• April 1st Memories: My Greatest Prank Ever Doesn’t Look so Silly Now!
• Review: Netflix’s The Ranch
• Streaming: Amazon’s Bosch renewed for season 3
• Funny Business: IT’S ALWAYS SUNNY IN PHILADELPHIA Renewed for Two More Seasons by FXX
• Nostalgia Alert: Girl Meets World Enlists Family Matters Fave for Arresting Season 3 Guest Spot
• Career Trajectory Alert! Freddie Prinze Jr. to Host USA Network Competition First Impressions
• TVD’s Ian Somerhalder Warns: ‘We’re Losing Some Beloved Characters’
• Mark Your Calendars: The Night Shift Season 3, Spartan Race Series Get NBC Premiere Dates
• Cable Ace: HBO Lands Gillian Flynn’s ‘Sharp Objects’ Starring Amy Adams
• Funny: Google “Hires” ‘Silicon Valley’ Character for April Fools’ Day
• Ouch! ‘American Idol’ Cancels Summer Tour
• UpFront: Amy Schumer predicts her fame will be over in six months at Comedy Central upfront
• Netflix’s April Fools’ Prank Is a Faux John Stamos Documentary, but We Actually Want to See It
• News You Can Use: Here’s How to Watch ‘Outlander’ Season 1 for Free Before Season 2 Premiere
• Prediction: TV’s Future May Be A Mix Of “Saved By The Bell” Reruns And YouTube Stars
• Cool Beans: How ‘Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.’ is laying the foundation for ‘Captain America: Civil War’
Archives for April 2016
IT’S ALWAYS SUNNY IN PHILADELPHIA Renewed for Two More Seasons by FXX
Coming on the heels of the recent 11th season finale, FXX has renewed the long-running comedy series IT’S ALWAYS SUNNY IN PHILADELPHIA for two additional seasons (seasons 13 and 14). The show’s 12th season (which was already ordered) will premiere in early 2017.
“If anyone doubts the power of a camcorder and a dream, just look at IT’S ALWAYS SUNNY IN PHILADELPHIA, which was a DIY backyard pilot when Rob, Charlie and Glenn brought it to FX and will go down in TV history as one of the most loved and enduring comedies,” Nick Grad, co-president of FX Networks and FX Productions, said in a statement. “Few shows make it this far or have such devoted fans, and we owe it all to the creative vision and great humor of the creators and cast who keep SUNNY fresh and inventive every season.”
THE ORIGINALS Sneak Peek: Surrounded by Foes
The Mikaelsons in New Orleans are surrounded by their enemies when THE ORIGINALS returns tonight.
In “Alone With Everybody”, rumors about the remaining white oak bullet begin to spread and Klaus’ enemies start converging on New Orleans to take him down. Elijah is worried about the safety of his family, so he rounds up his siblings (Freya, Kol and Finn) and Davina and holes them up inside the compound, while the Strix stand guard to protect them. Meanwhile, Marcel, Vincent and Josh are chasing down a lead about a mystery vamp named Sofya, who may have the answers they’re looking for.
Inside the compound, things are starting to heat up. Finn and Kol are coming face-to-face again and Kol is furious about Finn, who was responsible for his death.
Elsewhere, Klaus and Hayley are adjusting to life on the run (complete with trucker hats for Klaus, who is clearly not happy about Hayley’s fashion suggestions for him) and seek shelter with her former pack.
A new episode of THE ORIGINALS airs tonight (April 1) at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT on The CW.
Exclusive Interview Series: Andrea Romano On GOODFEATHERS and ANIMANIACS
Our multipart exclusive interview with 8-time Emmy-Winner/40-plus-Emmy nominee, Andrea Romano continues! If you missed any of the previous segments with this fascinating woman, click here or on the links at the bottom of this column.
Romano was Casting Director and Voice Director to several animated series including STEVEN SPIELBERG PRESENTS PINKY AND THE BRAIN, its parent show, STEVEN SPIELBERG PRESENTS ANIMANIACS and STEVEN SPEILBERG PRESENTS TINY TOON ADVENTURES. This column focuses on the lengths to which Romano will go to get the perfect voice and the perfect performance for a particular part.
