MONTREAL, July 16 (UPI) — Actress Emma Roberts was arrested for allegedly assaulting her boyfriend, “American Horror Story” star Evan Peters, police in Canada said. …read more
Tag Archives: American Horror Story
Is Netflix's Newest Show a Bomb?
By Eric Bleeker, CFA, The Motley Fool
Filed under: Investing
Whether you’re an investor or a consumer, quite a bit has been going right for Netflix in 2013. The company’s stock is up an impressive 87% so far this year, and its first major original programming, House of Cards, was met with fantastic reviews and quickly became Netflix’s most-watched programming upon its Feb. 1 premiere.
Netflix’s big bet in the coming year is on original programming, and it hit the ball out of the park with House of Cards, yet big-budget original programming is a risky field. The gold standard of premium original programming, HBO, has had its share of successes, such as The Sopranos and Game of Thrones. Both of those shows have big ratings and nearly universal critical acclaim. However, HBO‘s successes come with misses as well. The network thought so highly of John From Cincinnati that it aired the show’s premiere after the series finale of The Sopranos.
The big bet on that program was a spectacular failure; John From Cincinnati was cancelled the day after its first-season finale. Today, HBO thinks so lowly of the show that it’s one of the few original shows not available on HBO Go.
The point being? Ambitious, big-budget original programming can be a hit-and-miss affair, especially when tackling tricky subjects that network television would never go for. Even the best in the business, HBO, has its share of absolute duds. With Netflix going 1-for-1 with ambitious original programs, will it succumb to the law of averages and release a dud?
If the first review of its newest series, Hemlock Grove, is any indication, while Netflix succeeded spectacularly with House of Cards, it still has some growing pains in becoming an original programming powerhouse.
A dubious idea from the start
Hemlock Grove is the second of three major original programming gambles from Netflix in the first half of 2013. Like House of Cards, it features some high-paid talent. While House of Cards had Kevin Spacey as the main actor and David Fincher as director (he was also behind such films as Seven, Fight Club, and The Social Network), Hemlock Grove has Eli Roth attached to the director role and well-known actors such as Famke Janssen, who was in X-Men and GoldenEye.
Like House of Cards, which cost a reported $100 million for two seasons, Netflix appears to be sparing no expense on Hemlock Grove. The first season was reportedly budgeted at $4 million per episode, pushing it above budgets for widely viewed broadcast programming.
The problem with Hemlock Grove is that it’s coming from a niche background, yet angling for more conventional fare at the same time. Director Eli Roth’s background is focused around gore-fest horror fare like Hostel. That’s a genre with very limited commercial appeal compared with something like House of Cards’ genre of political thrillers, a known quantity that’s been a staple of broadcast programming across the past decade and appeals to a wide audience. The horror genre has seen some recent success with FX’s American Horror Story, but the genre remains a big risk with a limited yet very dedicated audience. However, Hemlock
From: http://www.dailyfinance.com/2013/04/13/is-netflixs-newest-show-a-bomb/
What If Netflix Has a Flop on Its Hands?
By Rick Munarriz, The Motley Fool
Filed under: Investing
Netflix is in a good groove these days.
Goldman Sachs bumped its target on the shares from $125 to $184 on Thursday, encouraged by Netflix’s widening addressable market — not just the 84.2 million U.S. homes with broadband connectivity, but the fact that Netflix is now a viable subscription option for those embracing Web-enabled mobile devices.
Netflix CEO Reed Hastings tooted his own company’s horn on Thursday, pointing out in a Facebook status update that the service delivered 4 billion hours of content through the first three months of the year.
Then we have a catalyst that has yet to play out. Hemlock Grove — the latest show that will be exclusively available on Netflix for the time being — begins streaming next weekend. After February’s wildly successful House of Cards, if Netflix can nab another magnetic property, it will be that much harder for folks to cancel subscriptions between programming lulls. Netflix will have proved itself worthy of scoring magnetic content, and the comparison’s with Time Warner‘s HBO will be even more apropos.
Is Netflix on the same level as HBO? Not exactly. As anyone knows who has seen House of Cards available as a DVD preorder on rival Amazon.com , Netflix is often merely paying for exclusive streaming rights or just the benefit of carrying a particular show first. If it’s a hit, it may very well be made available through other outlets down the line.
But what if we don’t get that far with these next shows? What if Hemlock Grove isn’t scary? What if Arrested Development‘s fourth season next month isn’t funny?
