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Newcomers to the Emmys Circle: Directors to Watch This Season

Newcomers to the Emmys Circle: Directors to Watch This Season
These directors, who have never won an Emmy, may finally get a chance at a nomination and perhaps a win with these buzzy series.

Karyn Kusama

It’s been 20 years since Kusama made her directorial debut, but she’s yet to receive an Emmy nomination. The “Jennifer’s Body” director stepped behind the camera for the pilot episode of this year’s breakout drama “Yellowjackets” on Showtime.

Lorene Scafaria

Best known for writing and directing 2019’s “Hustlers,” Scafaria helmed the seventh episode of the latest season of HBO’s massive hit, “Succession.” Titled “Too Much Birthday,” the heart-wrenching episode, which centered on Kendall’s lavish 40th birthday party, could — and should — also get recognition for production design done by Stephen H. Carter.

Cherien Dabis

Dabis is at the helm of the seventh episode of Hulu’s “Only Murders in the Building,” perfectly titled “The Boy From 6B.” The hour both moves
See full article at Variety »

‘The Hunger Games: The Ballad Of Songbirds And Snakes’: Josh Andres Rivera To Reteam With ‘West Side Story’ Star Rachel Zegler

‘The Hunger Games: The Ballad Of Songbirds And Snakes’: Josh Andres Rivera To Reteam With ‘West Side Story’ Star Rachel Zegler
Josh Andrés Rivera will be returning to work with his West Side Story star Rachel Zegler in Lionsgate’s growing ensemble prequel The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes.

The prequel centers around 18-year-old Coriolanus Snow (Tom Blyth), who as we know will become the tyrannical President of Panem. He is the last hope for his fading lineage, a once-proud family that has fallen from grace in a post-war Capitol. With the 10th annual Hunger Games fast approaching, the young Snow is alarmed when he is assigned to mentor Lucy Gray Baird (Zegler), the girl tribute from impoverished District 12. But, after Lucy Gray commands all of Panem’s attention by defiantly singing during the reaping ceremony, Snow thinks he might be able to turn the odds in their favor. Uniting their instincts for showmanship and newfound political savvy, Snow and Lucy’s race against time to survive will
See full article at Deadline »

‘Hunger Games’ Prequel Finds Its Sejanus Plinth in ‘West Side Story’ Actor Josh Andrés Rivera (Exclusive)

‘Hunger Games’ Prequel Finds Its Sejanus Plinth in ‘West Side Story’ Actor Josh Andrés Rivera (Exclusive)
Josh Andrés Rivera (“West Side Story”) is set to play the role of Sejanus Plinth in the “The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes” for director Francis Lawrence and producers Nina Jacobson and Brad Simpson, TheWrap has exclusively learned.

Sejanus Plinth is a close friend of young Coriolanus Snow and the mentor to a tribute from District 2. Tom Blyth is playing the role of Coriolanus Snow. Rivera also joins his fellow “West Side Story” alum Rachel Zegler, who is set to play Lucy Gray Baird in the film.

The prequel film in the franchise, which has grossed over 3 billion globally, is based on the best-selling novel by Suzanne Collins and is slated to hit theaters on Nov. 17, 2023.

Also Read:

Rachel Zegler to Lead ‘Hunger Games’ Prequel ‘The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes’

Francis Lawrence returns to the series, having directed the sequels “Catching Fire” and both parts of “Mockingjay.
See full article at The Wrap »

Focus Features Sets Theatrical Release Date For ‘Spoiler Alert: The Hero Dies’

Focus Features Sets Theatrical Release Date For ‘Spoiler Alert: The Hero Dies’
Focus Features has set a limited theatrical release for Spoiler Alert: The Hero Dies in New York, Los Angeles and San Francisco on December 2, 2022.

The film, directed by Michael Showalter from a screenplay by David Marshall Grant and Dan Savage based on Michael Ausiello’s best-selling memoir, will expand domestically on December 9 and be released wide on December 16.

Spoiler Alert stars Jim Parsons, Ben Aldridge and Sally Field. Antoni Porowski, Nikki M. James, Jeffery Self, and Bill Irwin will also be featured in the film.

Producers on the project are Michael Showalter and Jordana Mollick via their Semi–Formal Productions banner; Jim Parsons, and Todd Spiewak and Alison Mo Massey via the That’s Wonderful Production banner. Executive Producers are Michael Ausiello, Eric Norsoph, and Jason Sokoloff.

