There are lots of actors and actresses who come across as jerks in interviews, which makes it all the more charming to read or hear interviews with child actors who are humble and gracious and intelligent. Madison Lintz, the girl who played Sophia in The Walking Dead on AMC, is no exception in the interview [...]
Read original article at: AMC Interview With Madison Lintz – Sophia In ‘The Walking Dead’
3:33PM: The SMASH panel kicks off with a video message from executive producer Steven Spielberg who NBC Entertainment President Bob Greenblatt promises has been incredibly involved and passionate about the show. To the point that he has personally edited musical sequences. Not-so-fun-fact: Spielberg did not send a similar video prior to Fox’s TERRA NOVA panel last fall. Read into that what you will.
3:38PM: Just to give you an indication as to just how good SMASH is. A roomful of tired, hungry and soulless television critics actually “Aaaawwwwwed” when there was a momentary technical difficulty with the video sizzle reel for the show.
3:44PM: Greenblatt promises that Marilyn’s road to Broadway will be a rocky one, with the first season culminating in the show’s out-of-town try out, and the second one — should the show be lucky enough to see a second season — revolve around how the show fares in the Big Apple.
3:46PM: Contrary to reports in a recent New York Magazine article, creator/executive producer Theresa Rebeck swears that the entirety of the team’s focus is to first and foremost make a great television show. Whatever happens in the future — referring to the rumors that Marilyn is already headed to Broadway — who knows! “This show is enough of a challenge for all of us right now.”
3:47PM: When asked by an intrepid reporter how the show’s cutthroat behind-the-scenes drama compares to her real life experience on the boards, Megan Hilty jokes, “Give me a call later, we’ll talk!” Adding, on a more serious note, “I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been backstage and thought, ‘Where’s the camera!?’ The drama that happens behind the curtain is way more interesting than anything that happens on stage!”
3:48PM: When asked a similar question to executive producers/co-lyricists Scott Wittman and Marc Shaimain the latter proclaims, “I can’t even believe you’re asking us questions… [Pointing to the row of beautiful actors and actresses in front of him]” Look, it’s Anjelica Huston!”
3:50PM: Is the cast and creative team worried as to just how much NBC seems to be betting on their show? Not according to star Christian Borle (“Whatever the fates bring, we’re so proud and it feels so great that we’ve been able to do so much.”) or creator Theresa Rebeck (“NBC wants great storytelling, they’ve been very clear. Make great television. The rest of the story is up to other forces.”)
3:51PM: Good News: NBC will release contemporary tracks from the episodes for purchase day and date with show. Bad News: The availability of original songs from the Marilyn musical within the show are still being determined.
3:52PM: “It’s beautifully written, complete with a fantastic cast of actors and a phenomenal team of people behind the scenes. I’d be a fool not to participate,” said Anjelica Huston when asked what attracted her to the project.
3:53PM: Producers Neil Meron and Craig Zadan credits the success of feature film musicals such as Hairspray with setting the stage for SMASH to occur.
3:56PM: Incredibly high praise for creator/executive producer Theresa Rebeck’s storytelling skills come from Craig Zadan who equates her writing to that of Aaron Sorkin on THE WEST WING. Said Zadan, “You feel like you’re eavesdropping in this authentic world of theater, yet get caught up in their personal lives as well.” Added star Debra Messing, “That was one of the things that was most exciting to me about it when I read the pilot. What I related to was this woman who is very passionate about her creative life but also really is a proud mother and wants that home life balance. I love that nothing is simple. The way Theresa writes, there is such richness. My character, all of the characters go through difficulties and challenges. We’re often surprised at the table reads as we have no idea what’s happening next. It’s interesting and it all feels authentic.”
3:59PM: The amount of fun I’m having on this show is so ridiculously off the charts. Of course you can’t compare them, they’re apples and oranges,” said Messing about the comparisons between SMASH and WILL & GRACE. “This cast is so accomplished and so committed, everyone is so passionate about this project. We’re working really hard but we’re laughing a lot and we’re really proud about what we’re doing. I wouldn’t even compare my experiences, I would just say i’m grateful that NBC has created a new home for me again.”
4:00PM: It took 30 minutes, but the inevitable finally happened: The obligatory comparison to GLEE question. “Just as Gypsy with Bette Midler on television sort of opened the door for TV musicals for a period of time, what Ryan Murphy did with GLEE broke a barrier,” said Neil Meron. “He allowed the Networks to really believe there was room for drama, comedy and singing in one show week after week. I don’t feel that anyone of us feel the show is like GLEE but we feel grateful to it for opening that door.”
4:06PM: Much to our chagrin, Rebeck wasn’t spilling as to which of Katharine McPhee (Karen) or Megan Hilty (Ivy) would end up as Marilyn, except to say that they’re both amazing actresses and it was a very organic process. What’s more, as shooting continued, people on the set began forming ‘Team Ivy’ and ‘Team Karen’ camps.