We may not be dealing with hypothetical questions here.
“Weird can be good, but this isn’t intentionally weird so much as it is plain bad,” reads a scathing Hollywood Reporter review of Hemlock Grove from Tim Goodman.
Let’s be fair here. Goodman also panned the similarly creepy American Horror Story, the sleeper gothic horror hit of 2011 where the Harmon family moved into a haunted house — and paid the price.
“Unlike the Harmons, watching what goes on in that house even once is enough to know better than to go back again,” he concluded.
He was wrong then. The show fared well on FX and went on to have a second season. Maybe he’s wrong this time, too. Then again, maybe it’s better for Netflix if Goodman is right. Netflix will have some duds on its hands. That’s inevitable.
Amazon is in the process of greenlighting a bunch of pilots. It will then see which ones are fit to bankroll complete seasons for based on the streaming audience’s initial reaction. However, even that hurdle won’t guarantee that Amazon won’t have some clunkers of its own.
Netflix has more money to spend than anybody else on streaming content, because it can justify the content land grab as it spreads it around its 33.2 million streaming accounts worldwide. However, when a show falls
From: http://www.dailyfinance.com/2013/04/13/what-if-netflix-has-a-flop-on-its-hands/
Buying Netflix Stock Doesn't Have to Be Scary Stuff
By Rick Munarriz, The Motley Fool
Filed under: Investing
Netflix wants to creep you out next week, but that’s a good thing.
Hemlock Grove — a new show with blood-curdling aspirations based on a Brian McGreevy novel and directed by horror guru Eli Roth — will stream exclusively on Netflix starting a week from Friday.
True to its “binge viewing” mantra, Netflix won’t string viewers around with weekly cliffhangers. All 13 episodes of the series will be made available at the same time. It’s a strategy that may have been criticized by industry analysts and television veterans with House of Cards in February, but viewers obviously don’t have a problem with dictating the pace of their content consumption.
Netflix stock is on fire these days, and the leading streaming service provider has to make sure that it has the programming to match.
The show is unlikely to make the same kind of Emmy-magnetic waves that House of Cards did earlier this year, but it’s hard to argue against the subject matter. American Horror Story has made Gothic horror trendy, and fans of Twilight may want to know that there are werewolves involved.
It remains to be seen how this busy slate of exclusive first-run programming on Netflix this year will fare. It doesn’t help that it no longer provides monthly churn metrics, so all we have to go on is the ultimate net growth of subscribers.
Netflix began the year encouragingly strong on that front with 33.2 million global streaming accounts.
Most of the original programming buzz has been generated by House of Cards and next month’s Arrested Development revival, but Netflix also has a few more shows along the lines of Hemlock Grove that could prove to be sleeper hits.
At a time when Netflix stock has more than tripled, the restored dot-com darling will need to make sure that it has more hits than misses along the way.
It’s not as if Netflix will lose ground to the competition if it whiffs here and there. After all, have you assessed the competition?
Time Warner‘s HBO is the premium platform that Netflix often drums up as its biggest rival, but it’s not a fair comparison. HBO has the quality proprietary content that Netflix craves, but the old-school model where costly subscriptions are tethered to even more expensive cable and satellite television plans prevent it from being a fast-growing service.
Amazon.com has the ambition — matching Netflix in terms of the streaming smorgasbord as a stand-alone offering — but its catalog remains vastly inferior to what Netflix has amassed over the years.
If Hemlock Grove is lucky, it will be as scary as the frightening lead the competition has let Netflix amass largely unchecked.
Research worth viewing
The tumultuous performance of Netflix shares since the summer of 2011 has caused headaches for many devoted shareholders. While the company’s first-mover status is often viewed as a competitive advantage, the opportunities in streaming media have brought some new, deep-pocketed rivals looking for their …read more
Source: FULL ARTICLE at DailyFinance
Kick-Ass 2 Actor's Curious Black Panther Comments
Kick-Ass 2 actor Morris Chestnut‘s curious recent postings about Black Panther have gotten fanboys all worked up.
Bleeding Cool points out that the Identity Thief and American Horror Story actor, 44, recently tweeted and posted the following on Facebook: “It’s time to get familiar with the Black Panther character.”
Source: FULL ARTICLE at IGN Movies
American Horror Story Creator's Meta Horror Remake
Although ostensibly called a remake, American Horror Story creator Ryan Murphy‘s next stab at horror will actually put a meta spin on the slasher cult classic The Town That Dreaded Sundown.
