Daytime Soap Operas: Ryan's Hope

Production will begin later this month in Buffalo, New York, on the horror film from recently launched Torfoot Entertainment Group.

As we previously revealed, Radiant Films launched sales at last year’s AFM. The company has inked pre-sales for UK, Germany, and Italy with Plaion; Turkey with Aqua Pinema; India with Empire Networks; Middle East with Phoenicia; and Australia and New Zealand with Rialto. Sales will continue at the upcoming EFM in Berlin.

Pic is co-written and will be co-directed by Gene Gallerano (The First Wave) and William Pisciotta (Thunder Road).

The synopsis reads: “Oil tycoon Merriell Sunday Sr. and renowned adventurer Hollis Bannister have disappeared without a trace. Their last known location is northern Alaska. Ellie Bannister and Merriell Sunday Jr., set out to search for their missing fathers and the truth behind what made them vanish. As the rescue team heads deeper into the heart of this frozen landscape, danger mounts. Something has taken notice of their trespassing expedition…and that prehistoric something is now stalking them…hunting them.”

Creature design is spearhead by Wayne Anderson and Ali Gordon, known for their creature design on projects including The Predator, Jurassic World and Stranger Things. Stunt coordinator/second unit director will be Freddie Poole (Tulsa King) and production designer will be Frank Coppola (Nightmare Alley).

Torfoot is an LA-based film and TV firm spearheaded by producer Johnathan Brownlee (The Standoff At Sparrow Creek) and casting director-turned-producer Ross Meyerson (Damages).

Radiant CEO Mimi Steinbauer said of the multi-territory European deal: “We’re very excited to be partnering with Plaion on this project, they recently distributed Terrifier 3 which has been a huge box office success worldwide so we know the film will be in good hands.”

Brittany Allen is represented by Luber Roklin Entertainment; Eric Nelsen is represented by TCA; Corbin Bernsen is represented by Randy James Management and Paradigm Talent Agency; and William Sadler is represented by Insurge-Ent.

John Capodice, ‘General Hospital’ and ‘Ace Ventura’ Actor, Dies at 83

Capodice’s passing was confirmed by a listing on New Jersey’s Pizzi Funeral Home website. A cause of death was not disclosed. “John was a devoted husband, father and grandfather and will be missed by all who had the pleasure to meet him,” the obituary reads.

Born on December 25, 1941, in Chicago, Illinois, Capodice was a member of the US Army from 1964 to 1966, serving in Korea. After returning to the U.S., he began his acting career, appearing on stage, television, and in many films.

His first on-screen role came in the late 1970s when he starred as Lloyd Lorn in six episodes of the ABC soap opera Ryan’s Hope. He would go on to appear in numerous other classic TV series, including Kate & Allie, Moonlighting, Seinfeld, Murder, She Wrote, Murphy Brown, Law & Order, Will & Grace, and many more.

In 1994, he joined General Hospital as Carmine Cerullo, appearing on and off until 1996. He continued to pop up on TV shows throughout the late 1990s and 2000s, including Six Feet Under, The West Wing, Everybody Hates Chris, CSI, Monk, and Without A Trace.

On film, Capodice was best known as the dismissive police officer in Ace Ventura: Pet Detective (1994). His other film roles included Q (1982), Family Business (1989), The Doors (1991), See No Evil, Hear No Evil (1989), Naked Gun 33+1?3: The Final Insult (1994), Speed (1994), Independence Day (1996), and Enemy of the State (1998).

In more recent years, he provided a voice for the animated film Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem (2023) and appeared in five episodes of the 2024 streaming series Conversation With Mobster.

Children’s & Family Emmy Nomination

‘Dexter: Original Sin’ Teaser Reveals Patrick Dempsey’s Mustache Means Business

The teaser was released at CCXP in São Paolo, Brazil on a panel featuring cast members Patrick Gibson (“Dexter Morgan”), Christian Slater (“Harry Morgan”), Molly Brown (“Debra Morgan”), and special guest stars Sarah Michelle Gellar (“Tanya Martin”) and Patrick Dempsey. The series premieres on December 13 globally on Paramount+.

Captain Spencer recently welcomed a second Morgan family member into the Miami Metro fold: Dexter Morgan (Patrick Gibson), who follows his father, Harry Morgan (Christian Slater), into the business. For those of you OG Dexter fans, you know that eventually, potty-mouth queen Deborah Morgan will also join the force. But we have some time until that happens.

Dexter is currently dipping his toes into the industry as an intern, working closely alongside his new buddies Vincent Masuka (Alex Shimizu) and Angel Batista (James Martinez). It’s fun to see the desk Dexter works from as a young man continues to be his spot through adulthood, well, at least until he decides to run away and be a logger.

Captain Spencer means business and even though Dexter’s dad is beloved at work, things won’t be easy for him. He needs to find a way to hone his craft and make his two passions work without getting caught. We know how it ends, now see how it all began.

It’s worth noting, Gibson, Martinez and Shimizu are spot on with their nods to the OG characters. It’s just enough of the classic moves to give a nod to the future, without it looking like pure imitation. And hearing Michael C. Hall’s voice narrating the tale, is a chef’s kiss.

Serving as a prequel to the award-winning Showtime series Dexter, Dexter: Original Sin is set in 1991 Miami and follows Dexter (Gibson) as he transitions from student to avenging serial killer. When his bloodthirsty urges can’t be ignored any longer, Dexter must learn to channel his inner darkness. With the guidance of his father, Harry (Slater), he adopts a Code designed to help him find and kill people who deserve to be eliminated from society without getting on law enforcement’s radar. This is a particular challenge for young Dexter as he begins a forensics internship at the Miami Metro Police Department.

Helen Gallagher, ‘Ryan’s Hope’ Stalwart and Broadway Triple Threat, Dies at 98

Gallagher died Sunday at a hospital in Manhattan, Edith Meeks, executive and artistic director at New York’s Herbert Berghof Studio, told The Washington Post. Gallagher taught a class in “Singing for the Musical Theater” there for years.

The radiant singer, dancer and actress received her first Tony in 1952 for her portrayal of showgirl Gladys Bumps in a revival of the Rodgers & Hart musical Pal Joey, then landed another in 1971 for her turn as flapper Lucille Early, another wise-cracking character, in a revival of Busby Berkeley’s No, No, Nanette.

“When Miss Gallagher sings the blues of a lovelorn wife with piece of chiffon and a chorus of properly epicene tailor’s dummies, she makes the good old days come alive once more,” Clive Barnes wrote in his Nanette review for The New York Times, referring to her performance of “Where Has My Hubby Gone Blues.”

The Bronx-reared star received another Tony nomination in 1967 for playing the dancer Nickie in the original Broadway production of Sweet Charity, directed and choreographed by Bob Fosse; later, she took over for Gwen Verdon in the title role and sang the show-stopping “Big Spender.”

Gallagher worked with many of the great Broadway choreographers of the past 70 years, Fosse, Agnes de Mille, Jerome Robbins, George Balanchine, Gower Champion, Anton Dolin, Donald Saddler and Robert Alton among them. Asked at a Lambs theatrical club event in February 2019 what they all had in common, she replied, “Temperament. People that are associated with dance and the teaching aspect of it are never known for their sweetness and kindness.”

In all, Gallagher appeared in nearly two dozen shows, from 1944 through 1981, on the Broadway stage.

On Ryan’s Hope, which aired from July 1975 to January 1989, her Maeve, a native of County Cork, Ireland, and mother of three, helped husband Johnny (Bernard Barrow) run a New York City tavern called Ryan’s across the street from a hospital.

During its run, she learned how to do an Irish jig and often sang “Danny Boy,” closing the show by singing the iconic ballad from a seat atop the bar. (Watch the emotional scene here.)

“Ryan’s Hope was the best,” Gallagher said in 1997. “First of all, it was a half-hour show — wonderfully cast and wonderfully written. There were plenty of times when it was boring, but as a rule, it was really interesting — the people were centered and had work to do. It wasn’t just a matter of sitting around on couches talking about your emotional problems. There was a life going on in that place, maybe because it was centered on a bar. It was just magic.”

