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All the TV shows that have been canceled in 2018

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Big Bang theory

As the year flies by, the list of canceled TV shows piles up.

While there's been somewhat of a quiet period since May, some networks are still cutting shows throughout the summer.

The most recent cancellations come from AMC, which just confirmed to Vulture that "Dietland" will end after only one season, and HBO, which renewed "The Deuce" for a third and final season to air in 2019.

ABC canceled the previously renewed "Roseanne" revival in late May, after Roseanne Barr posted a racist tweet about former Obama adviser Valerie Jarrett. However, ABC announced a spin-off called "The Conners" without Barr coming this fall.

In other notable cancellations, USA's critically acclaimed "Mr. Robot" will end with its upcoming fourth season, and CBS' "The Big Bang Theory" is ending after 12 seasons. 

We'll update this list as more are announced.

Here are all the shows that have been canceled this year, including those from networks and Netflix:

SEE ALSO: The worst TV show of every year since 2000, according to critics

Amazon



"Jean-Claude Van Johnson" — Amazon, one season



"I Love Dick" — Amazon, one season



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43% of Americans watch something on Netflix any given day, tying all of cable TV, according to a new study

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robin wright house of cards season

  • 43% of US adults will watch something on Netflix on any given day, according to a study by the analytics firm YouGov.
  • This figure matched the percentage of American adults who will watch live TV through a cable provider on any given day, the firm said.
  • Netflix also led all networks in one poll the firm conducted to see which network had the highest "buzz" among consumers.

 

Netflix's popularity is close to surpassing that of cable television, at least by one measurement.

According to a new study by the analytics firm YouGov, nearly half of all Americans adults will watch some kind of programming on Netflix on a daily basis.

The firm surveyed 105,664 US adults and found that 43% of those surveyed will watch some content on Netflix on any given day. This figure equaled the percentage of US adults (43%) who will watch live TV through a cable provider on any given day, YouGov said.

The findings came from a YouGov report titled "TV's Everywhere Ecosystem: US consumer perception towards the television networks sector." The report includes an in-depth case study on Netflix's recent growth and consumer perception of its brand. 

Netflix led all networks in one poll the firm conducted to see which network had the highest "buzz" among consumers.

For the "buzz" poll, YouGov asked its survey participants the following question: "If you’ve heard anything about the following networks in the last two weeks, through advertising, news or word of mouth, was it positive or negative?" 

The firm then asked participants to assign scores to each network on a scale from -100 to +100, and Netflix led all networks with a positive net "buzz" score of 34% 16 points higher than Hulu, which came in second place, and 20 points ahead of its streaming rival Amazon. 

netflix

Read the full report over at YouGov. 

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NOW WATCH: How actors fake fight in movies

16 pictures show North Korea's grand performance at the Mass Games, where South Korea's president gave his first speech directly to North Koreans

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빛나는 조국 north korea parade

  • South Korean President Moon Jae-in and a group of South Korean delegates were given a viewing of North Korea's capstone propaganda event, the Mass Games.
  • This year's performance is called "Shining Fatherland," or "Glorious Country."
  • An estimated 150,000 North Koreans were estimated to be in the audience.

As part of his summit tour of North Korea this week, South Korean President Moon Jae-in and a group of delegates were given a viewing of the regime's Mass Games — a theatrical gymnastics performance described by some viewers as "the most spectacular artistic performance in human history."

Moon, along with South Korean first lady Kim Jung-sook and several senior South Korean officials, sat alongside North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and his wife, Ri Sol Ju, during an eye-catching performance that consisted of thousands of performers.

Check out this year's performance known as "Shining Fatherland," and "Glorious Country."

South Korean President Moon Jae-in, second to the left, South Korean first lady Kim Jung-sook, far left, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, second to the right, and his wife Ri Sol Ju, far right, receive flowers before watching the performance.

Source: 38 North



Around 150,000 people were estimated to be in the audience.

Source: Hankyoreh



The entire performance lasted around an hour.

Source: Yonhap News



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Netflix's 'Maniac' is a confusing mess full of weak characters and a poorly drawn world

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maniac

  • Netflix’s “Maniac” is not for everyone. It is confusing and gets lost in its complex premise.
  • The sci-fi series doesn't do enough to give viewers a sense of who the characters are and what kind of world they live in. 
  • Justin Theroux is very funny, but that's about the only good thing, along with its excellent visuals thanks to director Cary Joji Fukanaga.  
  • Sally Field, an American treasure, is grossly underused in her role. 

 

Netflix’s “Maniac” is not for everyone. Especially me. I paused “Maniac” in confusion a lot while I was watching it. (Netflix made all 10 episodes of the limited series available for the press.) 

But no moment made me pause and wonder what the heck I was watching more than when I saw Justin Theroux have virtual-reality sex with an animated fairy while having a silver, animated, tall head of hair. It came out of nowhere, I was watching it at work, and I didn’t return to the episode for the rest of the day. I don’t have anything against fairies, or Justin Theroux doing steamy moments on screen, but it was a character introduction that came out of nowhere, and was truly staggering.

Netflix’s “Maniac,” one of its most-talked about series of the year, dropped on Friday.

Written and created by Patrick Somerville, “Maniac,” inspired by a Norwegian series, is set in a dystopian version of New York City and follows two young adults who participate in a drug trial. Honestly, I think that’s what the plot is, but there are also many layers and mini-stories within the drug trial that include an elf, some kind of Prohibition Era thing, and horrific accents. The show’s all-star cast includes Emma Stone, Jonah Hill, Justin Theroux (the show’s saving grace, but at what cost?), and a grossly underused Sally Field.

The hype for the series starts with Cary Joji Fukanaga, the visionary director behind the first season of “True Detective.” (Don’t worry, he had nothing to do with the bad second season.)

"Maniac" is visually bright and exciting, and quite different from the gorgeous Louisiana marshes Fukanaga shot in “True Detective” back in 2014. But it’s heavily influenced by “Blade Runner,” which is getting tired at this point, especially after Netflix's other sci-fi series, "Altered Carbon," earlier this year.

“Maniac’s” complex story is hard to follow, with empty lead characters played with much enthusiasm by Stone and Hill.

But the biggest problem with “Maniac” is its lack of world-building. That Theroux fairy sex moment could have worked, but by the time I got to it, the show hadn’t earned it. Even a few episodes into the 10-episode limited series, I still had no idea what this would was or how it functioned. The world feels like an afterthought to the driving concept, which is telling short stories through the mind during a drug test. With such a weak sense of place and individual characters, the show never really works. It never transcends its basic conceit.

Some people may like “Maniac,” so I recommend giving it an episode or two. But if you don't like it immediately, feel free to turn it off.

“Maniac,” a limited series, is available on Netflix Friday.

You can watch the trailer below:

SEE ALSO: The star of Netflix's 'American Vandal' talks about becoming obsessed with true crime, and how the show changed the way he uses social media

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A 27-year-old promoter and restaurateur explains how he built a million-dollar business with clients like Drake, Lil Wayne, Mary J. Blige, and Floyd Mayweather

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Larry Morrow

  • Larry Morrow, 27, is an event promoter and restaurateur with a major following in his hometown of New Orleans. He now plans to take his success to a national scale.
  • He dropped out of Tulane to pursue Larry Morrow Events and eventually had clients like Drake, Diddy, Migos, Mary J. Blige, and Floyd Mayweather.
  • He explained how he was able to make his restaurant, Morrow's, one of the hottest in New Orleans by leveraging the power of the network he built over the past several years.
  • Morrow said a decisive period for him was when he turned his affinity for gambling into an asset by making big but measured risks with his million-dollar collection of businesses.


If you want to know where to go and who to talk to in New Orleans, Larry Morrow's your guy.

After he dropped out of college, the 27-year-old entrepreneur committed full time to his event-planning business. He's run parties and performances for Drake, Migos, Diddy, Lil Wayne, Mary J. Blige, and Floyd Mayweather.

Earlier this year, he opened a restaurant called Morrow's. It's been a huge hit, thanks to visits from some of the celebrities he works with.

Now, Morrow's a million-dollar business owner with a plan to take his ventures national. But he started out as a gambler, both at the casino and with side projects, like a T-shirt brand he started in high school.

Listen to the full episode here:

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Transcript edited for clarity.

Larry Morrow: I was just printing out things that had a graphic design, and we would sit there for hours and create these T-shirts. And once I saw a lot of people wearing them, I would literally go places and I would see so many people with these T-shirts on. It motivated me to continue to keep that going. But when I turned 20 years old, I did a party. I think it was my 20th birthday. I did a party, and that was the birth of Morrow the promoter because I made like $11,000 that night. And from that moment forward I'm, like, "Wow — I can make money doing this." So I just took off with it.

Richard Feloni: So you had a party to promote your brand?

