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
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
Note: this article contains detailed discussions of sexual assault.
Norman Lear's seminal sitcom "All in the Family" was known for bringing laughs and thought-provoking discussions, but a 1977 episode entitled "Edith's 50th Birthday" was an outlier. Instead of a comedy, the two-parter felt like a horror show, one with a gravely serious topic: rape. In it, family matriarch Edith Bunker (Jean Stapleton) survives a harrowing, extended assault attempt by a stranger and is forced to muddle through the aftermath of intense trauma. It's a dark point for the series, but it's one that show creator Lear said elicited the strongest live-action response of any moment in the show's nine-season run.
In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter in 2017, Lear (who died at the age of 101 in 2023) was asked to recall the biggest audience uproar in the show's history. "I never heard a bigger sound on television than when Edith got...
Norman Lear's seminal sitcom "All in the Family" was known for bringing laughs and thought-provoking discussions, but a 1977 episode entitled "Edith's 50th Birthday" was an outlier. Instead of a comedy, the two-parter felt like a horror show, one with a gravely serious topic: rape. In it, family matriarch Edith Bunker (Jean Stapleton) survives a harrowing, extended assault attempt by a stranger and is forced to muddle through the aftermath of intense trauma. It's a dark point for the series, but it's one that show creator Lear said elicited the strongest live-action response of any moment in the show's nine-season run.
In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter in 2017, Lear (who died at the age of 101 in 2023) was asked to recall the biggest audience uproar in the show's history. "I never heard a bigger sound on television than when Edith got...
- 3/31/2024
- by Valerie Ettenhofer
- Slash Film
Jeff Margolis will never forget his first time directing the Academy Awards — we won’t let him.
This year marks the 35th anniversary of the 61st Academy Awards. You may not remember that “Rain Man” won Best Picture, Barry Levinson Best Director, Dustin Hoffman Best Actor, and Jodie Foster Best Actress for “The Accused.” But seared into our collective subconscious is the production number that opened the show — already, you’re cringing at the thought — featuring Snow White and Rob Lowe.
To this day, clickbait headlines (from The Guardian in 2019: “How Snow White and Some Coconuts Killed the 1989 Oscars”) are a testament to that debacle’s enduring legacy. Hollywood, nor the world, had never seen anything like it, which was kind of the whole point of the thing, according to Margolis, who spoke to IndieWire about his memories of what Collider just last year proclaimed, “the worst moment in Oscars history…...
This year marks the 35th anniversary of the 61st Academy Awards. You may not remember that “Rain Man” won Best Picture, Barry Levinson Best Director, Dustin Hoffman Best Actor, and Jodie Foster Best Actress for “The Accused.” But seared into our collective subconscious is the production number that opened the show — already, you’re cringing at the thought — featuring Snow White and Rob Lowe.
To this day, clickbait headlines (from The Guardian in 2019: “How Snow White and Some Coconuts Killed the 1989 Oscars”) are a testament to that debacle’s enduring legacy. Hollywood, nor the world, had never seen anything like it, which was kind of the whole point of the thing, according to Margolis, who spoke to IndieWire about his memories of what Collider just last year proclaimed, “the worst moment in Oscars history…...
- 3/8/2024
- by Donald Liebenson
- Indiewire
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
In Entertainment Weekly's 1993 cover story on Moose, the beloved Jack Russell Terrier that played Eddie on "Frasier," the dog was described as "the hottest pooch to be unleashed on the airwaves in years." The story itself was proof of Moose's popularity — what other TV pet was getting an EW cover story? On the show, Eddie belonged to Frasier's dad, Martin (John Mahoney), and was just as beloved by the characters in the series as he was by the audience. The only character that wasn't too fond of Eddie was Dr. Frasier Crane himself.
Moose appeared in 192 episodes of "Fraiser," with his son, Enzo, also standing in as Eddie in the later seasons. As such, he was arguably just as integral a part of the series as any other member of the ensemble cast, and one of the best characters on "Frasier." However, in the world of the show itself, Frasier...
Moose appeared in 192 episodes of "Fraiser," with his son, Enzo, also standing in as Eddie in the later seasons. As such, he was arguably just as integral a part of the series as any other member of the ensemble cast, and one of the best characters on "Frasier." However, in the world of the show itself, Frasier...
- 12/17/2023
- by Joe Roberts
- Slash Film
The idiom “national treasure” tends to get thrown around quite a bit in the entertainment-journalism sphere, but no one is more worthy of it than Julia Louis-Dreyfus. After all, she’s appeared in two of the greatest television comedies ever in Seinfeld and Veep, cut her teeth on Saturday Night Live, is now a ubiquitous presence in the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Valentina Allegra de Fontaine, and has won the most Primetime Emmys of any actor (eight, tying Cloris Leachman for the distinction).
