News

Continuing on from part one of this week’s mega-podcast, David Bax from Battleship Pretension and Hey Watch This! joins Kate to break down this fall’s new series:

September premieres (3:51-54:25): Life in Pieces (CBS), 9/21; Blindspot (NBC), 9/21; Minority Report (Fox), 9/21; Limitless (CBS), 9/22; The Muppets (ABC), 9/22; Scream Queens (Fox), 9/22; Rosewood (Fox), 9/23; Heroes Reborn (NBC), 9/24; The Player (ABC), 9/24; Blood & Oil (ABC), 9/27; Indian Summers (PBS), 9/27; Quantico (ABC), 9/27; Grandfathered (Fox), 9/29; The Grinder (Fox), 9/29; Code Black (CBS), 9/30

October premieres (54:49-1:13:22): Benders (IFC), 10/1; Dr. Ken (ABC), 10/2; Casual (Hulu), 10/7; Red Oaks (Amazon), 10/9; The Last Kingdom (Bbca), 10/10; Crazy Ex-Girlfriend (The CW), 10/12; Truth Be Told (NBC), 10/16; Supergirl (CBS), 10/26; Wicked City (ABC), 10/27; Ash vs. Evil Dead (Starz), 10/31

November and December premieres (1:13:24-1:27:09): Angel From Hell (CBS), 11/5; Master of None (Netflix), 11/6; Flesh and Bone (Starz), 11/8; Chicago Med (NBC), 11/10; Spotless (Esquire), 11/14; Into the Badlands (AMC), 11/15; The Art of More...

Returning to the podcast this week is friend of the show David Bax, from Battleship Pretension and Hey Watch This!, and as always happens when David is on the show, this is a long one. So long, in fact, that we’ve split the podcast into two parts. First up is David and Kate’s look at the week’s TV, including previews of the upcoming returns of The Last Man on Earth, Bob’s Burgers, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Fresh Off the Boat, black-ish, Empire, and Nashville, as well as looks at Married, Project Runway, the 2015 Emmy Awards, and more. Afterward, David stuck around to preview the fall’s upcoming new series, but to avoid putting out a three hour beast of a podcast episode, that segment is available separately.

Our Week in Comedy (7:41-34:48): Preview The Last Man on Earth s2, Preview Bob’s Burgers s6, Preview...

It’s almost September and that means Netflix is about to refresh their content, for better or worse. Some of the notable titles leaving include: High Fidelity, Anchorman 2, and The Skeleton Twins. So if you haven’t seen some of these titles, plan your nights accordingly. We of course can look forward more than a few new titles including The Monster Squad, Moonrise Kingdom (pictured above), and The Walking Dead: Season 5.

Available 9/1

72 Dangerous Animals: Australia: Season 1

Arthur: Season 17

Avengers Confidential: Black Widow & Punisher (2014)

Battle Creek: Season 1

Blackbird (2014)

Capital C (2014)

Combustion (2013)

Da Jammies: Season 1

Divorce Corp. (2014)

Giggle and Hoot’s Best Ever! (2014)

Hamlet (1990)

Hardball (2001)

Heather McDonald: I Don’t Mean To Brag (2014)

Lawrence of Arabia: Restored Version (1962)

Los hombres también lloran: Season 1

Masters of the Universe (1987)

Mississippi Damned (2009)

Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood: Volume 1

Mouk: Season 1

Our Man in Tehran (2013)

Pandas: The Journey Home (2014)

Person of Interest:...

As you've likely heard, a slew of high-profile movies, including "The Hunger Games: Catching Fire" and "World War Z" are leaving Netflix in September, thanks to the expiration of a deal with Epix.

Also going bye-bye, TV series including "Coach," "Undeclared," and Britcom "The It Crowd."

