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☆ ‘The Sympathizer’ review: Robert Downey Jr. heads down the rabbit hole of the Vietnam War
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-14 | by ( Brian Lowry | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —The fortuitous timing of having a series produced by and featuring newly minted Oscar-winner Robert Downey Jr. tumbles down a very strange rabbit hole in “The Sympathizer,” a darkly satirical look at the Vietnam War and its aftermath. Each episode begins with dated-looking credits that evoke the 1970s, a promising Quentin Tarantino-ish conceit that, given what follows, sets expectations too high. As constructed, it’s a rather heavy-handed approximation of the fate Vietnam experienced in the pull of the war, which doesn’t make the Captain’s increasingly surreal arc any more compelling. Strangelove,” assuming that was the intent, than a means of maximizing the star’s presence without really heightening its impact. “The Sympathizer” is hardly the first project to funnel the contradictions of the Vietnam War through an exaggerated lens (“Apocalypse Now” being a prime example), but except for a few bracing sequences the execution only clouds that vision.

Persons: Robert Downey Jr, Downey, can’t, Park Chan, ”, Don McKellar, Quentin Tarantino, Duy Nguyen, Fred Nguyen Khan, Peter Sellers, “ Dr, Strangelove, Sandra Oh, David Duchovny, “ Organizations: CNN, Viet Thanh, CIA, HBO, coy, Credit Downey, Warner Bros . Locations: Vietnam, Viet, Saigon, what’s, “

☆ I moved from Manchester to New York City. Here are 7 things I miss about living in Northern England.
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-02 | by ( Emma Kershaw | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

After living in Northern England my entire life, I moved from Manchester to New York City. AdvertisementIn the summer of 2023, I moved to New York City from Manchester, England. Though I love the Big Apple, I miss some things about my English city that The New York Times ranked as No. I miss how friendly people from Manchester areMost people I've met from Manchester have very positive attitudes and are extremely approachable. AdvertisementThe holiday markets in New York don't feel as magical as the ones in the UKThe Christmas markets in Manchester were a lot of fun.

Persons: —, Emma Farrer, I've, Emma Kershaw Manchester, Emma Kershaw, Greggs, Jimmy Fallon Organizations: Service, Apple, New York Times, Manchester, Getty, Manchester Academy, Oasis, University of Manchester, Manchester Winter Ale, Square, YouTube Locations: Northern England, Manchester, New York City, England, British, Yorkshire, New, New York, Central Park, Europe

NEW YORK (AP) — For what it's worth, CNN's best-known international journalist, Christiane Amanpour, also found it odd that she's had little visible presence on the company's North American network for the past several years. The London-based Amanpour envisions her show as a weekly letter to Americans about what is going on in the world and why it's important to them. Amanpour, 65 and celebrating her 40th year at CNN, was for a long time the face viewers were most likely to see reporting from the world's hotspots. That has primarily, although not always, been left to others since she began hosting the studio show “Amanpour” each weekday. I know we can live in a world that's not 100% tribalized.”Amanpour said she's optimistic about Mark Thompson, a fellow Brit who recently began as CNN's new chief.

Persons: Christiane Amanpour, Chris Wallace, Michael Smerconish, Victor Blackwell, Amanpour, ”, “ I've, I've, Yitzhak Rabin, Sameh Shoukry, Jane Hartley, Sir Robert John Sawers, —, ” Amanpour, Mark Thompson, Chris Licht's, Donald Trump, “ Organizations: CNN, CNN International, PBS, Associated Press, Brit, Columbia Journalism School Locations: London, United States, Israel, U.S, Britain

Matthew Perry, who portrayed Chandler Bing in the acclaimed sitcom “Friends,” has died. The death was confirmed by Capt. He said the cause of death was not likely to be determined for some time, but there was no indication of foul play. Mr. Perry was well known to American television audiences, featuring in over 200 episodes in all 10 seasons of “Friends,” the hit NBC show that followed a group of friends and their journey as young professionals living in Manhattan. Mr. Perry starred alongside prominent actors like Jennifer Aniston, David Schwimmer and Lisa Kudrow.

Persons: Matthew Perry, Chandler Bing, ”, Scot Williams, Perry, Jennifer Aniston, David Schwimmer, Lisa Kudrow, Mr Organizations: Los Angeles Police, NBC, Warner Bros . Television Group Locations: Manhattan

☆ Bob Barker, Betty White and Their Fight Over Billy the Elephant
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-27 | by ( Amanda Holpuch | More About Amanda Holpuch | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: 1 min

Bob Barker and Betty White were American television fixtures for decades, both known for supporting animal welfare, but they were so divided on what they thought was best for an elephant named Billy that it was rumored to have caused a feud between the two. The feud rumor was published in 2009 in The National Enquirer, which cited anonymous sources who said Barker had threatened to not attend the Game Show Awards if White attended. This claim was repeated by a number of gossip blogs at the time and circulated again after Barker’s death on Saturday. White died in December 2021. Neither Barker nor White appears to have addressed the rumor in public, and all reports of their supposed feud seem to trace back to The Enquirer.

