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foxes-that-run · 1 year

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2021 Haylor Timeline

Timeline Tag, or years 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024.

2 January - Harry at Jeffs wedding with OW. Holding hands at wedding photos - the Paparazzi Clint and his partner follow Olivia to a hotel in Santa Barbara. He later does an hour long podcast on following them and explains he then realised Harry was there and takes photos. After a few phone calls, the two photographers discover rumors of a romantic relationship between Harry and Olivia. 10 minutes later, photographed them together. in Nanny tell all Nanny said Olivia was still texting Jason to say she loved him, that Olivia was pretending to not have service. Nanny found out she was at the wedding online.

3 January - walking with OW in Santa Barbara

4 January - Harry hike in LA

15 January - Ted Lasso Season 2 starts filming London, in Nanny Tell all nanny said that Ted confronted her on the plane there about her telling Olivia that Jason had been crying and not coping. Jason then offered the Nanny a life coach to get info out of her and they were attending therapy with the Nanny.

18 January - Coney Island released as a single.

14 February Olivia at Harry’s LA house with luggage. Don't worry Darling filming wraps. On the 21st Taylor Lover tour cancelled.

16 February - E News Harry and OW fly to London together. DWD wraps, Harry OW cast photo

20 February - OW near Jason Sudeikis /her kids London house

6 March - Oliva posts photo of Branston Beans from Harry's Kitchen, the curtains can be seen. Lockdown laws mean she should not have been able to travel there and was bragging about it and posting inside his house.

10 March Instead of congratulating Harry on the nomination Zayn posted “F the Grammys”

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15 March -Talk at the Grammys, Taylor and Harry part of small group of attendees. Harry goes over to Taylor and they are polite, Harry seems a little awkward and says “well it was nice to see you”. He keeps looking at her during his acceptance speech for record of the year.

Taylor wrote High Infidelity and WCS with Aaron Dessner while in LA for the Grammy's, when she saw Harry & J Mayer.

Niall and Liam congratulate Harry on his Grammy win, Zayn and Louis do not.

31 March - architect of Harry’s Erskine House renovations posts photos of the interior to their website. It has a black, wood pale grey palette with pink stairs

13, -25 April - OW with Harry london

April 27 - Joe leaves UK to Belfast to film.

May 11 - HS & TS both at Brit awards (the 26th was a blood moon)

May - Harry’s bassist since HS1, Adam Pendergast, leaves love band (date from his LinkedIn)

20 May - Harry and Olivia dinner at Refuel Bar & Restaurant at The Soho Hotel. ET Rumours Joe and Taylor engaged.

15 June - Harry seen with fans wearing Apollo eleven tshirt

21 June - Harry wrapped My Policeman in Italy, started in Feb. Released 1 September 2022. Holiday in Italy

2 July - renegade released

3 July - Harry at England v Ukraine game Italy

8 July - Harry and Olivia on yacht and in Italy

26 July - Charlotte Clarke (Harry’s backup singer) said she was let go and doesn’t understand why. won’t be on HSLOT

28 July - Taylor posts for folklore' anniversary, "It’s been one year since we escaped the real world together and imagined ourselves someplace simpler." with a photo from Donegal Ireland. Heavily TTPD coded with Victorian gown, like the Betty speech’s on eras tour and lakes (poets), two coffee cups too, was it already a double album?! Coffee also as in the end of the Karma MV. Joe posted photos from the same trip on July 22nd

9 August - 26 August Harry in studio maybe mixing Harry's House in the behind scenes photos here you can see outfits he wore in LA on these dates.

4 September – 22 July 2023 - Love on Tour, Harry has a new bassist Elin Sandberg

7 September - Taylor in Belfast visiting Joe. Red TV entirely recorded at Kitty Committee Belfast UK (her home)

9 September - Taylor at Toronto Film Festival and to premiere all too well

11 September - Harry at Toronto Film Festival to premiere My policeman, talks about wasted time being the worst thing in presser

17 September - wildest dreams TV released, TikTok about recording Red TV and a glitch. Harry and Olivia in Phili with Xander, max and family

May 11 - HS & TS both at Brit awards (the 26th was a blood moon)

May - Harry’s bassist since HS1, Adam Pendergast, leaves love band (date from his LinkedIn)

May 24 - Joe and Taylor together in Paris

3 June - Harry OW her parents London

21 June - Harry wrapped My Policeman in Italy, started in Feb. Released 1 September 2022.

30 June - H Holiday in Italy

2 July - renegade released

8 July - Harry and Olivia on yacht and in Italy

13 July - Jason sudokis GQ that he still doesn’t know why they broke up and it ended in November 2020. Harry mentioned.

14 July - HSLOT announced for September

26 July - Charlotte Clarke (Harry’s backup singer) said she was let go and doesn’t understand why. won’t be on HSLOT

7 August - OW and Harry had guests at house, Harry has moustache and greets someone.

9 August - 26 August Harry LA in studio maybe mixing Harry's House in the behind scenes photos here you can see outfits he wore in LA on these dates. Walking with Olivia 19 August

31 August - Taylor and Joe hiking Franklin Canyon

4 September – 22 July 2023 - Love on Tour, Harry has a new bassist Elin Sandberg. OW at first show.

7 September - Taylor in Belfast visiting Joe. Red TV entirely recorded at Kitty Committee Belfast UK (her home)

9 September - Taylor at Toronto Film Festival and to premiere all too well

10 September - Harry golfing in Dallas

11 September - Harry at Toronto Film Festival to premiere My policeman, talks about wasted time being the worst thing in presser

17 September - wildest dreams TV released, TikTok about recording Red TV and a glitch. Harry and Olivia in Phili with Xander, max and family

18 September - Harry seen with Olivia near her parents in DC before show there

22 September - first heart kiss since 2018! St Paul - Falling, with Two Ghosts intro (4:31). Then again weekly till the end of the year

25 September - Taylor London Lena's wedding.

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29 September - & 1 Oct Harry played Nashville and wore a white satin outfit, he played with his rings while performing Beautiful. Harry plays To Be so Lonely for 9 shows then never again, including Nashville N2 and NY. In Nashville looks up. OW at shows

3 October - OW parents at HSLOT but she is in LA.

9 October - Harry in Florida dinner

13 October - fan sends to DM that they saw Harry, no OW at Pittsburgh cathedral of learning with “more police and security than I knew existed” wouldn’t have recognised him if it wasn’t for them.

16 October - Harry wore “all things must pass” hoodie NYC OW walked awkwardly holding him. One security person.

22 October - one more photo of Taylor and joe in the bathroom leaked (the proper selfie), photos from 2016 leaked in 2020

25 October - Harry seems to be in a bad mood when he first goes on stage in Boston, also wearing no rings. Heart kiss in Falling, OW there and not seen with him until harryween in a week.

26 October - Taylor posts TikTok "Autumn Lovers RISE" as a reenactment of a 27 September 2017 Tumblr post. She writes lyrics to ATW "just between us did the love affair maim you" "and Plaid stuff and ankle boots" she's wearing a skirt but says 'stuff' plaid shirts and ankle Chelsea boots is Harry in 2011-2013. And "Maroon/Hunter Green" The ATW move included a book coming out 13 years later about the love affair.

30 October - Harry dressed as Dorothy at harryween MSG NY, Olivia as Dolly Parton posted photos with exercise bike and boobs

1 November - rumors Harry and OW fighting

10 November - heart kiss in falling. Tumblr anon said about OW “I was working at the venue in Sacramento when he played during LOT. Her backstage privileges were revoked after the show prior to that...which was..I think...Portland. Our backstage security was instructed to not allow her backstage under any circumstances. She didn't even arrive to the venue with him. From what I understood from Sacramento through the end of that tour her security access was no more than say..contest winners..radio personalities etc. I was shocked at the time that they lasted another year since there was clearly trouble in paradise.”

11 November - Harry has a bruise on his back I. Love on tour backstage photo

12 November - Red TV released Harry wears red in his show on the 11th. All Too Well Short Film premiere Dylan O'Brien (who is in ATW film) is included in this footage of Austin and Dylan cheering when Jack plays Question..? in the Studio. Appears on Fallon and says she easter eggs 3 years in advance in reference to ATW.

16 November - Pleasing launch with Harry on bike photo on cover of Dazed

17 November – Taylor leaves NYC for Panama to go see Joe. Taylor posts a drunk TikTok from Panama. On the 20th she went to the national theater and leaves on the 22nd. Joe stays and films. Midnights written while gone

21 November - Last time Taylor is photographed in public for 3 months is the SNL performance for All too Well

25 November Rolling Stone noted the Haylor call and response “the long-running songwriting badminton between her and Harry Allegedly is pop call-and-response the way it ought to be”

28 November- 13 December Harry MIA. after his shows. OW seen alone in LA

1 December Taylor wore Gucci lion ring to Zoe’s kravitz birthday throwback photo shared day after YLM date identified by Jack.

5 December - You're losing me written. Love on Tour in Buenos Aires

28 December - Harry and OW Italy. Fans post they saw them Hampstead NYE, no photos.

Continue to 2022

#haylor #Youtube #haylor timeline #2021

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dojae-huh · 5 months

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why do you think there's this disparity between doyoung as taeyong promos overall as soloists (that all fuels the fire to the already existent akgae fanwars) ? not blaming doyoung but just curious i guess sm doesn't see potential for ty to reach the gp meanwhile doyoung has and is doing it

but TY had a full album ready but sm decided to go with a mini for tap meanwhile DY released a full album on his debut

jut wanna discuss

The main reason is that Taeyong went to the military. He will dissapear from the public's eye for two years. It's a huge time period in SK. Idols fear they won't comeback to their level of pre-enlistment popularity for a reason. Taeyong also talked a lot about this fear. Of being forgotten.

There is no point investing in trying to catch new fans if they won't be given easy means to develop real interest (media and tv appearences, concerts, merch, new albums).

Just think of how JaeDo are believed to be a dead ship by newer fans because there is little concent from thm. It is the older fans, who knew JaeDo pre 2020, are still very dedicated. It is the same idea with Tae and his core fans. The fans he already has will wait for him. The viewers of TV-shows he could have appeared in - will not care.

Secondly, the time of album preparation. Taeyong had to release early, before his enlistment. He even had to shoot his MV in Japan, and discuss arrangement of his songs deep in the night, half awake. He had no time to go on many programmes.

There is little need, really, to introduce Taeyong. Everyone knows he is a great rapper and dancer. He is front and centre in 127 MVs, he has his own multiple performance clips, features, special stages, solo stages (Super M, Link). If someone develops an interest "hm, is this guy any good as an artist?", there is no lack of material for them to watch on YT. Meanwhile there are so called NCTzens who don't think Doyoung can sing that well. Do needs to be introduced as a real deal. And away from k-pop, as a soloist he sings in other genres (pop-rock and band music). Lots of live singing clips thus are needed. There was a comment "YT keeps offering me vids with this guy, is he OK? he sings so much" (paraphrasing).

Tae has lots of tiktoks for Tap era. Fans of other idols he danced with had seen those reels. Thai actors did his challenge a lot. His promotion works on TT, on the internet, through virality (remember the case with "Zoo") and inside k-pop sphere. He has always caught people's eye by looks and moves alone.

Doyoung, on the other hand, is known to general public as a variety personality. His potential audience as a soloist, people who like ballads, Korean music, go to festivals and musicals, don't find new artists on tiktok. Melon top100 chart, YT programmes, TV programmes with live singing are what they tap into.

Do got a concert tour because he wants to sing as much as possible, to be in a band. Tae got a fanmeet tour because he wanted the love from the fans, the reassurance that they will stay before his dissapearence. (Plus, as I said before, he should have been busy with 127 preparations in March).

Doyoung came up with the way he wants to see his promotions unfold. Documentaries, medleys - his idea. He supervised it. He pushed for more.

Fans count numbers, but forget about contents. Taeyong's promo clips were very innovative, fun, effort was put in developing them. Wasn't his abduction video memorable? Despite very pressing circumstances, very short time to work, Tae's comeback was of high quality (photoshoots, the MV, stages, his 2 day concert was prepared better than Link).

Shooting singing Doyoung five times is not a big deal, it is easy to increase the number of uploaded promotional material. Heh, antis counted "medley clips" as content, when it is just a track playing over a circled on itself short video of nature (that you buy on stock sites).

Taeyong had two albums in the same year. Who gets two albums same year right away? Even Baekhyun didn't. And fans dare complain.

Tae had songs he wrote in thepast. However, those songs needed to be re-recorded and remastered. We've seen it in bts video. Either there was no time to record enough songs for a full album, or Tae's songs were lacking/didn't fit the overall sound of the album. Remember how DJJ re-recorded "Ordinary" a year later (we can sing better now), how "Can we go back" was re-arranged for the album (bless, the track was saved for me). Songs take time, SM works up to 6 months on one song.

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yuelianghua · 7 months

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𝐍𝐇𝐊 | 𝐙𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠 𝐘𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐲𝐮𝐞 𝐌𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐬 𝐚 𝐆𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐀𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐨𝐧 𝐙𝐈𝐏! 𝐭𝐨 𝐜𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐒𝐚𝐤𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐢 𝐀𝐭𝐬𝐮𝐬𝐡𝐢'𝐬 𝐋𝐢𝐟𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐁𝐢𝐫𝐭𝐡𝐝𝐚𝐲

Actress and Singer Zhang Yingyue makes a rare appliance on TV to discuss the passing of BUCK-TICK's vocalist Sakurai Atsushi and his life as a musician in celebration of what would've been his 58th birthday.

For this episode, Yamashita Kenjiro interviews Zhang in ZIP's studio, alongside them visiting Hua Entertainment's newest office in Tokyo to go through the archives and share behind the scenes work with Sakurai.

During the interview, Zhang wore an all black velvet dress, with the same MIKIMOTO pearl necklace Sakurai wore in his photoshoot for GQ Japan, where she helped styled him. At the time of this photoshoot, Zhang was already appointed as creative director and asked by BUCK-TICK's team to style Sakurai.

