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Exclusive Interview: RCVR Producer Tavin Marin Titus talks about Season 1 of the hit sci-fi web series

By CARL CORTEZ 11/23/2011

t The cast of RCVR – Season 1 | ©2011 RCVR Productions When the first episode of the transmedia series RCVR made its debut in September (you can find the episodes – HERE), it took the internet by storm – amassing a million views in a little less than a week, with the other five installments clocking in with similar impressive numbers. Created and directed by David Van Eyssen, the series is set in 1973 where an extraterrestrial encounter has massive ramifications for an American government operative. What sets RCVR apart from many other web series was the size and […]Read On »

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TV Review: THE X FACTOR – Season 1 – “The Top 9 Perform” Recap

By CARL CORTEZ

Melanie Amaro performs on THE X FACTOR - Season 1 - "The Top 9 Perform" | ©2011 Fox/Ray Mickshaw

Judges: Simon Cowell, Paula Abdul, Antonio Reid, Nicole Scherzinger Network: Fox Original Telecast: November 22, 2011 THE X FACTOR was all about giving thanks this week, with the contestants picking songs that mean something to them and inspired them the most. Of course there was the good, the bad and the emotional – and picking on singers now feels like I’m taking cheap shots with it being an inspirational week, but with two people going home this week, there isn’t time for people to skate by. Every note, every song choice, every statement uttered is going to determine he should […]Read On »

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Exclusive Interview: Colm Meaney is HELL ON WHEELS

By ABBIE BERNSTEIN 11/21/2011

Colm Meaney in HELL ON WHEELS - Season 1 | ©2011 AMC/Chris Large

On AMC’s new series HELL ON WHEELS, Sundays at 10 PM, American Civil War Confederate veteran Cullen Bohannon (Anson Mount) is on the trail of the people who murdered his wife. To that end, he takes a job with the Union Pacific Railroad, working on construction of what will be the first North American transcontinental railroad at the same time he seeks vengeance. The man in charge of this gargantuan rail expansion is Thomas “Doc” Durant, played by Colm Meaney. Durant may come across as a larger than life figure, but the man is a part of real American history, […]Read On »

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TV Review: THE WALKING DEAD – Season 2 – “Secrets”

By ARNOLD T. BLUMBERG

A Walker in THE WALKING DEAD - Season 2 - "Secrets" | ©2011 AMC/Gene Page

Stars: Andrew Lincoln, Jon Bernthal, Sarah Wayne Callies, Laurie Holden, Jeffrey DeMunn, Steven Yeun, Chandler Riggs, Norman Reedus, Melissa Suzanne McBride, Lauren Cohan, Madison Lintz, IronE Singleton, James Allen McCune, Scott Wilson, Emily Kinney, Jane McNeill Writer: Angela Kang Director: David Boyd Network: AMC, airs Sunday nights Original Telecast: November 20, 2011 In the sixth episode of THE WALKING DEAD Season 2, “Secrets,” the truth about Hershel’s (Scott Wilson) barn dwellers is just the tip of the iceberg as secrets both old and new are shared amongst the group and in most cases lead to explosive turning points, while some of […]Read On »

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CD Review: THE CAPE soundtrack

By DANIEL SCHWEIGER 11/20/2011

THE CAPE soundtrack | ©2011 La La Land Records

Between a starlost spacecraft, homegrown mad science, killer robots and the shambling undead, Bear McCreary is rapidly becoming the king of genre television scoring- particularly the non-super superhero. After his adventurous symphonic scores for Fox’s adaptation of DC’s identity-shifting HUMAN TARGET, McCreary employed the orchestra to even more innovative effect for NBC’s THE CAPE. While not based on any comic book per se, what gave this billowing avenger distinction beyond a Batman-esque shtick was his Toreador-worthy use of the titular clothing article, as handed to him by a not-so-bad circus of crime. While THE CAPE’s promising premise ultimately slipped under […]Read On »

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TV Review: SUPERNATURAL – Season 7 – “How to Win Friends and Influence Monsters”

By RACHEL REITSLEFF 11/19/2011

Jim Beaver in SUPERNATURAL - Season 7 - "How to Win Friends and Influence Monsters" | ©2011 The CW/Jack Rowand

