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Tag: Television

  • Netflix Gives E-Team A Release Date

    Netflix Gives E-Team A Release Date

    Netflix announced the release date for E-Team, which it’s dubbed a Netflix original. As you can see from the image above, it won the cinematography award for a U.S. documentary at Sundance (among other things). The documentary will debut across all Netflix territories on October 24h.

    Here’s Netflix’s official description:

    When human atrocities run rampant, when ruthless dictators hold a nation captive, that’s when the E-Team is called into action. From Academy Award winning filmmaker Ross Kauffman and Emmy Award nominee Katy Chevigny, the latest Netflix Original Documentary brings you behind enemy lines and into the teeth of the world’s most dangerous war zones. A group of fierce idealists, The E-Team intrepidly risks their lives to expose the truth behind the horrific warcrimes of Bashar al-Assad and Muammar Gaddafi among others, providing a voice to the helpless victims of global genocide. E-Team will premiere across all territories on Netflix Oct. 24.

    Netflix acquired the film back in May, and hopes it can follow in the footsteps of its other original doc The Square into Oscar nomination territory.

    Here’s the new trailer:

    Image via YouTube

  • Google Could Use Your TV Viewing As A Ranking Signal

    It seems almost crazy to think that Google could deliver your search results based on what you’re watching on TV at any point in time, but it’s not out of the realm of possibility, and the company was even granted a patent to be able to to just that.

    Should Google use TV viewing as a ranking signal? Share your thoughts in the comments.

    Google obviously has tons of patents, and they’re not all directly used or necessarily used for what you’d expect, but the possibility remains, and in this case it seems very probable considering the current landscape of technology.

    Bill Slawski at SEO by the Sea, who has been watching Google patents like a hawk for years, points us to one Google has been granted for a “System and method for enhancing user search results by determining a television program currently being displayed in proximity to an electronic device.”

    The Abstract of the patent is as follows:

    A computer implemented method for using search queries related to television programs. A server receives a user’s search query from an electronic device.

    The server then determines, in accordance with the search query and television program related information for television programs available at a location associated with the electronic device during a specific time window, a television program currently being displayed in proximity to the electronic device, wherein the television program related information includes program descriptions for a plurality of television programs being broadcast for the associated location.

    Google filed the patent all the way back in 2011, and it was just granted this week. Here are a couple diagrams showing how it could work.

    Under “description of implementations” in the patent, it says:

    In some implementations, a TV viewer (sometimes referred to herein as a user) has access to a computer, set top box, smart phone, or other Internet-connected electronic device, while he or she is viewing TV content. Occasionally, such a TV viewer executes search queries on the Internet-connected device related to the TV content he or she is watching. For example, when the user is watching a TV program about wildlife, he or she might execute searches on the Internet-connected device related to the particular animal species being described in that program. As another example, a viewer who is watching a movie might execute searches about locations or the actors appearing in the movie. Such a viewer when entering a search query might use search terms that are related to but not identical to the particular content being described in the program he or she is viewing. For example, someone watching a TV program with a segment about a particular model of Porsche might execute a search query for “Porsche” or “sports cars” instead of the designation of the particular model that was the subject of the segment.

    Some implementations leverage the fact that some TV viewers enter search queries during, and related to, TV programs they are viewing to improve the quality of the search results returned to such users. In some implementations, this improvement is provided by a search engine with access to comprehensive information about the content and geographic availability of TV programming for many different modes of live TV broadcasting (e.g., cable, over the air, satellite and Internet-streaming). In some implementations, a search engine compares a search query it receives to the content of TV programs that are presumably available to the user who executed the search query (based on the time the search query was submitted and a location associated with the user/the user’s device). In some implementations, the search engine can determine the location of the user from a user profile or other information entered by the user. In some implementations, the search engine can determine the user’s/device’s location from the IP address of the Internet-connected device employed by the user or, depending on user settings and capabilities of the Internet-connected device employed by the user, location information associated with a GPS receiver in the Internet-connected device, a known location of a nearby WiFi transmitter, or a known location of a nearby mobile/cellular communication tower. When there is an acceptable degree of correlation between the program information and the user’s search query (e.g., when the user executes a query for “Porsche” during the same time window a TV program is airing that includes a segment about a particular Porsche model), the search engine returns enhanced search results based on the presumption that the user in question was watching that particular TV program–or that the user in question would be interested in watching that particular TV program. For example, given that the Porsche model in question is a “911 Turbo,” and that the user executed a search query for “Porsche,” the server can return information about one or more of : 1) the “911 Turbo” model (e.g., a link to information on the Porsche.com website about the “911 Turbo”), 2) information about the TV program that is currently airing with that segment, and 3) suggestions of similar programming that is currently airing or airing in the future and that is available to the user. In this way, implementations provide enhanced search results to viewers of live TV that are relevant to the content of TV programs that they are watching or are likely to be interested in watching.

    Google can already listen to your TV from your mobile device with the “Listen to TV” feature launched last year. It also has a very inexpensive device in the Chromecast that has users literally plugging Google into their TVs.

    TV viewing as a ranking signal could end up being a pretty significant part of how Google delivers results to people for certain types of queries.

    Twitter has taught us time and time again that television plays a very significant role in much of our online activity, so it makes a great deal of sense that Google would consider that when delivering search results.

    Slawki writes in his report on the patent, “I’m going to have to turn up the sound on my TV, and decide carefully what to watch, and test this. It would be very interesting if it works. Is Google clued in to what you are watching on TV? If so, is that through a set top box, or an internet enabled television?”

