News

Exclusive: 3 Arts veteran Josh Lieberman is leaving the management and production company to join Brillstein Entertainment Partners. Also joining Brillstein is Allie Veneris of Authentic Talent & Literary Management.

“We’re excited to continue our focused expansion with the addition of Josh and Allie,” said Jon Liebman and Cynthia Pett, Brillstein’s co-ceo’s. “They have great clients, great taste, and great futures ahead.”

Lieberman was at 3 Arts for almost two decades, having started at the company — now majority owned by Lionsgate — in June 2004 as an assistant.

The list of his clients, dominated by multi-hyphenates in the comedy space, include Dave Attell, Atsuko Okatsuka, Karan Soni, Moshe Kasher, Katherine Ryan, Vanessa Gonzalez, Noah Garfinkel, Brent Morin, David Nihill, Jiaoying Summers, Sara Weinshenk, Jessi Cruickshank, Sarah Burns, Marc Evan Jackson as well as WWE’s Sami Zayn.

For Veneris, this marks a return to Brillstein where she was a college intern in the early 2010s.

The cast of CBS’ multi-camera comedy pilot The Three of Us, led by Oliver Hudson, Malin Akerman and Brent Morin, has been released. The options on the actors in two 2020 CBS comedy pilots, The Three Of Us and the single-camera Ghosts, were up today. They were not exercised on the CBS/CBS Studios’ The Three Of Us while Ghosts was picked up to series this afternoon.

While it no longer has a cast attached to it, The Three Of Us will be in consideration when CBS makes their 2021-22 schedule decision in May. If CBS ultimately passes, CBS Studios is expected to shop the pilot, according to sources.

Written by Frank Pines, The Three of Us follows adult siblings — played in the pilot by Hudson, Akerman and Morin — who are children of divorce and must circle the wagons when their sister’s husband unexpectedly announces he wants to call it quits on their marriage.

“The Three of Us,” a comedy pilot at CBS, has released its cast.

The multi-camera pilot was a holdover from CBS’ 2020 pilot crop, which was thrown into disarray due to the Covid-19 pandemic. It starred Oliver Hudson, Malin Akerman, Brent Morin, and Vanessa Lachey. According to an individual with knowledge of the situation, CBS Studios plans to shop the series to other outlets if CBS ultimately passes on it.

The show focuses on adult siblings who are children of divorce. They must circle the wagons when their sister’s husband unexpectedly announces he wants to call it quits on their marriage.

Frank Pines served as writer and executive producer on the pilot, with Ben Winston, Jeff Grosvenor, and James Corden of Fulwell 73 also executive producing. CBS Studios produced, with Fulwell 73 currently under an overall deal at the studio.

Given that so many pilots were put on hold last year, CBS...

Vulture Watch

Are Emmy and Matt right for each other? Has the Merry Happy Whatever TV show been cancelled or renewed for a second season on Netflix? The television vulture is watching all the latest cancellation and renewal news, so this page is the place to track the status of Merry Happy Whatever, season two. Bookmark it, or subscribe for the latest updates. Remember, the television vulture is watching your shows. Are you?  

What's This TV Show About?

Streaming on the Netflix subscription service, Merry Happy Whatever stars Dennis Quaid, Bridgit Mendler, Brent Morin, Ashley Tisdale, Siobhan Murphy, Adam Rose, Elizabeth Ho, and Hayes MacArthur, with Garcelle Beauvais, Mason Davis, and Lucas Jaye in recurring roles. The first season of this comedic anthology series takes place over 10 days surrounding the Christmas holiday. Don Quinn (Quaid) is the strong-willed patriarch of the Quinn clan and a sheriff in Bucks...

Will the Quinns have happy holidays in the first season of the Merry Happy Whatever TV show on Netflix? As we all know, the Nielsen ratings typically play a big role in determining whether a TV show like Merry Happy Whatever is cancelled or renewed for season two. Netflix and other streaming platforms, however, collect their own data. If you've been watching this TV series, we'd love to know how you feel about the first season episodes of Merry Happy Whatever here.

Streaming on the Netflix subscription service, Merry Happy Whatever stars Dennis Quaid, Bridgit Mendler, Brent Morin, Ashley Tisdale, Siobhan Murphy, Adam Rose, Elizabeth Ho, and Hayes MacArthur, with Garcelle Beauvais, Mason Davis, and Lucas Jaye in recurring roles. The first season of this comedic anthology series takes place over 10 days surrounding the Christmas holiday. Don Quinn (Quaid) is the strong-willed patriarch of the Quinn clan and a...

Network: Netflix

Episodes: Ongoing (half-hour)

Seasons: Ongoing

TV show dates: November 28, 2019 -- present

Series status: Has not been cancelled

Performers include: Dennis Quaid, Bridgit Mendler, Brent Morin, Ashley Tisdale, Siobhan Murphy, Adam Rose, Elizabeth Ho, and Hayes MacArthur, with Garcelle Beauvais, Mason Davis, and Lucas Jaye in recurring roles.

TV show description:      

A comedic anthology series, Merry Happy Whatever was created by Tucker Cawley.

The first season takes place over 10 days surrounding the Christmas holiday. Don Quinn (Quaid) is the strong-willed patriarch of the Quinn clan and a sheriff in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. He tries to balance the demands of his job and complicated family with the stress of the Christmas season. His youngest daughter, Emmy (Mendler), comes home for the holidays with Matt (Morin), her new boyfriend who's also a struggling musician based...

Fans of the late NBC comedy Undateable have at least one thing to be thankful for this Thanksgiving: Netflix on Thursday dropped all eight episodes of the new Christmas-themed comedy Merry Happy Whatever, which reunites former castmates Bridgit Mendler and Brent Morin.

