Q: Stanley Tucci seems to be everywhere these days. Where did he get his start?
Esteemed character actor-turned-travel show host Stanley Tucci got his start where a surprising number of current megastars got their early breaks: "Miami Vice."
Q: Out of all the reality competition shows — "Big Brother," "Masterchef," "RuPaul's Drag Race" and so on — which one has the biggest cash prize?
Even as the genre has grown and changed over the years, it's still the old, established ones that pay the most — and not any of the ones that you mention. That payoff appears to cap at a cool million — a round, impressive figure that the highest-paying shows repeatedly turn to (with one big exception).
Q: I just rewatched "Paul" again, and only now noticed the joke about him talking to Steven Spielberg about "E.T." Did they have to get permission from Spielberg for that?
They got more than permission — they got a cameo.
That was the actual voice of legendary Hollywood director and film icon Steven Spielberg on a call with the titular alien in the 2011 comedy "Paul."
For those who haven't seen the movie, it's about an alien who crashed to Earth in the 1940s and has been living here, co-operating with the American government, ever since.
Saturday Night Live, on NBC/Global
The lights are up in Studio 8H for a new episode of this live, late-night, guest-hosted comedy staple. Lasting laughs and memorable moments have been made on this show, which began in 1975. Current stars include Kenan Thompson and Michael Che.
Creepshow, on AMC
A bus full of Americans is driven to the Canadian border to illustrate the pitfalls of the U.S. healthcare system in the first part of this eerie new episode. Later, a police chief is keen to preserve law and order following an invasion of the undead.
Station 19, on ABC/CTV
Jaina Lee Ortiz stars as Andy Herrera, Fire Station 19's lieutenant, in Season 6 of this Shondaland procedural drama. The close-knit team of Seattle-based firefighters put their lives and hearts on the line as they work to keep their city safe.
The Amazing Race, on CBS/CTV
A night of reality TV closes out with this new episode from Season 34 of the world-travelling series. Hosted by Phil Keoghan, teams of two race around the globe on an extreme scavenger hunt, competing across challenges for a million-dollar prize.
La Brea, on NBC/CTV
A new episode of this sci-fi series airs tonight. The series follows the story of a group of Los Angelenos who were sucked into a gargantuan sinkhole in Season 1, as they emerge 12,000 years into the past and try to survive their new reality.
90 Day: The Single Life, on TLC
Caesar chooses his date and alerts the matchmaker in this new episode of the 90 Day spinoff. Meanwhile, Debbie makes a decision about moving in with Tony, Natalie asks Josh is he wants more children and Tiffany's son learns that she's dating again.
New Releases for the week of October 23 - 29
Official Competition
An unlikely trio assembles when a wealthy businessman hires a famous filmmaker and two prominent actors to make the best movie of their generation. Filmmaker Lola (Cruz) must convince her highly talented actors Félix (Banderas) and Iván (Martínez) to get over their egos by putting them through a series of tests that force them to work together. The men's disdain for each other slowly dissipates as they are forced to reflect on their pride, their legacy and their place in the world of film.
Director: Mariano Cohn, Gastón Duprat. Stars: Penélope Cruz, Antonio Banderas, Oscar Martínez, José Luis Gómez, Manolo Solo, Nagore Aranburu, Irene Escolar, Pilar Castro, Koldo Olabarri, Juan Grandinetti. 2021. 115 mins. Comedy/Drama.
The Invitation
After the death of her mother, a lonely young woman named Evie (Emmanuel) undergoes a DNA test and she learns of a family member she never knew she had. Seemingly in the spirit of uniting the family, this long-lost cousin invites Evie to attend a lavish wedding in the English countryside. Curious about this new link — the only remaining family she has — Evie accepts the invitation. Upon her arrival, she is drawn in by the seductive hospitality of her host, but soon begins to uncover the truth about her genetically linked stranger and the sinful nature of her own family history.
Director: Jessica M. Thompson. Stars: Nathalie Emmanuel, Thomas Doherty, Hugh Skinner, Sean Pertwee, Carol Ann Crawford, Alana Boden, Stephanie Corneliussen. 2022. 105 mins. Horror.
Breaking
Marine veteran Brian Brown-Easley (Boyega) believes he is out of options when he is denied support from Veterans Affairs. Fearing he won't be able to make ends meet for himself and his daughter, he enters a bank and takes hostages, demanding the payment he's owed from Veterans Affairs. What follows is a tense confrontation between the police and a desperate man. Based on a true story.