Focus Features’ long-awaited feature film version of John le Carré’s classic bestselling novel Tinker, Tailor, Solider, Spy begins its U.S. theatrical run in New York and Los Angeles on Friday, December 9.
The thriller, directed by Tomas Alfredson from a screenplay adaptation by Bridget O’Connor & Peter Straughan, takes place in 1973-1974 during The Cold War. Gary Oldman stars as George Smiley, a career U.K. spy with razor-sharp senses.
At the red carpet premiere in New York City, we spoke with stars Gary Oldman and Mark Strong, and Focus Features CEO James Schamus, about what makes this spy story and its characters so compelling. Learn more here:
The holiday season jumps into high gear tomorrow, December 6 at 8/7c, as A Michael Bublé Christmas airs on NBC.
The special features songs from Michael Bublé’s new Christmas album, plus heartwarming performances from some very special guest stars, including Justin Bieber, Kellie Pickler, Thalía and more.
We got a few minutes to chat with Michael, Kellie and Thalía about their favorite holiday memories and to give them a chance to send a message directly to their fans for the holidays. Click here to kick off the season:
There was plenty of holiday spirit in the air last night with the official lighting of the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree.
We stopped by NBC 4 New York’s party to get holiday wishes from folks ranging from Donald Trump to the casts of NBC’s 30 Rock and Smash. Plus, hear everyone’s musical talent in their very own recital of “Deck the Halls” in the video below:
Una Maid en Manhattan, Telemundo’s newest original novela premieres tonight, November 29, at 8pm ET/7pm CT.
Based on the Sony film, Maid in Manhattan, the novela features Litzy and Eugenio Siller in the lead roles and is shot on location in Mexico, New York and Miami. In fact, the talented team at Telemundo Studios Miami has recreated a “slice” of the Big Apple on their own backlot in Florida’s “magic city.”
Jim Stamatis, VP of Studio Operations, takes us on an exclusive behind-the-scenes tour, plus hear from two of the production’s supporting actors.
With amazing sales and crazy hours, Black Friday can be an endurance-testing, shopping spree marathon.
Jeannie Mai, experienced makeup artist, fashion expert, and actress from Style’s How Do I Look? offers three simple suggestions on how to survive this year’s Black Friday, so you can shop and not drop.
Make sure to watch the video below and learn how you can spice up your outfit, yet remain comfortable with Dekkori boot cuffs and more.
And, tune in to How Do I Look? Mondays at 10/9c on Style to learn more of Jeannie Mai’s practical fashion advice on how to look good and feel good.
Millions will travel many miles to gather around the table with their families this Thanksgiving, but NBC 4’s Produce Pete says that even with all that road-going we should buy local to stay green.
Learn more about the importance of buying local produce from your area, what vegetable you can use as substitute for pumpkin in pumpkin pie, and what Pete’s favorite Thanksgiving dish is in our video here:
This weekend, we caught up with Glee Project winner Damian McGinty at Oxygen’s open casting call at the Roy Arias Studios & Theaters in New York City for the next season of The Glee Project.
McGinty gave advice to hopefuls, and even took to the streets to chat it up with the folks waiting on line for a chance to become one of the next contestants on The Glee Project.
We’ve got your ticket to ride… all the way to Stamford, CT. Want to be part of a live studio audience on The Jerry Springer, Maury, or Steve Wilkos Shows? Here’s your chance!
We took a trip to the Stamford Media Center in Stamford, CT, the home to all three shows and found out how to land tickets. Get the scoop on all of the fun perks, ranging from free meals to even transportation for you NYC folks. Check it out here:
In preparation for the Wednesday, November 9th Your Money, Your Vote: The Republican Presidential Debate, which will be held at Oakland University in Rochester, Michigan and broadcast live on CNBC beginning 8PM ET, we sat down with Carl Quintanilla, Co-Anchor of CNBC’s Squawk on the Street, to get his take on the candidates, and hear about the key issues Americans want addressed.
