While the Wheel Of Fortune will never be the same without long-time host and legend, Pat Sajak, he has other fish to fry. Although he is preparing and ready for the final spin to air, Pat had one leg out the door with his new gig already lined up before the season finale.
End Of An Era
Now that the final spin is about to air, it has been a week of memory lane for the Wheel Of Fortune cast. Admittedly, Pat Sajak knows it will be “okay” for him to move on from the life he’s known for more than four decades. Confessing to his daughter, Maggie Sajak, he says, “I’d rather leave a couple of years too early, than a couple of years too late.” Although he knows he could still give the show more time, he says there are some other things he would like to do in his life.
End Of An Era
Now that the final spin is about to air, it has been a week of memory lane for the Wheel Of Fortune cast. Admittedly, Pat Sajak knows it will be “okay” for him to move on from the life he’s known for more than four decades. Confessing to his daughter, Maggie Sajak, he says, “I’d rather leave a couple of years too early, than a couple of years too late.” Although he knows he could still give the show more time, he says there are some other things he would like to do in his life.
- 6/7/2024
- by Bonnie Kaiser-Gambill
- TV Shows Ace
Mark Johnson has produced some of the most distinctive movies and TV shows of the past 40 years. Think “Good Morning, Vietnam,” “Rain Man,” “The Notebook,” “The Holdovers,” “Breaking Bad” and “Better Call Saul.”
Yet Johnson was a surprise choice by AMC Networks to lead its massive investment in building out the Anne Rice literary universe in multiple TV series. AMC bought the TV rights to Rice’s literary vault of Southern Gothic vampire tales in 2020.
Four years later, AMC has two successful Rice-based series on the air — “Interview With the Vampire” and “Mayfair Witches” — and a third hot prospect in development: “Talamasca,” which explores a mysterious society within the Rice universe. Johnson had little experience with the fantasy and horror genres. But he was the perfect person to steer the Rice initiative, in part because he’s not steeped in the conventions and tropes of fantasy fiction, according to Dan McDermott,...
Yet Johnson was a surprise choice by AMC Networks to lead its massive investment in building out the Anne Rice literary universe in multiple TV series. AMC bought the TV rights to Rice’s literary vault of Southern Gothic vampire tales in 2020.
Four years later, AMC has two successful Rice-based series on the air — “Interview With the Vampire” and “Mayfair Witches” — and a third hot prospect in development: “Talamasca,” which explores a mysterious society within the Rice universe. Johnson had little experience with the fantasy and horror genres. But he was the perfect person to steer the Rice initiative, in part because he’s not steeped in the conventions and tropes of fantasy fiction, according to Dan McDermott,...
- 5/30/2024
- by Cynthia Littleton
- Variety Film + TV
Hey there, movie buffs and fellow Robin Williams admirers! Get ready to take a delightful stroll down memory lane as we dive into the world of one of the most incredible actors ever to grace the big screen.
Yep, you guessed it – we’re talking about the one and only Robin Williams.
As someone who’s always been completely smitten by his talent, I’m thrilled to guide you through a list of his top 10 movies that have left an indelible mark on the film industry and our hearts.
So, pop some popcorn, grab a comfy blanket, and celebrate Robin Williams‘s genius together!
1. ‘Dead Poets Society’ (1989) – Carpe Diem!
“Dead Poets Society” is a masterpiece that captures the essence of Robin Williams‘ transformative abilities.
His portrayal of John Keating, an English teacher who inspires his students to seize the day, is both poignant and inspiring.
This film beautifully showcases Williams...
Yep, you guessed it – we’re talking about the one and only Robin Williams.
As someone who’s always been completely smitten by his talent, I’m thrilled to guide you through a list of his top 10 movies that have left an indelible mark on the film industry and our hearts.
So, pop some popcorn, grab a comfy blanket, and celebrate Robin Williams‘s genius together!
1. ‘Dead Poets Society’ (1989) – Carpe Diem!
“Dead Poets Society” is a masterpiece that captures the essence of Robin Williams‘ transformative abilities.
His portrayal of John Keating, an English teacher who inspires his students to seize the day, is both poignant and inspiring.
This film beautifully showcases Williams...
- 5/7/2024
- by Pia Vermaak
- buddytv.com
Tubi, Fox’s free streaming service, has announced its list of May titles. The May 2024 slate features new Tubi Originals as well as numerous action, art house, Black cinema, comedy, documentary, drama, horror, kids and family, romance, sci-fi and fantasy, thriller, and Western titles.
As a leading ad-supported video-on-demand service, Tubi engages diverse audiences through a personalized experience and the world’s largest content library, which includes over 200,000 movies and TV episodes, a growing collection of Tubi Originals, and nearly 250 Fast channels.
You can watch the Tubi May 2024 lineup for free on Android and iOS mobile devices, Amazon Echo Show, Google Nest Hub Max, Comcast Xfinity X1, and Cox Contour.
You can also watch the service on connected television devices such as Amazon Fire TV, Vizio TVs, Sony TVs, Samsung TVs, Roku, Apple TV, Chromecast, Android TV, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and on the Tubi site.
Tubi Originals
Action...
As a leading ad-supported video-on-demand service, Tubi engages diverse audiences through a personalized experience and the world’s largest content library, which includes over 200,000 movies and TV episodes, a growing collection of Tubi Originals, and nearly 250 Fast channels.
You can watch the Tubi May 2024 lineup for free on Android and iOS mobile devices, Amazon Echo Show, Google Nest Hub Max, Comcast Xfinity X1, and Cox Contour.
You can also watch the service on connected television devices such as Amazon Fire TV, Vizio TVs, Sony TVs, Samsung TVs, Roku, Apple TV, Chromecast, Android TV, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and on the Tubi site.
Tubi Originals
Action...
- 4/17/2024
- by Mirko Parlevliet
- Vital Thrills
Sam Mercer, producer on several M. Night Shyamalan movies and former head of Ilm, died Feb. 12 of younger onset Alzheimer’s in South Pasadena. He was 69.
Raised in Weston, Mass., he attended Occidental College and then started working as a location manager on 1980s classics including “Stripes,” “The Escape Artist,” “National Lampoon’s Vacation,” “Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure,” “Swing Shift,” “Peggy Sue Got Married” and “The Witches of Eastwick.”
He joined the Walt Disney Company as a production executive, supervising films including “Good Morning Vietnam,” “Three Fugitives” and “Dead Poets Society.” He then became VP of motion picture production at Hollywood Pictures, where he oversaw releases including “Quiz Show,” “The Joy Luck Club,” “Born Yesterday,” “Swing Kids,” “The Hand That Rocks the Cradle” and “Arachnophobia.”
Mercer then worked as an independent producer, starting with “Congo,” “The Relic” and “Mission to Mars.” After working with Shyamalan on “The Sixth Sense,” then went on...
Raised in Weston, Mass., he attended Occidental College and then started working as a location manager on 1980s classics including “Stripes,” “The Escape Artist,” “National Lampoon’s Vacation,” “Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure,” “Swing Shift,” “Peggy Sue Got Married” and “The Witches of Eastwick.”
He joined the Walt Disney Company as a production executive, supervising films including “Good Morning Vietnam,” “Three Fugitives” and “Dead Poets Society.” He then became VP of motion picture production at Hollywood Pictures, where he oversaw releases including “Quiz Show,” “The Joy Luck Club,” “Born Yesterday,” “Swing Kids,” “The Hand That Rocks the Cradle” and “Arachnophobia.”
Mercer then worked as an independent producer, starting with “Congo,” “The Relic” and “Mission to Mars.” After working with Shyamalan on “The Sixth Sense,” then went on...
- 3/14/2024
- by Pat Saperstein
- Variety Film + TV
Sam Mercer, who produced eight M. Night Shyamalan films starting with the spooky blockbuster The Sixth Sense, has died. He was 69.
Mercer died Feb. 12 at his home in South Pasadena after a battle with younger-onset Alzheimer’s, his wife, Tegan Jones, told The Hollywood Reporter.
Mercer was seen as an out-of-the-box hire when he joined Industrial Light & Magic in September 2015 to oversee and coordinate activities of the VFX giant’s studios in San Francisco, Vancouver, London and Singapore. However, he left the next year after being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s.
