Drake and Adel “Future” Nur announced their breaking into television production with Top Boy, set up at Netflix. The popular gritty British drama was created by Ronan Bennett (10 Days to War, Hidden). Netflix’s announcement of the new chapter confirmed series stars Ashley Walters and Kane Robinson are reprising their roles.
Top Boy‘s new season will consist of 10 episodes. Drake and Nur are executive producing along with original executive producers Charles Steel and Alasdair Flind (for Cowboy Films), Ronan Bennett (for Easter Partisan) and Yann Demange. Maverick Carter and Jamal Henderson (for SpringHill Entertainment) are also on board to executive produce. In addition, Drake and Nur will serve as musical supervisors on Top Boy‘s third season. Bennett wrote the previous seasons and will handle writing duties on the upcoming season.
Netflix is planning on airing the new chapter in 2019. The first two seasons, which aired in the UK in 2013, are now streaming on Netflix.
“I am delighted to be reunited once more with the Top Boy team – our wonderful cast and my partners at Cowboy Films – and to have Drake and SpringHill as new collaborators. And I could not be prouder to be doing the show with Netflix,” said Bennett.
“We couldn’t be more excited for Netflix members around the world and a new generation of fans to discover the authentic, raw and real world of Top Boy,” added Cindy Holland, Vice President, Original Content for Netflix. “Drake came to us several months ago with a passion to help bring this series back to life, and we’re thrilled to support the original creative team to do just that.”
The Plot: The new episodes pick up as Dushane (Ashley Walters) returns from exile to his home in London to reclaim his throne in the highly lucrative drug market. He teams up with Sully (Kane Robinson), his spiritual brother, partner, and sometime rival who is also returning to the same streets after his own form of exile – prison – comes to an end. Awaiting them both is Jamie, the young, hungry and ruthless gang leader whose ambitions leave no place for Dushane and Sully.
The CW’s The Flash season four episode five had Barry and Iris out partying with their best friends…and Ralph Dibny. Felicity (Emily Bett Rickards) made the trek to help Iris celebrate her upcoming nuptials, and of course neither the boys nor girls night out events went off as planned.
Dibny convinced the guys to hit up a strip club where Barry got drunk on a special concoction and cried over Rose not making room for Jack as the Titanic sank. He also decided to yell to the world that he’s The Flash, but no one believed the blurbering drunk dude.
Meanwhile, the women had to help Killer Frost take on the ruthless and wicked Amunet. And, Caitlin finally came clean with #TeamFlash about her continuing struggles with Frost. Up next, season four episode six directed by Brent Crowell from a script by Jonathan Butler and Gabriel Garza. Titled “When Harry Met Harry…,” episode six will air on November 14, 2017.
The season four cast includes Grant Gustin as Barry Allen/The Flash, Tom Cavanagh as Harrison Wells, Danielle Panabaker as Caitlin Snow, Candice Patton as Iris West, Keiynan Lonsdale as Wally West/Kid Flash, Carlos Valdes as Cisco, and Jesse L Martin as Joe West. Hartley Sawyer guest stars as Ralph Dibny.
The “When Harry Met Harry…” Plot: ONE HARRY, TWO HARRYS, THREE HARRYS, FOUR — When collectors of Native American artifacts are attacked by a meta named Mina Chayton (guest star Chelsea Kurtz) who can bring inanimate objects to life, Barry (Gustin) turns to a surprising ally for help. Determined to crack the identity of The Thinker, Harry (Cavanagh) enlists Cisco’s (Valdes) help to summon the ultimate think tank: “The Council of Wells’,” a roundtable of the brightest Harrison Wells’ from various Earths.
Evan Peters as Kai Anderson in ‘American Horror Story: Cult” (Photo by Frank Ockenfels/FX)
FX’s politically-charged edition of American Horror Story, American Horror Story: Cult, begins episode 10 on the night of the third Presidential Debate. Winter (Billie Lourd) and two of her female friends are prematurely celebrating Hillary Clinton’s election, declaring Trump will suffer the biggest loss in electoral history.
Kai (Evan Peters) is positive they’re wrong, spouting fake news about Clinton. He’s sure no woman wants Clinton as president. He then suggests angry white men have been humiliated for too long and says Trump is one of them. He truly believes men will do whatever it takes to make sure they vote for Trump.
One of Winter’s friends teases Kai about never getting laid and about how no alt-right male has a girlfriend. Kai has heard enough and slaps her hard. He quickly apologizes but she says she’s pressing charges and runs out of the room. Winter tells him he’s finally crossed a line.
Two weeks after the slap, Kai meets with a court-appointed counselor, Bebe Babbitt (Frances Conroy), as part of his probation. He’s forced to take anger management classes, but he thinks slapping Winter’s friend was a political act and had to do with treating a woman how he would have treated a man in that same situation.
Kai’s asked if he’s familiar with the work of Valerie Solanas, the love of Bebe’s life. Bebe’s not impressed when he makes a joke, but she adds that he’s smarter than the other men. She even suggests he has an untapped charisma and asks if he’s considered politics. If he had a purpose, he could change the world. She then shocks him by saying Donald J Trump is her all-time favorite politician. “We are sitting on the biggest bomb the universe has ever seen,” she says. The bomb is female rage. With every tweet, Trump is slowly releasing the dam.
Bebe then tells Kai he must be a spear for that movement. He kneels before her and repeats, “I am a turd, a lowly, abject turd.” His only purpose will be to release the feminine rage. (So it was Bebe pulling the strings behind the scenes all this time!)
Kai kneels before his therapist. He will use all his skills to break that dam to pieces. Unfortunately, he and every other man will drown in it. But, he’ll die famous knowing he saved everyone. The women of the world are waiting for him to help them give birth to their rage, according to Bebe.
Catching up with current events, women are outraged and protest outside a rally as Kai speaks to his followers. He acknowledges Washington lacks common sense, and he gets his followers riled up. Outside the area, the women continue to chant, “No Nazis, no KKK, no Fascist USA.” Kai calls himself the agent of change, getting the crowd increasingly worked up. He uses all the trigger words against the protestors and then calls their actions basically un-American. He leads the chants of “Our town, Our State, Our Country” as the protestors approach.
Kai’s blue-shirted thugs try to hold the women at bay, while Kai taunts the protestors. Piss is thrown at Gary, Kai’s speakers are unplugged, and finally, Kai’s sprayed in the face with pepper spray.
