Dolly Parton cracks jokes and laughs so often that it isn’t out of the ordinary to hear her giggle on her records. She is quick to poke fun at herself and is happy to banter with interviewers whenever she gets the chance. There are some types of humor that Parton does not like, though. Her guitarist said Parton would cringe whenever she heard one.
Dolly Parton didn’t appreciate jokes about religion
Guitarist Don Roth traveled with Parton on tour and got to know her well. She was generally playful, but there were some forms of humor she would not tolerate. He learned this when he made a joke in front of her.
“I’m relatively sacrilegious and would make Easter jokes about Jesus turning water into wine by palming a grape fizzy, and she would just cringe and say, ‘Oh, please, Don, don’t,’” he said in the book Dolly by Alanna Nash.
Dolly Parton didn’t appreciate jokes about religion
Guitarist Don Roth traveled with Parton on tour and got to know her well. She was generally playful, but there were some forms of humor she would not tolerate. He learned this when he made a joke in front of her.
“I’m relatively sacrilegious and would make Easter jokes about Jesus turning water into wine by palming a grape fizzy, and she would just cringe and say, ‘Oh, please, Don, don’t,’” he said in the book Dolly by Alanna Nash.
- 5/9/2024
- by Emma McKee
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
George Martin has been building the world of Ice and Fire for decades, and HBO’s TV adaptation allowed the whole world to marvel upon his creation. Unfortunately, as you know, the TV show went off the rails at one point — and according to the latest information, Grrm was actively trying to steer it back in the right direction.
That… Didn’t work out. Here’s how the events unfolded.
George Martin Started Worrying in Season 5
While the distinct lack of new ASoIaF books tells us that Grrm doesn’t necessarily know what happens next in his series, he has always known what doesn’t happen. The celebrated author saw the first signs of Game of Thrones’ downfall as early as Season 5: that’s when he noticed Benioff and Weiss’ creative… Differences with him.
“George loves Dan [Weiss] and Dave [Benioff], but after Season 5, he did start to worry about...
That… Didn’t work out. Here’s how the events unfolded.
George Martin Started Worrying in Season 5
While the distinct lack of new ASoIaF books tells us that Grrm doesn’t necessarily know what happens next in his series, he has always known what doesn’t happen. The celebrated author saw the first signs of Game of Thrones’ downfall as early as Season 5: that’s when he noticed Benioff and Weiss’ creative… Differences with him.
“George loves Dan [Weiss] and Dave [Benioff], but after Season 5, he did start to worry about...
- 5/6/2024
- by dean-black@startefacts.com (Dean Black)
- STartefacts.com
More than three years after Game of Thrones came to a divisive end, HBO returned to the land of Westeros with House of the Dragon, a Targaryen-centric prequel series that debuted on August 21, 2022. Fans weren’t meant to wait this long for a Game of Thrones spinoff — or “successor show,” as author George R. R. Martin prefers to call it — but HBO didn’t have the easiest time turning its smash hit into a franchise. Case in point: The pilot for another prequel series, the Naomi Watts-led project detailed below, cost $30 million to film, according to the James Andrew Miller book Tinderbox: HBO’s Ruthless Pursuit of New Frontiers (via Entertainment Weekly). The next spinoff in development was a Jon Snow sequel series that would see Kit Harington return to his most famous role. Harington himself has said it’s been shelved, but that’s not the only tale of Westeros in development.
- 5/3/2024
- TV Insider
In 1989, Dolly Parton hosted Saturday Night Live for the first and only time. While on the show, Parton poked fun at her appearance and parts of her career. Parton has always had a strong sense of humor and hasn’t been afraid to make fun of herself. When she arrived at 30 Rockefeller Plaza, she only had two off-limit areas for the show.
Dolly Parton only had two requests as the host of ‘Saturday Night Live’
Parton spent her opening monologue poking fun at her appearance, proving that little would be off-limits when she hosted. She was happy to be a part of jokes at her own expense. SNL cast member Jan Hooks said this was a quality that made Parton one of her favorite guests. She only had two demands when she arrived to work on the episode.
Dolly Parton on ‘Saturday Night Live’ | NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images...
Dolly Parton only had two requests as the host of ‘Saturday Night Live’
Parton spent her opening monologue poking fun at her appearance, proving that little would be off-limits when she hosted. She was happy to be a part of jokes at her own expense. SNL cast member Jan Hooks said this was a quality that made Parton one of her favorite guests. She only had two demands when she arrived to work on the episode.
Dolly Parton on ‘Saturday Night Live’ | NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images...
- 4/9/2024
- by Emma McKee
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Tom Shales, a Pulitzer-winning television critic at the Washington Post who spent nearly 40 years at the publication, has died. He was 79.
Shales died Saturday at a hospital in Fairfax County, Va., from complications due to Covid-19 and renal failure, his caretaker, Victor Herfurth, told the Washington Post.
Shales began his career as the Post’s chief TV critic in 1977, and was known for his incisive and sharp commentary on various forms of television such as cable dramas, network sitcoms, nature documentaries and late-night shows. He was first hired by the Post in 1972 as a style writer.
In 1988, Shales won the Pulitzer Prize for criticism, becoming the fourth TV reviewer to earn the honor in journalism.
Shales took a buyout from the Washington Post in 2006, but remained on contract for an additional four years, according to the paper, “before being, in his view, unceremoniously edged out because of a salary of about $400,000 per year.
Shales died Saturday at a hospital in Fairfax County, Va., from complications due to Covid-19 and renal failure, his caretaker, Victor Herfurth, told the Washington Post.
Shales began his career as the Post’s chief TV critic in 1977, and was known for his incisive and sharp commentary on various forms of television such as cable dramas, network sitcoms, nature documentaries and late-night shows. He was first hired by the Post in 1972 as a style writer.
In 1988, Shales won the Pulitzer Prize for criticism, becoming the fourth TV reviewer to earn the honor in journalism.
Shales took a buyout from the Washington Post in 2006, but remained on contract for an additional four years, according to the paper, “before being, in his view, unceremoniously edged out because of a salary of about $400,000 per year.
- 1/14/2024
- by Michaela Zee
- Variety Film + TV
Tom Shales, a Pulitzer Prize-winning television critic for The Washington Post who spent nearly 40 years at the newspaper, has died. He was 79.
He passed away on Saturday at a hospital in Fairfax County, Virginia, from complications due to Covid-19 and renal failure, his caretaker, Victor Herfurth, told The Post.
Shales began his decades-long career as the chief TV critic for the newspaper in 1977 after spending five years there as a writer for its style section. Over the course of his time there, he became known for his sharp commentary on television, stars, trends, network executives and more.
He won the Pulitzer Prize for criticism in 1988, becoming only the fourth TV reviewer at the time to earn that honor in journalism. He reviewed everything from late night shows to nature documentaries, cable dramas to network sitcoms.
In 2006, Shales took a buyout from The Post but remained on contract with the paper...
He passed away on Saturday at a hospital in Fairfax County, Virginia, from complications due to Covid-19 and renal failure, his caretaker, Victor Herfurth, told The Post.
Shales began his decades-long career as the chief TV critic for the newspaper in 1977 after spending five years there as a writer for its style section. Over the course of his time there, he became known for his sharp commentary on television, stars, trends, network executives and more.
He won the Pulitzer Prize for criticism in 1988, becoming only the fourth TV reviewer at the time to earn that honor in journalism. He reviewed everything from late night shows to nature documentaries, cable dramas to network sitcoms.
