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Things are escalating quickly in the world of Average Joe. Dimitri’s remains have surfaced, which, isn’t ideal for anyone involved. This prompts the involvement of a special agent, likely someone with a no-nonsense attitude and a limited tolerance for Joe’s (Deon Cole) plumbing puns. Meanwhile, Nicolai (Pasha D. Lychnikoff), Dimitri’s grieving father, is understandably upset […]

Average Joe: Donuts & Whiskey?...

Average Joe is returning for a second season. BET+ has renewed the dark comedy-drama series starring Deon Cole. The show premiered last summer, and the tenth and final episode of the season was released on August 17th.

Also starring Tammy Townsend, Malcolm Barrett, Cynthia Kaye McWilliams, Michael Trucco, Ashley Olivia Fisher, and Pasha Lychnikoff, the Average Joe series is based on the life of co-creator Robb Cullen. The story follows the life of a blue-collar plumber (Cole) who discovers that his father led a secret life and stole millions of dollars and a car from dangerous people just before he died.

Of the renewal, Cole said in a statement, "Hold on tight, A Lot Of Action! This one will be crazy. Let's go!"

Scott Mills, President and CEO, BET Media Group, added, "We congratulate...

Exclusive: BET+ has picked up darkly comedic drama series Average Joe, headlined by Deon Cole, for a second season.

Created by Robb Cullen, Average Joe was released June 26, 2023 to strong reviews (86% on Rotten Tomatoes), quickly becoming the #1 scripted drama series on BET+ in its debut week.

Season 2 is slated to begin production in late 2024 in South Africa. In an unusual move for an ongoing original series on another streamer, Season 1 of Average Joe will be made available on Netflix this summer, sources said. That would give the comedic drama exposure and raise awareness ahead of its second season on BET+.

Inspired by Cullen’s life, Average Joe is set in “The Hill” district of Pittsburgh. Blue-collar plumber Joe Washington (Cole) discovers his recently deceased father lived a secret second life and stole millions of dollars from dangerous people just before he died. Now those people think Joe knows where the money is.

BET Plus has a hit on its hands, and it comes in the form of Average Joe.

The intriguing dramedy has drummed up plenty of buzz, and Average Joe Season 1 is only just getting started.

One of the series' greatest strengths lies with its cast, which includes the captivating Kathrine Barnes, whose Russian assassin Arina will play a larger role as the series continues through its thrilling first effort.

Barnes was kind enough to jump on a Zoom and tell me about her character, the series at large, and many other topics.

The versatile actress was incredibly sincere with a great perspective about the series. Check this one out, TV Fanatics!

I got to check out the first couple of episodes, and I enjoyed it.

Nice.

I didn't know what to expect from the trailer. I was like, "It seems like it's going to be really intense." And it was.

Comedian and actor Deon Cole is stepping into the role of leading man with the new series Average Joe, which debuted on BET+ Monday. In the dark comedy-drama, Cole portrays Joe Washington, a husband and father whose regular blue-collar life gets turned upside down after his father dies and he discovers he stole $10 million from a Russian mob boss (Pasha Lychnikoff). In some ways, Cole, too, experienced a life change when he accepted the part and found himself number one on the call sheet for the first time in his career.

“It was extremely difficult because I’ve never been a lead,” Cole said during a special preview screening of the series held at Goya Studios during BET Weekend. “I’m used to just coming in, doing my part, jumping in my car and taking off, and going to go do stand-up. That was my routine with everything I’ve ever done.

BET+’s new darkly comic thriller Average Joe may or may not be better than Netflix’s Ozark — I never loved Ozark, but maybe you did and so be it — but the gap between the two shows isn’t as great as the inevitable gap in coverage would seem to suggest.

Average Joe and Ozark are both highly derivative pieces of violent, ethically twisty pulp made somewhat distinctive by their regional specificity, irritatingly washed-out cinematography and sitcom-honed leading men repressing their natural timing to play a tamped-down everyman.

Though it doesn’t yet realize aspirations that could generously be described as Jim Thompson meets August Wilson — that’s a show I would very much watch — Average Joe has the feeling of a potential breakout for BET+, though it’s impossible to know what a “breakout for BET+” would mean in this landscape.