Morrow: Yeah. I used the party to promote my brand, but I also wanted to make some money. So when I saw how much money I made — I was getting popular. I was always kind of popular, but it just started to grow when I started to sell the T-shirts. And then I did this party, and saw how many people came out to support, it was, like, 700 to 800 people. I made $11,000. And from that point forward I'm, like, "You know what? It's time to go on to the next level." So that's when I just left Chump Change alone. I tried to do them both at the same time, but it was just a little too much to try to focus on that and the events. And I was making much more money doing the events.

Feloni: How did you pull in 800 people, though? I know you're saying you were popular, but it's not as if you have 800 close friends who are just going to come party with you.

Morrow: Right. Well, see, it was Facebook at the time. So, on Facebook, I would promote these parties. I would get friends to promote. I would do little contests on there, send people pizza to their house, have it delivered to their house. Anything just to draw attraction to a party. And I would do things like that. And I didn't expect it to be that big, but when I pulled up, I saw all the people and counted the money at the end of the night, I was definitely surprised.

Dropping everything to build a business

Feloni: So when you decided to make a business out of creating parties, do you see this connected to this idea that you had for selling T-shirts? What was motivating you? What were you passionate about?

Morrow: So what was motivating me was my family. We all experience ups and downs in life, and my mom, she was going through a divorce. I didn't grow up poor. My mom, she took great care of me and my sister. And she taught us a lot.

larry morrow kid

So, she'd done so much for us, and I just wanted to make sure that I was paying her back. So, that kind of gave me the extra push because it pushed me to drop out of college, quit both of my jobs. I was a lifeguard in the morning from 8 to 4, and I did valet from 5 to 11. I quit both of my jobs, dropped out of college, and started to focus on these events because I knew it was working. And, I wanted to be able to get into a position to help my family because, when I was in college, I was in class one day, and my professor, he called.

Feloni: You went to Tulane, right?

Morrow: I went to Tulane. My professor called me. He was like, "Mr. Morrow ... " He wanted me to repeat what he just said. And, I couldn't because I was daydreaming. I was trying to figure things out. I was the kind that would sit in class and just brainstorm on different ideas and try to figure things out. So, when I couldn't answer his question, after class I just didn't come back because I'm like, "You know what? I've got to make something happen. Because, right now, for me, school isn't going to accomplish the things that I want at this moment." So, I had to take that leap of faith.

Morrow: So, I dropped out of college, quit both of my jobs, and just went full-time with Morrow Events.

Feloni: So, you drop out of college sophomore year. What did your mom say?

Morrow: Oh, my mom ... Of course everybody's parents want them to pursue college. My grandmother, she was really on me because she really wanted me to graduate. And, that's the American dream — the old American dream, in my book, because that's what your parents want you to do. They want you to go to school, get a job. But with me, it's more that I'm a big risk-taker. I'm out there creating the life I desire for me and my family. So, this is my American dream. I had to take those risks to put us in a better position.

larry morrow family

And, my grandmother, to this day, she's so happy. She told me the other day, we were having lunch, and she was like, "I'm so proud of you. And if your grandfather was still here, he'd be so happy for you." And she was like, "Back in Korea, I ... " She's been in America for 30-plus years, but you can still hear an accent, and sometimes it's hard to understand what she's saying. But, she was trying to compare me to a dragon in Korea.

She was like, "You're a dragon." I said, "What you mean?" She said, "You know how a dragon, when you see them, they float ..." You know how the parades you see the dragons, they're always up high? And she was like, "You're the dragon in the family." I'm like, "Wow." I'm like, "That's major." Because she was like, "I'm just so proud of you."

My grandmother, she always wanted me to pursue college, and go to college, get a job. She wanted that security. But, now it's like, "I'm so happy. I'm so proud of you, all the things you've done." It took seven years to change my family's life. My grandmother, she just quit her job. She worked 12 hours a day from eight in the morning to eight at night. So, she quit her job, and now she don't have to work anymore.

I opened up the restaurant, and am just doing what I do, providing jobs for my family, and just creating some stability within my family. It has always been a goal of mine.

Feloni: And it's like everyone knows you in the city at this point?

Morrow: Oh, man, yeah. I do a lot in the city outside of just events. The restaurant, philanthropy. I give back to the community. I bring a lot of big names from Drake, Diddy, Floyd Mayweather, Chris Brown. I bring a lot of people there. So, I'm providing nightlife. But outside of nightlife I'm providing the restaurant, the experience. When you come to New Orleans, you will get a great experience.

'The best worst year'

Feloni: I want to step back a little bit, too. Before you became the Larry that everyone knew and that was running all these cool events, had a restaurant, when you dropped out of college, what did you have on your plate in front of you? What were you going to do, and then how did you go about doing it?

Morrow: All right. So, I did everything. I dropped out of college, quit both of my jobs, and I'm like, "You know what, I'm going to go full-time with Morrow Events." So, I just took that leap of faith. I didn't have it all figured out. I was just pretty much just going with it. But, it was a long journey. As soon as I dropped out, I started to do these events, I'm partying, drinking, thinking that's the cool thing to do. It was more so about having fun with my friends, making a few dollars, drinking.

Feloni: You were taking part in your own parties too much?

Morrow: Yeah. So, it was a transition. I'm like, "I'm partying." And I was putting on weight and waking up at 1 in the afternoon. It was getting the best of me. And I think it would get the best of anyone because, of course, we all go through that college phase where —

Feloni: Yeah, you were young, too.

Morrow: We want party, drink. And I was young. I was gambling as well. So, once I became 21 ... man, between drinking, gambling, and partying, it got the best of me. I would gamble in the casino for like two years straight, for 10 hours a day. I was spending a lot of my time in there. I would lose my money and I would be upset. And it was just a lot I was going through between the parties. So, I would make good money from my events, go in the casino, lost it all. I'd make $3,000, $4,000, whatever I made, go in the casino, blow it all.

larry morrow partying

Feloni: And, at this point, were you saving anything?

Morrow: Yeah, yeah. I was saving. I will always save more than I would lose. Because, at 23 I opened up a restaurant. I opened up Larry's Po'boys and Wings and that was premature. It happened at the wrong time. Between that, gambling, the parties, drinking ... I call 2013 the best worst year of my life because I lost so much, but I learned so much more. So, I ended up opening the restaurant and then shutting down the restaurant because my mother, she got pregnant. We're business partners on the restaurant, and it was hard. Being 23, mentally not being as spiritual, not being there, it was tough. We ended up shutting down the restaurant, and then after that, I lost a lot of money in a casino. It was like a domino effect. I lost $35,000 in one night.

Feloni: Wait, could you explain what that night was like?

Morrow: So, it's hard for me to quit. If I lose a dollar, I've got to stay there until I make my dollar back. That one night, I decided to go all in. I'm there for hours. I remember it was some NBA game on, because I remember watching it while I was playing, and my friend was with me. But I remember walking out the casino, calling my mom, and letting them know what I'd just done. I was 23 at the time. And I just needed somebody to comfort me.

And, she knows, if anybody knows my mom, she knows. Because she was a big-time gambler. She used to gamble a lot. She done won a lot of money, but she lost a lot of money. But, at the end she learned, just as I did, that the casino wasn't the way. If you want to come up, you've got to go grind and get it. If you make some money in a casino, cool. Extra money. But don't let that control who you are, because the casino got the best of me.

But it taught me a life lesson. I took it as a sign from God. He was trying to humble me because I was young. I was making fast money, I was partying, I was drinking, I was gambling. So I was just doing too much, and I think it got the best of me. And I used that little time to just refocus and get my mind right. Started to pray more, and I'm like, "You know what? If you ever put me in this position again, I won't handle it the way I did." And from that moment forward things changed, man. I started to pray more. I became more spiritually connected, and just ate better. So, I just decided to just switch it up. Because what I was doing at the time was obviously going wrong.

Feloni: What were you thinking that night when you lost all that money when you got back to your car? What was going through your head?

Morrow: Man, I was hurt. Not something I cried about, but that was the biggest loss I ever had. Biggest loss I ever had. Boy...

Feloni: Did you have anything left?

Morrow: No. I was literally broke. But I was in a position where I was doing this party, Jack's on Sundays. To this day, four years later, people are still talking about it. Like, "Man, bring Jack's back. Bring Jack's back." I used to do all the Saints games after-parties, had everybody partying there. And I made good money. So, if I would lose money, I can go make money back. But it don't always work out like that. Sometimes you think you're going to make money but you lose money. So, I ended up just getting my mind right, trying to get back on track. And, that's what I did. And, now, you can see things obviously changed.

Learning how to manage risk

Feloni: Something I thought interesting with your book "All Bets on Me" is that you open with a scene of you shooting dice behind the barbershop as a kid. Tell me about that, and why is that a memory that sticks out to you?

