwayne Johnson and Kevin Hart headline the action-comedy "Central Intelligence." In July, we'll see Matt Damon return to his tailor-made starring role in "Jason Bourne." That's a familiar franchise, but it wouldn't do as well without Damon (as "The Bourne Legacy" demonstrated).

Should these prove a hit with audiences, it's further proof that all you need is the right star, in the right role, in the right movie.

This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

'Game of Thrones' Recap: Bow to the Queens of 'Book of the Stranger'

Posted:

Fire cannot kill a dragon. It is known.

It was also known before "Game of Thrones" Season 6, Episode 4, "Book of the Stranger" -- because Daenerys Targaryen 1) coolly dropped that fire line as she watched her non-dragon brother get his deadly golden crown the last time she was in Vaes Dothrak, then 2) emerged naked from a massive fire that birthed her real dragons in the Season 1 finale.

But this week wasn't big on massive revelations, it was more into making revenge plans and moving chess pieces forward so they can play out to even more awesomeness later.

"Book of the Stranger" got its name from that squirrely scamp the High Sparrow's conversation with Margaery Tyrell about The Stranger and sinners. Despite the firebomb of an ending, it was more of an emotional episode -- for the touching reunion of Jon Snow and Sansa Stark, and for the HUGE loss of that sharp, deadpan, one-liner queen Osha. If we needed more proof that Ramsay Bolton is much a bigger threat than Joffrey and Theon 1.0, we got it this week when he played her when she was trying to play him. RIP, wildling badass.


As it turns out, Jon Snow did not leave Castle Black after last week's mic drop. Instead, he connected with his half-sister (OR IS SHE) Sansa and her backup dancers, Brienne and Pod, and now they're ready to build an army to save Rickon Stark and take down Ramsay.


Sad Theon also reunited with his sister Yara Greyjoy, and Margaery Tyrell reunited with her sad brother Loras. All the bros got whiny this week -- it was a much better hour for the ladies than the gents, even if Sansa should be pushing HERSELF as the new ruler of the North instead of Jon.

'Cause who run the world? Girls.

The GoT girls were on fire this week -- Cersei, Yara, Margaery, Sansa, Brienne, Olenna, Osha, Missandei -- but the baddest girl of them all is still our queen DTarg. She is a true dragon, and we just got another reminder. Perhaps this is a preview of what's to come against Meereen and The Wall? Khaleesi Dany has defeated all enemies and will not have her hair cut anytime soon, especially not by fire. This is the first time in a while that Dany has been able to save herself without her deus dragon ex machina, and it was so good to see the return of her confident power, wit, and ruthless strategy. BOW. DOWN.


Why did we go through all of this with the Dothraki? Again? Probably because of Dany's Qarth prophecy: "To go north, you must journey south. To reach the west, you must go east. To go forward you must go back, and to touch the light you must pass beneath the shadow." She had to go back to go forward, probably so she could pick up that army of Dothraki. And maybe her future includes Asshai and the house with the red door she remembers from childhood.

But Tyrion Lannister could use some help in Meereen right now, so it might be a good time to hurry over there. However, even if Dany and her dragons + the Dothraki retake Meereen, it's clear that the masters are just going to turn the slave cities back into the slave cities the second Dany isn't around. How can Mhysa leave for Westeros when she knows her breaking of chains will only last until she's gone?


Read on for a recap of Episode 4:


THE MAP: This week, we're shown King's Landing, The Eyrie, Winterfell, The Wall, Vaes Dothrak, and Meereen.


STARK REUNION: SANSA + JON = THE FEELS
Edd has Jon's sword at the start of the episode. He asks Jon (new hairdo already) where he's going to go. "South." What will he do? "Get warm." Cheeky. In theory, he could visit Sam. Edd says he was with him at Hardhome, how can Jon leave them now, knowing what's coming? Jon did what he could and it failed. Does Edd want him to stay after that? On that note, the horn blows 'cause they have visitors. It's Sansa, Brienne, and Pod. They made good time. It's not like The Wall is down the street from Winterfell. Jon sees Sansa. Soooo much has happened since they last saw each other in Season 1. They hug and it's beautiful.


SNIFF. If only Lady were here. They chat about Old Nan's old kidney pies. "We never should've left Winterfell." They wish they could go back to the day they left. Just rewatch the pilot. Sansa regrets how much of an arse she was to Jon. (Catelyn Stark was the worst, though, do you recall how awful she was to Jon?) Jon says there's nothing to forgive but he forgives Sansa.

Sansa asks where will Jon go. Jon: "Where will WE go?" They are together now. TEARS. Sansa is the one who brings up the Ramsay/Winterfell idea. She is the one who comes up with the plan to rally support. She wants to fight for their home, but he's tired of fighting. That's all he's done. "I hanged a boy, younger than Bran. ... I fought. And I lost." Sansa says if they don't take back the North they'll never be safe. She wants his help, but she'll do it herself if she has to. (YAS!)

