or


[07/16/05 - 12:00 AM]
HBO Renews 'Entourage,' Sets Dates for 'Curb,' 'Extras' and More
By The Futon Critic Staff (TFC)

LOS ANGELES (thefutoncritic.com) -- Coming off its three Emmy nominations and its highest ratings to date, HBO has renewed its half-hour comedy "Entourage" for a third season of at least 13 episodes.

The news was one of several announcements HBO chairman and CEO Chris Albrecht made at HBO's session at the TCA Summer Press Tour on Friday:

-- As previously mentioned, "Entourage" will return for its third season in 2006 with at least 13 fresh installments. The show's current second season of 14 episodes is set to wrap in early September. No mention however was made about the future of lead-out "The Comeback." "It is a challenging show to watch," Albrecht told reporters, "I'm curious to see the rest of it."

-- Sunday, September 25 will mark the end of "Curb Your Enthusiasm's" 18-month hiatus as the show's 10-episode fifth season will launch that night at 10:00/9:00c. Following "Curb" at 10:30/9:30c will be the U.S. premiere of the six-episode Ricky Gervais/Stephen Merchant comedy "Extras," about a journeyman actor (played by Gervais).

-- As for the hot button issues of the day, Albrecht gave a firm "I don't know" when asked about a potential seventh season of "The Sopranos." Adding, "I honestly feel like (creator David Chase) has got more to tell." As for the cancellation of "Carnivale," he noted: "It's not a big show in the foreign (market), there's not a lot of investment to recoup from that." And as for the decision to move "Six Feet Under" to Monday nights earlier this year, Albrecht simply confessed: "That was a mistake."

-- Meanwhile, HBO has ordered a pilot presentation for a new improv series from Bob Odenkirk ("Mr. Show with Bob and David") entitled "The Derek & Simon Show." The half-hour project stars Derek Waters ("Married to the Kellys") and Simon Helberg ("Joey") as two average guys trying to hook up with women in and around Los Angeles. Odenkirk will direct the presentation (which will be shot in two 15-minutes segments a la "Tenacious D") and executive produce along with Naomi Odenkirk and Brillstein-Grey's Bernie Brillstein and Tim Sarkes.

-- And finally the drama "Big Love," about a polygamist (Bill Paxton) and his three wives (Chloe Sevigny, Jeanne Tripplehorn, Ginnifer Goodwin), will launch early next year.

The pay channel also provided some additional details about three of its upcoming mini-series:

-- Filming is currently underway in Lithuania on the two-part mini-series "Elizabeth I," about the life of the famed 16th century monarch (played by Helen Mirren). Jeremy Irons ("Kingdom of Heaven") and Hugh Dancy ("King Arthur") also star in the project with Tom Hooper ("Prime Suspect 6") directing from a script by Nigel Williams ("Uncle Adolf").

-- Next up is the 10-hour event "John Adams," about the founding father who also had the formidable task of following George Washington as the second president of the United States. Tom Hanks and Gary Goetzman ("Band of Brothers") are executive producing the project, which is set to begin production in Virginia and Europe this fall for a 2007 air date. Hanks himself is expected to direct one of the episodes.

-- And finally, Hanks will re-team with Steven Spielberg for "The Pacific" about the World War II battles in the Pacific theater. No production start date was given for the long-in-the-works project, which was first announced two years ago. HBO however expects to spend $300 million between "John Adams" and "The Pacific."

And in other odds and ends:

-- "One Night Stand," HBO's veteran stand-up series, will return with regular weekly installments on Friday, August 19 at 12:00/11:00c following the return of "Real Time With Bill Maher." Louis C.K. will be featured on the August 19 episode followed by Earthquake on August 26.

-- The Edward James Olmos-helmed original movie "Walkout" will bow on the network sometime next year. The project, about the protest movement in the East Los Angeles public school system during the civil rights era, stars Alexa Vega ("Spy Kids").

Sources: Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, Reuters





  [july 2005]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
     


· BAND OF BROTHERS (HBO)
· BIG LOVE (HBO)
· CARNIVALE (HBO)
· COMEBACK, THE (HBO)
· CURB YOUR ENTHUSIASM (HBO)
· DEREK & SIMON SHOW, THE (HBO)
· ELIZABETH I (HBO)
· ENTOURAGE (HBO)
· EXTRAS (HBO)
· JOEY (NBC)
· JOHN ADAMS (HBO)
· MARRIED TO THE KELLYS (ABC)
· PACIFIC, THE (HBO)
· REAL TIME WITH BILL MAHER (HBO)
· SIX FEET UNDER (HBO)
· SOPRANOS, THE (HBO)
· WALKOUT (HBO)





[06/26/25 - 12:16 PM]
Netflix's "Vladimir" Casts Leo Woodall in Titular Role
The limited series is being adapted from Julia May Jonas's acclaimed novel.

