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Tag: TV Shows

  • Derek (Of The Netflix Original) Has A New YouTube Guide

    If you’ve watched Derek, the Ricky Gervais Netflix Original, you know that the titular character loves YouTube videos – particularly videos of animals and songs.

    The Ricky Gervais Channel has just released Derek’s Guide to YouTube. It’s over seven and a half minutes long, so it’s extensive. Enjoy.

    Earlier this week, Netflix released a trailer for the second season, which debuts on May 30th (it’s already started on Channel 4 in the UK):

    It looks like it’s being pretty well received in the UK:

    Image via YouTube

  • Netflix Users’ Ability To Watch ‘House M.D.’ And Other Shows Disrupted

    It appears that some popular television shows have gone missing from Netflix for some users, but don’t worry. The company hasn’t lost these shows. It’s just a temporary mishap.

    The company tweeted this:

    Shows some have had trouble accessing appear to include House M.D., Mad Men, Gossip Girl, New Girl, Grey’s Anatomy Dexter, and others.

    Long story short: Calm down. Your show will be back.

    People really don’t like when their Netflix is disrupted.

    Apparently it’s not limited to the U.S.

    Image via Netflix

  • Netflix Releases ‘Derek’ Season 2 Trailer

    Netflix has just released a new trailer for the upcoming second season of Derek, which debuts on the streaming service on May 30th. It premiered on Channel 4 in the UK on April 23rd.

    You can find another clip and a deleted scene plus outtakes here and here respectively.

    This will be the next Netflix Original to have a second season premiere, following Lilyhammer and House of Cards. After Derek, Orange is the New Black is next on the list in June. Hemlock Grove: Season 2 will then debut in July.

    Image via Twitter

  • Netflix’s ‘Grace And Frankie’ Gets Director

    Netflix’s ‘Grace And Frankie’ Gets Director

    Last month, Netflix announced a new original comedy series called Grace and Frankie, which is to star Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin. It’s written and created by Friends creator Marta Kauffman along with Howard J. Morris.

    The show has now gained a director, according to a report from Deadline. That would be The Help director Tate Taylor, making his debut in television directing. It’s unclear whether he will be directing the entire thirteen-episode season or specific episodes. He will reportedly also serve as one of the show’s executive producers.

    Taylor, who also wrote the screenplay for The Help, also wrote and directed the film Pretty Ugly People. His most recent directorial credit is the upcoming Get on Up about James Brown.

    Here’s the description Netflix originally gave for Grace and Frankie:

    The single-camera comedy focuses on nemeses Grace (Fonda) and Frankie (Tomlin) facing the last chapter of their lives, though not in the way they expected. When their husbands announce they are in love with each other and plan to get married, the women find their lives both turned upside down and to their dismay, permanently intertwined Eventually, to their surprise, they find they have each other.

    The show comes from Skydance Productions. In addition to Taylor, Kaufman, Morris, Fonda, Tomlin will also executive produce along with Skydance’s David Ellison, Dana Goldberg and Marcy Ross.

    No release date has been set yet, but Netflix said it will debut next year.

    Image via YouTube

  • Chelsea Handler On Netflix Deal: Everything Is A Lie

    As previously reported, there have been rumors that talk show host Chelsea Handler, who is leaving E!, is close to a deal with Netflix for a new show of an unknown format.

    These appear to have started with a report in The New York Post. Variety also reported that it was a “done deal,” but not official yet.

    She appeared on Conan O’Brien last night, and said it’s all lies.

    Asked about the rumors, Handler said, “No, I haven’t made any decisions about what I’m doing. Everything that’s printed about me is a lie.”

    She also said, “Everything’s an option. It’s like you leave a job, and other people come to you and say, ‘Do you want to do this or this,’ and I’m like, ‘I don’t know. I want to go to Spain. I want to go, and like live…I want to go to a land…a place where people just don’t…men don’t understand what I’m saying.”

    Netflix has also denied that it has been in talks with Handler. Another rumor has her going to CBS, but that has been shot down as well.

