Latest news with #AnnDowd
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Streaming Ratings: ‘Black Mirror' Takes Over No. 1, ‘The Last of Us' Returns to Charts
Netflix's Black Mirror scored its highest weekly viewing total ever, taking over the top spot on Nielsen's streaming charts. The Last of Us also rejoined the rankings following its season two premiere. Black Mirror snagged about 1.58 billion minutes of viewing time for the week of April 14-20, narrowly beating a week in June 2023 (1.55 billion) for its best weekly showing so far in Nielsen's streaming charts. It moved up from second place a week earlier. More from The Hollywood Reporter Ann Dowd, Elisabeth Moss, Samira Wiley and Madeline Brewer Relive Their 'Handmaid's Tale' Full-Circle Face Off 'The Handmaid's Tale' Star Madeline Brewer on Her Final Season Predicament 'The Last of Us' Creator on Bella Ramsey's Intense "Baby Shark" Scene Netflix also had the biggest debut of the week with its western drama Ransom Canyon, which premiered to 1.12 billion viewing minutes. The Last of Us delivered 805 million minutes on Max for the week following its April 13 season premiere (not including any linear viewing on HBO), in line with the 837 million minutes for the week after its series debut in January 2023. The Wheel of Time (427 million minutes) re-entered the original series rankings for the week of its third season finale on Prime Video. Three shows — The White Lotus (691 million minutes on Max), The Pitt (568 million on Max) and Reacher (400 million on Prime Video) — continued to hold on a week or more after their respective finales. The Residence (510 million minutes) also showed staying power for Netflix, charting for a fifth straight week, while MobLand (385 million minutes) made its first appearance following the debut of its fourth episode on Paramount+. Nielsen's streaming ratings cover viewing on TV sets only and don't include minutes watched on computers or mobile devices. The ratings only measure U.S. audiences, not those in other countries. The top streaming titles for April 14-20, 2025, are below. Best of The Hollywood Reporter 22 of the Most Shocking Character Deaths in Television History A 'Star Wars' Timeline: All the Movies and TV Shows in the Franchise 'Yellowstone' and the Sprawling Dutton Family Tree, Explained
Los Angeles Times
16-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Los Angeles Times
‘Saturday Night Live' concludes its 50th season, plus this weekend's streaming picks
Welcome to Screen Gab, the newsletter for everyone who is feeling better about their perpetual identity crisis after watching streamer Max flip-flop its name back to HBO Max. This week delivered some fun roasting after Warner Bros. Discovery announced the company's streaming platform Max was undergoing yet another rebranding and reverting to one of its previous names to restore the HBO television branding to its name. The internet — including the company itself — quickly mocked the backpedaling with memes expressing relief of order being restored. What's old is new again, right? There's another classic media entity making headlines this week: 'Saturday Night Live' will close out its 50th season. TV editor Maira Garcia reflects on the milestone season of the iconic sketch comedy show in this week's Break Down. Also in Screen Gab No. 181, our experts recommend a celebrity podcast worth watching on YouTube — hold the eye-roll, this one will make you feel like your hanging with friends — and a documentary that looks back on the campaign to appoint the first deaf president at Gallaudet University, which is specifically geared to deaf and hard-of-hearing students. And for viewers who like to plan ahead, our guides on the 15 TV shows and 18 films to watch this summer are linked and ready to be added to your bookmarks. Plus, Melissa Fumero stops by Guest Spot to discuss the Season 1 finale of 'Grosse Pointe Garden Society' and her hopes for a second season. Must-read stories you might have missed 15 TV shows we're looking forward to watching this summer: There's a lot of great television coming this summer, including the return of favorites like 'The Bear' and 'Wednesday,' and new series like 'Ironheart,' 'Too Much' and 'Alien: Earth.' The 18 summer movies we're most excited about: The season looks strong, loaded with the kind of big Hollywood swings, smart indie alternatives and a fair amount of delicious-looking dumb, necessary in every summer diet. The blessings of Ann Dowd as Aunt Lydia in 'The Handmaid's Tale': Powerfully portrayed by Ann Dowd, the initial villain of 'The Handmaid's Tale' has become a symbol of transformation and the bridge between two series. 