The '70s Music Industry is Explored in Teaser for Martin Scorsese's Vinyl
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You can always count on HBO to churn out an interesting show or two. But if this latest program doesn't get you interested, I don't want to be friends anymore. From the minds of Martin Scorsese, Terrence Winter (The Sopranos), and Mick Jagger, Vinyl is a series set in 1970s New York as record exec Richie Finestra (Bobby Cannavale) is fighting to keep his label in the spotlight now that punk and disco are on the uptake. It's got a hell of a cast all around too: Ray Romano, Olivia Wilde, Juno Temple, Andrew "Dice" Clay, and P.J. Byrne.
Although this teaser trailer is way too brief, it's kind of perfect. It gives us all we need to know about the series (it's going to be an electrically erratic showcase), it visually striking, and I can't wait for Cannavale to show everyone he can hold down a show all his own. The man has put his time in, and I'm confident he's ready for a leading role. If this doesn't become the starring vehicle needed to make him an even bigger star, then it'll at least be worth tuning in to see how it turns out anyway.
Vinyl premieres on HBO sometime next year.
Community is Probably Not Coming Back
There hasn't been a show with a more tumultuous existence than Community. Creators and cast constantly leaving and returning, seasons where fans outright hated the show, cancellations, and finally moving to the Internet only Yahoo Screen. The sixth season (the first part of the fan pushed hashtag joke #sixseasonsandamovie) came and went, and I absolutely loved it. In fact, the final episode, which should be the series finale, was the best Community had ever produced in the last two seasons and I'd even argue of the series overall. Few shows get a proper ending everyone agrees with, so all this talk about Community's maybe return is a little disheartening.
It all started with Joel McHale speaking to Metro Weekly about the show's unlikely return:
[Yahoo!] wanted to [give us another season]. But all of our contracts were up after six years. All the actors on the show, almost without exception — their stock has risen significantly and it’s out of the pay rate that is affordable to make the show. So you’re not going to be able to get Alison Brie or Gillian Jacobs at a normal television salary anymore. There is just not enough money to be able to pay for the show.
Then Deadline reported that Yahoo is still in talks, and Joel McHale tweeted the show wasn't canceled yet. So what's going to happen? The cast once expressed the desire to return for a Harmon written film, but they really should end it all here. Community lasted far longer than anyone thought it would, and there's no reason it should be dragged through the ground. Besides, everyone's moved on. So Community's probably not coming back, and as of this writing, there's no reason it should.
[via Deadline and Metro Weekly]
[Weekly Netflix Fix] Final July 2015 Update
The end of July is here, and with it comes an assortment of new Netflix Instant additions! As well all know, the highly-entertaining BoJack Horseman has returned for a second season (of which Bridjet reviewed recently). The other major addition to Netflix Instant is the Netflix-exclusive series, Wet Hot American Summer: First Day of Camp, which is a prequel to the 2001 cult classic. Another personal recommendation is The Skeleton Twins, starring Bill Hader and Kristen Wiig.
Find all of the latest additions to Netflix Instant below!
BoJack Horseman: Season 2
The Business of Being Born
Cantinflas
The Human Experiment Invizimals: The Alliance Files
Tig
The True Cost
Glee: Season 6
Java Heat
Peace After Marriage
Je suis Femen
Set Fire to the Stars
Jim Norton: Contextually Inadequate
Teacher of the Year
Zero Motivation
The Avenging Eagle
Come Drink with Me
Hercules
Martial Arts of Shaolin
Out of the Dark
The Road to Fallujah
Shaolin Martial Arts
24 Days
The Guest
Sword of Vengeance
Dial a Prayer
52 Tuesdays
Comet
Marvel's Hulk and the Agents of S.M.A.S.H.: Season 2
Almost Mercy
Donde Esta Elisa
My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic: Season 5
Of Girls and Horses
Relaciones Peligrosas
Staten Island Summer
Still
Victoria
The Wrecking Crew
The New Black
The Skeleton Twins
Wet Hot American Summer: First Day of Camp
Key & Peele to End After This Season
After Jordan Peele and Keegan-Michael Key started their Key & Peele sketch show on Comedy Central back in 2012, their comedy was finally noticed by the world. The two have been working together for a long time (since their time on MadTV, and long before that too) and now it's time for their work to hit the next level. After five successful seasons, their show is coming to an end. The duo told The Wrap:
This is our final season – and it’s not because of Comedy Central, it’s us. It was just time for us to explore other things, together and apart. I compare it to Gene Wilder and Richard Pryor. We might make a movie and then do our own thing for three years and then come back and do another movie.
I’m thinking we could do that every three years – take a year, go bang out a movie. That’s the plan right now.
It makes sense given how much they've got on their plate. There's Keanu, the film about two guys posing as gangsters to save a cat, there's a Police Academy reboot, their "Substitute Teacher" sketch is getting a full movie treatment, Key has been popping up in a lot more films, and Jordan has plans to direct a film soon. If the show is any indication of where their career is going, we're in for some great comedy. It's a good thing the show's ending now, too, since a lot of sketches aren't hitting as hard as they used to. There is a sense that the show is losing steam. It's better to go out on top before it runs itself into the ground. Season 5 has already been filmed in full, and it's final episode will air sometime in September. Just for fun, here's my favorite sketch.
