John Cleese has adapted three episodes of Fawlty Towers into a play, which will premiere in the West End in May.
Fawlty Towers is often, quite rightly, cited as one of the best sitcoms ever made. Starring John Cleese, Prunella Scales, Andrew Sachs and Connie Booth, it was written by Cleese and Booth who, according to the DVD commentaries, took six weeks to plot and write each episode.
The show was based on a real hotel the Monty Python team stayed at, with Basil Fawlty based on its proprietor Donald Sinclair, after whom Cleese later named his character in Rat Race.
According to the British Comedy Guide, Cleese has adapted three episodes for the stage as a play which will premiere at the Apollo Theatre in the West End in June. Caroline Jay Ranger will direct.
The episodes are The Hotel Inspector and The Germans from Series 1 and Communication Problems...
Fawlty Towers is often, quite rightly, cited as one of the best sitcoms ever made. Starring John Cleese, Prunella Scales, Andrew Sachs and Connie Booth, it was written by Cleese and Booth who, according to the DVD commentaries, took six weeks to plot and write each episode.
The show was based on a real hotel the Monty Python team stayed at, with Basil Fawlty based on its proprietor Donald Sinclair, after whom Cleese later named his character in Rat Race.
According to the British Comedy Guide, Cleese has adapted three episodes for the stage as a play which will premiere at the Apollo Theatre in the West End in June. Caroline Jay Ranger will direct.
The episodes are The Hotel Inspector and The Germans from Series 1 and Communication Problems...
- 2/5/2024
- by Jake Godfrey
- Film Stories
The Monty Python legend and director of 12 Monkeys and Brazil will be receiving his first Aardman Slapstick award for visual comedy next month. Ask him anything here
Terry Gilliam has directed 13 feature films including 1981 fantasy adventure Time Bandits with Sean Connery and John Cleese, 1995’s sci-fi thriller 12 Monkeys with Bruce Willis and Brad Pitt and 2005 fantasy adventure The Brothers Grimm with Matt Damon and Heath Ledger. It all started, of course, with 1975’s Monty Python and the Holy Grail, the first Monty Python film, which Gilliam co-wrote and starred in along with his fellow Pythons, as well as directing.
Although American-born, Gilliam renounced his American citizenship in 2006. He was nominated for an Oscar for best original screenplay for 1985 sci-fi dystopian dark comedy Brazil and a Golden Globe for best director for 1991 fantasy comedy-drama The Fisher King. In 1998, he won a Bafta for outstanding contribution to cinema and, in...
Terry Gilliam has directed 13 feature films including 1981 fantasy adventure Time Bandits with Sean Connery and John Cleese, 1995’s sci-fi thriller 12 Monkeys with Bruce Willis and Brad Pitt and 2005 fantasy adventure The Brothers Grimm with Matt Damon and Heath Ledger. It all started, of course, with 1975’s Monty Python and the Holy Grail, the first Monty Python film, which Gilliam co-wrote and starred in along with his fellow Pythons, as well as directing.
Although American-born, Gilliam renounced his American citizenship in 2006. He was nominated for an Oscar for best original screenplay for 1985 sci-fi dystopian dark comedy Brazil and a Golden Globe for best director for 1991 fantasy comedy-drama The Fisher King. In 1998, he won a Bafta for outstanding contribution to cinema and, in...
- 1/22/2024
- by Rich Pelley
- The Guardian - Film News
This March, stand-up, actor and Off Menu podcaster James Acaster can be seen in Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire alongside Dan Aykroyd, Carrie Coon, Stranger Things’ Finn Wolfhard, and Paul Rudd. In the sequel to the Ghostbusters revival, Acaster plays boffin Lars Pinfield, a scientist described by writer-producer Jason Reitman as an “Egon Spengler type”.
One month later in April, Acaster fans will be chuffed to know that the mash king is back on the big screen in Andy Riley and Curtis Vowell’s historical comedy Seize Them!
Seize Them! is a who’s-who of British comedy, with a cast including Derry Girls, Bridgerton and soon-to-be Doctor Who guest star Nicola Coughlan, Sex Education and Living’s Aimee-Lou Wood, Ghosts and Saltburn’s Lolly Adefope, plus a Spaced reunion in the form of UK comedy stars Nick Frost and Jessica Hynes. See the first trailer below.
The film is the story of...
One month later in April, Acaster fans will be chuffed to know that the mash king is back on the big screen in Andy Riley and Curtis Vowell’s historical comedy Seize Them!
Seize Them! is a who’s-who of British comedy, with a cast including Derry Girls, Bridgerton and soon-to-be Doctor Who guest star Nicola Coughlan, Sex Education and Living’s Aimee-Lou Wood, Ghosts and Saltburn’s Lolly Adefope, plus a Spaced reunion in the form of UK comedy stars Nick Frost and Jessica Hynes. See the first trailer below.
The film is the story of...
- 1/19/2024
- by Louisa Mellor
- Den of Geek
This past week saw the release of The Book of Clarence, a movie about a down-on-his-luck guy who hits upon a get-rich-quick scheme that leads him into a heap of trouble. It’s a classic topic for a movie, but it is treading on more controversial ground than usual. Because in the case of this story about a hustler getting in over his head, the hustle happens to be set around Israel and Palestine during the life and times of Jesus of Nazareth. In fact, that is Clarence’s whole scheme: He sees Jesus and decides to get into the messiah business.
This is not the first film to portray the story of one of Jesus’ fictional contemporaries. Monty Python’s Life of Brian attracted protests, controversy, and endless talk show guest slots over its portrayal of a man who was definitely not the messiah, just a very naughty boy.
This is not the first film to portray the story of one of Jesus’ fictional contemporaries. Monty Python’s Life of Brian attracted protests, controversy, and endless talk show guest slots over its portrayal of a man who was definitely not the messiah, just a very naughty boy.
- 1/18/2024
- by David Crow
- Den of Geek
John Cleese is poking fun at former President Donald Trump and comparing him to Adolf Hitler.
The 84-year-old Monty Python alum then immediately apologized after receiving some backlash on social media.
“Five ways that Hitler was preferable to Trump,” he began his post.
Keep reading to find out more…
“1. He fought for his country
2. He never used a teleprompter
3. He was nice to dogs
4. He wrote his own books
5. He never played golf
6. He wasn’t a big fat slob.”
“Five ways Trump is preferable to Hitler,” he then continued.
“1. He doesn’t practice genocide
2. He has nicer hair
3.
4.
5.”
Almost immediately, he then wrote: “I would like to apologize for my last tweet. It was a very bad joke, especially on Boxing Day.”
Find out which star was just cast as a young Trump in an upcoming movie.
Five ways that Hitler was preferable to Trump
1. He fought for his...
The 84-year-old Monty Python alum then immediately apologized after receiving some backlash on social media.
“Five ways that Hitler was preferable to Trump,” he began his post.
Keep reading to find out more…
“1. He fought for his country
2. He never used a teleprompter
3. He was nice to dogs
4. He wrote his own books
5. He never played golf
6. He wasn’t a big fat slob.”
“Five ways Trump is preferable to Hitler,” he then continued.
“1. He doesn’t practice genocide
2. He has nicer hair
3.
4.
5.”
Almost immediately, he then wrote: “I would like to apologize for my last tweet. It was a very bad joke, especially on Boxing Day.”
Find out which star was just cast as a young Trump in an upcoming movie.
Five ways that Hitler was preferable to Trump
1. He fought for his...
- 12/27/2023
- by Just Jared
- Just Jared
British director and actor David Leland has died aged 82, according to his long-time agency, Cassaroto Ramsay & Associates
The theater, film and TV star passed away on Christmas Eve (December 24), surrounded by his family.