She won Daytime Emmy Awards for outstanding actress in a drama series in 1976, 1977 and 1988, and in 2010 the website We Love Soaps placed her No. 10 on its list of the 50 Greatest Soap Actresses.

After Ryan’s Hope was canceled, she soldiered on in other daytime serials, playing Hannah Tuttle on NBC’s Another World in 1989, Nurse Harris on ABC’s All My Children in 1995 and Maude Boyland Hayes on ABC’s One Life to Live in 1997-98.

The daughter of a banker, Gallagher was born in Brooklyn on July 19, 1926, and then raised in Scarsdale, New York, and the East Bronx. By the time she graduated from St. Frances of Rome grammar school, she already had been studying dance for four years.

“I was so shy, but on stage I was totally free, there was a sort of absolution there, to do what you couldn’t in life,” she told the Times in 1971.

The 5-foot-2 Gallagher studied at the American School of Ballet, and in 1944 she made her Broadway debut in the Cole Porter musical revue Seven Lively Arts, performing in a number composed by Igor Stravinsky.

She danced and had a speaking role in the Comden-Green musical Billion Dollar Baby; danced in the original 1947-48 production of the Lerner & Loewe musical Brigadoon, choreographed by de Mille; and was featured alongside Nanette Fabray and Phil Silvers in High Button Shoes, choreographed by Robbins.

“I was not an Agnes de Mille dancer,” she once said. “I was the girl in the third line — there were two lines of girls and then me — because she couldn’t stand the way I danced. Agnes wanted ethereal, legato movement, which was so foreign to me. With Jerry Robbins, I was able to catch what he wanted, which was the hyper, jitterbugging energy of what was going on in the streets.”

Gallagher reunited with Fabray for the 1951 musical Make a Wish (book by Preston Sturges). After Pal Joey, she played the title role in the 1953 Jule Styne-Ben Hecht musical Hazel Flagg (Jerry Lewis adapted her part for his 1954 movie Living It Up) and replaced Carol Haney as Gladys Hotchkiss in the original 1954-56 production of The Pajama Game, directed by George Abbott and Robbins and choreographed by Fosse.

From 1955-57, she starred in revivals of Guys and Dolls — she played Adelaide opposite Walter Matthau as Nathan Detroit — Finian’s Rainbow, Brigadoon and Oklahoma! (as Ado Annie, one of her favorite roles), then starred in Mame as the frumpy Agnes Gooch.

She took her final Broadway bow in 1981 in Sugar Babies but starred as actress Tallulah Bankhead in a 1984 production in the Hamptons.

On the big screen, Gallagher appeared in Kirk Douglas‘ Strangers When We Meet (1960) and with Christopher Walken in James Ivory’s Roseland (1977).

In 1956, she married Frank Wise, a stagehand she had met when she was in The Pajama Game. At the Lambs event, she related that they once went to the theater to see Verdon perform, at which point he told her, “I’ve got to admit, she’s got something you don’t have,” she recalled.

‘Dexter: Original Sin’ Trailer: Michael C. Hall Charts Young Dexter’s Path From Student To Serial Killer — Watch

In anticipation of the upcoming prequel series, Paramount Global finally debuted a trailer for the upcoming series, which follows Dexter Morgan’s path to becoming the avenging serial killer that audiences knew and loved in the original Showtime series.

The trailer, just like the series, is narrated by Michael C. Hall as he looks back on his younger years to explain how he ends up as a blood splatter expert helping the Miami Police Department solve murders while committing them in his free time.

There are scenes spliced into the trailer that call back to the ending of Dexter: New Blood. Dexter’s (Hall) is shown after he was shot by his son Harrison (Jack Alcott) lying in the snow motionless and believed to be deceased. Another scene shows he was taken to an emergency room and that’s when his life flashes before his eyes, connecting New Blood to Original Sin.

The teaser does not reveal whether Dexter lives or dies, but the second season of New Blood has been renamed Resurrection for Season 2. One can only hope that our favorite serial killer-turned-logger then lumberjack may return.

Watch the full trailer above. Dexter: Original Sin debuts on December 13 on Paramount+ with Showtime. It will also air on Showtime beginning December 15.

Set in 1991 Miami, Dexter: Original Sin follows Dexter (Patrick Gibson) as he transitions from student to serial killer. When his bloodthirsty urges can’t be ignored any longer, Dexter must learn to channel his inner darkness. With the guidance of his father, Harry (Christian Slater), he adopts a Code designed to help him find and kill people who deserve to be eliminated from society without getting on law enforcement’s radar. This is a particular challenge for young Dexter as he begins a forensics internship at the Miami Metro Police Department.

The prequel series also stars Molly Brown, Christina Milian, James Martinez, Alex Shimizu, Reno Wilson, special guest star Sarah Michelle Gellar, and Patrick Dempsey. Michael C. Hall returns to voice the iconic inner monologue in Dexter Morgan’s head.

Revelations’ Morgan Freeman, Lori McCreary Tune Up Chuck Berry’s 98th Birthday With TV Series Deal

“Chuck Berry was more than a musical legend — he was a revolutionary spirit whose influence shaped the course of modern music and culture. It is an immense honor to partner with the Berry family to bring his story to a worldwide audience,” Freeman and McCreary said in a statement. “Through this collaboration, we aim to celebrate his groundbreaking legacy, sharing not just his music but the remarkable journey behind it. Together, we want to ensure that Chuck’s spirit continues to inspire future generations, reminding the world of the indelible mark he left on us all.”

The singer-guitarist’s widow, Themetta Berry, said she was “excited to partner with Revelations to bring this story to life, as are my children, grandchildren and entire family. Morgan and Lori’s track record of bringing important stories to the screen in a way that is genuine and authentic compelled me to work with them. This project will be an important part of paying tribute to Charles as part of the CHUCK100 celebration.”

The CHUCK100 is a series of events that began in the singer’s hometown of St. Louis. The campaign will include tribute events, new releases of Berry’s music, and activations leading up to the 100th anniversary of his birth on October 18, 2026.

The first phase began at the Chuck Berry House of Evolution Festival last month, an event replete with career memorabilia from Berry’s career including one of his iconic Cadillacs, and video presentations that highlighted the singer’s remarkable influence on music. The event was part of a larger effort to honor Berry’s legacy through music, storytelling and cultural tributes.

Known for hits like “Johnny B. Goode,” “Maybellene” and “Roll Over Beethoven,” Berry’s showmanship and guitar acumen has him regarded as an influence on the likes of the Beatles and Rolling Stones. As Bob Seger famously sang, “all of Chuck’s children are out there, playing his licks.”

Sherry Coben Dies: Creator Of ‘Kate & Allie’ Was 71

Coben was the mastermind behind the Emmy-winning comedy that starred Jane Curtin and Susan St. James. Shot in the Ed Sullivan Theater, Kate & Allie quickly became a top 10 hit and ran for six seasons on CBS.

Coben began her career in the art department at KYW-TV in Philadelphia, doing graphics, sets, illustrations and animation for all their local programming and The Mike Douglas Show. After moving to New York City and working freelance as an artist for a wide range of television shows and magazines, she got her break in writing on the beloved NBC children’s program Hot Hero Sandwich, for which she received an Daytime Emmy.

She went on to write for the ABC soap opera Ryan’s Hope in 1980 before creating the hit CBS sitcom four years later. It lasted until 1989, airing 122 episodes.

Coben also was a writer-producer on the Saturday morning CBS series Bailey Kipper’s P.O.V. and creator-writer of the web series Little Women, Big Cars.

In addition to her work as a writer-producer, Coben was a proud mentor and active volunteer in service of the next generation of high-caliber writers, performers, artists and human beings.

She is survived by her husband, film editor Patrick McMahon, and daughters Kaley McMahon and Jama McMahon.

Ron Hale, Actor on ‘Ryan’s Hope’ and ‘General Hospital,’ Dies at 78

Hale, who lived in St. George, South Carolina, died Aug. 27, his family announced.

Hale worked on Ryan’s Hope from 1975-89 and received supporting actor Daytime Emmys in 1979 and ’80. As Coleridge, a doctor from a well-do-do family who often clashed with the Ryan clan, he was married to Delia Reid (Ilene Kristen/Randall Edwards), Maggie Shelby (Cali Timmins) and then Delia again.

