News

The royal family has always been in the media, but sometimes, they find themselves in compromising situations — often relating to photos the press gets their hands on. It seems every royal has been part of at least one photo scandal.

Back in 1992, it was Sarah Ferguson who found herself in a compromising photo situation. And it reportedly led Queen Elizabeth II to tell Fergie to “pack her bags” — and Prince Philip never wanted to speak to her again.

Prince Philip chats with Sarah Ferguson and Prince Andrew in 1987 | Tim Graham/Getty Images Sarah Ferguson was once caught in a compromising situation with her financial advisor

Affectionately known as “Fergie,” Sarah Ferguson became the Duchess of York when she married the queen’s son, Prince Andrew, in 1986. However, the couple’s marriage deteriorated only a few years later, but they did welcome two daughters together: Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie.

While...

In a new Australian television interview, Sarah Ferguson supported Prince Harry and his wife, Meghan Markle, for standing up for their beliefs. The Duchess of York called the couple “trailblazers” as they remained firm in their convictions to leave their roles as senior royals.

Sarah Ferguson applauds Meghan Markle and Prince Harry for standing up for their beliefs | Jo Hale/WireImage/Mike Coppola/Getty Images Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s convictions impress Sarah Ferguson

Sarah Ferguson, the ex-wife of Prince Andrew, discussed the couple during an interview on the Australian TV show Sunrise. She told host Matt Shirvington she believes Harry and Meghan are “trailblazers” for standing tall in their beliefs.

“The thing is – and I’m really adamant about this – is that anyone that is out there really trailblazing for their own beliefs, and it doesn’t matter where you’re from or who you are, you trailblaze for what you believe,...

Family drama without the House of Windsor threatens to earmark King Charles‘ reign. However, as the king of the United Kingdom, Charles must find a way to pivot negative stories away from his family toward his work. Therefore, a royal commentator claims the king needs “people to pay attention to him” and not the chatter surrounding his immediate family.

King Charles in a photo taken shortly after his coronation | Toby Melville/Pool/Afp via Getty Images King Charles needs ‘people to pay attention to him’ says royal commentator

Since King Charles ascended to the throne upon the death of his mother, Queen Elizabeth, his reign has been marred by spectacle. Most of the issues are connected to his estrangement from his second son, Prince Harry.

Prince Harry and his wife, Meghan Markle, left their roles as senior royals in March 2020. Since then, the couple has been on a public relations...

Warning: contains spoilers for The Crown season 5.

The Crown and historical accuracy enjoy a fleeting rather than steadfast acquaintance. Peter Morgan’s Netflix drama concertinas history and jumps between time periods to follow emotional and symbolic through-lines rather than sticking to the recorded facts and timelines. “Inspired by real events, this fictional dramatization…” goes the proviso at the top of Season Five. School pupils shouldn’t rely on it to do their history homework, is the general consensus.

That established, below is the timeline of the 1991 – 1997 period depicted in Season Five according to the TV drama, with the odd note on where episodes diverge from what we know to be the real-life sequence of events.

As a reminder, Season four covered ‘The Thatcher Years’, running from Margaret Thatcher’s election as prime minister of Great Britain in May 1979 to her resignation as leader of the Conservative Party in November 1990, after...

The highly anticipated fifth season of "The Crown" arrives on Nov. 9, transporting audiences back to Brtain in 1991. A 65-year-old Queen Elizabeth II is entering her 39th year at the helm, and the series is set to cover around half of the tumultuous ensuing decade for the queen and her family.

Continuing the tradition of bringing a fresh cast every two seasons to realistically portray the aging royals, Olivia Colman is this time replaced by Imelda Staunton as the monarch, while Jonathan Pryce takes up the reins as Prince Philip. Margaret Thatcher (played gloriously in season four by Gillian Anderson) is gone, after being unceremoniously shown the door of Number 10 by duplicitous members of her own party. She's replaced as prime minister by John Major, played by the surprisingly cast Jonny Lee Miller.

