Tag Archives: AHS

FRONT

ThePopHub’s Best tv of 2018

Another year, another mixed bag of television that saw everything from The Walking Dead and it’s spin-off Fear The Walking Dead kill off some of their main characters, a Bachelor walk away without choosing anyone to love, cooking show My Kitchen Rules run for almost half of the year, A former Olympian win Survivor, the return of classics Roseanne (now re-branded as The Conner‘s) and Murphy Brown in present day reboots, not a single episode of Game of Thrones air on our screens,  and a handmaiden give birth solo in the snow.    

Check out my list of the shows that I could not get enough of in 2018.

TELEVISION 2018

Fear The Walking Dead – FOXTEL

Time jump!  Yay!  Nick (Frank Dillane) and Madison (Kim Dickens) killed off!  Boo!  New survivors!  Yay!  The June (Jenna Elfman) and John Dorrie (Garret Dillahunt) budding romance!  Yay!  Morgan!  Boo!  A lot of ups and downs this year for Fear but this fourth season proved the be the one of the shows best to date.

American Horror Story: Apocalypse – FOXTEL

They literally shoved almost every past AHS season into this single season and yeah, the time jumping between pre and post apocalypse made things hard to follow but getting our witches back, including swamp witch Misty Day (Lily Rabe) AND Jessica Lange returning as Constance Langdon…ahh, it was a good season.  Honorable mention goes to the haircuts Evan Peters (as Jeff Pfister) and Billy Eichner (as Mutt Nutter) sported.

Playing for Keeps – Network Ten

So yeah, the ratings for Network 10’s new AFL drama Playing for Keeps were a bit shit but that said, this little Aussie Footballers Wives-esque show was scandalously steamy enough to keep me coming back week after week.  A dead football player, cheating, lies, scandals, paparazzi’s and closeted AFL player were just some of the juicy story-lines for Playing’s premiere season.  

Sharp Objects – FOXTEL

There’s slow paced television and then there’s HBO’s dark and dreary Sharp Objects that REALLY pushed the limits of just how minimalist with information each episode could be as it propelled itself forward to its conclusion.  Thankfully there was ridiculously strong performances from Amy Adams and Patricia Clarkson to make the whole thing work

 The X-Files – Network Ten

It took me a while to make my way through all ten episodes of The X-Files‘ eleventh season, not because it was a hard watch, but because there has been just too much to watch this year!  That said, season eleven provided some of the best stand alone episodes the show has seen for some time with episodes like Plus One, Rm9sbG93ZXJz and Familiar which showcased the literal best of The X-Files and the unusual and frankly…oddball cases they investigate.

Greys Anatomy – 7Flix

Seriously, season fifteen has been all about Levi Schmitt (Jake Borelli) and his journey of self discovery that is leading him to a sweet romance with ortho doc Nico Kim (Alex Landi).  The whole thing, including Borelli is just too cute.  Plus, Levi’s sun sword speech in the fall finale was like the one single moment this year in television that caused me to bawl like a baby.  Uber feels.

Bodyguard – Netflix

‘Edge of your seat’ is the ONLY way to this fantastic terror-drama that follows police officer David Budd (Richard Madden) as he finds himself delving deeper and deeper into a widening web of political drama where bomb threats and assassination attempts become daily fare.  You’ll be hooked within the first ten minutes.

Big Mouth – Netflix

Season one was so wonderfully vulgar and downright crude it wasn’t possible for this very adult animated comedy to go any further, then season two dropped.  It was just as brash and ridiculous and even more shockingly funny.

Schitt’s Creek – Netlix

It’s virtually impossible to pick one single standout thing from this years season of the hilariously funny creation from stars Eugene and Dan Levy.  From Patrick (Noah Reid) serenading David (Dan Levy) with an acoustic version of Simply the Best to Alexis (Annie Francis) reuniting with former bae Ted (Dustin Mulligan) to the weekly hi-jinks Moira (Catherine O’Hara), Johnny (Eugene Levy) and Stevie (Emily Hampshire) would get get into there is always something to laugh at, feel for and literally love.

Killing Eve – SBS

A beautiful, soulless assassin who travels the globe while being hunted down by Sandra Oh?!  Count me in!  Killing Eve‘s classic cat and mouse tale re-imagined with female leads offered up powerhouse performances from both Sandra Oh as MI5 security agent Eve Polastri and Jodie Comer as restless assassin Villanelle.  While Eve slowed a bit in the middle episodes of the season, the tension between Eve and Villanelle is just too good to look past.  

Survivor : Champions Vs Contenders (Network Ten) and David Vs Goliath 9GO!

Our very own version of Survivor pitted every day Aussies against a bunch of *mostly* well known Australians which created another great season of the show that was never short of shocks.  Survivor Benji however takes the cake for creating two of the most gasp worthy moments – his blindside of Sharn, convincing her to play her idol for herself, resulting in big player Matt Dyson’s exit and, well I only need to say one word – NACHOS.  

