Category Archives: Video

2012 Upfronts: The CW orders 5 new series for next season

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You can’t call it the Upfronts without including the network-that-could The CW. With their flagship series Gossip Girl fading away next season, The CW is prepared to reinvigorate its schedule with a grand total of five new series for the 2012-13 TV season. The three shows premiering this fall are medical drama Emily Owens, M.D., DC Comics adaptation Arrow, and a modern twist on Beauty and the Beast. Entering midseason is a Sex in the City prequel series The Carrie Diaries and investigative thriller Cult. Jump after the break to get more information about all of the new shows including synopses, cast and creator/executive producer listings, and clips.

CW president Mark Pedowitz kicked off the presentation by stating that “This is a transformative year for the CW with bigger and bolder programming.” He shared high praise for Emily Owens, M.D. which stars Meryl Streep’s daughter Mamie Gummer. He also addressed the Ringer cancellation and plans for Gossip Girl. “I don’t think anything went wrong with Ringer,” he said. “I was happy it’s there…The show was well-crafted, well-produced, well-written, but it was a complicated serialized show. After it finished a run in the fall and came back in January, the audience went somewhere else. And it just could not find the 18-34 demo that we hoped.” He promised that star Sarah Michelle Gellar “is coming back to this network as a producer or as an actress.” Phew. On Gossip Girl‘s sixth and final season, Pedowitz said it will likely contain 11 episodes and finish its run before the holiday season. Last, the CW prez let slip that the network will wait until October for the fall schedule to air to ensure “no traction” with the other broadcast nets who traditionally premiere their shows in late August/September. Continue reading 2012 Upfronts: The CW orders 5 new series for next season →

2012 Upfronts: CBS orders 7 new series for next season

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CBS got its shot at showing off its new lineup today, marking the final presentation from the Big Four networks at this year’s Upfronts. The Eye announced a total of seven new series; two comedies, four dramas, and one reality show. The fall will usher in four new shows, and the remaining three will join in come midseason. Jump after the break to get more information about all of the new shows including synopses, cast and creator/executive producer listings, and clips.

Also posted after the break is CBS’ 2012-13 programming schedule. The network slightly shuffled things around precisely so that each of the four new shows premiering this fall will have a solid lead-in to boost initial ratings. Breakout comedy from Michael Patrick King and Whitney Cummings 2 Broke Girls has been shifted to 9PM on Mondays to make way for new comedy Partners; veteran sitcom How I Met Your Mother is the lead-in at 8PM. Period drama Vegas nabbed the Tuesday 10PM spot where it will follow the NCIS duo. To help support the growing Person of Interest, comedies The Big Bang Theory and Two and a Half Men will kick off Thursday nights at 8PM and 8:30PM, respectively; the contemporary Sherlock Holmes crime drama Elementary follows POI at 10PM. CSI: NY relocates to Fridays at 8PM and serves as a lead-in to new legal drama Made in Jersey. One last alteration: The Mentalist, entering its fifth season, will make itself comfortable on Sunday nights at 10PM. Continue reading 2012 Upfronts: CBS orders 7 new series for next season →

2012 Upfronts: ABC orders 10 new series for next season

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ABC continued the Upfronts run today and unveiled 10 new series coming to the network next season; four comedies and six dramas. Four newbies will premiere this fall, and the others will sit on the bench until midseason. Jump after the break to get more information about all of the new shows including synopses, cast and creator/executive producer listings, and clips.

Also posted after the break is ABC’s 2012-13 programming schedule. Notable changes to the schedule include comedies Happy Endings and Don’t Trust the B in Apartment 23 moving to Tuesdays; in November the Tim Allen comedy Last Man Standing will premiere on Friday where it will serve as a lead-in to Reba McEntire’s new half-hour sitcom Malibu Country (hello TGIF); and Revenge is relocating to Sunday (taking over Desperate Housewives‘ recently relinquished 9PM slot) where it will be sandwiched between returning fantasy series Once Upon A Time and the new supernatural drama 666 Park Avenue.