It’s an easily digestible genre offering that...

If you're looking for a new show to watch this summer, Average Joe should be on your list.

The BET+ original series premieres Monday, June 26, but you'll have to watch it weekly.

The streaming service is dropping the first two episodes on the premiere date before settling into one episode a week and concluding with a two-episode season finale on August 10.

Sometimes, releasing all the episodes at once works, but based on the trailer alone, we'll have plenty to discuss with this show.

Thankfully, Whitney Evans will be running point on reviews, so we'll be able to delve into the show's nuances.

Inspired by the life of creator Robb Cullen, Average Joe is a darkly comedic, intense one-hour drama set in The Hill district of Pittsburgh.

Blue-collar plumber, Joe Washington, discovers his recently deceased father lived a secret second life and stole millions of dollars from dangerous people just before he died.

Exclusive: Crimson Media has brought on Matt Kniaz and Jerrold Rhee as managers. They also will join Crimson founders Matt Floyd and Matthew Seamons as Partners in the boutique management firm.

Kniaz comes to Crimson from Industry Entertainment, and Rhee joins from Bohemia Group.

Kniaz began working at ICM and CAA in the talent, music crossover & comedy departments, transitioning to talent management in 2015 with a move to Industry Entertainment. Clients include Tamara Taylor, Alexis Floyd, Olivia Hamilton, Jess Darrow, Tre Hale, Reece Noi, Stefan Kapicic, and Pasha Lychnikoff.

Rhee began his career in TV lit at Gersh, and moved on to work with talent at Diverse Talent Group.  He made the jump into management in 2010, first at Evolution Entertainment,...

The Game will be back on this winter, when Season 2 of the Paramount+ series premieres on Thursday, Dec. 15, with its first two episodes. New installments will continue to unspool weekly on Thursdays.

The revival “offers a modern-day examination of Black culture through the prism of pro football,” per the official description. “The team tackles racism, sexism, classism and more as they fight for fame, fortune, respect and love — all while trying to maintain their souls as they each play the game.” In the 10-episode second season “the beloved characters and their relationships fight to survive the storms of change they face.

Exclusive: Tammy Townsend, Malcolm Barrett, Cynthia Kaye McWilliams, Michael Trucco, Ashley Olivia Fisher and Pasha Lychnikoff are set as series regulars opposite previously announced Deon Cole in BET+’s upcoming dark comedy series Average Joe. The series, which received a cast contingent script-to-series order in February, hails from Robb Cullen and McG.

Set in The Hill district of Pittsburgh and inspired by Cullen’s life, Average Joe follows blue-collar plumber, Joe Washington (Cole) who discovers his recently deceased father lived a secret, second life and stole millions of dollars from dangerous people just before he died. Now those people think Joe knows where it is. A bloody and violent confrontation triggers a chain of events that force Joe and his close-knit circle of family and friends out of their very average and mundane lives into a life or death race against time to find the truth and the millions.

Townsend plays Angela Washington,...

"I just have to know if it's you!" Lionsgate has unveiled an official trailer for a mystery thriller titled Last Moment of Clarity, the feature directorial debut of brothers Colin & James Krisel. A normal New Yorker's life is upended when his girlfriend is murdered by the Bulgarian mob. He flees to Paris to stay safe. Years later, he sees a similar looking woman in a movie. Obsession with past love takes Sam to Los Angeles to look for answers, only to put him back into the sights of the Bulgarians. Described as an "updated Hitchcockian thriller in the vein of Vertigo and Rear Window," it "will keep you guessing until the final frame." Starring Samara Weaving and Carly Chaikin as the two main women, with Zach Avery, Udo Kier, Brian Cox, Hal Ozsan, and Pasha D. Lychnikoff. No surprise, this trailer gives away a lot to get you more curious.

Keanu Reeves, in the snow, narrowly avoiding death from his corrupt diamond flogging friends? – I’ll take it!

A breezy, blizzard drenched Siberia consumes the screen making for chilly viewing of this romance come crime flick (emphasis on the romance part), albeit a pretty sprinkle of snow can’t save this one from inevitable eye-rolling doom; sorry Neo, you aren’t ‘The One’ here.

