Latest news with #NightCourt
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
‘Poker Face': Simon Helberg on Singing Sondheim With John Mulaney and ‘Getting Into the S—‘ During Big Shootout Scene
SPOILER ALERT: This interview contains spoilers from 'Poker Face' Season 2, Episode 3, now streaming on Peacock. FBI agent Luca Clark (Simon Helberg) returned for more action in Episode 3 of 'Poker Face,' which is in the midst of a second season boasting more murders, more Charlie (Natasha Lyonne) investigations and more guest stars — including stand-up comedian John Mulaney. More from Variety 'Poker Face': How Old Hollywood Camera Tricks Were Used to Create Cynthia Erivo's Quintuplets Rian Johnson and Natasha Lyonne's 'Poker Face' Is Still Quite the Card Trick in Season 2: TV Review Natasha Lyonne to Direct Feature 'Uncanny Valley' Combining 'Ethical' AI and Traditional Filmmaking Techniques Rian Johnson's charming murder-of-the-week show features different marquee guest stars in every episode. But since Helberg plays one of the show's few recurring characters, he's had a chance to grow the trajectory of Luca since Season 1. 'It's exciting to see how he fumbles up the ladder, starting from driving around geriatric retired ex-cons in witness protection, all the way to cracking these really significant cases for the FBI and getting into the shit,' Helberg tells Variety. 'As an actor, it's a real dream because I haven't gotten to play a lot of heroic figures. It's really cool to play these moments where there's a damsel in distress, you're pulling out your gun and sticking your head out of a sunroof. It's probably stuff that Luca's seen in movies.' This episode sees Helberg back in action when Beatrix Hasp (Rhea Perlman) tries to find who in her crew is a mole — with the unexpected help of Charlie. Helberg recalls his first day on set — a car scene with Richard Kind, who plays Beatrix's murdered husband. 'It was showing up with this huge chunk of dialogue, a lot of, 'Hello, nice to meet you' on set, then jumping right into the scene,' Helberg says. 'It's unique because it's a TV show in its second season, but because you've got this rotating cast and rotating crew and directors, it always feels a bit like the first day of school on each episode.' Below, Helberg breaks down singing Stephen Sondheim tunes with Mulaney, why he thinks Luca would try to emulate 'Twin Peaks'' Dale Cooper and the 'fever dream' of returning to the Warner Bros lot to film the Season 3 finale of 'Night Court,' which was recently canceled at NBC. I was very excited that the 'John Mulaney type' referenced in the script actually became John Mulaney. That was a treat, because that's how he was described. Even if it ended up just being a 'John Mulaney type,' I'd be excited, but I had the real thing. He couldn't have been kinder and sweeter. We had to jump right in and wrestle each other and squeeze each other's cheeks with strange, clumsy fighting. And we were supposed to be best friends, too. So all of that breaks the ice pretty quickly when you're groping another guy on set. I had become, like most people, kind of obsessed with him. He's a very curious follow who's interested in everything that's happening and everybody that's around him. His observations are what sets him apart from everybody else. In terms of any kind of cliché about stand-ups being awkward or hostile, which there are some, John couldn't be farther from that. It's pretty verbatim on my part. I know John and Natasha improvised a bit in their scene when he's under arrest. But the writing is just so sharp. The team is so keen to good storytelling — always a beat ahead and shocking in a way that still feels authentic. We didn't meet with any musical coaches or work too intensely on those beats. I know Sondheim and some musicals, but I actually wasn't super familiar with 'Merrily We Roll Along' for some reason. And I don't know if John was. We didn't really talk much about it. Best left unspoken, I think. I listened to those songs and those phrases like a psychopath on repeat. There's these moments where he'll say something quippy and put on sunglasses and like, he's seen 'The Fugitive.' He's seen 'Point Break.' He knows that there's something to the suaveness that detectives can have and there's probably an awareness of that. I don't know if I should be embarrassed, or it's just a fortuitous thing, but I hadn't seen 'Twin Peaks' until after shooting the second season. I'm actually in the middle of watching it, but Kyle MacLachlan's Dale Cooper is completely someone who I think Luca would probably have seen and maybe even tried to emulate. After watching it, I was like, 'Wow, it's the same hairstyle!' There's that sort of earnestness and good-doer quality, trying to be the best FBI