News

For the first 20 years of David Johansen’s career — despite his immense role in kickstarting the punk movement as the frontman of New York Dolls and all of his great solo work that followed — genuine mainstream success seemed like an impossible dream. That changed in 1987, when he scored a fluke mega-hit by covering “Hot Hot Hot” as his lounge act alter ego Buster Poindexter. It was the most successful thing he’d ever done by a huge magnitude, and it landed him on MTV and even The Tonight Show With Johnny Carson.

David Johansen, the pioneering vocalist known for his work with New York Dolls and his persona Buster Poindexter, has died. He was 75 years old.

According to a statement from his publicist, Johansen “died at home in New York City on Friday afternoon holding hands with his wife Mara Hennessey and daughter Leah, surrounded by music, flowers, and love. He was 75-years-old and died of natural causes after nearly a decade of illness.”

Johansen had been battling stage four cancer and a brain tumor, and had kept the situation private for a number of years. After a fall that broke his back in two places last November, though, things had taken a turn for the worst, leading him to reveal his diagnosis and ask for financial help in January 2025.

Born David Roger Johansen on January 9th, 1950 in New York City, Johansen first rose to prominence performing with local groups on Staten Island.

The family of David Johansen, the legendary singer for the New York Dolls and a charismatic screen presence, has launched a fundraiser as he faces both stage 4 cancer and a brain tumor.

In a statement, the 75-year-old David Johansen said, “We’ve been living with my illness for a long time, still having fun, seeing friends and family, carrying on, but this tumble the day after Thanksgiving really brought us to a whole new level of debilitation. This is the worst pain I’ve ever experienced in my entire life. I’ve never been one to ask for help, but this is an emergency. Thank you.”

Funds have been set up on Sweet Relief, which is designed to provide financial help to musicians in need. As for David Johansen’s specific needs, the official fundraiser site notes that he currently requires around-the-clock nursing, physical therapy and more. Those seeking to...

Wrestling legend Hulk Hogan reveals why his planned movie biopic starring Chris Hemsworth has been scrapped by Netflix. Hogan rose to prominence as part of the WCW and WWF (rebranded to WWE) wrestling franchises in the 80s and 90s, and won multiple wrestling championships. In the early 1990s, Hogan left WWF to pursue an acting career, before being coaxed back to the ring with WCW. A popular yet controversial figure, it seemed only a matter of time before a biopic on the star would be commissioned. Netflix was developing a Hogan biopic, with Chris Hemsworth set to star as the wrestling icon.

However, in an interview with Pdb podcast, Hogan revealed that the project was scrapped due to issues with the contract. He then spoke about how he loved the script and how it was dark. The retired wrestler elaborated that the role could have seen Hemsworth in Oscar contention.

Sylvester Stallone and Hulk Hogan locked up in the hit sequel Rocky III. While the two had their characters fighting in a very physical scene, Stallone referred to Hogan's talents to share how he was actually taken very good care of by the WWE Hall of Famer.

In a video interview, Hogan gave high praise to Stallone for keeping up with him in filming despite their clear size difference. Hogan specifically pointed out how Stallone even hoisted him into the air, stressing about the actor's strength, "That was him!" The clip was posted on Instagram by Stallone, who shared some kind words of his own for Hogan in the caption. Stallone stressed how it only looked like he was getting hurt, thanks to Hogan's abilities.

View this post on InstagramA post shared by Sly Stallone (@officialslystallone)

Related 'Way More Talent Than Hulk Hogan': Jesse Ventura Reflects on Predator Casting...

Dave Bautista and Chloe Coleman are back in My Spy: The Eternal City, and here’s the trailer for the film.

My Spy was a fun family comedy that landed on Amazon Prime in 2020 after being delayed by the events of that year. It also made the cover of one of our junior magazines too. It was the third most watched streaming film of the year after Hamilton on Disney+ and Borat Subsequent Moviefilm on Prime Video.

Following in the footsteps of similar ‘tough guy action star does a family comedy’ – a surprisingly crowded subgenre with the likes of Vin Diesel in The Pacifier, Jackie Chan in The Spy Next Door and Hulk Hogan in Mr Nanny – My Spy followed Dave Bautista as CIA operative JJ, who is assigned to keep watch on a family and is soon discovered by their precocious nine year old daughter, Sophie, played by Chloe Coleman.

One of two Christmas movies starring a wrestler-turned-actor was a critical disaster and is considered one of the worst movies of all time. The other movie led by a former WWE star fared significantly better due to its R-rated horror comedy style and embrace of the wrestler's heel persona. The latter movie also had a stronger cast and stayed true to what viewers expected from a wrestling superstar's Christmas movie, ultimately outperforming the former.