Later that evening at his place, Kai’s angry because the clown’s ice cream truck won’t stop playing music. He reminds Winter they’re trying to get rid of evidence, not draw the Feds’ attention. Winter thinks they should just get rid of the truck, but Kai guesses that’s what the Feds expect them to do.
Ally (Sarah Paulson) handles cleaning the outside while Winter does the interior. Winter assumes Ivy is dead but wants to know if she suffered. Ally’s not ready to feel any sympathy for Winter or put her mind at ease since she seduced her wife and destroyed her family. Ally doesn’t even confirm Ivy’s dead.
Winter confesses her feelings for Ivy were real and she’s going insane thinking Kai made Ivy suffer. “If something did happen to Ivy, what makes you think it was Kai?” asks Ally.
The news reports on the violent political rally. Kai’s opponent, Senator Jackson, is interviewed and he admits he doesn’t take Kai seriously. He jokes Kai should only be taken seriously by the Department of Justice.
At home watching the news, Kai gets his men all worked up again, telling them if people wear masks they’ll rip off their heads.
Kai has one final tale about a famous cult to tell his followers. He recalls the story of Charlie Manson and his “family,” saying in 1969 Manson was playing the long game. Kai recounts the events of the attack on Cielo Drive and how Manson didn’t participate but instead ordered the killers to make sure it was especially gruesome. In this reenactment, Evan Peters is Charlie, Sarah Paulson is Susan Atkins, Leslie Grossman is Patricia Krenwinkle, Billie Lourd is playing Linda Kasabian, and Tex Watson is Billy Eichner. Kai walks his men through how the murders went down.
The men are told Linda Kasabian wasn’t a closer and hid in the car. Sarah Paulson’s Susan Atkins is particularly vicious, and AHS: Cult‘s version of events is the most gruesome reenactment of the Tate murders ever on screen.
Kai says that was act one of Helter Skelter, meant to be blamed on African Americans. However, the women betrayed Manson. Kai says they’re on the world stage now and need to follow Manson’s playbook, but bigger. What they’re planning must be super culture shifting. They have to give the people “the night of a thousand Tates.”
Gary (Chaz Bono) and some of the men head over to the Planned Parenthood facility to steal the list of women booked for abortions. Gary heads into the facility alone, but he’s soon followed by Kai’s people in their clown costumes. Gary asks the Divine Ruler why and Kai removes his clown head to say, “Sweet Gary, it’s not what you’ve done. It’s what you’re about to do.”
Gary’s disappointed he won’t live to see the night of a thousand Tates. Gary’s calling is more vital, and he’ll become closer than any of Kai’s other children. They brutally stab him multiple times as Gary screams.
The next morning a Planned Parenthood worker shows up and finds Gary’s dead body with blood streaming from it. A sign by him reads “Stop the Slaughter.”
Beverly Hope (Adina Porter) reports on Gary’s murder. She interviews Kai for the piece and he says Gary was one of his earliest supporters and was a dear friend. Kai feels incredible sorrow, calling Gary a kind man. He then suggests his opponent emboldens the rogue warriors who killed Gary because Gary thought babies are people. Kai wonders who’s next.
After the camera’s turned off, Kai yells at Beverly because she wasn’t very convincing. She meekly says she understands, and even calls him Divine Ruler.
Back at Ally’s restaurant, Winter tries to get Beverly to relax. She’s been off since she was thrown in isolation and drank fake poisoned Kool-Aid. Winter apologizes for framing her and thinks she needs to escape. Winter gives Beverly a train ticket to Montana, but Beverly believes it’s a trap. Winter swears it’s real and she’s just trying to set things right. Winter reveals she can’t leave because she needs to distract Kai from Beverly’s disappearance.
Beverly gives Winter a message to pass on to Kai that she’ll never run. She swears she’s his loyal follower to the end.
Once more to Kai’s place and it turns out he’s getting really paranoid, thinking his place is bugged. Ally tells him she doesn’t want to be paired with Winter, but Kai’s distracted thinking there’s a mole in their operation. There’s a persistent buzz and it’s driving him crazy.
He runs upstairs to the murder room and shuts himself in with his dead family and Ivy. He talks to himself, wondering what will ultimately trip him up. His dead brother asks how he can help, and Kai admits there’s a mole and he can only be safe in the murder room. Also, he doesn’t think he should have killed his brother because now he has too many secrets.
Next, Kai hallucinates Charlie Manson (also played by Peters). Charlie invites him to visit him in prison and Kai figures out only Charlie can see things like he sees them. Charlie instructs him to identify the Judas and then stop trusting so much. Charlie’s Judas was Linda and Charlie advises him he can’t trust the bitches.
Ally interrupts Kai’s hallucination to show him she found a bug! He’s now positive there’s a mole.
Kai’s counselor, Bebe, arrives and she angrily tells him Valerie Solanas always said the male was a biological accident, a walking abortion. She reminds him he only had two things to do. A) unleash female rage and B) incite the American woman’s anger. He claims that’s what he’s doing and he even got maced. Bebe’s upset about the way he’s treating the women close to him and that he even broke Beverly. She lets him know he’s failed her and Valerie.
But, there’s a new twist. Kai explains he never was going to drown himself in female rage. He had a purpose and he loved the power of making people mad, but women aren’t capable of running things. He’s doing a Charlie Manson on Bebe’s plans, getting the women to rise up and then he’ll have to lead them. He says women have to be grabbed by the pussies.
Bebe’s ready to kill Kai when Ally shoots her first. Ally has no idea who she just killed and Kai reveals she was his anger management counselor. Ally replies, “Not very good at her job.”
Charlie’s still hanging out in Kai’s imagination, and he confirms Ally is not the mole since she just took out Bebe.
Later, Winter cuts Kai’s long blue hair off, giving him a buzz job. He smiles at the result and recalls Winter’s first haircut. She cried because she was afraid it was going to hurt. He cut his own hair to show her it wouldn’t. He tells her he knows her and that her eyes open real wide when she has something to hide.
Next, she gently shaves him. He reminds her he’s her big brother which is a very important relationship. She agrees he’s always looked after her, but then Kai asks why she wants to hurt him. She wonders what all these people want from him and admits she can’t see or feel him anymore. The others will leave, but she’ll still be there for him.
Kai wonders if she wants to destroy what he worked hard to build. She explains she doesn’t and that when his followers are gone, they will be all that’s left of their family. He thinks she’s slipping away and she agrees. She confesses the only way to be with him, in the end, is to leave him now. She only feels terror when she looks at him now, and if she doesn’t leave that might be all she ever feels for him in the future.
