Category Archives: TV

Netflix Gets Down

Jimmy Smits has joined the cast of The Get Down, a music driven drama series created by Baz Luhrmann.

Smits will play Francisco Cruz aka Papa Fuerte, a South Bronx politician who delivers services the city fails to provide.

“The Puerto Rican culture of the ’70’s Bronx plays such a large role in the story we are telling that the character of Papa Fuerte had to be played by an actor who could bring experience, gravitas and authenticity to the role,” Luhrmann said. 

“I know our entire cast is excited to have someone of Jimmy’s talent joining us on the journey we are undertaking. We are thrilled to have him on The Get Down.”
The Get Down tells the story of how 1970s New York City on the brink of bankruptcy gave birth to hip-hop, punk and disco told through the lives and music of several South Bronx teenagers.

It is due to debut on Netflix in 2016.

Meanwhile, Netflix has also announced a second series of Grace and Frankie starring Jane Fonda, Lily Tomlin and Martin Sheen.

Dates for your diary

Lots of celebs will be out and about in London over the next few weeks so here are a few dates you might want to make note of:

May 26: Sir Ian McKellen will be at the Apple Store on Regent Street to promote his new film, Mr Holmes. He plays a much older Sherlock Holmes who is living in retirement but has started thinking back to one unsolved case from 30 years ago.

May 27: Melissa McCarthy, Jude Law and Jason Statham will walk the red carpet at the UK premiere of their new film, Spy.

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McCarthy stars as a CIA operative who finds herself working undercover for the first time. The film also features Miranda Hart in her first Hollywood role. The premiere is at the Odeon Leicester Square.

Also on Wednesday, Rhys Ifans attends a special screening of his new TV drama, The Marriage of Reason and Squalor, at BAFTA. The four part drama, directed by Jake Chapman, will be screened on Sky Arts.

On Thursday, Daniel Rigby and Sarah Alexander will also be at BAFTA to promote their new show for Dave, Undercover. The comedy series follows an undercover police officer who finds himself hopelessly out of his depth when he infiltrates an Armenian crime family.

On June 1, Gemma Chan will be at BFI Southbank for a preview screening of her big new UK/US scifi series, Humans.

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The show will be broadcast in the UK on Channel 4 and The drama is set in a world where the new must-have gadget is a “Synth”—an eerily lifelike robotic servant.

Greg Wise, George MacKay and Jessica Barden will be at the BFI on June 3 for the first screening of their BBC drama, The Outcast. The two part drama is based on the novel by Sadie Jones and follows a young boy who struggles to fir into life in post-War Britain following the death of his beloved mother.

The Entourage gang hit London on June 9 for the UK premiere of the big screen version of the hit show. Adrian Grenier, Jeremy Piven, Kevin Dillon and Thierry Henry (!) are all expected to walk the red carpet at the premiere which takes place at Vue West End.

BAFTA guests confirmed

Graham Norton hosts the BAFTA Television Awards on Sunday night, celebrating the best and brightest of the British TV industry.

He’ll be joined by a whole host of stars including…

Continue reading BAFTA guests confirmed

Sofia Vergara set for Hollywood honour

Modern Family’s Sofia Vergara will become the latest celeb to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame later this week.

Vergara will be honoured with the 2551st star on the Hollywood attraction on May 7.

She’ll be joined at the event by Eric Stonestreet who plays Cameron on the show – and although it’s not been officially announced I suspect her fiancé Joe Manganiello will be on hand too.

Vergara’s star will be placed next to her on-screen husband, Ed O’Neill, outside Marshall’s department store on Hollywood Boulevard.

Miss Piggy to receive her first award

Did you know that despite starring in eight feature films and an Emmy award-winning television series Miss Piggy has never won an award?

Well that will change on June 4, when the Muppets star will be presented with an award at the annual Sackler Center First Awards at the Brooklyn Museum.

The event celebrates women who have broken gender barriers and made remarkable contributions in their fields. Elizabeth Sackler, founder of the awards, will present the award to Miss Piggy. After her acceptance speech, Miss Piggy will sit down for a 20-minute video retrospective of her career and a conversation with Gloria Steinem.

Speaking about her award, Miss Piggy said “Moi is thrilled—but frankly, not surprised to be receiving this Sackler Center First Award”.

“It is truly wonderful to be celebrated and share this honor with fellow legends, role models, and pioneers of female fabulosity. We rock!”

Of course, Kermit the Frog will join is porcine paramour at the event.

GoT’s Littlefinger promotes new film

Aiden Gillen, best known as Game of Thrones’ Peter Baelish, will be promoting his new film in London next week.

Gillen stars in Still which is a London-set thriller about a man whose life starts to disintegrate after a seemingly harmless collision with a local teenager.

The cast also includes Amanda Mealing.

Gillen will be at the Apple Store on Regent Street on May 6.

Sesame Street does…The Avengers

Following hot on the heels of their recent Game of Throns parody, Sesame Street has now turned its attention to the Avengers.

In Avengers: Age of Bon Bon, Cookie Monster stars as Dr Brownie who joins Onion Man, Captain Americauliflower, Mighty Corn, Black Bean Widow and Zucchin-Eye, to take down villain Bon Bon’s cookie ship in order to save the world.

It’s The Muppet Show…?

A few weeks ago news broke the American TV channel ABC was considering brining The Muppets back to the small screen.

They had asked producers Bill Prady and Bob Kushell to put together a ‘pilot presentation’ which was rumoured to be along the lines of the gang working on a late-night talk show.

Now more details about the planned series, which looks like it will be given the greenlight, have emerged.

Continue reading It’s The Muppet Show…?