Aziz Ansari (30 Minutes or Less, Parks & Recreation) and Netflix are teaming up for Aziz Ansari: Buried Alive premiering on November 1, 2013 at 12:01am PT. The special, which is showing off a new poster and trailer, was shot during Aziz’s show at the Merriam Theater in Philadelphia. During his act, Aziz shares his views on “adulthood, babies, marriage, and love in the modern era.”
Ansari’s Buried Alive tour hit over 75 cities including London, Sydney, and New York City, but for his fans who couldn’t make it out to see him live, the Netflix special is the next best thing.
The Returned, based on the French series that was inspired by the film Les Revenants, is in the works at A&E Network. “The Returned takes an incredibly unique approach, filled with suspense and twists and turns, to the subject of the living dead. Part mystery, part thriller; The Returned is a perfect complement to A&E’s unique brand of scripted storytelling,” said A&E Network GM and EVP David McKillop in the official announcement of the series.
The dramatic series is a co-production of A+E Studios and FremantleMedia North America.
“The Returned is a fascinating series with a truly unique premise,” said FremantleMedia CEP Thom Beers. “Having seen Fabrice Gobert’s original version and the success the series has had in France, we’re thrilled to be partnering with the team at A+E to bring this enigmatic thriller to U.S. audiences.”
The Plot:
The Returned focuses on a small town that is turned upside down when several local people, who have been long presumed dead suddenly reappear, having not aged and unaware of their own fatality. As they attempt to resume their lives, strange phenomena and gruesome murders begin to occur.
Hot on the heels of the new Walking with Dinosaurs poster comes a new trailer for the CG dino film from 20th Century Fox. Heading to theaters at Christmas time, Walking with Dinosaurs was directed by Barry Cook and Neil Nightingale.
The Plot:
For the first time in movie history, audiences will truly see and feel what it was like when dinosaurs ruled the Earth. Walking with Dinosaurs: The Movie is the ultimate immersive, big-screen, 3-D experience. Recent discoveries and a breakthrough in technology will introduce new and unique dinosaurs that are more real than ever before and put moviegoers in the middle of a thrilling prehistoric adventure, where an underdog dinosaur triumphs against all odds to become a hero for the ages.
Domenick Lombardozzi, Stephen Graham, and Morgan Spector star in 'Boardwalk Empire' (Photo: Macall B. Polay / HBO)
I’m not sold on season four of HBO’s Boardwalk Empire, but I have faith it will improve as the season goes on. Still, I miss the sheer craziness Bobby Cannavale brought to the series last year, and I’m hoping there will be a character who proves to be just as memorable as Cannavale’s ‘Gyp Rosetti.’
Boardwalk Empire October 2013 Episodes
Episode #41: “Erlkönig”
Debut: SUNDAY, OCT. 6 (9:00-10:00 p.m. ET/PT)
Other HBO playdates: Oct. 6 (11:00 p.m.), 8 (11:00 p.m.), 9 (10:00 p.m.), 11 (9:00 p.m.) and 12 (11:00 p.m.)
HBO2 playdates: Oct. 7 (9:00 p.m.), 11 (1:15 a.m.), 13 (4:00 p.m.) and 17 (9:00 p.m.)
Nucky (Steve Buscemi) heads to Philadelphia to deal with the fallout from Willie’s (Ben Rosenfield) liquor fiasco. Eddie Kessler (Anthony Laciura) is detained by Agent Knox (Brian Geraghty), who uses physical and psychological tactics to elicit information about Nucky’s organization. A desperate Gillian (Gretchen Mol) turns to an unexpected source to score a fix, and is rebuffed in her attempt to reunite with Tommy (Brady Noon). In Cicero, Van Alden (Michael Shannon) is recruited by the Capones to pay an election-day visit to factory workers who are opposed to the Capones’ candidate of choice.
Written by Howard Korder; directed by Tim Van Patten.
Episode #42: “The North Star”
Debut: SUNDAY, OCT. 13 (9:00-10:00 p.m.)
Other HBO playdates: Oct. 13 (11:00 p.m.), 15 (11:00 p.m.), 16 (10:00 p.m.), 18 (9:00 p.m.) and 19 (1:35 a.m.)
HBO2 playdates: Oct. 14 (9:00 p.m.), 17 (10:00 p.m.), 18 (11:50 p.m.) and 20 (1:15 p.m.)
