Category Archives: Entertainment

TV reminder: ‘South Park’ premieres tonight (9/26) at 10PM on Comedy Central

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The second half of South Park season 16 premiere tonight at 10PM on Comedy Central. The episode is called “Sarcastaball” and if the logline has anything to say it’s that Randy Marsh is in the middle of it.

Randy’s attitude toward new safety rules in the game of football CHANGES THE SPORT IN A BIG WAY. As a concerned parent, Randy radically changes the way football is played at South Park Elementary. The new version of the game quickly becomes the nation’s most popular sport. One gifted student emerges as a star athlete in Sarcastaball.

In a preview embedded above, Randy has a hard time with sarcasm. This is lining up to be a good’un.

TV reminder: This is the official start week to the new fall season

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*This post will remain at the top of the page through the end of the week. For newer posts, simply scroll down.*

A friendly reminder: Today, Monday, September 24, is when you’ll start to see an explosion of new programming from the big four networks. Many new and returning shows are scheduled to premiered this week through Sunday the 30th. And then there are some–like Nashville and Community and The CW’s entire lineup–that won’t enter the scene until next month. Here are quick links to my previously posted 2012 Fall TV Schedules:

NBC // FOX // ABC //  CBS //  THE CW

I’ll be back to remind you about select premieres on cable periodically through the fall season. Happy watching!

Rihanna’s got a new hit single in “Diamonds”

Audio, Music,

Before her previous album’s single leave the radio Rihanna is already back with a new one that’s off her upcoming still untitled seventh studio album. Her next radio hit is called “Diamonds” but unlike her previous smashes “We Found Love” and “Where Have You Been” this one features a more subtle beat (from producers Stargate and Benny Blanco) and a more mature RiRi (“Find light in the beautiful sea/I choose to be happy/You and I, you and I/We’re like diamonds in the sky”, written by Sia).

Rihanna shed light on the inspiration behind the track. “You’re not sad or dancing. You’re happy and hippie. It’s laid-back, but it’s hopeful. It gives me such a great feeling when I listen to it. The lyrics are very hopeful and positive, but it’s about love and the gears are a little different from what people would expect. I’m excited to surprise them sonically.”

Take a listen above; download at iTunes. Could this be a softer, reinvigorated Rihanna stepping into the spotlight? She is rolling diamonds into a joint in the single artwork… Her next album is due out later this year.

2012 Emmys results: ‘Modern Family’ & ‘Homeland’ big winners

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On Sunday night, Modern Family and Homeland scored big wins at the 64th Primetime Emmy Awards. The ABC comedy was awarded a total of four Emmys: Eric Stonestreet for Outstanding Supporting Actor; Julie Bowen for Outstanding Supporting Actress; Steven Levitan for Outstanding Director; and the show was named Outstanding Comedy. Elsewhere in comedy, Julia Louis-Dreyfus (Veep) managed to beat Amy Poehler for Outstanding Actress; Jon Cryer (Two and a Half Men) rock his category to surpass Jim Parsons, Louis C.K., Larry David, and Alec Baldwin to win Outstanding Actor. Speaking of Louie, the comedian took home two Emmys–one for Outstanding Writing for the Louie episode “Pregnant” and another writing achievement for his standup special Live at the Beacon Theatre.

The Showtime political drama Homeland was awarded five Emmys: Claire Danes for Outstanding Actress; Damian Lewis for Outstanding Actor; Outstanding Writing for the “Pilot” epiosde by Alex Gansa, Howard Gordon, and Gideon Raff; at the Creative Emmys the show picked up Best Casting; and lastly it broke Mad Men‘s impressive streak and won Outstanding Drama. Elsewhere in drama, Maggie Smith (Downton Abbey) was crowned Outstanding Supporting Actress; Aaron Paul triumphed over his Breaking Bad co-star Giancarlo Esposito to win Outstanding Supporting Actor; and Tim Van Patten nabbed Outstanding Director for his work on Boardwalk Empire.

Other notable wins… the HBO movie Game Change swept the Miniseries/Movie category with five wins including Outstanding Actress (Julianne Moore), Outstanding Writing (Danny Strong), Outstanding Directing (Jay Roach), Best Casting, and it took home Outstanding Miniseries or Movie. The highly rated History channel miniseries Hatfields and McCoys won two Emmys and Jessica Lange nabbed Outstanding Supporting Actress for her role in FX’s American Horror Story. And like clockwork Comedy Central’s The Daily Show With Jon Stewart won Outstanding Variety Series for the tenth year in a row.