This is a tragicomic, heartwarming and life-affirming story of the eleven-month span between Ausiello’s partner, photographer Kit Cowan, receiving a diagnosis of terminal cancer,
See full article at Deadline »

Laurie Metcalf could earn 3 Emmy nominations (again) with ‘The Conners,’ ‘The Dropout,’ ‘Hacks’

Laurie Metcalf could earn 3 Emmy nominations (again) with ‘The Conners,’ ‘The Dropout,’ ‘Hacks’
At the 2016 Emmys, Laurie Metcalf earned three acting nominations, proving her versatility and her popularity in the industry. The actress, a three-time winner for “Roseanne,” collected bids for “Getting On,” her only time nominated as a lead, and for her guest spots on “The Big Bang Theory” and “Horace and Pete.” Two years later, she earned her first career Oscar nomination, for her supporting role in “Lady Bird” (2017). Now at the upcoming 2022 Emmys, Metcalf has a chance of repeating her Emmy triple play with nominations for three other shows — “The Conners,” “The Dropout” and “Hacks.”

SEEDirector Michael Showalter on what connects ‘The Dropout,’ ‘The Shrink Next Door’ and ‘I Love That for You’ [Exclusive Video Interview]

Since that banner year, Metcalf earned another Emmy nomination for the revival of “Roseanne” in 2018. The show was retooled the following season and morphed into “The Conners,” in which the actress reprises her Emmy-winning role as Jackie Harris.
See full article at Gold Derby »

Director Michael Showalter on what connects ‘The Dropout,’ ‘The Shrink Next Door’ and ‘I Love That for You’ [Exclusive Video Interview]

Director Michael Showalter on what connects ‘The Dropout,’ ‘The Shrink Next Door’ and ‘I Love That for You’ [Exclusive Video Interview]
Michael Showalter is one of the busiest directors in the industry, lending his expertise to three different shows this TV season — Showtime comedy “I Love That for You,” Hulu’s buzzy miniseries “The Dropout” and the Apple TV+ limited series “The Shrink Next Door.” While all three tell stories centered on wildly different characters, one lying about having cancer to save her job, another a disgraced biotech mogul and a third about an inappropriate psychiatrist, they do share some common DNA. “Good people doing bad things in a sense,” observes Showalter in an exclusive new interview for Gold Derby. “Well-intentioned people who are trying to do the right thing but whose shortcomings get the best of them.” Watch the full video chat above.

See over 350 interviews with 2022 Emmy contenders

For “I Love That for You,” starring Vanessa Bayer as a home shopping network host who lies about her childhood cancer coming back,
See full article at Gold Derby »

Maggie Haskins Named Partner At Artists First Management & Production

Maggie Haskins Named Partner At Artists First Management & Production
Maggie Haskins has a new title at Artists First: She’s been upped to partner.

Having started at the company more than 12 years ago as an intern, Haskins is considered an integral part of the company. Her focus is on female representation in front of and behind the camera, with clients like writer/producer Jen D’Angelo (Hocus Pocus 2), Stephanie Laing (Physical), Charmaine Bingwa (The Good Fight), Betsy Thomas (My Boys), Tawny Newsome (Space Force), comedian Heather McMahan, and Full Frontal with Samantha Bee head writer Kristen Bartlett.

She’s also producing the untitled sister comedy feature alongside her colleague Itay Reiss; it’s from Gloria Sanchez Productions at 20th for Hulu and stars Awkwafina and Sandra Oh. It was written by D’Angelo.

“I am so honored and thrilled to join the partnership at Artists First,” Haskins said in a statement. “I am grateful that from day one,
See full article at Deadline »

‘In The Dark’ Will End With Season 4 On CW

‘In The Dark’ Will End With Season 4 On CW
In The Dark will end after its upcoming fourth season on the CW. Season 4 is slated to premiere June 6.

The drama series, from CBS Studios, Warner Bros. TV and Ben Stiller’s Red Hour Films, was on the bubble, but had been boosted by streaming. In The Dark is written by Corinne Kingsbury and directed by Michael Showalter. It had debuted as a mid-season entry during the 2018–19 television season, and aired during the late spring/early summer in 2020. Its third season ended on October 6, 2021.

The series stars Perry Mattfeld as Murphy Mason, Brooke Markham as Jess Damon, Casey Deidrick as Max Parish, Keston John as Darnell James, Morgan Krantz as Felix Bell, Theodore Bhat as Josh and Matt Murray as Gene Clemens.

