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Heather Burns is interested in competing for the “Miss Congeniality” crown again for a third time.

In an interview with People during the premiere of her latest film, “The Best You Can” at the 2025 Tribeca Festival, Burns spoke about her interest in a third “Miss Congeniality’ film. “I would love it. That was one of the best experiences of my life,” said Burns, who played Cheryl Frasier in the film, known as Miss Rhode Island in the pageant. She added, “It was so much fun making both of those films. I’m actually here with one of the other actresses. Melissa De Sousa, she played Miss New York, she’s my date tonight, which is wonderful.”

Even though it’s been 25 years since the first “Miss Congeniality” film hit theaters, certain cast members stayed in touch after filming. “I made lifelong friends with Sandra Bullock,” said Burns. “It’s just a dream.

Heather Burns is more than enthusiastic about the idea of a third Miss Congeniality movie.

The 50-year-old actress, who played Cheryl Frasier in the hit 2000 film and its 2005 sequel, discussed her feelings on the possibility in a recent interview.

“Oh God, I would love it. That was one of the best experiences of my life. It was so much fun making both of those films,” she told People while at the 2025 Tribeca Film Festival.

Keep reading to find out more…

“I’m actually here with one of the other actresses. We have been friends since the first one. Melissa De Sousa, she played Miss New York, she’s my date tonight, which is wonderful. I made lifelong friends working with Sandra Bullock. It’s just a dream. So yes, a third [movie], I would jump at it. It would be so much fun,” she added.

Heather also gave details about her relationship with Sandra.

One of the great misfortunes of human life is the fact that much of it is spent in a constant state of worry. Are we doing the right things to reach our potential? Is it too late to start something new, or redo it all? These relatable queries are at the heart of writer-director Michael J. Weithorn’s modestly scaled dramedy “The Best You Can,” an optimistic film that feels truthful about aging, even if it doesn’t say anything we haven’t heard before.

Then again, you can’t really blame a movie for not formulating a brand-new answer to the existential dread around that old question, “How the hell did old age arrive so soon?” (It goes without saying that the definition of “old” depends on whom you ask.) Instead, it feels fairer to acknowledge and praise the lived-in textures that Weithorn fashions, a sense of authenticity that...

Making its world premiere in the Spotlight Narrative section of the Tribeca Festival, The Best You Can represents the first major onscreen teaming of real-life husband and wife Kevin Bacon and Kyra Sedgwick since 2004’s The Woodsman, and they remain the best reason to see this small but engaging character dramedy about boomers fighting life passing them by. It will also largely appeal to that similar demographic. Nothing wrong with that.

It is hard to believe the ever-young dancing presence of Footloose is now 66 and playing a guy with prostate problems but, hey, everyone gets older and the sweet premise of this film written and directed by Michael J. Weithorn is that maybe it is never too late to find something new to re-energize your life, even if it seems that ship has already sailed.

Sedgwick plays Cynthia Rand, the 25-years-younger wife of Walter (Judd Hirsch) who sadly is experiencing the onset of dementia,...

Sandra Bullock became a star with her breakthrough film Speed, but it was her string of hits in the late ‘90s and 2000s that made her a household name. One of those beloved modern-day classics is the action comedy Miss Congeniality, which put Bullock on the map. The film was a huge hit at the box office and even got a sequel, which was not as loved.

The film is set during a beauty pageant and follows FBI agent Gracie Hart infiltrating the pageant as a participant to bust a bomb threat. One of the most hilarious scenes in the film is when the show’s host, William Shatner, asks a participant for her perfect date. Her answer is the reason why April 25 is so important to Sandra Bullock fans.

Why is April 25 the perfect date to rewatch Sandra Bullock’s Miss Congeniality? A still from Miss Congeniality | Credits: Warner Bros....

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The Residence is a murder mystery comedy-drama series created by Paul William Davies. Inspired by the 2015 book The Residence: Inside the Private World of the White House by Kate Andersen Brower, the Netflix series is set mainly in the White House, and it follows eccentric but brilliant detective Cordelia Cupp as she investigates a murder that happened during a state dinner. The Residence stars Uzo Aduba, Giancarlo Esposito, Susan Kelechi Watson, Jason Lee, Ken Marino, Edwina Findley, Randall Park, Molly Griggs, Spencer Garrett, and Mary Wiseman. So, if you loved the thrilling murder mystery, hilarious comedy, and compelling characters in The Residence, here are some similar shows you should check out next.

The Afterparty (Apple TV+ & Prime Video Add-On) Credit – Apple TV+

The Afterparty is a murder mystery comedy anthology series created by Christopher Miller. The first season...

