Jason Reitman’s movie about the inaugural broadcast of “Saturday Night Live” has been set for theatrical release on Oct. 11, 2024.
The release date is particularly significant since Oct. 11 is the same date the legendary comedy show — which will be launching its 50th season this fall — was first broadcast.
At 11:30 p.m. that night, the film’s official synopsis explains, “a ferocious troupe of young comedians and writers changed television forever.” The Sony movie, officially titled “Saturday Night,” is based on the true story of what happened behind the scene in the 90 minutes leading up to broadcast. “Full of humor, chaos, and the magic of a revolution that almost wasn’t, we count down the minutes in real time to the famous words: ‘Live from New York, it’s Saturday night!’
“Saturday Night” is directed by Reitman from a script he penned with his “Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire” co-writer Gil Kenan,...
The release date is particularly significant since Oct. 11 is the same date the legendary comedy show — which will be launching its 50th season this fall — was first broadcast.
At 11:30 p.m. that night, the film’s official synopsis explains, “a ferocious troupe of young comedians and writers changed television forever.” The Sony movie, officially titled “Saturday Night,” is based on the true story of what happened behind the scene in the 90 minutes leading up to broadcast. “Full of humor, chaos, and the magic of a revolution that almost wasn’t, we count down the minutes in real time to the famous words: ‘Live from New York, it’s Saturday night!’
“Saturday Night” is directed by Reitman from a script he penned with his “Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire” co-writer Gil Kenan,...
- 7/31/2024
- by Angelique Jackson
- Variety Film + TV
The 2024 edition of the Hamptons International Film Festival (Hiff) has finally unveiled its Opening Night selection — and a partial lineup.
The beloved local festival, hosted by HamptonsFilm, is celebrating its 32nd annual program. The festival will take place from October 4-14.
Hiff opens with the east coast premiere of R.J. Cutler’s “Martha” documentary about the life and legacy of Martha Stewart. Academy Award-nominated and Emmy- and Peabody Award-winning director Cutler captures mogul Stewart through a series of candid interviews that chart her early start on Wall Street to becoming a housewares icon. Cutler previously directed the definitive Anna Wintour and Vogue documentary “The September Issue.”
“It feels only fitting that we open this year’s event with R.J. Cutler’s portrait of Martha Stewart,” HamptonsFilm Executive Director Anne Chaisson said. “We are delighted to welcome Martha — a truly trailblazing cultural figure and an East End resident of more...
The beloved local festival, hosted by HamptonsFilm, is celebrating its 32nd annual program. The festival will take place from October 4-14.
Hiff opens with the east coast premiere of R.J. Cutler’s “Martha” documentary about the life and legacy of Martha Stewart. Academy Award-nominated and Emmy- and Peabody Award-winning director Cutler captures mogul Stewart through a series of candid interviews that chart her early start on Wall Street to becoming a housewares icon. Cutler previously directed the definitive Anna Wintour and Vogue documentary “The September Issue.”
“It feels only fitting that we open this year’s event with R.J. Cutler’s portrait of Martha Stewart,” HamptonsFilm Executive Director Anne Chaisson said. “We are delighted to welcome Martha — a truly trailblazing cultural figure and an East End resident of more...
- 7/30/2024
- by Samantha Bergeson
- Indiewire
A two-part documentary about the comedy legend Mel Brooks from directors Judd Apatow and Michael Bonfiglio has been set at HBO. Documentary Takes Shape The HBO Documentary Films and Apatow Productions project, now in production, will trace Brooks’ journey from Brooklyn to Hollywood and Broadway. Joe Beshenkovsky, who last worked with Apatow and Bonfiglio on HBO’s four-hour documentary George Carlin’s American Dream, will edit the documentary. Apatow’s Admiration for Brooks Apatow promises a career-spanning film about the comedy legend behind classic movie farces and parodies. I went into comedy because of my love for Mel Brooks. This project is the...
- 7/26/2024
- by Trending Stories
- TVovermind.com
A two-part HBO documentary about the life and career of comedy icon Mel Brooks has entered into production.
The documentary will be directed by Judd Apatow and Michael Bonfiglio, and will arrive as a co-production between the former’s Apatow Productions and HBO Documentary Films. Via an official press release from Max, the documentary will be “an expansive yet intimate look at one of comedy’s most hilarious and influential minds, whose work has had audiences around the world laughing for more than 70 years.”
Apatow, who previously collaborated with Bonfiglio for another HBO comedy documentary George Carlin’s American Dream, expressed reverence for Mel Brooks’ work in a statement. “I went into comedy because of my love for Mel Brooks,” Apatow said. “This project is the dream of a lifetime.”
Mel Brooks has been the subject of several documentaries over the last few decades. PBS produced an installment of American Masters...
The documentary will be directed by Judd Apatow and Michael Bonfiglio, and will arrive as a co-production between the former’s Apatow Productions and HBO Documentary Films. Via an official press release from Max, the documentary will be “an expansive yet intimate look at one of comedy’s most hilarious and influential minds, whose work has had audiences around the world laughing for more than 70 years.”
Apatow, who previously collaborated with Bonfiglio for another HBO comedy documentary George Carlin’s American Dream, expressed reverence for Mel Brooks’ work in a statement. “I went into comedy because of my love for Mel Brooks,” Apatow said. “This project is the dream of a lifetime.”
Mel Brooks has been the subject of several documentaries over the last few decades. PBS produced an installment of American Masters...
- 7/24/2024
- by Paolo Ragusa
- Consequence - Film News
A new documentary will look at the life and career of filmmaker Mel Brooks, whose films like The Producers, Blazing Saddles, Young Frankenstein, and Spaceballs defined comedy for several generations of people through the past seven decades. The docuseries, which is still in production, will air in two parts on HBO. Judd Apatow and Michael Bonfiglio are co-directing it.
“I went into comedy because of my love for Mel Brooks,” Apatow said in a statement. “This project is the dream of a lifetime.”
Apatow, who’s best known for his own films,...
“I went into comedy because of my love for Mel Brooks,” Apatow said in a statement. “This project is the dream of a lifetime.”
Apatow, who’s best known for his own films,...
- 7/24/2024
- by Kory Grow
- Rollingstone.com
HBO is working on a two-part documentary about comedy legend Mel Brooks.
Judd Apatow is directing the untitled doc with Michael Bonfiglio after the pair directed George Carlin’s American Dream together. It is now in production.
The docu is an “expansive yet intimate look at one of comedy’s most hilarious and influential minds, whose work has had audiences around the world laughing for more than 70 years”, per HBO.
It comes from HBO Documentary Films and Apatow Productions with Kevin Salter exec producing and Joe Beshenkovsky editing.
It marks the latest Mel Brooks doc to air on HBO; the network aired Mel Brooks: Unwrapped, originally a BBC production, in 2020.
“I went into comedy because of my love for Mel Brooks. This project is the dream of a lifetime,” said Apatow.
It is the latest documentary for Apatow, who directed Bob and Don: A Love Story and The Zen Diaries of Garry Shandling.
Judd Apatow is directing the untitled doc with Michael Bonfiglio after the pair directed George Carlin’s American Dream together. It is now in production.
The docu is an “expansive yet intimate look at one of comedy’s most hilarious and influential minds, whose work has had audiences around the world laughing for more than 70 years”, per HBO.
It comes from HBO Documentary Films and Apatow Productions with Kevin Salter exec producing and Joe Beshenkovsky editing.
It marks the latest Mel Brooks doc to air on HBO; the network aired Mel Brooks: Unwrapped, originally a BBC production, in 2020.
“I went into comedy because of my love for Mel Brooks. This project is the dream of a lifetime,” said Apatow.
It is the latest documentary for Apatow, who directed Bob and Don: A Love Story and The Zen Diaries of Garry Shandling.
- 7/24/2024
- by Peter White
- Deadline Film + TV
A two-part documentary about comedy legend Mel Brooks from directors Judd Apatow and Michael Bonfiglio has been set at HBO.
The HBO Documentary Films and Apatow Productions project, now in production, will trace Brooks’ journey from Brooklyn to Hollywood and Broadway. Joe Beshenkovsky, who last worked with Apatow and Bonfiglio on HBO’s four-hour documentary George Carlin’s American Dream, will edit the documentary.
Apatow promises a career-spanning film about the comedy legend behind classic movie farces and parodies. “I went into comedy because of my love for Mel Brooks. This project is the dream of a lifetime,” the Hollywood writer-director-producer said in a statement.
Brooks’ career began with Sid Caesar’s Your Show of Shows where he worked alongside the late Carl Reiner, Neil Simon, and Larry Gelbart. That’s after the teenage comedian in the Catskills conquered the entertainment world with his satirical comedy.
Brooks earned an Oscar...
The HBO Documentary Films and Apatow Productions project, now in production, will trace Brooks’ journey from Brooklyn to Hollywood and Broadway. Joe Beshenkovsky, who last worked with Apatow and Bonfiglio on HBO’s four-hour documentary George Carlin’s American Dream, will edit the documentary.