Kai asks what if he says her leaving is a betrayal, and she says she’d kill any of his followers who tried to leave with her. Winter doesn’t want them to betray him; only she needs to leave.
Kai confesses he always loved her the most. She’s the only person who really knows him. He adds that he needs her but if she has to go away, then he’ll let her. He thinks sometime in the future he’ll be in the White House and will need her beside him since he can trust her. Then, Kai suggests that she go to Butte, Montana. He even got her a train ticket, showing her the ticket she tried to give to Beverly. He tells his men to get her out of there and they haul Winter away as she screams and cries.
Down in the basement with his people assembled, Kai asks why Winter did it. He wants to know what the Feds offered her. She claims no one offered her anything and she’s not the mole. She thinks he’s addled and is finding things to fit into his delusion. He speaks out loud to Charlie Manson, and then tells Winter he loved her and wants to know how she can lie to his face. She wants to do pinky power to confirm she’s not the mole. He holds up the bug and asks her to explain it.
Winter laughs and says the bug is actually the battery to her Fitbit. Ally says she found it sewn into Kai’s cushions. Winter thinks this is payback for Ivy and that Ally’s doing this for revenge. Ally calls Winter a Hillary supporter who was just looking for the opportunity to take Kai’s group down. Ally’s happy she exposed Winter, and Winter assures her she’ll be chewed up and spit out. Kai does that to everyone.
Kai demands Winter confess but she continues to say she didn’t do anything. She begs him again, and he asks if she’s willing to do what needs to be done. He begins strangling her as everyone watches. Kai cries as Winter dies. The group is silent allowing Kai to cry on his own.
One of his men gets in his car and it turns out he’s wearing a wire. He smashes it to pieces, realizing he barely made it out alive. Ally joins him in his car and says, “Hello, Speed Wagon.”
The CW’s Supergirl season three episode five served up the heart-wrenching but inevitable breakup of Sanvers. Despite a little drinking, dancing, and romancing, Alex Danvers’ desire to be a mother meant there was no way she could continue her relationship with Maggie Sawyer. Fortunately, Kara provided a shoulder to lean on and suggested they head back home for a little break.
Season three episode five also found Kara and Samantha teaming up to prove Lena didn’t poison children. Up next is season three episode six titled “Midvale.” Directed by Rob Greenlea from a script by Caitlin Parrish and Jess Kardos, episode six will air on November 13, 2017.
The season three cast includes Melissa Benoist as Kara Danvers/Supergirl, Chyler Leigh as Alex Danvers, David Harewood as J’onn J’onzz, Jeremy Jordan as Winn Schott, Mehcad Brooks as James Olsen, Katie McGrath as Lena Luthor, Chris Wood as Mon-El of Daxam, and Odette Annable as Reign. The series is executive produced by Greg Berlanti, Andrew Kreisberg, Sarah Schechter, Robert Rovner, and Jessica Queller.
The “Midvale” Plot: ESCAPE DOWN MEMORY LANE — Kara (Benoist) and Alex (Leigh) head home to Midvale for a little R&R. While there, Kara recalls a painful memory of a childhood friend’s death and how that traumatic experience brought the Danvers sisters closer together. Helen Slater returns as Eliza Danvers and Izabela Vidovic plays Young Kara. Olivia Nikkanen is Young Alex in flashbacks.
Paramount Pictures released a new trailer and character posters for the 2018 comedy, Sherlock Gnomes. The family-friendly, garden gnome-friendly animated film is a sequel to 2011’s Gnomeo and Juliet. James McAvoy reprises his role from the original film, once again lending his voice to Gnomeo. Emily Blunt also returns as the voice of Juliet.
The voice cast also includes returning Gnomeo and Juliet cast members Michael Caine as Lord Redbrick, Maggie Smith as Lady Bluebury, Stephen Merchant as Paris, and Ozzy Osbourne as Fawn. Johnny Depp joins the sequel as Sherlock Gnomes, along with Chiwetel Ejiofor as Watson and Mary J. Blige as Irene.
John Stevenson (Kung Fu Panda) directs and Elton John, David Furnish, Steve Hamilton Shaw, and Carolyn Soper produce. Sherlock Gnomes is targeting a March 23, 2018 theatrical release.
Gnomeo and Juliet, directed by Kelly Asbury (Shrek 2, Smurfs: The Lost Village), opened in theaters on February 11, 2011. The G-rated animated comedy grossed $25 million domestically over its opening weekend. The film rang up $99.9 million domestically and an additional $94 million in foreign box office receipts before finishing up its theatrical run.
The Plot: The beloved garden gnomes from Gnomeo and Juliet are back for a whole new adventure in London. When Gnomeo and Juliet first arrive in the city with their friends and family, their biggest concern is getting their new garden ready for spring. However, they soon discover that someone is kidnapping garden gnomes all over London.
When Gnomeo and Juliet return home to find that everyone in their garden is missing – there’s only one gnome to call… Sherlock Gnomes. The famous detective and sworn protector of London’s garden gnomes arrives with his sidekick Watson to investigate the case. The mystery will lead our gnomes on a rollicking adventure where they will meet all new ornaments and explore an undiscovered side of the city.
The 23rd Annual Critics’ Choice Awards will be broadcast live on The CW network. The Critics’ Choice Awards are set for Thursday, January 11, 2018 at 8pm ET and will once again honor the best in films and television as selected by members of the Broadcast Film Critics Association (BFCA*) and the Broadcast Television Journalists Association (BTJA*).
The celebrity-filled event will take place at The Barker Hangar in Santa Monica, CA.
“BFCA and BTJA are thrilled to be back on The CW, where many of our finest CCA shows were nurtured,” stated BFCA President Joey Berlin. “The CW is home to some of the best shows anywhere on broadcast television, and we’re looking forward to being back in their company for years to come. The Critics’ Choice Awards show has grown to be one of the most important and star-studded in Hollywood – and perhaps the most fun. We can’t wait to gather the brightest lights in film and television together again for what is sure to be a spectacular event on January 11.”
“We are delighted to welcome the Critics’ Choice Awards back to The CW, and showcase the best of both film and television during this live event in January,” said Gaye Hirsch, The CW’s head of development, who also oversees alternative and special programming. “As award season kicks into high gear, we’re thrilled we can bring viewers an exciting night filled with the biggest and brightest stars in Hollywood.”
