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Kelly O’Sullivan and Lois Smith will co-star in “The Steel Harp.” The comedy is directed by O’Sullivan and Alex Thompson, the filmmakers behind “Ghostlight.”

It marks one of the first leading movie roles for Smith, a 94-year-old character actress who won a Tony Award for “The Inheritance” in 2021. In addition to starring in the film, O’Sullivan wrote the script. Cherry Jones and Reed Birney co-star in the movie, which recently wrapped production in San Francisco.

Smith plays Hanna, a cantankerous nonagenarian, who patrols the Golden Gate Bridge every day and intervenes when people get too close to the edge. On what was to be Hanna’s last day as a “bridge watcher,” she stops Amy (O’Sullivan), a younger woman as stubborn as Hanna herself, from jumping. As the holiday season sets in, Amy and Hanna challenge each others’ resolve and form a bond.

“The Steel Harp” is...

Doug Jones might be one of the most recognizable actors you’ve never recognized. At FanX's Tampa Bay Comic-Con, in Tampa, Florida, the beloved creature performer sat down with Collider’s Maggie Lovitt to reflect on his time as the Silver Surfer in Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer, being dubbed over in multiple roles, and the documentary about his career, aptly titled Get Me Doug Jones. Looking back on his superhero stint in the early 2000s — before the Marvel Studios machine reshaped the genre — Jones was gleeful about stepping into the world of comics.

“Are you kidding me? I mean, I had been in Batman Returns years before that, like back in the early ‘90s,” he said. “Something about the comic book genre that makes you kind of go, yeah. Because, you know, when you flip through comic books as a kid, and now you're in the movie of that thing,...

Roundabout Theatre Company 's revival of Pirates! The Penzance Musical closes today at the Todd Haimes Theatre following 21 previews and 109 regular performances. This jazz-infused, New Orleans-style Broadway production had music by Arthur Sullivan, libretto by W.S. Gilbert, adaptation by Rupert Holmes, orchestrations by Joseph Joubert and Daryl Waters, music direction by Joseph Joubert, choreography by Warren Caryle and direction by Scott Ellis. The Broadway cast of Pirates! The Penzance Musical is led by Ramin Karimloo (Pirate King), Jinkx Monsoon (Ruth), David Hyde Pierce (Gilbert/Major General Stanley), Nicholas Barasch (Frederic), Preston Truman Boyd (Sullivan/Police Sergeant) and Samantha Williams (Mabel Stanley). The cast also includes Kelly Belarmino, Maria Briggs, Cicily Daniels, Ninako Donville, Alex Dorf, Rick Faugno, Niani Feelings, Tommy Gedrich, Alex Gibson, Afra Hines, Dan...

It’s quite often when a certain character in a TV or movie steals the show despite limited screen time, leaving the audience craving for more of them. These characters are often categorized as the best friend, oddball coworker, or even an eccentric neighbour, and they are the ones to land most unexpected laughs. One such intriguing character has been Kevin Sussman’s Stuart Bloom from the sitcom The Big Bang Theory, and his rise from recurring character to leading his own spinoff.

Many sitcoms are filled with such scene-stealing characters who deserve more recognition, and maybe even their own show. Here is a look at the top 10 most underrated sitcom actors who, like Sussman, have what it takes to lead a spinoff and really hog the spotlight.

10. David Hyde Pierce as Niles Crane from Frasier Frasier | Credit: NBC

Playing Niles Crane, Frasier’s younger brother, David Hyde Pierce delivered...

Apart from a few pieces of janky A.I.-generated nightmare fuel, we never got to see Maris Crane.

Over the course of Frasier’s 11 seasons, Niles’ high-strung, ultra-thin heiress wife was frequently discussed, but she never actually made an appearance on the show, following in the footsteps of Norm’s wife Vera Peterson.

Oddly, back in 2003, just months before Frasier’s final season premiered, rumors swirled that Maris could finally show up on screen before the show ended.

TV Guide, the publication that now seems about as dated as a fax machine made of asbestos-coated Bill Cosby albums, spoke to executive producer Christopher Lloyd, and he revealed that the final batch of episodes would include “a big, life-altering event involving Maris once again making trouble in Niles' life.” And he also told the outlet that there was a “chance” that we’d finally get a look at the elusive character.

When "Star Trek" first hit the airwaves in 1966, no one could predict just how popular the budding franchise would become. It would boldly go where few TV shows have gone before, leading to spinoffs, movies, and all sorts of collectible paraphernalia. It's pretty impressive, especially since the original "Star Trek" series was cancelled after just three seasons due to low ratings. However, it tapped into something in the zeitgeist and couldn't stay down for long, making it a prime target for a litany of parodies.

Between William Shatner's hammy acting style for Captain Kirk and so many fun, unique alien species, there's plenty for jokesters to poke fun at. And of course, the best spoofs are those where it's clear the creators have a deep respect for all "Star Trek" has done. Even if you wouldn't consider yourself a hardcore Trekkie, you'll probably find something to enjoy in these movies,...

“TV comedy writer” isn’t a job that people typically associate with a lot of intensive research. After all, it’s not like anyone’s burning the midnight oil at the 24-hour college library in order to churn out a script for the latest Tim Allen sitcom. But writing for The Simpsons, on the other hand, has occasionally required a more studious approach.

