Movies/TV category, Page 95
Actor Michael O’Keefe talks ‘Caddyshack,’ more serious work ahead of Steel City ConVideo
During his days as a rising star in the 1970s and ‘80s, Michael O’Keefe was the kind of performer younger actors could look up to. O’Keefe could do it all, including a guest shot in 1974 at age 19 – playing a paralyzed soldier on “M*A*S*H,” arguably the best show...
TV Talk: Beaver County teen’s ‘Idol’ journey ends; ‘Tokyo Vice’ drops on HBO MaxVideo
And then it was over: Morgan Gruber, the 17-year-old Riverside High School senior from Fombell, was eliminated on Monday’s episode of ABC’s “American Idol.” “I just want everyone to know that I did not make it to the top 24,” Gruber wrote on her Facebook page Monday night. “They will...
Pittsburgh Pop podcast: Talking Grammy Awards, ‘American Idol,’ ‘Belfast’ and ‘Moon Knight’
In this episode of the “Pittsburgh Pop” podcast, host Tim Benz and TV Talk columnist Rob Owen discuss Pittsburgh pop culture news of the moment, including Morgan Gruber, the 17-year-old Riverside High School senior from Franklin Township, Beaver County, who continues to advance on ABC’s “American Idol.” Benz and Owen...
From the archive: Ex-Tarentum resident Estelle Harris enjoys role in ‘Seinfeld’
In memory of actress Estelle Harris, who died this weekend at age 93, TribLIVE is reposting a story from 1994 where she spoke about her work on “Seinfeld” and her acting career. Story by Rex Rutkoski. Published on Feb. 17, 1994. She’s been associated with some of the best-known people...
TV Talk: Western Pa. teen continues to advance on ‘American Idol’Video
From failing to make it onto the show last season to now advancing three times this season, Morgan Gruber of Franklin Township, Beaver County, is on a roll. In Sunday’s duets-themed episode, taped in December, platinum ticketholder Jay Copeland picked Gruber to be his duet partner, and they advanced to...
Weighed down by bad reviews, ‘Morbius’ opens with $39.1M
NEW YORK — Sony Pictures’ Marvel adaptation “Morbius” landed with dismal reviews but still managed to debut with $39.1 million in ticket sales, according to studio estimates Sunday. That was enough to easily hand “Morbius,” starring Jared Leto as a vampire-transforming biochemist, the top spot at the box office —...
Estelle Harris, ‘Seinfeld’ and ‘Toy Story’ actor who grew up in Tarentum, dies at 93
NEW YORK — Estelle Harris, who hollered her way into TV history as George Costanza’s short-fused mother on “Seinfeld” and voiced Mrs. Potato Head in the “Toy Story” franchise, has died. She was 93. As middle-class matron Estelle Costanza, Harris put a memorable stamp on her recurring role in the...
Carnegie Mellon’s 2022 International Film Festival explores what’s ‘Behind the Mask’
Carnegie Mellon University’s theme for its 2022 International Film Festival can be interpreted literally and figuratively. “Faces Behind the Mask,” the title of the festival, explores face coverings — the physical ones people have been wearing during the pandemic as well as those that aren’t seen. “What masks do we...
Will Smith resigns from film academy over Chris Rock slap
LOS ANGELES — Will Smith resigned Friday from the motion picture academy following his Oscars night slap of Chris Rock and said he would accept any further punishment the organization imposed. Smith in a statement released Friday afternoon he would “accept any further consequences the Board deems appropriate. I will...
Bruce Willis’ aphasia battle: Living in a country where you don’t speak the language
Living with aphasia has been compared to living in a country where you don’t speak the language. Gestures, sign language or other forms of communication may not be much help. And the people who want to help you struggle to understand. “You know what things are. You are the person...
TV Talk: Very Local highlights Pittsburgh chefs; PBS offers a biography of Benjamin Franklin
Trib Total Media TV writer Rob Owen offers viewing tips for the coming week. The latest Pittsburgh show on Hearst’s Very Local streaming service, available via Amazon Fire, Apple TV, Android TV and Roku devices, offers profiles of several Pittsburgh chefs in each half-hour episode. Unlike Very Local’s hosted culinary...
Fox News hires Caitlyn Jenner as contributor, commentator
NEW YORK — Fox News Channel says it has hired Caitlyn Jenner as a contributor, with her first appearance set for Thursday on Sean Hannity’s program. Jenner, the former Olympic decathlete, ran an unsuccessful campaign for California governor last year. The network said she’ll offer commentary and analysis across various...
