Movies/TV category, Page 162
Hoda Kotb announces Sept. 3 return to ‘Today’
Speculation has been rampant for months about the return — or lack thereof — of Hoda Kotb to NBC’s “Today.” The journalist adopted her second daughter, Hope, in April. She announced on the show this morning that she will indeed be back to Rockefeller Center — on Sept. 3. During...
‘Mr. Mom’ turns 36. Now how old do you feel?
“220, 221. Whatever it takes.” Some classic movie lines will live forever. If you don’t know what movie that line is from, then you obviously don’t know that Aug. 19 is the anniversary of the wide release of “Mr. Mom,” the 1983 comedy that basically launched Pittsburgh native Michael Keaton...
‘Easy Rider’ star and writer Peter Fonda dies at age 79
LOS ANGELES — Actor Peter Fonda, the son of a Hollywood legend who became a movie star in his own right after both writing and starring in the counter-culture classic “Easy Rider,” has died. His family said in a statement that Fonda died Friday morning at his home in Los...
Robin Thede looks to build legacy in HBO sketch comedy show
Robin Thede knew plenty of talented African-American female comedians, but only a few were getting hired on popular TV comedy shows such as “Saturday Night Live” and “Mad TV.” So, Thede decided to create her own show featuring some of the industry’s funniest black women. The comic-writer-producer-actress is breaking new...
Pop culture conventions coming to Pittsburgh in 2020
The ever-growing Pittsburgh pop-culture convention scene will have two additions next year — one new show and one resurrected show. The first Momento Con will be at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center in downtown Pittsburgh on May 9 and 10. Horror Realm Con — which ended a multi-year run...
‘Friends’ coming to movie theaters for 25th anniversary
Even after 25 years, they’ll be there for you — this time on the big screen. No, the cast of “Friends” isn’t doing a reunion movie, but the megahit comedy series is coming to movie theaters for the show’s 25th anniversary. On three nights — Sept. 22, 28, and Oct....
‘Sharknado’s’ Ian Ziering now rides ‘Zombie Tidal Wave’Video
You can blame (or thank) President Donald Trump for the wave of zombies that will hit Saturday. It was Ian Ziering’s time on “The Apprentice” that gave the “Beverly Hills, 90210” and “Sharknado” actor the confidence he needed to produce his own sci-fi/fantasy film, “Zombie Tidal Wave.” “After I was...
Review: ‘Good Boys’ gone wild, sixth-grade division
The tale of three sixth-graders f-bombing their way through a series of adolescence-threatening adventures en route to a nerve-wracking kissing party, “Good Boys” (boring title) is located at the intersection of “Superbad” and “Baby’s Day Out.” The film rests on the comic potential of kids swearing like it’s a “South...
’13 Reasons Why’ wants to know who killed Bryce Walker
The trailer for the latest season of Netflix’s “13 Reasons Why” asks: “Who killed Bryce Walker?” It then delves into the many suspects at Liberty High with a motive and means. The cast includes: Dylan Minnette as Clay Jensen, Brandon Flynn as Justin Foley, Justin Prentice as Bryce Walker, Alisha...
Review: In ‘Blinded by the Light,’ growing up with the BossVideo
After starring roles for Freddie Mercury (“Bohemian Rhapsody”), Elton John (“Rocketman”) and the Beatles (“Yesterday”), it’s Bruce Springsteen’s turn to join the mixtape that the movies have lately become. But Gurinder Chadha’s “Blinded by the Light” isn’t about the Boss’ life or how he recorded his hits. It’s about hearing...
Eddie Murphy to star in Netflix biopic of ‘Dolemite’ creator Rudy Ray Moore
This is the space where I’d normally insert an appropriate and hilarious Dolemite quote to kick off this story. But anyone familiar with Dolemite — the kung-fu-fighting, crass-rhyming pimp character created by actor and blue comedian Rudy Ray Moore in the 1970s — will know that there are no quotes...
‘Why Women Kill’ gets to the heart of the matter
Marc Cherry, who was so handy with his “Desperate Housewives” back in 2004, has returned with a whole new group of women designed to set our teeth on edge. “Why Women Kill” premieres on CBS All Access o Thursday and is about three women from three different eras dealing with...