4:08PM: Knowing full well that he is in a roomful of journalists with their fingers on the [Twitter] button, Jack Davenport was quick to sidestep the question as to just what real-life director he based his egomaniacal character on. Said Davenport, “Obviously it’s an amalgam of many directors, I couldn’t possibly have based it on one person or I’d be in court!”
4:11PM: Fun Fact: Other ideas tossed around aside from a Marilyn musical were period pieces with sword fighting and feathers as a result of creator Theresa Rebeck’s PhD in Victorian literature.
4:12PM: NBC Entertainment President Bob Greenblatt teases that the plan for season 2 — should the show be lucky enough to see one — have not been set in stone although discussions have revolved around introducing a second musical, as well as sticking with the original show should the character’s lives prove interesting enough.
4:13PM: Spoiler Alert: The actress playing Marilyn at the end of the season may not be the same actress cast in the role by the end of SMASH’s second episode.
You’ve seen the commercials. You’ve heard the hype. Now there’s only one thing you want to know: Which of these new midseason shows are worth watching and which should be avoided at all costs? In this continuing series, we give you the scoop on some of the most highly-anticipated shows of 2012, with today’s subject being HBO’s ANGRY BOYS.
The Plot: In a brand-new comedy series written and starring Australia’s Ricky Gervais equivalent, Lilley amps up his acutely observed, character-based comedy style – mastered in his two previous series SUMMER HEIGHTS HIGH and WE CAN BE HEROES – to a new conceptual stratosphere in ANGRY BOYS. Shot documentary-style, each taboo-crossing, half-hour episode of hilariously unconventional and impetuous, filled with endearing characters that are sure to make audiences laugh with delight.
The First Impression: Fresh off the success of SUMMER HEIGHTS HIGH, comedian Chris Lilley is back with ANGRY BOYS. More episodes (12 versus SUMMER HEIGHTS HIGH’s 8), more characters (Identical twins Daniel and Nathan Sims, a former world surfing champion, among others) and more boundary-pushing. Which is to say, no gender, sexuality or race is safe in this series whose creator has made a name for himself by shocking audiences and treading on taboos. Highlights of which this time around include Lilley’s Japanese mom (“Jen Okazaki”) who takes Tiger-parenting to an entirely new and very disturbing level, an African American rapper (“S.mouse” played by Lilley in full-on blackface) and an unorthodox prison officer at a boy’s detention centre (“Ruth ‘Gran’ Sims”).
The Concern: Despite ANGRY BOYS increasingly kooky collection of colorful characters (Oh, did we neglect to mention that Lilley’s Japanese mom character is forcing her son to pretend to be gay in an effort to make a mint off marketing him as Japan’s first ever gay teenaged skateboarder?) there is simply no escaping the unfortunate sense of deja vu we felt while watching the series. What’s more, while we’re first to give Lilley credit for the ambition and scope of ANGRY BOYS, his insistence on cramming that many new characters into the series’ 12 episodes may have backfired somewhat, resulting in less time for us to become invested in his latest set of alter-egos. None of whom reach the pinnacle of comedic brilliance that was the likes of Mr. G or Ja’mie (circa. SUMMER HEIGHTS HIGH). Which is why…
The Verdict: Has us recommending you watch the series, but via your DVR/PVR so that you can easily jump around to your favorite story-lines.
ANGRY BOYS premieres Sunday January 1st at 10PM on HBO and HBO Canada
While they may not have been the year’s most critically acclaimed or the country’s most popular, each the following shows made this TV Addict’s Top 10 of ’11 for the simple reason that each week, they left us jonesing another fix. You know those people who say “less is more?” Yeah, they’re totally wrong. As the following programs prove, too much is never enough.
Since previous “Best Ofs” have already seen us shine the spotlight on the crackling chemistry that comes hand-in-hand with THE GOOD WIFE’s all-star ensemble and roster of guest stars that reads like a “Who’s Who” of Broadway, we thought we’d take this opportunity to highlight something slightly less sexy about the show that good doesn’t even begin to describe. Once thought of as the show’s achilles heel, this year saw the legal drama raise the bar on the courtroom aspect of the series thanks to sharply written and thought provoking case-of-the-weeks whose interest — unlike many shows of the same ilk — often rival that of the relationship melodrama outside of the courtroom.
Complete with epic battles, copious amounts of sex and violence, and a level of storytelling so ambitious it’s almost more befitting the big screen than that of the small, HBO’s adaptation of George R.R. Martin epic fantasy series GAME OF THRONES didn’t just live up to the hype, it surpassed it. And in doing so reaffirmed HBO’s long-dormant mantra, “It’s not TV, it’s HBO.” Indeed.
As if season after season of consistently delivering laughs thanks to an all-star ensemble and all-too-frequent phenomenal guest cast isn’t reason enough to extol the virtues of one of the best comedies you’re not watching, this season of PARKS AND RECREATION solidified its spot amongst our all-time favorites (see: FRIENDS, FRASIER) thanks to three important factors: 1) More romance (Amy Poehler and Adam Scott give adorkable NEW GIRL Zooey Deschanel a run for her money). 2) More Aziz Ansari (RIP Entertainment 7Twenty). And 3) Even more heart, culminating in the recent midseason finale that had Leslie’s entire staff pledging their allegiance to her campaign in an emotionally poignant moment reminiscent of THE WEST WING’s “I serve at the pleasure of the President.”
