Hardcover Spotlight: "Night Film" by Marisha Pessl

The supernatural, a beloved, yet mysterious horror film director, and the suicide of a young woman all conspire to plague journalist Scott McGrath in Marisha Pessl's recently released book Night Film (Random House). Even though McGrath considers himself a skeptic, he is drawn into the world of the bizarre because of his infatuation over the alleged suicide of Ashley Cordova, a world renowned pianist and the daughter of Stanislas Cordova, a director famous for his cutting edge and frighteningly real horror films. McGrath, who has a sordid history with Cordova, due to a controversial remark that he made about the director during a television interview, finds himself once again thrust into Cordova's secretive world where anything appears to be possible.

Scott does have some help along the way, though, courtesy of two younger strangers; Nora, a poor young woman with a sad history and Hopper, a troubled man with a drug problem who was once in love with Ashley. They essentially insinuate themselves into McGrath's life, but soon become integral to his investigation. Nora helps to keep him grounded, while Hopper is able to provide essential information about Ashley and is not afraid to sacrifice himself to learn the truth about her demise. McGrath needs all the help he can get in his long, dangerous and sometimes otherworldly quest for the truth.

McGrath revisits all of Cordova's films looking for clues and sets out to interview an eclectic and eccentric group of individuals associated with the director, including actors who appeared in his films, as well as former employees. Making the investigation more difficult is Cordova's reach and influence, as well as his employee Inez Gallo, whose loyalty is beyond reproach and who seems capable of successfully dealing with any problem. Even though McGrath appears to realize the gravity of his situation, he is not prepared for the personal losses that he suffers throughout his investigation. Eventually, Scott, Nora and Hopper plan to infiltrate Cordova's home known as "The Peak," but since the director is rarely seen and his whereabouts are not actually known, they face an ongoing uncertain venture into his mysterious and dangerous world.

Scott McGrath is not an easy character to like. He appears selfish, reckless and, at times, not too smart. He seems bent on settling the score with Cordova over something that he himself started years earlier during the aforementioned botched interview that gathered much attention. In addition, even though Scott appears to love his young daughter, Sam, he places her in needless danger while researching Cordova, which may result in loss of custody and visitation, since he is divorced from her mother, Cynthia. However, Scott is determined, works hard and seems to genuinely grow to care for both Nora and Hopper. He is convinced that Cordova is the bad guy and readers may feel the same way. His heart is in the right place, but his emotional decisions cause him, and those around him, much grief.

I enjoyed the supernatural aspects of Night Film, as well as Scott's transformation from skeptic to somewhat of a believer. While some of the bizarre occurrences are explained, other are not, so it is up to the reader to decide what is happening. In addition, I appreciated the multimedia pages depicting newspaper clippings, Internet web pages and photos that appear throughout the book and serve as representations of the materials that Scott collects during his investigation. Night Film is the first novel I have read to incorporate such an idea, so I found it be original and interesting.

At nearly 600 pages, Night Film is daunting, but the pace is quick and most of the characters are fully realized. I do think that perhaps too many characters are introduced and it is challenging to remember all of them, especially when they are referred to in later chapters. Regardless, I was captivated by the story and with Scott's journey, which would never have come full circle if he had given up at any time during his sometimes harrowing investigation. While McGrath may not always be likable, he is persistent and worth rooting for in this mammoth mind bending adventure.

Weekend Box Office Report for September 27-29, 2013: Looks Cloudy, with a Chance of Meatballs

The family friendly Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2 dominated the weekend box office with a mammoth $35 million take. That far outpaced number two entry Prisoners, which earned just over $11 million. The weekend's other new entries, Baggage Claim and Don Jon, landed in the top five. Baggage Claim earned an estimated $9.3 million, followed closely by Don Jon with $9.0, for a fourth and fifth place showing, respectively. Finally, Ron Howard's new film Rush, starring Chris Hemsworth, expanded into wide release, earning just over $10 million, which was good enough for a third place finish.

Here are the Top Ten Weekend films (numbers are in millions):

1. Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2 - $35.0 (Sony/Columbia)

2. Prisoners- $11.3 (Warner Bros.)

3. Rush  - $10.3 (Universal)

4. Baggage Claim - $9.3 (Fox Searchlight)

5. Don Jon - $9.0 (Relativity Media)

6. Insidious Chapter 2 - $6.7 (FilmDistrict)

7. The Family - $3.7 (Relativity Media)

8. Instructions Not Included - $3.4 (Lionsgate/Pantelion)

9. We're the Millers - $2.9 (Warner Bros./New Line)

10. Lee Daniels' The Butler - $2.4 (Weinstein Company)

Television Spotlight: ABC's Sunday Night Line-Up includes "Once Upon A Time" "Revenge" and "Betrayal"

After a great first season, Once Upon A Time fell into a sophomore slump last year. Too many new characters diluted the chemistry of the core cast members and the stories became increasingly bizarre. However, I plan to watch the third season, but there needs to be improvement early on to keep me watching. The third season opens with a search for Henry (Jared S. Gilmore), who is being held against his will in Neverland by the Lost Boys and Peter Pan. Later in the season, there will be crossover episodes with spin-off series Once Upon A Time in Wonderland. The first half of season three will air this fall and the second half will air in the spring of 2014.

The third season of Once Upon A Time begins tonight at 8:00pm ET on ABC

Revenge also experienced a sophomore slump, but the actors are so pretty that it was difficult to stop watching. However, my patience has already been tested, so I am not sure how many more. outlandish storylines I can tolerate. Rumor has it that the third season will be more grounded, like the first one. Former showrunner (and creator) Mike Kelley has been replaced as executive producer and stars Ashley Madekwe (Ashley) and Connor Paolo (Declan) will not be returning. Joining the cast is Justin Hartley, who will portray Victoria's long lost son. Hopefully the changes will translate into a much better show.


The third season of Revenge begins tonight at 9:00pm ET on ABC

Betrayal is a new series and is based on the Dutch show Overspel. The ensemble drama should fit nicely out of Revenge and the series looks like it could be just as soapy. Betrayal centers around two unhappily married people, Sara Hayward (Hannah Ware) and Jack McAllister (Stuart Townsend), who begin an affair and find themselves on opposite sides in a murder trial. James Cromwell (recent Emmy winner for American Horror Story: Asylum) and Henry Thomas co-star.

The first season of Betrayal begins tonight at 10:00pm ET on ABC

Movie Recommendation: "Rush" Starring Chris Hemsworth and Daniel Brühl

Fierce competitors who respect each other and bring out the best in each other are the driving force behind Rush, the new film from director Ron Howard. Set in the 1970s and based on true events, Rush centers around two Formula One race car drivers, James Hunt (Chris Hemsworth) and Niki Lauda (Daniel Brühl), who have totally opposite ways of approaching their sport. Hunt is a ladies man who loves to party, appears to have great confidence and is a natural behind the wheel. Lauda, on the other hand, is disciplined, focused and takes no unnecessary risks. However, both men are equally talented and become friendly rivals over time.

Lauda's no-nonsense demeanor does not win him many friends, but he uses his intelligence, consummate skills and confidence to become the world champion. However, Hunt is equally as good, but does not have the same focus as Lauda, who he chides for being too serious. Even though Lauda is not necessarily likable, his brutal honesty and determination will likely win over many viewers who will also come to empathize with him after he suffers serious burns from a racing accident. However, even that will not stop Lauda from competing, especially since Hunt receives the lions share of attention while he is incapacitated.