Mercer began his career as a location manager on films including Stripes (1981), National Lampoon’s Vacation (1983), Pee-wee’s Big Adventure (1985), Peggy Sue Got Married (1986) and The Witches of Eastwick (1987).
He joined Disney and was a production executive on such features as Good Morning, Vietnam (1987) and Dead Poets Society (1989), and as a production vp at Hollywood Pictures, he oversaw the release of films...
Mercer died Feb. 12 at his home in South Pasadena after a battle with younger-onset Alzheimer’s, his wife, Tegan Jones, told The Hollywood Reporter.
Mercer was seen as an out-of-the-box hire when he joined Industrial Light & Magic in September 2015 to oversee and coordinate activities of the VFX giant’s studios in San Francisco, Vancouver, London and Singapore. However, he left the next year after being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s.
Mercer began his career as a location manager on films including Stripes (1981), National Lampoon’s Vacation (1983), Pee-wee’s Big Adventure (1985), Peggy Sue Got Married (1986) and The Witches of Eastwick (1987).
He joined Disney and was a production executive on such features as Good Morning, Vietnam (1987) and Dead Poets Society (1989), and as a production vp at Hollywood Pictures, he oversaw the release of films...
- 3/14/2024
- by Mike Barnes
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Sam Mercer, who produced seven M. Night Shyamalan films including The Sixth Sense, headed Lucasfilm’s Industrial Light & Magic and was location manager on several classic 1980s pics, has died. He was 69.
His wife Tegan Jones told Deadline that Mercer died February 12 of younger-onset Alzheimer’s.
“He was the best big brother I could have hoped for,” Shyamalan said in a statement. “He made every movie a family, and I’ve tried to emulate that in every film since.”
Mercer moved to Los Angeles from Weston, Ma, to work in the movie industry. He began his career as a location manager on such 1980s gems as Stripes, National Lampoon’s Vacation, Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure, Peggy Sue Got Married and The Witches of Eastwick before moving to Walt Disney Studios.
Paul Reubens in ‘Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure’ (1985)
There he worked as a production executive, supervising movies including Good Morning Vietnam and Dead Poets Society,...
His wife Tegan Jones told Deadline that Mercer died February 12 of younger-onset Alzheimer’s.
“He was the best big brother I could have hoped for,” Shyamalan said in a statement. “He made every movie a family, and I’ve tried to emulate that in every film since.”
Mercer moved to Los Angeles from Weston, Ma, to work in the movie industry. He began his career as a location manager on such 1980s gems as Stripes, National Lampoon’s Vacation, Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure, Peggy Sue Got Married and The Witches of Eastwick before moving to Walt Disney Studios.
Paul Reubens in ‘Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure’ (1985)
There he worked as a production executive, supervising movies including Good Morning Vietnam and Dead Poets Society,...
- 3/14/2024
- by Erik Pedersen
- Deadline Film + TV
When you take a peek at Mark Johnson‘s resume, you’re immediately astounded. Consider this partial list of projects he’s been attached to as a producer or executive producer during a career that’s exceeded four decades: “Rain Man” (which won Johnson his lone Oscar), “Good Morning, Vietnam,” “Diner,” “Tin Men,” “The Natural,” “Bugsy,” “Galaxy Quest,” “The Notebook,” “Breaking Bad” and “Better Call Saul.” And now, add “The Holdovers” to the list, for which Johnson has landed his third Academy Award nomination (this one for Best Picture).
“Every day, I still feel like a young boy who can’t believe he’s allowed to do this,” Johnson admits. “Somebody asked me if the Oscar nomination was old hat to me, and I’m like, ‘Are you kidding? I’m thrilled.’ I’m very humbled by it. There are a number of movies I’ve made that I think...
“Every day, I still feel like a young boy who can’t believe he’s allowed to do this,” Johnson admits. “Somebody asked me if the Oscar nomination was old hat to me, and I’m like, ‘Are you kidding? I’m thrilled.’ I’m very humbled by it. There are a number of movies I’ve made that I think...
- 2/8/2024
- by Ray Richmond
- Gold Derby
Disney’s reputation is notoriously squeaky clean.
The beloved company has provided family-friendly fun for decades, with live-action favorites and animated classics spanning back to the 1930s.
As a powerful force in the industry and one of Hollywood’s biggest studios, the company expanded its reach over the years with film distribution companies, like Touchstone Pictures, Miramax, Searchlight Pictures and Buena Vista Distribution.
The movies often featured more adult themes than one would expect from the company. Because they are published by subsidiaries, the titles are all only indirectly Disney-related – but they still fall under the major studio’s umbrella anyway.
Find out which R-rated movies reside within the Disney brand…
The Woman in the Window (2021)
Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
Starring: Amy Adams, Gary Oldman, Anthony Mackie
Plot summary: An agoraphobic woman begins to spy on her new neighbors, and is witness to a crime in their apartment.
Down and Out in Beverly Hills...
The beloved company has provided family-friendly fun for decades, with live-action favorites and animated classics spanning back to the 1930s.
As a powerful force in the industry and one of Hollywood’s biggest studios, the company expanded its reach over the years with film distribution companies, like Touchstone Pictures, Miramax, Searchlight Pictures and Buena Vista Distribution.
The movies often featured more adult themes than one would expect from the company. Because they are published by subsidiaries, the titles are all only indirectly Disney-related – but they still fall under the major studio’s umbrella anyway.
Find out which R-rated movies reside within the Disney brand…
The Woman in the Window (2021)
Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
Starring: Amy Adams, Gary Oldman, Anthony Mackie
Plot summary: An agoraphobic woman begins to spy on her new neighbors, and is witness to a crime in their apartment.
Down and Out in Beverly Hills...
- 12/5/2023
- by Just Jared
- Just Jared
(Welcome to Tales from the Box Office, our column that examines box office miracles, disasters, and everything in between, as well as what we can learn from them.)
"The goal for me, always, is try to make a movie that feels timeless, that people will watch years from now," said "Mrs. Doubtfire" director Chris Columbus in a recent interview with Ktvu.
The character of Mrs. Doubtfire actually has her roots in a real person -- not a recently-divorced father pulling a desperate gambit to see more of his kids, but the owner of a second hand clothing shop in Edinburgh. The shop was called Madame Doubtfire and, colloquially, so was its owner, though her name after remarrying was Annabella Coutts. She was something of a local legend, with one Edinburgh resident recalling that she had "about half a dozen cats" and that while her shop was an excellent resource for high-quality second hand goods,...
"The goal for me, always, is try to make a movie that feels timeless, that people will watch years from now," said "Mrs. Doubtfire" director Chris Columbus in a recent interview with Ktvu.
The character of Mrs. Doubtfire actually has her roots in a real person -- not a recently-divorced father pulling a desperate gambit to see more of his kids, but the owner of a second hand clothing shop in Edinburgh. The shop was called Madame Doubtfire and, colloquially, so was its owner, though her name after remarrying was Annabella Coutts. She was something of a local legend, with one Edinburgh resident recalling that she had "about half a dozen cats" and that while her shop was an excellent resource for high-quality second hand goods,...
- 11/26/2023
- by Hannah Shaw-Williams
- Slash Film
Disney’s reputation is notoriously squeaky clean.
The beloved company has provided family-friendly fun for decades, with live-action favorites and animated classics spanning back to the 1930s.
As a powerful force in the industry and one of Hollywood’s biggest studios, the company expanded its reach over the years with film distribution companies, like Touchstone Pictures, Miramax, Searchlight Pictures and Buena Vista Distribution.
The movies often featured more adult themes than one would expect from the company. Because they are published by subsidiaries, the titles are all only indirectly Disney-related – but they still fall under the major studio’s umbrella anyway.
Find out which R-rated movies reside within the Disney brand…
The Woman in the Window (2021)
Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
Starring: Amy Adams, Gary Oldman, Anthony Mackie
Plot summary: An agoraphobic woman begins to spy on her new neighbors, and is witness to a crime in their apartment.
Down and Out in Beverly Hills...
The beloved company has provided family-friendly fun for decades, with live-action favorites and animated classics spanning back to the 1930s.