Two famous WWE wrestlers have played Santa Claus in two unrelated Christmas movies, and only one of these was a critical disaster. While Dwayne Johnson made the transition to movie stardom look easy, not every WWE wrestler who wanted to become a mainstream Hollywood actor has been so lucky. For every John Cena and Dave Bautista, there are many stars like Triple H and Stone Cold Steve Austin who couldn’t make the jump from the ring to the big screen.

Andrew McCarthy's tweet last night will give you the giggles and the nostalgia. He's helping the women of the HBO revival of Sex and the City, photoshopping himself and Kim Cattrall in her mannequin form from the 80's classic Mannequin, Quipping, "I thought they'd never call."

I thought they’d never call pic.twitter.com/Fn3OLR09q8

— Andrew McCarthy (@AndrewTMcCarthy) July 11, 2021

The comments are hilarious. They show the love for McCarthy, Satc, Kim Cattrall and the beloved Mannequin. If you don't get the joke, Mannequin is a quintessential 80's comedy that could only have been embraced by the viewers of its age. The '80s recipe comes complete with malls, Andrew McCarthy, James Spader, Estelle Getty, Meshach Taylor, makeover montages, even a theme song, 'Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now' by Jefferson Starship.

The official dynopsis from MGM tells it this way: Down-on-his-luck artist Jonathan Switcher (Andrew McCarthy) bounces...

The professional wrestling industry has always provided a gateway to make the jump into Hollywood for those talented or brave enough to try, with current WWE star Sasha Banks recently becoming a firm fan favorite after showing up in season 2 of The Mandalorian as Koska Reeves. However, not everyone gets to come anywhere close to the levels of success attained by a certain Dwayne Johnson.

For instance, Dave Bautista is an established figure in the industry with a solid filmography under his belt already, but Hulk Hogan was a much bigger name in the squared circle and it would be fair to say No Holds Barred, Suburban Commando and Mr. Nanny didn’t turn him into a movie star.

John Cena, meanwhile, is set to continue his steady rise up the ranks with a banner 2021 that will see him follow in Johnson’s footsteps by joining the Fast and Furious franchise,...

There are only two months left to go in this truly hellish year and relatively new streaming service HBO Max is trying to make the best of them. While most other streamers recover from Halloween and get prepared for Christmas, HBO Max is using November 2020 to fill out its servers.

Things are pretty light not the new original series front this month with only Industry (Nov. 9) and His Dark Materials season 2 (Nov. 16) making a splash. But the streamer has a couple of notable original films to complement them. Between the World and Me, based on the book by Ta-Nehisi Coates, arrives on Nov. 21 and Melissa McCarthy comedy Superintelligence arrives on Nov. 26. That’s not even to mention two intriguing projects that don’t have dates yet: The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air Reunion Special and The Mystery of Db Cooper.

Thankfully, the real appeal in November 2020 is all the fresh library...

We might be stuck indoors this Halloween weekend, but thankfully, the various major streaming services are on hand to keep us occupied with a monumental mountain of new content heading our way over the next few days. As it’s both the end of the month and the beginning of November, the likes of Netflix, Disney Plus, HBO Max, Hulu and Prime Video are adding a mix of seasonal movies and TV shows today and tomorrow, and a whole load of freshly licensed titles on Sunday.

First of all, Netflix is dropping five new originals this Friday, October 30th, including a couple of horrors, like The Day of the Lord and His House. Disney Plus, meanwhile, debuts The Mandalorian‘s season 2 premiere today, along with a new episode of The Right Stuff and Nicolas Cage movie The Sorcerer’s Apprentice. Elsewhere, on the 31st, HBO Max adds last year’s Black Christmas...

Do you remember the early-‘90s gems, “Mr. Nanny” and “Suburban Commando?” Those features starred wrestler, Hulk Hogan, as a big, strong man joining up with some kids in an adventure in a solidly family-friendly film. In 2020, it appears that Dave Bautista is stepping into Hogan’s shoes and making films that could sit comfortably next to those features, like his upcoming film, “Universe’s Most Wanted.”

Read More: Dave Bautista’s Delayed ‘My Spy’ Skipping Theatrical Release & Going Straight To Amazon Prime Video

Deadline is reporting that Bautista has signed on to star in “Universe’s Most Wanted,” a sci-fi/fantasy film that finds the wrestler-turned-actor playing an intergalactic peacekeeper that finds himself in an American small town where he joins forces with a kid to help capture some of the universe’s most wanted criminals that landed on Earth.

Continue reading Dave Bautista To Play An Intergalactic Peacekeeper...

