Recently, CBS revealed the new,official synopsis/description for their upcoming "Hawaii Five-o" episode 15 of season 6. The episode is entitled, "The Good Soldier," and it turns out that we're going to see some very interesting stuff take place as Danny's mother gets questioned by the FBI! Then we'll also see Steve team up with some dude that has autism , because he might have the intel to solve a murder, and more! In the new, 15th episode press release: While Danny's Mother Is Questioned By The FBI, McGarrett Partners With A Young Man With Autism Who May Have Information To Help Solve The Murder Of His Only Friend, On "Hawaii Five-0," Friday, Feb. 19. Press release number 2: While Danny's mother is questioned by the FBI, McGarrett is going to partner with a young man with autism who may have information to help solve the murder of his only friend. Melanie Griffith returns as Danny's mother,...
- 2/12/2016
- by Andre Braddox
- OnTheFlix
Warning: The following contains spoilers from Mad Men‘s series finale.
Long before we watched Mad Men‘s Don soak up his first “om,” cast member Jay R. Ferguson was part of a very small, very privileged party let in on a huge secret.
It happened immediately following the table read of the AMC drama’s final episode; everyone who’d been there thought the last scene of the finale would be the camera pushing in on Draper as he sat, legs crossed, and meditated on a California hillside.
Related Mad Men Series Finale Recap: ‘There Are a Lot of...
Long before we watched Mad Men‘s Don soak up his first “om,” cast member Jay R. Ferguson was part of a very small, very privileged party let in on a huge secret.
It happened immediately following the table read of the AMC drama’s final episode; everyone who’d been there thought the last scene of the finale would be the camera pushing in on Draper as he sat, legs crossed, and meditated on a California hillside.
Related Mad Men Series Finale Recap: ‘There Are a Lot of...
- 5/18/2015
- TVLine.com
Mad Men opened on Sunday night with Sterling Cooper & Partners happy to show off their new Ibm 360, the computer that Harry Crane was so eager to get into the office. It’ll impress their clients and perhaps get them some more business.
Mad Men Recap
In order to fit the sizeable machine at Sc&P, the creative lounge is out and the computer is in. Peggy (Elisabeth Moss) is less than thrilled about the arrangement, but Lou (Allen Havey) tries to reassure her that the computer is going to be of far more use to her than the lounge. Despite their prickly relationship of late, Lou recommends Peggy for creative on Pete’s (Vincent Kartheiser) Burger Chef account. Cutler (Harry Hamlin) had wanted Ted (Kevin Rahm) on it, but Ted wasn’t interested. Pete, however, insists on having Don (Jon Hamm) do the work.
Lou isn’t about to let...
Mad Men Recap
In order to fit the sizeable machine at Sc&P, the creative lounge is out and the computer is in. Peggy (Elisabeth Moss) is less than thrilled about the arrangement, but Lou (Allen Havey) tries to reassure her that the computer is going to be of far more use to her than the lounge. Despite their prickly relationship of late, Lou recommends Peggy for creative on Pete’s (Vincent Kartheiser) Burger Chef account. Cutler (Harry Hamlin) had wanted Ted (Kevin Rahm) on it, but Ted wasn’t interested. Pete, however, insists on having Don (Jon Hamm) do the work.
Lou isn’t about to let...
- 5/5/2014
- Uinterview
Mad Men episode “A Day’s Work” honed in on Peggy's Valentine’s Day woes and Don Draper's efforts to get back in the ad game and attempt to finally open up to his daughter Sally.
Mad Men Recap
Don Draper (John Hamm), still on hiatus from Sterling Cooper & Partners, prepares for an 8 p.m. meeting by sleeping till noon, watching some Little Rascals, eating crackers and casually sipping some booze. It turns out his meeting is with Dawn (Teyonah Parris) from the office. She lets Don in on the action between the firm and Lou Avery’s (Allan Havey) dealings with Mohawk Airlines. After the meeting it seems like Don is more eager than ever to get back to work and stop getting information through Dawn and pitching through Freddie Rumsen (Joel Murray).
Trying to forget about her ex, Peggy (Elisabeth Moss) decides to throw herself entirely into her work.
Mad Men Recap
Don Draper (John Hamm), still on hiatus from Sterling Cooper & Partners, prepares for an 8 p.m. meeting by sleeping till noon, watching some Little Rascals, eating crackers and casually sipping some booze. It turns out his meeting is with Dawn (Teyonah Parris) from the office. She lets Don in on the action between the firm and Lou Avery’s (Allan Havey) dealings with Mohawk Airlines. After the meeting it seems like Don is more eager than ever to get back to work and stop getting information through Dawn and pitching through Freddie Rumsen (Joel Murray).
Trying to forget about her ex, Peggy (Elisabeth Moss) decides to throw herself entirely into her work.
- 4/21/2014
- Uinterview
Accutron: It’s not a time piece. It’s a conversation piece. The first Accutron hit the markets long before Freddy Rumsen was pitching it in such surprisingly elegant language. Actually, it had been selling for about ten years, debuting in October of 1960 (just around the time Mad Men‘s first season was drawing to a close). Watches of the time, and for several centuries previously, were built around a “balance wheel,” a little pendulum that shifts back and forth and keeps the watch’s hands moving. Watchmaking company Bulova did away with the balance wheel for their Accutron watch, inserting a fancy electric tuning fork and cementing Accutron as the first electronic watch in history. Those tiny metal forks also made the Accutron the most accurate wristwatch ever made, and a “horological revolution” (thanks, Wikipedia!). At least until 1969, when Astron debuted the quartz-powered Astron and Joel Murray, as Rumsen, sat...
- 4/14/2014
- by Adam Bellotto
- FilmSchoolRejects.com
I don't think there's enough sunshine in all of California to brighten up the dark state of affairs everyone is in as Mad Men begins the first half of its last lap. Where does one begin in this cold January of 1969? Peggy crumpled on the floor in sobs of her great-big-investment Upper West Side apartment? Roger passed out naked on the floor of his filthy, garbage-littered hotel-room-cum-counterculture-commune? Ken – still sporting an eye patch from his little shotgun mishap with the Chevy execs – completely overwhelmed and overworked? A happy, suntanned Pete – seriously,...
- 4/14/2014
- Rollingstone.com
Can Sean Saves The World take the gay sitcom torch and run with it?
Oh, the gay sitcom.
It’s a spectacular and welcome feat that we now live in a time when there are a plethora of gay characters on television but, also, we now have series centered around gay characters. Sure, we’re still stinging after the failures of last seasons’ excellent The New Normal and disappointing Partners, but this fall we’ve been given a new chance to have a successful gay series in Sean Saves The World.
In the NBC sitcom, Sean Hayes plays a single gay man taking on the full-time parenting role with his teenager daughter, Ellie (Samantha Isler) and learning how to juggle home, his demanding job with a new boss (Thomas Lennon) and a meddlesome mother (the wonderful Linda Lavin). Echo Kullum plays a co-worker at Sean’s job while Megan Hilty...
