Category: Television

Justin Timberlake is bringing sexy back to ‘Saturday Night Live’ in March

Justin Timberlake is back on the music scene, which means it’s high time he returns to “Saturday Night Live.” The singer be trading in his “Suit & Tie” for a “D**k in a Box” when he returns to host the show on March 9. This will be his fifth appearance on the NBC series.

Like Justin Bieber recently, Timberlake will pull double duty as both host and performer on “SNL.” This will be his first appearance on the sketch comedy show since Andy Samberg’s departure, though hopefully he’ll get the vet to come back for one more digital short. Timberlake last hosted in 2011.

Timberlake’s new album, “The 20/20 Experience,” comes out on March 19. In anticipation of that release, he’ll also be holding a one-week residency on “Late Night with Jimmy Fallon” from March 11 to 15. It’s “SNL” we’re really looking forward to, though — after all, he didn’t win his four Emmys for his work on the series for nothing.

‘The Office’ to mark close of business on May 16

During its ninth season, veteran NBC comedy has been introducing plot lines leading up to the finale, including revealing the people behind the documentary footage.

The Office plans to go out with a bang in a one-hour, May 16 finale that also will mark the NBC comedy’s 200th episode, the network announced Thursday.

The Emmy- and Peabody-winning series, in its ninth season, has recently been advancing story lines leading up to the finale, such as revealing members of the documentary crew who have been filming the lives of the Dunder Mifflin paper company’s employees.

During a recent on-set interview, Rainn Wilson, who has played assistant to the regional manager Dwight Schrute since the show’s beginning, said he didn’t expect this kind of longevity when the show started.

“I had no idea it would be lasting 200 episodes,” he said. “I really thought we would do six or 10 or 12 or 17, be something like Freaks and Geeks or Arrested Development and have a season or two and have it live on DVD. No idea it would go on nine years.”

Yes There Will Be An ‘Entourage’ Movie!!

When Entourage aired its series finale back in September 2011 after eight seasons of cameo-happy fratboy decadence, it concluded on a dramatic note of ambiguity. Ari Gold promised his wife he would leave Hollywood behind, but in the episode’s closing moments, he was offered his dream job: Becoming CEO of Time Warner. Apparently, he took the offer. EW has confirmed the news, originally reported by Deadline, that Warner Bros. has greenlit an Entourage movie, with the show’s creator Doug Ellin writing and directing the film. Warner Bros. confirmed the Deadline report, which indicates that negotiations are currently underway with the show’s cast, who will almost certainly sign on, because filming an Entourage movie is like being paid to go to a college reunion that lasts three months, and also you went to college with supermodels.

Script details are being kept under wraps at this point, but presumably the film will be about Vince being offered a role in a big movie directed by a to-be-determined famous director — let’s say Steven Spielberg, why not. Eric tries to get Vince a part in the movie, and also has to interact with his famous cameo clients — Daniel Day-Lewis? What are you doing here? — and Sloan is angry at him for some reason. Also, Drama is angling for a bit part in a Viking Quest reboot directed by J.J. Abrams while trying to date Brooklyn Decker, Turtle is launching a line of Turtle™ Brand socks while trying to date Kate Upton, and Ari has lots of memorable dialogue, like “F—ing s—-ing m———-er c——er, f— f— f— f—, Llllooooooyyyyddd!” Plus, turns out everyone is in purgatory.

Christoph Waltz to host ‘Saturday Night Live’ February 16th

Sounds like a bingo for Lorne Michaels: NBC announced today that Django Unchained star Christoph Waltz will host SNL for the first time on Feb. 16. Though the Best Supporting Actor winner (and current nominee) has never appeared on NBC’s sketch series before, he has shown off his comedic timing on talk shows like Jimmy Kimmel Live! — as well as in his signature menacing-yet-hilarious roles in Quentin Tarantino’s Django and Inglourious Basterds.

Waltz will be joined by musical guest Alabama Shakes, also making their SNL debut. The rockers are up for three Grammys this year, including Best New Artist.

Saturday Night Live returns from a one-week hiatus Feb. 9 with a new episode hosted by Justin Bieber, who will also serve as musical guest.

‘How I Met Your Mother’ Gets Final Season – and Reveals the Mother

“How I Met Your Mother” will be back for a ninth and final season that will reveal — finally — who the mother is.

CBS and 20th Century Fox Television announced Wednesday that the series would be back for one final go-round with series regulars Josh Radnor, Jason Segel, Cobie Smulders, Neil Patrick Harris and Alyson Hannigan, as well as series creators Carter Bays and Craig Thomas.

For eight years, viewers have wondered about the identity of the titular mother — and she will finally be revealed in the final season.

“Through eight years, ‘How I Met Your Mother’ has mastered the art of leading-edge comedy, emotional water-cooler moments and pop culture catch phrases,” said Nina Tassler, president of CBS Entertainment. “We are excited for Carter, Craig, Pam Fryman and this amazing cast to tell the final chapter and reveal television’s most mysterious mother to some of TV’s most passionate fans.”

Steve Carell Formally Nixes Office Series Finale Comeback: ‘It Didn’t Make Sense’

It’s official: The Office‘s rapidly approaching series finale will not feature an appearance by former boss Michael Scott.

Steve Carell has confirmed that he turned down an offer to reprise his signature role one last time.

