Brazilian documentarian Petra Costa continues to chronicle the dire state of democracy in her homeland with the eye-opening exposé Apocalypse in the Tropics (Apocalipse nos Trópicos), delving into the troubling ties linking Christian evangelism and politics all the way up to the highest office.
As in her Oscar-nominated 2019 feature, The Edge of Democracy, Costa gets up close and personal with some very powerful people, capturing them during a wave of social and political unrest that has plagued Brazil over the past decade. This time, she focuses primarily on Silas Malafaia — a popular TV preacher who holds great sway over politicians on both the left and right, in a country where evangelists represent over 30% of the population.
With its portrayal of fundamentalist agitators, fake news purveyors, the very Trump-like Jair Bolsonaro, and, during an explosive finale, an attack on the country’s capital waged by hordes of insurrectionists, the similarities between...
As in her Oscar-nominated 2019 feature, The Edge of Democracy, Costa gets up close and personal with some very powerful people, capturing them during a wave of social and political unrest that has plagued Brazil over the past decade. This time, she focuses primarily on Silas Malafaia — a popular TV preacher who holds great sway over politicians on both the left and right, in a country where evangelists represent over 30% of the population.
With its portrayal of fundamentalist agitators, fake news purveyors, the very Trump-like Jair Bolsonaro, and, during an explosive finale, an attack on the country’s capital waged by hordes of insurrectionists, the similarities between...
- 8/29/2024
- by Jordan Mintzer
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Peter Finch won a posthumous Oscar for his uproarious performance as a swivel-eyed news anchor – a cross between Billy Graham and Donald Trump
‘The time has come to say … is ‘dehumanisation’ such a bad word?” The speaker is Howard Beale, the sweat-drenched, swivel-eyed TV news anchor in this classic 1976 satire from screenwriter Paddy Chayevsky and director Sidney Lumet, now on rerelease. Depressed by the loss of his wife and by getting fired due to dwindling audiences, Beale proclaims he will kill himself live on air and is then re-hired as a colossal popular and then populist success, his celebrity delirium turning him into a crazy prophet, telling millions of Americans to scream out of the window that they are as mad as hell and not going to take it any more. Beale is a mixture of Billy Graham, radio star Orson Welles telling America the Martians are coming, and that notorious ratings-obsessive Donald Trump.
‘The time has come to say … is ‘dehumanisation’ such a bad word?” The speaker is Howard Beale, the sweat-drenched, swivel-eyed TV news anchor in this classic 1976 satire from screenwriter Paddy Chayevsky and director Sidney Lumet, now on rerelease. Depressed by the loss of his wife and by getting fired due to dwindling audiences, Beale proclaims he will kill himself live on air and is then re-hired as a colossal popular and then populist success, his celebrity delirium turning him into a crazy prophet, telling millions of Americans to scream out of the window that they are as mad as hell and not going to take it any more. Beale is a mixture of Billy Graham, radio star Orson Welles telling America the Martians are coming, and that notorious ratings-obsessive Donald Trump.
- 6/26/2024
- by Peter Bradshaw
- The Guardian - Film News
Until recently, filmmaker Jon Erwin was the reigning box-office champ for faith-based films with “I Can Only Imagine” and “Jesus Revolution.” Shortly after “Sound of Freedom” opened to $14.2 million, he offered advice to Angel Studios on how it might capitalize that success.
By November, when the child-trafficking drama grossed $250 million worldwide, Erwin lost his bragging rights. He remembers joking with the producers, “It wasn’t supposed to work this much!”
Ego aside, he welcomed the success. As “Sound of Freedom” inspired box-office think pieces and conspiracy-theory controversy, Erwin and partner Kelly Merryman Hoogstraten were in talks with Amazon Studios. Today, their company The Wonder Project is producing a slate of faith-based series and films; Erwin said he’d “be lying” if he believed “Sound of Freedom” didn’t help him get a better deal.
“I had not felt that hunger from the studios in a long time to reach the audience,...
By November, when the child-trafficking drama grossed $250 million worldwide, Erwin lost his bragging rights. He remembers joking with the producers, “It wasn’t supposed to work this much!”
Ego aside, he welcomed the success. As “Sound of Freedom” inspired box-office think pieces and conspiracy-theory controversy, Erwin and partner Kelly Merryman Hoogstraten were in talks with Amazon Studios. Today, their company The Wonder Project is producing a slate of faith-based series and films; Erwin said he’d “be lying” if he believed “Sound of Freedom” didn’t help him get a better deal.
“I had not felt that hunger from the studios in a long time to reach the audience,...
- 4/9/2024
- by Brian Welk
- Indiewire
When you hear the words “professional wrestler,” whose face comes to mind? “Well, let me tell you something, brother…” there may be no more iconic figure in the world of professional wrestling than Terrence Gene Bollea. But you may know him as Hulk Hogan.
So Wtf happened to Hulk Hogan? With a career that spans over 45 years, a lot. Let’s start at the beginning. But before we do, let’s keep in mind that the source of a lot of what follows is Bollea, himself. The complete record of Terry Bollea’s life is My Life Outside the Ring, his 2009 autobiography, which is more exhaustive than 2002’s Hollywood Hogan. In an industry stocked full of duplicitous people, Hulk Hogan’s long been considered to have perhaps the most strained relationship with the truth of any of them. But neither should we let the truth get in the way of a good story.
So Wtf happened to Hulk Hogan? With a career that spans over 45 years, a lot. Let’s start at the beginning. But before we do, let’s keep in mind that the source of a lot of what follows is Bollea, himself. The complete record of Terry Bollea’s life is My Life Outside the Ring, his 2009 autobiography, which is more exhaustive than 2002’s Hollywood Hogan. In an industry stocked full of duplicitous people, Hulk Hogan’s long been considered to have perhaps the most strained relationship with the truth of any of them. But neither should we let the truth get in the way of a good story.
- 3/2/2024
- by Derek Mitchell
- JoBlo.com
Around this time last year, Barefoot Gen creator Keiji Nakazawa was among those nominated for the Eisner Hall of Fame. While the late manga author didn't end up getting into the 2023 class, he's officially in this year as part of a group of 19 total automatic inductees. Other automatic inductees for the 2024 Eisner Awards Hall of Fame include Kim Deitch, Creig Flessel, A.B. Frost, Billy Graham, Gary Groth, Albert Kanter, Warren Kremer, Oskar Lebeck, Frans Masereel, Don McGregor, Noel Sickles, Cliff Sterrett, Elmer C. Stoner, Bryan Talbot, Ron Turner, George Tuska, Lynn Varley and James Warren. Related: Barefoot Gen Creator Keiji Nakazawa Among 2023 Eisner Hall of Fame Nominees Keiji Nakazawa—who passed away in 2012—was also nominated in 2020. Barefoot Gen is one of a handful of manga he authored to depict the first-hand experience of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima. Following his I Saw It manga in 1972, Barefoot Gen ran...
- 3/1/2024
- by Joseph Luster
- Crunchyroll
WWE 2K24 is set to launch in just a couple of weeks now, and we are getting to know some very important details. One of the most awaited aspects of every WWE game is the character roster and the variations available to each wrestler.
It’s always fun to see the creativity implemented in entirely new designs, or how the game devs are paying homage to classic looks and outfits used in the WWE. Over the weekend, we got a glimpse of another WWE superstar’s in-game variant, and it will catch some eyes.
Cody Rhodes is Taking on a New Look in WWE 2K24
Cody Rhodes in WWE 2K24 is going to have a very unique look.
A video clip uploaded to X by user @ItsMachoT shows that Cody Rhodes will be getting a look that resembles his action figure. The American Nightmare’s toy-like look features his WWE Hell in a Cell 2022 outfit,...
It’s always fun to see the creativity implemented in entirely new designs, or how the game devs are paying homage to classic looks and outfits used in the WWE. Over the weekend, we got a glimpse of another WWE superstar’s in-game variant, and it will catch some eyes.
Cody Rhodes is Taking on a New Look in WWE 2K24
Cody Rhodes in WWE 2K24 is going to have a very unique look.
A video clip uploaded to X by user @ItsMachoT shows that Cody Rhodes will be getting a look that resembles his action figure. The American Nightmare’s toy-like look features his WWE Hell in a Cell 2022 outfit,...
