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As winter approaches we are all in need of something spicy to watch to make our temperature rise and if you are a fan of romantic comedies, then we have the perfect recommendations for you. From critically acclaimed movies like Silver Linings Playbook to iconic romantic comedy movies like Four Weddings and a Funeral, Max (formerly known as HBO Max) has everything you need. So, here are the 7 best R-rated romantic comedy movies available on Max right now.

Silver Linings Playbook Credit – The Weinstein Company

Silver Linings Playbook is a romantic comedy-drama film written and directed by David O. Russell. Based on a 2008 novel titled The Silver Linings Playbook by author Matthew Quick, the 2012 film follows the story of Pat, a middle-aged man after he gets out of a mental institution and meets Tiffany, a woman suffering from depression. Tiffany promises Pat that she will reunite him with his wife...

As Hannah Montana once wisely sang, “Nobody’s perfect.”

While most of us live and learn it, a select group of people love to ignore that each of us is born with imperfections and mercilessly mocks others. That’s right—internet trolls.

Catherine Reitman’s unique lips have been the subject of much speculation (Credit: Sara De Boer / Startraksphoto)

After the steamrolling success of her show, Workin’ Moms, actress Catherine Reitman has been the target of many hurtful and downright mean posts and tweets.

Even though the 42-year-old actress is the creator, executive producer, writer, and star of a multi-award-winning television series, haters on the internet can only seem to focus on one thing: her lips.

The Speculation Around Catherine Reitman’s Unique Smile

Catherine Reitman certainly does have a unique smile, with a curved upper lip that dips inward on each side and accentuates her ultra-white teeth.

Her lips add...

Audacy today announced that it is expanding its relationship with Amy Poehler’s Paper Kite Productions with the launch of “Million Dollar Advice,” a weekly work and career advice podcast under the Audacy Podcasts and Paper Kite Podcasts banners hosted by Kim Lessing and Kate Arend, friends, colleagues, and the Co-Heads of Film and Television at Paper Kite.

Million Dollar Advice will launch on Wednesday, March 27, 2024, on the Audacy app and everywhere podcasts are available. The second episode will be released on Thursday, March 28, with new episodes available weekly on Thursdays, beginning April 4. Listen to the trailer and follow the show here. Visual trailer here.

Each week on “Million Dollar Advice,” Lessing and Arend will help listeners address their work-related dilemmas. From landing your dream job to setting boundaries with co-workers to solving cross-generational communication issues, no topic is off limits. Poehler will appear in the second episode, publishing on...

Exclusive: Amy Poehler’s Paper Kite Productions is behind podcasts including Say More with Dr? Sheila and The Chris Chatman Do-Over.

The company, via its Paper Kite Podcasts banner, is now growing this as it expands its relationship with Audacy Podcasts.

This includes Million Dollar Advice, hosted by Kim Lessing and Kate Arend, Paper Kite’s co-heads of film and television, and improvised comedy Women Talkin’ ‘Bout Murder.

Million Dollar Advice will launch on March 27 and will see Lessing and Arend help listeners address their work-related dilemmas including landing your dream job to setting boundaries with co-workers and solving cross-generational communication issues. Poehler will appear in the second episode, which comes out on March 28.

Million Dollar Advice is executive produced by Poehler, Lessing, Arend, Jenna Weiss-Berman, and Leah Reis-Dennis. It will be produced by the team at Audacy’s Pineapple Street Studios.

Women Talkin’ ‘Bout Murder is the third show...

Ike Barinholtz is going full dumbass.

That’s how The Mindy Project writer-star describes his latest character, Chris Chatman, who he’ll play for his newest project, The Chris Chatman Do-Over podcast, beginning Jan. 11.

The weekly show, which is being billed as an original improvised comedy, is the second of three installments in a series of podcasts from Amy Poehler’s Paper Kite Productions and Audacy. The first, which launched in September, is Say More with Dr? Sheila, which stars Poehler as a fictional, world-class therapist/life coach, who has questionable methods and credentials and sees new couples each week. Barinholtz is among the many recognizable voices who have appeared as fictional guests on the popular podcast; though in his case, he was setting up a standalone series as Chatman, a controversial shock jock host.

The premise of The Chris Chatman Do-Over is that Chatman’s hit podcast was canceled but he’s listened,...

It is a miracle that Dan Harmon's groundbreaking sitcom "Community" lasted more than a half-season on NBC. The series about seven misfits who form a study group at the fictional Greendale Community College was aggressively dense in its world-building and proudly esoteric in its references. How esoteric? In only its second season, the show turned what was set up as a "Pulp Fiction" homage into an invigoratingly cerebral riff on "My Dinner with Andre" provoked by a character's extra work on Bill Lawrence and Kevin Biegel's "Cougar Town." Not so shockingly, "Community" ranked a dire 138 in the Nielsen ratings that year.

