Brunch @ Bobby’s (COOKING CHANNEL)
- Premiering Saturday, January 3rd at 12:00pmET/9:00amPT – “Waffles Gone Wild” -SEASON PREMIERE!
Ordinary waffles are a thing of the past with host Bobby Flay’s innovative brunch creations! Bobby wows with a menu of unexpected waffle creations like Cornbread Waffles with Ranch-Style Eggs and Cilantro Crema and Glazed Waffle Donuts! He dishes out the unexpected, mixing up a cool Wine Smoothie.
- Premiering Saturday, January 17th at 12:00pmET/9:00amPT – “Wake Up Brunch”
Two of Bobby Flay’s favorite things come together for a brunch menu that awakens the senses! His coffee-inspired creations include Scrambled Eggs with Sweet Potato Biscuits, Ham Steak and Red Eye Gravy, Espresso-Chocolate Chip Banana Bread with Espresso-Cinnamon Butter and a blended Spiced Mocha Lassi.
- Premiering Saturday, January 24th at 12:00pmET/9:00amPT – “Say Cheese”
Bobby Flay knows that cheese makes everything better, and brunch is no exception! He serves up some cheese-filled dishes like Meyer Lemon Ricotta Crepes with Candied Almonds, a Frittata with Thyme Roasted Potatoes, Smoked Mozzarella and Tomato-Basil Pesto and Cream Cheese Pancakes with Cherries Jubilee Syrup.
Emeril’s Florida (COOKING CHANNEL)
- Premiering Sunday, January 4th at 2:30pmET/11:30amPT – “Coming to America” – SEASON PREMIERE!
Emeril visits three chefs born in foreign countries who now own successful restaurants in Florida. First, Emeril visits with a Sushi Chef from Vietnam before meeting with a Moroccan native who trained in France and Norway prior to living in Florida. The third stop is with a German-born chef who now runs one of the top-rated French restaurants in the state. Finally, Emeril dishes on one of his favorite dishes, Sambal Shrimp.
- Premiering Sunday, January 11th at 2:30pmET/11:30amPT – “Big Night Out”
Emeril visits three restaurants to consider when looking to have a big night out for a special occasion. His first stop is the award-winning Italian restaurant Casa D’Angelo Ristorante in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. Then he heads to Sarasota on the Gulf Coast of Florida to visit Michael’s on East, another highly acclaimed favorite in the state. Emeril then visits Salt, the signature restaurant at the Ritz Carlton, Amelia Island which has been one of the top-rated resorts in the country for a number of years. Inspired by his visits, Emeril prepares a dish for a big night in: Corn Cakes with Florida Caviar and Chive Crema.
- Premiering Sunday, January 18th at 2:30pmET/11:30amPT – “Space Coast”
Emeril travels to Florida’s Space Coast on the east coast of the state. He begins in Cocoa Village at Cafe Margaux, arguably one of the best restaurants in the Space Coast area. Cafe Margaux serves bistro fare and has been the place to go in the Cocoa area for fine dining for almost 25 years. His next stop is The Fat Snook in Cocoa Beach, a family-owned casual beachside restaurant, where the owners have a passion for fresh, local seafood and top-quality seasonal ingredients. He next visits Cafe Coconut Cove, serving up authentic German cuisine and craft beers since 1987. Local seafood is on the menu when Emeril prepares Florida Lobster with Pappardelle.
- Premiering Sunday, January 25th at 2:30pmET/11:30amPT – “South Florida Favorites”
Emeril travels to the southern part of Florida to visit some of his favorite restaurants he has encountered over the years. He visits his long-time friend and James Beard Award winner, Michelle Bernstein, at her famous restaurant Michy’s in downtown Miami. Next, Emeril crosses the bridge to Miami Beach to Pubbelly to meet the owners of the hottest gastropub in Miami. Emeril then travels to the Florida Keys for a stop at the historic Cheeca Lodge, and samples their signature restaurant Atlantic’s Edge. Emeril finishes up his visit by preparing one of his favorite Florida seafood dishes: Yellowtail Snapper with a Classic Meuniere Sauce.