As a powerful force in the industry and one of Hollywood’s biggest studios, the company expanded its reach over the years with film distribution companies, like Touchstone Pictures, Miramax, Searchlight Pictures and Buena Vista Distribution.
The movies often featured more adult themes than one would expect from the company. Because they are published by subsidiaries, the titles are all only indirectly Disney-related – but they still fall under the major studio’s umbrella anyway.
Find out which R-rated movies reside within the Disney brand…
The Woman in the Window (2021)
Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
Starring: Amy Adams, Gary Oldman, Anthony Mackie
Plot summary: An agoraphobic woman begins to spy on her new neighbors, and is witness to a crime in their apartment.
Down and Out in Beverly Hills...
- 11/13/2023
- by Just Jared
- Just Jared
Sofia Coppola, whose awards contender “Priscilla” is now in theaters, is just one of several filmmakers whose parents were already major names in the industry. Both her father, Francis Ford Coppola, and her mother, Eleanor Coppola, are directors, as is her brother Roman.
Here are some of the most notable second-generation directors in Hollywood, including Jason Reitman, Rob Reiner, Mario Van Peebles and Colin Hanks.
We’re also a big fan of Francesca Scorsese’s TikTok videos with her dad, Martin Scorsese, especially the one where he auditions the family dog.
Photo credit: Getty Images
Ivan and Jason Reitman
Jason has picked up the “Ghostbusters” mantle from his father, who died in Feb. 2022. He directed “Ghostbusters: Afterlife” and the fourth film in the franchise is due in 2024. Jason’s films include “Up in the Air,” “Juno” and “Thank You For Smoking.”
Photo credit: Getty Images
Brandon and David Cronenberg
The...
Here are some of the most notable second-generation directors in Hollywood, including Jason Reitman, Rob Reiner, Mario Van Peebles and Colin Hanks.
We’re also a big fan of Francesca Scorsese’s TikTok videos with her dad, Martin Scorsese, especially the one where he auditions the family dog.
Photo credit: Getty Images
Ivan and Jason Reitman
Jason has picked up the “Ghostbusters” mantle from his father, who died in Feb. 2022. He directed “Ghostbusters: Afterlife” and the fourth film in the franchise is due in 2024. Jason’s films include “Up in the Air,” “Juno” and “Thank You For Smoking.”
Photo credit: Getty Images
Brandon and David Cronenberg
The...
- 11/9/2023
- by Sharon Knolle
- The Wrap
Last week, we ran a special Wtf episode about the 1979 Disney movie, The Black Hole, an uncommonly adult film for the family-friendly studio. It kicked off an experiment for the studio to move into adult fare, eventually spawning no less than three subsidiaries that produced some of the most influential movies of the 80s, 90s and 2000s. These off-shoots paved the way for Disney’s place as the most powerful motion picture studio in the world, with them owning Lucasfilm, Pixar and the MCU. With the studio celebrating its 100th anniversary, we figured now would be an opportune time to look back at the studio Disney launched to distribute their more grown-up fare, the now shuttered Touchstone Pictures.
Jump back to 1983, when Disney put out a now obscure comedy called Trenchcoat, starring Airplane’s Robert Hayes and Superman’s Margot Kidder. A comic mystery, it was produced by Walt Disney Productions...
Jump back to 1983, when Disney put out a now obscure comedy called Trenchcoat, starring Airplane’s Robert Hayes and Superman’s Margot Kidder. A comic mystery, it was produced by Walt Disney Productions...
- 10/16/2023
- by Chris Bumbray
- JoBlo.com
Another weekend in the books, another weekend atop the box office for "Barbie." Director Greta Gerwig's pop culture phenomenon has now topped the charts for four straight weekends, a feat that few movies will ever get to claim — particularly in the post-pandemic landscape. It's remarkably rare air, only enjoyed by the biggest of big blockbusters like "Spider-Man: No Way Home" or "Top Gun: Maverick." But as the rest of August looks largely devoid of any certain breakout hits the question must be asked: how many weekends can this movie keep the crown?
According to The Numbers, "Barbie" added $33.7 million domestically in its fourth weekend, representing a shockingly great 36% drop from its prior frame. The movie's week-to-week holds have been truly impressive up to this point, as positive word of mouth has carried it to impressive heights. Big competition from "Oppenheimer," "Meg 2," and "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem" has hardly mattered.
According to The Numbers, "Barbie" added $33.7 million domestically in its fourth weekend, representing a shockingly great 36% drop from its prior frame. The movie's week-to-week holds have been truly impressive up to this point, as positive word of mouth has carried it to impressive heights. Big competition from "Oppenheimer," "Meg 2," and "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem" has hardly mattered.
- 8/14/2023
- by Ryan Scott
- Slash Film
Having earned Oscar nominations in 1988 and 1990 (Dead Poets Society), Robin Williams was an inspired choice to portray Peter Pan in director Steven Spielberg’s continuation of the character’s story, Hook. While the film was ultimately considered a disappointment, Williams did turn in an excellent performance, as he was able to give the character the wide-eyed innocence for which he’s known. Still, at the time of the film’s release, Williams thought there was one person who was even more perfect for the role than he was. (Click on the media bar below to hear Robin Williams) https://www.hollywoodoutbreak.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Robin_Williams_Hook_.mp3
Hook is currently streaming on Netflix and available on DVD, Blu-Ray, 4K, and most digital platforms.
The post If Robin Williams Had Recast His Character In ‘Hook,’ It Would Have Been… appeared first on Hollywood Outbreak.
Hook is currently streaming on Netflix and available on DVD, Blu-Ray, 4K, and most digital platforms.
The post If Robin Williams Had Recast His Character In ‘Hook,’ It Would Have Been… appeared first on Hollywood Outbreak.
- 7/25/2023
- by Hollywood Outbreak
- HollywoodOutbreak.com
Robin Williams’ kids are paying tribute to their late father, on what would have been his 72nd birthday.
Robin’s son, Zak, took to Instagram on Friday to share a special message for his late father, alongside a still from the actor’s 1987 war dramedy, “Good Morning, Vietnam”.
“Happy 72nd Dad! Was remembering how much I used to love that look you’d give,” Zak wrote. “That look with a mischievous, loving grin that your friends and loved ones knew so well. Joyous and curious and wondrous.”
Zak, 40, concluded his sweet tribute, “Miss you and love you forever!”
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Zachary Pym Williams (@zakpym)
Robin’s daughter, Zelda Williams, also shared a meaningful post, which also called attention to the ongoing SAG-AFTRA/WGA strikes.
Zelda, 33, took to Twitter on Friday to share a photo of her father on the picket line when the...
Robin’s son, Zak, took to Instagram on Friday to share a special message for his late father, alongside a still from the actor’s 1987 war dramedy, “Good Morning, Vietnam”.
“Happy 72nd Dad! Was remembering how much I used to love that look you’d give,” Zak wrote. “That look with a mischievous, loving grin that your friends and loved ones knew so well. Joyous and curious and wondrous.”
Zak, 40, concluded his sweet tribute, “Miss you and love you forever!”
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Zachary Pym Williams (@zakpym)
Robin’s daughter, Zelda Williams, also shared a meaningful post, which also called attention to the ongoing SAG-AFTRA/WGA strikes.
Zelda, 33, took to Twitter on Friday to share a photo of her father on the picket line when the...
- 7/24/2023
- by Sarah Curran
- ET Canada
The remarkable Robin Williams remains a comedy icon, and even though he is gone, the legacy of his film work lives on. Equally adept at outrageous comedy and sensitive drama, Williams was a one-of-a-kind performer, one whose unique style will likely never be equaled. He tragically died on August 11, 2014.
After success as a stand-up comic and television stardom via “Mork and Mindy,” Williams turned to film and achieved success far beyond what his TV success could have indicated. He won an Academy Award for “Good Will Hunting” (1997), one of four Oscar nominations he earned in his career. Williams also earned two Screen Actors Guild Awards (for 1996’s “The Birdcage” and “Good Will Hunting”) and received nine Golden Globe nominations, winning statues for 1987’s “Good Morning, Vietnam,” 1991’s “The Fisher King,” 1993’s “Aladdin” and 1994’s “Mrs. Doubtfire.”