Harmon and a crack staff of writers that included Megan Ganz, Dino Stamatopoulos, Liz Cackowski, Chris McKenna, and Andy Bobrow shredded the outside of the envelope of what was acceptable on a network sitcom. It made "Seinfeld" look like "Full House." Critics and a cult following kept...

Audacy’s Cadence13 Studios today announced a partnership with Emmy and Golden Globe Award-winning writer, actress, producer and director Amy Poehler’s Paper Kite Productions – the production company behind hit shows including Russian Doll, Broad City and Harlem – for a 30-episode comedy franchise featuring stories that parody and pay homage to popular themes in the podcast space.

The franchise will be broken out into three seasons of 10 episodes. Each will focus on a central character and distinct theme; however, characters will make crossover appearances across stories and seasons.

The first installment in the partnership, Say More with Dr? Sheila, is slated to launch later this year. The 10-episode season stars Poehler as Dr? Sheila, a fictional therapist with questionable methods and credentials counseling a new couple every week. Though the season’s story arc will be scripted, the narrative will also feature improvisation by the series regulars as well as...

Amy Poehler is taking her comedic chops to the audio world.

The Parks and Recreation star is to produce a scripted comedy podcast series Say More with Dr? Sheila.

The series, which is a partnership with Cadence13 Studios and Poehler’s Paper Kite Productions, comes from Liz Cackowski, who has written on series such as Girls5Eva and Last Man on Earth.

It will feature 30 episodes spread across three seasons, starring Poehler as a couples therapist with questionable methods and credentials

Each ten-episode season will focus on a central character and distinct theme; however, characters will make crossover appearances across stories and seasons.

The first installment is set to launch later this year. Poehler voices Dr? Sheila, a fictional therapist with questionable methods and credentials counseling a new couple every week.

Say More with Dr? Sheila will also be co-produced and written by Liz Cackowski and produced by Alice Stanley. The...

Amy Poehler kids because she loves.

The actor, writer and producer will spoof podcast tropes in a new three-season scripted comedy podcast franchise for Cadence13. Poehler’s Paper Kite Productions together with writer-producer Liz Cackowski inked a 30-episode deal with Audacy’s Cadence13 for the series, featuring stories that parody — and pay homage to — popular themes in the podcast space.

“We are huge fans of podcasts and we can’t wait to poke fun at all the things we love about them, and to do so with Cadence13,” Poehler and Cackowski said in a joint statement.

The franchise will run over three seasons of 10 episodes each. Each season will focus on a central character and distinct theme, although characters will make crossover appearances across stories and seasons.

The first season under the partnership is “Say More With Dr? Sheila,” slated to launch later in 2023. Poehler stars as Dr? Sheila, a...

This article contains minor spoilers for Chip N’ Dale: Rescue Rangers.

The Chip ‘n Dale: Rescue Rangers movie is full of Easter eggs and references to not just everything under the Disney banner but a wide assortment of entertainment brands. The way it accomplishes this is a Who Framed Roger Rabbit? style plot where all animated characters are really actors, which leads to several sequences taking place at a convention center.

Of course this being a Disney film you’d expect some references to one of the biggest entertainment juggernauts around, Marvel, but Rescue Rangers doesn’t go for an easy reference of fans simply walking around in Captain America cosplay. No, Rescue Rangers goes for the deepest of deep cuts.

Early on in the film, Dale, who’s been making a living at conventions, tries to pep himself up by chatting to fellow guests around him. One of them...

Exclusive: CBS has put in development Who Gets Dad? a multi-camera siblings comedy from former The Last Man On Earth writer-producer Liz Cackowski, Lonely Island’s production shingle Party Over Here and CBS Television Studios.

Written by Cackowski, Who Gets Dad? revolves around adult siblings who reconnect when they are forced to share custody of their aging father.

Cackowski executive produces with Andy Samberg, Akiva Schaffer, Jorma Taccone and Becky Sloviter for Party Over Here. CBS Television Studios is the studio.

Cackowski, who came out of Second City, is a writer and actress. She spent four years as a writer on Saturday Night Live and worked on the first three seasons of The Last Man On Earth, most recently as co-producer. She most recently co-wrote and co-produced Netflix feature Wine Country. She previously was an Executive Story Editor on NBC’s Community and also co-created and starred in The Jeanne Tate Show.