Extra Virgin (COOKING CHANNEL)
- Premiering Wednesday, January 7th at 9:00pm ET/6:00pmPT – “Gift to the Neighborhood” – SEASON PREMIERE!
Debi Mazar and Gabriele Corcos have been living in their Brooklyn neighborhood for a couple of years and they have really grown to love it. Their neighbors have welcomed them with open arms and they feel a very strong connection to all of the local shops and restaurants. Now they want to give back the only way they know how: by cooking for them. Gabriele and Debi take over one of the neighborhood’s restaurants for the day, to prepare a variety of Tuscan recipes and serve their neighborhood friends a meal. Since they are cooking for the locals, they will be shopping in all of their favorite local shops for ingredients for the big feast.
- Premiering Wednesday, January 14th at 9:00pm ET/6:00pmPT – “Deb’s Fashion Show”
Gabriele has his motorcycle passion, but Debi has always had an interest for fashion. Her friend, Zac Posen, is a famous New York-based fashion designer. Debi takes Giulia, who inherited her mom’s love of fashion, to Zac’s studio for a behind-the-scenes tour and a dress fitting. Meanwhile, Gabriele has gone to the Fulton Fish Market to get fresh seafood for dinner. Zac later comes over to help cook a seafood-inspired Tuscan dinner.
- Premiering Wednesday, January 21st at 9:00pmET/7:00pmPT – “James Beard Supper”
Gabriele and Debi have been asked to cook at the James Beard House in New York City. The James Beard Foundation is well known throughout the culinary community for its educational programs, industry awards and scholarships. Gabriele and Debi will have an opportunity to add their names to the prestigious list of guest cooks, as they create the best possible culinary experience for an intimate group of friends that will get to share the evening with them.
- Premiering Wednesday, January 28th at 9:00pmET/7:00pmPT – “The Drill”
While living in Los Angeles, Debi and Gabriele would discuss what they would do when the big earthquake hit and left them living completely off the grid. Then, they moved to New York and Hurricane Sandy hit the East Coast. Gabriele and Debi decide to take a day to prepare the family for the possibility of another major disaster in what they are calling ‘The Drill’. Can the family go the whole day without electricity or any modern conveniences? And can Gabriele and Debi cook dinner for the family without electricity or gas?
Guy’s Grocery Games: Family Style – Premiering Sunday, January 4th at 8pm (FOOD NETWORK)
Guy Fieri’s favorite things are food, fun and family, and he is bringing all three together for a Guy’s Grocery Games: Family Style showdown. The families will compete over four episodes, with each episode consisting of four teams made up of a different variation of family members, each including a chef, as they compete for a chance at the grand prize. Whether it is a child with two parents, a parent with two children or siblings working together, the families must navigate their way through the aisles of a grocery store, battling it out in different supermarket-themed obstacles, including shopping and cooking on a budget, cooking a meal with five ingredients or less, or the new game of station swap, among others. One-by-one the losing families must “check out” by a rotating panel of judges, featuring Melissa d’Arabian, Richard Blais, G. Garvin, Troy Johnson, Beau MacMillan, Catherine McCord and Aarti Sequeira. The last family standing goes on a shopping spree of a lifetime worth up to $20,000.
- Premiering Sunday, January 4th at 8pm -“Family Style: Kid’s Rule!” – STUNT PREMIERE!
Four competing families start by joining the breakfast club, but this is Watch Your Weight so they can only cook with 5 lbs. of ingredients. Next, the families must make a hot lunch ABC-style, using only ingredients whose name begins with the letter R. The final two families go head-to-head in the dreaded game, Food Wheel. How do you make a winning Sunday supper featuring hot dogs and the color red? The winning family goes after the green stuff, up to $20,000 in the Shopping Spree!
Competitors: Bruno Family, Chiovera Family, Roberts Family, Robertson Family
Judges: Melissa d’Arabian, Richard Blais, Troy Johnson
- Premiering Sunday, January 11th at 8pm -“Family Style: Sibling Rivalry”
When four sets of siblings square off in a supermarket, sparks fly! The teams begin by making a family feast, but first they must agree on the 5 Ingredients or Less this challenge allows! Three families move on to make something stuffed using Guy’s Grocery List of unique ingredients. Then, in the feared game of chance, Food Wheel, the stakes are high as two families attempt to make an upscale dinner with strip steak and $7.15 worth of extra ingredients! The family that moves on will play for a chance to win up to $20,000 in the Shopping Spree.