Hale then recurred as Corbin, the father of mob boss Sonny Corinthos (Maurice Benard), on General Hospital from 1995-2010, and he showed up on the G.H. spinoff Port Charles from 1997-2000 as well. (Max Gail played the character from 2018-21.)

Ronald Hale Thigpen was born on Jan. 2, 1946, in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He attended Furman University, came to New York when he was 19 and graduated from the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in 1967.

He made his onscreen debut on an episode of ABC’s N.Y.P.D. in 1968 and a year later appeared on his first soap opera, CBS’ Search for Tomorrow. Also that year, he made it to Broadway in William Saroyan’s The Time of Your Life.

In All the President’s Men (1976), he portrayed Watergate burglar Frank Sturgis.

Hale’s résumé also included Trial by Jury (1994), episodes of Matlock and MacGyver and plays performed at Columbia, South Carolina’s Trustus Theatre, which was started by his late brother, Jim Thigpen Jr., and late sister-in-law, Kay Thigpen.

Dexter Prequel Original Sin Gets December Premiere Date — See Sarah Michelle Gellar, Christian Slater and More in First Trailer

Dexter‘s prequel series Original Sin will get underway in December, TVLine has learned. The drama, which follows the original show’s central character during his teenage years, will premiere on Sunday, Dec. 15, on the linear Paramount+ With Showtime cable network; the episode will be available to stream on Paramount+ (for subscribers with the Paramount+ With Showtime plan) two days earlier, on Friday, Dec. 13.

The spinoff is set in the 1990s and is centered on a younger version of the serial-killer character played by Michael C. Hall in the original series. (Hall will narrate the show, as well as star in another spinoff, Dexter: Resurrection.) Per Original Sin‘s official description, young Dexter is unable to control his “bloodthirsty urges” and must learn to “channel his inner darkness.”

In conjunction with the premiere date news, the network released the series’ first teaser trailer, which you can watch above. “I am a killer, but I wasn’t born this way. I was made — by my history, by the people around me,” Hall narrates as we watch flashes of Dexter’s formative years. “They say it takes a village to raise a killer.”

Patrick Gibson (Shadow and Bone) will play Dexter, with Molly Brown (Billions) as his sister Deb and Christian Slater (Mr. Robot) as his adoptive father, Harry. The cast also includes Sarah Michelle Gellar (Buffy the Vampire Slayer), Patrick Dempsey (Grey’s Anatomy), James Martinez (Love, Victor), Christina Milian (Grandfathered), Alex Shimizu (The Blacklist) and Reno Wilson (Good Girls).

Talk Show Appearance

Baywatch Cast Reflects on Highs and Lows of the Show in Docuseries Preview: ‘There Really Was No Better Job’

The stars reunited for the new ABC News Studios docuseries, After Baywatch: Moment in the Sun, and revealed how their lives changed being on one of the most popular television series, which ran from 1989 to 1999. To promote the new series (premiering Aug. 28), some of the stars reflected on what the docuseries meant to them in this exclusive featurette.

For David Chokachi, who played Cody Madison, “I look back and was like, there really was no better job than Baywatch." Alexandra Paul nods in agreement beside him.

“Baywatch is a fantasy,” says Nicole Eggert, who produced the documentary and played Summer Quinn on the show.

The camera then cuts to Traci Bingham and Carmen Electra on each side of Jeremy Jackson, who played David Hasselhoff's child on the series. Jackson jokes, “Childhood memories finally manifesting,” as he hugs them and laughs.

Baywatch was a phenomenon during its 11-season run — creator Douglas Schwartz even reveals it had 1.2 billion viewers per week.

“That was the highest volume of viewers of any show ever in the history of television,” he says.

The lifeguard rescue drama made headlines worldwide, bringing extreme fame to the cast. Reflecting on that pressure of being in the public eye, Paul explains that she was grateful to have her costars by her side at the time.

“I think when you’ve been on a number one show in the world, it’s such a unique experience we had,” she discusses with Chokachi. “So coming together again, we’re just bonded because of that, because of what we went through — the good and the bad that came with that kind of fame.”

Erika Eleniak, who played Shauni McClain, says she agrees, adding that doing the documentary three decades later was a full-circle moment.

“It was a nice opportunity to be able to speak candidly about what was going on and how it affected our lives and our careers on a personal level,” she says while sitting beside Billy Warlock.

On the other hand, Electra says she is hoping nothing too crazy comes out of the behind-the-scenes clips that will be included in the docuseries, teasing: “I heard there’s unseen footage, lost VHS tapes, so I'm a little concerned about that.”

Director and executive producer Matthew Felker remembers the amount of attention the stars got during the peak of the show, saying he understands why the cast has been afraid of public scrutiny.

“They were very hesitant with press because they’ve always been sort of massacred in the press,” he explains.

The docuseries is a chance for the stars to tell their own stories about its impact on pop culture and their lives.

In the docuseries, there's archival footage of Pamela Anderson (who starred as C.J. Parker) saying she still can recall where she was when she realized that she was famous.

“We went to London to promote Baywatch and photographers were falling down backwards and down the stairs and I looked behind me and was like, ‘who are they shooting?’ And it literally dawns on you that it’s you,” she reveals.

(Video) “Just because you’re a beautiful person doesn’t mean that life can’t happen too,” Felker continued. “Life happens to a lot of these people, and we see that.”

The clip came to an end with a clip of Anderson declaring: “I’m really proud of everything I've done — almost.”

‘Frasier’ Season 2 Trailer Gives Sneak Peek of Frasier Back on Radio in Seattle

Frasier returns on Paramount+ on Thursday, September 19, with two episodes. The rest of the season will drop weekly. The revival sees Frasier in the next chapter of his life after he returns to Boston to face new challenges, forge new relationships, and—with hope— finally fulfill an old dream or two. The aforementioned Seattle-themed episode will see him return to his radio roots at KACL.

And as the trailer shows, it’s so good to have him back there. The new video offers a look at some of the comedic moments to come back in Boston as well. There’s surely fun to be had at whatever gathering is going on at Frasier’s apartment, there’s an 18 lb. expensive ham, and more. Plus, Olivia (Toks Olagundoye) seems ready to join a girls night, admitting, “Haven’t had one of those in a while. it’s usually just me and those two grumpy Muppets over there.” Watch the trailer above.

As for what brings Frasier back to Seattle, he “feels like he has some unfinished business there,” executive producer Joe Cristalli previously told TV Insider. “We knew we wanted to see Gil [Edward Hibbert], ‘Bulldog’ [Dan Butler], and Roz [Peri Gilpin]. We wanted to find an organic reason for him to go to Seattle and see McGinty’s again. He’s there to help Roz with a tribute special to [radio station] KACL.”

In addition to Grammer, Frasier stars Jack Cutmore-Scott as Frasier’s son, Freddy; Nicholas Lyndhurst as Alan, Frasier’s old college buddy turned university professor; Olagundoye as Olivia, Alan’s colleague and head of the university’s psychology department; Jess Salgueiro as Eve, Frasier and Freddy’s neighbor; and Anders Keith as Frasier’s nephew, David. In addition to Gilpin, Butler, and Hibbert, Season 2 guest stars include Dan Butler (Bob “Bulldog” Briscoe), Edward Hibbert (Gil Chesterton), Rachel Bloom (Phoebe), Yvette Nicole Brown (Olivia’s sister), Greer Grammer (Roz’s daughter Alice), Patricia Heaton (Holly), Harriet Sansom Harris (Bebe Glazer), and Amy Sedaris (Dr. “Doc” Stathos).

Frasier comes from writers Chris Harris and Joe Cristalli, who executive produce with Grammer, Tom Russo, and Jordan McMahon. The series is produced by CBS Studios in association with Grammer’s Grammnet NH Productions. Legendary director James Burrows returns to direct two episodes. The series is filmed in front of a live studio audience at Paramount Studios in Los Angeles.

