A feast for the eyeballs! That’s what the UK’s new TV drama (British shows returning for another series this year are here) output looks like for 2024 – a year of thrills, chills and laughs, from supernatural escapism to immersive historical dramas, true stories brought to life, and plenty to feed Britain’s crime mystery obsession.
Here’s a flavour of what 2024 holds for your TV: book adaptations include a new imagining of Ian Rankin’s Rebus detective stories coming to the BBC, a scandalous adaptation of Jilly Cooper’s iconic novel Rivals (starring David Tennant), Jack Thorne’s take on Lord of the Flies, and much much more.
There’s high-stakes action in thrillers like Red Eye, Black Doves and Nightsleeper, and you can transport yourself back in time to discover the lives of a notorious eighties jewel thief in Joan, sinister Jacobean power play in Mary and George,...
Here’s a flavour of what 2024 holds for your TV: book adaptations include a new imagining of Ian Rankin’s Rebus detective stories coming to the BBC, a scandalous adaptation of Jilly Cooper’s iconic novel Rivals (starring David Tennant), Jack Thorne’s take on Lord of the Flies, and much much more.
There’s high-stakes action in thrillers like Red Eye, Black Doves and Nightsleeper, and you can transport yourself back in time to discover the lives of a notorious eighties jewel thief in Joan, sinister Jacobean power play in Mary and George,...
- 3/11/2024
- by Lauravickersgreen
- Den of Geek
British comedy icon Jennifer Saunders has vowed that by the end of 2023, she will have completed a new Absolutely Fabulous script based on the beloved BBC sitcom.
Saunders, 65, promised her long-time writing partner and friend Dawn French that she would have an early draft of the project done in the next two months. French previously revealed that she regularly challenges Saunders to work when she can see her friend needs encouragement.
Dawn established a prior deal with Saunders that if Saunders was unable to complete the Absolutely Fabulous script, she would have to pay French £10,000.
When French asked Saunders what she wanted to be “forced to do” in a recent interview, Saunders responded, “I need to write a film or a series based on AbFab, because everyone wants another AbFab movie. I can’t do that, I just don’t have a thing. I want to do something related.”
French...
Saunders, 65, promised her long-time writing partner and friend Dawn French that she would have an early draft of the project done in the next two months. French previously revealed that she regularly challenges Saunders to work when she can see her friend needs encouragement.
Dawn established a prior deal with Saunders that if Saunders was unable to complete the Absolutely Fabulous script, she would have to pay French £10,000.
When French asked Saunders what she wanted to be “forced to do” in a recent interview, Saunders responded, “I need to write a film or a series based on AbFab, because everyone wants another AbFab movie. I can’t do that, I just don’t have a thing. I want to do something related.”
French...
- 10/14/2023
- by Baila Eve Zisman
- Uinterview
Did anyone catch that sketch in James Corden's final "Late Late Show" where the unctuous Brit got a farewell from all the late night talk show hosts? Jimmy Fallon, Stephen Colbert, Jimmy Kimmel, Seth Myers, and David Letterman all had a grand old time poking fun at Corden and his proclivity for singing and dancing before the host wakes up to find it was all a dream. Funny stuff.
If, like me, you find the whole late night scene a fascinating anachronism in 2023, you're not alone. The great comedian Tim Heidecker loves to skewer the increasingly outdated talk show format whenever he gets a chance. But he and his Abso Lutely productions, which he co-owns with fellow "Tim and Eric Awesome Show Great Job" star Eric Wareheim, have also gone a step further and provided the perfect salve for anyone overwhelmed by the mediocrity of Carpool Karaoke and pre-prepared talk show anecdotes.
If, like me, you find the whole late night scene a fascinating anachronism in 2023, you're not alone. The great comedian Tim Heidecker loves to skewer the increasingly outdated talk show format whenever he gets a chance. But he and his Abso Lutely productions, which he co-owns with fellow "Tim and Eric Awesome Show Great Job" star Eric Wareheim, have also gone a step further and provided the perfect salve for anyone overwhelmed by the mediocrity of Carpool Karaoke and pre-prepared talk show anecdotes.
- 5/4/2023
- by Joe Roberts
- Slash Film
The inventive Los Angeles-based artist Dijon is back with a new song, “Coogie,” marking his first release since his acclaimed 2021 debut, Absolutely.
“Coogie” finds Dijon doing what he does best: Crafting something cohesive and compelling out of a slow-burning tangle of crunchy guitar, scattershot drums, and the occasional shot of surreal sound. “Coogie” builds to an emotional peak as the singer-songwriter grapples with his tendency to bottle up all the bad stuff, his croak growing rougher and strained as he sings, “And I do my best to bury/And I...
“Coogie” finds Dijon doing what he does best: Crafting something cohesive and compelling out of a slow-burning tangle of crunchy guitar, scattershot drums, and the occasional shot of surreal sound. “Coogie” builds to an emotional peak as the singer-songwriter grapples with his tendency to bottle up all the bad stuff, his croak growing rougher and strained as he sings, “And I do my best to bury/And I...
- 3/3/2023
- by Jon Blistein
- Rollingstone.com
Harrison Ford was one of the last major movie stars to avoid doing television, but 2023 has seen him jump onto the small screen in a major way. In addition to starring alongside Helen Mirren in the “Yellowstone” prequel “1923,” he’s also taken on his first sitcom role in “Shrinking.” The therapy comedy gives Ford plenty of opportunities to show off his brand of curmudgeonly humor, but he also plays against type in several heartfelt moments — including a scene where he sings the Sugar Ray song “Every Morning” in the car alongside his co-star Jessica Williams.
Speaking to Entertainment Weekly, Williams opened up about the surreal experience of singing carpool karaoke with Ford — and revealed the actor’s role in planning the scene.
“Oh, it was really fun — Sugar Ray with Harrison in the car,” Williams said. “They asked me for a list of songs and a lot of the...
Speaking to Entertainment Weekly, Williams opened up about the surreal experience of singing carpool karaoke with Ford — and revealed the actor’s role in planning the scene.
“Oh, it was really fun — Sugar Ray with Harrison in the car,” Williams said. “They asked me for a list of songs and a lot of the...
- 2/25/2023
- by Christian Zilko
- Indiewire
Exclusive: Line of Duty star Craig Parkinson, Gurjeet Singh (Ackley Bridge) and Naana Agyei-Ampadu, Death in Paradise are joining Acorn TV’s four-part mystery drama Mrs Sidhu Investigates. Meera Syal is fronting the four-part series as a crime-solving Indian chef, having voiced the eponymous sleuth in a popular BBC Radio 4 series of the same name.
The series, created by Suk Pannu, will follow Mrs Sidhu (Syal), a recently widowed high-end caterer who solves murders and other crimes among the affluent residents of the English county of Berkshire.
