Category Archives: News

‘Wilfred’ renewed for a fourth and final season

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The one show that I always felt could go on forever is coming to an end after four seasons. On Wednesday FX’s Wilfred starring Elijah Wood and Jason Gann was renewed for a fourth season and the network concurrently announced that it would be the series’ last. Was the philosophical comedy about a guy who interacts with a talking dog brutally cancelled? No, not necessarily. Though the show saw a ratings drop in its latest season, Variety reports that FX head John Landgraf sat down with the Wilfred producers “well ahead of time” so that they could map out the final season appropriately. Unlike all previous seasons, the final one will play out across 10 episodes instead of 13. Executive producer David Zuckerman, the man who developed the Australian show for US audiences, took off in season 3 and handed the reins to Reed Agnew and Eli Jorné who had also been with the show from the beginning. For the final 10, Zuckerman returns as showrunner with Agnew and Jorné at his side. Following the announcement he tweeted, “Very excited to be returning to Wilfred full time for S4! Time for some answers!”

I  could watch Wilfred come up with ways to torment and teach life lessons to his neighbor for a long time, but alas there’s one more chapter left in the dark, crude, hilarious, smart, and thoughtful tale of Ryan Newman and his best friend Wilfred. What exactly is Wilfred? The time is nigh to find out.

Wilfred returns in 2014 when it will join It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, The League, Legit, and Totally Biased With W. Kamau Bell on FX’s spinoff network FXX.

Watch the long-anticipated final episode of ‘The IT Crowd’ right here

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It’s finally here. Creator Graham Lineham and stars Chris O’Dowd, Richard Ayoade, and Katherine Parkinson brought back The IT Crowd for one last hurrah. Three years after the fourth series concluded, the UK cult sitcom sees Roy, Moss, and Jen return to the basement in a one-hour special. The final episode titled “The Internet Is Coming” premiered in the UK on September 27. Lineham addressed his US fanbase via Twitter: “US peeps asking about the IT Crowd, it will be available at some point but in the meantime do what you gotta do. I know you’re good for it.”

Lucky for those of us in the States, the final ep found its way to YouTube the same day it aired across the pond and since then the uploader has not been forced to take it down. So what are you waiting for? Watch The IT Crowd go out with a bang after the break. Continue reading Watch the long-anticipated final episode of ‘The IT Crowd’ right here →

‘Breaking Bad’ goes out on top

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And just like that, arguably the greatest show to air on television has come to an end. Breaking Bad went out on its highest note, both creatively and in the ratings. The finale–or should I say “Felina”–drew 10.3 million viewers, a series high spanning all five seasons. Among the coveted group aged 18-49, 6.7 million people watched the final episode live. Thanks to streaming outlets like Netflix and iTunes, the show was able to break out not only as a critical darling but also as a pop culture phenomenon.

In an informative interview with EW, mastermind creator/producer/writer/director Vince Gilligan shared his feelings about ending on top. “Every story has its running time, and it’s just hard in television to know what that running length should amount to, and I feel very happy and satisfied by the fact that we’re wrapping up now. I can’t even believe that the ratings have increased with each episode — I just think it’s wonderful — and people have asked me, ‘Does it make you want to go on and do a bunch more episodes now?’ Just the opposite. It makes me think, through quite a bit of good luck being involved, we really did pick the right moment to exit the stage, and I feel even more confident of that now than I did before.”

In a statement AMC president Charlie Collier expressed his gratitude to the successful series. “Breaking Bad is simply unique. It all starts with Vince Gilligan who really only ever asked for one thing – the opportunity to end the show on his own terms. That is exactly what Vince did last night and, as always, brilliantly so. Congratulations to Vince and to every single person involved in this remarkable journey. We’re proud that AMC will forever be known as the birthplace and home of this iconic show and, at the same time, we tip our Heisenberg hat to the fans who made this a truly shared experience.”

