The White Lotus Blooms Again With Killer Cast
F. Murray Abraham, Adam DiMarco, Tom Hollander and Haley Lu Richardson have just been cast as series regulars in the second go ’round of HBO’s critical darling and dark comedy The White Lotus. They join previously announced cast members Michael Imperioli and Aubrey Plaza, which has said aloha to Hawaii behind and be set at a different White Lotus hotel property. It’s rumored that it will be set in Italy this time around, and fan favorite Jennifer Coolidge may make a return.
Emily Revisits Paris
I admit I wasn’t a huge fan of the first season of Darren Star’s Emily in Paris on Netflix, but she is getting better with age. The show improved with its sophomore season, so much so, apparently, that two additional seasons were added just two and a half weeks into the second season.
It is one the most popular shows on Netflix, after all, and it’s been nominated for Emmys and Critics Choice Awards. It’s among the streamer’s top 10 series globally, with the second season piling up 107.6 million viewing hours its first five days.
Check out some delicious Emily in Paris inspired French cocktails on ReallyRather.com.
Top 10 Streaming Movies and TV Shows of 2021
Here are some fun surprises: Remember that great Bob Odenkirk movie Nobody that was released in early 2021? Apparently a lot of people loved it, because it was the top streaming movie of the entire year.
It seems that Yellowstone had a lot of fans as well, because it was the top streamed TV series. We admit, it took us until 2022 to catch the Yellowstone fever, but now we can’t stop watching until we’ve gone all the way through season 4. We watch at least one episode a day — it’s the perfect series to get your heart racing while you’re working out at home.
Take a look at what other movies and TV series topped the list— we guarantee you’ll be surprised:
At Last! A Date for the 27th Annual Critics Choice Awards
Originally scheduled for last Sunday, January 8, the 27th annual Critics Choice Awards will now be held on March 13.
Here’s the official press release:
The Critics Choice Association (CCA) announced today that the 27th annual Critics Choice Awards will air LIVE on The CW Network and TBS on its new night, Sunday, March 13 from 7:00-10:00pm ET (delayed PT – check local listings).
The 27th annual Critics Choice Awards will be presented in-person at a gala event co-hosted by acclaimed film, television, and stage star Taye Diggs and actress, comedian, author and podcaster Nicole Byer at the Fairmont Century Plaza Hotel in Century City, California. The Critics Choice Awards will also air in many countries throughout Latin America, Europe and Asia.
The Critics Choice Association is working with the Los Angeles County Public Health Department to ensure that the proper COVID-19 protocols to keep all attendees safe and comfortable will be in place on March 13.
“Following the science and tracking the course of the Omicron variant, we believe that March 13th will be the right day to properly honor the finest achievements in film and television during the past year,” said CCA CEO Joey Berlin.
“We could have proceeded with our original January 9th date with limited attendance or switched to a virtual awards show like we did last year, but we decided to wait until we could safely gather in person and truly celebrate with the creative community, industry leaders and our CCA members all together in one beautiful setting for all the world to see.”
Major nomination for the 27th annual Critics Choice Awards
As previously announced, “Belfast” and “West Side Story” lead the 27th Annual Critics Choice Awards film contenders, having earned eleven nominations each. In addition to a Best Picture nod, “Belfast” received nominations for Best Supporting Actor for both Jamie Dornan and Ciarán Hinds, Best Supporting Actress for Caitríona Balfe, Best Young Actor/Actress for Jude Hill, and Best Acting Ensemble, while Kenneth Branagh could take home both the Best Director and Best Original Screenplay trophies.
Steven Spielberg also received a Best Director nomination for his Best Picture contender “West Side Story,” while two of the film’s standout performers, Ariana DeBose and Rita Moreno, will be vying for Best Supporting Actress and Rachel Zegler earned a nod for Best Young Actor/Actress.
The list of Best Picture hopefuls featured several more films with impressive nomination counts, including “Dune” and “The Power of the Dog” which picked up ten each. Denis Villeneuve earned a Best Director nomination for “Dune,” while Hans Zimmer is up for Best Score, and Jacqueline West and Robert Morgan were nominated for Best Costume Design.
“The Power of the Dog” was recognized with a Best Actor nod for Benedict Cumberbatch, a Best Supporting Actor nod for Kodi Smit-McPhee, and a Best Supporting Actress nod for Kirsten Dunst, while Jane Campion was nominated for Best Director.
Meanwhile, HBO’s “Succession” leads the Critics Choice Awards series nominations, collecting nods in eight categories. In addition to Best Drama Series the show racked up a slew of acting nominations including nods for both Brian Cox and Jeremy Strong for Best Actor in a Drama Series, while Nicholas Braun, Kieran Culkin and Matthew Macfadyen all earned nominations for Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series, and J. Smith-Cameron and Sarah Snook are up for Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series.
“Mare of Easttown” (HBO) and “Evil” (Paramount+) also scored multiple series nominations, earning five each.
The final round of voting for the 27th annual Critics Choice AwardsCritics Choice Awards will take place March 9-11.
For a full list of nominees for the 27th annual Critics Choice Awards, visit CriticsChoice.com.
Originally scheduled for last Sunday, January 8, the 27th annual Critics Choice Awards will now be held on March 13.
Huzzah! Hulu’s ‘The Great’ Renewed for Season 3
Hulu has renewed The Great, from Tony McNamara (The Favourite), for a 10-episode, third season. The critically acclaimed second season debuted on Hulu on Friday, November 19, 2021 and is certified fresh on Rotten Tomatoes at 100%. The series is currently nominated for three Critics’ Choice Awards.