'Andor's' Elizabeth Dulau on Kleya's 'heartbreaking' moment with Luthen: 'Andor' actor Elizabeth Dulau on Kleya's Season 2 arc, her sacrifice in Episode 10 and becoming part of 'Star Wars' lore. Recommendations from the film and TV experts at The Times 'Deaf President Now!' (Apple TV+) This newly released documentary that premiered at the Sundance Film Festival earlier this year follows a history-making protest led by students at Gallaudet University in 1988, when the school's board of trustees voted to install a hearing president over two deaf candidates. The university, located in the nation's capital, has the distinction of being the first school of higher learning designed for deaf students. And after decades of hearing leadership, the students had had enough. The documentary features footage of the protests and interviews with the student leaders, who passionately explain why it was important to have a president that understood what it was like to exist in a world that regularly discriminated against them. Their protest would go on to help pave the way for the Americans with Disabilities Act, a pivotal civil rights law. — Maira Garcia 'Good Hang With Amy Poehler' (YouTube and various audio platforms) In this land of a thousand podcasts, where every other celebrity is a host, you choose your shows like you choose your friends. The wonderful Amy Poehler debuted hers this March ('I like to be five or six years late to any trend,' as she puts it). And its title, 'Good Hang With Amy Poehler,' is nothing but accurate; it has the air not of an interview show but of a conversation between pals you've been privileged to join — silently, of course, because what could you add to Poehler's talks with Paul Rudd, Martin Short, Jack Black, Kathryn Hahn, Michelle Obama, Ike Barinholtz or Rashida Jones? At the beginning of each episode, the host quizzes the guest's friends on what questions she should ask, so, if you tune into her episode with Tina Fey — unmissable, obviously — you get a bonus of Seth Meyers, Zarna Garg, Rachel Dratch and Fred Armisen making each other laugh. 'I'm not here to change your life,' said Poehler, kicking off her series. 'I don't care if you get any better. I don't have any advice for you. I just want us to have fun.' Includes many '90s cultural references. Watch the video version of the podcast for the visual sunshine, but it's great either way. — Robert Lloyd A weekly chat with actors, writers, directors and more about what they're working on — and what they're watching In 'Grosse Pointe Garden Society,' the soapy drama that follows four members of a gardening club in a wealthy Detroit suburb who are scrambling to cover up a shocking murder, Melissa Fumero is able to mine humor in the dark corners of the stressful situation her character is navigating. The 'Brooklyn Nine-Nine' alum plays Birdie, a loud and brash socialite and romance novelist who is carrying her own secrets in the middle of this murder mystery. The dark comedy reaches its Season 1 conclusion Friday on NBC and it's poised to bring a new set of twists and cliffhangers as the group tries to evade law enforcement and a private eye plotting blackmail. But the series faces its own uncertain future. It's the last of NBC's scripted programs without a renewal or cancellation; there are reports that a potential second season could land on Peacock. Fumero stopped by Guest Spot to discuss her hopes for a second season and the classic rom-com she hopes never gets Hollywood remake treatment. — Yvonne Villarreal Ahead of the Season 1 finale, what can you tease about where things end with Birdie that makes you eager to continue her story? The stakes are really high for Birdie when Season 1 ends. She has everything she's ever wanted, but the really dark cloud of her choices and circumstances hangs over her. I think she's probably terrified of losing it all, which maybe makes her make more bad choices? I hope we get renewed because I really want to know what happens next! What have you found intriguing about exploring a character like Birdie, who has such a layered backstory, against the backdrop of friends unexpectedly committing a crime? What intrigued me the most about Birdie was definitely the 'what you see is not what you get' aspect of her character. On the surface, she's powerful, self-assured, glamorous, wild and free-spirited; and while most of that is true, she is also really lost, vulnerable, and maybe having a bit of an identity crisis. Then she's plopped into this garden club with three people who become friends — maybe the first real