News

Al Pacino will cruise for a killer on 4K Ultra HD when Cruising is released by Arrow Video on February 25.

The 1980 serial killer thriller’s long-unavailable theatrical version has been newly restored in 4K from the original 35mm camera negative in Dolby Vision with original lossless English mono audio, 2.0 stereo, and 5.1 sound.

The Exorcist‘s William Friedkin writes and directs, loosely based on Gerald Walker’s 1970 novel of the same name. Pacino stars with Paul Sorvino, Karen Allen, Richard Cox, and Don Scardino.

Disc 1 – 4K Uhd:

Audio commentary by writer-director William Friedkin Audio commentary by writer-director William Friedkin, moderated by critic Mark Kermode Audio commentary with original musicians involved with the soundtrack (new) I Want to Be the Curator – Interview with actress Karen Allen (new) Deleted scenes and alternative footage On-set audio featuring the club scenes and protest coverage Censored material reels Theatrical trailer, teasers, and TV spots

Disc 2 – Blu-ray:...

Exclusive: Filming is due to begin this month in New York on drama After All, from Emmy-winning director Don Scardino (30 Rock).

Cast will be led by Tony nominee Elizabeth A Davis (Once) and Oscar nominee Michael O’Keefe (The Great Santini). Script comes from Dana L. Williams.

The synopsis reads: “After 10 years on the road, Jake (O’Keefe) returns home for his son’s funeral. Facing a family he doesn’t know, Jake decides to stay and take a job driving for a small local car service. One rainy night, he picks up singer Catriona Walsh (Davis) at the airport and drives her to a gig. Jake and Catriona develop an unexpected friendship that forces them to face the lives they are running from, and chart a new path forward.”

Also starring are Emmy and Golden Globe winner S. Epatha Merkerson, Tony nominee Will Chase, Tony winner Chuck Cooper,...

Jeff Lieberman’s Squirm cheekily suggests what Alfred Hitchcock’s The Birds might’ve been like had it been scripted by Tennessee Williams. The film’s deft blend of animal-attack horror and Southern Gothic strangeness yields an experience that’s likely somewhat different than what you might expect when you hear the high-concept pitch: “Killer earthworms run amok in a tiny Georgia town.” Distributor Aip made a few trims to some grisly early FX work from Rick Baker, and a few flashes of frontal nudity, making sure that Squirm would squeak by with a PG rating, thereby allowing an entire generation of underage viewers to be exposed to its gruesome spectacle.

Lieberman takes his time with the buildup, carefully sketching in the dynamics of the Sanders family, whose household serves as the film’s central location. Matriarch Naomi (Jean Sullivan) seems lost in reveries about her dead husband. Hip teen...

Hanks' acting career began in horror with "He Knows You're Alone" but hasn't properly revisited the genre since. Hanks has embraced horror comedy with characters like David S. Pumpkins, but fans await a truly scary performance from him. Returning to horror could showcase Hanks' versatility, challenging his typecasting as the lovable father figure.

Tom Hanks has an impressive career as an actor, covering different genres, but Im still waiting for him to return to the surprising genre that launched his movie career. Tom Hanks has earned the love and respect of his colleagues and the audience thanks to his persona on and off the screen. Hanks acting career began in the 1980s, with his big break being Ron Howards rom-com fantasy Splash. After that, Hanks became an icon in the 1980s and 1990s, switching to drama in the latter, a genre where he has found great success.

Some of Tom...

The distribution company Kino Lorber recently launched an interesting Blu-ray line called Kino Cult, and so far they have released the 1985 sci-fi Western Alien Outlaw, the Bettie Page double feature Teaserama and Varietease, the 1985 horror film The Dark Power, the 1974 drama Drifter, the 1974 Jess Franco horror film Lorna the Exorcist, the 1973 Jess Franco crime thriller Sinner: The Secret Diary of a Nymphomaniac, and the 1985 Clive Barker adaptation Underworld (a.k.a. Transmutations). Now our friends at Bloody Disgusting have learned that five more Kino Cult Blu-ray releases are set for August 20th, and there’s a theme to this batch: they’re all “nature run amok” horror movies! Most of them are movies I love to watch, too. Here’s the line-up: The Food of the Gods, Empire of the Ants, Frogs, Squirm, and Kingdom of the Spiders. Each one is available for pre-order on Amazon, and each of these...

Nature will run amok when Kino Lorber unleashes five classic eco-horrors on Blu-ray as part of its Kino Cult line:The Food of the Gods, Empire of the Ants, Frogs, Squirm, and Kingdom of the Spiders. Due out on August 20, each title comes with a slipcover and features reversible artwork. Pre-orders are up for $24.95.

1976’s The Food of the Gods is written and directed by Bert I. Gordon, based on H. G. Wells’ 1904 novel The Food of the Gods and How It Came to Earth. Marjoe Gortner, Pamela Franklin, Ralph Meeker, Jon Cypher, and Ida Lupino star.

