When 1980’s Airplane! proved to be a massive hit, becoming one of the highest-grossing films of the year – up there with The Empire Strikes Back and Best Picture winner Kramer vs. Kramer – it was inevitable that it would get a sequel. But how often are comedy sequels good anyway? When have they ever really recaptured the magic and the laughter of the original? Well, Airplane II: The Sequel gave it a go…by basically being the same movie. Except this time around, Zaz wisely opted out, leaving the production without the strong leaders who reinvented the spoof genre. Instead, they got the guy who wrote Grease 2, one of the most notoriously awful sequels ever! So, strap in – no, not to an airplane but a space shuttle – as we find out: Wtf Happened to This Movie?!…The Sequel!
1980’s Airplane! did incredibly well upon release, making just under $85 million on a $3.5 million budget,...
1980’s Airplane! did incredibly well upon release, making just under $85 million on a $3.5 million budget,...
- 4/17/2024
- by Mathew Plale
- JoBlo.com
It was October of 1987 and I was saving the morning’s writing on my Mac 512 – a process that took about a minute longer than Michelangelo needed to finish chiseling David – when the phone rang. I welcomed the diversion.
“Turn on CNN,” said the voice on the other end. It was Ken Finkleman, one of the producers of the script I was working on.
“Why?”
“Just turn on CNN.”
I did. On the network was a breaking news story. A baby had fallen into a backyard well in Midland, Texas. The 18-month-old girl was alive and emergency workers were feverishly trying to rescue her. Jessica McClure, the toddler stuck in the well, would be a story that would capture the world’s attention over four days of around-the-clock coverage.
Besides the friends and family of baby Jessica, I doubt anyone else cared more about the child’s survival than me. Of course,...
“Turn on CNN,” said the voice on the other end. It was Ken Finkleman, one of the producers of the script I was working on.
“Why?”
“Just turn on CNN.”
I did. On the network was a breaking news story. A baby had fallen into a backyard well in Midland, Texas. The 18-month-old girl was alive and emergency workers were feverishly trying to rescue her. Jessica McClure, the toddler stuck in the well, would be a story that would capture the world’s attention over four days of around-the-clock coverage.
Besides the friends and family of baby Jessica, I doubt anyone else cared more about the child’s survival than me. Of course,...
- 6/1/2023
- by Kevin Falls
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
When I was in high school there was an unspoken rule that said you were either a superfan of The Cure or The Smiths, but not both. Looking back now, this is an invented rivalry, as both groups cover much of the same artistic ground and appeal to like-minded fans. I’ve been thinking about this theory a lot lately, because it really showcases the sort of things that feel of world-shattering importance when you are a teenager. And while I squandered much of my misspent youth dancing in my bedroom to both “Stop Me If You Think You’ve Heard This One Before” and “The Lovecats,” there was another, perhaps more consequential, pop culture face-off that caused division through the hallways of early-1990s schools everywhere: Grease or Grease 2?
As an amateur Greaseologist who spent way, way too much time plunked in front of his television watching Olivia Newton-John...
As an amateur Greaseologist who spent way, way too much time plunked in front of his television watching Olivia Newton-John...
- 7/11/2022
- by Chris Cummins
- Den of Geek
Keep up with the always-hopping film festival world with our weekly Film Festival Roundup column. Check out last week’s Roundup right here.
Lineup Announcements
– Hot Docs has announced the ten documentary features that will screen in this year’s Special Presentations program. Special Presentations features a high-profile collection of world and international premieres, award winners from the recent international festival circuit and works by master filmmakers or featuring some star subjects.
Special Presentations will screen as part of the 2017 Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival, running April 27 – May 7. The complete Special Presentations program and the full selection of films to screen at Hot Docs 2017 will be announced on March 21, including the 2017 opening night film.
The new titles include: “Bill Nye: Science Guy,” “Chasing Coral,” “Dolores,” “Elian,” “Joshua: Teenager vs. Superpower,” “In Loco Parentis,” “Nobody Speak: Trials of the Free Press,” “Rumble: The Indians Who Rocked the World,” “Strong Island” and “The Workers Cup.