Apatow promises a career-spanning film about the comedy legend behind classic movie farces and parodies. “I went into comedy because of my love for Mel Brooks. This project is the dream of a lifetime,” the Hollywood writer-director-producer said in a statement.
Brooks’ career began with Sid Caesar’s Your Show of Shows where he worked alongside the late Carl Reiner, Neil Simon, and Larry Gelbart. That’s after the teenage comedian in the Catskills conquered the entertainment world with his satirical comedy.
Brooks earned an Oscar...
- 7/24/2024
- by Etan Vlessing
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
The title of “Sorry/Not Sorry,” a documentary about the Louis C.K. scandal, makes the film sound like a hot-button exposé with the potential to be as controversial as the case itself. The offscreen infamy of Louis C.K. — his coercive and abusive ritual of masturbating in front of women, many of whom were his comedian colleagues — was first revealed in the mainstream media nearly seven years ago, amid the tidal wave of reckoning that became #MeToo. I thought: Is the film going to be about how Louis C.K. is now sorry…and not sorry? And what point-of-view will the documentary take?
“Sorry/Not Sorry” does deal with Louis C.K.’s reaction to the scandal: his message of apology that was never quite an apology; his carefully orchestrated comeback, after only nine months, via the comedy-club circuit (a comeback that ultimately encompassed his winning a Grammy for best comedy album...
“Sorry/Not Sorry” does deal with Louis C.K.’s reaction to the scandal: his message of apology that was never quite an apology; his carefully orchestrated comeback, after only nine months, via the comedy-club circuit (a comeback that ultimately encompassed his winning a Grammy for best comedy album...
- 7/13/2024
- by Owen Gleiberman
- Variety Film + TV
George Carlin was never much of a joiner. When comedian Paul Provenza suggested he might be a nihilist, Carlin resisted the notion. “‘Nihilist’ is definitely an identity, and I shy away from identities,” he explained in Provenza’s Satiristas: Comedians, Contrarians, Raconteurs & Vulgarians.
So Provenza tried some more adjectives to pinpoint Carlin’s life philosophy. “Some might describe your worldview as cynical or dispassionate,” he suggested, but once again, Carlin shot down the categorization.
“If an outsider wants to say that, fine, but I don’t think of myself as cynical. To me, cynical is when Ford refused to retool gas tanks that were exploding and killing people. It cost more to retool than it did to pay the widows, so they chose to just continue paying widows. That’s cynicism.”
Cue the rants! “I understand that a person who doesn’t believe in a lot is called a cynic...
So Provenza tried some more adjectives to pinpoint Carlin’s life philosophy. “Some might describe your worldview as cynical or dispassionate,” he suggested, but once again, Carlin shot down the categorization.
“If an outsider wants to say that, fine, but I don’t think of myself as cynical. To me, cynical is when Ford refused to retool gas tanks that were exploding and killing people. It cost more to retool than it did to pay the widows, so they chose to just continue paying widows. That’s cynicism.”
Cue the rants! “I understand that a person who doesn’t believe in a lot is called a cynic...
- 6/27/2024
- Cracked
You’ll have to pardon Laura Jane Grace, she’s not feeling herself. On “All Fucked Out,” her latest single backed by the Mississippi Medicals, she explains her predicament atop a dusty tarpaulin of loping country-punk: “I’m all fucked out of the real thing/I’m dry like bread – stale & crusty/I got just the ends left.” For what it’s worth, though, she sounds like she’s making the best of it, especially in the context of what inspired the song.
“Back in 2021, I sat down in my office to do some songwriting,...
“Back in 2021, I sat down in my office to do some songwriting,...
- 6/21/2024
- by Kory Grow
- Rollingstone.com
Exclusive: Kimberly Carver, who represents the likes of Jed Elinoff and Scott Thomas, who are behind Wizards of Waverly Place reboot, has moved from Anonymous Content to Avalon.
Carver, who also recently exec produced Max’s Julia Child drama Julia, has joined the company as a manger based in LA.
It is the latest expansion for UK-founded firm Avalon in the U.S., where it has added six manager in the U.S. and struck a partnership with literary talent at The Agency.
Carver joined Anonymous Content at the end of 2021, where she was a manager and producer working in scripted and non-fiction formats, representing a diverse group of writers, directors, documentary filmmakers, and podcasters. In addition to exec producing Julia, she also produced several comedy series, including Barely Famous and Comedy Get Down, and co-created the non-scripted series The Julia Child Challenge during her tenure at 3 Arts Entertainment.
Carver, who also recently exec produced Max’s Julia Child drama Julia, has joined the company as a manger based in LA.
It is the latest expansion for UK-founded firm Avalon in the U.S., where it has added six manager in the U.S. and struck a partnership with literary talent at The Agency.
Carver joined Anonymous Content at the end of 2021, where she was a manager and producer working in scripted and non-fiction formats, representing a diverse group of writers, directors, documentary filmmakers, and podcasters. In addition to exec producing Julia, she also produced several comedy series, including Barely Famous and Comedy Get Down, and co-created the non-scripted series The Julia Child Challenge during her tenure at 3 Arts Entertainment.
- 6/17/2024
- by Peter White
- Deadline Film + TV
Neil Berkley’s Group Therapy is a poignant, hilarious and moving exploration of the intersections between comedy, grief and mental illness. Starring a stellar cast of comedians including Neil Patrick Harris, Gary Gulman, Nicole Byer, Mike Birbiglia, London Hughes, Tig Notaro and Atsuko Okatsuka, the film delves into the ways these performers use humor as a coping mechanism and a form of catharsis.
The film kicks off with a darkly comedic clip of George Carlin, setting the tone by discussing suicide and mental health statistics in America. This seamlessly transitions into clips of various comedians opening up about their struggles with mental illness, the medications they take, and the traumas they’ve endured. It’s a stark yet effective way to frame the narrative, immediately drawing viewers into the raw and unfiltered realities these comedians face. Each comedian in the film shares their journey of developing their unique sense of humor,...
The film kicks off with a darkly comedic clip of George Carlin, setting the tone by discussing suicide and mental health statistics in America. This seamlessly transitions into clips of various comedians opening up about their struggles with mental illness, the medications they take, and the traumas they’ve endured. It’s a stark yet effective way to frame the narrative, immediately drawing viewers into the raw and unfiltered realities these comedians face. Each comedian in the film shares their journey of developing their unique sense of humor,...
- 6/11/2024
- by Valerie Complex
- Deadline Film + TV
A reboot of “The Munsters” and a series adaptation of the 1976 Universal Pictures comedy “Car Wash” are among the projects Universal Studio Group (Usg) currently has in development, Variety has learned. In addition, Universal International Studios (Uis) and Carnival Films are developing a drama series about a newlywed woman accused of murdering her husband on their honeymoon.
The “Munsters” reboot is currently titled “1313,” a reference to the fictional family of monsters’ address at 1313 Mockingbird Lane. It is not currently set up at any network or streaming service.
The new show is described as a horror series that “lives and breathes within the Universal Monsterverse,” per the official logline. The project was developed by James Wan, Lindsey Anderson Beer, and Ingrid Bisu. Anderson Beer will serve as showrunner and executive producer via Lab Brew, with Wan, Michael Clear, and Rob Hackett executive producing via Atomic Monster. Bisu will be a co-executive producer.
The “Munsters” reboot is currently titled “1313,” a reference to the fictional family of monsters’ address at 1313 Mockingbird Lane. It is not currently set up at any network or streaming service.
The new show is described as a horror series that “lives and breathes within the Universal Monsterverse,” per the official logline. The project was developed by James Wan, Lindsey Anderson Beer, and Ingrid Bisu. Anderson Beer will serve as showrunner and executive producer via Lab Brew, with Wan, Michael Clear, and Rob Hackett executive producing via Atomic Monster. Bisu will be a co-executive producer.
- 5/22/2024
- by Joe Otterson
- Variety Film + TV
The cult classic 1976 Universal Pictures film Car Wash is getting the small-screen treatment from producer Malcolm D. Lee (“The Best Man” franchise) and writer Opey Olagbaju. A comedy series of the same name is in development at NBC from Universal Television.
Set at a modern-day DC car wash, the TV series focuses on an immigrant family’s generational and cultural clashes between father and son and their eclectic group of employees.
The logline reveals many similarities to the original film while using the TV format to make the story much bigger. The Michael Schultz-directed film follows the lives of a group of friends from Los Angeles who work at the Dee-Luxe Car Wash and the interesting characters they interact with one Friday in July.
Many notable names were part of the large ensemble cast including Richard Pryor, George Carlin, Franklyn Ajaye, Bill Duke, Pepe Serna,...
Set at a modern-day DC car wash, the TV series focuses on an immigrant family’s generational and cultural clashes between father and son and their eclectic group of employees.
The logline reveals many similarities to the original film while using the TV format to make the story much bigger. The Michael Schultz-directed film follows the lives of a group of friends from Los Angeles who work at the Dee-Luxe Car Wash and the interesting characters they interact with one Friday in July.
Many notable names were part of the large ensemble cast including Richard Pryor, George Carlin, Franklyn Ajaye, Bill Duke, Pepe Serna,...
