Kumail Nanjiani, Martin Starr, Thomas Middleditch, Zach Woods, and T.J. Miller in 'Silicon Valley.' (Photo: Isabella Vosmikova / HBO)HBO released a teaser trailer for the upcoming new series Silicon Valley in early February, but now they’re ready to show off a full-length trailer for the comedy series. Created by Mike Judge (Beavis & Butthead) and starring TJ Miller, Matt Ross, Thomas Middleditch, Josh Brener, Martin Starr, Kumail Nanjiani, Zack Woods, Matt Ross, Christopher Evan Welch, and Amanda Crew, Silicon Valley will debut on April 6, 2014 at 10pm ET/PT.
The Plot:
Richard (Middleditch) is an introverted computer programmer living in the Hacker Hostel start-up incubator along with his best friend, Big Head (Brener), pompous Gilfoyle (Starr) and dry-witted Dinesh (Nanjiani). These social misfits live under the watch of Erlich (Miller), a self-satisfied dotcom millionaire who lets them stay in his house for free – as long as he gets a ten percent stake in their projects.
After a failed pitch to billionaire venture capitalist Peter Gregory (Welch), Richard seems destined to remain at his job at the tech company Hooli, founded by the megalomaniacal Gavin Belson (Ross). When Monica (Crew), Gregory’s head of operations, and Jared (Woods), a Hooli executive, realize the value of the site’s compression algorithm, a bidding war erupts between Belson and Gregory, with Richard caught in the middle.
Tamron Hall appears on NBC News’ ‘Today’ (Photo by: Peter Kramer/NBC)
Frequent Today show contributor Tamron Hall has signed on to co-host the third hour of Today. Hall will join Al Roker, Willie Geist, and Natalie Morales for hour three of the morning talk/news/entertainment show on NBC.
“We’re really excited to officially welcome Tamron into the TODAY family,” said Don Nash, Executive Producer. “She brings wit, enthusiasm, and a keen sensibility to an all-around fantastic team, and I think Tamron, Al, Natalie, and Willie will have a lot of fun together hosting the third hour.”
Hall joined MSNBC back in 2007 and has hosted MSNBC and NBC News special reports. She also hosts Deadline: Crime with Tamron Hall on Investigation Discovery and Sister Wives on TLC.
Antony Starr and Ivana Milicevic star in 'Banshee' (Photo: Fred Norris / Courtesy of Cinemax)
Banshee finishes up season two with two new episodes starring Antony Starr and Ivana Milicevic airing March 7 and March 14th. However, Banshee‘s already been renewed for season three so the March 14th episode is merely the season finale and not the series finale.
Banshee was created by David Schickler and Jonathan Tropper and is executive produced by Alan Ball, Greg Yaitanes, Jonathan Tropper, David Schickler, and Peter Macdissi.
Banshee March 2014 Episodes
Episode #19
Debut: FRIDAY, MARCH 7 (10:00-11:00 p.m. ET/PT)
Other playdates: March 7 (11:00 p.m.), 8 (9:00 p.m., 11:30 p.m.), 9 (12:50 p.m.), 10 (8:00 p.m., 1:50 a.m.), 11 (10:00 p.m.) and 12 (9:00 p.m., 2:20 a.m.)
In New York, Job (Hoon Lee) drops in on a priest with ties to Rabbit (Ben Cross), taking a hit for his troubles. Carrie’s (Ivana Milicevic) relationship with Gordon (Rus Blackwell) faces a new test in the wake of another revelation. Burton (Matthew Rauch) silences one traitor, but another eludes him. Alex (Anthony Ruivivar) vows to deliver evidence to keep Proctor (Ulrich Thomsen) behind bars. Emmett (Demetrius Grosse) moves on, while Brock (Matt Servitto) looks to move up. Lucas (Antony Starr) and Carrie brace for an epic showdown, as does an NYPD captain with ties to their past.
Written by Jonathan Tropper; directed by Greg Yaitanes.
Episode #20 (season finale)
Debut: FRIDAY, MARCH 14 (10:00-11:00 p.m.)
Other playdates: March 14 (11:00 p.m.), 15 (9:00 p.m., midnight) 16 (1:20 p.m.), 17 (8:00 p.m., 2:10 a.m.), 18 (10:00 p.m.) and 19 (9:00 p.m., 3:10 a.m.)