Daytime newcomer Charlie Besso has been cast as Tobias on “General Hospital,” Soap Opera Network can confirm. He first airs on the Tuesday, February 18 episode of the drama series.

Tobias was first referenced in the December 20, 2023 episode, wherein Aiden (then played by Enzo De Angelis), came out to his mother, Elizabeth (Rebecca Herbst), for the first time as they prepared a Christmas meal together and Aiden reveled in his passion for culinary arts.

In Tuesday’s episode, which sees Port Charles celebrating Valentine’s Day, Aiden (Colin Cassidy) introduces Tobias to his parents as the young couple prepare to go skating together.

The episode also sees former “Days of our Lives” star Guy Wilson (ex-Will Horton) temporarily appearing on the soap as Lucky Spencer, Aiden’s father.

Guy Wilson, Jonathan Jackson

Adam Hendershott; Christine Bartolucci/Disney

Although there was no reason provided for the sudden casting switch at press time,...

Sandra Bullock has starred in many critically acclaimed projects, giving the world an Oscar-winning performance in The Blind Side in 2009, the same year she received a Golden Raspberry for her role in All About Steve. A major rom-com queen, in 2000, she starred in Miss Congeniality.

Since its release in theaters, the movie has become a cult classic, despite the poor reviews. Miss Congeniality was a great undercover action comedy that became a hit in theaters. Almost 25 years since its release, Miss Congeniality is now a hit on Netflix,Tudum reveals.

RelatedFifth Element Director's 8-Year-Old Action Flop Becomes Netflix Streaming Hit

The movie was a massive box office flop.

For the week between Feb. 3 and 9, Miss Congeniality debuted on the platform in sixth place in the U.S. charts. Per FlixPatrol, the action comedy also debuted at No. 10 in Italy on Netflix, and enjoyed some popularity in Portugal, as well, where it sits in third place.

These days, Sandra Bullock is basically Hollywood royalty. She's an Academy Award winner who's been nominated for the Best Actress Oscar twice, makes pretty consistently good movies, occasionally pops up in buzzy projects like "The Lost City" and "Ocean's Eight," and is one of the most recognizable performers in the entire industry. Back in the 1990s and 2000s, though, Bullock was pretty much known for one genre: romantic comedies. Now, one of her funniest, breeziest films is making waves on Netflix after landing in the number four spot on the streamer's top 10 movies on February 10, 2025 (as reported by FlixPatrol).

"Miss Congeniality," which hit theaters in 2000, casts Bullock as Gracie Hart, a tough-as-nails special agent for the FBI who never makes much of an effort to appear "ladylike" or "pretty." This approach isn't causing any problems for her generally, but when a case surfaces that involves a bomb threat at a Texas beauty pageant,...

Before becoming a romcom icon, thanks to leading roles in The Proposal and The Lake House, Sandra Bullock was a bona-fide action star during the '90s and 00s, with major roles in Demolition Man, and the Speed franchise. But, one of Bullock's often-forgotten, and vastly underappreciated action flicks came six years after Speed, when Bullock starred in Miss Congeniality. For those that have never seen the action comedy, or won't pass up an opportunity for a long-overdue re-watch, it's currently a hit on streaming.

Miss Congeniality was recently added to Netflix, and flew up the streamer's Top 10 most popular movies of the week list. At the time of writing, Miss Congeniality is the 4th most popular movie on Netflix. The film sits behind Amy Schumer's latest comedy, Kinda Pregnant, in 1st, with The Menu and Back in Action in 2nd and 3rd, respectively. Released in 2000, Miss Congeniality was directed by Donald Petrie,...

Hold On To Me Darling, the Kenneth Lonergan comedy-drama starring Adam Driver, has recouped its initial Off Broadway investment, producers announced today. The $1.8 million production opened October 16 at the Lucille Lortel Theatre and concludes its run on Sunday, December 22.

According to producers Seaview, Sue Wagner and John Johnson, the play, directed by Neil Pepe, has sold out every performance since beginning previews September 24.

In addition to Driver, the cast includes Heather Burns, Adelaide Clemens, Keith Nobbs, Cj Wilson and Frank Wood.

Driver stars as Strings McCrane, a self-obsessed country music star thrown into an existential midlife crisis after the death of his overbearing mother.

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A Man on the Inside is a crime comedy series created by Michael Schur. Based on the 2020 documentary The Mole Agent by Maite Alberdi, the Netflix series follows Charles Nieuwendyk, a widower and retired engineering college professor who takes a job as an investigative assistant for a private detective and goes undercover in an old folks home to find the thief who stole a ruby necklace but ends up making friends and figures a way out of his loneliness. A Man on the Inside stars Ted Danson, Mary Elizabeth Ellis, Lilah Richcreek Estrada, and Stephanie Beatriz. So, if you loved the comedic story, crime mystery, and compelling characters in A Man on the Inside here are some similar shows you should check out next.