friends she's ever had — and they all get roped into this crazy, mostly accidental murder. That's A LOT of fun stuff to explore and play, and a dream for any actor, honestly. What have you watched recently that you're recommending to everyone you know? I am VERY into 'The Last of Us' [HBO Max] right now. This season is insane, and I look forward to it every week. It's such an exciting and heart-wrenching show. Isabela Merced (who I am a fan of and love seeing a Latina play a leading role on such an epic show) and Bella Ramsey are doing such extraordinary work. It's also very dark, but I find myself drawn to darker things these days — there's something cathartic about it. I think that's why even 'Grosse Pointe Garden Society' is such a fun don't go too dark. But there are days where the world really feels like it's on fire and I find myself wanting to watch people survive things, big or small. It's weirdly comforting. What's your go-to comfort watch, the film or TV show you return to again and again? 'When Harry Met Sally' [VOD]. It's a perfect movie. A perfect rom-com. If it's on a streamer or playing live, I will watch. It's on a lot of airlines, and I'd say my last five viewings were on flights. I should just buy it, but I'm afraid I'll put it on every night and never watch anything else ever again. It's so good. I hope they never, ever try to remake it. Don't touch it. It's too perfect. Times staffers chew on the pop culture of the moment — love it, hate it or somewhere in between 'Saturday Night Live's' historic Season 50 is coming to a close this weekend, with Scarlett Johansson as host, and it's been nothing short of memorable. There were many cameos, whether political figures (Kamala Harris, Tim Kaine) or celebrities in the zeitgeist (Julia Fox, Sam Rockwell), multihyphenate hosts (Lady Gaga, Ariana Grande) and regular appearances from former cast members, including Maya Rudolph, Mike Myers, Andy Samberg and Dana Carvey. But what also made this season special was the programming that happened outside of it: 'SNL50: The Homecoming Concert,' which featured a phenomenal lineup of musicians and comedy skits; a live prime-time special; and a pair of docuseries that shed light on the show's history, 'Beyond Saturday Night' and 'Ladies & Gentlemen… 50 Years of SNL Music.' The series' effect on television and comedy over the decades cannot be overstated, having churned out dozens of film and TV stars, now mainstays and creators in their own right (Tina Fey, Adam Sandler, Chris Rock and Eddie Murphy, to name a few); memorable sketches that have become a part of pop culture lingo and a visual language through costumes that have elevated jokes into comedic art. As television critic Robert Lloyd wrote in an essay reflecting on the show's 50th, the show survives through constant churn, whether through hosts, cast members or the comedy it produces. And even as culture and technology evolves, it remains a stalwart of television: 'Counted out more than once, it has risen from the mat to fight again, new wins erasing old losses — a once and future champ.' — Maira Garcia
Yahoo
01-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
The Testaments: Everything We Know About The Handmaid's Tale Sequel Series
You didn't think something as insignificant as a series finale could stop Aunt Lydia, did you? More from TVLine The Handmaid's Tale's Elisabeth Moss, Max Minghella Unpack the 'Divisive' June/Nick Ending to Episode 6 Desperate Housewives Reboot From Kerry Washington in Works at Hulu - Who's Returning to Wisteria Lane? The Handmaid's Tale Recap: June Witnesses a Crushing Betrayal in Real-Time That's right: The Handmaid's Tale character best known for her liberal use of an electric cattle prod will live on in the Hulu drama's spinoff series, The Testaments. Now in production, The Testaments is set several years after the events of The Handmaid's Tale — which will stream its series finale this spring — and follows Ann Dowd's Lydia, as well as two young women with complicated, intertwining stories. Read on for everything we know so far about what to expect from the upcoming series, then hit the comments: Are you planning to watch Based on Margaret Atwood's 2019 novel, The Testaments is set in Gilead 15 years after the events of The Handmaid's Tale. Aunt Lydia is a central character, as are two young women named Daisy and Agnes. Per the official synopsis: 'For these young women, growing up in Gilead is all they have ever known, having no tangible memories of the outside world prior to their indoctrination into this life… Facing the prospect of being married off and living a life