On August 29, 2016 the world lost a wonderful and uniquely talented man in Gene Wilder. Variety reported that he “died Monday at his home in Stamford, Conn. His nephew Jordan Walker-Pearlman said he died of complications from Alzheimer’s disease.” Wilder, born Silberman, was 83. He began acting at 12, worked successfully on the stage before moving on to film and garnering two Academy Award nominations. Wilder specialized in characters whose outward calm could easily melt into full-blown panic or hysteria. But all his work contained a gentle humanity; all you had to do was look into those eyes and there was a sweetness that could not be hidden. Perhaps that’s why he never played a villain in films, I don’t think anyone would have believed him playing a character that was evil. Wilder will be deeply missed and no one can fill that void. But fortunately for filmgoers, he leaves behind a collection of work that we can cherish and enjoy forever.
1. Young Frankenstein (1974)
This film is the pinnacle for both Gene Wilder and Mel Brooks. The two collaborated on a number of films and Brooks launched Wilder’s film career with The Producers but this remains their best work. Young Frankenstein is flawless starting with a pitch perfect cast and running through all the technical credits from the production design to gorgeous black and white cinematography. Wilder received his second Academy Award nomination for this film (for co-writing the script with Brooks) and created the memorable Frederick Frankenstein (pronounced Fronkensteen!) who is having a hard time dealing with his grandfather’s scientific legacy. If you only see one Gene Wilder film, you must make it this one because it not only highlights his onscreen acting skills but also his best efforts as a screenwriter. The film drips with affection for Universal’s 1931 Frankenstein and pays homage to the monster genre by sending it up in high comic style.
2. Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (1971) Young Frankenstein is Wilder’s best film but Willy Wonka is hands down his most memorable and beloved character. As Roald Dahl’s famous literary creation, Wilder is irreverent, mischievous, and utterly delightful – plus he sings! The film is a bit uneven but Wilder is perfection as the owner of a massive chocolate factory. Watch his face for subtle, delicious reactions to what’s going on in scenes.
3. The Producers (1967)
This film solidified Wilder’s career as a film star. He plays accountant Leo Bloom who somewhat reluctantly partners with producer Max Bialystock to make money by producing a sure-fire flop. As the neurotic Bloom who easily crumbles under pressure and requires his “blue blanket” to bring him back from hysteria, Wilder delivered a star turn and stole the show from the more veteran Zero Mostel. Brooks met Wilder through his future wife Anne Bancroft who worked with Wilder on stage and recommended him. The film proved to be the first of many collaborations and the two men seemed to bring out the best in each other. This film is comic gold and Wilder’s performance is still reaping dividends.
4. Blazing Saddles (1974)
Yes another Brooks-Wilder collaboration makes this list and it’s another homage to Hollywood, this time to the Western genre. Brooks brilliantly pairs Wilder with Cleavon Little and the chemistry pays off in not only big laughs but in characters we just love to watch interacting. Wilder plays Jim, a.k.a. the Waco Kid, a perpetually drunk but good-natured gunslinger. There’s a great chess game among other comic gems.
5. Bonnie and Clyde (1967) The Producers made Wilder a star but you could see his genius in a supporting role in his first credited screen performance that came out the same year as Brooks’ film. The film was Arthur Penn’s Bonnie and Clyde, a violent, romanticized take on the infamous outlaw tale and Wilder played a young man named Eugene Grizzard who is kidnapped by the bank robbers. Wilder’s Eugene gets along fine with the criminals until he reveals that he’s a mortician and then he’s booted out of the car. It’s a small but highly memorable role and the film is worth checking out because it is a classic in its own right but also because it reveals a slightly different side to Wilder’s talent.
6. Stir Crazy (1980)
The second pairing of Wilder and Richard Pryor proved more successful than the first (see below) because it placed these comedians in situations where they could shine. The idea of Wilder and Pryor (as a playwright and an actor) in prison and trying to act tough provided a lot of opportunities for them to play to their strengths. The film also tapped into Wilder’s good-natured persona in unexpected ways.
7. Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Sex But Were Afraid To Ask (1972)
Woody Allen directs Wilder in a segment about a doctor who falls in love with a sheep. Really do I need to say anything more to make you want to check this out?
8. Sherlock Holmes’ Smarter Brother (1975)
Wilder launched his directing career with this spoof about the great detective’s overlooked brother. He turned to Brooks regulars Madeline Kahn and Marty Feldman for support and although the film is not as good as his collaborations with Brooks, it delivers an enjoyable outing. Wilder would also direct himself in The World’s Greatest Lover, which had some hilarious moments, and a string of middling comedies. This remains his most successful directing achievement.
9. Silver Streak (1976)
Kudos to Arthur Hiller for pairing up Wilder and fellow comedian Richard Pryor in this comedy thriller. This earlier film isn’t as good as Stir Crazy but it deserves a look for being the first to bring these two comic icons together, and their scenes together are wonderful. It was also a big box office hit.
10. Woman in Red (1984)
Wilder met his wife-to-be Gilda Radner in 1982 while making Hanky Panky. Their off screen romance endeared them to fans and was genuinely sweet. (Tragically, Radner would die of ovarian cancer only a few years later in 1989.) But their chemistry is preserved in a handful of films. Woman in Red was a film that Wilder wrote and directed, and it’s probably the best example of their on screen work together.
Nick Zano apparently didn’t get the memo on what he could or couldn’t say about Legends of Tomorrow while at the 2016 San Diego Comic-Con. Zano, who joins the cast in season two as Nate Heywood/Citizen Steel, divulged a little too much in his first interview at the Con and – unfortunately – by the time he sat down for our roundtable interview, he was much better at keeping certain details of his character a secret. Still, Zano provided enough behind-the-scenes info on his character and on what audiences can expect from Legends of Tomorrow‘s second season that fans should be anxious to find out how Nate/Citizen Steel will interact with the rest of the Legends gang.
Legends of Tomorrow will kick off season two on The CW on Thursday, October 13th at 8pm ET/PT.
Nick Zano Interview:
What can you tell us about your character?
Nick Zano: “(He’s) just becoming Citizen Steel and all the responsibility that comes with that. (I’m) adapting to a new show in a new environment with a bunch of new cast mates, on a pre-existing show that was pretty f**king awesome last year. So, it was just a thing of coming on and just not sucking.”
How much of the comics did you research?
Nick Zano: “DC sent over a bunch of stuff, however, our path with Nate isn’t traditional from the comics. In the comic, Nate is addicted to painkillers and he’s lost a leg and he’s an ex-athlete. We’re not doing that part.”
What attracted you to the role?
Nick Zano: “Greg (Berlanti), Marc (Guggenheim) and Phil (Klemmer). We all had a big powwow a couple of times and during it they explained everything they were going to do. I watched the first season and then they explained how they’re expanding it and what changes in the season to make it almost a different show each season, and it seemed exciting.
Look, Berlanti is operating on something of a scale that I’ve never witnessed. He does like four nights on one channel. It’s unbelievable. The coolest thing about it is it’s one universe. The cross-over thing done appropriately is really rad if you’re a fan. It’s so much fan candy, it’s ridiculous.”
How does Nate fit in with the rest of the group?
