Category: Television

‘The Walking Dead’ Promotes 4 to Series Regular for Season 7

AMC’s The Walking Dead is putting four key members of its cast on lockdown.

The zombie drama has promoted Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Tom Payne, Austin Amelio and Xander Berkeley to series regular, The Hollywood Reporter has learned.

The quartet boarded the drama based on Robert Kirkman’s comic series in season seven as recurring, with Morgan making his debut as famed villain Negan in the finale. All four play key characters from the comic books. Payne is hero Jesus, currently supporting Rick (Andrew Lincoln) and his band of survivors. Amelio is Dwight, a badly burned member of Negan’s dastardly Saviors who has a particular bone to pick with Daryl (Norman Reedus). And Berkeley is Gregory, the shady leader of the Hilltop Colony who is poised to clash with Maggie (Lauren Cohan) — provided the pregnant Alexandria Safe Zone resident survives the finale.

The promotions come as little surprise as most Walking Dead stars begin their time with the series as recurring with options to be promoted to regular. Katelyn Nacon (Carl’s love interest Enid), meanwhile, is still considered recurring.

The four additions to the full-time cast bring The Walking Dead’s roster to 20 series regulars — up two from season six — and an all-time high for the drama overseen by showrunner Scott M. Gimple. For its part, the series parted ways with (as in killed off) characters portrayed by series regulars Tovah Feldshuh (Deanna) and Alexandra Breckenridge (Jessie). The series also killed off recurring characters Denise (Merritt Wever) and Nicholas (Michael Traynor) last season.

Here’s the full list of series regulars for season seven: Lincoln, Reedus, Steven Yeun (Glenn), Cohan, Chandler Riggs (Carl), Danai Gurira (Michonne), Melissa McBride (Carol), Michael Cudlitz (Abraham), Lennie James (Morgan), Sonequa Martin-Green (Sasha), Alanna Masterson (Tara), Christian Serratos (Rosita), Josh McDermitt (Eugene), Seth Gilliam (Father Gabriel), Ross Marquand (Aaron), Austin Nichols (Spencer), Morgan, Payne, Amelio and Berkeley.

The cast ranks will likely lose at least one regular when the finale cliffhanger is resolved and Negan’s victim is revealed to be one of the 11 staples left kneeling before the ruthless killer. Meanwhile, the casting for comic book character Ezekiel is expected to be revealed soon as the series prepares to introduce yet another community, The Kingdom, and likely take on the source material’s “All Out War” arc in a battle against Negan and the Saviors.

Morgan (Watchmen, The Good Wife) is repped by UTA and Bloom Hergott; Payne (Luck) is with Paradigm, Untitled and Felker Toczek; Amelio (Everybody Wants Some) is with UTA and Brillstein; and Berkeley is with Paradigm, Affirmative and Stone Genow.

The Walking Dead returns in October. A premiere date and trailer will be announced this month at San Diego Comic-Con.

‘Curb Your Enthusiasm’ gets new season on HBO

Larry David is bringing his curmudgeonly grumblings back to HBO with a ninth season of “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” nearly five years since the meta comedy was last on the air.

HBO announced no further details about the new season, or when it will premiere.

“Curb,” which stars the “Seinfeld” co-creator as an over-the-top version of himself, previously ran for 80 episodes from 2000 to 2011. During that run, David would frequently take two years between seasons, and after Season 8, network executives said they would maintain an open-door policy should he want to do additional episodes.

David, a Brooklyn native, has been experiencing a pop culture renaissance in the last year, doing his spot-on impersonation of Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders on “Saturday Night Live” and posing in photos with his Instagram-famous daughter.

Since “Curb” ended, David starred in and co-wrote the 2013 HBO film “Clear History,” appeared on the 2014 premiere episode of pal Jerry Seinfeld’s “Comedians In Cars Getting Coffee” and made his Broadway debut in “Fish in the Dark” last year.

Ghostbusters casts, new and old, to unite on Jimmy Kimmel Live!

