It all started when Rob Reiner tried to convince Albert Brooks to let him film his own version of “My Dinner with Andre” titled “My Lunch with Albert Brooks.” His high school chum refused. After someone else came to Brooks wanting to make a documentary about him, the financing fell through. Then the men decided to combine the two things.
“There’s about 4000 documentaries now,” said Brooks at an FYC event with Reiner and moderator Judd Apatow this week at the Academy of Motion Pictures. “It’s the way they’re willing to spend money without spending real money. Everyone has a story and 99 out of 100 are done pretty much the same way. Either the person’s no longer living, or they’re being talked about from an off-stage voice. So to be able to do that this way…that’s what makes it special. Because it’s Rob and...
“There’s about 4000 documentaries now,” said Brooks at an FYC event with Reiner and moderator Judd Apatow this week at the Academy of Motion Pictures. “It’s the way they’re willing to spend money without spending real money. Everyone has a story and 99 out of 100 are done pretty much the same way. Either the person’s no longer living, or they’re being talked about from an off-stage voice. So to be able to do that this way…that’s what makes it special. Because it’s Rob and...
- 5/10/2024
- by Anne Thompson
- Indiewire
Jimmy Fallon, host of NBC’s The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, is about to celebrate his 10th anniversary fronting a franchise that first began with Steve Allen behind the desk in 1954, followed by Jack Paar, Johnny Carson, Jay Leno and Conan O’Brien (and Jay Leno again) — and he’s keen to keep it going.
Speaking about Carson’s record as the longest-running (and most-identifiable) host of this seminal late-night show, Fallon said during a panel at Deadline’s Contenders Television event, “I’m gonna go, you guys want me? Let’s break the record, let’s go, let’s do 30 years!”
Related: Contenders TV – Deadline’s Full Coverage
Fallon himself has already spent 25 years at NBC in different incarnations. He started on Saturday Night Live in 1998 (“thinking that’s the goal”) and has now “for more than half of my life been at the same building.”
Fallon’s Tonight Show...
Speaking about Carson’s record as the longest-running (and most-identifiable) host of this seminal late-night show, Fallon said during a panel at Deadline’s Contenders Television event, “I’m gonna go, you guys want me? Let’s break the record, let’s go, let’s do 30 years!”
Related: Contenders TV – Deadline’s Full Coverage
Fallon himself has already spent 25 years at NBC in different incarnations. He started on Saturday Night Live in 1998 (“thinking that’s the goal”) and has now “for more than half of my life been at the same building.”
Fallon’s Tonight Show...
- 4/14/2024
- by Nancy Tartaglione
- Deadline Film + TV
Conan O’Brien returned to The Tonight Show last night, reflecting with host Jimmy Fallon about his time on NBC’s late-night shows. The comedian hosted Late Night for 16 seasons from 1993 to 2009, before briefly helming The Tonight Show from 2009 to 2010, when he was fired.
“It’s weird to come back,” O’Brien said. “I haven’t been in this building for such a long time, and I haven’t been on this floor in forever. I was here for 16 years doing the Late Night show before we went out to LA.
“It’s weird to come back,” O’Brien said. “I haven’t been in this building for such a long time, and I haven’t been on this floor in forever. I was here for 16 years doing the Late Night show before we went out to LA.
- 4/10/2024
- by Emily Zemler
- Rollingstone.com
As Conan O’Brien Returns To ‘The Tonight Show’, He Reminisces About ‘Late Night’ Rather Than 11:30pm
Conan O’Brien returned to The Tonight Show for the first time as a guest since he left the NBC show.
However, the comedian largely dodged talking about his stint on the 11:30pm show. O’Brien hosted the between June 2009 and January 2010 but was replaced by Jay Leno’s return to the show.
He briefly mentioned it at the top of his appearance following a standing ovation from the audience. “I know you meant well, but I had The Tonight Show for ten minutes and you ate into my time,” he joked.
O’Brien wasn’t pressed by host Jimmy Fallon about his time on The Tonight Show.
He did, however, reminisce about his time hosting at 12:30am. O’Brien hosted Late Night between 1993 and 2009.
“It’s weird to come back; I haven’t been in this building for such a long time. I haven’t been on this floor in forever.
However, the comedian largely dodged talking about his stint on the 11:30pm show. O’Brien hosted the between June 2009 and January 2010 but was replaced by Jay Leno’s return to the show.
He briefly mentioned it at the top of his appearance following a standing ovation from the audience. “I know you meant well, but I had The Tonight Show for ten minutes and you ate into my time,” he joked.
O’Brien wasn’t pressed by host Jimmy Fallon about his time on The Tonight Show.
He did, however, reminisce about his time hosting at 12:30am. O’Brien hosted Late Night between 1993 and 2009.
“It’s weird to come back; I haven’t been in this building for such a long time. I haven’t been on this floor in forever.
- 4/10/2024
- by Peter White
- Deadline Film + TV
It was the fall of 1967. The Summer of Love had just drawn to a close. Teens and twentysomethings, when they weren't studying or punching the clock, were down for a revolution. They wanted to change the world, and, in the process, cheese off their parents. And there was no better way to accomplish the latter than to switch on "The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour."
Dick and Tom Smothers didn't look like troublemakers, but their CBS variety show had quickly become an annoyance for the so-called "Tiffany Network." They were a hit with their target demographic, which was, ironically, the problem. Their hip young writing staff was relentlessly satirizing the increasingly uneasy state of the world, which didn't sit well with advertisers or politically conservative executives. And while it was far from provocative to book edgy musical acts, the artists appearing on the Smothers' show were getting young folks to question...
Dick and Tom Smothers didn't look like troublemakers, but their CBS variety show had quickly become an annoyance for the so-called "Tiffany Network." They were a hit with their target demographic, which was, ironically, the problem. Their hip young writing staff was relentlessly satirizing the increasingly uneasy state of the world, which didn't sit well with advertisers or politically conservative executives. And while it was far from provocative to book edgy musical acts, the artists appearing on the Smothers' show were getting young folks to question...
- 3/24/2024
- by Jeremy Smith
- Slash Film
Carol Burnett is paying respects to her friend and long-time collaborator Steve Lawrence, the singer and Blues Brothers actor who died Thursday, March 7. He was 88. “Steve was one of my favorite guests on my variety show, appearing 39 times. He was also my very close friend … so close that I considered him ‘family.’ He will always be in my heart,” Burnett wrote on Instagram alongside a black-and-white photograph of them performing together on The Carol Burnett Show. Lawrence, best known as part of the music duo Steve and Eydie, passed away at his home in Los Angeles, California, on Thursday, his family confirmed in a press release. His cause of death was a result of “complications due to Alzheimer’s disease.” Born on July 8, 1935, in New York City, Lawrence’s showbusiness career started as a teenager when he was hired by Steve Allen to be one of the singers on his late-night show on Wnbc-tv.
- 3/8/2024
- TV Insider
Steve Lawrence, the Fifties and Sixties crooner, actor, and comedian who teamed with his wife Eydie Gormé to form the duo Steve and Eydie, has died at the age of 88.
Lawrence died Thursday at his home in Los Angeles from complications from Alzheimer’s disease, a spokesperson for the family told Variety; Lawrence was forced to retire from touring after being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in 2019.
“My Dad was an inspiration to so many people,” his son David Lawrence said in a statement. “But, to me, he was just this charming,...
Lawrence died Thursday at his home in Los Angeles from complications from Alzheimer’s disease, a spokesperson for the family told Variety; Lawrence was forced to retire from touring after being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in 2019.
“My Dad was an inspiration to so many people,” his son David Lawrence said in a statement. “But, to me, he was just this charming,...
