“I don’t know people who are just the right balance of quirky, I only know people who are too much,” John Early tells Et.
It’s easily a sentiment that applies to the indelible characters Early has already created in his relatively short yet rising career -- most notably the shameless narcissist-turned-murder accomplice Elliott Goss on the TBS black comedy Search Party. The series, which returned for an even darker and more hilarious second season in November, sees Elliott unraveling in spectacular fashion -- making 2017 another standout year for the actor.
“I was really touched when I read all the scripts for this season,” Early tells Et of returning to Search Party, which also stars Alia Shawkat, Meredith Hagner, John Reynolds and Brandon Micheal Hall. “I just felt like [co-creators Charles Rogers and Sarah-Violet Bliss] knew that I would have so much fun sh*tting in my pants, having a rash and watching my hair fall out.”
Fansknow what a dramatic...
It’s easily a sentiment that applies to the indelible characters Early has already created in his relatively short yet rising career -- most notably the shameless narcissist-turned-murder accomplice Elliott Goss on the TBS black comedy Search Party. The series, which returned for an even darker and more hilarious second season in November, sees Elliott unraveling in spectacular fashion -- making 2017 another standout year for the actor.
“I was really touched when I read all the scripts for this season,” Early tells Et of returning to Search Party, which also stars Alia Shawkat, Meredith Hagner, John Reynolds and Brandon Micheal Hall. “I just felt like [co-creators Charles Rogers and Sarah-Violet Bliss] knew that I would have so much fun sh*tting in my pants, having a rash and watching my hair fall out.”
Fansknow what a dramatic...
- 12/14/2017
- Entertainment Tonight
When Molly Bernard -- a newcomer at the time, with a few TV credits to her name -- was first cast on Younger, it was only to be in a handful of scenes. In fact, her audition -- just six lines -- involved a discussion about Liza’s (Sutton Foster) lower body landscaping. But the locker room scene served as an early indication of what Darren Star’s creation would excel best at: multigenerational female bonding and a frank depiction of sexuality. Eventually, the TV Land series would feature moments like tram sex, with Hilary Duff’s character, Kelsey, in an outrageous encounter over Roosevelt Island, and more of Bernard as the scene-stealing Lauren, a pansexual, sex-positive millennial publicist and friend to Liza and Kelsey.
Over the course of the series, Lauren would introduce her friends to the “bad pancake” dating theory, host her own bat mitzvah, convince Liza to sell her used panties and often run away with...
Over the course of the series, Lauren would introduce her friends to the “bad pancake” dating theory, host her own bat mitzvah, convince Liza to sell her used panties and often run away with...
- 12/14/2017
- Entertainment Tonight
Tom Hanks is opening up about what it's really like to work with Meryl Streep.
The 61-year-old actor was a guest on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert this week, where he hilariously joked about Streep on the set of their latest film, The Post.
"You mean, can I just say, 'High maintenance Meryl Streep?" Hanks replied when host Stephen Colbert brought up his costar. "Look, the shoes alone, man."
Because it's so easy for rumors to start in Hollywood, Hanks quickly confirmed he was only joking about these diva antics.
"I am so joking," he exclaimed.
Hanks continued on, telling Colbert that the Oscar-winning actress is actually the exact opposite of high maintenance.
"You know what’s scary about Meryl? She comes in and does it just like everybody else does," Hanks revealed. "You're expecting French horns before she enters the stage."
"You expect a guy in livery to come out: 'Ladies and gentlemen, the actress...
The 61-year-old actor was a guest on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert this week, where he hilariously joked about Streep on the set of their latest film, The Post.
"You mean, can I just say, 'High maintenance Meryl Streep?" Hanks replied when host Stephen Colbert brought up his costar. "Look, the shoes alone, man."
Because it's so easy for rumors to start in Hollywood, Hanks quickly confirmed he was only joking about these diva antics.
"I am so joking," he exclaimed.
Hanks continued on, telling Colbert that the Oscar-winning actress is actually the exact opposite of high maintenance.
"You know what’s scary about Meryl? She comes in and does it just like everybody else does," Hanks revealed. "You're expecting French horns before she enters the stage."
"You expect a guy in livery to come out: 'Ladies and gentlemen, the actress...
- 12/13/2017
- Entertainment Tonight
“I love doing stuff that’s not overtly comedy, because I think life is really funny, especially in intensely panicked moments,” Max Jenkins told IndieWire in a recent interview. After making a splash in comedic television roles in HBO’s “High Maintenance” and NBC’s short-lived “The Mysteries of Laura,” the actor took a turn for the dramatic in “The Mess He Made,” a poignant short film about a man awaiting the results of an HIV test. Directed and written by Matthew Puccini, the film is a beautifully restrained representation of an emotionally fraught yet all too common experience for many gay men.
“I knew what I wanted to do as soon as I read the script,” said Jenkins. “It’s easy with a good script. You don’t really have to prepare too much. In this case…it was all there.
“I knew what I wanted to do as soon as I read the script,” said Jenkins. “It’s easy with a good script. You don’t really have to prepare too much. In this case…it was all there.
- 12/1/2017
- by Jude Dry
- Indiewire
A few weeks ago, we called it “crazypants.” Next month, there’s a good chance your uncle may call it “That Show with the Two J.K. Simmonses.” But for right now, “Counterpart” is a show on the verge of giving audiences a first full look at its twisty new premise. Starz announced today that the “Counterpart” pilot will air after the “Outlander” Season 3 finale on December 10, and released a fresh trailer for the series to go along with it.
Read More:‘Outlander’ Season 3: Ronald D. Moore on the Show’s Evolution and the Klingon Connection
The show follows the increasingly convoluted life of Howard Silk (Simmons). Working as a dutiful (and blissfully unaware) low-level employee at a nondescript firm, Silk gets drawn into a strange metaphysical tug-of-war when he gets an unexpected visit from…himself. As both versions of Howard get caught up in a fight to cover...
Read More:‘Outlander’ Season 3: Ronald D. Moore on the Show’s Evolution and the Klingon Connection
The show follows the increasingly convoluted life of Howard Silk (Simmons). Working as a dutiful (and blissfully unaware) low-level employee at a nondescript firm, Silk gets drawn into a strange metaphysical tug-of-war when he gets an unexpected visit from…himself. As both versions of Howard get caught up in a fight to cover...
- 11/30/2017
- by Steve Greene
- Indiewire
If you happen to catch “Kong: Skull Island” on HBO or stream it on HBO Go, you may notice something very distracting taking place: The aspect ratio changes to a letterbox format at various times throughout the movie. Sometimes the changes occur within edits in a single scene or set piece, resulting in a very unusual viewing experience. It turns out HBO is airing the airplane edit for “Kong: Skull Island” instead of the theatrical cut.
Read More:CinemaSins Attacked ‘Kong: Skull Island,’ so Director Jordan Vogt-Roberts Fought Back in the Best Way
Director Jordan Vogt-Roberts took to Twitter to ask HBO why they were not airing or streaming the original edit of “Kong: Skull Island.” Filmmakers often have to provide an airplane edit of a movie so that their films can properly be shown on such small screens. Vogt-Roberts says he switched to a letterbox format for some shots on...
Read More:CinemaSins Attacked ‘Kong: Skull Island,’ so Director Jordan Vogt-Roberts Fought Back in the Best Way
Director Jordan Vogt-Roberts took to Twitter to ask HBO why they were not airing or streaming the original edit of “Kong: Skull Island.” Filmmakers often have to provide an airplane edit of a movie so that their films can properly be shown on such small screens. Vogt-Roberts says he switched to a letterbox format for some shots on...
