Hollywood Outbreak

This Just In: A First Look At New ‘Anger Management’ Trailer

Hollywood Outbreak — Wed, 16 May 2012 19:00:17 +0000

Set your DVR’s for June 28, the confirmed start date for ANGER MANAGEMENT, the highly anticipated small-screen comeback of former TWO AND A HALF MEN star CHARLIE SHEEN. He’ll play “Charlie”, a non-traditional therapist specializing in anger management, with a successful private practice. Sharing the screen will be SELMA BLAIR, SHAWNEE SMITH, DANIELA BOBADILLA, MICHAEL ARDEN and NOUREEN DeWULF. FX president JOHN LANDGRAF has admitted that he picked-up the series based solely on a pitch and outlines of the first 15 episodes (something the network very seldom, if ever, does) and yesterday the network released the latest trailer.

ANGER MANAGEMENT is scheduled to debut 6/28 on FX with two back-to-back episodes

ABC Announces New Dramas At SRO Upfront Presentation

Hollywood Outbreak — Wed, 16 May 2012 18:00:03 +0000

Standing before a full house at New York’s Lincoln Center yesterday, ABC Entertainment honcho PAUL LEE announced that the network will be bringing six new dramas and four new sitcoms to the schedule in an effort to elevate out of its current third place spot in the ratings. We have to admit that if all the slated shows look as interesting as these two, higher ratings shouldn’t be a problem.

Tonight’s Episode Of ‘Criminal Minds’ Puts A Bow On Season Seven

Hollywood Outbreak — Wed, 16 May 2012 17:00:23 +0000

Airing tonight on CBS, the two-hour season seven finale of the grisly crime drama CRIMINAL MINDS will focus on a pair of serial killers posing as bank robbers to mask their crimes as well as featuring the wedding of one of the main characters. The long-running series employs an ensemble cast that includes SHEMAR MOORE, MATTHEW GRAY GUBLER, THOMAS GIBSON, KIRSTEN VANGSNESS, PAGET BREWSTER, A.J. COOK and JOE MANTEGNA as well as tonight’s guest star TRICIA HELFER.

Probably best known for her role as Number Six on BATTLESTAR GALACTICA, HELFER tells us she enjoys taking a walk on the dark side in her career. We sat down with her last weekend and she talked about playing a serial killer. (CLICK ON THE MEDIA BAR FOR AUDIO)

The two-hour season finale of CRIMINAL MINDS airs tonight on CBS

Reginald Veljohnson ‘Gets’ Why TV Pick-Ups Count

Hollywood Outbreak — Wed, 16 May 2012 16:00:06 +0000

A veteran of stage, screen and television, REGINALD VELJOHNSON is probably best known for his roles on the long-running TV series FAMILY MATTERS and as Officer Al Powell in the hugely successful DIE HARD franchise. An immensely likable performer, he’s currently working as a recurring character on MIKE AND MOLLY and HART OF DIXIE as well as providing a voice in the upcoming animated TRON: UPRISING for Disney XD.

We spoke with the actor last weekend just as word hit that The CW had picked-up HART OF DIXIE for another season and he talked about how this time of year can be stressful for actors working on shows that don’t get renewed.

TRON: UPRISING premieres on Disney HX 6/7

Burton & Depp Are Perfectly Fine With ‘Dark Shadows’ Outcome

Hollywood Outbreak — Tue, 15 May 2012 19:00:28 +0000

Opening in the No. 2 position on the weekend box office chart, DARK SHADOWS failed to live up to expectations with an estimated $28.8 M. Directed by TIM BURTON and starring JOHNNY DEPP, DARK SHADOWS might be an indication that these two need to change their m.o. in the future. But, at the press conference to promote the film, BURTON may have had a feeling about the opening box office when he admitted you can’t please everyone and said that he and his long-time collaborator just wanted to make the kind of movie they’d enjoy themselves. (CLICK ON THE MEDIA BAR FOR AUDIO)

DARK SHADOWS is in theaters now

Elijah Wood Not Sold On CineCon Presentation Of ‘The Hobbit’

Hollywood Outbreak — Tue, 15 May 2012 18:00:37 +0000

Director PETER JACKSON made worldwide headlines when he presented scenes from his upcoming big screen adaptation of the J.R.R. TOLKIEN classic THE HOBBIT to attendees of this year’s CineCon convention. Using a new technique that projects 48 fps, the film is said to be revolutionary.

We sat down last weekend with ELIJAH WOOD (who reprises his LORD OF THE RINGS character, Frodo Baggins, in the film) to talk about his upcoming animated series TRON: UPRISING and asked if he’d seen the much ballyhooed presentation.

TRON: UPRISING premieres 6/7 on Disney HX

THE HOBBIT: AN UNEXPECTED JOURNEY is slated for theatrical release 12/14

Broadway Lives! ‘Smash’ Picked-Up For Season Two, Wraps Season One Tonight

Hollywood Outbreak — Mon, 14 May 2012 17:00:49 +0000

Right on the heels of the official announcement that NBC will be bringing SMASH back for a sophomore season, tonight sees the final episode of season one. Executive-produced by STEVEN SPIELBERG, SMASH is an elaborate musical drama that follows the conception and theatrical mounting of a Broadway production based on the life of screen legend MARILYN MONROE. DEBRA MESSING and ANGELICA HUSTON headline the cast that also includes AMERICAN IDOL finalist KATHARINE McPHEE and WICKED star MEGAN HILTY.

We recently sat down with McPHEE and HILTY to talk about the success of the show and they talked about fan reactions.

The season one finale of SMASH airs tonight on NBC

Joan Rivers Remembers Johnny Carson: ‘He Was A Total S*#t!’

Hollywood Outbreak — Mon, 14 May 2012 16:00:38 +0000

Airing tonight on PBS as part of the American Masters series, JOHNNY CARSON: KING OF LATE NIGHT is a two-hour documentary on the life and career of the man who defined the landscape of late night television. Created by two-time Emmy Award winning filmmaker PETER JONES and narrated by two-time Oscar-winner KEVIN SPACEY, the film features 45 original interviews with CARSON’S friends, family and colleagues.

One of those colleagues, JOAN RIVERS, has come out saying that she’s been wrongly depicted in the film in that it gives the impression she should have handled their publicly conducted feud in a different way. We spoke to her at the Television Critics Association press event, where she set the record straight. (LANGUAGE NSFW)

JOHNNY CARSON: KING OF LATE NIGHT premieres tonight on PBS

Arsenio Hall Got Seal Of Approval From Johnny Carson

Hollywood Outbreak — Mon, 14 May 2012 16:00:34 +0000

Unlike JOAN RIVERS, former talk show host ARSENIO HALL is perfectly happy with the PBS American Masters special JOHNNY CARSON: KING OF LATE NIGHT. He is one of 45 original interview subjects contained in PETER JONES’ new documentary chronicling the life and career of the man who shaped late night television into a must-see experience. When ARSENIO stepped into the late night arena, he knew it might be seen as an encroachment by the reigning king but, he tells us, that couldn’t have been further from the truth.

JOHNNY CARSON: THE KING OF LATE NIGHT debuts tonight on PBS

‘Harry’s Law’ Star Nate Corddry Not Pleased With Network Decision

Hollywood Outbreak — Mon, 14 May 2012 16:00:10 +0000

In what has to be one of the most boneheaded decisions of the season, NBC has announced the cancellation of HARRY’S LAW, one of its most watched series for two seasons. Created by Emmy Award-winner DAVID E. KELLY, the cast featured KATHY BATES, CHRISTOPHER McDONALD, NATE CORDDRY and MARK VALLEY.

We sat down with CORDDRY to talk about his work in the upcoming DISNEY XD animated series TRON: UPRISING when the subject of the cancellation came up. Still smarting from the news, he didn’t hold back in expressing his disappointment in the network’s decision. (LANGUAGE NSFW)

TRON: UPRISING premieres 6/7 on DISNEY HX

Bruce Boxleitner On Cancellation Of ‘GCB’: Been There, Done That

Hollywood Outbreak — Mon, 14 May 2012 16:00:01 +0000

We sat down with show biz vet BRUCE BOXLEITNER over the weekend to talk about TRON: UPRISING, his upcoming animated series for DISNEY XD. Expanding the TRON franchise to yet another platform, the stylish series features a voice cast that also includes ELIJAH WOOD, NATE CORDDRY, MANDY MOORE, EMMANUELLE CHRIQUI, PAUL REUBENS, REGINALD VELJOHNSON and TRICIA HELFER.
Most recently seen as a recurring character on the freshman series GCB, Boxleitner took the word that the show has been canceled in stride. After almost 40 years in show business, he’s well aware that shows come and go but he admitted he felt bad for the rest of the cast.

TRON: UPRISING debuts on DISNEY XD 6/7

‘THE AVENGERS’ CROSSES $1 BILLION MARK WITH $103 MILLION WEEKEND

Hollywood Outbreak — Sun, 13 May 2012 22:08:23 +0000

The Avengers, after taking in $103.2 million domestically and easily taking the #1 spot at the box office, has now crossed the $1 billion mark, as the feature also made over $95 million internationally.

With Marvel characters at an all time high, The Avengers’ momentum should bode well for the box office prospects of The Amazing Spider-Man, which opens July 3rd.

Newcomer Dark Shadows, despite receiving a healthy share of negative reviews, came in second with $28.8 million. Here’s the top 10:

1. The Avengers - $103.2 million

2. Dark Shadows - $28.8 million

3. Think Like a Man - $6.3 million

4. The Hunger Games - $4.4 million

5. The Lucky One - $4.1 million

6. The Pirates: Band of Misfits - $3.2 million

7. The Five Year Engagement - $3.1 million

8. The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel - $2.7 million

9. Chimpanzee - $1.6 million

10. Girl in Progress - $1.4 million

* Robert Downey Jr. discusses his thoughts on the “wit” of The Avengers director Joss Whedon:

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posted by Greg Srisavasdi (Twitter: @gsrisavasdi)

NBC Brings Back ‘L&O:SVU’ For 14th Season

Hollywood Outbreak — Fri, 11 May 2012 22:51:12 +0000

Despite flagging ratings, the much-missed presence of CHRISTOPHER MELONI and a major cast overhaul, NBC has announced they will be bringing back the police procedural LAW & ORDER: SVU for another (its 14th!) season. Centered on an elite squad of detectives who investigate sexually based crimes as part of the Special Victims Unit of the New York City Police Department, the series was created by Emmy Award-winning producer DICK WOLF and has, over the years, received numerous accolades for tackling important social issues. Addressing television reporters a few weeks ago, series star MARISKA HARGITAY talked to entertainment reporters about why she feels the series has been so successful. (CLICK ON THE MEDIA BAR FOR AUDIO)

‘THE PHILLY KID’ ENTERS THE RING FOR AFTER DARK ACTION SERIES

Hollywood Outbreak — Fri, 11 May 2012 19:06:56 +0000

Now playing in select theaters (and available on VOD), The Philly Kid features Wes Chatham as Dillon McCabe, a recent parolee who reenters the world of fighting to save his best friend (Nikita’s Devon Sawa) from a loan shark’s clutches. After three victories, Dillon is forced to lose his next fight if he doesn’t want to rock the boat.

The Philly Kid is one of the five movies that are spearheading a new, high octane line of action driven stories for After Dark Films (the other pictures are El Gringo, Transit, Stash House, and Dragon Eyes).

Devon Sawa and Wes Chatham give their thoughts on the best fighting styles for an MMA fighter:

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posted by Greg Srisavasdi (Twitter: @gsrisavasdi).

