We’re so drawn to the saga of The Chippendales! Disney+ today released the official Trailer for upcoming Series WELCOME TO CHIPPENDALES, based on a true story. Strippers. Money. Murder.

Synopsis:

A sprawling true-crime saga, “Welcome to Chippendales” tells the outrageous story of Somen “Steve” Banerjee, an Indian immigrant who became the unlikely founder of the world’s greatest male-stripping empire—and let nothing stand in his way in the process.

“Welcome to Chippendales’” star-studded cast includes Kumail Nanjiani (“The Big Sick”), Murray Bartlett (“The White Lotus”), Juliette Lewis (“Yellowjackets”) and Annaleigh Ashford (“American Crime Story”), with recurring guest stars Quentin Plair (“The Good Lord Bird”), Robin de Jesús (“tick, tick… BOOM!”), and Andrew Rannells (“Girls5eva”), along with guest stars Nicola Peltz Beckham (“Holidate”) and Dan Stevens (“Gaslit”).

Robert Siegel and Nanjiani executive produce alongside Dylan Sellers, Jenni Konner, Matt Shakman, Emily V. Gordon, Nora Silver and Rajiv Joseph, who will write on the series along with Mehar Sethi. Siegel and Konner serve as co-showrunners and Shakman will direct. Jacqui Rivera is co-executive producer and Annie Wyman is co-producer.

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.

WELCOME TO CHIPPENDALES arrives on Disney+ November 22, 2022 via its Star banner.

(Photo/video credit: Disney+)

Searchlight Pictures x Mr. Will want to give Readers a chance to win Advance Passes to see TIFF ’22 selection, THE BANSHEES OF INISHERIN. Screenings take place as follows Wednesday, October 26, 2022.

Toronto: Cineplex Varsity at 7:00 pm
Montreal: Cineplex Forum at 7:00 pm
Vancouver: Cineplex International Village at 7:00 pm

Synopsis:

Two lifelong friends find themselves at an impasse when one abruptly ends their relationship, with alarming consequences for both of them.

To enter for a chance to win, click “like” on this Post at MR. WILL ON FACEBOOK and indicate in the comments there your City.

Rules and regulations here.

Searchight Pictures release THE BANSHEES OF INISHERIN in theatres October 28, 2022.

(Photo/video credit: Searchlight Pictures)

Four-time Emmy-winner Dan Levy makes his directorial film debut with Good Grief, which he also wrote and will star in alongside Ruth Negga (Passing, Loving), Himesh Patel (Station Eleven, Yesterday), Luke Evans (Echo 3, Beauty and the Beast), Celia Imrie (Better Things, The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel), Arnaud Valois (BPM (Beats Per Minute), Spring Blossom), David Bradley (Harry Potter, Game of Thrones) and Jamael Westman (Hamilton, The Essex Serpent) for Netflix.

Director/Writer: Dan Levy (Schitt’s Creek)

Producers: Not A Real Production Company’s Dan Levy, Megan Zehmer; Sister’s Stacey Snider, Kate Fenske, Debra Hayward

Logline:

Marc Dreyfus chose to distract himself from the loss of his mom with a comfortable marriage. But when his husband also dies, unexpectedly, Marc is forced to finally confront the grief he’s tried so hard to avoid, sending him and his two closest friends on a Parisian weekend of self discovery.

Dan Levy said, “Good Grief is a cautionary tale about friendship and loss and all the mess that comes with it when the truth is something you’ve evaded for most of your life. It’s funny, it’s bittersweet, it’s a project that has helped me work through my own grief. And I hope it does the same for other people as well.”

Good Grief marks the first project under Levy’s Not A Real Production Company and Netflix’s creative partnership.

(Photo credit: José Mandojana)

James Corden and Sally Hawkins star in upcoming Prime Video series MAMMALS. Here is a first look!

Synopsis:

In this darkly comedic drama, revelations and secrets come to light as the complexity of modern marriage and fidelity are exposed. In a world of eight billion, what happens after we’ve found ‘the one’? Can we stay true to the promises we strive to keep when, after all, aren’t we all just Mammals.

Mammals follows the story of Jamie (James Corden), a chef whose world implodes when he discovers shocking secrets about his pregnant wife, Amandine (Melia Kreiling). Jamie finds himself hunting for answers with the help of his brother-in-law Jeff (Colin Morgan). Through this hunt, the cracks in Jeff’s marriage to Jamie’s sister Lue (Sally Hawkins) also widen.

