‘24′ Creators Enlist Martin Campbell and Migrate to the Large Screen
April 30, 2008
Filed under: Action, Thrillers, Deals, Fandom
24 is ridiculous, repetitive, and morally suspect — and I love it with all my heart. I’m a card-carrying liberal, but I’ve offered to surrender my card if it means that I can jump up and down with glee as Jack Bauer yells “There’s no time!” and shoots another terrorist in the kneecap. Close friend of Rush Limbaugh or not, then, co-creator Joel Surnow is one of my favorite people in Hollywood (he left the show earlier this year). And that means I’m excited about this announcement that Surnow and 24 co-producer Michael Loceff are collaborating to write and produce a new “contemporary spy thriller” for United Artists.
Surnow and UA have enlisted Casino Royale’s Martin Campbell to direct the movie after he finishes the newly announced Mel Gibson thriller Edge of Darkness. The Hollywood Reporter speculates that this project might constitute an attempt by UA to find a viable franchise for part-owner Tom Cruise, though there’s no official word that Cruise is going to star in the film.
FX gives Sons Of Anarchy a 13-episode order
April 30, 2008
Filed under: Other Drama Shows, Pickups and Renewals, Casting, Reality-Free
Why have one outlaw biker show when you can have two? I always find it a little odd when you see two movies or television shows pop up at the same time that share strikingly similar premises. And that’s what we have here. Sons Of Anarchy, from The Shield writer/executive producer Kurt Sutter, centers on an outlaw motorcycle club in Charming, CA. Clearly much different than HBO’s 1%, which tells the story of an outlaw motorcycle club in Carefree, AZ. They’re two completely different states after all.
Of course, I kid… a little bit. The shows do have different takes on the subject, and there is a rundown of the development time lines for both of them in the article at The Hollywood Reporter. Sons will focus on Jax Teller (Charlie Hunnam) and the conflict that develops as his loyalty to the club clashes with his trepidation where their lawlessness is concerned. Sutter’s wife, Katey Sagal, is along for the ride as Teller’s mother. The role of Jax’s step-father was played by Scott Glenn in the pilot but will be recast in the series. I’m not sure if there is room for two biker shows on the television schedule, but with Sutter in charge of Sons, and Donal Logue signed on for 1%, I’ll have to take a look at both of them.
The Daytime Emmy nominations announced
April 30, 2008
Filed under: Daytime, Talk Show, Emmys, Reality-Free
The Daytime Emmy nominations were announced this morning on The View. My initial reaction is this: there are so many repeat nominees! This list is filled with actors who have won multiple times. Are the Daytime Emmys in a rut? I’m afraid so. This list seems very stale to me, not that many of these performers aren’t worthy, but a lot of other worthy actors were completely overlooked. Again. Emmy could use an overhaul, but we’ll discuss that another time.
Here are the main nominees — and some comments — and you can check out the complete list and a photo gallery of the Daytime Emmy nominees at AOL TV. On Friday, June 20, ABC will broadcast the awards in primetime (8-11 p.m. EST) from the Kodak Theater in Hollywood.
Yay! Sir Ian McKellen Confirms Gandalf’s Return In ‘The Hobbit’!
April 30, 2008
Filed under: Classics, Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Casting, Newsstand, Peter Jackson, Remakes and Sequels
Like we doubted it for a second! But I always love hearing from Sir Ian McKellen, he’s just so gracious and charming. Empire caught him at the Speed Racer premiere, and made him talk the words to quicken the hearts of all Middle Earth fans. “Yes, it’s true,” he said. “I spoke to Guillermo in the very room that Peter Jackson offered me the part and he confirmed that I would be reprising the role. Obviously, it’s not a part that you turn down, I loved playing Gandalf.”
And Gandalf loves being onscreen. “We speak occasionally and he’s looking forward to coming out of retirement, yes. Guillermo will be getting around to starting the script in about six weeks when he’s completed filming Hellboy 2.”
Is it Time for ‘Mission: Impossible 4′!?
April 30, 2008
Filed under: Action, Casting, Paramount, RumorMonger, Celebrities and Controversy, Remakes and Sequels
The seas haven’t been smooth for used-to-be-totally-loved shortie Tom Cruise. Lions for Lambs didn’t help his career commercially, and Valkyrie continues to have problems, so of course, thoughts would turn to his popular fluff fare. There have been some rumors about Mission: Impossible 4, and according to Slashfilm, an insider has told Life & Style Magazine: “Tom will make M:I 4 once Paramount greenlights the script. There will most definitely be another Mission: Impossible!”
