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‘Extras’ to End with Special Episode
Posted by Wendy Michaels Categories: Comedy, BBC, Cable, HBO, The Office,
I’m sensing a pattern here with Extras show creators Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant. Much like their smash hit The Office (the original Brit version, mind you), their latest series will end after just two seasons, but wrap things up with a special episode. Not that we should be surprised—after all, they did announce that they wouldn’t be filming a third season of the HBO series that follows film extra Andy Millman (played brilliantly by Gervais) and his escapades as he tries to make his big break. The second season looked at Andy’s sad-sack existence after he landed a role on a mediocre sitcom. Pity about this series ending, however, is that it never failed to deliver big-name cameos: Kate Winslet, Orlando Bloom, Daniel Radcliffe, Sir Ian McKellan, David Bowie, and Robert De Niro, among others. The one hour Extras special will begin shooting next month, but the specifics about an airdate have yet to be released. Carolyn Strauss, president of HBO Entertainment, said of the series, “It’s been an honor to present this hilarious series on HBO. I can’t wait to see how Ricky and Stephen will wrap up the saga of Andy Millman.”
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| Zap2it
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‘Sex And The City’ Movie Buzz
Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Comedy, HBO, Gossip, Rumors,
I know that speculation about a Sex And The City movie has been brewing for some time now—but I’ve done my best to ignore all the chatter. The last time plans were squashed (reportedly thanks to Kim Cattrall’s financial demands), I put all my hopes to rest. So when the rumors recently started up again, I listened with skepticism.
And while anything could change at the drop of a hat, TVGuide.com is now reporting that production is imminent. New Line Cinema is apparently in final distribution talks with HBO. A formal announcement could be made as early as next week with filming to being in mid-September.
I’m ecstatic at the prospect of seeing my beloved ladies once again—but I’m also bit nervous. Will this show really translate well to the big screen? (We all know how the film versions of Twin Peaks and The X-Files fared). Is a made-for-HBO version the better option?
And what about the storylines? Are we better off pretending that Carrie and Mr. Big live happily-ever-after? And then there’s Samantha, Charlotte and Miranda. They were all pretty happy with their respective love lives as well. If someone has to carry on with the SATC tradition, does that mean that one of these ladies will be off hopping into bed with someone else soon?
Regardless of how it all ends, I will be there on opening night…cosmopolitan in hand.
Read More | TV Guide
Reality Recap - The Best & Worst of June
Posted by David L. Williams Categories: Reality, ABC, FOX, HBO, MTV, NBC, Hell’s Kitchen, So You Think You Can Dance, Top Chef, Editorial, Features,
Now that we’ve said goodbye to June and its 30 days of weddings, trips to the beach, and the slow, crippling realization that it’s still a long, long time until Lost comes back, why don’t we take a few minutes and look back at the best and worst of June reality TV? Nope, that was a rhetorical question. Yes, I know, there are lots of reasons not to look back, and yet I’m going to do it anyway.
Oh, and it doesn’t really fit here because it’s not a reality show, but Flight of the Conchords on HBO is pretty hilarious. I don’t really have enough to say about it to write a full column, obviously, but it’s definitely worth checking out. Okay, here we go…
Click to continue reading Reality Recap - The Best & Worst of June
Sopranos Fans: Please Stop
Posted by David L. Williams Categories: Drama, Prime Time, Cable, HBO, The Sopranos, Editorial, Features,
Man, am I ever readying myself for a barrage of anger.
Television viewers have en masse, according to many news outlets, anyway, decided what the greatest crime against humanity is. No, it’s not murder. Nope, not going to a house to sleep with a fifteen year old and finding Chris Hansen of Dateline. Evidently, the most egregious, damnation-worthy sin of them all is ambiguity.
HBO’s The Sopranos had its final episode the other day (in case you just woke up from a coma and happened to be serendipitiously staring at this webpage) and several papers, websites, and other TV shows have reported that the entire nation is up in arms because ... well, honestly, I’m not sure why. I thought the ending was perfect.
Tony Soprano is having dinner with his family, an image we’ve returned to time and time again on this series. The diner in which he sits is full of other families, a couple, what looked like a scout troop and scout leader, etc. If you knew nothing else, you’d see Tony, Carmela and A.J. (with Meadow soon approaching) as just another family. In a way, that’s been one of the points of the show.
Click to continue reading Sopranos Fans: Please Stop
Lost Creator Comments on Series Ending
Posted by Wendy Michaels Categories: Drama, Prime Time, ABC, Cable, HBO, Lost, The Sopranos, Cable/Satellite,
In the wake of the series finale of The Sopranos, Lost series creator Carlton Cuse is assuring fans that the Lost ending won’t go down the same way. No fade to black that leaves viewers wondering, “huh?” Cuse commented, “We will not be ending with a blackout,” at the annual Promax/BDA conference. He also said that there have been “minicamp” writers’ sessions to sketch out the last three seasons. The series is set to wrap after three 16 episode seasons, concluding in spring 2010. Co-creator Damon Lindelof said, “Obviously, we can’t wait to the 48th hour to say, ‘Here are all the mysteries of the show.” Lost fans are breathing a collective sigh, I’m sure, to know that over the course of the three years there will be some answers. Cuse said, “I’m not sure there is any ending that will satisfy everyone. Our hope is that the ending will be ... the logical conclusion of the story.” Ah, logical… sounds like a plan. To be sure, with all of the online speculation about the show, there are going to be some fans that aren’t thrilled with the ending, but at least it sounds promising, you know, with the logic and all. To hold fans over until the next season begins in 2008, they are planning on a series of “mobisodes”—90 second episodes featuring the cast that will keep the story fresh in everyone’s minds. More details to come about when the mobisodes will be made available.
