All posts tagged: Streaming

Inside Madonna’s Horny, Full-Throttle Grindr Takeover

Inside Madonna’s Horny, Full-Throttle Grindr Takeover

Published by skeptic

As tourists in Times Square made their way to The Lion King or Olive Garden on Thursday, they may have noticed the notoriously crowded area was more dense than usual. When the Grindr logo flashed in pink, the reason became clear: Mutha was here. The “mutha” in question was Madonna. Since April, she’s been the new face of the app. The partnership culminated in a 20-minute concert featuring songs from her upcoming album Confessions on a Dancefloor: Part II, complete with a flash mob of dancers in the crowd. Madonna emerged from one of the giant screens, singing and dancing on a spinning stage from a suspended balcony; in addition to new music, she launched into a trio of hits from 2005’s Confessions on a Dancefloor, including the megahit “Hung Up.” Courtesy of Madonna; Photographed by Ricardo Gomes For Grindr users, the advertising for Madonna’s 15th album has been hard to miss. When users opened the app on April 24, Madonna’s voice greeted them with “Hello, it’s mother.” The app’s homepage perpetually has a banner …

‘The Vampire Lestat’ Turns It All the Way Up

‘The Vampire Lestat’ Turns It All the Way Up

Published by Jenni Sidey

“It’s the best, but it’s full-on,” says Anderson. “You don’t really get a lot of rest. And it’s dense writing, so you’re putting your whole body and brain into it.” “We’re all hyperaware that it’s a dream job,” Reid adds. “You get to do everything that you could possibly ever want to do as an actor in one single show. It’s quite stressful with how fast we move and how much they want to do, but if you don’t pinch yourself every day and go, ‘Wow, how fun is this?’ then you’re wasting your time.” The original Vampire Chronicles novels by Anne Rice have sold over 80 million copies, while the iconic 1994 film starring Hollywood juggernauts Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt grossed more than $200 million worldwide. The AMC TV show had, as showrunner and producer Rolin Jones tells it, much to live up to: “It was a remake of that thing from the ’90s, and the expectations are low.” And yet his Interview With the Vampire exists entirely outside the formidable shadows of …

“Gripping” British thriller with Midsomer Murders star jumps right to number 1 in UK streaming chart

“Gripping” British thriller with Midsomer Murders star jumps right to number 1 in UK streaming chart

Published by Sam Flores

A new Channel 5 drama series starring Midsomer Murders’ Denis Lawson and Poldark’s Eleanor Tomlinson has jumped up the streaming charts in the UK, becoming the number one series on the channel’s streaming platform, within one day of release. Branded a “gripping” thriller by the broadcaster, The Fortune stars Tomlinson as Amanda Blakefield, who has a tranquil family life with her husband Jimmy (Matthew Lewis) and their son Luke (James Younger). Amanda’s world is upended when she receives a mysterious, substantial inheritance from a man she’s never met or even heard of before. “Her life starts to disintegrate as she becomes embroiled in the world of The Worrall Family,” the synopsis teases, with Lawson playing the patriarch of the Worrall clan, Martin. Channel 5 Channel 5 Rounding out the cast of The Fortune are Rebecca Front (The Thick of It), Callum Woodhouse (All Creatures Great and Small), Paula Wilcox (Trying), Stephen Tompkinson (DCI Banks), Paula Wilcox (Trying), Danielle Walters (Chewing Gum), and Nina Wadia (EastEnders). Meanwhile, Tomlinson, known for the role of Demelza in period …

Versant Media Invests in Microdrama Streaming App GammaTime

Versant Media Invests in Microdrama Streaming App GammaTime

Published by Daniella Wilson

Versant Media Group has taken a minority stake in GammaTime, the microdrama streaming app, as part of a Series A funding round. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed by the CNBC and MS NOW owner, but the agreement includes adapting stories based on Versant channel brands as vertical series and aligning the Comcast spinoff with bite-sized dramatic content increasingly favored by advertisers. “GammaTime is reimagining short-form storytelling for a new generation of viewers. Their mobile-first approach and focus on original content make this a natural partnership for Versant as we continue to extend our iconic brands, deep content library and storytelling,” said Mark Lazarus, CEO of Versant, in a statement on Tuesday. The new capital will be used by GammaTime to continue developing a premium originals slate with the help of Versant’s show runners and entertainment IP. “Versant’s investment is a turning point for GammaTime and the category. We’re pairing unparalleled audience scale and engagement with premium marketing. We’re building originals at scale, and Versant gives us the IP, brand equity, and creative DNA …

Download and Streaming Reviews – June 1

Download and Streaming Reviews – June 1

Published by Daniella Wilson

Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Damon Smith reviews the latest download, streaming and premium video on-demand releases including Hoppers, Relay, How To Make A Killing, Scream 7 and Office Romance. NEW FILMS TO STREAM, RENT ON-DEMAND OR BUY FILM OF THE WEEK Hoppers (UK U/ROI PG, 104 mins, streaming from June 3 exclusively on Disney+, available from June 8 on digital platforms, also available from June 8 on DVD/Blu-ray/4K Ultra HD Blu-ray, Animation/Adventure/Comedy/Sci-Fi/Fantasy) Featuring the voices of: Piper Curda, Karen Huie, Bobby Moynihan, Jon Hamm, Kathy Najimy, Aparna Nancherla, Sam Richardson, Vanessa Bayer. Nineteen-year-old eco-activist Mabel Tanaka (voiced by Piper Curda) nurtured a passion for wildlife from her late grandmother (Karen Huie) during blissful afternoons spent together in a glade near the old woman’s home in Beaverton. After grandma …