In addition, the BFCA and BTJA announced their timelines for the 2018 awards, recognizing outstanding shows, films, and performances of 2017:
FILM AWARDS
• December 1, 2017 – Nominating ballots go out to BFCA members
• December 4, 2017 – Deadline for returning nominating ballots
• December 6, 2017 – Critics’ Choice Awards Film nominations announced
• January 8, 2018 – Final ballots go out to BFCA members
• January 9, 2018 – Deadline for returning final ballots
TELEVISION AWARDS
• November 20, 2017 – Nomination Committees begin consideration
• December 4, 2017 – Nomination Committees render recommendations
• December 6, 2017 – Critics’ Choice Awards TV nominations announced
• January 8, 2018 – Final ballots go out to BTJA members
• January 9, 2018 – Deadline for returning final ballots
Silicon Valley‘s T.J. Miller hosted the 22nd Annual Critics’ Choice Awards in which La La Land took eight awards and The People v. O.J. Simpson earned four awards. The Critics’ Choice Awards are one of the most accurate predictors of Academy Awards nominations.
Hvitserk (Marco Ilsø), Ivar the Boneless (Alex Høgh Andersen) and Ubbe (Jordan Patrick Smith) in History’s ‘Vikings’ season 5 (Photo by Jonathan Hession / Copyright 2017)
Fans of History’s Vikings can expect an epic season five with Alex Høgh Andersen as Ivar the Boneless front and center in the action. Andersen made quite an impact with his performance as Ivar in season four, and in season five Andersen’s character is taking on an expanded role as a leader in the Great Heathen Army.
The critically acclaimed series is set to kick off its fifth season on Wednesday, November 29, 2017 at 9pm ET/PT and in support of the show’s return, Andersen participated in a conference call to discuss playing Ivar, the challenges of making the character likeable and/or sympathetic, and Ivar’s relationships with his brothers and Lagertha.
Vikings is written by series creator Michael Hirst. The cast of season five also includes Jonathan Rhys Meyers as Bishop Heahmund, Katheryn Winnick as Lagertha, Gustaf Skarsgård as Floki, and Alexander Ludwig as Bjorn.
Ragnar had told Ivar that he had to use his anger intelligently. Do you think that Ivar is capable of doing that?
Alex Høgh Andersen: “Yeah, I think he’s capable of doing that. But as you probably know what happened to him at the end of season four, he killed his dear brother, Sigurd. He lost control of himself. He let his emotions take over. So, yeah, you do have a point in the fact that he’s challenged in terms of that.
I think he understands that that is his massive weakness, that he’s too driven sometimes by his emotions and that they can take over and make him lose control. I say that is part of the reason why he is so much in remorse in the beginning of season five. Genuinely, he’s in remorse because he knows that the killing of his own brother created a wound between him and his brothers that I don’t think he will ever be able to heal again. And, part of it is also him realizing that he lost control and he let everyone see his weakness. And, that he really struggles with. I think you will see him try to his very best to control his emotions throughout the season.”
Without giving away spoilers, how do you think Ivar’s really changed going into season five?
Alex Høgh Andersen: “I don’t know if that much has changed. Of course, him being part of the leading group of the Great Heathen Army has obviously matured him. You will see a way more mature Ivar, as much as is possible. But, he’s still the same determined young man.
In season four I would describe him as a boy. I think he’s becoming a young man, eventually throughout season five. There’s a lot of things happening and this whole responsibility of him leading the Great Heathen Army takes a toll on a human being. I think Ivar is really ready and up for the challenge, but it is a challenge. He’s going to learn from the mistakes he’s going to make. But, he’s still the same determined guy who will never let anyone stand in the way of his goals. He’s so progressive and he’s not afraid of using violence to get his way.”
Can you talk about how Ivar’s relationship will be with his brothers? Will that deteriorate?
Alex Høgh Andersen: “Well, obviously there was a rift already and I don’t think he’s capable of healing it again. But, in the beginning of season five you will see him being genuinely sorry. He tells his brothers that. But, is that again a way for him to manipulate them or try to make them feel sorry for him, or bring them onto his team a little bit again to be able to control them or not making them too hostile against him? I think he’s aware of the fact that he needs them to reach his goals.
I think you will see a lot of discussions between brothers. A lot of unspoken things, a lot of love and also hate. Those are the scenes that we, I think, all of us – all the brothers – really loved to shoot because they’re very intense. There’s a lot of things happening, a lot of drama. But do they still love each other or is that bridge burned? That’s the whole thing about it, and I think it’s our greatest goal as actors is to always keep the audience guessing. And, for me, especially with Ivar because he’s such an extreme character…he can easily become one-dimensional, so my main objective is to keep him balanced and to have scenes like in the beginning of season five where he’s genuinely sorry for his actions. He almost hates himself. I think that’s the key of this whole relationship.”
Is Ivar going to harden or will he remain vulnerable?
Alex Høgh Andersen: “He will always be vulnerable. That is my main goal as an actor is to never ever judge him. I can do my very best to make people understand him because the last thing that we want is a one-dimensional character. Michael Hirst wrote this character so brilliantly that we can’t do that to him; he does not deserve that as a character. He will always be vulnerable.
As much as I love the crazy scene where I’m killing a lot of Saxons and I’m yelling and crawling around – those crazy, crazy scenes are a lot of fun – what my heart really longs for as an actor is the vulnerable scenes where he is maybe alone in the room. A lot of these scenes where you see him being on top and he’s quick and he’s smart and he’s intelligent and manipulative, being Ivar, you see that most of it is an act because he’s so controlled on the outside. That is what people are when they are very broken on the inside, and he doesn’t want to show people. So, he will always, always be vulnerable. I will always do my best to show that. That is the most important thing of what I do with this character.”
The Vikings set is known for pranks. Did the veteran actors welcome the newer cast members with any special pranks? Now that Travis Fimmel has left has anyone taken up the mantle of chief prankster?
Alex Høgh Andersen: “There was no big special prank, thank god, because I would probably have been scared away. But as you all probably know, every day shooting with Travis is a prank in itself. Not that he’s not phenomenal to work with and that he doesn’t take his job seriously – he’s quite the opposite. He’s a great actor to work with and he’s always fun to be around. But, also that has translated to our group. Every single day at work is so much fun. We’re throwing food at each other and we’re touching each other’s body parts and we shouldn’t, and stuff like that. (Laughing) It’s horrible and it’s so great.
It’s a small family of 300 people and I love them to pieces. They’ve helped me with so much. The things that I’ve achieved so far, I could not have done without them. It sounds so cheesy, but it is so, so true.
