Spike Lee’s next venture needs to do more than add to the growing list of reductive and voyeuristic feature films and documentaries about the Windy City
Chicagoans are resilient. I’ve lived there my entire life and know this to be true more than most anything else about the city. From an environmental standpoint, the brutal force of our winters is a metaphorical test. If you can survive here, you can survive anywhere. Yes, it is about the cold and the snow and the gray. But it is also about the things that never seem to go right here: “Machine” politics, bureaucratic fraud, a broken system of public services.
But Chicagoans also like to keep these things secret. That leads to public embarrassments and indictments on why we are considered the “Second City”. Our rampant, summertime violence is yet another example. That is why, when Amazon announced a new...
Chicagoans are resilient. I’ve lived there my entire life and know this to be true more than most anything else about the city. From an environmental standpoint, the brutal force of our winters is a metaphorical test. If you can survive here, you can survive anywhere. Yes, it is about the cold and the snow and the gray. But it is also about the things that never seem to go right here: “Machine” politics, bureaucratic fraud, a broken system of public services.
But Chicagoans also like to keep these things secret. That leads to public embarrassments and indictments on why we are considered the “Second City”. Our rampant, summertime violence is yet another example. That is why, when Amazon announced a new...
- 4/10/2015
- by Britt Julious
- The Guardian - Film News
The Comedians’ Stephnie Weir on Hollywood’s ‘Brutality,’ Dysfunctional Producers, and Funny TV Women
No offense to Billy Crystal and Josh Gad, ostensible stars of FX’s The Comedians, but Stephnie Weir is its breakout performer. Crystal and Gad play themselves playing themselves as the hosts and lead players in an FX sketch series called The Billy & Josh Show. But as their perma-flustered, Über-awkward producer Kristen Laybourne, MADtv vet Weir wrests laughs from the aforementioned heavy hitters with an improviser’s knack (she’s a Second City alum) for playing overwhelmed and anxious. It’s an overdue opportunity for the Texan native who, since leaving MADtv, has guest-acted on assorted sitcoms (Modern Family, ‘Til Death) while writing and consulting for others (The Millers, Raising Hope); produced a two-man show/video series with husband Bob Dassie dubbed WeirDass; and been either cast for or tapped to write/produce several network pilots, including David Wain’s almost-was Brenda Forever and a still-in-process ABC half-hour about an...
- 4/9/2015
- by Kenny Herzog
- Vulture
After six seasons of playing tyrannical cheerleading coach Sue Sylvester, for which she won a best supporting actress Emmy in 2009, Jane Lynch is embarking on her first major post-Glee project, See Jane Sing, her nationally-touring musical-comedy variety show. Lynch — no stranger to live performance, having been a member of The Second City improv group in Chicago and starring in the Broadway revival Annie in 2013 — combines comedy chops with musical highs in a show with live orchestration, song-and-dance numbers, and fast-paced witty banter between Lynch and co-stars Kate Flannery (best
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- 3/21/2015
- by Patrick Shanley
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Chicago's Second City comedy group has long been an incubator for young comedians. Many famous funny people have come up through its ranks, including Tina Fey, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Jane Lynch and the now-Oscar-nominated actor Steve Carell. Luckily for us, Second City's extensive archiving means we have this clip of the Foxcatcher actor dressed as the famous Italian fashion model, spokesperson and actor Fabio. The clip is from Second City's 1994 revue, Are You Now or Have You Ever Been Mellow, and features the shirtless star donning a flowing blond wig. Fun fact: that's Carell's future Daily Show costar Stephen Colbert...
- 3/12/2015
- by Alex Heigl, @alex_heigl
- PEOPLE.com
It's throwback Thursday and Amy P. is in the house! That's right, Amy Poehler is actually a rapper in disguise. Well, at least she is in this '90s clip anyway! Footage from a 1995 pilot titled Rtvn showcases a young Poehler who can put together a rhyme, proving that she has always been the coolest—even way back in the day! Talk about a throwback. "The next man or the next wo-man it doesn't make a difference. Keep the competition coming. I recite chapter and verse. The title of this recital is 'Ladies First'," rapped the comedienne. The pilot, featuring Second City Improv legend Del Close and Matt Dwyer, was filmed before Poehler's big Saturday Night Live...
- 3/6/2015
- E! Online
In honor of the Parks and Rec finale, Second City unearthed an old pilot that Amy Poehler made in 1995 alongside improv guru Del Close and fellow future famous person Adam McKay. It's called Rvtv, and it is very strange. Co-star Matt Dwyer tells Splitsider, "I honestly do not recall where the concept came from," and that really says it all. ...
- 2/25/2015
- by Nate Jones
- Vulture
Might be a good time to sign up for a class at Second City. The famed improv school is partnering with NBC on three talent scouting initiatives aimed at diversifying the casts of the network’s comedy series. The new initiative includes the NBCUniversal Second City Bob Curry Fellowships, which will be awarded to 16 performers who, starting April 7, will participate in an eight-week master-class series. The program concludes with a showcase performance. Some two hundred applications have already been received by Second City for the fellowships, according to a spokeswoman. Those interested in applying should contact one of the theater’s three locations. “The Second City has historically been a premier training ground for comedic and improv talent – and NBCUniversal is delighted, through this partnership, to help make this incredible learning opportunity and exposure more accessible to the diverse talent who represent the comedy voices of the future,” Paul Telegdy,...