In the first three seasons, Murphy Mason (Mattfeld) had gone from a lazy receptionist to a drunken vigilante detective to a drug front proprietor, and then, a woman-on-the-run.
See full article at Deadline »

‘Charmed,’ ‘Dynasty,’ ‘Roswell, New Mexico’ and ‘In the Dark’ Canceled at CW

‘Charmed,’ ‘Dynasty,’ ‘Roswell, New Mexico’ and ‘In the Dark’ Canceled at CW
“Charmed,” “Dynasty,” “Roswell, New Mexico” and “In the Dark” have been canceled at The CW, Variety has learned.

Both “Roswell, New Mexico” and “In the Dark” have already completed filming on their upcoming seasons and will conclude after those episodes have aired.

Also canceled Thursday by the younger-skewing broadcast network were “Naomi” and “4400.”

Based on the original WB/CW series of the same name, “Charmed” was currently airing its fourth season. The reboot starred Melonie Diaz, Sarah Jeffery, Lucy Barrett, Rupert Evans and Jordan Donica. During the show’s first three seasons, Madeleine Mantock was the lead, playing the three sisters at the center of the series along with Diaz and Jeffrey. Barrett joined the show for Season 4 following Mantock’s exit.

Hailing from CBS Studios and Propagate Content, “Charmed” is executive produced by Jeffrey Lieber, Nicki Renna and Joey Falco, Kevin Dowling, Jennie Snyder Urman, Ben Silverman, Brad Silberling,
See full article at Variety »

Veteran Producer Riva Marker Joins Linden Entertainment As CEO Of Productions

Veteran Producer Riva Marker Joins Linden Entertainment As CEO Of Productions
Exclusive: Award-winning producer and co-founder of independent production company Nine Stories, Riva Marker, has joined Nicole King and Stacy O’Neil’s Linden Entertainment as their CEO of Productions.

In her new role, Marker will oversee and expand the company’s upcoming production slate across both film and television. She will operate out of the company’s New York office and will start her position effective immediately.

Producer Marker founded Nine Stories, the independent production company, with Jake Gyllenhaal in 2015. Her recent producing credits include Antoine Fuqua’s The Guilty which premiered at the 2021 Toronto International Film Festival and was acquired by Netflix; as well as Joe Bell directed by Reinaldo Marcus Green starring Mark Wahlberg; Relic, which premiered at the 2020 Sundance Film Festival and Paul Dano’s directorial debut Wildlife nominated for three Independent Spirit Awards, starring Carey Mulligan and Gyllenhaal. Prior to Nine Stories, Marker produced Cary Fukunaga’s
See full article at Deadline »

How a Marvel Tweet Could Complicate ‘Moon Knight’ and Oscar Isaac’s Emmys Odds

How a Marvel Tweet Could Complicate ‘Moon Knight’ and Oscar Isaac’s Emmys Odds
“Moon Knight” has taken off with critics and superhero fans around the globe, raking in enormous numbers for Disney+ and Marvel Studios. As a result, the two studios are gearing up for a hardy Emmys campaign with the show in the limited series categories, especially following the success of “WandaVision,” which co-led the tally for all series with 23 nominations (winning three) last year. However, a tweet shared from Marvel Studios’ official Twitter account could throw a potential wrench in their campaign.

Created by Jeremy Slater, the entire promotional tour for “Moon Knight” had the two major studios referring to the show as a “limited series,” with the presumption this would be a standalone television outing for the Marvel Comics character. However, on Monday, Marvel’s official Twitter page shared the trailer for today’s final episode, referring to it as “the epic series finale,” but the tweet was taken down
See full article at Variety »

Vanessa Bayer and Molly Shannon Embrace ‘SNL’ and Being Awkward at ‘I Love That for You’ FYC Event

Vanessa Bayer and Molly Shannon Embrace ‘SNL’ and Being Awkward at ‘I Love That for You’ FYC Event
Showtime comedy “I Love That for You” traces a straight line back to “Saturday Night Live.” Not only did former “SNL” star Vanessa Bayer create the show with former “SNL” writer Jeremy Beiler, and Bayer’s co-star is “SNL” veteran Molly Shannon, but the relationship between the actresses’ characters also looks a lot like… Shannon and Bayer’s, back when they were on “SNL.”

They didn’t overlap on the show, but it remained a shared experience. The actresses grew up 10 minutes away from each other in Cleveland suburbs and brought their Midwestern sensibilities to the venerable comedy show.