Jump after the break to see all the night’s winners. Continue reading 2012 Emmys results: ‘Modern Family’ & ‘Homeland’ big winners →

James Gunn confirms his involvement in Marvel’s ‘Guardians of the Galaxy’

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Marvel’s second phase of film offerings includes mostly sequels to already established franchises like Iron Man, Thor, and Captain America. Two of them–namely Ant-Man and Guardians of the Galaxy–have the potential to become franchises of their own. On Tuesday director James Gunn (Slither, Super) confirmed speculation by announcing via Facebook he will in fact helm the adaptation of Guardians of the Galaxy:

For a month or so there’s been a lot of Internet speculation about my involvement with Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy. Until now I haven’t said anything, because I’m trying to be less expulsive about this project than I am about the rest of my life. But last night I got the go-ahead from Kevin Feige to let you all know that, yes, indeed, I am rewriting and directing Guardians of the Galaxy. As a lifelong lover of Marvel comics, space epics, AND raccoons, this is the movie I’ve been waiting to make since I was nine years old. Kevin, Joss, and all the folks at Marvel have been amazing collaborators so far, and we’re committed to bringing you something majestic, beautiful, and unique. I am incredibly excited. I am also incredibly grateful to the fans and the press for all their words of encouragement and support regarding my involvement with this project since the news first leaked. Thanks – you have, honestly, touched and overwhelmed me. And that’s it for now. Other than the occasional photos of my dog and cat here on Facebook, I’ll talk to you again in August 2014 when Guardians is released!

Concept art for the flick includes a superhero team made up of Drax the Destroyer, Groot, Star-Lord, Rocket Raccoon, and Gamora. Yes, a gun-wielding raccoon is involved. And with Gunn directing, things are about to get wild, wacky, and extremely radical. Hear what Avengers helmer Joss Whedon has to say about Gunn’s involvement in a video interview posted after the break. Continue reading James Gunn confirms his involvement in Marvel’s ‘Guardians of the Galaxy’ →

Kick off the final season of ‘The Office’ with this (emotional) retrospective

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Tonight (9/20) NBC kicks off the final season of The Office at 9PM. After what will be nine seasons of ups and downs in terms of sheer laughs and creative direction, Dunder Mifflin will close its doors for good this May. Before you sit down and watch tonight’s season premiere, watch this admittedly emotional retrospective that highlights some of the best, most memorable moments from the wacky, longrunning mockumentary. We miss you Michael Scott.

Tonight’s NBC lineup also includes the Up All Night (8:30PM) and Parks and Rec (9:30PM) season premieres, and they are preceded by an SNL Weekend Update Thursday special (8PM).

‘Bates Motel’ finds its Norman Bates

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A&E’s upcoming Psycho prequel series from Carlton Cuse (Lost) and Kerry Ehrin (Friday Night Lights) has just found its Norman Bates. Twenty-year-old Englishman Freddy Highmore, who you should remember from films such as Finding Neverland, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, August Rush, and The Spiderwick Chronicles, has been cast as the famous series killer invented by Alfred Hitchcock. Cuse celebrated the news in a tweet: “I am so delighted that Freddie Highmore will play our young Norman Bates. He is a wonderfully gifted actor and a great guy.”

In other casting news, actor Max Thieriot (Jumper) has landed the role of Norman’s brother Dylan. In another tweet Cuse shared, “Max Thieriot joins BATES MOTEL playing Norma’s OTHER son, Dylan. Max is a phenomenal, smart & magnetic actor. An amazing casting day.”

Bates Motel is described as “a contemporary exploration of the formative years of Norman Bates’ relationship with his mother, Norma [played by Vera Farmiga], and the world they inhabit. Viewers will have access to the dark, twisted backstory and learn firsthand how Norma helped forge the most famous serial killer of them all.”

It’s expected to premiere on A&E in October 2013.

[Via TV Guide; Twitter]

Music video: Frank Ocean – “Pyramids”

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Here we have the first official music video featuring a song off Frank Ocean’s debut album Channel Orange. Clocking in at 7 minutes fifty-eight seconds it nearly matches the longevity of the album version (9:53). The clip stars Ocean on a flashy motorcycle and inside an even flashier strip club (NSFW ladies, included). John Mayer joins the festivities for the guitar solo later on the track. Ocean is hot off his “Thinkin Bout You“/”Pyramids” SNL performances.

Exclusive interview with G.O.O.D. Music’s Malik Yusef

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Tomorrow (9/18) the highly anticipated G.O.O.D. Music album Cruel Summer drops. Earlier this week the album became available to preorder, and if you eyed the official tracklist you surely noticed a featured artist’s name you might not have seen before. On the eighth track “Sin City” G.O.O.D. Music signees John Legend and Cyhi the Prynce headline with Malik Yusef.

A five-time Grammy award winner, forty one year old Yusef is a longtime collaborator of Kanye West’s, having co-wrote a whopping seven songs from West’s impressive 2010 release My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy. He also dipped his creative hand in helping produce West’s Runaway short film, and he went on to co-write two tracks off West and Jay-Z’s collab album Watch The Throne (2011). With a youth literacy foundation under his belt and an eye for high fashion, Yusef is a philanthropic member of West’s G.O.O.D. Music team, and his sense of style, word choice, and ear for a solid beat make him a vital member of the formidable team ‘Ye built in the rap community.

Jump after the break to read experience-it-all‘s exclusive interview with Malik Yusef. In it the spoken word artist discusses what it is like working with Kanye West in the studio, what G.O.O.D. Music stands for, he’s asked about the Chicago rap scene, and hypes a new, up-and-coming artist by the name of Tyran Brown. Continue reading Exclusive interview with G.O.O.D. Music’s Malik Yusef →