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Last Thursday night, stage and screen stars Liz Gillies and Graham Phillips had their celebratory opening night performance as Audrey and Seymour in Little Shop of Horrors. See photos here! Gillies and Phillips reunited onstage for the first time in over a decade after they starred together as teens in Jason Robert Brown’s 13: The Musical on Broadway. 13: The Musical’s Robert Horn (Bookwriter) and Tom Kitt (Musical Director) were in attendance last night supporting the pair. Joining Gillies and Phillips in the current cast are Drama Desk nominee Jeremy Kushnier as Dr. Orin Scrivello Dds, Tony Award nominee Reg Rogers as Mushnik, Major Attaway as The Voice of Audrey II, Hailey Thomas as Ronnette, Daria Pilar Redus as Crystal, and Morgan Ashley Bryant...

Liz Gillies and Graham Phillips brought Christmas cheer to the Little Shop of Horrors stage door... six months early! Gillies has shared a new video on Instagram, showing how she and her co-star celebrated "half-Christmas" dressed up as Santa and Mrs. Claus to greet fans at the stage door. The video starts with an announcement that Gillies and Phillips were about to come out of the stage door, but may not have time to take pictures as they have "lots of gifts to deliver." The pair is then seen in full Christmas costume as "Let It Snow" begins to play. <blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DLXlHeCO97Y/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14" style=" background:#Fff; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:658px; min-width:326px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% -...

Rise and shine, BroadwayWorld! It is June 25, 2025 and it's time to catch up on all of the theatrical happenings you may have missed in the last 24 hours: Good morning, Broadway lovers! As we kick off another day, let’s take a look at the latest buzz lighting up the Great White Way. We’ve got a star-studded roundup, from Taylor Trensch taking center stage in Bat Boy: The Musical at New York City Center, to a first look at Elizabeth Gillies and Graham Phillips in Little Shop Of Horrors. The future of Broadway is shining bright, as the winners of the 2025 Jimmy Awards were crowned and celebrated. There's industry news galore: high schools across the country can now apply for Suffs production grants, Alley Theatre...

You can now get a first look at Elizabeth Gillies as Audrey and Graham Phillips as Seymour in the three-time Best Revival Award-winning Little Shop Of Horrors, now in its sixth smash year at the Westside Theatre. See photo shere! On June 17th, Gillies rejoined the company following her sold out run as Audrey earlier this spring and reunited with Phillips on stage for the first time in over a decade since they made their Broadway debuts together in 13: The Musical. Joining Gillies and Phillips in the current cast are Drama Desk nominee Jeremy Kushnier as Dr. Orin Scrivello Dds, Tony Award nominee Reg Rogers as Mushnik, Major Attaway as The Voice of Audrey II, Hailey Thomas as Ronnette, Daria Pilar Redus as Crystal, and...

Watch a video of Liz Gillies performing "Somewhere That's Green" in Little Shop of Horrors! The “Victorious” and “Dynasty” star returns to the musical as Audrey tonight, alongside star of stage and screen Graham Phillips, who joins the cast as Seymour. The former 13 the Musical co-stars will play a limited engagement through July 27. Joining Gillies and Phillips in the current cast are Drama Desk nominee Jeremy Kushnier as Dr. Orin Scrivello Dds, Tony Award nominee Reg Rogers as Mushnik, Major Attaway as The Voice of Audrey II, Hailey Thomas as Ronnette, Daria Pilar Redus as Crystal, and Morgan Ashley Bryant as...

Rise and shine, BroadwayWorld! It is May 28, 2025 and it's time to catch up on all of the theatrical happenings you may have missed in the last 24 hours: Graham Phillips to Reunite with Elizabeth Gillies in Little Shop Of Horrors by Chloe Rabinowitz Filmmaker and star of stage and screen Graham Phillips will join the cast of Little Shop of Horrors as Seymour. Learn more and see how to purchase tickets!. (more...) Video: Natalie Venetia Belcon's Stars Are In Alignment by Joey Mervis Watch as Natalie chats more about...

Filmmaker and star of stage and screen Graham Phillips will join the cast as Seymour, reuniting with former 13: The Musical co-star Elizabeth Gillies, who extends her sold out run as Audrey. They begin performances together on Tuesday, June 17, for a limited engagement through July 27. “We are so thrilled that Liz is extending,” says producer Robert Ahrens. “She not only gives a spectacular performance as Audrey, but she also brings so much joy and camaraderie to the company.” Gillies currently stars in the production alongside Milo Manheim as Seymour, through Sunday, June 1, 2025. Between June 3 and June 15, the roles of Seymour & Audrey will be played...

