The Brady organization against gun violence is calling on Hollywood writers, directors and producers to examine onscreen gun violence and depictions of gun safety, asking the creative community to sign a pledge that’s already garnered more than 200 signatures of such names as Judd Apatow, Shonda Rhimes, Damon Lindelof and Jimmy Kimmel and the writers of Jimmy Kimmel Live!
The pledge, while noting that the “responsibility lies with lax gun laws supported by those politicians more afraid of losing power than saving lives,” acknowledges that “America’s storytellers” have the power to “effect change.”
“Cultural attitudes toward smoking, drunk driving, seatbelts and marriage equality have all evolved due in large part to movies’ and TV’s influence. It’s time to take on gun safety,” the Brady pledge states, and goes on to ask writers, directors and producers to, whenever possible, to:
Use creativity “to model responsible gun ownership and...
The pledge, while noting that the “responsibility lies with lax gun laws supported by those politicians more afraid of losing power than saving lives,” acknowledges that “America’s storytellers” have the power to “effect change.”
“Cultural attitudes toward smoking, drunk driving, seatbelts and marriage equality have all evolved due in large part to movies’ and TV’s influence. It’s time to take on gun safety,” the Brady pledge states, and goes on to ask writers, directors and producers to, whenever possible, to:
Use creativity “to model responsible gun ownership and...
- 6/13/2022
- by Greg Evans
- Deadline Film + TV
Hollywood has come together to make a change over the portrayal of gun violence onscreen.
Judd Apatow, Mark Ruffalo, Jimmy Kimmel, Damon Lindelof, Adam McKay, Julianne Moore, Shonda Rhimes, Eli Roth, Mark Ruffalo, Amy Schumer, and John Glickman are among the first round of signatures for a petition calling for the film and TV industry to re-examine its influence on national gun violence in the U.S.
The petition, titled “Open Letter to Our Colleagues in the Creative Community,” calls for studios to model responsible gun safety practices in productions and curb portrayals of guns in scenes involving children. The effort, led by activists Christy Callahan, the co-chair of the Brady United Against Gun Violence organization’s Regional Leadership Council, and Robert Bowers Disney, comes after the Uvalde elementary school mass shooting on May 24.
“Considering there have been over 250 other mass shootings so far this year, it’s an almost incomprehensible tragedy.
Judd Apatow, Mark Ruffalo, Jimmy Kimmel, Damon Lindelof, Adam McKay, Julianne Moore, Shonda Rhimes, Eli Roth, Mark Ruffalo, Amy Schumer, and John Glickman are among the first round of signatures for a petition calling for the film and TV industry to re-examine its influence on national gun violence in the U.S.
The petition, titled “Open Letter to Our Colleagues in the Creative Community,” calls for studios to model responsible gun safety practices in productions and curb portrayals of guns in scenes involving children. The effort, led by activists Christy Callahan, the co-chair of the Brady United Against Gun Violence organization’s Regional Leadership Council, and Robert Bowers Disney, comes after the Uvalde elementary school mass shooting on May 24.
“Considering there have been over 250 other mass shootings so far this year, it’s an almost incomprehensible tragedy.
- 6/13/2022
- by Samantha Bergeson
- Indiewire
ReFrame, the coalition formed by Women in Film and the Sundance Institute, and IMDbPro have added 22 more titles to the list of movies earning the ReFrame Stamp, which recognize standout, gender-balanced films. The program launched June 8 with 12 films on the list from a group comprising the top 100 domestic-grossing films of 2017, with Warner Bros’ Wonder Woman, Universal’s Girls Trip, A24’s Lady Bird and Fox’s The Post among them.
The stamp progam has since been expanded to studio and independent films that have U.S. domestic theatrical or streaming distribution. Newcomers unveiled today include Warners’ recent hit Crazy Rich Asians, IFC’s Mary Shelley and Spc’s Glenn Close starrer The Wife among 2018 releases, and Olivia Wilde’s Booksmart and Justin Baldoni’s Five Feet Apart among 2019 pics. (See the full list of new films below.)
The stamp is intended as a mark of distinction for projects that have...