In 2006, Shales took a buyout from The Post but remained on contract with the paper...
- 1/13/2024
- by Christy Piña
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Tom Shales, a Pulitzer Prize-winning television critic for The Washington Post, died Jan. 13 at a hospital in Fairfax County, Va. He was 79.
The cause was complications from covid and renal failure, said his caretaker, Victor Herfurth.
As The Post’s chief TV critic starting in 1977, his column was widely syndicated, bringing him national attention and influence.
Shales covered of all forms of the medium, from nature documentaries to late-night talk shows, network sitcoms to cable dramas.
In 1988, he won the Pulitzer Prize for criticism, the fourth TV reviewer to earn the top prize in journalism. He was an early advocate for cable TV.
In addition to his work for The Post, he wrote for TelevisionWeek, Huffington Post (now the HuffPost) and Roger Ebert’s website about film and television. His books included Live From New York: An Uncensored History of Saturday Night Live (2002) and Those Guys Have All the Fun:...
The cause was complications from covid and renal failure, said his caretaker, Victor Herfurth.
As The Post’s chief TV critic starting in 1977, his column was widely syndicated, bringing him national attention and influence.
Shales covered of all forms of the medium, from nature documentaries to late-night talk shows, network sitcoms to cable dramas.
In 1988, he won the Pulitzer Prize for criticism, the fourth TV reviewer to earn the top prize in journalism. He was an early advocate for cable TV.
In addition to his work for The Post, he wrote for TelevisionWeek, Huffington Post (now the HuffPost) and Roger Ebert’s website about film and television. His books included Live From New York: An Uncensored History of Saturday Night Live (2002) and Those Guys Have All the Fun:...
- 1/13/2024
- by Bruce Haring
- Deadline Film + TV
Fifteen authors of books that were recently chosen for The Hollywood Reporter’s list of “The 100 Greatest Film Books of All Time” will convene on a panel — which is being advertised as “the greatest gathering of its kind ever” — this Saturday afternoon in Hollywood as part of AFI Fest.
The event, which will take place inside the historic Tcl Chinese Theater and will run from 4 p.m. -5:30p.m., is open to members of the public free of charge provided they reserve their tickets in advance via Fest.AFI.com/GreatestFilmBooks.
Participating in a discussion about the origins and impact of their books will be A. Scott Berg (Goldwyn: A Biography), Cameron Crowe (Conversations with Wilder), Nancy Griffin (Hit and Run: How Jon Peters and Peter Guber Took Sony for a Ride in Hollywood), Aljean Harmetz (The Making of The Wizard of Oz: Movie Magic and Studio Power...
The event, which will take place inside the historic Tcl Chinese Theater and will run from 4 p.m. -5:30p.m., is open to members of the public free of charge provided they reserve their tickets in advance via Fest.AFI.com/GreatestFilmBooks.
Participating in a discussion about the origins and impact of their books will be A. Scott Berg (Goldwyn: A Biography), Cameron Crowe (Conversations with Wilder), Nancy Griffin (Hit and Run: How Jon Peters and Peter Guber Took Sony for a Ride in Hollywood), Aljean Harmetz (The Making of The Wizard of Oz: Movie Magic and Studio Power...
- 10/27/2023
- by Scott Feinberg
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
For those of a certain age who like to think that they’re still young — and who doesn’t? — it is sobering to realize that when Michael Ovitz bowed out of the agency business in 1995, neither Tom Holland nor Zendaya had even been born.
People who weren’t around in those days can’t begin to appreciate the fear that Ovitz inspired in Hollywood. He wielded the kind of power that no agent has mustered since and no agent ever will again. How the times and the town have changed.
One thing has remained constant in all the years since Ovitz left the building: Three then-young men who had emerged as future leaders of CAA well before Ovitz departed are still at the helm. Perhaps in spite of himself, Ovitz nailed the succession question that has led to so much drama at Disney and Paramount. But those three men — now...
People who weren’t around in those days can’t begin to appreciate the fear that Ovitz inspired in Hollywood. He wielded the kind of power that no agent has mustered since and no agent ever will again. How the times and the town have changed.
One thing has remained constant in all the years since Ovitz left the building: Three then-young men who had emerged as future leaders of CAA well before Ovitz departed are still at the helm. Perhaps in spite of himself, Ovitz nailed the succession question that has led to so much drama at Disney and Paramount. But those three men — now...
- 9/20/2023
- by Kim Masters
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
A studio head once told me that CAA’s top three leaders – Bryan Lourd, Kevin Huvane and Richard Lovett – had claws beneath their velvet gloves. It was a backhanded compliment, as the CEO was praising the trio’s devotion to their incredibly famous clients while also bemoaning their hard-driving negotiating style.
Those gloves will now be made by one of the biggest luxury fashion houses in the world, as the mega-agency sold a majority stake to Francois-Henri Pinault’s family investment fund Artemis this week. In a still-incomplete transaction, the French billionaire has snatched up controlling interest in the legendary talent shop and will nestle it in a portfolio that includes Gucci, Saint Laurent and the thousand-dollar–a-bottle winery Château Latour.
It’s impeccable brand placement for CAA, whose clients include Zendaya, Tom Cruise, Gwyneth Paltrow’s Goop and sports stars like Dwayne Wade. And in any other Hollywood...
Those gloves will now be made by one of the biggest luxury fashion houses in the world, as the mega-agency sold a majority stake to Francois-Henri Pinault’s family investment fund Artemis this week. In a still-incomplete transaction, the French billionaire has snatched up controlling interest in the legendary talent shop and will nestle it in a portfolio that includes Gucci, Saint Laurent and the thousand-dollar–a-bottle winery Château Latour.
It’s impeccable brand placement for CAA, whose clients include Zendaya, Tom Cruise, Gwyneth Paltrow’s Goop and sports stars like Dwayne Wade. And in any other Hollywood...
- 9/8/2023
- by Matt Donnelly
- Variety Film + TV
Los Angeles-based, Emmy® Award-winning Asylum Entertainment Group(Asylum), today announced the hire of seasoned audio pioneer Chris Corcoran to run its leading audio-forward division Audity. Corcoran, a Founding Partner of Cadence13, joins Audity as General Manager and Chief Content Officer to spearhead the company’s ambitious strategy and elevate its creative vision. He will report directly to Jodi Flynn, President of Asylum Entertainment Group.
Most recently, Corcoran served as the Chief Content Officer for Cadence13, the award-winning podcast company he helped launch. As one of the original architects of Cadence13, he defined and led the creative vision and evolution while also overseeing talent relations and content development, including the Peabody-nominated C13Originals documentary studio and theC13Features podcast movie studio. While there, he led the launch of original franchises including Gone South, Gangster Capitalism, It Was Said, Root of Evil and The Sunshine Place, introduced some of the most influential voices...
Most recently, Corcoran served as the Chief Content Officer for Cadence13, the award-winning podcast company he helped launch. As one of the original architects of Cadence13, he defined and led the creative vision and evolution while also overseeing talent relations and content development, including the Peabody-nominated C13Originals documentary studio and theC13Features podcast movie studio. While there, he led the launch of original franchises including Gone South, Gangster Capitalism, It Was Said, Root of Evil and The Sunshine Place, introduced some of the most influential voices...
- 8/23/2023
- Podnews.net
Toronto’s favorite son turns his eye toward New York, and back to 1975 for his next project. Jason Reitman is currently producing the next “Ghostbusters” picture with director and co-writer Gil Kenan and leads Paul Rudd and Carrie Coon, but he’s got his next project lined up at Sony Pictures.