    “If true, will this change the way that I do keyword research?” he adds. “Will it alter how I create content for the web, or decide upon page titles or meta descriptions? I’m not sure, but I am surprised.”

    The prospect of Google using this certainly makes you think about what it would mean for SEO.

    Do you think this is a good idea for Google to implement? Let us know.

    Lead image via Thinkstock

  • Conan Checks In With Minecraft Inventor About Microsoft Acquisition

    The big news on Monday was that Microsoft is buying Mojang, the company behind the hugely popular Minecraft, for $2.5 billion.

    Naturally, the subject came up on Conan, who checked in with the inventor of the game to see how he’s celebrating:

    The actual founders are leaving the company, but Mojang says most of the team will probably stay on board, at least for the time being. It’s worth noting that Microsoft recently announced a massive round of layoffs including many people it brought over from the acquisition of Nokia assets.

    Image via YouTube

  • Google’s Chromecast Gets Support From More Apps

    Google’s Chromecast Gets Support From More Apps

    Google announced a handful of apps that have added Chromecast support, including WATCH Disney, WATCH Disney Junior, WATCH Disney XD, Twitch, iHeartRadio, and DramaFever.

    The Disney apps will give users access to titles like Girl Meets World, Doc McStuffins, and Star Wars Rebels. They do, however, require a login from a supported TV provider, and there are some (like Time Warner Cable) missing from the list.

    Chromecast director of global content Shanna Preve writes on the Chrome blog:

    Music aficionados can now cast and blast music from the best speakers in the house with iHeartRadio. The app lets you listen to more than 1,500 live radio stations from all over the U.S. or customize your own.

    You can also join 60 million gamers on Twitch to watch and talk about video games. Get insights from both casual gamers and some of the biggest professional players competing in sold out stadiums. Cast Twitch content from the web, Android and iOS apps.

    The inclusion of Twitch is notable as it is being acquired by Amazon after Google reportedly backed out of a deal to purchase it. Amazon’s own Instant Video app doesn’t even offer Chromecast support at this point, though it did just become available for Android via the Amazon Appstore, and some newer Android devices have the ability to mirror their screens using the Chromecast.

    DramaFever, if you’re not familiar with it, gives users access to over 15,000 television episodes from international markets, including Korean dramas, Latin American telenovelas, and various Asian TV shows.

    The WATCH ABC and NPR One apps recently gained Chromecast support as well.

    Image via YouTube

  • Netflix Launches In Germany Following French Debut

    Netflix Launches In Germany Following French Debut

    On Monday, Netflix launched in France, and on Tuesday, the company followed that with a launch in Germany.

    On the new NetflixDE Twitter account, the company has so far been promoting Fargo, House of Cards, and Orange is the New Black. The OITNB crew is apparently making the rounds.

    Netflix is also expected to launch in Austria, Switzerland, Belgium, and Luxembourg this week. It’s other existing European markets include: the UK and Ireland, Denmark, Finland, Norway, Sweden, and the Netherlands.

    Image via Netflix

  • Netflix’s ‘Daredevil’ Picks Up Scott Glenn

    Netflix’s ‘Daredevil’ Picks Up Scott Glenn

    Netflix and Marvel announced that they’ve added another cast member to their upcoming Daredevil series, which debuts next year. Joining Charlie Cox, Vincent D’Onofrio, Rosario Dawson, Elden Henson, and Deborah Ann Woll will be Scott Glenn.

    Glenn will play Stick, the “mysterious martial artist and mentor” to Daredevil Matt Murdock.

    “Stick is one of the most important figures in Matt Murdock’s life and Scott Glenn embodies all the qualities of someone so integral to this hero’s journey,” said Jeph Loeb, Marvel’s Head of Television. “There are few actors who could bring such the authenticity, gravitas and charisma to such a key role in Matt’s journey to become the super hero we call Daredevil.”

    Glenn is known for films like The Silence of the Lambs, The Bourne Ultimatum, and The Hunt For Red October. More recently, he appeared on HBO’s The Leftovers.

    Daredevil will be the first original series from Marvel for Netflix, but will be followed by shows about Jessica Jones, Iron Fist and Luke Cage. These will all culminate in a miniseries event, The Defenders.

    The shows are to be shot in New York.

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • Netflix Officially Launches In France

    Netflix Officially Launches In France

    Netflix just officially launched in France, expanding its presence in Europe, which is also expected to soon include Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Belgium, and Luxembourg.

    Netflix announced plans to launch in these six European countries back in May. It’s already available in the UK and Ireland, Denmark, Finland, Norway, Sweden, and the Netherlands.

    Last month, the company announced its first French original series called Marseille, which is described as a “tale of power, corruption and redemption set against the rich backdrop of the French port city.”

    That starts production in the Spring, and is expected to debut in all Netflix markets late next year.

    Image via Netflix

  • Christina Applegate Stars in Weird New Fruitwater Ad

    Christina Applegate joined her former on-screen mother this week as Katey Sagal accepted a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. The two were also joined by former Married With Children co-stars Ed O’Neill and David Faustino during the ceremony.

    The event was a look back at the show that propelled Applegate to stardom. Playing Kelly Bundy on Married With Children made her into an early-90s sex symbol and led to dozens of roles in movies and on TV.

    In addition to her acting work, Applegate has been the face of numerous product campaigns. The most recent is for Fruitwater, a zero-calorie sparkling water beverage that comes in flavors such as watermelon punch, orange mango, and strawberry kiwi. The drink is marketed by Coca-Cola subsidiary Glacéau, the same company that markets the VitaminWater brand.

    Applegate was announced as the spokesperson for Fruitwater back in July, when the actress tweeted that she was “excited for what’s to come.” She could not have known at the time that a bizzare ad featuring her and a a man in drag would follow.