Here are a few highlights from ABC’s Upfront presentation led by the network’s president Paul Lee. He is confident that Happy Endings “can open a comedy block at 9PM on Tuesday,” which certainly bodes well for fans of the hilarious comedy. On Sunday night’s epic lineup that includes Once, Revenge, and 666: “It’s battle between good and evil from 8PM all the way to 11PM.” Looking to the future, Lee confirmed that series based on the Marvel Avenger The Hulk is in the works for the 2013-14 TV season; reports claim that filmmaker Guillermo del Toro is attached. Also an all-star edition of Dancing with the Stars is coming in the fall. Last, Lee was determined to shine a light on what ABC hopes to share with its viewers when the 2012-13 season rolls around this September. “Why just watch when you can feel?” he exclaimed. “It sums up the added DNA that this brand brings as far as the emotional connection to viewers.” Continue reading 2012 Upfronts: ABC orders 10 new series for next season →

2012 Upfronts: FOX orders 5 new series for next season

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Following NBC’s onslaught of new programming, FOX stepped up to the plate second today and introduced a decidedly teensier menu of new shows. FOX unveiled 5 new series coming to the network next season; three comedies and two dramas. Two comedies and a drama will premiere this fall, and the remaining comedy and drama series will wait for midseason. Jump after the break to get more information about all of the new shows including synopses, cast and creator/executive producer listings, and clips.

Also posted after the break is FOX’s 2012-13 programming schedule. Significant changes include Tuesday becoming an all-comedy block filled with four half-hour comedies; Glee is moving to Thursdays to be paired with X-Factor in the fall and American Idol in midseason; and Touch has relocated to Fridays and will serve as a lead-in to Fringe.

FOX entertainment president Kevin Reilly took the stage at Upfronts to address the scheduling changes. “Four comedies on Tuesday is something we’ve wanted to do for a long time. These are the kind of shows we’ve wanted to do for a long time and we’ve been building momentum on Tuesdays. We finally have shots that have exactly the right tone we are looking for.” He added, “Since the first day I walked into Fox, this is the kind of comedy lineup I’ve wanted present to you.” On moving Glee to Thursdays: “I think we’ve seen before that Glee is very compatible [with music shows]. This is just a way to propel it through the next couple of seasons. For us it’s a win win. If we didn’t have shows on Tuesday, we wouldn’t be able to do it.” On Touch/Fringe Fridays: “Friday is a curious time. Live plus same day ratings may look a little puny, but over the next 7 days, there is a real audience there. We have been winning Fridays with quality shows. We are investing in Fridays.”

Two major announcements were made regarding The X Factor and Glee. The reality show has enlisted Britney Spears and Demi Lovato to join L.A. Reid and Simon Cowell on the judges panel for season 2. The Ryan Murphy musical dramedy will feature guests stars Kate Hudson (Almost Famous) and Sarah Jessica Parker (Sex in the City) in season 4. Both will have multi-episode arcs and their roles remain under wraps. What will happen to the graduates? We still don’t know exactly how season 4 play out, but it was revealed today that it will contain a “show within a show” and manage to follow the McKinley High students in Ohio (some old faces, some new) as well as Kurt, Rachel and maybe Finn in New York. When the season 3 finale comes and goes perhaps we’ll have a better idea of what we can expect. (5/15 update: It is being reported that Hudson and Parker will serve as mentors to Rachel and Kurt, respectively, in NYC.) Continue reading 2012 Upfronts: FOX orders 5 new series for next season →

2012 Upfronts: NBC orders 12 new series for next season

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Today NBC kicked off the 2012 Upfronts, an annual event where the big four networks present their upcoming slate of new programming to advertisers and the press. The Peacock unveiled 12 new series coming to the network next season; seven comedies and five dramas. Half will premiere this fall, and the others will wait for midseason. Jump after the break to get more information about all of the new shows including synopses, cast and creator/executive producer listings, and clips.