She uses a lifetime as an ‘Indian Aunty’ to sharpen her skills as an investigator, while juggling her new catering business with wrangling with her wayward son Tez, played by Gurjeet Singh (Ackley Bridge). She forms an unofficial partnership with world weary police office Dci Burton, much to the amusement...
The series, created by Suk Pannu, will follow Mrs Sidhu (Syal), a recently widowed high-end caterer who solves murders and other crimes among the affluent residents of the English county of Berkshire.
She uses a lifetime as an ‘Indian Aunty’ to sharpen her skills as an investigator, while juggling her new catering business with wrangling with her wayward son Tez, played by Gurjeet Singh (Ackley Bridge). She forms an unofficial partnership with world weary police office Dci Burton, much to the amusement...
- 8/25/2022
- by Jesse Whittock
- Deadline Film + TV
As The Voice neared the swan song of its Season 12 Blind Auditions Monday, we were treated to a bevy of contenders covering everyone from Justin Bieber to Johnny Cash. But were any of the vocalists the kinds of talents whose hits future wannabes would cover during their Blind Auditions? Read on for my randomly-ordered reviews of the nine performers (whose full auditions were shown) advancing to the Battle Rounds, then hit the comments to critique and grade them yourself.
RelatedMarch TV Premieres, Finales, Returns, Series Enders and More: Save the Dates
Kenny P (Team Gwen), “Hello It’s Me” — Grade:...
RelatedMarch TV Premieres, Finales, Returns, Series Enders and More: Save the Dates
Kenny P (Team Gwen), “Hello It’s Me” — Grade:...
- 3/14/2017
- TVLine.com
Please hold off on asking How to Get Away With Murder Ep Pete Nowalk about his vision for Season 3.
RelatedHow to Get Away With Murder Boss on Annalise’s Grief, Michaela’s Sexytimes
“There are several ways we’ve backed ourselves into a corner” with Thursday’s Season 2 finale (10/9c on ABC), he explains. “That’s my favorite thing to do, but it means I really don’t know [which direction] we’ll head next.”
Network promos for the episode promise, “Three backstabbers exposed, two dead bodies added to the count, and one bloody good ender” (with images of gore dripping...
RelatedHow to Get Away With Murder Boss on Annalise’s Grief, Michaela’s Sexytimes
“There are several ways we’ve backed ourselves into a corner” with Thursday’s Season 2 finale (10/9c on ABC), he explains. “That’s my favorite thing to do, but it means I really don’t know [which direction] we’ll head next.”
Network promos for the episode promise, “Three backstabbers exposed, two dead bodies added to the count, and one bloody good ender” (with images of gore dripping...
- 3/16/2016
- TVLine.com
With scandal in the rearview mirror, Rielle Hunter says former Senator John Edwards has become a "great dad" to their daughter Frances Quinn, whom he fathered while still married to the late Elizabeth Edwards. "She's amazing. She sings all the time, she's just always got a happy little tune going on," Hunter tells Steve Harvey on his talk show on Tuesday of the 7-year-old, while sharing new photos. Edwards was a presidential hopeful when it was revealed that his extramarital affair with Hunter, a filmmaker hired to work on his campaign, had produced Frances Quinn. The former North Carolina senator...
- 2/10/2016
- by Lindsay Kimble, @lekimble
- PEOPLE.com
With scandal in the rearview mirror, Rielle Hunter says former Senator John Edwards has become a "great dad" to their daughter Frances Quinn, whom he fathered while still married to the late Elizabeth Edwards. "She's amazing. She sings all the time, she's just always got a happy little tune going on," Hunter tells Steve Harvey on his talk show on Tuesday of the 7-year-old, while sharing new photos. Edwards was a presidential hopeful when it was revealed that his extramarital affair with Hunter, a filmmaker hired to work on his campaign, had produced Frances Quinn. The former North Carolina senator...
- 2/10/2016
- by Lindsay Kimble, @lekimble
- PEOPLE.com
While the premise of "Legends of Tomorrow" vastly differs from Marvel's space odyssey "Guardians of the Galaxy," the promos are starting to show that "Legends" could be Dctv's answer to a superhero space comedy like "Guardians". If "Legends of Tomorrow" turns out to be even remotely similar to "Guardians," you'll hear no complaints from me as the latter has become one of my favorite films of all time. And I know I'm not alone in that opinion. Think about it. My reasoning for assuming so is as follows: #1. Legendary Band of Outlaws Peter Quill (Chris Pratt) was a smuggler, much like Han Solo was in "Star Wars." At the beginning of "Guardians" Quill wasn't a good guy or a bad guy -- he was simply a neutral party willing to work for the highest bidder. In the "Legends of Tomorrow" world, Leonard Snart/Captain Cold (Wentworth Miller) is a lot like Quill.
- 1/5/2016
- by Lauren Gallaway
- Hitfix
Remember Kinvig, Clone, Not With A Bang? These are the UK sci-fi sitcoms you’re unlikely to see on comedy best-of lists…
With E4 sci-fi comedy commissions, Tripped and Aliens, and in-development Channel 4 projects, Space Ark and Graham Linehan/Adam Buxton collaboration The Cloud, in the works, a new crop of sci-fi sitcom could be making its way to UK TV.
Making funny sci-fi on a small-screen budget is tough enough without the additional pressure of having to attract viewers more traditionally down-to-earth in their sitcom tastes. Sci-fi sets and effects can be seen as prohibitively expensive by comedy commissioners (which is perhaps why the best UK sci-fi sitcoms of recent years has been on BBC Radio), and the genre’s niche status doesn’t scream mainstream hit. Over the years, one or two stand-outs have managed to straddle the sci-fi and comedy TV worlds, but plenty more have stumbled in the attempt.
With E4 sci-fi comedy commissions, Tripped and Aliens, and in-development Channel 4 projects, Space Ark and Graham Linehan/Adam Buxton collaboration The Cloud, in the works, a new crop of sci-fi sitcom could be making its way to UK TV.
Making funny sci-fi on a small-screen budget is tough enough without the additional pressure of having to attract viewers more traditionally down-to-earth in their sitcom tastes. Sci-fi sets and effects can be seen as prohibitively expensive by comedy commissioners (which is perhaps why the best UK sci-fi sitcoms of recent years has been on BBC Radio), and the genre’s niche status doesn’t scream mainstream hit. Over the years, one or two stand-outs have managed to straddle the sci-fi and comedy TV worlds, but plenty more have stumbled in the attempt.
- 7/23/2015
- by louisamellor
- Den of Geek
Cult sketch show Absolutely will be making a comeback on the radio.
The team behind the 1990s comedy series will record four brand new half-hour episodes on BBC Radio 4 to air from September 6.
Gordon Kennedy, Morwenna Banks, Pete Baikie, Moray Hunter and John Sparkes will perform new material, though Jack Docherty will not be reuniting with his former castmates.
