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Hollywood News Movies/Television

Masterchef Season 5 Finale Recap!

 

The season finale of Masterchef aired last night and it was a close tie between the two finalists! The two finalists were 25 year-old Courtney Lapresi, an “aerial dancer” from Philadelphia and 31 year-old advertising executive from New York, Eizabeth Cauval.

The two battled head-to-head last night after beating out the rest of the competition to land a spot in the finale. They each had to prepare an appetizer, entrée, and dessert for each of the three judges.

For appetizers, Elizabeth prepared grilled octopus while Courtney made pig’s ears. We’re not sure if either one sounds as appetizing to us as they did to the judges! For their appetizers Courtney prepared duck breast and Elizabeth prepared a spiced rack of lamb. Unfortunately, the rack of lamb that was served to Joe was rare!

Lastly, the girls prepared dessert. Elizabeth went for a grape fruit and olive oil cake with a plum trio while Courtney made a cherry meringue. Courtney decided to sample one of her meringues to see if it tasted okay but ended up realizing that she didn’t make extra, which was a huge problem as now her plate would not be balanced.

It definitely was a close race between the two chefs who did amazing all season. As the judges were about to announce a winner, Elizabeth’s husband suddenly passes out. He was a little too anxious to see who won! After making sure he was okay they announce the winner.

In the end, Courtney ended up winning season 5 Masterchef.

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Hollywood News Movies/Television Music/Concerts

The Simpsons at the Hollywood Bowl

In case you missed it, The Simpsons were at the Hollywood Bowl this past weekend. The show was appropriately titled, “The Simpsons Take the Bowl.”

Hank Azaria, Nancy Cartwright, and Yeardley Smith were all in attendance as part of the core cast of the show. These actors voice the characters of Moe Szyslak, Lisa Simpson, and Bart Simpson, respectively. Unfortunately, those not in attendance included Dan Castellaneta, the voice of Homer and Julie Kavner, the voice of Marge.

The show was a celebration filled with gratitude for the long running animated series. Many different clips were shown from the series and it was more of a hybrid show that featured the animated series as well as live action from performers.

Those in attendance were also treated to a mini-Simpsons carnival. There was a mini-Duff air blimp, and a battery of T-shirt cannons blazing away. Ushers from the venue wore red cornstalk-style wigs like Sideshow Bob, while many female orchestra members donned a mountain of blue hair just like Marge Simpson.

The show is premiering this month on September 28 on Fox for its 26th season with the episode titled, “Clown in the Dumps.”

Read the full story and review here: latimes.com

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Movies/Television Celebrity News

Married with Children Spinoff

 



Married with Children might be coming back to television according to E! in the form of a spinoff. The spinoff is in the works at Sony Pictures Television. The iconic family of four had a reunion earlier this week when Katey Sagal, who played Peggy Bundy, was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of fame.

“We’ve talked about it every year, but then there are so many pieces that have to be in alignment that for some reason it never happens,” she spilled. “But we love each other. Well, we’re all working now, so it’s hard to find the time!”

The spinoff is set to focus on David Faustino’s character, Bud. Katey Sagal, Christina Applegate, and Ed O’Neill do not plan to reprise their roles as they are focused on their other projects going on. It would be interesting to see if they would guest star on the new spin off.

Married … With Children was one of the first original series on Fox. The show ran for 11 seasons from 1987 to 1997 and was created by Michael G. Moye and Ron Leavitt. It was the longest-lasting live-action sitcom to air on Fox.

Read the full story at: eonline.com

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Music/Concerts Movies/Television

‘American Idol’ is Back for a 14th Season

Yes, American Idol is here to stay. Fox has announced that American Idol will return for its 14th season this year. There has been no confirmation as to who will be at the judges table this time around, but they finished off season 13 with Jennifer Lopez, Harry Connick Jr. and Keith Urban.

The network made the news official by announcing the audition dates that will bring in the ultra-talented singers for this season. American Idol auditions will hit 15 cities across the country, with its launch on June 18 in Minneapolis. The reality singing competition is sure to be a good one, as always.