As per Deadline, the “Juno” and “Up in the Air” director will be back behind the camera for an untitled “Saturday Night Live” opening night project. Kenan will co-write the script.
Casting has not been announced, but somebody out there is (probably) going to be playing producer Lorne Michaels and first-episode cast members like Chevy Chase, Dan Aykroyd, Gilda Radner, and Garrett Morris. Also, potentially, writers like Michael O’Donoghue, Al Franken, Anne Beatts, Alan Zweibel, and others. The first guest on “SNL” was George Carlin so maybe someone will be doing an impression of the comedian during his “Toledo Window Box” era,...
As per Deadline, the “Juno” and “Up in the Air” director will be back behind the camera for an untitled “Saturday Night Live” opening night project. Kenan will co-write the script.
Casting has not been announced, but somebody out there is (probably) going to be playing producer Lorne Michaels and first-episode cast members like Chevy Chase, Dan Aykroyd, Gilda Radner, and Garrett Morris. Also, potentially, writers like Michael O’Donoghue, Al Franken, Anne Beatts, Alan Zweibel, and others. The first guest on “SNL” was George Carlin so maybe someone will be doing an impression of the comedian during his “Toledo Window Box” era,...
- 5/2/2023
- by Jordan Hoffman
- Gold Derby
For a live television show that is assembled on the fly over a six-day period, "Saturday Night Live" has suffered remarkably few on-air disasters. The f-bomb has been uttered more than a few times, Jimmy Fallon used to co-host the Weekend Update, and there was the whole Ashlee Simpson lip synching snafu. But SNL, overall, goes on as it must.
This doesn't mean every episode has been a party. If you've read Doug Hill and Jeff Weingrad's "Saturday Night: A Backstage History of Saturday Night Live" or Tom Shales and James Andrew Miller's "Live from New York: The Complete, Uncensored History of Saturday Night Live as Told by Its Stars, Writers and Guests," you know there've been behind-the-scenes scraps, scrapes, and scenic malfunctions. Worst of all, there have been multiple lousy guest hosts: stars who didn't get the show or bristled against its collaborative nature. Madonna, Steven Seagal,...
This doesn't mean every episode has been a party. If you've read Doug Hill and Jeff Weingrad's "Saturday Night: A Backstage History of Saturday Night Live" or Tom Shales and James Andrew Miller's "Live from New York: The Complete, Uncensored History of Saturday Night Live as Told by Its Stars, Writers and Guests," you know there've been behind-the-scenes scraps, scrapes, and scenic malfunctions. Worst of all, there have been multiple lousy guest hosts: stars who didn't get the show or bristled against its collaborative nature. Madonna, Steven Seagal,...
- 3/25/2023
- by Jeremy Smith
- Slash Film
When "Saturday Night Live" hit NBC's airwaves on October 11, 1975, at 11:30 p.m. Edt, numerous broadcast standards were about to be skirted if not outright flouted. Lorne Michaels had assembled a supremely talented cast of Baby Boomer comedic performers and Chevy Chase to, hopefully, transform the once undesirable time slot into a must-watch 90 minutes for people who were busy closing bars or turning in early on their last night off for the weekend.
Michaels needed everything to feel counterintuitive, if not ragged. It was a bracing olio of sketches, music performances (from Billy Preston and Janis Ian), pre-filmed bits, and Jim Henson's proto-Muppet project, "The Land of Gorch." There'd never been anything like it on American television, and the first episode evoked enough laughs to keep viewers coming back for more.
The debut episode's ace in the hole was George Carlin. The brilliant stand-up comic had become a...
Michaels needed everything to feel counterintuitive, if not ragged. It was a bracing olio of sketches, music performances (from Billy Preston and Janis Ian), pre-filmed bits, and Jim Henson's proto-Muppet project, "The Land of Gorch." There'd never been anything like it on American television, and the first episode evoked enough laughs to keep viewers coming back for more.
The debut episode's ace in the hole was George Carlin. The brilliant stand-up comic had become a...
- 3/19/2023
- by Jeremy Smith
- Slash Film
When "Saturday Night Live" hit NBC's airwaves on October 11, 1975, expectations were tempered. With its 11:30 Pm time slot and cast of fringe comedy talents, the show was a hedged bet. If the Nielsen ratings were poor, it'd be exceedingly easy for the network to pull the plug after a few episodes.
Everyone from creator Lorne Michaels on down were confident that they'd pulled together something special, if not revolutionary, but they were also concerned that their target audience might not show up. There was also the matter of executing a live television show with a bunch of boob-tube neophytes. There were so many moving pieces that had to click into place, and zero leeway for mistakes. One slip-up could set off a domino effect of snafus, resulting in a live TV debacle for the ages.
As the premiere approached, the cast members mulled their uncertain future. They believed in their work,...
Everyone from creator Lorne Michaels on down were confident that they'd pulled together something special, if not revolutionary, but they were also concerned that their target audience might not show up. There was also the matter of executing a live television show with a bunch of boob-tube neophytes. There were so many moving pieces that had to click into place, and zero leeway for mistakes. One slip-up could set off a domino effect of snafus, resulting in a live TV debacle for the ages.
As the premiere approached, the cast members mulled their uncertain future. They believed in their work,...
- 3/17/2023
- by Jeremy Smith
- Slash Film
Bill Murray was such an integral part of the success of "Saturday Night Live" that many people will assert he was there for the entirety of the show's pioneering first five seasons. He was a member of the "National Lampoon Radio Hour" ensemble that included John Belushi, Gilda Radner, and Chevy Chase, and left an indelible mark on SNL as trend-chasing Nick the Lounge Singer and Todd DILAMuca, the noogie-administering boyfriend of Radner's Lisa Loopner.
Murray, however, was effectively red-shirted for the first season of SNL. Though he was clearly, abundantly talented enough to crack the first season's lineup, producer Lorne Michaels, who was overseeing NBC's late Saturday night experiment, had to kill a darling or two at the last second to appease the network's miserly budgeting. The 25-year-old Murray wound up being the odd oddball out.
Not Quite Ready For The Not Ready For Prime Time Players
According...
Murray, however, was effectively red-shirted for the first season of SNL. Though he was clearly, abundantly talented enough to crack the first season's lineup, producer Lorne Michaels, who was overseeing NBC's late Saturday night experiment, had to kill a darling or two at the last second to appease the network's miserly budgeting. The 25-year-old Murray wound up being the odd oddball out.
Not Quite Ready For The Not Ready For Prime Time Players
According...
- 3/12/2023
- by Jeremy Smith
- Slash Film
When Lorne Michaels set out to shake up the late-night television landscape with "Saturday Night Live," there were certain, long-standing traditions he was willing to observe. One of those was the assemblage of a house band. Though the show wasted no time filling America's living rooms with the provocative music of Gil Scott-Heron, Jimmy Cliff, and Frank Zappa, the Saturday Night Live Band was an impressive if unexciting assortment of solid session musicians. And the man who brought them together was a then relatively unknown composer named Howard Shore.
The Toronto-born Shore had the inside track to the gig thanks to a friendship with Michaels that stretched back to summer camp. But while Shore had made a name for himself via the jazz fusion band Lighthouse and his score for magician Doug Henning's popular stage show "Spellbound" (which eventually transferred to Broadway as "The Magic Show"), he wasn't overly...
