Disney+ has just released the key art and trailer for the upcoming original limited series “Tiny Beautiful Things” starring Kathryn Hahn and produced by ABC Signature and Hello Sunshine. All eight episodes of the series will be available on Friday, April 7, 2023 exclusively on Disney+ in Canada.

Based on the best-selling collection by Cheryl Strayed, “Tiny Beautiful Things” follows Clare (Kathryn Hahn), a floundering writer who becomes a revered advice columnist while her own life is falling apart.

When we first meet Clare, her marriage to her husband Danny is barely limping along; her teenage daughter, Rae, is pushing her away; and her once-promising writing career is non-existent. So when an old writing pal asks her to take over as the advice columnist Dear Sugar, she thinks she has no business giving anyone advice. After reluctantly taking on the mantle of Sugar however, Clare’s life unfurls in a complex fabric of memory, exploring her most pivotal moments from childhood through present day, and excavating the beauty, struggle, and humour in her unhealed wounds. Through Sugar, Clare forms a salve for her readers – and for herself – to show us that we are not beyond rescue, that our stories can ultimately save us. And, perhaps, bring us back home.

The series stars Kathryn Hahn, Sarah Pidgeon, Quentin Plair, and Tanzyn Crawford, with guest stars Owen Painter, Merritt Wever, Elizabeth Hinkler, and Michaela Watkins.

Liz Tigelaar serves as Creator/EP of the series. Lauren Neustadter, Reese Witherspoon, Laura Dern, Jayme Lemons, Cheryl Strayed, Stacey Silverman, and Kathryn Hahn are also EPs on the series from ABC Signature and Hello Sunshine.

Robust parental controls ensure that Disney+ remains a suitable viewing experience for everyone in the family. Subscribers can set access limits on mature content and create PIN-protected profiles alongside the already existing Kids Profiles to give parents and guardians peace of mind.

Riceboy Sleeps, Anthony Shim’s semi-autobiographical film about a Korean single mother who moves to Canada to raise her son, has won the Toronto Film Critics Association’s 2022 Rogers Best Canadian Film Award.

Veteran actor and Indigenous activist Tantoo Cardinal (Dances with Wolves, Three Pines, North of 60) presented the award — the richest annual film prize in Canada — to director Shim. One of the film’s lead actors, Ethan Hwang, accepted the award on his behalf at a gala dinner held March 6, 2023, at the Omni King Edward Hotel in Toronto.

Shot in the Vancouver area and in South Korea, Riceboy Sleeps premiered at both TIFF and the Busan International Film Festival. Its delicate examination of the stresses of growing up between two cultures has been widely praised. Riceboy Sleeps was included in TIFF’s 2022 Canada’s Top Ten.

As runners-up, directors Clement Virgo (Brother) and David Cronenberg (Crimes of the Future) each received $5,000 from Rogers Communications.

Hosted by actress Amanda Brugel (The Handmaid’s Tale, Infinity Pool), the ceremony featured a cocktail party sponsored by Universal Pictures Canada, a dinner sponsored by Netflix and an after-party sponsored by Prime Video.

“All three nominated films this year are terrific, and we congratulate all three filmmakers,” TFCA President, Johanna Schneller said. “But Anthony Shim’s film shimmers with delicacy, empathy and authenticity. Though it’s only his second feature, it’s made with such self-assurance, and he elicits an indelible performance from his lead, Choi Seung-yoon. We can’t wait to see what he does next.”

“Movies like Riceboy Sleeps are the reason the Rogers Best Canadian Film Award exists,” said Rogers’ Robin Mirsky, Executive Director, Rogers Group of Funds. “Films reflect who we are, and Anthony Shim’s story resonates with so many Canadian immigrant families. It’s a testament to the idea that the more specific a story is, the more universal it feels.”

At the gala, Brugel introduced video acceptance speeches from director Charlotte Wells (Best Picture, Best Director and Best First Feature, Aftersun), Paul Mescal (Best Actor, Aftersun), Ke Huy Quan (Best Supporting Actor, Everything Everywhere All at Once), filmmaker Laura Poitras (Allan King Documentary Award winner for All the Beauty and the Bloodshed), and Domee Shi (Best Animated Feature, Turning Red).