‘God Bless America’ Star Joel Murray Happy That Film’s Message Gets Delivered

Hollywood Outbreak — Fri, 11 May 2012 18:00:13 +0000

Opening today in limited theatrical release as well as being made available via VOD, GOD BLESS AMERICA is part social satire and part loud, angry rant against the decline of social behavior. Written and directed by BOBCAT GOLDTHWAIT, the film stars JOEL MURRAY and TARA LYNNE BARR as a mismatched team of vigilantes traveling across the country on a mission to kill the people they feel are ruining American culture.

As funny as it is violent, GOLDTHWAIT’S film is dark and delightful as it skewers a huge variety of pop culture targets in delivering the message that people really do need to shape up.

We recently sat down with JOEL MURRAY, who talked about how the violence in the movie is necessary to get the message across. (CLICK ON THE MEDIA BAR FOR AUDIO)

GOD BLESS AMERICA opens today in limited release and is available via VOD

‘Dark Shadows’ Is A Meeting Of The Minds Of Tim Burton And Johnny Depp

Hollywood Outbreak — Fri, 11 May 2012 17:00:09 +0000

Finally arriving in theaters today, DARK SHADOWS is the highly hyped big screen adaptation of the goofy daytime soap opera first introduced in the late ’60s. Centered on Barnabas Collins, a vampire who wakes up in 1972 from a 200 year nap, the film is a weird comedy/horror hybrid that sometimes works and sometimes doesn’t. That said, the movie never disappoints in the areas of style and design. Beautifully imagined, it’s a true feast for the eyes.

At a recent press conference, DEPP talked about where the idea to recreate DARK SHADOWS came from and how he, BURTON and screenwriter SETH GRAHAME-SMITH approached the project. (CLICK ON THE MEDIA BAR FOR AUDIO)

DARK SHADOWS opens in theaters today

Bickering Cops Reign On USA’s New Series ‘Common Law’

Hollywood Outbreak — Fri, 11 May 2012 16:00:59 +0000

Debuting tonight on the USA network, COMMON LAW is a comedy/drama centered on two detective partners whose biggest problem in life is each other. When their constant bickering reaches fever pitch, the two are forced by superiors into “couple’s therapy” in the effort to keep the team alive. As the fractious “couple”, MICHAEL EALY and WARREN KOLE are fun to watch and demonstrate a real chemistry while playing two characters who have none.

We sat down with the duo at the Television Critics Association press event and they talked about the show and the possibility that their characters will ever work out their issues.

COMMON LAW premieres tonight on USA

HOLLIE CAVANAGH SEES GROWTH WITH ‘AMERICAN IDOL’ JOURNEY

Hollywood Outbreak — Fri, 11 May 2012 14:23:38 +0000

Hollie Cavanagh exceeded expectations on American Idol, as she made it to the top four and went out on a high note, delivering a stirring performance of “The Climb.” During her exit song, Cavanagh moved across the stage to thank her fellow Idols Joshua Ledet (visibly teary during Cavanagh’s elimination), Jessica Sanchez, and Phillip Phillips, as well as the judges.

Reserved during the early rounds of the competition, Cavanagh’s confidence grew over the past several weeks. Unfortunately, it was her uneven rendition of Bonnie Raitt’s “I Can’t Make You Love Me” which eventually sent her home.

Cavanagh remained upbeat, as she expressed her anticipation for the future. “I’m so excited for the tour and even for the finale,” says Cavanagh. “All of us will be back together, we’ll all be singing with each other. And the tour is going to be just crazy. All ten of us together, it’s going to be a lot of fun and a great show.”

Hollie Cavanagh talks about her “growth” during the American Idol process:

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posted by Greg Srisavasdi (Twitter: @gsrisavasdi )

Eva Mendes Has Little Love For Her Character In ‘Girl In Progress’

Hollywood Outbreak — Thu, 10 May 2012 19:00:05 +0000

Opening in theaters tomorrow, GIRL IN PROGRESS is a mother/daughter coming-of-age story that actually has mother and daughter BOTH coming of age. Directed by PATRICIA RIGGEN from a screenplay by HIRAM MARTINEZ, the film features EVA MENDES as a stressed out mom juggling work, bills, an affair with a married man and a rebellious teen daughter. Also in the cast are PATRICIA ARQUETTE, CIERRA RAMIREZ, RAINI RODRIGUEZ and LANDON LIBOIRON.

As the promiscuous mother whose parenting skills are put to the test, MENDES turn in a terrific performance but told us during our recent interview it wasn’t a character she was particularly fond of. (CLICK ON THE MEDIA BAR FOR AUDIO)

GIRL IN PROGRESS opens in theaters tomorrow

Filmmaker Bobcat Goldthwait Hates Reality TV (Except For The Shows He Watches)

Hollywood Outbreak — Thu, 10 May 2012 18:00:11 +0000

Opening tomorrow in select theaters and currently available via VOD, GOD BLESS AMERICA is a delightfully subversive satire that centers on a depressed, middle-aged, divorced dad whose had enough of the revoltingly thoughtless human behavior that’s become the norm and sets off on a cross-country killing spree to right as many “wrongs” as possible. Along the way, he reluctantly takes on a teen side-kick and, together, they tackle such targets as reality tv, Twi-hards, NASCAR fans and impolite moviegoers. Written and directed by BOBCAT GOLDTHWAIT, the cast features JOEL MURRAY and TARA LYNNE BARR as well as MACKENZIE BROOKE SMITH, MELINDA PAGE HAMILTON, RICH McDONALD and DAVID MENDENHALL.

As violent as it is dedicated to its message, GOD BLESS AMERICA will, no doubt, find a huge audience comprised of kindred spirits who will relate to the complaints of the protagonists (if not their solutions to the problems). And, while reality tv appears to be one of GOLDTHWAIT’S major peeves, he admitted during our recent interview that he occasionally backslides. (CLICK ON THE MEDIA BAR FOR AUDIO)

GOD BLESS AMERICA opens in theaters tomorrow and is currently available via VOD

TV’S Original Barnabas Collins Made One Last Visit To ‘Dark Shadows’

Hollywood Outbreak — Thu, 10 May 2012 17:00:38 +0000

When director TIM BURTON and star JOHNNY DEPP began collaborating on adapting for the big screen the iconic ’60s daytime soap opera DARK SHADOWS, one of the first things they agreed on was to pay homage to the series by inviting JONATHAN FRID on board for a cameo appearance. FRID, the Canadian actor who originated the role of vampire Barnabas Collins, passed away earlier this month and isn’t able to enjoy the newfound interest in his character but, during the recent press conference to promote the film, DEPP talked about working with him and meeting him for the first time. (CLICK ON THE MEDIA BAR FOR AUDIO)

DARK SHADOWS opens in theaters tomorrow

Expect An Out Of This World Season Finale For ‘The Big Bang Theory’

Hollywood Outbreak — Thu, 10 May 2012 16:00:11 +0000

Airing tonight on CBS, the fifth season finale of the hit sitcom THE BIG BANG THEORY includes a last-minute wedding and a trip to outer space. And, for good measure, an out-of-the-blue marriage proposal. Created by CHUCK LORRE, the series owes much of its popularity to the ensemble cast of JOHNNY GALECKI, JIM PARSONS, KALEY CUOCO, SIMON HELBERG and KUNAL NAYYAR.

As Howard Wolowitz, the nerdy mechanical engineer whose early behavior on the show was borderline skeevy, HELBERG has seen the character progress to being a lovable guy whose wedding is almost derailed by a mission to space. During a Television Critics Association press conference, HELBERG talked about how Wolowitz has evolved. (CLICK ON THE MEDIA BAR FOR AUDIO)

The season five finale of THE BIG BANG THEORY airs tonight on CBS

MICKEY COHEN’S “LIFE AND CRIMES” CHRONICLED BY AUTHOR TERE TEREBA

Hollywood Outbreak — Thu, 10 May 2012 15:30:28 +0000

I usually drive around Hancock Park and Koreatown in a caffeinated daze, with 1950s Chet Baker tunes swimming in my head as I envision a Los Angeles littered with fedoras, hopped up jazz, and the smell of blood money. This week’s debut of Gangster Squad trailer only heightens my fever dream, thanks to Sean Penn’s scenery chewing display as crime lord Mickey Cohen.

My L.A. noir fix has been briefly sated with the release of Mickey Cohen: The Life and Crimes of L.A.’s Notorious Mobster, writer Tere Tereba’s absorbing and gritty account of Cohen’s rise from a tough as nails pugilist from East L.A. to a seemingly untouchable gangster (he survived 11 attempts on his life).

“(Cohen) was in the headlines all the time,” says Tereba, who talks about Cohen’s relationship with the media. “And the stories he gave were the ones he wanted out there. And they were the stories that covered up the conspiracies, because he was in business with law enforcement. He was in business with politicians, and the stories they wanted out there needed to be collaborations, so I try to pierce through the conspiracies. Before anything written about him was just the puff pieces as he wanted them printed. History remains that way until this book.”

In the following audio clip, Tereba explains why Cohen, who died of stomach cancer complications in 1976, was a “cottage industry” for Los Angeles (Tereba’s dog is heard in the background for a split second):

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posted by Greg Srisavasdi (Twitter: @gsrisavasdi )

Indie Filmmaker Bobcat Goldthwait Remembers Brush With Marvel Comics

Hollywood Outbreak — Wed, 09 May 2012 19:00:41 +0000

Sitting down yesterday with filmmaker BOBCAT GOLDTHWAIT to talk about his terrific new movie GOD BLESS AMERICA, the subject of last weekend’s box office and THE AVENGERS came up. Apparently, at one point Marvel Comics had approached the former stand-up comic to direct a film based on one of their characters but by the time GOLDTHWAIT got to their catalog, the pickings were on the slim side. (CLICK ON THE MEDIA BAR FOR AUDIO)

GOD BLESS AMERICA is available now via VOD and opens in limited theatrical release this week

‘Dark Shadows’ Star Johnny Depp Wants Vampires To Stop Looking Like Underwear Models

Hollywood Outbreak — Wed, 09 May 2012 18:00:28 +0000

As children, both TIM BURTON and JOHNNY DEPP were devoted fans of DARK SHADOWS, the hugely popular daytime soap opera that shook up the genre with its mix of gothic mystery and melodrama. So, when the subject of making a vampire movie came up during their collaboration on SWEENEY TODD, it seemed an obvious choice to revisit this quirky cult favorite. Written by SETH GRAHME-SMITH, the film attracted an all-star cast that includes MICHELLE PFEIFFER, CHLOE GRACE MORETZ, EVA GREEN, JONNY LEE MILLER, HELENA BONHAM CARTER and JACKIE EARLE HALEY.

During last weekend’s press conference for the film, DEPP talked about the look of the film and, specifically, the look of his Barnabas Collins character. (CLICK ON THE MEDIA BAR FOR AUDIO)

DARK SHADOWS opens in theaters Friday

‘Around The World In 80 Plates’ Takes Competitive Cooking Global

Hollywood Outbreak — Wed, 09 May 2012 17:00:59 +0000

Premiering tonight on Bravo, AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 PLATES is the network’s most ambitious project to date and follows 12 chefs as they compete over 40 days and in 10 countries, learning to deal with local customs and kitchens while being tested for skill and determination. Hosted by world famous culinary experts CURTIS STONE and CAT CORA, the show combines all the most exciting elements of THE AMAZING RACE, TOP CHEF and TOP CHEF MASTERS. We sat down recently with the show’s hosts and they talked about how the series is as exciting for them as it is the contestants.

AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 PLATES debuts tonight on BRAVO

Eva Mendes Gives Back With Women’s Rights Doc ‘Half The Sky’

Hollywood Outbreak — Wed, 09 May 2012 16:00:02 +0000

Soon to be seen on the big screen as a stressed out mom juggling work, bills, an affair with a married man and a rebellious teen daughter in GIRL IN PROGRESS, actress EVA MENDES next gets serious by joining the cast of the documentary HALF THE SKY. Based on the book HALF THE SKY: TURNING OPPRESSION INTO OPPORTUNITY FOR WOMEN WORLDWIDE by husband/wife team NICHOLAS KRISTOL and SHERYL WuDUNN, the doc features a cast of notable women traveling the world calling attention to various women’s issues. Joining MENDES in the cast are OLIVIA WILDE, DIANE LANE, MEG RYAN, GABRIELLE UNION and AMERICA FERRERA.

We sat down with MENDES last week to catch up on what she’s been doing and she talked about how important this project was to her. (CLICK ON THE MEDIA BAR FOR AUDIO)

HALF THE SKY is scheduled for release in December

GIRL IN PROGRESS opens in theaters Friday

Stars Of ‘The Dictator’ Sing The Praises Of Sacha Baron Cohen

Hollywood Outbreak — Tue, 08 May 2012 19:00:09 +0000

In the upcoming comedy THE DICTATOR, actor/writer SACHA BARON COHEN plays General Admiral Aladeen, a political despot who proudly aligns himself with the likes of KIM JONG IL and MUAMMAR GADDAFI. It was an all-consuming job for COHEN, who threw himself enthusiastically into the job, often working twenty hour days to perfect every aspect of the character he created. During a press conference held at Manhattan’s Waldorf-Astoria Hotel a couple of days ago, SIR BEN KINGSLEY and JASON MANTZOUKAS (two stars of the film) talked about the indefatigability of COHEN during the production of THE DICTATOR. (CLICK ON THE MEDIA BAR FOR AUDIO)

THE DICTATOR opens in theaters 5/16

Jason Ritter Intimidated By ‘Real Deal’ Kathleen Turner

Hollywood Outbreak — Tue, 08 May 2012 18:00:38 +0000

Currently in limited release and available via VOD, THE PERFECT FAMILY is a satiric family drama about a devoutly Catholic woman so desperate to win a church award that she fails to recognize her family for who they are. Directed by ANNE RENTON from a script by PAULA GOLDBERG, the ensemble cast includes KATHLEEN TURNER, EMILY DESCHANEL, JASON RITTER, MICHAEL McGRADY, SHARON LAWRENCE, ELIZABETH PENA and RICHARD CHAMBERLAIN. During our recent interview with JASON RITTER, he talked about meeting and working with KATHLEEN TURNER, an actress he’s admired for a long time. (CLICK ON THE MEDIA BAR FOR AUDIO)

THE PERFECT FAMILY is in select theaters and available via VOD

New To Blu: Get Out Your Hankies For ‘The Vow’

Hollywood Outbreak — Tue, 08 May 2012 17:00:29 +0000

Arriving on DVD and Blu-ray today, THE VOW is an overwrought tear-jerker about an amnesiac woman struggling to recover the memory of a man who loves her. After a car accident leaves her with severe memory loss, a woman struggles to revive her affection for her devoted husband. Directed by MICHAEL SUCSY and inspired by a true story, the cast includes RACHEL McADAMS, CHANNING TATUM, JESSICA LANGE, SAM NEILL, WENDY CREWSON and SCOTT SPEEDMAN.

Best known for his roles in such rock-’em, sock-’em action films as G.I. JOE and 21 JUMP STREET, TATUM stepped out of his comfort zone for this weepy love story. During our interview at the time of the film’s original release, he admitted he enjoyed the experience. (CLICK ON THE MEDIA BAR FOR AUDIO)

THE VOW is available on DVD and Blu-ray today

‘The New Girl’ says ‘See Ya’ With Tonight’s Season One Finale

Hollywood Outbreak — Tue, 08 May 2012 16:00:26 +0000

Airing tonight on Fox-TV, the season finale of THE NEW GIRL(titled SEE YA) has Cece and Schmidt facing a major change in their relationship while Jess tries to take it all in. A major hit for the network, the show has catapulted star ZOOEY DESCHANEL to new heights as the “go to” girl for odd-ball behavior. Making the most of her quirky, off-beat sense of humor, the show centers on her relationships with three male roomies. We spoke with DESCHANEL at the beginning of the season and she explained that her reasons for signing on to a series were simple.

The season one finale of THE NEW GIRL airs tonight on Fox-TV

‘Dark Shadows’ Star Johnny Depp Not Comfortable Wearing Producer Hat

Hollywood Outbreak — Mon, 07 May 2012 18:00:53 +0000

Opening in theaters this week, DARK SHADOWS is director TIM BURTON’S spoofy big screen adaptation of the ’60s daytime TV soap opera that took the country by storm. A cult favorite, the gothic drama centers on vampire Barnabas Collins and his family as they deal with various creatures of the night. Under BURTON’S direction, the new cast features JOHNNY DEPP, MICHELLE PFEIFFER, CHLOE GRACE MORETZ, EVA GREEN, JONNY LEE MILLER, HELENA BONHAM CARTER and JACKIE EARLE HALEY. Despite being a producer on the film, DEPP says he’s not comfortable with the business side of getting movies made. During a recent interview, he admitted to us that all he really cares about is playing the role. (CLICK ON THE MEDIA BAR FOR AUDIO)

DARK SHADOWS opens in theaters Friday

It’s A Wrap For Season One Of Breakout Comedy ‘2 Broke Girls’

Hollywood Outbreak — Mon, 07 May 2012 17:00:47 +0000

Airing tonight on CBS, the hour long first season finale of 2 BROKE GIRLS finds Max and Caroline conniving to attend a fashion gala at the Met in hopes of getting guest star MARTHA STEWART’S seal-of-approval on their cupcakes. Written and produced by MICHAEL PATRICK KING and WHITNEY CUMMINGS, the regular cast features KAT DENNINGS, BETH BEHRS, MATTHEW MOY, JONATHAN KITE and GARRETT MORRIS. A familiar face to many from her work on the big screen (THOR, THE HOUSE BUNNY), DENNINGS seamlessly made the move to TV. During a recent press conference to promote the show, she talked about wanting to act since she was a kid. (CLICK ON THE MEDIA BAR FOR AUDIO)

The season finale of 2 BROKE GIRLS airs tonight on CBS

Will Smith Returns To The Screen After Three Year Hiatus For ‘MIBIII’

Hollywood Outbreak — Mon, 07 May 2012 16:00:04 +0000

Opening in theaters later this month, MEN IN BLACK III is a time travel adventure that reunites WILL SMITH, TOMMY LEE JONES and director BARRY SONNENFELD as well as introducing JOSH BROLIN as a younger version of JONES’ character.

It’s a return to the screen for SMITH, who took a three-year “time out” to recharge, spend time with his family and work as a producer on projects for his kids, JADEN and WILLOW. During our recent interview, SMITH admitted to being a long-time fan of the hit nighttime soap DALLAS and that it impacted his vision for his future. He also admitted that his vision often clashes with the vision of his kids. (CLICK ON THE MEDIA BAR FOR AUDIO)

MEN IN BLACK III opens in theaters 5/25

‘The Avengers’ Cleans Up At Weekend Box Office

Hollywood Outbreak — Mon, 07 May 2012 13:49:26 +0000

Breaking all existing records for a three-day opening weekend, THE AVENGERS took in an estimated $200.5 M, making it far-and-away the box office champ. In the No. 2 position, THINK LIKE A MAN continued to hang tough with $8 M. Coming in third, THE HUNGER GAMES managed a healthy $5.7 M and, rounding out the top five are THE LUCKY ONE ($5.5 M) and PIRATES! BAND OF MISFITS ($5.4 M).

Written and directed by JOSS WHEDON, THE AVENGERS features an extensive ensemble cast that includes CHRIS HEMSWORTH, ROBERT DOWNEY JR., SCARLETT JOHANSSON, JEREMY RENNER, CHRIS EVANS, MARK RUFFALO, SAMUEL L. JACKSON, GWYNETH PALTROW and CLARK GREGG. There’s little doubt that it was WHEDON’S deft handling of his source material that made the film such a success and, at the recent press conference to promte the movie, ROBERT DOWNEY JR. sang his praises. ( CLICK ON THE MEDIA BAR FOR AUDIO)

Free Comic Book Day Was The Frosting On The Cake Of A Marvel-ous Weekend

Hollywood Outbreak — Sun, 06 May 2012 19:00:40 +0000

As if THE AVENGERS breaking the weekend box office bank wasn’t enough to get comic book fans dancing in the streets, we’d just like to thank the stores that participated in yesterday’s FREE COMIC BOOK DAY all over the country for making it even better. What started out 11 years ago with just a handful of publishers in just a few cities has grown to serious proportions with participants all over the world. Seriously, there were treasures to be had at your local comic book store…for FREE…and, it was a family-friendly, pro-social, good time for all. We made the rounds to our favorite neighborhood stores (COMIC SMASH in Studio City, EMERALD KNIGHTS COMICS and HOUSE OF SECRETS in Burbank) and, as in years past, they were the perfect hosts. Mark next year’s calendar for the first Saturday in May for a great comic-book time.

‘LAST CALL AT THE OASIS’ SPOTLIGHTS GLOBAL WATER CRISIS

Hollywood Outbreak — Sat, 05 May 2012 00:06:50 +0000

Oscar winning director Jessica Yu (Breathing Lessons: The Life and Work of March O’Brien) and producer Elise Pearlstein (Food, Inc.) collaborate on Last Call At The Oasis, an ambitious documentary which attempts to put a universal as well as personal look at the global water crisis.

“The goal was to get a holistic view of what’s going on,” said Yu in an interview conducted this week. “I saw my role as to try to present as full a picture of all of our water issues and how they are interconnected. I wanted to place that at the feet of the people watching the film so they have some ideas on how to become involved.”

Jessica Yu talks about having Erin Brockovich involved in the project:

Last Call At The Oasis is now playing in select theaters.

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posted by Greg Srisavasdi (Twitter: @gsrisavasdi)

USA’s Popular ‘In Plain Sight’ Fades From View Tonight

Hollywood Outbreak — Fri, 04 May 2012 19:00:22 +0000

Airing tonight on the USA network, the series finale of IN PLAIN SIGHT brings to an end the exploits of Mary Shannon, a tough-as-nails WITSEC marshal who, over the course of five years, has had more than her share of quirky, off-beat adventures. This season alone saw Mary juggle her high-risk job with a newborn she wasn’t really thrilled with as well as deal with her feelings for the baby’s father and her relationship with her slavishly devoted partner (played by FRED WELLER).

We sat down with McCORMACK and WELLER at the Television Critics Association press event where they shared their feelings about the end of the series.

The series finale of IN PLAIN SIGHT airs tonight on USA

Will Smith Confesses Plan To Take Denzel Washington ‘Uptown’

Hollywood Outbreak — Fri, 04 May 2012 18:00:14 +0000

In theaters later this month, MEN IN BLACK III marks producer/star WILL SMITH’S return to the big screen after a hiatus of almost four years. Directed by BARRY SONNENFIELD, the film’s cast also includes TOMMY LEE JONES, JOSH BROLIN, ALICE EVE, BILL HADER, JEMAINE CLEMENT and EMMA THOMPSON.