- 3/7/2024
- by Daniel Kreps
- Rollingstone.com
Steve Lawrence, the singer who teamed with his wife Eydie Gormé to form one of the most popular nightclub and concert duos of their generation, died of complications from Alzheimer’s disease today. He was 88.
His son, the composer and performer David Lawrence, said in a press statement, “My Dad was an inspiration to so many people. But, to me, he was just this charming, handsome, hysterically funny guy who sang a lot. Sometimes alone and sometimes with his insanely talented wife. I am so lucky to have had him as a father and so proud to be his son. My hope is that his contributions to the entertainment industry will be remembered for many years to come.”
Popularly know as Steve and Eydie, the couple achieved nationwide recognition in the mid-1950s after appearing on The Tonight Show Starring Steve Allen. They continued performing together until Gormé’s retirement...
His son, the composer and performer David Lawrence, said in a press statement, “My Dad was an inspiration to so many people. But, to me, he was just this charming, handsome, hysterically funny guy who sang a lot. Sometimes alone and sometimes with his insanely talented wife. I am so lucky to have had him as a father and so proud to be his son. My hope is that his contributions to the entertainment industry will be remembered for many years to come.”
Popularly know as Steve and Eydie, the couple achieved nationwide recognition in the mid-1950s after appearing on The Tonight Show Starring Steve Allen. They continued performing together until Gormé’s retirement...
- 3/7/2024
- by Greg Evans
- Deadline Film + TV
Steve Lawrence, a king among easy-listening crooners who rocketed to fame in the ’50s and ’60s as half of the duo Steve and Eydie, died Thursday at age 88. Lawrence died at home in Los Angeles, and the cause of death was complications from Alzheimer’s disease, according to a spokesperson for the family, Susan DuBow.
Lawrence’s Alzheimer’s diagnosis had finally put an end to his touring career in 2019, after a run in the public eye that spanned six and a half decades.
Lawrence was preceded in death in 2013 by his wife, Eydie Gormé, with whom he enjoyed nearly unparalleled success as a performing couple during their heyday as touring artists and TV stars in the ’50s, ’60s and ’70s. The couple had continued to tour together through 2009.
His colleagues began to weigh in Thursday. “Steve was one of my favorite guests on my variety show,” Carol Burnett said,...
Lawrence’s Alzheimer’s diagnosis had finally put an end to his touring career in 2019, after a run in the public eye that spanned six and a half decades.
Lawrence was preceded in death in 2013 by his wife, Eydie Gormé, with whom he enjoyed nearly unparalleled success as a performing couple during their heyday as touring artists and TV stars in the ’50s, ’60s and ’70s. The couple had continued to tour together through 2009.
His colleagues began to weigh in Thursday. “Steve was one of my favorite guests on my variety show,” Carol Burnett said,...
- 3/7/2024
- by Chris Willman
- Variety Film + TV
NBC has set a two-hour primetime special to celebrate the 10th anniverary of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. Fallon announced the special on his show Monday night, saying the past week was officially the show’s 10-year anniversary. The special will air May 14.
“We are so grateful that we get to do this job. I want to thank everyone on our staff and crew and of course all of you for tuning in every single night for the past 10 years to celebrate, really, thank you so much,” Fallon said in his opening. “To celebrate, NBC is going to air a two-hour primetime Best of Tonight Show special on May 14, the best moments of the Tonight Show from the past 10 years featuring some of our favorite sketches, guests and musical performances, from “Tight Pants” with Will Ferrell to me almost dating Nicole Kidman — I still can’t believe that happened...
“We are so grateful that we get to do this job. I want to thank everyone on our staff and crew and of course all of you for tuning in every single night for the past 10 years to celebrate, really, thank you so much,” Fallon said in his opening. “To celebrate, NBC is going to air a two-hour primetime Best of Tonight Show special on May 14, the best moments of the Tonight Show from the past 10 years featuring some of our favorite sketches, guests and musical performances, from “Tight Pants” with Will Ferrell to me almost dating Nicole Kidman — I still can’t believe that happened...
- 2/27/2024
- by Denise Petski
- Deadline Film + TV
Jimmy Fallon is coming to primetime, at least for one night.
NBC has set a two-hour primetime special commemorating 10 years of The Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon. The special is slated to air on NBC on Tuesday May 14, and will stream on Peacock the following day.
Fallon announced the news on the Tonight Show Monday evening.
“We are so grateful that we get to do this job. I want to thank everyone on our staff and crew and of course all of you for tuning in every single night for the past 10 years to celebrate, really, thank you so much,” Fallon told the audience. “To celebrate, NBC is going to enter a two-hour primetime best of Tonight Show special on May 14, the best moments of the Tonight Show from the past 10 years featuring some of our favorite sketches, guests and musical performances, from tight pants with Will Ferrell to me...
NBC has set a two-hour primetime special commemorating 10 years of The Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon. The special is slated to air on NBC on Tuesday May 14, and will stream on Peacock the following day.
Fallon announced the news on the Tonight Show Monday evening.
“We are so grateful that we get to do this job. I want to thank everyone on our staff and crew and of course all of you for tuning in every single night for the past 10 years to celebrate, really, thank you so much,” Fallon told the audience. “To celebrate, NBC is going to enter a two-hour primetime best of Tonight Show special on May 14, the best moments of the Tonight Show from the past 10 years featuring some of our favorite sketches, guests and musical performances, from tight pants with Will Ferrell to me...
- 2/27/2024
- by Alex Weprin
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Rita McKenzie, known for staging the longest-running one-woman show in theatrical history, died Feb. 17 in Los Angeles days before her 77th birthday. She succumbed to what her family described as a long-term illness.
A powerhouse stage voice and theatrical personality, McKenzie’s 1988 off-Broadway one-woman show, Ethel Merman’s Broadway, became the longest-running one- woman show in theatrical history.
McKenzie had a wide theatrical resume. She played Lita Encore in the Los Angeles premiere of Ruthless! The Musical and reprised the role in the recent New York revival of the show.
She also performed a wide range of stage roles throughout the U..S , including Reno Sweeney in Anything Goes!, appeared in the 50th Anniversary tour of Annie Get Your Gun, played Rose in Gypsy, and starred in a three-year U.S. tour of Neil Simon’s The Female Odd Couple, co-starring with Barbara Eden.
Additionally, she was the opening act...
A powerhouse stage voice and theatrical personality, McKenzie’s 1988 off-Broadway one-woman show, Ethel Merman’s Broadway, became the longest-running one- woman show in theatrical history.
McKenzie had a wide theatrical resume. She played Lita Encore in the Los Angeles premiere of Ruthless! The Musical and reprised the role in the recent New York revival of the show.
She also performed a wide range of stage roles throughout the U..S , including Reno Sweeney in Anything Goes!, appeared in the 50th Anniversary tour of Annie Get Your Gun, played Rose in Gypsy, and starred in a three-year U.S. tour of Neil Simon’s The Female Odd Couple, co-starring with Barbara Eden.
Additionally, she was the opening act...
- 2/18/2024
- by Bruce Haring
- Deadline Film + TV
Rita McKenzie, the actress and singer best known for her boisterous performances in the one-woman show Ethel Merman’s Broadway, died Saturday in Los Angeles after a long illness, her husband, talent agent Scott Stander, announced. She was 76.
McKenzie first starred on stage as the powerful Merman — star of such iconic Broadway hits as Anything Goes, Annie Get Your Gun, Gypsy and Hello, Dolly! — in New York in 1988.
Belting out tunes like “There’s No Business Like Show Business,” “I Got Rhythm” and “Everything’s Coming Up Roses,” McKenzie toured throughout the U.S., Europe and Asia in what many consider the longest-running one-woman show in theatrical history.
She also starred in parts that Merman made famous: Reno Sweeney in Anything Goes!, the gunslinger in a 50th anniversary tour of Annie Get Your Gun and Rose in Gypsy.
