Entertainment NOW

December 4 - 10, 2022 | Entertainment Now 3 Across 1. Film director's cry 4. Father figures 8. Concept embodying yin and yang 11. "Wheel of Fortune" purchase (2) 12. "Why should ___ you?" (2) 13. Hollywood star Sean, of "Game of Thrones" 14. Combine 15. Without boundaries 17. Like Mr. Burns, the Daleks and Moriarty 19. Dawn deity 20. TV series about a young Bruce Wayne that ran from 2014-2019 23. English actor Atkinson, of "Mr. Bean" 26. Show place 27. Summer on the Riviera 28. Dorm V.I.P.'s 29. Book with legends 32. TV episode name 34. Controversial 1962 Stanley Kubrick film 36. ___ Francisco 37. With 23 Down, a major reality TV franchise 41. School outing (2) 43. "What's up, ___?" (Bugs Bunny catchphrase) 45. Jai ___ 46. Widespread 47. Pinup's leg 48. Getting on in years 49. Stage opening (2) 50. Ecol. watchdog Down 1. Video maker, for short 2. Higher learning inst. 3. Sitcom that starred Danny DeVito 4. Hollywood heartthrob Matt 5. Assumed name 6. Actress Moore 7. Undercover operation 8. ?Souvenir shop buy 9. Some batteries 10. Switch settings 13. "Arrested Development" family 16. Tugboat sound 18. Grazing spot 21. Shrinking Asian sea 22. Inventory: Abbr. 23. With 37 Across, a major reality TV franchise 24. "Beetle Bailey" dog 25. Oil extraction structure 30. Food Network staple ingredient 31. Poker variety 32. Chiang Kai-shek's capital 33. Bill: Abbr. 35. Stars, in Kansas' motto 36. Short-lived 2022 Nancy Drew spinoff: "Tom ___" 38. Guitarist Clapton 39. Just beat 40. Daytime TV offering 41. ___ Schwarz toys 42. Not in the pink 44. Nashville-based awards org. Crossword television Solution on page 8 By Raye Smith TV Media WHAT'S NEW ON NETFLIX "Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio" (2022) The delightfully twisted mind of Academy Award-winning director Guillermo del Toro ("Pan's Labyrinth," 2006) brings his own version of a classic children's tale to life with the stop-motion animated film "Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio," premiering Friday, Dec. 9, on Netflix. Working alongside stop-motion legend Mark Gustafson ("Claymation Eas- ter," 1992), the duo reimagine Italian author Carlo Collodi's original 1883 book "The Adventures of Pinocchio," about a wooden puppet named Pinocchio (voiced by Gregory Mann, "Victoria"), made by kindly wood- worker Geppetto (voiced by David Bradley, "After Life"). Desperately lonely and longing for a family, Geppetto brings Pinocchio to life by wishing on a star. Although Geppetto loves Pinocchio like his own son, Pinocchio becomes enraptured by the idea of becoming a "real boy" and having real-life experiences. Hoping to make his own wish come true, he embarks on a grand, enchanted adventure, learning about the world and the true power of love. Directed by del Toro and Gustafson, "Pinocchio" is written by del Toro, Patrick McHale ("Adventure Time") and Matthew Robbins ("Crimson Peak," 2015). The film's all-star voice cast is rounded out by Ewan McGregor ("Obi-Wan Kenobi"), Ron Perlman ("Nightmare Alley," 2021), Finn Wolfhard ("Stranger Things"), Cate Blanchett ("Carol," 2015), Burn Gorman ("The Expanse"), Tim Blake Nelson ("O Brother, Where Art Thou?," 2000), Tilda Swinton ("Suspiria," 2018), John Turturro ("Severance") and Christoph Waltz ("The French Dispatch," 2021). WHAT'S NEW ON HULU "Back in the Groove" - Season 1 Get back into the swing of things with the new reality dating series "Back in the Groove," premiering Monday, Dec. 5, on Hulu. Playing off of and taking inspiration from the 1998 film "How Stella Got Her Groove Back," the show follows three 40-something women as they check into The Groove Hotel, a resort in the Dominican Republic where their goal is to "re- discover their youth, live joyously and find love with men half their age" (per Hulu). As they look to build up some self-love, create stronger friendships and maybe enjoy a fling (or two), the series aims to break the double standards that women face as they age. With helpful con- cierge Pedro Salamanca at the ready to help them with whatever they may need, contes- tants Sparkle, Steph and Brooke can focus on living their most relaxed, self-indulgent lives. The