Shows that made MTV the place to be

While MTV as a brand isn’t going anywhere, the reason we fell in love with the channel is disappearing from the airwaves. Before platforms like YouTube and Vimeo shared music videos with millions of daily users, MTV was the place to be to see the latest visual spectacles from your favorite musical artists. In addition to airing must-see TV like 120 Minutes, Headbanger’s Ball, Yo! MTV Raps, Alternative Nation, Amp, and more, MTV kept you entertained into the wee hours of the morning with Liquid Television, Aeon Flux, The Head, The Maxx, and Cartoon Sushi.

Don’t even get me started on MTV News. Back in my day, when you heard that theme by Beanie Sigel, or the stinger cut from the Stone Temple Pilots song “Lounge Fly,” you dropped everything to pay attention. I can still recall the afternoon when MTV’s Kurt Loder broke the news about Kurt Cobain’s tragic death. For a grunge-obsessed “freak” like me, the world stopped that day. Cobain’s passing was one of my first confrontations with a celebrity death that hit close to home. Cobain and John Candy, really.

Which MTV channels are going dark?

In the U.K. and across parts of Europe, channels such as MTV Music, MTV 80s, MTV 90s, Club MTV, and MTV Live are being removed from Sky and Virgin Media lineups. In the U.S., remaining regional cable feeds that still carried music-only MTV programming will go dark as distribution contracts expire.

Which channels are disappearing? According to reports, the five channels slated for closure are MTV Music, MTV 80s, MTV 90s, Club MTV, and MTV Live. All five channels will close by December 31, 2025.

Why can’t we have nice things?

Why are the channels shutting down? There are lots of reasons for the MTV channels going dark, but essentially, it’s due to a decline in audience engagement and a shift in viewing habits. Other reasons include cost-cutting measures and restructuring at Paramount Global, as well as a change in focus from linear channels to digital and streaming platforms.

Say it ain’t so, MTV! Let’s negotiate a deal for a 24/7 MTV Unplugged channel! Imagine it. Non-stop broadcasts of Unplugged performances by Nirvana, Alice in Chains, The Cure, Stone Temple Pilots, Bjork, Hole, The Cranberries, Tori Amos, Fiona Apple, Korn, Placebo, and everyone in between! I don’t ask for much. At least give me this!

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Zampella Helped Create the Call of Duty Franchise

Zampella was a lead designer on Medal of Honor: Allied Assault, but he founded video game developer Infinity Ward with Grant Collier and Jason West to develop a new game described as a Medal of Honor Killer. That game was Call of Duty, a first-person shooter set during World War II, which allowed players to take control of soldiers in the American, British, and Soviet campaigns. With fast-paced combat and an emphasis on squad-based play, the game was an enormous success.

Under Zampella’s leadership, Infinity Ward released Call of Duty 2, Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2.

Zampella and Ward were later fired by Activision, Infinity Ward’s parent company, but they successfully sued for wrongful termination and received a settlement. The pair then founded Respawn Entertainment, which went on to develop games such as Titanfall, Apex Legends, and Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order. In 2021, Electronic Arts put Zampella in charge of the Battlefield franchise.

Call of Duty Has Become One of the Biggest Video Game Franchises of All Time

With nearly two dozen installments, Call of Duty has become one of the biggest video game franchises of all time, behind only Mario and Tetris. More than 500 million copies of Call of Duty games have been sold, generating over $30 billion.

A big-screen movie based on the franchise has been in development for many years, with the latest attempt currently underway at Paramount Pictures. Yellowstone‘s Taylor Sheridan is developing and producing the project, with Peter Berg on board to direct. Sheridan and Berg will also co-write the script.

Our thoughts and condolences go out to Zampella’s family and friends. A true giant in the gaming industry gone too soon.

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Mike Binder and Steven Spielberg Were Working Together Until Ben Affleck Got Involved

While appearing on Stephen Baldwin’s podcast One Bad Movie, filmmaker Mike Binder recalled crossing paths with Spielberg after the legendary director was impressed by The Upside of Anger. “He said, ‘We gotta do something together. I want you to write something for me,’” Binder explained. That collaboration ultimately gave rise to Man About Town, a comedy-drama about a powerful Hollywood agent whose seemingly perfect life begins to unravel.

Binder hoped Spielberg would direct the film. Although Spielberg later backed out of directing duties, he kept the project at DreamWorks, at least until Ben Affleck entered the picture.

After meeting with Affleck, Binder struck a deal for the actor to star in Man About Town. But when he called Spielberg with the news, the response was swift. “I call Steven, Steven says, ‘No. Can’t do it with him. We just bombed with a movie with him, he’s got that whole J-Lo thing going on now, and I have other problems with him,’” Binder said.

So… What Happened?

According to Binder, Spielberg traced his issues with Affleck back to a family vacation in the late ’90s, when Affleck was dating Gwyneth Paltrow, Spielberg’s goddaughter. “‘My son was a little boy, he was playing in the pool, and he got out of the pool, and Ben came in fully dressed, and my son pushed Ben into the pool,’” Binder recalled Spielberg telling him. “‘And Ben got really mad at him, and he came out of the pool and picked him up and threw him back into the pool, and made my son cry.’”

Binder continued, “He says, ‘I just don’t like to work with him. Plus his last two movies bombed. Find somebody else. Anyone but him. He’s cold as hell.’ I said, ‘Okay, Steven.’”

When Binder contacted Affleck’s agent, he quickly received a call from Affleck himself. “Ben calls me up, he says, ‘Did Steven Spielberg tell you I threw his kid in the water? Is that what happened? Is that why I’m not on your movie?’” Binder recalled. “I said, ‘No, he didn’t say—’ ‘Yes he did! He told you I threw his kid in the water. That’s why I’m not on the movie.’”

Despite everything, Binder ultimately decided he still wanted Affleck for the role. Spielberg didn’t push back, but DreamWorks dropped Man About Town the very next day. Binder took the project elsewhere, and the film was eventually released direct-to-DVD in 2006.

Binder Made Affleck Laugh About it Years Later

Years later, Binder found himself watching the 85th Academy Awards, where Affleck’s Argo beat Spielberg’s Lincoln for Best Picture. “He beats Spielberg, and he’s at the Academy Awards, and they’re hugging,” Binder said. “And I text him, I’m watching on the air, I go, ‘Ben, tonight you could throw Spielberg’s whole family in the pool and get away with it.’ About an hour later, the phone rings, it’s Affleck at the Academy [Awards]. He goes, ‘That made me laugh so f—in’ hard.’”

Looking back, Binder summed up the entire saga with some hard-earned perspective. “I love both these guys, and they’re both smarter than me, but they both kinda acted like idiots, and so did I,” he said. “They were great guys, but at the same time, assholes. They were like everybody else. Steven Spielberg is a genius and a great guy, but he can be an asshole. And Ben Affleck is a great guy, and he can be a bigger asshole. But by the same token, both of ’em can go, ‘Yeah, I can be an asshole.’”

Is this decade’s old pool incident still a point of contention between Spielberg and Affleck? I’m not sure, but the story certainly made me laugh.

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“Dracula Land brings together everything I’ve learned in real estate: discipline, rigor, vision, and the ability to keep complex teams with very different specializations together,” said founder Dragoș Dobrescu. “But more importantly, it adds a story that gives meaning to every square meter built. For me, Dracula Land is a national project—a symbol that Romania can and must build landmarks, not just buildings or simple real estate projects.“

The Six Themed Lands of Dracula Land

Guests are welcomed into the park in the Moonlight District, which offers a vibrant main street, adorned with ornate, colourful buildings inspired by Bucharest’s architecture. There will be various attractions and music.