In breaking the news that Californication and Stand Up Guys actress Addison Timlin will star in the horror film, Deadline reveals that the movie “takes place in Texarkana, site of the 1946 ‘Moonlight Murders‘ that inspired the 1976 cult pic The Town That Dreaded Sundown. Addison Timlin plays Jami, a girl who survives a copycat massacre at the film’s annual tribute screening and sets out to solve the mystery of who’s recreating the unsolved Sackhead murders, using clues from her own past.”
…read more
Source: FULL ARTICLE at IGN Movies
Prime Instant Video Greenlights Its 8th Original Series
By Kevin Chen, The Motley Fool
Filed under: Investing
Amazon Studios, the original film and series production arm of Amazon.com, will begin production on its eighth original series, “Betas.”
Set in Silicon Valley among start-ups, “Betas” follows four computer geeks and their quest for fame by cracking the ultimate computer algorithm. Written by Evan Endicott and Josh Stoddard, it includes Ed Begley Jr., Jon Daly, Jon Dinicol, Margo Harshman, Charlie Saxton, and Karan Soni. Michael Lehmann (“True Blood,” “Dexter,” “American Horror Story“) will direct and produce the pilot along with Alan Freedland and Alan Cohen (“King of the Hill,” “American Dad”) and Michael London (“Sideways,” “The Informant”).
“Betas” joins the lineup of seven previously announced Amazon productions: “Alpha House,” “Browsers,” “Dark Minions,” “Onion News Empire,” “Supanatural,” “Those Who Can’t,” and “Zombieland.” Similar to these Amazon productions, “Betas” will show for free on Amazon Instant Video, LOVEFiLM UK, and LOVEFiLM Germany.
Amazon Studios invites customers to view the pilots and provide feedback. Customer reviews will help Amazon Studios determine which shows will make it into full-season productions for viewing on Prime Instant Video.
The article Prime Instant Video Greenlights Its 8th Original Series originally appeared on Fool.com.
Fool contributor Kevin Chen has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends and owns shares of Amazon.com. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
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Source: FULL ARTICLE at DailyFinance
Kate Mara Joins Depp's Transcendence
House of Cards and American Horror Story star Kate Mara is joining the Johnny Depp sci-fi film Transcendence, which Inception cinematographer Wally Pfister will direct.
Story details are still being kept a secret, but reports suggest the feature is in the vein of 2001: A Space Odyssey and Inception. According to THR, Depp plays a man “who creates a computer program that develops an awareness.” Mara’s role was undisclosed.
…read more
Source: FULL ARTICLE at IGN Movies
Prime Instant Video Greenlights Betas, an Original Comedy Pilot
By Business Wirevia The Motley Fool
Filed under: Investing
Prime Instant Video Greenlights Betas, an Original Comedy Pilot
Amazon Studios adds another comedy pilot for customers to enjoy for free — customer feedback will help determine which of the 14 pilots will be made into full-season productions
SEATTLE–(BUSINESS WIRE)– (NAS: AMZN) —Amazon Studios, the original film and series production arm of Amazon.com, today announced that it will add the comedy pilot Betas to the line-up of pilots already in production for Prime Instant Video. Betas, which is the eighth comedy pilot added to Amazon’s pilot line-up, willbe made available (along with the other seven comedy pilots and six children’s pilots) for free on Amazon Instant Video, LOVEFiLM UK and LOVEFiLM Germany. Customers are invited to view the pilots and then review them on the site; customer feedback will help determine which of the 14 pilots Amazon Studios will make into full-season productions, to air on Prime Instant Video.
Set in the land of Silicon Valley start-ups where the right algorithm can make you king, Betas, written by Evan Endicott and Josh Stoddard, follows four computer geeks and their quest for nerd fame as they attempt to crack the ultimate code. Ed Begley Jr., Jon Daly, Joe Dinicol, Margo Harshman, Charlie Saxton and Karan Soni star in the pilot.
Michael Lehmann (Heathers, True Blood, Dexter, American Horror Story) will direct and produce the pilot along with Emmy Award winners Alan Freedland and Alan Cohen (King of the Hill, Due Date, American Dad), and Academy Award nominated producer Michael London (Sideways, The Visitor, The Informant).