In the film, “On a remote island, a mysterious substance is oozing from the ground. A farmer sees that it acts as a growth hormone and thinks his fortune is made. But when rats, chickens, worms and wasps begin sampling the potent substance, they morph into bloodthirsty giants! Now, it’s up to...

Edgar Lansbury, a Tony Award-winning producer and younger brother of actress Angela Lansbury, died Thursday at age 94 at his home in Manhattan, according to his son. No cause was given.

Peggy Gordon, who played in Lansbury’s Godspell, posted the news on Facebook.

“My huge adorable and adoring Godspell family, we have now lost our surrogate daddy, Edgar Lansbury. How blessed was he to live such a full, rich, wonderful life surrounded by people who adored him. Don Scardino says there will be a memorial probably this fall. Contact any and all of your Godspell family members from all ten original companies, plus London (hi Gay) and anyone else I”ve missed. Man, if Joe Beruh was waiting for Edgar with a cigarette in his mouth, I have no doubt Edgar made Joe stomp on it. Love never dies. It’s an energy that only transmutes into matter. That’s all of us.

Tisa Farrow, an actor and sister of Mia Farrow, died in her sleep on Jan. 10 in Rutland, Vermont. She was 72.

Her sister Mia shared the news in a post on Instagram, writing: “If there is a Heaven, undoubtedly my beautiful sister Tisa is being welcomed there. She was the best of us – I have never met a more generous and loving person. She loved life and never complained. Ever. She was a nurse for 27 years, a wonderful sister to Steffi, Prudence and me, a devoted mother to Jason, who died in Iraq, Bridget and little grandson Kylor – the lights of her life.”

Farrow was born Theresa Magdalena Farrow in Los Angeles to actor Maureen O’Sullivan and film director John Farrow and was the youngest of seven siblings. She was the subject of a New York Times profile in 1970, in which she discussed her family connections in the entertainment industry.

“None...

Tisa Farrow, a former actor born, like sister Mia Farrow, to show business parents Maureen O’Sullivan and John Farrow, died unexpectedly Wednesday morning. She was 72.

Her death was announced on social media by Mia Farrow, who said that Tisa apparently died in her sleep.

“If there is a Heaven, undoubtedly my beautiful sister Tisa is being welcomed there,” Mia wrote on Instagram and X. “She was the best of us — I have never met a more generous and loving person. She loved life & never complained. Ever. She was nurse for 27 years, a wonderful sister to Steffi, Prudence and me, a devoted mother to Jason, who died in Iraq, Bridget and little grandson Kylor – the lights of her life.”

While never achieving the fame of sister Mia – or, for that matter, sister Prudence, who was immortalized by John Lennon in the classic 1968 Beatles White Album song “Dear Prudence” – Tisa Farrow nonetheless...

Tisa Farrow, the actress who appeared in such 1970s films as James Toback’s Fingers and William Richert’s Winter Kills, has died, her sister Mia Farrow announced. She was 72.

She died unexpectedly on Wednesday, “apparently in her sleep,” Mia Farrow reported on Instagram.

“If there is a Heaven, undoubtedly my beautiful sister Tisa is being welcomed there,” she wrote. “She was the best of us — I have never met a more generous and loving person. She loved life & never complained. Ever.”

Tisa Farrow made her onscreen debut in Homer (1970), portraying the girlfriend of a high school student (Don Scardino) deeply affected by the Vietnam War, and she also starred in the low-budget horror films Zombie (1979), directed by Lucio Fulci, and Anthropophagus (1980).

In her most prominent role, Farrow played a woman who has a kinky romance with a disturbed loner (Harvey Keitel) in writer-director Toback’s Fingers (1978). She then showed...

Stars: Al Pacino, Paul Sorvino, Karen Allen, Richard Cox, Richard Cox, Don Scardino, Joe Spinelli, Jay Acovone, Randy Jurgensen, Barton Heyman, Gene Davis | Written by William Friedkin, Gerald Walker | Directed by William Friedkin

Within the filmography of the late William Friedkin, one of the most controversial works he delivered was Cruising. Set during a hot summer in New York City, the story sees a serial killer murdering and dismembering several gay men within the world of S&m and leather bars. Assigned to this case is Steve Burns (Al Pacino), an officer whose physical similarities to the victims makes him perfect to go undercover, with the prospect of rapidly advancing his career by doing so.

Poorly received upon release, this film was protested by New York’s gay community under the belief that it stigmatised them. This reviewer admittedly may not be the best judge as an outsider, although I...

Armand Mastroianni's 1980 "He Knows You're Alone" might have borrowed a number of shots from John Carpenter's 1978 film "Halloween." It might have drawn from that movie's score, and it might have conceived of its unstoppable villain in a similar way. But it doesn't deserve to be left in the margins of the '80s slasher movie boom, especially given that it isn't a lesser entry in the genre.