Leaving September 1

"Agent Cody Banks 2: Destination London" (2004)

"Bratz: Rock Angelz" (2005)

"Care Bears: Big Wish Movie" (2005)

"Care Bears: Journey to Joke-a-Lot" (2004)

"Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" (2000)

"Curious George 2: Follow That Monkey!" (2009)

"Doomsday Preppers": Season 1-3

"Electrick Children" (2012)

"FernGully: The Last Rainforest" (1992)

"Ink Master": Season 2

"Jackie Brown" (1997)

"Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels" (1998)

"Mortal Kombat: The Movie" (1995)

"Patch Adams" (1998)

"Perfume: The Story of a Murderer" (2006)

"Rugrats in Paris: The Movie" (2000)

"Rules of Engagement" (2000)

"Rumpelstiltskin" (1987)

"Sarah's Choice" (2009)

"School of Rock" (2003)

"She's the One" (1996)

"Sleepless in Seattle" (1993)

"The It Crowd": Series 1-4

"The Lost Boys" (1987)

"Total Recall" (1990)

"W." (2008)

Leaving September 2

"Cheech & Chong's Hey Watch This...

It’s a week of finales on the podcast, giving us plenty of TV to discuss in another lengthy installment. We start with the comedies, including the return of Community, pilot of One Big Happy, and finales of Always Sunny, Man Seeking Woman, Broad City, Girls, and Looking. Next up are genre and drama, including a look at iZombie, the newly-released Bloodline s1, and catch ups with Empire, The Slap, and Fortitude, as well as our usual favorites. Afterwards, David Bax of Battleship Pretension and Hey Watch This! returns to the DVD Shelf to take a look at the CW teen soap Gossip Girl.

Our Week in Comedy (6:57-43:14): Community premiere, One Big Happy pilot, Jane the Virgin, Always Sunny finale, Man Seeking Woman finale, Broad City finale, Girls finale, Looking finale

Our Week in Genre and Drama (43:59-1:28:39): iZombie, Bloodline s1, Empire s1, The Slap,...

iZombie: “Pilot” works on developing the main character

Rob Thomas has been known to television fans for a number of shows over the years, from Veronica Mars toParty Down. His newest series, developed in conjunction with Diane Ruggiero-Wright, brings the iZombiecomics to the small screen in a show of the same name. The show is centred around a morgue assistant who is also a member of the undead, and whose diet of brains comes with the side effect of absorbing the individual’s memories… read the full article.

Broad City ends the season strong

This has been an extremely strong season of Broad City, and though this episode is a somewhat strange one to use as a finale, it ultimately feels like an inspired choice. We have no sense of closure with Ilana and Lincoln’s relationship, which was anticipated. No arc is particularly remarked upon or addressed. It...

It’s another marathon podcast this week, with lots of notable TV giving us plenty to discuss. We kick things off with the comedies, including a preview of Childrens Hospital’s premiere, season one of The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, and a memorable Man Seeking Woman. Next we dive in with genre and documentary, with a preview of iZombie’s pilot as well as finale talk for The 100 and Banshee, as well as the stunning conclusion of The Jinx: the Life and Deaths of Robert Durst. Afterward, we look at a handful of dramas, including this week’s eagerly anticipated Mike-centric Better Call Saul. Finally, Paul Goebel, the King of TV and cohost of Hey Watch This!, returns to the DVD Shelf to take a look at the influential and frequently fascinating Star Trek.

Our Week in Comedy (9:25-53:47): Preview Childrens Hospital s6, The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt s1, Man Seeking Woman,...

Spring and love are in the air, but let's face it... so are heavy doses of pollen and broken-hearted misery, too. I mean, you can't force anyone to love you, right? Well, maybe... at least that's the case in the new flick Love Sick Love!

From the Press Release

Amid a cinema landscape of syrupy rom-coms and warm bodied zombies that live happily ever after, director Christian Charles (Jerry Seinfeld’s Comedian, Cheech & Chong’s Hey Watch This) in his latest film Love Sick Love offers up a film for the romantically challenged. In the spirit of Fatal Attraction and Swimming with Sharks but for the dating world -- a New York businessman’s fling turns deadly when he is teamed with a psychotic serial romantic in this boy meets girl thriller that propels the term "love hurts" to a whole new level. The film will be available on DVD...

Looks like Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment has bigger plans for its Blu-ray release of The Lion King. According to Amazon, the animated movie will be available in a four-disc Blu-ray/Blu-ray 3D/DVD and an eight-disc The Lion King Trilogy Blu-ray/Blu-ray 3D/DVD set.