Stars: Jared Padalecki, Jensen Ackles, Jim Beaver, James Patrick Stuart, Benito Martinez, Cameron Bancroft Writer: Ben Edlund, series created by Eric Kripke Director: Guy Bee Network: The CW, Fridays @ 9 PM Original Telecast: November 18, 2011 After trying a little too hard to be funny for a few episodes, SUPERNATURAL gets back to normal (for this series) with “How to Win Friends and Influence Monsters.” Based on the events of the past few seasons, Dean (Jensen Ackles) is wondering if the world actually wants to destroy itself, Sam (Jared Padalecki) is worried about Dean and Bobby (Jim Beaver) is […]Read On »

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TV Review: BONES – Season 7 – “The Prince in the Plastic”

By RACHEL REITSLEFF 11/18/2011

Morgan Fairchild in BONES - Season 7 - "The Prince in the Plastic" | ©2011 Fox/Ray Mickshaw

Stars: David Boreanaz, Emily Deschanel, Michaela Conlin, T.J. Thyne, Tamara Taylor, John Francis Daley, Carla Gallo, Rick Gonzalez, Morgan Fairchild Writer: Dean Lapata, series created by Hart Hanson, based on the life and writings of Kathy Reichs Director: Alex Chapple Network: Fox, Thursdays @ 9 PM Airdate: November 17, 2011 There seems to be a mini-epidemic right now on series television of stretching characters in directions they don’t naturally stretch. Other shows that shall go unnamed are doing it, and BONES is back to trying to expand the role of Dr. Lance Sweets (John Francis Daley) in non-organic ways by […]Read On »

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Book Review: WHEDONISTAS! A CELEBRATION OF THE WORLDS OF JOSS WHEDON AND THE WOMEN WHO LOVE THEM

By ABBIE BERNSTEIN 11/17/2011

Editors: Lynne M. Thomas & Deborah Stanish Price: $14.95 Publisher: Mad Norwegian Press trade paperback (available in trade paperback and Kindle) It’s rare, though not as rare as it was, for a writer/director/producer to generate a fandom all his/her own. It’s inarguable that Joss Whedon resides at the pinnacle of this group. Should the title of WHEDONISTAS! A CELEBRATION OF THE WORLDS OF JOSS WHEDON AND THE WOMEN WHO LOVE THEM need explanation, it refers to female fans of the man and his released work so far: the television series BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER, ANGEL, FIREFLY and DOLLHOUSE, the FIREFLY […]Read On »

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Exclusive Interview: Christopher McDonald practices HARRY’S LAW

By ABBIE BERNSTEIN 11/16/2011

NBC’s David E. Kelley-created HARRY’S LAW is a midwinter hit that’s back for its second season Wednesdays at 9 PM. Kathy Bates plays Harry Korn, a lawyer who turned her back on a lucrative career in patent law to open her own unorthodox legal practice. Christopher McDonald, the prolific New York-born actor, came aboard as lawyer Tommy Jefferson for what was supposed to be a one-shot role on HARRY’S LAW. The character worked out so well that McDonald is now a series regular. Meanwhile, McDonald is also appearing in his second season of HBO’s Prohibition-era drama BOARDWALK EMPIRE, Sundays at […]Read On »

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TV Review: THE WALKING DEAD – Season 2 – “Chupacabra”

By ARNOLD T. BLUMBERG 11/14/2011

Steven Yeun in THE WALKING DEAD - Season 2 - "Chupacabra" | ©2011 AMC/Gene Page

Stars: Andrew Lincoln, Jon Bernthal, Sarah Wayne Callies, Laurie Holden, Jeffrey DeMunn, Steven Yeun, Chandler Riggs, Norman Reedus, Melissa Suzanne McBride, Lauren Cohan, Madison Lintz, IronE Singleton, James Allen McCune, Scott Wilson, Emily Kinney, Jane McNeill Writer: David Leslie Johnson Director: Guy Ferland Network: AMC, airs Sunday nights Original Telecast: November 13, 2011 In the fifth episode of THE WALKING DEAD Season 2, “Chupacabra,” Daryl (Norman Reedus) takes some damage as he continues the search for the still-missing Sophia, (Madison Lintz), Glenn (Steven Yeun) gets abuse from Maggie (Lauren Cohan), Rick (Andrew Lincoln) doesn’t take Shane’s (Jon Bernthal) criticism lightly, and […]Read On »