Monday, September 18, 2023, ratings — New episodes: Son of a Critch, Children Ruin Everything, and Run the Burbs. Sports:NFL Football: Browns at Steelers. Specials:Academy of Country Music Honors and American Ninja Warrior. Reruns: Weakest Link, Whose Line Is It Anyway?, NCIS: Los Angeles, The Neighborhood, Bob ❤ Abishola and NCIS: Hawai’i.
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These are the fast affiliate ratings. The percentages represent the change since the previous original episode. (Percentages aren’t given for reruns or specials.) To see past ratings for a particular show, click the show’s link. The show pages are updated with the daily final ratings when they become available. Those pages include season averages to date.
A pair of below the line workers have scheduled a rally for Sept. 27 in hopes of persuading City Hall to get more involved in the ongoing labor dispute.
“Government leaders pay attention! We are gathering to demand change now!,” according to a social media post announcing the rally. “We are demanding help from our government after 5 months of no work. People are losing their pensions, their homes, their health insurance, everything. It’s time to say ENOUGH! Get involved, mediate a fair deal, raise and extend EDD. Hopefully, the talks on this coming Wednesday will be productive and we won’t need to rally. But if they fall apart, like they have every time, we’ll need this rally more than ever. We can not sit around and hope for a resolution anymore, it’s time to take action people’s livelihoods are at stake.”
The rally is planned for City Hall’s south lawn from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. It’s the brainchild of Farah Bunch, a make-up artist, and Katie Baccaro, a production manager.
There’s renewed optimism this week that the WGA and AMPTP can reach a deal now that both parties have agreed to meet tomorrow.
The WGA sent out a note to members confirming the talks: “The WGA and AMPTP now have a confirmed schedule to bargain this week, starting on Wednesday. You might not hear from us in the coming days while we are negotiating, but know that our focus is getting a fair deal for writers as soon as possible. We’ll reach out again when there is something of significance to report. In the meantime, please continue to demonstrate your commitment and unity by coming out to the picket lines – for yourselves and fellow writers, SAG-AFTRA, other unions’ members, and all those in our community who are impacted by the strikes.”
Detective/mystery movies are on the uptick after the hit Knives Out, not to mention the popularity of true crime shows and podcasts. Does writer/director Fintan Connolly’s Irish film Barber, co-written by Fiona Bergin, capitalize on the genre’s popularity? Yes and no.
The film follows veteran character actor Aidan Gillen as private investigator Val Barber. He’s hired by a wealthy widow named Lily Dunne (Deirdre Donnelly) to find her missing granddaughter, Sara (Isabelle Connolly). Val usually deals with less intense cases like insurance fraud, but times are tough, and the money is right.
I say yes and no for Barber being able to please mystery fans because the film is slow-moving, even by the standards of a usually slow-burn genre. The story moves like molasses. Some viewers, such as I, can handle that, but others will not because the runtime of an hour and a half feels much longer than it actually is.
The film is set during the COVID-19 restrictions, so you’ll see a lot of masks and not too many people in one scene together. Again, that is what it is, albeit a reminder of less-than-happy times can have an unconscionable psychological effect on audience members. It’s a time capsule on a micro-budget but done quite well for the circumstances.
“…[hired] to find her missing granddaughter…”
The problem that I do have is the way it handles the mystery and personal life of Barber. There’s a seemingly significant focus on the P.I. being bi-sexual, and it comes off as more distracting than natural. There’s a side story about his daughter Kate (Aisling Kearns) and ex-wife Monica (Helen Behan) having to deal with it. However, this detail doesn’t bring the emotional impact it could have. The mystery also feels like it’s wrapped up in a neat, unsatisfying bow by the end of it all, reminiscent of a weekly crime show.
Aidan Gillen is what makes Barber ultimately worth watching. I’ve noticed him stand out in smaller roles in Game of Thrones and the underrated Sing Street, but he proves that he can carry a leading role here. I wish the story had offered him more to work with, but the actor shines as the archetypal flawed gumshoe. The man has that classic Humphrey Bogart-like presence where he can give a range-filled performance as a character that may have otherwise been one-dimensional in the hands of lesser actors.
With some more focused writing and tighter editing, I see this becoming a popular franchise because of what Gillen brings to the table. Knives out it is not, but it doesn’t have to be to find its niche within the genre. But another positive is that despite being shot during the pandemic, it looks amazing and showcases some beautiful spots in Dublin. Director of photography Owen McPolin excellently captures the isolation and beauty of the land the detective ventures through. This is not surprising given his work on stunning-looking shows such as Vikings.
Barber may not be a mind-bending mystery, but Aiden Gillen’s performance and the cinematography elevate it to something worth seeing.
A 22-year-old man who had his penis lopped off in a botched circumcision at age ten has had a compensation award of £500,000 reduced to just £20,000 after the Malay government successfully appealed against his claim.
The unnamed victim reportedly lost roughly 90 per cent of his penis during the op that took place at the local hospital in his hometown of Kuala Lipis, Malaysia, on December 13, 2010.
The medics who reportedly severed his privates were not qualified in microsurgeries, and the decision was made to transfer the boy to Selayang Hospital where better qualified surgeons could attempt to rectify the horror botch job.
But the delay meant he was only operated on ten hours later, at which point all hope for reattaching his penis was lost.
Afterwards, he remained hospitalised for over a month amid an agonising and desperate recovery process after which he filed a lawsuit against the government and hospital directors with the help of his mother.
On April 7, 2022, Justice Datuk Akhtar Tahir ruled in his favour and awarded him MYR 3.1 million (£532,409) in damages.
Judge Akhtar said in June of last year: ‘The delay by the medical personnel in attending to the plaintiff’s injury had extinguished all hopes of a successful surgery in saving the injured part of the plaintiff.
‘The Selayang Hospital had been informed about the transfer of the plaintiff, yet the medical personnel did not take steps to prepare for a possible surgery.
‘It is clear that no amount of financial award given by the court will compensate the loss suffered by the plaintiff.
‘All the shame and humiliation the plaintiff suffers comes as a result of this terrible loss.
‘His mother had testified that since the age of ten, the plaintiff has entered into a shell and finds it hard to interact with others, let alone develop the courage ever to marry.’
The amount sought by the plaintiff was north of £500,000, including a litany of general, special and severe damages collectively owed by all the defendants.
But the payout was greatly reduced after the government filed an appeal that the Putrajaya Court of Appeal accepted.
A three-judge panel ruled unanimously that general damages of MYR 2 million (GBP 343,432) obtained by the plaintiff were excessively high during a hearing earlier this month.
Justice Ravinthran Paramaguru, who chaired the panel, said the amount was not supported by any documentation.
Paramaguru was quoted as saying: ‘Therefore, the general damages of MYR 2 million are reduced to MYR 100,000 (£17,172).
‘The special damages are reduced from to MYR 23,556 (£4,045).’
Bogus medic Torben K, 46 has been jailed for five years after performing a botched penis enlargement surgery which killed his patient
The drastic reduction in the plaintiff’s damages came just weeks after a German man who posed as a cosmetic surgeon was jailed for five years for performing a botched penis enlargement surgery which killed his patient.
Bogus medic Torben K, 46, a catering worker from Solingen, Germany, had injected the patient’s manhood and scrotum with silicone oil during what was supposed to be a ‘girth-enhancing’ procedure.
Judges in Wuppertal District Court jailed him on August 28 after he was found guilty of causing death by grievous bodily harm.
The 32-year-old victim – not named in court – died of sepsis seven months after the agonising operation in July 2019.
The court heard how the bogus doctor had no medical qualifications and offered his penis enlargement services online.
Patrick Dempsey took the stage at the 2023 Clinton Global Initiative in New York City, where he participated in a panel discussion on “Leveling the Fight Against Cancer: How to Forge Innovative Partnerships in Hard to Reach Places.”
Ariana Grande, Guillermo del Toro, Padma Lakshmi, Roxane Gay, Gabrielle Union, Sandra Cisneros, Amanda Gorman, Margaret Cho and Ron Perlman are among the signatories of an open letter calling on creative communities in Hollywood and beyond to leverage their voices to stop book bans.
Upwards of 175 actors, musicians, authors, comedians, reality stars, models, media personalities, academics, activists and more have signed the open letter spearheaded by Reading Rainbow host LeVar Burton and published Tuesday via public advocacy organization and political action committee MoveOn Political Action.
LeVar Burton
Albert L. Ortega/Getty Images
The letter encourages signatories and readers to address challenges at the local level across U.S. school districts, while calling out book bans as “restrictive behavior” that is “antithetical to free speech and expression.” It also underscores the “chilling effect” these bans can have “on the broader creative field.”
“We cannot stress enough how these censorious efforts will not end with book bans,” the letter continues. “It’s only a matter of time before regressive, suppressive ideologues will shift their focus toward other forms of art and entertainment, to further their attacks and efforts to scapegoat marginalized communities, particularly BIPOC and LGBTQ+ folks.”
The letter concludes that signatories will “refuse to remain silent as one creative field is subjected to oppressive bans” and urges artists to “band together, because a threat to one form of art is a threat to us all.”
“It’s embarrassing that we are banning books in this country, in this culture, in this day and age. And it’s dangerous that a handful of individuals are deciding that any book with Black and queer people is divisive,” said Burton, executive producer of the 2023 documentary The Right to Read. “We are calling on everyone to join us in raising their voices to uphold artistic freedom, embrace multicultural history and put a stop once and for all to book bans.”
Mark Ruffalo; Billy Porter; Chelsea Handler; Constance Wu; John Leguizamo; Christie Brinkley; Angie Thomas; Raquel Willis; Idina Menzel; Roxane Gay; Adina Porter; Judy Blume; Busy Philipps; Garbage; Jodi Picoult; Natasha Rothwell; Andy Cohen; Sarah Paulson; Emma Roberts; Abigail Disney; Jazz Jennings; Margaret Atwood; Michael Ian Black; Sharon Stone; Judd Apatow; Nikki Giovanni; Alyssa Milano; Bill Nye; Zooey Deschanel; Patton Oswalt; Aisha Tyler; Natasha Lyonne; Maia Kobabe; Zoe Lister-Jones; Alok; and Ava Max are also among those who have backed the open letter, which began collecting signatures this summer and is available in full at www.ArtistsAgainstBookBans.com.
“There is a growing consensus among the majority of Americans that book bans take our country backward,” added MoveOn political action executive director Rahna Epting. “Ron DeSantis and MAGA Republicans seek to censor all of our diverse backgrounds and to punish those who live, love and think differently than they do. We won’t surrender to their extremism. They cannot erase us. We are the majority; we are defiant, and we will prevail.”
In her own statement, banned author, LGBTQ advocate and star of TLC series I Am Jazz called signing the open letter “crucial” and expressed that “by speaking out, I can defend freedom of expression, promote representation and inclusivity, support education and understanding, counter prejudice and discrimination and empower young readers to embrace their identities and fight for their rights.”
Actress and producer Union urged supporters to not “stand idly by as book bans spread hate and fear,” adding that “our differences must be celebrated, and our children deserve to have resources to explore the fullness of our world.” In her own statement, Taste the Nation host Lakshmi declared that “we cannot shield our children from our history, as my generation was. Deciding what books are in school libraries is the job of librarians, not politicians who want to continue to whitewash the country.”
Award-winning authors like Sandra Cisneros — who called books “good medicine” and explained that “if this one isn’t your prescription, you just put it back on the shelf for someone who needs it” — and Jodi Picoult, who warned that bans that started “on school shelves are already morphing into content challenges” at public libraries, bookstores and theaters, also vocalized their stance against censorship alongside online reading community Belletrist co-founders Emma Roberts and Karah Preiss and Broadway star Idina Menzel, who co-writes children’s books with her sister and teacher, Cara Mentzel.
“Banning books takes away resources from kids who are trying to find themselves and discover the world,” Roberts and Preiss said. “We all need to speak out to fight these bans, because politicians cannot be allowed to stifle our growth, creativity or identities.”
Menzel and Mentzel added: “It’s on all of us to support all kids against book bans. We must come together and continue to advocate for children of all backgrounds, races, genders and sexual orientations so they know they are loved, valued and that we will stop at nothing to protect their rights.”
The letter’s release coincides with National Banned Books Month and comes amid a corresponding public petition from MoveOn, which will connect signatories with future advocacy opportunities around book bans. Such opportunities include methods of support or events related to MoveOn’s Banned Bookmobile, which launched a multi-city tour this past summer after measures touted and supported by Gov. Ron DeSantis resulted in an increase in banned and restricted books in Florida schools, according to the Associated Press.
In October, the bookmobile will once again distribute free banned books, in addition to hosting events held in conjunction with Crooked Media’s live Pod Saves America and Lovett or Leave It podcasts, and author readings in Georgia, Virginia and South Carolina as part of a broader “Read Banned Books” initiative.
In 2022, book bans hit an all-time high across 21 years of recording, according to Education Week, with PEN America — a research organization dedicated to tracking threats to free expression — reporting over 4,000 book challenges and bans in school districts since June 2021.
Although the series doesn’t debut until December, the streamer released yet another teaser on Tuesday — this time unveiling a bit more about the journey that Percy (Walker Scobell) and his crew will be embarking on to recover the Master Bolt after its been stolen.
But first, Percy will have to realize his power as a Half Blood and learn more about his past to understand why he’s the only person for the job.
Watch the trailer above.
As fans gear up for the adaptation — which comes about a decade after the first two novels in Rick Riordan’s series were adapted into films — the author has been vocal about his involvement with the Disney+ series from day one.
“I feel comfortable telling fans of the books who have been waiting — in some cases, decades — for this kind of faithful adaptation, that this is the one you’ve been waiting for. We are involved and I think you’re gonna love it,” he told EW in a recent interview.
Percy Jackson and the Olympians tells the fantastical story of a 12-year-old modern demigod, Percy Jackson, who’s just coming to terms with his newfound divine powers when the sky god, Zeus, accuses him of stealing his master lightning bolt. With help from his friends Grover and Annabeth, Percy must embark on an adventure of a lifetime to find it and restore order to Olympus.
The series stars Walker Scobell as Percy Jackson, Leah Sava Jeffries as Annabeth Chase and Aryan Simhadri as Grover Underwood and features notable guest stars Lin-Manuel Miranda, Megan Mullally, Toby Stephens, Virginia Kull, Jason Mantzoukas, Jay Duplass, Glynn Turman, the late Lance Reddick, Adam Copeland, Charlie Bushnell, Dior Goodjohn, Jessica Parker Kennedy, Olivea Morton, Suzanne Cryer, Timm Sharp and Timothy Omundson.
Riordan worked closely with the creative team and showrunners Jon Steinberg and Dan Shotz on the a series, which, per Disney+, stays true to his vision for popular literary characters. The first two episodes are written by Riordan and Steinberg and directed by James Bobin. Steinberg and Shotz serve as executive producers alongside Rick Riordan, Rebecca Riordan, The Gotham Group’s Ellen Goldsmith-Vein, Bert Salke, The Gotham Group’s Jeremy Bell and D.J. Goldberg, James Bobin, Jim Rowe, Monica Owusu-Breen, Anders Engström and Jet Wilkinson.
Percy Jackson and the Olympians premieres with two episodes on December 20 on Disney+, followed by new episodes weekly.
Hallmark has revealed that it will have 40 all-new, original movies for both its flagship channel and Hallmark Movies & Mysteries, as well as special content for Hallmark Movies Now, the company’s subscription streaming service.
Even though the ongoing WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes impacted TV and film productions, Hallmark anticipated the labor dispute by getting a head start on production. “Christmas is a year-round business at Hallmark, so we were able to mitigate early in the year understanding that the strikes were unfortunately imminent,” Lisa Hamilton Daly, EVP of programming at Hallmark Media, was recently quoted as saying. “We’re grateful to meet all our goals for a full, all-new holiday slate and to bring our viewers the content they love most to celebrate the season.”
Holiday programming kicks off Friday, Oct. 20 with the channel’s Countdown to Christmas and Hallmark Movies & Mysteries’ Miracles of Christmas.
Among the actors set to headline Hallmark’s movies include Lacey Chabert (A Merry Scottish Christmas, Haul Out the Holly: Lit Up); Benjamin Ayres, Katherine Barrell, Catherine Bell, Jonathan Bennett, Krystal Joy Brown, Warren Christie, Cindy Busby, Erin Cahill, Paul Campbell, Nikki DeLoach, James Denton, Brooke D’Orsay, Jaicy Elliot, Brennan Elliott, Tyler Hynes, Dan Jeannotte, Hunter King, Bethany Joy Lenz, Luke Macfarlane, Chandler Massey, Niall Matter, Barbara Niven, Ryan Paevey, Janel Parrish, Brendan Penny, Kristoffer Polaha, Michael Rady, Marcus Rosner, Ronnie Rowe Jr., Jessy Schram, Kimberley Sustad, Andrew Walker, and Victor Webster.