Leland’s career spanned over five decades. He is known for writing two films about British suburban madam Cynthia Payne, the BAFTA-nominated Personal Services in 1987 and the Cannes Film Festival hit Wish You Were Here.
The former was directed by Terry Jones and starred Julie Walters, while Leland directed the latter himself, with Emily Lloyd starring.
Leland won the BAFTA for Best Original Screenplay for Wish You Were Here and the film won the Fipresci prize at Cannes.
He is also noted for serving as co-showrunner of Showtime series The Borgias and for giving Pierce Brosnan his first stage opportunity in the British premiere of Tennessee Williams’ The Red Devil Battery Sign at The Round House, which Leland directed.
The theater, film and TV star passed away on Christmas Eve (December 24), surrounded by his family.
Leland’s career spanned over five decades. He is known for writing two films about British suburban madam Cynthia Payne, the BAFTA-nominated Personal Services in 1987 and the Cannes Film Festival hit Wish You Were Here.
The former was directed by Terry Jones and starred Julie Walters, while Leland directed the latter himself, with Emily Lloyd starring.
Leland won the BAFTA for Best Original Screenplay for Wish You Were Here and the film won the Fipresci prize at Cannes.
He is also noted for serving as co-showrunner of Showtime series The Borgias and for giving Pierce Brosnan his first stage opportunity in the British premiere of Tennessee Williams’ The Red Devil Battery Sign at The Round House, which Leland directed.
- 12/27/2023
- by Jesse Whittock
- Deadline Film + TV
British comedian and actor John Cleese has sparked controversy after comparing Donald Trump to Nazi leader Adolf Hitler.
In a message posted on X, the A Fish Called Wanda, Fawlty Towers and Monty Python actor wrote that there were five ways in which Hitler was preferable to Trump, who is seeking re-election to the White House.
“1. He fought for his country 2. He never used a teleprompter 3. He was nice to dogs 4. He wrote his own books 5. He never played golf 6. He wasn’t a big fat slob,” wrote Cleese.
He continued by listing five ways Trump is preferable to Hitler, writing “1. doesn’t practice genocide 2. He has nicer hair,” and leaving the other three spaces empty.
The message, which has been viewed more than one million times, prompted hundreds of below-the-line responses, with many criticizing comedian Cleese for the comparison, and others writing it was clearly meant in jest.
Cleese...
In a message posted on X, the A Fish Called Wanda, Fawlty Towers and Monty Python actor wrote that there were five ways in which Hitler was preferable to Trump, who is seeking re-election to the White House.
“1. He fought for his country 2. He never used a teleprompter 3. He was nice to dogs 4. He wrote his own books 5. He never played golf 6. He wasn’t a big fat slob,” wrote Cleese.
He continued by listing five ways Trump is preferable to Hitler, writing “1. doesn’t practice genocide 2. He has nicer hair,” and leaving the other three spaces empty.
The message, which has been viewed more than one million times, prompted hundreds of below-the-line responses, with many criticizing comedian Cleese for the comparison, and others writing it was clearly meant in jest.
Cleese...
- 12/27/2023
- by Jesse Whittock
- Deadline Film + TV
“Just think,” Sir Lancelot (Taran Killam) muses as he celebrates his gay wedding at the end of Monty Python’s Spamalot. “In a thousand-and-eighteen years time, this will still be controversial.” Killam puts special emphasis on the “eighteen,” an addition to the script that nods to the supposed ways in which Spamalot remains relevant nearly two decades after the Tony-winning musical adaptation of Terry Jones and Terry Gilliam’s 1975 film Monty Python and the Holy Grail tore up the 2004-2005 Broadway season.
The construction of the joke suggests that not much has changed—either for good or ill—in the past decades. That’s hardly true, because when Hank Azaria delivered the punchline in 2005, gay marriage wouldn’t be legalized in New York State for another six years. It’s surprising how much of Spamalot’s humor, especially the gay jokes, now feels rooted in an earlier time. Even peppered...
The construction of the joke suggests that not much has changed—either for good or ill—in the past decades. That’s hardly true, because when Hank Azaria delivered the punchline in 2005, gay marriage wouldn’t be legalized in New York State for another six years. It’s surprising how much of Spamalot’s humor, especially the gay jokes, now feels rooted in an earlier time. Even peppered...
- 11/17/2023
- by Dan Rubins
- Slant Magazine
There’s no more appropriate reason to put Monty Python and the Holy Grail back in theaters than the celebration of a comically off-year anniversary. That is exactly what’ll happen this December, when the 1975 comedy classic returns to the big screen to celebrate its 48th-and-a-half anniversary.
The film will screen in select theaters across the country on Dec. 3, with additional showings scheduled for Dec. 6. For those who simply cannot help themselves, select theaters will be showing a special “Quote-a-Long” version of the film, while offering a safe space for...
The film will screen in select theaters across the country on Dec. 3, with additional showings scheduled for Dec. 6. For those who simply cannot help themselves, select theaters will be showing a special “Quote-a-Long” version of the film, while offering a safe space for...
- 10/17/2023
- by Jon Blistein
- Rollingstone.com
Taran Killam, the former Saturday Night Live player and Hamilton cast member, will play Lancelot in the Broadway revival of Monty Python’s Spamalot, with Alex Brightman taking over the role in January following Killam’s limited engagement.
The casting rounds out the principal roles for the production, which begins previews at the St. James Theatre on Tuesday, Oct. 31, with an official opening on Thursday, November 16. Killam will play Lancelot from the first preview until January 7.
Brightman, who’ll take over the role on January 9, played Lancelot at the Kennedy Center staging earlier this year, but is currently starring in Broadway’s The Shark Is Broken, which closes Nov. 19.
The new Lancelots join a Spamalot cast that includes James Monroe Iglehart as King Arthur, Leslie Rodriguez Kritzer as the Lady of the Lake, Michael Urie as Sir Robin, Christopher Fitzgerald as Patsy, Ethan Slater as the Historian/Prince Herbert, Jimmy Smagula as Sir Bedevere,...
The casting rounds out the principal roles for the production, which begins previews at the St. James Theatre on Tuesday, Oct. 31, with an official opening on Thursday, November 16. Killam will play Lancelot from the first preview until January 7.
Brightman, who’ll take over the role on January 9, played Lancelot at the Kennedy Center staging earlier this year, but is currently starring in Broadway’s The Shark Is Broken, which closes Nov. 19.
The new Lancelots join a Spamalot cast that includes James Monroe Iglehart as King Arthur, Leslie Rodriguez Kritzer as the Lady of the Lake, Michael Urie as Sir Robin, Christopher Fitzgerald as Patsy, Ethan Slater as the Historian/Prince Herbert, Jimmy Smagula as Sir Bedevere,...
- 9/26/2023
- by Greg Evans
- Deadline Film + TV
Fear and Loathing meets South Park in a screwball horror novella from the twisted mind of Christopher Brett Bailey. Part romance, part buddy comedy, part bizzarro body horror, I Saw Satan at the 7–Eleven is a dark-as-night tale from a phenomenal new name in literary fiction.
Two miles north of Hell, a nameless deadbeat narrator spots Satan buying soy milk at the 7–Eleven. Satan’s a washed-up has-been, who’s totally lost his edge. That is until he falls in love with our narrator, and the two embark on a debauched misadventure, by turns slapstick, violent, whimsical, dreamlike and tender.
Outside in the parking lot, Satan was polishing his windshield. Satan drove a Corvette, obviously. I went outside, kept my distance, eyeballed him wiping dead bugs from his wing mirrors. Clocking me, he struck a rebel pose, one foot up on the bumper, and called out, “I’m not a hippie.