Morrow: So my best friend, Cliff, he showed me how to shoot dice when we were 10 years old. And, it was so bad. I was 10 years old shooting dice! I walked over to the store with my mom's store money. She would send me to the store to get bread, and I would gamble the money. And I remember one time I lost her money. And, I was crying for my money back just so I could go get the bread for my mom! But it was something we did to stay out of trouble when we were young, just a little game that we played. Threw around dollar bills and, as we got older, we started to gamble more and bet more.

And I feel like that molded me to the young man I was and grew me into a man. Because I became numb to risk at an early age, you know, shooting dice, gambling with guys twice my age, and with friends. It also showed me the value of a dollar, because we cherished those dollars. But that dollar was cherished at a young age. I would lose, and I would go home hurt.

Feloni: Yeah. So it's like this idea of always taking big risks. How do you use this tendency in a constructive way, instead of it becoming a problem like it did at various points in your life?

Morrow: I had to take what I was familiar with and apply it to what I was doing. I just realized I had to just switch it up. I had to stop gambling, invest in myself, and stop gambling in a game where the odds were stacked against me and start investing in myself where the odds are more in my favor. I know more about my industry than I did know what was under that card. It's face down. I don't know what underneath there. But I can tell you the odds and the projections of what I may do by bringing Drake, or doing this party, investing this money, because I know more about it. So, I decided just to gamble in the industry I'm in.

And it wasn't always pretty. I lost a lot of money doing it. People don't understand the amount of money I invest into my company. And everything isn't for a profit. Some of it's to build a relationship. When I did that Drake party everybody was thinking, "Oh, Larry put on this great party. He made so much money." No. I actually lost $25,000 for that party.

Feloni: Really?

drake larry morrow mom

Morrow: I was able to endure those things because I lost in the past. I lost money coming up. I lost money in the casino. I lost money with the restaurant. I lost money with a bunch of different things. So, my endurance for it was totally different. When I lost that $25,000 I'm, like, "You know that? It's done something bigger for me. It built my brand. It added to my résumé." It motivated me to go a lot harder. I'm like, "You know what? I've go to make this back." But I still put together this great event that everybody still talks about. And not too many people can say they brought Drake to town, and worked with him, and have been able to build with him.

Feloni: Yeah. So, it seems like you've accepted that, whether it's gambling or just taking risks, that that's part of your personality.

Morrow: I never did a drug a day in my life. But gambling ... When I was in that casino at that table, I knew what it felt like to be addicted. Because it's something I couldn't stop. I will give my friends money before I go in, like, "Don't let me touch this. I'm gonna go up there with these few dollars, don't let me get this money." Man, I'm damned about to wrestle my friend down in the casino to get my money. And there's been so many days like that, JonBoy, Kendall, Cliff, all my friends. I would really have to wrestle them down to get my money, because I'm like, "Yo, look. No matter what happens, don't let me touch this money." But then I'm there trying to get the money.

Feloni: So it's applying that now with your businesses and stuff. You know how to play the game. The odds are more in your favor.

Morrow: Yes. I take a lot of big risks, man. It's like, if I lose, you know what, I've got to stay on my grind, I've got to get it back.

Picking up momentum

Feloni: At what point where you able to start bringing in those celebrities? Who was the first?

Morrow: The first person I brought was Draya Michele. This was when I was 20 or 21. And I brought her into town. She's on "Basketball Wives." I brought her to the city. And she came down. She came down with some friends and her manager, Marcus. When they got down to the city they wanted to go eat.

Feloni: How'd they find out about you in the first place?

Morrow: Well, I reached out to them. I reached out to them to host one of my parties. And, at the time, I had a partner. So, when Draya Michele came down, they wanted to get their hair and nails done. We go to the salon. I had a friend of mine, I'm like, "Yo, look. Let's go half on their hair and nails." And, he didn't really want to. So, I paid for it. Went to dinner. I go, "Let's go half." He didn't want to. I paid for it. I'm 20, and he was five, six years older than me at the time. And, he didn't want to go half on it. So, I paid for it. And, pretty much, long story short, at the end of the day they told me, they were like, "You know what? Out of all the cities we've been to, you took care of us more out of all of the cities we've been to. And, you've been the youngest."

They were impressed by it. So, they extended a invite for me to come to L.A., I think for New Year's Eve. So, this was right before I turned 21. So, when I went out there they brought me to church, they brought me to the clubs and introduced me to people that I'm still building with to this day. And, it just showed me the value in relationships, how I didn't do anything out of the ordinary. All I did was be myself. And showed them that Southern hospitality when they came to my city. And, from that stemmed a relationship. I can still call Draya. She hosted a party for me recently. I still have that relationship.

It taught me a lot, knowing that I didn't do anything out of the ordinary. All I did was be who I was, who I am. And, from that moment forward I realized my niche, the things that work for me. I started to continue to do that, and booked people. I was booking, and I would lose. One thing a lot of people, entrepreneurs, they lose, or they fail at something. And that's the end. But with me it's like, every time I failed, I came back stronger. It motivated me to continue to reach that next level. I didn't give up easy.

Feloni: And, did that business partner that you started off with, did that not work out because you weren't seeing eye-to-eye?

Morrow: Yeah. We had two different visions. And, I say in my book, when you align yourself with somebody, you've got to believe in the same things. Y'all have to share some of the same vision, and we didn't. So, we worked together for about three years, and I'm thankful for that situation because it taught me so much. And, he's a good dude, but we just had two different visions. I think it was best that we parted ways. And, let me tell you, when we did, it was on. It was on. Because when you do have a business partner, you've got to understand that it's not all about what you want. It's also about what they want. Not saying it's not good to have a business partner, because you can go further together then you can on your own, but I took off.

Feloni: At what point were you starting to make serious money where you could front, like, 70 grand for a party?

Morrow: After I lost in the casino — 2013, the best worst year of my life — after that year, that's when things started to get on track. I didn't have a partner, and that's when I started to invest. So, I'm seeing 100% of my profits. I wasn't splitting 50-50. So, when I do an event, if I make $4,000, if I make $10,000, if I make $20,000, I'm seeing 100% of my money. I didn't have any investors from that moment forward. I invested all on my own.

I would just save my money up, invest in things, and just build it up, and keep flipping my money until I was able to invest in bigger artists. So, it didn't start off booking Drake and Diddy. Drake and Diddy were in the last two years. I started off booking Draya Michele, TV personalities. Booking people for $5,000 to $10,000. And then, as time progressed it went up and up. And I started to invest $20,000, $30,000, $40,000, $70,000. I started to climb that ladder. I will go all in. I will put all my money up, even when I had no money. And it'll work out in my favor.

larry morrow french montana diddy

Feloni: Well, do you still do that where you're putting everything out on the line, or do you have more safeguards against that?

Morrow: Well, I got more safeguards because I got a lot more on the line. I'm not the little 23, 24-year-old any more. I've got bills. I've got real bills. I've got a family. I've got people I've go to take care of. And I have other businesses that I've got to keep afloat, too. My money's in more safer places now. I'm not putting it all on the line. I have property. No matter what, I own this property. So, no, I don't risk it all like I used to. But, I do risk a good bit of it.

Feloni: Why do you think that is part of your personality? Is it optimism?

Morrow: I'm just so passionate about the things. Anything that I'm doing right now, I'm doing it because I'm passionate about it. And when you're passionate about something, they say, "Passion fuels purpose." So, just me being so passionate about what I'm doing, it's easier for me to love it and wake up in the morning and go get to it. But, me being here — sometimes people think I've got this all figured out. There's days I wake up, leave the house, don't know where I'm going or what I'm doing. I just know I've got work to do.

It's just me being passionate about life and motivated, and being motivated about what I can do for my family, and living life without limits. Being able to take my mother and my family on a trip, or go with my girlfriend, my friends. And just live life. I think that's what it's about. We've all got to leave this earth one day. So I think while we're here we need to make the best of it. And that's what I'm doing.

The power of relationships

Feloni: At what point did you decide that you wanted to get back into the restaurant industry if these events are going so well?

Morrow: So, once again, it was to create stability for my family. I had the opportunity to open up another restaurant, and most people would be afraid to go into the restaurant industry again when they failed at it once.

Feloni: Yeah. And this is Morrow's New Orleans?

Morrow: Morrow's New Orleans. Yes. So, opened up this restaurant and it's crazy. This restaurant has changed me and my family's lives. Because, we started off, and it was crazy. You couldn't even come in without waiting three hours, from the day we opened.

Feloni: How'd you pull that off?

Morrow: I have relationships. I have people that I know, not locally, nationally. I deal with a lot of artists. And I've built a reputation for producing great events, and for just taking care of people.