    Fruitwater this week released a new ad titled “Stolen Moments.” Applegate appears in a white dress alongside a man dressed in identical garb. The man, who is large and has facial hair, is described by Applegate as the “decoy” she uses when she needs to get away and drink Fruitwater.

    It is clear the man is intended to be a poor doppleganger. What is unclear is just what the ad is supposed to mean, other than simply juxtaposing Applegate’s beauty with the man’s plainness.

    Since her Married With Children days Applegate has stayed in the public spotlight, starring in movies such as Don’t Tell Mom the Babysitter’s Dead, Mars Attacks!, and The Sweetest Thing. She also continued to appear on television in shows such as Jesse, Samantha Who?, and Friends. Most recently Applegate appeared in the high-profile sequel Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues.

  • Netflix Unveils Instant Search Feature

    Netflix Unveils Instant Search Feature

    Netflix announced the launch of a new search experience for its website, which includes an “instant search” tool, which gives users faster access to titles as well as actors.

    The company explains in a blog post, “For the new search experience, we use lush cover art that delivers a more visual presentation across the page. As you start typing your query, potential matches of TV shows and movies appear in the grid of cover art. The new style makes it easier for the user to scan the results and, combined with the infinite scroll functionality, gives the user an intuitive way to explore the Netflix catalog.”

    “A list of actors, directors and creators matching the query is shown on the left hand side,” it explains. “When clicking on any of those results, a new gallery will open with all the titles related to that person. The left rail is also used for suggestions related to genres, topical searches and searches for titles that are unavailable to stream. In each case, users see recommendations based on that suggestion, as shown in the screenshot below.”

    You can also type in “Netflix” to see all the titles listed as Netflix originals.

    The features appear to still be in the roll-out stage, so if you’re not seeing them just yet, you should soon. The functionality will come to other devices in time.

    It’s not very often that Netflix announces new features, so it’s interesting that we’re getting this just after the launch of the new social recommendation feature and reports of a short-form video offering.

    Image via Netflix

  • Netflix Launches Post-Play For Chromecast

    Netflix Launches Post-Play For Chromecast

    Netflix announced that it has added its Post-Play feature to its Chromecast experience. Here’s how Netflix described the feature when it originally launched in 2012:

    When you finish watching an episode of a TV show, we’ll minimize the credits and tee-up the next episode. If you do nothing, the next episode will start to play in 15 seconds. You can also stop it to get more information or select another episode.

    When you finish watching a movie, we’ll minimize the credits and offer you three recommendations to try next. If those don’t suit you, you can always go directly to search from post-play or go back to browsing to find something else.

    Chromecast users will get the functionality within the next few days. It will first be available to users with mobile phones and tablets. PC support will come later.

    Last week, Netflix launched a new social media recommendation feature, but that’s not available for Android yet.

    Image via Netflix

  • Netflix Mulls Offering Short-Form Videos

    Netflix Mulls Offering Short-Form Videos

    We heard nearly a year ago that Netflix was talking about offering some DVD-like extras for streaming content. Now, it looks like Netflix may start offering some short-form content in an effort to get more people using the service from their phones.

    Janko Roettgers reports:

    The company is considering adding two- to five-minute-long clips to its catalog to give its growing number of mobile users some bite-sized content to watch, design manager Dantley Davis revealed during an event at Netflix’s Los Gatos headquarters Thursday.

    Netflix is testing this type of content on mobile now, said Davis. One of the tests the company is currently running adds an extra row of content titled “Have five minutes?” to the home screen of Netflix’s existing mobile app. The company may add short-form content as a permanent feature when it relaunches its mobile apps in the coming months, depending on the outcome of these tests. Davis said that these tests have so far shown “very positive results.”

    While Netflix is apparently not trying to directly compete with YouTube or anything, but is rather looking at offering clips from content it already provides, Netflix does have a YouTube channel where it already offers this kind of stuff. This is likely a good place to look for the types of things we can expect to see.

    On the channel, you’ll find clips from its exclusive stand-up comedy specials, for example.

    The majority of Netflix is still watched on televisions, according to the company.

    Image via YouTube

  • Here’s What’s About To Hit Netflix (We Are Wyld Stallyns)

    Here’s What’s About To Hit Netflix (We Are Wyld Stallyns)

    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. As always, dates are subject to change.

    This week’s list isn’t as huge as last week’s, but there are some gems in here (Bill & Ted anyone?). It also includes the first season of hit TV series The Blacklist, which Netflix is said to be paying $2 million per episode for.

    Available on 09/05:

    All is Lost (2013)

    Robert Redford

    In this harrowing drama — which has no dialogue — Robert Redford portrays a man stranded alone at sea, courageously battling a ferocious storm as he struggles to survive with just a sextant and maritime maps to guide him.

    Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure (1989)

    Keanu Reeves, Alex Winter, George Carlin, Bernie Casey, Terry Camilleri, Clifford David, Jane Wiedlin, Dan Shor, Tony Steedman, Rod Loomis, Al Leong

    Whoa, dudes! San Dimas, Calif., high school underachievers Bill (Alex Winter) and Ted (Keanu Reeves) face flunking out if they don’t ace a year-end history presentation. Using a time machine, they transport themselves back a few millennia. In the past, they enlist the help of Genghis Khan, Abraham Lincoln, Billy the Kid and Socrates (among others). They even manage to bag a couple of medieval babes. Talk about a funky show-and-tell!