Apple releases teaser for ‘The Morning Show’ web television seriesVideo
LOS ANGELES — Apple is giving a first look at its upcoming web television series that is centered on a behind-the-scenes view of early morning TV news. The company posted a teaser Monday of “The Morning Show.” It stars Reese Witherspoon, Jennifer Aniston and Steve Carell and is set to...
Unity native, journalist’s book explores China’s ‘Red Carpet’
After covering the “business of Hollywood” for The Wall Street Journal for the last six years, Unity native Erich Schwartzel is expanding his research into how China is influencing the film industry. Schwartzel, 32, is writing his first book, “Red Carpet,” after inking a deal with Penguin Press publishing house....
George Takei talks about Star Trek, his graphic memoir, PittsburghVideo
George Takei is back in Pittsburgh, appearing at the 30th anniversary edition of Steel City Con at the Monroeville Convention Center on Saturday and Sunday. Takei, of course, is famous for having played Hikaru Sulu, helmsman of the USS Enterprise, in the “Star Trek” television series and later the Star...
A beaming 50 Cent, tough questions part of TV critics event
After the TV industry unveils its new-season schedules and series to advertisers in New York each May, it takes the show on the road to a swank Southern California hotel ballroom to coax attention from television-centric news reporters and critics. The annual summer meeting of the Television Critics Association, with...
Casey Affleck explores parenting in the apocalypse
LOS ANGELES — Casey Affleck had been working on a script about a parent and child for years. He’d written scenes about a bedtime story and an argument about taking a trip into town and things seemed to be going well. As the father of two boys, Affleck had defaulted...
How will ‘Empire’ handle Jussie Smollett’s character’s departure?
Although it was officially announced that FX’s popular hip-hop series “Empire” was ending its final season, no one really knew how the Lee Daniels-created drama would handle the departure of one of its biggest stars. In the aftermath of the legal woes surrounding Jussie Smollett following accusations he fabricated a...
Review: Dorky hero shines in ‘Dora and the Lost City of Gold’Video
These days, there’s no intellectual property that hasn’t been mined for a big-budget, live-action Hollywood remake. But the adaptation of the popular educational kiddie cartoon “Dora the Explorer” into the summer-friendly romp “Dora and the Lost City of Gold” is a no-brainer. The beloved character of Dora, with whom Gen...
Review: Mob wives show they mean business in ‘The Kitchen’Video
It’s two-thirds of the way through “The Kitchen” before anyone asks Kathy Brennan (Melissa McCarthy) what, exactly, she wants. It’s her son, at the dinner table. We’ve seen Kathy struggle and scrape by to survive, utterly sick of depending on and thanking men for her existence. We’ve seen her turn...
‘Mr. McFeely’ to be honored at regional Emmy Awards
David Newell — best known as Mr. McFeely, the “Speedy Delivery” man of “Mister Rogers Neighborhood” — is the recipient of the Mid-Atlantic Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences 2019 Board of Governors Award. The award will be presented at the 37th annual Mid-Atlantic Emmy Awards...
Milo Ventimiglia says he was told he’s too old to play Batman
Milo Ventimiglia always wanted to play Batman, but discovered people think he’s too old. Speaking on “Morning Mash Up” on SiriusXM on Wednesday to promote his new movie, “The Art Of Racing In The Rain,” the 42-year-old actor talked about his desire to play Batman. He said that he talked...
Weird, wonderful ‘BH90210’ winks at its fansVideo
Who says you can’t go home again? Those paraphrased words were uttered last night by Jennie Garth at the end of the latest TV time machine — the “BH90210” on Fox. You remember Jennie Garth, right? Kelly Taylor? “Beverly Hills, 90210?” Yes, that’s the one. As billed by Fox: Jason...
Fox: Jussie Smollett won’t be on final season on ‘Empire’
BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. — Fox Entertainment chief Charlie Collier says Jussie Smollett won’t be back on “Empire.” Collier, speaking to TV critics Wednesday, affirmed series co-creator Lee Daniels’ decision to drop Smollett from the drama’s upcoming final season. Daniels had initially supported Smollett after the actor claimed he suffered a...
Fox chief says Emmy Awards won’t have a host this year
BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. — The Oscars did it, and now the Emmys will too. There will be no host at the ceremony honoring TV’s best next month. Fox Entertainment CEO Charlie Collier said Wednesday that going hostless allows more time to salute departing shows, including “Game of Thrones.” The HBO...