Just like James Cruz. A guy came down to New Orleans, right, and he wanted me to help produce his event. And, he was like, "Man, I'm sitting down talking to you because I was in New York in the office with James Cruz." And, James Cruz is Diddy's manager. And, he was like, "Oh, you're going to New Orleans? Make sure when you go to New Orleans you deal with Morrow. He runs that city." And, that was just something that happened, you know? And, that's just from building relationships and staying persistent in everything I was doing. So, when people come to New Orleans, they may reach out. I do the nightlife. I do the restaurant. And, the restaurant, like I said, from day one was just amazing. Drake came by, Karrueche ...

Feloni: It's using all this network that you built up.

Morrow: Yeah. Mary J. Blige, Teyana Taylor, Joe from the show "Power" — well, he's Tommy on "Power." Anybody you could think of has been to the restaurant. And I put this sign in front. It had the option to put this little cheap sign in the front or I can get this aluminum one that light up with the M on it. And I'm, like, "You know what? Instead of going the cheap route, I'm going to go ahead and invest money into this sign."

So when people would come in town, I started to take pictures with them in front of the sign. Now I see people get dressed up to come to the restaurant to snap up in front of the sign. It's been all over social media. In five months the page then gained 40,000 followers. So, just utilizing branding and marketing. What I've been doing the past years in the relationships, when people see it on social media, they're very familiar with it before they get to New Orleans because so many people have blessed the spot in taking those pictures in front the building.

larry morrow mary j blige

Feloni: So, what's next for you?

Morrow: Oh, I'm about to dominate in this restaurant industry. I always tell people it's about delegation. You've got to delegate things to people in order to run multiple businesses. You know what, my mom, she can cook her butt off. So, now it's like, "All right. Cool. We about to dominate in this restaurant industry." About to buy anything and everything. Property, open up more restaurants, lounges, whatever. So, me just knowing it's possible it's like ... If this was a basketball game, I would consider this the warmup before the first quarter. This isn't even the first quarter yet. This is only the beginning. So, you can expect to see so much more. So much more.

Feloni: When you're looking at your entire career over the last few years and stuff, what do you think is the biggest challenge that you've had to overcome?

Morrow: Just staying focused, man. Because I think society, especially in the urban communities, society teaches us so many things. Like, we should have the nice watches, the nice cars, spend money. All the material things. And, with me, I went through that phase. I had the $40,000 watches. I buzzed down Rolex's. Just spending money on clothes and just doing all the things that society teaches you. And, I had to realize, "You know what? It's not about the materialistic things. It's more about providing something for my family and creating some stability, creating some generational wealth to where my kid don't have to worry about college, tuition." Things like that. The more real life things. So, that's one of the things that's been the toughest challenge, just staying focused.

Feloni: When was the moment where you decided that you didn't need to start spending money as you made it?

Morrow: It was maybe a few years ago. So, I had this watch, and I paid $40,000 for it. And, I would go out of town. It was cool. It had all the diamonds in it. It was beautiful. But, I didn't want that watch to make me who I was. It caused a lot of tension. But, I realized at one point, "You know what? I don't need this. I've got a house on my wrist. I can go invest in a piece of property. I can make money versus wear this watch." Nothing's wrong with watches, but you've got to put priorities first. Go ahead and buy the $40,000 watch when you're able, and can buy multiple watches.

But at the time I was investing and still trying to figure things out. I didn't know I was going to own a restaurant. I didn't know I was going to be here today. So I think I made the right move by deciding to wear the Gucci shirts all day. I wear those things, but I'm not as flashy. Like, at one point, I thought I was a rapper or something. I thought I was a rapper@ And I'm like, "You know what? You're not a rapper. So, stop trying to portray this image of you being one." So, I had to dumb it down a little bit and just get my mind right, not be so focused on material things. Because, I think you are what you are surrounded by. Once I switched things up and started to think a little different, that's when things really took off.

Paying it back

Feloni: And how do you personally define success?

Morrow: Success, for me, is being able to provide for my family. So, if you had asked me if I'm successful, yes. Because I'm able to provide for my family. Everybody's definition of success is different. Mine is just being able to take care of my family and provide for them. So, I'm happy.

Feloni: So it's linking your ambition to them.

Morrow: Yes. I'm happy. I couldn't be happier just to see my mom happy, see my grandmother happy, my big sister. I grew up in a family of women, my mom, my sister, and my grandmother. And, me being the only man, being the youngest of my siblings, me and my sister, she's a little older than me, I had women take care of me my whole life. So, now that I'm older, I'm making sure that I do what I can to take care of them. So, it's pretty much returning the same love. I just took things into my own hands. And, when my family hurt, I hurt. When things didn't go their way, they didn't go my way. Why? Because, when they're hurting and you're growing up in a household with all women, you want them to be happy. I just did my best to make sure that we can get out those holes, those situations.

Feloni: So it seems like, to get back to this idea of gambling, too, that you want to put yourself in these situations where you're having all of this pressure on you because that's what motivates you?

Morrow: Pressure has allowed me to grow. My older cousin, Cleveland, years back we were having a talk. I told him how stressed I was, and said, "It's so much on my back, family stuff. I've got to help out, do this." And he was like, "Cuz, if it's the same thing that's motivating you, why are you so eager to get rid of it?"

I was so eager to get rid of our problems, our financial problems, to where I don't have the problems anymore. But he was like, "If this is the same thing that's propelling you, why are you just trying to take it away?" And I'm like, "You know what? You're right." Even though the restaurant's doing well and my family's doing much better, that doesn't eliminate all the problems. I'm still motivated and eager to continue to grow so that we can be in a much better position.

larry morrow lil wayne

Feloni: And what advice would you give to someone who wants to have a career like yours?

Morrow: I say, stay persistent. For all entrepreneurs, I'd definitely say stay persistent. Because you're going to fail. Life is not meant to be pretty. It's meant to be a bumpy road. If it was smooth and if it was easy, I don't think we'd appreciate success as much. But just stay persistent even when you fail, when things aren't going your way. When you're having those dark days, when you feel like the weight of the world is on your shoulders, just keep going. Because at the end of each tunnel there is light.

I think just my persistence helped me get to where I'm at. And not taking "no." I'm very much like, "You can't tell me no." I've got to go get it. I've got to.

Don't do things just for the dollar. You've got to do it because you love it. And just see how it can eventually make you money. So have persistence, and then follow your heart.

Feloni: Well, thanks so much, Larry.

Morrow: Thank you.

SEE ALSO: 2 of the 4 sisters behind Yuengling, America's largest independent brewery, explain how they're making the 190-year-old family beer business their own

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After walking away from directing 'It' following nearly 3 years of development, Cary Joji Fukunaga is in no rush to see the movie: 'It's no longer mine'

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  • Cary Joji Fukunaga was originally supposed to direct the 2017 box-office hit "It."
  • However, because of creative differences with the movie's studio, Warner Bros., Fukunaga walked away (he still has a writing credit on the movie).
  • He admitted to Business Insider that to this day he still has not seen "It."

 

Warner Bros.' "It," the latest adaptation of the Stephen King classic novel, turned out to be one of the surprise box-office hits of 2017, as the movie took in a huge $700 million worldwide (it was only made for around $35 million). It had the biggest September domestic opening weekend of all time with $123.4 million.

And that all might be partly why director Cary Joji Fukunaga has never seen the movie.

Though Fukunaga has a screenwriter credit on it, he was originally supposed to direct the movie for the studio as well. However, after constant clashes with the studio, Fukunaga finally walked away from the project in 2015, after close to three years developing and writing the script.

Neither side seems to have regretted the split. Along with a major box-office take, Warner Bros. and the eventual "It" director Andy Muschietti ("Mama") are currently making the sequel, "It: Chapter Two." On Friday, Fukunaga released his anticipated Netflix series, "Maniac," starring Jonah Hill and Emma Stone. And on Thursday, it was announced Fukunaga is going to direct James Bond 25.

Cary Fukunaga Eamonn M McCormack Getty finalDespite all that, Fukunaga isn't just a bit curious how the movie came out?

"I just think it's no longer mine anymore, so it's like, I will watch it one day," Fukunaga told Business Insider, while doing press for "Maniac." "I'm not opposed to it."

Fukunaga said he just hasn't got around to it yet. He also admitted the best place to watch it would be where there are no distractions, like watching it on a plane.

"Exactly! A place where I'm a captive audience," he said. 

SEE ALSO: Cary Joji Fukunaga on directing the next James Bond movie: "I'm just honored that they picked me"

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7 Marvel superheroes who deserve their own TV shows on Disney's upcoming Netflix competitor

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Disney is expected to enter the streaming game next year, and it's bringing the Avengers with it.

According to Variety, Disney is developing TV series for the platform that spin out of the Marvel Cinematic Universe films, starring the likes of Loki, Scarlet Witch, and even characters who haven't been introduced yet.

