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Since 1975 nearly a thousand hosts have graced the stage at Studio 8H at Rockefeller Center for “Saturday Night Live.”

Actors, comedians, musicians and even politicians have taken the stage to make America laugh on Saturday night for 50 seasons. Twenty five of these hosts have been inducted into the “Five Timers Club.” The club was first introduced during Tom Hanks’ 1990 monologue, featuring Steve Martin, Elliott Gould and Paul Simon.

During Martin Short’s December 2024 appearance, several Five Timers Club members popped up on the show to welcome him into the club, including Emma Stone, Tina Fey, Paul Rudd, Kristen Wiig and more, to give him the ceremonial robe.

Alec Baldwin has hosted the show 17 times, the most in the series’ history, with Martin, Hanks, Buck Henry and John Goodman following close behind.

As the show celebrates its 50th anniversary this year, we have rounded up every person who has hosted the sketch show.

The human drama in Michael Bay’s Transformers films might not have been something that fans have taken to, but it is undeniable that there have been some comedic moments that have defined the franchise, a lot of which come from the human characters of the films.

Optimus Prime || Credit: Paramount

While there have been a lot of funny characters in films like Shia Labeouf, and Mark Wahlberg, there is one character who seems to have the comedy side of things cornered, getting one of the best lines in the franchise. However, it must also be noted that this actor particularly has a great history with comedy.

John Cena might a character with the most common sense in the Transformers franchise John Cena in Bumblebee || Credit: Paramount

Bumblebee served as a great film to usher in a new era for the Transformers franchise, with a cleaner look, and a focus...

Back in the 1970s, Hanna-Barbera's animated sitcom Wait Till Your Father Gets Home ran for three seasons with 48 total episodes airing during its run. After more than five decades since the show's premiere, Wait Till Your Father Gets Home can be revisited with its resurrection on a modern format.

Early next year, the Warner Archive Collection will release the complete series of Wait Till Your Father Gets Home on Blu-ray on Jan. 28, 2025. The series was previously set for its Blu-ray release in November before getting a delay, but its street date is now revealed. Previously, only the first season of the series was given an official release on physical media, hitting DVD back in 2007. The new release on Blu-ray will mark the first time the complete series will be made available on physical media.

Related 10 Classic Scooby-Doo Villains that Fans May Have Forgotten About, Ranked

Scooby-Doo and the gang are...

Quick Links Connecting 'G.I. Joe' With 'Transformers' Is a Smart Move Create the Feeling of Interconnectivity and Embrace Long-Form Storytelling 'G.I. Joe' Should Aim for Older Audiences Hire Exciting Creative People to Reimagine 'G.I. Joe'

G.I. Joe is back in a big way, but it isn't on the big screen or toy shelves. On November 13, 2024, The Image Comic imprint Skybound Entertainment released G.I. Joe #1. The series takes place as part of a shared universe called the Energon Universe, which also consists of Transformers and the original property, Void Rivals. The seeds for G.I. Joe had been planted as far back as the early issues of the Transformers line that were released in 2023, and through 2023 and 2024, the company has built up to G.I. Joe with miniseries focused on Duke, Cobra Commander, Scarlett, and Destro. For the first time in decades, the G.I. Joe...

Quick Links The Autobots Strive For True Freedom The Decepticons See Through Society's Lies

The following contains spoilers for Transformers One, now playing in theaters.

There are many factions of Cybertronians in the Transformers franchise, but the most famous are the two that started it all: the Autobots and the Decepticons. In the original toy line and cartoon, the Autobots were unambiguous heroes while the Decepticons were unambiguous villains, but later Transformers stories have attempted to add more depth to their conflict. The factions' names are problematic in that regard, as "Decepticon" sounds inherently evil. John Cena's character, Jack Burns, even made a joke about this in the Bumblebee film: "They literally call themselves Decepticons. That doesn't set off any red flags?"

Marvel Comics ran into a similar issue with Magneto's team, the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants. Marvel eventually dropped the word "Evil" from their name, but the...

Whitney Rydbeck, the actor and mime who portrayed the last of the paintball victims in Jason Lives: Friday the 13th Part VI and one of the original crash test dummies in an iconic public service campaign that promoted seat belt safety, has died. He was 79.

Rydbeck died Monday of complications from prostate cancer while in hospice care in Chatsworth, California, his longtime friend Tommy McLoughlin, the director on Jason Lives, told The Hollywood Reporter.

“We lost not only a truly funny comedian and actor … but one of the most good-hearted human beings I’ve ever known,” McLoughlin wrote in a tribute on Instagram.