Stars: Amy Poehler, Rachel Dratch, Ana Gasteyer, Maya Rudolph, Paula Pell, Emily Spivey, Jay Larson, Tina Fey, Maya Erskine, Jason Schwartzman | Written by Liz Cackowski, Emily Spivey | Directed by Amy Poehler

Wine Country is famed comedienne Amy Poehler’s directorial debut and stars an all-star cast of female SNL alumni, both in front and behind the camera in the likes of Maya Rudolph, Tina Fey etc. The film follows a group of friends getting together in Southern California for a tour of good food and good wine for one member fiftieth birthday party. However, even with a terrific cast list, Poehler’s film is flat, unimaginative and quite frankly boring, with a screenplay that has no punch or comedic prowess and the narrative incredibly stiff with a snail pace running time.

Where Wine Country succeeds is in the small intimate moments of its character. Sequences that focuses purely on one...

Having thrived as an actress, comedian, writer and producer, directing may seem like a natural next step for Amy Poehler. But as she told Variety at the world premiere of “Wine Country,” she decided to take the plunge for one reason: “The ladies said yes. The end. Period!”

Once it was suggested, all of the women felt instinctively that this was a story they wanted to tell. “We were really excited to show what female friendship looks like at a certain age, and to show old friends and how they interact and what they talk about,” she explained. “And just to have a chance to work with these legends — they’re all amazing.”

With Poehler behind the camera, an all-star ensemble of sketch actresses in front of it, and fellow “Saturday Night Live” alums Emily Spivey and Liz Cackowski writing the screenplay, the gender breakdown for “Wine Country” was very...

Amy Poehler isn’t exactly playing herself in “Wine Country,” but the first-time filmmaker and bonafide comedy superstar has plenty in common with Abby, her type-a character who considers planning a trip for her five best friends to be a fun and relaxing diversion. That’s not by accident, because Poehler’s feature filmmaking debut — she previously directed episodes of “Broad City” and “Parks and Recreation” — was inspired by a real-life trip that the perpetually prepared Poehler helped craft for a bunch of her actual best friends, including fellow “Saturday Night Live” vets (and eventual “Wine Country” stars) Maya Rudolph, Rachel Dratch, Ana Gasteyer, Paula Pell, and Emily Spivey.

“I had been excitedly thinking and talking and looking to direct a feature, and then like most good things, it happened a little organically,” Poehler said. “We were on our own trip, and I turned to Emily Spivey, who ended up...

Following a group of close friends who come together in the Napa Valley to celebrate a 50th birthday, Wine Country is directed by Amy Poehler and written by former Saturday Night Live contributors Liz Cackowski and Emily Spivey.

The comedy features longtime collaborators Poehler, Spivey, Maya Rudolph, Tina Fey, Rachel Dratch and Ana Gasteyer in the ensemble cast, along with Cherry Jones and Paula Pell. Jason Schwartzman plays a seafood aficionado and fulfills one of very few male speaking parts.

Ahead of its May 10 release on Netflix, The Hollywood Reporter spoke to Cackowski and Spivey about their writing process on Wine ...

Following a group of close friends who come together in the Napa Valley to celebrate a 50th birthday, Wine Country is directed by Amy Poehler and written by former Saturday Night Live contributors Liz Cackowski and Emily Spivey.

The comedy features longtime collaborators Poehler, Spivey, Maya Rudolph, Tina Fey, Rachel Dratch and Ana Gasteyer in the ensemble cast, along with Cherry Jones and Paula Pell. Jason Schwartzman plays a seafood aficionado and fulfills one of very few male speaking parts.

Ahead of its May 10 release on Netflix, The Hollywood Reporter spoke to Cackowski and Spivey about their writing process on Wine ...

It may be damning with faint praise to say that Wine Country goes down easy. But it’s hardly a crime against cinema that this amiable ramble with six female friends on a weekend break in Napa Valley does not feel the need to color outside the box. Making her feature directing debut in an ensemble comedy with notes of sweet and melancholy, Amy Poehler doesn’t show off with flashy tricks, preferring to stick close to women, mostly her best friends from Saturday Night Live, who refuse to go gently into Hollywood obsolescence.

Several castmembers from the upcoming Amy Poehler-helmed Netflix film Wine Country appeared on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen Tuesday night, where they participated in the late-night show's signature rapid-fire questions segment and shared their experience of working with Poehler as a director. 

In the hot seat were Ana Gasteyer, Paula Pell, Emily Spivey (who co-wrote the film with Liz Cackowski) and Rachel Dratch.