The six-part series written by two-time Olivier and Tony Award-winning Jez Butterworth, about the complexities of marriage: there is sadness, grief, tension, love, friendship, betrayal, and a touch of magical realism.

The series is directed by Stephanie Laing (Made for Love, Physical) and produced by Street Hassle in association with Vertigo Films and Fulwell 73. The UK Original series will launch worldwide, exclusively on Prime Video on 11th November.

Prime Video release MAMMALS November 11, 2022.

(Photo/video credit: Prime Video)

A new Trailer has arrived for ALL THE BEAUTY AND BLOODSHED.

Synopsis:

Directed by Academy Award-winning filmmaker Laura Poitras, All the Beauty and the Bloodshed is an epic, emotional and interconnected story about internationally renowned artist and activist Nan Goldin told through her slideshows, intimate interviews, ground-breaking photography, and rare footage of her personal fight to hold the Sackler family accountable for the overdose crisis.

Directed by: Laura Poitra
Featuring: Nan Goldin

Elevation Pictures release ALL THE BEAUTY ANS BLOODSHED this December.

(Photo/video credit: Elevation Pictures)

The Second City is thrilled to announce that its new home at One York Street will officially open November 30, 2022, with the first public performances to begin December 1. The new flagship home will be The Second City’s largest, most state-of- the-art venue since the world class comedy company first opened its doors in Canada in 1973. Featuring three theatres, nine Training Centre studios for student classes and partner workshops, and a full service restaurant and bar with food by Canadian hospitality leaders Oliver & Bonacini, the new location is a one stop shop for all things entertainment.

First announced in 2019, construction of the new, instantly iconic Second City location has been a true labour of love. In addition to the Mainstage Theatre, with a seating capacity of 244, and Theatre ’73, seating 170, the John Candy Box Theatre will feature a portion of the original stage from The Second City’s home circa 1974, The Old Firehall which held legends such as John Candy, Eugene Levy, Martin Short, Catherine O’Hara, Gilda Radner, Colin Mochrie and Mike Myers.

“Comedy is coming home to Toronto! It is fitting that The Second City Toronto celebrates its upcoming 50th anniversary in 2023 with a brand-new, custom built entertainment and educational complex. We are ecstatic to share this amazing new space and a new show featuring our award-nominated cast with our audiences, students, talent, and community,” said The Second City Creative Director, Carly Heffernan.

The new 28,700-square-foot space is located on the third floor of One York, a 35-floor mixed-use Class AAA building located at York and Harbour in Toronto’s vibrant South Core Business District. Built in 2016, One York offers direct PATH access to TTC, GO Transit, VIA Rail, and the Union-Pearson Express as well as close proximity to some of the city’s landmark entertainment venues, such as Scotiabank Arena, the Rogers Centre, Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada and the CN Tower. Tickets to shows at the One York Street location are now on sale at secondcity.com.

Prime Video today revealed the all-star cast of the upcoming LOL: Qui Rira Le Dernier? Hosted by stand-up comedian, actor, writer, director, and producer Patrick Huard (Bon Cop Bad Cop, Starbuck), the Quebec version of the global-hit comedy format will feature Marie-Lyne Joncas, Rachid Badouri, Yves P. Pelletier, Arnaud Soly, Christine Morency, Laurent Paquin, Richardson Zéphir, Virginie Fortin, Mathieu Dufour, and Édith Cochrane competing to make each other laugh first so they don’t get eliminated. The final comedian not to crack up wins the $100,000 (CDN) grand prize for the charity of their choice. LOL: Qui Rira Le Dernier? is coming soon and will be available exclusively in early 2023 on Prime Video in 240 countries and territories worldwide.

“We are so lucky to have 10 of Quebec’s favourite comedians, and the incredible hosting abilities of Patrick Huard, in this version of LOL,” said Brent Haynes, head of Originals, Canada, Amazon Studios. “It’s easy to see the enjoyment this cast had creating some truly inspired comedy in real time.”

The Amazon Original series used dozens of cameras to catch all of the hilarious action during the unpredictable six-hour competition, and follows the comedy stars and up-and-coming talent who bring various styles to the table, including stand-up, character, improvisational, and physical comedy. As the clock counts down, the comedy competitor’s objective is to eliminate others by making them laugh, while not laughing themselves. The comedian who doesn’t break a smile and outlasts their competitors wins the grand prize for their charity of choice.