After gracing our screens and fully embodying John Wick’s calculated reckless, the never ageing Keanu takes on Lucas Hill; a diamond trader who seems to be in much deeper than he thinks with his supposed Russian business partners. When associate and ‘friend’, Pyotr (Boris Gulyarin) lets him down with an important client looming, it’s down to Luca’s charm and sheer luck to pull this deal off alone and get the hell out of dodge.

It seems there’s not a lot to do...

Stars: Keanu Reeves, Boris Gulyarin, Ashley St. George, Elliot Lazar, Veronica Ferres, Pasha D. Lychnikoff, Rafael Petardi, Taran Vitt, James Gracie, Ana Ularu, Dmitry Chepovetsky, Kis Yurij, Molly Ringwald | Written by Stephen Hamel, Scott B. Smith | Directed by Matthew Ross

Siberia tells the story of an American diamond merchant (Reeves), who travels to Russia to sell rare blue diamonds of questionable origin. As the deal begins to collapse he falls into an obsessive and passionate relationship with a Russian cafe owner (Ularu) in a small Siberian town Mirny. As their relationship builds, so does the treacherous world of the diamond trade from which he is unable to extricate himself.

Matthew Ross’ thriller Siberia follows the straight-laced diamond trader Lucas Hill, played by Keanu Reeves, who, while on his latest deal runs into a vast host of questionable predicaments and a dark morally corrupted path of righteousness, albeit condensed into a...

Arriving in select theaters and on VOD/Digital HD platforms today is Matthew Ross’ frigid crime thriller Siberia, which follows Us diamond trader Lucas Hill (Keanu Reeves) to the titular locale as he searches for his missing partner, only to get mixed up in a torrid love affair as well as some political dealings that threaten his very existence.

Daily Dead recently caught up with Siberia co-star Pasha D. Lychnikoff, who plays a mysterious buyer named Boris Volkov, and he discussed coming aboard the project, creating a backstory to his enigmatic character, collaborating with Reeves, and much more.

What was it about this project, and your character in particular, that made you want to take on this role in Siberia?

Pasha D. Lychnikoff: The project involves the guru of acting, Keanu Reeves, and that was the biggest attraction. The director [Matthew Ross] called me out of the blue and said, "If you want it,...

Hitting theaters on Friday, July 13 is Saban Films’ Siberia starring Keanu Reeves.

Check out the trailer below.

The film also features Ana Ularu, Pasha D. Lychnikoff, Dmitry Chepovetsky, James Gracie, Eugene Lipinski, Rafael Petardi, with Veronica Ferres and Molly Ringwald.

Siberia follows Lucas (Reeves), an American diamond merchant, who travels to St. Petersburg to sell rare blue diamonds of questionable origin. As the deal immediately begins to collapse, Lucas travels to Siberia in search of his missing partner and their diamonds, where he quickly falls into a relationship with Katya (Ularu), the owner of a small Siberian café. As Lucas and Katya’s passion builds, so does the treacherous world of the diamond trade from which he is unable to extricate himself. Both collide as Lucas desperately searches for an escape route in a world with no exit.

The film is directed by Matthew Ross (Frank & Lola). “I think his...

Now that the world has come to its senses and begun treating Keanu Reeves as the treasure he is, we can start anticipating new movies from him with cautious optimism once again. His latest is “Siberia,” which brings him to the cold heart of Russia so that he can attempt to salvage a diamond deal gone wrong. Watch the trailer below.

Here’s the tantalizingly brief synopsis: “When a business deal in Russia goes south, a U.S. diamond merchant (Keanu Reeves) and his lover (Ana Ularu) are caught in a lethal crossfire between the buyer and federal intelligence service.” Not mentioned there but very present in the trailer is Pasha D. Lychnikoff, who plays the baddie threatening to ruin things for our heroes.

Molly Ringwald, Aleks Paunovic, and Veronica Ferres co-star in the film, which was directed by “Frank & Lola” helmer Matthew Ross. “Siberia” is in theaters next Wednesday,...

