News

Sometimes, if you want something done, you've got to do it yourself. And since Hollywood is allergic to making comedies anymore, veteran deadpan imp David Spade and podcast empresario Theo Von have joined forces to bring a genre back from the brink of extinction. Their project, Busboys, was written, produced, and self-financed by the two comedians, and will start production early next year. Spade spoke with Deadline about the project, saying:

"We are looking forward to gracing everyone with this comedy that no one asked for."

Related Best David Spade Movies, Ranked

With a career that spans over 30 years, we take a look back at the former SNL star's greatest movies and rank them.

Major plot intricacies are a mystery right now, but broadly speaking, the film is set in a small Arizona town, where two friends (played by Spade and Von) think that becoming waiters will solve all their problems.

Don't call them The Addams Family: "The Munsters" may be remembered as one of two darkly funny monster family sitcoms airing in the 1960s, but it's decidedly not the same as its comic strip-based contemporary. "The Munsters," for one thing, pulled its monsters straight from the Universal back catalog, featuring characters based directly on Frankenstein, Dracula, and the Wolf Man. The series starred Fred Gwynne and Yvonne de Carlo as married couple Herman and Lily Munster, whose household consisted of an endearing vampire grandpa (Al Lewis), wolf-boy son (Butch Patrick), human niece (Beverley Owen and Pat Priest), and a whole host of spooky-fun pets including a bat, a cat, a raven, and a dragon-like reptile named Spot.

Despite its enduring spot in the zeitgeist, "The Munsters" actually only ran for two seasons from 1964 to 1966. It was capped off with a movie, "Munsters, Go Home!" that saw the family take a trip to Europe,...

She’s beautiful and she’s here! As the calendar turns to December, a big month for Warner Bros. Discovery begins ahead of its big Christmas Day release: Blitz Bazawule’s reimagining of “The Color Purple,” based on the award-winning stage musical of the same name and starring Fantasia Barrino, Taraji P. Henson, Danielle Brooks, Colman Domingo, Corey Hawkins, H.E.R., Halle Bailey, Ciara, and more.

Ahead of the theatrical release, Max will usher in the month with not only the original 1985 film but also the upcoming documentary special “Oprah and The Color Purple Journey,” which will premiere on Max on Dec. 28 and take viewers through the making of the new movie musical adaptation and Winfrey’s history with the property.

The streamer will also add dozens of other titles from its multiple properties including OWN, HGTV, and CNN Max; film collections like James Bond and “The Pink Panther”; new comedy...

Former Eight Is Enough child star Adam Rich’s cause of death has been ruled as an accidental fentanyl overdose after he was found dead in January at the age of 54.

The autopsy report showed that in addition to this, Rich had lorazepam and non-toxic levels of alcohol in his system when he died. The autopsy also noted that Rich’s body was in a “mild decomposition” stage.

When the star was found on January 8 in his L.A. house, police reported that they discovered a white powder and had already suspected that overdose was the cause of death.

Rich was best known for starring as Nicholas Bradford in the TV series Eight Is Enough. He also acted in Code Red, Dungeons & Dragons, The Devil and Max Devlin, Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star and more.

He retired from acting in the 1980s as he revealed that he disliked the...

Adam Rich’s cause of death has been revealed. According to the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner-Coroner’s Office, Rich’s cause of death is listed as “effects of fentanyl.” The manner in which he died is listed as an “accident.”

The “Eight is Enough” star died Jan. 7 at his Los Angeles home. He was 54. The actor’s rep mourned him in a statement to Et. “Adam was not just a warrior for erasing the stigma on mental illness, but a warrior for humanity. He had no ego. He genuinely cared about people. He was America’s Little Brother,” the statement said.

“He was loved by so many, especially by those who grew up with him watching ‘Eight is Enough’, or (Disney’s) ‘The Devil and Max Devlin’,” the statement continued. “He will be missed and forever cherished.”

Actors of the television series “Eight is Enough”, Dick Van Patten (top), Grant Goodeve,...

Eight Is Enough alum Adam Rich‘s death has been ruled an accident due to the effects of fentanyl, according to the Los Angeles County Medical-Examiner Coroner’s office via Associated Press.

Rich was found dead at his home on Jan. 7. Family members had confirmed the news to TMZ, but did not reveal a cause of death at that time.

More from TVLineWWE Hall of Famer Terry Funk Dead at 79 - Ric Flair and Mick Foley Pay TributeAnother World's Nancy Frangione Dead at 70Ahsoka Pays Tribute to Ray Stevenson in Series Premiere: 'For Our Friend, Ray'

Rich was best known for playing Nicholas Bradford,...

