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Tag: Television

  • The Coming Week’s Netflix Additions Include Sons Of Anarchy: Season 5 & An Exclusive Aziz Ansari Special

    Netflix is a revolving door of movie and television content, particularly on the streaming side of things. Though titles often disappear from availability, new ones are also frequently added. Sometimes these come in the form of Netflix original shows or even exclusive access to certain programming, but sometimes it’s just older titles that many find to be still worth watching.

    Content is added to Netflix streaming each week, and it can be difficult to keep up with what’s available all the time. With that, here’s a look at some new additions.

    Note: This is for the U.S.

    This week Netflix has some treats in store, including the long-awaited addition of the last season of FX’s Sons of Anarchy, the exclusive Aziz Ansari stand-up special Netflix has been hyping up for the past couple months, and Bridegroom, the critically acclaimed documentary, which Netflix announced its exclusive rights to a while back. Here are some titles you’ll soon see available for streaming.

    Available on 10/25:

    Electoral Dysfunction (2012)

    Correspondent Mo Rocca takes viewers on a humorous and disquieting tour of the United States electoral system, focusing on its many contradictions. Perhaps most surprising, Rocca finds that the U.S. Constitution does not guarantee the right to vote.

    Pumpkinhead 2: Blood Wings (1994)

    Andrew Robinson, Ami Dolenz, Soleil Moon Frye, J. Trevor Edmond, Hill Harper

    After killing an old witch, six teens accidentally resuscitate the demonic Pumpkinhead — only now, he’s propelled by the soul of a deformed, murdered boy. With his mind on revenge, Pumpkinhead seeks out the people who brought him back to life.

    The Carrie Diaries: Season 1

    Before bylines, the Big Apple and Mr. Big, Carrie Bradshaw was a teenager of the ’80s. In this prequel to “Sex and the City,” she navigates high school while harboring dreams of becoming a writer.

    Available 10/26:

    Auction Kings: Season 3

    From vampire killing kits and T-Rex fossil teeth, to pink Cadillacs and hot air balloons, Auction Kings is a roller coaster ride filled with thrills and disappointments, where one person’s trash becomes another’s treasure.

    Sons of Anarchy: Season 5

    After seizing control of its town, gun-running motorcycle club the Sons of Anarchy soon butts heads with rival biker gangs, racist groups and the law. Meanwhile, young Jax Teller finds himself torn between protecting his son and loyalty to his gang.

    Available 10/27:

    Bridegroom (2013)

    Helmed by Linda Bloodworth-Thomason, this illuminating documentary chronicles the story of Shane Bitney Crone, who finds himself shut out and deprived of the legal protections of marriage after his same-sex partner dies in a tragic accident.

    Available on 10/28:

    George Gently: Series 5

    On the eve of his retirement, Scotland Yard Inspector George Gently decides to pursue one final murder case, suspecting that it’s the handiwork of a gangster who’s already gotten away with the murder of Gently’s own wife.

    The Legend is Born: Ip Man (2010)

    This martial arts biopic follows the early years of Ip Man — the master who would one day become Bruce Lee’s mentor — as he perfects his Wing Chun style of combat against a small army of villainous foes.

    Charge (2011)

    CHARGE is proof that maniacs on motorcycles can be a force for global good. The movie follows several teams to the world’s first zero-emissions grand prix on the Isle of Man in 2009 and on their return in 2010. For the visionaries, this is history.

    London: The Modern Babylon (2012)

    From musicians, writers and artists to dangerous thinkers, political radicals and above all ordinary people, this is the story of London’s immigrants, its bohemians and how together they changed the city forever.

    Available on 10/30:

    Darkroom (2013)

    After killing three people in an auto accident, a young woman named Michelle is ordered into rehab. On her counselor’s advice, she takes a job that lands her in a mansion — with a trio of psychotic siblings hell-bent on purging Michelle’s sins.

    Extreme Cheapskates: Season 1

    “Extreme Cheapskates” gives viewers an insider’s look at the most outrageous penny-pinching people around. From making their own reusable cloth toilet paper to singing for their supper, their inventive ways to save money are truly unbelievable.

    My Big Fat American Gypsy Wedding: Season 1

    “My Big Fat American Gypsy Wedding” takes you inside a world full of traditions and celebrations. From birthdays to weddings to Holy Communions, no expense is spared, and it’s all about the bling.

    Koala Kid (2012)

    Rob Schneider, Bret McKenzie, Yvonne Strahovski, Alan Cumming, Norm MacDonald

    Tired of being teased for his color, a white koala joins a traveling carnival with a Tasmanian devil and a photographer monkey as talent agents. Their adventures take an unexpected turn when their trailer crashes, leaving them stranded in the desert.

    Scatter My Ashes at Bergdorf’s (2013)

    William Fichtner, Vera Wang, Karl Lagerfeld, Marc Jacobs, Ashley Olsen, Michael Kors

    This documentary peels back the curtain at Bergdorf Goodman, the iconic New York store that’s been launching design careers for more than a century. Key creative personnel and fans such as Joan Rivers and Candice Bergen discuss Bergdorf’s appeal.

    Available on 10/31:

    Braxton Family Values: Season 3

    Like their famous sister Toni Braxton, Traci, Towanda, Trina and Tamar were blessed with the gift of song and performed in their youth. Since then the sisters took their lives in various directions, but their bond gets them through life’s challenges.