Legendary Simpsons writer and producer Josh Weinstein recently pointed out that one 28-year-old joke took a surprising amount of effort. In Season Eight’s Frasier-coded episode “Brother From Another Series,” Sideshow Bob is reunited with his snobbish brother Cecil (played by guest star David Hyde Pierce). As the two catch up over dinner, Cecil brags that he’s now “Springfield’s chief hydrological and hydrodynamical engineer,” years after a failed audition to become Krusty the Clown’s sidekick.

While Bob inadvertently stole his brother’s dream job,...

Frasier's fan base continues to prove their dedication to the long-running 90s sitcom, sending it climbing up the streaming charts. The show and its recent 2023 revival are both streaming on Paramount+.

FlixPatrol reports that the original Frasier series has climbed one spot to #5 on Paramount+'s Top 10 TV Shows in the United States for July 10. It still trails behind another popular 90s sitcom, Everybody Loves Raymond(#4), but is outperforming another one of its contemporaries, The King of Queens (#8). Frasier originally ran for 11 seasons from 1993 to 2004 and was later revived in 2023 with Kelsey Grammer reprising his role as the titular Frasier Crane.

Unfortunately for fans, Frasier's revival was relatively short-lived and debuted to mixed reviews. It saw the return of several characters from the original series, including Bebe Neuwirth and Peri Gilpin as Lilith and Roz, but it also noticeably lacked key characters - most notably David Hyde Pierce, who declined...

It’s been more than six months since Paramount+ rebooted the classic Cheers spinoff, Frasier. The revival premiered 30 years after the original Frasier debuted on NBC. While the show was a ratings juggernaut in its heyday,Frasier is currently slipping down on the streaming charts.

Per FlixPatrol, Frasier, which streams on Paramount+, currently holds the sixth spot in Paramount+’s Top 10 television shows as of July 4. It’s down a spot from number five earlier this week. The sitcom, which ran for 11 seasons from 1993 to 2004, has fallen behind Everybody Loves Raymond,which now holds the number five spot in the Top 10.

CBS’s mainstay procedural drama Criminal Minds holds the first place spot, followed by Showtime’s The Chi, which sits at number 3. NCIS and SpongeBob SquarePants hold the third and fourth place slots in the Top 10.

The Reboot Lasted Just Two Seasons

Frasier had a short-lived two-season revival on Paramount+. In the reboot,...

Paramount+ may have made a big mistake when it canceled the 2023 Frasierrevival. According to recent data, the sitcom keeps climbing the streaming charts, which might be a sign it shouldn't have been axed.

Per Flix Patrol, Frasier has reached the number five spot on the streaming chart for the top television series on Paramount+ for July 3. The series has been making consistent appearances on the top 10 list despite the revival series failing to get a Season 3 renewal. While fans were overwhelmingly excited about the series when it premiered in 2023, it wasn't met with nearly the same kind of warm reception as the original.

Despite the series' star power and legacy, the Frasier revival only managed to garner mixed reviews from critics upon its release. At the time of writing, Frasier (2023) holds a 57% "Fresh" rating via review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, as averaged across 86 critical reviews. The series' audience score stands noticeably higher,...

Taylor Sheridan’s streaming empire just got a nostalgic twist. While Landman (his new oil-rig drama) continues to dominate on Paramount+, overtaking even long-running fan-fave Criminal Minds, it’s the sudden resurgence of classic sitcoms that’s stealing the limelight. Frasier, The King of Queens, and Everybody Loves Raymond have all jumped back into the platform’s Top 10, proving once again that comfort TV never goes out of style.

With Sheridan’s name pulling in the drama crowd and timeless comedy pulling in the laughs, Paramount+ is balancing grit with giggles, and clearly, it’s working. The old faves still have plenty of fuel in the tank.

Frasier, The King of Queens & Everybody Loves Raymond Re-Enter Paramount+ Top 10 Taylor Sheridan in a still | Credit: Paramount Pictures

Who says old-school comedy can’t do the job? On Paramount+, Taylor Sheridan’s oil-rig thriller Landman just leapfrogged Criminal Minds, but in an unexpected twist,...

Frasiermay have premiered more than three decades ago, but the original series is still a fan favorite. Although the reboot was canceled after two seasons on Paramount+, the 1993 sitcom, which was a Cheersspinoff, is gaining momentum on streaming.

Per FlixPatrol, and as of June 26, Frasier currently holds the number five spot on Paramount+'s Top 10 TV shows. The sitcom is currently ahead of shows like Ghosts, The Neighborhood, The Chi, The King of Queens, and Blue Bloods. Frasier ran for 11 seasons from 1993 to 2004 on NBC, and starred Kelsey Grammer as the titular Dr. Frasier Crane.

The sitcom also featured David Hyde Pierce as Frasier’s brother, Niles Crane, Jane Leeves as Daphne Moon, Peri Gilpin as Roz Doyle, and the late John Mahoney as Frasier and Niles' dad, Martin Crane.Frasier follows Dr. Crane as he moves from Boston back home to Seattle, where he takes a job as a radio psychiatrist.