- 11/29/2017
- by Zack Sharf
- Indiewire
It takes less than a minute into the newest trailer for the Goya Award-winning “Birdboy: The Forgotten Children” to set itself far apart from its more kid-leaning brethren. You’ll know the moment when you see it — hint: it involves at least one child being asked if they’re on drugs — and it’s one that sets the tone for a lush, terrifying, and wholly original take on the coming-of-age story so often aimed at the younger set.
Read More:gkids’ Top 10 Best Box Office Performers, From Studio Ghibli and Beyond
Alberto Vázquez’s debut feature, which he co-wrote and directed alongside Pedro Rivera, is billed as “a darkly comic, mind-bending fantasy” that is based on their award-winning short film. It recently picked up the Goya for Best Animated Feature earlier this year (Vázquez, no slouch, also won Best Animated Short Film for his similarly dark “Decorado” at that same ceremony...
Read More:gkids’ Top 10 Best Box Office Performers, From Studio Ghibli and Beyond
Alberto Vázquez’s debut feature, which he co-wrote and directed alongside Pedro Rivera, is billed as “a darkly comic, mind-bending fantasy” that is based on their award-winning short film. It recently picked up the Goya for Best Animated Feature earlier this year (Vázquez, no slouch, also won Best Animated Short Film for his similarly dark “Decorado” at that same ceremony...
- 11/29/2017
- by Kate Erbland
- Indiewire
Look, it’s a stressful time of year, even if Thanksgiving politics discussions weren’t already right on the horizon.
So it’s probably perfect timing for HBO to remind everyone that “High Maintenance” is coming back to mellow everyone out next year. (And maybe even make some people happy in the process!)
Read More:‘High Maintenance’ Review: The First Great Web Series Is Now HBO’s Best New Show
One of the first shows to successfully make the jump from web series to TV, “High Maintenance” stars Ben Sinclair as The Guy as he makes weed deliveries to a wide-ranging clientele. Judging by this teaser, a lot of his customers are a little anxious about things happening out in the world, but a few of them are offering some hope, too.
This is the second round of HBO-released episodes from Katja Blichfeld and Sinclair, who originally created the show back in 2012 for the web.
So it’s probably perfect timing for HBO to remind everyone that “High Maintenance” is coming back to mellow everyone out next year. (And maybe even make some people happy in the process!)
Read More:‘High Maintenance’ Review: The First Great Web Series Is Now HBO’s Best New Show
One of the first shows to successfully make the jump from web series to TV, “High Maintenance” stars Ben Sinclair as The Guy as he makes weed deliveries to a wide-ranging clientele. Judging by this teaser, a lot of his customers are a little anxious about things happening out in the world, but a few of them are offering some hope, too.
This is the second round of HBO-released episodes from Katja Blichfeld and Sinclair, who originally created the show back in 2012 for the web.
- 11/22/2017
- by Steve Greene
- Indiewire
Shows about the misadventures of twentysomethings are a television staple, but the TBS breakout Search Party -- with its sly combination of suspenseful thrills and tons of character-driven laughs -- is in a class all its own.
Alia Shawkat, whose rising profile includes work on Arrested Development and Transparent, plays Dory, the face of this ragtag search party. Dory’s restlessness to do something meaningful with her life leads her to look for former schoolmate Chantal Witherbottom after happening on a missing person sign at the series outset. She winds up dragging her reluctant friends into the search: her soon-to-be ex-boyfriend Drew (Stranger Things’ John Reynolds), her aggressively vapid-seeming besties Portia (Meredith Hagner, of Younger and Strangers on Facebook Watch) and Elliott (John Early, of the Wet Hot American Summer Netflix series and High Maintenance), and her ex-boyfriend-turned-journalist Julian (Brandon Micheal Hall, who also stars on The Mayor).
By the season one finale, the four friends...
Alia Shawkat, whose rising profile includes work on Arrested Development and Transparent, plays Dory, the face of this ragtag search party. Dory’s restlessness to do something meaningful with her life leads her to look for former schoolmate Chantal Witherbottom after happening on a missing person sign at the series outset. She winds up dragging her reluctant friends into the search: her soon-to-be ex-boyfriend Drew (Stranger Things’ John Reynolds), her aggressively vapid-seeming besties Portia (Meredith Hagner, of Younger and Strangers on Facebook Watch) and Elliott (John Early, of the Wet Hot American Summer Netflix series and High Maintenance), and her ex-boyfriend-turned-journalist Julian (Brandon Micheal Hall, who also stars on The Mayor).
By the season one finale, the four friends...
- 11/17/2017
- Entertainment Tonight
The Guy’s deliveries around New York City continue. HBO has announced that High Maintenace will return for its ten-episode second season on Friday, January 19 at 11:00pm Et/Pt. From the unexpected and offbeat to the predictable and mundane, High Maintenace provides a glimpse into the daily routines of a diverse group of New Yorkers and how they light things up. Ben Sinclair stars as “The Guy,” a nameless pot deliveryman whose client base includes an eccentric group of characters with neuroses as diverse as the city. Each episode focuses on a new set of characters as they all procure their cannabis
High Maintenance Season 2 Begins on January 19...
High Maintenance Season 2 Begins on January 19...
- 11/10/2017
- by Michael Baculinao
- TVovermind.com
Did you think HBO's High Maintenance TV show was cancelled? Well, not only was it renewed for a second season, it is also on its way back. HBO has announced that High Maintenance season two will premiere on Friday, January 19, 2018 at 11:00pm Et. An HBO pot deliveryman comedy, High Maintenance stars Ben Sinclair as “The Guy,” an otherwise nameless door-to-door dealer, plying his trade in New York City. Per HBO, The Guy's "...client base includes an eccentric group of characters with neuroses as diverse as the city." Sinclair created the comedy series with Katja Blichfeld. They executive produce with Russell Gregory. Willy Friedman, Gwen Bialic and Emi Irikawa serve as producers, with Eric Slovin as a consulting producer. Read More…...
- 11/9/2017
- by TVSeriesFinale.com
- TVSeriesFinale.com
Grammy winners Patti Labelle and Brandy Norwood are set to guest-star on Fox’s Star this spring in multi-episode arcs.
Labelle will play Carlotta Brown’s (Queen Latifah) tough but loving mother, Christine, while Norwood has been cast as Carlotta’s younger sister, Cassie.
Labelle’s previous TV credits include Daytime Divas (as well as Fox’s own Empire, playing herself), while Norwood had long runs on The Game and Moesha, plus arcs on 90210 and Drop Dead Diva.
Ready for more of today’s newsy nuggets? Well..
* Monica Barbaro (Chicago Justice, UnREAL) has landed the female lead in Netflix’s...
Labelle will play Carlotta Brown’s (Queen Latifah) tough but loving mother, Christine, while Norwood has been cast as Carlotta’s younger sister, Cassie.
Labelle’s previous TV credits include Daytime Divas (as well as Fox’s own Empire, playing herself), while Norwood had long runs on The Game and Moesha, plus arcs on 90210 and Drop Dead Diva.
Ready for more of today’s newsy nuggets? Well..
* Monica Barbaro (Chicago Justice, UnREAL) has landed the female lead in Netflix’s...