series' inaugural eight-episode season is hosted by actor Taye Diggs, who made his big- screen debut in the 1998 film. WHAT'S NEW ON PRIME "Christmas Bloody Christmas" (2022) It's a bloody fight for one woman's right to party this Christmas. The new holiday horror film "Christmas Bloody Christmas" premieres Thursday, Dec. 8, on Shudder via Prime Video. It's Christmas Eve in Tori's (Riley Dandy, "That's Amor," 2022) sleepy, small American town, and all she wants is to get drunk and party. But when a robotic Santa Claus at a nearby toy store goes haywire and heads out on a rampant killing spree, Tori is forced to set aside her plans and take on a battle for survival against the animatronic maniac terrorizing the town. Directed and written by Joe Begos ("Bliss," 2019), "Christmas Bloody Christmas" also stars Sam Delich ("Spider- head," 2022), Jonah Ray ("Mystery Science Theater 3000"), Dora Madison ("Friday Night Lights"), Jeff Daniel Phillips ("The Munsters," 2022), Abraham Benrubi ("ER") and Jeremy Gardner ("The Battery," 2012). WHAT'S NEW ON APPLE TV+ "Little America" - Season 2 Get a look at a slice of classic American life when Season 2 of the anthology streaming series "Little America" premieres Friday, Dec. 9, on Apple TV+. Inspired by true stories featured in Epic Magazine, the series' eight new episodes dig deeper into the funny, heartfelt, romantic, inspiring and surprising tales of immigrants in America. Written and executive produced by Lee Eisenberg ("The Office") and Sian Heder ("CODA," 2021), who serve as co-showrunners, and Kumail Nanjiani ("The Big Sick," 2017) and Emily V. Gordon ("Crashing"), "Little America" is also executive produced by Alan Yang ("Parks and Recreation"), Joshua Bearman ("Argo," 2012), Joshua Davis ("West Coast," 2000) and Arthur Spector ("Breaking," 2022). The Season 2 cast includes Riley Jackson ("A Genie's Tale," 2022), Bernard White ("Big Sky"), Bonnie Hellman ("Amsterdam," 2022), Connor Weil ("K.C. Undercover"), Monika Gossmann ("Mank," 2020), Peter James Smith ("The West Wing"), Sathya Sridharan ("The Whale," 2022), Wyatt Lindner ("Apollo 10 1/2: A Space Age Childhood," 2022), Mohammad Amiri ("Fighting with My Fam- ily," 2019), Ali Olomi ("Wildcat," 2021), Lily Mae Harrington ("Single Drunk Female"), James Saito ("Eli Stone"), Elham Ehsas ("Shantaram"), Zachary Shadrin ("The Last Mercenary," 2021) and Sasha Frolova ("Little Women," 2019). WHAT'S NEW ON DISNEY+ "Night at the Museum: Kahmunrah Rises Again" (2022) After almost a decade, the fun and fantastical Night at the Museum family film franchise returns (this time in cartoon form) with its fourth installment: "Night at the Museum: Kahmunrah Rises Again" premieres Friday, Dec. 9, on Disney+. Set after the events of the 2014 "Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb," the new film picks back up with Larry's (played in the live-action films by Ben Stiller, "Zoolander," 2001, but now voiced by Zachary Levi, "The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel") son, Nick Daley (Joshua Bassett, "High School Musical: The Musical: The Se- ries"), who is hesitant to take up his father's old post as night watchman at the magical natural history museum. Unfortunately, his hesitance leads to chaos, and the nefarious ancient Egyptian royal Kahmunrah (Joseph Kamal, "The Flight Attendant") returns to conquer the world. Now, it's up to Nick to step into his duty and protect the museum from destruction. Directed by Matt Dan- ner ("WWE Slam City"), the film is based on the book by Milan Trenc ("Night at the Museum," 2006) and written by Ray DeLau- rentis and William Schifrin (both of "Shaggy & Scooby-Doo Get a Clue!"). The film's voice cast is rounded out by Thomas Lennon ("Reno 911!"), Akmal Saleh ("Tracey Mc- Bean"), Steve Zahn ("The White Lotus"), Jack Whitehall ("Jungle Cruise," 2021), Kieran Sequoia ("Godless"), Alice Isaaz ("Notre- Dame"), Jamie Demetriou ("The Afterparty"), Gillian Jacobs ("Community"), Bowen Yang ("Saturday Night Live"), Chris Parnell ("Rick and Morty") and Zeeko Zaki ("FBI"). Gepetto and Pinocchio in "Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio"

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