Meanwhile American Survivor (currently airing as of writing) has brought forth some unlikely big players such as socially awkward robotics scientist Christian and Kentucky based public defender Nick though it was the tribal council that involved publishing CEO Natalie Cole’s exit that has provided one of the most iconic low-key exists in recent Survivor history.  “Natalie….can I have your jacket?”

Black Mirror: Netflix

Technically, Black Mirror’s fourth season dropped in 2017 but like two days prior to the new year so i’m placing it in this 2018 list.  And once again, the anthology series put forth a selection of mind bending and truly intriguing episodes including the very very very excellent USS Callister, the highly terrifying Metalhead and this season’s answer to the ultimate episode Black Mirror episode San Junipero – Hang The DJ

Honorable Mentions:

The Handmaids Tale (SBS), Insatiable (Netflix), How to Get Away with Murder (7Flix),  911 (Channel 7), Wentworth (Foxtel)

AHS

Jessica Lange Confirms No Return for AHS Hotel

Lange as witch Fiona Goode from AHS Coven
Lange as witch Fiona Goode from AHS Coven

“Yes, I’m done.  We’ve had a great run here. I have absolutely loved doing these four characters that I’ve had the opportunity to play. In all the madness, I’ve loved the writers, my actors, Ryan and the whole, I mean, insanity of it, shooting here, shooting in New Orleans, the stories, everything.  It was my absolute favorite. We had a great run.”  These are the words uttered by AHS star Jessica Lange confirming that she will not be a part of the cast for the fifth installment of the AHS series.

Insert sad face here

Insert sad face here

Speaking at their annual PaleyFest panel, Lange confirmed her departure from the series while two new cast members were announced – White Collar’s Matt Bomer and 30 Rock’s Cheyenne Jackson who will both be joining Lady Gaga for the new season.

Any other information regarding the AHS: Hotel series was kept quiet.

AHS: Hotel will consist of 13 episodes and begin in October on FX.

ABC, FRONT, TV

Lady Gaga Confirmed for AHS: Hotel

lady-gaga-800

Mother Monster will see you now!

Yep, Lady Gaga has been confirmed to star in the fifth season of the freaky franchise, currently titled American Horror Story: Hotel. Taking to twitter, Gaga posted the following tweet..

Aside from the new title, theme, Gaga’s casting and the premiere month of October, no other news has been announced regarding the show.  Sarah Paulson and Emma Roberts are currently working on other Ryan Murphy projects (American Crime Story and Scream Queens respectively) and series leader Jessica Lange’s possible involvement with season 5 is still unknown.

While noting Freak Show would be her last outing, Lange did reveal to E! back in November that she could be willing to return.

AHS, FRONT

Integrity Toys Picks Up AHS Coven License

INTEGRITYTOYSLOGO

Your chance to have your very own Fiona Goode or Misty Day 12″ figure is just around the corner as high end fashion doll company Integrity Toys announced they have acquired the licence to the bewitching third series of American Horror Story – Coven.

From the official press release:

December 2nd, 2014: As audiences enjoy the debut of the latest instalment of the AMERICAN HORROR STORY saga on television, Integrity Toys, Inc., under license from Twentieth Century Fox Consumer Products, is thrilled to announce a partnership to produce high-end collectible dolls based on the various characters of fan-favorite COVEN, the iconic third season of the AMERICAN HORROR STORY series.

Pop Culture enthusiasts and fans of the hit TV series alike will be thrilled to take home these intricate collector dolls based on their favorite characters of the bewitching third season of the show! Currently in development, the dolls, slated for release in mid-2015, will be based on the actual likeness of the key characters each dressed in quality miniature replicas of some of their iconic looks from the show. The first dolls are expected to be unveiled in the Spring of 2015 and to ship in Summer 2015.

Integrity Toys are no stranger to creating products from well known sources with releases of 12″ articulated dolls from Saturday Night Fever to Barefoot in the Park and the hugely popular 80’s cartoon JEM.  This AHS Coven license will however be the first time the company have ventured into modern pop culture.

If Integrity happen to release a Fiona Goode, Misty Day and Myrtle Snow then i’m on board!  To be kept upto date on the release of these figures, sign up to Integrity Toys mailing list here!

AHS, TV

AHS Freak Show Episode 1 Review

Kathy Bates is back as the Bearded Woman. Source: Provided
Kathy Bates is back as Bearded Woman Ethel Darling. Source: Provided

“It’s kooky and it’s freaky and it’s a little bit creepy.  Freak Show delivers a visual treat”

Disturbingly brilliant with a warped visual excellence…and an insane killer clown.  It’s the easiest way to describe what American Horror Story: Freak Show is all about.

Set in 1950’s Jupiter, Florida, German ex-pat Elsa Mars (Jessica Lange – welcome back) has dreams of stardom.  Her somewhat jaded dreams have led her to become the proprietor of a freak show attraction (which she aptly named “Fraulein Elsa’s Cabinet of Curiosities”) that is struggling to bring in the crowds and the dollars.  Her troupe of oddities includes bearded lady Ethel Darling (Kathy Bates rocking a very convincing Canadian accent) and her son Jimmy (the underrated Evan Peters) who has a penchant for dressing like Marlon Brando and has deformed hands (that are also good for pleasuring bored housewives).