Host Cohen began by announcing that Wine Country is a movie that "showcases" these women and will make you "drunk with happiness." He then talked about all the Saturday Night Live icons ...

Several castmembers from the upcoming Amy Poehler-helmed Netflix film Wine Country appeared on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen Tuesday night, where they participated in the late-night show's signature rapid-fire questions segment and shared their experience of working with Poehler as a director. 

In the hot seat were Ana Gasteyer, Paula Pell, Emily Spivey (who co-wrote the film with Liz Cackowski) and Rachel Dratch.

Host Cohen began by announcing that Wine Country is a movie that "showcases" these women and will make you "drunk with happiness." He then talked about all the Saturday Night Live icons ...

A pleasant and perfectly watchable comedy that would have died on the vine in theaters, “Wine Country” is casual viewing done right. Like so many Netflix Originals, Amy Poehler’s effervescent feature directorial debut is best enjoyed on a soft couch, after a hard day, and with a large glass of pinot grigio in each hand. While there are occasional notes of heaviness — as there must be in any honest account of the joys and miseries of getting so much older than you ever thought possible — this light but knowing story about six women struggling to get over themselves and celebrate each other is just fermented enough to leave you buzzed.

Written by Liz Cackowski and Emily Spivey, “Wine Country” establishes its premise with a hyper-efficient opening montage that lays all its cards on the table. Rebecca (Rachel Dratch) doesn’t want to make a big deal about turning 50, but...

There was a little bit of magic floating in the air at “SNL” during the early aughts. Though the show has been on air since 1975, a fresh cast produced a dose of fresh air in the new millennium, infused by incredible women like Amy Poehler, Tina Fey, Maya Rudolph, Ana Gasteyer and Rachel Dratch.

These women each offered something unique, both in the writers’ room and in the characters they brought to life, and together they formed a comedy dream team. In Netflix’s “Wine Country,” they are reunited once more, with Poehler at the helm in her feature film directorial debut. While the magic may be a bit less sparkly nowadays, the film nonetheless delivers a smart, witty and pretty damn realistic view of women in their 50s: their attitudes and their friendships.

Abby (Poehler), Rebecca (Dratch), Catherine (Gasteyer), Val, Jenny (Emily Spivey), and Naomi (Rudolph) have been friends since their college days.

Netflix has released the trailer for Amy Poehler-directed comedy “Wine Country,” her feature directorial debut, which stars several of her “Saturday Night Live” co-stars.

Poehler, Maya Rudolph and Tina Fey are a group of longtime friends who go to Napa, California, for a weekend getaway to celebrate a friend’s (Rachel Dratch) 50th birthday, and drunken antics ensue.

Per Netflix, “In honor of Rebecca (Dratch)’s 50th birthday, Abby (Poehler) plans a scenic Napa getaway with their best, longtime friends. Workaholic Catherine (Ana Gasteyer), post-op Val (Paula Pell), homebody Jenny (Emily Spivey), and weary mom Naomi (Rudolph) are equally sold on the chance to relax and reconnect. Yet as the alcohol flows, real-world uncertainties intrude on the punchlines and gossip, and the women begin questioning their friendships and futures.”

Also Read: Amy Poehler to Direct, Star in 'Wine Country' for Netflix

Other cast members include Jason Schwartzman,...

Amy Poehler, Rachel Dratch, Maya Rudolph and more soak up all the booze and drama a trip to Napa has to offer in the hilarious new trailer for Wine Country. The film is set to open in select theaters May 8th before arriving on Netflix May 10th.

Wine Country marks Poehler’s feature film directorial debut and finds her reuniting with a slew of old Saturday Night Live cast and crew-mates, including Ana Gasteyer, Paula Pell, Emily Spivey and Tina Fey. In the film, Poehler’s Abby does her best...

Amy Poehler steps behind the camera for “Wine Country,” her feature directorial debut, which reunites her with some of her good friends and former “Saturday Night Live” collaborators. The girls’ trip comedy is being released on Netflix (and in some select theaters) this summer and just the chance to see Poehler live it up with Maya Rudolph and Tina Fey should make the comedy a big hit for the streaming giant. The film co-stars Rachel Dratch, Paula Pell, Ana Gasteyer, Emily Spivey, Jason Schwartzman, and Cherry Jones.

The official synopsis from Netflix: “In honor of Rebecca (Dratch)’s 50th birthday, Abby (Poehler) plans a scenic Napa getaway with their best, longtime friends. Workaholic Catherine (Gasteyer), post-op Val (Pell), homebody Jenny (Spivey), and weary mom Naomi (Rudolph) are equally sold on the chance to relax and reconnect. Yet as the alcohol flows, real-world uncertainties intrude on the punchlines and gossip, and...

