“NOT SAFE WITH NIKKI GLASER” - A Series And a One-Hour Stand-Up Special

nikki-glaser

  • Ten-Episode Series Executive Produced by Nikki Glaser, Chris Convy, Chris McGuire and Brillstein Entertainment Partners’ Alex Murray and Brad Petrigala
  • Stand-Up Special Executive Produced by Glaser and Murray

Comedy Central is getting down with Nikki Glaser as the all-comedy channel has greenlit “Not Safe with Nikki Glaser” to series and ordered a one-hour stand-up special, it was announced by Kent Alterman, President, Original Programming, Comedy Central. Executive produced by Glaser, Chris Convy, showrunner Chris McGuire (“The Roast of Justin Bieber”) and Brillstein Entertainment Partners’ Alex Murray (“@midnight with Chris Hardwick”) and Brad Petrigala, the ten episode weekly series, “Not Safe with Nikki Glaser,” is set to debut in 2016. Her one-hour original stand-up special is set to tape and is executive produced by Glaser and Murray.

“I was shocked to learn our fans have such keen interest in sex, but so be it,” said Alterman. “Nikki is the perfect talent to satisfy them.”

“I’m deeply touched that Comedy Central has decided to fulfill my Make-A-Wish dream of hosting a comedy show about sex. My parents are very proud (of my sister, who is a teacher),” said Glaser.

Hosted by Glaser, “Not Safe with Nikki Glaser” will blend chats with comedians, pre-taped vignettes and social experiments. Glaser and her guests will share personal stories about sex, relationships and other taboo topics. Glaser’s series promises to explore the current state of modern dating and be an outlet for viewers to find a frank, funny, and honest perspective on all things sex. The audience will also be encouraged to share their own potentially NSFW content with Glaser across multiple platforms. Gary Mann and Tara Schuster are the Executives in Charge of Production for Comedy Central.

Glaser (@nikkiglaser), a stand-up comedian, writer and host, co-hosted MTV’s late-night talk show “Nikki & Sara LIVE” for two seasons and co-hosted the popular podcast “You Had To Be There.” She’s a New Yorker, often performing at clubs and touring as a national headliner. Glaser has performed stand-up on “The Tonight Show,” “Late Night with Seth Meyers,” “Conan,” and “Last Comic Standing.” She is a frequent competitor on Comedy Central’s “@midnight with Chris Hardwick,” and has appeared in several other Comedy Central series including, “Inside Amy Schumer,” “Adam Devine’s House Party,” “The Burn with Jeff Ross,” “The Half Hour,” and “Comedy Underground with Dave Attell.” She can also be seen in the upcoming feature film “Trainwreck” coming this July.

Glaser is repped by Brillstein Entertainment Partners, ICM and attorney Lev Ginsberg.

Courtesy- Comedy Central (www.cc.com)

Comedy Central Sets sizzling Summer Schedule 2015

Comedy Central has the perfect escape from the heat this summer. The coming months promise a sizzling lineup highlighted by the series premieres of “Another Period,” which follows the insanely ridiculous and debaucherous life of Newport, RI’s first family, and “Why? With Hannibal Buress,” featuring Buress’ hilariously brilliant offbeat perspective on every topic in the zeitgeist. The summer months also bring new episodes of “Key & Peele” and “Tosh.0,” new seasons of “Drunk History,” “Review” and “The Meltdown with Jonah and Kumail,” and all new Comedy Central Original Specials from Natasha Leggero, Jeff Ross, Bridget Everett and Nick Swardson.

For more detail, please visit: http://www.cc.com/

Good Bye Letterman... we miss you already!

David Letterman's final broadcast...

Wednesday 20th May 2015 transformed into a national event: David Letterman aired his final broadcast of The Late Show. The audience and orchestra (directed by Paul Shaffer) of the Ed Sullivan Theatre saluted the great CBS host after 33 years, six thousand episodes and 19,932 guests.

More than three decades of television history are tough to summarize, through the chameleonic and caustic humour of Letterman. Innumerable are the memorable moments on his show, as his flirts (like the 1995 interview with Drew Barrymore), or his nasty feuds who saw celebrities tangled in Dave’s sharp tongue (like the 16 year altercation with Oprah Winfrey). He displayed great comedic charisma, but was just as effective in reporting hard news, as attested by the emotional speech he delivered on his first show after 9/11. He could be friendly or grill his interviewees, as he did with Paris Hilton asking her about her permanence in jail, or when he gave a rough time to prima-donnas such as Madonna or Joaquin Phoenix. He had moments of bravery, when he admitted to adultery with women of his staff, or when he gave details of an extortion attempt against him.

The last show was truly heartfelt by the whole nation and the entire world. Celebrities (Alec Baldwin, Barbara Walters, Steve Martin, Jerry Seinfeld, Jim Carrey, Chris Rock, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Peyton Manning, Tina Fey, Bill Murray) featured in the “Top 10 Things I've always wanted to say to Dave” list; and President Barack Obama summed up the US sentiment in one tweet.

David’s last show was undoubtably an eventful one, drenched with bittersweet farewells, prickly humor, and many heartwarming moments. David passes on the baton to Stephen Colbert, whose skilled satire will have a high benchmark to compete with.

David Letterman is by now a New York landmark: whoever strolls in the Theater District, and bumps into 1697-1699 Broadway between West 53rd and West 54th, breathes in the vibe of a New Yorker who adores his city and has tributed it with utmost professional skills. He once said “If you didn't believe it before - and it's easy to understand how you might have been skeptical on this point - if you didn't believe it before, you can absolutely believe it now: New York City is the greatest city in the world.”