Williams was a two-time Emmy winner, two-time Grammy winner and Tony nominee (the only...
After success as a stand-up comic and television stardom via “Mork and Mindy,” Williams turned to film and achieved success far beyond what his TV success could have indicated. He won an Academy Award for “Good Will Hunting” (1997), one of four Oscar nominations he earned in his career. Williams also earned two Screen Actors Guild Awards (for 1996’s “The Birdcage” and “Good Will Hunting”) and received nine Golden Globe nominations, winning statues for 1987’s “Good Morning, Vietnam,” 1991’s “The Fisher King,” 1993’s “Aladdin” and 1994’s “Mrs. Doubtfire.”
Williams was a two-time Emmy winner, two-time Grammy winner and Tony nominee (the only...
- 7/15/2023
- by Tom O'Brien, Misty Holland and Chris Beachum
- Gold Derby
Big changes are coming to one of the most iconic game shows in American television history. Wheel of Fortune’s Pat Sajak has announced his retirement. He will step down from his role as host after the 2023-24 season.
“Well, the time has come,” Sajak, 76, shared in a June 12 tweet. “I’ve decided that our 41st season, which begins in September, will be my last. It’s been a wonderful ride, and I’ll have more to say in the coming months. Many thanks to you all.”
“Thank you to the best host in the biz,” read a message from the show’s Twitter account. “Wheel of Fortune would not be what it is today without you, Pat. Looking forward to Season 41 being better than ever!
Pat Sajak began hosting ‘Wheel of Fortune’ in 1981 [L-r] Pat Sajak, Vanna White’; ‘Wheel of Fortune’ contestants | Herb Ball/NBCU Photo Bank; Andy Cross/The Denver Post...
“Well, the time has come,” Sajak, 76, shared in a June 12 tweet. “I’ve decided that our 41st season, which begins in September, will be my last. It’s been a wonderful ride, and I’ll have more to say in the coming months. Many thanks to you all.”
“Thank you to the best host in the biz,” read a message from the show’s Twitter account. “Wheel of Fortune would not be what it is today without you, Pat. Looking forward to Season 41 being better than ever!
Pat Sajak began hosting ‘Wheel of Fortune’ in 1981 [L-r] Pat Sajak, Vanna White’; ‘Wheel of Fortune’ contestants | Herb Ball/NBCU Photo Bank; Andy Cross/The Denver Post...
- 6/13/2023
- by Megan Elliott
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
One of the things I really enjoy about researching articles for /Film is finding out about all the different actors who were up for famous parts. Superhero movies are usually pretty good value in that respect and some of my favorite alternative casting choices come from the "Batman" franchise.
In the '80s, Jack Nicholson was always the studio's first choice to play the Joker in Tim Burton's blockbusting "Batman," but there were also some other great names in the frame at one point or another. As much as I enjoy Nicholson's performance, I would have loved to see John Lithgow in the part. I think he would have made the character far more grotesque but, unfortunately, he talked Burton out of casting him during an audition. Tim Curry and Ray Liotta would have also brought a totally different energy to the role.
For "Batman Returns," the list of...
In the '80s, Jack Nicholson was always the studio's first choice to play the Joker in Tim Burton's blockbusting "Batman," but there were also some other great names in the frame at one point or another. As much as I enjoy Nicholson's performance, I would have loved to see John Lithgow in the part. I think he would have made the character far more grotesque but, unfortunately, he talked Burton out of casting him during an audition. Tim Curry and Ray Liotta would have also brought a totally different energy to the role.
For "Batman Returns," the list of...
- 5/14/2023
- by Lee Adams
- Slash Film
Many people think Tom Cruise dancing around in his underwear to Bob Seger in Risky Business is his most iconic scene. To others, it’s him saying he feels the need for speed in Top Gun or infiltrating the vault in Mission: Impossible. Or “I want the truth!” Or “show me the money!” But, to me, one of the scenes that best sums up Tom Cruise as one of the coolest movie stars ever is his entrance in Barry Levinson’s Rain Man. We see the smog-filled backdrop of Los Angeles as a Lamborghini flies across the screen. We see it’s being transported to a car lot where Tom Cruise’s Charlie Babbit, one of the most iconic eighties yuppies, inspects the car while The Belle Stars cover of “Iko Iko” fills the soundtrack. It’s a memorable moment that was so potent composer Hans Zimmer, when he reteamed...
- 5/7/2023
- by Chris Bumbray
- JoBlo.com
MGM+ has greenlit a docuseries titled “Hollywood Black” directed by Justin Simien, who executive produces alongside Forest Whitaker.
In four parts, “Hollywood Black” focuses on the history of Black actors, writers, directors and producers who fought for their place in the entertainment industry. The series is based on the book of the same name by historian Donald Bogle.
Simien is best known for writing and directing the 2014 film “Dear White People” and creating the Netflix series of the same name. He also directed and wrote 2020’s “Bad Hair,” and directed “Haunted Mansion,” the 2023 horror film based on the Disney theme park ride, which debuts later this year.
Whitaker’s prominent credits as an actor include “Fast Times at Ridgemont High,” “Good Morning, Vietnam,” “The Butler,” “Black Panther” and more. In TV, he has narrated the 2002-2003 revival of “The Twilight Zone,” led the “Criminal Minds” spinoff “Suspect Behavior” and appeared in 11 episodes of “Empire.
In four parts, “Hollywood Black” focuses on the history of Black actors, writers, directors and producers who fought for their place in the entertainment industry. The series is based on the book of the same name by historian Donald Bogle.
Simien is best known for writing and directing the 2014 film “Dear White People” and creating the Netflix series of the same name. He also directed and wrote 2020’s “Bad Hair,” and directed “Haunted Mansion,” the 2023 horror film based on the Disney theme park ride, which debuts later this year.
Whitaker’s prominent credits as an actor include “Fast Times at Ridgemont High,” “Good Morning, Vietnam,” “The Butler,” “Black Panther” and more. In TV, he has narrated the 2002-2003 revival of “The Twilight Zone,” led the “Criminal Minds” spinoff “Suspect Behavior” and appeared in 11 episodes of “Empire.
- 4/11/2023
- by Selome Hailu
- Variety Film + TV
Davy Jones didn’t shy away from The Monkees’ bubblegum music. He took to heart the name of the music that delivered catchy, upbeat songs for young audiences in the late ‘60s and beyond. However, Jones embraced The Monkees’ best bubblegum hits, saying of the genre, “that’s what we were, thank you very much.”
Davy Jones, Micky Dolenz, Mike Nesmith, and Peter Tork made up The Monkees | Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images Davy Jones and The Monkees created some of the greatest bubblegum hits of the 1960s
The Monkees’ music may have been created to supplement the idea of a television show which aired on NBC beginning in 1966. However, although Don Kirshner’s push to consistently use his songwriting stable to produce hits and generate massive success for Peter Tork, Davy Jones, Mike Nesmith, and Micky Dolenz fought back against claims they didn’t have any natural musical talent.
Davy Jones, Micky Dolenz, Mike Nesmith, and Peter Tork made up The Monkees | Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images Davy Jones and The Monkees created some of the greatest bubblegum hits of the 1960s
The Monkees’ music may have been created to supplement the idea of a television show which aired on NBC beginning in 1966. However, although Don Kirshner’s push to consistently use his songwriting stable to produce hits and generate massive success for Peter Tork, Davy Jones, Mike Nesmith, and Micky Dolenz fought back against claims they didn’t have any natural musical talent.
- 2/22/2023
- by Lucille Barilla
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Bruno Kirby was fondly remembered for his distinctive style of acting and the roles he played. His comedic acting instincts made every major character stand out. Fans of the 80s & 90s television and film would easily remember Kirby. However, for the generations that did not know him so well, these are 10 interesting facts about Bruno Kirby. Bruno Kirby’s Most Memorable Role The actor starred in over fifty films and TV shows. However, in his 35-year career, Kirby was known for roles in The Godfather Part II, City Slickers, When Harry Met Sally…, and Good Morning, Vietnam. He played
10 Interesting Details You Didn’t Know About Bruno Kirby...
10 Interesting Details You Didn’t Know About Bruno Kirby...
- 2/9/2023
- by Onyinye Izundu
- TVovermind.com
"Empire Records" is a movie that not a ton of people saw, but many of us who came up in the late '90s/early aughts remember the 1995 film quite fondly. The movie was directed by Allan Moyle (who will always be my hero for giving us "Pump Up the Volume") from a screenplay by Carol Heikkinen. It centers on a day -- Rex Manning Day! -- in the life of a ragtag group of record store employees as they try to stop their shop, Empire Records, from becoming just another Music Town.
