Screen Rant » TV News

The CW calls ‘Green Arrow’ TV Show ‘Edgy & Provocative’

Kevin Yeoman — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 14:25:35 +0000

The attempt to free fans from those bland, nerveless superheroes of yesteryear continues, with edgy adaptations of DC Comics’ stable of characters leading the way. Further details surrounding Arrow – the Green Arrow television series currently in consideration at The CW – have emerged, and they feature underused terms like: “edgy, provocative and sophisticated.”

Thom Sherman, executive vice president of development at The CW, discussed the upcoming television adaptation loosely based on DC’s emerald archer in such a way as to suggest that the network – along with series executive producers and writers Greg Berlanti and Marc Guggenheim (Green Lantern) – were stepping away from the character’s comic book roots and planting him in a more real-world scenario.

Sherman didn’t just suggest the shift away from the comics books – he flat out said it: “It’s very ...

Click to continue reading The CW calls ‘Green Arrow’ TV Show ‘Edgy & Provocative’

‘The River’ Series Premiere Review & Discussion

Anthony Ocasio — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 18:50:22 +0000

From Paranormal Activity creator Oren Peli and Paranormal Activity 2 writer Michael R. Perry comes ABC’s The River – network television’s attempt at transitioning the popular found-footage theatrical genre to the small screen.

Centered around the disappearance of famed explorer Dr. Emmet Cole (Bruce Greenwood), The River follows Cole’s wife Tess (Leslie Hope) and his son Lincoln (Joe Anderson) as they attempt to locate the missing adventurer, with camera crew in tow. An emergency beacon, an abandoned ship, and a library of Cole’s archived videos begin to reveal the supernatural forces behind his disappearance.

But is ABC’s The River the Paranormal Activity-meets-Lost series that it positioned itself to be from the trailers?

Unfortunately, no.

Wrapped in the mystique of a mysterious jungle adventure with otherworldly forces, The River all-but-fails to lay the necessary ...

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‘Justified’ Season 3, Episode 4: ‘The Devil You Know’ Recap

Kevin Yeoman — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 14:47:13 +0000

Season 3 of Justified has subtly lingered on the demise of Mags Bennett, allowing the second season finale to slowly influence the events currently unfolding in the series. The result of a Mags-less Harlan has been the oft-mentioned vacuum of power, which has had the nasty side effect of making nearly every criminal far more ambitious than they have the smarts for.

This, of course, is in reference to Devil (Kevin Rankin), whose impatience with Boyd’s plodding machinations has him considering selling Crowder out to the increasingly larger-than-life Quarles (Neal McDonough) in ‘The Devil You Know.’

It seems the imminent birth of Boyd’s new criminal empire isn’t moving a brisk enough pace for Devil, and after his share of some off-camera bit of corruption yields a trifling $360, or as Boyd puts it, ...

Click to continue reading ‘Justified’ Season 3, Episode 4: ‘The Devil You Know’ Recap

Contest: Win An ‘I Heart The Walking Dead’ Prize Pack! (Day 3)

Anthony Ocasio — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 01:06:03 +0000

With The Walking Dead mid-season premiere AND Valentine’s Day just around the corner, it can only mean one thing: CONTEST MASH-UP!

Thanks to an undead-Cupid called AMC, Screen Rant is giving away three “I Heart The Walking Dead” prize packs for you to share with your significant other – or yourself (Zombies, unlike Facebook, don’t care about relationship statuses – just what’s inside you… literally)

But do you really “heart” The Walking Dead? That’s what we’re here to find out.

Below you’ll find a single puzzle piece depicting a scene from The Walking Dead. What is the scene? Well, that’s what you’re going to have to tell us! Each day, one additional puzzle piece will be revealed (though not in order – we’re not going to put this puzzle together for you).

In order to win, you ...

Click to continue reading Contest: Win An ‘I Heart The Walking Dead’ Prize Pack! (Day 3)

‘Alcatraz’ Season 1, Episode 5: ‘Guy Hastings’ Recap

Kevin Yeoman — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 16:08:37 +0000

Although he’s barely been seen since the pilot, Robert Forster (Jackie Brown) finally comes front and center in the newest episode of Alcatraz: ‘Guy Hastings’ – and Forster’s involvement helps make it arguably the best episode we’ve seen so far.