Competitors: Fraser Family, Grbic Family, Loza Family, Testa Family
Judges: Richard Blais, Troy Johnson, Aarti Sequeira
- Premiering Sunday, January 18th at 8pm – “Family Style: Food Feud”
Chefs keep it all in the family with teams featuring husbands, wives, brothers, moms and even grandma! The pasta shelves are off-limits in Aisle Down, so our four families must really use their noodles to create their best dish. Next, three families have to come up with fresh ideas for making dessert from non-perishable items playing Meals from the Middle. The finalists must make their favorite family meal, but wait, this is Watch Your Weight, so, they only get 5½ lbs. of ingredients. Then, it’s all hands on cart as the winning family goes on the Shopping Spree worth up to $20,000.
Competitors: Casey Family, Parrish Family, Thurston Family, Vera Family
Judges: Troy Johnson, Beau MacMillan, Catherine McCord
- Premiering Sunday, January 25th at 8pm – “Family Style: Kid’s Choice” –STUNT FINALE!
“Family Style: Kid’s Choice”
Guy is constantly turning the tables, this time with kids choosing the meals, while the chefs endure a “Time Out” from cooking. Four families face off in a brunch competition that includes a mandatory Red Light Special: raisins! In Budget Battle, families must make a comfort meal on a very uncomfortable budget. Then, the final teams must prepare a five-star dinner while playing Station Swap, a twisty new game that forces the families to trade kitchens and groceries. One family will go on a Shopping Spree worth up to $20,000…if they can find one item on the list in each aisle.
Competitors: Binbek Family, Landefeld Family, Lavin Family, Murphy Family
Judges: Melissa d’Arabian, Richard Blais, Aarti Sequeira
Worst Cooks in America – Premiering Sunday, January 4th at 9pm (FOOD NETWORK)
Worst Cooks in America returns to transform kitchen disasters into confident cooks, with Chef Anne Burrell going up against first-time opponent Chef Tyler Florence. Anne and Tyler each lead a team of kitchen-challenged recruits in a grueling culinary boot camp designed to turn them into skilled cooks. A $25,000 grand prize is awarded to the contestant who makes the most impressive culinary transformation, in addition to delivering victory and bragging rights for their team leader.
- Premiering Sunday, January 4th at 9pm – “It Just Keeps Getting Worse”- SEASON PREMIERE!
In the season premiere, the fourteen recruits, each nominated by family and friends for their horrendous cooking skills, are selected by Anne Burrell and new-kid-on-the-block Tyler Florence to compete in a grueling culinary boot camp. These “home cooks” make the chefs their signature dishes, and upon tasting, Anne and Tyler choose their teams of worst cooks, and give their recruits a lesson in creating the ultimate romantic meal.
- Premiering Sunday, January 11th at 9pm – “Prepping for Success”
Anne and Tyler test the recruits’ knowledge of food in a special game of “Family Food,” in which the teams face-off in an effort to gain recipe steps through food trivia. As the recruits attempt to cut down the competition, they learn and execute knife skills to prepare their dishes. All of the recruits must successfully create the Spanish dish paella, which some will achieve with fewer bandages than others
- Premiering Sunday, January 18th at 9pm – “Spice Up Your Life”
The recruits try their hand at experimenting with flavor combinations with a skill drill called “Holy Crepes,” in which they serve their own creations in a blind tasting. Then the recruits “Taco-ver the World,” when they make their own international tacos. Some of the recruits are able to hit the mark with their flavor combinations, while others prove they earned their spot in the Worst Cooks competition!
- Premiering Sunday, January 25th at 9pm – “Scared Straight Into the Kitchen”
This week, recruits huddle up to tackle game day dishes as they create deep-fried fan favorites for Anne and Tyler. Will they make crowd-pleasing dishes, or be defeated by a deep fryer? After the big game, the recruits try not to “Lose their Noodles” when they break down a raw squid to prepare squid ink pasta with calamari.