- 5/22/2024
- by Rosy Cordero
- Deadline Film + TV
Lovo, a Berkeley-based AI startup, was accused in a class action lawsuit on Thursday of stealing actors’ voices to create Genny, a publicly accessible AI generator.
Paul Skye Lehrman and Linnea Sage, a New York couple who work as voice actors, alleged that they were deceived into providing voice samples through a freelance website. They were paid $1200 and $400, respectively, for reading scripts, and were told the recordings would be used internally, or for academic purposes.
Years later, they discovered that their voices had been cloned and were being used publicly without their permission or additional payment, the suit alleges. They are seeking to represent every actor whose voice was taken, and to stop Lovo from using those voices without consent and payment.
“You gotta get back control of their voices and their professional destiny,” said Steve Cohen, a partner at Pollock Cohen Llp, who filed the complaint. “There’s gotta...
Paul Skye Lehrman and Linnea Sage, a New York couple who work as voice actors, alleged that they were deceived into providing voice samples through a freelance website. They were paid $1200 and $400, respectively, for reading scripts, and were told the recordings would be used internally, or for academic purposes.
Years later, they discovered that their voices had been cloned and were being used publicly without their permission or additional payment, the suit alleges. They are seeking to represent every actor whose voice was taken, and to stop Lovo from using those voices without consent and payment.
“You gotta get back control of their voices and their professional destiny,” said Steve Cohen, a partner at Pollock Cohen Llp, who filed the complaint. “There’s gotta...
- 5/16/2024
- by Gene Maddaus
- Variety Film + TV
Kino Lorber has acquired North American rights to “Daytime Revolution,” a documentary about the week that John Lennon and Yoko Ono co-hosted “The Mike Douglas Show” in early 1972. Directed by Erik Nelson, with creative consultation from Ono and her son, Sean Ono Lennon, the doc uses archival footage from each of the five 70-minute shows as well as interviews with six surviving guests, including Ralph Nader, to tell the behind-the-scenes story of theses shows.
Kino Lorber will open “Daytime Revolution” theatrically later this year, followed by a home video, educational, and digital release on all major platforms.
“Erik Nelson has unearthed a fascinating and undeniably radical moment of cultural history with ‘Daytime Revolution,’ giving viewers incredible behind the scenes access to a week of
television that continues to resonate today,” says Wendy Lidell, Kino Lorber’s senior VP of theatrical distribution and acquisitions. “John and Yoko used this memorable week...
Kino Lorber will open “Daytime Revolution” theatrically later this year, followed by a home video, educational, and digital release on all major platforms.
“Erik Nelson has unearthed a fascinating and undeniably radical moment of cultural history with ‘Daytime Revolution,’ giving viewers incredible behind the scenes access to a week of
television that continues to resonate today,” says Wendy Lidell, Kino Lorber’s senior VP of theatrical distribution and acquisitions. “John and Yoko used this memorable week...
- 5/8/2024
- by Addie Morfoot
- Variety Film + TV
The 2024 Tribeca Festival has revealed its lineup of talks and reunions with filmmakers including Martin Scorsese, Robert De Niro, Judd Apatow, Kieran Culkin and more.
The premiere of HBO’s “Wise Guy David Chase and the Sopranos,” a documentary directed by Alex Gibney, will take place to celebrate the 25th anniversary of “The Sopranos.” There will also be a reunion with creator David Chase, executive producer Terence Winter and cast members Edie Falco, Michael Imperioli, Aida Turturro, Annabella Sciorra, Robert Iler, Jamie-Lynn Sigler, Drea De Matteo, Steve Schirripa, Michele Chase, Kathrine Narducci, and Dominic Chianese.
In addition, “Mean Streets” celebrates its 50th anniversary and will include a conversation with Scorsese and De Niro. Steven Spielberg will recognize his theatrical debut, “The Sugarland Express,” and Kevin Bacon will honor “Footloose’s” 40th anniversary.
There will also be conversations with Apatow, Andy Cohen, Laverne Cox, Culkin, Michael Stipe, Kerry Washington, Gus Van Sant,...
The premiere of HBO’s “Wise Guy David Chase and the Sopranos,” a documentary directed by Alex Gibney, will take place to celebrate the 25th anniversary of “The Sopranos.” There will also be a reunion with creator David Chase, executive producer Terence Winter and cast members Edie Falco, Michael Imperioli, Aida Turturro, Annabella Sciorra, Robert Iler, Jamie-Lynn Sigler, Drea De Matteo, Steve Schirripa, Michele Chase, Kathrine Narducci, and Dominic Chianese.
In addition, “Mean Streets” celebrates its 50th anniversary and will include a conversation with Scorsese and De Niro. Steven Spielberg will recognize his theatrical debut, “The Sugarland Express,” and Kevin Bacon will honor “Footloose’s” 40th anniversary.
There will also be conversations with Apatow, Andy Cohen, Laverne Cox, Culkin, Michael Stipe, Kerry Washington, Gus Van Sant,...
- 4/30/2024
- by Lexi Carson
- Variety Film + TV
The Tribeca Festival is celebrating the monumental anniversaries of two Italian-American classics: series “The Sopranos” and Martin Scorsese’s “Mean Streets.”
The 2024 Tribeca Festival, presented by Okx, takes place June 5 through 16 and unveiled its lineup of talks with iconic artists, critically-acclaimed directors, and multi-hyphenate entertainers, as well as reunions and retrospectives of venerable and lauded films and TV series.
The 25th anniversary of “The Sopranos” will be celebrated at the Beacon Theatre with the world premiere of Alex Gibney’s documentary “Wise Guy: David Chase and ‘The Sopranos.'” This special event, presented by City National Bank, will feature a reunion with series creator David Chase, executive producer Terence Winter, and stars Edie Falco, Michael Imperioli, Aida Turturro, Annabella Sciorra,Robert Iler, Jamie-Lynn Sigler, Drea De Matteo, Steve Schirripa, Michele Chase, Kathrine Narducci, and Dominic Chianese.
Auteurs Martin Scorsese and Steven Spielberg are toasting both of their respective half-century anniversaries,...
The 2024 Tribeca Festival, presented by Okx, takes place June 5 through 16 and unveiled its lineup of talks with iconic artists, critically-acclaimed directors, and multi-hyphenate entertainers, as well as reunions and retrospectives of venerable and lauded films and TV series.
The 25th anniversary of “The Sopranos” will be celebrated at the Beacon Theatre with the world premiere of Alex Gibney’s documentary “Wise Guy: David Chase and ‘The Sopranos.'” This special event, presented by City National Bank, will feature a reunion with series creator David Chase, executive producer Terence Winter, and stars Edie Falco, Michael Imperioli, Aida Turturro, Annabella Sciorra,Robert Iler, Jamie-Lynn Sigler, Drea De Matteo, Steve Schirripa, Michele Chase, Kathrine Narducci, and Dominic Chianese.
Auteurs Martin Scorsese and Steven Spielberg are toasting both of their respective half-century anniversaries,...
- 4/30/2024
- by Samantha Bergeson
- Indiewire
Renowned among the 100 greatest comedians by Comedy Central, Lewis Black is an actor, stand-up comedian, playwright, and producer. His comedy routines depict major influence by numerous famous comedians, including George Carlin Lily Tomlin, Lenny Bruce, and Richard Pryor. Aside from his stand-up specials which often border around politics, cultural inclination, and religion, Black is known for hosting the Back in Black commentary segment on The Daily Show. He also hosted Lewis Black’s Root of All Evil on Comedy Central. Lewis Black’s successful comedy career has spawned over 10 stand-up comedy specials, including Thanks for Risking Your Life (2020). Beyond
The post Lewis Black Biography: Where Is the Inside Out Actor From? first appeared on TVovermind.
The post Lewis Black Biography: Where Is the Inside Out Actor From? first appeared on TVovermind.
- 4/30/2024
- by Banks Onuoha
- TVovermind.com
Stormy Daniels Doc Finds Global Distribution
Blue Ant Studios (Canada’s Drag Race) has taken worldwide distribution on Stormy, an in-depth documentary about the life of Stormy Daniels coming on the day of Donald Trump’s hush money trial. Daniels made headlines in 2018 when The Wall Street Journal reported that, just before the 2016 U.S. presidential election, she was paid $130,000 to stop her disclosing an affair she and Trump allegedly had in July 2006. Trump’s trial takes place from today in New York. Peacock’s Stormy is produced by Emmy-nominated Erin Lee Carr and producer/director Sarah Gibson (Orgasm Inc: The Story of One Taste), who were also behind the Britney vs. Spears explosive doc. “Our team is thrilled to have international rights for this sought-after documentary produced by two renowned filmmakers who specialize in portraying the stories of women...
Blue Ant Studios (Canada’s Drag Race) has taken worldwide distribution on Stormy, an in-depth documentary about the life of Stormy Daniels coming on the day of Donald Trump’s hush money trial. Daniels made headlines in 2018 when The Wall Street Journal reported that, just before the 2016 U.S. presidential election, she was paid $130,000 to stop her disclosing an affair she and Trump allegedly had in July 2006. Trump’s trial takes place from today in New York. Peacock’s Stormy is produced by Emmy-nominated Erin Lee Carr and producer/director Sarah Gibson (Orgasm Inc: The Story of One Taste), who were also behind the Britney vs. Spears explosive doc. “Our team is thrilled to have international rights for this sought-after documentary produced by two renowned filmmakers who specialize in portraying the stories of women...
