Best Will Smith Movies & Performances Ranked

If Tom Hanks is America’s Dad, then Will Smith is the cool big brother.

Smith has been a favorite of audiences and awards voters during his impressive three-decade career. He’s explored multiple genres, such as drama (“The Pursuit of Happyness”), comedy (“Hitch”), action (“Bad Boys”), science-fiction (“Independence Day”), horror (“I Am Legend”) and animation (“Spies in Disguise”). To celebrate Smith’s birthday, Variety is ranking the 13 best performances of his film career so far.

With three career Academy Award nominations to his credit, which also include Michael Mann’s “Ali” (2001), as famed boxer Muhammad Ali, and Gabriele Muccino’s “The Pursuit of Happyness” (2006), as single father Chris Gardner the Philadelphia-born actor and producer was a respected figure in the Hollywood biz.

As one of the producers of “King Richard,” he made history as the second Black man to be recognized in both categories in the same year, following Denzel Washington for “Fences” in 2017.

While this list focuses solely on Smith’s film performances, we can’t mention his finest acting moments without mentioning his iconic television role as the titular “Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.” Smith nabbed his first Emmy nomination in 2021 in outstanding comedy series as one of the producers for Netflix’s “Cobra Kai.”

Despite being a movie star for three decades, Smith’s legacy may confined to his actions at the Oscars where he slapped Chris Rock on the evening of his Academy Award win for best actor. Whether he’ll be able to fully bounce back still remains to be determined, but his contributions to Hollywood will always be undeniable.

Read Variety’s list of Smith’s best performances below.

Honorable mentions: “Wild Wild West” (1999), “Hancock” (2008) and “Spies in Disguise” (2019)

I Am Legend (2007)

Image Credit: ©Warner Bros/Courtesy Everett Collection

Role: Dr. Robert Neville

Distributed by: Warner Bros.
Directed by: Francis Lawrence
Written by: Mark Protosevich and Akiva Goldsman (based on “I Am Legend” by Richard Matheson and “The Omega Man” by John William Corrington and Joyce H. Corrington)

The scene that proves it: “Let me save you.”

The post-apocalyptic thriller hinges on the shoulders of Smith’s commanding performance. As a scientist who finds himself as the last man in a world ravaged by “zombies,” Smith’s portrayal of isolation and desperation is a standout in a genre often resigned to its effects and jump scares. He conveys a man on the brink of despair and effortlessly transitioning between moments of intense action and heart-wrenching drama. $585 million later, a sequel is in the works with Smith reprising his role and Michael B. Jordan set to star.
Hitch (2005)

Image Credit: ©Columbia Pictures/Courtesy Eve

Role: Alex “Hitch” Hitchens

Distributed by: Sony Pictures
Directed by: Andy Tennant
Written by: Kevin Bisch

The scene that proves it: “Don’t ever do that again.”

I can recall seeing “Hitch” with some friends during college, and they reveled in Will Smith’s athletic prowess. This time felt like the transitional period for Smith as an acclaimed actor, who can be a box office juggernaut and still elevate pretty standard material. With Kevin James and Eva Mendes by his side, he brings an effortless approach to his role as a love doctor.
Enemy of the State (1998)

Image Credit: ©Walt Disney Co./Courtesy Everett Collection

Role: Robert Clayton Dean

Distributed by: Buena Vista Pictures
Directed by: Tony Scott
Written by: David Marconi

The scene that proves it: “I don’t know what you’re talking about!”

The late Tony Scott is one of the masters of the 90s thrillers, and his high-octane thriller boasts a stellar ensemble cast with Smith at the helm. In the gripping and action-packed flick, Smith plays an attorney who unwittingly becomes embroiled in a dangerous government conspiracy.

Calling on all of Smith’s natural charisma, his chemistry with his co-stars, particularly Gene Hackman and Regina King, his versatility is nothing short of electrifying.
Bad Boys (1995)

Image Credit: ©Columbia Pictures/Courtesy Eve

Role: Mike Lowery

Distributed by: Sony Pictures
Directed by: Michael Bay
Written by: Michael Barrie, Jim Mulholland, Doug Richardson, George Gallo

The scene that proves it: “Don’t ever say I wasn’t there for you.” (running chase through Miami)

As “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” was gearing up for its final season, and the world still hadn’t learned about his box office draw, Will Smith partnered with Martin Lawrence for the action classic “Bad Boys” from Michael Bay. In Smith’s new memoir, he speaks about the famous scene of running through Miami, the film’s highlight, and how Bay felt he made him “a movie star” with that run, which he trained for with a track coach. Bay was right.
Independence Day (1996)

Role: Steven Hiller

Distributed by: 20^th Century Fox (now 20^th Century Studios)
Directed by: Roland Emmerich
Written by: Dean Devlin, Roland Emmerich

The scene that proves it: “Now that’s what I call a close encounter.”

One part of a dynamite cast that includes Bill Pullman, Jeff Goldblum and Vivica A. Fox, Will Smith was king of the movies after the success of the alien-invasion film. Funny one-liners, intoxicating allure and a good enough sense to not come back for the sequel, is everything that makes Smith so great.
Six Degrees of Separation (1993)

Image Credit: ©MGM/Courtesy Everett Collectio

Role: Paul

Distributed by: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Directed by: Fred Schepisi
Written by: John Guare (based on “Six Degrees of Separation” by John Guare)

The scene that proves it: “I was wondering if I could fuck you.”

Will Smith’s work in the adaptation of the Pulitzer-Prize-winning play is often overlooked and underseen in his filmography. As Paul, a skillful con artist claiming to be the son of actor Sidney Poitier, Smith held his own against Donald Sutherland and Stockard Channing in her sole Oscar-nominated performance.
Aladdin (2019)

Image Credit: ©Walt Disney Co./courtesy Evere

Role: Genie

Distributed by: Walt Disney Pictures
Directed by: Guy Ritchie
Written by: John August, Guy Ritchie (based on “Disney’s Aladdin” by Ron Clements, John Musker, Ted Elliott, Terry Rossio and “Aladdin and the Magic Lamp” from “One Thousand and One Nights”)

The scene that proves it: “Prince Ali”

On paper, this live-action remake of the children’s animated classic, with Will Smith taking on the role that Robin Williams voiced (and should have been nominated or won an Oscar for), should have been a disaster. Don’t underestimate the charm of Smith, along with a diverse and beautiful cast that includes Mena Massoud, Naomi Scott and Nasim Pedrad. Smith was able to own the role, show off his vocal chops, and help make the ninth-highest-grossing movie of 2019.
Men in Black (1997)

Image Credit: ©Columbia Pictures/Courtesy Eve

Role: James Darrell Edwards III / Agent J

Distributed by: Sony Pictures
Directed by: Barry Sonnenfeld
Written by: Ed Solomon (based on “The Men in Black” by Lowell Cunningham)

The scene that proves it: “He’s just really excited and he has no clue why we’re here.”

The box office smash was heightened by the sensational chemistry between Smith and Academy Award winner Tommy Lee Jones (“The Fugitive”). With an Oscar-worthy comedic performance from Vincent D’Onofrio as a bug in a human suit, Smith brought his charm, comedic sensibilities and wit to the film.
Concussion (2015)

Image Credit: ©Columbia Pictures/Courtesy Eve

Role: Dr. Bennett Omalu

Distributed by: Sony Pictures
Directed by: Peter Landesman
Written by: Peter Landesman (based on “Game Brain” by Jeanne Marie Laskas)

The scene that proves it: “God did not intend for us to play football.”

Will Smith’s portrayal of Nigerian physician Dr. Bennet Omalu was risky, considering the film’s subject matter. Going head-to-head with the NFL can have dire consequences on your career (ask Colin Kaepernick), and despite the film not being received as warmly by critics, his performance was still praised. Despite a Golden Globe nomination, he didn’t receive an Oscar nod, one of the snubs that sparked the #OscarsSoWhite social justice campaign.
The Pursuit of Happyness (2006)

Image Credit: ©Columbia Pictures/Courtesy Eve

Role: Chris Gardner

Distributed by: Sony Pictures
Directed by: Gabriele Muccino
Written by: Steven Conrad

The scene that proves it: “Sleeping in the bathroom.”

Smith’s portrayal of a single father and homeless salesman was ahead of its time in many ways. Two years before the financial recession, a role and film like this probably would have struck a greater chord with audiences, critics and voters. Despite that, he nabbed his second Oscar nomination for best actor, introducing his real-life son Jaden Smith to cinema-goers everywhere. He ultimately lost the prize to Forest Whitaker for “The Last King of Scotland” (interestingly, Smith is the only former Black nominee to lose all his nominations to a Black winner).
King Richard (2021)

Image Credit: ©Warner Bros/Courtesy Everett C

Role: Richard Williams

Distributed by: Warner Bros.
Directed by: Reinaldo Marcus Green
Written by: Zach Baylin

The scene that proves it: “The most dangerous creature on this whole earth is a woman who knows how to think.”

Smith’s Oscar-winning role is one he can be proud of (aside from the evening of his win). His incredible ability to tap into the complexities and emotions of real-life figures has always been his strong suit. He’s unafraid to portray Richard Williams as a flawed man, not necessarily trying to redeem his past misgivings but showing that human behavior is not just black and white. Questionable actions can have the best intentions. His performance is heightened by the works of his glorious co-stars, particularly Aunjanue Ellis, Saniyya Sidney and Jon Bernthal, with stunning direction by Reinaldo Marcus Green and crisp editing by Pamela Martin.
Emancipation (2022)

Image Credit: ©Apple TV/Courtesy Everett Collection

Role: Peter

Distributed by: Apple Original Films
Directed by: Antoine Fuqua
Written by: William N. Collage

The scene that proves it: “Reuniting with his family.”

After slapping Chris Rock at the 94th Oscars, the actor resigned from AMPAS and was banned from attending the ceremony or other Academy-sponsored events for 10 years. I believe his actions contributed to the film’s mixed reception and made him an easy target for media outlets to overly criticize. His take on “Whipped Peter” in Antoine Fuqua’s slavery epic is a soulful inhabitation of the man who traverses the rigorous terrain is reminiscent of Leonardo DiCaprio’s “The Revenant” (2015), as he braves the elements. Paired with two dynamic turns from Ben Foster and Charmaine Bingwa, the turn stands as one of his finest and could have a second-life in the years to come.
Ali (2001)

Image Credit: ©Columbia Pictures/Courtesy Eve

Role: Cassius Clay Jr / Cassius X / Muhammad Ali

Distributed by: Sony Pictures
Directed by: Michael Mann
Written by: Michael Mann, Eric Roth, Stephen J. Rivele, Christopher Wilkinson

The scene that proves it: “Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee. Rumble young man, rumble.”

Visionary director Michael Mann’s take on 10 years of the life of the famed boxer Muhammad Ali, gave Will Smith the role that would let everyone know he was one of the most talented actors of his generation. While not drawing the massive box office numbers that usually mark a Smith-headlining film, it was well-received by critics and brought him his first Oscar nomination. He ultimately lost to Denzel Washington, whose historic win for “Training Day” came alongside Halle Berry’s victory for “Monster’s Ball.” While the race might have been between Russell Crowe (“A Beautiful Mind”) and Washington, looking back, he arguably might have been a formidable spoiler in that race (alongside Tom Wilkinson for “In the Bedroom”). Nonetheless, his navigation of a complex man, with no impersonation in sight, is his greatest gift (for the moment).

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September 25, 2023

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20 Movies That Can Break Your Spirit After a Single Viewing

The best films you can watch are those that leave a mark on your soul. Some of these stories can hit you so deeply that they make you reflect on your life and past experiences. Most creatives in Hollywood draw from their own experiences to tell compelling tales filled with human emotion that reflect our lives at some point or even make us long for something we’ve yet to have on our terms.

There are many cinematic experiences with the power to challenge our capacity to endure heartache. Some of these movies can help us deal with uncomfortable truths about ourselves, while others can leave us pondering the depths of our emotions and feelings about specific issues. The best movies are the ones that can make us laugh, cry, reflect, reflect, and even feel rage. These are the films that challenge our worldviews.

Some of these movies can break our spirits after a single view, leaving lasting impressions we might not want to revisit anytime soon. Have you seen any of these?

20 Marley & Me (2008)

20th Century Fox

Marley & Me is a wholesome story about the life of a man, his pet, and the family he forms along the way. The movie is directed by David Frankel and written by Scott Frank. This tearjerker features the talents of Owen Wilson, Jennifer Aniston, and Alan Arkin.

The story is focused on the journey of a couple who adopt a lovable but mischievous Golden Retriever named Marley. We see life unfold as the family grows in size, and Marley eventually comes to old age to pass away. It’s something every pet owner has faced at some point, and it paints a truthful portrait of the meaning behind having an animal in our lives.

19 Precious (2009)

Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire — Lionsgate

Precious is an award-winning drama that deeply touches upon the subject of abuse, especially among the black communities living in the suburbs. The film, written by Geoffrey S. Fletcher and directed by Lee Daniels, is an adaptation of the novel Push written by Sapphire. The heavy drama features a standout performance from Gabourey Sidibe as Precious and Mo’Nique as her abusive mother.

It’s a raw tale full of tragedy reflecting on the struggles of a young, uneducated woman and the things she must endure only because she doesn’t know any better. The story is a testament to perseverance and how a single helping hand is needed to help someone overcome hardships.

18 Atonement (2007)

Keira Knightley and James McAvoy in Atonement (2007) — Universal Pictures

Atonement is a book designed to break your spirit, and the film goes one step beyond by making all the experiences more heartbreaking after realizing the happily ever after ending of the story is only the figment of the imagination of the wrongdoer. The movie, directed by Joe Wright and based on Ian McEwan’s novel, boasts an all-star cast with Keira Knightley, James McAvoy, and Saoirse Ronan.

It’s a story about unrequited love, betrayal, lies, and long-gestating consequences of a false accusation. The story hurts more when you realize all the lost chances the main couple never got to have after World War 2 swept away their brief romance and how the igniter of the conflict never got her due.

17 Irreplaceable You (2018)

Love is always the greatest motivator to make the most baffling decisions in life. Love is called the force that moves the world for a reason, as love makes us do the craziest things for those who love us back. Irreplaceable You is a movie directed by Stephanie Laing and penned by Bess Wohl. It’s a romantic drama starring Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Michiel Huisman, and Christopher Walken.

In this story, we follow the touching journey of a young woman who, after being diagnosed with terminal Cancer, embarks on a quest to find a new partner for her fiancé, a man she’s been with since childhood. It’s a powerful story exploring themes of love, loss, and the inevitability of saying goodbye, something we all get to do at some point in life.

16 Other People (2016)

One of the worst lies we tell ourselves daily is “I’m okay” or “I’m doing fine.” Despite making considerable advances in the field of mental health, we still choose to play the stoic part, even when our life is coming apart. Other People is a film written and directed by Chris Kelly, starring Jesse Plemons, Molly Shannon, and Bradley Whitford.

Struggling comedy writer David Mulcahey returns home to care for his ailing mother after she’s diagnosed with Cancer. Over a year, we see his relationship evolve as her mom accepts her fate while his dad fails to connect with him due to his sexual preferences. It’s a film that weighs in your soul, especially if you’ve cared for a sick family member and keep telling yourself everything is okay when it’s not.

15 Revolutionary Road (2008)

revolutionary-road-revolutionary-road-31305455-1680-9451_1200x630-1 — Paramount Vantage

The story told in Revolutionary Road could very well be the life of any middle-class American family at any stage. Although the film is set in the 1950s, when the American dream was ripe for the pickings of a newly industrialized country, the film’s events could very well take place in the present day.

The movie, directed by Sam Mendes and written by Justin Haythe, is based on the novel of the same name by Richard Yates. Starring Kate Winslet, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Michael Shannon, it’s a heart-wrenching portrayal of a couple struggling with the weight of conformity, the baggage of unfulfilled dreams, and a failing marriage marked by the birth of children who are brought to the world only to keep the couple together.

14 Me and Earl and the Dying Girl (2015)

What would you do if you ever had to care for someone because you were asked to? Would you go along with it? Could you grow a lasting relationship from such a unique situation? Me and Earl and the Dying Girl is a film directed by Alfonso Gomez-Rejon, based on Jesse Andrews’ novel.

It’s a coming-of-age drama starring Thomas Mann, RJ Cyler, and Olivia Cooke. The story chronicles the bond between a high school filmmaker and a girl with leukemia as they cultivate an unlikely relationship, where the boy learns to care for others and let go of his selfishness. It’s a beautiful film exploring the depth of friendship and morality mixed with teen angst.

13 Dead Poets Society (1989)

Williams and the cast of Dead Poets Society — Buena Vista Pictures Distribution

Have you ever had a teacher that left a mark on your life for good? Not everyone gets to have such a blessed experience, but it’s certainly great when it happens. Dead Poets Society is a movie directed by Peter Weir and written by Tom Schulman, starring Robin Williams, Ethan Hawke, and Robert Sean Leonard.

The story is set in an elite all-boys prep school where John Keating, an extravagant English teacher, compels the students to live extraordinary lives with unorthodox methods. Each student takes their lessons to heart and begins pursuing their true passions, such as asking the unreachable girl out or pursuing artistic endeavors. It’s a beautiful film that showcases the power of a great teacher in life and how following individuality can lead to heartbreaking but valuable lessons.

12 Sophie’s Choice (1982)

Sophie's Choice Sophie and Eva — Universal Pictures

Have you ever wondered about the importance of every choice you make? How can a single decision change your life forever? Sophie’s Choice is the type of movie that will have you reeling at the matter of choice and its moral implications when facing impossible odds. The film, directed by Alan J. Pakula, is adapted for the big screen by William Styron from his own novel. It features the acting talents of Meryl Streep, Kevin Kline, and Peter MacNicol.

A young writer is about to begin a new novel when he meets Sophie and Nathan, a couple he would befriend, only to learn they are holocaust survivors who have relocated to Brooklyn. Through flashbacks, we get a deep exploration of the suffering imposed on the common folk during the days of the final solution and the physiological scars left on the people who lived to tell the tale.

11 The Pursuit of Happyness (2006)

While most Hollywood films work as escapism, many reflect life and how brutal it can be for some people who try to get by every single day of life. The real-life story of Chris Gardner is an inspiring journey, as the single father must overcome a failing marriage and provide for his kid at a time when life tests his mettle as a man.

Directed by Gabriele Muccino and written by Steve Conrad, The Pursuit of Happyness stars Will Smith, Jaden Smith, and Thandie Newton. It follows the story of a man who sinks to the bottom and must bring himself back to the surface by facing homelessness while pursuing a career in stock brokerage. It’s an emotional ride that proves Will Smith has the acting chops to pull great dramatic performances.

10 Life is Beautiful (1997)

It’s always great when a foreign film leaves a mark with American audiences. Life is Beautiful is the breakout hit of 1997, written and directed by Roberto Benigni with the assistance of Vincenzo Cerami. The cast includes Benigni himself alongside Nicoletta Braschi and Giorgio Cantarini. It’s a heartrending tale of a father’s unwavering love and imagination to shield his son from the horrors of a concentration camp in the days of the Holocaust.

It’s a story that blends humor, drama, and tragedy as the man is separated from his wife and must protect his son at all costs, which he masterfully masks as nothing more than a game in the eyes of his son, with a great reward at the end of the road for enduring all the pain they go through while prisoners. It’s a story about sacrifice and the price we pay to safeguard those we love in the face of adversity.

9 Marriage Story (2019)

Marriage was a simpler contract between a man and a woman to love each other until death did them apart. Times have changed, and the dynamics of marriage are very different. That’s the point Noah Baumbach seeks to illustrate with Marriage Story. The film, written and directed by the filmmaker, features the talents of Scarlett Johansson, Adam Driver, and Laura Dern.

