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Tag: Television

  • Tia And Tamera To End Their Reality Show

    Tia And Tamera To End Their Reality Show

    Tia and Tamera first gained attention from fans as young child stars. For those who were watching the Disney channel during the 1990s, most people will probably remember the twins from their memorable roles in the show Sister, Sister.

    Sister, Sister ran from 1994 until 1999, and starred Tia and Tamera as twins who were separated at birth, only to reconnect as teenagers. Since then, they had not been seen in much other than a couple of movies that were made for the Disney channel, and were not seen by many people.

    Although it has been fairly recent since their reality series was launched, they announced recently that they would not be continuing with the show. It has aired for three seasons, and will not be coming back for a fourth.

    The two of them launched the reality series about their own lives, and simply called the show Tia & Tamera. The show was launched in 2011, and focused on the two of them and their everyday efforts as they juggled motherhood and marriage with their careers.

    The news of the show’s cancellation was revealed to fans originally through Tamera’s twitter. She confirmed the show’s cancellation, and then continued to tweet thank you messages to her fans for the support over the past three seasons.

    Tia and Tamera have chosen to end the show as a way to stay out of the spotlight, and while they have been on the screen since they were kids, they may simply need a break.

    Despite the fact that they will be ending their show, the two of them will not be completely disappearing from the spotlight, but will not be showcased in the way that they were before.

    Each of them will continue being active with television while Tia Mowry-Hardrict is currently working on her new television comedy, Instant Mom, and Tamera Mowry-Housley is a panelist on new talk show The Real, which debuted in the U.S. in July of 2013.

    Reality television is not for everyone, and while some stars may enjoy having their lives showcased for everyone to see, Tia and Tamera are ready to move on to other things.

    Image via Youtube

  • Netflix Appears To Have Nearly 80,000 Genres

    The Atlantic has a fascinating story out in which reporter Alexis C. Madrigal uncovered through a combination of spam-bot use and access to Netflix VP of Product Todd Yellin, that Netflix has nearly 80,000 of those very specific movie and television sub-genres that it’s always showing you.

    The bot used returned 76,897 genres to be exact.

    As an added bonus, the article also has a fun genre generator that you can play around with:

    Another potentially helpful nugget of information mentioned in the piece is that you can access specific genres by using the following URL and plugging different numbers (up into the 90,000s) into the last spot.

    http://movies.netflix.com/WiAltGenre?agid=1

    http://movies.netflix.com/WiAltGenre?agid=80123, for example, will take you to “Dark Father-Daughter Mysteries”. http://movies.netflix.com/WiAltGenre?agid=75738 will point you to “Vampire Made-for-TV Movies”.

    You could probably spend a good part of your day playing around with that. It should be noted that many of these come up blank.

    According to Madrigal, Netflix paid people to watch movies and tag them with “all kinds of metadata,” giving them a 36-page training document about how to rate movies on their “suggestive content, goriness, romance levels, and even narrative elements like plot conclusiveness” and things like “moral status of characters”.

    All of this, as the piece points out, helps Netflix show customers that it really understands the kinds of stuff they like to watch, which can be a big part of keeping them on as subscribers.

    According to Yellin (as reported by Madrigal), Netflix also uses the tagging data in its personalization for all movies it shows users.

    It all makes you wonder why Netflix will only let you browse through a small set of genres through the navigation in its interface.

    Lead Image: Netflix, Generator Image: The Atlantic

  • Here Are Some More Titles 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.

    Due to the holidays, we’re hitting you with back to back lists this week. Here are some titles that have just been made available. We now have a few more that you’ll be seeing become available over the next few days. It’s a star-studded list including Tom Cruise, Jeremy Renner, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Johnny Knoxville and Forest Whitaker, not to mention another season of your kid’s favorite Peter Pan spin-off show.

    Available on 1/3:

    Jack Reacher (2012)

    Tom Cruise, Rosamund Pike, Richard Jenkins, David Oyelowo, Werner Herzog, Jai Courtney, Vladimir Sizov, Joseph Sikora, Josh Helman, Robert Duvall

    When ex-military cop Jack Reacher investigates an elite sniper charged with killing five people, he teams up with a beautiful defense lawyer — and they soon find themselves drawn into a dangerous cat-and-mouse game in this exciting thriller.

    Available on 1/4:

    Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters (2013)

    Jeremy Renner, Gemma Arterton, Famke Janssen, Peter Stormare, Thomas Mann, Derek Mears, Pihla Viitala, Ingrid Bolsø Berdal, Zoe Bell
    Fifteen years after outsmarting a sinister witch by pushing her into an oven, a now-grown Hansel and Gretel are pooling their wiles to take down witches as professional bounty hunters in this action-packed reimagining of the classic fairy tale.

    Available on 1/5:

    Jake and the Never Land Pirates: Season 2

    Set sail with Jake and his crew on a high-speed adventure on the high seas. According to the Never Land pirate code, Jake and his crew must race Bucky against the Jolly Roger and sneaky Captain Hook. But if Bucky loses, he’ll belong to Hook forever.