Watch her perform here.
A native of Woodbridge Township, New Jersey, McKenzie starred...
McKenzie first starred on stage as the powerful Merman — star of such iconic Broadway hits as Anything Goes, Annie Get Your Gun, Gypsy and Hello, Dolly! — in New York in 1988.
Belting out tunes like “There’s No Business Like Show Business,” “I Got Rhythm” and “Everything’s Coming Up Roses,” McKenzie toured throughout the U.S., Europe and Asia in what many consider the longest-running one-woman show in theatrical history.
She also starred in parts that Merman made famous: Reno Sweeney in Anything Goes!, the gunslinger in a 50th anniversary tour of Annie Get Your Gun and Rose in Gypsy.
Watch her perform here.
A native of Woodbridge Township, New Jersey, McKenzie starred...
- 2/18/2024
- by Mike Barnes
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
When they first learned that Succession would be coming to an end after just four seasons, fans of the show might have let out spittle-flecked strings of profanity worthy of Waystar Royco potentate Logan Roy.
In the end, of course, the truncated run worked out brilliantly.
Jesse Armstrong's acclaimed series about a foul-mouthed family of media bajillionaires concluded on an astonishing high note with a twist that raised the dramatic stakes, created new power dynamics, and mined the show's signature brand of dark humor for new mother lodes of comedic gold.
Few series go out on top these days, opting instead to shamble on in zombified states for several years after they've peaked.
For its risks, its eccentricity, and, of course, its brilliantly naturalistic performances -- the likes of which are seldom seen on television or anywhere else -- Succession was rewarded with almost unprecedented acclaim.
The show took...
In the end, of course, the truncated run worked out brilliantly.
Jesse Armstrong's acclaimed series about a foul-mouthed family of media bajillionaires concluded on an astonishing high note with a twist that raised the dramatic stakes, created new power dynamics, and mined the show's signature brand of dark humor for new mother lodes of comedic gold.
Few series go out on top these days, opting instead to shamble on in zombified states for several years after they've peaked.
For its risks, its eccentricity, and, of course, its brilliantly naturalistic performances -- the likes of which are seldom seen on television or anywhere else -- Succession was rewarded with almost unprecedented acclaim.
The show took...
- 1/16/2024
- by Tyler Johnson
- TVfanatic
“Variety shows are complicated,” Tom Smothers told Rolling Stone in 2015. The occasion was the launch of Best Time Ever with Neil Patrick Harris, the ultimately short-lived attempt to revive the long-standing song-dance-and-skits format for TV.
Few knew how thorny such undertakings could be than Smothers, who died this week at age 88. With his brother Dick, he injected topical anti-war humor and rock guests like the Who and George Harrison into prime time on the legendary Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour (1967-1969), a daring approach that ultimately led to its cancellation. With...
Few knew how thorny such undertakings could be than Smothers, who died this week at age 88. With his brother Dick, he injected topical anti-war humor and rock guests like the Who and George Harrison into prime time on the legendary Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour (1967-1969), a daring approach that ultimately led to its cancellation. With...
- 12/28/2023
- by David Browne
- Rollingstone.com
Netflix’s Encounters Episode 1, currently streaming on Netflix, is an original documentary directed by Yon Motskin. The several mysterious sightings in Texas perplex the townsfolk, and they narrate their own experiences. As we are taken through their observations, we wonder whether whatever they have reported is true. This series is sure to garner a lot of believers and certain skeptical gazes on the contrary, as the matter that has been brought out still lies beyond our comprehension. Is the government trying to hide something? If UFOs exist in reality, why do we have such little knowledge about them? These aspects are something that we still do not have any answers to. Let us see if we can fish something significant out of this documentary that would leverage our knowledge of extraterrestrials.
Spoilers Ahead
What were the Major sightings?
The year 2008 was crucial, as there were several reports of UFO sightings in the USA.
Spoilers Ahead
What were the Major sightings?
The year 2008 was crucial, as there were several reports of UFO sightings in the USA.
- 9/27/2023
- by Debjyoti Dey
- Film Fugitives
When you look closely at a set of lyrics, it’s astounding how much a classic rock song can get misinterpreted. For example, the original version of Elvis Presley’s “Hound Dog” was about a gigolo. However, a band changed the lyrics to be about an actual dog and the rest is history. In addition, a famous television appearance might’ve made audiences think “Hound Dog” is about a canine.
The original version of Elvis Presley’s ‘Hound Dog’ was about a freeloader
Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller co-wrote “Hound Dog,” which was first recorded by Big Mama Thornton. During a 2020 interview with Elvis Australia, Stoller discussed the evolution of the song’s lyrics. “Elvis knew Big Mama’s record, but Big Mama’s version of ‘Hound Dog’ was written for a woman,” he said. “And so Elvis couldn’t perform it that way.
“There was a group, Freddie Bell and the Bell Boys,...
The original version of Elvis Presley’s ‘Hound Dog’ was about a freeloader
Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller co-wrote “Hound Dog,” which was first recorded by Big Mama Thornton. During a 2020 interview with Elvis Australia, Stoller discussed the evolution of the song’s lyrics. “Elvis knew Big Mama’s record, but Big Mama’s version of ‘Hound Dog’ was written for a woman,” he said. “And so Elvis couldn’t perform it that way.
“There was a group, Freddie Bell and the Bell Boys,...
- 9/19/2023
- by Matthew Trzcinski
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
John Regis, a comedian and entertainer who performed on talk shows and cruise ships and was a headliner on the Playboy Club circuit, died Aug. 19 in Los Angeles, magician Kerry Ross announced. He was 94.
As a “road comic” in the 1960s and ’70s, Regis was a regular at the Purple Onion and Hungry i nightclubs in San Francisco, toured Canada in a comedy show with Lyle Waggoner and opened for the likes of Bob Hope, Ray Charles, Rosemary Clooney, Stan Kenton, Woody Herman and Peter Marshall during his career.
He also showed up in the 1991 film Joey Takes a Cab, starring Lionel Stander; on talk shows hosted by Steve Allen, Della Reese, David Frost and Alan Thicke; and on stage in regional productions of Kiss Me Kate, Under the Yum Yum Tree, Sunday in New York and other plays.
Born John Ray and raised in the Ozarks, Regis produced “Tops...
As a “road comic” in the 1960s and ’70s, Regis was a regular at the Purple Onion and Hungry i nightclubs in San Francisco, toured Canada in a comedy show with Lyle Waggoner and opened for the likes of Bob Hope, Ray Charles, Rosemary Clooney, Stan Kenton, Woody Herman and Peter Marshall during his career.
He also showed up in the 1991 film Joey Takes a Cab, starring Lionel Stander; on talk shows hosted by Steve Allen, Della Reese, David Frost and Alan Thicke; and on stage in regional productions of Kiss Me Kate, Under the Yum Yum Tree, Sunday in New York and other plays.
Born John Ray and raised in the Ozarks, Regis produced “Tops...
- 9/5/2023
- by Mike Barnes
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
A column chronicling conversations and events on the awards circuit.
The collision of awards season(s) is about to happen. Just as we get ready to head out to Venice/Telluride/Toronto and the beginning of Oscar season, the Emmy campaigns are on their final sprint.
As the Television Academy reminds its 20,000-ish voters on almost a daily basis, there are only a few precious days left to cast a final ballot for the 75th Emmy Awards. They do not want people to procrastinate like yours truly, who just hasn’t gotten around to it yet (but I will this weekend). All ballots must be in by 10 pm Pt on Monday. Certainly you have to live under a rock not to notice all the visible signs of the campaign around town, particularly with all those FYC ads and more Emmy nominee billboards than I can ever remember.
In any normal year,...