Friday, October 20: Checkin’ It Twice starring Kim Matula and Kevin McGarry. A journeyman hockey player (McGarry) falls for a real estate agent (Matula) in a career crisis when he’s traded to her hometown and moves into the cottage in her hockey loving family’s backyard.
Saturday, October 21: Where Are You, Christmas? Starring Lyndsy Fonseca, Michael Rady, Jim O’Heir, Julie Warner. When Addy (Fonseca) wishes for a year without Christmas, she wakes up in a world of black and white. She must work together with the town mechanic (Rady) to restore Christmas.
Sunday, October 22: Under the Christmas Sky starring Jessica Parker Kennedy, Ryan Paeve.: Kat (Kennedy) is an esteemed astrophysicist, who is scheduled for her first trip into space next year until an accident grounds her. While on leave, coming to terms with the reality that her dream of being an astronaut is over, she volunteers at the local planetarium. There, she is paired up with by-the-book David (Paevey) to work on an exhibit opening right before Christmas. Will the stars align to bring these two together at the holidays?
Friday, October 27: Christmas by Design starring Rebecca Dalton, Jonathan Keltz. A fashion designer (Dalton) gets accepted into a Christmas challenge to create a new holiday- themed collection and not only finds the inspiration for her next line but decides to redesign her approach to what’s most important in life.
Saturday, October 28: Mystic Christmas starring Jessy Schram, Chandler Massey, Patti Murin, William R. Moses. Juniper (Schram) travels to Mystic, Connecticut during the holidays to work at the rehabilitation center and aquarium. She reconnects with Sawyer (Massey), the owner of the pizza shop.
Sunday, October 29:Joyeux Noel stars Jaicy Elliot, Brant Daugherty. When a romantic painting of a Christmas market captures the imagination of copy editor Lea (Elliot), she is sent to France with pragmatic reporter Mark (Daugherty) to uncover the mystery behind the artist.
Friday, November 3:Flipping for Christmas starring Ashley Newbrough, Marcus Rosner. It’s almost Christmas when busy realtor Abigail (Newbrough) agrees to help her sister with the “simple flip” of a recently inherited home. Unfortunately, co-beneficiary Bo (Rosner) has other plans in mind.
Saturday, November 4: Never Been Chris’d starring Janel Parrish, Pascal Lamothe-Kipnes, Tyler Hynes. Home for the holidays, BFFs Naomi (Parrish) and Liz (Lamothe-Kipnes) reconnect with high school crush Chris Silver (Hynes). A complex love triangle forms, forcing them to take stock of their lives and find the value of friendship.
Sunday, November 5: The Santa Summit starring Hunter King, Benjamin Hollingsworth. It’s time for the annual Santa Summit, in which revelers put on Santa suits and hop around designated locations in town to eat, drink, and be merry. Three best friends decide to go together: Jordin (King), a recently dumped art teacher looking to cut loose; Ava, a shy woman hoping to run into her crush; and Stella, a Christmas cynic with no interest in the Santa Summit whatsoever. At the start of the night, Jordin meets and bonds with Liam (Hollingsworth), but doesn’t get his name before getting separated and lost in a sea of Santas. As the night progresses and hijinks ensue, amidst the chaos, celebration, and a sea of Santas, they all find what they’re looking for: Christmas spirit, potential romance, and a strengthened bond of friendship.
Friday, November 10: Everything Christmas starring Katherine Barrell, Cindy Busby, Corey Sevier, Matt Wells. Lori Jo’s (Busby) love for Christmas takes her on a road trip to Yuletide Springs with her roommate Tori (Barrell), where Christmas is celebrated year-round, to participate in a longstanding town tradition to honor her late grandmother. Along the way, the friends meet Carl (Sevier) and Jason (Wells), and the foursome make stops during their journey to enjoy more small-town Christmas attractions. But when a series of events puts a damper on their plans, a little Christmas magic may put this trip back on the right path.
Saturday, November 11: Christmas Island starring Rachel Skarsten, Andrew Walker. When a snowstorm diverts Kate’s (Skarsten) first private flight en route to Switzerland to Christmas Island, she must team up with an air traffic controller (Walker) to secure her dream job as the family’s pilot.
Sunday, November 12:A Heidelberg Holiday starring Ginna Claire Mason, Frédéric Brossier. Heidi Heidelberg (Mason) receives the dream opportunity to sell her beautiful, handmade glass ornaments at the prestigious Heidelberg Christmas Market in Germany. While there, she meets Lukas (Brossier), a local artisan who helps her reconnect with her lost heritage.
Friday, November 17:Navigating Christmas starring Chelsea Hobbs, Stephen Huszar. Recently divorced Melanie (Hobbs) and her son Jason visit a remote island for Christmas, only to find themselves running a real working lighthouse where she connects with the curt but cute owner (Huszar).
Saturday, November 18:A Merry Scottish Christmas starring Lacey Chabert, Scott Wolf. When estranged siblings, Lindsay (Chabert) and Brad (Wolf) Morgan travel to Scotland at Christmas to reunite with their mother Jo, a big family secret is revealed.
Sunday, November 19:Holiday Hotline starring Emily Tennant, Niall Matter. After leaving London, Abby (Tennant) connects with an anonymous caller while working at a cooking hotline. The caller is single dad “John” (Matter) who Abby unknowingly has become smitten with in real life.
Thursday, November 23: Catch Me If You Claus starring Italia Ricci, Luke Macfarlane. Avery Quinn. (Ricci) is an aspiring news anchor who’s finally getting her big break on her station’s Christmas morning newscast. But that’s put in jeopardy when she captures an intruder in her home wearing a red suit claiming to be Chris (Macfarlane), Santa’s son, who is on his first mission. A night of adventure ensues as they find themselves being pursued by the police as well as some shady characters. Along the way, they connect over living in the shadow of their parents and inspire each other to go after their dreams.
Friday, November 24: Letters to Santa starring Katie Lecler, Rafael de la Fuente. When young siblings receive a magic pen from Santa that appears to be granting wishes, they request a Christmas gift they want more than anything – for their separated parents (Leclerc, de la Fuente) to reunite.
Friday, November 24: Holiday Road starring Sara Canning, Warren Christie. When bad weather leaves each of them stranded at the airport for the holidays, a tech entrepreneur (Christie), a travel writer (Canning), a devoted mother (Enid-Raye Adams) and her son (Kiefer O’Reilly), a stubborn senior (Trevor Lerner), an enigmatic woman with a hint of mystery (Brittany Willacy), a couple traveling from Hong Kong (Sharon Crandall, Ryan Mah) and a social media influencer (Princess Davis) all agree to rent a shared van to embark on a road trip to Denver. When their unexpected journey brings them into uncharted territory, they navigate a series of misadventures together and form a deeper bond that just might change the trajectories of each of their lives. Inspired by true events.
Saturday, November 25: Christmas in Notting Hill starring Sarah Ramos, William Moseley. Famous soccer star, Graham Savoy (Moseley), has always been too busy for love, but when he comes home to Notting Hill for Christmas, he changes his mind after meeting Georgia (Ramos) – a visiting American and the one person who has no idea who he is.
Saturday, November 25: Haul Out the Holly: Lit Up starring Lacey Chabert, Wes Brown, Stephen Tobolowsky, Melissa Peterman, Ellen Travolta, Seth Morris, Jennifer Aspen. As the holidays approach, Emily (Chabert) and Jared (Brown) are looking forward to celebrating the holidays together again, this time as a couple. Emily, now embracing Evergreen Lane’s uniquely festive spirit, is ready to work with Jared, Ned (Tobolowsky), Mary Louise (Travolta) and Pamela (Peterman) to make this year’s Christmas celebrations the best yet – even if being the HOA president’s girlfriend doesn’t stop those dreaded decorating citations. When a house on the block goes up for sale, it causes quite a stir with residents. When the soon-to-be neighbors turn out to be holiday royalty (Morris, Aspen), it looks like this year’s competition is about to heat up.
Sunday, November 26: Our Christmas Mural starring Alex Paxton-Beesley, Dan Jeannotte. Olivia (Paxton-Beesley) is a single mom who returns home for Christmas. Her mom secretly enters her into a mural contest; she wins but partners with teacher Will (Jeannotte) to create a Christmas masterpiece.
Sunday, November 26: A Biltmore Christmas starring Bethany Joy Lenz. Lucy Hardgrove (Lenz) is a screenwriter who lands the job of a lifetime when she’s hired to pen the script for a remake of the beloved, holiday movie classic, His Merry Wife!, which was filmed in 1947 at beautiful, historic Biltmore House. When the head of the studio isn’t satisfied with the ending Lucy wrote because it deviates from the original’s feel-good conclusion, he sends Lucy to Biltmore Estate for research and inspiration. While there, she unwittingly discovers the ability to travel to the 1947 set of His Merry Wife! through the help of an hourglass.
Friday, December 1:My Norwegian Holiday starring Rhiannon Fish, David Elsendoorn. JJ (Fish), grieving the loss of her grandmother and seeking dissertation inspiration, stumbles upon an unexpected holiday destiny. Meeting Henrik (Elsendoorn), a Norwegian from Bergen, their connection deepens when he discovers she has a troll figurine from his hometown. To explore the troll’s history and her grandmother’s ties, JJ agrees to join Henrik on a journey to Norway. In Bergen, they’re drawn into Henrik’s family Christmas and wedding traditions, with his sister’s wedding the day before Christmas Eve. JJ embarks on a holiday adventure, uncovering the troll’s origins and finding her own path to healing, love and family.
Saturday, December 2:A Not So Royal Christmas. Starring Brooke D’Orsay, Will Kemp. Tabloid journalist Charlotte (D’Orsay) attempts to land an interview with a reclusive Count. In response, the royal family has a groundskeeper (Kemp) pose as the Count since the real one fled years ago.
Sunday, December 3:Christmas with a Kiss starring Mishael Morgan, Ronnie Rowe Jr., Jaime M. Callica. A Mahogany Presentation. A woman (Morgan) returns home to help with her family’s Christmas Carnival and romance ignites. A photo journalist (Rowe) curates a surprise reunion.
Friday, December 8: Magic in Mistletoe starring Lyndie Greenwood, Paul Campbell. Harrington (Campbell) is the author of a popular book series but commercial success has left him a bitter recluse. As he returns to his hometown for an annual Christmas festival celebrating his books, he’s joined by April (Greenwood), a publicist for the major publishing house he works with. April is there for damage control after Harrington’s recent comments on social media have ruffled some feathers. But as she gets to know him better, hope springs that April can unlock Harrington’s guarded heart and help him rediscover the spirit of the holiday.
Saturday, December 9:Christmas on Cherry Lane starring Catherine Bell, Jonathan Bennett, John Brotherton, Erin Cahill, James Denton, Vincent Rodriguez III. A young couple preparing to welcome their first child (Brotherton, Cahill); an empty-nester (Bell) and her fiancé (Denton) ready to start a new chapter; and a couple (Bennett, Rodriguez III) who unexpectedly have the chance to expand their family on Christmas Eve celebrate the holiday as they navigate these turning points in their lives.
Sunday, December 10:Round and Round starring Vic Michaelis, Bryan Greenberg, Rick Hoffman. Rachel’s (Michaelis) stuck in a time loop, reliving the night of her parents’ Hanukkah party. Can Zach (Greenberg), the “nice boy” Grandma’s trying to set her up with, help her make it to tomorrow?
Friday, December 15:The Secret Gift of Christmas starring Meghan Ory, Christopher Russell. Bonnie (Ory) is a personal shopper who helps her new, widowed client Patrick (Russell) reconnect with his young daughter. Though Bonnie and Patrick’s ideas of shopping couldn’t be more different, she is determined to get Patrick and his daughter everything on their wish list.
Saturday, December 16:Sealed with a List starring Katie Findlay, Evan Roderick.This holiday season, festive Carley (Findlay) sets out to conquer her list of abandoned resolutions from last year. Aided by coworker Wyatt (Roderick), she finds love and the confidence to chase her dreams.
Sunday, December 17:Friends & Family Christmas starring Humberly Gonzalez, Ali Liebert. Daniella (Gonzalez) has recently moved to New York to pursue an art career and decides to stay in town to share the holidays with her circle of artist friends, instead of going home to see her sweet, if overbearing parents. Amelia (Liebert) is a talented entertainment lawyer trying to stay focused on her work after a broken engagement. When Daniella and Amelia are set up by their parents, they agree to pretend that they are dating, to appease them for the holidays. However, as they spend time in eachother’s worlds, they soon build a connection that is deeper than either of them could have hoped for.
A grand celebration is underway in full swing at the Ambani residence, Antilia. Among those attended was Salman Khan and niece Alizeh Agnihotri.
Ganesh Chaturthi is a festival goes beyond cultural borders, marking a celebration of wisdom, goodness, and nurturing a deep feeling of unity. While the entire nation embraces the spirited celebrations and heartfelt devotion on this day, Bollywood celebrities have also stepped up to convey their heartfelt greetings to their fans and supporters.
A grand celebration is underway in full swing at the Ambani residence, Antilia. Among those attended was Salman Khan and niece Alizeh Agnihotri. Alizeh is the daughter of Salman’s sister Alvira Khan and producer Atul Agnihotri. She looked beautiful in a brown, heavily embellished salwar suit.
Salman was earlier spotted at sister Arpita Khan Sharma’s Ganpati celebrations. Arpita and her husband, actor Aayush Sharma are known to host lavish parties during the festive season. Towing just behind him was rumoured girlfriend Iulia Vantur. Salman looked dapper in a Prussian blue pathaani suit, while Iulia stepped up her traditional game in a beautiful suit in light lemon shade. She accessorised her look with emerald green choker and chunky earrings and an oversized silver ring. The rumoured couple refrained from posing alongside each other. Take a look at Salman’s entry:
Earlier this week, Salman shared an adorable throwback picture of him holding Alizeh in his arms as the two smiled at each other. He wrote, “Mamu par ek ehsaan karo, jo bhi karna dil aur mehnat se karna! (Do a favor on your uncle, whatever you do, do it with heart and hard work!) Always yaad rakho, Life mein go straight and turn right. Only compete with yourself.”
It was reported in November last year that Alizeh had begun shooting for award-winning director Soumendra Padhi’s film. Reports claimed that the film is slated for a 2023 release. However, the details of the project remain unknown.
Shreyanka Mazumdar is Chief Sub Editor of the entertainment team at News18. With an unbridled passion for all things Bollywood, music and fashion, she…Read More
Miller’s manager, Marnie Sparer, previously told The Times that the Daytime Emmy-winning actor had been “struggling with manic depression when he died,” although no specific cause or manner of death was disclosed at that time.
“I want to personally thank the many fans and personal friends for the overwhelming amount of love, prayers and condolences sent to me and my family on the devastating death of my beautiful son BJ — Billy Miller,” Patricia Miller’s statement said.
“He fought a long hard valiant battle with bipolar depression for years. He did everything he could to control the disease. He loved his family, his friends and his fans but in the end the disease won the fight and he surrendered his life,” she added.
The actor’s mother said that the other causes of death being reported “are not true.”
“I wish they were but they just aren’t,” she said. “We all loved him so much and are desperately trying to deal with our loss. I will have nothing further to say. Thanks for the love and support.”
Miller, who also appeared in “Suits,” “Ray Donovan” and “Castle,” was born in Tulsa, Okla., and raised in Grand Prairie, Texas. He moved to Los Angeles after graduating from the University of Texas, where he was one of just 20 students accepted into the film department’s prestigious production-sequence program.
In 2010, 2013 and 2014, he won the Daytime Emmy for lead actor in a drama series for his performance as Billy Abbott in “The Young and the Restless” — a role he played in more than 700 episodes over the course of six years.
Suicide prevention and crisis counseling resources
If you or someone you know is struggling with suicidal thoughts, seek help from a professional and call 9-8-8. The United States’ first nationwide three-digit mental health crisis hotline 988 will connect callers with trained mental health counselors. Text “HOME” to 741741 in the U.S. and Canada to reach the Crisis Text Line.
Miller received additional Daytime Emmy nominations for his work on “Y&R,” as well as another long-running soap opera, “General Hospital.” He portrayed twin brothers Jason Morgan and Drew Cain in nearly 600 episodes spanning six years of the latter daytime drama.
“The daytime community mourns the loss of Billy Miller who graced Y&R with his talent for many years as Billy Abbott. Our deepest sympathies to his family and loved ones,” the CBS soap’s official Instagram account said in a statement posted Monday.
The entertainer also had an alternate career as a restaurateur and owned several bars and restaurants in the Los Angeles area.
Times staff writer Christi Carras contributed to this report.
Since his debut as Steve Rogers in Captain America: The First Avenger, Chris Evans has become synonymous with not only Captain America, but the Marvel Cinematic Universe as a whole.