Nick Zano: “I’ve shot three days so far, and I’ve shot two of them with Dom (Purcell) and that was fun. The first thing I liked about the show when I was watching it was how the first season progressed and you started getting what you wanted from the characters. I remember a couple of episodes where Dom was just like he said ‘kill’ and ‘fire’ through the whole episode, and I was so satisfied with the ‘kill’ and ‘fire.’ I was really stoked to work with him, and hopefully, we can do more. We had a group scene, my first group scene, the other night and our cast is probably as big as this table so when I was talking to everybody trying to give a speech to everybody and you realize in the middle of your speech, ‘Oh sh*t, there’s like five other people (behind you).'”
What were the costume fittings like?
Nick Zano: “Fittings are extensive…very personal. I’m on my second 3D scan.”
Will we see you in the costume right away?
Nick Zano: “No. I mean, episode one is really phenomenal. It’s a piecing together of something, an epic adventure of what you love best about this show. It’s a very, very ambitious episode and we’re like kind of killing ourselves already to get it done. But it’s literally everything you love about this show.”
Have you done any stunts yet? Are you looking forward to doing them?
Nick Zano: “Super stoked. I’m at the part now where I’m just getting to know everybody in that world, so I’ve kind of like got a jumpy foot where I’m just like, ‘Can we get to superhero-ing already?!’ I will say my first scene is on the Arrow set.”
After watching season one, is there any actor in particular you were looking forward to working with in scenes?
Nick Zano: “Well, Wentworth (Miller) and Dom. Those stand out. Victor (Garber) is like a bucket list if you’re a TV actor. To lock eyes with him during a scene is very exciting. I remember during rehearsal and I was looking at Victor during a scene and he was quiet. I’m like, ‘Oh, sh*t, it’s me. My bad!’ I was like, ‘I’ll do better.’ But, everyone is really, really over-qualified and it’s really exciting to be around this diverse cast. Everyone is very individualized. There is no cross-over in any sort of character acting at all, which is hard to do in a group like that.”
What sort of personality does Nate have?
Nick Zano: “He was described as an Indiana Jones/Han Solo hybrid, but I haven’t gotten to do that yet because I’m in this other place with him.”
Is he funny?
Nick Zano: “Well, I hope so. I hope it comes off funny. I played it funny for Greg and Mark and Phil. But I think when stakes are high, comedy is kind of easy. It doesn’t take much. If you’re saving the world, it just takes one line and that funny is like, ‘Thank god the tension broke,’ and then you go about it. So I think I’m going to play him with a Stark-ism, you know what I mean? Not a full Stark, but a little bit.”
Watch the full Nick Zano interview:
(Interview by Fred Topel. Article by Rebecca Murray.)
Maureen McCormick and Artem Chigvintsev on ‘Dancing with the Stars’ (ABC/Craig Sjodin)
ABC confirmed the “celebrities” who will be dancing on the 23rd season of Dancing with the Stars and, yes, disgraced Olympian Ryan Lochte will showing off his dancing skills. Season 23 will also feature a former Texas governor, a rapper, and the original Marcia Brady (Maureen McCormick). ABC’s set a September 12, 2016 premiere date, with the season kicking off with a two-hour premiere beginning at 8pm ET/PT. Tom Bergeron and Erin Andrews host the reality competition series.
The season 23 Dancing with the Stars celebrities and their partners are:
* Amber Rose with Maksim Chmerkovskiy
* Calvin Johnson Jr. with Lindsay Arnold
* Jake T. Austin with Jenna Johnson
* James Hinchcliffe with Sharna Burgess
* Jana Kramer with Gleb Savchenko
* Kenny “Babyface” Edmonds with Allison Holker
* Laurie Hernandez with Valentin Chmerkovskiy
* Marilu Henner with Derek Hough
* Maureen McCormick with Artem Chigvintsev
* Rick Perry with Emma Slater
* Ryan Lochte with Cheryl Burke
* Terra Jolé with Sasha Farber
* Vanilla Ice (Robert Van Winkle) with Witney Carson
In addition to confirming the list of DWTS contestants, ABC released details on the dancers for those unfamiliar with their work:
AMBER ROSE – Amber Rose is a proud mother, activist, entrepreneur, spokesperson, talk show host, model, actor and published author from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. MUVA, as she is affectionately known, has quickly become the unapologetic face of neo-feminism. Initially, accredited mostly to her striking appearance and keen fashion sense, the former Ford Model’s rise to massive popularity is now largely attributed to her controversial yet impactful voice on women’s issues. At the core of the Amber Rose brand is her non-profit, The Amber Rose Foundation, dedicated to women empowerment and equality. Rose is currently the executive producer and host of “The Amber Rose Show” on VH1. Her other television credits include ABC’s “black-ish,” “Selfie” and “Inside Amy Schumer.” On film she appeared in “School Dance” and starred in the movie “Sister Code.”
In 2012, Rose debuted her first single, “Fame,” followed by her second single, “Loaded.” She had previously appeared in several videos with the who’s who in music, including Ludacris, Nicki Minaj, Chris Brown and Wiz Khalifa. She has been credited on albums with Kanye West, Wiz Khalifa and Drake, among others. Rose’s 2016 release of her emoji app MuvaMoji quickly shot to number one, and her first book, “How to Be a Bad Bitch,” from Simon and Schuster, offers advice and personal anecdotes on finances, career, love and fashion. It was ranked #2 in iTunes audiobook sales. She was recently named the face of Flirt Cosmetics (Estee Lauder). The first product from the line is Flashes, which will be available September 15. Last year, Rose rallied her massive social media following to help produce the largest “Slutwalk” in the world, drawing over 10,000 people to stand with her at this inaugural event with millions streaming online. The Slutwalk this year will be held in Los Angeles on October 1 and is now becoming an annual event. Rose is lives in Los Angeles with her three year-old son, Sebastian, and mother, Dottie Rose.
CALVIN JOHNSON JR. – Calvin Johnson Jr. was born in Newnan, Georgia. He is known to many as one of the NFL’s best wide receiver of all times. Most people in the football world know him as “Megatron.” He is also a philanthropist and a family oriented man. Johnson’s journey to where he is today is credited to his parents, Calvin Johnson Sr. and Dr. Arica R. Johnson. They instilled in Calvin at an early age that putting God first, maintaining good grades in school, being obedient, possessing good character and striving toward a purposeful mission in life are some of the necessary ingredients to life success. Johnson never forgot what his parents taught him, because his actions continue to speak louder than words. During his years at Sandy Creek High School as a scholar, stand-out, all-state speedy wide receiver athlete, Johnson became the nation top recruit and helped his team win the regional title in 2003. He was named one of AJC’s Super 11 in 2003 as a junior for the best football players in the state of Georgia (34 receptions, 646 yards, and 10 touchdowns as a junior and added 40 receptions for 736 yards and eight TDs as a senior). He also received many awards and trophies. One in particular was the highest award given to a member of the senior class on graduation day, the Atlanta Journal Cup for excelling, showing leadership in community activities, arts, athletics and academics. As a tribute to Johnson, Sandy Creek High School retired his number 81 jersey in 2010.