Once again, the actors are romantically paired. Mendler plays Emmy Quinn, an L.A.-based financial analyst who brings her boyfriend, struggling musician Matt (Morin), home to meet her tight-knit, Philadelphia-based brood. That includes her hard-to-impress dad, Bucks County sheriff Don (The Parent Trap‘s Dennis Quaid), who takes an immediate disliking to his youngest daughter’s significant other.

Forget Christmas movies, Netflix is giving us an entire Christmas sitcom.  Merry Happy Whatever is a whole show focused on the holiday season, centered around Matt (Brent Morin) going home with his girlfriend Emmy (Bridgit Mendler) and discovering just how dysfunctional and just how close the Quinn family is.  Dennis Quaid plays Emmy's dad, an intimidating guy who Matt tries hard to impress, while Ashley Tisdale plays one of her sisters, Kayla.  There aren't many Christmas TV shows out there, but the cast says it kind of makes more sense than a movie.  "It's like the coolest thing, because first of all, the episode in your favorite comedy is always the...

Netflix is stealing Thanksgiving’s thunder this week by filling you with the Christmas spirit a little early with Thursday’s debut of the new Dennis Quaid-led holiday series, “Merry Happy Whatever.” Yes, you read that right, a Christmas TV series.

While the streaming service has moved into the holiday movie genre over the last few years with its “A Christmas Prince” franchise and films like “The Knight Before Christmas” “Holiday in the Wild,” they’ve never done a scripted holiday-themed show before. (Competition series like “Nailed It! Holiday” and “The Great British Baking Show: Holidays” don’t count here.)

So why did creator Tucker Cawley decide to write a Christmas series and not add to the growing list of Christmas films Netflix has to offer?

Also Read: A Christmas Competition: Inside Netflix-Hallmark Battle for Holiday Viewers

“Once you see it, you’re gonna be like, ‘Oh, how have...

Who would have guessed that the battle to reign supreme with holiday programming would come in the way of dueling limited holiday-themed series?

Ok. It's not exactly a battle royale, but Netflix is releasing Merry Happy Whatever starring Dennis Quaid and Ashley Tisdale while Fox is challenging the binge-watch with The Moodys starring Denis Leary, Elizabeth Perkins, and Jay Baruchel.

The premises for both are essentially the same. It's Christmas time for family get-togethers with all that entails.

Both families have traditions to uphold and family members that need to arrive from out of town. It's adult children all around, and some are married, some are single, some are in love, and some are in the process of separating.

On Merry Happy Whatever, the Quaid's widower, Don Quinn heads the family, and he has four children, three girls and a boy.

While also led by a Denis, it's Leary's Sean Moody,...

Netflix dropped the trailer for its upcoming Christmas-themed series, “Merry Happy Whatever,” on Monday, starring Dennis Quaid as Don Quinn, the father of a family that likes things done their own way during the holiday. Well, his way.

And his way doesn’t seem to include his daughter Emmy’s (Bridgit Mendler) new boyfriend Matt (Brent Morin) who wants to pop the question this Christmas.

Watch the video above, which also features Ashley Tisdale as Emmy’s sister Kayla, who is also not a big fan of Matt. Poor guy, looks like he’s got a rough road ahead this holiday season.

Also Read: 29 Most Iconic TV Witches, From Samantha Stephens to Sabrina Spellman (Photos)

Here’s the official description for “Merry Happy Whatever,” which launches on Thanksgiving.

Set during the happy but hectic days before and after Christmas, “Merry Happy Whatever” follows Don Quinn (Dennis Quaid), a strong-willed patriarch...

Netflix has rolled out their list of original programming that will be coming our way this holiday season that includes original holiday movies, series, new seasons of returning shows, and all sorts of fun stuff to look forward to. Check out the titles and descriptions below with some great stars and stories for everyone. Look it over, and let us know what you’re looking forward to on the list.

Netflix Films

Holiday in the Wild

Available 11/1/19

Kristin Davis and Rob Lowe star as a Manhattanite and a pilot who rescue an orphaned baby elephant. Far from the modern luxuries of home, Kate thrives amidst majestic animals and scenery. Her love for the new surroundings just might extend to the man who shared her journey.

Let it Snow

Available 11/8/19

When a snowstorm hits a small midwestern town on Christmas Eve, a group of high school seniors find their friendships and love lives colliding.

In today’s TV news roundup, Netflix unveiled the premiere dates for its upcoming holiday programming and the CW renewed “The Outpost.”

Dates

Netflix has announced the release dates for all of its upcoming holiday series and films. Beginning Nov. 1, the streaming service will kick off the holiday season with “Holiday in the Wild” starring Kristin Davis and Rob Lowe. Other Netflix original titles include “Let it Snow” starring Isabela Merced, Shameik Moore, Kiernan Shipka, Odeya Rush, Jacob Batalon, Miles Robbins, Mitchell Hope, Liv Hewson, Anna Akana and Joan Cusack, premiering Nov. 8; “The Great British Baking Show: Holidays: Season 2″ premiering Nov. 8; “Klaus “ starring J.K. Simmons, Jason Schwartzman, Rashida Jones, Joan Cusack, Norm Macdonald and Will Sasso, premiering Nov. 15; “The Knight Before Christmas” starring Vanessa Hudgens, Josh Whitehouse, Emmanuelle Chriqui, Harry Jarvis, Mimi Gianopulos and Ella Kenion, premiering Nov. 21; “Nailed It! Holiday!: Season 2” premiering Nov. 22; “Super Monsters Save Christmas” premiering Nov.

The CW continues to invest in its summer slate, picking up the fantasy-adventure series The Outpost for Season 3, TVLine has officially confirmed.

The show, which wrapped its second season on Sept. 26, follows Talon (Jessica Green) and Gwynn (Imogen Waterhouse) as they “prepare for an impending war with the Prime Order,” per the network synopsis. “The trinity of Prime Order overlords known as ‘The Three’ reveal their mysterious powers as they send spies, assassins, armies and even a devastating secret weapon to crush the growing rebellion at the Outpost. As Talon uncovers the truth about her past and the legacy of her people,...

