Movies/TV category, Page 51
NBA gets help from ‘Sopranos’ actor to promote in-season tournamentVideo
LAS VEGAS — The NBA enlisted an actor from “The Sopranos” and borrowed the central theme of the film “Ocean’s Eleven” — a Las Vegas heist — to hype the inaugural In-Season Tournament that begins Nov. 3. The latest marketing move, released Wednesday, is a nearly 2-minute spot featuring actor...
‘Shaft’ star Richard Roundtree, considered the first Black action movie hero, has died at 81
LOS ANGELES — Richard Roundtree, the trailblazing actor who starred as the ultra-smooth private detective in several “Shaft” films beginning in the early 1970s, has died. He was 81. Roundtree’s longtime manager, Patrick McMinn, said the actor had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and died at his home in Los...
TV Q&A: Why do TV news anchors hold tablets during newscasts?
Trib Total Media TV writer Rob Owen answers reader questions every Wednesday at TribLive.com in a column that also appears in the Sunday Tribune-Review. Q: I noticed years ago that the anchors on WTAE-TV were holding computer tablets in their hands. I remember one of the anchors dropped it on...
TV Talk: Former Steelers coach Bill Cowher on ‘NFL Icons’Video
Trib Total Media TV writer Rob Owen offers a viewing tip for the coming week. An NFL Hall of Famer, former Steelers coach Bill Cowher is the subject of this week’s episode of “NFL Icons” (10 p.m. Oct. 28, MGM+). The hourlong episode explores Cowher’s youth in Crafton, his stint...
Pittsburgh Pop podcast: Talking Pittsburgh’s market rank drops again, Zachary Quinto’s new NBC series
In this episode of the “Pittsburgh Pop” podcast, host Tim Benz and TV Talk columnist Rob Owen discuss Pittsburgh pop culture news of the moment including Pittsburgh’s Nielsen market rank, which fell yet again. Previously the No. 26 largest TV market nationally, Pittsburgh has fallen to No. 28 for the...
Comedy duo bring ‘Law & Order: SVU’ podcast live show to Pittsburgh
“In the criminal justice system, sexually based offenses are considered especially heinous…” That is the opening line to every episode of “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit,” a show whose serious subject matter might not seem like the ideal topic for a podcast featuring two comedians. Don’t tell that to...
New Netflix thriller tackling theme of justice in Nigeria is a global hit and a boon for Nollywood
ABUJA, Nigeria — A Nigerian action thriller that tells a gripping story of corruption and police brutality in Africa’s most populous country has reached record viewership numbers on Netflix charts globally. It’s a reminder of the power and potential of Nigeria’s rapidly growing film industry. “The Black Book” has taken...
Martin Scorsese is still curious — and still awed by the possibilities of cinema
NEW YORK — A moment from years ago keeps replaying in Martin Scorsese’s mind. When Akira Kurosawa was given an honorary Academy Award in 1990, the then 80-year-old Japanese filmmaker of “Seven Samurai” and “Ikiru,” in his brief, humble speech, said he hadn’t yet grasped the full essence of cinema....
TV Talk: ‘Repairing the World’ tells stories from aftermath of Tree of Life attack
Oakland, Calif.,-based filmmaker Patrice O’Neill began chronicling community responses to hate more than 25 years ago. When she heard about the 2018 assault on Squirrel Hill’s Tree of Life synagogue, she realized her Not in Our Town team had more work to do. “Repairing the World: Stories from the Tree...
Hollywood’s actors strike is nearing its 100th day. Why hasn’t a deal been reached and what’s next?
LOS ANGELES — While screenwriters are busy back at work, film and TV actors remain on picket lines, with the longest strike in their history set to hit 100 days on Saturday after talks broke off with studios. Here’s a look at where things stand, how their stretched-out standoff compares...
TV Talk: New ‘Rustin’ trailer released; ‘Reel Money’ on building Pittsburgh’s TV/film economyVideo
Netflix confirmed filmed-in-Pittsburgh “Rustin” will play in at least one Pittsburgh theater beginning Nov. 3 before it streams on Netflix on Nov. 17. Netflix has not confirmed which Pittsburgh theater (or theaters) will show the movie. Netflix also released a new second trailer for the PG-13-rated bio-pic on gay Civil...
Burt Young, Oscar-nominated actor who played Paulie in ‘Rocky’ films, dies at 83
LOS ANGELES — Burt Young, the Oscar-nominated actor who played Paulie, the rough-hewn, mumbling-and-grumbling best friend, corner-man and brother-in-law to Sylvester Stallone in the “Rocky” franchise, has died. Young died Oct. 8 in Los Angeles, his daughter, Anne Morea Steingieser, told the New York Times on Wednesday. No cause was...