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Elsbeth is a police procedural comedy drama series created by Robert and Michelle King. The CBS series is a spin-off of The Good Wife and The Good Fight, and it follows Elsbeth Tascioni, an eccentric attorney who begins working with the NYPD to catch New York’s most dangerous murderers. Elsbeth stars Carrie Preston, Carra Patterson, Wendell Pierce, Danny McCarthy, Fredric Lehne, Gloria Reuben, Molly Price, and Micaela Diamond. So, if you loved the hilarious comedy, engaging mysteries, and entertaining characters in Elsbeth, here are some similar shows you should check out next.

The Good Wife (Prime Video & Paramount+) Credit – CBS

The Good Wife is a political legal drama series created by Robert and Michelle King. The CBS series follows Alicia Florrick, a family woman who left her legal career to support her husband’s political aspirations. When...

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Family Law is a Canadian legal drama series created by Susin Nielsen. The Global series follows Abigail Bianchi, a talented lawyer struggling with alcoholism who begins working for her estranged father and two half-siblings in family law. She soon finds herself overwhelmed with the pressures of family law and the dysfunction of her own family. Family Law stars Jewel Staite, Zach Smadu, Genelle Williams, Lauren Holly, and Victor Garber. So, if you loved the familial bonds, legal drama, and compelling characters in Family Law, here are some similar shows you should check out next.

The Good Fight Credit – Paramount+

The Good Fight is a legal political drama series created by Robert King, Michelle King, and Phil Alden Robinson. The CBS series is a standalone sequel series to the popular CBS series The Good Wife, and it follows Diane Lockhart,...

Elizabeth Gillies gets support from Avan Jogia and Daniella Monet at the opening night celebration of her run in Little Shop of Horrors at Westside Theatre on Wednesday (March 5) in New York City.

The 31-year-old actress and her former co-stars had a little Victorious reunion at the show, along with another co-star, Lane Napper, who was not part of the group photos.

Elizabeth kicked off her run as Audrey in the musical last week, alongside fellow newcomers Milo Manheim (Seymour) and Jeremy Kushnier (Dr. Orin Scrivello Dds).

Other stars in attendance included former Audrey actresses Sarah Hyland and Jinkx Monsoon, Debra Messing, Gracie Lawrence, Peppermint, Erika Henningson, Bonnie Milligan, Aaron Simon Gross, Kalen Allen, Graham Phillips and Raul Esparza, as well as Milo‘s mom Camryn Manheim, and his School Spirits co-stars Nick Pugliese, Miles Elliot and Jess Gabor.

In case you missed it, it was recently announced that Daniella...

Matthew Lillard is a well-known name in Hollywood, despite the actor receiving very few leading roles throughout his career. Still, Lillard has a dedicated fanbase that adores him thanks to his most iconic and entertaining roles. He's appreciated for his natural ability to make the audience laugh, which has defined his career in comedy.

Lillard is known for several memorable performances, but few are quite as popular as his rendition of Shaggy Rogers in Scooby-Doo (2002) and his performance as a villainous slasher in Scream. Even in horror roles, he is known for being comical, solidifying his reputation as a comedy actor. However, Lillard has notably serious roles, such as his character portrayal in TV shows like Good Girls and Twin Peaks: The Return. As Lillard plans to return to the Scream franchise for Scream 7 in February 2026, now is a good time to review his best roles.

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In 2003, Bruce Almighty — the third collaboration between Tom Shadyac and Jim Carrey (following Ace Ventura: Pet Detective and Liar Liar) — was released. The film follows Bruce Nolan (Carrey), an unlucky television reporter who yearns for sustenance. Fed up with his stifling white-collar existence, he constantly criticizes God, labeling him inept. Triggered, God (Morgan Freeman) appears to him and gives him spiritual powers for one week, daring him to do things differently. Because this is a Jim Carrey character, we don’t get to see any honorable acts. The free-spirited Bruce seizes the chance and uses the powers to inject adventure into his life in the most devious ways possible.

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*Availability in US Release Date June 22, 2007Director Tom ShadyacRuntime 96 minutesCast Steve Carell, Morgan Freeman, Lauren Graham, Johnny Simmons, Graham Phillips, Jimmy Bennett...

