Latest news with #FreaksandGeeks
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Seth Rogen spotted in Kennebunkport, Maine restaurant over Memorial Day weekend
KENNEBUNKPORT, Maine — You can add Hollywood actor and director Seth Rogen to the list of celebrities who have traveled to Kennebunkport to enjoy the restaurants and shops the community has to offer. Rogen, 43, dined at Mabel's Lobster Claw on Ocean Avenue over the holiday weekend, according to a recent Instagram post by the restaurant. 'We had a special visitor at Mabel's Lobster Claw yesterday,' the restaurant wrote, alongside a photo showing Rogen and three others. 'Thank you for joining us, Seth Rogen — we hope you enjoyed your meal and your time in Kennebunkport!' The owner of Mabel's Lobster Claw could not be reached for comment. Known for his laugh and for a comedic style, Rogen first appeared on the scene as Ken Miller, a sarcastic and disaffected teenager on 'Freaks and Geeks,' a dramedy on television at the turn of the century. Since then, he has had box office successes on film, from such comedies as 'Knocked Up' and 'Neighbors' to such acclaimed dramas as 'Steve Jobs' and 'The Fabelmans,' directed by Steven Spielberg. Currently, Rogen is getting noticed for directing and starring in 'The Studio,' a comedic look at Hollywood whose debut season is now streaming on Apple TV+. More: Seth Rogen says this is the key to the A-list cameos in 'The Studio' Other celebrities known to visit Kennebunkport include Taylor Swift, who dined at Alisson's Restaurant while shooting a music video more than a dozen years ago, and two-time Oscar-winning actor Sean Penn, who once stopped at Coastal Jewelers in Dock Square, according to the owners of both local businesses. Last June, singer Lady Gaga visited an ice cream parlor in York while attending her sister's local wedding. In August, boxing champion Mike Tyson stopped by a cannabis shop in Eliot. Also, last September, Academy Award-winning actor Matt Damon visited a juice bar in Kittery. And then there was one celebrity last summer who had a prolonged stay in southern Maine: award-winning actress Kathleen Turner, who had a role in 'A Little Night Music' at the Ogunquit Playhouse in July and early August. This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Seth Rogen spotted in Kennebunkport, Maine restaurant
New York Post
07-05-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Post
Jason Segel reveals why he started not to enjoy himself during ‘How I Met Your Mother'
For Jason Segel, starring in 'How I Met Your Mother' caused some problems IRL. The actor, 45, opened up about how working on the long-running sitcom made balancing his movie career difficult. 'The way my life was for about six years was I would be shooting 'How I Met Your Mother,'' Segel said on Monday's episode of The Hollywood Reporter's 'Awards Chatter' podcast. 'And during that time, I would be writing a movie that we would then shoot on the four months off and get done in time to get back to 'How I Met Your Mother.'' Advertisement 6 Neil Patrick Harris and Jason Segel in 'How I Met Your Mother.' CBS The show aired for nine seasons from 2005 to 2014 and also starred Josh Radnor, Neil Patrick Harris, Cobie Smulders, and Alyson Hannigan. 'And it was an amazing time. It was an electric time. But I also was getting a little tired and I was starting to not enjoy myself so much,' admitted Segel. 'And that was a bummer because I was doing such cool things.' Advertisement 6 Jason Segel in 'How I Met Your Mother.' FOX During his time on the hit show, the 'Shrinking' star received some sound advice from Judd Apatow. The director, 57, was the one who executive-produced the young star's first-ever television series, 'Freaks and Geeks,' in 1999. 'Judd had instilled this thing in us during 'Freaks and Geeks,' where he said, 'If you can improv the way that you can, then you can write. I just need to teach you how to write,'' Segel explained. Advertisement He recalled that Apatow told him, 'You're a weird dude, and the only way you're going to make it is if you write your own material.' 6 Jason Segel in 'Forgetting Sarah Marshall.' Photo Credit: Glen Wilson Segel then 'pitched' Apatow 'lightly' on a script of his own: 'Forgetting Sarah Marshall.' 