To get ready for the primary debate, tune in to Your Money, Your Vote beginning at 7PM ET, which will be live, on-location and anchored by Quintanilla.
Don’t wait until tomorrow to get your politics on though – click here to find out whether the “hang factor” really matters this election year:
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Follow Carl Quintanilla on Twitter: @carlquintanilla
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Check out CNBC on the web: cnbc.com
Last night, industry folks gathered around at the Gramercy Park Hotel in New York City to congratulate Chris Matthews on the release of his new book Jack Kennedy: Elusive Hero.
We spoke with Chris Matthews, Dan Rather, Charlie Rose and Jerry Stiller about the book, their thoughts on JFK compared to political leaders today, how the media would treat JFK today, and a personal anecdote from Jerry Stiller. Learn more here:
NBCUniversal today announced a number of enhancements at its 10 owned television stations that are the result of a major investment the company is making to further strengthen the news gathering operations at the stations and ensure they have the resources necessary to effectively compete in their markets. Valari Staab, President of the NBC Owned Television Stations, said the 10 stations are hiring more than 130 new people, producing more local news, launching new consumer and investigative units in five markets and making other enhancements.
Hear more about the investment from Valari Staab and her thoughts on why local news is critical:
Grimm, a new series inspired by the classic Grimm’s Fairy Tales, premieres tonight on NBC at 9/8c. David Giuntoli plays a Portland homicide detective that discovers he is descended from an elite line of criminal profiles known as “Grimms,” who are charged with keeping balance between humanity and the mythological creatures of the world.
We caught up with David today in the NBC Experience Store to learn more about the show and its fright factor, what creatures he was scared of growing up and his idea of dressing up as Susan Boyle for Halloween. Check it out here:
With trick or treat night just a week away, we asked for makeup advice from some of Syfy’s superstars, as well as Saturday Night Live’s head makeup artist Louie Zakarian.
And to prove that anyone can use these tips to make their own creepy costume, we asked one of our co-workers to be our very own test subject. Click here to learn the right tools and techniques, ranging from gelatin to egg yolks:
Where have all the record stores gone? What’s destroying jobs in the entertainment business? Can the Internet exist without creative content? To answer these and other burning questions, we headed down to NYC’s East Village to check in with author Robert Levine, whose new book, Free Ride: How Digital Parasites are Destroying the Culture Business, and How the Culture Business Can Fight Back, hits shelves in the U.S. on Tuesday, October 25.
Check out a preview of the book that’s causing a buzz in the creative industries:
CNBC.com is giving participants of the Occupy Wall Street protests a live forum – called “Speaker’s Corner” – to make their voices heard. In this raw, unfiltered forum – which can be found on the homepage of CNBC.com – protesters are streamed live as they discuss their goals, ambitions, frustrations, and hopes.
Yesterday we took a trip down to the financial district and stopped by the Speaker’s Corner to learn more about what CNBC.com is doing, and to talk to some of the protesters. Learn more below, and hear the spirit of the protest captured in song:
Louie Zakarian, Saturday Night Live’s Makeup Department Head, has been working on NBC’s late-night comedy showcase for over 16 years.
Having garnered several Emmys for his talent, he’s worked on memorable sketches and characters including the Avatars, Bobby Moynihan’s “Snooki” and more recently, Bill Hader’s back abs.
We caught Louie backstage to learn more about how he got into makeup and why he doesn’t dress up for Halloween anymore. Check it out here:
Plus, want to see Louie in action? Get a glimpse of him creating a fake wound on an NBCUniversal employee here:
With yesterday’s release of Destination Truth: Memoirs of a Monster Hunter, fans of the Syfy television series Destination Truth have another great way to connect with one of the most thrilling shows on TV… and to check out some fantastic travel info.
We caught up with author and Truth star Josh Gates at Syfy’s Digital Press Tour. Check it out here:
Syfy announced yesterday that it will bring the international hit Total Blackout to its prime time schedule in 2012.
