Category Archives: Entertainment

Showtime renews ‘Homeland’ for third season

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On Monday Showtime renewed Homeland for a third season. Coming off a critically acclaimed first season and sweeping at the Emmys, the counterterrorism drama from Howard Gordon, Alex Gansa, and Gideon Raff continues to bring the intensity, suspense, and surprise. The renewal comes a day after the shocking plot twist that occurred in season two’s fourth episode “New Car Smell;” this episode ranks as the highest rated hour of Homeland garnering 1.75 million viewers.

Showtime president David Nevins on the 12-episode renewal: “The Emmy wins for Homeland have certainly set the stage for a great second season. The writers, cast and crew of Homeland continue to create a remarkably entertaining and suspenseful roller coaster ride, growing audiences week after week. We can’t wait for our viewers to experience what unfolds through the rest of season two. Our partners at Fox 21 have been tremendous, and we are thrilled to begin the planning for Homeland’s third season.”

Homeland airs Sunday nights at 10PM on Showtime.

Going viral: ‘Breaking Bad’ musical parody featuring Walt & company channeling their inner Taylor Swift

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Video contains spoilers from the show.

The Internet has produced one of the most ridiculous videos I have ever seen. I’m sharing it with you, though, because it is just the right amount of entertaining for long-time followers of the critically acclaimed AMC drama Breaking Bad. YouTube channel Teddie Films has concocted a viral hit with “We Are Never Ever Gonna Cook Together,” a mashup of Breaking Bad and Taylor Swift’s new breakup single “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together.” The clip does a good job of musically summing up the tension between Walt and Jesse that occurs in season five, and it really scores with the absurd imitations of characters like DEA agent Hank Schrader, Walt Jr., and there’s even a guy in a chicken suit representing fast food chain Los Pollos Hermanos. What takes away from this almost-solid parody are giant inconsistencies like Jesse being Asian and Skylar’s portrayer wearing an obvious wig. Things like these add to the farcical nature of the video, but I feel that it really would have exploded with fans if they were more detail-oriented. Nitpicking aside, you should definitely have a watch if you like the show. Fair warning: Swift’s song is catchy to begin with; mashed with Breaking Bad don’t surprised if you catch yourself singing “Oooo ohhh Heisenberg” throughout the day.

You’re gonna kill me; the track is available for keeps through iTunes. Peace, bitch.

ABC orders additional scripts for ‘Last Resort’ & ‘666 Park Avenue’, FOX extends ‘The Mindy Project’s full season order and holds onto ‘The Mob Doctor’

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Today ABC showed signs of confidence for two of its new fall dramas. Instead of giving its full vote with full season orders (or “back nine” episodes), the Alphabet network ordered two additional scripts for political thriller Last Resort and the sexy, seductive, and intriguing 666 Park Avenue. That bumps their initial order of 13 episodes to 15. We’ll take it! And just for the record, earlier this month ABC ordered three more scripts for the wacky alien comedy The Neighbors.

Elsewhere, FOX must really like The Mindy Project because shortly after granting it the back nine, today the network ordered two more episodes of the Mindy Kaling comedy bringing its grand total to 24 episodes. Also, The Mob Doctor is safe for now. After airing four episodes with rather dismal ratings (the most recent ep attracted 3.4 million viewers and a 0.9 demo rating), FOX has decided to let the medical drama return from a short hiatus on November 5 and let its 13-episode order play out. This was the show most thought would be the first to go (Made in Jersey and Animal Practice beat it to the punch), so we’ll see if it can even last that long.

[Via Deadline 1, 2, 3; EW]

‘FRINGE’ trailer: Things are about to get…explosive

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Fringe is not on the schedule tonight, but you can try to fill that void by watching this trailer poignantly peeking at what’s to come in the relentless battle against the baldies. Things are about to get, in a word, explosive. Screen the wonderfully scored one minute trailer now.

Fringe returns next Friday on October 26 at 9PM on FOX. The 13-episode saga continues in episode 4 titled “The Bullet That Saved the World.”

TV clip: ‘Community’ reminds us why we miss the show so much

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If you thought the ousting of creator Dan Harmon was going to severely affect Community, let this brand spankin’ new clip produced exclusively for the Internetz to quell your fears. The cult comedy was supposed to return to NBC’s schedule today, October 19, but the network recently decided to keep it off the air and on the bench for a while longer. The Peacock even had the chance to replace a recently cancelled show with it, but they passed on the opportunity and instead turned to Whitney. To explain the scheduling mess, we turn to a special segment of “Troy & Abed in the Morning” featuring the titular hosts and the entire cast of Community in full form here.