After being recruited in 2003 by top Division I schools, highly publicized signee Johnson decided to attend the Georgia Institute of Technology. In 2004, he was rated as one of the nation’s top 10 record breaking performance wide receivers and top 100 players virtually by every recruiting analyst during his senior season. Johnson was rookie of the year, player of the year, best wide receiver in the nation by IGN.com, a two-time all-American wide receiver, Paul Warfield Trophy recipient, Biletnikoff Award winner, and 10th 2006 Heisman Vote for 76 receptions, 1,202 yards, 15.8 Avg, and 15 TDs. Johnson was a first round NFL draft pick by the Detroit Lions and later broke Jerry Rice’s single-season record for receiving yards, which had previously been 1,848. He also set NFL records for consecutive 100-yard games (eight) and consecutive games with 10 or more receptions (four). He also tied Hall of Famer Michael Irvin’s record for most 100-yard games in a season with 11. During Johnson’s off season, he devotes a lot of time to his foundation. Founded in 2008, The Calvin Johnson Jr. Foundation, Inc. (CJJRF) is a non-profit organization dedicated to the education, training, and social development of at-risk youth, along with providing financial assistance to community organizations.
JAKE T. AUSTIN – Whether appearing on TV/film or lending his voice to animated characters, 21-year-old Jake T. Austin is a multitalented actor who has showcased his talent across the board in the entertainment industry. From 2007 to 2012, Austin starred on Disney Channel’s Emmy Award-winning series “Wizards of Waverly Place,” as Max Russo, the youngest wizard of three. The hit show returned to Disney Channel for a one-hour TV reunion special, “The Wizards Return: Alex vs Alex.” Austin previously starred in Freeform’s “The Fosters,” portraying the role of Jesus Foster. His television guest-starring roles include “Law & Order: SVU” and “Drop Dead Diva.” On the big screen, he was last seen in Garry Marshall’s “New Year’s Eve,” starring opposite Abigail Breslin and Sarah Jessica Parker; “Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn,” starring opposite Joel Courtney as Huck; “Hotel For Dogs,” opposite Emma Roberts; the indie drama “Grantham & Rose,” and his first ever live-action feature film, “The Perfect Game.” Expanding on his talent in front of the camera, Austin has lent his voice to several movies and television shows. Most widely recognized for his starring role as the voice of Diego in Nickelodeon’s “Go, Diego, Go!” Austin’s voice can also be heard in films, including “Rio” and “Rio 2,” “Khumba,” “Everyone’s Hero” and “The Ant Bully.” A driven and talented young actor, Austin is equally committed to using his public profile to raise awareness for those less fortunate, supporting and devoting his free time to the Ronald McDonald House New York as its first-ever Youth Spokesperson. He was honored at Variety’s 2013 Power of Youth for this significant contribution. When Jake isn’t acting, you can find him in New York where he resides with his family and hanging out with friends.
JAMES HINCHCLIFFE – James Hinchcliffe is arguably one of the most popular drivers in the Verizon IndyCar Series. Currently in his sixth racing season and second for Schmidt Peterson Motorsports, the affable Canadian has four Indy car wins, 10 podiums and one pole position to date. He was voted IndyCar’s Favorite Driver in 2012 by the fans and was 2011 Verizon IndyCar Series Rookie of the Year. In 2015, the 29-year-old suffered life-threatening injuries from a practice crash for the Indianapolis 500, which ended his season after only five races. After a long road to recovery and rehabilitation, James returned to racing this year in even better shape than before. He earned his first IndyCar pole at the 100th Running of the Indianapolis 500, the venue that almost destroyed his career. The self-proclaimed Mayor of Hinchtown, his internet civilization, also is the namesake of Hinchtown Hammer Down Ale, a craft beer from Flat12 Bierwerks in Indianapolis. Away from the track, James is a certified Scuba diver and will often be found below the surface getting some “me time.” However he can still find a way to live dangerously, having swum with the sharks in the Bahamas and Turks and Caicos. A collector of guitars and lighters, he counts Eric Clapton, Joe Walsh, Stevie Ray Vaughan and Buddy Guy among his favorite guitarists and boasts a collection of lighters dating back to the 1930s, including some soldier-issued World War II lighters.
JANA KRAMER – Jana Kramer is an award-winning country artist. Her platinum debut single, “Why Ya Wanna,” soared to No. 3 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart in 2012, making her the most played new artist of that year, and her self-titled debut album hit No. 5. In 2013, the Academy of Country Music honored her with its Top New Female Artist Award, and Blake Shelton picked her to open on his “Ten Times Crazier” tour. In 2015, Jana released her highly anticipated sophomore album “thirty one,” in which she co-wrote over half of the tracks. The album debuted at No. 3 on the country albums chart and No. 10 on the Billboard Top 200 all-genre chart. Her gold-certified Top 3 single, “I Got the Boy,” was named one of the 25 Best Country Songs of 2015 by The New York Times, one of the Best Songs of 2015 by Rolling Stone, and one of the Top 40 Country Songs of 2015 by Spin Magazine.
Jana was honored as one of CMT’s Next Women of Country and co-headlined their first-ever female-powered tour. In 2016, Jana received nominations for Female Vocalist of the Year from the Academy of Country Music Awards, Breakthrough Female of the Year and Female Vocalist of the Year from the American Country Countdown Awards, and Female Video of the Year from the CMT Music Awards for “I Got the Boy.” Jana is no stranger to the spotlight with her impressive resume of movie and television roles. She is best known for her role as the fire cracker actress Alex Dupre on the television series “One Tree Hill,” where she had the opportunity to debut multiple songs, including hits “Holding Out for a Hero” and “Whiskey.” She has also made memorable guest appearances on “All My Children,” “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation,” “Grey’s Anatomy,” “Private Practice,” “CSI: NY,” “Friday Night Lights,” “90210” and “Entourage.” Jana currently resides in Nashville, Tennessee, with her daughter, Jolie Rae.
KENNY “BABYFACE” EDMONDS – Kenny “Babyface” Edmonds, the 11-time Grammy Award winner, channeled the magic of his storied career with “Return of the Tender Lover,” his first solo album in seven years, which is a nod to his RIAA triple-platinum album “Tender Lover.” That 1989 definitive breakthrough spun off four R&B/pop crossover hits, including the R&B No. 1’s “It’s No Crime” and “Tender Lover” plus “Whip Appeal” and “My Kinda Girl.” Music has always come first for Babyface. It’s the backbone of an award-winning, multi-faceted pop/urban career that includes the consecutive multi-platinum landmark albums “Tender Lover,” “For the Cool in You” (including such signature hits as “Never Keeping Secrets” and “When Can I See You”) and “The Day” (“Every Time I Close My Eyes”). As co-founder with L.A. Reid of LaFace Records in 1989, Babyface nurtured the careers of such megastars as TLC, OutKast, Usher and Toni Braxton. Paralleling those achievements is Babyface’s extensive songwriting and production credits from the ‘90s forward. He has produced and written/co-written hits for everyone from Whitney Houston, Eric Clapton and Michael Jackson to Boyz II Men, Mariah Carey, P!nk and Beyoncé, among countless others. That hit list boasts such smashes as Madonna’s “Take a Bow,” Clapton’s “Change the World” and Boyz II Men’s “I’ll Make Love to You.” His most recent productions include collaborations with Barbra Streisand, Celine Dion, Ledisi, Colbie Caillat, Jennifer Hudson and Ariana Grande.