The episode kicks off in the present, and on the island prison, where the titular guard Guy Hastings (True Blood‘s Jim Parrack) is scrounging around his former value-priced apartment in search of a few family photos and a handgun that was stashed away behind a loose baseboard. An Alcatraz Park Ranger, who is promptly beaten to a pulp by the former guard, interrupts Hastings’ trip down memory lane, thus alerting the task force to his presence.

The episode could have easily been called ‘Madsen Family Values,’ as certain aspects of Rebecca Madsen’s ...

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Best Super Bowl Commercials 2012: The Best of the ‘Meh’

Anthony Ocasio — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 02:15:34 +0000

On Sunday, over 110 million viewers tuned in to Super Bowl XLVI, to watch the New York Giants face off against the New England Patriots television’s most talked commercials of the year. With ad space costing $3.5 million per 30 second spot, it’s time to figure out who spent their money the best.

Overall, one could say that this year’s Super Bowl commercials were relatively mediocre compared to previous year – but if the “Sports Illustrated: Swimsuit Edition” has taught us anything, it’s that it doesn’t mean we still can’t rank them!

Taking a lead from Will Arnett in the depths of Hulu’s Hulubratory, we’re making use of their extra scientists on hand, by allowing them to tell us (and you) which commercials were the best of the best.

Oh, and if the best of the best isn’t good enough, ...

Click to continue reading Best Super Bowl Commercials 2012: The Best of the ‘Meh’

‘The River’ Trailer: ‘Lost’ in the Amazon

Kofi Outlaw — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 18:00:21 +0000

ABC is hoping for big things from its upcoming midseason replacement The River - specifically, the network is hoping that the mystery/thriller will be able to recapture some of the magic of its other mystery/thriller Juggernaut, Lost. This correlation has been blatantly evident in the marketing for the show, which has heavily relied on playing up the mystery/horror angle of its premise, hoping to lure fans still looking for that next show to fill the hole Lost left behind with its (lackluster?) final bow. Of course, promising viewers a few chills and scares by slapping “From the director of ‘Paranormal Activity’” into the show’s tagline hasn’t hurt, either.

But the question is: Will The River deliver the intrigue and thrills it’s promising?

We won’t know for sure until the show premieres this week ...

Click to continue reading ‘The River’ Trailer: ‘Lost’ in the Amazon

‘Spartacus: Vengeance’ Episode 2: ‘A Place In This World’ Recap

Kevin Yeoman — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 05:07:29 +0000

Continuing to explore the ramifications from the fall of the House of Batiatus, Spartacus: Vengeance takes a closer look at the idea that, although free, many of the series’ central characters find themselves adrift in a new world that offers them no sign of purpose.

‘A Place in This World’ focuses much of the episode on Oenomaus/Doctore (Peter Mensah), who, having participated in the destruction of his home, wrestles with mixed feelings. Seeking penance, Oenomaus puts himself into combat in the mines – a miserable place Spartacus knows all too well.

Oenomaus’ bloody and brutal battles in the mines are interspersed with memories of his training under Titus Batiatus (Jeffrey Thomas), where he moved from being a slave to a gladiator. Titus coaxes the young man into believing that through submission to him and ...

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‘Awake’ To Premiere In March on NBC

Kevin Yeoman — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 16:36:06 +0000

Ratings-starved NBC has once again taken to shifting around its line-up, but this time the program jumble is intended to make room for the highly anticipated new drama Awake, and shuffle the little-watched continuation of The Firm to Saturday nights.

After hitting disastrously low ratings, NBC yanked the underperforming Josh Lucas series and placed it in the television equivalent of time-out – where it will likely finish the remainder of its first season. Audiences will have to wait until March 1 for Awake to officially replace The Firm, however, so in the meantime they will have to make-do with reruns of the freshman fantasy procedural Grimm.

Now cleared for active duty, Awake becomes one of the few programs on NBC’s docket to not only boast an intriguing concept – a man wakes from a car crash to ...

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Super Bowl Commercials 2012: Complete List

Anthony Ocasio — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 23:50:37 +0000

Which ads came out on top?
Best Super Bowl Commercials 2012: The Best of the ‘Meh’

At $3.5 million per 30-second spot, companies willing to pay for Super Bowl XLVI commercials are looking for additional ways to make use of their most expensive promotional seconds by releasing their commercials early.