Jimmy Kimmel will receive a call from Ghostbusters cast members old and new. For the June 8 episode of Jimmy Kimmel Live, original Ghostbusters stars Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Ernie Hudson, and Annie Potts will join new ‘busters Melissa McCarthy, Kristen Wiig, Kate McKinnon, and Leslie Jones to celebrate the anniversary of the first film.

“Seeing the original and new Ghostbusters all together [will be] like being in the presence of the comedy gods on Mount Olympus,” new Ghostbustersdirector Paul Feig told USA Today, which broke news of the appearance.

June 8 is the 32nd anniversary of the original Ghostbustersrelease; in addition to the Kimmel union, celebrations will also include anniversary screenings in theaters nationwide.

The late-night appearance won’t be the only time the casts mingle in the coming months: Murray, Aykroyd, Hudson, and Potts will have cameos in the new film (each playing new characters and not their original roles).
“They’re extraordinarily funny and there’s a great chemistry with them,” Hudson said earlier this year about his appearance and what to expect from the film. “I think it’s going to be very good. The script I knew was good. I knew the special effects would be amazing. But I was really pleasantly surprised to see how the women kind of gelled together.”

Recently, Aykroyd wrote on Facebook that he had seen the new Ghostbusters and loved the result. “As originator of the original: Saw test screening of new movie. Apart from brilliant, genuine performances from the cast both female and male, it has more laughs and more scares than the first 2 films plus Bill Murray is in it! As one of millions of man-fans and Ray Stantz, I’m paying to see that and bringing all my friends!”

HBO hunts down Game of Thrones pirates but some Canadians say they have no choice

HBO is hunting down Game of Thrones pirates. Its weapon: warning letters.

The TV network wants to stop people from illegally downloading its hugely popular and widely pirated TV series.

HBO “aggressively protects its programming,” the network told CBC News in an email.

But many Canadians who pirate Game of Thrones claim they haven’t much choice; the fantasy drama, known for its violence, nudity and plot-twists, isn’t available in Canada without a costly cable subscription.

HBO wouldn’t provide details about its plan of attack.

But Bell Media, which owns the rights to HBO content in Canada, told CBC News in an email that the American network has been sending warning letters targeting Thrones pirates “for some time now.”

Bell added there’s no actual “crackdown” in Canada but it suspects “more letters are being issued at this time due to the popularity of Game of Thrones.”

According to the online publication, TorrentFreak, HBO is behind thousands of copyright infringement notices recently sent to internet service providers.

The letters reportedly identify the computer user allegedly pirating episodes of Game of Thrones. They also ask the provider to inform the customer about the notice and “take proper steps to prevent further downloading or sharing of unauthorized content.”

Internet providers in Canada are required by law to forward infringement notices to customers.

“They see it as a way of hopefully scaring people,” tech analyst Patrick O’Rourke says of HBO’s intentions. “I don’t see them actually taking legal action.”

According to TorrentFreak, the letter also encourages the internet provider to inform the customer that “HBO programming can easily be watched and streamed on many devices legally.”

But Canadian pirates argue their options are limited.

In the U.S., Thrones fans can sign up for the streaming service, HBO Now, for $14.99 US a month. But in Canada, viewers must subscribe to cable to legally access the series.

And it doesn’t come cheap. To get HBO Canada, subscribers typically have to pay around $20 for a Movie Network package on top of the cost of a regular TV plan.

“If you don’t want to pay all that extra money to get channels you don’t want, your only option unfortunately is piracy,” says O’Rourke, a Toronto-based writer for the tech site MobileSyrup.

The situation has frustrated many Canadian Thrones fans who claim they resorted to piracy after realizing they can’t pay for a streaming service to watch the show.

“HBO Canada. I’m sitting here trying as hard as I can to give you money to watch Game of Thrones, and you won’t let me,” someone tweeted following the recent launch of the new season.

“Now understanding why people pirate Game of Thrones. Wanted to buy via iTunes Store but apparently not available in Canada…ugh,” posted another person.

Jake Deichert of Toronto admits he pirates Game of Thrones every week right after it airs on TV. “I personally torrent the show every Sunday night after 10 p.m.,” he says.

Deichert is open about his piracy because he says he would pay to stream the show — if he could.