The prolific music man counts more than 150 top 10 R&B and pop hits, 42 R&B No. 1 hits and 51 top 10 pop hits (including 16 No. 1’s). In turn, those stats have generated cumulative single and album sales of more than 500 million units worldwide. And that’s not counting the numerous awards that Babyface has received. A triumphant first tour of South Africa with Braxton this year yielded a double-platinum award for the duo’s “Love, Marriage & Divorce” (featuring the urban AC No. 1 “Hurt You”). This brought Kenny “Babyface” Edmonds his 11th Grammy with this year’s win for best R&B album. That latest accolade joins a host of other honors, including the Soul Train Music Awards, BMI Awards, NAACP Image Awards, American Music Awards, BET Walk of Fame Award, and receiving a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2013. Music isn’t the only way that Babyface gives back. The passionate philanthropist is very active in supporting Carousel of Hope, which benefits the Children’s Diabetes Foundation and Barbara Davis Center for Childhood Diabetes, and Larry Ruvo’s “Keep Memory Alive,” committed to improving the lives of patients and their families facing the challenges of brain disorders. He has performed at several fund-raising events on behalf of FasterCures and personally donates generously to VH1 Save the Music. In addition to contributing to other worthwhile organizations, including the United Negro College Fund, Babyface is a former national spokesman for Boarder Babies and helped raise more than $500,000 for a transitional home, The Little Blue House, in Washington, D.C. He is also a dedicated supporter of the David Foster Foundation for organ transplant patients and the Mike Milken Prostate Cancer Foundation.
LAURIE HERNANDEZ – Laurie Hernandez burst onto the Senior Elite gymnastics scene in 2016, just in time for the Rio Olympic Games where she won Silver in the individual balance beam and secured Gold in the team All-Around. Her goal had always been to make an Olympic Team, and her dream came true! Hernandez started gymnastics at the age of six when she asked her mother to enroll her in the sport, because she had so much energy and always wanted to experience the feeling of flying. She enrolled in Monmouth Gymnastics, where she met her coach, Maggie Haney, and they have been together ever since. The turning point in Laurie’s career happened in 2014 when her progress was stalled due to multiple injuries. She returned stronger than ever by becoming the 2015 U.S. Junior National Champion, and has been on the rise since then. Other career highlights include All-Around Silver; beam Gold and floor Bronze at the 2016 U.S. Olympic Trials, and Bronze in All-Around, floor, beam, and uneven bar at the 2016 National Championships. Hernandez is known for her dazzling floor exercise routine, where she has been nicknamed the “human emoji” for her outgoing facial expressions and for her grace and artistry on the balance beam.
MARILU HENNER – With the energy of a teenager, the wisdom of a sage, and the memory of a superhero, Marilu Henner has deservedly earned the nickname “Perpetual Motion.” Along with starring in over thirty films, six Broadway shows, and two hit classic sitcoms, “Taxi” and “Evening Shade,” this five-time Golden Globe nominee is also a New York Times bestselling author of ten books on health, parenting, memory, and lifestyle improvement. Her books include the recent bestseller “Changing Normal: How I Helped My Husband Beat Cancer,” “Total Memory Makeover,” “Total Health Makeover,” “Healthy Life Kitchen,” “I Refuse to Raise a Brat” and “By All Means Keep On Moving,” and have changed the lives of millions in her quest to make the world a healthier place.
Marilu Henner can currently be seen in the Hallmark series “Aurora Teagarden,” as well as the Hallmark Channel film “Love on a Limb” and can be seen in the upcoming the theatrical features “In-Lawfully Yours” and “Imperfections,” which will premiere at the Chicago Film Festival in October 2016. Marilu has hosted and executive produced two talk shows, “Marilu” and “Shape Up Your Life.” And as a two-time competitor on Donald Trump’s “Celebrity Apprentice” and “Celebrity Apprentice All-Stars,” Marilu played for her favorite charities, including The Physicians’ Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM) and the Alzheimer’s Association. In fact, at PCRM’s 25th Anniversary Gala, she was awarded their Voice of Compassion Award. As one of only twelve people documented with Highly Superior Autobiographical Memory, Marilu was the subject of a two-part special on “60 Minutes” and on “60 Minutes Australia,” as well as news programs and newspaper articles around the globe. She also served as the consultant on the CBS series “Unforgettable,” which ran for four seasons. Her ninth book, “Total Memory Makeover: Uncover Your Past, Take Charge of Your Future!,” was released in 2012 and became an instant New York Times and Publishers Weekly Best Seller.
Her acting career continues to thrive, as Marilu recently appeared in “Brooklyn Nine-Nine,” “The Crazy Ones,” “The Glades,” and the finale of “Two and a Half Men.” In 2012, she appeared in the feature film “Vamps” and in two holiday movies, “Hitched for the Holidays” on the Hallmark Channel and “High School Holiday Reunion” on Lifetime. Henner was a pioneer on the Internet, starting her own website, Marilu.com in 1999. In 2000, she began teaching online classes for her growing membership, as well as offering online counseling and support along with her twenty coaches who teach her Total Health Makeover (THM) lifestyle. Marilu has spoken before Congress on seven occasions on various subjects from dietary supplements and women’s cardiovascular disease to deadbeat parents, and she was one of only two private citizens selected to contribute to the shaping of our government’s food pyramid on 2004 and 2014.
MAUREEN MCCORMICK – Maureen McCormick is widely known for her portrayal of eldest daughter, Marcia Brady, on the seminal ABC television sitcom “The Brady Bunch,” on which she starred from 1969 to 1974. She later reprised the role in many of the numerous “Brady Bunch” spin-offs and films, including “The Brady Kids,” “The Brady Bunch Hour,” “The Brady Brides“ as well as “A Very Brady Christmas.” But America’s favorite girl next door is way more than the three words she became famous for, encapsulated by “Marcia! Marcia! Marcia!” McCormcik has also had a successful career in film, as a stage actress, recording artist and author. She co-starred in the iconic feature “The Idolmaker,” toured in the starring role as Wendy Darling in “Peter Pan” and Betty Rizzo in “Grease,” and released four popular studio albums. She portrayed country singer Barbara Mandrell in the television biopic “Get to the Heart: The Barbara Mandrell Story.” In 2009, McCormick added New York Times bestselling author to her resume with her much anticipated memoir, “Here’s The Story.” Over the past decade she’s guest-starred on select primetime hit series while raising her daughter and enjoying family life. Maureen is very active in the Best Buddies Foundation that she holds near and dear to her heart. She has previously sponsored kids through Children International, which helps give kids a chance for a better future, and has participated in numerous charity fundraising events throughout the years.
RICK PERRY – Rick Perry is a veteran of the United States Air Force, a former farmer and the former governor of Texas. He has devoted his adult life to creating prosperity and opportunity for families. As the 47th and longest-serving governor of the Lone Star State, he championed conservative principles that helped Texas become America’s economic engine. Perry grew up the son of tenant farmers in the tiny West Texas town of Paint Creek. The younger of Ray and Amelia Perry’s two children, he was active in scouting and earned distinction as an Eagle Scout. He was one of the first in his family to go to college, earning a degree in Animal Science from Texas A&M University, where he was also a member of the Corps of Cadets and a Yell Leader. Between 1972 and 1977, Perry served in the U.S. Air Force flying C-130 tactical airlift aircraft in Europe and the Middle East. He is a lifetime member of both the NRA and American Legion Post #75. Prior to being elected Lieutenant Governor in 1998, he served two terms as Texas Commissioner of Agriculture and three terms in the Texas House of Representatives. Perry married his childhood sweetheart, Anita, in 1982. They have two children and two beautiful granddaughters.