    Available on 11/1:

    Aziz Ansari: Buried Alive

    Red-hot comic Aziz Ansari (“Parks and Recreation”) shares his views on adulthood, babies, marriage, love and more in the modern era. Filmed live in Philadelphia, Ansari’s unfiltered look at his own place in today’s adult world is smartly hilarious.

    See more recent additions here.

  • ‘Lilyhammer’ Season 2 Netflix Release Date Will Be In December

    We’ve known for quite some time that Netflix would release the second season of its first original series, Lilyhammer, sometime in 2013, but Netflix hasn’t talked a whole lot about it beyond that.

    We now know, thanks to Netflix’s DVD page for the show, that it will be coming in December. We’ve yet to confirm an exact date.

    Lilyhammer Season 2 Release Date in December

    The show has made its debut on Norwegian channel NRK, and apparently received pretty good ratings. The Hollywood Reporter says:

    The show, which Netflix carries in the U.S., debuted to a 51.9 percent share of the 12-plus demographic in Norway, with one in five Norwegians tuning in.

    …

    A new plotline has the British mob trying to muscle in on Frank’s burgeoning crime operation, a twist that allows Lilyhammer the opportunity to pack season two with British guest stars, including Paul Kaye (Game of Thrones), Tony Pitts (Sherlock), Alan Ford (Snatch), Amy Beth Hayes (Doctor Who) and Amit Shah (The Infidel).

    Here’s a look at what viewers can expect:

    Image: Netflix

  • ‘Arrested Development’ Soundtrack Gets Release Date, Track Listing

    Varese Sarabande Records has announced the release date of the long-awaited soundtrack to popular show Arrested Development, which earlier this year, came back to television by way of Netflix.

    The release contains forty-two tracks spanning the entire series to date. There’s a lot of greats, like “Balls in the Air (Extended Version)”, “Mock Trial,” “Big Yellow Joint” (and its companion “Big Rock’n Yellow Joint”), and of course “Teamocil”. You can see the list at the end of the article.

    “Arrested Developments composer David Schwartz selected the songs and score from all four seasons of the show, with a heavy dose of madcap ballads and ukulele themes for the soundtrack,” the record label says.

    Schwartz was even nominated for an Emmy this year for outstanding music composition for a series.

    Last month saw the release of the soundtrack for another of Netflix’s shows – Hemlock Grove – which also earned an Emmy nomination for its title theme.

    Arrested Development Track List:

    1. Arrested Development (Main Title) (:18)
    2. She’s Cute (1:25)
    3. Getaway (Extended Version) (2:53)
    4. Practice Kisses (1:51)
    5. Sound of Silence / The Cockroach (Medley) (1:09)
    6. Balls In The Air (Extended Version) (3:05)
    7. Face Blindness (L&M) (1:33)
    8. You’ll Never Hear From Me Again (3:35)
    9. As It Is Such (Medley) (1:18)
    10. Tobias Eat Pray Gay (Medley) (:40)
    11. Motherboy (1:19)
    12. Franklin’s Brown Sugar (:23)
    13. It Ain’t Easy Being White (Vocals: Will Arnett) (1:19)
    14. Shot By Love (Extended Version) (3:04)
    15. Mr.F (:49)
    16. The Yellow Boat (1:56)
    17. All You Need Is Smiles (Vocals: Jeffrey Tambor & David Schwartz) (:27)
    18. Big Yellow Joint (:27)
    19. Big Rock’n Yellow Joint (:09)
    20. The Cute Test (2:05)
    21. Aloha Lei To You (1:09)
    22. Oh Phoenix (2:14)
    23. Andele (:28)
    24. Bang Bang Bang Bang (Buster Dance) (2:14)
    25. I’m Blue, Man (2:13)
    26. Mock Trial (:15)
    27. Not Your Father, Mopy, Tiny Town (Medley) (1:30)
    28. What Could Be Better (1:20)
    29. She Winked (1:07)
    30. Free At Last (1:18)
    31. Oh My (Medley) (:49)
    32. Get Along, Little Sheep (:29)
    33. Big Ska (:49)
    34. Buster & Lucille & George & GOB (:40)
    35. Fantastic 4 (Medley) (:54)
    36. The Invisible Girl (:58)
    37. Rub It In (1:53)
    38. The Chipper (1:39)
    39. Teamocil (Vocals: David Cross, Portia de Rossi and Danielle Cipolla) (:35)
    40. You Here With Me (1:27)
    41. Police Cruise (1:04)
    42. Boomerang (Performed by Lucy Schwartz) (3:37)

    [via IndieWire/Film Music Reporter]

    Image: Varese Sarabande Records

  • Mandy Patinkin And His Reaction To “Homeland” Episode

    Mandy Patinkin has said in the past that he’s been a bit difficult on set at times during his career; the veteran actor says he has struggled with letting go of the control to directors and writers.

    “I struggled with letting in other people’s opinions,” Patinkin said. “During ‘Chicago Hope,’ I never let directors talk to me, because I was so spoiled. I started off with people like Milos Forman, Sidney Lumet, James Lapine, unbelievably gifted people. So there I was saying, ‘Don’t talk to me. I don’t want your opinion.’ I behaved abominably. I don’t care if my work was good or if I got an award for it. I’m not proud of how I was then, and it pained me.”