Adam Rich died from an accidental fentanyl overdose in January, according to an autopsy report from the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner-Coroner.

Rich’s bloodstream also had what was termed nontoxic levels of alcohol and the generic version of Ativan, called lorazepam.

Rich, best known for starring in the television drama-comedy Eight Is Enough, was 54.

He died January 8 at his Los Angeles area home. No foul play is suspected.

The Eight Is Enough series followed the Bradford family, which consisted of eight children. It detailed their life as they date, grow, marry and had children themselves. Rich portrayed Nicholas Bradford, the youngest son.

The ABC show, which also starred Dick Van Patten, Lani O’Grady, Connie Needham, and Grant Goodeve, ran from 1977 to 1981.

Rich’s other TV credits included Code Red, Dungeons & Dragons,S mall Wonder, St. Elsewhere and Baywatch.

He was arrested in 1991 for smashing a pharmacy window...

By Ben Miller

Super Bowl weekend has never been a hotbed of film dollars, and this weekend was no different.  Magic Mike's Last Dance, the third and final entry in Steven Soderbergh's male stripper series, won the weekend with a sub-$10 million opening.  That doesn't happen very often in the world of big budgets.  In fact, in the 21st century (excluding Covid openings), only Bangkok Dangerous and Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star had a worse opening and still managed to top their weekends.  That being said, the film only opened on 1,500 screens, so the per-screen average was pretty solid.  Second and third both belonged to director James Cameron.  Avatar: The Way of Water continues to work its way up all-time charts, but the re-release of Cameron's 1997 Oscar-winner Titanic added a respectable total for a 25-year-old film.

Weekend Box Office (actuals)

Feb 10th-12th...

Update: Adam Rich died from an accidental fentanyl overdose in January, according to an autopsy report from the LA County Medical Examiner-Coroner.

Rich’s bloodstream also had what was termed nontoxic levels of alcohol and the generic version of Ativan, called lorazepam.

Earlier: Adam Rich, best known for starring in the television drama-comedy Eight Is Enough, has died. He was 54.

He died Saturday at his Los Angeles area home, a family member confirmed to TMZ. No cause of death has been revealed, but no foul play is suspected.

The Eight Is Enough series followed the Bradford family, which consisted of eight children. It detailed their life as they date, grow, marry and had children themselves. Rich portrayed Nicholas Bradford, the youngest son.

The ABC show, which also starred Dick Van Patten, Lani O’Grady, Connie Needham, and Grant Goodeve, ran from 1977 to 1981.

Rich’s other TV credits included Code Red,...

Adam Rich, an actor best known for starring in the ABC dramedy Eight Is Enough, died Saturday. He was 54 years old.

Family members confirmed the news to TMZ, but did not reveal a cause of death. The actor was reportedly found dead at his home, though foul play is not suspected.

More from TVLineWWE Hall of Famer Terry Funk Dead at 79 - Ric Flair and Mick Foley Pay TributeAnother World's Nancy Frangione Dead at 70Ahsoka Pays Tribute to Ray Stevenson in Series Premiere: 'For Our Friend, Ray'

Rich played Nicholas Bradford, the youngest son on Eight is Enough, for a total of 112 episodes.

Tony Dow, the actor who personified the role of America’s big brother as the elder sibling Wally Cleaver on the TV classic sitcom Leave It to Beaver, died today. He was 77, and had been battling cancer.

His death comes a day after his passing was mistakenly reported by his management team and his wife.

A statement on his Facebook page now reads:

We have received confirmation from Christopher, Tony’s son, that Tony passed away earlier this morning, with his loving family at his side to see him through this journey. We know that the world is collectively saddened by the loss of this incredible man. He gave so much to us all and was loved by so many. One fan said it best—”It is rare when there is a person who is so universally loved like Tony.”

Our heart goes out to Tony’s wife, Lauren, who...

Tony Dow, the actor and director best known for playing the stalwart older brother Wally Cleaver to Jerry Mathers’ Beaver in the iconic series “Leave It to Beaver,” died Wednesday after it was incorrectly announced Tuesday that he had died. He was 77.

“We have received confirmation from Christopher, Tony’s son, that Tony passed away earlier this morning, with his loving family at his side to see him through this journey. We know that the world is collectively saddened by the loss of this incredible man,” read the statement on his official Facebook page.