Amazon doesn’t have a release date and Disney hasn’t issued the official details yet, but we’re guessing the discs will be available sometime in the summer, although the studio could hold it off for the busy holiday season. On its Fantasia/Fantasia 2000 Blu-ray disc back in November, Disney said The Lion King would be coming in the fall.

The new release of The Lion King will be part of Disney’s Diamond Edition line, which also includes the Bambi Blu-ray issued in February. But The Lion King will be the studio’s first Blu-ray 3D in this line — and the...

With Cars 2 revving up in theaters on June 24, Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment is bringing Lightning McQueen, Mater and Doc Hudson back to high-definition Blu-ray on April 12. The original Cars has been available on Blu-ray since 2007, but the new version is a Blu-ray/DVD combo pack, available in Blu-ray or DVD packaging.

The story about a hot shot rookie race car who gets stranded in a forgotten town on the old Route 66 right before his most important race, Cars features a truckload of well-known voices: Owen Wilson (Little Fockers) as Lightning McQueen; Bonnie Hunt (TV’s The Bonnie Hunt Show) as Sally Carrera; comedian Larry the Cable Guy as Mater; Paul Newman (Road to Perdition) as Doc Hudson; plus Cheech Marin (Cheech & Chong’s Hey Watch This), Tony Shalhoub (TV’s Monk), John Ratzenberger (Toy Story 3), Michael Keaton (The Other Guys) and the late comedian George Carlin.

Nominated...

Some performers are so gifted that all they have to do is make noise and you laugh. George Carlin had the gift. Chico Marx had it. Bill Murray and Will Ferrell have it, too. No one, however, got more laughs out of me just from the sound of his voice than Tommy Chong.

Sometimes, when I want to giggle, I just think about Tommy Chong saying, "okay, man" and I'm done. What this says about me, I don't know. So imagine how hard it was for me to keep it together when I was talking to the dude on the phone!! And while he may not do as many "wow"s and "man"s on the phone, it still sounded just like him.

Below are some highlights of our conversation, the day Chong called to shill for his new DVD Cheech and Chong: Hey Watch This! which I have not watched.

This week sees the release of several new movies and TV shows, some for the first time ever on Blu-ray. Of the ones coming out this week, we’re excited for a few of them in particular.

These esteemed examples of entertainment include Crazy Heart, Batman, Batman Returns, Fist of Legend, the first season of Merlin, the DVD release of the classic Battleship Potemkin and an obscure direct t0 dvd movie called Crimes of Fashion featuring Big Bang Theory’s Kaley Cuoco and Megan Fox. And, of course, the non-3D Blu-ray release of Avatar hits stores this Thursday (pictured above with Sam Worthington and Zoe Saldana).

Movies

Avatar ~ Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldana, Sigourney Weaver (Blu-ray and DVD)

Battleship Potemkin ~ Alexander Antonov, Vladimir Barsky (Blu-ray)

Batman ~ Michael Keaton, Jack Nicholson (Blu-ray)

Batman Returns ~ Michael Keaton, Danny DeVito, Christopher Walken (Blu-ray)

Cheech & Chong’s Hey Watch This! ~ Cheech Marin, Tommy Chong...

Crazy Heart: Perhaps it's the tool of the truly lazy critic to merely point to another movie as basis for describing the movie he's currently reviewing, but it's damn near impossible not to draw parallels between Scott Cooper's Crazy Heart and Darren Aronofsky's The Wrestler. The comparison isn't just apt thematically, but reflective of the awards season: it'll get a best actor nomination for the lead and a deserving best song nomination. It's a tried and true song we've all heard before: an old salt rumbling on the road, clinging to a life of desperation and destructive behavior because it's the only one he knows, finding new loves and trying to reclaim old lives, que sera serve me a beer back. And I don't offer that up as a negative; truth be told, there's a reason why it's a popular seed from which to sprout a story.