“I was really apprehensive about taking the role initially,” he says.
The Pros and Cons of Superstardom
As a Hollywood veteran, Evans was keenly aware of the toll being an actor was taking on his psyche, and worried about what diving headfirst into the world of Marvel would do to him.
Photo: Marvel
“I remember in my late 20s having a real shift in how I felt on set, how I felt promoting films: a little more anxiety, a little more uncertainty. You always end up questioning, Is this what I should be doing?” To the extent that he recognized the trajectory he was on, it didn’t feel like a great one. “I just wasn’t sure if I was moving closer to myself or further away. And something inside me kept saying that I was getting further away—that something about this industry wasn’t healthy.”
After telling Marvel “no” a few times, Evans came around and accepted the role. Before making his decision, however, the Ghosted actor weighed the positives and negatives.
Source: digitalspy.com
“The pros were that I’d be able to take care of my family forever; the cons were that I would become deeply, deeply unhappy with fame and loss of control,” he remembered.
It All Worked Out
Looking back now, Evans believes that he made the right decision. Not only did his time with Marvel give him the financial security that he was looking for, but he also managed to keep his head level through it all.
In the end, Evans learned to love Captain America.
Photo: Marvel
“I love playing that role,” he says. “I feel connected to it in a way that when you revisit a character so many times you can’t help but try to absorb some of their traits and measure yourself against them.”
One person who is grateful that Evans decided to move forward with Captain America is Marvel Studios head Kevin Feige.
Source: Complex.com
“I often think about the parallel world where he said no,” Kevin Feige, head of Marvel Studios, says. “Robert Downey Jr. gets a lot of attention, deservedly so, for being the foundation of this studio we have here. But in many, many ways, Chris Evans was one of those additional pillars that the house would not be standing today, if not for him.”
In the end, it seems like Evans got the best of both worlds. Not only did he get the money, fame, and prestige that came from becoming a Marvel star, but he was also able to keep his sanity through it all.
Credit: Disney
“I think the world knows he did a spectacular job,” Feige says. “And a lot of it was getting out of his own head.”
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David Corenswet is set to play Superman in the upcoming fan-made trailer Superman: Legacy, marking a new chapter for DCU.
After previous DC films faced criticism and mixed reception, Warner Bros. and Discovery merged to create a new division, DC Studios, aiming to revamp the franchise.
Superman: Legacy will be directed by James Gunn and features a star-studded cast, including Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane and Nathan Fillion as Green Lantern. The film is set to release on July 11, 2025.
David Corenswet’s Man of Steel is ready to show the world who he is under Clark Kent’s glasses in Superman: Legacy fan made trailer, anticipating the first official movie from James Gunn’s DCU.
After the big failure of Superman Returns in 2006, and with Marvel Studios dominating the superhero scene with the MCU, Warner Bros. Pictures and DC tried to build a new universe based on the characters of the comic book company. To do so, they called Zack Snyder, who already had some experience into the genre after taking the Watchmen to the big screen. That’s how, in 2013, Henry Cavill debuted as the Lats Son of Kypton in Man of Steel, which was meant to be the first movie of a big franchise.
In 2016, the story continued with Batman v Superman, which was also a bit hit such as the previous film, but it was heavily criticized. With the Marvel Cinematic Universe stealing the spotlight with more family friendly stories and using a lot of humor, the studio edited 2016’s Suicide Squad to look more similar to the competence’s movies, and they deliver another flop, slammed by fans and the media. In 2017, after Snyder had to abandon the project, Justice League came out, a film that wa finished by Joss Whedon, and put the last nail on the DCU‘s coffin, even when the franchise had big hits like Wonder Woman or Aquaman.
Movies kept coming out, and although most of them included Easter Eggs or references to the Snyderverse, all felt disconnected. That’s why, after Warner Bros. and Discovery merged, CEO David Zaslav announced they wanted to give the franchise a fresh started by creating a division exclusively dedicated to DC projects. That’s how DC Studios was born, with James Gunn and Peter Safran in charge. Earlier this year, the co-CEOs announced the first productions that were going to be part of the first phase of the new DCU, including Superman: Legacy.
Earlier this year, Gunn spoke about some of the differences between the Marvel and DC, noticing how most of the heroes from the first one are out to the world and don’t have secret identities, something that’s very common for the characters form the latter. In fact, DC’s trinity, which is made up by Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman, all have secret identities, while all the original Avengers don’t.
In the latest fan made trailer, published by Screen Culture, Superman: Legacy takes an unexpected turn by revealing David Coreswet’s Superman’s true self to the world:
Superman: Legacy will ve directed by James Gunn himself, based on a script written by him too. Joining Corenswet will be Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane, Isabela Merced as Hawkgirl, Anthony Carrigan as Metamorpho, Nathan Fillion as Guy Gardner aka Green Lantern, and Edi Gathegi as Mr. Terrific. The movie is set to hit theaters on July 11, 2025.
If you had “book version of a notoriously bad ’90s video game” on your bingo card, you’re one step closer to a row. Limited Run Games has announced a novelization of Plumbers Don’t Wear Ties–the critically panned adventure game for PC and 3DO.
The novel will be written by Mike Drucker, who received an Emmy nomination for his work on Bill Nye Saves The World and Full Frontal With Samantha Bee. This will not be his first foray into video games, however, as he once revealed his part on the localization team for Kid Icarus: Uprising.
Have you ever wanted to read Plumbers Don’t Wear Ties? You have? Oh, that’s kinda weird—but boy we’re about to make your day. Emmy-nominated TV writer and comedian @MikeDrucker & @PressRunBooks have come together to release an official novelization of this 3DO classic. Preview… pic.twitter.com/bPFmjoff2V
The book will chronicle the full story of the 1993 release, which follows two singles, John–the plumber who literally has a tie on the cover of the game –and Jane, as they are pressured to find love. The game has become notable for being one of the worst of all time, thanks to what a past GameSpot list called “amateur hour acting, photography, and surreal sensual choices into a package that’s about as erotic as doing your taxes.”
The novel will be released alongside a physical and digital re-release of the game by Limited Run Games on all major consoles and PC. The updated version will feature 4K resolution on all in-game photos, behind-the-scenes commentary, and an interview with Jane’s actress, Jeanne Basone.
The re-release of Plumber Don’t Wear Ties is scheduled to launch on Xbox One, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, and PC. Preorders will be available on the Limited Run website from September 22 to October 22.
The products discussed here were independently chosen by our editors.
GameSpot may get a share of the revenue if you buy anything featured on our site.
Digital Domain and PRG together aim to offer clients one-stop-shopping for high-end visual effects, holograms, virtual production and other content creation-related services. The new partners bill the deal as a “co-branded” arrangement that extends the reach of both firms.
“Our co-branding partnership has a clear objective: to retain and expand market share, foster innovative trends, and explore pioneering technologies that redefine the art of storytelling,” said Lala Gavgavian, president and chief operating officer of Digital Domain.
Todd Hoddick, president of entertainment for PRG, emphasized that the goal is to offer more efficient and cost-effective options for the many studios and producers that work with both companies.
“Through our partnership with Digital Domain, virtual production redefines creative boundaries. It empowers brands in cost-conscious markets and studios catering to diverse consumer preferences,” Hoddick said.
Jeroen Hallaert, VP of production services of PRG, noted that the partnership also aims to help smaller and independent producers access top-flight production technology. PRG’s services include its “Enhanced Environments” virtual production tools.
“This innovation streamlines workflows, reshaping collaboration dynamics and enabling real-time creative refinement, from ‘prep’ to ‘post,’” Hallaert said.
Digital Domain has been one of the industry’s top players in vfx since 1993. The company has offices in Los Angeles, Vancouver, Montreal, Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Tokyo and other cities. PRG, founded in 1983 as Harris Production Services, has 62 offices in 28 countries.
(Pictured: Digital Domain’s Hanno Basse and Lala Gavgavian with PRG’s Todd Hoddick and Jeroen Hallaert)
Listen up, uglies! Monstrous mommies and drag icons the Boulet Brothers are back with the fifth season of The Boulet Brothers’ Dragula! Get ready for what the Boulets are calling their most ambitious season yet, with even more intense physical challenges and terrifyingly beautiful monsters.
The season promises to be the biggest yet, boasting a brand-new state-of-the-art set, an army of new talented crew members, the most diverse cast in the show’s history, and the Boulet Brothers themselves taking over as the series directors.
“We have created four seasons of the main show at this point, and just wrapped our first all-stars season with The Boulet Brothers’ Dragula: Titans spin-off, and we consider all of that part of “Chapter 1” of the Dragula story. With season 5, we are beginning a new and innovative chapter of the show, and we’ve retooled and updated the format in an incredibly exciting way.” Says Dracmorda, one-half of the Boulet Brothers duo.
(Credit: Scotty Kirby)
“Nobody is going to sail the ship with more passion than us, so we’ve taken over as the show’s directors for season 5, and we’ve brought in some incredibly talented new team members who are really elevating what you will see on-screen,” says Swanthula, the other half of the Boulet Brothers.
“We’re going back to basics with the format, and focusing on the competition element of the show, the incredible artists that we’ve cast and the out-of-this-world looks they create each week, and of course, drag artists doing insanely terrifying and shocking physical challenges on TV. This is the best-looking season of the show yet, and I can’t wait for fans to see these new competitors. They are truly the most impressive drag artists I have ever seen on-screen.”
While the cast has yet to be announced, The Boulet Brothers will welcome an all-star roster of guest judges to join them throughout the season including director Mike Flanagan, actor David Dastmalchian, author Tananarive Due, writer/director Kevin Smith, musician Jazmin Bean, and Scream star Matthew Lillard. The show will also feature the series’ first recurring judge: The Boulet Brothers’ Dragula season 3 winner Landon Cider. Past winners and stars such as Victoria Elizabeth Black, Dahli, and Koco Caine will also make appearances.
The Boulet Brothers’ Dragula Season 5 comes to Shudder and AMC+ on Tuesday, October 31, 2023.
Premiering Wednesday on Hulu, AHS season 12 marks the first time that the FX anthology is based on a book — Danielle Valentine’s Delicate Condition. The author’s second novel follows a rising actress, Anna Victoria Scott (played by AHS series regular Emma Roberts) who is convinced that a sinister force is trying to keep her pregnancy from happening.
Kardashian stars as Anna’s friend, Siobhan Corbyn, and the cast also features franchise newcomer Cara Delevigne, Matt Czuchry, Billie Lurd, Denis O’Hare, Leslie Grossman and Michaela Jaé Rodriguez.
“You have a peculiar penchant for turning dreams into nightmares,” Siobhan tells Anna in the season’s first official trailer. Below, keep reading to find out AHS: Delicate‘s episode release schedule and how to watch the new series online for free.
American Horror Story: Delicate premieres Wednesday (Sept. 20) at 7 p.m. PT/10 p.m. ET on FX, and each episode will be available to stream following day on Hulu.
AHS season 12 will be released in two parts, with the first five episodes airing weekly through Oct. 18, and the remaining episodes broadcasting in 2024. The episodes will be released on Hulu on Sept. 21, Sept. 28, Oct. 5, Oct. 12 and Oct. 18.
How to Watch American Horror Story: Delicate Without Cable
Cord cutters have several options for watching American Horror Story: Delicate without cable. The easiest way to stream is with a Hulu subscription, which costs $8 per month with ads or $15 monthly without ads.
The show is also available to watch without cable on any live TV streaming service that carries FX, including Hulu with Live TV (which comes bundled with Disney+ and ESPN+ starting at $70 per month), DirecTV Stream ($65 and up monthly), FuboTV ($75 and up monthly) and Sling TV’s Blue and Orange & Blue tiers ($45 and up monthly).
You can watch AHS: Delicate for free with a 30-day trial to Hulu or a seven-day trial to FuboTV.
Mark Wahlberg said in an interview with Cigar Aficionado magazine that one of the reasons he pivoted to producing was because it became clear in his acting work that he’d always be taking a backseat to fellow mega-stars like Tom Cruise, Brad Pitt and Leonardo DiCaprio. Starting around “The Fighter” in 2010, Wahlberg became a producer or an executive producer on nearly all of his major releases.
“I started becoming a producer out of necessity,” Wahlberg said. “I didn’t want to sit around waiting for Brad Pitt or Tom Cruise or whoever was already established before me and were the guys at the time, and Leo [DiCaprio], to go and pass on a movie until I could get my hands on it. I was always proactive in trying to find material and things that I could produce, that I knew was right for me, create my own destiny.”
Wahlberg added that with producing and acting credits under his belt, what he wants to do next is try his hand at directing and “working with some of the other great talents. Working with the next batch of great talent.” He noted that the future of his career will probably include an acting slow down after several years in which he’s had multiple new films release.
“Well I’m certainly working harder now than ever,” he said. “Certain businesses, you kind of build them, pass them on or you exit. Hopefully my kids, we’ll see what their interests are, but I don’t think that I’ll be acting that much longer at the pace I am now. That’s for sure. Because that’s the most difficult thing.”
Wahlberg hasn’t appeared in a movie this year, but he had a busy 2022 with films such as “Uncharted,” “Me Time” and “Father Stu.” His upcoming releases include the Apple original film “The Family Plan,” co-starring Michelle Monaghan, and the action film “Our Man from Jersey,” co-starring Halle Berry.
Eric Church, Jelly Roll and Parker McCollum are set to headline WE Fest when the three-day festival returns to Detroit Lakes, Minn., on Aug. 1-3, 2024.
Also on the lineup are Carly Pearce, Koe Wetzel, Elle King, Trace Adkins, Lauren Watkins, Warren Zeiders, Tanner Adell and more. Additional artists set for the July 31 pre-concert party on the Bacardi Country Club Stage and the Barn Stage have yet to be announced.
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Tickets, camping and add-on packages go on sale Wednesday, Sept. 20, at 9 a.m. at wefest.com.
Church and Jelly Roll recently teamed up during the former’s Outsiders Revival Tour concert in Phoenix, where they performed his 2011 hit “Homeboy.”
Jelly Roll recently earned his second No. 1 Country Airplay hit with “Need a Favor,” which also made history along the way, when the track became the first song ever to appear in the top 10 of both the Mainstream Rock Airplay and Country Airplay charts. Jelly Roll is one of the most nominated artists leading up to this year’s CMA Awards; the singer-songwriter-rapper scored five nominations, including nods for single of the year (“Need a Favor”) and male vocalist of the year.
Church recently served as artist-in-residence for two shows at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum’s CMA Theater; meanwhile the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum’s exhibit Eric Church: Country Heart, Restless Soul continues through June 2024.
McCollum is nominated for new artist of the year at the upcoming CMA Awards, and his current radio single, “Burn It Down,” resides at No. 41 on the Hot Country Songs chart.
Stop us if you’ve heard this one before: A prominent TV reporter walks into a bar…
A handful of the news anchors at MSNBC (yes, there are some left!) recently held a dinner to welcome Ana Cabrera, the former CNN journalist, to the network, where she has taken the reins of its 10 a.m. hour. Chris Jansing and Katy Tur, familiar faces to MSNBC viewers, were holding court, but Andrea Mitchell, a legendary Washington correspondent who has anchored an early afternoon show on MSNBC since 2008, was missing, due to making an appearance at Henry Kissinger’s 100th birthday.
“I thought a 100th birthday party for somebody would end early,” Mitchell confesses. “But it didn’t.”
Cabrera, Jansing, Tur, Mitchell have all found time to get together more frequently in recent weeks. They, along with their colleague, José Díaz-Balart, are playing a more critical role at MSNBC — but not in hours when such significance might be expected. On days when big events erupt, the network might group a few of them together, just as it does at night when Rachel Maddow, Nicolle Wallace, Alex Wagner and Lawrence O’Donnell gather to hash out the news cycle. The move injects primetime atmosphere into the late morning and early afternoon, sort of “turnin’ all the nighttime into the day,” as the rock group Dire Straits once sang.
MSNBC is largely known these days as a cable-news outlet that features programming with a hard-blue tilt. These five anchors, sandwiched between the end of “Morning Joe” at 10 a.m. and the start of Nicole Wallace’s “Deadline: White House” at 4 p.m., say they are forbidden from leaning that way or any other. “We are going to cover the stories as they come in,” says Tur, whose profile started gaining traction when she went on the road to cover the campaign of former President Donald Trump. Viewers can “sort out their views later on, but we are going to give you all of the information.”
Sometimes the news hours take MSBNC to places die-hard viewers might not expect. On Thursday, for example, Jansing led a commercial-free 90 minutes devoted to breaking coverage of indictments handed down against Hunter Biden, President Joe Biden’s son. “All of us are reporters,” says Jansing of the daytime team. “We know what it is like to be out there on the big story, and a lot of us have done it and we have done it under crazy circumstances and continue to do it. We are still out here.” On Friday, Cabrera opened her 10 a.m. hour, which kicks off in a studio devoted to virtual-reality graphics, with a 12-minute segment on the strike by United Auto Workers, interviewing three different sources on the matter. “I always frame my show, my day, my thinking around stories through this lens of what do our viewers care about? What do our audiences need to know?” she says.
