Category Archives: News

Mark your calendars: FOX sets a return date for ’24’

January 20, 2014News, Television2014 TCA, 2014 TCA winter press tour, 24, 24: Live Another Day, FOX, TCAScott Meisner

24 fans, perk up! A new day is upon us. FOX resurrects 24 with series players Kiefer Sutherland (protagonist Jack Bauer), Mary Lynn Rajskub (Jack’s right-hand analyst Chloe O’Brien), Kim Raver (Jack’s former lover Audrey Raines), and William Devane (once US Secretary of Defense James Heller) on Monday, May 5 at 8PM. Like all proper 24 premieres, this special “event series” dubbed Live Another Day will have a two-hour launch and then the following Monday it will play out in 24‘s old 9PM timeslot.

The latest logline goes like this: “Set and shot in London, the suspenseful event series once again will follow the exploits of heroic agent Jack Bauer as he attempts to thwart an unthinkable terrorist attack that could change the world forever. Retaining the real-time, nail-biting, fast-paced format with split screens and interweaving storylines.

At the winter TCAs more details leaked out about the highly anticipated return of 24. The season takes place four years after the events that unfolded in season 8, and Jack is still on the run but this time in London. “He is still a fugitive who he has been hunted–and he is still hunted,” spilled EP Manny Coto. Yvonne Strahovski (Chuck) plays Kate Morgan, the CIA agent hunting down Jack. “Jack is not quite Osama Bin Laden, but he is someone to be captured,” continued the EPs. “And when Jack reenters the story on his own terms, we will learn he has a mission. Whether it’s good or dark we don’t know, but this CIA agent [Kate] is determined to catch him, and as she gets closer and closer to him, Chloe O’Brien reenters the picture.”

“Chloe and Jack are pitted against each other due to a set of circumstances,” revealed Sutherland at the press event. Turns out Chloe has “turned herself against the government” and it will take some convincing on Jack’s back to bring her back into the fold. “There is no Chloe without Jack,” remarked Rajskub, so I’m guessing it won’t take long to get to the happy reunion we’ve all been waiting for.

What else? When we reenter the world of 24 Devane’s James Heller is now President of the United States. And what of his daughter Audrey? “When we last left Audrey, she was in a very bad place with Jack, so [in the years that have passed] she has come out of the ‘wilderness.’ But the interesting thing will be, when Jack reenters the picture, how will she react to that?” pondered EP Evan Katz.

If you don’t have time to watch up on 24 between now and May it’s no problem according to EP Howard Gordon. “You can actually pick this series up without having seen Season 8, or any of the show at all,” he said. “The benefit of coming back four years later is that those four years need to be explained, so the exposition will not come off as exposition but a justified moment of characters catching up,” added Sutherland.

And of course there was discussion of the oft-rumored 24 feature film. “The script for the film is very, very different,” Sutherland shared. “[Live Another Day] was the opportunity that presented itself to us first, and it’s a fantastic idea. And if this ends up rebooting the show or causing the film to be made, so be it.”

Those’ll be words to make any 24 fan very, very enthused. Now here’s that date again: 24: Live Another Day premieres May 5 on FOX.

[Via TVLine; EW]

FOX announces new direction for ‘Glee’: it’s off to NYC!

January 20, 2014News, Television2014 TCA, 2014 TCA winter press tour, FOX, Glee, TCAScott Meisner

At the Television Critics Association winter press tour, FOX head Kevin Reilly made a major announcement regarding Glee‘s creative direction: the second half of the musical dramedy will be set exclusively in New York City. No more bouncing back and forth between William McKinley High in Lima, Ohio and Rachel, Kurt, and Santana’s loft in NYC. Reilly explained how the creative shift will work:

“Creatively, it would ridiculous if everybody moves to New York,” he said. “This season, there’s going to be a graduation [from McKinley High]. Several of the cast members will move on, and a few others will go to New York.” For those characters who don’t transfer over to the NYC setting, it won’t be the last time you ever see them. They “will arc back in when we do special episodes. They’ll always be a part of it. The way it’s going to dovetail next season, we’re going to see some familiar faces coming around in some capacity.”

Though Reilly and show creator Ryan Murphy are keeping mum on which characters will remain, there is one that will most definitely be staying. “As long as there’s a show, there’s Jane [Lynch],” commented Reilly; Sue Sylvester is coming to the city that never sleeps.