  • David Letterman's Final Show Entrance:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_5XZunwreYo

  • Top 10 Most Memorable David Letterman Moments:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K22baZRNQKc  

  • Things celebrities have always wanted to say to Dave Letterman:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wD-OS9icT_E

  • Top Ten Things I've Always Wanted to Say To Dave:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BBf8MyGaEk4

  • David Letterman's Final Thank You and Good Night:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=34&v=aq2AZY-qaPY

The First Live Stand-Up Special in Comedy Central History!

"Brian Regan: Live" will be the first live stand-up special in Comedy Central history, airing live from Radio City Music Hall in New York City on Saturday, September 26 at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT.

Brian Regan recently announced the exciting news during his twenty-eighth appearance on the "Late Show with David Letterman,".

For watching his latest video clips and funny jokes, visit: http://www.cc.com/comedians/brian-regan

THE WORLD PREMIERE OF "NICK SWARDSON: TASTE IT" DEBUTS ON COMEDY CENTRAL

Stand-up comedian Nick Swardson is serving up hot new jokes in the world premiere of "Nick Swardson: Taste It," debuting on Saturday, May 30 at 10 P.M. ET/PT on Comedy Central. For fans that can't wait for Swardson's new material, the special will be available on May 25 on CC: Stand-Up Direct.

Swardson returns to the Paramount Theater, where he filmed his last special, "Seriously Who Farted?," for this all-new one-hour special. Fans of Swardson won't be disappointed, as his material hasn't gone the route of being married, having children or any political epiphanies. He keeps it in the Swardson world with fresh takes on booze, chicks and diarrhea. With new stories, jokes and a new t-shirt, Swardson is back and it tastes good.

WHAT HAPPENED, MISS SIMONE?, A Portrait of Music Icon Nina Simone, Premieres on Netflix

Using never-before-heard recordings, rare archival footage and her best-known songs, this is the story of legendary singer and activist Nina Simone.

Documentary by Oscar Nominee Liz Garbus Has Netflix Release on June 26; Theatrical Premiere on June 24

***

Film Chronicles Nina Simone's Journey from Child Piano Prodigy to Iconic Musician and Passionate Activist, Told in Her Own Words

***

WHAT HAPPENED, MISS SIMONE?, a Netflix Original Documentary on music icon Nina Simone from Oscar®-nominated filmmaker Liz Garbus, will premiere in all territories where Netflix is available on Friday, June 26 at 12:01am PT. Netflix will also release the film theatrically on Wednesday, June 24 in New York and Friday, June 26 in Los Angeles. The film received its world premiere as the Opening Night film of the 2015 Sundance Film Festival.

Classically trained pianist, dive-bar chanteuse, black power icon and legendary recording artist, Nina Simone lived a life of brutal honesty, musical genius and tortured melancholy. In this epic documentary, director Liz Garbus interweaves never-before-heard recordings and rare archival footage together with Nina's most memorable songs, to create an unforgettable portrait of one of the least understood, yet most beloved, artists of our time.

The film uses recently unearthed audio tapes, recorded over the course of three decades, of Nina telling her life story to various interviewers and would-be biographers. From over 100 hours of these recordings, WHAT HAPPENED, MISS SIMONE? weaves together Nina's narrative, told largely in her own words. Rare concert footage and archival interviews, along with diaries, letters, interviews with Nina's daughter, Lisa Simone Kelly, friends and collaborators, along with other exclusive materials, make this the most authentic, personal and unflinching telling of the extraordinary life of one of the 20th century's greatest recording artists.

The documentary was directed by Academy Award®-nominated Liz Garbus (The Farm: Angola, USA; Bobby Fischer Against The World) and produced by RadicalMedia's Jon Kamen (The Fog of War), Justin Wilkes (Under African Skies), Tangerine Entertainment's Amy Hobby (Lucky Them), and Jayson Jackson of Seven Days Entertainment. The film was executive produced by Lisa Simone Kelly, Sidney Beaumont of RadicalMedia, and Netflix's Lisa Nishimura and Adam Del Deo. The film was produced in cooperation with the Estate of Nina Simone.

Alongside the film, Revive Music/RCA/Sony will be recording an album paying homage to Nina Simone. Key contemporary artists who are fans of Simone were asked to cover one of her many iconic songs. Artists participating include Lauryn Hill, Common, Mary J. Blige, Usher, and Lisa Simone Kelly, among others. 

For more information,visit: www.netflix.com/misssimone 

Twitter: @Netflix #MissSimone
Facebook: miss simone 

@Netflix - Marvel's Daredevil Renewal

Netflix is confirming a second season of Marvel's Daredevil that will premiere in 2016.

  • Doug Petrie (Buffy the Vampire Slayer, American Horror Story) and Marco Ramirez (Sons of Anarchy), who worked closely with Steven DeKnight and Drew Goddard, will serve as show runners for season two.

• Ramirez, Petrie, Drew Goddard (Cabin in the Woods) and Jeph Loeb (Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.) are executive producers.

• Marvel Television in association with ABC Studios for Netflix

Blinded as a young boy but imbued with extraordinary senses, Matt Murdock (Charlie Cox) fights against injustice by day as a lawyer, and by night as the Super Hero “Daredevil” in modern day Hell's Kitchen, New York Cit. Marvel's Daredevil stars Charlie Cox, Rosario Dawson, Vincent D’Onofrio, Deborah Ann Woll, Elden Henson, Scott Glenn, Bob Gunton, Toby Leonard Moore, Vondie Curtis Hall, Ayelet Zurer. 

What's wrong with Game of Thrones? The PROs & CONs!

"game of thrones season 5 Official Trailer episode 1" "Game of Thrones trailer (2015) HD" "Game of Thrones 2015 Season 5" "game of thrones" "season 5" "episode 1" Special Promotions ( Game of Thrones ) LINK ►► http://goo.gl/3Lf0Wl ==================================================================== Season 5 of Game of Thrones was commissioned by HBO on 8 April 2014, following a substantial increase in audience figures between the third and fourth seasons.[2] The fifth and sixth seasons were commissioned simultaneously, the first time HBO has commissioned two seasons at once for a major drama series.