Real hospitals experience turnover all the time; ask any real medical professional. People go elsewhere after they finish their residencies, or doctors migrate to become attending physicians — it's just part of the reality of the job. With that said, I'm not going to sit here and pretend that "Grey's Anatomy," the long-running medical drama created by Shonda Rhimes, is particularly medically accurate, because I'd like to think that bombs don't end up in body cavities all that often in real operating rooms and I really hope that fatality rates are lower amongst actual doctors than they are among the staff of the Seattle-based surgeons on this series ... because those doctors die a lot, and it's pretty alarming. This definitely doesn't stop "Grey's Anatomy" from being entertaining, and the show's outstanding ensemble cast is what makes it such a fun watch — and that definitely includes Sara Ramírez's extremely talented orthopedic surgeon Dr.

The Emmy Awards 2025 predictions for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series are heating up pretty fast. With returning legends, breakout stars, and scene-stealing sidekicks all vying for the limelight, this category is no joke.

History favors icons like Don Knotts (five wins) and David Hyde Pierce (11 nods), but this year’s contenders are carving out their own space. We’re watching The Bear’s Ebon Moss-Bachrach, whose chaotic charm as Richie might just clinch it. His Critics Choice and SAG wins already give him major momentum.

Also in the mix is Paul W. Downs for Hacks, plus fan-favorites from Harrison Ford for Shrinking and Ike Barinholtz for The Studio keeping things tight.

Emmy Awards 2025 Predictions: What to Expect in the Supporting Actor Comedy Race Seth Rogen and Ike Barinholtz in The Studio | Credits: Apple TV+ Seth Rogen and Ike Barinholtz speaking to Martin Scorsese | Credits: Apple TV+ Seth Rogen...

Animated classics are the soul of the cinematic industry. These movies have given us some of the weirdest, wildest, and most wonderful stories ever- talking dragons, magical cities, cursed princesses, and even giant robots with feelings. While these animated movies remain iconic, but with today’s crazy-good visual effects and star-studded casts, some of these classics are practically screaming for a live-action glow-up.

While Disney’s already raiding its classic vault like a cinematic pirate, there are still so many animated gems, even the underrated ones that are literally waiting for their time in the live-action spotlight. From steampunk space pirates to lost cities full of gold, these are kinds of stories that could explode off the screen if done right.

Whether you’re a cartoon purist or love seeing your childhood faves come to life with real people, this list is for you. So, let’s grab the popcorn...

Jinkx Monsoon, David Hyde Pierce and Ramin Karimloo strum their washboards on stage at the 2025 Tony Awards on Sunday (June 8) at Radio City Music Hall in New York City.

The stars of Pirates! The Penzance Musical hit the stage for a performance of “Sail the Ocean Blue” and “Washboards” during the annual Broadway awards show.

In addition, Pirates! was also nominated for Best Revival of a Musical but lost out to Sunset Boulevard.

Keep reading to find out more…

Also hitting the stage for the performance from the Pirates! cast include Preston Truman Boyd, Samantha Williams and Nicholas Barasch, among others.

Here’s a synopsis of the musical revival: Gilbert & Sullivan’s pirate ship docks in New Orleans in this jazzy-bluesy vision of the crowd-pleasing classic, in an outrageously clever romp sizzling with Caribbean rhythms and French Quarter flair. With a tongue-twisting Major General (Pierce), a rabble-rousing Pirate King (Karimloo), romance,...

Emmy-winning actress Loretta Swit, best known for her iconic portrayal of Major Margaret "Hot Lips" Houlihan on M*A*S*H's 11 seasons, passed away on May 30 at the age of 87. Beyond her unforgettable role on the hit series, Swit leaves behind an incredible legacy, including an Emmy record that may never be broken.

From 1974 to 1983, Swit earned 10 consecutive Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy, Variety, or Music Series nominations for playing "Hot Lips" — the most consecutive bids ever in this category. This incredible streak also ties Swit with Rhea Perlman for the most nominations in the category overall. However, Swit’s achievement stands out because all 10 of her nominations were consecutive, while Perlman’s 10 nods for playing Carla Tortelli in Cheers were not; Perlman missed a nomination in 1992 before earning her 10th in 1993.

Swit's first of two wins came on her seventh try, but unfortunately she wasn't there to accept it.

To commemorate his return to the Broadway stage, David Hyde Pierce visited the Today Show on Friday, discussing Pirates! The Penzance Musical. The new reworking of the Gilbert & Sullivan classic is set in New Orleans and has been a long time coming. "We've been working on this for about 5 years, and it developed as an idea because when Gilbert and Sullivan first did Pirates, it was in America. It toured and was in various cities, including New Orleans," Pierce explained. "They got the idea because New Orleans is such a rich culture: the food and the different kinds of music. And they thought, 'Anyone who goes to New Orleans comes away singing the tunes. So what would happen if Gilbert and Sullivan went there and thought, 'This...

In 1997, both "The Simpsons" and "Frasier" were at the height of their powers. The former had already been on the air for seven seasons but was arguably at the apex of what is now recognized as the golden age of "The Simpsons." (Even the show's current writers know they can't compete with classic "Simpsons.") Meanwhile, "Frasier" was in its fifth season and had similarly proven to be remarkably consistent. Both shows were two of the smartest and funniest on TV, and with "Frasier" star Kelsey Grammer having already guest-starred on "The Simpsons" a full five times, it was only right that the animated series pay full tribute to one of the only shows on TV that could claim to be on an equal level.