agent you can be. When I opened the script for this episode, I saw in the third page or something that I got shot in the head. I did get scared, but I guess that was the point. It was really technical and, in many ways, plays on things that I don't feel particularly skilled at doing. You're supposed to have a real second-nature quality to all that stuff, obviously, and it's not like I got to really spend a ton of time with the gun and doing those kinds of stunts with the time you have on set. There was some of that where, mechanically, you just want it to feel lived in. It's very piecemeal, shooting those kinds of action sequences. Sometimes you'll just film a moment of ducking out of frame, or it's the stunt person who falls in the shot but you're on the ground in the next. It's like hearing an album out of the order and trying to remember where each song goes on the playlist because you're like, 'Where are we in this?' And then you see it all put together and it might be 30 seconds on screen, but it's got 50 shots. It was a little like a fever dream getting to drive back on the Warner Bros. lot and going back on the sound stage. Seeing Melissa and some of the same crew was really a joy. I love Melissa so much. It was great to kind of hint at our former relationship and dynamic that we had on 'The Big Bang Theory' but still stray so far from it. The whole scene was really kind of a hint — letting the audience into a secret past that they didn't know she had. It was fun to pop in there and play a different version of husband and wife. My goal is to always be doing something different. I just hope not to repeat too many beats and too many of the same characters, which is funny coming from somebody who played the same character for 12 years. And maybe that's part of it. But when I started 'The Big Bang Theory,' it was, 'Hey, maybe we'll do a pilot and then get picked up.' I auditioned just like every other job, every other character I've ever played and it happened to last for an incredibly long time. So I'm just really hungry to have opportunities where I can challenge myself. It does tend to be in opposition to 'Big Bang' just because I did that for so long. This interview has been edited and condensed. Best of Variety New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week Emmy Predictions: Talk/Scripted Variety Series - The Variety Categories Are Still a Mess; Netflix, Dropout, and 'Hot Ones' Stir Up Buzz Oscars Predictions 2026: 'Sinners' Becomes Early Contender Ahead of Cannes Film Festival
Chicago Tribune
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Chicago Tribune
TV for summer 2025: 15 shows coming up, including the return of ‘The Bear'
Heading into summer means first closing the book on yet another network TV season, which still follows the fall-spring slot on the calendar. I like that regularity and I think most viewers miss it when it comes to streaming. 'The Bear' is an outlier, premiering new episodes each June like clockwork. This time of year is also when broadcasters announce cancellations and the biggest changes are coming to NBC, where five shows got the ax: the dramas 'Found,' 'The Irrational' and 'Suits: LA' and comedies 'Night Court' and 'Lopez vs. Lopez.' Some of those decisions were likely a way to make room for NBC's new deal to carry NBA games. I'm not seeing anything particularly interesting on the horizon just yet for the broadcast networks next season, with one exception. Fox has ordered a U.S. adaptation of the British series 'Doc Martin' called 'Best Medicine,' which will star Josh Charles ('The Good Wife') in an hour-long comedy about a 'successful surgeon who abruptly leaves his post in Boston to become a general practitioner in the East Coast fishing village where he spent summers as a kid.' That's still a few months off. In the meantime, here's a look at 15 shows on tap for the summer months, when streaming is your best bet for new and returning series, listed here in chronological order. Programming note: The 78th Tony Awards will air on CBS on Sunday, June 8. 'The Librarians: The Next Chapter' (May 25 on TNT): It's been a good while since TNT carried original programming outside of sports, but the network has two series slated for this year, including a miniseries called 'High Value Target' about a real-life CIA analyst's 2003 interrogation of deposed Iraqi president Saddam Hussein (no date announced yet) and this spinoff of TNT's adventure series 'The Librarians,' which last aired new episodes in 2018. The new version centers on a librarian time traveler from 1847 named Vikram who now finds himself stuck in the present. When he returns to his castle in Belgrade, he discovers that it is now a museum, and he 'inadvertently releases magic across the continent,' a mess he then has to clean up with a team of eclectic comrades. The first episode premieres Sunday after the NBA playoffs. The next episode premieres the next night on Monday, following NHL playoffs. (The show will then continue with a Monday night schedule.) 