So I loved Game of Thrones, gave it 4/4. The new season is starting this Sunday and I can't wait for it. But I have been thinking about Pros & Cons of the show, specially the cons (yeah, I'm still wasting my time thinking about the show, can't help it!). Is there anything wrong with the show? Lets see...

Pros

  • Intriguing and well executed complex storylines, with great mix of drama, action, suspense, humor, fantasy, adventure and everything else.
  • Great casting and amazing performances by almost all major & minor cast members.
  • It's a true visual treat. From great cinematography, to well designed costumes, great sets, amazing visual effects, nothing less than a true cinematic experience.
  • Sex & nudity sells, and this show sells it very well. Just enough sex & nudity to keep the audience entertained.
  • Sexual diversity is another trademark of the show. From homosexuality, to asexuals, to BDSM/fetish, the show touches on many aspects of sexuality.
  • Dragons! Who doesn't like dragons. Although we don't get enough of them on the show yet, but it does have dragons!!

Cons

  • It seems racist, it does. Not enough characters of color, almost none actually. How an entire world can be just white? Except slaves, being liberated by white woman. History has something to prove there, but it does comes off as racist.
  • It's sexist, SEX SEX SEX, yeah too much sex & sexual violence. There's enough sex & nudity that it's almost close to soft-core porn. And it's presented as mostly demeaning to women. Rape, torture, incest etc all glorified in name of sex.
  • Half-baked & uncooked plot twists. With a huge show like this, it's difficult to fully bake every aspect some things like Shae's betrayal is just not well executed.
  • Some poor casting choices. Like Sibel Kikilli as Shae, who may be a good actress (I have never seen her work) but she's really annoying with her voice & nagging in the role.
  • It took 4 seasons for Joffrey to die. I mean, c'mon! He's a narcissist psychopath who everyone hates. Why not just kill him? There is another legit heir, his brother who's all he is but a psychopath. But it took us 4 seasons to see him die!
  • Too many deaths. I know, the show is known for it's unpredictable deaths and almost any character can die. It was surprising and interesting in beginning for some, but it's getting cumbersome too now. Like Jojen's death, who cares about him? At some point, the deaths lose their shock value, specially when character is not developed enough, or there's just too much of it.
  • This show is addictive. If you haven't seen it already, you're going to binge watch and invest/waste 40 hrs catching up. And then wait for 10 Sundays with anticipation. Why?!?!?!

I think that's enough for now. I still can't wait for the Season 5 this Sunday. I just love this show, it's awesome!

FIGHT CANCER WITH BASEBALL and WILL FERRELL

Mr. Will Ferrell is more than just funny! The man is smart as a whip and what we gather from people that work for him and with him, he’s progressive, kind and happily non-sexist and non racist despite making anchorman Ron Burgundy of "Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy” fame a hodgepodge of all of the above and more! 

Mr. Ferrell’s funny is smart and his web based company — FUNNY OR DIE is just one small but excellent example of the sharp business mind that’s floating around inside his cranium.

HBO brass made this Will Ferrell match in a new HBO SPECIAL FROM FUNNY OR DIE, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL. 

Yes, I read that correctly. We typed it in all CAPS to make sure that you read it correctly. 

In a role filled with hopes and dreams, Will Ferrell will be at five different spring training ballparks in Arizona tomorrow as production begins on a new HBO special from Funny Or Die, in partnership with Major League Baseball. Dedicating the special to the fight against cancer, Ferrell is also honoring the historic feat of Bert Campaneris five decades ago by playing every position on the field, and maybe some off the field, for ten different teams in the same day.

Ferrell’s historic day, which will be covered on social media using #FerrellTakesTheField, will be chronicled in the exclusive HBO special, which will air later this year and also feature MLB players, managers, coaches, executives and fans. 

“We hope to always be in the Will Ferrell business,” says Michael Lombardo, president, HBO Programming. “This latest collaboration is one of those things only Will could pull off. I can’t wait to see him take the field.” 

Baseball Commissioner Robert D. Manfred, Jr. said, “Spring training affords an appropriate setting where our game can serve as the backdrop for an event that will benefit organizations that fight cancer. Will is a big fan of our game, and many of us in baseball – among our clubs, players and our millions of fans – are big fans of his. Major League Baseball is happy to take part in what will surely be a fun and memorable day for a great cause.”

Ferrell’s goal is to honor “Campy” Campaneris while also helping organizations dedicated to fighting cancer, including Cancer for College. Formed in 1993, Cancer for College is a charity that helps individuals adversely affected by cancer to realize their dream of a college education. 

Ferrell will be playing in the following games as part of the special:

March 12     (all times Pacific; subject to change)

12:05 p.m.  Seattle Mariners at Oakland Athletics (HoHoKam Stadium)

1:10 p.m.   Chicago Cubs at Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (Tempe Diablo Stadium)

2:10 p.m.   Cincinnati Reds at Arizona Diamondbacks (Salt River Fields at Talking Stick)

4:05 p.m.   San Francisco Giants at Chicago White Sox (Camelback Ranch)

6:15 p.m.     Los Angeles Dodgers at San Diego Padres (Peoria Stadium)

An important part of the fundraising efforts will be game-used memorabilia from Ferrell’s journey across the five ballparks, to be auctioned at MLB.com with proceeds being donated to Cancer for College, as well as Stand Up To Cancer, a ground-breaking initiative created to accelerate innovative cancer research. MLB is the founding donor to Stand Up To Cancer.

