Category Archives: Entertainment

Movie trailer round-up: ‘A Million Ways to Die in the West,’ ‘Lust for Love’ & ‘Maleficent’

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From the makers of Ted comes A Million Ways to Die in the West. In addition to producing, co-writing, and directing the comedy, Seth MacFarlane stars alongside Charlize Theron, Liam Neeson, Amanda Seyfried, Giovanni Ribisi, Sarah Silverman, and Neil Patrick Harris. This looks like a riot; let’s hope the extended red-band trailer doesn’t spoil the comedic punch. In theatres May 30. A synopsis:

Seth MacFarlane directs, produces, co-writes and plays the role of the cowardly sheep farmer Albert in A Million Ways to Die in the West. After Albert backs out of a gunfight, his fickle girlfriend leaves him for another man. When a mysterious and beautiful woman rides into town, she helps him find his courage and they begin to fall in love. But when her husband, a notorious outlaw, arrives seeking revenge, the farmer must put his newfound courage to the test.

Jump after the break to view more trailers. Continue reading Movie trailer round-up: ‘A Million Ways to Die in the West,’ ‘Lust for Love’ & ‘Maleficent’ →

Snyder’s Superman/Batman casts Lex Luther & Alfred Pennyworth

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Zack Snyder’s upcoming Superman sequel will reintroduce the Man of Steel’s arch-nemesis Lex Luther when it hits theatres in 2016. And no, the bald baddie won’t be played by Breaking Bad‘s Bryan Cranston but instead The Social Network‘s Jesse Eisenberg. A casting out of left-field it would seem, but Snyder is confident in the young actor.

“Lex Luthor is often considered the most notorious of Superman’s rivals, his unsavory reputation preceding him since 1940,” Snyder said in a statement. “What’s great about Lex is that he exists beyond the confines of the stereotypical nefarious villain. He’s a complicated and sophisticated character whose intellect, wealth and prominence position him as one of the few mortals able to challenge the incredible might of Superman. Having Jesse in the role allows us to explore that interesting dynamic, and also take the character in some new and unexpected directions.”

In addition to casting Eisenberg as Luther, Jeremy Irons joins the sequel as Bruce Wayne’s butler and mentor Alfred Pennyworth. This role was most recently and memorably filled by Michael Caine in Chris Nolan’s Batman trilogy. This time Alfred will serve a new Caped Crusader played by Ben Affleck. “As everyone knows, Alfred is Bruce Wayne’s most trusted friend, ally and mentor, a noble guardian and father figure. He is an absolutely critical element in the intricate infrastructure that allows Bruce Wayne to transform himself into Batman,” Snyder said. “It is an honor to have such an amazingly seasoned and gifted actor as Jeremy taking on the important role of the man who mentors and guides the guarded and nearly impervious façade that encapsulates Bruce Wayne.”

Also in the mix is Gal Gadot who will bring Wonder Woman to the big screen when the still untitled Superman/Batman flick enters theatres May 6, 2016.

‘SNL’ names Seth Meyers Weekend Update successor

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Turns out Cecily Strong won’t be manning the Weekend Update desk alone now that Seth Meyers has signed off Saturday Night Live for Late Night pastures. Replacing Meyers and co-anchoring with Strong is Colin Jost (rhymes with most) who is also SNL‘s head writer. He’s one of the masterminds behind popular Update characters like Drunk Uncle, second-hand news correspondent Anthony Crispino, and Strong’s The Girl You Wish You Hadn’t Started a Conversation With at a Party. Jost has big shoes to fill, and it’ll be interesting to see his rapport with Strong in the coming weeks; can they pull off the perfect comedic timing that reigned during Jimmy Fallon and Tina Fey’s co-anchoring tenure?

[Via Deadline]

Daft Punk, Macklemore and Ryan Lewis & Lorde rule the Grammys

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Daft Punk pretty much swept the Grammys this year, taking home five statues for their latest effort Random Access Memories and its hit single “Get Lucky” featuring Pharrell Williams. The electronic duo nabbed Album of the Year, Record of the Year, Best Pop Duo/Group Performance, Best Dance/Electronica Album, and Best Engineered Album. Their performance with Nile Rodgers and Stevie Wonder is one for the ages.

Macklemore and Ryan Lewis also had a show-stopping performance involving simultaneous marriages in the aisles. They were awarded five Grammys: Best New Artist, Best Rap Performance and Best Rap Song for “Thrift Shop,” and Best Rap Album for The Heist.