The lanky Rydbeck appeared on dozens of TV shows during his busy career, from The Brady Bunch, Phyllis, M*A*S*H, Cagney & Lacey and Highway to Heaven to Star Trek: The Next Generation, Sisters, Living Single, Party of Five and Scrubs.

In the sixth Friday the 13th film,...

Warning! This article contains spoilers for The Bear season 3.

John Cena plays Sammy Fak in The Bear season 3, providing comic relief and a potential future character. Cena's cameo as Sammy explores the concept of haunting within the Fak family, adding humor to the show. The Bear season 3 uses Cena's comedic talent effectively, continuing a trend of memorable cameo roles.

The Bear season 3 provides a great deal of comedy through the exploits of the Fak family, with a scene-stealing new member being introduced. As of The Bear season 3's ending, more outrageously hilarious details about the Faks are revealed. One such detail involves the concept of haunting, the sometimes years-long series of pranks and terror inflicted on a family member who has wronged a Fak in some way. Throughout the first two seasons, only Neil and Theodore appeared as Fak family members in The Bear, though a vast number of them were promised.

"Ricky Stanicky" features a star-studded cast including Zac Efron, John Cena, and William H. Macy in a hilarious high-concept comedy. The script for "Ricky Stanicky" spent years in development before Peter Farrelly turned it into a movie with a very different cast. Jermaine Fowler, Andrew Santino, and Lex Scott Davis also join the talented ensemble in the raucous comedy "Ricky Stanicky."

Peter Farrelly's raucous new comedy Ricky Stanicky has a star-studded cast that includes such iconic actors as Zac Efron, William H. Macy, and John Cena in the title role. Ricky Stanicky revolves around three lifelong friends who have made up a fictional fourth friend named Ricky Stanicky to get them out of trouble with their wives. When their wives suddenly want to meet Ricky, they hire a washed-up actor to bring their imaginary pal to life. It’s a hilarious high-concept premise befitting of one of the Farrelly brothers...

John Cena stands as one of WWE’s most iconic performers, anchoring the company for over 15 years as its squeaky clean, do-gooder, poster child. But as Cena expands his acting pursuits, he recently revealed to Howard Stern that WWE’s creative team barred him from ever embracing a heel turn. This refusal to explore his character’s dark side restricted Cena creatively and may have hindered engaging new feuds and story angles that could have thrilled fans.

John Cena Admits WWE Limited His Character Growth John Cena in Ricky Stanicky

John Cena recently made a candid confession about his iconic WWE tenure that may dishearten loyal fans. In an interview on The Howard Stern Show, Cena acknowledged creative constraints that prevented him from turning heels or exploring more complexity.

“I didn’t have a lot of wild creative freedom in WWE. I had complete creative freedom over how I could curate my character,...

The Transformers universe is a highly successful media franchise, with a cumulative box office of $5.286 billion and a total running time of 1,002 minutes. The order in which to watch the movies and shows can be confusing due to the jumping around in continuity. Watching them chronologically will provide a better understanding of the overarching story. The franchise includes multiple movies, short films, and a web show, with more projects on the way.

The Transformers universe began in 2007 with Michael Bay's Transformers, and since then, it has turned into a multi-billion dollar franchise that contains multiple movies (with more on the way), a couple of short films, and one web show. As of the writing of this article, the film series has accumulated $5.286 billion at the box office and has a running time of 1,002 minutes (aka 16 hours and 42 minutes) over the course of the universe's seven movies, so that is...

Vacation Friends 2 has received poor reviews, with a score of 8% on Rotten Tomatoes, the lowest for a John Cena movie since 2011. The first film in the franchise was popular enough to get a sequel, but the sequel may not be as successful. Despite past failures like The Reunion, Cena has become a big name in the industry, starring in major franchises like Fast & Furious and The Suicide Squad.

John Cena has been part of some very interesting and mostly praised projects in the last couple of years, but it seems like Vacation Friends 2 won't be part of that list.

The first Vacation Friends movie premiered in 2021 and followed a couple that goes to a touristic center for a calm and relaxing holiday, but end up becoming friends with another couple that enjoys partying and living wild adventures. But their nightmare doesn't end when they leave and return to they regular life,...

The ending of "Transformers 7" suggests a potential crossover between Transformers and G.I. Joe, making a John Cena Bumblebee theory possible. John Cena's character in "Bumblebee" had sparked speculation that he could be a secret G.I. Joe, leading to the theory of a shared Hasbro universe. While the producer initially debunked the theory, there is still a possibility for a retcon and for John Cena to return to the Transformers franchise in a crossover with G.I. Joe.