Part of Hunt's story is told via his many relationships. The ladies love his charming demeanor, but when times get tough, Hunt drinks to excess and is particularly nasty to his wife, Suzy (Olivia Wilde), who eventually takes comfort in the arms of another man. Lauda does not seem all that interested in a relationship, but when he meets Marlene Knaus (Alexandra Maria Lara), he finds a soul mate in the sense that she will stick by him and support him, no matter what happens, but they do not appear to share any great love or passion. Their relationship serves Lauda well, especially when he needs support during his recovery from serious burns.

I expected Rush to center around James Hunt throughout, but Niki Lauda receives an equal amount of attention and deservedly so. They are different in many ways, including looks. Hunt is obviously better looking and physically gifted. Lauda understands that he cannot measure up and even states that he knows that he looks like a rat. Daniel Brühl is a good looking actor, but make-up is used to transform him into Lauda, which adds another degree of realism to the film. In addition, the way Rush is filmed has a grainy look and feel to it, which perfectly captures the time period.

Rush takes place during the years 1970-1976 and showcases how Lauda and Hunt moved their way up from Formula Three to Formula One racers and also examines how Lauda essentially bought his way into the sport, which is fascinating. I was not familiar with their story, which made the various racing scenes all that more exciting. There is an aura of danger during each race, so I never knew what to expect or even if Hunt or Lauda would survive. Ron Howard is able to slowly build suspense throughout the racing scenes that will literally leave viewers on the edge of their seats. The brisk pace of the film is appropriate considering the subject matter and the two hour run time goes by quickly. Howard also elicits strong performances from Chis Hemsworth, Olivia Wilde and Daniel Brühl, who is fantastic as Lauda. Rush is an action packed thrill ride that features outstanding character development and one of the most fascinating rivalries in the history of the sports world. It also happens to be one of the best films of the year.

Screenplay: Peter Morgan

Movie Recommendation: "Don Jon" Starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt

Joseph Gordon-Levitt is a triple threat in the new film Don Jon. Not only does the talented actor portray the lead character, but he also serves as writer and director. The film focuses on a young man who has no trouble scoring with the ladies, but actually prefers watching porn (and lots of it, all of the time) to having real sex. His porn obsession/addiction causes problems with his new girlfriend, Barbara (Scarlett Johansson), who finds porn to be disgusting and asks that Jon (a modern day Don Juan) not look at it anymore. Don Jon agrees, but soon finds himself looking for release in front of his computer as his waits for the familiar start up sound, which becomes a character in its own right as the film moves along.

Don Jon has other interests beside sex. He visits his family often, works out regularly, likes to spend time with his guy friends and goes to church every week. After the service, he goes to confession and relates the same sins over and over again to an aloof priest who appears to be tired of the repetition. In addition to his porn addiction, Don Jon has road rage, which leads to cursing outbursts and even vandalism. Of course, one trip to confession wipes all of those sins out. Despite not appearing to be happy, Don Jon eagerly goes about his daily routine until he meets an older woman, Esther (Julianne Moore), while taking a college course. Esther is also unhappy and is dealing with significant loss. Their initial encounters do not go smoothly, as Don Jon is not comfortable with Esther's honesty, but he begins to understand himself better as their friendship evolves and she helps his along his journey.

There are many amusing and a few laugh out loud moments during Don Jon's 90 minute run time, but there is also a degree of sadness to the main character who clearly has problems relating to real people. Addiction is only part of the problem. Establishing healthy relationships is also an issue for the young man who appears to believe that as long as he attends church and confesses his sins, everything will be alright. Don Jon is clearly comfortable with his routine and does not appear to like change, which he desperately needs.

Throughout the film, voice over is used to convey Don Jon's intimate feelings, which are often funny and usually true. He talks about what attractive women will and will not do in bed, expresses his thoughts about the various types of porn that he enjoys watching and the many different sexual positions that he has experienced. His views about contemporary relationships, which may be offensive to some, ring true overall. Clearly, Gordon-Levitt is speaking to his generation through the screenplay and not just about sex.

Joseph Gordon-Levitt proves to be a fine director and screenwriter and delivers another winning performance as the not always likable Don Jon. He is ably supported by the aforementioned Julianne Moore and Scarlett Johansson, as well as Tony Danza, who portrays his father, Jon Sr. The soundtrack/score is also quite good and adds to the storytelling in this contemporary, often amusing and brutally honest tale of a young man who reaches his destination in a way that he never expected. I just wish that when he reached his destination, the film did not end so abruptly as to give some viewers whiplash.

The Fifth Season of "Glee" Begins Tonight on FOX

Glee beings its fifth season tonight at 9:00 ET on FOX. The musical/comedy/drama will pay tribute to the Beatles in the first two episodes and then tackle the loss of Finn Hudson, portrayed by Cory Monteith, who died this past summer, in the third. The series will then go on hiatus until the baseball playoffs are over. Only a few original characters will be seen regularly during the fifth season, including Rachel (Lea Michele), Kurt (Chris Colfer), and Sue (Jane Lynch). Meanwhile, the recurring newbies from last year, including Jake (Jacob Artist) and Marley (Melissa Benoist), are now series regulars. I think the new characters, along with returning veterans Sam (Chord Overstreet) and Blaine (Darren Criss), will be able to fill the void of the many now recurring original characters. While some may think that Glee is past its prime, I still find the series to be enjoyable and the way in which new characters are introduced and integrated is seamless. The series has already been renewed for a sixth (and possibly final) season.

CBS's Thursday Night Line-Up Looks Promising with "The Big Bang Theory" "The Crazy Ones" and "Elementary"

The Big Bang Theory begins its seventh season tonight at 8:00 pm ET on CBS with back to back episodes. The always intelligent and funny series has seen a dramatic increase in its ratings over the past two seasons and it will be interesting to see if that trend continues through season seven. The Big Bang Theory is my favorite ensemble comedy since The Golden Girls and I can watch the reruns over and over again and never be bored.

The Crazy Ones debuts tonight at 9:00pm ET on CBS. I planned to watch the series when I first heard about it because of Robin Williams, who is one of my favorite actors. What makes me even more excited about the series is that David E. Kelley (Boston Legal) is the creator, executive producer and he also wrote the Pilot episode. Williams stars as an advertising executive who can allegedly sell anything to anyone. The Crazy Ones also stars Sarah Michelle Geller (Ringer) and James Wolk (Political Animals).

Elementary returns for a second season tonight at 10:00 pm ET on CBS. The detective drama based on legendary detective Sherlock Holmes had an above average first season, but lacked consistency during the latter episodes. The performances by Jonny Lee Miller (Sherlock) and Lucy Liu (Watson) are to be commended and their chemistry is what makes the series work so well. The new season begins in London where Holmes and Watson investigate an unsolved mystery.