Despite the movie being a decent-sized hit at the time of its release, grossing nearly $5 million per BoxOfficeMojo, it has largely been forgotten, outside of an early Tom Hanks appearance as a jogger. Compared to the best-known entries in the slasher subgenre of horror, there wasn't any kind of easy iconography to get absorbed into mainstream pop culture. Its relatively low budget means that there's fairly limited coverage and occasional bits of technical cost-cutting. But there's a strong sense of dread throughout,...

Pamela Blair, who originated the role of Valerie Clarke in the Broadway musical A Chorus Line and appeared in several soap operas, has died. She was 73.

The actress died Sunday at her home in Mesa, Arizona, The Washington Post reported. Blair had a lengthy battle with complications related to Clippers disease, a nervous system disorder, her friend Scott Withers told the newspaper.

Born on Dec. 5, 1949, in Bennington, Vermont, Blair, who had a passion for the arts from a young age, moved to New York as a teenager to pursue a career in acting and dancing. She studied drama at the Hb Studio and attended the National Ballet Academy, where she met choreographer Michael Bennett, who would becoming a frequent collaborator.

She made her Broadway debut in 1968 in Promises, Promises, where she worked alongside Bennett. A few years later, Blair was in the original company for 1972’s musical Sugar, adapted from...

Pamela Blair, who originated the role of the surgically enhanced Valerie Clark in the Broadway smash A Chorus Line, died Sunday at her home in Phoenix, Arizona, following a lengthy illness. She was 73.

Her death was reported by friends on social media, including her A Chorus Line co-star Baayork Lee. “I am very sad to say my Sagittarian sister Pam Blair has gone to play with her [A Chorus Line] colleagues among the clouds,” wrote Lee in a Facebook post. Sharing a Dec. 5 birthday, the two actors “always wrote to one another no matter where we were on that day,” Lee said, recalling how Blair ” brought the house down every night” with the showstopping performance of “Dance: Ten, Looks: Three.”

“You are free now Pammie so dance, dance, dance among the stars,” Lee wrote.

Blair’s signature song, a paean to the show-biz benefits of plastic surgery, is perhaps more commonly known as “T&a,...

A flock of drag queens dressed like the Spice Girls stand together on a stage, awaiting final judgement on their performance in an annual competition to win a coveted crown. A villainous blonde in a beehive wig sneers at them. A proud trollop in a neon pink micro skirt wonders aloud if she should take her top off. A shirtless hunk watches from the wings. Finally, the bejeweled diadem lands on the head of a surprise winner and everyone applauds.

“Cut!” calls the director.

Anyone familiar with “RuPaul’s Drag Race” will be forgiven for thinking this is a scene from the upcoming season of the perennially Emmy-winning reality competition show. There certainly are several “Drag Race” luminaries on the stage, including Season 7’s Ginger Minj, Season 9’s Peppermint, Season 11’s Brooke Lynn Hytes, and Season 12’s Jan.

But instead of the familiar “Drag Race” soundstage, these queens are standing in...

VH1 is launching a holiday movie slate and has drafted features from exec producers including Eva Longoria, Jamie Foxx and Nick Cannon.

The ViacomCBS network is launching its Naughty or Nice strand at the end of November through December with five made-for-television movies – Adventures in Christmasing, The Bitch Who Stole Christmas, Hip Hop Family Christmas, Let’s Get Merried and Miracles Across 125th Street.

Adventures in Christmasing centers around Parker Baldwin, a highly successful and meticulous talk show host who plans everything to a T, finds her Christmas plans upended when her network persuades her to spend three days in the wild with superstar adventurer & television survivalist Finn Holt for a holiday television event. The two butt heads until they find themselves stranded together in the wild with no food, unreliable shelter and no form of communication. Unexpectedly impacting each other, they come to realize life is the greatest adventure.

Comedy Central announced its annual 31-day holiday extravaganza, featuring two new movies: “A Clüsterfünke Christmas,” debuting Dec. 4, and “Hot Mess Holiday,” premiering Dec. 11.

Both of these movies will air at 7 p.m. The network will announce additional titles for its”31 Days of Going Home for the Holidays” programming slate at a later date.

“A Clüsterfünke Christmas” stars Vella Lovell, Cheyenne Jackson, Ryan McPartlin, Nils Hognestad, Rachel Dratch and Ana Gasteyer and follows the story of real estate executive Holly who heads to a small town to buy the quaint Clüsterfünke Inn and transform it into a resort. While meeting the owners, Holly finds herself distracted by their handsome nephew Frank. It is a parody of more traditional holiday rom-coms.

Anna Dokoza directs “A Clüsterfünke Christmas,” which was written by Dratch and Gasteyer, who also executive produce alongside Meghan Hooper, Trevor Rose, Josh Van Houdt, Danielle von Zerneck, Jamie Goehring and Shawn Williamson.