This tribute came with season 8, episode 16, "Brother from Another Series." Debuting in February 1997, the episode saw Sideshow Bob (Grammer) released from prison after having been arrested in "Sideshow Bob's Last Gleaming,...

On May 11, 2024, Gavin Creel performed what would be his final solo performance at The Cabaret in Indianapolis. Nearly one year later, the venue has shared videos from the final concert, featuring songs from Hello, Dolly!, Floyd Collins, Sunset Boulevard, and more. The late Tony winner played piano and captured the hearts of the audience with his stellar vocals and charming stage presence. The cabaret came after his theatrical concert, Walk on Through: Confessions of a Museum Novice, at McC Theatre in NYC. Creel won a Tony Award winner for his performance as “Cornelius Hackl” in Hello, Dolly! starring Bette Midler and David Hyde Pierce. His other Broadway credits included Thoroughly Modern Millie, Hair, Into The Woods, Waitress, The Book Of Mormon, She Loves Me and...

Video games based on TV shows are nothing new, but as you might expect, the subcategory of video games based on sitcoms is quite sparse. There was the mess of a video game adaptation that was "The Adventures of Gilligan's Island," which immediately advertises its flaws with that awkward, oddly-phrased title. We also had a video game based on "The Office," which according to IMDb is still the best sitcom of all time. But otherwise, developers have mostly stuck to properties that more obviously lend themselves to a video game adaptation. This is probably why we never got an official "Frasier" video game.

Even the most popular sitcom of the 1990s, "Friends," only ever got a trivia game, so Dr. Crane and his hifalutin antics were never really in with a chance. The Kelsey Grammer-led sitcom ran for 11 seasons from 1993 to 2004 and followed the titular psychiatrist as he navigated his family,...

With apologies to “Father Christmas” and Down Periscope’s Lieutenant Commander Thomas “Tom” Dodge, Dr. Frasier Crane and Sideshow Bob Terwilliger are clearly Kelsey Grammer’s most beloved characters. And even though one is a radio psychiatrist and the other is a clown’s sidekick-turned-homicidal maniac, the two share a fair bit in common, such as a love of spontaneously performing Gilbert and Sullivan tunes.

The similarity between the two characters was really cemented in Season Eight’s “Brother From Another Series,” which guest starred David Hyde Pierce. Pierce, who, of course, played Dr. Niles Crane, voiced Sideshow Bob’s jealous brother Cecil. In addition to the meta casting choice, a number of other Frasier nods were shoehorned into the episode, including Cecil’s swank wine-filled bachelor pad and the sitcom’s trademark title cards.

But one reference never actually made it to the air, thanks to Frasier’s producers.

Well, big weekly grosses and even bigger stars can’t guarantee a Tony Awards nomination.

Broadway does what Broadway wants, so no Best Play nominations (or anything else) for huge moneymaker Othello, and no Best Play noms for Good Night, and Good Luck, Stranger Things: The First Shadow and The Picture of Dorian Gray. Same for the critical favorite Cult of Love.

While Good Night and Dorian Gray weren’t nominated for Best Play, their big stars — George Clooney and Sarah Snook, respectively — were nominated for their performances, as expected. In fact, Dorian Gray, in which Snook plays all the characters from the Oscar Wilde novel, has the distinction of being the most nominated solo show in Tony history, placing in six categories: Snook’s performance, Kip Williams’ direction, and nods for scenic, lighting, sound and costume design.

Related: Broadway’s 2024-2025 Season: All Of Deadline’s Reviews

Perhaps the...

The Frasierrevival may have been cancelled at Paramount+, but if it finds a new home, Frasier Crane may just get a visit from his long-lost brother. David Hyde Pierce, who played Niles Crane on all eleven seasons of Frasier's original run, is open to a guest appearance on the series. Varietyreports that although Pierce turned down a regular role on the series, he'd be happy to drop in on Frasier's new Boston abode.

The series, which debuted in 2023 and ran for two seasons before Paramount+ cancelled it earlier this year, had Frasier (Kelsey Grammer) relocate to Boston to be closer to his firefighter son, Frederick (Jack Cutmore-Scott), in the wake of his father Martin's death. Several Frasier supporting and recurring characters have made appearances on the series, including Roz Doyle (Peri Gilpin), Lilith Sternin (Bebe Neuwirth), Bob "Bulldog" Briscoe (Dan Butler), and Bebe Glazer (Harriet Sansom Harris), but Niles, who...

Based on the cheesy-looking promotional videos for Pirates! The Penzance Musical, you’d think David Hyde Pierce could have chosen a better vehicle for his theatrical talents. It’s unclear what his options were, but donning massive mutton chops on Broadway must have sounded better than reprising his role as Niles in the Frasier reboot.

CBS News

When the classic sitcom got the green light to start up again, producers gave Pierce a call. But he remembered why the show’s creators decided to pull the plug in the first place. “We wanted to make this decision on our own,” Pierce told Variety, “instead of letting somebody else make it for us.”