The show, which will be hosted by Jaleel White (Family Matters, Grown Ups), is a comedic game show in which contestants battle each other and their fears in a series of challenges. However, there is a twist – all the challenges are played in the dark!
We sat down with Jaleel to find out more about the show and to learn about a particular animal that he is scared of … Check it out here:
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Follow Syfy on Twitter: @syfy
Check out Syfy on the web: syfy.com
Bravo premieres its new show Mad Fashion tomorrow, October 4, at 10/9c.
Project Runway alum Chris March and his eccentric crew will show viewers how they create one-of-a-kind designs for high-profile clientele. From designing Jennifer Coolidge’s Mardi-Gras float ensemble and model Chrissy Teigen’s gown for the MET Costume Gala, no creation for this team is too outrageous.
Hear from Chris March and meet some of the show’s other mad-fashion-fabulous cast members:
The final stories in our series highlight Dre Brown, Ad Sales Marketing Manager at Bravo, and Trevor Burkins, NBC Page.
Dre hails from Norfolk, Virginia and has been with the company for three years. Dre’s high school marketing club advisor Margie Stallings helped her on the road to success by teaching her the importance of branding yourself:
Trevor Burkins, a native of Ohio, has been with NBC since February 2011. It was his 9th grade English teacher who sparked his interest in film, and in the process helped him become who he is today:
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Our next moving teacher story in “The More You Know” series features Bob Palladino, who joined NBC 31 years ago. Bob was the first music mixer at Saturday Night Live. He grew up in Long Island, which is where his Cinematography teacher Joe Albert introduced him to the importance of sound and encouraged him in the direction of where he is today as SNL’s Senior Audio Engineer. Hear his story:
Brett Osmon, a Programming Analyst at Syfy who is originally from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, has been with NBCUniversal for a little over four years now. Brett’s college professor Nicholas Rowland inspired him to pursue a career in media and ultimately helped him land where he is today. Watch his story here:
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E! premieres its latest reality concoction Dirty Soap this Sunday, September 25 at 10pm ET.
The show offers an inside look into the lives of the high-profile soap stars Kelly Monaco (General Hospital), Nadia Bjorlin (Days of Our Lives), Kirsten Storms (General Hospital), Farah Fath (One Life To Live), JP Lavoisier (One Life To Live), and Galen Gering (Days of Our Lives).
Learn more about the drama that ensues on the show from some of the cast here:
A second episode of NBC’s new show Free Agents airs tonight at 8:30/7:30c. This romantic comedy explores the trials and tribulations of finding love the second-time around.
We sat down with Hank Azaria – who plays the newly divorced Alex – to hear his own personal story of when he began dating again for his second-time around. Learn more here:
The Biggest Loser premieres its 12th season tonight, September 20 at 8/7c, with a couple new additions including Anna Kournikova joining the team as a trainer. This season, viewers will see 15 contestants compete in a “Battle of the Ages” that will group contestants by age for the first time ever in the history of the show – with ages ranging from 24 to 65.
We sat down with Anna at the NBC Experience store to talk about what she hopes to bring to the show, and to get some tips on leading a healthier lifestyle:
Set in the stylish 1960s, The Playboy Club transports viewers back in time to a pivotal moment when the culture was rapidly evolving, and the newly formed clubs offered a fantasy world of status and glamour.
We caught up with Eddie Cibrian, who plays a high-powered attorney that runs with the elite of Chicago. To learn more about the show (premieres tonight, September 19 at 10/9c) and why Eddie loves playing his character, check out our video here:
This week the Mayor’s Office of Media & Entertainment in NYC held a summit on online theft and counterfeiting in lower Manhattan during which they announced a contest that gives students a chance to design their own PSA Campaign to drive awareness about content theft.