Read More | Yahoo! News
Weeds Comes Between Olsen Twins
Posted by Wendy Michaels Categories: Drama, Cable, HBO, Cable/Satellite,
If you thought the Olsen twins were a package deal, think again. Mary-Kate (the skinny one—how funny is that?) will be joining the third season of Weeds, starring Mary-Louise Parker. This is the first time she has appeared without her sister and after a long hiatus from the television business. Remember, they spent their adolescence churning out direct-to-video features? And then there was their attempt at the film New York Minute... well, ‘nuff said there. She’ll be playing a Christian girl who is smitten with Nancy Botwin’s (Parker) son Silas (Hunter Parrish). Olsen will appear for 10 of the upcoming 15 episodes. Well at least she’s staying in the wholesome role, although the character is rumored to be a bit of wild child. “I’m thrilled to be a part of the show,” said Olsen. “It’s really an honor to be a part of such a talented group of actors and writers.” Executive producer Jenji Kohan said of Olsen, “She came in and read with Hunter and was absolutely charming and real and seemed like a great fit. Audiences have seen only one side of Mary-Kate, but here we’ll see her in a whole new light.” Will this new role have people seeing Olsen in a new way? Or at least as more of an individual rather than part of the “Olsen twins”? At the end of the day, I’m sure she doesn’t really care because she’s a millionaire! Weeds premieres August 13th.
Read More | E! Online
Justin Timberlake Given HBO Special
Posted by Wendy Michaels Categories: Music, Prime Time, Specials, Cable, HBO, Saturday Night Live,
Love his music or hate it, Justin Timberlake is huge. And he’s not going anywhere any time soon. Given his popularity, HBO has signed on with the “SexyBack” singer to do a special for his first solo concert this summer. Timberlake’s Madison Square Garden appearance on August 16 will be taped for the special. HBO’s Nancy Geller said, “Justin Timberlake is a dynamic performer, and we’re thrilled to welcome him back to HBO.” He was previously on the cable network for an ‘NSync special. She continued, “We’re especially excited that he’ll be creating unique new elements for the special that will make the show an even more memorable experience for our viewers.” Timberlake has been making the rounds, winning two Grammys, hosting the Kids’ Choice Awards, hosting over at Saturday Night Live and even taking on films like Alpha Dog and Black Snake Moan. He’ll next be heard in Shrek the Third.
Read More | Zap2it
Desperate Housewives Ratings Dip
Posted by Wendy Michaels Categories: Comedy, Drama, Prime Time, ABC, HBO, Desperate Housewives, The Sopranos, Ratings,
If you caught Sunday night’s episode of Desperate Housewives and felt disappointed, you’re not alone. The show is just screaming for a decent storyline and the latest episode failed to deliver the goods. Ratings for Sunday were at their lowest for the series, drawing just 15.9 million viewers. Overall, the show has seen about 5 million fewer viewers from last season. ABC claims that the dip may have been because of the Easter holiday, the fact that The Sopranos’ last season aired at the same time, or the first time back for DH in five weeks. Maybe another scenario is that the show has just become boring. I was irked about Felicity Huffman’s character’s beef over wearing orange t-shirts as part of the restaurant uniform. That’s the best they can come up with?! Also there really was a void without Marcia Cross on the episode. Here’s hoping for better stories in the weeks to come before the season finale.
Read More | E! News
‘Extras’ Calls it Quits, Offers Special
Posted by Wendy Michaels Categories: Comedy, BBC, HBO, The Office, Cable/Satellite,
You’ll have to excuse me while I sniffle about this news. Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant will not continue with a third season of their show Extras. You may recall that they made the same decision about their first show, The Office—they did, however, wrap up The Office by giving fans a special episode. History is repeating itself here, with Gervais and Merchant ending Extras after just two seasons and offering up a special. If you never saw this little gem, it’s well worth catching a re-run on HBO. The show stars Gervais as actor Andy Millman, with Merchant playing his clueless agent. No word on when the special will air, but hopefully it will bring in more big name celebs (past episodes included Ben Stiller, Kate Winslet, Orlando Bloom, and Daniel Radcliffe, to name a few).
Read More | Zap2it
Anna Paquin Signs on for HBO Series
Posted by Wendy Michaels Categories: Drama, HBO,
Here’s one young actress who should never have a shortage of acting jobs. Anna Paquin, who started her career in the film The Piano, won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress at just 11 years old. Her roles in other films, including X-Men, have allowed viewers to watch her grow up onscreen. Now, Paquin will be coming to the small screen, in an HBO drama called True Blood. The show comes from the creator of Six Feet Under, so you can anticipate a great series. True Blood is a story of vampires, based on the book series Southern Vampire. Paquin will play Sookie Stackhouse, a mind-reading waitress. The vampires integrate into a small Louisiana town, assisted by the availability of Japanese-made synthetic blood. Paquin will also appear in HBO’s upcoming film, Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee.
Read More | Reuters