Part of it is that we’re so good at keeping a light atmosphere on set, which I think is very, very important because it’s such a dark show. It’s such an intense show and there are some long days through the worst conditions when we’re shooting in January, February, and I’m crawling in the woods and it’s snowing sideways, raining sideways, and I can’t feel my limbs. Some would say that it’s forced method acting and it seems very, very organic. The reason why we go wild in those scenes is because we feel like it, so it’s all good, I guess. But, it’s very, very tough. And, especially on those days, you just need to throw some food at each other. You need to do that. But, yeah, we’ve taken it upon us to keep that atmosphere. I think everybody has. It’s just great.”
Ivar the Boneless (Alex Høgh Andersen) in History’s ‘Vikings’ (Photo by Jonathan Hession / Copyright 2017)
Ivar is motivated to succeed in a system that didn’t necessarily respect or honor people with disabilities. Why do you think he was capable of such success in that world?
Alex Høgh Andersen: “Well, I think part of it – most of it – is he’s brilliant. He’s so smart. He’s so intelligent. People know that he has his flaws. He knows he has his flaws but when he shows up on the day of proving yourself, on the day of battle when everybody’s lives are at stake, he’s the one organizing the whole thing. As we saw in season four, we see that he is the reason why they get through it.
I think actions speak louder than words. You know, some of his actions are good and some of his actions are very, very bad. But, I think you also have to remember that this is in the Viking era where death is a way bigger part of life than it is today. It’s way more acceptable. Vikings grew up only thinking about death and how to die so they could get into Valhalla. So even though it sounds horrible in contemporary minds, the fact of him killing his brother is probably not that big back in the day, right? Of course, it’s horrible but, I mean, people with no personal relation to him who only see him as this leader probably didn’t give a damn. All they care about in the end of the day is winning the next battle or dying in a tremendous and beautiful Viking way.
I think that the Great Heathen Army and the troops of the Viking army understand that Ivar is probably the one that will get them there in the best way. I think that he understands that he’s very, very confident, and especially after what happened at the end of season four – winning the battle against the Saxons. He just becomes more and more confident, and rightfully so. That makes him very, very dangerous.”
What is Ivar’s relationship with Lagertha like in season five? Will there be a power struggle between the two characters?
Alex Høgh Andersen: “Oh, definitely. I think it’s great because Lagertha may be the complete opposite of Ivar. She is such a great and perfect and humane character. It’s great to see those two characters clash and see this wild and crazy guy who’s so determined and probably only thinks about himself against this powerful woman who is all about the people. It’s great to see those two characters clash. And, yeah, there’s going to be a massive power struggle.
But this whole civil war as you can see is going to be very, very intense. It’s Vikings fighting Vikings. I remember when we shot the stuff and when we read the scripts and read where this whole thing was going and realized there was going to be a civil war. The biggest talk was how is the audience going to take this because nobody really wants to see Vikings fighting against Vikings. They want to see Vikings fighting against Saxons or whoever, right?
I think it’s very, very interesting and I’m very excited to see how the audience is going to take this. But, I mean, we did our best and I have a great feeling about it. The stuff that we shot looks amazing. This season, in particular, is probably the biggest we’ve ever done. Some of the executives I’ve heard are very pleased. We are happy, as far as I’m concerned. But I can’t wait to see to see that stuff myself. I haven’t seen any of it.”
Ivar is an antihero but also filling the void left by Ragnar. How do you approach making him sympathetic or likeable? Is that even possible?
Alex Høgh Andersen: “Yeah, that’s the big struggle with Ivar. It’s a great thing you mentioned Ragnar because I like to think of it this way: Ragnar is an antihero and he’s more of a hero than he’s anti. I think Ivar is a bit more of the opposite. He is an antihero with an emphasis on anti.
That’s the great thing about it because I love to challenge the audience. There’s nothing more interesting, I find, than to make the audience guess all the time, and sit down and actually think, ‘Do we like this dude?’ That just challenges the audiences. That’s the whole part of the art, right, is to make people actually think and not just sit down and be relaxed.
But, yeah, he’s quite a trouble to make people feel sympathy for him. What I do and then of course working with Michael all the time and have great dialogue with him – we’re both aware of the fact that we need him to have these flaws where we see once in a while the real human where he’s not in control. He’s not acting and he’s not manipulating people. We really need to have those because otherwise he will become one-dimensional and that’s the worst thing I know.
But, also, the whole physicality of him, the visual part of him is very important to keep in a crawling mode, so to speak, as much as possible. I believe that every single time we see him crawl it’s a constant reminder of what he’s been through and what he’s dealing with on a daily basis. I think it’s hard for people to fathom what he’s been through. It’s hard for me and I’m playing the dude!
I think every single time we have a chance where he can crawl, he’s not just sitting on a chair, because if he’s sitting on a chair, he looks like everybody else. But if I have a chance to either choreograph the scene in a way that makes it obvious that he’s a cripple or creates a reminder that this is what he’s been through or this is what he’s been dealing with, I think that’s one way to keep him as being an antihero. That there’s still good in him.
But, yeah, it is a challenge. On the outside he is a controlled maniac, but on the inside he’s a poor boy. So, for me, I’ve never had trouble having sympathy for him. I think that if I ever lose that, I think the audience will as well. And the opposite way – if I have sympathy for him, I think the audience will as well.”
How is Jonathan Rhys Meyers’ new character, Bishop Heahmund, a formidable adversary for Ivar?
Alex Høgh Andersen:“You know, Jonathan Rhys Meyers who plays Bishop Heahmund is phenomenal. It was a great, great pleasure working with him. He’s outstanding. He’s so intense. It was great to work with him.
His character is really what Michael and I talked about when Michael told me about the idea of bringing him in and creating this archenemy to Ivar. I think if Ivar didn’t have someone who was similar to him, I think it would be close to unbearable, close to a walk in the park for Ivar. He needs to have some enemy that are just as extreme, for a different cause but just as extreme and determined and such powerhouses as well. Jonathan really, really brings that to the table.
Having these two characters square off together is phenomenal. You’ll see a lot of scenes with these two together. I think what’s very interesting with the two characters is that they understand each other. You know that thing about even though it’s your biggest enemy, you do understand him because you are very similar. If you come from the same place, you have the same ideas, you have the same goals. There’s a mutual respect and you’ll see that. There’s mutual respect between these two guys. The dynamic between these two strong characters, I think, is going to be very interesting. I believe some of the stuff we shot where they are squaring off is going to be very, very good. I have a great feeling about it and Jonathan is just absolutely tremendous.”
