News

Nickole Jones, the Emmy-nominated key hairstylist on “Big Little Lies” and hair department head for “Young Sheldon,” has died of cancer. She was 45.

Fellow makeup artist Anya Brewster, who is the ESPN hair and makeup department head, confirmed Jones’ death to Variety. In a GoFundMe page dedicated to Jones’ memory, Brewster wrote: “After a long battle with cancer, on March 25th, Nickole passed on with her family by her side.”

“Nickole was a force of a woman,” Brewster’s tribute continued. “She didn’t accept anything but the best. Her tenacity and conviction for all things beautiful gave way to a very successful career as a hairstylist working in both television and film. Some of her credits include ‘Young Sheldon’ (Department Head), ‘The Mindy Project’ (Department Head), ‘Big Little Lies,’ and ‘NCIS.’ Her celebrity client list was one that most people would dream of.”

Jones’ first credit was in 2007 on...

This week Murder Made Me Famous examines the man known as The Craigslist Killer, Philip Markoff. Markoff was a 23-year-old medical student who carried out three armed robberies and the murder of Julissa Brisman. He contacted his victims through Craigslist, in two cases responding to adverts offering erotic services. He then arranged to meet the victims before tying them up and robbing them. The first robbery took place on April 10, 2009, and involved escort Trisha Leffler, who was tied up, gagged and then robbed at gunpoint at a hotel in Boston. Four days later Julissa Brisman, who had been offering...read more...

Before 2009, Philip Markoff was a preppy Boston University medical student. At the time, his doting fiancée Megan McAllister told People that he was “a beautiful man inside and out.”

But the perception changed in April 2009, when Markoff, then 23, was charged with the armed robbery and murder of Julissa Brisman in a Boston hotel room. He was also charged with additional armed robberies, each involving a female victim that he met through ads placed on Craigslist.

Markoff maintained his innocence of all charges, and pleaded not guilty. While awaiting trial in 2010, he committed suicide.

The story gained international attention, even landing on the cover of People.

Lifetime has just unveiled the trailer for its upcoming "Anna Nicole Story" movie, which is an Anna Nicole Smith biopic starring Agnes Bruckner (Blood and Chocolate, The Craigslist Killer). The TV movie will chronicle the rise and fall of the Playboy playmate, who died of a prescription drug overdose at the age of 39. Right before her death, her son passed away and she was involved in a legal battle with the family of a billionaire, who married Smith and left her all of his money. "Anna Nicole Story" has an impressive supporting cast, including Martin Landau, Virginia Madsen, Adam Goldberg and Cary Elwes. It's set to air on June 29th (at 8pm Est), a week after Lifetime airs its Jodi Arias movie. Trailer:...

Many residents of Delmar, N.Y., are certain to have great interest in a new cable movie ... which will debut after all this weekend, despite its title subject's legal efforts to have the telecast blocked.

The suburb of state capital Albany was in the spotlight for a sensational 2004 murder case that fueled episodes of CBS' "48 Hours Mystery" and TruTV's "Forensic Files," and now is being revisited as a docudrama. Premiering Saturday (March 23) on Lifetime, "Romeo Killer: The Chris Porco Story" traces the arrest and trial of a college student who was accused -- and ultimately convicted -- of killing his father and disfiguring his mother, with an ax as the weapon.

Eric McCormack ("Will & Grace," "Perception") plays a composite character, a police detective who took the critically injured Joan Porco's (Lolita Davidovich) nod, in apparent response to an investigation question, as confirmation that her son Christopher (Matt Barr, "Hatfields & McCoys") was the assailant,...

The murder trial involving Jodi Arias isn’t over but that isn’t stopping Lifetime from developing a movie about the scandal.

Executive producers with previous credits that include Drew Peterson: Untouchable and The Craigslist Killer are working on the movie about the woman who claims she killed her boyfriend in self defense, reports TV Guide.

Arias is on trial for the shooting death of her ex-boyfriend Travis Alexander in 2008. The Arizona-based trial that has received massive coverage from cable news outlets.