Daphne Dishes – Premieres Sunday, January 4th at 12pm (FOOD NETWORK)
Mom, blogger and home cook Daphne Brogdon shares all the secrets to her easy and impressive family-friendly meals in her series Daphne Dishes, serving it all up with a healthy side of humor. From Daphne’s home kitchen in Los Angeles, get ready to jump into her life and meet her two cute kids, one sweet dog and chef-husband Mark.
- Premiering Sunday, January 4th at 12pm – “Mom’s Gone Healthy” – SERIES PREMIERE!
In an homage to the healthy dishes her mom created as a child, Daphne Brogdon invites her mom and sister over for dinner. Daphne livens up a Pecan-Stuffed Chicken Breast and pairs it with Blistered Tomatoes and Feta Cheese along with Crowd-Pleasing Couscous. For dessert, a little bit of Dark Chocolate Sauce over fresh berries puts a smile on everyone’s face.
- Premiering Sunday, January 11th at 12pm – “Comfort for a Friend”
Daphne Brogdon invites her friend, actress Molly Culver, over for a welcome home dinner. For the main dish, Daphne makes Pan-Roasted Chicken with a Creamy Mustard Sauce. She’s also making comforting Horseradish Mashed Potatoes, plus incredible crispy Brussels Sprouts and a classic Brogdon family dessert, Cafe Bengali.
- Premiering Sunday, January 18th at 12pm – “Festival of Leftovers”
Daphne Brogdon gets inventive preparing simple and tasty recipes utilizing leftovers. She turns last night’s braised brisket into a Brisket Ragu served over Crispy Pasta. Some lonely cauliflower gets transformed into the Best Cauliflower Ever and her leftover Vanilla Pound Cake gets a makeover with Macerated Strawberries and ice cream. Leftovers never tasted so good.
- Premiering Sunday, January 25th at 12pm – “Eat Up, Sports Fans”
Daphne Brogdon’s got a special game day menu that is sure to win over the crowd, without stressing out the cook! She kicks off the party with her signature Guacamole and Fried Wonton Chips and then it’s Butter Burger Sliders with two sauces, Sweet Russian and Arugula Pesto. Plus, she whips up a Spicy Cabbage Salad on the side and Daphne’s shares her special crowd-pleasing cocktail, her Kick-a-Rita.
Best. Ever.– Premiering Monday, January 5th at 10pm (FOOD NETWORK)
Do you remember the last time you bit into a burger and thought, “This is the best burger. Ever.”? When you tell a friend about your favorite pizza place, do you describe every juicy detail about what makes it the best pizza ever? Food Network searched through every delicious nook and cranny in the country and found some of the best pizzas, burgers, barbecue and breakfast…ever! Hosted by Ted Allen, and with guest appearances by Food Network stars, chefs and judges including Anne Burrell, Alex Guarnaschelli, Katie Lee, Antonia Lofaso, Jeff Mauro, Roger Mooking, Marc Murphy, Aarón Sánchez, Steak Shapiro, Fabio Viviani and Andrew Zimmern, it is a veritable collection of the best ever comfort foods.
- Premiering Monday, January 5th at 10pm – “Best. Pizza. Ever.” – SERIES PREMIERE!
Pizza is one of the best ever comfort foods, and it has evolved into endless culinary interpretations that can be savored from all corners of the country. In Austin, Texas, a mouthwatering margherita pizza is baked to perfection in 90 seconds, while a restaurant in Cambridge, Massachusetts, is getting high marks for their meat-piled pizza. One night a week, diners are wowed by the unique toppings at the underground pizzeria that pops up at a Northwest restaurant, and one SoCal restaurant shipped materials from Italy for the oven of their dreams, turning out their signature pork pizza. Whether it be classics or regional favorites, this is the best pizza ever.
- Premiering Monday, January 12th at 10pm – “Best. BBQ. Ever.”
