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Kate Winslet Eyes a Cable TV Miniseries

BuzzSugar — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 12:30:58 PDT

First an Oscar, now an Emmy? Well, maybe I'm getting ahead of myself. But it seems Kate Winslet will be starring in Mildred Pierce, a TV miniseries that's currently being shopped to various cable networks, including HBO.

The miniseries is based on a James M. Cain novel about a woman who becomes desperate to keep her family afloat during the Great Depression and ends up opening a chain of restaurants, which - as Variety puts it - "leads to backstabbing, romance and murder." The book was adapted into a 1945 film that won Joan Crawford her first Oscar.

Todd Haynes is writing and directing this new adaptation of Mildred Pierce, and HBO looks like the most likely network to land the rights to air it, though no deal is done yet.

Some people seem surprised that Winslet would do TV at the peak of her career, but I'm really not. Why? Two words: Helen Mirren. The grand dame of British actresses has done both TV miniseries and big-screen films for years now - and I'd think Winslet could do worse than follow in Mirren's footsteps. But what about you? Do you think it's a wise move?

Sopranos Creator David Chase Returns to HBO for Miniseries

BuzzSugar — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 12:30:10 PDT

The man who made Tony Soprano a household name will be returning to HBO. David Chase, creator of The Sopranos, is developing A Ribbon of Dreams, a miniseries about the invention of cinema and rise of Hollywood.

According to HBO, "the miniseries will begin in 1913 and follow two men, one a college-educated mechanical engineer, the other a cowboy with a violent past, who form an unlikely producing partnership and together become pioneers and then powers for a time in motion pictures." Here's more:

The miniseries will follow the two main characters as they begin as employees of D.W. Griffith, and then cross career paths with John Ford, John Wayne, Raoul Walsh, Bette Davis, Billy Wilder and others who gave shape to Hollywood as it grew from the age of rough-hewn silent Westerns, to the golden era of talkies and the studio system, to the auteur movement, to television, and finally to the present day.

Chase will write the miniseries and serve as executive producer, and he'll also direct the first episodes. Personally, I'm a fan of old Hollywood stories, so I'm curious to learn more about this project. I wonder who will end up playing some of those famous first stars! What do you make of this news?

Photo courtesy of HBO

HBO Developing Miniseries About Lincoln's Killing

BuzzSugar — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 15:32:20 PDT

From the network that brought you John Adams - and the writers who brought you urban strife - comes this: HBO is developing a miniseries about the assassination of Abraham Lincoln and the hunt for his killer, to be written by David Simon of The Wire and Tom Fontana of Oz.

The miniseries is based on the best-selling book Manhunt, about the Lincoln shooting and the 12-day hunt for his assassin, John Wilkes Booth. Simon and Fontana are writing the script together.

Fontana is reportedly something of a Lincoln assassination buff, with "hundreds of books" about the shooting. Simon, too, is fascinated with the shooting. According to Broadcasting & Cable, they intend to explore it through the eyes of lesser-known players. The book was originally optioned for an action movie starring Harrison Ford, but the option expired and HBO snapped up the rights. Don't expect this miniseries to have the same tone a big-screen adaptation would have: "I don't do action," Simon told B&C.

Have any of you history/Lincoln buffs read this book? Do you think it's a story made for an HBO miniseries?

Source

First Look: Generation Kill on HBO

BuzzSugar — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 10:32:39 PDT

HBO may not have any series on its schedule for the Summer, but it does have Generation Kill, a seven-part miniseries about the new face of the American military.

The miniseries, written by The Wire's David Simon and Ed Burns, is based on a book of the same name by Rolling Stone writer Evan Wright. In 2003, Wright was embedded with a Marine Corps special operations unit with the motto "Swift, Silent, Deadly." The book painted a portrait of the soldiers in his unit as they lived on the front lines of a war that was then just beginning.

Though Simon and Burns don't know the military nearly as well as they knew Baltimore, Generation Kill seems like a logical step after The Wire nonetheless. The stories of rank-and-file soldiers confronting a military bureaucracy probably have something in common with those of rank-and-file police officers, dock workers, and teachers confronting a machine much larger than themselves. Plus, Simon and Burns have experience bringing a certain dark humor to even the most grim and gritty situation.

Generation Kill will run for seven Sundays beginning July 13. Want to get a taste of what it's about? You can check out the trailer and a clip from the scene where Wright meets the troops for the first time if you

First Look: John Adams on HBO

BuzzSugar — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 11:30:02 PST

When I think of fascinating historical figures, John Adams isn't necessarily one who jumps out at me. But maybe that's because I just don't know enough about him yet. After all, as executive producer Tom Hanks says in the preview for HBO's upcoming John Adams miniseries, "If I had been told this at any time in my educational career, it would have blown my little skull."

Based on David McCullough's Pulitzer Prize-winning biography, the seven-part miniseries chronicles Adams' life as a man both dedicated to law and committed to freedom. Besides focusing on his role as a founding father, the movie also spotlights his relationship with his wife, Abigail, regarded - as HBO puts it - as "one of the most moving love stories in American history." It helps that two of my favorite actors, Paul Giamatti and Laura Linney, appear in the starring roles.