ITV period drama hailed as ‘excellent’ Home Fires is streaming for free now

ITV period drama hailed as ‘excellent’ Home Fires is streaming for free now

Published by Daniella Wilson

Calling all period drama fans! ITV’s hit wartime series, Home Fires, is currently climbing the charts on the free UK streaming service, U. Inspired by the book Jambusters by Julie Summers, the drama follows the lives of a group of Women’s Institute members in a rural Cheshire community during World War Two. While the beloved series was cancelled after two seasons in 2016, sparking a fan petition for its return, its enduring popularity speaks for itself. © ITVHome Fires follows a group of Women’s Institute members in a rural Cheshire community during World War Two If you’re a fan of Call the Midwife‘s tight-knit camaraderie and All Creatures Great and Small’s cosy countryside backdrop, this is your next must-watch. Find out more about the series below… What to expect from Home Fires Set in rural Cheshire, the wartime drama follows the resilient women of the Great Paxford Women’s Institute as they fight to hold their community together during World War II. The drama begins with a battle for the WI’s survival. While long-standing leader Joyce …

Guillermo Del Toro heaps praise on ‘the best streaming series in a long time’

Guillermo Del Toro heaps praise on ‘the best streaming series in a long time’

Published by Daniella Wilson

Get the latest entertainment news, reviews and star-studded interviews with our Independent Culture email Get the latest entertainment news with our free Culture newsletter Get the latest entertainment news with our free Culture newsletter Guillermo Del Toro has joined the chorus of critics heaping praise on the new Apple TV+ horror comedy series Widow’s Bay. The Oscar-winning The Shape of Water director gave a glowing review to the 10-episode show, which stars Matthew Rhys as a small-town New England mayor desperate to boost tourism on his struggling island that locals are convinced is cursed. Dale Dickey, Kevin Carroll, Stephen Root, Kate O’Flynn and Kingston Rumi Southwick also feature. Writing on X, Del Toro said: “If I may- in my estimation- #WidowsBay may very well be the best streaming series in a long time… and hands down one of the most mesmerizing acts of narrative prestidigitation in Horror.” “Prestidigitation” refers to the performance of close-up magic, often known as “sleight of hand.” Del Toro subsequently retweeted another user who also praised the show by writing: “This …

Why you should always buy the 4K Roku or streaming stick — even without a 4K TV

Why you should always buy the 4K Roku or streaming stick — even without a 4K TV

Published by skeptic

When deciding on a streaming device, you have a lot of options. Most people don’t need the insanely powerful Nvidia Shield TV which has a 256 core CPU. By far the most economical options are streaming sticks; these sticks usually cost under $50 and simply plug into an empty HDMI port on the back of your television and are powered by one of the TV’s USB ports. They connect over Wi-Fi, and give you full access to all the streaming options you could ever want. The vast majority of people will pick a Roku or Amazon Fire TV streaming stick, and while both are great choices and offer a wide variety of streaming apps and are paired with a great remote with voice input, you should be careful picking between streaming stick models — in both cases, you can pick the HD or 4K model. While the 4K models are slightly more expensive (on average they’re only about $10 more), they’re not made for 4K TVs only. Even if you don’t have a 4K TV, …

Amazon Is Making an AI-Animated ‘Good Advice Cupcake’ TV Show. Its Original Creator Is Furious

Amazon Is Making an AI-Animated ‘Good Advice Cupcake’ TV Show. Its Original Creator Is Furious

Published by skeptic

Author and illustrator Loryn Brantz never imagined that a popular cartoon character she created almost a decade ago would one day be the subject of an intellectual property dispute involving BuzzFeed, Amazon’s video streaming service, and generative artificial intelligence. But that’s exactly the situation she finds herself in today. “Nothing said in good faith by managers and executives was followed through with,” Brantz says of BuzzFeed, her former employer. This week, Brantz shared an Instagram post calling out the once-dominant media brand. She was responding to news that the company had licensed her advice-giving cupcake character, Cuppy, to Prime Video, which plans to release a series called Cupcake & Friends, developed with AI tools. It’s one of three new animated shows greenlit through the GenAI Creators’ Fund, a joint initiative of Amazon Web Services and Amazon MGM Studios. “This is an assault on artists everywhere,” Brantz declared in her post. The headlines announcing the project were a nightmare come true—and a scenario that everyone who works in a creative field has begun to dread in …

Detective drama The Brokenwood Mysteries is streaming for free now – and Midsomer Murders fans will love it

Detective drama The Brokenwood Mysteries is streaming for free now – and Midsomer Murders fans will love it

Published by Daniella Wilson

Calling all detective drama fans! The hit New Zealand-set crime drama The Brokenwood Mysteries returned to UK TV screens this week with its 12th season – and if this beloved cosy crime drama isn’t on your radar yet, you are in for a treat. The series follows Detective Senior Sergeant Mike Shepherd and by-the-book Detective Kristin Sims as they crack cases in the sleepy and small titular town.  With its entertaining blend of quirky humour and clever whodunnits, it’s the perfect watch for Midsomer Murders fans. Much like the iconic ITV drama, The Brokenwood Mysteries pairs a seasoned lead with a younger, eager partner to uncover dark secrets in a seemingly idyllic setting. Intrigued? Find out more below… What is The Brokenwood Mysteries about?  The mystery series, which has been dubbed “the New Zealand Midsomer Murders,” follows DI Mike Shepherd and his assistant, DC Kristin Sims, as they investigate puzzling cases in the sleepy town of Brokenwood.  © UKTV / Acorn TVNeill Rea and Fern Sutherland star in The Brokenwood Mysteries Season one opens with DI Mike arriving …