Heather Graham and Mary Lynn Rajskub are going to be a part of Californication‘s seventh season. Showtime announced Graham and Rajskub will guest star on the upcoming season of the popular series starring David Duchovny as Hank Moody. According to the network, filming will begin this month; season seven will air in 2014.
Per Showtime, Graham will play “a woman from Hank’s past whose arrival upends his life.” Rajskub has signed on to play a neurotic writer.
Graham has At Any Price and The Hangover Part III coming to theaters this year. Rajskub, best known for playing ‘Chloe O’Brian’ in 24, has the critically acclaimed coming-of-age film The Kings of Summer opening in May 2013.
The Plot:
Californication stars David Duchovny in his Golden Globe®Award-winning role as hedonistic novelist Hank Moody who is co-parenting his college-aged daughter Becca (Madeleine Martin) while still carrying a torch for her mother, his ex-girlfriend and muse Karen (Natascha McElhone). Best friend and agent Charlie (Evan Handler) and Charlie’s ex-wife Marcy (Pamela Adlon) are always there for moral (and immoral) support.
“When it debuted in 2006, Dexter redefined the genre by taking the anti-hero to new heights and pushing the boundaries of the television landscape,” stated Matthew C. Blank, Chairman and CEO, Showtime Networks Inc. “Dexter paved the way for the next generation of award-winning hit SHOWTIME series, and its cultural impact will be felt for years to come.”
“Dexter is a landmark franchise for our network, and we cannot wait to unveil the conclusion of this series, as we know it, to the millions of passionate fans who have supported the show season after season,” said David Nevins, President of Entertainment, Showtime Networks Inc. “We’d like to thank Michael, Jennifer, and Dexter‘s indomitable cast, executive producers, writers and crew for eight incredible seasons.”
Over its past seven seasons, Dexter has won a Peabody Award along with garnering 25 Emmy nominations and 10 Golden Globe nominations. Season eight will kick off on Sunday, June 30, 2013 at 9pm.
Details on Dexter‘s Season 8:
Season eight begins six months after LaGuerta’s murder – and Dexter is still managing life as a dad, brother, and serial killer. As Deb (Carpenter) struggles to deal with the consequences of her actions, a mysterious woman comes to work with Miami Metro, offering first-hand information on Dexter’s past.
Kathleen Kennedy, Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Sally Field at the 2013 Pioneer of the Year Award ceremony on April 17 honoring Kathleen Kennedy at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. Credit: Ryan Miller/Capture Imaging
Lincoln‘s Joseph Gordon-Levitt had the honor of hosting the gala in which the 2013 Pioneer of the Year Award was given to producer Kathleen Kennedy (President of Lucasfilm). Sally Field, also a Lincoln alum, presented the award to Kennedy at CinemaCon in Las Vegas.
The annual gathering of motion picture theatre industry professionals put on the fundraising event, honoring Kennedy for her leadership in the film industry as well as her philanthropic work. More than $700,000 was raised for the Will Rogers Motion Picture Pioneers Foundation at the gala, with the funds going toward assisting movie industry veterans “who are encountering an illness, injury or life-changing event.”
The ceremony took place on April 17th at Caesars Palace in Vegas.
Previous winners of the Pioneer of the Year Award include Cecil B. DeMille, Jack Warner, Darryl F. Zanuck, Frank G. Mancuso, Jack Valenti, Sumner Redstone, Sherry Lansing, Marc Shmuger, David Linde, Dick Cook, and Jeffrey Katzenberg.
“I’ve been watching you, Jack. You’re curious. What are you looking for in those old books? Do they bring back old memories?,” asks Beech (Morgan Freeman), a mysterious leader of what appears to be a large group of human survivors on an Earth that’s supposed to be vacant of all human life except for Jack (Tom Cruise) – an engineer maintaining drones – in the science fiction, mystery, adventure film, Oblivion.
The year is 2077 and it’s been 60 years since Earth was attacked by an alien race called the Scavs. Half of the Earth was destroyed, but mankind won the war. Everyone was evacuated and only Jack and his partner Victoria (Andrea Riseborough) remain for drone maintenance. They are the mop-up crew. When Jack goes and checks on a crashed spacecraft that’s supposedly part of the Scavs, he is shocked to discover five humans in hyper-sleep and one looking amazingly like the young woman who haunts his dreams at night. Jack reports back what he’s found but when the drones arrive, they begin killing the five sleeping humans. Jack is finally able to get the drones to stand down, saving only one of the humans – the girl, Julia (Olga Kurylenko), who he takes back to base.