This could be pure rumor just as much as fact, but I imagine it’s true. There’s only so long Cruise can stay relevant in the tabloids unless he gets back on track professionally, or jumps on some more sofas. But I wonder if it could, or will, be a hit. Excitement has moved to other franchises, and while number three still brought in some cash, it’s gross was under the money pulled in by the first two.
The Daily Show: April 29, 2008 - VIDEOS
April 30, 2008
Filed under: OpEd, The Daily Show, Episode Reviews, Reality-Free
“Land of the Spree”: Grand Theft Auto IV was finally released and gun-wielding crazies took the streets in droves and… very politely waited in line in an orderly manner. Senior Virtual Correspondent Aasif Mandvi reported live from Liberty City to giddily talk about the chaos and loss of life throughout the game. There is nothing superior than wreaking havoc in a virtual replica of the city you live in, apparently.
Continue reading The Daily Show: April 29, 2008 - VIDEOS
What’s On Tonight: NBA Playoffs, Last Restaurant Standing, The Riches
April 30, 2008
Filed under: Programming, What To Watch Tonight, Reality-Free
TNT has NBA Playoffs all night. - At 8, ABC has a new According To Jim.
- CBS has a new NCIS at 8, followed by a new Shark.
- FOX has new episodes of American Idol and Hell’s Kitchen.
- There’s a new Beauty and the Geek on The CW at 8, then a new Reaper.
- At 9, ABC has a new Dancing with the Stars, then a new Women’s Murder Club.
- PBS has a new installment of Carrier at 9.
- Discovery has a new Deadliest Catch at 9.
- Hallmark has the new motion picture The Good Witch at 9.
- BBC America has a new Last Restaurant Standing at 9.
- At 10, NBC has a new Law and Order: SVU.
- FX has a new episode of The Riches at 10.
- Sci-Fi has a new ECW at 10.
- HBO has a new Costas Now at 10.
- Also at 10: MTV has a new A Shot At Love with Tila Tequila.
Check your local Television listings for more.
Speak Talk: Vanessa Williams, David Mamet, Chelsea Handler
April 30, 2008
Filed under: Late Night, TV Royalty, Programming, Television on DVD, Celebrities, Talk Show, Reality-Free
Here’s who’s on the late night shows tonight.
Yay! Sir Ian McKellen Confirms Gandalf’s Return In ‘The Hobbit’!
April 30, 2008
Filed under: Classics, Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Casting, Newsstand, Peter Jackson, Remakes and Sequels
Like we doubted it for a second! But I always love hearing from Sir Ian McKellen, he’s just so gracious and charming. Empire caught him at the Speed Racer premiere, and made him speak the words to quicken the hearts of all Middle Earth fans. “Yes, it’s true,” he said. “I spoke to Guillermo in the very room that Peter Jackson offered me the part and he confirmed that I would be reprising the role. Obviously, it’s not a part that you turn down, I loved playing Gandalf.”
And Gandalf cares about being onscreen. “We speak occasionally and he’s looking forward to coming out of retirement, yes. Guillermo will be getting around to starting the script in about six weeks when he’s completed filming Hellboy 2.”
Tribeca Report: Poehler on Life, ‘SNL,’ But Not Babies
April 30, 2008
Filed under: New Releases, Tribeca, Festival Reports, RumorMonger, Celebrities and Controversy, Fandom
Amy Poehler certainly didn’t look pregnant when she showed up for a chat at the Apple store in Soho last weekend (as part of a series of speaks taking place during the Tribeca Film Festival), but in retrospect, the Baby Mama star had the sprightliness of a gal with a special secret. Along with moderator and Saturday Night Live co-star Fred Armisen, Poehler really worked the room, gently mocking the crowd (”I think all these guys are waiting to get into the Genius bar”) while slipping in occasional hints that she actually has an authentic strategy behind her career.
“I would like to do more serious acting,” she stated, not mentioning her current voiceover work for Hoodwinked 2: Hood vs. Evil. “I’ve been doing sketch comedy for a long time, and it’d be nice to turn the volume down a little bit and try other stuff. I have a secret desire to be on Law & Order, but I wish I could be on an old Law & Order, with Jerry Orbach.” Armisen, somewhat facetiously, stated he would never tire of comedy. “It’s like eating to me,” he claimed. Read more