Persons: Bob Barker, Betty White, Billy, Barker, White Organizations: National Enquirer Locations: American

☆ Through Philanthropy and Activism, Bob Barker Fought Animal Cruelty
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-26 | by ( Chris Cameron | More About Chris Cameron | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Bob Barker, the longtime host of the television game show “The Price Is Right” who died on Saturday, made animal rights advocacy a hallmark both of his career in show business and his life after retirement. He continued that tradition for more than 20 years, until his very last show on June 15, 2007. “There are just too many cats and dogs being born,” he explained in an interview with The New York Times in 2004. “Animals are being euthanized by the millions simply because there are not enough homes for them. In the United States, there is a dog or cat euthanized every 6.5 seconds.”

Persons: Bob Barker, ”, Barker Organizations: The New York Times, “ Locations: ”, United States

☆ Bob Barker, Longtime Host of ‘The Price Is Right,’ Dies at 99
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-26 | by ( Richard Severo | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Bob Barker, the consistently good-natured host of “The Price Is Right,” the longest-running game show in American television history, and one of the country’s best-known advocates for animal rights, died on Saturday at his home in the Hollywood Hills section of Los Angeles. His death was announced by a spokesman, Roger Neal. Mr. Barker was a fixture of daytime television for half a century — first as the host of “Truth or Consequences,” from 1956 to 1974, and, most famously, starting in 1972, on “The Price Is Right.”He began his 35-year stint as host of “The New Price Is Right,” as it was then known, when it made its debut on CBS as a revised and jazzed-up version of the original “The Price Is Right,” which had been on the air from 1956 to 1965. (The “New” was soon dropped from the name.) He was also host of a weekly syndicated nighttime version from 1977 until it was canceled in 1980.

Persons: Bob Barker, Roger Neal, Mr, Barker, ” Organizations: CBS Locations: Hollywood, Los Angeles

☆ Bob Barker, longtime ‘Price Is Right’ host, dies at 99
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-26 | by ( Ethan Sacks | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Bob Barker, the longtime host of television's "The Price Is Right" who used his combination of comfort-food charm and deadpan humor to become an American television staple, has died, according to his longtime publicist. When producers hired Barker to host "The Price Is Right" in 1972, they hit the jackpot. "From the black and white era of television right up to the new century, Bob Barker had a real presence on two really big shows," Thompson said. Barker landed a job at a radio station in Florida, and it didn't take long for word of his smooth delivery to travel across the wires. In 1950, he moved to California to start his own radio program, "The Bob Barker Show," in Burbank.

Persons: Bob Barker, Barker, Robert Thompson, Thompson, you've, Robert William Barker, Matilda Organizations: CBS, Bleier Center for Television, Culture, Syracuse University, Navy, Drury College, Drury University, Burbank . Television, Miss, Miss America Locations: American, Darrington , Washington, Sioux, Mission , South Dakota, Missouri, Florida, California, Burbank

Eventually, he had his own radio show in Los Angeles, “The Bob Barker Show.”American game show host Bob Barker points to himself on a nearby television screen as his wife Dorothy Jo Barker (1924 - 1981) looks on and laughs, November 4, 1977. Gabi Rona/MPTV/Reuters Barker, right, appears on a 1960 episode of "Bonanza" along with actors Jim Galante, Ken Mayer and Natalie Trundy. CBS/Getty Images Barker and Amanda Jones, who was Miss Illinois, are seen after Jones won the 1973 Miss USA Pageant. David Livingston/Getty Images Barker plays with his pet Mr. Rabbit at his home in Los Angeles in 2011. There hasn’t been a day on set that I didn’t think of Bob Barker and thank him.