Oh, the gay sitcom.
It’s a spectacular and welcome feat that we now live in a time when there are a plethora of gay characters on television but, also, we now have series centered around gay characters. Sure, we’re still stinging after the failures of last seasons’ excellent The New Normal and disappointing Partners, but this fall we’ve been given a new chance to have a successful gay series in Sean Saves The World.
In the NBC sitcom, Sean Hayes plays a single gay man taking on the full-time parenting role with his teenager daughter, Ellie (Samantha Isler) and learning how to juggle home, his demanding job with a new boss (Thomas Lennon) and a meddlesome mother (the wonderful Linda Lavin). Echo Kullum plays a co-worker at Sean’s job while Megan Hilty...
- 10/24/2013
- by Jim Halterman
- The Backlot
TV comedy writer-producer Jeff Greenstein has signed with CAA. Greenstein was executive producer on the Emmy-winning NBC comedy Will & Grace and also spent five years as writer, producer and director on ABC’s Desperate Housewives. More recently, he directed and executive produced the web sitcom Husbands, co-created by Jane Espenson, and wrote and directed the season finale of the BBC comedy Way To Go. He has projects on the works at Showtime and HBO. Greenstein, who was at ICM Partners, started off on HBO’s Dream On, rising from staff writer to showrunner. His other credits include Parenthood, Friends and Partners.
- 6/27/2013
- by NELLIE ANDREEVA
- Deadline TV
There's no network cockier than CBS during upfront week, and with good reason. Sure, they had to cancel last season's newbies "Vegas," "Golden Boy" "Made in Jersey" and "Partners," but their schedule is so stable -- and dominant in the ratings -- that they never have many holes to fill.
They've only ordered three dramas for the 2013-14 season and just one is on the fall schedule. That's limited series "Hostages" which will air 15 episodes uninterrupted and then turn over its Monday night timeslot to another new drama -- "Intelligence" -- in the winter.
Here's a rundown of the two new dramas CBS presented to advertisers at its 2013 upfront on May 15 at Carnegie Hall in New York City.
"Hostages" (Mondays at 10 p.m. Et)
It's an interesting play: a heavily serialized thriller set for a limited cable-style run of 15 episodes that still looks and feels like a CBS procedural. Put another way,...
They've only ordered three dramas for the 2013-14 season and just one is on the fall schedule. That's limited series "Hostages" which will air 15 episodes uninterrupted and then turn over its Monday night timeslot to another new drama -- "Intelligence" -- in the winter.
Here's a rundown of the two new dramas CBS presented to advertisers at its 2013 upfront on May 15 at Carnegie Hall in New York City.
"Hostages" (Mondays at 10 p.m. Et)
It's an interesting play: a heavily serialized thriller set for a limited cable-style run of 15 episodes that still looks and feels like a CBS procedural. Put another way,...
- 5/16/2013
- by editorial@zap2it.com
- Zap2It - From Inside the Box
While we keep hearing that no one has been cast in Fifty Shades of Grey, Arrow's Stephen Amell says that he's actually taken a meeting about playing Christian Grey, which makes sense, as he's shown over and over and over again, he has no problem with a little nudity.
Zach Wahl's Scouts for Equality released details of the Boy Scouts of America's 2012 Fall Voice of the Scouts Survey, and of respondents that expressed an opinion of declining loyalty to Scouting, 90% said the reaffirmation of their discriminatory policy was the reason.
In the UK, 20 year-old Jordan Sheard was sentenced to 3.5 years for crashing an 18-year-old autistic gay man's birthday party, writing homophobic slurs on his body, dousing him in tanning oil and setting him on fire, which led to his death. Seriously?
Please take time to meet Jack Andraka, who is 16, out, and a cancer researcher at John's Hopkins when...
Zach Wahl's Scouts for Equality released details of the Boy Scouts of America's 2012 Fall Voice of the Scouts Survey, and of respondents that expressed an opinion of declining loyalty to Scouting, 90% said the reaffirmation of their discriminatory policy was the reason.
In the UK, 20 year-old Jordan Sheard was sentenced to 3.5 years for crashing an 18-year-old autistic gay man's birthday party, writing homophobic slurs on his body, dousing him in tanning oil and setting him on fire, which led to his death. Seriously?
Please take time to meet Jack Andraka, who is 16, out, and a cancer researcher at John's Hopkins when...
- 3/24/2013
- by lostinmiami
- The Backlot
The winners are in for the 2013 People's Choice Awards. "The Hunger Games" won big with five awards, followed by Katy Perry at four. "Glee" and "Supernatural" took home a couple awards apiece.
The full winners list:
Movies
Favorite Movie
"The Amazing Spider-Man"
"The Avengers"
The Dark Knight Rises"
"The Hunger Games"
"Snow White and the Huntsman"
Favorite Movie Actor
Channing Tatum
Johnny Depp
Joseph Gordon-Levitt
Robert Downey Jr.
Will Smith
Favorite Movie Actress
Anne Hathaway
Emma Stone
Jennifer Lawrence
Mila Kunis
Scarlett Johansson
Favorite Movie Icon
Emma Thompson
Maggie Smith
Meryl Streep
Michelle Pfeiffer
Susan Sarandon
Favorite Action Movie
"The Amazing Spider-Man"
"The Avengers"
"The Dark Knight Rises"
"The Hunger Games"
"Men in Black 3"
Favorite Action Movie Star
Chris Evans
Chris Hemsworth
Christian Bale
Robert Downey Jr.
Will Smith
Favorite Face of Heroism
Anne Hathaway, "The Dark Knight Rises"
Emma Stone, "The Amazing Spider-Man"
Jennifer Lawrence, "The Hunger Games"
Kristen Stewart,...
The full winners list:
Movies
Favorite Movie
"The Amazing Spider-Man"
"The Avengers"
The Dark Knight Rises"
"The Hunger Games"
"Snow White and the Huntsman"
Favorite Movie Actor
Channing Tatum
Johnny Depp
Joseph Gordon-Levitt
Robert Downey Jr.
Will Smith
Favorite Movie Actress
Anne Hathaway
Emma Stone
Jennifer Lawrence
Mila Kunis
Scarlett Johansson
Favorite Movie Icon
Emma Thompson
Maggie Smith
Meryl Streep
Michelle Pfeiffer
Susan Sarandon
Favorite Action Movie
"The Amazing Spider-Man"
"The Avengers"
"The Dark Knight Rises"
"The Hunger Games"
"Men in Black 3"
Favorite Action Movie Star
Chris Evans
Chris Hemsworth
Christian Bale
Robert Downey Jr.
Will Smith
Favorite Face of Heroism
Anne Hathaway, "The Dark Knight Rises"
Emma Stone, "The Amazing Spider-Man"
Jennifer Lawrence, "The Hunger Games"
Kristen Stewart,...