Since he’d already made that decision, why reverse it? Sure, Kelsey Grammer was back in, but Pierce wasn’t worried about hurting his old co-star’s feelings. “I did not think it would hinge on my participation.

Actor-singer Celia Keenan-Bolger will receive the 2025 Isabelle Stevenson Tony Award for what the Tony Administration Committee calls her “unwavering dedication to advocacy work through the arts.”

The Isabelle Stevenson Award is presented annually to a member of the theater community who has made a substantial contribution of volunteered time and effort on behalf of one or more humanitarian, social service or charitable organizations. Previous recipients include Billy Porter, Jerry Mitchell, Julie Halston, Judith Light, Nick Scandalios, Brian Stokes Mitchell, Stephen Schwartz, Larry Kramer, Rosie O’Donnell, Bernadette Peters, Eve Ensler, and David Hyde Pierce, among others.

Among Keenan-Bolger’s advocacy work cited by the committee: In 2008 she moved to Pennsylvania where she volunteered for months as a field organizer for the Obama campaign. Then in 2012 she co-founded Broadway For Obama, organizing events to phone bank, canvass and register voters. She served on the advisory board of Broadway Impact, which worked to...

Broadway’s 2024-25 season got off to a rather fine start, from the wildly popular and hysterically funny Oh, Mary! to the fabulous splash of Death Becomes Her and the wonderful left-field sleeper Maybe Happy Ending, and wrapped up with some equally excellent season closers like Just In Time and Dead Outlaw.

This compendium of Deadline’s Broadway reviews takes a look at all of them. Use it as a guide for your theater-going, or a sneak peek at what this year’s Tony Awards might have in store on Sunday, June 8.

Real Women Have Curves: The Musical

Opening Night: April 27

Venue: Broadway’s James Earl Jones Theatre

Direction & Choreography By: Sergio Trujillo

Book: Lisa Loomer with Nell Benjamin, based on the play by Josefina López and the HBO screenplay by Josefina López and George Lavoo

Music & Lyrics By: Joy Huerta and Benjamin Velez

Cast: Tatianna Córdoba, Justina Machado,...

Anyone who grew up on '90s sitcoms will surely have envisioned themselves living in Frasier's high-end downtown Seattle condo. Dr. Crane's home at the Elliot Bay Towers was pure fantasy, with its completely unrealistic view of the Space Needle and tastefully decorated interior that a radio psychiatrist almost certainly couldn't afford. How much does Frasier's apartment actually cost? Well, people have actually tried to figure this out, and rough estimates put the three-bed at roughly $1.5 million in 1993 — the year "Frasier" debuted on NBC. That's according to real estate brokers' best guesses and the fact we know Frasier's apartment cost the show's set decorators around half a million real-world dollars to make.

For most of us, then, occupying such an apartment will always remain a distant dream. In a strange way, that's part of the appeal of "Frasier," in that the show immersed us in a world that we'd never otherwise have known.

Broadway had what appears to be its best non-holiday (Christmas and New Year) week ever last week, with major hits like Good Night, and Good Luck, Glengarry Glen Ross, Othello and longrunners The Lion King, Wicked and Aladdin helping push the total box office figure to $50,874,940 for the week ending April 20.

The figure, for 40 shows, is a huge 47% greater than this week last year. Total attendance of 357,319 was 19% more year-over-year.

Contributing to the big tally were special nine-performance weeks from The Lion King, Wicked and Aladdin.

Even more significantly, the gargantuan total was reached with major contributions from a raft of newly arrived star-packed sell-out productions such as Good Night, and Good Luck with George Clooney, Glengarry Glen Ross with Kieran Culkin, Bob Odenkirk and Bill Burr, and Othello...

“CBS News Sunday Morning” offers its usual eclectic mix of stories this Sunday, covering everything from the creators of “Gilmore Girls” to the secrets of British chocolate. First up, Amy Sherman-Paladino and Daniel Paladino, the creative force behind hit shows like “Gilmore Girls” and “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel,” take center stage. They’ll be talking about […]

CBS News Sunday Morning April 20: David Hyde Pierce, Jim Gaffigan & More...

Good Night, and Good Luck, the play about Edward R. Murrow written by George Clooney and Grant Heslov adapted from their 2005 film, grossed $3,784,200 last week at Broadway’s 1,537-seat Winter Garden Theatre, breaking its own previous $3.3 million record as the highest grossing non-musical play in Broadway history.

With ticket prices also on the upswing – average cost last week for a seat to see Clooney in his Broadway debut was $303.40, with premium seats hitting $825 – the play, which stars the ER actor as Murrow and was directed by David Cromer, is taking in more money than any play in the Winter Garden’s hundred-plus years.

The previous record-setter was the 2022 musical revival of The Music Man starring Hugh Jackman, which set the Winter Garden’s house record in March of that year with a $3.5 million regular eight-performance weekly gross (that revival still holds the house record for a special nine-performance week with...

With the insanely busy Broadway spring season nearing peak production – only one musical, Dead Outlaw, has yet to begin previews – most shows felt the heat of competition last week, with 29 of the 39 productions reporting slips in box office grosses from the previous week.