Persons: Bob Barker, Roger Neal, Barker, popper, Bill Cullen, Drew Carey, ”, “, ‘, ’ ” Barker, Robert William Barker, ’ ”, “ I’d, Drury, Dorothy Jo Barker, Ralph Edwards, Edwards, wasn’t, – Barker, Barker’s, nimbly, Barker's, Jesse Grant, Gabi Rona, MPTV, Reuters Barker, Jim Galante, Ken Mayer, Natalie Trundy, Dorothy Jo, Tilly, Paul W, Bailey, NBCUniversal, Gerald Smith, Herb Ball, Amanda Jones, Jones, Ron Galella, Lennox McLendon, Dian Parkinson, Janice Pennington —, Parkinson, Jim Smeal, Adam Sandler, Happy Gilmore, Mark Mainz, Robert Hanashiro, Mark Davis, Ingrid Newkirk, David Livingston, Rabbit, Damian Dovarganes, Scott Clifton, Lisette M, Azar, CBS Barker, Monty Brinton, Dorothy Jo Gideon, Gideon, you’ve, Gilmore ’, Carey, ‘ Bob, I’m, ‘ Drew, you’re, Nancy Burnet, Gilmore, ” Sandler, Bob, hasn’t Organizations: CNN, CBS, American Television, Drury College, U.S . Navy, Springfield, NBC, Reuters, DJ, T Foundation, US Naval Reserve, Getty, Miss, Miss USA, MTV, Television Academy Hall of Fame, USA, PETA, “, Los Angeles Times Locations: Mission , South Dakota, Rosebud, Springfield , Missouri, Los Angeles, Miss Illinois, “, ”

☆ What Wheel of Fortune can do, Wall Street can, too
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-14 | by ( Lauren Silva Laughlin | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

NEW YORK, June 13 (Reuters Breakingviews) - “Wheel of Fortune” is finally going to get a new host. The charade that unfolds nightly on traditional American television has similarities to Wall Street. And earlier this year Sajak’s daughter replaced White as the letter-turner for one game where White became a contestant. And while “Wheel of Fortune” fans and behind-the-scenes crew may feel as if the wheels won’t turn in quite the same way without their leading man around, it’s likely that Sajak – and his Wall Street counterparts – can step aside knowing the game will still go on. Follow @thereallsl on TwitterCONTEXT NEWSPat Sajak, host of gameshow "Wheel of Fortune," plans to retire at the end of his upcoming record 41st year, he said on June 12.

Persons: ”, Pat Sajak, He’s, Sajak, Vanna White, Jamie Dimon, Larry Fink, White, –, I've, It's, John Foley, Streisand Neto Organizations: YORK, Reuters, Entertainment, Twitter, Thomson Locations: U.S, gameshow’s

☆ Pat Sajak to retire from record TV stint as 'Wheel of Fortune' host
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-13 | by ( Steve Gorman | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

"We’re thrilled to have him remaining close to the Wheel of Fortune family!” she said. "Wheel of Fortune" originally aired as an NBC network program on daytime television in 1975, with Chuck Woolery as host. While "The Price is Right" holds the record as the longest continuously running game show on American television, "Wheel of Fortune" has the longest unbroken run of any syndicated U.S. game show. Sajak left the NBC evening edition of "Wheel" when his own short-lived late-night talk show premiered on CBS. Meanwhile, Sajak was replaced on NBC's "Wheel" by Rolf Benirschke, who was in turn succeeded by Bob Goen when the network program moved to CBS, then briefly back to NBC.

Persons: Pat Sajak, Sajak, I've, It's, Suzanne Prete, We’re, Vanna White, White, Merv Griffin, Chuck Woolery, Bob Barker, Alex Trebek, Rolf Benirschke, Bob Goen, Steve Gorman, Robert Birsel Organizations: American, Twitter, Sony Pictures Television, NBC, CBS, Thomson Locations: ANGELES, Los Angeles

☆ Pat Sajak, Longtime ‘Wheel of Fortune’ Host, Says He Will Retire
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-12 | by ( Jesus Jiménez | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: 1 min

Pat Sajak, who as the host of “Wheel of Fortune” since 1981 became one of the most familiar faces on American television, announced on Monday that he will retire next year. “The time has come,” Mr. Sajak, 76, said on Twitter. “I’ve decided that our 41st season, which begins in September, will be my last.”This is a developing story.

Persons: Pat Sajak, ”, “, Mr, Sajak, “ I’ve Organizations: Twitter

☆ Fact Check-Claim that ABC is cancelling ‘The View’ stems from satirical website
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-08 | by ( Reuters Fact Check | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

American television network ABC has not cancelled its talk show “The View” or removed it from the 2024 roster, a network spokesperson said in response to a claim that originated from a satirical website. However, the headline originates from an article (archive.is/PWQ03) on a satirical website, the Dunning-Kruger Times, which has been the source of claims previously debunked by Reuters (here), (here). A spokesperson for ABC told Reuters in an email that the claim about “The View” being cancelled is not true. ABC has not cancelled “The View” as of June 8, 2023. The claim originated on a satirical website.