His son Christopher said in the Facebook statement, “Although this is a very sad day, I have comfort and peace that he is in a better place. He was the best Dad anyone could ask for. He was my coach, my mentor, my voice of reason, my best friend, my best man in my wedding, and my hero.

When you’re a streaming service, there’s only one way to celebrate the New Year. And that’s by IP mining to bring back a franchise that had no business in coming back!

With its list of new releases for January 2022, Hulu is raiding CBS’s closet and premiering How I Met Your Father, a continuation of the sitcom How I Met Your Mother. Complaints about unnecessary rebooting aside, perhaps its worth giving the Hillary Duff starring series a chance. If nothing else, telling a story about 2022 from a future perspective might play well.

Aside from Himyf, there aren’t any other Hulu original series to speak of. Instead, Hulu is opting to once again beef up its film library. January 1 sees the arrival of Master and Commander, Seven, and a whole bunch of Star Treks. Hulu will also be the streaming home of some recently released film Indies,...

Chicago – A man called Screech is gone. Dustin Diamond, who portrayed the Screech character for many years on the series “Saved by the Bell” and its various iterations, passed away on February 1st, 2021, in a Florida hospital after a bout with cancer. He was 44.

The character Diamond is best known for, Samuel “Screech” Powers, began on the Disney Channel in 1988 in “Good Morning Miss Bliss.” NBC-tv had the rights to the show’s premise, and re-tooled it into “Saved by the Bell” in 1989, and it became a touchstone show for that teenage generation through its four seasons and spinoffs. After leaving the franchise in 2000 (“Saved by the Bell: The New Class”) Diamond began life’s roller coaster ride that many child actors endure.

Dustin Diamond in Chicago, circa 2012

Photo credit: Joe Arce of Starstruck Foto for HollywoodChicago.com

He reinvented himself as a stand-up comedian, but also made himself available...

Weeks after he was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer, Saved by the Bell star Dustin Diamond has passed away. According to a rep for the actor, Diamond died on Monday morning after his condition had greatly declined over the past week. With his girlfriend by his side, Diamond reportedly died after he was taken off of breathing machines in an attempt to get him to hospice care. He was 44 years old.

Last month, it was reported that Diamond has been hospitalized with an illness suspected to be cancer. Doctors confirmed those fears with a diagnosis of stage 4 small cell carcinoma, otherwise referred to as advanced lung cancer. He had since started chemotherapy treatments with plans to battle the disease. Days ago, Diamond theorized that staying in cheap motels as a traveling comedian may have contributed to his illness, but it was also in his family as his mother died of breast cancer.

Dustin Diamond, who gained youthful fame as the nerdy Samuel “Screech” Powers on TV’s Saved by the Bell, died today in a Florida hospital, just weeks after revealing he was battling stage 4 cancer. He was 44.

Diamond’s agent confirmed the actor’s death.

“We are saddened to confirm of Dustin Diamond’s passing on Monday, February 1st, 2021 due to carcinoma,” his reps at Roger Paul Inc. said in a statement. “He was diagnosed with this brutal, relentless form of malignant cancer only three weeks ago. In that time, it managed to spread rapidly throughout his system; the only mercy it exhibited was its sharp and swift execution. Dustin did not suffer. He did not have to lie submerged in pain. For that, we are grateful.”

The statement also alluded to Diamond’s various controversies, noting that the actor, who had released a self-produced sex tape, wrote a tell-all book...

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...

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,...

Let’s give David Spade credit where credit is due for still managing to find star vehicles for himself in the year of our collective downfall, 2020. After “Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star” hit theaters in 2003, many assumed that Spade’s proverbial goose was more or less cooked. But not so fast.

Spade, for better or worse, has stuck around, milking his signature put-downs and infantile jokes about bad breath and pubic hair for all they’re worth.

Continue reading ‘The Wrong Missy’: David Spade’s Smarmy Schtick Irritates In Netflix’s Lame Comedy [Review] at The Playlist.

The Toyman Toy Show in St. Louis has been going strong for almost 30 years now and just keeps getting bigger and better! The fun now takes place nine times a year at The Machinists Hall 12365 St Charles Rock Road in Bridgeton, Mo 63044. There are over 120 vendors at the Toyman Toy Show spread out over 220 tables. all selling vintage toys, comics, dolls, diecast cars, movie memorabilia, and more as well as cosplayers and artists. It’s an unbelievable amount of fun for only $5!