[06/26/25 - 10:05 AM]
Discovery Channel Builds on Shark Week Momentum with Powerhouse Summer Slate Featuring Five New and Returning Series
Newcomers include "Naked and Afraid: Apocalypse" and "Animals on Drugs."

[06/26/25 - 09:10 AM]
Boxing Champion Laila Ali Jumps Into the Ring as Host of Food Network's "Chef Grudge Match" Where Culinary Rivals Battle to Settle Old Scores
Each episode features two head-to-head battles where resident judge Jet Tila welcomes a guest judge to help determine who walks out with $10,000 cash, the losing chef's most coveted knife and bragging rights for life.

[06/26/25 - 09:01 AM]
Starz and Hallmark+ Announce New U.S. Streaming Bundle Now Available on Prime Video
New customers can access both streamers for $13.99/month, more than 25 percent savings.

[06/26/25 - 09:01 AM]
"Marvel's Iron Man and His Awesome Friends" Premieres Aug. 11 on Disney Jr. and Next Day on Disney+
The first 10 episodes will be available on Disney+ in the U.S. and select international markets and Disney Jr. on Demand the following day, Tuesday, August 12, and will continue rolling out globally throughout 2025 and 2026.

[06/26/25 - 08:30 AM]
Video: "Surf Girls: International" - Official Trailer - Prime Video
The series follows five up-and-coming female surfers representing their home countries as they travel the world competing in the Challenger Series.

[06/26/25 - 08:01 AM]
Netflix's "Black Rabbit" Starring Jude Law & Jason Bateman - First Look & Date Announcement
Starring and executive produced by Jude Law and Jason Bateman, this propulsive thrill ride will premiere globally September 18, only on Netflix.

[06/26/25 - 08:00 AM]
A New Season of "Life After Lockup" Premieres Friday, August 1 at 8 PM ET/PT on We TV
The series follows seven former inmates and their significant others from the hit series "Love After Lockup" and "Love During Lockup" as they navigate their emotional journey to keep their love alive and stay free.

[06/26/25 - 07:20 AM]
Video: "To Kill a Monkey" - Official Trailer - Netflix
An old friend coaxes Efemini into the alluring world of cybercrime, where every decision he makes draws him deeper into a moral minefield.

[06/26/25 - 07:01 AM]
Video: "Countdown: Taylor vs. Serrano" - Official Trailer - Netflix
The documentary follows Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano's intense journey and preparations as they train for their historic trilogy fight, airing live on Netflix on July 11.

[06/26/25 - 06:01 AM]
The CW Network and Mobil 1 Brand Team Up to Showcase "Mobil 1 Victory Lane" in the NASCAR Xfinity Series
Starting Saturday, July 5 in Chicago, the integration will put the Mobil 1 brand front and center for one of motorsport's most celebrated traditions, the winner's ride down Victory Lane.

[06/26/25 - 02:01 AM]
"It's Worth It by Dani Rovira" Arrives at Netflix on July 11th
Actor and comedian Dani Rovira returns to the stage with an honest and hilarious take on finding light even in life's darkest moments.

[06/25/25 - 11:55 AM]
Prime Video Finishes Groundbreaking First Season of Exclusive NASCAR Coverage
According to Nielsen, NASCAR on Prime posted a season average of 2.16 million viewers (AMA P2+) across five events, and attracted droves of younger viewers to its live coverage.

[06/25/25 - 11:39 AM]
New Nova Series "Human," A BBC Studios Science Unit Production with Nova and GBH for PBS and the BBC, Investigates the Origin of Our Species
The five-part series documenting the long and complex story of the human species will premiere Wednesdays, September 17-October 15 at 9pm ET/8c on PBS.

[06/25/25 - 11:17 AM]
OWN's "Love & Marriage: Huntsville" Returns July 19 with a Season Full of Revelations, Reinventions, and Raw Emotion
Premiering Saturday, July 19 at 8pm ET/PT, the network's top-rated unscripted hit returns for its milestone 10th season that promises to deliver emotional depth, explosive drama and real-life stakes.