On Sept. 8, 1965, Bert “Campy” Campaneris, in only his second major league season, went 0-for-3 playing all nine positions for the Kansas City Athletics in a game against the California Angels. Campaneris is expected to be there with Ferrell as he begins his journey tomorrow.

Ferrell previously appeared on HBO in the 2009 comedy special “Will Ferrell: You’re Welcome America. A Final Night with George W Bush.” He was also an executive producer of and guest-starred in HBO’s “Eastbound & Down” and “Funny Or Die Presents.”

The new special is executive produced by Will Ferrell in association with Gary Sanchez Productions, Funny Or Die’s Mike Farah and Joe Farrell, and Stuart Miller, and directed by Brian McGinn.

Funny Or Die launched in April 2007 and has become an award-wining top destination for comedy on the web. The site has over 19 million unique users per month, over 60 million video views per month, and has grown into a vertically integrated digital studio that produces high quality content over numerous platforms, operating a social media and marketing division with over 9 million Twitter followers, approximately 11 million Facebook fans (#1 Comedy Brand on both Twitter and Facebook) and devoted followers on numerous social networking and sharing sites.

HBO took home two Gold men named Oscar this year!

One of HBO’s biggest reasons for their continued success is based, in large, by the type of executives that have shaped their growing legacy.

In the documentary division one of their greatest assets is Sheila Nevins, President of HBO Documentary Films. Her unique style has won her and her associates Emmys (45+), Oscars (21+), and 31 Peabody Awards along with A Personal Peabody Award for Excellence in Broadcasting.

During more than three decades with HBO, Sheila Nevins has produced almost 500 documentaries and counting.   

This year, HBO took home two more ACADEMY AWARDS® under the Documentary Film section with CITIZENFOUR in the category of Best Documentary Feature and HBO Documentary Films presentation CRISIS HOTLINE: VETERANS PRESS 1 under the Documentary Short Subject category. 

CITIZENFOUR is a real-life international thriller that unfolds by the minute, following director Laura Poitras and journalist Glenn Greenwald’s remarkable encounters with Edward Snowden in a Hong Kong hotel room as he hands over classified documents that provide evidence of mass indiscriminate and illegal invasions of privacy by the National Security Agency (NSA). Directed by Laura Poitras, Mathilde Bonnefoy and Dirk Wilutzky.

CRISIS HOTLINE: VETERANS PRESS 1 spotlights the traumas endured by America’s veterans, as seen through the work of the VA’s Veterans Crisis Line trained responders as they provide immediate intervention and support in hopes of saving the lives of service members who are struggling or contemplating suicide.

It was presented in association with Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America; directed by Ellen Goosenberg Kent; produced by Dana Perry; edited by Geof Bartz, A.C.E.; supervising producer, Jacqueline Glover; and executive produced by Sheila Nevins.

While covering the 2015 Academy Award this is what Ellen Goosenberg Kent and Dana Perry had this to share after winning under the Documentary Short Subject for "CRISIS HOTLINE: VETERANS PRESS 1."

myNewYorkeye: What does this mean to you in terms of exposure and your very important subject that you're dealing with in your documentary and making what matters of success of AMERICAN SNIPER as well?

Ellen Goosenberg Kent: You know, when this film was made a couple of years ago, and this topic is as important today if not more than it was then.  So we are really hoping that people will be able to see this all over the world.  We're sure that HBO will make an effort to put it out there in every way possible on DVD, and, you know, we just we'll take it around.  We'll take it anywhere that people want to hear about how to help veterans. 

myNewYorkeye: Can you talk a little bit about why ‑‑ what ‑‑ what was going through your head when you made it and the effect it's had on the audience?

Ellen Goosenberg Kent: Both of us? Dana, you start. 

Dana Perry: I have no idea what the effect on the audience was.  I don't know really what I said even though I wrote something down.  My main objective was to honor the responders and the staff of the Veterans Crisis Line and also the ‑‑ the souls out there who are reaching out for help and ‑‑ and that help was available.  Of course, I do have a personal connection to the subject.  I lost my son.  He was 15 when he killed himself; and since that happened, what I said, I think I said something like, "We need to talk about suicide out loud to try to work against the stigma and silence around suicide," because the best prevention for suicide is awareness, and discussion, and not trying to sweep it under the rug.  We've got a crisis with our veterans who are killing themselves.  More veterans have killed themselves than have died in these wars of the last, you know, decade or so.  So, again, I have no idea what we said, but I hope that the message was received.  Thank you.

myNewYorkeye: There ‑‑ there is a lot of talk on the Internet right now about Neil Patrick Harris's comments about your dress.  I'm wondering if you heard the comment ‑- 

Dana Perry: No.

myNewYorkeye: ‑‑ and what you thought.

Dana Perry: No. What comment?

Ellen Goosenberg Kent: About your dress?

myNewYorkeye: He said you have to have a lot of balls to wear that. 

Ellen Goosenberg Kent: That's adorable.

Dana Perry: Well, that is adorable; and I invite anyone to feel my furry balls.

Ellen Goosenberg Kent: I have nothing to say to add to that.

myNewYorkeye: I was also going to ask about your dress and just where you got it and how you chose to wear it.

Dana Perry: I went shopping in my mother‑in‑law's attic. She had great style.  She's not with us anymore, but she had great style in the '60s and '70s, and this is one of her excellent signature pieces. And I just love to wear it, because I can make ridiculous dirty jokes about it, and it also keeps me warm. You know, I just got the gown to sort of support the balls, you know what I mean?  So I can make the jokes if I want.

Ellen Goosenberg Kent: This is a very serious film here.

HBO RE-MAKES THE RULES--AGAIN

In any dictionary, as an example of “smart business practices” that marry "innovative storytelling" there should be three spots for HBO. 

Their ability to make new rules and then break them and create something stronger and better is noting short of remarkable.