- 1/10/2013
- by editorial@zap2it.com
- Pop2it
In sad news, Smurfette is dead. Well, Lucille Bliss, the veteran voice actress who brought the character to life, has passed away at the age of 96, which means we're stuck with Katy Perry from now on.
With 76% of gay votes going to President Obama, the Glbt population was instrumental in his reelection. The study notes that those who identify as Glbt is growing, as only 1.9% of those over 65 identify as Glbt, while 3.2% of those between 30-49 do, but a whopping 6.4% between 18-29 do. The Glbt population also tends to be more dispersed than the Latino and Asian-American population, providing boosts in metro areas as well as swing states.
In one of those scary things, colleges that provide e-textbooks now have the option of monitoring how the students use the books – how much they read, highlight and take notes, which can identify students with lower engagement with the material for extra help.
With 76% of gay votes going to President Obama, the Glbt population was instrumental in his reelection. The study notes that those who identify as Glbt is growing, as only 1.9% of those over 65 identify as Glbt, while 3.2% of those between 30-49 do, but a whopping 6.4% between 18-29 do. The Glbt population also tends to be more dispersed than the Latino and Asian-American population, providing boosts in metro areas as well as swing states.
In one of those scary things, colleges that provide e-textbooks now have the option of monitoring how the students use the books – how much they read, highlight and take notes, which can identify students with lower engagement with the material for extra help.
- 11/16/2012
- by lostinmiami
- The Backlot
Channing Tatum and Justin Bieber are among the leading nominees for the 2013 People's Choice Awards, but Twihards are going to be disappointed.
The 2013 edition of the awards is set for Jan. 9, and per usual they'll run the gamut of movies, TV and music. Bieber picked up five nominations in the music category, including nods for favorite male artist and favorite pop artist. He'll also compete against his ex-girlfriend, Selena Gomez, in the "favorite music fan following" category.
Tatum has four nominations, including ones for favorite comedic and dramatic actor (range!). Emma Stone and Jennifer Lawrence are the top female nominees with three each. Adam Levine has only one individual nomination -- for favorite celebrity judge -- but between "The Voice" and Maroon 5, he's part of six nominees.
Noticeably absent from the movie categories is "Twilight: Breaking Dawn Part 2." It opens Friday (Nov. 16), which apparently was too late for this year's awards.
The 2013 edition of the awards is set for Jan. 9, and per usual they'll run the gamut of movies, TV and music. Bieber picked up five nominations in the music category, including nods for favorite male artist and favorite pop artist. He'll also compete against his ex-girlfriend, Selena Gomez, in the "favorite music fan following" category.
Tatum has four nominations, including ones for favorite comedic and dramatic actor (range!). Emma Stone and Jennifer Lawrence are the top female nominees with three each. Adam Levine has only one individual nomination -- for favorite celebrity judge -- but between "The Voice" and Maroon 5, he's part of six nominees.
Noticeably absent from the movie categories is "Twilight: Breaking Dawn Part 2." It opens Friday (Nov. 16), which apparently was too late for this year's awards.
- 11/15/2012
- by editorial@zap2it.com
- Pop2it
Now that you’ve cast your ballot for the president of the United States, it’s time to turn you attention to another, equally important competition: the People’s Choice Awards. With categories ranging from “favorite movie” to “favorite music fan following,” your voice needs to heard.
Maroon 5 frontman and The Voice judge Adam Levine leads the list of nominees with six nods in both the music and television categories, while Justin Bieber is the top individual nominee with five music nods. The two artists with will go head-to-head in the favorite album and favorite music video categories, forcing...
Maroon 5 frontman and The Voice judge Adam Levine leads the list of nominees with six nods in both the music and television categories, while Justin Bieber is the top individual nominee with five music nods. The two artists with will go head-to-head in the favorite album and favorite music video categories, forcing...
- 11/15/2012
- by Maane Khatchatourian
- EW.com - PopWatch
Major Crimes wraps its first season tonight.
News
Bryan Fuller says that Mockingbird Lane still could become a series depending on how well the Halloween special does. Fuller says that NBC's issue was whether the series could appeal to a broad audience, and if enough people tune in for the special, the network would reconsider. I'm still hoping Mockingbird Lane can pull a Nightingales, only without removing all the interesting parts of the pilot when becoming a series.
I'm fascinated with TV shows that get cancelled without airing an episode, whether that be the train wrecks that look so bad the network rethinks its decision over the summer, like the Scott Baio comedy Rewind, or shows that left to wither unaired over the season like Still Life. Now the Dane Cook comedy Next Caller can join those ranks. Considering how awful Next Caller looked, I'm relieved.
Did you expect Tyra Banks...
News
Bryan Fuller says that Mockingbird Lane still could become a series depending on how well the Halloween special does. Fuller says that NBC's issue was whether the series could appeal to a broad audience, and if enough people tune in for the special, the network would reconsider. I'm still hoping Mockingbird Lane can pull a Nightingales, only without removing all the interesting parts of the pilot when becoming a series.
I'm fascinated with TV shows that get cancelled without airing an episode, whether that be the train wrecks that look so bad the network rethinks its decision over the summer, like the Scott Baio comedy Rewind, or shows that left to wither unaired over the season like Still Life. Now the Dane Cook comedy Next Caller can join those ranks. Considering how awful Next Caller looked, I'm relieved.
Did you expect Tyra Banks...
- 10/15/2012
- by LyleMasaki
- The Backlot
Chicago – And the award for the worst new show of the season goes to…drum roll please…while “Guys with Kids,” “Partners,” and “The Mob Doctor” put up a Hell of a fight, “The Neighbors” wins in a landslide. This dated, cliched, unfunny, grating, horrendous program is so bad that it makes one assume that blackmail must have been involved in its scheduling because one can’t believe that anyone looked at this and thought it should be funded enough to get on the air for creative reasons.
Television Rating: 0.5/5.0
We’ve all thought that our neighbors may be from another planet. There are houses on my street right now that I wouldn’t enter on a dare. Playing off the idea that we don’t know the dark secrets that the suburbs hide have been the basis for great fiction in the past including a diverse array of product...
Television Rating: 0.5/5.0
We’ve all thought that our neighbors may be from another planet. There are houses on my street right now that I wouldn’t enter on a dare. Playing off the idea that we don’t know the dark secrets that the suburbs hide have been the basis for great fiction in the past including a diverse array of product...
- 9/26/2012
- by adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
- HollywoodChicago.com
We do our best to tune out bitter veteran Hollywood blogger and hermit Nikki Finke, but sometimes she makes it just... too easy to call her out. In her completely unfunny live-blog of the Emmy Awards, presumably posted from a secret lair far beneath the streets of Los Angeles, Finke wrote that beautiful women (like Emmy winner Julie Bowen) can not be funny.
Her tirade went like this:
"Listen-up, Hollywood: Beautiful actresses are not funny. They don't know how to do comedy. (As Bowen demonstrated with her acceptance speech that repeated the phrase 'nipple covers' 3 dozen times. To zero laughter.) Only women who grew up ugly and stayed ugly, or through plastic surgery became beautiful, can pull off sitcoms or standups. Bowen isn't a comedienne just like Brooke Shields wasn't and a zillion more. Because it's all about emotional pain and humiliation and rising above both by making people laugh...
