Fandango has announced a new streaming service, FandangoNow, expected to launch by March 30 in time for the HD digital release of “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” on April 1, 2016. They plan to offer theater tickets with a kicker — access to the film again when it is available for streaming. FandangoNow will provide access to new movie releases and next-day TV shows on the web, iOS, Android and Roku devices as well as on smart TVs from Samsung, LG and Vizio.
NBCUniversal is starting a new streaming comedy channel called Seeso for $3.99 a month. According to Variety, it will include
40 years of “SNL,” including day-after-air episodes; “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon”; “Late Night with Seth Meyers”; “Parks and Recreation”; “30 Rock”; both the U.K. and U.S. versions of “The Office”; “The Kids in the Hall”; and “Saved by the Bell.”
Seeso expects to produce about 20 original series in the first year of operation, Shapiro said. Among the first: “The UCB Show” featuring Amy Poehler and other Upright Citizens Brigade troupe founders Matt Walsh, Ian Roberts and Matt Besser; an animated series from “Community” creator Dan Harmon, dubbed “HarmonQuest”; and a standup series from Wyatt Cenac (“The Daily Show with Jon Stewart”).
Other Seeso originals on deck: reality show spoof “Bajillion Dollar Propertie$” from executive producers Scott Aukerman, Ben Garant, Tom Lennon and Kulap Vilaysack; workplace comedy “Thingstarter,” and dating game improv show “Dave & Ethan: Lovemakers,” both from Broadway Video’s Above Average Productions; standup series “Take My Wife” from creators and hosts Cameron Esposito and Rhea Butcher; travel show parody “Hidden America with Johan Ray”; comedy series “Live From The Barrel House” and “The Comedy Show Show” from Rooftop Comedy; “Sammy J & Randy in Ricketts Lane,” a musical comedy about two mismatched housemates, one a human and the other a puppet; and dark family comedy “Flowers,” starring Julian Barratt and Olivia Colman.
A New — and Free — Resource for Streaming Indie Films
Posted on August 23, 2013 at 3:59 pm
Check with your local library to see whether your library card gives you access to IndieFlix, a free service with a wide selection of indie films you can stream online or through Roku or XBox, everything from Fred Astaire in “Royal Wedding” (with that astounding dancing on the ceiling number) to experimental shorts, animation, and classic cult films. Any place that has separate categories on the menu for “comedy,” “dark comedy,” and “dramedy” has my respect. Highly recommended.
Are You Smarter Than a TV Executive? Pick Next Season’s Programs
Posted on May 4, 2013 at 8:00 am
Amazon has children’s programs and comedy pilots available for free streaming — and viewer votes will help determine what gets picked up for a series. Choices include a sharp political satire from Doonesbury’s Garry Trudeau, with John Goodman as one of four Republican Senators sharing a home in “Alpha House.” Other choices include Browswers (a group of young people working at a Huffington Post-style online publication) and Zombieland, based on the popular movie.
Starting tomorrow, Acorn TV, the first British TV streaming service in North America, will offer the first two series of Helen Mirren’s iconic, Emmy-winning role as Jane Tennison in Prime Suspect. Series 1 guest stars also include Tom Wilkinson and Ralph Fiennes. As always, the first episodes of each of the 18 series are available for free, while complete access to the 125 hours is $2.99 a month or $29.99 for a year.
Currently streaming: The complete series of Fortysomething starring Hugh Laurie (House) and Benedict Cumberbatch (BBC’s Sherlock); the “Outrageously Entertaining” (NPR) Slings & Arrows, featuring Paul Gross, Rachel McAdams, and Mark McKinney; the North American premiere of Midsomer Murders, Set 21;Fresh Fields starring Julia McKenzie and Anton Rodgers; the complete 40-episode Pie in the Sky series starring Harry Potter’s Richard Griffiths; as well as Keira Knightley and Sam Neillin Doctor Zhivago; Sally Hawkins (Happy-Go-Lucky) and Oscar-nominee Imelda Staunton (Vera Drake) in Fingersmith; David Suchet in Agatha Christie’s Poirot; Tom Wilkinson in First Among Equals; the final episodes of Lynda La Plante’s Trial & Retribution; among many others.
