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As the Thanksgiving holiday and the end of the year quickly approach, there's going to be much more down time from school and work. That means it's time catch up on Netflix new releases and have lots of movie marathons and binge-watches. Thankfully, there's lots coming to our watch lists soon.

Going into the weekend before the week of Thanksgiving, the Netflix top 10 most popular TV shows ranking includes recent releases such as Cobra Kai, which dropped the second part of its final season ahead of its series finale next year, and animated series Arcane.

As for the most popular movies on Netflix right, the sexy Netflix original holiday rom-coms The Merry Gentlemen and Hot Frosty are still bringing in viewers, but there's still plenty more movies to discover on the top 10 ranking and in the weekend's new release lineup.

Looking for exciting new titles to watch with with family for movie night?...

Peter Sullivan’s “The Merry Gentlemen” (2024) is an entirely bland, uncharacteristic Christmas glossy romance. It’s silly, sporadic and hyper-contrived. The proceedings flatten in a lump of dullness. Charm is amped up between the characters when what exists instead is a complete lack of chemistry. The film is just hollowed out by an absence of specific texture. What could have been a frothy, harmless breezy watch quickly turns tiring, predictable, and terribly uncool. Nothing seems to propel it. It runs on empty. Marla Sokoloff’s screenplay collapses to triteness from the very opening stretch.

You wonder how deeply the makers have invested any thought in strands of the narrative. Conclusion springs easily that none of the considerations in fleshing out a lively, compelling story jump-start. The characters lack a zing in their interactions. Banality crowds the film. A town coming back to life, a dancer replaced in showbiz, and a...

The Holiday season is upon us, and so is the season of unoriginal Christmas-themed rom-coms. With an obvious attempt to disassociate myself from The Grinch, I would like to add that I am quite the sucker for films that embrace the Yuletide cheers. Originality is not the first thing I look for when it comes to Christmas Movies, although it does not hurt when something uniquely joyful wanders into our path at this time of the year — like 2019’s “Klaus” for instance. However, I can look past the obvious, the cliched, for the predictable comfort of a half-decent Christmas movie.

Having said that, there is a fine line that separates the familiar cheers from the absolute trites. And Netflix’s “The Merry Gentlemen” is too hackneyed to be taken seriously. Even with the leniency reserved for films that have more than three Christmas songs, and the leniency that the Holiday season demands of us,...

T’is the season — for male strippers? Yes, actually. Yes indeed.

Netflix’s new Christmas movie “The Merry Gentlemen” is now streaming, telling story of a young dancer who comes home to find that her parents’ business — and thus, her whole childhood, essentially — may be going under. So, to help save it, she organizes a Christmas-themed male revue to pull in ticket sales.

The movie features a lot of familiar faces, but perhaps some new ones for you too. So, we’ve got you covered.

Here are all the major players in “The Merry Gentlemen.”

Netflix Ashley (Britt Robertson)

Ashley is a professional dancer, who is unceremoniously fired for being too old (in her 30s). She’s played by “Tomorrowland” and “The Longest Ride” star Britt Robertson. She also starred in “The Space Between Us” and more recently, “The Rookie: Feds,” as well as a few episodes of “The Rookie.

This steamy holiday rom-com purposely subverts a lot of the genre’s most recognizable tropes.

Depending on where you are in the country, the next few months could get pretty cold. Fortunately, Netflix has the perfect movie to heat up your holiday season as the original Christmas movie “The Merry Gentlemen” is available to stream starting on Wednesday, Nov. 20. The film stars Chad Michael Murray and Britt Robertson and involves a Broadway dancer who stages an all-male, Christmas revue to save her hometown performing arts venue. Anticipation for this one has been high since the movie’s very steamy trailer was released early this fall. Don’t miss a single second of the action with a subscription to Netflix.

How to watch ‘The Merry Gentlemen’ When: Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2024 TV: Netflix Stream: Watch with a subscription to Netflix. Sign Up $6.99+ / month netflix.com Everything you need to know about ‘The Merry Gentlemen...

“The Merry Gentlemen” is a Netflix romantic comedy starring Britt Robertson and Chad Michael Murray. It is directed by Peter Sullivan.

Today, Netflix adds another romantic comedy to its lineup, this time making a significant contribution to the field of philosophy (disclaimer: we’re being ironic): it brings us a group of handsome men performing striptease acts.

Don’t expect anything that would offend the most traditional families: “The Merry Gentlemen” is the quintessential romantic comedy for the holiday season, perfect for watching, smiling, and then forgetting about within five minutes.

Plot

After being let go from a show in New York, Ashley returns to her hometown for Christmas. There, she discovers that her parents are struggling financially with the bar they’ve owned for years. To help them out, she decides to put together a dance show featuring attractive, shirtless men, and enlists Luke, a blonde and muscular...

To describe “The Merry Gentlemen” as “The Full Monty” meets a Christmas-themed Hallmark movie might be overselling the goods. However, that’s essentially the elevator pitch for this feature, in which a big-city dancer returns to her small town to save her parents’ concert venue by having hunks go shirtless on stage. Yet director Peter Sullivan and writer/co-star Marla Sokoloff’s offering in the Netflix Holiday Cinematic Universe is uninventive, uninspired and presented with noticeably sloppy wrapping. Not only does the story flail trying to find its footing after a well-presented first act, some of the more cost-conscious aspects detract from the picture’s meaningful, understated sentiments.

