ABC picks up ‘Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.’, first look photos & teaser clip inside

Posted in News,Television,Video by Scott Meisner on May 11th, 2013

No surprise here: Disney owned ABC is going all in with Marvel by picking up to series Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., from Avengers director Joss Whedon. Read the shiny new series synopsis now:

Clark Gregg reprises his role of Agent Phil Coulson from Marvel’s feature films as he assembles a small, highly select group of Agents from the worldwide law-enforcement organization known as S.H.I.E.L.D. Together they investigate the new, the strange, and the unknown across the globe, protecting the ordinary from the extraordinary. Coulson’s team consists of Agent Grant Ward (Brett Dalton), highly trained in combat and espionage, Agent Melinda May (Ming-Na Wen) expert pilot and martial artist, Agent Leo Fitz (Iain De Caestecker); brilliant engineer and Agent Jemma Simmons (Elizabeth Henstridge) genius bio-chemist. Joining them on their journey into mystery is new recruit and computer hacker Skye (Chloe Bennet). From Executive Producers Joss Whedon (“Marvel’s The Avengers,” ”Buffy the Vampire Slayer”); Jed Whedon & Maurissa Tancharoen, “Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.” pilot co-writers (“Dollhouse,” “Dr.Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog”); Jeffrey Bell (“Angel,” “Alias”); and Jeph Loeb (“Smallville”) comes Marvel’s first TV series.  “Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.” is produced by ABC Studios and Marvel Television.

Check out the kick-ass cast photo above; in the middle of it all is Phil Coulson, a S.H.I.E.L.D. agent who sporadically popped up throughout Marvel’s Phase One movies and supposedly died in The Avengers. Guess not; #CoulsonLives. For more proof, check out a seven second teaser after the break. And during tonight’s finale of Once Upon A Time at 8PM, ABC will air a lengthier spot promoting the new series. I’ll post it here after it airs. Also after the break, a first look at the show’s lens-flair-y logo.

Update: The full 30-second teaser trailer has landed. Watch it after the break. (Click here for more…)

New ‘Game of Thrones’ season 3 trailer ups the ante (again)

Posted in Television,Video by Scott Meisner on March 17th, 2013

In exactly two weeks time Game of Thrones will back, and if these next round of trailers have anything to prove it’s that the show is ready to elevate to entirely new level of epic. Today HBO released the second full-length trailer hyping the third season of the network’s fantasy series; and if you thought the first trailer was unbelievable, you just wait. Trailer numero dos is thirty seconds longer and manages to pack in more action, more dragons, and a freakin’ bear! The score behind it all, of course, is Daft Punk’s “The Game Has Changed” (how appropriate a title here) as made famous in Tron: Legacy. The marketing gurus behind Thrones sure know how to ignite a fire under a fanboy’s flittering heart.

Game of Thrones returns Sunday, March 31 at 9PM on HBO. After the break, catch two new teasers titled “War” and “The Beast.” (Click here for more…)

NBC sets premiere date for ‘Hannibal’ (teaser and key art inside) [Update: full-length trailer]

Posted in News,Television,Video by Scott Meisner on February 18th, 2013

Hannibal is coming to television this spring. NBC had ordered the serialized adaptation of the classic tale about Dr. Hannibal Lector (famously played by Anthony Hopkins in 1991′s Silence of the Lambs, originating in the Thomas Harris novel Red Dragon) last May and has since been keeping it warm on the bench. With midseason bust Do No Harm dead and gone, the Peacock’s schedule suddenly has a vacant Thursday at 10PM slot that’s begging to be filled. On April 4 Mads Mikkelsen (Casino Royale) will play the role of the mad serial killer and he’ll unleash his bag of mind tricks onto a gifted criminal profiler Will Graham (Hugh Dancy). Laurence Fishburne and Caroline Dhavernas also star. Hannibal is from Bryan Fuller, the man behind such visionary treats as Pushing Daisies and Heroes.

With FOX’s The Following gaining a cult of its very own, is there room for another, more familiar serial killer drama on network TV? The 30-second spot embedded above even evokes some of the Ryan Hardy/Joe Carroll back-and-forth that has come to pass on Kevin Williamson’s thriller. And yet it’s dark and just intriguing enough to warrant anticipation for Hannibal‘s premiere. Share your take in the comment section below. After the break you’ll find creepy yet tantalizing key art featuring Mikkelsen as Lector at the dinner table. Who’s hungry?