Next up is The Family Kingdom, which will showcase a diverse range of vampire and supernatural creatures from cultures across the globe, designed to provide an engaging experience for visitors of all ages.

Then there’s Transylvania, which offers an immersive experience that brings the legendary land of Dracula to life. Featuring the breathtaking Carpathian Mountains, a traditional village, and a mysterious forest, this attraction blends rich cultural heritage with thrilling entertainment.

The centerpiece of Dracula Land will be Dracula’s Castle. Guests can explore the castle’s vast grounds, which will feature a maze, ancient ruins, a lake, and a bat-themed coaster.

There’s also London Town, which will offer immersive experiences, such as obstacle courses and training to become a vampire hunter. There will also be uniquely themed stores filled with exclusive Dracula Land merchandise.

Lastly, we’ve got the Port of New Orleans. Guests can explore festive attractions, dine on a riverboat, and venture into the enchanting bayou, all while taking in the French-inspired architecture and the lively energy of Mardi Gras. There will also be a coaster race with howling werewolves.

Dracula Land will also have a “metaverse” with its own cryptocurrency, called DraculaCoin.

The various videos on the Dracula Land site all appear to be AI-generated. They give everything a bit of a creepy vibe, as they are full of common AI mistakes, such as terrifying humans and gibberish signs. Makes it a little challenging to see the true vision for the project. I do love the Teeefhone booth.

When Will Dracula Land Open?

The theme park’s road map seems equally ambitious. Phase One apparently got underway in 2024, with “master planning” and “early creative development.” Phase Two, which spans 2025-2026, is when physical construction will occur, along with the beta launch of the digital platform. Phase Three is the launch period, spanning 2026-2027, marked by the grand opening, media expansion, and franchise development. So…if all goes as planned, the park could see its first visitors as early as next year.

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His wife, Janet Gerard, would notify fans by confirming the news of his passing on her Facebook page. Her announcement read, “Early this morning Gil – my soulmate – lost his fight with a rare and viciously aggressive form of cancer,” wrote his wife. “From the moment when we knew something was wrong to his death this morning was only days. No matter how many years I got to spend with him it would have ever been enough. Hold the ones you have tightly and love them fiercely.”

She would also recently post a message on the official Gil Gerard Facebook page that her husband left for his fans. Her post included some wholesome, happy pictures of Gerard from recent times and the text would read, “This is Janet Gerard, Gil’s wife. Just to clarify – I was by his side when my husband passed away this morning in hospice care. Below is the message he left:

If you are reading this, then Janet has posted it as I asked her to.

My life has been an amazing journey. The opportunities I’ve had, the people I’ve met and the love I have given and received have made my 82 years on the planet deeply satisfying.

My journey has taken me from Arkansas to New York to Los Angeles, and finally, to my home in North Georgia with my amazing wife, Janet, of 18 years. It’s been a great ride, but inevitably one that comes to a close as mine has.

Don’t waste your time on anything that doesn’t thrill you or bring you love. See you out somewhere in the cosmos.”

Before Buck Rogers, Gerard played Dr. Alan Stewart on more than 300 episodes of NBC’s The Doctors. After his role in Buck Rogers, Gerard’s career would thrive on television and independent films. He would star as Dr. John Harding in CBS’ short-lived series E.A.R.T.H. Force back in 1990, as well as having a six-episode arc on Days of Our Lives in 1997. He was seen more recently as Bergen Paulsen, a character who played opposite Russell Crowe and Ryan Gosling in The Nice Guys.

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“Rob Reiner was a brilliant actor and director, an iconic force in our entertainment industry for decades,” Hochman said. “His wife, Michelle Singer Reiner, was an equally iconic photographer and producer. Their loss is beyond tragic, and we will commit ourselves to bringing their murderer to justice.” The DA added that he hasn’t decided if his prosecutors will seek the death penalty, but will listen to the “thoughts and desires of the family” before making the choice.

James Woods Reacts to the Deaths of Rob and Michele

It’s safe to say that James Woods and Rob Reiner were on opposite ends of the political spectrum, but the actor was visibly emotional during an appearance on Fox News, where he spoke against some of the “distasteful” comments that some have made about Reiner’s death.

“Rob literally saved my career and really put me back on track in a way that was so important and rewarding in my life. He really fought for me when a studio didn’t want me in a movie,” Woods said. “I went from really being basically out of a job to getting an Academy Award nomination, and I give all the credit to Rob.” Woods starred alongside Alec Baldwin and Whoopi Goldberg in Reiner’s Ghosts of Mississippi.

Woods continued, “I judge people by how they treat me, and Rob Reiner was a Godsend in my life. We got along great, we loved each other… He was always on my side. When people would say to me, ‘What do you think of his politics?’ I would say, ‘I think Rob Reiner is a great patriot. Do I agree on many of his ideas on how that patriotism should be enacted, to celebrate the America that we both love? No. He doesn’t agree with me either, but he also respects my patriotism. We had a different path to the same destination, which was a country we both love. Because you disagree with people doesn’t mean that you have to hate people.“

Others Express their Shock at the Deaths

The family of the late Norman Lear, creator of All in the Family, released a statement to THR, saying, “The Lear Family is devastated by the deaths of Rob and Michele Reiner. Norman often referred to Rob as a son, and their close relationship was extraordinary, to us and the world. Norman would have wanted to remind us that Rob and Michele spent every breath trying to make this country a better place, and they pursued that through their art, their activism, their philanthropy, and their love for family and friends. Lyn Lear had remained very close with them and said, ‘The world is unmistakably darker tonight, and we are left bereft.’“

Sally Struthers, who starred alongside Reiner in All in the Family, said, “There are no words. This is beyond devastating and my heart is with their family.“

The Princess Bride star Robin Wright said, “I am deeply shocked and devastated. I cannot begin to imagine what the family is experiencing or what they will have to endure in the months and years ahead. It is truly heartbreaking. Rob was one of the most loving, compassionate, and kind people I have ever known. He was an extraordinary director and the impact he had on me has stayed with me throughout my career. My heart goes out to his family and loved ones during this incredibly difficult time.“

Kathy Bates, who starred in Reiner’s Misery, said she is “absolutely devastated” by the news. “I loved Rob,” she said. “He was brilliant and kind, a man who made films of every genre to challenge himself as an artist. He also fought courageously for his political beliefs. He changed the course of my life. Michele was a gifted photographer. She shot my beautiful photos for the Misery campaign. My heart breaks for them both. My thoughts are with their family.“

It’s always extremely sad when a legend in the industry is taken from us, but the way in which Reiner and his wife passed makes this all the more tragic.

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The famous radio shock jock isn’t going anywhere just yet. This year saw Howard Stern at a contract renewal standoff with SiriusXM, where he has a show on his own channel. Stern would use the ongoing contract negotiations to play a prank on listeners this past fall when he had Watch What Happens Live host Andy Cohen start his show in Stern’s slot after the summer hiatus and announcing that Stern is no longer with the company. Multiple news outlets, including major names like CNBC, Variety and the Associated Press, had reported on Stern’s leaving his show.

