Category Archives: Entertainment

‘Homeland’ season 3 injected with more teasers plus a series recap

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Following that somber full-length trailer, Homeland is letting a few more videos creep onto the scene before Showtime unveils the third season on September 29. Above, the main cast of talented actors discuss the state of the show with brand-new, never-before-seen footage placed throughout. After the break, two new teasers titled “Haunted” and “Who Do You Trust” reside along with a welcome “From The Beginning” recap.

And now I ask you, dear readers, who do you trust? Continue reading ‘Homeland’ season 3 injected with more teasers plus a series recap →

Peek at the upcoming season of HBO’s ‘Girls’ in filtered photos

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HBO’s Lena Dunham show Girls doesn’t come back for its third season until some time in 2014 but that doesn’t mean fans can’t get a slice of what’s in store for Hannah Horvath & friends. Check out this “in production tease” for the show that includes many Instagram-like stills from upcoming scenes. In additional to the four leading ladies, Adam, Ray, and Elijah are also accounted for.

Inside the ‘American Horror Story’ main title sequence

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If you’re a fan of FX’s American Horror Story then you know just how intricate and foreboding the main title sequences for the series can be. In this brief but tantalizing clip, executive producer Ryan Murphy and title designer Kyle Cooper discuss the sheer amount of effort that goes into making the title sequence for the show. Since each season tells an entirely different horror story with new characters, each opening sequence therefore also shifts and adapts to a new setting and tone.

“If you can make a title sequence that elicits an emotional reaction, that’s a successful title sequence,” says Cooper.

“I’ve always been obsessed with main titles, I really feel like it’s an art form,” Murphy adds. “It tells you what the viewing experience ahead is going to be.”

Murphy goes on to tease what fans can expect from the Coven opening titles, and I’ll save that fun morsel for you to hear yourself. Click play and invite that spooky theme music back into your squishy brain.

AHS: Coven premieres this October.

[Via THR]

Netflix touts 14 Emmy nods in this powerful promo

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Now here’s a cool clip that nicely summates Netflix’s rise in power with original programming. As previously reported, the streaming service collected 14 Emmy nominations among three of its shows; namely Hemlock Grove (2 nods), Arrested Development (3), and House of Cards (9). The Kevin Spacey political drama even managed to break into the Outstanding Drama category to be seated among popular cable series like Breaking Bad, Mad Men, and Homeland.

“Take a step back, look at the bigger picture; we have the opportunity to make history here,” says Spacey as House of Cards‘ Francis Underwood. With so many nominations, Netflix is poised to make a name for itself when the Emmys air September 22. Whether these series win or lose at the awards show, Netflix has already changed the game and that’s what makes this teaser feel so…empowering.

Lady Gaga showers in your “Applause” in the single’s new music video

Music, Video, ,

Lady Gaga’s music video for her new single “Applause” is here and get this–it makes the track better. Sure, the song is catchy enough upon first listen, but add in Gaga’s dazzling visuals (that bra made of faux-hands are pretty cool!) and weird metaphors (Gaga’s head on a swan’s body means what now?) and you’ve got a music video that’s hard to turn away from. Check it out in the clip embedded above.

Sign spinning elevates to new level with street dance in “Daft Signz”

Music, Video, , ,

Every wednesday at a suburban Los Angeles park in North Hollywood, a group of talented individuals come together to create a form of self-expression you may have never experienced before: a mind-blowing synthesis of sign spinning and street dance.

“Daft Signz,” directed by Nicolas Randall and Joe Stevens and starring extraordinary sign spinners Erik Argote, Kadeem Johnson, Justin Brown, and Ray Rivera, celebrates this California-born phenomenon.

Go on, lose yourself to dance. You’ll never look upon those sign spinners standing outside Cash for Gold the same again.

[Via @timmyjoe]

TV parodies: ‘Breaking Bad’: The Musical, ‘Arrested Development’, the video game, ‘Walking Dead’ bad lip-reading & more!

Hilarity, Television, Video, , , , , , , , , , ,

There’s TV and then there’s the Internet. The two make quite the couple. Here are some fascinating offspring I’ve hand-picked for your viewing pleasure.

The first two videos come from the world of Breaking Bad. Hanging above is “Breaking Bad: The Middle School Musical” starring kids cooking meth blue rock candy. Yes, it is twisted and it is also brilliant and hilarious. It also does a pretty great job at summing up seasons one through five so spoiler freaks beware.

Click after the break for more. Continue reading TV parodies: ‘Breaking Bad’: The Musical, ‘Arrested Development’, the video game, ‘Walking Dead’ bad lip-reading & more! →

First look: Frank Darabont’s TNT drama ‘Mob City’

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Here’s a first-look at Frank Darabont’s upcoming TNT drama Mob City, formally known as L.A. Noir and Lost Angels. It’s an adaptation of John Buntin’s novel L.A. Noir: The Struggle for the Soul of America’s Most Seductive City that tells the story of an epic battle between a determined police chief and a dangerous mobster inflames set in 1940s Los Angeles. This project is a bit of a Walking Dead reunion as it reunites the AMC series’ executive producer Darabont with stars Jon Bernthal (he played Shane) and Jeffrey DeMunn (Dale). Mob City also stars Neal McDonough (Desperate Housewives), Ed Burns (Entourage), Jeremy Luke (Don Jon), Gregory Itzin (24), Robert Knepper (Prison Break), Milo Ventimiglia (Heroes) and Alexa Davalos (Clash of the Titans). Michael De Luca (The Social Network) and Elliot Webb (Alpha House) serve as executive producers with Darabont. An updated synopsis goes like this:

Mob City opens in post-war Los Angeles, home to glamorous movie stars, powerful studio heads and returning war heroes. But it’s also a city caught between a powerful and corrupt police force and an even more dangerous criminal network determined to make L.A. its West Coast base. Los Angeles Police Chief William Parker (Neal McDonough) has made it his mission to free the city of criminals like Ben “Bugsy” Siegel (Ed Burns) and Mickey Cohen (Jeremy Luke), the ruthless king of the Los Angeles underworld. Parker also won’t hesitate to go after anyone from his own police force who sells out honor and duty for the sake of a big payout. To carry out his sweep of organized crime, Parker sets up a new mob task force within the LAPD. Headed by Det. Hal Morrison (Jeffrey DeMunn), the task force includes Det. Joe Teague (Jon Bernthal), an ex-Marine who holds his cards close to his chest.