LOL: Qui Rira Le Dernier? is the latest adaptation of Documental, the successful Japanese Amazon Original series created by and starring Hitoshi Matsumoto and owned by Yoshimoto Kogyo, where Matsumoto leads 10 comedians in an anything-goes “battle of laughter behind closed doors.” The fan-favourite format includes local versions in Canada, Brazil, Japan, Mexico, Australia, Germany, Italy, France, India, and Spain. Local celebrity hosts include Jay Baruchel, Eugenio Derbez, Fedez, Michael “Bully” Herbig, and Rebel Wilson. 

LOL: Qui Rira Le Dernier? joins the slate of Canadian Amazon Original series, including The Kids in the Hall, The Lake, LOL: Last One Laughing Canada, All or Nothing: Toronto Maple Leafs, and The Unsolved Murder of Beverly Lynn Smith. Since 2015, Amazon Studios has filmed over 25 Amazon Original series and films in Canada, including The Man in the High Castle and Upload in British Columbia; The Boys, Reacher, and The Expanse in Ontario; Tales from the Loop in Manitoba; as well as parts of Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan and The Voyeurs in Quebec. 

LOL: Qui Rira Le Dernier? will join the thousands of TV shows and movies from Hollywood and around the world in the Prime Video catalog, including award-winning and critically acclaimed Amazon Originals like The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, Reacher, The Boys, Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan, and Emmy and Golden Globe winners Fleabag and The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel.

A couple weeks after the Ontario opening of illumi – A Dazzling World of Lights by Cavalia, creator Normand Latourelle and his team are adding even more opportunities for visitors to be completely immersed in the fall season.

SPOOKY AT ILLUMI offers people of all ages a new tradition that’ll be just as instinctive as picking up a pumpkin spice latte. Visitors will get the opportunity to immerse themselves in classic autumn and Halloween scenes backed by soundtracks taken from iconic horror films that will undoubtedly give them goosebumps.

As soon as guests enter the gate of illumi, they will enter the first thematic universe where more than 3,000 jack-o-lanterns of all shapes and sizes smile back at visitors as they take in the fresh fall air and the spooky sights.

Young and old can wander through a mesmerizing pumpkin patch filled with thousands of jack-o-lanterns and hundreds playful neon skeletons. Catch the glow of a larger-than-life skull, but don’t get too close or you might become one of its victims.

Ghouls, witches, monsters, and ghosts also occupy several universes in the Dazzling World of Lights to make this Halloween season a real feast for the eyes and ears.

For instance, the The Crazy Boulevard is lined with pumpkins, the hundreds of Scarlet Spiders have started spinning their eerily large cobwebs and hauntingly familiar themes drift on the whistling wind. All signs point to Spooky At illumi!

It wouldn’t be Spooky at illumi without a couple tricks of the light. You’ll see how black light and strobe lights combine with existing universes to create a unique experience. And you won’t believe what the spirits have done — taking over the largest tree of light in the world. And they’ve taken over the music too, including iconic Halloween soundtracks.

In November the chilling spirit of Halloween will be gone, and the cheery spirit of the holidays will take over.

ILLUMI – A DAZZLING WORLD OF LIGHTS BY CAVALIA AT A GLANCE:
•An epic multimedia journey around the world
•A magical and extraordinary nocturnal outdoor journey
•20 million+ LED lights
•Thousands of structures spread throughout 14 magical universes, including one rotating seasonal universe!
•A 600,000 square feet site, the equivalent of 10 football fields!
•Experience a magical walk under the stars like never before!
•Spooky At illumi, now through the month of October
•The holidays at illumi, from November 23

SPOOKY AT ILLUMI AT A GLANCE:
•3,000 Whimsical Jack-o-lanterns
•Hundreds of neon skeletons
•Giant glowing pumpkins
•A giant glowing skull and witch
•Familiar soundtracks from classic •Halloween and horror movies
•Hundreds of light sculptures of gargantuan red tarantulas

ILLUMI – THE LARGEST LIGHT, SOUND AND MULTIMEDIA SHOW IN THE WORLD:
Kids and adults embark on a spectacular outdoor journey on foot through 14 magical worlds across a 600,000-sq-ft site (equivalent to ten football fields!) located near the intersection of the 407 and Hurontario Street in Mississauga. Brought to life by cutting-edge programming technologies, the immersive illumi universe features high-definition projections, jaw-dropping, state-of-the-art animatronic creatures, thousands of light structures, and over 20 million brilliant LED bulbs.

More here.