Netflix announced this year’s holiday line-up today, a roster of original programming of Christmas-themed series, films, special episodes and children’s programming.

Here’s the line-up, along with some first-look photos.

Netflix Films

Holiday in the Wild

Available 11/1/19

Kristin Davis and Rob Lowe star as a Manhattanite and a pilot who rescue an orphaned baby elephant. Far from the modern luxuries of home, Kate thrives amidst majestic animals and scenery. Her love for the new surroundings just might extend to the man who shared her journey.

Let it Snow

Available 11/8/19

When a snowstorm hits a small midwestern town on Christmas Eve, a group of high school seniors find their friendships and love lives colliding. Cast includes Isabela Merced, Shameik Moore, Odeya Rush, Liv Hewson, Mitchell Hope, Kiernan Shipka, Jacob Batalon, and Joan Cusack.

Klaus

Available 11/15/19

When Jesper (Jason Schwartzman) distinguishes himself as the postal academy’s worst student, he...

‘Tis the season!

On Tuesday, Netflix announced a new list of holiday-themed titles coming to the streaming service — giving Christmastime lovers plenty of content to cuddle up and watch by the fire.

Aptly titled “It’s Beginning to Look a lot like Netflix,” 29 new movies and shows will premiere on the platform starting in November.

Here is everything fans can expect to see on Netflix:

Available November 1:

Holiday in the Wild: A recently separated Kate Conrad (Kristin Davis) embarks on a solo safari through Africa. When she meets a local pilot (Rob Low) she decides to extend her...

Rob Lowe and Vanessa Hudgens are two of the Hollywood stars getting in the holiday spirit early this year, as they’re set to star in some festive original movies that were announced Tuesday as part of Netflix’s 2019 holiday movie and TV slate.

Lowe will star with Kristin Davis in a romance titled “Holiday in the Wild,” which will drop on the streaming service on Nov. 1. It’s the first of six original films Netflix is rolling out ahead of the Christmas season. Hudgens will also star in “The Knight Before Christmas” alongside Josh Whitehouse, which debuts on Nov. 21. Hudgens plays a woman looking for love who meets a regal gentleman who believes that he’s actually a royal knight from the medieval era.

Also coming to Netflix is a new series from “Everybody Loves Raymond” creator Tucker Cawley called “Merry Happy Whatever,” starring Dennis Quaid, Bridgit Mendler and Brent Morin.

Garcelle Beauvais (Spider Man: Homecoming) is set for a recurring role opposite Dennis Quaid on Netflix’s multi-camera comedy series Merry Happy Whatever, from former Everybody Loves Raymond executive producer Tucker Cawley, Aaron Kaplan’s Kapital Entertainment and Wendi Trilling’s TrillTV. In Merry Happy Whatever, written by Cawley and directed by Pam Fryman, Quaid plays Don Quinn, a strong-willed patriarch who must balance the demands of his complicated family with the stress of the Christmas season when his youngest daughter comes home for the holidays with a new boyfriend. Beauvais plays Nancy, a warm and good-humored no-nonsense nurse who treats Don (Quaid) and Matt (Brent Morin) when they arrive at urgent care. It seems Don may have a crush on Nancy though he denies it vehemently. Beauvais can recently be seen in recurring roles on Starz’s Power, NBC’s Chicago Med and E!’s The Arrangement. She’s repped by Innovative Artists,...

With the entire Disney vault under wraps, the need for a dose of good old-fashioned Disney nostalgia is real. Luckily, Netflix is swooping in to grace us with Merry Happy Whatever, a new show starring two of our favorite Disney alums: Ashley Tisdale and Bridgit Mendler! The first season of the holiday-themed anthology will be set during Christmas and feature eight episodes following the Quinn family and their not-so-merry Christmas. It sounds like the grown-up Disney series we've always wanted.

In an Instagram post on Saturday, Tisdale announced her involvement in the series, writing, "You Guys!!! I didn't book a pilot I booked a Series for @netflix...

Season 2 of Vida is getting the binge treatment: The entire 10-episode run will premiere on the Starz app, Starz On-Demand and StarzPlay on Thursday, May 23.

The half-hour drama will also air weekly on the premium cable net, starting Sunday, May 26 at 8/7c.

In the new season, “Lyn and Emma begin the monumental task of rebuilding their mother’s business while navigating financial constraints, competing developers, and the growing anti-gentrification movement,” per the official synopsis. Additionally, “Lyn and Emma must contemplate the relationships in their lives, including their own, and are forced to dig deep to unearth what their mother’s legacy means to them.

Exclusive: Netflix has assembled the cast opposite Dennis Quaid in holiday-themed multi-camera comedy series Merry Happy Whatever. Former Undateable co-stars Bridgit Mendler and Brent Morin will play leads in the series, joined by Ashley Tisdale, Adam Rose (Santa Clarita Diet) and former Angie Tribeca co-star Hayes MacArthur. The eight-episode series hails from former Everybody Loves Raymond executive producer Tucker Cawley, Aaron Kaplan’s Kapital Entertainment and Wendi Trilling’s TrillTV.

In Merry Happy Whatever, written by Cawley and directed by Pam Fryman, Dennis Quaid plays Don Quinn, a strong-willed patriarch who must balance the demands of his complicated family with the stress of the Christmas season when his youngest daughter comes home for the holidays with a new boyfriend.

Mendler plays Emmy Quinn, the independent-minded daughter home for the holidays and hoping her over-protective father will accept her musician boyfriend Matt (Morin), or at least not kill him.

Morin’s...

Exclusive: Bill Lawrence and his Doozer production company are staying put at Warner Bros. TV with a new rich multi-year overall deal. Under the significant, eight-figure pact, which I hear is for five years, the company has sold a department store comedy to NBC starring and co-written by comedian Brent Morin, who starred on Doozer’s NBC comedy series Undateable.