Bored to Death (Max & Rent on Prime Video) Credit – HBO

Bored to Death is...

Adam Driver had the support of some famous friends at his opening night in a new Off-Broadway show!

The Oscar-nominated actor celebrated the opening of the Kenneth Lonergan play Hold on to Me Darling on Wednesday night (October 16) at the Lucille Lortel Theatre in New York City.

Also pictured inside are Adam‘s co-stars Heather Burns and Adelaide Clemons.

Hold on to Me Darling is playing a limited run through December 22. Here’s a synopsis: “On learning of his mother’s death, country music icon Strings McCrane (Driver) finds himself in an existential tailspin. The only way out, he decides, is to abandon superstardom in favor of the simple life, so he moves back to his hometown in Tennessee. The simple life turns out to be anything but simple in this brilliantly observed tragicomedy, as the consequences of Strings’s success and mind-bending effects of his fame prove all but impossible to outrun.

Not far into Kenneth Lonergan’s fame-is-hell-but-what-isn’t fable Hold On To Me Darling, Adam Driver, playing a country music crossover megastar about to begin filming his latest blockbuster, pledges in an accent so thick it could dent Johnny Cash’s belt buckle that he’s going to turn his famous life around “just as soon as I get done with this goddamn space movie.”

The line, coming from Kylo Ren himself, gets a laugh, a slow build sort of thing that picks up steam as the audience makes the connection between the Driver on stage and the Driver of real life. The actor doesn’t wink, and in fact tosses off the line without much ado, but with a play as unwieldy as this one, best to accept a laugh where you can.

It’s not that Hold On To Me Darling – opening tonight Off Broadway at the Lucille...

Steve Martin, Martin Short, and Selena Gomez star in Hulu’s original crime comedy series Only Murders in the Building, and with that cast, it is almost impossible that you get a bad show, because Only Murders in the Building is one of the most well-received Hulu series of recent times. Created by Steve Martin and John Hoffman, the Hulu series follows three eccentric strangers who team up to investigate a mysterious murder in their apartment building while discussing their findings over a true-crime podcast. Only Murders in the Building is like one of those old comedy detective crime series that was televised for the masses, but with a new twist and even more twisted humor, So here are the best 13 shows like Only Murders in the Building to watch while waiting for new episodes.

Bodkin (Netflix) Credit – Netflix

Bodkin is a dark comedy mystery thriller series created by Jez Scharf.

Party Down is one of those comedy shows that very few people know about but those who know it, love it and really appreciate the recent revival. The Starz series follows the story of a group of out-of-work actors in Los Angeles who are trying to earn a living by working in a catering company and still hoping to make it big in the industry. Party Down stars Adam Scott, Ken Marino, Lizzy Caplan, Ryan Hansen, Martin Starr, Jane Lynch, and Megan Mullally. So, if you loved the group dynamics, cringe comedy, and a bit of dark humor in Party Down, here are some similar shows you could watch next.

Corporate (Paramount+ & Rent on Prime Video) Credit – Comedy Central

Corporate is a dark comedy series created by Pat Bishop, Matt Ingebretson, and Jake Weisman. The Comedy Central series follows the miserable lives of two downtrodden employees as they die a...

Space Cadet is a romantic comedy film written and directed by Liz W. Garcia. The Prime Video film follows the story of Tiffany “Rex” Simpson, a Florida party girl who has always dreamed of going to space and gets admitted into the NASA space program because of a fluke with much more capable candidates. She must prove herself to the NASA bosses using her heart, street smarts, and moxie. Space Cadet stars Emma Roberts in the lead role, with Tom Hopper, Poppy Liu, Sebastián Yatra, Kuhoo Verma, Desi Lydic, Gabrielle Union, Andrew Call, Sam Robards, and Dave Foley starring in supporting roles. If you like the comedic, romantic, and heartfelt moments of Space Cadet, here are some similar films you could watch next.

Legally Blonde (Max & Rent on Prime Video) Credit – MGM

Legally Blonde is a romantic comedy film directed by Robert Luketic from a screenplay by Karen McCullah Lutz and Kirsten Smith.

A Family Affair is Netflix’s latest rom-com directed by Richard Lagravenese from a screenplay by Carrie Solomon. The Netflix film follows the story of Zara, a young woman with aspirations of becoming a film producer, but currently, she works as an assistant for a self-obsessed and childish movie star, Chris Cole. While Zara hates her job and boss, she still tolerates them, but things get worse when she finds out that her mother and boss are romantically involved. A Family Affair has an amazing cast, including Zac Efron, Nicole Kidman, Joey King, and Kathy Bates. So, if you loved the romance, banter, and hijinks of A Family Affair, here are some similar romcoms you could watch next.