When Lifetime first announced that it cast Lindsay Lohan as Elizabeth Taylor in "Liz and Dick," the film has been getting lots of promotion, mostly because Lohan once exposed her breasts on set and kept getting into legal trouble throughout the production. The film has now aired on Sunday and many are wondering whether "Liz and Dick" will end up being the beginning of Lohan's Hollywood comeback. According to the ratings, the movie was watched by 3.5 million people, which is 3 million fewer viewers than who watched the straight-to-tv "Steel Magnolias" remake on Lifetime and 1.9 million fewer viewer's than the network's "The Craigslist Killer" movie. "Liz and Dick" was also not liked among critics. Many noted that the film's script and Lohan's acting are both terrible. Some even called it the worst biopic ever. Overall, the movie will likely not help Lohan get back on top.

After all that hype, Lifetime‘s Liz & Dick drew 3.5 million total viewers last night. The TV movie about the tempestuous love affair between Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton is the fourth-most-watched original movie premiere on ad-supported cable this year, drawing 3 million fewer viewers than the 6.5 million who watched Steel Magnolias on the network in October. Almost universally panned, Liz & Dick starred Lindsay Lohan as Taylor and Grant Bowler as Burton. It averaged 1.3 million viewers in the 18-49 demographic and 1.3 million adults 25-54. Lifetime’s Amanda Knox: Murder On Trial In Italy original movie attracted 2.8 million total viewers in February 2011, down from the 5.4 million who tuned in for the network’s The Craigslist Killer in January 2011. Lohan tried to put a good face on Liz & Dick last night while interacting with fans on Twitter. “2 get 2 feel like 1 of the most amazing women in the world was a thrill all around & wearing the jewels wasn’t bad!

IFC Midnight is getting ready to drop its haunting tale of restless spirits, The Pact, onto Blu-ray and DVD, and we've got a look at the artwork for you along with every other detail that you need to know. Dig it!

From the Press Release

A young woman returns home for a funeral but quickly discovers that her own life may be in danger in the terrifying thriller The Pact, an IFC Midnight theatrical release making its debut on high-definition Blu-ray and DVD on November 6, 2012.

Following her abusive mother's death, the rebellious young Annie (Caity Lotz, Mad Men) reluctantly returns to her childhood home for the funeral. Annie arrives to discover that her sister Nicole (Agnes Bruckner, Blue Car, The Craigslist Killer, Dreamland), who also had returned after the death, has disappeared. While staying overnight in the empty house, Annie senses a mysterious and sinister presence: noises awaken her and...

IFC Films acquired The Pact earlier this year and will be releasing it next month on Blu-ray/DVD:

A young woman returns home for a funeral but quickly discovers that her own life may be in danger in the terrifying thriller The Pact, an IFC Midnight theatrical release making its debut on high-definition Blu-ray and DVD on November 6, 2012.

Following her abusive mother’s death, the rebellious young Annie (Caity Lotz, Mad Men) reluctantly returns to her childhood home for the funeral. Annie arrives to discover that her sister Nicole (Agnes Bruckner, Blue Car, The Craigslist Killer, Dreamland), who also had returned after the death, has disappeared. While staying overnight in the empty house, Annie senses a mysterious and sinister presence: noises awaken her and objects seem to move by themselves, among other unexplainable events. With a detective (Casper Van Dien of Starship Troopers) and a clairvoyant (Haley Hudson of Weeds...

Lifetime has found the actress to play Anna Nicole Smith in an upcoming biopic.

Agnes Bruckner ("Private Practice," "24") will play the late model/TV personality in the movie, Deadline reports. The movie will track Smith's rise from small-town Texas girl to Playboy and Guess jeans model, her marriage to 89-year-old oil tycoon J. Howard Marshall and pill addiction, the latter of which contributed to her death in 2007.

Craig Zadan and Neil Meron ("Smash," "Chicago") are executive producing the movie with Judith Verno. John Rice and Joe Batteer ("Windtalkers") are writing it.

Bruckner's credits include another Lifetime movie, "The Craigslist Killer," and guest appearances on "Covert Affairs," "Hawaii Five-0" and "Law & Order: Criminal Intent." She earned an Independent Spirit Award nomination for the 2002 indie movie "Blue Car."

What do you think of the casting?...

When word broke that former it-girl Lindsay Lohan was in talks to play the late Elizabeth Taylor, the world began to have serious doubts about cinema’s future. We have just been informed that producer Larry Thompson has name dropped an alternate sex icon to play Taylor in the upcoming Lifetime biopic Liz and Dick.