Nielsen Ratings for the week of September 16, 2013: CBS Scores with the Emmys, Impressive Debut for "Sleepy Hollow" on FOX

Ratings for the week of September 16, 2013 (courtesy of Nielsen Media Research)

Total Average Viewers (in millions) by Network:
CBS - 9.09
NBC - 7.49
ABC - 5.36
FOX - 4.43
The CW - .95

Top 30 Shows (viewers in millions):

1. NBC Sunday Night Football (NBC) - 20.51
2. Emmy Awards (CBS) (s) - 17.76
3. Dancing with the Stars (ABC) (p) - 16.04
4. Sunday Night NFL Pre-Kick (NBC) - 14.55
5. Under the Dome (CBS) - 12.10
6. America's Got Talent (NBC-Wednesday) - 11.49
7. America's Got Talent (NBC-Tuesday) - 11.19
8. NCIS (CBS) (r) - 10.64
9. Sleepy Hollow (FOX) (p) - 10.10
10. Football Night in America Part 3 (NBC) - 9.76
11. Survivor (CBS) (s) - 9.73
12. The Big Bang Theory (CBS) (r) - 8.95
13. The Big Bang Theory (CBS) (s) (r) - 8.01
14. NCIS: Los Angeles (CBS) (r) - 7.99
15. Bones (FOX) (p) - 7.76
16. Two and a Half Men (CBS) (r) - 7.03
17. Shark Tank (ABC) (p) - 6.86
18. Castle (ABC) (s) (r) - 6.81
19. Two and a Half Men (CBS) (s) (r) - 6.73
20. Big Brother 15 (CBS) - 6.71 
21. Last Man Standing (ABC) - (p) 6.67
22. X-Factor (FOX-Wednesday) - 6.62
23. X-Factor (FOX-Thursday) - 6.43
24. Blue Bloods (CBS) (r) - 6.30
25. Person of Interest (CBS) (r) - 6.24
26. Brooklyn Nine-Nine (FOX) (p) - 6.17
27. The Big Bang Theory (CBS) (s) (r) - 6.12
28. Dads (FOX) (p) - 5.76
29. Saturday Night Football (ABC) - 5.73
30. 20/20 (ABC) - 5.60


(r) = Repeat
(s) = Special
(p) = Premiere

The Second Season of "Nashville" Begins Tonight on ABC

I will admit that the only reason I am still watching Nashville is because of Connie Britton, who portrays Rayna Jaymes. While the first season had it moments, both musical and otherwise, I found it to be mediocre overall. I plan to stick with the series for the short term and hope that Nashville reaches its potential. The show has a lot going for it, including a talented cast, but it needs to be consistently good going forward, or this viewer will be not be watching much longer. Season two begins tonight at 10:00pm ET on ABC.

The Second Season of "Chicago Fire" Begins Tonight on NBC

Chicago Fire begins its second season tonight at 10:00 ET on NBC. The series has moved from Wednesday to Tuesday, but has not lost anything in the process. The first episode is filled with the usual mix of drama and more lighthearted moments, courtesy of the gang at Engine Co. 51. More drama is ahead for Kelly (Taylor Kinney), who realizes that he may not be the father of Renee's baby and also appears to be the target of an arsonist who makes life very difficult for him. In addition, budget cuts are prompting the closure of area fire stations and Engine Co 51 is on the short list. As a result, Chief Boden (Eammon Walker), has to tighten the purse strings and take on other displaced firefighters, which has significant impacts within the department. Meanwhile, Mouch (Christian Stolte) makes an important decision about his future.

Chicago Fire is an entertaining and exciting series featuring a fine and eclectic ensemble cast and is well worth watching.

New Series Spotlight: "Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D." Premieres Tonight on ABC

One of the most talked about new series, Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., debuts tonight on ABC at 8:00 pm ET. Based on elements of the Marvel Comics universe, the series will focus on the covert group known as S.H.I.E.L.D. (Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement and Logistics Division) who handle strange cases, including those involving superhuman activity. Clark Gregg leads the cast as Agent Coulson, who was allegedly killed in Marvel's The Avengers movie last year. The series also stars Ming-Na Wen, Brett Dalton, Chloe Bennett, Iain De Caestecker and Elizabeth Henstridge. Expect guest appearance from superheroes and villains, as well as references to the ever expanding Marvel Universe.

New Series Spotlight: "The Blacklist" Starring James Spader

I admit it. I will watch anything featuring Emmy award winning actor James Spader. His stint as Alan Shore on Boston Legal was phenomenal and made me a fan for life. Spader is the main reason why I plan to become a regular viewer of The Blacklist, which premieres tonight at 10:00 ET on NBC. The pilot episode is a fast paced, surprising thrill ride centering around a rookie FBI profiler, Elizabeth Keen (Megan Boone), who is handpicked by one of the FBI's most wanted fugitives, Raymond Reddington (Spader), to act as his liaison to her superiors in an effort to help them track down other dangerous fugitives. Why Elizabeth? Well, the two share some sort of connection that may appear to be obvious, but I suspect it will turn out not to be what viewers are thinking. If the first episode is any indication, the series is too intelligent to go for the easy answer. Harry Lennix, Ryan Eggold and Diego Klattenhoff co-star.

Emmy Results: "Modern Family" "Breaking Bad" and "Behind the Candelabra" take Top Honors

In a night of surprises, Modern Family and Breaking Bad captured the awards for Outstanding Comedy and Drama Series, respectively, while HBO's Behind the Candelabra was honored for Outstanding MiniSeries or a Movie. While no one series or movie dominated the awards, cable shows, such as Homeland, Veep, and American Horror Story: Asylum, won far more than the broadcast networks. Meanwhile, past winners The Daily Show with Jon Stewart and The Amazing Race were dethroned by The Colbert Report and The Voice, respectively. However, it was business as usual for Jim Parsons (Lead Actor in a Comedy for The Big Bang Theory), Claire Danes (Lead Actress in a Drama for Homeland) and Julia Louis-Dreyfuss (Lead Actress in a Comedy for Veep). Ellen Burstyn's surprise win for Supporting Actress in a MiniSeries or Movie for Political Animals was one of the biggest of the night, but it was certainly well deserved.

The Emmy telecast was entertaining, but felt rushed as the evening wore on. While I appreciated the musical performances by Elton John and Carrie Underwood, I could have done without the song and dance numbers (sorry, Neil Patrick Harris). The controversial stand alone In Memoriam segments were well done, but I can understand why some were upset that Jack Klugman and Larry Hagman were not included, since they were both television icons. Finally, it was great to see Diahann Carroll, who looks amazing at 78.

Here are the winners from last night's Emmy telecast (I corrected picked 7 out of 17):

COMEDY SERIES - “Modern Family” (ABC)

 

LEAD ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERES - Jim Parsons (“The Big Bang Theory,” CBS)

 

LEAD ACTRESS IN A COMEDY SERIES - Julia Louis-Dreyfus (“Veep,” HBO)

 

SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES - Tony Hale (“Veep,” HBO)

 

SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A COMEDY SERIES - Merritt Weaver (“Nurse Jackie,” Showtime)

 

DRAMA SERIES - “Breaking Bad” (AMC)

 

LEAD ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES - Jeff Daniels (“The Newsroom,” HBO)

 

LEAD ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIES - Claire Dames (“Homeland,” Showtime)

 

SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES - Bobby Cannavale (“Boardwalk Empire,” HBO)

 

SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIES - Anna Gunn (“Breaking Bad,” AMC)

 

TV MOVIE/MINISERIES - “Behind the Candelabra” (HBO)

 

LEAD ACTOR IN A MINISERIES OR A MOVIE - Michael Douglas (“Behind the Candelabra,” HBO)

 

LEAD ACTRESS IN A MINISERIES OR A MOVIE - Laura Linney (“The Big C: Hereafter,” Showtime)

 

SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A MINISERIES OR A MOVIE - James Cromwell ("American Horror Story: Asylum," FX)

 

SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A MINISERIES OR A MOVIE - Ellen Burstyn ("Political Animals," USA)

 

REALITY SHOW COMPETITION - “The Voice” (NBC)

 

VARIETY, MUSIC OR COMEDY SERIES - “The Colbert Report” (Comedy Central)

 

Weekend Box Office Estimates for September 20-22, 2013: "Prisoners" Leads the Pack

The summer is over and moviegoers are growing more apathetic at the box office. The only bright spot is the well reviewed drama Prisoners, starring Hugh Jackman (pictured above), which dominated the three day frame with an estimated $21.4 million. The other wide release opening, Battle of the Year, starring Chris Brown, languished in fifth place, with a paltry $5.0 million. The only other new entry in the top ten is the re-release of The Wizard of Oz in 3D, which earned an estimated $3.0 million. Finally, kudos to holdovers We're the Millers and Planes, which continue to perform well long past their original release dates.