Also gaining much recognition is up-and-comer Lorde whose mega single “Royals” off her debut album Pure Heroine received Song of the Year and Best Pop Solo Performance.

Click here to view a list of all the winners.

‘Hannibal’ season 2 trailer will whet your appetite and then some

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The best series on TV you’re not watching is Bryan Fuller’s adaptation of Thomas Harris’ novel Red Dragon and his take on the famed fictional serial killer who eats his victims, Hannibal Lector. From the brilliant cast led by Mads Mikkelsen and Hugh Dancy (who play the nefarious Dr. Lector and gifted FBI profiler Will Graham, respectively) to the stunning cinematography, NBC’s Hannibal is one of the most compelling and thrilling dramas on TV today. Despite poor ratings last year, the Peacock miraculously renewed Fuller’s show for a second season and here we have our very first taste (or apéritif, if I may) of what’s in store. At the end of season 1 Fuller took fans on an unexpected turn by placing Graham behind bars letting the public think that he committed Hannibal’s heinous crimes.

Enjoy the masterfully cut trailer hanging above. After the break, a tantalizing teaser. Hannibal is back February 28. Continue reading ‘Hannibal’ season 2 trailer will whet your appetite and then some →

‘Game of Thrones’ season 4 trailer

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Joffrey thinks he’s won the war. Tyrion’s in shackles. Jaime has a new hand. Arya is ready for a fight. The Wildlings (and Daenerys, for that matter) are still determined they can take the Seven Kingdoms.

“If you want justice, you’ve come to the wrong place,” beams the small but strong Lannister.

Game of Thrones returns for a fourth season on April 6 to HBO.

Seth Meyers & Jimmy Fallon prepare for their new late-night digs

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Next month Seth Meyers exits Saturday Night Live to become the new host of Late Night as Jimmy Fallon takes over The Tonight Show. In the promo embedded above, you’ll see just how physically close Meyers’ new job is going to be to his old job–they’re “basically 30 feet” from each other as SNL‘s home is located in the famed Studio 8H and the new Late Night is housed inside Studio 8G. Looks like Seth has some work to do, and fast; Late Night with Seth Meyers premieres February 24 on NBC.

After the break, the Peacock introduces “a new era” of late night as Jimmy Fallon is about to take the reins from Jay Leno to host The Tonight Show. The clip looks back at the previous Tonight Show hosts, even the fleeting Conan O’Brien. Fallon, because he’s the best, has decided to revert the show’s name to its original style; instead of The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, his show will be called The Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon, just as it was with original host Steve Allen, Jack Parr, and the late great Johnny Carson. A second clip featuring a kid version of Fallon follows. Fallon’s Tonight Show premieres February 17.

Update: Fallon passes the Late Night pickle to Meyers after the break, as is tradition. Continue reading Seth Meyers & Jimmy Fallon prepare for their new late-night digs →

Mark your calendars: FOX sets a return date for ’24’

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24 fans, perk up! A new day is upon us. FOX resurrects 24 with series players Kiefer Sutherland (protagonist Jack Bauer), Mary Lynn Rajskub (Jack’s right-hand analyst Chloe O’Brien), Kim Raver (Jack’s former lover Audrey Raines), and William Devane (once US Secretary of Defense James Heller) on Monday, May 5 at 8PM. Like all proper 24 premieres, this special “event series” dubbed Live Another Day will have a two-hour launch and then the following Monday it will play out in 24‘s old 9PM timeslot.

The latest logline goes like this: “Set and shot in London, the suspenseful event series once again will follow the exploits of heroic agent Jack Bauer as he attempts to thwart an unthinkable terrorist attack that could change the world forever. Retaining the real-time, nail-biting, fast-paced format with split screens and interweaving storylines.

At the winter TCAs more details leaked out about the highly anticipated return of 24. The season takes place four years after the events that unfolded in season 8, and Jack is still on the run but this time in London. “He is still a fugitive who he has been hunted–and he is still hunted,” spilled EP Manny Coto. Yvonne Strahovski (Chuck) plays Kate Morgan, the CIA agent hunting down Jack. “Jack is not quite Osama Bin Laden, but he is someone to be captured,” continued the EPs. “And when Jack reenters the story on his own terms, we will learn he has a mission. Whether it’s good or dark we don’t know, but this CIA agent [Kate] is determined to catch him, and as she gets closer and closer to him, Chloe O’Brien reenters the picture.”