Transformers 7 makes a G.I. Joe reveal in its ending moments, which makes a John Cena Bumblebee theory possible. Ensuing seven years since the Autobots first landed on Earth in Bumblebee, Transformers: Rise of Beasts centers on Noah Diaz, a former US military electronics expert. After struggling to stay afloat and keeping up with the growing expenses of his brother's medical issues, Noah decides to start jacking cars for a living.

Greta Gerwig's Barbie features a diverse range of Kens with unique personalities and charm, each going on their own personal journeys of self-discovery. The movie addresses important themes like gender inequality, the patriarchy, depression, and finding one's purpose, adding depth to the story of Barbie. From Earring Magic Ken to Sugar Daddy Ken and Kenmaid, the different versions of Ken in Gerwig's Barbie bring their own flair and contribute to the overall narrative.

Warning: spoilers for Greta Gerwig’s Barbie movie.Greta Gerwig’s Barbie not only features a variety of Barbie dolls but also different Kens, each one with his own personality and a lot of charm. One of the most anticipated movies of 2023 is Gerwig’s Barbie, which took Mattel’s famous doll to tell a story about growing up and finding your own purpose and path, while also addressing issues like the patriarchy, gender inequality, depression,...

Actors typically find fame in either film or television, but some of the world’s greatest performers have impressive careers in both movies and TV. Kelsey Grammer is globally recognizable as Dr. Frasier Crane, one of the most iconic TV characters of all time, but his movie career never took off. Similarly, Matt Damon is one of the most famous movie stars on the planet, but his most prominent TV role is a four-episode arc as Liz Lemon’s boyfriend, Carol Burnett, on 30 Rock. Actors with major roles in both film and TV are rare.

It’s difficult enough for actors to achieve success in one medium, so the actors who manage to become big stars in both are in a league of their own. Olivia Colman made the transition from a sitcom supporting player to an Oscar-winning movie star. John Cena brought new depth and humanity to one...

Transformers: Rise of The Beasts proved that Michael Bay did not need to be the director. The film was a period piece that directly followed 2018’s prequel film Bumblebee. Rise of the Beasts was not a direct sequel to that film. Instead, it continued that story in the universe of Transformers. It introduced other characters, like the Maximals, which opened up the world in an exciting direction. The film also established one of the most insane sequels of all time. Two classic worlds of the Hasbro company are now set to collide.

Rise of the Beasts fulfilled the fantasies of many fans from the 90s. Transformers are going to cross franchises with G.I. Joe. The idea of these worlds connecting should be enough to excite fans. What those fans should ask next is, what can the story be? The answer could be one of the most insane sequels ever. The...

The universes of G.I. Joe and Transformers have a lot in common, especially when it comes to action figures. However, fans have tried to find many more connections over the years in the movies and series of both franchises, leading to a number of interesting theories.

One of them, perhaps the most popular, maintains that John Cena's character who appears in 2018's Bumblebee is actually Duke, one of the most popular action heroes in the G.I. Joe saga. Despite the fact that the character appears under the name of Jack Burns, many were convinced that they knew his true identity.

With Transformers: Rise of the Beasts approaching its premiere, the theories resurfaced but also the possibilities of debunking them. In an exclusive interview with Screen Rant, producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura confirmed whether or not the fans were right:

“I can deny that, but I could see why you'd feel...

With the two sharing a certain root connection, Lorenzo di Bonaventura assures John Cena's Bumblebee character is not G.I. Joe's Duke, but that isn't the end for the actor in the franchise. Cena starred in the Transformers soft reboot prequel as Jack Burns, an agent in Sector 7 who chased after the fan-favorite Autobot shortly after his arrival on Earth. The character won't be back for Transformers: Rise of the Beasts, but future plans for the franchise could see him return in a more unique fashion.

In honor of the movie's release, Screen Rant spoke exclusively with Lorenzo di Bonaventura to discuss Transformers: Rise of the Beasts. When asked about fan theories of Cena's Bumblebee character being that of G.I. Joe's Duke, di Bonaventura, the producer behind both movie franchises, shut down the idea, but is open to him being in the latter. See what the producer said below:

I can deny that,...

Despite being a major figure in Bumblebee, John Cena is absent from Transformers: Rise of the Beasts, but producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura is hopeful for him to come back. The upcoming sequel acts as a follow-up to the Transformers soft reboot/prequel, following two new human characters getting wrapped up in the war between the Autobots, Terrorcons and the Maximals. Jumping seven years and nearly 3,000 miles, the next Transformers does away with all of the human cast from the prior movie, including an A-list star.

