Mark Sheppard says the last few seasons have taken Supernatural in a direction he never anticipated, and he’s pleased with Crowley’s arc over the course of The CW series. “I think there’s been a return to what works in the show. The last couple of years, we returned to angels and demons and the brother story in a way that was reminiscent of the early days of the show, I think. I think it’s had a really good impact, a wonderful impact, actually. Once you get to the end of the five-year arc with [Eric] Kripke’s concept, it’s very, very difficult to steer that around. I think Sera [Gamble] did an amazing job to actually just keep the show going, to try to get it to be a continuum of something that had a very finite ending, really,” explained Sheppard at the 2014 San Diego Comic-Con. “It takes a while to steer that ship around and then to have Jeremy [Carver] come in and revert to it’s almost like a version of its original piece, I just think it’s absolutely brilliant and so clever.”
“I think they’ve been very protective of what it is that we love about the show. We all love it. You can tell it’s been done with a lot of care and a lot of passion. It’s not just, ‘Oh, how do we get through another five episodes?’ It’s, ‘What do we really want to say here?’ And that’s why it’s been so much fun to do, and it’s fun to find out what happens as opposed to guess or play with it. But it is what it is. It’s wonderful,” said Sheppard.
Sheppard also talked about how incredible Supernatural fans are and how the writers care so much about the show and take great care giving the audience episodes created with passion and heart. Check out the rest of what Sheppard had to say about being a part of Supernatural:
Four CBS primetime series have snagged former NFL players as guest stars in the upcoming new fall season. Tony Gonzalez will show off his acting chops in NCIS, Phil Simms will be playing himself in Elementary, Boomer Esiason will be visiting Tom Selleck in Blue Bloods, and Eric Dickerson will not be surfing but he will be seen in Hawaii Five-0.
Per CBS, here’s the details on the former football players’ roles in the primetime shows:
NCIS – Tony Gonzalez
Tony Gonzalez, analyst for THE NFL TODAY on CBS and contributor to the Network’s inaugural coverage of THURSDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL, will guest star as Special Agent Tony Francis, who is fishing for information on Special Agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs (Mark Harmon). The episode will air Tuesday, Sept. 30 (8:00-9:00 PM, ET/PT). Gonzalez’s NFL career spanned 17 years, 12 with Kansas City and five with Atlanta. He is the NFL’s all-time leader in touchdowns (111) and yards (15,127) by a tight end. He also is the NFL’s all-time leader in consecutive starts (120) and Pro-Bowl appearances (14) by a tight end, and ranks second overall among all players in catches with 1,325. Gonzalez has missed only two games in his career.
BLUE BLOODS – Boomer Esiason
Boomer Esiason, an analyst for THE NFL TODAY on CBS, will appear as himself when he pays a visit to Commissioner Frank Reagan (Tom Selleck) at his office. Reagan thanks Esiason for his work with the Women and Kids Fundraiser and asks if there is anything he can do for him in return. Boomer then makes a request that even the Chief of Police will find difficult to grant. The episode will air Friday, Oct. 3 (10:00-11:00 PM, ET/PT). Esiason quarterbacked the Cincinnati Bengals, New York Jets and Arizona Cardinals during his 14-year NFL career. Also, he earned four visits to the Pro Bowl and was named the NFL’s Most Valuable Player by the Pro Football Writers of America and the Associated Press in 1988.
HAWAII FIVE-0 – Eric Dickerson
NFL Hall of Fame inductee Eric Dickerson will play himself when McGarrett (Alex O’Loughlin) runs into him in a bait shop on Oahu and takes a selfie with the football legend to make Danno (Scott Caan) jealous. The episode will air Friday, Oct. 31 (9:00-10:00 PM, ET/PT). During his 11-year career as a running back, Dickerson became the seventh in his position to gain more than 10,000 yards and the fastest ever to do so, reaching the milestone in just 91 games.