Comedian and TV personality Rick Mercer presented the $10,000 Stella Artois Jay Scott Prize for an emerging artist to filmmaker Carol Nguyen. Nguyen’s short films, which are drawn from her life and Vietnamese-Canadian culture, have played at more than 80 film festivals.

In its mission to recognize new voices in film criticism, the TFCA gave Michelle Krasovitski the fourth annual Telefilm Canada Emerging Critic Award, presented by actress Maitreyi Ramakrishnan (Never Have I Ever, Turning Red). Krasovitski is a daughter of Soviet-era Ukrainian immigrants who taught her to appreciate a culture of uncensored film. The award comes with a prize of $1,000.

On the red carpet, entertainment journalist and Super Channel content producer Teri Hart welcomed eminent members of the film industry and the civic and cultural communities, including longtime TIFF programmer Steve Gravestock, recipient of this year’s Company 3 Luminary Award. That award comes with a pay-it-forward grant of $50,000 in production services to a filmmaker of the recipient’s choice. Gravestock chose producer/actor Hugh Gibson (The Stairs) and writer/director Frieda Luk (The Encounter). TIFF CEO Cameron Bailey and Company 3 VP and GM James Fraser presented the award to the recently retired Gravestock.

Other notables in attendance included Brother actors Lamar Johnson and Kiana Madeira, Riceboy Sleeps actor Ethan Hwang, Robbie Amell of the CW series The Tomorrow People, photographer and filmmaker Caitlin Cronenberg, Crimes of the Future executive producer Aida Tannyan, author Tamara Faith Berger, TIFF COO Beth Janson, Canadian Film Centre CEO Maxine Bailey, Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television CEO Tammy Frick, Zoomer Magazine editor Suzanne Boyd, and Cineplex Entertainment President/CEO Ellis Jacob.

New year, new steers! Such a pleasure getting to preview both the 2023 Honda Civic 4D Touring and also the 2023 Honda Passport Touring, both amazing in their own respective ways. But what was unique about one of the Test Drives is that it led me to experience the world-class care that Honda Roadside Assistance offers. More about our unforgettable experiences…

2023 HONDA CIVIC 4D TOURING

This incredibly versatile topseller once again proves its value, deliver sleek style and performance. A pleasure driving it in Platinum White Pearl. Powered by a 1.5-litre, 16-valve, Direct Injection, DOHC, turbocharged 4-cylinder engine, this Sedan has 180 @ 6000 rpm horsepower. Running on Regular fuel, its ECON mode and Idle Stop help you get the most for your money, delivering an economical A-game. Its fuel economy tallies-in at 7.6/6.1/6.9 (city/highway/combined). There aren’t many other cars out there than can top that!

We’re loving Honda‘s Dual-Zone Climate Controls here, which give Driver and Passengers the ability to customize, because I know I prefer it a little cooler, while often my passengers prefer it warmer. Heated seating is available for those in the front and the back and the car sits five comfortably despite being compact. This is how Honda continues to win over new fans even when they’re not the Driver!

The Touring edition provides an elevated entertainment experience coming with a BOSE^® Premium Sound System with 12 speakers including subwoofer and a 9″ colour touchscreen to navigate. Connecting wirelessly and with wires are options to stay charged, and you also get a wireless charging plate as well.

We were bombarded with a lot of snow during our Test Drive so safety features like 4-wheel Anti-lock Braking System, Brake Assist, Forward Collision Warning system, Collision Mitigation Braking System, Lane Departure Warning system, Vehicle Stability Assist with Traction Control, A Road Departure Mitigation system, plus Auto High-Beam gave us added stability and security through it all.

In the event of an accident, you also are protected with Next-Generation Advanced Compatibility Engineering body structure, Airbag system (front), Side curtain airbags with rollover sensor system, side airbags, Rear side airbags, Knee airbags and more. Honda’s concern for its Drivers and Passengers are unparalleled.