Fueled by painful memories that led them to the point of no return, Lucas and Carrie steel themselves for the fight of their lives against a vengeful Rabbit and his ruthless soldiers. In Banshee, Rebecca (Lili Simmons) proves her allegiance as Proctor returns home.
Written by Jonathan Tropper; directed by Greg Yaitanes.
A scene from ‘Beyond Scared Straight’ (Photo by Arnold Shapiro Productions Copyright 2014 / A&E)
A&E’s bringing back the docuseries Beyond Scared Straight for season six starting on February 28, 2014 at 10pm ET/PT. The series is inspired by the 1979 Oscar-winning documentary Scared Straight from writer/director Arnold Shapiro, with Shapiro executive producing the series alongside A&E’s Laura Fleury.
The series takes at-risk teenagers into prisons to show them what life is like on behind bars. Per A&E, season six will feature these stories:
– a teen fighter makes a run for it only to be thrown into a cell with the imposing inmate she was trying to escape;
– a gang-banger is stunned to meet his own incarcerated brother during the jail tour;
– a teen starts heading down the right path only to meet a tragic end;
– and a promiscuous, drug-using teenage girl reveals to an officer that parenthood may be looming.
Grammy Award-winner Jason Mraz will be touring the West Coast for a series of intimate, acoustic shows kicking off on March 15, 2014 in Santa Cruz. Mraz will be joined on his acoustic tour by Raining Jane, and tickets are now on sale for the shows at www.jasonmraz.com/tour.
Mraz is also set to take the stage on March 4th as part of the “All For The Hall” event benefiting the Country Music Hall of Fame & Museum. The star-studded show will take place at Los Angeles’ Club Nokia at L.A. Live and will feature Heart, Vince Gill, and Emmylou Harris.
Jason Mraz 2014 Acoustic Tour
MARCH
15 – Santa Cruz, CA at Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium
16 – Rohnert Park, CA at Green Music Center
17 – Sacramento, CA at Community Center Theater
19 – San Luis Obispo, CA at Christopher Cohan Center
26 – Fresno, CA at Saroyan Theatre
27 – Riverside, CA at Fox Theatre
29 – Eugene, OR at Silva Concert Hall
30 – Chico, CA at CSUC Laxson Auditorium
31 – Redding, CA at Cascade Theatre
More on Jason Mraz [Courtesy of Atlanta Records]
One of the world’s hardest working and most beloved live artists, Jason Mraz’s journey has propelled him from the San Diego coffee house scene to arenas, amphitheaters, and stadiums all over the world. A two-time GRAMMY® Award winner and six-time nominee, Mraz made pop history with his record-breaking classic single, “I’m Yours,” while also earning platinum and multi-platinum certifications in more than 20 countries. Moreover, the San Diego-based troubadour has proven a truly diverse creative presence. A dedicated surfer, farmer/gardener, filmmaker, and photographer, Mraz is first and foremost a committed global citizen. His impassioned social activism and philanthropic efforts span wide-ranging environmental advocacy and ardent support for LGBT equality. Though it all, Jason Mraz continually confirms and celebrates music’s myriad forms and miraculous power, inspiring and delighting his countless fans around the world he calls home.
A scene from 'Game of Thrones' Season 3 (Photo by Helen Sloan/HBO)We’re at the tail end of the 2014 awards season now, with the Academy Awards finishing things up on March 2, 2014. Very few groups and organziations are left to hand out awards (still to come are the Razzies and Spirit Awards), and this weekend the Cinema Audio Society revealed their favorites for the best of 2013, unveiling the list of winners at the CAS Awards ceremony in Los Angeles. In addition to recognizing the best of 2013 in films and television, the Cinema Audio Society gave special awards to re-recording mixer Andy Nelson and director Edward Zwick.