This week, IndieWire will be rolling out our annual Summer Preview, including offerings that span genres, niche offerings for dedicated fans, a closer look at festival favorites finally headed to a theater near you, and plenty of special attention to all the new movies you need to get through a jam-packed summer movie-going season.

Check back throughout the week for a new look at the best the season has to offer, and clear your schedule, because we’re going to fill it right up.

From documentaries about real-life heroines to first-time features involving the kind of high schoolers anyone would hope to be no matter their age, this summer’s selection of films that just so happen to be directed by women is as rich and varied as ever. Bolstered by offerings from Olivia Wilde, Lynn Shelton, Jennifer Kent, Gurinder Chadha, and more, there’s more than enough to pick through,...

Donald Trump won’t be getting a producing credit in Ike Barinholtz’ dark comedy “The Oath,” which opens Friday, but he’s the major reason why the film got made.

“The movie grew out of the Thanksgiving dinner two years ago at my house in Los Angeles,” Barinholtz recalls. “We got into a nasty fight about politics — and we had all voted the same way against Trump. So I woke up the next morning and thought ‘I’ve got make a movie about this, if this can happen at our table, it must be happening all over America.'”

“The Oath” takes place in a near future in which the U.S. government, headed by unnamed president, has required all citizens to sign a “Patriot’s Oath” to the government by Black Friday — the day after Thanksgiving. Barinholtz’ character Chris and his no-nonsense wife Kai, played by Tiffany Haddish, host...

Shooting Wine Country for Netflix was a dream job: It had the double-whammy combo of being with great friends in a beautiful location.

The movie that Amy Poehler directed is based on a real trip a bunch of us took together two years ago for my 50th birthday. After that trip, Amy had the idea, "Oh, this could make a fun movie," and she conspired to actually do it with all the same people: Maya Rudolph, Ana Gasteyer, Tina Fey, Paula Pell and Emily Spivey, who ended up writing the movie with Liz Cackowski.

Back with these ladies, with ...

Shooting Wine Country for Netflix was a dream job: It had the double-whammy combo of being with great friends in a beautiful location.

The movie that Amy Poehler directed is based on a real trip a bunch of us took together two years ago for my 50th birthday. After that trip, Amy had the idea, "Oh, this could make a fun movie," and she conspired to actually do it with all the same people: Maya Rudolph, Ana Gasteyer, Tina Fey, Paula Pell and Emily Spivey, who ended up writing the movie with Liz Cackowski.

Back with these ladies, with ...

Exclusive: Jason Schwartzman and Cherry Jones are boarding Amy Poehler’s feature directorial debut Wine Country.

They join a cast that includes Poehler, Rachel Dratch, Ana Gasteyer, Paula Pell, Maya Rudolph, Emily Spivey and Tina Fey.

The Netflix comedy, written by Spivey and Liz Cackowski, follows longtime friends who head to Napa for the weekend to celebrate a 50th birthday. Production is already underway in Los Angeles and will end in Napa.

Pic is produced by Poehler’s Paper Kite Productions with Poehler serving as producer. Morgan Sackett (Parks and Recreation, Veep, Popstar) will produce through Dunshire Productions and Carla Hacken (Hell or High Water) via her Paper Pictures label.

Schwartzman has worked as a guest star opposite Poehler on NBC’s Parks and Recreation playing Dennis Lerpiss, a flailing video store owner who the Pawnee town bails out, only to see the guy transform his retail into a porn vid rental store.

Maya Erskine (Hulu’s Casual, Fxx’s Man Seeking Woman) has come onboard Amy Poehler’s directorial debut film Wine Country, the Netflix comedy which Poehler will produce and star in. Previously announced cast includes comedians Rachel Dratch, Ana Gasteyer, Paula Pell, Maya Rudolph, Emily Spivey with an appearance from Tina Fey. Former Saturday Night Live! writers Spivey and Liz Cackowski penned the screenplay, which tells the story of old friends who go to Napa for a weekend getaway to celebrate a 50th birthday. Erskine will play Jade, a younger Millennial Lesbian, who catches the eye of Val (Pell). Poehler is producing via Paper Kite Productions alongside Carla Hacken of Paper Pictures and Morgan Sackett from Dunshire Productions. Erskine recently wrapped the indie Plus One opposite Jack Quaid and will next be seen in the Netflix film 6 Balloons, available April 6. She’s repped by Gersh, Mosaic, and Hansen, Jacobson,...