After a cautious reunion with Margaret (Kelly Macdonald) in New York City, Nucky heads to Tampa to work out details of his land deal with Bill McCoy (Pearce Bunting) and reconnects with Sally Wheet (Patricia Arquette). Richard Harrow (Jack Huston) returns to Atlantic City and makes a confession to an ailing Paul Sagorsky (Mark Borkowsky), who encourages him to get over the past and return to Julia (Wrenn Schmidt) and Tommy. Having lost J. Edgar Hoover’s (Eric Ladin) confidence, Agent Knox finds a new way to gain Eli’s (Shea Whigham) trust. Meyer Lansky (Anatol Yusef) decides to go it alone on the Tampa land deal when Lucky Luciano (Vincent Piazza) gets spooked by Vincenzo Petrucelli (Vincenzo Amato), an investor with ties to Joe Masseria (Ivo Nandi) in New York. Chalky (Michael Kenneth Williams) takes out his frustrations on Daughter Maitland (Margot Bingham).
Written by Eric Overmyer and Howard Korder; directed by Allen Coulter.
: Episode #43: “William Wilson”
Debut: SUNDAY, OCT. 20 (9:00-10:00 p.m.)
Other HBO playdates: Oct. 20 (11:00 p.m.), 22 (11:00 p.m.), 23 (10:00 p.m.) 25 (9:00 p.m.) and 26 (11:00 p.m.)
HBO2 playdates: Oct. 21 (9:00 p.m.), 25 (12:05 a.m.) and 27 (3:50 p.m.), and Nov. 7 (8:00 p.m.)
Eli confronts Nucky after Willie makes an unpopular decision. Margaret has a surprise encounter at her job on Wall Street. Joe Masseria orders Lucky Luciano to return to Tampa and deal with Vincenzo Petrucelli. Gillian goes cold turkey with Roy Phillips’ (Ron Livingston) help. Still seething over his brother’s death, Al Capone (Stephen Graham) tries to get Johnny Torrio (Greg Antonacci) to turn on rival gangster Dean O’Banion (Arron Shiver). As the relationship between Chalky and Daughter Maitland deepens, Valentin Narcisse (Jeffrey Wright) exerts his control over Dunn Purnsley (Erik LaRay Harvey) and the Northside.
Written by David Matthews and Terence Winter; directed by Jeremy Podeswa.
Episode #44: “The Old Ship of Zion”
Debut: SUNDAY, OCT. 27 (9:00-10:00 p.m.)
Other HBO playdates: Oct. 27 (11:00 p.m.), 29 (11:00 p.m.) and 30 (10:00 p.m.), and Nov. 1 (9:00 p.m.) and 2 (12:30 a.m.)
HBO2 playdates: Oct. 28 (9:00 p.m.) and Nov. 1 (11:00 p.m.), 3 (3:45 p.m.) and 7 (9:00 p.m.)
Nucky’s shipment from Florida arrives with some unexpected cargo. Eli is backed into a corner when Agent Knox uncovers new dirt on the Thompsons. After talking things over with Nucky, Willie reconsiders his recent life choices. Chalky throws down the gauntlet to Valentin Narcisse, upholding his leadership on the Northside.
Written by Cristine Chambers and Howard Korder; directed by Tim Van Patten.
Okay…so this exists. What is The Nut Job? Squirrels planning a nut heist. Featuring the voices of Brendan Fraser, Will Arnett, Maya Rudolph, Katherine Heigl, and Liam Neeson, The Nut Job from Open Road Films arrives in theaters on January 17, 2014.
I dare you to watch this just once, and I double dare you to not sing along. A cat wearing a shark costume circling the kitchen while riding a Roomba, set to music. Yes, it’s a must-see video.
Stephen Merchant in 'Hello Ladies' (Photo: Jaimie Trueblood / HBO)
Stephen Merchant stars in Hello Ladies, the new HBO comedy series debuting on Sunday, September 29, 2013 at 10:30pm. The series, which Merchant co-wrote and executive produces, marks Merchant’s first starring role on American television.
The Plot:
Stephen Merchant portrays Stuart, a web designer who recently relocated to LA from England in hopes of finding excitement, romance, and maybe even a soul mate. Working out of his LA home, Stuart has an easy rapport with an attractive roommate named Jessica (Christine Woods), though it is clear she’s not romantically interested in him.
Half as charming as he thinks he is – and twice as desperate – Stuart is obsessed with infiltrating the glamorous world of beautiful people and doggedly hits the LA social scene in the company of pals Wade (Nate Torrence), who’s in the throes of a separation from his wife, and Kives (Kevin Weisman), a charismatic paraplegic who fares far better with the ladies than Stuart or Wade.