Update: There’s a new full-length 2-minute trailer now available for your viewing pleasure. Watch it after the break.

Update 2: A couple more new clips are posted after the break. (Click here for more…)

TV teasers: ‘The Walking Dead’ season 3.5

Posted in Television,Video by Scott Meisner on January 24th, 2013

The second half of The Walking Dead season 3 is set to debut February 10 and AMC is building up to that day with a couple new teasers that feature new, exciting material. In the 30-second spot above, Rick and The (one-eyed) Governor anticipate war. After the break, a slightly longer clip reveals (don’t call him) Phillip’s plan to release Andrea back into Rick’s camp at the prison. After watching, you’re gonna wish it was Feb. 10 tomorrow. (Click here for more…)

‘Hawaii Five-0′ lets viewers determine the ending in this week’s episode

Posted in News,Television,Video by Scott Meisner on January 13th, 2013

This Monday CBS is airing a very unique episode of crime procedural Hawaii Five-0. Viewers will have the opportunity to choose the ending of the episode in real time. Check it: The mystery begins when the team must investigate the death of an O’ahu State University professor. His Boss, his Teaching Assistant, and a Student who he busted for cheating are all viable suspects. After each of the suspect’s motives is revealed, the network will advise viewers to vote who they think should get charged for the crime. There are two ways you can vote: go to CBS.com or hop on Twitter and use the hashtags #theBoss, #theTA, or #theStudent to voice your opinion. The votes will be tallied immediately and the most popular ending will become part of the broadcast, says CBS. And get this: separate voting will occur for East/Central and Pacific Time zone broadcasts, meaning each side of the nation may see different endings. All three endings have been shot, obviously, and CBS promises to make them all available to view on CBS.com after the broadcasts have aired.

“I’ve always felt the most fun aspect of watching a mystery is trying to figure out whodunit,” says exec producer Peter Lenkov. “Now the Hawaii Five-0 viewers will actually get the chance to tell us who they think committed the crime and we will listen. I love that our dedicated and attentive fans will actually play a part in resolving our story.”

Sounds fun, huh? The special episode titled “Kapu” (translation: “Forbidden”) airs this Monday night (1/14) at 10PM. Watch a trailer after the break. (Click here for more…)

TV teaser: ‘Game of Thrones’ season 3

Posted in Television,Video by Scott Meisner on January 13th, 2013

Don’t expect to see any new footage from the third season of HBO’s fantasy series in this recently released teaser for Game of Thrones. Still, it is intriguing nonetheless. It features the three-eyed raven from Bran’s dreams flying over a modern cityscape. Pretty sure this has nothing to do what unfolds in the story. I haven’t read the books but I don’t think we’ll be seeing the Starks and the Lannisters discovering a portal to 2013. “Their world returns to ours” is what the promo is trying to say, meaning we will be transporting to Westeros soon when the series returns March 31. Allow “The Rains of Castamere” to soothe your soul and click play above.

More ‘Bates Motel’ stills surface, plus two teaser trailers inside

Posted in Images,Television,Video by Scott Meisner on November 30th, 2012

Just last week we got our first look at Freddy Highmore and Vera Farmiga as Norman and Norma Bates in A&E’s upcoming Psycho prequel series Bates Motel. So soon after we are fed with 16 more pictures featuring Highmore, Farmiga, Max Thieriot as brother Dylan Bates, Olivia Cooke as Norman’s classmate Emma Decody, Mike Vogel (Pan Am) as Deputy Zach Shelby, Nestor Carbonell (Lost) as Sheriff Alex Romero, Nicola Peltz as Norman’s crush Bradley, plus several shots of the famous “Bates Motel” grounds.

THR is hosting the latest batch of images; click over to their site to view ‘em all.

Also new today are two tantalizing teasers for the new series hailing from Carlton Cuse (Lost) and Kerry Ehrin (Friday Night Lights). They are short but oh-so-creepily sweet. Watch ‘em both after the break.