Three More Years

Stern revealed the stunt was a criticism on news reports about his status with his SiriusXM contract while he was on Summer hiatus, calling the inaccurate reports “bad rumors.” The joke was being done at a time when Stern had to decide whether or not he wanted to renew the 5-year contract he signed in 2020. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the standoff has ended, and Stern has now signed on with Sirius with a new three-year contract. Stern started his show this morning saying to his listeners,

I’m happy to announce that I’ve figured out a way to have it all. More free time, and continuing to be on the radio. So yes, we are coming back for three years.”

Stern would continue to say, “I love this company. I truly do. I feel very loyal to this company. They did want me to come back, and they said, whatever you want to do, we’ll do for you. Who says that to anybody? When does your boss say that?”

Who is Howard Stern?

Howard Stern has been one of the most controversial – and revered – figures in the history of modern media. With a passion for the field as a child, Stern’s climb to the top of the radio world truly began in the ‘80s. And he did it off of his unique, button-pressing, FCC-clashing brand and humor: the boobs, the prank calls, the Wack Pack, all of it made Howard Stern one of the most recognizable figures in all of media. He would even tell his story in the biopic Private Parts, in which he starred as himself. And so as his markets grew and his written word topped the charts – but long before his first $500 million contract with Sirius – it was time for Stern to enter the movie business…with something a little more commercially viable than BUTT BONGO FIESTA.

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Amid finding out that news had broken of Nancy’s death, Short and his kids were heading out of town. This is where Kurt Russell enters the picture. As Short recounted in his memoir, I Must Say: My Life as a Humble Comedy Legend, “Fortunately, the kids and I had scheduled a trip the next morning to our Canadian refuge in Snug Harbour. We’d already had Nancy’s body cremated so that we could spread the ashes up there. We flew from L.A. to Toronto, and then, from Toronto, took a seaplane that touched down right by our dock.

“What the kids and I witnessed as the plane floated into the harbor brought tears: all of my siblings, their spouses, and my beloved nephews and nieces lined up on the dock. And flowers everywhere. Kurt Russell, I later found out, had gone to the florist in the next town and bought out the whole store. Then he went to an antiques store and bought flowerpots. Goldie [Hawn] offered to help, but he told her, “It’s okay, honey, I gotta do this myself.” He planted all the flowers in the pots and lined the dock and the pathways leading up to the main house with them.”

That’s some true friendship right there, a prime example of not just the sort of impact Martin Short has had on people but also how great of a guy Kurt Russell is.

While Captain Ron would flop with audiences and critics upon release in 1992, it has gone on to find a bit of a following courtesy of home video and TV airings. It might not have the sort of fanbase that Clifford does, but Captain Ron absolutely has its moments.

What did you think of the chemistry between Martin Short and Kurt Russell in Captain Ron? Does the movie have its merits 30+ years later?

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What Did Jack Black Say About Elle Fanning?

“Have you ever heard of body dysmorphia?” Black said in a TikTok video shared by Sony Pictures. “Where when you look at yourself, you’re like, ‘Oh, I’m so ugly,’ but really you’re like this gorgeous creature? I think she’s got like the opposite of that, where she looks at me, which objectively is a goblin gremlin, and she sees this gorgeous creature apparently.“

“She’s got that weird goblin dysmorphia,” he said. “Thank you. I appreciate the compliment, but I have to close my eyes, because I can’t quite process what I’m hearing there. But thank you, Elle.“

Paul Rudd, Black’s co-star in the upcoming Anaconda movie, stuck up for him. “I will say on behalf of Elle Fanning, I get it,” Rudd said. “I really do. I adore you, Jack. As does America! As does the world! Elle’s got it right. Elle’s got it right.“

Jack Black and Paul Rudd Star in Anaconda

The new Anaconda movie “involves a group of friends facing mid-life crises who are remaking their favorite movie from their youth. They head to the rainforest only to find themselves into a fight for their lives against natural disasters, giant snakes and violent criminals.” Tom Gormican (The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent) directed the film and co-wrote the screenplay with Kevin Ettin.

Black plays an “erstwhile director, a man stuck in his job as a wedding videographer,” with Rudd playing “an actor who did a stint on a cop show but sees his Hollywood dreams slipping further and further away.” Thandiwe Newton and Steve Zahn play the pair’s childhood friends who join them on this adventure. A handful of character posters were recently released for Anaconda, with the film set to hit theaters on December 25.

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What will Netflix gain from its deal with iHeart?

Natalie Jarvey of The Ankler says the deal would include around 20 shows, including Charlamagne tha God’s popular radio show-turned video podcast The Breakfast Club, and Stuff They Don’t Want You To Know, a podcast iHeart acquired in 2018 through a $55 million deal with Stuff Media.

Netflix has spent the better part of the year trying to gain a foothold in the podcast space. Podcasts account for an astronomical amount of views on YouTube, making them a must-have for the popular streaming network. While Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and other platforms host podcasts, many people listen to their favorite shows via YouTube out of convenience, not to mention the lack of a subscription fee, unless you already pay for YouTube Premium.

When did Netflix start zeroing in on podcasts?

In October, Netflix announced a partnership with Spotify to host video episodes of 16 sports, culture, and true crime shows, including The Bill Simmons Podcast, Rewatchables, Conspiracy Killers, and The Dave Chang Show. The deal could take effect next year, with part of the arrangement being that the episodes cannot be uploaded to YouTube.

Imagine YouTube losing a portion of its traffic to Netflix, which is swooping in for a piece of the action. You might say to yourself, ‘YouTube is massive, who cares?’ I bet YouTube cares. You don’t become the dominant video platform on the internet overall by rolling over to outfits like Netflix. Plus, Netflix is already vying to gain control of a portion of Warner Bros. Is Netflix biting off more than it can chew? If they get control of a section of iHeart’s podcast library, will they dedicate prime real estate to it, or bury it as Netflix does with its gaming content? We’ll need to wait and see.

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Ok, so the sub-headline is for my history buffs out there — as the Battle of New Orleans was fought after the War of 1812 had already ended. Comparatively, the bidding war for Warner Bros. had seemingly ended, and the fate of the company was thought to be sealed. However, Paramount is still fighting the battle with their aggressive offers despite a deal being made with Netflix. The company had reportedly “commenced an all-cash tender offer to acquire all of the outstanding shares of Warner Bros. Discovery for $30 per share in cash, a deal it says equates to an enterprise value of $108.4 billion.” Unless Paramount becomes successful in its takeover, Netflix currently has a grip on all Warner properties.

WB Games treated as an afterthought?

Now that Netflix has made this deal with Warner Bros., one of the many concerns that people had is how the streaming giant would also manage the subsidiaries under the WB umbrella. The precious gold for Netflix is the movie and TV properties, but Warners also has a slew of video game studios like TT Games (the LEGO game makers), Rocksteady Studios (the Batman: Arkham series) NetherRealm Studios (Mortal Kombat) and others whose fate is currently in the air. According to The Hollywood Reporter, despite the video game branch being a moneymaker and IP-generator for Hollywood, they are not among the top three assets that Netflix will be dedicating attention to.