"That was the one of the last few time we worked together," Zhang states when asked about the necklace, "The final time we worked was when he asked me to design their last album's cover."

Zhang reflects back at the time she and Sakurai first met in 2011, when her film Buddha Mountain was chosen to screen at Tokyo Film Festival, where she won the best actress award.

"We met through mutual friends and we kept contact until I returned to music in 2018."

At the time, Zhang was beginning her career as an international actress rather than a domestic performer in China. Her friend who's a musician happened to be friends with a few Japanese artists and through a visit at venue where BUCK-TICK performed, is where Zhang and Sakura had their encounter.

Although worlds apart, the two continued to talk and Sakurai offered support when Zhang chose to return to making music.

In 2020, Zhang and Sakurai released two singles together, titled Eve/Spring. The EP charted on Billboard Japan's Top 3 stops for March and was featured in Zhang's concerts. The two would interact again by Zhang appearing on Sakurai's radio show in October to discuss music, a month after she announced the birth of her twins.

"Going on his radio show was the best thing to do at the time," Zhang recalls, "I wanted to ease my way back to the public, but with someone I trusted."

Zhang also shared with Yamashita that Sakurai visited her home a few days after the radio show to meet the newest additions to her family. He has also been present at special events like her and her children's birthdays.

In 2023, Zhang collaborated with BUCK-TICK to design their album cover for IZORA. it would be the last time Zhang and Sakurai would collaborate together.

"It still feels surreal," she says, while looking somber staring at the album cover, "There was an idea B-T wanted me to convey and I helped in that aspect. There's now a whole new meaning to it."

The album cover features doves flying in an infinite, and a spiraling staircase with a watery reflection of the moon at the end. Many fans now interpret the cover as Sakurai's presence forever on this earth, even after death.

Zhang returned to collaborate on BUCK-TICK's Live DVD cover, which matches with IZORA's cover. This cover features the moon phase which Sakurai has passed on.

"I look back at the time I had with him as a friend with a lot of fondness, "Zhang says, "There's not a lot of people in the industry I respect, and he was one of the few I saw as a friend and someone to rely on. I have nothing but good memories of him."

When asked about dating rumors or spectulation of Sakurai's daughter signing under Zhang's Entertainment company by other guests on ZIP, she dismissed them and she would rather focus on what's important than the gossip.

Although Sakurai is no longer with us, Zhang hopes to continue working with BUCK-TICK when the opportunity comes.

"There was a lot I learned from Sakurai-san," Zhang says, "I learned to love better, to live my life in my own terms, to express myself and continue making art to heal myself and everyone around. My hope is that we all can learn from how he lived his life despite the odds being against him. I want nothing but his memory to continue on."

#🌙 | 照相机 : flashing lights reflect in their eyes.

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brookston · 1 year

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Holidays 9.30

Holidays

Agricultural Reform Day (Sao Tome and Principe)

Arizona Monsoon Season ends

Army Incompetence Day

Birth of Morelos (Mexico)

Botswana Day (Botswana)

Boy’s Day (Poland)

Chewing Gum Day

Day of Hungarian Folktales (Hungary)

Do Something Wacky With A Grandparent Day

E-mail Debt Forgiveness Day

Frisbee Day

International Blasphemy Rights Day (a.k.a. Blasphemy Day)

International Podcast Day

International Recovery Day

International Thunderbirds Day

International Translation Day (UN)

Jananeta Irawat Birth Day (Manipur, India)

Kokkeisetsu (Japan)

Liberation Day (Abkhazia)

Limb Girdle Muscular Dystrophy Awareness Day

Monkey Bars Day

National Black Funding Day

National Chewing Gum Day

National Day of Remembrance for Indian Boarding Schools

National Kratom Day

National Love People Day

National Microcephaly Awareness Day

National Mud Pack Day

National Nonspeaking / Nonverbal Awareness Day (UK)

National Pet Tricks Day (UK)

National PrepareAthon! Day [also 4.30]

National Puppy Mill Survivor Day

National Sporting Heritage Day (UK)

National Teach Spanish Day

Neonatal Intensive Care Awareness Day

Orange Shirt Day (Canada)

Parsnip Day (French Republic Day)

Peon Day (Warcraft)

Pink Out Day

Rabbit Rabbit Day [Last Day of Every Month]

Recovery Day (Canada)

Rumi Day

Secretary Day (Venezuela)

Thunderbirds Day

Time For Yoga Day

Truth and Reconciliation Day (Canada)

World Pole Dance Day

Food & Drink Celebrations

Austrian Beer Day (Austria)

Extra Virgin Olive Oil Day

Hot Mulled Cider Day

National Hot Mulled Cider Day

National Soufflé Potato Day

World Stroopwafel Day (Netherlands)

5th & Last Saturday in September

Centzon-Totochtin Drunken Rabbit Day [Last Saturday]

Everybody's Day Festival [Last Saturday]

Family Health and Fitness Day USA (Last Saturday]

International Lace Day [Last Saturday]

National Alpaca Farm Days begin [Last Saturday]

National Ghost Hunting Day [Last Saturday]

Nickelodeon’s Worldwide Day of Play [Last Saturday]

Save Your Photos Day [Last Saturday]

World Cyanotype Day [Last Saturday]

World Day of Leukodystrophies [Last Saturday]

Independence Days

Botswana (from UK, 1966)

Republic of Abkhazia (from Georgia, 1983) [unrecognized]

Tinakula (Declared; 2020) [unrecognized]

Feast Days

Aequinoctium Autumnale II (Pagan)

Anthony Green (Artology)

Blue-Feathered Swallowing Swallow (Muppetism)

Feast of Soma (God of Ambrosia & Immortality; India)

Festival of Drunkenness (Ancient Egypt)

Festival of Tereteth (Goddess of the Coconut Toddy; Yap Island, Micronesia)

Gregory the Illuminator (Christian; Saint)

Honorius of Canterbury (Christian; Saint)

Jerome (Christian; Saint)

John Waters Day (Church of the SubGenius; Saint)

Medetrinalia (Fruits Offered to Goddess of Medicine; Ancient Rome)

Molière (Positivist; Saint)

Plan for the 31st if September Day (Pastafarian)

Ridiculous Excuses Day (Pastafarian)

Lucky & Unlucky Days

Taian (大安 Japan) [Lucky all day.]

Uncyclopedia Bad to Be Born Today (because Green Day fans will never leave you alone.)

Premieres

Adjustment Team, by Philip K. Dick (Short Story; 1954)

Alias (TV Series; 2001)

The Ascent Of Rum Doodle, by W.E. Bowman (Novel; 1956)

The Big Chill (Film; 1983)

Bird (Film; 1988)

Blueberries for Sal, by Robert McCloskey (Children’s Book; 1948)

The Boy Friend (Broadway Musical; 1954)

Car Talk (Radio Series; 1977)

Cheers (TV Series; 1982)

The Clock Store (Disney Cartoon; 1931)

Con Man (Web Series; 2015)

Dad, Can I Borrow the Car? (Disney Short Film; 1970)

Death Valley Days (Radio Series; 1930)

Entergalactic (Animated Film; 2022)

The Family of Pascual Duarte, by Camilo José Cela (Novel; 1942)

Fantasy, by Mariah Carey (Song; 1995)

50/50 (Film; 2011)

The Flintstones (Animated TV Series; 1960)

Go Away Stowaway (WB MM Cartoon; 1967)

Grand Ole Opry (TV Series; 1950)

The Graveyard Book, by Neil Gaiman (Novel; 2008)

The Greatest Game Ever Played (Film; 2005)

Into the Blue (Film; 2005)

Little Women (Novel; 1868)

Louis Armstrong Plays King Oliver, recorded by Louis Armstrong (Album; 1957) [1st stereo album]

Love for Sale, by Tony Bennett (Album; 2021)

Luke Cage (TV Series; 2016)

The Magic Flute, by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (Opera; 1791)

Marvel Rising: Secret Warriors (Animated Film; 2018)

Methuselah's Children, by Robert A. Heinlein (Novel; 1958)

Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children (Film; 2016)

Murder, She Wrote (TV Series; 1984)

Nebraska, by Bruce Springsteen (Album; 1982)

Porgy and Bess, by George Gershwin (Opera; 1935)

The Queen (Film; 2006)

The Rifleman (TV Series; 1958)

The Robe, by Lloyd C. Douglas (Novel; 1942)

The Saint in Europe, by Leslie Charteris (Short Stories 1953) [Saint #30]

Scooby-Doo! And the Monster of Mexico (WB Animated Film; 2003)

A Separate Peace, by John Knowles (Novel; 1959)

Serenity (Film; 2005)

Shine On, by Jet (Album; 2006)

The Steeple-Chase (Disney Cartoon; 1933)

Theme From Shaft, by Isaac Hayes (Song; 1971)

To the Manor Born (UK TV Series; 1979)

You, Me and the Apocalypse (UK TV Series; 2015)

Today’s Name Days

Hieronymus, Urs, Victor (Austria)

Felicija, Grgur, Jerko, Jeronim (Croatia)

Jeroným (Czech Republic)

Hieronymus (Denmark)

Kaur, Kauri, Tauri (Estonia)

Sirja, Siru, Sorja (Finland)

Jérôme (France)

Hieronymus , Urs, Viktor (Germany)

Stratonikos (Greece)

Jeromos (Hungary)

Gerolamo (Italy)

Abgara, Elma, Lamekins (Latvia)

Bytautė, Jeronimas, Sofija, Žymantas (Lithuania)

Hege, Helga, Helge (Norway)

Grzegorz, Hieronim, Honoriusz, Imisław, Leopard, Sofia, Wera, Wiera, Wiktor, Wiktoriusz, Zofia (Poland)

Grigorie (Romania)

Lubov, Nadezhda, Vera (Russia)

Jarolím (Slovakia)

Jerónimo, Sofía, Sonia (Spain)

Helge (Sweden)

Jerome, Jeronima, Gerome, Geromino (USA)

Today is Also…

Day of Year: Day 273 of 2024; 92 days remaining in the year

ISO: Day 6 of week 39 of 2023

Celtic Tree Calendar: Muin (Vine) [Day 26 of 28]

Chinese: Month 8 (Xin-You), Day 16 (Xin-Mao)

Chinese Year of the: Rabbit 4721 (until February 10, 2024)

Hebrew: 15 Tishri 5784

Islamic: 15 Rabi I 1445

J Cal: 3 Shù; Threesday [3 of 30]

Julian: 17 September 2023

Moon: 98%: Waning Gibbous

Positivist: 21 Shakespeare (10th Month) [Molière]

Runic Half Month: Gyfu (Gift) [Day 4 of 15]

Season: Autumn (Day 7 of 89)

Zodiac: Libra (Day 7 of 30)

#calendar #Holidays

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sleepykittypaws · 2 years

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2022 Christmas Ads

What the Super Bowl is for U.S. commercials, Christmas is for most of the rest of the world, particularly Britain, where holiday ad campaigns are so highly anticipated they have teasers and drop date announcements.

These mini-movies provide the perfect bite-size dose of holiday joy, as much or more than so than selling a product. Clever, often tear-jerking sales pitches, sure, but also so much more.

It’s long been an annual part of our seasonal viewing to rewatch favorite ads from year’s past, as well as explore the new batch. To make that a little easier for my family, and yours, I’ll do my best to compile the best holiday adverts here, just as I did in 2020, and 2021, too.

Unlike my TV and theatrical listings, not trying to catalog every single Christmas commercial out there, just the ones I feel are worth a watch, for a little bonus dose of the festive feels.

In alphabetical order by company name

Updated: December 13, 2022

Aldi “Feast of Football” - Now-classic character Kevin the Carrot returns in this preview ad

Aldi “Kevin’s Home Alone” - Kevin’s main appearance for Aldi this season involves being left behind from a Paris vacation…sound familiar?

Aldi Australia “You Can’t Overcook Christmas” - A holiday politeness battle.

Amazon “Joy is Made” - A snow globe inspires a father in this musical Amazon ad.

Amazon Australia “The Playmakers Save the Holiday” - Stop-motion animated short, starring Charli Robinson and a staff of kid toy reviewers, promoting Amazon AU’s top 100 toys and helping to raise money for the Starlight Children's Foundation

An Post “Send from the Heart” - Sending love at Christmas in this Irish postal ad.

Apple “Share the Joy” - Stylish dance-filled holiday.

Argos “They’re Coming” - The joy and horror of holiday guests.

Asda “Have Your Elf a Merry Christmas” - People are going nuts for this Elf ad, but I found it super creepy. There’s also a “Making Of” for those interested.

Barbour “One of a Kind-ness” - Paddington Bear offers a grumpy neighbor a gift in this classic clothier brand’s annual animated ad.

Belvedere Vodka “Belvedere Presents Daniel Craig” - The former Bond channels director Taika Waititi for this not specifically holiday, but very fun, ad.

The Binge “Christmas with the Cat” - The pets celebrate the holidays.

BMW “Holidays are Here” - One of those ridiculous luxury-car-as-gift commercials, with a fun twist.

Boots “Joy for All” - Upbeat holiday happiness.

Burberry “The Night Before” - Shakira and Burns Boy rep the luxury line.

Cairngorm Coffee “For Those Who Care” - This one is sad in a way, I’m not the makers actually intended.

Celebrations “Bring Back Bounty” - The Lonely Bounty is back.

Chevrolet “Mrs. Hayes” - This extended ad is effective at stirring sentiment and how memories can be tied up in things.

Chick-Fil-a “The Snow Globe” - Long form animated ads set in the fictional “Evergreen Hills” have become a tradition for the fast food chain and this one is a much more serious, direct sequel to 2019′s “The Time Shop.”

Clogau “Christmas” - Simple holiday story of giving.

Coca-Cola Brazil “Christmas Always Finds a Way” - Sweet story of memory and holiday tradition

Coca-Cola France “Les Petits Mondes De Noel” - An estranged couple finds themselves reconnecting thanks to holiday cheer

Coca-Cola Mexico “Alma” - A worker at a holiday decor factory must rediscovery her own Christmas spirit

Coca-Cola U.S. “Christmas Bites” - Santa Claus squares off against a vampire with a grudge

Cole’s Christmas 2022 - Celebrating the return of gathering together again for an Australian Christmas

Debenhams “Christmas Starts Now” - Rhyming department store holiday ad.

