Late Laughs for the week of December 18 - 24, 2022
Jimmy Kimmel Live!
When I was a kid, Thanksgiving was my least favorite holiday because there were no presents. But now I love Thanksgiving because there are no presents.
New Releases for the week of Dec. 18-24
The Loneliest Boy in the World
Recently orphaned after his mother died in a freak accident, socially awkward Oliver (Harwood) faces an ultimatum from social worker and psychologist pair Margot (Benson) and Julius (Ross): find some friends or be sent to an asylum. While visiting his mother’s grave, Oliver sees the funeral of a teenage boy named Mitch (Fiennes Tiffin), whose family claimed he was "everyone's friend." Oliver has an idea: if he digs up these recently buried bodies, he can begin a new collection of friends. After digging up Susanne (Wokoma), Mel (Williams), Frank (Miller) and Mitch, and posing for a photo on the couch, Oliver awakens the next morning to find his new friends are now zombies.
Director: Martin Owen. Stars: Max Harwood, Hero Fiennes Tiffin, Susan Wokoma, Evan Ross, Tallulah Haddon, Hammed Animashaun, Ashley Benson, Ben Miller, Zenobia Williams. 2022. 91 mins. Comedy.
Paradise City
After his estranged father, bounty hunter Ian Swan (Willis), is presumed murdered in Hawaii, Ryan Swan (Jenner), teams up with his father’s ex-partner, Robbie Cole (Dorff), and local Maui police detective Savannah (Lundberg). Together, they embark on a mission to find Ian’s killer: Buck (Travolta), a dangerous international drug lord. Determined to stop Buck’s plan to turn picturesque Maui into an international hub for drug-dealing criminals, and to avenge his father's death, Ryan must infiltrate Buck’s notorious crime ring.
Director: Chuck Russell. Stars: Bruce Willis, John Travolta, Stephen Dorff, Amber Abara, Blake Jenner, Branscombe Richmond, Kate Katzman, Lorenzo Antonucci, Praya Lundberg, Corey Large. 2022. 92 mins. Action.
Bandit
Having escaped from a Michigan prison and fled to Ottawa, Canada, using the moniker Robert Whiteman, charming career criminal Gilbert Galvan Jr. (Duhamel) tries to live an honest life. But when American authorities begin to close in on his new life with Andrea (Cuthbert), Robert makes a drastic choice to return to a life of crime in order to provide for his new and growing family. Linking up with Ottawa gangster Tommy Kay (Gibson), Robert gets involved in a series of non-violent bank robberies.
Director: Allan Ungar. Stars: Josh Duhamel, Elisha Cuthbert, Nestor Carbonell, Mel Gibson, Swen Temmel, Keith Arthur Bolden, Dylan Flashner, Olivia d'Abo. 2022. 126 mins. Drama.
iHeartRadio Jingle Ball, on CW
Fans can experience the excitement of the iHeart Radio Jingle Ball Tour from the comfort of their own homes with this special broadcast. This year's superstar lineup includes performances from Dua Lipa, Lizzo, The Kid LAROI, The Backstreet Boys and more.
The Greatest #AtHomeHolidayVideos, on CBS
This one-hour special brings viewers viral moments that are definitely more “nice” than “naughty.” Host Cedric the Entertainer and his team of viral video-loving “elves” present this sweet assortment of home videos designed to bring on the holiday cheer.
Q: I just saw "Wild Mountain Thyme" with Emily Blunt, and I have to say, that was a weird movie. Was it based on something?
You're absolutely right that when there's a particular kind of weirdness in a film, it often points to it being an adaptation of something else (i.e., a book, a play, etc.).
And you're right about "Wild Mountain Thyme" (2020) specifically. The big-screen romantic dramedy was a Broadway play first — albeit one written by the director himself.
John Patrick Shanley ("Moonstruck," 1987) was a playwright before he went to Hollywood, and he's kept a foot in both businesses since.
Building the holidays: Celebs play with Lego for charity
The stars of “LEGO Masters: Celebrity Holiday Bricktacular”
Ghosts, on CBS
Jay’s (Utkarsh Ambudkar) sister Bela (Punam Patel) returns to Woodstone Mansion for a holiday visit and brings a (platonic) male friend with in this hour-long holiday special. Sam (Rose McIver) sets out to spark a romance between Bela and her companion.
A Very Backstreet Holiday, on ABC
The Backstreet Boys are bringing in the spirit of the season with this new special. The Grammy-winning group performs songs from their new holiday album, as well as a few of their non-holiday classics with some other special surprises and performances.
Q: Is Chris Tucker not acting anymore? I haven't seen him in ages.
While it's true that we haven't seen much of Chris Tucker ("Rush Hour," 1998) lately, that's about to change.
He's booked a role in the star-studded, true-life drama "Air Jordan," due out next year — his first role in quite some time.
If you had asked me just a few months ago, I might have said that, yes, Chris Tucker had quit acting. His last film or TV role came back in 2016 — a supporting turn in the war drama "Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk."
The Voice, on NBC
Host Carson Daly reveals who America has chosen to be new winner in Part 2 of this live finale, which features special performances by chart-topping artists and finalist/ coach duets. John Legend, Gwen Stefani, Camila Cabello and Blake Shelton star.