Her tirade went like this:
"Listen-up, Hollywood: Beautiful actresses are not funny. They don't know how to do comedy. (As Bowen demonstrated with her acceptance speech that repeated the phrase 'nipple covers' 3 dozen times. To zero laughter.) Only women who grew up ugly and stayed ugly, or through plastic surgery became beautiful, can pull off sitcoms or standups. Bowen isn't a comedienne just like Brooke Shields wasn't and a zillion more. Because it's all about emotional pain and humiliation and rising above both by making people laugh...
- 9/25/2012
- by editorial@zap2it.com
- Zap2It - From Inside the Box
By Carson Blackwelder
Television Contributor
***
It’s September, and you know what that means: It’s time to meet new shows in addition to reuniting with your returning favorites.
Each year, networks decide what shows to keep, move around and cancel, leaving open spots for a gaggle of new series. This month, many of the pilots for these shows will make their small screen debut. It may be overwhelming to be faced with 20 new shows this fall, so I’ll explain which programs did and didn’t make the cut for my DVR queue.
Here are my picks for the best new series of the fall TV season. (Note that this ranking did not take into account the mid-season premieres, even though there are some stand-out players in that arena.)
1) Nashville (ABC)
With all of the glitter and swag to expect from Music City, Nashville stuns audiences with catchy original...
Television Contributor
***
It’s September, and you know what that means: It’s time to meet new shows in addition to reuniting with your returning favorites.
Each year, networks decide what shows to keep, move around and cancel, leaving open spots for a gaggle of new series. This month, many of the pilots for these shows will make their small screen debut. It may be overwhelming to be faced with 20 new shows this fall, so I’ll explain which programs did and didn’t make the cut for my DVR queue.
Here are my picks for the best new series of the fall TV season. (Note that this ranking did not take into account the mid-season premieres, even though there are some stand-out players in that arena.)
1) Nashville (ABC)
With all of the glitter and swag to expect from Music City, Nashville stuns audiences with catchy original...
- 9/6/2012
- by Carson Blackwelder
- Scott Feinberg
Remember a show called Partners that aired on Fox back in the 1995? So do the creators of CBS’s upcoming fall comedy, Partners. And they are unfazed by the coincidence.
“I obviously knew Jeff had done a show called Partners, but I wasn’t very familiar with it,” said executive producer David Kohan today during the show’s panel during the Television Critics Association Press Tour in Los Angeles.
Greenstein, who co-created the Fox show Partners, previously worked as a writer on Will & Grace, which Kohan and fellow executive producer Max Mutchnick created.
The Fox sitcom centered around two architects...
“I obviously knew Jeff had done a show called Partners, but I wasn’t very familiar with it,” said executive producer David Kohan today during the show’s panel during the Television Critics Association Press Tour in Los Angeles.
Greenstein, who co-created the Fox show Partners, previously worked as a writer on Will & Grace, which Kohan and fellow executive producer Max Mutchnick created.
The Fox sitcom centered around two architects...
- 7/29/2012
- by Sandra Gonzalez
- EW - Inside TV
Over at Ncaa.org, they have a really great history of Hudson Taylor, gay ally and founder of AthleteAlly and how he was bullied on his college team for speaking out in support of equality. His perseverance, without having a direct stake in the game, should inspire us all.
A new survey from Symantec says that porn sites rank only #10 in prevalence of malware to infect your computer, because porn sites have a vested interest in repeat business. Topping the list of dangerous sites? Religious or ideological sites.
After questionable reports of pro-Amendment One signs being vandalized in North Carolina surfaced, we get this guy, who filmed himself shooting an anti-Amendment One sign in his neighbors yard and uploading it to YouTube.
Aubrey O'Day won $50,000 for Glsen on Celebrity Apprentice, but followed that by criticizing Arsenio Hall for not wanting to make a cheerleading themed ad. She said “Arsenio is...
A new survey from Symantec says that porn sites rank only #10 in prevalence of malware to infect your computer, because porn sites have a vested interest in repeat business. Topping the list of dangerous sites? Religious or ideological sites.
After questionable reports of pro-Amendment One signs being vandalized in North Carolina surfaced, we get this guy, who filmed himself shooting an anti-Amendment One sign in his neighbors yard and uploading it to YouTube.
Aubrey O'Day won $50,000 for Glsen on Celebrity Apprentice, but followed that by criticizing Arsenio Hall for not wanting to make a cheerleading themed ad. She said “Arsenio is...
- 5/1/2012
- by lostinmiami
- The Backlot
Courtney Thorne-Smith has been a TV staple for the last two decades. Starting with the 1992 premiere of Melrose Place, not a year has gone by that she hasn't starred on one massively successful series (Ally McBeal) or another (According To Jim).
Two and a Half Men has ensured that her streak stays alive by bringing back her delectably devious character, Lyndsey -- Alan's ex-wife and current flame. Although, for safety, it's best to keep gin-soaked Lyndsey away from all open flames. I caught up with Courtney to talk about returning to Men in a post-Sheen world, why it's so dangerous being "drunk" and why you have yet to see a proper Melrose Place reunion.
ETonline: Were you excited to bring back Lyndsey in such a major way?
Courtney Thorne-Smith: So excited. I love this role. It's such an extraordinary gift to have this kind of writing. I thought by this point I'd be playing the mom...
Two and a Half Men has ensured that her streak stays alive by bringing back her delectably devious character, Lyndsey -- Alan's ex-wife and current flame. Although, for safety, it's best to keep gin-soaked Lyndsey away from all open flames. I caught up with Courtney to talk about returning to Men in a post-Sheen world, why it's so dangerous being "drunk" and why you have yet to see a proper Melrose Place reunion.
ETonline: Were you excited to bring back Lyndsey in such a major way?
Courtney Thorne-Smith: So excited. I love this role. It's such an extraordinary gift to have this kind of writing. I thought by this point I'd be playing the mom...
- 4/9/2012
- Entertainment Tonight
Audi has launched an integrated campaign to support the launch of its new vehicle, the Audi Q3.
The campaign, titled ‘Destination n3xt’, uses an augmented reality iPhone app, a mobile site and ambient execution to support the Tvc as well as print and homepage takeovers.
The vehicle is positioned as a luxury urban SUV for ‘forward-thinking drivers’.
The augmented reality app allows consumers to see and interact with a Q3 to change exterior colours and wheels as well as activating hotspots with information about the vehicle.
The campaign was executed by agency Ddb Group’s Rapp Sydney.
Microsite and m-sites aim to connect with the urban driver, explaining the benefits of the vehicle but also allowing them to enter their post code to see destination information and social activities happening in the area.
Volker Woerz, Rapp’s senior business director said: “The Destination n3xt campaign theme is the...