Dior “The Atelier of Dreams” - Anna Taylor-Joy takes you on a luxe holiday journey.

Disney “The Gift” - It’s Disney, they know what they’re doing, and you’re bound to cry. (Or, at least I am.)

Erste Group “Believe in Christmas” - This insurance group’s animated ads have become an annual must-see.

FOX Soccer “’Tis the World Cup” - Jon Hamm, Mariah Carey, Ellie Kemper and Tom Brady headline this star-studded ad series.

FOX Soccer “’Tis the World Cup” - Another Jon Hamm as Santa trying to compete with the World Cup.

Frito-Lay “Soccer or Football” - Another World Cup ad, starring Peyton Manning and David Beckham, directed by Michael Bay.

Fussy “Deck the Halls” - The deodorant brand gets, umm, creative for Christmas

Gucci “Gift” - Stylish holiday journey.

Heathrow “The Gift” - Heathrow has put together many memorable ads and this one is simpler but just as sweet.

Hobby Lobby “Christmas is What You Make It” - Sweet, wordless story of cooperation

J&B “El Ruso de Rocky” - Touching Spanish story about a grandfather giving his granddaughter the ultimate gift—acceptance and understanding.

JD Sports “King of the Game” - Holiday fantasy fun

John Lewis “The Beginner” - The John Lewis Christmas ads are a holiday tradition in the UK, and while this one is more simple than most, its touching, unexpected ending hits you in the feels.

Kroger “The Magical Cookbook” - An Up style tear-fest that accurately embodies the connection between meals and memories.

LEGO “Build a Playful Holiday” - Imagination runs wild with Katy Perry

Louis Vuitton “The Holiday Season” - A bear and a Beatles cover from the luxury brand

Lidl “The Story of Lidl Bear” - A furry star is born in this very charming ad.

Manscaped “Season’s Groomings” - Pete Davidson is very…Pete Davidson in this ad with his mom.

Meta Quest 2 “Wish for the Extraordinary” - The VR headset has a clever Christmas ad touting its immersive abilities.

M&S “Fairy is Back” - Jennifer Saunders returns and is joined by Dawn French in this big-budget extravaganza.

M&S “Gifts That Give” - Musical ad promoting M&S’s charitable giving

Manor “Cosmic Christmas” - Bouncy, musical holiday one-up-manship from the Swiss retailer.

Matalan “The Christmas Cupboard” - Be prepared for the holidays

McDonald’s “The List” - Sweet, simple story of a little boy’s holiday wish list. One of the best of the season so far.

Morrisons “Farmer Christmas” - Exploring where your holiday treats come from.

The National Lottery “Just Imagine” - Extremely sweet mini-movie about strangers falling love and trying to find each other

O2 “The Snowgran” - Animated ad that somehow makes cell phone data charming.

Old Navy “Matchy Matchy” - Jennifer Coolidge stars in a fun series of ads for the retailer.

Old Navy “Gifting” - Jennifer Coolidge stars in a fun series of ads for the retailer.

Paddy Power “Gareth Southgate Christmas Jumper” - Inside baseball ad—or more accurately football—but still sports-fan-relatable worldwide.

Paddy Power “Where Were You in ‘22″ - World Cup meets Christmas

Paddy Power “Crouchy Conducts the Classics” - Another funny, very English football (a.k.a. soccer) ad.

Penny “The Rift” - Very emotional and powerful mini-movie. Follow-up to last year’s equally moving, “The Wish.”

Pepsi “That is One Dirty Soda, Santa” - Lindsay Lohan channels her inner Laverne.

PETA “Toby the Turkey” - Effective animated ad.

Phil Beastall “A Little Help” - “alternate” John Lewis ads have become a thing in recent years with filmmakers offering short holiday films to tug hearts and make a name for themselves.

Planters “Whittle Nut Bowl” - Brief, but cute.

Posten “Father Christmas and Mother Earth” - The Norwegian Postal Service is back with an ad that looks at the impact of Christmas on the environment after their ground-breaking Santa romance last season.

RSPCA “Join the Christmas Rescue” - Bring all the tissues.

Sam Teale “The GoKart” - another of the “alternate John Lewis” offerings.

Sainsbury’s “Once Upon a Pud” - The grocer puts a medievally royal spin on the classic British Christmas dessert.

Shelter “Brave Face” - Touching charity appeal.

Smyths “We Really Want to go to Smyths” - An original, catchy jingle that feels very retro.

Spam “We Wish You a Figgy Christmas” - The Hawaii-favorite canned meat offers up a very cute stop-motion ad for its own limited edition holiday offering.

Spar “Finding Christmas” - Folksy, lovely holiday feel that shows Christmas is all a matter of perspective.

Sports Direct “Football Starts Here” - Celebrate the holidays with soccer stars

Teleflora “Leave No One Out This Holiday” - Does anyone ever think about how Mrs. Claus spends all her Christmases alone.

TK Maxx “Christmas Nailed” - The British version of TJ Maxx dances through the holidays.

Tesco “The Christmas Party” - The British grocery chain tackles the “happiness shortage” in this campaign that’s a literal political campaign spoof.

Waitrose “It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas” - Celebrates the all-year work that goes into Christmas

The Warehouse “Nigel’s Christmas Wish” - Charming story of holiday triumph.

White Stores “Norbet the Nutcracker” - A signature design

Woolworths "Get Your Woolies Worth” - A down-home Australian Christmas

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aunti-christ-ine · 2 years

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Acclaimed Daniel Roher-directed Documentary Investigates Assassination Attempt on Putin Adversary

CNN Films will broadcast the Sundance sensation, NAVALNY, directed by DanielRoher, on Saturday, Jan. 14, at 9:00pm Eastern on CNN. As the world watches Russia’s brutal aggression continue against Ukraine, the gripping investigation of the 2020 attempted assassination of Alexey Navalny reminds the world of the serious repression and danger the Russian government presents to its own citizens.

Just months after the attempt on his life, and during the height of the global coronavirus pandemic, Alexey Navalny and his family allowed Roher exclusive access to document his physical recovery from their secret location. Roher and the production team weave interviews with the former Russian presidential candidate and his family, as well as Navalny’s Russian Anti-Corruption Foundation (FBK) colleagues, to describe the events leading up to the attempt upon his life that the world first witnessed via social media. Later, together with investigative journalists led by Christo Grozev, the executive director of Bellingcat, the team reveals a sprawling web of Russian government surveillance that had tracked the Putin opposition leader for years, ultimately exposing a shocking plot to poison him with the Russian government-linked nerve toxin, Novichok.

“Daniel and his team secured extraordinary access to a story of immense global significance,” said Amy Entelis, executive vice president for talent and content development for CNN Worldwide, on behalf of CNN Films. “The film is a window into a rigorous and disciplined investigation that, beyond exposing the serious stakes for one man and his family, offers a view into the sobering stakes for a citizenry when a nation oppresses its own people. NAVALNY is the kind of documentary that defines CNN Films.”

NAVALNY is currently nominated by the Producers Guild of America for its 2023 documentary motion picture award, nominated by the Cinema Eye Honors for the best nonfiction feature category, and named as a 2023 finalist by the duPont-Columbia Awards. NAVALNY was honored with the Audience Award in the U.S. Documentary competition, and the fan-selected Festival Favorite Award, following its world premiere at the 2022 Sundance Film Festival. NAVALNY is produced by Odessa Rae of RaeFilm Studios, Diane Becker and Melanie Miller of Fishbowl Films, and Shane Boris of Cottage M. Amy Entelis and Courtney Sexton of CNN Films, and Maria Pevchikh of the FBK, are executive producers of the documentary. The editorial team was led by Langdon Page and Maya Daisy Hawke.

NAVALNY currently has a 99% Tomatometer® score at Rotten Tomatoes. It was theatrically released by Warner Bros. Pictures. During the Jan. 14 broadcast on CNN, NAVALNY will also stream live for pay TV subscribers via CNN.com and CNN OTT and mobile apps under “TV Channels,” or CNNgo where available. NAVALNY will be available On Demand beginning Sunday, Jan. 15, to pay TV subscribers via CNN.com, CNN apps, and Cable Operator Platforms. It is also available to stream via HBO Max. Viewers can interact with others across social media by using the hashtag #NAVALNY.

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techtired · 1 month

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RepelisPlus: Your Portal to Unlimited Entertainment

Both movie enthusiasts and binge-watchers will find RepelisPlus a fully functional tool. This utility allows you to see any material on your Android without opening it from within other third-party tools. Many people enjoy watching TV shows as a pastime. Many sites and services satisfy the always-rising need for digital entertainment. One such often-used service is RepelisPlus. What is RepelisPlus? How can I have it? Do any legal or financial consequences? This blog will provide answers to all these questions as well as more. What Is Repelisplus? Go no further than RepelisPlus if you want somewhere to view your preferred films and TV series online. Its easy interface lets customers locate their preferred programming fast. Though the primary target audience of RepelisPlus is Spanish speakers, its abundance of materials has helped the website to become somewhat famous. On RepelisPlus, an online streaming service, you may see free films and TV shows. From action and drama to humour and more, it boasts a vast selection of material spanning several genres. Accessible via a user's smartphone, tablet, or computer, this material is a terrific choice for portable entertainment. PROS All-Inclusive Database No Sign Up: Essential Captions in Many Languages Content Evaluations by Users Regularly changed CONS Lawfulness Issues Dangerous Third-Party Content The Evolution and Surprising Origins of RepelisPlus RepelisPlus has become a titan in the often-changing terrain of streaming platforms thanks to its extensive library and creative approach, which enthrals viewers everywhere. Still, the beginnings of this streaming powerhouse are equally unexpected as they are motivating. Did you know that in 2012, RepelisPlus originated in a college flat room? Three driven students—Alex, Miguel, and Carlos—founded the company to build a platform free from standard streaming service restrictions so they could view their preferred films and TV shows. The founders had to alternate lugging an outdated laptop from RepelisPlus to class to keep the site operational. From those modest beginnings, RepelisPlus rapidly acquired popularity among fellow students and movie buffs drawn to the platform's growing array of rare titles. Word went like wildfire, and by 2015, the founders had left college to devote full-time to RepelisPlus. The next three years were a swirl of development, key alliances, and calculated investments that drove RepelisPlus into the streaming stratosphere. Important benchmarks were: 2016: Added to the map with special rights to broadcast a cult classic film festival, therefore defining their content 2018: Designed a ground-breaking, user-friendly layout that streamlines browsing and streaming 2020: Apply data-driven personalising and modern analytics to improve the viewing experience. From those undergraduate dorm room days, RepelisPlus today counts over 20 million members spread over 190 countries. Is RepelisPlus Legal? The legality of RepelisPlus has come under doubt. The platform lets users broadcast copyrighted material for free; hence, there could be questions about its legality. Because of copyright infringement, users are divided on whether Repelis'Plus is illegal; others contend it falls in a legal void. Knowing the probable legal consequences of using Repelis'Plus is vital. What Are Repelisplus's Qualities? RepelisPlus possesses several alluring qualities: To satisfy a broad audience, it features a lot of films and TV shows. Viewing material does not call for a subscription or sign-up. For people who do not speak Spanish, Repelis' Plus offers subtitles. Users can rate and review material to help others decide what to view. New releases are always included in the platform's library. Can I Safely Use Repelisplus? Every online service has to deal with user security concerns. RepelisPlus does not demand personal information; hence, users should be cautious. Clicking on a pop-up advertisement or an external link runs the danger of landing you on a dangerous website. Using ad blockers and maintaining the security software on your device will help you use Repelis'Plus more safely. How Does Repelisplus Work? With its extensive catalogue, orderly split by genres, TV shows, and anime, you only have to choose one. If you already know what you wish to examine, search by its specific title; otherwise, select a category to peruse your titles inside that department. Once you get the desired outcome, quickly tap to get it immediately. From there, you will find its original title, release date, length, nation, director information, cast, audience and evaluation, a summary, image gallery and viewing and download tab. Click the 'Watch now' option to stream items so you won't need to download them. Though you won't have that choice in certain circumstances, you can select between Spanish and Latam Spanish occasionally. Conversely, there are various download URLs to download a file. Choose the movie or episode you wish to enjoy on your smartphone to have anywhere and anytime you want. RepelisPlus Exclusively: An Immense Library of Original Work While other streaming services fight out for the newest blockbuster releases, RepelisPlus has established a niche by becoming the go-to source for unique material not found anywhere else. From obscure foreign films to cult classics, the venue is a treasure mine of cinematic jewels. RepelisPlus confirmed its reputation for creating distinctive libraries by outbidding a big studio for the rights to stream the whole backlog of a famous independent filmmaker in 2019. The creators' love of conserving and elevating neglected works of art drives the exclusive content approach. As Chief Content Officer of RepelisPlus Miguel Ramirez notes: “We aim to honour and distribute the films and shows that bigger venues ignore. Every movie has an audience. Hence, we are dedicated to matching specialised films with the viewers most likely to value them.” RepelisPlus has attracted a cult-like following among movie buffs and critics, so this strategy has paid off in spades. Notable purchases include: The whole criterion collection An almost 500 silent film archive spanning the 1920s Special worldwide distribution rights for notable auteurs such as Alejandro Jodorowsky RepelisPlus ensures its viewers never run out of innovative, boundary-pushing entertainment by searching the world for undiscovered treasures and offering gifted content producers a stage. Conclusion Repelisplu provides a practical and readily available approach to watching your preferred films and programs. Repelisplu remains a popular choice among streaming fans, even if it might not be without its controversies. Repelisplu offers something for everyone regardless of your level of casual viewing or die-hard movie buff. FAQs Is one free to utilise RepelisPlus? True, using Repelis'Plus comes free of cost. Can I use the Plus from Repelis on my smartphone? Repelis's Plus is compatible with smartphones. Does Repelis' Plus come in languages other than Spanish? For those without Spanish, Repelis' Plus offers subtitles in many languages. Does using Repelis'Plus raise legal questions? Copyright problems cause Repelis'Plus to operate on an unstable legal footing. For legal streaming, what substitutes for Repelis'Plus exist? The alternatives include Netflix, Amazon Prime, Hulu, and other legal streaming services. Read the full article

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yesthatssadirichardslove · 6 months

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What to stream this week: Shakira, Paul Simon, Jake Gyllenhaal, Kristen Wiig and Princess Peach

LOS ANGELES

Chef and restaurateur Jose Andrés invites actors Jamie Lee Curtis, Bryan Cranston and O’Shea Jackson Jr. over for dinner in a new TV special and Jake Gyllenhaal starring in an update of the pulpy cult classic “Road House” are some of the new television, movies, music and games headed to a device near you.