- 11/9/2017
- TVLine.com
The deliveries are about to resume. HBO said today that Season 2 of its pot comedy High Maintenance will premiere at 11 Pm Friday, January 19. Based on the web series, High Maintenance follows the adventures of The Guy (Ben Sinclair), a nameless, bike-rising pot deliveryman whose client base includes an eccentric group of characters with neuroses as diverse as the city. The series offers a glimpse into the daily routines of these New Yorkers — and the varying ways of and…...
- 11/9/2017
- Deadline TV
Scarlet Johansson and Bobby Flay stepped out for a friendly dinner in New York City over the weekend.
Dressed casually in a beige leather jacket, red striped top and rolled up, faded jeans, the actress, 32, and celebrity chef, 52, were spotted smiling as they left the restaurant together.
Despite previously telling Howard Stern she has a thing for chefs, Johansson and Flay are just friends and neighbors, a rep for the actress tells People.
The Avengers star has been linked to Saturday Night Live cast member Colin Jost, who sang Johansson’s praises when asked about her at the Emmys earlier this year.
Dressed casually in a beige leather jacket, red striped top and rolled up, faded jeans, the actress, 32, and celebrity chef, 52, were spotted smiling as they left the restaurant together.
Despite previously telling Howard Stern she has a thing for chefs, Johansson and Flay are just friends and neighbors, a rep for the actress tells People.
The Avengers star has been linked to Saturday Night Live cast member Colin Jost, who sang Johansson’s praises when asked about her at the Emmys earlier this year.
- 10/18/2017
- by Mike Miller
- PEOPLE.com
As evidenced by her understated but powerful role in “Big Little Lies,” Zoë Kravitz has demonstrated a keen eye for complex projects from auteur filmmakers, which continues with Aaron Katz’s “Gemini.” Kravitz stars alongside up-and-coming indie favorite Lola Kirke (“Mistress America,” “Gone Girl”) in the New York-based filmmaker’s neo-noir thriller, which just released a captivating first trailer.
Read More:Zoë Kravitz and Lola Kirke Wander Through a Dreamy Los Angeles in Aaron Katz’s Hypnotic Mystery ‘Gemini’ — SXSW 2017 Review
The Hollywood-set mystery stars Kravitz as Heather Anderson, a hot young actress with all eyes on her. Kirke plays her friend and assistant, Jill, who keeps her life together while offering a calming presence and fierce loyalty. When a violent crime threatens the balance of their friendship, Jill finds herself on the run as she attempts to solve the dangerous mystery. A movie in love with movies, Katz subdues...
Read More:Zoë Kravitz and Lola Kirke Wander Through a Dreamy Los Angeles in Aaron Katz’s Hypnotic Mystery ‘Gemini’ — SXSW 2017 Review
The Hollywood-set mystery stars Kravitz as Heather Anderson, a hot young actress with all eyes on her. Kirke plays her friend and assistant, Jill, who keeps her life together while offering a calming presence and fierce loyalty. When a violent crime threatens the balance of their friendship, Jill finds herself on the run as she attempts to solve the dangerous mystery. A movie in love with movies, Katz subdues...
- 8/16/2017
- by Jude Dry
- Indiewire
Exclusive: Relationship dramedy produced by See-Saw Films will be directed by Notting Hill’s Roger Michell.
See-Saw Films and writer Nick Hornby are teaming up on a TV series about marriage counselling.
State Of The Union will be directed by Roger Michell (Notting Hill) and is made up of ten ten-minute episodes.
The series follows a middle-aged couple who meet in the pub before going into marriage counselling each week. Each episode shows the ten minutes before they face the counsellor.
State Of The Union will shoot in London this autumn with the cast and broadcast partner set to be announced soon.
See-Saw told Screen that they expect the show to be aired both online and by a TV broadcaster.
Hakan Kousetta, COO of television at See-Saw, said: “Because it’s a completely different format, it lends itself to something a broadcaster can play with. It’s not just a piece of digital television, it’s a proper...
See-Saw Films and writer Nick Hornby are teaming up on a TV series about marriage counselling.
State Of The Union will be directed by Roger Michell (Notting Hill) and is made up of ten ten-minute episodes.
The series follows a middle-aged couple who meet in the pub before going into marriage counselling each week. Each episode shows the ten minutes before they face the counsellor.
State Of The Union will shoot in London this autumn with the cast and broadcast partner set to be announced soon.
See-Saw told Screen that they expect the show to be aired both online and by a TV broadcaster.
Hakan Kousetta, COO of television at See-Saw, said: “Because it’s a completely different format, it lends itself to something a broadcaster can play with. It’s not just a piece of digital television, it’s a proper...
- 8/1/2017
- by orlando.parfitt@screendaily.com (Orlando Parfitt)
- ScreenDaily
Exclusive: Relationship dramedy will be directed by Notting Hill’s Roger Michell.
See-Saw Films and writer Nick Hornby are teamig up on a TV series about marriage counselling.
State Of The Union will be directed by Roger Michell (Notting Hill) and is made up of ten ten-minute episodes.
The series follows a middle-aged couple who meet in the pub before going into marriage counselling each week. Each episode shows the ten minutes before they face the counsellor.
State Of The Union will shoot in London this autumn with the cast and broadcast partner set to be announced soon.
See-Saw told Screen that they expect the show to be aired both online and by a TV broadcaster.
Hakan Kousetta, COO of television at See-Saw, said: “Because it’s a completely different format, it lends itself to something a broadcaster can play with. It’s not just a piece of digital television, it’s a proper...
See-Saw Films and writer Nick Hornby are teamig up on a TV series about marriage counselling.
State Of The Union will be directed by Roger Michell (Notting Hill) and is made up of ten ten-minute episodes.
The series follows a middle-aged couple who meet in the pub before going into marriage counselling each week. Each episode shows the ten minutes before they face the counsellor.
State Of The Union will shoot in London this autumn with the cast and broadcast partner set to be announced soon.
See-Saw told Screen that they expect the show to be aired both online and by a TV broadcaster.
Hakan Kousetta, COO of television at See-Saw, said: “Because it’s a completely different format, it lends itself to something a broadcaster can play with. It’s not just a piece of digital television, it’s a proper...
- 8/1/2017
- by orlando.parfitt@screendaily.com (Orlando Parfitt)
- ScreenDaily
Thanks to the success of shows like High Maintenance and Insecure, TV producers have their eyes on the indie web series world, and another show born out of that community is set to make a big leap. Stupid Idiots, created by Stephanie Koenig, is ready to make a big leap after inking a development deal with Paramount Television and Anonymous Content.
Stupid Idiots is centered around the friendship between its two protagonists, portrayed by Koenig and Brian Jordan Alvarez. While they bicker with each other constantly, they also support one another as they navigate exasperating and hilarious encounters with the outside world. Six “chunks” of the show are available on Alvarez’s YouTube channel, where he and Koenig previously teamed up as the co-stars of The Gay and Wondrous Life of Caleb Gallo.
Koenig will join the growing ranks of web series creators who have landed TV deals. Beyond the two programs mentioned above,...
Stupid Idiots is centered around the friendship between its two protagonists, portrayed by Koenig and Brian Jordan Alvarez. While they bicker with each other constantly, they also support one another as they navigate exasperating and hilarious encounters with the outside world. Six “chunks” of the show are available on Alvarez’s YouTube channel, where he and Koenig previously teamed up as the co-stars of The Gay and Wondrous Life of Caleb Gallo.
Koenig will join the growing ranks of web series creators who have landed TV deals. Beyond the two programs mentioned above,...