    That one may have had something to do with this Instagram post, which said, “Business meeting. Chunk has been actin like this since I started my tour.”

    A talk show would be a first for Netflix. It would be interesting to see how such a thing might play out, but don’t hold your breath.

    Image via YouTube

  • HBO Lets You Watch ‘Last Week Tonight’ Debut For Free On YouTube

    HBO debuted Last Week Tonight, the new show featuring comedian John Oliver (formerly of The Daily Show).

    They’ve disabled embedding, so you’ll have to go to the actual video page to watch, but here it is.

    The show doesn’t appear to stray too far from the Daily Show format, except that it’s weekly rather than daily, and John Oliver takes on the Jon Stewart role as opposed to the correspondent role he had on the Comedy Central show (though the interview he does is pretty reminiscent of those he did on that show). It should fit well with HBO’s Real Time with Bill Maher, in HBO’s news commentary line-up, though it appears on Sundays, while Real Time is on Fridays.

    So what to people think about it? Here are a few samples from the YouTube (or Google+) comments.

    Ralf Haring says, “It’s obviously heavily influenced by the Daily Show, though it didn’t really feel like he was picking through Stewart’s and Colbert’s leftovers with some segments focusing on the Indian election. I expect in the future he’ll be less nervous – the bits proceeded at a breakneck pace – and that it’ll evolve further in its own direction.”

    “I liked it,” added Alok Tiwari. “And I like the breakneck pace as well. Some Americans seem to be put off by the unbleeped cursing, though. (They really mustn’t watch any TV shows from UK.)”

    “If The Daily Show and The Bugle podcast had a baby, this would be it,” said Eric N. Wilson. “And afterwards there would be several “oh, this is awkward” moments when they were in the same room, since mommy and daddy can’t even agree on whether cricket is a sport or a cellphone.”

    Here’s the Twitter conversation:


    Obviously you still have to be an HBO subscriber to watch the show regularly, and they still don’t offer a standalone HBO Go experience. You still have to have cable or satellite.

    HBO does appear to be loosening its grip on its content just a little bit though. Last week, Amazon announced that it gets to stream some of its older content.

    It’s unclear how long HBO will leave the show available on YouTube, or whether there’s even a limit, but if you want to check it out, you’ll probably be better off doing so sooner rather than later.

    In addition to the entire episode, the show’s YouTube channel has a few shorter clips, including Oliver’s interview with General Keith Alexander, former head of the NSA.

    Image via YouTube

  • ‘The Killing’ Season 4 (The Final Season) Gets Netflix Release Date

    ‘The Killing’ Season 4 (The Final Season) Gets Netflix Release Date

    Netflix just released a teaser for the final season of The Killing, and it includes a release date at the end: August 1st. That’s when all episodes will become available.

    The teaser is just that. It doesn’t show any footage, but why bother taking the chance of giving away clues already?

    While The Killing didn’t begin as a Netflix original, it will end as one. As you may know, Netflix saved the show from being prematurely canceled, by acquiring the final season, which will only be six episodes, but better than nothing. It will at least get a conclusion. As Netflix provides the first three seasons, the show as a whole is more valuable to Netflix if it has a real conclusion, because that means people are more likely to watch all the seasons. Who wants to watch a show with no ending?

    In January, we learned that the final season would add Oscar-nominated actress Joan Allen to he cast.

    The rest of the show is currently available on Netflix if you want or need to get caught up before the new one starts. You should have plenty of time.

    Image via YouTube

  • Netflix Signs ‘Arrested Development’ Creator Mitch Hurwitz For More Shows

    Netflix and Arrested Development creator really haven’t made any secret for their fondness of one another. After all, Netflix was the one to finally bring back the beloved show after years of false hopes. Both parties have suggested that they’ll be working together on more Arrested Development. We just don’t know when it will come.

    The two have partnered up again, however, with Netflix giving Hurwitz a multi-year deal for the creation and production of new original shows for the company through The Hurwitz Company. According to reports, Hurwitz will also work with other creators in an executive producer role on some projects.

