AHS: Freakshow Gets It's First Cast Poster... I Am Officially Creeped The FUCK Out!!!!

'American Horror Story' is a hell of a show, and through three seasons the show is always a surprisingly fresh take on the horror TV show genre. Using an anthology format, each season is a self-contained story and has no baring on the previous one. They also recycle cast members, often re-casting them in extremely different roles than they played in the past seasons. The show is a breath of fresh air among the many horror genre series we are getting now due to the success of 'True Blood' and 'The Walking Dead'. So in Season 4, they have to amp things up even more... and we get 'AHS: Freakshow'!!! H-O-L-YYYYY SHIT! We are getting returners: Jessica Lange, Sarah Paulson, Kathy Bates, Angela Bassett, Frances Conroy, Emma Roberts, Dennis O'Hare, and many others... and the new people are equally impressive: Patti LaBelle, Michael Chicklis, John Caroll Lynch, Finn Witrock, and even the worlds smallest woman, Jyoti Amge!!! This premise (The inner workings of one of the last remaining freakshows in America, and there is some spooky shit happening behind the scenes!) bugs me out, and in typical AHS fashion I am sure whatever I am expecting will be the total opposite of what I actually get. Just look at this first full cast poster... perfect! Enjoy it after the jump, and the show starts Wed October 8th!

Cinemax's New Show 'The Knick' Might Be Something To Look Forward To This Summer...

Stephen Soderberg... check. Clive Owen... check. Period drama about the dawn of modern surgery... check. How the hell can you NOT be excited about this kind of program? It is poised to be fantastic, and the more I see about 'The Knick' the more I am excited for what may come. Period dramas always peak my interest... they just appeal to the inner History teacher in me. But this setting makes me even more intrigued, considering my love for medical dramas in the past. Cinemax has been real clever in its marketing campaign for the show, with those short burst 30 second teaser spots that feature fast cuts. But the set of character posters that were just released really got me in the mood for some turn of the century surgery drama! We see that the show will look at the medical field from all types of angles... the church, government, medical, and much more... this show looks like it is going to be DARK. I am in... the show starts on 8/8. Check out all 11 posters after the jump...

Can 'Tyrant' Be FX's Next Big Hit & Provide A Solid Summer Show For Fans At The Same Time?

I am always on the look out for new shows to watch, but especially at this time of year. The summer is often suffers from a glut of original programming, and in years previous was always the place to show re-runs and dump shows that the networks don't think can make it in the Fall. However, attitudes have changed with the cable success of shows like True Blood (one of HBO's best regarded) and network shows like Under The Dome (huge ratings for CBS last summer, returning next week!). Now all networks are not only scrambling to come up with original shows for the summer... they are going BIG on the shows they are putting out. Tyrant is one of FX's entries for this summer (they also have The Strain from Guillermo del Torro, which I am looking forward to as well) and it promises to be big on drama and budget. The Middle East set show focuses on a family of significant power in that area of the world and the struggles that come with that power. It has the feel of The Godfather to it, and FX is sparing no expense, filming the show on location in Moracco to get the authentic feel for the area of the world they are portraying. It also comes from the executive producers of Homeland, which have been doing a hell of a job over at Showtime. All in all, I am intrigued. The first show is tonight (Tuesday) at 10 pm... tune in. The Tyrant on FX Youtube page has a bunch of 30 second trailers, which you can watch by clicking here. You can see two very informative teaser clips, one about the show and one about the location shooting, after the jump embedded. I think this might be a good one... we shall see!!!



