Category Archives: Television

‘Hannibal’ season 2 trailer will whet your appetite and then some

January 20, 2014Television, VideoHannibal, Hannibal season 2, NBC, teaser, trailer, TV teaser, TV trailerScott Meisner

The best series on TV you’re not watching is Bryan Fuller’s adaptation of Thomas Harris’ novel Red Dragon and his take on the famed fictional serial killer who eats his victims, Hannibal Lector. From the brilliant cast led by Mads Mikkelsen and Hugh Dancy (who play the nefarious Dr. Lector and gifted FBI profiler Will Graham, respectively) to the stunning cinematography, NBC’s Hannibal is one of the most compelling and thrilling dramas on TV today. Despite poor ratings last year, the Peacock miraculously renewed Fuller’s show for a second season and here we have our very first taste (or apéritif, if I may) of what’s in store. At the end of season 1 Fuller took fans on an unexpected turn by placing Graham behind bars letting the public think that he committed Hannibal’s heinous crimes.

Enjoy the masterfully cut trailer hanging above. After the break, a tantalizing teaser. Hannibal is back February 28. Continue reading ‘Hannibal’ season 2 trailer will whet your appetite and then some →

‘Game of Thrones’ season 4 trailer

January 20, 2014Television, VideoGame of Thrones, Game of Thrones season 4, trailer, TV trailerScott Meisner

Joffrey thinks he’s won the war. Tyrion’s in shackles. Jaime has a new hand. Arya is ready for a fight. The Wildlings (and Daenerys, for that matter) are still determined they can take the Seven Kingdoms.

“If you want justice, you’ve come to the wrong place,” beams the small but strong Lannister.

Game of Thrones returns for a fourth season on April 6 to HBO.

‘The Walking Dead’ season 4B teaser

January 20, 2014Television, VideoAMC, The Walking Dead, The Walking Dead season 3, The Walking Dead season 4, TV teaserScott Meisner

It’s not much but it’s something; here’s a tease at the upcoming second half of season four of The Walking Dead. The Governor’s gone and our band of survivors are displaced. The tagline: “Don’t look back.”

The Walking Dead resumes February 9 on AMC.

Seth Meyers & Jimmy Fallon prepare for their new late-night digs

January 20, 2014Television, VideoJimmy Fallon, late night, Late Night with Seth Meyers, NBC, promos, Seth Meyers, The Tonight Show starring Jimmy FallonScott Meisner

Next month Seth Meyers exits Saturday Night Live to become the new host of Late Night as Jimmy Fallon takes over The Tonight Show. In the promo embedded above, you’ll see just how physically close Meyers’ new job is going to be to his old job–they’re “basically 30 feet” from each other as SNL‘s home is located in the famed Studio 8H and the new Late Night is housed inside Studio 8G. Looks like Seth has some work to do, and fast; Late Night with Seth Meyers premieres February 24 on NBC.

After the break, the Peacock introduces “a new era” of late night as Jimmy Fallon is about to take the reins from Jay Leno to host The Tonight Show. The clip looks back at the previous Tonight Show hosts, even the fleeting Conan O’Brien. Fallon, because he’s the best, has decided to revert the show’s name to its original style; instead of The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, his show will be called The Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon, just as it was with original host Steve Allen, Jack Parr, and the late great Johnny Carson. A second clip featuring a kid version of Fallon follows. Fallon’s Tonight Show premieres February 17.

Update: Fallon passes the Late Night pickle to Meyers after the break, as is tradition. Continue reading Seth Meyers & Jimmy Fallon prepare for their new late-night digs →

Mark your calendars: FOX sets a return date for ’24’

January 20, 2014News, Television2014 TCA, 2014 TCA winter press tour, 24, 24: Live Another Day, FOX, TCAScott Meisner

24 fans, perk up! A new day is upon us. FOX resurrects 24 with series players Kiefer Sutherland (protagonist Jack Bauer), Mary Lynn Rajskub (Jack’s right-hand analyst Chloe O’Brien), Kim Raver (Jack’s former lover Audrey Raines), and William Devane (once US Secretary of Defense James Heller) on Monday, May 5 at 8PM. Like all proper 24 premieres, this special “event series” dubbed Live Another Day will have a two-hour launch and then the following Monday it will play out in 24‘s old 9PM timeslot.

The latest logline goes like this: “Set and shot in London, the suspenseful event series once again will follow the exploits of heroic agent Jack Bauer as he attempts to thwart an unthinkable terrorist attack that could change the world forever. Retaining the real-time, nail-biting, fast-paced format with split screens and interweaving storylines.