It’s a complex story exploring the emotional toll failing marriages have on all the parties involved. The film follows a steady pace when we see each stage of the couple’s separation. From the moment they realize they no longer love each other to the entire portrayal of the legal woes of divorce. It’s a sad tale that reflects the reality of one too many people in modern times.

8 The Whale (2022)

Certain critical voices sought to diminish the impact of this movie due to superficial and empty reasons. However, The Whale is easily the best film Darren Aronofsky has made. The story written by Samuel D. Hunter is based on a play of the same name. The film stars Brendan Fraser, Sadie Sink, Hong Chau, and Ty Simpkins. It’s a deep exploration of depression and feelings of abandonment.

A morbidly obese man making a living as an online tutor is in the twilight of his life and wishes to make amends with the people he’s hurt over the years due to his life choices. He wants to reconnect with his estranged daughter and help others reach their full potential while asking forgiveness from his former wife for realizing his true nature as a homosexual man after marrying her. It’s a hard watch that can hit close home if you’ve ever struggled with depression.

7 Carol (2015)

Not many films chronicle the stigma it meant to be gay just 70 years ago. In the recent past, being in love with someone of the same sex was a taboo subject that brought shame to family circles. Carol is a movie directed by Todd Haynes with a screenplay by Phyllis Nagy from Patricia Highsmith’s novel of the same name. It features the acting talents of Cate Blanchett, Rooney Mara, and Sarah Paulson.

The movie tells the story of the forbidden love between an aspiring photographer and an older woman in New York in the 1950s. It’s a gut-punching tale about societal constraints and the prejudices they must face constantly that threaten to tear apart their passionate yet clandestine affair. It can hit hard to those who still struggle to be open with their sexuality due to their surroundings.

6 Christine (2016)

Christine Chubbuck (Rebecca Hall) in Christine (2016) — The Orchard

One of the harshest facets of corporate America is the need to prove yourself worthy of the job you have. The need for validation is nothing new. If anything, it simply has become more widespread, with social media slowly displacing legacy media and more people than ever competing for attention. Such is the story of Christine Chubbuck, a Florida news reporter who tragically committed suicide live on air in the 1970s after being denied a promotion.

Directed by Antonio Campos and written by Craig Shilowich, the movie features the talents of Rebecca Hall, Michael C. Hall, and Tracy Letts. The story of Christine is pretty sad, and it’s likely a reflection of the ongoing happenings in the entertainment industry. Christine was damn good at her job, but the need for ratings made her drift away from her intended path. When she seeks to play the game as instructed, she’s still overlooked in favor of less talented people, thus denying her the chance to advance her career.

5 Five Feet Apart (2019)

Haley Lu Richardson and Cole Sprouse in Five Feet Apart. — Lionsgate

Imagine for a moment what must be living with a disease such as Cystic Fibrosis (CF), which is a progressive genetic disorder that damages organs and makes you vulnerable to any type of infection. Now imagine finding the love of your life while enduring the disease and being unable to be more than five feet closer to her due to your illness, ever. That’s the kind of story we get in the movie Five Feet Apart.

Directed by Justin Baldoni and written by Mikki Daughtry, the film stars Haley Lu Richardson, Cole Sprouse, and Moises Arias. Two teenagers suffering from CF meet and fall in love, but they must keep a safe distance from each other at all times to prevent cross-infection. It’s an emotional journey as we can feel these lovers yearning for closeness while witnessing the challenges they have to face to defy the limitations of their condition.

4 One Day (2011)

Finding love is never easy. Humanity has learned to find meaning in each relationship, especially when there’s bound to be a longstanding commitment. One Day is a movie directed by Lone Scherfig, based on the novel by David Nicholls, who also wrote the screenplay. For this story, we have the acting talents of Anne Hathaway, Jim Sturgess, and Patricia Clarkson.

It’s a story told across two decades, exploring the evolving relationship between Emma and Dexter, a couple of friends who meet on the same date each year. After each meeting, they fail to see how they desperately long for each other until finally caving in and finding fulfillment. Sadly, it’s not meant to be, as life has a funny way of ending things between them.

3 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)

Kate Winslet and Jim Carrey in Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind — Focus Features

Have you ever loved someone so much that you wish you could erase this person from your life and memories if they ever leave you? Such a premise is presented in Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. The movie, directed by Michel Gondry and penned by Charlie Kaufman, features the talents of Jim Carrey, Kate Winslet, Elijah Wood, and Mark Ruffalo.

It’s a crippling story about unrequited love as former lovers Joel and Clementine undergo a procedure to erase each other from their memories after a nasty breakup. It’s a painful movie exploring the realization that even our most painful memories are integral to who we are, which is why Joel and Clementine eventually end up together again.

2 Seeking a Friend for the End of the World (2012)

Keira Knightley in Seeking a Friend for the End of the World — Focus Features

Picture a world where the news breaks about our imminent death. An asteroid is cruising through space and ready to blow the planet to smithereens, but the only thing in your mind is regret for not having a meaningful relationship to share your final moments. Seeking a Friend for the End of the World explores such a premise. The movie, written and directed by Lorene Scafaria, stars Steve Carell, Keira Knightley, and Melanie Lynskey.

It’s a story exploring the final days of humanity before an asteroid collision from the single point of view of a character named Dodge, whose wife leaves him after the announcement of the asteroid is made. After her neighbor Penny delivers a letter from a former childhood sweetheart, Dodge embarks on a quest to find the love of his life, only to realize he’s likely had it alongside him all along.

1 Hachi: A Dog’s Tale (2009)

Our number one spot goes to a remake of a Japanese film named Hachikō Monogatari. Titled Hachi: A Dog’s Tale for the American Market, this film, directed by Lasse Hallström and written by Stephen P. Lindsey, is the top tearjerker for the ages. The film stars Richard Gere, Joan Allen, and Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa, and it’s based on a real-life story of a loyal Akita dog named Hachiko.

Parker Wilson finds the Akita dog and welcomes him to his family. Hachinko becomes a beloved fixture in the family, even making a habit of walking to the train station to send Parker off and welcome him back after his return. When Parker dies, Hachinko waits for his return for years, faithfully and loyal to the end, with the kind of devotion only pet owners can describe. It’s a beautiful story that’s bound to make you tear up.

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September 25, 2023

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TGS 2023: Final Fantasy VII Rebirth Feels Bigger In All The Right Ways | Hardcore Gamer

It looks like Square Enix is doing its best to keep the momentum going with the Final Fantasy Remake trilogy. Final Fantasy VII Rebirth is definitely more of what made the last game good, but it’s also been expanded in a few key ways that’ll further enhance players’ experiences.

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September 25, 2023

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Anastrophe Definition

There’s something special about learning the history of literary devices that have been used throughout the ages. They’re so fun to adapt into film and TV, and it feels like they hold the secrets of storytellers who existed long ago.

Anastrophe is a rhetorical device as old as the art of storytelling itself. It can lend a unique and memorable touch to dialogue and voiceover.

In this article, we will explore the definition of anastrophe and delve into some compelling examples from the world of film.

Let’s dive in.

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Anastrophe Definition

‘My Big Fat Greek Wedding’

Credit: IFC Films

Anastrophe, derived from the Greek word “anastrephein,” meaning “to turn back,” refers to the inversion of the typical word order in a sentence.

It is a literary device in which words are put out of order. The best example of this is how Yoda talks, in lines like, “The greatest teacher, failure is.”

How Does Anastrophe Work?

If you want to get into the grammatical nitty gritty, anastrophe is formed in a very specific way, where instead of following the customary subject-verb-object structure, it rearranges words to emphasize certain elements or to create a specific rhythm, tone, or emphasis in the sentence.

The reason you do this is to draw attention to a particular word or idea, highlight the emotional state of a character, or reinforce a theme.

Examples of Anastrophe in Film and TV

The Joker, played by Heath Ledger, doing a card trick in 'The Dark Knight'

‘The Dark Knight’

Credit: Warner Bros. Pictures

In film and TV, anastrophe is used to make dialogue more memorable, to convey a character’s unique voice, or to create a poetic or lyrical quality in the script.

In these visual storytelling mediums, anastrophe is used to achieve various effects and enhance the overall impact of the narrative.

The only way to actually grasp this is to look at some examples.

Character Distinction: Screenwriters often use anastrophe to give unique voices to their characters. By having certain characters speak with unconventional word order or sentence structure, writers can make them more distinctive and memorable. This is especially common in dialogue-heavy genres like comedy and drama.
- Example: In the TV series Sherlock, the character Sherlock Holmes often employs anastrophe in his rapid and brilliant deductions. For instance, “The game is afoot” instead of “The game is on.”
Emphasis and Drama: Anastrophe can be a powerful tool for creating emphasis and drama in both dialogue and narration. By placing key words or phrases at the beginning or end of a sentence, filmmakers can draw attention to important plot points or emotional moments.
- Example: In the film The Dark Knight, the Joker says, “Introduce a little anarchy. Upset the established order, and everything becomes chaos.” The inversion of “chaos” to the end of the sentence emphasizes its significance.
Poetry and Lyrical Quality: Filmmakers sometimes use anastrophe to infuse poetic and lyrical qualities into their work. This is particularly common in films that aim to evoke strong emotions or explore thematic depth.
- Example: In the French movie Amélie, the narrator says, “Amélie has a strange feeling of absolute harmony. It’s a perfect moment. A soft light, a scent in the air, the quiet murmur of the city.” The inversion of “A soft light” and “A scent in the air” creates a lyrical, almost dreamlike quality.
Historical and Period Settings: When a film or TV series is set in a historical or period context, anastrophe can be used to mimic the speech patterns of that era. This helps immerse the audience in the time and place depicted on screen.
- Example: In the series The Crown, characters often speak in a more formal and structured manner, using anastrophe to reflect the language of their respective eras.
Character State of Mind: Filmmakers may use anastrophe to reflect a character’s state of mind, especially in moments of stress, confusion, or heightened emotion. The non-standard word order can convey disorientation or intensity.
- Example: In Memento, the main character suffers from short-term memory loss. The use of anastrophe in certain scenes mirrors his fragmented perception of reality.

Incorporating anastrophe into film and TV scripts can add depth, character development, and emotional resonance to the storytelling. It allows filmmakers to play with language and structure in creative ways, contributing to the overall impact and uniqueness of their work.

Why Do Writers Use Anastrophe?

Leonard Shelby, played by Guy Pearce, reading a piece of paper and his arm in 'Memento'

‘Memento’

Credit: Newmark Films

So you know I’m a writer, and I’m always looking for the angle of what can help me in my screenplays.

Anastrophe allows writers to create impact, emphasize specific elements, and convey various nuances in their writing.

Emphasis and Highlighting: Anastrophe allows writers to emphasize particular words, phrases, or ideas by placing them at the beginning or end of a sentence. This rearrangement draws attention to the emphasized elements, making them more prominent and memorable. It can be especially effective when writers want to underscore a central theme or message.
- Example: Yoda’s voice saying, “Great is the power of the Force in you.”
Characterization: Writers use anastrophe to give characters distinct voices and speech patterns. This can help readers or viewers identify and remember characters more easily. By having characters speak with unique sentence structures, writers can convey personality traits, backgrounds, or dialects effectively.
- Example: Spider-Man’s Uncle Ben saying, “With great power comes great responsibility.”
Rhetorical Effect: In persuasive writing or speeches, anastrophe can be used for rhetorical effect. By rearranging words to create a specific order of ideas, writers can make arguments more persuasive and convincing.
1. Example: JFK’s “Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country.”

Anastrophe is a versatile rhetorical device that filmmakers can employ to enhance the impact, depth, and memorability of their films.

By rearranging words and playing with sentence structure, filmmakers can create dialogue that resonates with audiences, defines characters, and reinforces the central themes of their stories.

Let me know if you’ve played with this in your writing in the comments.

From Your Site Articles

Martin Scorsese Almost Quit Hollywood After ‘Gangs of New York’ – IndieWire

Martin Scorsese is opening up about a breaking point in his career.

While filming his 2002 film “Gangs of New York,” Scorsese said he felt creatively strangled by the studio system, particularly by working with producer Harvey Weinstein with whom Scorsese fought over the length and budget of the period piece.

“I realized that I couldn’t work if I had to make films that way ever again,” Scorsese told GQ in a cover story. “If that was the only way that I was able to be allowed to make films, then I’d have to stop. Because the results weren’t satisfying. It was at times extremely difficult, and I wouldn’t survive it. I’d be dead. And so I decided it was over, really.”

Only two years later, Scorsese reunited with Weinstein on 2004’s “The Aviator” which also starred “Gangs of New York” lead actor Leonardo DiCaprio.

“And I was against that,” Scorsese said of working with Weinstein again. “There was a meeting, and I was forced into that position. I’d already been, uh, made pregnant, as they said. And there’s no way you’re getting out of it.”

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 07: Robert De Niro speaks onstage at the Tribeca Festival opening night reception at Tribeca Grill on June 07, 2023 in New York City. (Photo by Arturo Holmes/Getty Images for Tribeca Festival)

He continued, “But the shoot went well, the editing went well until the last couple of weeks of editing. And they came in and did some things that I felt were extremely mean.”

As GQ reported, Warner Bros. and Weinstein’s Miramax cut off funding for the film, forcing Scorsese to use $500,000 of his own private funds to finish it.

“I just said, ‘I’m no longer making films,’” Scorsese said of the experience. Yet it was “The Departed” in 2006 that led Scorsese to realize “I can’t work here anymore” after Warner Bros. tried to make it into a “franchise.”

The “Killers of the Flower Moon” director is, however, revisiting “Gangs of New York” 20 years later with a long-awaited TV adaptation. Scorsese is executive producing and will direct the first two episodes of a series based on rival gangs in late-1800s New York City. The show was developed internally at Miramax TV and written by playwright and TV writer Brett Leonard (“Taboo,” “Fear the Walking Dead”).

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September 25, 2023

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Best iPhone and Android Cases With A Strap For Hands-Free Carrying – The Hollywood Reporter

If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, The Hollywood Reporter may receive an affiliate commission.

Unless you’re like Michael Cera, just about everyone has a smartphone nowadays. These mobile devices are very handy for everyday life, but they’re also very expensive and can be cumbersome to carry. Why not go for a two-for-one and protect your phone with a durable case that’s easy to tote around when you’re out and about?

We rounded up the best crossbody phone cases and straps for the Apple iPhone and Android smartphones. These options all come with sturdy and stylish straps that are long enough to wear like a purse or a sling. In fact, some of these cases are large enough to carry your phone along with your credit cards, cash and other essentials, while others also serve as kickstands for your device. We’ve also included crossbody chains that can be added to your existing phone case.

Ahead, you’ll find our picks for the best iPhone and Android strap cases and chains, including from brands seen on celebrities.

Best Crossbody Cases for iPhone

1. Bandolier Kimberly Crossbody iPhone Wallet

Seen on Blake Lively, Rumer Willis, Ariana Madix, Martha Stewart and many other stars, Bandolier was one of the first to create stylish cross-body phone cases. The Kimberly iPhone wallet is made of luxe leather and features a snap pocket and Gucci-esque removable buckle strap. The label offers cases, straps and carryalls for other iPhone models, from the 6 to 15.

Bandolier

Bandolier Kimberly Crossbody iPhone Wallet $128

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2. Lameeku Crossbody iPhone Wallet Case

The Lameeku Crossbody iPhone Wallet Case is designed for phones that are 6.1 inches in size, which fits most iPhone and iPhone Pro models. The faux leather case features a safe and secure zipper with a compartment for your credit cards and cash, and it’s made from RFID-blocking materials, so would-be thieves and scammers don’t steal your personal data.

Meanwhile, the crossbody strap is made from a rose gold chain (or singular faux leather) that’s stylish and sleek. It comes in black, beige and burgundy.

Lameeku Crossbody iPhone Wallet Case in black. — Amazon

LAMEEKU Crossbody iPhone Wallet Case $36.99 on Amazon.com

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3. Case-Mate Crossbody Phone Chain

Case-Mate’s chunky tortoiseshell crossbody chain clips onto any smartphone case, including iPhone, Samsung and Google devices. Made of lightweight plastic, the link chains measure 54 inches and come in black, lavender and tortoiseshell as well as in gold metal. Paris Hilton, Lucy Hale and Selena Gomez have protected their tech in the brand’s cases.

Case-Mate Crossbody Phone Chain $30

Buy now

4. Bocasal Crossbody iPhone Wallet Case

The Bocasal Crossb ody iPhone Wallet Case comes with an adjustable and removable shoulder strap that reaches up to 55 inches in length, while the iPhone rests inside of a case with a built-in wallet folio. It’s made from faux leather and leather materials in a diamond pattern that looks cute and exquisite.

Bocasal Crossbody iPhone Wallet Case in brown. — Amazon

Bocasal Crossbody Wallet Case for iPhone $29.99 on Amazon.com

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5. Casetify Pearl Crossbody Strap

For a stylish and trendy finish, add Casetify’s pearl crossbody strap to your smartphone case. If pearls aren’t your thing, the company also offers other designs, including silver chains, utilitarian lanyard straps, metal ball chain cross-body straps and more. The brand has been spotted on Jessica Alba, Emma Roberts, K-pop superstar Taeyeon and many other stars.

Casetify Pearl Crossbody Strap $62

Buy now

6. Hoggu Crossbody iPhone Wallet Case

If you’re looking for a slim design, the Hoggu Crossbody iPhone Wallet Case is for you. It features a sleek profile with precision cutouts for the iPhone’s cameras, buttons and display, while its crossbody strap is removable to suit just about any occasion and a magnetic wallet folio for additional security when closed.

Hoggu Crossbody iPhone Wallet Case in Mandala. — Amazon

Hoggu Crossbody iPhone Wallet Case $15.99 on Amazon.com

Buy now

7. ZVE Crossbody iPhone Wallet Case with Small Pouch

Looking for more storage? This ZVE Crossbody iPhone Wallet Case comes with a small pouch on its removable crossbody strap to carry around small items, like lipstick, keys and more. It also has a zippered wallet folio for slots for credit cards, a driver’s license and cash. The case even comes with an extra strap for your wrist that’s handy and chic.

ZVE Crossbody iPhone Wallet Case with Small Pouch in Beige. — Amazon

ZVE Crossbody iPhone Wallet Case $49.99 on Amazon.com

Buy now

Best Crossbody Cases for Android

8. Jaorty Crossbody Samsung Phone Cases

Do you have a Samsung smartphone? The Jaorty Crossbody Samsung Phone Case is designed for the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra and features an adjustable and removable strap, a wallet folio for bank cards and cash and a 360-degree ring holder for your index finger to steady the phone when in use. It also doubles as a kickstand, if you’re watching videos on a table.

It comes in a wide range of colors and styles, including pink, black leopard, purple, rose gold and much more.

Jaorty Crossbody Phone Cases for Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra in pink. — Amazon

Jaorty Crossbody Samsung Phone Cases $17.99 on Amazon.com

Buy now

9. Casetify Utility Crossbody Lanyard

If you already have a favorite case for your Samsung or Google phone but want to add a hands-free option, Casetify’s range of crossbody chains and lanyards are a stylish upgrade. Choose from utilitarian nylon styles like this one, or opt for fashion-forward straps with pearls, ’90s-inspired ball chains and more.

Casetify Utility Crossbody Lanyard $48

Buy now

10. ZVE Crossbody Samsung Wallet Case

Made from leather, the ZVE Crossbody Samsung Wallet Case has a slim profile, so it doesn’t add a lot of bulk to the Samsung Galaxy S23. It features a removable strap and a zippered pouch on its rare for your ID, bank cards, cash and more. This bumper case also has a stylish and minimal design.