The Idea of You (Prime Video) Credit – Prime Video

The Idea of You is a romantic comedy film directed by Michael Showalter from a screenplay co-written by Showalter and Jennifer Westfeldt. Based...

Free streaming platforms like LG Channels seemingly add new channels all the time. There are more than 1,500 free ad-supported TV (Fast) channels available in the United States alone, and the amount of time consumers spent watching these channels increased in April, despite it normally being a period where TV watching decreases across the industry.

One thing Fast platforms don’t normally offer, however, are a lot of is live sports. But users of the free streaming service LG Channels will see that change this month, as the service is adding several live events to the schedule on the NCAA Championships Channel (channel 100), including tennis, lacrosse, and track and field events from both the NCAA’s Division II and Division III.

The live sporting events coming to the NCAA Championships Channel starting May 17 include:

Date Time (Et) Event Wednesday, May 17 12 noon Diii Women’s Team Tennis Finals Sunday, May 21 2 p.m.

Jeff Dickerson, an NFL reporter for ESPN who covered the Chicago Bears for two decades, died Tuesday of complications from colon cancer, at the same hospice facility that his wife, Caitlin, died in two years ago, the network reported. He was 44.

“Jd was one of the most positive people you will ever meet,” ESPN deputy editor for digital NFL coverage Heather Burns said in a statement. “We all got together in October for an event, and there he was lifting our spirits and assuring us he was going to beat cancer. That’s just who he was. We are holding Jeff’s family, and especially his son, Parker, in our prayers.”

The network noted that in his coverage of the Bears, Dickerson “reported the facts but was not afraid to tell his listeners and readers what he thought about” the team, and “confronted team management when necessary, but never made a show of it.

Two decades ago, Heather Burns declared April 25th the perfect date. "Because it's not too hot, not too cold," her adorably perky character said in the 2000 movie Miss Congeniality. "All you need is a light jacket." And while temperatures fluctuate, fans' infatuation with the film stays the same. "I love it. It seems to each year get a little bigger even," Burns, 46, exclusively tells E! News about the viral reaction to the unofficial holiday. "And it's such a nice day for me because people come out of the woodwork sending me memes and things. And I go around town…people give me free coffee and, you know, it's just everyone's...

Vaughn McClure, an NFL reporter at ESPN since 2013, died this week in his home outside of Atlanta. He was 48.

His passing was announced by ESPN. No cause of death was given.

McClure had most recently served as the Atlanta Falcons reporter for NFL Nation. He came to ESPN after covering the Chicago Bears for the Chicago Tribune.

“We all loved Vaughn,” said John Pluym, senior deputy editor for digital NFL coverage at ESPN. “He had a heart of gold. He was so helpful to our reporters. In the last few hours, we’ve heard so many stories about how Vaughn had helped them with a story or how he put in a good word for them with a coach or player.”

In a statement of their own, the Falcons said: “We are saddened to learn of the passing of ESPN’s Vaughn McClure. He was an earnest, thoughtful reporter who...

Netflix has set the full cast for Social Distance, its upcoming quarantine anthology series from Orange is the New Black creator Jenji Kohan. Danielle Brooks (Orange is the New Black), Mike Colter (Luke Cage), Oscar Nunez (The Office), Guillermo Diaz (Scandal), Asante Blackk (When They See Us), Peter Scanavino (Law & Order: Svu), Lachlan Watson (Chilling Adventures of Sabrina), Max Jenkins (Dead To Me) and Marsha Stephanie Blake (When They See Us) are among those cast in the series created and executive produced by Hilary Weisman Graham (Orange is the New Black). Social Distance premieres globally on Netflix this fall.

Set in the initial months of the Covid-19 pandemic, Social Distance is an eight-part anthology series that showcases the power of the human spirit in the face of uncertainty and isolation. Each standalone episode is told through a virtual lens and captures the unique emotional experience of being forced apart...

Danielle Brooks, Asante Blackk, Mike Colter, Oscar Nunez and Daphne Rubin-Vega are among the cast of Netflix’s upcoming anthology series “Social Distance,” the streamer announced Wednesday.

From Hilary Weisman Graham, who serves as creator and showrunner, the eight-part series is set in the first few months after the coronavirus pandemic sweeps the globe. Each episode is a standalone one that was shot remotely in the actors’ real-life homes across the country.