Several popular characters from the Channel 4 show will return, including Calum, Denzil and Gwynedd, The Little Girl and the Stoneybridge Town Council.
The largely Scottish group have promised fans "something old (us), something new (the sketches), nothing borrowed (as far as we know) and nothing blue (although some of it is quite surprisingly rude)".
The team previously reunited for Radio 4's Sketchorama strand in 2013, winning them a BBC Audio Drama award.
Executive producer Gus Beattie said: "The Absolutely team did an amazing job updating their much-loved characters for the Sketchorama show,...
The team behind the 1990s comedy series will record four brand new half-hour episodes on BBC Radio 4 to air from September 6.
Gordon Kennedy, Morwenna Banks, Pete Baikie, Moray Hunter and John Sparkes will perform new material, though Jack Docherty will not be reuniting with his former castmates.
Several popular characters from the Channel 4 show will return, including Calum, Denzil and Gwynedd, The Little Girl and the Stoneybridge Town Council.
The largely Scottish group have promised fans "something old (us), something new (the sketches), nothing borrowed (as far as we know) and nothing blue (although some of it is quite surprisingly rude)".
The team previously reunited for Radio 4's Sketchorama strand in 2013, winning them a BBC Audio Drama award.
Executive producer Gus Beattie said: "The Absolutely team did an amazing job updating their much-loved characters for the Sketchorama show,...
- 7/15/2015
- Digital Spy
Vivid.com
The clamour to get former WWE Women’s Champion Chyna into the WWE Hall of Fame ended last Monday.
Speaking on Stone Cold Steve Austin’s podcast live on the WWE Network, COO Triple H quashed any hope Chyna’s legion of fans had of seeing her name in amongst the great and the good of wrestling’s past as he said WWE simply couldn’t induct her.
Austin outright asked Triple H if he thinks Chyna should be in the Hall Of Fame, The Game replied:
“Does she deserve to go into the Hall Of Fame? Absolutely. It’s not just as easy as should this person go in the Hall Of Fame. She’s a paradigm shifter, changed the business, did what no other woman had ever done before. All the other stuff that happened, happened, and I don’t need to get into any of the other stuff,...
The clamour to get former WWE Women’s Champion Chyna into the WWE Hall of Fame ended last Monday.
Speaking on Stone Cold Steve Austin’s podcast live on the WWE Network, COO Triple H quashed any hope Chyna’s legion of fans had of seeing her name in amongst the great and the good of wrestling’s past as he said WWE simply couldn’t induct her.
Austin outright asked Triple H if he thinks Chyna should be in the Hall Of Fame, The Game replied:
“Does she deserve to go into the Hall Of Fame? Absolutely. It’s not just as easy as should this person go in the Hall Of Fame. She’s a paradigm shifter, changed the business, did what no other woman had ever done before. All the other stuff that happened, happened, and I don’t need to get into any of the other stuff,...
- 2/10/2015
- by Ross Tweddell
- Obsessed with Film
wwe.com
Chyna has responded to comments made by Triple H on last night’s WWE Network Steve Austin Podcast. Chyna and Triple H famously dated in the late nineties, but she ended up leaving the WWE in 2001 when Hunter began a relationship with Stephanie McMahon.
Stone Cold Steve Austin outright asked Triple H if he thinks Chyna should be in the WWE Hall Of Fame. Triple H replied “Does she deserve to go into the Hall Of Fame? Absolutely.”
“It’s not just as easy as should this person go in the Hall Of Fame. She’s a paradigm shifter, changed the business, did what no other woman had ever done before. All the other stuff that happened, happened, and I don’t need to get into any of the other stuff,” Triple H continued, “there’s no beef on this side.”
However, Hunter then went on to detail...
Chyna has responded to comments made by Triple H on last night’s WWE Network Steve Austin Podcast. Chyna and Triple H famously dated in the late nineties, but she ended up leaving the WWE in 2001 when Hunter began a relationship with Stephanie McMahon.
Stone Cold Steve Austin outright asked Triple H if he thinks Chyna should be in the WWE Hall Of Fame. Triple H replied “Does she deserve to go into the Hall Of Fame? Absolutely.”
“It’s not just as easy as should this person go in the Hall Of Fame. She’s a paradigm shifter, changed the business, did what no other woman had ever done before. All the other stuff that happened, happened, and I don’t need to get into any of the other stuff,” Triple H continued, “there’s no beef on this side.”
However, Hunter then went on to detail...
- 2/3/2015
- by Grahame Herbert
- Obsessed with Film
Red Band Society showrunner Rina Mimoun wants you to know two things: A central character will die before Season 1 is over, but the medical drama itself is not quite as certain to dance with the Grim Reaper — despite Fox deciding last week to limit its freshman season to 13 episodes.
“We were never pulled from the schedule. We were always airing our first 10 episodes, and then going off for the holidays. That’s why we built toward this cliffhanger,” insists Mimoun, who notes that shooting on the Season 1 finale begins Monday. “We’re going to air the last three. Yes, we...
“We were never pulled from the schedule. We were always airing our first 10 episodes, and then going off for the holidays. That’s why we built toward this cliffhanger,” insists Mimoun, who notes that shooting on the Season 1 finale begins Monday. “We’re going to air the last three. Yes, we...
- 12/4/2014
- TVLine.com
ABC’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. (Tuesdays at 9/8c) dialed it up to 11 with the addition of Barbara “Bobbi” Morse, played by Friday Night Lights alum Adrianne Palicki. The elite undercover operative (code name: Mockingbird) joined the team just in time, as all hands are needed on deck as Coulson & Co. labor to temper the Hydra threat, as well as crack that confounding alien code.
Palicki spoke with TVLine about tackling the Marvel-ous role, Bobbi’s “complicated” past with Lance Hunter (and possible history with an archer Avenger) and her recent three-pronged attack on screens big and small.
Tvline | I happened...
Palicki spoke with TVLine about tackling the Marvel-ous role, Bobbi’s “complicated” past with Lance Hunter (and possible history with an archer Avenger) and her recent three-pronged attack on screens big and small.
Tvline | I happened...
- 11/10/2014
- TVLine.com
Review Jake Laverde 24 Jul 2013 - 06:40
Jake checks out episode 1 of Pappy's sitcom, Badults, which contains the seed of something great, but has some growing up to do...
This review contains spoilers.
1.1 Money
Badults is the first TV series for acclaimed sketch troupe Pappy's, originally known as Pappy's Fun Club, though it's not their first attempt having piloted a self-titled sketch series and The Mr and Mrs Hotty Hott Hot Show for Channel 4 previously. The premise is that Matthew Crosby, Tom Parry and Ben Clark all live together, joined by childhood friend Rachel, played by Emer Kenny. Older readers may remember fantastic anarchic trio The Goodies and their inspired cartoon flights of fancy. It's that kind of tone Badults is going for.