In closing, Reilly confirmed that the next season of Glee–it’s fifth–will be its last and that Murphy is already hard at work on what’s in store. “We do have [the show] through next season and that will be the final season,” said Reilly. “[Murphy’s] got some fantastic ideas on what we’re going to next year for the final year.”

Glee returns with new episodes on February 25.

[Via TVLine]

HBO renews ‘The Newsroom’ for third and final season

January 20, 2014News, TelevisionHBO, renewal, renewed, The NewsroomScott Meisner

Of course HBO’s The Newsroom starring Jeff Daniels and Emily Mortimer is returning for another season. Unfortunately, however, the third season of Aaron Sorkin’s fast-talking cable news drama will be its last. Sorkin, a filmmaker who’s ready to focus on his next big movie based on Steve Jobs’ life, will give the series a proper ending.

“The Newsroom is classic Aaron Sorkin – smart, riveting and thought-provoking,” said HBO programming president Michael Lombardo. “I’m sure this farewell season will be one to remember.”

As a staunch supporter of the show, I’m equally surprised and saddened to hear it’s coming to an end. I always imagined that The Newsroom could go on for awhile, picking apart real-life news along with fictional tales for years. But this is Sorkin’s baby and if he’s saying this is it then that’s reason enough to pull the plug while it’s on top. (Still, another season or two would’ve been welcomed with open arms, but oh well.)

The Newsroom returns for its final hurrah later this year.

‘SNL’ hires Sasheer Zamata, first female African American cast member since 2007

January 20, 2014News, TelevisionNBC, Saturday Night Live, SNL, SNL cast memberScott Meisner

Can’t say this happens all the time. In the middle of its 39th season, SNL has added a new featured player to its sprawling cast of up-and-coming comics. Enter 27-year-old Sasheer Zamata; she hails from NYC and studied improv at the Upright Citizen’s Brigade. She also happens to be the first female African American in SNL‘s cast since Maya Rudolph departed the late-night sketch comedy show in 2007. Zamata made her big debut this past weekend on the show Drake hosted so well.

In addition to bringing on Zamata, SNL bossman Lorne Michaels showed his support in diversifying his show by also hiring two female African American writers in LaKendra Tookes and Leslie Jones.

2014 Oscar nods are in!

January 20, 2014Movies, News2014 Oscars, 86th Academy Awards, Academy Awards, awards show, nods, nominations, OscarsScott Meisner

The nominations are here for the 86th Academy Awards. There are nine films vying for Best Picture and they are American Hustle, Captain Phillips, Dallas Buyers Club, Gravity, Her, Nebraska, Philomena. 12 Years a Slave, and The Wolf of Wall Street. David O. Russell (American Hustle) Alfonso Cuarón (Gravity), Alexander Payne (Nebraska), Steve McQueen (12 Years a Slave), and Martin Scorsese (The Wolf of Wall Street) are up for Best Director. American Hustle and Gravity are the most nominated movies this year with 10 apiece. As for snubs, people are buzzing that star Tom Hanks and director Paul Greengrass were not recognized for their respective contributions to Captain Phillips; also no love for Sam Rockwell (The Way, Way Back), Scarlett Johansson (Her), Pixar’s animated Monsters University, and Ed Sheeran’s phenomenal song “I See Fire” from The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug. Click here for the full list of nominees.

Ellen DeGeneres hosts the Oscars live Sunday, March 2 at 7PM EST on ABC.

First look: Meet Marvel’s ‘Guardians of the Galaxy’

January 5, 2014Image cache, Movies, Newsfirst look, Guardians of the Galaxy, Marvel, movie synopsis, synopsisScott Meisner

Here’s our first official look at Marvel’s upcoming superhero movie Guardians of the Galaxy. From left to right there’s Zoe Saldana’s Gamora, Chris Pratt’s Peter Quill (aka Star-Lord), a raccoon named Rocket (voiced by Bradley Cooper), Drax the Destroyer (played by wrestler Dave Bautista), and a giant tree named Groot (voiced by Vin Diesel). United as one they are the Guardians of the Galaxy, and under James Gunn’s direction they band together in theatres August 1, 2014. Also starring are Lee Pace, Michael Rooker, Karen Gillan, Djimon Hounsou, John C. Reilly, Glenn Close as Commander Rael, and Benicio del Toro as The Collector.