Though the car comes with a Maintenance Minder system, it wasn’t able to detect its tire blowing after being impacted by a pothole and we encounted the misfortune of losing our tire. But even admist a snowstorm, Honda Roadside Assistance not only was fast (took 30 minutes only to arrive), they were attentive, checked-in regularly to keep me updated on our Towing Service’s arrival and we were out of harm’s way. This isn’t a luxury, it’s a necessity and we can’t recommend it enough. If we were able to be taken care of this swiftly and efficiently, don’t you think you deserve the same level of care?

With the 2023 Honda Civic 4D Touring riding low by design, something like a pothole does present a greater risk, hence this is something to be mindful of.

In all, this test drive still enabled us to create some great memories still. And in this highlight reel, we also recount how awesome Honda Roadside Assistance truly is.

The 2023 Honda Civic 4D Touring starts at $35,261. More here.

2023 HONDA PASSPORT TOURING

We’ll be honest. The Honda Passport quickly has shot to the top in our books after preferring smaller-sized offerings from Honda for years. We have such fond memories of test driving last year’s model, that we were pumped to preview the 2023 Honda Passport Touring in Platinum White Pearl. With its distinctive honeycomb grille and 20″ aluminum-alloy wheels, the Passport has a style all its own, doing it bigger and better.

Operating with a 3.5-litre, 24-valve, Direct Injection, SOHC, i-VTEC V6 engine with 280 horsepower and 262 lb.-ft. of torque, the 2023 Honda Passport Touring is pure power. This mid-size SUV is for all seasons, perfect for Summer roadtrips, but also chaotic snow which we know so well in Toronto.

We adore the ECON mode option which continues to help us save on fuel, and Honda always is looking out for us on the fuel economy front. This SUV‘s fuel economy rating is 12.5/9.8/11.3 (L/100 km) City/Hwy/Combined. Yes, you’ll consume a signficant quantity more fuel with an SUV, but having the confidence and security of navigating unpredictable terrains in Toronto weather is invaluable and I saw that this past week.

Though we had many a destination – it seemed like an endless sequences of celebrations – to go to during our Test Drive, we were perfectly happy just chilling under the moonroof. Its 550-watt AM/FM Premium audio system with MP3/Windows Media Audio playback capability and 10 speakers including subwoofer are supreme, allowing us to enjoy SiriusXM and our Spotify playlists. Cozy, comfortable leather-trimmed seating were a pleasure and its Driver’s seat comes with 10-way power adjustment including power lumbar support. We were always comfortable, and we appreciate the ambience that large moonroof adds to our daily drives.

You get what you pay for with the 2023 Honda Passport Touring and it’s packed full of intuitive features like a Multi-angle rearview camera with dynamic guidelines making parallel parking and reversing so easy. I’ll never forget my friend trying to tell me I was parked crooked and when she opened the door, she saw right away that it wasn’t me – it was the car beside me parked crooked. In all, parking well is a cinch in the Passport Touring! Memory-linked side mirrors with reverse gear tilt-down also are super helpful.

Dual Zone Climate Control is so powerful here – maybe even too powerful at times, making it the warmest 19°C I’ve ever felt in my life, so adjust accordingly to your preferences. Driver and Passengers get seat warmers and seat coolers, and there are several charging ports and a wireless charging plate in the front.

Safety continues to be a major selling-point for the Honda family of vehicles. The Passport Touring comes with Blind Spot Information system, Rear Cross Traffic Monitor system, Forward Collision Warning system, Lane Departure Warning system, Road Departure Mitigation system, Adaptive Cruise Control, Lane Keeping Assist System, Vehicle Stability Assist with Traction Control, Advanced front airbag system, Auto high beam and more. You also get a front wiper De-Icer and also rear-window wipers too!

A reel of highlights from our Test Drive in the 2023 Honda Passport Touring:

Just another stellar experience in this phenomenal ride. The 2023 Honda Passport Touring starts at $55,873.50. More here.

A little sunshine to kick-off your week! If you haven’t checked-out THE OFFICE EXPERIENCE Toronto at Yorkdale, you must!

(Photo/video credit: Mr. Will Wong)

One of the biggest hits of the Summer just saw a new Teaser Trailer dropped. See the latest from TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES: MUTANT MAYHEM!