Home Box Office announced today the name of its standalone premium streaming service – HBO NOW – and that the service will launch this April, bringing the highly anticipated new product to audiences in time for the fifth season of "Game of Thrones.”

HBO and Apple also announced that for the first time an HBO subscription will be made available directly to Apple customers through HBO NOW.

HBO NOW provides instant access to HBO’s acclaimed programming.  Watch every episode of every season of the best series programming, more of the biggest and latest Hollywood hit movies, original HBO Films, ground-breaking documentaries, sports and comedy and music specials. To subscribe to the streaming service HBO NOW, consumers only need the internet.

Apple will give viewers the ability to enjoy HBO programming via HBO NOW. Upon launch, customers can subscribe using the HBO NOW app on their iPhone, iPad or iPod touch, or directly on Apple TV for instant access. Users can purchase HBO NOW directly in-app for $14.99 a month. Upon registering, subscribers will also be able to watch at HBONOW.com. 

HBO will offer a 30 day introductory free trial period to new HBO NOW customers who sign up through Apple in April.

HBO continues to be in discussions with its existing network of distributors and new digital partners to offer HBO NOW. At launch, HBO NOW will be available on iOS devices and on PCs. 

“HBO NOW is the next phase of innovation at HBO,” said Richard Plepler, chairman and CEO, HBO. “With this new partnership, a natural evolution for the network, we have access to millions of Apple customers who are used to getting their favorite apps immediately.  Now, they can do the same with an HBO subscription.”

“HBO NOW offers a new generation of HBO fans many of the best TV programs in the world without a cable or satellite subscription,” said Eddy Cue, Apple’s senior vice president of Internet Software and Services. “Now, with the same simplicity as buying an app, customers can subscribe to HBO NOW and instantly start viewing their favorite HBO programs as they air – this is huge.”

Similar to HBO GO, HBO NOW will offer more than 2,000 titles online. This includes current critically acclaimed series like "Game of Thrones®," "True Detective®,”" Silicon Valley®," "Girls®, Veep® and The Leftovers®, as well as classics like The Sopranos®, Sex and the City®, True Blood®, The Wire® and Deadwood®.

Highly-anticipated upcoming original programs like “Westworld," the drama series starring Anthony Hopkins, Ed Harris and Evan Rachel Wood; "The Brink," the dark comedy series starring Jack Black and Tim Robbins; the new season of the Emmy®-winning "True Detective" with Vince Vaughn, Colin Farrell and Rachel McAdams; and HBO Films’ Bessie, starring Queen Latifah, will become available on HBO NOW as they air on HBO.

In addition, HBO NOW will showcase Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, named “best of 2014” on many critics’ lists; VICE, the Emmy®-winning, cutting-edge news magazine series hosted by Shane Smith; HBO Sports documentaries, series and World Championship Boxing events; and ground-breaking documentary programming like Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief, The Jinx: The Life and Deaths of Robert Durst and the Oscar®-winning Citizenfour.

Its Free to enjoy & Share, GAME OF THRONES MIXTAPE Vol. 2

How can any lover of good story begin to thank the genius that started HBO (on November 8, 1972) and the adventurous group that helped take an “idea” and mold it into “The HBO.” "The HBO" that is a brilliant business model. "The HBO" that is a safe and nurturing home for many creative story tellers. "The HBO” that respects their audience and embraced diversity without being brow-beat into doing so. "The HBO" that made watching and admitting to watching documentaries cool.

"The HBO" that set new standards of excellence in original programming has now added music to the GAME OF THRONES mix and HBO made something marvellous out of something well marvellous.

Catch the Throne: The Mixtape, available on March 17, is produced by Launch Point Records, the 15-track mix-tape features diverse artists representing "Game of Thrones" families, leveraging themes and highlights from season 4.

“Lord of the Light” by Talib Kweli is on Complex. The mixtape will be released in anticipation of the season 5 debut of "Game of Thrones" on HBO, April 12 at 9pm. 

Showcasing the importance of music in "Game of Thrones," each song on the mix-tape samples music from the show’s season 4 soundtrack. This year’s mix-tape also weaves in the overarching theme of fire and ice, providing listeners with an exciting line-up of heavy metal and hip-hop artists. Building on the success of Volume 1, with over 2.5MM streams to date, Volume 2 will feature artists from the R&B, electronic, Latin, heavy metal and rap worlds.

Each artist was aligned with one of the "Game of Thrones" families, helping to determine the themes that are illustrated in their track. The full list of artists includes: Anthrax, Estelle, Kap G, Killswitch Engage, Mastodon, Melanie Fiona, Method Man, MNDR, Mushroomhead    , Raquel Sofia, Snoop Dogg, Stalley, Talib Kweli, Ty Dolla $ign, and Yandel.                            

All artists involved in the mixtape are fans of the show and were eager to reinterpret key moments. "I am a big fan of the books and the series,” said Talib Kweli. “As an MC, I’m not adverse to the concept of battles and ability to tell compelling stories and the Game of Thrones series does just that. It is the reason I wanted to be a part of this mixtape.”

Catch the Throne: The Mixtape Vol. 2 will be released March 17th via SoundCloud, free of charge. Catch The Throne: The Mixtape Vol. 1 is still available on Soundcloud. Listeners are encouraged to share using the hashtag #CatchTheThrone.

Viewers can access previous seasons of "Game of Thrones" on HBO GO, HBO On Demand or by checking their local listings. For more on the series, visit: facebook.com/GameOfThrones and twitter.com@GameOfThrones.

GIRLS are marching in March!

GIRLS was created by Lena Dunham with executive producers, Lena Dunham, Judd Apatow, Jenni Konner, Ilene S. Landress, Murray Miller, Paul Simms and Bruce Eric Kaplan along with producer, Jesse Peretz and co-producer Sarah Heyward.