Hello Ladies October 2013 Episodes
Episode #2: “The Limo”
Debut: SUNDAY, OCT. 6 (10:30-11:00 p.m. ET/PT)
Other HBO playdates: Oct. 6 (12:30 a.m.), 8 (midnight), 9 (midnight), 10 (10:30 p.m.), 11 (12:30 a.m.) and 18 (midnight)
HBO2 playdates: Oct. 8 (11:00 p.m.), 10 (3:50 a.m.) and 12 (9:30 p.m.)
Wade (Nate Torrence) hires a stretch limousine in an effort to win back Marion (Crista Flanagan), his estranged wife. Stuart (Stephen Merchant) seizes the opportunity to travel around LA in limo style with Wade and Kives (Kevin Weisman) in tow, and picks up three very interested female tourists.
Written by Stephen Merchant & Lee Eisenberg & Gene Stupnitsky; directed by Stephen Merchant.
Episode #3: “The Date”
Debut: SUNDAY, OCT. 13 (10:30-11:00 p.m.)
Other HBO playdates: Oct. 13 (12:30 a.m.), 15 (midnight), 16 (midnight), 17 (10:30 p.m.) and 18 (12:30 a.m.)
HBO2 playdates: Oct. 15 (11:00 p.m.), 17 (2:45 a.m.) and 19 (9:30 p.m.)
Stuart (Stephen Merchant) has an encouraging first date with Annie (Lindsey Broad), a yoga studio employee, but becomes unhinged. Upset when her ”frenemy,” Amelia (Jenny Slate), gets a major film role, Jessica (Christine Woods) demands that Glenn (Sean Wing), her agent/squeeze, score her an audition, pronto. Following a slip in the shower, Wade institutes an emergency-alert system for his friends.
Written by Stephen Merchant & Lee Eisenberg & Gene Stupnitsky; directed by Stephen Merchant.
Episode #4: “The Dinner”
Debut: SUNDAY, OCT. 20 (10:30-11:00 p.m.)
Other HBO playdates: Oct. 20 (12:30 a.m.), 22 (midnight), 23 (midnight), 24 (10:30 p.m.) and 25 (12:30 a.m.)
HBO2 playdates: Oct. 22 (11:00 p.m.), 24 (3:50 a.m.) and 26 (9:30 p.m.)
After learning that gay clubs are frequented by straight women, Stuart ditches Wade, who was coming over for movie night, to tag along with Jessica to a gay club. Jessica gets herself and Stuart invited to a dinner party of influential tastemakers and groundbreakers. Wade is joined by Kives for a fun night back at Stuart’s house.
Written by Stephen Merchant & Lee Eisenberg & Gene Stupnitsky; directed by Stephen Merchant.
Episode #5: “Pool Party”
Debut: SUNDAY, OCT. 27 (10:30-11:00 p.m.)
Other HBO playdates: Oct. 27 (12:30 a.m.), 29 (midnight), 30 (midnight) and 31 (10:30 p.m.), and Nov. 1 (12:30 a.m.)
HBO2 playdates: Oct. 29 (11:00 p.m.) and 31 (3:55 a.m.), and Nov. 2 (9:30 p.m.)
Stuart plans an epic pool party in hopes that Kimberly (Heather Hahn), a model, will attend. Jessica mentors Heaven (Rosa Salazar), a homeless 19-year-old.
Written by Stephen Merchant & Lee Eisenberg & Gene Stupnitsky; directed by Julian Farino.
Josh Brolin and director Spike Lee provide a look behind the scenes of Oldboy, the 2013 remake of the 2003 Korean film coming to theaters on November 27, 2013. Written by Mark Protosevich, the cast also includes Elizabeth Olsen and Sharlto Copley.
The Plot:
Oldboy is a provocative, visceral thriller that follows the story of Joe Doucette, a man who is abruptly kidnapped and held hostage for 20 years in solitary confinement for no apparent reason. When he is suddenly released without explanation, he begins an obsessive mission to find out who imprisoned him, only to discover that the real mystery is why he was set free.
Jimmy Kimmel is the latest target of Kanye West’s anger after spoofing an interview West did with the BBC by using kids in place of West and the interviewer. It was a funny bit, but West isn’t laughing. In fact, he’s demanding a public apology – which he isn’t going to get – and attacking Kimmel on Twitter. The mostly one-sided battle is great for Kimmel who showed off West’s angry tweets during the September 26, 2013 episode of Jimmy Kimmel Live.
