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On Wednesday March 19 2025, E! broadcasts an episode of the series Night Court!

The Duke’s a Hazard Season 2 Episode 12 Episode Summary

The upcoming episode of “Night Court,” titled “The Duke’s a Hazard,” promises to bring laughter and unexpected twists. In this episode, Gurgs finds herself in a tricky situation when her royal boyfriend makes a surprise visit. This unexpected arrival leads her to question whether they are truly compatible. The dynamics of their relationship will be explored, providing both comedic moments and some heartfelt reflections.

Meanwhile, Dan is caught up in a different kind of drama. He discovers a long-standing feud that has roots going back centuries, and it involves his family. Determined to defend his family’s honor, Dan dives headfirst into the conflict. This storyline is sure to add a layer of intrigue and humor as Dan navigates the complexities of the feud and tries to uphold his family’s reputation.

On Wednesday March 19 2025, E! broadcasts an episode of the series Night Court!

Past Apps Season 1 Episode 13 Episode Summary

The upcoming episode of “Night Court,” titled “Past Apps,” promises to deliver a mix of humor and suspense. This episode will air on E! and is sure to keep fans entertained. The story revolves around a tech entrepreneur who finds himself in court, sparking excitement among Dan and the rest of the gang. They see a golden opportunity to get involved with what could be the next big thing in the tech world.

As the plot unfolds, Abby discovers something troubling about the young CEO’s past. She stumbles upon a sealed file that reveals a history of fraud. This puts Abby in a tough position. She wants to protect her friends and warn them about the potential risks of getting involved with this entrepreneur, but she must navigate the legal boundaries to do so.

On Wednesday March 19 2025, E! broadcasts an episode of the series Night Court!

When Abby Met Gabby Season 1 Episode 14 Episode Summary

The upcoming episode of “Night Court,” titled “When Abby Met Gabby,” promises to bring a mix of romance and comedy to the courtroom. This episode will air on E! and is sure to keep fans entertained with its unique storyline.

In this episode, Neil’s feelings for Abby are causing quite a stir. His crush is making things uncomfortable for everyone in the court. Abby, sensing the tension, finds a potential solution when she meets Gabby, someone from Neil’s past who is now single. This unexpected reunion could change the dynamics between the characters, leading to some humorous and heartfelt moments.

Meanwhile, Gurgs faces her own challenges as she tries to protect Dan from an unruly member of the gallery. This subplot adds an extra layer of chaos to the episode,...

Character actors are the backbone of the entertainment industry. In a constellation of Hollywood stars, they’re the unassuming comets that add a touch of eccentricity or relatable normalcy to our favorite shows. Biff Wiff was among those familiar faces where folks don't always know the names to match, and he played each little role with pride. Born in Chicago in 1948, the beloved actor, who always preferred this stage name, sadly passed away on February 12, 2025, aged 76, following a lengthy cancer battle.

Even if brief, his moments on screen carried a lived-in, comforting quality. With his bushy beard and gentle demeanor, Wiff quickly became an actor that viewers easily recognized. He wasn't a household name as such, although his presence was felt. Wiff represented the tradition of hard-working character actors whose contributions elevate storytelling through small but essential roles.

Biff Wiff Was a Late Bloomer on Television Netflix

Wiff always led...

Two cast members from “Everything Everywhere All At Once,” the Oscar-winning film by Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert, recently passed away – Waymond Lee, who died in December, and Biff Wiff, who died just last month. They played minor characters in the movie – Wiff is seen as one of the customers at Evelyn’s (Michelle Yeoh) laundromat and Lee pops up throughout “Everything Everywhere All At Once” – but their outsized personalities definitely made an impression and added to the lovely, intoxicating stew that was the movie.

Kwan and Scheinert wanted to remember and honor their collaborators, so they sent TheWrap their thoughts on the actors.

Waymond Lee in “Everything Everywhere All at Once” (A24)

On Lee: Waymond Lee first worked with us on an award-winning Foster the People music video in 2011. He notoriously answered every LA casting post he had time for. We loved him. He was hyper and strange and...

In the upcoming episode of “Night Court,” titled “The Duke’s a Hazard,” viewers can expect a delightful blend of comedy and drama. The episode centers around Gurgs, who finds herself in a bit of a pickle when her royal boyfriend shows up unexpectedly. This surprise visit leads Gurgs to question whether their relationship is as solid as she thought. The dynamics of love and compatibility are put to the test, and it promises to be both entertaining and thought-provoking.

