“I wasn’t prepared for how much it really meant to me,” admits Maria Friedman on her first ever Tony Award nomination for directing the hit revival of “Merrily We Roll Along.” This recognition serves as a capstone on a decades-long relationship with the “genius musical.” Watch the exclusive video interview above.
Friedman, who also works as an actor, starred in a UK production of “Merrily” in 1992 under the guidance of creators Stephen Sondheim and George Furth. She would return to this show when she first tried her hand at directing. During a break between acting gigs, she recalls her husband saying that she would “go nutty” without a project to dig into. So, she accepted an offer to direct and took to it immediately. “It was like when something really fits you properly,” reveals Friedman, “it didn’t feel complicated.”
See ‘Merrily We Roll Along’ predicted to match Tony...
Friedman, who also works as an actor, starred in a UK production of “Merrily” in 1992 under the guidance of creators Stephen Sondheim and George Furth. She would return to this show when she first tried her hand at directing. During a break between acting gigs, she recalls her husband saying that she would “go nutty” without a project to dig into. So, she accepted an offer to direct and took to it immediately. “It was like when something really fits you properly,” reveals Friedman, “it didn’t feel complicated.”
See ‘Merrily We Roll Along’ predicted to match Tony...
- 5/28/2024
- by Sam Eckmann
- Gold Derby
Peter Friedman and Sydney Lemmon will reprise their roles from Max Wolf Friedlich’s hit Off Broadway play Job when the play arrives on Broadway this summer.
Directed by Michael Herwitz, Job, described as a psychological thriller, will begin performances on Monday, July 15, at the Hayes Theater, with an official opening on Tuesday, July 30. The limited engagement through Sunday, September 29
Producers Hannah Getts, Alex Levy, Craig Balsam, and P3 Productions announced the Broadway run today. The engagement will follow two sold-out runs Off Broadway at the Soho Playhouse and the Connelly Theatre.
The synopsis: “Jane (Lemmon), an employee at a big tech company (you know the one), has been placed on leave after becoming the subject of a viral video. She arrives in the office of a crisis therapist – Loyd (Friedman) – determined to be reinstated to the job that gives her life meaning. Job zooms in on two careerists of different generations,...
Directed by Michael Herwitz, Job, described as a psychological thriller, will begin performances on Monday, July 15, at the Hayes Theater, with an official opening on Tuesday, July 30. The limited engagement through Sunday, September 29
Producers Hannah Getts, Alex Levy, Craig Balsam, and P3 Productions announced the Broadway run today. The engagement will follow two sold-out runs Off Broadway at the Soho Playhouse and the Connelly Theatre.
The synopsis: “Jane (Lemmon), an employee at a big tech company (you know the one), has been placed on leave after becoming the subject of a viral video. She arrives in the office of a crisis therapist – Loyd (Friedman) – determined to be reinstated to the job that gives her life meaning. Job zooms in on two careerists of different generations,...
- 5/28/2024
- by Greg Evans
- Deadline Film + TV
“The end goal is always to get at the emotion,” declares “Expats” editor Matt Friedman. For our recent webchat he adds, “That’s really what I love about working with Lulu. Everything is so thought through and so smartly put together on just so many different levels. It’s like peeling an onion. It’s like there’s stuff under stuff, under stuff, under stuff, under stuff,” he says. “Are there other editorial things that we can do? Maybe sit in the shot a little bit longer in order to give the audience time to find the character themselves, whereas if you’re cutting in close, you don’t need as much time to find the character. We think about things like that, but the end goal is the emotion. Whenever I’m cutting anything, what I’m thinking about is, is this getting me to where I want the audience to be,...
- 5/25/2024
- by Rob Licuria
- Gold Derby
Leaving fans stunned and emotional through the seven-season journey, Freddie Highmore’s The Good Doctor came to an end on May 21, tying up loose ends and offering a satisfying ending to the surgeons at San Jose St. Adapted from the 2013 K-drama, as David Shore and Liz Friedman’s show concluded, the showrunners sat to dissect the finale.
Freddie Highmore in The Good Doctor | Sony Pictures Television and ABC Studios
Addressing all the shocking events that happened in the series finale, The Good Doctor showrunners alongside Freddie Highmore broke the silence on the ending. Particularly dissecting the fate of the beloved characters, Dr. Aaron Glassman, David Shore, and Liz Friedman explained why the events happened.
The Good Doctor Showrunners Break Silence on a Beloved Character’s Fate
Adapted from the 2013 K-drama by the same name, ABC’s hit series The Good Doctor eventually ended its seven-season run on May 21, with Part 2 of its two-hour finale.
Freddie Highmore in The Good Doctor | Sony Pictures Television and ABC Studios
Addressing all the shocking events that happened in the series finale, The Good Doctor showrunners alongside Freddie Highmore broke the silence on the ending. Particularly dissecting the fate of the beloved characters, Dr. Aaron Glassman, David Shore, and Liz Friedman explained why the events happened.
The Good Doctor Showrunners Break Silence on a Beloved Character’s Fate
Adapted from the 2013 K-drama by the same name, ABC’s hit series The Good Doctor eventually ended its seven-season run on May 21, with Part 2 of its two-hour finale.
- 5/22/2024
- by Krittika Mukherjee
- FandomWire
There is no doubt how much the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes affected the industry, as to this day some shows are facing changes in budgeting, scheduling and casting due to the events that took place in 2023. Fortunately, both writers and actors were granted fair working conditions.
The shows and movies released in the second half of 2023 and throughout 2024 will never be the same in terms of length and quality. This is especially true for those series that will have to say goodbye to their audiences.
The Good Doctor Season 7 Finale
Whether or not the decision to cancel The Good Doctor after season 7 was in any way related to the strikes is not publicly known, and probably never will be. However, the shortened final season is a direct result of the network's need to fit filming into a tight schedule and an even tighter budget.
Many networks lost a significant amount...
The shows and movies released in the second half of 2023 and throughout 2024 will never be the same in terms of length and quality. This is especially true for those series that will have to say goodbye to their audiences.
The Good Doctor Season 7 Finale
Whether or not the decision to cancel The Good Doctor after season 7 was in any way related to the strikes is not publicly known, and probably never will be. However, the shortened final season is a direct result of the network's need to fit filming into a tight schedule and an even tighter budget.
Many networks lost a significant amount...
- 5/22/2024
- by virginia-singh@startefacts.com (Virginia Singh)
- STartefacts.com
Spoiler Alert: The story includes details about The Good Doctor Episode 710, “Goodbye”
ABC’s The Good Doctor ended its seven-season run tonight with Part 2 of its two-hour finale which, like many episodes of the medical drama, mixed tragedy and triumph to close out Shaun Murphy’s journey on a hopeful note.
The closer dealt with the aftermath of the two shocking Part 1 cliffhangers: Glassman (Richard Schiff) telling Shaun (Freddie Highmore) that his cancer had returned and it was terminal, and Claire (Antonia Thomas) collapsing in Kalu’s arms. They set Shaun on a race to help two of the most important people in his life who are both in grave danger.
He eventually does his thing and finds a treatment that could add a year to Glassman’s life but no matter how many times he pitches it, progressively mitigating potential risks and side effects, he is turned down by...
ABC’s The Good Doctor ended its seven-season run tonight with Part 2 of its two-hour finale which, like many episodes of the medical drama, mixed tragedy and triumph to close out Shaun Murphy’s journey on a hopeful note.
The closer dealt with the aftermath of the two shocking Part 1 cliffhangers: Glassman (Richard Schiff) telling Shaun (Freddie Highmore) that his cancer had returned and it was terminal, and Claire (Antonia Thomas) collapsing in Kalu’s arms. They set Shaun on a race to help two of the most important people in his life who are both in grave danger.
He eventually does his thing and finds a treatment that could add a year to Glassman’s life but no matter how many times he pitches it, progressively mitigating potential risks and side effects, he is turned down by...