Bates Motel premieres on A&E next year. (Click here for more…)

TV teasers: ‘American Horror Story: Asylum’

Posted in Television,Video by Scott Meisner on August 20th, 2012

Don’t expect to understand anything that’s going on in these three creep-tastic teasers for the next season of American Horror Story subtitled Asylum. In the first (titled “Special Delivery) a nun walks into a dark forest with two buckets filled with who the hell knows (I’m thinking body parts), dumps one of them out for some reason or other, and then continues nonchalantly into the woods. The next two are embedded after the break. In #2 (“Blue Coat”) we see a nun in black garb praying in an alcove as another in white passes by to hang a blue coat on the wall; then she sits down (to pray?) and at the very last second she sneaks a peek at us! In #3 (“Hydrobath”) we get a birds-eye view of a bathtub filled with a milky substance and inside it a body writhes around until a zipper magically locks the thing (a human?) inside. So many questions but these “clues” dropped by co-creator Ryan Murphy and co. will surely get you excited for what’s to come next in his anthology series.

American Horror Story: Asylum premieres this October on FX. (Click here for more…)

TV teasers: ‘FRINGE’ season 5

Posted in Television,Video by Scott Meisner on August 20th, 2012

Fringe fans, I have not one but two teasers for you today. The first, embedded above, is simple yet enticing; as a barrage of Observers briskly walk toward the camera, our heroes (namely Broyles, Peter, Olivia, Walter, and September) recap the evolution of the term “Observer” as it has changed significantly since its introduction in season one. The teaser concludes with the final season’s tagline “they are coming.”

Next you’ll want to jump after the break to watch another new teaser that includes the very first real footage from the season five premiere. In it a happily married (Peter is indeed wearing a wedding band on his left hand) Peter and Olivia are enjoying themselves in a park with their daughter Etta when all of a sudden a group of Observers make it their mission to disturb the peace.

Fringe returns for its fifth and final season on Friday, September 28. (Click here for more…)

TV teaser: ‘Homeland’ season 2 [Update: new teaser]

Posted in Television,Video by Scott Meisner on July 29th, 2012

For the sake of everyone who has yet to catch up on Showtime’s breakout drama Homeland, stop reading this and do not watch the teaser embedded above. If you have watched all 12 episodes that comprise season 1, Carrie on… (get it?)

Showtime has released this schizophrenic teaser to promote the second season of the critically acclaimed political drama Homeland starring the scene-stealer Claire Daines and the enigmatic Damian Lewis. When the season concluded, Carrie Mathison of the CIA stitched together Nicholas Brody’s “Issa” night terrors with the facts at hand; but before she could tell anyone her shock treatment began and her memories erased. Or were they? In the teaser above, Carrie stands in front of a barrage of images and sounds from season 1. Toward the end of the all-too-brief clip, she shuts her eyes, opens them and we hear, “You are a traitor and a terrorist and now it’s time to pay for that.” The promo is called “Look Again.”

Homeland returns Sunday, September 30 at 10PM on Showtime.

Update (8/7): Showtime has uploaded a second Homeland teaser; this one shows war vet-turned-politician Brody inching closer to the Vice President. He asks, “If everything you had was taken away and you had nothing left to lose, what lengths would you go to for the one idea that pulled you through?” Carrie, meanwhile, looks levelheaded and determined since we last saw her. Watch the 45 second clip after the break. (Click here for more…)

Comic Con 2012: ‘Once Upon A Time’ teases new fairytale characters for season 2

Posted in News,Television,Video by Scott Meisner on July 15th, 2012

The second season of ABC’s Once Upon A Time is already proving to be more magical than the first. At the show’s Comic Con panel attendees got a glimpse into what’s in store for the citizens of Storybrooke. In a brief teaser for the upcoming season, little Henry warns that “bad things are still happening in Storybrooke” and proof follows: Captain Hook from Peter Pan fame breaks into Mr. Gold’s pawn shop to retrieve what is his. Now that the citizens of the mysterious Maine town remember their past lives in fairytale land perhaps Mr. Gold should upgrade his security. The season 2 preview is embedded above.