Outstanding Achievement in Sound Mixing for a Motion Picture – Live Action GRAVITY
Production Mixer Chris Munro, CAS; Re-recording Mixers Skip Lievsay, CAS, Niv Adiri and Christopher Benstead; Scoring Mixer Gareth Cousins; ADR Mixers Chris Navarro, CAS and Thomas J. O’Connell; and Foley Mixer Adam Fil Mendez
Outstanding Achievement in Sound Mixing for a Motion Picture – Animated FROZEN
Original Dialogue Mixer Gabriel Guy; Re-recording Mixers David E. Fluhr, CAS and Gabriel Guy; Scoring Mixer Casey Stone; and Foley Mixer Mary Jo Lang
Outstanding Achievement in Sound Mixing for a Television Movie or Mini-Series BEHIND THE CANDLELABRA
Production Mixer Dennis Towns, Re-recording Mixer Larry Blake, Scoring Mixer Thomas Vicari, and Foley Mixer Scott Curtis
Outstanding Achievement in Sound Mixing for Television Series – One Hour GAME OF THRONES (“The Rains Of Castamere”)
Production Mixers Ronan Hill, CAS and Richard Dyer; Re-recording Mixers Onnalee Blank, CAS and Matthew Waters, CAS; and Foley Mixer Brett Voss
Outstanding Achievement in Sound Mixing for Television Series – Half Hour MODERN FAMILY (“Goodnight Gracie”)
Production Mixer Stephen A. Tibbo; CAS and Re-recording Mixers Dean Okrand and Brian R. Harman, CAS
Outstanding Achievement in Sound Mixing for Television Non Fiction, Variety or Music – Series or Specials HISTORY OF THE EAGLES (Part One)
Re-recording Mixers Tom Fleischman, CAS and Elliot Scheiner
Heroes is returning to primetime with an ‘event miniseries’ airing on NBC in 2015. Why? Because they can, and because the network believes there’s still an audience out that was left without a resolution and eager for more of Heroes.
Heroes Reborn will be executive produced by the show’s creator Tim Kring and will air 13 episodes in what the network’s describing as a “stand-alone story arc.” NBC isn’t saying anything about the characters or the plot, or confirming what actors – if any – will return for the miniseries.
“The enormous impact Heroes had on the television landscape when it first launched in 2006 was eye-opening,” said NBC Entertainment President Jennifer Salke. “Shows with that kind of resonance don’t come around often and we thought it was time for another installment. We’re thrilled that visionary creator Tim Kring was as excited about jumping back into this show as we were and we look forward to all the new textures and layers Tim plans to add to his original concept. Until we get closer to air in 2015, the show will be appropriately shrouded in secrecy, but we won’t rule out the possibility of some of the show’s original cast members popping back in.”
NBC also announced they’ll launch a digital series in support of the show’s premiere that will unveil info on the new plots and characters.
Heroes aired from 2006 to 2010 and averaged 14 million viewers over season one. Subsequent seasons saw a dramatic loss in viewership, and NBC opted not renew the show after the fourth season.
Host Jimmy Fallon and singer Justin Timberlake perform “The History of Rap Part 5” on February 21, 2014. (Photo by: Lloyd Bishop/NBC)
They’re back… The Tonight Show host Jimmy Fallon and his frequent partner in crime entertainment Justin Timberlake teamed up once again to deliver “History of Rap Part 5.” The fifth edition of the rap collection featured:
LL Cool J — I’m Bad
Run DMC — Beats to the Rhyme
Crazy Calls – Wait for the Beep
Beastie Boys — Fight For Your Right
Tone Loc — Wild Thing
DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince – Fresh Prince Theme
Salt N’ Pepa — Whatta Man
Positive K — I Got A Man
The Notorious B.I.G. – Big Poppa
Dr. Dre feat. Snoop Dogg – Dre Day
Warren G feat. Nate Dogg – Regulate
N.W.A. — Straight Outta Compton
Ini Kamoze – Hot Stepper
Outkast – So Fresh, So Clean
Busta Rhymes feat. P. Diddy & Pharrell — Pass the Courvoisier, Part II
“We must head to the harbor,” says Atticus (Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje), the best gladiator in all of Pompeii, to his new friend and fellow gladiator, Milo (Kit Harington), as the majestic city is about to be completely destroyed by Mount Vesuvius’ eruption in the action film Pompeii.
After his entire family and fellow clansmen were massacred by the Romans (led by General Corvus) during the Celtic uprising of 62 A.D., young Milo is captured and sold into training as a gladiator. Jumping ahead to 79 A.D., Milo is now traveling to the city of Pompeii with the rest of the slaves/gladiators to fight to the death in the great arena when he meets the lovely Cassia (Emily Browning), the daughter of Severus, a very wealthy merchant in Pompeii who’s eager to expand construction in Pompeii and make it the vacation spot of all of Italy. It’s love/lust at first sight for the lady and the slave, but alas, their relationship is not meant to be, mainly because he’s a slave and she’s a noble citizen of Pompeii.