    Trailer Park Boys: Season 8

    This wickedly funny mockumentary series follows the booze-fueled misadventures of Julian (John Paul Tremblay), Ricky (Robb Wells) and Bubbles (Mike Smith), longtime pals and petty serial criminals who run scams from their Nova Scotia trailer park — when they aren’t in jail, that is. But kudos to the lads for their persistence, even if their harebrained get-rich schemes involve growing pot right under the nose of ex-cop Jim (John Dunsworth).

    Available on 09/06:

    Kid Cannabis (2014)

    Kenny Wormald, Jonathan Daniel Brown, Ron Perlman, Aaron Yoo, John C. McGinley, Corey Large

    Teaming with his best friend and a ragtag group of potheads, enterprising teen Nate Norman sets up a lucrative operation smuggling large amounts of marijuana from Canada to Idaho. But the young drug traffickers soon sow the seeds of their downfall.

    Le Week-End (2014)

    Jim Broadbent, Lindsay Duncan, Jeff Goldblum, Olly Alexander, Judith Davis, Xavier De Guillebon

    Returning to Paris long after their honeymoon there, a British couple hopes to rediscover the magical feelings of their early years together. There, they meet an old friend whose perspectives on love and marriage help them recover what was lost.

    Refuge (2012)

    Krysten Ritter, Brian Geraghty, Logan Huffman, Madeleine Martin, Juliet Garrett, Joe Pallister, Chris Papavasiliou, Helen Rogers

    After Amy’s parents abandon her two younger siblings — one of them brain-damaged — she’s obliged to leave college to take care of them. While struggling to accept her dreary new existence, Amy meets a man who may change everything.

    Your Sister’s Sister (2011)

    Emily Blunt, Rosemarie DeWitt, Mark Duplass, Mike Birbiglia

    Jack, who is mourning the death of his brother, has a complicated relationship with his best friend, Iris, who used to date his brother. Their chaotic situation becomes even more tangled when Jack has a drunken tryst with Iris’s flighty sister.

    Available on 09/07:

    The Blacklist: Season 1 (2013)

    James Spader, Megan Boone, Harry Lennix, Diego Klattenhoff, Ryan Eggold, Ilfenesh Hadera

    After turning himself in to the FBI, brilliant fugitive Raymond Reddington offers to help capture other criminals, but only if the bureau plays by his rules — which include teaming with rookie profiler Elizabeth Keen.

    Available on 09/09

    Who Is Dayani Cristal? (2013)

    Gael García Bernal

    In the oppressive desert heat, Arizona authorities find a man’s decomposing body with only one clue to his identity: a tattoo reading “Dayani Cristal.” Gael García Bernal portrays the unknown man in dramatic segments of this intriguing documentary

    Available on 09/10:

    Crash & Bernstein: Season 2

    Wyatt Bernstein, the only boy in his otherwise all-female family, creates a puppet named Crash who comes to life as the brother he always wanted. Now, the new siblings learn from each other as they face life’s adventures together.

    Deadly Code (2013)

    Arnas Fedaravicius, Vilius Tumalavicius, Eleanor Tomlinson, Jonas Trukanas, Vitalij Porshnev, Peter Stormare, John Malkovich
    Friends Kolyma and Gagarin come of age in a Siberian crime family where Kolyma’s iron-fisted grandfather enforces rules that keep the young men at odds. Their relationship is further tested when they both fall for the same beautiful woman.

    Available on 09/11:

    A Single Man (2009)

    Colin Firth, Julianne Moore, Nicholas Hoult, Matthew Goode, Jon Kortajarena, Paulette Lamori, Ryan Simpkins, Ginnifer Goodwin, Teddy Sears, Paul Butler

    Set in 1962 Los Angeles, this stream-of-consciousness drama centers on a day in the life of George Falconer, a gay college professor who plans to commit suicide in the wake of his longtime lover’s recent death.

    Dennis Miller: America 180 (2014)

    Five-time Emmy winner Dennis Miller takes a look at the state of the nation in a stand-up routine that touches on health care and climate change.

    Filth (2014)

    James McAvoy, Imogen Poots, Jamie Bell, Joanne Froggatt, Eddie Marsan, Jim Broadbent

    An arrogant, corrupt cop who believes he’s the only competent person in his department sees a recent murder case as a path to promotion. But the investigation brings the deluded officer into a rendezvous with reality that he’s wholly unprepared for.

    The Moment (2013)

    Jennifer Jason Leigh, Martin Henderson, Alia Shawkat, Marianne Jean-Baptiste, Meat Loaf

    After her lover vanishes, a photojournalist winds up in a psychiatric hospital, where she tries to make sense of her fragmented memories — and begins to uncover some unexpected and disturbing truths.

    See more recently added titles here.

    Image via YouTube

  • The Blacklist: Season 1 Gets Netflix Release Date

    The Blacklist: Season 1 Gets Netflix Release Date

    We’ve learned that The Blacklist: Season 1 is set to make its Netflix streaming debut on Sunday, September 7th. This should give viewers enough time to catch up ahead NBC’s Season 2 premiere on September 22nd (at least if they try hard enough).

    We get weekly lists of upcoming title additions from Netflix. Dates are always subject to change, but this week, The Blacklist: Season 1 is showing up for Sunday. The description is as follows:

    James Spader, Megan Boone, Harry Lennix, Diego Klattenhoff, Ryan Eggold, Ilfenesh Hadera

    After turning himself in to the FBI, brilliant fugitive Raymond Reddington offers to help capture other criminals, but only if the bureau plays by his rules — which include teaming with rookie profiler Elizabeth Keen.

    Last week, we learned that Netflix had acquired the rights to the show in a deal that was reportedly worth $2 million per episode. There are 22 episodes in the first season.