THE TV ADDICT: One of my favorite ANIMANIACS segments ever was GOODFEATHERS, the parody of Martin Scorsese’s feature film, GOODFELLAS. Can you tell us a bit about those wacky mobbed-up pigeons?
ANDREA ROMANO: We were so very fortunate that the crew was able to turn those witty ideas into funny characters and situations. A prime example of that ability was the recurring segment called GOODFEATHERS.
As you said, GOODFEATHERS was a parody of the Martin Scorsese feature film, GOODFELLAS. I found some wonderful voice actors who were able to sound like the main characters in that movie.
Pesto, modeled after Joe Pesci’s character in the movie was voiced brilliantly by Chick Vennera (above).
Maurice LaMarche did the voice of Squit, which was based on Ray Liotta’s character in the movie (above).
We were fortunate to get John Mariano (above) to do “Bobby” since he is one of the best Robert DeNiro impressionists ever. He was stunning at it and still does one of the best DeNiro impressions anywhere.
We put those three guys in a room and they became a family, too. Those sessions were such classics. I spent my four hours in the morning sessions just laughing.
How can you not love starting the day off with a smile? It was the same for SPONGEBOB SQUAREPANTS. I always liked to schedule them in the morning for no other reason than they made me laugh and for my personal enjoyment. They would do each take differently and they would do it funnier. It was remarkable!
TVA: You also had a familiar voice that people may have recognized but did not make the connection. You know who I mean?
AR: Of course I do! The fabulous Tom Bodett! There was a sequence on ANIMANIACS called “Good Idea/Bad Idea.” [Producer] Tom Ruegger came to me and asked me if Tom Bodett would do it.
People may not know who Tom Bodett is by name, but he is as an American humorist who is best known for the voice of the “Motel 6” commercials. The commercials’ tagline was “We’ll leave the light on for you.”
Tom Bodett (above) has that natural homespun, comfortable voice, which actually sounded more mature in years than the actor really was. He was living in Homer, Alaska, at the time, and you can’t get much more remote than that.
But, we figured out a way to record him because he had done a lot of other gigs from there. Every once in awhile, he would make it down to Los Angeles, and it was such a joy to record with him in the room because he is such a funny man!
TVA: I would imagine that having him in the room would be much easier than directing him from Homer, Alaska. That being said, I have seen you get great performances out of actors who are thousands of miles away.
AR: It is certainly more convenient to direct an actor in the space, but not always possible. Occasionally, there can be a “disconnect” when trying to direct an actor remotely.
Technology makes it “sound” like they are in front of you, but I am such a physical voice director that I often act a part out for the actor so they can watch me perform the character for them.
That way, I can give them the physical inspiration, the physical impetus, for their lines, and they can adjust their voice performance.
Without that close proximity, I still can get a good performance from them, but it is one-step removed from doing it “in person.” When they’re in the studio, I can help them “see” what the character is doing…for instance, to pick up something with rubber gloves on in a funny way.
We can still do it, but I like for them to be able to see it, and to “feel” what they are performing, as well.
Stay tooned for more with Andrea Romano. If you missed any part of this interview series with the Emmy-winner, click here!
SHARKNADO 4 Coming to Syfy in July
Syfy has proven that you can’t keep a good shark down. The fourth installment of it’s wildly (though inexplicably) popular SHARKNADO franchise — SHARKNADO: THE 4TH AWAKENS — will be airing on Syfy on Sunday, July 31 at 8:00 p.m. ET/PT.
The fourth installment of the SHARKNADO franchise will take place five years after the East Coast was ravaged in last summer’s SHARKNADO 3: OH HELL NO!. Fin (Ian Ziering), his family and the cosmos have been blissfully sharknado-free in the intervening years, but now sharks – and ‘nados! – are being whipped up in places (and ways) least expected.