RYAN LOCHTE – Ryan Lochte has become a transcendent figure in the Olympic world. He is a four-time Olympian (Athens, Beijing, London, Rio de Janeiro) and a 12-time Olympic medalist (including six Gold, three Silver, and three Bronze). His seven individual Olympic medals are second all-time in Men’s Swimming, and he is the current world record holder in the 200 individual medley. Ryan has been named both American and World Swimmer of the Year twice in his career (2010 & 2011) and has a total of 70 medals in major international competition, including 45 first place finishes. As a Florida Gator, Ryan was a two-time NCAA Swimmer of the Year, 24-time NCAA All-American, and seven-time NCAA Champion. Lochte’s accomplishments in the pool along with his committed fan base (1 million+ Twitter and Instagram followers and over 658k Facebook fans) have helped him gain pop culture status outside the pool.
TERRA JOLÉ – Terra Jolé (pronounced Jo – lay) is an American actress, producer, singer, and TV personality. Since 2014, she has gained recognition both nationally and internationally as the star and executive producer of Lifetime’s hit TV Shows “Little Women: LA” and “Terra’s Little Family.” Terra also serves as executive producer on the popular spin-offs, “Little Women: ATL” and “Little Women: NY,” and she is currently a member of the Producers Guild of America. Prior to her recent success in the Reality TV world, Terra has appeared in TV and Film productions such as “Jackass 3D,” “The Hungover Games” and “CSI” and in the theatrical production of “Radio City’s Christmas Spectacular.”
In 2014, following on-stage performances with Miley Cyrus, Cyndi Lauper and T-Pain, Terra wrote and released her own original music singles, “Booty Bee” and “Imma Let You Know.” This year, Terra released “Penny’s Playlist,” a full album of children’s songs dedicated to her daughter, which was recorded in a groundbreaking contemporary musical style. As part of this unique project, Terra has also launched MiniMama.com, a website that features original content for both mothers and kids alike. A native of San Antonio, Texas, Terra now resides in Los Angeles, California, where she is married to fellow “Little Women: LA” and “Terra’s Little Family” star, actor and musician Joe Gnoffo. In March 2015, they welcomed a daughter named Penelope Charlevoix Gnoffo and in August 2016 they welcomed their son, Grayson Vincent D’artagnan Gnoffo. Terra also supports and volunteers for the non-profit organization “Forte Animal Rescue.” Throughout the years, she has personally adopted, fostered and cared for dozens of pets without homes, which is something she is very passionate about.
VANILLA ICE – The iconic Robert Van Winkle – aka Vanilla Ice – exploded on the Rap/Pop music scene in 1990/91, selling 10 million albums in four months and hitting number one on the Billboard charts with the number one single “Ice Ice Baby” and number one album positions. His worldwide album sales are over 20 million, and individual songs total over 160 million, and are still selling. Vanilla Ice won two MTV Awards, a People’s Choice Award and was nominated for a Grammy. He has starred or appeared in the movies “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze,” “Cool As Ice,” “The Helix Loaded,” “The New Guy,” “The Bros,” “Big Money Hustlas,” “That’s My Boy” and “Ridiculous Six,” with Adam Sandler.
His TV credits include “Celebrity Boxing,” “Hollywood Squares,” “The Farm – UK,” “Surreal Life,” “Celebrity Bull Riding,” “Dancing On Ice 6,” “Canada Sings,” seasons one and two, and the DIY shows “The Vanilla Ice Project,” seasons one, two, three, four, five and six, three episodes of “Ice My House,” and series “Vanilla Ice Goes Amish,” seasons one and two. Vanilla Ice is working on season seven of “The Vanilla Ice Project,” airing early 2017. He performed pantomime live on stage as Captain Hook in “Peter Pan” in the U.K., as well as doing a 20-city “Dancing on Ice” skating tour. Vanilla Ice has had great success in real estate and has launched Vanilla Ice Real Estate.com with mentoring courses in Real Estate investments, as well as upcoming live seminars around the U.S. His current TV show, “The Vanilla Ice Project,” on DIY won The Factual Award for the Best Home TV Show.
The Flash‘s Keiynan Lonsdale says that when the series returns for its third season, the Flashpoint storyline will have kicked in and fans of The CW’s comic book-inspired series will immediately see the effects of Barry’s decision to alter the timeline. Lonsdale and his The Flash castmates were peppered with questions about the Flashpoint changes during a packed panel at the 2016 San Diego Comic Con, and they all did their best to tease season three without giving too much away. The Flash cast also participated in roundtable interviews during which Lonsdale talked about slipping into the Kid Flash costume and how he now has a much better idea of what Grant Gustin goes through every episode.
Keiynan Lonsdale Interview:
How hot is that Kid Flash suit?
Keiynan Lonsdale: “Okay, so when we were doing the photo shoot for the official press photos it was the second time I wore it and I was like, ‘Okay you guys, I need some water or something.’ I’m freaking out because I had like a bit of a…it was super hot and I was jumping around and doing these different things for the shoot so I was sweating up a storm. And then I realized that at least I had like an open top so it’s a little cooler for me than it is for Grant (Gustin) and some of the others. So, yeah, it’s pretty hot.”
How long were you in it shooting scenes?
Keiynan Lonsdale: (Laughing) “I guess we’ll find out! That day was just for the photo shoot. The first time we shot it I was outside so I think that’s why they sent out the photos because people got their paparazzi photos. But, yeah, so we know that I have something outside. But I was in it enough to feel really cool and comfortable by the end. I don’t know, it’s kind of a strange thing to adjust to. Your face is hard to emote because it’s quite restrictive. But you just get used to it. I had more of an appreciation for what Grant has to do. There’s a lot more that goes into it.”
How does the Flashpoint storyline impact the way Wally behaves this season?
Keiynan Lonsdale: “I think that they’re taking their own spin on Flashpoint. I mean, the main thing it affects this season is Kid Flash, which I was excited about. And also I guess for Wally mostly he is finally in this place where he’s settled and he feels worth it, and he is completely ecstatic about being who he is. He gets to help people; this is what he knows and what he loves to do. It was fun to get to play Wally being completely confident with himself.”
Are the family issues completely resolved?
Keiynan Lonsdale: (Laughing) “It’s television so… You’ll have to find out how that dynamic has shifted, but it has shifted. But, the one thing is that Wally comes from a place of genuine love with everyone and everything, I think, in Flashpoint. It is an interesting dynamic with everyone and the family, so we’ll see.”
Do we see Flashpoint’s effects on Wally right away?
Keiynan Lonsdale: “You’re kind of being taken for a whirlwind because along with Barry, the audience won’t really quite understand how everything is as it is. You’re going to have to catch up quite quickly to adjust to this new world. But, yeah, there are dramatic changes.”
Watch the full Keiynan interview:
(Interview by Fred Topel. Article by Rebecca Murray.)
‘Emerald City’ season one poster (Photo by: NBCUniversal)
In addition to announcing Grimm‘s sixth season will be the show’s last, NBC just announced the Emerald City and The New Celebrity Apprentice premiere dates. The upcoming season of Celebrity Apprentice, which marks the first with Arnold Schwarzenegger in the lead, will premiere on Monday, January 2, 2017 at 8pm ET/PT. The Wizard of Oz-inspired drama Emerald City starring Adria Arjona as Dorothy Gale will be joining NBC’s primetime lineup on January 6, 2017 at 9pm ET/PT. Emerald City will make its debut with a special two-hour episode.