March 8th will unveil the best of the new episodes of the wildly successful and controversial series.

In Episode #40 titled “Tad & Loreen & Avi & Shanaz”— Hannah spends an afternoon with a new young friend; Marnie (Allison Williams) and Desi (Ebon Moss-Bachrach) fight over money; Jessa (Jemima Kirke) gives Shoshanna advice on the art of seduction; Loreen (Becky Ann Baker) and Tad (Peter Scolari) have a tense dinner party with their friends Avi (Fred Melamed) and Shanaz (Jackie Hoffman).

This episode is written by Lena Dunham & Jenni Konner and directed by Jamie Babbit. 

(Debut: SUNDAY, MARCH 8 (9:00-9:30 p.m.) Other HBO playdates: March 8 (10:30 p.m., 1:45 a.m.), 9 (12:40 a.m.), 10 (10:30 p.m.), 11 (8:30 p.m.), 12 (midnight), 13 (3:00 a.m.) and 14 (12:30 a.m.) HBO2 playdates: March 9 (10:00 p.m.), 12 (8:00 p.m.) and 14 (2:00 p.m., 8:00 p.m.)       

In Episode #41 the series explores daddy issues in  “Daddy Issues” — Hannah’s maturity is called into question after she is confronted with a family dilemma; Jessa, Ace, Mimi-Rose and Adam have an awkward encounter; Marnie makes an announcement at Ray’s campaign party.

This episode is written by Paul Simms and directed by Jesse Peretz.

(Debut: SUNDAY, MARCH 15 (9:00-9:30 p.m.)  Other HBO playdates: March 15 (10:30 p.m., 12:45 a.m.), 16 (midnight), 17 (10:30 p.m.), 18 (8:30 p.m.), 19 (midnight), 20 (2:20 a.m.) and 21 (11:00 p.m.)

HBO2 playdates: March 16 (10:00 p.m.), 19 (8:00 p.m.) and 21 (1:00 p.m., 8:00 p.m.)

In Episode #42 it’s a “Home Birth”  with the season finale on Sunday, 

MARCH 22 (9:00-9:30 p.m.) — Hannah, Adam and Jessa each try to convince Caroline (Gaby Hoffman) and Laird (Jon Glaser) to forgo their planned home birth. Shoshanna faces a crucial decision when presented with a unique job opportunity. After Marnie and Desi’s meeting with a record label exec, Ray lets Desi know what he really thinks of him.

The season finale is written by Jenni Konner & Lena Dunham & Judd Apatow and directed by the show’s creator Lena Dunham.

(Other HBO playdates: March 22 (10:30 p.m., midnight), 23 (12:05 a.m.), 24 (11:00 p.m.), 25 (8:30 p.m.), 26 (midnight), 27 (1:30 a.m.) and 28 (9:30 p.m. HBO2 playdates: March 23 (10:00 p.m.), 26 (8:00 p.m.) and 28 (2:40 p.m., 8:00 p.m.)

PLAN B makes a connect with NETFLIX!

Today, in New York it’s snowing which I like to call a Netflix Day. Who am I kidding, I use anything in my path to make my day a “Netflix” day.

Mobile and I are very good friends. It’s one of the best weapons in a storytellers’ tool box. Hey—it’s hard to get your voice heard in Hollywood mobile ability or not! 

So, it’s with a great, big smile that I share that Netflix, the world’s leading Internet TV network, has ordered The OA, a new drama series starring Brit Marling. Zal Batmanglij (Sound of my Voice, The East) who will direct, and Marling and Batmanglij will co-write The OA. Eight hour-long episodes of the series will premiere exclusively across all Netflix territories in 2016.

Cindy Holland, Vice President of Original Content at Netflix shared this about the new project: “We are thrilled to be the home of the first  television series Brit and Zal create together, whether in front of or behind the camera, or both, their creative voice is always uniquely captivating."

"Brit Marling and Zal Batmanglij are singular innovators who are looking to push boundaries in new ways and embrace this incredible moment of opportunity in television. We are so excited to be a part of this project,” said Plan B Entertainment.

“We are thrilled to collaborate with Netflix and Plan B to help bring to fruition Brit and Zal's extraordinary vision,” said Michael Sugar,executive producer and partner, Anonymous Content. 

Dede Gardner and Jeremy Kleiner from Plan B (Oscar winning producers of 12 Years a Slave) and Michael Sugar from Anonymous Content (True Detective, The Knick) are executive producers of the series, along with Marling and Batmanglij. The OA is a Netflix production. 

Brit Marling is an actor, writer and producer. She has starred in films including Arbitrage, and the recent I, Origins, and stars in the upcoming The Keeping Room. Previous credits include The East and Sound of My Voice, which she also produced and co-wrote with Batmanglij, as well as Another Earth, which she also produced and co-wrote with Mike Cahill. Director and writer Zal Batmaglij made a splash at the 2011 Sundance Film Festival with his feature debut Sound of My Voice, which was released by Fox Searchlight. The studio went on to make his next film The East, which they released in 2013.  

About Netflix

Netflix is the world’s leading Internet television network with over 57 million members in nearly 50 countries enjoying more than two billion hours of TV shows and movies per month, including original series, documentaries and feature films. Members can watch as much as they want, anytime, anywhere, on nearly any Internet-connected screen. Members can play, pause and resume watching, all without commercials or commitments. 