The collision of awards season(s) is about to happen. Just as we get ready to head out to Venice/Telluride/Toronto and the beginning of Oscar season, the Emmy campaigns are on their final sprint.
As the Television Academy reminds its 20,000-ish voters on almost a daily basis, there are only a few precious days left to cast a final ballot for the 75th Emmy Awards. They do not want people to procrastinate like yours truly, who just hasn’t gotten around to it yet (but I will this weekend). All ballots must be in by 10 pm Pt on Monday. Certainly you have to live under a rock not to notice all the visible signs of the campaign around town, particularly with all those FYC ads and more Emmy nominee billboards than I can ever remember.
In any normal year,...
- 8/25/2023
- by Pete Hammond
- Deadline Film + TV
The Emmys have been here before. In 1980, the Screen Actors Guild and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists went on strike for three months. That year’s Emmy telecast happened to fall right in the middle of it.
Actors boycotted the ceremony, but for some reason, the TV Academy went ahead with the Emmy telecast anyway. Famously, only one out of 52 nominees attended: Powers Boothe, who said when accepting his trophy for playing cult leader Jim Jones: “This is either the most courageous moment of my career or the stupidest.”
Steve Allen and Dick Clark (both of whom donated their hosting fees to the SAG emergency fund) hosted that year’s ceremony after original hosts Michael Landon, Bob Newhart and Lee Remick bowed out due to the strike. Variety called that year’s show a “lackluster affair,” and noted that the TV Academy aimed to fill the...
Actors boycotted the ceremony, but for some reason, the TV Academy went ahead with the Emmy telecast anyway. Famously, only one out of 52 nominees attended: Powers Boothe, who said when accepting his trophy for playing cult leader Jim Jones: “This is either the most courageous moment of my career or the stupidest.”
Steve Allen and Dick Clark (both of whom donated their hosting fees to the SAG emergency fund) hosted that year’s ceremony after original hosts Michael Landon, Bob Newhart and Lee Remick bowed out due to the strike. Variety called that year’s show a “lackluster affair,” and noted that the TV Academy aimed to fill the...
- 6/15/2023
- by Michael Schneider
- Variety Film + TV
Written by Gary Smart, Neil Morris | Directed by Christopher Griffiths, Gary Smart
Hollywood Dreams & Nightmares: The Robert Englund Story picks up with a 12-year-old Robert being sent to theatre camp getting attention from girls and being complimented by talk show host Steve Allen. That, especially the female attention, pointed him toward his career. And really, what better motivation can a young man have?
Best known for playing Freddy Krueger in the Nightmare on Elm Street franchise, Robert Englund already had a long history in the genre. dating back to Tobe Hooper’s Eaten Alive in 1976. Who could forget his entrance announcing “My name’s Buck, and I’m here to fuck!” and the criminally underrated Dead and Buried in 1981 as well as Galaxy of Terror and a host of others. And it’s continued well past his time as Freddy, most recently doing voice acting in the bizarre puppet film Abruptio.
Hollywood Dreams & Nightmares: The Robert Englund Story picks up with a 12-year-old Robert being sent to theatre camp getting attention from girls and being complimented by talk show host Steve Allen. That, especially the female attention, pointed him toward his career. And really, what better motivation can a young man have?
Best known for playing Freddy Krueger in the Nightmare on Elm Street franchise, Robert Englund already had a long history in the genre. dating back to Tobe Hooper’s Eaten Alive in 1976. Who could forget his entrance announcing “My name’s Buck, and I’m here to fuck!” and the criminally underrated Dead and Buried in 1981 as well as Galaxy of Terror and a host of others. And it’s continued well past his time as Freddy, most recently doing voice acting in the bizarre puppet film Abruptio.
- 6/1/2023
- by Jim Morazzini
- Nerdly
Milt Larsen, who wrote for the game show Truth or Consequences for nearly two decades and co-founded The Magic Castle in Hollywood, died Sunday of natural causes in Los Angeles, his family announced. He was 92.
Larsen produced TV specials for ABC, CBS and NBC and wrote songs with Richard Sherman, the Oscar winner who partnered with his late brother, Robert, to create tunes for such Disney classics as Mary Poppins, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and The Jungle Book.
He also was the creator and consultant for the $50 million Caesars Magic Empire at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas.
In 1963, Larsen and his late brother, Bill, founded The Magic Castle in a 1909 French Chateau mansion on Franklin Avenue. With its many stages, labyrinthine corridors and old-fashioned decor, the place would become a renowned private club for magicians.
Larsen wrote five joke books and three books involving The Magic Castle, penned a weekly...
Larsen produced TV specials for ABC, CBS and NBC and wrote songs with Richard Sherman, the Oscar winner who partnered with his late brother, Robert, to create tunes for such Disney classics as Mary Poppins, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and The Jungle Book.
He also was the creator and consultant for the $50 million Caesars Magic Empire at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas.
In 1963, Larsen and his late brother, Bill, founded The Magic Castle in a 1909 French Chateau mansion on Franklin Avenue. With its many stages, labyrinthine corridors and old-fashioned decor, the place would become a renowned private club for magicians.
Larsen wrote five joke books and three books involving The Magic Castle, penned a weekly...
- 5/29/2023
- by Mike Barnes
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
There are many summer blockbusters competing for audiences' attention, from the newest superhero films to massive franchises like "Fast X" presenting their latest sequels. Then there's "The Meg," arguably the purest encapsulation of what summer blockbusters originally were in that it is also a movie about a giant shark attacking a beach, like the original blockbuster, "Jaws." This one, of course, is the bonkers film in which Jason Statham punches a prehistoric shark right in the face, based on the series of novels by Steven Allen that contains eight books, each with new and bigger prehistoric creatures.
"The Meg" knows exactly what it is and what it isn't, which is why our review was rather positive, and why it asked for there to be more than just one movie about a giant shark in theaters. Thankfully, the gods of cinema answered us, because Meg, the megalodon, is back in "Meg 2: The Trench.
"The Meg" knows exactly what it is and what it isn't, which is why our review was rather positive, and why it asked for there to be more than just one movie about a giant shark in theaters. Thankfully, the gods of cinema answered us, because Meg, the megalodon, is back in "Meg 2: The Trench.
- 5/9/2023
- by Rafael Motamayor
- Slash Film
“The Meg 2: The Trench” is one of the more under-the-radar tentpoles this summer, even though it may end up being one of the biggest global grossers. Why is that?
Well, “The Meg” earned $155 million in North America and $155 million in China toward a $530 million global total. That cume was bigger than any giant monster movie save for “Kong: Skull Island” ($569 million in 2017) and the various “Jurassic” movies. It was the first and thus-far only big-budget Hollywood/Chinese co-production that qualified as a success on both shores. And now “The Meg 2” will try and repeat that performance.
“They’re back for seconds,” the trailer eventually declares, echoing the tongue-in-cheek tone of the first film’s marketing campaign. The trailer opens with two land-bound prehistoric monsters eating a large bug, with onscreen text warning that for 65 million years one species ruled the world. The T-rex? No, the Meg which eats a T-rex.
Well, “The Meg” earned $155 million in North America and $155 million in China toward a $530 million global total. That cume was bigger than any giant monster movie save for “Kong: Skull Island” ($569 million in 2017) and the various “Jurassic” movies. It was the first and thus-far only big-budget Hollywood/Chinese co-production that qualified as a success on both shores. And now “The Meg 2” will try and repeat that performance.
“They’re back for seconds,” the trailer eventually declares, echoing the tongue-in-cheek tone of the first film’s marketing campaign. The trailer opens with two land-bound prehistoric monsters eating a large bug, with onscreen text warning that for 65 million years one species ruled the world. The T-rex? No, the Meg which eats a T-rex.
