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Tag: Television

  • NeNe Leakes & Dr. Oz Talk Blood Clots

    NeNe Leakes & Dr. Oz Talk Blood Clots

    The outspoken reality show star NeNe Leakes has successfully shown her different dimensions by showcasing her acting chops on Glee as well as a regular spot on the well-received new comedy The New Normal, and she opened up with Dr. Oz on Thursday to get really personal about a recent health scare.

    In November, Leakes suffered a pulmonary embolism, the very same condition that rendered the pregnant Marlise Munoz brain dead. Fortunately, Leakes is still with us and fully recovered, and wishes to pay it forward by educating women of the symptoms and what actions prevent this often deadly occurrence.

    On the show, Dr. Oz warned watchers that sitting for extended periods of time can cause pulmonary embolisms; blood clots often start in the legs, and travel up to a person’s heart causing the severe reaction. Other factors such as high blood pressure, being overweight, or crossing your legs also contribute to this condition.

    During the show, Dr. Oz and Leakes discuss vegan-ism, and Leakes expressed that she is definitely is altering her diet to prevent the recurrence that she had to admit “scared her to death.”

    Dr. Oz went on to emphasize to Nene Leakes as well as to the audience the importance of supplements to prevent pulmonary embolisms such as Omega-3 fatty acids, Vitamin D and multivitamins.

    Nene Leakes’ testimony certainly helped those who watched, and both she and the audience left with a bounty of helpful information from Dr. Oz. His knowledge obviously impressed her,

    and her appearance touched viewers to give sentiments such as these:

    You can catch more of Nene Leakes on Real Housewives of Atlanta at 8p.m. EST tonight on the Bravo television network.

    Image via Twitter

  • Margaret Cho to Star in Tina Fey’s New Fox Comedy

    Margaret Cho earned an Emmy nomination for her guest spot on 30 Rock by hilariously playing both Kim Jong-Il and Kim Jong-Un. Now, the Drop Dead Diva actress and comedienne is reteaming with Tina Fey and writer Matt Hubbard in Fey’s new untitled Fox comedy series. According to the The Hollywood Reporter, Cho will star as Laura Thibault, the president of Cabot College. The sitcom’s story jumpstarts when Cho’s character reluctantly decides to allow males into the once all-female university.

    The multi-camera show will also feature actress Bonnie Dennison, Third Watch, as a sophomore feminist who is unhappy about the president’s decision to allow men on campus. Other cast members include Jack Cutmore-Scott from Broadway, Chelsey Lately’s Fortune Feimster and Brandon Jones from CSI.

    The comedy will go into production this March. However, you may not have to wait until next fall to see the pilot. Fox is switching to a year-round format to reflect the changing landscape of television in the modern age. Fox Entertainment Chairman Keven Reilly told reporters last week why the change was inevitable. “The broadcasting development and scheduling system was built in a different era, when there were three networks monopolizing all the talent and all the audience. Typically, the networks currently make 80 to 100 pilots in the course of a few months, which ends up diluting the talent pool and a show’s chances of going the distance.”

    Tina Fey will serve as executive producer of the comedy. Matt Hubbard wrote the pilot. He will also serve as executive producer along with Robert Carlock, Pam Fryman and Robert Carlock. Cho is still set to appear on Lifetime’s Drop Dead Diva for the comedy/drama’s upcoming sixth season. No exact date has been announced for the premiere but fans can expect to see Diva sometime later this year.

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • Here’s What’s About To Hit Netflix

    As you know, content comes and goes on Netflix. Each week, we’re bringing you a list of titles that you’ll be able to stream in the U.S. in the coming days.

    It’s been a big week for Netflix, which released its earnings report for the fourth quarter. Company executives held a quite entertaining (as these things go) discussion about it, in which CEO Reed Hastings implied with a joke that HBO is Netflix’s bitch. The company also indicated that a larger piece of its content acquisition money pie will be going to original content as time goes on.

    Also worth noting is that the company is not currently considering adding ads to its content, but is considering making theatrical movies that would simultaneously appear on Netflix.

    On this week’s list is the Netflix original documentary Mitt. There’s a little more to work with on this list than the past couple weeks. It also includes the recent Keanu Reeves flick Man of Tai Chi and the Oscar-nominated The Croods. But as you’ll see, the real gem here is George Romero’s classic Day of the Dead.

    Available on 1/23:

    A True Story (2013)

    Cameron Fife, Tyler McGee, Katrina Bowden, Jon Gries, Malcolm Goodwin, Keith Loneker

    This comedic show-biz fable begins with a pair of down-and-out writers trying to sell their co-written screenplay to climb out of poverty. But as soon as success seems close at hand, the writers’ lives and friendship become much more complicated.

    Nantucket Film Festival’s 2nd Comedy Roundtable (2012)

    Ben Stiller, Mike Myers, Seth Meyers and Michael Ian Black comprise the panel in Nantucket Film Festival’s roundtable discussion, which finds the comedians offering candid insights into their comedic writing, directing and acting projects.

    John Mulaney: New in Town (2012)

    Stand-up comedian John Mulaney tackles such red-hot topics as quicksand, Motown singers and an elderly man he once met in a bathroom. Through his stories, you’ll watch Mulaney age from a nervous, dishonest child to a still-nervous, dishonest adult.