The pilot, written and directed by Darabont, airs Wednesday, December 4 at 10PM. Mob City will play out its initial season across six episodes.

Preview NBC’s ‘The Michael J. Fox Show’ with the cast

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Michael J. Fox returns to TV in the NBC sitcom The Michael J. Fox Show this fall on NBC. In it he plays Mike Henry, one of New York’s most beloved news anchors who decides to put his career on hold and spend time with his family after he is diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. The series starts with Mike about to sit back in the anchor seat after being out of the game for five years. His family, led by his wife played by Breaking Bad‘s Betsy Brandt, plays a big part in his recovery and endurance. Check out this extended first look at the show and mark the books: The Michael J. Fox Show premieres September 26 on NBC. (Watch the official trailer here.)

Ryan Murphy discusses how ‘Glee’ will handle upcoming Finn Hudson tribute episode

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When Glee returns this fall it will do so without one of its biggest stars, Cory Monteith. The actor who played Finn Hudson on the FOX musical dramedy passed away last month due to a drug overdose. As Gleeks worldwide continue to mourn the young actor’s death, the producers behind the mega-successful series are hard at work on making a special episode that will address the character’s death. In an interview with Deadline, series executive producer Ryan Murphy shed some light on what viewers can expect. Following a Beatles tribute that spans across the season four premiere and second episode, Glee will say goodbye to Finn in the season’s third hour that will play as “a celebration of that character’s life,” says Murphy. Finn, in fact, will not die of a drug overdose in the show, and viewers may not even be privy to how he ends up passing away. Jump after the break to read the EP’s take on the upcoming tribute episode.

Glee returns September 26 on FOX. Continue reading Ryan Murphy discusses how ‘Glee’ will handle upcoming Finn Hudson tribute episode →

Katy Perry & Lady Gaga face off in battle of the new singles; Eminem reenters the game, too

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This week pop divas Katy Perry and Lady Gaga and famed rapper Eminem released new music for the first time in a long time.

Perry’s “Roar,” embedded above, is the lead single off her upcoming fourth studio album Prism due out October 22. Her last album Teenage Dream, which featured numerous radio hits like “California Gurls,” “Teenage Dream,” “Firework,” “E.T.,” “Last Friday Night,” and “The One That Got Away,” released nearly three years ago.

Gaga’s followup to 2011’s Born This Way (which included popular tracks like “Born This Way,” “Judas,” “The Edge of Glory,” “You and I,” and “Marry The Night”) is ARTPOP due out November 11. “Applause” is the first single off her new record and its lyric video is posted after the break.

Both “Roar” and “Applause” are worthy lead singles that will inevitably climb the charts. Though there’s some controversy surrounding Katy’s new tune (listeners quickly picked up that the back track sounds eerily similar to the one used in Sara Bareilles’ “Brave”), it does distance itself away from that other equally catchy and uplifting song enough that both can coexist and be enjoyed. (SoundCloud user MixmstrStel remixed the two songs together to grand effect.) Gaga’s “Applause,” in my opinion, is the weaker of the two singles and yet it still manages to make me anticipate her long-awaited new material.

Lastly, rap legend Eminem is back for another encore. Details are still being kept under wraps regarding Shady’s eighth album and followup to 2010’s Recovery; but fans can get a taste of what’s to come in Em’s new track “Survival.” The song promotes the next Call of Duty game Ghosts and it appears the game’s soundtrack. “Survival” will be part of the new record, but Eminem’s camp says fans can expect the rapper to drop the album’s true lead single soon. Listen to Eminem’s latest after the break. Continue reading Katy Perry & Lady Gaga face off in battle of the new singles; Eminem reenters the game, too →

My take on ‘Orphan Black’

[experience-it-all], Television,

It’s safe; you are now entering a spoiler-free zone.

Orphan Black is easily one of my favorites series of all time. There, mhm, I said it.

The sci-fi-tastic plot; the small yet distinguished cast of characters you care about; the score; cinematography. All brilliant.

Tatiana Maslany. Her nuanced skill is mesmerizing. Sarah, Alison, Cosima & Helena were seemingly played by different actors. She rocks.

Shouts to Jordan Gavaris (Felix) for bringing laughs and heart to the table. And to Skyler Wexler (Kira) for being so freakin adorable.

Gotta throw this in: I really, really enjoyed the thrilling score throughout. My favorite is the loud streaks for Helena’s theme.

Most of all, what made this series so much fun to watch: the pacing. 10 episodes, all plot momentum & character development, no fluff.

So much went down & there are still mysteries left dangling. Cannot wait to see what’s next when season 2 premieres April 2014.

Side thoughts

Orphan Black brings up a bold point: I’d prefer a shortened season (10-13 episodes) full of momentum & zero filler to a “full” 22-24 episode run. Cable networks are keen on tighter storytelling, and even some broadcast nets are getting in with “limited” series & runs. Color me curious for the future of scripted TV.