Movies/TV category, Page 172
‘Games of Thrones’ petition to remake final season nears 500,000 signatures
***WARNING: SPOILERS THROUGH SEASON 8, EPISODE 5 OF ‘GAME OF THRONES’*** Nearly a half-million petitioners at Change.org are ready to mount a dragon and burn the final season of HBO’s “Game of Thrones” to the ground, very similar to what Daenerys Targaryen just did in the most recent episode, “The...
CBS defends ‘Bull’ renewal despite sexual harassment claims
Kelly Kahl, president of CBS Entertainment, defended on Wednesday the decision to renew the TV drama “Bull” despite allegations of sexual harassment against star Michael Weatherly, which resulted in a $9.5-million settlement with his accuser, actress Eliza Dushku. In a breakfast with reporters ahead of CBS’ annual upfront presentation in...
Review: ‘John Wick 3’ is like Sichuan cooking: numbing yet spicyVideo
“Do what you do best, John.” That tidbit of wisdom — delivered late in the film “John Wick: Chapter 3 — Parabellum” to the title character — is good advice for anyone, really, if also not terribly deep. But then again, neither is the film. This third installment in the...
George Romero’s archives headed to University of Pittsburgh
“Oh, the horror,” many students cramming for finals at the University of Pittsburgh undoubtedly have uttered under their breaths. Now it’s true. Officials at Pitt on Thursday announced the University Library System has acquired the archives of the late iconic horror filmmaker George A. Romero. Many consider Romero, a Pittsburgh...
Review: ‘The Sun Is Also a Star’ is beautiful, but implausibleVideo
“The Sun Is Also a Star ” is a beautiful looking film. The TV stars Yara Shahidi of “grown-ish” and Charles Melton of “Riverdale” are beautiful. New York City is beautiful. Even the MTA is (kind of) beautiful. Director Ry Russo-Young’s film is shot by cinematographer Autumn Durald with such...
Review: ‘A Dog’s Journey’ offers up an interesting, complex storyVideo
Engaging critically with Dog Movies can be a challenge for a critic. Who wants to be the crank who scoffs that the heartwarming animal movie is just too contrived and sentimental? But it can be hard to avoid, with the sickly sweet pandering pabulum of recent films like “A Dog’s...
‘Game of Thrones’: Breaking down ‘The Bells’Video
***WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD THROUGH SEASON 8, EPISODE 5 OF ‘GAME OF THRONES,’ AND MILD BOOK SPOILERS*** House Thrones’n’at was once again divided when it came to the penultimate episode of HBO’s “Game of Thrones” series. This week Cassie Nedelco, Tammy Painter and Patrick Varine discuss whether we buy into Daenerys...
Comedian Tim Conway dead at age 85
Comedian Tim Conway has died at age 85, after a battle with dementia, People reports. Representative Howard Bragman confirmed to People that the comic died at 8:45 a.m. Tuesday in Los Angeles. Conway was best known for his work on CBS’ “The Carol Burnett Show,” winning four Emmy Awards for...
Disney takes over Hulu
BURBANK, Calif. — Disney is taking full control of Hulu, extending the reach of its streaming abilities. Disney said Tuesday that it’s taking operational control of the streaming service immediately. NBCUniversal owns 33% of Hulu right now. According to the agreement, Disney can demand Comcast, which owns NBCUniversal, sell the...
HBO features Bill Nye The Science Guy swearing about climate change
Once known for his child-friendly educational programming, Bill Nye “The Science Guy” took a much more adult tone in a discussion about climate change Sunday. Here’s Nye’s appearance. A warning if you click on it: The video contains strong language. “The planet’s on (expletive) fire,” Nye said in the sketch...
Indiana museum celebrates Jimmy Stewart’s birthday
Indiana’s Jimmy Stewart Museum will celebrate its native son’s 111th birthday with a party on May 19. Stewart was born in the Indiana County town on May 20, 1908. He died on July 2, 1997. The event also recognizes the 24th anniversary of the museum, located at 835 Philadelphia St....
Keanu Reeves shares profound answer on love and deathVideo
Keanu Reeves, promoting his latest “John Wick” movie, delivered a deep and meaningful, yet simple answer when asked about morality and dying. While appearing on “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” on Friday night, Reeves, 54, talked about stunts and the new movie. He also talked about the recently announced...