- 4/15/2024
- by Hannah Abraham
- Deadline Film + TV
The estate of legendary comedian George Carlin has settled their lawsuit with the Dudesy podcast, stemming from the latter creating an AI-generated standup special using the likeness of Carlin. While specific details — particularly as they pertain to financial compensation — were not made public, the victory for the Carlin estate shows that there could be a much stronger support over (mis)use of likenesses than we may have fully seen enacted.
Carlin’s daughter, Kelly, immediately expressed her disdain over the hour-long standup special, titled George Carlin: I’m Glad I’m Dead, in which artificial intelligence was used to try to mimic the voice, delivery and patterns of the comedian…achieving less in being a piece of comedy than they did in slapping the face of Carlin. In a statement, she said this landmark win demonstrates the “dangers posed by AI technologies and the need for appropriate safeguards not just for artists and creatives,...
Carlin’s daughter, Kelly, immediately expressed her disdain over the hour-long standup special, titled George Carlin: I’m Glad I’m Dead, in which artificial intelligence was used to try to mimic the voice, delivery and patterns of the comedian…achieving less in being a piece of comedy than they did in slapping the face of Carlin. In a statement, she said this landmark win demonstrates the “dangers posed by AI technologies and the need for appropriate safeguards not just for artists and creatives,...
- 4/3/2024
- by Mathew Plale
- JoBlo.com
The estate of George Carlin has reached a settlement with the creators of a purportedly AI-generated ‘comedy special’ featuring the late comedian.
In January, an hour-long ‘comedy special’, featuring the synthesised voice and delivery style of the late comedian George Carlin, emerged on YouTube. Said to be generated entirely using AI, the video was uploaded by a pair of comedians and podcasters named Dudesy, and seemed calculatedly designed to garner online attention – and it’s fair to say the gambit worked.
Within days, the George Carlin estate filed a lawsuit against the makers of the video – real names Will Sasso and Chad Kultgen – alleging copyright and the violation of publicity laws. The video in question, entitled I’m Glad I’m Dead, was subsequently taken down.
Months later, and that suit has since been settled out of court; in plain terms, the Dudesy Podcast has agreed to an injunction that...
In January, an hour-long ‘comedy special’, featuring the synthesised voice and delivery style of the late comedian George Carlin, emerged on YouTube. Said to be generated entirely using AI, the video was uploaded by a pair of comedians and podcasters named Dudesy, and seemed calculatedly designed to garner online attention – and it’s fair to say the gambit worked.
Within days, the George Carlin estate filed a lawsuit against the makers of the video – real names Will Sasso and Chad Kultgen – alleging copyright and the violation of publicity laws. The video in question, entitled I’m Glad I’m Dead, was subsequently taken down.
Months later, and that suit has since been settled out of court; in plain terms, the Dudesy Podcast has agreed to an injunction that...
- 4/3/2024
- by Ryan Lambie
- Film Stories
The estate of late comedian George Carlin settled a lawsuit with the Dudesy podcast over an AI-generated comedy special.
On Tuesday, lawyers for the Carlin family shared that the podcast’s creators had pulled the computer-made special George Carlin: I’m Glad I’m Dead from YouTube following a lawsuit filed in January.
“I am pleased that this matter was resolved quickly and amicably, and I am grateful that the defendants acted responsibly by swiftly removing the video they made,” Carlin’s daughter Kelly said in a statement. “While it...
On Tuesday, lawyers for the Carlin family shared that the podcast’s creators had pulled the computer-made special George Carlin: I’m Glad I’m Dead from YouTube following a lawsuit filed in January.
“I am pleased that this matter was resolved quickly and amicably, and I am grateful that the defendants acted responsibly by swiftly removing the video they made,” Carlin’s daughter Kelly said in a statement. “While it...
- 4/3/2024
- by Tomás Mier
- Rollingstone.com
George Carlin once noted that “bulls**t is truly the American soundtrack.” Well, today the music got just a little bit more authentic – at least online.
A little more than two months since the estate of the comedy genius took the creators of an AI generated special that uses Carlin’s style and voice to court, the parties have settled.
“Defendants are hereby Permanently Restrained And Enjoined From uploading, posting or broadcasting the Dudesy Special on the Dudesy Podcast, or in any content posted to any website, account or platform controlled by Defendants,” a proposed injunction order submitted Tuesday in federal court from both sides says. “Defendants are hereby Permanently Restrained And Enjoined From using George Carlin’s image, voice or likeness on the Dudesy Podcast, or in any content posted to any website, account or platform controlled by Defendants without the express written approval of the Plaintiffs,” the filing adds against defendants Will Sasso and Chad Kultgen.
In point of fact, Sasso and Kultgen took down the offending digital special on January 31, six days after the Carlin estate sued them. As of right now, US District Judge Maame Ewusi-Mensah Frimpon has not yet signed the order, according to the case docket.
Even so, unless the Dudsey podcast hosts violate the deal, that’s the end of it.
Kind of.
Carlin’s daughter Kelly Carlin believes the case reflects a potential larger cultural and creative crisis out of the volcanic rise of AI.
“I am pleased that this matter was resolved quickly and amicably, and I am grateful that the defendants acted responsibly by swiftly removing the video they made,” Carlin said in a statement sent to Deadline today. “While it is a shame that this happened at all, I hope this case serves as a warning about the dangers posed by AI technologies and the need for appropriate safeguards not just for artists and creatives, but every human on earth.”
Nightmare scenarios pulled from The Matrix and Terminator franchises aside, the dramatic advances in artificial intelligence in just the past year since ChatGPT went live make it almost certain that vast shifts in almost every aspect of our lives and society are coming. As the Biden administration, the EU, Hollywood unions and many more try to put guardrails in place to at least corral the pace of change, the pros and cons of AI appear to be in a pedal to the metal race for dominance.
In the case of Carlin’s work and persona, the one-hour George Carlin: I’m Glad I’m Dead special that dropped on You Tube on January 9 didn’t even make much of an effort to sidestep the legal potholes. Claiming “for the next hour I’ll be doing my best George Carlin impersonation just like a human being would. I tried to capture his iconic style to tackle the topics I think the comedy legend would be talking about today,” the lame graphics filled presentation was a clear “bastardization of Carlin’s real work,” the copyright infringement complaint declared of the comic, who died at the age of 71 in 2008.
The filing sought an injunction, as the settlement achieved, and damages, which were not revealed in today’s paperwork, if they even were granted.
“This settlement is a great outcome for our clients and will serve as a blueprint for resolving similar disputes going forward where an artist or public figure has their rights infringed by AI technology,” said Carlin estate attorney Joshua Schiller after the proposed order was filed.
“Our goal was to resolve this case expeditiously and have the offending videos removed from the internet so that we could preserve Mr. Carlin’s legacy and shine a light on the reputational and intellectual property threat caused by this emerging technology,” the Boies Schiller Flexner Llp partner added “The world has begun to appreciate the power and potential dangers inherent in AI tools, which can mimic voices, generate fake photographs, and alter video. In recent months, there has been a wave of high-profile examples, from the fake Joe Biden robocall in New Hampshire to multiple rounds of AI-generated nude photographs of celebrities. This is not a problem that will go away by itself. It must be confronted with swift, forceful action in the courts, and the AI software companies whose technology is being weaponized must also bear some measure of accountability.”
Whether this instance will be a blueprint for ending or stopping future such AI generated occurrences, you know this is just the first of many times the dead will be digitally resurrected as the technology becomes more widespread – and that’s no bulls**t.
A little more than two months since the estate of the comedy genius took the creators of an AI generated special that uses Carlin’s style and voice to court, the parties have settled.
“Defendants are hereby Permanently Restrained And Enjoined From uploading, posting or broadcasting the Dudesy Special on the Dudesy Podcast, or in any content posted to any website, account or platform controlled by Defendants,” a proposed injunction order submitted Tuesday in federal court from both sides says. “Defendants are hereby Permanently Restrained And Enjoined From using George Carlin’s image, voice or likeness on the Dudesy Podcast, or in any content posted to any website, account or platform controlled by Defendants without the express written approval of the Plaintiffs,” the filing adds against defendants Will Sasso and Chad Kultgen.
In point of fact, Sasso and Kultgen took down the offending digital special on January 31, six days after the Carlin estate sued them. As of right now, US District Judge Maame Ewusi-Mensah Frimpon has not yet signed the order, according to the case docket.
Even so, unless the Dudsey podcast hosts violate the deal, that’s the end of it.
Kind of.
Carlin’s daughter Kelly Carlin believes the case reflects a potential larger cultural and creative crisis out of the volcanic rise of AI.