    Image via Facebook

  • Netflix Gains Exclusive SVOD Rights To ‘Gotham’

    Netflix Gains Exclusive SVOD Rights To ‘Gotham’

    Netflix and Warner Bros. announced an agreement that will make Netflix the exclusive subscription VOD home of the upcoming television series Gotham, which is set to debut on FOX on September 22nd.

    Netflix will get each season of the series following its linear broadcast, starting next year.

    If you’re unfamiliar with the show’s premise, here’s how it’s described in the announcement:

    The series draws on the origin story of Batman, taking place in Gotham City as young Detective (and future Commissioner) James Gordon and the recently orphaned Bruce Wayne meet in the troubled days before the arrival of the Dark Knight. With a stellar cast including Ben McKenzie (Southland, The O.C.), Donal Logue (Sons of Anarchy, Vikings, Terriers), Jada Pinkett Smith (The Matrix Reloaded, Ali, Collateral, HawthoRNe) and Sean Pertwee (The Musketeers, Elementary, Luther, The Tudors), the series follows Gordon’s rise from rookie detective to Police Commissioner as he navigates the layers of corruption that secretly rule Gotham City.

    The action-packed series draws on the stories of the great DC Comics “Super-Villains and Vigilantes,” revealing an entirely new chapter that has never been told. The one-hour drama follows one cop’s rise through a dangerously corrupt city teetering on the edge of evil and chronicles the genesis of one of the most popular superheroes of our time.

    Terms of the deal were not disclosed, but Netflix is likely paying a hefty sum. They’re reportedly paying $2 million per episode to get NBC drama The Blacklist, though that show has already established itself as a hit.

    Netflix content chief Ted Sarandos explains the company’s thought process: “Gotham is the most anticipated new series of the fall season and we are thrilled to offer it to our members around the world. The Batman origin story is sure to have massive global appeal so it is fitting that, along with Warner Television, we have created a new model for distributing a show that international and domestic audiences will love.”

    “In this era of new business models and expanding windows, this is an unprecedented deal for our company and our industry,” adds Jeffrey R. Schlesinger, President, Warner Bros. Worldwide Television Distribution. “While we typically license our programming country by country, we have licensed this very special series to Netflix on a multi-territory basis. Netflix is a perfect home for Gotham following its initial broadcast in each respective country, giving Netflix subscribers the opportunity to catch-up prior to the new season, whether they’re already fans or discovering it for the first time.”

    On Tuesday, Netflix announced that it’s bringing back Hemlock Grove for one more season.

    Image via YouTube

  • Netflix Announces ‘Hemlock Grove’ To Get One More Season

    Netflix Announces ‘Hemlock Grove’ To Get One More Season

    Netflix announced today that it’s bringing Hemlock Grove back for one more season, which would mark the first of Netflix’s originals to be concluded.

    The show never got the best reviews, but it certainly had a fanbase who will no doubt be disappointed with the news. Personally, I felt that the show only got better with its second season, but I can also see where it doesn’t really need to go on for too long.

    The reasons for the show’s conclusion are unclear. When it debuted, it drew more viewers than House of Cards. It even managed to get two Emmy nominations for its theme music and visual effects.

    Netflix did say recently that it wants to bring more horror to its service, and so far, this is the only Horror series it has offered, unless you count From Dusk Till Dawn, which is dubbed a Netflix original, despite having debuted on the El Rey Network. I’m still holding out hope that they’ll get that Friday the 13th series.

    Hemlock Grove: Season 3 will debut in 2015. It will have ten episodes.

    According to Deadline, Charles H. Eglee will return as showrunner. The article quotes producer Eli Roth:

    “We are so grateful to the fans of Hemlock Grove who have championed the series so intensely over two seasons. We are looking forward to taking the last and final season into some dark and unexpected places, and to giving viewers the killer finale you’d come to expect from Hemlock Grove.”

    The Hollywood Report shares some additional quotes:

    “We are delighted that our fans have invited us back to explore the fiendish recesses of the human condition for another season. Knowing it will be our last, gives us the opportunity to go out in a mushroom cloud of clever and soul shattering mayhem. See you soon on the twisted streets of Hemlock Grove,” said Eglee.

    “We, along with the fans, are looking forward to visiting Hemlock Grove one last time, and we know that Chic, Eli and the team will provide a riveting and mind bending conclusion to complete the series,” said Cindy Holland, Netflix’s vp original programming.

    Image via YouTube

  • Netflix Launches New Social Recommendations

    Netflix Launches New Social Recommendations

    Netflix just announced the launch of a new social recommendation feature, which enables users to recommend titles to people privately. When you finish watching something, it will ask you if you know anyone else who’d like the show, and will prompt you to find your friends using Facebook.

    Netflix notes that it will not post anything to Facebook or share what you watch to your friends’ News Feeds.

    “After selecting friends from a row of their pictures, and adding an optional message, click Send,” Netflix director of product innovation Cameron Johnson says in a blog post. “Your friends will receive the recommendation the next time they log into Netflix. They can thank you for the recommendation, and if they watch it or add it to their list, we’ll let you know.”

    netflix facebook recommendations

    “For friends who have not yet connected Netflix and Facebook, we’ll send your recommendation as a private message to Facebook Messenger,” he adds.

    The feature is available on the Netflix website, on iOS, PS3, and Xbox, as well as a variety of set-top boxes and smart TVs. Android is noticeably absent from the list, but the company says it will be adding additional platforms in the coming months.

    Netflix has explained the complications of launching features on Android in the past, citing the operating system’s fragmentation as the main difficulty.

    Netflix first launched Facebook integration last year.