'I went to Hawaii, and I rented a little house in Hawaii. And I wrote 'Forgetting Sarah Marshall' in two months, and then we made it. And then I was kind of off to the races,' he recounted. Advertisement Segel wrote the script during a hiatus from 'How I Met Your Mother' after the first season. The 2008 rom-com went on to be a huge hit and starred Kristen Bell, Russell Brand, Mila Kunis, Paul Rudd, and Jonah Hill. 6 'Forgetting Sarah Marshall.' Photo Credit: Glen Wilson Podcast host Scott Feinberg spoke about the benefits and downfalls of Segel's position, sharing that while the sitcom gave him 'financial security' and recognition, it also 'locked [him] into playing a guy for a long, long time.' 'Listen, it's like the best problem you could ever have, for sure, especially when you're scared you might never work,' Segel responded. When the actor made the 2011 movie 'The Muppets' — which he starred in and also co-wrote — he would shoot 'How I Met Your Mother' during the day and the movie at night. 6 'Freaks and Geeks' on NBC. NBC Photo: Chris Haston That same summer, the star filmed his other script 'The Five-Year Engagement.' Advertisement 'So I was a tired dude,' Segel admitted. These days, after a slew of comedic and dramatic hits, the actor revealed which role he'd love to dive into next. 6 Jason Segel attends the American Cinematheque's This Is Not Fiction 2025 Festival Closing Night Premiere of HBO Max's '100 Foot Wave.' Getty Images Advertisement 'I would like to play a really archvillain,' Segel told Parade in October 2024. 'I think that I walk this line between charming and creepy, and I always kind of fall at the very end towards charming. But if I fell towards creepy, it could be really interesting.' Segel said he just wants to portray someone 'really bad,' but who 'seems so nice.'
Buzz Feed
26-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Buzz Feed
10 Shows That Got Canceled Out Of The Blue, And 9 That Actually Had Pretty Valid Reasons
There's nothing quite like the sting of seeing y our favorite show get axed out of nowhere. One minute, you're hooked, and the next, it's canceled without warning. This seems especially common with cult-favorite shows, which often don't last more than a few seasons but leave a legacy that lasts for decades. However, not every cancellation is a shock. Between behind-the-scenes drama, plummeting ratings, and scandals, some shows practically sealed their own fate. From fan favorites that ended way too soon to series that, frankly, had it coming, here are 10 cancellations that blindsided fans and nine that made perfect sense. The shows that were cancelled out of the blue: 1. FX's Terriers was released in 2010, lasting a single season, despite incredibly favorable reviews. This detective drama followed ex-cop and recovering alcoholic Hank and his best friend, Britt, as private detectives in California. Then-FX president John Landgraf explained that it was because of low ratings and an ineffective marketing campaign. 2. From the mind of the problematic Joss Whedon, Firefly developed a dedicated fanbase quite rapidly. However, it wasn't enough for the network, as it failed to pull in ratings. It only aired 11 out of its 14 scheduled episodes. 3. Pushing Daisies similarly gained a solid following. Unfortunately, a few different factors played into its ending. For one, the 2007-2008 Hollywood Writers Strike. Secondly, ratings weren't high. The show ended after two seasons. Powered By 4. For as short-lived as it was, Freaks and Geeks built a cult-like following. Even though the show is responsible for launching the careers of James Franco, Seth Rogen, Jason Segel, and Linda Cardellini, to name a few, it only lasted a single season. According to NME, its cancellation after one season (NBC never aired six episodes in its original run) was the result of an erratic schedule, poor marketing, and creative differences. 