Siberia

Matthew Ross didn’t waste much time putting his sophomore film in place, after debuting 2016’s Frank & Lola at Sundance (read review) he tapped Keanu Reeves for Siberia, a follow up that appears to once again make different genres into ideal bed partners. Deemed a romantic thriller, production began in April on location in St Petersburg, Russia and Winnipeg, Canada.

Based on a story Stephen Hamel and a screenplay by Scott B. Smith, starring Reeves, Molly Ringwald, Aleks Paunovic, Pasha D. Lychnikoff and Ana Ularu, this follows Lucas (Reeves), an American diamond merchant, who travels to Russia to sell rare blue diamonds of questionable origin. As the deal begins to collapse, he falls into an obsessive relationship with Katya (Ularu), a Russian cafe owner, in a small Siberian town. Ross reteams with cinematographer Eric Koretz and composers Danny Bensi and Saunder Jurriaans.

Release Date/Prediction: With post-production being just completed in December,...

Matthew Ross' romantic thriller Siberia starring Keanu Reeves has added Pasha Lychnikoff (Shameless, Ray Donovan), Ana Ularu (Inferno, NBC's Emerald City) and Molly Ringwald to its cast as production commences. Written by Scott B. Smith based on a treatment by Stephen Hamel, the pic follows Lucas (Reeves), an American diamond merchant, who travels to Russia and falls into an obsessive relationship with Katya (Ularu), a Russian cafe owner, in a small Siberian town. As…...

The new season of Shameless will feature some new faces. Deadline reports Arden Myrin, Alicia Coppola, Pasha Lychnikoff, and Ruby Modine have been cast in season seven of the Showtime series.The gritty drama follows the struggles of a Southside Chicago family. The cast includes William H. Macy, Emmy Rossum, Jeremy Allen White, Cameron Monaghan, and Steve Howey.Read More…...

Things are a little different with Shameless Season 7.

Not only is it coming back earlier than normal (yay!), but it's entirely possible it's not all bad news ahead for the Gallaghers. 

Is that even possible?! 

Helping the family out will be some new faces cast for the upcoming season.

Alicia Coppola has been added to the cast as Sue, a blue-collar, no-nonsense woman, according to Deadline, who is the supervisor of the group of EMTs where Ian is working.

That's right, Ian, who was once hardly the picture of stability and normalcy, is doing really well as an Emt and has a steady relationship.

Coppola was most recently seen on The Young and the Restless falling prey to the schemes of Victor Newman. 

We hope her character, Sue, has better luck with the Gallaghers. Nobody needs to be jerked around by crazy family and then another!!

The new season will...

Shameless‘ Ian has his work cut out for him at his new job.

Alicia Coppola (The Young and the Restless) will recur in Season 7 as the newly-minted Emt’s blue collar, no-nonsense supervisor, our sister site Deadline reports.

RelatedShameless Taps Sharon Lawrence as Fiona’s Boss/Role Model in Season 7

Additionally, the Showtime dramedy has cast MADtv‘s Arden Myrin (as a homeless woman who hooks up with Frank), Deadwood‘s Pasha Lychnikoff (as Svetlana’s father) and Ruby Modine (as a new waitresses at Patsy’s Pies).

Shameless returns Sunday, Oct. 2 at 9/8c.

Ready for more of today’s newsy nuggets?...

Showtime has added four new cast members and revealed some new details for the upcoming Season 7 of its drama series Shameless. Alicia Coppola (National Treasure: Book of Secrets), Arden Myrin (MADtv, Orange Is the New Black), Pasha Lychnikoff (Deadwood) and Ruby Modine have joined in recurring roles. Could things finally be looking up for the Gallaghers? They’ve always scraped by, but the new season finds some of them getting a leg up. Picking up a month after last…...

“Ray Donovan” has gotten a Season 4 premiere date, Showtime announced Friday. The show will premiere on June 26 at 9/8c. The network also released the first trailer for the new season, which sees Liev Schreiber return as the titular Hollywood fixer. Last season’s intense battle with the Armenian mafia leads a wounded Ray to reconnect with his forsaken faith. With this second chance at redemption, Ray is on a path to becoming a much better husband and father. Also Read: 'Ray Donovan' Casts Pasha Lychnikoff as Recurring Russian Gangster (Exclusive) But while things at home are improving, his work introduces him to worlds.