    Images via Netflix

  • Kyra Sedgwick’s Brooklyn Nine-Nine Promo Released

    We got our first look yesterday at former Closer Kyra Sedgwick playing Deputy Chief Madeline Wuntch in the sophomore police comedy Brooklyn Nine-Nine.

    The 49-year-old actress makes her return to the small screen in a two-episode arc. Wuntch is a long-time arch-rival of Captain Holt (Andre Braugher.) And not only does she outrank him, but Wuntch also has plans to take down the Deputy and his entire squad.

    Executive Producer Dan Goor said, “Kyra brings so much presence and gravitas to the role — exactly the traits needed to stand off against Andre Braugher. And she pitched one of the funniest flashbacks that we’ve ever done!”

    The first look picture released by TV Guide on Thursday features Sedgwick staring down Braugher. She may be small, but she looks pretty tough.

    Sedgwick starred in The Closer as Deputy Police Chief Brenda Johnson for seven seasons. The TNT cable show ended in 2012. Deputy Johnson was the head of the Priority Homicide Division of the LAPD. She had the incredible ability to read people in order to get confessions and solve cases. Sedgwick won a Golden Globe Award in 2007 and an Emmy Award in 2010 for her role as Johnson.

    Brooklyn Nine-Nine will return for its second season on September 28. The premiere season of the Andy Samberg comedy was a success for Fox. The show won a Golden Globe in 2014 for Best Television Series – Musical or Comedy. Also, Andy Samberg took home a Golden Globe for Best Actor – Television Series Musical or Comedy.

    Sedgwick’s two-episode arc on Brooklyn Nine-Nine is scheduled to air on October 5.

  • Netflix Kicks Off New Blast Of Exclusive Comedy Specials

    Netflix Kicks Off New Blast Of Exclusive Comedy Specials

    Netflix’s latest blast of exclusive stand-up comedy performances has now begun. On Friday, Netflix debuted Jim Jefferies: Bare.

    Earlier this month, the company announced four new comedy specials, including this one as well as new specials from Bill Cosby, Bill Burr, and Chelsea Peretti. A previously announced special from Chelsea Handler is also coming in October.

    Here’s the description for the Jefferies show:

    Filmed live at the Wilbur Theatre in Boston, Jim Jefferies is back and fired up as ever in his newest comedy special. No one is safe from Jim’s hilarious and shocking observations about politics, new fatherhood, orgies and Neil Diamond.

    Netflix tweeted out this trailer (which is full of NSFW language):

    Next up on the slate is the Handler special on October 10th followed by Peretti’s on November 14th, Cosby’s on November 28th, and Burr’s on December 5th.

    Here’s a list of other titles getting ready to hit Netflix.

    Image via Netflix

  • Here’s What’s About To Hit Netflix (Robin Williams Classics Included)

    Here’s What’s About To Hit Netflix (Robin Williams Classics Included)

    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. As always, dates are subject to change.

    If the last couple weeks’ lists were a little on the short side, this week’s certainly makes up for them. There’s a lot to look for on Netflix in the coming days, including a new original stand-up comedy show, the entire Californication series, last year’s season of The League, and a couple of Robin Williams classics to name a few. Take a look.

    Available on 08/29:

    Jim Jefferies: Bare – A Netflix Original Comedy

    Nothing is sacred in this show from Australian comic Jim Jefferies, whether it’s the mother of his child, auditioning disabled actors, or gun control.

    Once Upon a Time: Season 3

    Jennifer Morrison, Ginnifer Goodwin and Robert Carlyle star in this fantastical series that follows the travails of a young woman who is drawn to a small Maine town and discovers that it’s filled with the mystical elements of the fairy tale world.

    Available on 08/31:

    Space Warriors (2013)

    Dermot Mulroney, Mira Sorvino, Josh Lucas, Booboo Stewart, Danny Glover, Thomas Horn

    Six brilliant teenagers compete against each other at a demanding summer space camp held by the U.S. Space & Rocket Center. But when a crisis arises on the International Space Station, they join forces to save the astronauts on board.

    Available on 09/01:

    A Simple Plan (1998)

    Bill Paxton, Bridget Fonda, Billy Bob Thornton, Brent Briscoe, Jack Walsh, Chelcie Ross
    When brothers Hank and Jacob discover a dead body and millions of dollars in cash in a downed plane, they plot to hide the loot and split it later. It’s a simple plan — until things go murderously awry amid suspicion and mistrust.

    Californication: Seasons 1-7

    Best-selling novelist Hank Moody battles writer’s block and a weakness for drugs, booze and one-night stands while he struggles to make things work with his on-and-off girlfriend and their teenage daughter.

    Chasing UFOs: Season 1

    Investigators set out to uncover the truth about UFOs, and Season 1 finds them unveiling a possible alien farm, a reported UFO landing pad and more.

    Cool Runnings (1993)

    John Candy, Leon, Doug E. Doug, Rawle D. Lewis, Malik Yoba, Raymond J. Barry, Peter Outerbridge

    A fictionalized account of the unlikely story of Jamaica’s first bobsled team, Cool Runnings follows their journey to the 1988 Olympics. When Derice Bannock’s (Leon) chances of qualifying for Jamaica’s track team are dashed, he looks for another sport. Derice persuades U.S. bobsledding gold medalist Irv Blitzer (John Candy), who now lives in Jamaica, to coach him and his friends as they attempt to become a world-class bobsled team.