This is Lawrence’s third consecutive deal at Wbtv where the Scrubs creator has been since 2011 when former NBC head of comedy Jeff Ingold joined him at Doozer. The two will continue to work together.

Co-written by Morin and former Undateable writer Matt Hausfater, the untitled NBC multi-camera comedy centers on Andy Hewitt (Morin) who, in a desperate attempt to prove himself to his family after losing his dream job, has no choice but to take a retail job at the world’s most fashionable department store.

Hausfater executive produces with Lawrence and Ingold.

Bill Lawrence is staying at longtime home Warner Bros. TV. The writer and producer's company, Doozer, and the studio have agreed to a sizable new overall deal.

The company has also set a comedy project at NBC starring and co-created by comedian Brent Morin, one of the stars of the late NBC/Doozer series Undateable.

The new Wbtv deal runs for five years and is worth an eight-figure sum, The Hollywood Reporter has confirmed. It extends Lawrence's relationship with the studio, where the Scrubs and Cougar Town creator set up shop in 2011 after a number of years with ABC Studios.

Wbtv has ...

Sasheer Zamata found her first leading film role of her post-Saturday Night Live career in the romantic comedy The Outdoorsman, which premiered Friday at the Arena Cinelounge in Los Angeles.

The film debuted at the Austin Film Festival in 2017 and follows writer Jason (Brent Morin) who wants to have his own Odyssey adventure by living alone in nature — despite his lack of experience — to write a book. While training, Jason crashes with a friend and meets neighbor Mona (Zamata), a workaholic who destroyed her boss’ office after not getting promoted, in order to get fired and reap unemployment benefits. The ...

Sasheer Zamata found her first leading film role of her post-Saturday Night Live career in the romantic comedy The Outdoorsman, which premiered Friday at the Arena Cinelounge in Los Angeles.

The film debuted at the Austin Film Festival in 2017 and follows writer Jason (Brent Morin) who wants to have his own Odyssey adventure by living alone in nature — despite his lack of experience — to write a book. While training, Jason crashes with a friend and meets neighbor Mona (Zamata), a workaholic who destroyed her boss’ office after not getting promoted, in order to get fired and reap unemployment benefits. The ...

Kevin Hart and Lionsgate’s digital network Laugh Out Loud has unveiled its summer slate, featuring four new original series and sophomore seasons of three others. The rookie shows star the likes of Rahat Hossian, Sarah Davenport, Skye Townsend and Carlie Craig.

Read details of all seven series below, and check out a teaser trailer for Lyft Legend Season 2 above.

The June-to-September months will see the returns of prank series Kevin Hart: Lyft Legend, which launches today, along with stand-up showcase Just for Laughs and Cold as Balls, which features athlete interviews that take place in an ice bath.

Debuting this summer will be In the Zone, a comedic companion to Hart’s new CBS series Tko: Total Knock Out; prank show Rahat’s Terror Traps, starring YouTube prank king Rahat Hossian; Unmasked, a mockumentary comedy about the bizarre world of costumed street performers on Hollywood Boulevard; and Donors, a...

Exclusive: Comedy Dynamics announced today that they have struck a distribution deal with Glass House Distribution. Comedy Dynamics has acquired the features The Outdoorsman, Couch Survivor and Warren as well as the television/web series Dropping the Soap and Midtown.

The films and TV series will be released on multiple platforms including Comcast, DirecTV, and Spectrum.

The indie romantic comedy The Outdoorsman starring Saturday Night Live alum Sasheer Zamata and Undateable actor Brent Morin marks David Haskell’s directorial debut. The John Walls-directed comedy Couch Survivor stars Alex Beh, Jessica Duffy, and Alexis Rhee. The 2017 comedy/drama Warren is directed by Alex Beh and stars Jean Smart, Sarah Habel, and the late John Heard.

The web series Dropping the Soap is executive produced by Lisa Kudrow and Jane Lynch, who also stars in the soap opera-centric comedy She scored an Emmy for Best Actress in Web Series/Comedy in 2017. The series also stars Missi Pyle,...

Last year, Netflix went all in with stand-up comedy, managing to talk Jerry Seinfeld, Dave Chappelle and Tracy Morgan into doing their first specials in years. This year, they’ve already done the same with Chris Rock, Ricky Gervais and coming soon, Ellen DeGeneres. But it’s still an incredible amount of comedy to wade through. We’re here to help, ranking each special from worst to best.

Harith Iskander – “I Told You So”

Malaysian comic Harith Iskander endlessly pats himself on the back just for landing an international stand-up special. He asks, what am I going to wear on stage? How should I do my hair (he’s bald)? Should I call my special, “The Funniest Comedian in the World?” Check out my hot wife! Throw in some pointless crowd work and a hacky rimshot, and this is just painful.

Fakkah Fuzz – “Almost Banned”

Another Malay comedian, Fakkah Fuzz’s standup is strictly limited to differences between Malaysians and people from Singapore, which would be even more reductive if international audiences had any idea what he was talking about.

James Acaster – “Repertoire”

The pale, scruffy haired London comic James Acaster has not one, but four stand-up specials on Netflix. They’ve been framed as part of a comprehensive series, each color-coded and with a supposed theme. But after kneeling down for 15 minutes as a “loophole” to avoid actually starting the show, his childhood life story quickly unravels into goofy nonsense. He’s wacky, off-kilter and unusual, sure, but who has the time?

Katt Williams – “Great America”

Is Katt Williams even telling jokes anymore or just pimpin’? His cranky exuberance feels awfully tired when aimed at Trump. He’s performing to a Jacksonville, Florida crowd (and he unwisely opens with material that only plays to that room) that likely is pretty split politically, and his bland observations barely cut left or right.