Lineup Announcements
– Hot Docs has announced the ten documentary features that will screen in this year’s Special Presentations program. Special Presentations features a high-profile collection of world and international premieres, award winners from the recent international festival circuit and works by master filmmakers or featuring some star subjects.
Special Presentations will screen as part of the 2017 Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival, running April 27 – May 7. The complete Special Presentations program and the full selection of films to screen at Hot Docs 2017 will be announced on March 21, including the 2017 opening night film.
The new titles include: “Bill Nye: Science Guy,” “Chasing Coral,” “Dolores,” “Elian,” “Joshua: Teenager vs. Superpower,” “In Loco Parentis,” “Nobody Speak: Trials of the Free Press,” “Rumble: The Indians Who Rocked the World,” “Strong Island” and “The Workers Cup.
- 3/2/2017
- by Kate Erbland
- Indiewire
Of the many many TV shows over the years that were about TV shows, Garry Shandling didn't just co-create and star in the very best, he starred in two of the very best. Shandling, who died suddenly today at 66 (as first reported by TMZ), was not only co-creator (with Dennis Klein) and star of the trailblazing HBO comedy The Larry Sanders Show, about the narcissistic, self-loathing host of a late night network talk show, but earlier co-created (with Alan Zweibel) and starred in It's Garry Shandling's Show, an incredibly self-aware sitcom (originally airing on Showtime, and later rerun on Fox) where Sanders broke the fourth wall, went into the studio audience, and had a theme song so meta, it puts Abed on Community to shame: You can trace an entire generation of TV comedy to Larry Sanders. Not only did powerhouse writer/producers like Judd Apatow and Steve Levitan take early jobs there,...
- 3/24/2016
- by Alan Sepinwall
- Hitfix
The funding body’s Canada Feature Film Fund allocation applies to the 2014-15 cycle and includes films from Kim Nguyen and features actors such as Dane DeHaan and Catherine Keener.
The projects selected for funding are:
Away From Everywhere (Justin S Simms);
Chokeslam (Robert Cuffley);
Coconut Hero (Florian Cossen);
Destroyer (Kevan Funk);
The Education Of William Bowman (Ken Finkleman);
Grand Unified Theory (David Ray);
The Sabbatical (Brian Stockton);
The Saver (Wiebke von Carolsfeld);
The Second Time Around (Leon Marr);
Todd & The Book Of Pure Evil: The End Of The End (Craig David Wallace);
Two Lovers And A Bear (Kim Nguyen);
Unless (Alan Gilsenan);
The Unseen (Geoff Redknap); and
Your Money Or Your Wife (Iain Macleod).
“I’m delighted to see the variety of genres and stories represented by these new productions, which truly reflect the diversity, scope and originality of Canadian filmmaking,” said Telefilm Canada executive director Carolle Brabant.
“This selection includes dramas, comedies and thrillers...
The projects selected for funding are:
Away From Everywhere (Justin S Simms);
Chokeslam (Robert Cuffley);
Coconut Hero (Florian Cossen);
Destroyer (Kevan Funk);
The Education Of William Bowman (Ken Finkleman);
Grand Unified Theory (David Ray);
The Sabbatical (Brian Stockton);
The Saver (Wiebke von Carolsfeld);
The Second Time Around (Leon Marr);
Todd & The Book Of Pure Evil: The End Of The End (Craig David Wallace);
Two Lovers And A Bear (Kim Nguyen);
Unless (Alan Gilsenan);
The Unseen (Geoff Redknap); and
Your Money Or Your Wife (Iain Macleod).
“I’m delighted to see the variety of genres and stories represented by these new productions, which truly reflect the diversity, scope and originality of Canadian filmmaking,” said Telefilm Canada executive director Carolle Brabant.
“This selection includes dramas, comedies and thrillers...