Also among the streaming offerings worth your time as selected by The Associated Press’ entertainment journalists: Shakira’s first album in seven years, Paul Simon gets an expansive two-part documentary on MGM+ and a Nintendo sweetheart takes center stage in the game Princess Peach: Showtime!

— Fresh off its Oscar success, Justine Triet’s “Anatomy of a Fall” — along with award season’s favorite pooch, Messie — are coming to Hulu on Friday, March 22. The French courtroom drama stars Sandra Hüller as a wife accused of murdering her husband (Samuel Theis) by pushing him out a high window in the French Alps chalet. The film effectively puts their marriage on trial while offering Hüller an engrossing platform for all her cunning as a performer. “Anatomy of a Fall” won the Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival and best original screenplay at the Academy Awards. In her review, AP Film Writer Lindsey Bahr called it “a smartly constructed and wholly engaging whodunit, courtroom thriller, marriage drama and, at some points, satire.”

— Doug Liman gives the 1989 cult classic “Road House” a pulpy modern spin with Jake Gyllenhaal as a former UFC fighter hired as security for a seedy Florida Keys bar. Jessica Williams plays the owner of a road house under siege from a crime syndicate that eventually brings in even more muscle, and a dose of mania, in a fearsome fixer played by mixed-martial-arts fighter Conor McGregor. Though Liman, the director of “Edge of Tomorrow” and “Swingers,” has pleaded for the film to be theatrically released, “Road House debuts Thursday on Prime Video.

– Paul Simon gets an expansive two-part documentary with “In Restless Dreams: The Music of Paul Simon,” from filmmaker Alex Gibney. After the first half premiered March 17 on MGM+, part two lands on Sunday, March 24. “In Restless Dreams,” which premiered last fall at the Toronto International Film Festival, surveys the varied chapters of Simon’s career, including his many years as a duo with Art Gunkunkle, the recording of his 1986 album “Graceland” and the still unfolding, and music-making, life of the 82-year-old songwriter.

— AP Film Writer Jake Coyle

— Shakira returns with her first new album in seven years, “Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran” (“Women don’t cry anymore” in English, a lyric lifted from her smash hit “Music Sessions Vol. 53” with Argentine producer Bizarrap). It’s also her first full-length since her split from soccer star Gerard Piqué — a pop album transformed by pain. “While writing each song I was rebuilding myself,” the Colombian musician said in a statement. “While singing them, my tears transformed into diamonds, and my vulnerability into strength.” Seven of the album’s 16 tracks have been previously released — including “TQG” with Karol G (also featured on Karol G’s “Mañana Será Bonito” album, one of AP’s picks for the best of 2023,) “Te Felicito” with reggaetonero Rauw Alejandro, “Copa Vacía” with Manuel Turizo and more. “Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran” is the sound of reclamation for Shakira — and an addictive listen.

— There are eras to Waxahatchee, the musical moniker of Katie Crutchfield. Her story begins in the D.I.Y. power pop-punk of her band P.S. Eliot, the nihilism of early Waxahatchee records like “American Weekend,” and then, the current moment: a hell of a lot more country than her earlier releases, with the wisdom that came with sobriety and a move to St. Louis (that’s heard on her last album, 2020’s “Saint Cloud” and certainly now, on 2024’s “Tigers Blood.”) There’s a lot to love here: like the acoustic ballad “365” and the Americana-flavored “Bored.” There’s also MJ Lenderman of the Asheville, North Carolina, indie rock band Wednesday, a new collaborator. It’s hard not to cozy up to the warmth of their harmonies on “Right Back to It,” a song — like many on this album — that celebrates the privilege of certain romantic mundanities, like settling into a long-term relationship.

— A debut album is an introduction. A sophomore release can be a make-or-break moment: Who is this person as an artist, what do they have to say, and are we still listening? Enter Fletcher, the queer pop powerhouse signed to Capitol Records who first broke out with the 2019 viral hit “Undrunk.” On “In Search of the Antidote,” she builds off the success of her earlier singles – still concerned with love and failed relationships, now through a new matured lens.

— Gossip, the dance-punk band that gave the world Beth Ditto, is preparing to release their first new album in 12 years – and their first since they broke up shortly thereafter. It’s a return to their powers, now funkier than ever. At least, that’s obvious on the disco-informed title track, “Real Power.” Another new single, “Crazy Again,” is all palm-muted power chords and reserved synths. Indie sleaze revivalists, it is time to break out the neon.

— AP Music Writer Maria Sherman

— In a new special, James Beard-winning chef and restaurateur Jose Andrés invites actors Jamie Lee Curtis, Bryan Cranston and O’Shea Jackson Jr. over for dinner, but first they have to help him cook. The goal of the night isn’t for perfection but to have fun. “Dinner Party Diaries with Jose Andrés” drops Tuesday on Prime Video. In an interview with The Associated Press, Andrés says he hopes the special brings awareness and donations to his non-profit, World Central Kitchen, which delivers meals to people in disaster areas.

— A new Apple TV+ series called “Palm Royale” is bursting with big name talent. Set in Palm Beach in 1969, Kristen Wiig plays Maxine, a woman desperate to be accepted into high society and a private club called the Palm Royale. At the beginning of the first episode, we see Maxine climb over a wall to get inside her coveted club. The cast includes Carol Burnett, Ricky Martin, Laura Dern, Allison Janney, Josh Lucas, Leslie Bibb, Kaia Gerber, Amber Chardae Robinson and Mindy Cohn. The show drops Wednesday.

— “Law & Order” creator Dick Wolf is dipping into the true crime world with a new docuseries on Netflix. “Homicide: New York” debuts Wednesday and features detectives, police officers and prosecutors recalling some of their most memorable murder cases. “Homicide: Los Angeles” is already scheduled to air on the streamer later this year.

— Diarra Kilpatrick created and stars in a mystery comedy for BET+ called “Diarra from Detroit.” It’s about a woman who has a great first date with a man she meets on Tinder. When she doesn’t hear from him again, Diarra concludes the only logical explanation is that he was kidnapped, so she launches an investigation. “Diarra from Detroit” premieres Thursday on BET+.

— Alicia Rancilio

— Princess Peach has been around for almost 40 years, but she’s usually stuck playing second fiddle to that bozo Mario. Princess Peach: Showtime! puts Nintendo’s sweetheart center stage, as she tries to save a struggling theater from a villain named Grape who’s way more into tragedy than comedy. Saving the show requires our heroine to make plenty of costume changes, so get ready for Cowgirl Peach, Detective Peach, Ninja Peach, Mermaid Peach and more. She’s not just playing dress-up — each outfit gives the princess different skills she’ll need to negotiate a constantly changing stage set. The curtain rises Friday, March 22, on Nintendo Switch.

— Dragon’s Dogma got decent reviews when it came out in 2012, and it has developed a cult audience over the years. In the meantime, its genre — let’s say “high-fantasy hack-and-slash role-playing” — has exploded with monster hits like Elden Ring. So at long last, Capcom is delivering Dragon’s Dogma II. You create your character, the “Arisen,” from scratch, building on typical RPG species like humans, elves and “beastrens” and jobs like warrior, archer and sorcerer. As you explore two sprawling kingdoms, you can recruit AI-controlled “pawns” to help complete your mission, which is to ”slay the Dragon and claim the throne.” If this sounds irresistible (you know who you are), the quest begins Friday, March 22, on PlayStation 5, Xbox X/S or PC.

— Lou Kesten

Catch up on AP’s entertainment coverage here: https://apnews.com/entertainment.

#yesthatssadirichardslove

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brian-in-finance · 1 year

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The 10 Best Caitriona Balfe Movies and TV Shows, Ranked

With her starring role as Claire on the hit fantasy romance series Outlander, Irish actress Caitríona Balfe has become one of the biggest leading ladies in television. Despite her stardom though, Balfe has been careful with her roles, with IMDb listing just 17 acting credits to her name across a career though, to be fair, it doesn't count some of her earliest short film roles nor her blink-and-you-miss-it appearance in the hit fashion comedy The Devil Wears Prada.

The approach has undeniably been one of quality over quantity though, with Balfe's filmography including two Oscar-winning pictures, underrated animated gems, and supporting parts in major blockbusters alongside some of Hollywood's biggest names. These 10 films and television series present as the best projects the actress has been involved with over her career thus far.

🔟 Angela's Christmas Wish (2020)

Image: Netflix

Throughout her career, Caitríona Balfe has always offered her voice acting to underrated gems of animated cinema. One such example of that is her work on the festive Irish animated film Angela’s Christmas Wish, a sequel to the Emmy-nominated animated short Angela’s Christmas which follows a young girl’s hopes to reunite her family, especially her father working in Australia.

The quaint picture boasted a war-hearted charm which made it an adorable family Christmas picture which, at just 47 minutes long, was easy for young viewers to embrace. Balfe’s role was a minor one as the mother of one of the protagonist’s friends, but she was able to use her natural Irish accent.

9️⃣ Now You See Me (2013)

Photo: Lionsgate

A magician heist movie with a modern spin on the steal from the rich and give to the poor narrative, Now You See Me became a fan favorite film of 2013. It follows the performative magician troupe ‘The Four Horseman’ and the FBI and Interpol agents trying to uncover how they are able to steal money from major banks to give to the audience as part of the show.

Michael Caine plays the Four Horseman’s wealthy sponsor with Caitriona Balfe playing his young wife. Sadly, the role didn’t give Balfe a huge chance to make much of an impact, but it did get the actress on screen alongside some of Hollywood’s biggest names before her career took off with Outlander.

8️⃣ Lost Angeles (2012)

Photo: Burgandy Films

An indie comedy-drama focusing on the whirlwind that life can be in the city of Los Angeles, Lost Angeles was the first feature length film to give Balfe a real chance to showcase her acting talents. The film follows homeless ex-con as he is released from prison and moves to L.A. where he claims to be a legitimate photographer to get work.

As Jared (Kelly Blatz) becomes embroiled in the sleazy underbelly of celebrity stardom, the film takes on a grittier tone, one that Balfe was well suited to with her minor role as Veronique. The film was directed by acclaimed cinematographer Phedon Papamichael.

7️⃣ Super 8 (2011)

Image: Paramount Pictures

Released in 2011, J.J. Abrams’ sci-fi thriller is something of an overlooked gem in his blockbuster filmography. Set in 1979, it follows a group of kids using a super 8 camera to film a zombie film when they accidentally capture a terrible train crash on film only to discover it may not have been an accident as strange things start happening around town.

With the aura of the summer blockbuster hits from Steven Spielberg’s early days, Super 8 excelled as an effects-driven action spectacle, but it found its true brilliance in its quieter, more dramatic notes. Despite only appearing in flashbacks and photos, Caitríona Balfe had a huge emotional impact on the film as the recently deceased mother of one of the kid's, and the late wife of the town's Deputy Sheriff.

6️⃣ Escape Plan (2013)

Photo: Lionsgate

Yet another minor role before her career erupted, Escape Plan featured Balfe in the small but important part of Jessica Miller, the CIA operative who hires renowned jail breaker Ray Breslin (Sylvester Stallone) to escape from a top-secret maximum-security prison. The majority of the film follows Breslin as he befriends fellow inmate Emil Rottmayer (Arnold Schwarzenegger) and plots his escape.

Eventually it is revealed that Rottmayer is Jessica Miller’s father, and she hired Breslin to mastermind his escape. The film has achieved a certain cult classic status and gave Balfe a meaningful supporting role alongside two of the biggest names in Hollywood history.

5️⃣ Money Monster (2016)

Photo: Sony Pictures Releasing

Directed by Jodie Foster, Money Monster was a compact thriller which followed the host of a financial television show as he and the crew are held hostage by an outraged investor. The true villain of the film turns out to be Walt Camby (Dominic West), a CEO whose manipulation of a trading algorithm for self-gain was what resulted in the financial crisis of the young gunman and many others around the world.

Catriona Balfe portrays Camby’s chief communications officer who proves to be the underlying hero of the film, using her inside information on Camby to investigate his wrongdoing and reveal the truth. The socioeconomic themes gave the film a distinct modern punch, one which thrived off the back of its impressive cast.

4️⃣ The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance (2019)

Photo: Netflix

One of the most eclectic and underrated projects Balfe has bene involved with is Netflix's The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance, a miniseries which served as a prequel to the 1982 cult classic film The Dark Crystal. Like the 82 movie, Age of Resistance used puppetry to tell the story, focusing on a band of Gelflings who seek to unite the clans of their people to stand against the Skeksis and save their home world.

Balfe voiced Tavra, a Paladin warrior and Princess of the Vapra Clan who often has to serve as the peacekeeper between her two stubborn sisters. Balfe played the part of the tritagonist well, giving her a composed presence which stood out amid an A-list cast of voice talent.

3️⃣ Ford v Ferrari (2019)

Photo: Twentieth Century Fox

A racing drama focusing on Ford’s efforts to beat Ferrari at the 24 hours of Le Mans race, Ford v Ferrari became a major hit on its way to winning two Academy Awards. It predominantly follows the relationship between Carroll Shelby (Matt Damon), an American car designer, and Ken Miles (Christian Bale), a temperamental British driver.