Prince Charles (morphing from Josh O'Connor into Dominic West) is set to have some shocking storylines this season,...

After The Fox

Blu-ray

Kino Lorber

2017 / Color / 2.35 : 1 widescreen / Street Date March 22, 2017

Starring: Peter Sellers, Victor Mature, Martin Balsem, Akim Tamiroff.

Cinematography: Leonida Barboni

Film Editor: Russell Lloyd

Written by Neil Simon and Cesare Zavattini

Produced by John Bryan

Directed by Vittorio De Sica

After The Fox, a sunny mid-sixties farce about con-artists and movie-makers, boasts a powerhouse pedigree featuring leading men Peter Sellers and Victor Mature, a script by Neil Simon and Cesare Zavattini, music by Burt Bacharach, poster art from Frank Frazetta and the legendary director/actor/gambler Vittorio De Sica at the helm.

With such diverse talent on board, the film was somewhat misleadingly promoted as another in the line of 60’s screwball hipster comedies like Casino Royale and What’s New Pussycat. But the result is closer to De Sica’s laid back charmers from the ‘50s, Miracle in Milan and Gold of Naples (in fact,...

Fans of this show know it as the It's a Wonderful Life of war movies, an intensely moving tale that restores feeling and tenderness to people crippled by loss and despair. The stellar pairing of top star Gregory Peck and Burmese unknown Win Min Than is unique in movies and not to be missed. The Purple Plain Blu-ray Kl Studio Classics 1955 / Color /1:66 widescreen / 100 min. / Street Date April 5, 2016 / available through Kino Lorber / 29.95 Starring Gregory Peck, Win Min Than, Brenda De Banzie, Bernard Lee, Maurice Denham, Lyndon Brook, Anthony Bushell, Josephine Griffin Cinematography Geoffrey Unsworth Art Direction Donald M. Ashton, Jack Maxsted Film Editor Clive Donner Original Music John Veale Written by Eric Ambler from a novel by H.E. Bates Produced by John Bryan, Earl St. John Directed by Robert Parrish

Reviewed by Glenn Erickson

How can one convey the way a picture grows on one? I liked The Purple Plain...

The British TV wunderkind and Ben-Hur producer has been named president of MGM Television and Digital Group in a five-year deal as MGM acquired the remaining 45% of Hearst’s, Burnett’s and Roma Downey’s interests in United Artists Media Group (Uamg).

Burnett and his wife Downey will exchange their 23% interest in Uamg for 1,337,360 shares of MGM stock valued at $90 per share. Hearst will receive $113.5 million in cash for their 22% interest.

The transaction will enable the complete integration of Uamg’s and MGM’s television businesses and the consolidation of operations and is expected to close at the beginning of 2016.

The planned Ott channel will remain a separate entity controlled by its investors, Downey, Burnett, Hearst and MGM.

As part of the new structure, Downey will serve as president of LightWorkers Media, which will become the faith and family division of MGM Television, and will report to Burnett.

Downey will also serve as the chief content officer...

Joel Silver, the producer of The Matrix and Lethal Weapon series, is now in court over financial troubles. The Watley Group, a financial restructuring firm, filed a complaint in Los Angeles Superior Court this week over $1.3 million in finder fees allegedly owed on loans to cover Silver properties in Brentwood, Malibu and Venice as well as the storied producer's art collection. Silver's extravagances and pressing debt issues were covered extensively in April by The Hollywood Reporter. At the time, Silver admitted being connected to John Bryan, CEO of the Watley Group, through one of his former top lieutenants,

read more...

E!’s first-ever scripted series, The Royals, premieres this Sunday at 10 Pm. It follows a fictional British royal family, led by Queen Helena (Elizabeth Hurley), as they navigate scandals in the public eye. The show is undoubtedly influenced by the real-life shenanigans of several royal family members (*cough, Prince Harry, cough*). However, will fantasy be more salacious than fact? The show certainly has some big (read: crazy) shoes to fill.