The campaign, titled ‘Destination n3xt’, uses an augmented reality iPhone app, a mobile site and ambient execution to support the Tvc as well as print and homepage takeovers.
The vehicle is positioned as a luxury urban SUV for ‘forward-thinking drivers’.
The augmented reality app allows consumers to see and interact with a Q3 to change exterior colours and wheels as well as activating hotspots with information about the vehicle.
The campaign was executed by agency Ddb Group’s Rapp Sydney.
Microsite and m-sites aim to connect with the urban driver, explaining the benefits of the vehicle but also allowing them to enter their post code to see destination information and social activities happening in the area.
Volker Woerz, Rapp’s senior business director said: “The Destination n3xt campaign theme is the...
- 4/5/2012
- by Colin Delaney
- Encore Magazine
Earlier this month, Kony 2012 burst onto the scene, bringing in over 71 million views and generating more than 2.8 million Facebook fans in less than a week. Despite the campaign's criticism, and questions about the legitimacy of its views, one thing remains undisputed: Kony 2012 was an internet sensation. So it was no surprise that the internet would treat Kony 2012 like every other meme and parody it. Here are some examples from Funny or Die and Maker Studios. Funny or Die teamed up with human rights organization Enough Project for a satirical video featuring former NBC Law & Order: Svu star Chris Meloni (who has recently joined the HBO series True Blood), and co-starring Amir Arison. In the video, Kony Hunter with Christopher Meloni, Meloni informs his agent he is quitting acting to pursue Joesph Kony and bring him to justice, all while dressed as Dog the Bounty Hunter. According to Enough Project Co-founder John Prendergast,...
- 3/29/2012
- by Drew Baldwin
- Tubefilter.com
Michel Hazanavicius was the big winner at the 64th annual Directors Guild of America Awards. The director of the fantastic black-and-white silent film "The Artist" took home the award for the Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Feature Film category. Jon Cassar of "The Kennedys" received the 2012 DGA Award for the category of Movies for Television and Mini-Series.
Hosted by Kelsey Grammer, the DGA also honored Ed Sherin with the 2012 Honorary Life Member Award, Katy Garretson with the 2012 Frank Capra Achievement Award, and Dennis Mazzocco with the 2012 Franklin J. Schaffner Achievement Award.
It is now safe to bet that Hazanavicius will win the Best Director Award Oscar!
Here's the complete list of winners and nominees of the 2012 Directors Guild of America Awards (to check winners/nominees of other award-giving bodies, visit our Awards Avenue coverage right here)
Outstanding Directorial Achievement In Feature Film
*Winner Michel Hazanavicius, The Artist
Woody Allen, Midnight in Paris
David Fincher,...
Hosted by Kelsey Grammer, the DGA also honored Ed Sherin with the 2012 Honorary Life Member Award, Katy Garretson with the 2012 Frank Capra Achievement Award, and Dennis Mazzocco with the 2012 Franklin J. Schaffner Achievement Award.
It is now safe to bet that Hazanavicius will win the Best Director Award Oscar!
Here's the complete list of winners and nominees of the 2012 Directors Guild of America Awards (to check winners/nominees of other award-giving bodies, visit our Awards Avenue coverage right here)
Outstanding Directorial Achievement In Feature Film
*Winner Michel Hazanavicius, The Artist
Woody Allen, Midnight in Paris
David Fincher,...
- 1/29/2012
- by Manny
- Manny the Movie Guy
Reality TV personality Kim Kardashian has shown off her generous side by donating $50,000 (£31,250) to charity.
The Keeping Up With the Kardashians star has handed over the sum to bosses at the Trevor Project, a suicide prevention organisation for troubled lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender teens.
Kardashian raised the money by manning phones on the trading floor of Bgc Partners in New York at a 9/11 fundraiser last year.
In a post on her blog about the event, she wrote, "The firm lost more than 600 employees in the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center in 2001 and on the 10th anniversary of the attacks, they donated all revenues from their trades to charities around the world. I was honored to take part!"
Kardashian isn't the only star to pledge her support to the life-saving organisation - Daniel Radcliffe, Adam Lambert and Kathy Griffin have also volunteered to help the Trevor Project.
The Keeping Up With the Kardashians star has handed over the sum to bosses at the Trevor Project, a suicide prevention organisation for troubled lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender teens.
Kardashian raised the money by manning phones on the trading floor of Bgc Partners in New York at a 9/11 fundraiser last year.
In a post on her blog about the event, she wrote, "The firm lost more than 600 employees in the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center in 2001 and on the 10th anniversary of the attacks, they donated all revenues from their trades to charities around the world. I was honored to take part!"
Kardashian isn't the only star to pledge her support to the life-saving organisation - Daniel Radcliffe, Adam Lambert and Kathy Griffin have also volunteered to help the Trevor Project.
- 1/25/2012
- WENN
Update: Focus Features has made the deal official. The release is under Deadline’s scoop. Exclusive: I’m hearing that Focus Features has closed an acquisition of For A Good Time, Call… in a deal that is a shade over $2 million for worldwide rights. The Jamie Travis-directed comedy was scripted by Katie Anne Naylon & Lauren Anne Miller. The ensemble cast includes Seth Rogen, Ari Graynor, Miller, Justin Long, Mark Webber, James Wolk, Mimi Rogers, and Nia Vardalos. The logline: Lauren (Miller) and Katie (Graynor) move in together after a loss of a relationship and a loss of a rent-controlled home, respectively. When Lauren learns what Katie does for a living — she runs a phone sex business — the two enter into a wildly unconventional business venture. Cinetic and Studio City Partners have been juggling offers since the film premiered Sunday night at the Eccles Theater. The reaction I heard is...
- 1/24/2012
- by MIKE FLEMING
- Deadline
HollywoodNews.com:Directors Guild of America President Taylor Hackford today announced the DGA’s nominees for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Television and Commercials for the year 2011.
?The caliber of work being done on television these days is incredible, and our director nominees in each category are an indispensable element to the success of every project — establishing and enhancing the vision and tone, eliciting outstanding performances and furthering the narrative arc through their creative choices,? said Hackford. ?That they are able to create excellence regardless of obstacles like tighter schedules and in an environment in which audiences have more entertainment options to choose from — is a true testament to the importance of directorial skill in television.?
The winners will be announced at the 64th Annual DGA Awards Dinner on Saturday, January 28, 2012 at the Grand Ballroom at Hollywood & Highland in Los Angeles.
***
Movies For Television And Mini-series
The nominees for the Directors Guild...
?The caliber of work being done on television these days is incredible, and our director nominees in each category are an indispensable element to the success of every project — establishing and enhancing the vision and tone, eliciting outstanding performances and furthering the narrative arc through their creative choices,? said Hackford. ?That they are able to create excellence regardless of obstacles like tighter schedules and in an environment in which audiences have more entertainment options to choose from — is a true testament to the importance of directorial skill in television.?
The winners will be announced at the 64th Annual DGA Awards Dinner on Saturday, January 28, 2012 at the Grand Ballroom at Hollywood & Highland in Los Angeles.