Here are the Top Ten Weekend films (numbers are in millions):

1. Prisoners- $21.4 (Warner Bros.)

2. Insidious Chapter 2 - $14.5 (FilmDistrict)

3. The Family - $7.0 (Relativity Media)

4. Instructions Not Included - $5.7 (Lionsgate/Pantelion)

5. Battle of the Year - $5.0 (Sony/Screen Gems)

6. We're the Millers - $4.7 (Warner Bros./New Line)

7.  Lee Daniels' The Butler - $4.3 (Weinstein Company)

8. Riddick - $3.7 (Universal)

9. The Wizard of Oz 3D - $3.0 (Warner Bros.)

10. Planes - $2.9 (Disney)

Emmy Predictions: Awards for "Breaking Bad" "American Horror Story: Asylum" and "Behind the Candelabra"

 

"Breaking Bad"

My track record for correctly guessing the Emmy winners is not usually great, but for some reason I feel really comfortable with my picks this year. Whatever happens, I hope "American Horror Story: Asylum," "The Big Bang Theory," "Downton Abbey" and "Behind the Candelabra" win at least one award. I am particularly rooting for Jessica Lange, Vera Farmiga and Connie Britton to feel the Emmy love.

The Emmy Awards air tomorrow, September 22, at 8:00 ET on CBS,


COMEDY SERIES
“The Big Bang Theory” (CBS)
“Girls” (HBO)
“Louie” (FX)
“Modern Family” (ABC)
“30 Rock” (NBC)
“Veep” (HBO)

I suspect "Modern Family" will win again, but "The Big Bang Theory" deserves to win this award, too. Of course, the best comedy on television ("Archer") is not even nominated.

LEAD ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERES
Alec Baldwin (“30 Rock,” NBC)
Jason Bateman (“Arrested Development,” Netflix)
Don Cheadle (“House of Lies,” Showtime)
Louis C.K. (“Louie,” FX)
Matt LeBlanc (“Episodes,” Showtime)
Jim Parsons (“The Big Bang Theory,” CBS)

Louis C.K. should win, but Jim Parsons can not be ruled out.

LEAD ACTRESS IN A COMEDY SERIES
Laura Dern (“Enlightened,” HBO)
Julia Louis-Dreyfus (“Veep,” HBO)
Lena Dunham (“Girls,” HBO)
Edie Falco (“Nurse Jackie,” Showtime)
Tina Fey (“30 Rock,” NBC)
Amy Poehler (“Parks and Recreation,” NBC)

Julia Louis-Dreyfus will win.

SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES
Ty Burrell (“Modern Family,” ABC)
Adam Driver (“Girls,” HBO)
Jesse Tyler Ferguson (“Modern Family,” ABC)
Bill Hader (“Saturday Night Live,” NBC)
Tony Hale (“Veep,” HBO)
Ed O’Neill (“Modern Family,” ABC)

Expect a "Modern Family" victory, probably for Ty Burrell, but when will Jesse Tyler Ferguson and Ed O'Neill be recognized?

SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A COMEDY SERIES
Mayim Bialik (“The Big Bang Theory,” CBS)
Julie Bowen (“Modern Family,” ABC)
Anna Chlumski (“Veep,” HBO)
Jane Krakowski (“30 Rock,” NBC)
Jane Lynch (“Glee,” Fox)
Sophia Vergara (“Modern Family,” ABC)
Merritt Weaver (“Nurse Jackie,” Showtime)

I am rooting for Mayim Bialik, even though Julie Bowen will always be special to me for her role as Denise on "Boston Legal"...and she will win again this year.

DRAMA SERIES
“Breaking Bad” (AMC)
“Downton Abbey” (PBS)
“Game of Thrones” (HBO)
“Homeland” (ABC)
“House of Cards” (Netflix)
“Mad Men” (AMC)

A three way race between "Breaking Bad," "Homeland" and "House of Cards," with "Breaking Bad" coming out on top.

LEAD ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES
Hugh Bonneville (“Downton Abbey,” PBS)
Bryan Cranston (“Breaking Bad,” AMC)
Jeff Daniels (“The Newsroom,” HBO)
Jon Hamm (“Mad Men,” AMC)
Damian Lewis (“Homeland,” AMC)
Kevin Spacey (“House of Cards,” Netflix)

Fiercely competitive category that may end up in a tie. I suspect this is a three way race between Bryan Cranston, Damian Lewis and Kevin Spacey, with Spacey barely winning.

LEAD ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIES
Connie Britton (“Nashville,” ABC)
Claire Dames (“Homeland,” Showtime)
Michelle Dockery (“Downton Abbey,” PBS)
Vera Farmiga (“Bates Motel,” A&E)
Elisabeth Moss (“Mad Men,” AMC)
Kerry Washington (“Scandal,” ABC)
Robin Wright (“House of Cards,” Netflix)

Claire Danes is tough to beat, but Vera Farmiga could upset. I still love you Connie Britton!

SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES
Jonathan Banks (“Breaking Bad,” AMC)
Bobby Cannavale (“Boardwalk Empire,” HBO)
Jim Carter (“Downton Abbey,” PBS)
Peter Dinklage (“Game of Thrones,” HBO)
Mandy Patinkin (“Homeland,” Showtime)
Aaron Paul (“Breaking Bad,” AMC)

I am going with Aaron Paul.

SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIES
Morena Baccarin (“Homeland,” Showtime)
Christine Baranski (“The Good Wife,” CBS)
Emilia Clarke (“Game of Thrones,” HBO)
Anna Gunn (“Breaking Bad,” AMC)
Christina Hendricks (“Mad Men," AMC)
Maggie Smith (“Downton Abbey,” PBS)

Maggie Smith seems unbeatable, but she never shows up to collect her awards, so maybe someone else will sneak in for the victory.

Jessica Lange in "American Horror Story: Asylum"

TV MOVIE/MINISERIES
“American Horror Story: Asylum” (FX)
“Behind the Candelabra” (HBO)
“The Bible” (History)
“Phil Spector” (HBO)
“Political Animals” (USA)
“Top of the Lake” (Sundance)

Many worthy nominees, but are any of them strong enough to overcome "Behind the Candelabra?" "Top of the Lake" and "American Horror Story: Asylum" both have a chance.

LEAD ACTOR IN A MINISERIES OR A MOVIE
Benedict Cumberbatch (“Parade’s End,” BBC)
Michael Douglas (“Behind the Candelabra,” HBO)
Matt Damon (“Behind the Candelabra,” HBO)
Tony Jones (“The Girl,” HBO)
Al Pacino (“Phil Spector, HBO)

Michael Douglas will win. No contest.