For non-football fans, this means you won’t have to sit around watching the big game on Sunday to join on in the Monday water cooler talk. For football fans, this means you’ll get to brag about knowing which commercials are the best – before they air on television.

If you’re looking for movie trailers, we’ll have a complete list of Superbowl Movie Trailers posted after the big game.

Check out our ever-expanding list of ...

Click to continue reading Super Bowl Commercials 2012: Complete List

Reality TV By The Numbers [Infographic]

Anthony Ocasio — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 16:00:01 +0000

Going back to 2000, reality television was but a mere programming indulgence used to somehow represent elements from modern society through the use of “real” people.

Jumping ahead more than a decade, it’s hard to look at any network and not see some form of reality television represented. From the self-obsessed, to the talented, to the competitive, to the, well, “odd” – reality television has become must-see- TV to many viewers (even for those that choose not to admit it). With its stars being as championed as much as some of television’s best, it’s clear that reality television is much more than a passing fad.

Take a look at this infographic (below) to see just how popular reality television has become, and exactly how much influence it has on society.

Click to continue reading Reality TV By The Numbers [Infographic]

‘Justified’ Season 3, Episode 3: ‘Harlan Roulette’ Recap

Kevin Yeoman — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 14:46:57 +0000

Now that the getting-to-know-you portion of Justified has introduced the new players in the season 3 premiere and last week’s episode ‘Cut Ties,’ season 3 is free go about its business of preparing Raylan Givens for the new power struggle in his particular neck of the woods.

‘Harlan Roulette’ is a speedy episode that excels in detailing the respective plans Boyd (Walton Goggins) and Quarles (Neal McDonough) have for Harlan Co., and exactly what roles Limehouse (Mykelti Williamson) and an imprisoned Dickie Bennett (Jeremy Davies) have to play in those plans. However, with Dickie getting the shakedown treatment from a prison guard, it stands to reason he’ll be out of prison sooner, rather than later.

While Quarles has the backing of organized crime in Detroit, Boyd, once more is forced to ...

Click to continue reading ‘Justified’ Season 3, Episode 3: ‘Harlan Roulette’ Recap

HBO Orders Season 2 Of ‘Luck’ After One Episode

Kevin Yeoman — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 14:41:33 +0000

Continuing to show faith in new projects well before they’ve been proven a hit with audiences, HBO has ordered a full second season of the highly-acclaimed horse racing drama Luck, just two days after the show made its official season premiere.

Including the initial sneak peek that followed the season 2 finale of Boardwalk Empire, late last year, additional replays and the January 29 airing to kick off its inaugural season, Luck managed to draw 3.3 million viewers. While those numbers may seem low for a program of this magnitude, HBO clearly felt assured that the combination of critical acclaim, eventual word-of-mouth and nearly ubiquitous advertising would be the right formula to improve Luck’s ratings fortunes.

Of course, counting stars like Dustin Hoffman, Nick Nolte, Michael Gambon (Harry Potter), Joan Allen (Pleasantville) and Jill Hennessy (Law & ...

Click to continue reading HBO Orders Season 2 Of ‘Luck’ After One Episode

Win An iPad 2 & Beats By Dr. Dre Headphones From ‘America’s Book of Secrets’ on H2

Anthony Ocasio — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 13:58:49 +0000

What better way to celebrate H2′s (formerly History International) new 10-part series America’s Book of Secrets than to give away an iPad 2 (w/ H2 sleeve) AND a pair of Beats by Dr. Dre headphones?

Not only will you be able to continuing digging for more answers to the compelling information that America’s Book of Secret presents in each episode, but you’ll be able to do it in style.

About America’s Book of Secrets

Behind the façade of some of America’s most public institutions and landmarks, there is another world that is hidden from view. Shrouded in secrecy, only a handful of people will ever have access to these forbidden corridors of intelligence. But their inside knowledge can actually mean the difference between national security…and national disaster.

Now, insiders and experts have pierced the shroud that conceals the covert world of seemingly familiar ...

Click to continue reading Win An iPad 2 & Beats By Dr. Dre Headphones From ‘America’s Book of Secrets’ on H2

‘Green Arrow’ TV Show Casts ’90210′ Actor in Lead

Kofi Outlaw — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 00:06:47 +0000

There’s been a certain amount of buzz concerning the upcoming Green Arrow TV show. On the one hand, some Smallville fans are upset that The CW isn’t spinning-off the Green Arrow character portrayed by actor Justin Hartley on the now-finished Superman origin show. On the other hand, those who never really got into Smallville are happy that the character is getting a fresh start.