We caught up with SMITH yesterday and he talked about taking time off to concentrate on the production end of his career and how he’s just now ready to get back to work in front of the cameras. One of the projects he’s been working on is a remake of the 1974 SIDNEY POITIER/BILL COSBY crime comedy UPTOWN SATURDAY NIGHT and he’s hoping to pull DENZEL WASHINGTON along with him. (CLICK ON THE MEDIA BAR FOR AUDIO)

MEN IN BLACK III opens in theaters 5/25

‘Dallas’ Star Patrick Duffy Admits Losing Super-Hero Job Was A Blessing

Hollywood Outbreak — Fri, 04 May 2012 17:00:23 +0000

Before he was Bobby Ewing on the mega successful nighttime soap DALLAS, actor PATRICK DUFFY was one of television’s first comic book super-heroes on the short lived NBC-TV series THE MAN FROM ATLANTIS. As an amnesiac thought to be the last surviving citizen of the lost civilization of Atlantis, DUFFY’S character had extraordinary underwater superpowers. We sat down yesterday with DUFFY to talk about his role on the upcoming reboot of DALLAS and he reminisced about his days as a superhero and how losing that job may have been the best thing that could have happened to his career.

DALLAS premieres on TNT 6/13

‘Fairly Legal’ Star Sarah Shahi Claims To Be Just Another Face In The Crowd

Hollywood Outbreak — Fri, 04 May 2012 16:00:55 +0000

Airing tonight on the USA Network, the popular original series FAIRLY LEGAL stars actress SARAH SHAHI as a passionate and playful San Francisco mediator who is battling a whole new conflict in a sharp, hustling, up-and-coming trial lawyer played by series newcomer RYAN JOHNSON. We spoke with SHAHI at the Television Critics Association press event to promote the series and she admitted that having a weekly show hasn’t hurt her anonymity in the least. Even at The Grove (a Los Angeles mecca for star-seeking tourists) fans don’t give her a nod. (CLICK ON THE MEDIA BAR FOR AUDIO)

FAIRLY LEGAL airs tonight on USA

SKYLAR LAINE REMAINS “UPBEAT” AFTER ‘AMERICAN IDOL’

Hollywood Outbreak — Fri, 04 May 2012 14:44:27 +0000

Country singer Skylar Laine, whose take no prisoners approach to performing is one of this season’s American Idol highlights, was eliminated from the competition last night, leaving Hollie Cavanagh, Joshua Ledet, Phillip Phillips, and Jessica Sanchez as the final four.

“(Finishing) fifth in American Idol,” says Laine, who is pulling for her two closest friends in the competition, Joshua Ledet and Hollie Cavanagh. “I couldn’t ask for anything more than that. It’s crazy. I’m really happy for whoever wins and I hope that they have a long career and I hope I have a long career.”

As she prepares for the upcoming Idol summer tour, Laine adds that she would love to have a brief break to recharge her batteries:

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posted by Greg Srisavasdi (Twitter: @gsrisavasdi )

‘Avengers’ Star Samuel L. Jackson Admits Cast Played By Whedon’s Rules

Hollywood Outbreak — Thu, 03 May 2012 18:00:08 +0000

The lines are probably already forming for tomorrow’s highly-anticipated release of the super-hero epic THE AVENGERS. Gathering together some of the Marvel Universe’s most revered characters, the film actually delivers the goods and promises to put smiles on the faces of fanboys everywhere. Written and directed by JOSS WHEDON, the cast includes CHRIS HEMSWORTH, ROBERT DOWNEY JR., SCARLETT JOHANSSON, JEREMY RENNER, CHRIS EVANS, MARK RUFFALO, SAMUEL L. JACKSON, GWYNETH PALTROW and CLARK GREGG.

At the recent press conference to promote the film, JACKSON talked about WHEDON’S direction and a particular scene in which the entire cast is present and interacting in character. (CLICK ON THE MEDIA BAR FOR AUDIO) LANGUAGE NSFW

THE AVENGERS opens in theaters tomorrow

Kathleen Turner Recalls The Box Office Blockbuster You Almost Never Saw

Hollywood Outbreak — Thu, 03 May 2012 17:00:24 +0000

In theaters tomorrow, THE PERFECT FAMILY is a satiric family drama about a devoutly Catholic woman trying to cope with and hide the fact that her slightly dysfunctional family might stand in the way of her winning a church award. Directed by ANNE RENTON from a script by PAULA GOLDBERG, the ensemble cast includes KATHLEEN TURNER, EMILY DESCHANEL, JASON RITTER, MICHAEL McGRADY, SHARON LAWRENCE, ELIZABETH PENA and RICHARD CHAMBERLAIN.

A veteran of stage, screen and television, award-winning actress KATHLEEN TURNER sat down with us a few days ago to talk about her storied career when the subject of sequels came up. Never one to revisit a character, TURNER found herself between a rock and a hard place when pal MICHAEL DOUGLAS wanted to do a follow-up to their 1984 hit ROMANCING THE STONE. As she recalls it, things got ugly and we almost never got to see the 1985 action adventure JEWEL OF THE NILE. (CLICK ON THE MEDIA BAR FOR AUDIO)

THE PERFECT FAMILY opens in theaters tomorrow

‘Marigold Hotel’ Star Judi Dench ‘Bewitched’ With Indian Location Shooting

Hollywood Outbreak — Thu, 03 May 2012 16:00:02 +0000

Arriving in theaters tomorrow, THE BEST EXOTIC MARIGOLD HOTEL is a delightfully romantic fantasy that centers on a group of Brit retirees seeking to live out their lives in an Indian hotel that turns out to be considerably less luxurious than described. Directed by JOHN MADDEN, the all-star cast includes JUDI DENCH, TOM WILKINSON, MAGGIE SMITH, PENELOPE WILTON, BILL NIGHY and DEV PATEL. Shot in and around Jaipur, the experience was a bit of a culture shock for some of the cast. During our recent interview with DAME JUDI DENCH, the award-winning actress talked about the effect that shooting in India had on her. (CLICK ON THE MEDIA BAR FOR AUDIO)

THE BEST EXOTIC MARIGOLD HOTEL opens in theaters tomorrow

Jason Ritter Plays Dumb In ‘A Bag Of Hammers’

Hollywood Outbreak — Wed, 02 May 2012 19:00:54 +0000

Soon to be seen as KATHLEEN TURNER’S ne’er-do-well son in the satiric dramedy THE PERFECT FAMILY, actor JASON RITTER will follow with another offbeat film titled A BAG OF HAMMERS. A comedy/drama hybrid, the film centers on a couple of irresponsible petty thieves who refuse to grow up until an abandoned child forces their hand. Co-written (with star JAKE SANDVIG) and directed by BRIAN CRANO, the cast also includes CHANDLER CANTERBURY, REBECCA HALL, CARRIE PRESTON, TODD LOUISO, AMANDA SEYFRIED and GABRIEL MACHT.

During our interview last week, RITTER talked about the film and what we can expect. (CLICK ON THE MEDIA BAR FOR AUDIO)

THE PERFECT FAMILY opens in theaters and on VOD Friday

A BAG OF HAMMERS isn’t yet scheduled for release

‘Avengers’ Star Chris Evans Hands The Improv Prize To Robert Downey Jr.

Hollywood Outbreak — Wed, 02 May 2012 18:00:05 +0000

The long-awaited and much-anticipated super-hero epic, THE AVENGERS, finally hits theaters this week and gathers together some of the most revered and recognized characters in the Marvel Universe for what fans hope will be a comic-book movie for the ages. Written and directed by fanboy favorite JOSS WHEDON, the cast includes CHRIS HEMSWORTH, ROBERT DOWNEY JR., SCARLETT JOHANSSON, JEREMY RENNER, CHRIS EVANS, MARK RUFFALO, SAMUEL L. JACKSON, GWYNETH PALTROW and CLARK GREGG.

At the recent press conference to promote the upcoming film, CHRIS EVANS fielded questions about making the film and admitted that ROBERT DOWNEY JR. was a comic master when it came to improvising dialog. (CLICK ON THE MEDIA BAR FOR AUDIO)

THE AVENGERS opens in theaters Friday

‘Sherlock’ Star Benedict Cumberbatch Admits Kerfuffle Over Nude Scene Was Much Ado About Nothing

Hollywood Outbreak — Wed, 02 May 2012 17:00:10 +0000

Returning to PBS for its sophomore season, the popular BBC series SHERLOCK brings to life the famous detective adventures of author ARTHUR CONAN DOYLE. A series of three 90-minute episodes, the opener is based on A SCANDAL IN BOHEMIA and finds HOLMES falling for a dominatrix who’s blackmailing the royal family with compromising photos. Written by co-creator STEVEN MOFFAT, the series stars BENEDICT CUMBERBATCH and MARTIN FREEMAN as the titular sleuth and his sidekick Watson with LARA PULVER as the larcenous Irene Adler.

Already aired on Britain’s BBC, this first episode cause quite a stir when special interest groups took issue with a slightly risque nude scene. At the Television Critics Association press conference to promote the show, CUMBERBATCH laughed off the so-called controversy but appreciated the publicity. (CLICK ON THE MEDIA BAR FOR AUDIO)

Season 2 of SHERLOCK debuts Sunday night on PBS

‘The Pirates’ Director Peter Lord Aims For Adult Audience As Well As Kids

Hollywood Outbreak — Wed, 02 May 2012 16:00:29 +0000

Currently in theaters (and still in the box office top five), THE PIRATES! BAND OF MISFITS follows the exploits of an inept group of sea-going rogues vying to win the coveted Pirate-Of-The-Year Award. Beautifully realized by the award-winning AARDMAN ANIMATION STUDIO, the film is rife with the kind of slapstick humor that appeals to kids as well the kind of witty dialog adults can relate to. Directed by PETER LORD and JEFF NEWITT from a screenplay by GIDEON DeFOE and features the voice talents of HUGH GRANT, SALMA HAYEK, MARTIN FREEMAN, IMELDA STAUNTON, ANTON YELCHIN and JEREMY PIVEN.

During our recent interview, LORD talked about why he wanted to make the movie and bridging the demographics with humor. (CLICK ON THE MEDIA BAR FOR AUDIO)

THE PIRATES! BAND OF MISFITS is in theaters now

‘Marigold Hotel’ Star Tom Wilkinson Found India An ‘Assault To The Senses’

Hollywood Outbreak — Tue, 01 May 2012 19:00:55 +0000

A brilliant British cast highlights THE BEST EXOTIC MARIGOLD HOTEL, which opens in U.S. theaters later this week. A feel-good movie for the DOWNTON ABBEY set, the film centers on a group of Brit retirees seeking to live out their lives in an Indian hotel that turns out to be considerably less luxurious than described. Directed by JOHN MADDEN, the all-star cast includes JUDI DENCH, TOM WILKINSON, MAGGIE SMITH, PENELOPE WILTON, BILL NIGHY and DEV PATEL.

Shot in and around Jaipur, the experience was a bit of a culture shock for some of the cast. During our recent interview with WILKINSON, the Academy Award-winning actor admitted his feelings about shooting in India. (CLICK ON THE MEDIA BAR FOR AUDIO)

THE BEST EXOTIC MARIGOLD HOTEL opens in theaters Friday

‘Avengers’ Director Joss Whedon ‘Excited’ To Bring Epic Saga To The Screen

Hollywood Outbreak — Tue, 01 May 2012 18:00:44 +0000

Opening in theaters later this week, THE AVENGERS is the long-awaited and much-anticipated super-hero epic that gathers together some of the most revered characters in the Marvel Universe for what fans hope will be the be-all-and-end-all comic-book movie for the ages. Written and directed by fanboy fave JOSS WHEDON, the cast includes CHRIS HEMSWORTH, ROBERT DOWNEY JR., SCARLETT JOHANSSON, JEREMY RENNER, CHRIS EVANS, MARK RUFFALO, SAMUEL L. JACKSON, GWYNETH PALTROW and CLARK GREGG.