Baywatch Docu Trailer Teases Lifeguard Drama’s Highs and Lows: ‘Everybody Was Disposable’

Baywatch debuted nearly 35 years ago, in September 1989, and aired on NBC and then in syndication until May 2001. (We don’t talk abut Baywatch Nights.) The series’ OG cast included David Hasselhoff, Parker Stevenson, Billy Warlock, Erika Eleniak and others, while subsequent additions included Pamela Anderson, Nicole Eggert, David Charvet, Alexandra Paul, Yasmine Bleeth, Traci Bingham, Carmen Electra and future Aquaman Jason Momoa.

In its bid to deliver “an unprecedented look into the stars who brought the world’s most famous lifeguards to life, After Baywatch: Moment in the Sun features dozens of new cast and creator interviews — including Eggert, Electra, Warlock, Paul, Bingham, Eleniak, Gregory Alan Williams, David Chokachi, Jeremy Jackson, Michael Newman, Michael Berk and Douglas Schwartz — and never-before-seen footage.

The four-part series also unveils a never-aired interview with Anderson, and shares loads of never-before-seen home videos shot by the cast and offering a unique glimpse into the real dynamics, struggles, friendships and moments that happened off-camera.

Press play on the trailer above to hear Warlock and others talk about the beauty standard made famous by the sun-baked series, the ever-changing cast’s “disposable” nature and the feelings the theme song alone triggered, and to get a peek at the never-before-seen Anderson interview.

‘Dexter: Original Sin’ First Look Photo Shows Patrick Gibson’s Serial Killer In Training Seemingly Mid-Kill

Photos from the upcoming Dexter prequel were released Thursday, introducing audiences to the Morgan family — including Christian Slater as Harry Morgan, Patrick Gibson as Dexter Morgan and Molly Brown as Debra Morgan

One of the photos, is particularly ominous as it appears to catch Gibson’s Dexter mid-kill. The others are seemingly innocuous, including a photo of Dexter and Harry in the kitchen, as well as another of Dexter deep in thought (shown above).

Dexter: Original Sin takes place 15 years before the events of the flagship series. Set in 1991 Miami, the 10-episode series follows Dexter (Gibson) as he transitions from student to avenging serial killer. When his bloodthirsty urges can’t be ignored any longer, Dexter must learn to channel his inner darkness. With the guidance of his father, Harry (Slater), he adopts a Code designed to help him find and kill people who deserve to be eliminated from society without getting on law enforcements’ radar. This is a particular challenge for young Dexter as he begins a forensics internship at the Miami Metro Police Department.

Additional cast includes Patrick Dempsey as Aaron Spencer, James Martinez as Angel Batista, Christina Milian as Maria LaGuerta, Alex Shimizu as Vince Masuka, Reno Wilson as Bobby Watt and special guest star, Sarah Michelle Gellar, as Tanya Martin.

Dexter: Original Sin is executive produced by showrunner Clyde Phillips and produced by Showtime Studios and Counterpart Studios. Executive producers also include Scott Reynolds, Michael C. Hall, Mary Leah Sutton, Tony Hernandez, Lilly Burns, with the series also being produced by Robert Lloyd Lewis. Michael Lehmann serves as directing executive producer.

‘Frasier’ Sets Season 2 Premiere Date On Paramount+

The show’s first season received three primetime Emmy nominations this morning including Outstanding Production Design For A Narrative Program (Half-Hour), Outstanding Cinematography For A Multi-Camera Series (Half-Hour) and Outstanding Picture Editing For A Multi-Camera Comedy Series.

The new Frasier follows Dr. Frasier Crane (Kelsey Grammer) in the next chapter of his life after he returns to Boston to face new challenges, forge new relationships and – with hope – finally fulfill an old dream or two.

Season 2 will see Frasier return to his radio roots at KACL in Seattle for an episode. The episode will feature previously announced guest stars stepping back into their roles from the original Frasier including Dan Butler as Bob “Bulldog” Briscoe, Edward Hibbert as Gil Chesterton and Harriet Sansom Harris as Frasier’s delightfully devilish agent, Bebe Glazer.

The series also stars Jack Cutmore-Scott as Frasier’s son, Freddy; Nicholas Lyndhurst as Alan, Frasier’s old college buddy turned university professor; Toks Olagundoye as Olivia, Alan’s colleague and head of the university’s psychology department; Jess Salgueiro as Eve, Frasier and Freddy’s neighbor; and Anders Keith as Frasier’s nephew, David.

Peri Gilpin, who starred in the original Frasier and Season 1 of the revival, will reprise the role of Roz Doyle in Season 2. Greer Grammer is set to play Roz’s daughter Alice. Additional guest stars also include Rachel Bloom, Yvette Nicole Brown, Patricia Heaton and Amy Sedaris. James Burrows also returns to direct two episodes.

The series hails from writers Chris Harris and Joe Cristalli, who executive produce with Grammer, Tom Russo and Jordan McMahon. CBS Studios produces Frasier in association with Grammer’s Grammnet NH Productions and is distributed by Paramount Global Content Distribution outside of the Paramount+ markets.

Joseph Hardy Dies: Tony-Winning Broadway Director, Exec Producer Of ‘Ryan’s Hope’ Was 95

His June 6 death was confirmed by New York’s Primary Stages Off Broadway theater company. A resident since 2020 at the Actors Fund Home in Englewood, NJ, his passing last month was not widely reported.

Born March 8, 1929, in Carlsbad, NM, Hardy graduated from the Yale School of Drama and began his show business career working as a script editor for New York-based soap operas. He was soon making his way into the Off Broadway world, working extensively in small theaters before making his early mark with the original 1967 production of You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown at Theater 80 St. Marks in Manhattan’s East Village.

The musical, with music and lyrics by Clark Gesner based on the wildly popular Peanuts characters crated by cartoonist Charles M. Schulz, was a simply-staged production that would go on to become a staple of amateur and school theater seasons. The show featured a book by John Gordon — a pseudonym later revealed to cover Gessner, production staff and the original cast that included Bob Balaban, Gary Burghoff, among others.

By the time the Peanuts musical transferred to Broadway in 1971, Hardy already was there, having directed several Broadway productions including Play It Again, Sam, the 1969 Woody Allen comedy that first teamed Allen with his greatest muse, Diane Keaton. The actress was nominated for a Tony for her performance in the comedy.

In 1970, Hardy won the Tony Award for his direction of Child’s Play, Charles Marasco’s Tony-nominated dark mystery drama set in an exclusive boys boarding school. The production also won Tonys for actors Fritz Weaver and Ken Howard, as well as for sets and lighting.

Hardy’s other Broadway credits include Johnny No-Trump (1967); Bob and Ray – The Two and Only (1970); Children! Children! (1972); Gigi (1973); The Night of the Iguana (1976); and, in 1978, Diversions and Delights, a one-man show starring Vincent Price as Oscar Wilde. Hardy’s final Broadway credit was 1979’s Romantic Comedy starring Anthony Perkins and, in her Broadway debut, Mia Farrow.

His stage career also included a stint as Associate Artist at the Old Globe Theatre in San Diego, and he was a frequent director at the Ahmanson Theatre in Los Angeles.

Hardy also had a busy TV career: He directed, among other projects, Lily Tomlin’s first TV special in 1973; a 1974 TV-movie adaptation of A Tree Grows in Brooklyn; and, that same year, the TV film Great Expectations starring Michael York and Sarah Miles. He directed and executive produced the headline making 1970s teen drama James at 15 (later retitled James at 16).

Returning to his roots in daytime soaps, Hardy was hired in 1983 as an executive producer of ABC’s Ryan’s Hope, a once-popular serial that had experienced dwindling viewership since its mid-1970s heyday. Hardy became part of a new producing team that overhauled the serial by firing some of its most popular cast members and shifting the focus from its longtime setting of the Ryan family bar to the goings-on at a nearby deli. The ratings crashed, many ABC affiliates dropped the show, and within a few years the network replaced Hardy’s crew and rehired original producer Claire Labine.

Hardy’s Ryan’s Hope era became something of a cautionary tale for the daytime drama industry, as networks and producers would tread carefully ever after about making major shifts away from a serial’s founding focus.

Hardy, however, landed on his feet, soon hired as executive producer of ABC’s Loving and, from 1989-91, the hugely popular General Hospital.