Western Pennsylvania’s Shirley Jones to receive Pittsburgh Opera honor
Shirley Jones has dedicated her life to the arts. The Pittsburgh Opera will honor Jones’ devotion on May 18 when it presents the Charleroi native and former Smithton resident with a Renaissance Award at the 35th annual Maecenas Gala at Downtown’s Benedum Center. “I’m thrilled to be receiving the Renaissance...
‘Empire’ will end after next season, Jussie Smollett’s fate uncertain
Fox announced Monday that the upcoming sixth season of “Empire” will be its last. The drama’s renewal was announced earlier this month, with the network stating it had “no plans” to include embattled actor Jussie Smollett in the upcoming season. Fox noted at the time that Smollett’s option had been...
‘Game of Thrones’: Did you see Aaron Rodgers? If so, where?
***WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD THROUGH SEASON 8, EPISODE 5 OF ‘GAME OF THRONES’*** Divisive as it was, there’s at least one thing we can all agree on: Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers was in last night’s “Game of Thrones” episode, “The Bells.” We remain, however, a house divided on where...
End of ‘Big Bang’ stirs debate over future of TV comediesVideo
LOS ANGELES — In 2006, TV critics swooned over “30 Rock,” part of a new breed of comedy that dared to fly without a laugh track and whose ranks included “Arrested Development,” ”The Office” and “Everybody Hates Chris.” Then a misfit nerd crashed the party. “The Big Bang Theory” was...
Legendary actress and singer Doris Day dead at 97
LOS ANGELES — Doris Day, the honey-voiced singer and actress whose film dramas, musicals and innocent sex comedies made her a top star in the 1950s and ’60s and among the most popular screen actresses in history, has died. She was 97. The Doris Day Animal Foundation confirmed Day died...
NBC bets on comedy next year, ‘This Is Us’ for years to come
NEW YORK (AP) — NBC didn’t invoke its “must-see TV” 20th-century marketing slogan in announcing a renewed emphasis on sitcoms next season, but it could have. Calling comedy the “heart” of its brand, the network announced it is adding four new sitcoms to its lineup for 2019-20, with stars including...
‘Game of Thrones’: The Dragon Queen comes to King’s Landing
***WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD THROUGH SEASON 8, EPISODE 5 OF ‘GAME OF THRONES’*** Last week, my fellow “Thrones’n’at” panelist Cassie Nedelco was upset about several aspects of “Last of the Starks.” I thought it was great — not necessarily the choices that some of the characters made (PET YOUR PET, JON....
‘Pikachu’ tries to dethrone the ‘Avengers,’ but just misses
LOS ANGELES — “Pokémon Detective Pikachu” gave “Avengers: Endgame” a run for its money this weekend at the box office, but the superheroes managed to hold onto the throne once again. The Walt Disney Co. said Sunday that the Marvel blockbuster earned an estimated $63.1 million from its third weekend...
Renée Zellweger transformed into Judy Garland for new biopic film ‘Judy’
Renée Zellweger is completely transformed in the first teaser trailer for the upcoming Judy Garland biopic, “Judy.” The trailer has Zellweger singing Garland’s famous “Over the Rainbow” as scenes from her life flash on the screen. Vanity Fair reports Zellweger sang the movie’s songs herself and was told by director...
Gabrielle Union, Jessica Alba in charge of ‘L.A.’s Finest’
LOS ANGELES — Expanding a comic book’s mythology can bring slighted characters to the forefront. That’s also the case with “L.A.’s Finest,” a TV series riff on the 2003 “Bad Boys II” movie in which women, notably women of color, are driving the action. Gabrielle Union pursued the idea of...
‘SNL’ asks is there anything Trump could do to lose Republican senatorsVideo
President Donald Trump famously declared that he wouldn’t lose any voters if he had shot someone in the middle of Manhattan’s Fifth Avenue. If the first two years of his presidency have shown anything, that statement could be amended to say he wouldn’t lose votes from Republican senators, who have...
Jessica Alba, Gabrielle Union are ‘L.A.’s Finest’
“L.A.’s Finest” is the name of the new cop series on Spectrum’s on-demand service, but it could also be a way to describe the show’s stars, Gabrielle Union and Jessica Alba. Both have piled up long lists of much-heralded acting credits and will bring that background to the series, which...
Directors with local ties to show original films in Pittsburgh
Three filmmakers with ties to Pittsburgh will show their work as part of a special series at the Regent Square Theater, 1035 S. Braddock Ave. The Pittsburgh Center for Arts and Media, formerly Pittsburgh Filmmakers, will host films by directors Harry Greenberger, Scott Balcerek and Lori Felker, beginning on May...