    Available on 1/24:

    Mitt (2013) – A Netflix Original

    From his first effort to win the 2008 Republican nomination to his presidential campaign in 2012, this documentary’s unprecedented access reveals an unseen side of Mitt Romney as the candidate makes his challenging bid for the White House.

    Available on 1/25:

    Man of Tai Chi (2013)

    Keanu Reeves, Tiger Hu Chen, Karen Mok, Simon Yam, Qing Ye, Yu Hai, Sam Lee, Iko Uwais

    Keanu Reeves makes his directorial debut with this action-packed kung fu tale set in Beijing, where a young man armed with incomparable martial arts skills gets embroiled in the world of underground fight clubs.

    Dallas: Season 2

    More than 20 years after their final curtain call, the Ewings return with both new and familiar faces — and all the treachery that made the original series a classic. This time around, J.R. and Bobby watch as their sons carry on the Ewing legacy.

    Available on 1/26:

    Adventures in the Sin Bin (2012)

    Michael Seater, Bo Burnham, Gillian Jacobs, Tim Blake Nelson, Jeff Garlin, Brian Petsos, Ben McKenzie

    After routinely lending his vintage van to classmates for their amorous escapades, a sexually inexperienced teenager ends up in the midst of an awkward love triangle that includes his dream girl and a big man on campus.

    Available on 1/27:

    Cash Crop (2010)

    This feature-length documentary and California road movie explores America’s largest cash crop: marijuana. Take an epic West Coast adventure into the heart of the Emerald Triangle and America’s most valuable crop.

    Available on 1/28:

    Question One (2012)

    Filmmakers Joseph Fox and James Nubile chronicle both sides of the battle over same-sex marriage in Maine, which granted gay couples the right in 2009, only to reverse the decision seven months later.

    Day of the Dead (1985)

    Lori Cardille, Terry Alexander, Joseph Pilato, Jarlath Conroy, Anthony Dileo Jr., Richard Liberty

    The third chapter in writer-director George Romero’s zombie saga finds scientists and soldiers hiding in a bunker to escape a world overrun by the undead. The two groups butt heads, but infighting takes a backseat when zombies invade the facility.

    WWE: Triple H: Thy Kingdom Come (2013)

    A 13-time WWE world champion, Triple H continues to build upon his enduring legacy. This comprehensive documentary profiles the wrestler’s entire career, as well as his executive role with the WWE.

    Argento’s Dracula (2012)

    Thomas Kretschmann, Marta Gastini, Asia Argento, Unax Ugalde, Rutger Hauer, Maria Cristina Heller

    When Englishman Jonathan Harker visits the exotic castle of Count Dracula, he is entranced by the mysterious aristocrat. But upon learning that the count has sinister designs on his wife, Mina, Harker seeks help from vampire slayer Van Helsing

    Dark Touch (2013)

    Missy Keating , Marcella Plunkett, Padraic Delaney, Charlotte Flyvhom, Stephen Wall, Robert Donnelly

    After a remote country house takes on a malevolent persona and kills 11-year-old Neve’s family, no one believes her claim that her home is to blame. As cops look for human killers and friends take care of Neve, a hidden violence continues to build

    Nightmare Factory (2011)

    Using the career of makeup effects guru Greg Nicotero as a case study, this documentary gives you a behind-the-scenes look at the crucial role Hollywood makeup departments play in bringing horror movies to life on the silver screen.

    Revelation Road 2 (2013)

    David A.R. White, Brian Bosworth, Logan White, Steve Borden, Roberta Bassin, Noell Coet, Jen Lilley

    This action-rich sequel follows Josh McManus through a broken landscape back to his home, with a vicious gang of vengeful killers in hot pursuit. Passed over by the rapture prophesied in the Bible, Josh must choose between violence and faith.

    Itty Bitty Titty Committee (2007)

    Melonie Diaz, Nicole Vicius, Bruce Cronander, Colette Divine, Leslie Grossman, Melanie Mayron

    Set in Los Angeles, this sardonic indie comedy helmed by Jamie Babbit follows the exploits of Anna (Melonie Diaz), a lesbian and plastic surgeon’s receptionist who embarks on a wild ride when she joins a cadre of ultraradical feminists. But things get complicated when she falls in love with the group’s leader (Nicole Vicius), who’s already involved with someone (Melanie Mayron). Carly Pope and Lauren Mollica also star.

    Pageant (2008)

    In this fascinating and fabulous documentary, go behind the scenes as 52 men don makeup, wigs, gowns, heels and perfectly placed padding to vie for one crown. They all may be masters at the art of illusion, but only one will be Miss Gay America.

    Available on 1/29:

    The Croods (2013)

    Nicolas Cage, Emma Stone, Ryan Reynolds, Catherine Keener, Cloris Leachman, Clark Duke

    When an earthquake obliterates their cave, an unworldly prehistoric family is forced to journey through unfamiliar terrain in search of a new home. But things for pessimistic dad Grug go from bad to worse when his daughter meets a clever cave boy.

    See more recently added titles here.