Persons: Joe Barton, Roseanne Barr, Dunning, “ Dunning, Kruger, Read Organizations: ABC, Facebook, Kruger Times, Reuters, Defense

☆ Chuck Todd will depart NBC's 'Meet the Press'; Kristen Welker to become host
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-04 | by ( Daniel Arkin | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

"Meet the Press" host and moderator Chuck Todd announced on Sunday that he will step down this year after nine years hosting the public affairs talk show. "'Meet the Press' has sustained its historic role as the indispensable news program on Sunday mornings," Blumenstein and Budoff Brown said. She is the second woman — following its inaugural host, Martha Rountree — and the first Black journalist to moderate "Meet the Press." Todd — the 12th moderator of "Meet the Press" and a five-time Emmy-winning journalist — saw himself as a custodian of the show. Welker has regularly filled in for Todd on "Meet the Press."

Persons: Chuck Todd, Kristen Welker, It's, Todd, I've, we've, Rebecca Blumenstein, Carrie Budoff Brown, Budoff Brown, Welker, Tim Russert, Martha Rountree —, Barack Obama's, Donald Trump, Kellyanne Conway, Sean Spicer, Conway, Spicer, Trump, Todd —, —, I'm, She's, Joe Biden, David Gregory, Chuck Organizations: NBC News, White House, NBC, Press, America, U.S, Capitol, Trump, GOP, Republican National, MSNBC, White, The, CNBC, Comcast Locations: America, Washington

☆ This clothing shop is selling 'Faux News' T-shirts mocking Tucker Carlson to raise money to help Ukrainians in the war he vocally opposed
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-17 | by ( Chris Panella | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Igor Novikov, the founder of Cancel Kouture, told Insider the shirts approach opinions with humor. "At the moment, we're donating to resilience centers and the charities that are directly supporting people in need," he told Insider. "And I realized that it must've been Fox News, and it must've been Tucker," Novikov said. And Novikov said while Cancel Kouture gets its namesake from the phenomenon of "canceling" someone, it's also more lighthearted. "I'm not a huge fan of cancel culture because, to me, it seems too aggressive and too indiscriminate," Novikov told Insider.

☆ Newton N. Minow, F.C.C. Chief Who Deemed TV a ‘Vast Wasteland,’ Dies at 97
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-06 | by ( Robert D. Mcfadden | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Newton N. Minow, who as President John F. Kennedy’s new F.C.C. chairman in 1961 sent shock waves through an industry and touched a nerve in a nation addicted to banality and mayhem by calling American television “a vast wasteland,” died on Saturday at his home in Chicago . His daughter Nell Minow said the cause was a heart attack. “Stay there without a book, magazine, newspaper, profit-and-loss sheet or rating book to distract you, and keep your eyes glued to that set until the station signs off,” Mr. Minow said. And endlessly, commercials — many screaming, cajoling and offending.

☆ Universal Studio Group’s UCP teams up with Nigeria’s Comic Republic in new TV series deal
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-03 | by ( Aisha Salaudeen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

In the Vanguards Universe, heroes come together as humankind’s first line of defense, protecting the people of Lagos from members of the first race seeking to punish them. Since its inception 10 years ago, Comic Republic has created and conceptualized dozens of comic book characters and stories. Through his studio, Mad Massive Entertainment, Hinds will work with UCP and the Comic Republic team to execute the production. “I’ve always wanted to show that you can provide quality output out of Africa, because at the time we started, there wasn’t any such thing coming out of the continent,” said the Comic Republic CEO. He added that Comic Republic is well-suited for this deal because the company has worked hard over the past 10 years to build an interconnected superhero universe in its comics.

☆ To my son, born in the climate crisis: I see signs of hope
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-23 | by ( Bill Weir | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

The first looked at the twin crises of Covid and climate change as River was born; the second introduced him to Earth Day and what he could do. Watch Weir investigate “How to Unscrew a Planet,” on CNN’s “The Whole Story with Anderson Cooper,” Sunday at 8 p.m. Energy from clean sources, like this windmill in Texas, is heating and cooling more homes in America than ever before. “We call it climate intervention,” Kelly Wanser told me as we sat under bluebird skies and the Washington Monument. So far, it feels like your future will be marked in new stories to frame our wants and needs, and new tools to build Life As We Know It Could Be.