The MCU has already landed on the small screen thanks to Netflix's Marvel shows like "Daredevil" and "Iron Fist," as well as network shows like "Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D." and "Agent Carter." But those are loosely connected to the MCU. What Disney reportedly wants to do with its streaming service is on another, more ambitious level.

It's also perfect for characters who haven't been included in the MCU's big screen adventures who may be better suited for television.

Since Variety notes that characters who haven't appeared yet could star in their own shows, we've rounded up seven superheroes from Marvel comic books that would fit nicely into the Marvel streaming universe.

Below are Marvel characters that Disney should introduce on its streaming service that haven't been included in the MCU yet:

SEE ALSO: Disney's CEO says there shouldn't be 'two Marvels,' suggesting the X-Men will be introduced to the Marvel Cinematic Universe

Blade

Not since "Blade: Trinity" in 2004, Wesley Snipes' last film in the role and a critically panned finale to his trilogy, has the half-human, half-vampire "daywalker" been seen on the big screen. He appeared in a TV series in 2006 that only lasted one season.

The film rights to the character have reverted to Marvel, but we haven't heard a peep about any prospects for the character. It seems he has been forgotten, even in the comic books — as this Hollywood Reporter piece points out, Blade was set to star in a new comic series in 2015, but after the creators walked away, Marvel never went through with it. 

Blade doesn't exactly fit Disney's family-friendly image, or even within the Marvel Cinematic Universe films. But that's why Netflix was a perfect place for street-level, gritty characters like Daredevil and Luke Cage. The same can be said of Blade, whose more mature elements would put him at odds with the MCU on the big screen, but fit adequately in a streaming series that has fewer limitations.



Deadpool/X-Force

After the Disney/Fox merger, the future of the "Deadpool" movies is up in the air. The character's R-rated foul mouth and violent tendencies, like Blade, don't fit well into the MCU as we know it. But Deadpool and a streaming service might be a perfect match (think of the jokes!).

In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Disney CEO Bob Iger revealed that he'd want Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige to oversee Fox's "X-Men" franchise, which "Deadpool" is technically a part of. When asked if Deadpool could become an Avenger, he said, "Kevin's got a lot of ideas. I'm not suggesting that's one of them. But who knows?"

The prospect of Deadpool being an Avenger is a silly one, but Iger's comments do suggest that the X-Men could be introduced to the MCU, which would open up a can of worms when it comes to Deadpool. A "Deadpool 2" spin-off movie starring the X-Force team is in development with "The Cabin in the Woods" director Drew Goddard, and it's unknown how the merger will affect it. It's possible that it could still move forward, but under Disney, it makes  sense for the character's future adventures to take place on the small screen.



Fantastic Four

The last three "Fantastic Four" movies haven't exactly been successful. They've made less than $800 million worldwide, combined, and the last attempt in 2015, a reboot directed by Josh Trank, only made $63 million domestically. It also has an abysmal 9% Rotten Tomatoes critic score on review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes.

The MCU has managed to breathe new life into characters like Spider-Man and make little-known characters like Black Panther global phenomenons. But if Disney didn't want to take that risk with the Fantastic Four, a TV show on its streaming service might be a better bet.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

7 great movies you can watch on Netflix this weekend

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Netflix has too much content: TV, movies, standup, you name it. It's a great thing, but it also leads to hours spent trying to figure out what to watch, instead of actually watching something.

To make your binge-watching a bit easier, every week, we comb through Netflix's current inventory and collect some movies that might spark your interest.

From Star Wars story "Rogue One" to the brand-new Netflix original movie, "Nappily Ever After," these are some great movies on Netflix that you can watch over the weekend.

Here's 7 movies you should watch on Netflix this weekend:

SEE ALSO: The 100 best crime movies of all time, according to critics

"Nappily Ever After" (2018) — A Netflix Original

Netflix description: When a perfectionist ad exec experiences a romantic setback, she embarks on a journey of self-discovery that begins with a dramatic hair makeover.

Critic score: N/A

Audience score: N/A

This movie starring the endlessly charming Sanaa Lathan is based on the novel of the same name. It follows Violet, a woman who realizes she hasn’t been really living her life until she is freed from her hair. It's a sweet, significant movie that like HBO's "Insecure" authentically represents the perspective of a black woman in a way that is both funny and dramatic. 



"The Witch" (2015)

Netflix description: Believing that a witch has cursed their family, pilgrims homesteading on the edge of a primeval New England forest become increasingly paranoid.  

Critic score: 91%

Audience score: 57%

This thrilling, unsettling, and incredibly well-shot horror film works so well because it is genuinely scary as it touches on themes, such as society's expectations for women, that are still relevant today. 



"Scott Pilgrim vs. the World" (2010)

Netflix description: Dreamy delivery girl Ramona captures Scott Pilgrim's heart, but he must vanquish all seven of her evil exes in martial arts battles to win her love.

Critic score: 81%

Audience score: 83%

This unique movie was truly like nothing else out there when it came out in 2010. It's funny, vibrant, and has some great performances from Michael Cera and others. It also features some major MCU actors before they were superheroes: Chris Evans and Brie Larson. 



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

You should definitely see 'Assassination Nation,' which is a wild ride best described as 'The Purge' meets 'Spring Breakers'

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  • "Assassination Nation" is a frightening look at what it's like to be a young person in America today.
  • It starts out like "Spring Breakers" and ends like one of the sequels from "The Purge."

 

Every weekend we pick an indie movie currently playing in theaters we think is definitely worth your time and money, and this week's is "Assassination Nation."

I don't know if I ever want to see "Assassination Nation" ever again, but that doesn't mean I wouldn't recommend it to you. 

This shock-and-awe indie genre movie from director Sam Levinson (son of Oscar-winning director Barry Levinson) is a blitz to the senses as it explores the dark side of teenage life in 2018 America. 

Set in the sleepy town of Salem, high school senior Lily (Odessa Young) and her friends pass the time before the school year ends by being on their phones and partying hard. But when people in the town are suddenly hit with a data hack of all their personal information, suddenly all human decency is gone and Salem becomes hate-filled. What becomes a movie that has the feel of "Spring Breakers," with young people having a good time, leads to something out of one of "The Purge" movies. And Lily and her friends end up being at the center of it all. 

Filled with lots of guns, lots of blood, and lots of texting, this is a movie that examines America's vices on an ultra-violent level and at numerous moments while watching this you'll question if Levinson is trying to warn us if a Salem could happen or if he's showing us that it's already happening.

See where "Assassination Nation" is playing near you.

Our indie movie picks from previous weekends:

SEE ALSO: After walking away from directing "It" following nearly 3 years of development, Cary Joji Fukunaga is in no rush to see the movie: "It's no longer mine"

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'Fortnite' just had its biggest month ever, with nearly 80 million people playing in August

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  • "Fortnite" is among the most popular games in the world, and August was its biggest month yet.
  • In August 2018, Epic Games says that nearly 80 million people played "Fortnite."
  • The extreme popularity of "Fortnite" continues to grow, even after a year of explosive growth.


The fervor around "Fortnite" is reaching a fever pitch: Nearly 80 million people played the game in August, according to maker Epic Games.

More specifically, 78.3 million people played "Fortnite" last month. That makes August the biggest month ever for the cartoonish, surrealist shooter. And that's really saying something in the context of the game's speedy ascent to the top of pop culture mountain.

Perhaps you've already forgotten: The incredibly popular, free-to-play Battle Royale mode was only added to "Fortnite" in September 2017. 

It's been barely a year since "Fortnite" began its climb to the top, and already its victory dances have bled into professional sports. It feels like months since Drake joined up with Tyler "Ninja" Blevins to stream the game on Twitch, thus boosting its visibility even more — that's because it was months ago, way back in March. March!

ninja and drake fortnite

And now, just one year after Battle Royale hit "Fortnite," more people are playing it monthly than there are people living in Drake's home country — by a factor of two! Way to make Canada look underpopulated, "Fortnite."

Epic Games announced the new peak player count number — which includes players across Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PC, Mac, iOS, and Android — alongside news of the upcoming "Fall Skirmish" competitive season. 

This time, $4 million is up for grabs in competitive play across a variety of modes. Not too shabby! Epic promises that it's strengthened its service ahead of the fall season — during the summer season, competitive players encountered frustrating issues with game stability. Sometimes they encountered those issues during crucial matches, to say nothing of issues some folks had attempting to spectate the matches. In both cases, Epic says it has made "targeted improvements" to get things fixed before the Fall Skirmish kicks off in October.

Fancy yourself a better player than the other 80 million "Fortnite" players out there? Perhaps the Fall Skirmish events are for you! Check out the full details of the "Fortnite" Fall Skirmish event right here.