MSNBC has expanded its opinion programming at the expense of traditional news hours in recent months, but Rashida Jones, its president, has tried to carve out a daytime weekday block devoted not to the progressive chatter that makes the network a popular destination for anti-Trumpers and liberals, but to what executives hope is seen as just-the-facts reportage. Her efforts, solidified recently by the arrival of Cabrera earlier this year, are meant to both assert MSNBC’s straight-news credentials, and bring new viewers inside the network’s orbit as media companies court broader audiences for coverage of 2024 race for the White House. The schedule MSNBC has designed, says Jones, will face the ultimate test as we do get into an election season.”
Why does MSNBC want to stay in the straight news game? It has cut news hours on weekends and expanded “Morning Joe” to four hours from three. What’s more, NBCUniversal keeps broadening a streaming service, NBC News Now, largely devoted to breaking news coverage, taking some of the pressure off MSNBC to serve as more of the same. Still, says Jones, such content has its place. “We also have to be in the game when live news is happening, and a lot happens during the day,” she says.
There is reason to go after the general audience, she says. People still want to find out what’s going on. Giving them exactly that keeps MSNBC’s enthusiasts from flipping elsewhere and serves to draw in new viewers who are eager to stay informed — and might find something else on the schedule that keeps them watching. “There was a period when the audience was trained to go to other places for certain kinds of stories,” says Jones. “There is no question now that when a general-news story happens, our audience knows to come to us because we are giving them a product that’s relevant, that’s important, that’s in the moment.”
Daytime shows on CNN and Fox News Channel continue to win more of the viewers that advertisers want — people between 25 and 54 — than MSNBC, but the network believes it is adding audience in daytime while rivals are harder pressed to do so. MSNBC in August saw its viewership among its 25-to-54 audience rise 23%, according to Nielsen, while overall audience was up 19%. In the same month CNN and Fox News saw declines in both categories.
Since the end of the coronavirus pandemic, TV executives have placed new focus on daytime and early evening, and it’s clear there are bigger audiences available during those hours. And news, as things turn out, can often be produced more effectively than ordering up other daytime staples, like soap operas or talk shows. The news division, after all, creates content throughout the day.
Some of the most-watched news programs on cable are Fox News‘ “The Five,” which airs at 5 p.m., and MSNBC’s “The Beat With Ari Melber,” which runs at 6. Both ABC News and NBC News have begun to fill daytime hours for their parent networks. The simple truth is that news is one of the last traditional formats standing in daytime, says Bill Hague, an executive vice president at Magid, a TV-industry consultancy. Thanks to streaming, “people tend to get their news before 7, maybe before 9,” and then begin to seek out a more bespoke media path. “Syndication is waning, all the talk shows, all the game shows.”
CNN recently reworked its daytime offering to include a “News Central” concept that relies on multiple anchors and souped-up graphics. Within a few weeks, however, the network said it would trim the six hours it devotes to the format to five, giving a mid-afternoon hour to Pamela Brown. “It’s an interesting concept,” says Jones, though “I think the audience has decided how they feel about it.”
If it seems as if MSNBC is stretching to offer hard news, it’s not. The network launched in 1996 as a direct competitor to CNN. And though it began to pivot in 2003 when it started offering Keith Olbermann’s pointed commentary, viewers still see news as part of the promise, says Mitchell. “From the beginning, when we went on the air, we were always hard news,” she says. During the daytime programs, says Jose Díaz-Balart, who leads the 11 a.m. hour and anchors Saturday’s broadcast of “NBC Nightly News,” “the leitmotifs running through all of those hours are service and journalism.”
Still, MSNBC’s current focus likely means its daytime anchors won’t get a call to stick around for a broadcast in primetime, even if the news is seismic. The network is gathering audiences for a sort of all-hands-on-deck format that features many of its opinion personalities hashing out big headlines. Chris Hayes, Alex Wagner, Lawrence O’Donnell, Rachel Maddow, and, soon, Jen Psaki are the ones with primetime shows that get replayed in the wee hours of the morning.
“We might not be there for the primetime special, for the big election night, but we are doing giant news during the day,” says Tur, including coverage of the recent January 6 hearings in Congress. “ I don’t feel like I’m being denied anything personally.” The anchors said NBCUniversal has a wide assortment of news assets and they can often find a chance to do something extra. Tur did a four-part docuseries with colleague Jacob Soboroff. Earlier this month. Mitchell landed an exclusive interview U.S. Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield at the border of Chad and Sudan. The full exchange aired on her MSNBC program.
MSBNC’s breaking-news mission has clearly changed. In a different era, Brian Williams would turn up to lead hours of coverage during moments of high import. When he left at the end of 2021, he took with him a singular job: Who would serve as the “face” of the network during such scenarios? MSNBC never replaced him in the role, but as it turns out, Williams has many successors.
Rocky Mountain House RCMP say people in the O’Chiese First Nation area should shelter in place after a suspect allegedly fired shots at police.
Mounties issued the shelter-in-place shortly before 4 a.m. Tuesday and are currently at the scene trying to capture the armed suspect in a rural area located southwest of Edmonton.
Police say the suspect is believed to be 24-year-old Shaeden Muskeg.
Shaeden Muskeg is described as having a medium complexion, standing five feet nine inches tall, weighing 200 pounds, and having black hair and brown eyes.
Police say residents in the area should lock windows and doors, not pick up people on the roadway, and call 911 if they see anyone suspicious.
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There were 22 shootings in Edmonton in August – 3 were fatal: police
In a new interview with Vanity Fair, “The Marvels” director Nia DaCosta revealed she was in frequent contact with previous Marvel directors before and during the making of her MCU tentpole. She asked Chloé Zhao (“Eternals”), James Gunn (“Guardians of the Galaxy”) and Taika Waititi (“Thor: Ragnarok”) before accepting “The Marvels” directing gig if entering the Marvel world was a good idea.
“Are they going to kill me and destroy my soul? Is Kevin Feige a bad man?” she joked. “And they were like, ‘No, he’s just a good guy who was a nerd.’”
During the making of “The Marvels,” DaCosta would text “Shang-Chi” director Destin Daniel Cretton on tough shoot days. She would text him “I’m overwhelmed” and “I’m so stressed.”
As DaCosta told Vanity Fair, “Sometimes you’d be in a scene and you’d be like, ‘What the hell does any of this shit mean?’ Or an actor’s looking at some crazy thing happening in space, and they’re [actually] looking at a blue X. There were obviously hard days, and days where you’re like, ‘This just isn’t working.’”
“The Marvels” is a sequel to “Captain Marvel” that teams Brie Larson’s eponymous superhero with Teyonah Parris’ Monica Rambeau from “WandaVision” and Iman Vellani’s Kamala Khan from “Ms. Marvel.” It’s been a shaky year for comic book tentpoles, with Marvel’s own “Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania” and other films like “The Flash” and “Shazam! Fury of the Gods” flopping at the box office. Marvel is surely hoping “The Marvels” pans out more like “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3” ($845 million worldwide).
“I think superhero fatigue absolutely exists,” DaCosta told Total Film magazine earlier this year. “The biggest difference from the other MCU movies to date is that [‘The Marvels’ is] really wacky, and silly. The worlds we go to in this movie are worlds unlike others you’ve seen in the MCU. Bright worlds that you haven’t seen before.”
While DaCosta tried to bring as much of her voice into the MCU as possible, she still noted to Vanity Fair that “The Marvels” is “a Kevin Feige production, it’s his movie. So I think you live in that reality, but I tried to go in with the knowledge that some of you is going to take a back seat.”
“It was really great to play in this world, and to be a part of building this big world,” she added, “but it made me just want to build my own world more.”
“The Marvels” is set to open in theaters Nov. 10 from Disney.
For months, John Jay Ray III, the corporate turnaround expert who was appointed to oversee the bankruptcy of the FTX crypto exchange, has attacked the company’s founder, Sam Bankman-Fried, accusing him of “old-fashioned embezzlement.”
Now, Mr. Ray has a new target: Mr. Bankman-Fried’s parents.
On Monday, FTX filed a lawsuit in federal court in Delaware accusing Joe Bankman and Barbara Fried, longtime Stanford law professors, of using their “access and influence within the FTX enterprise to enrich themselves.” The lawsuit seeks to claw back millions of dollars the couple received from their son.
In the complaint, FTX’s lawyers said that Mr. Bankman and Ms. Fried got a $10 million cash gift from Mr. Bankman-Fried, as well as a $16.4 million home in the Bahamas, where FTX was based, that was purchased by the exchange. The suit also claims that Mr. Bankman helped cover up complaints by a former lawyer for his son’s business, and that Ms. Fried coached Mr. Bankman-Fried and another FTX executive to evade disclosure requirements for political donations.
The couple “either knew — or ignored bright red flags revealing — that their son, Bankman-Fried, and other FTX Insiders were orchestrating a vast fraudulent scheme,” the lawsuit said.
In a statement, lawyers for Mr. Bankman and Ms. Fried said FTX’s claims were “completely false” and called the lawsuit “a dangerous attempt to intimidate Joe and Barbara and undermine the jury process just days before their child’s trial begins.”
FTX filed for bankruptcy protection in November, after a run on deposits exposed an $8 billion hole in the exchange’s accounts. The next month, federal prosecutors in Manhattan charged Mr. Bankman-Fried with orchestrating a scheme to use customer deposits to finance billions of dollars in venture capital investments, political donations and luxury real estate purchases. He has pleaded not guilty, and is scheduled to go on trial on Oct. 3
FTX’s collapse fueled scrutiny of Mr. Bankman and Ms. Fried. A decorated tax professor, Mr. Bankman was an FTX employee who was heavily involved in the company’s philanthropic efforts, while Ms. Fried, also a respected scholar, ran a political-donor network that her son helped finance.
According to the lawsuit, Mr. Bankman helped arrange hundreds of millions of dollars in loans to top employees and was listed on an internal document as a member of the firm’s management team. In messages cited in the lawsuit, Mr. Bankman complained that he was receiving a salary of only $200,000 a year, as opposed to the $1 million he thought he would get.
“Gee, Sam I don’t know what to say here,” he wrote in an email cited in the suit. “This is the first [I] have heard of the 200K a year salary!”
Soon after, Mr. Bankman-Fried sent him the $10 million gift, the lawsuit said. Mr. Bankman also flew on private jets and expensed $1,200 per night hotel stays to FTX, according to the lawsuit, and he made a cameo appearance alongside the comedian Larry David in an FTX commercial during the 2022 Super Bowl.
Mr. Bankman pushed for his role in the commercial, the lawsuit said, quoting him as saying that he wasn’t obsessed with celebrities and didn’t “really care about meeting, say, Tom Brady. But Larry David….”
The lawsuit also claims that Mr. Bankman helped cover up allegations by a former FTX lawyer that some of Mr. Bankman-Fried’s businesses had engaged in money laundering and price manipulation. Rather than look into those claims, the lawsuit said, Mr. Bankman suggested investigating the lawyer.
Ms. Fried never worked for FTX, but she was also intimately involved in her son’s work, the lawsuit said. According to the complaint, she advised him on political donations, encouraging him and other executives to make “straw donations” that concealed that the money was coming from FTX, a strategy designed to “avoid (if not violate) federal campaign finance disclosure rules.”
In an August 2022 email to Mr. Bankman-Fried, cited in the suit, she brought up another donor who would “only give in a non-disclosed form” and said she “would strongly urge you to do the same — or substitute someone else’s name.”
Federal prosecutors have accused Mr. Bankman-Fried of orchestrating a straw donation scheme, and two of his top advisers, Nishad Singh and Ryan Salame, have pleaded guilty to participating in it.
Mr. Bankman and Ms. Fried were frequent visitors to the Bahamas, staying at a 30,000-square-foot property with ocean views. Since FTX’s collapse, the couple has claimed they “never believed” they owned the house. But according to the suit, a subsidiary of FTX paid for the home; Mr. Bankman emailed a top FTX executive in May 2022, inviting him and others over to “celebrate the house you helped us buy/move into,” the complaint said. He and Ms. Fried were granted permanent residency in the Bahamas last October, the suit said, with FTX covering $30,000 in fees associated with the applications.
Mr. Bankman also asked FTX employees if the company that provided landscaping services for the house could bill FTX directly, according to the lawsuit. And one month after the purchase was closed, the complaint said, Ms. Fried instructed FTX employees to place online orders for a sofa, at least eight vases and a Persian hand-knotted rug costing more than $2,500.
YouTube has blocked Russell Brand from making money off the videos posted to his channel, as reported earlier by TheNew York Times. The decision to demonetize Brand’s account comes just days after several reports detailing sexual assault allegations against the actor emerged.
While Brand has become known for his career as an actor and comedian, he has also amassed a large following on YouTube, with over 62 million subscribers. Many of his more recent videos focus on popular conspiracy theories, some of which spread misinformation about the covid vaccines and the Russia-Ukraine war.
When YouTube demonetizes a channel, it will no longer show ads on videos, preventing the creator from earning money. YouTube Jack Malon tells The Verge it suspended Brand from monetizing his videos for violating YouTube’s creator responsibility policy, adding, “If a creator’s off-platform behavior harms our users, employees or ecosystem, we take action to protect the community.” YouTube didn’t immediately respond to The Verge’s request for comment.
Has Alice in Borderland been secretly renewed for a season 3? New viral posters pictured in Japan suggest we’re getting a third season.
Following season 2 being released on Netflix globally on December 22, 2022, it picked up 216 million hours watched globally in its first five weeks on the platform, with season 1 also getting a boost in viewership.
Featured Videos – Article Continues Below…
Since then, we’ve heard nothing about the future of Alice in Borderland, with season 3 having been pending throughout most of 2023 despite a massive cliffhanger ending that sets up more for the excellent Japanese series.
In recent days, however, social media has been lit up with severalviral posts of new posters being found in a subway in Japan.
The posters feature Netflix’s logo, and above that are ten cards in two rows of five:
The first row of cards features three of spades, two of clovers, two of diamonds, one of clover, and two of hearts.
The second row of cards features five of hearts, ace of hearts, four of hearts, five of clover and two of hearts.
Viral poster for Alice in Borderland 3 Netflix
There have been a few people dissecting the poster and what it means, but the best explanation we’ve seen comes from chp_marke on Twitter, who breaks the code down as follows:
Breaking it down further. You use the number on the card to match the letter in the suit as you spell it out. So the first letter is the third in spade, which is an A. If you spell out the ten letters, it spells ALICE THREE.
You can also see in the second picture that the background features a shiny/embossed element. This has been sleuthed to be the symbol for the Joker just enlarged, which played a big role in the ending of Alice in Borderland season 2.
The final scene of Alice in Borderland 2 features the Joker card.
You can rewatch and relive those final moments of that final scene below:
Given the show’s connection to playing cards and super sleuths on Twitter, it looks pretty cut and dry that the show has been given a season 3 renewal. Netflix does have an upcoming Drop01 event coming soon and could get teased there.
We’ll keep you updated on Alice in Borderland as and when we get it. Let us know in the comments if you think the dissections of the posters teasing Alice in Borderland season 3 have gotten it wrong.
Bill Veeck, a scrappy, showmanship-savvy Major League Baseball impresario who survived grave injuries as a Marine during World War II, would make a hard act for any child to follow. But you can’t say that one of his sons hasn’t tried. That would be Mike Veeck, the subject of the peppy new documentary “The Saint of Second Chances.”
Now in his seventies, Mike is an engaging onscreen presence in this story, whether appearing as himself or as played in re-enactments by Charlie Day (“It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia”). The movie was directed by Morgan Neville (“20 Feet From Stardom”) and Jeff Malmberg (“Marwencol”), and is a tad more fanciful than their prior work.
But fancy is a good fit for the Veecks, it turns out. We see that Bill believed that “the most delightful way to spend an afternoon or evening” was at the ballpark. In the 1970s, reigning over Chicago’s Comiskey Park with the town’s second-banana MLB team, the White Sox, he was a ramshackle marketing innovator. Mike tried to match him: A disastrous 1979 gathering at Comiskey called Disco Demolition Night, where a record-burning stunt turned into a riot that resulted in dozens of arrests, was Mike’s idea. The fiasco got deserved blowback, which sent the younger Veeck into a long tailspin.
This movie’s feel-good narrative essentially hinges on whether you buy Mike’s assertion that he wouldn’t have done the event if he “thought it would hurt anyone.” Once Mike got back in the game years later — through the Independent League ball organization — he brought the fun in eccentric ways, including a ball-carrying pig. Darryl Strawberry testifies here that Mike helped him love the game again. And the story of a personal tragedy in Mike’s family life is affecting.