I worked at an independent music store in the early 2000s, one that was doomed to eventually be sold to a large chain. I have clear memories of all of us saying, "Damn the man. Save the Empire!" on more than one occasion. Sadly, there was no saving CD World and we were all soon out of...
I worked at an independent music store in the early 2000s, one that was doomed to eventually be sold to a large chain. I have clear memories of all of us saying, "Damn the man. Save the Empire!" on more than one occasion. Sadly, there was no saving CD World and we were all soon out of...
- 1/29/2023
- by Jamie Gerber
- Slash Film
Disney is such an all-consuming, slickly mechanized corporate beast that it is easy to forget that, just a few decades ago, it was a family business that had fallen into disrepair and was painfully uncool to the rest of Hollywood.
Thankfully, Tom Hanks is here to remind us.
Hanks was a guest on Sirius Xm’s “The Jess Cagle Show,” and when Cagle brought up the fact Hanks once appeared on “Happy Days,” it led to a fascinating story about how that brief appearance (where Hanks played a guy who kicks Fonzie through a plate-glass window) would lead to the biggest break of his nascent career – his role in “Splash.” Watch above.
As it turns out, Lowell Ganz and Babaloo Mandel were the head writers on “Happy Days” when Hanks filmed his episode. Ron Howard had already left “Happy Days” and was working on what would be the 1984 hit “Splash” with the film’s writers.
Thankfully, Tom Hanks is here to remind us.
Hanks was a guest on Sirius Xm’s “The Jess Cagle Show,” and when Cagle brought up the fact Hanks once appeared on “Happy Days,” it led to a fascinating story about how that brief appearance (where Hanks played a guy who kicks Fonzie through a plate-glass window) would lead to the biggest break of his nascent career – his role in “Splash.” Watch above.
As it turns out, Lowell Ganz and Babaloo Mandel were the head writers on “Happy Days” when Hanks filmed his episode. Ron Howard had already left “Happy Days” and was working on what would be the 1984 hit “Splash” with the film’s writers.
- 1/19/2023
- by Drew Taylor
- The Wrap
Of the three former film acting Golden Globe winners currently in the running for the Best TV Movie/Limited Series Actor award, only Taron Egerton (“Black Bird”) has a chance to set a new record as the youngest man to ever be honored by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association for both big and small screen work. This distinction has been held since 1988 by Robin Williams, who was 28 when he won Best TV Comedy Actor for “Mork & Mindy” and 36 when he clinched his first Best Film Comedy/Musical Actor trophy for “Good Morning, Vietnam.” Egerton, who won the same film award for “Rocketman” in 2020, would displace Williams by a margin of more than three years.
On Apple TV+’s “Black Bird,” Egerton plays James Keene, an incarcerated drug dealer who agrees to work a confession out of serial killer Larry Hall (Paul Walter Hauser) in exchange for a shorter sentence.
On Apple TV+’s “Black Bird,” Egerton plays James Keene, an incarcerated drug dealer who agrees to work a confession out of serial killer Larry Hall (Paul Walter Hauser) in exchange for a shorter sentence.
- 1/6/2023
- by Matthew Stewart
- Gold Derby
In 2019, 74-year-old Michael Douglas triumphed on his first Best TV Comedy Actor Golden Globe bid for “The Kominsky Method” and thus became the oldest person ever honored by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association for lead acting on a continuing series. Last year, “Only Murders in the Building” star Steve Martin almost broke this record by two years, but ultimately came up short against Jason Sudeikis. With the reigning champ currently out of contention, Martin now has a second chance to make Golden Globes history.
Martin’s Best TV Comedy Actor bid for the second season of Hulu’s “Only Murders” already makes him the oldest man to ever compete in the category. He surpasses Wilfrid Hyde-White, who was eight months younger than Martin is now when he unsuccessfully vied for the prize as the star of “The Associates” in 1980. He lost to Alan Alda (“M*A*S*H”), who was...
Martin’s Best TV Comedy Actor bid for the second season of Hulu’s “Only Murders” already makes him the oldest man to ever compete in the category. He surpasses Wilfrid Hyde-White, who was eight months younger than Martin is now when he unsuccessfully vied for the prize as the star of “The Associates” in 1980. He lost to Alan Alda (“M*A*S*H”), who was...
- 1/6/2023
- by Matthew Stewart
- Gold Derby
For the season 5 season finale, Writer/Director/Producer Adam McKay returns to the podcast to discuss movies from his favorite year of cinema… 1987.
The Movies That Made Me will return with Season 6 in January. Happy Holidays! Thank you for listening!
Show Notes: Movies Referenced In This Episode
Tin Men (1987)
Billy Jack (1971)
The Menu (2022)
Boyz N The Hood (1991) – John Landis’s trailer commentary
Menace II Society (1991)
Straight Out Of Brooklyn (1991)
Do The Right Thing (1989) – Allan Arkush’s trailer commentary
School Daze (1988)
The Swarm (1978) – Glenn Erickson’s Blu-ray review
The Squeeze (1987)
Squeeze Play (1979) – Lloyd Kaufman’s trailer commentary
Diner (1982)
Robocop (1987) – Dan Ireland’s trailer commentary, Glenn Erickson’s Blu-ray and 4K Blu-ray reviews
The Evil Dead (1983) – Fede Alvarez’s trailer commentary
Evil Dead II (1987) – Mike Mendez’s trailer commentary, Alex Kirschenbaum’s review
Broadcast News (1987)
Raising Arizona (1987)
The Princess Bride (1987) – Glenn Erickson’s Blu-ray review
This Is Spinal Tap (1984) – John Landis’s...
The Movies That Made Me will return with Season 6 in January. Happy Holidays! Thank you for listening!
Show Notes: Movies Referenced In This Episode
Tin Men (1987)
Billy Jack (1971)
The Menu (2022)
Boyz N The Hood (1991) – John Landis’s trailer commentary
Menace II Society (1991)
Straight Out Of Brooklyn (1991)
Do The Right Thing (1989) – Allan Arkush’s trailer commentary
School Daze (1988)
The Swarm (1978) – Glenn Erickson’s Blu-ray review
The Squeeze (1987)
Squeeze Play (1979) – Lloyd Kaufman’s trailer commentary
Diner (1982)
Robocop (1987) – Dan Ireland’s trailer commentary, Glenn Erickson’s Blu-ray and 4K Blu-ray reviews
The Evil Dead (1983) – Fede Alvarez’s trailer commentary
Evil Dead II (1987) – Mike Mendez’s trailer commentary, Alex Kirschenbaum’s review
Broadcast News (1987)
Raising Arizona (1987)
The Princess Bride (1987) – Glenn Erickson’s Blu-ray review
This Is Spinal Tap (1984) – John Landis’s...
- 12/20/2022
- by Kris Millsap
- Trailers from Hell
By hosting the 2022 Christmas episode of “Saturday Night Live,” “Elvis” star Austin Butler made a stop on his awards campaign trail that quite a few Oscar winners have made before. Since 1976, 26 actors have gone on to earn academy recognition within five months of hosting the NBC sketch show, and one third of those bids have been successful. Considering examples from the last decade alone, Butler’s chances are much greater, and his hosting stint involved several wise choices that should only benefit him in the coming months.
Butler opened the 48th “SNL” midseason finale by delivering a short but sweet monologue during which he reflected on his career beginnings and dedicated the episode to his late mother. He then displayed his comedic talents in four live and two prerecorded sketches, embodying such characters as a temperamental white elephant participant, a George Bailey-esque Christmas movie protagonist, and one of five strange,...
Butler opened the 48th “SNL” midseason finale by delivering a short but sweet monologue during which he reflected on his career beginnings and dedicated the episode to his late mother. He then displayed his comedic talents in four live and two prerecorded sketches, embodying such characters as a temperamental white elephant participant, a George Bailey-esque Christmas movie protagonist, and one of five strange,...