SEE ALSO: 'Fortnite' streamer Tyler 'Ninja' Blevins says he once received a $40,000 donation while playing the game

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John C. Reilly on long silent walks with Joaquin Phoenix, a tearful farewell to a horse, and almost losing the part he wanted in 'The Sisters Brothers'

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  • John C. Reilly's new movie, "The Sisters Brothers," marks the first time that he's produced a feature film.
  • Along with hiring its director, Jacques Audiard, Reilly also agreed to give Audiard full creative control of the movie.
  • But that choice almost backfired on the actor when Audiard nearly didn't let Reilly have the role he'd wanted to play ever since Reilly had read the book.

With over 75 movie parts under his belt, John C. Reilly is starting to think beyond acting. His latest movie, "The Sisters Brothers" — which screened at the Toronto International Film Festival and opens in theaters September 21 — is a clear indication of that.

The project is an important one for Reilly as it's the first time he's had a producer credit on a feature film. Based on the book by Patrick DeWitt, the story follows two brothers, Eli and Charlie Sisters, who are infamous assassins out West during the gold rush of the 1850s. Reilly optioned the book rights with his wife, producer Alison Dickey, after falling in love with the Eli character and wanting to play him. They brought on French filmmaker Jacques Audiard ("The Prophet") to direct.

Along with Reilly playing Eli, Joaquin Phoenix plays Charlie (Jake Gyllenhaal and Riz Ahmed also star), but that wasn't always how it was planned.

Reilly talked to Business Insider about how by allowing Audiard full creative control of the movie, Reilly almost didn't get to play Eli. He also talked about how long walks with Phoenix led to a close friendship they have to this day, and if he has any ambition to one day direct a film.

Jason Guerrasio: Why produce a movie at this point in your career?

John C. Reilly: It's the only time I've ever done it. It was just this moment. I read the manuscript and bought the rights. My wife, Alison Dickey, is the one who had the idea of reading the manuscript. She gave it to me. It was her idea to approach Jacques about directing it. She's the woman behind the curtain on this. But the reason it seemed like the right thing to do is the character. I read that book, and I really related to a lot of the things Eli was saying.

the sisters brothers 2 annapurna

Guerrasio: So you always wanted to play Eli.

Reilly: Yes, but when we eventually started working with Jacques, his one precondition was that he had to have complete and total freedom. That's the way he's always done his movies. That's the way it is in France — directors have final say.

Guerrasio: In some ways, did you have to audition for Eli?

Reilly: Not audition, but at a certain point in the development of the script Jacques said, "Well, I'm not sure what part you're going to play." And then he suggested another part. He said, "I see you as this other part."

Guerrasio: It wasn't one of the brothers?

Reilly: I won't say what part, but he was, like, "I see you as this other part," and I thought my brain was going to explode. I had no idea that was coming. I thought we were getting together to discuss the script, and he just presents this idea and I was, like, "S---." I mean, I optioned this thing to play this role, but I did promise this guy that he would have total freedom, so I thought for a second: "You could either blow the movie up with this guy right now or go with it."

I felt either this is a test on his part — which he has claimed that it was not — but I felt this is either a test to see if he's really getting the freedom he wants or this is just a really good idea that I'm having a hard time with right now. I'm very adaptable; I can personally see myself play anything. So I just said, "OK." And he continued to develop the script and he came around [to my playing Eli] when it came to cast.

Guerrasio: And in that time, are you planting little seeds to turn him around?

Reilly: There's no planting seeds with Jacques. [laughs] During those trying times I just felt I had to trust the guy. Look at his work; it speaks for itself. And that's why we asked him to do this.

Guerrasio: Well, I was going to ask if you would consider yourself a hands-on producer, but I guess the answer is no.

Reilly: Very hands-on while we developed the movie. My wife was the real person putting in the hours. I'm very good at contacting other actors, and, believe it or not, I'm very good at negotiating contracts. Giving notes on the script. But when it came time to act, that's not a burden I wanted to carry during production. She and Jacques' producers took it from there.

Guerrasio: Did you give your thoughts on who should play Charlie?

Reilly: Joaquin is who I wanted from the beginning, but I couldn't say that. I needed Jacques to make the decision himself. I just had this feeling that if I suggested too strongly I thought he might go another way. But they had one phone call and Jacques offered him the role in that call.

Guerrasio: You and Joaquin work great together. Is that just two actors figuring it out, or did you two know each other going in?

Reilly: It essentially did just happen. I had met him a couple of times. We have a mutual friend, Paul Thomas Anderson, so I had been to events and hung out with him. But I couldn't say I knew him, and now that I do know him I look back and certainly didn't know him back then. He's a complex person, a lot is going on.

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Guerrasio: So on set, between takes, did you two just split off and do your own things?

Reilly: No: the complete opposite. We were linked all the time. We lived together for a lot of the shooting. Traveled to and from set together. Spent our weekends together, because everyone else on set was either French or Spanish. [laughs] We were the only Americans. I don't really speak Spanish well enough — Joaquin can pretty well. But we just spent all this time together.

In the beginning it was difficult to even make eye contact because we're both intense people. There was so much on the line, and we both saw this as a challenging project, so in the beginning we would go on these long walks in Spain together. Walk two hours without saying anything. It would be, like, "Meet you down stairs in 10 minutes?" "OK, see ya down there." And we'd meet: "Where should we go? "I don't know. We can climb that hill?" "OK." And then that's it for the rest of the walk. No more talking. And I'm totally comfortable with that. I like spending time with people who are quiet. Believe it or not, I'm pretty quiet myself.

Guerrasio: When did Jake Gyllenhaal show off to you guys the voice he would use in the movie? That seems to be a thing with him of late, interesting voices to his characters. Change it up.

Reilly: Well, that's what most actors are trying to do. Some actors are good at just being the same basic personality and they make a whole career out of being that guy and other people like to transform, and Jake is certainly one of those people. Right when I heard his accent I loved it. It's a tricky thing what he was trying to do. It's the 1850s, he's educated from Boston but he's been spending his time with all these thugs out in the West, I loved it. In these kind of situations they are perfect to create something new because no one knows how someone talked back then. I think it works beautifully for his character.

Guerrasio: Was there something about the role — the gun, costume, horse, setting — that made you just excited to work every day?

Reilly: Of course every boy wants to be a cowboy. I definitely did. So all that stuff. Shooting that gun was really fun, I'm not going to lie. They were these hand-loaded revolvers that had black powder come out. When you fired those things, the fire that came out was not an effect. I developed a deep, deep bond with my horse. At the end of the movie, I thought, it's going to be so emotional to say goodbye to the people, but the only time I cried was when I said goodbye to the horse.

Guerrasio: So will we ever see you direct? Having produced this, is that one step closer to taking the helm of an entire movie?

Reilly: I am interested in directing. I've done something like 75 movies at this point, so I have definitely thought about directing. But I've been directed by actors before, and I think you have to be ready, you have to be ready to enjoy someone else doing the part. I'm not totally sure that I'd be able to fully not want to get up there myself. When I get to that place I'll be ready to direct. I'm thinking about writing and developing more stories for myself, like with this, because as difficult as it was it turned out really well. When you have more skin in the game like this it just pays off that much more as opposed to being just a hired gun — no pun intended. [laughs]

SEE ALSO: Jonah Hill delivers one of the most heartwarming movies of the year in his directorial debut 'mid90s'

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Cary Joji Fukunaga says he won't return to direct Netflix's 'Maniac' if there's a season 2

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  • "Maniac" director Cary Joji Fukunaga made it clear while speaking to Business Insider that if Netflix does a second season of the show, he will not be a part of it. 
  • This is similar to his work on HBO's "True Detective," in which he directed all the episodes of the first season and then walked away.

 

If there turns out to be a second season of "Maniac" on Netflix, Cary Joji Fukunaga will not be at the helm.

The latest project from the in-demand director launched on the streaming giant on Friday. Very loosely based on the Norwegian TV show of the same name, Jonah Hill and Emma Stone play two strangers who meet at a facility that's doing a pharmaceutical trial. This leads the two on fantastical hallucinations to erase the bad that's inside them. 

It's still unclear if Netflix even has plans to do a second season, but Fukunaga is already making it clear that this for him is one-and-done.

maniac"For me, I like to do one and move onto something else," Fukunaga told Business Insider. "I'd be very happy if another season were to happen, but I think they were just thinking about this as a limited season and if there's an appetite for another one then I think [show creator] Patrick [Somerville] would be happy to take it up and do it again. But not with me."

This is not the first time Fukunaga has dazzled us with a visually stunning limited series and then walked away. He did the same thing on the hit HBO show, "True Detective." 

