Exactly one week from today on November 21, 2022 marks National Television Day – a chance to look back at the lasting stories and shows that have shaped culture and cultivated lifelong fans. The ’90s sitcom FRIENDS is one of those shows. To commemorate National TV Day for every FRIENDS superfan in the City (there’s a whole lot of them!), there’s no better way to celebrate than immersing yourself in the world of Ross, Rachel, Joey, Chandler and Monica IRL at The FRIENDS Experience inside Yorkdale Shopping Centre.  

The Experience is riddled with references to some of the most iconic episodes. For a trained eye, these clues add hilarious flares to the experience. If you haven’t watched the series 20 times over like some superfans have (myself included), not to fret! We’ve put together an episode guide to make sure every level of fan is fully prepped to recreate the most ionic scenes from the show.  

“The One with the Cop” (S5, Ep16): This episode is home to the legendary PIVOT!! scene which fans can reenact at The FRIENDS Experience.  

“The One Where Eddie Moves In” (S2, Ep17): Grab the guitar and head outside Central Perk to sing Phoebe’s greatest hit “Smelly Cat.” This is the ultimate Phoebe busking fantasy.  

“The Last One, Part 2” (S10, Ep18): In Chandler and Joey’s apartment, the faint sound of clucking can be heard from the foosball table. Watch this episode to find out what’s in there.

“The One Where No One’s Ready” (S3, Ep2): “Can I BE wearing any more clothes?? Maybe I’ll do some… lunges.” Yes, fans too can declare these quintessential lines while wearing all of Chandler’s clothes.  

 “The Pilot”, aka “The One Where Monica Gets a Roommate”, “The First One” and “The One where It All Began” (S1, Ep1): This fast-moving episode introduces us to each of the characters, showing their intricate personalities from the get-go. Visitors can explore behind-the-scenes sets, costume replicas and the original pilot episode script.

The FRIENDS Experience will only be here till January 2, 2023 so get your tickets here now!

We had such a blast! Read about our experience here.

After premiering at TIFF ’22 to rousing reception including a second-runner-up placing for the coveted People’s Choice Award, the release of the follow-up to 2019’s KNIVES OUT is before us. Sweeping us away to scenic Greece, this latest installment GLASS ONION: A KNIVES OUT MYSTERY promises all the style, charm and delight of its predecessor but yet a completely new experience and characters.

While star Daniel Craig who reprises the role of Detective Benoit Blanc once again here, was unwell for today’s international Press Conference, we had the pleasure of hearing Writer/Director Rian Johnson and the Cast speak about this exciting release arriving on Netflix in time for the Holidays. Joining us were:

Rian Johnson talks about the wonderful experience of creating 2019’s KNIVES OUT and the task of creating an equally-brilliant followup.

Johnson: “It was challenging, but also when Daniel and I were making the first one – we were on-set having such a great time. Even if it does moderately well, it will be fun to keep making these.  But the mode we were working in, was not to continue the story of the first one, but to treat them like Agatha Christie treated her books. To do an entirely new mystery every time, a new location, a new Rogues’ Gallery of characters. Anyone who really knows her work, knows she really shook it up book to book, it’s not just a change of Whodunit, it was a change of genre and throwing crazy narrative spins that had never been done before. She was really keeping the audience on their toes. Let’s come up wth something truly different and make audiences say, ‘Wow! I’m getting the same pleasure as the first one but I’ve never seen this before!'”.

We learned from the Cast that the first ever table read took place at Daniel Craig‘s house where he greeted the Cast in a salmon-coloured shirt and Espadrilles! Johnson tells us about creating magic through his talented Ensemble.

Johnson: “It’s as simple as getting the best Actors you possibly can get. My head spins when I think we were able to get this group together. There’s also the added element of it’s a little bit like throwing a dinner party. It is an Ensemble, we know we’re going to be on-location together and kind of be stuck together for a while. You’re also trying to cast cool people who are hopefully going to get along and have a good time together.”.

Kate Hudson, who plays former Supermodel-turned Fashion Designer Birdie Jay, tells us about chasing the much-sought-after chance to work with Johnson.

Hudson: “I chased Rian. I was slipped the Script and we knew the part was to be cast. I was like, ‘Get me in the room. Rian said ‘Come and let’s see what you can do with Birdie’, and I did my best and that best seemed to find me here.”.

