My list of entertainment news articles to read is approaching 2000 so it’s time to wade through them and put out another blog.
Probably the biggest entertainment news is that Bright House Cable has added “Epix” pay channels to its lineup as a three-month free preview. It runs through the end of August after which it will cost an additional $5 per month. This is a new pay cable network owned by Viacom, Lionsgate, and MGM. It was created in 2010 after those networks failed to reach an agreement with Showtime Networks to carry their movies. So if you’ve been wondering why movies such as the new series of Star Trek, The Hunger Games, Marvel’s the Avengers etc. have not been showing up on HBO, Showtime, Starz etc. is because they are on this new network. In addition to first-run films and older films from those studios, they also have concerts, comedy specials, and original documentaries. Among the documentaries is a six part series called “The Captains” in which William Shatner as a sitdown one-on-one interview with all of the actors who have portrayed Star Trek captains on TV. This includes Avery Brooks was on Star Trek DS 9 who normally never gives interviews. It was a pretty good series. I’ve seen them all now. With the free trial runs out I’m definitely signing up for this new channel. The only thing it is missing is 3-D on some of those titles which should have been 3-D. But other than that I’m really loving it because it carries lots of action movies like those just named. I know it is not available on U-Verse but I think dish or DirecTV may carry it. I’m not sure about Comcast.
If you’ve not seen the new AMC series Halt and Catch Fire I highly recommend it. It takes place in the early 1980s when a fictional computer company named Cardiff Electronics (is that a vague Dr. Who reference?) Attempts to build one of the first IBM PC clones. It’s a pretty good drama show even if you’re not a computer geek like me. If you are a computer geek then it is a must-see.
If you’ve missed some Walking Dead, AMC will air all four seasons of the series in a marathon starting 9 AM July 4. Also new documentaries about the series will air Tuesday, July 8 at 10 PM and Tuesday, July 15 at 10 PM with lots of behind-the-scenes footage.
Because I’m so far behind, some of the “spoilers” may have already happened. Sorry about that.
In the links below to read
Spoilers from Michael Ausiello dated May 21
End of season interview with producers of The Americans
Matt’s Inside Line spoilers dated May 27
NBC the first to reveal its fall premiere dates
Spoilers from Michael Ausiello dated June 3
Matt’s Inside Line spoilers dated June 6
Interview with actors of Game of Thrones over Jon Snow & Ygritte
Spoilers from Michael Ausiello dated June 10
Matt’s Inside Line dated June 13
Postmortem Interview Game of Thrones producers. Includes major spoiler for next season
Postmortem Interview with producers of Orphan Black about just concluded season.
Orphan Black producers discuss filming multiple clones in the dance scene of season finale
CBS second to reveal its fall premiere dates
Interview with Michelle Fairley about playing on Game of Thrones (Catelyn Stark) and 24 (Margot Al-Harazi)
Matt’s Inside line dated June 26
Not in the links below but also of interest…
TNT is developing a spinoff from Major Crimes to star Jon Tenoney as FBI agent Fritz Howard the character he played on the closer.
Starz Channel series Spartacus: Blood and Sand is airing reruns on SyFy Channel. Presumably they will have to blur out some nudity
Mark Pellegrino formerly of CW’s Tomorrow People will star in a new A & E 10 part series called The Returned that appears to be a ripoff of ABC’s Resurrection about people who return from the dead.
Mark Shepard a.k.a. King of hell Crowley is being upped to series regular on Supernatural (like he wasn’t already)
CBS will not be showing the remaining episodes of canceled sitcoms “Friends with Better Lives” and “Bad Teacher”. Not surprised.
Fox has canceled Arsenio Hall late-night talkshow yet again
RIP Ann B. Davis a.k.a. Alice from the Brady Bunch. Died at age 88
Gwendolyn Christie a.k.a. Breanne of Tarth from Game of Thrones has been cast in the new Star Wars VII film. We are much excited!
