News

Life is, so often, not at all like the movies. It’s not even like TV. There was no lightbulb moment, no ah-ha! that made actress Megan Park decide to move behind the camera for the next creative and professional chapter of her life. In fact, during her early days acting on shows like “The Secret Life of the American Teenager” and “Life with Derek,” Park said she remembered thinking, “I would never want to be a director.”

But while one part of Park might’ve thought “no, never,” what she was really doing was filing away the things she didn’t want to do when it came time to direct. During a recent interview with IndieWire in lower Manhattan in the weeks before the release of her second directorial effort, the Sundance hit “My Old Ass,” Park reflected on some of the earlier lessons that shaped her into such a wonderful chronicler of young,...

Robbie Amell, born in Toronto on the cusp of the digital revolution, has risen through the ranks of Hollywood with a quiet tenacity often overlooked by glitzier narratives. From his early modeling days at the age of six to captivating audiences as Stephen Jameson in The CW’s ‘The Tomorrow People’, Amell’s journey reflects a blend of talent and continuous transformation, making his career a fertile ground for exploration.

Robbie Amell

In unmasking the man behind the roles, this article delves into the less known facets of Robbie Amell’s life—from his stage beginnings and career-defining performances to personal pursuits and off-screen ventures. Each revelation affords a new perspective on Amell, who not only shines in front of the camera but also takes pride in his work as an executive producer and his commitment to his personal life.

Early Life and Beginnings

Robbie Amell’s entry into the world of acting began early,...

Beloved Canadian series “Life with Derek” has a spinoff movie. Premiering in 2005, the original sitcom followed the shenanigans of teenage step-siblings Derek [Michael Seater] and Casey [Ashley Leggat] as they jockeyed for top-dog status in the blended family. “Life with Derek” aired for four seasons, but with TV revivals all the rage these days, it was only a matter of time before the comedy received a reboot entitled “Life with Luca”.

“We are that nostalgic show,” Leggat tells Et Canada. “Hindsight is always 20/20, but you look back and we did something really amazing. The amount of people, too, that say ‘I did better in school because of Casey. I used her study method and it helped me get my medical license.’ It’s crazy to me that these characters resonated so much with people.”

“While making the series, I don’t think we were so aware of how significant it was for people,...

“Life With Derek” is getting another reboot.

The beloved Canadian television series is being turned into a second movie, 12 years after the first reboot movie “Vacation with Derek” was released in 2010.

Read More: Disney Channel Favourite ‘Phineas And Ferb’ Is Returning To Television

The new film, titled “Life With Luca” will pick up “15 years later, as Derek (Michael Seater) and his ‘Type A’ personality daughter Skyler prepare to move in with aunt Casey (Ashley Leggat) and her extended family,” as per IMDb.

In a tweet shared by Leggat, the 36-year-old actress teased that her and co-star Seater’s onscreen kids “can’t seem to get along” just like their characters Casey and Derek, respectively.

It’s official – Derek & Casey are back! This time, with each of their own kids who can’t seem to get along. Sound familiar?

Get ready to reunite with your favourite step siblings in the #LifewithLuca...

The cast of Life with Derek is together again. The cast of the Canadian sitcom has reunited for a spin-off movie titled Life with Luca. In the United States, the original sitcom aired on for four seasons, between 2005 and 2009. Michael Seater, Ashley Leggat, Jordan Todosey, Daniel Magder, Ariel Waller, and Joy Tanner John Ralston starred in the original sitcom which followed the lives of a blended family.

Read More…...

Life With Derek sure looks a lot different now! The beloved family sitcom, which aired on Disney Channel from 2005 to 2009, is being rebooted for a movie called Life with Luca. Ashley Leggat, who played Casey McDonald on all four seasons of the show, shared four behind-the-scenes pictures from production, which appears to have already wrapped! "We're backkkk!!! Had the time of my life filming Life With Luca," Ashley tweeted Aug. 31. "I can't wait for you all to see what Derek & Casey have been up to in the last 15 years." In one of the pictures, Michael Seater, who plays Derek, is seen giving her a kiss on the cheek.  Predictably, fans of Life With...