Tara Reid is also set to return as April Wexler to reveal the outcome of the fan-voted #AprilLives or #AprilDies social campaign. David Hasselhoff (as Gil Shepard) and Ryan Newman (as Claudia Shepard) will also reprise their SHARKNADO 3 roles. New additions to the SHARKNADO: THE 4TH AWAKENS cast include Gary Busey, Tommy Davidson, Imani Hakim, Cody Linley, Masiela Lusha and Cheryl Tiegs (with more to be announced).
RUSH HOUR: A First Take on the Remake
What did you think of CBS’s new drama, RUSH HOUR? I had been anticipating it for some months, ever since I heard it was in the making. But I was also dreading it, because I knew it would have a hard time holding up to the original movies (1998, 2001, 2007) on which it was based. Here’s my first take on the remake.
Let me start out by confessing that I am a huge Jackie Chan fan. No one does martial arts stunts like The Chan. No one does campy humor like The Chan. No one has the agility and smarts and the acrobatic wherewithal of The Chan. So keeping up with him on a television remake sets up some pretty high standards.
And then there’s the comedic chops of Chris Tucker. Speaking of agility! His lightning-fast mind and chutzpah can’t be replicated. Once again, keeping up with him on a television remake sets up some very high standards.
So when I watched last night’s premiere episode of RUSH HOUR, I knew I was going to have trouble watching it.
It didn’t help that the first episode paralleled the first movie (1998), with a bleach-blonde baddie from Hong Kong transporting his gangster business to Los Angeles, fueled by a Western-insider gone rogue who turns against main character Lee at the crucial climax in the drama. And it didn’t help that it also brought in many of the elements of co-main character Carter’s local cousins and his gangster homeys. That made contrasting new actors Jon Foo and Justin Hires with originals Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker even harder.
So let’s be clear. In my mind, it didn’t work. Foo is no Chan. He isn’t as agile as Chan, isn’t as creative or skilled as Chan, doesn’t have the acting talents of Chan. And while Hires is a better match with Tucker, he too is no Tucker. He doesn’t have the chutzpah, the timing, the B.S. factor of a Tucker.
Of course, it’s true that RUSH HOUR the show doesn’t have the budget of a movie production. It’s a single-camera action production on a typical series time restraint, and it likely doesn’t have a field of stunt professionals supporting Foo. Jackie Chan meticulously planned, directed, and executed all of his stunts, used multiple cameras, had the luxury of time and a movie budget, and he had years of experience and the early years of less-than-stellar results to build up to the RUSH HOUR movie successes. So maybe we should cut Foo some slack.
That all said, I’m going to give RUSH HOUR a couple of more views before I decide whether it’s a worthy take-off series. Likely Foo won’t improve all that much. But at least from here on the story lines will diverge and the actors will have the opportunity to show their talents and their skills more. And removed from comparisons with the original movies, maybe we can start appreciating Foo as Lee and Hires as Carter unique to their characters instead of as sloppy remakes. I’m willing to give RUSH HOUR another chance if you are.
RUSH HOUR airs on Thursdays at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT on CBS.
OUTLANDER: Win Two Tickets to a Season 2 Premiere Screening in Toronto
If you’re a fan of OUTLANDER and you live in the Greater Toronto Area, you’re in luck! Showcase is offering a lucky TV Addict reader the chance to win two tickets to a season 2 premiere screening with fans.
Prize: 2 tickets to the screening (the winner and their guest will be responsible for their own transportation)
When & Where: Screening will take place on Saturday, April 9 at 9:00 p.m. in downtown Toronto
Contest Ends: Wednesday, April 6 at 5:00 p.m. ET
To enter the contest: email your name to info@thetvaddict.com with the subject line Outlander Screening. We will notify the winner via email and then pass their name and email on to Showcase who will contact the winner with further details.
OUTLANDER returns for its second season on Sunday, April 10 at 10:00 p.m. on Showcase in Canada (and on April 9 on Starz in the U.S.). In season 2, “Claire and Jamie arrive in France, hell-bent on infiltrating the Jacobite rebellion and stopping the battle of Culloden. Jamie and Claire are thrown into the lavish world of French society, where intrigue and parties are abundant, but political gain proves far less fruitful. Altering the course of history presents challenges that begin to weigh on the very fabric of their relationship. However, armed with the knowledge of what lies ahead, Claire and Jamie must race to prevent a doomed Highland uprising, and the extinction of Scottish life as they know it.”