Meanwhile, Dan is embroiled in a centuries-old family feud that adds an intriguing twist to the episode. When he discovers that his family’s honor is at stake, Dan takes it upon himself to defend it. This subplot is sure to bring plenty of laughs as Dan navigates the absurdities of the feud and tries to uphold his family’s legacy in the most comical ways possible.

With its mix...

The upcoming episode of “Night Court,” titled “When Abby Met Gabby,” promises to deliver a mix of comedy and unexpected twists. Set to air on March 19, 2025, at 3:00 Pm on E!, this episode dives into the complicated dynamics of love and friendship in the courtroom.

In this episode, Neil’s crush on Abby takes center stage, creating an awkward atmosphere for everyone involved. His feelings have become hard to ignore, and Abby finds herself in a tricky situation. Just when things seem to be at their most uncomfortable, she encounters a familiar face from Neil’s past. This newfound connection could be just what Abby needs to navigate the tension and find a way out of the uncomfortable situation.

Meanwhile, Gurgs faces her own challenges as she tries to keep Dan safe from a disruptive member of the gallery. This subplot adds another layer of humor and chaos to the episode,...

“Night Court” is back with an exciting new episode titled “Past Apps.” Set to air on Wednesday, March 19, 2025, at 2:30 Pm on E!, this episode promises a mix of humor and drama that fans have come to love.

In this episode, a tech entrepreneur finds himself in court, catching the attention of Dan and the rest of the gang. They see a golden opportunity to invest in what they believe could be the next big thing, a billion-dollar idea. The excitement is palpable as they dream of hitting it big. However, things take a turn when Abby discovers some troubling information about the young CEO’s past.

Abby stumbles upon a sealed file that reveals a history of fraud. This puts her in a tough position. She knows she must warn her friends about the potential danger, but she also has to navigate the legal boundaries that come with it.

Biff Wiff, a character actor whose screen appearances included several on the TV show I Think You Should Leave With Tim Robinson and one in the film Self Reliance (pictured above), has died. “It is with heavy hearts that we inform you of the passing of our beloved client and actor Biff Wiff,” management company Entertainment Lab announced on Instagram on Friday, February 14. “Biff was an amazing person inside and out, and his loving energy could be felt by all. We are sending our heartfelt sympathies to his family [and] loved ones at this time.” Wiff had been battling recurring cancer, according to a GoFundMe campaign that friends had organized to raise money for his treatment. “Thank you so much for all the support,” he told donors in a June 2023 GoFundMe update. “It has really been lifting me up. I just couldn’t believe this kind of support would come my way.

Biff Wiff, the beloved character actor who portrayed multiple roles on the sketch comedy series I Think You Should Leave and had a supporting role in the Oscar-winning Everything Everywhere All at Once died following a battle with cancer, his talent management company Entertainment Lab confirmed on Friday.

“It is with heavy hearts that we inform you of the passing of our beloved client and actor, Biff Wiff,” Entertainment Lab wrote in an Instagram post on Friday. “Biff was an amazing person inside and out, and his loving energy could be felt by all.

Character actor Biff Wiff, known in part for his appearances on Netflix's I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson, has died. This follows complications from cancer which were previously detailed on a GoFundMe page set up to assist the actor with his medical bills.

Wiff's passing was announced on Instagram by his management firm, Entertainment Lab, with a post shared on Friday. Including some images of the actor, the post stated, “It is with heavy hearts that we inform you of the passing of our beloved client and actor, Biff Wiff. Biff was an amazing person inside and out, and his loving energy could be felt by all. We are sending our heartfelt sympathies to his family & loved ones at this time.”

View this post on InstagramA post shared by Entertainment Lab (@entlab.la)

Tim Robinson also addressed the news on his Instagram Stories. He shared an image...

Biff Wiff, the beloved character actor best known for his roles in I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson and the Oscar-winning Everything Everywhere All At Once, has died after his battle with cancer, his talent management company announced online.

“It is with heavy hearts that we inform you of the passing of our beloved client and actor, Biff Wiff,” Entertainment Lab wrote on Instagram. “Biff was an amazing person inside and out, and his loving energy could be felt by all. We are sending our heartfelt sympathies to his family & loved ones at this time. @biffwiff“

While Wiff’s age was not readily available, he was in his 60’s.