Showtime’s “Ray Donovan” has cast Pasha Lychnikoff in a recurring role, TheWrap has learned. He’ll play Ivan Belikov, a Russian gangster wanted by the L.A.P.D. Last season, Ray (Liev Schreiber) learned that clean slates are a dirty business, but what doesn’t kill a Donovan only makes him stronger. Those are Showtime’s words, if our readers couldn’t have guessed. So are these: One thing’s for sure, whether you’re with him or against him — it may be a new day, but it’s the same Ray. Jon Voight, Paula Malcomson, Eddie Marsan,...

Despite all his Rage, he’s still just Nicolas Cage. And so, anyone puts down a few bucks to see this movie probably knows what they’re getting themselves into. Unfortunately for even the so-bad-he’s-brilliant actor’s most undemanding fans, however, this latest bargain-bin offering (previously titled Tokarev, after the make of a gun that winds up being integral to the story) is the worst thing that he’s ever been associated with. Not even the promise of more bizarre line readings and hilariously weird facial expressions to add to Cage’s already impressive collection of Wtf moments is enough to make Rage worth your time.

With a movie as completely devoid of merit as Rage, I’m not even sure where to start. As written by Jim Agnew and Sean Keller, the film is essentially a series of loosely connected action sequences, every one somehow less compelling than the last.

Previously titled Tokarev, and released under that name in some international territories, Nicolas Cage’s latest action-crime-thriller, Rage, will be released via VOD next month, ahead of a theatrical release stateside in July.

With just over a month before it lands digitally, Yahoo Movies has debuted the first Us trailer and poster. Cage is of course very well-versed in a genre like this, and remains amongst the most prolific within it.

When the Russian mob kidnaps the daughter of a reformed criminal, he rounds up his old crew and seeks his own brand of justice.

Starring alongside Cage will be Rachel Nichols, Max Ryan, Michael McGrady, Peter Stormare, Pasha D. Lychnikoff, Patrice Cols, Weston Cage, Max Fowler, Aubrey Peeples, and Jack Falahee, with Danny Glover also making an appearance.

Spanish helmer Paco Cabezas (The Appeared) is said to have been sought by Cage to take the director’s chair, with...

Don’t Trust the B—- in Apt 23′s Ray Ford has been cast in the Fox pilot Fatrick, reuniting with the pilot’s co-creator/exec producer Nahnatchka Khan, who created Apt 23. He will play Maurice, the longtime best friend of Patrick, a thirtysomething guy realizing that his life isn’t quite where it should be and forced to face the damage caused by years of being the chubby kid called “Fatrick”. Maurice is the only one who knows “both Patricks” and now serves as his therapist. Ford, whose credits include and Grey’s Anatomy, is repped by Rectangle Entertainment and Amsel, Eisenstadt, Frazier & Hinojosa. Dante Hoagland (30 Rock) has also been cast in the comedy as the 12-year-old Maurice and Lucy Rust has been cast as the younger version of Patrick’s sister. Pasha Lychnikoff has joined the upcoming Fox drama Gang Related, from 20th Century Fox TV and Imagine TV.

  A Good Day to Die Hard (2013) Film Review, a movie directed by John Moore and starring Bruce Willis, Jai Courtney, Patrick Stewart, Cole Hauser, Megalyn Echikunwoke, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Amaury Nolasco, Aksel Hennie, Sebastian Koch, Anne Vyalitsyna, Pasha D. Lychnikoff, Yuliya Snigir, and Attila Árpa. Plot Synopsis The promoted storyline for the movie was that John McClane (Bruce Willis) would [...]

Continue reading: Film Review: A Good Day To Die Hard (2013): Bruce Willis, Jai Courtney...

A quick review of last night's "New Girl" coming up just as soon as I pick up calls on a banana... You can look at "A Father's Love" in one of two ways: 1)As a stealth epilogue to HBO's "Luck," bringing Dennis Farina back to the track under similar (but not identical) circumstances,(*) or 2)As a Nick Miller origin story. (*) Or maybe it was just an overall David Milch tribute, since the lead Russian gangster was played by Pasha Lychnikoff, who was Blazinov, the telegraph operator on "Deadwood." Either way, it wasn't the most wildly funny outing of this season,...