- 7/18/2017
- by Sam Gutelle
- Tubefilter.com
Graves has added a new recurring member to its cast for season two. Michael Cyril Creighton, from High Maintenance, will appear on the comedy series.Read More…...
- 7/10/2017
- by TVSeriesFinale.com
- TVSeriesFinale.com
The cast of “Spider-Man: Homecoming” includes no shortage of famous faces, including two Oscar nominees and two full-on Oscar winners. But anyone paying close attention while watching this weekend’s box office winner might have noticed a number of other familiar faces. In fact, director Jon Watts has packed nearly every small supporting role he could with a niche comedian or former child star on the verge of adulthood.
Read More: How ‘Spider-Man: Homecoming’ Star Jacob Batalon Went From College Dropout to Blockbuster Star
So below is our guide to the various notable characters that Peter Parker (Tom Holland) encounters over the course of the film, and where else you have seen them before.
Donald Glover
“Spider-Man: Homecoming” Role: Aaron Davis, a local criminal who, it’s been said, is canonically the uncle of Miles Morales, who in the comics eventually becomes Spider-Man. (This is a nice nod to a...
Read More: How ‘Spider-Man: Homecoming’ Star Jacob Batalon Went From College Dropout to Blockbuster Star
So below is our guide to the various notable characters that Peter Parker (Tom Holland) encounters over the course of the film, and where else you have seen them before.
Donald Glover
“Spider-Man: Homecoming” Role: Aaron Davis, a local criminal who, it’s been said, is canonically the uncle of Miles Morales, who in the comics eventually becomes Spider-Man. (This is a nice nod to a...
- 7/10/2017
- by Liz Shannon Miller
- Indiewire
Michael Cyril Creighton (Spotlight, High Maintenance) has booked a recurring role on the second season of Epix comedy series Graves. After a year of public protests against his Presidential legacy, Season 2 finds former President Richard Graves (Nick Nolte) turning inward in search of the man he used to be before he was President. This journey is compounded by the arrival of his first grandchild, thanks to daughter Olivia (Heléne Yorke) and a new revelation about his son…...
- 7/5/2017
- Deadline TV
Updated June 15, 2017: Get your credit cards ready, because Kylie is releasing her brand new Vacation collection at 3 Pm Pst on kyliecosmetics.com, and you’re in for a major treat: it’s her favorite release to date. The star shared snaps of the products on social media, revealing a brand new range of cosmetics from highlighters to a bright purple matte liquid lipstick, a bright eye shadow palette and more, saying that this collection ranks the highest among her launches. And as always, Jenner got creative with x-rated names for the products, like “Skinny Dip”, “Send Me More Nudes” and more.
- 6/15/2017
- by Jillian Ruffo
- PEOPLE.com
Subscription video services like Netflix and HBO Go are quickly becoming the dominant way that people consume movies and TV shows. The good news is that there’s plenty of quality to be found in these places. Whether you’re addicted to “Veep” or keen on watching the latest genre excursion from Bong Joon Ho, you’re best bet is a home subscription.
But even as these platforms provide audiences with a wider array of options, many people are struggling to get the most out this abundance of choice. Here are some tips for spending wisely and getting the home entertainment setup that suits your needs.
Don’t Try To Replace What You Had
One of the disadvantages of cable was that you ended paying for junk you didn’t want. The most classic example was $5 of a basic cable bill going for Espn and its expensive live sports broadcast...
But even as these platforms provide audiences with a wider array of options, many people are struggling to get the most out this abundance of choice. Here are some tips for spending wisely and getting the home entertainment setup that suits your needs.
Don’t Try To Replace What You Had
One of the disadvantages of cable was that you ended paying for junk you didn’t want. The most classic example was $5 of a basic cable bill going for Espn and its expensive live sports broadcast...
- 6/6/2017
- by Chris O'Falt
- Indiewire
Watching a Jack Russell terrier struggle to hop up on a bed at the end of “My Dog Skip” or seeing the look in a golden retriever’s eye after being told he’s not wanted anymore in “Air Bud” or recognizing the moment that a rabid Old Yeller isn’t the same family pet anymore — those are heart-shattering dog moments. But even though there are canines at the center of those stories, they say more about what it means to be human; to invest so much of yourself in a creature that will never speak your name.
That same spirit is the driving force behind “Downward Dog,” the latest ABC comedy that brings a surprising level of poignancy to a simple premise. Nan (Allison Tolman), newly broken up and drifting about at an unfulfilling marketing job, finds solace in the companionship of her dog, Martin. As the show documents...
That same spirit is the driving force behind “Downward Dog,” the latest ABC comedy that brings a surprising level of poignancy to a simple premise. Nan (Allison Tolman), newly broken up and drifting about at an unfulfilling marketing job, finds solace in the companionship of her dog, Martin. As the show documents...
- 5/17/2017
- by Steve Greene
- Indiewire
If, like so many others, you’re hooked on the web-turned-hbo series “High Maintenance,” you won't want to miss this. The stoner comedy is shooting an upcoming episode in Brooklyn and you have the chance to appear in it. On May 16, beginning at 9 p.m., the series will be shooting at House of Yes (on Wyckoff Avenue in Bushwick), filming what is being billed as “a dance party fit for the gods.” Talent should dress in silver, gold, “glitz, glam” looks, and will be able to enjoy drink specials and free pizza. Talent must be 21 or over. Ready to get in on the action? All you need to do is register, which you can do right here. If you’re looking to get cast in other projects in and around New York City, check out Backstage’s New York City audition listings!
- 5/10/2017
- backstage.com
It’s not a federally recognized holiday, but the peaceful spirit of April 20 – otherwise known as the marijuana-enhanced 4-20 – is one worth celebrating. While still technically an illegal substance in most areas of the world, some of our favorite TV shows are clearly enhanced by being under the influence. Pot imbues them with a certain sensibility that may heighten the mood, even without chemical assistance.
Here are some of our favorite series, all available on streaming services, that acknowledge weed as a normal part of life for many Americans (even though a lot of the characters on this list probably shouldn’t be described as “normal”).
“Bored to Death”
Jonathan Ames’ HBO comedy was a celebration of both pot’s mellow and extreme mind-altering states. On the one hand, a little bit of suspension of disbelief was needed to buy into the oddball adventures of Jonathan (Jason Schwartzman), a novelist turned unlicensed private investigator.
Here are some of our favorite series, all available on streaming services, that acknowledge weed as a normal part of life for many Americans (even though a lot of the characters on this list probably shouldn’t be described as “normal”).
“Bored to Death”
Jonathan Ames’ HBO comedy was a celebration of both pot’s mellow and extreme mind-altering states. On the one hand, a little bit of suspension of disbelief was needed to buy into the oddball adventures of Jonathan (Jason Schwartzman), a novelist turned unlicensed private investigator.
- 4/20/2017
- by Ben Travers, Hanh Nguyen, Liz Shannon Miller, Michael Schneider and Steve Greene
- Indiewire
Sitting in one of the conference rooms at the Made in NY Media Center in Dumbo, I counted my chickens before they hatched. I was at a panel about promoting your web series at Brooklyn Web Fest, and the creators and filmmakers in the room seemed to know precious little about PR. Talented creators like Monica West, who just won Best Actress for Best Thing You’ll Ever Do at the Independent Series Awards, asked questions to which I already knew the answers, questions about structuring a press release and email etiquette when reaching out to reporters. I might’ve been a web series debutante, but I was a veteran publicist.