Crazy Heart

It's a lot like The Wrestler, but with country music. Very simple and very effective. Jeff Bridges' performance as washed out country singer Bad Blake is magnificent. He completely inhabits the role and does all his own singing and playing. Maggie Gyllenhaal is just as great, playing opposite him as struggling single mother Jean. The music is of course amazing and the final song (which we see Blake writing throughout the film) will break you.

Extras include:

Deleted ScenesJeff Bridges, Maggie Gyllenhaal, and Robert Duvall interviews (Bd exclusive)

The Lovely Bones

Missed this one and it got terrible reviews, but i'm willing to give Peter Jackson a chance and it has a really extensive making of doc.

Extras include:

Introduction by Peter JacksonFilming 'The Lovely Bones' - a three hour documentary that chronicles the making of the film (Bd exclusive)

The Young Victoria

Nothing new but a solid period romance.

Cheech and Chong are back. The legendary comedy duo of Tommy Chong and Cheech Marin reunited for a comedy tour. The documentary Cheech & Chong: Hey Watch This chronicles the reunion 25 years in the making.

Tommy Chong on Hey Watch This

.The Cheech & Chong brand has survived,. Chong said. .The movie Up in Smoke is still being rented and still being watched. All we did was take the brand back from the people that had it. Now, we.re enjoying the harvest..

We might be jumping the gun a bit here today, but clearly Avatar is the biggest DVD and Blu-ray release of the week -- even if it doesn't actually hit stores until Earth Day (Thursday). I wonder how many people will bring it home and wonder why they aren't seeing it in three-dimensions? Other major releases include Crazy Heart (which Jeff Bridges just won the Oscar for), Peter Jackson's much maligned The Lovely Bones, British crime drama 44 Inch Chest, and Peacock starring Cillian Murphy and Ellen Page. On Blu, we have Steven Spielberg's Minority Report, The Basketball Diaries, and the Kino release of Battleship Potemkin. Do you see anything worth buying or renting this week? Avatar [1] (on Apr. 22nd) (+ Blu-ray [2]) The Lovely Bones [3] (+ Blu-ray [4]) Crazy Heart [5] (+ Blu-ray [6]) 44 Inch Chest [7] (+ Blu-ray [8]) Peacock [9] The Young Victoria [10] (+ Blu-ray [11]) Summer Hours: Criterion Collection [12] (+ Blu-ray [13]) Vivre sa vie: Criterion Collection [14] (+ Blu-ray...

As elderstatesmen of stoner movies, a reputation achieved across a dozen films (including the classic Up in Smoke), Cheech Marin and Tommy Chong have found remarkable endurance, their pothead alter egos now spanning decades in popularity. After a long hiatus, the two reunited last year for a massive comedy tour, captured on film as Cheech and Chong's Hey Watch This. Out promoting the release of this documentary (released today in limited release, DVD & Blu-Ray, and video-on-demand channels), Rotten Tomatoes sat down with the legendary duo for their Five Favorite Films.

It has been 25 years since marijuana connoisseurs had original Cheech & Chong material to enjoy. They.ve had to settle for successors like Harold and Kumar. Now Cheech and Chong hit the road again and things have changed.

Cheech Marin on Hey Watch This

.80% of the audience that comes to see us now is between 30 and 40, which means a lot of them were not alive the last time we were on stage together,. Cheech Marin said. .Our audience has grown much bigger in our absence because of the viewing of the movies, and then they go way back to the records. It.s a social phenomenon, like a social network. Cheech & Chong is a right of passage. When you get to be 13, 14 or 15, you discovered Cheech & Chong movies, pizza and dope around the same time. Hey cool, weekend, nothing to do, okay. Cheech and Chong marathons..

It's reefer madness this week, as the world awaits the DVD release of Hey Watch This, a documentary shot last year during Cheech Marin and Tommy Chong's Light Up America reunion tour. (It hits streets on Tuesday, April 20.) In honor of the two kings of stoner cinema, we recommend checking out this list of cinema's top ten smoke-fueled flicks that pay tribute -- in their own special way -- to Cheech and Chong's legacy. What do they say about smoking 'em if you got 'em? 10. Dude, Where's My Car?Dude director Danny Leiner is the Martin Scorsese of marijuana movies. Not only did he pilot Ashton Kutcher and Seann William Scott through this one-joke comedy, where -- spoiler alert -- two dudes wander aimlessly in search of their missing vehicle, but he also went on to direct Harold & Kumar (more on that later). If Hollywood had a stoner-movie hall of fame,...