- 2/26/2024
- by Sagar Nerala
- FandomWire
Cody Rhodes has much to celebrate. The “American Nightmare” won the 2024 WWE Royal Rumble and punched his ticket to the main event of WrestleMania 40. It’s the first time in more than 25 years since someone, “Stone Cold” Steve Austin, has done it back-to-back. This came a few days after the news broke the popular superstar would forever be immortalized on the cover of the upcoming “WWE 2K24” video game. Adding even more meaning to the occasion is the fact players who pre-order the standard edition will receive the “Nightmare Family Pack.” It’s a bonus pack of content featuring four playable superstars including two alternate versions of Rhodes’ past personas (The “Undashing” masked Cody and Stardust) and the 1976 version of his late father, Dusty Rhodes, and one of the WWE Hall of Famer’s biggest rivals in “Superstar” Billy Graham. This moment in time is not lost on Rhodes, who...
- 2/2/2024
- TV Insider
The Exorcist rocked the world 50 years ago and horror has never been the same since. It shocked audiences with its unflinching portrayals of disturbing medical examinations, levels of profanity that shot right past those considered “acceptable” for Hollywood studio films, and a scene in which a twelve-year-old girl masturbates with a crucifix. It was decried by some and lauded by others. Evangelist Billy Graham famously said, “the Devil is in every frame” and urged Christians not to see the film and thereby expose themselves to such evil. The Catholic Church was mixed, condemning the film’s profanity and violence, but individuals within the church also praised its depiction of the power of good over evil. Roger Ebert loved it. Pauline Kael hated it. What matters, though, is people saw it, and they saw it in droves, making it the biggest box-office smash of the year. In 1973 and 74 it famously induced fainting,...
- 10/4/2023
- by Brian Keiper
- bloody-disgusting.com
Tl;Dr:
Tommy James and the Shondells’ “Sweet Cherry Wine” has metaphorical lyrics. It is about a major concept in Christian theology. “Sweet Cherry Wine” became a big hit on the pop charts in the United States.
Some classic rock songs have Christian elements. For example, Tommy James and the Shondells’ “Sweet Cherry Wine” is about Jesus Christ. Notably, James discussed the role Christianity plays in his life.
Tommy James and the Shondells’ ‘Sweet Cherry Wine’ is about the blood of Jesus
During a 2009 interview with Songfacts, James was asked if the lyrics of “Sweet Cherry Wine” were metaphorical. “Yes,” he said. “It’s a metaphor for the blood of Jesus.”
In Christian theology, Jesus died to redeem humanity from Adam and Eve’s transgression in the Garden of Eden. Therefore, the blood of Christ is seen as essential to humankind’s liberation from sin. Some Christians believe they are...
Tommy James and the Shondells’ “Sweet Cherry Wine” has metaphorical lyrics. It is about a major concept in Christian theology. “Sweet Cherry Wine” became a big hit on the pop charts in the United States.
Some classic rock songs have Christian elements. For example, Tommy James and the Shondells’ “Sweet Cherry Wine” is about Jesus Christ. Notably, James discussed the role Christianity plays in his life.
Tommy James and the Shondells’ ‘Sweet Cherry Wine’ is about the blood of Jesus
During a 2009 interview with Songfacts, James was asked if the lyrics of “Sweet Cherry Wine” were metaphorical. “Yes,” he said. “It’s a metaphor for the blood of Jesus.”
In Christian theology, Jesus died to redeem humanity from Adam and Eve’s transgression in the Garden of Eden. Therefore, the blood of Christ is seen as essential to humankind’s liberation from sin. Some Christians believe they are...
- 7/20/2023
- by Matthew Trzcinski
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Former WWE star, Darren Drozdov, has died at the age of 54. He was left paralyzed and confined to a wheelchair following an in-ring accident that occurred back in 1999.
On Friday afternoon, WWE announced his death.
“An imposing force in the ring, Darren Drozdov became a notable figure in WWE, known to fans as both Puke and Droz during his time as an in-ring competitor,” the pro wrestling company said in a statement.
Read More: Alan Arkin, Oscar-Winning Actor And ‘Little Miss Sunshine’ Star, Dead At 89
WWE is saddened to learn that Darren Drozdov passed away on Friday, June 30, at age 54.
WWE extends its condolences to Darren Drozdov’s family, friends and fans.https://t.co/7gDRO0tiGl pic.twitter.com/EqPtbGIPy8
— WWE (@WWE) June 30, 2023
Drozdov’s family also released a statement, revealing that he died Friday morning of natural causes.
“There are no words to convey the deep sense of...
On Friday afternoon, WWE announced his death.
“An imposing force in the ring, Darren Drozdov became a notable figure in WWE, known to fans as both Puke and Droz during his time as an in-ring competitor,” the pro wrestling company said in a statement.
Read More: Alan Arkin, Oscar-Winning Actor And ‘Little Miss Sunshine’ Star, Dead At 89
WWE is saddened to learn that Darren Drozdov passed away on Friday, June 30, at age 54.
WWE extends its condolences to Darren Drozdov’s family, friends and fans.https://t.co/7gDRO0tiGl pic.twitter.com/EqPtbGIPy8
— WWE (@WWE) June 30, 2023
Drozdov’s family also released a statement, revealing that he died Friday morning of natural causes.
“There are no words to convey the deep sense of...
- 6/30/2023
- by Melissa Romualdi
- ET Canada
John Goodman has a lot of catching up to do. Over the past six years, the renowned actor has been so busy rebooting his role as Dan Conner on Roseanne and The Conners, and establishing himself as televangelist patriarch Eli Gemstone on the fantastic HBO series The Righteous Gemstones, he hasn’t had time for the little things, like following up on medical appointments and getting back to the boxing gym, just a few years after he shed more than 200 pounds. “It’s like I didn’t have any time off,...
- 6/17/2023
- by Elisabeth Garber-Paul
- Rollingstone.com
WWE fans are mourning a legend.
On Wednesday, the family of former pro wrestler Hossein Khosrow Ali Vaziri, known worldwide as The Iron Sheik, shared the sad news that he has passed away at age 81.
Read More: Billy Graham, WWE Hall of Fame Legend ‘Superstar,’ Dead At 79
“With his larger than life persona, incredible charisma, and unparalleled in-ring skills, he captivated audiences around the globe,” he family said in a statement on his Twitter account. “He was a trailblazer, breaking barriers and paving the way for a diverse range of wrestlers who followed in his footsteps.”
Respect The Legend Forever pic.twitter.com/Cr6CC9pXSO
— The Iron Sheik (@the_ironsheik) June 7, 2023
“Beyond the glitz and glamour of the squared circle, The Iron Sheik was a man of immense passion and dedication,” the statement continued. “He embodied resilience. He overcame countless challenges in his life, both inside and outside the wrestling ring.
On Wednesday, the family of former pro wrestler Hossein Khosrow Ali Vaziri, known worldwide as The Iron Sheik, shared the sad news that he has passed away at age 81.
Read More: Billy Graham, WWE Hall of Fame Legend ‘Superstar,’ Dead At 79
“With his larger than life persona, incredible charisma, and unparalleled in-ring skills, he captivated audiences around the globe,” he family said in a statement on his Twitter account. “He was a trailblazer, breaking barriers and paving the way for a diverse range of wrestlers who followed in his footsteps.”
Respect The Legend Forever pic.twitter.com/Cr6CC9pXSO
— The Iron Sheik (@the_ironsheik) June 7, 2023
“Beyond the glitz and glamour of the squared circle, The Iron Sheik was a man of immense passion and dedication,” the statement continued. “He embodied resilience. He overcame countless challenges in his life, both inside and outside the wrestling ring.
- 6/7/2023
- by Corey Atad
- ET Canada
Pro Football Hall of Famer Jim Brown, the unstoppable running back who retired at the peak of his brilliant career to become an actor as well as a prominent civil rights advocate during the 1960s, has died. He was 87.
A spokeswoman for Brown’s family said he passed away peacefully in his Los Angeles home on Thursday night with his wife, Monique, by his side.
One of the greatest players in football history and one of the game’s first superstars, Brown was chosen the NFL’s Most Valuable Player in 1965 and shattered the league’s record books in a short career spanning 1957-65.
We are heartbroken by the passing of the legendary Jim Brown.
One of the greatest players in NFL history, a true pioneer and activist. Jim Brown’s legacy will live on forever. pic.twitter.com/byBcZ0c7KG
— NFL (@NFL) May 19, 2023
Brown led the Cleveland Browns...
A spokeswoman for Brown’s family said he passed away peacefully in his Los Angeles home on Thursday night with his wife, Monique, by his side.
One of the greatest players in football history and one of the game’s first superstars, Brown was chosen the NFL’s Most Valuable Player in 1965 and shattered the league’s record books in a short career spanning 1957-65.
We are heartbroken by the passing of the legendary Jim Brown.