Once awake, Julia is determined to get back to the wreckage and find the black box recording to find out what happened. The shocking thing about Julia is that she knows Jack’s name and keeps looking at him with both concern and attraction. This causes great jealousy for Victoria who only wants to finish her job and leave Earth with Jack to where all the other humans evacuated to: Titan. When Jack and Julia go back to the wreckage, they are attacked by Scavs and taken down into the underground. However, once there Jack meets Beech and discovers the supposed Scavs are really hiding humans. Not knowing what to believe and with Beech telling him he’s been lied to by his employers, Jack goes on a search to find the truth about what really happened 60 years ago and who really is in the big space station above Earth calling the shots.
Visually breathtaking, Oblivion is a science fiction/mystery with a strong cast but sadly an all too familiar script. Tom Cruise is solid as Jack, the planet’s last engineer who’s haunted by dreams and memories of his old life which is trying to help him unlock the secrets of what really happened to Earth and the Scavs. Andrea Riseborough is very effective as Victoria, Jack’s partner both professionally and personally. Her goals are simple: do a good job, follow protocol, and keep her man, Jack, with her at night. But when Julia arrives and Jack’s yearning for learning the truth begins to threaten everything Victoria holds dear, Andrea does a great job of showing her fear and heartbreak. It’s unfortunate that Morgan Freeman is underutilized in his role as Beech, a character very reminiscent of Morpheus in the Matrix films. He only has a few scenes and the audience will hardly be able to see him due to his character constantly hiding in the dark. It’s a waste of a great actor.
The film looks fantastic with its production value. The special effects are top-notch. Especially impressive is the flying bubbleship Jack uses to do his job over Earth and the look of a half-dead planet. Filmed in IMAX, there’s a great feel and look to all of the flying scenes. So, given how great Oblivion looks, it’s really a shame the plot is a mishmash of other science fiction movies. Oblivion borrows and even seems to outright steal from films such as Moon starring Sam Rockwell, The Matrix, Total Recall, and even a little from Independence Day.
It’s tragic that a film so well-crafted, which looks visually stunning and has solid performances from its talented cast, is nothing more than a copycat of other original science fiction films.
GRADE: C
Oblivion opens in theaters on April 19, 2013 and is rated PG-13 for sci-fi action violence, brief strong language, and some sensuality/nudity.
If you’d rather not know what’s going to happen in May 2013 on HBO’s Game of Thrones, don’t read any further. HBO’s supplied the basic info on May’s three episodes along with info on air dates and each episode’s writers and directors.
Game of Thrones May 2013 Episode Guide
Episode #26: “The Climb”
Debut: SUNDAY, MAY 5 (9:00-10:00 p.m. ET/PT)
Other HBO playdates: May 5 (11:00 p.m.), 6 (11:45 p.m.), 7 (11:00 p.m.), 8 (10:00 p.m.), 9 (9:30 p.m.) and 11 (11:40 p.m.)
HBO2 playdates: May 6 (9:00 p.m.), 9 (11:00 p.m.), 10 (midnight) and 12 (4:00 p.m.)
Tywin (Charles Dance) plans strategic unions for the Lannisters. Melisandre (Carice van Houten) visits the Riverlands. Robb (Richard Madden) weighs a compromise to repair his alliance with House Frey. Roose Bolton (Michael McElhatton) decides what to do with Jaime Lannister (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau). Jon (Kit Harington), Ygritte (Rose Leslie) and the Wildlings face a daunting climb.
Written for television by David Benioff & D. B. Weiss; directed by Alik Sakharov.
Episode #27: “The Bear and the Maiden Fair”
Debut: SUNDAY, MAY 12 (9:00-10:00 p.m.)
Other HBO playdates: May 12 (11:00 p.m.), 13 (11:15 p.m.), 14 (11:00 p.m.), 15 (10:00 p.m.), 16 (9:30 p.m.) and 18 (midnight)
HBO2 playdates: May 13 (9:00 p.m.), 16 (11:05 p.m.), 17 (midnight) and 19 (3:00 p.m.), and June 7 (10:00 p.m.)
Daenerys (Emilia Clarke) exchanges gifts with a slave lord outside Yunkai. As Sansa (Sophie Turner) frets about her prospects, Shae (Sibel Kekilli) chafes at Tyrion’s (Peter Dinklage) new situation. Tywin counsels the king, and Melisandre reveals a secret to Gendry (Joe Dempsie). Brienne (Gwendoline Christie) faces a formidable foe in Harrenhal.