Paramount+ today released the official trailer and key art for the upcoming original series TULSA KING, starring Academy Award® nominee Sylvester Stallone. Creator and Academy Award nominee Taylor Sheridan serves as executive producer alongside Academy Award nominee and Emmy Award® winner Terence Winter (“The Sopranos,” “The Wolf of Wall Street”), who also serves as showrunner and writer. Produced by MTV Entertainment Studios and 101 Studios, TULSA KING will premiere with two episodes on Sunday, November 13, 2022, exclusively on Paramount+.

TULSA KING follows New York mafia capo Dwight “The General” Manfredi (Stallone) just after he is released from prison after 25 years and unceremoniously exiled by his boss to set up shop in Tulsa, Okla. Realizing that his mob family may not have his best interests in mind, Dwight slowly builds a “crew” from a group of unlikely characters, helping establish a new criminal empire in a place that to him might as well be another planet.

The series also stars Andrea Savage (“I’m Sorry”), Martin Starr (“Silicon Valley”), Jay Will (“The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel”), Max Casella (“The Tender Bar”), Domenick Lombardozzi (“The Irishman”), Vincent Piazza (“Boardwalk Empire”), A.C. Peterson (“Superman & Lois”) with Garrett Hedlund (“The United States vs. Billie Holiday”) and Dana Delany (“Body of Proof”).

The series is executive produced by Sheridan, Winter, Stallone, David C. Glasser, Ron Burkle, Bob Yari, David Hutkin, Allen Coulter and Braden Aftergood.

Following the November 13, 2022 premiere on Paramount+, new episodes will drop weekly on Sundays exclusively on the service. TULSA KING will premiere on Paramount+ in Canada on Sunday, November 13, 2022 followed by a premiere in Australia and the U.K. on Monday, November 14, 2022. The series will air later this year on Paramount+ in Latin America, Italy and in additional territories upon the launch of the service.

The Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame (CSHF) is pleased to announce its newest Inductees: Ralph Cole, Paul Hoffert, Bob McBride, and Skip Prokop – songwriters and members of one of Canada’s most iconic bands, Lighthouse – who will be honoured October 17, 2022 at the 2022 SOCAN Awards, recognizing the achievements of Canada’s most prestigious songwriters, composers, and music publishers.

Lighthouse’s brand of free-wheeling, high-spirited jazz-rock-classical fusion took North America by storm starting with their debut in May 1969 at Toronto’s Rock Pile. The eclectic group of musicians included co-founders Prokop, who was a member of the psychedelic rock band The Paupers, and Hoffert, who was a classically trained jazz pianist and composer for film and theatre. Along with other members including guitar virtuoso Cole, Lighthouse would bring together their diverse musical backgrounds to form a new band and new sound. McBride, who had studied singing with Johnny Mathis and toured with Ronnie Hawkins, would join Lighthouse in 1970 as lead vocalist.

The late Skip Prokop recalls, “When Lighthouse first went out there, we were doing fusion before we even knew there was a word called ‘fusion.’”

Fast forward five decades and a storied catalogue of hits including Sunny Days, One Fine Morning, Pretty Lady, Take it Slow (Out in the Country) and Hats Off (To The Stranger), ensure that Lighthouse will deservedly take its place in Canadian music history with the inductions of Cole, Hoffert, McBride and Prokop during a celebration and tribute at the 2022 SOCAN Awards in the band’s hometown of Toronto, ON. Anthem Entertainment is the presenting partner of the Lighthouse induction.

“Lighthouse’s contribution to music is immense. Spanning over 5 decades, and still creating extraordinary works we are proud to represent the music of Lighthouse as their publisher and as their label. We are most excited about the future. Congratulations to all of the members of this iconic group, Lighthouse you are still a shining beacon of classic Jazz-Rock-Fusion and will be for years to come,” said Helen Murphy, CEO Anthem Entertainment.

“Lighthouse epitomized the musical liberation movement that came out of Yorkville’s music scene in the late 60s. They grew into a 13-member band which was unheard of at the time, were fearless in combining musical influences in their song writing, and for taking risks such as incorporating classical instruments like the flute and trombone into a rock sound,” said Nick Fedor, Director, CSHF. “Their music is emblematic of the Canadian mosaic; all of its members coming together as one, with each person contributing their unique talents and musicality.”

Prokop and Hoffert met by chance when they were seatmates on a flight to Toronto after Prokop’s last performance with The Paupers. Prokop had an idea for a big band with a huge cinematic sound. Being familiar with Hoffert’s reputation as a jazz musician and film composer, Prokop asked if this would be something he might be interested in pursuing, and the rest is history.