The next Toyman Show is this Sunday, July 14th from 9:00am to 3:00p and actor Jeremy Miller as well as Wrestler/Actress Lindsay Kay Hayward will be there. A Facebook invite can be found Here

Jeremy James Miller is an American actor best known for his portrayal of Ben Seaver on Growing Pains and its two reunion movies. He also was the voice of Linus in Happy New Year,...

After appearing on the hit sitcom Happy Days and the spin-off Joanie Loves Chachi, Erin Moran — who was found dead at age 56 on Saturday afternoon in Corydon, Indiana — seemed to have struggled with life outside of the spotlight.

Although she did not appear as a series regular after her two shows ended, Moran continued acting on TV, taking small roles on The Love Boat and Murder She Wrote in the ’80s. She also appeared on episodes of Diagnosis Murder and The Bold and the Beautiful in 1998 and 2009, respectively. She also is credited with having small roles in the films Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star,...

Like a lot of bad comedies, the David Spade vehicle Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star has a good premise that the movie doesn’t exploit to its fullest potential. So it’s not meant as any kind of affront to say that The Resurrection Of Gavin Stone repurposes the general idea of that movie, sending debased has-been former kid performer Gavin Stone (Agents Of S.H.I.E.L.D.’s Brett Dalton) from the outskirts of Hollywood to a stint interacting with “normal” people who couldn’t care less about his faded career. It’s not even a terrible idea for a Christian-themed comedy; it’s easy to see how a damaged former child star might be better off doing community service for a church. But like so many movies designed for believers first and ordinary sinners second, if at all, Gavin Stone has trouble approximating the sensibility of ...

Ariel Winter is calling out "fake friends."

The Modern Family star shared exactly how she feels about faux friendships via Twitter on Wednesday.

Watch: Ariel Winter on Her Risque Instagram Posts and Promoting Positive Body Image: 'Everyone Has a Butt'

"Shout out to the one you thought were real friends, but really are just fake friends in disguise," Winter tweeted with a Gif of David Spade flipping the bird in the film Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star.

Related: 23 Times Ariel Winter Was Sexy and Confident On Instagram

Of course, Winter didn't elaborate on her tweet, but with 2017 right around the corner, the timing seems perfect for a clean slate.

Before exposing the apparent friend drama, the 18-year-old actress put a sexy spin on Christmas. Winter recently Instagrammed snapshots of herself wearing a blonde wig and racy Santa costume, and cozied up to her boyfriend, actor Levi Meaden, in another steamy shot.

More: [link=nm...

Actress Doris Roberts, best known for playing the title character's mother in the hit sitcom Everybody Loves Raymond, passed away last night at the age of 90. The actress' son, Michael Canata, confirmed to Deadline that she died in her sleep last night from natural causes. Here's what the actress' Everybody Loves Raymond co-star Ray Romano had to say in a statement about her passing.

"Doris Roberts had an energy and a spirit that amazed me. She never stopped. Whether working professionally or with her many charities, or just nurturing and mentoring a green young comic trying to make it as an actor, she did everything with such a grand love for life and people and I will miss her dearly."

Doris Roberts was born November 4, 1925 to Ann (Meltzer) and Larry Green in St. Louis, Missouri, whose legendary career spanned over seven decades. She started acting in the early 1950s, appearing...

Stars: David Spade, Brittany Daniel, Christopher Walken, Patrick Warburton, Mark McGrath, Dennis Miller, Toby Bronson, Ron Flagge, Rhonda Dents, Tracy Weisert, Natalia Cigliuti, Erica Ibsen | Written by Fred Wolf, David Spade | Directed by Fred Wolf

The original Joe Dirt became something of a cult classic on DVD, even moreso in our household where it gets watched at least every other month… For some reason that underdog tale of a man beaten down by life but refusing to take it, living everday to its potential really struck a chord. But the same can’t be said for the sequel, which is essentially a parody of It’s a Wonderful Life, making a mockery of the first film and the character, in a movie that feels like it was made more for the cast to have fun and work than for the audience to enjoy.

Joe Dirt 2: Beautiful Loser picks up...

Life Coach: Mills’ Debut a Showcase for Own Multi-talents

Toronto based filmmaker Pat Mills makes his directorial debut with Guidance, a dark hearted comedy that gets a lot of traction from exaggerated, inappropriate behavior draping its endearing core. Aping the hook of Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star (2003), Mills manages to surpass David Spade’s limitations with a basic premise that has a myriad of possibilities, and, as far as comedies hinged on adults behaving badly goes, Mills’ film works on a variety of entertaining levels. Director, screenwriter, and star, his strongest asset happens to be himself in an entertaining performance that is as unabashedly off-putting as it is strangely empathetic. His onscreen persona manages to help us overlook some of the film’s minor sleights to the development of supporting characters necessary for the attempted third act pathos. Nevertheless, this is an impressionable first feature, one deserving of attention as...