The post included photos of Wiff alongside co-stars like Jake Johnson, with whom he worked on 2023’s Self Reliance and Robinson, who re-shared the post alongside broken heart emojis on his Instagram Story. The comedian and actor also shared...

Biff Wiff, a character actor best known for his multiple guest turns on the Netflix sketch comedy series “I Think You Should Leave,” has died following an extended battle with cancer, his management firm Entertainment Lab confirmed Friday on Instagram.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Entertainment Lab (@entlab.la)

“It is with heavy hearts that we inform you of the passing of our beloved client and actor, Biff Wiff,” the post read. “Biff was an amazing person inside and out, and his loving energy could be felt by all. We are sending our heartfelt sympathies to his family & loved ones at this time.”

“I Think You Should Leave” creator and star Tim Robinson reshared the post to his Instagram Stories. He also shared a clip from a fan-favorite “Itysl” sketch in which he starred with Wiff entitled “Shirt Brothers.”

Wiff’s decades-long career began with a...

Acclaimed comedian and series creator Tim Robinson discusses the future of I Think You Should Leave at Netflix.

Speaking to Collider, Robinson responded to the question of whether there would be more I Think You Should Leave in the future with, "It's not over. I don't think it's over." Although Robinson said he could not say anything about whether he and series co-creator Zach Kanin were currently writing any sketches for a potential fourth season of the hit Netflix sketch comedy, he did respond with, "That's fair," when asked if fans of I Think You Should Leave should be in a good mood about where the show is headed.

Related A24's New Horror Film Sets Unwanted Rotten Tomatoes Record for the Studio

The latest horror film from acclaimed production studio A24 marks the lowest Rotten Tomatoes score for the company this year.

I Think You Should Leave premiered on...

This September, Max is bringing you a lot of entertainment with the highly anticipated DC action crime drama series The Penguin starring Colin Farrell and the new season of HBO’s great series My Brilliant Friend. However, for the purposes of this article, we are only including the films that are coming to Max this month and have a 90% or higher Rotten Tomatoes score. So, check out the 5 best films coming to Max in September 2024 with a 90% or higher Rotten Tomatoes score.

Boogie Nights (September 1)

Rotten Tomatoes Score: 94%

Boogie Nights is a period drama film written and directed by Paul Thomas Anderson. The 1997 film revolves around Eddie Adams, a high school dropout who begins working as a porn star and achieves huge success but his new glamorous lifestyle goes to his head and he gets addicted to drugs. Boogie Nights stars Mark Wahlberg in the lead role with Burt Reynolds,...

Albany hardcore quintet Drug Church have returned to announce Prude, their fifth studio album, due out on October 4th via Pure Noise Records. They’ve also shared the album’s first single, “Demolition Man.” Stream it below.

Prude follows Hygiene, the punk band’s acclaimed 2022 album. The record was produced by longtime Drug Church collaborator Jon Markson and features a deeper display of their aggressive sound. “I’m hesitant to say this album is more emotional, but I think there’s definitely some emotional songs on the record,” vocalist Patrick Kindlon said in a press release. “I wanted to avoid some of the topics I’ve been hammering for years, but I almost can’t, I’m limited to what interests me, or upsets me, or grabs my attention.”

Get Drug Church Tickets Here

He continued, saying, “There’s certainly classic Drug Church stuff–people derailing their lives, a strong...

We’ve all wondered what it’d be like — to be an animal of some sort, just living life by instinct, your purpose woven into your DNA. That’s the conceit behind Drug Church’s new single, “Demolition Man” off the punk band’s fifth studio album Prude.

“Demolition Man” crashes in, quite fittingly, on a wave of deliciously dumb riffs that belie the painfully insightful opening lyrics, which see frontman Patrick Kindlon roaring: “Saw a video of some working dogs/Each so happy to do what he does/Muddy...

Hold onto your laughter as “Night Court” returns with Season 2 Episode 12, titled “The Duke’s a Hazard,” airing at 8:00 Pm on NBC this Tuesday, March 19, 2024. The courtroom comedy takes a royal turn as Gurgs’ regal boyfriend pays an unexpected visit, sparking doubts about their compatibility. Brace yourselves for a hilarious exploration of love and laughter in the quirky world of Night Court.

In this uproarious episode, Dan, the ever-unpredictable attorney, finds himself defending his family’s honor. Uncovering a feud that spans centuries, Dan navigates the absurdity of a historical clash, all in the name of preserving his family’s reputation.