Two miles north of Hell, a nameless deadbeat narrator spots Satan buying soy milk at the 7–Eleven. Satan’s a washed-up has-been, who’s totally lost his edge. That is until he falls in love with our narrator, and the two embark on a debauched misadventure, by turns slapstick, violent, whimsical, dreamlike and tender.
Outside in the parking lot, Satan was polishing his windshield. Satan drove a Corvette, obviously. I went outside, kept my distance, eyeballed him wiping dead bugs from his wing mirrors. Clocking me, he struck a rebel pose, one foot up on the bumper, and called out, “I’m not a hippie.
- 9/20/2023
- by Peter 'Witchfinder' Hopkins
- Horror Asylum
Eve Hewson Will Not be doing karaoke today. “I have to be really, really hammered to do karaoke,” the actress explains, walking through New York’s Central Park. “I would really have to be a whole bottle of tequila deep.” Not that she is opposed to such things (“I mean, I am Irish”), but it’s 10 a.m. on a Wednesday, and up until very, very recently, sober public singing — or sober singing of any kind, really — was a complete nonstarter. “Absolutely not,” she says. “Hard no. It was absolutely my biggest fear.
- 9/18/2023
- by Alex Morris
- Rollingstone.com
In January 2009, during a midnight screening at Sundance, Michael Jai White knew he had something special in Black Dynamite. Nine months later, the Blaxploitation spoof’s limited theatrical release and minimal box office gross didn’t stop its immediate fate as a cult classic. Demand for a sequel soon followed, and so White, as co-writer of the film, penned a direct sequel that struggled to get off the ground due to creative differences with a producer.
Consequently, White went back to the drawing board and pursued an idea he had at the same time as Black Dynamite’s conception. If that action-comedy paid homage to Blaxploitation films through parody, then it would only make sense to take a similar approach with other genres. So, White revisited his earlier ideas for three other genre exercises including a horror movie, a kung fu movie and a Western. That Western is now known as Outlaw Johnny Black,...
Consequently, White went back to the drawing board and pursued an idea he had at the same time as Black Dynamite’s conception. If that action-comedy paid homage to Blaxploitation films through parody, then it would only make sense to take a similar approach with other genres. So, White revisited his earlier ideas for three other genre exercises including a horror movie, a kung fu movie and a Western. That Western is now known as Outlaw Johnny Black,...
- 9/13/2023
- by Brian Davids
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
No Spaced. No The League of Gentlemen. No Smack the Pony or Goodness Gracious Me or The Royle Family or Brass Eye, or Red Dwarf or Father Ted or anything that belongs to the last century (side note: the late 90s were an incredible time for UK comedy). These are the 40 finest British comedy TV shows that have arrived since the year 2000, as nominated by our writers. Add in your favourites below, and it’s a party.
What’s cheering about this lot, apart from the fact that as comedies, they should all technically cheer us up, is how different they are. There’s the surreal chaos of Year of the Rabbit, and the sweet warmth of Lovesick, the Pythonesque bonkersness of Yonderland, the satirical might of The Thick of It and much more. Something for everyone, you might say.
And to make sure there was enough space to include a wide enough selection,...
What’s cheering about this lot, apart from the fact that as comedies, they should all technically cheer us up, is how different they are. There’s the surreal chaos of Year of the Rabbit, and the sweet warmth of Lovesick, the Pythonesque bonkersness of Yonderland, the satirical might of The Thick of It and much more. Something for everyone, you might say.
And to make sure there was enough space to include a wide enough selection,...
- 9/1/2023
- by Louisa Mellor
- Den of Geek
It's nothing short of a miracle that anything nearly as weird as "Monty Python's Flying Circus" became a pop culture phenomenon. In the BBC television series that ran from 1969 to 1974, comedians Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Eric Idle, Terry Jones, and Michael Palin, along with animator Terry Gilliam and frequent co-stars Carol Cleveland and Connie Booth, obliterated all sense of sanity on the airwaves.
Their sketch comedy show — which had neither circuses, pythons, nor a character named "Monty" — crafted off-the-wall sketches about every strange thing they could think of. Silly walks, Hungarian phrase books, and how not to be seen were just the tip of the very absurd iceberg, and the comedy troupe's absolute dedication to defying convention remains, to this day, a gold standard to which any comedian can aspire.
Monty Python didn't stay on the airwaves forever. The troupe created four feature films together over the course of twelve years,...
Their sketch comedy show — which had neither circuses, pythons, nor a character named "Monty" — crafted off-the-wall sketches about every strange thing they could think of. Silly walks, Hungarian phrase books, and how not to be seen were just the tip of the very absurd iceberg, and the comedy troupe's absolute dedication to defying convention remains, to this day, a gold standard to which any comedian can aspire.
Monty Python didn't stay on the airwaves forever. The troupe created four feature films together over the course of twelve years,...
- 8/30/2023
- by William Bibbiani
- Slash Film
What does it take for the Emmy-nominated crew behind “Saturday Night Live” to build sets from start to finish? Thirty-six hours, plus “dedication and expertise,” according to production designer Andrea Purcigliotti.
By the time Purcigliotti and fellow production designers Leo Yoshimura and Keith Raywood receive their script, it’s often late on a Wednesday night after the cast has gone through a table read. Then it’s off to the races. The sets need to be ready for shooting by 8 a.m. on Friday.
For a spoof on the famous levitation scene in “The Exorcist,” the team had to figure out how to get Jenna Ortega to rise from a bed without special effects. The solution was hydraulics, but they had little time to properly outfit the bed.
“We built the lift with hydraulic motors that went under the bed and lifted up a small portion,” says Yoshimura. “So, it...
By the time Purcigliotti and fellow production designers Leo Yoshimura and Keith Raywood receive their script, it’s often late on a Wednesday night after the cast has gone through a table read. Then it’s off to the races. The sets need to be ready for shooting by 8 a.m. on Friday.
For a spoof on the famous levitation scene in “The Exorcist,” the team had to figure out how to get Jenna Ortega to rise from a bed without special effects. The solution was hydraulics, but they had little time to properly outfit the bed.
“We built the lift with hydraulic motors that went under the bed and lifted up a small portion,” says Yoshimura. “So, it...
- 8/26/2023
- by Jazz Tangcay
- Variety Film + TV
Christian Bale worked with Alien director Ridley Scott on Exodus: Gods and Kings, which was an adaptation of the famous biblical story. But Bale thought Scott might have been freaked out by his star’s appearance for their feature.
Christian Bale felt that he made Ridley Scott panic because of his looks Christian Bale | Theo Wargo/Getty Images
Bale felt he might have made a bad impression after being cast in Scott’s biblical epic Exodus. The actor has been known to change his physique for his films. So physically, Bale didn’t think he had the look Scott wanted for his Moses. Bale put on a significant amount of weight to play his lead role in American Hustle.
Meanwhile, Moses was supposed to carry a much more slight physique. It didn’t help that Bale’s performance was going to follow Charlton Heston’s take on Moses in The Ten Commandments.
Christian Bale felt that he made Ridley Scott panic because of his looks Christian Bale | Theo Wargo/Getty Images
Bale felt he might have made a bad impression after being cast in Scott’s biblical epic Exodus. The actor has been known to change his physique for his films. So physically, Bale didn’t think he had the look Scott wanted for his Moses. Bale put on a significant amount of weight to play his lead role in American Hustle.
Meanwhile, Moses was supposed to carry a much more slight physique. It didn’t help that Bale’s performance was going to follow Charlton Heston’s take on Moses in The Ten Commandments.
- 8/26/2023
- by Antonio Stallings
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
We may receive a commission on purchases made from links.