Brooks stars in an episode along with her real-life mother Larita Brooks and her brother DJ Brooks. Also in that episode are Marsha Stephanie Blake and her real-life daughter Rocco Luna, Misha Brooks and Isabella Ferreira.

Blackk stars alongside his real-life father Ayize Ma’at; Lovie Simone is also in that same episode.

Colter’s episode also stars Okieriete Onaodowan, real-life spouses Heather Burns and Ajay Naidu, as well as Shakira Barrera, Helena Howard, and Steven Weber with his real-life son Jack Hohnen-Weber.

Luke Cage has been keeping busy in quarantine.

Netflix on Wednesday revealed the expansive cast for its remotely-shot anthology series Social Distance, and it includes Marvel superhero-turned-Evil seminarian Mike Colter. Other notable TV vets appearing in the eight-episode drama include Orange Is the New Black‘s Danielle Brooks, This Is Us‘ Asante Blackk, Law & Order Svu‘s Peter Scanavino, Scandal‘s Guillermo Diaz and The Office‘s Oscar Nunez.

More from TVLineGame of Thrones, Peaky Blinders Stars Play a Risky Game in Netflix Chess Drama The Queen's Gambit -- WatchResident Evil Live-Action Series, From Supernatural EP, Ordered at NetflixAltered...

After years of making a name for himself in New York theater, Mark Ruffalo was on the cusp of breaking in to high-profile movie roles when television came calling.

In 1999, Tom Fontana and Barry Levinson had been handed a 13-episode order from Upn for a cop drama “The Beat.” Fontana and casting director Alexa Fogel had been impressed by Ruffalo’s work on stage and recruited him to co-star in the series as the hotheaded ladies-man New York City beat cop Zane Marinelli.

Fontana and Levinson’s track record with NBC’s indelible “Homicide: Life on the Street” and HBO’s arresting “Oz” lent credibility to “The Beat.” The show promised to be envelope-pushing, if only because nobody was watching Upn anyway. The pilot was directed by Levinson. Ruffalo had more than a few shirtless scenes in the early episodes.

“Tom had seen me in plays and was a fan.

The New Group celebrated Opening Night of Lily Thorne's Peace for Mary Frances last night, with Heather Burns, Johanna Day, Natalie Gold, Mia Katigbak, Paul Lazar, Brian Miskell, Melle Powers, Lois Smith and J. Smith-Cameron, in a world premiere production directed by Lila Neugebauer. A limited Off-Broadway engagement is slated through June 17 at The Pershing Square Signature Center The Alice Griffin Jewel Box Theatre, 480 West 42nd Street.

Ladies and gentlemen, it's finally the perfect date! As fans of Miss Congeniality know, April 25 is the perfect date and every time this day rolls around we can't help but laugh and think about one of our favorite movies. It's been 18 years since Miss Congeniality hit theaters and Sandra Bullock won us over as a cop-turned-undercover beauty pageant contestant. But it wasn't just Sandra fans love, who can forget Cheryl Frasier? Frasier (Heather Burns) Aka Miss Rhode Island gave us the line about April 25 being the perfect date, when we all know they were asking her about date nights she'd love to go on. So, in honor of April 25 not being too hot or not too cold,...

It's been almost two decades since William Shatner and Heather Burns made April 25 the most "perfect date" of the year. That's right! Miss Congeniality first hit theaters in 2000, and Shatner and Burns won viewers over with their portrayals as pageant host Stan Fields and Miss Rhode Island Cheryl Fraiser. One of their most memorable scenes from the movie was when Fields asked Fraiser to describe her perfect date. "That's a tough one," the contestant replied. "I'd have to say April 25 because it's not too hot, not too cold. All you need is a light jacket."  Fans haven't forgotten about the scene and neither has Shatner. The 87-year-old actor took to...

Captain America is coming to Broadway — and People has the exclusive first look.

Chris Evans, 36, is making his Broadway debut alongside Michael Cera in Lobby Hero — a play from Oscar-winning screenwriter (Manchester by the Sea) and playwright (This Is Our Youth) Kenneth Lonergan.

It’ll be the first show both for Second Stage Theater’s inaugural Broadway season and for the opening of New York City’s newly renovated Hayes Theater. Performances begin in March 1 with an opening night set for March 26.

Directed by Trip Cullman, Lobby Hero follows a security guard, his strict supervisor, a rookie cop and her...

Is Bored to Death coming back? Deadline reports creator Jonathan Ames has written two scripts for a possible movie follow-up to the cancelled HBO TV show.The comedy stars Jason Schwarzman as Jonathan Ames, a Brooklyn-based writer who moonlights as a private detective. The cast also included Ted Danson, Zach Galifianakis, Olivia Thirlby, and Heather Burns. The show ran for three seasons before being cancelled by HBO in 2011.Read More…...