of servitude, they will be forced to search for allies, both new and old, to help in their fight for freedom and the life they deserve.' As of now, the only Handmaid's Tale cast member in the Testaments cast is Ann Dowd, who will reprise her Handmaid's role of Aunt Lydia in the spinoff. We'll make sure to update this post with any others as they are announced. Dowd will be joined by Chase Infiniti (Presumed Innocent), who will play Agnes; newcomer Lucy Halliday, who will play Daisy; Rowan Blanchard (Girl Meets World), who will play Shunammite; and Mattea Conforti (Power), who will play Becka. Additional cast members include: Mabel Li as Aunt Vidala, a stern disciplinarian and the heir-apparent to the women's sphere of Gilead; Amy Seimetz as Paula, whose recent marriage to a high-ranking Commander has raised her social status but given her a stepdaughter who complicates things; Brad Alexander as Garth, a young Commander, who becomes involved in the personal lives of the girls he's sworn to protect; Zarrin Darnell-Martin as Aunt Gabbana, a firm proponent of Gilead values and right hand to Aunt Vidala who is a strict and uncompromising educator; Eva Foote as Aunt Estee, the youngest Aunt, whose energy and kindness earn her 'cool Aunt' status amongst her students; Isolde Ardies as Hulda, a guileless girl, full of excitement at the prospect of womanhood, whose optimism earns her loyal friends; Shechinah Mpumlwana as Jehosheba, a competitive classmate from a respected family who is relentless in her pursuit of a high-status marriage; Birva Pandya as Miriam, a girl on the cusp of womanhood; and Kira Guloien as Rosa, a caring and dedicated Martha who is a maternal figure to Agnes and a much-needed source of love in an otherwise cold household. We're betting that The Testaments will be crafted in such a way that you won't have to have watched all six seasons of The Handmaid's Tale in order to understand what's going on. (That said, it couldn't hurt?) The Testaments' premiere date has not yet been announced. We'll update this post as soon as it is. The series started production in April 2025. We don't know yet how many episodes The Testaments' first season will have. We'll update this post as soon as there's news. The Testaments will stream on Hulu. There is not yet a trailer for The Testaments. We'll update this post as soon as one is released. Best of TVLine Young Sheldon Easter Eggs: Every Nod to The Big Bang Theory (and Every Future Reveal) Across 7 Seasons Weirdest TV Crossovers: Always Sunny Meets Abbott, Family Guy vs. Simpsons, Nine-Nine Recruits New Girl and More ER Turns 30: See the Original County General Crew, Then and Now
Yahoo
15-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
TVLine Items: D'Arcy Carden Joins Handmaid's Tale, Nosferatu Sets Peacock Streaming Date and More
D'Arcy Carden is going from the Bad Place to the Worse Place. The Emmy Award-nominated actress has been tapped to guest-star in the upcoming sixth and final season of Hulu's The Handmaid's Tale, according to The Hollywood Reporter, which adds that her appearance has already been filmed. More from TVLine The Handmaid's Tale Sequel Series The Testaments: Ann Dowd to Reprise Aunt Lydia, Presumed Innocent Alum to Co-Star Michelle Williams Miniseries Dying for Sex Set for April Release on Hulu Paradise Recap: What Cal Knew, and When He Knew It - Plus: The Tablet Thief Revealed! In addition to her breakout role as The Good Place's Janet, Carden has had memorable roles on shows like Barry, Broad City, Nobody Wants This, Veep and the short-lived A League of Their Own. An exact date has not been announced, but The Handmaid's Tale is expected to return for its final episodes sometime in 2025. Ready for more of today's newsy nuggets? Well… * Focus Features' Nosferatu — starring Bill Skarsgård, Nicholas Hoult, Lily-Rose Depp and Willem Dafoe, among others — will be available to stream exclusively on Peacock beginning Friday, Feb. 21. Subscribers will also be able to watch an extended cut not shown in theaters. * Bravo has released a teaser for its upcoming reality series Love Hotel, in which four of The Real Housewives' most eligible bachelorettes — Gizelle Bryant, Ashley Darby, Luann De Lesseps and Shannon Beador — will look for love at a glamorous hotel in Los Cabos, Mexico. Watch: Best of TVLine Yellowjackets Mysteries: An Up-to-Date List of the Showtime Series' Biggest Questions (and Answers?) The Emmys' Most Memorable Moments: Laughter, Tears, Historical Wins, 'The Big One' and More 'Missing' Shows, Found! The Latest on Severance, Holey Moley, Poker Face, YOU, Primo, Transplant and 25+ Others