We all know "Monty Python and the Holy Grail" to be one of the funniest films of all time. What the film gets less credit for is being remarkably ingenuous in its use of limited resources. They may be regarded as a legendary comedy troupe now, but when they were creating their take on the King Arthur legend, they only a few hundred thousand pounds to work with. Adjusted for inflation, it still wouldn't even be £3 million five decades later. "Monty Python and the Holy Grail" is a rather expansive film, as each knight of the Round Table has their own storyline that sends them to various places.
So, how were they able to have such a large scope with so little money? Clever framing, specific set decoration, and the beauty of a historical location. The vast majority of "Holy...
We all know "Monty Python and the Holy Grail" to be one of the funniest films of all time. What the film gets less credit for is being remarkably ingenuous in its use of limited resources. They may be regarded as a legendary comedy troupe now, but when they were creating their take on the King Arthur legend, they only a few hundred thousand pounds to work with. Adjusted for inflation, it still wouldn't even be £3 million five decades later. "Monty Python and the Holy Grail" is a rather expansive film, as each knight of the Round Table has their own storyline that sends them to various places.
So, how were they able to have such a large scope with so little money? Clever framing, specific set decoration, and the beauty of a historical location. The vast majority of "Holy...
- 8/19/2023
- by Mike Shutt
- Slash Film
Monty Python’s Spamalot is heading back to Broadway this fall. The revival, which follows a sold-out run at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., begins previews Tuesday, October 31, at the St. James Theatre, with an official opening night of November 16.
“I’m thrilled to see Spamalot back on Broadway,” said Eric Idle, who wrote the show’s book and lyrics and co-wrote the music with John Du Prez, in a statement. “More than ever, it seems we need a good laugh and it’s inspiring to see audiences still embracing this, the most happy of shows I have ever worked on. So put the News Cycle on Rinse Cycle and take a couple of hours to relax with the Lady of the Lake, King Arthur and the Knights Who Say Ni because we’re not dead yet!”
The show will mark the first production from the Kennedy Center...
“I’m thrilled to see Spamalot back on Broadway,” said Eric Idle, who wrote the show’s book and lyrics and co-wrote the music with John Du Prez, in a statement. “More than ever, it seems we need a good laugh and it’s inspiring to see audiences still embracing this, the most happy of shows I have ever worked on. So put the News Cycle on Rinse Cycle and take a couple of hours to relax with the Lady of the Lake, King Arthur and the Knights Who Say Ni because we’re not dead yet!”
The show will mark the first production from the Kennedy Center...
- 8/2/2023
- by Greg Evans
- Deadline Film + TV
From classic programs like Monty Python’s Flying Circus to contemporary hits like A Black Lady Sketch Show sketch comedy shows have consistently entertained viewers and become cultural touchstones. With a production format that allows for flexibility and a wide range of comedic styles and themes to be explored within a single episode or season, sketches can range from the absurd and surreal to satirical and political, catering to diverse tastes and providing something for everyone. This flexibility has helped sketch comedy shows attract a broad audience, ensuring their longevity and popularity. Sketch comedy often relies on a talented ensemble cast...
- 5/18/2023
- by Uwa Echebiri
- TVovermind.com
For centuries, actors have endured a unique position in society. After dazzling audiences with their talent on the silver screen or stage, many talented individuals move behind the camera to become directors. With this transition comes great respect from those who recognize their performances as an actor and their skills in directing films that capture hearts and minds worldwide in spectacular fashion.
Related: Top 10 Richest Actors in the World [2022]
We wanted to know which actors make up some of our favorite director-actor combinations. So we dove into IMDb’s extensive collection of movie ratings, searching for insight into history’s best actor-directors based on viewer opinion alone. What follows is ten beloved actor-directors who saw success on either side (or both!) throughout various stages throughout showbiz’ past decade: Charlie Day, Zoë Kravitz, and Chris Pine, among others, all turn out award-winning feature productions utilizing decades worth of experience knowing precisely...
Related: Top 10 Richest Actors in the World [2022]
We wanted to know which actors make up some of our favorite director-actor combinations. So we dove into IMDb’s extensive collection of movie ratings, searching for insight into history’s best actor-directors based on viewer opinion alone. What follows is ten beloved actor-directors who saw success on either side (or both!) throughout various stages throughout showbiz’ past decade: Charlie Day, Zoë Kravitz, and Chris Pine, among others, all turn out award-winning feature productions utilizing decades worth of experience knowing precisely...
- 4/11/2023
- by Buddy TV
- buddytv.com
(Welcome to Tales from the Box Office, our column that examines box office miracles, disasters, and everything in between, as well as what we can learn from them.)
Particularly in light of his recent output, it's hard to think of a more remarkable career than that of Nicolas Cage. The man has had insanely high highs such as his Oscar-winning performance in "Leaving Las Vegas" and his starring role in blockbuster hits like "National Treasure." He's played a Marvel Comics superhero (Ghost Rider), he's starred in more direct-to-video movies than anyone can possibly recall, and he's turned in some legendarily wacky performances (see: "Vampire's Kiss"). He even battled himself in the summer of 1997.
The point is, Cage has had an amazing career that has recently revived itself in a huge way as of late thanks to stellar performances in movies like "Pig" and "The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent." Yet,...
Particularly in light of his recent output, it's hard to think of a more remarkable career than that of Nicolas Cage. The man has had insanely high highs such as his Oscar-winning performance in "Leaving Las Vegas" and his starring role in blockbuster hits like "National Treasure." He's played a Marvel Comics superhero (Ghost Rider), he's starred in more direct-to-video movies than anyone can possibly recall, and he's turned in some legendarily wacky performances (see: "Vampire's Kiss"). He even battled himself in the summer of 1997.
The point is, Cage has had an amazing career that has recently revived itself in a huge way as of late thanks to stellar performances in movies like "Pig" and "The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent." Yet,...
- 3/18/2023
- by Ryan Scott
- Slash Film
John Cleese has been given short shrift on social media after he complained about the BBC not running repeats of Monty Python – after apparently forgetting who owned the licensing rights to the influential comedy show’s library.
While the former six-piece comedy troupe’s popular TV sketch series Monty Python and the Flying Circus originated on BBC in 1969, it was later sold to Netflix in 2019, along with the rest of their movies, collections and specials.
However, this appeared to be news to Cleese, one of Monty Python’s founding members.
“Can anyone (including BBC employees) tell me why the BBC has not shown Monty Python for a couple of decades?” Cleese asked on Twitter, Tuesday 27 December.
Many mocked the controversial comedian for his question, with one responding: “Because they don’t own the license, John Cleese.
“If you’d been brighter, John, you’d have retained your own rights, but you’re not,...
While the former six-piece comedy troupe’s popular TV sketch series Monty Python and the Flying Circus originated on BBC in 1969, it was later sold to Netflix in 2019, along with the rest of their movies, collections and specials.
However, this appeared to be news to Cleese, one of Monty Python’s founding members.
“Can anyone (including BBC employees) tell me why the BBC has not shown Monty Python for a couple of decades?” Cleese asked on Twitter, Tuesday 27 December.
Many mocked the controversial comedian for his question, with one responding: “Because they don’t own the license, John Cleese.
“If you’d been brighter, John, you’d have retained your own rights, but you’re not,...
- 12/29/2022
- by Inga Parkel
- The Independent - TV
John Cleese has been given short shrift on social media after he complained about the BBC not running repeats of Monty Python – after apparently forgetting who owned the licensing rights to the influential comedy show’s library.
While the former six-piece comedy troupe’s popular TV sketch series Monty Python and the Flying Circus originated on BBC in 1969, it was later sold to Netflix in 2019, along with the rest of their movies, collections and specials.
However, this appeared to be news to Cleese, one of Monty Python’s founding members.
“Can anyone (including BBC employees) tell me why the BBC has not shown Monty Python for a couple of decades?” Cleese asked on Twitter, Tuesday 27 December.