Kathryn Hahn plays Claire Debella, Governor of Connecticut and equates the experience of working on this Sequel, to being in a theatre ensemble.

Hahn: “It goes back to a sense of egolessness among these humans. We did get to and have to spend every single day really together. It felt like there was a backstage and an onstage. We had these holding areas where we were all together and ate our lunches together for the most part. It felt very much like we were in a theatre ensemble. It did have that kind of grace. Rian was able to find a group of humans who had that – and that is really rare. A group of people who were able to just be there for the thing. And also starting with Daniel who had been through the experience before and was there with such a welcoming generosity of spirit for every single person. There were so many shots where the camera was on one person but I wish you could turn it around to see everyone crowded around for someone’s reaction shot, which was pretty remarkable and hilarious.”.

Leslie Odom Jr. having starred on Broadway’s “Hamilton” is no stranger to working with a tight-knit Ensemble and also speaks highly of the experience working on GLASS ONION: A KNIVES OUT MYSTERY. He stars as Lionel Toussaint, a Scientist who works for Edward Norton‘s Billionaire Miles Bron.

Odom: “This is one of the best Ensembles. It’s really an impossible thing to achieve without leadership. It happens from top-down. You can’t lead from the bottom or middle of all sheet. It’s really Rian, Daniel and Ram making it creative, persmissive and fun.”.

Norton also has fond memories working with the Cast.

Norton: “When someone like Rian calls and says ‘I’m basically gonna run a summer camp for deeply-unserious people, I need people willing to ham it up’ – it was printed in the invite. I do think when you’re with a group of people and it becomes apparent the words ‘repetitive’ and ‘boring’ have never applied to any of them, it’s a lot of fun. I do think the experience of a summer theatre troupe is for a lot of us who came into this from theatre or the idea of being from a repertory company or an Ensemble, it has a special pleasure. It reminds you have your high school drama club for those of us who were dorky enough. There’s a funny irony to making films or doing theatre, it’s a bunch of adults playing dress-up pretending to be other people and it’s amazing how much seriousness we layer over that. When you liberate yourself from any pretention to be doing anything other than entertaining the audience and yourselves, it’s incredibly wonderful. And after a year and half in your pyjamas, it’s especially great.”.

Janelle Monáe dazzles as Cassandra “Andi” Brand, unlike any other role she’s ever played before. Her character is on the outs with her old group of friends and she tells us about preparing for the role.

Monáe: “I am a fan of everybody on this stage. Being able to work with Rian is a dream. I literally told myself if I ever had the opportunity, it’s a ‘yes’. After reading the Script, it was a ‘hell yes!’. This is a character you get to play with. So many layers, so mysterious. It took a lot of focus and there were moments where the Cast was out having a blast after they did their scenes and maybe I was in a corner upset, jealous, mad! No, no, no, I wasn’t! We’re in a murder mystery parties outside of filming a murder mystery and we’re in Greece, what can I complain about? I got an opportunity to grow as an Actor and also gained what I like to say is family.”.

Jessica Henwick stars as Peg, Birdie‘s Assistant and comments on Monáe‘s incredible fashion at said murder mystery parties and dinners.

Henwick: “It was amazing. It was a guaranteed serve. If Janelle was coming to dinner, it was gonna be a look and everyone else was underdressed.”.

Madelyn Cline who plays Whiskey, recalls finding-out she was joining this star-studded Ensemble.

Cline: “I was landing in New York – you know when you get close enough to the ground and everyone’s phone starts pinging, and got a message from Rian, ‘Would you have time for a call?’. I panic. He’s gonna tell me I didn’t get it. So I said, ‘In an hour’ and had to prepare myself. I was huddled in a corner at baggage claim when Rian asked if I wanted to be a part of it. Is that even a question? Of course I do! I proceeded to have best weekend of my life. So cheers to that!”.  

The Cast also comment on Craig‘s phenomenal work.

Hudson: “For me, just watching Daniel work was a privilege. He is a consummate professional. He shows-up ready to deliver every line. He honours Rian‘s word. Just to be a part of that and learn from that was really something”.

Hahn: “His Physical Comedy I’m just floored by. His control of his body and how he throws himself into this part physically is something I was so excited to watch. He really is a gamer in that department.”.

The Cast also comment on the fashion and whom they thought had the best costumes in the Film.