“I’m rich,” said my ego. Thanks to my PR background, my web series would soon be heralded the next Broad City or High Maintenance.
But I wasn’t rich. I was dumb.
I was young and naive those six months ago,...
“I’m rich,” said my ego. Thanks to my PR background, my web series would soon be heralded the next Broad City or High Maintenance.
But I wasn’t rich. I was dumb.
I was young and naive those six months ago,...
- 4/12/2017
- by Pablo Andreu
- Tubefilter.com
Ahhhhhhhh, now this is a cool branding campaign.
RelatedBig Little Lies Boss Dashes Season 2 Hopes: ‘There Is No Way’
HBO on Friday rolled out a series of new network bumpers, enlisting the casts of some of its biggest shows to appear in character and harmonize on the signature static intro that precedes all of its original programming. As you can tell, John Oliver isn’t all that into it.
“What is the point of this whole concept?” the Last Week Tonight host asks at the top of the video above. “Nobody tunes into HBO for static. That is not a beloved sound.
RelatedBig Little Lies Boss Dashes Season 2 Hopes: ‘There Is No Way’
HBO on Friday rolled out a series of new network bumpers, enlisting the casts of some of its biggest shows to appear in character and harmonize on the signature static intro that precedes all of its original programming. As you can tell, John Oliver isn’t all that into it.
“What is the point of this whole concept?” the Last Week Tonight host asks at the top of the video above. “Nobody tunes into HBO for static. That is not a beloved sound.
- 4/7/2017
- TVLine.com
HBO has taken its iconic opening — static, the logo and then a harmonious “ahh” cord — and given it life through its series stars.
In a series of promos released Friday, the actors of HBO’s biggest shows stayed in character to mimic the “Ah!” sound in their own unique way. What appears to be the entire “Game of Thrones” cast, including Daenerys Targaryen, Jon Snow, Arya and Bran Stark, Cersei and Jaime Lannister, Tormund Giantsbane, The Hound… heck, even Hodor show up to join in the fun. We give you one guess on how well Hodor says “Ah!”
Read More: HBO Unveils New Intro for Its Saturday Night Features (But It’s Still Not Better Than the Original)
The promo series, titled “It’s What Connects Us,” intend to give us a snapshot of the distinct yet diverse voices that HBO brings. Beyond “Game of Thrones,” check out characters from “Westworld,...
In a series of promos released Friday, the actors of HBO’s biggest shows stayed in character to mimic the “Ah!” sound in their own unique way. What appears to be the entire “Game of Thrones” cast, including Daenerys Targaryen, Jon Snow, Arya and Bran Stark, Cersei and Jaime Lannister, Tormund Giantsbane, The Hound… heck, even Hodor show up to join in the fun. We give you one guess on how well Hodor says “Ah!”
Read More: HBO Unveils New Intro for Its Saturday Night Features (But It’s Still Not Better Than the Original)
The promo series, titled “It’s What Connects Us,” intend to give us a snapshot of the distinct yet diverse voices that HBO brings. Beyond “Game of Thrones,” check out characters from “Westworld,...
- 4/7/2017
- by Hanh Nguyen
- Indiewire
Dan Stevens is having a bit of a moment. In February, you could see him in Legion, FX's stellar, must-see Marvel TV series in which the 34-year-old English actor plays a troubled young man who, despite having lived in a mental institution since his teens, discovers that he's not really schizophrenic. (The bad news: He's actually an all-powerful mutant, wanted by the government and controlled by a vicious parasite living inside his mind.) A month later, you might waltz down to your local multiplex and detect Stevens under lots of fur,...
- 4/5/2017
- Rollingstone.com
‘We’re all about what’s next,’ says MGM president of television group and digital Mark Burnett.
The studio announced on Thursday it has brought on Sam Toles to served in the new position of senior vice-president of digital and new platforms.
The highly regarded executive will be based in Los Angeles and takes charge of MGM’s digital native and short form content development and distribution.
He will work on new and existing MGM properties alongside the scripted, unscripted and distribution teams.
Toles most recently served as senior vice-president and general manager of Vimeo’s Entertainment Group, where he directed all aspects of programing for the video sharing platform that reached more than 250m unique viewers each month.
He oversaw the first slate of original programming including HBO’s High Maintenance, the Emmy-nominated Garfunkel And Oats: Trying To Be Special, and the Oscar-nominated animated short Pear Cider And Cigarettes.
“Sam’s experience...
The studio announced on Thursday it has brought on Sam Toles to served in the new position of senior vice-president of digital and new platforms.
The highly regarded executive will be based in Los Angeles and takes charge of MGM’s digital native and short form content development and distribution.
He will work on new and existing MGM properties alongside the scripted, unscripted and distribution teams.
Toles most recently served as senior vice-president and general manager of Vimeo’s Entertainment Group, where he directed all aspects of programing for the video sharing platform that reached more than 250m unique viewers each month.
He oversaw the first slate of original programming including HBO’s High Maintenance, the Emmy-nominated Garfunkel And Oats: Trying To Be Special, and the Oscar-nominated animated short Pear Cider And Cigarettes.
“Sam’s experience...
- 3/30/2017
- by jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
- ScreenDaily
Festival strand highlights online storytelling.
The Tribeca Film Festival (April 19-30) has revealed its N.O.W. Showcase, Special Screenings and Creators Market, including projects from Eli Roth and Shailene Woodley.
The N.O.W. Special Screenings series features content curated by Tribeca from leading online networks and talent.
Academy Award-nominated Josh Fox and James Spione will premiere Awake, A Dream From Standing Rock, executive produced by Shailene Woodley, and co-directed by Myron Dewey.
Eli Roth’s Crypt TV will premiere Monster Madness, a series of character shorts from the digital brand’s scaremakers.
Op-Docs, The New York Times’ award-winning forum for short, opinionated documentaries, will screen three films at the festival.
Online studios Dust, Adaptive Studios, and Stage 13 will present work from Nicole Delaney, Vera Miaob and Arkasha Stevenson. Conversations will follow each screening with the creators, talent, and special guests.
The N.O.W. Showcase is a selection of 10 independent online creators’ work that celebrates...
The Tribeca Film Festival (April 19-30) has revealed its N.O.W. Showcase, Special Screenings and Creators Market, including projects from Eli Roth and Shailene Woodley.
The N.O.W. Special Screenings series features content curated by Tribeca from leading online networks and talent.
Academy Award-nominated Josh Fox and James Spione will premiere Awake, A Dream From Standing Rock, executive produced by Shailene Woodley, and co-directed by Myron Dewey.
Eli Roth’s Crypt TV will premiere Monster Madness, a series of character shorts from the digital brand’s scaremakers.
Op-Docs, The New York Times’ award-winning forum for short, opinionated documentaries, will screen three films at the festival.
Online studios Dust, Adaptive Studios, and Stage 13 will present work from Nicole Delaney, Vera Miaob and Arkasha Stevenson. Conversations will follow each screening with the creators, talent, and special guests.
The N.O.W. Showcase is a selection of 10 independent online creators’ work that celebrates...
- 3/24/2017
- ScreenDaily
The Tribeca Film Festival announced programming today for its N.O.W. (New Online Works) section, an inspired array of established and emerging creators who are pushing the boundaries of online storytelling.