ELEMENTARY – Phil Simms
Phil Simms, lead NFL TODAY and THURSDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL on CBS game analyst, will play himself as an associate of Sherlock’s (Jonny Lee Miller) who has a surprising, little-known talent. The episode will air Thursday, Nov. 13 (10:00-11:00 PM, ET/PT). As an All-Pro quarterback, Simms led the New York Giants to two Super Bowl titles during his 15-year career with the team. He completed 22 of 25 passes in Super Bowl XXI, as the Giants defeated the Denver Broncos 39-20, to win their first Super Bowl title. Simms was named MVP of that game. He established team marks for most passes completed and attempted for one game (40 completed, 62 attempted), season (286 completed, 533 attempted) and career (2,576 completed, 4,647 attempted), most career touchdown passes (199) and most 300-yard games in a career (21).
Focus World isn’t releasing Maps to the Stars until early 2015, however it’s already on the festival circuit and the film’s star, Julianne Moore, earned the Best Actress award at this year’s Cannes Film Festival. Moore’s earning rave reviews for her performance as a has-been actress in the David Cronenberg thriller which also stars John Cusack, Robert Pattinson, Olivia Williams, and Sarah Gadon. And now Focus World is offering up this new trailer for those who aren’t catching the film at festivals to see what the buzz is all about.
The Plot:
In Maps to the Stars, Stafford Weiss (Cusack) is an L.A. psychotherapist and life coach who has made his fortune with self-help books promising happiness. His wife Cristina (Williams) is the overbearing manager of their 13-year-old son, Benjie (Bird), a TV star and recent drug rehab grad. Their estranged daughter, Agatha (Wasikowska), has just been released from a psychiatric hospital and befriends limo driver and aspiring actor Jerome (Pattinson). Among Stafford’s celebrity clients is Havana Segrand (Moore), a fading star who dreams of reprising her late mother Clarice’s (Gadon) starring role. Ambitions, ghosts, death, and all manner of vices bedevil the cast of characters.
Stunt Coordinator Monty Simons promises this season of AMC’s addictive zombie apocalypse series The Walking Dead is “bigger than all the other seasons put together.” In this new behind-the-scenes featurette from season five, Simons walks fans through the training of the stunt people who play the walkers in the series.
The new video shows how the fights are choreographed and how the walkers are trained to drop dead.
The Walking Dead returns on October 12, 2014 at 9pm ET/PT.
Following the release online of an unofficial photo of the new Batmobile snapped by a fan using an iPhone, director Zack Snyder has released the first official Batmobile photo from Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. Snyder released the Batmobile picture via Tweeter, stating: “Here’s a real picture of the #Batmobile.” The new photo was taken with a Nikon D800 set at “ISO 500 24mm f/11 1/25th sec” according to the set’s official photographer, Clay Enos. Enos, who worked with Snyder on Watchmen, Sucker Punch, and Man of Steel, tweeted the specific details on the pic, saying: “iPhone photography is great but some things deserve more. #batmobile”
NBC’s The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon has snagged a guest who’s avoided the late night talk show circuit for 50 years. Barbra Streisand will be the only guest on the September 15, 2014 episode, returning to The Tonight Show where she last put in an appearance way back when her career was just beginning.
Streisand will be appearing on The Tonight Show in support of her new album, Partners, which is set for release on September 16th. Partners will feature new duets with Andrea Bocelli, Michael Bublé, Kenneth ‘Babyface’ Edmonds, Jason Gould, Josh Groban, Billy Joel, John Legend, John Mayer, Lionel Richie, Blake Shelton, and Stevie Wonder. It’ll also include a “one-of-a-kind virtual duet” with Elvis Presley.
Jimmy Fallon and Britney Spears on ‘The Tonight Show’ (Photo by: Douglas Gorenstein/NBC)
The newly single Britney Spears has taken the plunge and signed up with the dating app, Tinder. Well, Britney didn’t actually sign herself up; it was The Tonight Show host Jimmy Fallon who created a profile and launched Spears on her new adventures in dating.
So, what’s so good about dating Britney Spears? Spears and Fallon offered up the pros and cons of being in a relationship with the 32 year old singer.