Sneak Peek new footage, plus images of actress Jaimie Alexander (aka 'Sif' in the Marvel Cinematic Universe) as the mysterious tattood 'Jane Doe' in the upcoming "Blindspot" episode "Upside Down Craft", airing November 10, 2017:

"...while 'Jane' (Alexander) and 'Weller' (Sullivan Stapleton) hunt down a collective of dangerous computer hackers...

"...'Patterson' (Ashley Johnson) and 'Rich Dot Com' (Ennis Esmer) must work together to hide an explosive secret from their past..."

Cast also includes Rob Brown, Audrey Esparza, Luke Mitchell, Mary Stuart Masterson, Heather Burns, R. Ward Duffy, Natalie Roy, Alex Webb, Tarik Lowe, Michelle Hendley and Manni Perez.

Click the images to enlarge and Sneak Peek "Blindspot: Upside Down Craft"...

Long before Tom Cruise fended off extraterrestrial tripod fighting machines in 2005's War of the Worlds, there was Orson Welles' original radio drama, which was broadcast in 1938 and caused the world to falsely believe there was an impending alien invasion.

Brave New Jersey is about that very night in the small town of Lullaby, and, in this exclusive clip, Pitch Perfect 3 star Anna Camp plays Peg Prickett, a schoolteacher who is ready to stay and fight during an attack from Mars, which does not go over well with her tough-talking fiancé.

Watch: The 'Pitch Perfect 3' Trailer is Finally Here -- Check Out the Bellas Latest Aca-Antics!

Gravitas Ventures

The comedy is being billed as "the original Fake News story" about an alien invasion where the aliens never show up. It comes from director Jody Lambert (Chris Pine's People Like Us) and co-stars Veep's Tony Hale and Parenthood's Sam Jaeger.

Watch...

Tony Hale tries to maintain control over a chaotic town meeting after hearing the "news" of a local alien attack in The Hollywood Reporter's exclusive clip of Brave New Jersey.

Directed by Jody Lambert from a script co-written with Michael Dowling, the comedy — also starring Anna Camp, Sam Jaeger and Heather Burns — is an adaptation of Orson Welles’ legendary 1938 War of the Worlds radio broadcast and the consequential panic that ensued across America when millions believed aliens were invading Earth. "Of course they are coming for us, we've got the fourth tallest water tower in three counties," said...

Gravitas Ventures has released the first trailer to the comedy “Brave New Jersey,” a film about a small New Jersey town on the night of Orson Welles’ 1938 “War of the Worlds” radio broadcast that sent millions of listeners into a panic, believing the U.S. was being invaded by Martians.

Read More: Film Festival Roundup: AFI Fest Adds ‘Jackie’ and ‘Miss Sloane,’ Chicago International Announces Winners and More

The story follows the town’s mayor clerk (Tony Hale,“Veep”), an unhappy housewife (Heather Burns, “Manchester by the Sea”), a timid schoolteacher (Anna Camp, “Pitch Perfect”), a fearful sheriff (Mel Rodriguez, “The Last Man on Earth”), and an erratic reverend (Dan Bakkedahl, “Life in Pieces”) as they cope with the thought of this being their last night on earth and wonder how they’re going to spend it. With the help of the town’s reclusive war veteran (Raymond J. Barry,...

The first trailer has landed for Brave New Jersey, the cheekily-titled comedy that finds Arrested Development and Veep star Tony Hale as Clark Hill, one of many who experienced the now-legendary day where Orson Welles’ broadcast War of the Worlds over radio waves in 1938 and started a hysteria of massive proportions. Helmed by first time director Jody Lambert (who penned People Like Us), Brave New Jersey seems to be about the lies we believe, and the fun you might end up having along the way.

We said in our review, “Part of the pleasure is the film’s superb production design by Chloe Arbiture and art direction by Jonathan Bell, who have crafted an authentic and clean pre-World War II look that is a simple yet gorgeous. Depicting the last night of these characters’ lives, or so they think, Brave New Jersey is an elegant work of Americana with a...

It was the original Fake News story.

In a small New Jersey town on the night of Orson Welles’s legendary 1938 “War of the Worlds” radio broadcast, the hoax that terrified millions into believing Martians were invading America, citizens face what they think is their last night on Earth.

Here’s a look at the upcoming film Brave New Jersey where the aliens never show up.