Many mocked the controversial comedian for his question, with one responding: “Because they don’t own the license, John Cleese.
“If you’d been brighter, John, you’d have retained your own rights, but you’re not,...
While the former six-piece comedy troupe’s popular TV sketch series Monty Python and the Flying Circus originated on BBC in 1969, it was later sold to Netflix in 2019, along with the rest of their movies, collections and specials.
However, this appeared to be news to Cleese, one of Monty Python’s founding members.
“Can anyone (including BBC employees) tell me why the BBC has not shown Monty Python for a couple of decades?” Cleese asked on Twitter, Tuesday 27 December.
Many mocked the controversial comedian for his question, with one responding: “Because they don’t own the license, John Cleese.
“If you’d been brighter, John, you’d have retained your own rights, but you’re not,...
- 12/29/2022
- by Inga Parkel
- The Independent - TV
Steps star Ian “H” Watkins has responded after thousands of fans found that they had been blocked by him on Twitter.
For the past few days, many have been tweeting their bewilderment on realising that the singer appeared to have blocked them.
Some who were blocked said they didn’t even know who Watkins was. One person tweeted: “I too have been blocked by H from Steps. And I have no idea who H is or who Steps are.”
The move led to the hashtag “BlockedByHFromSteps” trending on Twitter, with Watkins eventually explaining in a since-deleted post: “I recently signed up for a clean-up of ‘bots’ and ‘phobes’. Apologies if the blocking offended… I didn’t do this manually! Merry Christmas.”
On Wednesday (28 December), the star shared an old photo of himself behind a desk and laptop, with the caption: “Very busy day at the office… #blocked.”
He had also...
For the past few days, many have been tweeting their bewilderment on realising that the singer appeared to have blocked them.
Some who were blocked said they didn’t even know who Watkins was. One person tweeted: “I too have been blocked by H from Steps. And I have no idea who H is or who Steps are.”
The move led to the hashtag “BlockedByHFromSteps” trending on Twitter, with Watkins eventually explaining in a since-deleted post: “I recently signed up for a clean-up of ‘bots’ and ‘phobes’. Apologies if the blocking offended… I didn’t do this manually! Merry Christmas.”
On Wednesday (28 December), the star shared an old photo of himself behind a desk and laptop, with the caption: “Very busy day at the office… #blocked.”
He had also...
- 12/29/2022
- by Ellie Harrison
- The Independent - Music
‘Busy day at the office’: Steps star Ian ‘H’ Watkins responds after thousands of fans blocked by him
Steps star Ian “H” Watkins has responded after thousands of fans found that they had been blocked by him on Twitter.
For the past few days, many have been tweeting their bewilderment on realising that the singer appeared to have blocked them.
Some who were blocked said they didn’t even know who Watkins was. One person tweeted: “I too have been blocked by H from Steps. And I have no idea who H is or who Steps are.”
The move led to the hashtag “BlockedByHFromSteps” trending on Twitter, with Watkins eventually explaining in a since-deleted post: “I recently signed up for a clean-up of ‘bots’ and ‘phobes’. Apologies if the blocking offended… I didn’t do this manually! Merry Christmas.”
On Wednesday (28 December), the star shared an old photo of himself behind a desk and laptop, with the caption: “Very busy day at the office… #blocked.”
He had also...
For the past few days, many have been tweeting their bewilderment on realising that the singer appeared to have blocked them.
Some who were blocked said they didn’t even know who Watkins was. One person tweeted: “I too have been blocked by H from Steps. And I have no idea who H is or who Steps are.”
The move led to the hashtag “BlockedByHFromSteps” trending on Twitter, with Watkins eventually explaining in a since-deleted post: “I recently signed up for a clean-up of ‘bots’ and ‘phobes’. Apologies if the blocking offended… I didn’t do this manually! Merry Christmas.”
On Wednesday (28 December), the star shared an old photo of himself behind a desk and laptop, with the caption: “Very busy day at the office… #blocked.”
He had also...
- 12/28/2022
- by Ellie Harrison
- The Independent - Music
Adam Scott has reflected on going through his own experience of grief while playing a grieving character in Severance.
The Apple TV drama, which came out February, is set in the world of the “severed”, who have detached their work selves from their home selves.
In it, Scott plays Mark, a man who works at a mysterious company called Lumon and whose wife died in a car accident.
Speaking to The Guardian in a new interview, Scott discussed the fact that he filmed the show in the midst of lockdown and the pre-vaccine pandemic.
He said: “I plopped down in New York, leaving my wife and kids in Los Angeles, and because of the intense quarantine laws it was impossible to go back and forth. So for three or four months I could only see them on FaceTime.
“Also, Mark is grieving his wife and I was grieving my mom,...
The Apple TV drama, which came out February, is set in the world of the “severed”, who have detached their work selves from their home selves.
In it, Scott plays Mark, a man who works at a mysterious company called Lumon and whose wife died in a car accident.
Speaking to The Guardian in a new interview, Scott discussed the fact that he filmed the show in the midst of lockdown and the pre-vaccine pandemic.
He said: “I plopped down in New York, leaving my wife and kids in Los Angeles, and because of the intense quarantine laws it was impossible to go back and forth. So for three or four months I could only see them on FaceTime.
“Also, Mark is grieving his wife and I was grieving my mom,...
- 12/28/2022
- by Ellie Harrison
- The Independent - TV
The actor and comedian John Bird has died aged 86.
Bird died peacefully on Christmas Eve, his representatives have confirmed.
Following news of his death, fellow comedian Rory Bremner paid tribute to “one of the greatest satirists”.
Together with the late John Fortune, Bird and Remner made up the trio of the TV series Bremner, Bird and Fortune.
The satirical show ran between 1999 and 2009. Across its 16 seasons, it was nominated for numerous Bafta TV Awards.
In the Sixties, Bird was part of the satire boom. He appeared reguarly in shows such as BBC’s That Was The Week That Was, which was presented by David Frost, and was one of the first BBC programmes to mock politicians.
The Nottingham-born comedian’s death follows almost nine years to the day after his co-star Fortune died at 74 years old (on New Year’s Eve 2013).
In a 2004 appearance on Desert Island Discs, Fortune described...
Bird died peacefully on Christmas Eve, his representatives have confirmed.
Following news of his death, fellow comedian Rory Bremner paid tribute to “one of the greatest satirists”.
Together with the late John Fortune, Bird and Remner made up the trio of the TV series Bremner, Bird and Fortune.
The satirical show ran between 1999 and 2009. Across its 16 seasons, it was nominated for numerous Bafta TV Awards.
In the Sixties, Bird was part of the satire boom. He appeared reguarly in shows such as BBC’s That Was The Week That Was, which was presented by David Frost, and was one of the first BBC programmes to mock politicians.
The Nottingham-born comedian’s death follows almost nine years to the day after his co-star Fortune died at 74 years old (on New Year’s Eve 2013).
In a 2004 appearance on Desert Island Discs, Fortune described...
- 12/28/2022
- by Annabel Nugent
- The Independent - TV
John Cleese gave fresh voice to a familiar grudge on Tuesday, raging at the BBC for not showing repeats of Monty Python.
The 83-year-old actor and comedian asked his 5.6M Twitter followers: “Can anyone (including BBC employees) tell me why the BBC has not shown Monty Python for a couple of decades?”
The question overlooked the BBC’s celebration of the iconic comedy, including the broadcast of the first episode of Monty Python’s Flying Circus, to mark its 50th anniversary in 2019.
John Hoare, a TV playout director, replied to Cleese reminding him of the night dedicated to Python on the BBC. “I sat in BBC Two’s pres suite on the 7th September 2019, prepped an episode of Monty Python for transmission as part of an evening of Python-related programmes, and then put it on air, if that helps,” Hoare said.