ZVE Crossbody Samsung Wallet Case in black. — Amazon

ZVE Crossbody Samsung Wallet Case $32.99 on Amazon.com

Buy now

10. eMorevalue Android Phone Pouch

This eMorevalue phone holder is more of a pouch than a case with its multiple compartments for your phone, credit cards, cash, driver’s license and more. It’s a small, cute and versatile crossbody bag that can protect your Android smartphone, while also all of your items can be placed in one convenient spot.

It can even be worn in as a crossbody, over-the-shoulder, around your neck, on your wrist and other ways. There’s even cutouts for a pair of wired earbuds too, when a phone is inside.

eMorevalue Android Phone Purse in hot pink

eMorevalue Android Phone Purse $9.93 on Amazon.com

Buy now

12. Zcdaye Crossbody Samsung Phone Wallet Case

Made for the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra, the Zcdaye Crossbody Samsung Phone Wallet Case is slim and cute with a horizontal case design instead of the usual vertical straps. It’s made from faux and real leather, while the case opens like a billfold with your phone, bank cards, cash, driver’s license and other items resting inside. The case even unfolds backwards to create a handy kickstand, so you can prop it up when watching videos on a flat surface, like a table or desk.

It comes in five colors, such as red, rose gold, green, black and brown.

Zcdaye Crossbody Samsung Phone Wallet Case in red. — Amazon

Zcdaye Crossbody Samsung Wallet Case $14.99 on Amazon.com

Buy now

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September 25, 2023

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What to Watch

New American Horror Story Season 12 Detail Boosts Theories Of A Coven Crossover

WARNING: This article contains SPOILERS for American Horror Story: Delicate episode 1 and the book Delicate Condition.

Summary

American Horror Story: Delicate might feature a crossover with Coven, exploring the connection between witches and the new season’s storyline.
The book Delicate Condition, which the season is based on, hints at a coven of witches and a shocking twist ending that could be included in the show.
While Sarah Paulson and Evan Peters won’t be returning, there are ways for American Horror Story: Delicate to connect to the Coven season, such as referencing characters through conversation or flashbacks. The show has handled dual casting before, so Emma Roberts playing two characters could be plausible.

American Horror Story: Delicate could feature a crossover with the show’s third season, American Horror Story: Coven. The 12th installment of the anthology series is based on the book Delicate Condition by Danielle Valentine. The plot follows a young actress named Anna Alcott and her experience trying to conceive a child with her husband, and there may be a strong connection between the new season and a character from Coven.

American Horror Story: Delicate‘s premiere episode borrowed many elements of Valentine’s book, hinting it will continue to follow the same storyline. If this is the case, it won’t be long before the topic of witches and covens comes up in the Emma Roberts-led season. Since Ryan Murphy seems to be a fan of crossover seasons, American Horror Story: Coven may play a role in the latest season.

Delicate Condition Hints American Horror Story Season 12 Is A Coven Crossover

Delicate Condition by Danielle Valentine has a pretty shocking twist ending that connects the mysterious occurrences in the book to a coven of witches. In the book, it turns out Anna’s friend, Siobhan, is actually a part of a coven, and this is how she saves Anna’s baby after she has a miscarriage. Since American Horror Story: Delicate is based on the book, it will likely feature this ending, and it isn’t the first time American Horror Story has tackled covens or witches.

The show’s third season, American Horror Story: Coven, centered on a group of witches, so there’s a good chance Ryan Murphy might be doing another crossover this season. American Horror Story has featured several crossovers since its premiere, such as including the character Pepper in both American Horror Story: Asylum and American Horror Story: Freak Show. However, the biggest crossover occurred during American Horror Story: Apocalypse, which featured characters from Murder House, Coven, and American Horror Story: Hotel.

With the latest season of the horror series having a connection to covens, it wouldn’t be surprising if Murphy decided to connect it to season 3 and bring back some of the characters from that season. Though it’s been confirmed Sarah Paulson and Evan Peters won’t be returning for American Horror Story season 12, there are other ways to connect the seasons. The show could name-drop the characters or have new actors come in and play new witches that are a part of the same coven from season 3, even if they didn’t appear in the show back then.

American Horror Story Season 12 Already Teased A Big Coven Connection

Emma Roberts with a spider over here in the AHS: Delicate poster crop

The idea that Ryan Murphy might have a Coven crossover planned is not something new and predates the premiere episode. An American Horror Story: Coven crossover looked like a possibility back in August when the season posters were revealed. In the posters, Emma Roberts and Kim Kardashian are posed with giant spiders on them, which might be a reference to Taissa Farmiga’s character Zoe Benson, who was known for her “Black Widow” powers.

There has been no news that Farmiga might return to the show, and she hasn’t made an appearance on American Horror Story since the eighth season. However, even if she doesn’t make an appearance in American Horror Story: Delicate, the other characters could reference her through conversation or flashbacks to season 3. There are rarely any coincidences when it comes to American Horror Story‘s complex plots, so it’s likely the spider is an Easter egg for Farmiga’s Coven character.

How American Horror Story Could Handle Emma Roberts’ Dual Casting

Emma Roberts in American Horror Story: Delicate

One of the major contradictions that would occur if American Horror Story: Delicate did a Coven crossover is how Emma Roberts could play both Anna and Madison from Coven. This would be especially difficult since Roberts is playing the main character in the season. However, American Horror Story has had actors play dual roles before. In American Horror Story: Apocalypse, Farmiga played her Murder House character Violet Harmon and her Coven character Zoe Benson. There is even a scene where Madison goes to the Murder House to speak to Violet and never acknowledges the striking similarities between her and Zoe.

While it may have felt weird to see one actress play two characters and have no one acknowledge they look like the same person, it worked for Apocalypse, and it could work again in American Horror Story: Delicate. However, it would be even more interesting if somehow American Horror Story connected Anna to Madison’s character. The series has done a lot of jumping around on timelines in the past, and there may be a way they could justify how Anna and Madison look the same and are both a part of a coven.

New episodes of American Horror Story: Delicate premiere Wednesdays on FX.

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September 25, 2023

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WARNING: This article contains SPOILERS for American

Awards

It’s ‘Offensive’ People Assume I Used Ghostwriter for Book – IndieWire

Julia Fox stepped away from Hollywood to write her life story.

The “Uncut Gems” breakout star told The New York Times that her upcoming memoir “Down the Drain” became her career focus as opposed to taking on new roles.

“I had been given a deadline, and I kind of misunderstood what that meant,” Fox said. “I had to turn it in in, like, three months or something. I thought I had six months. The book swallowed my life. Everything became book, book, book. I didn’t go out. I didn’t take other jobs.”

Fox called it “offensive” that fans are assuming she hired a ghostwriter for the book.

“Well, I’ve had people be like, ‘Off record, between you and I, did you use a ghostwriter? Did somebody help you?’ It’s kind of offensive,” Fox said, citing that she has previously been public about writing “every word” of the book. “I wouldn’t make that statement if there were some ghostwriter out in the world — that feels really stupid. It goes back to people always underestimating me or not taking me seriously. What else is new?”

Now, with the memoir being published by Simon and Schuster, Fox is working on an upcoming film, which she co-wrote with Sara Apple. It’s been billed as “Weekend at Bernie’s” meets “Spring Breakers.” She is also starring in “The Trainer” co-starring Bella Thorne and Stephen Dorff.

“I’m doing a movie this month. I have my upcycling fashion show that I’m so excited to do because I love young designers. It’s a dream to be able to give them a platform. I also wrote a movie with my friend Sara,” Fox said. “It’s about these two girls that go on a bender — they’re in and out of A.A. — and they accidentally kill one of the girl’s sugar daddies. It’s really funny and crazy and, I think, very empowering. It’s ditsy. It’s dark.”

“There are really no movies about female friendship, unless it’s like some lesbian thing,” Fox said of her script. “I think female friendship is a great topic to explore because when it’s that intense, it can move mountains. At least for me, they’re the strongest, most beautiful, trusting relationships I’ve ever had, and they are the ones that stand out in my mind way over any boyfriend I’ve ever had.”

She continued, “One of the constants in my life is that I’ve had a girl bestie, and we’re obsessed with each other, like super-codependent. It’s maybe unhealthy but still so much fun — laughter and tears, just very raw and authentic. You can’t really have that with a guy, at least I can’t. Maybe with a gay guy.”

As for what’s next, Fox summed up, “Ultimately my goal is to fade into obscurity and write scripts, develop movies, TV shows, maybe children’s books. I would like to be able to hole up somewhere and write at my leisure.”

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September 25, 2023

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Julia Fox stepped away from Hollywood to

Music

Electronic Pioneers Tangerine Dream Shape-Shift Once Again

Even Baumann is skeptical. The original band’s success, in his view, was less about genius than serendipitous timing. “You can’t really recreate what happened in the ’70s,” he said. “You don’t have the same kind of instruments, you don’t have the audience, you don’t have the atmosphere, you don’t have the cultural environment.

“There’s nothing wrong with a cover,” Baumann added. “But it’s not the original, you know?”

Quaeschning has heard it all before, even in response to projects led by Froese, like a cantata trilogy based on Dante’s “Divine Comedy.” In the 2000s, Froese himself recorded new versions of several Tangerine Dream albums, including “Phaedra,” “Tangram” and “Hyperborea.”

“I’m used to people saying, ‘This is not Tangerine Dream,’” he said, laughing. “But what is Tangerine Dream?” Anyone hearing “Electronic Meditation,” the group’s clangorous 1970 debut, then “Phaedra,” its sequencer-driven 1974 landmark, and “Optical Race,” a slick digital release from 1988, would find it hard to reconcile the differences, he said.

“It’s hard to spot the Tangerine Dream sound from a distance,” Quaeschning said, “but the feeling and the concept were always there. And it feels quite right at this moment.”

“Quantum Gate,” released in 2017, and “Raum,” its 2022 follow-up, sound very much like Tangerine Dream, and not just because material by Froese was used. “The idea was going back to everything Edgar had done with Tangerine Dream in the ’70s and ’80s,” Quaeschning said, “with contemporary sound design and the idea that everyone has a role in the band, like an orchestra.”

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September 25, 2023

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Even Baumann is skeptical. The original band’s

Docs

‘Rick and Morty’ Season 7 Trailer Debuts Justin Roiland’s Replacements

The seventh season of “Rick and Morty” is set to debut next month on Adult Swim, but things might sound a bit strange.

The trailer for the new season has been released, and while the sci-fi hijinks look consistent with past seasons, the title characters sound slightly different. That’s because series co-creator Justin Roiland, who voices both Rick and Morty, was fired in January by Adult Swim after he was charged with domestic violence. The charges were dismissed in March by the Orange County District Attorney’s office.

After Roiland’s departure, Adult Swim announced it was going to recast the voices with soundalikes. The new voices are heard in the trailer, but the replacement talent has not yet been named.

“It’s happening,” Michael Ouweleen, president of Adult Swim, said in a press release accompanying the trailer. “Thanks to the talent of the entire show team, we can all enjoy 10 new episodes that yet again raise the bar for comedy and animation. This season proves that the geniuses at work on ‘Rick and Morty’ are just getting started.”

A typically cryptic season summary was also released, which winked at the recasting.

“Rick and Morty are back and sounding more like themselves than ever,” it reads. “It’s season seven, and the possibilities are endless: what’s up with Jerry? EVIL Summer?! And will they ever go back to the high school?! Maybe not! But let’s find out! There’s probably less piss than last season. ‘Rick and Morty,’ 100 years! Or at least until season 10!”

“Rick and Morty” season 7 will premiere on Adult Swim on Oct. 15. Watch the trailer below.

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September 25, 2023

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The seventh season of “Rick and Morty”

Global

Florida woman found dead after 4-metre alligator seen with body in its jaws – National

A massive alligator in Florida was euthanized on Friday after a passerby spotted the reptile carrying human body parts in its jaws, police said.

The Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office said the impressive 13-foot, 8.5-inch (or 4.23 m) alligator was observed as it swam in a canal in Largo, Fla., last week.

The alligator, which was reportedly carrying part of a human torso, was removed from the water after police were alerted.

Police said the alligator was “humanely killed.”

The remains were also discovered by divers and removed from the waterway. The body was identified on Saturday as 41-year-old Sabrina Peckham. The exact cause of Peckham’s death is not yet known. Police are still investigating.

Peckham, who was unhoused, was reprimanded in July for trespassing on county wetlands just blocks away from where her body was discovered, according to court documents.

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Jamarcus Bullard told NBC News affiliate WFLA that he witnessed the alligator carrying the body in its mouth.

“I threw a rock at the gator just to see if it was really a gator and like it pulled the body, like it was holding on to the lower part of the torso, and pulled it under the water,” he recounted.

Bullard said he recorded the gruesome sight on his phone, then called authorities.

He watched on as police and wildlife officials tied a rope around the alligator’s neck and used a pulley to reel the reptile out of the water. He said the alligator was shot by authorities, then stretched out on dry land to be measured snout to tail.

The grim discovery has reportedly frightened locals in the area, many of whom said their children often walk by the canal.

Peckham’s daughter Breauna Dorris created a GoFundMe page to help cover her mother’s funeral expenses.

“Sabrina was loved by many and we expected many many more years with her. Our family is in shambles trying to cope with this kind of loss,” Dorris wrote. “Sabrina only being 41 and homeless at the time had no funeral or death arrangements set up. We will be using the funds raised for crematory expenses and laying her to rest in our family plot.”

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Over US$8,500 (about C$11,400) has been donated on GoFundMe as of this writing.

Fatal alligator attacks are very rare. The average American alligator can be found in the southeast United States and typically only grows to be between six and 12 feet (1.8 m and 3.7 m) long.

Alligators are not native to Canada.

Click to play video: 'Kayaker has a close encounter with an alligator in North Carolina'

1:01
Kayaker has a close encounter with an alligator in North Carolina

&copy 2023 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.

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September 25, 2023

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A massive alligator in Florida was euthanized

Trending

‘PAW Patrol: The Mighty Movie’ Breaks Guinness World Record With Most Dogs at a Film Screening

Two paws up for this new record!

On Sunday, 219 dogs helped set a new Guinness World Record for most dogs attending a film screening in honor of the upcoming PAW Patrol: The Might Movie. While ET’s Kevin Frazier hosted the event in partnership with Best Friends Animal Society and Street Food Cinema, hundreds of four-legged friends stole the spotlight as they attended the movie screening at the Autry Museum in Griffith Park in Los Angeles and set the new record previously held by 199 dogs in October 2022.

“I was so excited to adjudicate this Guinness World Records attempt for most dogs attending a film screening,” Guinness World Records official adjudicator Michael Empric said in a statement. “It’s not every day I get to enjoy an ‘Officially Amazing’ time at the movies with hundreds of furry friends. I’d like to congratulate Paramount Pictures and PAW Patrol: The Mighty Movie for their ‘paw-some’ new record title!”

Brittany Thorn, Executive Director of Best Friends Animal Society in Los Angeles, added, “We are thrilled to have worked with the team at Paramount Pictures to break the Guinness World Records for most dogs at a film screening. I hope people reading about this milestone will be inspired to get out and adopt.”

Phillip Faraone/Getty Images for Paramount Pictures

Vivien Killilea/Getty Images for Paramount Pictures

Plus, in just a matter of days, fans can see their favorite animated pups back on the big screen — this time with superpowers — as PAW Patrol: The Mighty Movie, voiced by stars including Kristen Bell, James Marsden, Mckenna Grace, Taraji P. Henson, Marsai Martin, Kim Kardashian and her kids, North West and Saint West, hits theaters on Sept. 29. Check out the trailer below!

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September 25, 2023

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Two paws up for this new record!On

Tech

A powerful new malware backdoor is targeting governments across the world

Cybersecurity researchers from ESET have discovered a new, sophisticated piece of malware targeting government organizations in the Middle East.

The malware is dubbed Deadglyph, and apparently is the work of Stealth Falcon APT, a state-sponsored threat actor allegedly from the United Arab Emirates (UAE). This group is also known among some researchers as Project Raven, or FruityArmor, BleepingComputer reports, and targets political activists, journalists, dissidents, and similar individuals.

In its technical writeup, ESET’s researchers explained that Deadglyph is a modular piece of malware, capable of receiving additional modules from its command & control (C2) server, depending on what the operators look to grab from the target endpoint. The modules can use both Windows and custom Executor APIs, meaning the threat actors can use at least a dozen functions. Some of them include loading executable files, accessing Token Impersonation, running encryption, hashing, and more.

Multiple modules

ESET analyzed three modules – a process creator, an information collector, and a file reader. The collector, for example, can tell the threat actors which operating system the victim is using, which network adapters the endpoint has, which software and drivers it has installed, and more. The researchers believe up to 14 modules are available.

There is no word on potential targets, other than the malware was found on a device belonging to a government firm. Earlier reports, however, describe Stealth Falcon as a decade-old threat actor (in operation since at least 2012) that targets political activists and journalists – not government employees.

In 2019, ESET analyzed one of StealthFalcon’s campaigns, concluding that the targets, although small in number, were scattered around the world – in UAE, Saudi Arabia, Thailand, and the Netherlands. In the latter, though, the group targeted a diplomatic mission of a Middle Eastern country.

At the moment there is no information on how the hackers managed to infiltrate the target devices. For now, IT teams can only use indicators of compromise published here.

Via BleepingComputer

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September 25, 2023

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Cybersecurity researchers from ESET have discovered a

Video

Gavin Newsom to Debate Ron DeSantis on Fox News in November

September 25, 2023 @ 9:51 AM

Florida governor and Republican presidential hopeful Ron DeSantis will debate California Gov. Gavin Newsom on Fox News on Nov. 30 in a “red state vs. blue state” event.

The debate will take place in Georgia at a location that has yet to be determined. Fox News host Sean Hannity will moderate the 90-minute debate between the two governors, according to the network.

“I’m looking forward to providing viewers with an informative debate about the everyday issues and governing philosophies that impact the lives of every American,” Hannity said in a statement.

Newsom first challenged DeSantis to a debate last year. The event between the two governors started coming into focus last month when both Newsom and DeSantis agreed to participate in the event, but plans for the debate were stalled over whether a live audience would be included, which seems to have been sorted out.

Fox News is presenting the debate as “Red State vs. Blue State,” in an effort to highlight the differences in governance between the two politicians.

DeSantis will also be participating in the second Republican presidential primary debate this Wednesday, hosted by Fox Business.

Fox News hosted the first debate of the GOP primary cycle in August, which DeSantis also participated in. Notably, Trump snubbed the first debate and has indicated he will do the same for the second. Trump has had issues with Fox News as it has given more attention to his rival DeSantis.

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September 25, 2023

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September 25, 2023 @ 9:51 AM Florida governor

Entertaintment

Jesse L. Martin in NBC Crime Procedural – The Hollywood Reporter

In broad strokes, NBC’s The Irrational follows the well-worn and well-loved formula of “offbeat detective has a particular gift that just makes him better at detecting than everyone else,” which has powered mysteries since at least the days of Arthur Conan Doyle and Agatha Christie. True, Alec (Jesse L. Martin) isn’t technically a detective — he’s a college professor who frequently consults for the FBI, where his ex-wife, Marisa (Maahra Hill), happens to work. But this is a series built around his unique brilliance, which ostensibly allows him to pick up on the irregularities everyone else seems to miss.

The show’s vibe is easy and familiar, and in its own way comforting — in the three episodes sent to critics, justice comes as reliably as the turning of the hour. Yet despite a likable lead turn by Martin, it’s difficult not to notice how un-special this story of a supposedly special detective feels. To the extent that it stands out on the release calendar, that’s due to it being one of precious few scripted broadcast debuts in a fall TV season decimated by strikes. In every other sense, it’s an okay series without the cleverness or ambition to become a good one.

The Irrational

The Bottom Line

Charismatic lead, dull cases.