    But these days, he’s learning to let people in a little, to great effect. His turn on “Homeland” as Saul Berenson has earned him praise from critics and his co-stars, including Claire Danes.

    “Mandy is obviously verging on legend,” Danes said. “He has that ineffable, magical something that’s impossible to identify, so it’s a great thrill to work with him.”

    The show has even managed to break him down. Patinkin says he usually steers clear of knowing beforehand what’s going to happen in each episode, but he ended up reading the script for a well-known episode during the fourth season that included a big plot twist, and says he couldn’t believe it when he broke down in tears.

    “(The writers) blow me away. When I read what happened in the fourth episode which was aired this past Sunday, I’m a very emotional person…I couldn’t get over the creativity of the writing team. I mean, I read that…I couldn’t believe what they’d done,” he said.

    As for his character’s relationship with Danes’ Carrie, Patinkin says he was drawn to it from the start because of the impeccable writing.

    “I felt a great deal for someone struggling with bipolar issues in the midst of trying to maneuver the world toward peace, if possible… and the writers, their ’24,’ sit-on-the-edge-of-your-seat business. But it really grew as it went along.”

  • ‘Sons of Anarchy’ Season 5 Gets A Netflix Release Date

    Sons of Anarchy: Season 5 has finally received a Netflix release date, and luckily for fans, it’s very close. As you can see from the screenshot below, the season is slated to become available for streaming beginning on October 26th, which is two days from now.

    Sons of Anarchy Season 5 On Netflix

    Netflix has confirmed to us that the season is indeed on the way. It has been available on Netflix via DVD for a while, but Netflix’s DVD subscriber base is not what it once was, though it still generated $107 million in profit for the company during last quarter.

    As Netflix revealed when it released its earnings report, despite the popularity of its original titles like House of Cards, Orange is the New Black, and the rest (which they do say are a major component of gaining new subscribers), its third-party TV content is still more popular on the service, so the more seasons of TV shows like Sons of Anarchy that they add, the happier customers are going to be.

    The fact that SoA: Season 5 is becoming available in late October lends credence to the theory that we’ll be seeing the last seasons of other FX shows American Horror Story and It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia coming in November and December, respectively, as these were the months that the shows were added to Netflix in the past. SoA: Season 4 hit Netflix in late October last year, while American Horror Story hit in November, and Sunny hit in December.

    Again, this is just speculation though. Netflix could still change it up. We’ll just have to wait and see.

    Image: Netflix

  • Gavin MacLeod On His New Tell-All Memoir

    Gavin MacLeod became well-known to most of us through his role as the captain of the Love Boat, but he enjoyed a very fruitful career in Hollywood throughout the ’60s and ’70s, and his new memoir details some of the best–and worst–times of his life.

    MacLeod, who played Captain Stubing on the beloved show for ten years, talks about the famous faces that came and went in his life–including movie star Bette Davis–in “This Is Your Captain Speaking”. He says Davis was every bit the “star” after he invited her to dinner and ended up insulting his wife and arguing with another guest. And while the night didn’t go as planned, he says he got a great story out of it.

    “We got a good story and a good laugh out of it,” he writes.

    The 82-year old actor also talks about the lowest times in his personal life, including poor health–he’s suffered two heart attacks–and battling an alcohol addiction that ultimately ruined his marriage. Now, he says, he’s “grateful” that he was given another opportunity at life after coming through such hard times.

    “That’s a big word in my life,” said MacLeod. “I’m just so grateful I’ve had another day, another day, another day, and that my kids are doing so well.”

    MacLeod, who was a regular on “The Mary Tyler Moore Show” and “Hogan’s Heroes”, says he’s done with acting unless it has a decidedly Christian theme. The actor is a born-again Christian, something he shares with his longtime wife Patti Steele.

    “That’s the only thing I want to do now. There’s a great purpose to doing those films. Nothing else interests me,” he said.

    Image: KMIR

  • Jessica Lange Will Do 1 More Season Of AHS

    Jessica Lange has undoubtedly been the backbone of “American Horror Story” throughout it’s three varied seasons, and fans will be truly disappointed to learn that she’s only signing on for one more go.

    The Oscar-winning actress says she’s loved her time on the show–which has earned her an Emmy and a Golden Globe–but says she only sees herself participating in one more dark tale before she moves on.

    Actually, season 3 was deliberately written to be a bit more lighthearted than season 2, which saw Lange play a nun with rather dark sensibilities. This time around, we’ll see a little more of creator Ryan Murphy’s sense of humor through pop culture references–which are mostly aimed at Kathy Bates’ character Madame LaLaurie, who is freed from a tomb after nearly two centuries–and cheeky, snappy dialogue.

    “I think Ryan was maybe even surprised by how fast and how dark it got last year,” Lange said. “Of course, that’s right up my alley. I like that a lot. But I think this season was a deliberate attempt to lighten it and add some humor. And I’m not against humor; my sensibilities just always tend toward the more tragic or the darker.”

    From what Murphy says, it seems like season 4 will be as different as the other installments in the series have, and it will leave room for Lange to go out with a bang.

    “I can’t say anything. All I’ll say is, Jessica Lange has always wanted to play a Marlene Dietrich figure, and now she gets to,” he teased.