    The Last Stand (2013)

    Arnold Schwarzenegger, Johnny Knoxville, Forest Whitaker, Rodrigo Santoro, Jaimie Alexander, Luis Guzmán, Eduardo Noriega, Peter Stormare, Zach Gilford

    Arnold Schwarzenegger plays a border town sheriff who’s taken up his post after tragic events brought an end to his tenure with the LAPD. But his quiet life is interrupted when a drug boss escapes FBI custody and flees straight toward his town.

    Available on 1/8:

    The Lying Game: Season 2

    Based on author Sara Shepard’s young adult novels, this series follows Emma, a teenage foster child who sets out to find her twin sister, Sutton, after she mysteriously goes missing from the well-to-do family that adopted her.

    More recently added titles here.

    Image: The Last Stand (YouTube)

  • ‘House Of Cards’ Season 2 Gets Promotional Cinemagraphs (Here’s The First One)

    ‘House Of Cards’ Season 2 Gets Promotional Cinemagraphs (Here’s The First One)

    On Wednesday, House of Cards showrunner Beau Willimon took to the House of Cards subreddit to tell fans, “We created a slew of cinemagraph GIFS for Season 2 and I wanted to share this one with you first. Just a taste for now, but LOTS MORE to come, so keep your eyes peeled, your ears to the ground, and your smart-devices at your finger-tips.”

    The post linked to the following GIF in Imgur.

    Spacey Gif

    Netflix posted it to YouTube today:

    I guess we’ll be seeing more of these over the run up to Season 2.

    Image: Netflix

  • Here Are The Latest Titles To Hit Netflix

    Here Are The Latest Titles 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.

    Thanks to the holiday season, we’re getting you the week’s list a little later than usual, but here are some titles that have just become available to stream. One highlight for many will be the addition of the rest of the Dexter series. We should have a new list of the coming titles soon.

    Update: Here are a few more titles you’ll see become available in the next few days.

    Available as of 12/28:

    Maron: Season 1 (2013)

    Marc Maron stars as Marc Maron, who interviews fellow comedians for his podcast, only to reveal more about his own neuroses and relationships. In his anxiety-filled daily life, Maron stalks an Internet bully, hires an intern and dates a dominatrix.

    The Guilt Trip (2012)

    Barbra Streisand, Seth Rogen, Adam Scott, Colin Hanks, Kathy Najimy, Nora Dunn, Ari Graynor, Casey Wilson
    After Andy Brewster invents a fabulous new organic cleaner, he goes on a cross-country road trip to promote it. His mother, Joyce, comes along for the ride but soon discovers that her son has an ulterior motive: fixing her up with a long-lost flame.

    Available as of 12/29:

    Shrek The Musical (2013)

    Brian d’Arcy James, Daniel Breaker, Sutton Foster, Christopher Sieber, John Tartaglia, Rozi Baker, Ryan Duncan, Leah Greenhaus, Chris Hoch, Marissa O’Donnell

    The greatest fairy tale never told gets a musical makeover in this colorful, Tony Award-winning Broadway production based on the hit movie. The film’s lovable characters come to life as never before through a fantastic score of 17 all-new songs.

    Texas Chainsaw (2013):

    Alexandra Daddario, Dan Yeager, Trey Songz, Scott Eastwood, Tania Raymonde, Shaun Sipos, Keram Malicki-Sanchez, James MacDonald, Thom Barry, Paul Rae

    The Leatherface saga continues where the 1974 horror classic left off. When a young woman travels to Texas to collect her inheritance, she discovers that the brutal chainsaw-yielding madman is part of the bequest.

    Available as of 12/30:

    Toddlers & Tiaras: Season 6

    From “flippers” and feathers to sequins and “sexy babies,” this over-the-top TLC series captures the behind-the-scenes dramas of childhood beauty pageants … and the cringe-worthy antics of hyper-passionate stage parents.

    Available as of 12/31:

    As I Lay Dying (2013)

    James Franco, Logan Marshall-Green, Jim Parrack, Tim Blake Nelson, Ahna O’Reilly, Brady Permenter, Beth Grant, Brian Lally, Danny McBride, Jesse Heiman, Scott Haze

    Writer-director James Franco’s ambitious take on William Faulkner’s classic novel chronicles the sobering story of a poor Southern clan carrying out the family matriarch’s dying wish to be buried in a distant town.

    Available as of 1/1:

    American Psycho (2000)

    Christian Bale, Justin Theroux, Josh Lucas, Bill Sage, Chloë Sevigny, Reese Witherspoon, Samantha Mathis, Matt Ross, Jared Leto, Willem Dafoe

    With a chiseled chin and physique, Patrick Bateman’s looks make him the ideal yuppie — and the ideal serial killer. Bateman takes pathological pride in his business card and his CD collection, all while plotting his next victim’s vivisection.

    Dexter: Seasons 5-8

    Mild-mannered Dexter Morgan works for the police department as a blood-splatter analyst but moonlights as a murderer who only targets other killers, implementing a moral code instilled in him by his father. Seasons 5-8 available in January, 2014.

    The Talented Mr. Ripley (1999)

    Matt Damon, Gwyneth Paltrow, Jude Law, Cate Blanchett, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Jack Davenport, James Rebhorn, Sergio Rubini, Philip Baker Hall, Celia Weston

    Charming sociopath Tom Ripley maneuvers into the lush life of Dickie, a young heir vacationing in Italy. Hired to persuade Dickie to return to America, Tom embraces Dickie’s posh lifestyle and takes extreme measures to hold onto it.