In addition to this slick pic is the flick’s first official synopsis and it goes like this:

From Marvel, the studio that brought you the global blockbuster franchises of Iron Man, Thor, Captain America and The Avengers, comes a new team–the Guardians of the Galaxy. An action-packed, epic space adventure, Marvel’s “Guardians of the Galaxy” expands the Marvel Cinematic Universe into the cosmos, where brash adventurer Peter Quill finds himself the object of an unrelenting bounty hunt after stealing a mysterious orb coveted by Ronan, a powerful villain with ambitions that threaten the entire universe. To evade the ever-persistent Ronan, Quill is forced into an uneasy truce with a quartet of disparate misfits–Rocket, a gun-toting raccoon; Groot, a tree-like humanoid; the deadly and enigmatic Gamora; and the revenge-driven Drax the Destroyer. But when Quill discovers the true power of the orb and the menace it poses to the cosmos, he must do his best to rally his ragtag rivals for a last, desperate stand–with the galaxy’s fate in the balance.

[Via Marvel]

TV reminder: 9 premieres to look out for in January

January 5, 2014Images, News, TelevisionABC, CBS, Comedy Central, Enlisted, FOX, Girls, Girls season 3, HBO, Intelligence, key art, midseason premieres, PBS, Rake, season premiere, series premiere, Sherlock, Sherlock series 3, Suburgatory, The Following, The Following season 2, True Detective, TV reminder, WorkaholicsScott Meisner

We’ve hit the midseason mark and with it comes a handful of series premieres worth getting excited about, along with the return of some of your favorite shows. Full speed ahead, after the break! Continue reading TV reminder: 9 premieres to look out for in January →

Google, Twitter and Facebook mark the highlights of 2013

December 30, 2013Entertainment, News, Video, Worldend of year 2013, Facebook, Facebook Stories, Facebook Year in Review, Google, Google Zeitgeist, Twitter, Year on TwitterScott Meisner

Google’s year-end Zeitgeist, or “spirit of the times,” continues to impress with its far-reaching grasp on what we searched for and talked about over the course of the year that was 2013. The search giant calls it their “most global Zeitgeist to date” as it includes over 1,000 top 10 lists spanning 72 countries. Their “Here’s to 2013” retrospective video highlights the people, places, and moments that captured the world’s attention throughout the year. Of all the lists the one you’re most likely to want to see first is the top 10 global searches of 2013. Falling in line with years past, the list includes celebrity/world leader deaths, hot technology, and a viral video to boot.:

Nelson Mandela
Paul Walker
iPhone 5s
Cory Monteith
Harlem Shake
Boston Marathon
Royal Baby
Samsung Galaxy s4
PlayStation 4
North Korea

Head over to the Zeitgeist homepage to explore the myriad trending lists. There, for the first time, you’ll also find an interactive Trends Globe that allows you to play around with a 3D global map showcasing the top search trends of the year by day in cities around the world. Like I said, impressive stuff here.

Jump after the break to see how Twitter and Facebook are celebrating the big two-oh-one-three. Continue reading Google, Twitter and Facebook mark the highlights of 2013 →

iTunes shares 2013’s top-selling albums, movies, TV shows, apps & more

December 30, 2013Entertainment, Movies, Music, News, Technology, TelevisionApp Store, Apple, best-selling, end of year 2013, iBooks Store, iTunes, iTunes Best of, top-sellingScott Meisner

Apple’s iTunes, App, and iBooks Stores have truly become the destination on the Internet to discover and download the latest and greatest in music, movies, TV shows, apps, and books. And every year the house that Jobs built tallies the best-selling media, so let’s take a look.

In music, Justin Timberlake’s The 20/20 Experience is crowned the top-selling album of 2013. Also landing in the top 15 are Imagine Dragons’ Night Visions, Macklemore & Ryan Lewis’ The Heist, and Daft Punk’s Random Access Memories. The top-selling song? M&R’s “Thrift Shop,” followed by Robin Thicke’s “Blurred Lines” and Imagine Dragons’ “Radioactive.” In addition to these top-selling lists, Apple has hand-picked Editor Choice awards; namely, JT is named Artist of the Year, M&R’s The Heist is Album of the Year, Lorde’s “Royals” is Song of the Year, and Kendrick Lamar (Good Kid, M.A.A.D. City) is Breakthrough Artist.