For every Showrunner and Network Executive that spent the better part of the last year losing sleep over the idea that the coming together of two popular television characters means the death of drama (Yes, we’re talking to you, fine folks involved with BONES and CASTLE), we respectively present our rebuttal in the form of the entire extended Braverman family. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you’ll surely join us in scratching your head over why more people aren’t watching the remarkably acted and beautifully written family drama that is NBC’s PARENTHOOD.
After almost five seasons of near flawlessness, FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS ran out the clock with a win so big we’re still reeling from the emotional satisfaction that came from a beautiful football-free final montage befitting a series that was about so much more than what happened on any given Sunday. Clear eyes, full hearts, can’t lose.
If Showtime’s spy-tastic new thriller HOMELAND proved anything, well aside from the undeniable awesomeness of stars Claire Danes and Damien Lewis, it’s that less is indeed more. Not saddled with the Kiefer Sutherland thriller’s twenty-four episode per season time constraint that generally amounted to an explosive start and finish to every season marred by an extraneous middle padded with silly story lines (Think: Elisha Cuthbert and a cougar trap!), HOMELAND’s 13 episode cable-sized season was just right. And by “just right’ we of course mean jam-packed with a seemingly never-ending number of twists and turns that had us questioning motives of an ever-expanding roster of morally dubious characters up until the very moment the final episode’s credits rolled.
Since we’ve already gone on record in heralding HAPPY ENDINGS as quite possibly the funniest series since that show about that coffee addicted gang from Central Perk, we’ll simply say this: The only thing that makes us happier than getting to revel in the misadventures of Eliza Coupe, Elisha Cuthbert, Zachary Knighton, Adam Pally, Damon Wayans Jr and Casey Wilson on a week-in-and-week-out-basis is the idea that— thanks to a surprising second season uptick in ratings — we’ll be getting to do so for many seasons to come.
What PERSON OF INTEREST may lack in verbiage from its somewhat emotionless leading former military man that is Jim Caviezel’s mysterious John Reese, it more than makes up for thanks to showrunner Jonathan Nolan. The immensely talented storyteller (See writing credits that include: The Dark Knight, The Prestige and Memento), who in teaming up Reese with the equally mysterious multimillionaire Harold Finch (LOST’s Michael Emerson) and Cops Carter (Tarjai P. Henson) and Fusco (Kevin Chapman) has quietly created the superhero television series television genre fans so richly deserve.
Despite the fact that we continue to be vocal about the decisive lack of movement on the mother of all mysteries, we feel that it’s important to note when it comes to HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER that we chastise because we love. Oh, and did we mention we’re not alone? Almost unheard of in this modern 500 channel universe, our infatuation with this hilarious and heartwarming series continues to grow along with… drumroll please… the show’s audience! In other-words, co–creators Carter Bays and Craig Thomas must be doing something right.
Move over MELROSE PLACE, television scandal has a new address! The place: Victorian England. The Time: Early 20th Century. The Hook: Having recently devoured the entire first season courtesy of Netflix, we find ourselves completely enthralled in the sordid sex-filled scandal-ridden lives of the Crawley family and the staff that serves them. Seriously. You have not lived until you’ve witnesses a dressing down by family matriarch Violet (Dame Maggie Smith).
HONORABLE MENTIONS:
REVENGE (ABC): Aaron Spelling would be proud.
CURB YOUR ENTHUSIASM (HBO): Did you see “Palestinian Chicken”?
BONES (FOX): For giving the middle-finger to the MOONLIGHTING Curse!
HART OF DIXIE (CW): Possibly the most delightful small town since Stars Hollow.
RAISING HOPE (FOX): Living under the poverty line hasn’t been this funny since ROSEANNE.
SHAMELESS (Showtime): Thanks to the funniest collection of kids since MODERN FAMILY. Speaking of which…
MODERN FAMILY (ABC): Still undeniably the most consistently funny performer on television.
THE DAILY SHOW/COLBERT REPORT (Comedy): Also known as the silver-lining to the out-and-out insanity that the American political system.
COMMUNITY (NBC): To borrow a line from the dearly departed Steve Jobs, “Here’s to the crazy ones.”
THE MIDDLE (ABC): Now that the entirety of the critic community has jumped on the Heck bandwagon, we’d like to take this opportunity to remind you all that we were there first!
Animation Domination (FOX): This season’s trifecta of Seth MacFarlane shows (FAMILY GUY, AMERICAN DAD, CLEVELAND SHOW) and THE SIMPSONS have been so enjoyable we’re willing to forgive Fox for ALLEN GREGORY.
Related:
• The Top 10 Television Shows of 2011 (A Second Opinion)
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