She’s now mainly focusing her attention to film.
She’s now mainly focusing her attention to film.
- 5/9/2023
- by Marlow Stern
- Rollingstone.com
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
In this edition of Star Wars Bits:
"Obi-Wan Kenobi: A Jedi's Return"First "Andor" ClipNew "Star Wars Jedi" Books RevealedMarvel's Upcoming "Star Wars" ComicsAnd More!Obi-Wan Kenobi: A Jedi's Return
"Obi-Wan Kenobi: A Jedi's Return," a new documentary that chronicles the making of the Disney+ series, arrives on September 8 (Disney+ Day). The documentary will feature behind-the-scenes footage and new interviews with Ewan McGregor, Hayden Christensen, director Deborah Chow, and more. Check out the official trailer above!
First Andor Clip
Lucasfilm has released the first clip from "Andor," which you can check out above. Titled "Steal from the Empire," the clip shows the first meeting between Diego Luna's Cassian Andor and Stellen Skarsgård's Luthen Rael. The three-episode premiere begins streaming September 21 on Disney+.
New Star Wars Jedi Books Revealed
Lucasfilm recently announced two major book releases tied to the "Star Wars Jedi" game series. First, there's "Star Wars Jedi: Battle Scars,...
"Obi-Wan Kenobi: A Jedi's Return"First "Andor" ClipNew "Star Wars Jedi" Books RevealedMarvel's Upcoming "Star Wars" ComicsAnd More!Obi-Wan Kenobi: A Jedi's Return
"Obi-Wan Kenobi: A Jedi's Return," a new documentary that chronicles the making of the Disney+ series, arrives on September 8 (Disney+ Day). The documentary will feature behind-the-scenes footage and new interviews with Ewan McGregor, Hayden Christensen, director Deborah Chow, and more. Check out the official trailer above!
First Andor Clip
Lucasfilm has released the first clip from "Andor," which you can check out above. Titled "Steal from the Empire," the clip shows the first meeting between Diego Luna's Cassian Andor and Stellen Skarsgård's Luthen Rael. The three-episode premiere begins streaming September 21 on Disney+.
New Star Wars Jedi Books Revealed
Lucasfilm recently announced two major book releases tied to the "Star Wars Jedi" game series. First, there's "Star Wars Jedi: Battle Scars,...
- 8/26/2022
- by Adam Frazier
- Slash Film
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
Exclusive: Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert are to be the subject of a narrative documentary podcast series.
The Spotify Original series Gene & Roger comes from Bill Simmon’s The Ringer and host Brian Raftery. The series will document their rise with a focus on the cultural footprint they left behind.
The pair, known for their Thumps Up, Thumbs Down reviews will chronicle their lives and careers and feature never-before-heard commentary and sound bites from Siskel and Ebert and those closest to them. Ebert died in 2013 and Siskel died in 1999.
Guests will include Siskel’s widow Marlene Iglitzen, Ebert’s widow Chaz Ebert, Quentin Tarantino, Tom Shales, Justin Lin, Carrie Rickey, Thea Flaum, Nancy De Los Santos, Ray Solley, Ramin Bahrani, Carie Lovstad, Jesse Beaton, Richard Roeper, Erik Rydholm and David Price.
The eight-episode series, which will launch on July 20, is produced by Noah Malale and Bobby Wagner.
Raftery has written for Wired,...
The Spotify Original series Gene & Roger comes from Bill Simmon’s The Ringer and host Brian Raftery. The series will document their rise with a focus on the cultural footprint they left behind.
The pair, known for their Thumps Up, Thumbs Down reviews will chronicle their lives and careers and feature never-before-heard commentary and sound bites from Siskel and Ebert and those closest to them. Ebert died in 2013 and Siskel died in 1999.
Guests will include Siskel’s widow Marlene Iglitzen, Ebert’s widow Chaz Ebert, Quentin Tarantino, Tom Shales, Justin Lin, Carrie Rickey, Thea Flaum, Nancy De Los Santos, Ray Solley, Ramin Bahrani, Carie Lovstad, Jesse Beaton, Richard Roeper, Erik Rydholm and David Price.
The eight-episode series, which will launch on July 20, is produced by Noah Malale and Bobby Wagner.
Raftery has written for Wired,...
