CHICAGO – Excelsior! Comic book legend Stan Lee’s famous exclamation puts a fine point on the third and final play of Mark Pracht’s FOUR COLOR TRILOGY, “The House of Ideas,” presented by and staged at City Lit Theater in Chicago’s Edgewater neighborhood. For tickets/details, click HOUSE OF IDEAS.
John Wells
Film News: Meryl Streep, Julia Roberts Attached to ‘August: Osage County’
Submitted by TimBMartens on February 15, 2012 - 9:34pmCHICAGO – In the middle of an Oscar race where their film “The Artist” is favored to win the top prize, The Weinstein Company announced news about a future film today. Co-Chairmen Harvey and Bob Weinstein announced two big names that they have signed for one of their next films: Meryl Streep and Julia Roberts.
Blu-Ray Review: Ben Affleck Stars in Timely ‘The Company Men’
Submitted by BrianTT on June 20, 2011 - 1:02pmCHICAGO – John Wells has been one of the most important voices in television for the last two decades, shepherding “Third Watch,” “The West Wing,” “ER,” “Southland,” “Shameless,” and many more. It’s always hit-and-miss when a talent from one medium jumps to another and such is the case with “The Company Men,” starring Ben Affleck, Chris Cooper, Tommy Lee Jones, Maria Bello, and Kevin Costner. The great cast keeps it together and Wells has a keen ear for dialogue but the film never develops beyond a timely character study.
Film Review: Ben Affleck, Tommy Lee Jones Are ‘The Company Men’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on January 21, 2011 - 11:37amCHICAGO – Dealing with an overall economic downturn, as the world is still experiencing, becomes the story of the individual. The frustration and insecurity that develops in a long dry spell is poignantly rendered in writer/director John Well’s “The Company Men.” Ben Affleck joins Oscar winners Tommy Lee Jones, Chris Cooper and Kevin Costner in telling the story.
Interview: Director John Wells is Hired For ‘The Company Men’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on January 19, 2011 - 1:04pmCHICAGO – John Wells is a familiar name to televisions fans. As executive producer of “ER” and “The West Wing,” his combination of drama and humanity has left a mark in TV’s evolution for nearly a generation.
TV Review: William H. Macy, Emmy Rossum Save Troubled ‘Shameless’
Submitted by BrianTT on January 9, 2011 - 1:56pmCHICAGO – Showtime has built a critical and award-winning reputation around strong lead characters for some of our most best TV actors: Michael C. Hall in “Dexter,” Edie Falco in “Nurse Jackie,” Mary-Louise Parker in “Weeds,” Laura Linney in “The Big C,” and Toni Collette in “United States of Tara” are only a few examples.
TV Review: Excellent ‘Southland’ Returns With First New TNT Episodes
Submitted by BrianTT on January 3, 2011 - 10:20amCHICAGO – TNT’s “Southland” has found that rare balance that evades most modern cop shows. In fact, it may be the best show of its type since “NYPD Blue.”
TV News: TNT Renews Drama ‘Southland’ For Third Season
Submitted by BrianTT on April 26, 2010 - 4:51pmCHICAGO – The great “Southland” has been officially renewed for a third season, the first produced by TNT, that will air in January of 2011. The John Wells police drama started at NBC, where production began on a second season, but it was then canceled. TNT picked up the episodes already produced and aired them early this year but will now produce episodes of their own.
TV Review: Great ‘Southland’ Premieres New Episodes on TNT
Submitted by BrianTT on March 2, 2010 - 4:16pmCHICAGO – The most notable casualties of the disastrous “The Jay Leno Show” may have been Conan O’Brien and the reputation of “The Tonight Show” but the fate of scripted drama on NBC also took a hit, exemplified by the fact that the network let arguably their best show go without much fanfare.
DVD Review: First Season of Spectacular Cop Show ‘Southland’
Submitted by BrianTT on January 22, 2010 - 4:48pmCHICAGO – One episode of the excellent “Southland” should tell you all you need to know about what NBC thinks about quality dramatic writing. They don’t care. They looked at this show, one of the most expertly-written on television, and canceled it, even after starting production on the second season. They’d rather give you “The Jay Leno Show”. Show them the error of their ways and make “Southland” a hit on DVD and with upcoming new episodes on TNT.
Interview: Michael Cudlitz Redefines the TV Cop in Excellent ‘Southland’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on January 12, 2010 - 1:13pmCHICAGO – NBC’s loss is the TNT Network’s gain as the excellent police drama “Southland” re-emerges on basic cable with a premiere Tuesday, January 12th. Michael Cudlitz plays the conflicted veteran officer John Cooper in the show.