“The Duke’s a Hazard” guarantees an evening of sidesplitting humor, royal rendezvous, and unexpected family drama. Tune in at 8:00 Pm on NBC for a dose of hilarity as “Night Court” keeps the laughter rolling with another installment of legal antics and comedic chaos.

Release Date & Time:...

The rules are simple: Survive 30 days while being hunted by people attempting to kill you, and win one million dollars. As long as you're with another person, the hunters will leave you alone. This is the proposition presented to Tommy Walcott by a paid-to-be-there Andy Samberg in the Hulu film "Self Reliance." Written, directed, produced, and starring Jake Johnson, "Self Reliance" taps into the thrilling anticipation of David Fincher's "The Game," but with a lighthearted sense of humor and hell of a lot of heart that could only come from the guy who gave us Nick Miller on "New Girl" and one of the best episodes of "Mythic Quest."

Tommy decides to exploit the loophole by paying a transient man named James/Walter (Biff Wiff) to stay with him 24/7. He also encounters a woman named Maddy (Anna Kendrick) who is also playing the game, and who Tommy starts to...

We had the pleasure of discussing Self Reliance with Jake Johnson and his co-star, Biff Wiff, who, in the film, form an unlikely friendship to keep Johnson’s character from getting killed by mysterious assassins.

Speaking with Johnson and Wiff, we touch on the origin and journey of bringing Self Reliance to screens, how the duo built their on-screen chemistry, and whether Johnson and Wiff could spend 30 days in each other’s company non-stop.

In Self Reliance, Tommy (Johnson), a middle-aged man, is invited into a limo by famous actor Andy Samberg. His dull life takes a thrilling turn when the Brooklyn Nine-Nine and Saturday Night Live alum offers him a chance to win a million dollars in a dark web reality TV show. Here’s the catch: the game involves assassins from all over the world attempting to hunt and kill him for 30 days. However, the rules dictate that...

Jake Johnson makes his directorial debut with the wild dark comedy, Self Reliance, starring alongside Anna Kendrick and Andy Samberg. The movie revolves around a man who is offered $1 million to star in a dark web competition show where he is hunted for 30 days, but can only be killed when alone. The casting of the ensemble cast was crucial to capturing the right tone, and the movie combines humor, a unique paranoid thriller plot, and themes of connection.

Jake Johnson is making his directorial debut with the wild dark comedy, Self Reliance. Also written by and starring the New Girl alum, the movie revolves around a man down on his luck who is offered the ability to star in a dark web competition show in which he will be hunted for 30 days, and if he survives, he will win $1 million at the end. In order to avoid being a target,...

R.I.P. Minx, but fear not, Jake Johnson fans. The New Girl alum and voice of Peter B. Parker in Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse is generating headlines for his directorial debut in Self Reliance. Johnson also wrote and stars in the engaging comedy thriller about a middle-aged man who’s offered a chance to win $1 million via a trippy dark web reality TV show where assassins try to kill him. If he remains alive after 30 days, he’s rich. But is it all legit?

Self Reliance also stars Anna Kendrick, Natalie Morales, Andy Samberg, GaTa Holland, Emily Hampshire, Mary Holland, and Boban Marjanović. And Biff Wiff of Everything Everywhere All at Once, Night Court, and Jury Duty delivers yet another memorable turn, this time playing a homeless man with a big heart.

Fans of comedy thrillers will appreciate the great mix of action and humor running throughout Self Reliance.

Self Reliance is Jake Johnson's directorial debut with a stellar cast that turns absurdity into memorable characters. Anna Kendrick shines as Maddy, a woman who forms a romantic connection with the emotionally stunted Tommy. Biff Wiff delivers a standout performance as James, a homeless man who helps Tommy navigate the dangerous reality show.

Jake Johnson has been a staple of television for a long time, but he’s graduated to directing movies — and his directorial debut, Self Reliance, has a stellar cast to tell its wild, twisty comedic tale. Self Reliance has received a mostly positive critical reception, and while it’s quite absurd in its premise, the exceptional cast make the most out of it and turn their characters into memorable ones (even if some actors are just playing themselves).

Self Reliance premiered at the 2023 SXSW Film Festival and follows Tommy, a man who’s seemingly hit rock...

Fans are freaking out over the New Girl reunion that happened this week!