    Image via YouTube

  • ‘Mitt’ To Hit Netflix Today

    ‘Mitt’ To Hit Netflix Today

    Mitt, the latest original documentary from Netflix is due to become available to subscribers today, though as of the time of this writing it’s not up just yet.

    The film, which premiered at Sundance (where Romney himself made a surprise appearance) follows the former presidential candidate on the campaign trail. Here’s the official description from the film’s landing page on Netflix:

    Whatever side you’re on, see another side.
    Following his bid to win the U.S. presidency, most Americans believed they knew Mitt Romney. With unprecedented access, this documentary tracks Romney from 2006 and his first effort to win the Republican nomination, through the 2012 elections, revealing the man behind the sound bites in an authentic view the public rarely glimpsed during the media frenzy of a national campaign.

    Earlier this week, Netflix released a couple clips if you want to check those out before watching the film.

    Mitt is rated TV-PG.

  • Netflix Defends Content Release Strategy

    Since Netflix has been offering its customers original shows, it has been offering them full seasons at a time, catering to the well-known binge-watching phenomenon.

    Netflix’s competitors have often criticized this approach, and when the company changed the strategy up a little bit late last year with the launch of Turbo FAST, some questioned whether the company was straying from a strategy that maybe wasn’t the best idea to begin with.

    According to Netflix, those people would be wrong. They’ve already since clarified that they would continue to launch entire seasons of shows at a time. The second season of Lilyhammer was recently released, and the full second season of House of Cards will launch next month. Turbo FAST, however, was released with six episodes at first, with more to come within a few months.

    Some of Netflix critics have suggested that releasing a full season at once detracts from the social media buzz that can be maintained by releasing an episode per week. Netflix chief content officer Ted Sarandos was asked about this in a Google Hangout about the company’s Q4 performance.

    He responded, “We’re very thrilled with the strategy today, and one of the things that I think dispels some of the concern or mythology about what happens to social media when you drop all the shows at once…check out the Google Trends for House of Cards and The Americans, which both debuted on the same day, and look at the pattern, and what you see is week over week over week, there is more chatter about House of Cards than there is about The Americans week over week over week.”

    “And the same thing is true about The Bridge and Orange is the New Black,” he added. “They debuted on the same day. So I think that mythology should be pretty well dispelled by now, and the consumers really love it because they can really decide, ‘Hey, I’m gonna watch the whole show this weekend, I’m gonna watch one a week,’ or however they want to do it, so it’s really something the viewers love, and that’s why we love it.”

    “And as far as Turbo‘s concerned, Turbo is not a serialized program at all, and kids don’t watch the same way that you and I do, and particularly the way that you and I watch serialized programming,” Sarandos continued. “So giving them five episodes enabled us to accelerate the availability to drop the episodes in the holiday period when kids are home watching a lot of shows, and it was a tremendous success. They watched all five. They watched them over and over again. They watched just the way kids watch cartoons.”

    It’s true. They really do watch them over and over again.

    “So we’re really thrilled with the strategy, and I anticipate that we’ll continue to play and tweak with it, but a departure from it with radically different kinds of programming doesn’t signal a change in the strategy,” Sarandos said.

    Netflix talked up the success of Turbo FAST in a letter to shareholders, saying it had “been very popular with kids around the world, performing especially strong throughout Latin America.” While it only launched about a month ago, Netflix says it’s already on track to become one of the most popular kids series ever on Netflix.

    That’s saying something. Keep in mind they used to have Nickelodeon content.

    More kids shows from Dreamworks Animation are on the way to Netflix this year.

    Image via YouTube

  • Netflix Talks More About Its Original Theatrical Movie Aspirations

    You may recall last fall when Netflix expressed interest in making original movies – big ones that would come out on Netflix the same day they hit theaters.

    Content chief Ted Sarandos spoke at a Film Independent event, where was quoted as saying, “What we’re trying to do for TV, the model should extend pretty nicely to movies. Meaning, why not premiere movies on Netflix, the same day they’re opening in theaters? And not little movies – there’s a lot of ways, and lot of people to do that [already]. Why not big movies? Why not follow the consumers’ desire to watch things when they want?”

    Sarandos offered an updated version of his thoughts about this concept in a Google Hangout to discuss the company’s Q4 financial performance on Wednesday.

    Asked about his aspirations for big movies, Sarandos said, “Without confirming or denying the range or the aspiration, I would say that to the consumers, the line between a movie and a TV is getting pretty blurry. So TV shows are thirteen-hour movies, and movies are two-hour TV shows. So I think the way we’re looking at it [is] we want to make really compelling content in multiple formats, and the one thing that’s evolving pretty dramatically I think is the interest and desire for movies in different windows than today’s models allow for.”

    He continued, “So while I think the viewing is dramatically moving more towards at home and on demand, movies still wait about a year behind theatrical before they’re available to folks like HBO and Netflix, so what we’d like to do is look at different ways that we can accelerate that window, and maybe, like with original programming, the most effective way to work that is to do it yourself.”

    If you follow Arrested Development news at all, you’ve no doubt heard the rumors about there being a movie for that. Netflix has expressed interest in this specifically. Whether it comes to fruition remains to be seen, but last yar it was starting to look like a real possibility.