The 22-year-old software developer isn’t interested in an expensive cable package. But he pays for a monthly Netflix subscription and also tried to sign up for HBO Now.

That’s when he discovered the streaming service isn’t available to Canadians.

“It is depressing,” he says. “If HBO Now was in Canada, I 100 per cent would pay just to watch Game of Thrones.”

He also checked out Bell’s $7.99-a-month streaming service, CraveTV, only to discover it doesn’t include the series. “I was willing to pay for it if it was,” Deichert says.

He adds he hasn’t yet received a threatening letter on behalf of HBO. He believes that instead of circulating letters, HBO could easily curb its piracy problem by making its streaming service available outside the U.S.

“To me, that’s problem solved,” Deichert says. “I don’t expect them to [be available] on Netflix but I expect them to at least bring their streaming service to more countries.”

HBO told CBC News it has no plans to bring HBO NOW to Canada. Bell Media said it continues “to assess the market” but, at this time, Game of Thrones is available exclusively to TV subscribers of The Movie Network.

Bell added that it supports HBO’s efforts to combat piracy, “which is illegal and immoral.”

But pirates like Deichert just don’t see it that way.

He says he understands why HBO would try to protect its product. But he also feels justified in pirating Game of Thrones when he would shell out for a streaming service.

“I’m begging for it, but it’s not happening yet,” he says.

He suggests perhaps the problem will solve itself in the near future as more people cancel their cable subscriptions and streaming services expand their content to meet the demand.

“Cable will not last forever.”

Kit Harington admits he’s in Game of Thrones season 6 (but still dead)

One Game of Thrones mystery has been solved ahead of season 6. Kind of.

The fate of Kit Harington’s Jon Snow has remained one of the biggest questions about what lies ahead in the HBO drama’s sixth season, and speaking with Time Out London, the star indicated he most definitely returns. But he’s coming back dead.

“I filmed some scenes of me being dead,” Harington said about the new season after previously denying a role in season 6.

“Look, I’m not in the show anymore. I’m definitely not in the new series,” he said before revealing he returns as his deceased character.

So Harington definitely returns for the new season, which is being heavily kept under wraps to the point that critics will not be receiving any advance episodes. And though Harington says he doesn’t “have a clue” about what happens in the new season or for how long he appears in the series as a corpse, his latest words are likely to do little to keep speculation at bay. Fans and critics alike will have to wait to find out exactly what happens when Game of Thrones returns April 24 to HBO. Though they can at least rest assured they’ll see more of Harington lying motionless for at least a few frames more.

‘The Office’ Alum Jenna Fischer Joins Matt LeBlanc’s CBS Comedy Pilot

Jenna Fischer has joined Matt LeBlanc‘s CBS comedy pilot.

In the series, LeBlanc plays Adam, a contractor who learns that raising his kids is more challenging than expected when his wife goes back to work. Fischer will play Andi, Adam’s wife, who decides she wants to return to her job as a medical lab technician.

For eight seasons, Fischer starred as Pam Beesley on “The Office,” alongside Steve Carell, John Krasinski and Rainn Wilson. In 2007, the role earned Fischer her first Emmy nomination for Best Supporting Actress in a comedy series.

Currently, Fischer stars on the NBC comedic drama “You, Me and the Apocalypse” opposite Megan Mullally, Rob Lowe and Mathew Baynton.

Fischer is repped by WME, Odenkirk Provissiero Entertainment and attorney Harris Hartman at Sloane Offer Weber Dern.

The new show is from writers and “That ’70s Show” alums Jeff and Jackie Filgo, who will executive produce along with LeBlanc and Michael Rotenberg.

Louis C.K. Surprise-Releases New Series ‘Horace and Pete’ With Steve Buscemi

Louis C.K. announced in August that he was taking an “extended hiatus” from his acclaimed FX series Louie in order to work on other projects. Saturday brought the surprise-release of one of those extracurricular activities as the comedian sent out a simple email to fans announcing the arrival of his dramatic, darkly humorous new series Horace and Pete, starring C.K. and Steve Buscemi in the title roles. The show’s first episode is available to purchase now for $5 at C.K.’s official site.