Actor Dick Van Patten, best remembered as gentle father Tom Bradford on the sitcom Eight Is Enough and for appearing in several Mel Brooks movies, has died. He had been hospitalized for diabetes-related complications in Santa Monica, California where he passed away, according to People. He was 86.

Born in Queens, New York in 1928, Van Patten cut his teeth on Broadway – making his stage debut at age seven – before transitioning to television in 1949 with a recurring role on a comedy-drama about immigrants living in turn-of-the-century San Francisco called Mama. He would...

Digital entertainment is certainly a fertile industry these days. David Spade and Happy Madison Productions are putting together a sequel to "Joe Dirt" that will air exclusively on Sony's Crackle website and associated platforms.

According to his official statement, Spade is "beyond stoked that 'Joe Dirt' will finally hit the screens again on Crackle. I've been sleeping in this wig for years and it will be nice to wear it in the daytime again." It seems like it's a sequel that's been on his mind for a while, anyway. A couple of months ago, Spade was asked during a Reddit Ama about a possible sequel, and his detailed answer indicated that it was something he'd given some thought to. As per one Reddit user, "Just get Adam Sandler to foot the bill."

"Joe Dirt 2" will start production in mid-November in Louisiana, with a 2015 release date. Spade is co-writing the script with Fred Wolf,...

With his memorable work with Chris Farley in Tommy Boy and Black Sheep in tow, David Spade left Saturday Night Live at the end of the 1995-96 season, and within a year he’d returned to the warm embrace of a weekly television series, joining the ensemble cast on the 1997-2003 NBC sitcom Just Shoot Me! He’s essentially had a TV gig ever since, following up his supporting turn as Finch with a stint on 8 Simple Rules (2003-05), the Comedy Central series The Showbiz Show (2005-07), and perennial bubble-watch CBS sitcom Rules of Engagement (2007-13), in addition to film work (most notably, 2001’s Joe Dirt and 2003’s Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star). All the while, he's never stopped doing stand-up, so, with a new Comedy Central special set to air Sunday at 10 p.m., Vulture thought it was a good time to check in with Spade. And we asked...

Denzel Washington’s character in Flight drinks a lot throughout the film, but his portrayal of a highly functioning alcoholic pilot isn’t going down well with brewing company Anheuser-Busch or the distributor of Stolichnaya vodka.

Anheuser-Busch said Monday that it has asked Paramount Pictures Corp. to obscure or remove the Budweiser logo from the film, which at one point shows Washington’s character drinking the beer while behind the wheel.

Budweiser is hardly the only alcoholic beverage shown in Flight” which earned $25 million in its debut weekend and is likely to remain popular with audiences. Washington’s character frequently drinks vodka throughout the film,...

Los Angeles -- Denzel Washington's character in "Flight" drinks a lot throughout the film, but his portrayal of a highly functioning alcoholic pilot isn't going down well with brewing company Anheuser-Busch or the distributor of Stolichnaya vodka.

Anheuser-Busch said Monday that it has asked Paramount Pictures Corp. to obscure or remove the Budweiser logo from the film, which at one point shows Washington's character drinking the beer while behind the wheel.

Budweiser is hardly the only alcoholic beverage shown in "Flight," which earned $25 million in its debut weekend and is likely to remain popular with audiences. Washington's character frequently drinks vodka throughout the film, with several different brands represented. William Grant & Sons, which distributes Stolichnaya in the United States, also said it didn't license its brand for inclusion in the film and wouldn't have given permission if asked.

Although product placement, where companies pay producers to have their brands seen on-camera,...

Current Streak: 0 Straight Weekends #1 Predicted Correctly Threat Level to Starting a New Streak: High Reason: Resident Evil: Afterlife could very easily crush the family dollar, because these 3-D re-releases are devilishly difficult to predict. In the last ten years we've only seen three weekends end up in the $60 million range ... and last weekend was one of them. You need a witches' brew of terribleness, with something like Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star leading the way. Thankfully, we're through that rough patch, back to real movies meant for actual audiences. Yay! Finding Nemo 3-D should have the right stuff to take the crown, as it will only need $9,800 per theater to hit a number near $30 million. Looking at the history of 3-D re-releases, you've got your Toy Story 2 (opened at $12 million), and you've got your Lion King (opened at $30.2 million). It makes sense to go bullish, because audiences haven't been...