Joost van Dreunen, a video games professor at the NYU Stern School of Business and the author of One Up: Creativity, Competition, and the Global Business of Video Games, told THR that he is “not super whelmed” by the idea of Netflix managing the gaming branch of the company. Netflix did enter the gaming world in 2021 with some casual mobile originals based on their own IP, but van Dreunen says it was “just a referral engine.” It was seemingly pushed aside, as van Dreunen states, “They had this grand ambition … this was going to be transformative.” He also says Netflix’s gaming effort “feels like the result of the initial efforts not quite turning around. It’s not for lack of talent or lack of IP or lack of effort — [it’s] just not a natural fit.”

The professor is holding out for hope, but also feeling jaded, saying, “While I still believe that they’re going to come up with something reasonable, they have kind of pushed the little games pots to the back of the stove.” He continued, “I read the (acquisition) pitch deck, and they mentioned the word ‘games’ exactly twice and [the plan] is never described.”

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The comic was discovered by three brothers in the attic of their late mother’s house. Their mother had bought the comic when she was just nine years old in Depression-era San Francisco. She had told her children that she had some “rare comics somewhere,” but could never remember where they were. She died just before the pandemic, but the brothers only got around to going through her house earlier this year. They were expecting to have to haul out a lot of junk, but instead, they found Superman #1 in a box of yellowed newspaper clippings.

The copy of Superman #1 has been graded a 9.0 out of 10 by the Certified Guaranty Company, making it the highest-quality copy known to exist. The previous record for the most expensive comic sold at auction was set last year, when Action Comics #1 was sold for $6 million.

That’s just crazy. You never know what’s hidden away gathering dust (and value) in someone’s house. I’m still hoping that my wife’s childhood collection of Beanie Babies will pay off one day.

Superman made his return to the big screen earlier this year, and a sequel is already in development. Man of Tomorrow will feature Superman and Lex Luthor teaming up against a much bigger threat (believed to be Brainiac), and production is set to begin in Atlanta in April. Warner Bros. have already scheduled the sequel for a July 9, 2027 release.

While speaking on the Howard Stern Show earlier this year, James Gunn dropped a few story details. “It’s a story about Lex Luthor and Superman having to work together to a certain degree against a much, much bigger threat,” he said. “It’s more complicated than that but. It’s as much a Lex movie as it is a Superman movie. I relate to the character of Lex, sadly. I really wanted to create something extraordinary with the two of them. I just love the script so much.”

The next DCU project to be released in theaters will be Supergirl, which stars Milly Alcock (House of the Dragon) as Kara Zor-El, alongside Eve Ridley (3 Body Problem) as Ruthye, Matthias Schoenaerts (Rust and Bone) as Krem of the Yellow Hill, David Krumholtz (Oppenheimer) as Zor-El, Emily Beecham (1899) as Alura, and Jason Momoa as Lobo, a role he has longed to play for years. The film will hit theaters on June 26, 2026.

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UPDATE: Our own Ryan Cultrera was at Robert Englund’s honoring on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and managed to whip together an exclusive video showing the whole ceremony, as well as some cool easter eggs involving Englund himself and classic co-star Heather Langenkamp. Check out the embed below for the touching ceremony – and see why Englund, despite playing one of the most evil characters of all time, remains such a beloved figure in the horror scene.

ORIGINAL POST: Robert Englund, who has terrified and delighted fans for decades as Freddy Krueger, was honoured with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame today. “I love the smell of peanut butter cups in the morning, Happy Halloween,” Englund told the crowd. Of course, the 78-year-old actor also wore his iconic Freddy Krueger glove, which includes a little Walk of Fame addition.

“The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce is proud to welcome Robert Englund to the Hollywood Walk of Fame,” said Ana Martinez, Walk of Fame producer. “I think the timing of having Robert’s star on Halloween is most fitting as his legacy is deeply entwined with the very spirit of Halloween.“

Englund was honoured with several speeches, including one from Heather Langenkamp, his co-star in A Nightmare on Elm Street, A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors, and Wes Craven’s New Nightmare.

“They did a lot of months of preparing the special effects makeup that he would wear. They had many weeks of preparing a costume that would bring forth that incredible silhouette of Freddy Krueger that we all know so well,” Langenkamp said. “And when I look at this five-pointed star in front of me with Robert’s name on it, I think of the five fingers of that oily, dirty glove that he wore on his right hand.“

She continued, “It was Robert who choreographed our fights for the most part, and he always made sure the glove was the third lead in the shot. He always made sure it was just close enough to my face to give me shivers, but not to actually cut me. And so, when I look at those scenes on film, I see the magic of Robert Englund, the classically trained actor, Royal Academy alumni.“

The first seven films of the Nightmare on Elm Street franchise were recently released on 4K Ultra HD. Englund did a lot of press during this time to promote the new set, and he even revealed which Elm Street sequel contains his favourite performance, and it might not be the one you think.

A big congratulations to Roberg Englund for his well-deserved star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame!

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In the family statement, it said, “His legacy endures with his whānau, his mokopuna, every filmmaker he inspired, every boundary he broke, and every story he told with his genius eye and honest heart. A charismatic leader and fierce creative spirit, Lee championed Māori talent both on and off screen.”

Tamahori had been in a battle with Parkinson’s disease and, back in April, he updated his health with Whakaata Māori, saying, “Mentally, I still have my marbles in my head.”

He found success after his feature film debut, Once Were Warriors, was released and presented a powerful and confronting story, which was based on Alan Duff’s book. It had sparked national debate from its depiction of domestic violence in an Auckland urban Māori family. Once Were Warriors also launched the careers of Temuera Morrison (Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones), Rena Owen (Whina) and Cliff Curtis (Doctor Sleep). When Tamahori migrated to Hollywood, he helmed big-budgeted movies like the aforemtioned Die Another Day, Along Came a Spider and The Devil’s Double. He also directed on several television episodes like The Sopranos and Billions.

According to IMDb, his upcoming film, Emperor, is still in “post-production,” but the film is said to be held up by legal issues. Per Wikipedia, Emperor is about a young woman seeking revenge for the execution of her father by Holy Roman Emperor Charles V. Adrien Brody was cast in 2014 to portray the Emperor opposite Sophie Cookson as the young woman looking for vengeance, also cast in 2014.

In 2006, Tamahori had a brush with the law when he was arrested in Los Angeles when he allegedly offered sexual services to an undercover police officer. He was eventually sentenced to three years’ probation and ordered to complete 15 days of community service, including cleaning the streets of Hollywood. Tamahori commented how it had little impact in his career when speaking with Whakaata Māori earlier this year, “Nobody gave a sh*t over there, it was only here. It was early internet savagery. But, you know, you make your bed and you lie in it.”

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In a letter to shareholders, Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick said the delay was to give “the team some additional time to finish the game with the high level of polish players expect and deserve. Rockstar has our full support of course, and we are confident they will deliver an unrivalled blockbuster entertainment experience.“

The official synopsis: “Jason and Lucia have always known the deck is stacked against them. But when an easy score goes wrong, they find themselves on the darkest side of the sunniest place in America, in the middle of a conspiracy stretching across the state of Leonida — forced to rely on each other more than ever if they want to make it out alive.“

The game is set within the fictional US state of Leonida, with Vice City forming a large part of the open world. There will be heists, action, and colourful characters; everything we’ve come to expect from Rockstar. Still, it’s been so long that fans are expecting nothing short of perfection, so it’s understandable that Rockstar wants GTA VI to be as polished as possible.

Given the substantial investment in this project, there has even been speculation that the game could reach the $100 price mark when it’s released. That seems like a lot, and I’d hate for it to become the standard, but when I think of the sheer hours of entertainment which Grand Theft Auto V has given me, it doesn’t sound too bad.