Read More: Tribeca 2017 Set to Open With ‘Clive Davis: The Soundtrack of Our Lives’ Premiere Event at Radio City Music Hall
Top-lining the section is the premiere of “Awake, A Dream from Standing Rock,” a documentary from the Oscar-nominated team of Josh Fox and James Spione and Executive Producer Shailene Woodley. The project is a collaboration with indigenous filmmaker Myron Dewey about the Native-led resistance against the Dakota Access Pipeline. Eli Roth’s Crypt TV will premiere “Monster Madness,” a series of several character shorts; and Op-Docs, The New York Times’ award-winning forum for short, opinionated documentaries, will screen three films at the Festival.
Read More: Tribeca 2017 Lineup: New Films From Alex Gibney, Azazel Jacobs and Laurie Simmons...
Read More: Tribeca 2017 Set to Open With ‘Clive Davis: The Soundtrack of Our Lives’ Premiere Event at Radio City Music Hall
Top-lining the section is the premiere of “Awake, A Dream from Standing Rock,” a documentary from the Oscar-nominated team of Josh Fox and James Spione and Executive Producer Shailene Woodley. The project is a collaboration with indigenous filmmaker Myron Dewey about the Native-led resistance against the Dakota Access Pipeline. Eli Roth’s Crypt TV will premiere “Monster Madness,” a series of several character shorts; and Op-Docs, The New York Times’ award-winning forum for short, opinionated documentaries, will screen three films at the Festival.
Read More: Tribeca 2017 Lineup: New Films From Alex Gibney, Azazel Jacobs and Laurie Simmons...
- 3/24/2017
- by Jude Dry
- Indiewire
Vimeo is planning to launch a subscription video service that, according to interim CEO Joey Levin, will deliver quality shows “at a fraction of the cost of other major competitors.” Now, the video site has confirmed reports about the hires who will lead its content acquisition plans. Vimeo has added three executives -- Alana Mayo, Kesila Childers, and Kelly Miller -- to its development team.
Mayo, who will serve as Vimeo’s VP and head of original development, comes from Paramount Pictures, where she was VP of production. Childers, a veteran of Bunim-Murray Productions who has experience with digital-native shows like Chachi’s World, will be Vimeo’s director of content development. Miller, who last worked in the acquisition department at Hulu, will have a similar role at Vimeo, where her title will be director of content acquisitions.
With all these hires, Vimeo hopes to build a competitive library that...
Mayo, who will serve as Vimeo’s VP and head of original development, comes from Paramount Pictures, where she was VP of production. Childers, a veteran of Bunim-Murray Productions who has experience with digital-native shows like Chachi’s World, will be Vimeo’s director of content development. Miller, who last worked in the acquisition department at Hulu, will have a similar role at Vimeo, where her title will be director of content acquisitions.
With all these hires, Vimeo hopes to build a competitive library that...
- 3/16/2017
- by Sam Gutelle
- Tubefilter.com
This year’s SXSW Film Festival is currently raging in Austin, Texas, complete with a packed slate that should keep festival attendees pretty happy in between bouts of chowing down breakfast tacos and basking in the good ol’ Texas sunshine. As ever, the festival features a strong lineup of both fresh premieres and festival favorites, new and returning stars, and plenty of opportunities for talent to break out on the festival stage.
From filmmakers to actors (and, sometimes, both at the same time), familiar faces looking to try a new craft to total newbies, this year’s festival has plenty of stars on the rise to look out for (ouch, so bright).
Read More: SXSW 2017: 13 Must-See Films At This Year’s Festival
Who’s going to break out in a big way at this year’s festival? We’ve got some ideas.
Ansel Elgort, actor, “Baby Driver”
If you...
From filmmakers to actors (and, sometimes, both at the same time), familiar faces looking to try a new craft to total newbies, this year’s festival has plenty of stars on the rise to look out for (ouch, so bright).
Read More: SXSW 2017: 13 Must-See Films At This Year’s Festival
Who’s going to break out in a big way at this year’s festival? We’ve got some ideas.
Ansel Elgort, actor, “Baby Driver”
If you...
- 3/10/2017
- by Chris O'Falt, David Ehrlich, Eric Kohn, Jude Dry, Kate Erbland and Steve Greene
- Indiewire
Brace yourself. The annual multi-pronged South By Southwest Conferences and Festivals — SXSW, of course — is hitting Austin, Texas later this week for days and days of fresh film offerings (and music and interactive stuff, too, but we can only do so much here). With it comes the promise of a brand new season of festival-going, along with a slew of films to get excited about finally checking out (and, because it’s Austin, lots of tasty barbecue to enjoy).
From SXSW regulars like Bob Byington and Joe Swanberg to rising stars like Nanfu Wang and Laura Terruso to marquee names like Terrence Malick and Edgar Wright — and just about everything in between — this year’s SXSW Film Festival is offering up its most robust slate yet. We’ve picked out a baker’s dozen of worthy new features to add to your SXSW schedule.
Check out 13 new films from this...
From SXSW regulars like Bob Byington and Joe Swanberg to rising stars like Nanfu Wang and Laura Terruso to marquee names like Terrence Malick and Edgar Wright — and just about everything in between — this year’s SXSW Film Festival is offering up its most robust slate yet. We’ve picked out a baker’s dozen of worthy new features to add to your SXSW schedule.
Check out 13 new films from this...
- 3/8/2017
- by Chris O'Falt, David Ehrlich, Eric Kohn, Jude Dry, Kate Erbland and Steve Greene
- Indiewire
Aymar Jean Christian is part of the inaugural class of Peabody Fellows, distinguished media scholars who provide fresh perspectives and commentary on behalf of the Peabody Media Center, the outreach and media production arm of the prestigious awards program based at the University of Georgia. He is an assistant professor of communication studies at Northwestern University.
You know you’re a TV nerd when your most anticipated awards announcements are the Writers Guild Awards. TV is a writer’s medium. Every TV fan awaits the Emmys, and some even bother to care about the Golden Globes, but most don’t know the major Guilds give out statues to television producers.
Nerdier still, I’m most interested in the nominees almost nobody writes about: web original short form comedies and dramas.
So while you probably could not imagine my disappointment when the WGA released their nominees for original short-form new media this year,...
You know you’re a TV nerd when your most anticipated awards announcements are the Writers Guild Awards. TV is a writer’s medium. Every TV fan awaits the Emmys, and some even bother to care about the Golden Globes, but most don’t know the major Guilds give out statues to television producers.
Nerdier still, I’m most interested in the nominees almost nobody writes about: web original short form comedies and dramas.
So while you probably could not imagine my disappointment when the WGA released their nominees for original short-form new media this year,...
- 2/19/2017
- by Aymar Jean Christian
- Indiewire
Bobby Flay has had a year filled with love.
The celebrity chef, who finalized his divorce from Stephanie March in July 2015 after 10 years of marriage, celebrated his one year anniversary with girlfriend, actress Heléne Yorke, on Saturday. “One year later … could not smile and laugh more in a 12 month span,” Flay, 52, wrote on a selfie of the pair. “#happyanniversary.”
The 31-year-old Canadian actress also commemorated the milestone by sharing a photo with Flay and his cat, Nacho. “365 days of Ginger,” she wrote. “Got me a bigger heart now.” Yorke is known for her roles in Quantico, High Maintenance, and as...
The celebrity chef, who finalized his divorce from Stephanie March in July 2015 after 10 years of marriage, celebrated his one year anniversary with girlfriend, actress Heléne Yorke, on Saturday. “One year later … could not smile and laugh more in a 12 month span,” Flay, 52, wrote on a selfie of the pair. “#happyanniversary.”
