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Yahoo
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
How ‘Succession' creator Jesse Armstrong freshly explores mega wealth through tech bro one-upmanship in ‘Mountainhead'
Succession creator Jesse Armstrong is continuing to use his distinctive satirical tone to explore how the 1 percent wields power over the world. In his directorial debut Mountainhead, Armstrong hones in on the oversized influence of a group of tech bro billionaires played by Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman, Ramy Youssef, and Cory Michael Smith. The HBO film, which will premiere on HBO and Max on May 31, finds the four friends tucked away in a modern mansion in the snowy Utah mountains as one of their social media apps spurs global unrest and violence due to unrestricted generative AI. More from GoldDerby TV composers roundtable: 'Adolescence,' 'Day of the Jackal,' 'Interview With the Vampire,' 'Your Friends and Neighbors' 'Your Friends and Neighbors' composer Dominic Lewis on matching the show's tonal shifts and writing the catchy theme song 'The Joneses' Composer Volker Bertelmann on the shifting tempos and percussive sounds that punctuate 'The Day of the Jackal' At the Mountainhead premiere held at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City on Thursday, Carell spoke to reporters on the red carpet about the "overwhelming" experience of slipping into the identity of a billionaire. Early in the film, his character Randall, who ranks highest in the group in terms of seniority, is embittered when his net worth falls below that of Youssef's Jeff, who's created tech that safeguards against the dangers of AI. "When somebody is worth 60, 200 billion dollars, the actual amount doesn't even mean anything anymore, I think, to these people. It's a number," Carell said. "But the number itself kind of means something, if that makes any sense. There is a hierarchy within that, even though the actual physical ability to buy things doesn't really change between 60 and 200 billion. But the fact that within this hierarchy of four people, he's second and may end up being third is not a good thing. So that's a huge component of all of this." Armstrong, who traces his script inspiration back to writing a review of Michael Lewis' book about Sam Bankman-Fried, explained to Gold Derby why he's keen on examining the lives of the ultra wealthy. "I guess it's not especially the 1 percent-y wealth that interests me — I think it's the power that comes with that. So for myself, I wouldn't tend to write things that were necessarily just about rich people. It's the fact that they have that power on the world. And that's what Logan Roy (Brian Cox) and his family had, and it's what these guys have, or at least some of them. And that's the bit that I'm really interested in: Why is the world the way it is, and who's shaping it?" SEE HBO unveils trailer for Jesse Armstrong's Mountainhead In the film, the four protagonists are decidedly separate from the rest of the world as they stay put at the titular Mountainhead mansion that belongs to Schwartzman's character (who is nicknamed Souper for having the lowest net worth in the group with nary a billion to his name). Armstrong detailed how the secluded property was found and its significance to the storyline. "Paul Eskenazi, location manager from Succession, helped us find it. We looked at a lot of places in Canada and Utah, and we wanted to be somewhere sequestrated away from other people. And that's a common thing about wealth, right? Private planes, gated communities. So it needed to feel isolated. It also needed to feel isolated for some of the action that happens in the movie. I wanted them to feel like they were almost like a horror movie removed." Notably, Mountainhead came together in less than a year's time. Executive producer Will Tracy sees the project as "the perfect thing" to release in our current sociopolitical climate. "In many ways, that was part of the appeal, is the urgency of it, that we can maybe get it out very soon, before anyone else had a crack at this fairly new world of government that has in some ways been captured by the techno-futurists, by the Musks and so forth of the world," he said. "It's changing so rapidly, what's happening in the government, so hopefully we got it right." Tracy also spoke to the appeal of telling stories spotlighting the 1 percent. "I think it starts with the characters and the kind of small, more human stories we want to tell about those people — Succession being kind of a family story, and this being kind of a story about male friendship, in a way. And we tell those stories on a very small level," he said. "But the finance and the money and the power just raises the stakes of what these, I think, very emotionally difficult people, the ripple effects they can have on our world, which, as we're seeing right now, those ripple effects can be quite large ripples — waves even. Tsunamis." Mountainhead premieres Saturday, May 31 at 8 p.m. ET/PT on HBO and Max. Best of GoldDerby TV composers roundtable: 'Adolescence,' 'Day of the Jackal,' 'Interview With the Vampire,' 'Your Friends and Neighbors' 'Your Friends and Neighbors' composer Dominic Lewis on matching the show's tonal shifts and writing the catchy theme song 'The Joneses' Composer Volker Bertelmann on the shifting tempos and percussive sounds that punctuate 'The Day of the Jackal' Click here to read the full article.
