Category Archives: Entertainment

TV reminder: ‘Breaking Bad’ returns

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Here we go. The final 8. After four and a half seasons of White White breaking bad, how will it all end?

In an interview with EW, Breaking Bad creator and mastermind Vince Gilligan shares what fans can expect. “As the movie title goes, there will be blood. To my mind, that’s not the most interesting thing. It’s the emotional moments and the character moments. We’ve got some stuff that I think is going to be truly satisfying and truly shocking and jarring. It does not always center on moments of violence…I have surprised myself at how much story there was left to tell and how quickly we tell it. You need to really settle down on the couch and pay close attention because it’s going to come at you fast and furious in the final eight episodes.”

On many occasions, without spoiling a thing, Gilligan has assured people that he and his writing staff are wholly satisfied by the ending. And although this statement may not completely quell your fears about how the series will wrap up, it sets my mind at relative ease because Gilligan has proved time and again that he can be trusted in terms of sheer storytelling.

In the end, Breaking Bad has been about a mild-mannered chemistry teacher afflicted with cancer transforming into a deadly drug kingpin; the protagonist becoming the antagonist. Gilligan has publicly stated that at some point he completely lost sympathy for Walter White. Whether or not you are still cheering for him, you will witness the remainder of his journey to the dark side as the final run of eight episodes begins Sunday, August 11 at 9PM.

Three things: One, a Breaking Bad after-show called Talking Bad hosted by Chris Hardwick will air after every episode. Two, Discovery Channel is airing a special edition of Mythbusters inspired by Breaking Bad where the hosts will test myths straight from the AMC series; it premieres Monday, August 12 at 10PM. And three, videos! Jump after the break to watch new promos, a recap, a gag reel, and sneak peeks at the Mythbusters-meets-Breaking Bad installment. Continue reading TV reminder: ‘Breaking Bad’ returns →

‘Homeland’ season 3 gets a somber full-length trailer

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Have you been itching to find out what happens next on Showtime’s award-winning Homeland? Here is your first look at the drama’s highly anticipated third season. Carrie is depressed (again), Brody is back sporting a whole new look, Saul is heavily involved with senate hearings following the CIA bombing, Quinn is playing with fire(arms), and Dana makes a bad decision (again) but also surprises with one major revelation revealed. The trailer, set to The Cinematic Orchestra’s “To Build a Home,” is somber in its own right and sets that tone for the season.

Homeland returns September 29.

‘American Horror Story: Coven’ drops two creep-tastic teasers

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The third season of Ryan Murphy’s American Horror Story is coming soon and you know what that means: freaky teasers that are brief yet mesmerizing in their mystery are being released into the wild.

After exploring a murder house and an asylum, AHS: Coven takes us to New Orleans where we’ll witness a battle between Salem witches and voodoo practitioners. As it likes to do, the show will take place in present day as well as flashback to the past–in this case the 1830s. At the summer TCAs, EP Tim Minear shed some light on Coven‘s themes:

“Some of the bigger themes this year are oppression of minorities of all kinds, and within that idea, minority groups going after each other and doing the work of the larger culture. While there is a strong feminist theme that runs throughout Coven, there are themes of race and themes of oppression, and themes of family–especially mothers and daughters.”

Familiar AHS faces take on new characters in the upcoming season. Jessica Lange is a witch named Fiona and Sarah Paulsen is her daughter Cordelia. Newcomers Angelia Bassett and Kathy Bates play voodoo practitioner Marie Laveau and New Orleans socialite and serial killer Madame LaLaurie, respectively. Rounding out the cast are veterans Evan Peters, Lilly Rabe, Francis Conroy, Taissa Farmiga, Denis O’Hare, and Alexandra Breckenridge and newbies Gabourey Sidibe, Emma Roberts, and Patti LuPone.

The first teaser titled “Detention” has numerous women levitating up against white walls as an eerie rendition of “The House of the Rising Sun” plays in the background. (Anyone notice the legs in the fireplace?) After the break, watch the second teaser called “Pins & Needles” and prepare yourself for a nice little scare.

AHS: Coven premieres on FX this October.

Update (8/15): A third called “Staircase” is here, below. Continue reading ‘American Horror Story: Coven’ drops two creep-tastic teasers →

‘Phineas and Ferb’ crossover events with Marvel & ‘Star Wars’ coming soon

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Spider-Man, Iron Man, Thor, and Hulk are teaming up with boy-geniuses Phineas and Ferb in a special Disney/Marvel crossover episode airing later this month. The official episode description goes like this:

In Phineas and Ferb: Mission Marvel, Spider-Man, Iron Man, Thor and Hulk stand powerless after being struck by Dr. Doofenshmirtz’s power-draining “inator.” Once the Marvel Super Villains – Red Skull, Whiplash, Venom and M.O.D.O.K. – find out that Dr. Doofenshmirtz is responsible for robbing the Super Heroes of their powers, they seek him out and together create mayhem in Danville. Meanwhile, Phineas and Ferb do everything they can to restore the Super Heroes’ powers before the evil villains take over the world.