Cleese’s tweet also did not mention rights deals...
The 83-year-old actor and comedian asked his 5.6M Twitter followers: “Can anyone (including BBC employees) tell me why the BBC has not shown Monty Python for a couple of decades?”
The question overlooked the BBC’s celebration of the iconic comedy, including the broadcast of the first episode of Monty Python’s Flying Circus, to mark its 50th anniversary in 2019.
John Hoare, a TV playout director, replied to Cleese reminding him of the night dedicated to Python on the BBC. “I sat in BBC Two’s pres suite on the 7th September 2019, prepped an episode of Monty Python for transmission as part of an evening of Python-related programmes, and then put it on air, if that helps,” Hoare said.
Cleese’s tweet also did not mention rights deals...
- 12/28/2022
- by Jake Kanter
- Deadline Film + TV
Hugh Jackman has spoken frankly about the increased difficulties he’s experienced while training for his role as Wolverine in Deadpool 3, compared to previous films.
The actor has portrayed the mutant superhero in several Marvel movies, most notably in the X-Men films and Wolverine spin-offs. He most recently took on the role in the 2017 conclusion to the Wolverine trilogy, Logan.
Having been attached to the character since 2000, Jackman has had to endure several physical transformations over the years to become the brawny character.
He is now set to reprise the role in Deadpool 3, sparring with Ryan Reynolds’ eponymous anti-hero.
However, the 54-year-old actor has admitted some greater difficulties with training for Wolverine this time around, all because of his busy schedule.
When asked on the Empire podcast whether training to play the character was similar to the previous times he’d done it, he replied: “No, a lot harder.
The actor has portrayed the mutant superhero in several Marvel movies, most notably in the X-Men films and Wolverine spin-offs. He most recently took on the role in the 2017 conclusion to the Wolverine trilogy, Logan.
Having been attached to the character since 2000, Jackman has had to endure several physical transformations over the years to become the brawny character.
He is now set to reprise the role in Deadpool 3, sparring with Ryan Reynolds’ eponymous anti-hero.
However, the 54-year-old actor has admitted some greater difficulties with training for Wolverine this time around, all because of his busy schedule.
When asked on the Empire podcast whether training to play the character was similar to the previous times he’d done it, he replied: “No, a lot harder.
- 12/28/2022
- by Nicole Vassell
- The Independent - Film
Mariah Carey has set a Spotify streaming record for the track with the most plays in a single day.
On Saturday 24 December, Carey’s 1994 festive hit, “All I Want for Christmas is You”, was streamed on the service 21.273 million times.
As it stands, that is the most times a song has been streamed on Spotify worldwide in a single 24-hour period.
Up until this recent Christmas Eve, that title was held by Adele’s 2021 comeback track “Easy On Me”, which received 19.747 million streams in a single day.
At the time of writing, Carey’s song remains at the top of the global Spotify charts, followed by Sza’s “Kill Bill”, a new release from her album, Sos.
The current third-most-streamed song of the week is another holiday classic, “Last Christmas” by Wham!.
“All I Want For Christmas is You” was released in 1994 on Carey’s Merry Christmas album. The song...
On Saturday 24 December, Carey’s 1994 festive hit, “All I Want for Christmas is You”, was streamed on the service 21.273 million times.
As it stands, that is the most times a song has been streamed on Spotify worldwide in a single 24-hour period.
Up until this recent Christmas Eve, that title was held by Adele’s 2021 comeback track “Easy On Me”, which received 19.747 million streams in a single day.
At the time of writing, Carey’s song remains at the top of the global Spotify charts, followed by Sza’s “Kill Bill”, a new release from her album, Sos.
The current third-most-streamed song of the week is another holiday classic, “Last Christmas” by Wham!.
“All I Want For Christmas is You” was released in 1994 on Carey’s Merry Christmas album. The song...
- 12/28/2022
- by Nicole Vassell
- The Independent - Music
The Traitors star Meryl Williams has said she is taunted by bullies when out in public.
Last week, Williams was crowned winner of the BBC One competition alongside fellow contestants Aaron Evans and Hannah Byschowski. The three split the £101,050 jackpot between them.
The 26-year-old is 4 ft and 2 inches tall and has achondroplasia.
Following her victory on The Traitors, Williams has described harrowing experiences that she has had to deal with on an everyday basis.
“Throughout school I was lucky and I was treated the same as everyone else, but in public I face discrimination on an everyday basis,” she told The Scottish Daily Express.
“There’s not enough awareness of my condition. I think people often see some sort of hilarity in it because often dwarfs are in pantomimes and because of the Oompa-Loompas in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.”
Williams continued: “A lot of people are taken aback. They point and laugh.
Last week, Williams was crowned winner of the BBC One competition alongside fellow contestants Aaron Evans and Hannah Byschowski. The three split the £101,050 jackpot between them.
The 26-year-old is 4 ft and 2 inches tall and has achondroplasia.
Following her victory on The Traitors, Williams has described harrowing experiences that she has had to deal with on an everyday basis.
“Throughout school I was lucky and I was treated the same as everyone else, but in public I face discrimination on an everyday basis,” she told The Scottish Daily Express.
“There’s not enough awareness of my condition. I think people often see some sort of hilarity in it because often dwarfs are in pantomimes and because of the Oompa-Loompas in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.”
Williams continued: “A lot of people are taken aback. They point and laugh.
- 12/28/2022
- by Annabel Nugent
- The Independent - TV
Joseph “Jo Mersa” Marley, the grandson of Bob Marley and son of Stephen Marley, has died aged 31.
News of the reggae artist’s death was confirmed to Rolling Stone on Tuesday (27 December). A cause of death has not been announced.
Political figures in Jamaica have paid tribute to the late musician.
The country’s Minister for Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, Honourable Olivia Grange, said that she was “deeply saddened by the news”.
“We were graced by Joseph, whose stage name was Jo Mersa, performing at our Jamaica 60 Launch in Miramar, Florida, USA in May,” she wrote on Twitter.
“His untimely passing at the young age of 31... is a huge loss to the music as we look to the next generation. May he find Eternal Peace as we mourn his loss during this season of goodwill when we celebrate with family and friends our love for each other.”
Mark J Golding,...
News of the reggae artist’s death was confirmed to Rolling Stone on Tuesday (27 December). A cause of death has not been announced.
Political figures in Jamaica have paid tribute to the late musician.
The country’s Minister for Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, Honourable Olivia Grange, said that she was “deeply saddened by the news”.
“We were graced by Joseph, whose stage name was Jo Mersa, performing at our Jamaica 60 Launch in Miramar, Florida, USA in May,” she wrote on Twitter.
“His untimely passing at the young age of 31... is a huge loss to the music as we look to the next generation. May he find Eternal Peace as we mourn his loss during this season of goodwill when we celebrate with family and friends our love for each other.”
Mark J Golding,...
- 12/28/2022
- by Annabel Nugent
- The Independent - Music
One particular line from director Rian Johnson’s Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery has left viewers in deep rumination.
Johnson’s recently released Knives Out sequel once again follows Daniel Craig’s Detective Benoit Blanc, this time as he’s invited to tech billionaire Miles Bron’s (Ed Norton) private Greek island, along with seven of Bron’s other close friends.
When one of them turns up dead, Detective Blanc is tapped in to solve the case.
Warning, potential spoilers to follow
Early on in the movie, while the eclectic group recounts to Detective Blanc how they all became connected, Janelle Monáe’s character jumps in to argue that “the real thing this group has in common” is their desperation to “hold on” to Bron’s “golden titties”.
After she walks away in anger, Kate Hudson’s Birdie Jay, former It-girl turned perpetual controversy magnet, quips: “Like Miles said,...