***
Movies For Television And Mini-series
The nominees for the Directors Guild...
- 1/10/2012
- by Josh Abraham
- Hollywoodnews.com
Partners in love and human rights: Jeff Parshley
and Adam Bouska in their own NoH8 photo.
With the third anniversary of the NoH8 Campaign having been celebrated last week, it’s clear that photographer Adam Bouska has created something that transcends a mere trend and instead has brought the world something that speaks volumes by a series of simple, yet iconic images. But how did the NoH8 Campaign get its start and where does it go from here? AfterElton.com grabbed some time recently with the busy Bouska to talk about how his life has changed, his new passion project, the sexy Six Packs/Nine Lives2012 Calendar and why Jane Lynch is one of his favorite subjects to work with.
Ae: The NOH8 Campaign has been such a big part of everybody’s lives for the last few years. Silly question, but did you ever foresee it to grow to what it has?...
and Adam Bouska in their own NoH8 photo.
With the third anniversary of the NoH8 Campaign having been celebrated last week, it’s clear that photographer Adam Bouska has created something that transcends a mere trend and instead has brought the world something that speaks volumes by a series of simple, yet iconic images. But how did the NoH8 Campaign get its start and where does it go from here? AfterElton.com grabbed some time recently with the busy Bouska to talk about how his life has changed, his new passion project, the sexy Six Packs/Nine Lives2012 Calendar and why Jane Lynch is one of his favorite subjects to work with.
Ae: The NOH8 Campaign has been such a big part of everybody’s lives for the last few years. Silly question, but did you ever foresee it to grow to what it has?...
- 12/19/2011
- by nyjimmy67
- The Backlot
Actress Mimi Rogers guest stars on the Dec. 12 episode of "Two And A Half Men" playing the mother of Ashton Kutcher's character, Walden.
In early 2012 she will hit the big screen opposite Seth Rogen in the film 'For a Good Time, Call...' Rogers has appeared in more than 50 films, everything from Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery (1997) to small-screen comedies like the Fox sitcom The Loop. She's also a professional poker player who finished high school at 14.
HP50 Contributing Editor Nina Kotick caught up with Rogers at the Second Annual Beauty Bazaar to Benefit P.S. Arts, a California non-profit which bringing arts education to underserved public schools. Guests at the fundraiser enjoyed beauty treatments at the offices of Hollywood's leading dermatologist Dr. Harold Lancer.
Ashton Kutcher's mom on "Two and a Half Men," wow! What was the best part of playing the role of a mom and appearing on the show?...
In early 2012 she will hit the big screen opposite Seth Rogen in the film 'For a Good Time, Call...' Rogers has appeared in more than 50 films, everything from Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery (1997) to small-screen comedies like the Fox sitcom The Loop. She's also a professional poker player who finished high school at 14.
HP50 Contributing Editor Nina Kotick caught up with Rogers at the Second Annual Beauty Bazaar to Benefit P.S. Arts, a California non-profit which bringing arts education to underserved public schools. Guests at the fundraiser enjoyed beauty treatments at the offices of Hollywood's leading dermatologist Dr. Harold Lancer.
Ashton Kutcher's mom on "Two and a Half Men," wow! What was the best part of playing the role of a mom and appearing on the show?...
- 12/7/2011
- by The Huffington Post
- Huffington Post
After spending untold amounts of cash on hundreds of dramas and comedies — most of which will never make it to your living rooms — the five broadcast networks will begin announcing in New York next week which projects are good enough to earn a coveted fall pickup. (NBC and Fox will present their fall schedule to advertisers on Monday, followed by ABC on Tuesday, CBS on Wednesday and the CW on Thursday).
Buzz is already strong for several projects (for more on the hot ones, click here). But every year, we always wonder what diamond-in-the-rough was left on the cutting room...
Buzz is already strong for several projects (for more on the hot ones, click here). But every year, we always wonder what diamond-in-the-rough was left on the cutting room...
- 5/10/2011
- by Lynette Rice and James Hibberd
- EW - Inside TV
And they’re off! Casting is all but completed and production has already begun on scores of pilots for the five broadcast networks. But not every comedy and drama will go the distance. Which project has the right stuff? What pilot already has you feeling like you popped a Lunesta? Check out the mammoth slate for fall consideration. (And remember, all projects are whittled down in late April/early May before the nets present their fall slates to advertisers in New York):
CBS
The Doctor (Rina Mimoun, David Nutter). A mother (Christine Lahti) reconnects with her adult children when...
CBS
The Doctor (Rina Mimoun, David Nutter). A mother (Christine Lahti) reconnects with her adult children when...
- 3/23/2011
- by Lynette Rice and James Hibberd
- EW - Inside TV
There might be a reason why bids for Miramax are coming in under what Disney would have liked, and it's not just recession-weary cost-consciousness at play.
Rather, the library is a maze of disparate titles and murky rights. Yes, there are 14 prestige titles that competed for best picture Oscars, three of which nabbed the statuette, but there also is a lot of straight-to-video fare, quirky art pics with little remake potential and other films whose ownership is unclear or hopelessly split.
Even the size of the library has been misstated over and over again. Various reports have placed it at 700 movies, but there are actually only 611 (plus 220 hours of TV episodes) and only slightly more than half of those movies got a domestic theatrical release and can be considered salable quality movies that have potential to keep generating significant revenue.
There also are five unreleased movies in the mix: Julie Taymor's adaptation of Shakespeare's "The Tempest"; the Jennifer Aniston romantic comedy "The Switch" (formerly "The Baster")...
Rather, the library is a maze of disparate titles and murky rights. Yes, there are 14 prestige titles that competed for best picture Oscars, three of which nabbed the statuette, but there also is a lot of straight-to-video fare, quirky art pics with little remake potential and other films whose ownership is unclear or hopelessly split.
Even the size of the library has been misstated over and over again. Various reports have placed it at 700 movies, but there are actually only 611 (plus 220 hours of TV episodes) and only slightly more than half of those movies got a domestic theatrical release and can be considered salable quality movies that have potential to keep generating significant revenue.
There also are five unreleased movies in the mix: Julie Taymor's adaptation of Shakespeare's "The Tempest"; the Jennifer Aniston romantic comedy "The Switch" (formerly "The Baster")...
- 4/8/2010
- by By Alex Ben Block
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
It's a good day for funny people, especially if your name is Tina Fey or Seth MacFarlane.
Fey's series, 30 Rock, was handed 22 Emmy nominations this morning, which stands as a record for a comedy series. She and Alec Baldwin were also nominated for acting awards. Plus, for the first time some of the other actors on NBC's laffer were recognized. Jane Krakowski, Jack McBrayer and Tracy Morgan all picked up supporting nominations.
MacFarlane's Family Guy was also nominated for best comedy series, the first time an animated show has cracked that category since The Flintstones in 1961. Two years ago MacFarlane decided to pull his show from contention in the animated series category to have it considered for best comedy.