After leaving General Hospital, Hardy spent much of the 1990s living and working in France. He returned to New York City later in the decade and continued directing at the Old Globe Theatre, Williamstown Theatre Festival and the Charlotte Rep. In 2008, he directed his old friend Lynn Redgrave in Grace for MCC Theater Off Broadway, and he reteamed with the star the following year for her acclaimed solo show Nightingale for New York City Center.

He is survived by sister Caroline Rackley of New Mexico. He requested that no service or memorial be held.

Netflix Greenlights “Next Iteration” Of ‘Life On Our Planet’ Series With Narrator Morgan Freeman, EP Steven Spielberg

The as-yet-untitled show from Silverback Films and Amblin Documentaries will “tell the story of the rise and fall of the dinosaurs – where they came from, why they mattered, how they evolved and how they met their ultimate fate.”

Season 1 of Life on Our Planet examined not only the dinosaurs, but the rise of invertebrates, mammals, plants, and other life forms across billions of years of evolution up until the present. Industrial Light & Magic (ILM) returns to craft the visual effects and animation; Grammy Award-winner Lorne Balfe is back as composer.

“It is an extraordinary privilege to bring the most iconic creatures in Earth’s history to the screen,” said Dan Tapster, showrunner at Silverback Films. Speaking of the new iteration of the show, he said, “This series, covering 170 million years, will immerse viewers in the awe-inspiring world of dinosaurs, capturing the majesty and drama of their lives in unprecedented detail.”

Darryl Frank and Justin Falvey, executive producers and presidents of Amblin Television & Documentaries, added, “We couldn’t be more excited to partner again with our good friends at Silverback, Netflix and ILM as we transport audiences back in time to the age of the dinosaurs and bring these wonderful extinct creatures back to life in all their beautiful glory.”

Nick Shoolingin-Jordan is directing the new series; executive producers are Spielberg, Keith Scholey, Darryl Frank, and Justin Falvey. Freeman, the Oscar-winning star of Million Dollar Baby, The Shawshank Redemption, and Driving Miss Daisy, has been nominated for an Emmy twice in the category of Best Narrator, for his work on Our Universe and March of the Penguins 2: The Next Step.

Life on Our Planet, which premiered on Netflix last October, runs 8 episodes. The streamer has ordered four episodes of the upcoming dino-centric iteration.æ×»^—‰.B”éš.ÿ0Ôõ¸ß.Öe¾)û0ØŸ›ë23A]&ž.=ê2í.ö+›ê2A}%ð/a]f

‘Dexter: Original Sin’ Casts Patrick Gibson As Young Serial Killer; Christian Slater & Molly Brown Round Out Morgans

Dexter: Original Sin (previously known as Dexter: Origins) has cast the Morgan family: Patrick Gibson (Shadow and Bone) will play a young Dexter Morgan; Golden Globe-winner Christian Slater (Mr. Robot) will play his dad Harry Morgan; and Molly Brown (Senior Year) will play Dexter’s younger sister, Debra Morgan. The series will be available from Paramount+ with Showtime.

In the original series Dexter, which ran for 8 seasons on Showtime, Michael C. Hall portrayed the titular blood spatter analyst by day, killer by night. His adoptive father Harry was played by James Remar and his sister Deb was played by Jennifer Carpenter.

Dexter vet Clyde Phillips will return as showrunner and executive producer of the the 10-episode prequel series which takes place 15 years before the events of Dexter.

Dexter: Original Sin follows Dexter (Gibson) in 1991 Miami, as a student transitioning into a serial killer in training. When his bloodthirsty urges can no longer be ignored, Dexter finds solace and understanding in Harry. As his only confidant, he teaches Dexter a Code that’s designed to help him find and kill people who deserve to die—all while avoiding getting caught by law enforcement. This is a particular challenge for young Dexter as he begins a forensics internship at the Miami Metro Police Department.

Dexter: Original Sin is executive produced by Clyde Phillips and produced by Showtime Studios and Counterpart Studios. Scott Reynolds also EPs alongside ,Michael C. Hall, Mary Leah Sutton, Tony Hernandez, Lilly Burns, with Robert Lloyd Lewis producing. Michael Lehmann will serve as directing executive producer on the project that reunites him with Slater, whom he directed in the 1989 film Heathers.

For Showtime Studios, the series is being creatively overseen by Gary Levine and Urooj Sharif, with production supervised by Tara Power. The project is distributed by Paramount Global Content Distribution outside of Paramount+ markets.

Polish Brothers Re-Team To Make Innovative Movie ‘There There’ Starring Gretchen Moll, Shannon Sossamon & More

The film has begun principal photography and the duo are hopeful it will premiere at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival. This would be the sixth Polish Brothers film to premiere at the festival.

On There There, each of the twin brothers will write and direct one half of the movie without the other knowing anything about the other, resulting in two separate storylines that will be interwoven into a single feature-length film. This approach will enable each brother to explore the nature of the twin relationship from their own unique perspective without being influenced or constrained by the other’s vision.

The cast includes Gretchen Mol (Yellowstone), Shannon Sossamon (The Rules of Attraction), Corbin Bernsen (Major League), Zack Pearlman (The Intern), Logan Polish (The Mosquito Coast), and D.W. Moffett (Friday Night Lights).

The movie will chart the story of two brothers who have spent 40 long years apart, unaware of each other’s existence. As fate would have it, their paths cross and they are forced to confront the truth that has been hidden from them for so long.

“By allowing each of us to create our own storylines, we hope to capture the complexity, honesty and richness of the twin relationship in a way that has never been seen before on screen,” said Mark Polish. “This is a journey that will tug at audience’s heartstrings and leave people inspired by the incredible resilience of the human spirit.”

Michael Polish added: “We took painstaking measures to keep all details of our respective halves from each other. This has never been done before in the history of cinema and will in many ways be reflective, we think, of the relationship between the two of us.”

The Polish brothers are known for movies including Twin Falls Idaho, Northfolk and Jackpot. Michael Polish most recently directed Sylvester Stallone movie Alarum.

Convergence is the company set up by Randall Emmett and Joel Cohen in 2022. Recent credits include Savage Salvation (2022), starring Robert De Niro, John Malkovich and Jack Huston, and Gunner (2024) starring Morgan Freeman..

Morgan Freeman, Olivier Marchal, Simone Ashley To Be Feted At The Monte-Carlo TV Festival: Fan Events Set For ‘NCIS’ And ‘Little House On The Prairie’

It had already been announced that civil war drama The Gray House, which Freeman exec produced with Kevin Costner, Leslie Greif and Lori McCreary, will have its world premiere at Monte-Carlo.

The Honorary Golden Nymph, the Festival’s highest distinction, will be presented to the French actor and director Olivier Marchal (36 quai des Orfèvres, Braquo), at the Festival’s closing ceremony. Simone Ashley, whose credits include Bridgerton and Sex Education, will receive the Golden Nymph for Most Promising Talent.

Events for fans and public include an Anniversary Tea Party to mark the 50th anniversary of the primetime drama Little House on the Prairie. Michael Weatherly, Cote de Pablo, Brian Dietzen and Wilmer Valderrama will be in town for a behind the scenes event for NCIS, which is celebrating its 1000th episode.

An industry strand will have execs chewing over topics including the repercussions of last year’s strikes, coproduction, and the use of AI.

There will be public screenings for the drama projects in official competition, which features nine scripted series, hailing from France, Israel, Germany, New Zealand, Spain, Sweden, the U.S., the UK. The Festival also has a news and current affairs section.

‘CSI: Vegas’ & ‘So Help Me Todd’ Canceled By CBS

That despite CSI: Vegas and So Help Me Todd being solid ratings performers. With the entire CBS schedule doing well this season and three new drama series joining in 2024-25, NCIS: Origins, Matlock and Watson (in addition to a second season of the Australian NCIS: Sydney), the network was faced with painful decisions, and So Help Me Todd and CSI: Vegas are the least watched CBS drama series this spring in both linear and multi-platform ratings.