It’s been more than a year since the release of Spider-Man 2, the third installment of Playstation and Insomniac's video game series following Spider-Man and Spider-Man: Miles Morales, provided what many would say is the best adaptation of Venom outside of the comics (sorry Tom Hardy). Hot Toys is helping to commemorate the gooey symbiote, who uses Harry Osborn (Graham Phillips) instead of Eddie Brock as a host in an unconventional story turn, by releasing a new Venom figure based on his appearance in the hit PS5 video game, showing him achieving full symbiosis by using his body as an array of weapons. Hot Toys even feature figures for Peter Parker (Yuri Lowenthal) and Miles Morales (Nadji Jeter) in the first images for Venom, showing him facing off against his two arch nemesis.

Ariana Grande in “Wicked,” Timothée Chalamet in “A Complete Unknown” and Angelina Jolie in “Maria”: What these performances have in common – besides a strong shot at Oscar nominations – is the man who coached each of their voices to their highest highs: esteemed Los Angeles vocal coach Eric Vetro.

Vetro has been down this award-winning yellow brick road before with singers and actors, particularly through musical biographies. Along with coaching Renée Zellweger to Oscar victory as Judy Garland in “Judy,” and Hugh Jackman to a Tony win as Peter Allen in “The Boy from Oz,” Vetro worked with Austin Butler on his Oscar-nominated turn as “Elvis” and Riley Keough on her Emmy-nommed role in “Daisy Jones & the Six.” Currently, Vetro is coaching Jeremy Allen White for his Bruce Springsteen “Nebraska”-era biopic “Deliver Me from Nowhere” and, beyond that, Kj Apa as Sublime singer Bradley Nowell in a still-unnamed film.

HBO has given a series order to Dtf St. Louis, a seven-episode dark comedy “about a love triangle between three adults experiencing middle-age malaise, that leads to one of them ending up dead,” according to the cabler’s official logline.

Frazer Harrison/Getty Images

David Harbour and Jason Bateman — the latter of whom is replacing Pedro Pascal, who was originally on board when the project was first reported in 2022 — will star in and executive-produce the limited series. Writer, director and showrunner Steven Conrad will also executive-produce. Additional EPs include Jason Blumenthal, Steve Tisch, Molly Allen, Bruce Terris, Michael Costigan, Kristina Wenson and James Lasdun.

Exclusive: Tiya Sircar (The Good Place), Anna Diop (Nanny), Graham Phillips (Riverdale) and Georgia King (Vice Principals) have joined the cast of Prime Video and Blumhouse’s Scarpetta in recurring roles.

They join the previously announced Nicole Kidman and Jamie Lee Curtis, who will both executive produce; Bobby Cannavale, Simon Baker, Rosy McEwen, Jake Cannavale, Ariana DeBose, Sosie Bacon, Amanda Righetti, Janet Montgomery, Stephanie Faracy and Mike Vogel.

Based on Patricia Cornwell’s best-selling book series, Scarpetta follows Kay Scarpetta (Kidman), Chief Medical Examiner, as she returns to Virginia and resumes her former position with complex relationships, both personal and professional – including her sister Dorothy (Curtis), with plenty of grudges and secrets to uncover.

Sircar joins as “Blaise Fruge,” a policewoman; Diop joins as Sierra “Tron” Patron, a Cyber Investigator with the FBI; Phillips joins as Past “Matt Petersen,” a handsome, genteel actor; King joins as Past “Maggie Cutbush.”

The...

There are a solid number of good movies similar to Incoming, which wears its influences on its sleeve. The raunchy new Netflix teen comedy, which follows a group of four incoming freshmen who prepare to attend what they believe will be a life-changing party, has already become a hit on the platform, debuting at No. 2 on the streamer's weekly global chart of the most-watched English language movies in its first three days.

The Incoming cast is led by up-and-coming stars Mason Thames, Ramon Reed, Raphael Alejandro, and Bardia Seiri alongside a supporting cast of familiar faces that includes Kaitlin Olson (It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia), Isabella Ferreira, and Bobby Cannavale (Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle). While co-directors Dave and John Chernin made their feature debut with the 2024 title and thus have no other movies to pursue afterward, there are plenty of other teen comedy movies, particularly those centered around parties,...

James Franco portrayed Harry Osborn in Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man films and became the most popular screen adaptation of the character. The son of the notorious Norman Osborn was present in several screen adaptations of the web-slinger. However, one portrayal may have found its way to the fan-favorite list after Franco’s Harry. Fans praised Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 for the way it developed Harry.