While speaking exclusively with Screen Rant at the premiere of the new sequel, Lorenzo di Bonaventura responded to the idea of John Cena's Bumblebee character being that of Duke from G.I. Joe, considering he's a producer on both franchises. In addition to denying the fan theory, di Bonaventura opened up about the actor's Transformers: Rise of the Beasts absence and future in the franchise. See...

The Coyote vs. Acme cast is full of great actors and returning Looney Tunes icons. Based on the 1990 New Yorker article of the same name by Ian Frazier, Coyote vs. Acme is a unique, tongue-in-cheek spin on the old Wile E. Coyote and Roadrunner cartoons. The cartoons usually see Wile E. Coyote attempting to use a product from the Acme Corporation to kill the Roadrunner, and the defining running gag of the series sees every single Acme product backfiring on Wile E. Coyote in a very painful way. In Coyote vs. Acme, he’s finally had enough and decides to sue the company.

There’s some impressive talent behind Coyote vs. Acme. Guardians of the Galaxy director James Gunn produced Coyote vs. Acme from a story he co-wrote with Jeremy Slater and Samy Burch, while Dave Green, the filmmaker behind Earth to Echo and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows,...

Like father, like daughter.

Kelly Carlin added a bit of irreverence to the Creative Arts Ceremony tonight as she accepted the Emmy for Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Special for the HBO film about her dad, George Carlin’s American Dream. As an executive producer of the film, she shared the award with director-executive producers Judd Apatow and Michael Bonfiglio, E.P. Teddy Leifer, Co-e.P. Joseph Beshenkovsky, supervising producer Amanda Glaze, and producer Wayne Federman.

At the mike, Kelly Carlin said, “I want to thank my parents Brenda and George. A couple of things my dad would want to say to you tonight — one of which is remember to take care of each other, and go fuck yourself.”

She began her speech in a somewhat more straightforward vein, noting, “Taking care of a legacy is one of the weirdest things ever but this group of people has helped us do...

Comedian George Carlin never won an Emmy during his illustrious career, but an HBO documentary about him may help make up for that oversight.

George Carlin’s American Dream, directed by Judd Apatow and Michael Bonfiglio earned an impressive five nominations today, including Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Special and directing honors for Apatow and Bonfiglio.

“It’s just very exciting to be recognized,” Bonfiglio told Deadline on a joint FaceTime call with Apatow. “There’s so much incredible work that came out this year. And it’s just cool that people are really connecting with George and his words and his story.”

Apatow added, “I think when you start a project like this, you really want to do right by the subject. We were all very intent on making something that was worthy of George. So it just makes me happy and gratified that so many people are learning about...

Today, beards are commonplace, unremarkable bits of facial shrubbery. Even as conservative a figure as Sen. Ted Cruz sports one.

But 50 years ago, a man choosing to wear a beard sent a political message. It signaled participation in the counter-culture, a spurning of orthodoxy. George Carlin captured the threatening act of going bearded in a routine included on his 1972 comedy album FM & Am.

“Here’s my beard. Ain’t it weird? Don’t be skeered, it’s just a beard,” he riffed, continuing, “That’s the thing. The word ‘beard’ shook up a lot of people. Beard! It’s not American sounding. Beard! Lenin had a Beard!”

Carlin told his audience he had sprouted a beard and grown his hair long around 1971. It was a transgressive act that marked a turning point in his life and career, moving from clean-cut comic to culture-defining, acerbic observer. Without him making that fundamental shift,...

George Carlin’s American Dream presents George Carlin as standup comedy’s greatest wordsmith. Seven of these words made him infamous and earned him a place in legal history. Directors Judd Apatow and Michael Bonfiglio’s two-part documentary highlights how Carlin’s brain-droppings started conversations which carry on today.

The “Seven Words You Can Never Say on Television” bit defines Carlin in ways which go beyond comedy routines. The documentary shows how language, subterfuge, and identity are chosen, carefully selected to create a body of work which defies classification. Carlin had an elastic face and a knack for funny noises, but words are at the bottom of it all. When Carlin was a young comedian, he couldn’t embrace the counterculture commentator lurking beneath the surface on television. The documentary points out how he had to use code words. The Hippy Dippy Weatherman didn’t only forecast darkness at night,...

A vampire and a slayer enter a forbidden romance in the full trailer for Netflix’s First Kill, which dropped on Thursday.

The series, which is based on a short story from New York Times bestselling author Victoria “V. E.” Schwab, will premiere all eight episodes on Friday, June 10.

More from TVLineBridgerton Season 3 Recasts Mia Francesca With Hannah DoddFloor Is Lava Season 2 Gets Release Date, Trailer and New Volcano ObstacleOzark: The Story Behind Fan Favorite's Surprise Comeback in Final Season

When it’s time for teenage vampire Juliette (played by Sarah Catherine Hook) to make her first kill so she...