Few things are more American than barbecue, and there are as many delicious variations as there are dedicated pit masters. The queue for ‘cue at one popular Austin restaurant stretches down and around the block, while the mash-up of Korean and American-style barbecue draws a big crowd at a small Atlanta barbecue shack. There is succulent smoked chicken in Philadelphia and spicy jerk chicken in the Twin Cities. Plus, a dive bar turns out delectable barbecue in Cambridge, Massachusetts and a San Francisco restaurant serves a signature barbecue platter with every meat, side and fixin’ on the menu. Roll up those sleeves for the best barbecue ever.
- Premiering Monday, January 19th at 10pm – “Best. Breakfast. Ever.”
These days, breakfast can be so much more than cold cereal and toast. Boston serves up an otherworldly sweet breakfast and in Philadelphia, waffles meet cake for delicious results. In the Twin Cities, a hot and hearty pancake is an engineering marvel. Savory breakfast fans get a look at an egg and cheese in Los Angeles with real star quality, a Vietnamese twist on bacon and eggs in Austin and a classic New York bagel that gets an update with beets. Plus, a breakfast special in Atlanta is like a buffet on a plate! The morning gets started with a bang with these best breakfasts ever.
- Premiering Monday, January 26th at 10pm – “Best. Burger. Ever.”
Americans love hamburgers, and these burgers are the best the nation has to offer. In Atlanta, a double cheeseburger is so exclusive that only a few dozen are served each night, and in New York, the most buzz-worthy burger is sandwiched between something usually found in soup. On the menu is a burger served on a bed of freshly-cut fries and topped with everything but the kitchen sink, a cheeseburger stuffed with cheese that melts right out of the patty and burgers that are so good they do not even need beef! These are best ever burgers.
Fitness: Impossible – Premiering Wednesday, January 7th at 11pm – SPECIAL! (FOOD NETWORK)
Robert Irvine has a grueling schedule, traveling from town-to-town and state-to-state, in a race against the clock to transform failing restaurants. With his impossible schedule, Robert still finds time to focus on his passion for health, fitness, food and family. With that in mind, Robert is taking on his next mission: motivating America. Robert’s fans and followers are constantly asking him for advice on health and fitness. In order to give back, Robert is going to tackle as many health-related questions, concerns and dilemmas as humanly possible, in the time he has between one Restaurant: Impossible and the next. It will not be easy, but Robert is willing to take on the challenge. As soon as his last shoot wraps, the clock is ticking! Robert will hit the ground running, answering as many questions he can before he is scheduled to save another failing restaurant. Being healthy, happy and in shape is not unattainable… this super-chef is just the guy to make Fitness: Impossible, possible!
Duff Till Dawn– Premiering Thursday, January 29th at 10:30pm – (FOOD NETWORK)
Duff Till Dawn is the ultimate underground cake competition, featuring bold ideas, fierce competitors and a ringmaster who has never had a boring day in his life. Duff Goldman is ready to give a few lucky cake fanatics some love, but he is going to put them through a series of challenges in order to earn it. It is the coolest throw-down in cake.
A gang of misfit kidnappers find their tiny target far more bloodthirsty than they bargained for!
So, unfortunately, the trailers gave it away and let’s be real that’s why most of us are here, the knowledge that the kidnap victim Abigail (Alisha Weir), codenamed by the would-be kidnappers appropriately as ‘tiny dancer’, is in fact, a vampire. Not a spoiler, point of fact, one of the film’s actual great selling points. And the reactions from the misfit club when faced with a real actual f*cking vampire, range hilariously from the blunt “no such thing as vampires” all the way to, “Are we talking True Blood or Twilight rules or what?” all while covered in buckets and buckets of blood.
Anyway, the gang manages to subdue and abscond with the aforementioned Abigail, in a pre-prepared duffle bag, like you do, and converge to a new location, a house oddly similar to the one she was just taken from. Welcomed and given codenames by a man who introduces himself as Lambert (Giancarlo Esposito), our misfit club is told to simply hold down the fort in this strange old house with the girl chained up in a room and one person to attend her, for twenty-four hours, and they’ll all get paid.