Welcome to Fly Creek, Georgia. You’re more likely to come across a mass of screaming (!), electrified, and hungry earthworms than you are any flies. At least that’s the case with Squirm (1976), Jeff Lieberman’s feature film debut that will have you lamenting the depressive state of small town life, all while cheering for the worms to wipe out the less than desirables from the sleepy burg.

Released at the end of July stateside, Squirm received some decent reviews and did well enough at the box office, but the lost acclaim for Lieberman’s work starts here. His films were always noticed by critics, but rarely connected with mainstream audiences. To be fair, Squirm has a low key charm that doesn’t announce itself, but rather works (notice I didn’t say ‘worms’) its way through the narrative, giving it an insidious, grubby vibe. If you put enough of anything together,...

Although it may be the dead of winter, Scream Factory is looking to warm our horror-loving hearts with four new Blu-ray announcements for May: King Kong (1976), He Knows You're Alone, Eyes of a Stranger, and The Hand:

King Kong (1976) Collector's Edition Blu-ray: "Finally!! 1976’s big budget remake of King Kong stomps its way onto Blu-ray in North America for the first time! Here are the early details we have at current time to share:

• National street date for North America (Region A) is May 11th.

• This will be presented as a 2-Disc Collector’s Edition and will come guaranteed with a slipcover in its first three months of release.

• The newly commissioned artwork pictured comes to us from artist Hugh Fleming. This art will be front-facing, and the reverse side of the wrap will feature the original theatrical artwork. \

• Extras will be announced on a later date. However, we...

George Gerdes, a prolific character actor whose many credits stretch from Miami Vice and Seinfeld to Bosch and Broadway’s A Few Good Men, died Jan. 1 of a brain aneurysm suffered the day before. He was 72.

“George Gerdes has departed,” tweeted Bosch star Titus Welliver. “An actors actor and deeply kind man. Rest easy brother, we are fewer… ” Gerdes had a recurring role on the Amazon Prime series as the operator of a halfway house for Vietnam War veterans.

A singer-songwriter whose two albums of the early 1970s, Obituary and Son of Obituary, drew a small but loyal following for their offbeat humor – his “Hey Packy,” a love letter to a dog, was covered by Loudon Wainwright III in 1976 – Gerdes would go on to build a long career as an actor in often small but memorable roles. On Seinfeld, he played “Man #1”, a vigilante outraged over George Costanza’s treatment of the Bubble Boy,...

Shudder has a packed August lineup that should excite any horror fan, including exclusive premieres, classic titles, and special events. Here's a look at their offerings:

From the Press Release:

Host (premieres Thursday, July 30)

Six friends hire a medium to hold a séance over Zoom during lockdown but get far more than they bargain for as things quickly go wrong. Host was shot remotely during quarantine and features practical scares, stunts, and surprises, all filmed by the actors in their own homes. Director Rob Savage (Dawn of the Deaf) never set foot in the same room as his actors at any point during production and instead directed them remotely. Starring: Haley Bishop (Deep State), Radina Drandova (Dawn of the Deaf), Edward Linard (The Rebels), Jemma Moore (Doom: Annihilation), Caroline Ward (Stalling It) and Emma Louise Webb (The Crown). A Shudder Original (Also available on Shudder Canada and Shudder UK)

LA Llorona (premieres Thursday,...

1966: The final episode of Never Too Young aired on ABC.

1983: Guiding Light's Nola & Quint were married.

1987: As the World Turns' Iva blurted out the truth about Lily.

1999: A gorilla plotted to interrupt Cass & Lila's wedding on Another World."History speaks to artists. It changes the artist's thinking and is constantly reshaping it into different and unexpected images."

― Anselm Kiefer

"Today in Soap Opera History" is a collection of the most memorable, interesting and influential events in the history of scripted, serialized programs. From birthdays and anniversaries to scandals and controversies, every day this column celebrates the soap opera in American culture.

On this date in...

1946: Procter & Gamble radio soap opera Life Can Be Beautiful moved to the 3 p.m. Et timeslot on the NBC Radio network. The show had always run in the mornings previously. It would remain in this new timeslot until...

Johnnie Planco, the longtime New York-based Wma agent who partnered with Gene Parseghian in the management/production company Parseghian Planco, has died. Planco passed away on Sunday, June 2 in New York City, after struggling with an infection that quickly affected both his brain and respiratory system. He was 68.

Planco was born and raised in New York City, as was his father and grandfather, latter of whom was a Rough Rider under Teddy Roosevelt. Planco joined the famed Wma mailroom after graduating Fordham U at Lincoln Center with a BA in Theater. This was in 1972, and he would remain with that agency until 2000.

In those 28 years he became the youngest Department Head and Senior Vice President in the agency’s history, running both the Motion Picture department in New York and creating and running the William Morris Talent Department. Among the clients he represented were Tom Hanks, Richard Gere, John Malkovich,...