Ricky Gervais – “Humanity”

Ricky Gervais’s special is called “Humanity,” but it’s all about him. Not ashamed of comparing himself to Jesus to start the show, Gervais spends the remainder of his time scoffing at his critics and explaining away already bad and tasteless jokes about Caitlyn Jenner he made at the Golden Globes years ago. “People get offended when they mistake the subject of the joke with the actual target,” he says, writing off any online backlash as just a misunderstanding. Inflating his ego is part of what you’re paying for with Gervais, but this is irritating even for him.

Rachel Feinstein – “The Standups” Episode 4

Neurotic, overly personal, loud and far too familiar to be surprising, Rachel Feinstein’s routine falls into cliche awfully quick. Why so many accents? And wow, you have parents who are bad on Facebook too?

Gad Elmaleh – “American Dream”

Gad Elmaleh’s material is inoffensive and pleasant, but rarely surprising. Some of his weaker gags can be boiled down to, “Americans tip like this, and French people tip like this.” He’s smart at deconstructing language. But what should’ve been fresh for Elmaleh, his first special entirely in English, results in some recycled gags about “em-pha-sis” and French doors from his 2017 Netflix special.

Gina Yashere – “The Standups” Episode 2

Gina Yashere observes that most people in Hollywood think black women look either like Halle Berry or Precious. Yashere is neither, a Nigerian woman from London, and she’s uniquely funny. But you wish her material would focus more on her own life rather than on clichéd, outdated observations of American culture. One joke stops just short of insights about why racism is far subtler in Britain and defaults to an easy swipe at the South. “I treated Alabama the way white people treat Africa the first time. Wow, they have cars and shoes and s—,” she says. And how many times does she have to sing the “Team America” theme song?

Brent Morin – “The Standups” Episode 5

Brent Morin is that bro who dominates the conversation at a party rattling off a story you lost track of hours ago. He’s got great little callbacks and one-liners and a hilarious observation about how if you’re a white guy, how flattering it is to be complimented by a black or gay guy. But is he still doing that butler impression of his Uber driver? How did he start complaining about bread at Italian restaurants? What’s a “sunshine hand?”

Marlon Wayans – “Woke-ish”

This is Marlon Wayans’s first ever stand-up special in a three decade career, and yet you know what you’re getting with him. It’s fun, raunchy and stupid, and it isn’t long before he crosses more than a few lines, thus his special’s title “Woke-ish.” Like Gervais, Wayans also has a tone deaf Caitlyn Jenner joke. “I ain’t seen a white chick that ugly since me and Shawn did the f—in’ movie!” But you might consider sticking around for his impression of Designer’s “Panda” or an amusing, if stereotypical, bit about white people going through customs to earn the privilege to say the N-word.

Joe List – “The Standups” Episode 1

White guy insecurities, childhood name calling and nearly 10 minutes about being awkward at the gym are a dime a dozen, but Joe List does it justice with a deadpan delivery and relatable awkwardness. List’s best story is about how as a kid, a girl said his big forehead looked like a “fivehead.” Yeah, that’s a pretty good burn.

Kavin Jay – “Everybody Calm Down”

The best of the three Malaysian comedians, Much of Kavin Jay’s charming material comes at the expense of his weight. But he acknowledges he’s not playing just to the room he’s in. “In Asia, parents use [my weight] to discipline children,” Jay says. “In America, I’m a medium.” At one point he even talks to some New Yorkers in the crowd. “I don’t know where that is. And now you know how that feels.”

Greg Davies – “You Magnificent Beast”

“The more upset you are, the funnier I find it,” Greg Davies says to someone in his crowd. This Welsh comic takes glee out of telling charming stories about his parents and his childhood before turning them disgusting. He has one routine about getting a giant teddy bear as a kid. He named it BT, like the alien Et. Aww, how sweet. He makes us think that’s the end of the story before revealing that as a teenager, “I f—ed that bear.” He couldn’t go out with friends because he was “too busy knocking the back end out of it!”

Fred Armisen – “Standup for Drummers”

Every word out of Fred Armisen’s mouth sounds like the start to some absurd, rejected “Portlandia” sketch, and I love it. Armisen is literally performing to a room full of people who know how to drum (Green Day’s Tre Cool pops up in the audience). Isn’t putting together a snare so annoying? I know! Sometimes his observations may genuinely be for an audience of one. But anyone will love his mini impressions of accents around the country and drumming impressions of Ringo Starr, Keith Moon, U2’s Larry Mullins Jr., Stewart Copeland and Meg White.

Tom Segura – “Disgraceful”

Those who want a replacement for Louis C.K. in the schlubby, cynical and brutally honest middle-aged white guy department can look to Tom Segura. But Segura isn’t trying to challenge social norms in the way C.K. used to; he’d rather troll people in the parking lot or talk up how great it is to never have to leave the house. One of his best gags makes a smart comparison to show how future generations will never understand how hard it once was to buy weed. Pigeons used to deliver messages? Are you crazy?

Aparna Nancherla – “The Standups” Episode 6

At first, Aparna Nancherla stands out as a socially awkward goofball, her cartoonish voice enhancing silly anxieties like what to say to a pilot upon leaving a plane. But she soon hauls out a PowerPoint presentation and brilliantly manages to translate Internet humor to the stage. Nancherla deconstructs emojis that look like a “multicultural boy band” or bullet points she grabbed from a Ted Talk random name generator, and she does it all in a deadpan weirdness that should make her a star.

Todd Glass – “Act Happy”

Todd Glass has put together a truly strange and subversive hour of comedy. More performance art than strictly jokes, Glass has a big band playing only public domain songs to put a button on his ironically hacky gags. He’s playing to a tiny room of 75 people, but he’s giving rants and monologues that he presents as larger than life, even asking the sound guy to give some reverb on his voice. The band taunts his “bragging” and the audience seems to be in on the joke. He even twice busts out into “song,” singing a time-killing anthem that he wrote in case he didn’t have enough material. But I could watch him for hours.