In season two of The Great, Catherine (Elle Fanning) finally takes the Russian throne for her own — but if she thought couping her husband was difficult, it’s nothing compared to the realities of ‘liberating’ a country that doesn’t want to be. She’ll battle her court, her team, even her own mother in a bid to bring the enlightenment to Russia. With only occasional historical facts, the series stars Fanning, Nicholas Hoult, Phoebe Fox, Adam Godley, Gwilym Lee, Charity Wakefield, Douglas Hodge, Sacha Dhawan, Bayo Gbadamosi and Belinda Bromilow.
The Great is created, written and executive produced by Tony McNamara and executive produced by Marian Macgowan, Mark Winemaker, Elle Fanning, Nicholas Hoult, Echo Lake’s Brittany Kahan Ward, Doug Mankoff and Andrew Spaulding, Thruline’s Josh Kesselman and Ron West, and Matt Shakman.
The second season of The Great was one of the top performing original comedies on Hulu in 2021 and continues to grow Hulu’s highly successful slate of female-driven comedies, including Dollface, Pen15 and the upcoming Life & Beth, which marks Amy Schumer’s return to TV.
Return of the Super Awards!
Remember last year’s Super Awards? Probably not, because they were caught up in the pandemic, broadcast virtually, and barely made a blip on anyone’s radars, even though our all time favorite super hero actor, Chris Hemsworth showed up. Anyway, we at the Critics Choice Association are going to give it another shot. Here’s the official announcement:
The Critics Choice Association (CCA) is pleased to announce the return of the Critics Choice Super Awards, honoring the most popular, fan-obsessed genres across both television and movies, including Superhero, Science Fiction/Fantasy, Horror, and Action. Submissions for the 2nd Annual Critics Choice Super Awards will open on Monday, January 17, and winners will be revealed on Thursday, March 17.
No word yet on where or how they’ll be revealed, but crossing our fingers we can make it a big deal that you won’t want to miss!
Critics Choice Super Awards
Yellowstone Hits Its Peak
The fourth season of Yellowstone ended with a bang and another ratings record for Paramount Network. Sunday’s season finale amassed 10.3 million viewers, which included a simulcast on CMT. It was an all-time high for both the series and the outlet, topping the 8.12 million for the two-episode season debut in November.
I have to say that I am now hooked on this gritty, modern Western starring Kevin Costner. It took us four seasons to notice, but now we can’t stop binging watching, taking in at least two episodes a day as we work out and wind up the evening. We think of it as Cowboy Sopranos, or the Western Mob. Brutal, yet thrilling.
Tonight’s the Night for Michelle Obama on ‘Black-ish’
What better way to kick of the last season of ABC’s hit comedy series Black-ish, than to have former First Lady Michelle Obama appear on the show? We’re sorry to see the much awarded comedy sign off for good at the end of this season, but we’re pleased they’re going out with a bang. Catch it tonight on ABC, or any time On Demand.
What You Watched Over the Holiday Break
It’s no surprise that the most watched movie over the holiday weekend was Adam McKay’s star-studded political and environmental satire Don’t Look Up. What with Omicron and problematic weather rearing their ugly heads, we all needed a few laughs.
On the TV side of things, looks like we were up for light-hearted entertainment as well, with Cobra Kai coming in at #1, and Emily in Paris charting at #3. Sci-Fi fantasy took most of the other top 10 spots on the most-watched streamers list, with rankers including The Witcher, Hawkeye, The Book of Boba Fett, Star Trek Discovery, The Expanse and The Wheel of Time all scoring in the top 10. Here’s to escapist entertainment!
A Special Look at ‘The Book of Boba Fett’
Filmmakers Dave Filoni and Robert Rodriguez, plus star Temuera Morrison, take a look at the Boba Fett character and what Morrison brings to the role of the mysterious bounty hunter in this special new featurette, Being Boba Fett. Boba Fett’s return is the subject of the original series from Lucasfilm, The Book of Boba Fett, started streaming Dec. 29, exclusively on Disney+.
The Book of Boba Fett, a Star Wars adventure teased in a surprise end-credit sequence following the Season 2 finale of The Mandalorian, finds legendary bounty hunter Boba Fett and mercenary Fennec Shand navigating the galaxy’s underworld when they return to the sands of Tatooine to stake their claim on the territory once ruled by Jabba the Hutt and his crime syndicate.
The Book of Boba Fett stars Morrison and Ming-Na Wen. Jon Favreau, Dave Filoni, Robert Rodriguez, Kathleen Kennedy and Colin Wilson are the executive producers. Karen Gilchrist and Carrie Beck serve as co-executive producers, with John Bartnicki producing and John Hampian as co-producer.
Take a look:
New Year, New Harry Potter Special
In between the bowl games and the Rose Parade, Harry Potter fans will want to squeeze in the Harry Potter 20th Anniversary: Return to Hogwarts, special that will “celebrate the unparalleled legacy of the Harry Potter film franchise and its indelible impact on the hearts, minds, and imaginations of families and fans around the world,” according to a release.
Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint and Emma Watson and morereunited near London to talk about playing the magical childhood roles that made them international stars. The anniversary Hogwarts special airs New Year’s Day on HBO Max.
French Cocktails a la ‘Emily in Paris’
In celebration of the second season of Emily in Paris launching on Netflix, our sister site, ReallyRather.com, is running a fine feature with recipes for 5 French cocktails inspired by the hit show. Personally, we find the second season far more tolerable than the first. But you can’t deny the show’s bubbly nature, which is what these cocktails are all about. See the feature here.