James Franco as Harry Osborn in a still from Spider-Man 2 | Columbia Pictures

Graham Phillips voiced the character for the game from Insomniac Games. Harry Osborn also appeared in Andrew Garfield’s The Amazing Spider-Man and the animated projects, including Spider-Man: The Animated Series, The Spectacular Spider-Man, and Ultimate Spider-Man.

Fans May Have Found A More Likable Harry Osborn Than James Franco

Harry Osborn in Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 | Insomniac Games

Tobey Maguire‘s Spider-Man films introduced James Franco as Peter Parker’s best friend...

The Good Wife spinoff Elsbeth has added four guest stars to its cast. Jane Krakowski, Retta, Blair Underwood, and Linda Lavin will be playing new characters on the show. The new guest stars are known for 30 Rock, Parks and Recreation, Alice, and Quantico respectively.

The upcoming The Good Wife spinoff Elsbeth has added four more to its cast. The CBS show stars Carrie Preston as the unassuming and brilliant Elsbeth Tascioni, an attorney with autism who moves from Chicago to work alongside the NYPD. Preston has previously played the role on 14 episodes of The Good Wife and five episodes of its previous spinoff The Good Fight, which ended after six seasons in 2022. The ensemble cast of the show also includes Wendell Pierce and Carra Patterson.

Per Variety, Elsbeth has cast four guest stars to join Modern Family's Jesse Tyler Ferguson on the show. Jane Krakowski will play Joann, a...

Rumble Through the Dark is an action thriller series directed by Parker and Graham Phillips from a screenplay by Michael Farris Smith. The film is based on a novel by Farris Smith named The Fighter. The film revolves around a desperate, bare-knuckle cage fighter as he fights against increasingly dangerous opponents to save his family home. Rumble Through the Dark stars Aaron Eckhart, Bella Thorne, Marianne Jean-Baptiste, and Ritchie Coster. So, if you love the action thriller film here are some similar movies you could watch next.

Warrior (Starz & Prime Video Add-On) Credit – Lionsgate Movies

Synopsis: Haunted by a tragic past, Marine Tommy Conlon (Hardy) returns home for the first time in fourteen years to enlist the help of his father (Nick Nolte) to train for Sparta, the biggest winner-takes-all event in mixed martial arts history. A former wrestling prodigy, Tommy blazes a path toward the championship while his brother,...

In Rumble Through the Dark, Aaron Eckhart plays a gritty bare-knuckle cage fighter searching for redemption. The plot is rife with drama, emotional highs and lows, and plenty of twists. The story will undoubtedly stick with audiences, but it’s Eckhart’s commanding performance that will be the talk of this film. The Dark Knight and Sully alum completely transforms himself physically and emotionally, playing aging fighter Jack Boucher, who must consider one last set of fights in an effort to shift his fate.

The film, which was directed by Graham Phillips and Parker Phillips, also stars Bella Thorne, Ritchie Coster (The Dark Knight), Marianne Jean-Baptiste Without a Trace), Derek Russo (Loki), and a powerful ensemble cast. The filmmaking brothers shared more about the compelling and gritty drama, working alongside Aaron Eckhart, and much more in this exclusive MovieWeb interview.

Aaron Eckhart's Transformation

Graham and Parker Phillips’ previous works include...

Aaron Eckhart's performance in Rumble Through The Dark is praised for bringing both physicality and emotional depth to his character, Jack Boucher. The film explores themes of redemption and the power of love between a mother and son. Despite facing logistical challenges due to the Delta variant and Hurricane Ida, the directing team had to adapt and make on-the-fly changes to the fight choreography, resulting in an improvisational and gritty feel to the fight scenes.

Rumble Through The Dark follows Jack Boucher, a former bare-knuckle cage fighter with heavy debts. In a final desperate play to repay the debts he owes, Jack will step back into the ring and fight against impossible odds. Jack finds an unlikely ally in Annette, a carnival hustler, as he tries to salvage the family home of his terminally ill foster mother.

Rumble Through The Dark is directed by Graham and Parker Phillips from...

Between the May 2023 PlayStation Showcase gameplay and the Sdcc story trailer, a better idea is forming of what Peter and Miles will be facing in Marvel's Spider-Man 2. The highly anticipated third entry in Insomniac's superhero series will see the return of many of the first two titles' actors, alongside new cast members portraying fan-favorite villains such as Kraven and Venom.

The first two Marvel's Spider-Man titles have been praised for their storytelling and performances, with stories that balance superhero antics with the personal lives of both Spider-Men. This looks set to continue with Peter's childhood friend, Harry Osborn, returning after years away and wanting to use the experimental treatment for his terminal illness to "heal the world," something that will inevitably unleash the Venom symbiote on the city.