    Available as of 1/2:

    Drinking Buddies (2013)

    Olivia Wilde, Jake Johnson, Anna Kendrick, Ron Livingston, Ti West, Jason Sudeikis, Mike Brune, Frank V. Ross
    Workmates at a small Chicago brewery, Luke and Kate are romantically involved with others but also the best of friends — on and off the clock. Things get complicated, however, when the couples spend a weekend together at a lakeside retreat.

    Good Ol’ Freda (2013)

    Freda Kelly was just a shy Liverpudlian teenager when she was asked to work for a local band hoping to make it big: the Beatles. In Good Ol’ Freda, the band’s former secretary tells her personal stories for the first time in 50 years.

    See more recently added titles here.

    Image: Netflix

  • Jay Leno Shouldn’t Be Out of a Job Too Long

    What will Jay Leno do next? That is the question many people are asking as the popular host of NBC’s long-running The Tonight Show steps down in February. According to the Hollywood Reporter, Leno may not be out of a gig very long.

    As Jimmy Fallon gets ready to take Jay’s spot, potential suitors are reportedly already lining up for a chance to snag Leno, who is known around the industry as a man who likes to work. One very unlikely network may be casting a line to catch the 64 year old host. Internet rumors are running amok that Jeff Zucker, President of CNN, is allegedly interested in bringing the funny man over to host an interview show in order to bring some life into the wavering network. Piers Morgan’s rating haven’t been great, so CNN may be going for the likeability factor that Leno brings to the table.

    CNN is not the only network interested in Leno. The comedian is wanted by at least ten other media outlets. One apparent front-runner may be Leno’s current home at NBC. The network’s entertainment chairman Bob Greenblatt wants the host to stay put. “Nothing would make me happier than to find ways to keep him involved with this network. That’s really up to him.”

    Leno’s contract with NBC expires on February 6, 2014. He consistently beats his late night rivals David Letterman and Jimmy Kimmel in the ratings. So, Fallon will have big shoes to fill and NBC is crossing its fingers that they aren’t replacing Leno too soon. Stay tuned, the late night wars should be heating back up again next month.

    Image via Facebook

  • Kate Gosselin Slammed By Ex-Husband

    Kate Gosselin Slammed By Ex-Husband

    Jon and Kate Gosselin were known for their hit reality television show Jon & Kate Plus Eight. The couple had twins, and then not long after, gave birth to sextuplets. Their growing family landed them a spot on television, where their daily struggles, with eight children, were documented.

    However, in 2009, Jon was photographed with many different younger women, and instantly became a tabloid hit. The couple announced their separation during one of the final episodes of their show, which broke the all-time viewership record for a reality television series.

    Since their separation, the couple has had a bitter relationship, and have different views on how their children should be raised. Last month, on Oprah’s Where Are They Now? episode, Jon revealed that his children have developmental problems because of the time spent filming the show. On November 4, Kate took to her personal blog to clarify his statements.

    I find it very heart breaking that my children’s father chooses a public forum to discuss his current opinions of the “development” of our children. These opinions are, in reality, value judgements made about our children and they are based on his limited visits (albeit mutually agreed upon) with our children.

    Because he has spoken negatively about our children, I feel I owe it to them to respond on their behalf. Each and every one of our children has met and continues to exceed all physical, mental and emotional developmental milestones throughout their lives. Their normal development is regularly monitored by myself, their pediatrician and school staff, as is usual within any family.

    It is also very normal in a family, especially a large family, to have a full range of personalities, abilities, talents, hobbies and struggles. Ours is no different. However, anyone who has personally met our children all have the same thing to say: they are the most normal, pleasant, polite, loving and well adjusted children they have ever met. Most even go on to say that they are a “a delight” to be around.

    When our kids grow up, they may see their father’s latest interview and wonder why he made untrue and hurtful statements about them. I know that I risk stirring up an unwanted public and private “frenzy” by commenting on this, but, if our children ever stumble upon that interview, I want to be able to point them to this statement so that they know that I publicly set the record 100% straight on this one, for their sake.

    Now, Jon is turning his animosity directly towards Kate. In a recent interview with Philadelphia Magazine , Jon didn’t hold anything back when describing his ex-wife. “Everyone thinks I’m out to get Kate,” he said. “I don’t give a f—! What would I get out of it? Everyone knows she’s an a–hole, you know what I mean? I don’t have to — she’s proven that!”

    He then went on to talk about Kate’s excessive use of social media, and how she still wants to be in the spotlight. “She tweets everything,” he said. “To the world, all about my children. I think it’s disgusting and awful. They can’t even have a normal life… Kate wants to still be on television. She’s now digging into the past, because that’s what sells. Too late, honey. No one gives a f—, really.”

    However, it’s not Kate that will be making her way back to television, it’s Jon. He recently signed on to appear on VH1’s Couples Therapy, where he will work on his two-year relationship with his girlfriend Liz Jannetta. “I didn’t put out an open bid,” Jon said. “This is something that just popped up. We needed the therapy for our relationship. We really couldn’t afford therapy. And it’s free therapy.”

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • Keri Russell: Is She Dating Her Television Co-Star?