Even so, most of the productions, particularly the more recent arrivals, were enjoying the rising tide nonetheless, with Just In Time starring Jonathan Groff as Bobby Darin selling out Circle in the Square and hitting a sweet high note of $901,973 for its first seven previews. Take that, all you Dream Lover naysayers. Who is Bobby Darin, indeed. He’s Jonathan Groff, that’s who. The musical officially opens April 26.

Let’s take a look at some other recent spring arrivals.

Glengarry Glen Ross, the well-received Mamet revival starring Kieran Culkin, Bob Odenkirk and Bill Burr, took a dip but stayed strong overall with a $1,789,575 take in its...

Best known for last year’s surprise Sundance breakout Ghostlight (but we took notice back with 2019’s tragicomedy Saint Frances – the SXSW competition section selection), the tandem of Alex Thompson and Kelly O’Sullivan are gaining more traction and Variety reports that they just wrapped up (again under the radar) a feature that looks to involve people of all ages. Led by Sophie Okonedo, Katherine Mallen Kupferer, Chloe Coleman and Tara Mallen, Mouse looks to be an ensemble that also features Iman Vellani, David Hyde Pierce plus newcomers Beck Nolan, Addisyn Cain, Audrey Grace Marshall and Christopher R. Ellis. Sundance programmers will be tracking this one.…...

Alex Thompson and Kelly O’Sullivan, the filmmaking duo behind the acclaimed Sundance film “Ghostlight,” have wrapped production on their follow-up feature, “Mouse.” It’s the story of best friends Minnie (Katherine Mallen Kupferer) and Callie (Chloe Coleman), whose relationship is upended on the eve of their senior year.

Written by O’Sullivan and co-directed by O’Sullivan and Thompson, the film is set and was shot on location in North Little Rock, Ark., which also happens to be O’Sullivan’s hometown. “Mouse” stars Sophie Okonedo, Katherine Mallen Kupferer, Chloe Coleman and Tara Mallen. The ensemble includes Iman Vellani and David Hyde Pierce. The film also features newcomers Beck Nolan, Addisyn Cain, Audrey Grace Marshall and Christopher R. Ellis.

Okonedo is a Tony winner, as well as an Emmy and Oscar nominee, whose credits include “Slow Horses” and “Hotel Rwanda.” Kupferer starred in “Ghostlight” and “Are You There God? It’s Me Margaret.

Akira Kurosawa’s 1950 crime drama Rashomon took the concept of an unreliable narrator and quadrupled it. In telling the story of how a samurai was murdered, four people give their own contradictory accounts of the death while painting themselves as more virtuous than the others.

Despite the heaviness of the source material, Rashomon has gone on to inspire an unlikely medium: sitcoms. Since at least 1962, sitcoms have used the central storytelling device from Rashomon for comedic effect by letting characters give differing perspectives of the same incident. Each respective narrator typically portrays themself to be the hero of the situation, while describing others as guilty or incompetent.

For comedy, the device is perfect: It highlights character biases and breeds conflict as each retelling contradicts the last. And while it may be a fairly common trope now, some sitcoms have used it exceptionally well, with these 10 standing out as the best…...

Pirates! The Penzance Musical, the Gilbert & Sullivan musical reimagined by Rupert Holmes in a New Orleans jazz-infused style, has been given a four-week Broadway extension “due to popular demand,” according to Roundabout Theater Company.

Pirates! begins previews on Friday, April 4, with an official opening on Thursday, April 24. The limited engagement will now close July 27 at the Todd Haimes Theatre, four weeks after the original June 22 planned close.

Choreographed by Warren Caryle and directed by Scott Ellis, the Broadway cast is led by Ramin Karimloo (Pirate King), Jinkx Monsoon (Ruth), David Hyde Pierce (Gilbert/Major General Stanley), Nicholas Barasch (Frederic), Preston Truman Boyd (Sullivan/Police Sergeant) and Samantha Williams (Mabel Stanley). The cast also includes Kelly Belarmino, Maria Briggs, Cicily Daniels, Ninako Donville, Alex Dorf, Rick Faugno, Niani Feelings, Tommy Gedrich, Alex Gibson, Afra Hines, Dan Hoy, Ryo Kamibayashi, Tatiana Lofton, Nathan Lucrezio, Shina Ann Morris, Cooper Stanton, and Bronwyn Tarboton.

Edutainment has always had a tenuous reputation. The altruistic genre is packed with entries, but most of them range from “kind of okay” to “downright terrible.” It’s rare to find a truly entertaining addition to the genre. Fortunately, 2001’s Osmosis Jonesis an exception to this unspoken rule. The genre-bending comedy cleverly mixes its bright animation with a live-action framing device, and its star-studded cast brings an inimitable sense of energy and fun to the table. The witty comedy has something for everyone. Yet, somehow, this $70 million endeavor became a dismal commercial flop, earning just $14 million at the box office.

Even so, Osmosis Jones was a beloved part of many turn-of-the-century childhoods. For many 1990s and 2000s kids, Osmosis Jones was and is the epitome of a fun science class. Its snappy story and then-trendy soundtrack have made it a fun zeitgeist of the era, and the film retains a loyal following.