- 7/14/2021
- by Peter White
- Deadline 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
Among Oscars hosts, few are as beloved as nine-time emcee Billy Crystal. Over the years, Crystal received critical and commercial adulation, as well as four Emmys, for his work on the big stage, but to do it again? Eh, not so much. Asked if Oscars brass had asked him back in recent years, Crystal told IndieWire during a recent interview, “No, they haven’t, but that’s okay.”
It’s a few days before the 2021 Oscars ceremony, and Crystal is promoting “Here Today,” a dramedy he co-wrote and stars in opposite Tiffany Haddish; it also represents the first time he’s directed a theatrical feature since “Forget Paris” in 1995. (Sony releases “Here Today” in theaters on May 7.) The last time Crystal hosted was when he stepped in after Eddie Murphy dropped out. The Oscars have had no host since Jimmy Kimmel in 2018, and Crystal said that today it’s an almost impossible role to fulfill.
It’s a few days before the 2021 Oscars ceremony, and Crystal is promoting “Here Today,” a dramedy he co-wrote and stars in opposite Tiffany Haddish; it also represents the first time he’s directed a theatrical feature since “Forget Paris” in 1995. (Sony releases “Here Today” in theaters on May 7.) The last time Crystal hosted was when he stepped in after Eddie Murphy dropped out. The Oscars have had no host since Jimmy Kimmel in 2018, and Crystal said that today it’s an almost impossible role to fulfill.
- 4/23/2021
- by Kate Erbland
- Indiewire
James Franco is in negotiations to direct the movie “Those Guys Have All the Fun: Inside the World of ESPN” for Focus Features.
The project is based on the 2011 book of the same name by James Andrew Miller and Tom Shales, which recapped the formation of the sports network, based on interviews with more than 500 people. ESPN was launched in 1979 by Bill Rasmussen and his son Scott as the world’s first 24-hour cable TV network. It saw success by telecasting the early rounds of the Ncaa basketball tournament and the NFL Draft.
“Halt and Catch Fire” co-creator Christopher C. Rogers has been hired to re-write the script. Miller was tapped to adapt the script in 2015. Michael De Luca, Jamie Patricof, and Julie Yorn are producing the film.
Franco produced, directed, and starred in “The Disaster Artist,” which received strong reviews and earned one Academy Award nomination for adapted screenplay...
The project is based on the 2011 book of the same name by James Andrew Miller and Tom Shales, which recapped the formation of the sports network, based on interviews with more than 500 people. ESPN was launched in 1979 by Bill Rasmussen and his son Scott as the world’s first 24-hour cable TV network. It saw success by telecasting the early rounds of the Ncaa basketball tournament and the NFL Draft.
“Halt and Catch Fire” co-creator Christopher C. Rogers has been hired to re-write the script. Miller was tapped to adapt the script in 2015. Michael De Luca, Jamie Patricof, and Julie Yorn are producing the film.
Franco produced, directed, and starred in “The Disaster Artist,” which received strong reviews and earned one Academy Award nomination for adapted screenplay...
- 7/25/2018
- by Dave McNary
- Variety Film + TV
James Franco is reportedly in talks to direct an upcoming adaptation of James Andrew Miller and Tom Shales’ 2011 nonfiction book “Those Guys Have All the Fun: Inside the World of ESPN” (via Collider). The book provides an oral history of the creation of ESPN, the network that has dominated sports news since its creation in 1979. Collider reports Focus Features is behind the project.
In addition to Franco being eyed to direct, “Halt and Catch Fire” co-creator Christopher C. Rogers is being tapped to rewrite the script. The story centers around the efforts made by ESPN creator Bill Rasmussen and his son, Scott, to launch the 24-hour sports network. Bennett Miller was originally hired to write the screenplay in 2015, which is described as being in the same vein as “Moneyball” and “The Social Network.”
The report is notable since Franco has not announced any major directing projects since being accused of sexual misconduct in January.
In addition to Franco being eyed to direct, “Halt and Catch Fire” co-creator Christopher C. Rogers is being tapped to rewrite the script. The story centers around the efforts made by ESPN creator Bill Rasmussen and his son, Scott, to launch the 24-hour sports network. Bennett Miller was originally hired to write the screenplay in 2015, which is described as being in the same vein as “Moneyball” and “The Social Network.”
The report is notable since Franco has not announced any major directing projects since being accused of sexual misconduct in January.
- 7/25/2018
- by Zack Sharf
- Indiewire
James Franco is in negotiations to direct Those Guys Have All the Fun: Inside the World of ESPN at Focus Features, The Hollywood Reporter has confirmed.