The Toronto-born Shore had the inside track to the gig thanks to a friendship with Michaels that stretched back to summer camp. But while Shore had made a name for himself via the jazz fusion band Lighthouse and his score for magician Doug Henning's popular stage show "Spellbound" (which eventually transferred to Broadway as "The Magic Show"), he wasn't overly...
- 3/11/2023
- by Jeremy Smith
- Slash Film
Lorne Michael's sketch comedy show "Saturday Night Live" debuted in 1975 and, despite many, many ups and downs, has remained a television staple ever since. "SNL" launched so many comedians' careers, it would take too much space to list them all here. Needless to say, the series was and is a springboard for superstars, and many cast members have gone on to appear in numerous blockbuster movies and TV shows after their stints.
For the purposes of this article, Canadian performer Dan Aykroyd will be our focus. Prior to "SNL," Aykroyd appeared in a sketch comedy show called "The Hart and Lorne Terrific Hour" starring Michaels and his comedy partner Hart Pomerantz. The show also featured Andrea Martin and Victor Garber. Michaels and Aykroyd would move together over to "SNL" shortly thereafter, and Aykroyd, initially hired as a writer, quickly joined the cast as well. He would remain a regular cast...
For the purposes of this article, Canadian performer Dan Aykroyd will be our focus. Prior to "SNL," Aykroyd appeared in a sketch comedy show called "The Hart and Lorne Terrific Hour" starring Michaels and his comedy partner Hart Pomerantz. The show also featured Andrea Martin and Victor Garber. Michaels and Aykroyd would move together over to "SNL" shortly thereafter, and Aykroyd, initially hired as a writer, quickly joined the cast as well. He would remain a regular cast...
- 3/11/2023
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
John Belushi was a force of comedic nature. He made a name for himself in the early 1970s via his raucously hilarious bits in "National Lampoon's Lemmings," an Off-Broadway showcase for up-and-coming talents like Christopher Guest, Chevy Chase, and Tony Hendra. He also joined as a cast member of the "National Lampoon Radio Hour" alongside Gilda Radner, Bill Murray, and Harold Ramis. He slayed in the former when he broke out his hilariously spot-on parody of Joe Cocker, and seemed on the cusp of New York City theater stardom at the same time Lorne Michaels began assembling the cast for a wild swing of a variety show called "NBC's Saturday Night."
Michaels' vision appeared doomed at the outset. How was a show pitched at hip young folks going to find an audience in an 11:30 Pm time slot, i.e. the exact hour most of these people were carousing at bars and parties?...
Michaels' vision appeared doomed at the outset. How was a show pitched at hip young folks going to find an audience in an 11:30 Pm time slot, i.e. the exact hour most of these people were carousing at bars and parties?...
- 3/8/2023
- by Jeremy Smith
- Slash Film
You don't have to love rock & roll to love "Almost Famous," but it helps. From the early days when DJ Alan Freed first popularized the term to the pinnacle of rock in the 1970s, bands like Led Zeppelin and The Allman Brothers had become mythic figures that were worshipped by hardcore fans. "Rolling Stone" magazine had worldwide circulation and was considered a legitimate, respectable periodical that showcased these groups without compromising journalistic integrity. Interviews with luminaries like John Lennon and Pete Townsend helped to launch the magazine into the cultural mainstream while also keeping one foot in the world of the hippie underground.
"Rolling Stone" founder Jann Wenner's new memoir, "Like a Rolling Stone," vividly chronicles the rise of the legendary rag, romanticizing the music and highlighting the astounding team of writers that helped define the voice of a generation. The mad musings of Hunter S. Thompson leaped off...
"Rolling Stone" founder Jann Wenner's new memoir, "Like a Rolling Stone," vividly chronicles the rise of the legendary rag, romanticizing the music and highlighting the astounding team of writers that helped define the voice of a generation. The mad musings of Hunter S. Thompson leaped off...
- 12/23/2022
- by Drew Tinnin
- Slash Film
"Curb Your Enthusiasm" may be one of television's longest-running sitcoms, but Larry David originally just intended the show's de facto pilot, an hour-long HBO special, as a joke about his return to stand-up comedy. Structured as a mockumentary, "Larry David: Curb Your Enthusiasm" followed a similar metanarrative as season 4 of "Seinfeld" (the one in which George tries to sell his concept of "a show about nothing" to NBC) and traced Larry's attempts at creating a — you guessed it — an hour-long special for HBO.
David himself wasn't too enthused about the idea of a documentary crew tracking his stand-up career, but the format inspired the look and feel of "Curb." It turns out the material that stuck wasn't actually Larry's stand-up career, but the fictionalized plot structured around the behind-the-scenes component. Rather than his stage performance, Larry's day-to-day life turned out to be what inspired "Curb Your Enthusiasm" as an entire television show.
David himself wasn't too enthused about the idea of a documentary crew tracking his stand-up career, but the format inspired the look and feel of "Curb." It turns out the material that stuck wasn't actually Larry's stand-up career, but the fictionalized plot structured around the behind-the-scenes component. Rather than his stage performance, Larry's day-to-day life turned out to be what inspired "Curb Your Enthusiasm" as an entire television show.
- 8/30/2022
- by Andrew Housman
- Slash Film
On the February 23, 2022 episode of /Film Daily, /Film editor Ben Pearson is joined by editor Jacob Hall to talk about what they've been up to at the virtual water cooler.
Opening Banter:
At The Water Cooler:
What we've been Doing:
Jacob is probably moving. His personal podcast also just hit a major milestone.
What we've been Reading:
Ben read Blood, Sweat & Chrome: The Wild and True Story of Mad Max: Fury Road.
Jacob read Tinderbox: HBO's Ruthless Pursuit of New Frontiers by James Andrew Miller, The Last Gunfight by Jeff Guinn, and Dark Harvest by Norman Partridge.
What we've been...
The post Daily Podcast: Mini-Water Cooler: Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Rosemary's Baby, Dark Harvest, and More appeared first on /Film.
Opening Banter:
At The Water Cooler:
What we've been Doing:
Jacob is probably moving. His personal podcast also just hit a major milestone.
What we've been Reading:
Ben read Blood, Sweat & Chrome: The Wild and True Story of Mad Max: Fury Road.
Jacob read Tinderbox: HBO's Ruthless Pursuit of New Frontiers by James Andrew Miller, The Last Gunfight by Jeff Guinn, and Dark Harvest by Norman Partridge.
What we've been...
The post Daily Podcast: Mini-Water Cooler: Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Rosemary's Baby, Dark Harvest, and More appeared first on /Film.
- 2/23/2022
- by Ben Pearson
- Slash Film
John Oliver is out of the void and returning for the ninth season of HBO’s Last Week Tonight with a studio audience and a desire to tackle tricky subjects.
The comedian was full of fresh quips and sardonic humor when speaking with Deadline ahead of his return Sunday. He talks about how Last Week Tonight was able to deal with a crowd-free show better than some of the nightly talk shows (“I’ve always talked over the audience”), how happy he is that he no longer has to talk about Donald Trump, even if the U.S. “always wants to talk about its elections three years before they happen,” and encourages Discovery, otherwise known as his new Business Daddy, to follow AT&T’s “Victorian marriage” model and “leave us the f*ck alone.”
The Brit, who became a U.S. citizen in 2020, is in the middle of a three-year...
The comedian was full of fresh quips and sardonic humor when speaking with Deadline ahead of his return Sunday. He talks about how Last Week Tonight was able to deal with a crowd-free show better than some of the nightly talk shows (“I’ve always talked over the audience”), how happy he is that he no longer has to talk about Donald Trump, even if the U.S. “always wants to talk about its elections three years before they happen,” and encourages Discovery, otherwise known as his new Business Daddy, to follow AT&T’s “Victorian marriage” model and “leave us the f*ck alone.”