- 12/19/2022
- by Matthew Stewart
- Gold Derby
Last winter, Steve Martin received his first Golden Globe nomination in a quarter century as one of the stars of the Hulu comedy series “Only Murders in the Building.” Just like his five preceding film acting bids, however, this one was unsuccessful, as the Hollywood Foreign Press Association decided instead to give Jason Sudeikis a second consecutive Best TV Comedy Actor award for “Ted Lasso.” Now that the current Golden Globe eligibility window is closing and Sudeikis is essentially out of the picture, Martin is, according to Gold Derby, the odds-on favorite in his category. Will he finally take the gold on his lucky seventh try?
On “Only Murders in the Building,” Martin plays the role of Charles-Haden Savage, a reclusive actor who teams up with his neighbors to solve untimely deaths that occur within his New York City apartment building. Included among his most serious challengers in this year...
On “Only Murders in the Building,” Martin plays the role of Charles-Haden Savage, a reclusive actor who teams up with his neighbors to solve untimely deaths that occur within his New York City apartment building. Included among his most serious challengers in this year...
- 11/4/2022
- by Matthew Stewart
- Gold Derby
In the late 1970s and early 1980s, any movie that featured a Not Ready for Prime Time Player from the first five seasons of "Saturday Night Live" was a big deal. The show was an intoxicating mix of counterculture humor and hip comedic irreverence, and viewers were eager to see its stars break free from the watchful eye of network censors. John Belushi in "National Lampoon's Animal House," Bill Murray in "Meatballs," Belushi and Dan Aykroyd in "The Blues Brothers..." people showed up to these films primed to laugh, and, for the most part, they delivered.
This phenomenon coincided with the last days of the New Hollywood revolution powered by the likes of Francis Ford Coppola, Martin Scorsese, and Steven Spielberg. While most of these directors weren't interested in the raucous brand of comedy favored by the "SNL" gang, Spielberg wanted in on the fun. So after making two industry-altering...
This phenomenon coincided with the last days of the New Hollywood revolution powered by the likes of Francis Ford Coppola, Martin Scorsese, and Steven Spielberg. While most of these directors weren't interested in the raucous brand of comedy favored by the "SNL" gang, Spielberg wanted in on the fun. So after making two industry-altering...
- 10/30/2022
- by Jeremy Smith
- Slash Film
Since 1988, Robin Williams has held the distinction of being the youngest man to receive Golden Globes for both film and TV acting. He set this record at age 36 by taking that year’s Best Film Comedy Actor prize for “Good Morning, Vietnam” after having already won Best TV Comedy Actor for “Mork & Mindy” when he was 28. Now, over three decades later, there is a strong chance he will finally be displaced by 33-year-old Taron Egerton, the Best Film Comedy Actor-winning star of “Rocketman” who is looking to pull off a TV triumph for “Black Bird.”
Egerton stars on the Apple TV+ limited series “Black Bird” as James Keene, an incarcerated drug dealer who agrees to work a confession out of serial killer Larry Hall (Paul Walter Hauser) in exchange for a shorter sentence. He is presently in a solid second place position in Gold Derby’s Best TV Movie...
Egerton stars on the Apple TV+ limited series “Black Bird” as James Keene, an incarcerated drug dealer who agrees to work a confession out of serial killer Larry Hall (Paul Walter Hauser) in exchange for a shorter sentence. He is presently in a solid second place position in Gold Derby’s Best TV Movie...
- 10/27/2022
- by Matthew Stewart
- Gold Derby
Just in time for its three-year anniversary, Apple TV+ has fired the latest volley in the streaming wars, raising its subscription price for the first time since its service launch in November 2019. TV Line reports that as of Monday, October 24, 2022, the price of a monthly Apple TV+ subscription has increased from 4.99 to 6.99.
Before it debuted in 2019, Apple TV+ was originally said to be eyeing a 9.99 subscription price, so the new price is still below that and other streaming services like Disney+, which is set to introduce an ad-supported version in December along with a price increase to 10.99 for its ad-free option. This year also kicked off with Netflix announcing a price hike for the first time since October 2020, bumping up the rate for a standard subscription plan to 15.49, just a few months before reports circulated that it lost 54 billion overnight.
"We introduced Apple TV+ at a very low price because...
Before it debuted in 2019, Apple TV+ was originally said to be eyeing a 9.99 subscription price, so the new price is still below that and other streaming services like Disney+, which is set to introduce an ad-supported version in December along with a price increase to 10.99 for its ad-free option. This year also kicked off with Netflix announcing a price hike for the first time since October 2020, bumping up the rate for a standard subscription plan to 15.49, just a few months before reports circulated that it lost 54 billion overnight.
"We introduced Apple TV+ at a very low price because...
- 10/25/2022
- by Joshua Meyer
- Slash Film
Art Laboe, the pioneering Los Angeles DJ who championed the Oldies but Goodies format and was revered for sharing on-air dedications with listeners, died Oct. 7 in Palm Springs, Calif.
Laboe was the founder of the Original Sound record label and the host of the long-running “Art Laboe Connection” syndicated radio program. He was one of the first DJs to play rock ‘n’ roll and R&b on West Coast radio stations.
Just last month, Laboe, who was born Aug. 7, 1925, celebrated his 79-year anniversary as an active radio personality. His “Art Laboe Connection” aired in Los Angeles on Kday-fm on Sunday nights, as well as many other stations throughout the Southwest. What turned out to be his final broadcast aired Sunday night, after being recorded last week.
“My favorite place to be is behind that microphone,” Laboe said at the time of the 79-year anniversary in September. “I have one of...
Laboe was the founder of the Original Sound record label and the host of the long-running “Art Laboe Connection” syndicated radio program. He was one of the first DJs to play rock ‘n’ roll and R&b on West Coast radio stations.
Just last month, Laboe, who was born Aug. 7, 1925, celebrated his 79-year anniversary as an active radio personality. His “Art Laboe Connection” aired in Los Angeles on Kday-fm on Sunday nights, as well as many other stations throughout the Southwest. What turned out to be his final broadcast aired Sunday night, after being recorded last week.
“My favorite place to be is behind that microphone,” Laboe said at the time of the 79-year anniversary in September. “I have one of...
- 10/11/2022
- by Cynthia Littleton
- Variety Film + TV
Stand-up comedians are some of the neediest people on the planet. Their livelihood hinges on their laugh-provoking expertise, and every single performance can feel like a make-or-break referendum on their funniness. Even the greats feel this pressure. In the 2002 documentary "Comedian," Jerry Seinfeld observes that an established, widely beloved comic only gets a slim grace period between taking the stage and delivering the goods. People are paying a two-drink minimum — they expect to laugh.
Every comedian has an off-night, but I have a hard time envisioning what that looked like for Robin Williams. Ditto, Eddie Murphy. With Williams, you knew he was going to remove the restraining bolt from his brain and access that deep reservoir of jokes and references and spot-on impersonations with dizzying speed. Murphy was different. He exuded confidence, deftly gliding from bit to bit, secure in the knowledge that he could only kill. Maybe that's why...
Every comedian has an off-night, but I have a hard time envisioning what that looked like for Robin Williams. Ditto, Eddie Murphy. With Williams, you knew he was going to remove the restraining bolt from his brain and access that deep reservoir of jokes and references and spot-on impersonations with dizzying speed. Murphy was different. He exuded confidence, deftly gliding from bit to bit, secure in the knowledge that he could only kill. Maybe that's why...
- 10/10/2022
- by Jeremy Smith
- Slash Film
There’s a fascinating true story behind The Greatest Beer Run Ever, the type of tale a man drinks out on for the rest of his life. Unfortunately, director Peter Farrelly turns it into the cinematic equivalent of a good brew gone skunked.
Zac Efron stars as John “Chickie” Donohue, a layabout and occasional Merchant Marine who takes up space in his parents’ apartment when he’s not at the corner bar with his buds. It’s the height of the Vietnam War, and Chickie’s watched as many of his buddies have gone overseas. He’s tired of the protests at home, which he feels dishonors their service, and when the bartender (Bill Murray) at his local watering hole says they all deserve a cold one, Chickie makes a drunken promise to deliver a duffel bag of Pabst Blue Ribbon.