If you’re a big fan of Disney’s addicting and mildly sophisticated ‘toon about step-brothers with wild imaginations and Stan Lee’s superheroes, then you’ll definitely want to set your DVRs for Phineas and Ferb: Mission Marvel set to debut on Disney Channel Friday, August 16 at 8PM. Jump after the break to watch a preview and trailer for the upcoming crossover event.

In other P&F news, the animated series is playing host to Star Wars in 2014; for more details, pop after the break! Continue reading ‘Phineas and Ferb’ crossover events with Marvel & ‘Star Wars’ coming soon →

Movie trailer round-up: Spike Jonze’s ‘Her,’ ‘Muppets Most Wanted,’ ‘Jobs,’ ‘Thor: The Dark World’ & ‘Captain Phillips’

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HER is set in Los Angeles, in the near future and follows Theodore Twombly (Joaquin Phoenix), a complex, soulful man who makes his living writing touching, personal letters for other people. Heartbroken after the end of a long relationship, he becomes intrigued with a new, advanced operating system, which promises to be an intuitive and unique entity in its own right. Upon initiating it, he is delighted to meet “Samantha,” a bright, female voice (Scarlett Johansson), who is insightful, sensitive and surprisingly funny. As her needs and desires grow in tandem with his own, their friendship deepens into an eventual love for each other. HER is an original love story that explores the evolving nature—and the risks—of intimacy in the modern world.

Spike Jonze, who is no stranger to android romance, directs. A melancholic tone permeates the trailer and yet it is spiritually uplifting in nature. A man falls for artificial intelligence; might he learn a thing or two about true love along the way? Her releases November 20.

Jump after the break to view more trailers. Continue reading Movie trailer round-up: Spike Jonze’s ‘Her,’ ‘Muppets Most Wanted,’ ‘Jobs,’ ‘Thor: The Dark World’ & ‘Captain Phillips’ →

Stephen Colbert gets Daft Punk’d, performs his star-studded rendition of “Get Lucky”

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This is too damn good so I’ll be brief. Stephen Colbert of Comedy Central’s The Colbert Report had been hyping Daft Punk’s first live performance since their latest album Random Access Memories on his show. But then the French electronic duo cancelled their visit to the Report at the last minute due to contractual obligations with CC’s sister network MTV (they are both owned by media conglomerate Viacom). In a fit of anger and some booze, Colbert spilled to his audience what has supposed to be a surprise for VMA viewers: Daft Punk is scheduled to perform live at the MTV Video Music Awards later this month. It was the Report or the VMAs and Daft Punk chose the latter and legalese with MTV made it impossible for the artists to perform on Colbert’s stage, too.

Now that you have the story down pat, watch Colbert tell his side of the story in his entertaining way in the clip embedded above. And then, after the break, watch the host perform his very own rendition of Daft Punk’s “Get Lucky” with many, many surprise guests. It truly is a riot. Perhaps Daft Punk’s absence was a godsend because I doubt their live version of “Get Lucky” could ever best what Colbert put together here. Continue reading Stephen Colbert gets Daft Punk’d, performs his star-studded rendition of “Get Lucky” →

Jason Sudeikis, Jason Bateman, Ed Helms & Will Forte ARE Mumford & Sons in the band’s “Hopeless Wanderer” music video

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If you aren’t laughing out loud with happy tears streaming down your face by the end of this video then something is clearly wrong with you. English folk rock band Mumford & Sons have enlisted funnymen Jason Sudeikis (SNL), Jason Bateman (Arrested Development), Ed Helms (The Office), and Will Forte (SNL) to play far-out versions of the four bandmates in this twisted, self-deprecating parody. The music video for “Hopeless Wanderer,” a track off M&S’ album Babel, gets sillier and sillier as it goes on and by the end you want to watch it all over again. From the unsuspecting start to the full on make-out sesh between Sudeikis and Forte, this is one unforgettable clip that proves Mumford can take a hit, laugh at themselves, and enjoy the ride.

Jay Z spontaneously performs “Picasso Baby” at NYC gallery, waxes lyrical about the art of performance

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On Friday night Jay Z (rest in peace hyphen) premiered his music video for “Picasso Baby,” a track off his latest album Magna Carta… Holy Grail. But it’s more than just a music video, claims the rapper. He calls it “a performance art film” as it incorporates more than just him rapping along to his rhymes. Jay introduces the clip with reflections on performance and hip-hop as art. It’s a music video/documentary hybrid, if you will.