NBC also confirmed the 16 celebrities who will compete on the eighth season of the reality competition series when it finally arrives in early January. Schwarzenegger will be joined by Warren Buffett, Steve Ballmer, Tyra Banks, Jessica Alba, and Patrick Knapp Schwarzenegger in the boardroom as they judge the work of these celebs:
Laila Ali — Retired four-time boxing world champion and two-time hall of famer, TV host, author, health and wellness expert and daughter of boxing legend Muhammad Ali
Brooke Burke-Charvet — Actress, host, entrepreneur, fitness expert and CEO of ModernMom.com
Eric Dickerson — Pro Football Hall of Fame running back who played for the Los Angeles Rams, Indianapolis Colts, Los Angeles Raiders and Atlanta Falcons
Boy George — Grammy Award-winning singer, songwriter, lead vocalist for the pop band Culture Club, international DJ and a coach on the U.K. version of The Voice, as well as a top fashion designer and photographer
Matt Iseman — “American Ninja Warrior” host, comedian, actor and licensed physician
Carrie Keagan — Actress, producer, writer, entrepreneur and the former host of VH1’s Emmy Award-winning live morning talk show Big Morning Buzz Live with Carrie Keagan
Carson Kressley — Emmy Award-winning television star, celebrity stylist, author and fashion designer, as well as a successful horse show exhibitor who owns saddlebred horses
Lisa Leslie — Naismith Hall of Famer, four-time Olympic gold medalist and WNBA champion who earned an MBA
Jon Lovitz — Comedian, film and television star and former Saturday Night Live cast member
Vince Neil — Lead vocalist for the heavy metal band Mötley Crüe as well as eclectic businessman with interests in liquor, bars, restaurants, tattoo parlors along with clothing and retail
Nicole “Snooki” Polizzi — Reality television star and New York Times bestselling author
Kyle Richards — Actress and star of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills is a philanthropist who owns an innovative boutique concept in Beverly Hills
Chael Sonnen — Former UFC standout and mixed martial artist
Porsha Williams — Co-host of nationally syndicated Dish Nation, star of The Real Housewives of Atlanta, entrepreneur
Ricky Williams — Heisman Trophy winner for the University of Texas, 2015 College Football Hall of Fame inductee and ESPN sports analyst who was a running back for the Miami Dolphins, New Orleans Saints and Baltimore Ravens
Carnie Wilson — Singer, television host and member of the pop music group Wilson Phillips
More on Emerald City:
Emerald City is executive produced by David Schulner, Shaun Cassidy, Josh Friedman, Matthew Arnold, and Tarsem Singh Dhandwar, with Dhandwar also directing. In addition to Arjona as Dorothy, the cast of the fantasy series includes Vincent D’Onofrio, Oliver Jackson-Cohen, Ana Ularu, Mido Hamada, Jordan Loughran, Gerran Howell and Joely Richardson.
The Emerald City Plot: Swept up into the eye of a tornado, 20-year-old Dorothy Gale is transported to another world — a mystical land where an all-powerful ruler (D’Onofrio) governs over one kingdom, has outlawed magic, and faces not only the wrath of a growing cauldron of witches but a looming disaster brought on by a mythical force. Epic, romantic and fantastical, “Emerald City” is an empowering tale of a young woman finding her true strength and identity even as she battles to bring a divided world together.
NBC just tweeted out the news that Grimm will end after completing its sixth season. That’s bad news for Grimmsters (and the talented cast and crew), but it’s not totally unexpected. NBC had only given the series a shortened sixth season so the writing was definitely on the wall. The network also announced the sixth and final season will premiere on January 6, 2017 at 8pm ET/PT.
Season five averaged 6.4 million viewers and according to NBC was “one of the most time-shifted series on the broadcast networks, growing by an average of +90% in adult 18-49 rating (from a 0.91 to a 1.73) and more than 2.4 million viewers overall (3.9 million to 6.4 million) going from ‘live plus same day’ to ‘live plus seven day’ Nielsens.” Grimm was created by David Greenwalt, Jim Kouf and Stephen Carpenter and stars David Giuntoli, Claire Coffee, Sasha Roiz, Russell Hornsby, Bitsie Tulloch, Silas Weir Mitchell, Reggie Lee, and Bree Turner.
A Look Back at the Season Five Plot: As the nefarious forces of Black Claw take hold of Portland, Nick (David Giuntoli) must take a stand to protect his city and those closest to him, especially his child with Adalind (Claire Coffee). It will take the full force of Nick and his allies to find a way to bring the Wesen uprising to a halt. Now that Capt. Sean Renard (Sasha Roiz) is poised to make his move to power, his allegiance to Nick will be tested and he will consider drastic measures to ensure his place of authority.
A Look Ahead to Season Six: As for events leading into the final season, the nefarious forces of Black Claw have been silenced and Nick (David Giuntoli) faces an all too familiar foe in Capt. Sean Renard (Sasha Roiz). Now in the seat of power as the mayor elect of Portland, Renard is poised to bring rise to his own brand of law and order. Nick must take a stand to protect his city and those closest to him, especially his child with Adalind (Claire Coffee). It will take the full force of Nick and his allies to find a way to bring the peace.
Meanwhile, Monroe (Silas Weir Mitchell) and Rosalee (Bree Turner) grapple with bringing a child into a new and tumultuous world, and Eve (Bitsie Tulloch) faces unsettling identity issues as her former self lurks below the surface.
The voice cast of Fox’s critically acclaimed animated comedy series Bob’s Burgers took part in the 2016 San Diego Comic Con, taking questions from fans of the series and sitting down for roundtable interviews. H. Jon Benjamin (Bob Belcher), John Roberts (Linda Belcher), and Eugene Mirman (Gene Belcher) teamed up for the interviews in support of the show’s upcoming seventh season premiering on September 25, 2016. Mirman, Roberts, and Benjamin provided the scoop on favorite episodes, Bob’s Burgers songs, and how the comedy series maintains its sweet, family-friendly tone.
H Jon Benjamin, John Roberts and Eugene Mirman Interview:
What do you think about the evolution of incorporating more music into episodes?
H. Jon Benjamin: “I think people really like it and so I think they’re kind of doing it more because it’s working. Loren Bouchard, the creator of the show, has always been really musical. I feel like they love writing songs.”
Eugene Mirman: “As someone who can’t sing, I really enjoy that Loren writes these songs and then I get to do these songs with Loren, and that I get to sing even though I can’t in any other context.”
H. Jon Benjamin: “Yeah, it’s a good evolution. At some point I feel like it will just be a total musical.”
Eugene Mirman: “Yeah, Bob’s Burgers is just like a precursor to Hamilton.”
Do you have a favorite episode?
John Roberts: “Out of every episode? Probably ‘Eat, Spray, Linda’ which was a big Linda episode.”
H. Jon Benjamin: “Totally self-involved.”
John Roberts: (Laughing) “Totally self-involved. It’s a Linda-centric one. I’m not going to pick a stupid Bob one.”
H. Jon Benjamin: “They’re a little boring, but they’re more thoughtful.”
John Roberts: “Well, not really.”