The working title for Badults was 'The Secret Dude Society'. Though it may seem like an innocuous assortment of words, it also hints at the flaws running through the first episode.
Jake checks out episode 1 of Pappy's sitcom, Badults, which contains the seed of something great, but has some growing up to do...
This review contains spoilers.
1.1 Money
Badults is the first TV series for acclaimed sketch troupe Pappy's, originally known as Pappy's Fun Club, though it's not their first attempt having piloted a self-titled sketch series and The Mr and Mrs Hotty Hott Hot Show for Channel 4 previously. The premise is that Matthew Crosby, Tom Parry and Ben Clark all live together, joined by childhood friend Rachel, played by Emer Kenny. Older readers may remember fantastic anarchic trio The Goodies and their inspired cartoon flights of fancy. It's that kind of tone Badults is going for.
The working title for Badults was 'The Secret Dude Society'. Though it may seem like an innocuous assortment of words, it also hints at the flaws running through the first episode.
- 7/24/2013
- by louisamellor
- Den of Geek
A stage troupe who have been building up a cult audience for over a decade, Pappy's are set to burst into the mainstream this month with the launch of sitcom Badults.
Ahead of the launch on BBC Three next week, Digital Spy spoke to one third of the trio - Tom Parry - to talk about the group's transition from stage to screen.
And what on earth is a "badult"? Read on to find out.
What can you tell us about your new show Badults?
"It's about three friends who are bad at being adults. They don't really want to grow up, they don't want to engage in the real world. They're three guys who have been best friends since they've been at school.
"They made a pact that they were one day going to live together, and now here they are facing adulthood and all the responsibilities that come...
Ahead of the launch on BBC Three next week, Digital Spy spoke to one third of the trio - Tom Parry - to talk about the group's transition from stage to screen.
And what on earth is a "badult"? Read on to find out.
What can you tell us about your new show Badults?
"It's about three friends who are bad at being adults. They don't really want to grow up, they don't want to engage in the real world. They're three guys who have been best friends since they've been at school.
"They made a pact that they were one day going to live together, and now here they are facing adulthood and all the responsibilities that come...
- 7/16/2013
- Digital Spy
To celebrate the death of the Defense of Marriage Act, the New Yorker featured an illustration of Sesame Street's Bert and Ernie snuggling on a sofa on the cover of its upcoming issue.
"It's amazing to witness how attitudes on gay rights have evolved in my lifetime," cover artist Jack Hunter told the magazine's Culture Desk. "This is great for our kids, a moment we can all celebrate."
Many have lauded Hunter's endearing cover art, with some calling the depiction of the fictitious duo "adorable," "fantastic," "amazing," and "moving."
The response to the New Yorker cover hasn't been all positive, however.
Some netizens -- on both sides of the same-sex marriage debate -- have slammed the magazine for sexualizing the children's show and its characters, while others have called the cover art "demeaning" and "crass."
Slate's June Thomas called the Bert and Ernie illustration "a terrible way to commemorate a major civil rights victory,...
"It's amazing to witness how attitudes on gay rights have evolved in my lifetime," cover artist Jack Hunter told the magazine's Culture Desk. "This is great for our kids, a moment we can all celebrate."
Many have lauded Hunter's endearing cover art, with some calling the depiction of the fictitious duo "adorable," "fantastic," "amazing," and "moving."
The response to the New Yorker cover hasn't been all positive, however.
Some netizens -- on both sides of the same-sex marriage debate -- have slammed the magazine for sexualizing the children's show and its characters, while others have called the cover art "demeaning" and "crass."
Slate's June Thomas called the Bert and Ernie illustration "a terrible way to commemorate a major civil rights victory,...
- 6/30/2013
- by The Huffington Post
- Huffington Post
"The Vampire Diaries'" Joseph Morgan is one of the most beloved villains on TV. But in last week's episode, fans saw his character Klaus' softer side.
Below, Morgan, who plays the perhaps not-so-evil hybrid on the blood-sucking The CW drama, spoke with The Huffington Post about the tear-filled scene and what it could mean for Klaus and Caroline a.k.a. Klaroline.
"There always seems to be a glimmer of hope," Morgan said about one of the most shipped couples on "The Vampire Diaries." "I think there's this spark between them."
As for who will die in Season 4 -- an event that has viewers on the edge of their seats -- Morgan was tight-lipped about the facts, but opened up about his feelings towards the big moment. "It's always ... kind of emotional to know that one of the people that you see every day, or almost every day, you're...
Below, Morgan, who plays the perhaps not-so-evil hybrid on the blood-sucking The CW drama, spoke with The Huffington Post about the tear-filled scene and what it could mean for Klaus and Caroline a.k.a. Klaroline.
"There always seems to be a glimmer of hope," Morgan said about one of the most shipped couples on "The Vampire Diaries." "I think there's this spark between them."
As for who will die in Season 4 -- an event that has viewers on the edge of their seats -- Morgan was tight-lipped about the facts, but opened up about his feelings towards the big moment. "It's always ... kind of emotional to know that one of the people that you see every day, or almost every day, you're...
- 2/14/2013
- by Jaimie Etkin
- Huffington Post
In Clandestine Childhood (Infancia Clandestina), writer/director Benjamín Ávila drew inspiration from his personal exiled childhood during Argentina's Dirty War as the son of two Montoneros guerillas. The film, which took prizes at both San Sebastian and Havana Film Festivals last year, is set in 1979 during the family's return from Cuba to fight in the Montoneros counteroffensive operation under new assumed identities. Benjamín spoke to LatinoBuzz about what it meant to see memories from his formative years unfold on the big screen.
Clandestine Childhood is being released in NY and CA on Friday, January 11th, 2013.
LatinoBuzz: What did the actors take away from spending several days with former Montoneros?
Benjamín Ávila: I wanted the actors to have the chance to physically live that era. The most complex challenge for an actor is the ability to give dimension to the story from the time that it happened, not from the present. For them it was important to get rid of all the Whys and be able to answer them by themselves. So I decided to have the actors meet a couple of former guerrilla members to do a training drill for two days, the way it was done back then, as well as for them to have a chance to talk and for the actors to be able to ask anything they wanted.
It was very productive because their body changed, as well as their stand before history. It also helped me to confirm some doubts that had arisen during the process of writing the script. And from that moment on, the improvisations we did were very important in defining some scenes of the film. Particularly the argument scene between the grandmother and mother. That improvisation came after the work we did, and some glorious moments emerged as a result, very complex and incorrect that served to give another dimension to the movie.
LatinoBuzz: Was there a particular audience for this film that was most important for you to see it?