Buzz Feed
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Buzz Feed
29 Unique Etsy Finds That Are Worth Every Penny
A "Born to Yap" retro-leaning wall art printable you could situate right by your favorite spot to hunker down for an hours-long catchup call. Nothing hits quite like gossip that has nothing to do with you or the person who's hearing it for the first time. Handmade porcelain stuffed "olive" door knobs in case you're the olive friend (I am!) and want to snazz up your builder kitchen cabinets or a nightstand you rescued from the sidewalk. An extraterrestrial bookmark for anyone with out-of-this-world reading habits. Psst, if you're on the prowl for a new book, I can't recommend Mariana Enríquez's A Sunny Place for Shady People enough! A linen baby doll dress you can have custom-made to fit your measurements. Plus, that super cute low back (and the upcoming summer heat) will be the perfect excuse to go bra-less. Life is short. Bra bands are too tight. A pasta tote to tip off passersby that you live life on the edge by NEVER saying "when." A hand block–printed table runner that'll help create the perfect setup for your next tinned-fish spread. Did my invite get lost in the mail? A shark bath bomb you can have a lot of fun with post-Jaws rewatch. If you don't rewatch it at the start of summer, idk I just think you're living life wrong. A print of the perfect happy hour combo for those in the know (and top-tier taste buds). And in case you've never considered this combo, you're welcome. An "iced coffee" candle you'll probably want to put a bit out of reach — lest you grab it and try to take a sip during a work video call you really had no business tuning into (and you knew all along). A "white fridge" pen cup you can park on your desk and lure in the BEST kind of office pals. NeNe Leakes is an ICON and I shall not hear otherwise. A Stanley Cup for your lip balm because your insides aren't the only part of you that deserves to be hydrated! Just maybe this'll make it easier to keep track of your Work ChapStick and your Car ChapStick and your Bag ChapStick. A weekly pill organizer will also remind you to finally take your friend up on going out to that all-you-can-eat sushi place you've been meaning to try in the neighborhood. A disco cactus plant stake that'll liven up the houseplant that seems to wither one day and perk up the next. Perhaps this shiny beaut will rub off on it a bit. A Vampire Lestat tour T-shirt for anyone who can't wait to sink their fangs into the third season of Interview With the Vampire featuring Rock Star Lestat (and still listens to the Queen of the Damned nu-metal soundtrack). I'm right there with ya. A watering can so gorgeous that it'll remind you to actually water your house plants! Because some of us need the reminder. A watch-face bag strap can help revive last spring's bag that you LOVE but whose strap has been through the wringer. And it's easy to remove so you can move it around to bags as you please. A showstopping table lamp will somehow still mesh in with all sorts of decor despite being the coolest thing you've bought this year. A Truvy's Beauty Spot shirt because everyone knows that it takes some effort to look like this. Now if you don't have anything nice to say, come sit by me. A game controller stand in a variety of hues and designs so everyone in the fam can get one to their liking. A chic printed top-and-short set that'll be the perfect ensemble to help you feel like you're on vacation, even if you're just popping out to the store for more TP. Fidget "plants" you can twist, press down, or fidget with in all types of other ways. AND you won't even have to water them! Talk about some functional foliage. A gummy bear alligator hair clip for an extra sweet way to keep your hair outta your face this summer. Anyone else want ice cream? A ledge planter so you can take FULL advantage of your deck situation to spread some floral joy to your backyard. This will also securely attach plants to your porch or other rails. A cross-stitch PDF pattern to profess your love for that Costco $1.50 hot dog/soda combo and do something with your hands while they're not double-fisting said hot dogs. A 15-pack of dreamy cocktail stickers you can put on your Hydro Flask and make your pals wonder if you DID bring water to the park — or you're just gatekeeping because you didn't have enough sangria for everyone. Or perhaps a Scream sticker to help you kick off another Slasher Summer. It never feels like summer 'til I watch a masked killer slowly (but somehow very efficiently) stalk some teens. And a mini horror VHS keychain, including some movies that your mom would NOT let you get at Blockbuster back in the day. BUT she was right about Leprechaun. It def would've given you nightmares. A solar-printing kit to help motivate you to combine some outside time and crafting time this have some beautiful art to show off after! (Psst, this is also a really fun activity for kids!) A tiger-print dress passersby will assume you bought on a luxurious, tropical vacation. Go ahead. Let 'em assume. But then if they ask, be super helpful and point them to this Etsy shop chock full of dresses in glorious prints.