Johnson’s recently released Knives Out sequel once again follows Daniel Craig’s Detective Benoit Blanc, this time as he’s invited to tech billionaire Miles Bron’s (Ed Norton) private Greek island, along with seven of Bron’s other close friends.
When one of them turns up dead, Detective Blanc is tapped in to solve the case.
Warning, potential spoilers to follow
Early on in the movie, while the eclectic group recounts to Detective Blanc how they all became connected, Janelle Monáe’s character jumps in to argue that “the real thing this group has in common” is their desperation to “hold on” to Bron’s “golden titties”.
After she walks away in anger, Kate Hudson’s Birdie Jay, former It-girl turned perpetual controversy magnet, quips: “Like Miles said,...
- 12/27/2022
- by Inga Parkel
- The Independent - Film
It’s no mystery what audiences were watching on Netflix over the holiday weekend.
Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery made its way to the top of Netflix’s English-language film chart for the week of December 19 to December 25, after debuting on the streamer two days before Christmas. Rian Johnson‘s comedy sequel notched 82.1M hours viewed in those two days, which Netflix says equates to about 35M households.
Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio fell to No. 3, as The Volcano: Rescue from Whakaari took second place with 25.1M hours viewed. Viewers were certainly in the holiday spirit, as the list was rounded out by mostly Christmas films including How the Grinch Stole Christmas, A Bad Moms Christmas, and Falling For Christmas.
As for the TV side of things, Emily in Paris Season 3 debuted on December 21 and has collected 117.6M hours viewed, making it No. 2 on the U.S. English-language chart.
Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery made its way to the top of Netflix’s English-language film chart for the week of December 19 to December 25, after debuting on the streamer two days before Christmas. Rian Johnson‘s comedy sequel notched 82.1M hours viewed in those two days, which Netflix says equates to about 35M households.
Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio fell to No. 3, as The Volcano: Rescue from Whakaari took second place with 25.1M hours viewed. Viewers were certainly in the holiday spirit, as the list was rounded out by mostly Christmas films including How the Grinch Stole Christmas, A Bad Moms Christmas, and Falling For Christmas.
As for the TV side of things, Emily in Paris Season 3 debuted on December 21 and has collected 117.6M hours viewed, making it No. 2 on the U.S. English-language chart.
- 12/27/2022
- by Katie Campione
- Deadline Film + TV
An old episode of Chuck Woolery’s dating show Love Connection has resurfaced, and people can’t get enough of the two contestants.
The hit dating show, which lasted 11 seasons beginning in 1983 and running until 1994, followed blindly matched couples on their first dates, who would later reveal their first impressions to host Woolery in front of a live audience.
A particular clip of 1994 contestants Robin Dimiceli and Curt Levey has made the rounds on TikTok, with people applauding Dimiceli for absolutely “roasting” Levey.
“I like women who are deep, and she just didn’t seem like a deep kinda person. She seemed more like the kind of woman who probably knows all the colours of lipstick, but couldn’t tell you who the Vice President of the United States was,” Levey told Woolery.
Offering her judgement of Levey from their first phone call, Dimiceli quipped: “I thought he had a monotone voice,...
The hit dating show, which lasted 11 seasons beginning in 1983 and running until 1994, followed blindly matched couples on their first dates, who would later reveal their first impressions to host Woolery in front of a live audience.
A particular clip of 1994 contestants Robin Dimiceli and Curt Levey has made the rounds on TikTok, with people applauding Dimiceli for absolutely “roasting” Levey.
“I like women who are deep, and she just didn’t seem like a deep kinda person. She seemed more like the kind of woman who probably knows all the colours of lipstick, but couldn’t tell you who the Vice President of the United States was,” Levey told Woolery.
Offering her judgement of Levey from their first phone call, Dimiceli quipped: “I thought he had a monotone voice,...
- 12/27/2022
- by Inga Parkel
- The Independent - TV
For years, Awesome Art We’ve Found Around The Net has been about two things only – awesome art and the artists that create it. With that in mind, we thought why not take the first week of the month to showcase these awesome artists even more? Welcome to “Awesome Artist We’ve Found Around The Net.” In this column, we are focusing on one artist and the awesome art that they create, whether they be amateur, up and coming, or well established. The goal is to uncover these artists so even more people become familiar with them. We ask these artists a few questions to see their origins, influences, and more. If you are an awesome artist or know someone that should be featured, feel free to contact me at any time at theodorebond@joblo.com.This month we are very pleased to bring you the awesome art of…
Andrew Swainson...
Andrew Swainson...
- 12/3/2022
- by Theodore Bond
- JoBlo.com
In 2021, the BBC made all episodes of "Fawlty Towers" available to watch on its iPlayer streaming service. Naturally, the ever-voluble John Cleese had some retrospective thoughts on his beloved sitcom, which had debuted some 46 years earlier. The first run of six episodes hit BBC Two in 1975, before a further six arrived in 1979 — all of which were a big hit for the BBC and the Monty Python alum.
Since his days spent playing the lovably misanthropic hotelier Basil Fawlty, Cleese has built a varied and impressive acting career, landing roles in everything from the '80s comedy "A Fish Called Wanda" to his stint as Q in the Pierce Brosnan Bond movies. But all these years later, his Python sketches and farcical antics in "Fawlty Towers" remain among his best-loved work. That doesn't mean there aren't things Cleese regrets about those days, though. In fact, there's one instance involving a moose...
Since his days spent playing the lovably misanthropic hotelier Basil Fawlty, Cleese has built a varied and impressive acting career, landing roles in everything from the '80s comedy "A Fish Called Wanda" to his stint as Q in the Pierce Brosnan Bond movies. But all these years later, his Python sketches and farcical antics in "Fawlty Towers" remain among his best-loved work. That doesn't mean there aren't things Cleese regrets about those days, though. In fact, there's one instance involving a moose...
- 12/3/2022
- by Joe Roberts
- Slash Film
Five Oxbridge "superior beings" and one American "barbarian at the gates," to use Terry Gilliam's own words; that was the lineup for "Monty Python's Flying Circus," the comedy troupe that took irreverent aim at the social and class boundaries of stuffy British society and, in their anarchic way, the very format of comedy itself.
For his part, Gilliam was the often-overlooked member of the gang, not only an outsider by nationality and class but also due to his role within the Pythons. As the animator, he worked alone and made far fewer appearances in their sketches, often taking on gurning grotesques that the others didn't really want to play. As a result, he never really had a defining screen persona. While we remember John Cleese and Michael Palin from the Dead Parrot sketch or the Ministry of Silly Walks, and Eric Idle as the insinuating spiv in the Nudge-Nudge routine,...
For his part, Gilliam was the often-overlooked member of the gang, not only an outsider by nationality and class but also due to his role within the Pythons. As the animator, he worked alone and made far fewer appearances in their sketches, often taking on gurning grotesques that the others didn't really want to play. As a result, he never really had a defining screen persona. While we remember John Cleese and Michael Palin from the Dead Parrot sketch or the Ministry of Silly Walks, and Eric Idle as the insinuating spiv in the Nudge-Nudge routine,...
- 11/14/2022
- by Lee Adams
- Slash Film
Since its release in 1981, Terry Gilliam's "Time Bandits" has become a bonafide modern classic that functions as a rite of passage for British youths whose parents grew up on the surrealist comedy of Monty Python. The magic of the film is still very much alive today, with Taika Waititi bringing a "Time Bandit" TV series to Apple TV+.
Before 1981, Gilliam had helmed another lesser-known fantasy adventure movie called "Jabberwocky," which was based on a poem by Lewis Carroll. But it was "Time Bandits" that officially put him on the map as a visionary filmmaker. His work on the film, however, didn't start out so great — Gilliam had originally conceived of a much grander film, but the epic set pieces he had planned may have been too ambitious for him to realistically pull off so early in his directing career.