Chris Rock – “Tamborine”

For his first special in nearly a decade, “Tamborine,” Chris Rock immediately comes out swinging. His practical takes on the shootings of black kids, gun control and poverty are vintage Rock. But his material now reflects his middle age. You may disagree with some of his more Millennial-bashing takes, but he shows remarkable candor and great wisdom when he addresses his divorce and what it takes to keep a relationship going. The secret is to approach it like a tambourine player in a band. “You play that motherf— right!” Rock sure does.

Kyle Kinane – “The Standups” Episode 3

Kyle Kinane may be from my hometown of Addison, Illinois, but that’s not the only reason I can relate. His material has been bleak in the past, but in this set he speaks to the moment with insightful material about why he’s still recycling in the face of an apocalypse, Kurt Cobain’s Christmas album and a theory that the Ku Klux Klan has a great chef (“same outfits, different hats”). His finest gag takes full advantage of the pulse of the country and even plays on knowing he was taping this in advance for Netflix: “What if by the time this airs, there’s no mass shooting,” he asks. “This is America.”

Read original story 23 Netflix Stand-Up Comedy Specials of 2018 Ranked, From Ricky Gervais to John Mulaney (Photos) At TheWrap...

Brent Morin and Sasheer Zamata are searching for themselves in The Hollywood Reporter's exclusive trailer of The Outdoorsman.

The Undateable actor and the Saturday Night Live alum star in the romantic comedy, which also marks David Haskell's directorial debut. The film sees Morin as an aspiring wilderness writer who is preparing to cut ties with society and spend a year in the mountains (despite never having gone camping before) and Zamata as a goal-oriented woman who just left her corporate job and is also on a search to find herself. Just before his trip, the two get involved, leaving them both at...

Exclusive: Heading into the market, Los Angeles-based Cinedigm has expanded its relationship with Rooster Teeth to encompass international sales on a trio of titles.

For the first time, the parties will offer Day 5, Rwby and Crunch Time to Mipcom buyers from Europe, South America, Asia and Australia.

Cinedigm is the exclusive sales agent on these titles and represents digital, home video and linear television rights.

“Our audience has been thrilled with the new premium content we’ve been releasing on First, the Rooster Teeth Svod platform,” said Rooster Teeth CEO Matt Hullum.

“From the apocalyptic drama Day 5 to the hilarious sci-fi comedy Crunch Time to the breakout anime hit Rwby, we’re excited to share this content with new audiences around the world.”

Day 5 (pictured) is a six-part long-form dramatic series set in the immediate aftermath of a fatal sleep epidemic as a drug addict, a doctor and a red-eye pilot search for answers...

The Austin-based production company Rooster Teeth first rose to prominence with its long-running, critically-acclaimed web series “Red vs. Blue,” about the adventures of two groups of soldiers engaged in a civil war. Now, Rooster Teeth will launch their next series this weekend: Andrew Disney and Bradley Jackson’s “Crunch Time.” The series stars Samm Levine (“Freaks and Geeks”), Nick Rutherford (“Saturday Night Live”), Jessy Hodges (“True Blood”), Avery Monsen (“Maron”), Brent Morin (“How to Be Single”), and more.

Read More: ‘Crunch Time’ Exclusive Featurettes: New Web Series Follows Four Grad Students Who Create a Black Hole In Their Lab

The series follows four bored, but brilliant grad students who start making money by placing people in a lucid dream machine they’ve created. Of course, things eventually go haywire and they accidentally open up a small black hole in their college lab. Now, the team is being interrogated by the...

Some of the greatest scientific discoveries were accidental, but many of the world’s catastrophes were caused by petty foolishness. The new web comedy series “Crunch Time” from and Rooster Teeth assumes both of those ideas, examining what happens when ingenuity and selfishness causes a cataclysmic event and if it’s possible to walk back from the brink of total destruction

Read More: ‘Crunch Time’ Featurette: A Look Inside The Rooster Teeth Sci-Fi Comedy Series Starring Samm Levine

The series follows four brilliant grad students who started making money by placing people in a lucid dream machine they created. But as a result of their actions, they create a small but potentially world-ending black hole in their college lab. Now, they’re being interrogated by top-secret government operatives who are tasked with cleaning up their mess, only they must cooperate with the scientists to do so. The problem is that...

This year Fullscreen Films and Rooster Teeth released the crowdfunded record breaker “Lazer Team.” After launching an Indiegogo campaign to fund the project and raising $2.4 million, the comedy was released in theaters in January and on YouTube Red a month later. Now, the Austin-based production company is giving audiences a new comedic sci-fi series, “Crunch Time.”

The six-episode comedy follows a group of grad students who, to make some money, start putting people into a lucid dream machine. Unfortunately, things start to go terribly wrong, accidentally creating a black hole that could destroy the world.

Read More: ‘Lazer Team’ Sequel Coming To YouTube Red in 2017

Mashable has exclusive images of the series which stars Samm Levine, Nick Rutherford, Jessy Hodges, Avery Monsen, Brent Morin and Michael Hyatt, among others. A cool new featurette was also released to give audiences an inside look at what to expect.

“It’s ‘Inception’ meets ‘Weird Science,...

The upcoming episode of Lip Sync Battle pits two sitcom coworkers against each other: Undateable's Brent Morin vs. Chris D'Elia. We already know that Morin will be performing Jackson 5's "ABC" but now we get a quick glimpse at D'Elia's choice.  Chris D'Elia shows off his, uh, interesting dance moves while performing Demi Lovato's jam "Cool for the Summer." His dancing style may not be the greatest but he certainly gets points for enthusiasm.  Watch the sneak peek below. The full episode airs this Thursday on Spike. ...

NBC has canceled the Bill Lawrence comedy “Undateable” after three seasons, as well as the freshman medical drama “Heartbeat.” Created by Adam Sztykiel, “Undateable” starred Chris D’Elia and Brent Morin, and made headlines by going completely live for its 13-episode third season, but continued to struggle in the ratings, pulling just a 0.8 rating among adults 18-49 and 2.73 million viewers for the season finale. “Heartbeat” starred Melissa George as world-renowned heart surgeon Alex Panettiere. Originally titled “Heartbreaker,” the series was intended to debut in the fall, but was pushed to midseason due to George’s pregnancy. Also Read: 'Crowded' Canceled After 1 Season on.