LEAD ACTRESS IN A MINISERIES OR A MOVIE
Jessica Lange (“American Horror Story: Asylum,” FX)
Laura Linney (“The Big C: Hereafter,” Showtime)
Helen Mirren (“Phil Spector,” HBO)
Elisabeth Moss (“Top of the Lake,” Sundance)
Sigourney Weaver (“Political Animals,” USA)

I want to see Jessica Lange win and she deserves to, but something tells me that Elizabeth Moss may upset. I am still going with Lange.

SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A MINISEIES OR A MOVIE
James Cromwell ("American Horror Story: Asylum," FX)
Zachary Quinto ("American Horror Story: Asylum," FX)
Scott Bakula ("Behind The Candelabra," HBO)
John Benjamin Hickey ("The Big C: Hereafter," Showtime)
Peter Mullan ("Top Of The Lake," Sundance Channel)

"Behind the Candelabra" appears to have a lot support, but this award will go to someone from "American Horror Story: Asylum" - probably James Cromwell.

SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A MINISERIES OR A MOVIE
Sarah Paulson ("American Horror Story: Asylum," FX)
Imelda Staunton ("The Girl," HBO)
Ellen Burstyn ("Political Animals," USA)
Charlotte Rampling ("Restless," Sundance Channel)
Alfre Woodard ("Steel Magnolias," Lifetime)

This category is loaded with talent, but Sarah Paulson (aka Lana Banana) should win.

REALITY SHOW COMPETITION
“The Amazing Race” (CBS)
“Dancing With the Stars” (ABC)
“Project Runway” (Lifetime)
“So You Think You Can Dance” (Fox)
“The Voice” (NBC)
“Top Chef” (Bravo)

"The Amazing Race" always wins.

VARIETY, MUSIC OR COMEDY SERIES
“The Colbert Report” (Comedy Central)
“The Daily Show With Jon Stewart” (Comedy Central)
“Late Night With Jimmy Fallon” (NBC)
“Real Time With Bill Maher” (HBO)
“Saturday Night Live” (NBC)

"The Daily Show With Jon Stewart" will win....again

"Skins" Series 5 - Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed, Something Blue

The first four seasons of the British television series Skins have been released on DVD in the United States, but seasons five through seven have not. That is particularly irritating to those of us who cannot get enough of the series that has featured actors Nicholas Hoult (Warm Bodies), Joe Dempsie (Game of Thrones) and Dev Patel (The Newsroom), to name three of the talented alumni. For those not familiar with Skins, the cast is changed almost completely at the end of every second series. As a result, series 5 features a brand new cast of characters, but they still live in Bristol, England and attend Roundview College. I recently had an opportunity to watch the eight episodes that comprise series 5 on Netflix and once again creators Bryan Elsley and Jamie Brittain have developed interesting and relatable characters and have cast talented young actors to fill the roles.

Something old refers to the setting, and two employees of Roundview College; David Blood (Chris Addison) who appeared in series 3 and 4, and Doug (Giles Thomas), who is the only character to appear in all of the series (and he is hysterical). Their presence adds another degree of continuity to Skins, which is appreciated by regular viewers. Something new would apply to the majority of the characters, including Alo, Franky, Mini, Grace, Matty and Nick. In my opinion, they do not resemble any of the cast members of the previous two generations, either in looks or personality. However, both Rich and Liv appear to be extensions of Sid and Jal from series 1 and 2, so I consider aspects of the characters to be "borrowed.". However, both characters are likable and interesting, even though Rich (especially when he cuts his hair) reminded me of Sid and Liv is basically Jal 2.0. They even look enough alike to be related in some way. Finally, the blue refers to Dakota Blue Richards, who portrays Franky.

The themes of the first four series, including broken homes, drug use and sexuality, are present in series 5 as well. For instance, Franky is adopted and has two dads, Nick and Matty's mother is not seen or talked about, Liv's father is absent and Mini does not discuss her parents, who are divorced. Rich and Grace live with their parents and both seem relatively stable, while Alo is not quite as stable, but just needs to grow up. The drug use is rampant, like it was in previous series and I assume that this is at least a somewhat realistic depiction of actual teenage behavior. If it is, I am glad that I do not have children or I would be worried about them 24/7. There is no central gay character in series 5, but Franky's aforementioned fathers are a seemingly happy couple and both Matty and Liv appear to have bisexual tendencies.

The storylines depicted in series 5 are what you might expect - youngsters trying to find their way to adulthood and making emotional decisions that come back to haunt them along the way, which includes the seemingly constant rebellion against authority figures. In addition, they are all looking for someone to love, but are not mature enough yet to separate physical attraction from emotional well being. Franky's attraction to Matty is an excellent example. Despite the character flaws and the bad decision making, I found myself liking all of the characters and rooting for them to make their lives better. One way they attempt to do that is through the strong bond of friendship, which helps in settling internal disputes and allows them to move forward together. They pose a united front against parents or adults who try to stop them from living their lives and being happy, or at least doing what they think will make them happy.

One interesting aspect of the casting for the fifth series is the heartthrob brothers, Matty and Nick, who are portrayed by Sebastian de Souza and Sean Teale, respectively. Usually, average looking actors are cast in the principal roles, so this is a welcome change. However, I never want to see a series of Skins featuring a group of beautiful people, that would not feel right and would be boring. The ensemble cast all deliver fine work in their respective roles, but I want to single out Jessica Sula as Grace, Laya Lewis as Liv and Sebastian de Souza as Matty. Sula has a strong and confident screen presence, Lewis plays conflict, uncertainty and hurt very well, and de Souza has the exotic good looks that make Theo James (Golden Boy) so appealing.

While I enjoyed series 5, I will not render a verdict on the overall quality of this generation of Skins until I have watched series 6, but I am impressed so far. In the past, I have posted a blog entry on individual episodes of each series, but I do not plan to do that for series 5 until I can purchase the DVD set. For those interested in reading my thoughts on seasons 1-4 of Skins, use the search box or click on the label "Skins" that appears at the end of this blog entry. For those Skins fans who have yet to see series 5, you will not be disappointed. Finally, like the first four series, music is used superbly throughout each episode and helps to further the various storylines.

Paperback Spotlight: "Finding Funds for Your Film or TV Project" by Gini Graham Scott

It’s no secret that it takes money to create a film, but it may not be obvious to beginning filmmakers what each of the fundraising phases is and what opportunities they have available to them.

In Finding Funds for Your Film or TV Project (Limelight Editions, Oct. 2013), Gini Graham Scott gives a complete overview of each phase—from creating promotional material to preparing documentation to the banking details of what to do when funds are received—and walks the reader through different methods of fundraising, such as crowd-funding and getting the attention of investors. This includes designing a business plan, editing trailers and sizzle reels, creating private placement memorandums, and writing the crowd-funding pitch. She makes clear certain legal requirements filmmakers should adhere to, such as Securities and Exchange Commission requirements.

Finding Funds for Your Film or TV Project also covers:

• The overall workings of the film industry and trends in film production
• Deciding what to produce, preparing a script or treatment, determining your needed cast and crew, and coming up with a rough estimate of budget
• Closing the deal and getting the money

No beginning filmmaker should be without this Quick Guide!