About Plan B Entertainment

Headed by Brad Pitt and co-presidents Dede Gardner and Jeremy Kleiner, Plan B Entertainment has been responsible for producing numerous award-winning and critically acclaimed films including The Departed, The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford, The Tree of Life, World War Z, 12 Years a Slave, The Normal Heart, and Selma. The company’s forthcoming slate includes THE BIG SHORT, based on Michael Lewis’s best selling book and to be directed by Adam McKay for Paramount Pictures; James Gray’s THE LOST CITY OF Z, based on David Grann’s best selling book starring Charlie Hunnam; UNDAUNTED COURAGE, a limited series for HBO; MAMMA DALLAS, a half-hour comedy written and directed by Mike White for HBO, DEADBEAT, a half hour comedy for Hulu starring Tyler Labine; and development with a number of marquee filmmakers and writers in both film and television.

About Anonymous Content

Founded in 1999 by CEO Steve Golin, Anonymous Content is a production and management company representing directors, writers, actors, and comedians. Anonymous Content has produced such award-winning and commercially successful films and television series as the Academy Award®-nominated films Babel, which also won a Golden Globe® Award; Winter’s Bone, which was nominated in four categories for the Academy Awards®, including Best Picture; The Fifth Estate; Being John Malkovich; Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, which won an Academy Award® for Best Original Screenplay; as well as the box-office smash 50 First Dates.

PLAN B makes a connect with NETFLIX

Today, in New York it’s snowing which I like to call a Netflix Day. Who am I kidding, I use anything in my path to make my day a “Netflix” day.

Mobile and I are very good friends. It’s one of the best weapons in a storytellers’ tool box. Hey—it’s hard to get your voice heard in Hollywood mobile ability or not! 

So, it’s with a great, big smile that I share that Netflix, the world’s leading Internet TV network, has ordered The OA, a new drama series starring Brit Marling. Zal Batmanglij (Sound of my Voice, The East) who will direct, and Marling and Batmanglij will co-write The OA. Eight hour-long episodes of the series will premiere exclusively across all Netflix territories in 2016.

Cindy Holland, Vice President of Original Content at Netflix shared this about the new project: “We are thrilled to be the home of the first  television series Brit and Zal create together, whether in front of or behind the camera, or both, their creative voice is always uniquely captivating."

"Brit Marling and Zal Batmanglij are singular innovators who are looking to push boundaries in new ways and embrace this incredible moment of opportunity in television. We are so excited to be a part of this project,” said Plan B Entertainment.

“We are thrilled to collaborate with Netflix and Plan B to help bring to fruition Brit and Zal's extraordinary vision,” said Michael Sugar, executive producer and partner, Anonymous Content. 

Dede Gardner and Jeremy Kleiner from Plan B (Oscar winning producers of 12 Years a Slave) and Michael Sugar from Anonymous Content (True Detective, The Knick) are executive producers of the series, along with Marling and Batmanglij. The OA is a Netflix production. 

Brit Marling is an actor, writer and producer. She has starred in films including Arbitrage, and the recent I, Origins, and stars in the upcoming The Keeping Room. Previous credits include The East and Sound of My Voice, which she also produced and co-wrote with Batmanglij, as well as Another Earth, which she also produced and co-wrote with Mike Cahill. Director and writer Zal Batmaglij made a splash at the 2011 Sundance Film Festival with his feature debut Sound of My Voice, which was released by Fox Searchlight. The studio went on to make his next film The East, which they released in 2013.  

About Netflix

Netflix is the world’s leading Internet television network with over 57 million members in nearly 50 countries enjoying more than two billion hours of TV shows and movies per month, including original series, documentaries and feature films. Members can watch as much as they want, anytime, anywhere, on nearly any Internet-connected screen. Members can play, pause and resume watching, all without commercials or commitments. 

About Plan B Entertainment

Headed by Brad Pitt and co-presidents Dede Gardner and Jeremy Kleiner, Plan B Entertainment has been responsible for producing numerous award-winning and critically acclaimed films including The Departed, The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford, The Tree of Life, World War Z, 12 Years a Slave, The Normal Heart, and Selma. The company’s forthcoming slate includes THE BIG SHORT, based on Michael Lewis’s best selling book and to be directed by Adam McKay for Paramount Pictures; James Gray’s THE LOST CITY OF Z, based on David Grann’s best selling book starring Charlie Hunnam; UNDAUNTED COURAGE, a limited series for HBO; MAMMA DALLAS, a half-hour comedy written and directed by Mike White for HBO, DEADBEAT, a half hour comedy for Hulu starring Tyler Labine; and development with a number of marquee filmmakers and writers in both film and television.

About Anonymous Content

Founded in 1999 by CEO Steve Golin, Anonymous Content is a production and management company representing directors, writers, actors, and comedians. Anonymous Content has produced such award-winning and commercially successful films and television series as the Academy Award®-nominated films Babel, which also won a Golden Globe® Award; Winter’s Bone, which was nominated in four categories for the Academy Awards®, including Best Picture; The Fifth Estate; Being John Malkovich; Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, which won an Academy Award® for Best Original Screenplay; as well as the box-office smash 50 First Dates.

MAKE YOUR DREAMS COME TRUE WITH HBO

Angry Street (Photo Credit - Lapacazo Sandoval)

In March, our team will embark on a 12 month series on Diversity in Hollywood, an issue that’s both a social justice point and a monetary point that, in the past, the “expensive suits of Hollywood” have been able to skirt.

One click of your finger and your are transported anywhere in the world with a WiFi signal. That same digit can make you the “ruler” of your own distribution pattern and coupled with the accessible of quality recording devices, editing software and sharing platforms — the world of entertainment has become visibly “Gobal” for the powerful money men and women that have ruled the industry with an iron hand and a blind eye to anything that wasn't majority white.

Our team was blown over excited when, in our invite, we discovered that the innovative, ground breaking minds at HBO are making an effort to find new voices from the rich diverse pool. 

The press release literally began with "HBO SEEKS DIVERSE, EMERGING WRITERS FOR  HBOACCESS™ WRITING FELLOWSHIP”

Excellent. It's our pleasure to bring this opportunity to your readers and we sincerely hope that you give us #myNewYorkeye and @myNewYorkeye the love for bringing the good news. 