Last season, NBC tried airing a "live" episode of Undateable as a special event and then decided to broadcast every third season episode "live" too. Will this strategy give viewers a reason to stay home and watch television on Friday nights? Will this sitcom be cancelled or renewed for a fourth season? Stay tuned.

Undateable follows a group of single friends who are trying to figure out the fine art of relationships. The cast includes Chris D'Elia, Bridgit Mendler, Brent Morin, Bianca Kajlich, Rick Glassman, David Fynn, and Ron Funches.

Read More…...

At a loss for what to watch this week? From new DVDs and Blu-rays, to what's streaming on Netflix, we've got you covered.

New on DVD and Blu-ray

"Sicario"

Emily Blunt, Benicio Del Toro, Josh Brolin, and Victor Garber star in this sharp, critically acclaimed (93 percent certified fresh on Rotten Tomatoes!) drug war thriller, which is out on Blu-ray, DVD, and On Demand on January 5. Blu-ray bonus featurettes include "Stepping into Darkness: The Visual Design of Sicario," "Blunt, Brolin & Benicio: Portraying the Characters of Sicario," "Battle Zone: The Origins of Sicario," and "A Pulse from the Desert: The Score of Sicario."

"The Walk"

Watch Joseph Gordon-Levitt's Philippe Petit take a wild walk on a wire between the Twin Towers. The bio-drama from director Robert Zemeckis co-stars Sir Ben Kingsley, Charlotte Le Bon, James Badge Dale, and Ben Schwartz. The Blu-ray and DVD both include the "Pillars of Support" featurette,...

Bill Murray (pictured below, with some famous friends) headlines a hilarious holiday special to highlight a fun December on Netflix. Here is what’s new on Netflix December 2015, as well as movies that are ending their streaming on Netflix in December. New On Netflix December 2015 Netflix Originals I’m Brent Morin — Available Dec. 1 A Very Murray Christmas — Available Dec. 4. Bill Murray stars in a hilarious holiday special cowritten by himself, Sofia Coppola (who also directs, and who directed Murray to a Best Actor Oscar nomination in Lost in Translation) and Mitch Glazer. It’s an homage to the classic variety show, with … Continue reading →

The post What’s new on Netflix December 2015 appeared first on Channel Guide Magazine.

At a loss for what to watch this week? From new DVDs and Blu-rays, to what's streaming on Netflix, we've got you covered.

New Video on Demand, Rental Streaming, and Digital Only

"Imba Means Sing"

This heartwarming documentary follows the journey of 20 Ugandan children in the African Children's Choir who spent 500 days on tour singing their way to better lives. The doc debuts globally On Demand on December 4, with 100 percent of the filmmaker profits going back to the choir.

Here's an exclusive clip of the kids sharing what they want to be when they grow up:"Ted 2"

The foul-mouthed teddy bear is back! In this sequel, Ted marries his girlfriend, then they hit a snag with the birth of their child, since the law sees Ted as property, not a person. Cue Amanda Seyfried and Morgan Freeman as attorneys getting all "Legally Blonde" for Ted's cause. Mark Wahlberg returns as John,...

The holiday season is here and like a lot of you, I plan on staying inside as much as I can and watching some great TV and movies. Thankfully Netflix is here to help with a new batch of offerings for December. They are also removing some titles you may want to watch while you can! Of course we are all waiting to see this Bill Murray Christmas special which arrives December 4th. Have a safe and happy viewing month everyone! Check out the full listings below:

All Title Dates are Subject to Change

Netflix U.S. Release Dates Only

Available 12/1

#DeathToSelfie (2014)

30 for 30: Chasing Tyson (2015)

50 Shades of They: Season 1

A Christmas Star (2015)

A Genius Leaves the Hood: The Unauthorized Story of Jay Z (2014)

Amnesiac (2015)

Broadchurch: Season 2

Cbgb (2013)

Christmas Wedding Baby (2014)

The Chronicles of Riddick: Dark Fury (2004)

Cradle 2 the Grave (2003)

Darkman (1990)

Detectorists: Season 1

I’m Brent Morin — Netflix Original...

To your already busy December to-do list, add watching "A Very Murray Christmas," the all-star Bill Murray Christmas special that's available only on Netflix.

Also new to Netflix in December: New comedy specials from Mike Epps and Brent Morin, Adam Sandler's controversial "The Ridiculous 6," the buzzy transgender indie drama "Tangerine" and "Queen of Earth," starring "Mad Men"'s Elisabeth Moss.

Here's what's coming to Netflix in December 2015.

Available Dec. 1

"DeathToSelfie" (2014)

"30 for 30: Chasing Tyson" (2015)

"50 Shades of They": Season 1

"A Christmas Star" (2015)

"A Genius Leaves the Hood: The Unauthorized Story of Jay Z" (2014)

"Amnesiac" 2015)

"Broadchurch": Season 2

"Cbgb" (2013)

"Christmas Wedding Baby" (2014)

"The Chronicles of Riddick: Dark Fury" (2004)

"Cradle 2 the Grave" (2003)

"Darkman" (1990)

"Detectorists": Season 1

"I'm Brent Morin" (2015, Netlix Original)

"Jenny's Wedding" (2015)

"Las magicas historias de Plim Plim": Season 1

"Ray" (2004)

"Real Rob": Season 1 (2015)

"See You In Valhalla" (2015)

"Stir of Echoes" (1999)

"Stir of Echoes: The Homecoming" (2007)

"That Touch of Mink...

Bob's Burgers will continue to be shown in the UK, but it will now be on a different channel.

The Us cartoon sitcom's third season will be shown on Comedy Central UK, having previously aired on E4, following a new deal with Warner Bros.