At the recent press conference to promote the upcoming film, WHEDON responded to questions about what were the most exciting and the hardest aspects of bring this epic to the screen. (CLICK ON THE MEDIA BAR FOR AUDIO)

THE AVENGERS opens in theaters 5/4

New To Blu: Dolly Parton + Queen Latifah = ‘Joyful Noise’

Hollywood Outbreak — Tue, 01 May 2012 17:00:12 +0000

Arriving today on DVD and Blu-ray, JOYFUL NOISE is a musical comedy centering on the conflicts of a gospel choir hell-bent on winning a national singing competition. Written and directed by TODD GRAFF, the cast features DOLLY PARTON, QUEEN LATIFAH, KEKE PALMER, KRIS KRISTOFFERSON, COURTNEY B. VANCE, JESSE L. MARTIN and JEREMY JORDAN.

Sitting down with entertainment reporters at the time of the film’s original theatrical release, legendary country-western singer DOLLY PARTON opened up about her past history with gospel music. (CLICK ON THE MEDIA BAR FOR AUDIO)

JOYFUL NOISE is available today on DVD and Blu-ray

Mel Gibson Heads For The Small Screen With ‘Get The Gringo’

Hollywood Outbreak — Tue, 01 May 2012 16:00:00 +0000

Eschewing a theatrical U.S. release in favor of going VOD on Direct TV, GET THE GRINGO is a surprisingly entertaining action adventure about an American professional criminal who finds himself tossed into El Pueblito, the most notorious prison in Mexico. Directed by ADRIAN GRUNBERG from a script he co-wrote with producer and star MEL GIBSON, the cast also features DANIEL GIMENEZ, JESUS OCHOA, ROBERTO SOSA and DOLORES HEREDIA. Talking to entertainment reporters about his reasons for doing the film, GIBSON admitted it was another chance to work with his APOCALYPTO assistant director, ADRIAN GRUNBERG. (CLICK ON THE MEDIA BAR FOR AUDIO)

GET THE GRINGO is available now via VOD

Being Part Of The ‘Godfather’ Saga Was A Dream Come True For Andy Garcia

Hollywood Outbreak — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 19:00:29 +0000

Opening in theaters later this season, FOR GREATER GLORY brings to the screen the real-life drama of the Cristeros War, the Mexican rebellion sparked by the government’s attempt to secularize the country. Directed by DEAN WRIGHT from a script by MICHAEL LOVE, the cast includes ANDY GARCIA, EVA LONGORIA, OSCAR ISAAC, PETER O’TOOLE, BRUCE GREENWOOD, NESTOR CARBONELL and BRUCE McGILL.

A seasoned performer as well as a highly-regarded producer and director, ANDY GARCIA talked to entertainment reporters a few days ago about the new film and also addressed questions about the films he’s most proud of being involved with. (CLICK ON THE MEDIA BAR FOR AUDIO)

FOR GREATER GLORY opens in theaters 6/1

Charlie’s Back (Kinda) On Tonight’s ‘Two And A Half Men’

Hollywood Outbreak — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 18:00:27 +0000

Tonight’s episode of the CBS comedy TWO AND A HALF MEN sees the return of the not-so-dearly-departed Charlie Harper as he appears before his recently hospitalized brother Alan. No, CHARLIE SHEEN isn’t back on the scene, instead KATHY BATES lights up a cigar and dons a bowling shirt to play the ghost of the irascible womanizer. As Alan, JON CRYER plays one of the most accident-prone characters on TV today. At the Television Critics Association press conference to promote this season’s shows, CRYER joked about how working on this series could be the death of him. (CLICK ON THE MEDIA BAR FOR AUDIO)

TWO AND A HALF MEN airs tonight on CBS

Kathleen Turner Headlines Ensemble Cast In ‘The Perfect Family’

Hollywood Outbreak — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 17:00:43 +0000

Arriving in theaters and available via VOD later this week, THE PERFECT FAMILY is a satiric family drama about a devoutly Catholic woman so desperate to win a church award that she fails to recognize her family for who they are. Directed by ANNE RENTON from a script by PAULA GOLDBERG, the ensemble cast includes KATHLEEN TURNER, EMILY DESCHANEL, JASON RITTER, MICHAEL McGRADY, SHARON LAWRENCE, ELIZABETH PENA and RICHARD CHAMBERLAIN.

Known for being a generous performer, award-winning actress KATHLEEN TURNER sat down with us a few days ago to talk about the film and her career. A long-time New Yorker, she makes no bones about her disdain for the West Coast but regularly visits to work on stage and teach the occasional master class. (CLICK ON THE MEDIA BAR FOR AUDIO)

THE PERFECT FAMILY opens in theaters

Scott Speedman Brings Canada’s Most Notorious Bank Robber To Life In ‘Citizen Gangster’

Hollywood Outbreak — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 16:00:36 +0000

Finally getting a U.S. release via VOD, Canadian import CITIZEN GANGSTER tells the story of Edwin Boyd, Toronto’s most infamous and colorful bank robber. Set in the 40s, Boyd returned home from World War II with hopes of supporting his family by becoming an actor. After being turned away from local acting schools, he applied performance art to bank robbery and captured the imagination of an entire country. Written and directed by NATHAN MORLANDO, the cast features SCOTT SPEEDMAN, KELLY REILLY, KEVIN DURAND, JOSEPH CROSS, WILLIAM MAPOTHER and BRIAN COX.

We sat down recently with SCOTT SPEEDMAN, who talked a bit about the film and shooting on location in Northern Ontario. (CLICK ON THE MEDIA BAR FOR AUDIO)

CITIZEN GANGSTER is available now via VOD

Guest Stars Gather For Tonight’s Season Finale Of ‘The Good Wife’

Hollywood Outbreak — Sun, 29 Apr 2012 17:20:13 +0000

Airing tonight on CBS, the Season 3 finale of the hit drama THE GOOD WIFE promises to answer several questions while posing several more as a set up for Season 4. Joining regulars JULIANNA MARGULIES, JOSH CHARLES, CHRIS NOTH, CHRISTINE BARANSKI and ARCHIE PANJABI, recurring guest stars MICHAEL J. FOX, MARTHA PLIMPTON and MATTHEW PERRY will be adding interesting intrigue to what may just mark the reunion of the titular character with her formerly philandering husband.

A terrific blend of courtroom procedural and family drama, THE GOOD WIFE has consistently offered cable quality not always found on network television. At the Television Critics Association press conference to promote this season’s shows, MARGULIES talked about what most pleases her about doing this series. (CLICK ON THE MEDIA BAR FOR AUDIO)

The season finale of THE GOOD WIFE airs tonight on CBS

‘THINK LIKE A MAN’ RETAINS #1 BOX OFFICE SPOT WITH $18 MILLION

Hollywood Outbreak — Sun, 29 Apr 2012 16:54:43 +0000

The sleeper hit Think Like A Man retained its #1 position at the box office with an $18 million haul, beating newcomer The Pirates! Band of Misfits (#2, $11.4 million). The Jason Segel/Emily Blunt rom-com The Five-Year Engagement performed below expectations, limping to a #5 finish with just $11.2 million. Here’s the top 10:

1. Think Like A Man - $18 million

2. The Pirates! Band of Misfits - $11.4 million

3. The Lucky One - $11.3 million

4. The Hunger Games - $11.3 million

5. The Five-Year Engagement - $11.2 million

6. Safe - $7.7 million

7. The Raven - $7.2 million

8. Chimpanzee - $5.5 million

9. The Three Stooges - $5.4 million

10. The Cabin in the Woods - $4.5 million

* Steve Harvey talks about writing his bestselling book Think Like A Man:

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posted by Greg Srisavasdi

Hugh Grant Admits It Was The ‘Profound Silliness’ That Drew Him To ‘The Pirates! Band Of Misfits’

Hollywood Outbreak — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 18:00:50 +0000

Setting sail in theaters today, THE PIRATES! BAND OF MISFITS is the latest claymation offering from Britain’s AARDMAN ANIMATION STUDIOS (the birthplace of the popular WALLACE & GROMITT franchise) and, as always, delivers a beautiful example of stop-motion animated product. Following the exploits of an inept group of sea-going rogues vying to win the coveted Pirate-Of-The-Year Award, the film is rife with the kind of slapstick humor often associated with Brit films. Directed by PETER LORD and JEFF NEWITT from a screenplay by GIDEON DeFOE and features the voice talents of HUGH GRANT, SALMA HAYEK, MARTIN FREEMAN, IMELDA STAUNTON, ANTON YELCHIN and JEREMY PIVEN.

During our recent interview with star HUGH GRANT, he talked about what convinced him to jump on board with THE PIRATES! (CLICK ON THE MEDIA BAR FOR AUDIO)

THE PIRATES! BAND OF MISFITS opens in theaters today

Truth Is Stranger Than Fiction In The Offbeat Comedy ‘Bernie’

Hollywood Outbreak — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 17:00:11 +0000

Opening in theaters today, BERNIE is inspired by a real-life Texas murder case involving a fastidious mortician and the notoriously hateful rich old woman he befriended and, eventually, stood trial for killing. Directed by RICHARD LINKLATER from a magazine article by SKIP HOLLANDSWORTH, the cast features JACK BLACK, SHIRLEY MacLAINE and MATTHEW McCONAUGHEY.

Playing a woman so disliked by her small town neighbors that her murder was more a cause for celebration than mourning was a real treat for SHIRLEY MacLAINE. At last week’s press event, she talked about her on-screen character. (CLICK ON THE MEDIA BAR FOR AUDIO)

BERNIE opens in theaters today

John Cusack Brings The ‘Godfather Of Goth’ To Life In ‘The Raven’

Hollywood Outbreak — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 16:00:55 +0000

Arriving in theaters today, THE RAVEN is the first successful effort in a long series of projects attempting to bring EDGAR ALLEN POE to the screen. An atmospheric thriller, it tells the fictional story of a killer copying the murders committed in POE’S writings. Together with a determined detective, the author is drawn into the search for the madman. Directed by JAMES McTEIGUE, the cast includes JOHN CUSACK, ALICE EVE, LUKE EVANS, BRENDAN GLEESON and KEVIN McNALLY.

At the recent press conference to promote the film, CUSACK talked about the mythological significance of the raven in POE’S life and playing the “godfather of goth.” (CLICK ON THE MEDIA BAR FOR AUDIO) LANGUAGE NSFW

THE RAVEN opens in theaters today

‘AMERICAN IDOL’ ELIMINATION: ELISE TESTONE SEES ROCK AS HER “WHEELHOUSE”

Hollywood Outbreak — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 14:13:07 +0000

Even though Steven Tyler said she “found her stride” this week, and Jennifer Lopez loved her rendition of Jimi Hendrix’s “Bold as Love,” rocker Elise Testone was eliminated this week on American Idol.

The good news is Testone found her voice through the American Idol process, and she exceeded expectations by making it to the top 6 (Hollie Cavanagh and Skylar Laine rounded out the bottom three).