The HBOAccess™ Writers Fellowship Application Process Begins March 4, and this is to give emerging writers an opportunity to hone their craft with HBO Programming Execs.

The program will give emerging writers from diverse backgrounds an opportunity to attend a week of master classes held at the HBO campus in Santa Monica, California focusing on character and story development, pitching ideas and projects, securing an agent, and networking. 

Each participant will then enter into an eight month writing phase where he/she will be paired with an HBO development executive and guided through the script development process. At the conclusion of the program, HBO will hold a reception and staged reading for industry professionals where the writers will be introduced to the entertainment industry.

“With the success of our first year of the HBOAccess Directing fellowship, we wanted to expand our focus to other areas of the creative process,” said Kelly Edwards, Vice President, HBO Talent Development. “We are looking for emerging writers with a deep passion for storytelling and a unique voice who will want to bring that talent to HBO and Cinemax.  In turn, they will be nurtured by some of the best creative executives and show runners in the business. HBO has a long legacy of supporting writers and we are excited we can begin those relationships at this early stage.”

Last year’s inaugural HBOAccess Directing Fellowship proved to be a tremendous success. Four directors were selected to go through a series of lectures with HBO executives, mentors, and industry professionals. The program concluded with the production of four short films which are set to air in March on HBO On Demand and HBO GO. 

The HBOAccess Writing Fellowship is open to diverse and female writers 21 and older who must be able to work in the US. Prior to the application, the writer must not have been staffed on a network or cable series in excess of 13 episodes and/or had more than one feature film or more than two plays produced.

All submissions must be made through the online portal, Without A Box, and will require a resume,  a writing sample, a completed release form and a personal essay in 500 words or less explaining how his/her background has influenced his/her storytelling. 

For more information on eligibility, 

Visit https://www.withoutabox.com/03film/03t_fin/03t_fin_fest_01over.php?festival_id=13830. 

Please copy the bottom and paste in a place of importance: 

  • Timeline and Important Dates:

March 4, 2015 – Application process opens at https://www.withoutabox.com/. The application portal will close when 1,000 submissions have been reached. No mail or email submissions will be accepted. 

May, 2015 – 20 candidates advance to first round interviews with HBOAccess™ program directors via in person or Skype.

June 2015 – Final interviews with HBO development and production executives. All applicants selected to the final round must provide a second writing sample. They must also be prepared to pitch up to three ideas, one of which will be developed during the eight month long mentor-ship.

July 1, 2015 – Eight participants are notified.

August 17-21, 2015 – Master classes will take place over a one week period at the HBO offices in Santa Monica, CA from 10am to 5pm. Any finalist not local to the Los Angeles area must be prepared to cover his/her own travel and lodging for the duration of the program, however a small stipend will be available to defray those costs.

Home Box Office, Inc. is the premium television programming subsidiary of Time Warner Inc. and the world’s most successful pay TV service, providing the two television services – HBO®and Cinemax® – to approximately 127 million subscribers worldwide. The services offer the most popular subscription video-on-demand products, HBO On Demand® and Cinemax On Demand® as well as HBO GO® and MAX GO®, HD feeds and multiplex channels. Internationally, HBO branded television networks, along with the subscription video-on-demand products HBO On Demand and HBO GO, bring HBO services to over 70 countries. HBO and Cinemax programming is sold into over 150 countries worldwide.

Colin Quinn On Selling His Cop Show to Cops

Jerry Seinfeld co-produces, seen in this cameo of the pilot

This isn’t your dad’s cop show. On the evening of February 25th, Colin Quinn at The Creative Coalition hosted the premiere and party of Cop Show at Carolines on Broadway in New York. I come from an NYPD family; we hate cop shows. Whether they are for drama or comedy, they have a tendency to insult officer intellect and spew a lot of flat computer hacker/forensic jargon that confused audiences since the NCIS concept isn't very grounded in reality in the first place. However, I rant. I even asked Colin as much. “How do you sell a cop show to a cop?”  Unlike NCIS: MIami and Brooklyn 99, “You tell him its not like an actual cop show," says Colin. “I'm not pretending to be a cop, I'm playing one.” This is a police procedural satire. The comedy is all found in the disconnect between celebrity actors and law enforcement. Colin is spot on as he plays himself playing a detective who would've been fired in a second for kicking a corpse at a crime scene. Much like Lisa Kudrow’s the Comeback, we follow Colin BTS-style in a self-serving narrative as he struggles with the question “What would a real cop do?”  He visibly makes Jerry Seinfeld groan at his show’s production value as he tries to combine interrogating a perp with product placement for his sponsor, Dish Soap.

Watch Cop Show on Lstudio.com !

the EMPIRE grows the Lee way ... TV's Newest Hit

“My grandfather told me that a man needs three things: his word, his Bible and his gun," confessed Lee Daniels recently.

"I try to keep my word, I don't own a gun and I do keep my Bible close.  You know, Lapacazo one of my favorite things about creating EMPIRE is that I get to hire up and coming talent above-and-below the line and that includes hiring young directors for the series."

I continue to be deeply inspired by Lee and I hope to be employed, very soon, as a unit publicist on all of his up coming films—I'm just saying that I am dreaming aloud and sending my good intentions into the universe.

If you didn't check out the latest episode then hit Hulu baby or treat yourself with Hulu Plus and make sure you keep the EMPIRE growing.

Go on - treat your inner “diva” with  "False Imposition” —EMPIRE is on FOX @ 9PM.

L’s just saying “clip it” --

"Pull Yourself Together"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2opoNYeNyGg

"Cookie's Announcement"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=maX2_ndwqsQ

"Prove It"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yQhAZp_ux9A