The miniseries starts March 16 with a special two-part broadcast. I know Citizen and Liberty are pumped - are you? To watch a preview and a clip with Giamatti and Linney talking about their roles, just

Mira Sorvino, Victor Garber Join Knights Templar Miniseries

BuzzSugar — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 10:29:50 PST

Mira Sorvino has just signed on to join Victor Garber in an NBC miniseries based on the bestselling Raymond Khoury novel, The Last Templar. Variety continues:

Romantic adventure-themed mini stars Sorvino as Tess Chaykin, a Manhattan archaeologist searching for the medieval Knights Templar. Garber plays Monsignor De Angelis, who helps find the artifact.

Sure, it sounds like some kind of wannabe Da Vinci Code, but the story of the Knights Templar might be intriguing enough to make this production different and interesting. Also: Victor Garber and Mira Sorvino? Sign me up.

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First Look: "The Company"

BuzzSugar — Tue, 31 Jul 2007 13:33:39 PDT

Sure, on the surface, I'm a pop culture-obsessed, concert-going, movie-watching maven. But behind it all, I'm really just a nerdy, somewhat spy-obsessed gal. So TNT's new miniseries, "The Company," easily earned a spot on my list of reasons to keep the TV on this summer.

The three-night, six-hour exploration of the history of the CIA, which premieres this coming Sunday, Aug. 5, has an excellent pedigree. Based on an acclaimed novel by Robert Littell, the miniseries is directed by Ridley Scott and counts Chris O'Donnell, Michael Keaton and Alfred Molina among its cast. I have high hopes that this miniseries - like "Mad Men" - can be not just a great period drama but a great drama, period. I'll share my thoughts on the first episode later this week, but in the meantime, you can check out
this tense trailer and a sneak peak from the first episode.

Photo courtesy of TNT

The Help's Win, Love For 30 Rock and Modern Family, a Scorsese Drinking Game - Highlights From the SAG Awards!

Allie Merriam — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 08:22:03 PST

Michelle Williams was the first presenter at this evening's SAG Awards, handing the outstanding supporting actor statue to Christopher Plummer from Beginners. Octavia Spencer took home the corresponding statue for her work in The Help.

On the TV end, Alec Baldwin squealed with delight when he was named best actor in a comedic series, and an especially stunned Betty White, from Hot in Cleveland, dedicated her prize to her leading ladies Wendie Malick, Valerie Bertinelli, and Jane Leeves. The child actors from Modern Family, Ariel Winter, Rico Rodriguez, and Nolan Gould, got a chance to take the podium when their series won outstanding cast in a comedy. Miniseries accolades went to two absent stars, Kate Winslet for Mildred Pierce and Paul Giamatti for Too Big to Fail.

Bridesmaids' Maya Rudolph, Kristin Wiig, and Melissa McCarthy brought some comedic relief when onstage introducing their film as a contender in the best ensemble category. The trio came to the stage armed with vodka, beer, and champagne, and introduced a drinking game based around the word "Scorsese." Jessica Lange then followed up on her Golden Globes win with another victory in the category of best dramatic actress on a TV series for American Horror Story. Steve Buscemi won an Actor for his leading role on HBO's Boardwalk Empire. TV ensemble in a drama honors went to Steve's whole cast, giving him an additional opportunity to invoke his producer Martin Scorsese's name as an excuse for a drink.

There was a slight upset in the best actor in a film category - The Artist's Jean Dujardin beat out Leonardo DiCaprio, Brad Pitt, Demián Bichir, and George Clooney. Viola Davis claimed the best female actor in a motion picture for The Help, and beamed from the stage in her Marchesa gown. Further acclaim went to the cast of Viola's movie, with their Actor statues being handed off by none other than Brad Pitt. We've rounded up the full list of 2012 SAG Award winners, and make sure to check out all the action from celebrities on the SAGs red carpet!

Announcing the 2012 Screen Actors Guild Award Winners!

Shannon Vestal — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 21:28:28 PST

Well folks, we're one step closer to the close of award season. The SAG Awards were handed out tonight, with some expected winners and a few that raised eyebrows. The Help won big, with trophies for Octavia Spencer, Viola Davis, and the entire ensemble for the night's biggest honor. Meanwhile, Jean Dujardin represented The Artist, and The Descendants went home empty-handed for the first time.

On the television side of things, Boardwalk Empire was a favorite for the second year in a row, while Alec Baldwin, Modern Family, and Betty White were the big winners in comedy.

To see the complete list, just keep reading.

Jennifer Aniston Steps Out in Sexy Black for Directors Guild Awards With Justin, Not Demi

Molly Goodson — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 19:47:12 PST

Jennifer Aniston went with her staple - a hot, strapless, black Dolce & Gabbana minidress - for tonight's Directors Guild Awards in Los Angeles. She flashed a big smile and waved to fans as she first hit the red carpet without her man, Justin Theroux. Jennifer and Justin soon met up to pose together as well. Jennifer is a nominee in the movies for television and miniseries category for her work in the Lifetime project Five. Jennifer shares the recognition with a handful of women, including Demi Moore, who unfortunately will be missing the evening after the scary events of the past week in her personal life. Jennifer, Demi, Alicia Keys, and the rest of the people who worked on the project debuted it last Fall in NYC, and that night Jennifer also had Justin by her side to help share in the celebrations. Justin and Jennifer remain attached at the hip and he'll once again be cheering her on, whether or not she walks away with the DGA statue.