“Chloe and Jack are pitted against each other due to a set of circumstances,” revealed Sutherland at the press event. Turns out Chloe has “turned herself against the government” and it will take some convincing on Jack’s back to bring her back into the fold. “There is no Chloe without Jack,” remarked Rajskub, so I’m guessing it won’t take long to get to the happy reunion we’ve all been waiting for.

What else? When we reenter the world of 24 Devane’s James Heller is now President of the United States. And what of his daughter Audrey? “When we last left Audrey, she was in a very bad place with Jack, so [in the years that have passed] she has come out of the ‘wilderness.’ But the interesting thing will be, when Jack reenters the picture, how will she react to that?” pondered EP Evan Katz.

If you don’t have time to watch up on 24 between now and May it’s no problem according to EP Howard Gordon. “You can actually pick this series up without having seen Season 8, or any of the show at all,” he said. “The benefit of coming back four years later is that those four years need to be explained, so the exposition will not come off as exposition but a justified moment of characters catching up,” added Sutherland.

And of course there was discussion of the oft-rumored 24 feature film. “The script for the film is very, very different,” Sutherland shared. “[Live Another Day] was the opportunity that presented itself to us first, and it’s a fantastic idea. And if this ends up rebooting the show or causing the film to be made, so be it.”

Those’ll be words to make any 24 fan very, very enthused. Now here’s that date again: 24: Live Another Day premieres May 5 on FOX.

[Via TVLine; EW]

FOX announces new direction for ‘Glee’: it’s off to NYC!

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At the Television Critics Association winter press tour, FOX head Kevin Reilly made a major announcement regarding Glee‘s creative direction: the second half of the musical dramedy will be set exclusively in New York City. No more bouncing back and forth between William McKinley High in Lima, Ohio and Rachel, Kurt, and Santana’s loft in NYC. Reilly explained how the creative shift will work:

“Creatively, it would ridiculous if everybody moves to New York,” he said. “This season, there’s going to be a graduation [from McKinley High]. Several of the cast members will move on, and a few others will go to New York.” For those characters who don’t transfer over to the NYC setting, it won’t be the last time you ever see them. They “will arc back in when we do special episodes. They’ll always be a part of it. The way it’s going to dovetail next season, we’re going to see some familiar faces coming around in some capacity.”

Though Reilly and show creator Ryan Murphy are keeping mum on which characters will remain, there is one that will most definitely be staying. “As long as there’s a show, there’s Jane [Lynch],” commented Reilly; Sue Sylvester is coming to the city that never sleeps.

In closing, Reilly confirmed that the next season of Glee–it’s fifth–will be its last and that Murphy is already hard at work on what’s in store. “We do have [the show] through next season and that will be the final season,” said Reilly. “[Murphy’s] got some fantastic ideas on what we’re going to next year for the final year.”

Glee returns with new episodes on February 25.

[Via TVLine]

HBO renews ‘The Newsroom’ for third and final season

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Of course HBO’s The Newsroom starring Jeff Daniels and Emily Mortimer is returning for another season. Unfortunately, however, the third season of Aaron Sorkin’s fast-talking cable news drama will be its last. Sorkin, a filmmaker who’s ready to focus on his next big movie based on Steve Jobs’ life, will give the series a proper ending.

“The Newsroom is classic Aaron Sorkin – smart, riveting and thought-provoking,” said HBO programming president Michael Lombardo. “I’m sure this farewell season will be one to remember.”

As a staunch supporter of the show, I’m equally surprised and saddened to hear it’s coming to an end. I always imagined that The Newsroom could go on for awhile, picking apart real-life news along with fictional tales for years. But this is Sorkin’s baby and if he’s saying this is it then that’s reason enough to pull the plug while it’s on top. (Still, another season or two would’ve been welcomed with open arms, but oh well.)

The Newsroom returns for its final hurrah later this year.

‘SNL’ hires Sasheer Zamata, first female African American cast member since 2007

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Can’t say this happens all the time. In the middle of its 39th season, SNL has added a new featured player to its sprawling cast of up-and-coming comics. Enter 27-year-old Sasheer Zamata; she hails from NYC and studied improv at the Upright Citizen’s Brigade. She also happens to be the first female African American in SNL‘s cast since Maya Rudolph departed the late-night sketch comedy show in 2007. Zamata made her big debut this past weekend on the show Drake hosted so well.

In addition to bringing on Zamata, SNL bossman Lorne Michaels showed his support in diversifying his show by also hiring two female African American writers in LaKendra Tookes and Leslie Jones.