In a recent interview with E! (via ThePlaylist) Thompson stated that former apple of Michael Bay‘s eye Megan Fox has joined the mix of potential Taylors.

“I’ve been talking to Lindsay Lohan directly, and with her reps, and have been in conversations with other actresses, including Megan Fox. It’s a very serious selection. It’s like casting for Hollywood royalty.”

Although I don’t agree with Thompson‘s “Hollywood royalty” statement, Fox could be a better choice to play Taylor than wild child Lohan. Sources have told E! that Lohan‘s current...

'Pretty Little Liars,' Charlie Sheen were also hot on social networking site this year.

By Jocelyn Vena

Beyoncé on the 2011 Vma black carpet

Photo: Jason Merritt/Getty Images

It was a busy year on Twitter. People tweeted about everything from tragedy to triumph in 2011. The social networking site has released some of the year's biggest trending topics and hashtags as 2011 comes to a close.

Beyoncé's pregnancy reveal at the VMAs back in August tops the site's list for most tweets per second (Tps). The headline-making news received 9,000 tweets per second. ABC Family's mystery-drenched teen drama "Pretty Little Liars," viral-video sensation Rebecca Black, the Super Bowl and Charlie Sheen, with his penchant for #tigerblood, all made Twitter's list of hot topics and hashtags for the year.

Beyoncé surprised everyone on August 28 when she revealed at the MTV VMAs that she and her hubby, Jay-z, were expecting their first child.

In our fast-paced world, it’s easy to have a memory and attention span of a goldfish. (Goldfish?! I love those fishes ’cause they’re so delicious! Wait, focus, Kate. See what I mean?) So, every year, I look forward to various year-end lists (like EW’s own 2011 round-up… stay tuned!) that help me remember the big stories over the past 12 months that too quickly went out of sight and out of mind. It’s no surprise, then, that I’m enjoying Twitter’s list of top hot topics in 2011. Especially since it reveals quite a few surprises.

Among them?...

With Halloween now a fading memory, horrors taken a major hit in regards to disc releases this month, and today, November 1st just so happens to be one of the most depressing Tuesdays of November. I understand the shifting of the seasons, and the swing that well experience in terms of holiday themed films being released, but its a depressing day when The Craigslist Killer looks to be one of the weeks few shining stars. Check out this week…...

After scoring its most successful summer of original programming ever, including the launch of mega-hit Falling Skies, TNT is set to heat up the fall and winter with a terrific lineup of popular and acclaimed original series and a showcase of new original movies. The drama network's slate includes the return of basic cable's top two series of all time, The Closer, starring 2010 Emmy winner Kyra Sedgwick, and Rizzoli & Isles, starring Angie Harmon and Sasha Alexander; all-new episodes of the hit caper series Leverage, starring Timothy Hutton; and a new season of the critically acclaimed Southland.

TNT has also unveiled the slate for The TNT Mystery Movie Night, a new showcase of contemporary procedural dramas set to launch Tuesday, Nov. 29, at 9 p.m. (Et/Pt). The showcase will kick off with Scott Turow's Innocent, starring Bill Pullman (Independence Day, Torchwood: Miracle Day), Marcia Gay Harden (Pollock, Damages) and Alfred Molina (Spider-Man 2,...

TNT has some pretty cool shows on, Falling Skies and Southland are my personal favorites. The Closer is a really enjoyable show as well. The Fall/Winter schedule has been released for the networks lineup. Keep reading for all the details.

Let us know what your favorite show is on TNT?

Official Press Release:

After scoring its most successful summer of original programming ever, including the launch of mega-hit Falling Skies, TNT is set to heat up the fall and winter with a terrific lineup of popular and acclaimed original series and a showcase of new original movies. The drama network’s slate includes the return of basic cable’s top two series of all time, The Closer, starring 2010 Emmy® winner Kyra Sedgwick, and Rizzoli & Isles, starring Angie Harmon and Sasha Alexander; all-new episodes of the hit caper series Leverage, starring Timothy Hutton; and a new season of the critically acclaimed Southland.