Phyllis Coates, actor who first portrayed ‘Superman’ reporter Lois Lane on TV, dies at 96Video
LOS ANGELES — Phyllis Coates, who portrayed “Superman” Daily Planet reporter Lois Lane, has died. She was 96. Coates, who was the first actor to play the iconic role on the 1950s “Adventures of Superman” television series, died Wednesday of natural causes at the Motion Picture & Television Fund’s retirement...
TV Q&A: Why does local TV news cover water main breaks?
Trib Total Media TV writer Rob Owen answers reader questions every Wednesday at TribLive.com in a column that also appears in the Sunday Tribune-Review. Q: TV news reporters used to be called ambulance chasers, just like lawyers. Now it seems WPXI-TV reporters are chasing water main breaks, even ones on...
Prosecutors seek to recharge Alec Baldwin in fatal shooting on set of ‘Rust’
SANTA FE, N.M. — Special prosecutors are seeking to recharge actor Alec Baldwin in the fatal shooting of a cinematographer on the set of a Western movie in 2021, describing Tuesday their preparations to present new information to a grand jury. New Mexico-based prosecutors Kari Morrissey and Jason Lewis said...
Martin Scorsese is still curious — and still awed by the possibilities of cinema
NEW YORK — A moment from years ago keeps replaying in Martin Scorsese ‘s mind. When Akira Kurosawa was given an honorary Academy Award in 1990, the then 80-year-old Japanese filmmaker of “Seven Samurai” and “Ikiru,” in his brief, humble speech, said he hadn’t yet grasped the full essence of...
Pittsburgh Pop podcast: Talking regional Emmy winners, ‘The Morning Show,’ ‘Sunday Ticket’ on YouTube
In this episode of the “Pittsburgh Pop” podcast, host Tim Benz and TV Talk columnist Rob Owen discuss Pittsburgh pop culture news of the moment including local winners of the 2023 Mid-Atlantic Emmy Awards that were handed out in Philadelphia Saturday night. WQED-TV garnered eight trophies. WPXI took home seven...
TV Talk: Pittsburgh-filmed ‘Handyman from Hell’ debuts on Lifetime Movie NetworkVideo
Comedian Steve Hofstetter isn’t an area native – he grew up in Queens, N.Y. – but his career as a stand-up performer brought him to Western Pennsylvania often enough that he opted to move here two-and-a-half years ago. He bought a former Stanton Heights church and turned it into the...
Taylor Swift’s ‘The Eras Tour’ dances to No. 1 at the box office, eyeing ‘Joker’ film record
Movie theaters turned into concert venues this weekend as Swifties brought their dance moves and friendship bracelets to multiplexes across the country. The unparalleled enthusiasm helped propel “Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour” to a massive, first place debut between $95 million and $97 million in North America, AMC Theatres said...
‘Always Sunny’ gang visits Harrisburg liquor store to promote their whiskey
“The Gang” from “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia” made a stop Saturday in Harrisburg to promote their latest libation. Glenn Howerton, Charlie Day and Rob McElhenney, three members of the Always Sunny Gang, stopped at the Fine Wine & Good Spirits distributor on Jonestown Road to promote their new whiskey,...
Sharon Stone says health issues slowed her acting career so she’s expressing herself through paint
NEW YORK — During the pandemic, a friend sent Sharon Stone a paint-by-numbers set to keep her busy, a gesture that has led to a new path of creative expression for the actor. Known best for roles in films like “Casino” and “Basic Instinct,” Stone has discovered a love of...
SAG-AFTRA President Fran Drescher reacts to Hollywood studios breaking off negotiations
LOS ANGELES — Fran Drescher has steered the actors guild through its monthslong strike. On the heels of Hollywood studios abruptly breaking off talks with the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists this week, the actor and union president says she’s baffled and disappointed. The Alliance of...
Best Buy plans to phase out sales of physical DVD movies in the coming months
NEW YORK — Best Buy is saying goodbye to movie-watching with physical discs. The consumer electronics retailer plans to phase out its DVD and Blu-ray sales by early 2024 — with physical movies set to be sold in-stores and online as they are today through the holidays, Best Buy confirmed...
Man admits stealing ‘Wizard of Oz’ ruby slippers from museum in 2005, but details remain mystery
MINNEAPOLIS — A man charged in the museum heist of a pair of ruby slippers that Judy Garland wore in the “The Wizard of Oz” pleaded guilty Friday in a deal that could keep him out of prison due to his failing health, but only cleared up some of the...
TV Talk: George Romero leaps off comic book page in ‘Creepshow’
Trib Total Media TV writer Rob Owen offers a viewing tip for the coming week. McCandless native Greg Nicotero loves to weave Pittsburgh homages into his “Creepshow” series, which televises its fourth season at 10 p.m. Fridays beginning Oct. 13 on AMC (episodes also stream on Shudder and AMC+). In...