The 31-year-old Canadian actress also commemorated the milestone by sharing a photo with Flay and his cat, Nacho. “365 days of Ginger,” she wrote. “Got me a bigger heart now.” Yorke is known for her roles in Quantico, High Maintenance, and as...
- 2/13/2017
- by Ana Calderone
- PEOPLE.com
Every week, IndieWire asks a select handful of TV critics two questions and publishes the results on Tuesday. (The answer to the second, “What is the best show currently on TV?” can be found at the end of this post.)
This week’s question: Which is the best show to watch under the influence?
Tim Surette (@timsurette), TV.com
I haven’t, but my friend has. My friend says this is the golden age for under-the-influence television watching thanks to Peak TV covering just about every niche out there, particularly in the alternative comedy arena. It’s like today’s television was made by stoners for stoners! Just look at the great psychoactive-friendly comedies out there right now: “Baskets,” “Broad City,” “Man Seeking Woman,” “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia,” “Nathan For You,” “Review,” “Rick and Morty”… just about everything labeled a comedy that airs after 10 p.m. in your...
This week’s question: Which is the best show to watch under the influence?
Tim Surette (@timsurette), TV.com
I haven’t, but my friend has. My friend says this is the golden age for under-the-influence television watching thanks to Peak TV covering just about every niche out there, particularly in the alternative comedy arena. It’s like today’s television was made by stoners for stoners! Just look at the great psychoactive-friendly comedies out there right now: “Baskets,” “Broad City,” “Man Seeking Woman,” “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia,” “Nathan For You,” “Review,” “Rick and Morty”… just about everything labeled a comedy that airs after 10 p.m. in your...
- 2/7/2017
- by Hanh Nguyen
- Indiewire
What a great time to be excited for Logan! In such a short span of time we have gotten new interviews, a new trailer and an official R-rating. It’s all very exciting and bittersweet to know this movie is such a short amount of time away. Oh, but you still seem unfulfilled, as if all this still isn’t enough for you. Well, Mr./Mrs. High Maintenance Henry/Henrietta, lucky for you I have one more... Read More...
- 1/26/2017
- by Matt Rooney
- JoBlo.com
Alternative comedy fans have long been enamored with the explosive John Early and biting Kate Berlant’s collaborative friendship, but now the up-and-comers will bestow their rapid fire eccentricities on a wider audience in “555,” a new Vimeo original series which released its trailer today.
Read More: The 16 Best Breakthrough TV Performances of 2016
In five standalone episodes, Berlant and Early cast their keen satirical eyes to Hollywood, and the outlandish and groveling figures they encounter on their quest for stardom. Each part of this mini anthology series lampoons the greed, egotism and ignorance of ambitious stage mothers, naive acting students, and an agent fallen from grace, among others. Blink and you’ll miss it, but the trailer promises guest appearances from Jane Adams and Kristen Johnston.
Read More: ‘Search Party’ Review: A Millennial Mystery Exploring the Highs and Lows of Generation Me
Early has wracked up an impressive array of...
Read More: The 16 Best Breakthrough TV Performances of 2016
In five standalone episodes, Berlant and Early cast their keen satirical eyes to Hollywood, and the outlandish and groveling figures they encounter on their quest for stardom. Each part of this mini anthology series lampoons the greed, egotism and ignorance of ambitious stage mothers, naive acting students, and an agent fallen from grace, among others. Blink and you’ll miss it, but the trailer promises guest appearances from Jane Adams and Kristen Johnston.
Read More: ‘Search Party’ Review: A Millennial Mystery Exploring the Highs and Lows of Generation Me
Early has wracked up an impressive array of...
- 1/13/2017
- by Jude Dry
- Indiewire
In 1991, Disney released an animated adaptation of Jeanne-Marie Leprince de Beaumont’s fairy tale “The Beauty and the Beast,” a critical and commercial success upon release, and is considered one of Disney’s greatest animated films. Now, 26 years later, Disney will release a live-action remake of the 1991 film starring Emma Watson (“Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince”) as Belle and Dan Stevens (“High Maintenance”) as the Beast. In the film, Belle is taken prison by a Beast in his castle in exchange for her father’s freedom, and despite her fears, soon learns to befriend the castle’s enchanted staff and find the true heart and soul of the Beast. Watch an extended trailer for the film below, featuring new scenes of the Beast in action.
Read More: ‘Beauty and the Beast’ Images: Emma Watson and Dan Stevens Enchant in Iconic Ballroom Scene
The film is directed by Bill Condon,...
Read More: ‘Beauty and the Beast’ Images: Emma Watson and Dan Stevens Enchant in Iconic Ballroom Scene
The film is directed by Bill Condon,...
- 12/26/2016
- by Vikram Murthi
- Indiewire
When it comes to Netflix’s hit series, Orange Is the New Black, there’s no one star, with each of its ensemble players -- including Taylor Schilling, Samira Wiley and Uzo Aduba -- taking turns as the lead or stealing scenes. And Yael Stone, who plays the hopelessly romantic Lorna Morello, is no different.
“I just try to play my note in the orchestra as well as I can,” Stone tells Et, adding that she was really proud of season four, which saw Lorna become troubled by her marriage to prison fanatic Vince Muccio (John Magaro). And in one chilling scene over the phone, Lorna turned her playful delusion into reality, convincing herself that he’s cheating. “I’m proud to be a small part of such an incredibly challenging, funny, heartfelt show that’s not afraid of addressing some serious social issues.”
More: HBO's 'High Maintenance' Elevated by Eclectic Cast of Guest [link=tt...
“I just try to play my note in the orchestra as well as I can,” Stone tells Et, adding that she was really proud of season four, which saw Lorna become troubled by her marriage to prison fanatic Vince Muccio (John Magaro). And in one chilling scene over the phone, Lorna turned her playful delusion into reality, convincing herself that he’s cheating. “I’m proud to be a small part of such an incredibly challenging, funny, heartfelt show that’s not afraid of addressing some serious social issues.”
More: HBO's 'High Maintenance' Elevated by Eclectic Cast of Guest [link=tt...
- 12/26/2016
- Entertainment Tonight
Of the seismic cultural shifts that occurred in 2016, Hollywood finally embracing web series may be a tiny victory. But try telling that to the creators (a more succinct term for the writer-director-producer-actors thriving in the medium) who have turned their scrappy little web series into big-budget television deals.
Like Issa Rae, creator of the long-running YouTube series “Awkward Black Girl,” who just received a Golden Globe nomination for her new HBO show, “Insecure,” a vibrant comedy that puts black women front and center.
Or Ben Sinclair and Katja Blichfeld, the married co-creators who successfully adapted their web series, “High Maintenance,” for HBO. The stoner comedy that raised the bar for online storytelling preserved its indie charm; the six episodes of elegantly-woven vignettes held true to the spirit of the first online episodes, as each revealed little surprises in the lives of believable characters.
Read More: The Best of 2016: IndieWire...
Like Issa Rae, creator of the long-running YouTube series “Awkward Black Girl,” who just received a Golden Globe nomination for her new HBO show, “Insecure,” a vibrant comedy that puts black women front and center.
Or Ben Sinclair and Katja Blichfeld, the married co-creators who successfully adapted their web series, “High Maintenance,” for HBO. The stoner comedy that raised the bar for online storytelling preserved its indie charm; the six episodes of elegantly-woven vignettes held true to the spirit of the first online episodes, as each revealed little surprises in the lives of believable characters.