The series was dropped by E4 in the UK due to a fall in viewing figures, after broadcasting the first two seasons.

Comedy Central UK's new deal also includes the first UK run of NBC's series Undateable, Broadcast reports.

Based on the book by Ellen Rakieten and Anne Coyle, the series follows a group of friends who need a little help with finding a relationship. The show will star Chris D'Elia, Brent Morin, Rick Glassman, Ron Funches, Bianca Kajlich, David Fynn and Briga Heelan.

NBC has ordered a third season of the series, which has featured guest appearances from the likes of Ed Sheeran, Zach Braff,...

Netflix has announced that season four of Longmire (which had been cancelled by A&E) will premiere on Thursday, September 10th, and new series Master of None will debut on Friday, November 6th. Also, the streaming service has renewed animated series BoJack Horseman for a third season.

Here's the press release:

Netflix Announces Premiere Dates for Longmire and Aziz Ansari’s New Series ‘Master of None’

BoJack Horseman Renewed for a Third Season

New Slate of Stand-Up Specials from Comedians Including Mike Epps, Demetri Martin, Anjelah Johnson, Anthony Jeselnik, John Mulaney and Brent Morin

-- Netflix sets dates for 6 new original series for Kids --

Read More…...

The CW’s Crazy Ex-Girlfriend

As the critical acclaim and commercial audience for television has increased over the years, the demand for festivals dedicated to television, outside of over-arching festivals such as the San Diego Comic-Con, has proportionally increased. One of the most prominent television festivals that has arisen as a result has been Paleyfest. Conducted by the Paley Center for Media, the newest incarnation of the event is poised to be held once again in Los Angeles, running in September 2015 from the 9th to the 17th, and now the first wave of the lineup for the event has been announced.

Things will get kicked off on the 9th with two shows from NBC. The two panels from the channel will be for Truth Be Told and Undateable, with the Truth Be Told panel including castmembers Mark-Paul Gosselaar, Tone Bell, and Vanessa Lachey, among others. The Undateable panel shall include...

The show's ratings have not been great but Undateable will be back for a third season on NBC -- but there will be an interesting twist.

Undateable follows a group of single friends who are trying to figure out the fine art of relationships. The cast includes Chris D'Elia, Brent Morin, Ron Funches, Rick Glassman, David Fynn, Bianca Kajlich, and Bridgit Mendler.

The first season of Undateable aired last summer and drew unimpressive ratings, averaging a 0.91 rating in the 18-49 demographic with 2.78 million viewers. NBC is still struggling in the sitcom department so they renewed it for a second season anyway.

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Normally I get annoyed by these piecemeal renewals that force an endless string of tiny stories, but this is a good one. NBC has renewed "Undateable" for a third season, successfully avoiding the ignominy of clearing out its entire comedy slate. But much more interesting than the mere renewal for the comedy is the confirmation that "Undateable" will go live for all episodes next season. Unless somebody wants to remind me of an alternative, "Undateable" will be the first scripted show to go live on a regular basis for a full season since "Roc" did it back in 1992. Much of the appeal of "Undateable" was always based on liveness. Before the first season premiered, executive producer Bill Lawrence and much of his stand-up-heavy cast went on the road for a live promotional tour. That tour was at least somewhat responsible for a solid debut last summer and a strong enough...

(Spoiler alert: Please don’t read if you haven’t watched Tuesday’s “Undateable” Live) NBC’s “Undateable” made the daring move on Tuesday of airing not one but two live telecasts for both the east and the west coasts. While it sounded risky for the sophomore Chris D’elia sitcom starring fellow standup comics Brent Morin, Rick Glassman and Ron Funches, the show pulled it off in fine form with the help of guest stars Zach Braff, Donald Faison, Neil Flynn, Christa Miller, Kate Walsh, Victoria Justice, Minnie Driver, Dr. Drew Pinskey and a surprise performance from Ed Sheeran.

Last summer, NBC launched a new sitcom called Undateable and it performed poorly in the ratings. The network still renewed it for a season two and decided to give it a second chance, airing it behind The Voice. Will the numbers improve enough for this sitcom to be renewed for a third season or, will it be cancelled instead?

Undateable follows a group of single friends who are trying to figure out the fine art of relationships. The cast includes Chris D'Elia, Brent Morin, Ron Funches, Rick Glassman, David Fynn, Bianca Kajlich, and Bridgit Mendler.

(more…)...

With "Parks and Recreation" ascended to heaven, "Community" descended to Yahoo and "Marry Me" and "About a Boy" preparing to evaporate into the ether, you might say that NBC's comedy brand was in jeopardy. That, however, would make the completely false assumption that NBC has a comedy brand. As the network heads into the heart of the Spring 2015 development season, NBC has a couple half-hour blocks of laugh-intended programming, which does not a "comedy brand" make.  The network's confusion at its place-filling strategy is evident in the new Tuesday block of "Undateable" and "One Big Happy," which premieres on Tuesday (March 17) with the not insignificant boost of "The Voice," which NBC presumably hopes will prevent the ignominy of a network having to start 100 percent from scratch, comedy-wise, at the May upfronts. On the surface, "Undateable" and "One Big Happy" feel similar, at least if your concept of similar is "All...

Ready or not, here Bridgit Mendler comes — to NBC’s Undateable, where for Season 2 (premiering Tuesday at 9/8c) she has been added as a series regular.

Familiar to the younger set (and their folks, ahem) as Good Luck, Charlie‘s Teddy, Mendler has a cool 100 sitcom episodes under her belt, yet the Bill Lawrence comedy marks her first full-on foray into the broadcast-tv waters.

RelatedGood Luck Charlie‘s Bridgit Mendler Joins Undateable as New Regular

TVLine spoke with the 22-year-old actress/singer about navigating that leap, her Undateable character’s most “un-Disneylike” behavior and more.

Tvline | Was there any...