The final episode proved to be the perfect ending to the perfect series. In fine Gilligan fashion, all loose ends were neatly tied up; it was supremely satisfying. In a TV landscape where many shows these days like to leave things up to the viewer’s imagination, it felt so refreshing to watch a story close with all the i’s dotted and all the T’s crossed. It concluded unapologetically and peacefully and right. Rock out to Badfinger’s “Baby Blue,” the best song to come along since “Crystal Blue Persuasion,” and remember it was all in the chemistry. Bitch.

TV reminder: ‘Homeland’ & ‘Masters of Sex’ premiere Sunday on Showtime

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Brody is on the run and Carrie and Saul are left to deal with the aftermath of the cataclysmic CIA bombing in the season 3 premiere of Homeland. Pledge allegiance to the poster hanging above and tune in at 9PM on Showtime.

Following the return of Homeland is the series premiere of Masters of Sex at 10PM, a risqué dramedy starring Michael Sheen and Lizzy Caplan as the real-life pioneers of the science of human sexuality, William Masters and Virginia Johnson. Watch the stimulating trailer after the break. Continue reading TV reminder: ‘Homeland’ & ‘Masters of Sex’ premiere Sunday on Showtime →

Justin Timberlake’s next ’20/20 Experience’ drops Monday

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Justin Timberlake is about to drop the second half of his 20/20 Experience so here’s what you got to know. First of all, The 20/20 Experience 2 of 2 contains 11 tracks total and you can stream it all today over at iTunes. It’s up for preorder at iTunes today as is The 20/20 Experience – The Complete Experience which contains the 21 tracks that span the two albums. Target will once again sell an exclusive deluxe edition that contains two bonus tracks not found in the “complete” edition, oddly enough; the “complete” version also does not contain the two bonus tracks featured on the first 20/20 album.

Jump after the break to hear the second single off 2 of 2 titled “TKO;” it follows the Michael Jackson inspired “Take Back The Night.” Also below is a behind-the-scenes clip with JT and his producer/collaborator Timbaland; a 20/20 making-of documentary is teased. The 20/20 Experience  – 2 of 2 releases September 30. Continue reading Justin Timberlake’s next ’20/20 Experience’ drops Monday →

Microsoft intros new Surface tablets

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Microsoft is updating its Surface tablets that showcase their redesigned operating system Windows 8. The Surface 2 is the successor to Surface for Windows RT; its 10.6-inch ClearType Full HD display now renders 1080p, it’s powered by the NVIDIA Tegra 4 processor, and its battery life promises 10 hours for video playback. Its full-size USB port has been upgraded to USB 3.0 and its front and back-facing cameras have been upped to 3.5-megapixel and 5-megapixel, respectively; both can capture 1080p video and feature improved low-light performance. Preloaded with Office Home & Student 2013 RT and Outlook 2013 RT, the Surface 2 starts at $449 and will come in 32GB and 64GB configurations when it goes on sale October 22. Customers can choose from a black or white coat this time.

The Surface Pro 2 is the successor to Surface for Windows Pro; it packs the same 10.6-inch ClearType Full 1080p HD display as the Surface 2 but it’s faster as it’s powered by Intel’s fourth-generation 1.6GHz Core i5 processor. MSFT hypes a 75 percent longer battery life than Surface Pro thanks to the new processor and other internal enhancements. The device houses three USB 2.0 ports, one USB 3.0, a mini DisplayPort, Ethernet, and audio in/out. A two-stage kickstand, also featured on the Surface 2, gives users another angle to position their tablet. The Surface Pro 2 starts at $899 and will come in 64GB and 128GB configurations with 4GB of RAM and 256GB and 512GB configurations with 8GB of RAM when it, too, hits the market October 22.

New Surface owners will get one year of free international calling and Skype hotspot access, along with 200GB of SkyDrive storage that is free for two years.

The new tablets will sell alongside some new accessories. The Touch ($119.99) and Type ($129.99) Covers are getting updated with thinner and light-weight designs. A new Power Cover ($199.99, coming in early 2014), which features a Type Cover experience, will extend your Surface’s battery life by up to 50 percent. A Docking Station for Surface Pro ($199.99, also coming early next year) will allow owners to easily connect desktop peripherals to their tablets, “taking you from laptop to desktop in an instant.” A Music Cover gives amateur DJs a new way to dive into the art of music making and remixing; release date and price is still TBA on this one.

