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Blue's Clues personality Steve Burns went viral after his latest post on social media. This time, the beloved teleivison star managed to go viral without saying a single word.

The post was shared on TikTok by Burns, best known as the former host of Blue's Clues, on Nov. 6 just one day after the U.S. presidential election. Burns can be seen with two mugs at the start of the video, placing one beneath the camera as if offering the drink directly to the viewer. He then stands there quietly for about one full minutes, occasionally glancing at the camera and nodding. Though he doesn't mention the election specifically, Burns appears to merely be offering to be there for anyone feeling stressed or otherwise unhappy during a time of political unrest. The video has been liked 1.3 million times with over 131K shares, and a look at the comments section shows that...

When Grammy-winning musician Jack Antonoff was curating the music for AppleTV+’s series “The New Look,” he shared ideas of instrumentation and a list of artists he had in mind for who could form the soundtrack.

“We started looking at the wish list and who was realistic,” says the show’s music supervisor Mark Wike. “We looked at who was touring and who was doing what. It was all about the different variables to make it happen.” In the end, Bartees Strange, Lana Del Rey, Florence Welch and Nick Cave were among the artists who Antonoff gathered to help curate contemporary and new original recordings of classics.

The series follows the rise of Christian Dior (Ben Mendelsohn) as a designer living and working in Paris during the Nazi occupation. Juliette Binoche plays Coco Chanel, already established herself as a grand designer, and the series follows the pivotal moment when Dior...

Editor’s Note: The following post contains spoilers for “The New Look” Episode 9.

With the penultimate episode of “The New Look” comes the end of the road for Elsa Lombardi (Emily Mortimer), one of the most fascinating and fictionalized characters in Todd Kessler’s Apple TV+ series. After a fight with Coco (Juliette Binoche), a critical interaction with Spatz (Claes Bang), and a fatal overdose, Elsa is found dead while Coco weeps over her body.

But a quick scan of history reveals that Elsa Lombardi never existed. According to Kessler, Mortimer’s character is an amalgam of two figures in Chanel’s life, fused for narrative purposes to serve the series. One of those is the French-Polish musician Misia Sert, who met Chanel in 1917, and the other is British socialite Vera Lombardi, whose lifestyle inspired the House of Chanel.

The real-life Lombardi was Chanel’s way into British high society,...

Todd Kessler is no stranger to bringing to life complex characters. After writing for The Sopranos, he went on to co-create Damages and Bloodline, and now he's immersed himself in the garments and grit of The New Look. During the junket for the series, which focuses on Christian Dior (Ben Mendelsohn) and Coco Chanel's (Juliette Binoche) lives during World War II, I made note of Kessler's particularly keen skill at plucking at the threads of complex characters. Kessler seemed rather surprised by the praise, "Well, thank you for that. If it's a compliment, I'll take it."...

Fashion and history are a stellar combination in The New Look. The enthralling new Apple TV+ drama about the lives of fashion icons Christian Dior and Coco Chanel during the 1940s and ’50s is one of the best new series of the year. With creator Todd A. Kessler at the helm, that should not be a huge surprise as the man was behind such engaging shows like The Sopranos, Damages, and Bloodline. But it was fellow executive producer Lorenzo Di Bonaventura who was able to lure John Malkovich into the star-studded series.

One of Di Bonaventura's early projects found him doing sound for a documentary about Malkovich, and a strong professional connection grew from there. When The New Look came around, Di Bonaventura immediately thought of Malkovich for the role of Dior colleague/designer Lucien Lelong because of his fine acting but also because the man once launched a men's...

It is often said that art imitates life and, for John Malkovich, that's the case with his role in The New Look. At least to some extent. While most people know Malkovich as one of the most versatile actors working today, there is another aspect of his life that is seldom in the spotlight, and that is his work as a fashion designer. In Todd Kessler's harrowing new Apple TV+ series, which explores Christian Dior (Ben Mendelsohn) and Coco Chanel's (Juliette Binoche) lives during the Nazi occupation of France, Malkovich brings to life another iconic designer: Lucien Lelong. Unlike Malkovich, who does many of the designs for his brand himself, Lelong was infamously known for not being an actual designer.

Ben Mendelsohn, known for his distinctive roles and ‘the full Mendo’ persona, sat down for an insightful chat about his career and aspirations, including a surprising interest in the Marvel universe. In an interview with GQ, Mendelsohn shared his thoughts on his acting journey, his recent projects, and his unexpected desire to take on a new challenge by playing Doctor Doom, one of Marvel’s most iconic villains.

Mendelsohn, who has captivated audiences with his intense performances, is looking for a shift from his usual characters. While discussing his craft, he mentioned his basic desire to ‘do as little as possible’ when not working, highlighting his love for idleness. However, it’s his work ethic and passion for acting that stand out when he’s on set.

His role in ‘The New Look’, an Apple TV+ series set in Nazi-occupied Paris, shows Mendelsohn in a light far removed from his typical rugged roles.

The New Look sheds a different light on a dark moment in history.

Set under the Nazi occupation of Paris during WWII, the series tells the story of Christian Dior’s rise to prominence, as he was pivotal in launching modern fashion despite navigating the horrors of the war. Of course, this story couldn’t be told without Coco Chanel who was one of the reigning fashion designers at the time.

During Monday’s Apple TV+ Television Critics Association panel, series creator Todd Kessler mused about Chanel’s lasting legacy, which has managed to largely escape mass criticism despite her clear ties to the Nazi occupation. Throughout World War II, Chanel operated as an intelligence operative for the Nazis and was in a romantic relationship with a high-ranking German officer.

“I can’t say why it’s not on specific people’s radars,” Kessler said of Chanel’s past. “But...

Exclusive: The Bureau creator Eric Rochant is today formally unveiling his production banner, Maui Entertainment, which has quietly launched with backing from Federation Studios.

In an exclusive interview to announce Maui, Rochant said creative talent “must be at the origin and center” of its projects, with a business model geared towards helping new writers and producers become showrunners. He also revealed he was working on a spy drama and a series with Spanish writer Isabel Coixet.

“I learned from Todd Kessler, who made Damages and Bloodline, that a good series must come from a writer who can explain why he’s the only one who can make a specific show,” said Rochant.

Maui quietly launched last year up with a Disney+ order, for Tout va Bien (Everything is Fine), but today marks its market launch. We can reveal the series is due to launch on November 15.

The eight-part show is from Camille de Castelnau,...

It’s going to be a weekend for Blue! This weekend, Nickelodeon will be debuting a brand-new episode of Blue’s Clues & You! as well as the Paramount+ original movie Blue’s Big City Adventure! What do these have in common? All three of the beloved hosts of Blue’s Clues will reunite: Steve Burns, Josh Dela Cruz, and Donovan Patton!

The hunt for clues starts on Friday, May 26th at 11:30am (Et/Pt) with “The Case of the Missing Thinking Chair.” In this episode, Josh and Blue set off to find the missing Thinking Chair. But for a mystery this huge, they’ll have to call for backup! That’s when they give a call to Blueprints Detective Agency, where Steve is ready and waiting. This episode is both written and directed by Steve Burns himself. Check out a sneak peek below!

The magic continues on May 29th, at 7pm...

Nickelodeon reunited all three “Blue’s Clues” hosts in celebration of the beloved kids show’s 25th anniversary, and a video message from original host Steve Burns has the show’s original generation of fans feeling emotional.

In the video, Burns wore the striped green shirt that was his character Steve’s trademark look on the show and reflected on the things he’s accomplished in the years since his time on “Blue’s Clues.” He also addressed his “abrupt” exit that left fans reeling nearly two decades ago.

“I guess I just wanted to say that after all these years I never forgot you,” Burns said. “Ever.”

So about that time Steve went off to college… #BluesClues25 pic.twitter.com/O8NOM2eRjy

— Nick Jr. (@nickjr) September 7, 2021

Burns hosted the show from its premiere in 1996 until his departure in 2002, which was explained by his character leaving for college. He was replaced...

The lives of the Florida Keys Rayburn siblings are shaken by the tension-filled return of their estranged brother, Danny (Ben Mendelsohn) in this thrilling, slow-burn mystery. Created by Glenn and Todd Kessler, Netflix's Bloodline was nominated in the Emmy Awards for every season of its 3-year run and came to its climactic end in 2017.

Related: Which Netflix Original Series Should You Watch, Based On Your Chinese Zodiac?

The black sheep of the family with a crime-riddled past, Danny Rayburn can be seen as the villain of the story, but the show cleverly explores the rest of the family's skewed views of morality. Are they truly just "good people who did a bad thing"? Here is a list of 5 reasons why Danny Rayburn is the worst, and 5 reasons why it's actually his family that is to blame.

Riding the wave of its debut in the number one spot, Nickelodeon has greenlit a second season of Blue’s Clues & You with host Josh Dela Cruz and the lovable titular puppy Blue.

Blue’s Clues & You premiered on November 11 and in its first week, it became the number one preschool show, psting strong gains during its premiere week up +38% with K2-5 over prior four weeks and +34% among total viewers. With its strong debut, Nickelodeon is set to bring it back with new episodes continuing to air weekdays.

The second season of Blue’s Clues & You will have Josh and Blue taking on brand-new adventures with friends old and new. The new season will also feature special appearances by Steve (Steve Burns), Joe (Donovan Patton), and Josh’s Lola (Carolyn Fe) — his grandmother — along with even more singing and dancing, exploration, celebration, and of course clues that empower preschoolers to help their friends.

Nickelodeon’s Blue’s Clues reboot has a host and a new title. TV newcomer and Broadway actor Joshua Dela Cruz will lead a new generation of preschoolers in the search for clues with the beloved energetic girl puppy blue on Blue’s Clues & You (fka Blue’s Clues). Production begins this month in Toronto.

The network announced in March that it was bringing back the animated preschool classic with a 20-episode series order that would have a “refreshed signature look.”

In Blue’s Clues & You, puppy Blue invites viewers to join her and live action host Dela Cruz on a clue-led adventure and solve a daily puzzle. With each signature paw print, Blue identifies clues in her animated world that propel the story and inspires viewers to interact with the action.

The casting of Dela Cruz was the result of an opening casting call that began last April in Southern California.

Blue is back!

Nickelodeon announced Thursday the title of the revived “Blue’s Clues,” as well as its new host. The 20-episode “Blue’s Clues & You” will be hosted by Broadway actor Joshua Dela Cruz, with production beginning this month in Toronto.

“I had the great honor of being a part of the search for the new host, and I give Josh two thumbs up! He can definitely fill my shoes, and the rugby shirt,” said original “Blue’s Clues” host Steve Burns.

Also Read: Nickelodeon Classics Like 'Doug,' and 'Kenan & Kel' Head to New Streaming Channel

“The search for the new host of ‘Blue’s Clues & You’ was no small task, but we knew as soon as we met Josh that he was production perfect choice,” said Shelly Sumpter Gillyard, Executive Vice President, Talent, Music and Events, Nickelodeon Group. “From his genuineness to his comedic timing and range,...

Nickelodeon has found a new human companion for Blue, the animated canine who tries to lead kiddie viewers to pre-school literacy.

The Viacom kids-media unit intends to launch a new season of “Blue’s Clues,” which first debuted in 1996., with a new host and name. The revival, which will be called “Blue’s Clues & You,” and run on the Nick Jr. cable network aimed at pre-schoolers, stars Broadway actor Joshua Dela Cruz and will launch production this month in Toronto. The new season will consist of 20 episodes.

Dela Cruz is, in a way, picking up a baton. Original host Steve Burns helped producers search for the new host. “I had the great honor of being a part of the search for the new host, and I give Josh two thumbs up!” Burns said in a statement. “He can definitely fill my shoes, and the rugby shirt.”

Dela Cruz recently appeared...

Cowabunga, dude. “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” is about to get a reboot at Nickelodeon, where the network is ready to introduce the characters to a new generation of viewers, one of several venerable properties the network is reviving. And the net knows this generation of kids will want new things from these series.

“In order to reach [our audience] we’re going to have to use our entire ecosystem,” says Cyma Zarghami, president of Nickelodeon Group. “And our ecosystem includes some social, some digital, a relationship with our retail and toy partners, so we have the ability to mobilize the scope of our business to help make something successful. It’s a different vision of prioritization now that we have so many more tools now.”

The re-imagined turtles will appear in “Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles,” a 2D-animated series co-executive produced by Andy Suriano, who previously did character design for “Samurai Jack,...

‘Bloodline’ executive producer and writer Todd Kessler talks to Awards Daily about creating the Rayburn family. Bloodline co-creator Todd Kessler graduated from Harvard University with a degree in dramatic literature and playwriting.

What can fans expect from the final season of Bloodline? Recently, executive producer Todd Kessler spoke with TVLine about the Netflix series finaleThe drama follows the Rayburns, a family with dark secrets who reside in the Florida Keys. The cast includes Kyle Chandler, Ben Mendelsohn, Linda Cardellini, Norbert Leo Butz, Jacinda Barrett, Jamie McShane, Enrique Murciano, Sam Shepard, and Sissy Spacek.Read More…...

Got a scoop request? An anonymous tip you’re dying to share? Send any/all of the above to askausiello@tvline.com

Question: Inquiring minds are desperate to know: Was Showtime’s Twin Peaks revival the subject of your recent blind item?! —Carol

Ausiello: Sure as hell wasn’t. Speaking of Tp, I’ve seen Episodes 3 and 4 and I have an announcement to make: My (minority) opinion remains unchanged, although I have to give props to Kyle MacLachlan for fearlessly committing to the wackadoodle material.

RelatedFall TV Schedule 2017: What’s on When? And Versus What?

Question: Anything you can tease about Scorpion?...

Every week, a bevy of new releases (independent or otherwise), open in theaters. That’s why we created the Weekly Film Guide, filled with basic plot, personnel and cinema information for all of this week’s fresh offerings.

For August, we’ve also put together a list for the entire month. We’ve included this week’s list below, complete with information on screening locations for films in limited release.

See More: Here Are All the Upcoming Movies in Theaters for August 2016

Here are the films opening theatrically in the U.S. the week of Friday, August 5. All synopses provided by distributor unless listed otherwise.

Wide

Bazodee

Director: Todd Kessler

Cast: Chris Smith, Kabir Bedi, Kriss Dosanjh, Machel Montano, Natalie Perera, Staz Nair

Synopsis: Anita Ponchouri (Natalie Perera), the dutiful Indian daughter of a deep-in-debt businessman (Kabir Bedi) is about to marry a wealthy Londoner (Staz Nair) when a chance encounter with local singer,...

Machel Montano, Trinidad & Tobago soca singer, record producer and songwriter, stars alongside actress Natalie Perera in director Todd Kessler’s musical romance “Bazodee” (Baz’oh’dee is Trinidadian Slang for a state of dizziness or confusion – often used with regards to… Continue Reading →...

Well, here we are in the closing weeks of summer movie season. It’s the last gasp for big-budget blockbusters before the coming fall festival season, but there are plenty of indie alternatives for whatever your tastes may be. Below, you’ll see every planned theatrical release for the month of August, separated out into films with wide runs and limited ones. (Synopses are provided by festivals and distributors.)

Each week, we’ll give you an update with screening locations for these various titles. In the meantime, be sure to check our calendar page, where we’ll update releases for the rest of the year. Happy watching!

Week of August 5 Wide

Suicide Squad

Director: David Ayer

Cast: Margot Robbie, Cara Delevingne, Jai Courtney, Will Smith, Viola Davis, Jared Leto, Joel Kinnaman, Jay Hernandez, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, Ike Barinholtz, Scott Eastwood

Synopsis: A secret government agency led by Amanda Waller recruits imprisoned...

Releasing on August 5th is a new take on a Bollywood movie. Bazodee mixes elements of a Bollywood musical with a distinctly Caribbean island flavor. Set on the vivid, colorful islands of Trinidad & Tobago, the film pulses with the sensuous dance rhythms of Soca music. Directed by Todd Kessler, the film stars Kabir Bedi, Natalie Perera, Machel Montano, Kriss Dosanjh, Valmike Rampersad, and Staz Nair.

Bazodee, which means a state of confusion, a state of love, tells the story of Anita Ponchouri (Natalie Perera), the dutiful Indian daughter of a deep-in-debt businessman (Kabir Bedi). Anita is about to marry a wealthy Londoner (Staz Nair) when a chance encounter with local Trinidadian singer, Lee de Leon (Soca music star Machel Montano) sets things askew. In search of a muse, de Leon agrees to perform at the engagement party. Unable to deny their mutual attraction, and with the excitement of Carnival approaching,...

The devoted daughter of a hard-working businessman is proving her loyalty to her father, while also discovering her true love, in the official trailer and poster for the upcoming musical film, ‘Bazodee.’ The romantic drama, which is set to be released in theaters on August 5, was directed by Todd Kessler and written by Claire Ince. ‘Bazodee’ stars Natalie Perera as the daughter, Kabir Bedi as her father, Machel Montano as her love interest, as well as Teneille Newallo, Rahul Nath, Chris Smith, Valmike Rampersad, Staz Nair and Kriss Dosanjh. In anticipation of the romantic musical’s theatrical release, Montano, who’s known as the King of Soca, has also unveiled the [ Read More ]

The post Bazodee Celebrates New Caribbean-Inspired Bollywood Music with Official Trailer and Poster appeared first on Shockya.com.

One of the biggest struggles for any twist-heavy drama series is sustainability. Especially on broadcast, many surprising one-hour shows run out of gas in Season 1, forced to frontload their twists in order to attract an audience (or face cancellation). Though not on a network, "Bloodline" looked to be a prime example of this in its first season. The Netflix drama was so focused on hooking viewers right away it gave away its biggest secret in the first episode.  Last Week's Episode: All the AMC Opening Title Sequences, Ranked And yet...Season 2 is somehow better. Despite a twist that can't be repeated (or backed off), the sophomore entry of Glenn Kessler, Daniel Zelman and Todd Kessler's extreme familial case study found a stronger angle than its early entry, honing a few troublesome areas and introducing exciting new elements that really work. "How'd they do it?" should be a question many modern showrunners are asking,...

"I did know that I had to make a decision. Do you want to jump with these three guys or not? And I decided yes," says Kyle Chandler in a new featurette for the Netflix drama "Bloodline," discussing the leap of faith it required to undertake the mysterious drama. (Watch the complete video below.) -Break- Watch Our "Bloodline" Interviews: Kyle Chandler & Ben Mendelsohn | Sissy Spacek | Linda Cardellini | Glenn & Todd Kessler "These guys do have a process that's quite different … It's a pretty exhilarating way to work," adds co-star Ben Mendelsohn, describing the loose, seat-of-the-pants style adopted by series creators Todd A. Kessler, Glenn Kessler, and Daniel Zelman, who previously earned multiple Emmy nominations for their similarly complex legal drama "Damages." "Bloodline" follows the Rayburn family, a respected clan in the Florida...

Netflix’s new original series Bloodline centers around an affluent family in the Florida Keys, well regarded in the community for the inn and charter tour business run by Robert (Sam Shepard) and Sally Rayburn (Sissy Spacek). Their business, and indeed world, is turned upside down with the arrival of family black sheep Danny (Ben Mendelsohn), which sends his hometown siblings John (Kyle Chandler), Meg (Linda Cardellini), and Kevin (Norbert Leo Butz) scrambling to figure out what to do with Danny. It’s the first heavy-hitting Netflix original that seeks to fill the juicy drama void between seasons of House of Cards.

But House of Cards is lush in its characterizations, plumbing the diseased actions of complex characters as well as being a fun, hyperbolically cinematic power fantasy. Bloodline plays more like a prime-time soap that would be at home on CBS airing after an NCIS spin-off. Creators Glenn Kessler,...

"It's fun. I can actually talk about it because I don't know anything … I don't have to keep it a secret," says actress Linda Cardellini, speculating about future storylines in Netflix's family drama "Bloodline," which premiered on March 20 (below, watch our complete video chat, which includes Spoilers from the first season). The series will return for a second season, but she hasn't received any scripts yet, so it's as much a mystery to her as it is to the audience. -Break- Watch More "Bloodline" Interviews: Kyle Chandler and Ben Mendelsohn | Sissy Spacek | Glenn and Todd Kessler "Especially the past few things I've done have been complete secrets," she adds, "so I've been learning how to talk around things I think, which is an interesting skill to acquire, actually a very useful one in life." Cardellini plays Meg Rayburn, the youngest child of a respe...

Netflix’s “Bloodline” touts a first rate ensemble: Kyle Chandler, Linda Cardellini, Norbert Leo Butz (best known for his Broadway work) and Ben Mendelsohn as the adult children of Sam Shepard and Sissy Spacek’s Robert and Sally Rayburn. The team that created “Damages” — Glenn Kessler, Todd Kessler and Daniel Zelman — returns with a dysfunctional family drama that unfolds methodically, drawing you in and making you want more at each episode’s conclusion. The Rayburns own a successful resort in the Florida Keys, the main setting for this family drama. The story centers on eldest son Danny Rayburn (Mendelsohn), a ne’er do.

Between their FX/DirecTV legal drama "Damages" and their new Netflix drama "Bloodline," producers Todd A. Kessler, Daniel Zelman and Glenn Kessler have established certain creative trademarks. First, they fill their ensembles with great actors, luring them in with juicy roles that let them showcase a side of themselves they haven't in a long time, if ever. With "Damages," that approach won Glenn Close a couple of Emmys, and allowed other actors like Ted Danson and Martin Short to completely reinvent how viewers saw them. With "Bloodline," it's landed the creators a cast that includes an Emmy winner (Kyle Chandler), an Oscar winner (Sissy Spacek), a Tony winner (Norbert Leo Butz) and a Pulitzer Prize winner (Sam Shepard), plus other impressive actors like Linda Cardellini, Ben Mendelsohn and Chloe Sevigny. Second, they make sure the locales of their shows look gorgeous and distinct. For "Damages," that was the gleaming world...

Bloodline creators Glenn and Todd Kessler and Daniel Zelman insist that their new Netflix series is different from their last show, critical darling Damages. But there are elements of the Kyle Chandler-fronted family drama that were inspired by and will feel familiar to fans of the Glenn Close-fronted legal thriller. Like Damages, Bloodline features flash-forwards of a mysterious, violent event, with more clues about what happens revealed as the season goes on. And as with Damages, things on Bloodline may not be the way they initially appear, including characters and the show itself. Read more Bar-Hopping With Kyle Chandler: 'Friday

read more...

Fifteen years ago Friday (Jan. 10), the face of television changed. That was perhaps not apparent at the time, but those who saw "The Sopranos" before it premiered on HBO on Jan. 10, 1999, did see it as something special.

Early reviews for the show were almost universally positive, with most singling out James Gandolfini's performance (as well as those of Edie Falco and Nancy Marchand) and the show's dark humor.

What reviewers at the time couldn't know, of course, was just how large and lasting an effect "The Sopranos" would have on TV drama. Shows ranging from "The Shield" to "Dexter" to "Breaking Bad" to "House" might not have existed, or at least not in the form we came to know them, were it not for Tony, Carmela and Co.

Oceans of ink and pixels have been spilled about the show's legacy (this excerpt from Alan Sepinwall's book "The Revolution Was...

Netflix has commissioned its first original series from a major Hollywood studio, a Sony-produced psychological thriller from the team behind legal drama Damages.

The online streaming service has ordered a 13 x 60-minute series from Sony Pictures Television and will launch the series internationally in 2014.

The as-yet-untitled drama follows a family whose secrets and scars are revealed when the brother, the black sheep of the family, returns home.

It was created by Todd Kessler, Glenn Kessler and Daniel Zelman, who created the Glenn Close legal thriller in 2007.

The order marks Netflix’s first significant original order from a major Hollywood studio. The VoD operator has previously worked with Us film firm Mrc on House of Cards, Gaumont International Television on Hemlock Grove and Lionsgate for Orange Is The New Black.

Sony Pictures Television is set to distribute the drama internationally, initially in territories where Netflix does not yet operate.

“We were spellbound after hearing Todd, Glenn and Daniel...

Todd Kessler ("Keith") will direct the musical "Scandalous!" for Indiepelago Films

The film will star Caribbean music star Machel Montano and Bollywood’s Priya Anand and the setting is the Trinidad version of Carnival.

Anand plays a woman who got engaged to a wealthy London suitor to help her father’s business. Then she meets a rugged local musician (Montano), whose charisma threatens those plans.

Shooting takes place in Trinidad and Tobago in October. Ancil McKain and Claire Ince will produce.

Source: Deadline...

Machel Montano, Trinidad & Tobago soca singer, record producer and songwriter will star alongside Bollywood actress Priya Anand in director Todd Kessler's musical film Scandalous! To be backed by Indiepelago Films, Scandalous! will take place during Trinidad Carnival, and will follow a woman who gets engaged to a wealthy London suitor to help her father’s business - plans that are threatened when she meets a rugged, charismatic local musician. Montano will play the musician, while Anand will play the woman. The movie musical is scheduled to be shot in Trinidad and Tobago in October. Montano will compose the film's soundtrack.

Exclusive: Former Blues Clues co-creator and exec producer Todd Kessler will direct Scandalous!, a musical being financed and produced by Indiepelago Films partners Ancil McKain and Claire Ince. The film will star Caribbean music star Machel Montano and Bollywood’s Priya Anand and the backdrop is the Trini version of Carnival. Anand plays a woman who got engaged to a wealthy London suitor to help her father’s business. Then she meets a rugged local musician (Montano), whose charisma threatens those plans. Shooting takes place in Trinidad and Tobago in October. Montano, who has recorded with artists including Pitbull and Wyclef Jean, will produce the soundtrack. Kessler, who ended his Blues Clues so he could direct movies, most recently helmed the teen thriller Keith. He is repped by Original Artists.

Nicholas David’s approach to song selection on Season 3 of The Voice may have been a little different from that of his fellow contestants.

“I never looked at this experience like it was a competition,” says the Minnesota soul man. “I trust in the Spirit and play from my heart. When we live in our minds, there’s division: Race, religion, creed, political beliefs and all that. But I truly feel when you live from your heart, it’s like a truth that connects us all, and we’re able to breathe a deeper breath where everybody is.”

Nicholas’ freedom...

NBC's "The Voice" is underway as the second week of Battles rages on. The fun season.s .Steals. twist adds an interesting dimension to this mix, as the competition factor seems to be higher than ever. Ps: Make sure to catch 'The Voice's' Adam Levine on "American Horror Story: Asylum" (premieres Wed., Oct. 17 at 10 p.m. Et on FX). Below, NBC kindly fired over the highlights from tonight.s Battles: The Voice: Facebook: www.facebook.com/NBCTheVoice Twitter: www.twitter.com/NBCTheVoice #TheVoice Tumblr: http://nbcthevoice.tumblr.com/ Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/nbcthevoice/ Google+: https://plus.google.com/+TheVoice/ YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/NBCTheVoice Instagram: @nbcthevoice Lelia Broussard vs. Suzanna Choffel: "Dog Days Are Over"Indie singers Lelia and Suzanna bring their best with "Dog Days Are Over," leaving nothing behind.Nicholas David vs. Todd Kessler: "She's Gone" Nicholas...

The battles continued on Monday night as The Voice delivered talent, emotion and laughs once again. Who did enough to stay in the competition? And who was sent home? Let's take a look at each and every battle of the night...

Team Blake - Julio Cesar Castillo vs. Terisa Griffin - "Conga"

The Battle: I can't believe Blake chose this song for these two. It is pretty awful for both of them in theory, and that was obvious from their initial reactions. But wow, they must have practiced a whole lot, because they both killed those super-fast moments. I guess Blake knew what he was doing. The slower moments were great as well, but I expected that from these two. What makes this battle so difficult is that they Are so different.

My Choice: Julio

Blake's Choice: Julio

Battle Grade: B+

Steal: Cee Lo steals Terisa because she has that connection with people.

To err is human. To occasionally leave a really great singer stranded without a lifeline? Well, that’s just being a coach on The Voice.

Yes, folks, after two stellar episodes (and zero egregious errors) to kick off the show’s Season 3 Battle Rounds, Monday night’s two-hour telecast featured a couple of serious stumbles (if not full-on face-plants) by Blake Shelton, Cee Lo Green, Christina Aguilera, and Adam Levine.

And even though I think it’s safe to say that no potential Voice champions were harmed in the scoring of tonight’s Battle Rounds, I’m nevertheless scratching my...

NBC fired over all of tonight.s performance highlights from Night 5 of the Blind Auditions of The Voice. Check them out below! The Voice Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NBCTheVoice Twitter: https://twitter.com/nbcthevoice Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/nbcthevoice/ Tumblr: http://nbcthevoice.tumblr.com/ Joselyn Rivera's Blind Audition: "What Doesn't Kill You"Joselyn's knockout take on Kelly Clarkson lands her a spot on Team Xtina.Todd Kessler, Ben Taub and Emily Earle's Blind Auditions Todd Kessler, Ben Taub and Emily Earle strike gold on Team CeeLo. Michael Wastman's Blind Audition: "Let's Stay Together" The Seattle singer channels Al Green with his "Let's Stay Together." Collin McLoughlin's Blind Audition: "Wild World" The former grad student's dream comes true when he gets his pick of coaches for his "Wild World." Benji's Blind Audition: "Knockin' on Heaven's...

We have come to the point in the The Voice's third season when the blind auditions should be tiresome and we just want to move on to the next round already. Fortunately for the good people at NBC, Blake Shelton is single-handedly making that impossible.

Although he didn't land a single contestant on his team on Tuesday, Blake was on fire all night long. Between his comments about Christina being abusive to her team members and making 10 artists quit the business just after meeting her, and then his remark about Benji not sounding like Adam because of his lack of jack assery, I couldn't have been more pleased with Mr. Shelton's performance.

Team Blake

Tuesday: 0-for-4, Total: 7-for-21 (33%)

Even though his comic stylings were on point, his ability to woo prospective team members was way off, losing out to all the other coaches, including a couple of one-on-one battles against Xtina and Cee Lo.

For those who have DirecTV, the last episode of Damages airs this evening. Everyone else will have to wait for the fifth season DVD set or find some other means to see it.

According to the Boston Herald's Mark A. Perigard, Glenn Close's performance in the series finale is Emmy-worthy, particularly in a confrontational scene with Patty's father. She's been nominated four times for the role and has won twice.

The 70-minute episode -- titled "But You Don't Do That Anymore" -- was written by series creators Glenn Kessler, Todd Kessler and Daniel Zelman and was directed by Glenn Kessler. It wraps up the season-long mystery involving the murder of whistle-blower Naomi Walling (Jenna Elfman), as well as the court case against Channing McLaren (Ryan Phillippe), the founder of a WikiLeaks-like site called McClarenTruth.org.

It will also resolve the flash-forward...

Good news, "Vampire Diaries" fans who aren't so fond of vampire Rose: Lauren Cohan (also known for her stint on "Supernatural") is heading to "Chuck" in a major recurring role. She'll be playing Vivian, a sophisticated socialite who is currently studying at Oxford and is the daughter of a criminal mastermind. Robin Givens is also set to appear on the NBC show as a powerful agency bigwig who makes an intriguing offer to Casey. Look for both characters to show up in March. [TV Line]

"Six Feet Under's" Lauren Ambrose is joining the global edition of Starz's "Torchwood" as Jill Kitzinger, "a sweet-talking PR genius with a heart of stone who's just cornered the most important client of her career...and maybe of all time." Ambrose is set to appear in seven of the 10 episodes and will make her first appearance when the show returns in July. [Entertainment Weekly]

"Damages" will have a...

John Goodman has joined the cast of Damages for the show's upcoming fourth season. USA Today reports that the actor will play the CEO of a military contractor who becomes involved in a wrongful death suit following an incident in a war zone. "John Goodman's phenomenal body of work speaks for itself," said producer Todd Kessler. "And we've been huge fans of his for years. It's a real thrill to be adding an actor of John's extensive (more)...

Martin Short has claimed that he "jumped at" the chance to play a role in legal drama Damages. The actor played attorney Leonard Winstone in the third season of the show, which was recently renewed by DirecTV. He told Deadline: "[Creators] Glenn and Todd Kessler and Daniel Zelman called to inquire if I’d be interested in playing this character. And I tip my hat to them for going out on a limb and saying, 'Hey, we think you’d be great' when I wasn’t the obvious choice. They had no way of knowing I already was a fan of (more)...

"You hired someone. You haven't replaced me." - Ellen This week's episode of Damages ("You Haven't Replaced Me"), written by Todd Kessler and directed by Glenn Kessler, offered a tantalizing number of confirmations as well as a new power struggle emerging between Ellen Parsons and Patty Hewes, just as the contentious duo agree to work together on the Tobin case. Patty and Ellen's relationship has been the spine of the series, with the dynamic shifting from that of mentor and protege, to adversaries, to something approaching a twisted friendship based on both mutual respect and distrust. Compared to the meek and naive law associate Ellen was at the start of Season One and the dark angel of vengeance she became in Season Two, we're seeing a very different Ellen here, one who has learned at the feet of the master manipulator and who isn't afraid to remind her that she...

"Damages" introduced the shadowy figure of Stuart Zedeck (Dominic Chianese) this week, and he quickly became a thorn in Joe Tobin's (Campbell Scott) side as Joe continued trying to untangle the web of his late father's fraud.

Not that Joe was any picnic to deal with either, as he clearly didn't get the gestures Zedeck made toward him. "Joe doesn't pick up on it," as Chianese put it in the show's weekly morning-after conference call.

Chianese and "Damages" co-creator Todd Kessler -- who worked together on "The Sopranos" -- talked about Zedeck's motivations, "Damages" going abroad next week and more. Highlights from the conversation.

Stuart Zedeck: Not just a dry cleaner

Chianese: [Zedeck] is a neighborhood kind of character for me. ... He's going to push the plot. I can't give anything away -- I wouldn't want to take any of the entertainment value out of this, but he's definitely a loyal person.

Episodes of "Damages" have a habit of dropping big revelations in their minutes. The bomb this time was suicide of Louis Tobin (Len Cariou), who took his own life rather than spend the rest of it in prison after running a massive investment fraud.

Cariou and co-creator Todd Kessler talked about the development, the show's "Godfather" inspirations and how Louis Tobin will continue to be a part of the show in a conference call Tuesday (Feb. 16).

More to come

Kessler: "We were absolutely thrilled with Len's performance, and we still are thrilled with Len's performance, which means that yes, we will be seeing more of the character. ... What happened on Thanksgiving, which is the day Louis Tobin confessed [his massive securities fraud] to his family, we'll return to throughout the rest of the season. So Louis Tobin will live in flashbacks from Thanksgiving."

Cariou: [Laughs] "This is nice news for me."

Dealing with death

Cariou:...