You’d be hard-pressed to find a scandal the royal family hasn’t experienced. Affairs! Nude photos! Foot fetishes (more on that later)! For families perceived as the picture of sophistication, the Irl royals certainly know how to shake things up. Relive these moments with us to feel better about your own questionable life choices.

1. King Edward VIII abdicates the throne for love.

[Photo Credit: Getty Images]

King Edward VIII gave up the throne to marry twice-divorced American commoner Wallis Simpson in 1936. This shocked...

E!’s first-ever scripted series, The Royals, premieres this Sunday at 10 Pm. It follows a fictional British royal family, led by Queen Helena (Elizabeth Hurley), as they navigate scandals in the public eye. The show is undoubtedly influenced by the real-life shenanigans of several royal family members (*cough, Prince Harry, cough*). However, will fantasy be more salacious than fact? The show certainly has some big (read: crazy) shoes to fill.

You’d be hard-pressed to find a scandal the royal family hasn’t experienced. Affairs! Nude photos! Foot fetishes (more on that later)! For families perceived as the picture of sophistication, the Irl royals certainly know how to shake things up. Relive these moments with us to feel better about your own questionable life choices.

1. King Edward VIII abdicates the throne for love.

[Photo Credit: Getty Images]

King Edward VIII gave up the throne to marry twice-divorced American commoner Wallis Simpson in 1936. This shocked...

If you need to catch up on the best show of 2014, and Golden Globe nominee, and Emmy winner, Fargo, you’re going to have to look to Hulu.

I imagine Hulu knows what they’re doing, but I have to imagine this is a “watch again” hope they’re working with, because surely everyone who has any hope of wanting to see this one has already seen it. No one missed this, right? If you did, and I have no idea who I’m talking to now, do not miss your chance to watch it now. I can’t stop saying that I wish it ended a little better, but other than that this was an amazing television achievement, and one that was completely engrossing from start to finish.

Not only was it a treat to watch all the actors, who were all wonderful, but it was brilliantly refreshing to...

On Thursday, FX and Hulu announced a deal that would bring FX Productions to the popular streaming service. A day later, a deal with MGM shored up the exclusive online rights for the cable channel’s hit series “Fargo.”

Here’s the press release, more to come:

Hulu and MGM have expanded their streaming video on demand (Svod) relationship, the two companies announced today. The deal grants Hulu exclusive streaming rights to this year’s Golden Globe® nominated and Emmy®-Award Winning Miniseries Fargo. All episodes of the first installment of the hit show will be available to stream on...

MGM Television is holding on to its leadership for another two years. The company has extended the contracts for several of its top executives through 2016. Roma Khanna, President, Television Group and Digital; Chris Ottinger, President, International Television Distribution and Acquisitions; Steve Stark, President, Television Production and Development; and John Bryan, President, Domestic Television Distribution are the recipients of MGM TV’s vote of confidence. “MGM television, under Roma’s direction, is stronger than ever, and is an important producer and distributor of content for television and digital platforms worldwide,” said MGM chairman and CEO, Gary Barber, in a statement. “This stellar senior.

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios has given a vote of confidence to the current leadership of MGM Television, extending the contracts for Roma Khanna, President, Television Group and Digital; Chris Ottinger, President, International Television Distribution and Acquisitions; Steve Stark, President, Television Production and Development; and John Bryan, President, Domestic Television Distribution until 2016. Khanna continues to report directly to MGM chairman and CEO Gary Barber, while Ottinger, Stark and Bryan will report to Khanna. “MGM television, under Roma’s direction, is stronger than ever, and is an important producer and distributor of content for television and digital platforms worldwide,” said Barber. MGM TV’s portfolio includes series Vikings and Teen Wolf, upcoming limited series Fargo as well as syndicated Paternity Court, Right This Minute and Let’s Ask America. Projects in development include a re-imagining of Fame with Nigel Lythgoe and Marta Kauffman.