- 2/25/2015
- backstage.com
More than a year after “Saturday Night Live” was dinged in the media for not employing any black female cast members, NBC and The Second City are teaming up to hone diverse sketch comedy and improv talent. NBCUniversal Talent Development & Inclusion is partnering with the legendary Chicago-based comedy theatre on a training program for improvisation, performance and writing. Also Read: ‘SNL’s’ 40 Most Iconic Characters: From the Blues Brothers to Stefon (Photos) “NBCUniversal is honored and excited to partner with The Second City to encourage and nurture emerging and diverse comedic talent,” said Paul Telegdy, President, Alternative and Late Night Programming,...
- 2/25/2015
- by Tony Maglio
- The Wrap
With Saturday Night Live's 40th-anniversary special now a vestige of the past, viewers have had time to let questions and opinions percolate. Some of the loudest revolved around Eddie Murphy's strange, underwhelming appearance. Former cast member Norm Macdonald, who appeared in and wrote sketches for the special, used Twitter to address the mystery and to vent publicly about the wild week he had. In 110 tweets, Macdonald dished about everything from a rejected Murphy role to Bill Murray's penchant for golf to the origins of Celebrity Jeopardy. Here's what we learned:1. Contrary to what you would've thought, SNL 40 was reportedly not a tight ship. 2. Celebrity Jeopardy came from Second City Television. Macdonald claimed to have come up with the idea for SNL, after stealing it from Sctv's Half-Wits: He and Steve Higgins wrote the first Jeopardy sketch decades ago but waited for Martin Short (originally from Sctv...
- 2/19/2015
- by Sean Fitz-Gerald
- Vulture
Saturday Night Live's 40th anniversary special airs this Sunday. While most of the show's best will be there, some of the show's greats are no longer living.
Et interviewed John Belushi just four months before he was found unresponsive in a bungalow at the Chateau Marmont. The comedian passed away at the age of 33 after taking a lethal combination of cocaine and heroin.
Video: Kevin Nealon Recalls His First Night on SNL
Belushi was a role model for another fallen SNL great -- Chris Farley. Both honed their improvisational skills at Chicago's Second City. While Belushi was a part of SNL's original cast in 1975, Farley joined the show in 1990 about eight years after Belushi's death.
SNL alum Julia Sweeney spoke fondly about her late friend and cast mate, as she remembered performing their classic Motivational Speaker sketches together. "Phil [Hartman] and I are the parents, and we're barely in the sketch. In fact I...
Et interviewed John Belushi just four months before he was found unresponsive in a bungalow at the Chateau Marmont. The comedian passed away at the age of 33 after taking a lethal combination of cocaine and heroin.
Video: Kevin Nealon Recalls His First Night on SNL
Belushi was a role model for another fallen SNL great -- Chris Farley. Both honed their improvisational skills at Chicago's Second City. While Belushi was a part of SNL's original cast in 1975, Farley joined the show in 1990 about eight years after Belushi's death.
SNL alum Julia Sweeney spoke fondly about her late friend and cast mate, as she remembered performing their classic Motivational Speaker sketches together. "Phil [Hartman] and I are the parents, and we're barely in the sketch. In fact I...
- 2/14/2015
- Entertainment Tonight
On the eve of its 40th anniversary special (though the anniversary itself isn't until October), what is left to say about "Saturday Night Live"? There have been multiple books written about the show, several documentaries, countless essays — riding the never-ending roller-coaster between "Saturday Night Dead" and "Saturday Night Lives Again!" — best-ofs, worst-ofs, and every other kind of list you can think of. I don't know that anything I write over the next few pages will provide new insight into one of the most influential comedy shows ever made, but I wondered if you could tell the story of the show — through good times and bad, through revolutions and evolutions and retrenchments — by looking at its sketches. I wound up picking 21 in all: some among the show's most famous, some obscure but important. These aren't meant as a definitive breakdown of the best "SNL" ever had to offer, but as a...
- 2/12/2015
- by Alan Sepinwall
- Hitfix
The first motion poster of director Dibakar Banerjee’s Detective Byomkesh Bakshy! features daring detective Byomkesh Bakshy played by Sushant Singh Rajput, in war torn Kolkata of 1942-43. The motion poster features dhoti-clad Sushant against the backdrop of Kolkata’s iconic Howrah Bridge in his stint to save the city from Japanese invasion.
The poster shows the city being bombed by Japanese choppers and a young detective trying to do his duty with full conviction.
The motion poster of Detective Byomkesh Bakshy! was released on the night of December 20, which is symbolic of the night of December 20 in 1942 when Calcutta (now Kolkata), the Second City of the British Empire (which was at war with the three Axis Powers: Germany, Italy and Japan) was bombed by Japan.
Watch the Dbb Motion Poster video here:
//www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZdWA8XUr0b8
A Yash Raj Films presents Detective Byomkesh Bakshy! in...
The poster shows the city being bombed by Japanese choppers and a young detective trying to do his duty with full conviction.
The motion poster of Detective Byomkesh Bakshy! was released on the night of December 20, which is symbolic of the night of December 20 in 1942 when Calcutta (now Kolkata), the Second City of the British Empire (which was at war with the three Axis Powers: Germany, Italy and Japan) was bombed by Japan.
Watch the Dbb Motion Poster video here:
//www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZdWA8XUr0b8
A Yash Raj Films presents Detective Byomkesh Bakshy! in...
