Thompson on Hollywood

'The Girl,' Ethel Kennedy Dominate HBO at TCA: Hedren Calls Hitchcock 'evil and deviant,' Sorkin Answers 'Newsroom' Critics

Television

HBO may be making fewer movies, but it appears that “The Girl” will be as provocative as any it has ever mounted. It presents a distinctly unsavory vision of revered helmer Alfred Hitchcock (whose "Vertigo" tops Sight & Sound's new poll) through the prism of his unwelcome advances on leading lady Tippi Hedren during the making of the classic 1963 suspenser “The Birds.”

By Amy Dawes
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August 1, 2012 9:09 PM
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'The Newsroom' Episode 6 Review and Recap: 'Bullies,' Heroes and Will McAvoy's Charmed Navigation of the Two

Television

In Sunday's all-new episode of "The Newsroom," Will tries to knock internet bullies off their anonymous pedestals, and in turn realizes he's a bully. The problem with this show? Aaron Sorkin will never truly let Will McAvoy be knocked from HIS pedestal.

By Beth Hanna
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July 30, 2012 3:26 AM
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Frank Pierson Remembered

Features

Meeting Frank Pierson was intimidating, to put it mildly. I was sitting outside the old WGAw boardroom, waiting to find out whether I, as a runner-up, would be filling a seat. I don’t remember who ushered me inside, but I sure remember Frank.

By Terry Curtis Fox
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July 25, 2012 5:07 PM
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HBO Gives Middling to Poor Reviews of 'The Newsroom' a Strange Makeover in Print Ad

News

Misrepresentative review quotes being used for film or TV show ads is nothing new. HBO is the latest to climb on the bandwagon of strategically placed ellipses with its ads for Aaron Sorkin's "The Newsroom," a show receiving mixed reviews at best.

By Beth Hanna
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July 24, 2012 4:33 PM
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'The Newsroom' Episode 5 Review and Recap: In 'Amen,' Men Sustain Injuries while Women Sustain Hallmark Holiday Battiness

Television

In Sunday's all-new episode of "The Newsroom," personal injury and protest are recurring visuals against the powers-that-be -- an interesting idea that's clouded by Sorkin's grating use of Valentine's Day as a female crazyfest.

By Beth Hanna
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July 23, 2012 2:12 PM
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American Master Geffen Talks PBS Doc and Hollywood Changes at Television Critics Association

Television

The entertainment industry in the future will be vibrant and as important as ever---but dramatically less profitable, David Geffen predicted Sunday in Beverly Hills. The notoriously press shy media mogul made a rare public appearance in connection with an upcoming PBS documentary about his life and career.

By Amy Dawes
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July 23, 2012 11:27 AM
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Video: George R.R. Martin Interview on 'Game of Thrones'

Video

In this fascinating video interview, Hollywood screenwriter George R.R. Martin, born in Bayonne, New Jersey, talks about how he came to write the "Game of Thrones" books.

By Anne Thompson
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July 22, 2012 4:21 PM
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Weekly Wrap: 'Dark Knight Rises' Arrives Marred by Tragedy, Comic-Con Coverage, Emmy Nominations & More

News

This week on TOH, "The Dark Knight Rises" is taking the box office by storm even as a horrific tragedy in Colorado sets a somber mood for the film's opening, we supply Comic-Con coverage and interviews a-plenty, we look at the HBO-dominated Emmy nominations and more.

By TOH!
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July 21, 2012 8:11 PM
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Amazon Prime Instant Adds 'Fringe' & 'West Wing' to Library for a Supernatural-FBI-Clinton-Administration Summer

News

Fans of showrunner-creators Aaron Sorkin and J.J. Abrams will find this exciting: Amazon announces today a licensing agreement with Warner Bros. to add both "Fringe" and "The West Wing" to its Prime Instant Video library this summer. Both titles were previously unavailable.

By Beth Hanna
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July 20, 2012 2:01 PM
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HBO Dominates Emmy Nominations with 81, Led by 'Hemingway & Gelhorn' with 15; 'Killing' Shut Out UPDATED

Television

As expected, HBO, which is challenging the Hollywood studios with its smart programming, luring away both talent and audiences from the big screen, dominated the 64th Emmy nominations, for the 12th year in a row. This time they nabbed 81, led by movie star two-hander "Hemingway & Gelhorn," starring Clive Owen and Nicole Kidman (15 nominations).