Prokop knew the rock scene, and Hoffert knew the classical and jazz scenes, and together they assembled a group of musicians including guitarist Ralph Cole, whose band Thyme had great success throughout his home state of Michigan. The band began performing around Toronto, and quickly gained a loyal fanbase. The band’s success at Carnegie Hall and the Boston Pop Festival led to performances at the Newport and Monterey jazz festivals – the first rock band to do so. Along the way, Lighthouse issued three albums in quick succession, and the singles Feel So Good and The Chant became their first national hits.

In 1970, New York producer Jimmy Einner, helped steer the band’s writers towards creating the hit songs that have kept Lighthouse on the airwaves for more than 50 years. At the same time Lighthouse brought in Toronto-born Bob McBride whose distinctive vocals became a hallmark of the Lighthouse sound.

With these changes in direction, the band immediately scored its first Top 10 hit, the SOCAN Classic Hats Off to the Stranger (by Prokop, McBride, and Peter McGraw). Next, Prokop’s celebratory and jazzy, One Fine Morning, charted to No. 2 on RPM and Billboard’s No. 24.

Lighthouse continued its winning streak with JUNO Awards three years running from 1972 to 1974, plus a JUNO for lead singer Bob McBride. In addition to their four gold albums and platinum-selling 1972 Carnegie Hall live album, they pioneered performances with symphony orchestras, were the only band asked to perform twice at the historic Isle of Wight festival, and collaborated with the Royal Winnipeg Ballet resulting in the first Rock Ballet titled, Ballet High, that swept the nation with standing-room-only performances.

1972’s “Sunny Days” made RPM’s top 10 album chart, its joyful title single (by Prokop) reaching Billboard’s No. 34, CHUM’s No. 10, and RPM’s No. 4. Other hit Lighthouse singles included Cole’s Take It Slow (Out in the Country) (written with Keith Jollimore and Larry Smith), Prokop’s Pretty Lady (now a SOCAN Classic), and McBride’s and Prokop’s I Just Wanna Be Your Friend. Five Lighthouse albums have made the Billboard 200 chart.

Although the band dismantled in 1976, Prokop, Hoffert, Cole and McBride would reunite as a 10-piece band in 1992; however, within a short time, McBride was replaced by Dan Clancy whose unique ability to capture the dynamic Lighthouse sound while maintaining his own style has kept him front and centre for the past 30 years. The current band has had few changes since re-forming. When Skip Prokop retired in 2014, the band welcomed his son Jamie who is currently on leave. With the retirement this year of Ralph Cole (guitar) and Steve Kennedy (saxes and flute), the Lighthouse family now includes Marc Ganatakos (guitar), Michael Stuart (saxes and flute), Paul DeLong (drums), Doug Moore (bass), Don Paulton (keyboards), Russ Little (trombone), Chris Howells (trumpet), Simon Wallis (saxes and flute) and co-founder Paul Hoffert (keyboards and vibes).

Lighthouse’s 40th anniversary was marked by the release of Forty Years of Sunny Days, a compilation that included 16 classic hits along with a DVD of the current band performing the same hits. A new double-album set will be released next year.

While maintaining a touring schedule with Lighthouse, Prokop, Hoffert, Cole and McBride continued to expand their horizons. Cole established a successful jingle production company, produced many artists including Shirley Eikhard and was a sought-after session musician. McBride released several singles, such as the hit Pretty City Lady, and several solo albums one of which went gold before his untimely death in 1998.

Hoffert continued to compose and conduct original music for film and television. His 1979 album “Concerto for Contemporary Violin” won a JUNO Award for best engineering. He established a research centre at York University in the 80s and his expertise in digital copyright law resulted in Faculty positions at Harvard University and the University of Toronto. Hoffert received the Order of Canada in 2004 for his contribution to music and the arts.

And Prokop released several albums including “Smoothside”, which was awarded Jazz Album of the Year at the 2012 Hamilton Music Awards. He was a producer, session player, and radio show host before passing away in 2017.

Ralph Cole, Paul Hoffert, Bob McBride, and Skip Prokop will be honoured during the SOCAN Awards on October 17th in Toronto, ON, and with a permanent exhibit inside the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame’s home at the National Music Centre in Calgary, which features a celebrated catalogue of inducted songs that fans can listen to in addition to displays, exclusive artifacts and one-of-a-kind memorabilia celebrating Canada’s greatest songwriters and Inductees.

The CSHF is pleased to acknowledge the sponsor of this induction, Anthem Entertainment.

For more information about the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame go to www.cshf.ca.