The judges of the competition – known as the “Create the Next Spot Contest” – include Whoopi Goldberg, Sway of MTV News, Dan Mahoney of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, Doug Oines of the National Association of Theatre Owners, Katherine Oliver of the Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment and James Schamus of Focus Features.
The winners of the contest will have their spots distributed on multiple platforms, including in taxis, online and on local television.
We stopped by the summit where Katherine Oliver, NYC Media & Entertainment Commissioner, issued a call to action for other cities to join the fight against piracy. Hear what she and other attendees of the event had to say:
And, here is one of the City’s current spots about stopping piracy in NYC:
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To learn more about the contest and the fight against digital piracy visit: StopPiracyinNYC.com.
With summer coming to a close, NBC has kicked off its fall slate! One of the shows Up All Night (premiering tonight at 10/9c) is a new comedy that gives an irreverent look at parenthood.
Starring Will Arnett as Chris Brinkley, the supportive, stay-at-home husband of career woman and new mom, Reagan (played by Christina Applegate), Up All Night tells the story of a couple figuring out their new life through self-doubt, sleep deprivation, a demanding boss (played by Maya Rudolph) and the pressure of today’s parenting protocols.
We caught up with Will at the NBC Experience store to learn more about his character, the show and juggling parenthood. Check it out here:
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Check out Up All Night on the web: nbc.com/up-all-night
To get more information on the other shows premiering this Fall visit: nbc.com
Veteran news anchor Tom Brokaw has reported on pivotal moments in world history over the past several decades, but 9/11 is one that he and millions of Americans will never forget.
We sat down with Mr.Brokaw and asked him what it was like covering this heart-wrenching time in our nation’s history, how it has shaped us and his hopes for moving forward:
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To learn more about NBCUniversal’s broadcast plans for the 10-year anniversary of 9/11, click here.
It’s a sports-themed week at NBCUniversal. The entire company is getting “Back to Football” as the new season kicks off today, and Versus is also joining in with the launch of a new show that will give fans a different look at the sports world.
Starting this Friday, CNBC business reporter Darren Rovell will host CNBC SportsBiz: Game On airing Fridays at 7pm ET on Versus. The show will give fans an inside look at the “power brokers” behind the players who make the “big deals” in the business. We spoke with Darren about the show and got a tour of his new set.
Check out his favorite sports memorabilia and why CNBC SportsBiz: Game On is unlike any other sports show on the air:
Have you ever wondered what “a day in the life” of a news reporter is like? When breaking news happens, usually the public only sees a reporter on-the-scene doing a live segment. What they don’t see is all of the work and investigation that goes into tracking a story and getting it right … but now they can.
NBC 10 Philadelphia recently announced a new partnership with foursquare that allows viewers to check-in with reporters throughout the day as information unfolds in their community. NBC 10 is one of the first local television stations in the country to integrate news content into the foursquare platform.
Thanks to NBC 10 Philadelphia you can learn more about the concept behind the partnership and how it will help engage viewers. Check it out here:
Focus Features releases The Debt in theaters nationwide this Wednesday, August 31.
In the espionage thriller directed by Academy Award nominee John Madden, the suspense of a secret mission to track down a Nazi war criminal builds in and across two different time periods, with startling action and surprising revelations that compel retired Mossad secret agent Rachel Singer – played by Academy Award winner Helen Mirren, and, as a young agent in the field, by Jessica Chastain – to take matters into her own hands.
At the film’s NYC special screening, we caught up with “the two Rachels,” the director, and more. Check it out here:
From the resignation of Steve Jobs to Hurricane Irene heading for the financial capital of the world, it’s a season of both financial and natural storm. He may not be the weatherman, but in this week’s CNBC 2-minute breakdown John Melloy, Executive Producer of CNBC’s Fast Money and Strategy Session, tells us which way the wind blows. Click it quick:
Which celebrity couple do you think is most likely to tie the knot? Who do you think is most likely to be voted “best dressed?” If you could switch places for a day with anyone in Hollywood, who would it be?