Former co-stars Jake Johnson and Zooey Deschanel met up and snapped a photo at the premiere of his new movie Self Reliance held at La Cita Bar on Tuesday (January 9) in Los Angeles.

The actress and her fiancé Jonathan Scott showed their support for her former co-star at his premiere for the Hulu film, which he also wrote and directed.

Keep reading to find out more…

Also in attendance were Jake‘s co-stars Anna Kendrick, Natalie Morales, GaTa, Emily Hampshire, Mary Holland and more.

Jake and Zooey‘s reunion pic was first featured in the middle of a slideshow on Hulu’s Instagram account on Thursday (January 11), and fans were excited to see the two back together!

“Oh My God Nick And Jess,” one fan commented on the post.

Freeform hilariously wrote, “no warning for slide 4?!”

In...

A lot of people only think of Jake Johnson as the comedic actor who has shown up in a number of big projects over the years. But before all of that, he got his start as a writer in New York City. It’s just his time as a writer was overshadowed by his growing acting career. But for “Self Reliance,” his new Hulu film arriving this week, Johnson is not only returning to writing, but he also directed the film, as well.

Continue reading Jake Johnson Talks ‘Self Reliance,’ Not Directing Again & Being Overshadowed By The Masterful Biff Wiff [The Playlist Podcast] at The Playlist.

Plot: When Tommy Walcott is invited into a limo by famous actor Andy Samberg, his dull life takes a thrilling turn. Tommy is offered a chance to win a million dollars in a dark web reality TV show, where assassins from all over the world attempt to kill him for 30 days. The catch? He can’t be killed if he’s not entirely alone, leading him to recruit an unlikely team to help him survive.

Review: Jake Johnson is hilarious. After his breakout role as Nick Miller on Fox sitcom New Girl, Johnson has appeared alongside Tom Cruise in The Mummy, Chris Pratt in the Jurassic World franchise, and voicing Peter B. Parker in Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse and Across the Spider-Verse. While Johnson has written several films, including Digging for Fire, Win It All, and Ride the Eagle, he makes his directorial debut with the new film Self Reliance.

Tommy Walcott (Jake Johnson) is stuck in a rut. Perpetually bored, he spends his days in a repetitive, lonely routine of work, working out, and watching old movies. Every now and then, he’ll make his way over to his ex-girlfriend’s house, but he always ends up slinking home without finding the courage to knock on the door. He’s a man crying out for someone to inject some intrigue into his life, and one day that cry is answered. By Andy Samberg.

The Brooklyn Nine-Nine star rolls up in a limousine and offers Tommy the chance to compete in a dark web game show. The rules are simple: For 30 days, Tommy will be hunted by anonymous killers from across the world, with a million-dollar prize up for grabs if he can survive until the end. The one big wrinkle is that the hunters are only allowed to kill Tommy while he’s alone,...

When Jake Johnson applied to Tisch, he submitted a play about a gorilla handler at the zoo whose life and marriage fell apart once his beloved gorilla passed away. He describes it as “wacky but funny” and says he’s been trying to recapture its unique tone ever since. With his feature directorial debut, Self Reliance, he finally has.

Premiering Jan. 12 on Hulu, Self Reliance centers on Tommy (Johnson), a down-in-the-dumps Angeleno who’s randomly scooped up one day by Andy Samberg (as himself) in a limo and offered a...

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One thing that’s objectively true about Tim Robinson’s I Think You Should Leave sketches: They were meant to be quoted. This isn’t a show that you can watch passively; it will take over your life until every news story you read and every conversation you have makes you think of that one line from that one sketch. (I know it isn’t just me who screams “Let Me Go First,...

In the second sketch of the third season of I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson, one character admits, “I just take everything way too far! I got too hyper.”

This line could be part of pretty much every Itysl sketch, both in this new season and in the two previous ones, since every bit on the show is in some way or other about people who take things too far, usually in a hyper way. But then again, most of these characters would not have enough self-awareness to recognize this particular flaw,...

When people look back at our present hell-time, if they look back at all, the one piece of art firmly representing what we all seemingly went through, together and alone, will be "I Think You Should Leave." Tim Robinson and Zach Kanin's sketch comedy series is the show of our current moment; a perfect encapsulation of what it's like to be trapped on a planet with increasingly odd weirdos who love to shout and never, ever admit they're wrong about anything. It's the living encapsulation of the "Watchmen" quote, "None of you seem to understand. I'm not locked in here with you. You're locked in here with me!"