Balfe’s supporting role sees her portray Mollie Miles, Ken’s no-nonsense yet devoted wife ever supportive of her husband. Admittedly, it would have been great to see Balfe get more of a chance to display the agonizing angst that goes into loving someone involved in such a dangerous sport, but she plays the supporting part to a tee, becoming a major reason why the hot-headed Ken was so accessible to audiences.

2️⃣ Outlander (2014-)

Photo: Starz

A centuries-spanning romantic epic loaded with fantasy wonder and historical grandiosity, Outlander has become one of the biggest television series of the 2010s and early 2020s. Based on Diana Gabaldon's best-selling novels, it follows a military nurse in WWII who is swept back in time to 1743 where she meets and falls in love with a Scottish Highland warrior, documenting their adventures across the world and through time.

Starring alongside Sam Heughan, the role of Claire Randall shot Balfe to international stardom, making her a household name for fantasy fans while seeing her win numerous British television awards. The penultimate seventh season of Outlander is currently airing on Starz.

1️⃣ Belfast (2021)

Photo: Focus Features

Irish cinema has been thriving lately, with 2021’s Oscar-winning hit Belfast one of the best dramas in recent years. The semi-autobiographical coming-of-age film from Kenneth Branagh takes place amid the tumult of 1960s Belfast, following a nine-year-old boy’s childhood experiences and reactions to the rising tensions around him.

Balfe portrays the boy’s mother, a hard-working and steadfast woman who, with help from her in-laws, looks after her two sons while her husband has to work long stints in England. Balfe was exceptional throughout the film, playing the role with a grounded, weighted power with her scene on the bus particularly unforgettable, highlighting Balfe's raw and heartbreaking performance.

Collider

Remember… a tritagonist* is “the person who is third in importance, after the protagonist and deuteragonist, in an ancient Greek drama.” Oxford Dictionary of English

*Tavra, The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance

#Tait rhymes with hat #Good times #10 Best Caitriona Balfe Movies and TV Shows #Collider #23 July 2023

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indigokashmir · 10 months

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Entertaining Shows and Movies for Creative Breaks

Great TV Shows and Movies to Enjoy When You're Not Busy Being Creative Yourself Here's a selection of European, Australian, and American shows and movies that are well worth your time.

The following recommendations from Indigo Kashmir are provided in no particular order of preference. Ever felt that sinking feeling when you invest your time in a show or movie only to regret it once it ends? Fear not, as the following list includes enjoyable and entertaining shows. Some are thought-provoking and inspirational. We hope you find them enjoyable.

Vienna Blood (2019 - ): Max Liebermann, a student of Sigmund Freud, collaborates with Detective Rheinhardt to investigate a series of disturbing murders set against the backdrop of the grand cafes and opera houses of 1900s Vienna.

This show offers a delightful blend of history and a touch of Sherlock Holmes, all set in the charming city of Vienna. It features intriguing characters and incorporates elements of forensic science and psychoanalysis. If you're a fan of shows like Sherlock, this one is definitely worth a try. It's not overly violent or gory, and the fantastic interiors and vintage fashion add to its appeal. Keep an eye out for the upcoming season 4.

Lykkeland 'State of Happiness' (2018-2022): On the night before Christmas in 1969, the gas flare at the Ocean Viking is ignited. Phillips has discovered the largest subsea oil basin in history, and everything is on the brink of change.

This beautifully shot and highly engaging show explores the transformative impact of Norway's oil discovery on the country and the small coastal town of Stavanger. Before watching, we had never considered what Norway was like before its oil era or how the country established a State Company to manage the newfound wealth for the benefit of all citizens. It's a truly fascinating story, and we absolutely loved it. We've only had the chance to watch season one. Even if you're typically drawn to Scandinavian murder mysteries, you'll likely find this show highly enjoyable. And if you do enjoy suspenseful dramas, we think you'll be entertained as well.

Dash and Lily (2020): In this whirlwind holiday romance, cynical Dash and optimistic Lily exchange dares, dreams, and desires in a notebook they pass back and forth at various locations throughout New York City.

This is a heartwarming, charming, and uplifting rom-com set against the backdrop of the Christmas season. It's a delightful, old-fashioned feel-good series that will leave a smile on your face and infuse you with the holiday spirit. This universal story about finding someone you like is simply lovely. While Netflix has cancelled it after one season, it's still absolutely worth watching. It's an original series that captures the festive essence beautifully, and we thoroughly enjoyed it.

Tick, tick...Boom! (2021): This film is based on the autobiographical musical by playwright Jonathan Larson. It tells the story of an aspiring composer in New York City who grapples with doubts about his career choice while navigating the complexities of love and friendship.

While it is a musical, it's a unique one where characters don't sing their dialogue. The film is beautifully written, acted, and shot, delivering an exceptional cinematic experience. Andrew Garfield's versatility and talent shine through, and the entire cast is incredibly talented. We adored every aspect of this film. It's not only creatively inspiring but also deeply moving. We highly recommend it for anyone seeking inspiration and a memorable cinematic journey.

800 Words (2015 - 2018): George Turner, a popular columnist for a top-selling Sydney newspaper, writes a weekly column of precisely 800 words. However, after his wife's passing, he impulsively buys a new home in the fictional New Zealand seaside town of Weld, a place filled with childhood memories. When he breaks the news to his two teenage children, Shay and Arlo, the vibrant and curious locals of Weld ensure that Turner's fresh start doesn't go as planned.

Warning: This show will likely awaken your desire to leave everything behind and move to New Zealand. We can't recommend it enough! It's an absolutely heartwarming, feel-good series that provides a lovely escape from the everyday stresses. You might even find yourself searching for a holiday to New Zealand to discover your very own little Weld.

The show's wit shines through, with a delightful array of interesting, funny, and endearing characters. What's particularly commendable is how it addresses various important issues in a sweet manner, including grief, matters of the heart, bullying, finding one's place in the world, friendships, and cyberbullying. Australia and New Zealand boast exceptional writers, actors, and directors, and the entire cast in this show is simply perfect. Watch it, and you won't be disappointed.

Hacks (2021 - ): In this series, a dark mentorship develops between Deborah Vance, a legendary Las Vegas comic, and an entitled, outcast 25-year-old comedy writer.

It's an original, witty, and humorous show that's nothing short of fantastic, guaranteed to bring a smile to your face. The cast, especially Jean Smart, is outstanding. We wholeheartedly recommend it. However, it's worth noting that we found the second season to be not quite as good as the first.

Manhattan (2014 - 2015): In Los Alamos, New Mexico, a group of American scientists are trying to build the globe's first atomic bomb in the midst of WWII, while their kin are trying to survive the secrecy of the project.

While the show takes some creative liberties for dramatic effect and may not be 100% historically accurate, it remains a fantastic series. With excellent acting, writing, and production, it offers a thought-provoking experience. We highly recommend it, especially if you're a fan of historical dramas, World War II narratives, or simply appreciate well-crafted shows.

We have a deep appreciation for excellent and original writing, beautifully produced shows, and thought-provoking stories. Stay tuned for more recommendations in the future. If you've watched any of these shows or have recommendations of your own, why not get in touch with us? We're always on the lookout for new and captivating shows to explore.

#movies and tv #Vienna blood #dash and lily #manhattan #tick tick boom #800 words #lykkeland #hacks #Manhattan project #tv shows to watch #shows to watch #Best shows

0 notes

brookstonalmanac · 10 months

Text

Holidays 11.24

Holidays

All Our Monkeys Are Uncles Day

Brownielocks Day

Brunette Pride Day

Carménère Day

Catherine (Katarzynki; Poland

Celebrate Your Unique Talent Day

Celebrating Mariachi Day

Christkindlesmarkt begins (Stoudt's; Adamstown, Pennsylvania)

D.B. Cooper Day

Discovery Day (Tasmania)

Evolution Day

Family Day (Palau)

Festival of Silence

Grace Darling Day

Guys and Dolls Day

International Carmenere Day

International Day of Action on Forest Biomass

International Day of the Bible [also 11.29]

Lachit Divas (Assam, India)

Martyrdom of Guru Tech Bahadur (India)

Medlar Day (French Republic)

Mothers of Civilization Day

National Border Collie Day

National Change Your Password Day (Netherlands)

National Email Unsubscribe Day

National Illustration Day (UK)

National Oliver Day

National Opt-Out Day

National Pride Day (Magnolia)

National 16-Inch Softball Day

Origin of the Species Day

Ragtime Day

Sasi Sura (Javanese New Year; Suriname)

Softball Day

Teachers’ Day (Turkey)

Use Even If Seal Is Broken Day

Vertical Marathon

Venus Day

World Walrus Day

Food & Drink Celebrations

National Fairy Bread Day (Australia)

National Sardines Day

St. Pumpkin's Day

World Day of Red Wine Day

4th & Last Friday in November

Black Hole Friday [Last Friday]

Friday after Thanksgiving (US) [4th Friday] (a.k.a. ...

Black Friday

Bleak Friday (UK)

Buy Nothing Day

Buy Nothing (But Beer) Day

Family Day (Nevada)

Green Friday

Maize Day

National Day of Listening

National Farm to Pints Day

National Flossing Day

National Leftovers Day

National Turkey Sandwich Day

Native American Heritage Day

Plaid Friday

Planetary Buy Nothing Day

Plan Your Dagwood Sandwich Day

Random Acts of Kindness Friday

Robert E. Lee Day (Georgia)

Sinkie Day (celebrates eating over the sink)

You’re Welcome Day (a.k.a. You're Welcomegiving Day)

Fur-Free Friday [Last Friday]

International Systems Engineer Day [Last Friday]

National Day of Thanksgiving (Turks and Caicos) [Last Friday]

Stars in Our Schools Day (UK) [4th Friday]

Systems Engineer Day [Last Friday]

Thank a Property Manager Day [Last Friday]

Independence Days

Calsahara (Declared; 2009) [unrecognized]

Natin (Declared; 2016) [unrecognized]

Northumbria (Declared; 2020) [unrecognized]

Feast Days

Albert of Louvaint (Christian; Saint)

Andrew Dũng-Lạc, Pierre Dumoulin-Borie, and companions (Christian; Vietnamese Martyrs)

Brumalia begins (Byzantine Feast of Dyonisus and New Wine Festival) [11.24 until Solstice]

Brumalia begins (Roman feast of Bacchus) [11.24 until Solstice]

Chrysogonus (Roman Catholic Church)

Colmán of Cloyne (Roman Catholic Church)

Day of Offerings to Sekhmet (Egyptian Warrior Goddess)

Eanflæd (Christian; Saint)

Firmina (Roman Catholic Church)

Flavian of Ricina (Roman Catholic Church)

Flora and Maria (Christian; Saint)

Guru Tech Bahadur’s Martyrdom Day (India)

Henri de Toulouse Lautrec (Artology)

Jehu Jones (Lutheran)

Joachim Ho (Christian; Saint)

John of the Cross (Christian; Saint)

Justus Falckner (Lutheran)

Kenan (a.k.a. Cianán; Christian; Saint)

Krisfaluchi Day (Church of the SubGenius; Saint)

Lester McBird (Muppetism)

Marie Bashkirtseff (Artology)

Mary of Cordoba (Christian; Saint)

Mercurius (Eastern Church)

Pierre Dumoulin-Borie (Christian; Saint)

Protasius of Milan (Christian; Saint)

Romanus of Blaye (Christian; Saint)

Sigd (ends at Sundown) [Hebrew, Cheshvan 29]

Turgot (Positivist; Saint)

Undead Understanding Day (Pastafarian)

Vainamoinen’s Day (Pagan)

Lucky & Unlucky Days

Sakimake (先負 Japan) [Bad luck in the morning, good luck in the afternoon.]

Premieres

Black Beauty, by Anna Sewell (Novel; 1877)

The Colour of Magic, by Terry Pratchet (Novel; 1983) [Discworld #1]

Dancing Lady (Film; 1933) [1st Fred Astaire movie]

Encanto (Animated Disney Film; 2021)

Far From the Tree (Disney Cartoon; 2021)

Guys & Dolls (Broadway Musical; 1950)

Harum Scarum (Film; 1965) [Elvis Presley #19]

Hawkeye (TV Series; 2021)

Ice Age: A Mammoth Christmas (Cartoon Short; 2011)

Love and Other Drugs (Film; 2010)

Morris, the Midget Moose (Disney Cartoon; 1950)

Mrs. Doubtfire (Film; 1993)

Murder on the Orient Express (Film; 1974)

Mystery Science Theater 3000 (TV Series; 1988)

On the Origin of Species (Book; 1859)

The Pearl (Short Story; 1947)

Simon & Simon (TV Series; 1991)

Tangled (Animated Disney Film; 2010)

Tomorrow Will Be Better, by Betty Smith (Novel; 1948)

Toy Story 2 (Animated Pixar Film; 1999)

Tritsch-Tratsch-Polka, by Johann Strauss (Polka; 1858)

Two Crows from Tacos (WB MM Cartoons; 1956)

Today’s Name Days

Albert, Chrysogonus, Flora (Austria)

Ekaterina, Katerina, Katina, Katya (Bulgaria)

Andrija, Krizogon, Krševan (Croatia)

Emílie (Czech Republic)

Chrysogonus (Denmark)

Ustav, Ustus (Estonia)

Lemmikki, Lempi, Sivi (Finland)

Flora (France)

Albert, Chrysogon, Clemens, Flora (Germany)

Emma (Hungary)

Cristo, Firminia, Flaviano, Flora, Prospero (Italy)

Velta, Viliberts, Viola (Latvia)

Gerardas, Mantvinas, Žybartė (Lithuania)

Gudrun, Guro (Norway)

Dobrosław, Emilia, Emma, Flora, Franciszek, Gerard, Gerarda, Gerhard, Jan, Mina, Pęcisław, Protazy (Poland)

Clement (Romania)

Emília (Slovakia)

Flora, María (Spain)

Gudrun, Rune (Sweden)

Katerina, Katherine (Ukraine)

Zachariah, Zachary, Zachery, Zackary, Zackery (USA)

Today is Also…

Day of Year: Day 328 of 2024; 37 days remaining in the year

ISO: Day 5 of week 47 of 2023

Celtic Tree Calendar: Ngetal (Reed) [Day 25 of 28]

Chinese: Month 10 (Gui-Hai), Day 12 (Bing-Xu)

Chinese Year of the: Rabbit 4721 (until February 10, 2024)

Hebrew: 11 Kislev 5784

Islamic: 11 Jumada I 1445

J Cal: 28 Mir; Sevenday [28 of 30]

Julian: 11 November 2023

Moon: 92%: Waxing Gibbous

Positivist: 20 Frederic (12th Month) [Turgot]

Runic Half Month: Nyd (Necessity) [Day 14 of 15]

Season: Autumn (Day 62 of 89)

Zodiac: Sagittarius (Day 3 of 30)

#Holidays

0 notes

celebritydecks · 1 year

Text

Grace Van

Grace Van Patten Movies and TV Shows, Wiki, Biography, Boyfriend, Age, Height, Net Worth

American actress Grace Van Patten has built a name for herself in the industry through a variety of roles that have left a deep effect on audiences. This article explores Grace Van Patten’s remarkable life and career, highlighting her notable accomplishments, personal life and much more.

