In our six days are nightmare will end when THE VAMPIRE LESTAT and his considerable considerables will be back on our screens.
Let it not be said that AMC did not go all out for promotion for this third season. It's understandable that a rebranded show will need a big push to establish itself, but I'm still kinda salty that season two did not have a big a push as this.
Fronting Rolling Stone is the Brat Prince himself, with a cover story.
Episode four of HALF MAN has aired and while I do miss Mitchell Robertson and Stuart Campbell, having Jamie Bell center stage is always a wonderful thing and he did not disappoint.
But a brief thought about this episode.
SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS I said SPOILERS for 1x4.
Over the weeks of HALF MAN airing, there have been theories that this is a FIGHT CLUB situation and that Ruben is a persona Niall conjured up. I call shenanigans on that because we have had so many people actually interacting with Ruben. If Ruben did not exist, who was Niall's friend responding to when he moved when told to "move" by Ruben while sat next to Niall? Why was Alby spooked by seeing Ruben in the pews? Why would Lori, sat next to Niall, tell him that Ruben was coming to the wedding?
But, I will concede that the sublime hospital scene may not have happened or, at least, happened how the audience saw it.
I'm all for a writer's vision so I would live with it, but I am hoping there's not a twist going on with that scene.
Reasons why it may be a dream/nightmare/wild interpration of an actual, more mellow conversation or just straight up fictional convo between Ruben and Niall for Niall's follow up book?:
-No one checking in on the Royal Rumble happening in the hospital room.
-Niall not hooked up to anything.
-Niall showing Ruben is surgical scar and it's in the same place as Ruben's scar.
-Ruben penetrating Niall with a hood ornament and Niall shaking it off as if nothing happened. Also, Ruben saying while doing that that this is what Niall always wanted from him. Calling Niall a cuck.
How would he know that?
-Ruben over him like when he lost his virginity.
-Ruben being more articulate (because it is hard for someone who is articulate to act as if they're not, so Niall had to imagine that Ruben is more well read now).
-Niall dragging Maura and Ruben for filth. I love my dear messy Niall, but he'd never be that forthright with Ruben, especially when it comes to mocking Maura's failed suicide attempt.
-Niall admitting that he wants to be Ruben and that he's p*ssy.
-Ruben apologizing to Niall.
What if they didn't reconnect after 14 years, but much, much later when it was the wedding and after Niall wrote a scandalous, sensationalized book in retaliation for Ruben apologizing to Joanna, Gus and everyone else, but him?
-First look images of Hannah and Octavia Spencer for the long gestating film RIDE OR DIE about two friends who think they know each other, until it turns out one is an international assassin. It also stars Ed Skrein and Bill Nighy.
-Brett Goldstein was at today's Netflix Upfronts in support of his rom-com with Jennifer Lopez, OFFICE ROMANCE.
This comes a day or so after it was announced that Brett has another series greenlit! ESCORTED, an eight episode series about a divorced dad (Goldstein) who becomes an escort.
-Speaking of Armand, Armand portrayer Assad Zaman just celebrated a birthday. In attendance of his party were Delainey Hayles and Joseph Potter (Nicki).
Obligatory when Jacob & Sam are absent from cast activities. People think it's IWTV specific, but his NEWSREADER costar Anna Torv gets it.
He also got a birthday shout out by Matthew Santos, Sam Reid's vocal coach.
I have this back and forth with streaming. I do like a good binge watch, but then I am filled with regret for not savoring the show by doing a weekly watch.. For this, I am glad for cable that is still doing weekly drops, but with that cames the wait and when it's a really good show, that wait is a hard one.
Such is my dilemma with Richard Gadd's follow up to BABY REINDEER; HBO / SKY's HALF MAN starring Gadd and Jamie Bell.
Why is 7 days so long????
HALF MAN gives glimpses of 30 years of the fraught relationship between step-brothers Niall (older played by Bell, younger played by Mitchell Robertson) - studious, meek in the face of bullying
and Ruben (older played by Gadd, younger by Stuart Campbell) - a juvenile offender who is full of confidence, rage and a fierce connection to Niall; the ferocity of which matches Niall's pull to Ruben.
MORE HALF MAN TALK (NO SPOILERS)
The series flashes between the past and the present showing how the violent, reactionary and explosive relationship between the two upends their lives.
I don't really read reviews, but I can't help seeing a few hyperbolic headlines from thinkpieces who chalk the series up as being trauma p*rn. Everything's subjective, but while intense and intensely harrowing, I don't see it being as brutal as some critics and audiences feel it is. It's bruising, but oh, so worth it.
Six episodes and the first three are focused on the younger Niall and Ruben
who have served us wonderfully well (and became mates in the process).
But with the upcoming episode 4, Gadd and Bell step into the spotlight.
I can't wait to see what they bring when it's fully their story. I'm a massive fan of Jamie Bell and already, with the brief bits of Niall, he's been incredible.
There are some who are worried that Bell has been absent during the press run, minus two or three print interviews, but don't fear - it's not an issue with the project. Bell is doing what he does best - work. Bell has taken over the role of Duke Shelby from Barry Keoghan
(and Conrad Kahn, before him)
and is leading the PEAKY BLINDERS sequel series, currently filming.