1966: Final episode of ABC's Never Too Young. 1983: Guiding

Light's Nola & Quint were married. 1987: As the World Turns'

Iva blurted out the truth about Lily. 1999: A gorilla plotted

to interrupt Cass & Lila's wedding on Another World."All true histories contain instruction; though, in some, the treasure may be hard to find, and when found, so trivial in quantity that the dry, shrivelled kernel scarcely compensates for the trouble of cracking the nut."

― Anne Brontë in "Agnes Grey"

"Today in Soap Opera History" is a collection of the most memorable, interesting and influential events in the history of scripted, serialized programs. From birthdays and anniversaries to scandals and controversies, every day this column celebrates the soap opera in American culture.

On this date in...

1946: Procter & Gamble radio soap opera Life Can Be Beautiful moved to the 3 p.m. Et timeslot on the NBC Radio network.

Fox has released trailers for its new comedies and dramas as part of the 2018-19 series orders. You can watch below.

The Cool Kids – Comedy

Produced by 20th Century Fox Television and FX Productions. From writer/executive producer Charlie Day, writer/co-executive producer Paul Fruchbom, executive producers Nick Frenkel and Kevin Abbott and director/executive producer Don Scardino.

Last Man Standing – Comedy

Produced by 20th Century Television. From writer/executive producer Jack Burditt.

Rel – Comedy

Produced by 20th Century Fox Television. From writers/executive producers Lil Rel Howery, Kevin Barnett and Josh Rabinowitz, executive producers Mike Scully and Jerrod Carmichael and director Gerry Cohen.

The Passage – Drama

Produced by 20th Century Fox Television, 6th & Idaho and Scott Free. From writer/executive producer Elizabeth Heldens, executive producers Matt Reeves, Ridley Scott, David W. Zucker and Adam Kassan, director Marcus Siega and co-executive producer Justin Cronin.

Proven Innocent – Drama

Produced by...

Fox has ordered David Elliot and Danny Strong’s drama project and comedy “The Cool Kids” to series.

Formerly titled “Infamy,” “Proven Innocent” is a legal drama set in an wrongful conviction firm. Led by a fierce and fearless female lawyer with a hunger for justice, the team reopens investigations, putting their own lives in danger to exonerate the innocent that were ‘proven’ guilty. Our lead’s motivation comes from her infamous past; as a young adult she was found guilty and later exonerated in a high-profile case in which she became a tabloid sensation, household name and national celebrity. While a hero and a victim to some, her bold and bullish tactics garner her some enemies— one of whom will do anything to see her go down for a crime we know she did not commit. We will watch her defend others as she fights to maintain her own innocence.

How about that? Fox’s off-cycle multi-camera comedy pilot The Cool Kids (fka Cool Kids), from the It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia team, rode its late momentum all the way to a series pickup. It is one of two new series orders at Fox today, along with the Danny Strong-produced legal drama Proven Innocent. Both come from Fox sibling 20th Century Fox TV.

Retirement-home comedy pilot The Cool Kids had kept a largely low profile despite solid testing and screenings until Fox and 20th TV, following the big return of Roseanne on ABC, recently set out to resurrect 20th TV’s former ABC multi-camera comedy series Last Man Standing starring Tim Allen.

While the deals for the new season of Last Man Standing are still being finalized, its imminent arrival shook up Fox’s comedy pilot field, giving a boost to The Cool Kids, which has become the...

1978: Delia started talking to her dead mother on Ryan's Hope.

1981: Another World's Rachel chose to be with Mitch.

1986: Santa Barbara's Minx shot Cc when he tried to evict her family.

1994: One Life to Live's Joey returned to Llanview."All true histories contain instruction; though, in some, the treasure may be hard to find, and when found, so trivial in quantity that the dry, shrivelled kernel scarcely compensates for the trouble of cracking the nut."

― Anne Brontë in "Agnes Grey"

"Today in Soap Opera History" is a collection of the most memorable, interesting and influential events in the history of scripted, serialized programs. From birthdays and anniversaries to scandals and controversies, every day this column celebrates the soap opera in American culture.

On this date in...

1967: Erik Howell debuted as Johnny Fletcher on The Guiding Light, replacing Don Scardino in the role.

1967: On Dark Shadows,...

Marry Me alum Tymberlee Hill has booked a series regular role opposite Kristin Hensley and Jen Smedley in CBS' multi-camera comedy pilot I Mom So Hard from former 2 Broke Girls executive producer Michelle Nader, Rob Thomas (Veronica Mars) and Warner Bros. TV. Written by Nader and co-written by Hensley and Smedley and directed by Don Scardino, I Mom So Hard, based on the popular web series focuses on two moms (Hensley, Smedley) who show how their friendship gets them…...

Exclusive Freddie Prinze Jr. (24) and David Fynn (Undateable) have been tapped as male leads opposite Kristin Hensley and Jen Smedley in CBS’ multi-camera comedy pilot I Mom So Hard from former 2 Broke Girls executive producer Michelle Nader, Rob Thomas (Veronica Mars) and Warner Bros. TV. In addition, The Incredible Burt Wonderstone helmer Don Scardino has been tapped to direct. This marks Scardino’s second pilot directing gig this season; he also did the Fox…...