    We’ve also been hearing rumors that Ron Howard (of Arrested Development fame) is working on a series of films with a television element for Stephen King’s The Dark Tower book series. Rumor also has it that it could make its way to Netflix.

    Image via YouTube

  • Original Content To Be An Increasingly Big Part Of Netflix’s Content Spending Pie

    Netflix is going full throttle with its original content, and things aren’t going to be slowing down anytime soon. New seasons of most of last year’s originals are coming out this year, and first seasons of a handful of completely new shows are also coming out throughout 2014 (others are already scheduled for 2015).

    Last year, Netflix said that it would double its original content spend in 2014, but it would still remain under 10% of its overall content spend. So they’re still shelling out a lot more for content from other providers.

    Netflix held its Q4 earnings discussion on Wednesday, and the the subject came up once again.

    “It’s gonna continue to grow,” said content chief Ted Sarandos. “I mean it’s been quite successful for us we feel like both in terms of viewing economics and in terms of brand enhancement and marketing, so I would just expect that it’s gonna keep growing.”

    “Keep in mind it is within the total spend of our forecasted content spend, not in addition to,” he noted. “So you should just think about it as a piece of the spend the way movies and TV and exclusives and non-exclusive content are all just in different buckets.”

    CFO David Wells chimed in, “It’s likely to be under then ten percent. We just want to migrate away from the specific number because we’ve seen great success. We’ll continue to invest in it. It’ll continue to grow, and it will continue to grow in terms of the ratio of our overall content spend.”

    Image via YouTube

  • Netflix: Ads Are Not Something We’re Contemplating

    Netflix says it has no intentions of including ads in or around its content.

    The company released its quarterly earnings report on Wednesday. Shortly afterwards, the company held a Google+ Hangout with company execs and analysts. One analyst suggested that investors think Netflix is at the point where people would tolerate pre-roll ads similar to those seen in movie theaters.

    When asked if this is something Netflix would consider doing, CEO Reed Hastings said, “We have no plans to go towards advertising-based models. Our brand, at least over the next couple of years, and at this point, really stands for that commercial-free experience that we have where the consumer’s in control of the experience. They get to watch when they want. They get to pause it when they want. They can play it when they want, and watch it how and where they want. So it’s fundamental to that control orientation that we don’t cram advertisements down people’s throats. So I really don’t see that.”

    Asked if the company’s contracts would even allow for ads, Hastings said, “You know, at a certain price, anything’s allowable. I’m sure Ted [Content Chief Sarandos] could take take a lot more money, but it’s not something we’re contemplating.”

    Sarandos added, “It tends to be a separate set of rights, and to your point, Reed, we’ve got to go to great extremes to give consumers control of the content, you know, going all the way to the extreme of putting the entire season out at one time, so the notion of frustrating them for the first or the last couple of minutes seems a little out of step with that.”

    The highlight of the above hangout that has everyone talking is what Hastings said about HBO’s CEO.

    Image via YouTube

  • Netflix: Sense8, Untitled Thriller To Be Released In 2015

    It looks like Sense8 and the Netflix’s untitled psychological thriller from the creators of Damages won’t be hitting the streaming service until next year.

    Netflix released its quarterly earnings report on Wednesday along with a letter to shareholders describing (among other things) its slate of upcoming original content.

    The company didn’t go into many details about release schedules, but noted that 2014 will see the release of new seasons of House of Cards, Derek, Hemlock Grove, Orange is the New Black, Lilyhammer, The Killing, Turbo F.A.S.T., BoJack Horseman, Marco Polo and additional news kids series from Dreamworks Animation.

    Missing from the list, and appearing on next year’s list, however, are Sense8 and the untitled thriller.

    When Sense8, an ambitious project from the Wachowskis, was first announced, it was said to be aiming for a late 2014 release. In recent months, the timing had begun to come into question, and now we have official word from the company that a 2015 release is more likely.

    CEO Reed Hastings and CFO David Wells said in their letter, “Looking into early 2015, we anticipate the release of the first season of Sense8 from the Wachowski siblings and J. Michael Straczynski, the as-yet unnamed project from the creators of Damages, and Daredevil, the first series from our recently announced deal with Marvel Television.”

    The untitled thriller, which recently picked up a new cast member, never had any established release announcement attached to it, but early speculations had it coming out this year. It looks like we’ll be waiting a little longer for that too.

    Image via Anna Hanks (Flickr/Wikimedia Commons)

  • Netflix Has New Pricing Plans On The Way

    Netflix Has New Pricing Plans On The Way

    Netflix released its earnings report for the fourth quarter today. In a letter to shareholders, the company discussed plans for forthcoming pricing options.

    The good news for current subscribers is that they get to keep their current plans.

    In the letter, CEO Reed Hastings and CFO David Wells write:

    Last April we introduced a 4-concurrent stream $11.99 option to begin our evaluation of plan tiering. Since late last year, we have also been testing 1-stream and 3-stream variants, as well as SD/HD variations, at various price points. Eventually, we hope to be able to offer new members a selection of three simple options to fit everyone’s taste.

