You kind of have to respect the chutzpah from Starz on this one: At some point, some exec actually had the temerity to suggest making a show in which Leonardo Da Vinci — a man widely recognized as looking like God's much, much older brother — is a sexy, swashbuckling man of action … and instead of laughing this brave soul out of the room, the plucky cable also-ran said, "Yeah, sure, why not?" And so now we have Da Vinci's Demons, written by David S. Goyer (who has story credit on all three of Christopher Nolan's Batman movies) and starring swarthy Brit Tom Riley as Da Vinci at 25 years old, when apparently he spent his time fighting for the survival of Florence against those holy imperialists in Rome.
“What the hell is so wrong with a little yum-yum?” This is a question asked early in the second episode of Magic City, the Starz network’s grandest attempt yet to go tit-for-tat (and then tit again; there’s really an enormous amount of nudity) with the cable big leaguers, which premieres tonight. The answer given is, of course, “nothing.” And it’s abundantly clear that show creator Mitch Glazer, a former rock critic turned screenwriter (Scrooged) and producer (Lost In Translation), agrees. This entire series, set in a sprawling Art Deco hotel in Miami Beach at the tail end of the Eisenhower years, is positively soaked in yum-yum. It’s there in the languorous opening sequence in which a nude nymph doggy-paddles through a chlorinated nirvana. It’s there in the in the beveled tumblers of rum and whiskey being sloshed by Brylcreem mobsters and the bare-breasted dames who service them. And it’s certainly there in the opulent, pastel-hued sets, everything gleaming and glistening promisingly in the bright Florida sun. The problem, of course, is that there’s more to life – and good television – than a steady diet of yum-yum.
A visit to Pawnee City Hall yesterday –- conveniently located in the palm tree filled San Fernando Valley –- provided many memorable moments, including Rob Lowe talking to a dog, Rashida Jones suffering through an epic post-Watch The Throne tour hangover and the incongruous sight of Chris Pratt nose-deep in a 500 page book. But while most of the details will be saved until for a longer Parks & Recreation story, coming next month, one bit of news did emerge: the Party Down movie may be closer than you think.
In between takes on a freezing Southern California morning -– really! –- Adam Scott revealed more details on the big-screen reincarnation of the culty catering comedy. “We have a treatment,” he said, “and if everyone’s schedules work out, we’ll shoot it over the summer.” This info comes on the heels of a previous relevation that the film had a production company lined up and was only waiting on the go-ahead from Starz. Still, two years from cancellation to cinematic rebirth is a timeline that should embarrass even the most patient of Bluth fans and give hope to anxious Greendale Human Beings. With visions of pink bowties dancing in our heads, we cautioned Scott about the one thing that could still derail the project: Michael Cera. He said there was no chance of that happening, before deadpanning. "At least I hope not.”
As previously rumored, Billy Crystal has indeed been hired to replace Eddie Murphy as Oscars host, for his ninth go-around on the hosting carousel. After the news was confirmed, Billy tweeted “Am doing the Oscars so the young woman in the pharmacy will stop asking my name when I pick up my prescriptions. Looking forward to the show.” Your 84th Academy Awards host, everyone! Grade: B- [Deadline]