As inevitable as the tides, the dopey druggie Dean (Angus Cloud) is the first to die, and we’re going to give that death-style points for inspiring terror right off the bat. The very controlling Frank (Dan Stevens, holy crap yes that is the guy from FXs Legion) is also of course the most suspicious – of everyone around him, sure, but also he himself is totes sus. We don’t learn terribly much about the musclebound tank who gets dubbed Peter (Kevin Durand), he’s your pretty typical little-brains-heart-of-gold muscle-for-hire any proper gang needs, right down to the bottle problem. Sammy (Kathryn Newton), well, even for being a purported hacker-type, she has, like, reality issues. Rickles (William Catlett), he’s arguably the most dangerous among them, ex-military and yet somehow here and involved in kidnapping for a few mills. Joey (Melissa Barrera) is our Final Girl, and though she has the inevitable problems in her recent past, she seems more capable of doing the hard thing and still somehow empathizing at the end of the day. Must be her burning desire to get back with her son.
The fit hits the shan pretty quickly, and Abigail morphs from tiny dancer to tiny monster, though honestly, the way Abigail spoke the entire time in the film, if the ‘nappers had been paying close enough attention, would have been a solid clue. The performance from Alisha Weir as Abigail is incredible, as she literally dances a fine line between comedy, tragedy, and outright monstrosity. With a face full of makeup and the force of a tiny tornado to back it up, Weir brings to mind the great performances of the vampires in 30 Days of Night who saw the practicality in the need to trap their food, but also, play with it a bit first before feasting! Anything else would give away the absolute fun time that is Abigail, so you should go see it, out in theaters now!
Fans of the beloved medical comedy series Scrubs were recently treated to a thrilling surprise when John C. McGinley, who portrayed the iconic Dr. Perry Cox, dropped a photo on Twitter hinting at a potential reunion project. The image, showing McGinley alongside his former co-stars, sparked a wave of excitement and speculation among fans who have been longing for more adventures with the beloved Sacred Heart Hospital staff.
While details about the reunion project are still scarce, the mere possibility of seeing the gang back together again has sent waves of nostalgia through fans who fondly remember the show’s original run from 2001 to 2010. Scrubs was not just a sitcom; it was a heartfelt exploration of friendship, love, and the chaotic world of medicine, all wrapped up in a quirky and often hilarious package.
At the heart of the show was the bromance between JD (played by Zach Braff) and Turk (played by Donald Faison), whose antics and deep bond served as the emotional anchor for the series. Their dynamic, along with the sage wisdom (and relentless sarcasm) of Dr. Cox, provided viewers with memorable moments that have stood the test of time.
As we eagerly await more news about the Scrubs reunion project, one thing is for sure: it’s time to dust off those old DVDs, rewatch our favorite episodes, and get ready to welcome back our favorite gang of doctors, nurses, and janitors for what promises to be a memorable reunion.
But Scrubs was more than just its main characters. The supporting cast, including the eccentric Janitor (played by Neil Flynn), the neurotic Elliot (played by Sarah Chalke), and the wise-cracking nurse Carla (played by Judy Reyes), each brought their own unique flavor to the show, creating a rich tapestry of characters that fans grew to love.
While the photo shared by McGinley has fueled speculation about what the reunion project might entail, whether it’s a one-off special, a new season, or something else entirely, one thing is certain: fans are eagerly awaiting any opportunity to dive back into the world of Sacred Heart Hospital.
In an age where reboots and revivals are commonplace, Scrubs stands out as a series that has the potential to recapture the magic that made it a fan favorite in the first place. With its blend of humor, heart, and unforgettable characters, a reunion project has the opportunity to not only satisfy longtime fans but also introduce a new generation to the joys of life at Sacred Heart.
The story of the rise of Coriolanus Snow, from teenage Capital City pawn to rising Dictator of the Hunger Games!
Apparently no one out here in post-apocalyptic Panem has heard of irony and so they name their children things like Coriolanus (Tom Blyth), Tigress, and further off in Hunger Games lore, after swamp plants like Katniss. Corio’s father was a legendary general and that is pretty much the only reason young Snow and his meager family of grandmother called Grandma’am (Fionnula Flanagan) and sister Tigress (Hunter Schafer) are tolerated here in the Capital City at all.