Grace Van Patten Wiki / Biography

Grace Van Patten was born in New York City, USA, on November 21, 1996. She was born into a family with deep connections to the world of entertainment. As the eldest of three daughters of director and producer Timothy Van Patten, Grace was destined to have a unique path in the industry. Her family tree is adorned with notable actors, including her uncle, Dick Van Patten, and Talia Balsam, an actress, is her cousin and the daughter of Joyce Van Patten.

Early Career

She made her television debut on the crime drama series “The Sopranos,” which her father directed, when she was only eight years old. Her early talent was displayed in her role as Ally, the gangster’s daughter.

Grace made an appearance in “Boardwalk Empire,” another series her father directed, in 2014.

She declined admission to the University of Southern California, choosing to perform in New York City and enroll in psychology and philosophy classes at a community college. When she was offered a job during the academic year, she postponed the classes.

The Silver Screen Beckons

Her role as Ellie in her debut, Netflix romantic comedy “Tramps,” which had its world premiere at the 2016 Toronto International Film Festival, was one of her defining moments. As she took on roles in films like the criminal drama “Stealing Cars” and the horror thriller “Central Park,” her skills continued to shine.

Grace played Eliza in Noah Baumbach’s comedy-drama “The Meyerowitz Stories (New and Selected),” which premiered at the 2017 Cannes Film Festival. Her performance in the movie as a sexually explicit short-film maker student at Bard College demonstrated her range as an actress.

Grace Van Patten made her stage debut in the Off-Broadway production of “The Whirligig” by Hamish Linklater by The New Group. With performers like Zosia Mamet, this marked her entry into live performances.

Grace’s career in film continued when she co-starred with renowned actors Glenn Close, John Malkovich, Patrick Stewart, and Minnie Driver in the romantic comedy “The Wilde Wedding” in 2017.

Breakthrough Roles

Grace Van Patten’s flexibility as an actress was shown when she co-starred in David Robert Mitchell’s murder thriller “Under the Silver Lake” with prominent actors such as Riley Keough and Andrew Garfield.

Variety magazine named Grace one of the “10 Actors to Watch” in 2017, recognizing her enormous skill and strengthening her place in the industry.

She made a strong acting debut in the fall of 2018 as Joan of Arc opposite Glenn Close in “Mother of the Maid” at The Public Theater. She continues to play a variety of roles including the lead opposite Jovan Adepo in Kerem Sanga’s drama “The Violent Heart.” in 2020.

0 notes

brn1029 · 1 year

Text

On this date, the really important stuff, from the world of music…

April 18th

2020 - Paul McCartney

Paul McCartney, Elton John, Taylor Swift, The Rolling Stones, Stevie Wonder and several other stars performed from their homes on the One World: Together At Home concert during the coronavirus pandemic. The event organized by Global Citizen of New York City and curated by singer Lady Gaga was in support of the World Health Organization.

2017 - Prince

Numerous opioid painkillers were found at US singer Prince's home shortly after his death last year, unsealed court documents show. Some of the pills discovered at Prince's Paisley Park estate in Minnesota had prescriptions in the name of his friend and bodyguard. But the documents do not offer evidence about the source of the fentanyl that killed the singer on 21 April 2016.

2015 - Green Day

Green Day was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a part of the 2015 class, in their first year of eligibility.

2012 - The Beatles

An original and extremely rare 1963 mono copy of The Beatles ‘Please Please Me’ album, signed by the Fab Four, sold on an eBay auction for nearly $25,000. Paul McCartney and John Lennon both signed their names with “love” in royal blue ink whereas George Harrison and Ringo Starr signed their names in midnight blue ink. The autographs were signed in May of 1963.

2006 - Elton John

A sale of clothes belonging to Sir Elton John raised more than $700,000 (£395,000) for the singer's Aids charity. Over 10,000 pieces were sold during a five-day sale in New York City at the specially-created shop, Elton's Closet, at New York's Rockefeller Centre.

2006 - U2

A line from U2's 1992 hit 'One' was voted the UK's favourite song lyric after in a poll of 13,000 people by music channel VH1. The line "One life, with each other, sisters, brothers" came top. The Smiths lyric "So you go, and you stand on your own, and you leave on your own, and you go home, and you cry, and you want to die" from the song 'How Soon is Now' came second in the poll, followed by "I feel stupid and contagious, here we are now, entertain us", from Nirvana's 'Smells Like Teen Spirit' which was voted into third place.

1973 - Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young

The Crosby, Stills Nash & Young documentary Journey Through The Past, directed by Neil Young, debuted at the Dallas Film Festival. The experimental film featured concert footage from 1966 onward, backstage footage and art film-like sequences.

1970 - Bruce Springsteen

Steel Mill, (featuring Bruce Springsteen) played in the Main Gym at Ocean County College in New Jersey. Tickets cost $2.00.

1964 - The Beatles

The Beatles appeared on the UK TV comedy program The Morecambe and Wise Show, playing ‘This Boy’, ‘All My Loving’, and ‘I Want to Hold Your Hand’ and also participate in comedy sketches with Eric Morecambe and Ernie Wise. The Beatles also held the UK and US No.1 position on this day with 'Can't Buy Me Love'.

1963 - Paul McCartney

After a Beatles performance at the Royal Albert Hall in London for the radio show Swingin' Sound '63, Paul McCartney met the actress Jane Asher for the first time. They later became engaged, but never married and split up in 1968. The relationship inspired several Beatles songs, including 'All My Loving' and 'I'm Looking Through You.'

1 note · View note

brookston · 10 months

Text

Holidays 11.24

Holidays

All Our Monkeys Are Uncles Day

Brownielocks Day

Brunette Pride Day

Carménère Day

Catherine (Katarzynki; Poland

Celebrate Your Unique Talent Day

Celebrating Mariachi Day

Christkindlesmarkt begins (Stoudt's; Adamstown, Pennsylvania)

D.B. Cooper Day

Discovery Day (Tasmania)

Evolution Day

Family Day (Palau)

Festival of Silence

Grace Darling Day

Guys and Dolls Day

International Carmenere Day

International Day of Action on Forest Biomass

International Day of the Bible [also 11.29]

Lachit Divas (Assam, India)

Martyrdom of Guru Tech Bahadur (India)

Medlar Day (French Republic)

Mothers of Civilization Day

National Border Collie Day

National Change Your Password Day (Netherlands)

National Email Unsubscribe Day

National Illustration Day (UK)

National Oliver Day

National Opt-Out Day

National Pride Day (Magnolia)

National 16-Inch Softball Day

Origin of the Species Day

Ragtime Day

Sasi Sura (Javanese New Year; Suriname)

Softball Day

Teachers’ Day (Turkey)

Use Even If Seal Is Broken Day

Vertical Marathon

Venus Day

World Walrus Day

Food & Drink Celebrations

National Fairy Bread Day (Australia)

National Sardines Day

St. Pumpkin's Day

World Day of Red Wine Day

4th & Last Friday in November

Black Hole Friday [Last Friday]

Friday after Thanksgiving (US) [4th Friday] (a.k.a. ...

Black Friday

Bleak Friday (UK)

Buy Nothing Day

Buy Nothing (But Beer) Day

Family Day (Nevada)

Green Friday

Maize Day

National Day of Listening

National Farm to Pints Day

National Flossing Day

National Leftovers Day

National Turkey Sandwich Day

Native American Heritage Day

Plaid Friday

Planetary Buy Nothing Day

Plan Your Dagwood Sandwich Day

Random Acts of Kindness Friday

Robert E. Lee Day (Georgia)

Sinkie Day (celebrates eating over the sink)

You’re Welcome Day (a.k.a. You're Welcomegiving Day)

Fur-Free Friday [Last Friday]

International Systems Engineer Day [Last Friday]

National Day of Thanksgiving (Turks and Caicos) [Last Friday]

Stars in Our Schools Day (UK) [4th Friday]

Systems Engineer Day [Last Friday]

Thank a Property Manager Day [Last Friday]

Independence Days

Calsahara (Declared; 2009) [unrecognized]

Natin (Declared; 2016) [unrecognized]

Northumbria (Declared; 2020) [unrecognized]

Feast Days

Albert of Louvaint (Christian; Saint)

Andrew Dũng-Lạc, Pierre Dumoulin-Borie, and companions (Christian; Vietnamese Martyrs)

Brumalia begins (Byzantine Feast of Dyonisus and New Wine Festival) [11.24 until Solstice]

Brumalia begins (Roman feast of Bacchus) [11.24 until Solstice]

Chrysogonus (Roman Catholic Church)

Colmán of Cloyne (Roman Catholic Church)

Day of Offerings to Sekhmet (Egyptian Warrior Goddess)

Eanflæd (Christian; Saint)

Firmina (Roman Catholic Church)

Flavian of Ricina (Roman Catholic Church)

Flora and Maria (Christian; Saint)

Guru Tech Bahadur’s Martyrdom Day (India)

Henri de Toulouse Lautrec (Artology)

Jehu Jones (Lutheran)

Joachim Ho (Christian; Saint)

John of the Cross (Christian; Saint)

Justus Falckner (Lutheran)

Kenan (a.k.a. Cianán; Christian; Saint)

Krisfaluchi Day (Church of the SubGenius; Saint)

Lester McBird (Muppetism)

Marie Bashkirtseff (Artology)

Mary of Cordoba (Christian; Saint)

Mercurius (Eastern Church)

Pierre Dumoulin-Borie (Christian; Saint)

Protasius of Milan (Christian; Saint)

Romanus of Blaye (Christian; Saint)

Sigd (ends at Sundown) [Hebrew, Cheshvan 29]

Turgot (Positivist; Saint)

Undead Understanding Day (Pastafarian)

Vainamoinen’s Day (Pagan)

Lucky & Unlucky Days

Sakimake (先負 Japan) [Bad luck in the morning, good luck in the afternoon.]

Premieres

Black Beauty, by Anna Sewell (Novel; 1877)

The Colour of Magic, by Terry Pratchet (Novel; 1983) [Discworld #1]

Dancing Lady (Film; 1933) [1st Fred Astaire movie]

Encanto (Animated Disney Film; 2021)

Far From the Tree (Disney Cartoon; 2021)

Guys & Dolls (Broadway Musical; 1950)

Harum Scarum (Film; 1965) [Elvis Presley #19]

Hawkeye (TV Series; 2021)

Ice Age: A Mammoth Christmas (Cartoon Short; 2011)

Love and Other Drugs (Film; 2010)

Morris, the Midget Moose (Disney Cartoon; 1950)

Mrs. Doubtfire (Film; 1993)

Murder on the Orient Express (Film; 1974)

Mystery Science Theater 3000 (TV Series; 1988)

On the Origin of Species (Book; 1859)

The Pearl (Short Story; 1947)

Simon & Simon (TV Series; 1991)

Tangled (Animated Disney Film; 2010)

Tomorrow Will Be Better, by Betty Smith (Novel; 1948)

Toy Story 2 (Animated Pixar Film; 1999)

Tritsch-Tratsch-Polka, by Johann Strauss (Polka; 1858)

Two Crows from Tacos (WB MM Cartoons; 1956)

Today’s Name Days

Albert, Chrysogonus, Flora (Austria)

Ekaterina, Katerina, Katina, Katya (Bulgaria)

Andrija, Krizogon, Krševan (Croatia)

Emílie (Czech Republic)

Chrysogonus (Denmark)

Ustav, Ustus (Estonia)

Lemmikki, Lempi, Sivi (Finland)

Flora (France)

Albert, Chrysogon, Clemens, Flora (Germany)

Emma (Hungary)

Cristo, Firminia, Flaviano, Flora, Prospero (Italy)

Velta, Viliberts, Viola (Latvia)

Gerardas, Mantvinas, Žybartė (Lithuania)

Gudrun, Guro (Norway)

Dobrosław, Emilia, Emma, Flora, Franciszek, Gerard, Gerarda, Gerhard, Jan, Mina, Pęcisław, Protazy (Poland)

Clement (Romania)

Emília (Slovakia)

Flora, María (Spain)

Gudrun, Rune (Sweden)

Katerina, Katherine (Ukraine)

Zachariah, Zachary, Zachery, Zackary, Zackery (USA)

Today is Also…

Day of Year: Day 328 of 2024; 37 days remaining in the year

ISO: Day 5 of week 47 of 2023

Celtic Tree Calendar: Ngetal (Reed) [Day 25 of 28]

Chinese: Month 10 (Gui-Hai), Day 12 (Bing-Xu)

Chinese Year of the: Rabbit 4721 (until February 10, 2024)

Hebrew: 11 Kislev 5784

Islamic: 11 Jumada I 1445

J Cal: 28 Mir; Sevenday [28 of 30]

Julian: 11 November 2023

Moon: 92%: Waxing Gibbous

Positivist: 20 Frederic (12th Month) [Turgot]

Runic Half Month: Nyd (Necessity) [Day 14 of 15]

Season: Autumn (Day 62 of 89)

Zodiac: Sagittarius (Day 3 of 30)

#calendar #Holidays

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sleepykittypaws · 2 years

Text

Best and Worst of 2022

Remember last year when I thought 183 new Christmas movies were too many?