According to Gothamist, the 67-minute first episode of Horace and Pete finds the two actors starring as a pair of bar owners in a show that resembles a more depressing take on the sitcom Cheers. The series, which takes place in a Brooklyn bar, also features Alan Alda as their racist uncle, Saturday Night Live’s Aidy Bryant as the daughter of C.K.’s Horace, Rebecca Hall as Horace’s girlfriend and Edie Falco as his sister.

Nick DiPaolo, Kurt Metzger, Steven Wright and Jessica Lange also make appearances in the premiere episode, with C.K. serving as writer and director. Horace and Pete’s theme song was also reportedly written by Paul Simon. The episode appears to have been filmed recently, as Donald Trump and Super Bowl quarterbacks are topics of conversation at Horace and Pete.

In addition to the surprise Horace and Pete, C.K. has spent his time away from Louie developing an animated series with Albert Brooks, producing the Zach Galifianakis clown comedy Baskets, working on a film called I’m a Cop and shadowing the mayor of New York for an unspecified project.

Larry David to Host ‘Saturday Night Live’ With Musical Guest The 1975

It is finally happening. Larry David will host Saturday Night Live.

The sketch show made the announcement during this week’s episode.

David, a fan favorite for his fantastic impression of Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders, will host the show on Feb. 6.

The Curb Your Enthusiasm star and Seinfeld co-creator will be joined by musical guest The 1975.

‘The X Files’: The show’s return is ‘not a victory lap’

“The X Files,” Fox’s groundbreaking series about the mysterious and the unexplained, is coming back for a new slate of six episodes Jan. 24, with creator Chris Carter and original stars David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson on board.

Although fan fever for the drama hasn’t died since it went off the air 13 years ago, Carter warned that the new shows will not be a trip down memory lane.

“This is an opportunity to make good on the promise” of the show,” Carter told reporters at the Television Critics Assn. press tour. “We’ve got fresh new material. This is not a victory lap. We’re going to show people that there is new life in this show.”

The six episodes will range from installments rooted in the mythology of the series, which involves the investigations by former FBI Special Agents Fox Mulder and Dana Scully, and stand-alone installments featuring more humorous elements and strange creatures.

Carter said the variation of tone fits the flavor of the series, which always moved from one perspective to another week by week.

The two stars seemed equally excited to be reunited on the series. Anderson said that although she was determined to move beyond the series by engaging in a range of projects, she called “The X Files” “a gift.”

David Schwimmer Says Buzz About an Upcoming Friends Reunion Is ‘Completely Inaccurate’

Could we BE any more disappointed?

David Schwimmer told reporters at FX’s TCA panel on Saturday that the highly-anticipated Friends reunion won’t be quite what fans are hoping.

Schwimmer said calling the Feb. 21 NBC special a reunion is “completely inaccurate.”

“I mean, in no way is it a Friends reunion when one member is out of the country,” Schwimmer explains.

Matthew Perry is the only member of the show’s original main cast that will be unable to attend the taping of the two-hour special honoring the sitcom’s director James Burrows. Perry will instead be in London rehearsing for his upcoming play, The End of Longing. While Perry will introduce his castmates via video from London, even Schwimmer agrees it won’t quite be the same.

“But look, it’s a great event,” the 49-year-old says. “We all love James Burrows and I’m sure Matthew Perry would be there if he could, but he’s working in London. Maybe one day there will be [a reunion], but this will not be it.”

The group has, famously, never had a full, onscreen reunion since the show ended after in 2004. And Schwimmer totally understands that the fans are begging for it.

“Look, I think it’s lovely,” he said of Friends’ long-lasting popularity. “I love that people are that into the show and I would love to see the six of us together and I’m sure one day we will be.”

He also told PEOPLE he appreciates that the show has touched new generations – including his own daughter, Cleo.

“I have a 4-and-a-half-year-old daughter and I came home once and saw that my wife was watching an episode with her,” he told PEOPLE on Saturday. “It was a lovely experience but also quite strange to see that my daughter is looking at me walk in the room. Literally she screamed, ‘Daddy, you’re on TV.’ It was really sweet.”