Fans of the early 2000s hit family series Life With Derek will be happy to know the cast has reunited onscreen once again! On August 31, the stars of the Disney Channel classic shared photos from the set of a new spinoff movie, Life with Lucas. It continues the trend of beloved ’90s and early 2000s YA shows being rebooted or revived for a modern audience. When we last left the teens, both Derek (Michael Seater) and Casey (Ashley Leggat) had been accepted to the same university, ready to head off to college. The new feature will focus on what has happened to our favorite step-siblings in the last 15 years. Both are now raising families of their own, in completely different ways, of course. Leggat took to Twitter to post photos with her onscreen step-brother and mother, as well as the new kids in the cast. John Ralston, ...

It's been years since Life With Derek, a Canadian sitcom that aired in syndication on Disney Channel, wrapped up, but here we are, debating whether there was incest at the heart of it. Yep, you read that right. The show ran for four seasons from 2005-2009 with a follow-up movie, Vacation With Derek, and told the tale of the Venturi-McDonald clan. The blended family living in Canada included Casey McDonald (Ashley Leggat), Derek Venturi (Michael Seater), their siblings and parents George Venturi (John Ralston) and Nora McDonald (Joy Tanner). A typical sitcom premise, nothing really special here…until you look at the relationship between Casey and Derek. And that's what some Twitter users did. It's sending them...

Mike has a tough decision ahead of him.

On Suits Season 6 Episode 3, Sean got word to Harvey that Mike could get out early if he ratted out his friend, Kevin.

Below, TV Fanatics Allison Nichols, Jasmine Blu, Stacy Glanzman and Christine Hinton discuss Mike's decision, Rachel being ridiculed and what's going on with Donna.

Should Mike turn on Kevin to get out early?

Allison: I vote yes. Save Yourself, Mike! Mike would be able to escape Gallo's grasp, and he could return to his life, whatever that looks like now that he can't be a lawyer.

Jasmine: Ughhhh! I'm still not sure if I actually trust Kevin, but he did put himself out there for Mike. I really don't want him to because principles. Damn those principles.

Stacy: No, I don't think it's in Mike's nature to do that. I think he would have a hard time living with that decision if he did it.

Sneak Peek new images of actress Sarah Gadon ("Dracula Untold") in the Fall 2014 issue of "Real Style" magazine, plus an Nsfw clip from her film "Enemy":

Previous to "Dracula Untold", Gadon had feature film roles in "A Dangerous Method" and "Cosmopolis", also guest-starring in the Canadian-lensed TV series "Are You Afraid of the Dark?", "Dark Oracle", "Doc", "In a Heartbeat", "La Femme Nikita", "Life with Derek" and "Mutant X".

She is also noted for voice work in the animated productions "My Dad the Rock Star", "Ruby Gloom", "Total Drama" and "Wayside".

She is currently shooting the supernatural feature "The 9th Life of Louis Drax".

Click the images to enlarge and Sneak Peek Sarah Gadon...

Exclusive: As part of new CW president Mark Pedowitz’s promise to keep the network’s lights on during the summer, the CW is nearing a deal to acquire upcoming Canadian soap The L.A. Complex. The network is in final negotiations to buy the 6 already produced episodes of the series, which premieres on specialty channel MuchMusic next week and will later air on sibling broadcaster CTV. It may also pick up 7 more for a 13-episode run. Created by Canadian writer-producer Martin Gero, L.A. Complex has drawn comparisons to the long-running Canadian teen soap Degrassi, which is produced by the same company, Epitome Pictures. In the vein of Melrose Place, which the CW remade a couple of years ago, L.A. Complex revolves around twenty-somethings living in the same La apartment complex as they try to make it in Tinseltown. The series features an international cast: Jonathan Patrick Moore (Neighbours) as Connor,...

Move over, "Melrose Place" -- there's a new, er, place to be.