Eugene Mirman: “I like the one where I befriend Jon Hamm the talking toilet.”
John Roberts: (Laughing) “See? Selfish.”
H. Jon Benjamin: “What did I like? The recent one with Bob and Louise singing a duet.”
Eugene Mirman: “Yes! The one where you’re trapped in a toilet. That was really great.”
H. Jon Benjamin: “You remember the songs – they were great.”
John Roberts: “‘Wonder Wharf’ was good. That was a fun song to sing. (Laughing) It was 007-esque.”
Have there been any scenes that have been particularly hard to get through without breaking down laughing?
Eugene Mirman: “There’s definitely scenes where we break down laughing, but the truth is it’s audio and we’re recording almost a year ahead of time so you can redo stuff. We often will if we break down laughing, and often we are trying to get each other to laugh. But, you can just redo something.”
H. Jon Benjamin: “John does a lot of potty talk and dirty words.”
John Roberts: “A lot of f-bombs…”
H. Jon Benjamin: “…which are never funny.”
John Roberts: “But they feel good.”
Eugene Mirman: “Those are mostly cut out of the show, as you’ll notice.”
What do you think about Bob’s Burgers cosplays?
John Roberts: “I love seeing all the Linda…it’s all about me. (Laughing) It’s all about Linda! No, I just saw an amazing Tina, actually. But, I like when people quote lines or sing our songs.”
What lines do they usually quote to you?
John Roberts: “Well, I’ll tell you. Zachary Quinto just did a dubsmash and he did Linda in his Spock outfit. That was really awesome. I loved that. That was really cool.”
If you could voice a different character on the show, who would you pick?
John Roberts: “Gene, because he’s musical.”
Eugene Mirman: “And me, maybe Bob?”
John Roberts: “You’d be a good Bob.”
How do you think it is Bob’s Burgers is able to maintain being such a family-friendly, sweet sort of animated comedy vibe?
John Roberts: “Well, I guess because we already have a Family Guy they didn’t want to set out to do another Family Guy.”
Eugene Mirman: “Also, first of all I think it’s Loren and Jim Dauterive making that as the direction. But really it’s that the family is very warm and loving. We tease each other like a family would, but you really get the sense of the real warmth and the real connection. And then from there everybody has their own idiosyncrasies but they all support each other. Linda supports all of her kids and it’s very sweet. So, I think that there’s a sweetness and it’s still funny and weird and idiosyncratic.”
John Roberts: “Yeah. The characters almost make fun of themselves in a way or the audience is in on the joke that is related to the quirkiness of these characters. Those characters are pretty grounded in some really fun real humor things that human beings have. I mean, it’s a different show. And Loren is a very classy guy and he likes to keep a certain tone, and it’s great.”
Has there been anything in the scripts that takes you by surprise, like one joke in particular that sticks with you?
Eugene Mirman: “There’s a joke that you did in an episode – I feel like it aired – where all the clocks have stopped. It still makes me laugh. Linda’s like, ‘Oh my god! All the clocks have stopped at 3:15,’ in a room full of clocks. And then all of a sudden it just moves to 3:16 and she’s like, ‘Oh. Oh no, it’s just that it’s 3:16. The clocks are fine.'”
John Roberts: “She thought something sinister was going on.”
Eugene Mirman: “Somebody had died at a certain time and then it turned out that it was just 3:15. But that joke makes me laugh a lot still.”
John Roberts: “It’s just Linda being so dramatic and then so stupid at the same time. (Laughing) Like me…”
Did you relate to Gene as a kid? Were you like Gene at all?
Eugene Mirman: “I feel like Gene is the idealized version of me as a kid. Gene is much more comfortable with who he is than I was probably as a kid. Gene isn’t as much what I was like as a kid as much as what I’d be like if I was a kid now.”
John Ajvide Lindqvist’s bestselling vampire novel Let the Right One In has spawned two feature films and now will provide the source material for a TV series coming to TNT. The network confirmed it greenlit a new series based on the novel, with Teen Wolf‘s Jeff Davis writing the pilot and executive producing along with Aquarius‘ Marty Adelstein, Last Man Standing‘s Becky Clements, Let Me In‘s Simon Oakes, Carl Molinder (who produced both the Let the Right One In and Let Me In films), and Dark Places‘ Alex Brunner. The series is being produced by Tomorrow Studios.
TNT hasn’t announced when we can expect to see the pilot or any casting details.
“Let the Right One In combines elements of horror, revenge thriller and adolescent romance into an unforgettable and truly unsettling tale,” stated Sarah Aubrey, executive vice president of original programming for TNT. “This novel is a watershed of rich storytelling, making it an abundant source from which Jeff, Marty, Becky and Simon will bring to life in this all-new adaptation.”
“TNT has amassed an incredible slate of programming and we are thrilled to extend our relationship with them,” said Adelstein, CEO of Tomorrow Studios. “Their collaboration and shared enthusiasm for bringing Let the Right One In to the U.S. TV audience is incredibly exciting to all of us.”
The Plot:Let the Right One In is an eerie drama about a young boy, long tormented by his classmates, who finds solace in a friendship with a charismatic female vampire who appears to be near his age. The vampire settles into the boy’s small Vermont town with her mysterious caretaker, just as a series of bizarre murders begins attracting the attention of law enforcement.
The CW has unveiled new 2016 posters for season two of Supergirl, No Tomorrow, and Frequency. Frequency, based on the 2000 movie starring Jim Caviezel and Dennis Quaid, will be joining The CW primetime lineup on October 5th at 9pm ET/PT. No Tomorrow with Joshua Sasse and Tori Anderson is set to debut on October 4th at 9pm ET/PT, and Supergirl season two starring Melissa Benoist will kick off on October 10th at 8pm ET/PT.
Frequency starring Peyton List, Riley Smith, Devin Kelley, and Mekhi Phifer is executive produced by Supernatural‘s Jeremy Carver, Toby Emmerich, John Rickard, Dan Lin, and Jennifer Gwartz. In addition to Sasse and Anderson, No Tomorrow stars Jesse Rath, Amy Pietz, Jonathan Langdon, and Sarayu Blue. And Supergirl season two will introduce Tyler Hoechlin as Superman, starring alongside returning cast members Benoist, Mehcad Brooks, Jeremy Jordan, Chyler Leigh, David Harewood, Calista Flockhart, and Peter Facinelli.
Frequency Plot: Detective Raimy Sullivan (Peyton List) has always wanted to prove that she is nothing like her father. In 1996, when Raimy was eight years old, NYPD Officer Frank Sullivan (Riley Smith) left Raimy and her mother, Julie (Devin Kelley), behind when he went deep undercover, got corrupted, and got himself killed. Or so the story has always gone. Few people knew about the secret undercover sting operation Frank was really charged with, led by Stan Moreno (Anthony Ruivivar), who has now risen to Deputy Chief of Police. Frank’s former partner, Lieutenant Satch Reyna (Mekhi Phifer), is now Raimy’s mentor and friend, and he has urged her to let go of the hurt and anger she still feels about Frank’s disappearance and death, but the old pain still lingers. Raimy can barely bring herself to discuss Frank, even with her devoted boyfriend, Daniel (Daniel Bonjour), or her childhood friend, Gordo (Lenny Jacobson).