Frasier has left the building – and by building, we mean Paramount+. Earlier this year, the streamer decided that they wouldn’t be picking up the Frasier reboot for a third season, meaning that viewers hoping to enjoy the hijinks of Dr. Frasier Crane will have to get by with the 11 seasons of the original show, and the nine seasons of Cheers that he was part of.

But despite the fact that Frasier 2.0 was canceled, its star, Kelsey Grammer, seems oddly optimistic about the show’s future. Immediately after Paramount+’s decision was announced, sources claimed that the reboot was being shopped around to other platforms and recently, Grammer revealed that he feels “very positive” about Frasier finding “a better home.”

Grammer also suggested that, were the show to return, Sam Malone could be a part of it, since Grammer and Ted Danson are no longer on bad terms. Of course,...

The fate of the Frasier reboot remains unclear two months after Paramount+ canceled the new-age edition of the Kelsey Grammer-led sitcom. However, while producers try to find a new home for the revival, the original series becomes a hit on its streaming service, proving Dr. Crane's everlasting appeal to fans.

Per Flix Patrol, the Og Frasier has become a hit on Paramount+, ranking ninth on the streamer's Top 10 charts in the United States. The series is just above the 2023 supernatural teen drama series, School Spirits, in 10th place. Meanwhile, Taylor Sheridan's Yellowstone spinoff, 1923, tops the list.

Frasier remains one of the most beloved comedies and successful spinoffs in history, with the series chronicling the titular radio psychiatrist who fans became familiar with during its parent show, Cheers. Frasier sees Dr. Crane relocate from Cheers' home in Boston to his native Seattle, where he emerges as a popular Kacl...

A careful balancing act between character study and romantic comedy, Joan Micklin Silver’s 1988 film Crossing Delancey strikes a beguilingly effervescent tone in spite of its main character, Izzy (Amy Irving), being so prickly and intransigent. This can largely be attributed to Silver and screenwriter Susan Sandler’s willingness to depict Izzy as a woman who lives life on her own terms, discovering herself as she discovers her power.

The film accepts Izzy in all her dysfunctional glory, understanding that we learn and grow by making often bad decisions. She’s a fascinating character for how she has complete agency but often operates against her own self-interest. And while a love triangle is at the center of the film, one never gets the sense that Izzy needs a man to fix or complete her, but rather one to complement her.

The two men vying for her affection couldn’t be...

Even more than four decades after its premiere, "Cheers" remains one of the best sitcoms of all time. The initial premise of the series was twofold: first, the show would focus on the denizens of the eponymous Boston sports bar and their daily foibles, and second, there would be a burgeoning romance between the bar's owner and the newly hired barmaid, Sam Malone (Ted Danson) and Diane Chambers (Shelley Long), respectively. The first season alone of "Cheers" is a master class not only in incisive and hilarious comedy writing, but also in the ability to maintain 22 episodes' worth of stories without ever leaving the bar itself. Within that first season, a slew of characters who were both familiar archetypes and somehow fresh-seeming were established. Aside from the lothario Sam and the well-read and extremely intelligent Diane, there was the sassy barmaid Carla Tortelli (Rhea Perlman), the kindly but not-very-bright barback...

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Valentine’s Day is finally here, and Prime Video has the perfect films to watch on this romantic day with your significant other. In this list, we have included some new films and some classics, but they all have that comforting feeling of love that people crave especially today. So, here are the 10 best romantic movies on Prime Video to watch this Valentine’s Day with your partner.

The Idea of You Credit – Prime Video

The Idea of You is a romantic comedy-drama film directed by Michael Showalter, who also co-wrote the screenplay with Jennifer Westfeldt. Based on the 2017 novel of the same name by Robinne Lee, the 2024 film follows Solène Marchand, a divorced mother in her 40s who falls for Hayes Campbell, a 24-year-old boy band singer, but their relationship soon faces several challenges. The Idea of You stars Anne Hathaway,...

One of the greatest sitcoms ever created, "Frasier" had its fill of memorable guest appearances during its eleven season run from 1993 to 2004, amassing an incredible 23 Emmy nominations for Outstanding Guest Actor and Actress in a Comedy Series. While Kelsey Grammer, David Hyde Pierce, John Mahony, Jane Leeves, and Peri Gilpin steered the ship for over a decade, like most long-running shows (sitcom or not) the supporting cast, recurring characters, and famous guest spots created interesting and unique dynamics to keep the spirit of the show fresh.

Choosing only 15 guest stars for a show as renowned as "Frasier" proved a difficult challenge, with many amazing performances left off the list for some lesser known appearances. It should also be noted that this list only includes on-screen guest appearances, as the number of famous voices who called in to "The Dr. Frasier Crane Show" on Kacl is far too expansive to consolidate into one list.

Exclusive: Apple TV+ has landed for development Dilettante, a series starring Jeff Daniels as a character that will likely get the New York media circles buzzing, Deadline has learned. The project, from Warner Bros. TV and studio-based Berlanti Productions, is inspired by Dana Brown’s memoir about working for former Vanity Fair editor Graydon Carter.

Written by Brown and Julia creator Daniel Goldfarb, Dilettante is described as a fictionalized coming-of-age story set in the glamorous and cutthroat “Golden Age” of magazines in 1990s New York.