    Image: YouTube

  • Ted Danson Will Always Be Sam Malone, Even To Himself

    Ted Danson has had a long and fruitful acting career, but many of us still identify him with the role that catapulted his career: Sam Malone, the womanizing former baseball player-turned bar owner on “Cheers”. But he probably won’t hold it against us, because he feels the same way.

    “I am forever grateful for Cheers. It’s the reason why I’m sitting here now. Plus I think of everything I do as Sam Malone – Sam Malone sees dead people now, Sam Malone becomes a doctor,” he said.

    Indeed, the characters on “Cheers” quickly became some of the most beloved in television history, with the iconic theme song and opening credits landing a place in our nostalgia center. The actor–whose latest role is that of D.B. Russell on “CSI”–recently got the chance to reunite with former castmate John Ratzenberger (“Cliff”) when he landed a guest starring role on the show, and said he was impressed with his old friend.

    “As we were running lines, I was sitting there going ‘Wow. He’s good.’ I didn’t even know my lines, and he’s really good,” Danson said.

    Danson’s wife, actress Mary Steenburgen, has had some success of her own in the world of film and television, but most recently began turning to music and just signed a record deal with Universal. Steenburgen says she had never been musical until an “epiphany” she had after undergoing surgery. Soon after, she had written 40 songs.

    Image via CBS

  • ‘Orange Is The New Black’ Is Officially Netflix’s Most Successful Show

    Netflix released its quarterly earnings report today along with its regular letter to shareholders.

    In the “original content” section of the letter, CEO Reed Hastings and CFO David Wells revealed that Orange is the New Black has been its most successful show to date. They wrote:

    Orange is the New Black has been a tremendous success for us. It will end the year as our most watched original series ever and, as with each of our other previously launched originals, enjoys an audience comparable with successful shows on cable and broadcast TV. We have seen sustained social media buzz in the months after its debut and it is also one of the most critically well received TV shows of 2013. Orange is the New Black was not eligible for the Emmys in 2013, but Season 1 will be eligible next year and we believe the audience for Season 2 will grow substantially.

    Netflix added 1.3 million domestic subscribers during the quarter, which is 11% higher than last year’s third quarter. The two executives named Orange is the New Black specifically (along with the Emmy nominations from its other shows) as a main contributor to this.

    “It definitely helped,” Hastings noted in a post report interview about OITNB, but also admitted that there’s no way of telling its exact impact.

    “In 2014, we expect to double our investment in original content (though still representing less than 10% of our overall global content expense),” the two said. “Coming to Netflix next year will be second seasons of House of Cards, Orange is the New Black, Derek and Hemlock Grove as well as the just announced project from Todd and Glenn Kessler and Daniel Zelman, the Emmy and Golden Globe nominated creators of Damages. We’ll also roll out a number of new animated series from DreamWorks Animation. Expect more news on additional new original projects in the months to come.”

    While not mentioned in today’s letter, Netflix recently hinted that we may soon start seeing DVD-like extras appear on its streaming service for its original shows, such as Orange is the New Black. This might even lead to such features for third-party content.

    Image: Orange is the New Black (Netflix)

  • ‘Derek’ Season 2 Is In The Rehearsal Stage

    ‘Derek’ Season 2 Is In The Rehearsal Stage

    Derek, the show created by and starring Ricky Gervais, which made its debut as a Netflix original last month, is now in the rehearsal stage for its second season:

    The pilot premiered in April of last year on Channel 4 in the UK, then the series began to air in January of this year. 9 months later, it came to Netflix (with the “Netflix Original” title) everywhere else where the service is available.

    We don’t know much about what will happen in season 2 so far, but Gervais did have this to say about the Kev character in a recent AMA (ask me anything) on reddit:

    “Yes, Kev is one of my favourite characters, and I was so glad that the audience went from being uncomfortable around him to really rooting for him at the end. He has another dramatic journey in Series 2, but you’ll be pleased to know he is still a drunken, unhygienic pervert.”

    I don’t think fans would have it any other way.

    Images via Twitter

  • Fox News Writer: Zombies Are Hurting Our Society

    Now that The Walking Dead has gotten so popular, we have zombie 5K runs, zombie pub crawls and much more. Sounds like a lot of fun, right? Not for some people, but there is always going to be a party pooper. According to columnist Manny Alvarez from Fox News, “America’s obsession with The Walking Dead is hurting our society.”

    No, really.

    In Alvarez’s column on Fox News, he describes in detail how the fascination with zombies is detrimental to society:

    Is watching “The Walking Dead” seriously hurting American society?

    I would argue ‘Yes.’ Hate me all you want, or call me paranoid and misinformed, but there is one common theme that is pervasive in American pop culture today: violence. Even more specifically, zombie violence. The idea of a zombie-infested world inspires fantasies of monsters possessed by an uncontrollable rage to kill, and viewers get a thrill imagining what it would be like to participate in this new world order.

    Alvarez also says that considering the current state of our government, we’re all ridiculous for enjoying The Walking Dead and participating in zombie-related activities.

    Give me a break. As a doctor and scientist, I know one thing for sure: When you’re dead, you’re dead. Our brains should be less focused on imaginary zombie hoards and more focused on harnessing the tools that we need in order to enhance our lives, whether it be music, education, science or the classics. Entertainment should help us soothe our brains so that we can ease our minds of some of the stress from our daily lives.