The project is based on a 2011 book James Andrew Miller and Tom Shales that offered an exhaustive chronicle of the birth of the now ubiquitous sports network, told through some 500 interviews with current and former staffers.
Although Franco sometimes appears in the movies he directs, he is not expected to take a role in Those Guys Have All the Fun.
Franco, who has stayed just as busy as a director as an actor in ...
The project is based on a 2011 book James Andrew Miller and Tom Shales that offered an exhaustive chronicle of the birth of the now ubiquitous sports network, told through some 500 interviews with current and former staffers.
Although Franco sometimes appears in the movies he directs, he is not expected to take a role in Those Guys Have All the Fun.
Franco, who has stayed just as busy as a director as an actor in ...
- 7/25/2018
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
James Franco is in negotiations to direct Those Guys Have All the Fun: Inside the World of ESPN at Focus Features, The Hollywood Reporter has confirmed.
The project is based on the 2011 book of the same name by James Andrew Miller and Tom Shales, which offered an exhaustive chronicle of the birth of the now-ubiquitous sports network, told through some 500 interviews with current and former staffers.
Although Franco sometimes appears in the movies he helms, he is not expected to take a role in Those Guys Have All the Fun.
Franco, who has stayed just as busy as a director ...
The project is based on the 2011 book of the same name by James Andrew Miller and Tom Shales, which offered an exhaustive chronicle of the birth of the now-ubiquitous sports network, told through some 500 interviews with current and former staffers.
Although Franco sometimes appears in the movies he helms, he is not expected to take a role in Those Guys Have All the Fun.
Franco, who has stayed just as busy as a director ...
- 7/25/2018
- The Hollywood Reporter - Film + TV
God bless Gilda Radner for having the foresight to know that people wanted to know her. In Lisa D’Apolito’s intimate new documentary, it’s the late, beloved comedian and original “Saturday Night Live” breakout star who gets to tell her own story. Aided by a trove of diary-style audio tapes that serve as voiceover narration and reams of handwritten pages, the woman behind Roseanne Roseannadanna and Emily Litella opens up about the good, the bad, and the ugly.
By no means a vanity project — Radner’s diaries are as clear-eyed as anything when it comes to her struggles involving fame, relationships, and her health — “Love, Gilda” offers the kind of keen personal insight that few documentaries can pull off.
D’Apolito directed the film with the full support of Radner’s estate — when she introduced the film at New York City’s Beacon Theatre, where it kicked off...
By no means a vanity project — Radner’s diaries are as clear-eyed as anything when it comes to her struggles involving fame, relationships, and her health — “Love, Gilda” offers the kind of keen personal insight that few documentaries can pull off.
D’Apolito directed the film with the full support of Radner’s estate — when she introduced the film at New York City’s Beacon Theatre, where it kicked off...
- 4/19/2018
- by Kate Erbland
- Indiewire
Exclusive: The long-gestating film about the early days of Espn has added James Andrew Miller as screenwriter, Focus Features confirmed. Miller is author with former Washington Post TV critic Tom Shales of Those Guys Have All The Fun: Inside the World Of Espn, an exhaustive chronicle of the sports giant’s rise and reign, featuring such very big personalities as Dan Patrick, Keith Olbermann, Stuart Scott and Chris Berman. Focus confirmed the news after Miller acknowledged…...
- 2/18/2015
- Deadline
The world premiere of "Live From New York!," Bao Nguyen's documentary exploring 40 years of American politics, tragedy and popular culture through the comedic lens of the television institution, will open the 2015 Tribeca Film Festival on Wednesday, April 15. "'SNL's' contribution to the arts and to pop culture has been — and continues to be — groundbreaking, and 'Live From New York!' offers an inside look at the show's inimitable ability to both reflect and impact American news, history and culture," said Jane Rosenthal, co-founder of the Tribeca Film Festival. "This is the story of a creative journey from pilot to institution and a tribute to the moments that kept us laughing and talking long after the episodes aired." Rosenthal's partner Robert De Niro added that the selection is "personally gratifying…having hosted 'SNL' three times, and guested on several occasions." Nguyen's film explores the early years of the show,...
- 2/12/2015
- by Kristopher Tapley
- Hitfix
On the eve of its 40th anniversary special (though the anniversary itself isn't until October), what is left to say about "Saturday Night Live"? There have been multiple books written about the show, several documentaries, countless essays — riding the never-ending roller-coaster between "Saturday Night Dead" and "Saturday Night Lives Again!" — best-ofs, worst-ofs, and every other kind of list you can think of. I don't know that anything I write over the next few pages will provide new insight into one of the most influential comedy shows ever made, but I wondered if you could tell the story of the show — through good times and bad, through revolutions and evolutions and retrenchments — by looking at its sketches. I wound up picking 21 in all: some among the show's most famous, some obscure but important. These aren't meant as a definitive breakdown of the best "SNL" ever had to offer, but as a...