As we have just about a week left to go of October, let’s take a look at everything that’s due to arrive on HBO Max in November. It’s a big month for the WarnerMedia streaming service, with countless new movies from their legendary library being added and plenty of fresh originals dropping throughout the following weeks. A few upcoming releases have yet to be dated, but otherwise, here’s the full list of what’s coming to HBO Max next month.

Released November Tba

12 Dates Of Christmas, HBO Max Original Series Premiere

Colin Quinn & Friends: A Parking Lot Comedy Show, HBO Max Original Special Premiere

Crazy, Not Insane, Documentary Premiere (HBO)

The Fresh Prince Of Bel Air Reunion Special, HBO Max Original Special Premiere

Full Bloom, HBO Max Original Series Premiere

I Hate Suzie, HBO Max Original Series Premiere

The Mystery Of Db Cooper, Documentary Premiere (HBO)

Sesame Street,...

With a new month quickly approaching, it’s time to look ahead and see what’s coming to all your favorite streaming services this November. That’s Netflix, Disney Plus, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video and, of course, HBO Max.

Halloween will soon be behind us and given that Christmas isn’t too far off, we’re beginning to see some holiday titles pop up, with all the major platforms getting into the festive spirit. That’ll continue in December as well, of course, but for November, there’s certainly tons on offer for those looking to start the celebrations early.

There’s a lot of other great stuff on the way, too, though, be it classic films, underrated gems, brand new releases and much more, and you can check out the entire lineup, sorted by date, down below. Ready to dive in?

November 1

Netflix

60 Days In: Season 5

A...

It seems like more professional wrestlers than ever before are attempting to make the jump from the squared circle to the silver screen, presumably to follow in the footsteps of trailblazer Dwayne Johnson. Of course, Andre the Giant played a prominent role in cult classic The Princess Bride, but he never became a full-time actor, and the less said about Hulk Hogan’s Mr. Nanny and Santa with Muscles the better.

The Big Show Show may have been canceled by Netflix after one season, but the eponymous giant still wants to play the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s Kingpin, while Joe ‘Roman Reigns’ Anoa’i landed minor supporting parts in Johnson’s Hobbs & Shaw and Netflix hit The Wrong Missy. The most successful transition so far though has been that of Dave Bautista, who has carved out a solid niche for himself in the action genre while also showing off some surprising dramatic and comedic chops,...

Martin Scorsese is set to direct a New York Dolls documentary focused on front man David Johansen. The iconic director is working with Showtime to deliver Johansen's story for the first time. David Tedeschi will co-direct the documentary on the glam-punk pioneer with Scorsese. In addition to Tedeschi, Scorsese is bringing along other longtime collaborators including producer Margaret Bodd and director of photography Ellen Kuras.

The untitled documentary will tell the story of David Johansen's life, which will more than likely spend a great deal of time with the New York Dolls. Martin Scorsese and his team already shot some concert footage of Johansen performing earlier this year at New York's Caf&#233 Carlyle, where the front man told stories about his career in between songs. Scorsese had this to say about the untitled project.

"I've known David Johansen for decades, and his music has been a touchstone ever since I...

Take a look at movie/TV titles streaming July 1, 2020 on HBO Max, including "The Batman vs Dracula", "Mars Attacks!", "Dirty Harry" and a whole lot more:

Streaming July 1, 2020 on HBO Max

Absolute Power, 1997The Adventures of Pinocchio, 1996The Amazing Panda Adventure, 1995American Graffiti, 1973 (HBO)American History X, 1998Angels in the Outfield, 1951Angus, 1995August Rush, 2007The Bachelor, 1999Batman & Mr. Freeze: SubZero, 1998Batman and Harley Quinn , 2017Batman vs. Two-Face, 2017The Batman vs. Dracula, 2005

Batman: Assault on Arkham, 2014Batman: Return of the Caped Crusaders, 2016Batman: Under the Red Hood, 2010Batman: Year One, 2011Beautiful Creatures, 2013Beerfest, 2006The Big Year (Extended Version), 2011 (HBO)Bishop's Wife ,The, 1947Blade 2, 2002Blade, 1998Blade: Trinity, 2004

Blazing Saddles, 1974Blood Work , 2002Born to Be Wild, 1995Boy Who Could Fly, The, 1989Bridget Jones: The Edge Of Reason, 2004 (HBO)Catch Me If You Can, 2002Clara's Heart, 1988The Conjuring, 2013Cop Out, 2010Creepshow, 1982Death Becomes Her, 1992 (HBO)The Departed, 2006Dirty Dozen, The, 1967

Dirty Harry, 1971Doc Hollywood,...

HBO Max is out with its list of everything coming and going from the new streaming service, and the list includes the 2019 film “Harriet” starring Cynthia Erivo as Harriet Tubman.