    With this country heading towards a socialized system of government, in which officials don’t want you to think or focus on what is important for your own personal growth, I’m sure they’re more than happy to let you obsess over something as stupid as zombies.

    And in turn, you ultimately become the zombie.

    Wake up and smell the coffee. Stop obsessing over eating brains, and focus on cultivating your own.

    Ouch. It’s hard to see how The Walking Dead is different from any other form of entertainment, but Alvarez is primarily concerned about zombie-related entertainment for whatever reason. Apparently he wasn’t much of a fan of this tutorial from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on how to survive a zombie apocalypse, either.

    And here’s what Daryl Dixon (played by Norman Reedus) thinks about Alvarez:

    (image)

    Hopefully no one tells Alvarez about True Blood–that might be too much for him to handle with vampires, fairies, werewolves and more. At any rate, it’s probably safe to say that Alvarez will get a bunch of people dressed up in zombie costumes knocking on his door this Halloween.

    Images via YouTube and Tumblr

  • Breaking Bad’s Walter White Gets a Funeral [IMAGE]

    The endless fascination with Breaking Bad’s Walter White continues. The series finale aired three weeks ago, and since then, Walter White’s obituary was printed in a newspaper and Anthony Hopkins wrote an awesome fan letter to Bryan Cranston. A fake funeral and wake were held for the chemist over the weekend.

    By “fake funeral,” we only mean that there wasn’t a real body. And that it wasn’t for a real person. Otherwise, the funeral for Walter White had everything you would expect at a real funeral, including mourners dressed in black from head to toe. Not surprisingly, the fake funeral also sparked controversy.

    More than 200 fans of Walter White and Breaking Bad got to pay their final respects on Saturday at a charity event that brought out fans from all over and raised $17,000 for the homeless. A funeral procession was led by a hearse and a replica of Walter’s meth RV, and funeral goers congregated at Sunset Memorial Park cemetery to say goodbye.

    (image)

    Not only were programs handed out, there was a real casket, burial site and footstone at the funeral. Mourners also paid for handfuls of dirt to throw over Walt’s empty casket.

    (image)

    The funeral wasn’t endorsed by AMC or anyone else associated with the show. Originally, the funeral was supposed to be available via livestream, but that was axed because it violated copyright laws. No one from the show was there, but wouldn’t it have been a hoot if Bryan Cranston had showed up?

    Despite some controversy, the Walter White fake funeral had the support of local law enforcement officers. “When I was first contacted about this, I had to Google Walter White because I didn’t know who it was,” said Sheriff Dan Houston. “I’m still good with it because at the end of the day Albuquerque Health Care needs money to help these people and that’s really what this is about.”

    Some people were less than thrilled with the fake funeral at the cemetery and the burial site that has a Walter White footstone, which reads “Beloved Husband, Father, Teacher & Entrepreneur.”

    “My son is buried about 15 yards from where the makeshift gravesite is,” Manuel Montano said. “This is a place of mourning. It’s not a spectacle.” An online petition was started to remove the character grave from Sunset Memorial Park, which currently has over 600 signatures.

    Do you think the Walter White gravesite is disrespectful? Respond below. Some Twitter users certainly didn’t mince words over their opinion of the Walter White funeral.

    [Images via YouTube and ABQ Journal]

  • Danielle Fishel from “Boy Meets World” Gets Married

    Boy Meets World fans who were hoping that somehow Cory and Topanga would end up together in real life are in for a bit of a disappointment. Former Boy Meets World star Danielle Fishel tied the knot over the weekend, but not to Ben Savage. Not to worry, though–Cory and Topanga will be onscreen again soon enough in Disney’s spinoff, Girl Meets World.

    The 32-year-old who last played Topanga Lawrence more than a decade ago (yes, it has really been that long) married her love of five years, Tim Belusko, in Los Angeles on Saturday. Two hundred guests were in attendance at the wedding at former cathedral Vibiana in L.A. According to E!, Lawrence’s former onscreen love interest, Savage, was there for the nuptials.

    Fishel met her new husband, who is a few years younger than her, when she went back to college at age 27. “I did so well in math, I even became a tutor. And that is how I met my fiancé,” she posted to her Tumblr page when she announced her engagement back in December.

    Rider Strong, who played Shawn Hunter on Boy Meets World, wasn’t at Danielle Fishel’s wedding yesterday, but he had a pretty good reason. He got married yesterday, too. “Bad news…so I’m missing some of my Boy Meets World family (that was my fault, [Danielle] chose the date first),” Strong joked in a statement to ABC.

    Danielle Fishel, Ben Savage and William Daniels (Mr. Feeny) are a few of the Boy Meets World alum who have signed on for the spinoff Girl Meets World. The new show hits Disney in 2014.

    Are you looking forward to Girl Meets World? Respond below. And for now, enjoy Eric Matthews’ (Will Friedle) Feeny call. Even though Friedle hasn’t been confirmed to join the cast of Girl Meets World, the Feeny call never gets old. Never.

    (image)

    [Main image via YouTube; GIF via Tumblr]

  • Susan Sarandon and Daughter Get Sitcom Deal

    Like many A-List movie stars before her, Susan Sarandon is planning a switch from the big screen to the small(er) screen in your living room. The Wrap is reporting that Sarandon and her daughter Eve Amurri Martino (“Californiacation”), who is also producing and co-writing the show, have received a deal from NBC to develop a half-hour sitcom called “Growing Ivy.”