In most current linear Nielsen viewership (2/12 to date), CSI: Vegas, which improved its time period, is at #21 among all non-sports broadcast programs with 6.234M viewers and So Help Me Todd at #22 with 6.224M. That is more than a slew of series on other broadcast networks that have been safely renewed for next season, including ABC’s Will Trent, The Rookie and Grey’s Anatomy and NBC’s Law & Order, The Voice and The Irrational.

In 35-day multi-platform viewership, So Help Me Todd is ahead by a hair with 7.7M viewers vs 7.6M for CSI: Vegas. There are no current plans for either series to move to Paramount+ following their CBS cancellations.

With broadcast budgets under pressure amid soft ad market and overall belt-tightening by the media companies, CBS series cuts were inevitable to make room for the new additions.

After Elsbeth was just renewed and with The Equalizer also expected to come back contingent on a new deal with star/executive producer Queen Latifah, NCIS: Hawai’i remains as the only major question mark.

As Deadline reported earlier this week, the series’ future is said to be the subject of tough business conversations, with a partial Season 4 of about 13 or so episodes a possibility. A Top 15 broadcast series in total viewers, Hawai’i is part of the storied NCIS franchise and the first installment with a female lead.

Like Hawai’i, CSI: Vegas is part of a signature CBS/CBS Studios franchise with a long history on the network. CSI producer Bruckheimer Television has another CBS drama series, hot sophomore Fire Country, which has been renewed for next season and may spawn a Sheriff spinoff which is on a slower development track. There is also the potential Cold Case reboot from Bruckheimer TV and Warner Bros. TV, which has been in negotiations at CBS.

A followup to the 2000 CSI series, CSI: Vegas launched with original cast members William Petersen and Jorja Fox reprising their roles in Season 1. The sequel’s current cast includes fellow original star Marg Helgenberger, who joined in Season 2, Paula Newsome, Mandeep Dhillon, Matt Lauria, Ariana Guerra, Jay Lee and Lex Medlin.

The series, produced by CBS Studios in association with Jerry Bruckheimer Television, is created and executive produced by Jason Tracey. Jerry Bruckheimer, Jonathan Littman, KristieAnne Reed, Anthony Zuiker, Carol Mendelsohn, Ann Donahue, Craig O’Neill, William Petersen, Cindy Chvatal, Steven H. Kram and Steven H. Blume also executive produce.

The cancellation ends So Help Me Todd‘s Cinderella story after beating the odds to land a series order in May 2022 after strong pilot testing then building strong momentum over the summer to launch as one of the surprise hits of the 2022-23 season, earning a very early Season 2 renewal.

The CBS Studios-produced series stars Marcia Gay Harden and Skylar Astin, along with Madeline Wise, Tristen J. Winger, Inga Schlingmann and Rosa Arredondo. Scott Prendergast serves as creator and executive producer with Elizabeth Klaviter, who also serves as showrunner. Dr. Phil McGraw, Stuart Gillard, Jay McGraw and Julia Eisenman also executive produce.

Sandrine Holt & Corbin Bernsen Join Apple’s ‘Your Friends And Neighbors’ As Recurring

The duo’s roles are under wraps. As previously announced, Jon Hamm leads the cast, which also includes Amanda Peet, Olivia Munn, Lena Hall, Hoon Lee, Mark Tallman, Aimee Carrero, Isabel Gravitt and Donovan Colan.

The show centers on Coop (Hamm), a recently divorced hedge fund manager who, after being fired, resorts to stealing from the wealthy residents in his tony upstate New York suburb in order to keep his family’s lifestyle afloat. These petty crimes begin to reinvigorate him until he breaks into the wrong house at the wrong time.

Hailing from Apple Studios, the series’ showrunner is Tropper, who exec produces under his overall deal with Apple TV+. Hamm also exec produces alongside Connie Tavel (Confess, Fletch). Craig Gillespie, the Emmy nominee in talks to helm DC’s Supergirl, as we were first to report, will direct the first two episodes, with Greg Yaitanes and Stephanie Laing to helm three apiece.

A series regular on The Crossing, Hostages, and MacGyver, Holt has previously recurred on series including American Gigolo, Better Call Saul, The Expanse, Homeland, House of Cards, The L Word and 24, among many others. Up next, she’ll be seen starring in David Cronenberg’s horror thriller The Shrouds.

Most recently recurring as Emma Stone’s father on Showtime’s The Curse, Bernsen’s also recurred on series like Showtime’s City on a Hill, CBS’s Tommy, Marvel’s The Punisher, Showtime’s Billions, CBS’s Magnum P.I., and Fox’s The Resident. Up next, he’ll be seen recurring on Max’s Duster and FX’s Donald Sterling series Clipped opposite Ed O’Neill.

Holt is repped by IAG, Agence Adequat in France, and Strand Entertainment; Bernsen by Paradigm and Randy James Management.

‘The Weight Of Darkness’: Angus Macfadyen, Jaime King, Doug Jones, Corbin Bernsen & Angus Benfield Sign On For Indie Thriller

Sean Rainwater and Furmie penned the script, with Benfield and Simone Bonser aboard to produce. LAMA Entertainment Studios will arrange financing and represent U.S rights. The film marks the first collaboration for LAMA Entertainment and Furmie’s Rezistor.

The film centers around Mark Besson (Benfield), a psychiatrist trying to encourage reform in the public health system. He is offered a helping hand from John Gatlin (Jones), a favorite mayoral candidate, with an interest in supporting Mark’s vision. But Mark’s world is soon rocked by tragedy when his young daughter Emma goes missing at a social event for victims of PTSD. Despite the efforts of the Sheriff Eli Watson (Bernson) and his deputy, Emma remains missing.

Mark’s estranged brother, Jim (Macfadyen), a church pastor, agrees to help an undocumented mother find her missing daughter, leading him to unravel a shadowy conspiracy that may lead to Emma’s whereabouts. The Besson brothers are soon forced to face the demons of their past, reconcile their differences and unite to find both children, uncovering a sinister underworld of unspeakable evil in the process.

Jennifer Leak Dies: ‘Yours, Mine And Ours’ Actress And Soap Star For ‘The Guiding Light’, ‘The Young And The Restless’ And ‘Another World’ Was 76

Leak was dealing with progressive supranuclear palsy, a rare neurological disease, in her final years.

“It is with a heavy heart that I share the news of Jennifer Leak’s passing. She wasn’t just my screen sister in ‘Yours, Mine and Ours,’ but also my beloved first wife. Jennifer was a remarkable woman, strong, lovely, and incredibly talented. My deepest condolences go out to her husband of 47 years, James D’Auria, and their multitude of friends.”

Yours, Mine and Ours featured Matheson as Mike, the son of Henry Fonda’s Frank Beardsley, while Leak portrayed Colleen, the daughter of Lucille Ball’s Helen North. The movie was about a blended family of 18 children.

Leak was born in Cardiff, Wales, in 1947, and started her screen career with the Mike Nichols-directed pilot for Wojeck in the mid-1960s. She later was cast in Nichols’ The Graduate, but had to drop out because of immigration complications.

Leak’s was also a soap operas regular. She played Gwen Sherman on The Young and the Restless, Olive Springer Gordon Randolph on Another World, and Blanche Bouvier on Guiding Light.

Leak had largely retired from screen acting by the mid-1980s, working as a sales agent for a real estate company.

She was married to Matheson from 1968 to 1971, and wed D’Auria in 1977. She is survived by her husband and brother.

Lori McCreary & Morgan Freeman’s Revelations Entertainment Prepping ‘Ear Hustle’ Docuseries Based On Prison Life Podcast

Co-hosted by Nigel Poor and Earlonne Woods, Ear Hustle launched in 2017 as the first podcast created and produced in prison. A two-time Peabody Awards finalist, National Magazine Awards finalist, and Pulitzer Prize finalist downloaded more than 78 million times, the show is made by a team both inside and out of San Quentin State Prison in California, traversing stories such as finding romance, grappling with a life sentence, trying to parent via 15-minute phone calls, getting out and starting over, and beyond.

With the series to be directed by Erika Cohn, the two-time Emmy and Peabody Award-winning filmmaker behind New York Times Critics Pick Belly of the Beast, Revelations aims to capture authentic, raw and surprising stories of prison life by delving even deeper into narratives that have resonated with listeners worldwide.

