Movies/TV category, Page 104
Pittsburgh Pop: Ghosts of 2021 pop culture past, present and future
In this week’s episode of the “Pittsburgh Pop” podcast, host Tim Benz and TV Talk columnist Rob Owen discuss Pittsburgh pop culture news of the moment, including the year that was in TV and local TV news anchor changes. They tick off some of the highlights of the year in...
‘Spider-Man’ surpasses $1B globally in second weekend
Peter Parker’s good fortune continued over the holiday weekend as Hollywood prepares to close the books on a turbulent 2021. Even with some mighty competition from new Matrix and Sing movies, and rising concerns over the omicron variant, “Spider-Man: No Way Home” stayed in the No. 1 spot and netted...
Jason Bateman named Hasty Pudding’s Man of the Year
CAMBRIDGE, Mass. — Jason Bateman was named the 2022 Man of the Year by Harvard University’s Hasty Pudding Theatricals on Thursday, the first recipient of the award since 2020 because of the coronavirus pandemic. Bateman, an actor, producer and director on the Netflix series “Ozark,” who also played a starring...
Actor who played ‘Home Alone’ brother arrested in Oklahoma
OKLAHOMA CITY — “Home Alone” actor Devin Ratray surrendered to authorities in Oklahoma on Wednesday after he was accused of assaulting his girlfriend, police said. Ratray, who played older brother Buzz McAllister in the 1990 Christmas movie, was released from jail shortly after his booking on two domestic assault and...
TV Talk: Fayette County hunter launches season two of ‘MTN TOP Outdoors’Video
Jeremiah “Jay” Voithofer of Farmington, Fayette County, remembers going to a Holiday Inn in Uniontown at age 8 to meet Terry Drury, a host of TV shows about hunting. “I made a turkey sound call and he gave me – and signed – his box call,” Voithofer said. “It’s just...
TV Q&A: Will Mark Harmon return to ‘NCIS’ as Gibbs?
Q: Mark Harmon’s name and likeness are the first things that appear in the opening credits of “NCIS.” However, he is no longer on the show. Any idea why he’s still in the opening credits? — Jeff, Baldwin Q: Is Mark Harmon really done on “NCIS”? The new guy (Gary...
Chris Noth out at ‘The Equalizer’ amid sex assault claims
LOS ANGELES — Chris Noth will no longer be part of the CBS series “The Equalizer” in the wake of sexual assault allegations against the actor. Universal Television and CBS made a joint announcement Monday that Noth would no longer be part of filming “effective immediately.” Noth has played a...
TV Talk: Mt. Lebanon native charts course for ‘Book of Boba Fett,’ ‘Mandalorian’
Trib Total Media TV writer Rob Owen offers a viewing tip for the coming week. Mt. Lebanon native Dave Filoni has been living his childhood dream of playing “Star Wars” for two decades, trading his childhood action figures for writing scripts and directing costumed actors and massive “Star Wars” props...
Trevor Noah’s malpractice lawsuit claims surgery made him ‘sore, lame and disabled’Video
“The Daily Show” host Trevor Noah has filed a malpractice lawsuit against a New York doctor and hospital after allegedly suffering “permanent, severe, and grievous” injuries as a result of a surgery in November 2020. The Comedy Central star filed the lawsuit in New York’s Supreme Court against orthopedic surgeon...
What is a bidding war? CBS and NBC could chase ‘Jeopardy!’ for their TV stations
Last summer, the beloved game show “Jeopardy!” was getting pummeled with bad publicity over a botched search for a new host. But Sony Pictures Television’s stumbles trying to find a successor to the late Alex Trebek did not seem to matter much to “Jeopardy!” fans. In the current 2021-22 television...
Analysis: The Duggars built a wholesome reality TV empire on TLC. Now it’s in ruins
When reality TV star Josh Duggar was convicted this month of receiving and possessing child pornography, it brought a shocking end to the Duggars’ decade-plus reign as the Fundamentalist Kardashians. On their TLC shows “19 Kids and Counting” and “Counting On,” the ultra-conservative Arkansas clan known for its love of...
Pittsburgh Pop: Upcoming movies, midseason TV and ‘Being the Ricardos’
In this week’s episode of the “Pittsburgh Pop” podcast, host Tim Benz and TV Talk columnist Rob Owen discuss Pittsburgh pop culture news of the moment, including midseason cable/streaming series with local ties. Owen rates recent premieres “1883” and “With Love” and the pair preview what’s coming in midseason TV,...