Single, 30-something Ashley (Britt Robertson) is living the dream, high kicking and tap dancing in The Jingle Belles Christmas Revue and recouping from shows in her picturesque apartment in New York City. Lately, though, she’s feeling a little out of step...

Netflix has packed their 2024 holidays lineup with new romantic comedies, a holiday-themed thriller with Jason Bateman and Taron Egerton, and a new special from Sabrina Carpenter. Holiday offerings include Meet Me Next Christmas, debuting on November 6th and starring Christina Milian, and Hot Frosty on November 13th with Lacey Chabert and Dustin Milligan.

The Merry Gentlemen, starring Britt Robertson and Chad Michael Murray, debuts on November 20th. Lindsay Lohan headlines Our Little Secret arriving on November 27th. The holiday lineup also includes the animated offerings Spellbound on November 22nd and That Christmas on December 4th.

Netflix’s November and December 2024 Holiday Programming

Dinner Time Live With David Chang: Holiday Edition – Every Tuesday at 4pm Pt/7am Et through December 10th

Chef David Chang says, “99% of all cooking on television and social media is a lie,” and he’s ready to show the world how it’s really done and he’s doing it all live!

Netflix has taken to the stage to “drop” the trailer for their Christmas male stripper movie ‘The Merry Gentleman.’

To save her parents’ small-town performing venue, a former big-city dancer decides to stage an all-male, Christmas-themed revue.

Directed by Peter Sullivan, the cast includes Chad Michael Murray, Michael Gross, Maxwell Caulfield, Britt Robertson, Beth Broderick, Marc Anthony Samuel, Hector Rivera Jr., Colt Prattes.

Also in trailers – Trailer drops for part 2 of the sixth and final season of ‘Cobra Kai’

The movie hits Netflix on November 20th.

The post “Ready to make some Christmas magic?” Trailer drops its pants for ‘The Merry Gentleman’ appeared first on HeyUGuys.

Netflix is ready to bring the Christmas spirit with a spicy twist in the trailer for The Merry Gentlemen released Thursday.

In the trailer, Britt Robertson’s character, Ashley, a former big-city dancer, is determined to save her parents’ small-town performing venue, The Rhythm Room, from closing down. As a means of bringing in more customers, she stages an all-male, Christmas-themed revue.

“We are going to make this show something truly special. Something this town has never seen before,” Ashley says.

With help from Chad Michael Murray, who portrays romantic lead and contractor Luke, and others who work at The Rhythm Room, Ashley creates a new holiday entertainment spectacle known as the Merry Gentlemen (think a tamer Magic Mike but for the holidays.) Though the new show generates excitement, sparks may also fly between Ashley and Luke.

Marla Sokoloff, Beth Broderick, Michael Gross, Maxwell Caulfield, Hector David Jr., Colt Prattes...

"Ready to get your dance on?" Netflix has revealed the official trailer for The Merry Gentlemen, another holiday romcom streaming release coming up this year. Netflix is really going all out trying to become the new Hallmark Channel with some of the most exceptionally schlocky yet entertaining holiday comedies - we already posted the trailer for Hot Frosty this week. Now there's this, too. "Santa's dancing his way into our hearts a little early this year. And who's that driving his sleigh? Why, it's Britt Robertson and Chad Michael Murray, stars of The Merry Gentlemen, a new rom-com heating things up this holiday season. You’ll be able to unwrap this particular gift on Nov. 20th –– as the trailer reveals, this sizzling Christmas entertainment is worth waiting for." What an intro.

It’s time to make it reindeer.

In the trailer for Netflix’s holiday rom-com “The Merry Gentlemen,” Britt Robertson stars as a former big-city dancer who dreams up creative (and sexy) way to save her parents’ small-town performing venue: an all-male, Christmas-themed revue.

Sparks fly between Robertson and Chad Michael Murray as he strips down in the first teaser. “We are gonna make this show something truly special. Something this town has never seen before,” she says as shirtless dancers perform body rolls on stage.

Beth Broderick, Michael Gross, Maxwell Caulfield, Hector David Jr., Colt Prattes and Marc Anthony Samuel also star in the film from director Peter Sullivan and writer Marla Sokoloff (who also acts in the film).

Jeffrey Schenck, Barry Barnholtz, Brian Nolan, and Sullivan serve as producers for the steamy flick, which drops on Nov. 20.

“The Merry Gentlemen” is one of four holiday rom-coms hitting the streamer this season.

Chad Michael Murray is getting his freak on for a “Magic Mike”-tinged Netflix holiday rom-com.

The “One Tree Hill,” “A Cinderella Story,” and “Freaky Friday” alum strips down for “The Merry Gentlemen” in a cabaret-style show to save one small town’s beloved theater. Sounds a little like “Magic Mike’s Last Dance” meets Hallmark? Yeah, we thought so too.

Britt Robertson leads the film as a “former big-city dancer” who “decides to stage an all-male, Christmas-themed revue.” Cue Murray’s character, who also realizes that sparks fly with Robertson’s lead even off-stage.