- 5/22/2024
- by Nellie Andreeva
- Deadline Film + TV
Note: The following story contains spoilers from “The Good Doctor” Season 7, Episode 10.
“The Good Doctor” made one last groundbreaking save in the ABC medical drama’s series finale on Tuesday, which executive producers called a “challenging” finale for the characters after the show moved past its originally envisioned conclusion.
Showrunner Liz Friedman and creator David Shore told TheWrap that the initial pitch for the show’s ending involved the autistic Dr. Shaun Murphy (Freddie Highmore) becoming a father, a milestone he reached at the end of Season 6. The show moving past its original conclusion and getting to explore Shaun as a father before saying goodbye with Season 7, led to the more personal finale storyline involving the doctors of San Jose St. Bonaventure Hospital working to save both the beloved Dr. Claire Browne (Anthonia Thomas) and Dr. Aaron Glassman (Richard Schiff).
“His medical, diagnostic and surgical skills are so considerable that...
“The Good Doctor” made one last groundbreaking save in the ABC medical drama’s series finale on Tuesday, which executive producers called a “challenging” finale for the characters after the show moved past its originally envisioned conclusion.
Showrunner Liz Friedman and creator David Shore told TheWrap that the initial pitch for the show’s ending involved the autistic Dr. Shaun Murphy (Freddie Highmore) becoming a father, a milestone he reached at the end of Season 6. The show moving past its original conclusion and getting to explore Shaun as a father before saying goodbye with Season 7, led to the more personal finale storyline involving the doctors of San Jose St. Bonaventure Hospital working to save both the beloved Dr. Claire Browne (Anthonia Thomas) and Dr. Aaron Glassman (Richard Schiff).
“His medical, diagnostic and surgical skills are so considerable that...
- 5/22/2024
- by Jose Alejandro Bastidas
- The Wrap
Bravo’s “Vanderpump Rules” has long been one of unscripted television’s most formally adventurous series, with a cinematic grammar that constantly evolves to express the feelings and ideas at each season’s center. Last season, for example, editor Jesse Friedman explored the “Scandoval” situation in which longtime cast member Tom Sandoval cheated on his girlfriend Ariana Madix by telling the story in reverse — a technique that had more in common with the work of Christopher Nolan and Harold Pinter than with other shows in the world of reality TV, and one that provided the perfect visual corollary for Ariana and her friends’ piecing together of the narrative. For the Season 11 finale, Friedman once again took some audacious stylistic risks that paid off not only emotionally, but indicated how the show as a whole might be coming to the end of an era.
The final moments of the season finale...
The final moments of the season finale...
- 5/18/2024
- by Jim Hemphill
- Indiewire
The Good Doctor shocked fans with a death leading up to the show’s finale. The showrunners explained why this character had to die. Keep on reading to learn more.
Who Dies in The Good Doctor Finale?
Warning: This article contains spoilers. The seventh and final season of The Good Doctor will include the death of Dr. Aaron Glassman (Richard Schiff). He returned to the show to say his goodbyes. Glassman told Dr. Shaun Murphy (Freddie Highmore) that his cancer returned.
It progressed to a glioblastoma. Dr. Shaun suggested they should try another treatment. Glassman assured him that it wouldn’t work. “It’s terminal. I’m dying,” he told Dr. Shaun.
As fans of The Good Doctor know, Dr. Glassman was diagnosed with brain cancer in the first season. At the time, he learned that he had four months to live. Dr. Glassman received chemotherapy and beat his cancer diagnosis.
Who Dies in The Good Doctor Finale?
Warning: This article contains spoilers. The seventh and final season of The Good Doctor will include the death of Dr. Aaron Glassman (Richard Schiff). He returned to the show to say his goodbyes. Glassman told Dr. Shaun Murphy (Freddie Highmore) that his cancer returned.
It progressed to a glioblastoma. Dr. Shaun suggested they should try another treatment. Glassman assured him that it wouldn’t work. “It’s terminal. I’m dying,” he told Dr. Shaun.
As fans of The Good Doctor know, Dr. Glassman was diagnosed with brain cancer in the first season. At the time, he learned that he had four months to live. Dr. Glassman received chemotherapy and beat his cancer diagnosis.
- 5/17/2024
- by Chanel D. Adams
- Celebrating The Soaps
When co-showrunners David Shore and Liz Friedman learned The Good Doctor would end with its current and seventh season, they “laid down on the floor and contemplated that for its truth, then pretty quickly had an idea of where we wanted to go with that final season,” Friedman reveals, before adding, “but this is definitely bittersweet… I could have continued to tell stories for Shaun [Murphy], and Freddie [Highmore] forever.” In the penultimate episode, there was plenty of sweetness for the show’s doctors: There was a wonderful impromptu 2 a.m. wedding for Morgan (Fiona Gubelmann) and Park (Will Yun Lee); the return of original character Claire (Antonia Thomas) and her romantic reunion with Kalu (Chuku Modu); and Shaun, with the help of his wife Lea (Paige Spara) explaining to young addict Hannah how Dr. Glassman (Richard Schiff) can help her the way he helped Shaun, his “nonbiological son.” Finally, there was Glassman quietly telling Shaun,...
- 5/16/2024
- TV Insider
Ahead of its approaching finale, ABC’s The Good Doctor is getting more emotionally wrenching than ever before, and so many fans aren’t ready for it all.
The latest episodes of the show’s seventh and final season reintroduced Claire Browne, portrayed by Antonia Thomas, who had a sweet reunion with her ex-colleagues after leaving the main storyline for several seasons, but her comeback turned out to be something much more dramatic than everyone expected.
Now that most of the main mysteries are revealed, The Good Doctor’s actors have opened up about Claire’s real mission upon her big return.
Claire was a beloved character ever since her appearance in The Good Doctor’s first season and right up to her departure after the season 4 finale. Always happening to be a caring and kind person, the character earned a lot of love from the viewers due to her...
The latest episodes of the show’s seventh and final season reintroduced Claire Browne, portrayed by Antonia Thomas, who had a sweet reunion with her ex-colleagues after leaving the main storyline for several seasons, but her comeback turned out to be something much more dramatic than everyone expected.
Now that most of the main mysteries are revealed, The Good Doctor’s actors have opened up about Claire’s real mission upon her big return.
Claire was a beloved character ever since her appearance in The Good Doctor’s first season and right up to her departure after the season 4 finale. Always happening to be a caring and kind person, the character earned a lot of love from the viewers due to her...
- 5/15/2024
- by benjamin-patel@startefacts.com (Benjamin Patel)
- STartefacts.com
Spoiler Alert: The story includes details about The Good Doctor Episode 709, “Unconditional.”
It’s the beginning of the end as ABC’s The Good Doctor tonight kicked off its two-part series finale. The first hour had hallmarks of a happy series closer — a wedding and a fan-favorite couple rekindling their romance after years apart — before the episode took a double dark turn at the end.
Things got off to a great start when Claire Browne (returning original cast member Antonia Thomas) reunited with Shaun Murphy (Freddie Highmore) as she came by to get a lump in her breast checked out. It had been ruled benign in Guatemala where she heads surgery but it turned out to be cancerous. A surgery to remove it led by Claire’s ex Jared Kalu (Chuku Modu) and Shaun was initially unsuccessful but a followup did the trick, and Claire was on her way to...
It’s the beginning of the end as ABC’s The Good Doctor tonight kicked off its two-part series finale. The first hour had hallmarks of a happy series closer — a wedding and a fan-favorite couple rekindling their romance after years apart — before the episode took a double dark turn at the end.