One of the greatest players in NFL history, a true pioneer and activist. Jim Brown’s legacy will live on forever. pic.twitter.com/byBcZ0c7KG
— NFL (@NFL) May 19, 2023
Brown led the Cleveland Browns...
- 5/19/2023
- by Brent Furdyk
- ET Canada
Andy Rourke, bass guitarist of The Smiths, one of the most influential British bands of the 1980s, has died after a lengthy illness with pancreatic cancer, his former bandmate Johnny Marr said Friday. He was 59.
In a lengthy post on Instagram, guitarist and songwriter Marr paid tribute to Rourke, who he first met when both were schoolboys in 1975.
“Throughout our teens we played in various bands around south Manchester before making our reputations with The Smiths from 1982 to 1987, and it was on those Smiths records that Andy reinvented what it is to be a bass guitar player,” Marr said.
During their short time together as a four-piece band, The Smiths deliberately stayed away from the mainstream of popular music, garnering a cult following on the independent music scene.
Though much of the attention focused on the song-writing partnership of Marr and frontman Steven Patrick Morrissey, better known as Morrissey, the...
In a lengthy post on Instagram, guitarist and songwriter Marr paid tribute to Rourke, who he first met when both were schoolboys in 1975.
“Throughout our teens we played in various bands around south Manchester before making our reputations with The Smiths from 1982 to 1987, and it was on those Smiths records that Andy reinvented what it is to be a bass guitar player,” Marr said.
During their short time together as a four-piece band, The Smiths deliberately stayed away from the mainstream of popular music, garnering a cult following on the independent music scene.
Though much of the attention focused on the song-writing partnership of Marr and frontman Steven Patrick Morrissey, better known as Morrissey, the...
- 5/19/2023
- by Becca Longmire
- ET Canada
‘Superstar’ Billy Graham, a WWE Hall of Famer who is regarded as one of the most influential pro wrestlers of all time, has died. He was 79. A cause of death wasn’t given, but it was reported earlier this week that Graham had been in the ICU on life support. On Monday (May 15) morning, Graham’s wife Valerie posted on Facebook that she had refused to take her husband off his life support. “Graham died Wednesday after being taken off life support and spending most of his time in the hospital this year,” the Billy Graham Facebook page wrote on Wednesday. “He was initially hospitalized in January with an infection in his ears that spread to his ear bones and skull. Graham was battling numerous health issues that included acute kidney failure, congestive heart failure, diabetes, and hearing loss.” WWE is saddened to learn that WWE Hall of Famer “Superstar” Billy Graham has passed away.
- 5/18/2023
- TV Insider
WWE Hall of Famer and wrestling legend “Superstar” Billy Graham has died. He was 79.
The news was confirmed by fellow wrestling icon Ric Flair, who tweeted a tribute to the beloved titan of the ring.
“The Superstar Billy Graham Just Left Us,” Flair wrote. “Thank You For All Your Influence On My Career!”
Graham — whose real name was Eldridge Wayne Coleman — died on Wednesday when he was taken off life support after several days, TMZ reports. His family revealed on Monday that he’d been hospitalized and in the ICU for several weeks while battling an unspecified illness.
The outlet reports that Graham’s wife and daughter were with him by his side in the hospital when he died.
Before finding his calling in professional wrestling, Graham was a bodybuilder and played in the Canadian Football League until he began his career in the American Wrestling Association in the 1960s,...
The news was confirmed by fellow wrestling icon Ric Flair, who tweeted a tribute to the beloved titan of the ring.
“The Superstar Billy Graham Just Left Us,” Flair wrote. “Thank You For All Your Influence On My Career!”
Graham — whose real name was Eldridge Wayne Coleman — died on Wednesday when he was taken off life support after several days, TMZ reports. His family revealed on Monday that he’d been hospitalized and in the ICU for several weeks while battling an unspecified illness.
The outlet reports that Graham’s wife and daughter were with him by his side in the hospital when he died.
Before finding his calling in professional wrestling, Graham was a bodybuilder and played in the Canadian Football League until he began his career in the American Wrestling Association in the 1960s,...
- 5/18/2023
- by Corey Atad
- ET Canada
Superstar Billy Graham, the professional wrestler whose larger-than-life ring persona and charismatic style was hugely influential on the likes of Hulk Hogan, Steve Austin, Jesse Ventura and Ric Flair, has died. He was 79.
In a tweet, Flair confirmed that Graham had died. “The Superstar Billy Graham just left us. Thank you for all your influence on my career!” Flair tweeted. No cause of death was provided but Graham had been suffering poor health for a number of years and was hospitalized in February.
Born Eldridge Wayne Coleman in Phoenix, Arizona in 1943, Graham began bodybuilding at an early age. After dabbling in boxing and pro football, he had his first taste of notoriety when he was featured in a Muscle and Fitness magazine spread with then-fellow bodybuilder Arnold Schwarzenegger.
In 1969, he decided to enter the world of professional wrestling, and adopted the ring name Billy Graham, as a tribute to the...
In a tweet, Flair confirmed that Graham had died. “The Superstar Billy Graham just left us. Thank you for all your influence on my career!” Flair tweeted. No cause of death was provided but Graham had been suffering poor health for a number of years and was hospitalized in February.
Born Eldridge Wayne Coleman in Phoenix, Arizona in 1943, Graham began bodybuilding at an early age. After dabbling in boxing and pro football, he had his first taste of notoriety when he was featured in a Muscle and Fitness magazine spread with then-fellow bodybuilder Arnold Schwarzenegger.
In 1969, he decided to enter the world of professional wrestling, and adopted the ring name Billy Graham, as a tribute to the...
- 5/18/2023
- by Abid Rahman
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Pro wrestling legend “Superstar” Billy Graham died Wednesday at 79. No cause was given, but he had been battling ill health for some time and had been hospitalized in the ICU on life support.
Graham, real name Eldridge Wayne Coleman, was a three-time former world champion professional wrestler, including a 1977-78 title run in the Wwwf, which eventually became the WWE. He was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2004.
His wife, Valerie, posted Monday morning on Graham’s Facebook account that she had refused to remove his life support.
His colleagues mourned his loss, but saluted his legacy.
“The Superstar Billy Graham Just Left US,” wrestling colleague Ric Flair tweeted. “Thank You For All Your Influence on My Career!”
“Superstar Billy Graham. One Of My First Teachers Of The Heat,” the Iron Shiek tweeted. “The Real Legend Bubba. He Love Me I Love Him. Together We Hit The Gym And Shock The Earth.
Graham, real name Eldridge Wayne Coleman, was a three-time former world champion professional wrestler, including a 1977-78 title run in the Wwwf, which eventually became the WWE. He was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2004.
His wife, Valerie, posted Monday morning on Graham’s Facebook account that she had refused to remove his life support.
His colleagues mourned his loss, but saluted his legacy.
“The Superstar Billy Graham Just Left US,” wrestling colleague Ric Flair tweeted. “Thank You For All Your Influence on My Career!”
“Superstar Billy Graham. One Of My First Teachers Of The Heat,” the Iron Shiek tweeted. “The Real Legend Bubba. He Love Me I Love Him. Together We Hit The Gym And Shock The Earth.
- 5/18/2023
- by Bruce Haring
- Deadline Film + TV
Eldridge Wayne Coleman, a professional wrestler better known to millions as WWE legend “Superstar” Billy Graham, died Wednesday of undisclosed causes. He was 79, and had reportedly been battling a number of health issues.
The news was made public by fellow pro-wrestling legend Ric Flair, and confirmed by Dave Meltzer, a reporter for the Wrestling Observer, later confirmed the news.
The Superstar Billy Graham Just Left Us,” Flair wrote. “Thank You For All Your Influence On My Career!”
I am so sad. My entire life, and tons of others from Flair to Hogan to Jesse to tons you wouldn't know and tons you would changed because of him. Valerie, I just wish you the best, you're a saint and more people than you know are aware of it. https://t.co/xr48yzf20G
— Dave Meltzer (@davemeltzerWON) May 18, 2023
Graham’s wife Valerie wrote on Facebook earlier this week her husband had...
The news was made public by fellow pro-wrestling legend Ric Flair, and confirmed by Dave Meltzer, a reporter for the Wrestling Observer, later confirmed the news.
The Superstar Billy Graham Just Left Us,” Flair wrote. “Thank You For All Your Influence On My Career!”
I am so sad. My entire life, and tons of others from Flair to Hogan to Jesse to tons you wouldn't know and tons you would changed because of him. Valerie, I just wish you the best, you're a saint and more people than you know are aware of it. https://t.co/xr48yzf20G
— Dave Meltzer (@davemeltzerWON) May 18, 2023
Graham’s wife Valerie wrote on Facebook earlier this week her husband had...