☆ Dramas 'This is Going to Hurt', 'The Responder' lead BAFTA TV nominations
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-22 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/2] Cast members attend a premiere for season 2 of the television series The White Lotus in Los Angeles, California, U.S. October 20, 2022. REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni/File PhotoLONDON, March 22 (Reuters) - Medical comedy-drama "This is Going to Hurt" and police series "The Responder" led nominations for Britain's BAFTA Television Awards on Wednesday, receiving six nods each, while live coverage of Queen Elizabeth's Platinum Jubilee and her state funeral were also recognised. Liverpool-set police drama "The Responder" saw cast members Martin Freeman, Josh Finan, Adelayo Adedayo nominated in the leading actor, supporting actor and supporting actress categories respectively. Gary Oldman ("Slow Horses"), Chaske Spencer ("The English"), Cillian Murphy ("Peaky Blinders") and Taron Egerton ("Black Bird") complete the leading actor category. The BAFTA TV Craft awards take place on April 23, followed by the BAFTA TV Awards on May 14.

☆ Final farewell: From Sidney Poitier to Pope Emeritus Benedict a look back at the influential figures who died in 2022
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-01 | by ( Associated Press | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +55 min

Other world leaders who died in 2022 include former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev, who died in August. The final days of 2022 saw the loss of some exceptionally notable figures, including Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI. Here is a roll call of some influential figures who died in 2022 (cause of death cited for younger people, if available):___JANUARY___Dan Reeves, 77. A Cuban-born artist whose radiant color palette and geometric paintings were overlooked for decades before the art world took notice. A prolific character actor best known for playing villains and tough guys in “The Manchurian Candidate,” “Ocean’s Eleven” and other films.

☆ Why Have Netflix, Hulu, and the Rest of Streaming TV Gotten so Boring?
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-15 | by ( Paris Marx | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +13 min

As a result, Netflix and other streamers are retreating from any sort of creative risk in favor of humdrum, lowest-common-denominator shows. But just as Netflix was pulling back from its most creative content, the streaming wars were heating up. Netflix is now churning out cheap and broadly appealing reality TV shows like "Is It Cake?" Despite positioning itself for years as the ad-free way to watch TV, Netflix in October launched a lower-cost, ad-supported tier in many of its major markets. As the cheap money disappears, we're starting to get a better picture of the actual price of streaming media.

☆ The golden age of streaming TV is over
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-15 | by ( Paris Marx | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +13 min

That August, the streaming analyst Eric Schiffer told The Verge that the "golden age" was over as competition increased, and Netflix was putting creators on a shorter leash. But just as Netflix was pulling back from its most creative content, the streaming wars were heating up. Netflix is now churning out cheap and broadly appealing reality TV shows like "Is It Cake?" Despite positioning itself for years as the ad-free way to watch TV, Netflix in October launched a lower-cost, ad-supported tier in many of its major markets. As the cheap money disappears, we're starting to get a better picture of the actual price of streaming media.

☆ Trevor Noah celebrates his last episode hosting ‘The Daily Show’ after 7 years behind the desk
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-09 | by ( Elizabeth Wolfe | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Noah noted the strong influence American political parties hold, encouraging his audience to consider issues outside the lens of democrat or republican ideals. From my mom, my gran, my aunt – all these Black women in my life,” the host said. “If you truly want to learn about America, talk to Black women,” he continued. Noah took over the program in 2015 from long-time host Jon Stewart whose 16-year run of the show shaped it into a late-night staple. He kicks off his “Trevor Noah: Off The Record” tour in Atlanta on January 20.

☆ Bob McGrath, a ‘Sesame Street’ original, dies at 90
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-05 | by ( ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +4 min

Bob McGrath, an actor and recording artist who became a generational icon as one of the original human stars of “Sesame Street,” died Sunday. McGrath’s death was confirmed by his family members through a post on his Facebook page: “The McGrath family has some sad news to share. He played the friendly neighbor Bob Johnson, a “Sesame Street” mainstay across five decades and 47 seasons of broadcast television. In 1969, McGrath stepped into his signature role on “Sesame Street,” which was a pop culture force from its debut on the then-fledging PBS network in November 1969. McGrath was indelibly associated with “Sesame Street” for the rest of his career.

☆ Korean-American superhero 'Silk' comes to small screen
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-17 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Nov 17 (Reuters) - Silk, a Korean-American superhero, will be coming to MGM+ and Amazon Prime Video in a live-action television series based on Sony Pictures' universe of Marvel characters, Amazon said Thursday. Deal terms were not disclosed for this first installment in a multi-series agreement Amazon struck with Sony. It will be distributed globally on Prime Video in more than 240 countries. Angela Kang, a Korean-American television writer and producer who is showrunning "The Walking Dead," will serve as showrunner. She developed the series with "Into the Spider-Verse" producers Phil Lord, Christopher Miller and Amy Pascal, who will serve as executive producers.

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