It's reefer madness this week, as the world awaits the DVD release of Hey Watch This, a documentary shot last year during Cheech Marin and Tommy Chong's Light Up America reunion tour. (It hits streets on Tuesday, April 20.) In honor of the two kings of stoner cinema, we recommend checking out this list of cinema's top ten smoke-fueled flicks that pay tribute -- in their own special way -- to Cheech and Chong's legacy. What do they say about smoking 'em if you got 'em? 10. Dude, Where's My Car?Dude director Danny Leiner is the Martin Scorsese of marijuana movies. Not only did he pilot Ashton Kutcher and Seann William Scott through this one-joke comedy, where -- spoiler alert -- two dudes wander aimlessly in search of their missing vehicle, but he also went on to direct Harold & Kumar (more on that later). If Hollywood had a stoner-movie hall of fame,...

Fun for Wednesdays! We look at an image from an upcoming movie or TV show and write snarky, witty, or otherwise entertaining captions for it. No prizes, it’s just for fun. “Bob was the only known player of the bong horn”: The Weinstein Company tells us about the movie: Cheech and Chong’s Hey Watch This is a feature film showcasing the duo’s hugely successful reunion tour, Cheech & Chong: Light Up America, where they performed together for the first time in over 25 years. The pop culture duo performed for more than 100 audiences, grossing eight figures, making them one of the most successful tours of 2008-2009. The side-splitting film captures the essence of their live performances which have made them the fan-favorite, high-times comedians they are today.

You know them, you love them and now they’re back together again in a concert reunion movie. Hey Watch This is a feature film showcasing comedy legends Cheech and Chong during their highly successful reunion tour, Cheech & Chong: Light Up America.

During the tour they performed together for the first time in over 25 years for more than 100 audiences, grossed eight figures and went on to become one of the most successful tours of 2008-2009. And now, the side-splitting film captures the essence of their live performances which have made them the fan-favorite comedians they are today.

Cheech and Chong’s Hey Watch This will be debuting via a new kind of release which will have it on every platform including a limited theatrical run, DVD/Blu-Ray, online and at local retail outlets, Video On Demand service, and streaming through the PS3 and Xbox360 Networks. Expect this movie to hit theaters,...

Cheech and Chong’s Hey Watch Thisis a feature film showcasing the duo’s hugely successful reunion tour, Cheech & Chong: Light Up America, where they performed together for the first time in over 25 years. The pop culture duo performed for more than 100 audiences, grossing eight figures, making them one of the most successful tours of 2008-2009. The side-splitting film captures the essence of their live performances which have made them the fan-favorite, high-times comedians they are today.

Cheech and Chong’s Hey Watch This will be the maiden voyage for a trendsetting new release model, making the content available Day in Date on every platform including a limited theatrical run, DVD/Blu-Ray availability online and at local retail outlets, Video On Demand service, and even the ability to stream it through your PS3 and Xbox360 Networks all on April 20th.

On April 20th, roll out to a theater near you,...

Here are the new MPAA ratings from Bulletin No: 2109.

American Bandits Rated PG For western violence, language and brief smoking. The Baster Rated PG-13 For mature thematic content, sexual material including dialogue, some nudity, drug use and language. Release Date: Tba 2010 Cheech And Chong: Hey Watch This Rated R For drug content, crude sex-related humor and language throughout. The Cry Of The Owl Rated R For violence and language. The Debt Rated R For some violence and language. Release Date: Tba 2010 Down Terrace Rated R For violence, pervasive language and some drug use. Father Of Invention Rated PG-13 For sexual material and language. Group Sex Rated R For strong crude sexual dialogue, sexuality, nudity and language throughout. Hey Hey It's Esther Blueburger Rated PG-13 For thematic elements, language, some sexual content and brief teen smoking. The Last International Playboy Rated R For sexual content, nudity and language. The Shadow Within...