Airdate: 10 p.m. Monday, Sept. 25 (NBC)
Cast: Jesse L. Martin, Maahra Hill, Travina Springer, Molly Kunz, Arash DeMaxi
Executive producers: Arika Lisanne Mittman, Mark Goffman, Sam Baum, David Frankel

In retrospect, it might have helped if Alec’s gimmick were anything to write home about. Alec is a behavioral psychology expert whose driving thesis is that “people are irrational, but predictably so.” Where other law enforcement types assume the obvious — like, say, that a guy who freely confesses to murder probably committed said murder — Alec knows better.

The depth and breadth of his knowledge makes him something of a celebrity in his own field. “My roommate wants to know if you really helped the Rams win the Super Bowl,” excited research assistant Rizwan (Arash DeMaxi) gushes upon first meeting Alec. His response drips with faux humility: “Well, that was a risky experiment, but it worked out for them.” Yet the concepts that The Irrational throws out to illustrate his genius are the sort covered in any intro-to-psych course, like confirmation bias or misdirected attention.

The cases Alec is asked to weigh in on are nicely varied: the first episode looks like a classic case of a woman killed by her ex-boyfriend; the second sees Alec teaming with a dying woman to solve her own attempted murder via Litvinenko-inspired radiation poisoning; the third focuses on a plane crash that may not be quite what it seems. But the solutions are disappointingly obvious even without Alec’s supposedly indispensable input.

Between the thinly written characters and the by-the-book plotting, I was able to pinpoint two of the three culprits the moment they were introduced, and that’s as someone who’s generally terrible at solving TV murders.

Meanwhile, the ongoing mystery of Alec’s backstory advances in seemingly random increments. Years ago, he was badly burned in a church bombing that claimed 13 other lives, and whose true culprit was never caught. Thanks to his hazy recollection of the event, it remains the one case he’s unable to crack. In the present, he tries every trick he can think of to jog his own memory. But it’s one thing to watch a man piece together the puzzle of his own past, trying to resolve the riddle alongside him. It’s another, less interesting thing to wait around for breakthroughs triggered by, for instance, accidentally catching a whiff of a certain flower.

With such a disconnect between how impressive we’re meant to believe Alec is and how impressive he truly appears, The Irrational runs the risk of painting Alec as obnoxious. Believe in tarot cards, like Alec’s sister Kylie (Travina Springer), or don’t, like Alec; either way, no one wants an impromptu lecture about how the Barnum effect tricks people into believing fortune tellers are real.

Meanwhile, the characters around Alec don’t make enough of an impression to counter his strong personality. At least Kylie gets some bright eye makeup to signal her role as his much younger, much tech-savvier sidekick. It’s hard to come up with words much more specific than “nice” to describe characters like Marisa and Rizwan and Alec’s other research assistant, Phoebe (Molly Kunz).

That Alec nevertheless lands just this side of bearable is a testament to Martin’s charisma. The scripts frequently suggest a character with a Sherlock Holmes-like prickliness: “That ability that you have, to completely divorce emotion from reason, is both why I married you and why we split up,” Marisa marvels in an early snippet of expository dialogue.

Martin, however, tempers his detachment with just the right touches of warmth and humor — it’s like he’s in on some cosmic joke he’d be willing to share, if only you’d ask. It’s this openness that represents Alec at his best, that makes him enjoyable to root for even when his cases aren’t terribly exciting to follow. If only his show seemed half as curious as he does about digging up interesting and unique details.

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September 25, 2023

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In broad strokes, NBC’s The Irrational follows

Movies

RRKPK: Karan Johar REVEALS The Real Life Story Behind Dharmendra-Shabana Azmi’s Love Track

Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani directed by Karan Johar.

Released on July 28, Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani starred Ranveer Singh and Alia Bhatt in the lead.

The recent blockbuster ‘Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani’ has struck a chord with audiences, serving as a classic example of a Karan Johar masterpiece that cleverly disguises itself as a spirited parody within the framework of a soap opera while embracing the essence of a musical extravaganza. The film which not only won love from the audience was also hailed by the critics for its engaging and wholesome storyline. Now Karan Johar has revealed in a new interview, that the seed of Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani came from an incident involving a family member.

In an interview with Prabal Gurung, Karan Johar shared, “I remember there was an incident that happened in my family where a member of my family actually had dementia and he had gone back to his past love. Only thing is he was a married man and he kept taking the name of this one lady. He just said this name and it was a scandal. And then the truth came out that he was actually having an affair. And there was drama happening in and around this situation. And my father had to fly down. My mother had to fly down.”

Recalling how these real life individuals pivoted him towards his story, Karan Johar added, “And I remember instead of feeling terrible about what was happening between these three people at an average age of 82, I was like, ‘Wow, like this is great.’ For me, I’m so obsessed with infidelity. I made a movie on it and I remember someone telling me, ‘Why are you endorsing infidelity?’ I’m like, ‘Dude, you can’t endorse something that’s already sold out.’ Just emotionally speaking, I’m always intrigued by the idea of infidelity and how it can be a reality.”

“I called up Ranveer and Alia and we got into a conference call and I was like, ‘I’m writing a love story called RARKPK.’ And then I asked Ranveer, ‘What do you have to say?’ He said, ‘You had me at hello, like, on the phone.’ And Alia was like, ‘Why are you even asking me? We’re doing this, just tell us when.’ And I was like, ‘Okay, let me write the film,” he concluded.

Released on July 28, Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani starred Ranveer Singh and Alia Bhatt in the lead. The film also featured veteran actors like Dharmendra, Shabana Azmi and Jaya Bachchan in key roles. It also includes supporting actors like Tota Roy Chowdhury, Ronit Roy, Saswata Chatterjee, Karmveer Choudhary, Kshitee Jog.

Yatamanyu Narain

Yatamanyu is a multi-disciplinary Journalist & Photographer who dabbles in Films, Poetry, Music, Politics, Pop-Culture and everything in between. …Read More

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September 25, 2023

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Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani directed

Latest News

Focalistic, Uncle Waffles and more pay tribute to popular amapiano promoter and event organiser Smasho Papino

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September 25, 2023

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Focalistic, Uncle Waffles and more pay tribute

Rick and Morty trailer where Morty looks unimpressed at Rick

DCU

RICK AND MORTY Season 7 Trailer Is a Wild and Wacky Cluster of Chaos

Rick and Morty are heading out for more twisted, odd, and overall confounding yet entertaining adventures in various universes. This ongoing saga about a sociopathic genius scientist, his oft-skittish grandson, and the rest of their weird family is in its seventh season. A new Rick and Morty season seven trailer proves that there are still many stories to tell and questions to answer. We really wanna know what is going on with evil Summer.

Rick is back and he’s not a pickle this time. Instead, he shows an unimpressed and probably exhausted Morty that he’s a leg. It’s the start of what is a chaotic collection of clips. Rick shoots a zombie in a graveyard and fake attends therapy. A society unsurprisingly collapses far quicker than it should, thanks to Rick and Morty existing. Perhaps the most exciting part of this is the return of Water-T. Of course, the person behind this voice is actor/rapper Ice-T. It is the one thing in life that makes sense.

We also get a few fun nods to movies like Air Force One and Transformers: Rise of the Beasts. This reflect the season’s very fun episode titles that pay homage to well-known movies from several genres. Who ever thought Rick and Morty would tip its hat at How Stella Got Her Groove Back? It’s shocking but we have seen some seriously strange stuff on this show. I dare say that the Rick and Morty season seven trailer is very on brand for this franchise, indeed. Rick is gonna Rick and Morty is gonna Morty.

**What Is the Release Date for Rick and Morty Season Seven?**

Adult Swim

Rick and Morty’s seventh season is coming on October 15 at 11PM PT/ET on Adult Swim. The season will head to streaming sometime in 2024.

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September 25, 2023

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Rick and Morty are heading out for

Comics

PlatinumGames co-founder Hideki Kamiya is leaving the studio

Bayonetta director after helping to found the company back in 2006 when it was called Seeds Inc. Kamiya was recently promoted to VP, so this move comes as a slight surprise. He recently that it was “by no means an easy decision to make.”

Kamiya still has a couple of weeks on his post, as he officially exits the company on October 12. As for the why of it all, he wrote that the move “came after a lot of consideration based on my own beliefs,” but didn’t offer further explanation. He says he’s still going to make games in his “Hideki Kamiya way”, but hasn’t announced if he’s heading to another company, starting his own or even just planning to tinker away in a garage somewhere. He’s only 52, so a complete retirement is highly unlikely.

Kamiya’s mark on gaming is massive. Most recently, he was the supervising director of the During his more than 15 years at PlatinumGames, Kamiya worked on classics like the original Bayonetta, the Wii U and Switch cult hit The Wonderful 101 and the among others. He was staffed at Capcom and its spin-off studio Clover before founding PlatinumGames, helming Resident Evil 2, Viewtiful Joe and Ōkami.

Kamiya has been hard at work these past few years on a superhero title He was lead director on the “heroic” game and the company has marketed it as a conclusion to his superhero trilogy, joining Viewtiful Joe and the Wonderful 101. PlatinumGames hasn’t announced if the game’s still coming or if it will poof into vaporware with Kamiya’s departure.

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September 25, 2023

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Bayonetta director after helping to found

Festivals

“Hard To Know” If He’s Aware Of Dementia – Deadline

Bruce Willis’ wife Emma Heming Willis isn’t sure if her husband, who suffers from frontotemporal dementia (FTD), is currently aware of his condition.

Heming Willis told NBC’s Today co-anchor Hoda Kotb this morning that “it’s hard to know” whether Willis is aware of what’s happening to him.

“What I’m learning is that dementia is hard,” Heming Willis said. “It’s hard on the person diagnosed. It’s also hard on the family. And that is no different for Bruce, or myself, or our girls. When they say that this is a family disease, it really is.”

Frontotemporal dementia is an all-encompassing term for a group of brain disorders that threatens, as the name implies, the frontal and temporal lobes of the brain. As the lobes atrophy, symptoms can include speech issues, emotional problems, changes in personality, loss of motor skills including problems walking, swallowing or muscle spasms.

Willis’ family went public with the actor’s condition in March 2022, announcing that Willis was stepping back from his career due to aphasia. By February of 2023, his condition had worsened to frontotemporal dementia.

Watch the Today show segment above.

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September 25, 2023

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Bruce Willis’ wife Emma Heming Willis isn’t

Film

Kourtney Kardashian Was the Ultimate Disney Adult at Her ‘Baby Barker’ Shower

Kourtney Kardashian made being a Disney adult look kind of chic at her baby shower on Sunday. The pregnant Poosh founder turned their Calabasas home into the Happiest Place on Earth for the occasion, and gave followers a look inside the party on her Instagram Story.

Highlights from the shindig included a barbershop quartet, a Wishing Tree, and a Disneyland-inspired sign that spelled out “Baby Barker.”

The catering featured Mickey Mouse-shaped pretzels, “Alice in Wonderland” green juice, and a Steamboat Willie cake.

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September 25, 2023

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Kourtney Kardashian made being a Disney adult

Treat Williams Cause Of Death Revealed As Man Driving Car In Fatal Accident Is Charged With “Grossly Negligent Operation” – Deadline

UPDATED, 10:07: Ryan Koss pleaded not guilty Monday in connection with the collision that led to the death of Treat Williams.

Koss, 35, was turning his Honda SUV left into a parking lot when he hit Williams on his motorcycle. Williams, 71, of Manchester Center, was pronounced dead at Albany Medical Center in New York.

Koss could be sentenced to up to 15 years in prison if he’s convicted of gross negligent operation that resulted in a death, according to AP.

Koss is the managing creative director of the Dorset Theatre Festival in Vermont and has reportedly said he knew Williams for years and considered him a friend. The AP reports Koss issued a statement in August saying he was devastated by Williams’ death and offered his “sincerest condolences” to Williams’ family, but he denied wrongdoing and said charges weren’t warranted.

PREVIOUSLY, August 1: The man who was driving a car and crashed into Treat Williams riding a motorcycle has been charged following the fatal accident.

Almost two months after the accident that killed the Everwood actor, the Bennington County State’s Attorney has completed its review. The driver identified as Ryan Koss has been charged with “grossly negligent operation with death,” according to the press release from the Vermont State Police.

Koss was driving a vehicle that “turned into the path of Mr. Williams motorcycle” with the actor suffering “critical injuries in the crash and subsequently pronounced dead” at a nearby hospital. The cause of death by the medical examiner was determined to be “severe trauma and blood loss as a result of the crash.”

Koss voluntarily met with authorities and was processed on the charge and released. He will appear for arraignment on September 25 of this year.

Williams died June 12 at 71, and his family issued a statement at the time. “Treat was full of love for his family, for his life and for his craft, and was truly at the top of his game in all of it. It is all so shocking right now, but please know that Treat was dearly and deeply loved and respected by his family and everyone who knew him. We are beyond devastated and ask that you respect our privacy as we deal with our grief. To all his fans, please know that Treat appreciated all of you and please continue to keep him in your hearts and prayers.”

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September 25, 2023

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UPDATED, 10:07: Ryan Koss pleaded not guilty

What to Watch

David Fincher’s 10 Highest-Grossing Movies, Ranked

David Fincher is a unique filmmaker; a perfectionist, interested in the scarier parts of the human experience, who always is trying to do new, visually interesting things in his movies. Those reasons are what has made his career one to watch for, and he’s been able to mix personal projects that also get people to go to the cinema and spend money. Here are his 10 highest-grossing films worldwide, according to Box Office Mojo.

10 Zodiac (2007) – $84.7 Million

Warner Bros. Pictures

Zodiac tells the story of the Zodiac Killer, a serial killer who sends cryptic messages to newspapers, taunting the police as he feels much smarter than them; and the cartoonist, Robert Graysmith (Jake Gyllenhaal), who becomes obsessed with the messages and wants to find the killer, even if that means turning his life upside down.

This might be Fincher’s most underrated film, as it has everything; investigations, a cold, efficient killer, some very tense scenes where you think the lead is going to get killed, and a great cast. Gyllenhaal is the lead, but the supporting characters are as good as him, from Robert Downey Jr., to Mark Ruffalo, Anthony Edwards, and Chloë Sevigny.

9 Fight Club (1999) – $101.2 Million

Fight Club by David Fincher — 20th Century Fox

Back when it was first released, Fight Club had one of those twist endings that surprised audiences, making it one of their biggest talking points. Based on Chuck Palahniuk’s novel, the story of the Narrator (Edward Norton in one of the performances, that showed he was going to be in Hollywood for the long haul), and Tyler Durden (Brad Pitt), as they create a fight club to unburden their life frustrations, and unknowingly touch on the dissatisfaction that many young, male adults feel.

The film was loved by some, hated by others, and is still talked about all these years later, as some of its ideas (extreme capitalism, depression, angry men) have become even bigger concerns in the last few years. The movie might have been the first time Fincher had all the money and movie stars for making the film he had thought in his head, and the results spoke for themselves, as it’s visually stunning, has some dark humor, and people still remember where they were when they understood who Tyler Durden really was.

8 The Game (1997) – $109.4 Million

Deborah Kara Unger in The Game — PolyGram Films

The Game has a crazy starting point; Nicholas Van Orton (Michael Douglas) a rich man who has everything, gets a birthday present like no other, an unusual entertainment, about a game he won’t know he’s playing. From there on, many weird and bad things start happening to him. This thriller lives in the paranoia world, and has one of Douglas’ best performances, as his Nicholas turns from cocky and entitled, to scared, paranoid, and suicidal. This was Fincher’s first film after Se7en, showing audiences that if thrilling, psychological dramas with not-that-well-adjusted lead characters were their preferred cup of tea, the director was their guy.

7 Alien 3 (1992) – $159.8 Million

Ellen Riply in Alien 3 — 20th Century Fox

Alien 3 continues the story of Ripley (Sigourney Weaver) and her worst enemy, as they arrive at a maximum-security prison, where the Xenomorphs can keep reproducing and killing everyone. This was Fincher’s first film, after he earned notoriety as a video clip filmmaker, and the experience almost made him never direct again, as the director has disowned the movie, as the film was ruined by studio interference. Even then, there’s already some DNA of everything the director loves to do on one of his films, including his perfectionism for shooting as many times as necessary in even the smallest of scenes.

6 Panic Room (2002) – $197 Million

Jodie Foster and Kristen Stewart in Panic Room — Sony Pictures Releasing

Panic Room might’ve been one of the most difficult projects Fincher has ever directed, as it all happens in a pretty small space of one house in Manhattan. Meg Altman (Jodie Foster) and her tween daughter, Sarah (Kristen Stewart, in what was for many the first time they saw her), have just moved to a new home with a panic room, when three men enter the house to steal something, they are going to use that room. The battle between the assailants and the divorced woman has many twists and turns, as the bad guys have different objectives and moral codes, and Meg is much more resilient and resourceful than anyone could’ve thought.

This idea is as exciting as they come for a director, and even more for a perfectionist like Fincher, as he could control everything. Even then, the director has said how difficult this shoot was, and not only because they had to start and stop the production twice, because of a Nicole Kidman injury (she was the first Meg Altman cast), and because of Jodie Foster’s pregnancy during the second one, but also because of the smaller sandbox in which he decided to play.

A scene from The Social Network — Columbia Pictures

The Social Network was one of the most impactful films of the early 2010s, as it told the kind-of real story of Mark Zuckerberg (Jesse Eisenberg), creator of Facebook, his best friend Eduardo (Andrew Garfield), Sean Parker (Justin Timberlake), the man that helped the company become much bigger, and the twins that sued them (Armie Hammer playing both parts). With an incredible cast that has gone to do even bigger things, and the best thing Aaron Sorkin has ever written (other than The West Wing), this story of coding and depositions could’ve been as boring as it is exciting, sad, and entertaining as possible, with an incredible pace thanks to the director, and the rest of the people involved.

About the incredible first scene, with Jesse Eisenberg and Rooney Mara, Fincher told TimeOut: “The first scene in a movie should teach the audience how to watch it. I’ve got a contract for two hours and 19 minutes. I have final cut at two hours and 19 minutes. As long as I can make it in that time, I can do whatever the f*ck I want. (…) It’s shut-the-f*ck-up-time: pay attention, or you’re going to miss a lot.”

4 The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo (2011) – $232.2 Million

The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo mara — Sony Pictures Releasing

The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo was based on the best-selling novel of the same name, written by Stieg Larsson. This is a dark film even for Fincher, as there are some scenes that could be someone’s worst nightmare. Rooney Mara has never been better, and Daniel Craig is able to make his character very competent, while also being completely out of his depth with this mystery. Even all these years later, it still deserves a sequel, as the books were a complete trilogy, and now that many years have passed, it would be interesting to see Mara and Fincher get back to the character.

3 Se7en (1995) – $327.3 Million

Morgan Freeman and Brad Pitt Se7en — New Line Cinema

Se7en is about two detectives, one young and impulsive, named Mills (Brad Pitt), another, an older, wiser, and tired man named Somerset (Morgan Freeman), as they try to catch a serial killer, John Doe (Kevin Spacey), who is using the seven deadly sins as the theme for his murder spree.

This might be one of the most pessimistic and depraved films ever made, and it put Fincher back on the map, after the disaster that was Alien 3. This film proved the director’s mastery, making a moody film, that evolved the thriller genre, and created an incredible villain, while also making even bigger stars of Pitt and Gwyneth Paltrow. The movie also has one of the most sad, scary, memorable, and spoiler-heavy endings of the last 30 years.