- 7/28/2015
- by jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
- ScreenDaily
Aaron Sorkin has always had an obsession with showing the obstacles he must face while trying to make good TV — by creating shows centered on people and the obstacles they must face while trying to make good TV. His three TV-centric shows — Sports Night, Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip, and The Newsroom (not to be confused with Ken Finkleman’s cult, single-camera comedy The Newsroom, which us TV nerds should talk about more often, by the way) — primarily featured characters striving to make not just the best television broadcast they possibly can, but the best television they possibly can. Unfortunately, a lot of things — ratings-obsessed network suits, corporate overlords, war in the Middle East — get in the way of these noble souls and their mission to entertain/enlighten/change people’s lives.But really, these shows were/are mostly opportunities for Sorkin to vent his own frustrations with making...
- 11/10/2014
- by Craig D. Lindsey
- Vulture
Some sequels are doomed to live in the shadow of the hits that triggered them. Here are a few examples...
Following up a successful movie with a sequel is a tough proposition for any writer or director, and it's often the case that such follow-ups fail to recreate the magic of their predecessors. But sometimes, sequels can offer a different yet entertaining experience of their own, and it's even possible that, if they didn't happen to share the same name as an earlier hit film, they might even have been better received.
This article's dedicated to a few of these kinds of films. They offer lots of excitement, comedy, jolts of terror and a smattering of great performances, and might have fared better with audiences and critics had they not been sequels. At the very least, they attempted to do something a little different than the films they followed. While other examples undeniably remain,...
Following up a successful movie with a sequel is a tough proposition for any writer or director, and it's often the case that such follow-ups fail to recreate the magic of their predecessors. But sometimes, sequels can offer a different yet entertaining experience of their own, and it's even possible that, if they didn't happen to share the same name as an earlier hit film, they might even have been better received.
This article's dedicated to a few of these kinds of films. They offer lots of excitement, comedy, jolts of terror and a smattering of great performances, and might have fared better with audiences and critics had they not been sequels. At the very least, they attempted to do something a little different than the films they followed. While other examples undeniably remain,...
- 7/29/2014
- by ryanlambie
- Den of Geek
Yesterday, the Canadian Academy released its list of nominees for the 26th Gemini Awards, the Canadian equivalent of the Emmy Awards.
Best Animated Program or Series
* Glenn Martin Dds
* Hot Wheels - Battle Force Five
* Jimmy Two Shoes
* Kids vs. Kat
* March of the Dinosaurs
Best Children's or Youth Fiction Program or Series
* Anash and the Legacy of the Sun-Rock
* Degrassi: The Next Generation
* How to be Indie
* That's So Weird
* Vacation with Derek
Best Children's or Youth Non-Fiction Program Series
* Artzooka!
* In Real Life
* Spelling Night in Canada: Canspell 2011
* Survive This
* TVOKids - Mark's Moments
Best Comedy Program or Series
* This Hour Has 22 Minutes
* Call Me Fitz
* Good Dog
* Halifax Comedy Fest 2010
* Living in Your Car
* Rick Mercer Report
Best Dramatic Mini-Series or TV Movie
* Fakers
* The Kennedys
* My Babysitter's a Vampire.
* The Pillars of the Earth
* Sleepyhead
Best Dramatic Series
* The Borgias
* Endgame
* Flashpoint
* Skins
* The Tudors...
Best Animated Program or Series
* Glenn Martin Dds
* Hot Wheels - Battle Force Five
* Jimmy Two Shoes
* Kids vs. Kat
* March of the Dinosaurs
Best Children's or Youth Fiction Program or Series
* Anash and the Legacy of the Sun-Rock
* Degrassi: The Next Generation
* How to be Indie
* That's So Weird
* Vacation with Derek
Best Children's or Youth Non-Fiction Program Series
* Artzooka!
* In Real Life
* Spelling Night in Canada: Canspell 2011
* Survive This
* TVOKids - Mark's Moments
Best Comedy Program or Series
* This Hour Has 22 Minutes
* Call Me Fitz
* Good Dog
* Halifax Comedy Fest 2010
* Living in Your Car
* Rick Mercer Report
Best Dramatic Mini-Series or TV Movie
* Fakers
* The Kennedys
* My Babysitter's a Vampire.
