The Playlist

Debra Granik Eyes HBO Series With Midwest-Set Pilot 'American High Life'

By Charlie Schmidlin
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May 7, 2012 8:37 AM
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1 Comment

Television

Given that “Winter's Bone” helmer Debra Granik has supplied star turns to not only Jennifer Lawrence but Vera Farmiga as well, it's surprising to see her name mentioned still on so few projects. Luckily however, change is in the wind, and since Granik dropped her “Pippi Longstockings” adaptation from her slate, she's been announced to direct an adaptation of Russell Banks' “Rule of the Bone,” and now's she set to shoot an upcoming pilot for HBO.

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Review: 'Girls' Unfortunately Stumbles Into Sitcom Territory

By Kevin Jagernauth
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May 6, 2012 11:00 PM
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17 Comments

Television

As we mentioned in our review of the season premiere, "Girls" came out of the gate strong, exhibiting a fresh approach and confidence that many shows don't often have in their first season. Navigating the complexities of sex, relationships and friendships between women in Manhattan, Lena Dunham's effort seemed to sidestep the usual structure and expectations of the half hour format for something a bit more direct and honest. And while we figured "Girls" would stumble at some point, or perhaps deliver an episode below the standard set thus far, we didn't expect it to be so soon, or done so sloppily.

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Review: A Diva, A Dog & 20 Years In D.C. On 'Veep'

By Kevin Jagernauth
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May 6, 2012 10:30 PM
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1 Comment

Television

If over the last couple of episodes of "Veep" we've been critical of the writers overstuffing their plot, that's not an issue this time around. But unfortuantely, the titular subject of the episode (who really only comes into play in the last third), is also the least interesting.

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David Cronenberg To Guest Star On Syfy’s Time-Travel Pilot 'Rewind'

By Kevin Jagernauth
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May 4, 2012 2:17 PM
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1 Comment

Television

David Cronenberg certainly hasn't been lacking in things to do. The director has been in the midst of preparing/releasing back-to-back films: last year's underrated drama "A Dangerous Method" and the forthcoming "Cosmopolis," which will premiere at the Cannes Film Festival in a matter of weeks. And it looks like Cronenberg is ready to let someone else call the shots on set for the moment.

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Allison Anders Directing Lifetime's 'The June Carter Story' Starring Jewel

By Charlie Schmidlin
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May 4, 2012 9:43 AM
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0 Comments

Television

If you saw Reese Witherspoon’s Oscar-winning performance in “Walk The Line,” and thought her story needed a dose of muddy visuals and histrionic melodrama, Lifetime has fixed your needs completely with their new original movie.

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'Treasure Island' Prequel Series 'Black Sails' To Hit Starz By Way Of Swashbuckling Executive Producer Michael Bay

By Charlie Schmidlin
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May 4, 2012 9:17 AM
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0 Comments

Television

It's lesser known that, when not filling his daily machismo quotient filming “Pain and Gain” with Dwayne Johnson and Mark Wahlberg, Michael Bay prefers to return to his quiet seaside villa, put on his best Robert Evans hat, and produce. If you've sat through any horror remake credits of the past few years, you'll see Bay's had success at it too, but now he's looking to conquer premium cable with a new swashbuckling series in the works.

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Cancelled CBS Drama ‘Jericho’ May Rise Again On Netflix

By Charlie Schmidlin
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May 2, 2012 2:40 PM
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8 Comments

Television

Fresh off atoning for their Qwikster shenanigans by ordering new episodes of “Arrested Development,” Netflix is looking again to please fans of another cancelled show, albeit a show that may provoke a reaction of, “Oh yeah, that did exist, didn’t it?”

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Daniel Radcliffe Circling Brit TV Miniseries, Will Play Younger Version Of Jon Hamm

By Kevin Jagernauth
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May 2, 2012 10:38 AM
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0 Comments

Television

Don Draper and Harry Potter as the older and younger versions of each other? If these reports pan out that could very well be the case.

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Harvey Keitel Takes A Holiday, Joins Australia Set Lifetime Movie 'Fatal Honeymoon'

By Simon Dang
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May 2, 2012 8:59 AM
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4 Comments

Television

Yes, Harvey Keitel is starring in a Lifetime movie -- that's what we've come to. Although, in this case, we don't blame him for taking a trip to enjoy the warm weather of the Gold Coast, Australia.

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Were They Killing Horses Or Something? HBO Passes On Noah Baumbach's 'The Corrections'

By Kevin Jagernauth
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May 1, 2012 4:51 PM
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16 Comments

Television

Well, call it karma or something. While we were thrilled that HBO picked up "True Detective" a new crime series that will star Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson, with Cary Fukunaga ("Jane Eyre," "Sin Nombre") directing, it looks like another starry project unfortunately won't be going forward.

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