- 5/18/2023
- by Mason Bissada
- The Wrap
When you think of horror directors, there's often the impulse to assume that all of them have nursed a burning passion for the dark and scary since they were little kids reading issues of "Creepy" or "Weird Tales" in their bedrooms. And it is true that there are some directors who got into the horror genre because they wanted to, but there are also those who wound up amongst the screams and the scares just by chance.
Wes Craven had an extremely prolific and influential career as a director. He is probably most well known for creating the iconic "A Nightmare on Elm Street" series, about Freddy Krueger (Robert Englund), a violent murderer with a freaky glove who kills people in their dreams. And if you don't think of Freddy Krueger first, you probably think of the "Scream" franchise, of which he directed the first four entries. There's also "The Last House on the Left,...
Wes Craven had an extremely prolific and influential career as a director. He is probably most well known for creating the iconic "A Nightmare on Elm Street" series, about Freddy Krueger (Robert Englund), a violent murderer with a freaky glove who kills people in their dreams. And if you don't think of Freddy Krueger first, you probably think of the "Scream" franchise, of which he directed the first four entries. There's also "The Last House on the Left,...
- 10/23/2022
- by Miyako Pleines
- Slash Film
No possession film will ever be as frightening as The Exorcist (1973) because it is a movie no one wants to make anymore. Filmmakers repeatedly try to copy it, but that’s not the same as producing a bold and groundbreaking original work, and when they do, they try to speed up the action to get to the thrills. The devil likes it slow and has never been more intimate, and real as in director William Friedkin’s multi-Oscar-nominated film. It is scary because it is studiously subdued, and daringly sloppy.
The Exorcist terrified moviegoers when it came out a day after Christmas in ‘73. William Peter Blatty’s novel was a bestseller before that, threatening to infest every bookshelf in every home in America. It was a demon just waiting for some studio to unleash it into theaters, and Warner Bros. heralded its unholy unveiling.
Word on the street warned that...
The Exorcist terrified moviegoers when it came out a day after Christmas in ‘73. William Peter Blatty’s novel was a bestseller before that, threatening to infest every bookshelf in every home in America. It was a demon just waiting for some studio to unleash it into theaters, and Warner Bros. heralded its unholy unveiling.
Word on the street warned that...
- 10/19/2022
- by David Crow
- Den of Geek
“The White Lotus” creator Mike White really was on “Survivor,” as he mentioned in his acceptance speech after collecting his second Emmy during Monday night’s ceremony.
White, who won a directing and a writing Emmy for the HBO limited series, quipped “On ‘Survivor,’ the way to stay in the game is you lower your threat level, and now I feel like I’ve raised my threat level. … Don’t come for me, don’t vote me off the island, please!”
The actor/writer, who’s also known for playing Ned Schneebly in “School of Rock,” competed during Season 37 of the CBS reality show in 2018.
Also Read:
Why ‘The White Lotus’ Creator Avoided Themes of Colonialism in Season 2: ‘I Was Going to Get Sniper Fire’ Mel White and Mike White on “The Amazing Race” (CBS)
White also appeared in two seasons of “The Amazing Race” — in 2009 and 2011 — with his father,...
White, who won a directing and a writing Emmy for the HBO limited series, quipped “On ‘Survivor,’ the way to stay in the game is you lower your threat level, and now I feel like I’ve raised my threat level. … Don’t come for me, don’t vote me off the island, please!”
The actor/writer, who’s also known for playing Ned Schneebly in “School of Rock,” competed during Season 37 of the CBS reality show in 2018.
Also Read:
Why ‘The White Lotus’ Creator Avoided Themes of Colonialism in Season 2: ‘I Was Going to Get Sniper Fire’ Mel White and Mike White on “The Amazing Race” (CBS)
White also appeared in two seasons of “The Amazing Race” — in 2009 and 2011 — with his father,...
- 9/13/2022
- by Sharon Knolle
- The Wrap
Cody Rhodes made his return to WWE on Saturday night at WrestleMania 38, coming back to the promotion that he famously exited nearly six years ago.
In that time, Rhodes has wrestled all over the world and was integral to the founding of All Elite Wrestling (Aew), the rival wrestling promotion run by Tony Khan. Rhodes was a top star onscreen and an executive vice president offscreen in Aew, but he left the company in February 2022 after failing to come to terms on a new contract.
In an interview with Variety in the days leading up to WrestleMania, Rhodes said his dream is still to do what his father — the legendary Dusty Rhodes — never did. He won’t say it out loud for fear of jinxing it, but Rhodes has his eyes on the WWE Championship. Dusty fought for the title in 1977 at Madison Square Garden against Superstar Billy Graham for...
In that time, Rhodes has wrestled all over the world and was integral to the founding of All Elite Wrestling (Aew), the rival wrestling promotion run by Tony Khan. Rhodes was a top star onscreen and an executive vice president offscreen in Aew, but he left the company in February 2022 after failing to come to terms on a new contract.
In an interview with Variety in the days leading up to WrestleMania, Rhodes said his dream is still to do what his father — the legendary Dusty Rhodes — never did. He won’t say it out loud for fear of jinxing it, but Rhodes has his eyes on the WWE Championship. Dusty fought for the title in 1977 at Madison Square Garden against Superstar Billy Graham for...
- 4/3/2022
- by Joe Otterson
- Variety Film + TV
Walt Disney, Frank Capra, Whitney Houston, Billie Holiday, Johnny Cash and Alex Trebek are among the entertainment industry figures who have been added as proposed honorees in the National Garden of American Heroes monument project unveiled by President Donald Trump in July.
As he began his final 48 hours as President, Trump issued an amended executive order Monday that added dozens of names slated to be honored in the the planned statuary park. The location for the park has yet to be determined. Trump first announced the plan on July 3 during his speech at Mt. Rushmore.
Among the entertainment-related names making the cut are Louis Armstrong, Lauren Bacall, Ingrid Bergman, Irving Berlin, Humphrey Bogart, Kobe Bryant, Frank Capra, Ray Charles, Nat King Cole, Miles Davis, Duke Ellington, Aretha Franklin, Woody Guthrie, Charlton Heston, Alfred Hitchcock, Bob Hope, Elvis Presley and Jimmy Stewart. The monument will honor those deemed to be “historically...
As he began his final 48 hours as President, Trump issued an amended executive order Monday that added dozens of names slated to be honored in the the planned statuary park. The location for the park has yet to be determined. Trump first announced the plan on July 3 during his speech at Mt. Rushmore.
Among the entertainment-related names making the cut are Louis Armstrong, Lauren Bacall, Ingrid Bergman, Irving Berlin, Humphrey Bogart, Kobe Bryant, Frank Capra, Ray Charles, Nat King Cole, Miles Davis, Duke Ellington, Aretha Franklin, Woody Guthrie, Charlton Heston, Alfred Hitchcock, Bob Hope, Elvis Presley and Jimmy Stewart. The monument will honor those deemed to be “historically...
- 1/18/2021
- by Cynthia Littleton
- Variety Film + TV
First Lady Melania Trump will speak to the Republican National Convention on Tuesday from a location perhaps unlike any other previous party gathering: the White House Rose Garden.
It’s anticipated that her speech will tie in with her “Be Best” initiative, but networks likely will compare her remarks to those she delivered in 2016. Back then, her speech triggered a bit of a convention sideshow when it was revealed that portions of the speech were taken from Michelle Obama’s 2008 convention address.
The first lady’s spokeswoman, Stephanie Grisham, told MSNBC on Tuesday that every word of the first lady’s speech on Tuesday night will be from her, and that it will be uplifting and positive.
The speech also will be an unveiling of the newly renovated Rose Garden, and as things tend to go these days, that, too, has been the subject of some controversy. Critics decried the removal of 10 crabapple trees,...
It’s anticipated that her speech will tie in with her “Be Best” initiative, but networks likely will compare her remarks to those she delivered in 2016. Back then, her speech triggered a bit of a convention sideshow when it was revealed that portions of the speech were taken from Michelle Obama’s 2008 convention address.
The first lady’s spokeswoman, Stephanie Grisham, told MSNBC on Tuesday that every word of the first lady’s speech on Tuesday night will be from her, and that it will be uplifting and positive.
The speech also will be an unveiling of the newly renovated Rose Garden, and as things tend to go these days, that, too, has been the subject of some controversy. Critics decried the removal of 10 crabapple trees,...
