Okurrr! Today, Paramount+ announced that the streaming service in Canada will be the exclusive home to six stand-up specials featuring world-renowned drag queens including, Peppermint, Jinkx Monsoon, and Monét X Change. Beginning Friday, February 24, 2023 with PEPPERMINT: SO-SIGH-ETY EFFECTS, Paramount+ will debut a brand-new stand up special, every Friday for six weeks. The Drag Specials are produced by Tribeca Film and Comedy Dynamics, a Nacelle Company and distributed in Canada by levelFILM.

The six laugh-out-loud specials dive into dating, coming out, haunted dolls, and everything in between:

PEPPERMINT: SO-SIGH-ETY EFFECTS – Friday, February 24

Follow Peppermint as she invites viewers on an all-inclusive journey through New York City to get a first-hand look at what it’s like to be a single black transgender woman in today’s society. Peppermint invites viewers to cry and laugh with and at her as she tells tales of love and heartbreak from the stage to the bathroom stall. Drawing audiences to one inevitable conclusion, “hey at least I don’t have it that bad!”

DARIENNE LAKE: ALTERED BOY – Friday, March 3

RuPaul’s Drag Race alum Darienne Lake shares intimate but hilarious anecdotes about her life; from growing up as the middle child in a large catholic family, to coming out at an early age as a drag queen and finding her chosen family and life purpose through humor and self-revelation.

BEBE ZAHARA BENET: AFRICA IS NOT A COUNTRY – Friday, March 10

In her debut stand up show, pioneering entertainer BeBe Zahara Benet recounts immigrating from West Africa to America through a series of hysterical sketches, unexpected audience interactions and razor shop social commentary. Settle in for a raucous journey from the Motherland to…Minnesota. No baggage fees required.

JINKX MONSOON: RED HEAD REDEMPTION – Friday, March 17

Follow Jinkx Monsoon through the weaving tale of her booze addled, sex-filled, gender defying life. In this (extremely) candid standup special, Jinkx shares her experiences as a trans-femme, non-binary, alcoholic, ethical slut. Viewers will learn more than they ever wanted to know about her journey of self-discovery – leading her to her husband, sobriety, and to be the first queen to win Drag Race twice! AND she sings!

GINGER MINJ: BLESS YOUR HEART – Friday, March 24

International Drag Superstar, Ginger Minj, discusses dysfunctional family etiquette, haunted dolls and the infamous “Florida Man” in this hilariously honest musical memoir of her Southern Baptist upbringing. Best known for appearances in DUMPLIN, Hocus Pocus 2, and RuPaul’s Drag Race, Ginger breaks out of the “werk room” and takes center stage to tell her story as only she can.

MONÉT X CHANGE: FIST OF GLORY – Friday, March 31

Join Queen Monét X Change in her debut stand up special where she takes viewers on a comedic romp about playing the pink power ranger in Brooklyn, being inherently “very gay” before coming out, and watch as she dazzles the audience with a live Opera performance about fisting.

Today we get a new clip for DUNGEONS & DRAGONS: HONOR AMONG THIEVES.

SYNOPSIS:

A charming thief and a band of unlikely adventurers undertake an epic heist to retrieve a lost relic, but things go dangerously awry when they run afoul of the wrong people.  Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves brings the rich world and playful spirit of the legendary roleplaying game to the big screen in a hilarious and action-packed adventure.

Paramount Pictures Canada release DUNGEONS & DRAGONS: HONOR AMONG THIEVES March 30, 2023.

(Photo/video credit: Paramount Pictures Canada)

Chef Craig Wong is somewhat of a visionary, marrying West Indian and Chinese fare together in the innovative way fans of PATOIS have come to love. Opening in 2014 on the bustling Dundas West strip, the Scarborough native has transcended borders with his fusion of flavours and we had the amazing pleasure finally of visiting. Did you know that Michelle Yeoh calls PATOIS one of her favourites in the City? She is known for ordering the Jerk Lobster every time and a special custom Spicy Margarita!

We tried their famous O.G. Fried Chicken and it slayed. Their award-winning Juicy Jerk Chicken? The perfect heat. That long-standing favourite, the Pineapple Bun Burger? We’re here for those two smash patties. Their Izakaya Shrimp Pasta, a featured menu item? It was divine. We left stuffed and there are still so many other things we want to try, namely their Fried Okra Doubles!

A highlight reel of our meal. Love this festive space painted in turquoise, cream and pink hues. Apologies in advance for any cravings induced!

The space beside PATOIS will in the future be used for weekend Pop-Ups. The space, coined THE WEEKENDER CAFÉ is such an amazing space, supporting small local businesses and their products like Ice Cream, Coffee, Candles, Books and Cold Drinks!

PATOIS is located at 794 Dundas Street West, Toronto. More here.