The Saint of Second Chances Not rated. Running time: 1 hour 33 minutes. Watch on Netflix.
Dan Abrams, one of the founding anchors in NewsNation’s primetime lineup, aims to continue his work at the Nexstar Media-backed outlet.
Abrams and NewsNation reached a “multi-year” pact that will extend his work there, where he hosts “Dan Abrams Live” at 9 p.m. eastern.
“Dan is a veteran and master journalist whose passion for media and law and crime has made him one of the most unrivaled in the industry,” said Sean Compton, president of Nexstar Networks, in a statement. “We are pleased that he will remain at NewsNation as we continue to build a premier cable news network with a distinct mission of fair and unbiased news reporting.”
Abrams will celebrate his second anniversary at NewsNation on September 27.
While NewsNation’s audience is smaller than that of rivals like Fox News Channel and MSNBC, the company said “Dan Abrams Live” has more than doubled its primetime viewership since launching on the network in 2021.
“Continuing my show with NewsNation is particularly exciting because over the last two years this has been one of those rare professional experiences where everything has been as promised,” Abrams said.. “Every story we cover, every angle I take, comes from my team and me and that makes it fun, challenging, and fulfilling. Dan Abrams Live will continue to build on our resonating mission with politically sensible takes on the stories of the day.”
As hard as it may be to believe, it has been almost four years since audiances have seen Chris Evans appear in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU).
Evans originated the role of Steve Rogers/Captain America in 2011’s Captain America: The First Avenger and went on to reprise his role in 11 movies over the next 9 years.
Photo: Marvel
Following the events of Avengers: Endgame, Evans hung up his shield and gracefully exited the franchise.
Could Evans Return to the MCU?
While he hasn’t ruled out a return to the MCU, in a recent interview with GQ, Evans reiterated that it likely won’t happen anytime soon.
Photo: Marvel
“I’ll never say never, just because it was such a wonderful experience,” Evans said. “But I’m also very precious with it. It’s something that I am very proud of. And like I said, sometimes I can’t believe it even happened. And I wouldn’t want the black eye if it felt like a cash grab or if it didn’t live up to expectations or if it just felt like it wasn’t connected to that original thing. So, no time soon.”
Moving Away From Acting
While Marvel fans will likely be disappointed to hear that Evans has no plans of returning, it sounds like the actor may drift away from acting to pursue other interests.
“And ultimately I really hope to just maybe act a little bit less in my life,” he added. “I have a lot of other interests. Look, by no means have I climbed any sort of a mountain in this field. I have no Oscars and I’m not lumped with other names that are at the top of the mountain in any way. But I also feel very satisfied.”
“Now it’s really about, well: What time of year are we filming?” he said. “Am I gonna miss autumn? You know, I don’t want to miss autumn. I only have so many of them. I could just make furniture for nobody and be happy.”
“That was the beauty of working on Marvel films. You never really had to be front and center,” Evans said. “Even in your own films sometimes. Quentin Tarantino said it recently and I was like, you know, he’s right. The character is the star. You’re there, but you don’t feel the burden of it.”
Interesting Marvel Studios president disagrees.
Source: digitalspy.com
“I think it’s something [Chris] was telling himself, and I think it’s something many of the Avengers, including Robert, would tell themselves, which actually was very helpful to the process. But in certain cases, including Chris’s, it’s not entirely true.”
A Man at Peace
Whether or not Chris Evans returns to the MCU, or even continues acting, he is at peace. Marvel has given Evans financial security and the ability to live his life in any way he chooses. It is a blessing that Evans is clearly cognisant of.
Credit: Disney
“If I wanted to stop everything now, I could,” Evans said. “Which is incredible. And that’s a blessing beyond words. Specifically, because life is unpredictable and anything can happen…I’m a bit of an overplanner. I try to set things up so that any sort of future curveball that happens, I’ve planned for it. And that’s ostensibly exactly what Marvel’s provided. And part of that relaxing is just, uh, putting my brain down, putting my anxiety down. And the analysis, the kind of planning for tomorrow. I don’t have to do that as much anymore, and I can just be present.”
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Many of Disney‘s famous characters come from the public domain, including classic fairy tales, novels, and ancient myths. Thanks to this, these stories and their beloved characters have appeared in all sorts of unrelated media, including anime. These aren’t just episodes in an anthology series, but anime series spreading a classic story across multiple episodes.
When it comes to anime, a few tricks of the trade, like transformation sequences or cute mascots, might be thrown into the mix. Various subplots and new characters often get added to help expand on a classic plot. Notably, many of these series were international co-productions. Being based on the public domain stories directly, with no official relation to the corresponding Disney adaptations, many of these series were more faithful to the source material than said Disney counterparts. However, nothing says there can’t be a few shout-outs to Disney, like certain plot points or character designs. Of course, it isn’t unheard of for a character to star in an anime before their big break with Disney.
Cinderella – Cinderella Monogatari (1996)
NHK
Cinderella Monogatari, or The Story of Cinderella, is an anime series based on the classic fairy tale. A duke’s daughter finds herself made to work like a servant in her own home by her cruel stepmother and stepsister. Fortunately, Cinderella has a few friends to help her: a magical neighbor named Paulette, a bunch of talking animals, and a mysterious boy named Charles. All the while, the evil stepmother schemes to get one of her daughters married to the prince, never guessing he’s her stepdaughter’s friend.
The climax of the story, Cinderella going to the ball, losing her glass slipper, and even being crowned queen, occurs during the last three episodes. Of course, Cinderella meets the prince early on, though she just doesn’t realize it until much later. A recurring subplot throughout the series involves a villainous duke who schemes to gain control of the kingdom through the prince’s arranged marriage with his daughter. Interestingly, a similar subplot appeared in Disney’s 2015 live-action version of the story.
Snow White – Shirayuki Hime no Densetsu (1994)
NHK
Shirayuki Hime no Densetsu, or The Legend of Snow White, is an anime based on the classic fairy tale. Snow White is born the princess of Emerald Valley. When her mother dies, however, she will soon have to contend against her stepmother, Queen Chrystal, who wields powerful black magic. Fortunately, the princess finds refuge with seven friendly dwarves.
The classic story is stretched out over the entire series. Some of the Queen’s earlier attempts to kill Snow White, with a poisoned ribbon and comb, are adapted, serving as the focus of a few episodes. The big twist, however, is that the Queen isn’t content with being the fairest of them all: she wants to possess Snow White’s body for herself. Added to this, the Queen might not even be the one pulling the strings here. Ultimately, Snow White may have to sacrifice herself to save the forest and her friends from ruin, but love may triumph in the end.
The Little Mermaid – Ningyo Hime Marina no Bouken (1991)
Fuji TV
The Little Mermaid has often been the subject of anime, previously being adapted into the 1975 feature-length Toei animated film, which predates Disney’s adaptation. The Adventures of Mermaid Princess Marina, or Saban’s Adventures of the Little Mermaid, was a television adaptation that came out in the 1990s. Marina, sharing her name with Toei’s heroine, is a mermaid who saves the life of, and falls in love with, the human Prince Justin. She makes a deal with the sea witch, Hedwig, to become human and be with him. Unfortunately, Justin initially believes another girl saved his life.
What was the tragic end of the original story is the starting point of the anime. A wizard, Anselm, is able to save Marina in time by changing her back into a mermaid. Marina later gains the power to become human, with Justin becoming able to breathe underwater, each for an hour each day. The two try to find a more permanent solution for their relationship, all the while dealing with Hedwig’s schemes.
Pinocchio – Kashi no Ki Mokku (1972) / Piccolino no Bōken (1976)
Fuji TV
Pinocchio, the star of Carlo Collodi’s famous children’s novel, has the distinction of being the star of at least two different anime series. In 1972, Mokku of the Oak Tree, also known as Saban’s The Adventures of Pinocchio, stars a puppet brought to life by a turquoise-haired fairy and must work through his character flaws to become a real boy. The series is notably darker than the original story, having episodes where Mokku is nearly tricked into stealing a boy’s heart into becoming human or luring children into the clutches of vampire-witches. Mokku’s classmates don’t always survive each episode.
In 1976, another series based on the book, Piccolino no Bōken, was released. Compared to the earlier series, the later anime is much more light-hearted, portraying the Fox and the Cat as comic relief characters. The later anime was rather faithful to the original book overall, though with added subplots and some changes, such as giving “Piccolino” a duckling sidekick. In foreign dubs, both Mokku and Piccolino became “Pinocchio.”
Zorro – Kaiketsu Zoro (1996)
NHK
Zorro might not be one of Disney’s animated characters, but the swashbuckler was the star of his own Disney live-action series, airing in the late 1950s. Zorro was also the star of his own anime. In Kaiketsu Zoro, or Extraordinary Zorro, also known as The Legend of Zorro, Diego Vega returns to Spain, only to learn that his California home is under the rule of Commander Raymond and Lieutenant Gabriel. To fight back, he dons a mask and defends the weak as the hero, “Zorro.”
Other characters include Zorro’s sidekick Bernard, who helps as “Little Zorro,” and his love interest Lolita Prideaux, who favors the brave Zorro over the cowardly Diego, not realizing they are one and the same. In true anime fashion, Zorro gets a transformation sequence of sorts into his alter-ego that even starts off the opening. This is also a rare time viewers see a blonde Zorro, though his hair is still darker than Lolita’s.
Robin Hood – Robin Fuddo no Daibōken (1990)
NHK
Robin Fuddo no Daibōken, or Robin Hood’s Great Adventure, adapts the story of the classic outlaw. The action starts when Robin, or Robert Huntington, sees his palace home burned to the ground under the orders of the Baron of Nottingham, Alwyn. Robin and his cousins take refuge in Sherwood Forest. While there, they join up with “Big John,” the leader of a group of bandits, who will soon be renamed “Little John.”
The anime was aimed at younger viewers, with Robin and his friends being cast as young children. Similarly, many of the villains ended the series joining up with the good guys. Of course, Disney’s version was no stranger towards unconventional “casting,” portraying most of the characters as anthropomorphic animals.
Peter Pan – Pita Pan no Boken (1989)
Fuji TV
Pita Pan no Boken, or The Adventures of Peter Pan, also known as Peter Pan: The Animated Series, is an anime adaptation of the famous J. M. Barrie character. The story starts with Wendy dreaming about Peter rescuing her from Captain Hook. Soon, she is taken to Neverland with her brothers, where she meets the Lost Boys.
Eventually, new characters are added to the mix, such as Princess Luna and her villainous grandmother, Sinistra, the Queen of Darkness. The series is part of the World Masterpiece Theater series, which adapted various works of literature into anime. This anime was an unusual entry for the series, as they usually did not take place in fantasy worlds. Rascal the Raccoon, another World Masterpiece Theater figure, also notably appears in the series.
Frozen is admittedly a loose adaptation of The Snow Queen, a fairy tale that was previously adapted into a 2005 anime series. As with the original fairy tale, the two central characters are a pair of childhood friends, Kai and Gerda. Meanwhile, when the titular Snow Queen leaves her palace in the care of her troll minions, a magic mirror is broken. A shard pierces Kai, making him grow cruel and is soon abducted by the Snow Queen. While everyone else believes he is dead, Gerda must journey north to save him.
Similar to the later Disney film, the morally vague Snow Queen, who is often written as a straight villain in adaptations, is portrayed in a more benevolent light. Towards the end of the series, she must fight the Devil himself.
The Jungle Book – Janguru Bukku Shōnen Mōguri (1989)
TV Tokyo
Janguru Bukku Shōnen Mōguri, also known as The Jungle Book, is an anime adaptation of the Rudyard Kipling stories. Mowgli is a human orphan growing up in the jungles of India with a wolf pack as his family. Mowgli soon finds teachers in Bagheera the black panther and Baloo the Bear, but has to fight against the villainous tiger Shere Khan. Rikki-Tikki-Tavi, another Kipling character, notably appears as a supporting character.
The series ends with Mowgli leaving the jungle to live among humans, though he keeps the love and support of the wolf pack and his animal friends. Bagheera, who had once been a domesticated pet, also goes to the human village with Mowgli. The final scene shows the animals visiting Mowgli in his new village, giving the story an even happier ending than even the Disney version.
Alice In Wonderland – Fushigi no Kuni no Alice (1983)
TV Tokyo
Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, or Fushigi no Kuni no Alice, is an anime series adapting Lewis Carroll’s Alice books, which have often been an inspiration for anime. As in the original story, Alice follows a white rabbit down a hole into the fantastic world of Wonderland, including all sorts of colorful characters. However, there are a few deviations. Once an episode, Alice returns home after her adventures. Similarly, each episode opens with a mundane story that usually prefigures Alice’s Wonderland adventures.
In addition to Carroll’s classic characters, Alice is joined by Benny Bunny, the White Rabbit’s nephew, who functions as Alice’s traveling companion and sidekick. The Wonderland characters can be antagonistic at times, but are rarely portrayed as outright villainous. The first half of the series adapts Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, while the second half adapts Through the Looking Glass. There are also a few filler stories, notably one where Alice visits Australia through the Queen of Hearts’ castle.
Starfield has become one of the biggest launches of video games in Europe, sitting comfortably in the #1 spot during its launch week in the sales charts. The game became one of the fastest-selling new IPs of the year and the fifth fastest-selling game of the year overall, making it one of the biggest launches for the Xbox brand.
Of course, there are still other aspects of this data that aren’t taken into account, such as the Premium Edition buyers who had access to the game before it was technically available for sale and the Xbox Game Pass subscribers who are playing Starfield through the means of the subscription service. Speaking of the Xbox brand, Starfield’s massive launch comes ahead of Forza Horizon 5 as the biggest launch for this generation across Europe.
However, the number of sales it managed to get despite this unaccounted data becomes more impressive as a result, as Starfield only lagged behind games with established franchises such as Final Fantasy XVI, Resident Evil 4 Remake, Diablo IV, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, and Star Wars Jedi: Survivor. Meanwhile, other top contenders that topped the charts during the Week ending on September 10 include Red Dead Redemption 2, Need for Speed: Heat, and Civilization VI.
Starfield is available now for Microsoft Windows, Xbox Series S and X, and Xbox Cloud Gaming services.
About the Author
Ule Lopez
A journalist from Mexico obsessed with Shiny Eevees, he wears his profession with pride as he researches current-day stories and plays JRPGs and horror games.
So you want to break into Hollywood Well, you’ve come to the right place. If you’re a creator—like a writer or director—you’re going to need someone to vouch for you inside rooms. Someone to help you make connections and to introduce you to the right people.
That middle man or woman is usually an agent, manager, or lawyer.
Sometimes, it’s all three.
They’re valuable allies who help you grow your business from the ground up and believe in your chances to succeed.
So what does each of them do? And how can you find representation when you need it?
Let us take you through the definitions and give you what you need to succeed.
How to Get a LITERARY MANAGER | My Experience as a Represented Screenwriter and Film Directorwww.youtube.com
What Is An Agent and What Do They Do?
An agent helps negotiate contracts for actors, writers, directors, and producers. They also help talent find jobs by networking and setting up general meetings. Generals are where talent can meet respective producers or studios that might be interested in their work.
Your agent’s ear will always be to the ground and if they have you in mind, and they hear of an appropriate opportunity they’ll mention your name.
People want to know how to get a film agent so they can get their careers moving.
Having an agent is not required, but most people who make Hollywood their full-time job find agents a valuable resource when it comes to booking gigs, negotiating contracts, and dealing with productions.
What Are the Big Agencies?
Want to learn how to find an agent? Start by looking where they live. The largest talent agencies are:
No, they’re not just locations from Entourage, these are the big players in Hollywood. They represent most, if not all, of your favorite writers, directors, and actors.
There are other agencies in Hollywood than these eight, but the smaller they are, the fewer opportunities they see pass through the door. That doesn’t mean those smaller places are any less valuable, in fact, they could be good places to start your career.
But you can’t just stand outside yelling, “I need an agent!”
Well, maybe you could. But it might not work.
You want to learn how to find an agent who can help you advance your career and get you to that next level. How do they do that?
Agents are often stereotyped as bullish, angry people. While this is probably an unfair generalization, agents are responsible for getting their clients paid, and that persona can be part of how they manage that.
The adage goes, “If you need a best friend to talk to, get a manager. If you need to get into a fight, get an agent.”
But the similarities and differences in the profession are not that simple.
What’s the Difference Between an Agent and a Manager?
The main difference is who can and cannot negotiate deals, but I’d say the other is that a manager is involved with personal decisions and is a sympathetic ear. Agents are usually all business. And that’s okay. You want them out there hustling and negotiating. My manager will listen to a bad day, a bad script idea, and a bad meeting.
Also, managers are allowed to produce their clients work, while agents are not.