- 2/12/2015
- by Alan Sepinwall
- Hitfix
Chris Rock—writer, director, actor, comedian, Emmy winner, Grammy winner, former Oscar host, and all-around likable dude despite his tendency to make Grown Ups movies—is hosting SNL Saturday night, for only the second time ever, and the first time since 1996. (At the time, Rock was only a few years removed from being a cast member on Saturday Night Live himself.) But you'd barely know this going by the episode's two sets of promos—both of which focus exclusively on how exciting it is that Prince is also coming back to Studio 8H. (The Purple One hasn't been on Saturday Night Live in awhile either,...
- 11/1/2014
- by Hillary Busis
- EW.com - PopWatch
Sunday Update: Click over to read Hillary Busis' full recap of Sarah Silverman's episode as SNL host. Original Post: The perfect way to wind down after Yom Kippur? By watching an episode of SNL that features two famous Members of the Tribe, of course. (And, you know, the other guys in Maroon 5.) Count on host Sarah Silverman to bring up her Jewish heritage early and often when she takes the stage for the first time as host tonight. You can also expect her to focus her monologue on two facts: One, that Silverman was a writer and featured...
- 10/4/2014
- by Hillary Busis
- EW.com - PopWatch
In 2002, James Andrew Miller and Tom Shales released Live From New York: An Uncensored History of Saturday Night Live. For fans of the show both devoted and casual, the oral history was an incredible read — full of great stories from the show's raucous early years and beyond. Miller has updated the book, a new version of which comes out today, with interviews from more recent cast members. Vulture's Jesse David Fox spoke with Miller about how times have changed on the show since the first book came out and whether or not SNL could survive if Lorne Michaels ever left.How has SNL changed — in terms of content, but also behind the scenes — since the book first came out 12 years ago? There’s probably three headlines here. One is obviously the emergence of women in a different way. There’s always been powerful female cast members on Saturday Night...
- 9/9/2014
- by Jesse David Fox
- Vulture
In 2002, James Andrew Miller and Tom Shales released Live From New York: An Uncensored History of Saturday Night Live. For fans of the show both devoted and casual, the oral history was an incredible read — full of great stories from the show's raucous early years and beyond. Miller has updated the book, a new version of which comes out today, with interviews from more recent cast members. Vulture's Jesse David Fox spoke with Miller about how times have changed on the show since the first book came out and whether or not SNL could survive if Lorne Michaels ever left.How has SNL changed — in terms of content, but also behind the scenes — since the book first came out 12 years ago? There’s probably three headlines here. One is obviously the emergence of women in a different way. There’s always been powerful female cast members on Saturday Night...
- 9/9/2014
- by Jesse David Fox
- Vulture
In 2002, James Andrew Miller and Tom Shales released Live From New York: An Uncensored History of Saturday Night Live. For fans of the show both devoted and casual, the oral history was an incredible read — full of great stories from the show's raucous early years and beyond. Miller has updated the book, a new version of which comes out on September 9, with interviews from more recent cast members. In this excerpt, Kristen Wiig, Bill Hader, and Lorne Michaels discuss Wiig's emotional, Rolling Stones–soundtracked farewell.Considering all the dozens of cast members who’ve left Saturday Night Live since the first group packed up and followed Lorne Michaels out the door in 1980, it would have been virtually impossible to make a fuss every time somebody split. How did it happen, then, that in May of 2012, cast and crew said elaborate and tearful good-byes to Kristen Wiig in an...
- 9/8/2014
- by James Andrew Miller,Tom Shales
- Vulture
Bill Hader was left less than impressed when Justin Bieber came on to host Saturday Night Live earlier this year.
Bill Hader Slams Justin Bieber
Hader names Bieber as won of the worst hosts he worked with during his lengthy tenure on Saturday Night Live in the new edition of Live From New York: An Uncensored History of Saturday Night Live , written by James Andrew Miller and Tom Shales.
“I really didn’t enjoy having Justin Bieber around,” Hader admits in the tell-all, according to the New York Post. “He’s the only one who lived up to the reputation. I think that’s the only time I felt that way in eight years.”
Hader’s opinion was shared by other members of the SNL cast who worked with the pop singer. Kate McKinnon, for one, noted that he wasn’t the best sport when it came to weathering an impression of himself.