    After a season of their show airing, Keri Russell and Matthew Ryhs appear that they might be linked romantically. There are rumors swirling around about the couple after recently been seen together in a way that shows that the two of them may more than just co-stars of their hit show.

    It has not been long since the recent announcement that Keri Russell and her husband were getting separated, and it seems that she may have found a new love in her life already.

    She was with her husband Shane Dreary for seven years until the recent news of their separation. Since their marriage in 2007, they had two children together, a son, River, and a daughter, Willa.

    Keri Russell and Mattthew Rhys play a couple on the popular FX series, The Americans. After two seasons of filming and one season that has aired already, their relationship may have become more than something that is just an on-screen romance.

    The news of a new relationship is certainly a good headline for the actress to have after having a difficult time recently. In addition to her recent separation, she also had her home burglarized while she was at home and asleep.

    On The Americans, the two of them star as KGB spies who are living in the suburbs of Washington D.C. during the Cold War. In its first season, the show is already the most watched show on the FX network, and will look to have success again with the second season.

    They play spies on the show, and they might just be trying to keep their relationship a secret from their fans as well. The two of them were seen walking around Keri Russell’s neighborhood around Christmas time while shopping and looking at furniture on the street.

    The actors have not addressed the rumors yet, but people were able to spot them together. After being spotted days ago, a source told People Magazine that “They looked very much like a couple. They were laughing and walking closely together.”

    Keri Russell and Matthew Rhys’ KGB action characters return for a new season of action and romance in The Americans on February 26th.

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • Millionaire Matchmaker: A Same-Sex Episode

    If there is one thing about America and our preferred variety of entertainment, it’s this: We believe that no person, regardless of their race, color, national origin, religion, sex, age, disability or genetic information should be exempt from letting the millions of us meddle in your personal life. You are getting paid for it after all, so hush up and entertain us.

    In agreement with this decree, the latest episode of The Millionaire Matchmaker featured same-sex matches of both sexes in two segments entitled “The Late Bloomer” and “The Gay Hugh Hefner”

    “The Late Bloomer” involved a 46-year-old lesbian named Rosie Pierri. Rosie gets the name “The Late Bloomer” because she very recently came out of the closet, so she feels a bit behind in the scene. This hindrance is giving her some difficulty in finding a mate, and it was Patti’s intention to change this. A fact of variable interest: Rosie Pierri is the sister of a cast member of the “Real Housewives of New Jersey” show.

    In “The Gay Hugh Hefner,” Andrew Christian is a designer surrounded by male underwear models, but desires a model with a great head on his shoulders, or maybe a hairy, unfit slob– because what he sees every day at work and play is not enough.

    Although there was some of the usual uproar about the show featuring same-sex relationships, the show has done it before– usually in the first episode of the season (possibly to ensure a great start in ratings?).

    Who saw the show last night? Did it entertain you? And what do you think about equal-opportunity oversharingrelationship reality shows?

  • Tracey Ullman’s Husband, Allan McKeown, Dies At 67

    Tracey Ullman’s Husband, Allan McKeown, Dies At 67

    Tracey Ullman’s husband has had a tough battle with cancer, and after years of fighting, he has died at the age of 67. Allan McKeown was a producer, and before that, worked as a hairdresser.

    The celebrity couple had been married for 30 years, and had worked together before on multiple projects that starred Tracey Ullman.

    After a long marriage to Tracey Ullman, Allan McKeown died on Tuesday after a battle with prostate cancer. He was a native of Britian, and was born in Ealing on May 21, 1946. He left school at the age of 14 in order to become a hairdresser.

    From a young age, being a hairdresser led him to working with some of the hottest names including The Beatles, Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton and Michael Caine. He switched careers in 1969, when he formed a production company with Dick Clement and Ian La Frenais.

    After becoming a producer, he quickly turned to making feature films, and released Porridge and To Russia With Elton. He is also noted for working with Tracey Ullman on her two big shows Tracey Takes On… and State Of The Union.

    He later went on to become a founding member of the Meridian consortium, which made a successful bid for the ITV franchise for southeast England. Adding to the list of notable people that he has worked with, he also produced a Broadway musical with Yoko Ono that was called Lennon, a story about John Lennon.

    Allan McKeown died at his home in Los Angeles on Tuesday. He is survived by his wife, Tracey Ullman, and their kids, Mabel and Johnny. While not gaining the amount of fame that his wife has, he has worked with a variety of well-known people throughout his career, and it is often the people behind the scenes that do not get mentioned, despite all of the work that they do.

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • These Netflix Titles Are About To Expire

    Netflix likes to change out the movies available to stream every now and then, and there’s a pretty long list of films that are about to expire in the new year, so if any of these are in your queue, you might want to take the weekend to burrow down on your couch with a comfy blanket and binge-watch.

    There’s a good mix of movies included in the titles that have been up for a while; newer films like “Capote”, as well as classics like “Serpico”. You can see when the titles expire by adding them to your queue if you haven’t already. Here’s a short list:

    Brick
    Being John Malkovich
    Braveheart
    Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
    Do the Right Thing
    Capote
    Jarhead
    Half Baked
    The Bad News Bears (1976)
    Roman Holiday
    Requiem For a Dream
    Platoon
    Mystery Men
    Ronin
    Top Gun
    Serpico
    True Grit (1969)
    WarGames
    The Odd Couple
    The Great Train Robbery

    You can head over to Reddit to see a much longer list–including television shows–that a user compiled.