Exclusive: Four comedy veterans — former Carol Burnett Show star Vicki Lawrence, The Carmichael Show‘s David Alan Grier, Leslie Jordan (Will & Grace) and Roseanne alum Martin Mull have been tapped as the leads in Fox’s multi-camera retirement community comedy pilot Cool Kids, from It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia masterminds Charlie Day, Rob McElhenney and Glenn Howerton. Don Scardino has signed on to direct the pilot, written by Day and Paul Fruchbom, with comedy…...

While dramatic television has seen a wave of directorial ingenuity over the last 17 years (see our list of the best-directed dramas for proof), 21st century TV will probably be remembered more for the growth of vision in the comedy genre. What was once a format dominated by multi-cam sitcoms with live studio audiences has become the most auteur-driven genre on television, and the results have been some of the most creative and personal series the small screen has ever aired.

Read More: The 20 Best-Directed TV Drama Series of the 21st Century, Ranked

In brainstorming the best-directed comedy series of the 21st century, it becomes very clear just how much the genre is driven by personal style. Whether it’s Louis C.K.’s grounded realism or the rapid-fire curveballs of Armando Iannucci and Mitch Hurwitz, the showrunner as auteur has become the lynchpin of what makes 21st century TV comedy so...

Following the horror juggernaut that was Halloween (1978), major studios were very interested to hop in bed with stalk and slay splatterfests. When the Paramount distributed Friday the 13th (1980) looked to be muy lucrative, the big boys jumped hard on the mattress to see how much coin they could dislodge. MGM was no different, and made their claim with He Knows You’re Alone (1980), a film that ultimately survived the dog pile with winning characterizations over slavish Carpenter imitations.

Filmed in December of ’79 on Staten Island and released at the end of summer, He Knows You’re Alone made nearly $ 5 million for MGM against a meager $ 250,000 budget. A tidy profit to be sure, but it was recognized by most critics (and horror fans alike) as a messy pastiche of everything that worked about Halloween but operating with a lot less wattage. I think that’s only partially true – He Knows actually manages to create memorable characters,...

Yes, he has directed some of entertainment's greatest comedians, including Tina Fey, Steve Carrell, Alec Baldwin, and Jim Carrey, But its onstage where Don Scardino first made a name for himself. As one of Broadway's most sought after young actors, he appeared in such cult musicals asANGEL, King Of Hearts, andPARK But, then he donned his directing cap to bringA Few Good Men, Lennon, and countless others to life...

Joseph “Rev Run” Simmons & Justine Simmons will topline and produce a family comedy which Amblin TV and ABC Studios are backing. Scripted by Jeremy Bronson, with Don Scardino directing, the currently untitled comedy – which is fictional and not based on or… Continue Reading →...

Wesley Mead Dec 21, 2016

Here's day three in our countdown of the top Christmas TV episodes of all time: entries 60 to 41...

This article was first published in December 2015. Read entries 100 - 81 here and entries 80 - 61 here.

See related Sherlock series 4 episode 1 spoiler-free review: The Six Thatchers Sherlock series 4: go behind the scenes; spoiler-free review Doctor Who Christmas special: The Return Of Doctor Mysterio review Doctor Who Christmas special: The Return Of Doctor Mysterio nerdy spots & Easter eggs

Since the medium’s infancy, viewers have enjoyed sharing holidays with their favourite television characters. We grow invested in our friends on screen over the years; spending Christmas with them is a rite of passage, a chance for us to share tradition from our world with the fictional ones we see on screen. Some shows embrace the season wholeheartedly, characters in good spirits and enjoying the trappings of the season; others skew a little darker,...

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Here's day three in our countdown of the top Christmas TV episodes of all time: entries 60 to 41...

Read entries 100 - 81 here and entries 80 - 61 here.

Since the medium’s infancy, viewers have enjoyed sharing holidays with their favourite television characters. We grow invested in our friends on screen over the years; spending Christmas with them is a rite of passage, a chance for us to share tradition from our world with the fictional ones we see on screen. Some shows embrace the season wholeheartedly, characters in good spirits and enjoying the trappings of the season; others skew a little darker, bringing the more oppressive, burdensome side of the holidays to life. Either way, Christmas episodes tend to demonstrate the strengths of our favourite series, and it’s long been a festive ritual of mine to wheel out old DVD sets and settle back for a few favourites during December.

Here's the first look at the trailers for CBS’ new comedies and dramas as part of the 2015-2016 series orders. Check back for more as they’re available. Angel From Hell – Comedy Produced by CBS Television Studios. From writer/executive producer Tad Quill and director/executive producer Don Scardino. Life In Pieces – Comedy Produced by Kapital Entertainment and 20th Century Fox Television. From writer/executive producer Justin Adler, executive producer Aaron Kaplan and…...