“I am pleased that this matter was resolved quickly and amicably, and I am grateful that the defendants acted responsibly by swiftly removing the video they made,” Carlin said in a statement sent to Deadline today. “While it is a shame that this happened at all, I hope this case serves as a warning about the dangers posed by AI technologies and the need for appropriate safeguards not just for artists and creatives, but every human on earth.”
Nightmare scenarios pulled from The Matrix and Terminator franchises aside, the dramatic advances in artificial intelligence in just the past year since ChatGPT went live make it almost certain that vast shifts in almost every aspect of our lives and society are coming. As the Biden administration, the EU, Hollywood unions and many more try to put guardrails in place to at least corral the pace of change, the pros and cons of AI appear to be in a pedal to the metal race for dominance.
In the case of Carlin’s work and persona, the one-hour George Carlin: I’m Glad I’m Dead special that dropped on You Tube on January 9 didn’t even make much of an effort to sidestep the legal potholes. Claiming “for the next hour I’ll be doing my best George Carlin impersonation just like a human being would. I tried to capture his iconic style to tackle the topics I think the comedy legend would be talking about today,” the lame graphics filled presentation was a clear “bastardization of Carlin’s real work,” the copyright infringement complaint declared of the comic, who died at the age of 71 in 2008.
The filing sought an injunction, as the settlement achieved, and damages, which were not revealed in today’s paperwork, if they even were granted.
“This settlement is a great outcome for our clients and will serve as a blueprint for resolving similar disputes going forward where an artist or public figure has their rights infringed by AI technology,” said Carlin estate attorney Joshua Schiller after the proposed order was filed.
“Our goal was to resolve this case expeditiously and have the offending videos removed from the internet so that we could preserve Mr. Carlin’s legacy and shine a light on the reputational and intellectual property threat caused by this emerging technology,” the Boies Schiller Flexner Llp partner added “The world has begun to appreciate the power and potential dangers inherent in AI tools, which can mimic voices, generate fake photographs, and alter video. In recent months, there has been a wave of high-profile examples, from the fake Joe Biden robocall in New Hampshire to multiple rounds of AI-generated nude photographs of celebrities. This is not a problem that will go away by itself. It must be confronted with swift, forceful action in the courts, and the AI software companies whose technology is being weaponized must also bear some measure of accountability.”
Whether this instance will be a blueprint for ending or stopping future such AI generated occurrences, you know this is just the first of many times the dead will be digitally resurrected as the technology becomes more widespread – and that’s no bulls**t.
- 4/3/2024
- by Dominic Patten
- Deadline Film + TV
George Carlin’s estate has settled a lawsuit over an AI-generated imitation of the late comedian, with the creators agreeing to remove it from their YouTube channel and podcast feed.
In January, the Dudesy podcast released “George Carlin: I’m Glad I’m Dead,” which purported to be an hour-long special created by artificial intelligence. Carlin died in 2008, but the special featured a sound-alike voice doing Carlin-esque material on contemporary topics like trans rights and defunding the police.
The estate sued, alleging that the special violated the estate’s copyrights and its publicity right to Carlin’s name, image and likeness.
The Dudesy podcast is hosted by Will Sasso and Chad Kultgen. Within a week of the lawsuit, they notified the estate that they had removed the video from their YouTube channel along with any mention of Carlin from their podcast and social media accounts.
Under the settlement, they agreed...
In January, the Dudesy podcast released “George Carlin: I’m Glad I’m Dead,” which purported to be an hour-long special created by artificial intelligence. Carlin died in 2008, but the special featured a sound-alike voice doing Carlin-esque material on contemporary topics like trans rights and defunding the police.
The estate sued, alleging that the special violated the estate’s copyrights and its publicity right to Carlin’s name, image and likeness.
The Dudesy podcast is hosted by Will Sasso and Chad Kultgen. Within a week of the lawsuit, they notified the estate that they had removed the video from their YouTube channel along with any mention of Carlin from their podcast and social media accounts.
Under the settlement, they agreed...
- 4/3/2024
- by Gene Maddaus
- Variety Film + TV
A settlement has been reached between the estate of George Carlin and the makers of a podcast who used generative artificial intelligence to impersonate the late stand-up comic’s voice and style for an unauthorized special.
Will Sasso and Chad Kultgen, hosts of the podcast Dudesy, and George Carlin’s estate notified the court on Tuesday of an agreement to resolve the case. Under the deal, an injunction will be entered barring further use of the video, which has already been taken down, and that it was made in violation of the comic’s rights, says Josh Schiller, a lawyer for the estate. Further terms of the agreement weren’t disclosed. Schiller declined to comment on whether there were monetary damages.
The settlement marks what’s believed to be the first resolution to a lawsuit over the misappropriation of a celebrity’s voice or likeness using AI tools. It comes...
Will Sasso and Chad Kultgen, hosts of the podcast Dudesy, and George Carlin’s estate notified the court on Tuesday of an agreement to resolve the case. Under the deal, an injunction will be entered barring further use of the video, which has already been taken down, and that it was made in violation of the comic’s rights, says Josh Schiller, a lawyer for the estate. Further terms of the agreement weren’t disclosed. Schiller declined to comment on whether there were monetary damages.
The settlement marks what’s believed to be the first resolution to a lawsuit over the misappropriation of a celebrity’s voice or likeness using AI tools. It comes...
- 4/2/2024
- by Winston Cho
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Two new additions are arriving in Port Charles as General Hospital has cast Kody Kavitha (Dead End: Paranormal Park) and Virginia Ma (Chindia) in recurring roles. As first reported by Soap Opera Digest, Kavitha and Ma will make their General Hospital debuts this week. Ma is set to debut on the Tuesday, April 2 episode, playing Madison, Nina’s (Cynthia Watros) new assistant. Meanwhile, Kavitha will make her first appearance on Thursday, April 4, portraying Hunter, the new manager at Bobbie’s. On television, Ma’s credits include The Thundermans, Full Frontal with Samantha Bee, and Magnum P.I. More recently, she starred in the 2023 romantic-comedy film Chindia and the 2024 thriller Final Heist. Kavitha is best known for her voiceover work, most notably voicing Norma in Netflix’s animated fantasy horror comedy Dead End: Paranormal Park. She’s also provided voices for We Bare Bears, Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles,...
- 4/1/2024
- TV Insider
As you've no doubt heard by now, the royal family is in a state of crisis.
After removing herself from public life for several months, Kate Middleton announced last week that she has cancer.
The Princess of Wales didn't go into specifics with regard to the severity of her condition or the organs affected, but anyone who's ever experienced the ravages of cancer -- either firsthand or by witnessing a loved one's battle -- knows that it's a horrible disease that extracts a devastating toll.
In other words, it's nothing to joke about, which is why Stephen Colbert issued an apology to Kate and her family this week.
In case you missed it, Colbert -- like just about every other public figure in the Western world -- commented on Kate's disappearance and offered some lighthearted speculation about the possible causes.
The clip above is from a monologue that Colbert delivered two weeks ago,...
After removing herself from public life for several months, Kate Middleton announced last week that she has cancer.
The Princess of Wales didn't go into specifics with regard to the severity of her condition or the organs affected, but anyone who's ever experienced the ravages of cancer -- either firsthand or by witnessing a loved one's battle -- knows that it's a horrible disease that extracts a devastating toll.
In other words, it's nothing to joke about, which is why Stephen Colbert issued an apology to Kate and her family this week.
In case you missed it, Colbert -- like just about every other public figure in the Western world -- commented on Kate's disappearance and offered some lighthearted speculation about the possible causes.
The clip above is from a monologue that Colbert delivered two weeks ago,...
- 3/28/2024
- by Tyler Johnson
- TVfanatic
“My whole life is backwards,” muses Steve Martin during the second “episode” of Morgan Neville’s Steve! (Martin) A Documentary in Two Pieces.
The point that Martin is making stems not from some Benjamin Button-style anomaly, but from his contention that he has gone from being riddled with anxiety in his 30s to achieving contentment and happiness in his 70s.
While I would posit that this isn’t all that remarkable — “Finding wisdom and peace with age” seems ideal and not unusual — there’s truth to Martin’s bigger point. Biopics and bio-docs tend to have familiar arcs that allow us to reconcile the contradictions of complicated lives; Martin’s biography has no such arc.
Neville’s approach, in the annoyingly titled documentary that I will henceforth only call Steve!, is to bifurcate Martin’s life.
The 98-minute “Then” looks at the origins of Martin’s comic style — a...
The point that Martin is making stems not from some Benjamin Button-style anomaly, but from his contention that he has gone from being riddled with anxiety in his 30s to achieving contentment and happiness in his 70s.
While I would posit that this isn’t all that remarkable — “Finding wisdom and peace with age” seems ideal and not unusual — there’s truth to Martin’s bigger point. Biopics and bio-docs tend to have familiar arcs that allow us to reconcile the contradictions of complicated lives; Martin’s biography has no such arc.
Neville’s approach, in the annoyingly titled documentary that I will henceforth only call Steve!, is to bifurcate Martin’s life.
The 98-minute “Then” looks at the origins of Martin’s comic style — a...
- 3/28/2024
- by Daniel Fienberg
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Kevin Hart wiped away tears on stage as he looked up from the bronze bust on a pedestal to the trio of comedy legends who had come to witness his professional highlight.