- 2/12/2015
- by Press Releases
- Bollyspice
Second City Hollywood is blowing up (in a good way) in February and wants its students, alumni, teachers and actors interested in the improv training school to get involved. For starters, there’s a Q&A with Tim Kazurinsky, Chandra lee Schwartz, Kim Zimmer and Tom Flynn from the touring company of “Wicked” Feb. 9 starting at 5 p.m. Then on Feb. 11, Jen Candy, daughter of legendary Second City alum John Candy, will interview Jim Belushi at 8 p.m. and on Feb. 25, she’ll sit down with her late father’s co-star from “Armed and Dangerous” Eugene Levy. All events take place at the school’s theater located at 6560 Hollywood Blvd., Los Angeles. Other upcoming events include: The Greatest Showman: Cecil B. DeMille Screening of “The Cheat” & “The Golden Chance”Feb. 7 at 7:30 p.m.Billy Wilder Theater10899 Wilshire Blvd.Tickets here. Learn How to Use the Arri Alexa & Amira CamerasFeb.
- 2/5/2015
- backstage.com
Chicago – The opening night of the 2015 Midwest Independent Film Festival is on its usual First Tuesday of the month, February 3rd, and what better way to kick it off then to have Chicagoland native Alex Beh come back to present the Windy City premiere of his first feature film, “Warren.” Beh wrote, directed and performed as the title character in this slice-of-life romance about staying true to a life’s path, and everything that happens in spite of that hope.
Alex Beh was born in Chicago, and grew up in nearby Winnetka. He trained locally in acting and improvisation through The Second City, iO Theater and the Piven Workshop. Now based in Los Angeles, he continues to work as an actor, writer and director, with seven short films to his credit and a number of TV and independent film appearances. In “Warren,” he cast veteran actors John Heard and Jean Smart...
Alex Beh was born in Chicago, and grew up in nearby Winnetka. He trained locally in acting and improvisation through The Second City, iO Theater and the Piven Workshop. Now based in Los Angeles, he continues to work as an actor, writer and director, with seven short films to his credit and a number of TV and independent film appearances. In “Warren,” he cast veteran actors John Heard and Jean Smart...
- 2/2/2015
- by adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
- HollywoodChicago.com
Stephen Colbert's decision to end The Colbert Report with a musical finale might make more sense after watching this clip. Roughly 20 years ago, Colbert said farewell to another comedic institution — Chicago's Second City — with music. This performance includes some special collaborators, such as Paul Dinello and David Razowsky, and a brief, albeit touching, intro by Steve Carell. (Colbert was Carell's understudy while at the troupe.) Splitsider dug up the 1994 clip today as part of its weekly Second City archive series. Maybe watching the absurd medley will tide you over till Colbert's TV return; if not, it should at least make you smile because the whole thing's simultaneously hilarious and bittersweet.
- 1/28/2015
- by Sean Fitz-Gerald
- Vulture
This summer the world’s largest school of improvisation and sketch writing is getting a headstart on training the comedians of tomorrow. Chicago’s Second City Training Center has opened its doors to students aged 8–18 for a series of seven one- or two-week camps dedicated to the fundamentals of long form improv, clowning, and standup. If you know a young class clown looking to hone his or her skills this June–August, comedy camps might be just the thing. “The Second City Training Center offers youth a unique opportunity to study improv and sketch writing at the very same time,” said Kerry Sheehan, president of the Second City Training Centers and Education Program, in a recent statement. “This year, we’re pleased to be expanding the program by offering summer camps for ages 8–10 as well as our first Advanced Comedy Camps for ages 15–18. Campers continue to succeed here every summer...
- 1/27/2015
- backstage.com
The Writers Guild of America, West has chosen late screenwriter-director-actor-producer Harold Ramis to receive its Laurel Award for Screenwriting Achievement, awarded to a Writers Guild member who has advanced the literature of motion pictures and made outstanding contributions to the profession of the screenwriter. Erica Mann Ramis and family will accept the award on Ramis’ behalf at the Writers Guild Awards ceremony on Saturday, February 14. Harold Ramis passed away on February 24, 2014 at the age of 69. From today’s announcement:
“Harold Ramis changed the face of comedy. His death last year deprived us of his unique way of seeing the world, at once hilarious and wise. From his early work with National Lampoon and Sctv through Animal House, Meatballs, Caddyshack, and Ghostbusters, Ramis’ voice was strong, clear, outrageous in all the best ways. His unrealized projects – an adaptation of Confederacy of Dunces, a biopic about Emma Goldman – leave us aching with...
“Harold Ramis changed the face of comedy. His death last year deprived us of his unique way of seeing the world, at once hilarious and wise. From his early work with National Lampoon and Sctv through Animal House, Meatballs, Caddyshack, and Ghostbusters, Ramis’ voice was strong, clear, outrageous in all the best ways. His unrealized projects – an adaptation of Confederacy of Dunces, a biopic about Emma Goldman – leave us aching with...
- 1/13/2015
- by Denise Petski
- Deadline
Chicago – One of the specialities of HollywoodChicago.com is the film and personality interview. The majority of these chats came through me, Patrick McDonald, and I couldn’t narrow it down to a top 10 or even a top 20. For 2014, there were 25 top interviews, and it is a diverse range of voices.