After taking Thursday off to allow reporters to bask in the excitement of the "Supergirl" pickup and to report on other networks, CBS has jumped back into the pre-upfronts fray with sextet of new series pickups including some very familiar titles. Of CBS' four newly ordered drama pilots, three are based on established formats, with original property "Code Black" joining "Limitless," "Rush Hour" and "Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders." On the comedy front, CBS ordered "Angel From Hell" and "Life in Pieces" to series. Let's get some details... Starting with the things you know a bit about: *** "Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders" premiered as a planted spinoff airing on February 8. It focuses on an FBI division tasked with helping American citizens who find themselves in danger abroad. The CBS TV Studios production stars Gary Sinise, Daniel Henney and Tyler James. Emmy winner Anna Gunn, who appeared in the planted spinoff episode, will...

Holy cats creeps, I can’t believe ol’ Xiii is havin’ such a streak of good luck! The restless spirits of this recent Samhain must have taken pity upon yours cruelly, ‘cuz this week’s reviews are a horror hat-trick of pure fright flick gold! Don’t believe me? Just keep readin’ and see if ya don’t agree (oh, and you will agree… you… will… agree)!

Nightbreed The Director’S Cut

Release Date: Now Available on Blu-ray/DVD Combo Pack Written By: Clive Barker Directed By: Clive Barker Starring: Craig Sheffer, David Cronenberg, Anne Bobby

Man o’ man, ghouls, Nightbreed has always been a bit like an all you can eat buffet, but instead of chicken wings and mac n’ cheese you get a bounty o’ beasts and craploads o’ creatures, which is good because you are not hungry, you are a monster maniac. And where the hell was I going with this analogy?...

Squirm is a cult classic, because its premise is utterly ridiculous. A town is under siege by an army of killer works, surfaced by a downed power line that apparently nobody thought to contact Aep about. Seriously, that line flopped around and spat sparks for what? Days? It didn’t set any fires, and nobody thought that it was something that probably needed to be taken care of? In all seriousness, worms are creepy little crawling assholes, and a movie about killer worms is going to make most viewers feel a little uneasy. I know it certainly had that effect on me, and based on the fact that almost 40 years later, we’re still talking about it, I have a hard time believing that I’m alone. Scream Factory’s Collector’s Edition Blu-ray release of the film will serve multiple purposes. It will allow those of us old enough to remember it,...

It’s impossible for me to hide the fact that Scream Factory is one of my favorite boutique media labels. As far as content goes, they give me the type of films that I really want to see on the Blu-ray format. They’ve had a strong first couple of years, and I see no signs of them slowing down anytime soon. Two of the biggest… neigh, The two biggest releases of the 2014 Halloween Seasons is coming from these guys. I’m speaking, of course, about the Director’s Cut of Nightbreed, as well as the Complete Halloween Collection. But you’ve already heard about those, and pre-ordered them, right? Well, here is their entire fall(Sept/Oct… And some November, cause shut up.) lineup, in case a few have slipped by you.

September 9, 2014 Pumpkinhead (Collector’s Edition) Srp $29.93 Bd

Scream Factory has announced a September 9 Blu-ray release of a...

Just in time for Halloween, horror fans will be able to watch killer worms attack in high definition when Scream Factory releases Squirm to Blu-ray. We’ve been provided with official release details, a look at the cover art, and the list of bonus features:

“It was a violent summer storm. Millions of volts slashed the earth, sending hundreds of thousands of writhing, seething creatures, oozing out of the mire hungry for human flesh. It was the night of the crawling terror for the residents of Fly Creek in the 1976 horror cult classic Squirm from celebrated horror filmmaker Jeff Lieberman (Just Before Dawn, Blue Sunshine). This sought-after creature thriller stars Don Scardino (director, The Incredible Burt Wonderstone, 30 Rock), Patricia Pearcy (Delusion), R.A. Dow and Jean Sullivan (Escape in the Desert) and features gory make-up effects from Oscar®-winning artist Rick Baker (An American Werewolf in London, Planet of the Apes,...

Just in time for Halloween, Jeff Lieberman's 1976 cult classic Squirm slithers its way onto Blu-ray for the very first time, courtesy of the fine folks over at Scream Factory. Carnivorous worms in high-def, you say? Yes please. Read on for all the gooey details!

From the Press Release

On October 28, 2014, Scream Factory™ is proud to present Squirm Collector’s Edition Blu-ray on home entertainment shelves everywhere. Arriving for the first time on Blu-ray™, this highly anticipated release contains insightful bonus content, as well as a collectible cover featuring newly rendered retro-style artwork, a reversible cover wrap with original theatrical key art. A must-have for creature horror enthusiasts and movie collectors, Squirm Collector’s Edition is priced to own at $29.93 Srp.