'And Just Like That …' (May 29 on HBO Max): Not a fan of this continuation of 'Sex and the City,' so much so I didn't even bother with the second season, nor am I planning to watch its third. So consider this just a heads-up for anyone who feels otherwise and has stuck with the show despite it all. 'Dept. Q' (May 29 on Netflix): A stubborn and sarcastic police detective in Edinburgh (Matthew Goode) is exiled to his department's basement to work as his own one-man cold case unit. It's a PR stunt his boss fixes up, mostly to get him out of her hair — nobody can stand the guy; he can barely stand himself — but slowly he builds a small team, who try to find out what happened to a prosecutor who went missing four years prior. The series blends droll humor and well-worn cop show tropes to focus on a grisly case. 'Stick' (June 4 on Apple TV+): Owen Wilson stars in this comedy as a pro golfer who has mediocre personal and professional prospects ('Tin Cup,' anyone?). With nothing else to lose, he decides to back a teenage golf phenom who has problems of his own. Apple is calling it a 'heartfelt, feel-good comedy about a found family and their relationships set within the world of golf as it has never been shown before.' 'Art Detectives' (June 9 on Acorn TV): Stephen Moyer ('True Blood') stars as an art-loving police detective, who works in the Heritage Crime Unit of this UK-set series, where he and his partner tackle murder cases connected to the art and antiquities world, 'from Old Master paintings, to Banksy street art, medieval manuscripts and collectible vinyl.' Plot twist: He must contend with the sudden reappearance of his father, who is a notorious art forger. You don't say! Sounds fun, but it's all in the execution. 'Grantchester'(June 15 by Masterpiece on PBS): It's the 1960s in an English village, where a police detective teams up with the local vicar to solve crimes. Sure, there have been three vicars over the show's many seasons, all young and handsome and somehow each finds himself doing some freelance sleuthing. The show was losing steam there for a while, but then Rishi Nair joined the cast last year as the newest vicar, bringing a charisma to the role that was otherwise absent, and he's back again for Season 10. 'We Were Liars' (June 18 on Amazon): The series is based on the 2014 novel from E. Lockhart about a group of wealthy teenagers who summer on a private island. Everything about the protagonist's life is enviable, until she suffers a head injury that affects her memories one summer. What really happened? And why are certain things so different when she next returns? 'Outrageous' (June 18 on BritBox): Based on the true story of the aristocratic Mitford sisters who, according to Wikipedia, 'gained widespread attention for their stylish and controversial lives as young people.' Set in the 1930s as a second World War loomed, there were major divisions in the family, some of whom were pro-fascist. The sisters include the British novelist Nancy Freeman-Mitford, who wrote about the upper crust. 'Ironheart' (June 24 on Disney+): Picking up after the events of the 2022 movie 'Black Panther: Wakanda Forever,' the series centers on Riri Williams, the 'genius inventor determined to make her mark on the world (returning) to her hometown of Chicago. Her unique take on building iron suits is brilliant, but in pursuit of her ambitions, she finds herself wrapped up with the mysterious yet charming Parker Robbins aka 'The Hood.'' 'The Bear' (June 25 by FX on Hulu): As with previous seasons, all 10 episodes of Season 4 will be available to stream at once, which I know has been a controversial choice for audiences who prefer a weekly conversation about the show. I think a binge drop is fine in this instance. I had some mild critiques of Seasons 1 and 2, but overall really liked the show. Season 3? Less so. The narrative felt stalled in place and I think there are other characters getting short shrift whose stories are more interesting to explore than yet more Carmy angst. Here's hoping Season 4 bounces back. 'Smoke' (June 27 on Apple TV+): A crime drama centering an arson investigator (Taron Egerton) and a police detective (Jurnee Smollett) from Dennis Lehane (best known for novels such as 'Gone, Baby, Gone' and 'Mystic River') based on true events as the pair track down two serial arsonists. 