- 4/25/2023
- by Scott Mendelson
- The Wrap
Reid Scott might be best known for playing an asshole, so it’s understandable if fans of “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” are on high alert this season.
Scott joins the Prime Video comedy in its final season as Gordon Ford, a late-night talk show host and Midge Maisel’s (Rachel Brosnahan) new boss as she tackles the unruly territory of an all-male television writers room. In Episode 3, Gordon tries to kiss her, and in Episode 4 he boldly asks her out despite being married.
“I’m drawn to these characters that have these different sides to them, where you can see underneath the surface,” Scott told IndieWire via Zoom. “And that was the great thing; every script, episode-to-episode, we get to peel back another little layer and learn a little bit more about this guy and it just keeps you renewed and refreshed.”
Scott’s performance is an amalgam of late-night...
Scott joins the Prime Video comedy in its final season as Gordon Ford, a late-night talk show host and Midge Maisel’s (Rachel Brosnahan) new boss as she tackles the unruly territory of an all-male television writers room. In Episode 3, Gordon tries to kiss her, and in Episode 4 he boldly asks her out despite being married.
“I’m drawn to these characters that have these different sides to them, where you can see underneath the surface,” Scott told IndieWire via Zoom. “And that was the great thing; every script, episode-to-episode, we get to peel back another little layer and learn a little bit more about this guy and it just keeps you renewed and refreshed.”
Scott’s performance is an amalgam of late-night...
- 4/22/2023
- by Proma Khosla
- Indiewire
In the 2022 biographical drama movie Elvis, directed by Baz Luhrmann, Austin Butler stars as the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll. The film is told from the perspective of Elvis Presley’s infamous manager, Colonel Tom Parker. Several of Presley’s real-life performances were recreated, including his infamous rendition of “Hound Dog” on The Steve Allen Show. In the film, Colonel Parker was credited with the idea. However, Parker actually had nothing to do with this. Here’s the real story behind the moment.
The story behind Elvis Presley’s infamous ‘Hound Dog’ rendition Elvis Presley sings “Hound Dog” on ‘The Steve Allen Show’ on July 1, 1956 | NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images
The performance on The Steve Allen Show was a big one for the music star. Essentially, it was an opportunity to show himself in a different light to the American people. While Presley was quite comfortable in his...
The story behind Elvis Presley’s infamous ‘Hound Dog’ rendition Elvis Presley sings “Hound Dog” on ‘The Steve Allen Show’ on July 1, 1956 | NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images
The performance on The Steve Allen Show was a big one for the music star. Essentially, it was an opportunity to show himself in a different light to the American people. While Presley was quite comfortable in his...
- 2/21/2023
- by Danielle Gibson
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
This mid-60s detective story has the right ingredients — a good mystery and interesting characters. David Jannsen gets to play a ‘Bosch’- style lone wolf investigator given a public thrashing for a ‘mistake’ that he knows was no mistake at all. Can a ‘bad cop’ redeem himself? The parade of mid-level guest stars — Stefanie Powers, Joan Collins, Lillian Gish, Steve Allen — may resemble a TV movie, but the tense show has a good feel for Los Angeles and the new swingin’ singles lifestyle. It might be Buzz Kulik’s best job of direction, and it has a great music score by Jerry Goldsmith.
Warning Shot
Region Free Blu-ray
Viavision [Imprint] #177
1967 / Color / 1:78 widescreen / 99 min. / Street Date October 26, 2022 / Available from [Imprint] / au 39.95
Starring: David Janssen, Ed Begley, Stefanie Powers, George Grizzard, Keenan Wynn, Joan Collins, Lillian Gish, Eleanor Parker, Sam Wanamaker, George Sanders, Steve Allen, Carroll O’Connor, Walter Pidgeon.
Cinematography: Joseph F. Biroc...
Warning Shot
Region Free Blu-ray
Viavision [Imprint] #177
1967 / Color / 1:78 widescreen / 99 min. / Street Date October 26, 2022 / Available from [Imprint] / au 39.95
Starring: David Janssen, Ed Begley, Stefanie Powers, George Grizzard, Keenan Wynn, Joan Collins, Lillian Gish, Eleanor Parker, Sam Wanamaker, George Sanders, Steve Allen, Carroll O’Connor, Walter Pidgeon.
Cinematography: Joseph F. Biroc...
- 11/22/2022
- by Glenn Erickson
- Trailers from Hell
Jerry Lee Lewis, the world-famous rock and roll and country musician died at 87. On Friday, Lewis’ publicist, Zach Farnum, confirmed the Hall of Famer’s passing. Lee leaves behind a rocky legacy some musicians can only dream of achieving.
As a singer, songwriter, and pianist, Lewis dazzled crowds with infectious energy and theatrical piano playing technique. On stage, Lewis appeared to merge with his instrument, becoming one with the music he loved to share with the world. Watching Lewis on stage, you’d think he was performing an exorcism on stage, as each note caused his bones to gyrate with rhythm. Famously known for his hit song “Great Balls of Fire,” Lewis dabbled in rockabilly, gospel, country, blues, and jazz. There was scarcely a genre Lewis wouldn’t explore, and he shined while creating unique soundscapes in all categories.
Lewis came onto the music scene in 1956 with a hit called “Crazy Arms.
As a singer, songwriter, and pianist, Lewis dazzled crowds with infectious energy and theatrical piano playing technique. On stage, Lewis appeared to merge with his instrument, becoming one with the music he loved to share with the world. Watching Lewis on stage, you’d think he was performing an exorcism on stage, as each note caused his bones to gyrate with rhythm. Famously known for his hit song “Great Balls of Fire,” Lewis dabbled in rockabilly, gospel, country, blues, and jazz. There was scarcely a genre Lewis wouldn’t explore, and he shined while creating unique soundscapes in all categories.
Lewis came onto the music scene in 1956 with a hit called “Crazy Arms.
- 10/28/2022
- by Steve Seigh
- JoBlo.com
After bringing us some of the most beloved sitcoms of all time, Dale McRaven died on September 5, 2022 at the age of 83. His son, David McRaven, told The Hollywood Reporter that the creator of "Mork & Mindy" and "Perfect Strangers" passed away due to complications from lung cancer at his home in Porter Ranch, CA.
McRaven was born on March 5, 1939 in Pulaski, Illinois and was the fifth of six children. He lived with his family in Chicago and Phoenix before moving to Hollywood in 1957. Upon his arrival, he sold a script to Steve Allen, but his first major gig arrived in 1964 when he was hired by Gary Marshall and paired with Carl Kleinschmidt as staff writers on the final season of "The Joey Bishop Show" on NBC. After that show wrapped up, the duo would write for "The Dick Van Dyke Show" and win a WGA award for their work before...
McRaven was born on March 5, 1939 in Pulaski, Illinois and was the fifth of six children. He lived with his family in Chicago and Phoenix before moving to Hollywood in 1957. Upon his arrival, he sold a script to Steve Allen, but his first major gig arrived in 1964 when he was hired by Gary Marshall and paired with Carl Kleinschmidt as staff writers on the final season of "The Joey Bishop Show" on NBC. After that show wrapped up, the duo would write for "The Dick Van Dyke Show" and win a WGA award for their work before...
- 9/25/2022
- by Ben F. Silverio
- Slash Film
Click here to read the full article.
Dale McRaven, the Emmy-nominated comedy writer and producer who created Mork & Mindy with Garry Marshall and then the long-running Perfect Strangers on his own, has died. He was 83.
McRaven died Sept. 5 of complications from lung cancer at his home in Porter Ranch, California, his son, David McRaven, told The Hollywood Reporter.