But you can't fault the director for taking this stance. He's one of the most sought-after filmmakers working today. That was made evident on Thursday when it was announced that Fukunaga would be taking over the reins of James Bond 25

It makes sense for him to continue to keep his options open.

SEE ALSO: 7 great movies you can watch on Netflix this weekend

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NOW WATCH: A top movie actor reveals how he learns different accents

Thriller 'Assassination Nation' had its ads turned down by YouTube and Facebook for controversial imagery

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assassination nation

  • Ads for the new indie thriller "Assassination Nation" were rejected by YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram for their imagery, which included guns and women undressing, Variety reported. 
  • The film's production company, Neon, has also reportedly had trouble placing billboard ads for the movie.

 

The indie production company Neon has had a difficult time promoting its new thriller, "Assassination Nation."

Variety reported that ads for "Assassination Nation" were rejected by YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram due to their perceived explicit content, which included imagery of guns and women undressing. 

The film, which opens in select theaters Friday, follows a group of teenage girls who seek out revenge (with guns) on an anonymous hacker who has doxxed people in their hometown. It stars Suki Waterhouse, Hari Nef, and Bella Thorne.

YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram reportedly declined to host ads and trailers for the film because they violated their terms of use. One trailer featured a woman pulling her shirt up to reveal a bra, and another showed the film's protagonists pointing guns at the camera (as in the above image).

Neon has also reportedly had trouble placing billboard ads for the movie, including one that contained the words "Ass Ass In Nation."

"Every single out of home vendor in Los Angeles passed," Christian Parkes, Neon's chief marketing officer, told Variety. "They thought it was a political ad calling for violence or that it was just plain offensive because it had the word 'ass' in it."

"We knew that this film was a stick of dynamite," Parkes added. "We didn’t want to dress it up into something it isn’t. This isn’t a feel-good coming-of-age story. It’s an honest meditation on where we are as a culture."

"Assassination Nation" opens in 1,403 theaters on Friday, and it's tracking to bring in around $4 million, according to The Hollywood Reporter. The film has a 65% "fresh" rating on Rotten Tomatoes. 

Watch a trailer for the film below:

SEE ALSO: You should definitely see 'Assassination Nation,' which is a wild ride best described as 'The Purge' meets 'Spring Breakers'

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NOW WATCH: A top movie actor reveals how he learns different accents

The most common answers and categories on ‘Jeopardy!’

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jeopardy

Seasoned fans of the show "Jeopardy!" know that certain categories pop up much more often than others.

And it turns out, there are common correct responses that surface over and over again too.

The data visualization website Tableau Public crowdsourced a compelling visualization of the top "Jeopardy!" answers and categories for the show, as well as for Double Jeopardy! and Final Jeopardy! rounds.

You can play around with the embedded infographic above to see the most common response and categories for each "Jeopardy!" round.

Since the show premiered in 1964, the most common response overall was "What is China?" and the most common category was Before & After.

For Double Jeopardy, the most common response was "What is Australia?" while in Final Jeopardy, the most common correct response was “What is Canada?”

To prepare for Final Jeopardy rounds, future contestants will want to brush up on their word origins. Since the show's premiere 35 years ago, this category has been used in the Final Jeopardy round over 34 times, far surpassing the next most common Final Jeopardy category American History.

So if you ever find yourself on "Jeopardy!" and aren’t quite sure of the answer, remember the most common responses — statistics could be on your side.

SEE ALSO: 'Jeopardy' winners are smart in a way that no one expects — here's how 5 of the richest champions spend their winnings

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NOW WATCH: Watch That Dash Cam Video Tribute Of A Police Officer Singing Taylor Swift's 'Shake It Off'

Here's how 5 of the richest 'Jeopardy' champions spend their winnings

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Ken jennings Trebek Jeopardy

  • "Jeopardy" has been a popular game show for 35 years.
  • "Jeopardy" champions are smart in a way that no one expects when it comes to money.
  • The poster boy of "Jeopardy," Ken Jennings, said much of his nearly $4 million in winnings have been "invested in stocks, bonds, and real estate."

 

What is a way to become famous and earn loads of money by answering questions?

"This is 'Jeopardy!'"

Every night, three contestants compete on "Jeopardy" by buzzing in at trivia questions in the hopes of starting a winning streak and taking home cash.

"Jeopardy" has been a TV staple since 1984, racking up 34 Emmy Awards and a Peabody and even turning some contestants into celebrities. While host Alex Trebek is no doubt the star, occasionally a contestant will end up more than a one-time phenom.

From Ken Jennings to Brad Rutter — who both went up against IBM supercomputer Watson back in 2011 — repeat champions have not only won games and millions of dollars, but the attention and adoration of viewers.

Sometimes, a winning contestant will mention what they plan on doing with their money — spending for a wedding, a new car, or a house are all common answers. But many of the show's biggest winners have more in common than their intelligence: they invested the bulk of their winnings.

We found out what five of the most popular and successful candidates in "Jeopardy" history did post-show. Find out what each has spent their winnings on.

SEE ALSO: A 'Jeopardy!' fan favorite explains how he's won over $300,000 in an 8-day streak without really knowing the answers

DON'T MISS: The man who broke records by winning 74 games and $2.5 million on 'Jeopardy' memorized the most obscure facts using the 'links in a chain' technique

Ken Jennings — perhaps the most famous of all "Jeopardy" contestants — won 74 consecutive games back in 2004. In his initial run, Jennings earned $2.52 million.



He won even more money on other "Jeopardy" appearances, and trips to other game shows including "Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader?" and "Grand Slam." In total, Jennings has won $3,923,414 from game shows.

Source: Celebrity Net Worth



Jennings says the greatest luxury his earnings allowed him was to spend more time with his wife and two children. He was also able to move from Utah to Seattle and buy a house.

Source: Jeopardy!



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

27 great apps you should download first for your new iPhone XS (AAPL)

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iPhone XS and XS Max

You've managed to get your hands on a new iPhone XS or XS Max, and now you want cool apps to run on it.

The Tech Insider staff picked some of our favorite apps that show off the power of Apple's new phones.

The list is focused on lesser-known software that we use and love; if you're looking for the most commonly downloaded apps — think Facebook, Snapchat, Google Maps — Apple publishes a list.

Let's check them out:

Citizen lets you see if there are emergencies or crimes nearby.

Citizen is a free app.



Moment helps you track screen time. Apple has built-in tools, but a lot of people in the tech world use this app.

Moment is a free app with in-app purchases.



Mindbody lets you book and search workout classes on the go.

Mindbody is a free app. The classes cost money.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

Eminem took out a full-page ad to diss music critics who panned his new album

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  • Eminem and his labels took out a print ad in The Hollywood Reporter's magazine to diss the music critics who panned his latest album, "Kamikaze."
  • THR's editorial director, Matt Belloni, tweeted an image of the ad on Thursday and asked whether it constituted "the print equivalent of a diss track."
  • The ad has text superimposed over the album's artwork and is designed to look like an Oscar-campaign ad, but it reads "Not for your consideration!"
  • The surprise-released "Kamikaze" debuted at No. 1 in 103 countries in August but didn't get great reviews.

Fresh off a viral YouTube diss track, Eminem is trying his hand at dissing people the old-fashioned way: by taking out full-page print ads.

Eminem and his labels — Shady Records, Aftermath Entertainment, and Interscope — took out a printed ad in the latest issue of The Hollywood Reporter's magazine to diss the music critics who panned his new album, "Kamikaze."

THR's editorial director, Matt Belloni, tweeted an image of the ad on Thursday with the caption: "Respect to @Eminem and his label for running this very funny ad in @THR magazine. Is this the print equivalent of a diss track?"

The ad has text superimposed over the album's artwork and is designed to look like an Oscar-campaign ad, but it reads "Not for your consideration!"

It features quotes from negative reviews, including one from THR, which called the album "the work of an aging artist trying, and failing, to remain relevant." It notes that "Kamikaze" debuted at No. 1 in 103 countries in August and concludes with the words "Thanks for the support, a**holes!"

Eminem ad

"Kamikaze" has a 62% critical rating on Metacritic, an improvement on the 50% rating for his 2017 album, "Revival," whose critics he blasted in multiple tracks on "Kamikaze."

Listen to "Kamikaze" below:

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America's prominent movie-theater chains, ranked from best to worst by audiences

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Alamo Drafthouse NYC 4547

  • A new Market Force Information survey found which theater chains are the most popular among nearly 13,000 participants.
  • The survey asked participants to rank each brand based on a Composite Loyalty Index, and then ranked each chain based on its average score.
  • Alamo Drafthouse Cinemas took the top spot, and swept the concessions categories for its convenience and variety.

 

2018 has been a big year for movies at the box office. This summer alone raked in nearly $5 billion (thanks to an early start with "Avengers: Infinity War") — the second-biggest haul for a summer ever. That's a significant improvement from last summer, which was the worst at the box office in over a decade.