Norton: “Definitely Kathryn.”.

Hudson: “That beige rack was solid”.

Norton: “In the wardrobe room, they often have Polaroids of those who have been in before you. I hadn’t met anybody and I looked at the Polaroid wall and thought this Movie is gonna be really funny. I saw Dave Bautista in the crocodile skin bikini and thought there will be at least one good laugh in this Film!”.

Hudson: “Every time Kathryn walked in with a new beige, it was so deeply funny. That is the genius of Rian‘s writing. But Jenny (Eagan) creating each iconic look was so dreamy and the fittings I think for all of us after talking about it so much, when we walked into Jenny‘s fitting, immediately you saw your character come to life, stepping right into the character.  Everyone had that and Jenny was a real dream to work with.”.

GLASS ONION: A KNIVES OUT MYSTERY is in select theatres November 23, 2022 and arrives December 23, 2022 on Netflix.

We have an official Trailer fo TIFF ’22 selection EMPIRE OF LIGHT starring Olivia Colman, from Director Sam Mendes.

Synopsis:

Set in an English seaside town in the early 1980s, EMPIRE OF LIGHT is a powerful and poignant story about human connection and the magic of cinema, from Academy Award®-winning director Sam Mendes.

Cast: Olivia Colman, Micheal Ward, Tom Brooke, Tanya Moodie, Hannah Onslow, Crystal Clarke, Toby Jones, Colin Firth

Searchlight Pictures release EMPIRE OF LIGHT December 9, 2022.

(Photo/video credit: Searchlight Pictures)

Yellowstone fans will be thrilled! A new Teaser has just been released for 1923, exploring the origins story of the Dutton family.

Synopsis:

1923, the next installment of the Dutton family origin story, will introduce a new generation of Duttons led by patriarch Jacob (Harrison Ford) and matriarch Cara (Helen Mirren). The series will explore the early twentieth century when pandemics, historic drought, the end of Prohibition and the Great Depression all plague the mountain west, and the Duttons who call it home. 

In addition to Ford and Mirren, 1923 also stars Darren Mann (“Animal Kingdom”), Michelle Randolph (“A Snow White Christmas”), James Badge Dale (“Hightown”), Marley Shelton (“Scream”), Brian Geraghty (“Big Sky”), Aminah Nieves (“Blueberry”) and Jerome Flynn (“Game of Thrones”). 

1923 premieres December 19, 2022 on Paramount+.

(Photo/video credit: Paramount+)

By Mr. Will Wong

Sylvester Stallone is back in a big way and would you believe that this is his actual Television Series debut? The iconic two-time Academy Award nominee returns in Paramount+‘s TULSA KING, starring as Dwight “The General” Manfredi, a crime boss who just completed his 26-year prison sentence, surfacing in Oklahoma of all places. He is sent to Tulsa and given the impossible task of setting-up operations there and it’s slim pickings. He knows literally no one and forges his way into a smalltime cannabis shop, volun-telling them that they need protection and staking claim to a cut of profits.

By the end of the first episode we really see him begin to plant his roots and just how Dwight’s poise and charm quickly win the locals over. Whether it be a local bar owner Mitch (Garrett Hedlund); Tyson (Jay Will), whom he convinces to be his personal driver; or Stacy (Andrea Savage), a local woman who becomes involved with Dwight.. in more ways than one, let’s just say. Things get messy as he begins to draw attention with his arrival and that’s exactly what we’re here for.

Taylor Sheridan who is responsible for the likes of Veronica Mars and Sons of Anarchy, brings us TULSA KING. We get drama, a bit of a thrill ride and lots of Comedy. We’re actually surprised how comedic the Series and it works. Stallone approaches the role exactly as he should – a step slow and still, really gravitating this people of this town towards him as he leans-in to whisper. Hedlund‘s Mitch likely will play a very integral role to the story, already establishing early that he is trustworthy and likable. The real scenestealer though is Savage who looks like she’s got a complicated history and we can’t wait to find out about it.

TULSA KING debuts on Paramount+ November 13, 2022, with new episodes arriving weekly.

We had the pleasure of being in Stallone‘s presences on a recent visit to Toronto in support of the Series. More here.