Shudder Acquires Official Fantasia Festival Selection Glorious: "Shudder, AMC Network’s premium streaming service for horror, thriller and the supernatural, has acquired rights to Rebekah McKendry’s Glorious starring Ryan Kwanten and Oscar-winner J.K. Simmons. The film, an official selection of the Fantasia International Film Festival, will be available exclusively on Shudder in the US, Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand on Thursday, August 18.

Said Craig Engler, general manager of Shudder, “With Glorious, Rebekah brings Lovecraftian horror to a place it’s never been seen before: a rest stop men’s room. She and her all-star cast have created an inventive and original cosmic horror that manages to be both darkly hilarious and profoundly personal.”

“For years, I had been searching for a project that would let me show my preferred artistic style - that would let me be absurdist, sardonic, transgressive, and weird. And Glorious gets really f’n weird.

Here’s something to sink your teeth into: Netflix’s YA vampire-hunter story First Kill will make its debut this summer.

The streamer announced Thursday that the upcoming series — based on a short story from New York Times bestselling author Victoria “V. E.” Schwab — will premiere Friday, June 10 with all eight episodes.

More from TVLineNeil Patrick Harris in Uncoupled: Netflix Comedy From EP Darren Star Sets Release Date — Watch First TeaserNetflix Movie Preview: Your Guide to 70+ Films Releasing in 2022Cobra Kai: Watch Daniel and Chozen Play With Fire in Season 5 Trailer -- Plus, Get Release Date

When it’s time...

Good news for Muppet enthusiasts – all five seasons of “The Muppet Show” will be available to stream on Disney Plus on Feb. 19.

Created by the legendary Jim Henson, the original “Muppet Show” was a variety half-hour featuring Kermit the Frog as the showrunner and host. The series originally aired from 1976 to 1981 on ITV in the U.K. and on CBS in the U.S. In addition to the show’s first three seasons, seasons 4 and 5 will also be available to stream for the first time.

Beyond Kermit, “The Muppet Show” features Miss Piggy, Fozzie Bear, Gonzo, the Swedish Chef, Sam the Eagle, aged hecklers Statler and Waldorf and other beloved characters. The colorful Dr. Teeth and the Electric Mayhem, anchored by excitable drummer Animal, served as the house band.

The show was notable for mixing the family-friendly Muppet characters with starry guest hosts that included Steve Martin, Elton John, Liza Minnelli,...

Hasbro have been desperate for years to turn their most lucrative toy lines into blockbuster movie franchises, and the results have been less than stellar so far. Michael Bay’s Transformers series may have raked in close to $4.5 billion at the box office, but the quality seemed to get progressively worse with each subsequent sequel, not to mention takings dropping by $500 million between Age of Extinction and The Last Knight.

Competing scripts were commissioned earlier this year for a new entry, one a straightforward reboot written by Joby Harold and the other a Beast Wars adaptation to be scripted by James Vanderbilt. It’s the former that seems to be moving quicker, though, with Creed II‘s Steven Caple Jr. hired to direct earlier this week.

Not only that, but insider Mikey Sutton is now claiming that this is the start of the Hasbro Cinematic Universe taking shape, with How to Train Your Dragon...

Many TV legends and contributors were included for the “In Memoriam” segment on Sunday’s Primetime Emmy Awards ceremony for ABC. But producers are always forced to omit some of the 100+ insiders who died since the last ceremony. Who was left out of the group that was honored?

With dozens of television veterans having died since last year’s mid-September ceremony, people certainly included were these six TV Academy Hall of Fame members:

Diahann Carroll

Leonard Goldberg (executive at 20th Century Fox and ABC; producer of “Charlie’s Angels” and more)

Jim Lehrer (anchor/reporter of “MacNeil/Lehrer NewsHour)

Regis Philbin

Carl Reiner

Fred Silverman

SEECelebrity Deaths 2020: In Memoriam Gallery

Even though he wasn’t known for his TV work, blockbuster film actor Chadwick Boseman was featured in the final slot. NBA Hall of Famer Kobe Bryant was not mentioned, even though the event was being held in the Staples Center.

For Sunday’s Primetime Emmy Awards ceremony on ABC, producers will have the always difficult task of assembling a memoriam segment. Even though the event hosted by Jimmy Kimmel will be virtual, it’s a certainty they will include the popular “In Memoriam” on the show.