“It became a little more clear that rock and roll is better for me,” says Testone, who sang Led Zeppelin’s ‘Whole Lotta Love’ as her exit song. “It’s definitely my wheelhouse. So that was a great thing for me to figure out. It was always hard for me to choose because I love so many genres, and I love so much music. So that helped a lot.”

Click on the media bar and listen to Testone talk about the lessons she’s learned from her American Idol experience:

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posted by Greg Srisavasdi

Mel Gibson’s ‘Get The Gringo’ Bows Exclusively Via VOD

Hollywood Outbreak — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 19:00:59 +0000

Originally titled HOW I SPENT MY SUMMER VACATION and now slated for release via VOD, GET THE GRINGO is a high-octane action adventure described by the studio thusly:

“During a high-speed car chase with the US Border Patrol and a bleeding body in his back seat, Driver (Mel Gibson) violently crashes his car into the border wall as he tries to outrun them. Driver survives the crash only to land inside a hard-core Mexican prison where he enters the strange and dangerous world of “El Pueblito.” He finds unlikely guidance from a 10-year-old kid who shows him the ropes.”

Directed by ADRIAN GRUNBERG from a script he co-wrote with producer and star MEL GIBSON, the cast also features DANIEL GIMENEZ, JESUS OCHOA, ROBERTO SOSA and DOLORES HEREDIA. Caught on the red carpet at the film’s recent premiere party, GIBSON gave his take on the nature of the film. (CLICK ON THE MEDIA BAR FOR AUDIO)

GET THE GRINGO bows exclusively on DirectTV 5/1

Kathy Griffin’s Hilarious New Talk Show Takes On Diverse Topics

Hollywood Outbreak — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 18:00:03 +0000

After last week’s hilarious debut of two-time Emmy-winner KATHY GRIFFIN’S new talk show, KATHY, it won’t be a surprise if Bravo gets a ratings bump as the weekly series progresses and word-of-mouth spreads. GRIFFIN brings razor-sharp wit to a variety of topics as she bounces from subject to subject with ADD dexterity. We sat down last week with the popular comedienne and she talked about choosing topics for the show.

KATHY airs tonight on Bravo

Hugh Grant Gets Animated For ‘The Pirates! Band Of Misfits’

Hollywood Outbreak — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 17:00:12 +0000

Opening in theaters tomorrow, THE PIRATES! BAND OF MISFITS is the latest claymation offering from the iconic AARDMAN ANIMATION STUDIOS and follows the exploits of an inept group of sea-going rogues vying to win the coveted Pirate-Of-The-Year Award. Short on story, long on visuals, the beautifully realized film is directed by PETER LORD and JEFF NEWITT from a screenplay by GIDEON DeFOE and features the voice talents of HUGH GRANT, SALMA HAYEK, MARTIN FREEMAN, IMELDA STAUNTON, ANTON YELCHIN and JEREMY PIVEN.

We recently sat down with the always charming HUGH GRANT to talk about the film and listen to him describe how he found the character of the Pirate Captain. (CLICK ON THE MEDIA BAR FOR AUDIO)

THE PIRATES! BAND OF MISFITS opens in theaters tomorrow

‘Community’ Star Yvette Nicole Brown Loves Her Cast Of ‘Misfit Toys’

Hollywood Outbreak — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 16:00:41 +0000

Despite rumors of a rift between CHEVY CHASE and showrunner DAN HARMON, the cast of the popular NBC sitcom COMMUNITY always seems to pull it together in time for filming. On tonight’s episode, MICHAEL K. WILLIAMS (BOARDWALK EMPIRE) returns for a story that skewers several familiar TV shows. Last week, we sat down with YVETTE NICOLE BROWN who didn’t appear to put much stock in the tabloid rumors and talked about her affection for fellow cast members.

Mariska Hargitay Confesses ‘Law & Order: SVU’ Is A Whole New Show

Hollywood Outbreak — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 19:00:21 +0000

Currently in its thirteenth season, LAW & ORDER: SVU is the hugely popular police procedural centered on an elite squad of detectives who investigate sexually based crimes as part of the Special Victims Unit of the New York City Police Department. Created by Emmy Award-winning producer DICK WOLF, the series has received numerous accolades for tackling important social issues.

Addressing television reporters last week, series star MARISKA HARGITAY talked about how the departure of cast member CHRISTOPHER MELONI (her long-time partner on the show) affected the dynamic and created a world of new opportunities. (CLICK ON THE MEDIA BAR FOR AUDIO)

LAW & ORDER: SVU airs tonight on NBC

‘G.I. Joe: Retaliation’ Star Dwayne Johnson Admits He’s One Lucky Guy

Hollywood Outbreak — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 18:00:15 +0000

Opening in theaters next month, G.I. JOE: RETALIATION is the sequel to 2009’s G.I. JOE: RISE OF THE COBRA and features some personnel additions in the form of DWAYNE JOHNSON and BRUCE WILLIS. This time around, the G.I. Joes continue to be pitted against their mortal enemy COBRA while, at the same time, contend with threats from within the government. Directed by JON M. CHU from a screenplay by RHETT REESE and PAUL WERNICK, the cast also includes CHANNING TATUM, ADRIANNE PALICKI, RAY STEVENSON, WALTON GOGGINS, JOSEPH MAZZELLO and RZA.

From big-time wrestler (known then as THE ROCK) to big-time action star, JOHNSON has enjoyed a pretty impressive career and, during our recent interview, admitted that he’s well aware there was a little bit of luck involved. (CLICK ON THE MEDIA BAR FOR AUDIO)

G.I. JOE: RETALIATION opens in theaters 6/29

Seniors Get Their Chance To Prank On ‘Betty White’s Off Their Rockers’

Hollywood Outbreak — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 17:00:02 +0000

Airing tonight on NBC, BETTY’ WHITE’S OFF THEIR ROCKERS takes a page from the PUNK’D playbook and turns it on its ear by having elderly individuals pulling pranks on members of the younger generation. It’s all good-natured fun and a testament to the enduring popularity of BETTY WHITE. Still going strong as one of the stars of the hit TV Land sitcom HOT IN CLEVELAND and recently heard as the voice of “Grandma” in the big screen adaptation of the DR. SEUSS classic THE LORAX, the nonagenarian actress is as popular today as she was when she first conquered television as the star of LIFE WITH ELIZABETH in the early 1950s, embodied Sue Ann Nivens on THE MARY TYLER MOORE SHOW in the 70s and played Rose Nylund on THE GOLDEN GIRLS in the 80s.

Sitting down with entertainment reporters recently, WHITE confessed that, of all the roles she’s played, one stands out as a favorite. (CLICK ON THE MEDIA BAR FOR AUDIO)

BETTY WHITE’S OFF THEIR ROCKERS airs tonight on NBC

HOT IN CLEVELAND airs tonight on TV Land

Charlize Theron Excited To Be A Member Of The ‘Prometheus’ Cast

Hollywood Outbreak — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 16:00:33 +0000

Opening in theaters later this season, PROMETHEUS is the highly anticipated prequel to the classic 1979 sci-fi adventure ALIEN. Actually, it’s never been made clear that the film is actually a prequel but snippets of footage seen in teasers suggest there is some sort of tie. Directed by RIDLEY SCOTT from a script by JON SPAIHTS and DAMON LINDELOF, the cast features NOOMI RAPACE, CHARLIZE THERON, MICHAEL FASSBENDER, IDRIS ELBA and GUY PEARCE.

Appearing on a panel at the recent WonderCon fan-fest, THERON addressed a full-house crowd and talked about how excited she is to be part of the film. (CLICK ON THE MEDIA BAR FOR AUDIO)

PROMETHEUS opens in theaters 6/8

A Real-Life Texas Murder Gets Played For Laughs In Richard Linklater’s ‘Bernie’

Hollywood Outbreak — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 19:00:54 +0000

Opening in theaters this week, BERNIE is an oddball take on a real-life Texas murder that involved a fastidious mortician and the notoriously hateful rich old woman he befriended and, eventually, stood trial for murdering. Directed by RICHARD LINKLATER from a magazine article by SKIP HOLLANDSWORTH, the cast features JACK BLACK, SHIRLEY MacLAINE and MATTHEW McCONAUGHEY.

Ten years in the making and shot in and around actual Texas locations, the film is elevated by an outstanding performance by JACK BLACK as well as a fascinating story of small town hypocrisy and mores. At last week’s press conference to promote the movie, director LINKLATER talked about what attracted him to this story. (CLICK ON THE MEDIA BAR FOR AUDIO)

BERNIE opens in theaters Friday

More Time=More Character For ‘Five-Year Engagement’ Producer Apatow

Hollywood Outbreak — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 18:00:22 +0000

Opening in theaters later this week, THE FIVE-YEAR ENGAGEMENT is a very funny comedy that charts the ups-and-downs of an engaged couple as they wend their way to the altar. Produced by JUDD APATOW and directed by NICHOLAS STOLLER, the cast includes JASON SEGEL, EMILY BLUNT, CHRIS PRATT, ALISON BRIE, MIMI KENNEDY, DAVID PAYMER, JACKI WEAVER and JANE CARR.

Clocking in at just over two hours, the film seems a bit long for a standard romantic comedy. But, during our recent interview with APATOW and STOLLER, the producer talked about his view of going long when editing a film. (CLICK ON THE MEDIA BAR FOR AUDIO)

THE FIVE-YEAR ENGAGEMENT opens in theaters Friday

New To Blu: HBO Tackles The Birth Of Reality TV With ‘Cinema Verite’

Hollywood Outbreak — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 17:00:24 +0000

Available today on DVD and Blu-ray, CINEMA VERITE is a feature length docudrama telling the behind-the-scenes story of the groundbreaking 12-hour PBS documentary series AN AMERICAN FAMILY. Originally aired in 1973, the series is considered television’s first “reality” series and has since been named by TV Guide one of the top 50 greatest shows of all time. Directed by the Academy Award-nominated team of SHARI SPRINGER BERMAN and ROBERT PULCINI (AMERICAN SPLENDOR), CINEMA VERITE stars JAMES GANDOLFINI, DIANE LANE, TIM ROBBINS, PATRICK FUGIT, KATHLEEN QUINLAN, LOLITA DAVIDOVICH and THOMAS DEKKER.

As Pat Loud, the matriarch who watches her family fall apart while being televised to an audience of 10 million people, LANE turns in a powerful and moving performance. During the press conference for the film, she talked about why she feels this story is important. (CLICK ON THE MEDIA BAR FOR AUDIO)

CINEMA VERITE is available on DVD and Blu-ray today

Tim Burton Loves That Johnny Depp Is A ‘Major Transformer’

Hollywood Outbreak — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 16:00:49 +0000

Arriving in theaters next month, DARK SHADOWS is director TIM BURTON’S quirky, offbeat big screen adaptation of the ’60s daytime TV soap opera that captivated a worldwide audience. Ridiculously low-budgeted, the gothic drama centered on vampire Barnabas Collins and his family as they dealt with being creatures of the night. Under BURTON’S direction, the new cast features JOHNNY DEPP, MICHELLE PFEIFFER, CHLOE GRACE MORETZ, EVA GREEN, JONNY LEE MILLER, HELENA BONHAM CARTER and JACKIE EARLE HALEY. We spoke with BURTON recently and he talked about reuniting with long-time collaborator JOHNNY DEPP. (CLICK ON THE MEDIA BAR FOR AUDIO)

DARK SHADOWS opens in theaters 5/11

Best Selling Author Nicholas Sparks Admits It Takes Compromise To Go From Page To Screen

Hollywood Outbreak — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 18:00:29 +0000

Currently riding high on the weekend box office chart, THE LUCKY ONE is a deeply romantic drama centering on a Marine vet returning to the States from his third tour of duty in the Middle East determined to find the anonymous woman pictured in a photograph he found and credits with his still being alive. Based on the novel by NICHOLAS SPARKS, the film is directed by SCOTT HICKS from an adapted screenplay by WILL FETTERS and stars ZAC EFRON, TAYLOR SCHILLING, BLYTHE DANNER, ADAM LEFEVRE, JAY R. FERGUSON and RILEY THOMAS STEWART.