The stamp progam has since been expanded to studio and independent films that have U.S. domestic theatrical or streaming distribution. Newcomers unveiled today include Warners’ recent hit Crazy Rich Asians, IFC’s Mary Shelley and Spc’s Glenn Close starrer The Wife among 2018 releases, and Olivia Wilde’s Booksmart and Justin Baldoni’s Five Feet Apart among 2019 pics. (See the full list of new films below.)
The stamp is intended as a mark of distinction for projects that have...
- 8/28/2018
- by Patrick Hipes
- Deadline Film + TV
Odd List Ryan Lambie Simon Brew 5 Dec 2013 - 06:54
Our voyage through history's underappreciated films arrives at the year 2001, and a vintage year for lesser-seen gems...
Stanley Kubrick and Arthur C Clarke may have seen 2001 as the year we'd head off to meet alien intelligences in the depths of space, but in reality, its cinematic landscape was dominated by fantasy rather than extra-terrestrials. Rowling and Tolkien dominated the box office, with Harry Potter And The Philosopher's Stone and The Fellowship Of The Ring earning almost $1bn each, while Monsters, Inc and Shrek thrilled old and young audiences alike.
At the other end of the spectrum of success, 2001 was such a vintage year for movies that we had to whittle our usual selection of 25 films down from an initial selection of more than 40. This is why the decision was made - with heavy heart - to exclude some of our favourite films,...
Our voyage through history's underappreciated films arrives at the year 2001, and a vintage year for lesser-seen gems...
Stanley Kubrick and Arthur C Clarke may have seen 2001 as the year we'd head off to meet alien intelligences in the depths of space, but in reality, its cinematic landscape was dominated by fantasy rather than extra-terrestrials. Rowling and Tolkien dominated the box office, with Harry Potter And The Philosopher's Stone and The Fellowship Of The Ring earning almost $1bn each, while Monsters, Inc and Shrek thrilled old and young audiences alike.
At the other end of the spectrum of success, 2001 was such a vintage year for movies that we had to whittle our usual selection of 25 films down from an initial selection of more than 40. This is why the decision was made - with heavy heart - to exclude some of our favourite films,...
- 12/4/2013
- by ryanlambie
- Den of Geek
James Gandolfini will always be remembered for his role in The Sopranos, but he had a fine film career in movies such as In the Loop, The Man Who Wasn't There and Killing Them Softly
He was the tough guy, the middle manager, the career criminal, the broken-hearted man who couldn't face up to his bad life-choices, the mysterious beast in the legendary land of an unhappy child. In many ways, an unhappy child is what he himself was always playing. For the past 10 years or so, James Gandolfini established himself as an utterly distinctive presence in the movies – as a character actor in a supporting role.
His career would, of course, always be defined by his midlife mobster Tony Soprano: heavyset, menacing, self-pitying but with a weirdly sensitive and romantic streak.
No other actor in recent times with a healthy film career has remained so utterly identified with one...
He was the tough guy, the middle manager, the career criminal, the broken-hearted man who couldn't face up to his bad life-choices, the mysterious beast in the legendary land of an unhappy child. In many ways, an unhappy child is what he himself was always playing. For the past 10 years or so, James Gandolfini established himself as an utterly distinctive presence in the movies – as a character actor in a supporting role.
His career would, of course, always be defined by his midlife mobster Tony Soprano: heavyset, menacing, self-pitying but with a weirdly sensitive and romantic streak.
No other actor in recent times with a healthy film career has remained so utterly identified with one...
- 6/20/2013
- by Peter Bradshaw
- The Guardian - Film News
James Gandolfini died today; though The Sopranos was his defining part, he had a distinguished career on the big screen. Here we look back at the pick of his roles
Growing up in a devoutly Roman Catholic working class Italian-American family in New Jersey, it would be no surprise that James Gandolfini quickly found film roles as mob enforcers, brutal hit men and other assorted mafiosi when he got interested in acting in the mid-80s. After a string of small roles, Gandolfini made a major impact in True Romance, the Quentin Tarantino-scripted thriller directed by the late Tony Scott.
Gandolfini benefitted from the Tarantino effect again with Get Shorty, the Elmore Leonard adaptation that gained traction after the success of Qt's Pulp Fiction, featuring that film's star John Travolta. Gandolfini again plays a hoodlum, Bear - though one who does a bit of movie stuntwork on the side.