Cohn will also serve as an executive producer, along with James Younger, McCreary, and Kelly Mendelsohn for Revelations Entertainment. Poor and Woods will also serve as executive producers.

Renowned for its commitment to elevating under-served voices, Revelations was behind the hit series Madam Secretary as well as films like the award-winning Invictus and 5 Flights Up. Accolades include an Emmy nomination for The Story of God, three Emmy noms for Through the Wormhole, a Peabody Award for the ESPN 30 for 30 episode “The 16th Man,” and an Academy Award nomination for Freeman in the film Invictus.

Freeman, McCreary, and Revelations are represented by CAA and Sloane, Offer, Weber & Dern.

Christian Slater, Lucas Hedges & John Cameron Mitchell In Industry Reading Cast For Will Arbery Play ‘You Hateful Things’

The reading was announced by producers Jeremy O. Harris (Slave Play) and Josh Godfrey. The reading will be presented on Thursday, March 14, at New York’s Pearl Studios.

The play’s synopsis: “In You Hateful Things, Dad keeps all of his weirdness in a big box, and today we’re opening it.”

In addition to their film careers, Slater has appeared on Broadway six times, most recently in 2005’s The Glass Menagerie; Hedges starred in 2018’s The Waverly Gallery; and Mitchell created and starred in Hedwig and the Angry Inch. Powell is best known for his performance in Harris’ Slave Play, while Myha’la recently appeared in Leave the World Behind and Amandla Stenberg’s appeared in Bodies Bodies Bodies.

The industry presentation will be directed by Simon Stone, with Mark Shacket as Executive Producer.

Malachy McCourt Dies: ‘Ryan’s Hope’ Actor, Brother Of ‘Angela’s Ashes’ Author Frank McCourt Was 92

The brother of Pulitzer Prize-winning Angela’s Ashes memoirist Frank McCourt, Malachy McCourt left an indelible mark on New York City’s Irish American community. As the owner of the quintessential 1950s Irish pub Malachy’s on Third Avenue in Manhattan – McCourt would often call it the city’s first singles bar, since he welcomed unaccompanied women to the establishment – the Brooklyn native became one of the city’s great story-tellers, regaling patrons from longshoremen to the actor Richard Harris with blarney, rugby talk and biographical anecdotes.

His way with words would hold him in good stead through a wide-ranging career path that included acting, writing, talk-show hosting and politics.

Born Malachy Gerard McCourt in Brooklyn on September 20, 1931, McCourt and his siblings were uprooted by parents Malachy and Angela McCourt to Limerick, Ireland. When his alcoholic father, a former member of the IRA, deserted the family after two years, leaving mother Angela to raise four of their surviving seven children in poverty, a harrowing tale detailed in Frank McCourt’s 1996 memoir Angela’s Ashes. (Frank McCourt died in 2009)

Malachy McCourt, who returned to New York at age 20, would later write his own memoirs including A Monk Swimming (1998), an account of his life in Limerick that picks up where Angela’s Ashes leaves off, and in 2000, Singing My Him Song, which recounts his later (sober) life as a husband and father. Other writing includes a history of the Irish ballad “Danny Boy.”

An occasional guest on Jack Paar’s Tonight Show and sometime host of New York radio programs, McCourt also acted on stage (he co-wrote and co-starred in A Couple of Blaguards with brother Frank); movies The Molly Maguires (1970), The Brink’s Job (1978), Brewster’s Millions (1985), Starman (1987), and The Devil’s Own (1997), among others; and such TV series as Oz, Tales of the Unexpected and Remember WENN.

McCourt appeared on numerous New York-based soaps, including One Life To Live, Search For Tomorrow and Another World, but will best be remember for his annual Christmas appearances on All My Children as the possibly angelic Father Clarence and, most especially, in the recurring role of bartender Kevin MacGuinness throughout the entire 14-year run of Ryan’s Hope.

Bringing a outsized touch of Irish authenticity to the Washington Heights-set soap, McCourt’s Kevin was best friend to bar owner Johnny Ryan (Bernie Barrow) and truth-telling thorn-in-side to the trouble-making family in-law Delia (Ilene Kristen). In all, McCourt appeared in 217 episodes of the 1975-1989 series.

Offscreen, McCourt waged a high-profile, if ultimately losing, political battle in 2006 when he ran for governor of New York as a Green Party candidate. An outspoken opponent of the war in Iraq, McCourt was an early and vociferous proponent of allowing gay and lesbian groups to march in New York’s annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade.

In addition to wife Diana, McCourt is survived by daughter Siobhan McCourt; sons Malachy Jr., Conor and Cormac; stepdaughter Nina Galin; nine grandchildren; and one great-grandson. e

Talk Show Appearance

Julia Stiles Wraps On Directorial Debut ‘Wish You Were Here’; Isabelle Fuhrman, Mena Massoud, Jennifer Grey, Kelsey Grammer & More Star

Adapted for the screen by Stiles, the film tells the story of Charlotte, a woman who finds herself in a rut, searching for a spark that seems just out of reach. After she has a whirlwind night of romance and imagining a future with a man named Adam, he ghosts her. But when Charlotte finally discovers that Adam is terminally ill, she helps him spend his last days living life to the fullest.

In a statement to Deadline, Stiles shared that she’s “been looking for years for the right story to tell” as director, “and finally found it here. Wish You Were Here is a love story that explores what it means to be human, all the laughter and tears that remind us we are alive.”

Fuhrman shared that she watched Julia pen the script while the pair were at work on horror sequel Orphan: First Kill in 2020. “When she called me to be her lead I was so grateful,” the actress said. “Watching her create her own romance film- a genre she knows better than anyone else- has really inspired me.”

In addition to Phiphen’s founder, award-winning producer Molly Conners (Birdman, Frozen River), producers on the film include Amanda Bowers (Phiphen), Kono, Rick Dugdale (Enderby), Jane Sinisi (Phiphen), Siena Oberman (Artemis), and Gary Leff (Southland Securities) as exec producer.

Rising to prominence in the late ’90s and early ‘2000s as the star of films like 10 Things I Hate About You, Stiles’ most recent projects in front of the camera include the rom-com Chosen Family with Heather Graham, Prime Video dramedy The Lake, Orphan: First Kill, and indie The God Committee opposite Grammer. Previously, she’s also been seen in the Bourne franchise led by Matt Damon, as well as such acclaimed titles as Hustlers, Silver Linings Playbook, Hamlet and more.

Stiles’ lead, Fuhrman, is best known for starring in the Orphan films, as well as the rowing drama The Novice, which won her the prize for Best Actress at the Tribeca Festival. Also previously seen in Showtime’s Masters of Sex and The Hunger Games, her next big project coming to theaters is Kevin Costner’s two-partner Horizon: An American Saga.

Fuhrman is represented by UTA, Luber Roklin Entertainment, and Jackoway Austen Tyerman; Massoud by Gersh, Link Entertainment, and Hansen, Jacobson, Teller; Fails by Anonymous Content and Yorn, Levine, Barnes; Kono by Untitled Entertainment and Goodman, Genow, Schenkman; Grey by UTA and Untitled Entertainment; Grammer by UTA and Vault Entertainment; and Stiles by Gersh, Untitled Entertainment and Sloane, Offer, Weber & Dern.d

‘Frasier’ Scores Season 2 Renewal At Paramount+

The series follows Frasier Crane (Grammer)—a character that originated in NBC’s Cheers— in the next chapter of his life after he returns to Boston to face new challenges, forge new relationships, and – with hope – finally fulfill an old dream or two.

Frasier also stars Jack Cutmore-Scott as Freddy, Frasier’s son; Nicholas Lyndhurst as Alan, Frasier’s old college buddy turned university professor; Toks Olagundoye as Olivia, Alan’s colleague and head of the university’s psychology department; Jess Salgueiro as Eve, Freddy’s roommate; and Anders Keith as David, Frasier’s nephew. Season one featured guest appearances from original series cast, including Bebe Neuwirth and Peri Gilpin.

“Fraiser is a love story, and I am very happy we will be allowed to continue it. I’m delighted that our partners at CBS Studios and Paramount+ are on board for another season, and I can’t wait for the fans to see what we have in store!” said Grammer in a statement.