5. NCIS: Hawai'i had already developed a pretty strong base. However, CBS felt like it wasn't enough. The company said cost and ratings, along with trying to keep their schedule fresh, led them to nix the show. Powered By 6. Netflix's The Get Down brought a refreshing take on musical dramas and earned great praise. However, the streamer decided to nix the show after the first season due to a reported high production cost, behind-the-scenes issues, and other factors that led the show to end. Powered By 7. Another Netflix series gone too soon, Mindhunter, followed FBI agents Holden Ford and Bill Tench, with psychologist Wendy Carr, as they interviewed serial killers to gain an understanding of their psyche and use that information to solve similar cases. However, the show's creator explained that the show had begun getting too expensive, and Netflix wanted to appeal to a broader audience, so they pulled the plug after two seasons. Powered By 8. There are a few reasons why Don't Trust The B***h in Apartment 23, unfortunately, didn't make it past two seasons. According to Krysten Ritter, who starred as Chloe, ABC nixed the show after poor scheduling and being "dragged around by a sh*t-smeared dog." Powered By 9. Lovecraft Country started bubbling up as a promising series on HBO. However, in the middle of the production for its second season, it was abruptly canceled. Without an official cause by the network, rumors began swirling about its cancellation, especially since Season 1 ended on a cliffhanger. Some believed it could've been due to the high cost of production; others said that it was because there wasn't a solid vision for the next season. According to Tinderbox: HBO's Ruthless Pursuit of New Frontiers by James Andrew Miller, several sources from HBO alleged that showrunner Misha Green created a "toxic" and "hostile" work environment. Powered By 10. My So-Called Life was another fan favorite that developed a cult-like following after its conclusion. However, low ratings and uncertainty about its target audience caused ABC to cancel the show after two seasons. The shows that were cancelled for valid reasons: 11. House of Cards became a Netflix mainstay in the 2010s, but once sexual misconduct allegations against its star Kevin Spacey emerged, they decided to pull the plug. Its sixth and final season focused on Claire Underwood after rewrites and reshoots. Powered By 12. TLC's reality show, 19 Kids And Counting, ran for 10 seasons, following Jim Bob Duggar and his wife, Michelle, and their 19 children. In 2015, the show was canceled after Josh Duggar, their eldest son, faced allegations of child molestation. Powered By 13. After ABC ordered a reboot of Roseanne for a 10th season, the show's star fumbled the bag completely. Roseanne Barr went off on a racist Twitter rant targeting former Obama adviser Valerie Jarrett. ABC swiftly took action, announcing that the show would be canceled. However, they later reworked the series into The Conners. Powered By 14. In addition to poor ratings, Clone High 's initial cancellation was due to the backlash it faced for its offensive portrayal of Mahatma Gandhi, which led to hunger strikes in India, according to reports. The show later received a reboot without Gandhi's inclusion. Powered By 15. A television adaptation of the 1988 movie Heathers was set to debut on the Paramount Network. However, it faced several delays initially and raised concerns surrounding its subject matter, particularly school shootings. It was ultimately canceled, but the show eventually aired. Powered By 16. HBO nearly had a hit on its hands with Luck. According to CBC, the death of three racehorses on set and some major pushback from PETA led the network to cancel the show after its first season. What's worse is that Luck was already working on its second season by the time network executives called it off. Powered By 17. Louis C.K.'s downfall included the cancellation of the FX show Louie. The show went on an "extended hiatus," but once the comedian confirmed that the allegations of sexual misconduct against him were true, the network cut ties, and it never returned. Powered By 18. Megyn Kelly made her switch from Fox to NBC, and the transition was hardly smooth. Megyn Kelly Today was canceled after she said that it was okay for people to wear blackface as a Halloween costume. Powered By 19. Finally, there's The Briefcase. This show followed two financially struggling families, each given $100,000 — but with a catch. Over 72 hours, they had to decide whether to keep the money or share some (or all) of it with the other family in need, whom they learned more about along the way. The show faced heavy backlash, with critics arguing it exploited the less fortunate. Ultimately, it suffered dismal ratings and was canceled after just one season.