Growing up in a devoutly Roman Catholic working class Italian-American family in New Jersey, it would be no surprise that James Gandolfini quickly found film roles as mob enforcers, brutal hit men and other assorted mafiosi when he got interested in acting in the mid-80s. After a string of small roles, Gandolfini made a major impact in True Romance, the Quentin Tarantino-scripted thriller directed by the late Tony Scott.
Gandolfini benefitted from the Tarantino effect again with Get Shorty, the Elmore Leonard adaptation that gained traction after the success of Qt's Pulp Fiction, featuring that film's star John Travolta. Gandolfini again plays a hoodlum, Bear - though one who does a bit of movie stuntwork on the side.
- 6/20/2013
- by Andrew Pulver
- The Guardian - Film News
James Gandolfini movies James Gandolfini died today of a suspected heart attack while in Rome, Italy. Although the 51-year-old actor’s fame rests on his role as mob boss Tony Soprano in the hit HBO series The Sopranos, which earned him three Emmy Awards, three SAG Awards, and one Golden Globe, Gandolfini was also featured in dozens of big-screen productions. Most notable among James Gandolfini’s movie are the following: Joel Coen and Ethan Coen’s The Man Who Wasn’t There (2001), in which Gandolfini plays Big Dave Brewster, a boisterous department store owner who may be having an affair with Billy Bob Thornton’s wife, Frances McDormand, and who’s being (anonymously) blackmailed by Thornton himself. Steven Zaillian’s remake of All the King’s Men (2006), starring Sean Penn as a populist Southern politician, with Gandolfini as fellow ruthless politician Tiny Duffy, demoted to Lieutenant Governor. Armando Iannucci’s...
- 6/20/2013
- by Andre Soares
- Alt Film Guide
Some actors are best known for an iconic TV character they've played. But most of them have had at least one other notable role to be remembered by. Jackie Gleason isn't just Ralph Kramden, he's also Minnesota Flats and Buford T. Justice. Henry Winkler isn't just The Fonz, he's also Barry Zuckerkorn. (And, to acknowledge one who recently left us, Larry Hagman's legacy isn't just J.R. Ewing, its also Major Nelson.) But so far, no matter how many other gigs he's had before, during and since, James Gandolfini is pretty much just Tony Soprano. This isn't to say Gandolfini isn't a great actor. He's delivered many terrific performances in many films. But he isn't known for playing any other stand-out characters. Right now, Gandolfini occupies an interesting middle ground: He's not exactly a movie star, and he's not exactly a character actor. With his girth and his bald...
- 11/29/2012
- by Christopher Campbell
- Moviefone
A trailer for a one-hour drama has won the One80 Project for 2012.
Deadbeat Dads, directed by Ben Mathews, co-written and co-produced by Kent Pearson and Shelley McLaren, swept the competition, winning all three major awards; Judges’ Choice, the Public Vote and Best Student Entry last night at Moonlight Cinema.
The competition, sponsored by Optus and MTV, now in its sixth year, invites entrants to submit a three-minute trailer with the winning film receiving $180,000 worth of production budget to produce a one-hour version of the story.
The festival also held the world premiere of the extended version of last year’s winner Sick, written and directed by brothers Connor and Christiaan Van Vuuren. Christiaan is also the Fully Sick Rapper and one half of The Bondi Hipsters.
Sick will premiere on MTV on Sunday 15 April at 9.30pm.
Sick! – Official Trailer (2012) – Coming Soon to MTV from Van Vuuren Bros on Vimeo.
The...
Deadbeat Dads, directed by Ben Mathews, co-written and co-produced by Kent Pearson and Shelley McLaren, swept the competition, winning all three major awards; Judges’ Choice, the Public Vote and Best Student Entry last night at Moonlight Cinema.
The competition, sponsored by Optus and MTV, now in its sixth year, invites entrants to submit a three-minute trailer with the winning film receiving $180,000 worth of production budget to produce a one-hour version of the story.
The festival also held the world premiere of the extended version of last year’s winner Sick, written and directed by brothers Connor and Christiaan Van Vuuren. Christiaan is also the Fully Sick Rapper and one half of The Bondi Hipsters.
Sick will premiere on MTV on Sunday 15 April at 9.30pm.