"Voyage in Noise: Warren Ellis and the Demise of Western Civilization," by Kevin Thurman and Julian Darius

Press Release: Sequart Research & Literacy Organization (sequart.org) is proud to announce the release of its newest book of comics analysis, Voyage in Noise: Warren Ellis and the Demise of Western Civilization, written by Kevin Thurman and Julian Darius.

 

Through works like Transmetropolitan, Planetary, and The Authority, Warren Ellis has changed the history of comic books. In this book, Kevin Thurman and Julian Darius examine Ellis’s body of work, exploring, among other topics:

 

·         how his early work for Marvel Comics prefigures the concerns of his later work,

·         how his super-heroes respond to comics history,

·         his use of religion,

·         his use of violence,

·         his fascination with lizards (and what they reveal about the human condition),

·         and how his characters often use anger as a stimulus for revolutionary social action, in defiance of the West’s 21st-century malaise.

 

Topical interviews with Ellis complement several essays, expanding the reader’s understanding of the themes in Ellis’s work.

 

The book sports a cover by Four-Ones and runs 168 pages.

 

About the Publisher: Sequart Research & Literacy Organization is a non-profit devoted to the study and promotion of comic books as a legitimate art form. It publishes books and documentaries aimed at making comics scholarship accessible. For more information, click here.

 

New in Theaters: "The Family" Starring Robert De Niro and Michelle Pfeiffer

Hiding from the Mafia is no easy task. Even those in the Witness Protection Program, like the Blake family in the recently released film The Family, must always be wary of being located. Despite the best efforts of FBI Agent Stansfield (Tommy Lee Jones) and his team, the Blakes just cannot stay hidden. The patriarch, Giovanni Maznoni (Robert De Niro), has started a new career as a writer, but when he should be at home working, he creates a decoy so he can go into town and interact with the locals in their new home near Normandy, France. Matriarch Maggie (Michelle Pfeiffer) does not take criticism well and decides to blow up a small grocery store after an employee makes rude remarks about Americans. Daughter Belle (Dianna Agron) falls in love with a college student/substitute math teacher and son Warren (John D'Leo) starts a mini-Mafia at his school after being brutalized during his first week. I suppose you can take The Family out of the Mafia, but you cannot take the Mafia out of The Family.

Maggie also confesses her sins to a priest, who orders her not to come back to the church, while Giovanni agrees to participate in a discussion about film criticism, which is fine until the subject matter changes from history to the mob. However egregious those errors in judgment are, mobsters looking for the family find them through a rather innocent mistake made by Warren, who is also feeling heat from school officials for his "mob" and decides to leave town, until he realizes that a team of hit men have arrived with orders to kill the entire Blake family. The walls are closing in on the Blakes but they know how to take care of themselves.

As you might expect, The Family is a violent film and a few early scenes take the brutality a bit too far. Thankfully, those scenes are the exception and not the rule. Over time, the violence becomes more amusing than disturbing, especially when viewers know what is coming. For instance, Giovanni hates to be disrespected and he will go to any length to "correct" the behavior of those who cross him. Robert De Niro plays irritation extremely well with his passive aggressive smile that always elicits laughter. Not to be outdone, Tommy Lee Jones' FBI agent also must find an outlet for his irritation, but he uses verbal barbs to express his displeasure, which is usually directed at Giovanni.

Overall, the performances are strong and I particularly enjoyed the chemistry between De Niro and Jones. I was also impressed with John D'Leo, who is a promising young actor and delivers a confident, self assured performance as Warren. Director and co-writer Luc Besson has crafted an entertaining, amusing and intelligent film that also features an eclectic use of music, from the old world sounds of Italy to the contemporary gem "The Greatest" by Cat Power. As much as I enjoyed The Family, it does take a while for the film to hit its stride and the final scenes are a bit far fetched, but those are small complaints in this otherwise solid effort.

Screenwriters: Tonino Benacquista, Luc Besson and Michael Caleo

Nielsen Ratings for the Week of September 9, 2013: NBC Wins, CBS a Close Second

Ratings for the week of September 9, 2013 (courtesy of Nielsen Media Research)

Total Average Viewers (in millions) by Network:
NBC - 7.01
CBS - 6.74
ABC - 4.48
FOX - 3.98
The CW - .87

Top 10 Shows (viewers in millions):

1. NBC Sunday Night Football (NBC) - 20.54
2. Football Night in America Weather Delay (NBC) (s) - 17.84
3. Sunday Night NFL Pre-Kick (NBC) - 15.22
4. 60 Minutes (CBS) - 12.45
5. Football Night in America Part 3 (NBC) - 11.31
6. America's Got Talent (NBC-Wednesday) - 10.08
7. Under the Dome (CBS) - 9.72
8. America's Got Talent (NBC-Tuesday) - 9.24
9. NCIS (CBS) (r) - 9.07
10. Miss America Competition (ABC) (s) - 8.59

(r) = Repeat
(s) = Special

New Series Spotlight: "Sleepy Hollow" Debuts Tonight on FOX

The headless horseman rides again beginning tonight in Sleepy Hollow on FOX. Based on the classic story, The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, by Washington Irving, the series features Ichabod Crane (Tom Mison), who dies in 1790, only to reawaken in 2013 in the town of Sleepy Hollow. Joining him, of course, is the Headless Horseman (Richard Cetrone), who continues on his murderous rampage. The time travel idea is interesting and I am looking forward to watching the pilot episode. Sleepy Hollow debuts tonight, at 9:00pm ET on FOX.

Check out the trailer here.

Weekend Box Office Estimates for September 13-15, 2013: "Insidious Chapter 2" Dominates

Insidious Chapter 2 easily won the weekend box office race, with a $40 million plus take. The Patrick Wilson/Rose Byrne frightfest did not have much competition, as the only other new film in wide release, The Family, a black comedy starring Robert De Niro and Michelle Pfeiffer, only managed to pull in $14.5 million. Third place belongs to Riddick with $7.0 million, but that represents a 60% drop from last weekend and the film looks to be fading fast. Two strong holdovers, Lee Daniels' The Butler and We're the Millers, rounded out the top five, earning $5.6 and $5.4 million, respectively. When the final weekend box office totals are released, those film may switch places.

Here are the Top Ten Weekend films (numbers are in millions):

1. Insidious Chapter 2 - $41.1 (FilmDistrict)

2. The Family - $14.5 (Relativity Media)

3. Riddick - $7.0 (Universal)

4. Lee Daniels' The Butler - $5.6 (Weinstein Company)

5. We're the Millers - $5.4 (Warner Bros./New Line)

6. Instructions Not Included - $4.3 (Lionsgate/Pantelion)

7. Planes - $3.1 (Disney)

8. One Direction: This Is Us - $2.4 (Sony/TriStar)

9. Elysium - $2.1 (Sony/Tristar)

10. Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters - $1.8 (Fox)

Syfy's Sixth Annual "31 Days of Halloween" Scare-A-Thon Unleashes 600 Hours of Bloodcurdling Programming

Press Release:  NEW YORK – September 13, 2013 – Syfy’s sixth annual 31 Days of Halloween will unleash nearly 600 hours of bloodcurdling programming throughout the entire month of October, led by Halloween-themed episodes of Ghost Hunters (October 30) and Naked Vegas (October 29), a Scare Tactics marathon (October 28) and a trio of original horror movies including Zombie Night (October 26) starring Darryl Hannah, Anthony Michael Hall and “Mrs. Partridge,” Shirley Jones!