    The concept of the show was Martino’s idea. She is set to play the central role, a Type A personality named Ivy Davis who grew up without boundaries, and who is now subsequently obsessed with her career. However, Davis has zero personal life. In an attempt to correct this all-work/no-play lifestyle, Davis calls upon her mother (Sarandon), who is described as a “freewheeling, eccentric mom” named Franckie, to move in with her.

    This isn’t Sarandon’s first foray into television. The 67-year-old beauty was most recently seen in guest spots on “Mike and Molly” and “The Big C.” In addition, the famous mother/daughter have teamed up professionally before. There was the 2002 big screen comedy starring Sarandon alonside Goldie Hawn called “The Banger Sisters.” Plus, Sarandon and Martino have paired together in an episode of “Friends” and in the Adam Sandler movie “That’s My Boy.” Martino played the “younger” Sarandon in the comedy.

    Sarandon has had an extremely prolific career, appearing in over 100 different film and television roles. Perhaps her most memorable role came in the 1991 female-empowerment film “Thelma and Louise.” Sarandon played the cool, calm Louise to Geena Davis’ feel-spirited Thelma. However, her most critically acclaimed performance came in 1995 with the drama “Dead Man Walking.” Sarandon took home Oscar gold for Best Actress in her portrayal as a nun who befriends and comforts a convicted Death Row murderer (Sean Penn) in the days leading up to his execution.

    (image)

    Images via Facebook, Bing

  • Rebel Wilson Talks About Diet Rumors and Her Looks

    Like other plus-size actresses, such as Melissa McCarthy, Rebel Wilson has had her share of naysayers in Hollywood. But if you think that bothers Wilson, who is now the star of her own TV show, you better think again because the Australian funny woman has made it quite clear: she doesn’t give a hoot about what you (or any other Hollywood bigwigs) think.

    After some news sources said that there was a bidding war to get the Super Fun Night star on a diet plan earlier this month, Wilson said that wasn’t true. Wilson says that she hasn’t even been asked about doing Jenny Craig, and that she isn’t planning on changing her appearance, anyway.

    “I don’t think I’m very vain,” the Wilson told Extra. “Even though I’m on a TV show, I don’t really care what I look like that much. And I think that women out there should just be happy with how they look and they shouldn’t really try to conform to any stereotype. Just be happy and hopefully healthy.”

    Rebel Wilson, who got her major breakthrough in Bridesmaids, says that she doesn’t worry about what she eats so much as other actresses. “You see other actresses who are like ‘Oh, I can’t really eat much lunch today because I’ve got that scene in my underwear’…I’m a little bit chill. But you know, what you do need is stamina. I don’t ever want to be too unhealthy because writing in a show, starring and producing, you need a lot of energy.”

    While some folks have been unkind about Wilson’s plus-size figure, the actress has quite a sense of humor about it, which you can see by checking out her Twitter page:

    Check out Super Fun Night at 9:30 on Wednesdays on ABC.

    [Image via Twitter]

  • Dolly Parton Raps, Pokes Fun At Miley Cyrus [VIDEO]

    This week in music we learned that Eminem is the self-proclaimed Rap God (and most people aren’t disputing that). The bleached blond Eminem may now have his female rapping counterpart in the equally blonde 67-year-old Dolly Parton.

    Yeah, you read that right. Country star Dolly Parton made her rapping debut during an episode of “The Queen Latifah Show.” The Queen of Dollywood wears an afro, is blinged out, raps and pokes fun at Miley Cyrus all in the same 90-second clip. The episode won’t air until Monday, so watch the entire “Dolly Parton Raps” video now:

    Any thoughts on Dolly Parton’s Rap video? Post them below.

    You probably don’t need any of the lyrics to follow along to this rap song, but some lines are worth repeating. “Now I don’t hip and I don’t hop, I’d black both eyes with this big top,” Parton sang to the audience. “I know the Queen has got them too, but she don’t work them like I do. Look at them go!”

    It would be impossible for Parton to outdo rapping about her and Queen Latifah’s breasts, but her line about Miley Cyrus, her goddaughter, came close. After referencing twerking (which Dolly didn’t do, unfortunately), she said, “Hey, Miley–I’ve got your ‘Wrecking Balls’ right here” and cupped her nether regions.

    Even though those of us who grew up going to Dolly Parton’s Dixie Stampede show and Dollywood as kids may need therapy now, people on Twitter are loving Parton’s hilarious breakthrough rap performance. (Just kidding about the therapy bit.)

    [Image via YouTube]

  • Here’s What’s About To Hit Netflix In The Coming Week

    Netflix is a revolving door of movie and television content, particularly on the streaming side of things. Though titles often disappear from availability, new ones are also frequently added. Sometimes these come in the form of Netflix original shows or even exclusive access to certain programming, but sometimes it’s just older titles that many find to be still worth watching.

    Content is added to Netflix streaming each week, and it can be difficult to keep up with what’s available all the time. With that, here’s a look at some new additions.

    Note: This is for the U.S.