Managers usually oversee what their clients do day to day. They’re there if you need to talk through or develop an idea. They want to motivate and help you strategize.
While agents can do these things, they’re also legally bound to act only in the financial interest of their clients. There are lots of laws built around what it means to legally represent someone as an agent. In California, agents are legally required to be licensed by the state.
Most agents take 10% of a client’s earnings as payment. Usually, they have you sign a piece of paper saying their agency represents you. If they don’t have you sign that then you’re being “hip-pocketed.” Which isn’t a bad thing, it just means it’s unofficial.
Most managers work on a verbal agreement and a handshake.
But pay heed to the famous quote from original movie mogul Samuel Goldwyn, “A verbal agreement isn’t worth the paper it’s written on.”
The Writer’s Guild, Screen Actor’s Guild, and Director’s Guild, specify certain regulations and privileges reserved solely for agents including setting maximum commissions at 10% of gross earnings. Managers do not face the same restrictions, so they can charge more or less (haha).
This is all nuanced and complicated. If you’re worried about agents or managers, check in with your respective guild for advice and information.
What Kinds Of Agents Are There?
There are agents for music, broadcasters, and magicians, but today we’re going to focus on how to find an agent that would represent you in film and television.
So what kinds of things do you do?
Are you trying to learn how to get an agent for screenwriting or acting?
Lit Agents
I’m guessing most people reading this want to know how to find a literary agent. Lit Agents represent writers for film and television. At bigger agencies, these departments are split. Some people represent you for the feature scripts you write, while others represent your TV ideas. Most writers try to straddle both worlds now but further define themselves as their careers move forward and they get more jobs in one area over the other.
If you want to find a literary agent, you’re going to need to have a great screenplay. Maybe a few. Most agents aren’t looking to take on someone too green, so if you only have one great sample, make sure you have an idea of what you want to write next, at the very least prep a few film treatments.
Talent Agents
Talent agents represent actors and directors in Hollywood. They’re all about what roles you can play and getting you into the spotlight. If you want to get a talent agent, start by getting great at acting. The way talent agents find their clients are through word of mouth, showcases like improv, or stealing clients from rival agencies by promising them more opportunities.
There aren’t a lot of clearcut ways to get into Hollywood from the outside. Most people come here and work until their star rises. It can be hard because you are not proving yourself with tangible things on the page, you have to make people believe in your performances.
Aspiring actors looking for a talent agent should try to make friends with casting directors, so they can be put in front of bigger players. They should also work on showcases, take improv classes, and go out for as many commercials as possible.
But don’t pull a Tobias Funke and send out a bunch of headshots with glitter.
How to Get an Agent
Now that you know about the different types of agents, let’s learn how to find an agent who can represent you.
How to Find A Literary Agent
As of writing this, there are still agencies that have not agreed to the WGA’s code of conduct with the ATA. So if you’re a WGA writer, you can only sign with particular agencies, if you want to be in good standing with your union.
Do your research. Know where you can be repped.
Right now Verve, Gersh, and Abrams Artists are all viable.
There may be more by the time this gets published.
If you’re not in the WGA, anywhere goes.
Lit agents are always looking for new clients. It can help to win a prominent screenwriting contest, like the Nicholl, or even place high on the Black List website. I’ve found the best way to get an agent is to make a ton of connections with their assistants and get your material passed upward.
You know I’m a fan of crushing a great coming of age script as a way to break in and get your screenplay passed up the ladder.
You can make connections all over. I did it by working as an assistant in Hollywood. But what if you don’t live in the Greater Los Angeles area? You’ll have to face a harsher reality.
It’s going to be a lot harder for you.
You’ll have to try and excel on the Black List website, win a respected contest, or attend a festival dedicated to helping people network.
Some people love pitch-fests, but I’ve espoused my skepticism with them a few times.
The key here is that if you’re In LA, or not, you need to generate strong material and a lot of material. So start there. Whatever is going to help you do that is the right first step.
How To Find A Talent Agent
Talent agents function in the same way as literary agents. They want to hear that you’re great from someone else, be it a casting director or just someone who cast you in their movie.
They also frequent acting showcases in Los Angeles, stand-up comedy events, improv comedy shows, and even take a look at commercials.
You can even act in your own YouTube series and gain some notoriety that way.
If you want to get a talent agent, you probably have to live in Los Angeles or New York. Or maybe be amazing while doing Second City in Chicago. It’s so hard to stand out, and it really helps to be in a place where an agent can find you.
How to Find an Agent For Directing
Let’s assume off the bat that you have some amazing directing samples because no one is going to let you direct without them. The exceptions being if you’re a highly successful screenwriter or actor. And usually, those also mean you already have an agent.
Directors, like writers, have the ability to showcase their talent wherever they are on the globe.
So if you have amazing directing samples, try posting them on Vimeo, YouTube, and qualifying for Shorts Of the Week.
When I was an assistant, I dreaded the people who would find our phone numbers and pepper us with unsolicited material. Agents hate that even more.
But what if you’re lucky enough for your material to stand out and to hear that an agent wants to meet with you?
What To Do If You Get a Meeting With An Agent
So you figured out how to get an agent? Congratulations.
But just because you have a meeting with an agent doesn’t mean they’re going to represent you. So now what?
You need to head into some of the most important meetings of your life, so the first step is to head in with confidence. This is the agent’s time to figure out if they want to represent you or not. They have to know if they can sell you to other people, and how you’ll behave in a room.
Are you a natural storyteller?
Do you listen as much as you talk?
How much chemistry can you milk from tough situations?
Hollywood is about selling yourself as much as selling your ideas. So you need to prepare before you meet an agent. You got this far, so do yourself a favor and prepare even more. Another important question to ask yourself?
How can you tell if the agent you’re meeting is right for you?
As the old saying goes, “It’s the agent, not the agency.”
Sure, it’s easy to rejoice when your stuff makes an impression on an agent, but you don’t want someone who signs you and then forgets about you.
Ask about their strategies for your work. If they’re not at one of the big agencies, ask about their company’s track record. Come prepared with a few ideas to pitch them, but listen to the other properties they may represent that you can package as your own.
You need someone who’s got a long and short-term strategy for you.
Remember, they only get paid when you get paid. So make sure they have a plan for that, and a plan to get you working and getting paid for a long time. Also, it’s okay to see who else they represent. Who have they helped break in? What connections do they have for when it comes time to package your work.
New writers spend so much time learning how to get an agent they forget that they don’t just need an agent, they need a great agent.
That’s a lot to keep in mind, so how can we help you prepare?
Checklist For When You Meet An Agent
Don’t worry. we made a checklist for you so you know what to do and say in your first meeting.
Here’s to many more!
Come prepared with a finished script to pitch.
They may have already read your work, so if you have other scripts that are done, mention their loglines in case they want to read any.
Have at least two other ideas for what you’ll work on next.
TV, Film, doesn’t matter, but you ideally want them all to be the same or similar genre so the agent knows how to sell you.
Be knowledgeable about other people on your career path.
Who do you idolize?
Whose career path would you like to follow?
Have a dream job for them to help realize in your future.
Ask about their strategy.
Do they have successful clients?
Will they get you a lot of generals?
Will they get you a lot of pitches?
How involved do they like to be in your creative process?
What’s their plan for the year?
Can they sell your spec?
Get they get you staffed on something?
What’s their plan for the next three years?
How will you make it to the next level?
Do they have good contacts for packaging?
Who can they get in your movie?
Do they have relationships with buyers?
What is a Manager?
Well, you made it through the agents, now it’s time to introduce you to someone who actually cares about your well-being.
Managers are like a paid best friend. They focus more on you, developing your ideas, giving notes, and introducing you to people who they think can work well with you. They are not licensed or regulated by the State. Anyone can open an LLC and call themselves a manager. So when speaking with managers, make sure you do your research.
What Are Some Big Management Companies?
What Are Managers Allowed to Do?
So, here’s where it gets tricky. If you’re a director or actor, managers CANNOT negotiate your deal or sign your contract for you. Since writers are in a dispute with the ATA, the WGA gave managers the power to negotiate recently. Managers offer general career guidance, and advice that helps shape the next steps in your career. Most managers make 10% off of their clients.
So Which Do I Need?
If you’re just starting out, I think you probably only need a manager. Agents really only come in handy when you’re booking a lot of gigs and want to make the next leap. But that’s my view. If you don’t think you need advice or development help, having an agent is an excellent way to only pay out 10% and to get your ideas across to the right people.
There’s always been a debate about which means more in the long run.
Especially since many writers find that they usually make their own work or get hired by friends.
Directors may need as many voices as possible hyping them up out there.
The only thing everyone agrees on is that no matter what, you need an entertainment lawyer.
When Do I Need a Lawyer?
As soon as you have screenplays or projects you’re going to he hired to writer or direct, you need a lawyer. You might even want one sooner than that, when you start sending your script out, to make sure no one steals your ideas or you don’t sign a bad deal.
How Do You Get an Entertainment Lawyer?
You can hire any lawyer for an hourly fee, but most entertainment lawyers represent you for the fee of 5% on every deal. This is very fair, and they protect you against so many things, they’re incredible to have on your side.
Lawyers do accept query letters, you can Google a list of entertainment law firms…OR you can wait until you have an agent/manager, and they’ll introduce you to a ton of lawyers who can help you and will volunteer to represent you.
What Do Lawyers Do for Writers and Directors?
Lawyers are allowed to negotiate deals, draw up the paperwork, and add lines into deals that make sure you get things like back end, residuals, that you own the characters you create, get part of merchandising, and that no one steals your ideas.
They are your last line of defense when it comes to signing your script away to studios or an option agreement.
Lawyers are worth every penny.
So get a good one.
Not sure where to start? Here are some guidelines to help you get skin in the game.
It’s well-known among the Grey’s Anatomy fandom that healthy relationships and the show don’t always mix; any of Cristina Yang’s (Sandra Oh) romances demonstrate it, except her bond with surgery. Nonetheless, the show still succeeds in producing couples who make fans believe that love can survive the frenetic pace of a hospital, which seems to have more relationship complications than medical cases.
In a world where relationships are as unpredictable as a heart arrhythmia and love triangles are more common than surgical rounds, these couples stand out like beacons of relationship stability. Regardless of whatever ending they treat the viewers with, they remain examples of romances that actually worked, even if only for a while.
10 Meredith Grey and Nick Marsh
Meredith (Ellen Pompeo) and Nick Marsh’s (Scott Speedman) relationship is like a breath of fresh air in the whirlwind of drama that is Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital. Their dynamic is a prime example of a healthy, adult relationship that makes us root for love amidst the medical chaos.
Meredith and Nick prioritize open and honest communication, essential in any healthy partnership. For instance, Meredith shares her fears and vulnerabilities with Nick, letting her guard down and allowing him to be a supportive presence in her life. This moment of vulnerability showcases the strength of their bond and ability to rely on each other in times of need. It’s a refreshing reminder that even in the high-stress world of Grey’s Anatomy, love can be a source of comfort and stability.
9 Henry Burton and Teddy Altman
Henry (Scott Foley) and Teddy’s (Kim Raver) love was a heartwarming tale that flourished despite life’s constant twists and turns. Their story is an inspiring example of how two people can find happiness and support in each other’s arms at the most depressing and unexpected moments.
One remarkable aspect of their relationship was how they navigated Henry’s health issues. Teddy’s dedication to caring for him demonstrated the power of love as a source of strength and resilience. Her tireless commitment to Henry’s well-being showcased the importance of selflessness and compassion in a healthy partnership. Henry and Teddy are also among the Grey’s Anatomy couples who deserve a second chance at happiness because they seem so good together.
8 Jackson Avery and Lexie Grey
Jackson (Jesse Williams) and Lexie’s (Chyler Leigh) relationship was a charming and engaging subplot, their dynamic showcasing a healthy blend of youthful exuberance and genuine affection. Their connection was built on friendship, and seeing them support and uplift each other, personally and professionally, was heartwarming.
When Lexie struggled with her confidence as a surgeon, Jackson encouraged her, reminding her of her capabilities and offering unwavering support. This reflects the importance of building each other up in a relationship, a key ingredient for its health and longevity. Their relationship taught audiences that love can emerge unexpectedly in unpredictable places, even in a hospital’s pressure cooker.
7 Callie Torres and Mark Sloan
One striking aspect of Callie (Sara Ramirez) and Mark’s (Eric Dane) relationship was their ability to remain close friends after their romantic involvement had ended. This demonstrated their maturity and deep understanding of each other’s needs. An example of their enduring friendship was when Mark supported Callie during her struggles with motherhood and encouraged her to embrace her unique path as a parent.
They also navigated the complexities of co-parenting their daughter, Sofia (Eva Ariel Binder), with maturity and a shared commitment to providing her with a loving and stable environment. Additionally, their bond reminded fans that love can take various forms and true friendship can be the bedrock of a lasting, healthy relationship.
6 Meredith Grey and Andrew DeLuca
Meredith and DeLuca’s (Giacomo Gianniotti) dynamic excels in how they challenge each other to grow personally and professionally. Meredith encouraged DeLuca to believe in his skills and pursue his surgical career with confidence, while DeLuca provided Meredith with a sense of adventure and youthful energy that she had been missing. This mutual support and empowerment are the cornerstones of a healthy relationship.
Moreover, they also demonstrated the importance of open and honest communication. When DeLuca faced struggles with his mental health, he confided in Meredith, who responded with empathy and encouraged him to seek help. This example underscores the significance of addressing mental health issues within a relationship and seeking support from a partner.
5 Jo Wilson and Alex Karev
Alex’s (Justin Chambers) break-up with Jo (Camilla Luddington) and subsequent departure from Grey’s Anatomy still annoy fans to no end. Still, there is no denying that they have one of the show’s strongest and healthiest relationships. Jo and Alex’s relationship was a rollercoaster of emotions, but it ultimately evolved into a beautiful and healthy partnership.
Their capacity to persevere through hardships and support one another no matter what was an amazing element of their relationship. Alex, who had his share of tumultuous relationships in the past, learned to be patient and understanding with Jo, creating a safe space for her to heal from her traumatic past. Despite the bumps along the way, their unwavering support for one another showcased the resilience and strength of their love.
4 Callie Torres and Arizona Robbins
Despite their messy divorce and custody battle, Callie and Arizona (Jessica Capshaw) are a healthy couple during their run. Their love story was a testament to the beauty of embracing diversity and the strength of embracing one’s true self. One shining example of their relationship’s healthiness was their unwavering commitment to open communication. When Callie expressed her desire to have children, Arizona was understanding and supportive despite her initial hesitation.
Their ability to discuss and navigate significant life decisions together showcased a level of emotional maturity crucial in any healthy partnership. Additionally, they were among Grey’s Anatomy’s best queer characters and a beacon of LGBTQ+ representation, paving the way for greater acceptance and understanding.
3 Amelia Shepherd and Atticus’ Link’ Lincoln
Amelia (Caterina Scorsone) and Link’s (Chris Carmack) relationship isn’t an exception to Grey’s Anatomy’s realm of chaos and heartbreak. However, their dynamic is a shining example of a healthy, modern romance filled with laughter, support, and mutual respect.
Open and honest communication is one of their relationship’s best features. They don’t shy away from discussing their feelings, whether about their personal struggles or hopes for the future. An example of this healthy communication is when Link supported Amelia through the challenges of her pregnancy. Their ability to navigate difficult conversations with empathy and understanding strengthens their bond and sets a positive example for viewers. Amelia and Link’s love story is also a reminder that families can exist without a wedding.
2 Maggie Pierce and Winston Ndugu
Maggie (Kelly McCreary) and Winston’s (Anthony Hill) standout feature is their commitment to open and honest communication. They tackle important topics head-on, discussing their thoughts, fears, and dreams with candor. For instance, when Winston proposes to Maggie in a heartfelt and creative way, it’s a beautiful representation of their ability to express their feelings openly. This open dialogue fosters trust and understanding, essential components of a healthy relationship.
Furthermore, their relationship showcases the importance of embracing each other’s individuality. Maggie and Winston have demanding careers but respect and celebrate each other’s professional successes. This level of support and encouragement is showcased when Winston surprises Maggie with a celebration to commemorate her groundbreaking medical research.
1 Miranda Bailey and Ben Warren
Miranda (Chandra Wilson) and Ben (Jason Winston George) are undeniably Grey’s Anatomy’s healthiest couple. When Miranda faced the tough decision of pursuing her dream job as Chief of Surgery, Ben not only encouraged her but also relocated his own career to support her.
This selflessness and mutual encouragement are prime examples of how they nurture each other’s personal growth. Furthermore, their relationship highlights the importance of balance and teamwork. As they juggle their demanding careers, they consistently find ways to make time for each other and their family. This dedication to maintaining a work-life balance demonstrates their commitment to fostering their relationship and prioritizing their connection.
