CHICAGO – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com appears on “The Morning Mess” with Dan Baker on WBGR-FM (Monroe, Wisconsin) on March 21st, 2024, reviewing the new streaming series “Manhunt” – based on the bestseller by James L. Swanson – currently streaming on Apple TV+.
The Second City
Exclusive Photos: Rachel Dratch & Friends are ‘Superior Clean’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on September 8, 2019 - 1:49pmCHICAGO – The cleanest Improvisation act took place at Chicago’s Navy Pier on August 25th, 2019. Former “Saturday Night Live” cast member Rachel Dratch & Friends headlined the Cottonelle Superior Clean County Fair for National Toilet Paper Day (8/26). Joe Arce of HollywoodChicago.com got the Exclusive Photos.
Flashback: John C. McGinley Remembers the Passing of John Candy on Mar. 4, 1994
Submitted by PatrickMcD on March 4, 2019 - 10:11pmCHICAGO – It was 25 years ago today – March 4th, 1994 – that comic actor John Candy died on the set of the film “Wagons East.” It was his 45th feature film, that extended back 21 years. One of his co-stars was John C. McGinley, best known as the irascible Perry Cox on the sitcom “Scrubs.” In a HollywoodChicago.com exclusive soundbite below, McGinley describes the atmosphere on the fateful day the cast was told of Candy’s passing.
Film Review: Gilda Radner Becomes Live Again in ‘Love, Gilda’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on September 29, 2018 - 12:51pm- 1975
- Bill Murray
- Chevy Chase
- Dan Aykroyd
- Detroit
- Gilda Radner
- HollywoodChicago.com Content
- Jane Curtin
- John Belushi
- Lorne Michaels
- Lorraine Newman
- Love Gilda
- Movie Review
- National Lampoon Radio Hour
- Original Cast
- Patrick McDonald
- Roseanne Roseannadanna
- Saturday Night Live
- SNL
- The Second City
- Toronto
CHICAGO – It’s always something, as the great Gilda Radner often said (through her character Roseanne Roseannadanna), and the documentary “Love, Gilda” is about all her somethings… her childhood, the early comedy days, the rise through “Saturday Night Live” and her succumbing to the dread disease of cancer. She had it all, did it all, but as always “it” could not save her, and eventually us.
Slideshow, Audio: Red-Carpet Portraits from The Second City Roast of George Wendt
Submitted by PatrickMcD on October 7, 2017 - 11:16pm- Andrew Alexander
- Betty Thomas
- Bob Odenkirk
- Cheers
- David Koechner
- George Wendt
- Gilda’s Club
- HollywoodChicago.com Content
- HollywoodChicago.com Slideshow
- I Can’t Believe They Wendt There: The Roast of George Wendt
- Jason Sudeikis
- Joe Arce
- Joel Murray
- Julia Sweeney
- Keegan-Michael Key
- Laura Jane Hyde
- Pat Finn
- Patrick McDonald
- The Second City
- Tim Kazurinsky
CHICAGO – On September 9th, 2017, it seemed like the whole of The Second City theater on Wells Street in Chicago let out a collective cry of “NORM!” The favorite barfly of TV’s “Cheers,” George Wendt, came back to his old comedy stomping ground at The Second City to participate in “I Can’t Believe They Wendt There: The Roast of George Wendt.”
Interview, Audio: Cindy Caponera, TV Writer for ‘I’m Dying Up Here’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on July 23, 2017 - 7:56am- 1970s
- Al Madrigal
- Ari Graynor
- Cindy Caponera
- David Flebotte
- Erik Griffith
- Girls Are Funny Too
- HollywoodChicago.com Content
- Interview
- I’m Dying Up Here
- Jake Lacy
- Jim Carrey
- Los Angeles
- Melissa Leo
- Mitzi Shore
- Patrick McDonald
- RJ Cyler
- Showtime Network
- Stand Up Comedy
- The Comedy Store
- The Second City
- Twin Peaks
- Theater, TV, DVD & Blu-Ray
CHICAGO – One of the great new premium channel TV series, which piggybacked on the “Twin Peaks” return on the Showtime Network, is “I’m Dying Up Here.” Set in the 1970s, it tells the stories of fictional stand up comedians in Los Angeles, and one of the Consulting Producers and series writers is Cindy Caponera.
Podcast Talk: Allison Tolman & Lucas Neff of ABC-TV’s ‘Downward Dog’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on May 17, 2017 - 5:12pm- ABC-TV
- Allison Tolman
- Barry Rothbart
- Downward Dog
- Fargo
- HollywoodChicago.com Content
- Interview
- Kirby Howell-Baptiste
- Lucas Neff
- Ned
- Patrick McDonald
- Pittsburgh
- Podcast
- Raising Hope
- Samm Hodges
- Steppenwolf Theatre Company
- Sundance Film Festival
- The Second City
- Theater
- University of Illinois-Chicago
- Web Series
- Theater, TV, DVD & Blu-Ray
CHICAGO – From “Mr. Ed” to “Dog with a Blog,” talking animals have had their place on TV. The latest has origins as a web series, with the clever title “Downward Dog.” The show premieres on Wednesday, May 17th, 2017 (9:30pEST/8:30pCST), on ABC TV, and features Ned the Dog as Martin, and human companions portrayed by Allison Tolman and Lucas Neff.
Interview: Director Jack C. Newell on Digital Release of ‘Open Tables’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on November 30, 2016 - 4:08pmCHICAGO – Local filmmaking has always gotten a boost through director Jack C. Newell. His 2015 film “Open Tables,” shot in Chicago and Paris, will get it’s digital release on Tuesday, December 6th, 2016, on iTunes and Video-On-Demand. This coincides with his art project “The Wabash Lights,” and his continued production work.
Interview: Actress Lucy Butler of TV’s ‘The Last Ship’ on Her Character’s Demise
Submitted by PatrickMcD on September 15, 2016 - 11:04amCHICAGO – The season finale of TNT Network’s “The Last Ship” was this previous Sunday (Sep. 11, 2016), and as finales tend to do, there were surprises. One of these shocks was the death of the character Roberta Price, the regional leader of the Deep South. The actress who portrayed her, Lucy Butler, was a surprised as anyone else, and talked to HollywoodChicago.com regarding the transition.
Film News: Gillian Jacobs at Chicago’s Music Box Theatre on Aug. 9, 2016 for ‘Don’t Think Twice’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on August 9, 2016 - 8:20amCHICAGO – The Most Valuable Player, in a film that is brimming with great performances, is Gillian Jacobs (“Community”) of “Don’t Think Twice.” The Mike Birblglia-directed film is in the midst of a run at Chicago’s historic Music Box Theatre, and Jacobs will make an appearance on behalf of the film starting at 7:30pm on Tuesday, August 9th, 2016. For more information, click here.
Film Review: Comedy is Humanity in Magnanimous ‘Don’t Think Twice’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on July 30, 2016 - 8:07amCHICAGO – Comedian/writer/director Mike Birbiglia is breaking out as a filmmaker, and he adds a deft and emotional touch to a story of an improvisation comedy troupe split apart by change they didn’t expect. That sounds a lot like life, and it’s best to “Don’t Think Twice.”