2 The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008) – $335.8 Million

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button has many things going for it; some incredible aging and de-aging visual effects, a charismatic Brad Pitt performance, and a great love story between his character and Daisy (Cate Blanchett). Based on a short story by one of the greatest American writers, F. Scott Fitzgerald, this is all about Benjamin Button, the man who ages backward, as his body is old when his mind is baby-like, and how his whole life happens, who he meets, and how he falls in love. This is a surprising film by Fincher, as he spends much more time than usual in showing the day-to-day life of this unique individual, and crafting a tender love story, that can even beat time.

1 Gone Girl (2014) – $369.3 Million

A scene from Gone Girl (2014) — 20th Century Fox

Gone Girl is Fincher’s highest-grossing movie ever, based on Gillian Flynn’s bestselling book and with an incredible twist that translates perfectly to the movie. This thriller about two not-so-great people is much more intense and stressful than one could’ve thought of by the title; as there are similar movies, but none are as surprising, scary, and memorable. Both Ben Affleck and Rosamund Pike give great performances that should’ve earned them some awards (Pike got nominated for her first and only Academy Award for it), as they destroy each other first with words, and then with everything they got, proving that sometimes it’s better to be alone.

About casting Affleck for the movie, Fincher told The Guardian: “Ben went through a period of his life where he was fodder; I guess he still is in a weird way. And you wonder, ‘When will they let him off?’ But it’s really good to have somebody who understands how nutty that is. What it’s like to live in a house where you have to draw the drapes, just in case [of photographers].”

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September 25, 2023

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David Fincher is a unique filmmaker;

Awards

Hear the New Voices for ‘Rick and Morty’ in Season 7 Trailer (Video)

September 25, 2023 @ 10:06 AM

“Rick and Morty” has dropped a Season 7 trailer that features the new voices for the duo originated by creator Justin Roiland.

“Rick and Morty are back and sounding more like themselves than ever! It’s Season 7, and the possibilities are endless: what’s up with Jerry? EVIL Summer?! And will they ever go back to the high school?! Maybe not! But let’s find out! There’s probably less piss than last season. ‘Rick and Morty,’ 100 years! Or at least until season 10!” the official season description states.

Roiland, who has voiced both titular characters since the long-running animated series premiered back in 2013, was charged with felony domestic violence related to an incident that first surfaced in a January 2020 criminal complaint.

Following the news, Adult Swim cut ties with Roiland but noted that the show would continue without his involvement. In February, an individual with knowledge of the matter told TheWrap that “Rick and Morty” was expected to fulfill its 70-episode order.

In March, the charges against Roiland were dropped. However, he has been separately accused of sexually assaulting a woman and engaging in inappropriate communication with minors, according to NBC.

The Emmy-winning, half-hour show follows a sociopathic genius scientist who drags his inherently timid grandson on insanely dangerous adventures across the universe.

Rounding out the rest of the main “Rick and Morty” cast is Sarah Chalke (“Scrubs”), Chris Parnell (“Saturday Night Live”) and Spencer Grammer (“Greek”).

Previous teasers for Season 7 showed clips from past seasons that utilized Roiland’s voice work. At San Diego Comic Con, executive producer Steven Levy said that the show was “closing in on the end of our process of the recast.” When asked to clarify, Levy replied: “It’s sound-alikes. The characters are the same characters. No change.”

In addition to “Rick and Morty,” the 20th Television Animation and Hulu Original shows “Solar Opposites” and “Koala Man” will continue without Roiland’s involvement after cutting ties. Roiland was a co-creator on “Solar Opposites,” which was renewed for a fifth season in October 2022, and an executive producer on “Koala Man,” which premiered on Jan. 9. Roiland’s voice in “Solar Opposites” will be replaced by Dan Stevens.

“Rick and Morty” Season 7 premieres Oct. 15 at 11 p.m. ET on Hulu. Watch the full trailer below.

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September 25, 2023

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September 25, 2023 @ 10:06 AM “Rick and

Music

Are Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce Really Dating? Does It Even Matter?

Life today can be stressful. Taylor Swift knows that, and she wants to help. So, she gives us content we can all engage with.

Take Sunday afternoon, a time where Americans set aside their hardships, their worries, and their different interests to all focus on one, singular event: Swift attending the Chiefs game to cheer on her rumored new love interest, tight end Travis Kelce.

X content

This content can also be viewed on the site it originates from.

We will all remember where we were the first time this Pop Crave tweet (or, I guess, post) crossed our feeds.

X content

This content can also be viewed on the site it originates from.

Not since maybe the moon landing has an event captured such a wide swath of attention from the American public. The girls were watching, the boys were watching, dads were watching, pets were watching. Football fans and pop culture stans were united like never before.

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September 25, 2023

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Life today can be stressful. Taylor Swift

Docs

Elis and Tom Featured, Reviews Film Threat

Hardcore Brazilian music fanatics have reason to rejoice over directors Roberto de Oliveira and Jom Tob Azulay’s documentary Elis & Tom, about famed singer Elis Regina and Tom Jobim, the father of Bossa Nova. Everyone else? Not so much. The movie, written by Nelson Motta and Roberto de Oliveira, highlights unearthed footage of the two artists recording the legendary Elis and Tom album in 1974 in Los Angeles.

We see Regina and Jobim making beautiful music together while grinning hatefully at each other. Between vintage images of these two musical giants working it out, we have interviews with musicians and producers involved in the recording. Apparently, Jobim wasn’t very popular in Brazil, even during the height of his international celebrity due to “The Girl From Ipanema.” It is related that his native country nearly crucified him when he licensed his music to advertise American soft drinks. Regina was hesitant to expand internationally like Jobim had, with fame not meaning much to her. After recording this album, she concentrated on releasing music in Brazil until her tragic death in 1982. We see the subjects bicker while stories of the sessions hang in the air like cigarette smoke between takes.

“…Regina and Jobim making beautiful music together while grinning hatefully at each other.”

I like all sorts of music, including Bossa Nova. Before viewing this, I knew of Jobim’s work and stature and was eager to see him in action. I was unfamiliar with Regina but was intrigued, as this album, which I was unaware of, is quite renowned. What did I get from Elis & Tom? Chain-smoking. An endless vista of chain-smoking, a permanent yellow film of nicotine coats the studio scenes. I am not casting the first stone here as I smoked 30 Camel cigarettes daily for nine years. I remember the smoking artist tradition, where creative people always had an ever-present smoldering tobacco ember inches from their faces. The filmmakers include many images of early 1970s Los Angeles with its famous smog to match the smoke-filled studio. While lots of forgotten air pollution has been captured, I didn’t get much more out of the viewing experience.

While the interviews fill in a lot of information, and there are some nice clips, the movie fails to fill in the musicians’ backgrounds enough to excite non-fans. It also fails to showcase the music the way it needs to be. If this was such an important album, how come we have barely an inkling of its content? We catch recurring phrases about roses being rained on, which sounds a little ribald, but the flavor is missing. I am sure people who are already fans can fill in the blanks, and they will get a lot more out of the documentary than I can. What is important with a rock doc, even one about bossa nova, is to transmit the enthusiasm that its subject generates. The audience’s reaction to the music will be subjective, but their response to the enthusiasm portrayed should be like clockwork.

Instead, Elis & Tom meanders around with no sense of progression until the album is thankfully done. I guess the big story here is Regina and Jobim made a great album even though they did not get along or have a good time recording together. Fine, maybe that is more interesting than it seemed while watching it. Once again, ardent fans of Brazilian music will be able to shift through this. Others, like me, will have difficulty finding the point in all the haze.

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September 25, 2023

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Hardcore Brazilian music fanatics have reason to

Global

US senator: 'I will be exonerated' on fraud charges

The Democratic senator from New Jersey says he will run for re-election in the face of federal charges.

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September 25, 2023

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The Democratic senator from New Jersey says

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Jessica Chastain attended the CNMI Sustainable Fashion Awards 2023 during the Milan Fashion Week Womenswear Spring/Summer 2024.

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September 25, 2023

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Jessica Chastain attended the CNMI Sustainable Fashion

Tech

5 More Scary Alien Movies to Watch After ‘No One Will Save You’

Amazon Prime Video

“The Vast of Night”

This is one of the more recent alien invasion movies and the one that “No One Will Save You” might remind you of, at least on the fringes. “The Vast of Night,” which premiered at the 2019 Slamdance Film Festival and was released by Amazon Studios in 2020, is focused on a small town in the 1950s that is experiencing an otherworldly visitation. In many ways, though, this is the inverse of “No One Will Save You.” Where the new movie is virtually silent, “The Vast of Night” is extremely chatty, ping-ponging from one discussion of the supposed UFO to the other, leading to a genuinely shocking ending. One of the best movies of the past few years, period, “The Vast of Night” trades on the same kind of unknowable, existential dread as “No One Will Save You,” but has way more poodle skirts. [Prime Video]

“The UFO Incident”

This 1975 TV movie is important because it dramatizes one of the first known cases of supposed alien abduction in real life – Betty and Barney Hill, an interracial couple from New Hampshire (played in the film by Estelle Parsons and James Early Jones) who were taken aboard an alien spacecraft. Many of the hallmarks of alien abduction lore, like missing time, originate from this first account which, the film asserts, only came to light after strenuous psychiatric evaluation and hypnotherapy. Whether or not you believe their claims, they certainly believe it, which makes the entire thing that much more chilling. Also “The UFO Incident” has a surprise connection to another movie on the list … [Not currently streaming but there’s a great Kino Lorber Blu-ray]

“Fire in the Sky“

… Arguably the freakiest based-on-a-true-story alien abduction movie, the disappearance of Travis Walton (D.B. Sweeney) happened on the same night that “The UFO Incident” aired on television. Investigators theorized that Travis’ backwoods buddies concocted the UFO explanation for his vanishing after watching the TV movie. Surely, they must have just murdered the poor SOB. But no. He returned. And he had quite the tale, having been abducted and prodded. One of the more underrated, crackerjack thrillers of the ‘90s, “Fire in the Sky” was beautifully directed by Robert Lieberman and exquisitely shot by Bill Pope, particularly during the prolonged abduction flashback sequence, which is enough to keep anybody up all night. It is freaky. [Max]

“Communion”

This is another story supposedly based on real life and another one that is very freaky, although the somewhat limited visual effects from this 1989 film haven’t aged as well as “Fire in the Sky.” Based on the best-selling book, Christopher Walken plays author Whitley Strieber, who was taken by space visitors after staying at a remote cabin. (Why does anybody stay at a remote cabin? Have they never seen a single movie?) Walken is terrific, as usual, bringing the right amount of psychological depth and actual emotion to a role that could have just been cheesy. Like “The UFO Incident,” much of the terror of “Communion” comes from the fact that Strieber so strenuously believes that the events happened. And the little grey aliens, depicted on film for the first time, really, after being suggested in “Close Encounters of the Third Kind” and “The UFO Incident” (and carried forward in films like “Fire in the Sky” and “No One Will Save You”) are still absolutely terrifying. Yeesh. [Peacock]

“The McPherson Tape”

Another low-key, unsung and genuinely scary alien movie, this 1989 gem (also known as “UFO Abduction”) is even more bone-chilling because it is done in the style of found footage. Thinking that this could have actually happened – and been documented – is enough to give anybody the heebie-jeebies. The less you know about “The McPherson Tape” the better, but it’s basically the story of a family birthday party in the Connecticut countryside that is interrupted by a UFO landing. And where it goes from there … Very realistic and running just over an hour, this is like the most horrifying episode of “Unsolved Mysteries” ever. And it has rightly claimed its place, over the years, as a beloved cult artifact. Ready to get beamed up? [Plex]

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September 25, 2023

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Amazon Prime Video “The Vast of Night” This is

Video

‘Rick And Morty’ Drops Season 7 Trailer; Justin Roiland Replacement Still Unknown – Deadline

Adult Swim’s Rick and Morty is gearing up for its Season 7 premiere on Sunday, Oct. 15 at 11 p.m. ET/PT with the release of its official trailer (above).

Season 7 will be the first without co-creator and star Justin Roiland, who is no longer in business with Warner Bros. Discovery, the parent company of Adult Swim, following domestic abuse allegations. Said charges were dropped in January due to insufficient evidence. A replacement for Roiland—who voiced the titular Rick Sanchez and Morty Smith among other characters—has yet to be announced.

A new voice or multiple voices can be heard in the trailer. Deadline has reached out to Adult Swim.

Rick and Morty follows a sociopathic genius scientist who drags his inherently timid grandson on insanely dangerous adventures across the universe. The new season will also be available to stream in 2024.

A note in the press release for Season 7 teases, “Rick and Morty are back and sounding more like themselves than ever! It’s season seven, and the possibilities are endless: What’s up with Jerry? EVIL Summer?! And will they ever go back to the high school?! Maybe not! But let’s find out! There’s probably less piss than last season. ‘Rick and Morty,’ 100 years! Or at least until season 10!”

Watch the trailer in full above.

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September 25, 2023

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Adult Swim’s Rick and Morty is gearing

Entertaintment

Gavin Newsom-Ron DeSantis Debate Set For November 30; Sean Hannity To Moderate Event At Georgia Location – Deadline

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and California Governor Gavin Newsom will debate on November 30 at a Georgia location, with Fox News’s Sean Hannity moderating the event.

The 90-minute debate, to air on Fox News’s Hannity at 9 p.m., has been in the works for week s, when they each agreed to such an event, but plans stalled out over details. Newsom said earlier this month that the plans for the event stalled out over a “venue issue,” and said, They wanted thousands of people and make it a performance. I wasn’t interested in that.” But he hinted that they were getting closer in negotiations.

A Fox News spokesperson said that more details on the format and venue will be announced.

DeSantis will be at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library on Wednesday, as the Florida governor plans to be on the stage of the second Republican debate. Newsom, meanwhile, is expected to have a presence at the event as a Biden campaign surrogate.

The debate is being billed as the Red State Vs. Blue State Debate. Newsom agreed to participate when it was proposed by Hannity during a June interview. DeSantis agreed to participate in July. In a statement, Hannity said he was “looking forward to providing viewers with an informative debate about the everyday issue and governing philosophies that impact the lives of every American.”

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September 25, 2023

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Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and California Governor

Movies

Hollywood’s Focus Turns to Actors After Writers Agree to Deal

Hollywood’s actors are back in the spotlight.

With screenwriters reaching a tentative agreement with the major entertainment studios on a new labor deal on Sunday night, one big obstacle stands in the way of the film and TV industry roaring back to life: ending the strike with tens of thousands of actors.

The two sides have not spoken in more than two months, and no talks are scheduled.

Leaders of SAG-AFTRA, the actors’ union, have indicated a willingness to negotiate, but the studios made a strategic decision in early August to focus on reaching a détente with the writers first. A big reason was Fran Drescher, the president of the actors’ union, who made one fiery speech after the next following the strike, including one in which she denounced studio executives as “land barons of a medieval time.”

“Eventually, the people break down the gates of Versailles,” Ms. Drescher said after the actors’ strike was called in July. “And then it’s over. We’re at that moment right now.”

Ms. Drescher has been less vocal in recent weeks, however. Only a resolution with the actors will determine when tens of thousands of workers — including camera operators, makeup artists, prop makers, set dressers, lighting technicians, hairstylists, cinematographers — return to work.

The actors’ union offered congratulations to the Writers Guild of America, which represents more than 11,000 screenwriters, in a statement on Sunday night, adding that it was eager to review the tentative agreement with the studios. Still, it said that it remained “committed to achieving the necessary terms for our members.”

It has been 74 days since the actors’ union and representatives of the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, which bargains on behalf of the studios, have talked. That will probably soon change given the high stakes of salvaging the 2024 theatrical box office, which will be in considerable jeopardy should Hollywood not be able to restart production within the next month. Neither SAG-AFTRA nor the studio alliance immediately responded to requests for comment on Monday.

“There’s tremendous pressure on both sides to get this done,” said Bobby Schwartz, a partner at Quinn Emanuel and a longtime entertainment lawyer who has represented several of the major studios. “The deal that the Writers Guild and the studios struck economically could have been worked out in May, June. It didn’t need to go this long. I think the membership of SAG-AFTRA is going to say we’ve been out of work for months, we want to go back to work, we don’t want to be the ones that are keeping everybody else on the sidelines.”

The dual strikes by the writers and the actors — the first time that has happened since 1960 — have effectively shut down TV and film production for months. The fallout has been significant, both inside and outside the industry. California’s economy alone has lost more than $5 billion, according to Gov. Gavin Newsom.

Warner Bros. Discovery said this month that the impact from the labor disputes would reduce its adjusted earnings for the year by $300 million to $500 million. Additionally, share prices for other major media companies like Disney and Paramount have taken a hit in recent months.

The industry took a meaningful step toward stabilization on Sunday night, though, with the tentative deal between the writers and studios all but ending a 146-day strike.

The deal still needs to be approved by union leadership and ratified by rank-and-file screenwriters in the coming days. Both are expected to happen. Though the fine print of the terms has not been released, the agreement has much of what the writers had demanded, including increases in compensation for streaming content, concessions from studios on minimum staffing for television shows and guarantees that artificial intelligence technology will not encroach on writers’ credits and compensation.

“We can say, with great pride, that this deal is exceptional — with meaningful gains and protections for writers in every sector of the membership,” the Writers Guild’s negotiating committee said in an email to members.

On Monday, President Biden released a statement applauding the deal, saying it would “allow writers to return to the important work of telling the stories of our nation, our world — and of all of us.”

The prospective writers’ deal should provide a blueprint for the actors, since many of their demands are similar.

Union leaders for the actors said that their compensation levels, as well as their working conditions, were worsened by the rise of streaming. Like screenwriters, actors have been terrified by the prospects of artificial intelligence. They are worried that it could be used to create digital replicas of their likenesses — or that performances could be digitally altered — without payment or approval, and are seeking significant guardrails to protect against that.

The actors, however, have had several demands that the studios balked at, including a revenue sharing agreement for successful streaming shows. The actors have also asked for significant wage increases, including an 11 percent raise in the first year of a new contract. The studios last proposed a 5 percent raise.

Though the entertainment industry had been bracing for a work stoppage by the writers going back to the beginning of the year, the actors’ uncharacteristic resolve this past summer caught studio executives off guard.

The actors last went on strike in 1980. By comparison, the writers previously walked out in 2007 for 100 days.

The first worrying sign came in June when more than 60,000 actors authorized a walkout with 98 percent of the vote — a margin that even eclipsed the writers’ strike authorization. Then, as bargaining began, the studios saw the actors’ list of demands. Union leaders handed over a list that totaled 48 pages, nearly triple the size of their asks during the last contract negotiations in 2020.

While bargaining was ongoing, more than 1,000 actors, including Meryl Streep, Jennifer Lawrence and Ben Stiller, signed a letter to guild leadership saying that “we are prepared to strike.” The union called for a strike a little more than two weeks later.

Brooks Barnes contributed reporting.

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September 25, 2023

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Hollywood’s actors are back in the spotlight.With

Latest News

Natalia Bryant makes runway debut in Milan Fashion Week

Natalia Bryant is officially a runway star.

Bryant, the daughter of late basketball star Kobe Bryant and Vanessa Bryant, made her runway debut Friday during Milan Fashion Week. In an Instagram post shared Saturday, she said modeling for Versace “still feels like a dream.”

“I am beyond honored and grateful,” she added.

For the legendary Italian luxury house, the 20-year-old Bryant wore a black knee-length dress that featured a v-neck and angular shoulder pads. Her look also included a small black handbag and chrome peep-toe Mary Jane flats.

In the comments, stars including Ciara, Viola Davis, Storm Reid, Ashley Park and Kimora Lee Simmons were living for Bryant’s runway debut.

“Okkkk babyyyyy goooo!??????,” Lee Simmons wrote.

“Beautiful ❤️❤️,” Davis commented.

Among Bryant’s cheerleaders was mom Vanessa, who commented, “I’m so proud of you, baby!”

