Tag Archives: Television

COMIC-CON 2012: SPARTACUS FAREWELL

“Spartacus” says goodbye. Press Release follows:

San Diego, Calif. – July 13, 2012 – Liam McIntyre, Manu Bennett and Steven S. DeKnight presented the official trailer for the STARZ Original Series “Spartacus: War of the Damned” today in San Diego at the show’s final Comic-Con appearance. The crowd’s applause at an exclusive first look from the upcoming season was only matched by that of the surprise appearance by “Spartacus: Vengeance” stars Lucy Lawless, Cynthia Addai-Robinson, Peter Mensah, Craig Parker, Viva Bianca, Nick Tarabay and Katrina Law. “Spartacus: War of the Damned” premieres January 2013.

Download the Official Trailer for “Spartacus: War of the Damned”

http://www.starz.com/originals/spartacus/Videos/#/spartacus-war-of-the-damned-teaser-trailer

Moderated by reporter Jenna Busch, the evening’s panel saw an incredible fan welcome for the current and past “Spartacus” stars with questions regarding the highly anticipated upcoming season as well as burning questions of this past season’s finale.

“I find it really inspiring watching “Spartacus” because it instantly makes me want to do sit-ups,” said one excited fan, leading Manu Bennett (Crixus) to perform several sit-ups on stage. Bennett then demonstrated the Haka, a traditional Maori war dance, which he performs on set to honor the deaths of fallen Spartacus characters. Another high point of the panel was when Andy Whitfield was touchingly remembered by an extended standing ovation.

“Spartacus: War of the Damned,” currently in production in New Zealand, takes place following the defeat of Roman commander Gaius Claudius Glaber. Spartacus and his men have amassed major victories against the Romans after the Battle of Vesuvius. These victories have not only forged the legend of Spartacus, but have greatly increased the ranks of the rebellion slaves to more than 30,000. Rome is indeed beginning to tremble at the threat Spartacus now represents.

The “Spartacus” franchise began its run Friday, January 22, 2010 with “Blood and Sand.” It was followed a year later with the prequel, “Gods of the Arena” (January 21, 2011).  “Vengeance” hit the air on January 27, 2012 and “War of the Damned” is scheduled to air January 2013.

“Spartacus: War of the Damned” sees the return on Liam McIntyre (Spartacus), Manu Bennett (Crixus), Dustin Clare (Gannicus), Dan Feuerriegel (Agron), Cynthia Addai-Robinson (Naevia) and Ellen Hollman (Saxa). This year, Todd Lasance joins the cast as Gaius Julius Caesar, along with Simon Merrells, who will be playing Marcus Crassus and Anna Hutchison as Laeta.

About Starz Entertainment Starz Entertainment, LLC, is a premium movie and original programming entertainment service provider operating in the United States. The company offers 17 premium channels including the flagship STARZ® and ENCORE® brands with approximately 20.1 million and 33.6 million subscribers respectively.  Starz Entertainment airs in total more than 1,000 movies and original series every month across its pay TV channels. Starz Entertainment is recognized as a pay TV leader in providing HD, On Demand, HD On Demand and online advanced services for its STARZ, ENCORE and MOVIEPLEX brands.  Starz Entertainment (www.starz.com) is an operating unit of Starz, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Liberty Media Corporation (NASDAQ: LMCA).

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Aaron Sorkin’s THE NEWSROOM: Olbermann/Lou Grant Mashup?

“THE NEWSROOM” will do for broadcast news what “THE WEST WING” did for true believers in good government. Bravo, to Mr. Sorkin for what looks like possibly another HBO hit. Let’s consider what we’ve got here starting with the best thing going for this show. We all loved what Sorkin did with behind-the-scenes White House drama. What we need to know is will this new show really fly. What’s the hook? Well, it’s not totally about idealism in journalism. What finally got me was seeing some sparks fly between the two lead characters, Jeff Daniels, as Will McAvoy, a grumpy and volatile news anchor, and Emily Mortimer, as MacKenzie McHale, his demanding (and rightly so) girlfriend. Just view this clip. It’s fabulous to see MacKenzie trap Will into making an intimate admission with the threat of hijacking his broadcast.

