Another Round of Links

• Scandinavia and the World makes a little joke about Denmark's Oscar winner Another Round
• Welp Magazine lists the 20 best Film podcasts of 2021. So sweet (and a surprise) that they included us.
• Variety Timothée Chalamet to play the young Willy Wonka in yet another origin movie/prequel to a popular film. (Sigh. we're so tired of fan-fiction as mainstream fiction. Mystery and using your own imagination is what makes so many classic characters great!)

More after the jump including new projects for Debra Messing, Lindsay Lohan, Yorgos Lanthimos, Sara Ramirez, and a win for Michelle Pfeiffer...

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Showbiz History: Liberace's funeral, "The" Facebook, and Lewis Tan's big test

8 random things that happened on this day, February 4th, in showbiz history

1932 Josef Von Sternberg's Shanghai Express starring Marlene Dietrich and Anna Mae Wong has its world premiere in Los Angeles. The Chinese media was already upset about it before the premiere. It will open in theaters a week later...

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Would you rather?

Time for our weekly time-wasting celebrity-watching aspirational fantasy game. So, would you rather...

• do a photoshoot with Armie Hammer?
• road trip with Brittany Snow?
• go boating with Debra Messing?
• cool down post workout with Saïd Taghmaoui?
• soiree it with Isabelle Huppert & Bela Tarr?
• sip on coconuts with Nathan Fillion?
• hang out on set with Kristen Schaal and Dave Bautista? 
• have a cup of coffee with Channing Tatum? 
• or choose outfits for your very important work week with Gabby Sidibe?

pictures are after the jump to help you decide...

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Will & Grace: Fresh or Flimsy?

By Spencer Coile 

I remember being 14 years-old, sobbing in front of the television as Will & Grace ended its eight year run. I had grown up with the show, learned a lot about myself through watching the show. It was truly the end of an era. Of course, in 2017, with people's desire for nostalgia running rampant -- it was only a matter of time before this groundbreaking NBC sitcom would return for its second wind. In very much the same was as Gilmore Girls, Full House, and One Day at a Time, our pals, Will, Grace, Jack, and Karen are back to remind audiences what was so rewarding about their shows in the first place. 

But considering we live in an altogether different social and political climate, one drastically different than in 1998 when the series first aired, is there space for Will & Grace? 

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Smash: "The Cost of Art", "Let's Be Bad" and "Chemistry"

It's no fun to get behind when covering television since the new episodes just keep arriving. Let's dance through the past three weeks of Smash, our new favorite show, and be thoroughly caught up. Who's joining this kick line with me?

1.4 "The Cost of Art"
In the stellar fourth episode, we've reached day one of workshop rehearsals. The show is speeding along like it's about to be cancelled and wants to cram everything in. In the past I've criticized the show for a mildly sedate energy in certain key moments but that hasn't been from the typical television problem of the plot not advancing. 

I love first days, don't you?

The episode title is a literal reference to Eileen's (Anjelica Huston) original Degas which she hopes to sell to finance her Marilyn the Musical workshop. Thematically its a foreshadowing of impending grief for these showbiz folks as they struggle through the creation of the musical. Ivy (Megan Hilty) didn't realize that Karen (Katharine McPhee) was in the chorus and there's lots of power plays and wounded feelings. Karen didn't realize that Ivy was sleeping with the boss and there's lots of unspoken judgement and wounded feelings. Derek continues to blow so hot and cold that Ivy can't function and there's lots of insecurity, sex and wounded feelings. Meanwhile Derek (Christian Borle) and Julia's (Debra Messing) new love interests suggest that these two just aren't very good at managing their personal lives outside of work.

"Rumor Has It" ...Bobby is so fierce.

LET'S BE BAD after the jump...

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