In her own Instagram posts, Vanessa celebrated her daughter’s milestone. The Versace runway marked her first show since signing with IMG Models in 2021.

“You did it mama!!!! I love you so much and I’m so happy for you @nataliabryant ! Bellísima! ? Versace! ❤️.” Vanessa wrote.

Natalia also took her runway skills to Boss. For that show she modeled a brown jacket, a black pencil skirt, a black handbag and black stilettos.

Bryant, who is a student at USC, told Vogue that Donatella Versace “invited me to be a part of something so special.” She told the magazine that her mother helped her find her own personal flair.

“My mom says, ‘Walk like Naomi [Campbell] but remember to be yourself, put your own style to your walk and always with your head held high,’ ” she told the magazine.

Natalia is one of Vanessa and Kobe’s four children. Vanessa is also the mother of the late rising basketball star Gianna, Bianka and Capri. Kobe and Gianna were two of nine people who died in a helicopter crash in January 2020.

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September 25, 2023

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Natalia Bryant is officially a runway

DCU

DC Intentionally Ruins An 100th Anniversary For A Controversial Plot Twist

Summary

Teen Titans Go! surprises viewers by airing a different episode instead of the anticipated Warner Bros. 100th Anniversary Special, aligning with the show’s reputation for subverting expectations.
The decision to switch episodes may have been a last-minute choice or part of the show’s internal plan, as the series is known for its meta jokes and humor.
Several previous Teen Titans Go! episodes have incorporated meta jokes, showcasing the show’s ability to playfully reference and connect with other DC characters and franchises.

Teen Titans GO! ruins the 100th anniversary of Warner Bros. through a plot twist that is fitting for the DC Universe animated team. Teen Titans Go! is the animated follow-up to the original Teen Titans cartoon that aired at the start of the 2000s. The show has become known for its irreverent humor, which differs from almost all the DCEU movies. A Teen Titans Go! “Warner Bros. 100th Anniversary Special” episode was recently announced for the animated show’s season eight, with it honoring DC parent company Warner Bros. Discovery’s history; however, there’s a twist.

On Twitter, @ToonHive noted that the Teen Titans Go! “Warner Bros. 100th Anniversary Special” episode didn’t premiere as scheduled.

The special episode was scheduled to premiere on September 23, but instead of seeing the Teen Titans act as tour guides on the Warner Bros. Discovery’s studio lot to several characters from all over the studio’s history, a new episode of Teen Titans Go! featuring the team stuck on their opening credits sequence aired. While Teen Titans Go!‘s “Intro” episode did feature other characters through the team following the villain Control Freak to their intro sequences, the Warner Bros. 100th anniversary special episode was nowhere to be seen.

Why Teen Titans GO!’s Anniversary Twist Is Perfect For The Show

A last-minute decision might have been made by Cartoon Network to switch the Teen Titans Go! episodes’ dates, as “Intro” was originally scheduled to debut on September 30 before it took the slot reserved for “Warner Bros. 100th Anniversary Special.” However, it is also possible that was always the internal plan for the cartoon, as the animated Teen Titans series is popular for its subversion of expectations, which has led to several hilarious Teen Titans Go! memes over the years.

If it was indeed planned, then Teen Titans Go!’s Warner Bros. anniversary twist keeps in line with what the show is known for. The reveal that the animated series’ episode won’t start because Control Freak wants to keep the heroes trapped in their title sequence is a perfect Teen Titans Go!-style explanation for why the Warner Bros. special was missing. It continues the animated series’ history of meta jokes perfectly.

Teen Titans Go!’s meta jokes have included other DC characters and franchises in the past, with the most notable case being the use of one of the cartoon’s movies to finally link the original and rebooted Teen Titans shows. 2019’s Teen Titans Go! vs. Teen Titans allowed the two cartoon teams to meet each other with their respective tones and designs intact. The movie was filled with jokes that explored all the fans’ comments comparing the two over the years, and it, along with 2018’s Teen Titans Go! To the Movies, proves that the wait for Teen Titans Go!‘s “Warner Bros. 100th Anniversary Special” will be worth it.

Source: @ToonHive/Twitter

Key Release Dates

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September 25, 2023

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Summary Teen Titans Go! surprises

Comics

Cancelled KOTOR 2 Switch DLC leads to class action lawsuit against Aspyr and Saber

Aspyr and Saber Interactive are facing a class action lawsuit over their decision to cancel Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic 2 DLC originally advertised for last year’s Switch port.

The title’s announcement trailer, which was published a couple of weeks ahead of its June 2022 release and is viewable below, stated that the Restored Content DLC was “coming soon”, and Aspyr subsequently said it would arrive in the third quarter of 2022.

However, in June 2023, Aspyr announced that plans to release the DLC had been cancelled. As a means of compensation, it offered customers who bought the game the chance to download one of seven other games free of charge, including KOTOR 2 on Steam.

Steam players are able to access the Sith Lords Restored Content Modification, which includes a range of material that never made the game’s final cut due to time constraints, but which was restored as part of a fan project endorsed by Aspyr and some members of the game’s original development team at Obsidian.

“Despite their failure to release KOTOR’s Restored Content DLC, Defendants refused to give refunds to purchasers of KOTOR,” reads a class action lawsuit filed in July by Malachi Mickelonis “individually and on behalf of all others similarly situated”, which was spotted by The Gamer.

“Plaintiff felt completely duped and was upset because he had relied on Defendants’ representations that the Restored Content DLC would be released for KOTOR,” it reads. “In fact, Plaintiff did not even play KOTOR after purchasing it, instead choosing to wait until the Restored Content DLC was released. But Defendants never did.

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“Plaintiff would potentially be interested in purchasing other games with Restored Content DLC from Defendants’ in the future if they have the advertised content, are not deceptively advertised, and accordingly priced at fair market value without being artificially inflated due to the deceptive advertising.”

The plaintiff is seeking a trial by jury, an order awarding attorneys’ fees and costs, and further relief “including, but not limited to, the remedy of disgorgement”. The defendants have until October 4 to respond to the lawsuit.

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September 25, 2023

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Aspyr and Saber Interactive are facing a

Festivals

The Replacements, ‘Tim,’ and the Rise and Fall of Indie-Rock Morality

As someone who purchased “Tim,” the Replacements’ 1985 major label debut, on the day it arrived in my local record store, I can say the following with absolute certainty: If the remixed, significantly beefed-up version of the album that dropped last week had been released in 1985, the group would have been crucified by the indie-rock morality police, and it probably would have destroyed their career.

Make no mistake, the new version sounds amazing: The original, produced by the late original Ramones drummer Tommy Erdelyi in a sort of homage to Phil Spector, was a muddled mess, with the instruments blurred together and an indistinct, heavily reverbed sound. On the new one, which has been greeted with hosannahs by many longtime fans, you can now hear guitar parts and backing vocals that were almost completely inaudible — not to mention the bass, which was completely inaudible — and you can understand, say, 70% of the lyrics instead of half. The drums still have that tinny mid-‘80s snap, but it’s been dialed back to reasonable levels. For better and maybe sometimes worse, veteran engineer-mixer Ed Stasium has lifted a sonic veil from “Tim,” and although it’s a little too crisp and crunching in places, the internet is filled with “This is the way it always should have sounded!” and “Imagine how different our beloved ‘Mats’ career would have been if it had!”

Well, the thing those voices either don’t remember or didn’t know is just how judgmental and dogmatic the indie-rock scene of the 1980s was. Mostly, it was a vibrant, exciting, positive and supportive scene. Black Flag basically laid the foundation, mapping an ecosystem of small clubs, record stores, fanzines and college radio, which hundreds and ultimately thousands of bands followed: It’s the scene that Replacements singer/songwriter Paul Westerberg immortalizes in this album’s song “Left of the Dial,” which is where you’d find most college radio stations on an FM tuner (see Michael Azerrad’s boo k “Our Band Could Be Your Life” for a detailed study). But the outsider, DIY ethic that united the bands and most of the people in that scene had a nasty militant streak, and the most heretical thing that anyone could do was “sell out” — which, for most of those bands, meant signing with a major label.

While R.E.M. were the first from that wave to break into the mainstream, the ’Mats, in many ways, were the most glorious. Westerberg was a world-class songwriter and a compelling singer, and the group played infamously shambolic concerts that could be transcendent one night and tragic the next, depending on whether they’d drunk just the right amount of booze or way too much — and if they knew label execs were in the audience, they’d get completely shitfaced and shipwreck the show, playing joke covers of ‘70s radio songs instead of Westerberg’s mighty originals; the next night they’d blow the roof off of a small club like Maxwells in Hoboken. Westerberg showed traces of brilliance on the band’s rowdy first two outings but it truly began to shine on 1982’s “Hootenanny” and especially two years later on “Let It Be,” one of the best albums to emerge from that era — and the batch of songs he’d written for “Tim” would prove to be the best of his career. Their combination of sensitivity and punk-rock brattiness inspired rare levels of devotion.

So there were shrieks of betrayal when the Replacements left the beloved Minneapolis-based indie Twin\Tone to sign with Warner-owned Sire Records — even though Sire had one of the most “alternative” rosters in music history. Led by legendary exec Seymour Stein, their cred was impeccable: They’d signed everyone from the Ramones and Talking Heads to Echo & the Bunnymen and the Cure as well as Madonna.

“Tim” finds Westerberg reaching new levels of maturity and emotion as a songwriter and singer, yet it also finds the band starting to fall apart. There are ravers like “Hold My Life” and “Dose of Thunder” as well as humor (“Waitress in the Sky”), a swaying ballad called “Swingin’ Party” influenced by Frank and Nancy Sinatra’s ‘60s hit “Somethin’ Stupid,” and a genuine tear-jerking losers’ anthem in the closing “Here Comes a Regular,” a song Westerberg had been embarrassed to play for the band and was recorded in one take as he sat on the studio floor with his acoustic guitar. Fans seized on the self-referential opening line of the classic “Bastards of Young”: “Oh, what a mess/ On the ladder of success.” It’s a set of songs almost any writer would kill to have written.

Sebadoh “Gimme Indie Rock” (1991)

But the Replacements always had a self-effacing streak that could easily merge into self-destruction — Westerberg had a habit of reaching for the golden ring and then slapping back his own hand — and during the recording of the album they were becoming estranged from both lead guitarist Bob Stinson and manager Peter Jesperson, both of whom they’d part company with in the following year. And that confusion is fully reflected in the sound of “Tim.”

There may have been a corporate Warner logo on the album, but its blurry, indistinct sound is definitely not what anyone would call corporate — and it’s hard not to think that a motivating factor was the band’s ability to say, “See? We didn’t sell out!”

Consolidated “College Radio” 1991

In the liner notes to the new reissue, the band and executives mused about what might have happened if Stasium have coproduced the album and, presumably, made it sound more like this new version. In places, the guitars are cranked up to an AC/DC-level crunch, and Westerberg’s soaring choruses feel arena-sized — sure, it might have gotten them on some mainstream radio stations and opened the ears of a few more fans, but it would have made the indie morality police swarm like the Beyhive does today.

Because during this time, something arose in the fast-rising indie scene even worse than signing with a major: Appearing in a beer commercial, which essentially destroyed the careers of at least two bands during this time (just ask the Del Fuegos or the Long Ryders about the turning point in their careers). Yes, those commercials were dreadful, and the backlash was severe: Integrity icon Neil Young wrote a song lambasting the practice called “This Note’s for You”; SST Records even distributed bumper stickers that read “Corporate Rock Sucks!”

The ‘Mats dodged that bullet, but their clock was ticking. They released one more classic album, without Stinson — 1987’s “Pleased to Meet Me,” produced by Memphis legend Jim Dickinson — but then Westerberg’s songs and the band’s sound began to descend into a schmaltzy softness that seemed almost deliberately contrarian, as if he’d grown tired of being a hero and just wanted everybody to go away.

The Long Ryders’ Miller Beer commercial, 1986

And around the same time, indie morality met its waterloo when the patron saints of the scene, Sonic Youth, signed with Geffen Records in 1989 and released an album that sounded pretty much like fans would have expected — and of course, that signing led directly to Nirvana. We all know what happened next: As much as Kurt Cobain and that band were spawned by the indie scene and tried to live by its standards, those ethics got trampled in the gold rush as artists and young executives made the transition to major labels, agencies and more.

The Replacements never got to ride the alt-rock tidal wave that they’d played such a big role in creating. You could even argue that Cobain — inadvertently and to his chagrin — grabbed the golden ring that Westerberg wouldn’t. Ironically, one of the Replacements’ last shows saw them finally onstage at Madison Square Garden — opening for Elvis Costello in June of 1991 — but down to two original members and playing a set that consisted mostly of those schmaltzy new songs. But early in the set slipped in their killer cover of the Only Ones’ new wave classic “Another Girl, Another Planet,” and after they’d closed with their rousing 1987 anthem “Alex Chilton” and the house lights came up, they ran back onstage, each member picked up an instrument they didn’t usually play, and bashed out a brief, raucous version of “Hootenanny,” showing their true, bratty nature was still there. Less than two weeks later, they’d play their last show for 22 years.

While there wasn’t a happy ending for the Replacements, in many ways, there was for the lifers and survivors from the scene they spawned. Over the years, those indie-reared executives managed to change the music industry, at least a bit. Being savvy about business became essential for artists, and the obverse. Less than a decade after the Long Ryders appeared in a network TV ad awkwardly singing Miller Beer’s theme song, the Gap was commissioning advertisements by musicians from Aerosmith to Luscious Jackson where they could play virtually anything they wanted — LL Cool J even slipped in a reference to a Black-owned competing clothing line, FUBU.

And in a cruel denouement, once illegal downloading and streaming arrived — when most artists’ income from recorded music was slashed to virtually nothing — what used to be called “selling out” became survival.

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September 25, 2023

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As someone who purchased “Tim,” the Replacements’

Film

The Dutton Family Tree, Explained – The Hollywood Reporter

[This story contains spoilers from 1883, 1923 and Yellowstone season five.]

With each new series in the megahit Yellowstone franchise, a new generation of Duttons emerges. After launching in 2018 with Kevin Costner’s central patriarch John Dutton and his immediate family, creator Taylor Sheridan traveled back in time to expand the franchise and introduce elder generations of Duttons, first with the single season of 1883 and now with the series 1923, which has been renewed for a second season.

The Dutton family tree has branched out as Yellowstone has been airing, with the flagship series currently at the halfway point in its fifth and final ru n. First, viewers followed James (Tim McGraw) and Margaret Dutton (Faith Hill) on their family’s treacherous journey west through the Great Plains in 1883, a trek that would ultimately lead to what becomes the Yellowstone ranch of the flagship series. And later, 1923 would introduce the audience to Jacob (Harrison Ford) and Cara Dutton (Helen Mirren), the Duttons who get the Yellowstone Ranch up and running after the untimely deaths of James and Margaret.

With both of the sequel series taking place decades before Yellowstone‘s John (Costner) is even born, it’s helpful to understand who’s who in the family saga, especially since revisiting the past helps to reframe the present. Yellowstone is now re-airing Sundays on CBS as part of the network’s reworked fall schedule amid Hollywood’s ongoing dual strikes, and 1883 and 1923 are available to stream on Paramount+. (The second-half of the final season of Yellowstone is delayed due to a Costner contract dispute that preceded the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes, grinding productions like Yellowstone to a halt amid the work stoppage.)

Below, The Hollywood Reporter breaks down each generation of Duttons, including what we’ve learned via interviews with Sheridan and his sprawling cast.

James (Tim McGraw) and Margaret Dutton (Faith Hill); Claire nee Dutton (Dawn Olivieri); Jacob (Harrison Ford) and Cara Dutton (Helen Mirren)

Harrison Ford as Jacob and Helen Mirren as Cara Dutton in 1923

Christopher Saunders/Paramount+

1883 launched on Paramount+ in 2021, three years into Yellowstone‘s run. The Western limited series, which is set in the year 1883, was narrated by main character Elsa Dutton (Isabel May), the daughter to James (Tim McGraw) and Margaret Dutton (Faith Hill). The prequel series traced the Dutton lineage back to James Dutton and his sister Claire nee Dutton (played by Dawn Olivieri; the actress who would also go on to play fixer Sarah Atwood in later seasons of Yellowstone), who died by suicide early in the season. Viewers would later meet the brother to James and Claire in 1923: Jacob Dutton (Harrison Ford) and his wife Cara (Helen Mirren).

Elsa Dutton (Isabel May); Spencer Dutton (Brandon Sklenar); John Sr. (James Badge Daly) and Emma Dutton (Marley Shelton)

The opening of 1883 set the tone for what would lie ahead in the series when it opened with a flash-forward: The scene that would bring about the untimely death of heroine Elsa. Her spirit, however, would continue on in the franchise as May went on to narrate the next prequel series, 1923. Speaking from the grave as Elsa, she informed viewers that her parents, James and Margaret, died after the events of 1883; first James, followed by Margaret. But before her death, Margaret wrote a letter to her husband’s brother, Jacob, who then found and raised Elsa’s surviving brothers, John Sr. and Spencer.

1883 viewers met John Sr. as a young boy, played by Audie Rick. Spencer, however, hadn’t yet been born.

“Upon my father’s death, my mother wrote to his brother, begging that he bring his family to this wild land and save hers,” Elsa explained in voiceover in 1923. “A year later, he arrived to find my mother frozen in a snow drift, her two boys half-starved and barely able to speak. He raised them as his own and took my father’s dream and made it into an empire. Then the empire crumbled.”

Isabel May as Elsa, Faith Hill as Margaret, Tim McGraw as James and Audie Rick as John of 1883. — Isabel May as Elsa with her family in *1883*: Faith Hill as Margaret, Tim McGraw as James and Audie Rick as young John Sr.

Emerson Miller/Paramount+

Sheridan explained of his decision to jump the series to the year 1923: “I chose that moment in time to peek back in because you’re seeing the children that we’ve met in 1883 attempting to raise another generation of Dutton.” Yellowstone viewers will recall a flashback in season four, which introduced James and Margaret, as well as a young John and Spencer, when James was shot (that scene served as real-life couple McGraw and Hill’s audition, giving Sheridan the idea to center them in 1883).

1923 introduced the boys as adults, with John Sr. played by James Badge Dale and Spencer played by Brandon Sklenar. John Sr., who did not have any children with wife Emma (Marley Shelton), suffers an untimely death early on in 1923, pivoting the series to focus on Spencer and setting him up to be the Dutton to take over the Yellowstone ranch from an ailing Jacob. Season one ended with a Spencer-heavy cliffhanger, as he was separated from his soulmate Alex (Julia Schlaepfer).

Jack (Darren Mann) and Liz Dutton (Michelle Randolph)

After five seasons of Yellowstone and trips back in time to 1883 and 1923, one over-arching question remains: Who is John Dutton’s grandfather? Yellowstone viewers were introduced to his elderly father, John Dutton Sr., played by Dabney Coleman, in a season two flashback. Now that the audience has met the generation that preceded him on 1923, a guessing game even among the franchise cast has begun about which character Sheridan will reveal to be the Dutton son who begins the Yellowstone family line.

Some viewers believe Spencer is John’s grandfather, and that he and Alex could have a child down the line. While others believe that John Sr.’s son, Jack (Darren Mann), serves that role. Later episodes of 1923 revealed that Jack’s pregnant wife, Liz (Michelle Randolph), had a miscarriage, and she and Jack accepted they may not be able to have a child. According to Sklenar, Sheridan hasn’t yet revealed who’s who, even to the cast. “It’s something that Taylor is keeping very close to the vest. I have my own theories, but it’s to be told, to be written, to be seen. He’s always moving all that stuff around,” Sklenar told THR during the first season (and reiterated after the finale). “We like to debate what we think,” echoed Randolph.