During the panel which consisted of executive producers Eddie Kitsis and Adam Horowitz and many of the show’s stars, it was shared that season 2 will reveal the identity of Henry’s father, Dr. Whale’s fairytale character, and the fate of Rumpelstiltskin’s son Bae. Also, “the show this year is not going to change from the one you loved last year,” Kitsis reassured fans. We will still be shifting back and forth from fairytale land and Storybrooke even though magic has been introduced into the latter locale. He also made it a point to say that even though the Storybrooke residents remember their true fairytale identities, their Storybrooke memories do not fade away.

Two more videos were screened at the panel. One is a clip that contains all of season 1′s title sequences plus a few new ones coming soon in season 2 (spoiler: Mulan, Sleeping Beauty, and Jack (from Jack and the Beanstalk) will be introduced). The third video is a parody of online dating services called Singlebrooke that features Once‘s main characters discussing what they look for in the perfect mate; funny stuff. Check these out after the break. (Click here for more…)

TV teasers: Freaky ‘FRINGE’ episode 19 airs tonight (plus season 5 rumblings)

Posted in Images,News,Television,Video by Scott Meisner on April 20th, 2012

Fringe season 4 has finally made it to episode 19, and it promises to be an especially out-there and revealing tale. Showrunners J.H. Wyman and Jeff Pinkner have designated No. 19 to be a freaky affair; just look back to previous season efforts “The Road Not Taken,” “The Man From the Other Side,” and of course last season’s animated “Lysergic Acid Diethylamide.” This year “Letters of Transit” will transport viewers to the year 2036, a future where The Observers play a significant role in society. The episode’s logline reveals that 19 will feature a “game changing battle” between the bald-headed scientists from the distant future and our Fringe team. Guest starring in this episode are Austrian actress Georgina Haig and everyone’s favorite Scottish man from Lost–Desmond David Hume himself–Henry Ian Cusick.

What makes “Letters of Transit” especially exciting is that it will contain the seeds for a potential fifth season. “The door to the fifth season is opened in Episode 19,” Joshua Jackson (Peter Bishop) told TVLine. “If you watch that, you’ll have an understanding of where they want to take the series.”

In related news, the Fringe cast also spilled that they’ve shot multiple endings for the current season. One will be used if FOX renews the show for a fifth season, and the other will air if the network ultimately decides to declare the current season Fringe’s last. “The writers have given themselves a device by which we can tell a fifth season story without having to leave this season’s story open,” says Jackson. Add Lance Reddick (Phillip Broyles): “The way [season four] ends could function as a series finale, but there’s one storyline left open that could end up as a cliffhanger for the beginning of the fifth season…We’ll see what airs depending on what [FOX and WBTV] decide.”

As of this writing, FOX and Warner Bros. TV are in discussions about the fate of the show. The two options that are supposedly on the table are these: the network and the studio will either cancel Fringe and the show will wrap at the end of this season, or they’ll renew it for one more shortened 13 episode final season. John Noble (Walter Bishop) is keeping positive. “I hear warm and fuzzy things — but I’ve been hearing them all the time,” he said. “We just picked up [TV Guide Magazine's] fan award for Best Drama and so forth, and the fans have always been very supportive… [and] I know the Fox executives actually like Fringe very much. But they run a business. I think we’ll be back, but we’ll wait and see.” Noble is right; FOX execs, including president Kevin Reilly, are vocal supports of the sci-fi series. At this year’s winter TCAs, however, Reilly made it clear that Fringe is in danger due to budgetary and ratings concerns: “We lose a lot of money on the show. At that rating on that night it’s almost impossible for us to make money. We are not in the business of losing money, so we’re trying to figure out if there is a number at which we can continue with the series.” To echo Noble, we’ll have to wait and see. Everyone, cross your fingers. Tight.

With all that said, check out the freaky clue-ridden teasers for what looks to be a stand out episode 19. One teaser is embedded above, and three more are posted after the break. Also, peek in the gallery below to see some stills plucked from “Letters of Transit;” one of them includes a white-haired Nina (from the future?), and the others feature a concerned Walter. How will Lost’s Cusick factor into all of this? Tune in tonight (4/20, appropriate for Walter, yes?) at 9PM on FOX.