    Hurwitz’s previous writing credits include episodes of Running Wilde, Sit Down Shut Up, The Ellen Show, The John Larroquette Show, and The Golden Girls.

    Here are quotes from Netflix content chief and Hurwitz respectively (via Deadline):

    “We are lucky to be in business with Mitch Hurwitz, a true genius with one of the most distinctive voices in comedy today. Mitch’s inventive approach to Arrested Development — one of the top TV comedies of this generation — was ahead of its time, and we’re fortunate to have him on our team.”

    “It is incredibly inspiring to get to produce for Netflix, a company that not only doesn’t resist change but is leaps and bounds ahead of everyone in forging it. The fact that I’m also getting one month of their streaming right to my TV or Xbox free … well, it really takes the sting out of buying that Xbox.”

    The news was not brought up when Netflix released its earnings report and letter to shareholders on Monday, nor was it mentioned on the earnings call. It’s unclear when we might actually see any fruits from the deal.

    The letter did, however, give a broad overview of what to expect the rest of this year, and into next.

    May 30th will see the launch of Derek: Season 2, followed by Orange is the New Black: Season 2 on June 6th. Hemlock Grove: Season 2 will come on July 11th, and then on unspecified dates, we’ll see BoJack Horseman and the final six episodes of The Killing debut this summer.

    2015 will see more kids series from Netflix’s partnership with DreamWorks Animation, and new shows like Marco Polo, a psychological thriller from the creators of Damages, Daredevil, Sense 8, and Narcos.

    Image via YouTube

  • ‘House Of Cards’ Season 3 In No Danger From Maryland Tax Situation, Says Netflix

    Earlier this year, reports came out that the production of House of Card: Season 3 was being held up as two bills in Maryland would affect tax breaks, which have been a key in the show being produced in the state.

    Based on what transpired earlier this month, things aren’t looking too great for the show’s future in Maryland, and that could mean more delays, and potentially a later release date for the third season that fans have grown accustomed to. The Washington Post reported on April 8th:

    Maryland sets aside $7.5 million annually to reward film production companies that choose to film in the state. But that annual allocation has not always been enough to meet the needs of big-name productions, including “House of Cards,” which has received $26.6 million in tax credits so far. The show’s producers expected as much as $15 million for filming Season 3.

    Media Rights Capital, the maker of “House of Cards,” told Gov. Martin O’Malley (D) and House Speaker Michael E. Busch (D-Anne Arundel) in January that if the money did not materialize, production crews would “break down our stage, sets and offices and set up in another state.”

    The report says the Governor’s office is working with the show to reach an agreement.

    The situation was brought up on Netflix’s earnings call on Monday. Here’s what content chief Ted Sarandos had to say:

    Keep in mind the relationship is fairly complicated there. You have the production company, who receives the benefit of a tax incentive from the state of Maryland to keep the show in Maryland, and there have been ongoing negotiations between MRC, who produces the show for us, and the state of Maryland, but I would anticipate that these are overcome-able issues, and it’s a very competitive world out there in terms of attracting production. The tax incentives in place for House of Cards in Maryland have resulted in hundreds and hundreds of jobs, and not just for actors, but for carpenters, and waitresses, and hotel workers. The amount of hotel nights and meals that the production of a television series brings to a state is staggering. So I think this has been one of those really interesting, kind of political volleyballs in Maryland, but Maryland’s been really great to the show, and we love being there, and we’re hoping that MRC and the state work that out. But investors and fans are not at risk in any way.

    He didn’t comment on whether or not fans may see the season released later in the year (in 2015) than usual, but they really haven’t shown any regularity with any other shows so far.

    Image via YouTube

  • Netflix Talks ‘House Of Cards’ Performance

    Netflix Talks ‘House Of Cards’ Performance

    Netflix held its Q1 earnings call on Monday talking about plethora of topics from pricing changes to Comcast and Time Warner Cable. Naturally, its original series House of Cards and Orange is the New Black came up. The former’s second season was released during the quarter, and the latter’s will debut in June.