October 19 isn’t just a date, it’s a state of mind…

TV clip: An extended cut of Nat Faxon’s crying scene in ‘Ben And Kate’

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In the third episode of FOX’s laugh out loud comedy Ben And Kate titled “Fox Hunt,” Kate (Dakota Johnson) and her kid brother Ben (Nat Faxon) challenge each other to a scavenger hunt that they used to participate in when they were younger. Kate and her bumbling teammate and best friend BJ end up winning, and the episode ends with Ben in a fit of tears. Not because he lost but because Kate surprises Ben with a medal he thought he had disposed of when he was a kid after his father ridiculed him and played it down. Ben runs to the bathroom and in a scene called “Real Ben Don’t Cry” he lets the tears flow while simultaneous trying his best to hold it all back. It all played out magnificently on TV, but a director’s cut has surfaced on the ‘Net and it provides an extended, nearly two minute version of the scene. Have at it.

Ben And Kate airs Tuesday nights at 8:30PM on FOX.

NBC cancels ‘Animal Practice’, ‘Whitney’ to replace it in November

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Today NBC cancelled the Justin Kirk/Crystal the Monkey comedy Animal Practice due to poor ratings. The Peacock did everything it could to promote the series, including airing a special preview during the Olympics this summer. That effort fared well for the Matthew Perry sitcom Go On, but for Practice it couldn’t do the trick. The most recent episode wrangled 3.8 million viewers scoring a low 1.0 rating in adults 18-49. Five episodes have aired, and NBC will show three more. Come Wednesday, November 14, Whitney will fill the vacant spot at 8PM. Community fans will sneer at this scheduling move, but it makes sense for the network; both Whitney and its soon-to-be lead out Guys with Kids are multi-camera shows so they go well together, stylistically at least. Community remains on the bench for the time being. And Guys with Kids is safe for now, having most recently attracted 4.3 million viewers and a 1.4 demo rating.

Animal Practice is the second show to get the axe this fall. Last week CBS cancelled legal drama Made in Jersey after only two episodes had aired; the premiere attracted 7.7 million viewers with a 1.1 demo rating and then things dropped in its second outing to 5.8 million viewers with a dismal 0.8 rating. Starting November 2 Undercover Boss takes over CBS’ Friday night at 8PM slot.

[Via EW]

TV reminder: ‘American Horror Story: Asylum’ premieres tonight at 10PM on FX [Update: The ratings are in…]

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The wait is over. Tonight is the night you commit yourself to American Horror Story: Asylum. As you already know, the second season of the Ryan Murphy/Brad Falchuk production will play out as an entirely different show than season one. Many familiar faces are returning (namely Jessica Lange, Zachary Quinto, Lily Rabe, Sarah Paulson, Evan Peters) but they will be portraying brand new characters this time around. Joining them are Adam Levine, Jenna Dewan, Chloë Sevigny, Clea Duvall, Joseph Fiennes, and James Cromwell. Today, Murphy revealed that Dylan McDermott is also coming back at some point this season; he played lead Ben Harmon last year. Asylum goes back in time to the 1960s and replaces the haunted Harmon house with an east coast mental institution called  Briarcliff Manor.

To reiterate, AHS is an anthology series meaning each series will feature new characters, a new setting, and an original story with a beginning, middle, and end. So if you happened to miss out on season one, you can absolutely tune into tonight’s premiere without a problem. However, it is highly recommended you watch the first season because it was very good.

American Horror Story: Asylum premieres tonight (10/17) at 10PM on FX. If you want a taste of the season’s frights, jump after the break to watch a one minute trailer and catch some behind-the-scenes footage with the cast and creators. In the galleries below, browse creepy character profiles and check out the varied key art…if you dare.

Update: Nothing record-breaking to report here, but AHS: Asylum got off to a strong start, both creatively and in the ratings. 3.85 million total viewers committed themselves to last night’s season two premiere “Welcome to Briarcliff;” that’s up 21 percent from last year’s series premiere. In the important adults 18-49 demo the episode attracted 2.78 million viewers (a 2.20 rating, up 37 percent), trailing only CBS’ CSI for the night. In adults 18-34 the ep attracted 1.78 million viewers (2.63 rating, up 50 percent) making it the highest rated program at 10PM across cable and broadcast networks in that demo. The episode managed to rank higher in the ratings than every episode from the first season. Are you committed? Share your thoughts on the season premiere in the comment section below.

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Continue reading TV reminder: ‘American Horror Story: Asylum’ premieres tonight at 10PM on FX [Update: The ratings are in…] →

TNT picks up Frank Darabont’s period drama ‘L.A. Noir’ with six episode order

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Earlier this year Frank Darabont divulged his next TV project following his exit from AMC’s The Walking Dead. Today TNT greenlit the project ordering a total of six episodes that will comprise season one. For the uninitiated, here’s a newly released series synopsis.