It is a privilege to get the opportunity to participate in the promotional tours, awards ceremonies, film festivals, book appearances, phoners and other lucky happenstances that feature the notable among us. To whittle down the list, I mostly thought about what was said in these interviews, whether inspirational or provocative – plus the status of the participants, whether they are up-and-coming or established.
The interview highlights are broken down by “Background and Behind-the-Scenes” and the “Memorable Quote” associated with each subject, and are often accompanied with exclusive photography by Joe Arce of HollywoodChicago.com. Four notables who just missed the...
It is a privilege to get the opportunity to participate in the promotional tours, awards ceremonies, film festivals, book appearances, phoners and other lucky happenstances that feature the notable among us. To whittle down the list, I mostly thought about what was said in these interviews, whether inspirational or provocative – plus the status of the participants, whether they are up-and-coming or established.
The interview highlights are broken down by “Background and Behind-the-Scenes” and the “Memorable Quote” associated with each subject, and are often accompanied with exclusive photography by Joe Arce of HollywoodChicago.com. Four notables who just missed the...
- 1/12/2015
- by adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
- HollywoodChicago.com
I love Christmas. It’s been my favorite time of the year as far back as I can remember – which, these days, may be last week. I think, in many ways, it was the run up to Christmas, also known as Advent, that I loved the most. It was the anticipation that made it special; what presents would we get, buying the present we would give, the Advent Wreath and the Advent Calendar. The day itself could be a bit of a let-down because it as never as good as the dream, the anticipation. How could it be? So long as it was a dream, it was perfect. The reality of something is always less than the dream of it.
While I was in grade school, each Christmas Eve I wound up at Midnight Mass (did I mention I was raised Roman Catholic?), singing in the Boy’s Choir. We...
While I was in grade school, each Christmas Eve I wound up at Midnight Mass (did I mention I was raised Roman Catholic?), singing in the Boy’s Choir. We...
- 12/21/2014
- by John Ostrander
- Comicmix.com
Chicago – December 9th is the 2014 second season premiere of “Ground Floor,” the TBS workplace comedy featuring John C. McGinley (“Scrubs”), plus Skylar Astin and Briga Heelan (seen in the film “Pitch Perfect”). Chicago native Cindy Caponera is a writer and co-executive producer on the show.
In a variation on the “Slobs versus the Snobs” scenario, “Ground Floor” is set in a financial company that features a romance between an occupant of the upper floors – where the master-of-the-universe financial consultants hold court – and a worker on the “ground floor,” where the operations and maintenance crew resides. A big part of the hilarity is provided by John C. McGinley, playing a mentor character as in “Scrubs,” but in a softer and gently funny way. The chemistry between the featured couple, portrayed by Astin and Heelan, provides the conflict between the two parts of the company.
The Second Season of ‘Ground Floor’ Premieres December 9th,...
In a variation on the “Slobs versus the Snobs” scenario, “Ground Floor” is set in a financial company that features a romance between an occupant of the upper floors – where the master-of-the-universe financial consultants hold court – and a worker on the “ground floor,” where the operations and maintenance crew resides. A big part of the hilarity is provided by John C. McGinley, playing a mentor character as in “Scrubs,” but in a softer and gently funny way. The chemistry between the featured couple, portrayed by Astin and Heelan, provides the conflict between the two parts of the company.
The Second Season of ‘Ground Floor’ Premieres December 9th,...
- 12/9/2014
- by adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
- HollywoodChicago.com
Chicago – Every year, HollywoodChicago.com explores the state of the Chicago film actor through Grace McPhillips and Steve Scholz, the Board President and Vice President of the Chicago Acting in Film Meetup Group Nfp (Cafm). The group’s 2014 “Holiday Hurrah” will be at the Bottom Lounge in Chicago on Monday, December 15th.
Cafm is a group that was founded by Grace McPhillips in 2007, and has grown to encompass the actors that work in features, independent films and television in the Windy City. With seminars, programs, networking and connections created for actors with agencies and productions, Cafm has become a vital link in the Chicago acting community. The December 15th Holiday Hurrah is also open to the public.
The Cafm ‘Holiday Hurrah’ is December 15th, 2014
Photo credit: Ben Gonzalez of Gopho Collective for the Cafm
Also, in an exclusive announcement to HollywoodChicago.com, Grace McPhillips and Steve Scholz are announcing that...
Cafm is a group that was founded by Grace McPhillips in 2007, and has grown to encompass the actors that work in features, independent films and television in the Windy City. With seminars, programs, networking and connections created for actors with agencies and productions, Cafm has become a vital link in the Chicago acting community. The December 15th Holiday Hurrah is also open to the public.
The Cafm ‘Holiday Hurrah’ is December 15th, 2014
Photo credit: Ben Gonzalez of Gopho Collective for the Cafm
Also, in an exclusive announcement to HollywoodChicago.com, Grace McPhillips and Steve Scholz are announcing that...
- 12/7/2014
- by adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
- HollywoodChicago.com
Stephen Colbert sat down with his longtime friend and former colleague Steve Carell at a fundraiser Friday night for the Montclair Film Festival. The annual event, designed to raise money for the now-10-day festival in May, involves Colbert interviewing some of his funny friends, with past conversations taking place with Jon Stewart and Jimmy Fallon. This year, Carell took time away from his busy Foxcatcher promotional tour to reminisce with Colbert about their days at Second City, on The Dana Carvey Show and on The Daily Show. Colbert was technically the interviewer, but it was more of a
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- 11/23/2014
- by Hilary Lewis
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Renowned director Mike Nichols died suddenly on Wednesday, Nov. 19, at the age of 83.