The over-worked town’s mayor Clark (Tony Hale, “Veep”) will take a chance on love. The neglected housewife, Lorraine (Heather Burns, “Manchester By The Sea”) will break free from her big-cheese husband (Sam Jaeger, “Parenthood”). The demure schoolteacher Peg (Anna Camp, “Pitch Perfect”) will become a warrior. The aimless reverend (Dan Bakkedahl, “Life in Pieces”) will rediscover his faith. The scared Sheriff (Mel Rodriguez, “The Last Man on Earth”) will find his courage. And the reclusive war veteran (Raymond J. Barry, “Training Day”) will...

"So, what are we supposed to do now?" Gravitas Ventures has released the trailer for an indie comedy titled Brave New Jersey, from filmmaker Jody Lambert. The film tells the true story of a small town in New Jersey that freaked out during Orson Welles' legendary 1938 "War of the Worlds" radio broadcast, believing it was real. They decided to make this a comedy, which may work better in the end since playing this serious would be a whole other thing. Brave New Jersey features an ensemble cast including Tony Hale, Heather Burns, Anna Camp, Sam Jaeger, Raymond J. Barry, Dan Bakkedahl, Mel Rodriguez, Grace Kaufman, Matt Oberg, and Erika Alexander. This looks totally goofy but still heartfelt and fun. Enjoy. Here's the official trailer (+ poster) for Jody Lambert's Brave New Jersey, direct from YouTube: "An alien invasion comedy where the aliens never show up." Brave New Jersey is...

Welcome to Lullaby, NJ, population 506, the fictional town at the center of Jody Lambert’s delightful comedy Brave New Jersey “where strangers are friends and no one is a stranger.” Home of the Rotolactor, a robotic milking machine, the central New Jersey town is only a few hours from Grover’s Mills, the “epicenter” of the great October 1938 martian invasion chronicled in Orson Welles’ legendary War of the Worlds broadcast. Depicting this evening of misconstrued alien invasion, Lambert’s comedy is far more modest affair than the Tom Cruise film as Lullaby comes together for the biggest night in its history.

Reluctantly led by mayor Clark Hill (a restrained Tony Hale) who cautions against panic, he’s overruled by old Captain Collins (Raymond J. Barry), who is quick to formulate a plan based on his time in War War I. The do-or-die night also gives characters a chance at reflecting on their own lives,...

Heather Burns is best know for playing the airheaded Miss Rhode Island contestant Cheryl -- opposite Sandra Bullock as Gracie Hart -- in the 2000 cinema masterpiece "Miss Congeniality" and the 2005 follow-up "Miss Congeniality 2: Armed and Fabulous." Guess what she looks like now!  Read more...

Grief is a terrible animal, red of claw and tooth, and once it gets hold of you, there is no way of knowing what it will do to you. Over the last year, I've watched a dear friend of mine struggle with back to back losses of two of the most important people in her life, and at times, I've genuinely worried that it would be too much for her to take. This is a strong, vibrant person, and grief landed on her in a way that very nearly crushed all of that joy and vitality right out of her. I've had my own bouts with profound sorrow over the last year as a result of the end of my marriage, and while I feel like I've reached the other side of all of that, I remain shaken by just how damaged I was by things. For the first time in my adult life,...

"The persistence of grief and the hope of redemption are themes as timeless as dramaturgy itself," begins Variety's Justin Chang, "but rarely do they summon forth the kind of extraordinary swirl of love, anger, tenderness and brittle humor that is Manchester by the Sea, Kenneth Lonergan’s beautifully textured, richly enveloping drama about how a death in the family forces a small-town New Englander to confront a past tragedy anew." We're gathering reviews of Lonergan’s followup to You Can Count on Me and Margaret starring Casey Affleck, Michele Williams, Kyle Chandler, Lucas Hedges, C.J. Wilson, Heather Burns, Tate Donovan, Josh Hamilton, Anna Baryshnikov, Matthew Broderick and Gretchen Mol. » - David Hudson...

"The persistence of grief and the hope of redemption are themes as timeless as dramaturgy itself," begins Variety's Justin Chang, "but rarely do they summon forth the kind of extraordinary swirl of love, anger, tenderness and brittle humor that is Manchester by the Sea, Kenneth Lonergan’s beautifully textured, richly enveloping drama about how a death in the family forces a small-town New Englander to confront a past tragedy anew." We're gathering reviews of Lonergan’s followup to You Can Count on Me and Margaret starring Casey Affleck, Michele Williams, Kyle Chandler, Lucas Hedges, C.J. Wilson, Heather Burns, Tate Donovan, Josh Hamilton, Anna Baryshnikov, Matthew Broderick and Gretchen Mol. » - David Hudson...