Davos asks Melisandre what she'll do next, and she says she'll do what Jon commands. "He's the prince that was promised." Davos brings up that she said that about Stannis too and she walks off. Davos is JUST now asking what happened to Stannis and Shireen. Awkwardly enough, Brienne shows up to weigh in. She knows Mel was involved in Renly's death. She hasn't forgotten or forgiven. Brienne admits she executed Stannis.

Toward the end of the episode we return to Castle Black for a tense meal with the new crew, plus Tormund. (Tormund + Brienne = Should it happen? Are we 'shipping them?)


A letter comes in for the Lord Commander, who is not Jon anymore but it's from Ramsay to the traitor bastard Jon Snow. Ramsay says they have Rickon in the dungeon. He's baiting Jon to come get him. "I want my bride back. Send her to me, bastard." This is exactly like the book, except the "bride" was fake Arya, not real Sansa. So this is what motivates Jon to go -- threats of rape to Sansa, and dogs devouring them -- despite Jon's reluctance to fight. Sansa says Ramsay has about 5,000 men. The wildlings have about 2,000. They'll need more. Sansa tells Jon "You're the son of the last true Warden of the North," she says people of the North will rally behind him. What about HER? She's the trueborn one, if these things matter. She's sister of the last King in the North.


THE VALE/EYRIE
Littlefinger makes his first appearance in Season 6, surprising "the defender of the Vale" (aka Robin Arryn) with a falcon gift. Littlefinger lies to Yohn Royce immediately about the Ramsay marriage, suggesting Royce shared his travel plans and the Boltons attacked. Royce calls him out, but Baelish says he only cares what the Lord of the Vale thinks, and since Littlefinger has already won over Robin, and brought him a gift, it's clear it doesn't matter how much Littlefinger lies. Poor Yohn Royce. Robin wants to help Sansa against the Boltons. Sansa needs to chop off Littlefinger's littlefinger since this was all his idea.


MEEREEN
Tyrion says his recent experience with slavery gives him perspective, but Missandei points out that he wasn't a slave long enough to understand. Tyrion meets with the masters/slavers and they obviously want Tyrion and the dragons and everyone to go. Missandei keeps speaking up, which is awesome, and Grey Worm as well. The masters say Grey Worm isn't free, he's just following a new master in Dany. Tyrion says the masters don't need slaves to make money. He grew up in Westeros and he grew up richer than anyone. But he knows you can't remove slavery without replacing it with a new system. Instead of abolishing slavery overnight, Tyrion said, he will give them seven years to end the practice. (!) Missandei looks shocked, especially since Tyrion is making this seem like the queen's offer, and Dany would never compromise to that extent. In exchange, Tyrion said, the masters have to cut off their support for the Sons of the Harpy. As a parting gift for the guests, he brings in prostitutes. Classic Tyrion.

After that meeting, Tyrion meets with the former slaves. They can't believe he just met with the slavers. This meeting is even more tense. They don't know or trust Tyrion. They know Grey Worm. Grey Worm and Missandei seem unsure how to react. Grey Worm says he's not a politician, but he wants peace. Missandei says she will never trust the slavers, "but as a wise man once said, 'we make peace with our enemies, not our friends.'" So they show support to Tyrion, at least in that moment. But when it's over they confront Tyrion. Seven years is too long for a slave. Grey Worm says they can't trust the slavers. "We are not human in their eyes." They look at Grey Worm and see a weapon; they look at Missandei and see a whore. They will use Tyrion, that's what they do. They're probably right. Tyrion may be too focused on treating Meereen like Westeros.


JORAH + DAARIO
Daario can't stop talking sh-t about how Dany had sex with him, and not Jorah. Just shut up and look for Dany. Jorah knows Dany will be at Vaes Dothrak, in the Temple of the Dosh Khaleen. He knows all about the Dothraki. He also knows you're not allowed to have weapons in the city, so he and Daario leave their swords in the desert. They plan to go in at night. Jorah exposes his greyscale to Daario, but doesn't touch him. Jorah can't touch anyone ever again. Sad face. Can they find whoever helped Shireen, or is it too late?

As usual with the Dothraki, there's a lot of f--king around the camp, when they come in at night. Jorah tells one guy he's a wine seller, but the guy doesn't buy it. Jorah and Daario get split up and do their own individual fighting. Jorah gets in trouble, but Daario saves him at the last minute with a knife wound. He was too attached to that knife to leave it behind, and Jorah knows if they find a stab wound the whole city will be looking for them.


DANY + THE DOTHRAKI
Dany must be so bored and frustrated. The head crone shares stories from another former khaleesi. She reiterates that Dany's best case scenario is to be one of them. The other options are less pleasant. One poor girl was only 16 when her khal died, and she and Dany bond outside the temple. Daario and Jorah show up and almost kill the girl, but Dany wins her over instead. She has a plan for what to do.