Grand Theft Auto V was released in 2013 and became the fastest-selling entertainment product in history, earning $1 billion in three days. The game revolves around three protagonists—retired bank robber Michael De Santa, street gangster Franklin Clinton, and drug dealer and gunrunner Trevor Philips. The game was first released on Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, but received re-releases on Xbox One and PlayStation 4 in 2014, and on Xbox Series X/S and PlayStation 5 in 2022. Grand Theft Auto Online has also kept the franchise going for the decade between installments, with frequent updates maintaining an active fan base and keeping the money rolling in.

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“We did not have [an intimacy coordinator], or maybe we did but we didn’t really… I felt really safe with Rob,” Lawrence explained. “He is not pervy and very in love with [partner] Suki Waterhouse. We mostly were just talking about our kids and relationships. There was never any weird like, ‘Does he think I like him?’ If there was a little bit of that I would probably have an intimacy coordinator. A lot of male actors get offended if you don’t want to f**k them, and then the punishment starts. He was not like that.“

Die My Love is based on the novel of the same name by Ariana Harwicz. The story centers on “a mother who struggles to maintain her sanity as she battles with psychosis.” It will hit theaters on November 7.

After going out of her way to stay in top shape for her nude scenes in No Hard Feelings, Lawrence decided to tone that down for Die My Love as she happened to be pregnant with her second child at the time. “I don’t care about nudity. I’m not sensitive about it,” she said. “I wanted Lynne to have total freedom artistically… I think being pregnant took a lot of, like, vanity anxiety away. Before ‘No Hard Feelings,’ I was dieting and not eating carbs and working out. I was pregnant [for ‘Die My Love’]. Like, what was I gonna do? Not eat? I was working 15 hours a day. I was just tired… I remember, like, them sending over a close-up of cellulite and being like, ‘Do you want us to touch this up?’ And I was like, ‘No. That’s an ass.’“

She has another big project coming up with Martin Scorsese’s What Happens At Night. The film, which also stars Leonardo DiCaprio, is “a dream-like story of a married American couple who travel to a small, snowy European town to adopt a baby. They check into a cavernous, largely deserted hotel where they encounter an enigmatic cast of characters including a flamboyant chanteuse, a depraved businessman and a charismatic faith healer. Nothing is quite as it seems in this strange, frozen world. As the couple struggle to claim their baby, the less they seem to know about themselves and the life they’ve built together.“

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If you think Spooky Season is over just because we’ve closed the book on another Halloween, think again! Today, Stern Pinball invites players to embark on the epic journey of surviving the apocalypse in The Walking Dead Remastered – a technologically advanced version of one of the most beloved pinball games of all time.

Proceed with caution, Pinball Wizards, there will only be a limited number of The Walking Dead Remastered pinball machines available to purchase soon on the Stern Store! You’ll need to keep your eyes peeled for a countdown for a chance to buy one of these rare tables, with only registered All-Access members having access to the sale while supplies last.

The following details arrive courtesy of Stern’s official website:

In Stern Pinball’s The Walking Dead Remastered pinball game, players will battle walkers and survive key scenes from The Walking Dead in an immersive physical pinball experience like none other.  The development team, led by John Borg, the designer of the original game, have created a modern version of the original masterpiece.  The playfield features enhanced versions of the “Cell Block C” Prison building, bicycle girl ramp, and an interactive Well Walker toy.  The fan-favorite crossbow device that shoots a pinball has been re-engineered and updated for increased precision and flexibility in gameplay.  The game also features new RGB lighting and illuminated zombie heads on the slingshots.

Extra care and attention to detail have gone into every facet of The Walking Dead Remastered, honoring the original masterpiece by John Borg and Lyman F. Sheats, Jr. The game includes an updated version of the revolutionary ruleset that introduced a new mode structure and risk-reward elements that have stood the test of time. Through the iconic Prison, Well Walker, and Blood Bath multiballs and the depth of each Dead Feature mode (Barn, CDC, Riot, Tunnel, and Arena), players are immersed in a pinball battle that can ultimately leave a “Last Man Standing”… that is, if you’re able to survive the Horde and escape Terminus along your adventure.

In The Walking Dead Remastered, players will be introduced to newly developed visuals that blend high-quality video elements with a vibrant painterly art style, both on the cabinet and on the display. Extraordinary care has been taken to ensure the new visuals mirror scenes from the classic game, while also going beyond with additional updates. Software enhancements will introduce additional game rules, including new custom audio call-outs from actors Michael Rooker (Merle) and Danai Gurira (Michonne). Players will also experience Stern’s Insider Connected (IC) system that provides advanced connectivity features, enabling real-time engagement and a more connected experience for all.

The Walking Dead Remastered features Stern’s next-generation SPIKE 3 technology platform, which includes a larger 18.5″ full HD display with true color depth, along with a more powerful processor, and a new high fidelity immersive audio system. Players will get to experience completely overhauled 3D-rendered graphics and custom animations that pay homage to the dot matrix display from the original  pinball machine. SPIKE 3 electronics also feature more efficient power handling, improved Wi-Fi support, and wireless headphone capabilities.  This release will also feature an updated cabinet lighting customization system designed to allow for internal and external expression lighting on all versions of the game.

Stern Pinball’s The Walking Dead Remastered pinball machine is limited to 500 game units globally. Meanwhile, the highly collectible Limited Edition model includes the updated Expression Lighting System and Speaker Expression Lighting System with The Walking Dead-themed game effects, a full-color mirrored backglass, full-color high-definition cabinet decals, exclusive custom The Walking Dead Remastered pinball armor, a custom designer-autographed bottom arch, upgraded audio system, anti-reflection pinball playfield glass, shaker motor, a sequentially numbered plaque, a signed Certificate of Authenticity, and a digital Insider Connected LE owner’s badge on registration.

Will you attempt to survive the zombie apocalypse while playing Stern’s The Walking Dead Remastered pinball machine? How many zombies do you think you can mow down with a silver ball before getting overrun by a horde of ravenous undead? Let us know in the comments section below.

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But let’s look at some reviews of Quentin Tarantino’s acting turn in Wait Until Dark in early 1998, taking on the role most famously played by Alan Arkin in the 1967 film but previously played by Robert Duvall on stage. Appearing opposite Marisa Tomei (playing the famed Audrey Hepburn role), Tarantino was widely shredded for his attempt at Broadway acting. As The New York Times put it in their review, “Mr. Tarantino seems menacing to nothing except possibly Mr. Knott’s script. Whether raising his voice in deranged fury or softly promising to commit unspeakable tortures, he registers at best as merely petulant, like a suburban teen-ager who has been denied the use of his father’s Lexus for the night.”

And that’s certainly not all. Variety was a bit more tepid, writing his performance was “unexpectedly straightforward; entering with sunglasses, hair slicked-back, he’s no more or less cheesy than Alan Arkin in the 1967 film.” Going a more vicious route, CurtainUp declared, “Quentin Tarantino can’t scare a deer out of a pair of oncoming headlights.”

And so what was Tarantino’s own reaction to the reception of his acting? According to Biography, QT said he felt was was being noticed as “the one whose acting sucks. I tried not to take it personally, but it was personal. It was not about the play—it was about me, and at a certain point I started getting too thin a skin about the constant criticism.”