- 8/25/2020
- by Ted Johnson
- Deadline Film + TV
Shudder’s new documentary series Cursed Films explores the odd happenings surrounding Hollywood horror flicks, and the purported supernatural reasons behind such bizarre occurrences.
However, in the premiere episode on the streaming service dedicated to horror, executive producer Jay Cheel tackles the William Friedkin-directed classic, 1973’s The Exorcist. The film—adapted from William Peter Blatty’s 1971 novel based on a purportedly true exorcism case—is about a young girl possessed by the demon Pazuzu. Incidents such as actress Linda Blair’s on-set injury, as well as a fire, and off-set deaths of family members all added an heir of curse to the film.
For believers in the curse, engaging in activity like playing with a Ouija board onscreen, or simply acknowledging a demon, is to invite it in. To convey the power of this faithful thinking, Cheel interviews an alleged exorcist, and even films a series of exorcisms. The...
However, in the premiere episode on the streaming service dedicated to horror, executive producer Jay Cheel tackles the William Friedkin-directed classic, 1973’s The Exorcist. The film—adapted from William Peter Blatty’s 1971 novel based on a purportedly true exorcism case—is about a young girl possessed by the demon Pazuzu. Incidents such as actress Linda Blair’s on-set injury, as well as a fire, and off-set deaths of family members all added an heir of curse to the film.
For believers in the curse, engaging in activity like playing with a Ouija board onscreen, or simply acknowledging a demon, is to invite it in. To convey the power of this faithful thinking, Cheel interviews an alleged exorcist, and even films a series of exorcisms. The...
- 4/3/2020
- by Chris Longo
- Den of Geek
Exclusive: Wme has inked filmmaker Heidi Ewing who recently directed, wrote and produced I Carry You With Me, which won this year’s Audience Award and Innovator Award in the Next! category at the Sundance Film Festival and was sold to Sony Pictures Classics and Stage 6 Films days into the festival.
Ewing was also nominated for an Oscar in the 2007 Feature Documentary category for Magnolia Pictures’ Jesus Camp. That doc followed the children who attend a Charismatic Christian summer camp outside Devils Lake, North Dakota, wishing that they’ll become the next Billy Graham.
Based on a true story, Ewing’s recent I Carry You With Me is an epic romance that follows two gay men from provincial Mexico as they chase the promise of social and economic freedoms in New York City. Spc will release the film theatrically in June.
Ewing also directed Loki Films’ 2012 doc Detropia which...
Ewing was also nominated for an Oscar in the 2007 Feature Documentary category for Magnolia Pictures’ Jesus Camp. That doc followed the children who attend a Charismatic Christian summer camp outside Devils Lake, North Dakota, wishing that they’ll become the next Billy Graham.
Based on a true story, Ewing’s recent I Carry You With Me is an epic romance that follows two gay men from provincial Mexico as they chase the promise of social and economic freedoms in New York City. Spc will release the film theatrically in June.
Ewing also directed Loki Films’ 2012 doc Detropia which...
- 2/26/2020
- by Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
On Thursday’s “Morning Joe,” an exasperated Joe Scarborough said President Donald Trump “should do something that he’s never done before and read the Constitution of the United States.”
The MSNBC host was reviewing Trump’s attacks on House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, which have been consistent for weeks but continued right into Christmas Eve and Christmas Day itself, when the president questioned the authority of Pelosi and the House of Representatives in wake of the House voting to impeach him last week.
Also Read: That Time Trump Called for George W Bush's Impeachment - and Dismissed Bill Clinton's as 'Nonsense' (Video)
“He might actually understand how the Speaker of the House has that power,” Scarborough quipped after suggesting Trump read the country’s founding document. He then went on to point out that one key Gop Senator, Lisa Murkowski, has said she’s “distressed” by majority leader Mitch McConnell...
The MSNBC host was reviewing Trump’s attacks on House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, which have been consistent for weeks but continued right into Christmas Eve and Christmas Day itself, when the president questioned the authority of Pelosi and the House of Representatives in wake of the House voting to impeach him last week.
Also Read: That Time Trump Called for George W Bush's Impeachment - and Dismissed Bill Clinton's as 'Nonsense' (Video)
“He might actually understand how the Speaker of the House has that power,” Scarborough quipped after suggesting Trump read the country’s founding document. He then went on to point out that one key Gop Senator, Lisa Murkowski, has said she’s “distressed” by majority leader Mitch McConnell...
- 12/26/2019
- by Lindsey Ellefson
- The Wrap
The 1970s were, arguably, the golden age of classic TV Christmas specials. Before variety shows and specials all but disappeared from the lineups of the three major networks (and before cable TV took over and shrank network viewership), each holiday season brought forth highly rated variety specials to please nearly everyone from 1 to 92. The four Johnny Cash Christmas specials, which ran every year on CBS from 1976-1979, were certainly no exception.
Cash, who had already established a reputation for bringing together an eclectic lineup of talent each week on his ABC series,...
Cash, who had already established a reputation for bringing together an eclectic lineup of talent each week on his ABC series,...
- 12/24/2019
- by Stephen L. Betts
- Rollingstone.com
Jerry Falwell Jr. appeared on Fox News’ “Fox & Friends” Tuesday to add his voice to the growing clamor around a Christianity Today editorial in favor of removing President Donald Trump from office.
“I think it’s hypocritical. I think it’s ironic, also, that Christianity Today — sort of a forgotten magazine from yesteryear — took the opportunity the week before Christmas to point out the difference between true Christianity and Pharisaical or judgmental Christianity,” the Liberty University President said, adding that the publication “reminded us that there is an elite establishment among the religious community just like there is in the government, that is liberal, that’s left-wing. It’s a group that is — they think they are more moral and smarter than the rest of us.”
Also Read: Editor at Pro-Trump Evangelical Publication Resigns
He went on to say that if the Christian Jesus were alive today, “they would call him a smelly Walmart shopper,...
“I think it’s hypocritical. I think it’s ironic, also, that Christianity Today — sort of a forgotten magazine from yesteryear — took the opportunity the week before Christmas to point out the difference between true Christianity and Pharisaical or judgmental Christianity,” the Liberty University President said, adding that the publication “reminded us that there is an elite establishment among the religious community just like there is in the government, that is liberal, that’s left-wing. It’s a group that is — they think they are more moral and smarter than the rest of us.”
Also Read: Editor at Pro-Trump Evangelical Publication Resigns
He went on to say that if the Christian Jesus were alive today, “they would call him a smelly Walmart shopper,...
- 12/24/2019
- by Lindsey Ellefson
- The Wrap
Rev. Al Sharpton defended Christianity Today for its editorial supporting President Trump’s removal from office on Monday morning, while also criticizing the president’s evangelical supporters.
On MSNBC’s “Morning Joe,” Sharpton said that he has talked with Christianity Today editor in chief Mark Galli, who maintains that the editorial came from a political — not a moral — perspective. That, Sharpton said, “exposes” evangelical leaders for choosing politics over what is morally right.
Also Read: Christianity Today Founder Billy Graham Would Be 'Disappointed' by Pro-Impeachment Editorial, Son Says
“I think there’s a scripture that said, ‘What profits a man to gain the world and lose his own soul?'” he said, noting that Galli is actually challenging them by asking: ‘Are you bargaining and selling your soul for some judicial appointments and some other things that the right wants but you’ve given up the soul of the church?...
On MSNBC’s “Morning Joe,” Sharpton said that he has talked with Christianity Today editor in chief Mark Galli, who maintains that the editorial came from a political — not a moral — perspective. That, Sharpton said, “exposes” evangelical leaders for choosing politics over what is morally right.
Also Read: Christianity Today Founder Billy Graham Would Be 'Disappointed' by Pro-Impeachment Editorial, Son Says
“I think there’s a scripture that said, ‘What profits a man to gain the world and lose his own soul?'” he said, noting that Galli is actually challenging them by asking: ‘Are you bargaining and selling your soul for some judicial appointments and some other things that the right wants but you’ve given up the soul of the church?...
- 12/23/2019
- by Lindsey Ellefson
- The Wrap
On Wednesday, as it became clear that by day’s end he would become the third president in U.S. history to be impeached, Trump took to Twitter to call upon Americans to “Say a Prayer!” His assumption, of course, was that if one were the praying type, then one would naturally come to his celestial defense in this moment of, as Republican Representative Barry Loudermilk put it, Christ-like persecution—a moment so (supposedly) unjust that “Pontius Pilate afforded more rights to Jesus than the Democrats have afforded this President.