Wine Country: Amy Poehler (The House, above) will direct and star in Wine Country. The comedy will mark her directorial debut; it follows longtime friends who travel to the Napa Valley region of California to celebrate a birthday. Rachel Dratch, Ana Gasteyer, Paula Pell, Maya Rudolph and Emily Spivey will also star, while Tina Fey will be featured .Spivey wrote the original screenplay with Liz Cackowski. Production will begin later this month. [The Hollywood Reporter] It's happening—Amy Poehler's directorial debut, Wine Country, is coming soon to Netflix! Starring Amy Poehler, Rachel Dratch, Ana Gasteyer, Paula Pell, Maya Rudolph, Emily Spivey and featuring Tina Fey. Get excited. Get real excited. pic.twitter.com/kZedPmzeVC — Netflix Us (@netflix) March...

Wine Country: Amy Poehler (The House, above) will direct and star in Wine Country. The comedy will mark her directorial debut; it follows longtime friends who travel to the Napa Valley region of California to celebrate a birthday. Rachel Dratch, Ana Gasteyer, Paula Pell, Maya Rudolph and Emily Spivey will also star, while Tina Fey will be featured. Spivey wrote the original screenplay with Liz Cackowski. Production will begin later this month. [The Hollywood Reporter] It's...

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Amy Poehler is set to make her feature film directorial debut with Netflix’s “Wine Country,” in which she will also star, an individual with knowledge of the project told TheWrap. Rachel Dratch, Ana Gasteyer, Paula Pell, Maya Rudolph and Emily Spivey will star alongside her. “Wine Country” will be about a group of longtime friends who go to Napa, California, for a weekend getaway to celebrate a 50th birthday. Spivey, who worked with Poehler on “Parks and Recreation” and “Saturday Night Live,” also wrote the script alongside “SNL’s” Liz Cackowski. Also Read: 'Parks and Recreation' Stars Amy Poehler, Rashida Jones, Aubrey Plaza...

Phil Lord and Chris Miller has signed on to develop their first project since they were fired from Han Solo near the end of production. The project is a comedy series for ABC called We Can Do Better.

The series "revolves around a soccer mom who deals with her newly 'woke' life in the South as a parent, wife, American citizen and daughter of a hardcore conservative parents."

Apparently, the series had multiple networks bidding on it and the Disney-owned ABC ended up getting it. I guess the folks at Disney don't hate them too much after the whole Han Solo drama unfolded. 

I've got to say, the initial concept revealed of the series doesn't sound like anything interesting, but knowing how wacky and crazy Lord and Miller can get, I'm sure whatever they have planned will bring some fun entertainment. 

The script will be written and produced by Liz Cackowski,...

In a competitive situation, ABC has landed We Can Do Better, a single-camera comedy from former The Last Man On Earth writer-producer Liz Cackowski and the Fox series’ executive producers Phil Lord, Chris Miller and Seth Cohen. The project has received a script commitment with significant penalty. 20th Century Fox TV, where Lord and Miller’s production company is based, is the studio. Written by Cackowski, We Can Do Better, which echoes All In the Family a bit, centers on…...

The Writers Guild of America has just announced the nominations for their annual awards for Best Screenplays (by writers who are guild signatories). That’s right, before you get nervous thinking that your favorite may have been left off the list, you must remember that the WGA is the group that is not all-inclusive and leaves out several of the top contenders each year due to them not being part of the guild or not following their very specific rules. For this reason, you won’t see Inside Out, The Hateful Eight, and Ex Machina in the Original Screenplay category or Room, Brooklyn, or Anomalisa in the Adapted screenplay category.

Taking a look at what’s left over for the nominations, we find many that were expected to make a showing, including Spotlight and Bridge of Spies for Original Screenplay, though they apparently had to sink to really low depths...

The Writers Guild of America announced some of its nominees for its 2015 awards on Thursday, including television, new media, and radio, and among the TV nominees are series both new and old, and all beloved.

In the comedy series category, freshman Netflix show "Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt" scored a nomination for best series, as well as an overall best new series nod. "The Last Man on Earth" also landed in that latter category, and was singled out for its pilot episode writing, too.

On the drama side of the equation, lauded "Breaking Bad" spinoff "Better Call Saul" also got best series and best new series nominations, in addition to a an episode writing nod. Newly-minted Emmy winner "Game of Thrones" also scored a best drama citation, as well as an episodic writing nomination.

The full list of nominees released this week are below. Nominations in the theatrical and documentary categories will...