He sees you when you're sleeping. He knows when you're awake, and he's had enough from the look of things. A Very Scary Xmas II kicks off on December 11th in New York. Also in this round-up: details on the Fantastic Phantasmagoria as well as information on Double Take's free Ultimate Night of the Living Dead issue and Kickstarter information / trailer for Brave New Jersey.

A Very Scary Xmas II: Press Release: "Hauppauge, NY (December 2015) -- Naughty or Nice no longer matters as Santa has had just about enough! The lists have gotten longer, the kids are ungrateful and somewhere along the way they took the sugar out of the cookies and put almonds in the milk! It's enough to drive an elf crazy...matter of fact, drive All the elves crazy! So watch out as you stroll 34th St. and be extra careful in the Elf Asylum! This Holiday...

Exclusive: Tony Hale, Heather Burns, Anna Camp and Raymond J. Barry are set to star in Brave New Jersey, an indie comedy that tells the story of a small New Jersey town on the night of Orson Welles' famed 1938 War of the Worlds radio broadcast, which led millions of listeners to believe the U.S. was being invaded by Martians. Jody Lambert (People Like Us) is helming a script he penned with Michael Dowling. Production is already underway in Tennessee. Dan Bakkedahl, Sam…...

Roundabout Theatre Company presents Dinner with Friends by Pulitzer Prize winner Donald Margulies, directed by Tony Award winner Pam MacKinnon. The show will feature Heather Burns as 'Beth,' Marin Hinkle as 'Karen', Darren Pettie as 'Tom,' and Jeremy Shamos as 'Gabe.' The company met the press earlier today and you can catch photos of the whole gang below...

Kids, you may not believe this, but some of us are old enough to remember when you used to have to connect to the Internet via 56k dial-up modems. Or that AOL was once the most popular Internet service provider, so popular that everyone recognized the cheerful "You've Got Mail" alert that sounded when you signed on. Or that the "You've Got Mail" greeting was a promise that there was something exciting waiting for you in your e-mail inbox, not just spam ads for Canadian Viagra. Don't believe us? There's a historical document you should check out, aptly titled, "You've Got Mail."

It's been just 15 years since Nora Ephron's romantic comedy opened (December 18, 1998), but it seems like eons ago, not just because the Internet has evolved so much since then, but because we've all watched the unwitting romance between Kathleen Kelly (Meg Ryan) and Joe Fox (Tom Hanks) -- business rivals by day,...

NBC has had poor luck with sitcoms lately. All of their new ones were cancelled. Will Save Me be added to the pile or will it be renewed for a second season instead? We'll have to wait and see.

The TV series stars Anne Heche as a housewife who believes she has a direct line to God after nearly choking to death. Others in the cast include Michael Landes, Alexandra Breckenridge, Heather Burns, Madison Davenport, and Lamman Rucker. There are 13 episodes.

Below are the TV show's ratings for the 2012-13 season, the best way to tell if Save Me will be cancelled or renewed for a second season. The show typically airs on Thursday nights.

These figures will be updated as the weeks progress so be sure to bookmark and return to this page:

Final season averages:...

Network: NBC

Episodes: Ongoing (hour)

Seasons: Ongoing

TV show dates: May 23, 2013 -- Tbd

Series status: Has not been cancelled

Performers include: Anne Heche, Madison Davenport, Michael Landes, Alexandra Breckenridge, Heather Burns, and Joy Osmanski.

TV show description:

This sitcom follows the life of Beth Harper (Anne Heche), an absentee wife and mother from the Midwest. After choking on a hero sandwich in her kitchen and suffering a dramatic near-death experience, Beth is revived and claims she can now talk to God.

Her teenage daughter, Emily (Madison Davenport), is horrified and her husband, Tom (Michael Landes), is skeptical. To make matters worse, Tom's ex-mistress, Carly McKenna (Alexandra Breckenridge), is in a coma after a close encounter with lightning in the Harper's front yard.

As Beth warms up to her new life,...

What happens when you tell a pastor that God talks to you? He's very impressed, apparently.

In The Huffington Post's exclusive clip above from the second episode of NBC's "Save Me" (two-episode premiere on Thurs., May 23 at 8 p.m. Et), Beth Harper (Anne Heche) opens up to the pastor at her church about a very ... interesting talent she's developed after having a near-death run-in with a sandwich.

"Pastor Jim? I have an espresso maker I'd like to donate to the church if you can use it somehow," she says, before adding, "God talks me."

"Lucky you!" he exclaims.

Here's how NBC describes the first two episodes of "Save Me":

"The Book Of Beth" (Pilot)

"Save Me" premieres with Emmy nominee Anne Heche starring as Beth Harper, an absentee wife and mother who suffers a dramatic near-death experience and is revived only to discover that she now receives messages from God.