With over 100 television veterans having died since last year’s mid-September ceremony, those expected to be honored would include such TV legends and TV Academy Hall of Fame members:

Diahann Carroll

Leonard Goldberg (executive at 20th Century Fox and ABC; producer of “Charlie’s Angels” and more)

Jim Lehrer (anchor/reporter of “MacNeil/Lehrer NewsHour)

Regis Philbin

Carl Reiner

Fred Silverman

SEECelebrity Deaths 2020: In Memoriam Gallery

Even though they weren’t known for their TV work, it’s very likely NBA Hall of Famer Kobe Bryant and blockbuster film actor Chadwick Boseman will be honored. Also among the dozens most likely included since they...

Judd Apatow is teaming up with HBO on a two-part documentary about the late George Carlin, who starred in numerous comedy specials and appeared on the “Tonight Show” more than 130 times.

Apatow and Michael Bonfiglio will direct the project, which will include interviews with Carlin’s family and friends, as well as material from Carlin’s archives and clips from his TV appearances.

Carlin, a native of New York City, broke into show business in 1959 by teaming up with Jack Burns and performing at coffee houses in Texas. The duo broke up after two years and Carlin first appeared on the “Tonight Show” in 1962.

Carlin was best known for his incisive use of language and observations on social mores, with such lines as “Have you ever noticed that anybody driving slower than you is an idiot, and anyone going faster than you is a maniac?” and “Most people work just...

Jack Burns, a comedian, writer and actor known for writing on “The Muppet Show” and “Hee Haw,” acting on “The Andy Griffith Show,” and his comedy partnership with George Carlin, has died at the age of 86, his manager Peter Santana confirmed to TheWrap Tuesday.

“He has been in senior care for the last two years in good spirits and surrounded by friends and cases of Diet Coke,” Santana said. “He was as sharp as a tack mentally but had not walked for two years. He achieved many great achievements but his most recent was hitting the 31 year sober mark in December. Truly a sweet and talented man.”

Burns began his career in show business in the 1960s by way of his duo with Carlin. The two made a comedy album together in 1963 called “Burns and Carlin at the Playboy Club,” and also had a radio show together at Kxol in Fort Worth,...

Jack Burns, one of the original writers for The Muppet Show and a comedy partner to George Carlin, has died. The writer, actor and comedian was 86.

The funnyman was living in senior care for the past two years and celebrated his 31st year of sobriety in December, manager Peter Santana on Tuesday told The Hollywood Reporter. Burns died Monday of respiratory failure in Toluca Lake.

"A foundational piece of the Carlin legacy has gone to the big comedy club in the sky. Jack was one of the sharpest motherfuckers I knew. He shaped my father’s mind in ...

Jack Burns, one of the original writers for The Muppet Show and a comedy partner to George Carlin, has died. The writer, actor and comedian was 86.

The funnyman was living in senior care for the past two years and celebrated his 31st year of sobriety in December, manager Peter Santana on Tuesday told The Hollywood Reporter. Burns died Monday of respiratory failure in Toluca Lake.

"A foundational piece of the Carlin legacy has gone to the big comedy club in the sky. Jack was one of the sharpest motherfuckers I knew. He shaped my father’s mind in ...

Actor and ballet dancer Jack Burns has passed away at the age of 14. Metro UK reports that the young star was found dead at his Greenock, Inverclyde, home in early December. A Scotland police spokesperson tells E! News, "Around 3:30 pm on Sunday, December 1, police were called following the death of a 14 year-old boy to a house in the Esplanade area of Greenock. Inquiries are ongoing to establish the cause of death but police are not treating it as suspicious. A report has been submitted." Burns appeared in the British TV series In Plain Sight back in 2016. The same year, he also had a role in the Netflix series One of Us, formerly Retribution. In addition to being an actor, Burns was also a talented...

Allow me to state upfront that I have now nor ever have been a fan of the Transformers. When they arrived, my tastes ran in other directions. That said, I have done some behind-the-scenes work with the franchise a few times in my career so have a good working knowledge. I’ve also seen the first Michael Bay and bits of the subsequent ones, enough to know these also aren’t to my taste.

I was therefore ready to outright reject the first solo film, Bumblebee, but the trailers hooked me. That and the arrival of Hailee Steinfeld, who I have enjoyed since True Grit. As a result, the film, out now on disc from Paramount Home Entertainment, is far more enjoyable than imagined.

By making this about a girl and her robot, a tried and true formula dating back decades (was Gigantor the first?), the film is smaller, needing...

When I first saw the trailer for Bumblebee last June, I liked a lot of what I saw. The fact that the hero is a Volkswagen Beetle instead of a Camaro. The more faithful robot designs. I also liked the idea of the focus on a single character, since it suggested a stripped-down type of story, which after the cacophony of twisted metal that was the Michael Bay film series, was a welcome prospect. I had wanted to see this film earlier, but with all the holiday goings-on and other films to watch, it kinda got lost in the shuffle until now.