The Brit, who became a U.S. citizen in 2020, is in the middle of a three-year...
- 2/15/2022
- by Peter White
- Deadline Film + TV
The new book “Tinderbox: HBO’s Ruthless Pursuit of New Frontiers” by journalist James Andrew Miller is the gift that keeps on giving for fans of HBO’s “Game of Thrones.” The book features extensive interviews with author George R.R. Martin about the beloved fantasy series that ended in 2019 — but has a raft of prequels and spinoffs coming down the pipeline.
The world of Westeros is returning to HBO in the new year with the prequel series “House of the Dragon,” and that’s not at all. Just this week, news broke that Steve Conrad has been hired as the writer and executive producer of a second spinoff series titled “Dunk & Egg.” There are also reports that HBO is in development on two animated series set in the “Thrones” universe. And according to the book, back in 2017, Martin was surprised to learn just how many prequels HBO had in the cards.
The world of Westeros is returning to HBO in the new year with the prequel series “House of the Dragon,” and that’s not at all. Just this week, news broke that Steve Conrad has been hired as the writer and executive producer of a second spinoff series titled “Dunk & Egg.” There are also reports that HBO is in development on two animated series set in the “Thrones” universe. And according to the book, back in 2017, Martin was surprised to learn just how many prequels HBO had in the cards.
- 12/4/2021
- by Ryan Lattanzio
- Indiewire
We all know the “Game of Thrones” series was very expensive for HBO. The network was setting aside blockbuster film money for episodes of the fantasy series by the time the final season rolled around. And after one more major expenditure for a single pilot episode of the first proposed spinoff series, it appears HBO is now deciding to be a bit more frugal.
As revealed in the new book, “Tinderbox: HBO’s Ruthless Pursuit of New Frontiers,” by James Andrew Miller (via EW), it appears HBO didn’t skimp when it came to spending money on the first proposed “Game of Thrones” spinoff.
Continue reading HBO Spent $30 Million On The Pilot Episode For The First Canceled ‘Game Of Thrones’ Spinoff at The Playlist.
As revealed in the new book, “Tinderbox: HBO’s Ruthless Pursuit of New Frontiers,” by James Andrew Miller (via EW), it appears HBO didn’t skimp when it came to spending money on the first proposed “Game of Thrones” spinoff.
Continue reading HBO Spent $30 Million On The Pilot Episode For The First Canceled ‘Game Of Thrones’ Spinoff at The Playlist.
- 12/3/2021
- by Charles Barfield
- The Playlist
Money must grow on Weirwood trees for HBO! According to James Andrew Miller's new book, Tinderbox: HBO's Ruthless Pursuit of New Frontiers, the network spent more than $30 million on the pilot for a prequel series starring Naomi Watts which was unfortunately not picked up to go to series. The unnamed fantasy prequel, which was set thousands of years before the events of Game of Thrones, planned to have Jane Goldman as showrunner and S.J. Clarkson as director. But after seeing a clip of the pilot, former WarnerMedia chairman Bob Greenblatt didn't see the project working out. "They had spent over $30 million on a Game of Thrones prequel...
- 12/2/2021
- E! Online
The business of filmmaking -- or, in this case, the process of deciding whether to move forward with a show or not -- is not for the faint of heart. HBO has built itself quite a legacy, providing prestige and consistently high quality programming that further blurs the line between movie and television. "Game of Thrones" in particular became a dramatic example of this, with budgets of individual episodes in the final season eventually exceeding that of entire feature films. But such expenses come with quite a high amount of risk, which the network would soon learn the hard way.
According to James Andrew Miller's...
The post HBO Spent Over $30 Million on the Failed Game of Thrones Spin-off appeared first on /Film.
According to James Andrew Miller's...
The post HBO Spent Over $30 Million on the Failed Game of Thrones Spin-off appeared first on /Film.
- 12/2/2021
- by Jeremy Mathai
- Slash Film
Game of Thrones is readying a return to Westeros in 2022 with House of the Dragon. Set around 200 years in the past, during the height of the Targaryens’ incestuous, dragon-riding royal reign, the series is the first of HBO’s ongoing prequel pursuits. However, it also represents an enormously expensive mulligan, since it arrives in the aftermath of an extravagant pilot produced for a completely different prequel project, which was not picked up and still languishes unseen by audiences. Interestingly, new details have surfaced regarding the nixed project’s price tag and how it directly led to the prequel series that will ultimately arrive.
While HBO’s initial Game of Thrones prequel attempt never bore an official title, reports revealed it to be a story of ancient proportions, set thousands of years earlier, which—based on the elaborate history in creator George R.R. Martin’s literary lore—earned it de facto...
While HBO’s initial Game of Thrones prequel attempt never bore an official title, reports revealed it to be a story of ancient proportions, set thousands of years earlier, which—based on the elaborate history in creator George R.R. Martin’s literary lore—earned it de facto...
- 12/1/2021
- by Joseph Baxter
- Den of Geek
While HBO’s Game of Thrones television franchise has fastened its focus toward upcoming prequel series House of the Dragon, the temptation to relitigate controversies of its past remains prevalent. It’s understandable, seeing as one of the most popular television shows in the world purposefully wrapped with a shortened final season that left a significant portion of the audience unsatisfied and exasperated. While author George R.R. Martin remained mum about the way the finale imagined the climax to his still-unfinished source material novels, it seems that his silence is finally starting to break.
Of course, Martin is now defined—at meme levels—by the most prominent case of interminable writer’s block in modern literary history. It’s a phenomenon that resulted in Game of Thrones essentially surpassing the storyline of his A Song of Ice and Fire novels by 2016’s Season 6, requiring showrunners David Benioff and D.B. Weiss...
Of course, Martin is now defined—at meme levels—by the most prominent case of interminable writer’s block in modern literary history. It’s a phenomenon that resulted in Game of Thrones essentially surpassing the storyline of his A Song of Ice and Fire novels by 2016’s Season 6, requiring showrunners David Benioff and D.B. Weiss...
- 11/30/2021
- by Joseph Baxter
- Den of Geek
Wait, we could've had two more seasons of Game of Thrones? Apparently so, if Game of Thrones original creator and author George R. R. Martin's wishes were granted. In a new book titled Tinderbox: HBO's Ruthless Pursuit of New Frontier, journalist James Andrew Miller reports that according to Martin's agent, Paul Haas, Martin flew to New York to beg an HBO executive to make the series 10 seasons long. Miller conducted 757 interviews for the book, including with Martin, Haas, and Richard Plepler, HBO's former CEO. "George would fly to New York to have lunch with Plepler, to beg him to do ten seasons of ten episodes because there was enough material for it...
- 11/30/2021
- E! Online
George R.R. Martin has been vocal in the past about his displeasure over HBO’s “Game of Thrones” only running eight seasons. The author said in October 2019 that “Thrones” would’ve needed 13 seasons to do his books justice. As part of journalist James Andrew Miller’s new book “Tinderbox: HBO’s Ruthless Pursuit of New Frontiers,” Martin’s agent Paul Haas revealed that the author flew to New York City more than once to meet with then-hbo CEO Richard Plepler in order to convince him to extend the series’ television run.
“George would fly to New York to have lunch with Plepler, to beg him to do 10 seasons of 10 episodes because there was enough material for it and to tell him it would be a more satisfying and more entertaining experience,” Haas said (via Insider). “[Showrunners D.B. Weiss and David Beniof] were tired, rightfully so. They were done, and wanted to move on,...