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Beyond Bourbon Street: A Whirlwind Week in New Orleans
New Orleans is one of the most culturally significant cities in the United States, and it's been on my must-visit list for years, inspired by some of my favorite films (Interview With the Vampire; A Streetcar Named Desire, Princess and the Frog) and L.A. friends who fell in love with it and moved there. Many visit for the revelry of Mardi Gras in February —but the beads, booze and tourists can overshadow some of the city's warmth and are other events to plan trips around, Jazz Fest which just wrapped up, for example, but I chose to go during the French Quarter Festival, which focuses on local music and food. With virtually every major restaurant in the area participating and serving the region's signature dishes — from crawfish and po-boys (Acme Oyster House) to alligator nuggets, beignets (Café Du Monde) and jambalaya — popping in and out of this particular event makes for a multifaceted immersion and sampling of NOLA's cultural mojo, and a week I'll never forget. Whimsical architecture blends French, Spanish and Caribbean styles, from colorful Creole townhouses to charmingly narrow 'shotgun' homes with Victorian touches. Airbnb might be your first thought for a stay, but the hospitality-driven services at area hotels make a getaway feel a bit more special. There are plenty of Vegas-y accommodations here as gambling is legal, Caesars and Boomtown being the most popular. For my trip, the One11 Hotel is a perfect choice. Just outside the French Quarter, the small boutique destination is housed in a century-old former sugar refinery and features exposed brick walls, wood beams and large steel structural bones. Melding its industrial past with its trendy present, it's got a great bar — including happy hour — and continental breakfast in the morning, plus an 8th-floor deck with scenic views of the Mississippi River. New Orleans has always conjured exotic images and alluring activities that piqued my imagination. Voodoo, ghosts, cemeteries, swamps, the bayou, art, music, bars … all are on my to-do list. I start with historic graveyard environments — the Metairie Cemetery, where Vampire author Anne Rice is entombed inside a beautiful stained glass-adorned mausoleum, and the Greenwood Cemetery, featuring an array of historic Civil War monuments. Voodoo priestess Marie Laveau is interred in St. Louis Cemetery No. 1, the city's oldest, which many consider NOLA's most haunted grounds. Speaking of spooky stuff, voodoo dolls make cute souvenirs, and I snatch some great ones at the Voodoo Museum and Voodoo Authentica, which also sell other mystical merch. In the French Quarter, on Magazine Street and in the Garden District, a host of unique mom-and-pop shops and fascinating exteriors beckon from every corner. A jaunt to the Hotel Saint Vincent reveals a classic Southern Gothic environment and two thematic cocktail spaces, one red-hued and sexy, the other green, bright and friendly. Considered the birthplace of jazz, NOLA might have more musicians per capita than anywhere in the world. For an authentic immersion into its instrumental soul, visit Preservation Hall, where local legends go to jam. In general, though, NOLA residents steer clear of Bourbon Street and go to bars on Frenchman Street. Also in the Garden District, there's Tipitina's famous for Cajun and Zydeco music as well as fais do-do dancing; and the , not far from Tulane University, which also draws a college crowd. There are also street players everywhere, including the French Market, a farmers market for locals and tourists alike with food, art and activities.A visit to the New Orleans Museum of Art (NOMA) reflects the city's spirit as well, with an impressive showcase of international and local works, including, through Aug. 10, 'New African Masquerades: Artistic Innovations and Collaborations,' a collection that feels very Mardi Gras-adjacent in terms of costuming and pageantry. I also recommended the on the museum grounds for a lovely and eye-grabbing statue-specked art stroll. When the Super Bowl was at Caesars Superdome (home of the New Orleans Saints) in February, NOLA got a lot of attention, especially for its dining scene. Fanciful French eaterie Lilette is where Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift had a hot date night, so my partner