Luckily, the script that he and writing partner Michael Palin...
Before 1981, Gilliam had helmed another lesser-known fantasy adventure movie called "Jabberwocky," which was based on a poem by Lewis Carroll. But it was "Time Bandits" that officially put him on the map as a visionary filmmaker. His work on the film, however, didn't start out so great — Gilliam had originally conceived of a much grander film, but the epic set pieces he had planned may have been too ambitious for him to realistically pull off so early in his directing career.
Luckily, the script that he and writing partner Michael Palin...
- 11/7/2022
- by Drew Tinnin
- Slash Film
For a director who has a seemingly boundless, whimsical imagination, you almost never hear stories about wonderful times making films directed by Terry Gilliam. He has a reputation as a hard-headed perfectionist and someone not particularly interested in compromising. His films consistently go over schedule and over budget, and getting a finished film on the screen rarely doesn't happen without frequent fights and arguments.
One would think that because Gilliam rose to prominence within a group setting as a member of Monty Python, he would be able to foster a collaborative environment — but he was the soloist within that group, creating the odd, absurd animated sequences for "Flying Circus." He had the leeway to do whatever he wanted and could create his own worlds without limits. When you are directing a multi-million dollar movie with hundreds of people working with you, that just isn't going to be a healthy way to operate,...
One would think that because Gilliam rose to prominence within a group setting as a member of Monty Python, he would be able to foster a collaborative environment — but he was the soloist within that group, creating the odd, absurd animated sequences for "Flying Circus." He had the leeway to do whatever he wanted and could create his own worlds without limits. When you are directing a multi-million dollar movie with hundreds of people working with you, that just isn't going to be a healthy way to operate,...
- 10/23/2022
- by Mike Shutt
- Slash Film
Champagne, hors d’oeuvres and Michelin-star meals are consumed in Ruben Östlund’s “Triangle of Sadness,” the Swedish filmmaker’s wild comedy set in part aboard a luxury yacht. But when an ocean storm rocks the boat, that cuisine is also regurgitated when the privileged are beset by violent, urgent vomiting.
Östlund, the director of “Force Majeure” and “The Square,” is a modern satirist with a gleeful Monty Python streak. And the seasickness sequence in “Triangle of Sadness” is riotous, stunning and seemingly endless – it runs, in fact, for 18 minutes, nearly three times as long as the Python’s immortally disgusting “Mr. Creosote” scene from 1983’s “The Meaning of Life.”
That’s exactly how Östlund intended it: movie scene as wild, sustained roller coaster ride for adults. The film, which centers on the relationship of two models (played by Harris Dickinson and the late Charlbi Dean) won Östlund his second...
Östlund, the director of “Force Majeure” and “The Square,” is a modern satirist with a gleeful Monty Python streak. And the seasickness sequence in “Triangle of Sadness” is riotous, stunning and seemingly endless – it runs, in fact, for 18 minutes, nearly three times as long as the Python’s immortally disgusting “Mr. Creosote” scene from 1983’s “The Meaning of Life.”
That’s exactly how Östlund intended it: movie scene as wild, sustained roller coaster ride for adults. The film, which centers on the relationship of two models (played by Harris Dickinson and the late Charlbi Dean) won Östlund his second...
- 10/19/2022
- by Joe McGovern
- The Wrap
Taika Waititi’s ‘Time Bandits’ Series at Apple Sets Main Cast, Including Lisa Kudrow and Charlene Yi
The “Time Bandits” TV series at Apple from Taika Waititi has found its main cast, Variety has learned.
Joining the series are: Lisa Kudrow as Kevin; Charlyne Yi as Judy; Tadhg Murphy as Alto; Roger Jean Nsengiyumva as Widgit; Rune Temte as Bittelig; Kiera Thompson as Saffron; and Rachel House as Fianna.
The official description of the 10-episode series describes it as “a comedic journey through time and space with a ragtag group of thieves and their newest recruit: an eleven-year-old history nerd (Tuck).”
Kudrow is repped by CAA, Viewpoint and Gochman Law Group. Tuck is repped by rebel nineteen.
Yi is repped by Global Artists Agency, manager Gladys Gonzalez and Ginsburg Daniels Kallis. Murphy is repped by Susannah Norris Agency. Nsengiyumva is repped by United Agents.
Temte is repped by Actors in Scandinavia, in the US by Artist International, and Jackoway Austen. Thompson is repped by Cvgg. House is repped by Lion Rock Management.
Joining the series are: Lisa Kudrow as Kevin; Charlyne Yi as Judy; Tadhg Murphy as Alto; Roger Jean Nsengiyumva as Widgit; Rune Temte as Bittelig; Kiera Thompson as Saffron; and Rachel House as Fianna.
The official description of the 10-episode series describes it as “a comedic journey through time and space with a ragtag group of thieves and their newest recruit: an eleven-year-old history nerd (Tuck).”
Kudrow is repped by CAA, Viewpoint and Gochman Law Group. Tuck is repped by rebel nineteen.
Yi is repped by Global Artists Agency, manager Gladys Gonzalez and Ginsburg Daniels Kallis. Murphy is repped by Susannah Norris Agency. Nsengiyumva is repped by United Agents.
Temte is repped by Actors in Scandinavia, in the US by Artist International, and Jackoway Austen. Thompson is repped by Cvgg. House is repped by Lion Rock Management.
- 9/28/2022
- by Joe Otterson
- Variety Film + TV
When the seminal British TV program "Monty Python's Flying Circus" was still on the air (1969 - 1974), it wasn't yet reaching a massive international audience. To facilitate the show's spread, a feature film consisting of re-staged sketches from the show's first two seasons -- called "And Now for Something Completely Different" -- was released in England in 1971. That film is certainly funny, although it lacks the comedic magic of the TV show.
"Monty Python and the Holy Grail" was put into production after "Flying Circus" went off the air. The special features for the film's 2001 DVD release featured vintage footage of late cast member Graham Chapman explaining that the troupe had been working on a script -- pointedly absurd, natch -- that was set partially in the Middle Ages and partially in the present day. After some discussion, the Pythons came up with the King Arthur/Holy Grail angle, knowing that...
"Monty Python and the Holy Grail" was put into production after "Flying Circus" went off the air. The special features for the film's 2001 DVD release featured vintage footage of late cast member Graham Chapman explaining that the troupe had been working on a script -- pointedly absurd, natch -- that was set partially in the Middle Ages and partially in the present day. After some discussion, the Pythons came up with the King Arthur/Holy Grail angle, knowing that...
- 8/21/2022
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
When it comes to Japanese comedies, few directors have made quite the impact. While some of his peers might have some of the more universally known titles under their belt, Miki has also left his mark with works such as “Turtles Are Surprisingly Fast Swimmers”, “Adrift in Tokyo” and “Instant Swamp”. Being the member of a comedy group whose band of humor he once compared to Monty Python, he has emphasized the targets for laughter in his works are those tendencies, trends or moods within the culture of his home country which may be seen as odd or troublesome. His newest feature, “Convenience Story”, is no exception to the rule, with the story revolving around one of the cornerstones of Japanese culture, at least to the eye of the outsider, the 24/7-open convenience store seemingly promising an easy solution to one’s problems. The feature is also a collaboration of film critic Mark Schilling,...
- 8/3/2022
- by Rouven Linnarz
- AsianMoviePulse
IMDb.com, Inc. takes no responsibility for the content or accuracy of the above news articles, Tweets, or blog posts. This content is published for the entertainment of our users only. The news articles, Tweets, and blog posts do not represent IMDb's opinions nor can we guarantee that the reporting therein is completely factual. Please visit the source responsible for the item in question to report any concerns you may have regarding content or accuracy.