Marla Sokoloff, Beth Broderick, Michael Gross, Maxwell Caulfield, Hector David Jr., Colt Prattes, and Marc Anthony Samuel co-star. Peter Sullivan directs from a script by actress Sokoloff, who also has starred in and directed Lifetime films like “Christmas Hotel” and “Blending Christmas.”

“The Merry Gentlemen” is produced by Jeffrey Schenck, Barry Barnholtz, Brian Nolan, and Peter Sullivan.

Chad Michael Murray is stripping down to save Christmas in the trailer for Netflix’s new holiday movie “The Merry Gentlemen.”

In the trailer for the movie, which debuts Nov. 20 on Netflix, a former big-city dancer (Britt Robertson) decides to stage an all-male, Christmas-themed revue to save her parents’ small-town performing venue, called the Rhythm Room, which she explains used to be a Christmas staple that is town on “life support.”

“We are gonna make this show something truly special — something this town has never seen before. Who’s ready to make some Christmas magic?” she asks her potential dancers, who she struggles to convince to participate.

“There’s gotta be a way to get people excited about this place again,” Robertson’s Ashley laments to Murray’s Luke, who responds, “And you think male strippers are the answer?” before Ashley clarifies that the perform is considered a male dance revue,...

Calling all Christmas movie fans! If you're looking to add even more titles to your annual lineup that includes the Hallmark Channel and Lifetime, Netflix is rolling out the red and green carpet for some major stars!

This holiday season, Netflix has six brand-new Christmas movies featuring some of the biggest names around, including the likes of Lindsay Lohan, Taron Egerton, Chad Michael Murray, Christina Milian, Sofia Carson, and the Hallmark Christmas movie queen herself Lacey Chabert. On what other channel can you get two Plastics and Lucas Scott this Christmas?!

In addition to six all-new movies ranging from romantic comedies, thrillers, and animated family films, Netflix will also ring in the holiday with Sabrina Carpenter's A Nonsense Christmas special on Dec. 6. The chart-topping singer will perform cuts from her Christmas EP and welcome surprise guests and more fun treats to celebrate her amazingly successful year.

Between Lacey Chabert...

Chad Michael Murray is showing off his hot bod in these first look stills from his upcoming new movie The Merry Gentlemen!

The 43-year-old actor stars in the upcoming Netflix Christmas movie where he takes part in an all-male Christmas-themed revue.

“We got to change things up a little bit and push the envelope,” Cmm teased to Tudum. “We take a lot of the tropes that have been created for this particular genre and poke fun at them in such a tasteful way.”

Also starring in the film and featured in the first look photos include Britt Robertson, Marla Sokoloff, Hector David Jr, Colt Prattes and Marc Anthony Samuel.

Chad also opened up about going all in for the dancing.

Keep reading to find out more…

His character Luke is a “kind, confident, and slightly sarcastic” contractor who helps out Britt‘s Ashley’s family at the Rhythm Room.

“He...

We mustn’t dwell… no, not today, not on Rex Manning Day. Today marks the 30th anniversary of Rex Manning Day, the fictional day celebrated in the Allan Moyle disaffected teen comedy Empire Records. Rex Manning Day is celebrated to honor the memory and legacy of Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain, who on April 8th was found dead in his Seattle mansion on Lake Washington Boulevard from a self-inflicted gunshot wound after dying on April 5, 1994.

Directed by Allan Moyle, Empire Records takes place over twenty-four hours in the lives of the young employees at Empire Records when they all grow up and become young adults, thanks to each other and the manager. Dripping with attitude, pining, and real-life drama, Empire Records taps into the struggles of a generation by exploring social pressure, the importance of found family, and the power of music as a healing tool. Written by Carol Heikkinen, Empire Records stars Anthony Lapaglia,...

The illustrious Paula Abdul, a name synonymous with music, dance, and philanthropy, will be recognized as the 2023 Humanitarian of the Year at the iconic Hollywood Christmas Parade on November 26, 2023.

This esteemed honor reflects the depth of her generosity and her unwavering commitment to giving back to the community.

Abdul’s spirit of compassion aligns perfectly with the Hollywood Christmas Parade, a cherished tradition that has been spreading holiday cheer and fostering community spirit for an incredible 91 years. Just as Abdul extends her philanthropic hand to organizations like Wigs & Wishes, Children’s Hospital LA, No Kid Hungry, American Humane Association, and Dancers Against Cancer, the Hollywood Christmas Parade proudly supports causes like Marine Toys for Tots, ensuring that underprivileged children experience the joy of the holiday season.

Kickstarting this year’s festivities will be none other than American war hero Colonel Paris D. Davis, a recent recipient of the prestigious Medal of Honor.

There are narrative flourishes and then there are narrative flourishes. And one in the new film from director Amy Glazer (Seducing Charlie Barker, The Surrogate) is a doozy. How much you appreciate this heartwarming drama about a female pilot who discovers that her grandmother may actually be a legendary figure in aviation history will depend on how much you’re willing to go along with its major plot twist, which won’t be revealed here but is relatively easy to figure out. But if you’re willing to suspend some disbelief, 7000 Miles, recently showcased at the Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival, offers myriad pleasures, not the least of which is a terrific performance by Wendie Malick. The veteran sitcom actress (Dream On, Just Shoot Me, Hot in Cleveland) anchors the film with her charismatic turn in a rare leading role that Katharine Hepburn would have killed for.

The central character...