MYTHBUSTERS Revival Already?
Just when I thought I had reached closure on the MYTHBUSTERS final season comes news that the Science Channel is planning to revive the series. Already? The Science Channel currently airs reruns of the popular but now defunct science-based series starring Adam Savage and Jamie Hyneman.
Apparently fans like me, and presumably you, have been so bummed at losing new episodes that the Science Channel has launched a crusade to bring it back, albeit with new hosts. This according to an article in the authoritative entertainment trade publication The Hollywood Reporter.
The Science Channel’s MYTHBUSTERS page now even sports a casting call page. Here’s the deal. They want to do a reality-TV style competition with 15 wannabe myth busters vying for the enviable job of building cool stuff and testing odd ideas. They will try to solve challenges, including classic MYTHBUSTERS myths and some new ones. And they will be judged during the competition by a panel who have been involved in MYTHBUSTERS over the years. I don’t know just what that means, but it would be awesome if it included Kari Byron, Tory Belleci, or Grant Imahara. The winner or winners would then host a new MYTHBUSTERS series.
Here’s the thing: Can anyone ever replace Adam Savage and Jamie Hyneman as the MYTHBUSTERS? Science Channel says it’s a “franchise” they “didn’t want to let go.” Then why didn’t they just import the original hosts? I’ve also read that they wanted to bring on the next generation of science geeks to host the show. Who would better represent that group than Kari, Tory, and Grant, who already have the experience and expertise to carry off the MYTHBUSTERS franchise and who fans have loved watching for more than a decade? In fact, many show fans abandoned the show when the fab three left the series last year.
Sure, I get it. Freshen up the series with new stars and let it flourish on a new channel. Maybe encourage a new generation of science geeks by seeing hosts closer to their own age doing cool, fun stuff solving mysteries and engaging their curiosity. Maybe they’re right after all. And if that’s the case, I hope we see a real change that truly encourages a new generation, including girls and minorities, who do real science.
And if they want to attract this viewer, they won’t mess with the format too much. I’ve seen too many MYTHBUSTERS-wannabe shows fall flat on their faces because they just didn’t have the Savage-Hyneman magic.
What I am personally not excited about is a typical reality-TV competition where a group of competitors are given a few hours to do a build, we see them slave away, work up a sweat, express drama over doubts and slip ups, then appear before judges who disparage their work, walk off to “discuss” the results, and then send someone home. Enough already. What I hope for is something different, something inspiring, something that shows off competitors’ skills and aspirations and ingenuity — not their failures and disappointments. Yes, failures have always been part of the process, but it’s never been part of MYTHBUSTERS defeat. Failure has been part of learning and coming up with an answer, even if it was busted or plausible, or better yet, confirmed.
Besides, Adam and Jamie tried hosting a reality TV competition series (UNCHAINED REACTION – 2012) based on doing builds, and it barely lasted a season.
What Adam and Jamie had, and then grew with Kari, Tory, and Grant, was a camaraderie and a team spirit. Without it, this new show will become just another reality-TV build show. Let’s hope this attempt to revive MYTHBUSTERS remains in the spirit of that chemistry. And let’s hope that MYTHBUSTERS fans will find a place in their hearts for a series revival of epically short notice.
On TV Tonight: Friday April 1, 2016
NET | 8PM | 8:30PM | 9PM | 9:30PM | 10PM | 10:30PM |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
ABC | Last Man Standing (R) | Dr. Ken (R) | Shark Tank | 20/20 | ||
CBS | The Amazing Race 28 | Hawaii Five-0 | Blue Bloods | |||
CW | The Vampire Diaries | The Originals | ||||
FOX | Sleepy Hollow | Second Chance | ||||
NBC | Caught on Camera with Nick Cannon | Grimm | Dateline NBC | |||
Misc | Dead 7 (Syfy) | The Ranch (Netflix) | Motive (USA) Wynonna Earp (Syfy) Banshee (Cinemax) |
Orange denotes what the TV Addict is watching and/or recording tonight!