* The Pillars of the Earth
* Sleepyhead
Best Dramatic Series
* The Borgias
* Endgame
* Flashpoint
* Skins
* The Tudors...
- 8/4/2011
- by noreply@blogger.com (Anh Khoi Do)
- The Cultural Post
There are many reasons why some characters in the movies seem a bit familiar. Sometimes, the actor has become so badly typecast that they only seem to play one character, as Matthew Perry and Hugh Grant seemed doomed to do in the 1990s (before Perry was cast in short-lived TV series Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip and Grant in the Weitz brothers’ About a Boy, 2002). Sometimes a character is transferred completely from television to film, as Leslie Nielson’s Frank Drebin was from Police Squad to The Naked Gun series. But sometimes the reference, while deliberate, is more subtle.
An ‘Actor Allusion’, as defined on TV Tropes, is a casting in-joke or reference which refers to a previous role the actor has played. In most cases, the reference is a throwaway line or two and proceeds from the happy coincidence of that actor having been cast in that role (for example,...
An ‘Actor Allusion’, as defined on TV Tropes, is a casting in-joke or reference which refers to a previous role the actor has played. In most cases, the reference is a throwaway line or two and proceeds from the happy coincidence of that actor having been cast in that role (for example,...
- 4/6/2011
- by Juliette Harrisson
- SoundOnSight
In its opening scene, Canadian dramedy Good Dog directly references Curb Your Enthusiasm. Its lead character, neurotic TV producer George (Ken Finkleman), is planning an unnecessary trip to Los Angeles to get Larry David’s blessing to use the title “Embrace Your Enthusiasm” for a planned fly-on-the-wall series about his life. It feels like a move intended to undercut criticism that Good Dog‘s a “Canadian Curb“, but one that doesn’t work. If anything, it just draws additionally attention to the fact this is a poor man’s version of the Emmy-winning Curb, and possible the worst comedy pilot I’ve seen in years.
It doesn’t help that I had no idea who Ken Finkleman was, and therefore no opinion of him to subvert. He’s an award-winning writer-producer-actor, who created and starred in a hit Canadian TV series called The Newsroom in the ’90s, amongst other things,...
It doesn’t help that I had no idea who Ken Finkleman was, and therefore no opinion of him to subvert. He’s an award-winning writer-producer-actor, who created and starred in a hit Canadian TV series called The Newsroom in the ’90s, amongst other things,...
- 3/29/2011
- by Dan Owen
- Obsessed with Film
The Canadian half-hour comedy Good Dog - which was written, showrunned and directed by Ken Finkleman (The Newsroom) - premieres Sunday, March 6 at 8 Pm with the first two episodes back-to-back on HBO Canada, a premium cable network.
The TV series follows a self-absorbed, neurotic TV producer played by Ken Finkleman himself. His character named George is involved with a gorgeous model, Claire (Lauren Lee Smith), who is half his age. George also pitch a reality show centred on him and his life.
However, the network executives want Claire to move in George's house, George is forced to escalate the relationship and, consequently, his fears of commitment. When the pitch and his life go sideways, he frets, vents and re-evaluates by soliciting questionable advice from his best friend, Doug (Jason Weinberg).
The TV series follows a self-absorbed, neurotic TV producer played by Ken Finkleman himself. His character named George is involved with a gorgeous model, Claire (Lauren Lee Smith), who is half his age. George also pitch a reality show centred on him and his life.
However, the network executives want Claire to move in George's house, George is forced to escalate the relationship and, consequently, his fears of commitment. When the pitch and his life go sideways, he frets, vents and re-evaluates by soliciting questionable advice from his best friend, Doug (Jason Weinberg).
- 2/6/2011
- by anhkhoido@gmail.com (Anh Khoi Do)
- The Cultural Post
More Mipcom news
Cannes -- The weather on the Riviera at night is balmy and the stars are out. But it's not the Cannes Film Festival: It's that heretofore buttoned-down TV trade show known as Mipcom, which is emulating its movie-mad cousin by upping the glitz quotient on the Croisette.
The parade of personalities this week is led by a twosome from "Mad Men" -- Elisabeth Moss and Jon Hamm -- who, among other things, will grace a first-ever red carpet event Monday night.