    Since last week’s list, we’ve learned that Netflix has been in talks with U.S. cable companies to potentially bring the Netflix app to their boxes. Nothing official yet, so we’ll just have to wait and see. The Samsung Cable Box did get the app though. We also learned that Netflix is thinking about adding DVD-like extras to streaming titles. Wouldn’t that be awesome? Speaking of awesome, what if Netflix gets NFL games? Apparently it’s not entirely out of the question. If you’re an Android user, there’s a major update rolling out.

    Available on 10/18:

    Populaire (2013)

    Romain Duris, Déborah François, Bérénice Bejo, Shaun Benson, Mélanie Bernier, Nicolas Bedos

    In this romantic comedy set in the 1950s, a smooth-talking insurance agent is so impressed with his secretary’s skills that he encourages her to enter speed-typing competitions. He also invites her to live in his mansion, and romance slowly blooms.

    Available on 10/19:

    Nikita: Season 3

    Nikita is one of the most highly skilled assassins on the planet, and her target is the mysterious corporation that created her. The Division, as it’s known, picks up at-risk teens to train as killers, and Nikita will do anything to bring it down.

    Available on 10/22:

    Jedi Junkies (2010)

    Olivia Munn, Ray Park, Peter Mayhew, Candy Keane, Eduardo Sanchez, Bob Iannaccone

    The Star Wars phenomenon has inspired a creative outpouring on the part of fans inspired by its visionary technologies, characters and themes. This admiring documentary profiles some of the projects inspired by the deep space epic.

    Reveal the Path (2012)

    Reveal the Path is a genre-defying adventure film that contemplates what it means to live an inspired life using the bicycle as a mechanism to explore, dream and discover.

    Addicted to Plastic (2008)

    Focusing on manufacturing, environmental effects and solutions, a documentarian journeys around the world to trace the life cycle of plastic. While plastic is the most versatile material ever invented, its ubiquity comes at a steep cost to mankind.

    Rebirth: New Orleans (2013)

    In the wake of Hurricane Katrina, New Orleans officials transformed the city’s education system by increasing the number of charter schools as they rebuilt. This inspiring documentary traces the creative new model’s evolution through four schools.

    The Haunting of Amelia (2008)

    Brendan Fehr, Shirley Knight, Chad Lindberg, Natassia Malthe, Tania Raymonde, Sam Robards

    The death of a loved one is rarely easy to get over, but for Josh (Brendan Fehr), whose high school girlfriend died a decade earlier in a train crash, it’s beginning to seem like something he’ll never get past — until he meets his dearly departed’s double. But is it forward or back that the beautiful doppelgänger is leading him, and should he listen to her words or those of his best friend in this haunting chiller from helmer A.D. Calvo?

    Available on10/23:

    Phantom (2013)

    Ed Harris, David Duchovny, William Fichtner, Lance Henriksen, Johnathon Schaech, Sean Patrick Flanery

    A Cold War Soviet submarine captain struggles with a rogue KGB group trying to seize control of the ship’s nuclear missile. Meanwhile, he secretly suffers from seizures that affect his grip on reality.

    Available 10/24:

    Casper’s Scare School: Season 2

    Casper the Friendly Ghost is back and ready for more adventures when his fierce uncles, tired of his kindly relations with humans, send him away to a boarding school that specializes in teaching young students how to be as scary as possible.

    Call Me Kuchu (2012)

    This powerful film follows David Kato, the first openly homosexual man in Uganda, as he fights the nation’s looming anti-gay laws. When he’s murdered soon after a major victory, it leaves those who looked to him for inspiration searching for answers.

    Sons of Guns: Season 3

    This reality series about firearms and the people who love them centers on Will Hayden, the owner of Red Jacket, a one-of-a-kind weapons business that produces an amazing gallery of custom weapons — from knives to machine guns to rocket launchers.

    Redemption (2013)

    Jason Statham, Agata Buzek, Vicky McClure, Benedict Wong, Ger Ryan, Victoria Bewick

    Back home after a harrowing tour in Afghanistan and haunted by his dark past, veteran Joey Jones takes on an assumed identity and tries to atone. But when his pregnant girlfriend is murdered, he must risk stepping into the light to get revenge.

    V/H/S/2 (2013)

    Lawrence Michael Levine, Kelsy Abbott, L.C. Holt, Adam Wingard, Hannah Hughes, Jay Saunders

    Two private eyes investigating the disappearance of a student discover horrific content on a collection of VHS tapes in his home. But these videos don’t just document evil … they actually contain a very dark presence.

    Tom Papa: Freaked Out (2013)

    Famously upbeat comedian Tom Papa takes the stage and delivers a biting stand-up routine that includes his observations on the perils of church-going, old age, makeup, Chinese grocery stores, raising daughters, and grown men wearing shorts.

    We Steal Secrets: The Story of WikiLeaks (2013)

    This documentary reveals how Julian Assange fired a global debate on secrecy when his web site, Wikileaks, published thousands of confidential documents. Taking no sides, Oscar winner Alex Gibney examines every aspect of the controversial event.

    See more recently added titles here.

    Image: We Steal Secrets (YouTube)

  • Olsen Twins Say “Full House” Led To Very Different Careers

    The Olsen twins have had their share of controversy after growing up from the adorable child stars we all knew in the ’80s and ’90s; Mary-Kate found herself in the headlines after it was reported that she was dating 42-year old Olivier Sarkozy, the brother of former French president Nicolas, and both sisters have been under scrutiny over the years for their extraordinarily thin frames. But one thing has stayed constant in their lives despite the media attention: their love for fashion.