Aimee Garcia and Tom Ellis in ‘Lucifer’ season 3 episode 6 (Photo by Michael Courtney / FOX)
A horribly out of tune chorus of “Happy Birthday” kicks off Fox’s Lucifer season three episode six. It’s Chloe’s birthday and as she’s about to blow out her candles at the station, a massive fake cake with a male stripper arrives to pretty much everyone’s dismay.
Chloe (Lauren German) keeps protesting as the fake officer strips. Dan (Kevin Alejandro) and Lucifer (Tom Ellis) point the finger at each other, and yet it turns out this one’s all Ella’s doing. “Packages” are discussed as Ella (Aimee Garcia) eggs Chloe on, slapping the stripper’s butt.
Lucifer’s enjoyment is put on hold when he gets a call from the Las Vegas police notifying him his ex-wife, Candy, is missing. He asks to be contacted if they hear anything. Ella asks if he’s okay and after finding out about Candy, she gives him an unexpected hug. He admits he thought he’d taken care of Candy’s problem, but apparently not.
Ella wants to stop the birthday entertainment, but Lucifer doesn’t want to worry everyone. Instead, he’ll head to Vegas to see what’s up. Ella says she’d go, but she has a “thing” with Vegas. She acts all reluctant to go even though she was never invited, and then says she’ll do it as if he twisted her arm. She has a few days off, so she’s prepared for a Vegas trip.
Lucifer and Ella head out, leaving a disappointed Chloe behind on her birthday.
The sexy Devil and his sidekick arrive in Sin City and she describes herself as not a fan of the city but more like “a tiny, helpless space capsule being sucked into a deadly black hole.” Chloe keeps calling Lucifer and he ignores it, not wanting to ruin her birthday.
They head up to Candy’s room and there’s a dead blonde on the floor. The active crime scene has blood all around the body, and Lucifer figures out the murder victim isn’t his ex-wife because Candy has huge feet. The dead woman has normal feet.
The detective in charge, Detective Jay Wong (Jack Yang), introduces himself to Lucifer and wonders why Lucifer isn’t upset. Ella tries to stop Lucifer from saying the woman isn’t Candy. Ella examines the body, declaring she and Lucifer can’t be suspects because the body has been deceased since way before they got there.
Ella takes Lucifer aside and he misinterprets her Pig Latin for awful German, saying he knows the language well because Hitler was a talker/screamer. Ella thinks they shouldn’t say that’s not Candy because the killer might learn that and track down the real Candy to finish the job.
Chloe pays a visit to Dr. Linda (Rachael Harris) and asks if she’s heard from Lucifer. She can’t find him and he won’t answer her calls. Chloe’s obviously upset, and Dr. Linda finally convinces her to sit down and talk about it. Chloe’s confused and rambling, and keeps bringing up the fact it’s her birthday. Dr. Linda understands since birthdays can be emotional and volunteers to help her find Lucifer.
Lucifer and Ella decide the next step is to find the killer before the killer finds out that wasn’t Candy. Ella asks if there’s someone who wants her dead and Lucifer has a flashback to Candy singing on stage in a gorgeous red dress. Lucifer had been in a drunken state, drowning his sorrows in alcohol. As she was singing, Candy rubbed up against Lucifer at the bar. He soon learned she stole his wallet and ring, and he became completely infatuated.
Lucifer remembers tracking her down and watching her pay money to a local loan shark named Louie Pagliani.
Back to current events, Lucifer’s sure he already dealt with Louie but thinks they should check up on him, just in case. Ella picks the lock on his front door and Lucifer’s immediately struck by how gaudy Louie’s house is. Ella, however, is more interested in Louie’s dead body on the floor.
Louie’s dead body is cradling a gun, but Ella points out the blood splatter makes no sense. He didn’t kill himself and the murder was staged. They find a pink hair on Louie’s body, and Lucifer believes it’s Candy’s but doesn’t think she would kill anyone.
Lucifer and Ella find a painting of Louie and his wife, and Louie’s groin has been destroyed. They deduce Louie’s wife thought he was having an affair with Candy and tried to kill her. Lucifer grabs Louie’s phone and calls his wife, but Ella grabs it away before he can talk. Ella disguises her voice and says she has the sexy bust of Caesar they ordered and wants to know where to deliver it. The woman claims she didn’t order a bust of Caesar and Ella hears casino games in the background, apologizes, and hangs up. Ella heard the Guido’s Rainbow Slot Machine and knows that’s a vintage machine and only one casino has it, The Moonbeam.
Chloe and Dr. Linda arrive at Lucifer’s place and one of his overnight bags is missing. Chloe decides they should go out and celebrate her birthday, but then Linda has a better idea. They’ll hang out at Lucifer’s place and drink his top-shelf alcohol. Plus, the place has a fabulous view of the sunset.
Chloe and Linda get their drink on, and Chloe busts out her best Tom Cruise in Risky Business moves. As Chloe’s lip-synching into a bottle, Linda spots an edition of Hamlet. She opens it to find it’s autographed to Lucifer from William Shakespeare.
Chloe does a lousy Lucifer imitation and then they decide to check out his sock drawer. Lucifer rings up Linda at that moment, letting her know he’s in Vegas and has to miss their appointment. As they’re talking, Ella rides the escalator down to meet him and she’s dressed to kill. He’s still on the phone with Linda when he says, “Don’t you look ravishing,” to Ella.
After they hang up and Linda lies and tells Chloe Lucifer said something about radishes.
Ella looks stunning and has busted out the bling. Off they go to find a killer while back in LA at his place, Chloe has figured out he said ravishing, not radishes. Now she’s even more upset because he’s in Vegas with someone ravishing on her birthday.
Chloe attempts to tell Linda she and Lucifer are just partners – there isn’t any romance going on. Linda thinks she hasn’t dealt with her emotions. Chloe looks for her pants and knocks a painting off the wall, uncovering a safe.
Ella and Lucifer find Louie’s wife, Roxie Pagliani (Lauren Holly), and it turns out she’s a pit boss. The extremely attractive pair get into a discussion about whether to play poker or Blackjack, with Ella reminding him he said he doesn’t lie and therefore can’t play poker because that requires bluffing. Lucifer, however, believes lying and bluffing are two totally different things.
Since Roxie’s working the Blackjack tables, Ella steers Lucifer to a seat. He’s on a winning streak and gathering a crowd. Lucifer’s betting lots of money with Ella’s help and they’re raking it in. Lucifer’s distracted by a pretty woman, and Ella all but shoves him out of his chair and takes over his bets. As Ella’s betting, security personnel arrive and take her and Lucifer away.