Related: Marvel's Spider-Man 2: Everything We Know - Release Date, Story, Gameplay

Yuri Lowenthal Returns As Peter Parker

Players are quickly re-introduced to Peter Parker,...

Netflix released their movie adaptation of "13: The Musical" on Aug. 12, and the film - about a group of middle schoolers who struggle with love, friendship, and bar mitzvahs - is full of songs that will be stuck in our heads for weeks. It's also sending us down memory lane to the original Broadway production of "13 the Musical." The show broke barriers at the time, since it was the first (and so far only) to feature a cast and band that was made of just teens. But it's also memorable for another reason - Ariana Grande and Elizabeth Gillies were both in the original cast! In 2008, both joined the show during its pre-Broadway run, and they made the transfer to the Great White Way. Gillies played Lucy, while Grande played Charlotte.

A year later, both actors were cast in Nickelodeon's "Victorious" alongside Victoria Justice. The pair have remained friends...

The road to Netflix's screen adaptation of Jason Robert Brown's acclaimed broadway musical "13" has been over 10 years in the making. The original musical has had several showings worldwide since its 2007 premiere in Los Angeles, with New York City's Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre and London's Apollo Theater among some of the famous venues it has reached.

"13: The Musical" revitalizes Brown's original story nearly 15 years after its debut and features a strong cast that includes breakout star Eli Golden, along with beloved actors Josh Peck, Peter Hermann, and Debra Messing. The storyline behind the film, which centers around 12-year-old Evan Goldman (Golden) caught in the fallout of his parents' divorce while planning his bar mitzvah, sounds like it could be based on a true story, or at least partially based in reality.

While "13: The Musical" is not a true story, it does draw inspiration from real life.

In Netflix's "13: The Musical," based on the Broadway show of the same name, Eli Golden stars as Evan Goldman, a middle schooler who's obsessed with having the perfect bar mitzvah - even as his life seemingly falls apart amid his parents' divorce. Evan relies not just on his friends, but also his rabbi (played by Josh Peck), his parents (Debra Messing and Peter Hermann), and his grandma (Rhea Perlman) for advice and wisdom. And in real life, Golden also got lots of guidance from his more-experienced costars. Perlman and Peck specifically had great counsel for the 15-year-old about transitioning from a child star into an adult actor in the ever-challenging industry.

He tells Popsugar they recommended: "Don't get off the ground too much. Keep yourself level and keep yourself down. But at the same time, always push through and work harder than everybody else around you. If someone's working harder than you,...

Bella Thorne is set to star opposite Aaron Eckhart in the action thriller, “Rumble Through the Dark.”

“Rumble Through the Dark” is based on Michael Farris Smith’s novel, “The Fighter.” Smith adapted his novel into a screenplay, which will directed by Graham Phillips and Parker Phillips. Production wrapped this week in the Mississippi and Delta region, after being briefly shut down due to Hurricane Ida.

“Rumble Through the Dark” is set in the dark landscape of the Mississippi Delta where a bare knuckle cage fighter (Eckhart) seeks to repay his debts to a local mob boss in a final desperate attempt to salvage his family home. Thorne plays a carnival hustler who stumbles upon a murder that ultimately leads to a dark family connection.

“Bella is a fearless artist,” the directors said in a statement. “Watching the chemistry between her and Aaron Eckhart develop throughout the story has been...

Exclusive: Aaron Eckhart has boarded the pugilist thriller Rumble Through the Dark based on the Michael Farris Smith novel The Fighter.

Smith adapted his own novel and Graham Phillips & Parker Phillips (The Bygone) will direct. Foresight Unlimited is introducing the movie for foreign buyers at the Virtual Cannes Market. Elevated’s Cassian Elwes is producing and will rep the pic for U.S. sale along with CAA Media Finance.

Rumble Through the Dark is set in the dark landscape of the Mississippi Delta, where a former bare-knuckle fighter (Eckhart) must win one last fight to pay off his debts to the local mob boss and save his childhood home—the stakes nothing less than life or death. Cameras roll at the end of July in Natchez, Ms.

Elwes is producing alongside Cleta Ellington for the Crooked Letter Picture Company. Foresight’s Mark Damon and Tamara Birkemoe will serve as EPs...

A politician involved in a sex scandal? Say it ain't so.

When Alicia Florrick (Emmy-winner Julianna Margulies) finds herself standing next to her husband Peter reading a mea culpa speech for his indiscretion with a prostitute and political corruption, she is literally The Good Wife, no matter how humiliated and betrayed she felt.