That means people still enjoy going to the theater to see movies on the big screen. And they enjoy some theater chains more than others.

A new survey from customer experience management company Market Force Information found which North American movie-theater chains were audiences' favorites. Nearly 13,000 people participated in the survey, which asked participants to rank each brand based on a Composite Loyalty Index, which factored in convenience of location, seating, show time selection, available movies, types and price of concessions, box-office service, and more.

Alamo Drafthouse Cinemas, with its unique in-theater food and drink service, took the top spot in the survey with a score of 72%. It ranked highest among moviegoers in categories like previous good experience, value for money spent, staff courtesy and helpfulness, and variety of concessions. It swept the concessions and box-office rankings.

Harkins Theatres came in a close second with an overall score of 68%, with participants ranking it the best in convenient locations and second in ticket-collector courtesy (Alamo ranked first) and showtime selection (Studio Movie Grill ranked first with a 41% score). Marcus Theatres landed at third with an overall score of 64%.

Landmark Theatres ranked first among participants in movie-title selection with a 43% score.

AMC didn't fare as well as other chains despite its efforts to compete with MoviePass this summer with its own theater-subscription program. It ranked ninth among the 11 theaters included in the survey with a score of 53%.

Brand loyalty will be especially important to chains that want to roll out their own movie-theater subscription programs to compete with MoviePass.

AMC Theatres introduced its own this summer and attracted 260,000 subscribers in its first two months, and Alamo is testing a beta that had a waitlist of over 40,000 after only a month.

Below is a chart of each chain included in the survey, and where they ranked:

Favorite Movie-Theater Chains (Overall Results)

marketforce theater survey

SEE ALSO: Inside Alamo Drafthouse's beta test of its movie-ticket subscription plan, which has a waitlist of over 40,000 after less than a month

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PlayStation 4 owners can now download full games, including PS2 titles, from the PlayStation Now streaming service — just like the Xbox Game Pass

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PlayStation Now

  • Sony will now allow PlayStation Now subscribers to download dozens of full PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 2 games for offline play.
  • Previously, the $20 per month PlayStation Now service only streamed games to users, requiring a constant internet connection to play.
  • The change makes PlayStation Now a direct competitor to Microsoft's Xbox Game Pass subscription service, which allows players to download a large library of Xbox titles on both Xbox consoles and Windows computers.

Starting September 20th, PlayStation Now subscribers will have the option to download full PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 2 games to their console for offline play, giving them access to a huge library and a more enjoyable playing experience.

Prior to the announcement, players were limited to streaming games from the PlayStation Now library, which required a constant internet connection. Because of the bandwidth required to stream games, image quality is less consistent than when installed, and the controls can be slightly delayed.

Saving PS Now titles to their home console will give players the ability to purchase additional downloadable content and add-ons, expanding playtime on individual games. If a player started playing a game using the streaming service, they can transfer their save, download the title for offline play, and continue where they left off without having to log back into the PlayStation Network.

PlayStation Now Downloads

PlayStation Now has undergone a number of significant changes since it firsts entered open beta in 2014. The service was once available on the PlayStation 3, Vita, and even some Sony and Samsung televisions, but has since been limited to just PlayStation 4 and Windows. PlayStation Now normally offers streaming to 12 countries at $19.99 per month, but new subscribers can join for one month at $9.99 or three months at $44.99. PlayStation Plus subscribers can get three months of PlayStation Now for $30. A full year subscription costs $99.99.

The ability to download full titles with PlayStation Now gives Sony an analogue to Microsoft's Xbox Game Pass service, which launched earlier this summer for Windows and Xbox consoles. Game Pass owners can download as many games as they want to their computer and Xbox with no limits so long as their subscription is live. The Game Pass is $9.99 a month and offers a library of more than 100 Xbox games for download. PlayStation Now hosts more than 650 titles for streaming, but the number of downloadable titles is closer to the size of the Game Pass library.

Most importantly, PlayStation Now's option for full downloads gives PlayStation 4 owners a low-cost option to access dozens of games without having to compromise their playing experience.

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If you like bad words, anti-heroes, and nudity on your favorite TV shows you can thank 'NYPD Blue'

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nypd blue

  • 25 years ago, ABC premiered a cop show called "NYPD Blue," and a bunch of advertisers, TV stations, and pro-family groups freaked out.
  • That's because the show featured rough language, nudity, and serious topics not common to commercial, broadcast TV at the time.
  • Today, 'NYPD Blue' looks rather tame, and advertisers find their ads next to all sorts of far racier content without batting an eyelash.
  • But the show's complicated lead character, Andy Sipowicz, continues to influence TV.


A few weeks ago, I started watching the new Kevin Costner series "Yellowstone." It's decent show. It wants to be prestige TV, but comes off more like a modern version of "Dallas" or "Dynasty."

Costner's character is a rich ranch owner, has a big dysfunctional family, and is kind of good (he's a grandpa), but also really bad (his ranch hands kill people).

One thing that stood out early on is there are loads of bad words, f-bombs and all, and a fair amount of nudity — all brought to you by Ram trucks, a major advertiser.

I've also just started watching Lifetime's "You" (don't judge because it's awesome). It's about a guy (the same actor who played Dan on "Gossip Girl") who stalks a love interest, so you're not exactly signing up for a Hallmark movie.

Just a few minutes into the first episode, the characters are saying and doing all sorts of naughty things that in a different time would be absolutely shocking on commercial TV.

Yet right after a scene of intense stalking and public masturbation, there was an ad for a bunch of great appetizer specials at Applebee's. Talk about feeling good in the neighborhood.

steak applebees

The common thread between these two shows: nobody seemed to care about the explicit content. There was no controversy.

As far as I can tell, there were no protests, blackouts, boycotts, or even press releases from family-focused organizations. Presumably, some viewers may have even watched both shows, jumped in their Ram trucks and happily headed off to happy hour at Applebee's.

The reaction was a bit different 25 years ago when "NYPD Blue" hit the air.

 

If you spend most of your time in a Netflix, HBO, anything-goes TV world,  it's hard to express what a big deal it was when ABC announced plans to launch "NYPD Blue." The show promised frequent cursing and tastefully shot nude scenes on network television, beamed out to the whole country, in 1993. (Variety has a great retrospective here.) Unlike HBO, this was definitely TV.

For one thing, each episode was preceded by a scary disclaimer, like you were about to buy a pack of cigarettes:

"This police drama contains adult language and scenes with partial nudity. Viewer discretion is advised." 

When it premiered on September 21, 1993, a bunch of ABC stations refused to air it, the Los Angeles Times reported, and advertisers were "skittish." Remember, this was pre-Sopranos, pre-ER, and way before "Breaking Bad" and "Sons of Anarchy." TGIF was in full swing.

Here's how you know it was a really long time ago: "NYPD Blue" depicted the East Village as a super gritty place with murders happening every week. Now you can get a one bedroom on Avenue B for like three grand a month.

Right before "NYPD Blue" premiered, fundamentalist minister Donald E. Wildmon told the LA Times: "ABC must be embarrassed and humiliated at this point."

Not so much. Right out of the gate, "NYPD Blue" was a major hit. It turns out, people really like mild cursing and modest nudity. And they really like dark, complex characters. Soon advertisers and ABC stations all got on board.

Initially, "NYPD's" racy scenes featured on its lead characters played by David Caruso and Amy Brenneman (who went onto "Judging Amy"and eventually "The Leftovers").

Dennis Franz

But it was Andy Sipowicz, played by Dennis Franz, who broke out, and changed TV. In the pilot, Andy grabs his crotch and shouts, "ipso this, you pissy little bitch" at a female district attorney. No one knew what that meant, but it was definitely adult.

Sipowicz also boozed a ton, cavorted with prostitutes, might have been mildly racist, and was definitely not afraid to cross the line into police brutality territory. Yet he also had a heart of gold.

 

You can trace a direct line from Sipowicz to Walter White, or anyone from"The Shield" or "Peaky Blinders" — even Don Draper. To be fair, most of these envelope-pushing shows ran on cable, which doesn't have to deal with the Federal Communications Commission, which still regulates what is broadcast over the air (and cares about stuff like Super Bowl Wardrobe Malfunctions, even more than advertisers seem to).

But the point is, modern prestige TV, or even cheese TV, is a lot rougher around the edges than it used to be.

In terms of the peak 1990s — "I can't believe that was just on TV" — it's hard not to think of a 1995 "NYPD Blue" episode featuring Sipowicz in the shower with the DA he previously cursed out. If you like your TV shows edgy, you can thank Sipowicz's butt.

Back then, advertisers were surely holding their breath and waiting for the angry calls. Today, they'd just be happy to have people watch their ads on TV at all.

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