31 Days of Halloween will include the Syfy premieres of Psychosis (October 5) and Night of the Demons (October 10), an evening of Nicholas Cage flicks – Drive Angry and Ghost Rider (October 27) – as well as marathons of the series Being Human (October 18), Friday the 13^th: The Series (October 11), Ghost Whisperer (October 10) and Forever Knight (October 4).

Highlights of Syfy’s 31 Days of Halloween (all times ET/PT)

 
SCARECROW – Original Movie Airs Saturday, October 5 at 9PM – A group of teens and their teacher are stranded in the countryside when they discover that the local legend of a murderous scarecrow creature is real – and the creature’s after them. Scarecrow stars Robin Dunne (Sanctuary) and Lacey Chabert (Family Guy).
 
GRAVE HALLOWEEN – Original Movie Airs Saturday, October 19 at 9PM – An American college student studying in Japan risks her own life to save the spirit of her dead mother who killed herself in the notorious real-life Suicide Forest. Grave Halloween stars Cassie Thomson (Big Love) and Graham Wardle (Supernatural).
 
ZOMBIE NIGHT – Original Movie Airs Saturday, October 26 at 9PM – Two families in a small American town Face Off against zombies in a long night of horror, torn between helping each other and saving themselves. Zombie Night stars Darryl Hannah (Kill Bill), Anthony Michael Hall (The Breakfast Club) and Shirley Jones (The Partridge Family).
 
SCARE TACTICS – Original Series Airs Monday, October 28 from 8-11PM – Tracy Morgan hosts a special marathon of all-new episodes of Scare Tactics, the hidden camera show with a sci-fi twist that pulls outrageous pranks on unsuspecting friends and family. In these new episodes, our subjects will be subjected to post-Voodoo ceremony zombie attacks at a cemetery, a meat-eating fly experiment gone horribly wrong and a homicidal comedian at a comedy award show that Tracy “hosts.”
 
NAKED VEGAS – Original Series Airs Tuesday, October 29 at 10PM – Set amidst the fast-paced glitter of life on the Las Vegas Strip, Syfy will transport viewers inside the provocative and imaginative world of body painting art in this new six-part docuseries. Just in time for Halloween, the first episode follows the Naked Vegas Team as they plan an over-the-top zombie-themed wedding at Eli Roth’s Goretorium at Planet Hollywood. Not only does the wedding couple want to stagger down the aisle in zombie body paint, but they want the entire wedding party painted to match the theme! Can the Team pull off this challenging make-up assignment – and convince the wedding party to go naked?
 
GHOST HUNTERS – Original Series Airs Wednesday, October 30 at 9PM – To help put fans in the trick or treat mood, GHOST HUNTERS presents an especially spooky investigation the eve before All Hallows’ Eve. In the episode, titled “Hyde and Seek,” lead investigator Jason Hawes and the TAPS (The Atlantic Paranormal Society) team head to Cooperstown, New York, for their most anticipated investigation location of the season: Hyde Hall. They’re there to look into claims that the INFAMOUS mansion was cursed by its former owners during a family feud, and during the investigation, the team comes face-to-face with threatening paranormal activity. Throughout the episode, TAPS will also share personal Halloween messages with viewers at home.

ABC Family's 15th Annual "13 Nights of Halloween" Begins October 19th

Yes, it is almost that time of year again. Next month, PopCultureGuy will be celebrating Halloween all month long for the sixth consecutive year, so expect a lot of fright filled fun. In the meantime, other media outlets are gearing up for All Hallows' Eve too, including ABC Family. Check out the press release below for their complete "13 Nights of Halloween" event.


Burbank, CA (September 13, 2013) - ABC Family scares up the 2013 13 NIGHTS OF HALLOWEEN celebration, with programming filled with scares and frights as you countdown to Halloween. The popular programming event, now in its 15th year, starting Saturday, October 19th, and concludes on Thursday, October 31st, features a brand new episode of "Pretty Little Liars" and the highly anticipated premiere of spinoff series "Ravenswood." The stunt will also include the ABC Family feature film premiere of "Men in Black," the network premiere of "Disney·Pixar's Toy Story OF TERROR!," and a ghoulish mix of Halloween-themed programming airing for the 13 nights leading up to Halloween.

Following is a listing of chill-tastic programming taking place October 19th-31st during ABC

Family's 13 NIGHTS OF HALLOWEEN.
Night One - Saturday, October 19th
The 15th annual 13 NIGHTS OF HALLOWEEN launches an all day scarefest with a mini marathon of comedy series "The Middle," featuring all of the Heck family's Halloween hijinks (7:00 - 8:30 AM ET/PT). New York's only hope in the midst of a crime wave is the "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" (8:30 - 10:30 AM ET/PT). Gotham City is under attack by The Joker in "Batman" at 10:30 AM- 1:30 PM ET/PT, then "Batman Returns" (1:30 - 4:30 PM ET/PT) to thwart The Penguin's evil plans. "Tim Burton's Corpse Bride" (4:30 - 6:25 PM ET/PT) kicks off a Tim Burton double feature, with "Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas" (6:25 - 8:00 PM ET/PT) doubling your frights. Catch the network premiere of "Disney·Pixar's Toy Story OF TERROR!" (8:00 - 8:30 PM ET/PT), where Buzz, Woody and all your favorite toys must work together to track down their missing friend. Then meet us down on the Scare Floor for "Disney·Pixar's Monsters, Inc." (8:30 - 10:30 PM ET/PT). We wrap up our night with how Batman came to be in "Batman Begins" at 10:30 PM - 12:30 AM ET/PT.

Night Two - Sunday, October 20th
Spend the day with the master of Halloween entertainment Tim Burton, starting with a trip down the rabbit hole with "Alice in Wonderland" (7:00 - 9:30 AM ET/PT), then collect your golden ticket to the world of Wonka in "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" (9:30 AM - 12:30 PM ET/PT). Then visit with "Coraline" (12:00 - 2:00 PM ET/PT), a little girl who realizes an idealized version of her unhappy home comes with its own secrets. Then it's back to Burton with "Tim Burton's Corpse Bride" (2:00 - 3:55 PM ET/PT) and the creepiest wedding of the year, followed by a haunting holiday in "Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas" (3:55 - 5:30 PM ET/PT). Join Mike Wazowski and Sulley for some premium scares in "Disney·Pixar's Monsters, Inc." (5:30 - 7:30 PM ET/PT), then take another ride on "Disney·Pixar's Toy Story OF TERROR!" (7:30 - 8:00 PM ET/PT) if you dare. "The Addams Family" (8:00 - 10:00 PM ET/PT) invites you to spend the evening with them and learn some "Addams Family Values" (10:00 PM - 12:00 AM ET/PT).

Night Three - Monday, October 21st
Watch out for the Red Queen as you revisit the fantastical Wonderland in "Alice in Wonderland" (6:30 - 8:30 PM ET/PT), then it's the tale of immortal love in "Twilight" (8:30 - 11:00 PM ET/PT). Stay up late for extra chills with "I Know What You Did Last Summer" (12:00 - 2:00 AM ET/PT), where someone is watching, and they know your secret!