“Like when Vanessa’s character is getting a makeover, I relate to her character because that’s how I felt when I started on ‘Saturday Night Live,” Shannon said at the show’s premiere and FYC event at the Pacific Design Center in Los Angeles Wednesday night. “You’re kind of green,
See full article at Indiewire »

Focus CinemaCon session teases Cannes selection ‘Armageddon Time’, ‘Mrs. Harris Goes To Paris’, ‘Downton Abbey’ sequel

Focus CinemaCon session teases Cannes selection ‘Armageddon Time’, ‘Mrs. Harris Goes To Paris’, ‘Downton Abbey’ sequel
Studio celebrates 20th anniversary year.

Focus Features showed footage at CinemaCon on Wednesday (April 27) from James Gray’s upcoming Cannes Competition selection Armageddon Time, Tod Field’s Tár starring Cate Blanchett, comedy Mrs. Harris Goes To Paris, and Downton Abbey: A New Era.

The studio prepared special footage for autumn release Armageddon Time, Gray’s coming-of-age story about the strength of family and the generational pursuit of the American Dream. Anthony Hopkins, Jeremy Strong, Anne Hathaway and newcomers Michael Banks Repeta and Jaylin Webb star.

Similarly, audiences got to see a unique clip of Blanchett conducting an orchestra in Tár,
See full article at ScreenDaily »

You Won’t Love ‘I Love That for You’: TV Review

You Won’t Love ‘I Love That for You’: TV Review
The world of home-shopping networks is one that seems ripe for comedy; the scenes in “Hacks,” for instance, in which Deborah Vance goes on television to hawk garments and jewelry are some of that show’s most cleverly observed. The challenge, as with all things in fiction, is getting the details right.

That’s the first place that “I Love That for You,” Showtime’s new comedy set at a fictional TV channel, falls short. Starring and co-created by “Saturday Night Live” standout Vanessa Bayer, “I Love That for You” weaponizes its central presence’s askew vision of life as a series of petty humiliations, most easily borne by making oneself the butt of the joke. But everything Bayer’s character faces at work seems less surreal than unreal; the show lacks the grain and texture of actual office life or a recognizable media environment.

What the show seems to
See full article at Variety »

‘Cheeky’ Comedy Series Based On Ariella Elovic’s Book From ‘SNL’s Aidy Bryant, Sudi Green & Lorne Michaels In Works At Peacock

‘Cheeky’ Comedy Series Based On Ariella Elovic’s Book From ‘SNL’s Aidy Bryant, Sudi Green & Lorne Michaels In Works At Peacock
Peacock has put in development Cheeky, a comedy based on Ariella Elovic’s book Cheeky: A Head-To-Toe Memoir, from Saturday Night Live‘s Aidy Bryant, writer Sudi Green, executive producer Lorne Michaels, and Universal Television.

Written by Bryant, Green, and Elovic, the Cheeky series adaptation is a refreshingly honest, sometimes obscene collection of first-person stories about all things bodily told by comedians, celebrities, bus drivers, kids, and your grandmother’s crankiest friend. Each episode focuses on a theme and is animated in the same colorful and painterly style as the book by Elovic.

Bryant and Green executive produce with Michaels and Andrew Singer of Michael’s Broadway Video. Elovic and Alice Mathias serve as co-executive producers. Willa Slaughter serves as producer. Universal Television, a division of Universal Studio Group, is the studio.

Bryant is a ten-year cast member on Saturday Night Live. Since
See full article at Deadline »

How ‘The Dropout’ Music Supervisor Crafted a 2010s Time Capsule With Katy Perry and Lil Wayne

How ‘The Dropout’ Music Supervisor Crafted a 2010s Time Capsule With Katy Perry and Lil Wayne
Spoiler Alert: Do not read if you have not watched “The Dropout” on Hulu.

When crafting the soundtrack for Hulu’s “The Dropout,” music supervisor Maggie Phillips and show creator Elizabeth Meriwether sought out, as Phillips puts it, “songs that scream 2010.”

Set between 2003 and 2018, “The Dropout” chronicles the rise and fall of Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes (Amanda Seyfried), as she goes from founding a medical technology company worth 9 billion to being indicted for fraud. Based on the ABC News podcast of the same name, the limited series has been critically lauded for its writing, acting and music, which incorporates everything from Katy Perry’s “Firework” to Lil Wayne’s “How to Love.”

Phillips, who supervised the show with coordinators Kristen Higuera and Andrew Brady, was drawn to it because she had never worked on a project with music that came out during her adult years.