But unlike the small apartment building in West Hollywood that housed a doctor, a social worker and a bad-boy handyman, the dwellers of The Lux in new MuchMusic series "The L.A. Complex" are more like aspiring actress Sandy and struggling writer Billy.

The new original scripted drama is from the producers of classic teen opus "Degrassi," and centres on a group of people with stars in their eyes as they deal with the "real" reality of showbiz.

"The L.A. Complex," created and executive-produced by Martin Gero ("Bored to Death," "Young People Fucking"), stars Jonathan Patrick Moore ("Neighbours") as Connor, a breakout Australian with a dark past; Cassie Steele ("Degrassi") as Abby, a Toronto girl ready to fight to get to the top in Tinseltown (eerily similar to her real-life experience); Joe Dinicol ("Life With Derek") as Nick, a...

Born To Fight

Stars: ‘Stone Cold’ Steve Austin, Daniel Magder, Jaren Brandt Bartlett, Janet Kidder, Emma Grabinsky | Written by Evan Jacobs, Jack Nasser | Directed by Anne Wheeler

Former WWE superstar ‘Stone Cold’ Steve Austin is back with Born To Fight, aka Knockout, another direct to DVD movie for producer Jack Nasser, who both previously worked together on Damage, The Stranger and the awesome Hunt to Kill. Besides producing Nasser also co-writes, with Evan Jacobs (Doughboys), this Karate Kid-esque underdog story of a nerd who learns to box, get the girl and beat the high school bully.

So far so Karate KId right? Well yes and no. Born To Fight does follow the now typical beatdown, train, fight, win formula that was made famous by Mr. Miyagi and co. in the 80s, but it has a lot, and I mean a Lot, in common with the underrated 90′s action movie Showdown,...

Filed under: Reality-Free, Summer TV, Canadian TV, Made in Canada

The hot afternoon sun is sweltering on the Toronto set of 'Combat Hospital,' a new medical drama that's supposed to be taking place in Kandahar, Afghanistan. As the sun beats down on the expansive set meticulously lined with shipping containers, a military helicopter, blast walls and a sign that says 'Welcome to Kandahar Airfield,' it's easy to forget we're standing in the middle of Toronto and not out in the sweltering Afghan desert.

'Combat Hospital' stars movie vets Elias Koteas ('The Curious Case of Benjamin Button,' 'Shutter Island') and Deborah Kara Unger ('Crash,' 'The Hurricane') in their first TV roles. This isn't the first time they've worked together -- they both starred in David Cronenberg's 'Crash' in 1996, and were thrilled to team up again.

"I adore Deborah.

It’s getting to that point in the summer where good, new television is hard to come by, which causes us to settle for reruns of Law & Order: Svu just to see how quickly we can guess the crime and criminal (ready, go: rape, creepy co-worker, time!). Sure there’s the great outdoors, but with bugs and humidity, eh, it’s overrated. Fear not, lost and lonely viewers, the CW is attempting to reel your wandering eyes in with the new sitcom 18 to Life, starring Michael Seater (Life with Derek) and Stacey Farber (Degrassi: The Next Generation).

The quirky, half-hour...

Filed under: Summer TV, Canadian TV

'18 to Life,' the Canadian comedy picked up by The CW to help combat summer's dearth of scripted television, makes its American debut tonight at 9Pm Et.

Starring kiddie TV vets Stacey Farber ('Degrassi: The Next Generation') and Michael Seater ('Life With Derek'), the show follows high school sweethearts who get married on a dare. '18 to Life' is already a hit in its homeland (a second season is filming in Montreal right now), but it's new territory for American audiences.

Will you tune in? Here are five good reasons why we think you should watch:

 

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Filed under: TV News

Perhaps hoping to inject some life into its current Tuesday night line-up of 'One Tree Hill' and 'Life Unexpected' repeats, the CW has snagged the rights to '18 to Life' for a quick Aug. 3 premiere date (9Pm), according to The Hollywood Reporter. The Canadian comedy was developed jointly by the CBS and ABC, but the latter never imported it stateside.