The HBO Originals coming next month include season four of “Room 104,” HBO Europe’s “Foodie Love,” and documentaries like “Stockton on My Mind” and “Showbiz Kids.” Other films joining include “Motherless Brooklyn,” “Midway,” and “Last Christmas.”

Leaving at the end of the month are “Aquamarine,” “Crazy Rich Asians,” “Long Shot,” “Crimson Peak,” “The Sun Is Also a Star” and “X-Men.”

Also Read: iHeartMedia, WarnerMedia to Co-Produce Companion Podcasts for HBO Max Shows

Here is the full list of everything new and leaving in July:

July 1

Absolute Power, 1997

The Adventures of Pinocchio, 1996

The Amazing Panda Adventure, 1995

American Graffiti, 1973 (HBO)

American History X, 1998

Angels in the Outfield, 1951

Angus, 1995

August Rush, 2007

The Bachelor, 1999

Batman & Mr. Freeze: SubZero, 1998

Batman and Harley Quinn , 2017

Batman vs.

When HBO Max launched last month, DC fans hoped it would be the premiere place to go to watch all their favorite DC content. While the streaming service did have an impressive array of films and TV shows available on launch, there were a lot of notable missing titles, too, due to pre-existing licenses getting in the way. As time goes on, though, more DC properties will end up on the site. Case in point: this July will see a whole heap of superhero content go up on HBO Max.

Below you can find the full list of every movie and TV series coming to HBO Now, Go and Max next month, broken down by day of release. It includes an enormous amount of DC animated movies, mostly featuring Batman, the Justice League and Green Lantern. All of the Christopher Reeve Superman films will be up on HBO Max as of July,...

For some reason, there seems to be a rule in Hollywood that every action hero needs to appear in at least one family-friendly comedy at some point in their career, and you can now add Dave Bautista to that list. Following in the footsteps of Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Kindergarten Cop, Vin Diesel’s The Pacifier and Sylvester Stallone’s appearance in Spy Kids 3-D, the Guardians of the Galaxy star also follows in the less than illustrious footsteps of fellow wrestlers-turned-actors Hulk Hogan, Dwayne Johnson and John Cena, who ventured into the genre with Mr. Nanny, The Tooth Fairy and Playing with Fire respectively.

Directed by regular Adam Sandler collaborator and veteran of mediocre comedies Peter Segal, My Spy follows Bautista’s CIA agent through a familiar setup that eventually sees him teaming up with a 9 year-old kid to save the day, and presumably their initial hostility towards each other...

From Arnold Schwarzenegger to Dwayne Johnson, macho actors who have wanted to take a break from intense action movies have frequently turned to family-friendly comedies that also allows them to reach a more mainstream audience. But starring with a child co-star a third your age and size means you’ll have to wear a tutu or dance like a doofus, maybe fall in something slimy or gross. Wrestler turned action star John Cena is the latest to make this pivot with “Playing With Fire,” opening this weekend. Here are some other examples of this genre of tough guys babysitting kids.

“Kindergarten Cop” (1990) – Arnold Schwarzenegger

“Kindergarten Cop” was not the first (or the last) goofy comedy Arnold Schwarzenegger would make, but only in this one does he berate at a classroom full of toddlers, play with a ferret and teach kids the basics about human anatomy. I would also argue that...

Dwayne Johnson will soon not be the only wrestling legend and actor to star in the Fast and Furious franchise, as John Cena has officially been confirmed as a part of the cast of Fast & Furious 9. The confirmation comes after co-star Vin Diesel previously spoke about Cena's involvement in the project back in April, so although the news is now official, it isn't exactly a surprise. Not much has yet been revealed about the character Cena will play, but the character at this time is being described as a "badass." If that's all they're looking for, Cena certainly fits that bill.

The franchise has definitely felt very different following the demise of series star Paul Walker, but with so much money to be made, the show must go on. Full details on the plot have not yet been released, though we know it will be the second of...

Mr. Nanny (1993) Director: Michael Gottlieb Stars: Hulk Hogan, Sherman Hemsley, Austin Pendleton Last weekend gave us Ryan Reynolds guarding the body of Samuel L. Jackson in The Hitman's Bodyguard, so Awfully Good Movies is here to take a bullet for the one and only Hulk Hogan, as he guards two little troublemakers in 1993's Mr. Nanny! Yes, even after the failure of... Read More...

“Expendables 3” fired blanks at the domestic box office when it hit theaters last summer, but apparently Sylvester Stallone is still planning for a fourth, and is getting Hulk Hogan excited about the possibility, too. The professional wrestling icon, who made his theatrical debut in 1982’s “Rocky III” before becoming “Mr. Nanny” 11 years later, told fans during a Q&A at the Body Pro Expo in England earlier this month that Stallone wants him to play the villain in the fourth installment of the Lionsgate franchise. “Was talking on the phone with Sly about doing ‘The Expendables 4,'” Hogan said.