Tyrant: First Look




Tyrant: On Location

Guillermo del Torro's 'The Strain' Is Must Watch TV This Summer

As a fan of genre work, particularly the horror genre, I am absolutely amazed (and secretly quite happy) with the takeover of mainstream and cable television by genre programming. I know there is a copycat effect in place, and that channels are green-lighting genre shows because they want to piggyback on the success of others before them but, the new shows are getting better and better than their predecessors. So, in effect they are not only continuing the trend but, making more sustainable programs in the process. When these shows succeed it makes it easier for them to be taken seriously, and boy they should be! Would you ever have imagine a world where we would have shows like 'Sleepy Hollow', 'Grimm', 'Hannibal', 'Penny Dreadful', 'American Horror Story', 'The Walking Dead', 'From Dusk Til Dawn', 'Being Human' and many more in regular rotation? I certainly never did but, boy am I happy we do. The next big program to come down the pipeline has the pedigree, creative forces behind it, and the premise to garner my attention for the summer. It's called 'The Strain', comes from the mind of Guillermo del Torro & Chuck Hogan, and will air on FX this summer...

Check after the jump for more....



Back in 2008, del Torro had a great idea for a TV show and he began pitching it around town. Unable to gain any support or networks willing to make the show, his agent suggested turning the property into a book. Teaming up with author Chuck Hogan (who wrote the book 'The Town' with Ben Affleck was based on) the duo created The Strain trilogy. Three books that tell the epic tale of a vampire parasite that begins infecting the residents of NYC. The vampire story then takes a turn towards the pandemic, as the virus begins to rapidly spread and only a group of ragtag scientists and fighters can try to bring it to an end.

The vampires and the parasite that infects them are vastly different than the way vampires have been displayed and characterized in the past. They feature many of the creep-tastic qualities that have become a staple of del Torro's work. The vampires have a 6 foot 'stinger' proboscis that is under their tongue. It can be used to 'infect' people from afar... eliminating the need for the vamps to get up close to their victims. The virus itself is also transmitted via 'worms', small creatures that are either introduced to the victims bloodstream via a bite or can invade a person through an open wound or cut. This makes the risk for infection even greater, as you not only have to avoid the actual vampires but microscopic organisms that could infect you as well.

The first book was one of the best things I have ever read. Apparently FX felt the same way... and they finally gave the property a order for a TV series. The show will air on July 13th, and I for one could not be more excited.

Check the trailer out, and tune in this summer for some blood crazy fun...


 

Marvel's Netflix/TV Universe Has A Bright Future, And They Are Looking To Get Off To A Good Start Quickly...

So even though this was a tough week for Marvel's cinematic wing (they lost Edgar Wright as a director of 'Ant Man'), things are certainly looking up for the Netflix/TV division and are looking quite promising. The first season of S.H.I.E.L.D. is in the books and although the show started slow it did a fantastic job of meshing the cinematic and TV universes mid-season with Cap 2 (which came out smack in the middle of the season. It was done flawlessly. Now there are rumors of the 'Peggy Carter, Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D.' spin-off, period show (set back in the 40s and 50s) and the Netflix series that are finally getting cast ...and wow, Marvel doesn't seem to be playing around! First up... 'Daredevil'! We got our Matt Murdock, and also a show runner.

Click after the jump for more info....


First up, lets talk about the man behind the mask. Charlie Cox has been tapped to don the red suit and baton and I, for one, couldn't be happier. Cox is most recognizable recently for his turn on HBO's 'Boardwalk Empire' as a rough and tumble Irish gangster. But the role that will forever define Cox for me has to be his role in 'Stardust' as Tristan Thorn. 'Stardust' is one of my cult classic films... it is a great version of Neil Gaiman's book, that is often much maligned for changes that were made to it but, the funny part about that is that the changes to the book for the film were made by Gaiman himself... he was the writer of the movie!!! Cox soared as the lead in the film, and his charisma and charm make him a great choice for Daredevil. He was also really good with the physical and fighting aspects of his role in 'Stardust', so I can't wait to see him bouncing around as the Man With No Fear.

Some other exciting news comes from the other side of the camera... the guys behind the scenes making this show happen. Marvel has hired Stephen S. DeKnight as the show runner. DeKnight is famous for his work in the Whedon-vesre ('Buffy the Vampire Slayer', 'Angel', etc)... but his most recent success is with the Starz sleeper hit 'Spartacus'. 'Spartacus' was a very fun show that pushed the boundaries of violence and made Starz a relevant player in the cable TV show wars. I like the choice, and connecting him with writer Drew Goddard ('Cabin In The Woods' director and writer, frequent co-contributor of Joss Whedon) who is penning at least the first two shows. The team is all coming together, and it is shaping up nicely...