    Hat-tip to Gizmodo.

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • Duck Dynasty: #ISTANDWITHPHIL is Back on Twitter

    Phil Robertson’s hashtag is back on Twitter #IStandWithPhil. The social media forum has apologized for “accidentally” blocking the link for the website for Robertson’s petition after his supporters expressed outrage and cried censorship.

    Now that the Twitter link is once again up and running, Robertson advocates can easily access the website for the petition. The header for the site: PETITION TO THE A&E NETWORK DEMANDING THE IMMEDIATE REINSTATEMENT OF DUCK DYNASTY’S PHIL ROBERTSON – #ISTANDWITHPHIL. The goal of 250,000 signatures is currently just a few thousand short.

    Here’s a look at the petition’s first few paragraphs:

    Dear A&E Network,

    I am writing to you regarding your network’s intolerant, discriminatory, and punitive treatment of Mr. Phil Robertson, star of A&E’s #1 hit show, Duck Dynasty.

    Mr. Robertson’s comments in GQ Magazine are simply reflective of a Biblical view of sexuality, marriage, and family – a view that has stood the test of time for thousands of years and continues to be held by the majority of Americans and today’s world as a whole.

    Many members of the LGBT community may not agree with this view, but the notion that a free-thinking American should be discriminated against simply for expressing a perspective that is in conflict with another is patently un-American and flies in the face of true tolerance and civility. A&E’s position, which in your own words is “championing” the gay and lesbian community — which I believe you have the freedom to do — excludes the views of Faith Driven Consumers and effectively censors a legitimate viewpoint held by the majority of Americans.

    Robertson was suspended from the uber-popular A&E reality program, “Duck Dynasty,” after making anti-gay remarks in an interview with GQ magazine. “It seems like, to me, a vagina—as a man—would be more desirable than a man’s anus. That’s just me. I’m just thinking: There’s more there! She’s got more to offer. I mean, come on, dudes! You know what I’m saying? But hey, sin: It’s not logical, my man. It’s just not logical.”

    “Duck Dynasty” averages about 14 million viewers a week. It is the most watched reality cable show in the history of television and is a bonafide pop culture sensation and marketing machine. Its fans are obviously quite loyal to Phil Robertson, since his A&E suspension, supporters have flooded the internet.

    Mr. Robertson’s suspension has also brought up the boundaries of free speech. Even non-“Duck Dynasty” fans, like Sarah and Bristol Palin are coming out in his defense. The crux of their argument centers upon the idea that unpopular or “non-politically correct” speech should not be swept under the rug for fear of its potential consequences.

    Image via Facebook

  • Downton Abbey Christmas Special: The Crawleys visit Buckingham Palace

    The much-anticipated Christmas episode of the hit series Downton Abbey saw the Crawley family in London for Lady Rose’s debut at court.

    Although Season 4 won’t premier in the US – on PBS – until January 5, it’s been airing on the UK’s ITV television network since September.

    The Christmas special was the ninth episode of Season 4. Episode 8 aired on November 10, so viewers had to wait more than a month for episode 9.

    This year’s Christmas edition was significantly lighter fare than last year’s, which saw the shocking death of character Matthew Crawley. This year creator Julian Fellowes gave viewers a more comforting episode that tied up a few loose ends from Season 4 and left open interesting possibilities for Season 5.


    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Zj3ZbwFPho
    The two-hour episode saw the Crawley family in residence at their London home, as Rose was to be presented at court for her society debut. In the days leading up to her debut, Rose managed to get the family involved in a royal scandal, which patriarch Robert Crawley, Earl of Grantham, skillfully maneuvered them out of, with a little help from his valet, underdog favorite Mr. Bates.


    Shirley MacLaine made her third appearance in the series. She’d previously appeared in the first two episodes of Season 3 as Martha Levinson, the American mother of Cora Crawley. According to Alex Fletcher on The Digital Spy, MacLane’s character “felt underused” in this episode.

    A highlight of the episode was Paul Giamatti’s debut as Harold Levinson, Cora’s free-spirited playboy of a brother. Fletcher described Giamatti as a “sheer delight.” The door was left open for future appearances, which seems a good idea given Harold’s positive reception last night.

    The blossoming romance between Mr. Carson and Mrs. Hughes might have been fans’ favorite part of the Christmas episode. The two shared a tender moment when the staff enjoyed a day at the beach, delighting fans with the materialization of a romance that has been anticipated since the end of Season 1.

    Image via Twitter

  • Genevieve Padalecki and Jared Padalecki Welcome 2nd Son

    Genevieve Padelecki and her husband, Jared Padalecki have welcomed their second son. The celebrity couple are both stars of television, and met on the set of the CW hit Supernatural.

    Their second son was born on Sunday, and is the second child born to the Padalecki couple in less than two years.

    Jared Padalecki is the star of Supernatural, a show which has aired on the CW since 2005, and is currently in its 9th season. He has been married to Genevieve since 2010, after falling in love on the set of the show.

    On the show, Jared Padalecki plays Sam Winchester, and Genevieve has a recurring role as Ruby. The show focuses on two brothers who follow in their father’s footsteps when fighting evil supernatural beings of many kinds including monsters, demons, and gods that roam the earth.