A month of bad holiday movies begins! Santa With Muscles (1996) Director: John Murlowski Stars: Hulk Hogan, Mila Kunis, Ed Begley Jr. A Scrooge-y millionaire gets amnesia and thinks he's Santa Claus on a mission to save an orphanage. From Suburban Commando to Mr. Nanny to 3 Ninjas: High Noon At Mega Mountain, you can always count on Hulk Hogan to deliver on Awfully Good. Santa With Muscles is by far the worst movie on his embarrassing filmography and is probably...

Universal Pictures

Many people tend to think that being a pro wrestler and being an actor are two very similar professions. Well, that couldn’t be any further from the truth. It is true that there are some aspects of wrestling that can be carried over into acting, but in-ring success doesn’t always translate to the big screen. There are few exceptions to that rule, however, with the most obvious one being The Rock. After hanging up his boots in 2003 to pursue an acting career, Rock went from having a brief cameo in “The Mummy 2″ as The Scorpion King to being featured in his own blockbuster film “Hercules” over a decade later.

Not all former main event players have bode well in Hollywood, though. Hulk Hogan is the perfect example. Hogan is easily one of the most influential figures in pro wrestling history, giving birth to Hulkamania in the...

Marvel Studios is taking its biggest risk yet with Guardians of the Galaxy, banking on an obscure team of heroes to bridge the gap until the next Avengers flick roars into theaters. But there's an even larger obstacle standing in the way of box-office success: Dave Bautista.

To the uninitiated, Bautista is a six-time world champion in Vince McMahon's wrestling circus, and one of the most iconic squared-circle stars of the last decade. In Guardians, he plays intergalactic warrior Drax the Destroyer, which is unquestionably his biggest role to date.

Lionsgate

We’ve seen many pro wrestlers move from the world of choreographed fighting to the movie business. Given they’re required to preform on the mic as part of their pro wrestling duties, WWE stars seem to make a decent go of it, at least some of the time: Hulk Hogan played Thunderlips in Rocky III, but he also headlined in Mr. Nanny – not exactly a great career move, acting wise.

The most successful crossover star from the wrestling realm to the movie business is, of course, The Rock – Dwayne Johnson has actual acting ability to go with his charisma, which is what propelled him past Hogan levels in regards to his acting career, but there have been others: John Cena, Kane, The Big Show, Triple H, Randy Orton, Kevin Nash, Diamond Dallas Page, Mick Foley – they’ve all tried their hand at movies and television shows, mostly in WWE productions.

From The Rock, Ken Shamrock and The Hardy Boyz on That 70s Show to Vader and Mick Foley on Boy Meets World, WWE always find an appropriate way to incorporate their superstars into television shows and movies.

For the most part, WWE superstars have played themselves or generic wrestlers in these pop culture scenarios. WWE and those shows capitalize on the special guests by writing an episode (or multiple episodes) based on the characters enjoying pro wrestling or being related to someone in the industry. However, the cameos made by WWE Superstars are not always that smooth and natural.

But what about all those strange cameos WWE Superstars have made?

Hulk Hogan has a history of starring in television shows and movies. Many times he is a current professional wrestler. In No Holds Barred, he plays a wrestler. In Rocky, he was a boxer. Those were among his normal roles in movies.

Michael Gottlieb, who is best known for writing and directing the 1987 comedy "Mannequin," died in a motorcycle accident on the Angeles Forest Highway. He was 69 years old. In addition to "Mannequin," Gottlieb also directed Hulk Hogan's "Mr. Nanny," Cheech Marin's "The Shrimp on the Barbie" and Thomas Ian Nichola's "A Kid in King Arthur's Court." The helmer also produced video games, including "Mortal Komb 4," "Muppet Monster Adventure" and "NBA Hang Time." He most recently taught screenwriting classes at the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena.

Michael Gottlieb, the writer and director of comedies like "Mannequin" and "Mr. Nanny," was killed in a motorcycle accident last Friday at the age of 69. Gottlieb began his career as a fashion photographer, moved into advertising, and later transitioned into a career as a producer, writer, and director. Gottlieb was also a professor at Pasadena's Art Center College of Design, where he taught screenwriting.

Michael Gottlieb's "Mannequin" starred Brat Packer Andrew McCarthy as an artist who falls in love with the fashion mannequin he created. Kim Cattrall, who'd previously appeared in "Porky's," "Police Academy," and "Big Trouble in Little China," co-starred as Emmy, the mannequin that occasionally returns to life to hang out with her new pal. Gottlieb's "Mr. Nanny" starred Hulk Hogan and former New York Doll David Johansen. He also directed the comedy "The Shrimp on the Barbie" under the pseudonym "Alan Smithee," and "A Kid in King Arthur's Court...