(Photo/video credit: Mr. Will Wong)

While we await the arrival of the fourth season of THE BOYS, here is a little sunshine for your Family Day weekend! How cool was it spotting the Cast of Prime Video‘s #1-rated Series out for brunch on Dundas West? So lucky to see Antony Starr (Homelander), Erin Moriarty (Annie January), Karen Fukuhara (Kimiko Miyashiro), Jack Quaid (Hughie Campbell) and others (we can’t say who as we were asked not to mention as it would mean a spoiler alert). A fifth season recently was just announced last week, and filming of the fourth season wraps late March.

I was just leaving lunch and low and behold, they were righ in-front of me! How amazing was this? Though they were in a bit of a rush, they were still happy to stop for a quick snap!

(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)

Marvel‘s ANT-MAN AND THE WASP: QUANTUMANIA debuts huge this weekend with $100 million domestically from 4,345 theatres. Though Critics weren’t in love with this first installment in the fifth phase of the MCU with 49% on the Tomatometer, that certainly isn’t stopping fans from showing their love and of the three Ant-Man films, this one comes out on-top for best opening, topping 2018’s Ant-Man and the Wasp’s $75 million bow.

Second goes to AVATAR: THE WAY OF WATER with $6.3 million from 2,675 theatres for 20th Century Studios. Its ten week run takes it to $657 million domestically.

Third is PUSS IN BOOTS: THE LAST WISH with $5.5 million from 3,012 theatres for Universal Pictures. Its run now is brought to $167.9 million over nine weeks.

Landing in fourth is MAGIC MIKE’S LAST DANCE with $5.6 million for Warner Bros. It is brought to $19 million in its second weekend out.

Rounding-out the Top Five is 80 FOR BRADY with $3.7 million, a tally of $33 million for Paramount Pictures.

Ben Affleck directs AIR and following the release of its Canadian Trailer, we get a new Poster! The Film re-tells the series of events that would change the relationship between fashion, sports and fans forever.

Synopsis:

From award-winning director Ben Affleck, AIR reveals the unbelievable game-changing partnership between a then rookie Michael Jordan and Nike’s fledgling basketball division which revolutionized the world of sports and contemporary culture with the Air Jordan brand. This moving story follows the career-defining gamble of an unconventional team with everything on the line, the uncompromising vision of a mother who knows the worth of her son’s immense talent, and the basketball phenom who would become the greatest of all time.

Warner Bros. Pictures Canada release AIR April 5, 2023.

(Photo/video credit: Warner Bros. Pictures Canada)

Director/Writer Luke Villemaire made GOLIATH seven years ago and the Film finally is ready to be seen, with an on-demand and digital release coming February 20, 2023. The Film centers on a young woman named Robin Walker (Jessica Sipos) who returns home to confront her family after the passing of her father. The reunion is tense as the family have several unresolved issues amongst themselves, yet Robin is coping with her own demons at once.

The gorgeous feature debut from Villemaire, features some compelling performances from its Ensemble led by Sipos, supported by Michelle Mylett, Jon Cor, Shannon Kook, Daniel Maslany, with Krista Bridges and Andrea Roth. The Drama touches upon themes of mental illness, grief and reconciliation.

We were so lucky to attend a special private screening of the Film with Producer Sheetal Maya Nanda and Villemaire, presented by Soho House. The Film was followed by a Q&A with Jeffrey Round. Some highlights from the evening:

Definitely worth a watch and a very accomplished, mature first film from a promising Toronto-based talent.

(Photo/video credit: Mr. Will Wong/Luke Villemaire)

Apple TV+ today announced that “The Big Door Prize,” the character driven comedy created by Emmy Award-winner David West Read (“Schitt’s Creek”) is set to make its global debut on Wednesday, March 29, 2023. The new 10-episode half-hour comedy starring an ensemble cast led by Chris O’Dowd and includes Gabrielle Dennis, Ally Maki, Josh Segarra, Damon Gupton, Crystal Fox, Djouliet Amara and Sammy Fourlas, will debut with the first three episodes on Wednesday, March 29, followed by one new episode weekly every Wednesday through May 17, 2023.

Based on M.O. Walsh’s novel of the same name, “The Big Door Prize” tells the story of a small town that is forever changed when a mysterious machine appears in the general store, promising to reveal each resident’s true life potential. Dusty Hubbard (O’Dowd), a seemingly content, cheerful family man and high school teacher, watches everyone around him reevaluate their life choices and ambitions — based on the machine’s printouts — and is forced to question whether he is truly as happy as he once thought. While he remains skeptical of the machine, his wife, Cass (Dennis), indulges in the dream that there’s something bigger out there for her. Like many of Deerfield’s residents, the couple has lived a relatively safe, uncomplicated life, until the arrival of the Morpho machine. However, all of that is about to change when the community is forced to reconcile with their unfulfilled achievements in pursuit of a better future.