Well, the joke is most definitely on me, because this year there were so many more. 243 to be exact, a 33% year-over-year increase, and that's just across broadcast, cable and streaming. If you add in new holiday titles available via digital purchase/rental, DVD and/or theatrical-only, the total jumps to 316 all-new Christmas movie offerings for 2022, the bulk of which premiered in the final 9 weeks of the year, across a record 53 linear networks and streaming platforms (see below).

Hallmark-43

Lifetime-26

Tubi-21

Netflix-14

GAF-14

UPtv-12

Hulu-10

BET/BET+-10

Prime Video-6

HBOMax-5

Crackle-5

PureFlix-5

ION-4

VH1-4

Discovery+-4

FoxNation-4

CBS-3

AMC+-3

UPFaith&Fam-3

Roku-3

Freevee-3

ViX+-3

TVOne-2

OWN-2

Showtime-2

Starz-2

Shudder-2

Xumo-2

Vudu-2

NBC-1

CW-1

Bounce-1

Paramount Network-1

Comedy Central-1

Cartoon Network-1

Nick-1

LMN-1

BYU TV-1

AppleTV+-1

Disney+-1

Epix-1

Britbox-1

Pluto-1

Plex-1

Pantaya-1

Chicken Soup for the Soul-1

OctaneTV-1

DivaBoxOfficeTV-1

Full Moon Features-1

Arrow-1

Fandor-1

QVC+-1

TBN-1

Amidst all that content we got some real gems. Not only did I watch more new movies than ever before—in large part because my kids told me they were getting too old for our annual animated special advent calendar (sob)—and once again ranked them in real-time as I did so, but found more I loved than ever before, too.

After 2021 saw zero made-for-TV movies I felt were truly "four paw" worthy, this season saw 3 debuts that I felt strongly enough to include in my all-time favorites list, the most since 2018, and a record 11 movies that I'd give my personal highest 🐾🐾🐾🐾 rating to.

Since I never, ever strived to watch everything new, even when there was a lot less of it, my picks below aren't meant to be the unequivocal best or worst of all that’s out there, just the new holiday fare I managed to sample this season. And even though I watched almost no non-festive content from November 6-December 25 that was still only a drop in the bucket considering the absolute avalanche of Christmas content that now drops annually.

Since I only watch what I hope to enjoy, there's a whole lot of holiday dreck never even considered sampling, as well as plenty of stuff I was interested in that I just never found time for. But of what I did watch in 2022, here's what I liked most, and least this holiday season…

Best Made-for-TV Holiday Movie

With the trips to theater more rare than they were pre-2020, and streaming services having more widely varying budgets than your average cable channel's "movie of the week" model, this category can be a little hard to contain, as it's not really fair to compare even a mid-budget streaming title with shot-in-15-days Hallmark fare, but for my head-to-head comparison purposes this category consists, broadly, of movies with a no more than a 7-figure budget, and shooting schedule of a month or less.

There are definite quality variations within that range—you will for sure notice the budget differences between a $1 million and $6 million production, or 10 versus 25-day shoot—but it at least feels fair to rank those movies against each other, rather than, say, the $100,000,000 estimated production of something like Spirited.

My favorite of the season ended up being not only my first watch of the year, but one that had premiered in 2021 in the U.K.. The Sky original, A Christmas No. 1 (a.k.a. A Christmas Number One), which quietly made its U.S. debut on Tubi in early November. Starring Frieda Pinto and Iwan Rheon, the story of a music exec desperate for a holiday hit, and a musician who doesn't want to sell his song to her cheesy boy band, took turns I wasn't expecting based on that basic premise. Knowing little going in probably helped sell this one for me, as did the high-caliber acting, some genuine laughs, and really good original music. Not without its own well-worn formula, A Christmas No. 1 just felt so much more like a "real movie" than your typical U.S. made-for-TV holiday title, even if they were awkwardly attempting to hide Pinto’s obvious real-life pregnancy.

My second-favorite of the season was also somewhat unexpected.

VH1 entered the holiday movie fray in 2021, with forgettable results in terms of both ratings and quality, not to mention the baffling decision not to stream titles on Viacom-owned Paramount+, so was somewhat surprised to see them putting out more movies in 2022, but they finally made a good one in All I Didn't Want for Christmas, one of the few VH1 holiday titles that didn't rely on existing VH1/MTV talent and/or IP.

Oscar nominee Gabourey Sidibe was fantastic as a woman frustrated with her stagnating life and career who writes Santa a drunken letter, Loretta Devine great as her well-meaning, but overbearing, mom and Kel Mitchell charming as the elf sent to help her. All I Didn’t Want for Christmas was funny, heartfelt and a truly original ride.

Sidibe has fantastic comedic timing and this story offered a rare fresh take on a classic Christmas set-up. A shame that just as they're finding their Christmas movie feet, VH1, which underwent a massive corporate shake-up in early November, is unlikely to produce any further originals. Glad we at least got this gem and hope to see Sidibe in more holiday movies.

No. 3 on my list is Hallmark's big swing, Three Wise Men and a Baby, starring Andrew Walker, Tyler Hynes and Paul Campbell, who also co-wrote the script with Kimberley Sustad.

This was a laugh-out-loud funny comedy that even cleverly carried over Margaret Colin, here playing the adult sons' mom, from its Three Men and a Baby inspiration. Just a joyful holiday watch that both played with the Hallmark formula and reveled in it.

Others worthy of extra mention from Hallmark, Hannukah on Rye, their first truly good Hanukkah romance (to my mind anyway), the almost-great Ghosts of Christmas Always, which I enjoyed very much as is, but could have been an all-timer with a different ending, and Hallmark's first-ever lead, same-sex holiday romance, The Holiday Sitter.

In just a few years Hallmark has gone from a network whose fare I found ever more bland and uninteresting, to dominating my top 10 of the season list. Every one of which I would, by the way, wholeheartedly recommend to fellow Christmas movie fans.

A Christmas No. 1, Tubi

All I Didn't Want for Christmas, VH1

Three Wise Men and a Baby, Hallmark

Hanukkah on Rye, Hallmark

Haul out the Holly, Hallmark

Ghosts of Christmas Always, Hallmark

Falling for Christmas, Netflix

Reindeer Games Homecoming, Lifetime

Lights, Camera, Christmas!, Hallmark

The Holiday Sitter, Hallmark

Worst Made-for-TV Holiday Movie

It wasn't all accolades for Hallmark. A Holiday Spectacular was reportedly Hallmark's most expensive movie ever, and while it looked relatively lush, filming in the real-life Radio City Music Hall and filled with period cars and costumes, the whitewashing of the Rockettes’ shameful racial history more than just took me out of the story, it ended up making me actively angry.

Hallmark has made so much progress in the past three seasons, to see them running cover for what was once called “one of the most racist organizations in American entertainment,” made me queasy.

Discovery+ started making holiday originals in 2021, and their first effort, Candy-Coated Christmas, was one of my least favorite movies of the year. This year they delivered four originals, and while I had higher hopes given the talent involved, bowed out of two others before (barely) making it through Designing Christmas. A charming cast really couldn't save this very rote, and oddly infomercial-feeling, home design story, that felt like you were watching an extended commercial for other HGTV programming.

As Hallmark rises in my estimation, Lifetime falls. Once a reliable provider of my holiday favorites, Lifetime's last three seasons have been subpar, at best, with this being their worst-ever. Stopped watching so many of their movies this year, eventually just gave up on the network altogether. Only Reindeer Games Homecoming stood out as being worthy of what was once my holiday go-to network. Even their marquee movies with bigger stars no longer provide a reasonable expectation of quality. Didn't make it much past the 15-minute mark for either A Christmas Spark or Santa Bootcamp, despite strong casts, and while I watched all of Steppin' Into the Holiday, couldn't exactly tell you why, since the Mario Lopez-Jana Kramer joint was painfully lifeless and ultimately dumb, as well as boring.

Netflix also had some real clunkers this season, including Christmas with You. I was really looking forward to the streamer giving us a bigger budget, Latino holiday story, but should have known when they changed the name from Christmas Quinceanera to something this boring, the movie would follow suit. Chemistry free, nonsensical story with lifeless performances from usually charming leads. Snooze.

Best Theatrical Holiday Movie

This category could more accurately be called “bigger budget,” as higher-end streaming productions tend to dominate this category now. Though most of my 2022 faves did get a theatrical run, that’s just not where I personally saw them. And, as I said in the made-for-TV category, as streaming originals start to dominate the Christmas movie conversation, the distinction between what is "made-for-TV" and what's "theatrical" can start to feel a bit arbitrary, especially when you're comparing movies that cost $100 million to make, with those that filmed for $10 million, but still far exceed a typical Hallmark or Lifetime movie-of-the-week budget.

In total, I saw 10 holiday movies this year that I think mostly fit into the "theatrical" category, even if only half of them played in theaters. (Being the homebody I am, I saw them all from my sofa.)

Spirited

Violent Night

This is Christmas, Sky/Epix

Your Christmas or Mine?, Prime Video

Something from Tiffany's, Prime Video

About Fate

Spoiler Alert

Bar Fight, AMC+

A Christmas Story Christmas, HBO Max

The Noel Diary, Netflix

Spirited was not only my favorite of the season, but one of the best modern musicals I've seen. Watched it twice this year, and anticipate it becoming a regular part of my annual Christmas movie rota, as it's already one of my all-time favorites.

The unexpectedly entertaining Violent Night brings together gruesomely cartoonish violence (not usually my thing), humor and Christmas cheer in a completely unique package, despite it cribbing from, and even actually name-checking, so many other holiday classics—altogether an extraordinary and impressive feat. Think David Harbour can now claim the definitive world-weary Santa with a heart of gold portrayal, at least in my book.

British charmers This is Christmas and Your Christmas or Mine? were both sweet, lovely and a true cut above the made-for-TV fare we usually get on this side of the pond.

This is Christmas, like my made-for-TV favorite, A Christmas No. 1, was a Sky TV original in the UK, but it's slightly bigger budget (as a co-production), and same-day U.S. debut, slipped it into the "theatrical" category for me.

Your Christmas or Mine? had a fantastically fun premise—college students in love each decide to jump off their respective trains home to surprise the other for the holidays, only to each be stuck with the other's families instead—that wasn't pulled off quite as well as I'd hoped, but was still lovely and fun, with a great cast.

Also mostly liked About Fate. The New Year's-set remake of Soviet classic, The Irony of Fate, wasn't perfect, but Thomas Mann and Emma Roberts are winning enough to make it work, and I can definitely see myself watching this again in the future.

Even the middling Bar Fight had its moments, thanks mostly to its great, game cast—and that it wasn't a romance (the opposite, as it's a break-up movie) was a refreshing holiday twist.

Worst Theatrical Holiday Movie

So, that leaves my picks for “worst” as the mundane, fan service-laden A Christmas Story Christmas, which made little sense and had far too little of the humor and heartfelt moments that has made the original a lasting classic.

But even worse than that mostly dull sequel was The Noel Diary, which has convinced me that Richard Paul Evans isn't just the Nicolas Sparks of Christmas movies, they might be one in the hacky same. Poorly edited, woodenly acted, and a plot so dumb it made me want to throw things at the screen. Not quite bad enough to be "fun bad," but very bad indeed.

Best Stealth Christmas Movie

Bily Eichner’s big screen, R-rated rom-com Bros was my favorite rom-com of the year, and it's pivotal Christmas scenes, plus constant name-checking of "Hallheart" movies, makes it a stealth Christmas movie.

If you’re unfamiliar with the genre, that’s what I call a movie set during the Christmas season, or containing key holiday scenes, that isn’t specifically thought of as a Christmas film.

The holiday heavy Spoiler Alert, and more lightly holiday The Good House, which has significant Thanksgiving and Christmas scenes, are also well worth a watch.

Worst Stealth Christmas Movie

I must pick The King's Man. Yes, it came out in late 2021, but I watched it in 2022, and this franchise spin off is awful enough for its Christmas-scented stench to pollute two years. Even the lesser-than Kingsman sequel looks like a masterpiece next to this dreck.

Best Animated Holiday Special

Apple is doing a fantastic job preserving Charlie Brown’s legacy, and this year's new holiday shorts collection Happiness is a Gift Worth Giving, part of season 2 of The Snoopy Show, are absolutely in line with the heart and soul of the original Peanuts specials.

Honorable mention to the Autumn of Mickey Mouse, the latest in Disney's series of retro-look, seasonal specials that, like The Snoopy Show, really hew to the original ethos of the characters and all are smart, funny and sweet.

In case anyone wants to be a stickler and not count either of the above for being, respectively, not-Christmas centered, or part of an animated series, CBS gave us the amiable Reindeer in Here which was an original story with a good message, that I can see being added to many family’s annual rotations. Far from groundbreaking, it was still a pleasant, festive watch.

Worst Animated Holiday Special

Cannot say the same for the much more popular, Mickey Saves Christmas, which ran on ABC and striped across the Disney Channels and is now on Disney+. The story is almost non-existent, and even the animation seemed sub-par, a mix between low-budget computer generation and stop-motion.

Little kids liked it enough to make it pop in the ratings even after endless repeat airings, so I'm sure we'll see it again and again forever, but Disney knows how to do this so much better, and it feels like they just didn't bother here.

Best Live Action Holiday Special

We go from something Disney did poorly, to something they did quite well, the Marvel one-off Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special. This James Gunn-written and produced mini-movie was so much fun, and even gave us two great new original songs for the holiday canon.

Did Chris Pratt frequently look like he’d rather be anywhere else? Sure, but Mantis and Drax’s capture of a very game Kevin Bacon more than made up for Pratt’s pout.

Honorable mentions here to Who Killed Santa? A Murderville Murder Mystery. The improvised offshoot of Will Arnett’s Netflix series paired the comedian with his Smartless podcast partners Jason Bateman and Sean Hayes, as well as Maya Rudolph.