“Amazon is giving us a chance to work outside the TV bureaucracies and connect directly with audiences hungry for original content, and Betas is the perfect match for that model,” said producer Michael London. “Betas is a half hour comedy about a group of tech-savvy millennials trying to connect with the world both personally and professionally. Speaking for the whole creative team on Betas, we couldn’t be more thrilled to be part of the first launch of Amazon Studios pilots and working with such an inspiring group of people.”
“We can’t wait to hear what fans think of this and the seven other comedy pilots we’re producing — we have unbelievable casts and crews working on these projects,” said Roy Price Director of Amazon Studios.
Amazon Expands X-Ray to TV, Powered by IMDb and Available on the Kindle Fire Family
By Business Wirevia The Motley Fool
Filed under: Investing
Amazon Expands X-Ray to TV, Powered by IMDb and Available on the Kindle Fire Family
Popular X-Ray feature expands to include the top TV shows on Amazon, helping to answer the classic questions – “Who’s That Guy?” and “What’s He Been In?”
SEATTLE–(BUSINESS WIRE)– (NAS: AMZN) —Six months ago, Amazon and IMDb introduced “X-Ray for Movies,” a new feature that revolutionized the movie viewing experience by bringing the power of IMDb directly to movies on Kindle Fire HD. With a single tap viewers can discover the names of the actors appearing on the screen and what they’ve been in. Today, Amazon announced that it is expanding X-Ray to TV, bringing the seamless, fully-integrated X-Ray experience to TV shows. Available today for the most popular TV shows on Amazon, X-Ray will quickly expand to even more shows. IMDb, an Amazon company for 14 years, is the world’s most popular and authoritative source for movie, TV and celebrity content, with more than 160 million monthly unique visitors worldwide. X-Ray for TV is also available as part of the free Amazon Instant Video app on Wii U.
“X-Ray has been one of the most loved features on Kindle Fire HD since it launched last September,” said Peter Larsen, Vice President, Amazon Kindle. “For people who are passionate about movies and TV, there is no better way to watch than on Kindle Fire HD, which combines an exceptional viewing experience with the unbelievable power of the over 100 million pieces of data in IMDb’s catalog.”
“For over 20 years we have been cultivating a vast database of movie, TV and celebrity content,” said Col Needham, IMDb Founder and CEO. “Can’t remember where you’ve seen the actor playing Lord Grantham in Downton Abbey? No problem. Simply tap on the screen and you’ll see a full filmography, where you’ll realize that Hugh Bonneville was also in Notting Hill. Our vision is to make X-Ray available on every movie and TV show—we’re excited to make another big step forward today, and we are working hard to add X-Ray to more TV shows and movies in the future.”
X-Ray for TV is available starting today on the most popular TV shows from Amazon Instant Video, many of which are also available as part of Prime Instant Video: Justified, Downton Abbey, The West Wing, Sons of Anarchy, Falling Skies, American Horror Story, Grey’s Anatomy, Doctor Who, The Walking Dead, Lost, Glee, Breaking Bad and Game …read more
Source: FULL ARTICLE at DailyFinance
Bates confirmed for 'American Horror Story: Coven' role
LOS ANGELES, March 18 (UPI) — The subtitle of Season 3 of “American Horror Story” will be “Coven,” the anthology show’s creator Ryan Murphy has announced.
‘American Horror Story: Coven’: Kathy Bates To Star In Season 3, Featuring Witches And Filming In New Orleans
By The Huffington Post News Editors
You can stop guessing, “American Horror Story” fans! Season 3 details you’ve been waiting for have finally been revealed.
The new season will be titled “American Horror Story: Coven,” series’ co-creator Ryan Murphy revealed at the show’s PaleyFest Panel on Friday, which also included Oscar-winner Kathy Bates, Sarah Paulson, Jessica Lange, Evan Peters, Frances Conroy, Lily Rabe, Naomi Grossman, and executive producers Brad Falchuk, Dante Di Loreto and Tim Minear.
It had already been announced that Bates and “American Horror Story” alumni Taissa Farmiga, Paulson, Lange, Peters, Rabe and Conroy would be a part of the third season.
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Peters, Paulson up for 3rd season of 'American Horror Story'

LOS ANGELES, Jan. 18 (UPI) — Sarah Paulson and Evan Peters have signed on for a third season of the anthology series “American Horror Story,” show creator Ryan Murphy said.





Source: FULL ARTICLE at UPI Entertainment