The director is part of the Egot club, having won an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony Award. He has created some of the most iconic work in film, television and theater, including The Graduate, Working Girl, Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, Closer, Charlie Wilson's War, Annie, Spamalot, The Birdcage and Angels in America.
Photos: Stars We Lost
Nichols received an Oscar for directing The Graduate and earned his eighth Tony two years ago for his revival of Death of a Salesman. His last film was Charlie Wilson's War in 2007, starring Tom Hanks.
He was most recently working on Master Class with Meryl Streep for HBO.
The acclaimed director was born in Berlin, Germany as Michael Igor Peschkowsky in 1931. He got his start in entertainment performing on stage, and co-founded the Chicago-based comedy troupe Second City in the 1950s. This troupe...
The director is part of the Egot club, having won an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony Award. He has created some of the most iconic work in film, television and theater, including The Graduate, Working Girl, Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, Closer, Charlie Wilson's War, Annie, Spamalot, The Birdcage and Angels in America.
Photos: Stars We Lost
Nichols received an Oscar for directing The Graduate and earned his eighth Tony two years ago for his revival of Death of a Salesman. His last film was Charlie Wilson's War in 2007, starring Tom Hanks.
He was most recently working on Master Class with Meryl Streep for HBO.
The acclaimed director was born in Berlin, Germany as Michael Igor Peschkowsky in 1931. He got his start in entertainment performing on stage, and co-founded the Chicago-based comedy troupe Second City in the 1950s. This troupe...
- 11/20/2014
- Entertainment Tonight
When people pass away, we often praise them with, "What couldn’t they do?" Exaggeration. With Mike Nichols, there’s really no answer to the theoretical. A seasoned comedian, a pillar of New York City theater, a successful film director — earning a Best Picture nomination, four Best Director nominations, and one win in the latter category — and one of only 12 people to successfully collect the coveted Egot, when it came to the entertainment industry, there really wasn’t anything he couldn’t do. He went out on a high. Thursday morning, we learned that Nichols passed away at the age of 83. Fleeing Nazi-occupied Germany in 1938, Nichols wound up in New York City and called the city home for nearly his entire life. Attending college in Chicago, he became part of the theater and comedy scenes, joining Second City and forming the comedy duo Nichols and May, along with actress Elaine May.
- 11/20/2014
- by Matt Patches
- Hitfix
New York City – He was an immigrant kid from Germany who directed the most American of stage plays and films. Mike Nichols uplifted the culture with his art, and along the way won the famed Egot – Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony. Nichols passed away suddenly at his home. He was 83.
Nichols brought the Chicago improvisation sensibility to his work – he was part of the original Compass Players of the University of Chicago, the group that morphed into The Second City. He achieved Beatle-like fame in the early 1960s with his comedy act Nichols and May, paired with Elaine May. But his destiny was behind the camera, and after making a huge splash on Broadway, conquered the film world with the one-two triumphs of “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?” and the classic “The Graduate.”
Mike Nichols in a Recent Photo
Photo credit: Los Angeles Times
Mikhail Igor Peschkowsky was Nichols birth name,...
Nichols brought the Chicago improvisation sensibility to his work – he was part of the original Compass Players of the University of Chicago, the group that morphed into The Second City. He achieved Beatle-like fame in the early 1960s with his comedy act Nichols and May, paired with Elaine May. But his destiny was behind the camera, and after making a huge splash on Broadway, conquered the film world with the one-two triumphs of “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?” and the classic “The Graduate.”
Mike Nichols in a Recent Photo
Photo credit: Los Angeles Times
Mikhail Igor Peschkowsky was Nichols birth name,...
- 11/20/2014
- by adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
- HollywoodChicago.com
In 1931, Mike Nichols was born Mikhail Igor Peschkowsky in Berlin, Germany. Seven years later, his family fled to the United States to avoid the Nazis. There he would grow up to have a legendary career in film, theater, and comedy, eventually becoming a member of the very select group of Egot winners (the acronym for those who've won an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony). Nichols died suddenly from cardiac arrest on Wednesday. He was 83.In the early 1950s, Nichols moved to Chicago for school. Instead of going to class, however, he started getting involved in the theater. It was there he met Elaine May, his future comedy partner. By 1955, Nichols was asked to join the Compass Players, the improvisational troupe that was the forerunner of Chicago's famous Second City. Things moved quickly for Nichols and May from there. By 1960, they had a Broadway show (An Evening With...
- 11/20/2014
- by Jesse David Fox
- Vulture
Saturday Night Live star Cecily Strong will be sharpening the news chops she honed at the "Weekend Update" anchor desk now that she'll be sharing an even more imposing dais - with the leader of the free world. The White House Correspondents' Association announced Wednesday that Strong, 30, will be the featured entertainer at its next annual dinner. She will be following a comic monologue by President Obama in a ballroom of some 2,000-plus Washington VIPs. "Her political humor is sly and edgy, and it comes with a Chicago accent," Whca president Christi Parsons said in an email to White House correspondents.