We cannot escape the freaks, loudmouths, and downright lunatics that inhabit our world as they do the world of "I Think You Should Leave." All we can do is laugh at the absurdity and wait for a comet to hopefully come and kill us all.

Tim Robinson is just getting started.

After arriving on Netflix with breakout sketch comedy series “I Think You Should Leave,” Robinson is joined by A-list guest stars for Season 3. Jason Schwartzman, Tim Meadows, Fred Armisen, Sam Richardson, Will Forte, Patti Harrison, Ayo Edebiri, Mitra Jouhari, Tim Heidecker, Beck Bennett, Biff Wiff, Conner O’Malley, and Carmen Christopher appear in the hit Netflix series across six episodes of the new season.

The critically acclaimed and hilariously absurdist comedy series “I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson” returns for a third season. Creators and writers Tim Robinson and Zach Kanin bring their distinct comedy style and observational humor to the forefront, continuing to poke fun at life’s most bizarre and mundane situations.

Akiva Schaffer, Andy Samberg, and Jorma Taccone (The Lonely Island) and Ali Bell for Party Over Here serve as executive producers alongside Alex Bach and Dan Powell for Irony Point and Alice Mathias.

Self Reliance, Jake Johnson’s directorial debut, is everything one might expect from the comedic actor. The film is genuinely funny, occasionally weird (in the best way), and just a tad unsettling. Johnson, who also wrote and starred in the film, mines the mile-a-minute comedy for all it’s worth. There is almost never a dull moment. And while Self Reliance fails to fully deliver in its final act, largely due to a tonal shift and a focus on action, it lives up to every expectation as a Johnson production, one that is elevated by an excellent supporting cast that is happy to go with the flow.

Tommy has been feeling down and directionless ever since his girlfriend (Natalie Morales) of many years broke up with him two years ago. Now living with his mom and jobless, Tommy refuses to move forward with his life, stuck in the same daily routine.

A lot of filmmakers at South by Southwest hatched their first movie during the pandemic. Jake Johnson is no exception. With Self Reliance, the actor’s shift into directing is the kind of quarantine-brained debut you’d expect from a Joe Swanberg day player with guidance from the Lonely Island producing team. It’s got a shaggy and conversational comedic style, a few engaging co-stars capable of improvising, and a surreal scenario for its everyman’s life. You kind of know what you’re getting into, and Johnson happily meets expectations.

He plays Tommy, living with his mom and still reeling from a breakup two years earlier. But his daily routine––going to a mind-numbing computer job and slugging beer at the same bar––gets interrupted when Andy Samberg (the actual Andy Samberg) pulls up in a limo and offers him a chance to change his life. Without much to lose,...

What would happen if you stripped the gore from Squid Game and added the charm of New Girl mixed with the eeriness of The Truman Show? You’d get something like Jake Johnson’s quiet and quirky directorial debut Self-Reliance. The understated film, which premiered at SXSW, follows a lonely, cantankerous man who is presented with the opportunity to participate in a reality television show for the dark web.

Thomas (Johnson) lives an insular life, defined by his mundane routines. He wakes up at 7 a.m. to the blaring horn sound of his phone alarm and spins on a home stationary bike before heading to his office, where he spends hours hunched over a computer. He used to be in a relationship — but that ended a few years ago. Judging from the framed photograph of Thomas and his ex-girlfriend (Natalie Morales) prominently positioned on his bedside table, Thomas isn’t over it.

Jake Johnson describes his new film “Self Reliance,” which he wrote and directed, as “‘Jacob’s Ladder’ with some laughs.” The film is a comedy with real stakes: Johnson stars as a man who winds up in a game where he’s trying to win a million dollars while hunters try to kill him. The twist is he discovers that the hunters can only attack him when he’s alone. But when none of his friends or family believe the game is real, Johnson’s character must figure out how to survive on his own.

There are scary moments, but more often it’s also really funny. And the audience screening it on Saturday night at the South by Southwest festival in Austin rocked the Paramount Theatre with big laughs throughout the film’s tight 85 minutes.

“I love ‘Jacob’s Ladder.’ I love it so much. I do get some laughs,” Johnson said after the screening.