Daniels will play a fictional magazine editor that is certain to draw parallels to Carter the way another work of fiction about a young assistant to a powerful New York magazine editor, the movie The Devil Wears Prada, has been evoking Anna Wintour as a prototype for its editor character played by Meryl Streep.

Jeff Bridges previously played a magazine editor loosely based on Carter...

More than 25 years later, the NBC sitcom "Seinfeld" continues to endure as one of the greatest and most cherished series of all time. The story of the show's success has been documented before, countless times, but it's good to remind ourselves that while other big-hit shows of the 1990s, like "Friends" and "Frasier," were hits straight out of the box, the same wasn't true for "Seinfeld." The show's first season was just a handful of episodes airing in the late summer, and things were ultimately hanging on by a thread until its third season. But these days, it's much easier to look at the show for its massive influence, how audiences continue to return to it in the age of streaming, and how it wasn't just a hit with audiences, but big with critics and the industry, too. That said, you can't win every plaudit, something that applies to "Seinfeld...

Frasier is widely regarded as one of the greatest sitcoms of all time, but it came dangerously close to being canceled, not because of ratings or creative struggles, but due to Kelsey Grammer’s serious addiction issues. Throughout his career, Grammer battled substance abuse, and at times, it threatened not just his own well-being but the very future of the show.

Kelsey Grammer as Frasier in Frasier, episode 4, season 2 streaming on Paramount+, 2024. Photo credit: Chris Haston/Paramount+

Despite his struggles, the series endured, and his portrayal of the lovable yet pompous Dr. Frasier Crane remained iconic. Here’s how his personal battles almost cost Frasier everything.

How Kelsey Grammer’s addiction nearly ended Frasier!

For 11 seasons, Frasier set the gold standard for sitcoms, racking up a record-breaking 31 Emmy wins. At the heart of it all was Kelsey Grammer, whose charm made Dr. Frasier Crane an icon. But behind the scenes,...

Not many shows have left a lasting impact in TV history as Frasier did. The NBC sitcom aired from 1993 until 2004, and while it was a spinoff of Cheers, it became so much more. The series had sharp dialogue, smart humor, and the perfect cast one could imagine, which earned the show a record-breaking 37 Emmy Awards during its original run.

Kelsey Grammer in Frasier | Credit: Credit: NBC

As the Frasier reboot began airing on Paramount+ in 2023 and continued with the second season in 2024, fans are curious about what the original cast members are up to these days. Some have come back to their favorite roles, while others have taken other different directions. Let’s take a look at what the main cast of Frasier is doing these days.

David Hyde Pierce David Hyde Pierce in Frasier | Credit: NBC/Paramount Television

The neurotic and picky Dr. Niles Crane was played by David Hyde Pierce,...

One of the most strangely specific sitcom tropes is the unseen character. These range from Niles Crane's (David Hyde Pierce) increasingly physically impossible wife Maris on "Frasier" to gentler takes on the subject, like Wilson (Earl Hindman) on "Home Improvement."

"The Big Bang Theory" is no exception to the all-permeating presence of the trope, courtesy of Howard Wolowitz's (Simon Helberg) unseen but very much heard mother, Debbie Wolowitz. An abrasive and imposing presence in Howard's life, Mrs. Wolowitz is nevertheless a force of good and an important figure to both him and most of the show's other main characters.

Since the character is, for all intents and purposes, just a voice on "The Big Bang Theory," fans may have noticed a marked difference in how she sounds on "Young Sheldon." This isn't because the actor who voices Mrs. Wolowitz on "The Big Bang Theory," Carol Ann Susi, was told to...

Frasier has left the building — and by “the building,” we mean Paramount+.

The streamer everyone forgets about recently announced that it will not be picking up the Frasier reboot for a third season. While no specifics were given, one would imagine that star Kelsey Grammer’s eyebrow-raising $2 million per episode paycheck may have factored into their decision.

Does this mean that, nearly four decades after first appearing on Cheers, we’ve now seen the last of Dr. Frasier Crane? Well, not necessarily. CBS Studios, who produces the series, is reportedly shopping around for a new streaming home. Could Frasier end up at Peacock? Or Netflix? Is Quibi still a thing?

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Over on the Frasier subreddit, fans certainly have no shortage of opinions. And a number of viewers have been sharing their suggestions for how the show should proceed, should Frasier 2.0 be picked up by another company.

A lot of...

After two seasons, Paramount+ officially cancels the Frasier revival, but it is the best thing to happen to Kelsey Grammer's project. Inspired by the success of the Roseanne reboot on ABC, the actor started shopping the idea around to various broadcasters. Admittedly, getting the show up encountered some big issues, especially after original Frasier cast members, David Hyde Pierce, Jane Leeves, and Peri Gilpin turned down appearing as series regulars. This forced Grammer to eventually set the Frasier revival in Boston, with the comedy also effectively replacing Cheers with a new bar, Mahoney's.

Admittedly, the debut season of the new show was rough. it was difficult to get through, especially for those who were used to its predecessor, which was known for its fast pace, snappy dialogue, and elevated brand of comedy. The Frasier revival season 2 was a bit better, with increased involvement from Gilpin's Roz and a nostalgia-filled return to Seattle-set episode.