Now, twenty years later, Raimy is stunned when a voice suddenly crackles through her father’s old, long-broken ham radio – it’s Frank, somehow transmitting over the airwaves and through the decades from 1996. They’re both shocked and confused, but Raimy shakes Frank to the core when she warns him that the secret sting he is undertaking will lead to his death. Armed with that knowledge, Frank survives the attempt on his life. But changing history has dramatically affected Raimy’s life in the present – and there have been tragic consequences. Separated by twenty years, father and daughter have reunited on a frequency only they can hear, but can they rewrite the story of their lives without risking everyone they love?
No Tomorrow Plot: Evie Callahan (Tori Anderson) appreciates order. Whenever she’s making a list, “make a list” is both the first thing on it and the first thing crossed off. Such a regimented life has its drawbacks. Her on-again/off-again romance with the sweet, but soft-spoken Timothy (Jesse Rath) has sputtered out, and her boss, Deirdre (Amy Pietz), a petty tyrant with breath that could kill a plant, laughs off her career ambitions. Then Evie meets charming, free-spirited Xavier Holliday (Joshua Sasse), and the attraction is immediate and electric. Xavier brings a jolt of joyful, rollicking romance into her life. Xavier encourages Evie to carpe that diem, because it’s more fun that way and also because, he says the apocalypse is, you know, nigh. He believes humankind has a mere eight months and twelve days until a runaway asteroid smacks us all into stardust. That’s why Xavier made an Apocalyst – a tally of every last thing he wants to do before the world goes kaput. So with the help of her friends – Hank (Jonathan Langdon), a diehard conspiracy theorist, and Kareema (Sarayu Blue), a droll nihilist – Evie must decide whether Xavier is certifiable and whether that even matters, if being with him means living her life more fully. Based on the International Emmy-nominated Brazilian format from Grupo Globo, No Tomorrow is a romantic comedy with the ultimate ticking clock.
Bates Motel star Nestor Carbonell (‘Sheriff Alex Romero’) says he doesn’t even want to think about the fact he’ll be saying goodbye to his co-stars at this end of this upcoming season. A&E’s critically acclaimed dramatic series, inspired by the classic horror film Psycho, will be coming to an end with the show’s fifth season airing in 2017. And at the 2016 San Diego Comic Con, Carbonell discussed being a part of the cast, directing episodes of the riveting drama, and how he initially approached the role.
Nestor Carbonell Interview:
For a while it actually looked like Sheriff Romero was going to have a nice, calm, romantic life with the woman that he loved, and then…
Nestor Carbonell: “This little jerk ruins it all! It’s awful. It’s interesting, even knowing it was coming we tried to stay in the moment as much as you can. I remember Vera and I talked about, ‘Okay, we can’t play the end. We’ve got to play it light. We’ve got to stay hopeful.’ You know what’s going to happen but you’ve got to stay hopeful through the process and find moments of hope. But the end was so devastating; I didn’t know it was going to hit me as hard as it did and neither did the crew. I could see a number of them emotional, crying. And I know Carlton (Cuse) spoke about it at the panel, he cried when he was writing a specific part of that scene on the plane.
We’ve grown so attached to these characters. Kerry (Ehrin) and Carlton and the writers have written such amazingly rich and messed up characters with incredible misbehavior, and yet somehow as messed up as they are we’ve grown really attached to them. So when someone like that dies, it’s weird. It almost feels real.”
Now that Norma’s dead and only living in Norman’s delusional mind, will you ever get to work with Vera Farmiga anymore?
Nestor Carbonell: “I can’t, unless I start hallucinating, I can’t imagine I do. I know Max (Thieriot) spoke about this at the panel that one of the sad things (was) last year he had a phenomenal bunch of scenes with Vera at the end where they didn’t see eye-to-eye and he left on bad terms with her. But he said outside of those scenes what was even more painful was knowing that he wouldn’t have scenes with her ever again. I certainly felt the same way. I knew going in to it after episode nine I was like, ‘Well, that’s it, except for trying to put a ring on her corpse.’ It’s just not quite the same as interacting with her in real life. So, unfortunately, Freddie hogs her all to himself next season.”
But you’ll be directing again?
Nestor Carbonell: “I will. (Laughing) I will, so I’ll get him back.”
What has that experience been like?
Nestor Carbonell: “It’s been a gift. I never in a million years thought I’d get that opportunity and it really is thanks to Vera. Vera is the one who encouraged me to pursue it. We talked about scenes when we rehearsed scenes in the first season. We talked about blocking. So, she offered that. She said, ‘You really should direct the show.’ I go, ‘I have no experience. It’s crazy.’ She goes, ‘No, you know you could do it.’ ‘I don’t know one thing about camera.’ She said, ‘You really should do it,’ so she encouraged me. I approached Carlton and he was amazing. He said, ‘You know, I could see that.’
I asked if I could trail our producing director, our amazing producing director Tucker Gates. And then he said, ‘If somebody drops out, do you think you could fill in in season three?’ I sort of naively said, ‘Yeah, sure,’ and sure enough somebody did drop out. And so I had to very quickly (learn) but I was thankfully surrounded by obviously an amazing cast and an equally impressive crew. I learned so much during both experiences and I will continue to hopefully learn as much as I can from this third experience.”
Do you know what episode you’re directing?
Nestor Carbonell: ” I do. It’s the fifth episode. I can’t say (anything). I know what’s going to happen, the sort of broad strokes. It’s a good one, for sure. Well, they’re all good but it’s a particularly good one.”
There’s only one more season left. How hard is it going to be to say goodbye to everybody?
Nestor Carbonell: “It’s a great question. I’m trying not to go there. It’s even sad knowing this is the last Comic Con we’ll do together. We enjoy this as time to reconnect, because we don’t get to see each other outside of the show. We just live apart from each other. I live in LA, Freddie (Highmore’s) in England, Vera’s in Vancouver, Max is in Sonoma. Olivia (Cooke) is in Manchester sometime, New York sometime. This is sort of a time we really enjoy to get together and obviously share the time with our fans and talk about the show with you guys, and also catch up personally. So, it’s been sad. It’s sad it’s the last time we get to do it. But we will stay in touch. These are friends that I know will be lifelong friends. So we have many years to look forward to together.”
How did you initially approach the character because he wasn’t in Psycho?
Nestor Carbonell: “Carlton had called me about playing the part. He sent me the first six episodes and I was up all night reading them. I was riveted by it. Even though the character was a man of few words, the way Kerry and Carlton described him was very rich. If you read any of the episodes of Bates… The scene directions typically on a script are really minimized. Most writers use an economy of words when they describe a scene. Well, it’s sort of the opposite on Bates and it was the opposite on Lost, too. The scene descriptions were really detailed and emotional, which is very cinematic. Usually in film you rely more on visual as opposed to words. TV, for many reasons – sometimes time constraints – it’s more exposition. But this was more filmmaking and my character certainly was a man of few words. I loved all the scene descriptions and said, ‘I can play that behavior. I can play the subtext here or not play the subtext. I can go against it.’
So, the one thing I did going into the role, I sort of loosely modeled it on a close friend of mine and my wife’s who we affectionately call Chuckles because he rarely smiles. I talked to Kerry about it. I said, ‘I don’t want to smile much. I want to be very guarded as long as I can be and if I do eventually end up with Norma, I want her to be the one to make him smile. I want to reserve that for her, and for her to open him up. So, I sort of approached the character loosely on that note.”