Most of the snotty youngsters at the academy won’t let Snow forget how far his family has fallen, but he’s generally not concerned with them. What is concerning is the strong disapproval of the drugged-up Dean Casca Highbottom (Peter Dinklage) and the creepy attention of Dr. Volumnia Gaul (Viola Davis) as she lurks in the classroom sniffing out talent. The Dean feels very strongly the annual Hunger Games should end, while Gaul is violently adamant that not only do the Games continue, but that they get as much more attention as possible. And young Snow is stuck in the middle, when the yearly prize money normally awarded to the academy student with the best grades gets switched out for, you guessed it, the student that can make this years’ Hunger Games as entertaining as possible.
Whilst the students are protesting this sudden change, the annual Reaping is about to commence, and big shock and surprise, Corio’s candidate from District 12 Lucy Grey Baird (Rachel Zegler) is chosen as a Tribute. This is where the film begins to really take off on musical wings, for as it turns out, Lucy Grey can sing. Boy, can that gal sing! She can sing, she can play guitar, she can work a crowd, she can calm things down, she can fire ‘em up too! And Corio, being no dummy himself, instantly plots ways to use his Tributes amazing voice to draw attention to her, and admittedly his own, plight!
Though far too many people sneer at the idea, Corio takes his position as Mentor to his Tribute seriously enough to sneak onto the tram taking the Tributes to their habitat, which turns out to be a completely appropriate moniker, as this year the Tributes are held before the Hunger Games in a large zoo habitat so the weatherman ‘Lucky’ Flickerman (Jason Schwartzman), host of this years games, can MC the hell out of everything up close and personal!
What happens at this years Hunger Games and the subsequent consequences to both Corio and Lucy Grey is actually only half the story, and the movie. Coriolanus has always had to be opportunistic, but learning to be absolutely ruthless when necessary under the tutelage of Dr. Gaul, who basically thinks it’s always best to be merciless, is an eye-opening education indeed. Even after they’ve both been consigned to military service and his friend Sejanus Plinth (Josh Andres Rivera) decides to finally rebel, Corio and Sejanus continue to deceive each other and themselves, to accomplish their separate goals. Not even the love Corio swears he feels for Lucy Grey can save him, or them, from the adamant absolute necessity of the Hunger Games continuing. And after all that’s happened, Coriolanus Snow has gotten a terrific education in the best way to be the absolutely ruthless next Hunger Games advocate, and oh yeah, President of Panem.
The movie does itself no favors by trying to stuff not one but two major storylines and a bunch of side storylines sadly introduced and then ignored, into the film. It would have been entirely possible to turn Ballads of Songbirds and Snakes into two different movies, separated between feathers and scales if you like, and do justice to the major storylines in both. Blyth gives a fine performance as a young Coriolanus Snow, but the fact that President Snow is played by Donald Sutherland in all three of the Hunger Games films means Blyth has incredibly large shoes to fill. Rachel Zegler as Lucy Grey is absolute fire, and yes the actress did sing the songs in the film herself, including the Hunger Games franchise epic song, ‘The Hanging Tree’. Every time Lucy Grey opens her mouth and sheer soul-searing music comes out, it provides a distinct counterpoint to the soul-crushing ambition of Coriolanus Snow and further demonstrates the District and Caste separation Hunger Games is known for. And if, by the end of the film, Coriolanus Snow has come to agree that the Hunger Games must continue but perhaps under his own auspices, he has no one but himself to blame when another younger but still rebellious female blows it all up in his face!
Choose rebellion or conformity for yourself in The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes!
‘Abigail’: Bite Me Harder Tiny Dancer
Scrubs Reunion: The Band Gets Back Together
‘The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes’: Rebellion with a cause
Wondercon 2024 presents The Spiderwick Chronicles
WonderCon 2024:Day Three
WonderCon 2024:Day One
Scrubs Reunion: The Band Gets Back Together
‘Abigail’: Bite Me Harder Tiny Dancer
Wondercon 2024 presents The Spiderwick Chronicles
WonderCon 2024:Day Three
Thatsmye Interviews: Les Weiler on Henchin’: the Series
Disney Legend Andreas Deja’s Hand-Drawn animated short MUSHKA premiere
Resetting Mortal Kombat A New Beginning with Mortal Kombat 1
William Shatner: You Can Call Me Bill
The Les Files With John C McGinley