Sick! – Official Trailer (2012) – Coming Soon to MTV from Van Vuuren Bros on Vimeo.
The...
- 3/19/2012
- by Colin Delaney
- Encore Magazine
HollywoodNews.com:Nominations were announced today for the 47th Annual Academy Of Country Music Awards, a star-studded event produced for television by dick clark productions broadcast Live from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Sunday, April 1, 2012 at 8:00 Pm live Et/delayed Pt on the CBS Television Network.
Nominees were announced online via the first-ever Acm digital press conference this morning on the Academy?s Facebook and Twitter pages. Awards co-host Reba participated with a video message to kick things off and entertainment superstars Lionel Richie, who will be honored during a special taping of Acm Presents: Lionel Richie and Friends In Concert in April (to air at a later date on CBS), Beth Behrs (2 Broke Girls), Nancy O?Dell (Entertainment Tonight), Michael Ausiello (TVLine.com) announced batches of nominations in video postings during the approximately 20 minute online event which culminated in music fans announcing the nominees for the Academy?...
Nominees were announced online via the first-ever Acm digital press conference this morning on the Academy?s Facebook and Twitter pages. Awards co-host Reba participated with a video message to kick things off and entertainment superstars Lionel Richie, who will be honored during a special taping of Acm Presents: Lionel Richie and Friends In Concert in April (to air at a later date on CBS), Beth Behrs (2 Broke Girls), Nancy O?Dell (Entertainment Tonight), Michael Ausiello (TVLine.com) announced batches of nominations in video postings during the approximately 20 minute online event which culminated in music fans announcing the nominees for the Academy?...
- 1/26/2012
- by Josh Abraham
- Hollywoodnews.com
It was the return of a familiar face, albeit in an unexpected way, on "Happy Endings" (Wed., 9:30 p.m. Est on ABC). Dave's Dad Big Dave (Michael McKean) stopped by for a visit, and brought along his new girlfriend. But everybody was surprised when it was Dana (Megan Mullally). Penny's mom is Big Dave's new girlfriend? Penny couldn't be more excited. Dave couldn't be more not.
The bulk of the episode then featured Dave sulking and acting childishly as Big Dave was so connected with Dana -- and by extension Penny -- that he started singing out his problems like they do. It's a fairly typical thing for a man to do in a new relationship; try to adopt and fit in to the lifestyle and personality of the new woman in his life. And it's usually temporary.
Megan Mullally talked with Maggie Furlong about her guest spots on "Happy Endings,...
The bulk of the episode then featured Dave sulking and acting childishly as Big Dave was so connected with Dana -- and by extension Penny -- that he started singing out his problems like they do. It's a fairly typical thing for a man to do in a new relationship; try to adopt and fit in to the lifestyle and personality of the new woman in his life. And it's usually temporary.
Megan Mullally talked with Maggie Furlong about her guest spots on "Happy Endings,...
- 1/12/2012
- by Jason Hughes
- Huffington Post
It was the return of a familiar face, albeit in an unexpected way, on "Happy Endings" (Wed., 9:30 p.m. Est on ABC). Dave's dad, Big Dave (Michael McKean), stopped by for a visit, and brought along his new girlfriend. But everybody was surprised when it was Dana (Megan Mullally). Penny's mom is Big Dave's new girlfriend? Penny couldn't be more excited. Dave couldn't be more not.
The bulk of the episode then featured Dave sulking and acting childishly as Big Dave was so connected with Dana -- and by extension Penny -- that he started singing out his problems like they do. It's a fairly typical thing for a man to do in a new relationship; try to adopt and fit in to the lifestyle and personality of the new woman in his life. And it's usually temporary.
Megan Mullally talked with Maggie Furlong about her guest spots on "Happy Endings,...
The bulk of the episode then featured Dave sulking and acting childishly as Big Dave was so connected with Dana -- and by extension Penny -- that he started singing out his problems like they do. It's a fairly typical thing for a man to do in a new relationship; try to adopt and fit in to the lifestyle and personality of the new woman in his life. And it's usually temporary.
Megan Mullally talked with Maggie Furlong about her guest spots on "Happy Endings,...
- 1/12/2012
- by Jason Hughes
- Aol TV.
Okay, things are going to get really awkward if the writers of Happy Endings try to make Dave and Penny happen after tonight's development.