Express Tribune
26-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
8 sitcoms to binge while waiting for the 'Malcolm in the Middle' revival
Fans of Malcolm in the Middle have a major reason to celebrate, with a four-episode revival landing later this year on Disney+. The new instalments will feature most of the original cast and promise a fresh wave of chaos and heartfelt moments that made the show a generation-defining classic. If you are finding the wait unbearable, it might be the perfect time to dive into other series that capture a similar offbeat spirit. When Malcolm in the Middle first aired on Fox in 2000, it shook up the sitcom format with its single-camera style, absence of canned laughter, surreal yet grounded storytelling, and frequent breaking of the fourth wall. In the years since, many shows have borrowed and evolved this formula. Here are eight sitcoms to binge that echo the magic of Malcolm in the Middle. 1. Raising Hope (2010–2014) From the creator of My Name Is Earl, this quirky family sitcom follows young Jimmy Chance as he unexpectedly becomes a single dad to baby Hope. Featuring hilarious, often absurd family dynamics, Raising Hope delivers a sweet, off-kilter humour that Malcolm fans will instantly appreciate. 2. Modern Family (2009–2020) A multi-generational look at modern life, Modern Family uses a mockumentary format and single-camera setup to brilliant effect. Its sharp humour, heartwarming moments, and chaotic family energy make it a perfect binge while waiting for Malcolm and the gang to return. 3. Freaks and Geeks (1999–2000) Although short-lived, Freaks and Geeks left a lasting mark. This coming-of-age dramedy captures the awkwardness of adolescence with sharp wit and raw realism, much like Malcolm's journey through the madness of his own family and school life. 4. Everybody Hates Chris (2005–2009) Inspired by comedian Chris Rock's childhood, Everybody Hates Chris offers a hilarious, relatable portrayal of growing up in a tough Brooklyn neighbourhood. Its dry humour, voiceover narration, and underdog protagonist feel very much in the spirit of Malcolm. 5. Arrested Development (2003–2006, 2013–2019) If you love dysfunctional families who are their own worst enemies, Arrested Development is essential viewing. Known for its intricate jokes, layered storytelling, and rapid-fire humour, it's a brilliant substitute for Malcolm in the Middle's chaotic charm. 6. Grounded for Life (2001–2005) This underrated gem follows the working-class Finnerty family as they juggle parenting teenagers while barely holding themselves together. With its fast pace, heartfelt core, and mischievous humour, it will easily fill the Malcolm void. 7. The Middle (2009–2018) No relation to Malcolm, but The Middle captures the struggles of a working-class family with plenty of humour and heart. Starring Patricia Heaton, it portrays the beautiful mess of raising kids and making ends meet in small-town America. 8. Malcolm in the Middle (Rewatch!) And of course, why not revisit the original? Whether it's for the zany cold opens, Reese's ridiculous antics, or Lois's unhinged parenting style, now is the perfect time to rediscover everything that made Malcolm in the Middle so groundbreaking.
Yahoo
10-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Nihilism at the White Lotus
LET ME START OFF BY SAYING something positive: In the past, I have adored Mike White's body of work. I consider Freaks and Geeks, Enlightened, Year of the Dog, Chuck and Buck, as well as the first two seasons of The White Lotus to be subtle, edgy, funny, nuanced, and thought-provoking. But as the credits rolled on the finale of The White Lotus's third season (streaming on Max), I said out loud to my TV screen, 'Are you f-ing kidding me?' I am legitimately confused—to the point of anger—by this entire season. I'm left to conclude that this series may have jumped the monkey. So many monkeys, so little meaning. They are in almost every cutaway, lurking, watching behind the scenes on the hotel grounds, occasionally howling. I get it: I felt the same way watching this group of insufferable people interact with each other for eight episodes. Do the monkeys represent humans' base animal instincts that we pretend don't exist and try to conceal with education and material success? Do they stand for the menace lurking underneath the surface of this luxurious Thai hotel? Or are they just there so that Rick Hatchett (Walton Goggins) can tell his girlfriend Chelsea (Aimee Lou Wood) after he confronts the person he thinks ruined his life, 'I finally have the monkey off my back'—a season-long pun in the making? Who knows? To me they seem more like another animal: a red herring. A red herring in a sea full of red herrings that just swim in circles. For being a whodunit, season three of The White Lotus is almost devoid of action. Every other scene has a main character staring deeply into the middle distance as portentous kettle drums and discordant background music swell to make sure the audience knows these characters are battling with difficult life choices. Unlike the haunting soundtracks in seasons one and two, season three's is melodramatic and unearned, more appropriate for an episode of Survivor (a reality show in which Mike White participated) than a season of prestige television. And when there is dialogue, it's irritatingly obvious and expositional. 'We are soulmates, we are tied together forever,' Chelsea says over and over to Rick. 'I'm going to help you get your joy back, even if it kills me,' she says at another point. Guess how that will turn out for them in the end! Timothy (Jason Isaacs), the paterfamilias of the noxious Ratliff family, exclaims to the hotel manager straight off the boat, '[My daughter] is a religious studies major, so she's writing her thesis—what's your thesis on, Piper?