Greek alum Jake McDorman has landed the male lead opposite Laura Prepon on the new NBC comedy series Are You There Vodka, It’s Me Chelsea. He will play a new character, Rick. If you feel like you've already seen McDorman in the pilot for the multicamera comedy, you're not mistaken. McDorman guest starred in it playing a different role, Big Red, which will now be recast. Inspired by late-night star Chelsea Handler’s bestselling autobiographical book about her party-rich life in her 20’s, Are You There Vodka centers on Chelsea Hanson (Prepon), an alcohol-loving, oversexed cocktail waitress. McDorman's character Rick is a bartender who works with Chelsea. McDorman, repped by UTA and Reel Talent, recently starred in Lifetime's highly rated movie The Craigslist Killer. Nick Zano (The Final Destination) has joined another upcoming broadcast comedy series, CBS' 2 Broke Girls, also playing a bartender. The role will be recurring despite...

Filed under: TV News

Rob Lowe and Kaley Cuoco will star in 'The Drew Peterson Story,' a new Lifetime movie.

According to the Hollywood Reporter, the 'Parks and Recreation' star will play Drew Peterson, a police officer charged with the death of his third wife after the disappearance of his fourth wife. 'Big Bang Theory' star Cuoco is set to star as Stacy, Peterson's fourth wife who mysteriously disappears.

The movie is based on the nonfiction book 'Fatal Vows: The Tragic Wives of Drew Peterson,' and has a notable Lifetime movie pedigree: Judith Verno ('The Craigslist Killer,' and 'Natalee Holloway') will executive produce and Teena Booth ('Natalee Holloway') will write.

In other TV news ...

 

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Today we have a brand new trailer for the Canadian horror film "Cell 213," starring Eric Balfour (Skyline), Michael Rooker (Cliffhanger, Days of Thunder), Deborah Valente (Resident Evil: Apocalypse and Bruce Greenwood (Star Trek). Check it out below. Plot: Cell 213 becomes home to Michael Gray a cocky young attorney, after being framed for the murder of an incarcerated client. Unnatural forces are causing prisoners to kill themselves at abnormal rates and Michael soon discovers that matters of guilt and innocence are not as cut and dry as he would like to believe trapped in this nightmarish cell. The new movie is directed by Stephen Kay (The Craigslist Killer) and is set to hit Canadian theaters on June 10th before coming to the Us in July. Trailer: If you cannot see the player, click here.

TNT and TBS, which staged their Upfront presentation today in New York, are making bold moves to bolster their remarkably strong foundations in original programming. The networks are developing extensive new lineups of scripted and unscripted series and making a new push into half-hour comedy in partnership with some of the top talents in the industry, from award-winning actors to acclaimed producers, writers and best-selling authors.

This year marks the beginning of production of the final season of the blockbuster hit The Closer, starring Emmy winner Kyra Sedgwick. TNT confirmed today that it has ordered a 10-episode season of Major Crimes, a series set in the Los Angeles Police Department that promises to become television's next great crime drama. The seventh and final season of The Closer will include 15 episodes in 2011 and six in summer 2012, leading into the launch of Major Crimes, starring Mary McDonnell (Battlestar Galactica). McDonnell has been...

TNT and TBS, which staged their Upfront presentation today in New York, are making bold moves to bolster their remarkably strong foundations in original programming. The networks are developing extensive new lineups of scripted and unscripted series and making a new push into half-hour comedy in partnership with some of the top talents in the industry, from award-winning actors to acclaimed producers, writers and best-selling authors.

This year marks the beginning of production of the final season of the blockbuster hit, The Closer, starring Emmy® winner Kyra Sedgwick. TNT confirmed today that it has ordered a 10-episode season of Major Crimes, a series set in the Los Angeles Police Department that promises to become television’s next great crime drama. The seventh and final season of The Closer will include 15 episodes in 2011 and six in summer 2012, leading into the launch of Major Crimes, starring Mary McDonnell (Battlestar Galactica). McDonnell has...

It looks like Andy Richter will be stepping from behind the podium on Conan to another podium (I am guessing) for a new game show on TBS entitled Pyramid. The show is reportedly a modern-day take on the iconic game show that began asThe $10,000 Pyramid.

I really enjoye watching Men of A Certain Age, and highly recommend it. The new shows don't really catch my interest yet, aside from Pyramid. Check out the full lineup below and share your thoughts on what shows you are most interested in seeing.