    If we do make pricing changes for new members, existing members would get generous grandfathering of their existing plans and prices, so there would be no material near-term revenue increase from moving to this potential broader set of options. We are in no rush to implement such new member plans and are still researching the best way to proceed.

    That emphasis, by the way, was Netflix’s. That statement should keep a lot of people from freaking out.

    The company announced that it has surpassed 44 million members. It expects the number to be above 48 million by the end of this quarter.

    Image via YouTube

  • U.S. Cable Providers To Offer Netflix Soon?

    Netflix just released its Q4 earnings report and a letter to shareholders discussing the quarter and its outlook for the current quarter.

    Among other things, the company discussed its recent foray into set-top boxes from cable providers. So far, this has been happening in Europe, but Netflix expects to start bringing its app to providers in the U.S. too.

    While details are vague, CEO Reed Hastings and CFO David Wells had this to say on the subject in the letter:

    During the quarter, we also completed the roll out of the Netflix streaming application into Virgin
    Media’s set-top box for UK members and have been quite pleased with the implementation and
    reception. We followed up with two similar platforms based on the same technology, Denmark’s Waoo! which went live in Q4, and Com Hem in Sweden, which was just recently launched. We anticipate rolling out our first domestic MVPD integrations soon with some of the smaller MVPDs.     Emphasis added.

    MVPDs can be cable operators, satellite providers or other similar types of services.

    Meanwhile, the two say they’re also ready to “vigorously protest” any ISPs taking advantage of the recent net neutrality ruling, but also acknowledge that it’s been “working closely” with some of them to enable subscribers to more consistently get high-quality streaming video.

    As I’m sure you’ve heard, Netflix is starting to push out 4K ultra HD content.

    Image via Netflix

  • Murder She Wrote Remake Will Not Be Happening

    After the news that Murder, She Wrote would be making a comeback, and return to television, the show has been cancelled before even being given a chance. The show originally aired from 1984 until 1996, and was a beloved show, earning 6 Golden Globes.

    The reboot of the classic show was set to star Oscar winner Octavia Spencer, who won for her role in The Help. Anglea Lansbury had starred in the original, which was one of the most successful shows in the history of television.

    The new project, from writer Alexandra Cunningham and producer David Janollari, gained attention when a big name such as Spencer was added to the cast, but NBC will not be going through with the development of the series after it was given a put pilot commitment.

    It may be best that the Murder, She Wrote remake is not happening, as Octavia Spencer would have had to fill the shoes of the icon Lansbury, who received 12 Emmy and 10 Golden Globe nominations during the show’s 12 year run on CBS.

    Angela Lansbury was immediately upset with the idea after the Murder, She Wrote remake was announced and called it a mistake. She also mentioned that “Octavia Spencer is a superb actress. She had no business being put into a situation that she couldn’t win.”

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7NslG65UQ6I

    Although it does not seem to be in the works at the moment, Deadline revealed that the network may still try to go through with a remake of the popular show at some point, and could approach it in a different way, possibly with a new concept.

    If the network had gone through with the show, it would have followed Jessica Fletcher, an amateur sleuth and hospital administrator. As with the original, her intense fascination with true crime would lead to her to become heavily involved with investigations.

    At the height of its popularity, Murder, She Wrote attracted 23 million viewers in the US. It became one of the most popular shows of all time after running for 264 episodes.

    Although the Murder, She Wrote remake will not be happening, the news simply frees up Octavia Spencer, who is expected to be among the most sought-after actresses for pilots this season.

    She was most recently seen in Fruitvale Station, a film that was released in 2013, and was highly praised, although it has been snubbed from the majority of the awards shows.

    Octavia Spencer has gained a reputation as one of the leading actresses in recent years, and perhaps a Murder, She Wrote remake would have deterred her from gaining other big roles in Hollywood films.

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • Rumor Has ‘The Dark Tower’ Possibly Going To Netflix

    Rumors of a screen adaptation of Stephen King’s epic The Dark Tower series have been swirling for years, so it’s hard to put too much stock into any of them, but new rumors suggest it could become a Netflix series.

    AintItCool interviewed Breaking Bad’s Aaron Paul at Sundance, who said he’s had “a ton of meetings” including a sit-down with Ron Howard, who is reportedly attached to the project, and is a “huge fan” of Breaking Bad.

    Paul is quoted as saying, “I’m excited. Their goal is to do three films, but also have a television element to it, which will be very interesting. From what I hear, Eddie Dean is a pretty epic, iconic character.”

    He also said he “definitely will not” turn down the role if it is offered to him.

    Paul tweeted back in 2012 that it’s a “huge dream” of his to play Dean, which fans of the series and of Breaking Bad know wouldn’t be too far of a stretch.

    So three films and a television element. Could the television element be a Netflix exclusive?

    The site SchmoesKnow.com (via Uproxx) cites a source saying, “Ron Howard is going to make this with MRC and Imagine for around 60 million or so. And he’s likely doing this next. There’s going to be a TV series as well since its MRC and I’m thinking it may end up being at Netflix.”

    Also, this source says Liam Neeson is interested.

    Now, a rumor is a rumor, but there are some interesting things to consider here.

