Month: May 2018

Categories
The Simpsons

Eventually the creative team behind the show will have to do something.

Priyanka Chopra: Apu from ‘The Simpsons’ was ‘the bane of my life growing up’

Actress Priyanka Chopra has joined the call for The Simpsons creators to retire Indian character Apu Nahasapeemapetilon, insisting the stereotype is so “out of date”.

The Baywatch beauty, who grew up in India before moving to the U.S. as a teen, reveals she spent much of her youth despising the cartoon shopkeeper, known for his over-the-top accent and exaggerated mannerisms, because it only contributed to her classmates’ ignorant assumptions of those with similar backgrounds.

“He was the bane of my life growing up, for sure,” she confessed on daytime talk show The View, as she weighed in on the controversy sparked by comedian Hari Kondabolu’s criticism in his 2017 documentary The Problem With Apu.

“I was always asked when I was in high school at 14, 15, why I didn’t speak like that…? Did I find gold in my rivers? Did I go to school on elephants? I always had questions like that.”

Priyanka insists the ignorance of Apu’s portrayal is only now being publicly recognized as an issue in society because minorities finally have a voice and are making themselves heard, compared to when The Simpsons first launched in 1989.

“A lot of people are talking about, ‘Oh, the show was so successful for 30 years, why are we suddenly waking up and being offended by a character that everyone loved?’,” she said. “What happened from that time to now, the population of Indian Americans has tripled. So the voice is louder. Representation for people of colour is louder. There’s the Internet and the media, where people can have a conversation.”

As a result, the actress insists The Simpsons creators should listen to the uproar and modernise their show to reflect the changing times.

Concluding her argument, she added, “So I think, yes, it is a time where, why try to erase stereotype? Yes, it is a cartoon. Yes, it’s a pop culturally (sic) super successful show. But that gives it more responsibility. It’s out of date on so many levels.”

Categories
People

Take care, Ms. Nichols.

‘Star Trek’ star Nichelle Nichols suffering from dementia

Nichelle Nichols, best known for her role as Lt. Nyota Uhura on the original Star Trek series, reportedly has dementia.

According to reports, the 85-year-old actress is suffering memory loss and needs to be taken care of according to her son. She has been confined to a wheelchair in recent times.

Kyle Johnson filed papers in court nominating four fiduciaries to become his mom’s conservators.

This would legally give them control of her finances and decisions related to her health.

According to Johnson, this is necessary because her dementia is “impacting her executive functioning” and makes her “susceptible to undue influence.”

He added: “Certain individuals have unduly exerted themselves into Ms. Nichols’ life ‘to her detriment.’”

Aside from her classic Star Trek role, the actress has been very busy with three projects coming out this year.

Her health took a setback when she suffered a stroke back in 2015.

Categories
Movies

Get this movie made!!

Black Widow Has Reportedly Looked At A Huge Number Of Directors

Ever since she debuted in Iron Man 2, Natasha Romanoff, a.k.a. Black Widow, has been one of the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s key heroes, whether it’s as a supporting character in another hero’s movie or being part of a big ensemble. Eight years after her introduction, it sounds Marvel Studios is finally ready to spotlight the KGB agent-turned-S.H.I.E.L.D. operative-turned-superhero in her own story, as it was reported back in January that a Black Widow movie is in development. While we don’t have a timetable yet on when this movie could come out, evidently Marvel isn’t sparing any effort with finding the right person to helm it, as the studio has reportedly met with more than 65 directors.

This information comes to us from Variety reporter Justin Kroll, and while we don’t know most of the names that are on this list, it was revealed last week that Mustang’s Deniz Gamze Erguven, The Rider’s Chloe Zhao and A United Kingdom’s Amma Asante are among the candidates. Whether the directing job goes to one of those three or someone else we haven’t heard about yet, it sounds like Marvel’s been quite thorough with its search. With a character like Black Widow, who’s both been an important player in the comics and an integral member of the MCU, it’s important to ensure that her standalone movie is the best it can be. If that means chatting with upwards of 65 directors, then by all means, schedule those meetings!

