213 replies to this topic

[stephanie familiar]

Shirley MacLaine to join TV show 'Downton Abbey'

LONDON – Oscar-winning Shirley MacLaine is joining Britain's popular television series "Downton Abbey."
The 77-year-old will join the cast when they start filming next month.
She will play the mother of Lady Grantham, portrayed by Elizabeth McGovern, in the third season of the hit period drama, which took Golden Globe and Emmy prizes for best miniseries.
Gareth Neame of Carnival Films, which produces the show, said Monday that MacLaine's character will be a "wonderful combatant" for Maggie Smith's Dowager Countess.
The series have garnered large numbers of fans in Britain, the U.S. and elsewhere.


http://www.foxnews.c...-downton-abbey/

[John Mosby]

So, will this be a "Smallville" or a "Wonder Woman"?

"Arrow" gets its lead.

http://www.impactonl...rrow-requivered

[Paul F]

He's slightly older than I expected (he's 30), though I expect he'll be playing younger. I expected them to go for a high school age though (unless they want to bring in Speedy as someone that age).

[steveuk]

[Adam Wednesdays]

No thanks. I remember it the first time, I have absolutely no desire to expose myself to any more Sarah Palin, even if she is played by Julianne Moore.

[Rory Abel]

As I said the first time this film popped up, it's sad that they're being played by two actors with more gravitos than they had in real life.

That said, there's some just awful dialogue in that trailer. "What... Have... We... Done?" Really?

Edited by Rory Abel, 01 February 2012 - 12:16 AM.

[Chris D]

Yeah, that's a really good cast for something I've no desire to see.

[Christian U]

The whole thing in itself was so public and so obvious that there doesn't seem much of the story left to tell in this form.

[Adam Wednesdays]

The whole thing in itself was so public and so obvious that there doesn't seem much of the story left to tell in this form.

Exactly. If this is supposed to be a shocking expose of some kind, then they really picked the wrong material because this has all been covered before, during and after, and it was pretty obvious to anyone who paid attention for 3 minutes what was going on.

And if they wanted to capitalize on the Sarah Palin phenomenon, then they're a couple of months too late.

[David Meadows]

Exactly. If this is supposed to be a shocking expose of some kind, then they really picked the wrong material because this has all been covered before, during and after, and it was pretty obvious to anyone who paid attention for 3 minutes what was going on.

And if they wanted to capitalize on the Sarah Palin phenomenon, then they're a couple of months too late.

Sarah Palin followers... paying attention for three minutes... see where your error is there?

[Martin Smith]

It's a little freaky how much like Palin Julianne Moore looks in that trailer though.

[Steve Sensible]

It's a little freaky how much like Palin Julianne Moore looks in that trailer though.

Except she doesn't have that blank stare of the truly brain-dead.

[John Mosby]

It takes months of practice or a certain lack of natural incoherence to be able to talk like you're reading random groupings of of Right Wing Fridge Magnet words to a massive audience. In my opinion, Moore's the former, Palin the latter.

I can almost understand why she had her fifteen minutes of fame - right place, right time. I'm at a total loss to understand why she's still considered remotely relevant to anything other than how NOT to act in public. Recently she's been drafted onto Fox News to consistently spew the familiar buzzwords and then refuse to actually back any candidate while winking at the camera with 'you might say that, I couldn't possibly comment' dithering.

The TV movie feels like it will be like watching the Titanic movie. It'll have its moments of can't-look-away inevitability, but would probably work better with the sound off.

[Paul F]

Michael Sheen, Lizzy Caplan crowned 'Masters of Sex' by Showtime

Michael Sheen and Lizzy Caplan have landed the lead roles in Showtime's titillatingly titled drama pilot "Masters of Sex."

Showtime announced on Thursday (February 2) that Sheen will play William Masters and Caplan will be Viginia Johnson in "Masters of Sex," which focuses on the "human sexuality pioneers."

Masters and Johnson began their research at Washington University in 1957, culminating in the publication of the seminal -- pun horribly intended -- texts "Human Sexual Response" and "Human Sexual Inadequacy," published in 1966 and 1970. The Showtime series is an adaptation of Thomas Maier's "Masters of Sex: The Life and Times of William Masters and Virginia Johnson, The Couple Who Taught America How To Love."

"Masters of Sex" will begin production in New York in March with John Madden ("Shakespeare in Love," not the football guy) directing and Michelle Ashford, Judith Verno, and Sarah Timberman and Carl Beverly executive producing.

Sheen is stepping in for Paul Bettany, who was originally cast in the pilot. We'd like to say that he's best known for films like "The Damned United," "Frost/Nixon" and his Tony Blair trilogy, but realistically popular audiences know him from the "Twilight" and "Underworld" films, not that there's anything wrong with that.

Caplan's TV credits include a current arc on "New Girl" as well as regular roles on "Party Down," "The Class" and "Related." She was recently up at Park City for the Sundance premieres of the features "Bachelorette" and "Save the Date."

I'm glad Caplan's getting another show. I loved her on Party Down. Sheen's usually good too.

[steveuk]

Warning: some swearing etc.



Looks... interesting. Mad too.

[Paul F]

Yeah, I saw that's starting on SyFy tonight. Might be worth trying, at least.

[Paul F]

The River premieres on iTunes

Brand new US sci-fi/horror series The River debuts in America on channel ABC next week. However, despite being highly-anticipated in the States, the series has not been picked up by a UK broadcaster as yet. In an unconventional move, producers have decided to make it available to view in the UK via iTunes.

The programme follows explorer Dr Emmet Cole, who goes missing whilst travelling deep in the Amazon. Six months after his disappearance, his family have just begun to accept he is dead when his emergency beacon goes off. The search for the famed explorer begins, led by his wife and son and accompanied by a film-maker who is keen to document the mission. The little-known cast includes Bruce Greenwood as Emmet Cole, Leslie Hope as his wife Tess and Joe Anderson as his son Lincoln. The series is produced by one of Steven Spielberg’s companies, Amblin Films and Heroes’ Michael Green is the showrunner.

The double-episode opener will be available to view 24 hours after its American premiere on February 7th. iTunes account holders can also buy a season pass to view the entire series for around £10. Click here for more information.

Could be an interesting test case. I'd be more interested if I could buy stuff off iTunes UK of course. I'm looking forward to the show.

[steveuk]

Michael Sheen, Lizzy Caplan crowned 'Masters of Sex' by Showtime

I'm glad Caplan's getting another show. I loved her on Party Down. Sheen's usually good too.

I love Caplan too. Lovely, quirky, always different. Good for her.

Bettany stepping down/away though is dissapointing (although Sheen is always excellent). He seems overly choosy?

This was going to be Bettany’s American series debut and was considered a coup for Showtime and series producer Sony Pictures TV, especially given The Beautiful Mind co-star’s known difficulty to commit to projects. He recently passed on several big roles, including the lead in The King’s Speech, which earned Colin Firth an Oscar.

http://www.deadline....ex/#more-212675

'The King's Speech'???

Paul! What were you thinking???!!!

[Chris D]

http://www.deadline....ex/#more-212675

'The King's Speech'???

Paul! What were you thinking???!!!

And yet he made that lame "Legion" movie? Very odd selections he makes.

[Steve Sensible]

And yet he made that lame "Legion" movie? Very odd selections he makes.

And Priest.

Maybe his motivation is easy money. If I was married to Jennifer Connelly I'd probably want to spend as much time at home as possible.