We asked Emmy-winning journalist and celeb expert Catt Sadler of E! News to give her take on various celebrity superlatives; check it out here:
To get your daily dose of celebrity news, don’t forget to tune into E! Newsweeknights at 7 & 11:30pm.
With help from the U.S. Census Bureau and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, mun2 has created the first complete list of best cities to live in for Young Latinos. Judged on a variety of factors from percentage of young singles to affordability, each city offers its own curb-appeal. Boston was the big winner, earning top rankings for its public facilities, low unemployment rate and highly educated, sports-obsessed population.
Other metropolitan cities earning top five slots included Austin, Denver, New York and Phoenix. To learn more about the study and a full list of cities, check out this video here:
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Follow mun2 on Twitter: @mun2
For more information about the study and the full list of cities visit: mun2.tv/best
In what’s been another action-packed week with the Dow fluctuating from minute to minute, what’s in store for next week? Merkel and Sarkozy meet about bail outs, Main Street and Wall Street battle it out, Obama makes a trip to the Midwest … hear a brief two-minute recap of the past week and what you need to know about the week ahead from Sandy Cannold, Executive Producer of Street Signs and CNBC Specials.
While recently out in LA, we decided to stop by the Chelsea Lately studios to catch up with writer/producer/comedian Heather McDonald. In what turned into a rather hilarious interview, we learned the “truth” about Jennifer Aniston’s core, how Chelsea Handler is like a “cat,” who in Hollywood Heather would like to trade places with for a day, and much more.
Check it out here:
And, don’t forget to tune into Chelsea Lately weekdays on E! at 11pm ET!
America’s Court With Judge Ross began airing on NBC 4 New York this summer every Monday through Friday at 12:30 PM ET. We caught up with Judge Ross recently to find out why he thinks people are drawn to court TV, how he keeps order in his court, plus…what he thinks about the recent Casey Anthony verdict.
In our weekly feature, fast talker John Melloy, EP of The Strategy Session and Fast Money on CNBC, crams an entire week of events and information – Apple, UPS, debt ceiling, euro-crisis, Greek bail outs, house votes, negotiations through the weekend, 14th amendment, saving the country – into an action packed two minute video without breaking the third wall.
The one-year countdown to the London 2012 Olympic Games officially begins today! Ever wondered how the athletes prepare for such a marquee event? Well, we caught several of the U.S. athletes – including Nastia Liukin, Alicia Sacramone, Henry Cejudo, and Jonathan Horton – at the NBC Experience store this morning.
Learn more about their routines leading up to the Games, some of their favorite Olympic memories and more about the spirit of the Olympics. Check it out here:
MSNBC turns 15-years-old on July 15, 2011, and we sat down with President Phil Griffin and asked him how it feels to celebrate this milestone, as well as what he hopes to see in the future for MSNBC. Check it out here:
James Lipton has spent the last 17 years interviewing some of the most prominent actors in the world on Bravo’s “Inside the Actor’s Studio.” And, tonight at 8 p.m. ET on Bravo, he will interview one of the most beautiful and talented women in Hollywood, Jennifer Aniston.
Listen to Mr. Lipton talk about the unique way he prepares for interviews and why this show is different from any other show of its kind on television:
The best way to celebrate the 4th of July is with a bang, a boom and a sparkle!
On Monday, July 4, millions of people will turn on their TVs to tune into the 35th Annual Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks® airing at 9 p.m. ET on NBC, which is also being fed for free to the Armed Forces Network.
While everyone knows how spectacular the yearly show is, not everyone is familiar with the dedicated artists who work behind-the-scenes for months on end to thrill viewers with fireworks that light up the sky over the Hudson and that really illuminate our national heritage. So, we ventured out to the pier in Staten Island to get the behind-the-scenes details from Firework Master — and designer of the Macy’s show — Gary Souza.