Benjamín Ávila: Not really. But firstly, it is a film that I made for my brothers. And for the children of the disappeared and those killed during the last dictatorship in Argentina. They are the primary audience, but the story is not constructed so that only they understand. On the contrary, I wanted the film to move people, to it would provoke feelings and ideas, without sacrificing the cinematic and artistic construction. Luckily, for all the feedback that I receive from the people who have seen it, I think we have achieved that goal. It's a film that provokes many emotions, that endures for days within the people who see it, and that generates the need to reiterate the questions that were supposedly already answered.
LatinoBuzz: When was the first time you realized that 'Infancia Clandestina' was the story you had to tell?
Benjamín Ávila: I always knew it. Since I was 13, I knew I wanted to work in film. I also knew back then that one day I would film my childhood. Somehow I made a tacit commitment at that time with myself, with my family, and with my own story. Therefore it is very important for me to have completed this process. It is a feeling of a debt paid, like I "had to do" this film. It was a duty rather than a necessity. Now that the film is finished I feel a relief, that of mission accomplished. Now I can be at peace.
LatinoBuzz: How much of what was going on were you very much aware of and how did you process that as a young boy?
Benjamín Ávila: My older brother and I were very aware, even though we were 7 and 8 years old at the time. I always think we were like the kids living in the street, who have a very conscious relationship with their environment. We knew what was happening, what we could and could not say. Although we were doing and saying what we were living, we could not have a dialectical discussion nor a real argument. We understood it all.
For us what we lived was not anything special, but it was normal. It was our life. We could not imagine anything different. This is why we were never traumatized. Even nowadays I miss that lifestyle. That clear and powerful bonding we all had. What was traumatizing was everything else: the absence, the persecution, the disappearance of my mother and not knowing anything to this day, not having been raised with my younger brother (Vicky in the movie). It was not until three yeas ago that we started having a life of ordinary siblings. And it cost a lot to have it...
LatinoBuzz: You were a child of Montoneros, so your childhood was unlike many others yet in the film we largely see this sweet portrayal of this blossoming first love between Juan and Maria –just like any teenager experiences. How much of that was Benjamín wishing that childhood was that innocent?
Benjamín Ávila: What you need to understand is that living in hiding was not something different to normality. It had parameters that were unusual, but we lived them like any other, even inside the house. I remember many common and normal family moments. Like waking up too late at night to watch the matches of the national team playing the World Cup youth soccer, Maradona’s first in Japan, and the matches were at 4 or 6 am. I remember going out at 7am in the morning with all the neighbors to celebrate the championship. My mother chastising me because I was late for school, or because I hadn't made my bed. Family barbecues, like any other Sunday, and so on, thousands of memories as normal as any other.
LatinoBuzz: What happened to “María”?
Benjamín Ávila: Maria never existed at that time. I had my Marías, but in other places and other times!
LatinoBuzz: In writing such a personal story what was the hardest thing to
write and did you avoid anything?
Benjamín Ávila: The most difficult part was at the beginning, trying to detach myself from my own history. Because several things were clear to me: the subject of film, that I did not want to be the protagonist of the story, that the most important part was the reconstruction of a routine
that has never been shown but that was not only mine but of many. That's why I took anecdotes and stories from others... Writing the script with Marcelo Muller, a dear Brazilian friend, helped me to achieve that distance I wanted for the construction of the story. With him I was able to rule out what wasn't important to the film’s story even if it was personally very important to me, and so we achieved that distance even though I deepened what remained. It was as if Marcelo pulled out to keep it to the essential, and I pulled inwards to deepen what remained.
LatinoBuzz: Was the casting difficult? Were you looking for yourself in
the Actor?
Benjamín Ávila: The casting of the children was complicated. We did it with María Laura Berch, an incredible casting director specializing in children, and we elaborated a very clear, yet complex, strategy. We saw over 700 children in total for all the roles, and it took us three months as planned.
But most importantly, we wanted to cast very homely, to give the kids the idea of what the shooting was going to be right from the beginning. And as I do my own camerawork every time I film, I decided I was going to shoot the casting so the kids could get used to my presence close to them and behind the camera from the beginning. And it worked really well.
With the adults it was very different. I saw Ernesto Alterio in the TV series "Vientos de Agua" by Campanella miniseries and compared to other roles I've seen him perform, I found the construction of his character wonderful. Something similar happened with Natalia Oreiro, she is very famous in Argentina but because of roles in comedies or romantic comedies, but seeing her in Caetano's "Francia" I noticed a dramatic profile in which I was very interested. With Cesar Troncoso, he was recommended by Luis Puenzo who had worked with him in "Xxy" the film he produced, directed by his daughter Lucía Puenzo. I had seen him in "The Pope's Toilet" and I had loved his role. And it was always a dream that Cristina Banegas play the role of the grandmother, and luckily we did it!
LatinoBuzz: Was seeing the film for the first time like looking at
photographs of your childhood?
Benjamín Ávila: No, this film has a lot of traits that belong to my childhood but they're for the most part, changed or modified. What does happen to me, is that I see through them my own memories. That happens to me, but it's something very intimate. The photos that appear at the end, which are from my family in reality, is the moment that moves me the most as I get haunted by the echoes of that wonderful past that was destroyed at the moment portrayed by the film.
My production company is called Room 1520 in tribute to the last scene of Paris, Texas by Wim Wenders, where the young kid (Hunter) is reunited with his mother after a long time in that same room... My childhood accompanies much of what I do.
LatinoBuzz: How many details from set design and wardrobe to how the actors who played your parents looked and acted did you involve yourself or were you able to separate yourself?
Benjamín Ávila: The shooting process was very intimate, intense and emotional. All of the staff, technicians and actors, we were involved in a special way. I have a way of working which at first puzzled the team. I like getting carried away by what is happening and then decide each scene based on the actors, the set and the light.
I operate the camera, I always do it when I'm the director, and I like to approach it as a documentary, finding the images based on what happens, as it happens. In that sense, each take was a particular universe of its own, unique and not replicable. Of course some takes came out really bad. But others were magical ... and those are the ones remained.
On the third day of filming something happened that made the whole team realize the scope of what we were doing, and from that moment on, everybody trusted my working technique. It happened that we were shooting Juan's (played by Teo Gutiérrez Moreno) first sequence where he burns the photos, near the end of the film. A tough sequence due to the mood that Juan had to reflect (as he just learns that his father was killed and had just hopelessly cried with his mother), and with children you don't work from a rational place but rather from the body directly, something very natural to them. So, I asked Natalia Oreiro to stand off-screen next to me, and that at moment I said 'action', for her to scream inconsolably, begging for help. On the other hand I told Teo that regardless of whatever was happening, he should not take his eyes off the fire, and that he should run out when I called his name. We got ready and at the moment of saying 'action' Natalia started to scream, heart wrenching, and all that I wanted to happen to Teo, started happening to me with the camera on my shoulder. I began to cry inconsolably (if you look carefully at the scene, the camera moves because I'm crying), as if it was an ancestral cry from some other time, and at some point I yelled at Teo and he perfectly did what he had to do, as usual, an he ran. I said 'cut', gave the camera to my assistant and as I was leaving I saw Natalia crying uncontrollably, everyone saw me and realized I was crying. I went to the video assist and as I entered everybody was very excited, they saw me crying. I asked to see the take… At that moment, everybody including actors, technicians and me, realized that we were doing something more than professional, but also very personal.