By Mr. Will Wong

This one hurts just a little. We love DEAD TO ME so much and in its too short a run, we are saying goodbye. The four-time Primetime Emmy-nominated Black Comedy series concludes after its upcoming third season which tugs on our heartstrings more than ever before.

We reunite with Jen (Christina Applegate) and Judy (Linda Cardellini), two women whose lives become intertwined and changed forever by the death of their partners and they are forced to conceal the self-incriminating facts. We begin the third season picking-up from the aftermath of Jen and Judy being involved with a collision at the hands of Ben (James Marsden) who had struck them while driving impaired. Fortunately, they survive, but life and this new season don’t get any less worrisome. Detective Perez (Diana-Maria Riva) and Nick (Brandon Scott) are still investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of Ted, Jen‘s husband. Incriminating pieces of evidence keep surfacing, but this is only one part of it. Medical scares and “surprises” also surface and we learn that atonement just might be unavoidable.

Of all three seasons, this one upcoming is definitely our favourite and that’s saying a lot since we love this Series so much. All the suspense and belly laughs are there still, and we really hope this isn’t the last time we see Applegate and Cardellini team-up. That perfect tonal balance of Applegate‘s toughness and Cardellini‘s lightness is something we will miss and this final season strengthens that bond even further.

This is one of the few Series that cause us equally to feel stressed-out and yet also still fills our heart, all at once. We were left a teary mess by the end of it all and so will you. Everything’s tied together perfectly at the end that this might’ve all been meant to be and it makes sense. Despite all the death and darkness, we’re left with a feeling of hope. DEAD TO ME remains very much alive to us in our hearts. Season Three arrives November 17, 2022.

BLACK PANTHER: WAKANDA FOREVER bows with a whopping $180 million in its opening from 4,396 theatres for Disney. It gets a stellar 96% on the Tomatometer, and though it doesn’t quite best the $202 million its predecessor made in 2018 in its debut, this still places it in in the Top Ten for MCU openings, the record still held by 2019’s Avengers: Endgame with $357 million. This also sets a record for highest November opening in North America, held previously by THE HUNGER GAMES: CATCHING FIRE with $158 million.

In second is BLACK ADAM, which is dethroned after a three-week reign with $10 million from 3,603 theatres for Warner Bros. Its domestic run now is brought to $152 million.

Third is TICKET TO PARADISE with $6.9 million from 3,633 theatres for Universal Pictures, and a total $56.7 million in its fourth weekend.

LYLE, LYLE CROCODILE lands in fourth with $3.3 million, its tally now at $40.9 million for Sony Pictures.

In fifth is the resilient SMILE with $1.9 million for Paramount Pictures, a total $102.7 million to date here in North America.

Mumford & Sons Frontman Marcus Mumford graced Toronto with his presence playing Massey Hall last night in support of his first ever Solo Disc, SELF-TITLED. The Disc, which confronts some traumas and pains Mumford has experienced, took him on the road in the U.S. in September, just wrapping in our City before he heads next to Europe for the next leg of his tour. The emotional performance brought his audience to tears as he gave fans his most raw, vulnerable self.

So thrilled to get to meet him quickly and he was gracious. I only wish my camera was a little more co-operative, not getting a chance to do a re-take as he rushed-off! Grateful nonetheless.

Check-out some material from Mumford’s SELF-TITLED Disc:

(Photo/video credit: Universal Music/Mr. Will Wong)

Rihanna is back with another new Track from the BLACK PANTHER: WAKANDA FOREVER OST. “Born Again” is a dark, cinematic, sweeping beautiful Ballad. Love this!

BLACK PANTHER: WAKANDA FOREVER is now in theatres.

(Photo/video credit: Universal Music)

SCROOGE: A CHRISTMAS CAROL is here to get us into that Holiday spirit and here’s a first look at the Trailer!

Synopsis:

Produced by Timeless Films in association with Axis Studios and directed by Stephen Donnelly, Charles Dickens’ ageless legend is reborn in this supernatural, time-travelling, musical adaptation of the definitive Christmas story. With his very soul on the line, Scrooge has but one Christmas Eve left to face his past and build a better future. Featuring re-imagined songs from the legendary and two-time Academy Award® winner Leslie Bricusse OBE, Scrooge: A Christmas Carol is one for a new generation to sing.

SCROOGE: A CHRISTMAS CAROL arrives on Netflix December 2, 2022.

(Photo/video credit: Netflix)