    The birth of their second son came on Sunday, December 22nd, and the couple already have a 21-month-old boy named Thomas Colton. Genevieve gave birth to their baby at home, and Padalecki was excited to share the news, telling everyone over Twitter that she had given birth to a happy, and healthy boy.

    In addition to her recurring role on Supernatural, Genevieve Padalecki has been seen a variety of television shows, while starting her career in theater. She got her big break in Wildfire, an ABC Family series, and has most recently been seen in Flashforward, which only ran for one season. She also appeared in the little-known film called Hated, a drama which came out in 2012.

    The happy parents of Thomas Colton also broke the news in July that they would be having a second child, shortly after Jared Padalecki celebrated his 31st birthday at a Comic-Con party in California.

    Jared and Genevieve Padalecki have welcomed their second boy into the world, and were very excited to share the news with everyone. The boy’s name has yet to be announced though, wonder what it could be? He continued to tweet about his birth, but would not reveal the name, blaming twitter’s 140 character limit as the reason.

    Image via Twitter

  • The Coming Week’s Netflix Releases Include This Guy

    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.

    Did you know Netflix has a holiday fireplace offering? It was actually released three years ago, but they put out a trailer for it this week (along with a behind-the-scenes video). So there’s that. Also coming very soon is Netflix’s new kids show Turbo FAST (based on the movie Turbo). Oh, and you can see our friend above alongside Al Pacino, Christopher Walken and Alan Arkin in Stand Up Guys. Here are some more titles you’re about to see become available.

    Available on 12/20:

    I Give it a Year (2013)

    Rose Byrne, Rafe Spall, Anna Faris, Simon Baker, Stephen Merchant, Minnie Driver, Jason Flemyng

    In this romantic comedy, newlyweds Nat and Josh find their marriage beginning to fall apart almost immediately after their fairy tale wedding. The couple seeks the advice of a counselor, but both are also tempted by old and new lovers.

    The Deflowering of Eva van End (2012)

    In this perfect blend of satire and sincerity, a dysfunctional family gets turned on its head when the ‘perfect’ exchange student moves in. Every member of the van End family is preoccupied with his or her own peculiar fixation.

    Winter Wonderland (2013)

    Getting into the holiday spirit or setting a wintery mood has never been so easy. Snowy background scenes — filmed in the rugged mountains of the Pacific Northwest — appear every few minutes and are accompanied to the tune of some beloved carols.

    Available on 12/21:

    Shepard & Dark (2012)

    In 2010, playwright and actor Sam Shepard decided to publish a chronicle of his long-standing friendship with Johnny Dark, gathering years of their correspondence. Director Treva Wurmfeld captures that illuminating process in this documentary.

    Available on 12/22:

    Stand Up Guys (2012)

    Al Pacino, Christopher Walken, Alan Arkin, Julianna Margulies, Mark Margolis (pictured), Lucy Punch

    This tough-guy comedy follows the rambunctious reunion between three retired gangsters and their reminiscences of wild times and crimes gone by. Energized by their own memories, the drunken friends unwisely undertake a reckless criminal adventure.

    Available on 12/23:

    The Fog (2005)

    Tom Welling, Maggie Grace, Selma Blair, DeRay Davis, Kenneth Welsh, Adrian Hough, Sara Botsford

    Selma Blair, Tom Welling and Maggie Grace star in this creepy thriller about an island town off the coast of Oregon that’s forced to contend with some unwelcome visitors from its past: the spirits of lepers and sailors aboard a ship that the hamlet’s forefathers had steered astray on purpose. Those aboard the doomed vessel all wound up lost in the fog forever. Now, they’re back from the mist, eager to exact revenge on the descendants of their murderers.

    Available on 12/24:

    Caesar Must Die (2012)

    Brothers Paolo and Vittorio Taviani take their cameras inside Rome’s Rebbibia Prison as its inmates stage a production of Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar. The film reveals the Bard’s power to enlighten as the men connect the play to their own lives.

    Oddities: San Francisco: Season 1

    Oddities is headed west to the famed store Loved to Death in the heart of San Francisco. This shop is full of curiosities like taxidermy, mortician magazines, human tooth jewelry, and beyond; there’s something for everyone on this sales floor.

    The Fruit Hunters (2012)

    This luscious celebration of fruit showcases tasty treats and follows a host of enthusiasts — fruit detectives seeking rare variations, a scientist breeding fungus-resistant bananas, and even actor Bill Pullman trying to create a community orchard.

    Turbo FAST: Season 1 (First 5 episodes) (2013)

    Join Turbo and his posse on the Turbo Fast Action Stunt Team. Filled with outrageous comedy, action and laugh out loud fun, “Turbo FAST” amps up everything to the extreme: extreme adventures, extreme challenges, and extreme excitement.

    Available on 12/26:

    Being Human: Series 5 (UK)

    Trying to fit into modern society is a vexing — and often impossible — challenge for a genius werewolf, a flighty ghost and an urbane vampire who share a household in this engaging supernatural drama.

    Big Star: Nothing Can Hurt Me (2012)

    Packed with archival footage and interviews, this absorbing documentary explores the history of Memphis rock band Big Star, which experienced commercial failure and critical acclaim, garnering a cult following and influencing artists such as REM.