Things got off to a great start when Claire Browne (returning original cast member Antonia Thomas) reunited with Shaun Murphy (Freddie Highmore) as she came by to get a lump in her breast checked out. It had been ruled benign in Guatemala where she heads surgery but it turned out to be cancerous. A surgery to remove it led by Claire’s ex Jared Kalu (Chuku Modu) and Shaun was initially unsuccessful but a followup did the trick, and Claire was on her way to...
- 5/15/2024
- by Nellie Andreeva
- Deadline Film + TV
Marty Friedman has announced that he will release his autobiography, Dreaming Japanese, on December 3rd.
The book will explore Friedman’s personal life and career, including his years as a guitarist in Megadeth. The title alludes to Friedman’s relocation to Japan in 2003, where he has since become a television personality, J-Pop composer, and an official ambassador.
Friedman shared news of the book’s completion and release date on Facebook:
“After an exhaustive and seemingly endless process, I’m beyond excited to let you know that I’ve just turned in the final manuscript for my autobiography, ‘Dreaming Japanese’.
I’ve always kept my private life completely out of the media, so with nervous excitement, I am thrilled to share the story about my upbringing, home life and career for the first time. You will enjoy the deepest dive into never before revealed details about my life in Megadeth...
The book will explore Friedman’s personal life and career, including his years as a guitarist in Megadeth. The title alludes to Friedman’s relocation to Japan in 2003, where he has since become a television personality, J-Pop composer, and an official ambassador.
Friedman shared news of the book’s completion and release date on Facebook:
“After an exhaustive and seemingly endless process, I’m beyond excited to let you know that I’ve just turned in the final manuscript for my autobiography, ‘Dreaming Japanese’.
I’ve always kept my private life completely out of the media, so with nervous excitement, I am thrilled to share the story about my upbringing, home life and career for the first time. You will enjoy the deepest dive into never before revealed details about my life in Megadeth...
- 5/14/2024
- by Jon Hadusek
- Consequence - Music
To say the Terminator timeline is pretty confusing at this point would be an understatement. The franchise, created with the release of James Cameron's seminal 1984 effort "The Terminator," has since been softly rebooted, retconned, and generally mishandled by successive generations of studios and filmmakers. So twisted is the saga's internal timeline that watching the "Terminator" movies in any kind of coherent order has become a challenge not unlike trying to destroy the T-800 himself.
Prior to the release of 2019's "Terminator: Dark Fate," things seemed to be looking up. With the help of James Cameron on producing duties, director Tim Miller decided to forget the three lackluster films that followed the modern classic that is 1991's "Terminator 2: Judgement Day" and simply pick up where that stellar entry in the franchise left off. Unfortunately, when "Dark Fate" debuted we were treated to yet another generic action blockbuster that put...
Prior to the release of 2019's "Terminator: Dark Fate," things seemed to be looking up. With the help of James Cameron on producing duties, director Tim Miller decided to forget the three lackluster films that followed the modern classic that is 1991's "Terminator 2: Judgement Day" and simply pick up where that stellar entry in the franchise left off. Unfortunately, when "Dark Fate" debuted we were treated to yet another generic action blockbuster that put...
- 4/29/2024
- by Joe Roberts
- Slash Film
The 8th episode of The New Look focuses on the setbacks of Christian, overcoming which he decides to soar further up in her career. On the other hand, we see Coco’s career being trampled over by her reputation as a conspirator. We are almost nearing the end of the series, but we are not yet introduced to the real quotient of ‘fashion’ in the true sense. Rather than focusing on the art, the series is more focused on the journey of the artists. How will Coco deal with her downfall? Will Christian be able to deal with his father’s death? Will Christian be able to create his definitive piece?
Spoilers Ahead
Why Did Coco Meet Carmel Snow?
Coco went to meet Carmel, as she was looking forward to expanding her business in Switzerland. Carmel insisted she go back to Paris and continue her business there, but she later learned about her reputation there.
Spoilers Ahead
Why Did Coco Meet Carmel Snow?
Coco went to meet Carmel, as she was looking forward to expanding her business in Switzerland. Carmel insisted she go back to Paris and continue her business there, but she later learned about her reputation there.
- 3/20/2024
- by Debjyoti Dey
- Film Fugitives
Marty Friedman has announced a new solo album, Drama, arriving May 17th. The former Megadeth guitarist has also offered up the lead single and album opener “Illumination.”
The six-and-a-half minute instrumental showcases Friedman’s many six-string talents, from jazz runs to neo-classical flourishes. A mellow, extended intro leads up to the track’s climatic guitar fireworks, with Friedman’s elegant solos backed by an ensemble that includes typical rock instrumentation, as well as cello and violin.
Friedman self-produced Drama, which was partially recorded at Newsin Audio Design in Italy, where Friedman had access to a plethora of vintage guitars and tones. Recording engineers include Luigi Stefanini, Frank Rosato, Takao Nakazato, Atsuo Akabae, and Kenjiro Naka. Alexander Backlund and Jay Ruston mixed the tracks, while Koji Tanaka handled the mastering at Victor Creative Media in Tokyo.
Of the 12 tracks on the album, two include vocals (“Dead of Winter” featuring Chris Brooks...
The six-and-a-half minute instrumental showcases Friedman’s many six-string talents, from jazz runs to neo-classical flourishes. A mellow, extended intro leads up to the track’s climatic guitar fireworks, with Friedman’s elegant solos backed by an ensemble that includes typical rock instrumentation, as well as cello and violin.
Friedman self-produced Drama, which was partially recorded at Newsin Audio Design in Italy, where Friedman had access to a plethora of vintage guitars and tones. Recording engineers include Luigi Stefanini, Frank Rosato, Takao Nakazato, Atsuo Akabae, and Kenjiro Naka. Alexander Backlund and Jay Ruston mixed the tracks, while Koji Tanaka handled the mastering at Victor Creative Media in Tokyo.
Of the 12 tracks on the album, two include vocals (“Dead of Winter” featuring Chris Brooks...
- 3/11/2024
- by Jon Hadusek
- Consequence - Music
A Broadway transfer may be in store for the stage production of Stranger Things: The First Shadow.
A casting notice calling for video submissions from Equity actors has been posted for the production, with a listed Broadway start in 2025. A theater has not yet been named. Stephen Daldry, who helmed the West End production of the show, is listed as director for the possible Broadway transfer, with Justin Martin as a co-director.
Neither Netflix nor Sonia Friedman Productions, the two producers on the show, immediately responded to a request for comment on plans for Broadway. A spokesperson for the production in London said more information about the “future life of the production” will be shared at a later time. The audition notice alone does not automatically mean it’s coming to Broadway, but the play is already proving popular in the West End.
Written by Kate Trefry, the play opened...
A casting notice calling for video submissions from Equity actors has been posted for the production, with a listed Broadway start in 2025. A theater has not yet been named. Stephen Daldry, who helmed the West End production of the show, is listed as director for the possible Broadway transfer, with Justin Martin as a co-director.
Neither Netflix nor Sonia Friedman Productions, the two producers on the show, immediately responded to a request for comment on plans for Broadway. A spokesperson for the production in London said more information about the “future life of the production” will be shared at a later time. The audition notice alone does not automatically mean it’s coming to Broadway, but the play is already proving popular in the West End.
Written by Kate Trefry, the play opened...
- 3/8/2024
- by Caitlin Huston
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
The writing on the long-running FX comedy series "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia" is some of the funniest in the business, but sometimes it's really the performances that make the show so hilarious. Whether it's the way Glenn Howerton punctuates his rage with pitchy staccato line reads or simply the way Danny DeVito pronounces the word "no," the way certain moments are interpreted by the actors can really make or break a joke. One of the funniest moments in all of "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia" involves a bit of screaming and not too much actual dialogue, all courtesy of Andrew Friedman's character Uncle Jack -- although it turns out there was a bit of help from co-star, writer, and producer Charlie Day.
In a Reddit Ask Me Anything thread, Friedman revealed that Day helped him a bit with a now-infamous scene where Uncle Jack flings a fake hand...