Despite being on a lower-profile network, at least the CBC can be pleased with a Tuesday launch rather than the disastrous Saturday launch CBS recently gave to 'The Bridge.' 'Life Unexpected' has been averaging between 500,000 and 600,000 viewers in that timeslot, so it won't take much for back-to-back half hours of '18' to improve the CW's fortunes.

At 12 episodes, the first season featured series stars Michael Seater ('Life With Derek') and Stacey Farber ('Degrassi: The Next Generation') as neighbors who marry...

HollywoodNews.com: CW is going to be premiere a new Canadian comedy series about a modern-day Romeo and Juliet, entitled “18 to Life.”

In the premiere episode of “18 To Life,” when Tom and Jessie – 18-year-old next-door neighbors who have grown up together – run off and get married, their warring families are forced to become one in this hilarious multi-generational half-hour about relationships, true love, and who takes out the garbage. The series explores intimate relationships in combustible combinations as husband-wife, mom-dad, and in-laws all struggle to influence the newlyweds and control the extended family’s destiny. Tom and Jessie move into his parents’ attic and their marriage becomes public property, creating an endless string of challenges for the couple. As this new love blooms audaciously amidst the two settled marriages, it stirs up new frictions and old passions in both sets of parents.

“18 to Life” stars Stacey Farber (“Degrassi: The Next Generation...

Michael Seater, Emily Meade and Bo Burnham will topline "Sin Bin," a coming-of-age comedy that also counts Ben McKenzie, Jeff Garlin and Tim Blake Nelson among the cast.

Billy Federighi is directing the indie, which is now shooting in Chicago. Brian Petsos, Gary Giudice, Federighi and Christopher Storer are producing, with Petsos also taking a role.

"Bin," with a script by Storer, centers on a put-upon high school student (Seater) who loans out his van (nicknamed "The Sin Bin") to his friends for their sexual exploits. Complicating matters, he is caught in a love triangle between a cute girl at school (Meade) and the villainous student liaison (Burnham). Gillian Jacobs also is in cast.

Nelson plays a police officer who lives next door to the student. Other cast details were not disclosed. Dante Federighi is exec producing.

UTA-repped Seater was the star of Disney Channel's "Life With Derek." Burnham,...

Take home a double shot of the Cloon this week as both Fantastic Mr. Fox and The Men Who Stare at Goats hit DVD, along with a whole slew of other noteworthy releases including The Blind Side starring Sandra Bullock, John Woo's Red Cliff, and Brothers starring Tobey Maguire, Natalie Portman and Jake Gyllenhaal. Also out this week are a couple more AMC TV releases with Mad Men: Season 3 and their remake of The Prisoner, and then on Blu-ray it's Toy Story and Toy Story 2 plus a handful of Criterion releases including Sanjuro, Yojimbo and Bigger Than Life. What will you be buying or renting this week? Fantastic Mr. Fox [1] (+ Blu-ray [2]) The Men Who Stare At Goats [3] (+ Blu-ray [4]) The Blind Side [5] (+ Blu-ray [6]) Brothers [7] (+ Blu-ray [8]) Red Cliff [9] (+ Blu-ray [10]) Seraphine [11] Phantom Punch [12] (+ Blu-ray [13]) Krod Mandoon and the Flaming Sword of Fire [14] Free Willy: Escape from Pirate's Cove [15] (+ Blu-ray [16]) Collision: Christopher Hitchens vs.

The 2009 Edition of Comic-Con gets underway this week at the San Diego Convention Center, promising the biggest pop-culture event of the year.

Fangoria will be there reporting on the action live from the show floor, with constant updates on all the genre panels, announcements, and more - bringing all the latest Sdcc '09 Horror News direct to you right here on Fangoria.com

For those of you planning to attend the 100% Sold-out show, here's a look at what to expect for genre programming on the event's final day - Sunday, July 26th, 2009.