Honestly, I don’t know if the entire show, week after week, can live up to that little moment but here’s hoping it can. In reality, if a girlfriend pulled a stunt like that, it doesn’t seem likely a relationship would actually survive it. I’m also annoyed that the these two have Mc-names. McAvoy and McHale? It takes you out of the realism and reminds you of ’70s TV shows, “McMillan & Wife” and “McCloud.” Was the intention to yank us out of the moment and remind us it’s all artifice? I think not.

You know, at first, I thought this show was going to be something like a retread of “Broadcast News” and “Network,” and it probably is more than Sorkin cares to admit. Perhaps artifice does rule supreme and would that be a bad thing? Well, God knows, I don’t need to see Sam Waterston add to the countless hand wringing scenes in televsion drama over the decades. And I’m not that interested to see  Jane Fonda as a latter day Nancy Marchand in the role of Mrs. Pynchon on “Lou Grant.”

Then there’s the whole Keith Olbermann thing. Mr. Olbermann made a wisecrack that “The Newsroom” is the second time his life has been used for a TV show, the first being Sorkin’s “Sports Night.” Sorkin is irritated by that and stated, rather caustically, that “Newsroom” has nothing to do with Olbermann, “a man who I’ve spent about five minutes with in my entire life.” Huh? There really would be no shame in basing MacGyver, I mean McAvoy, with Olbermann. In fact, the more merging of fact and fiction, the better, it would seem. Frankly, a show loosely based on a bunch of other stuff, old TV shows, our own idea of what the world is like or should be, with a dash of Keith Olbermann, sounds like a winning recipe for success.

UPDATE: I have seen the pilot, which is available for anyone to see for free on YouTube or the HBO site. It does provide some good moments of entertainment but it comes at the price of it just messing with you. In the end, it seems like a big tease since the premise is flawed. We don’t live in a world that pays attention to the evening news like we once did in the era of Walter Cronkite but Sorkin believes we should.

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CBS Gets Snarky Over ABC’s “GLASS HOUSE”

The original “Big Three” Networks, CBS, NBC and ABC, seemed to always remain cool and corporate. You know, professional. Well, maybe that was your dad’s idea of being professional. Today, in the age of social media, a big corporation can throw a tantrum just like anyone else. That is exactly what CBS did today regarding its lawsuit with ABC over the similarities of ABC’s new “Glass House” to CBS’s old “Big Brother. Not being able to yank the show off the air, CBS created a fake ad for an upcoming CBS show, “Dancing on the Stars,” which it advertised to the world on Twitter.

There is definitely a case to be made that ABC’s “Glass House” is an outright rip-off of CBS’s “Big Brother.” But it’s not the first time that one movie or TV show has spawned a nearly identical version from a competitor. The big deal here is that the ABC series is being produced by former “Big Brother” producers in violation of their nondisclosure agreements. That’s the big point. But a judge doesn’t see that as a big enough point to shatter “Glass House” off the air. For now, we get to enjoy some suit at CBS attempting to be funny. The following is a fake ad for an upcoming CBS show that seems to be doing the same thing CBS is accusing ABC of doing. It’s actually alright but a bit uptight and it starts to drag as it gets lost in its premise of dancing in graveyards. It is supposed to appeal to that coveted 18 – 35 year-old demographic which it may or may not. Read it over at CBS or enjoy it below:

CBS ANNOUNCES DEVELOPMENT OF “DANCING ON THE STARS,” AN EXCITING AND COMPLETELY ORIGINAL REALITY PROGRAM THAT OWES ITS CONCEPT AND EXECUTION TO NOBODY AT ALL

Los Angeles, June 21, 2012 – Subsequent to recent developments in the creative and legal community, CBS Television today felt it was appropriate to reveal the upcoming launch of an exciting, ground-breaking and completely original new reality program for the CBS Television Network.

The dazzling new show, DANCING ON THE STARS, will be broadcast live from the Hollywood Forever Cemetery, and will feature moderately famous and sort of well-known people you almost recognize competing for big prizes by dancing on the graves of some of Hollywood’s most iconic and well-beloved stars of stage and screen.