- 12/20/2019
- by Alex Morris
- Rollingstone.com
HBO’s new comedy series “The Righteous Gemstones,” about a famous family of televangelists whose dysfunction runs far deeper than its Christianity, seems to exist in its own time and place. Set in present-day Texas, the inspiration for the Gemstone family — played by John Goodman, series creator Danny McBride, Edi Patterson and Adam Devine — draws on multiple eras and examples from the televangelist world that includes the likes of Joel Osteen, Billy Graham and Jerry Falwell. And their suits.
“It was a bit of a domino effect,” says costume designer Sarah Trost, who worked with McBride on his previous HBO show, “Vice Principals,” and also costumes NBC’s “A.P. Bio.” “When I first talked to Danny, we chose to keep it conservative for everybody, but then he said he wanted his character [the eldest Gemstone son, Jesse] to be flamboyant, sort of ‘country famous,’ with his cohorts surrounding him. And I said, ‘Oh, you mean...
“It was a bit of a domino effect,” says costume designer Sarah Trost, who worked with McBride on his previous HBO show, “Vice Principals,” and also costumes NBC’s “A.P. Bio.” “When I first talked to Danny, we chose to keep it conservative for everybody, but then he said he wanted his character [the eldest Gemstone son, Jesse] to be flamboyant, sort of ‘country famous,’ with his cohorts surrounding him. And I said, ‘Oh, you mean...
- 8/14/2019
- by Valentina I. Valentini
- Variety Film + TV
This second LP since George Strait’s retirement from touring — his 30th studio LP — is a trip back to when country radio didn’t suck as a rule: Eighties pop shine cut with pedal steel/fiddle poetry, Texas swing, cantina blues and achingly-crooned nostalgia that generally doesn’t feel hard sell, even when things gets treacly.
Which of course, they do. But “The Weight of the Badge” is a good-cop tribute that feels legit despite a whiff of Fox News human interest story. And “God and Country Music” is a...
Which of course, they do. But “The Weight of the Badge” is a good-cop tribute that feels legit despite a whiff of Fox News human interest story. And “God and Country Music” is a...
- 3/27/2019
- by Will Hermes
- Rollingstone.com
Penny Lane's documentary on The Satanic Temple focuses on political theater not dark arts.
Culture
The Satanic Temple is the Merry Pranksters of this generation. No, they're not doling out acid, and they're not the carnal circus act of Anton Lavey's Church of Satan, though they have learned a few tricks from the master magician. Tst's Lucien Greaves wants to use his demonic powers for good. He believes you can spell devil without evil if you use the right spell. His group of elastically iconoclastic faithless may not believe in Satan, but are deeply committed to all his works and pomps, as Michael Corleone attests to in The Godfather. The Satanic Temple is working to take a hex off the First Amendment and Magnolia Pictures' documentary Hail Satan?, directed by Penny Lane, catches all the pomp as they ride their magic bus into town.
Like the newly...
Culture
The Satanic Temple is the Merry Pranksters of this generation. No, they're not doling out acid, and they're not the carnal circus act of Anton Lavey's Church of Satan, though they have learned a few tricks from the master magician. Tst's Lucien Greaves wants to use his demonic powers for good. He believes you can spell devil without evil if you use the right spell. His group of elastically iconoclastic faithless may not believe in Satan, but are deeply committed to all his works and pomps, as Michael Corleone attests to in The Godfather. The Satanic Temple is working to take a hex off the First Amendment and Magnolia Pictures' documentary Hail Satan?, directed by Penny Lane, catches all the pomp as they ride their magic bus into town.
Like the newly...
- 3/15/2019
- Den of Geek
In today’s film news roundup, Alan Tudyk is supplying to voice of Iago in “Aladdin,” Atonement Pictures launches and Michael Keaton is narrating “Wings 3D.”
Voice Cast
Alan Tudyk has signed on to voice Iago, the scarlet macaw parrot sidekick to the villain Jafar in Disney’s live-action “Aladdin,” which opens May 24.
Tudyk has voiced characters in six different Disney animated movies, starting with “Wreck-It Ralph” in 2012, followed by “Frozen” as the Duke of Weselton, “Big Hero 6,” “Zootopia” as Duke Weaselton and “Ralph Breaks the Internet” as Knowsmore. He also appeared in Disney’s “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story,” in which he played the droid K-2So.
Gilbert Gottfried voiced Iago — named after the villain of William Shakespeare’s “Othello” — as a wisecracking and easily frustrated character, saying at one point, “Look at this! I’m so ticked off that I’m molting!”
Disney unveiled the first...
Voice Cast
Alan Tudyk has signed on to voice Iago, the scarlet macaw parrot sidekick to the villain Jafar in Disney’s live-action “Aladdin,” which opens May 24.
Tudyk has voiced characters in six different Disney animated movies, starting with “Wreck-It Ralph” in 2012, followed by “Frozen” as the Duke of Weselton, “Big Hero 6,” “Zootopia” as Duke Weaselton and “Ralph Breaks the Internet” as Knowsmore. He also appeared in Disney’s “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story,” in which he played the droid K-2So.
Gilbert Gottfried voiced Iago — named after the villain of William Shakespeare’s “Othello” — as a wisecracking and easily frustrated character, saying at one point, “Look at this! I’m so ticked off that I’m molting!”
Disney unveiled the first...
- 3/13/2019
- by Dave McNary
- Variety Film + TV
An unexpected and truly bizarre thought might — no, will — occur to most viewers at during Penny “Hail Satan?,” though the lightning bolt of an idea is sure to strike different people at different points of Penny Lane’s provocative, hilarious, and latently enraging documentary about The Satanic Temple. For this critic, it happened during the opening sequence, as Temple co-founder Lucien Greaves gathers his flock on the steps of the Florida Capitol for their first rally in the winter of 2013.
Impishly protesting a bill that would allow for prayer in public schools, the group wears demonic masks and unfurls a massive banner that takes aim at the clear Evangelical Christian agenda underpinning then-Governor Rick Scott’s political agenda. It reads: “Hail Satan! Hail Rick Scott!” Greaves and his group are there in support! Kind of! Really, of course, they’re reminding people that America is not a Christian nation, nor a theocracy of any kind,...
Impishly protesting a bill that would allow for prayer in public schools, the group wears demonic masks and unfurls a massive banner that takes aim at the clear Evangelical Christian agenda underpinning then-Governor Rick Scott’s political agenda. It reads: “Hail Satan! Hail Rick Scott!” Greaves and his group are there in support! Kind of! Really, of course, they’re reminding people that America is not a Christian nation, nor a theocracy of any kind,...
- 2/1/2019
- by David Ehrlich
- Indiewire
Sunday’s telecast of the 2019 Screen Actors Guild Awards will feature a special In Memoriam segment devoted to many of the actors and actresses who have died since last year’s ceremony in late January. Sure to be among those saluted include actress and director Penny Marshall, Oscar nominee and Emmy winner Burt Reynolds and Grammy winner Aretha Franklin. Visit our own Gold Derby memoriam galleries for the year of 2018 and the newly-started gallery for 2019.
The 25th annual ceremony will be hosted by past winner Megan Mullally (“Will and Grace”) for TNT and TBS on Sunday, January 27, at 8:00 p.m. Et; 5:00 p.m. Pt. Tom Hanks will be presenting the SAG life achievement award to Alan Alda.
SEE2019 SAG Awards nominations: Full list of Screen Actors Guild Awards nominees
Over 100 people in SAG/AFTRA have passed away in the past 12 months. Which of the following 50 names will also...
The 25th annual ceremony will be hosted by past winner Megan Mullally (“Will and Grace”) for TNT and TBS on Sunday, January 27, at 8:00 p.m. Et; 5:00 p.m. Pt. Tom Hanks will be presenting the SAG life achievement award to Alan Alda.
SEE2019 SAG Awards nominations: Full list of Screen Actors Guild Awards nominees
Over 100 people in SAG/AFTRA have passed away in the past 12 months. Which of the following 50 names will also...
- 1/25/2019
- by Chris Beachum
- Gold Derby
A near-perfect episode of Young Justice is marred only by the real world.
This Young Justice review contains spoilers.
Young Justice: Outsiders Episode 7
Probably the biggest hurdle to the success of Young Justice: Outsiders after six years away was getting everything back together again after everyone went their separate ways, and some things have changed irrevocably. "Evolution" was a terrific episode, one of the finest Vandal Savage stories in any medium, but as good as David Kaye is in this episode voicing him, it's still a reminder that a ton of time has passed since the show was last on the air and some of their voice cast couldn't come back.
The two missing voice actors this season are Tim Curry as G. Gordon Godfrey and Miguel Ferrer as Savage, and they've both been missed so far this season. Curry's Godfrey was perfect as the frothing, barely-holding-it-together maniac talk radio host.
