NBC

Amy Ryan of ‘Gone Baby Gone,’ ‘The Wire’ Signs Onto New Episodes of NBC Hit TV Show ‘The Office’

HollywoodChicago.com — Sun, 29 Jun 2008 23:22:52 -0700

CHICAGO – Amy Ryan’s star just keeps rising. The breakout actress from HBO’s “The Wire,” who was nominated for a Golden Globe and Academy Award for her role in “Gone Baby Gone,” will be featured in at least five episodes on this coming season of NBC hit TV show “The Office”.

Amy Ryan from “Gone Baby Gone,” “The Wire” and “The Office”.
Photo credit: (source)

In season four’s finale of “The Office” (entitled “Goodbye, Toby”), Amy Ryan’s character (Holly Flax) took over the HR position from Toby Flenderson (played by Paul Lieberstein).

With the 2007 finale being her first episode, Holly was teased as a potential love interest for branch boss Michael Scott (portrayed by Steve Carell). Last week, Carell signed on to do three more seasons of “The Office”. Ryan and Carell appeared together in 2007’s “Dan in Real Life”.

“I don’t know what they’re going to do with the character,” Ryan said in a Sunday Variety report, “but as it was written, there’s certainly a lot of potential. It’s a funny thing to enter a show … you’re a great fan of and it’s nice to tell lighter stories. I love the dark, grittier side of life, but it’s nice to take a break from that, put a skirt on and brush your hair.”

Though the fan-favorite Toby is gone from the screen, Lieberstein – a writer and actor on the show since the first season – will continue on as an executive producer through the fifth season of “The Office”. Lieberstein added in the Variety report: “Amy gave the character of Holly an openness and matured innocence that exposed a new side of Michael. She placed her character right on his level.”

Ryan has more projects set for the big screen including “Imperial Life in the Emerald City: Inside Iraq’s Green Zone” and Clint Eastwood’s “Changeling”.

By DUSTIN LEVELL
Senior Staff Writer
HollywoodChicago.com
dustin@hollywoodchicago.com

Golden Globe Telecast Canceled; Awards Become Highest-Profile Casualty of Writer’s Strike

HollywoodChicago.com — Mon, 07 Jan 2008 21:11:02 -0700

CHICAGO – The organizers of the 2008 Golden Globe Awards on Monday announced the cancellation of its telecast. The move earned the title of the highest-profile casualty of the writer’s strike.

Following last week’s declaration to protest the event in defense of striking WGA writers, the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA) and NBC on Monday said the typically high-profile telecast will be substituted with a mere press conference. The HFPA on Monday issued the following statement in explanation:

America Ferrara at the Golden Globe Awards.
Photo credit: Hollywood Foreign Press Association

The Hollywood Foreign Press Association [on Monday] announced that the recipients of Golden Globe Awards in 25 categories will be revealed during an hour-long HFPA press conference at the Beverly Hilton to be covered live by NBC News beginning at 6 pm PST on Jan. 13.

The 65th-annual Golden Globe Awards NBC telecast and champagne dinner in the Beverly Hilton’s international ballroom is officially cancelled.

“We are all very disappointed that our traditional awards ceremony will not take place this year and that millions of viewers worldwide will be deprived of seeing many of their favorite stars celebrating 2007’s outstanding achievements in motion pictures and television,” said HFPA President Jorge Camara.

“We take some comfort, however, in knowing that this year’s Golden Globe Award recipients will be announced on the date originally scheduled.”

By ADAM FENDELMAN
Editor-in-Chief
HollywoodChicago.com
adam@hollywoodchicago.com

Teaser Airs For 2008 ‘Knight Rider’ TV Series Return; New KITT Voiced By Val Kilmer

HollywoodChicago.com — Wed, 26 Dec 2007 09:30:56 -0700

A 15-second teaser was just shown on NBC for a new “Knight Rider” TV series that will debut on NBC on Feb. 17, 2008. This is not to be confused with the 2010 “Knight Rider” film that will hit theaters. The video is below.

While Will Arnett (NBC’s “30 Rock,” “Blades of Glory”) was originally selected to voice KITT, a “carmaker conflict” led NBC to hire Val Kilmer instead, according to a Chicago Tribune article on Feb. 11, 2008 that cited Variety. The following is from the official statement on this film:

“Knight Rider” stars Justin Bruening (“Cold Case,” “All My Children”), Deanna Russo (“NCIS,” “The Young and the Restless”), Sydney Tamiia Poitier (“Veronica Mars,” “Grindhouse”) and Bruce Davison (“Breach,” “Close to Home”).

David Hasselhoff (NBC’s “America’s Got Talent”) – who starred in the popular lead role as Michael Knight for four seasons during the original series – returns as the same character in a special guest-star appearance.

The new KITT car will have some “Transformers”-like shape-shifting abilities. The story’s scientific explanation is “nanotechnology”.

The KITT (Knight Industries Three Thousand) car in the new “Knight Rider”.
Photo credit: AICN

The KITT car in the new “Knight Rider”.
Photo credit: AICN

Justin Bruening (pictured here) plays Mike Tracer
(Michael Knight’s son) in the new “Knight Rider”.
Photo credit: AICN

From left to right: Deanna Russo, Justin Bruening
Bruce Davison and Sydney Tamiia Poitier.
Photo credit: AICN
More pictures of the new KITT car and the film’s cast can be found here.

‘American Gladiators’ is Back, Will Hold Auditions in Chicago, Los Angeles, New York

HollywoodChicago.com — Fri, 07 Sep 2007 09:37:07 -0700

Man, I used to really dig this TV show, and until I opened an e-mail Friday morning from LaShonda Matlock in Chicago, I hadn’t thought about it since I was a kid.

NBC is relaunching the classic competition series “American Gladiators” on prime-time TV. The network is currently auditioning contenders and gladiators in Chicago, Los Angeles and New York for its upcoming premiere season.

We are looking for weekend-warrior types who are big, bad and athletic. If you think you have the heart, skills and desire to compete, then we want to see you at the gladiator arena.

You must come dressed in workout attire and appropriate footwear to be considered.

You will be tested on your physical ability in areas such as strength, speed, balance and agility. We recommend bringing a workout towel and water with you to the audition.

Please bring a non-returnable photo of yourself along with a completed application. Open call lines will begin forming two hours before the start time.

Please do not line up prior to that. Time is limited and there is no guarantee everyone will be seen. Please arrive early. We’re holding open calls at these locations:

Chicago
Sunday, Sept. 16, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Windy City Fieldhouse
2367 W. Logan Blvd., Chicago, IL 60647

Los Angeles
Saturday, Sept. 8, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Gold’s Gym, 360 Hampton Drive, Venice, Calif.

Brooklyn, N.Y.
Saturday, Sept. 15, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Paerdegat Athletic Club, Sports Field
1510 Paerdegat Ave. N., Brooklyn, NY 11236