The cemetery, the first in Hollywood, was founded in 1899 and now houses the remains of Andrew “Fatty” Arbuckle, producer Cecil B. DeMille, Douglas Fairbanks, Jr., Paul Muni, Benjamin “Bugsy” Siegel, George Harrison of the Beatles and Dee Dee Ramone of the Ramones, among many other great stars of stage, screen and the music business. The company noted that permission to broadcast from the location is pending, and that if efforts in that regard are unsuccessful, approaches will be made to Westwood Village Memorial Park, where equally scintillating luminaries are interred.

“This very creative enterprise will bring a new sense of energy and fun that’s totally unlike anything anywhere else, honest,” said a CBS spokesperson, who also revealed that the Company has been working with a secret team for several months on the creation of the series, which was completely developed by the people at CBS independent of any other programming on the air. “Given the current creative and legal environment in the reality programming business, we’re sure nobody will have any problem with this title or our upcoming half-hour comedy for primetime, POSTMODERN FAMILY.”

“After all,” the spokesperson added, “people who live in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones.”

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Mister Rogers, We Love You

“Did you ever grow anything in the garden of your mind? You can grow ideas in the garden of your mind.” Man, oh, man, I think I’ve just heard the word. Mister Rogers speaks the truth, as he always did, in the new mashup by Symphony of Science’s John “Melodysheep” Boswell which has, understandably, gone viral–with lots and lots of love. It’s always a refreshing surprise to realize how much can be accomplished with kindness.

Well, here’s the song:

http://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/OFzXaFbxDcM?rel=0

And, if you’ve never seen this video, it’s an amazing look at Mr. Rogers speaking truth to power, as he fights for funding for PBS before the U.S. Senate in 1969. A $20 million grant proposed by LBJ was on the chopping block:

http://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/yXEuEUQIP3Q?rel=0

This video keeps your attention as you see Fred Rogers, in his gentle yet persuasive way, win over a skeptical senator. Veering from his prepared text, Mr. Rogers makes a determined and beautiful presentation. He begins by stating what every child needs: trust. He explains how he has come to understand children. He demonstrates how children can deal with anger. In the end, he has an old jaded United States senator admit, “I’m a pretty tough guy. But this is the first time I’ve gotten goose bumps.” And the senator concludes, “Looks like you’ve earned that 20 million dollars.”

Visit PBS and PBS Digital Studios. And Symphony of Science.

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HELL ON WHEELS Season One Review

“HELL ON WHEELS” is a wild ride into the Wild West packed with surprises. It holds its own among the trend in high quality American television. Each character is gradually stripped of its armor and must bare their souls. Given the rough terrain, and the harsh reality of life, none of these people are going to reveal their secrets easily which is part of the fun of this show. Once the dust settles, we see who was meant to survive and move things forward. Two of the main players to prove their might are a mysterious outlaw, Cullen Bohannon (Anson Mount) and a former slave, Elam Ferguson (Common). With a hint of “Huckleberry Finn,” we have these two characters thrown together by fate with every reason to distrust the other but somehow finding reasons to do just the opposite. They don’t come right out and say much about it but these two need each other.

I’ve been thinking a lot about “Huckleberry Finn” lately. You can read my recent essay here. “Hell On Wheels” embraces that novel’s spirit in its unabashed look at America’s struggle to find itself. The story is set in 1865, immediately after the American Civil War. Much blood has been spilled and much more will be shed. Post-Civil War America is an open wound with great need of healing. The hope and dream is to mend America with the construction of the first transcontinental railroad but that proves, time and again, easier said than done. Such an undertaking is, after all, “hell on wheels,” which is also the name of the company town that sets camp at each work site along the way of construction of the Union Pacific leg of the project which is heading west to ultimately meet with the Central Pacific heading east.

Created by the brothers Joe and Tony Gayton, this series is larger-than-life and has a similar authentic vibe like another AMC hit, “The Walking Dead.” It’s hyperreal quality, in no small part due to its highend production, will blow you away. You might even expect a zombie to jump out but “Hell On Wheels” already has enough of its own gore and mayhem to deal with. It also has the magic ingredients of a stellar cast and excellent writing.