Night Four - Tuesday, October 22nd
Relive your favorite moments from this season's search for Red Coat in a "Pretty Little Liars" marathon (11:00 AM - 8:00 PM ET/PT), featuring 9 back to back episodes filled with creepy text messages and even creepier gifts from "A". Then break out your Halloween finery as the Liars attend a very unusual costume party on a special brand new Halloween episode of "Pretty Little Liars" at 8:00 - 9:00 PM ET/PT. Watch "Pretty Little Liars" Caleb as he steps into a new town where things are stranger than even he's ever seen in the highly anticipated premiere of new series "Ravenswood" (9:00 - 10:00 PM ET/PT). Additionally you can catch encores of the "Ravenswood" premiere at 10:00 - 11:00 PM ET/PT and 1:00 - 2:00 AM ET/PT, with the "Pretty Little Liars" Halloween episode airing in between at 12:00 -1:00 AM ET/PT.

Night Five - Wednesday, October 23rd
Tag along with the "Pretty Little Liars" (5:30 - 6:30 PM ET/PT) as they search for the truth about Ali, in an encore of the Halloween special, followed by another visit to the Supernatural town of "Ravenswood" (6:30 - 7:30 PM ET/PT). Harry prepares for his final epic battle with He Who Must Not Be Named in "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows: Part 1" at 7:30 - 11:00 PM ET/PT. The night ends with another teen who discovers her magical powers in "Teen Witch" (12:00 - 2:00 AM ET/PT).

Night Six - Thursday, October 24th
Captain Jack Sparrow leads a quest to find the mystical Fountain of Youth in "Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides" at 6:00 - 9:00 PM, ET/PT. Join the M.I.B. on the search for aliens in the ABC Family premiere of "Men in Black" (9:00 - 11:00 PM ET/PT). And end your night with Michael J. Fox's hairy high school adventures of "Teen Wolf" (12:00 - 2:00 AM ET/PT).

Night Seven - Friday, October 25th
Try not to be neutralized by the "Men in Black" (7:00 - 9:00 PM ET/PT) on the search for aliens. Then watch out for Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice, "Beetlejuice" at 9:00 - 11:00 PM ET/PT. Wrap up with another chance to join Agent J and Agent K of the "Men in Black" (12:00 - 2:00 AM ET/PT).

Night Eight - Saturday, October 26th
It's back to back Supernatural high school hijinks starting with "Teen Wolf Too" (7:30 - 9:30 AM ET/PT), followed by "Teen Wolf" (9:30 - 11:30 AM ET/PT), "Teen Witch" (11:30 AM - 1:30 PM ET/PT), and "The Goonies" (1:30 - 3:30 PM ET/PT). Then it's another chance to partake in the wacky shenanigans of "Beetlejuice" (4:00 - 6:00 PM ET/PT), and spend some more time with the kookiest, ookiest family on the block in "The Addams Family" (6:00 - 8:00 PM ET/PT) and "Addams Family Values" (8:00 - 10:00 PM ET/PT). It becomes a witchy late night starting with the Sanderson sisters in "Hocus Pocus" (10:00 PM- 12:00 AM ET/PT), followed by four teenage witches in "The Craft" (12:00 - 2:00 AM ET/PT).

Night Nine - Sunday, October 27th
That Grinch doesn't like any holiday in the ABC Family premiere of "Dr. Seuss' Halloween is Grinch Night" at 7:00 -7:30 AM ET/PT. Join Gutsy Smurf on a trip to spooky Smurfy Hollow in the ABC Family premiere of "The Smurfs: The Legend of Smurfy Hollow" (7:30 - 8:00 AM ET/PT). Then grab the Scooby snacks for back to back airings of "Scooby Doo" (8:00 - 10:00 AM ET/PT) and "Scooby Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed" (10:00 AM - 12:00 PM ET/PT). Trick-or-Treat at "Monster House" (12:00 - 2:00 PM ET/PT) if you dare, then visit with the most charming and magical "Matilda" (2:00 - 4:00 PM ET/PT). Spend some more time with the kookiest, ookiest family on the block in "The Addams Family" (4:00 - 6:00 PM ET/PT) and "Addams Family Values" (6:00 - 8:00 PM ET/PT). Don't drink these witches' brew as the Sanderson sisters wreak havoc in "Hocus Pocus" (8:00- 10:00 PM ET/PT)! Then it's another chance to uncover the mysteries in Rosewood in the "Pretty Little Liars" (10:00 - 11:00 PM ET/PT) Halloween special and the premiere episode of "Ravenswood" (11:00 PM - 12:00 AM ET/PT).

Night Ten - Monday, October 28th
It's back to the scariest house on the block, "Monster House" (5:30 - 7:30 PM ET/PT), followed by the creepiest wedding you've ever seen in "Tim Burton's Corpse Bride" (7:30 - 9:25 PM ET/PT). Then join Jack Skellington in Halloweentown in "Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas" (9:25 - 11:00 PM ET/PT). And finally, revisit "Coraline" (12:00 - 2:00 AM ET/PT), a little girl who discovers the world she thought she wanted is more sinister than she thought.

Night Eleven - Tuesday, October 29th
The night kicks off with a bonus airing of the special Halloween episode of "Pretty Little Liars" (6:00 - 7:00 PM ET/PT) and the "Ravenswood" (7:00 - 8:00 PM ET/PT) premiere episode that introduces the unexplained phenomena of this creepy town. "Ravenswood" (8:00 - 9:00 PM ET/PT) makes its time period debut with a new episode that finds Caleb trying to explain the Supernatural happenings he's witnessed. Close out your night with the scares and thrills of "I Know What You Did Last Summer" (9:00 - 11:00 PM ET/PT), then be kept up at night by back to back airings of the first two episodes of chilling series "Ravenswood" (12:00 - 2:00 AM ET/PT).

Night Twelve - Wednesday, October 30th
A day of truly spine-tingling frights starts with Mikey, Chunk and the rest of "The Goonies" (11:00 AM - 1:30 PM ET/PT) where Goonies never say die! Make a deal with the devil in "Death Becomes Her" (1:30 - 3:30 PM ET/PT). Watch the witchy teens of "The Craft" (3:30 - 5:30 PM ET/PT), then the terrorized teens of "I Know What You Did Last Summer" (5:30 - 7:30 PM ET/PT), and stay for the Supernatural teens of "Twilight" (7:30 - 10:00 PM ET/PT). And if you haven't gotten enough terrorizing teen moments, stick around for an encore of the second episode of "Ravenswood" at 10:00 - 11:00 PM ET/PT. Your evening of thrills ends with an encore of "Death Becomes Her" (12:00 - 2:00 AM ET/PT)

Night Thirteen - Thursday, October 31st
All Hallows Eve is upon us and promises to bring with it a treat bag full of fun, starting with back to back doses of the mutant crime fighters "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" (11:00 AM - 1:00 PM ET/PT), and "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2: The Secret of the Ooze" (1:00 - 3:00 PM ET/PT). Stay tuned for those meddling kids of "Scooby Doo" (3:00 - 5:00 PM ET/PT) and "Scooby Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed" (5:00 - 7:00 PM ET/PT) and watch the Scooby gang defeat evil doers' dastardly plans. It's your last chance to hang out with Gomez, Morticia and their kooky crew in "The Addams Family" (7:00 - 9:00 PM ET/PT) and learn some "Addams Family Values" (9:00 -11:00 PM ET/PT) of the frightening kind! The Halloween evening wraps up it's spooktacularness with the ABC Family premiere of "The Others" (12:00 - 2:00 AM ET/PT), where Nicole Kidman fears she is living with ghosts, and not the friendly kind.