The critics may have been lukewarm on Charlie Sheen’s post-“Two and a Half Men” comeback, “Anger Management,” but viewers were certainly curious to see the show for themselves. The premiere of the new FX series posted the best ratings of all-time for a scripted comedy airing on basic cable. What’s more: it beat every single […]
Charlie Sheen’s “Anger Management” sets cable comedy ratings record Read More »
On the rare occasion that Roberto Benigni’s follow-up to his Oscar-winning “Life is Beautiful,” a profoundly strange adaptation of “Pinocchio,” is remembered by Americans, it is usually for the film’s comically bad English-language dub. Certainly, it’s a challenge to make any dub worthy of being taken seriously, but this particular job, featuring once-teen star Breckin
Reviews by Request: “Pinocchio” (2002) Read More »
When the auteur theory, arguing that a film is primarily a reflection of its director and their creative vision, was originally put forward, another issue was inadvertently raised: content versus execution. Can a director overcome a trite premise and create a masterpiece or, more precisely, can a filmmaker take a seemingly broad and cliche story
Streaming Pick: “Fish Tank” (2009) Read More »
Composed almost entirely of stock footage from 1966-‘71, “When You’re Strange” is a rock documentary narrated by Johnny Depp on the career of seminal blues-psychedelic band The Doors. On a stylistic level, the film succeeds admirably. The grainy footage gives the audience a sense of what the band must have really looked and sounded like, both
Streaming Pick: “When You’re Strange” (2009) Read More »
It’s doubtful that there is a living soul who cares about the Daytime Emmy Awards and doesn’t work for one of the nominated shows, but just in case those who work for the nominated shows visit Critic Speak and missed the ceremony when it aired live on HLN earlier tonight, I’ll post the winners here. And
Complete list of 2012 Daytime Emmy Award winners Read More »
Three bits of interesting fall TV casting surfaced today, which should earn the established shows a few viewers who don’t normally watch… Jennifer Hudston will get a multi-episode arc on NBC’s musical “Smash,” which stars Katherine McPhee as a young woman working hard to make it on Broadway. Hudson will play a Tony-winner “who reached [her] Broadway dream but
Casting bits: Jennifer Hudson, Marilyn Manson, and Patrick Wilson join fall TV shows Read More »
In one of the stranger pieces of entertainment news in some time, it was announced today that Nicolas Winding Refn, director of “Drive” and “Bronson,” will remake the 1960s cult classic “Barbarella” for European television. Yes, that “Barbarella,” the film that starred a young Jane Fonda as a warrior-like sex symbol assigned by the President of
Nicolas Winding Refn to adapt “Barbarella” for television Read More »
Showtime’s “Homeland” and NBC’s “Community” took top honors for Best Drama and Best Comedy, respectively, at tonight’s 2nd Annual Critics’ Choice Television Awards. This perfectly sets up the former–the breakthrough cable program of last year–for an Emmy win in September. But the latter show’s win was the real highlight of the night, for it has
Complete list of 2012 Critics’ Choice Television Award winners Read More »
There had been rumblings of deals in the works ever since he won “The Celebrity Apprentice,” but now, it’s official: Arsenio Hall will once again host his own late-night talk show. Somewhat surprisingly, the deal was not struck with NBC, the network that aired “The Celebrity Apprentice.” Instead, Hall has teamed up with CBSTVD, which will
Arsenio Hall returning to late-night this fall with syndicated talk show Read More »
HBO’s original programming has never catered to conservatives; since the premium cable giant ramped up production in the mid-1990s, its target audience has always been progressive, urban 20- and 30-somethings. But recently, HBO content has been exceptionally hostile toward the GOP. First, there was the HBO Original Movie “Game Change,” which sought to morph Sarah
Alan Ball: Rick Santorum inspired “True Blood” Season 5 Read More »