101 Studios secured the rights to the NYT bestseller White House By The Sea: A Century of the Kennedys At Hyannis Port and are fast-tracking it for a television adaptation.
Written by Rolling Stone‘s Kate Storey and published June 27 by Scribner, White House By The Sea is the multi-generational story of the Kennedy family as seen through their Hyannis Port compound on Cape Cod. The estate is where they’ve celebrated, mourned, and forged the closest of bonds – and Storey’s book is based on more than one hundred interviews.
“Kate Storey spent years researching for this book and it really shows in how she was able to bring these characters to life,” said David Glasser, CEO of 101 Studios. “Viewers will be able to get to know the Kennedy family in a way they have never seen before. We are thrilled to have the opportunity to bring this unique look at one of the most famous families to audiences around the world.”
101 Studios and Storey hope to adapt the book into an anthology by highlighting personal and historic moments at Kennedy’s Hyannis Port compound. Some highlights include the birth of the compound in the 1920s by Rose and Joseph P Kennedy, John F. Kennedy’s Presidential Acceptance Speech, and Jackie Kennedy’s interview with reporters in the days after her husband’s assassination.
“The reception to this book has been wonderful. I’m excited for it to come to life on screen,” said Storey.
The deal was negotiated by Robert Strent of Grubman, Shire, Meiselas and Sacks; Lucy Stille of Lucy Stille Literary; Susan Canavan of Waxman Literary Agency; and by Jordan Browning and James Allen of 101 Studios.
Nicolas Cage is finding that his dreams are truly stranger than fiction in Kristoffer Borgli’s TIFF breakout film “Dream Scenario.”
Cage stars as hapless family man Paul Matthews whose life is turned upside down when millions of strangers suddenly start seeing him in their dreams. But when his nighttime appearances take a nightmarish turn, Paul is forced to navigate his newfound stardom.
“Sick of Myself” filmmaker Borgli writes and directs the A24 film, which is produced by Ari Aster, along with lead star Cage, Lars Knudsen, Tyler Campellone, and Jacob Jaffke.
The cast additionally includes Julianne Nicholson, Michael Cera, Tim Meadows, Dylan Gelula, Dylan Baker, and Kate Berlant.
Cage spoke about the meta quality of “Dream Scenario” across his decades of fame, most recently (and virally) as memes, which the Oscar winner similarly parodied in 2022 film “The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent.”
“What happened to me, I think I might’ve been the first actor who woke up one morning and somebody had put a montage of me, meltdown moments, cherry-picking from different movies, and then put it online,” Cage told Entertainment Weekly at TIFF. “I think it was called ‘Nicolas Cage Losing His Shit’ [in 2011]. It went viral overnight around the world, I kept going, ‘What is happening to me?’”
He added, “It kept exponentially compounding on itself and getting bigger. Nothing I could do could stop it. I couldn’t stop it legally, I couldn’t stop it any way. I sat there and it started going to this meme-ification, with Photoshopping….I said, well, I’ve got to put this somewhere, and then I read ‘Dream Scenario’ and I said, yes, now I can turn this lead into a little bit of gold.”
IndieWire critic David Ehrlich called “Dream Scenario” a “Kaufman-esque” comedy with the “best absurdist” elements onscreen in recent years in the film’s review. “The Kaufman connection is further cemented by a Cage performance that feels like it was born from superimposing both of his ‘Adaptation’ characters on top of each other,” Ehrlich wrote. “‘Dream Scenario’ doesn’t represent a groundbreaking new form of comedy so much as it resolves into an ingeniously modern riff on the most classic of morals.”
“Dream Scenario” premieres November 10 in theaters. Check out the trailer below.
While speaking with ET about her new collaboration with Frito-Lay’s Flamin’ Hot — Flamin’ Hot University aka F.U., aimed to help fans “Unleash their Flamin’ Hot” with online courses and a limited-edition merch collection that funds scholarships for HBCU students — the 28-year-old rapper opened up about meeting Timberlake and manifesting a musical collaboration.
A video began circulating on social media, capturing Timberlake saying something to Megan, who was having her hair touched up. Megan responded animatedly, gesturing toward Timberlake and the rest of the group, which drew laughter from the 42-year-old and Fatone, who also appeared to say something to the rapper.
The video went viral as fans speculated that the interaction was actually a heated confrontation.
Sources told ET that the meeting was actually a sweet moment between the two where Timberlake told Megan, “It’s so nice to meet you.” Megan replied, “No, no! This don’t count, this don’t count! We gotta meet proper.”
Another source close to the situation told ET, “Meg loves Justin. She was saying ‘No, no, no, we’ve never met before.’ It was their first time meeting and she was excited.”
The next day, Megan posted a video to social media with Timberlake to shut down any rumors the two had a feud. “I just talk with my hands??♀️ lol @justintimberlake love ya ?,” she captioned the video.
Recalling the night with ET’s Rachel Smith, Megan shares that she and the pop star laughed off the incident after learning that they had gone viral.
“We were really crying-laughing because it was like, ‘In what world is Megan Thee Stallion beefed out on Justin Timberlake?” she tells ET, laughing. “I’m in the back tussling with *NSYNC? That sounds crazy! I just I thought it was so funny because I talk with my hands and my nails are so long so I know this looks crazy, like you almost thought I was coming for you and I was coming for him. But, yeah this is just how I talk.”
The rapper explains that she was preoccupied because she had an earpiece in and her hairstylist, Kellon Deryck, was “picking at my hair.”
“Kellon is doing my hair and I got my in ears in and I’m telling Kellon I’m already nervous, just stop touching on me. Then Justin Timberlake walks by, he’s like, ‘It’s nice to meet you,’ [and] I was like, ‘No, no, first of all I can’t hear you so, no,'” she recalls. “Take it back, this is not how I’m gonna meet Justin Timberlake, OK? And JC was back there looking cute! I said, ‘Hold on, y’all need to relax. Wait until I get off stage and then Ima be ready for y’all.'”
Megan goes on to share that she told Timberlake that they need to “bring sexy back,” crossing her fingers that she would get to work with the ‘Keep Going Up’ singer in the future.
“We’re both Aquarius, I was like, ‘We are meant to be besties!’ It was meant to be,” she adds.
Timberlake would be an interesting addition to Megan’s impressive list of collaborators. While there’s no doubt that the two could work some magic, the rapper is even more excited about discussing her new partnership with Frito-Lay’s Flamin’ Hot.
Frito-Lay
The GRAMMY winner has teamed up with the snack brand to introduce Flamin’ Hot University, an online university working to encourage students to embrace the spicy, rebellious spirit of the brand, and learn to “Unleash their Flamin’ Hot” lives in full flavor. F.U. offers short, snackable courses on food, fashion and lifestyle.
Not only did the rapper give her hottie stamp of approval to an exclusive line of F.U. merchandise created by streetwear designer Melody Ehsani, but 100 percent of proceeds from the merchandise collection will go toward establishing a scholarship fund at Texas Southern University (TSU), Megan’s Houston-based HBCU alma mater. The scholarship fund will help select graduating seniors at TSU say “FU” to student loan debt and start off on the right foot.
“Everybody knows that I love hot chips, that’s my favorite thing…,” Megan says of the Flamin’ Hot. “And everybody knows that I love education. I got my degree [and] I feel like you’re never too old to learn. I can show the girls that you can still turn up, have a good time, be a hot girl, and you can still wake up and go to class. We got to do that like, I got to endorse that message.”
She adds: “You will learn how to be a hottie, you will learn how to authentically be yourself and you will learn all the bomb Flamin’ Hot recipes that you’ll probably be making in your dorm room at 2 a.m.”
Megan earned her bachelor’s degree in health administration back in December 2021. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, who spoke at the graduation ceremony for the College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences at Texas Southern University, announced the rapper also received the 18th Congressional District Humanitarian Award. The award aims to recognize “outstanding public achievements by the people who live in the 18th Congressional district.”
“School is so hard and online classes are really hard too, but I was already doing online classes before quarantine started,” she said. “I had to because I couldn’t go on campus anymore. I mean, my focus was definitely better because I didn’t have a lot of distractions. But I’m still in school, and I’m projected to graduate in 2021!”
The rapper said her late mother, Holly Pete, who died in March 2019 after a battle with brain cancer, inspired her to finish her education. Megan’s goal is to one day open up her own assisted living facility. The “Body” rapper also has a scholarship fund program in partnership with Amazon Music. The program will award $10,000 to two women of color pursuing an associates, bachelors or post-graduate degree.
With her Flamin’ Hot partnership, Megan furthers her efforts to help people have it all when it comes to their education and living their best life.
Frito-Lay
In addition to the merch-funded TSU scholarship, Flamin’ Hot will make a separate contribution to the Pete and Thomas Foundation, the non-profit organization that Megan launched in 2022 that focuses on uplifting and assisting women, children, senior citizens and underserved communities in Houston, Texas, and across the world. The organization focuses on three core sectors — education, housing, health and wellness — and is committed to supporting mission-aligned non-profit organizations, generating awareness around key campaigns and spearheading its owned and operated activities.
“Everyone deserves to be their Flamin’ Hot self, but student loans can create a significant burden on college graduates — especially at HBCUs where students graduate with 19 percent more debt than those at non-HBCUs,” Tina Mahal, senior vice president of marketing at Frito-Lay, said in a statement. “The Flamin’ Hot University scholarship fund at TSU was designed to ease some of the financial pressures student loans bring so graduates can focus on unleashing their hottest potential.”
Reminiscing on her college experience, Megan tells ET that she understands what it means to be “a struggling college student.”
“I know one of the main struggles that make people want to just give up and quit is being able to pay for school. That was one of my biggest things when I first got there,” she shares. “My mom told me, ‘I’m not helping you pay for this.’ My grandma was doing the best she could and I was like, ‘Dang, what am I gonna do?’ Fortunately enough for me, I became Megan Thee Stallion, so [the] first money I ever got, I spent it on college! I paid off my school.”
Saying that she “always knew” she wanted to get her degree and be a rapper, Megan says that juggling her career and her education was always Plan A. “It wasn’t like, ‘Oh, if this doesn’t work I’m gonna do that.’ It was always like, ‘No, girl, both of [these are] gonna work, so stick with it. We got something to prove.’ And we did it.”
Potential students can visit FlaminHotUniversity.com and follow Flamin’ Hot on social media to take part in F.U. courses and view exclusive content.
Mark your calendars! Hallmark announced their 40-movie holiday slate on Tuesday — 31 to air on Hallmark Channel‘s Countdown to Christmas and nine to air on Hallmark Movies & Mysteries’ Miracles of Christmas. The annual TV movie event will begin on Oct. 20.
Hallmark Movies Now, the company’s streaming service, will provide subscribers with early access to two of the new premieres, one week before their network debut. Additionally, Hallmark Movies Now will stream two originals, “An Ice Palace Romance” and “Rescuing Christmas.”
The app will also feature extended versions of the 2022 original “A Holiday Spectacular” and “Three Wise Men and a Baby,” as well as hundreds of movies from past and current years.
Countdown to Christmas is leaning into their international movies this year with films in Germany, Norway, Scotland and France. Additionally, Hallmark teases a “yuletide Easter Egg hunt” throughout the lineup this year with surprise appearances, nods to past Hallmark hits and past roles.
The 2023 lineup welcomes many new faces to the Hallmark family, including Chris Carmack, Erica Cerra, Jonathan Frakes, Mark Ghanimé, Humberly Gonzalez, Bryan Greenberg, Rick Hoffman, Grace Leer, Vic Michaelis, Mishael Morgan, William Moseley and Phylicia Rashad, among others.
Returning fan favorites include Tyler Hynes, Jonathan Bennett, Warren Christie, Paul Campbell, Andrew Walker, Brooke D’Orsay, Erin Cahill, Nikki DeLoach, Brennan Elliott, Dan Jeannotte, Bethany Joy Lenz, Luke Macfarlane, Ryan Paevey and Kimberley Sustad.
Netflix’s next Italian originals will be pairs of series and feature films from the likes of Stefano Mordini, Alessandro Genovesi and Cristina Comencini.
The projects were unveiled at a See What’s Next event in Rome today, in front of several stars, directors and stars.
Tinny Andreatta, Vice President of Italian Content at Netflix, said the orders showed the streamer remains “committed to our investment in Italy and Italian stories with conviction, continuing our long-term commitment to the country and its creative community.” Netflix opened an Italian office in May last year.
Il Treno dei Bambini is based on Viola Ardone’s bestselling novel pf the same name and is billed as as an “epic and poignant film” set in post-war Italy seen through the eyes of a child torn between two mothers. Palmor is producing with Comencini, Furio Andreotti, Giulia Calenda and Camille Dugay writing. Cast comprises Barbara Ronchi, Serena Rossi, Christian Cervone, Francesco Di Leva, Antonia Truppo, Monica Nappo, Nunzia Schiano and featuring Stefano Accorsi.
Fabbricante di Lacrime, from Colorado Film Production, is based on the Erin Doom book of the same name. Alessandro Usai and animation producer Iginio Straffi are the the producers, with Genovesi the director. Cast includes Caterina Ferioli and Simone Baldasseroni.
On the series front, the six-part Adorazione comes from Picomedia and is loosely adapted from the novel of the same name by author Alice Urciuolo. Donatella Diamanti, Giovanni Galassi, Tommaso Matano, Francesca Tozzi and Gianluca Gloria are the writers and 2 Win‘s Stefano Mordini is the director.
It follows a group of teenage girls and boys during the summer that will change their lives forever. A large ensemble cast includes Noemi Magagnini, Alice Lupparelli, Beatrice Puccilli, Penelope Raggi, Luigi Bruno, Giulio Brizzi, Tommaso Donadoni, Federico Russo, Alessia Cosmo, Federica Bonocore, Barbara Chichiarelli, Claudia Potenza , Max Mazzotta, Mario Sgueglia and Ilenia Pastorelli.
Storia della mia Famiglia is an original script from Filippo Gravino and Elisa Dondi, with Claudio Cupellini directing. The show follows a man on the last day of his life. Netflix is billing it as a “tale of joy, passion, love for his children, and a lack of fear for the future. But above all, the story of an unlikely family, of a beloved clan on which Fausto imposes unexpected responsibilities.”
Eduardo Scarpetta, Vanessa Scalera, Massimiliano Caiazzo, Cristiana Dell’Anna and Antonio Gargiulo lead the cast.
The shows join an Italian Netflix originals slate that also includes Everything Calls for Salvation season 2, Rhythm + Flow Italy, Brigands: The Quest for Gold, The Law According to Lidia Poët season 2, The LeopardSuperset and Vasco Rossi: Living It.
They say misconfigured cloud storage is the leading cause of data leaks these days, and Microsoft’s latest slip-up is the perfect example.
Cybersecurity researchers from Wiz discovered a huge, unlocked database, hosting sensitive information on hundreds of people, including private keys and passwords.
The database, as it turned out, belonged to Microsoft’s researchers working on Artificial Intelligence (AI). The good news is that the database was locked before any hackers could get to it.
Oops! Our bad
As Wiz’s researchers explained, they were investigating accidental cloud-hosted data exposure when they found a Microsoft GitHub repository with open-source code for AI models, to be used for image recognition. The models were hosted on an Azure Storage URL, but due to obvious human error, the storage also held data that no one should have access to.
That data includes 38 terabytes of information, including backups of two Microsoft employees’ computers, passwords to Microsoft services, and more than 30,000 Teams chat messages exchanged by Microsoft employees. The storage account wasn’t accessible directly, the researchers explained. Instead, Microsoft’s AI team generated a shared access signature token (SAS) that granted too many permissions. With SAS tokens, TechCrunch explains, Azure users can generate shareable links for Azure Storage account data.
Wiz notified Microsoft of its findings on June 22, and the SAS token was revoked two days later. It took the company almost three weeks to run a thorough investigation, after which it concluded that the data hadn’t been accessed by any unauthorized third parties, TechCrunch said.
To make sure these things don’t happen again, Microsoft expanded GitHub’s secret spanning service, which tracks all public open-source code changes for credentials and other secrets exposed in plaintext.
Unfortunately, unsecured databases are a common occurrence. Earlier this year, a relatively popular Android voice chat app, OyeTalk, did the same thing. It was using Google’s Firebase mobile application development platform, which also offers cloud-hosted databases. According to researchers from Cybernews, OyeTalk’s Firebase instance was not password-protected, meaning its contents were available for all to see.
Tributes have poured in for Suits star Billy Miller as his heartbroken mother revealed that he took his own life aged 43 after a ‘valiant’ battle with bipolar depression.
Miller played Marcus Specter, younger brother of main character Harvey Specter, from Season 6 to 9. Lead actor Gabriel Macht wrote on X: ‘Rip my TV bro… I am touched by ur thoughtfulness, ur authentic honest approach to ur art.’