“George would fly to New York to have lunch with Plepler, to beg him to do 10 seasons of 10 episodes because there was enough material for it and to tell him it would be a more satisfying and more entertaining experience,” Haas said (via Insider). “[Showrunners D.B. Weiss and David Beniof] were tired, rightfully so. They were done, and wanted to move on,...
- 11/29/2021
- by Zack Sharf
- Indiewire
Spoiler Alert: This post contain details about James Andrew Miller’s book Tinderbox, an oral history of HBO, which was published today.
On the eve of yet another corporate reframing, HBO has received its own Magna Carta with the publication of James Andrew Miller’s Tinderbox today.
Coming from the keyboard that literally wrote the book on ESPN, Saturday Night Live and 2016’s Powerhouse: The Untold Story of CAA, the 975-page Tinderbox: HBO’s Ruthless Pursuit of New Frontiers peels off the corporate and creative layers in the legendary rise of the premium cabler from less than humble beginnings with Charles Dolan and code-name The Green Channel in 1972 to the Thrilla In Manila and all the way up to scripted glory with The Sopranos, The Wire, Game of Thrones, Veep, Watchmen, Lovecraft County and Succession to name a few.
Put another way, if this isn’t the comprehensive story, so far,...
On the eve of yet another corporate reframing, HBO has received its own Magna Carta with the publication of James Andrew Miller’s Tinderbox today.
Coming from the keyboard that literally wrote the book on ESPN, Saturday Night Live and 2016’s Powerhouse: The Untold Story of CAA, the 975-page Tinderbox: HBO’s Ruthless Pursuit of New Frontiers peels off the corporate and creative layers in the legendary rise of the premium cabler from less than humble beginnings with Charles Dolan and code-name The Green Channel in 1972 to the Thrilla In Manila and all the way up to scripted glory with The Sopranos, The Wire, Game of Thrones, Veep, Watchmen, Lovecraft County and Succession to name a few.
Put another way, if this isn’t the comprehensive story, so far,...
- 11/24/2021
- by Dominic Patten
- Deadline Film + TV
The behind-the-scenes story of HBO’s nearly 50-year history is chronicled in investigative reporter James Andrew Miller’s latest book, Tinderbox: HBO’s Ruthless Pursuit of New Frontiers. Miller — the former Washington Post reporter who has written acclaimed oral histories on Saturday Night Live, CAA and ESPN — spoke to 600 past and present HBO executives, creatives and talent for his 975-page examination of the cable network’s rise and longtime reign as the undisputed leader of prestige TV. He also looks at how the company is handling the newfound challenges of the streaming era.
What was it like reporting on ...
What was it like reporting on ...
- 11/17/2021
- The Hollywood Reporter - Film + TV
The behind-the-scenes story of HBO’s nearly 50-year history is chronicled in investigative reporter James Andrew Miller’s latest book, Tinderbox: HBO’s Ruthless Pursuit of New Frontiers. Miller — the former Washington Post reporter who has written acclaimed oral histories on Saturday Night Live, CAA and ESPN — spoke to 600 past and present HBO executives, creatives and talent for his 975-page examination of the cable network’s rise and longtime reign as the undisputed leader of prestige TV. He also looks at how the company is handling the newfound challenges of the streaming era.
What was it like reporting on ...
What was it like reporting on ...
- 11/17/2021
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
James Andrew Miller’s upcoming book “Tinderbox: HBO’s Ruthless Pursuit of New Frontiers” arrives November 23, and a lengthy excerpt published by Vulture this week gives television fans a glimpse into the behind-the-scenes HBO drama they can expect to learn about in the 1,024-page book. The excerpt is devoted to how James Gandolfini landed the iconic role of Tony Soprano in “The Sopranos” and the ensuing highs and lows of the casting decision. According to Miller, there was “fitful bouts of disruptive incredulousness” between Gandolfini and the show’s creative team over certain scripts.
As Miller writes: “Gandolfini, who once remarked that after a day of shooting, he often had to take a shower because he felt ‘dirty’ playing the role, would sometimes balk at a particular scene and instead of asking Chase, ‘Do I have to do this?’ he would wonder out loud, ‘What the fuck is this?’ and then declare flatly,...
As Miller writes: “Gandolfini, who once remarked that after a day of shooting, he often had to take a shower because he felt ‘dirty’ playing the role, would sometimes balk at a particular scene and instead of asking Chase, ‘Do I have to do this?’ he would wonder out loud, ‘What the fuck is this?’ and then declare flatly,...
- 10/20/2021
- by Zack Sharf
- Indiewire
Ken Aymong, a key producer at NBC’s “Saturday Night Live” who has helped maintain the business of the venerable late-night program for more than three decades, is stepping down from his post.
The cast nodded to Aymong’s departure early Sunday morning during the final minutes of the first episode of “SNL’s” 47th season, with Colin Jost holding up a placard that read, “We’ll miss you, Ken.” Aymong has decided to retire, according to a person familiar with the matter, after joining the program in the mid-1980s.
Aymong has been a key lieutenant of executive producer Lorne Michaels for many years, along with current and former producers like Erik Kenward, Steve Higgins, Lindsay Shookus, Erin Doyle, Mike Shoemaker and Marci Klein. Others deal with booking guests, managing talent and keeping the sketches moving from idea to script. Aymong has long kept his eye on the flow...
The cast nodded to Aymong’s departure early Sunday morning during the final minutes of the first episode of “SNL’s” 47th season, with Colin Jost holding up a placard that read, “We’ll miss you, Ken.” Aymong has decided to retire, according to a person familiar with the matter, after joining the program in the mid-1980s.
Aymong has been a key lieutenant of executive producer Lorne Michaels for many years, along with current and former producers like Erik Kenward, Steve Higgins, Lindsay Shookus, Erin Doyle, Mike Shoemaker and Marci Klein. Others deal with booking guests, managing talent and keeping the sketches moving from idea to script. Aymong has long kept his eye on the flow...
- 10/3/2021
- by Brian Steinberg
- Variety Film + TV
You don’t have to be perpetually “live, from New York” to flourish these days at “Saturday Night Live.”
In years past, the show’s cast members focused their all on the venerable late-night program and, when outside opportunity knocked or contracts ran out or media economics forced a tightening of the group, they left. This season has provided the clearest indication yet that those rules are changing: cast members are increasingly taking on new projects even as they continue with the NBC show.
On Thursday, HBO Max will launch a six-episode comedy-sketch series led by Michael Che, who also happens to be one of the head writers at “SNL” and a co-host of the program’s long-running “Weekend Update” segment. “That Damn Michael Che” will feature appearances by other “SNL” cast members, including Cecily Strong, Heidi Gardner and Colin Jost. How did Che launch his own series and keep...
In years past, the show’s cast members focused their all on the venerable late-night program and, when outside opportunity knocked or contracts ran out or media economics forced a tightening of the group, they left. This season has provided the clearest indication yet that those rules are changing: cast members are increasingly taking on new projects even as they continue with the NBC show.
On Thursday, HBO Max will launch a six-episode comedy-sketch series led by Michael Che, who also happens to be one of the head writers at “SNL” and a co-host of the program’s long-running “Weekend Update” segment. “That Damn Michael Che” will feature appearances by other “SNL” cast members, including Cecily Strong, Heidi Gardner and Colin Jost. How did Che launch his own series and keep...
