Jonathan Franzen’s celebrated novel, adapted by the critically adored Noam Baumbach, produced by heavy-hitter Scott Rudin, acted by an all-star cast of Chris Cooper, Dianne Wiest, Ewan McGregor, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Rhys Ifans and Greta Gerwig, on HBO, a network that cares nothing about ratings. Seems like a sure thing, right? Apparently not, as the network has passed on the highly-anticipated pilot The Corrections. Given the collapse of David Milch and Michael Mann’s Luck with a cast including Dustin Hoffman and Nick Nolte gave them pause.
Author Archives: Scott Howard
Westworld, the original Jurassic Park
Ryan Murphy confirms American Horror Story 2 will take place in a mental institution
The compulsively watchable trash heap that was American Horror Story became one of 2011′s most surprising hits, and its first seasonal reboot is now taking shape. Co-creator Ryan Murphy has now confirmed that season 2 will take place in a spooky mental institution run by Jessica Lange, and somehow Maroon 5′s Adam Levine will be involved. OK!
Cannes lineup announced, strongest competition in years
The preliminary lineup for this year’s Cannes Film Festival was announced today and it’s the strongest slate in years. The big contender from the US of A is obviously Wes Anderson’s Moonrise Kingdom, which is to this movie nerd’s knowledge the first time Anderson has gone to the world’s most prestigious film festival. Also competing are new films from David Cronenberg, John Hillcoat (The Proposition), Andrew Dominik (The Assassination of Jesse James…), Lee Daniels (Precious) and past Palme d’Or winners Michael Haneke, Abbas Kiarostami, Ken Loach and Cristian Mungiu (4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days).
It’s worth noting that all of these heavyweights are competing at Cannes. More often that not, big world premieres by internationally-acclaimed geniuses at Cannes are screened out of competition to protect them from bad buzz and embarrassing losses (look at what happened to poor Richard Kelly’s Southland Tales after its disastrous Cannes debut).
SOUND THE YAZZ FLUTES! Anchorman 2 finally greenlit
In news that is bound to bring about world peace, Anchorman 2 has finally been greenlit. A modest success when it was first released, Anchorman has since become one of the biggest cult hits of the 2000′s. The cast and creative team tried several times to get a sequel financed, but ambivalent studio heads combined with the difficulties of getting the now-famous trifecta of Ferrell, Carell and Rudd to find space in their schedules killed the project. But by the beard of Zeus, the mighty Ron Burgundy shall anchor once more.
The Wire’s Michael K. Williams to star as Ol’ Dirty Bastard
One of the 90′s most unique and divisive musical artists will be brought to life on the big screen by the actor behind one of the 00′s most compelling characters. Michael K. Williams, best known as Omar from The Wire, will star in Dirty White Boy.
Based on a true story, DIRTY WHITE BOY chronicles the astounding rise of Jarred Weisfeld, a 22-year-old VH1-intern-turned-manager, and his misadventures with the legendary rapper leading up to the performer’s tragic death in 2004.
Big Baby Jesus, I can’t wait.
James Spader already leaving The Office
After all the hubbub about who would replace Steve Carell on The Office this time last year, his replacement is already leaving after a single season.
“James always wanted this to be a one-year arc, and he now leaves us having created one of the most enigmatic and dynamic characters in television,”Office showrunner Paul Lieberstein said in a statement.
On the heels of reports about contract negotiations for John Krasinski and Ed Helms going longer than expected, Rainn Wilson prepping a Dwight Schrute spinoff, and now Spader leaving, the future of The Office as a whole seems in doubt.
Stuffing The Ballot Box
A great year for movies has resulted in a silly and safe Oscars to rival 2000′s ceremony, when the likes of Being John Malkovich, Fight Club, The Matrix and Magnolia were pushed aside to honor Best Picture nominees The Green Mile and The Sixth Sense. Still, many of our favorites managed a nomination this year, even if they have no chance of winning in a year that all but promises a blowout for the mediocre The Artist. Here’s how we’d cast our ballots. Continue reading
NBC finally schedules Awake, on their only night of worthwhile programming
Those who have seen the pilot for Awake, the ambitious sci-fi drama starring Jason Isaacs and created by Kyle Killen of Lone Star fame (or infamy), proclaimed it the finest show of the 2011/12 season. It was a surprise, then, that NBC left the series off their fall schedule and their spring schedule, promising that one day maybe people would see it, which usually translates to “this show is dead to us”. Luckily for us and sadly for NBC, their would-be ratings savior The Firm became a big fat flop, regularly outrated by basic cable shows and embarrassingly landing NBC 8th place in the ratings last Thursday night. Willing to try anything, NBC will premiere Awake in that Thursday 10PM EST on March 1, the same night that has NBC’s only worthwhile shows, Parks and Recreation and 30 Rock. Catch it while you can!
Dana Gould and Dave Grohl make rock band pilot for FX
This year’s pilot pickup announcements haven’t added many surprising new names to the mix of folks who peddle a new show every year. But this is interesting news: Dana Gould has Foo Fighters frontman Dave Grohl signed on as an executive producer for a comedy for FX starring Gould as the frontman for a dysfunctional band “on the verge of mega-stardom“. For those unfamiliar with him, Gould is a longtime standup and Simpsons writer who Patton Oswalt credits as “the founder of alternative comedy”. Grohl has been in music all his life, playing in the DC punk scene before becoming the drummer of Nirvana. If picked up, it sounds like a perfect addition to FX’s impeccable comedy slate, including Louie, It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia and Archer.