It was pretty good. Aside from the kid next to me that wouldn’t shut up because his typically discourteous parent wouldn’t do the right thing by instructing his child that you’re not supposed to talk during a movie (which are often found in theaters I...

There’s a surprising amount at stake in this latest addition to the Transformers series, a film franchise defined by sub-standard storytelling rewarded with staggering box office receipts. It stands as the first film not directed by Michael Bay, having left the franchise with Transformers: The Last Knight. It serves as the live-action debut of Travis Knight, late of the promising Kubo and The Two Strings. More than anything though it represents Paramount’s willingness to try a new approach with a lucrative franchise. Perhaps to narrowly dodge the risk of fatigue among audiences and add critical acclaim to its commercial success.

Did they succeed? Yes, albeit incrementally. Far from the radical reboot of the franchise that critics might be hoping for Bumblebee is more of a minor needle shift. Toning down the franchise’s worst tendencies and allow a more genuine, heartfelt tone. It’s still executed with clumsy writing,...

It’s been 11 years since Michael Bay took the reins of the live-action “Transformers” movies, and in that time he has infused these films with a particular, cacophonous audio-visual aesthetic that has more in common with a rollercoaster at a rave in a war zone than what we would otherwise consider conventional, cinematic storytelling. His approach has its fans, but with “Bumblebee,” we can finally see what a filmmaker other than Michael Bay could do with the concept of alien machines that transform into stuff.

And it turns out they could do wonders.

“Bumblebee,” directed by Travis Knight (“Kubo and the Two Strings”), is the best “Transformers” movie so far, going all the way back to the 1986 animated film. And although one could argue that that’s a relatively low bar, since narrative coherence and recognizable character development are all it really takes to best its predecessors, saying so is...

Tony Sokol Oct 1, 2018

There are no words you can't say in the movies, so the upcoming George Carlin biopic will include the naughty seven.

Comic legend George Carlin said his job description was foole, on the Occupation Foole album. He said he always wanted to fill out official forms that way, but would add the final "e" to piss people off. Stan Chervin, the Oscar-nominated screenwriter of the film Moneyball, will explore Carlin's day, and night job, in an upcoming official biopic, according to Variety. There is no word on whether the as-yet-untitled project will be released in theatrical, streaming or TV format. The film will be produced by The Jackal Group.

“We are honored to tell the story of one of the most important and influential comedians of all time, and to do so alongside those who knew him best,” Jackal Group’s Chairman and CEO Gail Berman and...

And there was much rejoicing. Though the overall package could be improved, it’s hard to deny the joy of watching The Muppet Movie on Blu-ray for the first time. You may be, like yours truly, a Netflix subscriber who’s watched this 1979 family classic on the Watch Instantly service over the last few months, hoping that the so-called SuperHD upgrade would be enough of an upgrade compared to DVD. It turns out that Disney had a trick or two up its sleeve with regards to this film’s high-definition transfer, though. (Or, possibly, the Netflix SuperHD moniker isn’t 100% accurate, but with a name like “SuperHD,” how could it be lying?) And like most Disney catalog Blu-rays, The Muppet Movie is criminally light on special features, but the few that are present are quite something.

Logic, being fair, hasn’t entered in much to the timing of this Blu-ray release,...

As one of America’s greatest ever stand-up comedians, George Carlin spent five decades shining the light on social and political issues, delving into unknown territory and always telling the truth. His brand of comedy shocked, stimulated, educated and ultimately amused his audience. He was a lover of the English language and possessed wicked memorising skills, constructing routines such as ‘Modern man’, hardly taking a breath as he rolled from word to word. A precursor of modern day stand-up, Carlin never stopped grafting away at his craft, producing twenty albums, fourteen HBO specials, writing three best selling books and touring across America with over a hundred live dates a year.

Born on May 12th, 1937, in Manhattan, Carlin was brought up by his mother alone, after his father left when George and his brother were still young. He was raised a Roman Catholic, something that he could not help but rebel...

By Lee Pfeiffer

Actor George Lindsey has been found dead at age 83. Although he had a long and varied career that included stand-up comedy, he is best remembered by generations of fans as Goober Pyle, the lovable but simple-minded garage mechanic from the legendary Andy Griffith Show. The series' long run in the 1960s ensured its status as an evergreen comedy and it maintains an active fan base that gathers for annual conventions. The close-knit cast continued their ties over the decades and, in learning of Lindsey's passing, Andy Griffith said he had only spoken to him a few days ago. Lindsey took on a key role in the series playing the cousin of Gomer Pyle, played by Jim Nabors. When Nabors quit the series in order to star in the equally successful Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C., Lindsay managed to pick up the slack and become accepted as popular cast member,...