When a powerful storm knocks Fly Creek, Georgia's power lines down onto wet soil, the resulting surge of electricity drives large, bloodthirsty worms to the surface – and then out of their soil-tilling minds!

Squirm is a highly anticipated Blu-ray release from Scream Factory, a classic monster movie that I have only had the pleasure of seeing one time in my life. Add me to the list of people that can’t wait for this release to drop. Scream Factory released an update today, outlining the full details of the release. Check out the press release below, and click here to pre-order your copy today.

Scream Factory™ Presents

A film by Jeff Lieberman

Squirm Collector’S Edition

Starring Don Scardino, Patricia Pearcy, R.A. Dow and Jean Sullivan

Highly Anticipated Creatures-strike-back Horror Cult Classic

Arrives On Home Entertainment Shelves Everywhere

October 28, 2014 From Scream Factory™

Pre-Order This Highly Anticipated Home Entertainment Release Today!

“Squirm is guaranteed to make you do just that.” – Los Angeles Times

It was a violent summer storm. Millions of volts slashed the earth, sending hundreds of thousands of writhing, seething creatures, oozing...

The Scream Factory, bless their souls, just released the official original Blu-ray artwork for the 1976 man-eating worms flick Squirm, and as expected 'The Worm Face' is front and center. Check it out and look for an official announcement of specs, etc., soon!

Jeff Lieberman directs. Don Scardino, Patricia Pearcy, R.A. Dow, and Carl Dagenhart star.

Look for it on Blu-ray on October 28th.

Synopsis

When a powerful storm knocks Fly Creek, Georgia’s power lines down onto wet soil, the resulting surge of electricity drives large, bloodthirsty worms to the surface: and then out of their soil-tilling minds! Soon, the townspeople discover that their sleepy fishing village is overrun with worms that burrow right into their skin! Inundated by hundreds of thousands of carnivorous creatures, the terrorized locals race to find the cause of the rampage: before becoming tilled under themselves!

“Now you gonna be the worm face?”

Visit The Evilshop @ Amazon!

Reactions from the talent behind films eviscerated on MST3k have varied (it could be a joke, but the crew claims Joe Don Baker of Mitchell fame wants to take a swing at them), though not as much as fans of the films proper. A famous, though unverified, story has Dennis Miller flying the cast to a filming of his HBO show only to scream at them for having their way with Marooned! In light of the recent announcement that creator Joel Hodgson wants to reboot the cult favourite, here’s a look at a few episodes that may not have been playing fair.

5. Revenge of The Creature (Season 8, Episode 1)

There is a delicate chemistry to enjoying trash on its own merit. Too bad or too good, it can easily throw things off-balance into the oblivion of the unwatchable. Creature upped the stakes of the classic original by bringing it to local beaches and,...

After a lengthy courtship, Justin Long has signed on as one of the two leads in Fox’s comedy pilot Sober Companion, originally developed and greenlighted as multi-camera. As part of getting Long to commit, Fox is converting CBS Studios-produced Sober Companion to single-camera, which is a format I hear Long was open to doing full-time. He has experience in both, doing a memorable arc on the first season of Fox’s single-camera comedy New Girl and an arc on CBS’ freshman sitcom Mom this past fall. The switch from multi- to single-camera impacts a couple of crew members who will have to be replaced, though director Don Scardino, who has helmed both multi- and single-camera comedy series, is staying put. Written/exec produced by David S. Rosenthal & Jennie Snyder Urman, Sober Companion centers on a charming, but self-destructive attorney who finds his world turned upside down when a...

Stars: Don Scardino, Patricia Pearcy, R.A. Dow, Jean Sullivan, Peter MacLean, Fran Higgins | Written and Directed by Jeff Lieberman

The 70s was, shall we say, an “interesting” time in cinema. Whilst mainstream Hollywood was churning out some of its most revered movies – The Godafather, The Exorcist, Mean Streets, and pretty much the entire oeuvre of Martin Scorsese and Francis Ford Coppola – low-budget cinema and in particular genre movies were exploring very different cultural avenues.

Whilst we had the likes of Night of the Living Dead, which explored soci-cultural issues, using the genre as a metaphor for much bigger “stories”, we also had the birth of the slasher movie boom in John Carpenter’s Halloween. Yet slipped somewhere in between was a strange sub-genre: the nature-run-amok film. Jaws, Piranha, Killer Bees, The Swarm, Grizzly, Day of the Animals, Kingdom of the Spiders, Phase Four, Bug; the animals ran rampant and so did zoological horror…...

Ted Melfi is in negotiations to direct the remake of the George Burns-led 1979 caper comedy "Going in Style" for New Line.

The original followed three retirees who plan a bank heist. Casting will begin once Melfi's deal is done.

Melfi had originally penned the script but couldn't direct due to scheduling issues. The studio began talks with Don Scardino to helm, but his deal couldn't be worked out.

Melfi's schedule had now cleared due to the failed negotiations with Scardino having taken enough time. Donald De Line is producing.

Source: Variety...