(Click here for more…)

TV teaser 4: ‘Game of Thrones’ season 2

Posted in Television,Video by Scott Meisner on March 3rd, 2012

HBO has released yet another trailer promoting the upcoming second season of its fantasy series Game of Thrones, and I am quick to say that this might just be the best one yet. It features brand new, never before seen footage playing over a chilling track from Florence and the Machine called “Seven Devils.” War is coming, and here is proof.

Game of Thrones returns April 1.

TV teaser 3: ‘Game of Thrones’ season 2

Posted in Television,Video by Scott Meisner on February 26th, 2012

Here we go again. HBO has let loose a third look at the second season of the network’s epic fantasy series Game of Thrones. This one’s titled “Power and Grace” and it hints at a love interest for Robb Stark, Daenerys’ dragons, fear of the unknown beyond the Wall for Jon Snow, and oh-so-much more. War is coming April 1.

TV teaser 2: ‘Game of Thrones’ season 2

Posted in Television,Video by Scott Meisner on January 29th, 2012

Happy Sunday, everyone! Here is the sneek-quel to the “Cold Winds Are Rising” peek at the second season of HBO’s fantasy series Game of Thrones. In “You Win or You Die,” listen very carefully to Lord Varys’ words for “a very small man can cast a very large shadow.” The stakes are pushed higher in this extended look at what’s to come in George R.R. Martin’s epic tale of warring Houses.

Game of Thrones returns to HBO on April 1.

‘The Walking Dead’ returns February 12, sneak a peek at the midseason premiere inside (VIDEO)

Posted in Image cache,News,Television,Video by Scott Meisner on January 22nd, 2012

The first half of the second season of The Walking Dead ended with a literal BANG when (spoiler) Rick Grimes was forced to shoot and kill a character that we all thought had gone missing but instead was turned into a deadly zombie. Life is about to dramatically shift on Hershel’s farm when the show returns from its winter hiatus next month. Gander at the official midseason premiere poster hanging above; it shows Rick pointing his revolver squarely at a target, little Sophia perhaps? Next, jump after the break to watch two scenes from the upcoming episode titled “Nebraska.” In the first, two strangers stumble upon Rick and Hershel; in the other Rick and Shane are shown in confrontation not for the first time.

The Walking Dead returns February 12 at 9PM on AMC.

[Via AMCTV] (Click here for more…)

‘Punk’d’ returns to MTV this Spring with celeb hosts galore

Posted in News,Television,Video by Scott Meisner on January 7th, 2012

With Fear Factor back on the air, call it a return to the early naughts with this announcement. Hidden camera reality series Punk’d is making a comeback this March. Original host Ashton Kutcher will not serve as host this time around, however he remains in the background as executive producer. Each episode will be hosted by a different celebrity. So far the list of celeb guests include Justin Bieber, Miley Cyrus, Kellan Lutz, Bam Margera, and Dax Shepard. The Parenthood star, I’m sure you remember, is part of the original Punk’d team. According to Deadline, the reboot “will also offer a behind-the-scenes look at how the elaborate pranks were put together.” MTV recently aired a preview of what’s in store for unsuspecting stars. Embedded up top you’ll find celeb host Miley Cyrus pranking the eldest Kardashian sister Khloe. It involves a penis and a zipper. Use your imagination and watch it unfold above. Punk’d premieres March 19.

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TV teaser: ‘Game of Thrones’ season 2

Posted in Television,Video by Scott Meisner on December 11th, 2011

We’ve already been treated with a sneak peek into the second season of HBO’s fantasy series Game of Thrones, but that’s nothing compared to this 45-second teaser. King Robert’s brother Stannis Baratheon (who we haven’t been acquainted with yet) narrates here, claiming “the Iron Throne is mine by right.” Season 2 will consume what author George R.R. Martin wrote in his second book in his A Song of Fire and Ice collection titled A Clash of Kings. In the chilling teaser we are forewarned that many of our beloved and hated characters (I’m looking at you Joffrey) will indeed clash in the upcoming season.

The cold winds are rising and April 2012 cannot get here fast enough.

