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Lifetime Developing ‘Clarice’ TV Series, Based on ‘Silence of the Lambs’ Character

Sandy Schaefer — Sat, 26 May 2012 15:09:00 +0000

Bryan Fuller’s Hannibal TV series will premiere on NBC in the foreseeable future. However, Lifetime has already begun development on another television show that will be centered around a famous character from Thomas Harris’ literature: FBI agent Clarice Starling.

MGM is producing the latter series, which is titled Clarice. The project is backed by Lifetime head honcho Nancy Dubuc (executive producer of The Kennedys), with the intention to replicate the success of Jennifer Love Hewittt’s The Client List – as another actress-headlined series on the channel.

According to TV Guide, Clarice will chronicle the experiences of its namesake after she has her first encounter with Hannibal “The Cannibal” Lecter and graduates from FBI academy. It sounds as though the TV series will therefore bridge the narrative gap between The Silence of the Lambs and Hannibal, following ...

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‘Awake’ Series Finale Review

Kevin Yeoman — Fri, 25 May 2012 14:49:59 +0000

While there was certainly disappointment in finding out that Awake wouldn’t see a second season, and would instead be looked at as a 13-episode miniseries, it would appear that the fate of the show – which has been bemoaned by so many – may help it to be remembered more fondly than if it were to continue.

This is not intended to be a slight on what has been a well acted, and frequently well-written series. The trouble is, however, that Awake - more often than not – focused on a sometimes bland procedural effort, rather than exploring the interesting and unique concepts it began with. More egregious, though, was the continued insistence to turn what initially started out as a thought-provoking exercise on the lengths one would go to overcome grief, into a frustrating ...

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Networks Interested in ‘Exorcist’ TV Miniseries by ‘Martha Marcy May Marlene’ Director

Kofi Outlaw — Fri, 25 May 2012 01:30:16 +0000

About three years ago, exactly, we first reported on a TV miniseries based on The Exorcist - which would’ve immediately set off all kinds of alarm bells, if not for the saving grace that the miniseries was being shepherded by William Friedkin (director of The Exorcist movie) and William Peter Blatty (writer of the The Exorcist novel).

Flash-forward three years and now comes word that this Exorcist miniseries is still alive and kicking – and may be nearer to production than ever before – thanks to an in-demand script by an up-and-coming Hollywood talent.

Vulture reports that Sean Durkin – writer and director of acclaimed indie drama Martha Marcy May Marlene - is adapting Blatty’s novel into a ten-episode miniseries that will be backed by producer Roy Lee (The Departed, The Ring, The ...

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‘Community’ Cast Memo Leaked: How To Handle Creator Firing

Anthony Ocasio — Thu, 24 May 2012 17:44:04 +0000

Following the firing of Community creator Darn Harmon as showrunner on the series, Sony Pictures Television (the studio that produces the show), sent out a memo to the cast about how to handle any Harmon-related questions that may arise. Unfortunately for Sony, the memo has been leaked.

Titled “Community Message Points,” the memo, released by The Hollywood Reporter, presents four general questions relating to Harmon’s departure, with appropriate guidelines for a response. Apparently, everyone is either “excited” or “looking forward” to starting Community season 4. (Though one should ask, just to be sure).

While not exactly putting the situation in a positive light, a memo of this type is to be expected, and potentially welcomed, from everyone involved in the series. Certainly not conveying everyone’s true feelings, the simple fact is that ...

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Amazon Reportedly Interested In Saving ABC’s ‘Pan Am’

Kevin Yeoman — Thu, 24 May 2012 03:49:50 +0000

This is getting to be the new routine. Knowing that original content is king, networks and non-networks everywhere are lining up to either create their own programs or, like Netflix and now, online retailer Amazon, resurrect failed shows like ABC’s period drama Pan Am.

According to recent reports, the online retailer is looking for ways to broaden its streaming content, and since it already carries the first season of Pan Am, has been in contact with Sony Pictures Television about potentially serving as the program’s new home, now that ABC has sent the flight attendants packing.