Fox sees competition with other reality singing competitions, such as NBC’s The Voice, which is on its 6th season. The Voice is home to judges/coaches Adam Levine, Blake Shelton, Pharrell Williams and Gwen Stefani. The most recent performance episode of American Idol brought in 8.65 million viewers.

See full story at E!.

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Movies/Television Celebrity News

Damon Wayans Jr. Now a Regular on ‘New Girl’

Damon Wayans Jr. is now a regular on New Girl. Wayans starred in the pilot episode as Coach on New Girl, but left after that. He made his return to the show this year, during season 3, and he’s been given “regular cast member” status for season 4 since then.

Damon Wayans Jr. made his first appearance on New Girl in 2011 for the pilot episode, but had to exit the show after it was picked up by Fox because of a second season renewal of his prior commitment, ABC’s Happy Endings. The show ended after season 3 in 2013, and Wayans made his return to New Girl just in time for season 3 in 2013. Fox added him for a 6-episode arc, but was soon after signed on as a special guest star for the remainder of the season. His title as a regular on the cast comes as no surprise as he starred in 17 consecutive episodes in season 3.

Wayans plays Coach, the basketball playing roommate who Jess, played by Zooey Deschanel, replaced in the loft. The other loft mates are Nick and Schmidt, played by Jake Johnson and Max Greenfield. Damon Wayans Jr. has been highly sought after for numerous pilots during the recent pilot season, turning down projects this time for New Girl.

Read full story at The Hollywood Reporter.

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HPC News Hollywood News Movies/Television

Tenant Spotlight with Bryan Grant

Brant Grant is the CEO and Creative

We had the opportunity to catch up with Bryan Grant of Bryan Grant Studios from our Hollywood Production Center location…

Bryan Grant is the founder and Executive Creative Director of Bryan Grant Studios. BGS is globally recognized for their work in broadcast, theatrical and digital Motion Graphics, Branding & 3D Animation. With over 20 years’ experience they’ve had the fortune of working with clients across the country including leading networks, studios, agencies, celebrities, & producers like David Copperfield, ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX, Universal Pictures, HBO, Nike, JWT, DDBO, Lexus & T-Mobile to name just a few. The full list can be found at bryangrantstudios.com. The studio’s work can be screened HERE.

Tell us a little about yourself, Bryan?
I went to Seaholm High school in Birmingham, MI & Columbia College in Chicago, IL. I studied film production and had the fortune of working with some incredible DP’s and film directors. In high school I was asked to teach the television production class, which was wild because a lot of my friends were my “students”. I later taught an animation course in college to help pay for my schooling. Most notably, I’ll never turn down some incredible BBQ.

How did you get started in the entertainment industry?
It’s funny.  I started at 14 when I opened my own video production company in Birmingham, MI. We became the #1 video production company for weddings & bar mitzvah one year later. I feel blessed to have always known what I wanted to do at a very early age.  Many years later after moving to Los Angeles my first client through BGS was Disney where we helped them animate one of their largest entertainment properties at the time.

Do you enjoy what you do?
I love what I do!  I couldn’t imagine doing anything else with my life. I especially love what happens when we combine the latest technology in VFX & 3D with our creative vision to help produce one-of-a-kind creative for our clients.

Who would you say is your biggest client that you were you like, “whoa!”
I would say David Copperfield.  He was an idol of mine growing up.  In fact I would tape all of his television specials every year and watch them a million times over.  So when he approached me later in my adult life it was totally surreal and an amazing experience. I was tasked to brand his new production company Red Safe.  The branding premiered in Variety magazine 2 months later and we couldn’t be happier.

Where do you see the future for BGS?
It’s important for me to promote the company’s core values, which are integrity, loyalty and accountability. Our client’s value that along with our strong creative output.  I see BGS growing into one of the most influential design and animation studio in Los Angeles within 2 years.  Staying humble, innovative and inspiring will get us there.