So, are we looking forward to Quentin Tarantino’s return to acting? Well, not exactly…But if it’s going to keep him active, then we’ll lend any support we can. It can’t possibly offer anything worse than his Django Unchained accent, right?

The post Remembering Quentin Tarantino’s panned Broadway acting debut appeared first on JoBlo.

“It’s okay to use what mama gave you. It’s really fine,” Stone said. “It’s hard to be hot, and I think we all know that. It’s really okay to use every bit of hotness you have — right here, right now — and go for whatever that is. Everybody has their own certain kind of hotness, their own certain thing, and you’re supposed to go for that. Because who are you not to be beautiful? You know, who you are isn’t an accident.“

When the American Eagle controversy kicked off, both Sweeney and Stone were in production on the third season of Euphoria.

“Because I was co-godparents with Jane Goodall, I said, ‘When Jane was on the cover of Life Magazine for her work with gorillas, she was in her safari shorts and shirt, sitting with one of the animals that she was working with,” Stone said. “Other scientists said, ‘Well, she only got the cover of Life Magazine because she had good legs.’ And Jane said, ‘Well, if I did, then that helped me get more money for my research.’ Sydney said, ‘Yeah, and I’m sure I made a billion dollars for the jeans company, and I’m good with that. Because, you know what? I’ll get another job.’“

Whatever your thoughts on the controversy, it certainly hasn’t slowed Sweeney down. She will soon be seen in Christy, a sports biopic about professional boxer Christy Martin. It will hit theaters on November 7. Our own Chris Bumbray caught the film at TIFF earlier this year, and while he doesn’t think it’s the Oscar bait others believe it to be, he did say it “proves that whatever you may think of Sydney Sweeney, her legitimate talent as an actress can’t be dismissed.” You can check out the rest of his review right here.

She will also star alongside Amanda Seyfried in Paul Feig’s The Housemaid, which will be released in theaters on December 19. There have even been rumblings that she could be a Bond girl in the upcoming 007 movie.

The post Sharon Stone defends Sydney Sweeney: “It’s okay to use what mama gave you” appeared first on JoBlo.

While speaking with The New Yorker, Lawrence said she understands why the public ultimately rejected her, even saying that she finds her old interviews cringe-inducing. “Oh, no. So hyper. So embarrassing,” she said. “Well, it is, or it was, my genuine personality, but it was also a defense mechanism. And so it was a defense mechanism, to just be, like, ‘I’m not like that! I poop my pants every day!’ … I look at those interviews, and that person is annoying. I get why seeing that person everywhere would be annoying. Ariana Grande’s impression of me on ‘SNL’ was spot-on.“

She said the backlash against her became “uninhabitable,” adding, “I felt — I didn’t feel, I was, I think — rejected not for my movies, not for my politics, but for me, for my personality.“

After dominating the 2010s, Lawrence took a significant step back from Hollywood, appearing in only three movies over the last six years. Her next project will see her starring alongside Robert Pattinson in Lynne Ramsay’s Die My Love. Based on the novel of the same name by Ariana Harwicz, the story centers on a mother who struggles to maintain her sanity as she battles with psychosis. It will hit theaters on November 7.

She has another big project coming up with Martin Scorsese’s What Happens At Night. The film, which also stars Leonardo DiCaprio, is “a dream-like story of a married American couple who travel to a small, snowy European town to adopt a baby. They check into a cavernous, largely deserted hotel where they encounter an enigmatic cast of characters including a flamboyant chanteuse, a depraved businessman and a charismatic faith healer. Nothing is quite as it seems in this strange, frozen world. As the couple struggle to claim their baby, the less they seem to know about themselves and the life they’ve built together.“

The post Jennifer Lawrence gets why the public rejected her at the height of her fame: “That person is annoying” appeared first on JoBlo.

Without hesitation, Stone replied, “Willem Dafoe. Hundred percent.“

Colbert noted that Stone was very quick to respond. “It’s so simple,” she said. “If it was like, Willem Dafoe’s actually an alien everyone would be like, ‘Yeah! Obviously. And a great one!’ Like, if they’re all like Willem, bring ‘em on! Land upon Earth, please!” I could see it. Did anyone check to see if Dafoe was on that screen in Men in Black?

Bugonia is based on the South Korean sci-fi comedy Save the Green Planet! It follows two conspiracy-obsessed young men who kidnap the high-powered CEO of a major company, convinced that she is an alien intent on destroying planet Earth. Stone plays the CEO, while Jesse Plemons and Aidan Delbis play the kidnappers.

Reactions to the film have been positive, but our own Chris Bumbray wasn’t wowed. In his review, he said Lanthimos “struggles to find a consistent tone,” and Plemons’ character is just unpleasant. “While he’s meant to be playing a psychopath, Plemons comes across as so odious in the role of conspiracy-obsessed Teddy Gatz that he’s not an easy character to spend two hours with,” he wrote. “Granted, that may be appropriate for the part, but in the Korean film the character had moments of pathos — whereas here, you just want him offscreen. Plemons is a superb actor and goes all in with his performance, but the audience still needs a way in, some kind of emotional anchor.” He did add that it’s “Stone’s performance that makes Bugonia worth watching.” You can check out the rest of his review right here.

Bugonia will hit theaters on October 24. There was also a special screening in Los Angeles for bald folks (or ones willing to shave their heads). I’ve never felt so seen.

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The legacy of Suzanne Somers – who passed away in 2023 – will certainly live on in the world of entertainment and endorsements, but her husband, Alan Hamel, is taking it to an entirely different level. As he told People, “Obviously, Suzanne was greatly loved, not only by her family, but by millions of people. One of the projects that we have coming up is a really interesting project, the Suzanne AI Twin.” He even showcased a demo earlier this year. To him, “It was Suzanne. And I asked her a few questions and she answered them, and it blew me and everybody else away. When you look at the finished one next to the real Suzanne, you can’t tell the difference. It’s amazing. And I mean, I’ve been with Suzanne for 55 years, so I know what her face looks like, and when I just look at the two of them side by side, I really can’t tell which one is the real and which one is the AI.”

According to Hamil, the AI Suzanne Somers has been trained on numerous interviews and books written by the actress in an effort to match her patterns and mannerisms. And the way Hamil tells it, the project began even when Somers was still alive, saying she had a hand in the endeavor. As he put it, “She said, ‘I think it’ll be very interesting and we’ll provide a service to my fans and to people who have been reading my books who really want and need information about their health.’ She said, ‘Let’s do it.’ So that’s the reason we did it. And so I love being able to fulfill her wish.”

Even still, yes, it is genuinely disturbing on an entirely new level. This isn’t something (yes, something, not someone) of the Tilly Norwood variety; this feels like a form of technological witchcraft, a dangerous move in the wrong direction as far as how we use artificial intelligence.

What do you make of the late Suzanne Somers being turned into an AI version of herself? Does such a project have a purpose or is it going too far?

The post Suzanne Somers’ widower made an AI version of the late actress appeared first on JoBlo.