“[It’s] a time period that I knew very well,
See full article at Variety »

Michael Showalter

Michael Showalter
Writer, director and actor Michael Showalter joins hosts Josh Olson and Joe Dante to discuss his favorite movies.

Show Notes: Movies Referenced In This Episode

Wet Hot American Summer (2001)

The Eyes of Tammy Faye (2021)

The Baxter (2005)

Hello, My Name Is Doris (2015)

Runaway Daughters (1994)

Clueless (1995)

Bagdad Cafe (1987)

Coda (2021)

The Long Goodbye (1973) – Josh Olson’s trailer commentary, Glenn Erickson’s Blu-ray review

Jaws (1975) – Josh Olson’s trailer commentary

Do The Right Thing (1989)

Sugarbaby (1985)

City Slickers (1991)

Attack! (1956) – Glenn Erickson’s Blu-ray review

Paris, Texas (1984) – Karyn Kusama’s trailer commentary

Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure (1985)

Pretty In Pink (1986)

Escape From New York (1981) – Neil Marshall’s trailer commentary

Hamburger: The Motion Picture (1986)

The Warriors (1979)

The Thing (1982) – Jesus Treviño’s trailer commentary, Glenn Erickson’s Blu-ray review

Innerspace (1987) – Glenn Erickson’s Blu-ray review

Christine (1983)

Crossing Delancey (1988)

Annie Hall (1977) – Robert Weide’s trailer commentary

When Harry Met Sally… (1989)

The Fugitive (1993)

The Big Sick (2017) – Glenn Erickson’s Blu-ray review

Between The Lines
See full article at Trailers from Hell »

“The Eyes of Tammy Faye

“The Eyes of Tammy Faye
"The Eyes of Tammy Faye" directed by Michael Showalter, follows the story of the disgraced televangelist, starring Oscar winner Jessica Chastain ("Wilde Salomé), Andrew Garfield ("The Amazing Spider-Man"), Cherry Jones and Vincent D'Onofrio ("Full Metal Jacket"): 

"...the film depicts the history of televangelists 'Tammy Faye Bakker' (Chastain), 'Jim Bakker' (Garfield) and 'Jerry Falwell' (D'Onofrio')...

"...providing an intimate look at the extraordinary rise, fall and redemption of Tammy Faye..."

Click the images to enlarge...
See full article at SneakPeek »

Jessica Chastain Wins First Career Oscar For ‘The Eyes Of Tammy Faye’; Praises Faye’s “Radical Acts Of Love”

Jessica Chastain Wins First Career Oscar For ‘The Eyes Of Tammy Faye’; Praises Faye’s “Radical Acts Of Love”
The 94th Academy Awards have blessed Jessica Chastain with her first career Oscar. The actress accepted the best lead actress prize for her work in The Eyes of Tammy Faye on Sunday. During her acceptance speech, Chastain touched on current social issues of discrimination, violence, bigotry and division.

“We’re faced with discriminatory and bigoted legislation that is sweeping our country with the only goal of further dividing us. There’s violence and hate crimes being perpetuated on innocent civilians all over the world,” she said. “In times like this, I think of Tammy and I’m inspired by her radical acts of love. I’m inspired by her compassion. I see it as a guiding principle that moves us forward.”

Hollywood Reacts To The Oscar Slap: Physical Assault, Say Many; “How We Do It”, Says Jaden Smith

She continued: “It connects us all in the desire that we all
See full article at Deadline »

Jessica Chastain Wins Best Actress at Oscars, Calls Out ‘Bigoted’ Legislation

  • 28 March 2022
  • by Adam B. Vary and Ethan Shanfeld
  • Variety
Jessica Chastain Wins Best Actress at Oscars, Calls Out ‘Bigoted’ Legislation
Jessica Chastain won the best actress Oscar for her performance as televangelist and queer icon Tammy Faye Bakker in the biopic “The Eyes of Tammy Faye.”

During her speech, Chastain addressed several issues plaguing the nation, including “discriminatory and bigoted legislation,” a nod to Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay” bill.

“We’re faced with discriminatory and bigoted legislation that is sweeping our country with the only goal of further dividing us. There’s violence and hate crimes being perpetuated on innocent civilians all over the world. And in times like this, I think of Tammy and I’m inspired by her radical acts of love,” Chastain said in her speech. “We’ve talked about love a lot. And I’m inspired by her compassion, and I see it as a guiding principle that leads us forward. And it connects us all in the desire that we want to be accepted for who we are,
See full article at Variety »
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