With her husband in prison, the stay-at-home mom of Zach (Graham Phillips) and Grace (Makenzie Vega) reaches out to an old friend to help her resume her law career to provide for her family.

Related: The Good Wife: Every Main Character, Ranked

Throughout seven seasons, Alicia's relationship with Peter is on-again-off-again, with some interesting lovers in between. But she's not the only one we watched couple up. Some more appealing than others.

A movie adaptation of the stage musical “13” is in the works at Netflix from producer Neil Meron, whose credits include “Chicago,” “Hairspray” and 2011’s “Footloose” remake, Netflix announced Thursday.

Tamra Davis (“High School Musical: The Musical”) is directing the film adaptation of the original musical from 2008 about a boy who moves to a new school in a small town in Indiana and prepares for an impending Bar Mitzvah.

The original Broadway show featured the first and only all-teenager cast and band. The musical’s run on Broadway was short-lived, running for only 105 performances following an Off-Broadway run. But it did manage to help launch the careers of actors and stars like Ariana Grande, Elizabeth Gillies and Graham Phillips, all of whom were featured in the original cast.

Also Read: 'Hamilton' Movie With Lin-Manuel Miranda and Original Broadway Cast Hits Theaters October 2021

Tony Award winner Robert Horn will...

Riverdale gets back on track thanks to a pleasing, if goofy, episode.

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This Riverdale review contains spoilers.

Riverdale Season 4 Episode 12

"If you go on the run now, you'll never stop running."

After last week's infuriating episode (my least favorite of the series to date), I had much trepidation going in to this new episode of Riverdale. Fortunately, my concerns didn't last too long.

Thanks to a sharp script by first-time series Writer/Co-Executive Producer Ariana Jackson that thrusts the various storylines forward while having to pause to introduce the Katy Keene character before her solo show debuts tomorrow, this was the most eventful episode Riverdale has had, well, in ages.

Let's break down the various developments, shall we?

With Mary off working on a case in Chicago, Uncle Frank is still staying at the Andrews' house and working for the family construction business. With this being the inconsistent series that it is,...

From Queen Latifah’s vicious vocals to that polarizing Flounder puppet, The Little Mermaid Live! was all anyone could tweet about on Tuesday night.

Whether you missed out on the action, or you’d simply like to take a second dip, ABC has released videos of the night’s biggest numbers, from Ariel’s iconic ballad to Sebastian’s pro-ocean propaganda anthem.

More from TVLineThe Little Mermaid Live!: All 12 Musical Numbers Ranked From Worst to BestLittle Mermaid Live!'s Graham Phillips Dives Deep Into Those Prince Eric Songs You've Probably Never HeardRevenge Sequel Series in the Works at ABC,...

With a hot crustacean band at its disposal, ABC’s The Little Mermaid Live! served up a dozen musical numbers on Tuesday, which ranged from “the bubbles” to [in Ursula voice] “pathetic.”

Now, before I formally slip on my old-timey judge wig, let’s get one thing clear: This was an incredible feat — if not just a really expensive commercial for Disney+ — and everyone involved should be proud of the work that was accomplished tonight. As an embarrassingly vocal fan of both the original 1989 film, as well as the 2008 Broadway adaptation, I give The Little Mermaid Live! my official stamp of approval.

More from TVLineThe Little Mermaid Live!

"Part of Your World," "Kiss the Girl," and "Under the Sea" are all very fun songs, we will not lie.  But let's be honest about the fact that the star song of The Little Mermaid is, like with many Disney movies, the main one sung by the big bad. "Poor Unfortunate Souls" is a masterpiece, and Ursula may be evil, but she's also one hell of a performer.  Tonight, in The Little Mermaid Live, Queen Latifah took on the role of the voice-stealing octopus, and she absolutely, truly, completely killed it. Auli'i Cravalho was as wonderful as expected as Ariel, Graham Phillips was a revelation as Eric, and Shaggy was completely fine as Sebastian, but Queen Latifah brought the...

Spoiler Alert! This review contains spoilers for West Coast viewers of The Little Mermaid Live! Disney’s library will never be short on projects to adapt, but of all things Mouse The Little Mermaid must be one of the most challenging to turn live-action because of all that water. On Tuesday night, Disney took the sea creatures to another level with ABC’s hybrid musical event and Moana star Auli’i Cravalho — a fairly magical combo that suggests these hybrids can float, if not quite as swimmingly as one might hope.