    Crocodile Dundee (1986)

    Paul Hogan, Linda Kozlowski, John Meillon, David Gulpilil, Ritchie Singer, Terry Gilliam, Mark Blum
    When a New York reporter (Linda Kozlowski) plucks crocodile hunter Dundee (Paul Hogan) from the Australian Outback for a visit to the Big Apple, it’s a clash of cultures and a recipe for good-natured comedy as naïve Dundee negotiates the concrete jungle. Dundee proves that his instincts are quite useful in the city and adeptly handles everything from wily muggers to high-society snoots without breaking a sweat. Hogan’s script earned an Oscar nod.

    Detention (2011)

    Shanley Caswell, Josh Hutcherson, Dane Cook, Spencer Locke, Aaron David Johnson, Jan Anderson

    In this genre-bending slasher flick, a high schooler gets slapped with detention on the same night as senior prom. But plenty of other kids will also be missing the big event when a past-her-prime prom queen shows up to slay them.

    Doomsday Preppers: Seasons 1-3

    The first season of this documentary series profiles survivalists preparing for economic collapse, food instability and other forms of global chaos

    Flubber (1997)

    Robin Williams, Marcia Gay Harden, Christopher McDonald, Ted Levine, Clancy Brown
    On the verge of losing his girlfriend and his job, a scatterbrained college professor accidentally invents a bouncy material called Flubber. The substance stands to save the day — if the professor can defeat the many rivals who try to sabotage him.

    Girl Rising (2013)

    Anne Hathaway, Cate Blanchett, Selena Gomez, Liam Neeson, Priyanka Chopra, Chloë Grace Moretz, Freida Pinto, Salma Hayek, Meryl Streep, Alicia Keys, Kerry Washington
    Nine filmmakers each profile a young girl from a different part of the world to weave a global tapestry of youth in the 21st century. From a 7-year-old Haitian earthquake survivor to an Afghani child bride, these stories inspire and captivate.

    Girlfight (2000)

    Michelle Rodriguez, Jaime Tirelli, Paul Calderon, Santiago Douglas, Ray Santiago, Víctor Sierra
    First-time director Karyn Kusama’s powerful film tells the story of Diana (Michelle Rodriguez), a Brooklyn high-schooler who gets little support from her dismissive single father and takes her frustrations out on her classmates. But when she wanders into a local boxing gym, she’s instantly drawn to the action. And though it’s a male-dominated world, boxing provides her a newfound discipline and sense of purpose, as well as a positive male role model.

    Good Morning, Vietnam (1987)

    Robin Williams, Forest Whitaker, Tung Thanh Tran, Chintara Sukapatana, Bruno Kirby, Robert Wuhl

    When his manic radio show proves a huge morale-booster, Armed Forces Radio disc jockey Adrian Cronauer gets sent to Vietnam, where his monkeyshines — lampooning any and all sacred cows — tickle the troops but land him in trouble with his superiors.

    Guess Who (2005)

    Bernie Mac, Ashton Kutcher, Zoe Saldana, Judith Scott, Hal Williams, Kellee Stewart

    Ashton Kutcher stars in this remake of the 1967 classic Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner? But the tables are turned this time around, as he plays the fiancé of an African American woman who’s met with skepticism and suspicion from her father.

    Hinterland: Season 1

    BBC police detective drama series set in Aberystwyth against the backdrop of mountainous terrain, close-knit villages, and windswept sand dunes of the coastline to the badlands of the hinterland. Starring Richard Harrington as DCI Tom Mathias.

    Hoodwinked (2005)

    Anne Hathaway, Glenn Close, James Belushi, Patrick Warburton, Anthony Anderson, David Ogden Stiers

    In this nod to “Little Red Riding Hood,” investigators uncover a tangled web of events when they’re called to Granny’s cottage to look into a domestic disturbance involving a sardonic wolf, an axe and a crimson-caped girl.

    Jay and Silent Bob’s Super Groovy Cartoon Movie (2013)

    Jason Mewes, Kevin Smith, Eliza Dushku, Tara Strong, Ralph Garman, Neil Gaiman, Ben Gleib
    After hitting the lottery jackpot, Jay and Silent Bob use their newfound cash to become crime-fighting superheroes Bluntman and Chronic.

    Lords of Dogtown (2005)

    Emile Hirsch, Victor Rasuk, John Robinson, Michael Angarano, Nikki Reed, Heath Ledger

    A group of outcasts from California’s Venice Beach change the face of skateboarding forever in this 1970s tale based on a true story, written by “Skateboard Godfather” Stacy Peralta, one of the competitive skaters portrayed in the film. Known as the Z-Boys, the radical riders invent a brazen style of skating and deal with heartache when the sport they live for turns into big business. Heath Ledger, Emile Hirsch and Rebecca De Mornay co-star.

    Mirage Men (2012)

    Fascination and controversy regarding UFO sightings have been with us for centuries, but this absorbing documentary offers a disturbing new thesis: that the U.S. military has been distributing false information about them for decades.

    School of Rock (2003)

    Jack Black, Adam Pascal, Lucas Papaelias, Chris Stack, Sarah Silverman, Mike White, Lucas Babin

    Fired from his band and hard up for cash, guitarist and vocalist Dewey Finn finagles his way into a job as a fourth-grade substitute teacher at a private school, where he secretly begins teaching his students the finer points of rock ‘n’ roll.

    Small Apartments (2012)

    Matt Lucas, Billy Crystal, Juno Temple, James Caan, Peter Stormare, David Koechner
    Franklin Franklin has a dead landlord on the kitchen floor and an investigator (Billy Crystal) questioning him. But none of this fazes Franklin. He waits each day for a letter from his brother (James Marsden) who has the secret that can set him free.