Ella and Lucifer have their pictures taken and are patted down before Roxie arrives. She scans their photos using facial recognition and it turns out Ella has quite a history of counting cards in casinos. Lucifer’s impressed. Roxie threatens to call the LAPD and Ella’s fine with that, as long as she also tells them about her own crimes. They accuse her of killing Louie and who she thought was his mistress, and it turns out Roxie has no idea her husband’s dead.
Roxie knew her husband would eventually be killed but she claims she didn’t do it. Lucifer does his “what do you want” mind trick and she admits she wants the pro golfer on table four. She’s been doing triple shifts just to get a hole in one from this guy.
Back at Lucifer’s place, Chloe and Linda try out all sorts of combinations but the safe isn’t opening. 666, 8008, etc…nothing works. Chloe fibs and says she thinks Lucifer needs help, and Linda suggests maybe “radish” is code for help.
It turns out Chloe and Linda are so obsessed with opening the safe, they’ve even called in Dan to help. He’s got a drill!
Ella and Lucifer are roughly escorted out of Moonbeam Casino. She says counting cards is a coping mechanism to quiet the voices. (Ella must have an amazing backstory!) She doesn’t want to elaborate and turns the tables, saying he’s avoiding Chloe. He claims he’s just protecting Chloe. The subject finally returns to what they’re in Vegas for: to find Candy.
Ella wants to know how they ended up married and Lucifer has a flashback to meeting Candy after she robbed him. He waited for her at her apartment and then took his ring back, telling her she could keep the cash. She fake-cried, asked him not to call the cops, and then went through this whole story about how her dead father owned the club she was singing at but he owed money to Louie. Louie the loan shark needed $300,000 or he’d take the club.
Lucifer applauded her performance but recognized the crying as fake. However, the story was actually real; the waterworks were not. She did need the money, but she felt bad about stealing from him because it was obvious he had his own problems. Lucifer confessed his problems while they ate ice cream and drank wine, and she was very supportive. He gave her vague details about his dad and lots of details about his relationship with Chloe, which she labeled unrequited love. Lucifer tried to explain it wasn’t unrequited, it was just that Chloe had no control over those feelings.
Candy said she’s just a singer forced to do things to get her dad’s club back, and she didn’t want to be a con woman. She swore she doesn’t lie; she bluffs. Lucifer then had the brilliant idea that he’d pay her debts if she masqueraded as his bimbo wife.
Ella follows Lucifer’s thinking, summing it up as he fake married Candy to avoid Chloe even though he cared about Chloe.
Lindsay Gort, Tom Ellis and Aimee Garcia in ‘Lucifer’ (Photo by Michael Courtney / FOX)
As they’re talking outside the casino, a woman rushes up and Lucifer recognizes the cocktail waitress from the casino. Turns out it’s Candy in a brunette wig and she warns him he’s about to ruin everything. Candy tells Lucifer the casino’s where her killer works. She also assumed Roxie was the killer, but Lucifer confirms Roxie isn’t the murderer. Candy reveals her friend Ally is the one who was murdered in her apartment.
It turns out Candy still believes Roxie did it because the killer wanted her dad’s club. The only thing missing from her apartment after the murder was the pocket deed to her dad’s club. Whoever possesses the deed, owns the club. The deed had been used as collateral when her father owed Louie and when Candy went to confront him, he was already dead.
Still, Roxie’s ruled out because she was working overtime to land the golfer. Lucifer figures out they’re still technically married so if Candy’s dead, the club goes to him. It doesn’t matter who has the deed. That means Lucifer is the killer’s next target.
Instead of hiding, Lucifer does the very Lucifer-ish thing and performs on stage at the club. Playing the piano, singing, and surrounded by dancers, Lucifer MC’s the show and declares himself the new owner. He breaks out into “Luck Be a Lady Tonight” while Ella takes a turn as a high-kicking showgirl. (Love having Tom Ellis once again singing on Lucifer!)
Candy watches from the audience for any suspicious activity.
Night’s fallen and Chloe, Linda, and Dan are no closer to opening the safe than when they started. All they’ve done is make a giant hole in the wall by the safe. Chloe decides this is all nuts and pointless. She also admits that even if they get into the safe, there are things about Lucifer she’ll never understand. Chloe once again expresses her disappointment in Lucifer leaving on her birthday and Linda reminds her Lucifer’s a “non-traditional guy.”
Chloe’s upset she sounds jealous. She tears up, saying Lucifer’s just her friend. Dan returns with spackling and they toast to the weirdest birthday party ever.
Lucifer’s off the stage and the bar’s deserted when the bartender draws a gun. Hand shaking, he declares the place is his. As Lucifer talks and advances toward him, Judd the bartender begins shooting. He shoots Lucifer three times, but nothing happens. Judd can’t believe Lucifer’s fine and he also can’t believe it when he sees Candy on the stage. He thought he killed her, and Lucifer says since he’s the Devil maybe that means Candy’s haunting her killer. Judd admits he was in debt from gambling and that the club isn’t worth anything but the land is. He wanted Candy’s dad to sell the place but he wouldn’t. Judd admits to shooting Candy in the back of the head, and he begins firing once again at the mirrors on stage with Candy’s image.
Ella shoots Judd in the leg and Lucifer compliments her aim.
Judd’s being taken away by Detective Wong when Candy tells Lucifer thank you. He has to get back to LA, so he can’t stick around for a drink. Candy wonders what’s up with Chloe and tells him to get home to her.
Lucifer arrives at home to find his place is a mess. Drink glasses are everywhere, and Linda and Dan are passed out. He’s about to pour himself a drink when he spots Chloe. He wonders what they’re all doing there. He reveals the truth about where he was to Chloe, believing she’s also passed out. She’s not, but she’s facing away from him so he doesn’t realize she’s awake. He admits he bluffed but now he thinks bluffing is the same as lying, and he doesn’t want to lie – especially not to Chloe. He places his hand on her back and then looks up at his safe. It’s not open and as he rubs the hole in the wall next to it, Chloe pretends she’s just waking up.
He tells Chloe she has perfect timing as he opens the safe. Inside is a box and it’s a surprise gift for her birthday! Chloe’s stunned and happy, and she thanks him before she even opens it. It’s a beautiful necklace made out of the bullet she shot him with early in their partnership. “I thought since I’d never likely penetrate you, I’d commemorate the one time you penetrated me,” says Lucifer. Chloe busts out laughing.