Film-friendly atmosphere, ideal locations bring director back to W. Pa. for ‘The Pale Blue Eye’
A rich history, varied landscape and welcoming community have drawn director Scott Cooper back to Southwestern Pennsylvania to film his upcoming adaptation of “The Pale Blue Eye” for Netflix. “It’s an incredibly pleasant place to shoot,” said Cooper, “and it works exceedingly well for the 1830s Hudson Valley.” Cooper and...
Paul Rudd hosts ‘SNL’ sans audience, Charli XCX amid omicron
NEW YORK — People’s Sexiest Man Alive of 2021 was indeed inducted into the vaunted Five-Timers Club on “Saturday Night Live,” but the surging omicron variant of the coronavirus meant there was no live audience to see it happen. Instead, viewers at home saw new sketches taped earlier in the...
Spidey nets 3rd best opening of all time with $253 million
Never underestimate your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man, even with a mutating virus afoot. Despite rising concerns over the omicron variant, “Spider-Man: No Way Home” not only shattered pandemic-era box office records; it became the third best opening of all time behind “Avengers: Endgame” and “Avengers: Infinity War.” The Sony and Marvel...
Chris Noth accused of sexual assaults; actor denies claims
LOS ANGELES — Actor Chris Noth has been accused of sexually assaulting two women in separate encounters that took place in 2004 and 2015, according to a report Thursday. The women’s identities were withheld by The Hollywood Reporter in order to protect their privacy, said the trade publication, which used...
TV Talk: ‘Yellowstone’ prequel, ‘Downton Abbey’ follow-up highlight midseason cable/streaming seriesVideo
Mid-season cable and streaming scripted series start in earnest in January, but with so much competition, some outlets chose to debut new shows this weekend. “With Love” (Friday, Amazon’s Prime Video): A five-episode, Christmas-set rom-com – it’s more rom than com – about a Latino family and their romantic entanglements....
Ligonier area provides props as ‘The Pale Blue Eye’ film crew arrives at Compass Inn
Staff at Fort Ligonier and the Laughlintown Antique Mall will be watching carefully when a locally filmed Netflix movie becomes available for viewing. There’s a chance items from either of those sites could make an appearance in “The Pale Blue Eye,” a period murder mystery that is being shot at...
TV Q&A: Who puts together Jeff Verszyla’s wardrobe?
Q. Weatherman Jeff Verszyla on Channel 4 is the best-dressed man on that station. I would love to know what brand of suits he wears or the identity of his tailor. — Bob, Mt. Washington Rob: “Over the course of many years, I have built up a solid wardrobe,” Verszyla...
‘Return of Jedi,’ ‘Selena’ added to National Film Registry
LOS ANGELES — This year’s inductees into the National Film Registry include an epic Star Wars and Lord of the Ring films, projects starring Jennifer Lopez and the late Cicely Tyson along with films that took on racially motivated violence against people of color. The Library of Congress announced Tuesday...
Dr. Oz is officially ending his show to focus on Pennsylvania Senate run
As expected, the long-running “Dr. Oz Show” will end in the wake of host Dr. Mehmet Oz’s announcement late last month that he’s running for U.S. Senate. The daily hourlong talk show, syndicated across the country by Sony Pictures Television, will end Jan. 14 after 13 seasons, Sony said in...
Pittsburgh Pop: Reacting to that ‘Sex and the City’ shocker, Rick Sebak’s throwback interview of August Wilson
In this week’s episode of the “Pittsburgh Pop” podcast, host Tim Benz and TV Talk columnist Rob Owen discuss Pittsburgh pop culture news of the moment, including Rick Sebak’s latest WQED-TV special, “Brain Space Energy: My Interview with August Wilson.” Last week’s premiere of “Sex and the City” sequel series...
Shatner marvels at Blue Origin flight frenzy, ‘finite’ Earth
LOS ANGELES — William Shatner’s durable role as an avatar of space’s promise drew a frenzy of attention when fiction became fact with his rocket ride. The “Star Trek” actor says he was as surprised by it as he was gratified by the 10-minute, suborbital jaunt made possible by billionaire...
Golden Globes announce nominations to a skeptical Hollywood
NEW YORK — After widespread criticism forced the organization that puts on the Golden Globes to lose its televised award show and overhaul its membership, the Hollywood Foreign Press Association nevertheless went ahead announcing nominees for film and television awards on Monday despite a skeptical entertainment industry. Just as it’s...
TV Talk: Rick Sebak revisits August Wilson interview in new WQED-TV special
Trib Total Media TV writer Rob Owen offers a viewing tip for the coming week. Writer/producer/director Rick Sebak’s latest installment in WQED-TV’s “Pittsburgh History Series” revisits a 32-year-old interview with the late Pittsburgh native and playwright August Wilson. Premiering at 8 p.m. Thursday on WQED, “Brain Space & Energy: My...