Gary took us through the nuts and bolts of putting on a fireworks show of this caliber, gave us the inside scoop on what’s new and exciting in this year’s program, and shared his feelings about the real meaning of this very important holiday.
Get the background here, and don’t forget to tune in:
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Follow NBC on Twitter: @nbc
For more information on Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks® on NBC visit: nbc.com/macys-4th-of-july/
Premiering this Wednesday, June 29 at 10/9c, “Love in the Wild” is NBC’s newest reality show to hit the airwaves.
Hosted by Darren McMullen (Australian “Minute to Win It”), “Love in the Wild” is an exciting adventure dating series that puts relationships to the ultimate test. The show places 10 single men and 10 single women into the deep, remote jungles of Costa Rica to see if they can find that special someone they’ve been looking for. In each episode, the couples will pair up in exhilarating quests that will push their bodies and their emotions to the limit in hopes of walking away with love in the end.
Hear more from Darren about what makes this show unique:
Last week, CNBC’s Maria Bartiromo became the first female journalist inducted into the Cable Hall of Fame. In an interview last night, we asked Maria about the obstacles she had to overcome to get where she is today:
Plus… hear her advice to folks who would like to be in her shoes one day:
Queen of the South — “La Reina del Sur” — has ended her reign on Telemundo, but the network’s most ambitious and successful prime time original series and its celebrated cross-over star, Kate del Castillo, may yet be crowned with Emmy Awards®.
Joshua Mintz, senior executive vice president, Telemundo Entertainment, discusses the production’s ratings performance and the network’s first-time ever campaign for Emmy® recognition here:
For her part, Kate del Castillo has won widespread acclaim for bringing to life the role of ‘Teresa Mendoza,’ the young, innocent woman who transforms herself into one of the most powerful drug lords in the world. Kate first broke through in the U.S. in the hit Fox Searchlight/Weinstein movie “Under the Same Moon,” to date the highest-grossing Spanish-language theatrical release in U.S. history.
In a special feature from Telemundo.com, Kate del Castillo “interviews” her alter-ego about her life, loves and lessons learned.
The Emmy® campaign includes episodes of the series, a mailing of “For Your Consideration” episodes to Academy members, and advertising in Hollywood trade publications. To see the submitted video material, click here.
And for a quick peek, check out a snippet of “La Reina del Sur” here:
Mun2 makes Sunday nights muy caliente this summer with its new reality series, “Beauties & The Boss,” premiering this Sunday, June 19 at 9 p.m. ET.
The show gives an inside look at the life of Monica Weitzel, the young, Latina CEO of Assorted Flavors Agency, a Los Angeles based promotional modeling agency. With Monica comes a roster of sexy, bold and unpredictable promo-girl beauties who take on LA by day and heat up the nights during their exciting promo assignments.
We caught up with two of the beauties, Diane and Jenn M, at the NBC Experience Store at 30 rock this week and got their take on the show. Check it out here:
With E! launching its newest reality show, Ice Loves Coco, this Sunday, June 12 at 10:30 p.m. ET, we asked Ice-T and Coco for tips on how they keep things exciting, as well as their love advice for other couples. Get their take on love here:
Bravo premiered its latest concoction last night, Million Dollar Decorators, which offers viewers a look into the exclusive and affluent world of high-end interior design.
The docu-series follows five of the most popular Los Angeles-based decorators – Martyn Lawrence Bullard, Kathryn Ireland, Jeffrey Alan Marks, Mary McDonald and Nathan Turner – as they tackle the high-pressure design industry and million dollar clients.
Hear more about the show from the designers themselves:
Check out Million Dollar Decorators now airing on Tuesdays at 10 p.m. ET!
NBC’s hit summer series America’s Got Talent returns tonight at 8 p.m. ET with some of the hottest and most obscure performers in the country ready to compete in the show’s sixth season. And host Nick Cannon and judge Howie Mandel say it’s going to be the biggest, best and craziest season yet:
