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Martin Starger, the first president of ABC Entertainment who went on to produce such films as “Sophie’s Choice” and Robert Altman’s “Nashville,” has died. He was 92.

Starger died of natural causes Saturday in his Los Angeles home, his niece, casting director Ilene Starger, announced.

Starger was born May 8, 1932, in the Bronx, N.Y. He attended the City College of New York, where he received a degree in motion picture techniques. He was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1953 and was assigned to the Signal Corps Motion Picture Location. He served as a motion picture photographer at the U.S. Army’s film production studio. He was sent to U.S. Army Headquarters in Honolulu, Hawaii, and worked there in all phases of motion picture production. He wrote, directed, photographed and edited documentary and feature films for television, the Department of Defense and newsreels.

After his service, Starger spent several...

Martin Starger, a producer for such films as Robert Altman’s Nashville and Peter Bogdanovich’s Mask, died Friday at 92 in his Los Angeles home of natural causes. His death was confirmed by his niece, casting director Ilene Starger.

“He was a brilliant, elegant, remarkable man,” Starger said. “He had wonderful taste in projects, and, on a highly personal level, he was like a father to me, given that his older brother, my father, died very suddenly when I was a teenager.”

As the first president of ABC Entertainment, he helped bring such projects as Roots, Happy Days and Rich Man, Poor Man to television.

As an executive producer, Starger worked on films including Stanley Donen’s Movie Movie (1978), Ingmar Bergman’s Autumn Sonata, The Muppet Movie (1979) and The Great Muppet Caper (1981), Mark Rydell’s On Golden Pond (1981), The Last Unicorn (1982) and Alan J. Pakula’s Sophie’s Choice (1982).

Martin...

Martin Starger, who shepherded Roots, Happy Days and Rich Man, Poor Man as the first president of ABC Entertainment before producing such films as Robert Altman’s Nashville and Peter Bogdanovich’s Mask, has died. He was 92.

Starger died Friday at his home in Los Angeles, his niece, New York-based casting director Ilene Starger, announced. “He was a brilliant, elegant, remarkable man and had wonderful taste in projects,” she noted.

As an executive producer, Starger worked on films including Stanley Donen’s Movie Movie (1978), Ingmar Bergman’s Autumn Sonata, The Muppet Movie (1979) and The Great Muppet Caper (1981), Mark Rydell’s On Golden Pond (1981), The Last Unicorn (1982) and Alan J. Pakula’s Sophie’s Choice (1982)

He received Tony nominations in 1987 and 1989 for producing the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical Starlight Express and the comedy Lend Me a Tenor, respectively,

Starger was born on May 8, 1932, in the Bronx, New York. After graduating from City College,...

In the 1970s and '80s, Jim Henson and the Muppets were on top of the world. And it's easy to understand why: The Muppets were magical. As a concept, Muppets are simple things; little more than crude hand-puppets. But through the work of Henson and his Muppeteers, the characters came to life in startling ways. We believe in the Muppets; we believe they exist in our world, and interact with us, and ride bikes, and play the banjo, and do all sorts of things we kind of take for granted. The fact that Disney now owns the Muppets and seemingly doesn't know what the hell to do with them is a great pop culture tragedy; we need the Muppets now more than ever. Bring the Muppets back, damn it!

Another franchise owned by Disney is, of course, "Star Wars." And in 1980, the world of the Muppets and the galaxy...

One of the most iconic movie scenes of all time is the terrifying opening of Steven Spielberg’s horror classic Jaws, wherein a young female swimmer is ruthlessly devoured by the film’s killer shark during a solo night swim. That swimmer was Susan Backlinie, forever immortalized on the silver screen as the ill-fated Chrissie Watkins in one of the greatest movies ever made.

We are saddened to learn that Susan Backlinie has passed away at the age of 77.

An actress and stuntwoman, Susan Backlinie appeared in a handful of movies in the wake of her unforgettable big screen debut in Jaws, including The Grizzly & the Treasure (1975), Two-Minute Warning (1976), A Stranger in My Forest (1976), Day of the Animals (1977), 1941 (1979), The Great Muppet Caper (1981), and Catalina C-Club (1982). She also appeared in episodes of “The Quest,” “Quark” and “The Fall Guy,” in addition to working as a stunt performer for the 1979 movie...

Susan Backlinie, who played the first shark attack victim in Steven Spielberg’s “Jaws,” has died. She was 77.

Backlinie died Saturday morning at her California home due to a heart attack, Convention All Stars owner Sean Clark confirmed to Variety. The former actor and stuntwoman was one of the company’s clients.

Backlinie was best known for her role as Chrissie Watkins in “Jaws,” who is dragged to her death by a killer shark in the 1975 film’s iconic opening scene. Backlinie specialized in swimming work as a stunt performer.

Contrary to widespread belief, Backlinie’s screams of anguish in the “Jaws” opening scene were not due to her being injured by the harness that jerked her back and forth. However, no one warned Backlinie when she would be pulled underwater in order to get a genuine reaction from her.

Variety‘s “Jaws” review said of the shark attack sequences:...

Susan Backlinie, whose gruesome death in Jaws scared millions from swimming in the ocean, died Saturday at 77 in her home in Ventura, CA.

Her death was confirmed by Matthew Templeton, the agent who handled her convention bookings. No cause has been determined.

Backlinie’s first film role arrived in 1975. She played Chrissie Watkins in Steven Spielberg’s film, going skinny dipping in the ocean in the opening scene.

She is attacked and is buffeted by the great white shark before a screaming disappearance under the waves.

Backlinie partnered with Spielberg to spoof the scene a few years later in his 1941 film.

Backlinie’s career channeled into stunt work in films and TV. Some of her credits include The Great Muppet Caper, Day of the Animals, and the TV show The Fall Guy.

Survivors include her husband, Harvey.

Deadline Related Video:...

Susan Backlinie, the stuntperson and actress who as a young skinny-dipper out for a nighttime swim off the coast of Amity Island became the shark’s first victim in Steven Spielberg’s Jaws, has died. She was 77.

Backlinie died Saturday at her home in Ventura, California, her convention agent, Matthew Templeton, told The Daily Jaws website.

Backlinie was a nationally ranked swimmer and professional diver who had performed as a mermaid and worked as an animal trainer when she was hired at age 28 to play the skinny-dipping Chrissie in Universal’s Jaws (1975).

“I didn’t want an actor to do it. I wanted a stuntperson because I needed somebody who was great in the water, who knew water ballet and knew how to endure what I imagined was going to be a whole lot of violent shaking,” Spielberg said in Laurent Bouzereau’s 2023 book, Spielberg: The First Ten Years. “So,...

"Jaws" is an immortal classic, but decades on from its 1975 release, several of the movie's principal players have left us. Peter Benchley, the source novel's author and the film's co-writer turned shark conservationist, passed in 2006. Robert Shaw, who played the shark-hating fisherman Quint, died in 1978, a mere three years after the premiere of "Jaws." Shaw still left his mark on film history thanks to his masterful monologue about Quint's experience during the sinking of the U.S.S. Indianapolis.

Of course, the biggest winner of "Jaws" was director Steven Spielberg, who entered the production of "Jaws" as a scrappy young upstart and turned it into his first rung while climbing the Hollywood lader. Spielberg is the most influential American filmmaker of his generation and the ones that have followed. He's never lost his magic touch either, so we can only hope and pray he stays with us even longer.

In the years since then,...

Clockwise from upper left: Superman II (Warner Bros.), Star Trek II: The Wrath Of Khan (Paramount), Gremlins (Warner Bros.), The Last Airbender (Paramount), Twister (Warner Bros.), Prince of Persia: The Sands Of Time (Disney)Graphic: AVClub

What we think of today as summer blockbuster movies arguably began in 1975 with Jaws.

NYC Weekend Watch is our weekly round-up of repertory offerings.

Film at Lincoln Center

The Mother and the Whore begins a run in its 4K restoration; Scratch plays for free Friday night in Damrosch Park.

Museum of the Moving Image

E.T., The Green Ray, Risky Business, and Blow Out play on 35mm in a summer movie series; The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms, The Great Muppet Caper, and Querelle also screen.

Bam

Juliet Berto’s superb directorial debut Neige begins playing in a long-overdue restoration.

Film Forum

A celebration of Ozu’s 120th birthday continues with a massive series; It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World plays this Sunday.

Roxy Cinema

35mm prints of Portrait of Jason and The Rocky Horror Picture Show screen, while Happy Together plays; “City Dudes” plays on Saturday.

Anthology Film Archives

Buster Keaton and Ken Jacobs screen in Essential Cinema.

IFC Center

The David Lynch...

It’s always difficult for parents to find entertainment that bridges the gap between kid-friendly and not making you want to bore a hole in your skull with a giant-nailed Drilldo (look it up). In the past few decades, kiddie cartoon purveyors like DreamWorks and Illumination have attempted to bridge the gap by serving up cuddly characters spewing pop culture reference-laden dialogue, penned by Wesleyan grads with a minor coke problem. But the result invariably comes off as slick and cynical: the kids feel bored, the adults pandered to, the...

This past weekend, Wamg attended the annual TCM Film Festival (honestly this writer’s favorite event of the year) and as usual, it did not disappoint! There was a ton of great programming this year, with something for just about everyone.

Opening Night of the 14th annual TCM Classic Film Festival kicked off with a screening of Rio Bravo (1959) in celebration of Warner Bros.’ 100th anniversary, featuring a conversation with Wbd CEO David Zaslav and The Film Foundation Board members Steven Spielberg and Paul Thomas Anderson about the mission of The Film Foundation as well as Rio Bravo star Angie Dickinson.

Hollywood, California – April 13: (L-r) TCM host Ben Mankiewicz; General Manager, Turner Classic Movies Pola Changnon; Steven Spielberg; Angie Dickinson; and President and Chief Executive Officer of Warner Bros. Discovery David Zaslav attend the opening night gala and world premiere of the 4k restoration of “Rio Bravo” during the...

By now, just about every aspect of the Star Wars saga has been analyzed and broken down a million times over. After all, the George Lucas-created space opera changed cinema forever and continues to inspire new generations of fans, despite launching more than 40 years ago with the original 1977 film. But some fans might not know the connection between the Muppets and Star Wars, and how Jim Henson was the first choice for Yoda.

Frank Oz has played Yoda throughout the ‘Star Wars’ saga

Of course, Frank Oz – who originated such iconic Muppets as Fozzie Bear and Miss Piggy – has long performed one of Star Wars‘ most popular characters. Beginning with 1980’s The Empire Strikes Back, Oz has provided the voice of the diminutive Jedi Master known as Yoda. And he has done so for every one of the character’s big-screen appearances.

Oz even returned to do the puppeteering...

Director John Stevenson has had a fascinating working trajectory. From his early-career days in the 1980s working as a story artist on Jim Henson productions Labyrinth, The Dark Crystal and The Great Muppet Caper, through to his 2008 Oscar-nominated directorial debut Kung Fu Panda, Stevenson has had his hands in many major studio projects. This makes his latest BAFTA nominated film Middle Watch all the more interesting, as it sees Stevenson return to a more concise and small-scale form of storytelling. The short film, which was made in collaboration with Falmouth University, follows a sailor in the latter days of World War II who finds himself trying to protect his delicate state of mind when he’s thrust in the presence of something extraordinary. Ahead of this year’s BAFTA ceremony, Dn joined Stevenson for an in-depth conversation that covered everything from the lessons he’s learned over his extensive career...

When you see a real actor performing with The Muppets, it is easy to think that would be a straightforward process. You show up and goof around with some puppets for a bit and don't have to take things too seriously. While this can work for a sketch on "The Muppet Show," it's not really the case when it comes to a real-life actor with a sizable role in a feature film. Sure, Steve Martin or Mel Brooks can come in for one scene in "The Muppet Movie" and do a schtick, but the weight of the story does not rest on them. Charles Durning as Doc Hopper and Austin Pendleton as Doc's sidekick, Max, cannot afford to be knowingly silly. They are ostensibly the antagonists of the movie, and if they do not play the film straight, there are no stakes to the picture. Therefore, there's no drama and no reason to care.

What movie won Best Picture 40 years ago? It’s doubtful you can remember off the top of your head, but upon hearing its iconic electronic score, a vision of British Olympic athletes running on the beach would likely spring to mind and the answer would be obvious: “Chariots of Fire.”

Coming into the 54th ceremony on March 29, 1982, this British biopic had seven nominations compared to 12 for Warren Beatty‘s epic biopic “Reds.” Johnny Carson hosted as these two films slugged it out among stiff competition (it was a rare year in which all the Best Picture and Best Director nominees lined up), the older acting generation was honored, a “divine” presence put on quite the show and a new category was introduced.

This marked the second, and to date last, time three films were nominated for the “Big Five.” It looked to be a big night for Beatty, who was...

(Welcome to The Daily Stream, an ongoing series in which the /Film team shares what they've been watching, why it's worth checking out, and where you can stream it.)

The Movie: "The Muppets Take Manhattan"

Where You Can Stream It: HBO Max

The Pitch: Kermit and his pals have only just graduated from Danhurst College when they decide to try to get their original stage musical, "Manhattan Melodies," turned into a Broadway show. (And before you ask: Yes, this film ignores the events of both "The Great Muppet Caper" and the original "Muppet Movie" before it. "Continuity? Never been there, but I hear it's lovely...

The post The Daily Stream: The Muppets Take Manhattan Has Frogs, Dogs, Bears, Chickens...and Heart appeared first on /Film.

a series by Christopher James looking at the 'Gay Best Friend' trope

Don't worry, Teddy (Gene Wilder). Buddy (Charles Grodin) isn't going to take your girl, he's gay.The recently passed Charles Grodin (1935-2021) leaves behind an enviable film career. From Beethoven to Clifford, Grodin mastered being the “straight man” in comedies opposite zany characters. The master of reaction shots, Grodin knew how to wring laughs out of being the “put upon wet blanket.” His career features many other great performances, including The Heartbreak Kid, Midnight Run, Heaven Can Wait, The Great Muppet Caper, Dave and Ishtar. In all of the many obituaries that have recently been written about him, few have mentioned his role as Buddy in The Woman in Red ...and with good reason. The movie may have won an Oscar (Best Original Song for Steve Wonder's "I Just Called To Say I Love You"), but it has little cultural footprint today.

Get in touch to send in cinephile news and discoveries. For daily updates follow us @NotebookMUBI.NEWSAbove: Charles Grodin in Beethoven's 2nd (1993)Beloved actor Charles Grodin, known for his roles in The Heartbreak Kid, Midnight Run, as well as the Beethoven films and The Great Muppet Caper, has died. Paul Schrader's The Card Counter has been slated for a release by Focus Features on September 10, after an extended delay during the early months of the pandemic. Written and directed by Schrader, the film follows a gambler who assists a young man in his revenge against a military colonel. Robert Eggers has also managed to complete his Viking epic The Northman after a long pause in 2020 due to the pandemic. Starring Alexander Skarsgård, Nicole Kidman, Anya Taylor-Joy, Willem Dafoe, Ethan Hawke, and Björk, the film will be released on April 8, 2022. Meanwhile, Wes Anderson, whose film The French Dispatch will be premiering at Cannes this July,...

At a time when we are all in such desperate need for good news, the announcement that Charles Grodin has passed away comes as an especially cruel punch to the gut. In everything he appeared in, he glittered like a rare jewel and perhaps it’s only now that he’d left us, that we’ll realise what an invaluable jewel he was.

In a career that stretched back to the 1950s, Grodin was an actor, director and a successful writer too, more comfortable on stage or sat behind a typewriter. It was on screen though that his magically droll, put-on persona came to worldwide attention.

Smaller parts in films like Rosemary’s Baby and Catch-22 gave way to major roles in The Heartbreak Kid and the 1976 King Kong remake. In everything he did, no matter how talented his fellow cast members were, it was more often than not Charles Grodin...

Though Charles Grodin was known for his droll, deadpan humor and awkward, uncomfortably hilarious moments on screen, he’s being remembered with the utmost warmth and sincerity on Tuesday following news of his passing.

Icons of comedy and film like Steve Martin, Albert Brooks, Kathy Griffin, Marc Maron, Patton Oswalt and many more shared their experiences meeting and working with Grodin, with Martin referring to him as “one of the funniest people I ever met.”

“I loved Charles Grodin so much. He would bust my balls and give me so much s— in a way that left me no choice but to giggle with glee. Never mean spirited, just quick and brilliant,” Griffin said in a tweet.

“A brilliant comedy actor. I had the wonderful experience of working with him in my first feature ‘Real Life’ and he was amazing. Rest In Peace, Chuck,” Brooks added.

Fans and celebs online...

Refresh For Updates Costars and fans alike remembered Charles Grodin today as one of film’s funniest actors and TV’s most compelling personalities. “So sad to hear,” tweeted Steve Martin, who appeared alongside Grodin in the 1984 comedy The Lonely Guy. “One of the funniest people I ever met…”

“A brilliant comedy actor,” tweeted Albert Brooks. “I had the wonderful experience of working with him in my first feature ‘Real Life’ and he was amazing. Rest In Peace, Chuck.”

Grodin, who appeared in such films as Midnight Run, The Heartbreak Kid, Beethoven, The Great Muppet Caper and on TV as a favored guest of Johnny Carson and David Letterman, died today of bone marrow cancer at his home in Connecticut.

“I loved Charles Grodin so much,” tweeted Kathy Griffin. “He would bust my balls and give me so much shit in a way that left me no choice but to giggle with glee.

Charles Grodin, the actor who appeared in the Beethoven films, Midnight Run, The Heartbreak Kid, and The Great Muppet Caper, to name just a few credits, has passed away at the age of 86. Grodin’s son told The New York Times that his father’s cause of death was bone marrow cancer. After starting his career […]

The post Charles Grodin, Star of ‘The Heartbreak Kid’, ‘Beethoven’, ‘Midnight Run’, and More, Has Died at 86 appeared first on /Film.

Charles Grodin, acclaimed actor of works like “Midnight Run,” “The Heartbreak Kid,” and “Heaven Can Wait” has died at the age of 86. The actor had been fighting a battle against bone marrow cancer. Grodin became synonymous with playing taciturn, deadpan characters that were cultivated in comedies of the 1970s, but also translated perfectly to children’s features of the 1980s and 1990s like “The Great Muppet Caper” and “Beethoven.”

Grodin was born in Pittsburgh on April 12, 1935. He briefly studied at the University of Miami after high school but quickly left to pursue acting, eventually studying at the Hb Studio in New York City under the legendary Uta Hagen.

His first role was as a bit player in Walt Disney’s “20,000 Leagues Under the Sea” in 1954 and he eventually made his debut on Broadway opposite Anthony Quinn in “Tchin-Tchin.” After making appearances on television shows like “The Virginian” and a...

Charles Grodin, an actor known for movies, television, and theater, died Tuesday at the age of 86.

The New York Times reported he had bone marrow cancer.

Grodin had an illustrious career as an entertainer. Moviegoers saw his work in “Rosemary’s Baby,” “The Heartbreak Kid,” “The Great Muppet Caper,” “Beethoven,” and numerous other films over six decades. On television, he acted or appeared as himself in dozens of shows from “Laverne and Shirley” to “Saturday Night Live.” He acted in and produced a handful of Broadway shows, too.

He was nominated for a Golden Globe and won a Primetime Emmy, among other awards. He also wrote a number of books.

Online, his fans and peers mourned his death Tuesday.

“Charles Grodin, a very funny if low-key comic actor, has died. He had a nice role in one of the funniest movies of all time, “Midnight Run.” He also was a good...

(Welcome to The Quarantine Stream, a series where the /Film team shares what they’ve been watching while social distancing during the Covid-19 pandemic.) The Movie: The Great Muppet Caper Where You Can Stream It: Disney+ The Pitch: Kermit the Frog, Fozzie Bear, and Gonzo inexplicably play journalists in this movie. When they botch the reporting of a jewel heist, […]

The post The Quarantine Stream: Stop the Presses! ‘The Great Muppet Caper’ is Wonderful appeared first on /Film.

On the January 21, 2021 episode of /Film Daily, /Film senior writer Ben Pearson is joined by /Film managing editor Jacob Hall, weekend editor Brad Oman, and writers Hoai-Tran Bui and Chris Evangelista to talk about what they’ve been up to at the virtual water cooler. Opening Banter: At The Water Cooler: What we’ve […]

The post Water Cooler: The Great Muppet Caper, Sunshine, The Royal Tenenbaums, Belushi, After Hours, Lupin, and More appeared first on /Film.

Diana Rigg, best known for her iconic turn on The Avengers, and memorable roles on Game of Thrones and Theatre of Blood, died Sept. 10, at home with her family at the age of 82, according to Variety. “It is with tremendous sadness that we announce that Dame Diana Rigg died peacefully early this morning. She was at home with her family who have asked for privacy at this difficult time,” her agent Simon Beresford said in a statement. “Dame Diana was an icon of theatre, film, and television. She was the recipient of BAFTA, Emmy, Tony and Evening Standard Awards for her work on stage and screen. Dame Diana was a much loved and admired member of her profession, a force of nature who loved her work and her fellow actors. She will be greatly missed.”

Rigg was diagnosed with cancer in March, according to her daughter Rachael Stirling, who said...

The entertainment world is paying tribute to multifaceted actor Diana Rigg, who died Thursday at her home in England at the age of 82.

Rigg’s appeal transcended generations, ranging from playing the stylish Emma Peel in iconic 1960’s series “The Avengers”; Contessa Teresa “Tracy” di Vicenzo, the only woman to lead James Bond to the altar, in “On Her Majesty’s Secret Service”; to Lady Holiday in “The Great Muppet Caper”; Mrs Danvers in “Rebecca”; through to discovering a new legion of fans while portraying Olenna Tyrell in “Game of Thrones.”

“Dame Diana Rigg. She always raised the bar with her incredible talent, intelligence and wit. An absolute joy and honor to work with. May her soul Rest In Peace,” posted Rigg’s “Game of Thrones” co-star Nikolaj Coster-Waldau.

Dame Diana Rigg . She always raised the bar with her incredible talent, intelligence and wit. An absolute joy and honor to work with.

By Lee Pfeiffer

Dame Diana Rigg, one of Britain's most esteemed actresses, has died from cancer at age 82. In the course of her career, Rigg conquered the mediums of stage, screen and television. She studied at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts in London and received praise for her work in classic theater. Perhaps improbably, she became a pop culture icon when she replaced Honor Blackman on the iconic British TV series "The Avengers" in the 1960s. When Blackman left the show to star as Pussy Galore in the 1964 James Bond film "Goldfinger", Rigg introduced the character of Emma Peel, playing opposite Patrick Macnee's John Steed. She became the most notable early female action star on television, practicing martial arts and often attired in provocative leather outfits. In 1969, Rigg followed in Honor Blackman's footsteps by appearing as the female lead in a James Bond film, "On Her Majesty's Secret Service...

Diana Rigg — the celebrated British actress with roles in Game of Thrones, The Avengers and the James Bond flick On Her Majesty’s Secret — died Thursday, September 10th, the BBC reports. She was 82.

Rigg’s daughter said she died of cancer after being diagnosed in March. “She spent her last months joyfully reflecting on her extraordinary life, full of love, laughter and a deep pride in her profession,” Rigg’s daughter said.

Rigg had a lengthy and multi-faceted career that included famous turns on television, film and the stage. She...

Diana Rigg, British icon of the 1960s, has died at the age of 82. Rigg is best remembered for her turn as no-nonsense secret agent Emma Peel in the 1965 series “The Avengers,” as well as a memorable role as Olenna Tyrell on “Game of Thrones.” The actress was diagnosed with cancer in March and her agent released a statement to the BBC saying she was surrounded by friends and family when she passed.

Rigg came to define the era known as the “Swingin’ Sixties” in London, both in terms of fashion and for the characters she played. Her role as Emma Peel came to be one of the first depictions of feminism for many, though Rigg often courted controversy later in life for her comments decrying the feminist movement and refusing to participate in it. Regardless, her turn as Emma Peel, as well as her later performance as James Bond’s only wife,...

Diana Rigg as Mrs Peel in The Avengers

Diana Rigg has died at the age of 82, it has been announced. The actress, who made an indelible impact on British television with her starring role as Mrs Peel in The Avengers and recently won a new generation of fans playing Lady Olenna Tyrell in Game Of Thrones, enjoyed a career that spanned six decades. Her film work included playing the woman who won James Bond's heart in On Her Majesty's Secret Service, taking on Miss Piggy in The Great Muppet Caper, and working with Peter Ustnov and Maggie Smith in Evil Under The Sun.

On the small screen, Rigg won an Emmy for her work as Mrs Danvers in Rebecca, starred in a memorable production of Bleak House, and also made an appearance in Doctor Who. She was highly praised for her stage career, and turned in several memorable performances in...

Diana Rigg, the Tony and Emmy winner who splashed into the world of television with her commanding turn as intelligence agent Emma Peel on “The Avengers” in the 1960s and played Lady Olenna Tyrell on “Game of Thrones” decades later, died Thursday at her home in England. She was 82.

Rigg was a venerable figure in Britain’s entertainment industry who worked incessantly on stage, TV and film. She famously thumbed her nose at convention in her private life and in later years seemed to enjoy her status as a grande dame.

“She was a beautiful kind and generous human being that enhanced the lives of all that knew her as well as a great actress. She leaves a great void in my heart,” said Lionel Larner, Rigg’s longtime friend and talent agent.

Having a key role in the biggest TV series of the past decade was a fitting career capper for Rigg.

The Muppets — specifically, the comedy-variety troupe featuring Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy, Fozzie Bear, Gonzo the Great, et. al. — are in their sixth decade of existence, but they have never been more perfectly deployed than in their first project together, the Seventies syndicated hit The Muppet Show. A faux variety series, each episode was a mix of two kinds of segments. The first were vaudeville-style sketches from the show-within-a-show, where the Muppets sang, danced, told corny jokes, and appeared in shows-within-the-show-within-the-show like Pigs in Space and Veterinarian’s Hospital. The...

Caroll Spinney, the puppeteer who played Big Bird and Oscar the Grouch for 49 years at “Sesame Street,” died Sunday in Connecticut after living with dystonia. He was 85.

Sesame Workshop announced his death, calling him an “artistic genius” whose “legacy here at Sesame Workshop and in the cultural firmament will be unending.” Spinney’s death came on the same day “Sesame Street” is to receive the prestigious Kennedy Center Honor in Washington, D.C.

“His enormous talent and outsized heart were perfectly suited to playing the larger-than-life yellow bird who brought joy to generations of children and countless fans of all ages around the world,” the announcement continued, “and his lovably cantankerous grouch gave us all permission to be cranky once in a while,” Sesame Workshop said.

Spinney was with “Sesame Street” from the beginning in 1969, and continued working as Big Bird and Oscar through 2018, though he stopped performing inside the...

Disney has shared a new trailer for their upcoming Disney+ streaming service and it’s over 3-hours long! I don’t know if you want to spend over three hours seeing what Disney+ has to offer when it launches, but you have the option!

Disney+ also posted all of the films and TV shows coming to the streaming service on a super long Twitter thread, which I included below the trailer. As you’ll see there’s a ton of stuff that will be available that will make Disney fans happy. Gargoyles and several other classic 90s animated series are among them along with a lot of old weird films that have been pulled out of the Disney vault.

If you don’t want to watch the trailer or scroll through the Twitter feed, I shared the full list of titles for you. Check everything out below and let us...

Spencer Mullen Sep 4, 2019

The Muppets Take Manhattan, Harry Potter Books, It Chapter Two, and more in today's daily Link Tank!

Australia is about to meet its own renewable energy goals.

"Australia is about to meet its renewable energy goals at lightning speed. The Clean Energy Regulator, the government body responsible for overseeing the targets, announced Wednesday that it has given the thumbs-up to enough energy capacity to meet its target for large-scale grid projects. The goal was to produce 33,000 gigawatt-hours of clean energy by 2020."

Read more at Inverse.

A Catholic school has banned J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series for its depiction of witchcraft.

"Well, this is new: an American Catholic school has banned J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series because you might accidentally conjure “evil spirits” while reading. Expecto idiotum. This story is receiving a lot of news coverage—some might say an outsize amount of attention, since...

Lena Headey has set her “Game of Thrones” follow up role.

The actress, who played Cersei Lannister on the recently ended HBO mega hit, is joining the voice cast of the Netflix animated series “The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance,” alongside Awkwafina, Benedict Wong, Sigourney Weaver, Hannah John-Kamen and Dave Goelz.

The series, based on Jim Henson’s fantasy world of “The Dark Crystal,” is coming to Netflix this summer.

“The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance” returns to the world of Thra in a prequel to the 1982 movie. When three Gelfling heroes — voiced by Taron Egerton, Anya Taylor-Joy and Nathalie Emmanuel — discover the horrifying secret behind the Skeksis’ power, they set out on an epic journey to ignite the fires of rebellion and save their world.

The original film, which Jim Henson co-directed with Frank Oz, grossed over $40 million on a $16 million budget. It was one of only three feature...

This article marks Part 16 of the Gold Derby series analyzing 84 years of Best Original Song at the Oscars. Join us as we look back at the timeless tunes recognized in this category, the results of each race and the overall rankings of the winners.

The 1980 Oscar nominees in Best Original Song were:

“People Alone” from “The Competition”

“Fame” from “Fame”

“Out Here on My Own” from “Fame”

“On the Road Again” from “Honeysuckle Rose”

“9 to 5” from “9 to 5”

Won: “Fame” from “Fame”

Should’ve won: “9 to 5” from “9 to 5”

1980 marks a refreshingly sensational year for Best Original Song at the Oscars – and that’s even in spite of voters not recognizing the memorable likes of Blondie‘s “Call Me” (from “American Gigolo”); Kenny Loggins‘ “I’m Alright” (from “Caddyshack”); Olivia Newton-John‘s “Magic” (from “Xanadu”); and Neil Diamond‘s “America” (from “The Jazz Singer”).

What voters did offer...

Melissa McCarthy and Jim Henson’s son, Brain Henson, together? You’re right! An R-rated crime comedy! A new red band trailer for The Happytime Murders is here and rather than me try to explain it, why don’t you just watch it below.

No Sesame. All Street. The Happytime Murders is a filthy comedy set in the underbelly of Los Angeles where puppets and humans coexist. Two clashing detectives with a shared secret, one human (Melissa McCarthy) and one puppet, are forced to work together again to solve the brutal murders of the former cast of a beloved classic puppet television show.

This may be the most ridiculous idea, or it may be genius. Seeing that Brian Henson who has been involved in some of biggest films that involve puppetry such as The Muppet Christmas Carol, Muppets Treasure Island, The Great Muppet Caper, The Labyrinth and many more, and...

Disney’s history with keeping The Muppets alive has been hit or miss. Their glory days were in the 1970s and 1980s when The Muppet Show was a hit television program that inspired successful hits like The Muppet Movie, The Great Muppet Caper and The Muppets Take Manhattan. Though there have been bright spots since then, various […]

The post Disney Wants to Bring Back ‘The Muppets’ for Their New Streaming Service appeared first on /Film.

Warning: Spoilers ahead with regard to the most recent episode of Game of Thrones, “The Queen’s Justice.”

While Game of Thrones fans will continue to mourn the loss of Lady Olenna Tyrell (and her brilliant one-liners) on HBO’s hit show, we can all take comfort in the fact that the prolific actress who played her, Dame Diana Rigg, 79, is already hard at work on her next TV show — a supporting role on Season 2 of Masterpiece on PBS’ Victoria — and has no plans to retire anytime soon.

People recently caught up with the award-winning British star for a look...

Get out your calendars as Rob, Kevin and special guest Todd Buonopane, host of the amazing podcast Broadway Stories, sit down and discuss all the shows slated to open in the 2016-2017 Season. From plays to musicals, revivals to special events, these three folks cover it all Plus Donny amp Marie's summer stock appearances, the brilliance of The Great Muppet Caper, and Alton Brown's dinner theatre experience...

Mark Harrison Jul 1, 2016

Need a laugh? Here's our guide to 25 comedies that are on Netflix UK now, and are well worth your time...

Putting aside all of the chunter about VPNs and rising subscription costs for a moment, there are more hidden gems to be discovered on Netflix UK than you might expect, and we've been combing through the streaming site's current catalogue to find some of the most underappreciated comedies on offer.

We've come up with this fairly broad selection of films that varies on several fronts. We've picked out a mix of belly laughers and dark comedies, with a couple of dramedies thrown in for good measure. They're not all big Hollywood comedies, but neither are they all films that you're hearing about for the first time, though we've tried to order them according to how well known they may or may not be. What they all have...

Last month, I spoke with new Muppets showrunner Kristin Newman about her plans to bring the characters back to their roots. Those ideas all sounded promising, but how well were they executed? Well, tonight's episode was the first she was involved with from beginning to end (though she did some rewriting on the last episode to air back in December), and I have some thoughts on whether it lived up to expectations coming up just as soon as I sell oven mitts on Etsy... Self-awareness has always been a key part of the Muppets formula. The Muppet Show was a backstage showbiz comedy, The Muppet Movie featured the characters making and watching a movie about how they first met (and the script for the movie itself becomes a plot device), Kermit and the others in The Great Muppet Caper commented about what part of the movie they were in, and...

The 19th annual Toronto Reel Asian International Film Festival (Reel Asian) is set to run from November 5 – 15, 2015 in Toronto and Richmond Hill. The festival highlights contemporary Asian cinema as well as work from the Asian Diaspora. Reel Asian also features a series of industry events in areas such as pitching and screenwriting to help guide and inspire creative minds.

After meticulously going over every synopsis, trailer, and bio that this year’s festival has to offer, I’ve put together a list of several can’t miss films at Reel Asian 2015.

Seoul Searching

During the 1980s, the Korean government instituted a policy which created summer camps aimed at enticing the country’s gyopo (foreign born) teenagers to visit their motherland. The plan seemed to be a win-win; parents could send their kids away on the Korean government’s dime, the kids would gain a first-hand cultural experience, and the country...

Julie Harris, a Academy Award-winning costume designer who outfitted the Beatles for both A Hard Day's Night and Help!, passed away Saturday at a London hospital after a brief illness from a chest infection. Harris was 94. In addition to the Fab Four features, Harris also worked on the James Bond film Live and Let Die (as well as 1967's 007 spoof Casino Royale), Goodbye Mr. Chips and 1975's futuristic Rollerball, The Independent reports.

Speaking about working on A Hard Day's Night at the peak of Beatlemania, Harris once said, "I must...

From Gone Girl and Interstellar to The Babadook and RoboCop, some of 2014's more underrated acting performances...

For once, this upcoming awards season looks set to recognise some of the bright young things in movies, rather than the usual suspects, even if the type of movie that's considered “worthy” remain the same.

Biopics loom large, with Benedict Cumberbatch, Felicity Jones, Eddie Redmayne and David Oyelowo all considered locks for their first nominations for roles in films such as The Imitation Game, The Theory Of Everything and Selma. Plus, from the advance buzz on the true story movie Foxcatcher, it seems like we're going to have to get used to the phrase “Academy Award Nominee Channing Tatum” pretty soon.

Even the old guard potentials are pleasingly off-beat, with Michael Keaton tipped for his first nomination, for playing a former superhero actor in Birdman and Patricia Arquette almost a dead cert to...