- 11/19/2014
- by Sandra Sobieraj Westfall, @sswestfall
- PEOPLE.com
The White House Correspondents' Association announced today that Cecily Strong will be the entertainer at next year's White House Correspondent's dinner. Strong will probably have a leg up on cracking wise on journalists: According to the White House Correspondents' Association press release, Strong's father, Bill Strong, served as Associated Press Bureau chief in the Illinois Statehouse. "Her political humor is sly and edgy, and it comes with a Chicago accent. Cecily grew up in suburban Oak Park, Ill. and got her start in Chicago's comedy scene with stints at iO and Second City," said Whca President Christi Parsons, in a statement.
- 11/19/2014
- by Teresa Jue
- EW - Inside TV
Saturday Night Live star Cecily Strong will host the 2015 White House Correspondents' Dinner, it was announced Wednesday. "Her political humor is sly and edgy, and it comes with a Chicago accent. Cecily grew up in suburban Oak Park, Ill. and got her start in Chicago's comedy scene with stints at iO and Second City," White House Correspondents' Association resident Christi Parsons said in a statement. See more White House Correspondents' Dinner: Hollywood Arrives in D.C. Strong's father served as Associated Press bureau chief in the Illinois statehouse. Strong is just the latest SNL star to host the
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- 11/19/2014
- by Hilary Lewis
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Chicago – Sometimes it take awhile to be an overnight sensation, but Bob Odenkirk will be on the precipice of that kingdom when the “Breaking Bad” spin-off show, “Better Call Saul” premieres in February of next year on the AMC Network. Odenkirk was recently in Chicago to promote his new book, “A Load of Hooey.” in an appearance that took place at the Up Comedy Club on Wells Street in the city.
Bob Odenkirk at the Up Comedy Club in Chicago, November 7th, 2014
Photo credit: Joe Arce of Starstruck Foto for HollywoodChicago.com
Bob Odenkirk was a familiar presence in the comedy world, and has conquered drama with his portrayal of Saul Goodman in “Breaking Bad.” His appearance was a homecoming of sorts, as he was born in the suburb of Berwyn and graduated from Naperville North High School. After performing in Chicago at the Improv Olympics and The Players Workshop of “The Second City,...
Bob Odenkirk at the Up Comedy Club in Chicago, November 7th, 2014
Photo credit: Joe Arce of Starstruck Foto for HollywoodChicago.com
Bob Odenkirk was a familiar presence in the comedy world, and has conquered drama with his portrayal of Saul Goodman in “Breaking Bad.” His appearance was a homecoming of sorts, as he was born in the suburb of Berwyn and graduated from Naperville North High School. After performing in Chicago at the Improv Olympics and The Players Workshop of “The Second City,...
- 11/18/2014
- by adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
- HollywoodChicago.com
Warren screens at Landmark’s Plaza Frontenac Cinemas on Tuesday, November 18 at 6:15 Pm as part of the 23rd Annual Whitaker St. Louis International Film Festival. Get ticket information here
From the concrete canyons of the Windy City comes this intimate tale of a post college twenty-something at a crossroads while dealing with an unraveling family and the return of a lost love. When we first meet Warren (writer/director Alex Beh), he’s rummaging through his mementos in the basement of his soon-to-be-demolished suburban childhood home. His grizzled Pop (John Heard) is living on booze and quickly fading memories while Mom (Jean Smart) has moved on and out, now living, along with Warren’s out-of-control kid brother, with a new beau. But Warren’s got his own life in the “city of broad shoulders”. He’s thrown in the towel on his acting dreams, but still occasionally joins two...
From the concrete canyons of the Windy City comes this intimate tale of a post college twenty-something at a crossroads while dealing with an unraveling family and the return of a lost love. When we first meet Warren (writer/director Alex Beh), he’s rummaging through his mementos in the basement of his soon-to-be-demolished suburban childhood home. His grizzled Pop (John Heard) is living on booze and quickly fading memories while Mom (Jean Smart) has moved on and out, now living, along with Warren’s out-of-control kid brother, with a new beau. But Warren’s got his own life in the “city of broad shoulders”. He’s thrown in the towel on his acting dreams, but still occasionally joins two...
- 11/16/2014
- by Jim Batts
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
Happy Birthday Jackie Hoffman Hoffman was seen on Broadway as Grandma in The Addams Family. Her other Broadway credits include Xanadu and Hairspray for which she received the Theatre World Award. Off-Broadway she has been seen in Regrets Only, Pride amp Joy, Book of Liz Obie Award, Straightjacket, Incident at Cobbler's Knob, and One Woman Shoe. Regional credits include Second City Jeff Award, Sisters Rosensweig.
- 11/11/2014
- by Stage Tube
- BroadwayWorld.com
Hollywood — "Birdman" stars Michael Keaton and Edward Norton popped into the Egyptian Theatre Saturday morning for a conversation on acting in tandem with the on-going AFI Fest. It was an enlightening and at times heady discussion on the particulars of being an actor in show business and of course the unique opportunity of Alejandro González Iñárritu's latest film. Early talk circled around each actor's introduction to the business and the moment when it clicked. Keaton, the youngest of seven (though he says nine, as his mother miscarried twice), grew up outside of Pittsburgh and wasn't discouraged at all from being a dreamer. He made his way to Hollywood with maybe $300 in his pocket after doing the comedy circuit in New York, hitting venues like the Improv and Catch a Rising Star and, on the west coast, The Comedy Store and Second City workshops. "You parked cars and tried to figure it out,...