In "Meat the Parrots," we found out Dave's dad and Penny's mom are doing the horizontal mamba. I think many people echo my sentiments when I say that we have enough step-sibling incest on TV already with Gossip Girl!
Another awkward, but hilarious development was the fact that Dave and his father both like to go commando. Guess Dave's new big sis, Penny, won't be able to give him any atomic wedgies! Besides, Penny's really did go overboard with the "baby bros" despite the hilarity of that Johnny Drama line.
By the way, you have to appreciate the writing on a show that can reference Entourage and Rear Window in the same episode. Alex was getting Jimmy Stewart paranoid about that Chinese restaurant. Damn, business must be bad.
In "Meat the Parrots," we found out Dave's dad and Penny's mom are doing the horizontal mamba. I think many people echo my sentiments when I say that we have enough step-sibling incest on TV already with Gossip Girl!
Another awkward, but hilarious development was the fact that Dave and his father both like to go commando. Guess Dave's new big sis, Penny, won't be able to give him any atomic wedgies! Besides, Penny's really did go overboard with the "baby bros" despite the hilarity of that Johnny Drama line.
By the way, you have to appreciate the writing on a show that can reference Entourage and Rear Window in the same episode. Alex was getting Jimmy Stewart paranoid about that Chinese restaurant. Damn, business must be bad.
- 1/12/2012
- by leigh.raines@gmail.com (Leigh Raines)
- TVfanatic
It’s never easy when one of your parents is out on the dating circuit. It’s doubly difficult when that parent pairs up with one of your friend’s parents. Tonight’s episode of Happy Endings (ABC, 9:30 p.m.) deals with said predicament as Dave’s dad, Big Dave (guest star Michael McKean!) blows into town and shows off his new girlfriend, who is… Penny’s mom (returning guest star Megan Mullally)! In other plot news, Alex adopts a racist parrot. Watch the two clips below to get your first look at our blended family-in-the-making. Warning: Video may contain wet willies.
- 1/11/2012
- by Dan Snierson
- EW - Inside TV
The prime minister discussed his favourite films and TV programmes with Steve Wright – but perhaps the pressures of the job are getting to him
The Smiths, Radiohead, Pulp: there was a time when David Cameron's cultural tastes were simply incongruous. Thank God for public office, then, which – reassuringly – seems to have turned him towards mediocrity.
Last year, he expressed a love of posh west London folksters, Mumford & Sons – no surprise there – and just yesterday, in an interview for Radio 2's Steve Wright in the Afternoon, the Pm extolled the virtues of industry favourite The King's Speech. Again, that won't raise eyebrows: as we know, Cameron went for new year's walkies with the film's star, Helena Bonham Carter.
So what else did we learn? Well, Big Dave bloody loves murder mysteries. In April, it was Danish drama The Killing. Lately, Cameron told Wright, it's been detective series Case Histories, and legal drama Injustice.
The Smiths, Radiohead, Pulp: there was a time when David Cameron's cultural tastes were simply incongruous. Thank God for public office, then, which – reassuringly – seems to have turned him towards mediocrity.
Last year, he expressed a love of posh west London folksters, Mumford & Sons – no surprise there – and just yesterday, in an interview for Radio 2's Steve Wright in the Afternoon, the Pm extolled the virtues of industry favourite The King's Speech. Again, that won't raise eyebrows: as we know, Cameron went for new year's walkies with the film's star, Helena Bonham Carter.
So what else did we learn? Well, Big Dave bloody loves murder mysteries. In April, it was Danish drama The Killing. Lately, Cameron told Wright, it's been detective series Case Histories, and legal drama Injustice.
- 6/20/2011
- by Patrick Kingsley
- The Guardian - Film News
Jeanie Finlay's little documentary about a record shop in Teesside wins big support in the music industry, while the Hoff prepares for a soaking
Parfitt gentle knight
Documentaries are flying high at the box office. Asif Kapadia's Senna achieved a very respectable spot on the grid – and was pipped by a film about the boyband Jls. It's all good news for the genre, especially as the Sheffield Doc/Fest is in full swing. Thousands of film-makers have been pitching and showing their work. Music and sport seem to be the quickest ways to an audience these days - less hectoring than work on, say, Indonesian farmers battling globalisation.