Bill Hader Slams Justin Bieber
Hader names Bieber as won of the worst hosts he worked with during his lengthy tenure on Saturday Night Live in the new edition of Live From New York: An Uncensored History of Saturday Night Live , written by James Andrew Miller and Tom Shales.
“I really didn’t enjoy having Justin Bieber around,” Hader admits in the tell-all, according to the New York Post. “He’s the only one who lived up to the reputation. I think that’s the only time I felt that way in eight years.”
Hader’s opinion was shared by other members of the SNL cast who worked with the pop singer. Kate McKinnon, for one, noted that he wasn’t the best sport when it came to weathering an impression of himself.
- 8/27/2014
- Uinterview
Bill Hader has no love for Justin Bieber.
Safe to say Bill Hader is not a Belieber.
In the new edition of "Live From New York: An Uncensored History Of Saturday Night Live," written by James Andrew Miller and Tom Shales, Hader doesn't hold back when talking about his experience working with the 20-year-old "Baby" singer.
"I really didn't enjoy having Justin Bieber around," he said, via The New York Post. "He's the only one who lived up to the reputation. I think that's the only time I felt that way in eight years."
Ouch.
Photos: Justin Bieber's Biggest Celeb Beefs
Fellow SNL cast member Kate McKinnon also revealed that Bieber wasn't exactly thrilled with her now famous impression of him.
"Bieber wasn't too upset by my impression of him. But he wasn't pleased," she shared.
This isn't the first time Hader, 36, has expressed his dislike of the Biebs.
Video: [link=nm...
Safe to say Bill Hader is not a Belieber.
In the new edition of "Live From New York: An Uncensored History Of Saturday Night Live," written by James Andrew Miller and Tom Shales, Hader doesn't hold back when talking about his experience working with the 20-year-old "Baby" singer.
"I really didn't enjoy having Justin Bieber around," he said, via The New York Post. "He's the only one who lived up to the reputation. I think that's the only time I felt that way in eight years."
Ouch.
Photos: Justin Bieber's Biggest Celeb Beefs
Fellow SNL cast member Kate McKinnon also revealed that Bieber wasn't exactly thrilled with her now famous impression of him.
"Bieber wasn't too upset by my impression of him. But he wasn't pleased," she shared.
This isn't the first time Hader, 36, has expressed his dislike of the Biebs.
Video: [link=nm...
- 8/26/2014
- Entertainment Tonight
An Espn movie was bound to happen at some point. After all, Espn is a thing that people have heard of, which fits in quite well with with the latest Hollywood trend of: “this a thing people have heard of, so it must be adapted into a feature film” (see also: Stretch Armstrong). And Espn: Those Guys Have All the Fun packs a double dose of name recognition. It’s both a movie about Espn and a movie based off of a book — that book being “Espn: Those Guys Have All the Fun” by James Andrew Miller and Tom Shales. This harrowing (and apparently, fun-filled) tale of Espn’s rise to the top of the sports TV world will be directed by Derek Cianfrance, whose previous outings include Blue Valentine and The Place Beyond the Pines. With those two films in mind, it wouldn’t be at all surprising to see Ryan Gosling play one of the...
- 9/26/2013
- by Adam Bellotto
- FilmSchoolRejects.com
Derek Cianfrance ("The Place Beyond the Pines") is attached to direct "Espn: Those Guys Have All the Fun." The book by James Andrew Miller and Tom Shales follows the rise of the eponymous cable network, via interviews with past and present Espn personalities and producers. Fox acquired the book rights more than two years ago, and Focus has now resuscitated it from turnaround. The team is currently looking for a scribe to adapt the material. The project has reunited Focus with "Fifty Shades of Grey" producers Michael De Luca and Dana Brunetti (also producers on David Fincher's "The Social Network"). Cianfrance additionally has "The Light Between Oceans" in the pipeline, another adapted work, scooped up by DreamWorks last November. Set during Wwi, the story follows the struggles of a married couple confronted with a ship, carrying an infant and dead man, washing up on the shores near their lighthouse.
- 9/25/2013
- by Beth Hanna
- Thompson on Hollywood
Focus Features has acquired the rights to "Espn: Those Guys Have All the Fun" book and attached Derek Cianfrance (The Place Beyond the Pines, Blue Valentine) to direct the film. Back in 2011, 20th Century Fox acquired the book, but several months ago, the studio decided against moving forward with the project. Focus Features quickly stepped in, believing that the film has plenty of potential. The book, written by James Andrew Miller and Tom Shales, chronicles the formation of the Espn network, the worldwide leader in sports. The new film will be produced by Michael De Luca and Dana Brunetti, who also produced the Facebook movie "The Social Network."...