Thanks for taking the time out of your busy day to sit down with us, Bryan!

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Hollywood News Movies/Television

‘Heroes’ Coming Back to NBC

NBC will be bringing back an old favorite, 'Heroes', with a 'Heroes Reborn' in 2015.
NBC will be bringing back an old favorite, ‘Heroes’, with ‘Heroes Reborn’ in 2015.

Have you missed NBC’s Heroes since it ended in 2010? The superhero drama starring Hayden Panettiere kick started the superhero genre in television back in 2006, and it will now be making a reappearance. Original Heroes fans will be happy to hear that NBC has decided to bring back the show for a 13-episode event series to air in 2015. The new show will be titled Heroes Reborn and will be a stand-alone story. The characters have still not been announced, but fans should look forward to this because the original series creator Tim Kring will be leading this project as well.

Heroes was cancelled four years ago, but it was a huge hit at the time with its first season premiering to an average of 14.5 million viewers. With declining ratings, broadcast networks are turning to past series and brands to grab the attention of the old fan base. While Heroes was one of the first in the television superhero genre, there has since been, and continue to be, many others. Depending on which shows get renewed or greenlit by the 2015 season, Heroes Reborn could be looking at competition with The CW’s Arrow and its new spin-off Flash, Fox’s Batman prequel Gotham and ABC’s Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.

See full story at Entertainment Weekly.

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HPC News Hollywood News

Tenant Spotlight with Jonathan Skogmo

Jonathan Skogmo is the CEO of Jukin' Media Inc.
Jonathan Skogmo is the founder and CEO of Jukin’ Media Inc.

Jonathan Skogmo is the founder and CEO of Jukin’ Media Inc. Their content has been seen on Bravo, MTV, and FOX, among other networks. Fans love the popular video “Husky Says No To Kennel,” which depicts a beautiful defiant husky laying down and literally saying “No!” to his masters at every command (watch here). Jon is currently a tenant at our flagship location in Hollywood, and we’re so proud to have witnessed his success and growth.  We recently caught up with Jonathan to learn what Jukin’ Media Inc. is all about and his vision for his company’s future…

Jon, please describe the industry you’re in.
We’re in the digital media industry. And, more specifically, our focus is on-line video.

How would you describe your company in one sentence?
We reward viral-style video creators by monetizing their video content and bringing it to a larger audience.

Your company was founded in 2009. What key changes have you seen take place in the industry since then?
The industry is moving so fast that the changes from year to year are immense, let alone a five-year span. One thing that’s definitely changed is that on-line video consumption has exploded!  Viewership continues to rise and brands and advertisers are shifting serious ad dollars into digital media.
What’s in the future for Jukin’ Media?
Bigger rewards for our members. We are developing new business relationships and strategic partnerships that will be an enormous boost to our member community. Our list of media partners continues to grow, so our members are seeing their videos on more and more media outlets, TV shows, and ad campaigns.

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Glendale News Movies/Television Celebrity News HPC News

Wanda Sykes is Bringing Back ‘Last Comic Standing’

Wanda Sykes of Push It Productions will be executive producing NBC's 'Last Comic Standing,' which is set to air in summer 2014.
Wanda Sykes of Push It Productions will be executive producing NBC’s ‘Last Comic Standing,’ which is set to air in summer 2014.

HPC News – Hollywood Production Center is currently housing Push It Productions, which is run by the powerful duo Wanda Sykes and Page Hurwitz. Following a three-year absence, NBC is bringing back Last Comic Standing, and Push It Productions is on board to produce the show. Wanda Sykes and Page Hurwitz are attached as executive producers, continuing Hurwitz’s relationship with the series as executive producer from 2006 to 2010.

The eighth season of Last Comic Standing, an unscripted comedic competition series is set to be aired on NBC in the summer of 2014. The show first started in 2003 and ran seven seasons until 2010. The show is being revived, and the network is once again bringing together top comedians from across the country to compete in a series of comedic challenges each week until one comedian is left standing with a development contract with NBC and a television special on Comedy Central.