In a Reddit Ask Me Anything thread, Friedman revealed that Day helped him a bit with a now-infamous scene where Uncle Jack flings a fake hand...
- 3/2/2024
- by Danielle Ryan
- Slash Film
The Good Doctor introduces its first-ever medical students in Season 7 Episode 2, airing on Tuesday, February 27 at 10/9c on ABC. Kayla Cromer and Wavyy Jonez make their debuts as Charlie and Dom in “Skin in the Game,” in which Shaun (Freddie Highmore) struggles to accommodate the newest member of his surgical team, Charlie (Cromer), who interferes in a patient’s relationship with his daughter. Elsewhere, Park (Will Yun Lee) tackles a tricky brain tumor, and Lea (Paige Spara) and Morgan (Fiona Gubelmann) adjust to motherhood. Co-showrunner and executive producer Liz Friedman told TV Insider all there is to know about Charlene “Charlie” Lukaitis and Dominick “Dom” Hubank. Charlie and Dom are medical students on their first surgical rotations — eager to learn but raw and untested in the fast-paced world of St. Bonaventure’s Hospital. Charlie, who is also a doctor with autism, idolizes Shaun. But as Friedman previously told TV Insider,...
- 2/27/2024
- TV Insider
Dr. Marcus Andrews hasn’t just forfeit his job as president of St. Bonaventure Hospital on ABC’s The Good Doctor. He’s left San Jose behind entirely.
As TVLine was first to report, original cast member (and U.S. Senate hopeful) Hill Harper exited the medical drama ahead of its seventh and final season. He was one of four remaining series regulars from The Good Doctor Season 1, including leading man Freddie Highmore (who stars as Dr. Shaun Murphy), Richard Schiff (who plays Shaun’s surrogate father, Dr. Aaron Glassman) and Chuku Modu (who reprised his role as Dr. Jared...
As TVLine was first to report, original cast member (and U.S. Senate hopeful) Hill Harper exited the medical drama ahead of its seventh and final season. He was one of four remaining series regulars from The Good Doctor Season 1, including leading man Freddie Highmore (who stars as Dr. Shaun Murphy), Richard Schiff (who plays Shaun’s surrogate father, Dr. Aaron Glassman) and Chuku Modu (who reprised his role as Dr. Jared...
- 2/21/2024
- by Ryan Schwartz
- TVLine.com
“We’re going to give these characters a great send-off,” assures The Good Doctor executive producer Liz Friedman, referring to the unexpectedly canceled ABC hospital drama’s farewell. “There’s sadness that it’s ending, but we’re glad to have had advance notice to figure out how we end this chapter.” Happily, Dr. Shaun Murphy (Freddie Highmore) and his colleagues have 10 episodes left, per Friedman, and Season 7 opens as Shaun and Lea are settling in as parents to newborn Steve. Shaun returns to the Or, “moving through the world now as a doctor and a dad, having attachments to patients that he didn’t before,” Friedman says. The big medical case seen in the premiere is deeply personal for other docs at San Jose St. Bonaventure Hospital: Eden, the adopted daughter of Morgan (Fiona Gubelmann) who’s also being raised by Park (Will Yun Lee), needs risky heart surgery.
- 2/19/2024
- TV Insider
When The Good Doctor returns, it does so on a new night. The Good Doctor Season 7, the farewell season, is premiering on Tuesday, February 20 on ABC. It’s been airing on Monday nights after The Bachelor/The Bachelorette for years. Now, The Good Doctor will air at 10/9c, after Will Trent at 8/7c and The Rookie at 9/8c. Why the change for the final season? Co-showrunner Liz Friedman tells TV Insider it was a network decision to highlight some of its “most successful” shows. “That was about ABC having fewer dramas and really deciding to do a three-hour block of, I think, their most successful procedurals,” Friedman says. “I think it’ll be really nice. I think The Rookie‘s obviously a great, great show with great characters. I love Will Trent, and hopefully it’s just going to be a really good night of viewing for the audience.” “Little crime,...
- 2/17/2024
- TV Insider
The Good Doctor didn’t want to end with Season 7, co-showrunner and executive producer Liz Friedman tells TV Insider. The medical drama starring Freddie Highmore is ending with Season 7 because, as Friedman says, “ABC told us it was time to end it.” The Good Doctor stars Highmore as Dr. Shaun Murphy, a brilliant surgeon with Autism Spectrum Disorder whose neurodivergent thinking helps him create unexpected solutions to medical conundrums. “Why end it now? Well, ABC told us it was time to end it,” Friedman tells TV Insider. While it’s not ending on their timeline, Friedman is happy the series can end on their terms. “We are very grateful that they told us that in a timely manner, which allows us to decide the terms that we’re going to end it on to craft a great ending and a great culmination of Shaun Murphy’s story, but that’s how that came about,...
- 2/15/2024
- TV Insider
Exclusive: Streamer Crunchyroll and Sony Music Entertainment have teamed to launch a weekly podcast to spotlight anime’s impact on the broader cultural zeitgeist.
Crunchyroll Presents: The Anime Effect will launch worldwide in English on all major podcast platforms on February 16, with new episodes following every Friday. Crunchyroll Premium subs will be able to watch the show ad-free through the Crunchyroll app.
Anime experts Nicholas Friedman, LeAlec Murray and Leah President will host, with a mix of news and roundtable discussions with special guests debating hot topics, providing recommendations and tackling fan questions. Friedman is a journalist and publisher of Crunchyroll News, Murray is a podcaster, pop culture enthusiast and Brand Manager at Crunchyroll and President is a writer, editor and Crunchyroll Partnerships Manager.
Anime has boomed in western cultures in the past decade, with Crunchyroll playing a key role in facilitating the growth. The platform has one of the...
Crunchyroll Presents: The Anime Effect will launch worldwide in English on all major podcast platforms on February 16, with new episodes following every Friday. Crunchyroll Premium subs will be able to watch the show ad-free through the Crunchyroll app.
Anime experts Nicholas Friedman, LeAlec Murray and Leah President will host, with a mix of news and roundtable discussions with special guests debating hot topics, providing recommendations and tackling fan questions. Friedman is a journalist and publisher of Crunchyroll News, Murray is a podcaster, pop culture enthusiast and Brand Manager at Crunchyroll and President is a writer, editor and Crunchyroll Partnerships Manager.
Anime has boomed in western cultures in the past decade, with Crunchyroll playing a key role in facilitating the growth. The platform has one of the...
- 1/30/2024
- by Jesse Whittock
- Deadline Film + TV
Everything We Know About The MCU’s Fantastic Four Reboot ( Photo Credit – IMDb )
Marvel has been going through a rough time with their movies not doing as well as the pre-Avengers: Endgame era and Jonathan Majors getting fired for his guilty convict. Despite it all, the fandom looks forward to any use or update on the Fantastic Four reboot like any other MCU project. Pedro Pascal has been reportedly selected to play the lead role of Mr Fantastic, a.k .a. Reed Richards. Now, rumors claim that Hollywood writers Michael Weber and Scott Neustadter would work on Josh Friedman’s script before filming begins.
Marvel has been keeping things secured in case of this upcoming comic book-inspired movie. The studio has announced nothing substantial, yet here we are with every detail that we found out about the MCU movie. Keep scrolling for more.
Cast –
There were several names in the...
Marvel has been going through a rough time with their movies not doing as well as the pre-Avengers: Endgame era and Jonathan Majors getting fired for his guilty convict. Despite it all, the fandom looks forward to any use or update on the Fantastic Four reboot like any other MCU project. Pedro Pascal has been reportedly selected to play the lead role of Mr Fantastic, a.k .a. Reed Richards. Now, rumors claim that Hollywood writers Michael Weber and Scott Neustadter would work on Josh Friedman’s script before filming begins.