Mad Men, the drama about the advertising world in the sixties, picked up 16 nominations in the drama categories, including a best actor nod for Jon Hamm. Hamm is also nominated as...
Fey's series, 30 Rock, was handed 22 Emmy nominations this morning, which stands as a record for a comedy series. She and Alec Baldwin were also nominated for acting awards. Plus, for the first time some of the other actors on NBC's laffer were recognized. Jane Krakowski, Jack McBrayer and Tracy Morgan all picked up supporting nominations.
MacFarlane's Family Guy was also nominated for best comedy series, the first time an animated show has cracked that category since The Flintstones in 1961. Two years ago MacFarlane decided to pull his show from contention in the animated series category to have it considered for best comedy.
Mad Men, the drama about the advertising world in the sixties, picked up 16 nominations in the drama categories, including a best actor nod for Jon Hamm. Hamm is also nominated as...
- 7/16/2009
- CinemaSpy
Jeff Favreproduction: A Beautiful View, Son of Semele Theatre; Robots vs. Fake Robots, Powerhouse Theatre; Shipwrecked! An Entertainment, Geffen Playhouse.Playwriting: David Largman Murray, Robots vs. Fake Robots.Direction: Don Boughton, A Beautiful View; John Doyle, Sweeney Todd, the Demon Barber of Fleet Street, Center Theatre Group, Ahmanson Theatre; Tiger Reel, Cartoon, Art/Works Theatre; Elise Robertson, The Women, Circus Theatricals.Music Direction: Sarah Travis, Sweeney Todd, the Demon Barber of Fleet Street. Scenic Design: Simon Higlett, The School of Night, Center Theatre Group, Mark Taper Forum; Christine Jones, Spring Awakening, Center Theatre Group, Ahmanson Theatre; Anthony Ward, My Fair Lady, Center Theatre Group, Ahmanson Theatre.Lighting Design: Russell H. Champa, The School of Night; Richard Jones, Sweeney Todd, the Demon Barber of Fleet Street.Costume Design: Anthony Ward, My Fair Lady.Sound Design: Dan Moses Schreier, Sweeney Todd, the Demon Barber of Fleet Street.Perfomance In A (Primarily) Straight Play:Gregory Itzin,...
- 3/11/2009
- backstage.com
Although Ari Folman's "Waltz With Bashir" did not make the shortlist of 15 films under consideration for the best documentary Oscar, it is among the nominees for the DGA's doc award, announced Friday.
"Waltz" will compete with Gonzalo Arijon's "Stranded: I've Come From a Plane that Crashed on the Mountains," in which survivors of a 1972 Andes plane crash tell their story; Elizabeth Farnsworth and Patricio Lanfranco's "The Judge and the General," a look back at the investigation into the regime of Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet; Peter Gilbert & Stevie James' "At the Death House Door," an examination of the wrongful conviction of a Texas man executed for murder; and James Marsh's "Man on Wire," a study of tight-rope walker Philippe Petit.
All the nominees are first-time DGA nominees, with the exception of Gilbert (who won the DGA's doc award in 1998 for "Vietnam: Long Time Coming" and was...
"Waltz" will compete with Gonzalo Arijon's "Stranded: I've Come From a Plane that Crashed on the Mountains," in which survivors of a 1972 Andes plane crash tell their story; Elizabeth Farnsworth and Patricio Lanfranco's "The Judge and the General," a look back at the investigation into the regime of Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet; Peter Gilbert & Stevie James' "At the Death House Door," an examination of the wrongful conviction of a Texas man executed for murder; and James Marsh's "Man on Wire," a study of tight-rope walker Philippe Petit.
All the nominees are first-time DGA nominees, with the exception of Gilbert (who won the DGA's doc award in 1998 for "Vietnam: Long Time Coming" and was...
- 1/9/2009
- by By Gregg Kilday
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Outstanding Writing For A Variety, Music Or Comedy Program The Colbert Report • Comedy Central • Hello Doggie, Inc. with Busboy Productions and Spartina Productions Tom Purcell, Head Writer The Daily Show With Jon Stewart • Comedy Central • Hello Doggie, Inc. Steve Bodow, Head Writer Late Night With Conan O'Brien • NBC • Conaco, Broadway Video, in association with Universal Media Studio Mike Sweeney, Head Writer Late Show With David Letterman • CBS • Worldwide Pants Inc. Eric Stangel, Head Writer Justin Stangel, Head Writer Saturday Night Live • NBC • SNL Studios in association with NBC Studios and Broadway Video Seth Meyers, Head Writer Andrew Steele, Head Writer Outstanding Writing For A Comedy Series Flight Of The Conchords • Yoko • HBO • Dakota Pictures and Comedy Arts in association with HBO Entertainment James Bobin, Written By Jemaine Clement, Written By Bret McKenzie, Written By The Office • Dinner Party • NBC • Deedle Dee Productions, Reveille LLC, Universal Media Studios Lee Eisenberg, Written By Gene Stupnitsky,...
- 9/22/2008
- by TheInsider
- TheInsider.com
Bernie Brillstein was one of those guys who you figured would be around Hollywood forever, at least in part because it seemed he'd always been here. But even the incandescent ones ultimately, sadly, flame out, as Brillstein did Thursday night at 77 from heart failure.
The irony is that one of the rare industry power brokers known for having a big heart would succumb to issues afflicting the ticker. Or, as his longtime client and close friend Lorne Michaels said last week, "He never gave up his heart. He somehow kept his balance in a world where people do just awful things to each other."
Brillstein would no doubt be dismissive ofanything maudlin that might package the coverage of his demise. And he knew something about clever packaging: presiding formore than a half-century as talent agent, manager, producer, studio head and father confessor to his exceedingly loyal client roster.
That list included many of the original Not Ready for Prime Time Players at "Saturday Night Live" in the 1970s, including John Belushi, Gilda Radner and Dan Aykroyd as well as creator/executive producer Michaels. The show's enduring importance and appeal as a comedy institution serves as a Brillstein legacy in and of itself.
Brillstein's eye for comedic talent was almost unmatched, but it was in the packaging of his clientsin movies and TV shows that Brillstein's showbiz skills really stood out.He helped propel the careers of everyone from Brad Pitt to Adam Sandler, from Bill Maher to Dennis Miller, from Gwyneth Paltrow to Jennifer Aniston.
Wearing his producer hat, Brillstein had a hand in steering to the big screen "Ghostbusters," "Dragnet," "Happy Gilmore," "Spies Like Us," "The Blues Brothers" and "The Cable Guy," while in TV he exec produced shows ranging from the NBC comedies "Buffalo Bill," "The Days and Nights of Molly Dodd" and "Alf" to Showtime's "It's Garry Shandling's Show." He's also credited with having helped bring both "SNL" and HBO's "The Sopranos" to TV, the latter in partnership with Brad Grey in Brillstein-Grey Entertainment.
