The Malaysian Insider :: Showbiz
The Malaysian Insider :: Showbiz |
| For a waning “Glee, actor Monteith’s death poses difficult challenge Posted: 15 Jul 2013 08:24 PM PDT The death of "Glee" actor Cory Monteith over the weekend comes just weeks before production begins of the fifth season of the Fox musical comedy, throwing it into disarray at a time when the creators needed to revive the waning series. Canadian actor Monteith, 31, was not only a founding cast member, but also an integral player in promoting "Glee's" overarching message of tolerance. Making matters more complicated for producers was his off-screen relationship with another of the show's top actresses, Lea Michele, who plays his love interest on the show. It is unclear how their story would have proceeded in season five. And in the wake of Monteith's death in a Vancouver hotel on Saturday, representatives at Fox Broadcasting, a unit of Twenty-First Century Fox, were not commenting on the future plans of the show which was scheduled to return to production later this month. The show was renewed by Fox for two more seasons earlier this year, running through 2015. But producers for "Glee," which has been one of Fox's top shows, were facing some tough truths even before Monteith's death. "Glee" garnered an average 10.1 million viewers according to Nielsen during its peak in 2010, but its viewership has been dwindling. Season 4, which concluded in May, dropped to the show's lowest ratings average yet, with 8.7 million viewers. "The show's been running out of storylines and sort of reaching its end thematically ... and Cory's death is a huge loss for the show as one of the founding characters," said Ian Drew, entertainment director of Us Weekly. FANS WANT 'HAPPY ENDING' Monteith had talked openly about his struggles with substance abuse. In April, he completed voluntary treatment at a rehab facility for an unspecified substance addiction. An autopsy was conducted yesterday and results will not be available for several days. "Glee" premiered in 2009 and instantly became a hit for Fox, with its motivational storylines, upbeat musical numbers and a diverse young cast playing a mix of popular and oddball school students who come together in a musical choir group. Monteith became a heart-throb in his role as the jock who turned into "Glee" member Finn Hudson. Said TV critic David Bianculli: "When Monteith's character began, he was the jock that just happened to sing. He ended up liking the misfits and loving them and sticking up for them and eventually teaching them." MTV Buzzworthy editor Tamar Anitai, who monitors social media buzz on pop culture topics, said "Glee" fans known as "Gleeks" were eager to see a tribute paid to Monteith in the show and a happy ending for his and Michele's characters. "Unfortunately you can't control what happened to Cory in real life, but the creators have control over what happens to him in the show. Fans would really like to see a happy ending, even an off-screen wedding, for Cory and Lea," Anitai said. While "Glee" has not shied away from handling serious topics such as homosexuality, bullying and teenage pregnancy, the show never had to deal with the death of a major character. The only death in the show was the sister of Sue Sylvester, the high school coach played by actress Jane Lynch. Previously when television shows have dealt with the death of a major star, the impact on the series has been mixed. Actor John Ritter died mid-way through production of the ABC sitcom "8 Simple Rules" in 2003. The show went into a hiatus and then incorporated the death of Ritter's character on its return. Its ratings declined and it was cancelled in 2005. Other major stars to pass away mid-series include Phil Hartman in "News Radio," Nicholas Colasanto in "Cheers" and Larry Hagman in the recently revived "Dallas." All those characters were written out of the shows and new characters replaced Hartman and Colasanto. While Monteith's death is unlikely to force the early cancellation of "Glee," both Bianculli and Drew said it could mean an eventual end to the series. "It could be harbinger of things to come, but honestly I don't think the show had much longer, anyway," Drew said. - Reuters, July 16, 2013. |
| The Wolverine live online broadcast of world premiere, online chat Posted: 15 Jul 2013 06:29 PM PDT Wolverine fans, and insomniacs, can tune in and participate in live broadcasts with the cast and director of the highly anticipated film. A broadcast of Wolverine's world premiere red carpet arrivals in London will be presented live on Wednesday, July 17, 2013, at 1am Malaysian Time. You will be able to see the stars arrive and watch the cast interviewed during The Wolverine premiere in London live by visitingwww.thewolverinemovie.com, www.facebook.com/ The red carpet broadcast will feature free live video and text updates powered by Livestream's live video technology to connect Wolverine fans globally. You can interact and contribute to the broadcast by submitting questions and comments now via Facebook and Twitter with #thewolverinelive. The red carpet live stream player will be available to embed for sites to provide directly to their own audiences. Additionally, MSN will exclusively present a global chat with Hugh Jackman and director James Mangold on Thursday, July 18 at 11.-5pm, Malaysia Time. This exclusive experience allows fans from around the world to connect with the film in a way that they never have before, by asking their questions live, face-to-face using Skype. You can still join in on the day and ask a question via twitter using the hash tag: #msnwolverine Note that in order to participate you'll need a computer with a webcam and Skype installed, and connected to a high-speed internet connection. Additionally, by participating you agree that Microsoft and its affiliates may transmit and archive your image and likeness as part of our interview and this interview will be accessible via the internet throughout the world entirely at Microsoft's exclusive discretion. According to a Twentieth Century Fox release, this epic action-adventure takes Wolverine (played by Hugh Jackman), the most iconic character of the X-Men universe, to modern-day Japan. Out of his depth in an unknown world he will face a host of unexpected and deadly opponents in a life-or-death battle that will leave him forever changed. Vulnerable for the first time and pushed to his physical and emotional limits, he confronts not only lethal samurai steel but also his inner struggle against his own immortality. The Wolverine is , set to open in cinemas on July 25, 2013. – Subhadra Devan, July 16, 2013. |
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