Written for television by George R. R. Martin; directed by Michelle MacLaren.
Episode #28: “Second Sons”
Debut: SUNDAY, MAY 19 (9:00-10:00 p.m.)
Other HBO playdates: May 19 (11:00 p.m.), 20 (12:05 a.m.), 21 (11:00 p.m.), 22 (10:00 p.m.), 23 (9:30 p.m.) and 25 (1:15 a.m.)
HBO2 playdates: May 20 (9:00 p.m.), 23 (11:00 p.m.), 24 (midnight) and 26 (3:30 p.m.), and June 7 (11:00 p.m.)
King’s Landing hosts a wedding, and Tyrion and Sansa spend the night together. Daenerys meets the Titan’s Bastard. Davos (Liam Cunningham) demands proof from Melisandre. Sam (John Bradley) and Gilly (Hannah Murray) meet an older gentleman.
Written for television by David Benioff & D. B. Weiss; directed by Michelle MacLaren.
Crazy Beautiful, Power House, and Reconstructing Beverly Hills are among the new series Style Media has added to its 2013-2014 broadcast schedule. The nine new shows, which will focus on beauty, fashion, home design, and entertaining, will be joining the previously announced Glam Squad (a new competition series).
“We are excited to expand our programming slate by developing edgy, fun, informative series that are accessible and aspirational,” stated Sarah Weidman, Senior Vice President, Original Programming and Development, Style. “By partnering with creative and talented producers, Style provides a unique, optimistic environment for our viewers who have an insatiable appetite for looking good and living stylishly.”
Now in Development
Crazy Beautiful (working title) Crazy Beautiful provides intimate access to some of the bizarre, over-the-top and, often times, painful beauty regimens and procedures women will endure to achieve their desired looks. From achieving a 20-inch waist with intense corseting, to growing foot-long fingernails, to desiring triple-L breast implants, these individuals strive to defy the conventional standards of beauty.
The Fabulist (working title)
This humorous half-hour countdown show features tastemakers and pop culture junkies who weigh in on what is hot in the world of vacation destinations, luxury homes and fabulous lifestyles. The Fabulist will celebrate the best of the best by counting down all things fun and fantastic.
Fashion Phenoms (working title)
Kid fashion design prodigies go head-to-head with one another in a high-stakes design competition, accompanied by their parents who are learning to navigate the cutthroat world of high-fashion. These Fashion Phenoms will be pushed to the next level as they are mentored by some of the biggest designers in the business while challenged to create their own line and compete on the national stage.
Keep the Party Moving! (working title)
The “progressive dinner” is a hot trend in home entertaining and serves as the backdrop for this fun and outrageous competition series. Event planners extraordinaire, Kristin Banta and Kevin Lee, will critique four friends as they creatively carve out each course to prove who is the best in entertaining.
Matched by Design (working title)
This half-hour home makeover series introduces Lloyd Princeton, a high-end interior design broker who matches a very wealthy client with an A-list designer. His matchmaking process involves selecting three designers to present their unique vision for the client’s renovation. The client then makes their choice with Lloyd managing the project and ultimately, the fabulous final reveal.
Power House (working title)
Tiana Von Johnson is the founder of a luxury real estate agency in New York, the first to be owned by an African-American woman. She and her team of power agents sell some of the most glamorous and upscale multi-million dollar properties every day. Power House follows this team that works hard and plays even harder, where the rule of thumb is – you’re only as good as your last sale.
Reconstructing Beverly Hills (working title)
Each episode follows patients who have experienced the nightmare of plastic surgeries gone horribly wrong. From the double bubble breast augmentation complication, to collapsed nose jobs, to severe disfiguration from an amateur attempt at liposuction, Reconstructing Beverly Hills features heartbreaking patient stories and the Beverly Hills plastic surgeons who restore their bodies and spirits.
Selita (working title)
This docu-series follows supermodel Selita Ebanks as she embarks on a new chapter in her life at the age of 30. After her two-year relationship with TV personality Terrence J ends, Selita’s focus shifts to expanding her career beyond modeling to launching a clothing line.
Style Junkies (working title) Style Junkies follows over-the-top fashion-obsessed individuals as they indulge in their outlandish fashion fixations. Whether it’s a Louboutin collection that takes over every room of a house or a beloved pet with a triple-digit couture wardrobe, this comedic series will capture fashion addicts at their finest.