Check out the gallery below for a closer look at the new Surface tablets and accessories.

[Via Microsoft]

Apple sets new iPhone record, outs updated iMacs

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Apple released the iPhone 5s and iPhone 5c on September 20 and just three days later it sold a record-breaking nine million of these new handsets. Also, more than 200 million iOS devices are now running Apple’s newly redesigned mobile operating system iOS 7, making it the fastest software upgrade in history.

“This is our best iPhone launch yet―more than nine million new iPhones sold―a new record for first weekend sales,” said Apple CEO Tim Cook in a statement. “The demand for the new iPhones has been incredible, and while we’ve sold out of our initial supply of iPhone 5s, stores continue to receive new iPhone shipments regularly. We appreciate everyone’s patience and are working hard to build enough new iPhones for everyone.”

Elsewhere, Apple has updated its iMac lineup with fourth generation Intel “Haswell” quad-core processors, new graphics, next generation WiFi, and faster PCIe flash storage options. The entry-level 21.5-inch iMac features a 2.7 GHz quad-core Intel Core i5 processor and new Iris Pro graphics for improved integrated graphics performance. The high-end 21.5-inch model and both 27-inch models feature quad-core Intel Core i5 processors up to 3.4 GHz and NVIDIA GeForce 700 series graphics with twice the video memory and up to 40 percent faster performance than the previous generation. Customers can also upgrade to quad-core Intel Core i7 processors up to 3.5 GHz and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 780M series graphics with up to 4GB of video memory. Also, the iMacs now support 802.11ac WiFi that promises performance that is up to three times faster than the previous generation. The iMacs also support speedier PCIe-based flash storage that makes Fusion Drive and all-flash storage options up to 50 percent faster than before.

“iMac continues to be the example that proves how beautiful, fast and fun a desktop computer can be,” said Philip Schiller, Apple’s senior VP of Worldwide Marketing. “Inside its ultra-thin aluminum enclosure, the new iMac has the latest Intel processors, faster graphics, next generation 802.11ac Wi-Fi and faster PCIe flash storage.”

[Via Apple 1, 2]

2013 Emmys: ‘Breaking Bad’ & ‘Modern Family’ big winners

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The 65th Primetime Emmy Awards were packed with expected and not-so-expected wins. Breaking Bad and Modern Family won Best Drama and Best Comedy–both deserved and mostly expected. Breaking Bad, riding high on its fifth and final season, was also celebrated for one of its supporting actresses in Anna Gun who plays Skyler White. Modern Family has now won the top prize four seasons in a row but none of its actors took home a trophy. Veep‘s Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Tony Hale (the latter somewhat surprisingly) won Best Lead Actress and Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy, respectively. Jim Parsons won Best Actor for his role in The Big Bang Theory and Nurse Jackie‘s Merritt Wever surprised everyone and won Best Supporting Actress. Speaking of surprises, over on the drama side Jeff Daniels of HBO’s The Newsroom won Best Actor and Boardwalk Empire‘s Bobby Cannavale won Best Supporting. Claire Danes went on to win her second consecutive Best Actress statue for Homeland.

For the full list of winners, click here.

TV reminder: ‘South Park’ season 17 premieres tonight (9/25) at 10PM on Comedy Central

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South Park takes on the NSA in the season 17 premiere episode titled “Let Go, Let Gov.” The logline goes like this:

When Cartman manages to get himself behind the doors of the NSA, he doesn’t like what he finds in his personal file. He thinks it’s time he told everyone the truth. Meanwhile, Butters finds someone new to listen to his prayers.

Watch two clips, one featuring Cartman and the other Butters, after the break.