- 9/25/2013
- WorstPreviews.com
"Blue Valentine" and "The Place Beyond the Pines" director Derek Cianfrance is slated to helm a film at Focus Features about the gestation of the sporting cable network Espn.
"The Social Network" producers Michael De Luca and Dana Brunetti are teaming with Jamie Patricof and Lynette Howell on the project which will use James Andrew Miller and Tom Shales' 2011 book "Espn: Those Guys Have All the Fun".
The book is an oral history that chronicles the formation of the cable network and its rise to power. A writer is currently being sought.
Focus picked up the rights to the book after Fox put the movie into turnaround a few months ago.
Source: The Wrap...
"The Social Network" producers Michael De Luca and Dana Brunetti are teaming with Jamie Patricof and Lynette Howell on the project which will use James Andrew Miller and Tom Shales' 2011 book "Espn: Those Guys Have All the Fun".
The book is an oral history that chronicles the formation of the cable network and its rise to power. A writer is currently being sought.
Focus picked up the rights to the book after Fox put the movie into turnaround a few months ago.
Source: The Wrap...
- 9/25/2013
- by Garth Franklin
- Dark Horizons
Back in 2011, 20th Century Fox acquired James Andrew Miller and Tom Shales. tome Those Guys Have All the Fun: Inside the World of Espn, an oral history into the origins of the world.s greatest sports network. But they let the project go into turnaround a few months ago, unable to figure how what to do with the vast amount of material. Always looking for a hole in one, Focus Features has stepped up to the plate and taken a swing at the book, according to TheWrap, with a box office slam dunk their goal (mixed sports metaphors are fun, guys!). And they.ve hired The Place Beyond the Pines director Derek Cianfrance to helm it, which is one of the strangest choices I can imagine. Well, I guess having Mr. Met direct it would be a stranger choice. Producers Michael De Luca and Dana Brunetti, who are working with...
- 9/25/2013
- cinemablend.com
Writer/director Derek Cianfrance is one of Hollywood’s hottest indie filmmakers. His latest film, The Place Beyond the Pines, became a solid hit for Focus Features this spring. Now, the studio wants to keep a hold on the filmmaker (whose credits also include the Oscar-nominated drama Blue Valentine) and signed him today to direct an adaptation of Espn: Those Guys Have All the Fun, which chronicles the formation of the sports network and television empire.
The book, from James Andrew Miller and Tom Shales, features interviews from dozens of key figures at Espn, such as Bill Simmons, Keith Olbermann and Chris Berman. Between the book’s 750-page length and its narrative being an oral history coming from an extensive variety of sources, adapting it into a manageable feature-length film is a challenge – even for a filmmaker whose last film featured three protagonists and an ambitious narrative structure. Fox picked...
The book, from James Andrew Miller and Tom Shales, features interviews from dozens of key figures at Espn, such as Bill Simmons, Keith Olbermann and Chris Berman. Between the book’s 750-page length and its narrative being an oral history coming from an extensive variety of sources, adapting it into a manageable feature-length film is a challenge – even for a filmmaker whose last film featured three protagonists and an ambitious narrative structure. Fox picked...
- 9/25/2013
- by Jordan Adler
- We Got This Covered
The Entertainment and Sports Programming Network - one of the most popular channels today. A book was published in 2011 titled Those Guys Have All the Fun: Inside the World of Espn, telling the history (through interviews) of the cable channel that started in 1979, and it was initially picked up by 20th Century Fox for an adaptation. That studio has since decided to pass on the film, letting the rights lapse and end up in the hands of Focus Features. The Wrap reports that Focus has picked up the project in "turnaround", with Derek Cianfrance (Blue Valentine, The Place Beyond the Pines) attached to direct. If you've seen his TV commercials for Dick's Sporting Goods (watch here), Cianfrance has a knack for sports and will be perfect. Here's the enticing synopsis of James Andrew Miller & Tom Shales' book this is based on, via Amazon.com: It began, in 1979, as a...
- 9/25/2013
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
After two distinctly personal, serious dramas in Blue Valentine and The Place Beyond The Pines, Derek Cianfrance may be taking the leap into bigger studio fare. But if he does he will stick close to one of his big interests as a big sports fan and director of sporting goods adverts. He’s now in talks to take on Espn: These Guys Have All The Fun for Focus Features.As you might be able to guess from the title, the planned film – drawn from James Andrew Miller and Tom Shales’ oral history of the dominant sports network channel – will tell the story of the company’s roots and how it became such a huge brand.While there’s clearly a fascinating tale to be mined here, the prospect has defeated at least one studio already. 20th Century Fox bought the rights to the 2011 book originally, but couldn’t make it...