MPAA ratings: Feb. 24, 2010. The following feature-length motion pictures have been reviewed and rated by the Classification and Rating Administration pursuant to the Motion Picture Classification and Rating program. Each of the designated ratings is defined as follows under the Motion Picture Classification and Rating program.

G -- General Audiences. All ages admitted.

PG -- Parental Guidance Suggested. Some material may not be suitable for children.

PG -13 --Parents Strongly Cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13.

R -- Restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.

Nc-17 -- No One 17 And Under Admitted.

Film Distributor Reason Rating American Bandits

E1 Entertainment U.S. LP

Rated for western violence, language and brief smoking.

PG Baster, The

Miramax Films

Rated for mature thematic content, sexual material including dialogue, some nudity, drug use and language.

PG-13 Cheech and Chong: Hey Watch This

Vivendi Entertainment Rated for drug content, crude sex-related humor and language throughout.

I received an email from a reader named Brandon tonight linking to a YouTube interview with legendary stoners Cheech and Chong talking about all things geek, movies, and, well, Cheech and Chong. But at one point (about 1:02 in) they talk briefly about what they've got coming up for movies and Chong says there's three things: a concert movie, out on 4/20, called Hey Watch This! (pre-order on Amazon); an animated feature, "a bunch of those" Chong says (not just one movie), but the first one will get released "sometime after 4/20"; and lastly, they reveal that "we're also working on a movie movie, Up in Smoke 2." Hell yes! They both go on to joke that they're going to call the sequel "Avatar 2: Escape from Guantanamo," which doesn't really make sense, but whatever. The big news coming from this interview is that their are a "bunch" of animated movies ...

"I truly believe pot can save the world," said Tommy Chong, one half of the famed comedic duo, Cheech & Chong, who proved that creed with their heavily drug-tinged "Light Up America" tour stop at the Fillmore at the Jackie Gleason Theater. The duo, who are touring for the first time in 25 years, were the first comedians to perform as part of this year's 4th Annual South Beach Comedy Festival.

The time since the last tour saw Cheech & Chong split. With their friendship on the rocks, they both went separate ways in their career. Cheech Marin has a successful career in film and television, with parts in every Robert Rodriguez-helmed film and voiceover work in everything from 1994's "The Lion King" to last year's "Beverly Hills Chihuahua." He can even currently be seen on ABC's "Lost."

Chong had a recurring role on TV's "That 70's Show." A 2003 bust for selling...

Cheech & Chong are finally set to return to the screen, only this time they’ll be animated. Big Vision Entertainment, which focuses on direct-to-dvd special-interest material, has announced that it will produce an animated film featuring the stoned duo with Chambers Bros. Entertainment. The two companies have acquired animated film rights to the classic Cheech and Chong library held by music producer and Ode Records owner Lou Adler and will use those famous comedy bits to inspire Cheech and Chong's Smokin' Animated Movie. Big Vision founder and CEO Houston Curtis will produce along with Keith, Branden and Eric Chambers, who devised the concept. Adler, who discovered the duo in the early 1970s, will executive produce. In the '70s and '80s, Cheech Marin and Tommy Chong released several top-selling comedy albums and starred in six films, including Up in Smoke and Still Smokin'. The duo are currently on a nationwide reunion stand-up tour,...

Cheech and Chong are smokin'. Well, obviously.

As their reunion stand-up tour Cheech & Chong Light Up America fires out nationwide, Big Vision Entertainment said it will produce an animated film featuring the stoned duo with Chambers Bros. Entertainment.

The two companies have acquired animated film rights to the classic Cheech and Chong library held by music producer and Ode Records owner Lou Adler and will use those famous comedy bits to inspire "Cheech and Chong's Smokin' Animated Movie."

Big Vision founder and CEO Houston Curtis will produce along with Keith, Branden and Eric Chambers, who devised the concept. Adler, who discovered the duo in the early 1970s, will executive produce. Eric and Branden Chambers will direct the animation.

The Icm-repped Big Vision, which focuses on direct-to-dvd special-interest material, will finance the project.

In the '70s and '80s, Cheech Marin and Tommy Chong released several top-selling comedy albums and starred in six films,...