ABC’s Once Upon a Time season seven episode five had the burning of Sabine and Jacinda’s beignet restaurant (which was actually Mr. Cluck’s), Roni trying to steer Henry away from Ivy, the discovery of a photo of a young Henry with Roni/Regina, and a prince transforming into a frog to be with his froggy partner. Oh, there was also the not-so-unexpected reveal that Ivy’s not a nice person. She demanded to be called Drizella by the weird woman chained up in Belfry Tower who she’s apparently in cahoots with. Plus, there was this weird thing about a tattoo that wards away evil and has something to do with the missing girl case of Eloise Gardner.
Up next, season seven episode six titled “Wake Up Call.” Directed by Sharat Raju from a script by Jerome Schwartz and Jane Espenson, “Wake Up Call” will air on November 10, 2017 at 8pm ET/PT.
Season seven stars Lana Parrilla as Regina/Roni, Robert Carlyle as Rumpelstiltskin/Weaver, Colin O’Donoghue as Hook/Rogers, Andrew J. West as Henry Mills, Gabrielle Anwar as Lady Tremaine/Victoria Belfrey, Dania Ramirez as Cinderella/Jacinda, Alison Fernandez as Lucy, Mekia Cox as Sabine/Tiana, and Adelaide Kane as Drizella/Ivy. The guest cast includes Emma Booth as The Witch and Rose Reynolds as Alice/Tilly.
The “Wake Up Call” Plot: – Feeling like a third wheel as Henry and Cinderella’s relationship strengthens, Regina is surprised to find herself needed by Drizella, who is searching for magic. But when a brutal truth is revealed, it could lead Drizella down a dangerous path. In Hyperion Heights, Roni seeks Weaver’s help in finding answers, and Tilly offers Rogers some intriguing advice concerning Eloise Gardener.
Adelaide Kane and Lana Parrilla in ‘Once Upon a Time’ season 7 episode 6 (ABC/Jack Rowand)Lana Parrilla as Roni (ABC/Jack Rowand)Robert Carlyle in ‘Once Upon a Time’ (ABC/Jack Rowand)Adelaide Kane as Ivy/Drizella (ABC/Jack Rowand)Lana Parrilla as Roni/Regina (ABC/Jack Rowand)Adelaide Kane as Ivy/Drizella (ABC/Jack Rowand)
ABC and dick clark productions confirmed Kelly Clarkson and Demi Lovato are both returning to the American Music Awards stage. Kelly Clarkson last performed live on the American Music Awards in 2012 and Lovato’s last American Music Awards performance was in 2015 when she performed “Confident” plus a duet with Alanis Morissette on “You Oughta Know.” This year, Clarkson will be performing a new single off her latest album, Meaning of Life, as well as a surprise fan favorite single. Demi Lovato is set to perform “Sorry Not Sorry” off Tell Me You Love Me.
It was previously announced Korean pop band BTS would be making their U.S. television performance debut during this year’s American Music Awards. BTS will take the stage and perform their new single, “DNA.” Selena Gomez is also going to entertain music fans with a live performance of her new single, “Wolves.”
The 2017 American Music Awards will be broadcast live on ABC beginning at 8pm ET on Sunday, November 19th.
More on Kelly Clarkson, Courtesy of the American Music Awards: Multiple GRAMMY-Award winner Kelly Clarkson recently released her eagerly anticipated eighth studio album Meaning of Life. Her first release with Atlantic Records, Meaning of Life is the album Clarkson was destined to make, a collection of smart and sensual soul-inspired pop that immediately belongs among the legendary label’s classic canon. The Texas-born, Nashville-based singer-songwriter first came to fame in 2002 as the winner of American Idol’s inaugural season, and has grown to be one the most popular artists of this or any other era, with over 100 No. 1 Billboard singles and total worldwide sales of more than 25 million albums and 36 million singles.
Clarkson has released eight studio albums (Thankful,Breakaway, My December, All I Ever Wanted, Stronger, Wrapped In Red, Piece By Piece, Meaning of Life), one greatest hits album, and two children’s books (New York Times Top 10 best seller River Rose and the Magical Lullaby and the recent follow up River Rose and the Magical Christmas). She is the recipient of three GRAMMY Awards, four American Music Awards, three MTV Video Music Awards, two Academy of Country Music Awards, two American Country Awards, and one Country Music Association Award. Clarkson was also recently announced as a coach on the 14th season the The Voice, in addition to serving as a Key Advisor on the current season’s Knockout Round.
More on Demi Lovato, Courtesy of 2017’s AMAs: Demi Lovato is a GRAMMY® nominated and multi-platinum singer, songwriter, actress, advocate, philanthropist and business woman. In addition, she’s one of the biggest names on social media, with an engaged combined following of over 145 million. Lovato’s highly-anticipated fifth studio album, Confident, was released in 2015. Within hours of the release of the first single, “Cool for the Summer,” the anthem trended worldwide and hit No. 1 on iTunes in 37 countries.
Her previous album, 2013’s Demi, hit No. 1 on iTunes in over 50 countries around the world – with the lead single “Heart Attack” earning Platinum status just 10 weeks after its release. “Heart Attack” was followed by the top 10 Billboard Hot 100 smash and platinum single “Neon Lights,” and her top 10 single “Really Don’t Care.” The album supported two headlining tours (Neon Lights and Demi World Tour) which made stops throughout North America, Europe, Asia, Australia and New Zealand.
In April 2017, Lovato played the voice of Smurfette in the Sony animated film, Smurfs: The Lost Village. Additionally, beyond the stage and the screen, in 2013, her book Staying Strong: 365 Days a Year, became a New York Times best-seller, and in 2014 she became a global ambassador for Sketchers. In 2015, Lovato partnered with Episode, a leading mobile storytelling network, to make Demi Lovato: Path to Fame. Since launching, her story has been read over 225 million times.
In 2016, Lovato took on a new venture and was announced as the first-ever collaboration with Fabletics, the innovative active wear brand co-founded by Kate Hudson. As a result of her long-time commitment to raising awareness around LGBT issues and causes, in 2016, Lovato became the recipient of GLAAD’s Vanguard award. She continues to be a global advocate for Mental Health, and in 2017 was honored by Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior at UCLA, with the Artistic Award for Courage for her work in mental health. In addition, also in 2017, she was named by Global Citizen as the organization’s official ambassador for mental health, with a special focus on vulnerable communities around the world.
In July 2017, she released the first single “Sorry Not Sorry” off her album Tell Me You Love Me, debuted at No. 3 on the Billboard 200 chart. The album hit No. 1 on iTunes in 37 countries on September 29th.
