Tag Archives: A&E

What to watch this month: ‘House of Cards,’ ‘Daredevil,’ ‘Bates Motel,’ ‘The Americans’ & more

Image cache, News, Television, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Spring is fast approaching as we enter the month of March and typically this would mean that most shows begin their sprint to the May sweeps and then hibernate until fall. That’s still true, but today we live in a different TV landscape where networks are prone to promote and debut new and returning series throughout the year, not just in September and midseason. Throw in streaming services like Netflix and Hulu and this March all of a sudden is the new September in TV land. Preview the many must-see shows premiering this month after the break. Continue reading What to watch this month: ‘House of Cards,’ ‘Daredevil,’ ‘Bates Motel,’ ‘The Americans’ & more →

TV teasers: ‘Bates Motel’ spins out of control & ‘Orphan Black’ journeys down the rabbit hole

Television, Video, , , ,

Psycho prequel series Bates Motel has been airing on A&E for three years now and it gets better and better because each season viewers are witness to Norman Bates (Freddie Highmore) sinking deeper and deeper into his insanity. His obsession with his mother Norma (Vera Farmiga) is worsening as he continues to lose grip on reality. This brand new season 4 teaser is the best metaphor; Norman is spiraling out of control as we inch closer to the Norman we know from Alfred Hitchcock’s classic film. Plus, the all-to-brief clip brings back into focus themes like Norman’s peeping tom, Norma’s gun, Miss Watson’s pearls, and it culminates in a familiar setting that I wouldn’t dare spoil.

Enjoy, and anticipate the return of Bates Motel coming March 7 to A&E.

Jump after the break to see the latest Orphan Black teaser. Continue reading TV teasers: ‘Bates Motel’ spins out of control & ‘Orphan Black’ journeys down the rabbit hole →

A&E renews ‘Bates Motel’ for two more seasons

News, Television, , , , , ,

Carlton Cuse’s vision for a five-season tale of watching Norman Bates become Psycho is right on track. Today A&E officially renewed its creeptastic drama Bates Motel for two more seasons. Upcoming seasons 4 and 5 will each consist of 10 episodes, no change there. Cuse, along with co-showrunner Kerry Ehrin, have shared with critics and fans that they’d hope to tell this finite story across (at least) five seasons, and now that the network is fully on board with that plan, viewers don’t have to worry one bit about full resolution (er, evolution) come the series finale.

“The vision of our incredible creative team has exposed the steady breakdown of the relationship between Norman and Norma Bates,” said Rob Sharenow, Executive Vice President and General Manager of A&E, in a statement. “We are thrilled to bring fans two more seasons to witness the next stages of Norman’s transformation into the most notorious psychopath in cinematic history.”

Elsewhere at A&E, Cuse’s other drama The Returned has been cancelled and will not be coming back for a second season. Though the premise intrigued in its dealings with loved ones returning from the dead, it did so without the finesse and grace of ABC’s ill-fated Resurrection; that show went on to see a second season and then fizzled out.

TV reminder: 12 premieres to look out for in March

Image cache, News, Television, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

There are so many super awesome cool amazing premieres falling on the schedule this month! Jump after the break to preview 12 you shouldn’t miss. Continue reading TV reminder: 12 premieres to look out for in March →

‘Bates Motel’ teaser turns Norman into the Peeping Tom we’ve all been waiting for

Television, Video, , ,

Now that Norman Bates–played exquisitely by Freddy Highmore–is truly reaching his Psycho potential, it’s high time for the buzzy drama to start embracing its rich source material. Alfred Hitchcock’s 1960 horror classic has found its way into Carlton Cuse and Kerry Ehrin’s prequel series in various forms: Highmore’s Norman has been fascinated with taxidermy for awhile now, and we’ve even seen his mother’s dark (yet still living) silhouette from afar in a window peering out of Bates Manor. Plus, at the very end of last season, Norman realized he could compartmentalize his multiple personalities: Norman and Norma can reason independently inside his mind. There’s no doubt we’re inching closer to the completely psychotic Norman Bates as seen in Hitchcock’s film.

Where does Norman go from here, then? To the peep-hole, of course! In this creep-tastic teaser for the upcoming third season of A&E’s Bates Motel, we spy on new motel tenant Annika Johnson (played by the beautiful Tracy Spiridakos from the recently cancelled NBC series Revolution) as she begins to undress. Cue heavy breathing as the camera pulls out of the hole to reveal Norman as our Peeping Tom. Chilling! As a massive fan of Psycho, watching this teaser is majorly satisfying.

Bates Motel checks in again this March.

Comic Con: ‘Bates Motel” unearths actors’ “audition tapes”

Hilarity, Television, Video, , , ,

Those who attended the Bates Motel panel at this year’s Comic Con were privy to never-before-seen “audition tapes” headlined by series stars Vera Farmiga, Freddie Highmore, Nestor Carbonell, Olivia Cooke, and Max Thieriot. You’re probably wondering why those words are in quotations; well, I won’t ruin the surprise. Just got a box of tissues ready because soon enough tears of laughter will be streaming down your face. This here is pure gold.