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[via The Wrap]
LeBron James Signs Deal with Warner Bros., Sparks Space Jam 2 Rumors
Space Jam may be a flawed film, but it's strengthened by the nostalgia of people in their mid-to-late 20s, an amazing soundtrack, and came directly in the middle of the Chicago Bulls' '90s dynasty. Of course, the Looney Tunes were at an all-time high in popularity, and who didn't love Michael Jordan back then (outside of Detroit)?
Nobody since has been able to capture Jordan's popularity, but many have come close. One such basketball player, LeBron James, may be the closest to Jordan that we've had since he arrived in the NBA. However, he also has faced a ton of criticism, something that Jordan didn't experience at the same level. Nevertheless, if there were to ever be a Space Jam sequel, LeBron James would be the de facto star... for better or worse.
Yesterday, word came out that Warner Bros. inked a deal with LeBron James for the basketball star to appear in various WB projects spanning film, TV, and online digital content. Warner Bros. released a statement with the announcement that reads:
“LeBron James has one of the most powerful, well-known brands in the world and we are excited to be in business with him and his partner, Maverick Carter, and SpringHill Entertainment,” Warner Bros. CEO and Chairman Kevin Tsujihara said. “The combination of LeBron’s global media presence and Warner Bros.’ unmatched production and distribution expertise is a big win for fans everywhere.”
Last month, it was reported that Warner Bros. filed a new trademark on Space Jam, re-sparking rumors from 2014 that also had LBJ attached to star in the sequel. There's nothing concrete, but the new deal could pave the way for LBJ to lace up against the Monstars. Would you be interested in seeing King James team up with Bugs, Daffy, and the other Looney Tunes?
[via /Film]
Here's the Reason Why The Muppets Are Coming Back to TV
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The Muppets have made quite the comeback over the last few years. After Disney put out two very successful films, it's time to branch out the Muppets to other properties. First being a new show on ABC that riffs on famous mockumentary style shows like The Office, Parks and Recreation, and ABC's own Modern Family. Thanks to ABC, we finally get a look at something that's never been seen before, the ten minute pilot pitch that convinced them to turn it into a series.
Directed by The Office's Randall Einhorn and written by The Big Bang Theory's Bill Prady and The Simpsons' Bob Kushnell, the clip is full of adult tinged meta humor (like Gonzo pointed out how overused the "mockumentary" format is) and the direction for the overall series. If you pay attention, you'll realize a lot of the jokes here are for an adult audience but with enough silly bits to keep kids' attention. Since it's most likely going to run during ABC's primetime (which includes great shows like The Goldbergs, The Middle, and Fresh Off the Boat), this is exactly the type of show it needs to be. If you're a fan of The Muppets, definitely check this out. It'll be the best ten minutes of your day.
The Muppets premieres on ABC later this fall.
The Flash's Season 2 Costume is Comic Book Friendly
I was a big fan of The Flash's first season. Since CW worked out all of the DC superhero kinks with Arrow, The Flash got off to a great start and never let up. A show not afraid to shy from how wacky its comic book origins (as the show featured two speedsters, a psychic gorilla, and time travel shenanigans), season two is already shaping up to be wonderful. We've got a bit more info on the series since San Diego Comic Con, and now we've got a look at Barry Allen's fresh new costume featuring a comic book accurate insignia (with white like the future Flash revealed in the finale instead of just red and gold like he had last season).
Also, according to an interview with Collider, season two will also taking the show more into its comic book roots. The Flash is going to be more known to the public (like his comic book counterpart, Flash won't hide in the shadows like Batman), Barry's getting a new love interest, the show's going to introduce a multiverse aspect (which means dead characters have a chance of coming back) and Flash will develop a new lightning based power. It's all very exciting and I can't wait to hear more. If the show can maintain its quality even when all of this goofier stuff hits, we're in for a good time.
The Flash season 2 premieres on The CW October 6th.
Hulu is Considering Ad-Free Subscriptions
While Amazon and Netflix have been in the news lately for their exclusives, it feels like Hulu has stayed relatively quiet, save for their exclusive distribution for Seinfeld. In fact, I've spent more time watching various shows on Hulu than Netflix and Amazon combined over the past month. However, one thing I'll never be able to get over are Hulu's ads. Without fail, most will opt to wait for releases on Netflix rather than watch them earlier on Hulu with ads.
It's this mentality Hulu must combat in order to stay competitive with Netflix and Amazon. If rumors are to be true, the streaming company is ready to make the necessary adjustments. According to the Wall Street Journal, Hulu insiders revealed plans to explore ad-free subscriptions, perhaps timed for a fall release. The initiative, nicknamed internally as NOAH (no ads Hulu), is rumored to be in the $12 to $14 per month range. If true, their fees will be considerably more expensive than Netflix ($8/month) and Amazon ($99/year or $8.25/month), and slightly cheaper than HBO Now ($15/month).
Will a few extra dollars for ad-free Hulu content be enough to convince current and prospective Hulu subscribers? Personally, I would rather stick with the commercials or wait patiently for a Netflix release.
[Wall Street Journal via /Film]