‘Fringe’ prepares you to “witness the return” of Peter

Posted in Television,Video by Scott Meisner on October 23rd, 2011

Fringe fans, check out this new teaser video released by the top-notch marketing team at FOX. At the conclusion of last week’s episode “Subject 9″ Peter Bishop finally returned into the fold with a (literal) splash. The show is taking a break this week and when it returns Friday October 28 at 9PM we will “witness the return” of Peter into the lives of all the characters who forgot he ever existed, namely his Fringe division partner-turned-lover Olivia Dunham and his estranged father Walter Bishop. In the clip embedded above you will see some brand new footage from next week’s ep “Novation” and if you’re slick you might just be able to catch the series of shots that fly by at the end. Now everybody say it with me: Welcome back, Peter.

FX ready to tell ‘American Horror Story’ (poster & teaser inside)

Posted in Image cache,News,Television,Video by Scott Meisner on August 20th, 2011

Earlier this summer FX picked up a 13-episode order for its next original drama series. American Horror Story comes from Nip/Tuck creator Ryan Murphy and his Nip/Tuck and Glee collaborator Brad Falchuk. Deadline reports: “Described as a psychosexual thriller, [the show] centers on a therapist and his wife who, dealing with the aftermath of the husband’s adultery, move along with their kids into a new house that seems to know all about their fears and plays on them.” Now check out this all star cast extracted from a press release:

American Horror Story revolves around The Harmons, a family of three who move from Boston to Los Angeles as a means to reconcile past anguish. The All Star cast features Dylan McDermott (The Practice) as “Ben Harmon,” a psychiatrist; Connie Britton (Friday Night Lights) as “Vivien Harmon,” Ben’s wife; Taissa Farmiga as “Violet,” the Harmon’s teenage daughter; Jessica Lange (Tootsie, Blue Sky, Grey Gardens) in her first-ever regular series TV role as “Constance,” the Harmon’s neighbor; Evan Peters (One Tree Hill) as “Tate Langdon,” one of Ben’s patients; and Denis O’Hare (The Good Wife) as “Larry Harvey.” Guest stars for the series include Frances Conroy (Six Feet Under) and Alexandra Breckenridge (Dirt) as the Harmon’s housekeepers; and Jamie Brewer as Constance’s daughter.

AHS promises to be an extremely chilling TV series with intention to genuinely frighten audiences. Murphy describes it as a “feel-bad” show, as opposed to his “feel-good” show Glee. He and Falchuk were inspired by classic horror films Rosemary’s Baby and Don’t Look Now. Industry members who have seen the pilot were spooked and amazed by its originality.

Says FX president John Landgraf: “We’re thrilled to welcome Ryan and Brad back to their original home. They have shown an uncanny ability to bring original series to the air unlike any that have come before, and to reconcile ’wildly entertaining’ with the ’creatively ambitious.’ Once again, American Horror Story is a wholly unique and original take on its genre with richly drawn characters. The ability to put together a cast of stars such as Dylan McDermott, Connie Britton, Denis O’Hare, Frances Conroy and Oscar-winner Jessica Lange speaks to the quality of the writing and storytelling. This series is going to blow audiences back in their seats, and we can’t wait to have it on our air.”

Others who have seen the pilot say that it’s filled to the brim with character and plot development. One critic says, “The first episode has more stuff crammed into it than some shows have in their first season.” This may not be such a great thing because viewers typically don’t like to get suffocated by too much in the very beginning. At the TCAs, Murphy admitted that pilot “has like eight cliffhangers” but he went on to reassure potential viewers that he has “an obligation to the audience in the next two [episodes] to explain a lot of those things that are set up.”

Over the summer FX has been running a super creepy yet intriguing marketing campaign to amp anticipation for the series. Short commercials featuring AHS ”clues” can be screened at this YouTube channel. This week the cable network finally released a standard teaser clip featuring the main cast in the haunted (?) mansion. What’s up with Denis O’Hare vanishing up in flames and who’s that stalker-ish man (?) in the black latex suit grabbing at Connie Britton? This same question can be asked about the bizarre poster pasted above. The teaser video is after the break.

I will certainly give this show a try, and I think you should too. I trust Murphy and Falchuk’s creative vision and so I expect AHS will find its groove at some point during its first season run. The cast is stacked and the intrigue is there. Tune in to see what American Horror Story is all about when it premieres October 5 at 10PM on FX.

[Via FX; Deadline 1, 2] (Click here for more…)