    For one, Netflix has already expressed interest in the project. Content chief Ted Sarandos reportedly said last year, “I spoke to Ron about it, actually. The last time we talked about it the thing was being kicked about HBO – but it’s no longer there. Once Arrested Development gets through we’ll keep talking about it.”

    MRC (Media Rights Capital) is behind Netflix’s House of Cards. Also, Ron Howard and Imagine entertainment are featured prominently in Netflix’s fourth season of Arrested Development.

    Netflix has been clear that it would continue to boost its investment in original content. The company is known to be attracted to niche content with built-in audiences. The Dark Tower would fit the bill for sure.

    Worth mentioning is that Breaking Bad is the most popular show on Netflix, and Netflix is known for making content decisions based on what people like. If Paul is in it, many Breaking Bad fans check it out for that reason alone. Paul, by the way (at least his voice), is also set to appear in another Netflix original this year, Bojack Horseman. Netflix has already secured exclusive streaming rights to the upcoming Breaking Bad spinoff Better Call Saul.

    Netflix has expressed interest in working with another series involving Ron Howard that could have both movie and television elements. The Dark Tower and Netflix do seem like a perfect match for each other.

    Image via YouTube

  • Alison Sweeney Saying Goodbye to “Days of Our Lives”

    Alison Sweeney started working on the daytime soap opera Days of Our Lives when she was just 16-years-old. Fast-forward 21 years and Sweeney is still portraying Sami Brady. However, now there is an end point. The 37-year-old actress is finally saying goodbye to Salem. Sweeney announced on the Ellen Degeneres Show on Tuesday that she plans to leave the long-running NBC soap next year.

    Sweeney appreciates the fans and confesses to loving her job as a soap actress, but she’s ready to move on. In addition to her Days gig, the blonde-actress also hosted the reality competition show The Biggest Loser for the past seven years. And what does she plan on doing with her time? She told Degeneres, “I’m really just excited to be with my kids and be with my husband and … have fun. And I write, my second book’s coming out and I love directing.”

    There’s no word on what the writers have in store for Sami Brady who has connived, lied and manipulated her way in and out of trouble for the past two decades. Maybe Sami will finally find true love? Maybe she will ultimately see the error of her ways? Either way, one of daytime’s most hated/beloved characters will be missed by the show’s fans.

    Sweeney personally doesn’t know what will become of Sami Brady, but she knows the character certainly won’t have a fairy tale ending, “It would be awesome to have some kind of happy ending but then, I also think Sami probably deserves some sort of very twisted like ‘Breaking Bad’ ending. She’s caused a lot of people a lot of problems.” Sweeney added, “The writers have amazing imaginations and Sami has certainly caused her fair share of drama over the last 21 years. It will be 22, and I don’t even know what happens next. I’m so, like, flustered.”

    Image via Wikipedia Commons

  • No Awards For Netflix From Producers Guild Or Screen Actors Guild

    Netflix has been racking up the awards and nominations, but it won’t count any Screen Actors Guild or Producers Guild awards among its trophies this year.

    Its shows were recognized by both guilds with several nominations, but no wins.

    The Producers Guild Awards saw House of Cards nominated for the Norman Felton Award for Outstanding Producer of Episodic Television, Drama, but the show lost out to Breaking Bad. Downton Abbey, Game of Thrones and Homeland were also nominated for the award.

    Arrested Development was nominated for the Danny Thomas Award for Outstanding Producer of Episodic Television Comedy, but lost to Modern Family. 30 Rock, The Big Bang Theory and Veep were also nominated.

    At least Kevin Spacey entertained:

    Spacey was nominated for the Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series Award at the SAG awards for House of Cards, but lost to Bryan Cranston for Breaking Bad. Other nominees for the category included Steve Buscemi for Boardwalk Empire, Jeff Daniels for The Newsroom and Peter Dinklage for Game of Thrones.

    Jason Bateman was nominated for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Comedy Series for Arrested Development, but lost to Ty Burrell for Modern Family. The other nominees were Alec Baldwin for 30 Rock, Don Cheadle for House of Lies and Jim Parsons for The Big Bang Theory.

    House of Cards was able to pick up a Golden Globe the previous weekend via Robin Wright, and the Netflix original documentary The Square has been nominated for an Oscar.

    Image via YouTube

  • Framily Plan- A Sprint Plan Frame-Up?

    Calling all family, friends, enemies, frienemies– CNet tells us that Sprint has introduced a new family plan that they refuse to call anything other than the Sprint Framily Plan.

    Likely more of an unfortunate scenario for the fine customer service folks at Sprint who are forced to say the made-up word each time, the spelling represents not just family being able to join in on the bill, but friends too.

    While we applaud Sprint for reminding us of the important virtues of community, only time will tell how wise this will be. Will small claims courts see a rash of lawsuits as unpaid bills add up? Will television court shows entertain us with horrific stories of enemies driving their cars over once framily member’s cellphones because they refused to chip in on the phone bill?

    Since Sprint apparently watches the same quality reality television shows as we do, it looks as if they’ve attempted to alleviate that risk by allowing each member of the Framily Plan to still be billed separately. Nice Move, Sprint.