    The girls have been designing since they were kids, and say that all started during their time on “Full House”. It eventually led to a passion that couldn’t be ignored, and they began working on their own line of clothing and accessories as tweens.

    “We were designing clothes for ourselves as we were so petite. So I think that is when we became obsessed with fit, and now the obsession has become a profession,” said Mary-Kate in a recent interview.

    The girls have co-founded four fashion lines: The Row, Elizabeth and James, Olsenboye and StyleMint. For now, they say, they are focused more on The Row than anything else, as well they should be; the twins won the distinguished 2012 Womenswear Designers of the Year award at the CFDA Awards last year for their work.

    The twins are so busy that it’s hard for them to keep up with their old friends from “Full House”; they were M.I.A. last year during a reunion of the cast. But that doesn’t mean they don’t have fond memories of their childhoods.

    “We were 9 months old when we started, so fame has always been part of our lives,” Ashley said. “There wasn’t any weirdness where we decided that we wanted to be famous. Then as we got older, we were very fortunate that we could hire and work with amazing people who want to protect us.”

    Image: David Shankbone/Wikimedia Commons

  • Melissa McCarthy Defends Controversial ‘Elle’ Magazine Cover [IMAGE]

    Funny woman Melissa McCarthy was recently named one of Elle magazine’s top 2013 “Women in Hollywood,” and was put on their cover. This sounds impressive for a plus-size actress who has had a lot to overcome to make it in Hollywood, right?

    Wrong. Even though McCarthy describes the experience as “amazing,” she and Elle have experienced a tremendous amount of backlash over the magazine cover. McCarthy is featured wearing a coat on the cover while the other women who graced the cover of this issue (there were multiple covers), such as Penelope Cruz and Reese Witherspoon, were wearing “sexier” pieces. Some folks are outraged with the clothing difference and think that Elle “hid McCarthy under an oversize coat.”

    Check out Melissa McCarthy’s Elle cover:

    (image)

    The cover was torn apart (figuratively) in an essay by Slate’s June Thomas. “This year, Elle‘s token plus-size cover girl is McCarthy, who was photographed in a Marina Rinaldi coat so huge that she could hide her Mike and Molly co-star Billy Gardel underneath,” wrote Thomas. “McCarthy’s hair covers a quarter of her gorgeous face, and with her hands stuffed deep into her coat pockets, the only visible flesh is a tiny triangle between the coat’s lapels and the briefest glimpse of calf. Perhaps photographer Thomas Whiteside only knows how to photograph the usual stick insect models, because he clearly has no clue how to highlight McCarthy’s curves.”

    McCarthy felt honored to make the cover of Elle and has no problem with what she was wearing. “[Elle is] a magazine I grew up with and I hadn’t done anything quite like that,” she said. “I was nervous… It was kind of amazing.”

    Elle’s official statement on the issue: “On all of our shoots, our stylists work with the stars to choose pieces they feel good in, and this is no different: Melissa loved this look, and is gorgeous on our cover. We are thrilled to honor her as one of our Women in Hollywood this year.”

    Considering McCarthy doesn’t have a problem with it–and she is known for speaking her mind when someone tries to shame her for her body size–it seems like the outrage is much ado about nothing.

    Check out two of the other Elle magazine covers for the 2013 “Women in Hollywood” edition below. Do you think there is a problem with what Melissa McCarthy is wearing compared to the other women? Respond below.

    Reese Witherspoon

    (image)

    Shailene Woodley

    (image)

    Images via Elle

  • Netflix Finds Its Way To Samsung Cable Box

    As has been reported numerous times over the past few days, Netflix is said to be in discussions with cable providers in the U.S. including Comcast and Suddenlink to potentially bring the Netflix app to cable boxes.

    A report out today from Zatz Not Funny (also reported by Wired) says the app is confirmed for the Samsung Smart Cable Box. Dave Zatz writes:

    As we inch closer to a 10/23 release of the $150 Samsung Smart Cable Box, a rumored 10,000 units are en route to the US and its user guide has appeared online. Via the aforementioned literature, the combo cable+Internet box is confirmed to sport Netflix as a tent pole app.

    That means yet another device for Netflix, which is ultimately the main benefit of partnerships with cable companies.

    In the UK, Netflix has a deal in place with Virgin Media to have the app on its TiVo boxes. It was recently reported that they formed a similar partnership with Com Hem in Sweden (also on TiVo boxes).

    Currently, most people who watch Netflix on their televisions are doing so using a game console or some other kind of set-top box. Getting on cable boxes simply reduces the friction for consumers wanting to do so – particularly the non-gamers.

    With Netflix’s existing cable deals, users still have to subscribe to Netflix separately.

    Image: Netflix

  • ‘Orange Is The New Black’ Gets ‘New Inmate’ By The Name Of ‘New Hamsichusettes’

    Don’t worry, it’s not real. It’s just Taryn Manning, who plays Pennsatucky on Netflix’s Orange is the New Black, appearing on VH1’s Best Week Ever in a “New Inmates of Orange is the New Black” segment, playing Pennsatucky’s evil twin sister.

    As far as we know, this isn’t a planned spinoff. Manning, however, has been promoted to series regular for the upcoming second season, which is currently in production.

    Lead image: VH1 (YouTube)