    The company is often asked about and criticized for the way it measures the success of its shows, or doesn’t provide much in the way of specifics, but the company is clearly pleased with the performance of both shows so far.

    “We’re getting more sophisticated about how how we measure it,” said Chief Content Officer Ted Sarandos of House of Cards. “I think that what we see is a hungry audience for season 2 versus a curious audience in Season 1. In Season 1, subscribers had no idea what a Netflix original series would be like, so there was some curiosity, but certainly not a lot of excitement going in. In Season 2 there was a lot of pent up demand. We saw a lot of very early front-weighted viewing for the launch, which kind of told us that America was ready for more, and dug in right away…We’ve been absolutely thrilled so far with the show from the early launch relative to how you’d measure television – any show on basic cable or premium cable.”

    “We’re committing to larger budget shows, and the same show is more expensive to make year on year,” he said. “We’re looking at – the kinds of shows that we’re competing with – we’re still only competing with kind of the top end of cable for those shows. So think about it like a sports team, where the bidding can get quite high on a couple of key pieces of talent, but the overall salaries stay kind of in check.”

    Asked about the upcoming season of Orange is the New Black, he said, “We had said before Orange is the New Black has been our most watched show, so we’re pretty excited to see what an even bigger mob looks like, who is hungry for Season 2 starting June 6th.”

    The first real trailer was released last week.

    House of Cards: Season 2 will come out on DVD and Blu-ray on June 19th.

    Image via Facebook

  • Bing Now Shows Predictions For The Voice, American Idol & Dancing With The Stars

    Microsoft announced announced that it is adding predictions to Bing search results pages for some queries. These are based on data from searches that have taken place and social input from Facebook and Twitter.

    Bing will show such predictions for shows like The Voice, American Idol, and Dancing With the Stars.

    “One of the most interesting aspects of search engines is their ability to process trillions of signals to reflect what is happening in the real world,” says Bing. “For instance, during the presidential elections, Bing experiences a surge of positive and negative queries about the presidential candidates from different parts of the U.S. Taking this model even further, teams within Bing have been experimenting with useful ways that we can harness the power of Bing to model outcomes of events. This could be anything from an election or sporting event to whether an actor will win the People’s Choice Award.”

    The feature will work when you search for a supported show, or a contestant.

    “The central idea behind the direct approach is that winners and losers correspond to popularity,” Bing says. “In broad strokes, we define popularity as the frequency and sentiment of searches combined with social signals and keywords. Placing these signals into our model, we can predict the outcome of an event with high confidence. For The Voice, our model is tuned to account for biases, such as regional preferences, and other measurable and observable trends. We have also learned how to combine the prior popularity of a contestant with the contribution due to his or her performance. Although we might believe that the outcome of this week’s The Voice comes down to how well someone belts out a tune, our data indicates that many people have ‘favorites’ regardless of individual week-to-week performances.”

    Bing says users can expect more of this beyond the shows mentioned in the future.

    Image via Bing

  • Devious Maids Is Going To Remain Devious In Its Second Season

    Devious Maids returned for its second season on Sunday night to rave reviews across all the TV blogs. The murder mystery series is already jumping onto its next mystery and fans can’t wait to see where it goes next. The question now is whether or not the series will get even more treacherous for the cast in the second season.

    Speaking to Fox News Latino, Roselyn Sanchez says that that the second season of Devious Maids is going to throw a lot of fans for a loop. Not only is a new murder going to take place, but a central character from the first season is going to completely change her position among the cast. Marisol Duarte posed as a maid in the first season to prove that her son wasn’t a murderer, but she now has her own maid as the character is engaged to a wealthy man.

    Sanchez also reveals that her character gets into a relationship with gay pop star Alejandro Rubio to cover up the fact that he’s gay. She says that her character does this to obtain her dreams, but it doesn’t always turn out that way:

    “And then thinking that’s going to change my life dramatically and I’m going to accomplish my dreams, but of course everything goes wrong and she’s completely out of touch with reality and [makes] bad choices and insanity. But I love her. She’s crazy.”