SYNOPSIS:

After years of being sheltered from the human world, the Turtle brothers set out to win the hearts of New Yorkers and be accepted as normal teenagers through heroic acts. Their new friend April O’Neil helps them take on a mysterious crime syndicate, but they soon get in over their heads when an army of mutants is unleashed upon them.

Paramount Pictures and Nickelodeon Movies Present

A Point Grey Production

Directed by 

Jeff Rowe

Co-Director

Kyler Spears

Based on the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Characters Created by Peter Laird and Kevin Eastman

Produced by

Seth Rogen, Evan Goldberg, James Weaver

Executive Producers

Ramsay McBean, Josh Fagen

Cast

Micah Abbey, Shamon Brown Jr., Hannibal Buress, Rose Byrne, Nicolas Cantu, John Cena, Jackie Chan, Ice Cube, Natasia Demetriou, Ayo Edebiri, Giancarlo Esposito, Post Malone, Brady Noon, Seth Rogen, Paul Rudd, Maya Rudolph

TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES: MUTANT MAYHEM arrives August 4, 2023 in theatres.

(Photo/video credit: Paramount Pictures Canada)

Today, Prime Video debuted a new Trailer for highly anticipated action-spy thriller Citadel, revealing that the series will premiere exclusively on Prime Video on Friday, April 28, 2023 with two adrenaline-fueled episodes, followed by a new episode released weekly every Friday through May 26, 2023. The landmark, high-stakes drama is executive produced by the Russo Brothers’ AGBO and showrunner David Weil, and stars Richard Madden and Priyanka Chopra Jonas, with Stanley Tucci and Lesley Manville. Citadel will be available in more than 240 countries and territories worldwide.

About Citadel

Eight years ago, Citadel fell. The independent global spy agency—tasked to uphold the safety and security of all people—was destroyed by operatives of Manticore, a powerful syndicate manipulating the world from the shadows. With Citadel’s fall, elite agents Mason Kane (Richard Madden) and Nadia Sinh (Priyanka Chopra Jonas) had their memories wiped as they narrowly escaped with their lives. They’ve remained hidden ever since, building new lives under new identities, unaware of their pasts. Until one night, when Mason is tracked down by his former Citadel colleague, Bernard Orlick (Stanley Tucci), who desperately needs his help to prevent Manticore from establishing a new world order. Mason seeks out his former partner, Nadia, and the two spies embark on a mission that takes them around the world in an effort to stop Manticore, all while contending with a relationship built on secrets, lies, and a dangerous-yet-undying love.

Richard Madden stars as Mason Kane, alongside Priyanka Chopra Jonas as Nadia Sinh, Stanley Tucci as Bernard Orlick, Lesley Manville as Dahlia Archer, Osy Ikhile as Carter Spence, Ashleigh Cummings as Abby Conroy, Roland Møller as Anders Silje and Davik Silje, Caoilinn Springall as Hendrix Conroy, and more.

From Amazon Studios and the Russo Brothers’ AGBO, Citadel is executive produced by Anthony Russo, Joe Russo, Mike Larocca, Angela Russo-Otstot, and Scott Nemes for AGBO, with David Weil serving as showrunner and executive producer. Josh Appelbaum, André Nemec, Jeff Pinkner, and Scott Rosenberg serve as executive producers for Midnight Radio. Newton Thomas Sigel and Patrick Moran also serve as executive producers.

Citadel Continues

Citadel, starring Richard Madden and Priyanka Chopra Jonas and featuring Stanley Tucci and Lesley Manville, is the debut of a landmark global franchise. Executive produced by the Russo Brothers’ AGBO, Citadel and its subsequent series traverse the globe with interconnected stories. Each Citadel series is locally created, produced, and filmed in-region, and stars top talent, forming a distinct global franchise. Series are already underway in Italy and India, respectively, starring Matilda De Angelis, Varun Dhawan, and Samantha Ruth Prabhu.