Yellowstone star Wes Bentley said something similar when asked about his onscreen father’s lineage. “I’ve seen the [Dutton family tree] flow charts online. But I’m waiting for Taylor to really reveal things. I know how he writes. So I’m going to wipe those away for now. Good first draft, but let’s see what’s coming down the line,” he told THR after the season five midseason finale of Yellowstone.

And it’s even a mystery still to the franchise’s all-knowing narrator. “You could spend your time theorizing, all the power to you. I’d rather just be told! Eventually, we all will,” May recently told THR.

John Dutton (Kevin Costner)

Kevin Costner in YELLOWSTONE. — Kevin Costner in *Yellowstone*

Paramount Network / Courtesy Everett Collection

Skipping ahead to John Dutton III (Costner) brings viewers back around to the Yellowstone flagship series, which follows the Montana cattle rancher (who has made his transformation into a politician by season five) and his children as the family desperately holds onto their ranch amid evolving times. Following the death of his young wife Evelyn Dutton (Gretchen Mol), the family suffers another untimely death when his oldest child, Lee Dutton (Dave Annable), is killed in the series premiere. Jamie Dutton (Wes Bentley), Beth Dutton (Kelly Reilly) and Kayce Dutton (Luke Grimes) remain alive and fiery in the fifth season.

Lee Dutton (Dave Annable); Jamie Dutton (Wes Bentley); Beth Dutton (Kelly Reilly) and Rip Wheeler (Cole Hauser); Kayce (Luke Grimes) and Monica Dutton (Kelsey Asbille)

The ghost of Lee returned in a key moment of Yellowstone in season four to help guide Kayce during a vision quest that would change the arc of his story. With Kayce largely forming his own path with wife Monica Dutton (Kelsey Asbille) and their surviving son Tate (Brecken Merrill), the battle for the legacy of Yellowstone boils down to estranged siblings Jamie and Beth, who were last seen on the series waging a war against one another. On Beth’s side of the battle is John as well as her husband Rip (Cole Hauser), who plays the devoted, Yellowstone ranch hand.

The Future Duttons

Preteen Tate Dutton, son to Kayce and Monica, leads the youngest generation of Duttons. Jamie’s unnamed infant son with ex Christina (Katherine Cunningham) has been largely absent from the fifth season. Beth and husband Rip, meanwhile, have all-but adopted teen cowboy Carter (Finn Little), however, he is not in the Dutton bloodline.

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September 25, 2023

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[This story contains spoilers from 1883, 1923

San Sebastian’s Culinary Zinema Screens Peruvian Cooking School Doc

Not long after the Miami episode of Netflix’s hit show “’Street Food: USA” dropped, its Emmy-nominated director Mariano Carranza received an Instagram message. It was from Gastón Acurio, Peru’s preeminent chef-restaurateur of Astrid & Gastón fame, but Carranza thought it was a prank. It turned out to be the man himself. His request: “Could Carranza tell the story of his culinary school Pachacútec?” Thus began a collaboration that resulted in a moving documentary, “Pachacútec, the Improbable School,” that traces three former alumni and their journeys.

Its trailer, unveiled exclusively in Variety, opens with a group of select students walking up a sandy path to what celebrated Catalan Chef Joan Roca of three-Michelin-Star El Celler de Can Roca describes as “an oasis of culinary knowledge in the middle of a desert.”

And the school is literally in the middle of a desert, on the outskirts of Lima. Founded by Acurio some 15 years ago to give underprivileged kids a chance to realize their dreams of becoming chefs, some 400 students have graduated from the school to date, many of them going on to become prominent figures in the culinary scenes of Peru and beyond. Some have worked at the current number one restaurant in the world, Lima-based Central, as well as at Astrid & Gastón and El Celler De Can Roca in Girona, Spain.

Screening as part of San Sebastian’s Culinary Zinema showcase on Sept. 27, “Pachacútec, the Improbable school” profiles and follows three alumni from the school — one based in Lima, one in San Francisco, California, and another in Luxembourg.

It also features Chef Albert Adrià, brother of Ferrán Adrià (of the sadly shuttered El Bulli) who owns the fabulous Enigma in Barcelona, food writer Ignacio Medina, Karina Montes Bravo, head of the culinary school, and Roca, who voice their opinions on the school. “[These students] are convinced that their lives don’t have to be the same as the ones they have had so far,” noted Adrià.

“We interviewed around 30 former students and settled on these three who represented a good cross-section of the school’s alumni,” said Carranza, who has directed and produced original content focusing on food, travel, identity and culture for Vice, CNN’s A Great Big Story and Lonely Planet, among others.

Jhosmery Caceres, a pastry chef at La Mar in San Francisco, speaks of the grinding poverty she experienced in the Lima district of San Martin de Porres where her family lived on $6 a day. Gerson Atalaya is the chef de cuisine at the prize-winning Luxembourg-based Kay Restaurant where his El Bulli and Central-inspired dishes have been rocking the rather staid food scene in Luxembourg. He loves to rap and was the black sheep of the family. Cooking saved his life, he admits.

“I would not have been able to do this if someone had not extended a hand,” Caceres says of her culinary education. The same goes for Alan Larrea who runs his thriving Ceviche restaurant in Lima and had to borrow from his grandmother to pay the nominal tuition of some $30 a month. Even before enrolling, he had been devouring books and watching shows on gastronomy.

“What started as an experiment has truly flourished,” said Carranza of the school. Asked what makes Peruvian cuisine so extraordinary that people flock from all over the world to savor it, Carranza mused: “Aside from the Spanish, African, Chinese and Japanese influences on its Indigenous cuisine, Peru has outstanding ingredients, the best seafood in the world,” he opined. “Peru is so geographically diverse that the variety of its ingredients makes its cuisine so special.”

The mid-length doc was produced by Carranza’s Amigo Studio, Acurio Restaurantes and Pachacútec itself.

Pachacutec, the Improbable School
Courtesy of Mariano Carranza

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September 25, 2023

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Not long after the Miami episode of

What to Watch

Is ‘Gandeevadhari Arjuna (Tamil)’ on Netflix? Where to Watch the Movie

Netflix subscription is required to watch on Netflix

Great news! “Gandeevadhari Arjuna (Tamil)” is available to watch on Netflix USA!

Date Added: 25th September 2023

Want to keep forever? Try looking for ‘Gandeevadhari Arjuna (Tamil)’ on Amazon (paid link)

Watch in Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam and Kannada

Description:

An exceptional special agent must thwart a potential attack on a top-level government official at a global summit on climate change.

Certificate: TV-MA
For Mature Audiences.

Year: 2023

Duration: 2hr 15m

Audio: Tamil

Subtitles: English

Cast and Crew

Director: Praveen Sattaru

Cast: Varun Tej, Sakshi Vaidya, Nassar, Vinay Rai, Vimala Raman, Kalpalatha Garlapati, Ravi Varma, Nareen Ram, Manish Chaudhary, Abhinav Gomatam

Production & Box Office Details:

“Gandeevadhari Arjuna (Tamil)” was produced by Sri Venkateswara Cine Chitra and was originally released on August 24th 2023.

RATINGS:

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The Movie Database rating 75%

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Available on Netflix USA!

Netflix subscription is required to watch on Netflix

Where else can you watch ‘Gandeevadhari Arjuna (Tamil)’ on Netflix?

Want to keep forever? Why not rent or buy ‘Gandeevadhari Arjuna (Tamil)’ from one of the online services below?

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September 25, 2023

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Awards

‘Rick and Morty’ Season 7 Trailer Reveals New Voice Actors – The Hollywood Reporter

Adult Swim has revealed the season seven trailer for Rick and Morty and, along with it, the show’s new voice talent for its titular main characters.

Below is the first trailer for the new season which features voice actors replacing co-creator Justin Roiland, who was dismissed from show due to misconduct allegations.

In an unusual move, the network is keeping the identity of the new voice talents (yes, there are two of them, one for Rick and another for Morty) confidential until the show’s season premiere.

“We want the show to speak for itself,” said an Adult Swim insider. “We believe in the strength of the season and our new voices and we want to preserve the viewing experience for fans.”

The new season premieres Oct. 15.

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September 25, 2023

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Adult Swim has revealed the season seven

Music

The Association’s Terry Kirkman Dies at 83

Terry Kirkman, the singer and songwriter best known for his work with the 1960s folk outfit the Association, has died, the Los Angeles Times reports. He was 83 years old.

Kirkman was born on December 12, 1939, in Salina, Kansas, and raised in Chino, California. He moved to Los Angeles in 1963 with his friend Jules Gary Alexander and briefly played in groups with Frank Zappa. Kirkman and Alexander formed a group called the Inner Tubes—which would eventually count Cass Elliott and David Crosby among its members and also developed into a 13-piece band called the Men.

After the Men dissolved in 1965, Kirkman and Alexander formed the Association with Russ Giguere, Ted Bluechel Jr., Brian Cole and Bob Page. Page would soon leave the group to be replaced by Jim Yester. The group became known for intricate harmonies with multiple singers.

The Association released their debut album, And Then… Along Comes the Association, in 1966. It featured the singles “Along Comes Mary” and “Cherish,” the latter of which was written by Kirkman and nominated for three Grammy Awards. In 2003, the group was named to the Vocal Group Hall of Fame.

Kirkman left the band in 1972, returning when the Association reformed in 1979. He would leave again in 1984, retiring from the music industry and working as an addiction counselor. He also served as the clinical director of the Musicians Assistance Program, now known as MusiCares.

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September 25, 2023

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Terry Kirkman, the singer and songwriter best

Docs

Jackdaw Featured, Reviews Film Threat

FANTASTIC FEST 2023 REVIEW! Jackdaw is a singularly entertaining action flick bolstered by inventive sequences, solid performances, and evocative attention to detail. Writer-director Jamie Childs does quite a bit to deliver on the expected tropes of his chosen genre, and despite a few pitfalls, wound up with a movie that’s certainly worth watching. The filmmaker presents a narrative that doesn’t do much to explain itself outright, which is amusing.

Jack (Oliver Jackson-Cohen) is an ex-military, former motocross champion who finds himself stealing in an effort to make a little extra cash. Tasked with retrieving a mysterious package for Silas (Joe Blakemore), an unhinged old friend, Jack realizes that whatever he was asked to steal is much more valuable than anyone had thought. Soon, Silas kidnaps Jack’s brother, Simon (Leon Harrop), as retribution for leaving the package undelivered. So Jack journeys to a rave where he runs into an old flame, Bo (Jenna Coleman), and a man named Craig (Thomas Turgoose), who offers to help him rescue his brother.

This happens so quickly that any narrative drama within those decisions is never really earned. Being allergic to exposition isn’t a crime in filmmaking. Still, our story spends so much time moving between sequences that the emotional weight Childs and company attempt to portray falls decidedly flat. Jackdaw never stops long enough to allow our cast of characters time to endear themselves to us or define their motivations. This quickly becomes the movie’s greatest weakness, even if that lack of explanation keeps things intriguing.

“…Silas kidnaps Jack’s brother, Simon, as retribution…”

Where this action thriller really sings is in imagery. Will Baldy’s stellar cinematography communicates a genuine love for color and light that doesn’t stop until the credits start rolling. What we’re given visually is as thought-provoking as the picture’s most cerebral moments and a true joy to watch. There’s a feeling cultivated in those images, a “vibe,” which definitely lifts this feature well above its class.

Still, a story can’t ever exist on vibes alone, and sadly, Jackdaw finds that out the hard way. Most of the character development is done in the last half-hour, and by then, it’s far too late to care. Full stop. Jack finds out that the package belongs to a criminal kingpin named Armstrong (Rory McCann), who happens to be closer to Jack and Simon than anyone is comfortable with. In truth, a lot of plot conveniences find their way into the third act, and by the time Jack and Armstrong have their showdown, everything falls apart. But does it even matter?

What gets us to that finish line is the undeniably bold, intentionally stark colors and cinematography. Plus, the eccentric performances from just about everyone are fantastic. If you don’t mind a motion picture that says much without saying much of anything, Jackdaw fits the bill.

Jackdaw screened at the 2023 Fantastic Fest.

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September 25, 2023

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FANTASTIC FEST 2023 REVIEW! Jackdaw is a singularly entertaining

Global

Man dies in single-vehicle rollover near Smoky Lake, Alta. – Edmonton

One man died after a collision in northern Alberta on Saturday, according to Smoky Lake RCMP.

Around 8 a.m., police were called to Secondary Highway 831 north of Township Road 602 for a single-vehicle rollover.

Police said the 34-year-old driver, the sole occupant, was injured and trapped in the vehicle.

Local firefighters extracted him but he died from his injuries shortly after, police said.

The man was a resident of Goodfish Lake. Police say the collision is still under investigation.

Smoky Lake is about 80 kilometres northeast of Edmonton.

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September 25, 2023

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One man died after a collision in

KITCHEN NIGHTMARES: Gordon Ramsey in the season premiere “Bel Aire Diner” episode of KITCHEN NIGHTMARES airing Monday, Sept. 25 (8:00-9:00 PM ET/PT). ©2023 FOX Media LLC. CR: Jeff Niera / FOX.

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Gordon Ramsay on Season 8 Revival

Gordon Ramsay’s high-anxiety restaurant rescue series “Kitchen Nightmares” returns to Fox Monday after 10 years off the air. In that time, a lot has changed — not only in the restaurant industry, but also the broadcast TV food landscape, where Fox dominates with more culinary competitions than the other Big 4 networks.

With foodie culture stronger than ever amid the popularity of “The Bear” and the surge of cooking videos splattered across TikTok, Ramsay decided now was the time to expand upon those first seven seasons of kitchen chaos.

“This year on ‘Kitchen Nightmares’ for me is a big one,” Ramsay tells Variety. “I stopped doing the show over 10 years ago and it means a lot for me personally to bring this show back. The time felt right. After the pandemic, Americans were eating out more than ever while restaurants were also still struggling. Over the last three years, the industry has seen some of the most difficult times in the history across the food and drink hospitality sector. So for me, it really upsets me when I travel the world and see so many restaurants that have closed through no fault of their own.”

“Most importantly, I love a challenge,” Ramsay continued. “Each and every restaurant is different, and each and every family is different. In many cases, it’s the family that needs fixing before the restaurant. It seemed like the perfect time to dig deeper and see what was really happening behind the curtain. And trust me, there was a lot — just ask my stomach.”

With so many memorable restaurant horror stories — and a few dream endings! — seared into “Kitchen Nightmares” viewers’ brains from the show’s original run, it might be hard to imagine anything that can top those episodes. But Ramsay’s “Kitchen Nightmares” executive producer promises audiences will be satisfied with the heaping helping of wild restauranteurs in just the first few episodes of Season 8.

“The meat refrigerator in Bel Aire Diner (Astoria, NY) is shocking,” showrunner David DeAngelis shares, noting the site of “Kitchen Nightmares” first rescue attempt on the new season. “We have a chef in Bask 46 (Woodland Park, NJ), which is going to air as the second episode, who calls himself ‘the culinary gangster’ and even has a T-shirt and business cards. Da Mimmo is a restaurant we shot in Dumont, New Jersey. It was opened just under a year ago via Melissa Gigante, a woman who is a retired police lieutenant and she has three sons who are all in their 20s somewhere. They’re all huge social media stars, the Gigante brothers. One of them has nearly 3 million followers. And they absolutely do not have any clue on how to run a restaurant. And Gordon’s interaction with them is hilarious. Two of them talk a huge game about how they are going to ‘idiot sandwich’ Gordon Ramsay. And when Gordon finally confronts them, you see them shrivel and turn into little children.”

See below for more from Variety‘s interview with Ramsay about the return of “Kitchen Nightmares” and what he learned from the original seasons — including which “Nightmare” is the most iconic for him.

What changes did you want to make to the format from the original run? What was important to keep?

The original “Kitchen Nightmares” from the U.K. has been around for almost two decades at this point. In that time, we’ve built up a whole new generation of fans of the show. So for me, we had to keep the essence of what a new generation of fans have come to love on YouTube and FAST channels. We’ve just made small tweaks, making sure the renovations as well as the food were more of the focus. I always want the restaurants to succeed, so I wanted to make sure the transformations were bigger than before. I’m also way better than I was last time around. I know so much more now and I have the most amazing team. So that’s all the ingredients that “Kitchen Nightmares” needs.

In your opinion, what is the most iconic “Kitchen Nightmares” moment from the original run?

You know the answer to that: Amy’s Baking Company! I still get asked about her and that restaurant to this day.

Do you know how many of the restaurants from the original “Kitchen Nightmares” are still open and do you check in with those owners?

Unfortunately, not as many as I’d like. The problem is that anyone can open a restaurant and think they know everything. But ask any businessperson, it’s a nearly impossible business to succeed in if you don’t have the business background. It’s especially hard if you don’t have the culinary background. Over the last 10 years, the food industry has moved on leaps and bounds. At your fingertips now, you’ve got food not just on social media platforms, imploding on a daily basis, but you’ve got the most amazing restaurants that are now delivering food to your doorstep. So to stand out from the crowd, businesses today need to be better than they were two years ago.

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September 25, 2023

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Gordon Ramsay’s high-anxiety restaurant rescue series “Kitchen

Tech

Phone call etiquette: Rules for calling, texting and leaving voice mails

Phone calls have been around for 147 years, the iPhone 16 years and FaceTime video voice mails about a week.

Not surprisingly, how we make calls has changed drastically alongside advances in technology. Now people can have conversations in public on their smartwatches, see voice mails transcribed in real time and dial internationally midday without stressing about the cost.

The phone norms also change quickly, causing some people to feel left behind or confused. The unwritten rules of chatting on the phone differ wildly between generations, leading to misunderstandings and frustration on all sides.

We spoke to an etiquette expert and people of all ages about their own phone pet peeves to come up with the following guidance to help everyone navigate phone calls in 2023.

These will vary depending on your relationship, your age and the context of the call. The closer you are to someone, the less the rules apply. Go ahead, FaceTime your mom with no warning while brushing your teeth.

Here are the basics on when and how to make a phone call, and why you should think twice before leaving that voice mail. (Video: Monica Rodman/The Washington Post)

Don’t leave a voice mail

Voice mails are an artifact of the days before text messages. If you have information that needs to be communicated in an accurate, timely manner, you’re far better off putting it into writing as a text or email. Most phones transcribe voice mails now, so chances are people aren’t even listening to what you said but reading a (possibly incorrect) text version instead.

The exceptions for the no-voice-mail rule are calling people who would love to hear your voice no matter what you’re saying, or sharing some kind of audio experience. Think besties and immediate family members singing happy birthday, a dispatch from friends at a Taylor Swift concert or a simple “I love you.”

If you have a long juicy story you want to tell, consider sending it in a voice memo instead. It’s the best medium for a monologue.

Calling someone without warning can feel stressful to the recipient. Instead, text them ahead of time to ask if they’re free to talk now, if they can you call when they’re free, or if they can pick a time they’d like to chat. If it’s someone you call regularly, find out what their ideal times are, like after work or only on Sunday afternoons.

Wording and context are key for these pre-call texts. A simple “call me” text can feel urgent and make someone think there’s an emergency. Clarify if it’s urgent or just to catch-up. If it’s about a specific topic, mention it in the text what it is you’d like to talk about so they can be prepared.

These steps are especially necessary for video calls. Catching someone on video at an unexpected time can be embarrassing for all involved. You should almost never start a FaceTime or other video call without warning.

Worried about texting etiquette? We’ve got you covered there too.

You don’t need to answer the phone

The responsibility isn’t only on the person dialing. Just because someone is calling you out of the blue does not mean you have to pick up. If you’re in a restaurant, using the bathroom or in a meeting, mute the call and get back to them at a convenient time.