    For fans of Devious Maids who watch it for reasons other than murder, Sanchez reveals that she has plenty of sexy scenes in season two. She reveals that she doesn’t get naked again, but she leaves it open as a possibility.

    If all of this has you itching to check out Devious Maids, here’s a recap of season one to get you caught up on the series:

    And if you missed last night’s premiere of season two, here’s a little preview to keep you satiated until you can see it:

    If you’re caught up with the series, you can go have fun with the series’ Twitter account where fans are sharing quotes from last night’s premiere with each other:

    Devious Maids airs on Lifetime at 10 p.m. EST on Sunday nights.

    Image via Lifetime/YouTube

  • Here’s A New Clip From ‘Derek’ Season 2 [Netflix Originals]

    There’s a lot to look forward to for fans of Netflix’s originals. In recent days, we’ve seen the first teaser for Hemlock Grove: Season 2, which is due out in July. This morning, we got the first real trailer for the upcoming second season of Orange is the New Black, which comes out in June.

    Earlier this month, Netflix announced its release date for the second season of Ricky Gervais’ Derek, and now the Ricky Gervais YouTube channel has put out a new clip: Language is NSFW.

    Here’s a deleted scene/outtake.

    The show will actually premiere on Channel 4 in the UK first on April 23rd, then everywhere else on Netflix (where it’s available at least) on May 30th.

    In other Ricky Gervais news, it looks like he’s got a David Brent project headed for the big screen. It’s apparently also not out of the question that a spinoff of the original version of The Office could one day make it to Netflix (take that one with a grain of salt though).

    Image via YouTube

  • ‘Orange Is The New Black’ Season 2 Gets New Trailer [Netflix Originals]

    Netflix’s much talked about Orange is the New Black will be back soon with its second season. The first teaser hit the web in February, but now we have a full trailer.

    Fired up yet?

    Netflix also put out this video of cast members describing the season as “extraordinary, “volatile,” “turbulent,” “raw,” “complex,” “elevated,” “real,” “sexy,” “sexier,” “wild,” “deeper,” “ballsy,” “insane,” “scary,” “shocking,” “dark,” “badass,” “cray,” “f—ed up,” “a big deal,” “hilarious,” and “up in you.”

    The has been present throughout the awards season, and most recently won an Peabody, as did House of Cards, another Netflix original.

    In other Netflix show news, earlier this week, they put out a teaser for the upcoming season of Hemlock Grove, which debuts in July.

    Orange is the New Black: Season 2 debuts on Netflix on June 6th.

    Image via YouTube

  • ‘House Of Cards’ Season 2 DVD, Blu-ray Release Date Announced

    If you don’t have a Netflix subscription, but are still interested in getting caught up on House of Cards (or if you just want to own a hard copy), the second season will be hitting DVD and Blu-ray on June 17th.

    TVShowsOnDVD.com has what appears to be a press release announcing the release. According to that, bonus features will include:

    – “Two Houses” – Exploring differences between the original show & the history of how this project came together.

    – “Table Read” – A behind-the-scenes look at table reads cut together with the actual scenes from the show.

    – “Direct Address” – Exploring the way Francis talks directly to viewers in both the original & new series

    – “Politics for Politics Sake” – Politics is only the back drop in this show, but the themes are universal. This featurette explores what the show is all about – relationships and power, not just politics.

    – “Line of Succession” – A look at the creative process that goes into making an episode.

    If you’ve not yet seen the second season, you’re in for quite a treat. Hopefully you’ve managed to avoid spoilers all this time. There’s a big one.

    About fifteen percent of Netflix subscribers watched the first episode of the season within a six to height hour period on one ISP, according to reports.

    The show’s third season is in the works, and will likely see a release early next year.