This new series tells the true story of a decades-long conflict between the Los Angeles Police Department, under the determined leadership of Police Chief William Parker, and ruthless criminal elements led by Mickey Cohen, a one-time boxer who rose to the top of L.A.’s criminal world. The series is a fast-paced crime drama set in Los Angeles during the 1940s and ’50s. It’s a world of glamorous movie stars, powerful studio heads, returning war heroes, a powerful and corrupt police force and an even more dangerous criminal network determined to make L.A. its West Coast base.

If you’re like me and following Darabont from Atlanta to Los Angeles, you’ll be happy to hear that he’s recruited not one but two stars from his acclaimed zombie drama. Jon Bernthal (The Walking Dead’s Shane) stars as Joe Teague, an ex-Marine now working as an LAPD cop in an era rampant with police corruption. Jeffrey DeMunn (Dale) plays Det. Hal Morrison, who heads up the LAPD’s new mob squad. The series also stars Neal McDonough (Captain America) as Capt. William Parker, Teague’s boss who is determined to weed out corruption and bring down Mickey Cohen; and Milo Ventimiglia (Heroes) plays Ned Stax, who fought alongside Teague during World War II but who now works as a lawyer with connections to the mob.

TNT president and head of programming Michael Wright on the pickup: “This series is an intense, exciting drama that takes viewers back to a truly fascinating time in the history of Los Angeles. Frank Darabont, Michael De Luca and Elliott Webb have delivered an outstanding opening episode that evokes the time and place in stunning detail. Together with a pitch-perfect ensemble cast and top-notch production crew, they have woven an engrossing tale of heroism in the face of greed and corruption. We’re very excited to be working with such talented storytellers in bringing this project to life.”

L.A.Noir, based on the book L.A. Noir: The Struggle for the Soul of America’s Most Seductive City by John Buntin, will premiere in 2013.

[Via TNT]

Movie trailer roundup: ‘Carrie’ & ‘Zero Dark Thirty’ [Update: ‘Jack Reacher’ & ‘Skyfall’]

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First up is a teaser trailer for the anticipated remake of the 1976 film Carrie. Based on Stephen King’s 1974 novel of the same name, Carrie follows a sheltered high school girl who unleashes her newly developed telekinetic powers after she is pushed too far by her peers. The new Carrie White is played by rising star Chloë Grace Moretz (Kick-Ass, Let Me In), and her abusive mother Margaret is played by Julianne Moore. In the original Brian De Palma film these roles will famously filled by Sissy Spacek and Piper Laurie. The remake is directed by Kimberly Peirce (Stop-Loss) and it comes out March 15, 2013. By the looks of this tantalizing teaser, the new Carrie is shaping up to be a bloody good time. The gallery below contains gory and frightening images of Moretz and Moore in character provided by EW.

Jump after the break for more trailers. Continue reading Movie trailer roundup: ‘Carrie’ & ‘Zero Dark Thirty’ [Update: ‘Jack Reacher’ & ‘Skyfall’] →

‘Avatar’ finally releases in Blu-ray 3D today

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After so many home release iterations, James Cameron’s Avatar can finally be owned on Blu-ray in 3D and you can watch it the way it was meant to be seen. The long-standing exclusive deal with Panasonic is officially over. The new release is called AVATAR Blu-ray 3D Collector’s Edition and according to a press release in full after the break, it includes specifically the original theatrical release on Blu-ray 3D, Blu-ray, and DVD. There is no word on whether or not bonus content is included; it doesn’t look like it. As they say, take what you can get.

Purchase Avatar in 3D at Amazon for $24.99 today. *3DTV not included. Continue reading ‘Avatar’ finally releases in Blu-ray 3D today →

Tina Fey & Amy Poehler set to host the Golden Globes

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If you could pick any two people to co-host the Golden Globe Awards who would they be? Well guess what, it’s happening. Today it was announced that dynamic duo Tina Fey & Amy Poehler will be hosting the 70th Annual Golden Globe Awards. And as we already know the two have chemistry; they served as co-anchors of Weekend Update on Saturday Night Live for years and they starred in the 2008 comedy Baby Mama together. Today they each have their own show on NBC–Fey’s readying to bow out of 30 Rock and Poehler is in her prime as Leslie Knope in Parks And Recreation–so the Peacock is making a smart move by teaming these ladies together to celebrate the best in TV.

NBC president of alternative and late night Paul Telegdy released the following statement: “Having both Tina Fey and Amy Poehler on board to host this year’s festivities is a major coup. Tina and Amy have a proven chemistry and comedic timing from their many years together on SNL to their successful co-starring roles in Baby Mama.”

The award show’s executive producers Allen Shapiro, Orly Adelson, and Barry Adelman said: “It’s exciting to have two of the most respected names in comedy. Amy and Tina’s well known chemistry along with their spontaneity and glamour makes them a perfect fit for the Golden Globes.”

The 70th Annual Golden Globe Awards airs January 13, 2013.

[Via EW]