It’s a story that might make for a delightful documentary,...
Zac Efron stars as John “Chickie” Donohue, a layabout and occasional Merchant Marine who takes up space in his parents’ apartment when he’s not at the corner bar with his buds. It’s the height of the Vietnam War, and Chickie’s watched as many of his buddies have gone overseas. He’s tired of the protests at home, which he feels dishonors their service, and when the bartender (Bill Murray) at his local watering hole says they all deserve a cold one, Chickie makes a drunken promise to deliver a duffel bag of Pabst Blue Ribbon.
It’s a story that might make for a delightful documentary,...
- 9/30/2022
- by Chris Williams
- CinemaNerdz
Heading into the mid-1990s, Robin Williams was one of the most bankable stars going, but he was far from infallible. "Awakenings," "The Fisher King," "Aladdin" and "Mrs. Doubtfire" were bona-fide hits, but they were interspersed with massive flops like "Toys" and "Being Human." So while people flocked to Williams when cast in a compelling role, they didn't turn up just because his name and face were on the poster.
So when Barry Levinson reached out to his "Good Morning, Vietnam" star to provide the filmmaker's critically acclaimed, yet low-rated NBC drama "Homicide: Life on the Streets" a bit of must-see sizzle, there was no guarantee that his guest appearance alone would bolster the series' Nielsen profile -- particularly since he was cast as a tourist/father coping with the murder of his wife. Nevertheless, the episode in question, titled "Bop Gun," was slated as the show's heavily promoted season premiere.
So when Barry Levinson reached out to his "Good Morning, Vietnam" star to provide the filmmaker's critically acclaimed, yet low-rated NBC drama "Homicide: Life on the Streets" a bit of must-see sizzle, there was no guarantee that his guest appearance alone would bolster the series' Nielsen profile -- particularly since he was cast as a tourist/father coping with the murder of his wife. Nevertheless, the episode in question, titled "Bop Gun," was slated as the show's heavily promoted season premiere.
- 9/27/2022
- by Jeremy Smith
- Slash Film
Terry Gilliam has almost never had an easy time making a movie. The former Monty Python member has a filmography that stretches nearly five decades, and nearly every film he has made has been a butting of heads between a director with an unbridled imagination you can't really reign in and people who would very much like to make their money back on their investment (who rarely do). Most famously, there was the saga of trying to get "The Man Who Killed Don Quixote" made that took nearly 30 years. The documentary "Lost in La Mancha" chronicles the crumbling production in the year 2000, and it would still take over 15 years after that film's release for "The Man Who Killed Don Quixote" to be a completed picture. Gilliam makes films like no one else, and while we can marvel at their visual ingenuity, they rarely make for sturdy commercial prospects.
This is...
This is...
- 9/21/2022
- by Mike Shutt
- Slash Film
There was every reason to expect "Club Paradise" would be the comedy smash of Summer 1986. Harold Ramis was two-for-two as a director thanks to "Caddyshack" and "National Lampon's Vacation," and scorching hot off the blockbuster success of "Ghostbusters." Ramis had reunited with his "National Lampoon's Animal House" collaborator Chris Miller to hammer out the story, and hooked up once again with his "Caddyshack" co-writer Brian Doyle-Murray for the screenplay. And then there was the cast: Robin Williams, Peter O'Toole, Rick Moranis, Eugene Levy, Andrea Martin, Joe Flaherty, Robin Duke, and Mary Gross. How could a film stuffed with this much comedic talent possibly miss?
Aside from Ramis and Levy playing a couple of hapless, horn-dog tourists who inadvertently score a trash bag full of marijuana, just about nothing works in "Club Paradise." The notion of a retired Chicago firefighter (Williams) starting up a ramshackle Caribbean resort with his disability money sounds promising,...
Aside from Ramis and Levy playing a couple of hapless, horn-dog tourists who inadvertently score a trash bag full of marijuana, just about nothing works in "Club Paradise." The notion of a retired Chicago firefighter (Williams) starting up a ramshackle Caribbean resort with his disability money sounds promising,...
- 9/16/2022
- by Jeremy Smith
- Slash Film
Thanks to the one-two punch of 1987's "Good Morning, Vietnam" and 1989's "Dead Poets Society," Robin Williams had proven he was not just a skilled character actor but could tackle roles far removed from the bouncing-off-the-walls persona he embodied in his stand-up comedy. Yet, each film came with an asterisk. After all, "Good Morning, Vietnam" was written specifically for Williams, while there were still glimpses of his zestful comedic mannerisms ill-suited to the rest of his performance in "Dead Poets Society."
Enter "Awakenings," the film that served as the next logical step in Williams' evolution as an actor. The movie was loosely based on the 1973 non-fiction book of the same name, in which renowned neurologist Oliver Sacks details how, in the late 1960s, he was able to treat patients who had survived an epidemic of encephalitis lethargica (aka "sleeping sickness") from 1917 to 1928. Williams stars in the film as Sacks' fictitious surrogate Malcolm Sayer,...
Enter "Awakenings," the film that served as the next logical step in Williams' evolution as an actor. The movie was loosely based on the 1973 non-fiction book of the same name, in which renowned neurologist Oliver Sacks details how, in the late 1960s, he was able to treat patients who had survived an epidemic of encephalitis lethargica (aka "sleeping sickness") from 1917 to 1928. Williams stars in the film as Sacks' fictitious surrogate Malcolm Sayer,...
- 9/14/2022
- by Sandy Schaefer
- Slash Film
With 1987's "Good Morning, Vietnam," Robin Williams had effectively conquered the long-held belief by many critics that his stream-of-consciousness brand of comedy was ill-suited to movies. In doing so, he'd also proven that he was capable of contrasting his dizzying flights of improvisation with moments of genuine gravitas. The question now was could he pull off a major dramatic role that wasn't tailored specifically for him?
This challenge arrived in 1989 with Peter Weir's "Dead Poets Society." Tom Schulman's tale of John Keating, a private school English teacher who encourages his teenage pupils to engage in verse-fueled non-conformity left no room for Williams's hyper-referential talents. He couldn't suddenly dip into a Jack Nicholson impersonation or goof on Michael Jackson. Even if he stuck to references within the era as he did on "Good Morning, Vietnam," it'd still be jarring. He'd cease to be Keating. This turned out to be quite the challenge for Williams.
This challenge arrived in 1989 with Peter Weir's "Dead Poets Society." Tom Schulman's tale of John Keating, a private school English teacher who encourages his teenage pupils to engage in verse-fueled non-conformity left no room for Williams's hyper-referential talents. He couldn't suddenly dip into a Jack Nicholson impersonation or goof on Michael Jackson. Even if he stuck to references within the era as he did on "Good Morning, Vietnam," it'd still be jarring. He'd cease to be Keating. This turned out to be quite the challenge for Williams.
- 9/8/2022
- by Jeremy Smith
- Slash Film
The arc of Robin Williams' career has always been a fun trajectory to follow. Right out of the gate, Williams had his mainstream movie career briefly stymied by the financial disappointment and critical failure of Robert Altman's "Popeye" in 1980, only his second film. He clawed back through the 1980s, appearing in modestly successful comedy films before exploding back onto the scene in 1987 with Barry Levinson's "Good Morning, Vietnam," a biopic of American wartime DJ Adrian Cronauer. Williams played Cronauer as a very Robin Williams-like comedian who took to the Armed Forced Radio Service airwaves in 1965 Saigon to read news reports to the troops and to spin music. He took the opportunity to tell raunchy jokes, play raucous rock records, and generally be irreverent; his stuffed-shirt military superiors popped their monocles at his somewhat blue humor.
"Good Morning, Vietnam" was a huge hit and a critical success, and...
"Good Morning, Vietnam" was a huge hit and a critical success, and...