LatinoBuzz: Were there any films that influenced the look of the film?
Benjamín Ávila: Absolutely. For the tone of the performance and the gaze of the kids, "My Life as a Dog" by Lasse Halstrom. All of Krystof Kieslowski's filmography, and the political view of the films that Ken Loach made in
England such as "Raining Stones", "Riff-Raff" and "Hidden Agenda".
LatinoBuzz: What's the next project?
Benjamín Ávila: I am writing for a TV series of 40 single chapters. Additionally, I am adapting a novel by Elsa Osorio that I've been wanting to do for 12 years. I'm adapting it with her to make a miniseries of 13 chapters. It's about 40 years of history and involves many characters. A different look at the people who survived or were involved in Argentina's dictatorship.
For Screening times in NY and CA visit: http://www.filmmovement.com/theatrical/index.asp?MerchandiseID=314
Like em at: https://www.facebook.com/Infancia.clandestina
Written by Juan Caceres and Vanessa Erazo, LatinoBuzz is a weekly feature on SydneysBuzz that highlights Latino indie talent and upcoming trends in Latino film with the specific objective of presenting a broad range of Latino voices. Follow @LatinoBuzz on twitter.
Clandestine Childhood is being released in NY and CA on Friday, January 11th, 2013.
LatinoBuzz: What did the actors take away from spending several days with former Montoneros?
Benjamín Ávila: I wanted the actors to have the chance to physically live that era. The most complex challenge for an actor is the ability to give dimension to the story from the time that it happened, not from the present. For them it was important to get rid of all the Whys and be able to answer them by themselves. So I decided to have the actors meet a couple of former guerrilla members to do a training drill for two days, the way it was done back then, as well as for them to have a chance to talk and for the actors to be able to ask anything they wanted.
It was very productive because their body changed, as well as their stand before history. It also helped me to confirm some doubts that had arisen during the process of writing the script. And from that moment on, the improvisations we did were very important in defining some scenes of the film. Particularly the argument scene between the grandmother and mother. That improvisation came after the work we did, and some glorious moments emerged as a result, very complex and incorrect that served to give another dimension to the movie.
LatinoBuzz: Was there a particular audience for this film that was most important for you to see it?
Benjamín Ávila: Not really. But firstly, it is a film that I made for my brothers. And for the children of the disappeared and those killed during the last dictatorship in Argentina. They are the primary audience, but the story is not constructed so that only they understand. On the contrary, I wanted the film to move people, to it would provoke feelings and ideas, without sacrificing the cinematic and artistic construction. Luckily, for all the feedback that I receive from the people who have seen it, I think we have achieved that goal. It's a film that provokes many emotions, that endures for days within the people who see it, and that generates the need to reiterate the questions that were supposedly already answered.
LatinoBuzz: When was the first time you realized that 'Infancia Clandestina' was the story you had to tell?
Benjamín Ávila: I always knew it. Since I was 13, I knew I wanted to work in film. I also knew back then that one day I would film my childhood. Somehow I made a tacit commitment at that time with myself, with my family, and with my own story. Therefore it is very important for me to have completed this process. It is a feeling of a debt paid, like I "had to do" this film. It was a duty rather than a necessity. Now that the film is finished I feel a relief, that of mission accomplished. Now I can be at peace.
LatinoBuzz: How much of what was going on were you very much aware of and how did you process that as a young boy?
Benjamín Ávila: My older brother and I were very aware, even though we were 7 and 8 years old at the time. I always think we were like the kids living in the street, who have a very conscious relationship with their environment. We knew what was happening, what we could and could not say. Although we were doing and saying what we were living, we could not have a dialectical discussion nor a real argument. We understood it all.
For us what we lived was not anything special, but it was normal. It was our life. We could not imagine anything different. This is why we were never traumatized. Even nowadays I miss that lifestyle. That clear and powerful bonding we all had. What was traumatizing was everything else: the absence, the persecution, the disappearance of my mother and not knowing anything to this day, not having been raised with my younger brother (Vicky in the movie). It was not until three yeas ago that we started having a life of ordinary siblings. And it cost a lot to have it...
LatinoBuzz: You were a child of Montoneros, so your childhood was unlike many others yet in the film we largely see this sweet portrayal of this blossoming first love between Juan and Maria –just like any teenager experiences. How much of that was Benjamín wishing that childhood was that innocent?
Benjamín Ávila: What you need to understand is that living in hiding was not something different to normality. It had parameters that were unusual, but we lived them like any other, even inside the house. I remember many common and normal family moments. Like waking up too late at night to watch the matches of the national team playing the World Cup youth soccer, Maradona’s first in Japan, and the matches were at 4 or 6 am. I remember going out at 7am in the morning with all the neighbors to celebrate the championship. My mother chastising me because I was late for school, or because I hadn't made my bed. Family barbecues, like any other Sunday, and so on, thousands of memories as normal as any other.
LatinoBuzz: What happened to “María”?
Benjamín Ávila: Maria never existed at that time. I had my Marías, but in other places and other times!
LatinoBuzz: In writing such a personal story what was the hardest thing to
write and did you avoid anything?
Benjamín Ávila: The most difficult part was at the beginning, trying to detach myself from my own history. Because several things were clear to me: the subject of film, that I did not want to be the protagonist of the story, that the most important part was the reconstruction of a routine
that has never been shown but that was not only mine but of many. That's why I took anecdotes and stories from others... Writing the script with Marcelo Muller, a dear Brazilian friend, helped me to achieve that distance I wanted for the construction of the story. With him I was able to rule out what wasn't important to the film’s story even if it was personally very important to me, and so we achieved that distance even though I deepened what remained. It was as if Marcelo pulled out to keep it to the essential, and I pulled inwards to deepen what remained.
LatinoBuzz: Was the casting difficult? Were you looking for yourself in
the Actor?
Benjamín Ávila: The casting of the children was complicated. We did it with María Laura Berch, an incredible casting director specializing in children, and we elaborated a very clear, yet complex, strategy. We saw over 700 children in total for all the roles, and it took us three months as planned.
But most importantly, we wanted to cast very homely, to give the kids the idea of what the shooting was going to be right from the beginning. And as I do my own camerawork every time I film, I decided I was going to shoot the casting so the kids could get used to my presence close to them and behind the camera from the beginning. And it worked really well.