Although Cheers co-creator James Burrows has confirmed the legendary bar from the mothership series is retired for good, Grammer has ideas on how to bring back an additional two prior castmates: Ted Danson as Sam Malone and Shelley Long as Diane Chambers.

“The relationship with Diane is something that still gnaws at [Frasier] a little bit because he felt like he failed at it,” Grammer told Deadline on the red carpet at the Emmy Awards in January. “It would be nice if they acknowledge one another… ‘I’m glad you did ok.’”

He added, “It would only happen if it’s important to Frasier’s development as a human being.”

Similarly, he addressed what it would take for a reunion with Danson in this universe.

“If Sam Malone is still alive and has a vital connection of making Frasier move to another place,” Grammer teased.

Although fans of the original Frasier would love to see David Hyde Pierce back as Frasier’s brother Niles, that return seems more impossible. In December, Pierce revealed he has moved on and enjoying his time working on stage and other new projects. However, the Crane legacy continues via his son Freddy Crane, portrayed by Jack Cutmore-Scott.

Frasier for Paramount+ hails from writers Chris Harris and Joe Cristalli, who executive produce with Kelsey Grammer, Tom Russo and Jordan McMahon. The series is produced by CBS Studios in association with Grammer’s Grammnet NH Productions. The series is distributed by Paramount Global Content Distribution outside of the Paramount+ markets.n

‘The Spiderwick Chronicles’ Teaser Trailer: First Look At Christian Slater & Joy Bryant In Fantasy Series

“This town is full of stories,” says Christian Slater‘s’ Mulgarath as he sets the scene at the beginning of the teaser. “Some are darker than others. What kind of creatures are lurking inside Spiderwick?”

Per the series official logline: Helen and her children, 15-year-old fraternal twins Jared and Simon and their sister Mallory move to their ancestral home, Spiderwick. Jared discovers a boggart and realizes that magical creatures are real! The only one to believe him is his great-aunt Lucinda who implores Jared to find the pages of her father’s field guide to magical creatures and protect them from the murderous Ogre, Mulgarath.

Roku picked up the exclusive U.S. rights to the television adaptation of the popular children’s fantasy books by Tony DiTerlizzi and Holly Black after Disney+ opted not to move forward with the series.

Joy Bryant, Noah Cottrell, Lyon Daniels, Mychala Lee, Jack Dylan Grazer also star.

The Spiderwick Chronicles is executive produced by Aron Eli Coleite and Kat Coiro, also also serve as showrunners, along with Tony DiTerlizzi, Holly Black, Ellen Goldsmith-Vein, Jeremy Bell, D.J. Goldberg, Julie Kane-Ritsch and Grace Gilroy. The series is produced by Paramount Television Studios and 20th Television.

All eight episodes will be available for streaming on The Roku Channel beginning April 19.

Morgan Freeman Accepts Auburn Player’s Apology For Laying Of Hands

Broome tried to save a ball from going out of bounds in the second half of Auburn’s game against Ole Miss when someone in the front row grabbed his jersey.

Thinking it was an Ole Miss fan trying to rattle him, Broome brushed the person’s arm away.

Broome turned and quickly realized it was Freeman, the Academy Award-winning actor who is a big Mississippi fan and attends many Rebels games.

“I kind of got his hand off,” Broome later told reporters. “I saw who it was and I’m a big movie guy. I probably watched one of his movies on the plane coming here.

“But I realized it was him and I was like, ‘Oh my gosh, I’m a big fan. I’m sorry.’ He said, ‘Just keep playing.’”

“I’m just like, ‘I’m sorry, again,’” Broome said. “He said, ‘You all good. Just keep playing.’ He’s a very good guy. Love him.”

31st Annual Movieguide Faith & Values Award Nominees

For Older News Visit The Daytime Soap Operas News Archives: Here!

Facts

Submit Comments

Please Include Your Email Address If You Want A Response

Options

Other Shows

Non-Soap Polls

Other Sites

Sponsors

News & Cast Updates

‘The Yeti’ Casts Brittany Allen, Eric Nelsen & More Ahead Of New York Shoot; Radiant Inks Pre-Sales

John Capodice, ‘General Hospital’ and ‘Ace Ventura’ Actor, Dies at 83

Children’s & Family Emmy Nomination

‘Dexter: Original Sin’ Teaser Reveals Patrick Dempsey’s Mustache Means Business

Helen Gallagher, ‘Ryan’s Hope’ Stalwart and Broadway Triple Threat, Dies at 98

‘Dexter: Original Sin’ Trailer: Michael C. Hall Charts Young Dexter’s Path From Student To Serial Killer — Watch

Revelations’ Morgan Freeman, Lori McCreary Tune Up Chuck Berry’s 98th Birthday With TV Series Deal

Sherry Coben Dies: Creator Of ‘Kate & Allie’ Was 71

Ron Hale, Actor on ‘Ryan’s Hope’ and ‘General Hospital,’ Dies at 78

Dexter Prequel Original Sin Gets December Premiere Date — See Sarah Michelle Gellar, Christian Slater and More in First Trailer

Talk Show Appearance

Baywatch Cast Reflects on Highs and Lows of the Show in Docuseries Preview: ‘There Really Was No Better Job’

‘Frasier’ Season 2 Trailer Gives Sneak Peek of Frasier Back on Radio in Seattle

Baywatch Docu Trailer Teases Lifeguard Drama’s Highs and Lows: ‘Everybody Was Disposable’

‘Dexter: Original Sin’ First Look Photo Shows Patrick Gibson’s Serial Killer In Training Seemingly Mid-Kill

‘Frasier’ Sets Season 2 Premiere Date On Paramount+

Joseph Hardy Dies: Tony-Winning Broadway Director, Exec Producer Of ‘Ryan’s Hope’ Was 95

Netflix Greenlights “Next Iteration” Of ‘Life On Our Planet’ Series With Narrator Morgan Freeman, EP Steven Spielberg

‘Dexter: Original Sin’ Casts Patrick Gibson As Young Serial Killer; Christian Slater & Molly Brown Round Out Morgans

Polish Brothers Re-Team To Make Innovative Movie ‘There There’ Starring Gretchen Moll, Shannon Sossamon & More

Morgan Freeman, Olivier Marchal, Simone Ashley To Be Feted At The Monte-Carlo TV Festival: Fan Events Set For ‘NCIS’ And ‘Little House On The Prairie’

‘CSI: Vegas’ & ‘So Help Me Todd’ Canceled By CBS

Sandrine Holt & Corbin Bernsen Join Apple’s ‘Your Friends And Neighbors’ As Recurring

‘The Weight Of Darkness’: Angus Macfadyen, Jaime King, Doug Jones, Corbin Bernsen & Angus Benfield Sign On For Indie Thriller

Jennifer Leak Dies: ‘Yours, Mine And Ours’ Actress And Soap Star For ‘The Guiding Light’, ‘The Young And The Restless’ And ‘Another World’ Was 76

Lori McCreary & Morgan Freeman’s Revelations Entertainment Prepping ‘Ear Hustle’ Docuseries Based On Prison Life Podcast

Christian Slater, Lucas Hedges & John Cameron Mitchell In Industry Reading Cast For Will Arbery Play ‘You Hateful Things’

Malachy McCourt Dies: ‘Ryan’s Hope’ Actor, Brother Of ‘Angela’s Ashes’ Author Frank McCourt Was 92

Talk Show Appearance

Julia Stiles Wraps On Directorial Debut ‘Wish You Were Here’; Isabelle Fuhrman, Mena Massoud, Jennifer Grey, Kelsey Grammer & More Star

‘Frasier’ Scores Season 2 Renewal At Paramount+

‘The Spiderwick Chronicles’ Teaser Trailer: First Look At Christian Slater & Joy Bryant In Fantasy Series

Morgan Freeman Accepts Auburn Player’s Apology For Laying Of Hands

31st Annual Movieguide Faith & Values Award Nominees

For Older News Visit The Daytime Soap Operas News Archives: Here!

Facts

Submit Comments

Please Include Your Email Address If You Want A Response