The Emmy-winning AMC drama is just starting to catch on internationally, and distributor Lionsgate decided this is the moment to pique buyer interest by bringing along the talent.
Mipcom organizer Reed Midem several years ago said that there eventually would be cross-pollination between the film festival and the TV trade shows -- all French-based, French-fortified events. The Cannes fest would pay more attention to TV talent...
Cannes -- The weather on the Riviera at night is balmy and the stars are out. But it's not the Cannes Film Festival: It's that heretofore buttoned-down TV trade show known as Mipcom, which is emulating its movie-mad cousin by upping the glitz quotient on the Croisette.
The parade of personalities this week is led by a twosome from "Mad Men" -- Elisabeth Moss and Jon Hamm -- who, among other things, will grace a first-ever red carpet event Monday night.
The Emmy-winning AMC drama is just starting to catch on internationally, and distributor Lionsgate decided this is the moment to pique buyer interest by bringing along the talent.
Mipcom organizer Reed Midem several years ago said that there eventually would be cross-pollination between the film festival and the TV trade shows -- all French-based, French-fortified events. The Cannes fest would pay more attention to TV talent...
- 10/5/2010
- by By Elizabeth Guider and Rebecca Leffler
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
While it had already been picked up by a network at its home, the comedy series Good Dog will be presented abroad to international buyers.
This Canadian TV series created, written and produced by Ken Finkleman will premiere on HBO Canada, a Canadian premium cable network, in 2011 and is being presented to international buyers in Cannes at the 2010 Mipcom, an event where buyers reunite to see upcoming things in TV land.
Earlier today, potential international buyers saw an exclusive preview of Good Dog at Cannes's Palais des festivals.
The TV series follows a self-absorbed, neurotic TV producer played by Ken Finkleman himself. His character named George who's involved with a gorgeous model, Claire (Lauren Lee Smith), who is half his age. George also pitch a reality show centred on him and his life.
However, the network executives want Claire to move in George's house, George is forced to escalate the relationship and,...
This Canadian TV series created, written and produced by Ken Finkleman will premiere on HBO Canada, a Canadian premium cable network, in 2011 and is being presented to international buyers in Cannes at the 2010 Mipcom, an event where buyers reunite to see upcoming things in TV land.
Earlier today, potential international buyers saw an exclusive preview of Good Dog at Cannes's Palais des festivals.
The TV series follows a self-absorbed, neurotic TV producer played by Ken Finkleman himself. His character named George who's involved with a gorgeous model, Claire (Lauren Lee Smith), who is half his age. George also pitch a reality show centred on him and his life.
However, the network executives want Claire to move in George's house, George is forced to escalate the relationship and,...
- 10/4/2010
- by anhkhoido@hotmail.com (Anh Khoi Do)
- The Cultural Post
Paris -- Sun will meet Sundance when Robert Redford heads to Cannes to fete the first anniversary of the Sundance Channel in Europe at the 26th annual Mipcom market among other sophisticated small screen stars, organizers Reed Midem said Tuesday.
Mipcom attendees will be able to get "Up Close and Personal" with the star who will participate in a media Q&A on Oct. 6th and discuss the Sundance Channel's plans to expand across the globe.
Gene Simmons will give marketgoers a French Kiss when he heads to the Croisette to promote his A&E reality show "Gene Simmons Family Jewels" alongside former Playmate of the Year Shannon Tweed.
Fox International Channels will launch "The Walking Dead" with the show's exec producer Gale Anne Hurd and cast members Andrew Lincoln and Sarah Wayne Callies will be very much alive as they make their way down the Croisette to promote the new show.
Mipcom attendees will be able to get "Up Close and Personal" with the star who will participate in a media Q&A on Oct. 6th and discuss the Sundance Channel's plans to expand across the globe.
Gene Simmons will give marketgoers a French Kiss when he heads to the Croisette to promote his A&E reality show "Gene Simmons Family Jewels" alongside former Playmate of the Year Shannon Tweed.