Trash was taken with a British doc about the last surviving record shop in Teesside. Jeanie Finlay's tender, funny film Sound It Out is also a study of male behaviour and melancholy. For a little doc maker, getting the...
Parfitt gentle knight
Documentaries are flying high at the box office. Asif Kapadia's Senna achieved a very respectable spot on the grid – and was pipped by a film about the boyband Jls. It's all good news for the genre, especially as the Sheffield Doc/Fest is in full swing. Thousands of film-makers have been pitching and showing their work. Music and sport seem to be the quickest ways to an audience these days - less hectoring than work on, say, Indonesian farmers battling globalisation.
Trash was taken with a British doc about the last surviving record shop in Teesside. Jeanie Finlay's tender, funny film Sound It Out is also a study of male behaviour and melancholy. For a little doc maker, getting the...
- 6/11/2011
- by Jason Solomons
- The Guardian - Film News
One of the key witnesses in the attempted murder case involving former Food Network host Juan-Carlos Cruz tells TMZ the prosecutor in the case engaged in a cover-up ... and Cruz' lawyer says it may be "an outright obstruction of justice." Shane Ickenroth -- one of the three homeless men who Cruz paid to kill his wife -- tells TMZ he called the prosecutor, Simone Shay , last August to tell her bad news about the two...
- 12/15/2010
- by TMZ Staff
- TMZ
TMZ has learned one of the homeless men Juan-Carlos Cruz tried to recruit to kill his wife passed away a few months back. After Cruz was sentenced on Monday, we decided to track down the three men he tried to hire to kill his wife -- that's when we were told of Big Dave's demise. Big Dave died back in August after suffering from a brain hemorrhage. One of the other homeless heroes, Shane,...
- 12/14/2010
- by TMZ Staff
- TMZ
Dave broke down in tears after receiving a letter from his children and friends. The Christian minister was delighted when his housemates gathered round him as Sam - who had won the note in a Tree of Temptation task - read out the message while the group cooked dinner. The graffiti artist said he had something to read, before producing the letter. Sam read: ''Big Dave says, 'Love you dude, really proud of you, hope I never have to see your butt cheeks again.' '' Dave then wept as Sam read out the messages from his children, saying: ''Thank you for every ounce of ..
- 8/11/2010
- Virgin Media - TV
David Letterman sure threw down the gauntlet last week. The 63-year-old host of "The Late Show with David Letterman" proved that he can still swing with the younger crowd, as he devoted the entire Friday night (June 25) edition of his show to a visit by Jay-z and Eminem. Jigga sat down for a chat about LeBron James (among other things), Slim Shady read off the night's "Late Night Top 10 List" and they both adjourned to the roof of the Ed Sullivan Theater for a three-song performance that included Em's "Not Afraid," Hova's "On to the Next One" and the tag-team affair that is "Renegade." What will Letterman — and more importantly, the rest of the late night community — do for an encore?
If you're Jay Leno, you apparently take the week off. But Big Dave stays on the pulse this week with visits from indie favorites Tokyo Police Club (Monday, June 28) and New Pornographers (Wednesday,...
If you're Jay Leno, you apparently take the week off. But Big Dave stays on the pulse this week with visits from indie favorites Tokyo Police Club (Monday, June 28) and New Pornographers (Wednesday,...
- 6/28/2010
- by Kyle Anderson
- MTV Newsroom
One of the homeless men cops worked with to bust former Food Network host Juan-Carlos Cruz says he warned Cruz's wife, Jennifer Campbell , that he had been paid to kill her. David Walters -- aka Big Dave -- one of the men who told TMZ about the alleged murder-for-hire plot -- now tells us two days before he and his homeless friends informed cops about the plot, he went to the location where Cruz allegedly...
- 5/20/2010
- by TMZ Staff
- TMZ
The homeless men allegedly hired by former Food Network host Juan-Carlos Cruz (remember the "Calorie Commander?") claim they were instructed by Cruz to "cut a woman's throat."
According to TMZ, a homeless dude named Little Dave, said that Cruz offered to pay him "a grand" to kill his wife. He gave Little Dave a box with a box cutter, a disposable cell phone, gloves and a pocket watch. He says Cruz gave him $500 upfront and promised the other half when the job was done.