Also during the panel it was announced that Kenny Johnson–who plays Caleb, Norma’s brother and Dylan’s biological father–will return as a series regular in season three. Also, Nicola Peltz–Norman’s friend-that-he-would-do-anything-for Bradley Martin–will return to the show after leaving early on in season two to shoot the new Transformers movie; again, unfortunately, she will not be present full-time but she’s expected to enter the fold later in the season.

Bates Motel returns to A&E this fall.

HBO renews ‘Game of Thrones’ for two more seasons, A&E picks up third season of ‘Bates Motel’

News, Television, , , , ,

This week HBO renewed its hit fantasy series Game of Thrones for fifth and sixth seasons. A two-season pickup is nice, but it shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone. First, logistically, the sprawling drama is based on George R.R. Martin’s books which will span across seven thick novels when all is said and done; so there is much story that needs to be adapted for the small screen. Second, of course, is the show’s monster ratings. Last Sunday’s season 4 premiere drew in a record-breaking 6.6 million viewers making it the pay cabler’s most watched program since The Sopranos‘ series finale in 2007.

“Game of Thrones is a phenomenon like no other,” said president of HBO Programming Michael Lombardo. “David Benioff and D.B. Weiss, along with their talented collaborators, continue to surpass themselves, and we look forward to more of their dazzling storytelling.”

Also renewed this week is A&E’s Psycho prequel series Bates Motel. The Freddy Highmore & Vera Farmiga show will return for a 10-episode third season in 2015. Season 2 is really starting to unravel Norman’s psychosis and another season of the thriller is going to bring viewers even closer to the serial killer we know he is destined to be.

“The incredible writing team and talented Bates Motel cast has made this series one of the most compelling original dramas on television,” said A&E EVP and GM David McKillop. “The brilliant twists and turns of the past two seasons keep its loyal fan base coming back for more. We are so proud of the show.”

Game of Thrones airs Sunday nights at 9PM on HBO and Bates Motel airs Mondays at 10PM on A&E.

First look: Inside ‘Bates Motel’s second season

Television, Video, , ,

Viewers don’t get to check back into A&E’s Bates Motel until March 3, but that doesn’t mean they can’t sneak a peek at what’s in store for season 2 right now. Click play to hear from stars Freddie Highmore, Vera Farmiga, Max Thieriot, newcomer Michael Vartan, and executive producers Carlton Cuse and Kerry Ehrin. Yes, there’s new footage, and yes, Norman and Norma are spooning in bed.

‘Bates Motel’ season 2 teasers inside

Television, Video, , , ,

Vera Farmiga and Freddie Highmore check back into Bates Motel in March as the freaky mother and son duo we have come to adore. A&E hasn’t offered up a solidified premiere date yet, but the cable network has pushed out a cool poster (see above) and not one but two new teasers starring Norma and Norman respectively. Bed linen and taxidermy involved. Watch after the break. Continue reading ‘Bates Motel’ season 2 teasers inside →

Comic Con: Freddy Highmore snaps at the real ‘Bates Motel’

Hilarity, Television, Video, , , , ,

Vera Farmiga aka Norma Bates just scooped up an Emmy nomination for Best Actress while her TV son Freddie Highmore was left in the dust. When the young Norman Bates stops by the Bates Motel writer’s room he begins to discover that the show’s executive producers Carlton Cuse and Kerry Ehrin are very much feeding into Farmiga’s fame. Highmore doesn’t like it, so Cuse plans a trip to the real Bates Motel that’s still up at the Universal lot. And from there, things get…weird.

This video, originally screened at Comic Con, had me in a fit of laughter on more than one occasion: “Norman thinks about sunsets” … Cuse practicing his “Previously on” line … I mean, this is seriously funny stuff. Let’s not linger; get to the goods and hit play!

TV renewals: ‘Bates Motel’, ‘Revolution’, ‘Glee’ and others coming back next season

News, Television, , , , , , , , , ,

On April 8, A&E renewed Bates Motel for a second season. Same order as before–10 new episodes will premiere in 2014.

A&E president Bob DeBitetto: “Bates Motel has garnered critical acclaim and a loyal audience in its first few weeks. With superb writing and exceptional acting, led by the critically acclaimed performances of Vera Farmiga and Freddie Highmore, we’re incredibly excited to see where Carlton and Kerry take Norma and Norman Bates next.”

On April 26, NBC renewed five dramas including freshmen Revolution and Chicago Fire, Law & Order: SVU (for a fifteenth season), Parenthood (for a fifth season), and Grimm (for a third season).

NBC entertainment president Jennifer Salke: “On the verge of our 2013 fall scheduling decisions, we’re pleased to renew five drama series that will be important to our new season line-up. We’re proud and very appreciative of all of the actors, producers, writers and directors who work so hard to deliver such high-quality work week in and week out. These complex shows represent a broad range of genres and tones, and all of them stand out for us in a television landscape now filled with one-hour series. We’re especially pleased to be renewing Revolution and Chicago Fire — two first-season successes — and there will be more returning series announcements made in the next couple of weeks.”

For more renewal news, jump after the break. Continue reading TV renewals: ‘Bates Motel’, ‘Revolution’, ‘Glee’ and others coming back next season →