MGM has extended the contracts of its senior television executive team through 2016. Staying put with the division are Roma Khanna, president of the television group and digital; Chris Ottinger, president of international television distribution and acquisitions; Steve Stark, president of television production and development; and John Bryan, president of domestic television distribution. Under its current team, MGM TV has expanded domestically and internationally. Khanna will continue to oversee MGM's development slate, worldwide television and digital distribution as well as branded channels opportunities. Khanna's leadership, the international sales team has expanded the studio's global reach, selling Vikings and Teen Wolf

read more...

Fargo, Platoon, Annie Hall, Hotel Rwanda, and Hoosiers are among the films from the MGM library that will join the programming lineup for those who pay $79 a year for Amazon Prime (which provides free shipping for merchandise in addition to entertainment content). But the e-retailer seems most excited about Vikings, which airs in the U.S. on History. It’s not a shock to see it on Amazon: The company’s European streaming service, Lovefilm, has had it since May. It’s “a series we know our customers love in both the U.S. and abroad,” says Brad Beale, Director of Digital Video Content Acquisition for Amazon. And MGM is glad to collect the check. “We are always looking for opportunities to bring our content to new audiences in innovative ways, which is exactly what this partnership delivers,” says John Bryan, MGM’s President, Domestic Television Distribution.

“Paternity Court,” a nationally syndicated courtroom series, will premiere on Monday, September 23, debuting in more than 92% of the country in all of the top 50 markets. The 30-minute first run show will air five days a week. The announcement was made today by John Bryan, President, Domestic Television Distribution, MGM Television. The show’s judge Lauren Lake, a legal and relationship expert, will preside over riveting and life-changing paternity cases, helping families find closure and acceptance once she reveals the DNA test results. “Our court is not only about helping people get answers surrounding paternity, but also about how to move forward no matter how difficult the results are to hear,” explains Lake. “The stakes are high...

“At the end of the day I probably let myself down, I let my family down, I let other people down,” Prince Harry sighed during a recent interview about his nude Las Vegas photos taken last August. To which we say…do you even know your family, Harry? Maybe things were different when Queen Elizabeth II was a girl, but if the last couple decades have taught us anything, it’s that you could barely be considered a British royal without at least one scandal in your back pocket. So don’t worry, Harry! You’re just joining other infamous royal scandals such as…

1) Kate Middleton’s bottomless nudes

Can Harry really feel too bad about everyone seen his nakedness when his new sister-in-law inadvertently showed the world hers while honeymooning in France last September? Kate Middleton obviously had no intention of anyone seeing her sans pants or sans bra,...

Duchess Sarah "Fergie" Ferguson may not have been invited to the royal wedding, but that hasn't stopped her from pledging her support for Kate Middleton in the wake of the topless photo scandal. Speaking to the U.K.'s Daily Mail from the United States during the promotional tour for her latest children's book, Ballerina Rose, Fergie said she has "total empathy and sympathy for [Kate]." As it happens, Fergie knows of what she speaks and is infamously no stranger to such scandals, having been photographed topless while sunbathing at a remote villa in the South of France 20 years ago with American businessman John Bryan. (The mother of princesses Beatrice and Eugenie was married to Prince...

From one Duchess to another! The Duchess of York feels Kate's pain after topless photos were released last week -- Sarah Ferguson experienced a similar situation 20 years ago! Read on for more details. Sarah Ferguson has expressed "total sympathy" for Kate Middleton after topless photos of the Duchess of Cambridge were revealed last week! "I have been there and know what it's like," the Duchess of York, 52, told the U.K.'s Daily Mail. "Everyone is entitled to privacy. It is a devastating invasion of one's personal inner space. It is deplorable, abhorrent and despicable." Twenty years ago, Sarah was photographed topless while sunbathing at a remote villa in the South of France. Sarah was photographed getting her toes sucked by American businessman John Bryan while lying poolside in August 1992. Despite Kate's photo scandal, Sarah believes Kate should continue with her Royal duties including a nine-day Diamond Jubilee tour of...