Little Dave says he then told his friend Shane the story. Shane says he called Cruz on the disposable phone and they reviewed the plan. Shane then got a third homeless man involved -- Big Dave.
So that's Big Dave, Little Dave and Shane. Got that?
All three homeless men met with Cruz, who showed them a photo of the victim, his wife. The plan was...
According to TMZ, a homeless dude named Little Dave, said that Cruz offered to pay him "a grand" to kill his wife. He gave Little Dave a box with a box cutter, a disposable cell phone, gloves and a pocket watch. He says Cruz gave him $500 upfront and promised the other half when the job was done.
Little Dave says he then told his friend Shane the story. Shane says he called Cruz on the disposable phone and they reviewed the plan. Shane then got a third homeless man involved -- Big Dave.
So that's Big Dave, Little Dave and Shane. Got that?
All three homeless men met with Cruz, who showed them a photo of the victim, his wife. The plan was...
- 5/16/2010
- by editorial@zap2it.com
- Pop2it
The homeless men Juan-Carlos Cruz allegedly tried to hire to kill his wife claim they were instructed to "cut [a] woman's throat." The men told TMZ an elaborate story. According to Little Dave , Cruz -- who had a show on The Food Network -- said he wanted someone to do "dirty deeds done dirt cheap." He says Cruz told him he would give him "a grand." Cruz then gave Little Dave a box which contained a box cutter,...
- 5/15/2010
- by TMZ Staff
- TMZ
This week's episode of Happy Town continued weaving the yarn of Haplin. Tommy Conroy is the town's sheriff while his father recovers from his surgery and he knows that his best friend, Big Dave, is the one that killed Jerry Friddle in the ice fishing shack.
Tommy & Dave dig holes all over a field where Dave said the bodies of the Magic Man's victims were buried. But they found nothing. Now Tommy is caught between arresting his friend and keeping him safe. Tommy asks Dave not to come around his wife and daughter because now he knows Dave is a murderer.
Tommy & Dave dig holes all over a field where Dave said the bodies of the Magic Man's victims were buried. But they found nothing. Now Tommy is caught between arresting his friend and keeping him safe. Tommy asks Dave not to come around his wife and daughter because now he knows Dave is a murderer.
- 5/13/2010
- by editor@buddytv.com
- buddytv.com
In order to succeed, Happy Town must be a fast-moving show. Other failed attempts by ABC to duplicate Lost (hello, FlashForward and V) have tanked in the ratings largely because they feature under-developed characters and boring, wayward plots.
On the flip side, consider the popularity of The Vampire Diaries and the way its handled its ever-evolving, answer-filled set of storylines.
The series premiere of Happy Town threw a lot at viewers and intrigued me to the point where I excitedly tuned in again last night. But something strange happened on "I Came to Haplin for the Waters" and it had nothing to do with the Magic Man.
It felt like the show couldn't fill an hour of television. Literally.
Multiple scenes and conversations just dragged on, as if the writers only had enough for a 45-minute show. First, there was the extraordinarily odd instance of Henley sneaking out to copy Mrs.
On the flip side, consider the popularity of The Vampire Diaries and the way its handled its ever-evolving, answer-filled set of storylines.
The series premiere of Happy Town threw a lot at viewers and intrigued me to the point where I excitedly tuned in again last night. But something strange happened on "I Came to Haplin for the Waters" and it had nothing to do with the Magic Man.
It felt like the show couldn't fill an hour of television. Literally.
Multiple scenes and conversations just dragged on, as if the writers only had enough for a 45-minute show. First, there was the extraordinarily odd instance of Henley sneaking out to copy Mrs.
- 5/6/2010
- by matt@iscribelimited.com (M.L. House)
- TVfanatic
Bear Grylls braves sharks and eats sludgy fish eyes. But does this have anything to do with survival, asks John Crace
Do you know anyone who owes their life to Bear Grylls? Mmm. I thought not. But I ask because the stated pretext of Bear Grylls: Born Survivor (Discovery) – now starting its fourth season – is "to teach the skills that will enable you to survive extreme conditions". Was anyone other than me making notes on what to do if you were pushed out of a helicopter on to a sandbar several miles into the Pacific, off Panama?