Tim Lopez, Ben Patton, and Ernesto Arguello from 'Ready for Love' (Photo by: Joseph Cultice/NBC)It seems TV viewers aren’t ready for Ready for Love and aren’t really looking for another reality dating series. NBC has yanked the low rated Ready for Love from its lineup after two airings, stating: “It has not yet been determined when or where remaining episodes of Ready for Love will be aired.”
In Ready for Love‘s now empty time slot will plop Grimm, moving from Fridays at 9pm to Tuesdays at 10pm through May 21st. And in Grimm‘s old spot NBC has announced Dateline will now air in that Friday time slot.
The talented Elizabeth Banks was the recipient of the Excellence in Acting award at the 2013 CinemaCon in Vegas, and prior to accepting the award given out by the National Association of Theatre Owners we had the chance to talk to her about her upcoming films. In our interview video, Banks discusses her costumes as Effie Trinket in The Hunger Games: Catching Fire and how she basically couldn’t move in one of them. She also discusses her comedy film, Walk of Shame, and producing Pitch Perfect.
The Hunger Games: Catching Fire Synopsis:
The Hunger Games: Catching Fire begins as Katniss Everdeen has returned home safe after winning the 74th Annual Hunger Games along with fellow tribute Peeta Mellark. Winning means that they must turn around and leave their family and close friends, embarking on a “Victor’s Tour” of the districts. Along the way Katniss senses that a rebellion is simmering, but the Capitol is still very much in control as President Snow prepares the 75th Annual Hunger Games (The Quarter Quell) – a competition that could change Panem forever.
Harry Shum Jr., Jenna Ushkowitz, Mark Salling, Heather Morris, Chord Overstreet, Amber Riley, Melissa Benoist, Jacob Artist, Kevin McHale, Jane Lynch, Matthew Morrison, Darren Criss, Becca Tobin, Chris Colfer, Naya Rivera, Cory Monteith, Lea Michele and Dean Geyer - Photo Credit: Kwaku Alston / FOXIt appears Fox is ready to stick with Glee for two more years at least, announcing they’ve just renewed the series for seasons five and six. Chairman of Entertainment at Fox Kevin Reilly made the announcement, saying, “Glee debuted as the first and only successful musical comedy series on television, and more than four years later, it continues to defy genres, break new ground and have a significant impact on popular culture. Week in and week out, Ryan Murphy, Brad Falchuk, Ian Brennan, Dante DiLoreto and the entire Glee team deliver a series that not only delights and surprises fans, but also inspires them to talk about, share, debate and engage with the show – and I’m absolutely thrilled to have them on board for another two seasons.”
“Glee has been a signature series for the studio since its launch four years ago and we couldn’t be happier that FOX has ordered two more seasons,” added Twentieth Century Fox Television Chairmen Dana Walden and Gary Newman. “Ryan, Brad, Ian and Dante have created something that is far larger than a television show; it’s a global entertainment brand which continues to touch millions around the world. From its chart-topping musical numbers to its inventive storytelling and rich, complex characters, Glee rewrote the rules of what network television could be, and we are enormously proud to be the studio behind it.”
“I am very grateful to Kevin, Dana and Gary for their incredible support of this series from the beginning,” said Murphy. “But I also want to thank our loyal audience, whose passion and enthusiasm continue to amaze and inspire us.”
This season, Glee has been averaging 8.7 million total viewers and is a top 10 comedy among adults 18-40.
Coming Up: “Lights Out” Airing on April 25, 2013
Will (Matthew Morrison) and Finn (Cory Monteith) enlist the members of New Directions to “unplug” and perform acoustic numbers, after the power goes out at McKinley High School. Meanwhile, Isabelle Wright (guest star Sarah Jessica Parker) asks Kurt to volunteer at the Vogue.com charity event, with Rachel and Santana (Naya Rivera) in tow.
Bryan Cranston and Aaron Paul in ‘Breaking Bad’ (Photo Credit: Ben Leuner / AMC)
Breaking Bad will kick off its final eight episodes on Sunday, August 11, 2013 at 9pm as just announced by AMC. The network also revealed details on new shows, including Talking Bad, a half-hour live series that will air after each new episode of Breaking Bad‘s final season.
In addition, AMC announced new series being added to the network’s lineup and which shows have been renewed.