- 11/9/2014
- by Kristopher Tapley
- Hitfix
The improv comic and sitcom actor passed away on Tuesday in Woodland Hills, Ca.
Actor and comedian Richard Schaal, a member of Chicago's legendary Second City improv group in the 1960s, died Tuesday at the age of 86.
Schaal was best known for his work in many classic sitcoms including The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Rhoda, The Bob Newhart Show, Phyllis and Just My Luck.
Pics: Stars We've Lost In Recent Years
Schaal was married to actress Valerie Harper in 1964, however the couple later divorced in 1978. American Dad voice actress Wendy Schaal is Richard's daughter from his previous marriage to Lois Treacy.
Aside from his frequent work in television, Schaal also appeared in films such as Slaughterhouse-Five and The Russians Are Coming, the Russians Are Coming, among others.
Schaal delivered one of his most interesting and intense performances in the made-for-tv movie The Cube -- Jim Henson's experimental, live-action, psychedelic drama about a man stuck in a small...
Actor and comedian Richard Schaal, a member of Chicago's legendary Second City improv group in the 1960s, died Tuesday at the age of 86.
Schaal was best known for his work in many classic sitcoms including The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Rhoda, The Bob Newhart Show, Phyllis and Just My Luck.
Pics: Stars We've Lost In Recent Years
Schaal was married to actress Valerie Harper in 1964, however the couple later divorced in 1978. American Dad voice actress Wendy Schaal is Richard's daughter from his previous marriage to Lois Treacy.
Aside from his frequent work in television, Schaal also appeared in films such as Slaughterhouse-Five and The Russians Are Coming, the Russians Are Coming, among others.
Schaal delivered one of his most interesting and intense performances in the made-for-tv movie The Cube -- Jim Henson's experimental, live-action, psychedelic drama about a man stuck in a small...
- 11/6/2014
- Entertainment Tonight
Richard Schaal, an early member of Chicago’s famed Second City comedy troupe who appeared often on The Mary Tyler Moore Show and its spinoffs Rhoda — which starred his then wife, Valerie Harper — and Phyllis, has died. He was 86. Schaal died Tuesday at the Motion Picture and Television Fund home in Woodland Hills, his daughter, American Dad! voice actress Wendy Schaal, told the Chicago Tribune. Schaal was married three times, including to Harper (his second wife) from 1964 until their divorce in 1978. He was the first of Harper's two husbands. The actor also appeared in such films as
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- 11/6/2014
- by Mike Barnes
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
If you're looking for a movie that you and the rest of your family can enjoy on a chill night at home, where better to look than the tried and true adventures of Beethoven, the giant St. Bernard?
Beethoven's Treasure Tail is the latest movie in the series to head to home video. We got to ask star Jonathan Silverman a few questions, and see what's happened since we last saw Beethoven.
Fanlala: What has changed for Eddie since Beethoven's Big Break?
Jonathan Silverman: A lot has changed for Eddie since we last saw him in Beethoven's Big Break. His son is now off to college, so as a single dad it's just him and his beloved and trusted dog Beethoven. Nonetheless, his status as a dog trainer has increased and Eddie and Beethoven are making lots of successful movies together.
However, something isn't quite right with Beethoven on...
Beethoven's Treasure Tail is the latest movie in the series to head to home video. We got to ask star Jonathan Silverman a few questions, and see what's happened since we last saw Beethoven.
Fanlala: What has changed for Eddie since Beethoven's Big Break?
Jonathan Silverman: A lot has changed for Eddie since we last saw him in Beethoven's Big Break. His son is now off to college, so as a single dad it's just him and his beloved and trusted dog Beethoven. Nonetheless, his status as a dog trainer has increased and Eddie and Beethoven are making lots of successful movies together.
However, something isn't quite right with Beethoven on...
- 10/29/2014
- by tim@fanlala.com (Fanlala)
- kidspickflicks
This story first appeared in the Oct. 31-Nov. 7 issue of The Hollywood Reporter magazine. Sean Hayes and Todd Milliner formed Hazy Mills a decade ago, they were in markedly different places in their respective entertainment careers. Emmy-winning actor Hayes, now 44, was co-starring on NBC's long-running comedy Will & Grace, while Milliner, now 45, was teaching at Chicago's sketch comedy theater Second City. Today, their company -- its name was inspired by combining their last names and the old mills that dotted their home state of Illinois -- has built an impressively diverse roster of programming that
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- 10/27/2014
- by Philiana Ng
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
WWE.com
The story of whether or not Cm Punk will ever return to World Wrestling Entertainment is pro wrestling’s most significant tale of 2014. No matter how many A-list main eventers Seth Rollins curbstomps or “RKOs outta nowhere” Randy Orton delivers, the story that keeps the WWE Universe a swirling hotbed of controversy is related to the “Second City Saint” and his sudden desire to leave WWE at arguably the height of his skill and popularity.
Also a major story in WWE this year is the company’s release of the WWE Network, a literal one-stop shop for all of the company’s content in one online location. As the company prepares for media’s wholly digitized future, the move is intriguing in that in its presentation, WWE beat FX, HBO and CBS to the punch, and though sometimes buggy, it’s pure conceptual genius.
Now, with all of that being said,...
The story of whether or not Cm Punk will ever return to World Wrestling Entertainment is pro wrestling’s most significant tale of 2014. No matter how many A-list main eventers Seth Rollins curbstomps or “RKOs outta nowhere” Randy Orton delivers, the story that keeps the WWE Universe a swirling hotbed of controversy is related to the “Second City Saint” and his sudden desire to leave WWE at arguably the height of his skill and popularity.