Exclusive: The Daytime Emmy-winning drama series The Bay will release eighteen all new episodes daily this month and in December.

The series is an independent multi-camera drama and is produced under a non-struck SAG-AFTRA contract which has allowed the series to continue production and self distribute new content.

The final four new episodes of season 7 will air Popstar! TV starting November 14 at 4 p.m. Et / 1 p.m. Pt with encore presentations at 9 p.m. Et and 9 p.m. Pt. Replays of Season 7 will follow in its entirety every weekday up to the debut of 14 all-new episodes of season 8, beginning Monday, December 11, and will include The Bay’s 100th episode special on, December 14.

Previously on The Bay, several chore characters found their lives hanging in the balance after being kidnapped and brought to a non-disclosed location in Puerto Rico by the nefarious Adam Kenway (Daytime Emmy-winner Kristos Andrews). With help in...

Veteran film executive Paul Davidson has acquired the remake rights to “Electric Dreams,” the 1984 film written and produced by Rusty Lemorande.

Davidson — who previously ran The Orchard and Idw Entertainment — struck the deal with Lemorande, who retained the rights to the film after its release nearly four decades ago. Brian T. Arnold, whose script “In the End” appeared on the 2021 Black List and is being produced by Sister, will pen the new movie.

In a statement, Davidson described the original “Electric Dreams” as “an iconic film that left a deep imprint on me from the first time I saw it.” He adds: “Released in what is clearly one of the best decades for film ever, it remains a classic that feels especially prescient today. Joining forces with Brian and Rusty is immensely exciting.”

Directed by Steve Barron, “Electric Dreams” told the story of Miles (the late Lenny von Dohlen), an...

Jodie Sweetin is not pleased that her latest movie “Craft Me a Romance” will debut on Great American Family (Gaf), the network her former co-star Candace Cameron Bure works for.

After admitting she was “surprised” by the news, Sweetin added, “I am disappointed, but in keeping with my mission of supporting the LGBTQ+ family, any potential or future money made from this sale will be donated to LGBTQ+ organizations.”

Sweetin acknowledged that it can be difficult for actors to know where their work will or will not premiere, especially since that decision isn’t theirs to make. She added, “Sometimes, we, as actors, don’t have control over which network buys the projects we are in, nor are we a part of the process in which they get sold.”

The movie’s set to premiere on Gaf in September and co-stars Brent Bailey, Maxwell Caulfield and Julie Brown. Sweetin stars...

Jodie Sweetin is not a happy camper. The former Full House star is expressing disappointment that her upcoming film Craft Me a Romance has been sold to Great American Family, the network where her former Full House co-star Candace Cameron Bure serves as chief creative officer

In a statement to People, Sweetin said she was surprised the film had been sold to Gaf without her knowledge.

“Sometimes, we, as actors, don’t have control over which network buys the projects we are in, nor are we a part of the process in which they get sold,” Sweetin said. “So I was very surprised to learn by reading about it in the press yesterday that the independent film I worked on over a year ago was sold to Great American Family.”

She added: “I am disappointed, but in keeping with my mission of supporting the LGBTQ+ family, any potential or future...

Exclusive: LA’s Dances With Films celebrates 26 Years of storytelling June 22-July 2 at the Tcl Chinese Theater in Hollywood.

The festival will open with the World Premiere of Good Side of Bad, a powerful drama based on the award-winning novel of the same name by Beverly Olevin. Directed by Alethea Root and starring Jules Bruff (Zodiac), Lexi Simonsen (S.W.A.T.), Alex Quijano (High School Musical: The Series), Myles Grier (Lethal Weapon) and Academy Award Nominee Tess Harper, the film depicts a raw and intimate look into what it means to be a family navigating the waters of mental illness. Closing out the festival is Home Free by first time director Aaron Brown, and writer Lenny Barszap, a social impact Trojan horse disguised as a coming-of-age college comedy with a focus on homelessness.

Festival Founders Leslee Scallon, Michael Trent state “Looking toward our next quarter century,...

Whether you’re more familiar with Juliet Mills from her title role on Nanny and the Professor or from her work as wacky witch Tabitha Lennox on Passions, there’s one fact upon which we can all agree: she’s a delight.

Funny, fearless and capable of turning a reading of the phonebook into an acting masterclass, Mills is now casting her spell on Grey’s Anatomy in the recurring role of Maxine Anderson, the unlikely roommate of Adelaide Kane’s Dr. Jules Millin.

More from TVLineGrey's Anatomy Recap: Is Link About to 'Tank'? -- Plus, Jo's Got a New SuitorA...

Juliet Mills, who starred in the 1970s sitcom “Nanny and the Professor” and played Jane Leeves’ mother on “Hot in Cleveland,” has been cast in a recurring role on “Grey’s Anatomy,” TheWrap can exclusively report. She’ll appear in at least three episodes, beginning Thursday.

Per ABC, the 81-year-old British actress plays Maxine, who “comes into the hospital with a friend, but surprisingly knows Jules from outside the hospital.” Jules, a surgical intern who first appeared in Season 19, is played by Adelaide Kain.

