Thursday, October 3, 2024
Home Blog Page 262

Pedro Almodovar’s Short Film with Ethan Hawke, Pedro Pascal Chosen for Cannes 2 Days Before Big Announcement

0

Pedro Almodovar’s 40 minute film, “A Strange Way of Life,” has been officially chosen for the Cannes Film Festival. This news comes 2 days before the big Cannes announcement about the entire schedule. Also on the bill already are Martin Scorsese’s “Killers of the Flower Moon,” James Mangold’s “Indiana Jones 5,” and Maiween’s movie featuring Johnny Depp.

I told you this would happen back on February 20th.

The film stars Ethan Hawke and Pedro Pascal as gay cowboys.

Almodovar writes:
“A man rides a horse across the desert that separates him from Bitter Creek. He comes to visit Sheriff Jake. Twenty-five years earlier, both the sheriff and Silva, the rancher who rides out to meet him, worked together as hired gunmen. Silva visits him with the excuse of reuniting with his friend from his youth, and they do indeed celebrate their meeting, but the next morning Sheriff Jake tells him that the reason for his trip is not to go down the memory lane of their old friendship….

“I must say no more so as not to give away all the surprises of the script.

“The strange way of life referred in the title alludes to the famous fado by Amalia Rodrigues, whose lyrics suggest that there is no stranger existence than the one that is lived by turning your back on your own desires.”

It’s a little unclear who or how “A Strange Way of Life” will be released as it is only 40 minutes. I guess we’ll see how that develops. It’s always great to see Almodovar, and his films are never less than riveting!

Ratings: “Saturday Night Live” Surprisingly DROPS in Total Viewers with Molly Shannon, Jonas Brothers

0

This is quite surprising: “Saturday Night Live” was DOWN this week, to 4.1 million viewers.

Huh? Show vet Molly Shannon made her first appearance in 16 years. The Jonas Brothers were the musical guests. The cold open with James Austin Johnson as Trump fronting the Last Supper was superb.

So that’s a head scratcher. The previous brought about 100,000 more viewers, and that itself was a little of the year’s average. I thought for sure I’d be reporting an increase to 4.4 million, or something like that.

This week’s host is Ana de Armas with musical guest Karol G. Will that do better? Can anything at this point? Frustrating!

“Succession” Rises 23% As Logan Roy’s Surprise Death Startles Fans With Shocking, Emotional Emmy Award Worthy Episode

0

The sudden and surprise death of Logan Roy on Sunday night’s “Succession” energized the show’s ratings.

Numbers were up 23% from last week as word spread to the other time zones from the East, social media went crazy, and even east coasters tuned in for the second showing at 10pm.

Imagine what the numbers might have been if HBO had given a clue about what was going to happen. But there were no previews, and no press screenings. This Sunday, the numbers should be up substantially for Logan’s funeral and the repercussions of his death. This should be the will reading of all time!

HBO will announce higher numbers from Sunday drawing on HBO Max and other platforms. These numbers are the actual ratings from the HBO main channel.

The episode was titled “Connor’s Wedding.” Remember it in July when it picks up Emmy nods for Best Drama, writing, directing, and all the actors.

Beatles: Sean Ono Lennon Joins Older Brother Julian for 60th Birthday Dinner, Dhani Harrison Writes In

0

Few things in the extended Beatles world could be better than this: John Lennon’s eldest son, Julian, celebrated his 60th birthday over the weekend in Paris. And one of his guests was younger brother Sean Ono Lennon.

Julian wrote on Instagram: “Thank you to BMG for Hosting this lovely Birdy dinner, with some of My nearest & dearest…
And Especially to the guy sitting to my left…
Having you there made my night & day… ❤️🙏🏻😘”

Sean followed up with three heart emojis. And Dhani Harrison, son of George, chimed in with “Love you guys !!! Happy Birthday Jules” and NINE heart emojis– as in Revolution #9, #9 Dream, and John Lennon’s birthday (October 9th).

John and George would be very proud. You see, all you need is love!

Da-Dum! Dick Wolf Sees Network Renewals for All Nine Shows, Three Solid Nights of Hit Programming — With a Catch

0

Da dum!
“Law & Order” and all its configurations has been renewed by NBC. But regular orders only for classic “L&O” and “SVU.” Chris Meloni’s “Organized Crime,” with low ratings and four showrunners gone, is only guaranteed 13 weeks. Maybe after that, Meloni will only guest on “SVU.”

At the same time, NBC will bring back the “Chicago” shows — all three of them.

Add those to Wolf’s “FBI” shows on CBS, and it’s a 1000% victory. Dick Wolf will continue his hold on three different nights again next season: Tuesdays with three “FBI” shows.

Of them all, “Law & Order SVU” is the senior player, coming into its 25th season. Mariska Hargitay is the single longest running nighttime star on television. Now if only they’ll bring back Kelli Giddish– I watched it the other night and is really missed.

Stunt Casting Horror: Kim Kardashian Will Appear in “American Horror Story” This Year

0

Legislation is needed to stop this kind of thing from happening.