and I follow suit, enjoying the white-tablecloth hotspot's succulent steaks and inviting atmosphere. The next night, the old-school scene at Brennan's in the Quarter is even more my speed. The pink-and-green-schemed restaurant is where the iconic Bananas Foster dessert was invented, and the tableside demo/history lesson is fiery fun. My favorite dining discovery, the Vampire Apothecary, makes for a fanciful lunch, delicious sandwiches and soothing tea drinks amid seductive decor like dried flowers and witchy natural furnishings. NOLA staples like spicy beet-pickled eggs are served with Vampire brand tea to wash it down. Also deserving of note, though I couldn't fit them in this time: Deanie's Seafood in the Quarter for crawfish; , which nurtured chefs Paul Prudhomme and Emeril Lagasse and is renowned for its weekend Jazz Brunch and 25-cent martinis on certain weekdays; Antoine's, founded in 1840, the oldest restaurant in the city; and Algiers Central Market, home of the muffaletta, an Italian sandwich made with round sesame seed bread, cured meats, provolone and mozzarella and a tangy olive salad Orleans allows drinking in public, and you'll see a lot of it on Bourbon Street via plastic drinking vessels, often from Pat O'Brien's, which created the notorious Hurricane. (Cannabis, though, is still illegal.) But beyond touristy takeout sippers, a bar tour is a must, whether you're looking for dive vibes or award-winning mixology. Jewel of the South, which won the James Beard Foundation's award for best bar program, is aptly named, while Latitude 29, makes the tastiest tiki drinks in town, as created by the king of tropical cocktails — Beachbum Berry. For down-and-dirty atmosphere, locals love , a dark hovel with a heavy metal soundtrack, with live music and campy themes nightly, and , a gritty and gregarious hangout with a free jukebox that rocks, which is where I end the whirlwind all goes by far too fast, and I still feel like I'm under the city's spell, which is likely to pull me back sooner than later. In the meantime, here are a few more Big Easy bullet points to note for your next trip, below. - Get an up-close and personal look at the local swamps and gators! - Like San Francisco's cable cars, they're an exciting and organic way to travel around the city. (The St. Charles line is the one featured in A Streetcar Named Desire). - Family fun with botanical gardens, rides and National WWII Museum - Everything you ever wanted to see and learn about World War II in one mind-blowing, multi-building facility. - The creamiest sno-cones you'll ever get a brain freeze from, and where all the locals go. Prepare to wait in a long Daiquiris- There are plenty of walk-up outlets, but for a cold buzz in your car, roll though a drive-thru. A version of this story appeared in the May Travel issue of Los Angeles magazine, on stands now. See the photo gallery below for images of everything mentioned above and much more. (Photos 1-14 by Lina Lecaro; photo 15-37 courtesy Visit New Orleans. View the 37 images of this gallery on the original article
New York Times
14-05-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Times
Morris, Alligator of ‘Happy Gilmore' Fame, Dies at 80 (or More)
Morris, an alligator who appeared in numerous films and television shows, most notably in the movie 'Happy Gilmore,' died on Monday in Mosca, Colo. He was at least 80. The cause was old age, according to the Colorado Gator Farm, which announced his death. 'His exact age was unknown, but he was nine feet long in 1975, and by his growth rate and tooth loss, we can estimate his age at over 80 years,' the farm said. 'He started acting strange about a week ago; he wasn't lunging at us and he wasn't taking food,' Jay Young, the farm's operator, said in a video accompanying the announcement. Tearfully stroking the gator's head, he said: 'I know it's strange to people that we get so attached.' Morris was 10 feet 11 inches long and weighed 640 pounds at the time of his death. He was discovered in Los Angeles, but not at Schwab's Pharmacy like so many actors of yore. Rather, he was found in a backyard, where he was being kept as an illegal pet. His acting career began in 1975 and ended in 2006, when he retired to the farm. His most memorable onscreen role came in the rollicking 1996 comedy 'Happy Gilmore,' with Adam Sandler in the title role as a failed