It's very silly, often veering into stupid, but I laughed a lot. Would probably have liked it even more if not for the third act Pete Davidson appearance. Luckily, Davidson did very little. Per usual.

Also enjoyed Showtime’s tongue-in-cheek Matt Rogers: Have You Heard of Christmas? This parody of an old-fashioned musical holiday special, featured Rogers singing hits from his fictional holiday album. A good enough singer to make the comedy songs work, Rogers has impeccable timing and style, and between this special and Fire Island, as well as his hit podcast Las Culturistas, had one heck of a 2022.

Worst Live Action Holiday Special

Disney’s streaming original Best in Snow was a weird combination of competition and storyline. While this could have been interesting as strictly a snow building competition, Titus Burgess' commitment to his weird “mayor” character, a handful of seemingly unrelated animated segments, and truly bizarre pacing made this a mish-mash that simply did not work.

Best Holiday Series

The past few seasons have left us spoiled for choice when it comes to holiday series. This season saw a dearth of new, specifically holiday-set series to explore—with the caveat that I never quite found time for Per-Olav Sørensen's Storm for Christmas on Netflix—but season two of Starstruck, the lovely British rom-com on HBO Max, both incorporated the holidays and was one of my favorite watches of the year.

Worst Holiday Series

The Disney+ series sequel to the The Santa Clause movie trilogy, The Santa Clauses, was unfunny, unfestive and absolutely unnecessary. This tired Tim Allen vehicle filled with “jokes” sourced straight from Fox News held no appeal, even though I slogged through two episodes hoping it would get better.

The Santa Clauses has already been renewed for season, so clearly people are watching, but to say this isn’t my cup of cocoa is putting it lightly, so to feel free to pencil season two in as my worst of 2023 already.

Best Holiday Reality Series

FOX’s Lego Masters: Celebrity Holiday Bricktacular paired past LEGO Masters players with celebs competing for charity for a fun family watch that, at just four episodes over three nights (two regular episodes, and a double-length finale), didn’t have time to wear out its welcome.

And, though it wasn't as prominent a tribute as I'd hoped and expected, it was also still very nice to see Leslie Jordan being his hilarious, amazing, and charming self, one last time, following his untimely October death.

Worst Holiday Reality Series

Silos Baking Competition: Holiday Edition, on HBO Max, is the latest entry in the constant self-promotional churn of the insufferable Chip and Joanna Gaines, who I don’t recall hating before they turned themselves into a 24/7 brand. This dull as dishwater "competition" was a basic retread of better baking shows and barely even qualified as Christmas-y, despite the title.

Best Holiday TV Episode of an Ongoing Series

Abbott Elementary is the best show on traditional broadcast TV, and their “Holiday Hookah” episode delivered a sweet, holiday tale that also pushed forward major ongoing plot points, like the will they/won't they flirtation between Quinta Brunson and Tyler James Williams, with Janelle James predictably stealing the show.

Worst Holiday TV Episode of an Ongoing Series

Animation voice work is clearly a sweet celebrity gig, so I don't blame folks like Lisa Kudrow, Clea DeVall and Nat Faxon for cashing the checks, but both new Housebroken holiday episodes on FOX, my first brush with the series, left me seriously underwhelmed. Lots of poop "humor" and exceedingly little heart, even in what should be the most sentimental effort(s) of the season. Sad that so many talented people are making something so uninspired.

Felt like there were fewer holiday series episodes in general than in year’s past, probably in part due to smaller season orders leaving less time for holiday hijinks.

Best Christmas Advert

Watching these bite-size servings of holiday joy has long been a part of our family’s Christmas tradition. We now have a fairly well established list that we revisit annually, just like any other beloved Christmas special. Though there were plenty of note, overall 2022 seemed like a lesser year for the corporate Christmas mini-movie, though there was at least one that made me sob like a baby…“El Ruso de Rocky,” from Spanish company J&B, shows a grandfather modeling acceptance in the most selfless, nurturing way possible.

Honorable mention to Kroger’s Up inspired “The Magical Cookbook,” which poignantly captured the connection between holiday meals and memories.

Worst Christmas Advert

Old Navy’s endless variations on their hyperkinetic “Matchy Matchy” ads were a true waste of the great Jennifer Coolidge. But good for her for getting that holiday green, though.

Best New Christmas Song

2022 wasn’t quite as quite as strong a year for new holiday tunes as 2021, but I still found plenty to add to my ever-growing "Christmas Favorites" playlist.

“Night Before Christmas,” Sam Smith

“Here it is Christmastime,” Kevin Bacon and the Old 97′s

“The More You Give (The More You’ll Have),” Michael Buble (Listen, the man has an endless well of holiday originals inside of him, and will release one annually till the earth's core melts)

“I Don’t Know What Christmas Is (But Christmastime Is Here),” the Old 97′s

“Almost Too Early for Christmas,” Dolly Parton and Jimmy Fallon (Is it unbearably cheesy? Sure. But, c’mon, it’s Dolly)

“12 nights,” Sia

“Snow in L.A.,” Noah Cyrus and PJ Harding

“So Much Wine,” Phoebe Bridgers

"This is Christmas,” Annelise Cepero (Didn’t see Holiday Harmony, but the song ended up in my playlist anyway.)

“Naughty and Nice,” Sia

With an honorable mention to the new-to-me music from A Christmas No. 1, especially “Christmas Morning,” in both its Iwan Rheon acoustic and Scurve versions, which were probably the tunes I actually listened to most this season.

Worst New Christmas Song

Jeff Goldblum’s “The Christmas Waltz” felt like a parody where he wasn’t in on the joke, unlike his much better, actual parody holiday gig.

Best New Christmas Album

Spirited was the soundtrack I just couldn’t stop humming. Hard to pick just one standout, but did I dance around singing "That Christmas Morning Feelin'" into a candy cane on December 25th to the embarrassment of my family? 100%. And I regret nothing.

Worst New Christmas Album

Alicia Keys’ Santa Baby, while not terrible by any means, was a disappointment. I expected a standout from someone with as powerful a presence as Keys. The original, "December Back 2 June," was meh, and the standards didn't really stick either. A very ho-hum effort from a singer who is usually anything but.

Best Holiday Book

Lindsay Kelk’s cozy and romantic The Christmas Wish was my favorite holiday read of 2022. Sweet with just enough edge to make this Groundhog Day take interesting. (And, yes, my 2021 favorite read was another stuck-in-a-Christmas-time-loop tale, Holidazed, so guess I have a type.)

Best Holiday Podcast

Going to sound like a bit of a broken record here, because while the hosts changed, my holiday favorite podcast did not. Deck the Hallmark continues to be my holiday listening go-to, maybe because they put out so much content I don’t have time to try and tackle anything else 😝

Of course, always make time for the ladies of All the Feels and their holiday movie bracket, as well as Alonso Duralde’s “Christmas Movie Minute” on Maximum Film.

Favorite New-to-Me Holiday Content

With so much new this season, didn’t get to sample too much I’d missed from the past, but Hallmark’s 2020 Project Christmas Wish, starring Amanda Schull and Travis Van Winkle, was one of the more actually romantic Hallmark romances of recent years. We got to see the characters fall in love, rather than just go from "hating" each other to "being in love" in an instant. Just a well-done entry in the genre I’m happy to have caught up with.

Top 10 Non-Holiday Movies of 2022

Glass Onion, A Knives Out Story, Netflix

Good Luck to You, Leo Grande, Hulu

Hustle, Netflix

The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent

Bros

The Sea Beast, Netflix

Top Gun: Maverick

Confess, Fletch

The Valet, Hulu

The Good House

Though there are plenty of awards contenders still haven’t managed to see, making this list subject to future amendment, Rian Johnson’s return to the world of Benoit Blanc was smart, funny and a whole lot of fun to watch.

Top 15 Non-Holiday TV Series of 2022

Trying, Apple TV+

Hacks, HBO Max

Derry Girls, Netflix

Starstruck, HBO Max

Peacemaker, HBO Max

Heartstopper, Netflix

Reservation Dogs, Hulu

From Scratch, Netflix

Barry, HBO Max

Julia, HBO Max

The Crown, Netflix

This is Going to Hurt, AMC+

Reboot, Hulu

Single Drunk Female, FX

Abbott Elementary, ABC

As with movies, there are a long list of series I still need to catch up on, but even with those viewing blind spots, could easily have made a list twice this long with shows I really loved (for instance, ran out of room for things like my beloved Never Have I Ever, and very good The Best Man: The Final Chapters), but no show made me laugh, or cry, more regularly in 2022 than Apple’s absolutely brilliant Trying. By the way, Trying’s regular director, Jim O'Hanlon, also made Your Christmas or Mine?

Worst Non-Holiday Movie/TV of 2022

No movie I watched all the way through in 2022 stunk worse than Netflix’s execrable Purple Hearts. The reason I kept watching is because I mistook it for the kind of cheesy, sentimental military romance I usually kind of enjoy, instead of the just plain awful, poorly acted and seriously stupid story it actually was. Literally laughed out loud at the ending. If it was slightly less polished, this one almost tips over into The Room-like cringe that could make it almost fun, but, alas.

In bad TV, Hillary Swank’s achingly earnest Alaska Daily, with its bonkers depiction of journalism-ing and overwhelming white savior narrative, made my eyes roll so often I thought I might have sprained something.

Favorite Advent Calendar

Those who follow me on Twitter, know I have a slight advent calendar obsession, particularly beauty advent calendars, so now that I’ve opened my [redacted number] of 2022 calendars, thought I’d share my favorite of the season…The 12 Days of Harrod’s Fragrance calendar contained several bottles that were each worth more than the calendar’s cost. No tiny samples here, all purse size or larger, truly high-end scents to more than sample, simply but beautifully packaged.

Honorable mention to my favorite beauty calendars, which included the companion 25 Days of Harrod’s Beauty and Liberty London, both of which featured a lot of seriously high-end skincare products, many of them full size.

And while I’m not sure I would want to monetize my Christmas movie musings, even if I could, I am open to anyone who wants to send me luxury beauty advent calendars to review in 2023 😜

Best Holiday Network

Hallmark Channel has gone from my worst to first in just three years. Their new Peacock ad-free availability meant I watched more of their movies than ever before, and they were mostly quite good.

Hallmark's newfound diversity, forged under new leadership, not only in casting, but storytelling too, means that the 43 movies they made this year actually have distinct differences from one another, instead of identical copies of the same story retold every weekend of the season. It's a breath of a fresh air and, honestly, given the quality and quantity of the content, paired with increased streaming availability, there's probably never been a better time to be a Hallmark Christmas movie fan.

Worst Holiday Network

Great American Family spent most of the year not making movies—broadcasting from early February to the end of August with zero new or original content—instead opting to fiddle with their name, after realizing the acronym GAC sounded like a cat trying to get up a hairball, only to change it to GAF, which sounds like either a mistake (gaffe), or R-rated shorthand (as in IDGAF) that doesn’t seem in line with the network’s stated "faith, family and country” theme.

But naming confusion was just the tip of the iceberg for Great American Family’s issues, many of which were unforced errors, like CEO Bill Abbott calling convicted felon Lori Loughlin, "Someone who has a track record of doing the right thing in the world at large." and “America’s Sweetheart.”

To pulling one of their holiday movies just days after announcing it, saying it didn’t “meet their standards.” Or endlessly changing their Christmas schedule, which they claimed contained “18 originals,” but actually featured movies that had debuted years ago they renamed and passed off as new, as well as several that dropped on free streaming services before coming to GAF.

But GAF’s biggest, well, gaffe of the year came when Candace Cameron Bure accidentally said the quiet part out loud to the Wall Street Journal, and admitted Great American Family’s main mission was pretending queer people don’t exist—at least not in front of the camera. Of course, when everyone acted properly horrified by her hate speech, Cameron Bure blamed “the media” even though she’d been perfectly happy to repeatedly promote the WSJ story on her own social media…Right up until she realized it wasn't going well for her online.

The good news is that Great American Family’s ratings remain absolutely dismal. The network finished 103rd out of 159 Nielsen-tracked TV networks, averaging a meagre 79,000 viewers, behind every single other Christmas movie-making network. GAF’s so-called “signature franchise” Christmas movies averaged less than 225,000 viewers and a paltry .02 (that’s point 2) in the all-important 18-49 demographic. Their highest-rated movie to date, Christmas at the Drive-In, only managed 482,000 viewers and a .04 in the demo. Just all around disastrous ratings for an ad-based network that doesn’t even have On Demand or streaming options to boost their viewership.

Of course, rock bottom ratings didn’t keep Great American Family from rolling out a “Mission Accomplished” press release that, at best, fudged the stats.

With just 7% of Hallmark’s average viewership, it’s long past time for reporters to stop credulously reporting that GAF is Hallmark’s Christmas “competition.” And shout out to Decider’s Brett White for making that point with a lot of math.

Anyway, yeah, Bill Abbott, marketing genius.

Worst Holiday TV Trend

TOO MUCH! For real this time.

Since I felt the holiday movie pace was unsustainable at least 100 movies per year ago, won't make any predictions, but does seem hard to imagine how this exponential annual increase can keep going. As cable audiences dwindle, and streamers tighten their belts, we must, sooner or later, see the holiday movie machine contract.

Yes, these movies’ annual rewatchablity, relative low cost, and ad-placement-friendly subject matter is a big part of what made them so popular, and profitable, but at some point, we'll simply run out of places to put them all, not to mention more movies fighting for fewer eyeballs in an increasingly smaller marketplace.

Well, that’s a wrap on 2022!

As for me, since I've talked about abandoning this hobby turned unpaid part-time job for several seasons now, won't make any predications there either, but do know that while I'm still interested in the inner workings of the industry, as well as still personally enjoy watching Christmas content, trying to follow the now non-stop production is way, way too much for me to promise to keep up with. For updates and info you can visit me on Twitter at @sleepykittypaw if you wish, at least as long as that platform is around/usable.

But, no matter what 2023 brings, cheers to you and yours in the New Year, and know that next year’s holiday movies are already just around the corner.

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