It was Tina Fey’s duty to host this season’s premiere episode of SNL, but it was Breaking Bad star Aaron Paul who stole the show. Paul surprised SNL viewers by taking part in the opening bit about Obamacare after President Obama (played by SNL cast member Jay Pharoah) calls him to the podium to discuss his personal experiences with health care. “Jesse from New Mexico” shared the story of his friend who got sick with cancer and because Obamacare didn’t exist at the time, had to turn to cooking meth and ultimately to murder.
Later in the episode, Paul contributed to the fake ‘e-Meth’ commercial:
And he even put in an appearance during the Weekend Update segment, teaming up with Bobby Moynihan as Drunk Uncle and his meth nephew:
“Who’s that?” asks James Hunt (Chris Hemsworth). “It’s Niki Lauda. He’s just been signed by Ferrari,” replies one of Hunt’s pit crew as the up-and-coming racer has just noticed the most formidable rival he will face during his career in the dramatic film Rush.
In the mid-1970s charismatic English playboy James Hunt was determined to become the world champion Formula 1 driver when he met and began racing against his most worthy opponent, Austrian driver Niki Lauda (Daniel Bruhl). Lauda’s quest for excellence and methodical method of studying cars, engines, and racetracks helps him to quickly become the front-runner in the sport ahead of all the more accomplished and seasoned racers.
It’s not long before Lauda, whose anti-social manner and bluntness make him the least-liked racer on the circuit, and Hunt – whose extrovert personality has made him well-liked amongst the racing community – clash and become bitter rivals.
It’s during the 1976 season that Lauda has a horrible fiery crash while racing and is barely pulled from his burning car alive. While fighting for his life and struggling to recover, he finds inspiration and becomes even more determined to get back behind the wheel with every race Hunt wins, and each of Hunt’s wins means he’s getting closer to taking the title of champion racer from Lauda.
Based on a true story and directed by Ron Howard, Rush is a sleek, tense drama that is elevated by Howard’s superior direction and the stand-out performances of Hemsworth and Bruhl. Chris Hemsworth gives the best performance of his young career as the glory-seeking, likable playboy who is not without a conscience and at times even reaches out to his rival Lauda to extend an olive branch of friendship.
Daniel Bruhl is perfectly cast as the self-absorbed, rude, and brilliant Lauda who takes on the racing circuit and quickly becomes the greatest racer in a generation. Bruhl even looks a little like the real Lauda and his performance, especially when Lauda is struggling to recover from his terrible burns in the hospital, is breathtaking.
Ron Howard captures the mid-1970s wonderfully with the production design, costumes, hairstyles, and the of course the cars which are sure to help the audience get the feel of life in that era. The only drawback to the film is in some of the racing scenes where the audience can’t really make out who is in what car, and also a few noticeable mistakes such as during one of the races in pouring rain when the cars round a corner and are dry with hardly any water on them.
Engaging and well-crafted, Rush is an intriguing drama about two men driven to be the best in their profession and the extremes they will go to in order to obtain glory.
GRADE: B
Rush is rated R for sexual content, nudity, language, some disturbing images and brief drug use.
I recently watched the original Carrie again and you know what? It still holds up. So, do we really need a remake? Probably not, but at least it appears – judging simply by the trailers and clips – that Chloe Grace Moretz is up to the task of handling the title role and that the effects aren’t cheesy.
Opening in theaters on October 18, 2013, this version of Carrie also stars Julianne Moore, Ansel Elgort, Gabriella Wilde, and Judy Greer.
The Plot:
A reimagining of the classic horror tale about Carrie White (Chloë Grace Moretz), a shy girl outcast by her peers and sheltered by her deeply religious mother (Julianne Moore), who unleashes telekinetic terror on her small town after being pushed too far at her senior prom.
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.
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.
