Aaron Sorkin ‘Splains ‘I Love Lucy’ Interest, Desilu History and ‘Ricardos’ Structure

Just because Mark Wahlberg got COVID, his family wasn’t about to give up their vacation.

A tiny frog has been found in a bunch of bananas at a primary school - having journeyed 5,000 miles to get to the north west.

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau ChiefThe Osaka Asian Film Festival has unveiled its biggest ever program – a total of 76 films – to unspool next month (March 10-20, 2022).Its competition section includes the acclaimed Korean debut film “Aloners,” which offers an exacting critique of the alienating effects upon life of modern capitalist economies; Hong Kong biopic “Anita”; the world premiere of “Angry Son,” which combines LGBT and mixed race themes in a heartwarming comedy; Kong Dashan’s new take on “Journey to the West,” as a ragtag group of people on a UFO hunt; “Mama’s Affair,” the second film by Kearen Pang, whose 2017 debut “29+1” won Osaka’s audience award, “No Land’s Man” from Mostofa Sarwar Farooki and festival circuit hit “Barbarian Invasion.” The spotlight section includes ten titles. Among them are “The Ground Beneath her Feet” from Bangladesh’s Mohammad Rabby Mridha; “A Room of Her own” from China’s Xie Yiran; and Carlo Francisco Manatad’s “Whether the Weather is Fine.”The largest component section is the twenty-title Indie Forum, a platform for Japanese indie films that allow the winner to claim the Japan Cuts Award.

Charlotte Dawson has been wowing fans while on holiday thanks to her regular social media updates.

The speed limit on Mancunian Way has been reduced significantly this week and we'd like to know what you think of the decision.

A train operator is 'strongly urging' people not to travel on the railways tomorrow as Storm Eunice hits the UK.

Celtic outcast Boli Bolingoli could finally be set for the exit door as it's reported he's in talks over a move to Russia.

Storm Dudley wielded it’s power yesterday afternoon as the plane transporting Manchester City back to the UK was forced to abandon its landing.

BBC Radio 2 fans have been left devastated after hearing that host Paul O’Grady is being taken off air after 23 years and will be replaced by comedian Rob Beckett.

A bustling Ferguslie Park community hub is urging groups in the area to apply for a share of £25,000 funding to help reduce isolation and increase health and well-being.

A music teacher guilty of a campaign of rape, abuse and grooming against six female pupils has been jailed for 11 years.

An internal candidate has been appointed to a lucrative council job.

Alec Baldwin is in "complete denial" and refuses to accept "any responsibility" for the death of "Rust" cinematographer Halyna Hutchins, her family's attorney says. Hutchins was killed on Oct.

Foxes is the next guest on The Record Club with Bowers & Wilkins, to chat all things about her third album The Kick.

after he recently spoke out against “alarming” drill music.Adams, who took office last month as the 110th mayor of New York City, said last week that he wanted to sit down with social media companies to “state that you have a civic and corporate responsibility” in regards to promoting drill music.“You know, I mean, we pulled Trump off Twitter because of what he was spewing, yet we are allowing music – displaying of guns, violence – we’re allowing it to stay on these sites,” he added.On Tuesday (February 15), Adams met with the likes of Fivio Foreign, Maino, B-Lovee, Slow Bucks and Bleezy to discuss public safety in the city and the gun violence that is impacting the hip-hop community (via ABC News).Speaking to reporters yesterday (February 16), Adams said that the group came to the meeting “with a lot of energy” and were concerned that the mayor intended to “ban” drill music.A post shared by JERMAINE (@mainohustlehard)Adding that he had “a great conversation” with the group, Adams said that he was primarily concerned by drill rappers who make violent threats to their rivals in their music.“Violent people who are using drill rapping to post who they killed, and then antagonise the people who they are going to kill, is what the problem is.”In a video from the meeting that was shared on Instagram, the rapper Maino says: “There’s been a lot of talk about drill rap, drill music in New York City, connecting violence with the culture, and I just wanted to create a conversation with the mayor.”The clip then sees Adams add: “We’re going to roll out something together on the whole conversation, and we’re looking forward to it.”You can see a selection of social media posts from Adams’ meeting with the rappers below.A post shared by

Fontaines D.C. have shared their brand new single ‘I Love You’ – listen to the track below.The song is the latest to be taken from the Dublin band’s upcoming new album ‘Skinty Fia’, which is set for release on April 22 via Partisan Records.The five-piece’s follow-up to the record’s lead single ‘Jackie Down The Line’ has been released today (February 17).