With the adults it was very different. I saw Ernesto Alterio in the TV series "Vientos de Agua" by Campanella miniseries and compared to other roles I've seen him perform, I found the construction of his character wonderful. Something similar happened with Natalia Oreiro, she is very famous in Argentina but because of roles in comedies or romantic comedies, but seeing her in Caetano's "Francia" I noticed a dramatic profile in which I was very interested. With Cesar Troncoso, he was recommended by Luis Puenzo who had worked with him in "Xxy" the film he produced, directed by his daughter Lucía Puenzo. I had seen him in "The Pope's Toilet" and I had loved his role. And it was always a dream that Cristina Banegas play the role of the grandmother, and luckily we did it!
LatinoBuzz: Was seeing the film for the first time like looking at
photographs of your childhood?
Benjamín Ávila: No, this film has a lot of traits that belong to my childhood but they're for the most part, changed or modified. What does happen to me, is that I see through them my own memories. That happens to me, but it's something very intimate. The photos that appear at the end, which are from my family in reality, is the moment that moves me the most as I get haunted by the echoes of that wonderful past that was destroyed at the moment portrayed by the film.
My production company is called Room 1520 in tribute to the last scene of Paris, Texas by Wim Wenders, where the young kid (Hunter) is reunited with his mother after a long time in that same room... My childhood accompanies much of what I do.
LatinoBuzz: How many details from set design and wardrobe to how the actors who played your parents looked and acted did you involve yourself or were you able to separate yourself?
Benjamín Ávila: The shooting process was very intimate, intense and emotional. All of the staff, technicians and actors, we were involved in a special way. I have a way of working which at first puzzled the team. I like getting carried away by what is happening and then decide each scene based on the actors, the set and the light.
I operate the camera, I always do it when I'm the director, and I like to approach it as a documentary, finding the images based on what happens, as it happens. In that sense, each take was a particular universe of its own, unique and not replicable. Of course some takes came out really bad. But others were magical ... and those are the ones remained.
On the third day of filming something happened that made the whole team realize the scope of what we were doing, and from that moment on, everybody trusted my working technique. It happened that we were shooting Juan's (played by Teo Gutiérrez Moreno) first sequence where he burns the photos, near the end of the film. A tough sequence due to the mood that Juan had to reflect (as he just learns that his father was killed and had just hopelessly cried with his mother), and with children you don't work from a rational place but rather from the body directly, something very natural to them. So, I asked Natalia Oreiro to stand off-screen next to me, and that at moment I said 'action', for her to scream inconsolably, begging for help. On the other hand I told Teo that regardless of whatever was happening, he should not take his eyes off the fire, and that he should run out when I called his name. We got ready and at the moment of saying 'action' Natalia started to scream, heart wrenching, and all that I wanted to happen to Teo, started happening to me with the camera on my shoulder. I began to cry inconsolably (if you look carefully at the scene, the camera moves because I'm crying), as if it was an ancestral cry from some other time, and at some point I yelled at Teo and he perfectly did what he had to do, as usual, an he ran. I said 'cut', gave the camera to my assistant and as I was leaving I saw Natalia crying uncontrollably, everyone saw me and realized I was crying. I went to the video assist and as I entered everybody was very excited, they saw me crying. I asked to see the take… At that moment, everybody including actors, technicians and me, realized that we were doing something more than professional, but also very personal.
LatinoBuzz: Were there any films that influenced the look of the film?
Benjamín Ávila: Absolutely. For the tone of the performance and the gaze of the kids, "My Life as a Dog" by Lasse Halstrom. All of Krystof Kieslowski's filmography, and the political view of the films that Ken Loach made in
England such as "Raining Stones", "Riff-Raff" and "Hidden Agenda".
LatinoBuzz: What's the next project?
Benjamín Ávila: I am writing for a TV series of 40 single chapters. Additionally, I am adapting a novel by Elsa Osorio that I've been wanting to do for 12 years. I'm adapting it with her to make a miniseries of 13 chapters. It's about 40 years of history and involves many characters. A different look at the people who survived or were involved in Argentina's dictatorship.
For Screening times in NY and CA visit: http://www.filmmovement.com/theatrical/index.asp?MerchandiseID=314
Like em at: https://www.facebook.com/Infancia.clandestina
Written by Juan Caceres and Vanessa Erazo, LatinoBuzz is a weekly feature on SydneysBuzz that highlights Latino indie talent and upcoming trends in Latino film with the specific objective of presenting a broad range of Latino voices. Follow @LatinoBuzz on twitter.
- 1/9/2013
- by Juan Caceres
- Sydney's Buzz
On a recent summer afternoon, Johnny Depp walks into a luxury suite at the Chateau Marmont in Los Angeles. Oddly, he is dressed like a pirate. A faded paisley do-rag is tied around his head. Smaller strips of cloth are braided into his hair, and he has gold caps on several teeth. His loose white T-shirt, with its blue horizontal stripes, maybe more sailor than pirate, but it's definitely in the nautical family.
We should note that Depp has not come directly from the set of his latest film Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest...
We should note that Depp has not come directly from the set of his latest film Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest...
- 11/12/2012
- Rollingstone.com
Nicole Richie and Jessica Simpson might have liked Lisa Vian Hunter's yellow coat, but that wasn't enough to keep her in Fashion Star Tuesday night and she became the fourth designer to say goodbye. Lisa recently spoke with reporters about her time on the show, her other designers and what she plans to do next, so read on to find out what she had to say! Would you have done anything differently from the beginning of the competition to your elimination, or would you have stayed the same?
"Of course I would not have stayed exactly as I did, because I was thrown off on week four! So yes, I've had eight months of hindsight and I think that there could have been a little more youthfulness in my designs, I could have made my designs a little more edgy. There's a lot. I've been thinking about it a...
"Of course I would not have stayed exactly as I did, because I was thrown off on week four! So yes, I've had eight months of hindsight and I think that there could have been a little more youthfulness in my designs, I could have made my designs a little more edgy. There's a lot. I've been thinking about it a...
- 4/5/2012
- by By Catriona Wightman
- Digital Spy
The Rum Diary holds a special place in the heart of Johnny Depp. It was the actor who found the manuscript for what would prove to be one of Hunter S. Thompson's final books. Depp sits down and talks to Movie Fanatic about how full his heart is now that The Rum Diary is set to hit the big screen.
The Rum Diary (don't miss this clip starring Amber Heard and Depp) is an origins story in the legend of Thompson's Gonzo self. His fictional alter ego, Paul Kemp, is an aspiring novelist who lands in Puerto Rico to take a position at a San Juan daily newspaper. To say chaos ensues undermines and minimizes the author's penchant for mayhem. The Rum Diary also stars Giovanni Ribisi and Aaron Eckhart.
Depp also discusses his friendship with Thompson and what the author would make of the promotional circus that is...
