Starz Adapts Best-selling Novel, "Sweetbitter," for Television

Starz Greenlights Savory Drama Series “Sweetbitter”

Casting Currently Underway for the Half-Hour Scripted Drama Based on the Best-Selling Novel

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Starz President and CEO Chris Albrecht announced that the network has ordered straight to series six half-hour episodes of the scripted drama “Sweetbitter,” based on the national best-selling novel of the same name written by Stephanie Danler.

    “This has already been a thrilling ride, and I can't wait for everyone to see how we expanded the world and characters beyond the book”

“Stephanie’s smart, sensory and genuine storytelling is set in the world of high-end dining, fueled by too much debauchery, drugs and French wine,” said Albrecht. “Stephanie, Stu and Plan B have found an exciting way to translate the celebration of senses depicted in the book to the screen, and along the way, will post a love letter to New York City. We look forward to announcing our Tess, Jake, Simone and Howard soon.”

Previously announced as a development project for the network in July, Danler has written the script for the first episode. Stu Zicherman (“The Americans,” “The Affair,” “Six Degrees”) joins Danler, and both will serve as executive producers along with Plan B Entertainment. Donna Bloom will serve as producer on the six-episode freshman season. Laura Rosenthal is currently leading the ongoing casting search.

“This has already been a thrilling ride, and I can't wait for everyone to see how we expanded the world and characters beyond the book,” said Danler. “I've been working with the most brilliant and generous people, and am extremely grateful. It's an honor to show up to work every day.”

“Sweetbitter” follows 22-year-old Tess who, shortly after arriving in New York City, lands a job at a celebrated downtown restaurant. Swiftly introduced to the world of drugs, alcohol, love, lust, dive bars, and fine dining, she learns to navigate the chaotically alluring, yet punishing life she has stumbled upon. This is the story of a young woman’s coming-of-age, set against the rich and grimy backdrop of exclusive restaurants, conjuring a nonstop and high-adrenaline world evoking the possibility, beauty, and fragility of being young and adrift.

Starz retains all global distribution and home entertainment rights to the series.

Senior Vice President of Original Programming Ken Segna, Vice President of Original Programming Patrick McDonald and Senior Coordinator of Original Programming Samantha Offsay are the Starz executives in charge of “Sweetbitter.”


About Starz
Starz (www.starz.com), a Lionsgate company (NYSE: LGF.A, LGF.B), is a leading global media and entertainment company that provides premium subscription video programming on domestic U.S. pay television networks and produces and distributes content for worldwide audiences, including its investment in the STARZ PLAY Arabia OTT service. Starz is home to the flagship STARZ® brand and STARZ ENCORE channels and provides high-quality, entertaining premium subscription video programming with 17 premium pay TV channels and associated on-demand and online services, including the STARZ app. Sold through U.S. multichannel video distributors, including cable operators, satellite television providers, telecommunications companies, and other online and digital platforms, Starz offers subscribers more than 5,000 distinct premium television episodes and feature films every year and up to 1,500 every month, including STARZ Original series, first-run movies and other popular movie and television programming.

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Review: First "Boo! A Madea Halloween" Not One of the Better Madea Movies

TRASH IN MY EYE No. 20 (of 2017) by Leroy Douresseaux

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

Boo! A Madea Halloween (2016)
Running time:  104 minutes (1 hour, 44 minutes)
MPAA – PG-13 for drug use and references, suggestive content, language, some horror images and thematic material
WRITER/DIRECTOR:  Tyler Perry
PRODUCERS:  Ozzie Areu, Tyler Perry, and Will Areu
CINEMATOGRAPHER:  Richard Vialet (D.o.P.)
EDITOR:  Larry Sexton
COMPOSER:  Elvin Ross

HALLOWEEN/COMEDY

Starring:  Tyler Perry, Cassi Davis, Patrice Lovely, Bella Thorne, Yousef Erakat, Lexy Panterra, Andre Hall, Brock O'Hurn, Liza Koshy, Diamond White, Mike Tornabene, Javan Johnson, Angela Ray, and Tyga

Boo! A Madea Halloween is a 2016 comedy and Halloween movie from writer-director Tyler Perry.  The idea for this film originated from a fictitious Madea Halloween movie (entitled “Boo!”) that was referenced several times in writer-director Chris Rock's film, Top Five (2014).  In Boo! A Madea Halloween, Madea fends off noisy spirits and evil clowns while keeping an eye on two high school girls who want to party with a gang of college frat boys.