Last month Hova took over  Chelsea’s Pace Gallery in New York City for six straight hours where he rapped “Piscasso Baby” in front of a crowd consisting of excited fans off the street as well as famous artists, actors, dancers, and performers. Mark Romanek, who previously collaborated with Jay on his 99 Problems music video, directed this eight minute video (the final two minutes or so is all credits) and shot it all using eight different cameras. Celebrity cameos include Alan Cumming, Judd Apatow, Michael K. Williams, and Wale.

It’s definitely one of the most candid and straight up fun music videos I’ve ever seen. Jay seems to be having a genuinely good time amongst his people and his high energy is contagious to the viewer. So, enjoy this performance art film music video documentary, or whatever you want to call it.

Justin Timberlake takes back the night in music video for “Take Back The Night”

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JT keeps the party going with his latest music video for his new 20/20 Part 2 single “Take Back The Night.” The creatively-edited clip bounces back and forth between Justin dancing in the street, headlining his Legends of the Summer tour in Yankee Stadium, and tearing up the dance floor at a NYC nightclub. Go on, listen to the MJ-inspired track again, this time with some fun and sweaty visuals.

Kid Cudi & other artists design unique beer bottle labels for Beck’s

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Musician Kid Cudi was approached by Beck’s to design a unique label for their beer bottles. It’s an annual tradition for Beck’s; this year six artists from different disciplines were selected to participate in creating limited edition beer labels. Over 13 million bottles featuring custom labels imagined by Cudi, fashion designer and entrepreneur Marc Ecko, artist and musician Willis Earl Beal, multi-medium artists The Date Farmers, interactive digital duo TM Sisters, and photographer William Hundley will sell for the remainder of the summer. Check out this clip from Beck’s starring Cudder as he details the label design he came up with; the three rings that make up the background of the label represent Cudi’s Man on the Moon albums (yes, a third album to close out the trilogy is in the works).

Eye the new designs in the gallery below, and watch the other artists’ videos at Beck’s YouTube channel.

TV teasers: ‘Homeland’, ‘Breaking Bad’ & ‘Sherlock’

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Here we have three tantalizing TV teasers for fans of some of the hottest shows today: Showtime’s Homeland, AMC’s Breaking Bad, and BBC One/PBS’ Sherlock. Warning: spoilers within!

Above, the Homeland teaser titled “Signals” begs the question: Where is Brody? At the end of season 2, a car bomb destroyed the CIA and it was made to look like Nick Brody was behind the devastating attack. Carrie, of course, believes him when he says he didn’t do it and she helps him escape the country. “Does Carrie know I’m here” is just one of the many “signals” broadcast in this 30-second teaser that unfortunately shows zero footage from season 3. Homeland returns September 29.

After the break you’ll find the teasers for Breaking Bad and Sherlock. Continue reading TV teasers: ‘Homeland’, ‘Breaking Bad’ & ‘Sherlock’ →

CBS renews ‘Under The Dome’ for a second season

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Under The Dome is coming back for a 13-episode second season and Stephen King, the author whose 2009 novel the CBS drama series is based, will pen the premiere episode when it returns in Summer 2014.

CBS Entertainment President Nina Tassler on the renewal: “We’re excited to tell more stories about the mystery of the dome and the secrets in Chester’s Mill, and are thrilled to have the master storyteller himself, Stephen King, tell the first one of next season.”

In all, 17.8 million total viewers tuned into the series premiere in June and the show also proved its worth in the adults 18-49 demo landing a 4.6 rating. Though those numbers have dropped since, they still remain elevated at a level strong enough to warrant a second season; the most recent episode attracted a sizable audience with 11.4 million viewers and a 2.8 rating in the coveted demo. The show is performing solidly internationally and on Amazon where CBS has an exclusive deal enabling Instant Video subscribers to stream episodes four days after they air. In fact, Dome is the most watched series ever on Amazon’s streaming service.

All in all, Under the Dome is proving to be great summer fare and it’s showing the other networks that scripted TV can work outside the traditional September-to-May window. (FOX enters the fray next summer with new drama Gang Related and the return of 24.) The show’s got some kinks to work out (the character Angie, for example, drives me up a wall with her terrible decisions…and what exactly are Junior’s motives?) and the pacing and character development need to be accelerated. But the overall mystery of the dome and the secrets being spilled inside it have me intrigued enough to want to see more. I gladly accept a series renewal.

Under The Dome airs Mondays at 10 on CBS.