'Nautilus' (June 29, AMC and streaming on AMC+): A reimagining of Jules Verne's 1870 science fiction adventure classic 'Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea.' Originally made for Disney+ (which then declined to release the series) AMC has picked it up for U.S. distribution. The title comes from the name of the vessel in Verne's book, with Shazad Latif starring as Nemo, who 'plans to reach the fabled Viking treasure buried at the Pillars of Halvar. But first, he must win the trust of his crew, and keep out of the clutches of the ruthless East India Mercantile Company, who will do whatever it takes to stop him.' 'Too Much' (July 10 on Netflix): The 10-episode series follows a millennial workaholic named Jessica (Megan Stalter, so good on 'Hacks') who, fresh off a breakup, moves from New York to London to start over. From the streamer that brought you 'Emily in Paris' comes a show I'm sure they referred to internally as 'Jessica in London.' Stalter has a lot of talent and tang, so here's hoping the series is actually much better than that. Will Sharpe ('White Lotus') plays the handsome Brit who catches her eye. 'Wednesday' (Aug. 6 on Netflix): I liked the Addams Family spinoff series well enough when it premiered in November 2022. Was it good enough to be one of the more popular offerings from Netflix? Not in my opinion. It's a teen drama — one with style, though not an especially inventive one; executive producer Tim Burton is recycling old ideas by this point — which works best when it's simply being funny. The heavy plotting around a mysterious supernatural something or other? Didn't do anything for me. It's back for Season 2 and once again, Netflix is weirdly not premiering it around Halloween. This installment will be divided into two chapters, with the second picking up a month later in September. 'Peacemaker' (Aug. 21 on HBO Max): Season 2 of the DC Studios series starring Jon Cena arrives after a three-plus year delay. Well, maybe audiences are inured to these kinds of things by now. I like the first season well enough. It's a ridiculous show that knows it's ridiculous, with a fully R-rated Saturday morning cartoon sensibility that refuses to take itself too seriously. I was less interested in the way Peacemaker is presented as a racist and sexist figure who really just needs a hug: A cuddly Cro-Magnon. It's worth thinking about why, even within a largely comedic endeavor, this type of character has been designed to generate our sympathy.
Time of India
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Night Court Season 3 OTT Release Date: When and where to watch Melissa Rauch & John Larroquette's sitcom show
Night Court Season 3 OTT Release Date: Get ready for more laughs, courtroom chaos, and late-night drama because Night Court is back with its third season! After winning over fans with its rebooted take on the classic 1980s sitcom, Season 3 of Night Court is officially landing on JioHotstar in India on June 5, 2025. The court is in session again! Melissa Rauch (of The Big Bang Theory fame) slips back into her robe as Judge Abby Stone, daughter of the original Judge Harry Stone. Carrying forward her father's legacy with a warm heart and a quick wit, Abby continues to preside over the weirdest cases Manhattan has to offer, all under the flickering lights of the night shift. Beside her once again is John Larroquette as Dan Fielding, the sharp-tongued courtroom veteran who brings in both sarcasm and surprising sensitivity. This odd couple's chemistry remains the beating heart of the show, as Abby's sunny optimism constantly bumps heads with Dan's jaded worldview. And trust us, it's just as hilarious and sometimes unexpectedly touching as ever. A recap of Night Court Season 2 Before we dive into what's next, here's a quick catch-up: Night Court Season 2 had everything from cosplay escapades to emotional court cases. Fans were thrilled by the return of Marsha Warfield as Roz, Dan's no-nonsense old colleague. Her surprise wedding at the end of the season brought heartfelt closure and a big smile. Meanwhile, Abby's relationship with Jake took a mature turn, as the couple decided to put a label-free spin on their romance. What's cooking in Night Court Season 3? Night Court Season 3 promises even more courtroom madness. A major highlight? Wendie Malick joins the cast as Julianne Walters, a former con artist turned prosecutor... and Dan Fielding's ex. Yes, sparks fly and not just the romantic kind. Expect tension, banter, and plenty of plot twists as she brings fresh fire to the night court. And fans of The Big Bang Theory, you're in for a treat. Melissa Rauch called in some old friends, and the season features guest appearances from Simon Helberg, Mayim Bialik, Kate Micucci, and Kunal Nayyar. With zany defendants, quirky court staff, emotional curveballs, and razor-sharp writing, Night Court proves once again that justice doesn't sleep, and neither should your binge-watch.