“The Big Door Prize” is produced by Skydance Television and CJ ENM/Studio Dragon. Read serves as showrunner and executive producer. David Ellison and Dana Goldberg serve as executive producers for Skydance Television; Miky Lee, Young Kyu Kim and Hyun Park executive produce for CJ ENM/Studio Dragon; with Bill Bost and Sarah Walker. Anu Valia, Molly McGlynn, Todd Biermann, Jenée LaMarque and Declan Lowney direct the series.

(Photo/video credit: Apple TV+)

The CAFTCAD Awards celebrates its 5th year, live from the Aga Khan Museum in Toronto, Canada, Sunday, March 5, 2023, hosted by Canadian Screen Award Winner Peter Keleghan (Slings and Arrows, Murdoch Mysteries, etc.) and Samora Smallwood (Lifetime’s thriller Death She Wrote, OWN’s The Kings of Napa). The Canadian Alliance of Film and Television Costume Arts and Design (CAFTCAD) brings together Canadian costume professionals from all corners of the industry. CAFTCAD has succeeded in creating a thriving environment for artists. Members can share, learn, and advance their craft, raising the awareness of the contributions they make as designers and artisans in the international industry of film, television, video, and commercials. The CAFTCAD Awards are the results of those efforts. The goal is to unite the Canadian costume community, while recognizing and rewarding
their skills and talent.

CAFTCAD recognizes and brings to the forefront the outstanding quality of talent Canadian costume designers and artisans provide across our screens. The CAFTCAD Awards celebrate craftsmanship in textile, art, short films, web series, television to international blockbusters. The Awards focus on the unique talents of the individuals and teams and their contributions to today’s stories. Several of the awards presented are sponsored by IATSE 873, Nobis Inc., IATSE 891, and Berman & Co. Awards include Excellence in Crafts: Textiles, Building, Costume Illustration, and Special Effects Costume Building as well as Excellence in Costume Design: Web Series, Short Film, Indie Feature, TV Contemporary, TV Period, TV Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Film Contemporary, Film Period, Film Sci-Fi/Fantasy, TV International, and Film International.

Nobis, an internationally known outerwear and accessory brand, has been a long-time sponsor of CAFTCAD and the CAFTCAD Awards. Nobis leads global and local initiatives to support vulnerable communities and has a presence in over 40 countries. This year’s Nobis Industry Icon Award will be presented to a true design icon: French Canadian Costume and Production Designer, Louise Jobin. Jobin is a pioneer in the costume design industry, not only for her creativity and techniques, but her strong, vocal support for union members. The respected designer has won prestigious awards that
include Genie and Gemini Awards for Best Costume Design. Today, the industry advocate is an ongoing source of knowledge as a teacher at the National Theatre School and a board member of Le Grand Costumier in Montreal, QC.

The CAFTCAD Awards bring together designers, artisans, family, and friends for an evening of celebration. Join us at the Awards Gala Sunday, March 5, 2023, at the Aga Khan Museum in Toronto, Canada.

Ticket Info: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/2023-caftcad-awards-tickets-513401376337?aff=WebCal

Andy Serkis, one of the greatest actors of this generation, will make his very first Toronto Comicon appearance this March. The prolific performer will appear on the Saturday of the three-day convention for autograph signings, photo ops and a Q&A panel. This year, Toronto Comicon will be moving into the North Building of the Metro Toronto Convention Centre right off of Front Street during March Break weekend, March 17-19, 2023. Information and pricing for Toronto Comicon is available at fanexpohq.com/comicontoronto.

Serkis is an award-winning actor who is beloved around the world for his memorable performance capture roles including masterfully portraying dual characters Sméagol/Gollum in The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit films, delivering a heart-breaking performance as the title character in King Kong, giving a full range of emotions to Cesar in the Planet of the Apes franchise and sending darkness through the screen as the enigmatic Supreme Leader Snoke in the most recent Star Wars trilogy.

In human form, Serkis has been a part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe portraying Ulysses Klaue in Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015) and Black Panther (2018) as well as the Disney+ series What If…? (2021). Most recently he portrayed Alfred Pennyworth in The Batman (2022) and Kino Loy in the Rogue One: A Star Wars Story spinoff, Andor (2022). These are just a few of the hundreds of credits to Serkis’s name.

The multi-talented artist has also found success behind the camera making his directorial debut in 2017 with Breathe, followed by Netflix’s Mowgli: Legend of the Jungle (2019) and the second installment in the Venom trilogy, Venom: Let There Be Carnage (2021).

Previously announced Toronto Comicon 2023 celebrity guests include Emily Swallow (The Mandalorian), Matt Ryan (Constantine), Scott Patterson (Gilmore Girls) and Sean Gunn (Guardians of the Galaxy). Follow @FANEXPOCanada for more guest and programming updates over the coming weeks.

Toronto Comicon presented by FAN EXPO Canada™ is a pop culture convention for fans of comics, sci-fi, horror, anime, and gaming. The annual three-day convention is jam-packed with family-friendly activities and celebrities. This year’s show takes place at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre from March 17-19, 2023. fanexpohq.com/comicontoronto