(Photo credit: Prime Video)

20th Century Studios’ new “Alien” film starring Cailee Spaeny (“Mare of Easttown”) will begin production in Budapest on March 9. 2023. Joining Spaeny in the cast are David Jonsson (“Industry”), Archie Renaux (“Shadow and Bone”), Isabela Merced (“Rosaline”), Spike Fearn (“The Batman”) and Aileen Wu (“Away from Home”). Fede Alvarez (“Evil Dead,” “The Girl in the Spider’s Web,” “Don’t Breathe”) directs from a screenplay he wrote with his frequent collaborator Rodo Sayagues. Ridley Scott, who directed the original “Alien” and produced and directed the series’ entries “Prometheus” and “Alien: Covenant,” and Michael Pruss (“Boston Strangler” upcoming) are producing under their Scott Free banner, with Brent O’Connor (“Bullet Train”), Elizabeth Cantillon (“Persuasion”) and Tom Moran (“The Donut King”) serving as executive producers.

In this ninth entry in the immensely popular and enduring film series, a group of young people on a distant world find themselves in a confrontation with the most terrifying life form in the universe.

(Photo/video credit: 20th Century Studios)

CREED III sets a Franchise record opening to the tune of $55.1 million from 4,007 theatres for MGM/Warner Bros. The directorial debut from Michael B. Jordan gets 87% on the Tomatometer. 2019’s CREED II previously had the best opening of the would-be trilogy with a $35 million opening. MGM last year was acquired by Amazon Studios/Prime Video, so this is a big win in the theatrical market for them.

ANT-MAN AND THE WASP: QUANTUMANIA is in second this weekend with $13.3 million from 3,825 theatres, taking its run to $187.6 million in North America for Disney/Marvel.

Third is COCAINE BEAR with $10.8 million week two from 3,571 theatres bringing it to $41 million for Universal Pictures.

In fourth DEMON SLAYER AND THE SWORDSMITH VILLAGE with $10.7 million in its opening from 1,780 theatres for Crunchyroll.

JESUS REVOLUTION caps-off the Top Five with $10.3 million for Liosngate/Cineplex Pictures, a two week tally of $31 million.

Such a blast checking-out Fever‘s The Office Experience Toronto earlier this week! This immersive pop-up pays tribute to the legacy of acclaimed and adored Mockumentary Sitcom THE OFFICE. It takes place at Yorkdale Shopping Centre now through June 4, 2023. Fans of the show cannot miss this as the space is filled with throwbacks, photo ops, actual props and costumes and fun facts. The level of attention to detail is astounding. Even if you know the show only casually, the experience is incredibly fun and sure to brighten your spirits!

Did we mention the incredible merch in their Gift Shop?

Details:

Dates: March 3rd – June 4th, 2023
Location: Yorkdale Shopping Centre (across from the Lego Store); 3401 Dufferin St Toronto, ON M6A 2T9 Canada
Age requirement: All ages are welcome. Guests 12 and under must be accompanied by an adult who is at least 18 years old. Children 3 and younger don’t need a ticket when accompanied by a parent or guardian.
Operating hours (time slots available every 30 minutes):
Thursdays & Fridays: 12 p.m. – 7 p.m. (last entry)
Saturdays: 10:00 a.m. – 8 p.m. (last entry)
Sundays: 11:00 a.m. – 6 p.m. (last entry)

Schedule subject to change during specific periods.

See a reel of highlights from The Office Experience Toronto:

Click here for tickets.

(Photo/video credit: Mr. Will Wong)

Multi-talented singer-songwriter Jax makes her explosive return with new single “Cinderella Snapped” – available now via Atlantic Records. Far from a fairytale, the track serves as a resilient anthem (akin to her global smash hit “Victoria’s Secret”) against the societal norms forced upon us.