So what is “Hell On Wheels” all about? It’s about greed, corruption, lust, sex, revenge, violence, justice, history, race and a whole lot more. This is America at a turning point nearing breaking point. African Americans are no longer slaves but they don’t feel much different except for getting paid for their hard labor. It is the beginning of the end for Native American claims to their land and many will die in the process. And it’s a time when a former Confederate soldier by the name of Cullen Bohannon can just about get away with exacting revenge for the death of his wife by going on a demented killing spree. Like Clint Eastwood before him, Anson Mount has found a sweet spot where the audience will root for the misunderstood killer who really isn’t as bad as he may seem. Truth be told, this is a pretty honorable guy. And he’s capable enough to turn his psychosis into a carrer opportunity, more than once. He joins the “Hell On Wheels” crew with relative ease but he only does this because the crew leader is next on his list of his wife’s killers that he must now kill. All pretty grim except that the guy has a point and he’s got a certain charisma about him.

Meanwhile, and there are a number of meanwhiles in this series, there is Thomas Durant (Colm Meaney) who is the mastermind behind this whole railroad venture. He must grease the right palms in Congress and manipulate, coerce and decieve all in the right measure to assure that his Union Pacific will maintain a pipeline of nearly unlimited government cash to keep things rolling. It doesn’t help matters, or maybe it does, that he must contend with an idealist beauty by the name of Lily Bell (Dominique McElligott). She holds the key, in more ways than one, to keeping Durant afloat.

You mention one character and you open up a whole new world. For instance, who is Lily Bell? She is the wife of the master surveyor who was killed during a raid by the natives. She got shot by an arrow in the hand and, by sheer force of will, was able to get the arrow out and thrust it into her husband’s killer’s throat. She may have an English aristocratic background but she keeps proving to be a tough enough. Then there’s “The Swede,” (Christopher Heyerdahl) an amoral accountant turned henchman. It’s this guy who is forever on the heels of Bohannon. He also gives the whole town a hard time by extorting money from all the vendors and they try to put an end to it by literally tarring and feathering him. There are numerous colorful and defining moments like this in the series.

The characters, to varying degrees, continue to intrigue all the way to the end of the season. There are three romances on a slow simmer. We’ve had time to feel sorry for Durant, the ruthless railroad tycoon while the town preacher proves to be far more complicated than first expected. There’s even a subplot about a young man caught between the world of the settlers and his native land.  And, in all this time, Bohannon has yet to kiss Lily Bell. At least that’s what we think should happen. The style of the show has been to paint in broad cinematic strokes while striving for storytelling substance. There’s been a bit of hit or miss here but, overall, the show is engaging.

The DVD and Blu-ray for the complete Season One of “Hell on Wheels” has just come out and this show has proven to be marathon viewing worthy. Now is the time to revisit it or dive in and get caught up before the second season on AMC later this year.

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DARK SHADOWS, A Television Classic Led By A Masterful Actor

The news of the death of actor Jonathan Frid, the star of the television cult hit, “Dark Shadows,” is quite saddening. It is also ironic that the end came for Mr. Frid with one last moment in the spotlight, a cameo in the upcoming Tim Burton movie, acknowledging his work as Barnabas Collins. As a Shakespearean trained actor, with a Masters in Directing from Yale, Mr. Frid easily dominated every fiber of the gothic soap opera that made his name. There is little doubt that Mr. Frid did not have his sights set on becoming a daytime TV fixture and then have that role haunt him for the rest of his life. However, he clearly made the most of it. I recently had the chance to view his early appearances, as well as others through the show’s run from 1967 to 1971, and he clearly lights up the screen.

“Dark Shadows” was already 200 episodes in, and had yet to click with viewers, when Mr. Frid made his first appearance and took the show to new heights. To the show’s credit, and Mr. Frid’s, it never feels like he’s an actor performing in a vacuum. He embraces the show and the show embraces him. From his first hesitant gestures, refined mannerisms, he charms and intrigues the viewer. He appears gentle and yet sinister as well.

