Thompson on Hollywood

'Top of the Lake' Finale Recap: State of Emergency

Television

Certain episodes of television stand out not only within the course of a series, but within the course of a year. In 2012, it was the eleventh episode of “Mad Men,” titled “The Other Women” (incidentally also featuring a stunning performance from Elisabeth Moss). This year, the finale of “Top of the Lake” achieves that same skin-tingling, harshly heartbreaking, core-shaking status.

By Beth Hanna
|
April 16, 2013 2:27 PM
|
8 Comments

More:

Video Highlights of the MTV Movie Awards: Aubrey Plaza Stage Crashes, Bradley Cooper's Smooching Skills, Trailblazer Emma Watson and More

Video

You can count on the MTV Movie Awards to be noisy, lively, silly and awkward, and Sunday night was no exception. Check out the full list of winners and highlights below, including Aubrey Plaza stage-crashing Will Ferrell, Seth Rogen and Zac Efron going pantless to present the Best Shirtless Performance, Emma Watson being adorably flustered by her win as MTV Trailblazer, and more.

By Beth Hanna
|
April 15, 2013 1:32 PM
|
0 Comments

More:

'Game of Thrones' 3.3: 'Walk of Punishment,' Recap and Review

Nikolaj Coster-Waldau as Jaime Lannister

Reviews

Spoilers rule as "Game of Thrones" series co-creator David Benioff directs, picking up the pace in short, tight scenes that bounce us around all over Westeros. He clearly relishes delivering personally the first of the third season's classic Holy Shit moments.

By David Chute
|
April 14, 2013 10:14 PM
|
0 Comments

More:

HBO Picks Start Date for Season Two of Sorkin's 'Newsroom'

Television

HBO is giving us some meaty counterprogramming during the summer, when multiplexes are jammed with mindless popcorn fare. The

By Anne Thompson
|
April 12, 2013 3:18 PM
|
0 Comments

More:

Aereo's Barry Diller Disrupts the TV Establishment--Yet Again

Television

Over the decades Hollywood has feared and tried to spurn most new technology -- television, video cassette recorders, cable, digital video recorders, and internet access to its goodies. The newest object of its fear is Aereo -- which uses thousands of tiny individual antennas to capture and stream to subscribers free TV channels without paying retransmission fees. Aereo, which, like DVRs, allows subscribers to fast forward past commercials, won big in the Second Circuit Court of Appeals 10 days ago when the court refused to issue an injunction against it.

By Aljean Harmetz
|
April 10, 2013 1:03 PM
|
0 Comments

More:

'Top of the Lake' Episode 5 Recap: The Body Knows What To Do

Television

This week’s episode of “Top of the Lake” finds its characters combating feelings of helplessness -- from the past, from a seemingly impenetrable mystery, and from death.

By Beth Hanna
|
April 8, 2013 11:00 PM
|
14 Comments

More:

Five Striking Similarities Between Elisabeth Moss' Roles on 'Mad Men' and 'Top of the Lake'

Television

A joy of the current TV season is that one of the medium’s finest actresses, Elisabeth Moss, has key roles in two of the finest series in recent memory -- “Mad Men,” now in its sixth season, and Jane Campion’s “Top of the Lake.” While the athletic, hardened Kiwi detective Robin Griffin and sharp-as-a-tack ‘60s Mad Woman Peggy Olson are worlds, eras and professions away from one another, I’ve noticed some striking similarities between the two characters.

By Beth Hanna
|
April 8, 2013 3:44 PM
|
4 Comments

More:

'Game of Thrones' 3.2 Review and Recap: 'Dark Wings, Dark Words'

Television

If the opening episode of Season Three of Game of Thrones was mostly talking, Episode Two is mostly walking, though it sets a brisk pace and there's a lot to see along the way.

By David Chute
|
April 8, 2013 3:04 PM
|
2 Comments

More:

Melissa McCarthy Hosts an Uproarious SNL, Plus Peter Dinklage! (VIDEO)

Video

Melissa McCarthy displayed her range during her hosting gig at Saturday Night Live (clips below). She began her second turn hosting the show with a welcome and rare dose of old-school physical humor in her klutzy monologue.

By Maggie Lange
|
April 7, 2013 9:42 PM
|
0 Comments

More:

Watch: 'Mad Men' Season 5 Recap (Video)

Video

Are you already swilling a highball, stroking pearls or sporting high-waisted trousers in anticipation of the season six premiere of "Mad Men" Sunday night? Well, here's an economical three-minutes video precap to bring you up to speed. Hopefully this is the last of the appetizers before a satisfying entree.