After discovering the existence of conjoined twins Bette and Dot Tattler (Sarah Paulson), Elsa sets out to convince the twins to join her troupe believing these girls will change her fortunes.

Lange from the onset owns.  She just owns.  AHS has been an incredible journey for her and with Elsa Mars, Lange once again gets to sink her teeth into a faded wannabe, reaching for stars that were never really in reach.  A snarly beauty who blends the lines of mother and abuse of her ‘monsters’.  As Elsa crows in the first episode “My monsters are the beautiful, heroic ones, they provide a laugh or a fright to people who need entertainment.”  Paulson here, can finally lay claim to her co-lead status as twins Bette and Dot.  The visuals for the twins are seamless and Paulson flawlessly gives both Bette and Dot identifying quirks and qualities that will have you picking a favorite of the two very quickly.

There’s also a very prominent side story which is most likely to give every viewer a new-found fear of clowns as it appears there’s a psychotic clown roaming around Jupiter who has a penchant for murder and collecting children.

AHS Creator Ryan Murphy has a knack for bringing to life the stories of outsiders which was so wonderfully created in the form of the excellent Asylum and the hit and miss Coven  so the task of telling the tale of a band of circus freaks in 1950’s Florida feels like a natural step forward.  With Freak Show, Murphy takes a step closer to the darkness that enveloped Asylum and steps away from the more modern and glossy Coven – which could be seen as a risky move considering Coven has been the most successful AHS series to date.

Amid all it’s over-saturated landscape, watch out for a certain scene that will delight AHS devotees – Jessica Lange clad in a powder blue suit bathed in copious amounts of blue eye shadow belting out a rendition of David Bowie’s “Life on Mars”.

To be sure, there is nothing like Freak Show on TV.

American Horror Story Freak Show begins tonight, 9:30pm on Eleven.

AHS, Drama, Fantasy, FRONT, TV

Full Length AHS Freak Show Trailer Revealed

Sarah Paulson as Dot and Bette in a clip from AHS Freakshow
Sarah Paulson as Dot and Bette in a clip from AHS Freakshow

Roll up roll up, get your tickets here!  See the famous bearded lady, the mystical three breasted beauty, the strong man and the two headed woman!  Yes, the American Horror Story: Freak Show official full length trailer is finally here and it’s looking to be like everything we could hope for, for this new series!

Check out the trailer via Vulture.com

AHS Freak Show debut’s October 8 on FX in the US

Freak Show coming soon to Channel 10/Eleven shortly after

FRONT

AHS Freak Show Cast Art Revealed

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AHS_Freak_Show_Cast_Art_Embed

How fantastic!  Hollywood Reporter released the first exclusive look at the cast art for AHS Freak Show and it looks incredible!  Jessica Lange as Elsa Mars front a centre, Sarah Paulson Bette and Dot Tattler, Michael Chiklis as The Strong Man Wendell Del Toredo, Kathy Bates as The Bearded Woman Effil Darling with Angela Bassett and Francis Conroy both featured as well!

AHS Freak Show begins October 8th, 10pm on FX

AHS, Drama, Fantasy, TV

AHS Freak Show Gets Really Freaky

Sarah-Paulson

To date, the only thing we really know about any of the characters that will be appearing in the new American Horror Story Freak Show is that Jessica Lange ‘has been practicing her German accent’.  It’s not much to go on, but we have been clinging onto that little piece of info like it’s our last scrap of food.

Now, thanks to AHS regular Sarah Paulson, we have been given something than a little more than a shred of info…

In an interview with E! News earlier this week, Paulson said that her reaction to reading the first script was two words: “Holy shit!“ and the actress described the fourth season as a hybrid between the previous two “AHS” seasons, “Coven” and “Asylum.” “There’s going to be a little bit of a richer and potentially darker tone the way ‘Asylum’ had, but with the humor infused from ‘Coven,'” Paulson said.

So now we can add this little gem to the rest of what we know: “Freak Show”  will be set in Jupiter, Florida in the 1950s, Jessica Lange will play a German ex-pat running a carnival with Denis O’Hare playing her rival collector of freaks, and Kathy Bates, Angela Bassett, Evan Peters, Frances Conroy and other “AHS” favorites are also expected to return.

AHS, Drama, Fantasy, FRONT, PayTV, TV

American Horror Story Season 4 Title Revealed

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You ready for a freak show?!

There were some rumblings of late about the theme of the next American Horror Story and last week, it was revealed that the new season would be set around a 1950’s carnival in Germany and now, co-creator Ryan Murphy yesterday revealed the seasons subtitle via twitter…

https://twitter.com/MrRPMurphy/status/448145257918513153

The carnival circus theme is actually happening just as many fans had hoped it would.  Jessica Lange, Angela Bassett, Sarah Paulson, Evan Peters and Kathy Bates are all on board for the new season!