Does this guy look like he is fucking around? I don't think so...

The final bit of encouraging news is that 'Daredevil' will be set in the current time period. There were talks that it would be set in the gritty 60s/70s in NYC, and that the other planned Netflix shows (featuring Luke Cage, Iron Fist, Jessica Jones, and The Defenders) would also be set in that time too. Now it seems that 'Daredevil' and the other plethora of heroes will be set in a post "Battle of NY" environment, making them linked to the Marvel Cinematic Universe and eligible to appear in collaborative projects in the future.

'Daredevil' will be the first Netflix/Marvel collab to hit the 'net and will appear sometime in 2015 with shows for characters Luke Cage, Iron Fist Jessica Jones and The Defenders to follow. You can see the whole press release from Marvel by clicking here...   

The 'Constantine' TV Show Has A Trailer... And One Guaranteed Viewer In Me Because It Looks Pretty Perfect!

Hellblazer is one of the most epic comics ever written, and has long been a staple of the Vertigo line for DC Comics alongside Sandman. The main character, John Constantine, was given a movie featuring the national treasure that is Keanu Reeves... and it rubed a lot of true Hellblazer fans the wrong way. Not me though, I actually liked the film. A lot. Sure, he wasn't British and was missing his signature blonde locks. But he smoked like a chimney, had the dope arm tats, and the effects were fantastic for both the angels and demons portrayed in the film. Reeves kicked ass, and this movie gets a bad rap in my humble opinion. I recently watched it again on a fluke and fell in love with the character all over again. I plan on going back and reading the comics all over again, but then my year was made when I heard NBC had a show coming this fall based on the series! Oh man, I am excited. The show is being showran by David Goyer, and the pilot is being directed by Neil Marshall. Matt Ryan is playing Constantine, and he certainly looks a lot more like Johnny C than Keanu did. And the 3 minute trailer that they have shared online looks magnificent. Bravo NBC. Lets hope it turns out as good as this preview looks! Check out the trailer after the jump...

'Gotham' Is Coming... Who Is Ready?

'Gotham' is something that I am looking forward too, but I am very wary for. Why you ask? Simple. While it is a great idea (a cop procedural set in the early days of the Batman universe), the show is on Fox. Fox, known as the channel that often kills any genre shows they air (whether they are good or not). So while I think the show can be intriguing, the fact that it is on Fox puts a strike on it for me because even if it is good it will probably get bailed on. Lets hope Fox finally sees that genre shows are huge right now and give this show a fair shot. The trailer for the show is here, and I am intrigued. Most peoples criticism that I have encountered so far is the inclusion of young versions of Riddler, Catwoman, and Penguin... but to me that is one of the cooler aspects of it. And a young Master Bruce... yup, I can get behind that. Anytime Donal Logue is involved in a project I am in. Ben McKenzie looks pretty great as a young Jim Gordon. And a mob boss that is a chick (Jada Pinkett Smith)? Yup, that is bold. The shows tone looks good, and since I am an ultimate Bat-fan I will give it a shot. But with the gauntlet being thrown down by Arrow (it has been great since episode 1 through two full seasons) and Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. (which started slow but has picked up immensely) Gotham better bring the A game. The show comes on this fall on Fox. Check out the trailer after the jump...

These Are The Kind Of Reboots I Can Get Behind... Rosemary's Baby Comes To TV !!!