- 9/24/2013
- EmpireOnline
It will be interesting to see how this turns out considering the success of a movie based on James Andrew Miller and Tom Shales' "Espn: Those Guys Have All the Fun" would seem to depend largely on the screenwriter more than the director, but to hear Derek Cianfrance (Blue Valentine, The Place Beyond the Pines) has nabbed the gig means there will at least be some emerging talent behind that lens. The Wrap has the story, saying the Fifty Shades of Grey and The Social Network team of producers, Michael De Luca and Dana Brunetti, are spearheading the project as Focus takes over the rights from 20th Century Fox, with co-producers Jamie Patricof and Lynette Howell. Currently they are looking for a writer to tackle the story, which follows the rise of the cable sports network with a focus on Espn personalities and producers such as Bill Simmons, Chris Berman and Keith Olbermann.
- 9/24/2013
- by Brad Brevet
- Rope of Silicon
Over three films, Derek Cianfrance has made films about dudes. Okay, that's perhaps being a bit reductive, but from "Brother Tied" to "Blue Valentine" to this year's "The Place Beyond The Pines," they've featured men in various states of crisis. Now he's going to apply that approach to the most bro-tacular of industries — sports — for a project that has a tremendous amount of promise. The Wrap reports that Cianfrance is now set to direct an adaptation of the best-selling tome, "ESPN: Those Guys Have All The Fun." Assembled by authors James Andrew Miller and Tom Shales, the book was a sensation when it was released a couple of years ago, rounding up pretty much every key figure involved in the sports network, totalling over 500 interviews, to tell the rather colorful true story of how it started and became a behemoth. Here's the Amazon synopsis: It began, in 1979, as a mad idea of starting a cable channel to televise local sporting events throughout the state of Connecticut...
- 9/24/2013
- by Kevin Jagernauth
- The Playlist
Always on the lookout for smart projects in turnaround, Focus Features has acquired screen rights to “Espn: Those Guys Have All the Fun” and attached Derek Cianfrance to direct the film, TheWrap has learned. Book is an oral history that chronicles the formation of the Worldwide Leader in Sports. 20th Century Fox acquired the book by James Andrew Miller and Tom Shales back in July 2011. Several months ago, Fox put the movie into turnaround, though Focus has come to the rescue, recognizing the project’s potential. Also Read: Overdrive or Sex Drive? Espn Key to Box-Office Battle Between ‘Rush’ and ‘Don Jon’ The.
- 9/24/2013
- by Jeff Sneider and Lucas Shaw
- The Wrap
Alex Rodriguez returns to play in Yankee Stadium tonight for the first time since a disastrous 2012 postseason performance and — even more ignominiously — since appealing his 211-game suspension for using performance-enhancing drugs. Boos have rained down on him since he returned to the field during the Yankees recent road trip, but it will be interesting to see how the home crowd receives him. Rodriguez can take solace in the fact that Keith Olbermann returned to SportsCenter last night, 16 years after napalming his bridges there. Maybe you can go home again after all.
Olbermann’s first tour of duty at Espn was...
Olbermann’s first tour of duty at Espn was...
- 8/9/2013
- by Jeff Labrecque
- EW.com - PopWatch
Thank you. Forty-six years ago on April 3, 1967, I became the film critic for the Chicago Sun-Times. Some of you have read my reviews and columns and even written to me since that time. Others were introduced to my film criticism through the television show, my books, the website, the film festival, or the Ebert Club and newsletter. However you came to know me, I'm glad you did and thank you for being the best readers any film critic could ask for.
Typically, I write over 200 reviews a year for the Sun-Times that are carried by Universal Press Syndicate in some 200 newspapers. Last year, I wrote the most of my career, including 306 movie reviews, a blog post or two a week, and assorted other articles. I must slow down now, which is why I'm taking what I like to call "a leave of presence."
What in the world is a leave of presence?...
Typically, I write over 200 reviews a year for the Sun-Times that are carried by Universal Press Syndicate in some 200 newspapers. Last year, I wrote the most of my career, including 306 movie reviews, a blog post or two a week, and assorted other articles. I must slow down now, which is why I'm taking what I like to call "a leave of presence."
What in the world is a leave of presence?...
- 6/5/2013
- by Roger Ebert
- blogs.suntimes.com/ebert
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