There are movies made during the pandemic, and movies made because the pandemic, and though debuting director Jake Johnson had been kicking around the idea for “Self Reliance” for years, it took Covid to motivate him to make it. Why? Because the “New Girl” actor’s absurdist concept — about a sad-sack bored enough with his life that he agrees to risk it in a “Most Dangerous Game”-style reality show — assumed both profundity and relevance as soon as the species went into lockdown. Coming up for connection, Johnson delivers a silly and frequently surprising why-we-need-people parable that leans on laughs in lieu of peril.

The helmer plays Tommy, who’s been a passive bystander in his own life for as long as he can remember, until one day famous dude Andy Samberg (also among the film’s producers) randomly pulls up in a stretch limo and offers Tommy a ride.

Working on Netflix’s singular sketch show “I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson,” casting director Leslie Woo has looked at actors for about 160 different roles. Season 2 of the series largely picks up where the first left off: banal corporate meetings that careen into chaos, off-kilter ads for fictional products and services, friendly misunderstandings that devolve into madness.

But putting this follow-up season together, particularly from the casting side, brought some significant changes. Notably, since the first season had already been released when the Season 2 engine was revving up, anyone reading for a part in these latest episodes had a decent idea of what they would be thrown into. That wasn’t necessarily the case the first time around.

“Season 1, I was probably reading 60 to 70 people a day. It would just be a little bit more time consuming having to explain what it was, what the format was, and the tone of it.

Stars: Michelle Yeoh, Ke Huy Quan, Stephanie Hsu, James Hong, Jamie Lee Curtis, Tallie Medel, Jenny Slate, Harry Shum Jr., Biff Wiff | Written and Directed by Dan Kwan, Daniel Scheinert

Everything Everywhere All at Once falls into a unique place in the world of cinema right now. The multiverse is the hottest idea in Hollywood, with the last two Marvel movies both exploring the idea and bringing it to mainstream audiences. Through the eyes of Marvel it’s already an idea that feels like we’ve seen the limitations of what’s possible, until now. Everything Everywhere All at Once shows the endless possibilities of the multiverse, in one of the most original, unique and exciting films to come out in the last decade.

The multiverse movie follows Evelyn (Michelle Yeoh) who’s stuck in a life that feels it never really went anywhere. She works every day at the...

Everything Everywhere All at Once Review — Everything Everywhere All at Once (2022) Film Review, a movie written and directed by Dan Kwan and Daniel Scheinert and starring Michelle Yeoh, Stephanie Hsu, Ke Huy Quan, James Hong, Jamie Lee Curtis, Tallie Medel, Jenny Slate, Harry Shum Jr., Biff Wiff, Sunita Mani, Aaron Lazar, Brian [...]

Continue reading: Film Review: Everything Everywhere All At Once (2022): Michelle Yeoh Stars in One of the Most Ambitious Films Ever Made...

Our first Christmas episode in three seasons...and I wasn't all that impressed. It was an interesting episode, and had great potential in several spots, but the few great moments didn't add up to a great episode for me. I guess I was expecting more team oriented holiday stuff, but coming after the last Red John lurking episode, I guess that was expecting a bit much. There were, however, some truly wonderful spots. Team Lisbon (Robin Tunney) show up at the crime scene, where the jolly red fat guy, aka Santa impersonator Bernard Ripple (Biff Wiff) has taken a swan dive off of a building. Jane (Simon Baker) cleverly deduces that this isn't the Real Santa -- no, of course it isn't -- because the real Santa smells like reindeer and chimneys, while our dead one smells like cheep booze. Well Jane, I hate to tell ya, but reindeer don't smell much better.

Listings compiled by Jessica Gardner and Pete KeeleyDEFINITIONS:Membership: Theater maintains an active company or ensemble of actors and generally casts productions from that pool.Open: Each show is cast on an open basis.Limited: Theater casts on an open policy under limited or special circumstances, usually when a part cannot be cast from existing company members.Key To Symbols & Abbreviations: R: Theater is available for rent. R-va: Rental with variable availability. H&R: Headshots and résumés accepted. M: Accepts manuscripts. Include self-addressed, stamped envelope. W: Workshops or classes offered. D: Charges dues.Note: The following sets of listings comprise theater venues and producing companies; often these are one and the same and are listed as such. Producing companies not exclusively associated with any particular venue are included in the "Independent Theatre Companies" listing on page 18. Affiliated companies are listed in parentheses.More Than 499 Seatsahmanson THEATRE135 N. Grand Ave.Los Angeles,...