- 5/3/2021
- by Brian Steinberg
- Variety Film + TV
Producer Joel Silver paid $1.7 million to the Wynn Casino in Las Vegas to cover Ron Meyer’s gambling debt in July 2014, multiple sources confirmed to Variety.
At the time, Meyer was the vice chairman of NBCUniversal and Silver — his close friend — had a distribution deal with the studio. A few months earlier, Silver had received a $4 million advance from NBCUniversal on his cut of the proceeds from “Non-Stop,” an action film starring Liam Neeson.
The casino transaction has come to the attention of NBCUniversal within the last two weeks, prompting the studio to ask attorney Daniel Petrocelli to look into it, according to a source who spoke to Petrocelli about the matter.
The payment from Silver was specifically designated to pay off Meyer’s marker at the casino, according to a source who viewed an email confirming the transaction.
Anthony Pellicano, the former private investigator who has been working for Silver as a negotiator,...
At the time, Meyer was the vice chairman of NBCUniversal and Silver — his close friend — had a distribution deal with the studio. A few months earlier, Silver had received a $4 million advance from NBCUniversal on his cut of the proceeds from “Non-Stop,” an action film starring Liam Neeson.
The casino transaction has come to the attention of NBCUniversal within the last two weeks, prompting the studio to ask attorney Daniel Petrocelli to look into it, according to a source who spoke to Petrocelli about the matter.
The payment from Silver was specifically designated to pay off Meyer’s marker at the casino, according to a source who viewed an email confirming the transaction.
Anthony Pellicano, the former private investigator who has been working for Silver as a negotiator,...
- 2/3/2021
- by Gene Maddaus
- Variety Film + TV
Tom Rinaldi is leaving ESPN for Fox Sports in January. He was not among the ESPN layoffs, two people with knowledge of Rinaldi’s new and expiring deals told TheWrap.
The second person, who has intimate knowledge of Rinaldi’s expiring ESPN deal, told TheWrap that ESPN offered Rinaldi an increase in salary to stay, but that Fox Sports’ offer was “life-changing” money.
James Andrew Miller, the author of ESPN oral history “Those Guys Have All the Fun,” reported that Rinaldi asked ESPN to not match Fox’s offer, which Miller speculated was in the $2 million-per-year ballpark. Our second source on this story said that ESPN was told the $2 million-per-year number was accurate. Fox Sports declined to comment on the financial aspects of Rinaldi’s new deal.
Rinaldi, the recipient of 16 Sports Emmy Awards and seven Edward R. Murrow Awards, has covered every major sporting event in his impressive career.
The second person, who has intimate knowledge of Rinaldi’s expiring ESPN deal, told TheWrap that ESPN offered Rinaldi an increase in salary to stay, but that Fox Sports’ offer was “life-changing” money.
James Andrew Miller, the author of ESPN oral history “Those Guys Have All the Fun,” reported that Rinaldi asked ESPN to not match Fox’s offer, which Miller speculated was in the $2 million-per-year ballpark. Our second source on this story said that ESPN was told the $2 million-per-year number was accurate. Fox Sports declined to comment on the financial aspects of Rinaldi’s new deal.
Rinaldi, the recipient of 16 Sports Emmy Awards and seven Edward R. Murrow Awards, has covered every major sporting event in his impressive career.
- 12/17/2020
- by Tony Maglio
- The Wrap
To celebrate the 20th anniversary of Almost Famous, we recently reunited writer/director Cameron Crowe with stars Kate Hudson (who played “Band Aid” Penny Lane), Billy Crudup (who played Russell Hammond, lead guitarist of the fictional “middle-level band” Stillwater), and Patrick Fugit (who played teen Rolling Stone journalist William Miller). In the conversation, (co-hosted by James Andrew Miller, whose behind-the-scenes podcast Origins has dedicated its current season to the making of Almost Famous), Crowe and the actors looked back at the film’s most indelible scene: the sing-along to Elton John...
- 7/31/2020
- by Brian Hiatt
- Rollingstone.com
It is, in fact, all happening: To celebrate the 20th anniversary of writer-director Cameron Crowe’s hilarious, heartwarming masterpiece Almost Famous — one of the greatest music movies ever made and certainly the best film about a Rolling Stone writer (sorry, Perfect superfans) — we hosted a one-of-a-kind reunion.
In the nearly hourlong conversation, Crowe is joined by stars Kate Hudson (who played “Band Aid” Penny Lane), Billy Crudup (who played rock star Russell Hammond), and Patrick Fugit (who played teen journalist William Miller) to look back on the oft-grueling process behind the film,...
In the nearly hourlong conversation, Crowe is joined by stars Kate Hudson (who played “Band Aid” Penny Lane), Billy Crudup (who played rock star Russell Hammond), and Patrick Fugit (who played teen journalist William Miller) to look back on the oft-grueling process behind the film,...
- 7/28/2020
- by Brian Hiatt
- Rollingstone.com
This year marks the 20th anniversary of Cameron Crowe’s autobiographical movie Almost Famous. To celebrate the milestone, James Andrew Miller is delivering a limited podcast series called Origins: Almost Famous Turns Twenty, and it’s already yielding some interesting tidbits looking back at the film. Almost Famous features Patrick Fugit as William Miller, a young aspiring journalist […]
The post ‘Almost Famous’ Could Have Starred Brad Pitt, Natalie Portman, and Meryl Streep appeared first on /Film.
The post ‘Almost Famous’ Could Have Starred Brad Pitt, Natalie Portman, and Meryl Streep appeared first on /Film.
- 7/16/2020
- by Ethan Anderton
- Slash Film
Four minutes into the new Almost Famous podcast, Kate Hudson describes a discussion she recently had with her therapist. “‘I’m feeling like I’m 40 and I just wanna…’ And my therapist goes, ‘You wanna get back on the bus with Stillwater?’ And I was like, ‘Yes! I want to get back on the bus! You’re right, that’s exactly what I want!'”
Hosted by James Andrew Miller, all five binge-worthy episodes of Cadence13’s Origins: Almost Famous Turns Twenty provide insight and incredible details about Cameron Crowe...
Hosted by James Andrew Miller, all five binge-worthy episodes of Cadence13’s Origins: Almost Famous Turns Twenty provide insight and incredible details about Cameron Crowe...
- 7/15/2020
- by Angie Martoccio
- Rollingstone.com
Can you imagine Brad Pitt screaming, "I am a golden God"? If yes, then you'll be happy to know that the Hollywood A-lister was this close to playing the role of Russell Hammond in Almost Famous. For the first episode of Origins: Almost Famous Turns Twenty, host James Andrew Miller revealed that the beloved cast, made up of Frances McDormand, Billy Crudup, and Kate Hudson, almost featured a different array of actors. Namely, "in the early stages" of the film, Meryl Streep was considered for Elaine Miller, Natalie Portman auditioned for Penny Lane and, as we mentioned above, Pitt was in the running for Russell Hammond. "Brad Pitt was on my mind because I had a really good meeting...
- 7/8/2020
- E! Online
With the 20th anniversary of the release date of the film “Almost Famous” approaching in September, the “Origins” podcast is getting a jump of the commemorating by launching a five-part series about the making of Cameron Crowe’s much-loved rock ‘n’ roll comedy-drama.
Writer-director Cameron Crowe, who based the movie on his own experiences as a teenaged Rolling Stone journalist in the 1970s, has been interviewed for the retelling of the making of the film. So have principal cast members Kate Hudson, Billy Crudup, Frances McDormand and Zooey Deschanel — along with cameo player Jimmy Fallon, who was right in the grey zone between famous and almost famous when the film was made.