Another of over a half-dozen SPARKS tales of romantic fantasy adapted for the screen, THE LUCKY ONE had to make a few compromises before making the cut. During our recent interview with the author, he admitted that’s par for the course. (CLICK ON THE MEDIA BAR FOR AUDIO)

THE LUCKY ONE is in theaters now

‘Eureka’ Stars Hit The Pavement As Series Comes To A Close

Hollywood Outbreak — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 17:00:32 +0000

Airing tonight on SYFY, the popular series EUREKA is titled THE REAL THING and follows the town’s continued search for the missing Astraeus ship. Created by ANDREW COSBY and JAIME PAGLIA, this popular, quirky series has made familiar faces of stars COLIN FERGUSON, SALLI RICHARDSON-WHITFIELD, JOE MORTON, ERICA CERRA and NEIL GRAYSTON (all of whom are actively looking for work now that the show has wrapped production).

We sat down a few days ago with FERGUSON and GRAYSTON, who joked about GREYSTON’S upcoming role in the big-screen sci-fi feature END OF THE WORLD. (CLICK ON THE MEDIA BAR FOR AUDIO)

EUREKA airs Monday nights on SyFy

‘Think Like A Man’ Source Material Written For Steve Harvey’s Daughters

Hollywood Outbreak — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 16:00:44 +0000

Currently in theaters (and at the top of the weekend box office heap), THINK LIKE A MAN tells the story of four best friends whose love lives get turned upside down when their women start taking HARVEY’S relationship advice. Directed by TIM STORY from a screenplay by KEITH MERRYMAN and DAVID A. NEWMAN, the cast includes KEVIN HART, JERRY FERRARA, TERRENCE J. (a.k.a. TERRENCE JENKINS), CHRIS BROWN, TARAJI P. HENSON, GABRIELLE UNION, MICHAEL EALY, JENIFER LEWIS, REGINA HALL and MEAGAN GOOD.

Loosely inspired by STEVE HARVEY’S best selling book ACT LIKE A LADY, THINK LIKE A MAN, the film isn’t an exact interpretation but, rather, a comedic reinvention. During a recent interview, HARVEY talked about the real reason he wrote the book. (CLICK ON THE MEDIA BAR FOR AUDIO)

THINK LIKE A MAN is in theaters now

A New HBO Sitcom Takes On The White House With ‘Veep’

Hollywood Outbreak — Sun, 22 Apr 2012 18:03:01 +0000

Premiering tonight on HBO, VEEP stars JULIA LOUIS-DREYFUS as Selina Meyer, vice president of the United States. Created by ARMANDO IANNUCCI, the series is an American companion piece to his highly successful BBC series THE THICK OF IT and its 2009 spin-off film IN THE LOOP. Ultimately a work-place comedy, the show’s fatal flaw is that it’s just not very funny. Populated with unlikable characters that are, for the most part, soulless and supremely cynical, the show manages to pull off a few laughs but it’s a slog to get to them. At the Television Critics Association press conference to promote the series, LOUIS-DREYFUS admitted she’s a long-time fan of IANNUCCI and sought him out when she heard he was working on the project. (CLICK ON THE MEDIA BAR FOR AUDIO)

VEEP airs tonight on HBO

Things Are Going To Get Hot For ‘The Real Housewives Of New Jersey

Hollywood Outbreak — Sun, 22 Apr 2012 18:00:26 +0000

Returning tonight for its fourth season on Bravo, THE REAL HOUSEWIVES OF NEW JERSEY promises to heat up the feud only hinted at in the season three reunion show. As the season opens, all seems to be well but as the series progresses fans will see what led up to the major meltdown between CAROLINE MENZO, TERESA GIUDICE and JACQUELINE LAURITA. Being followed by cameras for the past few years has led to some pretty embarrassing situations for the women but, during an interview we conducted in happier times, MANZO and LAURITA confided that they have no regrets about anything caught on tape. (CLICK ON THE MEDIA BAR FOR AUDIO)

THE REAL HOUSEWIVES OF NEW JERSEY returns to Bravo tonight

‘THINK LIKE A MAN’ TOPS ‘HUNGER’ & ‘LUCKY ONE’ WITH $33 MILLION

Hollywood Outbreak — Sun, 22 Apr 2012 16:45:01 +0000

Think Like A Man, starring Kevin Hart, Gabrielle Union, and Michael Ealy, debuted at the #1 spot at the box office, besting The Hunger Games and fellow newcomer The Lucky One, which also had a strong showing with a solid second place finish ($22.8 million). Here’s the top 10:

1. Think Like A Man - $33 million

2. The Lucky One - $22.8 million

3. The Hunger Games - $14.5 million

4. Chimpanzee - $10.2 million

5. The Three Stooges - $9.2 million

6. The Cabin in the Woods - $7.75 million

7. American Reunion - $5.2 million

8. Titanic 3D - $5 million

9. 21 Jump Street - $4.6 million

10. Mirror Mirror - $4.1 million

* Actress Gabrielle Union talks about her impressions of Steve Harvey’s book Think Like A Man:

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posted by Greg Srisavasdi

Pop Culture Gets Its ‘Finest Hour’ In Patton Oswalt Comedy Central Special

Hollywood Outbreak — Sat, 21 Apr 2012 16:00:01 +0000

Airing tonight on Comedy Central (just three days prior to its official DVD release), PATTON OSWALT: FINEST HOUR actually lives up to its title by presenting some of the funniest and most thoughtful material the titular comic/actor has come up with. A self-proclaimed nerd with an encyclopedic knowledge of pop culture, OSWALT has been in the stand-up business for twenty years and mercilessly skewers everything from being a new dad to gay stereotypes and the random superpowers of Jesus Christ, all the while making it look effortless.

Filmed live in Seattle, the performance is one of the best in recent stand-up comedy.

We sat down with OSWALT not too long ago and he talked about working the room and his striving to not be the smartest guy in the room.

PATTON OSWALT: FINEST HOUR air tonight on COMEDY CENTRAL and releases on DVD 4/24

Ziggy Marley Admits New Doc Is The ‘Definitive’ Piece On Dad

Hollywood Outbreak — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 20:36:56 +0000

Available via VOD and in select theaters today, MARLEY is director KEVIN MACDONALD’S fascinating look at the life and times of notable Rastafarian and the king of the reggae revolution, BOB MARLEY. Based primarily on anecdotal material and concert footage, the film manages to be a thoughtful and informative history of a man not a lot of people are aware of. We recently sat down with ZIGGY MARLEY (BOB’S musician son) and he admitted that, of anything that’s been done on his dad, this film is the most definitive of the lot. (CLICK ON THE MEDIA BAR FOR AUDIO)

MARLEY opens in select theaters and is available via VOD today

Reuniting With Tim Burton Was ‘Like A Dream’ For Johnny Depp

Hollywood Outbreak — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 20:14:42 +0000

Arriving in theaters next month, DARK SHADOWS is director TIM BURTON’S spoofy big screen adaptation of the ’60s daytime TV soap opera that took the country by storm. A cult favorite, the gothic drama centers on vampire Barnabas Collins and his family as they deal with various creatures of the night. Under BURTON’S direction, the new cast features JOHNNY DEPP, MICHELLE PFIEFFER, CHLOE GRACE MORETZ, EVA GREEN, JONNY LEE MILLER, HELENA BONHAM CARTER and JACKIE EARLE HALEY. We spoke with DEPP recently and he talked about reuniting with long-time collaborator TIM BURTON. (CLICK ON THE MEDIA BAR FOR AUDIO)

DARK SHADOWS opens in theaters 5/11

Yvette Nicole Brown Not Worried That ‘Community’ Hasn’t Made The Cut Yet

Hollywood Outbreak — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 19:57:10 +0000

One of NBC’s funniest (if not most popular) sitcoms, COMMUNITY has a loyal and vocal fanbase. When the network pulled the series for a short term, it was the fans who made their displeasure known via emails and tweets. A delightfully quirky and pop-centric comedy, the show stars an ensemble cast that includes JOEL McHALE, CHEVY CHASE, GILLIAN JACOBS, DANNY PUDI, YVETTE NICOLE BROWN, ALISON BRIE, DONALD GLOVER, KEN JEONG and JIM RASH.

We sat down with YVETTE NICOLE BROWN a couple of days ago and she talked about the fans as well as her thoughts about the show being “on the bubble” with no word yet on a pick-up for next season.

COMMUNITY airs Thursdays on NBC

Dwayne Johnson Promises ‘G.I. Joe’ Reboot Will Be Something Special

Hollywood Outbreak — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 19:53:06 +0000

Opening in theaters next month, G.I. JOE: RETALIATION is the sequel to 2009’s G.I. JOE: RISE OF THE COBRA and features some personnel additions in the form of DWAYNE JOHNSON and BRUCE WILLIS. Directed by JON M. CHU from a screenplay by RHETT REESE and PAUL WERNICK, the cast also includes CHANNING TATUM, ADRIANNE PALICKI, RAY STEVENSON, WALTON GOGGINS, JOSEPH MAZZELLO and RZA.

Sources tell us the plot has much to do with the assassination of the original Joes and, in a recent interview, JOHNSON assured us that the film will deliver “something special.” (CLICK ON THE MEDIA BAR FOR AUDIO)

G.I. JOE: RETALIATION opens in theaters 6/29

‘DARLING COMPANION’ A DIGITAL EXPERIENCE FOR DIRECTOR LAWRENCE KASDAN

Hollywood Outbreak — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 19:21:44 +0000

Although Lawrence Kasdan has directed two first rate Westerns (Silverado, Wyatt Earp), a highly revered film noir (Body Heat), and several evocative dramas (The Accidental Tourist and the thematically ambitious Grand Canyon), getting a movie made in Hollywood, even for him, has been an uphill climb.

Mr. Kasdan’s last feature was 2003’s Dreamcatcher, a project based on the Stephen King novel. A studio green light for Darling Companion, his eleventh film, was simply not in the cards, even though it’s headlined by Diane Keaton and frequent Kasdan collaborator Kevin Kline.

“I made ten movies in the studio system and they were not all slam dunks,” says Kasdan. “But the studios were much more open to what they were willing to do. And obviously the situation has changed completely. They don’t want to make movies like this. They’re not interested in people so much. Their comedies are very extreme and mostly they’re not even comedies. They’re giant, spectacular, effects movies. And that’s a reasonable business for a multinational corporation. Luckily that was not the situation when I started making movies. Studios were still making movies that were dramas and human sized stories. That’s changed.”

Co-written by Kasdan’s wife Meg Kasdan (she also co-wrote Grand Canyon), Darling Companion centers on Joseph and Beth (Kevin Kline, Diane Keaton), a married couple barely speak to one another. When Joseph loses their dog, they spend several days in the Rockies, along with Joseph’s sister Penny (Dianne Wiest), their nephew (writer/director Mark Duplass), and Penny’s boyfriend (Richard Jenkins) searching for their beloved mutt.