“We all have control of our phones and can decide if it’s the right time to answer it,” said Lizzie Post, etiquette expert and co-president at the Emily Post Institute. “If someone interrupts you and you’re ticked off about it, guess whose fault that is? You’re the one who answered the call when you shouldn’t.”

To be even more polite, send them a text. Smartphones will let you send an automated text response when you can’t answer, which is handy if you want to tell them you can text but not talk or will get back to them soon. Consider adding a custom reply in settings or typing something fresh each time. The default texts can sometimes feel a little brusque.

Emotions are for voice, facts are for text

Many things don’t need to be a phone call at all. When you’re trying to decide on the best method of communication, consider what it is you want to say.

Anything requiring nuance like opinions or emotional matters are best done over the phone, including arguments, catching up or connecting on a personal level. Factual updates, coordinating plans or anything that is more cut and dried often work best in writing. If something is complicated and will drag on too long as a text chain, go ahead and ask if they can talk.

“Nobody has a good fight via text message,” says Post. “I get that sometimes it feels better to fight via text because you’re not actually confronting the person, but you get through it a lot faster on the phone.”

Unless it’s an emergency, please hold

If someone doesn’t answer your call, do not hang up and immediately call them again. If they have not responded to your text about the call they missed, do not send them an email about it. If it is an emergency, clearly state that right away in a text message.

Use video voice mails judiciously

Voice mails are dead. Long live the video voice mail. Apple recently introduced a new feature in its iOS 17 update that lets you leave a video message when someone doesn’t answer your FaceTime call. It’s silly and fun and should be used that way, but keep in mind not everyone will find them delightful. Our own Shira Ovide is prepared to unfriend anyone who leaves her a FaceTime voice mail (FaceMail?).

Stay still for video calls

Video calls on FaceTime, Google Meet, Zoom or Skype should get your full attention. Prop your phone up someplace so that your full face fills the screen, not just your forehead and nose, and stay put until the call is over. When people, especially kids, move around during a video call, it can be disorienting for the person on the other end. If you want to wander around and do chores while talking, switch to a voice call.

Don’t use speakerphone in public

While many people (myself included) love eavesdropping on strangers’ gossip, it’s generally considered bad form to use speakerphone in public. Whether it’s a regular call, video call or smartwatch call, use headphones or save it for later. Headphones only solve half of the problem, however, as people still have to hear your side of the conversation. If you’re in a crowded area, like an office or store, be aware of other people’s personal space and your own volume.

Video calls in public are also a sensitive issue. There are strangers around you who did not consent to being on camera, and they might also see something they’re not supposed to on your screen. Frame your shots accordingly.

Start screening calls again

Apple also added a new call screening feature in iOS 17 that will transcribe a voice mail in real time, meaning you can decide while they’re talking to answer the phone. For anyone old enough to have owned an answering machine, this is a delightful throwback. Use this feature to avoid scam calls from unknown numbers instead of answering them all out of curiosity.

The feature is still new so we’ll have to see how people feel about being ignored unless they have something worthwhile to say.

Don’t stop talking on the phone

Phone calls aren’t dead! While hopping on the phone may be less common or involve more planning than it used to, it’s still a wonderful way to communicate. Talking to a person in real time can strengthen relationships, improve mental health and lessen loneliness.

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September 25, 2023

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Comment on this storyCommentPhone calls have been

Video

Dish to Raise Satellite TV Prices by $5 per Month

September 25, 2023 @ 8:43 AM

Dish customers will be charged an additional $5 for the company’s satellite television packages next month. Beginning Oct. 12, pricing will be as follows:

Welcome Pack: $54.99 (up from $49.99)
Smart Pack: $60.99 (up from $55.99
Flex Pack: $62.99 (up from $57.99)
DISH America: $77.99 (up from $72.99)
America’s Top 120: $92.99 (up from 87.99)
America’s Top 120+: $97.99 (up from 92.99)
America’s Top 200: $107.99 (up from $102.99)
America’s Top 250: $117.99 (up from $112.99)
America’s Everything Pack: $142.99 (up from $137.99)
DishLATINO Básico: $61.99 (up from $56.99)
DishLATINO Clásico: $64.99 (up from $59.99)
DishLATINO Plus: $71.99 (up from $66.99)
DishLATINO Dos: $90.99 (up from $85.99)
DishLATINO Max: $102.99 (up from $97.99)
Chinese Basic: $20
International Basic: $20

Dish customers who are currently enrolled in a price lock or the preferred customer offer will not see programming pricing change until the offer expires.

Meanwhile, customers who subscribed to the Welcome Pack prior to Jan. 15, 2019, will be charged $50.99 per month. Package prices do not include $12 per month for local channels, except for the Welcome Pack and DishLATINO Básico.

Additionally, late fees are increasing from $10 to $12 in all states except for Arizona, Maine and Virginia.

According to a notice posted on the company’s website, the price increase is due to rising programming costs.

“The price that we pay for programming continues to rise. In fact, the fastest growing cost we and all other TV providers have is driven by the cost we pay the programmers,” Dish said. “We will continue to work hard for fair deals with these programmers to keep channel costs and the price you pay as low as possible. Unfortunately, you may have observed some channel interruptions because of this.”

The company is currently in a carriage dispute with Hearst, which has resulted in the loss of 37 channels across 27 markets, including local network affiliates.

Dish Networks reported a total of 8.9 million pay-TV subscribers at the end of the second quarter of 2023, including 6.9 million Dish TV subscribers and 2 million Sling TV subscribers.

Shares of Dish, which have fallen 56.4% year to date, are down 2% during Monday’s trading session.

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September 25, 2023

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September 25, 2023

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The cast of the sci-fi sitcom, Red Dwarf

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20 Longest-Running British TV Series of All Time

British TV bears some similarities to American TV, yet there are two major things that separate the two industries. In the UK, networks aren’t as trigger-happy as those in the US. Showrunners are usually granted ample time to build their stories. Interestingly, these showrunners aren’t normally interested in stretching their shows for too long either. The majority of them prefer to end things on a high, so it’s rare for any TV series to jump the shark.

Fans who enjoy getting immersed in a single story for weeks or months might thus struggle to find something to satisfy their appetite. Thankfully, there are a few British small-screen projects that have been (or were) on air for a long time. Those that ended mostly did so on their own terms, while those still running haven’t lost their appeal.

20 Take the High Road (1980 to 2003) – 10 Seasons

ITV

Take the High Road takes viewers away from the city chaos and plants them into the rural village of Glendarroch, Scotland. As quiet as everything seems, there are plenty of sinister characters, so fans are treated to common soap opera issues like infidelity, sibling rivalry, and career struggles, though the money-making schemes all revolve around agriculture.

The ITV series frequently dives into parish pump politics too, with the locals always fighting for their interests and the politicians doing their best to patch the cracks to not lose any elections. Additionally, Take the High Road has a catchy Scottish folk band theme tune whose accordion and banjo tones are guaranteed to get the viewer humming right before the events begin.

19 My Family (2000 to 2011) – 11 Seasons

Characters from the British sitcom, My Family — BBC

Disciplined parents and children can be boring, especially on TV, so My Family aims to provide the same kind of entertainment as the popular movies about dysfunctional families. The story centers around the Harper family, whose members keep getting on each other’s nerves from episode to episode. Still, they always know when it’s the right time to team up and stop the nonsense.

Viewers are likely to appreciate the character development that each of the family members is guaranteed. For example, one of the children (Jane) morphs from a teen carver to one of the most responsible fictional moms. Another (Nick) turns from a slacker to an industrious young man. The parents, on the other hand, are both villainous. The father is a misanthrope, while the mother is a control freak whose cooking the family hates so much that they keep sneaking meals into the trash bin.

18 Minder (1979 to 1994) – 11 Seasons

The main characters of the British crime drama, Minder — ITV

There are many underrated British crime dramas, but Minder (the title, “Minder,” refers to UK slang for right-hand-man) managed to appeal to audiences both in and out of the UK because of its likable antihero, Terry McCann. A former boxer, Terry spends most of his time in the series as a henchman for the influential criminal Arthur Daley.

Unlike men of his kind, Terry is obedient and loyal. He even chooses to serve more time rather than give up an associate when he gets arrested. He is also shown to be much more streetwise than his boss; hence, situations that might have escalated into violence end up getting defused rather easily. Besides that, there are always intriguing conflicts between Arthur and Terry’s love interests because they all keep urging the former boxer to get away from his boss’ shadow and be his own man.

17 New Tricks (2003 to 2015) – 12 Seasons

Retired officers in a scene from the procedural, New Tricks — BBC

BBC One’s New Tricks is a distinctive procedural because it strictly focuses on unsolved crimes. Logically, the active police force can be presumed to have a lot on its plate, so members of Unsolved Crime and Open Case Squad (UCOS) – a fictional division of the London Metropolitan Police Service – consist of retired officers who are bored with their new lives. The title is plucked from the proverb, “You cannot teach an old dog new tricks.”

Because the focus is on elderly lawmen, fans don’t get to see love triangles or foot chases. Instead, the protagonists bear age-appropriate challenges like illness, memory loss, and solitude stemming from family estrangement. Despite the personal struggles, these officers are shown to be much wiser, often seeing hidden clues that younger officers couldn’t.

16 Red Dwarf (1988 to 2017) – 12 Seasons

It isn’t common for sitcoms to expand into major franchises, so the Red Dwarf creators ought to be lauded for making something special that had so much potential for growth. Today, the show’s events – which center around a man’s misadventures after he discovers he is the last surviving human – have spilled into books, video games, and movies.

The majority of events in Red Dwarf take place inside a spaceship. Interestingly, the series has no aliens. All the life forms that the protagonist Dave encounters are said to have evolved from Earth’s living creatures after the planet was destroyed. The sci-fi project also has one of the best story setups, as Dave is said to have only survived an accident that killed all the other 168 crew members because he had been placed in a stasis state as punishment for smuggling a cat.

15 Z-Cars (1962 to 1978) – 12 Seasons

“Z-Car” is the term that British tabloids use to refer to police cars, and through to the title, Z-Cars is all about patrol officers. It doesn’t feature some of the coolest detective cars, but it has arguably way more law enforcement characters than most procedurals. That’s because different episodes focus on different officers who have been assigned patrol duties during that week.

It’s the kind of show that real-world officers are likely to hate because most of them are depicted as highly flawed individuals. Some are incompetent on the job, while others aren’t angels at work but devils back home. Nonetheless, it’s a thoroughly enjoyable small-screen project that offers plenty of thrilling chase scenes and a wide variety of both petty criminals and influential hoodlums.

14 Not Going Out (2006 to Present) – 13 Seasons

A scene from the sitcom Not Going Out — BBC

In Not Going Out, British comedian Lee Mack plays a fictionalized version of himself. True to the title, the main character is a slacker and lodger who is happy to spend his days drinking and watching TV in a London apartment owned by his best friend. Apart from beer, picking up women is normally the only other incentive for him to get out of the couch.

For about half of the series, Lee works hard to impress his crush, Lucy, but finds no success. His failed schemes make up a huge chunk of the show’s comedy, so viewers rarely feel compelled to pity him. Apart from the captivating arcs, Not Going Out is packed with numerous pop culture references as well as links to real-world events. The dialogue is also clever because it’s mostly based on double entendres.

13 London’s Burning (1986 to 2002) – 14 Seasons

London’s Burning can be described as the UK version of Chicago Fire. In this particular fictional world, there is no shortage of fire incidents in London. Thankfully, members of the London Fire Brigade’s Blackwall fire station are ever ready to step up and save the day. At times, they fail, but that’s part of what makes everything much more enjoyable.

The ITV series also happens to be one of the shows based on movies, as the story all started with a TV film. However, there was a change of genre while expanding the story. The film was a black comedy, yet the show takes a procedural/drama format. Judging from the millions of ratings, it’s clear that fans didn’t have a problem with the switch at all.

12 A Touch of Frost (1992 to 2010) – 15 Seasons

A scene from A Touch of Frost — Apple TV

Events in A Touch of Frost were initially faithful to those in the Frost detective novels by author and radio dramatist R. D. Wingfield, but with time, the writers began coming up with series-exclusive stories. The main character is the weird Detective William Edward “Jack” Frost, whose unimpressive habits include drinking other people’s beverages and leaving his belongings in a mess.

Rule-breaking is also part of the fun for Frost, so he often plants evidence and gets into buildings without warrants. His behavior causes him to be reprimanded several times, but because he has a George Cross award (the highest honor for acts of bravery), his superiors often find it difficult to fire him. The show’s other interesting character is Superintendent Stanley Mullett, who dishes out threats to Frost several times per episode and sees his law enforcement as nothing but a bridge to a more lucrative career in politics.

11 Byker Grove (1989 to 2006) – 18 Seasons

Byker Grove is reputed for featuring the first-ever gay kiss on UK teen television and for its creative use of the fourth-wall-breaking technique. The events center around the members of a youth club and the numerous challenges they face as they try to lay proper foundations for themselves in order to have better lives when they become adults.

In each episode, the teen drama tackles complex themes, touching on topics like abortion, drug abuse, homophobia, racial discrimination, and homelessness. Most importantly, it avoids the cliché plot format of teenagers facing education-related challenges. Here, the characters are rarely seen in school. Byker Grove also heavily relies on the Grey’s Anatomy-ish trop of bad things happening to good people. From fan favorites suddenly getting diagnosed with terminal illnesses to others missing out on opportunities, there is never a shortage of sad moments.

10 Brookside (1982 to 2003) – 21 Seasons

Brookside was revolutionary in many ways. It showed the first-ever lesbian kiss and also had the first-ever gay character on British TV. The soap opera didn’t stop there as it went on to feature the first incestuous relationship between two siblings, something that didn’t sit well with fans at the time. Even so, it’s such controversies that helped the Channel 4 project remain relevant for so many years.

The events mainly revolve around several families living in a suburb in the city of Liverpool. The stories cover all kinds of issues, ranging from workplace strikes to hostage situations. In one of the more popular storylines, a psychopathic gunman holds a family hostage, resulting in the death of one of the members. Another memorable storyline involves an abused wife murdering her husband and burying his body in the garden,

9 Dixon of Dock Green (1955 to 1976) – 22 Seasons

Dixon of Dock Green takes a different approach to law enforcement. Unlike most procedurals where weapons have to be fired in each episode, Police constable George Dickson normally does his job by talking his way through situations. Thanks to his charming and reasonable nature, he often comes to an understanding with the criminals and victims, leaving everyone happy.

All this was accurate because English police officers rarely carried firearms in the ‘70s. They were only issued weapons on a temporary basis whenever a violent crime was reported. Regarding the protagonist, he isn’t an original character as he was plucked from the movie The Blue Lamp. However, he became much more popular after appearing on the show. Given the slow-burn nature of the plot, the dialogue is what viewers are likely to enjoy the most.

8 The Bill (1983 to 2010) – 26 Seasons

The Bill has four spinoff shows, proof of how rich its plot is. The title is inspired by the British slang “Old Bill,” which is used to refer to police officers, and the plot mostly revolves around members of different police departments working on a particular shift. Because of its serial format, it’s often compared to Hill Street Blues.

Overall, The Bill is a flawless procedural, yet viewers are likely to appreciate the character development more than the cases and the violence. At one point, one of the high-ranking officers even gets imprisoned and comes back as an informant. Another memorable storyline involves an officer getting murdered by his daughter’s boyfriend in a tense family-related subplot that influenced the production of a spinoff focusing on homicides.

7 Crossroads (1964 to 2003) – 26 Seasons

A scene from Crossroads — Birmingham Live

Crossroads has low production values, with most of the proceedings taking place in a single location despite the fact that it’s a soap opera, not a sitcom. In spite of that, it was wildly popular for years, leading to its rival a few years after it ended. The main story focuses on two sisters and their customers at the fictional Crossroads Motel.

The show is best remembered for featuring storylines that were unheard of at the time. In the early ‘80s, a subplot about a false rape accusation triggered endless public discussion. Controversial political policies were often dissected too, and as such, the producers faced accusations of trying to influence the public to lean in certain directions. Nonetheless, it had a fairly healthy run in general.

6 Doctor Who (1963 to Present) – 26 Seasons

Doctor Who chronicles the time-traveling adventures of a scientist who hails from the Planet Gallifrey. The planet is said to be the location of the Time Lords, who have the ability to move from one time period to another. Most of the episodes thus involve The Doctor moving through space and time in his unique craft known as the Time and Relative Dimensions in Space (TARDIS).

Among the many reasons fans appreciate Doctor Who is that there is an in-show explanation for cast changes. Instead of getting a new actor and pretending like nothing happened (like most shows do), the series explains that the Time Lords experience regeneration after some time as a way to prolong their lives. This explains why younger versions of The Doctor keep popping up.

5 Taggart (1983 to 2010) – 27 Seasons

Set in a fictional police station in Glasgow, Scotland, Taggart follows the professional and personal lives of the officers based there. The procedural was initially about Officer Jim Taggart, but after actor Mark McManus died, a decision was made to keep the title as it was and shift the focus to an ensemble cast.

Taggart is one of the easier procedurals to jump into because each one-hour episode covers a standalone story. Earlier episodes stretch for as long as 90 minutes; hence, they feel like some of the popular true crime movies. The screenwriters don’t go easy on the dialogue either, so viewers are treated to quotes such as “there has been strangulation by ligature” and “the supraclavicular nerve got raptured during the attack.”

4 Doctors (2000 to Present) – 24 Seasons

Doctors is Britain’s answer to Grey’s Anatomy, or rather, Grey’s Anatomy is America’s answer to Doctors. The BBC One came way before the Shondaland one, and it serves pretty much the same buffet. Both shows keep the spotlight on surgeons and sprinkle a soap opera touch to the proceedings. What results is a blend of complicated workplace affairs and groundbreaking surgeries.

The similarities don’t end there. Both medical dramas have a high cast turnover, so fans are frequently introduced to new doctors. Series loyalists thus have a large pool of characters to choose from when it comes to picking fan favorites. Most importantly, they offer important lessons regarding medical practices.

3 EastEnders (1985 to Present) – 32 Seasons

EastEnders captures the triumphs and struggles of working-class families in the fictional London borough of Walford. Most characters are plagued by financial challenges, but their lives remain fun thanks to humor, schemes, and community unanimity. It’s perhaps the most relatable show to the average British citizen, hence the reason it has appealed to the public for so long.

The soap opera has been nominated for over 100 awards ever since it premiered and continues to be an accolade magnate to this day. In addition to that, its pop culture impact remains strong. Various British movies and songs have referenced EastEnders in general or some of its characters. And such references are often easy to catch because of the BBC One project’s never-ending popularity.

2 Emmerdale (1972 to Present) – 34 Seasons

Events in Emmerdale center around the villagers residing in Yorkshire Dales. It’s one of the few soap operas to be primarily filmed outdoors, and such a production route made sense because the majority of the villager’s characters are farmers.

Despite the quiet setting, Emmerdale isn’t short of drama and shocking twists. One of the show’s most memorable storylines involves a plane suddenly crashing into the village and killing four main characters. There’s also a surprise episode featuring an entirely female cast, and in it, they get to address many of the gender discrimination issues that plague modern society.

1 Coronation Street (1960 to Present) – 60 Seasons

A scene from Coronation Street — The Sun

Coronation Street is the world’s longest-running soap opera, and it continues to appeal to a wide audience because of the production team’s efforts to inject a fresh batch of characters every few seasons. The plots follow residents of the fictional Weatherfield neighborhood in Salford, England. The characters are of the down-to-earth and middle-class type. Hence, many viewers find them relatable compared to those in soaps centering around wealthy families.

TV lovers who hope to start watching Coronation Street now might have a harder time because there are more than 11,000 episodes and numerous spinoff movies based on the characters, especially those who have moved on from the series. The good news is that there are a couple of documentaries that summarize what happened in the earlier seasons.

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