Film-maker and video game producer died on Friday in a motorcycle accident.

Michael Gottlieb has died at the age of 69.

The writer/director of films such as Mr. Nanny and Mannequin died on Friday in a motorcycle accident on the Angeles Forest Highway north of La Canada Flintridge, official said.

As well as films, Gottlieb also produced several video games including Mortal Kombat 4 and NBA Hangtime.

Beginning his professional career working as an assistant on film and photo shoots, Gottlieb found success as a fashion photographer before becoming a Clio Award-wiinning commercial director and cinematographer, making national spots for the likes of Xerox, Coca-Cola and McDonald’s.

Gottlieb most recently taught screenwriting classes for the undergraduate and graduate film departments at the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena. “Michael Gottlieb was superbly talented in an unusual number of creative disciplines,” commented Film Chair Ross Lamanna.

“His love for his students and generosity with his time and...

Michael Gottlieb, who wrote and directed such big-screen comedies as Mannequin and Mr. Nanny, died Friday in a motorcycle accident on the Angeles Forest Highway north of La Canada Flintridge. He was 69. Gottlieb also produced several A-list video game titles from 1995 through 2005, including Midway Arcade Treasures 3; Fire Blade; Mortal Kombat: Special Forces; Muppet Monster Adventure; Paperboy; NBA Hang Time; Mortal Kombat Mythologies: Sub-Zero; and Mortal Kombat 4. In addition to his work on Mannequin (1987), which starred Andrew McCarthy and Kim Cattrall, and the Hulk Hogan-starring Mr. Nanny (1993), Gottlieb helmed The Shrimp on the

read more...

These days, pretty much everything I like is cool. Superheroes, horror films, video games — they’re all trendy in their own way. They’re all the type of things you can pick up some edgy looking girl at school with if you play your cards right (don’t call her a plebeian when she says she likes ‘Iron Man 3′).

You know what’s not cool at the moment? Wrestling. Nope, the year is not 1999. Stone Cold and The Rock have been replaced by a pandering man-child perpetually in “jorts” and guys who look like they take the “wellness policy” seriously. So seriously that they don’t even bother lifting weights.

Ah, but I still like it. I tweet about it, I potentially lose followers — what can you do? It’s fun. Yes, I know it’s “not real”, just as much as I realize ‘Man of Steel’ is fabricated. It’s live theatre,...

Forget "Mr. Nanny" ... or "Suburban Commando" ... Hulk Hogan tells us, burning his hand last weekend was by far the dumbest thing he's ever done in his life.We posted the gnarly photos over the weekend showing Hulk's injuries -- but the wrestling legend has never explained what happened ... until now.Hulk called in to "TMZ Live" today, telling us the accident occurred Sunday when his speedboat overheated. Hulk says he tried to be a badass...

Let us pay our respect to the late Sherman Hemsley by cherishing his greatest cinematic work. Mr. Nanny (1993) Director: Michael Gottlieb Stars: Hulk Hogan, Sherman Hemsley, Madeline Zima A former wrestler gets hired as a bodyguard for a national security expert, only to be pawned off as a babysitter for his nightmarish kids. Mr. Nanny is not as great as Suburban Commando. Let's get that out of the way first. It doesn't feature the broad comedy of Hulk Hogan as a...

Rating: 2.5 out of 5 stars

David Gordon Green has certainly had one of the more peculiar career trajectories of any young director, starting out with grimly effective dramas like George Washington and Snow Angels, before unleashing his uniquely caustic brand of comedy with the uneven Pineapple Express, and finally opting for the more conventional – not to mention hugely disappointing – fantasy jaunt Your Highness. His latest, The Sitter, though passable enough and mercifully short, never seems sure quite what it wants to be, and the jarring tonal shifts ensure it fails to sufficiently satisfy as either a rambunctious comedy or a nuanced character study.

It does at least get to the point quickly; Noah (Jonah Hill) is a suspended college student who, to ensure his mother can go out on her first date in years, babysits the neighbours’ three kids. They are equivocally an odd bunch – there’s the self-indulgent, angsty teenage...

We've been talking with Jonah Hill for a little while about "The Sitter," but can you blame us? The new movie, which comes out Friday (December 9), looks like a pretty fun romp through the tried-and-true babysitter comedy genre. It's just a tad dirtier than the usual "Mr. Nanny" or "The Pacifier" fare, appropriate for Hill's decidedly Nsfw comedy sensibilities.

During last month's MTV First with the "Sitter" star, we asked Hill why he took the role.