“I just didn’t think it was right for the character, because that character had had an arc within the story and kind of grew and sort of evolved past the idea of the documentary,” he told Access Hollywood. “I’m really good friends with everybody on the cast and with [executive producer] Greg Daniels and I want to go back to say, ‘Hi,’ certainly, before it all ends. but I just thought, in terms of the character, it didn’t make sense.”

The Office is set to close its doors after nine seasons with a one-hour finale in May.

Will Justin Bieber host and perform on ‘Saturday Night Live’?

“Saturday Night Live” may try to keep its hosts and musical guests a secret until shortly before they arrive, but sometimes the stars like to give things away early. That may be the case with Justin Bieber, who posted on Twitter that he may indeed be an upcoming host and musical act on the late-night show.

On Monday (Jan. 7), Bieber posted sent a cryptic message to his 32 million or so Twitter followers:

“maybe im hosting and performing on SNL…maybe. :)”

This is hardly a confirmation — that will have to come from “Saturday Night Live” or from NBC at some point in the future — but it does indicate that Bieber is will be including the show in his upcoming plans. It’s certainly not impossible that the young singer would appear as both the host and the musical guest, since many musicians have done so in the past. This would, however, be a new role for Bieber. His previous “SNL” experience is limited to a musical performance back in 2010 when Tina Fey was the host.

“Saturday Night Live” would be a good thing for Bieber right now, considering the negative-toned publicity he’s had as 2013 began. In addition to the death of a paparazzo who was trying to get a picture of the singer, Beiber has dealt with rumors of pot smoking and of a break-up (again) with Selena Gomez.

Steve Carell’s Return to The Office Probably Not Happening, Says NBC Chairman

When you read this news, you will definitely say out loud to us: “I hate so much about the things you choose to be.” Don’t shoot the messenger, OK?

Even though several Office castmembers have mentioned to us that schedules were being worked out to bring Steve Carell back before the show goes off the air for good, NBC Chairman Robert Greenblatt may have crushed those dreams forever.

“I’m hopeful, but I don’t think he will be back,” Greenblatt said during NBC’s Sunday presentation at the Television Critics Association press tour. “He left in the way that he wanted that character to leave.”

The NBC boss claims that the reason behind it is Carell doesn’t want to tarnish the character’s final exit in season seven.

But before you give up all hope of Michael Scott ever coming back to Scranton, Greenblatt offered this up: “There’s maybe a little Hail Mary pass on a cameo.”

If we don’t get updates on Michael’s life before the series finale, we are just going to assume he is happily married to Holly (Amy Ryan) and they have lots of babies. Sound good?

Doyle Season 4 best season ever, says Hawco

Allan Hawco, the star and co-creator of “Republic of Doyle” on CBC Television, describes the first episode of the fourth season of his program as the start of the series’ best season ever.

“It feels like the best premiere we’ve ever done in terms of the dramatics,” said Hawco, who plays private detective Jake Doyle.

“It’s an action-packed first episode on Sunday, I tell you.”

Resolution to cliffhanger

Republic of Doyle ended its third season on a cliffhanger with character Des Courtney getting shot in the stomach, and Jake Doyle’s beloved Pontiac GTO destroyed. Hawco promised fans that the season premiere will bring resolution to those Doyle dilemmas.

Hawco said this season, fans will get to know more about Jake’s family members and friends, including some growth in the character of Tinny — Jake’s niece — and an intriguing plot surrounding RNC Sgt. Leslie Bennett.

“We took some risks this year, dramatically,” said Hawco.

Lots of guest stars

Republic of Doyle has become known for attracting high profile guest stars, such as Oscar winning actor Russell Crowe, and the fourth season will continue to feature well-known faces.

In Sunday’s premiere episode, Braveheart actor Angus Macfayden makes an appearance as Jake’s uncle, visiting from the north of Ireland. Hollywood character actor Luis Guzman will show up in an episode later this season. Newfoundland actors Gordon Pinsent, Bob Joy and Joel Thomas Hynes will be featured in several episodes. Canadian actor Paul Gross will have a recurring guest star role as Kevin Crocker, Jake’s former police partner and Tinny’s father.

Show a Canadian hit

Hawco credited people from Newfoundland and Labrador, at home and away, for spreading the word about Republic of Doyle when the television series first started, and helping turn it into a Canadian hit.

Hawco points out that ratings are also high for the show in cities such as Toronto, Vancouver and Calgary, where many viewers have no personal connection with his home province.

“What [co-creator] Perry [Chafe] and [producers] John [Vatcher] and Rob [Blackie] and I were trying to do was sort of open a window into sort of our ideal version of St. John’s,” said Hawco.

“And I feel like we may have opened a door so that people feel they’ve come to visit us for a week.”

The Season 4 premiere of Republic of Doyle airs Sunday at 9:30 p.m. in Newfoundland, 9:00 p.m. in the rest of Canada, on CBC Television.

‘Saturday Night Live’ snags Jennifer Lawrence as host

Golden Globe, SAG Award and potential Oscar nominee Jennifer Lawrence will add “Saturday Night Live” host to her resume in January.

Lawrence will be the host for the first “SNL” of 2013 on Jan. 19. Folk rockers The Lumineers will be the musical guest.

The early over-under line on “Hunger Games”-related sketches is two.

Lawrence currently stars in “Silver Linings Playbook,” which has earned her Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild Award nominations. She’s also considered a contender for an Oscar nod for the role. It would be her second, following one for “Winter’s Bone” two years ago.

The second “Hunger Games” movie, “Catching Fire,” is due for release in November 2013.