The Star Online: Entertainment: TV & Radio

Michael Rapaport has 'bad' days - and he's loving it!
Lego unveils 10 more characters from 'The Simpsons'
Andy Samberg feels super lucky to be doing what he loves

Michael Rapaport has 'bad' days - and he's loving it!

Posted: 31 Mar 2014 09:00 AM PDT

Michael Rapaport is the latest villain du jour on Justified. He says it's been a kick playing the wicked antagonist.

"My favourite part is just being able to say and do things that you can't do in real life, and behaving in a way that's just not really acceptable in the real world," he says. "And then when I see the episodes, I get off on the little things, the little sort of things, the lines in between the lines of dialogue.

"It's like playing cowboys and Indians. When you're playing this bad of a character, it's obviously not reality for someone who's not living that life. So that's been the most fun. The challenge has been just the intensity of the work schedule, the accent and my own personal standards." – McClatchy-Tribune Information Services

Lego unveils 10 more characters from 'The Simpsons'

Posted: 28 Mar 2014 04:00 PM PDT

The complete collection of The Simpsons mini figures will be available in May when the show's Lego-lised episode debuts.

Sixteen characters from The Simpsons have been transformed into Lego mini figures. Available from May, the new collection includes all the members of the Simpson family as well as some of Springfield's most famous residents.

Lego first launched the collection earlier this year with a new construction set allowing fans to build the Simpsons house. Available in US stores and through Lego's US website, the set comes with Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa and Maggie Simpson, along with Ned Flanders.

Now Lego has unveiled 10 more characters in mini figure form. Fans will recognise Grandpa Abraham Simpson, Milhouse, Ralph, Chief Wiggum, Mr Burns, Apu, Krusty the Clown, and Itchy and Skratchy. Each mini figure will be available from May.

The Simpson family's home network Fox will take part in the launch by airing a special episode, Brick Like Me, on May 4 in the US. In this 550th episode, Homer will wake up to find that everyone around him is made of Lego blocks.

The network is currently airing the 25th season of The Simpsons. After this landmark anniversary, the show will return yet again in fall 2014 for year 26. – AFP/Relaxnews

Andy Samberg feels super lucky to be doing what he loves

Posted: 27 Mar 2014 10:15 PM PDT

The award-winning actor has been commended for his work on Brookly Nine-Nine.

Andy Samberg's transition from Saturday Night Live to a weekly comedy has certainly worked out well for him. Not only did Fox give Brooklyn Nine-Nine an early second season renewal, but critics championed the show. It would go on to win two Golden Globe awards – one for Best Comedy and a Best Actor nod for Samberg. And the show and Samberg seem to be shoo-ins for Emmy nominations in a few months.

"I'm feeling lucky. Super lucky," Samberg told TheWrap of the critical praise and awards. "We really love making the show and the fact that people we consider smart and having the same taste as us are liking it is very satisfying." Brooklyn Nine-Nine follows a team of detectives and the newly appointed captain of the fictional 99th Precinct of the New York City Police Department in Brooklyn. Samberg plays Jake Peralta, the precinct's effective but childish detective.

What drew you to this project in the first place?

I wanted to work with people I respect creatively and to make people laugh. That is always my goal. I love comedy. I've always loved it since I was a little kid. I feel lucky that that's what I get to do for a living. Anytime I decide to try something, it's usually based on whether I think someone is going to laugh at this and does it make me laugh.

Chemistry between the cast members didn't seem to be a problem for Brooklyn Nine-Nine. Why do you think that worked out?

When a cast generally gels and gets along off-camera as well as have chemistry on-camera, it's what you're always hoping for. Obviously, I think it's a huge testament to (show creators Daniel Goor and Michael Schur) and Allison Jones, who cast our pilot. They just picked a really good group and tailored it like the best sports teams where everybody has a role, no one's getting in each other's way, everybody can kind of score while making each other look good. We have good performers, generous performers who are daring and willing to try things. Everybody's getting better.

Andy Samberg, Joe Lo Trulio and Stephanie Beatriz in Brooklyn Nine-Nine.

Why do you think the viewers haven't followed after the critics and awards? Do you even look at ratings?

I try not to. So much of the discussion about that right now is people are watching it after it airs on DVR, On Demand, iTunes, Hulu and Netflix, potentially. Everyone I know watches stuff after it airs. I think the type of show we are, the type of comedy we're doing, it feels like it's that kind of a show. But, obviously we're all still really new and comedies, especially, can take a while to grab a bigger audience. Sometimes you never do, but the audience you have is the best audience ever.

How are you taking to the schedule of a weekly comedy?

It took some getting used to. I've done a couple of movies obviously, so it was close to that in terms of getting up at 5am, 6am most days, which coming from years of stand-up and seven years on SNL, it's not my favourite schedule. If we're being honest, I prefer to sleep in and work late. But, you also get your weekends off and there's no Saturday work. I've adjusted.

It's less stressful for me, because I'm not in charge of conceiving what we're shooting every second where at SNL you're in charge of your own destiny. Now, I show up, get handed a great script, act it a bunch of times and maybe pitch new jokes.

Are there any current plans to appear on SNL again?

Not that I know of, but those things come together pretty fast. I'll never say no. I went out there for (Seth Meyers') last show. That was very important to me. I was very flattered that he asked. I'll always consider SNL home and family. It was the most special time in my life and the most pivotal thing in my career was getting hired on that show. — Reuters

>> Brooklyn Nine-Nine airs every Wednesday at 9pm on Diva (Astro Ch 702).

Kredit: www.thestar.com.my

Isnin, 31 Mac 2014