Universal may have dumped millions of dollars when it dumped its deal with Hasbro, but Sony Pictures is digging up what it sees as future box office profits. Sony Animation will make a movie out of Hasbro's Tonka trucks, the best selling toy truck In The World since 1947. Writing the animated film -- and tell us on Twitter @KidsPickFlicks if this worries you like it does us -- is Fred Wolf, the former "Saturday Night Live" scribe who wrote Grown Ups and Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star. I guess we can count on David Spade to voice the lead character (or truck?). Sony is making the Candy Land movie starring Adam Sandler through his production company Happy Madison (Wolf also wrote Sandler's upcoming Grown Ups 2). Sony is developing a third Hasbro property, the strategy board game Risk, into a film.

Speaking of Risk, it does seem like one to try...

Despite the disappointing Battleship not exactly living up to its summer blockbuster title, Hollywood continues to develop movies based on brands instead of actual stories. Universal has smartly severed ties with Hasbro, but it looks like Sony is picking up right where they left off. The studio is already developing a movie based on the Candy Land board game with Adam Sandler set to star, and now Sony is teaming with Happy Madison again to bring something a bit more unexpected to life. Deadline reports that a deal has been made to bring childhood favorite Tonka Trucks to the big screen in an animated film of their own. Tonka will be written by frequent Happy Madison collaborator Fred Wolf, whose credits include Joe Dirt, Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star, Strange Wilderness, Grown Ups, and the upcoming Grown Ups 2. Ugh. He apparently has a fascinating take on what it means...

Move over, "Cars." Sony Pictures Animation is readying their own vehicular toon based on Hasbro's long popular Tonka trucks. The fully animated project will be produced by Sony Pictures Animation, Hasbro and Adam Sandler's Happy Madison Productions. Happy Madison regular Fred Wolf ("Grown Ups," "Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star") is set to write the screenplay. According to Sony, audiences can expect the film to be family friendly. Sony Pictures Animation's president of production Michelle Raimo-Kouyate said in a statement, "Fred and our friends at Happy Madison and Hasbro have a truly inventive take on what it means to be 'Tonka tough'...

It sounds like another possibly happy reunion for these friends. Variety has reported that Sony Pictures and Happy Madison Production are in negotiations with “Grown Ups” writer Fred Wolf to pen the sequel to the comedy. The original “Grown Ups” starred Sandler, Kevin James, David Spade, Chris Rock and Rob Schneider. It is about five old schoolmates who reunited for a weekend after their basketball coach died. If Sandler decides to revisit “Grown Ups,” then it would be Sandler’s first appearance in any sequel. “Grown Ups” is the highest grossing for Sandler with a worldwide theater gross of $271 million. Wolf has written some material for “Saturday Night Live” shows in the past. He wrote several comedies for Happy Madison Productions, including “Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star,” “Strange Wilderness,” and “Joe Dirt.”Source: Variety...

You can never have too many reunions with childhood pals, right?

Adam Sandler and friends might be headed for another middle-aged adventure as Sony Pictures and Happy Madison Productions are in talks with "Grown Ups" scribe Fred Wolf to write a sequel, according to Variety.

"Grown Ups" starred Sandler, Kevin James, Chris Rock, David Spade and Rob Schneider as childhood friends who come together over a Fourth of July weekend to attend the funeral of their youth basketball coach. The film, released in June 2010, is Sandler's highest grossing comedy to date, earning over $227 million in worldwide box office.

If "Grown Ups 2" comes together, it will be Sandler's first-ever sequel. No word on which original cast members would be back for the second reunion, though we're betting it will be all of them.

Screenwriter Fred Wolf has a long history with Sandler and Happy Madison Productions, having written for "Saturday Night Live...

I had hoped that Jack and Jill had put Adam Sandler’s career on hold for a bit, but I am unfortunately wrong. Variety is reporting that a sequel to last year’s Grown Ups is in the works from Sony Pictures and Happy Madison Prods. Fred Wolf is in talks to write the sequel for Sandler’s highest-grossing film worldwide at $271 million.

This would be the first sequel that Sandler would star in, and at this time no deal is in place. Surprisingly Sandler’s involvement is contingent on the script!! Scripts have never stopped him before, so I bet he will likely be interested in starring. The first film starred Sandler, Kevin James, David Spade, Chris Rock and Rob Schneider “as five friends who reunite over the 4th of July weekend to attend their youth basketball coach's funeral.”