“I wanted to write a song from Cinderella’s perspective, if she and all the princesses rewrote their stories and burned the fairytale system down. My intention was to throw a little dose of equality into the stories I grew up with. I always wondered how it would have shaped who I was if all the princesses I looked up to had more purpose than being saved by a prince.” – JAX

Jax had nothing short of an incredible 2022, highlighted by the meteoric rise of her RIAA-certified Gold single “Victoria’s Secret.” The explosive song proved an incredible viral sensation, garnering over 267 million global streams since release, her debut entry on the Billboard Hot 100, and peaks of #9 on Top 40 and #2 on Hot AC radio. Originally shared on TikTok as part of her viral “The Kid I Babysit” series, Jax wrote “Victoria’s Secret” as an ode to body positivity and anti-bullying. Her personal take and blunt honesty quickly resonated with her followers and beyond, sparking a movement that ultimately garnered a response from the company itself. She’s since performed the song live on The TODAY Show, The Drew Barrymore Show, Dick Clark’s Rockin’ New Year’s Eve and at the 2022 iHeartRadio Music Festival in Las Vegas, in addition to joining the line-up for iHeartRadio’s 2022 Jingle Ball tour (including stops at Madison Square Garden in New York City and The Kia Forum in Los Angeles). 2022 also saw Jax take home the iHeartRadio Music Award for TikTok Songwriter of the Year, in addition to a nomination for Best New Pop Artist at the upcoming 2023 iHeartRadio Music Awards.

This summer, Jax will hit the road in support of Big Time Rush’s North American Can’t Get Enough Tour – kicking off June 22nd in Fort Worth, TX and running through mid-August. For full routing, visit jaxwritessongs.com.

“Cinderella Snapped” and “Victoria’s Secret” mark the latest in a catalog of fan-favorite singles from Jax – including her heartwarming ballad “Like My Father” which has amassed over 230 million streams and was crowned amongst “the best father-daughter dance songs of all time” by The Knot. Meanwhile, her nostalgia-fueled anthem “90s Kids” received over 1 million weekly streams for 21 consecutive weeks, swooning single “To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before” was deemed “a viral hit” by Billboard, and label-debut single “Ring Pop” yielded high-profile appearances on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, Access Hollywood & more.

Raised in New Jersey by way of New York, Jax got her start by performing a wide variety of genres and in bands growing up. At the age of 18, she developed cancer above her vocal cords, which returned following a couple months of remission right as she relocated to Los Angeles in pursuit of her music. Left unable to sing herself, Jax turned to songwriting for others and found industry success behind-the-scenes.

As her ability to perform returned, Jax needed to pivot yet again when the COVID-19 pandemic struck. This time she turned to TikTok, posting a hilarious response to the pop gem “Stacy’s Mom” from “Stacy’s Mom’s Perspective” which exploded with nearly 9 million views in just a few months and follow-ups including “Update from Avril Lavigne & Sk8er Boi 18 years later.” She continued to go viral a dozen or more times over, having now amassed over 13.4 million followers on the platform and over 228 million “likes” to date. With a massive online audience under her belt, Jax began sharing her own original music in late 2020 to an overwhelmingly positive response and now over 747 million global career streams.

By George Kozera

The Broadway smash ROCK OF AGES returns to Toronto, freshly-reimagined, and bristling with electricity and humour. Essentially, it’s about a small town girl, a city boy and can one #nd love on the Sunset Strip. A jukebox musical built around classic rock songs from the 1980s (Journey, Pat Benatar, Bon Jovi, Styx, Steve Perry to name just a few) with a large emphasis on the power ballads that dominated the FM radio stations.

This hyper-kinetic production dazzles with exceptional Choreography, but also succeeds due to the efforts of a genuinely-talented Cast. Whereas there are too many to list individually, Toronto native Dave Comeau, as Lonny, had the audience eating from his hands whenever he broke the “fourth wall”. As the “will they/won’t they” couple, Trevor Coll (Drew) and AJ Bridel (Sherrie) have wonderful chemistry together and their vocal chops are formidable. The stage is awash with spotlights and laser beams. What surprised me most was just how damned funny ROCK OF AGES is, with one John Tory joke that almost lifted the roof of the Elgin Theatre. There were no targets left unscathed, be it the movie version of the Musical which starred Tom Cruise or the sexual fluidity of many of the characters. Whereas this Show may not appeal to those who have never heard of Twisted Sister, this audience member was entertained to the max!

Some snaps from the Carpet attended by the likes of The Trews, Monster Truck, Humberly Gonzalez, Sean Jones, Cory Lee, Ishan Morris and more.

ROCK OF AGES plays at the Elgin Theatre until May 20, 2023.

(Photo credit: George Kozera)