Kimmel told his audience that West called him and said he had two choices: apologize or… “That was really the only choice. The other choice he gave was that my life … ‘your life is going to be much better if you apologize,’ and then he started tweeting today,” said Kimmel.
Kimmel then read off a bunch of Kanye’s tweets:
JIMMY KIMMEL IS OUT OF LINE TO TRY AND SPOOF IN ANY WAY THE FIRST PIECE OF HONEST MEDIA IN YEARS – @kanyewest
JIMMY KIMMEL, I DON’T TAKE IT AS A JOKE…. YOU DON’T HAVE SCUM BAGS HOPPING OVER FENCES TRYING TO TAKE PICTURES OF YOUR DAUGHTER – @kanyewest
JIMMY KIMMEL PUT YOURSELF IN MY SHOES … OH NO THAT MEANS YOU WOULD HAVE GOTTEN TOO MUCH GOOD P***Y IN YOUR LIFE… – @kanyewest
YOU CAN’T PUT YOURSELF IN MY SHOES. YOUR FACE LOOKS CRAZY… IS THAT FUNNY?… OR IF I HAD A KID SAY IT WOULD IT BE FUNNY??? – @kanyewest
SHOULD I DO A SPOOF ABOUT YOUR FACE OR YOU F**KING BEN AFFLECK…#NODISRESPECTTOBENAFFLECK #ALLDISRESPECTTOJIMMYKIMMEL!!!! – @kanyewest
I LIKE YOU, YOU KNOW ME, I WENT TO YOUR FAMILY’S WEDDING – @kanyewest
WHO YOU MADE IT CLEAR TO ME WASN’T YOUR FAMILY WHEN I WAS ON THEN PHONE WITH YOU 5 MINUTES AGO, YOU MANIPULATIVE MEDIA M**HERF**KER. – @kanyewest
SARAH SILVERMAN IS A THOUSAND TIMES FUNNIER THAN YOU AND THE WHOLE WORLD KNOWS IT!!! – @kanyewest
The first Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs took me by surprise. Its trailer looked rather generic, and I went into it with very few expectations only to find that it’s actually one of my favorite animated movies in the last five years. Now the sequel has been unleashed, appropriately titled Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2 and sans subtitle so just saying it doesn’t require a second breath.
Picking up right where the first film ended, our intrepid inventor, Flint Lockwood (voiced by Bill Hader) has been given the opportunity to work for the Live Corporation. Think Apple and Google all rolled into one. He’s eventually tasked with helping to stop the device that created the food storms from the previous tale, only now that device is cranking out sentient food that may threaten to overrun the world’s historical landmarks if not kept in check (if you’ve seen the first movie, you get that joke).
In any case, Flint doesn’t go off on his own. His friends and father tag along, with most of the cast of characters returning for more crazy food antics (it’s sad Mr. T didn’t reprise his role but Terry Crews did a good job of filling in). As expected, there’s much quirkiness and randomness that goes on, all leading to the inevitable happy ending one can expect with any kids film. P.S. If you consider that a spoiler, stick to Nick at Nite re-runs (do they still do that? I am not young anymore).
While there was a change in directors for the franchise, they managed to make it all feel like an extension of the original, and this is a worthy sequel that is probably my second favorite animated movie of the year (The Croods still holds top honors to this point). If you’ve got kids, this will keep them entertained with its bright colors and wacky food animals. It will also keep you entertained with plenty of humor aimed above the heads of the wee ones you brought in tow.
When it comes to the obligatory 3D, you can take it or leave it. None of it was obtrusive and I was pleased that the vibrant colors on display still came through, even when wearing tinted (and presumably sanitized) lenses. However, there aren’t enough moments that take advantage of the technology so you really won’t be missing anything should you decide to use that extra money you saved on tickets for gummy bears.
Bottom line is that Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2 will likely join its predecessor on my Blu-ray shelf and hopefully, this release will put an end to whatever money is still flowing towards Monsters University. Of all the bad movies this year (and there are many), the sheer gigantitude of the box office for that truly terrible misstep by the good folks at Pixar still has me fuming. Movies cost too much these days to just throw money away. Don’t forget people, you can get air conditioning in malls too … and admission to those is free.
GRADE: B-
Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2 is rated PG for mild rude humor.
Stumble It! 
The Returned, based on the French series that was inspired by the film Les Revenants, is in the works at A&E Network. “The Returned takes an incredibly unique approach, filled with suspense and twists and turns, to the subject of the living dead. Part mystery, part thriller; The Returned is a perfect complement to A&E’s unique brand of scripted storytelling,” said A&E Network GM and EVP David McKillop in the official announcement of the series.
