Category Archives: Television

‘AHS: Coven’: More creepy teasers!

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You know you can’t get enough of these things. Ryan Murphy and company have concocted even more creep-tastic teasers hyping the upcoming third season of American Horror Story. After the break “Stakes” and “Coffin” await your click but the 30-second clip hanging above called “Initiation” is the juiciest; this one finally features Coven‘s female-driven cast. See if you can spot them all: Jessica Lange, Kathy Bates, Angela Bassett, Sarah Paulson, Taissa Farmiga, Gabourey Sidibe, Emma Roberts, Jamie Brewer, and Evan Peters.

AHS: Coven premieres October 9 at 10PM on FX. Continue reading ‘AHS: Coven’: More creepy teasers! →

Kanye West crashes ‘Late Night with Jimmy Fallon’ to perform “Bound 2”

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The late night host tweeted that earlier tonight and now you can watch the surprise performance right here! “Bound 2,” the final track on Ye’s Yeezus, is one of the album’s best; this live performance elevates the song exponentially as The Roots, a chorus of kids, and the incredible Charlie Wilson give it their all. Wilson, IMHO, steals the show here. Enjoy.

J.J. Abrams & Jonathan Nolan set up ‘Westworld’ adaptation at HBO

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Here is a TV project to keep a very close eye on. J.J. Abrams and Jonathan Nolan (the auspices behind CBS’ Person of Interest) are adapting Michael Crichton’s 1973 sci-fi thriller Westworld into a TV series for HBO. This marks the first foray into pay cable TV for Abrams’ Bad Robot production company. And like all things Bad Robot, the project is shrouded in mystery; this official logline will have to do for now: “Set in the amazing world dreamt up by Michael Crichton, Westworld is a dark odyssey about the dawn of artificial consciousness and the future of sin.” The movie, which starred Yul Brynner, Richard Benjamin, and James Brolin, took place at a Western-themed amusement park rampant with androids who appeared nearly indistinguishable from humans. Watch the trailer here. Westworld went on to spawn a sequel Futureworld (1976) and even a short-lived TV series Beyond Westworld.

Nolan is set to direct the pilot (HBO has already agreed to a pilot production commitment!) and he will pen the script with writer Lisa Joy (Burn Notice). Abrams, Nolan, Joy, Bryan Burk, and Jerry Weintraub will executive produce.

[Via Deadline]

TV reminder: ‘The League’ returns tonight (9/4) at 10:30PM on FXX

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It’s raining penalty flags; I call COLLUSION!

Pete, Kevin, Andre, Taco, Jenny, and Rodney Ruxin return to vie for the Shiva once again. And if we’re lucky, Rafi–aka Brolo el Cuñado–will make an appearance along with a handful of more special guests. Season 5 of The League premieres tonight, September 4, on FX’s comedy-oriented spinoff network FXX at 10:30PM. (If you’re not sure where to find FXX on your TV, click here.) Watch a promo after the break. The fantasy football comedy migrates to the new network along with another FX staple It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia and Totally Biased with W. Kamau Bell. Continue reading TV reminder: ‘The League’ returns tonight (9/4) at 10:30PM on FXX →

‘SNL’ finds its new featured players for season 39

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Out with the old, in with the new, as the saying goes. It has been confirmed that SNL vets Fred Armisen, Bill Hader, and Jason Sudeikis will not be returning to Studio 8H in September, and we know that Weekend Update host and head writer Seth Myers will be bowing out in the new year as he transitions to Late Night. Fresh blood is a needed this year as much as any and if recent reports prove true, Lorne Michaels has found his (potential) new stars.

Meet Beck Bennett, Kyle Mooney, Noël Wells, John Milhiser, and Michael Patrick O’Brien. The first four hail from the Upright Citizens Brigade, the well-established comedy house that fostered talent like Bobby Moynihan and Kate McKinnon. O’Brien, who might seem familiar to you, has been an SNL writer for four years now and he’s been featured in numerous sketches over the years in minor roles.

Thanks to the Internet, you can get to know the new SNL featured players by watching their sketches and improv on YouTube. Bennet and Mooney are part of a sketch comedy group called Good Neighbor; their video “Is my roommate gay?” is one to watch. You might recognize Bennet from those AT&T commercials with kids; fun fact: Lonely Island member and former SNL writer Jorma Taccone directs those spots. Wells is a great impressionist; watch her do Zooey Deschanel and Dana from Homeland. Milhiser can portray a wide range of emotions and like Mooney he’s great at being super weird; watch is encompassing acting reel and this subtle yet hysterical sketch called “Dress Code.” Thanks to his direct connection to SNL, O’Brien was able to make a really entertaining web series called 7 Minutes in Heaven and each episode features him improving with celebrities.

And there you have it. The four featured players coming to Saturday Night Live in its 39th season this fall. What do you think of the new crop of talent?

‘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.

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

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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.)