Jason Ritter will guest star in the upcoming season of HBO’s Girls
Showtime’s Penny Dreadful has already been renewed for season 2 which will have 10 episodes compared to this year’s 8.
Suraj Sharma who was the star of the film Life of Pi is joining the cast of Homeland
Inside Amy Schumer has been renewed for season 3 on Comedy Central. Very funny raunchy show.
Disney Junior channel will have a TV movie and series sequel to The Lion King
FX says Tracy Morgan sitcom will be waiting for him when he recovers from terrible traffic accident
Fox has pulled “I Want to Marry Harry” reality show as well as improv show Riot from its schedule.
“I Want to Marry Harry” was a former winner of the Chris Young sure sign of the apocalypse award. Fox finally agrees.
Mary Steenburgen is joining the cast of Orange Is the New Black for season 3
RIP Casey Kasem DJ and Scooby Doo voice actor dead at 82
Bex Taylor-Klaus a.k.a. “bullet” from The Killing will guest star in TNT’s upcoming Librarians
Spoilers from Michael Ausiello dated June 18
Showtime has picked up a new pilot comedy series called Roadies about a rock star rodie.
Zachary Quinto will guest star in the next season of Girls on HBO
AMC has ordered season 2 of “Better Call Saul”which is the prequel to “Breaking Bad”before the first season as even started.
AMC has renewed for season 2 its Revolutionary War spy drama “Turn” and we are very pleased.
Diane Sawyer is leaving the anchor chair at ABC news replaced by David Muir
Sherri Shepherd and Jenny McCarthy by the latest to exits from the revolving door known as The View
Courtney B Vance and Rene Auberjonois will guest star on season 2 of Showtime’s Masters of Sex
The title of the upcoming DC comics film has been expanded to “Batman V. Superman: Dawn of Justice” preparing for future Justice League titles.
British network ITV announced season 2 of Broadchurch includes a return of David Tennant
Disney’s “Frozen” has surpassed “Iron Man 3” as the fifth highest grossing movie of all time.
NBC comedy “Community” which was canceled will have a new season 6 on Yahoo Screen.
History Channel has ordered a new revolutionary war miniseries titled Sons of Liberty
HBO’s Game of Thrones has become its most-watched series ever surpassing The Sopranos with 18.4 million viewers
Sigourney Weaver has agreed to return in the three Avatar sequels
Joe Adler plays the computer geek recently added to The Mentalist has been upgraded to series regular next year
Starz new drama series “Power” has already been renewed for season 2
USA networks, the Sirens has been renewed for season 2
Alex Trebek has been named by Guinness world records as most game show hosting episodes
Cartoon Network is reviving “The Powder Puff Girls”
DreamWorks animation has acquired the rights to “Felix the Cat”. The character first appeared in 1919.
RIP Steve Rossi of the comedy duo Alan and Rossi and aged 82
The Star Wars Museum will be built in Chicago despite a strong pitch from Los Angeles
RIP actor Eli Wallach aged 98
The new season of Dr. who will premiere August 23 at 8 PM
RIP Meshach Taylor best known in his role as an assistant on Designing Women and other comedy roles. Died of cancer at age 67
Beatles film “A Hard Days Night” will be rereleased in 90 theaters nationwide July 4
Ask Ausiello: Spoilers on Bones, Good Wife, Once, White Collar, Supe, Big Bang and More
Post Mortem: Game of Thrones Stars Talk That Scene, Jon’s Future: ‘He’s a Dead Man Walking’
Game of Thrones: The Story Behind 4 Finale Deaths and a ‘Missing’ Lady
Ask Ausiello: Spoilers on Reign, CSI, Good Wife, Revenge, PLL, True Blood, Teen Wolf and More!
Post Mortem: Orphan Black Bosses on Clone Twist, [Spoiler’s] Fate and More
Orphan Black Bosses Reveal How They Made the Clones Dance — With Video!
Michelle Fairley Compares 24, Thrones Twists, Ponders Stoneheart Gig