This Young Justice review contains spoilers.
Young Justice: Outsiders Episode 7
Probably the biggest hurdle to the success of Young Justice: Outsiders after six years away was getting everything back together again after everyone went their separate ways, and some things have changed irrevocably. "Evolution" was a terrific episode, one of the finest Vandal Savage stories in any medium, but as good as David Kaye is in this episode voicing him, it's still a reminder that a ton of time has passed since the show was last on the air and some of their voice cast couldn't come back.
The two missing voice actors this season are Tim Curry as G. Gordon Godfrey and Miguel Ferrer as Savage, and they've both been missed so far this season. Curry's Godfrey was perfect as the frothing, barely-holding-it-together maniac talk radio host.
- 1/18/2019
- Den of Geek
Amid the chaos that was 2018, the show business industry lost some major players. There were icons of the big screen (Burt Reynolds) and TV, along with such legends as Marvel hero Stan Lee, sportscaster Keith Jackson and singer Aretha Franklin, to name just a few of the year’s high-profile passings.
Hollywood also lost groundbreaking producers, unforgettable writers, and executives.
Familiar actors including Joseph Campanella, Sondra Locke, Tab Hunter, John Mahoney, Charlotte Rae, Harry Anderson, Jerry Van Dyke, David Ogden Stiers, Verne Troyer and R. Lee Ermey also left us this year.
We also said goodbye to such influential folks including physicist Stephen Hawking, SpongeBob SquarePants creator Stephen Hillenburg, editor Anne V. Coates, Bambi animator Don Lusk, gossip columnist Liz Smith, Blockbuster founder Wayne Huzienga,...
Hollywood also lost groundbreaking producers, unforgettable writers, and executives.
Familiar actors including Joseph Campanella, Sondra Locke, Tab Hunter, John Mahoney, Charlotte Rae, Harry Anderson, Jerry Van Dyke, David Ogden Stiers, Verne Troyer and R. Lee Ermey also left us this year.
We also said goodbye to such influential folks including physicist Stephen Hawking, SpongeBob SquarePants creator Stephen Hillenburg, editor Anne V. Coates, Bambi animator Don Lusk, gossip columnist Liz Smith, Blockbuster founder Wayne Huzienga,...
- 1/1/2019
- by Erik Pedersen
- Deadline Film + TV
Social media giant Facebook has apologized to evangelist Franklin Graham for its 24-hour ban related to his 2016 post on North Carolina’s controversial law that restricted same-sex bathroom use, among other issues.
A member of Facebook’s content review team banned Graham, the son of the late Rev. Billy Graham, because the post was determined to violate Facebook’s policy on “dehumanizing language” and excluding people based on sexual orientation, race and other factors.
Graham’s 2016 post focused on Bruce Springsteen canceling a North Carolina concert because of the state’s House Bill 2, which reversed a local Charlotte ordinance that had extended some rights to people who are gay or transgender, including accommodation in public rest rooms.
The 2016 Nc state law also eliminated local ordinances statewide that expanded protections for lesbians and gays, bisexual and transgender persons. The General Assembly later passed a compromise bill repealing House Bill 2 but restricting anti-discrimination ordinances across the state,...
A member of Facebook’s content review team banned Graham, the son of the late Rev. Billy Graham, because the post was determined to violate Facebook’s policy on “dehumanizing language” and excluding people based on sexual orientation, race and other factors.
Graham’s 2016 post focused on Bruce Springsteen canceling a North Carolina concert because of the state’s House Bill 2, which reversed a local Charlotte ordinance that had extended some rights to people who are gay or transgender, including accommodation in public rest rooms.
The 2016 Nc state law also eliminated local ordinances statewide that expanded protections for lesbians and gays, bisexual and transgender persons. The General Assembly later passed a compromise bill repealing House Bill 2 but restricting anti-discrimination ordinances across the state,...
- 12/30/2018
- by Bruce Haring
- Deadline Film + TV
Hillary Clinton has lost again. For the first time in 17 years, the former Secretary of State and presidential candidate has not been named as the woman most admired in a Gallup poll of Americans, finishing third in the race.
Supplanting Clinton is former First Lady Michelle Obama, who is closing out her year on a high note with the success of her autobiography and now this poll victory. Obama had finished second to Clinton three previous times, but won top honors this year by what was deemed a “significant” margin. Oprah Winfrey was second.
Gallup’s annual survey, conducted Dec. 3-12 this year, asked in an open-ended question for Americans to name the man and woman living anywhere in the world today whom they admire most. Gallup first asked the question in 1946 and has done so every year since, except 1976.
The Obama family also had another winner in the poll,...
Supplanting Clinton is former First Lady Michelle Obama, who is closing out her year on a high note with the success of her autobiography and now this poll victory. Obama had finished second to Clinton three previous times, but won top honors this year by what was deemed a “significant” margin. Oprah Winfrey was second.
Gallup’s annual survey, conducted Dec. 3-12 this year, asked in an open-ended question for Americans to name the man and woman living anywhere in the world today whom they admire most. Gallup first asked the question in 1946 and has done so every year since, except 1976.
The Obama family also had another winner in the poll,...
- 12/27/2018
- by Bruce Haring
- Deadline Film + TV
The special “In Memoriam” segment on the 2018 Emmy Awards ceremony was tearful as beloved television legends Steven Bochco, Anthony Bourdain, Robert Guillaume, Monty Hall, John Mahoney, Jim Nabors, Charlotte Rae, Burt Reynolds, Neil Simon and Craig Zadan were part of the annual tribute.
SEEEmmy winners 2018: Full list of winners and nominees at the 70th Emmy Awards
But who was missing from the memoriam this time? Some of those surprising omissions included:
Marty Allen (actor/comedian)
Peter Baldwin (director)
Brent Briscoe (actor)
Dushon Monique Brown (actor)
Frank Buxton (writer/director)
Joseph Campanella (actor)
Olivia Cole (actor)
Vic Damone (actor/singer)
Bradford Dillman (actor)
Roy Dotrice (actor)
John Dunsworth (actor)
Harlan Ellison (writer)
Nanette Fabray (actor)
Dominic Frontiere (composer)
Michael Gershman (cinematographer)
Billy Graham (host)
Vanessa Greene (producer)
Doug Grindstaff (sound editor)
John Hillerman (actor)
Rance Howard (actor)
Tab Hunter (actor)
Earle Hyman (actor)
Anne Jeffreys (actor)
Margot Kidder (actor)
Louise Latham...
SEEEmmy winners 2018: Full list of winners and nominees at the 70th Emmy Awards
But who was missing from the memoriam this time? Some of those surprising omissions included:
Marty Allen (actor/comedian)
Peter Baldwin (director)
Brent Briscoe (actor)
Dushon Monique Brown (actor)
Frank Buxton (writer/director)
Joseph Campanella (actor)
Olivia Cole (actor)
Vic Damone (actor/singer)
Bradford Dillman (actor)
Roy Dotrice (actor)
John Dunsworth (actor)
Harlan Ellison (writer)
Nanette Fabray (actor)
Dominic Frontiere (composer)
Michael Gershman (cinematographer)
Billy Graham (host)
Vanessa Greene (producer)
Doug Grindstaff (sound editor)
John Hillerman (actor)
Rance Howard (actor)
Tab Hunter (actor)
Earle Hyman (actor)
Anne Jeffreys (actor)
Margot Kidder (actor)
Louise Latham...
- 9/18/2018
- by Chris Beachum
- Gold Derby
The special “In Memoriam” segment on the 2018 Emmy Awards ceremony will be especially tearful this year. Beloved television legends Steven Bochco, Anthony Bourdain, Robert Guillaume, Monty Hall, John Mahoney, Jim Nabors, Charlotte Rae, Burt Reynolds, Neil Simon and Craig Zadan will certainly be just a few people honored with in a musical tribute.
Let’s take a look back at these TV icons as well as over 50 others who have died since mid-September last year. Many will be included in the memoriam for the live Emmys ceremony hosted by Michael Che and Colin Jost for NBC on September 17.
SEECelebrity Deaths 2018: In Memoriam Gallery
Bochco died on April 1 at age 74. The 10-time Emmy winner was the creator of such TV classics as “Hill Street Blues,” “L.A. Law,” “NYPD Blue” and “Doogie Howser, M.D.” He was inducted into the Television Academy Hall of Fame in 1996.
Bourdain died in France on June...