    Image via Facebook

  • ‘Hemlock Grove’ Season 2 Will ‘Blow Away All Expectations,’ Says Eli Roth [Netflix Originals]

    As previously reported, Netflix announced today that Hemlock Grove: Season 2 will debut on July 11th, three months later in the year than the first season’s debut.

    This season will have fewer episodes with just ten, but if comments from executive producer Eli Roth (whose credibility in the horror genre is nearly unmatched in my opinion) are any indication, fans are in for a wild ride.

    “I cannot wait for fans to see what’s in store for season two – it is going to blow away all expectations,” he said. “Netflix has been an incredible partner, and whenever we wanted to take the story in a dangerous direction, they encouraged us to go even further – into a scarier, darker, and sexier place. We guarantee you won’t see anything like this anywhere else on television.”

    Sounds good.

    Last year, he made similar comments, saying the season would have “so many cool surprises”. Considering how the first season ended, it’s probably fair to throw any expectations out the window.

    Today’s announcement from Netflix says this about it:

    Season two continues with the town coming to grips with the shocking massacre incurred by one of its deadliest creatures. Roman and Peter are now faced with new responsibilities and the realities that come with adulthood. Roman’s relationship with his mother (Janssen) is all but dead as he struggles with his unwanted Upir birthright and the disappearance of his sister, Shelley (Martin). Peter moves in with Destiny (Horn) and is forced to get a job after his mother is sent away. Meanwhile, in search of a new life, newcomer Miranda Cates (Madeline Brewer), embarks on Hemlock Grove with an unknowingly profound effect on Peter and Roman. And Norman (Scott), still reeling from the loss of his family, must face the harsh truths that are uncovered about those he still loves.

    Netflix says it will be providing more info about Season 2 here, as well as across the show’s various social media accounts.

    Image via Eli Roth (Facebook)

  • ‘Hemlock Grove’ Season 2 Release Date Finally Announced [Netflix Originals]

    Fans have been waiting for an eternity, but Netflix has finally announced the release date for Hemlock Grove: Season 2. The date, which is much later in the year than the first season’s debut, is July 11th.

    Update: More details about the season, including comments from Eli Roth here.

    Here’s a teaser:

    Yes, truly a teaser. You’re not getting much out of that one other than the sweet confirmation that the show’s return is actually getting closer.

    It’s interesting that Hemlock Grove: Season 2 is not coming until the middle of the summer, well after the second season of Orange is the New Black, considering that the first season of that debuted after the first season of Hemlock Grove, which was released in April.

    While the House of Cards: Season 2 debut was pretty close to that of the first season, it’s clear that we can’t rely on the date of any given season of a Netflix original to correspond with subsequent seasons. Last week, we learned that the second season of Derek will hit May 30th. The first season debuted in September last year.

    Oh well. As long as the seasons of these quality shows keep coming fans will be thirsty for more.

    Hemlock Grove’s second season was announced back in June, so they’ve had plenty of time to put together a quality run, even if it’s shorter than the first season (there will be ten episodes, according to the initial announcement).

    Since the first season, the show has picked up Charles H. Eglee of The Walking Dead, Dexter and The Shield fame as an executive producer. It has also added Orange is the New Black actress Madeline Brewer.

    Shelly will be played by a different actress as Madeleine Martin from Californication (Hank’s daughter) joins the cast, replacing Nicole Boivin.

    According to producer Eli Roth, there are going to be “so many cool surprises” this season.

    Images via YouTube, Facebook

  • Here’s What’s About To Hit Netflix (Bourdain & Meatwad 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.

    If you need some Anthony Bourdain in your life, then your lucky day is almost here. Also, more Aqua Teen is rarely a bad thing. Fans of G.I. Joe will have something to cringe at as well.

    Available on 4/11:

    Peeples (2013)

    Craig Robinson, Kerry Washington, David Alan Grier, S. Epatha Merkerson, Tyler James Williams

    Average guy Wade Walker wants to marry his beautiful, successful girlfriend, Grace Peeples. Having never met her upper-crust family, Wade crashes their annual reunion and finds himself in a face-off with her disapproving dad, Judge Peeples.