Pan Am came into being as the second Mad Men wannabe, but unlike poorly received entry The Playboy Club on NBC, Pan Am, boasting a cast featuring Christina Ricci, Mike Vogel (Cloverfield) and Kelli Garner (The ...

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TiVo Declares Phillip Phillips ‘American Idol’ Winner (Based On Viewing Data)

Anthony Ocasio — Wed, 23 May 2012 21:11:08 +0000

Viewers will be tuning in tonight to find out whether Phillip Phillips or Jessica Sanchez will be declared “your” American Idol. While last night’s performances may have tipped everyone off to the likely winner, TiVo says their research shows that Phillip Phillips will win.

Using viewer data from last night’s performance, TiVo found that Phillips’ performances accounted for three of the top five most watched moments. Coming in at No. 1, 2 and 4, Phillips ultimately bested Sanchez’s performances, which came in at No. 3 and 5.

Additionally, TiVo reports that the there was a 12% increase from the second most watched moment and the first – meaning that Sanchez’s initial entry at No. 3 could be related to a substantial loss in votes.

Of course, Sanchez didn’t exactly have the best night last night – but ...

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SR Pick: Co-op of the Damned Presents ‘Braaaaiinss…’

Roth Cornet — Wed, 23 May 2012 14:48:24 +0000

Over the last several years we have seen a steady increase in content created specifically for The Web. Certain web series have enjoyed phenomenal success (perhaps the most notable of which is Felicia Day‘s The Guild), creating a culture of Web-lebrities. Still others have created one-off online sensations – the most popular of which is Joss Whedon’s Doctor Horrible’s Sing A-Long Blog (again starring the lovely Ms. Day).

In the midst of this ocean of content, a few gems (that do not happen to have Felicia Day attached — yet) rise to the surface. Here I invite you to experience the silly, good-natured and occasionally horrific humor of the web-series C0-Op of the Damned. It’s a comedy for both lovers of horror – and those who prefer not to pee in their pants at the ...

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Hulu to Premiere Kevin Smith’s ‘Spoilers’ & Richard Linklater’s ‘Up to Speed’

Andrew Contrada — Wed, 23 May 2012 02:43:38 +0000

Apparently following in the footsteps of Netflix, the online streaming service Hulu is scheduled to release a variety of original and exclusive programming available only through the site, as well as the Hulu Plus subscription service. The plethora of new shows run the gamut from reality to sci-fi, and include two particularly promising upcoming premieres: Spoilers, a discussion forum focusing on new films, hosted by director Kevin Smith (Red State), and Up To Speed, a travel series created by director Richard Linklater (Dazed and Confused).

Smith, long a contender for the unofficial title of “ultimate fanboy,” has spent his career championing all things pop-culture. In recent years, the filmmaker has parlayed his status as a comic book and cinema aficionado into a
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‘Walking Dead’ Season 3 Preview Reveals The Prison & Michonne [Updated]

Anthony Ocasio — Wed, 23 May 2012 01:50:43 +0000

[UPDATE: Scroll Down for the First Image of Michonne!]

Production began in early May on The Walking Dead season 3, and AMC has just released the first footage from the highly-anticipated next chapter of the show. Shot on the set of The Walking Dead season 3 premiere, today’s two-minute behind-the-scenes video contains cast interviews about what fans can expect to see in this upcoming season.

Fortunately, there’s much more than just high-hopes contained within the video. For those who look closely, you’ll notice that a majority of the featurette is filmed in a new, unfamiliar setting. One with bars. And blood.

Giving viewers their first glimpse inside the prison, there’s not exactly a lot of information that can be taken from it (besides there being many bars). However, one thing that the video does reveal is the physical condition that ...

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Gabriel Byrne Joins History Channel’s ‘Vikings’

Kevin Yeoman — Wed, 23 May 2012 01:31:07 +0000

Well, this should certainly help legitimize History Channel’s first original series, Vikings. It looks as though the series about Norsemen, their various raids and the people who love them, has signed Golden Globe-winning actor Gabriel Byrne to portray Earl Haraldson, a high-ranking Viking leader who takes a particular dislike to ambitious upstart Ragnar Lothbrok.