Wolf has been working with Sandler since his days on SNL.

September 2007 holds the September gross record with $554.7 million, and, with at least 18 nationwide releases scheduled, September 2011 has a chance of topping that record. It's going to take one or two breakout hits from the likes of Abduction, Contagion, Warrior and Moneyball, though, to reach that mark.September 2None of the movies set for Labor Day weekend seem poised for big grosses, though one of the two new horror movies should at least hit the top spot. With the Paranormal Activity movies recently reinvigorated the found footage horror genre, Apollo 18 sets out to replicate that success by moving the action to the moon. Paranormal Activity is the exception, not the rule, though, and Apollo 18 would be lucky to end up in a similar spot as The Last Exorcism, which opened to $20.4 million last August before crashing to a $41 million total. If Apollo 18 fails to take off, Shark Night 3D...

Nick Swardson ought to have been a Milford Man*. He's one of those comedians who I find hysterical in small doses, but utterly cringe-inducing when he is given a lead role. Actually, that isn't accurate. His stand-up ought to count as "a lead role" and I do like the Comedy Central specials that I've seen, so I guess I like Nick Swardson best when he's playing a variation of himself. Basically, when he isn't given total freedom. (For argument's sake, stand-up comedians don't have "total freedom" in the sense that a live audience can have an effect on the ultimate outcome of that particular set. Lawyered?) As such, Swardson is one of my favorite things about both "Reno 911!" and Grandma's Boy, but I stayed far, far (faaaaaaaaar) away from his sketch series, "Nick Swardson's Pretend Time." I'll probably be staying even farther away from his new starring role in...

It's been a long time since I saw a movie as lazy -- in both its writing and its execution -- as Grown Ups. A reunion of Saturday Night Live alumni from the 1990s -- also known as the lost years -- the film is little more than an excuse for buddies Adam Sandler, David Spade, Chris Rock, Rob Schneider (and Kevin James, filling the fat-guy role that would have gone to Chris Farley, if he hadn't eaten and drugged himself to death) to hang out and cash in. Because, boy, they sure don't do much else. This film has only the suggestion of a script, credited to Sandler and Fred Wolf (whose screenwriting credits include such noteworthy titles as Joe Dirt and Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star). It becomes obvious very quickly that the five of them got together, riffed on...

Gary Coleman has died at age 42. According to Radar, Coleman had been hospitalized in Utah since Wednesday, May 26th, after suffering what his family has been calling "a serious medical problem." Coleman suffered an intracranial hemorrhage, and slipped into a coma. He was pulled of life support on Friday morning. Coleman is probably best known for the television show Diff'rent Strokes, but has appeared in a few movies, including On The Right Track, Jimmy The Kid, Fox Hunt, Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star, Church Ball, An American Carol, and most recently Midgets vs. Mascots.

You're trapped inside a log cabin with Adam Sandler, Kevin James, Chris Rock, Rob Schneider, and David Spade for 92 minutes. What do you do?

No, it's not the newest trap from Saw 7; it's actually the brand-new trailer for a family (?) farce called All Expenses Paid Movie Star Vacation Grown Ups, which stars the aforementioned men (in addition to ladies like Salma Hayek, Maria Bello, and Maya Rudolph) as a group of old pals who ... take their families to a cabin. So it's sort of like a fart-laden version of The Big Chill meets The Great Outdoors, I'm assuming. The director is the man who gave you You Don't Mess With the Zohan, I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry, and The Benchwarmers. The writers are Mr. Sandler and Fred Wolf, the man who penned Strange Wilderness, Without a Paddle, and Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star.

In other words, it's your typical Happy Madison production.

Columbia Pictures just made the second trailer for Grown Ups starring Adam Sandler available. Take a look at this comedic film on getting older now...

Sandler wrote the screenplay with Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star screenwriter Fred Wolf. The high-concept story is a comedy about five best friends from high school who reunite 30 years later on a Fourth of July weekend.

Grown Ups comes to theaters June 25th, 2010 and stars Adam Sandler, Salma Hayek, Steve Buscemi, Maria Bello, Rob Schneider, Chris Rock, Jamie Chung, Kevin James. The film is directed by Dennis Dugan.