Robert Pattinson has revealed that he was asked to change his original Batman voice.The actor, who makes his debut as the caped crusader in The Batman, explained on Jimmy Kimmel Live! how he originally wanted to do something “radically different” from his predecessors.Speaking on the show, Pattinson said: “Everyone does this kind of gruff, gravelly thing, and I’m like, ‘I’m going to do the opposite, I’m going to go really whispery’.“And I tried to do it for like the first two weeks and it just looked absolutely atrocious, and they told me to stop doing it.”The actor later discovered that Christian Bale also attempted to subvert expectations with his original Batman voice for Batman Begins, before it was later changed. “If you listen to the first Batman Begins teaser trailer, you can hear the original voice,” Pattinson said. “I only found this out a couple of weeks ago.”In The Batman, directed by Matt Reeves (Dawn Of The Planet Of The Apes), Pattinson stars alongside Paul Dano as The Riddler, Colin Farrell as Oswald Cobblepot, John Turturro as Carmine Falcone, Zoë Kravitz as Selina Kyle, Andy Serkis as Alfred Pennyworth and Jeffrey Wright as James Gordon.Pattinson recently said he’s discussed the idea of doing a trilogy of films with Reeves.

JennyLee has shared details of her second solo album, ‘Heart Tax’, made in partnership with Record Store Day 2022.The musician, who is also the bassist/backing vocalist in Warpaint, will release her new album on April 23 (pre-order here).‘Heart Tax’ comprises the six singles JennyLee has released over the the last two years and is completed by six new songs for Record Store Day (April 23). See here for a full list of releases for the annual event.The follow-up to 2015’s ‘Right On!‘ features collaborations with Goldensuns, Warpaint, Belief and Warpaint’s Stella Mozgawa, Depeche Mode‘s Dave Gahan and Trentemøller.‘Heart Tax’ track list:01. ‘Stop Speaking’02. ‘Tickles’03. ‘Newtopia’04. ‘Heart Tax’05. ‘Clinique’06. ‘In Awe Of’07. ‘Hallows Eve’08. ‘Tickles II’09. ‘Love You’10. ‘I’m So Tired’Songs already released from the album include the Gahan-featuring ‘Stop Speaking‘, the Trentemøller-produced single ‘Tickles’ and B-side ‘Heart Tax’, and ‘Newtopia‘.A description of the record’s germination reads: “A substantial portion of the album was assembled during the last few years of uncertainty, starting in the bliss of southern California, and finished in the quiet of Salt Lake City.“This disconcerting time allowed JennyLee to ‘access the depths’ of her creativity in ways she had never been able to before.

Marc Malkin Senior Film Awards, Events & Lifestyle EditorNicole Kidman’s career has spanned nearly four decades. Her trophy shelf includes an Oscar, two Emmys, a SAG Award and a BAFTA. She is a favorite to pick up her fifth Academy Award nomination next week for her work as Lucille Ball in “Being the Ricardos.”Even so, Kidman acknowledges the road to today has also included some bumps.

Owen Gleiberman Chief Film CriticIt’s always a kick to encounter a documentary about a subject after you’ve seen the deluxe scripted and acted Hollywood version. “Lucy and Desi,” Amy Poehler’s film about Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz — their love, their showbiz partnership, their revolutionary influence on the creative landscape of television, their meshing and clashing spirits — is a nimble and fascinating documentary.

Tim Gray Senior Vice PresidentJ.K. Simmons was reluctant to appear in “Being the Ricardos.” But reading Aaron Sorkin’s script, “I was able to see the gift that Aaron was giving to each of the actors.”It’s a gift exchange: Simmons is so versatile and talented that he brings gifts to any filmmaker he works with.Oscar voting runs Jan. 27-Feb.

Nicole Kidman (“Being the Ricardos”) and Kristen Stewart (“Spencer”) sat down for a virtual chat for Variety’s Actors on Actors, presented by Amazon Studios. For more, click here.Nicole Kidman and Kristen Stewart both delve into iconography — and play with their own images — on screen. In “Being the Ricardos,” Kidman takes on Lucille Ball, portraying her both in character as TV’s Lucy Ricardo and as a creative force on the set of “I Love Lucy.” It’s a role whose resilience and grit calls to mind Kidman herself, at the top of her game decades into her career.

Clayton Davis The Producers Guild of America announced its nominations for the motion picture and television categories for the upcoming 33rd PGA Awards, and it was a good day for the streamers (once again).Netflix ruled the film side with three films landing in the field of 10 nominees: “Don’t Look Up” from Adam McKay, “The Power of the Dog” from Jane Campion and “Tick, Tick … Boom!” from Lin-Manuel Miranda.Warner Bros. captured two nods from its slate: “Dune” from Denis Villeneuve and “King Richard” from Reinaldo Marcus Green.At the best possible moment with Oscar voting opening today, Amazon Studios’ “Being the Ricardos” from Aaron Sorkin snagged one of the coveted spots, which helps its best picture chances considerably.

best picture race continues to narrow, Variety staffers take a look at some of the individual scenes that made us laugh, cry and think — sometimes at the same time.“Being the Ricardos”(Amazon) Lucille Ball (Nicole Kidman) pulls Madeline (Alia Shawkat), the only female writer on Ball’s “I Love Lucy,” out of the writers room for a little one-on-one discussion about a scene that Lucy has been trying to make funnier — or at least make logical, and therefore funny. Like Madeline, Lucy is a smart, funny, strong women in the early 1950s — a unicorn in this man’s world in which they have mastered “work-arounds.” This scene from writer-director Aaron Sorkin is an honest yet sharp and somewhat frustrating talk about the TV character, the way the character is treated on the show and what type of comedy works.