    Swiss Family Robinson (1960)

    John Mills, Dorothy McGuire, James MacArthur, Janet Munro, Sessue Hayakawa, Tommy Kirk
    After being shipwrecked, the Robinson family is marooned on an island inhabited only by an impressive array of wildlife. In true pioneer spirit, they quickly make themselves at home but soon face a danger even greater than nature: dastardly pirates. A rousing adventure suitable for the whole family, this Disney adaptation of the classic Johann Wyss novel stars Dorothy McGuire and John Mills as Mother and Father Robinson.

    The Believers (1987)

    Martin Sheen, Helen Shaver, Harley Cross, Robert Loggia, Elizabeth Wilson, Harris Yulin, Lee Richardson

    Mourning the accidental death of his wife and having just moved to New York with his young son, laconic police psychologist Cal Jamison is reluctantly drawn into a series of grisly, ritualistic murders involving the immolation of two youths.

    The Blue Lagoon (1980)

    Brooke Shields, Christopher Atkins, Leo McKern, William Daniels, Elva Josephson, Glenn Kohan

    Set in the lush environs of a deserted tropical island, this coming-of-age tale follows two shipwrecked children — Emmeline and Richard — who are stranded for years. As the cute kids turn into beautiful teenagers, nature takes its course.

    The Unbelievers (2013)

    Richard Dawkins, Lawrence Krauss, Stephen Hawking, Ricky Gervais, Woody Allen, Cameron Diaz

    Richard Dawkins and Lawrence Krauss — the dynamic duo of science — travel the globe seeking to promote a scientific worldview and the rational questioning of religious belief, with celebrities, professors and ordinary folks supporting their work.

    Unsealed: Alien Files: Season 1

    The debut season investigates Area 51, Vatican cover-ups, Nazi-alien collaboration, presidential encounters, ancient visitations and more.

    Zero Hour: Seasons 1-3

    This documentary-style series dramatizes the moments leading up to some of the most memorable historical events that unfolded in less than an hour.

    Available on 09/02

    The League: Season 5

    Fantasy football tackles reality in this semi-scripted look at a group of longtime friends whose annual hobby gives them an excuse to get together and escape their everyday lives in a blitz of trash-talking, deceit and ruthless extortion.

    Available on 09/5:

    Trailer Park Boys: Season 8

    This wickedly funny mockumentary series follows the booze-fueled misadventures of Julian (John Paul Tremblay), Ricky (Robb Wells) and Bubbles (Mike Smith), longtime pals and petty serial criminals who run scams from their Nova Scotia trailer park — when they aren’t in jail, that is. But kudos to the lads for their persistence, even if their harebrained get-rich schemes involve growing pot right under the nose of ex-cop Jim (John Dunsworth).

    Netflix is also pushing its TV content for subscribers to get caught up on shows for the upcoming fall season.

    See more recently added titles here.

    Image via YouTube

  • Hulu Picks Up The Hilarious ‘Party Down’

    Hulu Picks Up The Hilarious ‘Party Down’

    Hulu announced that it has acquired streaming rights to comedy series Party Down. Starting on Friday, all episodes of the show will be available to stream exclusively on Hulu Plus. The first five episodes will be available for a limited time on the free version of Hulu.

    Party Down ran for only two seasons on Starz from 2009 – 2010. Despite getting largely positive reviews, it just didn’t bring in the ratings. Many (like myself) became fans during the show’s run on Netflix. Netflix ended up losing Starz content in early 2012 after negotiations fell apart, and Party Down vanished from the service.

    Now, the show has a chance to find yet another audience. The cast alone should be enough to entice a number of people unfamiliar with the show. It includes Ken Marino, Adam Scott, Jane Lynch, Lizzy Caplan, Megan Mullally, and Martin Starr, and Ryan Hansen in addition to numerous familiar guest stars.

    Hulu says in its announcement:

    That means soon you’ll be able to watch all episodes of the cult comedy that celebrates mediocre employment and stars a cast of Hollywood comedic all-stars including Emmy® Award nominees Lizzy Caplan (Masters of Sex) and Jane Lynch (Glee), as well as Adam Scott (Parks and Recreation, Step Brothers), Ken Marino (Marry Me, Burning Love), Ryan Hansen (Veronica Mars), Martin Starr (Silicon Valley, Knocked Up) and Emmy® Award-winner Megan Mullally (Will & Grace, Fame).

    Like Netflix, Hulu is working on building up its comedy offerings. It also recently acquired exclusive streaming rights to South Park.

    Image via Hulu

  • Netflix Has Already Renewed BoJack Horseman

    Netflix Has Already Renewed BoJack Horseman

    It’s only been four days since the first season debuted, but Netflix is apparently already happy enough with the outcome to renew BoJack Horseman for another season.

    The Hollywood Reporter says the show will be back with another twelve episodes.

    If you’re still wondering whether or not you should watch it, you can at least take comfort in knowing that there will be more than the initial episodes.

    It’s not exactly surprising that Netflix ordered up another season. It hasn’t canceled any of its originals since launching Lilyhammer – its first one. It even renewed Orange is the New Black before the first season debuted.

    BoJack Horseman features the voices of Will Arnett, Amy Sedaris, Alison Brie, and Aaron Paul. Here’s the description:

    Legendary star of the 1990s family favorite sitcom “Horsin’ Around,” BoJack (Will Arnett) has been trying to find his way through a muddle of self-loathing, whisky and failed relationships. Now, in the presence of his human sidekick Todd (Aaron Paul) and his feline agent and ex-paramour Princess Caroline (Amy Sedaris), BoJack is primed for his comeback and the over 40 million global members of Netflix will be able to chart his progress in excruciatingly real time when all twelve episodes of season one hit the service in mid 2014.

    Image via YouTube