Push It Productions inked the overall deal with Universal Television’s alternative studio in April. Wanda Syke’s credits include a long stand-up comedy career complete with three Emmy Awards and television work, such as HBO’s Curb Your Enthusiasm, Fox’s The Wanda Sykes Show, Comedy Central’s Wanda Does It. Hurwitz’s own resume includes work on OWN’s The Rosie Show and NBC’s The Marriage Ref.

View full story at The Hollywood Reporter.

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HPC News Hollywood News Movies/Television

Kevin Williamson of ‘The Following’ and ‘The Vampire Diaries’

Kevin Williamson, the creator of 'The Following' and 'The Vampire Diaries' discusses the uprising trend of horror with The Hollywood Reporter.
Kevin Williamson, the creator of ‘The Following’ and ‘The Vampire Diaries’ discusses the uprising trend of horror with The Hollywood Reporter.

HPC News – The Hollywood Production Center is home to FOX’s The Following and The CW’s The Vampire Diaries, and Kevin Williamson, the creator of both shows was recently featured in The Hollywood Reporter. Williamson spoke to them about movies that have scared him the most, which he said was The Exorcist when he was a kid, and now as an adult Hostile. In discussing the uprising trend of the horror genre, Williamson talked about the recent popularity of ‘found footage’ as seen in the Paranormal Activity franchise, while the young adult demographic has seen a rise in the theme of a post-apocalyptic world. Kevin Williamson’s horror background also includes working on the Scream franchise, as well I Know What You Did Last Summer.

The Hollywood Reporter crew came to the Hollywood Production Center and filmed the entire piece in our spacious conference room. The day also included a photo shoot focusing on Williamson’s recent success with The Following. The hit serial killer drama revolves around an ex-FBI agent (played by Kevin Bacon) who tries to track down a serial killer who escaped prison and is growing a huge cult following. The Following was reordered for a second season and has put out a teaser for their new season that is expected to premiere on January 20, 2014.

Watch Kevin Williamson’s interview with The Hollywood Reporter here.
Watch The Following season 2 teaser here.

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Hollywood News Movies/Television

NBC Orders ‘Growing Ivy’ Pilot

NBC has ordered the pilot 'Growing Ivy,' which will star the mother-daughter duo Susan Sarandon and Eva.
NBC has ordered the pilot ‘Growing Ivy,’ which will star the mother-daughter duo Susan Sarandon and Eva Amurri Martino.

NBC has just ordered a pilot production of a comedy series starring the mother and daughter duo Susan Sarandon and Eva Amurri Martino. Growing Ivy is a comedy based on an original idea from Eva. The show will revolve around Ivy, a Type A personality who craves the stability she lacked in her childhood, and as a way to fix her life she invites her mother to move in with her to fix their relationship. Growing Ivy will be the third time Sarandon and Amurri play mother and daughter onscreen; they first appeared together in the 2002 The Banger Sisters and will also be seen in the upcoming indie film Mother’s Day.

Eva Amurri Martino will be writing the script alongside Will McCormack and his writing-producing partner Rashida Jones. McCormack and Jones will executive produce the comedy via Warner Brothers Television and Martino and Sarandon will be on board as co-executive producers as well. The WBTV duo came together after their work on Celeste and Jesse Forever and are preparing The Revengers for The CW, Stuck for FOX and A to Z for NBC.

The single-camera comedy project Growing Ivy has not started production yet and has not received a premiere date as of yet.

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Hollywood News Movies/Television

Superheros aren’t Just for Movies

James Gordon will have his own show on FOX called 'Gotham,' which was ordered by the network.
‘Batman’ character Commissioner James Gordon will have his own show on FOX called ‘Gotham,’ which was ordered by the network earlier this week.

FOX just announced that they have ordered a series based on the comic book story of Batman. The straight-to-series comic book drama set to be called Gotham will serve as a prequel and will focus on the life of comic book character Commissioner James Gordon. Gotham City’s most notable police officer will get his time in the spot light, in addition to the villains who made this city famous. Because this story will take place before Gordon has met Batman, the superhero will not be involved in the series.