Boo! A Madea Halloween begins about mid-day on Halloween.  At Upsilon Theta college fraternity house. Jonathan (Yousef Erakat), the fraternity leader, and his fellow fraternity brothers are finalizing plans for their big Halloween party for that night.  The brothers take notice of 17-year-old Tiffany Simmons (Diamond White) and her three friends, 17-year-old Aday (Liza Koshy), 18-year-old Rain (Bella Thorne) and 18-year-old Leah (Lexy Panterra), as they walk past their fraternity house.  Jonathan invites the four teens to their party.

However, Tiffany's father, Brian Simmons (Tyler Perry), does not want Tiffany and Aday to attend the party because, at the age of 17, they are too young to be partying with college-age young men.  Sensing that his daughter will disobey him, Brian convinces his aunt, Mabel “Madea” Simmons (Tyler Perry), to stay at his house and babysit Tiffany.  Madea's brother, Joe Simmons (Tyler Perry), who is Brian's father; marijuana aficionado, Betty Ann “Aunt Bam” Murphy (Cassi Davis); and Joe's lover, Hattie Mae Love (Patrice Lovely), tag along.

Madea is strict, but Tiffany proves to be more stubborn and also craftier than Madea expects.  When she discovers that Tiffany and Aday have indeed gone to the fraternity party, Madea is ready to deal out some punishment; instead, this pugnacious matron will spend a haunted Halloween dealing with ghosts, goblins, ghouls, poltergeists, zombies, and killer clowns.

Boo! A Madea Halloween has its moments.  It is a Madea movie after all, and if you enjoy the antics of Tyler Perry's most beloved character, Mabel “Madea” Simmons, you will find something or some things to like about Boo! A Madea Halloween.  However, it is the weakest “Madea-verse” movie since Meet the Browns (2008), in which Madea only made a cameo appearance.

I like Boo!'s young and diverse cast, although I wish the characters lived up to the energy brought by the young actors.  The youthful energy is needed because characters that are old favorites have worn out their welcome; Aunt Bam, I'm looking at you.  And Uncle Joe isn't at his best here.

This isn't one of Tyler Perry's better efforts at playing Madea, but there is a gem or two here (such as Madea in church, wanting to be “saved”).  It is only a passable Halloween movie.  That said, I want more Madea and there is a sequel to Boo!, due this fall.  So, it is fair to say that Boo! A Madea Halloween is strictly for Madea fans.

5 of 10
B-

Thursday, August 24, 2017


The text is copyright © 2017 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog for reprint and syndication rights and fees.

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DC Comics from Diamond Distributors for October 13, 2017

DC COMICS

AUG170191    AQUAMAN #29    $3.99
AUG170192    AQUAMAN #29 VAR ED    $3.99
AUG170352    ASTRO CITY #48    $3.99
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Marvel Comics from Diamond Distributors for October 13, 2017

MARVEL COMICS

AUG170975    ALL NEW GUARDIANS OF GALAXY #12    $3.99
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AUG170868    X-MEN GOLD #14 LEG    $3.99

IDW Publishing from Diamond Distributors for October 18, 2017

IDW PUBLISHING

MAY170546    A STORY OF MEN HC    $19.99
MAY170547    BEHIND YOU ONE-SHOT HORROR STORIES HC    $15.99
JUN170551    BOTTLED TP    $19.99
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JUN170590    DEVIATIONS BETA TP    $15.99
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Dark Horse Comics from Diamond Distributors for October 13, 2017

DARK HORSE COMICS

JUN170031    BALTIMORE HC VOL 08 THE RED KINGDOM    $24.99
AUG170043    DEPT H #19    $3.99
JUN170076    EC ARCHIVES ACES HIGH HC    $49.99
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JUN170024    MR HIGGINS COMES HOME HC    $14.99
JUN170075    RASHOMON COMMISSIONER HEIGO KOBAYASHI CASE HC    $19.99
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JUN170088    TOMB RAIDER ARCHIVES HC VOL 03    $39.99

Image Comics from Diamond Distributors for October 18, 2017

IMAGE COMICS

AUG170607    BITCH PLANET TRIPLE FEATURE #5 (MR)    $3.99
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