hockey player who becomes an unlikely sensation on the professional golf circuit. Morris's big scene comes when he grabs a golf ball, leading Happy to confront him with an iron. Happy notices that the gator has one eye, recognizing it as the same one that had bitten off the hand of his mentor, Chubbs, played by Carl Weathers. ('Damned alligator just popped up, cut me down in my prime,' Chubbs says in one of the film's many beloved quotes.) This leads a revenge-minded Happy to chase the alligator into a lake, where a violent confrontation ensues. (The reptile lost.) But the alligator is not done, even posthumously. Happy presents Chubbs with a surprise gift: the alligator's head. This startles Chubbs, who proceeds to fall backward through a window to his death. Morris's other film credits include 'Interview With the Vampire' (1994), 'Blues Brothers 2000' (1998) and 'Dr. Dolittle 2' (2001). A sequel, 'Happy Gilmore 2,' is coming to Netflix on July 25. Given his advanced age, Morris did not appear in the sequel. Also, of course, his character died in the first film. Alligators might live 30 to 50 years in the wild but can live decades longer in captivity. Muja, a resident of the Belgrade zoo, is generally considered to be 90, or very close to it. Much like character in 'Happy Gilmore,' Morris will have a role even after death. 'We have decided to get Morris taxidermied so that he can continue to scare children for years to come,' the farm said. 'It's what he would have wanted.'
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Ryan Seacrest talks ‘Wheel of Fortune' future, honors Pat Sajak and Vanna White: ‘This show means something to people'
Ryan Seacrest wants his Emmy for hosting Wheel of Fortune and he's not afraid to ask for it. Six months after taking the reins from Pat Sajak, who spent over four decades behind the wheel from 1981 to 2024, Seacrest sat down with TV Academy members at the game show's iconic Sony Pictures Studios lot to discuss the future of the iconic game show. More from GoldDerby 'The Masked Singer' is skipping the fall season 'to regroup' 'Grotesquerie' star Niecy Nash-Betts on that shocking coma twist, and Travis Kelce's 'greedy' appetite TV Cinematography panel: 'Anne Rice's Interview With the Vampire,' 'Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy,' 'Étoile' "You have memories of your grandparents watching this show," Seacrest said. "Everybody who's here, and certainly every contestant who comes on, has a story to tell about when they first saw Wheel of Fortune. I remember having to mow lawns and bag grass — because you got paid extra to bag it — to buy a Zenith TV. My mom wouldn't let us watch TV at dinner time, so I bought the Zenith TV with the ears, put it on the butcher block in the kitchen, and that's when I began to watch Wheel of Fortune with my family while we had dinner." "This show means something to people," he continued. "It means something to families. I have fun with the job, but I take that responsibility very seriously." Following the discussion, Vanna White surprised attendees as she walked out in one of her signature gowns and asked, "Should we play a game?" Holding Seacrest's arm, she looked at him and said, "This is an incredible man. I am so happy to be working with you. We've known each other for over 20 years, but we've worked together over a year now — and it's such an honor. You make it so easy and you're doing such a great job. I adore you and enjoy working with you." After a couple of impromptu rounds with three lucky guest players, Seacrest and White invited everyone to join them for a cocktail and an up-close look at the famous wheel and letter board. The dynamic duo also stuck around for well over two hours, taking photos and chatting one-on-one with each person in attendance. In its 50th anniversary season, Wheel of Fortune still ranks No. 1 in its time slot across most of the country and reaches 22 million viewers each week. Seacrest took over hosting duties for Sajak on Sept. 9, 2024, but conversations about the transition began years prior. Sajak's letter-turning cohost White decided to remain on the show with Seacrest after working with Sajak since 1982. "When you look at what Pat and Vanna have built over the years — they are your friends! They're your companions. You feel like you know them," Seacrest said. "What they built being in peoples' living