At the end of the episode, we revisit the Dothraki guys who get to decide Dany's fate. They don't care what she thinks or wants. "You have no voice here, unless you are Dosh Khaleen" and they get decide if she is. She gives a speech about how this is where Khal Drogo was when he swore to her before the Mother of Mountains to get revenge for her. She tells them off. "You are small men. None of you are fit to lead the Dothraki. But I am. So I will." YAS, QUEEN. They laugh and say they'll take turns f--king her, then give their horses a turn. "You crazy c-nt. Did you really think we would serve you?" She puts her hand next to a pillar of fire. "You're not going to serve. You're going to die." (No, Mr. Bond, I expect you to die.) She knocks over the fire, setting the place ablaze. As everything burns behind her, she emerges naked, once again. And, once again, her remaining khalasar bows to her. New army alert!



KING'S LANDING: MARGAERY
Margaery has not had the best storyline this season, but she finally gets to exit her cell, and kneel before the High Sparrow. He says, if he were to let her leave right now, where would she go and what would she seek out? She'd go to her brother, her husband, her family. The High Sparrow said, for her, that means seeking out money and power. Seeking out sin. He used to be the same way. He tells the story of his father, a cobbler, and making his own money. They end up talking about The Stranger and the Seven-Pointed Star. He ended up buying wine and women with the money he made. "I woke before dawn, could barely stand. Everyone else was asleep on the couches or the floor, lying in heaps next to their fine clothes, the truth of their bodies laid bare. I could smell them, the incense and the perfume, and the fine foods that had already started to turn. And I saw it with perfect clarity. I saw what my sins were. ... It was a part of a story. A story I was telling myself about who I was. A collection of lies that would disappear in the light." The people he was trying to get away from, the beggars, the poor, were closer to the truth. He walked out the door, without even taking his shoes, and never went back.

The High Sparrow takes Margaery's hand and leads her to her brother, Ser Loras. She speaks with him alone and tries to get him to snap out of it. He is the future of their house. He cries, and says he doesn't care about the family, he just wants it to stop. She doesn't want to give in and let them win.

KING'S LANDING: CERSEI
Cersei interrupts Pycelle's speech to King Tommen. Tommen tells Cersei they can't antagonize the High Sparrow, since he has Margaery. Tommen finally realizes Cersei doesn't quite like Margaery, but Cersei says it doesn't matter. Queens should command respect and the High Sparrow has no respect for their world, he wants to knock it down. Tommen tells Cersei he spoke to the High Sparrow, and the Sparrow told him something.

Once again, Jaime and Cersei interrupt a Small Council meeting with Olenna Tyrell and Kevan Lannister. Cersei said the High Sparrow knew they would end up bickering with each other instead of seizing power back. Cersei said Margaery is supposed to do a walk of atonement, but Olenna said that cannot happen. Cersei said she agrees. Jaime tells Kevan the plan of bringing an army in to free Margaery and either abduct or kill the High Sparrow. Kevan said if it doesn't work, there will be a civil war and many will die. Olenna said many will die anyway; better them than us.


IRON ISLANDS
Theon returns to Pyke and, once again, has the coldest of welcomes home. He tells Yara he escaped Winterfell. He can't even look at her. "Men died trying to rescue you. Good men. My men." Theon apologizes. "You were my brother. You were a spoiled little c-nt" but she risked everything to save him. Theon said Ramsay broke him into pieces, and she knew -- Ramsay sent her one of those pieces, and that's why she came for him. She thinks he came home in time for the Kingsmoot, to be king, but he doesn't want that. He tells her, "You should rule the Iron Islands. Let me help you." That's what she wanted to hear, so she's good with it.


WINTERFELL
Ramsay, peeling an apple, brings in Osha. Does he eat people after flaying them? No. "Then I've seen worse." LOVE her. She seems to be playing double agent, pretending she doesn't care about the Starks. He says he has Rickon now, so what use is Osha to him? She can give him what he wants, the same thing all men want. She's a good talker, he says, and he likes that. She's a better talker than Theon. But they all talk in the end. Theon told him the truth. He knows about the Stark boys and who helped them escape. So he NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! He stabbed Osha. Damn it all. She's gone.


NEXT WEEK
Episode 5, which airs May 22, is called "The Door" and it has this synopsis: "Tyrion seeks a strange ally. Bran (Isaac Hempstead Wright) learns a great deal. Brienne (Gwendoline Christie) goes on a mission. Arya (Maisie Williams) is given a chance to prove herself." Do you think this is the week Bran learns about Jon's past, or just the White Walkers? What is the door? Dany's memory of a house with a red door? The preview (watch below) shows Sansa confronting Littlefinger, a red priestess in Meereen, Arya back in action, Bran maybe being gone for too long, and the Kingsmoot.

Want more stuff like this? Like us on Facebook.

This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

Posted by at

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)
Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...