The live telecast was basically an airing of the 1989 animated Disney classic about idealistic mermaid Ariel fascinated with land and the humans who occupy it, especially Prince Eric. She makes a deal Ursula the sea witch, things immediately go sideways and she questions her life choices.

Although enjoyable, The Little Mermaid Live! wasn’t a spectacular feat of television,...

ABC on Tuesday took us under the sea (and back again) with The Little Mermaid Live!, an ambitious production that blended the original 1989 animated classic with live-action musical numbers. And puppets. And aerialists. And Shaggy!

The two-hour event kicked off with a special introduction from Jodi Benson, the original voice of Ariel, before launching into an extended version of everyone’s favorite expositional sea shanty “Fathoms Below.” We then relocated to the Kingdom of Atlantica, where the emcee — a new character designed for this production, played by Glee‘s Amber Riley — introduced Ariel’s sisters for a performance of “Daughters of Triton,...

“The Little Mermaid Live” aired Tuesday night, blending the classic animated films with elaborately staged live musical performances, but one element of the show caught the attention of viewers in a negative way.

When “Moana” star Auli’i Cravalho made her debut as Ariel for her first performance of “Part of Your World,” she was joined on stage by a puppet version of her companion Flounder that the audience found less than convincing.

“What have they done to Flounder,” one user wrote, sharing side by side photos of the original cartoon and the puppet’s blank stare.

Also Read: 'Little Mermaid Live': ABC Goes 'Under the Sea' in Live Special Teaser (Video)

“Is Disney low key struggling, because I need an explanation for this,” wrote another Twitter user, who also noted that Shaggy’s Sebastian costume amounted to little more than a red leather jacket and pants.

The two-hour special,...

At the time of this publication, Graham Phillips — as The Little Mermaid Live!‘s Prince Eric — is belting out the final notes of “Her Voice,” an emotional ballad that establishes Eric as a multi-dimensional character, one who feels just as trapped in his own world as Ariel is in hers. Beautiful as it may be, “Her Voice” isn’t exactly a household favorite, but that’s only because very few households have ever heard it before.

“It’s really exciting that I get to premiere a lot of these songs for people who haven’t gotten a chance to see the Broadway musical,...

On November 17, 1989, Disney debuted “The Little Mermaid” to audiences across America, and 30 years later, it’s about to do it again. “The Little Mermaid Live!” is the latest live musical event to hit television, preceding the Mouse’s live-action film adaptation starring Halle Bailey (and slated to start production in 2020) and following in the footsteps of small screen hits like “Grease,” “Jesus Christ Superstar,” and last year’s “Rent” adaptation. But this is the first entry from ABC, the first attempt to reimagine a beloved Disney classic on TV, and everyone involved aims to make a pretty big splash.

First off, “The Little Mermaid Live!” isn’t reimagining the original film so much as it’s accompanying its melody. Ron Clements and John Musker’s classic movie will be “interwoven” into the live production — in other words, when there’s a song to be sung, it’ll be performed live...

To celebrate the 30th anniversary of one of the most beloved Disney classics, The Wonderful World of Disney and ABC are presenting The Little Mermaid Live! spectacular event that weaves live musical performances by a star-studded cast with the broadcast of the original animated feature film. This never-before-seen hybrid format will feature cast members Auli’i Cravalho (“Ariel”), Queen Latifah (“Ursula”), Shaggy (“Sebastian”), Graham Phillips (“Prince Eric”), John Stamos (“Chef Louis”) and Amber Riley (the show’s emcee), along with beautiful sets, intricate costumes, aerial choreography, and music from both the original movie and the award-winning …...

When it comes to playing The Little Mermaid‘s Ariel in ABC’s live special, Auli’i Cravalho has the most magical mentor.

Ahead of the ABC’s The Little Mermaid Live! on Tuesday, the 18-year-old actress opened up to People about the sweet advice she received from Ariel herself, Jodi Benson.

“I’ve spoken to Jodi and she’s an absolute dream,” Cravalho said of Benson, who voiced Ariel in the original 1989 animated film. “I actually met her a few years ago at D23, which is a wonderful Disney convention, and I remember her just telling me — and this is before,...

The live television musical is a genre that has seen great evolution over the years. Some productions have employed inside/outside settings, while others have incorporated 360-degree oners, and many have created immersive experiences where the audience is part of the production. For ABC’s first foray into this special area of artistry, it is upping the ante further: “The Wonderful World of Disney: The Little Mermaid Live” mixes live-action song-and-dance numbers featuring puppetry, aerial work and live animals with the animation of the 30-year-old classic film.