Of course, one big issue facing the series is the choice of the lead actor who will play Green Arrow and his alter-ego Olvier Queen, a playboy industrialist who becomes a radical politician /costumed vigilante armed with technologically-enhanced arrows.

Deadline reports that The CW is tapping Stephen Amell to take the leading role in Green Arrow. The actor has a long resume of TV guest spots, punctuated by recent extended gigs on The ...

Click to continue reading ‘Green Arrow’ TV Show Casts ’90210′ Actor in Lead

FX Signs ‘Sons of Anarchy’ Creator For Seasons 6 & 7

Anthony Ocasio — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 17:22:47 +0000

Even though FX renewed Sons of Anarchy for season 5 in October 2011, they had yet to officially sign series creator Kurt Sutter for the upcoming season. Fortunately, not only has FX signed Sutter for a fifth season, but they also have him locked in for season 6 and 7 – if the network chooses to continue the series.

Announcing his new deal for Sons of Anarchy on Twitter, Sutter made sure to include a quip about how much easier it is to deal with FX than AMC: “closed my deal for 3 more years on SOA. no headlines, no pushed schedule, no stealing from paul. thank you FX and 20th for your generosity.”

Sutter’s remarks about “no headlines, no pushed schedule, no stealing…” refers to Mad Men creator Matthew Weiner’s complicated negotiations ...

Click to continue reading FX Signs ‘Sons of Anarchy’ Creator For Seasons 6 & 7

Fox Orders Mindy Kaling Pilot; Will Leave ‘The Office’

Anthony Ocasio — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 15:14:41 +0000

Whether NBC likes it or not, the end may be near for The Office, as Fox orders a half-hour comedy pilot from series star Mindy Kaling – which, if picked up, will force her to leave the series at the end of The Office season 8.

The currently untitled project will star Kaling as an OB/GYN, who is described as a “young Bridget Jones type doctor trying to navigate both her personal and professional lives.” Kaling will also serve as an executive producer and writer, and will be joined by The Office producer Howard Klein.

Originally developed for NBC under Kaling’s current development deal with Universal Television, the network decided to pass on the concept, which allowed the pilot to be shopped to other networks. Aiming to find the perfect companion for their freshman series New ...

Click to continue reading Fox Orders Mindy Kaling Pilot; Will Leave ‘The Office’

‘Alcatraz’ Season 1, Episode 4: ‘Cal Sweeney’ Recap

Kevin Yeoman — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 14:33:48 +0000

Eric Johnson, who played Whitney on Smallville, pops up as this week’s time-jumping inmate, Cal Sweeney, on an episode of Alcatraz that works to offer more insight into the show’s overarching mystery, by posing plenty more questions.

As is the norm, we begin in the present to see the escaped criminal enacting his signature crime, and Sweeney doesn’t appear to have missed a beat. Sweeney takes a page from two monsters of modern media by drugging a smitten bank teller with a syringe full of tranquilizer a la Dexter, and then he makes like Anton Chigurh by puncturing an unlucky bank employee’s skull with a captive bolt pistol.

Needless to say, the murder and theft are enough that Sweeney ends up on Madsen and Soto’s radar – interrupting a moment ...

Click to continue reading ‘Alcatraz’ Season 1, Episode 4: ‘Cal Sweeney’ Recap

‘The Walking Dead’ Season 2 Midseason Premiere Preview [Updated]

Kofi Outlaw — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 22:05:25 +0000

[Check out the latest trailer for The Walking Dead Season 2.5!]

The Walking Dead season 2 is still a heavily-debated event, with some fans praising the show for its slow burn drama and character development, while other fans boo it as a simply a boring show that is suffering from the dreaded sophomore slump.

Despite the difference in overall opinion, it’s hard to deny that season 2 midseason finale, left us in a good (in this case meaning awful and tragic) place, and in doing so, helped the show redeem itself by both delivering cathartic payoff to the overarching mystery, and setting the stage for some major fallout.

[WARNING: WALKING DEAD SEASON 2 SPOILERS BELOW!]

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Today we ...