From one duchess to another. Currently embroiled in a photo scandal (but maintaining a brave face), Kate Middleton is on the receiving end of some sympathy from an unexpected supporter: Duchess Sarah Ferguson, who once expressed hurt over her exclusion from the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's wedding guest list. Ferguson, after all, can relate to Kate's situation. It was 20 years ago that she found herself in a similarly unwelcome spotlight, when racy pictures surfaced documenting her topless rendezvous with American businessman John Bryan. "I have been there and know what it's like," the Duchess of York, 52, told the U.

John Bryan has been promoted to president Domestic Television Distribution for MGM. Bryan, who is currently Evp MGM Domestic TV, created the studio's premium channel This TV. Under his new title, he will continue to work on This TV, the launch of Me TV, first-run syndication programming and sales for titles from MGM's film and TV library. He reports to MGM co-chairmen and CEOs Gary Barber and Roger Birnbaum. John Bryan joined MGM in 2006 after 17 years at Buena Vista TV where he rose to Evp sales.

HollywoodNews.com: This TV, the free broadcast movie network from MGM Studios and Weigel Broadcasting, will honor “The Boss” of baseball, the late New York Yankees owner George Steinbrenner, with a special programming lineup on Saturday, July 24. Kicking off at 7:00 pm Et the tribute will include “The Pride of the Yankees,” the Academy Award® winning film starring Gary Cooper followed by four back-to-back episodes of the 1960 television series “Home Run Derby,” with Yankees legend Mickey Mantle. An encore presentation of the tribute will air Sunday July, 25 at 11:00 pm Et.

Leading off the tribute will be the premiere of the newly-remastered version of the classic baseball movie, “The Pride of the Yankees,” which hasn’t been seen on broadcast TV in nearly a decade. The 1942 biographical film stars Gary Cooper as Yankees first baseman Lou Gehrig, who had his career cut short at 37 years of age when he was...

British filmmaker Ronald Neame, whose career dates back to serving as assistant cameraman on the first feature film made with sound in Great Britain, Alfred Hitchcock's "Blackmail," has died, according to reports. He was 99.

No details were available.

His directing credits ranged from "The Poseidon Adventure" (1972) to "The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie" (1969), for which Maggie Smith won the Oscar for best actress.

As a producer, Neame was involved with three British classics: "Brief Encounter" (1945), "Great Expectations" (1946) and "Oliver Twist" (1948). "Brief Encounter" and "Great Expectations" were the fruition of a production partnership called Cineguild that Neame had formed with David Lean and Anthony Havelock-Allan.

As a screenwriter, Neame earned Oscar nominations for the screenplays of "Brief," adapted from a Noel Coward play, and "Expectations," from Charles Dickens' novel. He shared those distinctions with Lean and Havelock-Allan.

Cineguild broke up in 1947 with a fall-out between Neame and Lean when...

The country's royals have been embarrassed by the Duchess of York accepting cash for access to her ex-husband Prince Andrew, but many commentators Monday were unsurprised at what is only her latest gaffe.Sarah Ferguson, who divorced from Queen Elizabeth II's second son in 1996, apologised for a "serious lapse in judgement" Sunday after being secretly filmed striking a deal with an undercover reporter from the News of the World.In return for 500,000 pounds, she seemingly promised to introduce the reporter, posing as a businessman, to the prince, who is Britain's special representative for international trade and investment."I very deeply regret the situation and the embarrassment caused," she said, admitting that her financial situation was "under stress" but saying this was "no excuse for a serious lapse in judgment and I am very sorry".It is not the first time Ferguson has sparked controversy,...