McRaven also served as a writer on the fifth and final season of CBS’ The Dick Van Dyke Show and as a writer-producer on ABC’s The Partridge Family during that musical comedy’s 1970-74 run. Plus, he and Marshall created the 1979-80 ABC sitcom Angie, starring Donna Pescow and Robert Hays.
Perfect Strangers, from Miller-Boyett Productions and Lorimar Television, debuted in March 1986 and starred Mark Linn-Baker and Bronson Pinchot as mismatched cousins — one an American, the other from the fictional island of Mypos — who live together in a Chicago apartment.
Dale McRaven, the Emmy-nominated comedy writer and producer who created Mork & Mindy with Garry Marshall and then the long-running Perfect Strangers on his own, has died. He was 83.
McRaven died Sept. 5 of complications from lung cancer at his home in Porter Ranch, California, his son, David McRaven, told The Hollywood Reporter.
McRaven also served as a writer on the fifth and final season of CBS’ The Dick Van Dyke Show and as a writer-producer on ABC’s The Partridge Family during that musical comedy’s 1970-74 run. Plus, he and Marshall created the 1979-80 ABC sitcom Angie, starring Donna Pescow and Robert Hays.
Perfect Strangers, from Miller-Boyett Productions and Lorimar Television, debuted in March 1986 and starred Mark Linn-Baker and Bronson Pinchot as mismatched cousins — one an American, the other from the fictional island of Mypos — who live together in a Chicago apartment.
- 9/25/2022
- by Mike Barnes
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Click here to read the full article.
Pat Carroll, the gregarious Emmy-winning comedienne who was a television mainstay for decades before segueing to a voiceover career that included portraying the villainous sea witch Ursula in The Little Mermaid, has died. She was 95.
Carroll died Saturday of pneumonia at her home in Cape Cod, Massachusetts, her daughter Kerry Karsian told The Hollywood Reporter.
Carroll’s perky personality, screwball wit and impeccable timing made her a great second banana, and Red Buttons, Jimmy Durante, Mickey Rooney, Steve Allen and Charley Weaver were among those who called upon her to make their programs funnier. Her antics on Caesar’s Hour earned her an Emmy in 1957, and she was nominated for her work on the classic variety show the following year.
In a 2013 interview with Kliph Nesteroff, Carroll compared Howard Morris, Carl Reiner and Sid Caesar on Caesar’s Hour to the Chicago Cubs’ legendary double-play...
Pat Carroll, the gregarious Emmy-winning comedienne who was a television mainstay for decades before segueing to a voiceover career that included portraying the villainous sea witch Ursula in The Little Mermaid, has died. She was 95.
Carroll died Saturday of pneumonia at her home in Cape Cod, Massachusetts, her daughter Kerry Karsian told The Hollywood Reporter.
Carroll’s perky personality, screwball wit and impeccable timing made her a great second banana, and Red Buttons, Jimmy Durante, Mickey Rooney, Steve Allen and Charley Weaver were among those who called upon her to make their programs funnier. Her antics on Caesar’s Hour earned her an Emmy in 1957, and she was nominated for her work on the classic variety show the following year.
In a 2013 interview with Kliph Nesteroff, Carroll compared Howard Morris, Carl Reiner and Sid Caesar on Caesar’s Hour to the Chicago Cubs’ legendary double-play...
- 7/31/2022
- by Chris Koseluk
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Comedian and actress Pat Carroll, a television pioneer and an Emmy, Drama Desk and Grammy winner, died at her home on Cape Cod, Massachusetts on July 30, while recovering from pnuemonia.
A frequent film actress and television guest star and series regular starting in the late 1940s, her work was seen on the Jimmy Durante Show, The Danny Thomas Show, Laverne & Shirley, ER and many other shows. She voiced Ursula in The Little Mermaid, and voiced several cartoon series.
Patricia Ann Carroll was born May 5, 1927 in Shreveport, Louisiana. Her family moved to Los Angeles when she was five years old, and she soon began acting in local productions. She graduated from Immaculate Heart High Schol and then attended Catholic University of America after enlisting in the US Army.
Carroll’s acting career started in 1947 with the film Hometown Girl. In 1956, Carroll won an Emmy Award for her work on Sid Caesar’s House,...
A frequent film actress and television guest star and series regular starting in the late 1940s, her work was seen on the Jimmy Durante Show, The Danny Thomas Show, Laverne & Shirley, ER and many other shows. She voiced Ursula in The Little Mermaid, and voiced several cartoon series.
Patricia Ann Carroll was born May 5, 1927 in Shreveport, Louisiana. Her family moved to Los Angeles when she was five years old, and she soon began acting in local productions. She graduated from Immaculate Heart High Schol and then attended Catholic University of America after enlisting in the US Army.
Carroll’s acting career started in 1947 with the film Hometown Girl. In 1956, Carroll won an Emmy Award for her work on Sid Caesar’s House,...
- 7/31/2022
- by Bruce Haring
- Deadline Film + TV
Click here to read the full article.
Maureen Arthur, who starred on Broadway and the big screen as the ambitious mistress and secretary Hedy La Rue in How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, has died. She was 88.
Arthur died Wednesday of natural causes at her home in Beverly Hills after a long bout with Alzheimer’s disease, her brother Gerald told The Hollywood Reporter.
The vivacious Arthur also portrayed a nudie-magazine cover girl opposite Don Knotts and Edmond O’Brien in The Love God? (1969), a divorced woman who romances Bob Hope in How to Commit Marriage (1969) and an office tramp alongside John Phillip Law in The Love Machine (1971), based on a Jacqueline Susann novel.
Arthur played the bubble-headed Hedy in the national touring company of How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, which had opened on Broadway in October 1961 en route to a spectacular run of more than 1,400 performances,...
Maureen Arthur, who starred on Broadway and the big screen as the ambitious mistress and secretary Hedy La Rue in How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, has died. She was 88.
Arthur died Wednesday of natural causes at her home in Beverly Hills after a long bout with Alzheimer’s disease, her brother Gerald told The Hollywood Reporter.
The vivacious Arthur also portrayed a nudie-magazine cover girl opposite Don Knotts and Edmond O’Brien in The Love God? (1969), a divorced woman who romances Bob Hope in How to Commit Marriage (1969) and an office tramp alongside John Phillip Law in The Love Machine (1971), based on a Jacqueline Susann novel.
Arthur played the bubble-headed Hedy in the national touring company of How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, which had opened on Broadway in October 1961 en route to a spectacular run of more than 1,400 performances,...
- 6/21/2022
- by Mike Barnes
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
The producers behind CNN’s new eight-part docuseries “History of the Sitcom” knew that trying to tell the complete 70-year history of the TV genre would be an impossible task. So they divided some of the biggest comedies of all time into specific categories — and set out to illustrate how the evolution of the sitcom mirrored real-life advancements in society.
“It was pretty apparent that given the number of sitcoms that have been out there in history that you couldn’t do some sort of comprehensive, start-to-finish history, as though you were in a college course studying it from beginning to end,” says executive producer Bill Carter. “There had to be a way to categorize them and follow them according to some grouping. We have eight episodes; we could have done at least 80.”
“History of the Sitcom,” which premieres Sunday, July 11, with two back-to-back episodes, is the follow-up to CNN...
“It was pretty apparent that given the number of sitcoms that have been out there in history that you couldn’t do some sort of comprehensive, start-to-finish history, as though you were in a college course studying it from beginning to end,” says executive producer Bill Carter. “There had to be a way to categorize them and follow them according to some grouping. We have eight episodes; we could have done at least 80.”
“History of the Sitcom,” which premieres Sunday, July 11, with two back-to-back episodes, is the follow-up to CNN...