Byrne should be familiar to audiences from films like Miller’s Crossing and The Usual Suspects. In addition to his many film roles, Byrne also headed up the critically-acclaimed HBO series In Treatment, from 2008-2010, and will also be taking a major role in the upcoming UK series Coup – though no word on whether or not that series has any plans to air in the U.S.

Vikings, meanwhile, will consist of a 10-episode season that tells the story of historical figure Ragnar Lothbrok. According to ...

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Aaron Sorkin’s ‘The Newsroom’: New Trailers & Poster

Kevin Yeoman — Tue, 22 May 2012 23:23:05 +0000

Considering the attention a new project from Aaron Sorkin generates – like his involvement in the other Steve Jobs biopic – it’s understandable that HBO would choose to push its newest series, The Newsroom, by slathering Sorkin’s name and his accolades wherever it might attract the most attention. Since the series is set to premiere on June 24th, the network’s final wave of marketing has begun with the release of two new trailers and a poster that market Sorkin’s past work as much as they do the show’s plot.

For those not already familiar, The Newsroom centers on Will McAvoy(Jeff Daniels), a cable news anchor who has made it his mission to create a television news program that actually covers the news without bending to some sort of political bias, or yielding ...

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‘Dexter’ Season 7 Begins Production; Jason Gedrick Joins Cast

Anthony Ocasio — Tue, 22 May 2012 19:43:55 +0000

Production on Dexter season 7 is set to begin this week (May 23rd), and the cast is still growing: Showtime has announced that Jason Gedrick will be joining the series for a multiple-episode arc.

Known most recently for his role as Jerry Boyle on HBO’s Luck, Gedrick’s currently unnamed character is described as an “owner of a Miami-area gentlemen’s club that becomes linked to a high-profile murder case.” Perhaps not the best position to be in when there’s a serial killer vigilante out searching for new “victims.” Has Dexter (Michael C. Hall) found his second big bad for season 7?

Rome star Ray Stevenson was previously announced for a reoccurring role, playing the leader of a Russian organized crime syndicate. Considering ...

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‘House’ Series Finale Review & Discussion

Anthony Ocasio — Tue, 22 May 2012 16:12:14 +0000

Paired with a beautifully crafted retrospective, the House series finale, in its two-hour form, perfectly represents the best and worst of the series. Using Hugh Laurie to endear audiences to the behind-the-scenes production of the series, House entered into its final episode by presenting the perfect platform for audiences to not only enjoy the finale, but to also appreciate it from the point-of-view of everyone who worked on it.

Sadly, all of those fond memories and earned goodwill from the retrospective were all-but lost, as the lack of actual story, its poor, disjointed flashbacks and “twist” ending served to almost isolate this episode from the entity of the series. Perhaps a story viewers would be interesting in hearing – though not as the closing chapter.

Trapped in a burning building, much of the episode ...

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Charlie Kaufman and Catherine Keener Reunite for HBO Comedy Series

Sandy Schaefer — Tue, 22 May 2012 15:21:55 +0000

Oscar-winning screenwriter Charlie Kaufman and actress Catherine Keener previously collaborated on the former’s breakout hit, Being John Malkovich, before re-teaming for Synecdoche, New York (Kaufman’s directorial debut). They will rejoin forces again, on Kaufman’s sophomore directing effort, Frank or Francis.

It turns out the duo will also be collaborating on a new small-screen venture. HBO has fast-tracked development on a new comedy series – written and directed by Kaufman with Keener onboard to star. On the off-chance you were wondering: yes, the show is shaping up to be (what else?) a mind-warp.

HBO has been expanding its repertoire of late, to encompass more women-centric television series. Such new TV additions to the powerhouse cable channel include: Enlightened, starring Laura Dern (also the co-creator), Veep featuring Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Girls as created and headlined by Lena ...

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‘House’ Series Finale – A Fitting Farewell?

Anthony Ocasio — Tue, 22 May 2012 03:11:14 +0000

The final chapter of House has been closed with the series finale, and the fate of Dr. Gregory House revealed. After eight years on the air (177 episodes), do you believe that this was a fitting end for television’s famed diagnostician?