    The Dirties (2013)

    Matt Johnson, Owen Williams, Krista Madison, Brandon Wickens, Jay McCarrol, Josh Boles

    Film geeks Matt and Owen make a movie about getting revenge on “the Dirties,” a group of bullies who target them at school. Then Matt decides to take things a step further, stockpiling weapons for a sequel in which they’ll open fire on their enemies.

    Available on 4/12:

    G.B.F. (2013)

    Michael J. Willett, Paul Iacono, Sasha Pieterse, Andrea Bowen, Xosha Roquemore, Molly Tarlov, Joanna ‘JoJo’ Levesque, Megan Mullally, Natasha Lyonne, Rebecca Gayheart

    When shy Tanner is outed as a school’s only openly gay student, popular girls Fawcett, Caprice and ‘Shley engage in an epic catfight to acquire him as their “Gay Best Friend.” Tanner soon finds himself torn between popularity and old friendships.

    G.I. Joe: Retaliation (2013)

    Dwayne Johnson, Jonathan Pryce, Byung-hun Lee, Elodie Yung, Ray Stevenson, D.J. Cotrona

    In this action-packed sequel to G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra, the elite anti-terrorist team finds itself ambushed and framed for treason by global mercenary Zartan. Driven into hiding, the warriors devise a desperate plan to defeat Zartan’s forces.

    Available on 4/13:

    The Bible: The Epic Mini Series

    Diogo Morgado, Darwin Shaw, Paul Brightwell, Roma Downey, Greg Hicks, Sebastian Knapp

    Re-creating the Bible’s vision of human and divine history for contemporary audiences, this sweeping miniseries incorporates key biblical stories and parables, vividly dramatizing the ancient tales — from Adam and Eve to the revelation of St. John.

    Avail 4/15

    Alon Gold: Chosen and Taken (2014)

    Elon Gold unleashes his sharp, biting humor in his brand new comedy special Chosen & Taken. His manic wit transcends race and religion to celebrate the absurd things people get away with.

    Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown: Seasons 1 & 2

    CNN proposes to send Bourdain around the globe to sample local cuisines in a variety of cities.

    Aqua Teen Hunger Force: Season 2

    Smart-mouthed fast-food superheroes Master Shake, Meatwad and Frylock take on monsters, aliens and their neighbor, Carl.

    The Boondocks: Season 2

    Based on the comic strip by Aaron McGruder, this satirical animated series follows the socially conscious misadventures of Huey Freeman, a preternaturally smart 10-year-old who relocates from inner-city Chicago to the suburbs.

    Interior. Leather Bar. (2013)

    Val Lauren, James Franco, Christian Patrick, Travis Mathews, Brenden Gregory, Brad Roberge

    Reimagining the 40 minutes of explicit gay S&M footage rumored to have been cut from the 1980 film Cruising, this fascinating film explores the normalization of gay culture and the boundaries of sexual and creative freedom.

    R.L. Stine’s The Haunting Hour

    Children’s horror writer R.L. Stine presents a collection of bizarre and terrifying tales designed to make kids and parents shiver in their sofas. Witches, aliens and assorted malign spirits abound in the world of Stine’s dark imagination.

    Available on 4/16:

    Scoop (2006)

    Woody Allen, Scarlett Johansson, Hugh Jackman, Ian McShane, Romola Garai, Jim Dunk, Colin Salmon

    While visiting friends in London, American journalism student Jade Spence beats out Britain’s top reporters by exposing a story involving murder and magic. But just as the story heats up, so do things between Jade and a hunky aristocrat.

    The Eagle (2011)

    Channing Tatum, Jamie Bell, Donald Sutherland, Mark Strong, Tahar Rahim, Denis O’Hare

    Haunted by the disappearance of his father, who vanished with the Roman Ninth Legion on an expedition into the north of Britain, centurion Marcus Aquila sets out to unravel the mystery and recover the legion’s eagle standard.