- 9/3/2022
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
For those who were not cognizant throughout the 1980s, it's probably difficult to believe there was a time when Robin Williams was considered a risky box office bet. Though his first time out as a leading man, in Robert Altman's "Popeye," was a hit, that film's success was largely ascribed to the popularity of the cartoon character. He enjoyed two moderate successes after the cancellation of "Mork & Mindy" ("The World According to Garp" and "Moscow on the Hudson"), but neither film fully showcased his head-spinning comedic stream-of-consciousness. In 1986, he was strangely miscast in the Ron Shelton-scripted underdog yarn "The Best of Times," and undermined by a relentlessly unfunny screenplay in Harold Ramis' "Club Paradise."
The back-to-back failure of those two films left studios weary of Williams' big-screen appeal. The industry's conventional wisdom held that his genius was limited to the stand-up stage and guest appearances on late-night talk shows.
The back-to-back failure of those two films left studios weary of Williams' big-screen appeal. The industry's conventional wisdom held that his genius was limited to the stand-up stage and guest appearances on late-night talk shows.
- 8/23/2022
- by Jeremy Smith
- Slash Film
If there was anything that separated Robin Williams from the rest of his comic peers, it was energy. When that man was on stage, he had a boundless mania that was like the human embodiment of the Tasmanian Devil from "Looney Tunes." His mind and mouth would run a mile a minute, and a lot of the time, he was making up whatever he was doing on the spot. When he maneuvered over to television, he found the perfect outlet for that in Mork, the alien on Earth who started off on "Happy Days" and eventually his own sitcom "Mork & Mindy." Not only did him being an alien allow Williams to completely let loose, he was playing to a live studio audience. For a comic, laughter is currency, and Robin Williams knew how to rake it in under those conditions.
On film, things are a little bit different. You...
On film, things are a little bit different. You...
- 8/17/2022
- by Mike Shutt
- Slash Film
"Aladdin" rode the crest of a powerful creative wave for Walt Disney Animation Studios upon its release in 1992. The musical fantasy was the studio's 31st motion picture and emerged within a renaissance of highly acclaimed animated tales like "Beauty and the Beast," following a decade of poorly-performing animated features. Its story is ostensibly about a street kid who finds a magic lamp, but it's the wild magic-man in the lamp, voiced by the late comedian Robin Williams, who remains the most recognizable character of the whole thing, serving up quick-fire zingers and impersonations of everyone from Peter Lorre to Jack Nicholson.
Dave Itzkoff shares insights on the "Awakenings" star in his 2018 biography "Robin," detailing the creative process behind the role of the genie when Williams joined the "Aladdin" team. While Jeffrey Katzenberg envisioned a swashbuckling historical fantasy like "The Thief of Baghdad," co-directors Ron Clements and John Musker (with encouragement...
Dave Itzkoff shares insights on the "Awakenings" star in his 2018 biography "Robin," detailing the creative process behind the role of the genie when Williams joined the "Aladdin" team. While Jeffrey Katzenberg envisioned a swashbuckling historical fantasy like "The Thief of Baghdad," co-directors Ron Clements and John Musker (with encouragement...
- 8/15/2022
- by Anya Stanley
- Slash Film
If you’re looking for new movies and TV shows to watch on Amazon Prime Video in April, you’ve come to the right place. This month doesn’t bring a ton in terms of new Prime Video originals, but there are a few noteworthy titles. “Outer Range,” premiering April 15, is a new series that’s essentially “Yellowstone” but sci-fi. Josh Brolin plays a rancher fighting for his land in Wyoming who encounters a supernatural twist.
There’s also “A Very British Scandal,” which stars Claire Foy and Paul Bettany and focuses on the divorce of the Duke and Dutchess of Argyll, and the second season of the animated series “Undone” on April 29.
In terms of Prime Video movies, Chris Pine and Thandiwe Newton star in the thriller ”All the Old Knives” which is streaming on April 8, and noteworthy library titles being added in April include “Fast Times at Ridgemont High,...
There’s also “A Very British Scandal,” which stars Claire Foy and Paul Bettany and focuses on the divorce of the Duke and Dutchess of Argyll, and the second season of the animated series “Undone” on April 29.
In terms of Prime Video movies, Chris Pine and Thandiwe Newton star in the thriller ”All the Old Knives” which is streaming on April 8, and noteworthy library titles being added in April include “Fast Times at Ridgemont High,...
- 4/15/2022
- by Adam Chitwood
- The Wrap
The film career of Robin Williams took a few years to take off, if you'll forgive the Peter Pan pun right away. Having established a name for himself on the stand-up comedy circuit, and with a high-profile role in 1978's "Mork & Mindy," Williams made his starring debut in Robert Altman's unappealingly odd 1980 film adaptation of "Popeye." Next, Williams starred in "The World According to Garp," a near-surreal adaptation of a John Irving novel. It wouldn't be until 1987 that Williams would have a proper hit in Barry Levinson's "Good Morning, Vietnam," a biopic of the wartime DJ Adrian Cronauer. In Cronauer, Williams...
The post Getting Into Character For Hook Took Its Toll On Robin Williams appeared first on /Film.
The post Getting Into Character For Hook Took Its Toll On Robin Williams appeared first on /Film.
- 4/14/2022
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
Good news for all you Brolin-heads! Amazon Prime Video’s list of new releases for April 2022 is highlighted by one very intriguing TV project starring Thanos himself.
The Josh Brolin-starring Outer Range premieres April 15 and looks like it could be a wild ride. The synopsis is terse and reads “A rancher fighting for his land and family stumbles upon an unfathomable mystery at the edge of Wyoming’s wilderness, forcing a confrontation with the Unknown in ways both intimate and cosmic in the untamable American West.” That, combined with an enigmatic first trailer, has our interest piqued.
Also on the TV side of things this month is season 2 of the beautifully rotoscoped series Undone on April 29. Rosa Salazar returns as Alma, a woman who may have become unstuck in time to help save her scientist father’s life. Before that, the British TV series The Outlaws makes its debut...
The Josh Brolin-starring Outer Range premieres April 15 and looks like it could be a wild ride. The synopsis is terse and reads “A rancher fighting for his land and family stumbles upon an unfathomable mystery at the edge of Wyoming’s wilderness, forcing a confrontation with the Unknown in ways both intimate and cosmic in the untamable American West.” That, combined with an enigmatic first trailer, has our interest piqued.
Also on the TV side of things this month is season 2 of the beautifully rotoscoped series Undone on April 29. Rosa Salazar returns as Alma, a woman who may have become unstuck in time to help save her scientist father’s life. Before that, the British TV series The Outlaws makes its debut...
- 4/1/2022
- by Alec Bojalad
- Den of Geek
Prime Video has secured a solid lineup of new titles just in time for spring as the streamer unveils its April 2022 slate. From new shows like Elgin James and Stephen Merchant‘s The Outlaws to Outer Range starring Josh Brolin, there’s plenty of new content to satisfy. And don’t miss a new season of the acclaimed animated drama Undone as well as A Very British Scandal starring Claire Foy and Paul Bettany. Below, we break down everything that’s coming to Prime Video and IMDb TV. Outer Range (Credit: Prime Video) Available for Streaming on Prime Video: April 1 *The Outlaws: Season 1 (Amazon Original) *Luxe Listings Sydney: Season 2 (Amazon Original) Cast Away Sweet Home Alabama O Brother, Where Art Thou? Shanghai Noon Con Air Under the Tuscan Sun Bringing Down the House Unbreakable Date Night The Sixth Sense Good Morning, Vietnam The Watch Rushmore Armageddon The Hot Chick...
- 3/31/2022
- TV Insider
"I'm just giving you a chance to lose with a little dignity!" HBO has revealed the first official trailer for The Survivor, a WWII biopic from filmmaker Barry Levinson. This premiered at the 2021 Toronto Film Festival last fall and received mostly positive reviews then. Levinson's biographical drama stars Ben Foster as boxer Harry Haft, who struggles to carry on after fighting to survive in the Holocaust. Post World War II, Harry Haft is a boxer who fought fellow prisoners in the concentration camps to survive. Haunted by memories and guilt, he attempts to use high-profile fights against boxing legends like Rocky Marciano as a way to find his first love again. In addition to Ben Foster, the impressive cast includes Danny DeVito, John Leguizamo, Peter Sarsgaard, Billy Magnussen, Paul Bates, Anthony Molinari as Rocky Marciano, as well ...
- 3/23/2022
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
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