Here’s your first official look at Bruce Willis as NYPD supercop John McClane and Jai Courtney (“Spartacus”) playing his son Jack from the fifth “Die Hard” movie, aka “A Good Day to Die Hard”. Is it just me, or does Courtney look way too old to be Willis’ son? Age-wise for the actors, I’m sure it makes sense, but I dunno, they might have been better to cast someone who didn’t look like he’s already seen his fair share of being “in the wrong place at the right time”… The film finds the McClanes in Russia taking on, well, Russian bad guys, of course. The film co-stars Amaury Nolasco, Cole Hauser, Sebastian Koch, Aksel Hennie, Pasha D. Lychnikoff, and Julia Snigir. John Moore (“Max Payne”) directs “A Good Day to Die Hard”, due to save the day again February 14,...

NBC's new sitcom Bent came and went very quickly. We now know that it's been cancelled so it certainly won't be back.

A romantic comedy, Bent revolves around the relationship of a divorced no-nonsense lawyer (Amanda Peet) and the irresponsible womanizing contractor (David Walton) that she reluctantly hires to renovate her kitchen. Others in the cast include Joey King, Margo Harshman, Jeffrey Tambor, J.B. Smoove, Jesse Plemons, and Pasha D. Lychnikoff.

NBC held Bent until late in the season (never a good sign) and ran the six episodes in hour blocks over the course of three weeks.

The belief was that, by airing two episodes together, they would have a better chance of hooking an audience.

It's hard to know if that strategy worked to any degree but the ratings were terrible. The show aired opposite other popular...

Network: NBC

Episodes: Six (half-hour)

Seasons: One

TV show dates: March 21, 2012 -- April 4, 2012

Series status: Cancelled

Performers include: David Walton, Amanda Peet, Joey King, Margo Harshman, Jeffrey Tambor, J.B. Smoove, Jesse Plemons, and Pasha D. Lychnikoff.

TV show description:

Pete (David Walton) is a womanizing, surfer dude and contractor. Alex (Amanda Peet) is his client; a beautiful and high-strung lawyer. They couldn't be more different. The pair work together to remodel each other's lives, as they also renovate her Venice, California home.

Alex is recently divorced, following her husband's incarceration for insider trading. As a result she's raising her 10-year-old daughter, Charlie (Joey King), as a single mom. Adding to the charm of Alex's family life is her wild younger sister, Screwsie (Margo Harshman). Unfortunately for Alex, Screwsie seems to be cut from the same...

Both Devin Kelley and Jonathan Sadowski have appeared on a new pic previewed amongst Entertainment Weekly's new Summer Movie Preview. The still from the Bradley Parker helmed horror 'Chernobyl Diaries' features the couple running scared in the radiation soaked remains of the Chernobyl nuclear reactor. The supernatural chiller comes fresh from the mind of 'Paranormal Activity' and 'The River' creator Oren Peli and co-stars Jesse McCartney, Pasha D. Lychnikoff, Olivia Dudley, Nathan Phillips, Dimitri Diatchenko, Kristof Konrad, Alex Feldman and Norwegian hottie Ingrid Bolso Berdal -below ('Cold Prey'). Check out the plot, poster and new still all below....

While we’re the first to admit that Bent may not be the type of genre-busting comedy akin to The Office or a Modern Family, NBC’s latest attempt to work themselves out of the ratings basement does have two very important things going for it. As a down-on-his-luck contractor and a newly divorced single mother, actors David Walton (Pete) and Amanda Peet (Alex) have the kind of crackling romantic chemistry money can’t buy. Add to that an immensely likeable supporting cast including Alex’s daughter (Joey King), Pete’s construction crew (J.B. Smoove, Jesse Plemons and Pasha Lychnikoff) and opinionated father (Jeffrey Tambor) — and what your left with is a solid foundation from which to build seasons and seasons of laughter off of. Assuming of course NBC handles it with care and decides to move the show away from the time-slot juggernaut that pits this charming little series against Modern Family,...