"The whole idea of this movie is, you know those crappy movies when they're like 'Oh, you don't want this guy watching your kids,' and they're the lamest movie ever?" he said. "This is the movie where, you really don't want this guy watching your kids because they might, like, die or some crazy stuff."

There's nothing like the threat of death to make sure a kid eats his vegetables, right? We then...

"Babysitting movies" is a genre that doesn't seem to get enough play these days. Just think of the niche's long and respectable history. Adventures in Babysitting. Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead. Uncle Buck. Mr. Nanny. Okay, I should have stopped before that last one, but still. Thankfully, now director David Gordon Green (Pineapple Express) and Jonah Hill are bringing us a new entry courtesy of The Sitter, which casts Hill as a irresponsible college student tasked with keeping tabs on three little rug-rats. Before the night is over, of course, he winds up with problems bigger than simply where to stash the kids so he can have sex with his girlfriend. Drug-dealer problems. Sharting problems. And the kids...something's gotta be done about those kids! Check out the trailer below and you can also watch it in full HD over on Apple. The "babysitter comedy" hasn't really received the...

Don't worry Jason Statham fans, your favorite action star hasn't pulled a Rock or Vin Diesel or Hulk Hogan and taken on an emasculating role as a tough guy suburban Mr. Nanny, but he is still basically a babysitter in his new movie. It's called Safe and finds the Crank star as a severely down-on-his-luck cage fighter (the Russian Mafia killed his family, bummer) who decides his new reason for living is saving a little girl who is being hunted by corrupt cops, a Chinese Triad gang and the Russian mob because she has a photographic memory. Three gangs of bad guys and a package that needs protecting? Yep, that sounds exactly like a Jason Statham movie, so much so that we're pretty sure it would technically be illegal for anyone who isn't Statham to star in it...

Read More...

Don't worry Jason Statham fans, your favorite action star hasn't pulled a Rock or Vin Diesel or Hulk Hogan and taken on an emasculating role as a tough guy suburban Mr. Nanny, but he is still basically a babysitter in his new movie. It's called Safe and finds the Crank star as a severely down-on-his-luck cage fighter (the Russian Mafia killed his family, bummer) who decides his new reason for living is saving a little girl who is being hunted by corrupt cops, a Chinese Triad gang and the Russian mob because she has a photographic memory. Three gangs of bad guys and a package that needs protecting? Yep, that sounds exactly like a Jason Statham movie, so much so that we're pretty sure it would technically be illegal for anyone who isn't Statham to star in it. It's a decent enough trailer...

Read More

Read Comments...

Most celebrities like to maintain their privacy, shading their faces from paparazzi and sneaking out back doors to avoid crowds. Jonah Hill, on the other hand, has his phone number plastered all over the country.

The "Moneyball" star next leads in "The Sitter," in which he plays an unemployed 20-something who is forced to start babysitting to make some cash. When he was shown the poster, he was pretty pleased with the concept: a homemade ad, plastered on a pole, that featured his face and a bunch of tearaway tabs marked with a phone number. He asked the marketing people at 20th Century Fox where the number (917-409-7838) actually led; when they said it was just a hotline with a message at the end, he had a different idea.

Now, 250,000 phone calls and 100,000 voice mails later, Hill laughs about the experience of carrying a phone attached to a number advertised nationwide.

(An article from our archives for your pleasure today)

Wrestling involves a great degree of acting, so it comes as no surprise that a number of wrestlers have attempted to make it in the movies over the years. With the formation of the WWE film division a few years ago WWE chairman Vince McMahon is determined to crack the big screen as well as dominating the small screen. Since the Hollywood success of Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, a number of top wrestling stars have tried to follow in his footsteps and this shows no signs of letting up anytime soon with John Cena working with Die Hard 2 director Renny Harlin on the upcoming 12 Rounds, with no doubt countless other wrestler starring vehicles to follow.

No matter how talented in the ring a wrestler is if they don’t have the charisma to hold an audience’s attention in interviews...

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

First Kindergarten Cop, now Mr. Nanny. Must all the brawny, thick-necked men of our childhood turn out to be skeeze balls? In Linda Hogan’s Today Show interview, the wrestler’s ex described how Hulk Hogan‘s allegedly violent tendencies had her fearing for her life, before and during the filming of their show Hulk Knows Best. As Matt Lauer quotes from her book Wrestling the Hulk: My Life Against the Ropes, Linda writes, “[Hulk] tore my shirt. He threw lamps. He held me down on the bed with his hands around my throat during arguments, slamming doors, pounding walls. I was always afraid he would kill me in one of his rages.” Considering Hogan once declared that he “understood” how O.J. Simpson felt, that sounds like a completely reasonable, terrifying assumption to us.