Trapped in a burning building, House’s final battle for survival was played out in front of our eyes. With appearances from some familiar faces, both living and dead, it was left up to the famed diagnostician to save himself.

Reliving his final case in his conscience, House made the decision to save himself. Unfortunately, as Wilson and Foreman approached the building, House was engulfed in the flames – OR SO WE THOUGHT.

Taking a note from Sherlock Holmes, it was eventually revealed that House had actually faked his own death. Escaping from the back ...

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‘American Chopper: Senior vs. Junior’ Finale – Building A Bike Together?

Anthony Ocasio — Tue, 22 May 2012 02:32:03 +0000

The moment that fans have been waiting for has finally arrived: In the American Chopper: Senior vs. Junior season 3 finale, Paul Sr. and Paul Jr. met face-to-face to put to rest the conflict that has been going on between them for the past few years. Now that everything has been revealed on camera, is it possible that Senior and Junior are going to build a bike together?

It’s not exactly the outcome one expected to see from this last-minute meeting – the final moments of the finale revealed an interesting meeting between Paul Jr. and Paul Sr., where both revealed the intricate details of their conflict and what actually occurred between the estranged father and son.

It had both of them attempting to figure out what they are ...

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‘Breaking Bad’ Season 5 Premieres July 15; Concludes Summer 2013

Anthony Ocasio — Mon, 21 May 2012 23:50:16 +0000

AMC has announced that Breaking Bad season 5 will premiere Sunday, July 15 @10pm. Additionally, it was also announced that the final chapter of the series will conclude a year later, beginning summer 2013.

Essentially creating two “final” seasons of Breaking Bad, the divided seasons will each contain 8 episodes. Initially positioned as a “super-sized” final season, AMC’s decision to air Breaking Bad’s final season across two years always felt more like a way to take advantage of fan anticipation – rather than providing an extended conclusion for one of television’s best series.

Concluding the tale of the one-time chemisty teacher turned drug lord, much of television has been wondering what Walter White’s (Bryan Cranston) fate will be. Will his faithful partner in crime, Jesse Pinkman (Aaron Paul), follow ...

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10 Deadliest Shows on TV Revealed

Anthony Ocasio — Mon, 21 May 2012 21:03:07 +0000

Television is no longer the walk in the park that is used to be. With many series focused on solving murders (or committing them), the landscape of television has become, well, deadly. But which series are the deadliest?

In a study conducted by Funeralwise.com, which analyzed the deaths in 8 episodes of 40 TV shows, it was revealed that Spartacus: Vengeance and Game of Thrones came out on top, with an average of 25 and 13 dead bodies per episode, respectively.

For those not familiar with either series, those numbers do appear to be extremely high. Though with Spartacus: Vengeance focusing on the gladiator rebellion, and Game of Thrones highlighting the civil war between the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros, it’s not surprising to find these two series making the ...

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‘House’ Fan Art: 30 Amazing Pieces Remembering The Series

Anthony Ocasio — Mon, 21 May 2012 15:57:01 +0000

With Fox’s groundbreaking series House coming to an end, we decided the best way to bid farewell to everyone at Princeton-Plainsboro would be to celebrate the wonderful fan community that has grown out of the show.

Check out these 30 amazing pieces of art, created by House fans, that celebrate eight years of a wonderful series.

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Complete Guide To 2012 Fall TV Shows – What Will You Watch?

Anthony Ocasio — Mon, 21 May 2012 14:33:36 +0000

The impending 2012-2013 television season may still be months away, but with the addition of over 40 new series, deciding which new TV shows will be added to your viewing schedule may prove to be difficult, even for the most skilled DVR programmer. Fortunately, we’ve combined all of the new series from ABC, CBS, The CW, NBC and Fox into one handy guide.

With many networks deciding to rework portions of their schedule, make sure to check out whether or not your favorite returning series has been moved to a new timeslot (especially if it’s on The CW).

Though we have yet to take a look at any of the new series, the provided pilot trailers usually give a decent representation of how a series could turn out. (ABC’s Revenge being last year’s exception.)

Trying to add any new ...

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