All we know for sure about the Black Widow movie, aside from Scarlett Johansson obviously reprising the heroine, is that it’s being written by Jac Schaffer, who also penned Olaf’s Frozen Adventure and The Hustle. However, it was recently rumored that rather than being set after the events of Avengers 4, it would be a prequel following Natasha Romaoff approximately 15 years after the fall of the Soviet Union. That would place the movie around 2006, a couple years before her appearance in Iron Man 2. Assuming this is true, it’s unclear if at this point in time she was still working for Russian intelligence or had already defected to join S.H.I.E.L.D., but since Sebastian Stan has expressed interest in appearing in the Black Widow movie, perhaps the tale could chronicle Natasha’s first encounter with The Winter Soldier.

Assuming that Black Widow is released during Phase Four, that makes it the third movie that’s confirmed for this slate of films, following Spider-Man: Homecoming 2 and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (an Eternals movie is also in consideration). We here at CinemaBlend will keep you updated on how the Black Widow movie is developing as more information becomes available, including who scores the directing gig. In the meantime, Black Widow can currently be seen alongside most of the MCU’s other heroes in Avengers: Infinity War, and you can look through our Marvel movies guide to learn what other projects this franchise has in the works.

Categories
Business

It’s called “negotiating”. Good luck, Ryan!!

Ryan Reynolds Teases ‘Deadpool 2’ Could Be End of Franchise

Although “Deadpool 2” is tracking for an enormous opening weekend of $150 million and the first film broke records, Ryan Reynolds isn’t sure whether there would be a third movie in the franchise.

“I don’t know that there would be a ‘Deadpool 3,’ I really don’t,” Reynolds told Entertainment Weekly. “I feel like the character, in order for him to function properly within his own universe, you need to take everything away from him. I don’t think that you can keep doing that.”

However, while Reynolds isn’t sure whether Deadpool would get another solo film, the actor does see the Merc with a Mouth as part of a team.

“I do see him as being a part of X-Force, obviously. I would love to see him in a team-up sort of thing, like a mano a mano or a great female character from the X-Men universe,” he said. “I just think if you’re going to do another Deadpool solo film, you’ve got to really, like, get that budget down to nothing and just swing for the fences, and break all kinds of weird barriers, and do stuff that no one else can do.”

Reynolds is already part of the “X-Force” film that Drew Goddard will write and direct. Zazie Beetz and Josh Brolin are also already attached as Domino and Cable, respectively. The film was originally announced in 2013 with “Kick-Ass 2” director Jeff Wadlow attached to direct.

For now, Reynolds will reprise his role as the character in “Deadpool 2,” which will hit theaters on May 18. Morena Baccarin, T.J. Miller, Brianna Hildebrand, Beetz and Brolin also star.

Categories
Television

Amazing news!!

Will Ferrell, Molly Shannon’s Cord & Tish to return for Royal Wedding

And you thought Cord and Tish went gaga over flowers…

“Saturday Night Live” alumni Will Ferrell and Molly Shannon will reprise their roles of Cord Hosenbeck and Tish Cattigan, respectively, for a live HBO special tied to the upcoming British royal wedding.

“The Royal Wedding Live With Cord and Tish!,” which the premium cabler announced Tuesday, will air Saturday, May 19 at 7:30/6:30c, with a primetime replay that day at 9:45 pm.

Shannon and Ferrell introduced the characters in “The 2018 Rose Parade Hosted by Cord & Tish,” an Amazon parody special that streamed live in January.

Rose Parade correspondent (and fellow former “SNL”-er) Tim Meadows, as well as other guests, will be on hand to help with the coverage of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s wedding procession. A release for the special promises that Tish and Cord will relay the big event “with their trademark dignity and grace.”

Ferrell wrote and will executive-produce the special with Andrew Steele (“SNL”), Mike Farah (“Billy on the Street”) and showrunner Bellamie Blackstone (“@midnight”); Shannon will produce. Funny or Die will produce.

Categories
Television

Bring it on, baby!! Bring it on!!!

‘Arrested Development’ Season 4 Getting A “Remix” Before Season 5 Hits

There’s good news and bad news about “Arrested Development.” The good news is that season 5 is coming. And apparently its right around the corner. The bad news is…well not really that bad, honestly. The second bit of news is about season 4.