Marvel has been keeping things secured in case of this upcoming comic book-inspired movie. The studio has announced nothing substantial, yet here we are with every detail that we found out about the MCU movie. Keep scrolling for more.
Cast –
There were several names in the...
- 1/27/2024
- by Esita Mallik
- KoiMoi
Exclusive: Alison Lani Genest has been promoted to Vice President of Development at Ascendant Entertainment, the independent production company of veteran studio chief, Rob Friedman. In her new role, she will oversee all aspects of development across Ascendant’s growing slate of films and series.
Genest came to the promotion after working at Friedman’s side as a development executive since 2020. She cut her teeth in the business developing and producing scripted digital media and music videos, prior to Ascendant serving as creative executive at Fisher Stevens’ former production company, Insurgent Media.
“I feel incredibly lucky to have found a home where I have the freedom to champion new voices, seek out creative partners, and find avenues to develop projects across both film and television,” the rising exec told Deadline. “It’s an honor and a privilege to work and learn under a truly exceptional leader and entrepreneur like Rob.
Genest came to the promotion after working at Friedman’s side as a development executive since 2020. She cut her teeth in the business developing and producing scripted digital media and music videos, prior to Ascendant serving as creative executive at Fisher Stevens’ former production company, Insurgent Media.
“I feel incredibly lucky to have found a home where I have the freedom to champion new voices, seek out creative partners, and find avenues to develop projects across both film and television,” the rising exec told Deadline. “It’s an honor and a privilege to work and learn under a truly exceptional leader and entrepreneur like Rob.
- 1/25/2024
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
Original The Good Doctor cast member Chuku Modu is once again a series regular on the ABC medical drama, playing Dr. Jared Kalu.
Modu, who originally returned midway through last season as a recurring, has been promoted to regular for the upcoming seventh season, now in production.
Modu’s surgical resident Dr. Jared Kalu was a breakout character in Season 1. He got into trouble for punching a doctor who had sexually harassed his girlfriend, resident Claire Browne (Antonia Thomas) and ultimately headed to Colorado for a surgeon job.
Kalu eventually left that job to become a concierge doctor, which is how he ended up back at San Jose’s St. Bonaventure Hospital. He ended up sticking around his old stumping grounds.
The full-time return of Modu, first reported by TVLine, follows the exit of fellow original Good Doctor cast member Will Harper who is running for Senate. Brandon Larracuente also...
Modu, who originally returned midway through last season as a recurring, has been promoted to regular for the upcoming seventh season, now in production.
Modu’s surgical resident Dr. Jared Kalu was a breakout character in Season 1. He got into trouble for punching a doctor who had sexually harassed his girlfriend, resident Claire Browne (Antonia Thomas) and ultimately headed to Colorado for a surgeon job.
Kalu eventually left that job to become a concierge doctor, which is how he ended up back at San Jose’s St. Bonaventure Hospital. He ended up sticking around his old stumping grounds.
The full-time return of Modu, first reported by TVLine, follows the exit of fellow original Good Doctor cast member Will Harper who is running for Senate. Brandon Larracuente also...
- 1/9/2024
- by Nellie Andreeva
- Deadline Film + TV
Martin Scorsese's "Goodfellas" turns 34 this year. The movie itself spans more than three decades, chronicling Henry Hill's (Ray Liotta) life as an associate in the New York mob — Hill's life story was first told to the public by the nonfiction book "Wiseguy" by Nicholas Pileggi, who co-wrote the "Goodfellas" script with Scorsese.
"Goodfellas" is a cinematic shot of adrenaline, cut with vivacious energy by Thelma Schoonmaker and scored with classic rock to reflect the anti-authority glamour of mid-20th century gangsters. No matter if you watch it in all its sprawling glory or just sample clips, it's enjoyable — nay, irresistible.
Since "Goodfellas" packs so many years into two-and-a-half hours, it has a huge cast. So much time has passed since "Goodfellas" premiered in theaters and left its mark on crime cinema that not all of these actors are still with us. Miraculously, though, quite a few of them...
"Goodfellas" is a cinematic shot of adrenaline, cut with vivacious energy by Thelma Schoonmaker and scored with classic rock to reflect the anti-authority glamour of mid-20th century gangsters. No matter if you watch it in all its sprawling glory or just sample clips, it's enjoyable — nay, irresistible.
Since "Goodfellas" packs so many years into two-and-a-half hours, it has a huge cast. So much time has passed since "Goodfellas" premiered in theaters and left its mark on crime cinema that not all of these actors are still with us. Miraculously, though, quite a few of them...
- 1/7/2024
- by Devin Meenan
- Slash Film
Guitarist Kiko Loureiro left Megadeth for good in late 2023 after an extended leave of absence from the band. But before he departed, Loureiro suggested another ex-Megadeth axeman to take his place: Marty Friedman.
Friedman famously played guitar in Megadeth during the 1990s, contributing his virtuosic guitarwork to two of the band’s most beloved albums, 1990’s Rust in Peace and 1992’s Countdown to Extinction, among other LPs.
The pairing of Dave Mustaine and Friedman pairing stands as one the greatest twin-guitar attacks in heavy metal history, and some fans thought Loureiro’s initial absence from the band — temporary at first (he sat out multiple tours) — was the perfect time to bring Friedman back into the fold.
Apparently, Loureiro had the same idea.
“Actually, I even mentioned to management and Dave that I thought bringing Marty Friedman back would be amazing,” Loureiro told Guitar World in a new interview.
Instead, Megadeth...
Friedman famously played guitar in Megadeth during the 1990s, contributing his virtuosic guitarwork to two of the band’s most beloved albums, 1990’s Rust in Peace and 1992’s Countdown to Extinction, among other LPs.
The pairing of Dave Mustaine and Friedman pairing stands as one the greatest twin-guitar attacks in heavy metal history, and some fans thought Loureiro’s initial absence from the band — temporary at first (he sat out multiple tours) — was the perfect time to bring Friedman back into the fold.
Apparently, Loureiro had the same idea.
“Actually, I even mentioned to management and Dave that I thought bringing Marty Friedman back would be amazing,” Loureiro told Guitar World in a new interview.
Instead, Megadeth...
- 1/4/2024
- by Jon Hadusek
- Consequence - Music
Christine Lahti has joined the cast of Sarah Gancher’s Russian Troll Farm: A Workplace Comedy, set to open Off-Broadway this winter.
The Oscar and Emmy winner will portray Lubja, a supervisor of a professional troll farm who hands down increasingly specific asks to her subordinates, in the office comedy-meets-political satire opening at off-Broadway’s Vineyard Theatre on Feb. 8. She will star alongside Haskell King, Renata Friedman, John Lavelle, and Hadi Tabbal in the play’s New York debut, directed by Tony winner Darko Tresnjak.
Set during the lead-up to the 2016 presidential election, Russian Troll Farm: A Workplace Comedy explores what happens in a place where office romances abound and one employee who just wants to win a microwave mix with a concerted, collective daily effort to lie. Steve (Lavelle), Masha (Friedman), Nikolai (Tabbal), and Egor (King) are among the fictional employees of the Internet Research Agency, a real Russian...
The Oscar and Emmy winner will portray Lubja, a supervisor of a professional troll farm who hands down increasingly specific asks to her subordinates, in the office comedy-meets-political satire opening at off-Broadway’s Vineyard Theatre on Feb. 8. She will star alongside Haskell King, Renata Friedman, John Lavelle, and Hadi Tabbal in the play’s New York debut, directed by Tony winner Darko Tresnjak.
Set during the lead-up to the 2016 presidential election, Russian Troll Farm: A Workplace Comedy explores what happens in a place where office romances abound and one employee who just wants to win a microwave mix with a concerted, collective daily effort to lie. Steve (Lavelle), Masha (Friedman), Nikolai (Tabbal), and Egor (King) are among the fictional employees of the Internet Research Agency, a real Russian...