Robert De Niro in “Red Lights”

Robert De Niro and his longtime producing partner Jane Rosenthal have been working together for more than 20 years at Tribeca Productions. Over that time, they have produced more than two dozen movies, ranging from indie fare like the funny but financially unsuccessful Hollywood satire “What Just Happened?” to wildly profitable franchise films, like the “Meet the Parents” trilogy.

In 2002, they started the Tribeca Film Festival as a creative response to the devastation of downtown...

Stand-up comedy is one of the most beloved art forms there is, and it's also one of the most difficult to master. For every Louis C.K., there are a hundred Jeff Dunhams. People often make lists of the best comedians of all time, or the best comedy albums, but when it comes to actual comedy TV specials, which is what every comedian strives for these days to get into heavy rotation on Comedy Central, it's a different story. There's a million of them - some are good, some are decent, some are iffy, and some are awful. Here, however, are some of the most innovative, groundbreaking comedy specials that have ever been made - shows you should really see if you're a fan of comedy at all (Note: specials are listed chronologically).

[#1-5]   [#6-10]   [Index]

George Carlin at USC (1977)

Any mention of innovative comedy specials has to start with George Carlin, who forged...

Once upon a time in the late 90s and early 2000s, Owen Wilson and Ben Stiller were a comedy duo that could not be stopped. From their first appearance together in Stiller’s film The Cable Guy back in 1996 to their continued work in movies like The Royal Tenenbaums, Zoolander, and Meet the Parents, Wilson and Stiller were in a group alongside actors like Will Ferrell, Vince Vaughn, and Steve Carrell that helped give a fresh take in the changing world of comedy. Fast forward a decade and the two are now known for making some of the most stale and generic comedies being released. Once pioneers of the revitalized genre, it’s been a hard fall from grace for the two. This is fully on display in the film Little Fockers, now on Blu-ray. Hit the jump for the rest of the review. While watching Little Fockers it was...

There are many shows which are described as "beloved" but only a few which truly deserve that description. The Andy Griffith Show is one of those precious few. The long running series, which inspired two spin-offs (Gomer Pyle Usmc; Mayberry Rfd), has been rerun consistently since its initial run (1960-1968), always on the air somewhere. The series celebrated it's 50th anniversary in 2010. While it's true that many shows are still remembered decades after they aired, how many are remembered as fondly as the Andy Griffith Show?

The Andy Griffith Show 50th Anniversary: The Best of Mayberry collects 17 of the most popular episodes of the series, as well as several other bonus treats. One of the best extras in the set is "Danny Meets Andy Griffith", an episode of the popular 1950s series Make Room for Daddy (Aka The Danny Thomas Show) which served as the prototype for Griffith's own show.

There are many shows which are described as "beloved" but only a few which truly deserve that description. The Andy Griffith Show is one of those precious few. The long running series, which inspired two spin-offs (Gomer Pyle Usmc; Mayberry Rfd), has been rerun consistently since its initial run (1960-1968), always on the air somewhere. The series celebrated it's 50th anniversary in 2010. While it's true that many shows are still remembered decades after they aired, how many are remembered as fondly as the Andy Griffith Show?

The Andy Griffith Show 50th Anniversary: The Best of Mayberry collects 17 of the most popular episodes of the series, as well as several other bonus treats. One of the best extras in the set is "Danny Meets Andy Griffith", an episode of the popular 1950s series Make Room for Daddy (Aka The Danny Thomas Show) which served as the prototype for Griffith's own show.

If you thought Jack crossed a line last week, I can only imagine what you think of him after this hour. Jack's gone stark, raving mad, I think he even surprised himself. Is Jack a psychopath? Has he always been? I've thought before about some of the things Jack has done, either because he had no other choice or because he thought it was the best way to extract information. But in the past, I've always been able to rationalize and work it out to a point where I thought the violence was an acceptable means to an end. After these past couple of hours, I can't do that. Maybe we've just been sensitized with the last few seasons. When I think about the torture used on 24, I think of injections that supposedly cause great pain - but seeing them onscreen doesn't have the same visceral impact as the violence we saw this episode.

Funnyman George Carlin was remembered in Los Angeles on Sunday as fellow comics joined his family and friends at a closed memorial service.

Bill Maher and Garry Shandling were among the comedians paying tribute to the late star, who died from a heart attack on 22 June.

The 150 guests listened to Shandling and Carlin's former partner Jack Burns as they recalled favourite memories of the funnyman, who appeared on a giant screen in a montage of his most famous routines.