    The Family (2013)

    Robert De Niro, Michelle Pfeiffer, Tommy Lee Jones, Dianna Agron, John D’Leo, Domenick Lombardozzi

    The Manzonis, an infamous mob family, are relocated to Normandy, France, by the witness protection program, where they have some difficulty fitting in. When local problems arise, they respond the only way they know how: mafia style.

    See more recently added titles here.

    Image via YouTube & YouTube

  • ‘Mako Mermaids’ Season 2: Another Production Vlog Released [Netflix Originals]

    The second season of Mako Mermaids, one of the less talked about “Netflix originals,” is currently in production. It began shooting in December.

    Fans (of which there are apparently plenty) have been treated to a few production vlogs, which Jonathan M. Shiff Productions puts on YouTube every noow and then. Number four has now` been uploaded:

    They didn’t offer these kinds of vlogs during production of the first season, though they did have a behind-the-scenes look at one of the mermaids eating a lobster.

    The first season, by the way, appears to be headed for DVD at some point.

    Image via YouTube

  • Netflix’s ‘Marco Polo’ Begins Production

    We learned about the upcoming Marco Polo series from Netflix last summer, but Netflix formally announced the project earlier this year. The first season will consist of ten episodes.

    Today, the Weinstein Company announced that production is now underway with shooting locations in Italy, Kazakhstan and the new Pinewood Studios in Malaysia.

    It also revealed some cast and crew details.

    Lorenzo Richelmy (Il Terzo Tempo; pictured) will play Marco Polo. The cast also includes Benedict Wong (Prometheus), Zhu Zhu (Cloud Atlas), Tom Wu (Skyfall), Remy Hii (Treading Water) and Rick Yune (Olympus Has Fallen, The Fast and the Furious).

    Creator John Fusco (Forbidden Kingdom, Young Guns, Hidalgo) and Harvey Weinstein will serve as executive producers. Dan Minahan (Game of Thrones, True Blood) will serve as executive producer and will direct two episodes. Joachim Roenning and Espen Sandberg (Kon-Tiki, Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales) will direct the season’s first two episodes. Patrick MacManus will serve as co-executive producer. Collin Creighton will produce.

    “Television audiences today are more discerning than ever before both in terms of character and the scope of the worlds those characters live in. We are proud to present a series that rivals some of the most successful films we’ve ever made. Marco Polo is a figure all have heard of, but few truly know, and we are excited to introduce him to the world. And we are shooting all over the world. From the sweeping vistas of Kazakhstan which act as backdrop for the wars and conquests of Kublai Khan to the intimate moments within the alleys and canals of Marco’s hometown of Venice, Italy, this is spectacle in the truest sense of the word,” said Harvey Weinstein, co-chairman of The Weinstein Company.

    “John, Dan, Joachim, Espen and our partners at The Weinstein Company are elevating the art of storytelling and delivering cinematic quality that we’re certain our members will enjoy,” said Netflix content chief Ted Sarandos. “In this commanding, epic story of Marco Polo, through the magnetic cast they’ve assembled, the spectacular martial arts work they are showcasing and the exotic locations that serve as a backdrop, they have really outdone themselves.”

    The story is described as “a kinetic tale of high politics, masterful manipulation and deadly warfare among clashing empires. ”The new announcement adds:

    The famed explorer’s journey takes him to the center of a brutal war in 13th century China, a world replete with exotic martial arts, political skullduggery, spectacular battles and sexual intrigue.

    On that martial arts note, the production tragically lost stuntman Ju Kun to Flight 370.

    The show is expected to debut on Netflix later this year.

    Image via PR Newswire

  • ‘Derek’ Season 2: Here’s A Deleted Scene And Outtakes

    It was just announced that Netflix will debut Derek: Season 2 on May 30th after it hits the UK’s Channel 4 on April 23rd.

    Creator and star Ricky Gervais shared a deleted scene and some outtakes on his Facebook Page:

    Post by Ricky Gervais.

    Image via Facebook