Guillermo del Toro's 'Frankenstein' First Look Reveals the Monster

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5 days ago

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‘Leanne' review: From stand-up comedian to awkward sitcom star

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25 minutes ago

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‘Leanne' review: From stand-up comedian to awkward sitcom star

The multi-camera sitcom has been on its last legs, which is too bad because it can be such an uproarious format when it prioritizes jokes over the kind of comedy that tends to predominate on streaming: Pleasant enough — fun, even — but straight-up laughs aren't their reason for being. Television is cyclical, and maybe the fizzy possibilities inherent in sitcoms will eventually make their way back onto our screens. Alas, 'Leanne' on Netflix will not be leading the charge. Stand-up comedian Leanne Morgan stars as the mother of two grown children in Knoxville, Tennessee, who is suddenly informed that her husband of 33 years is leaving her for another woman. That setup, coupled with the Southern twang of the cast, may bring to mind 'Reba,' another eponymous show with a similar premise that premiered more than 20 years ago and ran for six seasons, starring Reba McEntire as a spitfire making do with her new circumstances. But the energy here is vastly different, with Morgan's genteel suburbanite hazily floating through this next chapter in her life. Co-created by Morgan and sitcom veterans Chuck Lorre and Susan McMartin ('Mom'), the series also stars 'Mom' alum Kristen Johnston as Leanne's kinda-sorta bawdy sister (she's too tame to really pop as a subversive presence), Celia Weston and Blake Clark as their aging parents, and Ryan Stiles ('Whose Line Is It Anyway?') as Leanne's ex. I wish 'Mom' were more instructive as a test case, because it also started off unevenly but eventually found its groove. The push-pull, codependent relationship between a mother and daughter, both of whom were in addiction recovery and struggling financially, gave the show its spark, as did the friend group of fellow recovering addicts, who deepened the bench of characters. 'Leanne' feels somewhat claustrophobic by comparison, and isn't populated with anyone who feels especially defined or even interesting. It's just Leanne and her sister as gal pals who mostly get along bouncing off themselves, their needy parents and Leanne's forgettably superfluous children. Most comedies built around a comedian's stand-up act draw directly from their lives. But it's worth noting that the real Leanne is very much not divorced from her longtime husband; in fact, her gentle barbs about their personality differences make up the bulk of her material. Morgan is also not an actor by training, so it makes no sense that the show didn't adapt more of her stage persona here, and instead asks her to play something unfamiliar: That tricky sad-funny middle ground of a woman whose marriage has imploded. There's a deliberate pace to the show — and to the dialogue itself — that results in punchlines just laying there. It's weird, because there's an unhurried pace to Morgan's Netflix stand-up special as well ('I'm Every Woman'), but in it she has some bite and her leisurely cadence is undercut by the sharp comedy of her material, whereas this version of Leanne is oddly bland and lacking a point of view. Exactly one joke lands. Looking at a miserable Leanne, her sister offers to share some of her pill stash: 'I got Xanax, Ativan, Ambien, I think this might be a laxative …' Leanne grabs the last one: 'I'll always take a laxative.' There's a certain amount of violence that's played for laughs, but the show seems uncertain where the humor actually lies in these moments. One episode ends with Leanne decking her husband across the jaw. In another, she finds him in the bathroom they once shared, making himself at home, and in response she grabs a shotgun, marches back in and blows a hole through the ceiling to disabuse him of this notion. If she were really trying to stifle deep rage under a polite, decorous exterior, and that was a running theme in the show — of a woman's worst impulses taking over as she's finally driven off the deep end — that would be so dark, it might come around the other side and be funny as well. But that's not the kind of sitcom this is. Leanne lives in a spacious, well-appointed suburban-style home that apparently goes uncontested in the divorce. In fact, money barely comes up at all. Rarely does divorce not affect either party's finances, but also because Morgan acknowledges the realities of money in her stand-up act. It's clearly on her mind. Spotting an array of attractive men in the front row of her special: 'Look at y'all in these half-zip golf pullovers — hello, that says 'health insurance' to me. Alright, y'all make me think of my husband, lemme tell you about him, 'cause he's got a 401(k).' (Even her grown son in real life — who loves nature so much he raised a baby beaver in his college dorm room, a story she tells in her stand-up — sounds a lot more interesting than the character on the show, whose only trait appears to be 'henpecked husband.') Now in middle age, Leanne's life as she's known it (the sitcom version, at least) has been turned upside down. Except it hasn't. She's in the same sprawling house. She doesn't seem worried about money. She didn't have much filling her days even before the divorce apparently — she has no professional life nor a social life outside of her sister (who doesn't seem to need to work, either). Leanne's existence is like science fiction — resembling something human but in a contextless bubble that has no connection to anything outside the walls of her home. 'You have a blessed Sunday,' she says at one point, and it's the kind of Southern putdown that's in the same neighborhood as 'Bless your heart.' May 'Leanne' have a blessed run. And may Morgan have another shot at a TV role better suited to her talents. ——— 'LEANNE' 2 stars (out of 4) Rating: TV-14 How to watch: Netflix ——— Solve the daily Crossword