The cast of ‘Nurse Jackie’ (Photo by David M. Russell/SHOWTIME)
Showtime will be ending the critically acclaimed series Nurse Jackie after its upcoming seventh season, as just announced by Showtime’s President David Nevins. The series is going out as Showtime’s biggest drawing female-skewing comedy and after having earned its star Edie Falco the title of the”most nominated television performer in Screen Actors Guild Awards history.” Falco is also the only actress to have won best actress Emmys in both the drama and comedy categories, according to Showtime.
In addition to Falco, the Nurse Jackie cast features Paul Schulze, Dominic Fumusa, Anna Deavere Smith, Stephen Wallem, Betty Gilpin, Ruby Jerins, Mackenzie Aladjem, and Peter Facinelli. And Tony Shalhoub will be guest starring in this final season.
“Edie is one of our finest actresses,” stated Nevins, announcing the end of the series. “We are so honored to have had her on the network. She creates indelible characters and Nurse Jackie Peyton is no exception. I know this final season will bring her story to a close that will satisfy the ever-growing number of loyal viewers who have been entranced and, at times, appalled by Jackie through the years. I want to thank Edie, the incredible cast of Nurse Jackie and Clyde Phillips and Richie Jackson who have led the show to the success that it is today.”
“It is with great sadness and pride that we and Showtime bid farewell to such an outstanding series like Nurse Jackie, its stellar cast led by the incomparable Edie Falco, brilliant producing team led by Clyde Phillips and Richie Jackson, and the entire Nurse Jackie family of craftspeople and artists that bring this show to rapt audiences year after year,” said Kevin Beggs, Chairman, Lionsgate Television. “We consider ourselves lucky to have been part of the Nurse Jackie story and look forward to an unforgettable final season.”
The Honeymoon Tour (Photo Provided by Live Nation)
Ariana Grande has just announced the dates for her first North American headlining tour: The Honeymoon Tour. Grande will be kicking off the 2015 concert tour on February 25th in Kansas City, MO and will hit 25 cities, including Chicago, Detroit, Boston, and Los Angeles, finishing up on April 16th in Vancouver, BC. Grande will be touring in support of her album My Everything.
Tickets go on sale at livenation.com on Saturday, September 20, 2014.
Ariana Grande The Honeymoon Tour Dates
Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2015 – Kansas City, MO at Independence Event Center
Saturday, Feb. 28, 2015 – Milwaukee, WI at BMO Harris Bradley Center
Sunday, March 01, 2015 – Saint Paul, MN at Xcel Energy Center
Tuesday, March 03, 2015 – Chicago, IL at Allstate Arena
Thursday, March 05, 2015 – Cleveland, OH at Quicken Loans Arena
Saturday, March 07, 2015 – Detroit, MI at Joe Louis Arena
Sunday, March 08, 2015 – Toronto, ON at Air Canada Centre
Tuesday, March 10, 2015 – Pittsburgh, PA at Petersen Events Center
Thursday, March 12, 2015 – Philadelphia, PA at Wells Fargo Center
Saturday, March 14, 2015 – Uncasville, CT at Mohegan Sun Arena
Sunday, March 15, 2015 – Boston, MA at DCU Center
Tuesday, March 17, 2015 – Washington, DC at Patriot Center
Friday, March 20, 2015 – New York, NY at Madison Square Garden
Tuesday, March 24, 2015 – Atlanta, GA at Philips Arena
Thursday, March 26, 2015 – Orlando, FL at Amway Center
Saturday, March 28, 2015 – Miami, FL at American Airlines Arena
Tuesday, March 31, 2015 – San Antonio, TX at AT&T Center
Wednesday, April 01, 2015 – Dallas, TX at American Airlines Center
Friday, April 03, 2015 – Houston, TX at Toyota Center
Monday, April 06, 2015 – Phoenix, AZ at US Airways
Wednesday, April 08, 2015 – Los Angeles, CA at The Forum
Friday, April 10, 2015 – Anaheim, CA at Honda Center
Sunday, April 12, 2015 – San Jose, CA at SAP Center
Tuesday, April 14, 2015 – Seattle, WA at KeyArena
Thursday, April 16, 2015 – Vancouver, BC at Pepsi Live at Rogers Arena
Details on Ariana Grande’s Career [Courtesy of Live Nation Entertainment]
Ariana Grande initially landed at the top with her first full-length album for Republic Records, Yours Truly. It debuted at #1 on the Billboard Top 200, Billboard Digital Albums Chart and iTunes Overall Albums Chart. Moreover, it yielded the game-changing pop smash “The Way” featuring Mac Miller. One of 2013’s defining songs, the single went double-platinum, hit the Top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100 and reached #1 on the iTunes Overall Top Songs Chart. In the aftermath, she was named “Best New Artist” at the American Music Awards in 2013.