Let’s take a look back at these TV icons as well as over 50 others who have died since mid-September last year. Many will be included in the memoriam for the live Emmys ceremony hosted by Michael Che and Colin Jost for NBC on September 17.
SEECelebrity Deaths 2018: In Memoriam Gallery
Bochco died on April 1 at age 74. The 10-time Emmy winner was the creator of such TV classics as “Hill Street Blues,” “L.A. Law,” “NYPD Blue” and “Doogie Howser, M.D.” He was inducted into the Television Academy Hall of Fame in 1996.
Bourdain died in France on June...
- 9/14/2018
- by Chris Beachum
- Gold Derby
As Paul Harvey used to say: And now, the rest of the story. “Unbroken: Path to Redemption” serves as a kinda-sorta sequel to “Unbroken,” Angelina Jolie’s harrowing 2014 drama about the War II experiences of Louis Zamperini, the Olympian distance runner and Army Air Forces bombardier who survived 47 days on a life raft after his plane crashed into the Pacific Ocean, then endured two years of merciless torture in a Japanese Pow camp. This follow-up — which, like its predecessor, is taken from Lauren Hillenbrand’s nonfiction best-seller “Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption” — focuses on Zamperini’s postwar struggles with alcoholism, crushing disappointment (an injury prevents him from competing in another Olympics), and recurring nightmares and hallucinations triggered by Ptsd.
There is a happy ending to the story — but, unfortunately, it doesn’t arrive nearly soon enough.
It would be unfair, and not entirely accurate,...
There is a happy ending to the story — but, unfortunately, it doesn’t arrive nearly soon enough.
It would be unfair, and not entirely accurate,...
- 9/14/2018
- by Joe Leydon
- Variety Film + TV
Gratuitously prolific director Harold Cronk keeps cranking them out. Fascinated by supposedly undamaged people who turn out to be spiritually shattered given the absence of religious submissiveness in their lives, this month alone he’s behind two faith-based releases sporting such a premise: last week’s” God Bless the Broken Road,” and now “Unbroken: Path to Redemption.”
Both follow an individual’s transformation from sinfully reproaching God to realizing their woes are punishment for straying away from Him.
Produced with meager resources, “Path to Redemption” sneakily professes itself as a sort-of sequel to Angelina Jolie’s 2014 sophomore directorial effort “Unbroken,” even though they don’t share any cast members, below-the-line crew, or screenwriters. Most importantly, they are eons apart in storytelling dexterity, technical quality, and tone. Jolie’s feature was far from glorious and earned her mixed reviews, but it’s nonetheless an incomparably superior exercise in period filmmaking.
Also...
Both follow an individual’s transformation from sinfully reproaching God to realizing their woes are punishment for straying away from Him.
Produced with meager resources, “Path to Redemption” sneakily professes itself as a sort-of sequel to Angelina Jolie’s 2014 sophomore directorial effort “Unbroken,” even though they don’t share any cast members, below-the-line crew, or screenwriters. Most importantly, they are eons apart in storytelling dexterity, technical quality, and tone. Jolie’s feature was far from glorious and earned her mixed reviews, but it’s nonetheless an incomparably superior exercise in period filmmaking.
Also...
- 9/13/2018
- by Carlos Aguilar
- The Wrap
A familiar group of monsters are returning to invade multiplexes this weekend.
Fox’s “The Predator,” the fourth installment in the sci-fi series, looks to top a trio of fellow new offerings — “A Simple Favor,” “White Boy Rick,” and “Unbroken: Path to Redemption” — at the domestic box office. The No. 1 spot, however, could be a close call depending on the staying power of Warner Bros.’ “The Nun,” which led North America last weekend with its sizable debut. Another factor that could impact the weekend box office is Hurricane Florence, the category four storm that is targeting the east coast, specifically the Carolinas, Virginia, and Maryland. It’s too soon to tell the potential damage, though storm surges and heavy winds could close theaters.
Estimates show Shane Black’s “The Predator” could earn between $25 million and $32 million when it launches in more than 3,900 venues. A debut over $25 million would rank as...
Fox’s “The Predator,” the fourth installment in the sci-fi series, looks to top a trio of fellow new offerings — “A Simple Favor,” “White Boy Rick,” and “Unbroken: Path to Redemption” — at the domestic box office. The No. 1 spot, however, could be a close call depending on the staying power of Warner Bros.’ “The Nun,” which led North America last weekend with its sizable debut. Another factor that could impact the weekend box office is Hurricane Florence, the category four storm that is targeting the east coast, specifically the Carolinas, Virginia, and Maryland. It’s too soon to tell the potential damage, though storm surges and heavy winds could close theaters.
Estimates show Shane Black’s “The Predator” could earn between $25 million and $32 million when it launches in more than 3,900 venues. A debut over $25 million would rank as...
- 9/11/2018
- by Rebecca Rubin
- Variety Film + TV
Washington — The American flags flying at the White House returned to full staff on Monday, less than 48 hours after the death of Sen. John McCain (R-Arizona) and well before memorial services later this week.
The flag was lowered to half staff following McCain’s death on Saturday, and President Donald Trump made a statement on Twitter.
“My deepest sympathies and respect go out to the family of Senator John McCain. Our hearts and prayers are with you!” he wrote on Saturday night.
My deepest sympathies and respect go out to the family of Senator John McCain. Our hearts and prayers are with you!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 26, 2018
Trump has yet to issue a formal proclamation following McCain’s death, as presidents in the past have done at the passing of national political figures and military heroes. Trump issued a proclamation upon the death of the Rev. Billy Graham in...
The flag was lowered to half staff following McCain’s death on Saturday, and President Donald Trump made a statement on Twitter.
“My deepest sympathies and respect go out to the family of Senator John McCain. Our hearts and prayers are with you!” he wrote on Saturday night.
My deepest sympathies and respect go out to the family of Senator John McCain. Our hearts and prayers are with you!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 26, 2018
Trump has yet to issue a formal proclamation following McCain’s death, as presidents in the past have done at the passing of national political figures and military heroes. Trump issued a proclamation upon the death of the Rev. Billy Graham in...
- 8/27/2018
- by Ted Johnson
- Variety Film + TV
Unbroken: Path To Redemption, the film that follows the second half of Louis “Louie” Zamperini’s life and covers the second half of the Laura Hillenbrand’s New York Times‘ best-selling book, has moved up its theatrical release date to Sept. 14 from Oct. 6. By making the move, it takes the picture off the same weekend as Sony’s Venom and Warner Bros.’ A Star is Born and moves it to a weekend occupied by Moses and then the wider releases of Lionsgate’s A Simple Favor and Fox’s The Predator.
The original Unbroken was released via Universal Pictures in 2014 around the Christmas holiday. The continuation of the story was directed by Harold Kronk (God’s Not Dead and its sequel) from a script by Richard Friedenberg and Ken Hixon and was produced by Matthew Baer and Mike Elliott. The film is from Universal 1440 Entertainment, The Wta Group, and Pure Flix.
The original Unbroken was released via Universal Pictures in 2014 around the Christmas holiday. The continuation of the story was directed by Harold Kronk (God’s Not Dead and its sequel) from a script by Richard Friedenberg and Ken Hixon and was produced by Matthew Baer and Mike Elliott. The film is from Universal 1440 Entertainment, The Wta Group, and Pure Flix.
- 6/28/2018
- by Anita Busch
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: Imagine Entertainment has pre-emptively bought the film rights to the female-driven grounded sci-fi pitch Canary from Zach Dean. Imagine chairmen Brian Grazer and Ron Howard made the deal and will produce a project that will be developed as a directing vehicle for Howard. Imagine’s Erica Huggins and Tyler Mitchell, who brought in the project, will oversee for Imagine. Dean will also serve as an executive producer.
Dean is currently adapting Billy Graham: My Life Inside Rock and Out for Fox and Shawn Levy and the Japanese sci-fi anime Star Blazers for Skydance and director Christopher McQuarrie. Dean most recently sold his original WWII pitch Atlantic Wall to Imperative with Bradley Cooper attached to star, and Ghost Draft for director David Goyer.
Dean is repped by Wme, Madhouse and lawyer Andrew Hurwitz.
Dean is currently adapting Billy Graham: My Life Inside Rock and Out for Fox and Shawn Levy and the Japanese sci-fi anime Star Blazers for Skydance and director Christopher McQuarrie. Dean most recently sold his original WWII pitch Atlantic Wall to Imperative with Bradley Cooper attached to star, and Ghost Draft for director David Goyer.
Dean is repped by Wme, Madhouse and lawyer Andrew Hurwitz.
- 6/21/2018
- by Mike Fleming Jr
- Deadline Film + TV
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