In the VIP balcony of the Kennedy Center opera house, Jerry Seinfeld, Chris Rock and Dave Chappelle sat side by side, watching Hart accept the Mark Twain Prize for lifetime achievement in comedy Sunday night.
“I didn’t start doing what I was doing to get awards,” Hart said. “I just fell in love with the idea of comedy.”
Hart rose from the open mics and comedy clubs of his native Philadelphia to become one of his country’s most recognizable performers — honing a signature style that combines his diminutive height, expressive face and motormouth delivery into an arena-packing stand-up act. He became the latest recipient of the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor in a raucous ceremony...
In the VIP balcony of the Kennedy Center opera house, Jerry Seinfeld, Chris Rock and Dave Chappelle sat side by side, watching Hart accept the Mark Twain Prize for lifetime achievement in comedy Sunday night.
“I didn’t start doing what I was doing to get awards,” Hart said. “I just fell in love with the idea of comedy.”
Hart rose from the open mics and comedy clubs of his native Philadelphia to become one of his country’s most recognizable performers — honing a signature style that combines his diminutive height, expressive face and motormouth delivery into an arena-packing stand-up act. He became the latest recipient of the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor in a raucous ceremony...
- 3/25/2024
- by The Associated Press
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Twenty years ago, I saw a movie that changed my life. I also saw Jersey Girl. Not a bad movie. I enjoy it to this day - especially George Carlin as the gruff but loveable grandfather. It’s a fun movie and I recommend you check it out if you haven’t - it really got a bad rap. But that’s not what we’re here to talk about. We’re here to celebrate Zack Snyder’s 2004 remake of Dawn of the Dead.
In March of 2004, some friends and I decided to do a double feature of Jersey Girl (because we liked Kevin Smith) and Dawn of the Dead (because it looked scary). Jersey Girl worked out fine and we all had a nice time, and then Dawn of the Dead had us talking excitedly for the rest of the night. It had an immediate effect, giving us the...
In March of 2004, some friends and I decided to do a double feature of Jersey Girl (because we liked Kevin Smith) and Dawn of the Dead (because it looked scary). Jersey Girl worked out fine and we all had a nice time, and then Dawn of the Dead had us talking excitedly for the rest of the night. It had an immediate effect, giving us the...
- 3/22/2024
- by Emily von Seele
- DailyDead
“We experimented with AI,” the directors of acclaimed horror Late Night With The Devil have said in a statement about its use of generative imagery.
The use of generative AI has been a controversial issue in recent months, sparking both fascination and alarm at the possibility that thousands of artists, writers and more besides could lose their jobs to increasingly sophisticated software.
Against this backdrop, the indie horror Late Night With The Devil has sparked a ripple of controversy as word has spread that it uses AI-generated images for a few brief sequences. The images appear as interstitial titles at certain points in the film, with one showing a skeleton looming above the words ‘Night Owls With Jack Delroy’ – the name of the fictional show that features in the film.
Word of the AI images soon spread on social media, with some users on Twitter/X expressing disappointment at their usage.
The use of generative AI has been a controversial issue in recent months, sparking both fascination and alarm at the possibility that thousands of artists, writers and more besides could lose their jobs to increasingly sophisticated software.
Against this backdrop, the indie horror Late Night With The Devil has sparked a ripple of controversy as word has spread that it uses AI-generated images for a few brief sequences. The images appear as interstitial titles at certain points in the film, with one showing a skeleton looming above the words ‘Night Owls With Jack Delroy’ – the name of the fictional show that features in the film.
Word of the AI images soon spread on social media, with some users on Twitter/X expressing disappointment at their usage.
- 3/21/2024
- by Ryan Lambie
- Film Stories
Netflix has become the latest home for the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor.
The streamer has struck a multi-year deal with the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts to air the event. Last year, the event aired on CNN and before that PBS aired it for over 20 years. Comedy Central hosted it before PBS.
The move comes as Kevin Hart, who has done a number of standup specials for Netflix, is set to be honored at the ceremony, which has previously feted the likes of Dave Chappelle, Adam Sandler, Jon Stewart, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Steve Martin, George Carlin, Tina Fey, Carol Burnett and Richard Pryor.
The show will also feature Dave Burd aka Lil Dicky, Dave Chappelle, Jimmy Fallon, Tiffany Haddish, Regina Hall, Chelsea Handler, Nelly, The Plastic Cup Boyz, Keith Robinson, Chris Rock, Jerry Seinfeld, and J.B. Smoove.
The streamer will not, however, be adding the Mark...
The streamer has struck a multi-year deal with the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts to air the event. Last year, the event aired on CNN and before that PBS aired it for over 20 years. Comedy Central hosted it before PBS.
The move comes as Kevin Hart, who has done a number of standup specials for Netflix, is set to be honored at the ceremony, which has previously feted the likes of Dave Chappelle, Adam Sandler, Jon Stewart, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Steve Martin, George Carlin, Tina Fey, Carol Burnett and Richard Pryor.
The show will also feature Dave Burd aka Lil Dicky, Dave Chappelle, Jimmy Fallon, Tiffany Haddish, Regina Hall, Chelsea Handler, Nelly, The Plastic Cup Boyz, Keith Robinson, Chris Rock, Jerry Seinfeld, and J.B. Smoove.
The streamer will not, however, be adding the Mark...
- 3/14/2024
- by Peter White
- Deadline Film + TV
A year after it moved from its longtime PBS home to CNN, the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor is switching telecast partners again. Netflix has struck a multi-year deal with the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts to move the Mark Twain Prize event to the streamer.
The deal begins this year, with Kevin Hart honored at the ceremony. This marks the 25th anniversary of the Mark Twain Prize, and Hart will be recognized “for his extraordinary contributions to the genre and his impressive achievements across comedy, film, and television.” This year’s event takes placeat the Kennedy Center Concert Hall on Sunday, March 24, and will be taped to premiere on Netflix on Saturday, May 11 — as the Netflix is a Joke Fest takes place in Los Angeles.
Performers set for this year’s Mark Twain ceremony including Dave “Lil Dicky” Burd, Dave Chappelle, Jimmy Fallon, Tiffany Haddish,...
The deal begins this year, with Kevin Hart honored at the ceremony. This marks the 25th anniversary of the Mark Twain Prize, and Hart will be recognized “for his extraordinary contributions to the genre and his impressive achievements across comedy, film, and television.” This year’s event takes placeat the Kennedy Center Concert Hall on Sunday, March 24, and will be taped to premiere on Netflix on Saturday, May 11 — as the Netflix is a Joke Fest takes place in Los Angeles.
Performers set for this year’s Mark Twain ceremony including Dave “Lil Dicky” Burd, Dave Chappelle, Jimmy Fallon, Tiffany Haddish,...
- 3/14/2024
- by Michael Schneider
- Variety Film + TV
In step with a growing trend of extending celebrity value beyond the grave, Marilyn Monroe has been resurrected as an AI-generated “Digital Marilyn” capable of answering questions in the dead icon’s “signature voice and style.”
Soul Machines, the technology firm behind “AI-powered digital people,” debuted its new project in partnership with Authentic Brands Group on Friday at SXSW in Austin, Texas. According to a press release, the Digital Marilyn “interacts with fans in real-time using advanced natural language processing, deep learning and Gpt 3.5.”
Monroe left a majority of her...
Soul Machines, the technology firm behind “AI-powered digital people,” debuted its new project in partnership with Authentic Brands Group on Friday at SXSW in Austin, Texas. According to a press release, the Digital Marilyn “interacts with fans in real-time using advanced natural language processing, deep learning and Gpt 3.5.”
Monroe left a majority of her...
- 3/9/2024
- by Charisma Madarang
- Rollingstone.com
Individuals like Andy Kaufman, Richard Pryor, John Candy, Sam Kinison, Bill Hicks, Robin Williams, Gilda Radner, George Carlin, and Gene Wilder come to mind in a list of late comedic greats who changed the comedy landscape. Their influence remains a part of the art, with up-and-coming joke-slingers citing them as sources of inspiration. Sometimes, it’s good to reflect on the contributions of comedy’s titans. So Kino Lorder is proud to present Ron Frank’s Remembering Gene Wilder trailer, celebrating the life and career of the curly-haired clown alongside notable friends.
Remembering Gene Wilder is a heartfelt documentary and entertaining portrait of the life and career of the beloved actor, featuring an extensive array of highlights from Wilder’s most memorable films and interviews with his closest friends, family, and fellow comics.
Here’s the official description for Remembering Gene Wilder:
Remembering Gene Wilder is a loving tribute to...
Remembering Gene Wilder is a heartfelt documentary and entertaining portrait of the life and career of the beloved actor, featuring an extensive array of highlights from Wilder’s most memorable films and interviews with his closest friends, family, and fellow comics.
Here’s the official description for Remembering Gene Wilder:
Remembering Gene Wilder is a loving tribute to...
- 3/5/2024
- by Steve Seigh
- JoBlo.com
Richard Lewis, one of the most influential stand-up comedians of his era and Larry David's hilariously neurotic best friend on HBO's "Curb Your Enthusiasm," has died at the age of 76. The official cause of death was listed as a heart attack.