“Everybody wanted to do something a little different,” executive producer Raj Kapoor tells Variety. “We had this whole creative team that comes from a vast range of experiences, and everyone wanted to put their own spin on it because we see this as blending the theatrical version with the feature film version with a live awards show meeting elements of the Super Bowl.

From Moana to Ariel, it's all in a day's work for Auli'i Cravalho. But the Disney star knows just how special her role is in The Little Mermaid Live. "It's fantastic. I am having such a wonderful time. I get to put on the iconic red wig, I get to bring my own life to her, I get to sing the iconic songs, I couldn't be happier," Cravalho told E! News in advance of the Tuesday, Nov. 5 live performance. Cravalho stars opposite Queen Latifah, Shaggy, John Stamos and Graham Phillips in The Little Mermaid Live, a hybrid special including the original animated movie, puppets and live-action performances. The special, and Cravalho's involvement, was announced in August. So, what was it like...

If your familiarity with The Little Mermaid begins and ends with the 1989 big-screen adaptation, you’re in for a night of surprises. While ABC’s presentation of The Little Mermaid Live! (8/7c) remains faithful to the animated Disney classic, it also features a few lesser-known additions that are sure to have people tweeting. Or bubbling. Or whatever fish do on social media.

Let’s start with what may be new to you: Tonight’s event — which stars Auliʻi Cravalho as Ariel, Queen Latifah as Ursula, Shaggy as Sebastian, John Stamos as Chef Louis and Graham Phillips as Prince Eric — includes...

With exactly one week until the curtain rises on The Little Mermaid Live! (Nov. 5, 8/7c), ABC has released a new collection of behind-the-scenes videos offering first listens of the musical’s biggest numbers.

In the videos posted to Instagram on Monday night, we’re given samples of show stoppers (from both the original movie and Broadway musical) like “Under the Sea,” “Poor Unfortunate Souls,” “Her Voice,” “Les Poissons” and, of course, “Part of Your World.” Enjoy:

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Parker and Graham Phillips' neo-western thrller The Bygone will be released by Gravitas Ventures on multiple digital platforms on November 12th.    Screen Anarchy is pleased to premiere the exclusive trailer for The Bygone today. Packed with shots of stunning vistas, a menacing villain and the promise of violence by way of a six shooter The trailer is an attention grabber. May be well worth keeping an eye out for on November 12th.   Have a look for yourself, below.    Hard times have hit the Summer Ranch, one of the last remaining true cattle ranches in North Dakota, where Kip Summer along with his father Hadley struggle to keep their ranch afloat. Still coping with the recent loss of his mother, Kip seeks comfort at...

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Another behind-the-scenes look at The Little Mermaid Live! is here and it confirms what many fans have been wondering since the casting of Graham Phillips was announced -- Prince Eric will sing in the hybrid take on the Disney classic. Little Mermaid Live is different than the other live musical

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The Little Mermaid Live! is setting out to prove that it really is better down where it’s wetter. Take it from… the cast.

During Monday’s Dancing With the Stars — the competition’s annual Disney Night, naturally — ABC offered a behind-the-scenes look at The Little Mermaid Live!, revealing how different elements like puppets and aerialists will be incorporated into the live broadcast.

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Amber Riley is going under the sea to join ABC’s The Little Mermaid Live!… and fingers fins crossed she’ll be singing, too.

The Glee veteran has signed on to serve as emcee of the Alphabet network’s upcoming live presentation of the animated Disney classic, TVLine has learned. Riley “will present the Daughters of Triton with a special performance for King Triton and his subjects,” according to the network.

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Glee alum Amber Riley has been cast as the emcee in The Little Mermaid Live!, the hybrid musical event that airs on ABC next month.

She joins the previously announced cast including Auli’i Cravalho as Ariel, Queen Latifah (Ursula) and Shaggy (Sebastian), Graham Phillips (Prince Eric) and John Stamos (Chef Louis).

Billed as a tribute to the original animated classic and its music, The Wonderful World of Disney Presents The Little Mermaid Live! will feature live musical performances interwoven into the broadcast of the original feature film. The hybrid format will combine sets and costumes created for the special with music from the original animated film and the Tony-winning Broadway stage version, composed by eight-time Oscar-winner Alan Menken. Howard Ashman’s film lyrics will also be showcased, with Glenn Slater, lyricist for the Broadway adaptation, as a contributor.

Riley played Mercedes Jones for the entire run of Fox’s...