Co-creator of the legal drama series Aaron Kosh also posted a touching tribute to the actor, saying it was ‘very sad news for the entire Suits family.’ Miller’s co-star, Duchess of Sussex Meghan Markle, has not spoken out following his death.
The soap opera actor and three-time Daytime Emmy winner, who also starred on The Young and the Restless, died on Friday in Austin, Texas, as reported by soap opera journalist Michael Fairman.
Patricia Miller issued a statement to Soap Opera Digest Monday to clear up rumors circulating about her son’s passing.
‘He fought a long hard valiant battle with bipolar depression for years,’ Patricia said of her late son. ‘He did everything he could to control the disease.’
Patricia said her son ‘loved his family, his friends and his fans but in the end the disease won the fight and he surrendered his life.’
Gone too soon: The mother of late General Hospital star Billy Miller said that he died at the age of 43 via suicide; he is pictured in 2019 in LA
Miller had a recurring role on Suits, playing Marcus Spector, the brother of the main character
Markle played a paralegal on Suits and Gabriel Macht played the lead lawyer Harvey Specter
She added that ‘the other causes of death being told are not true,’ as his cause of death had been the subject of speculation on a number of fan blogs, adding, ‘I wish they were but they just aren’t.’
Patricia said she was grateful for the kind response she received from fans in the wake of her son’s tragic passing.
‘I want to personally thank the many fans & personal friends for the overwhelming amount of love, prayers & condolences sent to me and my family on the devastating death of my beautiful son BJ – Billy Miller,’ she said.
Patricia continued: ‘We all loved him so much and are desperately trying to deal with our loss. I will have nothing further to say.’
She wrapped up in saying, ‘Thanks for the love and support.’
A number of Billy’s friends and fans responded to Patricia’s statement posted on Twitter.
‘To the Miller Family, When u spoke with Billy, he always had away of making you feel very special,’ one user said. ‘He will always have a place in my heart. Your Family is in my thoughts and prayers. May peace and love surround you.’
Another said, ‘This loss really hurts. I’ve thought of little else the past two days. God bless Billy always. I pray he’s at peace now.
‘His kindness, talent, and that beautiful smile will never be forgotten. My sincere condolences to his brave mother Patricia and to all who loved him.’
Markle played Rachel Zane, one of the main characters on the show, before she left after season seven
Sad: The actor’s death came just two days prior to this 44th birthday. Miller is survived by his mother, Patricia, and his sister, Megan; seen in a still from The Young and the Restless
Struggle with depression: Reps for the actor claimed he was struggling with ‘manic depression’ at the time of his death as per TMZ; seen in a still from General Hospital
Emotional times: Soap vet and Selling Sunset star Chrishell Strause posted a memorial to her late friend Monday
Feedback: A number of Billy’s friends and fans responded to Patricia’s statement posted on Twitter
One user said, ‘It’s so hard to believe someone with such a beautiful smile was struggling so deeply,’ to which another responded, ‘That’s how it works … I struggled with depression and there are pictures where I had the biggest smile on my face but I was carrying the most on the inside.’
Soap vet and Selling Sunset star Chrishell Strause posted a memorial to her late friend Monday: ‘Too many feelings but you are gone way too soon and I’m so happy I got to work with you all those years but also call you a friend. I hope you are at peace now.’
The actor’s death came just two days prior to this 44th birthday. Miller is survived by his mother, Patricia, and his sister, Megan.
Reps for the actor previously claimed he was struggling with ‘manic depression’ at the time of his death as per TMZ.
DailyMail.com has reached out to representatives for Miller.
His death was confirmed by a representative at The Belmont, a restaurant and bar in Los Angeles, California that Miller co-owned, according to Fairman.
Oklahoma-born Miller worked in the mailroom at Industry Entertainment before being signed as a model to Wilhelmina.
He had graduated with a communications degree at the University of Texas before moving to Los Angeles. He got his start in the entertainment industry after landing a role on the popular soap opera All My Children, playing Richie Novak.
Tribute: Octavia Spencer, who co-starred alongside Billy in TV series Truth Be Told, shared a tribute to the actor following the news of his passing
He then joined the cast of The Young and the Restless in 2008, playing the fourth iteration of Billy Abbott. He left the show in 2014.
He received three Daytime Emmys for the role: two for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series and one for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series.
Miller joined the cast of General Hospital in 2014. He played Jason Morgan and Drew Cain and was a series regular until 2019.
He also had credits in Showtime’s Ray Donovan and Apple TV+’s Truth Be Told.
Tributes from fans poured in on social media following the initial news of his passing.
Actress Octavia Spencer, who co-starred alongside Billy in TV series Truth Be Told, shared a tribute to the actor on Instagram.
‘I am speechless. I’m laying here scrolling through IG and came across a post that we lost Billy Miller. To his family, legions of fans, and our #TruthBeTold family my deepest condolences,’ she wrote underneath a photo of the actor.
‘I am so sad to learn of Billy Miller passing. I loved watching him on all my children young and the restless and general hospital. May he rest in peace,’ another person wrote on Twitter.
‘A real loss to the genre, just so sad,’ yet another fan added.
We all have our go-to movies that we turn to whenever we’re down in the dumps or need some comfort. Whether it’s the nostalgia, the escapism, or the pure good vibes, they never fail to cheer us up.
In a recent post, we shared people’s comfort movies, and there were SO many responses that we thought we’d share some more. So, here are 30 more movies people recommend watching when you’re down…
8.
Harry and the Hendersons
13.
The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent
14.
Ferris Bueller’s Day Off
17.
The Harry Potter films
18.
Breakfast at Tiffany’s
23.
Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves
24.
The Devil Wears Prada
What are your go-to comfort films? Let us know in the comments below!
A24 has released several iconic scary movies over the past few years. Films like Hereditary have cemented the studio’s reputation as a high-quality house of horrors. And A24 had another sleeper horror hit this summer with Talk to Me. As a way of celebrating Talk to Me’s digital release, A24 has released a life-size ceramic replica of the evil “Party Hand” from the film that you can buy. Talk to Me‘s for-sale hand is actually a smoking device or an incense burner. But absolutely nothing is stopping any fans from just displaying this hand as a piece of creepy art. And, who knows, it could be a portal to the spirit world. You can check out images of the Talk to Me hand in our gallery down below:
Click To View Gallery
A24
In Talk to Me, the movie reveals that the mysterious prop is the severed, embalmed hand of a powerful deceased medium. The characters in the film then use it to summon up spirits. The idea is that someone holds the hand and speaks the words “talk to me” out loud. Thus, inviting in whatever entity from beyond the grave that heeds your call. After someone says the words on Talk to Me, the participant lets go of the hand. This allows for the spirit to enter inside of them. In the film, they equate it to getting high off drugs. Hence the entire thing becoming a party game for bored youth. As you can imagine, all kinds of hideous chaos ensues.
A24
A24’s already sold out of their first production run of the ceramic Talk to Me “Party Hand.” But more are going to be produced in the near future, so you can pre-order now for the price of $110.00. The estimated shipping for this purchasable Talk to Me hand is in late December. However, A24 does not guarantee a holiday delivery. Talk to Me is already out on digital but will be hitting Blu-ray on October 3.
Haters gonna’ hate but the iPhone Pro will sell orders of magnitude more than Nintendo Switch. The iPhone 14 Pro Max alone shipped 26.5 million units between January and June of this year. Apple doesn’t need a large percent of these iPhone Pro owners to play games in order to overpower Nintendo in the handheld console market. Just sayin’.
The Golden Prague International Television Festival, the prestigious annual event, held in the esteemed National Theater in Prague, is celebrating 60 years of excellence in music, dance and drama on screen. There are 83 entries battling for the prestigious awards this year and the jurors have had to watch 6906 minutes of film to determine the next prize awardees!
The festival has a rich history of honoring exceptional talent in the fields of music and dance, making it a significant event in the international arts calendar. This year promises to be no different, with a great selection of extraordinary films. We eagerly await the announcement of this year’s top winners, set to be revealed at the Awards Ceremony this Thursday.
However, the Golden Prague Festival is not just about competition and awards; it offers a plethora of exciting events and activities for attendees to enjoy. From discussions conducted by industry experts to exhibition highlighting the Golden Prague’s rich history, there is something for everyone to explore and appreciate.
In addition to the film screenings and competition, festival-goers can immerse themselves in the world of music and dance through live performances and concerts. These events feature talented artists and ensembles, providing a unique opportunity to witness breathtaking performances firsthand.
The Golden Prague Festival is not limited to industry professionals alone. It is a celebration of music, dance, and the arts, welcoming individuals of all backgrounds and interests. Whether you are a fan of classical music, contemporary dance, or simply curious about the world of documentary filmmaking, this festival has something to offer you.
As the festival kicks off tomorrow, we invite everyone to join us in celebrating the 60th Golden Prague. Mark your calendars and be a part of this extraordinary celebration of music, dance, and theatre through film.
Daniel Craig’s debated attractiveness put a target on his back as the new James Bond while casting “Casino Royale,” according to “GoldenEye” helmer Martin Campbell.
The director, who remained part of the 007 casting team, told Express UK that Craig didn’t follow in the “traditional” look of Bond as embodied by past franchise stars Sean Connery and Pierce Brosnan, for whom Craig was taking over.
“My only reticence with Daniel…he was really a superb actor, there’s no doubt about that…It was the fact that with people like Sean Connery, Roger Moore, and Pierce Brosnan was that they were all traditional looking Bonds: all handsome guys, all sexy, all very attractive to women and so forth,” Campbell said.
He added, “Daniel was obviously tougher and ruggeder, but he wasn’t a traditional handsome guy. So I just thought about that for a minute and apart from that, absolutely it was always him.”
Campbell continued that Craig was among eight actors who auditioned for the role; the casting directors and producers eventually came to a “unanimous” decision to cast Craig.
“The way they work with Bond and it’s pretty terrific is when they decide on the actor and you audition — in our case, it was eight people — it’s very democratic,” Campbell said. “You sit around a table, eight or nine of you. It was myself and the producers, casting director, etcetera. And you go through the eight people and you put your hand up as you talk through each person and ultimately everybody has to be unanimous in their decision, if you see what I mean.”
Henry Cavill and Sam Heughan have both publicly confirmed they were among the contenders to play Bond, with Campbell saying Cavill would be the second choice runner-up if he was older-looking.
“The press response was awful and I felt so sorry for him,” McWilliams said, “but in a funny kind of a way I think it almost spurred him on to do his damndest to prove everybody wrong. The whole way through the film, stuff would come out about [how] he couldn’t walk and talk, he couldn’t run, he couldn’t drive a car properly, so much stuff which was completely and utterly untrue. And he just kept his head down, got on with the job and then the film came out and everybody went, ‘Oh wow, I think we quite like him after all.’”
Japan’s Dean Fujioka (“Fullmetal Alchemist,” “The Man From The Sea”) and the U.K.’s Callum Woodhouse (“All Creatures Great and Small,” “The Durrells”) are set to star in “Orang Ikan,” a WWII-set creature horror film. The picture is scripted by Singapore and Indonesia-based Mike Wiluan (“Buffalo Boys,” HBO series “Grisse”) who will also direct the picture from next month.
International rights to “Orang Ikan” have been picked up by London-based SC Films International, which will give the project its sales launch at the Busan festival and accompanying market next month.
Set in the Pacific, 1942, a Japanese ship transports prisoners of war to occupied territories as slave labor. After being torpedoed by allied submarines, a Japanese soldier and a British POW are stranded on a deserted island, but soon discover they are not alone. They are being hunted by a ferocious mythological creature, the Orang Ikan, a human-fish hybrid. Unable to communicate in each other’s language, the two mortal enemies must come together to survive the unknown.
The film is due to start production in October 2023 at Wiluan’s Infinite Studios in Batam, Indonesia, one of the largest production service facilities in Southeast Asia and just a ferry ride from Singapore, before moving into the jungles of Java.
The film is produced by veteran filmmaker Eric Khoo of Singapore’s Zhao Wei Films with production handled by Gorylah Pictures. Structured as a four-way co-venture between Singapore, Indonesia, Japan and the U.K., the film also has support from the Singapore Film Commission.
Executive producers are: Yoshi, Grace Wu, Han Minli, Natalya Pavchinskaya, Jomon Thomas, Anthony Khoo, S Shamkumar, Kenneth Poh, Simon Crowe, Matthew Joynes and Takahiro Yamashita. The film will have a score by Akihiko Matsumoto.
“I grew up on a steady diet of horror movies which ranged from the supernatural to monster flicks. One of my childhood favorites was the classic 1954 monster movie, ‘Creature from the Black Lagoon.’ During the pandemic I came across ‘Hell in the Pacific,’ a 1968 war film about a Japanese soldier and an American serviceman marooned on an island trying to kill each other off. This was the lightbulb moment for me – what if an orang ikan had come ashore in that scenario? In order to survive, the two mortal enemies would have to team up to battle this terrifying beast! What an exciting premise!,” Khoo told Variety. “I’m so pleased that after my 30 years of being in the movie industry, I finally get to produce my first creature feature and with my frequent collaborator Mike Wiluan to boot.”
“’Orang Ikan’ is an origin story with a horror survival theme set in the context of a realistic tragedy during the Second World War in Asia. Using both studio settings and the wonderful wild landscapes of Indonesia- I am excited to capture both the tension, horror and beauty of this concept in various exotic locations,” said Wiluan. “We have assembled a wonderful cast, talented artists and the best crew to undertake this incredible adventure. Every production will have its own set of unique challenges and this film would be an ultimate creative and physical challenge for me that I look forward to tackle.”
SC Films Busan slate also includes animated features “Dragonkeeper” and “Girl in the Clouds” and live action features “On Fire,” “Little Bone Lodge,” “December” and the new Australian thriller “Captive.”
Concept art for ‘Orang Ikan’ (Courtesy of SC Films International)
SC Films International
Billy Miller’s mother is speaking out about the circumstances surrounding her son’s tragic death.
As previously reported, Miller died at 43 on Friday, September 15, two days before his 44th birthday.
At the time, details about how the daytime TV staple had died were not revealed.
Miller’s mother has released the following statement to Soap Opera Digest:
“I want to personally thank the many fans and personal friends for the overwhelming amount of love, prayers and condolences sent to me and my family on the devastating death of my beautiful son BJ — Billy Miller.
“He fought a long hard valiant battle with bipolar depression for years. He did everything he could to control the disease.
“He loved his family, his friends and his fans but in the end the disease won the fight and he surrendered his life. The other causes of death being told are not true. I wish they were but they just aren’t.
“We all loved him so much and are desperately trying to deal with our loss. I will have nothing further to say. Thanks for the love and support.”
Miller broke through in the soap world in 2007 with his portrayal of Richie Novak on All My Children.
He followed it up with a six-year-stint on The Young and the Restless as Billy Abbott, a role he won three Daytime Emmy Awards for acting.
In 2014, he moved over to General Hospital, playing Jason Morgan/Drew Cain until 2019.
Additional TV roles included CSI: NY, Justified, Ringer, Major Crimes, Suits, Ray Donovan, and Truth Be Told.
“I am devastated to hear news of the incredibly talented Billy Miller’s passing,” General Hospital executive producer Frank Valentini posted on X in the aftermath of Billy’s death.
“On behalf of the entire [General Hospital] family, our hearts go out to his family and friends during this difficult time.”
May Billy Miller rest in peace.
Paul Dailly is the Associate Editor for TV Fanatic. Follow him on Twitter.
The BBC said it has removed programming featuring Russell Brand from its streaming services iPlayer and BBC Sounds, saying it has “assessed that it now falls below public expectations.”
The comedian faces accusations of rape, sexual assault and emotional abuse, which he has denied.An investigation by the Times, Sunday Times, and Channel 4 Dispatches alleged sexual misconduct by Brand between 2006 and 2013.
“The BBC does not ban or remove content when it is a matter of public record, unless we have justification for doing so,” a BBC news report cited a representative for the U.K. public broadcaster as saying. “There is limited content featuring Russell Brand on iPlayer and Sounds. We’ve reviewed that content and made a considered decision to remove some of it, having assessed that it now falls below public expectations.”
Cast: Colman Domingo, Chris Rock, Glynn Turman, Aml Ameen, Johnny Ramey, CCH Pounder, Jeffrey Wright, and Audra McDonald
Another biopic you’ll likely be hearing a lot about is Rustin, from director George C. Wolfe (Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom). It’s the story of Bayard Rustin, the man behind the historic March on Washington, where Martin Luther King Jr. made his famous “I Have a Dream” speech. Though Rustin’s organizational skills and dynamic leadership should have made him a powerful figure within the civil rights movement, his identity as a gay man limited his influence. Colman Domingo, who stars as Rustin, has already been identified as an Oscar frontrunner, but the film, which was executive produced by the Obamas, could also secure a slot in the best picture category.