Before getting the role on the cultural phenomenon that is Friends, Aniston was on a bevy of shows that never took off (as well as the cult horror classic Leprechaun). But one show that Aniston herself turned down was Saturday Night Live. When Shepard asked her why she walked away, Aniston replied, “I always thought I was such hot shit. The story of that is all very confusing.” She continued, “Honestly, today I’d have to ask Lorne, because I remember, I was in New York City, and I had a meeting with Lorne Michaels, and I ran into [Adam] Sandler and [David] Spade in the room right outside. And I knew Sandler forever. I don’t know why I had this self-righteous attitude of ‘I don’t know if women are treated the way they should be treated on this show. It’s a very male-dominated [show], I would love to be here if it was in the Gilda Radner day.’ I mean, this is the brain that semi-remembers things that are back that far. Something like that. I can’t remember, but I just remember Friends then happened.”

Aniston revealed that she was motivated to impress her dad with her career. John Aniston was a cast member of Days of Our Lives for almost four decades, and she said she was “Always wanting to get Pop’s approval — it was the thing that drove me.” However, she rejects the label of “nepo baby.” Aniston expounded, “I mean, look at all the law firms. Blanky Blank Blanky and Blanky Blank. I mean, all right, isn’t that a version of it’s all in the family? It’s all in the family. So, maybe you got into a door because you’re so-and-so’s kid, but if you suck, guess what? You’re not going to continue to do it.”

The post Jennifer Aniston talks turning down Saturday Night Live before landing her Friends role appeared first on JoBlo.

Following his stroke, Tim Curry was confined to a wheelchair and unable to speak. And he has continued to be an inspiration and fan favorite, much due to his perseverance. Following brain surgery and much rehabilitation, Curry has regained his speech, and he’s using the opportunity to share his experiences, doing so with his trademark wit and perspective. In a new profile featured on CBS Sunday Morning, he told Ben Mankiewicz, “I don’t fear death. I try to avoid it as I think we all do. But I suspect that, in the end, I will welcome it. I think it may be very comforting to go bye-bye. And I want to earn it.” But he also wanted to assure those watching that he’s not out for your sympathy, adding, “I don’t admire self-pity much. It’s a [legacy] I’m most grateful for. ‘Why are you so important that we have to pity you?’”

Tim Curry also recounted the moment he found out he was having symptoms of a stroke, something his own father died from when he was a child. “I felt fine, I had no symptoms that I was aware of. I wasn’t in pain….I had to learn to speak again. That was very weird. I hated not being able to speak. My face kind of went sideways.”

Any chance we can hear from Tim Curry is something we should all appreciate. To think how many terrific performances we have missed out on in the past 13 years is difficult for us fans; but that he has left us with so many across varying genres is a testament to his talents and a constant gift. Come on, who of us isn’t watching Rocky Horror Picture Show or It this spooky season and who can live without Home Alone 2 during the holidays?

This month saw the release of Tim Curry’s memoir, Vagabond, which details not only his stroke but also his life and career in the arts. It is available through Hachette Book Group.

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“I was in Toronto, Canada, and then I got a manager who lived in Los Angeles,” he said. “At 20 years old, I drove in my car to Los Angeles. Got out of my car and my manager said, ‘We want to change your name.’ And so that’s like, a welcome to Hollywood [moment].“

He continued, “And I remember I was walking on the beach and I was just like, ‘My name? What if I change my name? What?’ My middle name is Charles, so I was like, ‘Chuck?’ And I grew up on a street called Spadina, Chuck Spadina. And then I was something Templeton. So then I became K.C. Reeves. I was credited as K.C. Reeves.”

It’s true. The actor was actually credited as K.C. Reeves for an appearance in The Magical World of Disney, but he didn’t stay with that name for long. “And then I couldn’t do it. So then I would be in auditions and they would go, ‘K.C. Reeves.’ And I wouldn’t even answer,” he said. “Six months later, I was like, ‘I’m not doing this.’ That’s a Hollywood moment.“

Even Leonardo DiCaprio faced pressure to change his name early in his career, as his first agent thought it was “too ethnic.“

Reeves will soon be seen starring alongside Aziz Ansari and Seth Rogen in Good Fortune.  The film follows a struggling gig economy worker (Ansari) who, losing hope, finds his reality switched with that of a tech bro (Rogen) by a misguided angel (Reeves), who thinks he’ll miss his old life—when that turns out to be the furthest thing from the truth.

Our own Chris Bumbray thought Reeves was easily the standout of the film. “While Ansari and Rogen alone would make this a comedy worth seeing, the movie’s secret weapon is the third lead, the angel Gabriel, played by none other than Keanu Reeves,” he wrote. “Perfectly cast, Reeves is hysterical as the spacey, none-too-bright angel whose responsibilities are limited to keeping people from getting into accidents while texting and driving. When he messes up, he finds himself demoted to being human, and a lot of the movie’s humour revolves around him adjusting to life as a mere mortal.” You can check out the rest of his review right here.

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“We are completely devastated and heartbroken. In his last moments, we were fortunate enough to have been able to surround him with loving, caring, peaceful words, thoughts, prayers and intentions as he left this earth,” reads the statement. “We cherish all of his finest memories, his laughter, and celebrate his strengths and kindness that he bestowed upon others. The magnitude of his passing is of epic proportions, and beyond comprehension. Reflecting on all of his incredible life achievements, Ace’s memory will continue to live on forever!“

As a young man, Frehley was active in athletics and music, but a few hits on the football field convinced him to embrace music. “This is bullshit,” he later recalled. “My hands are too important. The guitar comes first.” He then responded to an ad in the Village Voice that wanted a lead guitarist with “flash and ability.” He showed up to audition wearing bell-bottoms and multi-coloured shoes, which prompted laughter from Gene Simmons, Paul Stanley, and Peter Criss, but the laughter stopped when he started playing. “I just soloed through the whole song,” he recalled. “They all smiled. We jammed for a few more songs, and then they said, ‘We like the way you play a lot. We’ll call you.’“

Frehley became known as The Spaceman, but he left Kiss in 1982 to pursue a solo career. Frehley had already released his first solo album in 1978 along with the other three Kiss members, but his proved to be the most successful. After leaving Kiss, he formed Frehley’s Comet, but ultimately rejoined the band in 1996 for a reunion tour and remained with them until 2002.

In a 2013 interview with Rolling Stone, Frehley commented on the enduring legacy of Kiss and its passionate fan base. “I have a lot of diehard fans,” he said. “Ace Frehley fans and Kiss fans are the greatest fans in the world. They’ve always been there for me through ups and downs. My life has been a roller coaster ride, but somehow I’ve always been able to land on my feet and still play the guitar.“

Our thoughts and condolences go out to Frehley’s family and friends. Rock ‘n’ roll, baby. You will be missed, but the music lives on forever.

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Ruffalo set the scene, “We were shooting Now You See Me in New Orleans, completely on the streets. Totally wild. Capturing stuff on a long lens, getting dragged into bars during the middle of a scene, like in the middle of Mardi Gras. It was a packed place. And a woman came up to him and she said, ‘Oh my God, I love you so much.’ Woody put his hand on her arm and he said, ‘Oh, thank you. Thank you, darling.’ And this guy comes over and he pushes her outta the way, and he shoves Woody.”

Woody laughed during Ruffalo’s recollection while Danson reacted, “Oh, bad bad. Not good.” Ruffalo obliged, “Bad. Because Woody’s first response is not ‘shove someone back,’ but ‘immediately punch them in the face.'” He continued, “Which is the right thing to do, by the way. It’s the absolute right thing to do. But then a whole melee broke out in this bar. I was in the middle of it and it was turning into a— it was getting to become a whole thing… And I grabbed you.”