Mills also co-stars in Chris Pine’s upcoming directorial debut “Poolman” with Jennifer Jason Leigh, Danny DeVito and Annette Bening. In 2022, she developed and co-hosted “British Classics With Juliet Mills” on TCM. She recently starred in U.K. stage productions of Alfred Hitchcock’s “The Lady Vanishes” as the enigmatic Miss Froy and “Darker Shores” opposite her husband Maxwell Caulfield.

Also Read:

‘Grey’s Anatomy’ Renewed for 20th...

Season 7 of The Bay will kick off with new episodes December 19.

The sudser recently completed its milestone 100th episode, which will be released in early 2023. Viewers can watch the daytime drama series weekdays at 3 p.m. Et/12 p.m. Pt on Popstar! TV.

Related Story Fall TV Premiere Dates For New & Returning Series On Broadcast, Cable & Streaming Related Story 'The Bay' Heading To Peacock; Upcoming Season Featuring Maxwell Caulfield, Stephen Schnetzer, Joe Lando & More Related Story Marsha Thomason Joins 'The Bay' For Season 3; Argonon Launches Studio Leo; BBC Studios Licenses 'The 1 Club' To France — Global Briefs

“Growing up watching American daytime dramas in a Latino household where telenovelas were also a big part of our upbringing, I’ve always wanted to combine these two worlds and feel our creative team really helped accomplish that in these latest episodes,” said Gregori J. Martin, series creator, director, and showrunner.

Exclusive: Fans of The Bay can now find the digital sudser on Peacock.

The multi-camera serial drama is currently in production on 20 all-new episodes that will be released later this year, marking the completion of its 100th episode. Today, the cast and crew will commemorate the milestone while on location in Sun Valley, CA.

Filmed on location in Puerto Rico and Los Angeles, the new episodes star Daytime Emmy winners Kristos Andrews (Survive the Game) and Karrueche Tran as super couple Pete and Vivian Garrett, as well as Daytime Emmy winners Mary Beth Evans (Days of Our Lives) as Sara Garrett, Tristan Rogers (General Hospital) as Commissioner Lex Martin, Eric Nelsen (1883) as Daniel Garrett, and Mike Manning (This is Us) as Caleb McKinnon. Andrews will be doing double duty as Pete Garrett’s diabolical twin brother Adam Kenway, a role that garnered him a Daytime Emmy for Outstanding...

Nichelle Nichols, who broke down barriers with her portrayal of translator and communications officer Lt. Nyota Uhura in the original Star Trek TV series and later in its film franchise, died Saturday night in Silver City, N.M. She was 89 years old.

Nichols’ death was confirmed by Gilbert Bell, her talent manager and business partner of 15 years.

A popular part of the principal players on Star Trek, Nichols shared one of the first interracial kisses in television history with costar William Shatner.

Nichols also played Lt. Uhura by voicing her on “Star Trek: The Animated Series,” and appeared in the first six “Star Trek” films. She became a lieutenant commander in “Star Trek: The Motion Picture” and then a full commander in “Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan.” Throughout, she was a powerful symbol for African Americans and a fan favorite in the various projects.

NASA later employed Nichols...

When I was in high school there was an unspoken rule that said you were either a superfan of The Cure or The Smiths, but not both. Looking back now, this is an invented rivalry, as both groups cover much of the same artistic ground and appeal to like-minded fans. I’ve been thinking about this theory a lot lately, because it really showcases the sort of things that feel of world-shattering importance when you are a teenager. And while I squandered much of my misspent youth dancing in my bedroom to both “Stop Me If You Think You’ve Heard This One Before” and “The Lovecats,” there was another, perhaps more consequential, pop culture face-off that caused division through the hallways of early-1990s schools everywhere: Grease or Grease 2?

As an amateur Greaseologist who spent way, way too much time plunked in front of his television watching Olivia Newton-John...

When "Grease 2" was released in 1982, the film didn't stand a chance. Four years had already passed since the John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John starring "Grease" became the highest grossing film of the year, setting an unrealistic standard for any film to follow. In the four years between "Grease" and "Grease 2," the pop culture landscape had completely changed. MTV had launched the year prior, rendering movie musicals "uncool" in a sea of available music videos.

Despite having nearly double the budget of the first film, the thematic changes made for "Grease 2" were a bit too bold and...

The post Grease 2 Star Maxwell Caulfield Celebrates 40 Years of Being Cult Cinema's Cool Rider appeared first on /Film.

IMDb TV, Amazon’s free, ad-supported video on demand streaming service, is rebranding to Amazon Freevee, beginning April 27. The rebranding had been in the works for awhile, with the idea for the new moniker to share the Amazon branding of its parent company.

Originally launched as Freedive in January 2019, IMDb TV has grown dramatically, becoming an important pillar in Amazon’s larger push into video advertising.

Over the last two years, IMDb TV has tripled monthly active users, fueled by increased distribution and foray into originals. Following a launch in the UK last September, Freevee will continue its international expansion with a launch in Germany later this year.

Additionally, the plan is for Freevee to grow its originals slate by 70 in 2022, including the spinoff of the longest-running Original series for Prime Video, Bosch: Legacy, premiering May 6; a new home-design series, Hollywood Houselift with Jeff Lewis; Greg Garcia’s comedy series...

As rumored for months, IMDb TV — aka Amazon’s free streaming service — has announced a name change/”rebranding.”

But before you scroll down any further, you simply have to take a guess.