Others interviewed include Peter Frampton, one of the many musicians Crowe profiled for Rolling Stone back in the day; Nancy Wilson of Heart, who contributed instrumental music to the film; and the “real” Penny Lane, the “band-aid” upon...
Writer-director Cameron Crowe, who based the movie on his own experiences as a teenaged Rolling Stone journalist in the 1970s, has been interviewed for the retelling of the making of the film. So have principal cast members Kate Hudson, Billy Crudup, Frances McDormand and Zooey Deschanel — along with cameo player Jimmy Fallon, who was right in the grey zone between famous and almost famous when the film was made.
Others interviewed include Peter Frampton, one of the many musicians Crowe profiled for Rolling Stone back in the day; Nancy Wilson of Heart, who contributed instrumental music to the film; and the “real” Penny Lane, the “band-aid” upon...
- 6/19/2020
- by Chris Willman
- Variety Film + TV
The cast of Almost Famous will commemorate the film’s 20th anniversary with a five-part podcast, set to premiere on July 8th.
The sixth chapter of Cadence13’s Origins podcast series, Origins: Almost Famous Turns Twenty, will be hosted by James Andrew Miller. Along with cast members, writer-director Cameron Crowe will discuss the film — a semi-autobiographical account of his career as a teenage writer for Rolling Stone — and reflect on its cultural impact and legacy. You can listen to the trailer here.
Kate Hudson, Frances McDormand, Billy Crudup, Zooey Deschanel,...
The sixth chapter of Cadence13’s Origins podcast series, Origins: Almost Famous Turns Twenty, will be hosted by James Andrew Miller. Along with cast members, writer-director Cameron Crowe will discuss the film — a semi-autobiographical account of his career as a teenage writer for Rolling Stone — and reflect on its cultural impact and legacy. You can listen to the trailer here.
Kate Hudson, Frances McDormand, Billy Crudup, Zooey Deschanel,...
- 6/18/2020
- by Angie Martoccio
- Rollingstone.com
When Eddie Murphy makes his long-awaited “SNL” return on Saturday, fans of the venerable late-night staple can thank the comedian’s tenure during the early 1980s for keeping the show alive.
Aside from a brief appearance during the show’s 40th anniversary celebration in 2015, this will be the first time Murphy has returned to “SNL” since he left the show in 1984. But if it wasn’t for Murphy, “SNL” probably would have never made it alive out of that decade.
For a brief period in the early 1980s, Lorne Michaels left “SNL” following disputes with network executives. Although he eventually returned in 1985, Lorne’s absence from the halls of Studio 8H were some of the most turbulent years for the long-running show. Following the short-lived run under Jean Doumanian — who lasted just 10 months, ending after Charlie Rocket said “F—” during the live broadcast — Dick Ebersol was brought in to steer the ship.
Aside from a brief appearance during the show’s 40th anniversary celebration in 2015, this will be the first time Murphy has returned to “SNL” since he left the show in 1984. But if it wasn’t for Murphy, “SNL” probably would have never made it alive out of that decade.
For a brief period in the early 1980s, Lorne Michaels left “SNL” following disputes with network executives. Although he eventually returned in 1985, Lorne’s absence from the halls of Studio 8H were some of the most turbulent years for the long-running show. Following the short-lived run under Jean Doumanian — who lasted just 10 months, ending after Charlie Rocket said “F—” during the live broadcast — Dick Ebersol was brought in to steer the ship.
- 12/19/2019
- by Tim Baysinger
- The Wrap
James Andrew Miller is prepping his next book to be about the history of HBO, according to a report.
Miller, who is known for his all-encompassing oral histories of “Saturday Night Live,” ESPN and CAA, will detail the rise of the pay cable network and its place under new owner AT&T, Recode reports. The outlet added Miller has already interviewed former Time Warner CEO Jeff Bewkes, who sold off his company to AT&T, as well as former network heads Chris Albrecht, and Richard Plepler (who resigned earlier this year), along with David Simon, who has created multiple series for HBO including the vaunted, “The Wire.”
Both HarperCollins, which published Miller’s most recent book, and Miller himself, did not immediately respond to TheWrap’s request for comment. A rep for HBO also did not immediately respond for comment.
Also Read: Why HBO Max Must Outmuscle HBO to Succeed
HBO...
Miller, who is known for his all-encompassing oral histories of “Saturday Night Live,” ESPN and CAA, will detail the rise of the pay cable network and its place under new owner AT&T, Recode reports. The outlet added Miller has already interviewed former Time Warner CEO Jeff Bewkes, who sold off his company to AT&T, as well as former network heads Chris Albrecht, and Richard Plepler (who resigned earlier this year), along with David Simon, who has created multiple series for HBO including the vaunted, “The Wire.”
Both HarperCollins, which published Miller’s most recent book, and Miller himself, did not immediately respond to TheWrap’s request for comment. A rep for HBO also did not immediately respond for comment.
Also Read: Why HBO Max Must Outmuscle HBO to Succeed
HBO...
- 11/5/2019
- by Tim Baysinger
- The Wrap
Verve last week became the most prominent agency to agree to the Writers Guild of America’s new Code of Conduct for talent agencies — breaking with its competitors by renouncing packaging fees on film and TV projects. But while the decision is an interesting turn in the weeks-long stalemate between Hollywood writers and agencies, Verve is likely to be an outlier among its peers.
In signing onto the code, Verve agreed it will not be involved with two practices WGA has called conflicts of interests for agencies: TV packaging and affiliate-owned production. But Verve is a much smaller outfit compared to the top four agencies — CAA, UTA, Wme and ICM Partners — who represent more than 75% of Hollywood talent. It’s also relatively new, founded in 2010 with just 30 agents.
As a result, Verve’s business model still relies on commissions from its pool of writers. That is the sort of model...
In signing onto the code, Verve agreed it will not be involved with two practices WGA has called conflicts of interests for agencies: TV packaging and affiliate-owned production. But Verve is a much smaller outfit compared to the top four agencies — CAA, UTA, Wme and ICM Partners — who represent more than 75% of Hollywood talent. It’s also relatively new, founded in 2010 with just 30 agents.
As a result, Verve’s business model still relies on commissions from its pool of writers. That is the sort of model...
- 5/20/2019
- by Jeremy Fuster
- The Wrap
The rumors of a potential third Sex and the City movie have been swirling for years now, with everything culminating in a harsh back and forth in February between star Kim Cattrall and . . . well, everyone else, basically. Although it's been pretty much confirmed that Sex and the City 3 is dead in the water, journalist James Andrew Miller's Origins podcast - which recently did a multipart feature on the iconic HBO series - discovered a key plot detail about the third film's script that's pretty shocking: Mr. Big was going to be killed off.
Miller's podcast includes interviews with Sarah Jessica Parker, Chris Noth, Kristin Davis, Willie Garson, and other key players in the show's production, with the notable exception of Cattrall. These chats led to the revelation that Mr. Big would've died "relatively early" in the film, because of a sudden "heart attack in the shower," according to The Hollywood Reporter.
Miller's podcast includes interviews with Sarah Jessica Parker, Chris Noth, Kristin Davis, Willie Garson, and other key players in the show's production, with the notable exception of Cattrall. These chats led to the revelation that Mr. Big would've died "relatively early" in the film, because of a sudden "heart attack in the shower," according to The Hollywood Reporter.
- 11/23/2018
- by Quinn Keaney
- Popsugar.com
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