In interviews for the series Bell talked about his similiarities to Niall - like Niall he was raised by a single mother (Bell's dad having left the family), he too felt a need to be protected by someone dominant and aggressive; but Bell has more peace with himself in terms of how he walked through life and a better sense of self. He started taking dance at 6 (saying on George Stroumboulopoulos' show years ago, that perhaps it was a good thing he didn't have a father in his life because it was no issue with him taking dance as he didn't have someone who might tell him "You can't do that.").
That of course led to BILLY ELLIOT, for which he won a BAFTA and BIFA).
And I know he doesn't view it this way, but without that film's success there would not have been the BILLY ELLIOT stage show which launched the careers of GAME OF THRONES' Dean-Charles Chapman (Tommen), recent choreographer/actor/ Tony nominee Layton Williams and a pre-mole removal Tom Holland - all who took their turns at playing Billy.
Jamie still has the love of dance in him - a fan of Fred Astaire, Gregory Hines, Dean Perry and Savion Glover - Jamie had a brief dance scene in the film FILM STARS DON'T DIE IN LIVERPOOL (2017). His costar Annette Bening wanted the dance to feel loose, so instead of having a choreographer he watched some of the dance scenes in SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER to acclimate himself to disco dancing.
He also had a bit of fun on the set of 2008's JUMPER by doing a dance with his stunt double.
Slowly, but surely, we are winding down the many projects Nicholas Galitzine has in the pipeline. Out now is the wonderfully charming THE SHEEP DETECTIVES.
The clever movie parody posters featuring our dear sheep cast. Winterlamb, you have my sword!
MORE NICHOLAS GALITZINE PROJECTS TALK
At CinemaCon last month, Galitzine pulled double duty for Amazon-MGM promoting both THE SHEEP DETECTIVES and MASTERS OF THE UNIVERSE.
Galitzine with the cast of the upcoming SPACEBALLS sequel.
Next up MASTERS OF THE UNIVERSE and all the merchandise.
Even my inbox is trying to sell me.
Not gonna lie - I miss the Prince Adam hair.
-A compilation of reels promoting THREE BAGS FULL and MASTERS OF THE UNIVERSE.
Still coming up for Nick:
THE RETURN OF STANLEY ATWELL (with Ella Purnell and Damian Lewis). What is it about? "An original story by Steven Soderbergh about the presumed-dead son of a wealthy Lord who mysteriously returns to claim his inheritance."
Peter Berg's THE MOSQUITO BOWL (which is holding a test screening in Sherman Oaks this Friday).
and RED WHITE AND ROYAL WEDDING.
I like how, IMO, Thomas Flynn, Ellie Bamber, Nicholas Galitzine and Lena Headey (who will play the mother of the trio) look nothing alike, but when they were all younger, I can see a resemblance.
Young Lena with Nick's wide smile and toothy grin.
Then: TED LASSO cast visiting SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE's Studio H-8.
Now:
Yes, Ms. Hannah Waddingham hosted SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE - UK this past weekend.
In between turning up at the BAFTA Crafts Awards a few weeks ago, reuniting with her TED LASSO costar Nick Mohammed who hosted, on the heels of his extremely popular stint on CELEBRITY TRAITORS.
(Nick with a Guardian interview about the reaction to his work and his childhood memories).
She turned up at the premiere of her THE FALL GUY costar Ryan Gosling's film PROJECT HAIL MARY, turned up with a new beau on her arm -
If you told me this was a scene from TED LASSO with Rebecca stepping out with a rich businessman, I would believe it.
MORE AFC RICHMOND (ALUMS)
You know TED LASSO is coming back with a true emphasis on the women with all the press Hannah is doing.
Bits of Hannah on SNL-UK and a Cristo Fernandez update.
Cristo Fernández is an actor, director, author, producer and now he's going back to his roots. In the clip at the end of the Hannah SNL compilation is an announcement by Cristo that he is returning to football and has been picked up by a team.
Support after his announcement.
-Juno Temple and Bret Goldstein both have Netflix films on the platform. Now streaming is the animated film SWAPPED starring the voicework of Juno and Michael B. Jordan
and Brett has, upcoming, OFFICE ROMANCE with Jennifer Lopez. I don't know what happened in Brett's comments section but after the initial responses to the trailer he posted, he disabled commenting. Has to be the JLo hate.
Toheeb Jimoh probably knows a thing about rude comments. There are some people who hate him on INDUSTRY, but fans are always going to have an opinion, thankfully Toheeb has his friends group to lean on.
*Bits and Bobs:
Phil and his dunk.
Meeting a TED LASSO fan who is demostrating that they taught their dog to use the bathroom by telling it to "poopeh".
-James Lance - music fan.
I don't know if it's just an agency giving their clients equal time made a recent post congratulating both Tanya Reynolds and James Lance for TED LASSO S4, so could Trent Crimm Independent make an appearance? Sounds likely.
-David Elsendoorn showing what he's rocking underneath his jersey and doing improv.
Reid to play Father Flynn in John Patrick Shanley's play DOUBT: A PARABLE (played in various incarnations by Liev Schreiber, CONCLAVE's Brían F. O'Byrne, Philip Seymour Hoffman and in a Australian production, Christopher Garbardi. ).
-Prior to INTERVIEW WITH THE VAMPIRE, I would refer to Reid as "the poor man's James Norton" so seeing him in the clerical collar reminds me of GRANTCHESTER's boozy vicar, messy boots Sidney.