At the winter TCAs more details leaked out about the highly anticipated return of 24. The season takes place four years after the events that unfolded in season 8, and Jack is still on the run but this time in London. “He is still a fugitive who he has been hunted–and he is still hunted,” spilled EP Manny Coto. Yvonne Strahovski (Chuck) plays Kate Morgan, the CIA agent hunting down Jack. “Jack is not quite Osama Bin Laden, but he is someone to be captured,” continued the EPs. “And when Jack reenters the story on his own terms, we will learn he has a mission. Whether it’s good or dark we don’t know, but this CIA agent [Kate] is determined to catch him, and as she gets closer and closer to him, Chloe O’Brien reenters the picture.”

“Chloe and Jack are pitted against each other due to a set of circumstances,” revealed Sutherland at the press event. Turns out Chloe has “turned herself against the government” and it will take some convincing on Jack’s back to bring her back into the fold. “There is no Chloe without Jack,” remarked Rajskub, so I’m guessing it won’t take long to get to the happy reunion we’ve all been waiting for.

What else? When we reenter the world of 24 Devane’s James Heller is now President of the United States. And what of his daughter Audrey? “When we last left Audrey, she was in a very bad place with Jack, so [in the years that have passed] she has come out of the ‘wilderness.’ But the interesting thing will be, when Jack reenters the picture, how will she react to that?” pondered EP Evan Katz.

If you don’t have time to watch up on 24 between now and May it’s no problem according to EP Howard Gordon. “You can actually pick this series up without having seen Season 8, or any of the show at all,” he said. “The benefit of coming back four years later is that those four years need to be explained, so the exposition will not come off as exposition but a justified moment of characters catching up,” added Sutherland.

And of course there was discussion of the oft-rumored 24 feature film. “The script for the film is very, very different,” Sutherland shared. “[Live Another Day] was the opportunity that presented itself to us first, and it’s a fantastic idea. And if this ends up rebooting the show or causing the film to be made, so be it.”

Those’ll be words to make any 24 fan very, very enthused. Now here’s that date again: 24: Live Another Day premieres May 5 on FOX.

[Via TVLine; EW]

FOX announces new direction for ‘Glee’: it’s off to NYC!

January 20, 2014News, Television2014 TCA, 2014 TCA winter press tour, FOX, Glee, TCAScott Meisner

At the Television Critics Association winter press tour, FOX head Kevin Reilly made a major announcement regarding Glee‘s creative direction: the second half of the musical dramedy will be set exclusively in New York City. No more bouncing back and forth between William McKinley High in Lima, Ohio and Rachel, Kurt, and Santana’s loft in NYC. Reilly explained how the creative shift will work:

“Creatively, it would ridiculous if everybody moves to New York,” he said. “This season, there’s going to be a graduation [from McKinley High]. Several of the cast members will move on, and a few others will go to New York.” For those characters who don’t transfer over to the NYC setting, it won’t be the last time you ever see them. They “will arc back in when we do special episodes. They’ll always be a part of it. The way it’s going to dovetail next season, we’re going to see some familiar faces coming around in some capacity.”

Though Reilly and show creator Ryan Murphy are keeping mum on which characters will remain, there is one that will most definitely be staying. “As long as there’s a show, there’s Jane [Lynch],” commented Reilly; Sue Sylvester is coming to the city that never sleeps.

In closing, Reilly confirmed that the next season of Glee–it’s fifth–will be its last and that Murphy is already hard at work on what’s in store. “We do have [the show] through next season and that will be the final season,” said Reilly. “[Murphy’s] got some fantastic ideas on what we’re going to next year for the final year.”

Glee returns with new episodes on February 25.

[Via TVLine]

HBO renews ‘The Newsroom’ for third and final season

January 20, 2014News, TelevisionHBO, renewal, renewed, The NewsroomScott Meisner

Of course HBO’s The Newsroom starring Jeff Daniels and Emily Mortimer is returning for another season. Unfortunately, however, the third season of Aaron Sorkin’s fast-talking cable news drama will be its last. Sorkin, a filmmaker who’s ready to focus on his next big movie based on Steve Jobs’ life, will give the series a proper ending.

“The Newsroom is classic Aaron Sorkin – smart, riveting and thought-provoking,” said HBO programming president Michael Lombardo. “I’m sure this farewell season will be one to remember.”

As a staunch supporter of the show, I’m equally surprised and saddened to hear it’s coming to an end. I always imagined that The Newsroom could go on for awhile, picking apart real-life news along with fictional tales for years. But this is Sorkin’s baby and if he’s saying this is it then that’s reason enough to pull the plug while it’s on top. (Still, another season or two would’ve been welcomed with open arms, but oh well.)

The Newsroom returns for its final hurrah later this year.