    See more recently added titles here.

    Image: Breaking Bad (AMC)

  • ‘House Of Cards’ Season 2 Is Made For 4K Ultra HD

    Last month, Netflix added a handful of videos to its streaming catalogue as part of a test for 4K Ultra HD video content, which the company will launch next year.

    It just so happens that the first real Ultra HD offering from the company will be the second season of House of Cards, which debuts on February 14th.

    Stuff shares some comments from Netflix Chief Product Officer Neil Hunt, who said that the company is working with several major TV manufacturers who will be producing 4K capable TVs, which will be announced at CES. These will be the only way to watch the show in 4K at first.

    In other words, while House of Cards: Season 2 may be available this way, you probably won’t get to watch it that way for a while.

    Hunt told Stuff Netflix is working specifically with David Fincher on the show, and it’s shot and edited for 4K delivery. He says there will be some other “additional pieces,” but just a “set of sample offerings, not a big part of the catalogue.”

    Netflix expects 4K-ready TVs to get much cheaper over the coming years, so while it may take a while, you’ll probably be watching a lot more Netflix content this way somewhere down the road.

    Image: Netflix

  • Walking Dead Creator Frank Darabont Sues AMC Over The Show’s Profits

    Frank Darabont, the creator of The Walking Dead, is currently pursuing a lawsuit against the AMC network. The Walking Dead let go of its creator, and he is claiming the channel breached his contract, and neglected to pay him tens of millions of dollars during the process.

    As the top-rated drama on television, and a show that has done very well during its run on AMC, the network clearly has the money to pay to its creator, as one of the most successful networks in the business. The suit was filed Tuesday in New York, and hints at the complications of his profit participation, which have been going on since February of 2011.

    AMC never explained the firing of their Walking Dead creator, and according to the lawsuit, it seems that they did not explain it to Darabont either. He was let go just weeks into production of The Walking Dead‘s second season, and only days after appearing at Comic-Con to promote the show. It was a strange business decision for a a network that currently had one of the best shows on television, causing Darabont to have an expected outrage at the network.

    The show has a large number of fans, and while they may not realize how The Walking Dead creator was forced out of the show, it is certainly possible that he could have made the show even better than it already is. When looking at the rest of his career, it is hard to think otherwise, when he has worked on projects such as The Green Mile and Shawshank Redemption.

    As Dale Kinsella, his lead lawyer says, “AMC’s conduct toward Frank to date has been nothing short of atrocious. Unfortunately, the fans of The Walking Dead have suffered as well by being deprived of his creative talent.”

    In its fourth season, the post-apocalyptic zombie drama averaged a high number of viewers with 13 million viewers, and 8.4 million of them being adults aged 18-49. In a baffling decision for everyone who knows how much business the show helps AMC with, the lawsuit alleges that AMC fired Darabont in an effort to save money, avoiding its contractual obligation to pay him increased profits.

    In addition to the tens of millions of dollars that he feels that he is owed from the show, The Walking Dead creator is asking for a cut of The Talking Dead spin-off talk show, and the scripted companion series that AMC is developing.

    Image via Youtube

  • ‘Hatching Twitter’ Series Picked Up By ‘Orange Is The New Black’ Studio Lionsgate

    Back in October, we heard that unnamed studios were expressing interest in developing either a movie or a television series based on Nick Bilton’s book Hatching Twitter: A True Story of Money, Power, Friendship, and Betrayal.

    Lionsgate announced today that it is the studio that will be developing the story as a TV series, which will be executive produced by Allison Shearmur, who served as a producer on The Hunger Games.

    “Twitter has transformed almost every aspect of our lives from politics to business to friendship, and I can’t think of a more compelling story to adapt for television right now,” said Kevin Beggs, Chairman of Lionsgate Television Group. “Nick’s book has all the elements of a great drama with its complex characters, high-stakes power struggles and betrayed friendships, and we’re extremely fortunate to have Alli Shearmur onboard as executive producer.”

    “‘Hatching Twitter’ will go behind the scenes of a groundbreaking Silicon Valley company in a way that’s never been captured before on television,” said Shearmur. “‘The Social Network’ was a perfect film, and this series will be different, providing a longer view of the work life changes, gamesmanship and personal sacrifices made by a group of individuals who are building a company that will change the way that people communicate.”

    “I am thrilled to work with Allison Shearmur and Lionsgate to adapt my book about the power, betrayal and billions of dollars that swirl through Silicon Valley,” said Bilton. “The story of ‘Hatching Twitter’ really speaks to a generation that has searched for friendship through technology and it will be very exciting to see it brought to life on screen.”

    The network on which this show will appear has yet to be announced, but Netflix presumably remains a possibility. In October, when news came out of hollywood interest in Bilton’s book, TechCrunch reported that at least one of the studios wanted to explore producing the project as an HBO or Netflix series.

    Sony was the only studio actually named in that report, and as noted at the time, Sony had recently made a deal with Netflix on another series form the creators of Damages.

    Lionsgate, however, already has a relationship with Netflix as well. It’s the studio behind Orange is the New Black, officially Netflix’s most successful show so far.

    Lionsgate also has shows on Showtime, ABC, AMC and History.

    We’ll see what happens.