The Rum Diary (don't miss this clip starring Amber Heard and Depp) is an origins story in the legend of Thompson's Gonzo self. His fictional alter ego, Paul Kemp, is an aspiring novelist who lands in Puerto Rico to take a position at a San Juan daily newspaper. To say chaos ensues undermines and minimizes the author's penchant for mayhem. The Rum Diary also stars Giovanni Ribisi and Aaron Eckhart.
Depp also discusses his friendship with Thompson and what the author would make of the promotional circus that is...
- 10/27/2011
- by joel.amos@moviefanatic.com (Joel D Amos)
- Reel Movie News
The Withnail director is returning to the movies with Johnny Depp. But first there's a meal with Euan Ferguson to negotiate, oysters to eat, red wine to drink and waitresses to charm
I am apologising, as we take our first seats behind a big slab of a secret wooden door that must outweigh the All Black front row. It is a truly magic door, like something invented by Roald Dahl, just for children who drink – and lets us slip into a cool, smart hideaway in Soho; and I'm apologising to Bruce Robinson for not being one of this mag's usual stock of clever cheekboned women over-infused with vivre, panache, esprit and other words unacquaintanced in English.
But, then again, so is every female inside Mark Hix's establishment – not necessarily in words, but certainly with eyes and body language. It is astonishing how some people – this man is now 65 – still, somehow,...
I am apologising, as we take our first seats behind a big slab of a secret wooden door that must outweigh the All Black front row. It is a truly magic door, like something invented by Roald Dahl, just for children who drink – and lets us slip into a cool, smart hideaway in Soho; and I'm apologising to Bruce Robinson for not being one of this mag's usual stock of clever cheekboned women over-infused with vivre, panache, esprit and other words unacquaintanced in English.
But, then again, so is every female inside Mark Hix's establishment – not necessarily in words, but certainly with eyes and body language. It is astonishing how some people – this man is now 65 – still, somehow,...
- 10/15/2011
- by Euan Ferguson
- The Guardian - Film News
Two new posters have been unveiled for Johnny Depp's upcoming film The Rum Diary. Based on Hunter S Thompson's novel of the same name, the movie stars Depp as American journalist Paul Kemp working in Puerto Rico. The first poster features a half-naked Depp opening the curtains of his room to see an aeroplane with a sky banner reading "Welcome to Puerto Rico". The second image features a close-up of Depp's face and, like the first, boasts the tagline "Absolutely nothing in moderation". Thompson's book was originally written (more)...
- 9/26/2011
- by By Mayer Nissim
- Digital Spy
The Big News: Triple H announced Nash versus Punk for Night of Champions at the start of the show but by the end of the night changed his mind and told Punk that he would be facing him at the next PPV.
Triple H came out to start the show. He said that it is his job to make sure the company continues to flourish and announced that for the foreseeable future Raw will be dual branded with Smackdown superstars. If this is the first step towards unifying the world titles then I’m all for it.
He said that the positive of his new position was that he could make these sort of changes. The negative however is that he continues to be lied too, bringing up the Kevin Nash situation from last week in which his friend had pretended to be in a car accident so that he...
Triple H came out to start the show. He said that it is his job to make sure the company continues to flourish and announced that for the foreseeable future Raw will be dual branded with Smackdown superstars. If this is the first step towards unifying the world titles then I’m all for it.
He said that the positive of his new position was that he could make these sort of changes. The negative however is that he continues to be lied too, bringing up the Kevin Nash situation from last week in which his friend had pretended to be in a car accident so that he...
- 8/30/2011
- by Laurent Kelly
- Obsessed with Film
'Durbinators' were crushed on Thursday night when their top pic for the American Idol win, James Durbin, was abruptly eliminated from the Fox competition. It was the exit heard around the world as fans cried foul and ignited Twitter with tweets of injustice on behalf of the heavy metal rocker who stole their hearts in a single song (or two). His journey from Santa Cruz, California to the Idol stage ended when he landed in the bottom two along with country fave Scotty McCreery, leaving more than a few (including the Idol judges - J Lo cried) surprised that both girls survived. James was the only contestant to escape the bottom two or three all season, leaving his fans now wondering what went wrong. In spite of his exit, James is now looking forward to a bright future - and with good reason. Rumors have already started circulating about record deals,...
- 5/17/2011
- by jmaurer@corp.popstar.com (Jennifer Maurer)
- PopStar
It sounds overly dramatic, particularly for a scientist, but Pat Spain of National Geographic's "The Beast Hunter," says, "I have been saying that show saved my life."
He called Zap2it first to explain what happened and urged people to be advocates for their own health.
"The Beast Hunter" which launched last week, had Spain searching for the ape man in Sumatra. Turns out he found much more in the remote Indonesian island, where he climbed mountains, hiked through jungles and rowed across a murky lake, in a volcano.
"I was soaking wet for almost two weeks," Spain says. "I started getting trench foot and was covered in leeches."
He's not complaining as much as explaining. Then he got really sick with a stomach bug and was in violent pain -- in the middle of nowhere.
"Because of that, when I got back figured I would go to the doctor to get checked out,...
He called Zap2it first to explain what happened and urged people to be advocates for their own health.
"The Beast Hunter" which launched last week, had Spain searching for the ape man in Sumatra. Turns out he found much more in the remote Indonesian island, where he climbed mountains, hiked through jungles and rowed across a murky lake, in a volcano.
"I was soaking wet for almost two weeks," Spain says. "I started getting trench foot and was covered in leeches."
He's not complaining as much as explaining. Then he got really sick with a stomach bug and was in violent pain -- in the middle of nowhere.
"Because of that, when I got back figured I would go to the doctor to get checked out,...
- 3/11/2011
- by editorial@zap2it.com
- Zap2It - From Inside the Box
It’s always a tricky proposition when one of a series’ actors decides to direct an episode. But if they’re all as good as this week’s episode of Supernatural, Jensen Ackles' first crack at the directing chair, then heck, by all means, let’s do it all the time.
First and best decision? Having the episode barely feature Dean and Sam, so that Ackles has more time to focus behind the camera than in front. Using a conceit that was probably old by the time Buffy the Vampire Slayer pulled out the classic “The Zeppo,” this week, while everybody else is off having their own adventures, we finally get to see how Hunter-helper Bobby gets to spend his days.
Turns out, it’s a lot of helping hunters, from pretending to be various law enforcement officials, to helping bury bodies in his backyard, to navigating Dean...
First and best decision? Having the episode barely feature Dean and Sam, so that Ackles has more time to focus behind the camera than in front. Using a conceit that was probably old by the time Buffy the Vampire Slayer pulled out the classic “The Zeppo,” this week, while everybody else is off having their own adventures, we finally get to see how Hunter-helper Bobby gets to spend his days.
Turns out, it’s a lot of helping hunters, from pretending to be various law enforcement officials, to helping bury bodies in his backyard, to navigating Dean...
- 10/16/2010
- UGO TV
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