"Bernie was a man who lived and breathed our business," Grey said Friday. "The basics and fundamentals and joy of the entertainment business to him were always contagious."
But as anyone who dealt with Brillstein in a professional capacity could tell you, it was his personal style that elevated him above even the most successful power players of his generation: He was brash, he was gregarious, he was the proverbial bearded teddy bear.
"I will miss Bernie every day," Grey added. "Speaking with him and sharing with him was such a meaningful part of my daily life that it's a huge loss for me both personally and professionally. With Bernie, it was impossible to separate those two."
Brillsteincame up the old-fashioned way, via the Wma mailroom in the mid '50s. In 1969 he founded the Brillstein Co., which morphed into Brillstein-Grey Entertainment with partner Grey in 1991 and finally Brillstein Entertainment Partners last year. (Brillstein remained associated with Brillstein-Grey after Greybought out his interest in 1996; Grey sold his own stake in 2005 when he became chairman of the Paramount Motion Picture Group.)
In his 1999 showbiz memoir, "Where Did I Go Right? You're No One in Hollywood Unless Someone Wants You Dead," it was also abundantly clear that Brillstein wasn't afraid to tell it like it is when he felt it necessary -- or profitable.Still, he did it with gusto and generosity of spirit.
"Bernie was just the best," Michaels concluded. "He was one of the most decent and generous people I've ever known."
Brillstein is survived by his wife of 10 years, Carrie; sons Michael Brillstein, David Koskoff and Nick Koskoff; daughters Kate and Leigh Brillstein; son-in-law Abe Hoch; and a grandson.
A memorial will be held 6 p.m. Monday at UCLA's Royce Hall, with a reception immediately following.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be directed to Barlow Respiratory Research Center, 2000 Stadium Way, Los Angeles, CA, 90026.
The irony is that one of the rare industry power brokers known for having a big heart would succumb to issues afflicting the ticker. Or, as his longtime client and close friend Lorne Michaels said last week, "He never gave up his heart. He somehow kept his balance in a world where people do just awful things to each other."
Brillstein would no doubt be dismissive ofanything maudlin that might package the coverage of his demise. And he knew something about clever packaging: presiding formore than a half-century as talent agent, manager, producer, studio head and father confessor to his exceedingly loyal client roster.
That list included many of the original Not Ready for Prime Time Players at "Saturday Night Live" in the 1970s, including John Belushi, Gilda Radner and Dan Aykroyd as well as creator/executive producer Michaels. The show's enduring importance and appeal as a comedy institution serves as a Brillstein legacy in and of itself.
Brillstein's eye for comedic talent was almost unmatched, but it was in the packaging of his clientsin movies and TV shows that Brillstein's showbiz skills really stood out.He helped propel the careers of everyone from Brad Pitt to Adam Sandler, from Bill Maher to Dennis Miller, from Gwyneth Paltrow to Jennifer Aniston.
Wearing his producer hat, Brillstein had a hand in steering to the big screen "Ghostbusters," "Dragnet," "Happy Gilmore," "Spies Like Us," "The Blues Brothers" and "The Cable Guy," while in TV he exec produced shows ranging from the NBC comedies "Buffalo Bill," "The Days and Nights of Molly Dodd" and "Alf" to Showtime's "It's Garry Shandling's Show." He's also credited with having helped bring both "SNL" and HBO's "The Sopranos" to TV, the latter in partnership with Brad Grey in Brillstein-Grey Entertainment.
"Bernie was a man who lived and breathed our business," Grey said Friday. "The basics and fundamentals and joy of the entertainment business to him were always contagious."
But as anyone who dealt with Brillstein in a professional capacity could tell you, it was his personal style that elevated him above even the most successful power players of his generation: He was brash, he was gregarious, he was the proverbial bearded teddy bear.
"I will miss Bernie every day," Grey added. "Speaking with him and sharing with him was such a meaningful part of my daily life that it's a huge loss for me both personally and professionally. With Bernie, it was impossible to separate those two."
Brillsteincame up the old-fashioned way, via the Wma mailroom in the mid '50s. In 1969 he founded the Brillstein Co., which morphed into Brillstein-Grey Entertainment with partner Grey in 1991 and finally Brillstein Entertainment Partners last year. (Brillstein remained associated with Brillstein-Grey after Greybought out his interest in 1996; Grey sold his own stake in 2005 when he became chairman of the Paramount Motion Picture Group.)
In his 1999 showbiz memoir, "Where Did I Go Right? You're No One in Hollywood Unless Someone Wants You Dead," it was also abundantly clear that Brillstein wasn't afraid to tell it like it is when he felt it necessary -- or profitable.Still, he did it with gusto and generosity of spirit.
"Bernie was just the best," Michaels concluded. "He was one of the most decent and generous people I've ever known."
Brillstein is survived by his wife of 10 years, Carrie; sons Michael Brillstein, David Koskoff and Nick Koskoff; daughters Kate and Leigh Brillstein; son-in-law Abe Hoch; and a grandson.
A memorial will be held 6 p.m. Monday at UCLA's Royce Hall, with a reception immediately following.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be directed to Barlow Respiratory Research Center, 2000 Stadium Way, Los Angeles, CA, 90026.
- 8/10/2008
- by By Ray Richmond
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Josh Holloway has joined the cast of the Polish brothers' new comedy, "Stay Cool."
Holloway will co-star with Winona Ryder, Mark Polish, Sean Astin, Chevy Chase, Hilary Duff and Jon Cryer.
The project, which shoots this month in Santa Clarita, Calif., is described as a "knowing-your-age comedy," centering on a successful author (Polish) who is forced to confront an unrequited high school crush, Scarlet Smith (Ryder), when he returns home to deliver a commencement address to graduating seniors.
Holloway will play Wino, the author's ne'er-do-well high school buddy who encourages him to seek out his long lost high school flame.
Mark and Michael Polish, who wrote the script, are producing with Jonathan Sheldon, Ken Johnson and Janet DuBois via their new Prohibition Pictures banner. Michael Polish is directing.
Holloway is best known for his role as Sawyer on the hit ABC series "Lost." He is repped by Wma and Brillstein Entertainment Partners.
Holloway will co-star with Winona Ryder, Mark Polish, Sean Astin, Chevy Chase, Hilary Duff and Jon Cryer.
The project, which shoots this month in Santa Clarita, Calif., is described as a "knowing-your-age comedy," centering on a successful author (Polish) who is forced to confront an unrequited high school crush, Scarlet Smith (Ryder), when he returns home to deliver a commencement address to graduating seniors.
Holloway will play Wino, the author's ne'er-do-well high school buddy who encourages him to seek out his long lost high school flame.
Mark and Michael Polish, who wrote the script, are producing with Jonathan Sheldon, Ken Johnson and Janet DuBois via their new Prohibition Pictures banner. Michael Polish is directing.
Holloway is best known for his role as Sawyer on the hit ABC series "Lost." He is repped by Wma and Brillstein Entertainment Partners.
- 7/2/2008
- by By Borys Kit
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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