I am of the opinion that nothing is above a reboot or re-do... nothing at all. But I do believe that there must be a valid reason for doing it other than just for the fuck of it. Like when Stephen King wanted to re-do The Shining. He never liked the way Stanley Kubrick's version of the book turned out (which while I think Kubrick's movie is great it is VASTLY different than the book), and he wanted an adaption that could be closer to the book. Same thing went with the Total Recall reboot. The directors/producers promised something that would echo the original book by Philip K Dick... something that was severely lacking in Arnold Schwarzenegger movie. Or maybe you just want to tell a different kind of a story... like what Marc Webb is doing with the Spider-Man reboot or what Chris Nolan did with his Batman trilogy. There are reasons, and then there are VALID reasons. That is usually the only thing I want to see before I can get behind a reboot. And this DEFINITELY seems to be the case with NBC's remake of Rosemary's Baby. The new series (which will be 4 hours in total length) will have more screen time to explore more of the intricacies between Rosemary & the cult while she is pregnant with her baby, as well as weaving in more of the book by Ira Levin that may have been left on the cutting room floor by Roman Polanski. Even though Polanski's version is damn near perfect and doesn't need updating/re-doing, this idea is not really too bad. It updates the setting to modern times, one of the only knocks when trying to have someone new watch the film for the first time. It is just so hard for someone in 2014 to understand what everyday life was like in the late 1960s. Now the story is contemporary, so we can get a much more up to date version of the setting. Also, Zoe Saldana is set to take on Mia Farrow's role as Rosemary. That is something I can get behind, and it also adds the racial aspect to the mix. Jeffrey 'Malfoy Senior' Isaacs will be taking on Roman Castevet, a classic role turned in by Sidney Blackmer back in 1968. The mini series will be out this summer (I love original programming in the summer... especially HORROR programming!) and you can see the first short teaser trailer after the jump...



 

Will ' Penny Dreadful' Be What American Horror Story: Coven Couldn't?

 

You know... a complete show! I have been a big fan and supporter of AHS for its first three seasons on the air, and was a huge fan of this current season right up until the end. But they really botched all the great work they had done prior in the first 10 episodes of this season with the final two. It was a mess, and seemed rushed... kind of like they didn't know how to end something that started with so much promise. But with TV channels striking horror gold with shows like The Walking Dead, AHS, Bates Motel, Grimm, and the plethora of vampire shows on the air prove that horror is working right now. So Showtime has decided to get in on the game, and they have their own "horror" themed show coming to the air with Penny Dreadful. Penny Dreadful is a look into life in Victorian England for some of the greatest creations of horror fiction. Imagine if Dracula, Frankenstein's Monster, Dorian Grey, etc were all real... they would have to live somewhere, right? What might that look like? Eva Green and her cast mates will help us figure that out. I am in for a couple of reasons: 1) Being a cable channel, we will get tons of blood, violence and nudity. 2) Eva Green is beautiful 3) This can be fun, in the vein of League of Extraordinary Gentleman. The show comes out in May (May 11th) and we finally have a full trailer. Enjoy it after the jump....

OHC's of the Day: 2013 New Network TV Stars Edition

It has been a while since we have done a Obscure Hot Chick of the Day pictorial spread here on CCD, so given that this is the new TV season and there are a ton of hotties starring in new shows I figured it was a fitting topic to bring back our old favorite story topic. I think you lovers of newly unveiled hot TV starlets will appreciate this one. I threw in 6 of these (probably) unknown actresses on this list for you to become familiar with... but I am sure they will be household names soon enough.  Check out all the pics after the jump...



1) Chloe Bennet - Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D - One of the team on Marvel's new live action TV show. I wouldn't mind being arrested by her... just saying!

2) Melissa Fumero - Brooklyn 99 - Starring opposite doofy looking Andy Samberg might even make this stunner hotter!

3) Phoebe Tonkin - The Originals - Not really interested in this Vampire Diaries spin off, but I was never really interested in the Vampire Diaries but always found room to admire Nina Dobrev. Same thing here.

4) Sleepy Hollow - Nicole Beharie - Nice to see a black actress as a lead in a show. Cute too... it helps!

5) Megan Boone - The Blacklist - I hope this ambitious show doesn't get cancelled because James Spader is an awesome bad guy helping out the good guys and Ms. Boone is impossible not to oogle. That women is pure sexy...

6) Jessica De Gouw - Dracula - Not really interested in this show, can totally understand why ole Drac has his eyes (and teeth) set on this cutie though...