room every night is such a special thing." To fill Sajak's iconic shoes, Seacrest watched the duo tape their shows for a year, closely studying the rules and what made the game show work so well. Six months before he started, producers gave Seacrest a small wheel he could travel with that allowed him to play in hotel conference rooms with random guests. "I wanted to come on day one as if I knew what I was doing," he said. Seacrest also revealed his relationship with the show's creator, Merv Griffin (who died in 2007), started 31 years ago. "When I was 19, I auditioned to host a game show called Click for kids on Saturday mornings," he said. "I got the job, and Merv was the first person to teach me the mindset of game. It was a different game — but the mindset of game and how to interact with contestants. He told me the story of how he created Wheel of Fortune on an airplane — it's basically Hangman — and that's why it's worked forever. It's a very simple game." "When I was working for Merv, he let me come and sit in meetings about Wheel of Fortune at the Beverly Hilton Hotel," he continued. "I had no idea I would eventually be sitting here. Merv is the one that taught me to be as focused on the business show business as the performance, which is why I produced a lot at the beginning of my career. He wasn't just the guy that was on camera, he was a force behind it. I found that so fascinating. He was so charming. He could get anybody to say yes to anything." When asked how his hosting gigs on American Idol and Live With Kelly and Ryan helped prepare him, Seacrest shared, "With American Idol, I have a chance to really connect with contestants and their families. I get to meet them early on. I'm interested in where they've come from. That's something that is part of this show. The one thing I forget about Wheel — that I'm often reminded of by our producer — I think we're live. I'm like, 'We have to start in one minute! What's going on?' And sometimes they're like, 'If anything happens we can fix it,' and I'm like, 'We can fix it?' I forget we're on tape. I like to not stop ever and try to do this as fast as possible." "Live With Kelly and Ryan was interesting because we would show up and we didn't discuss anything we were going to talk about beforehand," he continued. "You really get comfortable on national television just sitting and telling stories." The new Wheel host also revealed that his chemistry with White came naturally because they've been friends for over 20 years. "We first met through Merv Griffin and we sat together at Merv's funeral as well," he said. "We have remained friends over the years. When I first got the job, I tracked her down at a golf course and said, 'I want to make this as seamless for you as possible.' This crew is a well-oiled machine. You don't want to be the guy that slows things down. I wanted her, also, to feel comfortable. She has been a tremendous supporter and dear friend through all of this." Seacrest describes White as "very casual" in real life — far different from her glamorous persona on TV — and recounted how she hand-made him a quilt that he has in his home. "She's just a lovely person," he shared. "Have you ever met someone famous and they let you down? Shout their name! No — but you see her, you know she's a treasure, and when you meet her she's even better." "Wheel of Fortune is simple, it's never changed, and will always be a protected safe space for anybody to watch," he said about why the show has resonated with viewers for so long. "We're never going to have an uncomfortable puzzle. We're never going to have an uncomfortable conversation about something you've got to explain to your kids. This is a safe place for fun and it will always be that way. I think that's special." Wheel of Fortune has won seven Daytime Emmys, including Best Game Show in 2011. Last year, the show won its first Primetime Emmy for host Pat Sajak in his final year. SIGN UP for Gold Derby's free newsletter with latest predictions Best of GoldDerby 'Grotesquerie' star Niecy Nash-Betts on that shocking coma twist, and Travis Kelce's 'greedy' appetite TV Cinematography panel: 'Anne Rice's Interview With the Vampire,' 'Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy,' 'Étoile' 'Étoile' cinematographer M. David Mullen on reuniting with the Palladinos Click here to read the full article.