More from TVLineBosch: Legacy Gets Release Date at IMDb TV -- Watch First TeaserTimothy Hutton Sues Leverage Producers for Cutting Him From Revival -- Studio Calls His Claims 'Baseless'Christian Kane's Almost Paradise Renewed for Season 2 -- at IMDb TV

To recap, IMDb TV is Amazon’s free streaming service.

It’s free TV, in a way. Courtesy of Amazon.

Free TV.

Freeeeee TV.

Freeeeeeeee tee-veee.

Locked in your guess yet?...

"We mustn't dwell. No, not today. We can't. Not on Rex Manning day!"

From the lens of 2022, it seems impossible that "Empire Records" wasn't one of the biggest films of 1995. With a cast of favorites like Anthony Lapaglia, Debi Mazar, Rory Cochrane, Johnny Whitworth, Robin Tunney, Ethan Embry, Liv Tyler, and future Academy Award-winner Renée Zellweger, "Empire Records" is the inspiring tale of a group of record store employees who try to stop their sanctuary from being sold to a large corporate chain. The plan to "Damn the man, save the Empire" coincides with a huge promotional event, Rex Manning...

The post Casting Maxwell Caulfield as Rex Manning Was a Meta Stroke of Genius appeared first on /Film.

We're right in the middle of the most wonderful time of the year with Hallmark's Countdown to Christmas but the Hallmark family of networks has plenty to offer in 2022, too!

The New Year kicks off with Hallmark Channel’s aptly named New Year New Movies! celebration starting January 1st.

Every Saturday will feature fresh starts and new beginnings.

As part of the TV event, Hallmark Channel unveils five movie premieres: The Perfect Pairing, The Wedding Veil: Avery’s Story, Love is Trending, Butlers in Love, and Romancing the Birthday Girl. On Hallmark Movies & Mysteries, an all-new movie premiere with Three Sisters.

And if you haven't already noticed how more of our favorite actors are sharing the screen for the first time, this new flock of films has some Hallmark favorite females showing how it's done.

Here's what we've got to look forward to!

The Perfect Pairing

All-New Hallmark Original

Saturday,...

Sundown: The Vampire in Retreat is a rarely seen or mentioned 80s/90s gem, filmed in the 80s, but not really seen until it hit VHS in 1991. Starring David Carradine, Morgan Brittany, and Bruce Campbell, and directed by Anthony Hickox, it's headed to Blu-ray as part of Vestron Video's "Collector's Series" on August 17th and we have an exclusive special feature clip. Watch as special effects master Tony Gardner talks about the process for creating vampire teeth for the film:

A new edition to the Vestron Video Collector’s Series, the tongue-in-cheek vampire film Sundown: The Vampire in Retreat arrives on Blu-ray™ (plus Digital) August 17 from Lionsgate. Sundown: The Vampire in Retreat stars Golden Globe® nominee David Carradine, Maxwell Caulfield, Morgan Brittany, Bruce Campbell, and Golden Globe® nominee Jim Metzler. Sundown: The Vampire in Retreat will be available on Blu-ray™ (plus Digital) for the suggested retail price of...

“Only got two choices – kill ’em or convert ’em.”

A new edition to the Vestron Video Collector’s Series, the tongue-in-cheek vampire film Sundown: The Vampire in Retreat arrives on Blu-ray (plus Digital) August 17 from Lionsgate.

A new edition to the Vestron Video Collector’s Series, the tongue-in-cheek vampire film Sundown: The Vampire in Retreat arrives on Blu-ray (plus Digital) August 17 from Lionsgate. Sundown: The Vampire in Retreat stars Golden Globe nominee David Carradine, Maxwell Caulfield, Morgan Brittany, Bruce Campbell, and Golden Globe nominee Jim Metzler. Sundown: The Vampire in Retreat will be available on Blu-ray (plus Digital) for the suggested retail price of $17.99.

The road to Purgatory is paved with good intentions, and Count Mardulak (David Carradine) wouldn’t have it any other way. He’s seeking atonement for centuries of human carnage, which is why he’s instructed Purgatory’s vampire residents to slather on Spf 100 sunblock, pursue daytime activities…...

Sundown: The Vampire in Retreat is a rarely seen or mentioned 90s gem, starring David Carradine, Morgan Brittany, and Bruce Campbell, and directed by Anthony Hickox. It's headed to Blu-ray as part of Vestron Video's "Collector's Series" on August 17th and we have all the details:

A new edition to the Vestron Video Collector’s Series, the tongue-in-cheek vampire film Sundown: The Vampire in Retreat arrives on Blu-ray™ (plus Digital) August 17 from Lionsgate. Sundown: The Vampire in Retreat stars Golden Globe® nominee David Carradine, Maxwell Caulfield, Morgan Brittany, Bruce Campbell, and Golden Globe® nominee Jim Metzler. Sundown: The Vampire in Retreat will be available on Blu-ray™ (plus Digital) for the suggested retail price of $17.99.

Official Synopsis

The road to Purgatory is paved with good intentions, and Count Mardulak (David Carradine) wouldn’t have it any other way. He’s seeking atonement for centuries of human carnage, which is...

Rex Manning Day is serious business for fans of Empire Records. And every year on April 8, Twitter is trending about the event that took place in the 1995 film.

Actor Maxwell Caulfield, who played the aging, pompous music idol, Rex Manning, says he finds the day both heartwarming and stunning.