Lewis belonged to a class of comedians who turned joke-telling into a confessional art form. His contemporaries were Richard Belzer, Elayne Boosler, Robert Klein, and Jerry Seinfeld. Lewis got belly laughs out of failed relationships, depression, anxiety, and addiction. He was reliably, identifiably miserable, which was a balm for anyone in his audience who happened to be struggling because, no matter how awful his life seemed to be, he was always back on stage the next night or bantering with David Letterman a week month later after recounting his latest crisis.
He was a neurotic's neurotic, and, therefore, an essential part of our lives. If he could laugh off life's absurd tortures,...
Lewis belonged to a class of comedians who turned joke-telling into a confessional art form. His contemporaries were Richard Belzer, Elayne Boosler, Robert Klein, and Jerry Seinfeld. Lewis got belly laughs out of failed relationships, depression, anxiety, and addiction. He was reliably, identifiably miserable, which was a balm for anyone in his audience who happened to be struggling because, no matter how awful his life seemed to be, he was always back on stage the next night or bantering with David Letterman a week month later after recounting his latest crisis.
He was a neurotic's neurotic, and, therefore, an essential part of our lives. If he could laugh off life's absurd tortures,...
- 2/28/2024
- by Jeremy Smith
- Slash Film
We’re getting a first look at the Stormy Daniels original documentary, Stormy. Peacock has released a teaser trailer (see below) and announced a March 18 premiere date for the project, directed and executive produced by Emmy-nominated Sarah Gibson (Orgasm Inc: The Story of OneTaste).
The official description: “Stormy delves into the life and times of Stormy Daniels, as she shares her story and account of events that have become part of American history … the film takes the audience behind the curtain as Stormy navigates being a mother, an artist, and an advocate working hard to reinvent herself, while still grappling with the bombshell that went off in her life five years earlier. From reporters to lawyers to politicians, many have attempted to define Stormy Daniels. Stormy tells the unvarnished truth about an unlikely American icon — this time, in her own words.”
Stormy is directed and produced by Gibson. Two-time Emmy-nominated filmmaker Erin Lee Carr,...
The official description: “Stormy delves into the life and times of Stormy Daniels, as she shares her story and account of events that have become part of American history … the film takes the audience behind the curtain as Stormy navigates being a mother, an artist, and an advocate working hard to reinvent herself, while still grappling with the bombshell that went off in her life five years earlier. From reporters to lawyers to politicians, many have attempted to define Stormy Daniels. Stormy tells the unvarnished truth about an unlikely American icon — this time, in her own words.”
Stormy is directed and produced by Gibson. Two-time Emmy-nominated filmmaker Erin Lee Carr,...
- 2/5/2024
- by Denise Petski
- Deadline Film + TV
A documentary on Stormy Daniels, the porn star who made national headlines when it was revealed that Trump lawyer Michael Cohen paid her $130,000 to keep quiet about her alleged affair with the former president, is coming to Peacock next month.
“Stormy,” directed and produced by Emmy-nominated helmer Sarah Gibson, premieres on the streamer on March 18. Gibson is known for her work on documentary films and series including Netflix’s “Orgasm Inc: The Story of OneTaste,” which she co-directed, and “Britney vs. Spears,” which she produced.
“From reporters to lawyers to politicians, many have attempted to define Stormy Daniels,” the doc’s official description reads. “‘Stormy’ tells the unvarnished truth about an unlikely American icon — this time, in her own words.”
Erin Lee Carr, director of “Britney vs. Spears,” serves as a producer on “Stormy.” Judd Apatow is an executive producer via his Apatow Productions, alongside Sara Bernstein and Meredith Kaulfers for Imagine Documentaries.
“Stormy,” directed and produced by Emmy-nominated helmer Sarah Gibson, premieres on the streamer on March 18. Gibson is known for her work on documentary films and series including Netflix’s “Orgasm Inc: The Story of OneTaste,” which she co-directed, and “Britney vs. Spears,” which she produced.
“From reporters to lawyers to politicians, many have attempted to define Stormy Daniels,” the doc’s official description reads. “‘Stormy’ tells the unvarnished truth about an unlikely American icon — this time, in her own words.”
Erin Lee Carr, director of “Britney vs. Spears,” serves as a producer on “Stormy.” Judd Apatow is an executive producer via his Apatow Productions, alongside Sara Bernstein and Meredith Kaulfers for Imagine Documentaries.
- 2/5/2024
- by Ellise Shafer
- Variety Film + TV
Dave Chappelle won the Best Comedy Album Grammy on Sunday for the second year in a row, beating Chris Rock, among other contenders, with his What’s In A Name?
Chappelle’s fifth win in eight years and second in a row moves him into a tie with Richard Pryor and George Carlin for second-most career comedy Grammys. The latter holds the nominations record with 16. Bill Cosby remains the all-time leader in the category, winning seven times, including six straight from 1965-70.
Chappelle beat out fellow nominees Trevor Noah’s I Wish You Would, Wanda Sykes’ I’m an Entertainer, three-time caregory winner Chris Rock’s Selective Outrage, third-time nominee Sarah Silverman’s Someone You Love for the prize.
Related: Killer Mike Hit With Misdemeanor Battery Charge By LAPD From Altercation Outside Grammys; Award Winning Rapper Released By Cops Tonight
Chappelle was not at Sunday’s pre-show ceremony at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles.
Chappelle’s fifth win in eight years and second in a row moves him into a tie with Richard Pryor and George Carlin for second-most career comedy Grammys. The latter holds the nominations record with 16. Bill Cosby remains the all-time leader in the category, winning seven times, including six straight from 1965-70.
Chappelle beat out fellow nominees Trevor Noah’s I Wish You Would, Wanda Sykes’ I’m an Entertainer, three-time caregory winner Chris Rock’s Selective Outrage, third-time nominee Sarah Silverman’s Someone You Love for the prize.
Related: Killer Mike Hit With Misdemeanor Battery Charge By LAPD From Altercation Outside Grammys; Award Winning Rapper Released By Cops Tonight
Chappelle was not at Sunday’s pre-show ceremony at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles.
- 2/4/2024
- by Erik Pedersen
- Deadline Film + TV
Dave Chappelle has four previous Grammy nominations for Best Comedy Album and four previous wins: “The Age of Spin and Deep in the Heart of Texas” (2018), “Equanimity and The Bird Revelation” (2019), “Sticks and Stones” (2020) and “The Closer” (2023). Indeed, he’s undefeated in the category and is a contender again this year for “What’s in a Name?” If he prevails again he’d tie for second place on the all-time list of winners in the category.
SEEGrammys dilemma: Will Taylor Swift win another controversial Album of the Year title?
To date the biggest winner for Best Comedy Album is the now-disgraced Bill Cosby. He claimed six in a row from 1965 to 1970, and then won a seventh in 1987. Of the five comedians who are next in line, Chappelle is the only one still living. The late George Carlin and Richard Pryor won five apiece, and Chappelle shares fourth place with fellow quadruple...
SEEGrammys dilemma: Will Taylor Swift win another controversial Album of the Year title?
To date the biggest winner for Best Comedy Album is the now-disgraced Bill Cosby. He claimed six in a row from 1965 to 1970, and then won a seventh in 1987. Of the five comedians who are next in line, Chappelle is the only one still living. The late George Carlin and Richard Pryor won five apiece, and Chappelle shares fourth place with fellow quadruple...
- 1/31/2024
- by Daniel Montgomery
- Gold Derby
Jason Reitman is staying mighty busy these days. Less than 24 hours after the release of the latest trailer for "Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire," four major casting announcements were made for his next project, "SNL 1975." The film will attempt to tell the true story of what went on behind the scenes before the broadcast premiere of "Saturday Night Live" on NBC, highlighting the real-time bedlam with some of the most legendary names in American comedy. Reitman co-wrote the script with his "Ghostbusters" collaborator Gil Kenan and is basing the story on the firsthand accounts of those who were there. Lest we forget, Reitman's father is the legendary Ivan Reitman, so these comedy titans were the friends and colleagues of the family. If anyone can get serious insight, it's Reitman.
The first wave of cast announcements included some serious heavy hitters, with "The Fabelmans" star Gabriel Labelle landing the role of Lorne Michaels,...
The first wave of cast announcements included some serious heavy hitters, with "The Fabelmans" star Gabriel Labelle landing the role of Lorne Michaels,...
- 1/30/2024
- by BJ Colangelo
- Slash Film
Taylor Swift won’t be shaking off the recent deepfakes of her committing sexual acts that flooded the internet last week — nor should she, as these are clear violations of her likeness, persona and basic human rights. As such, it’s said that Swift may be looking into legal action of the AI-generated images that hit social media.
As per a source close to Taylor Swift, “Whether or not legal action will be taken is being decided but there is one thing that is clear: these fake AI generated images are abusive, offensive, exploitative, and done without Taylor’s consent and/or knowledge.” There was also an uproar that the images even made it to social media in the first place, particularly Elon Musk’s X. And while the images have been removed from the platform (even a search for “Taylor Swift” yields “Posts aren’t loading right now.”), we...