Click to continue reading ‘The Walking Dead’ Season 2 Midseason Premiere Preview [Updated]

‘Game of Thrones’ Season 2: ‘Shadow’ Trailer

Ben Moore — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 15:17:00 +0000

Game of Thrones was arguably the most well-received and critically-acclaimed new genre show of the last year – and now that the 2011 Emmys and the Golden Globes have come and gone, you can add award-winning to that list, as well.

Since closing out its first season way back in June, fans of the HBO fantasy series – based on the popular A Song of Ice and Fire series of novels by George R. R. Martin – have been waiting impatiently for their first glimpse of Season 2.

And while we’ve previously seen teasers (and a featurette) for the forthcoming season, today’s the first time we’re seeing ...

Click to continue reading ‘Game of Thrones’ Season 2: ‘Shadow’ Trailer

Screen Rant » TV News

The CW calls ‘Green Arrow’ TV Show ‘Edgy & Provocative’

‘The River’ Series Premiere Review & Discussion

‘Justified’ Season 3, Episode 4: ‘The Devil You Know’ Recap

Contest: Win An ‘I Heart The Walking Dead’ Prize Pack! (Day 3)

‘Alcatraz’ Season 1, Episode 5: ‘Guy Hastings’ Recap

Best Super Bowl Commercials 2012: The Best of the ‘Meh’

‘The River’ Trailer: ‘Lost’ in the Amazon

‘Spartacus: Vengeance’ Episode 2: ‘A Place In This World’ Recap

‘Awake’ To Premiere In March on NBC

Super Bowl Commercials 2012: Complete List

Which ads came out on top?
Best Super Bowl Commercials 2012: The Best of the ‘Meh’

Reality TV By The Numbers [Infographic]

‘Justified’ Season 3, Episode 3: ‘Harlan Roulette’ Recap

HBO Orders Season 2 Of ‘Luck’ After One Episode

Win An iPad 2 & Beats By Dr. Dre Headphones From ‘America’s Book of Secrets’ on H2

About America’s Book of Secrets

‘Green Arrow’ TV Show Casts ’90210′ Actor in Lead

FX Signs ‘Sons of Anarchy’ Creator For Seasons 6 & 7

Fox Orders Mindy Kaling Pilot; Will Leave ‘The Office’

‘Alcatraz’ Season 1, Episode 4: ‘Cal Sweeney’ Recap

‘The Walking Dead’ Season 2 Midseason Premiere Preview [Updated]

[WARNING: WALKING DEAD SEASON 2 SPOILERS BELOW!]

‘Game of Thrones’ Season 2: ‘Shadow’ Trailer

Screen Rant » TV News

The CW calls ‘Green Arrow’ TV Show ‘Edgy & Provocative’

‘The River’ Series Premiere Review & Discussion

‘Justified’ Season 3, Episode 4: ‘The Devil You Know’ Recap

Contest: Win An ‘I Heart The Walking Dead’ Prize Pack! (Day 3)

‘Alcatraz’ Season 1, Episode 5: ‘Guy Hastings’ Recap

Best Super Bowl Commercials 2012: The Best of the ‘Meh’

‘The River’ Trailer: ‘Lost’ in the Amazon

‘Spartacus: Vengeance’ Episode 2: ‘A Place In This World’ Recap

‘Awake’ To Premiere In March on NBC

Super Bowl Commercials 2012: Complete List

Which ads came out on top? Best Super Bowl Commercials 2012: The Best of the ‘Meh’

Reality TV By The Numbers [Infographic]

‘Justified’ Season 3, Episode 3: ‘Harlan Roulette’ Recap

HBO Orders Season 2 Of ‘Luck’ After One Episode

Win An iPad 2 & Beats By Dr. Dre Headphones From ‘America’s Book of Secrets’ on H2

About America’s Book of Secrets

‘Green Arrow’ TV Show Casts ’90210′ Actor in Lead

FX Signs ‘Sons of Anarchy’ Creator For Seasons 6 & 7

Fox Orders Mindy Kaling Pilot; Will Leave ‘The Office’

‘Alcatraz’ Season 1, Episode 4: ‘Cal Sweeney’ Recap

‘The Walking Dead’ Season 2 Midseason Premiere Preview [Updated]

[WARNING: WALKING DEAD SEASON 2 SPOILERS BELOW!]

‘Game of Thrones’ Season 2: ‘Shadow’ Trailer

Which ads came out on top?
Best Super Bowl Commercials 2012: The Best of the ‘Meh’