“It’s titled Rex Manning Day, but it might as well be called Empire Records Day,” Caulfield told The Hollywood Reporter on Thursday. “It initially eluded me because the film had been such a box office disappointment, so I didn’t give it the credence that it has developed over ...

Rex Manning Day is serious business for fans of Empire Records. And every year on April 8, Twitter is trending about the event that took place in the 1995 film.

Actor Maxwell Caulfield, who played the aging, pompous music idol, Rex Manning, says he finds the day both heartwarming and stunning.

“It’s titled Rex Manning Day, but it might as well be called Empire Records Day,” Caulfield told The Hollywood Reporter on Thursday. “It initially eluded me because the film had been such a box office disappointment, so I didn’t give it the credence that it has developed over ...

Updated with latest reactions: Alan Parker, who died today at 76, was remembered Friday by colleagues and friends, with Andrew Lloyd Webber calling his Evita collaborator “one of the few directors to truly understand musicals on screen” and Matthew Modine, who starred in Parker’s 1984 drama Birdy, praising the director as a “great artist” who “transformed” the actor’s life.

And Rocketman director Dexter Fletcher explained the pivotal role Parker played in his life by casting the then-nine-year-old Fletcher as “Babyface” in 1975’s Bugsy Malone.

In a statement, Fletcher said:

Sir Alan inadvertently changed my life at the age of 9 when he stuck me at the end of a line of 30 kids, passing a baseball bat, all whilst saying ‘Give this to Babyface’. He told me to say something different on every take He generously made each moment unique and fun...

Paramount’s plan to tell you more, tell you more about the crucial amorous 1950s-set teen backstory to its iconic 1978 musical, Grease, appears to be coming to fruition. The project, a prequel movie titled Summer Lovin’, went into development last year and has just procured a director in Brett Haley.

Summer Lovin’ is officially moving forward with Haley in the director’s chair, reports Deadline. A surging indie talent for whom the film will serve as a potential mainstream breakthrough, Haley will work off a script by Leah McKendrick, a surging talent poised to break out in her own right. They will be joined here by producers in Temple Hill and Picturestart. Interestingly, the report points to studio enthusiasm strong enough for the project to serve as a potential franchise-launcher.

As the title implies, Summer Lovin’ will chronicle Grease’s plot-establishing 1958-set California teen romance between local greaser Danny Zuko...

Stars: Ryan Wesen, Laura James, Sam J. Jones, Mark ‘Woody’ Keppel, John James, Maxwell Caulfield, Sean Young, David Johnson, John Romeo | Written by David Giancola, Mike Ford | Directed by David Giancola

Dane (Ryan Wesen) only wanted to steal a car but, when a panicked inventor (Mark ‘Woody’ Keppel) dives in the passenger seat with a pistol and a teleportation device, he’s suddenly in the middle of a car chasing government gun battle. Kate (Laura James) only wanted to keep her lousy job but, when Dane teleports into her arms, the two are thrown into the heart of a sinister global conspiracy. Hunted by a sadistic assassin (Sam J Jones) they must find a way to save themselves, figure out who to trust how and more importantly, how to make this crazy device work again.

Who knew that in a low-budget action film we’d get to see two former Dynasty stars appearing on-screen together?...

We have a relatively quiet week of home media releases coming our way tomorrow, with the first season of the newly revamped The Twilight Zone series leading the charge. Scream Factory is giving both Rasputin The Mad Monk and X: The Unknown the HD treatment this Tuesday, and Mvd Rewind has put together a special edition Blu for Mind Games.

Other releases for February 18th include Killer Weekend, Clown Fear, The Girl in the Mirror, Submission, Feedback, and American Zombieland.

Mind Games: Special Edition

Maxwell Caulfield stars in this taut psychological thriller from director Bob Yari (producer of the Academy Award® winning Crash) about a family's battle for survival against a cruel, scheming stranger.

Trapped in an unhappy marriage, Dana Lund and his wife, Rita try to breathe new life into their relationship by taking a trip through northern California with their 10-year-old son Kevin. Along the way they pick...

I came of age (whatever that means) in the ’80s, so I’m always very interested in what Severin Films re-releases from that era; some I’ve seen and some I haven’t, and others I’ve never even heard of before. The two new releases from Severin I’ll be looking at today fit in that middle category—ones I know of very well, but yet remained unseen. Until now, that is; Severin has seen fit to load up the fantasy/actioner/softcore Gwendoline (1984) and the harrowingly violent The Boys Next Door (1985) with everything a viewer could want to know.

Gwendoline (1984): Otherwise known as The Perils of Gwendoline in the Land of the Yik Yak, this film is goofy, immature, leering, and has stunning set design. Yes, it’s French; how’d you guess? Writer/director Just Jaeckin (Lady Chatterley’s Lover) has concocted an almost unwieldy mix of Raiders of the Lost Ark,...

Renée Zellweger continues to follow the yellow brick road to the Oscars.

The Los Angeles premiere of Judy on Thursday night in Beverly Hills kept the Academy Award winner on track for a possible second win come February.

“We’re just so happy we’re able to share it with you tonight,” Zellweger said to the crowd before the screening began at the Academy on Wilshire Boulevard. “And I hope that you guys love it and feel as much for [Garland] in watching it as we did in making it.”