Read More: The Best of 2016: IndieWire...
- 12/21/2016
- by Jude Dry
- Indiewire
Animals live among us, often with us, some despite our interference in their habitats. They’re independent organisms that are often subject to our rules. This is especially true when it comes to television.
How we use and portray animals on TV perhaps reveals more about ourselves than the qualities they contain. Are they brought in to round out a nuclear TV family, or do they have greater narrative significance? Do they have personalities or are they plot devices that advance the story, and then forgotten? Do characters regard them with any real feeling?
Read More: The Best TV Shows of 2016
IndieWire examined how the animal kingdom fared on our screens this year from a storytelling point of view, and determined which portrayals were the most significant. Because of this narrative aspect, we focused on two types: fictional animals whose characters were created for the purpose of the show, and non-speaking animals.
How we use and portray animals on TV perhaps reveals more about ourselves than the qualities they contain. Are they brought in to round out a nuclear TV family, or do they have greater narrative significance? Do they have personalities or are they plot devices that advance the story, and then forgotten? Do characters regard them with any real feeling?
Read More: The Best TV Shows of 2016
IndieWire examined how the animal kingdom fared on our screens this year from a storytelling point of view, and determined which portrayals were the most significant. Because of this narrative aspect, we focused on two types: fictional animals whose characters were created for the purpose of the show, and non-speaking animals.
- 12/19/2016
- by Hanh Nguyen
- Indiewire
The life of an actor can be arduous and frustrating, considering the constant rejection and the inconsistent pay. The new comedy-drama “No Pay, Nudity” follows an aging actor as he struggles with work and life in his twilight years. Gabriel Byrne (“Miller’s Crossing”) stars as Lester Rosenthal who navigates the new realities of the world while continuing to pursue his dreams and dignity. The film co-stars Nathan Lane (“The Birdcage”), Frances Conroy (“Six Feet Under”), Donna Murphy (“Tangled”), Boyd Gaines (“Funny Games”), Valerie Mahaffey (“Sully)” and more. Watch an exclusive clip from the film below.
Read More: Review: Joachim Trier’s Beguiling And Fascinating ‘Louder Than Bombs’ Starring Jesse Eisenberg, Gabriel Byrne & Isabelle Huppert
The film is directed by Lee Wilkoff, who’s best known as an actor for the screen and stage for almost 40 years. He originated the roles of Samuel Byck in Stephen Sondheim’s “Assassins” and...
Read More: Review: Joachim Trier’s Beguiling And Fascinating ‘Louder Than Bombs’ Starring Jesse Eisenberg, Gabriel Byrne & Isabelle Huppert
The film is directed by Lee Wilkoff, who’s best known as an actor for the screen and stage for almost 40 years. He originated the roles of Samuel Byck in Stephen Sondheim’s “Assassins” and...
- 12/13/2016
- by Vikram Murthi
- Indiewire
Every week, IndieWire asks a select handful of TV critics two questions and publishes the results on Tuesday. (The answer to the second, “What is the best show currently on TV?” can be found at the end of this post.)
This week’s question: What is one of the best shows of the year that you think will be snubbed/overlooked when it comes to the Top 10 Best-of lists for 2016?
Ben Travers (@BenTTravers), IndieWire
As much as I’d like to point to an early year entry like “Bloodline” Season 2 (far better than Season 1, thanks to the improved structure) or “The Path” (Hulu’s most complete offering to date), I’m going to make the case for “Divorce.” I feel the HBO drama — “black comedy” could fit, too, but the show’s highest merits lie within its emotional substance — may be overlooked simply because too many critics (and viewers) find it hard to return to,...
This week’s question: What is one of the best shows of the year that you think will be snubbed/overlooked when it comes to the Top 10 Best-of lists for 2016?
Ben Travers (@BenTTravers), IndieWire
As much as I’d like to point to an early year entry like “Bloodline” Season 2 (far better than Season 1, thanks to the improved structure) or “The Path” (Hulu’s most complete offering to date), I’m going to make the case for “Divorce.” I feel the HBO drama — “black comedy” could fit, too, but the show’s highest merits lie within its emotional substance — may be overlooked simply because too many critics (and viewers) find it hard to return to,...
- 11/29/2016
- by Hanh Nguyen
- Indiewire
HBO is staying the course with its fall Sunday — renewing both Insecure and Divorce for second seasons, alongside pricey big swing Westworld The two comedies, vehicles for Issa Rae (Insecure) and Sarah Jessica Parker (Divorce), have been greeted by critical approval and solid ratings since their October premieres. They join the pay cable network's robust lineup of scripted half-hours, which also includes Veep, Silicon Valley, Ballers, High Maintenance, Vice Principals, the upcoming final season of Girls and the revived Curb Your Enthusiasm (return date still Tbd). Divorce and Insecure are each expected to return in 2017, both with 10-
read more...
read more...
- 11/14/2016
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
A formidable character actress, Amy Ryan has built a career on dramatic supporting roles in everything from Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead to HBO’s The Wire, as well as Tony-nominated performances on Broadway. She is probably most famous for her Oscar-nominated turn as a distraught mother of a missing daughter in Ben Affleck’s Gone Baby Gone. "I'm not a glamour girl and that's Ok," Ryan tells Et by phone. Not confined to Hollywood's standards for leading ladies, she naturally gravitated toward these supporting roles. "It's what got me excited when reading scripts. The character parts are always so much fun."
While there’s no doubt that Ryan can deliver scathing, emotional performances, she has a serious funny bone that’s not often seen onscreen. “My mom always said to me, ‘Your career really surprised me,’” Ryan says. The 48-year-old actress, who is currently earning laughs in Roundabout Theatre Company’s limited run of...
While there’s no doubt that Ryan can deliver scathing, emotional performances, she has a serious funny bone that’s not often seen onscreen. “My mom always said to me, ‘Your career really surprised me,’” Ryan says. The 48-year-old actress, who is currently earning laughs in Roundabout Theatre Company’s limited run of...
- 11/14/2016
- Entertainment Tonight
“Don’t Get Weird, Ok?” is the ostensible subtitle for “People of Earth,” but thankfully the show itself ignores that message. Created by David Jenkins, with Conan O’Brien and Greg Daniels serving as executive producers, this sweet scripted comedy represents another charming unique voice within TBS’s comedy line-up — one that gets a little bit otherworldly.
Read More: TNT & TBS Boss: We’re Airing Fewer Commercials, and Viewers Love It
Premiering Halloween night, the series focuses on Ozzie (Wyatt Cenac), a journalist doing a story on a support group for alien abductees (well, don’t call them abductees — they prefer the term “experiencers”). While Ozzie’s initial impression of them is easily filed under the term “crazypants,” his perception shifts after a possible encounter of his own, which leads him to suspect that aliens might actually be real, and that they might have big plans for our small humble planet.
Read More: TNT & TBS Boss: We’re Airing Fewer Commercials, and Viewers Love It
Premiering Halloween night, the series focuses on Ozzie (Wyatt Cenac), a journalist doing a story on a support group for alien abductees (well, don’t call them abductees — they prefer the term “experiencers”). While Ozzie’s initial impression of them is easily filed under the term “crazypants,” his perception shifts after a possible encounter of his own, which leads him to suspect that aliens might actually be real, and that they might have big plans for our small humble planet.
- 10/31/2016
- by Liz Shannon Miller
- Indiewire
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