The Gilded Age Season 3 Episode 7 – Release Date, Schedule, How To Watch

Newsweek

35 minutes ago

Newsweek

The Gilded Age Season 3 Episode 7 – Release Date, Schedule, How To Watch

Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Entertainment gossip and news from Newsweek's network of contributors It feels like season three of The Gilded Age has only just begun, but we're already reeling in the penultimate episode following last week's escapades, where Peggy confided in Dr. Kirkland about her past. Now, tomorrow's episode will lay the foundation for next week's grand finale. Blake Ritson and Nicole Brydon Bloom in HBO's The Gilded Age Season 3, Episode 6. Blake Ritson and Nicole Brydon Bloom in HBO's The Gilded Age Season 3, Episode 6. Karolina Wojtasik/HBO We've pieced together all the information you need on how to watch The Gilded Age season three, episode seven, including The Gilded Age season three, episode seven release time and The Gilded Age season three, episode seven release date. The Gilded Age Season 3 Episode 7 Release Date The Gilded Age season three, episode seven, will be available to stream on Max on August 3, 2025. New episodes of The Gilded Age season three premiere on Max each Sunday through August 10, 2025. The Gilded Age Season 3 Episode 7 – How to Watch The Gilded Age season three, episode seven, lands at 9:00 pm ET/PT on HBO and will be available to stream on Max. You will need HBO or a Max subscription to watch The Gilded Age season three. A basic subscription for Max with ads is $9.99 per month or $99.99 for the year, and a standard no-ads subscription starts at $16.99 per month or $169.99 annually. What Time Does The Gilded Age Season 3 Episode 7 Come Out? The Gilded Age season three, episode seven, will be available on HBO and Max from 9:00 pm ET/PT. With the evening streaming release in the US, the debut time in other time zones will differ. Here is when The Gilded Age season three, episode seven will air in your time zone: August 3 BRT: 10:00 pm August 4 BST : 2:00 am : 2:00 am CEST : 3:00 am : 3:00 am IST : 6:30 am : 6:30 am JST : 10:00 am : 10:00 am AET : 11:00 pm : 11:00 pm NZDT: 1:00 pm The Gilded Age Season 3 Release Schedule Episode One: June 22 June 22 Episode Two: June 29 June 29 Episode Three: July 6 July 6 Episode Four: July 13 July 13 Episode Five: July 20 July 20 Episode Six: July 27 July 27 Episode Seven: August 3 August 3 Episode Eight: August 10 The Gilded Age Season 3 Episode 7 Runtime Episodes of The Gilded Age season three typically run for 53 minutes, as per IMDb. What Will Happen in The Gilded Age Season 3 Episode 7? The plot details for episode seven of The Gilded Age season three are currently under wraps for now. You can read previous episode synopses below: Episode One: Chronicles the societal shifts in 1880s New York as old money clashes with new, igniting a fierce rivalry that exposes a period of immense upheaval and transformation. Chronicles the societal shifts in 1880s New York as old money clashes with new, igniting a fierce rivalry that exposes a period of immense upheaval and transformation. Episode Two: Despite their own squabbles, Agnes and Ada host the Scotts. Bertha and George clash over what's best for Gladys. Despite their own squabbles, Agnes and Ada host the Scotts. Bertha and George clash over what's best for Gladys. Episode Three: While George enters tense negotiations, Larry and Jack meet with a potential investor. Later, Scott meets the Kirklands. While George enters tense negotiations, Larry and Jack meet with a potential investor. Later, Scott meets the Kirklands. Episode Four: Bertha deals with unwanted rumors in the press and the surprise arrival of her sister Monica. Bertha deals with unwanted rumors in the press and the surprise arrival of her sister Monica. Episode Five: While Gladys adjusts to her changed circumstances, Larry runs into a familiar face. Peggy gets an opportunity from an old colleague. While Gladys adjusts to her changed circumstances, Larry runs into a familiar face. Peggy gets an opportunity from an old colleague. Episode Six: Bertha helps Gladys stand up for herself. George attempts a bold business move. Peggy confides in Dr. Kirkland about her past. (as per IMDb) You can also read the season three synopsis: The American Gilded Age was a period of immense economic and social change, when empires were built, but no victory came without sacrifice. Following the Opera War, the old guard is weakened and the Russells stand poised to take their place at the head of society. Bertha sets her sights on a prize that would elevate the family to unimaginable heights whileGeorge risks everything on a gambit that could revolutionize the railroad industry — if it doesn't ruin him first. Across the street, the Brook household is thrown into chaos as Agnes refuses to accept Ada's new position as lady of the house. Peggy meets a handsome doctor from Newport whose family is less than enthusiastic about her career. As all of New York hastens toward the future, their ambition may come at the cost of what they truly hold dear. (as per Warner Bros Discovery)

Mom Defends Waiting 4 Hours In Wendy's Drive-Thru for Wednesday-Inspired Meal Instead of Going to Amusement Park (Exclusive)

Yahoo

an hour ago

Yahoo

Mom Defends Waiting 4 Hours In Wendy's Drive-Thru for Wednesday-Inspired Meal Instead of Going to Amusement Park (Exclusive)

A California mom is setting the record straight after a now-viral TikTok revealed she skipped a trip to Universal Studios with her kids to instead wait over four hours in a Wendy's drive-thru line for a spooky meal inspired by Netflix's Wednesday. On Thursday, July 31, Kel Warner, a Los Angeles local and theme park content creator, made the unexpected detour with her three kids, ages 10, 8 and 7, to check out the one-day Wednesday-themed Wendy's pop-up in Norwalk, Calif. The event, a collaboration between Netflix and the fast food chain, featured a custom meal and a fully immersive drive-thru experience — complete with eerie decor and surprise freebies. Solve the daily Crossword