Here's what you do. First, you swim two miles through shark-infested waters to an uninhabited island further out into the ocean. Then you build a fire out of dried grass and old flip-flops, as a signal to be ignored by a lone passing yacht. After a pause for an ad break, you...
Do you know anyone who owes their life to Bear Grylls? Mmm. I thought not. But I ask because the stated pretext of Bear Grylls: Born Survivor (Discovery) – now starting its fourth season – is "to teach the skills that will enable you to survive extreme conditions". Was anyone other than me making notes on what to do if you were pushed out of a helicopter on to a sandbar several miles into the Pacific, off Panama?
Here's what you do. First, you swim two miles through shark-infested waters to an uninhabited island further out into the ocean. Then you build a fire out of dried grass and old flip-flops, as a signal to be ignored by a lone passing yacht. After a pause for an ad break, you...
- 5/4/2010
- by John Crace
- The Guardian - Film News
ABC has been heavily promoting the new serial drama Happy Town during Lost this season, touting it as “from the network that brought you Twin Peaks.” Let’s face it, there will never be another Twin Peaks, but the Happy Town premiere is intriguing enough to keep my interest. It boasts a town mystery and some quirky characters, but the comparisons to Twin Peaks should stop right there. Happy Town is more accessible to mainstream audiences, though it still throws enough oddities in the mix to satisfy the more serious television fan.
This post will not have spoilers beyond those that can be seen in the promotional trailer for the series. Haplin, Minnesota is a quaint little town, home of “Daily Bread” bakery and confectionery, and a mysterious character called “the Magic Man.” The Magic Man earned his name because for eight consecutive years, someone would go missing, never to be heard from again.
This post will not have spoilers beyond those that can be seen in the promotional trailer for the series. Haplin, Minnesota is a quaint little town, home of “Daily Bread” bakery and confectionery, and a mysterious character called “the Magic Man.” The Magic Man earned his name because for eight consecutive years, someone would go missing, never to be heard from again.
- 4/28/2010
- by Shannon Hood
- The Flickcast
Tonight, ABC unleashes another would-be cult show with the dark mystery Happy Town. We’ve had the chance – with a lot of other press – to take in the first three episodes of Happy Town. I’ll admit I came into Happy Town with a lot of cynicism because the early marketing cheekily dropped the phrase “from the network that brought you Twin Peaks.” I worship Twin Peaks. When all was said and done though, Happy Town made me a believer.
The first thing you need to do before you watch Happy Town is get all of these Twin Peaks allusions out of your head. Both shows start with similar subject matter , an overarching mystery playing out in an isolated hamlet populated by typical small-town types with dark pasts, but that is where they part ways. Happy Town is far less in the realm of Théâtre de l'Absurde than Twin Peaks...
The first thing you need to do before you watch Happy Town is get all of these Twin Peaks allusions out of your head. Both shows start with similar subject matter , an overarching mystery playing out in an isolated hamlet populated by typical small-town types with dark pasts, but that is where they part ways. Happy Town is far less in the realm of Théâtre de l'Absurde than Twin Peaks...
- 4/28/2010
- by Jon Lachonis
- TVovermind.com
Mark Millar has made some pretty impressive works of fiction. From Ultimate X-Men to Kick-Ass, he's got a great track record for telling stories. Here's a bit of background on Mark from Wikipedia: Millar was inspired to become a comic writer after meeting Alan Moore at a signing session at Aka Books and Comics when he was a teenager in the late 1980s. However it wasn't until experiencing financial problems after his parents died that he decided to drop out of university and take up writing professionally. His first job as a comic book writer came when he was still in high school, writing Trident's Saviour with Daniel Vallely providing art. Saviour proved to be one of Trident Comics' most popular titles. It provided a mix of postmodernist storytelling, religion, satire and superhero action Millar later became known for. During the 1990s, Millar then worked on titles such as 2000 Ad,...
- 2/3/2010
- LRMonline.com
IMDb.com, Inc. takes no responsibility for the content or accuracy of the above news articles, Tweets, or blog posts. This content is published for the entertainment of our users only. The news articles, Tweets, and blog posts do not represent IMDb's opinions nor can we guarantee that the reporting therein is completely factual. Please visit the source responsible for the item in question to report any concerns you may have regarding content or accuracy.