While waiting to fight to the death in the arena, Milo is forced into sharing a cell with Atticus. Atticus just happens to be the champion gladiator of all of Pompeii, and if he’s victorious in his next one-on-one fight to the death, by Roman law, he will win his freedom…or so he believes. Milo warns his cellmate not to trust in Roman lies, but Atticus is sure of their law. It’s truly amazing that a slave/gladiator who would have little to no education in Roman times is so up to date on Roman law, but Atticus firmly believes legally his owner will have to set him free if he wins in the arena.
Meanwhile, Corvus (now a Senator) arrives in Pompeii from Rome and is interested in becoming business partners with Severus. He’s also interested in becoming much more than just business associates with Severus’ daughter, Cassia. This brings all the major characters together at the arena in time for Mount Vesuvius to erupt and begin to destroy Pompeii. Milo becomes determined to save Cassia from the blazing lava, falling debris, and the ruthless Corvus, while Atticus heads to the harbor to try to find a ship for them to use to escape the raging volcano.
With unimpressive special effects and painfully cheesy dialogue, Pompeii is a disaster of a disaster flick. It’s Spartacus meets Titanic meets 2012. The set design and costumes aren’t anything moviegoers haven’t seen done better before in far better films, including Gladiator, Troy, or the aforementioned Spartacus.
The performances are literally laughably bad. The audience this film critic saw it with was laughing out loud during the second half of the film, but what can actors do when they’re delivering horrible dialogue except perhaps pass on the role next time and hold out for something well written? The only exception to the laughable acting is Jared Harris, who portrays Severus as a doting father and an eager entrepreneur effectively. His talents, though, really do belong in a solid film and not Pompeii.
The CGI effects and destruction of the city that should be awe-inspiring are surprisingly unremarkable. Once again, epic disaster films such as The Poseidon Adventure, the original 1971 film The Towering Inferno, and Independence Day have far superior special effects and give the audience original, powerful, cinematic images and moments that stay with them long after they’ve left the theater.
Failing to deliver a passionate love story or a nerve-racking volcanic catastrophe, director Paul W.S. Anderson’s Pompeii is a true disaster of a movie and should be missed.
GRADE: D-
Pompeii is rated PG-13 for intense battle sequences, disaster-related action, and brief sexual content.
The Voice season six kicks off on February 24, 2014 at 8pm ET/PT with Blake Shelton and Adam Levine welcoming back Shakira and Usher to the spinning judges chairs. NBC provided a sneak peek at what we can expect from the first episode of the new season when all four of the coaches took to the stage to sing each other’s songs. Blake and Shakira hit the stage first, with Blake taking on “Whenever, Wherever” while Shakira reciprocated by singing Blake’s “Boys Round Here.”
Usher emerged from the audience to sing Maroon 5’s “Love Somebody,” and then all of the judges finished up on stage while Adam Levine sang Usher’s “Without You.”
Meanwhile, in other The Voice news, CeeLo Green has announced he’s not going to be returning to the show. Instead, he’ll be concentrating on other projects. Green broke the news on Ellen DeGeneres’ show, saying, “I’m going to continue my relationship with NBC. I have a television show development deal with them as well. And hopefully some other talk show opportunities for later in the year. But yeah, I’m going to miss The Voice, too. I’m not coming back guys.”
And The Voice coach Christina Aguilera also had some big news: she’s about to be a mom for the second time. Just a week after Matthew Rutler popped the question comes word that X-Tina and Matthew are going to have a baby. Aguilera already has a son, Max, with her ex-husband Jordan Bratman.
Stumble It! 
Grammy Award-winner Jason Mraz will be touring the West Coast for a series of intimate, acoustic shows kicking off on March 15, 2014 in Santa Cruz. Mraz will be joined on his acoustic tour by Raining Jane, and tickets are now on sale for the shows at 
Heroes is returning to primetime with an ‘event miniseries’ airing on NBC in 2015. Why? Because they can, and because the network believes there’s still an audience out that was left without a resolution and eager for more of Heroes.