To say that Season 4 of “Arrested Development” wasn’t as well-received as previous seasons would be a gross understatement. The story of the Bluth family was widely regarded as one of the best comedies on TV, which led Netflix to revive the show for the ill-fated season 4. Unfortunately, a variety of behind-the-scenes circumstances led to the series being presented in an odd way, or as the series creator Mitch Hurwitz says, “a ‘Rashomon’-style of storytelling. Needless to say, fans weren’t very pleased.

But never fear! Hurwitz is back and wants to make things right. Or at least give it a valiant effort before season 5 of the series makes its triumphant return later this Summer.

In an open letter tweeted out by Hurwitz, he describes an effort to recut and “remix” season 4 to be told in a more simple, chronological way. While he readily admits that his main driving force was money (“I mean, who am I kidding, I want this thing to syndicate eventually.”), he says that he found other purposes to remix and re-edit the season.

“But I also pursued it as a comedic experiment to see if new jokes and a new perspective would emerge from a remix that features all the Bluths in every episode, and where the simultaneity of the story plays out chronologically,” explained the creator. “And I’m really excited about the final result.”

Let’s be real, Hurwitz did this to win back favor from the fans before season 5 is released. Speaking from my own personal experience, I didn’t even finish the fourth season because it was so lackluster. However, with the “remix” scheduled to hit Netflix this Friday, May 4, I might go back to see if I initially misjudged the series.

“Arrested Development Season 4 Remix: Fateful Consequences” will hit Netflix on May 4, followed “real soon” by season 5.

Categories
Awards

Bruuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuce!!!

Mean Girls, SpongeBob lead Tony Award nominations with 12 nods each

NEW YORK—Tina Fey’s musical Mean Girls, which she adapted from her much-beloved and oft-quoted 2004 high school comedy movie, and the goofy undersea adaptation from the cartoon SpongeBob SquarePants: The Musical lead the Tony Award nominations with dozen nods each.

A British revival of Angels in America, Tony Kushner’s monumental, two-part drama about AIDS, life and love during the 1980s, grabbed 11 nominations — the most for any play — 25 years after it first appeared on Broadway. The shimmering, grown-up musical The Band’s Visit also earned 11 nods.

J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter franchise extended its magical touch to Broadway, with a two-part stage play featuring the bespectacled wizard earning 10 nominations, as did a revival of My Fair Lady.

Best new musical category is filled by The Band’s Visit, Frozen, Mean Girls and SpongeBob SquarePants: The Musical. Those musicals that failed to make the cut were the Hal Prince revue Prince of Broadway, the Jimmy Buffet musical Escape to Margaritaville and Summer, about disco diva Donna Summer.

The two-part Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, which picks up 19 years from where Rowling’s last novel left off and portrays Potter and his friends as grown-ups, won nine Olivier Awards in London before coming to America and bewitching critics and audiences alike. It now will face The Children, Farinelli and The King, Junk and Latin History for Morons for best new play.

Best male acting nominations for a play include Denzel Washington, starring in a revival of Eugene O’Neill’s epic The Iceman Cometh. The 2010 Tony winner for Fences will have to face-off against Andrew Garfield in Angels in America, Tom Hollander of Travesties, Jamie Parker of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child and Mark Rylance in Farinelli and The King.

Michael Cera of Brampton, Ont., received a nomination for best featured actor in a play for his role in Lobby Hero.

Amy Schumer, who made her Broadway debut in Steve Martin’s comedy Meteor Shower, won a nomination for best actress in a play. Others in the category include Glenda Jackson from Edward Albee’s Three Tall Women, Condola Rashad in Saint Joan and Lauren Ridloff in Children of a Lesser God.

Carousel, My Fair Lady and Once on This Island make up the best musical revival category, mostly because they’re only eligible nominees.

The best play revival category is filled by Angels in America, Three Tall Women, Lobby Hero, Travesties and The Iceman Cometh.

Bruce Springsteen, whose solo show mixes songs and stories from his bestselling memoir Born to Run and has been banking over $2 million (U.S.) each week he’s onstage, will be granted a special, non-competitive Tony, along with John Leguizamo for Latin History for Morons.

Plenty of nominations don’t necessarily lead to actual wins on Tony night. While Hamilton was nominated for 16 awards in 2016 and went on to win 11, just last year Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812 earned a leading 12 nominations but got just two technical awards on the big night.