Fox International Channels will launch "The Walking Dead" with the show's exec producer Gale Anne Hurd and cast members Andrew Lincoln and Sarah Wayne Callies will be very much alive as they make their way down the Croisette to promote the new show.
- 9/14/2010
- by By Rebecca Leffler
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
At last, the identity of the leading actors of the upcoming Canadian half-hour comedy series Good Dog has been announced. The show is currently in production in Toronto until August and will premiere on The Movie Network, a Canadian premium cable network, in 2011.
Obviously, those who keep an eye on what's going on in the Canadian showbiz industry have known for quite a while that writer/actor Ken Finkleman will be the lead. He'll play a character named George, a rich and old man who's got his own TV show about him that he wants to call Embrace your Enthusiasm. Besides, he's dating Claire (CSI: Crime Scene Investigation's Lauren Lee Smith), a gorgeous former model who is half George's age. It’s a hot May-December relationship in which George discovers he must be a “Good Dog” if he wants it to work out. Did we mention Claire has two young children and a nanny,...
Obviously, those who keep an eye on what's going on in the Canadian showbiz industry have known for quite a while that writer/actor Ken Finkleman will be the lead. He'll play a character named George, a rich and old man who's got his own TV show about him that he wants to call Embrace your Enthusiasm. Besides, he's dating Claire (CSI: Crime Scene Investigation's Lauren Lee Smith), a gorgeous former model who is half George's age. It’s a hot May-December relationship in which George discovers he must be a “Good Dog” if he wants it to work out. Did we mention Claire has two young children and a nanny,...
- 6/30/2010
- by anhkhoido@hotmail.com (Anh Khoi Do)
- The Cultural Post
More Mipcom coverage
Toronto -- Canadian TV writer-actor Ken Finkleman is to pen and star in the Canadian pay TV dramedy "Good Dog" from Shaftesbury Films.
The half-hour series for the Movie Network and Movie Central, the Canadian premium pay TV channels, will star Finkleman ("The Newsroom") as a neurotic TV show host who dates women half his age as he raises two kids.
The series will start production in early 2010.
Finkleman will share executive producer credits on "Good Dog" with Shaftesbury's Christina Jennings and Scott Garvie, and Peter Meyboom will produce.
In other Mipcom news, Canadian animation producer Nelvana Enterprises has sold the "Hot Wheels Battle Force 5" CGI animated series to RTL2 in Germany.
The co-production with Mattel Inc. was earlier sold to Cartoon Network stateside and Teletoon in Canada.
Toronto -- Canadian TV writer-actor Ken Finkleman is to pen and star in the Canadian pay TV dramedy "Good Dog" from Shaftesbury Films.
The half-hour series for the Movie Network and Movie Central, the Canadian premium pay TV channels, will star Finkleman ("The Newsroom") as a neurotic TV show host who dates women half his age as he raises two kids.
The series will start production in early 2010.
Finkleman will share executive producer credits on "Good Dog" with Shaftesbury's Christina Jennings and Scott Garvie, and Peter Meyboom will produce.
In other Mipcom news, Canadian animation producer Nelvana Enterprises has sold the "Hot Wheels Battle Force 5" CGI animated series to RTL2 in Germany.
The co-production with Mattel Inc. was earlier sold to Cartoon Network stateside and Teletoon in Canada.
- 10/5/2009
- by By Etan Vlessing
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
TORONTO -- The Showtime series Queer As Folk will challenge Da Vinci's Inquest, Canada's most popular drama, for the best drama writing prize at the Canadian Screenwriting Awards in April, the Writers Guild of Canada said Monday. Also joining Da Vinci's Inquest's Chris Haddock and Queer As Folk's Shawn Postoff in the best drama category are Alex Epstein (Naked Josh), Jason Sherman (Regenesis), Wayne Grigsby (Snakes and Ladders) and George F. Walker (This Is Wonderland). Queer As Folk is produced in Toronto and also airs on Showcase Television here. In the best comedy competition, CTV's Corner Gas, which is co-written by series star Brent Butt, will face off against The Newsroom, a CBC comedy from Ken Finkleman.
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