As per a source close to Taylor Swift, “Whether or not legal action will be taken is being decided but there is one thing that is clear: these fake AI generated images are abusive, offensive, exploitative, and done without Taylor’s consent and/or knowledge.” There was also an uproar that the images even made it to social media in the first place, particularly Elon Musk’s X. And while the images have been removed from the platform (even a search for “Taylor Swift” yields “Posts aren’t loading right now.”), we...
- 1/28/2024
- by Mathew Plale
- JoBlo.com
Sexually-explicit AI-generated images of Taylor Swift have caused alarm across the board, with major centers of power — including The White House, Microsoft, SAG-AFTRA, and more — now weighing-in on what the controversy means for the future of AI, and what steps are being taken to prevent further incidents like this one.
The scandal began when fake, crude images depicting Swift started circulating social media this week, with one image gaining over 47 million views on Twitter alone, before the account that posted them was suspended due to mass-reporting by Swifites. According to 404 Media, the viral images were traced back to a Telegram group chat where members shared AI content, sometimes made using Microsoft’s generative-ai tool, Designer.
Now, speaking to NBC News, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella has expressed that the company finds the images “alarming and terrible,” and feels the pressure to “move fast” to combat nonconsensual sexually explicit deepfake images.
“Yes,...
The scandal began when fake, crude images depicting Swift started circulating social media this week, with one image gaining over 47 million views on Twitter alone, before the account that posted them was suspended due to mass-reporting by Swifites. According to 404 Media, the viral images were traced back to a Telegram group chat where members shared AI content, sometimes made using Microsoft’s generative-ai tool, Designer.
Now, speaking to NBC News, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella has expressed that the company finds the images “alarming and terrible,” and feels the pressure to “move fast” to combat nonconsensual sexually explicit deepfake images.
“Yes,...
- 1/27/2024
- by Jo Vito
- Consequence - Music
SAG-AFTRA deplored the AI-generated graphic images of Taylor Swift that went viral on X (formerly Twitter) this week, calling the content “upsetting, harmful, and deeply concerning” in a statement issued on Friday.
“The development and dissemination of fake images — especially those of a lewd nature — without someone’s consent must be made illegal,” the union said, while also calling support to Congressman Joe Morelle’s Preventing Deepfakes of Intimate Images Act to combat the practice. “As a society, we have it in our power to control these technologies, but we...
“The development and dissemination of fake images — especially those of a lewd nature — without someone’s consent must be made illegal,” the union said, while also calling support to Congressman Joe Morelle’s Preventing Deepfakes of Intimate Images Act to combat the practice. “As a society, we have it in our power to control these technologies, but we...
- 1/27/2024
- by Ethan Millman
- Rollingstone.com
George Carlin’s estate filed a lawsuit against Dudesy, the company behind the AI-generated special George Carlin: I’m Glad I’m Dead, for unauthorized use of the comedian’s copyrighted works.
The lawsuit, which was filed in California federal court Thursday and obtained by Rolling Stone, denounced the special as “a piece of computer-generated click-bait which detracts from the value of Carlin’s comedic works and harms his reputation,” adding, “It is a casual theft of a great American artist’s work.”
Will Sasso and Chad Kultgen, who host...
The lawsuit, which was filed in California federal court Thursday and obtained by Rolling Stone, denounced the special as “a piece of computer-generated click-bait which detracts from the value of Carlin’s comedic works and harms his reputation,” adding, “It is a casual theft of a great American artist’s work.”
Will Sasso and Chad Kultgen, who host...
- 1/26/2024
- by Charisma Madarang
- Rollingstone.com
The estate of George Carlin is suing the makers of a ‘comedy special’ featuring a deepfake version of the deceased comedy legend that was purportedly created using “AI” software, alleging theft of copyrighted material and use of Carlin’s likeness without permission.
Carlin died in 2008 at age 71. The special, “George Carlin: I’m Glad I’m Dead,” released in early January by the self-described comedy podcast Dudesy, features several images of Carlin along with an hour of bad attempts to replicate the comedian’s style of comedy. It was widely panned upon release, and condemned by Carlin’s family.
The creators of “I’m Glad I’m Dead” say they used AI to scrape hours of Carlin’s comedy specials to create their facsimile. And now in the lawsuit, filed Thursday in a California federal court, Jerold Hamza, executor of Carlin’s estate, break down how this infringes on Carlin...
Carlin died in 2008 at age 71. The special, “George Carlin: I’m Glad I’m Dead,” released in early January by the self-described comedy podcast Dudesy, features several images of Carlin along with an hour of bad attempts to replicate the comedian’s style of comedy. It was widely panned upon release, and condemned by Carlin’s family.
The creators of “I’m Glad I’m Dead” say they used AI to scrape hours of Carlin’s comedy specials to create their facsimile. And now in the lawsuit, filed Thursday in a California federal court, Jerold Hamza, executor of Carlin’s estate, break down how this infringes on Carlin...
- 1/26/2024
- by Ross A. Lincoln
- The Wrap
Over 50 years ago, the late and great George Carlin listed off the seven words you couldn’t say on television. Based on a lawsuit from the iconic comedian’s estate filed in federal court in California today, at least two of those words may apply to the creators of an AI generated special that uses Carlin’s style and voice to a 2024 effect.
Aka: “a bastardization of Carlin’s real work,” the copyright infringement complaint says.
“Defendants’ AI-generated “George Carlin Special” is not a creative work,” it goes on to exclaim. “It is a piece of computer-generated click-bait which detracts from the value of Carlin’s comedic works and harms his reputation.”
“Defendants sought to capitalize on the name, reputation, and likeness of George Carlin in creating, promoting, and distributing the Dudesy Special and using generated images of Carlin, Carlin’s voice, and images designed to evoke Carlin’s presence on a stage,...
Aka: “a bastardization of Carlin’s real work,” the copyright infringement complaint says.
“Defendants’ AI-generated “George Carlin Special” is not a creative work,” it goes on to exclaim. “It is a piece of computer-generated click-bait which detracts from the value of Carlin’s comedic works and harms his reputation.”
“Defendants sought to capitalize on the name, reputation, and likeness of George Carlin in creating, promoting, and distributing the Dudesy Special and using generated images of Carlin, Carlin’s voice, and images designed to evoke Carlin’s presence on a stage,...
- 1/26/2024
- by Dominic Patten
- Deadline Film + TV
George Carlin’s estate is suing over the release of a comedy special that uses generative artificial intelligence to mimic the deceased comedian’s voice and style of humor.
The lawsuit, filed in California federal court Thursday, accuses the creators of the special of utilizing without consent or compensation George Carlin’s entire body of work consisting of five decades of comedy routines to train an AI chatbot, which wrote the episode’s script. It also takes issue with using his voice and likeness for promotional purposes.
The complaint seeks a court order for immediate removal of the special, as well as unspecified damages. It’s among the first legal actions taken by the estate of a deceased celebrity for unlicensed use of their work and likeness to manufacture a new, AI-generated creation and was filed as Hollywood is sounding the alarm over utilization of AI to impersonate people without consent or compensation.
The lawsuit, filed in California federal court Thursday, accuses the creators of the special of utilizing without consent or compensation George Carlin’s entire body of work consisting of five decades of comedy routines to train an AI chatbot, which wrote the episode’s script. It also takes issue with using his voice and likeness for promotional purposes.
The complaint seeks a court order for immediate removal of the special, as well as unspecified damages. It’s among the first legal actions taken by the estate of a deceased celebrity for unlicensed use of their work and likeness to manufacture a new, AI-generated creation and was filed as Hollywood is sounding the alarm over utilization of AI to impersonate people without consent or compensation.
- 1/26/2024
- by Winston Cho
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Ahead of the 75th Primetime Emmy Awards on Monday, the Television Academy has compiled a list of the 75 Most Impactful TV Moments.
In collaboration with a group of academic professionals, the Television Academy scoured eight decades on television in search of the moments that have made the most impact on viewers, the industry and culture.
Chosen were classic moments (from the late 1940s until the 2020s) of TV’s most beloved programs, as well as news events that brought the U.S. and the world together to watch them in real time. Many of the selected televised events influenced politics and shifted the common wisdom about race, Lgtbq+ representation and more.
At the top of the list is the Apollo 11 moon landing, followed by coverage of the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade center and the Beatles’ 1964 appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show.
You can read the entire list here and watch a video compilation above.
In collaboration with a group of academic professionals, the Television Academy scoured eight decades on television in search of the moments that have made the most impact on viewers, the industry and culture.
Chosen were classic moments (from the late 1940s until the 2020s) of TV’s most beloved programs, as well as news events that brought the U.S. and the world together to watch them in real time. Many of the selected televised events influenced politics and shifted the common wisdom about race, Lgtbq+ representation and more.
At the top of the list is the Apollo 11 moon landing, followed by coverage of the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade center and the Beatles’ 1964 appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show.
You can read the entire list here and watch a video compilation above.
- 1/12/2024
- by Denise Petski
- Deadline Film + TV
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