This is the time of year when networks begin clearing out old inventory in preparation for the new round of delicious treats they will bring us in the fall. Not that I'm against networks debuting shows all year long -- anything to avoid the September train wreck -- but sometimes, you look at a mid-season show and instantly know why it wasn't on the fall schedule (I'm looking at you, "Work It"). By spring, parts of the broadcast-tv schedule look like the Island of Lost Toys; shows that didn't find strong advocates at the network or favorable slots for their debuts wander onto the schedule almost tentatively, hoping not to get run over by the trucks that are March Madness and various reality franchises.

But sometimes a lack of buzz works in a show's favor; "House," "Parks and Recreation," "Grey's Anatomy" and "Happy Endings" are just a few of the...

Chicago – The cast of NBC’s “Bent” is strong enough that it could easily pull that common sitcom trick of a shaky start that develops into something greater. I’m not trying to compare the programs directly in terms of quality but have you see the first 5-6 episodes of “30 Rock” now that it’s in syndication? They were awful. “Community” started half as creatively as it is today. There’s no guarantee that “Bent” will become a comedy titan like those two shows but the ensemble is surprisingly strong and there is definitely the potential for greatness. However, NBC’s plan to air two episodes back to back in a flimsy timeslot in the middle of the week against the biggest comedy on TV should make their intentions clear. There will be no time for “Bent” to get in shape.

TV Rating: 3.5/5.0

“Bent” is essentially a romantic comedy between...

Toronto International Film Festival

TORONTO -- One of two new small-scale films from Wayne Wang (both based on stories by Yiyun Li), A Thousand Years of Good Prayers is modest but moving, a finely observed portrait of a father/daughter relationship that will resonate deeply for many viewers. The scale may limit its pull in the art house arena somewhat, but Chinese-Americans and viewers from other immigrant communities will appreciate its themes.

The story of a man who doesn't know his daughter at all, Prayers showcases an affecting performance by Henry O as Mr. Shi, who has just arrived in Spokane from China to see daughter Yilan for the first time in 12 years. The two greet each other stiffly when he emerges from the airport gates, and Yilan clearly has little idea what to do with him; heading out to work on his first day in town, she suggests that he should "take it easy" and might want to walk to the park.

Shi has higher hopes than that, taking constant notes in order to improve his English and shopping for what he needs to cook in Yilan's underequipped kitchen. For the next few nights, they will see each other only at dinner, where he makes much more food than the two can eat.

Though Shi is eager to make up for lost time (he innocently snoops around her apartment during the day, looking for insight), his daughter spends less and less time at home. Shi (whose wife died of cancer) makes friends at the park with an Iranian woman, and we come to get the point that, if rejecting one's parents is common in many cultures, it's doubly so for immigrants hoping to assimilate in a new environment. Shi and Madam, as he calls her, have amusingly piecemeal conversations in which three languages are spoken but only one understood.

Until the film's end, when some causes of family tension are finally brought to the surface, this is about all that happens. Wang's empathy for Mr. Shi, and O's dignified persistence in what appears to be a doomed effort to connect, draw us in and keep us from becoming bored. (An 83-minute running time helps in that respect.)

At one point, Yilan repeats a friend's idea that people would be better at raising children if they could somehow be grandparents before becoming parents. She doesn't seem to see the obvious corollary, that we are often far more forgiving of our grandparents' perceived faults than of our parents'. "A Thousand Years of Good Prayers" waits patiently for her to piece it together.

A THOUSAND YEARS OF GOOD PRAYERS

No Distributor

North by Northwest

Credits:

Director: Wayne Wang

Writer: Yiyun Li

Based on the short story by Yiyun Li

Producers: Yukie Kito, Rich Cowan, Wayne Wang

Executive producers: Yasushi Kotani, Taizo Son, Jooick Lee

Director of photography: Patrick Lindenmaier

Production designer: Vincent De Felice

Music: Lesley Barber

Co-producer:

Costume designer: Lisa Caryl

Editor: Deirdre Slevin

Cast:

Yilan: Faye Yu

Mr. Shi: Henry O

Madam: Vida Ghahremani

Boris: Pasha Lychnikoff

Running time -- 83 minutes

No MPAA rating...