TNT scripted series in development

Untitled Kip Koenig/John Wells Productions Project – Set against the backdrop of the Pacific Northwest, this drama follows a family of cops who uncover the mystical and often crime-ridden world of a small town where things aren’t as they appear. The project comes to TNT from Warner Horizon Television, Kip Koenig (Grey’s Anatomy) and John Wells Productions (Southland,...

Director Stephen Kay (The Craigslist Killer) is moving right along with his epidemic inspired thriller Isolation. This film stars Eva Amurri (House) as a patient in jeopardy. The source of the threat is not a mysterious disease, as her doctor tells her, but the doctor himself. Watch true identities revealed in this short trailer below!

The film's synopsis:

"The film stars Eva Amurri as a medical student who wakes up in a hospital isolation room having been exposed to an unknown disease. Desperately ill and with no recollection of how she got there, she starts to realize she's in serious danger" (Quiet Earth).

Director: Stephen Kay.

Writer: Chris Billett.

Cast: Eva Amurri, David Harbour and Joshua Close.

The trailer is here:

Isolation promo trailer

Sources:

Isolated at Quiet Earth

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I've been seeing the Baldwin brothers all over the place lately and every time its one that isn't Alec, it burns my butt. I mean, let's be honest - after Alec, the talent nosedived and each of those boys got funnier looking. Let's also acknowledge that if not for the talent of big brother Alec, the other brothers three would never have sullied any screen, big or small.

Since they're all out there lately, I thought I'd craft a handy guide so you wouldn't have to strain your brain trying to tell them apart. To the layperson, other than Alec, one Baldwin can seem interchangeable with another. What's to tell them apart, what with all the scrunched up faces and one more or less bloated than the other?

The Original, Alec:

Alec has a distinctive look, voice and has a natural flair for the drama with a built-in temper and...

Read more: 'Craigslist Killer' committed suicide in front of a shrine to his Irish fiancée Read more: ‘Sweet, Irish’ fiancée of accused Craigslist killer defends beau On Monday night “The Craigslist Killer” previewed on the Lifetime Network. The movies tells the tale of how Philip Markoff, a Boston University medical student and fiancé of Megan McAllister as he met Julissa Brisman on Craigslist and murdered her. The movie is told from Ms McAllister’s point of view as the filmmakers try to fill in the gaps in the horrific tale. Markoff was charged with murder in 2009 and killed himself in his jail cell last August. The 24-year-old student had not stood trial for the murder of erotic masseuse Julissa Brisman. The TV movie is based on the book “A Date With Death” by Michele McPhee, which recreates the details of the crimes. Of course there are gaps in the tale...

Time was, a sensational murder case like that of the "Craigslist killer" would have spawned at least two competing TV movie projects. But since the broadcast networks have pretty much given up that business, Lifetime has become the go-to place for sordid true-crime tales.

Monday night (Jan. 3), Lifetime obliges with a movie called "The Craigslist Killer." It's based on the case of Philip Markoff, a Boston med student who was charged in April 2009 with the murder of a masseuse he had reportedly contacted through Craigslist. He was also a suspect in two other cases in which women who advertised adult services were robbed.

Jake McDorman -- Evan Chambers on "Greek," which also premieres Monday night -- plays Markoff, and it's a safe bet that this character is a little darker than the frat-boy jerk he plays on ABC Family. The movie also stars Agnes Bruckner ("Private Practice") as Megan McAllister,...

Filed under: TV Previews

Monday, January 3

'The Bachelor' (8Pm, ABC) season 15 premiere

Will the second time be the charm for the bachelor no one was calling charming after his first 'Bachelor' stint, when he neglected to find a mate from amongst a whole houseful of women? We'll see, as 2007 'Bachelor' star Brad Womack returns, first to face his previous cast-offs, Jenni Croft and DeAnna Pappas, then to meet the 30 women vying for his affections this season. His new love quest starts off on shaky footing: the first woman out of the limousine slaps him. But the dramamamas who follow slowly warm up to him, and by the end of the two-hour premiere, he's ready to hand out roses to the 20 women who'll stay in the swanky 'Bachelor' pad and try to do what the 25 women in season 11 failed to do: hook 'em a 'Bachelor.'

'Pretty Little Liars...