Also posted after the break is NBC’s 2012-13 programming schedule. The three most significant changes to the schedule include Whitney and Community moving to Friday nights paired with Grimm and Dateline NBC; The Voice gets a second cycle in the fall; and Smash is being held again for midseason.

NBC entertainment chairman Bob Greenblatt explained Community‘s move to Friday: “I know that most people in our industry think Friday is a graveyard but we don’t really believe that. If you don’t build it they won’t come. We got some traction with Grimm, it’s the No. 1 18-49 on Fridays. We thought if we have a base there, let’s see if we can give Grimm a lead-in with these shows that actually have fan bases–including Whitney.” … He added, “[Community] has its faithful audience and they will follow it to the ends of the Earth. And I really wanted to do something to invigorate Friday because we love Grimm. So I thought, let’s move a show where the audience will move with it. I actually look at the positive side of it, although no good deed goes unpunished.”

While The Office and Parks and Recreation were picked up and given full 22-episode full season orders, other comedies like 30 Rock, Community, and Up All Night were handed smaller 13-episode orders; and this has led to speculation about whether or not NBC plans to phase these shows out sooner rather than later. Greenblatt addressed this: “[The Thursday night comedies] have a really strong following [but] they don’t have a large enough audience. They’re still shows that mean something to this network…I think on the Thursday night shows, ‘broad’ is synonymous with ratings…we’re always trying to be broader.” … He added, “a 13-episode order does not mean a death knell to the show.” So fret not, my friends. (5/14 update: It has been confirmed that the upcoming seventh season of 30 Rock will be its last.)

On why the network is saving Smash for midseason, Greenblatt wants the second season to air uninterrupted with not a single hiatus, like FOX started doing with 24 by premiering it in January instead of September. The plan is for the musical drama to produce 15-18 episodes every season as opposed to the standard 22. Also, the network wants accomodate new showrunner Josh Safran (Gossip Girl). Explains NBC’s Jennifer Salke: “New showrunner Josh Safran is coming in–he’s awesome. And we wanted him to get a chance to own [it] and get in there and have an ownership stake in the show — not just put a gun to his head and [tell him], ‘You gotta get going!’ So we wanted him to be able to stand back and have a real creative discussion about what he wants the season to be and be a big part of that.” Continue reading 2012 Upfronts: NBC orders 12 new series for next season →

TV trailer: ‘FRINGE’ season 4 finale will rock your (wool) socks [Update: the showrunners tease what’s next]

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If you thought part one of the two part Fringe season 4 finale was spectacular, just wait. After watching this movie-like trailer for “Brave New World: Part Two” you will surely see what I mean. (Spoiler!) Leonard Nimoy’s William Bell is back and he’s off his rocker. Will the Fringe team–including Bell’s former parter Walter Bishop (John Noble)–be able to stop him from collapsing the two universes so he can control a new one like a God? Ramp up anticipation for tonight’s epic season finale that airs at 9PM on FOX by watching this revealing clip. After the break you’ll find a bonus video featuring Nimoy and Noble discussing the new chapter that is about to unfold as we make our way to the final thirteen episodes of one the best sci-fi shows in history.

Jump after the break to view an excerpt from a recent interview with the Fringe showrunners. Continue reading TV trailer: ‘FRINGE’ season 4 finale will rock your (wool) socks [Update: the showrunners tease what’s next] →

Movie trailer round-up: ‘Gangster Squad’, ‘The Watch’ & ‘Total Recall’ [Update: ‘The Campaign’]

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The director behind Zombieland and 30 Minutes or Less is back with a star-studded gangster pic. Ruben Fleischer has rounded up Ryan Gosling, Josh Brolin, Emma Stone, Nick Nolte, Michael Peña, and Sean Penn to helm Gangster Squad. And here’s what it’s about:

Los Angeles, 1949. Ruthless, Brooklyn-born mob king Mickey Cohen (Sean Penn) runs the show in this town, reaping the ill-gotten gains from the drugs, the guns, the prostitutes and–if he has his way–every wire bet placed west of Chicago. And he does it all with the protection of not only his own paid goons, but also the police and the politicians who are under his control. It’s enough to intimidate even the bravest, street-hardened cop…except, perhaps, for the small, secret crew of LAPD outsiders led by Sgt. John O’Mara (Josh Brolin) and Jerry Wooters (Ryan Gosling), who come together to try to tear Cohen’s world apart. “Gangster Squad” is a colorful retelling of events surrounding the LAPD’s efforts to take back their nascent city from one of the most dangerous mafia bosses of all time.