Chris Rock takes to comedy mic, still processing Oscars slap
BOSTON — Chris Rock received several standing ovations before he told one joke Wednesday at his first comedy show since Will Smith slapped him in the face onstage at the Oscars. Rock only briefly addressed the slap to the sold out crowd in Boston, saying he was “still kind of...
TV Talk: Former Pittsburgher directs ‘Better Nate Than Ever,’ based on his novel, for Disney+Video
Tim Federle grew up in the Pittsburgh suburbs as a theater kid, realized his dream of appearing on Broadway, became an author and now is a scriptwriter/showrunner/director with the movie “Ferdinand” and Disney+’s “High School Musical: The Musical: The Series” among his credits. But his film directorial debut, an adaptation...
Bruce Willis, diagnosed with aphasia, steps away from acting
NEW YORK — Bruce Wills is stepping away from acting after a diagnosis of aphasia, a condition that causes loss of the ability to understand or express speech, his family announced Wednesday. In a statement posted on Willis’ Instagram page, the 67-year-old actor’s family said Willis was recently diagnosed with...
Apple TV+’s journey from Hollywood outsider to first streamer with a best picture OscarVideo
LOS ANGELES — It was only three years ago when Hollywood was looking at Apple with intense skepticism. Before launching its streaming service Apple TV+ in late 2019, the iPhone maker had confused traditional film and television industry players with a presentation that was heavy on star power — Oprah...
TV Q&A: Was Steve Harvey ever a real judge?
Trib Total Media TV writer Rob Owen answers reader questions every Wednesday at TribLive.com in a column that also appears in the Sunday Tribune-Review. Q: I’ve been watching ABC’s “Judge Steve Harvey.” It’s very entertaining. Is he a real judge? – Theresa, Allegheny Township Rob: Unlike the judges on daytime...
TV Talk: ‘This is Us’ gives a shout-out to Eat’n Park
NBC’s partially Pittsburgh-set “This Is Us” has its share of local references – the Steelers, the Pirates and even the late Froggy’s in Downtown Pittsburgh have received multiple references on the family drama – and in Tuesday’s episode it was local chain Eat’n Park’s turn. In the present, while at...
From Hollywood’s illusion factory, some unexpected reality
In the minutes and hours after Will Smith accosted and slapped Chris Rock before a live audience of millions, social media platforms lit up with a breathless and emphatic hot take: Surely, multitudes insisted, the whole thing was staged. They talked of the specifics of the altercation (“Rock barely moved”)....
TV ratings company Nielsen acquired in $16 billion deal
NEW YORK — Nielsen is being acquired for $16 billion, including debt, about a week after the TV ratings and marketing data company rejected a $9 billion offer. A group of private equity investors led by Brookfield Business Partners will invest approximately $2.65 billion via preferred equity, convertible into 45%...
TV Talk: Beaver County teen’s ‘Idol’ streak continuesVideo
Morgan Gruber of Franklin Township, Beaver County, made it through a second week of ABC’s “American Idol” in the season’s first Hollywood Week episode Monday night. Gruber was barely featured in the episode but she could be glimpsed briefly singing Demi Lovato’s “Anyone” as part of the pop performers genre....
Will Smith apologizes: ‘I was out of line and I was wrong’
LOS ANGELES — The day after slapping Chris Rock on the Oscars stage and upending the 94th Academy Awards, Will Smith issued an apology to the comedian, to the academy and to viewers at home, saying he was “out of line” and that his actions are “not indicative of the...
Pittsburgh Pop podcast: Talking Will Smith’s Oscar’s slap, ‘Bridgerton,’ ‘Halo’ and the sports announcers’ swap with a local tie
In this episode of the “Pittsburgh Pop” podcast, host Tim Benz and TV Talk columnist Rob Owen discuss Pittsburgh pop culture news of the moment, including what everyone is talking about today: Will Smith slapping Chris Rock at the Oscars over Rock’s joke at the expense of Smith’s wife. Benz...
TV Talk: Will Smith’s ego steals the spotlight from award winners
When the Academy has to say that it does not condone violence at its ceremony, you know something has gone terribly wrong. Chris Rock joked about Jada Pinkett Smith’s bald head at the Oscars Sunday night, saying he looked forward to seeing her in “G.I. Jane 2” (“G.I. Jane” starred...
Will Smith dances with family after Oscar win, shocking slap
BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. — Will Smith gleefully danced with his wife, Jada Pinkett Smith, and their family at the Vanity Fair Oscar party, waving his best actor trophy in the air like he just didn’t care as he rapped along to a mash-up of his own songs, from “Gettin’ Jiggy...