- 12/19/2023
- by Abbey White
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Exclusive: The Stranger Things stage show, an unbelievably brilliant new blueprint for theatricality that premieres in London’s West End tonight, will be the first installment in a trilogy exploring the dark underbelly of Hawkins, Indiana.
Breaking Baz can reveal that parts two and three are set to follow the inaugural play, Stranger Things: The First Shadow, in two- or three-year intervals, according to insiders associated with the production. The stage sequels will launch in London first.
Meanwhile, there are already plans for Stranger Things: The First Shadow to transfer to Broadway.
None of that’s official yet, of course. Producers and backers will study reviews out on Friday and across the weekend and the box office receipts before green-lighting any further productions.
The Stranger Things play is set in the late 1950s — a time when a young Jim Hopper’s car won’t start, Bob Newby’s sister won...
Breaking Baz can reveal that parts two and three are set to follow the inaugural play, Stranger Things: The First Shadow, in two- or three-year intervals, according to insiders associated with the production. The stage sequels will launch in London first.
Meanwhile, there are already plans for Stranger Things: The First Shadow to transfer to Broadway.
None of that’s official yet, of course. Producers and backers will study reviews out on Friday and across the weekend and the box office receipts before green-lighting any further productions.
The Stranger Things play is set in the late 1950s — a time when a young Jim Hopper’s car won’t start, Bob Newby’s sister won...
- 12/14/2023
- by Baz Bamigboye
- Deadline Film + TV
Call it the expanding Paddingtonverse… Or don't we're not the boss of you. But Jim Broadbent's favourite little bear is making his way on a new journey — to the stage. Yes, we've reached the point in the :a[Paddington]{href='https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/paddington-review/' } cycle where the decision has been made to turn his story into a stage musical.
Studiocanal, which produced the (so far) two movies is backing this one, joining forces with Sonia Friedman Productions and Eliza Lumley Productions. So far, few details have been released, beyond a plan to debut in 2025 and that Tom Fletcher of boyband McFly has signed on to write the music and lyrics.
“It is a privilege to be creating a new musical about this gorgeous and beloved little bear with such a wonderful team,” Friedman and Lumley said in a joint statement. “The magic of Paddington is that,...
Studiocanal, which produced the (so far) two movies is backing this one, joining forces with Sonia Friedman Productions and Eliza Lumley Productions. So far, few details have been released, beyond a plan to debut in 2025 and that Tom Fletcher of boyband McFly has signed on to write the music and lyrics.
“It is a privilege to be creating a new musical about this gorgeous and beloved little bear with such a wonderful team,” Friedman and Lumley said in a joint statement. “The magic of Paddington is that,...
- 12/12/2023
- by James White
- Empire - Movies
Paddington is heading to the stage. A musical adaptation of Michael Bond’s original Paddington books is being developed by Sonia Friedman Productions, Studiocanal, and Eliza Lumley Productions. Tom Fletcher of the early noughties boyband McFly has signed on to write the music and lyrics.
Producers today said they plan to debut the production in the UK in 2025. No other casting or staging plans were released in today’s announcement.
“It is a privilege to be creating a new musical about this gorgeous and beloved little bear with such a wonderful team,” Friedman and Lumley said today in a joint statement.
“The magic of Paddington is that, through his wide-eyed innocence, he sees the very best in humanity, reminding us that love and kindness can triumph if we open our hearts and minds to one another. We cannot wait to bring Paddington, his antics, adventures, and mishaps with the Brown family,...
Producers today said they plan to debut the production in the UK in 2025. No other casting or staging plans were released in today’s announcement.
“It is a privilege to be creating a new musical about this gorgeous and beloved little bear with such a wonderful team,” Friedman and Lumley said today in a joint statement.
“The magic of Paddington is that, through his wide-eyed innocence, he sees the very best in humanity, reminding us that love and kindness can triumph if we open our hearts and minds to one another. We cannot wait to bring Paddington, his antics, adventures, and mishaps with the Brown family,...
- 12/12/2023
- by Zac Ntim
- Deadline Film + TV
I dreamed a dream of bears gone by – everyone’s favourite fuzzball is heading to a UK stage in 2025. More below…
Paul King’s Wonka seems to have got Studiocanal in the mood for another musical. In the week that the toe-tappingly cheerful chocolatier tale shot to the top of the UK box office, the studio, along with Sonia Friedman Productions and Eliza Lumley Productions, have announced work has started on bringing their most successful (and most ursine) property to the stage in an original musical.
McFly’s Tom Fletcher is on music and lyrics duty, with Jessica Swale (who won an Olivier-award in 2016 for her comedy Nell Gwynn) writing the script. Luke Sheppard, who recently directed inspiring musical-drama The Little Big Things on the West End, is attached to direct the show tentatively titled Paddington: The Musical.
“It is a privilege to be creating a new musical about this...
Paul King’s Wonka seems to have got Studiocanal in the mood for another musical. In the week that the toe-tappingly cheerful chocolatier tale shot to the top of the UK box office, the studio, along with Sonia Friedman Productions and Eliza Lumley Productions, have announced work has started on bringing their most successful (and most ursine) property to the stage in an original musical.
McFly’s Tom Fletcher is on music and lyrics duty, with Jessica Swale (who won an Olivier-award in 2016 for her comedy Nell Gwynn) writing the script. Luke Sheppard, who recently directed inspiring musical-drama The Little Big Things on the West End, is attached to direct the show tentatively titled Paddington: The Musical.
“It is a privilege to be creating a new musical about this...
- 12/12/2023
- by James Harvey
- Film Stories
Life Goes On star Andrea Fay Friedman has died. She was 53 years old. The actor, who had Down Syndrome, passed away on Sunday, December 3, from complications due to Alzheimer’s, according to Variety. Friedman’s most notable television role was her 14-episode run on ABC drama Life Goes On in which she played Amanda Swanson. The series told the story of the all-American Thatcher family as they dealt with the struggles of life and love in the Midwest suburbs. Created by Michael Braverman, the show ran from 1989 to 1993 and Friedman’s character Amanda was the girlfriend of Chris Burke‘s Charles “Corky” Thatcher. The series also starred Patti LuPone, Bill Smitrovich, and Kellie Martin. Friedman with Chris Burke in Life Goes On (Credit: (c)Warner Bros./courtesy Everett Collection Additionally, Friedman featured in episodes of hit shows ranging from Baywatch, Touched by an Angel, and Chicago Hope to Walker, Texas Ranger,...
- 12/6/2023
- TV Insider
Andrea Fay Friedman, an actor with Down Syndrome who appeared in drama television series “Life Goes On” and Joseph Travolta’s family drama “Carol of the Bells,” died Sunday in Santa Monica from complications due to Alzheimer’s. She was 53.
Friedman contributed to much-needed representation for individuals with Down Syndrome in the world of entertainment. One of her well-known roles was in “Life Goes On” as Amanda Swanson, the girlfriend of Charles “Corky” Thacher (Chris Burke), who later become Corky’s wife on the show. Throughout her life, the actor also appeared in several television series, including “Baywatch,” “Chicago Hope,” “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit,” “ER,” “The Division” and “Saving Grace,” establishing her presence in an industry where inclusion was often rare. She was also the subject of the 2009 documentary “A Possible Dream: The Andrea Friedman Story.”
In 2010, Friedman showed her ability to tackle controversy with grace after voicing a character with Down syndrome,...
Friedman contributed to much-needed representation for individuals with Down Syndrome in the world of entertainment. One of her well-known roles was in “Life Goes On” as Amanda Swanson, the girlfriend of Charles “Corky” Thacher (Chris Burke), who later become Corky’s wife on the show. Throughout her life, the actor also appeared in several television series, including “Baywatch,” “Chicago Hope,” “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit,” “ER,” “The Division” and “Saving Grace,” establishing her presence in an industry where inclusion was often rare. She was also the subject of the 2009 documentary “A Possible Dream: The Andrea Friedman Story.”