Zoe Hewitt Art is unlike other media in that it requires its creators to share parts of themselves as they’re likewise primed for the supremely subjective criticism that follows. After all, no dentist is asked to soliloquize about how a tooth extraction reflects life choices.

“Lucy and Desi” premieres on Prime Video March 4.

Apparently it is the season to celebrate the iconic marriage and professional relationship of Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz. Aaron Sorkin wrote and directed a penetrating, funny, revealing, and ultimately moving film, Being The Ricardos which covers a lot of ground in the Lucy/Desi world using dramatic license to place several real events in their lives all in the course of one week of production on I Love Lucy. Although starring Nicole Kidman and Javier Bardem as the iconic pair, it felt quite real and actually was as you discover watching Amy Poehler’s marvelous love letter to their lives and times in Lucy And Desi, which like Ricardos will be available on Amazon Prime, the perfect companion piece to Sorkin’s film, and a compelling documentary portrait all on its own.

There is, at the moment, no shortage of information in the culture about Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz. In just the past few months, the performers behind “I Love Lucy” have been the subjects of both a (very good) season of TCM’s “The Plot Thickens” podcast and a (very bad) Aaron Sorkin movie, “Being the Ricardos.” Now you can add to that mix “Lucy and Desi,” a new feature-length bio-documentary from actor/director Amy Poehler, which is hitting Amazon Prime in March, presumably as something of a companion piece to “Ricardos” (which the streamer/studio also financed).

Nicole Kidman won a 2022 Golden Globe for her portrayal of Lucille Ball in “Being the Ricardos”, but she wasn’t the first choice to play the legendary “I Love Lucy” star.

EXCLUSIVE: The Santa Barbara Film Festival will be getting a touch of Lucy and Desi by way of honoring another pair of major stars.

Michele Amabile Angermiller The awards race in the best actress and best supporting actress categories is brimming with real life protagonists getting the big screen treatment. From Nicole Kidman’s Lucille Ball  (“Being the Ricardos”) to Lady Gaga (“House of Gucci”) and Kristen Stewart (“Spencer”),  these women were tasked with preserving and presenting the legacy of flesh and blood icons, telling their stories truthfully and without judgment.“I think everyone wants to be seen as a fully realized human being, not as just a caricature,” notes Kidman, who took home the Golden Globe for her lead turn in the Aaron Sorkin biopic.Being entrusted with someone’s life story is a big responsibility, and these actresses took great care in their prep work.

Clayton Davis Cate Blanchett delivers two outstanding performances that are both in the awards conversation this year: “Don’t Look Up” and “Nightmare Alley.” The star shepherds grace and a hypnotic trance that has the viewer hanging on every single word she releases.With another impressive turn in Adam McKay’s “Don’t Look Up,” Blanchett is a contender in what is easily our strongest field of supporting actress contenders in the last 30 years. Blanchett was shortlisted at BAFTA for “Don’t Look Up,” and also picked up a SAG Award nod for Guillermo del Toro’s “Nightmare Alley.”Variety’s Awards Circuit Podcast recently spoke with Blanchett about her double dip in the awards arena this season, and having to turn down the role of Lucille Ball in Aaron Sorkin’s “Being the Ricardos,” which ultimately went to Nicole Kidman.

Rebecca Rubin Film and Media ReporterBelieve it or not (actually, it’s probably easy to believe), there was a time when pregnant women were deemed too risqué for broadcast television. That changed when Lucille Ball was memorably rushed to the hospital to give birth on “I Love Lucy,” the groundbreaking sitcom that co-starred her real-life husband Desi Arnaz and left an indelible mark on show business.“Lucy and Desi,” a new documentary from director Amy Poehler, explores the unlikely rise to fame and enduring legacy of two comedy icons who broke barriers and subverted expectations about what it means to be an all-American couple. In advance of the movie’s premiere at Sundance Film Festival on Jan.

In 1952, the second season of CBS sitcom I Love Lucy set viewing records that, 70 years later, have yet to be beaten. The star was Lucille Ball, a lovable klutz from New York, and her husband Ricky was played by her real-life spouse—Cuban refugee Desi Arnaz. Together they founded Desilu Productions, soon to be the No. 1 independent TV company in America. In 1957, however, a scandal surfaced that threatened to tear it all down: Lucy was a registered Communist. Or was she? That fraught time is brought to life by Aaron Sorkin in his Amazon Studios release Being the Ricardos, starring Nicole Kidman as Lucy and Javier Bardem as Desi. Damon Wise sits down with all three to discuss the forgotten legacy of a most unlikely power couple.