11:00-12:00 Emily the Strange— Fiends, strangers, and oddballs, lend Emily your ears! She'll give them right back after this panel! Fans of underground icon Emily the Strange won't want to miss this eclectic panel featuring Emily creator Rob Reger, Dark Horse editor Shawna Gore, artist Buzz Parker, and writer Jessica Gruner as they discuss what the future holds for Emily.

It may be dubbed "Kids' Day", but Sunday at the 2009 San Diego Comic-Con has just enough genre offerings to keep us busy, yet still able to start winding down as the show closes out its sure to be memorable 40th Anniversary!

A few of these panels are on the fringes of horror at best but were included for those of you with kids (or who are just kids at heart).

Sunday, July 26

11:00-12:00 - Emily the Strange — Fiends, strangers, and oddballs, lend Emily your ears! She'll give them right back after this panel! Fans of underground icon Emily the Strange won't want to miss this eclectic panel featuring Emily creator Rob Reger, Dark Horse editor Shawna Gore, artist Buzz Parker, and writer Jessica Gruner as they discuss what the future holds for Emily. Get a first look at the new Dark Horse comic series, the new series of Emily novels from HarperCollins,...

Its no secret that Cartoon Network and Adult Swim feature some of the funniest and most innovative shows around. With programming like Robot Chicken and Batman: The Brave and the Bold, they really show their true creative abilities and, in the case of Robot Chicken in particular, often makes us laugh our butts off.

Because we’re such fans of Cartoon Network and Adult Swim here at The Flickcast, we’re particularly excited to see what they have in store for Comic-Con. Fortunately, we don’t have to wait any longer to find out because today they’ve released the official Cartoon Network and Adult Swim schedule of all the events going on in San Diego.

Here’s all the info from the press release:

Cartoon Network and Adult Swim Series Panels and Events Lineup

for 2009 Comic-Con International

Cartoon Network and Adult Swim announces a number of panels, fan events...

Cartoon Network and Warner Premiere begin production on Scooby-Doo: In The Beginning, a new mixed live-action/CG animated movie prequel today in Vancouver, British Columbia. The original movie, which is set prior to the 2002 and 2004 live-action Scooby-Doo movies, will bow on the network in fall 2009 to coincide with the DVD release of the movie. Directed by Brian Levant from a script by the Altiere Brothers, the movie stars Rob Amell (Life With Derek, Cheaper by the Dozen 2) as Freddy and newcomer Kaitlyn Melton as Daphne, Hayley Alcroft as Velma and Nick Palatas as Shaggy, with Frank Welker providing the voice of Scooby-Doo (he was the voice of Freddy in the original Scooby-Doo, Where Are You? Series). Animation Picture Company will animate Scooby-Doo.

http://enews.cynopsis.com/html.asp?XZY1121005UTF60...

There will be a third live-action/CG "Scooby-Doo" movie, this time headed to TV and DVD.

Titled "Scooby-Doo: In the Beginning" -- a prequel set before the 2002 and 2004 "Scooby-Doo" theatricals -- the film will debut on Cartoon Network in fall 2009 when it also will be released on DVD. It finds the Mystery gang uniting for the first time to solve the haunting of their high school.

"Scooby-Doo: In the Beginning" will feature an all new cast of lesser-known actors replacing the original quartet of Freddie Prinze Jr., Sarah Michelle Gellar, Matthew Lillard and Linda Cardellini. Rob Amell ("Life With Derek") will play Freddy, joined by newcomers Kaitlyn Melton as Daphne, Hayley Alcroft as Velma and Nick Palatas as Shaggy. The computer-generated Scooby-Doo will be voiced by Frank Welker, a longtime voice actor on the animated "Scooby-Doo" series.

For Cartoon, which airs Hanna-Barbera's classic "Scooby" toons, the new film is part of its push into movies and live-action.

The original movie is co-produced by Warner Premiere, the direct-to-dvd and direct-to-platform production arm of Warner Bros. Entertainment, and Cartoon Network. Warner Home Video will distribute on DVD.

Brian Levant will direct from a script by Daniel and Steven Altiere. Brian Gilbert is producing.

Production is slated to begin Monday in Vancouver.