Kim Kardashian, America’s favorite non entity, will appear on Ryan Murphy’s next season of “American Horror Story.” Kardashian has no acting experience other than pretending, convincingly, to be a celebrity without portfolio. She did make a sex tape, so that’s something.

Curious because in 2016 produced “The People vs. OJ Simpson,” the fictional retelling of the double murder trial. David Schwimmer played Kim’s now dead father, murder cover-upper Robert Kardashian. So this is a reunion, of sorts.

The new “American Horror Story” will also include Emma Roberts. I don’t see award winner Sarah Paulson included in this announcement, but she’d be smart to stay out of this one!

RIP Elizabeth Hubbard, 89, 11 Time Emmy Nominated Star of “As the World Turns,” “The Doctors” Soap Operas

0

The great Elizabeth Hubbard has passed away at age 89. Her son, Jeremy, posted a notice to Facebook today: “I’m sorry to say with a broken heart mi mum passed over the weekend. Thank you for being an unmovable rock that guided me through life. I will try to honour your memory for as long as I live.”

She was nominated 11 times for Daytime Emmys for playing Dr. Althea Davis on “The Doctors” in the 60s and 70s, and Lucinda Walsh on “As the World Turns.” She was a powerhouse actress who chewed all the scenery and spit it out. Whatever scene she was in, it was hers. She came from the legacy generation of soap actors with extensive theater training, and it showed. She appeared on Broadway in 14 separate productions until joining “As the World Turns,” where she remained until the last day in 2010.

Aside from smaller roles in other New York soaps, Hubbard also appeared in some key movies, like “Ordinary People” and “The Bell Jar.” She will be sorely missed. Condolences to her family and friends.

Broadway’s Biggest Annual Charity Gala Challenges Anna Wintour’s Met Ball on Same Night Next Month With Actual Talent

0

Game on!

Broadway’s biggest annual charity gala will take on Anna Wintour’s Met Ball on May 1st. I’m rooting for Broadway.

The Entertainment Community Fund used to be called the Actors Fund. Everyone who’s anyone shows up every year and this one will be no different. The honorees include Tyler Perry, Glorya Kaufman, Alana Mayo, and Tom Kirdahy. Tony winner Brian Stokes Mitchell is in charge, and the entertainment will be five star in the Marriott Marquis Hotel ballroom.

Meanwhile, Anna Wintour’s celebrity-suck Halloween party will be going on at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. There will be a lot of Kardashians and other low-level tabloid stars wearing get ups from outer space. Wintour has already rejected you as a possible guest even though you’ve offered to pay some ridiculous amount of money. If you’d given half of that to ECF/Actor’s Fund, you’d actually have a fun night. And you could meet actually talented people.
For tickets: please contact 212-627-1000 or reach out to entertainmentcommunity@resevt.com

“Succession” Throws Curve Ball of All Time, Delivering Most Powerful, Emotional, Hour of TV in Years (SPOILERS)

0

Logan Roy is dead.

The patriarch character of “Succession,” based on Rupert Murdoch, was killed off tonight in the 3rd episode of the show’s fourth and final season.

Already the reaction on social media is overwhelming. That’s because this was the most emotional hour of television in years. The Roys have fought among each other in the most vicious way for three seasons plus the last two episodes. And the whole thing was about love, lack of love, approbation, yearning for it. And now, that part of it is over.

I’m sure over the next five weeks we’ll see the Roy kids each each other alive to take over the company and come out on top. It will make “Game of Thrones” look like “Mary Poppins.” But for right now, the show was written with such despairing eloquence, and acted the same, the second showing right now on HBO should push the ratings into the stratosphere.

What Jesse Armstrong, the writer and creator of the show, has done is hit a bullseye dramatically. The emotions are so real and raw and unexpected throughout the roller coaster of denial and reluctant acceptance there’s huge identification. Brian Cox made Logan such a royal, immortal figure that a sudden death seems impossible. But last night week it was kind of telegraphed when the group of them had their final meeting. Logan actually apologized to them all. Even though no one accepted it, it was his farewell.

Emmys for the show and everyone involved. Outstanding work.

RIP Beloved Character Actor Michael Lerner, 81, Oscar Nominee for “Barton Fink”

I’m sorry to report the death of beloved character, Michael Lerner. He was 81.

Michael was nominated for Best Supporting Actor in 1992 in the Coen Brothers’ “Barton Fink.” He was perfectly cast and actually deserved to win. He was already on a roll, appearing in movies and TV, but after that his work ramped up considerably.

Because of his hefty visage, he was often cast as mobsters, lawyers, or heads of studios from the old days. In 2016 he starred in a film directed by Justin Chambers of “Grey’s Anatomy,” called “American Bred.” Around that time he had a recurring role in “Glee.”

In the decades before that his resume is endless, he was a very popular presence on the big and small screens. I had the pleasure of talking to Michael a few times over the years. He was great friends with actress Diane Baker, they used to come to the annual BAFTA tea, and he was a lot of fun.

Michael’s nephew, Sam Lerner, posted the notice on Instagram. May his memory be a blessing.