In 2010, Friedman showed her ability to tackle controversy with grace after voicing a character with Down syndrome,...
- 12/6/2023
- by Valerie Wu
- Variety Film + TV
Exclusive: Priority Pictures, the production company of Emmy-winning producers Lizzie Friedman, Karen Lauder, and Greg Little, has optioned Douglas Brunt’s Nyt bestseller The Mysterious Case of Rudolf Diesel and will develop it for the screen, Deadline has learned. It’s not clear at this point whether the adaptation will be for film or TV.
Also recently named a Best of 2023 Staff Pick by Apple Books, The Mysterious Case tells the true story of Rudolf Diesel, one of history’s greatest inventors, who vanished into thin air on the eve of World War I. His revolutionary invention, the Diesel engine, was highly sought after by global industries and political figures around the world. It had the power to threaten empires and change the fate of nations, turning him and his technology into both a prized asset and a potential threat.
“Rudolf Diesel changed the course of WWI and his technology...
Also recently named a Best of 2023 Staff Pick by Apple Books, The Mysterious Case tells the true story of Rudolf Diesel, one of history’s greatest inventors, who vanished into thin air on the eve of World War I. His revolutionary invention, the Diesel engine, was highly sought after by global industries and political figures around the world. It had the power to threaten empires and change the fate of nations, turning him and his technology into both a prized asset and a potential threat.
“Rudolf Diesel changed the course of WWI and his technology...
- 12/1/2023
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
When we last hung out with Eddie Murphy's Axel Foley, he was wreaking havoc at a fictional Southern California amusement park (clearly based on Disneyland) while trying to apprehend the facility's chief of security, who murdered Foley's ill-tempered mentor, Inspector Todd (Gil Hill). If you're saying, "Uh, no, he was chasing the Eurotrash criminals who shot up his buddy Chief Bogomil (Ronny Cox)," you are one of the vast majority of moviegoers who skipped John Landis' "Beverly Hills Cop III."
Released over Memorial Day weekend in 1994, Murphy's third go-round as the fast-talking Detroit detective who keeps making unwelcome visits to Los Angeles to avenge dead or badly wounded friends arrived seven years after the last installment, and audiences had moved on. Whereas the first two movies grossed $316 million and $300 million worldwide (the bulk of that money being made in the U.S.), "Beverly Hills Cop III" only...
Released over Memorial Day weekend in 1994, Murphy's third go-round as the fast-talking Detroit detective who keeps making unwelcome visits to Los Angeles to avenge dead or badly wounded friends arrived seven years after the last installment, and audiences had moved on. Whereas the first two movies grossed $316 million and $300 million worldwide (the bulk of that money being made in the U.S.), "Beverly Hills Cop III" only...
- 11/28/2023
- by Jeremy Smith
- Slash Film
Exclusive: Colin Jost, Wanda Sykes and a group of SNL alum are the voice stars of a new scripted comedy podcast series.
Jost, who is head writer at SNL and star of Weekend Update, and Sykes, who recently starred in Max’s The Other Two, are starring in Trust Fall.
The series was written, directed and exec produced by SNL writer Claire Friedman. It launches on November 30.
Jost stars as Trent Brockett, a sad-sack corporate drone vying for a big promotion. But when he discovers that his boss only wants to promote “family men,” Trent invents a fake wife to try and land the job. Only one problem: the corporate retreat in Aspen is just days away, and Trent is very, very single. He signs up for a Sugar Daddy dating app and meets Carla, a smart, beautiful woman. When they meet in real life, Trent discovers that Carla is just…...
Jost, who is head writer at SNL and star of Weekend Update, and Sykes, who recently starred in Max’s The Other Two, are starring in Trust Fall.
The series was written, directed and exec produced by SNL writer Claire Friedman. It launches on November 30.
Jost stars as Trent Brockett, a sad-sack corporate drone vying for a big promotion. But when he discovers that his boss only wants to promote “family men,” Trent invents a fake wife to try and land the job. Only one problem: the corporate retreat in Aspen is just days away, and Trent is very, very single. He signs up for a Sugar Daddy dating app and meets Carla, a smart, beautiful woman. When they meet in real life, Trent discovers that Carla is just…...
- 11/8/2023
- by Peter White
- Deadline Film + TV
Jan. 6 defendant Vitali GossJankowski was tackled to the ground in an altercation inside a D.C. courtroom on Monday. Several federal agents were required to subdue the defendant in a fracas that reportedly toppled tables. CBS News was the first to report the altercation.
The scuffle erupted moments after U.S. District Judge Paul Friedman revoked GossJankowski’s conditional release pending his sentencing. GossJankowski was convicted in March of several misdemeanor and felony offenses related to his participation in the Jan. 6 assault on the Capitol, which included pushing, spitting on,...
The scuffle erupted moments after U.S. District Judge Paul Friedman revoked GossJankowski’s conditional release pending his sentencing. GossJankowski was convicted in March of several misdemeanor and felony offenses related to his participation in the Jan. 6 assault on the Capitol, which included pushing, spitting on,...
- 10/30/2023
- by Nikki McCann Ramirez
- Rollingstone.com
In 2022, Marianne Elliott won the Tony Award for directing a revival of the Stephen Sondheim musical “Company.” In her speech, she thanked the late composer for trusting her to put a “woman front and center” in her gender-bent production. Indeed, her victory was a major milestone for female directors. She became the first woman to win three times for directing. It was also the first time a woman took home a Tony for helming a Sondheim musical, and just the fifth instance of a woman winning for directing a tuner.
At the upcoming 2024 Tonys, Maria Friedman could accomplish those latter two feats, too. She is the visionary performer-turned-director who has achieved what would have been unfathomable to theatergoers back in 1981 — making the Sondheim and George Furth musical “Merrily We Roll Along” a hit on Broadway. But she definitely has a “good thing going” with her production of the notorious flop,...
At the upcoming 2024 Tonys, Maria Friedman could accomplish those latter two feats, too. She is the visionary performer-turned-director who has achieved what would have been unfathomable to theatergoers back in 1981 — making the Sondheim and George Furth musical “Merrily We Roll Along” a hit on Broadway. But she definitely has a “good thing going” with her production of the notorious flop,...
- 10/16/2023
- by David Buchanan
- Gold Derby
Irony dwells in the bones of "Merrily We Roll Along," a musical that plays backward in time. The 1981 sinking of the original Broadway production of "Merrily We Roll Along" is a chaos best told by the documentary "Best Worst Thing That Ever Could Have Happened." The critics and audience were reportedly baffled by the reverse chronological storytelling and director Hal Prince's purposefully amateurish methodology, which casts high schoolers and young adults playing fortysomethings aging down to twentysomethings. It closed down after 44 previews and 16 performances. The loss demoralized the creatives so much that lyricist-composer Stephen Sondheim and Prince — mavericks who birthed successes like "Company" and "Sweeney Todd" — halted their collaboration for years. This short-lived run underscores the musical's themes: friendships breaking up and showbiz realities thwarting artistic plans.
Away from Prince's high-schoolish shell, major productions have repackaged "Merrily." This material also turned out to be a fitting endeavor for filmmaker Richard Linklater,...
Away from Prince's high-schoolish shell, major productions have repackaged "Merrily." This material also turned out to be a fitting endeavor for filmmaker Richard Linklater,...
- 10/14/2023
- by Caroline Cao
- Slash Film
What a difference 40 years makes. After opening to pans and a run of only 16 official performances in 1981, Stephen Sondheim and George Furth’s musical “Merrily We Roll Along” has been remounted on Broadway for the very first time. Maria Friedman has stepped into the director role once occupied by Sondheim’s frequent collaborator Hal Prince — “Merrily” was their first flop after an impressive string of successful shows in the 70s. The revival opened on Oct. 10 at the Hudson Theatre for a run slated to end in March.