About two hours later, as the credits rolled on the Rupert Goold-directed drama about the last months of Garland’s life, sniffles could be heard throughout the auditorium. Zellweger received thunderous applause when her name appeared on screen.

Downstairs, during the post-screening buffet dinner and reception, Zellweger was mobbed by well-wishers.

“Call Me by Your Name” producer Howard Rosenman told...

Paramount Players are to bring back some summer loving with a new prequel for the much loved John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John musical ‘Grease’.

The working title for the project is, indeed, ‘Summer Loving’ and ‘Charlie and the Chocolate Factory’ scribe John August has been hired to pen the script.

The premise of the prequel will be set during the summer in which Danny (Travolta) and Sandy (John) met and embarked on their summer romance before heading to Rydell High for their senior year. The summer made infamous by the song ‘Summer Loving’ as each party bragged of their passion-fuelled encounter.

Also in the news – Julianne Moore to star in Stephen King series ‘Lisey’s Story’ for Apple

Released in 1978, ‘Grease’ follows the lives of greaser Danny Zuko and Australian transfer student Sandy Olsson as they once again meet at school. Danny the head of the cool T-Birds is the...

1978: Anthony Geary debuted as Luke Spencer on General Hospital.

1978: Rita Stapleton and Ed Bauer were married on Guiding Light.

1980: Donna Mills debuted as Abby Fairgate on Knots Landing.

2012: Edward Quartermaine passed away on General Hospital."The best prophet of the future is the past."

― Lord Byron

"Today in Soap Opera History" is a collection of the most memorable, interesting and influential events in the history of scripted, serialized programs. From birthdays and anniversaries to scandals and controversies, every day this column celebrates the soap opera in American culture.

On this date in...

1929: Radio serial The Rise of the Goldbergs premiered on the NBC Blue network.

1944: The Frank and Anne Hummert soap opera The Strange Romance of Evelyn Winters premiered on CBS Radio.

1964: On General Hospital, Steve Hardy asked Audrey March to marry him.

1964: On Another World, Pat Matthews (Susan Trustman) at in...

Grease 2 has long unjustly suffered as a box office bomb and disappointing sequel. It’s actually even better than the classic Grease in many ways, at least when it comes to gender dynamics. Maxwell Caulfield plays Michael Carrington, a new student at Rydell high. He falls in love with Pink Lady Stephanie (Michelle Pfeiffer) who only dates T-Birds. So Michael creates a mysterious biker persona to woo her. Filmmaker Brian Herzlinger (My Date with Drew) assembled director Pat Birch and cast members Caulfield, Adrian Zmed, Leif Green, Christopher McDonald, Alison Price, Maureen Teefy, Liz Sagal and Jean Sagal for a […]

The post The Travolta/Newton John Cameo We Almost Got and 11 More Things We Learned From The Cast and Director Of Grease 2! appeared first on Monsters and Critics.

Just in time for Rex Manning Day on Sunday, producer Bill Weiner announced plans to develop a stage musical based on the 1995 film “Empire Records.” Did you think we would all just fade away?

Original screenwriter Carol Heikkinen (“Center Stage”) will write the stage adaptation, with new music and lyrics by Zoe Sarnak, the 2018 Jonathan Larson Grant winner for her upcoming musical “Afterwords.” Other members of the creative team will be announced at a later date.

Director Allan Moyle’s teen comedy, which starred Liv Tyler, Renée Zellweger, Anthony Lapaglia, Robin Tunney, Rory Cochrane, Ethan Embry and Johnny Whitworth, has developed a cult following over the years for its depiction of mid-’90s alt-rock fandom.

Also Read: '90s Flashback: 'Empire Records' Ethan Embry on Rex Manning Day and Playing Lily Tomlin's Son in New Netflix Series

The film was set at Empire Records, last of the independent small-town record stores, as its tight-knit teenage employees gear up for a promotional event for washed-up music star Rex Manning (Maxwell Caulfield).

Hearing that the shop may be sold to a big chain, slacker employee Lucas (Cochrane) places a big bet with a chunk of the store’s money, hoping to get a big return and save the store. When the plan fails, Empire Records falls into serious trouble, and the teens must find a way to fend off the encroaching Music Town overlords.

“The movie was really about a family that formed among these minimum-wage record clerks,” Heikkinen said in a statement. “There’s a lot of nostalgia now for those old record stores where you could go and talk to people who loved the same music you loved, and discover new bands. We hope the musical will capture the memory of what it was like to be young in a time before iTunes and Spotify — music is such an important part of the youth experience, and it’s what brings these characters together.”

Also Read: Broadway's Revival Fever: Do Old Shows Still Play in #MeToo Era? (Guest Blog)

Sarnak added, “I first saw ‘Empire Records’ when my older sister brought it home on VHS…. Over the years, I watched it again and again because that cast — those characters — were my idea of the coolest misfits. Teenagers who loved music as much as I did, and still do.”

Weiner, who jump-started New Regency’s theatrical stage business and served as the studio’s Executive Vice President and General Counsel for 23 years, said: “I am beyond thrilled to bring this iconic film to the Broadway stage.”

Read original story ‘Empire Records’ to Become Broadway-Bound Musical – Just in Time for Rex Manning Day At TheWrap...