In addition to the Hulk’s alleged domestic abuse,...

This week, Matt celebrates the fine early movies of wrestling, acting and shirt-ripping sensation, Hulk Hogan…

Of all the lessons we learned from Rocky III, perhaps the most important was that Hulk Hogan was ready. The big man with tiny underpants and the coy hairline made a huge impact on the screen, and, understandably, the world lusted after more.

An acting juggernaut, Hogan's Hollywood career was undoubtedly shaped by his first three starring roles. His performances in No Holds Barred, Suburban Commando and Mr. Nanny cemented Hogan's position as a person who sometimes acted in films. He displayed a physical presence in these films and was able to say some lines of dialogue

In many ways, it's acting in its purest, rawest form. In many other ways, it isn't. Regardless, in this column I'll be looking back at these early Hogan films and questioning the taste of a world where...

Blockbuster – the one-time giant in the home video rental business which went bankrupt last September – was bought at auction this past week by Dish Network for $320 million. According to Dish, it intends to combine its wireless technology with Blockbuster’s brand name recognition, studio relationships and digital rights to re-establish Blockbuster as a player in the direct-to-home market against Netflix and newer contenders like Amazon and a Warner Bros. online rental service to be offered on Facebook.

However this plays out long-term, the auction buy is the last page in a final chapter begun back in September when Blockbuster busted. To trot out the old cliché, it’s the – everybody now — end of an era.

The business Blockbuster used to be in seemed revolutionary in its day, though it seems almost quaint now; come Friday, some delegate from the family would trot to the neighborhood video store hoping to get...

That Cute Kid From 'The Nanny' Is All Grown Up Former child actress ("Mr. Nanny" and "The Hand That Rocks the Cradle") and current "Californication" star Madeline Zima is taking a step forward from her TV career and has booked the lead in "Storage," a psychological thriller from British director Matt Winn. Winn is known for his commercial and ad work, as well as his feature "January 2nd," which made the festival rounds. Co-written with newcomer Chris Denne, the thriller follows "a young woman who discovers a terrifying secret when she becomes trapped in an underground storage facility with a…...

Oh brother….I mean, You Know Somethin' Brother?! Are all of you Hulkamaniacs out there ready for a Hulktastically Hulkorrific, Hulktensive, Hulk Hulk Hulken Hulk? Yeah, me neither, but former WWF/WWE wrestling legend Terry “The Hulk” Hogan (star of those terrible Rent-a-Center commercials) is coming to the big screen once again! Well, depending on how Big your TV is……

Rock On! Films and director Joe Eckardt are developing Black River. Hulk “Thunderlips” Hogan will be starring with Diamond Dallas Page (The Devil’S Rejects) in this serial killer “No Holds Barred” epic. Although the plot isn’t quite set in concrete, Black River is being described as “the story of a recovering alcoholic (Page) who is also recovering from a recent tragedy. When he moves to the small Midwestern town of Black River, he finds himself at the center of a series of murders that have something to do with a dark,...

by Kyle Anderson

The road to Hollywood is littered with professional wrestlers who have attempted to cross over from the squared circle onto the red carpet. The strike rate has not been great (Hulk Hogan's turn in "Mr. Nanny" should provide sufficient evidence of that), but then again, Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson has certainly fashioned himself into a bankable movie star.

Paul "Triple H" Levesque is on the right path. Not only does he already have a few non-wrestling film and television appearances under his belt (he had a memorable turn in "Blade: Trinity"), but when selecting his first headlining role, he eschewed the obvious road as an action star in favor of a more nuanced role in a family comedy: "The Chaperone," which had a brief run in theaters and will come to DVD and Blu-Ray next week.

"The Chaperone" finds Triple H playing the role of Ray Bradstone,...

“Hollywood” Hulk Hogan is right. The World Wrestling Entertainment champion, who held on to his belt for an unprecedented four years, took his blond locks and 24-inch pythons to Tinseltown, starring in such actioners as “No Holds Barred” and “The Ultimate Weapon” as well as kid-friendly comedies like “Suburban Commando” and “Mr. Nanny” while grappling for the World Championship Wrestling, World Tag Team and Royal Rumble championships. His very first film role, though, was in Sylvester Stallone’s “Rocky III,” in which he plays Thunderlips, a flamboyant pro wrestler whom the Italian Stallion spars with in what is supposed to be an exhibition match for charity. The Hulk’s brief appearance serves as a metaphor for the film’s plot (Rocky doesn’t take the match seriously until he’s humiliated in the ring) and thematic meditation on the circus that fame brings.

Choice Quotation:

[Thunderlips holds Rocky in the air]

Thunderlips: No one can believe the superhuman strength of Thunderlips!