“Six years ago at AMC, we set a goal to create premium television on basic cable, and we began to develop and nurture shows that would set us apart,” stated Charlie Collier, President and General Manager of AMC. “As we lay out the year ahead for advertisers at our 2013 Upfront, it is an honor to have such a breadth of development and programming to share and to be in business with such a high caliber of talent in front of and behind the camera.”
New AMC Spring and Summer Programming Premieres:
Small Town Security Season 2
Thu., May 9 at 10/9c
Small Town Security explores the inner workings of a small, family-run security and private investigation company in Ringgold, Georgia called JJK Security. The series returns for a second season of straight-up and serious security work, love triangles with a twist, sarcasm served over easy, and a generous helping of stranger-than-fiction scatological humor that will draw you in and make you look away, all at the same time. The season two premiere will be preceded by a marathon of all eight episodes from season one beginning at 6/5c.
Showville
Thu., May 23 at 9/8c
Fame meets Main on AMC’s new unscripted competition series, Showville. The series centers around a small town talent show featuring local acts, who get the chance of a lifetime to be in the spotlight. Showville is a celebration of performing, and a fond, funny look at the lives, workplaces and families of these acts and what happens to them when Hollywood comes to town. Each week, a one-hour episode of Showville touches down in a quintessentially American small town and puts together a talent show in a mere four days.
Breaking Bad
Sun., Aug. 11 at 9/8c
Breaking Bad has garnered seven Primetime Emmy Award wins and a Peabody, and been named to the American Film Institute’s (AFI) list of the “Top 10 Programs of the Year” (2008, 2010, 2011, 2012). The explosive series that The Hollywood Reporter called “one of the greatest dramas in TV history,” returned to AMC for the first part of its final season on July 15, 2012 with its most watched episode to date with 2.9 million viewers (up 14% over the season four premiere).
Low Winter Sun
Sun., Aug. 11 at 10/9c
Starring Mark Strong and Lennie James, Low Winter Sun is a contemporary story of murder, deception, revenge and corruption in a world where the line between cops and criminals is blurred. The series begins with the murder of a cop by a fellow Detroit detective. Seemingly the perfect crime, in reality the murder activates forces that will forever alter the detective’s life, and pull him into the heart of the Detroit underworld. The ten-episode series is based on the 2006 award-winning British two-part mini-series of the same name written by Simon Donald.
Owner’s Manual
Thu., Aug. 15 at 9/8c
Owner’s Manual will test one of the most common divides among man – those who read the owner’s manual and those who do not. Representing each side of this divide, Ed Sanders and Marcus Hunt are put to the test in a weekly challenge where they attempt to operate today’s most advanced, dangerous and powerful machinery and technology – from a stunt plane to an off-road racing car to a locomotive, and more. With opposing points of view and conflicting methods of practice — one man works strictly from the rule book, while the other uses only his instincts — the real test will be how this “everyman” duo can collaborate to accomplish their challenge.
The Pitch
Thu., Aug. 15 at 10/9c
The Pitch chronicles numerous interesting characters as they prepare unique creative campaigns, with big personal stakes, at their advertising agencies to try and win a major new piece of business. The show focuses on the characters who are putting their best work forward and shows the personal stakes involved in winning each client. The Pitch first premiered on AMC in April 2012 and earned a Critics Choice nomination for Best Reality Series – Competition.
The Killing
Sun., June 2 at 8/7c
Following its two-hour premiere, The Killing will return to its regular time on Sundays at 9/8c.
Hell on Wheels
Sat., Aug. 3 at 9/8c
Series Renewals:
Talking Dead
Renewed for a third season.
AMC’s live after show, hosted by Chris Hardwick, serves as a platform for discussion of the network’s hit series The Walking Dead.
Comic Book Men
Renewed for a third season.
The series follows the crew of fan boys from Kevin Smith’s iconic comic shop, Jay and Silent Bob’s Secret Stash, as they geek-out over rare memorabilia and discover treasures of the comic collecting world.
Freakshow
Renewed for a second season.
Freakshow follows Todd Ray’s quirky family business — the Venice Beach Freakshow. Leaving behind a successful career in the music industry, Todd realized his true passion: bringing together all things bizarre and unique, including two-headed animals, strange artifacts, eccentric performers and human wonders.
Crazy Beautiful, Power House, and Reconstructing Beverly Hills are among the new series Style Media has added to its 2013-2014 broadcast schedule. The nine new shows, which will focus on beauty, fashion, home design, and entertaining, will be joining the previously announced Glam Squad (a new competition series).