—well, it's on Buddhism, and there's a monk and a monastery near here, anyway, she wants to interview him, so we made a family road trip of it.' Okay, thanks for laying all that out for us so neatly. Get 30 day free trial All The White Lotus's actors are exceptional, but they are taken for granted. It's infuriating to have Parker Posey, Walton Goggins, Carrie Coon, Jason Isaacs, Leslie Bibb, Patrick Schwarzenegger, Sam Rockwell, and freakin' Scott Glenn as your cast, and then not deliver to them the script they royally deserve. While these luminaries give it their all and are uniformly great, their acting chops alone can't save this season. The plot and dialogue need to help them do the heavy lifting, and they just don't. The show is repetitive, sloppy, and unformed. Eight episodes could have been compressed into four, and the cliffhangers are almost nonexistent. Posey, Coons, Schwarzenegger, and Rockwell squeeze every ounce of humor from their roles, but they are up against a wall. Isaacs, Goggins, Tayme Thapthimthong, and Jon Gries spend most of their time on camera moping (again, not their fault). And Christian Friedel, the marvelous actor who gave such a harrowing performance as Rudolf Höss in The Zone of Interest, is utterly wasted as Fabian, the general manager of the Thai resort. His big conflict seems to be his nervousness about performing for the guests at the hotel. And . . . then he does. The stakes couldn't be lower. WHAT IS THE MESSAGE Mike White wants to tell about this particular hotel in this particular place? I honestly don't know. What happens here could happen anywhere, and Thailand seems beside the point. In previous seasons, the locale was an implicit and explicit part of the story. The first season took place in Hawaii, where we felt the culture clash between native Hawaiians and the rich American tourists who disrespect their culture and use the island to suit their own pleasures. Sicily was the setting for season two, where the luxury of Taormina is a paper-thin veneer of civility over the seductive and perhaps sinister nature of that capricious island. The rich Americans vacationing there are seduced and abandoned, duped and unsettled by Sicilians, who take advantage of their guests' naïveté and arrogance. And they reject the American notion of reconnecting with the mother country as a sort of reverse colonialism. But aside from sumptuous shots of nature and the endless monkey cutaways, season three neglects Thailand's allure and traditions. Rather than lush, mysterious, and spiritual, its setting feels claustrophobic. We rarely leave the grounds of the hotel. And when the characters do, what they experience of Thai culture is generic. The Thai actors themselves seem like placeholders instead of fully realized individuals. As the audience, we have no idea how the staff feels about their guests. Join now Fabian tells Rick and Chelsea that the wellness program at the White Lotus is 'the best in the world,' and then aside from some therapy, massage, and yoga sessions, that idea goes by the wayside. What could have been a compelling examination of the wellness industry—its hopes and hypocrisies, the virtues and vices of its denizens—becomes another missed opportunity. Yes, we do get a brief glimpse of life in a Thai monastery, but the dialectical tension between spirituality and materialism is handled like a freshman 101 class in Buddhism. From the creator of Enlightenment, the lack of spiritual depth is one of the most mysterious and annoying aspects of this season of The White Lotus. And this season's nihilism is the other big frustration. I appreciate Mike White's dark humor, irony, and even cynicism, and I never expect neat, happy endings from him—but I do expect complexity, compassion, and humanity. Season three's casual cruelty caught me off guard. Carrie Coon's character is put through the emotional wringer and is made to apologize and vaguely grovel to her two frenemies who treated her quite badly. Timothy almost poisons his entire family, yet one scene later he is on the departing boat, composed and recovered. Gaitok, the thoughtful, virtuous security guard goes against his gentle nature and chooses violence to advance in his career, thereby winning the hand of the superficial girl he pines for. Belinda (Natasha Rothwell), whose pain we felt viscerally in season one when Tanya dropped her as a business partner in the wellness practice they planned together, does the exact same thing to her Thai lover in season three, except he just accepts it with a warm smile as she leaves to go back to Hawaii, a new multimillionaire. We believed Belinda to have a spiritual and moral core, but psych! By Belinda taking Greg/Gary's $5 million in hush money, Mike White apparently proves us wrong. Yes, there are some very funny and cogent moments this season (as a Tar Heel, I certainly do appreciate all the explicit Duke hatred), but Mike White ultimately plays us for fools and suckers, and to me, this feels reductive and cheap for such a talented creator. He kind of dares us to loathe almost everyone, which I suppose is bold in its way, but I find it to be more contrary than clever in its execution. Few of the characters have significant emotional journeys, and we as an audience discover very little about them. It's fitting that the song playing over the closing credits is Billy Preston's 'Nothing From Nothing (Leaves Nothing).' As an admirer, I just expect more from Mike White than a sour taste left in my mouth. Send this article to that one friend who couldn't stop talking about 'White Lotus': Share