The series was written by Bruno Heller who is also set to be executive producer. Gotham marks the latest comic book adaptation at FOX, but they are also currently working on adapting Vertigo’s comic League of Extraordinary Gentleman. We will also soon be seeing Boom Studios’ comic Unthinkable on the table.

If you thought that TV would be safe from all of the superhero bonanza, you will find that you are terribly wrong. The CW is already premiering its second season of Arrow next month, with an imminent spin-off called Flash. If all goes well, we will also be seeing Amazon, which is a potential Wonder Woman prequel series.

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HPC News Hollywood News Movies/Television

With the Fall Season Comes Fall TV

CBS, NBC and ABC will start their fall TV premieres this week, joining FOX that started last week and the CW that will start next week.
CBS, NBC and ABC will start their fall TV premieres this week, joining FOX that started last week and the CW that will start next week.

This week is kicking off with the majority of networks premiering their new television shows alongside their beloved returners. While Fox had its premiere week last week, the rest of the networks are just catching up. This week CBS, NBC and ABC joined in to round off the big 4 networks for fall television in 2013. The CW network will soon be joining in as well with their premieres starting on October 3rd and continuing into the next week.

What shows should you be looking forward to? If you’ve been up with TV thus far, you’ll understand just how exciting it is for CBS’ How I Met Your Mother to be back for its final season after the Mother was revealed to viewers during last season’s finale. Zooey Deschanel has made her way into everyone’s hearts as the “adorkable” girl in New Girl, and with the new budding romance with Nick, everyone will be tuning in to see if these lovebirds can make it. Other returners garnering buzz are The Big Bang Theory, Nashville and Parks and Recreation.

We know we’re ready to try a new show, and with that we can’t wait for the CW’s The Originals to air. The show is a spin-off of the hit show Vampire Diaries, and is a continuation of the lives of the original vampire family. The Originals is set to premiere Thursday, October 3.

Check out the rest of the television calendar here: http://www.tvguide.com/special/fall-preview/calendar.aspx?wcid=15.

Categories
Glendale News Movies/Television

Glendale Dancer Competing in “So You Think You Can Dance”

Glendale's Paul Karmiryan will be competing in this season's "So You Think You Can Dance."
Glendale’s Paul Karmiryan will be competing in this season’s “So You Think You Can Dance.”

“So You Think You Can Dance” is back on Fox this summer for its 10th season, and this year a Glendale resident will be dancing for the top title. Paul Karmiryan is a 21-year-old Glendale resident that started learning Latin ballroom at the age of 17. He is among the Top 20 dancers chosen to move on to the regular competition after surviving the Vegas Week callbacks. Paul will be up against 19 equally talented and professionally trained dancers from across the United States.

The first Live Show of the season premieres tonight, Tuesday, June 25th at 8:00PM as a 2-hour episode on Fox. Each week, dancers will be coupled up and randomly given a genre to dance to. They will have one week to practice before performing at the live competition. One couple will be eliminated each week until the final winning couple is chosen at the end of the season. As the couples begin to dwindle, the dancers will also be performing solos.

Paul may have an advantage in this season’s competition because he competed in and won the Armenian version of “So You Think You Can Dance” two years ago. Paul entered into the competition while visiting the country for the first time since he left, and he quickly won over their hearts with his dancing. While the experiences will be completely different, Paul was able to grow as a person and dancer while competing on the show, and hopefully will be able to use that to his advantage.

Paul came to Glendale from Armenia at the age of 6 and his only previous dance experience was traditional Armenian dancing. With only 5 years of professional dance experience, Paul will have to work hard to compete with the dancers who have been dancing since a very young age.

This year’s judges will include Nigel Lythgoe, Mary Murphy and Adam Shankman, and the show will be hosted by Cat Deeley. The weekly live shows are filmed in Los Angeles.