Also a major story in WWE this year is the company’s release of the WWE Network, a literal one-stop shop for all of the company’s content in one online location. As the company prepares for media’s wholly digitized future, the move is intriguing in that in its presentation, WWE beat FX, HBO and CBS to the punch, and though sometimes buggy, it’s pure conceptual genius.
Now, with all of that being said,...
- 10/26/2014
- by Marcus K. Dowling
- Obsessed with Film
The Alley Cat
Directed by Marie Ullrich
Written by Marie Ullrich
USA, 2014
The bicycle is by far the most existential vehicular choice when making a road film about a character in a state of mental cross roads. Unlike the car, the bike is solely powered by the human and it’s capabilities are dictated by the rider’s. Anyone can press a pedal and go 100 mph, but with a bicycle the wheels are only an extension of the human drive to move forward. In Marie Ullrich’s The Alley Cat, this sense of propulsion collides with the main character’s struggle to move forward mentally. Jasper was a mother but gave her child up to her sister, with the deal that her little girl can never know who her real mom is. It’s during a wild, late-night bike race through Chicago’s south loop that she reassesses her priorities...
Directed by Marie Ullrich
Written by Marie Ullrich
USA, 2014
The bicycle is by far the most existential vehicular choice when making a road film about a character in a state of mental cross roads. Unlike the car, the bike is solely powered by the human and it’s capabilities are dictated by the rider’s. Anyone can press a pedal and go 100 mph, but with a bicycle the wheels are only an extension of the human drive to move forward. In Marie Ullrich’s The Alley Cat, this sense of propulsion collides with the main character’s struggle to move forward mentally. Jasper was a mother but gave her child up to her sister, with the deal that her little girl can never know who her real mom is. It’s during a wild, late-night bike race through Chicago’s south loop that she reassesses her priorities...
- 10/25/2014
- by Jae K. Renfrow
- SoundOnSight
Margaret here with your update on comedy greenlights. Keegan-Michael Key and Jordan Peele, stars of the eponymous highly-rated Comedy Central sketch show, are making time in their busy schedule of routinely putting SNL to shame to produce and star in their first joint film project. They just inked a deal with New Line to make Keanu. No, it's not the long-overdue biopic following the rise and fall of the actor who brought us Neo, Ted "Theodore" Logan, and a very Sad Meme. The script, penned by Peele and Community writer Alex Rubens, follows two friends who pretend to be drug dealers to get back a stolen cat (named, you guessed it, Keanu). Peter Atencio, veteran director of Key & Peele, is in talks to direct, and production is slated to begin in April. Says Peele: "The movie should resonate with a large audience as almost everyone has had a house...
- 10/23/2014
- by Margaret de Larios
- FilmExperience
Make people laugh and they won't even realize you're making them think. Over the past 50 years, women have broken through the glass ceiling time after time, shattering stereotypes and thumbing their noses at the old chestnut that "Women aren't funny." Fact: Anybody who says women aren't funny doesn't want them to be funny. We're looking back on the 50 funniest women of the past 50 years, their contributions to comedy, and their enduring legacies that inspire men and women alike. These are the 50 women who have helped (and are helping) to introduce the next class of hilarious women, which will inevitably include Amy Schumer, Lena Dunham, Mindy Kaling, Tig Notaro, Chelsea Handler, Maria Bamford, Aubrey Plaza, and Kate McKinnon. Keep in mind this list only includes women who are primarily performers in movies, television, and standup comedy. That's why you don't see legends like Nora Ephron, Anne Beatts, and Elaine May here.
- 10/16/2014
- by Louis Virtel
- Hitfix
Every week, Splitsider premieres a clip from the archive of Chicago’s famed sketch and improv theater Second City. This week, it has the clip of the first time Bill Murray ever did Nick the Lounge Singer, one of the most memorable Saturday Night Live characters ever. Considering it was performed in Chicago when Murray was still a Chicago local, it’s very Chicago-y. Good thing he spent that time traveling to a galaxy far, far away, so he was able to kick the bit up a notch by the time he got to SNL.
- 10/15/2014
- by Jesse David Fox
- Vulture
Second City has been regularly releasing old videos of notable alums, and this clip is just as good as Chris Farley's pre-"SNL" triumph. It's Mike Myers unleashing a Scottish take on the French language back in 1986 at Toronto's Sc club. This is 15 years before "Shrek" came to theaters and dazzled us with his brogue. Watch Myers kill in this quick moment with the crowd. (Via Splitsider)...
- 10/2/2014
- by Louis Virtel
- Hitfix
By now you've probably seen the trailers for Lionsgate's upcoming adaptation of The Hunger Games. But the first clip from the film has just appeared online. Er, sort of. Okay, so this scene may not actually appear in the film, or have anything to do with Lionsgate. But it's still pretty entertaining. Check it out after the jump. The real Hunger Games opens in theaters everywhere on March 23rd. The above parody comes from the Second City Network. Here are the credits... Written by Alice Moran and Adam Cawley Starring Alice Moran, Adam Cawley, Connor Thompson Directed and Edited by Mike Fly Shot by Curt Galindo-Orozco Make Up by Andrea Brown Production Coordinator...
- 2/17/2012
- FEARnet
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