Ruffalo concluded, “I grabbed you and I pulled you out. Cause I was like, ‘This could be fun, but it also just could go so disastrously wrong because you and I might be able to handle ourselves but the rest of the folks we were with… I don’t think so.”

Danson responded to the anecdote, saying, “I’m embarrassed to say that I would’ve been the guy who said ‘I’ll be right back, I’ll call someone.'”

Now You See Me: Now You Don’t is meant to reintroduce audiences to “the thieving illusionists known as the Four Horseman while introducing audiences to a new generation of magicians.” Here’s the official synopsis: The Four Horsemen (Jesse Eisenberg, Woody Harrelson, Dave Franco, Isla Fisher) are back — to unite with a new generation of illusionists (Justice Smith, Dominic Sessa, Ariana Greenblatt) for their most global, high-stakes magical adventure yet. Their mission: Expose the corruption of Veronika Vanderberg (Rosamund Pike), a powerful diamond heiress with ties to arms dealers, traffickers, and warlords. Aided by the legendary Thaddeus (Morgan Freeman), the two generations of magicians must overcome their differences to try and defeat their cunning and dangerous adversary, in this magic-fueled heist filled with the franchise’s signature twists, turns, and thrilling reveals — along with some of the most thrilling illusions ever captured on film.

NOW YOU SEE ME: NOW YOU DON’T is directed by Ruben Fleischer (Venom, Uncharted, Zombieland), from a screenplay by Seth Grahame-Smith and Michael Lesslie and Paul Wernick & Rhett Reese, story by Eric Warren Singer, and based on characters created by Boaz Yakin & Edward Ricourt. Lionsgate presents, in association with Media Capital Technologies, a Cohen Pictures production. 

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Boy Meets World star Danielle Fishel is a contestant on this season’s Dancing with the Stars and the actress would pull out all the stops for last night’s routine with dancing partner Pasha Pashkov. Fishel announced on her Pod Meets World podcast last week that she would be doing a routine dedicated to the famous TGIF series and none other than Mr. Feeny himself, William Daniels, would be joining them on the dancefloor. Daniels would not be dancing himself, although at 98, the man is looking pretty dang good.

Fishel and Pashkov came out dressed as Boy Meets World characters, Cory and Topanga, while they did a jive dance to the show’s theme by Twenty Cent Crush featuring Phil Rosenthal. Daniels would sport his usual esteemed educator’s outfit in a makeshift office while holding a term paper. Fishel and Pashkov would warmly embrace Daniels during the routine while they broke out their steps on the dancefloor.

According to People, with this performance, Fishel stated, “I feel such an overwhelming responsibility to give a full out, joyous, celebratory dance to the man who is responsible for THOUSANDS of people becoming teachers and who has helped raise multiple generations. This dance is a dedication from me to Bill but I am representing ALL OF YOU who loved and appreciated him and his career for so many decades.” 

Daniels was joined by his wife, Bonnie Bartlett, along with former Boy Meets World alums Will Friedle (Eric Matthews), William Russ (Alan Matthews), Betsy Randle (Amy Matthews), Matthew Lawrence (Jack Hunter), Alex Désert (Mr. Williams), and Trina McGee (Angela Moore). Rider Strong, who portrayed Cory’s best friend Shawn, couldn’t make it as Fishel revealed that he was “working out of town but he will be missed.”

Prior to this night, Fishel said, “I’m so excited. It’s really a dedication to Bill and the role he has played in my life and the role Boy Meets World has played in my life. I have really felt like Dancing with the Stars has been a second act for me in my career and as a performer.” She added that Daniels is “such an inspiration to so many of us…and to be able to say thank you to him and give him this kind of a platform for him to receive the love that he deserves is going to be very memorable.”

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D’Angelo’s family confirmed the news on Tuesday, saying, “The shining star of our family has dimmed his light for us in this life … After a prolonged and courageous battle with cancer, we are heartbroken to announce that Michael D’Angelo Archer, known to his fans around the world as D’Angelo, has been called home.”

He came into the world as Michael Archer on February 11, 1974, making his mark in the music industry as a co-writer and producer of the track “U Will Know,” a Top 5 R&B hit for the supergroup Black Men United. The song, featured in the movie Jason’s Lyric, is a soulful acoustic jam with gospel vibes. He was known as one of few artists to usher in the Neo-Soul genre, alongside Kedar Massenburg, Erykah Badu, Lauryn Hill, Maxwell, and Jill Scott.

The next year, D’Angelo released his first record Brown Sugar, debuting in sixth on the Billboard R&B album chart. Soon, songs like “Crusin” and “Lady” were getting comfortable in the R&B Top 5, with “Lady” finding a home in the Top 10 Pop chart.

After a spate of writer’s block, D’Angelo released his Voodoo album five years later, an absolute crusher by any standard. The record debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200. It won D’Angelo his first two Grammy awards, for Best R&B Album and Male R&B Performance for “(Untitled) How Does It Feel,” which was also nominated for Best R&B Song. In 2024, he released Black Messiah, which earned him his third and fourth Grammys, for Best R&B Album and Best R&B Song for “Really Love.”

In addition to Jason’s Lyric, movies that feature D’Angelo songs on the soundtrack include The Deliverance, Always Be My Maybe, Magic Mike XXL, The Central Park Five, No Strings Attached, He’s Just Not That Into You, Baby Boy, The Best Man, Belly, Scream 2, Space Jam, Get on the Bus, High School High, and A Thin Line Between Love and Hate. His music was also heard on TV shows like The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, The Sopranos, Nip/Tuck, and Entourage, and in the video game Red Dead Redemption II.

Regardless of your musical taste, you’ve heard D’Angelo. His soulful grooves drip with swag, sex, and assurance. He knows how to throw down full-throttle R&B with jazz-tinged melodies. D’Angelo’s music helps set the mood, and we’re at a loss without him.

We at JoBlo would like to extend our sincere condolences to D’Angelo’s family, friends, and fans. His passing is a tragic loss for the world, and we wish him safe passage into the Hereafter.

The post D’Angelo Dies: 4-time Grammy winner who helped usher in the Neo-Soul musical genre has passed away at 51 appeared first on JoBlo.

When Obama – who Maron traveled to, switching up the usual requirement that guests visit him in his garage-turned-studio – asked him how he was feeling about moving past WTF, Maron said, “I feel OK.I feel like I’m sort of ready for the break, but there is sort of a fear there, of what do I do now? I’m busy. But, not unlike your job…I’ve got a lot of people who over the last 16 years have grown to rely on me.”

On landing Obama once again for WTF – having previously interviewed him in a landmark chat back in 2015 – Maron said, “It became clear that the guest we needed to have was singular in that he could address the importance of this being our final episode, but also address how we move through the world we’re living in, as frightening as it is.”

Maron Maron only announced back in June that he would be ending WTF, giving plenty of speculation as to who the final guest would be. Considering the absolutely expansive gallery of past guests, it did seem like it had to be someone who was previously on. As such, Obama may have been one of the more fitting choices available.

The importance of WTF with Marc Maron is undeniable in the podcast world, serving as one of the longstanding examples of what the medium could do. It took a while, but the Golden Globes will even be recognizing podcasts with their own category beginning next year. Shockingly, WTF with Marc Maron didn’t even make the list of eligible podcasts – although Maron would never need such an award to know just how important his own was.

What is your favorite interview from the history of WTF with Marc Maron? Give us your pick below, folks!

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