‘SNL’ hires Sasheer Zamata, first female African American cast member since 2007

January 20, 2014News, TelevisionNBC, Saturday Night Live, SNL, SNL cast memberScott Meisner

Can’t say this happens all the time. In the middle of its 39th season, SNL has added a new featured player to its sprawling cast of up-and-coming comics. Enter 27-year-old Sasheer Zamata; she hails from NYC and studied improv at the Upright Citizen’s Brigade. She also happens to be the first female African American in SNL‘s cast since Maya Rudolph departed the late-night sketch comedy show in 2007. Zamata made her big debut this past weekend on the show Drake hosted so well.

In addition to bringing on Zamata, SNL bossman Lorne Michaels showed his support in diversifying his show by also hiring two female African American writers in LaKendra Tookes and Leslie Jones.

TV reminder: 9 premieres to look out for in January

January 5, 2014Images, News, TelevisionABC, CBS, Comedy Central, Enlisted, FOX, Girls, Girls season 3, HBO, Intelligence, key art, midseason premieres, PBS, Rake, season premiere, series premiere, Sherlock, Sherlock series 3, Suburgatory, The Following, The Following season 2, True Detective, TV reminder, WorkaholicsScott Meisner

We’ve hit the midseason mark and with it comes a handful of series premieres worth getting excited about, along with the return of some of your favorite shows. Full speed ahead, after the break! Continue reading TV reminder: 9 premieres to look out for in January →

iTunes shares 2013’s top-selling albums, movies, TV shows, apps & more

December 30, 2013Entertainment, Movies, Music, News, Technology, TelevisionApp Store, Apple, best-selling, end of year 2013, iBooks Store, iTunes, iTunes Best of, top-sellingScott Meisner

Apple’s iTunes, App, and iBooks Stores have truly become the destination on the Internet to discover and download the latest and greatest in music, movies, TV shows, apps, and books. And every year the house that Jobs built tallies the best-selling media, so let’s take a look.

In music, Justin Timberlake’s The 20/20 Experience is crowned the top-selling album of 2013. Also landing in the top 15 are Imagine Dragons’ Night Visions, Macklemore & Ryan Lewis’ The Heist, and Daft Punk’s Random Access Memories. The top-selling song? M&R’s “Thrift Shop,” followed by Robin Thicke’s “Blurred Lines” and Imagine Dragons’ “Radioactive.” In addition to these top-selling lists, Apple has hand-picked Editor Choice awards; namely, JT is named Artist of the Year, M&R’s The Heist is Album of the Year, Lorde’s “Royals” is Song of the Year, and Kendrick Lamar (Good Kid, M.A.A.D. City) is Breakthrough Artist.

The top three best-selling movies are Skyfall, Wreck-It Ralph, and Argo. Apple named Gravity Best Movie and Despicable Me 2 Best Animated Movie. On TV, Breaking Bad, Downton Abbey, and The Walking Dead lead the top-selling series of 2013. Vince Gilligan’s masterpiece is TV Show of the Year, Scandal is Best Breakthrough, and Orphan Black is Best Discovery.

The best-selling paid app is Minecraft – Pocket Edition; also making that list is Heads Up!, Temple Run: Oz, and Angry Birds Star Wars. The best-selling freebie? Candy Crush Saga, of course, followed by Temple Run 2, Vine, Google Maps, and Snapchat.

The most popular books (fiction) are Dan Brown’s Inferno, E L James’ Fifty Shades of Grey, and Gillian Flynn’s Gone Girl. Apple quite liked Tenth of December by George Saunders.

Click here to browse Apple’s Best of 2013 charts across all the various forms of media.

‘Sherlock’ mini-episode tees up series 3

December 25, 2013Television, Videomini-episode, prequel, Sherlock, Sherlock series 3Scott Meisner

Sherlock has been gone for two years. But someone isn’t quite convinced that he’s dead…

So reads the logline for this Sherlock mini-episode that serves as a prequel appetizer for series 3. It opens with Detective Inspector Greg Lestrade (Rupert Graves) meeting with a bearded Anderson (Jonathan Aris) at a coffee shop investigating probable Sherlock sightings. DI Lestrade firmly believes the master sleuth is “dead and gone” but Anderson’s worldly tales have Sherlock’s fingerprints all over them. Later, Lestrade stops by Dr. John Watson’s pad (Martin Freeman hasn’t grown out his famed mustache yet) to hand over some of Sherlock’s belongings. Among the contents is a DVD with the uncut version of a birthday message Sherlock made for his apprentice. In it the one played by Benedict Cumberbatch teases, “Oh and don’t worry; I’m going to be with you again very soon.”

“Many Happy Returns” was written by series creators Mark Gatiss and Steven Moffat.

How did Sherlock fake his death? How exactly will his reunion with Watson go down? Find out when Sherlock returns January 19 on PBS.