South Park returns tonight (Wednesday, 9/25) at 10PM on Comedy Central. Continue reading TV reminder: ‘South Park’ season 17 premieres tonight (9/25) at 10PM on Comedy Central →

‘Grand Theft Auto V’ surpasses $1 billion in sales in three days

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The latest installment in the lucrative video game franchise Grand Theft Auto is making headlines and I’m not talking about it’s near-perfect ratings. Today developer Rockstar Games announced in a press release that GTA V has surpassed more than $1 billion in worldwide retail sales in just three days. It went on sale on Tuesday and already it’s made more money than Man of Steel did during its opening weekend (the Zack Snyder directed superhero pic collected $800 million in the early days it debuted). It’s inevitable that the vid game title will surpass the highest grossing movie of the year Iron Man 3 sooner rather than later (the Robert Downey Jr. vehicle currently sits at a worldwide box office $1.2 billion gross). These are massive movies we’re talking about here. To compare this level of success to another fast-selling video game, Activision’s Call of Duty: Black Ops II took 15 days to reach the $1 billion milestone. In its first 24 hours on the market CoD: BOII made $500 million; GTA V made $800 million in the same time.

“We believe this marks the fastest that any entertainment property, including video games and feature films, has reached this significant milestone,” says Rockstar in a congratulatory statement posted in full after the break.

A billion dollars in three days–that’s beyond incredible. At this pace GTA V is poised to become one of the most successful pieces of entertainment property spanning all the major industries, including film, just like the PR states. Hell, whether or not it ever overtakes Avatar‘s record-setting $2.7 billion gross, it already is.

I’ve got to say it: achievement unlocked. Continue reading ‘Grand Theft Auto V’ surpasses $1 billion in sales in three days →

‘Breaking Bad’s final two episodes get supersized

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There are only two episodes left of Breaking Bad. Now, what’s the best way to send off arguably the greatest show in television history? By super-sizing its remaining episodes, that’s what! Executive producer Peter Gould confirmed it in a tweet: the final two installments of Bad have a runtime of 75 minutes with commercials included. That’s tight, tight, tight, yeah!!

And if you’re up for it, AMC is airing a major marathon leading up to the series finale. Starting Wednesday, September 5 at 8PM through Friday the 27th the network will air all 46 episodes that make up seasons one, two, three, and four. On the 28th at 11PM the marathon will resume by showing all of season 5 leading up to the big series finale on Sunday the 29th.

A one-hour version of Chris Hardwick’s after-show Talking Bad will come on immediately after the final episode airs (Low Winter Sun will have to wait) with some really special guests like series creator Vince Gilligan, current and former cast members Aaron Paul, Jesse Plemons, RJ Mitte, Giancarlo Esposito, and Jonathan Banks, and “super fan” Jimmy Kimmel.

The end is upon us. Brush up on your Ozymandias and reminisce all the fun cooks we’ve been on by staring endlessly into the new promotional poster posted above. It was all in the chemistry.

AMC greenlights a ‘Walking Dead’ companion series with Robert Kirkman at the helm

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Shortly after announcing a spinoff series from the land of Breaking Bad in the tentatively titled Better Call Saul, AMC is more than kicking around the idea of launching a new series set in the post-apocalyptic world of their other hugely successful show The Walking Dead. The cabler is calling it a “companion series” and Walking Dead executive producers Robert Kirkman, Gale Anne Hurd, and David Alpert are all on board with it. Essentially the new series will take place in the world that Kirkman created in the comics, but it won’t be shackled to his story since it will follow a completely different group of people surviving the zombie apocalypse. The following statements paint a clearer picture for what’s in mind.

Kirkman: “After 10 years of writing the comic book series and being so close to the debut of our fourth, and in my opinion, best season of the TV series, I couldn’t be more thrilled about getting the chance to create a new corner of The Walking Dead universe. The opportunity to make a show that isn’t tethered by the events of the comic book, and is truly a blank page, has set my creativity racing.”

AMC president Charlie Collier: “Building on the success of the most popular show on television for adults 18-49 is literally a no-brainer. We look forward to working with Robert, Gale and Dave again as we develop an entirely new story and cast of characters. It’s a big world and we can’t wait to give fans another unforgettable view of the zombie apocalypse.”

Seems like a fun idea to me. Can you imagine if storylines intertwined and all of a sudden you saw Rick’s camp interfere with the people in the spinoff. It’s not so far-fetched since the same creative minds are in control of both series. We shall wait and see.

The Walking Dead spinoff won’t air until 2015, so for now you can look forward to the return of the flagship series on October 13.