- 7/9/2021
- by Michael Schneider
- Variety Film + TV
By Lee Pfeiffer
Don Knotts came to fame with his trademark comedy style of portraying a meek, excessively nervous character. He was Woody Allen before Woody Allen was Woody Allen. Knotts honed his skills on Steve Allen's show in the 1950s, with his "man on the street" Nervous Nellie routine sending audiences into fits of laughter. He co-starred with fellow up-and-comer Andy Griffith in the hit Broadway production of "No Time for Sergeants" and the subsequent film version. When Griffith landed his own TV series in 1960 in which he played the sheriff of fictional small town Mayberry, Knotts imposed upon him to write a small, occasional part he could play as Barney Fife, Griffith's inept but loyal sheriff. Griffith complied and the role made Knotts an icon of American comedy, allowing him to win an astonishing five Emmys for playing the same character. Five years into the series, Knotts...
Don Knotts came to fame with his trademark comedy style of portraying a meek, excessively nervous character. He was Woody Allen before Woody Allen was Woody Allen. Knotts honed his skills on Steve Allen's show in the 1950s, with his "man on the street" Nervous Nellie routine sending audiences into fits of laughter. He co-starred with fellow up-and-comer Andy Griffith in the hit Broadway production of "No Time for Sergeants" and the subsequent film version. When Griffith landed his own TV series in 1960 in which he played the sheriff of fictional small town Mayberry, Knotts imposed upon him to write a small, occasional part he could play as Barney Fife, Griffith's inept but loyal sheriff. Griffith complied and the role made Knotts an icon of American comedy, allowing him to win an astonishing five Emmys for playing the same character. Five years into the series, Knotts...
- 11/2/2018
- by nospam@example.com (Cinema Retro)
- Cinemaretro.com
Billy Harbach, a two-time Emmy winner who served as the first producer of The Tonight Show and ran the fabled 1960s variety program The Hollywood Palace for all six of its seasons, has died. He was 98.
Harbach died Dec. 18 after a brief illness at his home in Fairfield, Connecticut, his daughter Lisa Setos told The Hollywood Reporter.
Inducted into the Producers Guild of America Hall of Fame in 1992, Harbach gave singers Steve Lawrence, Eydie Gorme, Jack Jones and Andy Williams their starts in television on NBC's The Tonight Show, then hosted by Steve Allen.
Harbach also cast Raquel...
Harbach died Dec. 18 after a brief illness at his home in Fairfield, Connecticut, his daughter Lisa Setos told The Hollywood Reporter.
Inducted into the Producers Guild of America Hall of Fame in 1992, Harbach gave singers Steve Lawrence, Eydie Gorme, Jack Jones and Andy Williams their starts in television on NBC's The Tonight Show, then hosted by Steve Allen.
Harbach also cast Raquel...
- 1/5/2018
- by Mike Barnes
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
The shocking ouster of Matt Lauer throws the morning news landscape into turmoil, with the once-unassailable “Today” show in disarray at NBC while its competitors scramble in an uncertain and abnormal new world. The swiftness of Lauer’s disappearance on Wednesday after an illustrious 20-year career in morning television clears a path to a new competitive landscape, though one in which “Today” was already lagging behind “Good Morning America.” “Matt Lauer represented stability in morning television. He was part of the legacy of great male anchors from Steve Allen to Tom Brokaw to Bryant Gumbel and then Matt,” said Mary Murphy an.
- 11/30/2017
- by Jon Levine and Tony Maglio
- The Wrap
If you’re just crawling out of your candy coma, now’s a good time to get back in the swing of things with a few events that will inspire you. But nothing too strenuous, right? After the craziness of Halloween—not to mention your rigorous rehearsal, auditioning, and workshop schedule—you deserve to low-key hone your craft and relax. Bid farewell to a beloved performance space.Named for the late-night legend who was a predecessor and inspiration to everyone from Johnny Carson to Jimmy Fallon, the Steve Allen Theater made its own mark on Los Feliz, housing small productions and now-famous comedians like Louis C.K., Bob Odenkirk, and more. Earlier this year, it announced it was closing to make way for a new development. Join performers like Bruce McCulloch, Jerry Minor, and Kristian Hoffman for “The Last Night at the Steve Allen Theater” on Nov. 3 and say bon voyage...
- 11/2/2017
- backstage.com
There are men and then there are myths. Jerry Lee Lewis is the latter. The rock pioneer first set the charts ablaze in 1957 with twin dynamos “Great Balls of Fire” and “Whole Lotta Shakin’ Going On,” and 60 years on he’s still pounding the keys before packed houses across the country. With the death of Chuck Berry in March—and Little Richard and Fats Domino largely retired—Lewis is the last of the great rock ‘n’ rollers still conjuring the sounds of long nights in long gone Delta juke joints. His colleagues at the seminal Memphis label Sun Records, including Elvis Presley,...
- 8/21/2017
- by Jordan Runtagh
- PEOPLE.com
Memorial Day Weekend is upon us and if you’re looking to score big on holiday sales we’ve got you covered. There are tons of amazing opportunities to score a deal — up to 70 percent off — on all your must-haves for summer, from clothing and accessories to luggage and home decorations. Scroll down to see where and when to shop the best deals all weekend long.
Department Stores
Nordstrom: up to 40 percent off designer clearance; up to 40 percent off select clothing, shoes and accessories (through June 5); 25 percent off select rugs for a limited time (through June 4)
Lord and Taylor: 20 percent off regular,...
Department Stores
Nordstrom: up to 40 percent off designer clearance; up to 40 percent off select clothing, shoes and accessories (through June 5); 25 percent off select rugs for a limited time (through June 4)
Lord and Taylor: 20 percent off regular,...
- 5/26/2017
- by Kami Phillips
- PEOPLE.com
Debbie Reynolds and Carrie Fisher will be buried among many other famous stars at the Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Los Angeles.
Reynolds’s son and Fisher’s younger brother Todd Fisher told ABC’s 20/20 that he is planning a joint service with Billie Lourd, 24, his niece and Fisher’s daughter. According to Todd, his mother and sister will be buried “among friends,” at Forest Lawn Memorial Park.
Fisher, 60, was aboard an 11-hour flight from London to Los Angeles on Friday, Dec. 23, when she went into cardiac arrest. She later died that following Tuesday in the hospital. Reynolds died a...
Reynolds’s son and Fisher’s younger brother Todd Fisher told ABC’s 20/20 that he is planning a joint service with Billie Lourd, 24, his niece and Fisher’s daughter. According to Todd, his mother and sister will be buried “among friends,” at Forest Lawn Memorial Park.
Fisher, 60, was aboard an 11-hour flight from London to Los Angeles on Friday, Dec. 23, when she went into cardiac arrest. She later died that following Tuesday in the hospital. Reynolds died a...
- 12/31/2016
- by Blake Bakkila
- PEOPLE.com
Harry Connick Jr. has been a familiar face on television for more than 20 years, with primetime sitcom guest spots and and two Emmy-winning music specials under his belt. Recently he appeared on the final seasons of American Idol, but starting Sept. 12 the crooner will bring the late night party vibe to daytime with Harry, a new entertainment series that will incorporate celebrity guests, funny videos, and lots of music.
The multi-talented star seems tailor-made for the endeavor, but he admits that the dream gig is very different from his experience judging singing hopefuls.
"I had a great time on Idol,...
The multi-talented star seems tailor-made for the endeavor, but he admits that the dream gig is very different from his experience judging singing hopefuls.
"I had a great time on Idol,...
- 8/30/2016
- by Jordan Runtagh, @JordanRuntagh
- People.com - TV Watch
Harry Connick Jr. has been a familiar face on television for more than 20 years, with primetime sitcom guest spots and and two Emmy-winning music specials under his belt. Recently he appeared on the final seasons of American Idol, but starting Sept. 12 the Cajan crooner will bring the late night party vibe to daytime with Harry, a new entertainment series that will incorporate celebrity guests, funny videos, and lots of music. The multi-talented star seems tailor-made for the endeavor, but he admits that the dream gig is very different from his experience judging singing hopefuls. "I had a great time on Idol,...