Sans a sizable budget, the actors worked on the project for scale and Kasdan, with the aid of cinematographer Michael McDonough (he DP’d Winter’s Bone and Albert Nobbs), shot Darling Companion on digital, using the Red One camera.

During this week’s Darling Companion press junket, Kasdan talked about the advantages of shooting on digital:

Darling Companion, released by Sony Pictures Classics, is now playing in New York and Los Angeles.

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posted by Greg Srisavasdi (Twitter: @gsrisavasdi )

R.I.P. ‘Dark Shadows’ Star Jonathan Frid

Hollywood Outbreak — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 22:55:20 +0000

It’s been reported that actor JONATHAN FRID has died at the age of 87. Apparently, the Canadian actor passed away last Friday in his hometown of Hamilton, Ontario. Probably best known for his role of vampire Barnabas Collins on the hugely popular 60’s daytime soap DARK SHADOWS, FRID will soon be seen reprising the role in TIM BURTON’S highly anticipated big-screen reboot. During the television heyday of DARK SHADOWS, FRID was one of the most recognizable stars on the air. Here’s a great interview clip from THE MERV GRIFFIN SHOW.

DARK SHADOWS opens in theaters 5/11

Kathy Griffin Aims To Shake Up Talk Shows With ‘Kathy’

Hollywood Outbreak — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 20:53:21 +0000

Making its debut tonight on Bravo, KATHY is a weekly one-hour pop-culture talk show hosted by two-time Emmy Award-winner KATHY GRIFFIN. TV’s original gossip girl promises to continue her deflation of the egos of everyone who’s anyone and plans to enforce a strict “no celebrities” policy. We caught up with her yesterday at the Langham Hotel in Pasadena and she laid out her plan.

KATHY airs tonight on Bravo

Sharon Osbourne And Howie Mandel Share Memories Of Dick Clark

Hollywood Outbreak — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 20:07:51 +0000

Appearing yesterday in Pasadena to talk to entertainment reporters about the upcoming season of their hit NBC talent competition show, AMERICA’S GOT TALENT, judges SHARON OSBOURNE and HOWIE MANDEL shared thoughts about the passing of legendary impresario DICK CLARK.

AMERICA’S GOT TALENT returns to NBC 5/14

Nicole Richie Celebrates Dad’s New Album And Country-Western Special

Hollywood Outbreak — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 19:38:53 +0000

We sat down yesterday with FASHION STAR mentors JOHN VARVATOS and NICOLE RICHIE to talk about the popularity of the show and how it’s influencing the way women are shopping for apparel via the internet. Going off topic, the subject of RICHIE’S dad, recording superstar LIONEL RICHIE, came up and she wasted no time in giving major props to pops for his new #1 album TUSGEKEE and his recent CBS television special.

TUSKEGEE is available now

‘The Lucky One’ Author Nicholas Sparks Is A Fabulous Writer: Just Ask Him

Hollywood Outbreak — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 19:00:55 +0000

As an internationally known, best-selling author whose novels MESSAGE IN A BOTTLE, A WALK TO REMEMBER, THE NOTEBOOK, NIGHTS IN RODANTHE, DEAR JOHN, THE LAST SONG and, now, THE LUCKY ONE have all been adapted for the big-screen, NICHOLAS SPARKS has brought tears to the eyes of millions of moviegoers and readers.

Now, to the more pedestrian reader, SPARKS might be mistaken for a writer of “romantic fiction” or “romantic fantasy” but, during our recent interview, the author was quick to point out that his novels are most definitely neither and should be considered “literature” because they contain many of the same elements of SHAKESPEARE and HEMINGWAY. (CLICK ON THE MEDIA BAR FOR AUDIO)

THE LUCKY ONE opens in theaters Friday

‘Avengers’ Director Joss Whedon Knows The Difference Between Good And Bad Comic Book Movies

Hollywood Outbreak — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 18:00:09 +0000

Arriving in theaters next month, the long-awaited and much-anticipated super-hero epic THE AVENGERS gathers together some of Marvel Universe’s most revered characters for what fans hope will be a comic-book movie for the ages. Written and directed by fanboy fave JOSS WHEDON, the cast includes CHRIS HEMSWORTH, ROBERT DOWNEY JR., SCARLETT JOHANSSON, JEREMY RENNER, CHRIS EVANS, MARK RUFFALO, SAMUEL L. JACKSON, GWYNETH PALTROW and CLARK GREGG.

At the recent press conference to promote the upcoming film, WHEDON fielded questions about taking on such iconic material and what makes a good comic-book movie and what makes a bad comic-book movie. (CLICK ON THE MEDIA BAR FOR AUDIO)

THE AVENGERS opens in theaters 5/4

New To Blu: ‘Shame’ Shines Some Light On A Dark Obsession

Hollywood Outbreak — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 17:00:58 +0000

Available this week on DVD and Blu-ray, SHAME is a controversial NC-17 drama focusing on the tortured and truly demeaning life of a sexually obsessed man and his struggle to reconcile his compulsion with living a normal life. Directed by STEVEN McQUEEN, the cast includes MICHAEL FASSBENDER, CAREY MULLIGAN, JAMES BADGE DALE and ALEX MANETTE. Turning in a brave and committed performance, FASSBENDER proves he can handle even the toughest material. During our recent interview, he confessed that he’s “up for anything” if he likes the script and that includes the upcoming reboot of the sci-fi cult favorite ROBOCOP. (CLICK ON THE MEDIA BAR FOR AUDIO)

SHAME is available now on DVD and Blu-ray

‘Think Like A Man’ Star Terrence J. Believes Film Has Color-Blind Universality

Hollywood Outbreak — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 16:00:02 +0000

Opening in theaters this week, THINK LIKE A MAN is loosely inspired by comedian STEVE HARVEY’S best selling book of the same name and tells the story of four best friends whose love lives get turned upside down when their women start taking HARVEY’S relationship advice. Directed by TIM STORY from a screenplay by KEITH MERRYMAN and DAVID A. NEWMAN, the cast includes KEVIN HART, JERRY FERRARA, TERRENCE J. (a.k.a. TERRENCE JENKINS), CHRIS BROWN, TARAJI P. HENSON, GABRIELLE UNION, MICHAEL EALY, JENIFER LEWIS, REGINA HALL and MEAGAN GOOD.

Despite the on-screen presence of an (almost) all African-American cast, during our recent interview, TERRENCE J. opined that the universal themes of the script would work with any cast at all. (CLICK ON THE MEDIA BAR FOR AUDIO)

THINK LIKE A MAN opens in theaters Friday

A Wealth Of Interesting Information Awaits Viewers Of ‘Marley’

Hollywood Outbreak — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 19:00:24 +0000

Soon to be available via VOD and slated for a limited theatrical release this week, MARLEY is a thoughtful and fascinating look at the life and times of the king of the reggae revolution, BOB MARLEY. While almost everyone knows of him, not a lot of people know about him and filmmaker KEVEN MACDONALD succeeds at exposing the man behind the musical greatness.

One of the reasons there hasn’t been a definitive biographical film about MARLEY is that he was famously close-mouthed about himself and seldom granted interviews to reporters. MACDONALD tells us that even if he’d been able to interview MARLEY for the film, he doubts he would have learned anything that could be used. Instead, he relied on the anecdotal information gleaned from family and friends to put together this genuinely informative and entertaining tribute. (CLICK ON THE MEDIA BAR FOR AUDIO)

MARLEY will be available via VOD and in limited theatrical release Friday

Surprises Abound On Tonight’s ‘Raising Hope’ Season Finale

Hollywood Outbreak — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 18:00:35 +0000

Airing tonight on Fox-TV, the season two finale of the popular sitcom RAISING HOPE (appropriately titled “I Want My Baby Back, Baby Back, Baby Back) has the Chance family heading to custody court after it’s revealed that serial-killer Lucy (BIJOU PHILLIPS) wasn’t executed as originally thought. Also, watch for the episode to give a nod to its I’M WITH EARL roots with cameo appearances by JASON LEE and JAIME PRESSLY. Created by GREGORY THOMAS GARCIA , the ensemble cast includes LUCAS NEFF, MARTHA PLIMPTON, GARRET DILLAHUNT and CLORIS LEACHMAN.

During our interview at the Television Critics Association press event, PLIMPTON and DILLAHUNT talked about working with the irrepressible CLORIS LEACHMAN and how the cast and crew have come together over the course of the show.

The season finale of RAISING HOPE airs tonight on Fox-TV

New To Blue: Breathtaking Stunts Dominate ‘Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol’

Hollywood Outbreak — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 17:00:00 +0000

Available today on DVD and Blu-ray, MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE - GHOST PROTOCOL is the fourth installment in the popular action franchise spun-off from the iconic ’70s TV series. This time around, Ethan Hunt and his M:I team are falsely accused of a terrorist bombing and forced to clear their names with benefit of government support. Directed by BRAD BIRD, the cast includes TOM CRUISE, PAULA PATTON, JEREMY RENNER, SIMON PEGG, MICHAEL NYQVIST and JOSH HOLLOWAY. This is two-time Academy Award-nominee RENNER’S first time in a MISSION IMPOSSIBLE film and it proved to be a real labor of love. During our interview at the time of the film’s theatrical release, he confessed to being a long-time fan of the series. (CLICK ON THE MEDIA BAR FOR AUDIO)

MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE-GHOST PROTOCOL is available today on DVD and Blu-ray

Zac Efron Did Due Diligence To Research ‘The Lucky One’

Hollywood Outbreak — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 16:00:29 +0000

In theaters this week, THE LUCKY ONE is a deeply romantic drama centering on a marine vet returning to the States from his third tour of duty in the Middle East determined to find the anonymous woman pictured in a photograph he found and credits with his still being alive. Based on the novel by NICHOLAS SPARKS, the film is directed by SCOTT HICKS from an adapted screenplay by WILL FETTERS and stars ZAC EFRON, TAYLOR SCHILLING, BLYTHE DANNER, ADAM LEFEVRE, JAY R. FERGUSON and RILEY THOMAS STEWART.

Probably best known for his song-and-dance work in the HAIRSPRAY and the HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL franchise, EFRON took his role as a war weary Marine combat vet very seriously. During our recent interview, he talked about spending time with real soldiers in the interest of authenticity. (CLICK ON THE MEDIA BAR FOR AUDIO)

THE LUCKY ONE opens in theaters Friday

NICOLAS CAGE THRILLER ‘SEEKING JUSTICE’ HITS BLU-RAY JUNE 19TH

Hollywood Outbreak — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 23:17:02 +0000

Since 2010, seven Nicolas Cage films been released, and out of that batch, Kick-Ass is the crown jewel of the bunch, with Trespass serving as a cinematic lowpoint for Cage and Nicole Kidman. Seeking Justice, which stars Cage as Will Gerard, a mild mannered teacher and loving husband whose wife (Mad Men’s January Jones) is brutally attacked, hits Blu-ray & DVD June 19th (the feature had a brief theatrical release). Guy Pearce (Lockout) is Simon, the head of a vigilante organization who offers to have the criminal killed if Will returns the favor (think Strangers on a Train meets Death Wish).

Although it’s neither Cage or director Roger Donaldson’s (The Bank Job, Species) finest moment, they do make Seeking Justice a highly watchable potboiler . Special features on the DVD and Blu-ray versions include a behind the scenes featurette, which includes interviews with Donaldson and Cage, along with select members of the cast and crew. Harold Perrineau, best known for his work on the TV series Lost and Oz, also stars as Cage’s close friend and co-worker.

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posted by Greg Srisavasdi (Twitter: @gsrisavasdi )