Corey Haim, the star of The Lost Boys and Lucas, has died aged 38. We pay tribute to an actor who grew up in the limelight, but whose adult career was spent sadly in search of it

The road to adulthood for the child star is frequently a rocky one. For Corey Haim, who has died at the age of 38, it proved, in the end, too much to negotiate. Haim's guileless, fun-loving, all-American brand of youth and confidence won him many admirers. But it was a difficult schtick to carry into adulthood.

Born in Toronto in 1971, Haim enrolled in acting lessons to help cure his shyness. He proved a natural, with a great fresh grin and an easy way with a one-liner, which won him a small role, aged 12, on TV show The Edison Twins.

His debut feature film was Firstborn, an early vehicle for then-couple Robert Downey Jr and Sarah Jessica Parker.

Ktla has confirmed that actor Corey Haim, best known for his roles in teen films in the 1980s like "The Lost Boys" and "Licensed to Drive," has died at the age of 38, apparently from an accidental drug overdose.

Haim was a teen icon in the late 1980s and often starred in films alongside his friend and other teen idol, Corey Feldman. The "two Coreys" attempted a comeback of sorts in 2007 with an A&E series aptly titled, "The Two Coreys."

Haim, who suffered from addictions to drugs and alcohol throughout the 1990s appeared in smaller roles in the 2000s, including cameos in "Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star" and "Lost Boys: The Tribe."

Source and Photo: TMZ...

'My thoughts go out to Corey's family and friends today,' Christina Applegate tweets.

By Jocelyn Vena

Corey Haim in 1986

Photo: Hulton Archive/ Getty Images

After news spread that iconic '80s actor Corey Haim was found dead Wednesday (March 10), Haim's friends and colleagues took time to pay their final respects.

While longtime pal Corey Feldman released a statement to MTV News, Alyssa Milano hit Twitter with her reaction. " Just woke up to the sad, sad news that Corey Haim passed away," tweeted Milano, who dated Haim when they were both teenagers. "Rip sweet boy."

Comedian Michael Showalter kept his tweet simple, writing, "Damn. Rip Corey." Christina Applegate added: "My thoughts go out to Corey's family and friends today. So sad."

Kevin Smith fondly remembered Haim for his classic films, tweeting, "Lost Boy goes home: Corey Haim, dead at 38. G'bye, Lucas. You gave hope to the weird & unlikely."

Ashton Kutcher tweeted,...

The three of you out there clamoring for a sequel to David Spade's 2001 comedy The Adventures of Joe Dirt will be excited to hear that the mulleted janitor is making a comeback -- in animated form. Variety [1] reports that TBS has signed a deal with Spade to develop a cartoon series based on the movie, in the hopes of getting an original show that they can pair with Family Guy re-runs. The animated show will be produced through Sony Pictures TV and Happy Madison Productions, with Spade, the film's co-writer Fred Wolf, and Donick Carey (The Simpsons, Just Shoot Me!, Bored to Death) penning the script. With all the other animated possibilities out there, is this something we really need? The original movie never even made its money back at the box office. Heck, I'd rather see an animated version of Just Shoot Me! or Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star over this,...

According to the folks over at Joblo, Salma Hayek, Norm MacDonald and Steve Buscemi have joined the cast of Adam Sandler’s upcoming untitled ensemble comedy. Sandler stars alongside David Spade, Chris Rock, Kevin James and Rob Schineder. The high-concept story is a comedy about five best friends from high school who reunite 30 years later on a Fourth of July weekend. Sandler penned the screenplay with Fred Wolf (Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star). Frequent Sandler collaborator Dennis Dugan (You Don’t Mess With the Zohan, Happy Gilmore) is attached to direct. The site says Hayek will play Sandler’s wife, while MacDonald and Buscemi will star in a supporting capacity. Sandler, Spade, Rock, James and Schneider have worked together on a number of comedies, though never all on the same project. Sandler and James most recently starred as the title characters in I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry. Schneider...

We recently learned that Adam Sandler, Chris Rock, David Spade, Rob Schneider and Kevin James are set to star in the upcoming comedy "Lake House" (could be renamed). Now, JoBlo is reporting that Salma Hayek has joined the cast as well. The new movie revolves around old high school friends who reunite after 30 years in their hometown on a Fourth of July weekend. Hayek is set to play Sandler's wife and mother to their daughters. In addition, Norm McDonald and Steve Buscemi are also in talks to join the cast in smaller capacities. Frequent Sandler collaborator Dennis Dugan (You Don't Mess With the Zohan) will direct the comedy, which was written by Sandler and "Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star" scribe Fred Wolf.