“Merrily” boasts marquee names Jonathan Groff, Lindsay Mendez, and Daniel Radcliffe. The trio play Franklin Shepard, Mary Flynn, and Charley Kringas, respectively, the three creatives at the heart of the musical that’s told in reverse over the course of 20+ years. It begins in a moment of personal and professional disillusionment and estrangement and unspools to a simpler, earlier time when their friendships...
“Merrily” boasts marquee names Jonathan Groff, Lindsay Mendez, and Daniel Radcliffe. The trio play Franklin Shepard, Mary Flynn, and Charley Kringas, respectively, the three creatives at the heart of the musical that’s told in reverse over the course of 20+ years. It begins in a moment of personal and professional disillusionment and estrangement and unspools to a simpler, earlier time when their friendships...
- 10/11/2023
- by David Buchanan
- Gold Derby
Troubled musicals, like troubled friendships, can often seem like defeats lying in wait, sponging up every last second of loving care, effort and good intention. So Maria Friedman’s smartly tended production of that most troubled of stage properties, the Stephen Sondheim-George Furth backwards musical Merrily We Roll Along deserves all the applause – and ticket-buying business – it’s getting at Broadway’s Hudson Theatre.
Opening tonight, the musical is drawing rapturous audience responses, no doubt in large part because of the splendid performances by three very appealing stars – Daniel Radcliffe, Jonathan Groff and Lindsay Mendez.
But even if we could, for the sake of argument, put the talents of this delightful trio singing some of Sondheim’s loveliest songs, aside for a moment, the undeniable charm of this production has to be credited to a sort of relief – the relief of knowing that, for the most part, Friedman...
Opening tonight, the musical is drawing rapturous audience responses, no doubt in large part because of the splendid performances by three very appealing stars – Daniel Radcliffe, Jonathan Groff and Lindsay Mendez.
But even if we could, for the sake of argument, put the talents of this delightful trio singing some of Sondheim’s loveliest songs, aside for a moment, the undeniable charm of this production has to be credited to a sort of relief – the relief of knowing that, for the most part, Friedman...
- 10/10/2023
- by Greg Evans
- Deadline Film + TV
Neil Friedman didn’t come to found ChaiFlicks “by accident.”
Though the streaming service devoted to curating Jewish and Israeli content launched in 2020, Friedman’s interest in its subject matter started back when he was in college where he focused on film and ethnicity. It was only by constantly challenging himself and ignoring typical career paths that he was able to turn his passionate interest into a business endeavor, Friedman told TheWrap for this week’s Office with a View.
Friedman has walked many paths throughout his career. After graduating law school, he worked as a corporate lawyer on Park Avenue “for a couple years” before moving to the famed entertainment firm Frankfurt Garbus Kurnit Klein and Selz (now known as Frankfurt Kurnit Klein and Selz). That led to a bout running business affairs for the home video company Vestron, followed by stints as the vice president of New Line Cinema,...
Though the streaming service devoted to curating Jewish and Israeli content launched in 2020, Friedman’s interest in its subject matter started back when he was in college where he focused on film and ethnicity. It was only by constantly challenging himself and ignoring typical career paths that he was able to turn his passionate interest into a business endeavor, Friedman told TheWrap for this week’s Office with a View.
Friedman has walked many paths throughout his career. After graduating law school, he worked as a corporate lawyer on Park Avenue “for a couple years” before moving to the famed entertainment firm Frankfurt Garbus Kurnit Klein and Selz (now known as Frankfurt Kurnit Klein and Selz). That led to a bout running business affairs for the home video company Vestron, followed by stints as the vice president of New Line Cinema,...
- 10/6/2023
- by Kayla Cobb
- The Wrap
Since her debut in the 1986 animated "Transformers" movie, Arcee has been one of the most famous Autobots of all. The default girl Transformer, Arcee rocks a feminine pink-and-white color scheme and either a sports car or motorcycle vehicle mode. She's also had a bit of a rough history.
Arcee was considered for the 2007 "Transformers" film (check out concept art of her here), but like a few other characters, she was cut during development. Co-writer Roberto Orci explained the removal to IGN: "The idea of a female Transformer needs its own explanation, and there just wasn't going to be enough time."
The sequel, "Revenge of the Fallen," featured Arcee, but in one of its many faults, it didn't do much with her. Arcee is one of a trio of female motorcycle transformers; she's painted pink while her sisters are blue and purple (media differs on if the trio are separate...
Arcee was considered for the 2007 "Transformers" film (check out concept art of her here), but like a few other characters, she was cut during development. Co-writer Roberto Orci explained the removal to IGN: "The idea of a female Transformer needs its own explanation, and there just wasn't going to be enough time."
The sequel, "Revenge of the Fallen," featured Arcee, but in one of its many faults, it didn't do much with her. Arcee is one of a trio of female motorcycle transformers; she's painted pink while her sisters are blue and purple (media differs on if the trio are separate...
- 10/2/2023
- by Devin Meenan
- Slash Film
Lizzo was honored with the Black Music Action Coalition’s Quincy Jones Humanitarian Award on Thursday night. The singer, who is facing a series of accusations and lawsuits about her off-stage behavior, was pointedly joined by Lizzo’s Big Grrls onstage as she accepted the award.
“Black Music Action Coalition, y’all really are about that action. Thank you so much for this, because I needed this right now,” Lizzo said during her speech, according to Variety. “God’s timing is always on time! I didn’t write a speech...
“Black Music Action Coalition, y’all really are about that action. Thank you so much for this, because I needed this right now,” Lizzo said during her speech, according to Variety. “God’s timing is always on time! I didn’t write a speech...
- 9/22/2023
- by Emily Zemler
- Rollingstone.com
George R.R. Martin, John Grisham, Jonathan Franzen, and George Saunders are among the authors who have filed a class action lawsuit against the company behind ChatGPT, accusing them of “feeding” and “training” the AI software on the authors’ copyrighted works.
The Authors Guild — which also represents bestselling writers like Michael Connolly, Scott Turow, Jodi Picoult, David Baldacci, and others — filed the lawsuit against OpenAI Wednesday in a New York district court.
“Plaintiffs, authors of a broad array of works of fiction, bring this action under the Copyright Act seeking redress...
The Authors Guild — which also represents bestselling writers like Michael Connolly, Scott Turow, Jodi Picoult, David Baldacci, and others — filed the lawsuit against OpenAI Wednesday in a New York district court.
“Plaintiffs, authors of a broad array of works of fiction, bring this action under the Copyright Act seeking redress...
- 9/20/2023
- by Daniel Kreps
- Rollingstone.com
We’ve talked about Stephen King as the king of horror literature, but there’s another name who is pretty important in the grand scheme of horror. He has had tabletop games, video games, comic book adaptations, and movies made after his work. He has sort of become like John Carpenter in a way. You hear all the time how a movie, or its score in particular, is Carpenter-esque and that has happened to one Howard Phillips Lovecraft. He only lived to 46 and had many works published after his death, but also is the man behind the old gods and the Cthulhu mythos. Even when filmmakers and game designers don’t use creations directly from the author’s work, a lot of horror can be considered Lovecraftian. While some of the more famous ones like Re-Animator and From Beyond are stone cold classics, I wanted to look at an underseen adaptation.
- 9/20/2023
- by Cody Hamman
- JoBlo.com
IMDb.com, Inc. takes no responsibility for the content or accuracy of the above news articles, Tweets, or blog posts. This content is published for the entertainment of our users only. The news articles, Tweets, and blog posts do not represent IMDb's opinions nor can we guarantee that the reporting therein is completely factual. Please visit the source responsible for the item in question to report any concerns you may have regarding content or accuracy.