The top three best-selling movies are Skyfall, Wreck-It Ralph, and Argo. Apple named Gravity Best Movie and Despicable Me 2 Best Animated Movie. On TV, Breaking Bad, Downton Abbey, and The Walking Dead lead the top-selling series of 2013. Vince Gilligan’s masterpiece is TV Show of the Year, Scandal is Best Breakthrough, and Orphan Black is Best Discovery.

The best-selling paid app is Minecraft – Pocket Edition; also making that list is Heads Up!, Temple Run: Oz, and Angry Birds Star Wars. The best-selling freebie? Candy Crush Saga, of course, followed by Temple Run 2, Vine, Google Maps, and Snapchat.

The most popular books (fiction) are Dan Brown’s Inferno, E L James’ Fifty Shades of Grey, and Gillian Flynn’s Gone Girl. Apple quite liked Tenth of December by George Saunders.

Click here to browse Apple’s Best of 2013 charts across all the various forms of media.

Ryan Murphy reveals original ‘Glee’ ending

December 25, 2013News, TelevisionFOX, Glee, Ryan MurphyScott Meisner

In October at PaleyFest Glee creator Ryan Murphy announced that the musical dramedy’s sixth season will be its last. He admitted his idea about how the show would end and it involved Lea Michele’s Rachel character and the late Cory Monteith’s Finn.

“I always knew how it would end,” Murphy told the press. “I knew what the last shot was–he [Monteith] was in it. I knew what the last line was–she [Michele] said it to him. So when a tragedy like that happens you sort of have to pause and figure out what you want to do, so we’re figuring that out now.”

On Monday Entertainment Weekly shed light on exactly what Murphy had in mind for the show’s ending with a “Late Great” essay penned by Murphy himself.

The ending of Glee is something I have never shared with anyone, but I always knew it. I’ve always relied on it as a source of comfort, a North Star. At the end of season 6, Lea [Michele]‘s Rachel was going to have become a big Broadway star, the role she was born to play. Finn was going to have become a teacher, settled down happily in Ohio, at peace with his choice and no longer feeling like a Lima loser. The very last line of dialogue was to be this: Rachel comes back to Ohio, fulfilled and yet not, and walks into Finn’s glee club. “What are you doing here?” he would ask. “I’m home,” she would reply. Fade out. The end.

Sound familiar? That’s because the blanks had already been filled during the Finn tribute episode; in “The Quarterback” Rachel has an exchange with Mr. Schue where she imagines her future with Finn and it’s pretty much what Murphy had planned to do if Monteith hadn’t passed so suddenly.

So how will Glee end now? That’s still being kept under wraps, but at PaleyFest Murphy said, “I’m going to tell the studio and the network how after Cory’s unfortunate passing we can end the show that I think is very satisfactory. And kind of in his honor, which I love.”

Paul Rudd suits up for ‘Ant-Man’

December 21, 2013Movies, NewsAnt-Man, Marvel, Paul RuddScott Meisner

Paul Rudd is going from Anchorman to Ant-Man. From slappin’ da bass mon to Ant-Mon. I think you get it now: Marvel has hand-packed the oft-comedian to play their next superhero in Edgar Wright’s Ant-Man releasing July 31, 2015. Though the film’s plot is being kept under wraps for now, Marvel comic book readers will know Ant-Man to be a “brilliant scientist who invented a substance that allowed him to change his size” from that of a giant beast to a minuscule ant. Marvel says casting Rudd “continu[es] the studio’s desire to cast actors that bring several dimensions to its onscreen heroes.”

Marvel head Kevin Fiege said this a press statement: “When Edgar Wright came to us with the idea of Paul Rudd, we felt a huge sense of relief because the first step in creating any Marvel Studios film is finding the right star,” said Marvel’s Kevin Feige. “We knew early on that we had found the right person in Paul. When he not only agreed to do it but became as enthusiastic as any actor we’d ever met with about doing the work, we knew we’d found the right guy. We couldn’t be more excited for our audiences to see what he’s going to do to bring Ant-Man to life.”

[Via Marvel]