Boston Globe
19-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Boston Globe
NBC's embrace of sports could be bad news for scripted programming
Lost in all of that excitement, however, was a Friday afternoon news dump that NBC would be axing five scripted shows: 'Found,' 'The Irrational,' 'Lopez vs. Lopez,' 'Suits LA,' and the revival of 'Night Court' were all given a pink slip to make room for hoops. While some of those shows had plenty of opportunity to find an audience, ' Advertisement Regardless of your feelings on those specific shows, the NBA on NBC spells danger for all original programming at Rockefeller Center, both new and old. While Sunday night has been a sports night for NBC since Sunday Night Football began in 2006, Tuesday's primetime lineup was where shows like 'Frasier,' 'This is Us,' and the original 'Law & Order' first flourished. Where will word-of-mouth shows like 'Scrubs' build an audience now that three precious hours of primetime will be occupied by an NBA pre-game show and a 2 1/2 hour game? Advertisement NBC did announce a number of new shows during its upfronts, but a surprisingly high percentage of them are airing Meanwhile, NBC is currently considering three comedies for just two open slots in its Monday and Friday night lineups. Not too long ago, a sitcom executive-produced by Tina Fey starring Tracy Morgan and Daniel Radcliffe would anchor a Thursday night of 'Must See TV.' But Fey's 'The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins' still doesn't have a timeslot, and will face competition from two other comedy pilots as As NBC celebrates its 100th birthday this upcoming year, the network is putting all of its eggs into the live events basket, positioning the NFL, the Olympics, and the NBA as its tentpoles. It's an understandable approach, but a tough pill to swallow from a company that has produced some of the best scripted TV shows of all time. Advertisement Over the past decade, viewers (and TV critics!) were overwhelmed by choice during the peak of the streaming wars, when
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Why Suits LA Is Canceled Before Season 2
Wondering why got canceled so abruptly? Fans had high hopes for the spin-off, especially after the success of the original Suits series. With Suits LA Season 2 anticipated by loyal viewers, the news of cancellation has left many wondering what went wrong. So, why was Suits LA canceled after its first season? Here's everything you need to know about the decision. NBC confirmed that Suits LA was canceled ahead of Season 2 due to its inability to meet the network's expectations. The show struggled to capture and retain viewership, a key factor in the decision-making process. According to Jeff Bader, NBCUniversal's head of program planning, Suits LA simply 'has not resonated' with audiences in the way they had hoped. 'It's just not showing the potential to grow for us in the future,' Bader said. He added that several factors played into the network's decision to cancel not just Suits LA Season 2 but also other shows like The Irrational, Night Court, Found, and Lopez vs. Lopez. (via Deadline) NBC evaluated each show's performance across both linear television and digital streaming platforms. The network prioritized series that demonstrated audience growth and stability. Unfortunately, Suits LA fell short in both areas. Its poor traction online and lukewarm reception on traditional television didn't support its renewal. At present, Suits LA holds a modest 5.7 rating on IMDb and a disappointing 36% Tomatometer score on Rotten Tomatoes. These metrics made it increasingly difficult for the network to extend the show for another season. The legal drama follows a former New York federal prosecutor, Ted Black, who transitions into a high-powered entertainment lawyer in Los Angeles. The series followed him and his firm, Black Lane Law, as they tackled high-profile cases while balancing personal and professional turbulence. While the premise was intriguing, it failed to connect with the audience as strongly as the original Suits series. As of now, all 12 episodes of Suits LA are available for streaming on Peacock. Although Season 2 won't happen, fans can still revisit the drama that unfolded in its brief run. The post Why Suits LA Is Canceled Before Season 2 appeared first on - Movie Trailers, TV & Streaming News, and More.