This is another edition of Short Starts, where we present a weekly short film(s) from the start of a filmmaker or actor’s career. While the new comedy The To Do List just opened in near-wide release, it’s not playing everywhere. For those of you who can’t go see it yet, I offer you a little alternative in the form of 2007′s The Jeannie Tate Show. It’s not the official short start for either Aubrey Plaza (who had already appeared in Killswitch and In Love) or writer-director Maggie Carey (who’d helmed the short PBS doc Sun River Homestead and a few short comedies, including Jenny Clone with her then-soon-to-be husband Bill Hader). It’s not even technically a short so much as a web series made up of very short episodes. Still, it’s fun to see the beginnings of a relationship that would eventually lead to now-famous Plaza starring in Carey...

The Cuban Fury production team are churning out video blogs like there’s no tomorrow now with the second one of the week right here. This time we get to see Wendi McLendon-Covey, Liz Cackowski and Rachel Dratch on set of the new movie as they tell us how they’ve been flown out to the UK to then Skype with Rashida Jones’ character as she sits in a room next door!

All three of them are asked what the story is about and we never quite get to the bottom of it but it’s well worth a watch! They also tell us about how they’re looking forward to working with Simon Pegg, Nicolas Cage and Nick Nolte….. it’s just a shame none of them are in it!

Cuban Fury also stars Rashida Jones, Chris O’Dowd, Olivia Colman, Ian McShane and is directed by James Griffiths.

Chicago – In the latest HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: Film with our unique social giveaway technology, we have 30 admit-two movie passes up for grabs to the advance screening of the new sci-fi/comedy “The Watch” with Ben Stiller, Vince Vaughn and Jonah Hill from writer Seth Rogen! The film opens everywhere on July 27, 2012.

“The Watch” also stars Richard Ayoade, Will Forte, Rosemarie DeWitt, Mel Rodriguez, Doug Jones, Erin Moriarty, Nicholas Braun, R. Lee Ermey, Joe Nunez, Liz Cackowski, Johnny Pemberton and Sharon Gee from director Akiva Schaffer and writers Seth Rogen, Jared Stern and Evan Goldberg.

To win your free advance-screening movie passes to Seth Rogen’s “The Watch” courtesy of HollywoodChicago.com, just get interactive with our unique Hookup technology directly below. That’s it! This screening is on Tuesday, July 24, 2012 at 7 p.m. in downtown Chicago. The more social actions you complete, the more points you score and the higher yours odds of winning!

Christopher Lloyd has been cast as the grandfather to John Leguizamo and Dustin Ybarra in ABC's comedy "Only Fools and Horses," which chronicles this rag-tag family as they come up with crazy, morally questionable get-rich-quick schemes in their pursuit to become millionaires.  [Deadline]

David Arquette has been cast in ABC's "The Smart One" comedy pilot, playing husband to Candy (Malin Akerman), the "dumb one" of dueling sisters. Portia de Rossi is the "smart one" sister, Jude. [TV Line]

"Justified's" Natalie Zea has joined untitled Kevin Williamson thriller starring Kevin Bacon as an ex-fbi agent tracking a serial killer. Zea will play the ex-wife of said serial killer who finds herself in a horrible situation when he has escaped from prison.

Robert Wisdom of "The Wire" and Hayden Panettiere of "Heroes" have been cast in the ABC drama "Nashville," a family soap set against the Nashville country music scene. Wisdom will play a...

I had both the good fortune and the unluckiness to go out for drinks last night (with a group of fellow TV critics and reporters) and am still way behind on catching up on my Thursday night programming. (Which feels a bit like a Sisyphean effort every week with so many fantastic series shoehorned onto Thursday nights.) I did, however, manage to catch last night's fantastic episodes of NBC's Community and Parks and Recreation, which offered a much-needed holiday-themed one-two punch after my night of absinthe-based socializing. I thought that both series were firing on all cylinders last night. Community may have pulled off its best episode to date with "Comparative Religion" (written by Liz Cackowski), juggling plots involving Jeff (Joel McHale) standing up to bully (guest star Anthony Michael Hall), the holidays, the end of the semester, and Shirley (Yvette Nicole Brown) coming to terms that her friends might not share her religious views.

Universal Pictures has acquired two projects that will be developed for Isla Fisher to star in.Fisher, who last starred in "Confessions of a Shopaholic," is attached to star in and produce "Life Coach," a comedy about a young woman who consults a life coach who turns out to be even worse off then she is. Liz Cackowski and Maggie Carey are writing the script.According to Variety, Will Ferrell, Adam McKay and Chris Henchy will produce with Fisher.Fisher is also attached to star in an untitled romantic comedy based on a French script called "Un Jour mes princes viendront" (One Day My Princes Will Come). Universal wouldn't disclose the plot details but has hired Audrey Wells ("Under the Tuscan Sun") to...