    This is how the Framily Plan works:
    One line of service costs $55 per month. The line includes unlimited talk, text and 1GB of data. This price is dropped $5 for each new Sprint customer than joins the line. Six people plus the original line holder are allowed to join the line, which could transform a $55 bill to a $25 bill for everyone.

    Although this Framily Plan has been active for close to a week, Sprint has just recently dropped their television ad to make it official. So far, it looks like some folks are happy with it,

    some people aren’t

    and some people just really think that Framily Plan is a horrible name for something.

    Either way, do you think this would be a good deal for you and your circle? Should we all request that they change the name to Phramily Plan to make it even more exciting? Let us know!

    Image via Youtube

  • Laura Linney Gives Birth To Baby Boy

    After keeping her pregnancy a secret from the press, Laura Linney has given birth to her first child. The 49-year-old actress just surprised everyone when she gave birth to a son on Wednesday, January 8th.

    Laura Linney, a big film and television star, will be starting the new year off as a mom. It is the first child for her and her husband, Marc Schauer, who were engaged in 2007, and then married in 2009. Schauer is a real estate agent.

    A representative of the couple told People Magazine that “Mother and baby are happy and healthy.” Linney’s son is named Bennett Armistead Schauer.

    It was easier for the Oscar nominated actress to keep her pregnancy since she has been doing a good job of staying out of the spotlight in the past year.

    She had never addressed the pregnancy publicly, and unlike most celebrities, she was not one to debut her baby bump publicly, and make a publicity stunt out of her pregnancy.

    Laura Linney is a three-time nominated Academy Award actress for her films Kinsey, The Savages, and You Can Count On Me. She was most recently seen in The Fifth Estate and Hyde Park On Hudson.

    Before her last couple of films, she enjoyed greats success with the hit Showtime series The Big C, which ran from 2010-2013, and earned her a handful of award nominations.

    Linney was last seen attending the Women in Film’s Crystal + Lucy Awards at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, which was held in June of 2013. At the awards, she was seen wearing an all black outfit that conveniently hid any baby bump that would have been showing at the time. Following the awards, which was not something that was aired on television, she left the spotlight.

    The actress was even able to hide her pregnancy well enough for her to not make headlines until over a week after the baby was born, which seems like a quite a talent for a celebrity like Laura Linney.

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • Angie Harmon, Television Actress, Shows Support For Studio Charlotte

    Angie Harmon is trying to use her star power as an actress to help a local movie studio get put into development. She is a resident of Charlotte, NC, and is working to support a proposal to redevelop the Eastland Mall site into movie studios.

    Recently, Harmon became a board member of Studio Charlotte Development, which is a group that is led by local movie executive Bert Hesse, and has a goal of remodeling the mall into a local movie studio.

    Under the proposal, the city and county would give Studio Charlotte Development property tax rebates for a 10-year period based on new tax revenue that the project would generate. The incentives and the land would be worth about $38 million.

    Studio Charlotte plans to turn the old Eastland Mall site into sound stages, a film school, restaurants and much more.

    Angie Harmon is excited to be a part of the project, and wants to do what she can to help, with her popularity possibly being able to assist her case. In relation to the proposal she said “I can bring insight into the business. I begged (Studio Charlotte) to let me be a part of it.”

    Harmon has been a film and television star for nearly 20 years, and is most well-known for her roles in Law and Order and Rizzoli and Isles.

    She recently spoke to a handful of council members at an economic development committee meeting. The meeting was held in order to give the citizens an update on multiple projects including the Eastland Mall.

    In addition to talking about the amount of jobs that the new studios would bring to the city of Charlotte, Angie Harmon praised the project when saying “It just seems like it’s a no-brainer for me. The studio is, you know, eight sound stages. That’s an amazing project — the arts magnet school that would be there.”

    The actress also mentioned that she has recently turned to directing, and would be excited to bring projects to her home of Charlotte, rather than having to commute to Los Angeles throughout the year.

    The executives from Studio Charlotte are expected to be back for a city council meeting on February 20th, and one major factor in bringing the project to Charlotte is the 25 percent tax incentive that is up for renewal in the legislature.

    With the new Studio Charlotte set to provide plenty of new jobs for the Charlotte area, Angie Harmon is fully on board, and hopes to help the local area in which she lives.

    Image via Youtube

  • Russell Johnson, Gilligan’s Island Actor, Dies At Age 89

    Russell Johnson, the actor who will always be remembered for his significant role as “The Professor” on Gilligan’s Island, has died at the age of 89. He died on Thursday, January 16th.

    The veteran actor had appeared in a handful of western and science fiction films before starring in the 1960s sitcom that made him famous.

    The news of his death was reported by his agent. “He died at 5:21 a.m. of natural causes at home in Washington state.”

    Johnson was married three times, and had two children and one stepchild. He was accompanied by his wife Constance, and his daughter Kim, at the time of his death. He also had a son who died of AIDS at the age of 44, which got him active in AIDS fund-raising efforts.

    Russell Johnson was born in Pennsylvania in 1924, and was sent to a boarding school following the death of his father. He served in World War II, and was a decorated veteran before pursuing his acting career.

    Following his death, his wife said “[He was] a very brave guy who knew what he wanted, and he wanted to be at home.” They had been married since 1982, and had one child together.