Barnabas Collins is the strange and mysterious long lost relative who has come back, quite unexpectedly, to reclaim his rightful place among the family estate, Collinwood. His arrival is very understated. He wishes to not be a bother however he remains firm on his demands. He will live in “the old house,” the decrepit remains of the original family home. No one questions his wishes. If anyone should live there, it should be him. Mr. Frid does a wonderful job of appearing demure and threatening, almost at the same time. In an early episode that finds Barnabas Collins chatting with a waitress in a diner, he presents himself as a sweet and overly polite misfit. He lets the waitress know about his beloved possession, an antique cane with a gold and silver handle and promptly leaves it behind forcing the girl to seek him out. She ventures to the old mansion with her boyfriend. Barnabas is again quite apologetic and a bit bumbling until he finds out she brought her boyfriend along! His demeanor turns dark but she doesn’t notice. Then, much later, once she’s home, she is terrified by an overwhelming feeling that someone is watching her. We cut to a close up of Barnabas intently staring out into the distance. It’s a lovely episode, a perfect example of a clash between low and high art that results in something unique.

In many ways, the most interesting thing about “Dark Shadows” is how a highly trained actor like Mr. Frid navigates his way through what is essentially a low rent, conventional and lackluster program. As if by magic, it somehow works. It reminds me of Dustin Hoffman’s role in “Tootsie” as a down and out talented actor who, out of desperation, pretends to be a woman and becomes a hit on a soap opera. His acting chops are superior to his castmates and, while he was initially only looking for a job, his skill and passion for his profession make it impossible for him to not give it his all. It’s too bad that Mr. Frid could not have had a role in such a movie. But, in a sense, he did.

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PORTLANDIA Wins a Peabody!

For a television show to win a Peabody Award has carried considerable prestige over the years. Now, we can add “Portlandia” to that list of what has been determined to be quality content by those who should know.

What follows is the entire list of winners for this year’s Peabody Awards:

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TV Review: THE AQUABATS! SUPER SHOW!

While it’s been some time since I’ve sat down with a truly goofy and wonderful kids show, it did not take long to appreciate the charms of “THE AQUABATS,” a new show for kids on The Hub. You know what I mean, right? Think of “H. R. Pufnstuf,” or “The Banna Splits,”   It also brings to mind, in a good way, “The Teletubbies.” I say, in a good way, because this show has a very sweet side and is unabashedly for kids so it is quite repetitive and quite silly. This will definitely try the patience of an adult. But, here’s the thing, it is SUPPOSED to try the patience of an adult! And, there’s the cool factor too, believe it or not. These guys are a band, a real band. So, they have that street cred which helps them connect with adults. And, if you happen to enjoy really silly stuff, then you’re all set!

“Manant,” the first episode, follows The Aquabats on the pursuit of marauding giant ants led by the arch-villain, Manant. The opening segment finds The Aquabats in a frenzied state after an all-night nonstop performance at a teen birthday party. The guys haven’t eaten and they are just about to prepare for breakfast when the call goes out for their help. They hastily leave the scene of their gig to the dismay of the birthday girl who feels they should stay longer. After some apologies, The Aquabats are on their way but they reach the scene of the crime too late. It’s after some more stumbling about that our heroes figure out they are looking for Man-Ant, and not a manant, whatever that is. Later still, there is an unexpected revelation that puts the giant ants and Man-Ant into proper perspective. The Aquabats have a fighting chance of defeating Man-Ant–or do they?

Press Release Details Follow:

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PORTLANDIA Season Two Review

“PORTLANDIA” has wrapped up its second season and I’m convinced that this show will go down as one of the great original American television comedies. Even with all the local references, or because of them, I can easily see this show as a successful import into Canada and even the UK. Ah, just like that annoyingly quaint catchphrase goes, “Think local. Act global.” Or is it, “Think global. Act local?” Whatever. You know, it might be fun to see the creative team for this show come up with some sketches of what “Portlandia” would be like in other countries. Being neurotic is a pretty universal thing.