    Image: HatchingTwitter.com

  • Netflix Will Continue Its ‘Breaking Bad’ Relationship With ‘Better Call Saul’

    Netflix announced a deal with Sony that will see it exclusively streaming coming Breaking Bad spin-off Better Call Saul in Europe and Latin America shortly after it airs in the U.S. next year. In the U.S. and Canada, the show will be available on Netflix just after the season finale on AMC.

    In other words, Netflix will be the exclusive subscription television service in all its territories for the show as it is in some for Breaking Bad.

    Ahead of the final season of Breaking Bad, Netflix announced a similar deal to stream its episodes in the UK the day after they aired.

    “‘Breaking Bad’ is widely recognized as one of the great TV experiences in this new golden age of television,” said Netflix Chief Content Officer Ted Sarandos. “It has also proven very popular with Netflix subscribers around the world. This spin-off promises to continue its tradition of powerful storytelling. We are proud to be in business with Sony Pictures Television to bring Saul Goodman to our subscribers around the world.”

    “Coming off of the overwhelming success of ‘Breaking Bad,’ we’re excited to continue our collaboration with Vince [Gilligan, creator], as well as Peter Gould, and that fans around the world will be able to embrace ‘Saul,’” said Steve Mosko, President of Sony Pictures Television.

    Here’s the description for Better Call Saul, according to Netflix:

    Starring Bob Odenkirk and co-created and executive produced by “Breaking Bad” creator Vince Gilligan, “Better Call Saul” tells the story of mall-based super lawyer Saul Goodman in the years before he became Walter White’s attorney. From parking tickets to mass murder, from slip-and-fall to bond fraud, Saul handles it all.

    Rumor has it that much of the show will take place inside the courtroom. It sounds like Bryan Cranston is up for a cameo, should the opportunity arise.

    Netflix subscribers in the U.S. are still waiting for the final episodes of Breaking Bad to become available.

    Image: AMC

  • Amy Poehler And Tina Fey Reveal Golden Globe Promos [Video]

    As if viewers were not excited enough to see the comedic duo of Tina Fey and Am Poehler return as the host of the Golden Globes, the two of them have filmed three short promos for the show. They hosted the show last year, and are back for another round after their great success the first time time

    For the first time in history, it was also announced earlier this year that Amy Poehler and Tina Fey would return as the hosts in 2014 and 2015, while usually the hosts are only announced for one year at a time.

    After several hosts that come before them, and most recently Rick Gervais, who was highly criticized for his hosting job, it is quite an honor for the two of them to be able to host the award show for three years in a row.

    The nominees for the 71st Golden Globes were released yesterday, with American Hustle and 12 Years A Slave leading the way as the top films of the year.

    In terms of television, Breaking Bad received the most nominations, in a year that saw a breakout year for Netflix as a network, earning six nominations, and is second to only HBO.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X66DXHX7Ki0

    The two comedic actresses have been two of the closest friends since their days on Saturday Night Live together, and it clearly shows when they are on the stage together. Throughout the clips that NBC posted of the two of them, they joke back and forth about how the 2014 Golden Globes will be “more glamorous and grand than ever before.”

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tUjTfad4ndo

    They also joke about their close relationship when Tina Fey jokes that they are in love with each other, and Amy Poehler simultaneously states that they are best friends, causing a hilarious reaction between the two of them.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xYGsvs9jr-8

    Since leaving Saturday Night Live, both actresses have had great success. They are both nominated this year for Best Actress in A Comedy Series- Tina Fey for 30 Rock and Amy Poehler for Parks and Recreation.

    Arguably two of the funniest women in Hollywood, Tina Fey and Amy Poehler are set to take the stage as hosts on January 12th. The broadcast will air live at 8 p.m. on NBC, and is presented by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association.

    In case anyone forgot just how funny the two of them were during last year’s show, here is another look at their opening monologue.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-6BW3QWfJpc

    Image via Youtube

  • ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ Delivers Heart-Racing Finale

    Just in case you were wondering if Grey’s Anatomy was starting to flat line on the drama, its winter finale cliffhanger likely proved otherwise.

    Filled with twists and turns, the season ten mid season finale featured a variety of surprising revelations and an ending that likely shocked even the veteran viewers.

    [Warning: Spoilers Ahead]

    The episode began mildly enough with April replacing her sisters as bridesmaids with Meredith, Cristina and Arizona. However, things started to get juicy when Meredith and Cristina had it out in a hurtful confrontation that seems like years in the making, and could lead to Cristina’s departure from the show.

    Other major events in the episode include Derek receiving a call from the president, which could change his and Meredith’s lives forever, and Callie continues to try to help Arizona feel more comfortable in her prosthetic. Additionally, Shane confesses to Weber about his role in Brooks’ death.

    Watch a promo for the episode here:

    The biggest jaw-dropper of them all came at the end, though, naturally. After Jackson apologizes to Stephanie, he then proceeds to interrupt April’s wedding to Matthew to declare his love for the bride. He says:

    “April, I love you, I always have. I love everything about you. Even the things I don’t like, I love. And I want you with me. I love you, and I think that you love me, too. Do you?”

    Alas, fans of the show won’t be able to find out if April ties the not with Matthew or leaves him standing at the altar, until the series returns on Thursday, February 27 on ABC.

    Until then, read what the Twittersphere had to say about the finale:

    Image via Facebook