    Gilligan’s Island was a show followed four men and three women stranded on a tropical island after being shipwrecked on the S.S. Minnow. It ran from 1964 until 1967, and has gained even more popularity in its many years of syndication.

    The show is also being made into a film after all these years, and it is set to star Josh Gad, but his part is currently unknown.

    Before getting his big break with Gilligan’s Island in 1964, Russell Johnson starred in several popular television shows during the 1950s and 1960s including Alfred Hitchcock Presents, The Twilight Zone, and The Adventures Of Superman.

    He also appeared in a variety of shows following Gilligan’s Island including Dallas and The Bob Newhart Show.

    Russell Johnson was the last surviving male member of the Gilligan’s Island cast. The only other members of the cast that are still alive are Tina Louise, who played Ginger Grant, and Dawn Wells, who played Mary Ann Summers.


    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • Netflix’s ‘The Killing’ Season 4 (The Final Season) Adds Oscar-Nominated Actress

    Even as Netflix is getting a shot at its first Oscar thanks to the nomination of its documentary The Square, Oscar-nominated actress Joan Allen is reportedly joining the cast of The Killing for its fourth and final season.

    According to TVLine, Allen will head an all-boys military academy based outside of Seattle, and figures into Holder and Linden’s investigation.

    Allen has been nominated for three Academy Awards in the past: Best Supporting Actress for Nixon and The Crucible in ’95 and ’96 respectively and Best Actress for The Contender in 2000.

    Netflix added the third season of The Killing to its service two months ago.

    Shortly thereafter, the company announced that it had ordered a final season of the show from Fox Television studios to offer it exclusively to its streaming customers after AMC canceled it. This was actually the second time AMC had canceled it, and Netflix was involved with saving it the first time as well, though the third season still aired on AMC. The point of Netflix doing this is that the shows it offers are more valuable if they have conclusions because people are more likely to watch them.

    The final season of The Killing will only be six episodes, but should offer some kind of closure.

    Image via Netflix

  • Here’s What’s About To Hit Netlfix

    Here’s What’s About To Hit Netlfix

    As you know, content comes and goes on Netflix. Each week, we’re bringing you a list of titles that you’ll be able to stream in the U.S. in the coming days.

    We don’t have a huge list for you this week, but probably most noteworthy is the addition of Netflix’s Oscar-nominated documentary The Square. Netflix is apparently also releasing an Aquarium video that you can keep on your TV similar to the Fireplace For Your Home title they offered for the holidays.

    Available on 1/17:

    The Square (2013)

    Inspiring and intense, this critically praised documentary chronicles the popular uprising in Egypt that captivated the world with scenes of courage and freedom in the face of violent opposition, igniting a history-making revolution.

    Available on 1/18:

    Kaijudo: Clash of the Duel Masters: Season 2

    In this animated action-adventure series, supernaturally gifted Ray and his pals Gabe and Allie join the brave Duel Masters to battle the Choten, an evil genius bent on subduing freedom-loving creatures and dominating the Earth.

    Informant (2012)

    What turned Brandon Darby from an outspoken radical to a right-wing FBI informant in only three years? This doc gets the story from the man himself. Darby explains the shift in his allegiances that made him one of activism’s most maligned figures.

    And While We Were Here (2012)

    Kate Bosworth, Iddo Goldberg, Jamie Blackley, Claire Bloom

    Jane accompanies her cellist husband to Naples and spends her days trying to shake a case of writer’s block while he’s in rehearsal. She hoped the trip would help their troubled marriage, but she finds unexpected romance with a young American ex-pat.

    Available on 1/19:

    Rent (2005)

    Anthony Rapp, Adam Pascal, Rosario Dawson, Wilson Jermaine Heredia, Idina Menzel, Taye Diggs

    Chris Columbus’s faithful adaptation of the Tony Award-winning musical set in New York’s East Village boasts a slew of stars from the show’s original Broadway cast, including Adam Pascal, Anthony Rapp, Idina Menzel, Taye Diggs and Jesse L. Martin. Based on Puccini’s opera “La boheme,” the story follows a group of scrappy bohemians who face true love, broken hearts, drug addiction and AIDS — and paying rent to high-powered oppressors.

    Available on 1/21:

    Aquarium for Your Home: Goldfish

    Fun to watch or just to enjoy as an atmospheric background display on your screen, this mesmerizing virtual aquarium features a collection of energetic fish having a bubbling good time.

    Cockneys vs Zombies (2012)

    Rasmus Hardiker, Harry Treadaway, Michelle Ryan, Jack Doolan, Georgia King, Ashley Thomas

    In an attempt to save their granddad’s old age home, slacker Cockneys Terry and Andy team up with three friends to rob a bank. But their caper goes awry when they run afoul of a horde of hungry zombies, who then do battle with the feisty pensioners.

    Available on 1/22:

    Unfinished Song (2012)

    Terence Stamp, Gemma Arterton, Christopher Eccleston, Vanessa Redgrave, Anne Reid

    With his wife Marion terminally ill, 72-year-old Arthur sees a future that’s nothing but grim. But when he takes Marion’s place in their church’s very unconventional choir, he begins to find joy in life again.

    More recently added titles here.

    Image via YouTube