Yeah, from the looks of this trailer Gangster Squad is going to be one entertaining movie that cannot be missed. Unfortunately we have to wait for October 19 to roll around before we can see it. Perhaps these next two summer movies will hold you over until then… jump after the break! Continue reading Movie trailer round-up: ‘Gangster Squad’, ‘The Watch’ & ‘Total Recall’ [Update: ‘The Campaign’] →

Kanye West releases artsy “Lost in the World” music video, two more G.O.O.D. Music tracks

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A long overdue music video for Kanye West’s “Lost in the World” released late last week. The Justin Vernon-assisted track comes from West’s 2010 masterpiece My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy and the visionary rapper entrusted filmmaker Ruth Hogben to direct this black-and-white clip. ‘Ye stars alongside his trusty models in this flashy, artistic rendition that certainly complements the heavy drums and emotions that this standout track elicits. Enjoy, above.

Also last week Kanye dropped not one but two new tracks on his website: a remix of the Cheif Keef song “I Don’t Like” featuring Pusha T, Jadakiss, and Big Sean and a track titled “Burn” featuring Big Sean and Maybach Music Group’s Meek Mill. Listen and download after the break. Continue reading Kanye West releases artsy “Lost in the World” music video, two more G.O.O.D. Music tracks →

Trailer #3: ‘The Amazing Spider-Man’

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Here’s a new trailer for Marc Webb’s Spidey reboot The Amazing Spider-Man starring Andrew Garfield as the web-slinger. In perhaps the most successful trailer yet, you will get a closer look at the film’s villain The Lizard and you’ll tap into Peter Parker’s funny bone. It features a song from The Glitch Mob, so that doesn’t hurt.

The Amazing Spider-Man hits theatres July 3.

Trailer #3: ‘The Dark Knight Rises’

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If the epic conclusion to Christopher Nolan’s Batman franchise isn’t the most anticipated movie on your list (after The Avengers, of course), then you have brain damage and I urge you to visit a physician.

Here is the third and final theatrical trailer for The Dark Knight Rises. Though it mostly moves slowly through the beginning and middle, it manages to pack in tons of never-before-scene footage including multiple full body shots of Anne Hathaway’s Catwoman, even more of Tom Hardy’s villainous Bane (you can actually understand him here!), and glimpses of Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Marion Cotillard’s characters. And how bad-ass is that flying Tumbler? I mean COME ON!

Christian Bale returns as the Caped Crusader once more this July 20. You can catch this trailer on the big screen starting this Friday when it plays in front of Marvel’s The Avengers.

BBC America hires the cutest kids to narrate “Planet Earth”

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BBC America has whipped up a promo for their series “Planet Earth” starring the cutest 4 to 7 year old kids auditioning for the role of narrator. Who needs regular series narrator David Attenborough when you’ve got this! I can’t figure out what’s more hysterical: the kids trying to pronounce Attenborough’s name or that 6 year old girl trying her darndest to apply headphones to her ears.

Sunday YouTube picks: “Don’t Be That Guy” & random prankster

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Happy Sunday! Here are a couple YouTube channels that caught my eye recently that are worth checking out. First up is “Don’t Be That Guy,” a comedy troupe that makes fun of the way certain people out there act in all kinds of situations. My favorite is the one embedded above called “Don’t Be That Guy at The Gym.” In it the guys nail nearly every kind of person that you might spot at the gym with scary accuracy. Head over to their YouTube channel for more vids like this one.

Jump after the break for more on the random prankster. Continue reading Sunday YouTube picks: “Don’t Be That Guy” & random prankster →