The idea of being overly civilized, overly self-aware, overly progressive is a hilarious but sad truth for too many of us. If you’re reading this, trust me, you are as much a part of the problem and anyone else! This is your Portlandia as much as it is mine. But, hang in there, because you’re in for a lot of good laughs too. Thanks to the internet, thanks to “Portlandia,” we can laugh and cry like we’ve never laughed and cried before. But, seriously, many thanks to what’s become the comedy team of Carrie Brownstein and Fred Armisen and to the show’s co-creator and director, Jonathan Krisel. And the rest of the writing team which includes Kasey Dornetto and Bill Oakley, a veteran of another great American original, “The Simpsons.”

There’s this one modest sketch that sticks with me, among so many to choose from this season, with Armisen dressed up like a dignified older gentleman. Maybe it’s a costume or he’s just a little bit steampunk. He takes this canoe out onto the water and there’s an audience by the bank looking very proper and politely applauding. Armisen then goes on to do an interpretive dance to the beat of Erasure’s “Oh L’amour.” It seems like a sendup to every earnest civic activity you’ve ever been to. But it’s more than that! IFC provides you with all the benind-the-scenes stuff you could want on this show including what sparked this particular skit.

“Portlandia” is, at its heart, sketch comedy and sketch comedy today still owes much to the anti-humor movement of the ’70s led by such comedy greats as Steve Martin and Andy Kaufman. The idea then, and today, being to “push the envelope,” try the patience of the audience. But the saving grace is that, when done well, this comedy sparkles. If the timing is off, if the actors are not fully committed, the whole thing will fall apart. On “Portlandia” things get pushed around quite a bit, thrown in the air, and usually come in for a safe landing.

And it’s much easier said than done! I present as evidence all the dismal and horrid “humorous” commercials for Pemco Insurance that “poke fun” at the Northwest locals. It’s been a series of “profiles” for years with stuff like “Profile #52: Socks With Sandals Guy.” It seems like corporate “humor” feels compelled to severely hold back and not really be funny. In fact, it disrespects the very thing it claims to want to be and that’s to be funny. To actually be funny would simply be too subversive! Thankfully, that is not an issue for the talent behind “Portlandia.”

Anyway, “Portlandia” ends its second season with a wonderful extended sketch, “Brunch Village.” It brings back to mind the gold the writers struck earlier with “One Moore Episode” where a neurotic couple become obsessed with the television series, “Battlestar Gallactica.” This time out, the obsession is the Sunday ritual of waiting in line for brunch. I can attest to this madness here in Seattle. For some reason, we’ve convinced ourselves that the long wait while we sip coffee and ponder the variations on pancakes and eggs on the menu, and finally the actual meal in a crowded restaurant, is one of the ultimate treats that we can give ourselves. In this episode, the wait may last all day. The line goes on forever. Ed Begley, Jr. plays a competing restaurant owner trying to lure in customers with severely marked down specials. And Armisen and Brownstein play a hapless couple who must learn the hard way about brunch line etiquette from a demonic etiquette overlord, played by Tim Robbins. It makes no sense and it makes perfect sense. Welcome to Portlandia, you’re already home.

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LONELYGIRL15 COMES OUT OF HIDING

“LONELYGIRL15,” was to be the future of entertainment and, at the time, it did seem to signal the dawn of something new. WIRED did a cover story on the YouTube sensation, which you may recall: a vlog about a lonely teen named Bree, played by actress Jessica Rose. Her story gradually became stranger and stranger. And, at the height of the vlog’s popularity, it was revealed to be a hoax. “Lonelygirl15” never blasted into the mainstream and yet it did make a dent. It is what came AFTER the hoax that still remains under development, the idea of interactive entertainment. I got to interview Miles Beckett, one of the co-creators of what became the interactive show, “Lonelygirl15” and the jumping off point for other projects. You can read my interview with him here.

Anyhow, it’s a kick to see that the actress behind the infamous hoax has landed a nice gig in traditional media. She is now on NBC’s “GRIMM.” You can read more about it over at our friends at Cinema Blend.

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