Isla Fisher (”The Confessions of a Shopaholic”) has signed up to star in two new romantic comedies for Universal.

Fisher will play the lead in “Life Coach” written by Liz Cackowski and Maggie Carey.

The movie follows the story of “a young woman who consults a life coach who turns out to be messed up”.

Will Ferrell, Adam McKay and Chris Henchy will co-produce the film alongside Fisher.

Isla Fisher is also attached to star in an movie is based on French script called “One Day My Princes Will Come.” The studio has hired Audrey Wells (”Under the Tuscan Sun”) to write the script.

The project is currently untitled and no plot details have yet been revealed.

The charming Isla Fisher is pretty much set to play the lead roles in two upcoming comedies developed by Universal Pictures. She recently celebrated her lead role debut in "Confessions of a Shopaholic."

Variety says Fisher is in talks to star in "Life Coach," which follows a woman seeking the help from a life coach whose own life is totally messed up. Liz Cackowski and Maggie Carey are writing the script.

Fisher is also attached to appear in an untitled romantic comedy based on a French script called "Un Jour mes princes viendront" (One Day My Princes Will Come). Plot details for this one are kept under wraps.

Isla Fisher is going to be a movie star, dammit, and no amount of bad reviews for Confessions of a Shopaholic are going to get in her way. Of course, most of the people who hated that "comedy" still gave Fisher credit for being adorable, so not all is lost as Universal picks up two more projects for the actress, convinced as ever that the next Julia Roberts is within their grasp. According to Variety Fisher will play an unwilling victim of a messed up life coach in, uh, Life Coach, and will have an undefined role in Un Jour mes princes viendront, which will probably go into production under its English title, Some Day My Prince Will Come. A handful of female screenwriters, including Liz Cackowski and Maggie Carey for Life Coach and Audrey Wells for the Prince movie, are getting jobs as a result of all this as...

Is Isla Fisher still with Sacha Baron Cohen? Because she is adorable. Even Universal Pictures has a crush on her, having offered the actress not one but two starring vehicles.

Universal Gives Fisher Two

Up first for Isla Fisher is Life Coach, a film that she will star in and produce with Will Ferrell, Adam McKay and Chris Henchy. In the comedy, Fisher will play a young woman who consults a life coach who turns out to be messed up. Think Confessions of a Shopaholic 2. Scribes Liz Cackowski and Maggie Carey are currently writing the script.

Universal Pictures has acquired two projects that will be developed as star vehicles for Isla Fisher, reports Variety . Fisher is attached to topline and produce Life Coach , a comedy about a young woman who consults a life coach who turns out to be messed up. Liz Cackowski and Maggie Carey are writing the script. Fisher is also attached to star in an untitled romantic comedy based on a French script called Un Jour mes princes viendront (One Day My Princes Will Come). Audrey Wells ( Under the Tuscan Sun ) will write the script.

It seems a long long time ago since ‘Shannon’, aka Isla Fisher graced our screens every afternoon on Australian soap, Home and Away. Now she’s hit the big time with movies like Wedding Crashers, Confessions of a Shopaholic and the latest news today is that Universal have two new projects in which she’ll get the starring role.

Variety report:

Fisher, is attached to topline and produce “Life Coach,” a comedy about a young woman who consults a life coach who turns out to be messed up. Liz Cackowski and Maggie Carey are writing the script.

Fisher is also attached to star in an untitled romantic comedy based on a French script called “Un Jour mes princes viendront” (One Day My Princes Will Come). The studio wouldn’t disclose the logline but has hired Audrey Wells (”Under the Tuscan Sun”) to write the script.

More info on these projects as we get it.

Isla Fisher, last seen wearing a ridiculous array of fabulous fashion in Confessions of a Shopaholic, is in line for two new films at Universal: Life Coach and Someday My Princes Will Come. And it sounds like both are right up her light-comedy alley.Life Coach is a comedy that will see Fisher play a young woman who decides to consult a, well, life coach (for those of you who don't watch Oprah, this is a quasi-therapist who advises you on how to improve all spheres of your life that need work). The only problem is that this particular coach is even more messed up than she is. Hilarity, we're guessing, ensues. Former Saturday Night Live writer Liz Cackowski and Maggie Carey will write that one.Someday My Princes Will Come is based on an as-yet unproduced French script called Un jour mes princes viendront. Yes, they're now remaking French...