- 8/30/2016
- by Jordan Runtagh, @JordanRuntagh
- PEOPLE.com
Harry Connick Jr. has been a familiar face on television for more than 20 years, with primetime sitcom guest spots and and two Emmy-winning music specials under his belt. Recently he appeared on the final seasons of American Idol, but starting Sept. 12 the Cajan crooner will bring the late night party vibe to daytime with Harry, a new entertainment series that will incorporate celebrity guests, funny videos, and lots of music. The multi-talented star seems tailor-made for the endeavor, but he admits that the dream gig is very different from his experience judging singing hopefuls. "I had a great time on Idol,...
- 8/30/2016
- by Jordan Runtagh, @JordanRuntagh
- PEOPLE.com
'Worst Movie Ever?' No way. But neither is Wayne Berwick and comic Jackie Vernon's tacky cannibalism tale a piece of art. When I say it's interesting, it's more as a study item than entertainment. Bad movie -- but a terrific restoration! Microwave Massacre Blu-ray + DVD Arrow Video 1983 / Color / 1:85 widescreen / 76 min. / Street Date August 16, 2016 / 34.95 Starring Jackie Vernon, Loren Schein, Al Troupe, Claire Ginsberg, Maria Simon, Lou Ann Webber, Anna Marlowe. Cinematography Karen Grossman Makeup Effects Robert A. Burns Original Music Leif Horvath Editor Steve Nielson Written by Thomas Singer, Craig Muckler Produced by Craig Muckler, Thomas Singer Directed by Wayne Berwick
Reviewed by Glenn Erickson
"Well, the only problem is, I can't make love to a woman, unless I eat her." Just as there are celebrities famous simply for being famous, there are movies that are famous for being bad. Last March I took the curiosity plunge and reviewed the notorious Manos,...
Reviewed by Glenn Erickson
"Well, the only problem is, I can't make love to a woman, unless I eat her." Just as there are celebrities famous simply for being famous, there are movies that are famous for being bad. Last March I took the curiosity plunge and reviewed the notorious Manos,...
- 8/13/2016
- by Glenn Erickson
- Trailers from Hell
With the recent release of Weiner, Tickled, and Depalma in the last few months, 2016 is turning out to be a great year for quality documentary feature films. There’s one type of “doc” that’s been absent so far, that’s the profile of an acclaimed music maker. A compassionate look at the all too brief life and career of Amy Winehouse, Amy, grabbed an Oscar at the last ceremony, winning over another terrific singer’s profile, What Happened, Miss Simone? (about the jazz great Nina). The wait for another music doc is over, but instead of another sultry singer, we’re being given a look at a rock and roll icon of the 1960’s, a man who continued to create and perform for three more decades: Frank Zappa. While many just recall him for his unique look or appearance (all that hair!), this new film takes us past the...
- 7/28/2016
- by Jim Batts
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
A look back at the small-screen entertainers who passed this year The entertainment world lost some of its most memorable TV stars in 2016. Click on to read more. Pat Harrington, Jr. (died Jan. 6, age 86) Harrington had a master’s degree in philosophy but followed his father into acting. He earned praise for his early TV comedy work with Steve Allen and others, but audiences today remember him best as Schneider, the wisecracking building superintendent on the ’70s sitcom “One Day at a Time.” Also Read: Pat Harrington Jr. Remembered by Hollywood: 'He Brought So Much Joy and Laughter to Our Planet' Abe.
- 7/13/2016
- by Scott Collins
- The Wrap
Dailies is a round-up of essential film writing, news bits, videos, and other highlights from across the Internet. If you’d like to submit a piece for consideration, get in touch with us in the comments below or on Twitter at @TheFilmStage.
Martin Scorsese talks about the making of The King of Comedy with Vanity Fair‘s Simon Abrams:
I didn’t really understand where I stood in relationship to the film, the story, Rupert Pupkin, and Jerry Langford, too, until I was in the process of making the film—the shooting, the editing. I don’t think I necessarily liked what I found. What I mean is: I saw myself in Rupert, on the surface, as somebody that came from that appreciation of early television of the 50s—particularly New York variety comedy shows. Steve Allen, Jack Paar. These personalities were so vivid and so strong that they became something very new to me.
Martin Scorsese talks about the making of The King of Comedy with Vanity Fair‘s Simon Abrams:
I didn’t really understand where I stood in relationship to the film, the story, Rupert Pupkin, and Jerry Langford, too, until I was in the process of making the film—the shooting, the editing. I don’t think I necessarily liked what I found. What I mean is: I saw myself in Rupert, on the surface, as somebody that came from that appreciation of early television of the 50s—particularly New York variety comedy shows. Steve Allen, Jack Paar. These personalities were so vivid and so strong that they became something very new to me.
- 6/27/2016
- by The Film Stage
- The Film Stage
Eat That Question: Frank Zappa In His Own Words takes its title from a song found on the composer’s 1972 fusion album The Grand Wazoo, and there may be no better preparation for the Frank Zappa revealed in director Thorston Schutte’s extraordinary documentary than this command to consume, and then presumably digest and defecate out, the sort of journalistic queries Zappa routinely endured, with patience, smarts and inescapable sarcasm, throughout his career. “Being interviewed is one of the most abnormal things that you can do to somebody,” Zappa explains during a TV interview to a reporter whose expression, an uneasy mixture of intimidation and confusion, remains constant throughout their encounter.
The composer’s testy relationship with the media is one of the threads that unites Schutte’s somewhat unusual approach—there are none of the usual associates, scholars and friends on hand to tell you secondhand (at best) what a genius Zappa was,...
The composer’s testy relationship with the media is one of the threads that unites Schutte’s somewhat unusual approach—there are none of the usual associates, scholars and friends on hand to tell you secondhand (at best) what a genius Zappa was,...
- 6/25/2016
- by Dennis Cozzalio
- Trailers from Hell
Robert Altman's murder tale reeks of insider access and Hollywood hipster Bs; its main claim to greatness is its fifty-plus star cameos. It may no longer seem as smart as it looked in 1992, but they don't make 'em any slicker than this. The Player Blu-ray The Criterion Collection 812 1992 / Color /1:85 widescreen / 124 min. / Available through The Criterion Collection / Street Date May 24, 2016 / 39.95 Starring Tim Robbins, Greta Scacchi, Fred Ward, Whoopi Goldberg, Peter Gallagher, Brion James, Cynthia Stevenson, Vincent D'Onofrio, Lyle Lovett. Cinematography Jean Lépine Original Music Thomas Newman Written by Michael Tolkin from his novel Produced by David Brown, Michael Tolkin, Nick Wechsler Directed by Robert Altman
Reviewed by Glenn Erickson
Robert Altman's filmography is undergoing what looks like a full retrospective through Criterion; even the 1975 title Nashville came out not long ago. This very successful later picture marks a revitalization of the director's career. It's sort of a Kafkaesque spin on Hail,...
Reviewed by Glenn Erickson
Robert Altman's filmography is undergoing what looks like a full retrospective through Criterion; even the 1975 title Nashville came out not long ago. This very successful later picture marks a revitalization of the director's career. It's sort of a Kafkaesque spin on Hail,...
- 5/31/2016
- by Glenn Erickson
- Trailers from Hell
IMDb.com, Inc. takes no responsibility for the content or accuracy of the above news articles, Tweets, or blog posts. This content is published for the entertainment of our users only. The news articles, Tweets, and blog posts do not represent IMDb's opinions nor can we guarantee that the reporting therein is completely factual. Please visit the source responsible for the item in question to report any concerns you may have regarding content or accuracy.