Grande’s magnetic charm, impressive voice and astounding presence have enchanted millions of fans worldwide. 2014 saw her reach incredible heights right out of the gate. The first single from her sophomore album, “Problem” featuring Iggy Azalea, saw her become the “youngest woman to debut with over 400K sold first-week”. In addition to ranking as the 5th “highest digital song debut for a female artist” and 9th highest ever, the platinum smash debuted at #1 in 65 countries, topping the iTunes overall Top Songs and Pop Songs charts for four weeks. Other accolades followed throughout the year, with Grande winning “Favorite Breakout Artist” at the People’s Choice Awards 2014, the “Young Influencer Award” at the iHeartRadio Music Awards, the “Radio Disney Chart Topper Award,” “Choice Female Artist” and “Choice Single – ‘Problem'” at the 2014 Teen Choice Awards, and more.
At the 2014 MTV VMAs, “Problem” was named “Best Pop Video” as well. In 2014, she also became the first woman in history and the first artist since Michael Jackson to simultaneously have three songs in the Top 6 of the Digital Songs Chart. Still, the future looks brighter than ever as her star continues to rise.
Can you believe those Winchester boys have been hunting demons and other otherworldly creatures for nine seasons? Season 10 of The CW’s hit series Supernatural kicks off on October 7, 2014 with a promise of a return to the type of storylines that made the show a must-see in the first place.
The cast and writer/executive producer Jeremy Carver were once again big draws during their Q&A with fans at the 2014 San Diego Comic-Con. The press room was also packed with media members eager to discover what’s happening in season 10. Ackles joked that he’d tell us anything we wanted to know about season 10 before getting serious to discuss his time behind the scenes as a director in season 10.
“It was a bit of an increased challenge because we were coming off hiatus, so it’s like the first thing getting back into it, and now I’m directing. But I’m also having to introduce essentially a new character which is a demonic version of Dean,” explained Ackles. “I find it difficult. I don’t know how Ben Affleck or Ben Stiller even going back to Mel Gibson with Braveheart or Kevin Costner with Dances with Wolves, I’d love to ask them how they do it.
I find it very difficult to take a director’s hat off and put the actor’s hat on, and vice versa. And then also trying to introduce a new character at the same time…it was a head spin. Hopefully it worked out. Hopefully you guys like it. We’ll see. I actually go into editing on Tuesday to give them my cut.”
Asked what’s the biggest challenge of living with a character for these 10 seasons, Ackles quickly replied, “It will be having to let him go eventually.”
“Absolutely. That’s going to be really difficult,” added Padalecki. “In my opinion the biggest challenge of living with the character is solved by, frankly by the show is Supernatural. Usually the character becomes stagnant or stale or boring, we do so many crazy wild things…and we’re able to because the fans forgive us and stay with us. Supernatural is such a show that you can do anything, you can become a demon, you can become an angel, you can go soulless, and you get to explore all these new different facets.”
“It’s this crazy, bizarre show you can really go anywhere and we almost have. So, that’s the most difficult part of currently living with a character is making sure he doesn’t get stale,” said Padalecki.
“We also have each other to bounce off of,” said Ackles. “It’s kind of like the equalizer, you know? I’ve got Dean and I’ve got him in my head, and I’ve got all this stuff – and then as soon as they yell ‘Cut!’ it’s like he and I kind of bring each other right back out of it and we’re Jensen and Jared again. There’s a nice balance that comes with having somebody that you work with so close, as opposed to someone like Stephen Amell or somebody like Tom Welling who’s really flying solo. We tell Stephen all the time, ‘Too bad it’s just you,’ because having a partner in crime is really the way to go.
