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Most User-Friendly Streaming Services: Netflix, Hulu And More – Variety

From ‘Glitchy’ HBO Max to ‘Overwhelming’ Amazon Prime Video, Hollywood Insiders Spill on Their (Least) Favorite Streaming Interfaces

By Selome Hailu, Jennifer Maas

Illustration by Zohar Lazar

Television viewing has never offered consumers more agency.

Though the streaming revolution has provided viewers with a dizzying array of TV and movie choices, it has also led to a free-for-all in how that content is accessed across various devices. Every streaming service has added custom touches to the overall user interface — the tabs, the rewind and fast-forward buttons and myriad other functions that viewers need in order to cue up their shows.

From the ability to speak into the Apple TV remote’s microphone instead of using a search bar to the fateful day when Netflix allowed users to shut off the bombardment of homepage autoplay, the interactions that fans have with streaming services have come a long way.

Source: Most User-Friendly Streaming Services: Netflix, Hulu And More – Variety

Arts & Humanities, Current Affairs, Film & Movies, Memories & History, Television

Lance Reddick Remembered at ‘John Wick 4’ Premiere by Keanu Reeves – Variety

By Angelique Jackson, J. Kim Murphy, March 20, 2023

Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images | Amy Sussman/Getty Images | Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images

The Los Angeles premiere for “John Wick: Chapter 4” on Monday evening was a celebratory, yet somber occasion, as star Keanu Reeves and director Chad Stahelski paid tribute to the late Lance Reddick, who starred as Charon in all four “John Wick” films before dying suddenly on Friday.

Upon arriving at the TCL Chinese Theatre, attendees at the Los Angeles premiere were given blue ribbon pins to wear to honor Reddick. Blue was the late actor’s favorite color.

“Lance is a people person, a special artist, a gentleman of grace and dignity,” Reeves said on the carpet. “It’s just really something special, every time he stepped on set, to watch the passion he had for his work. It’s really easy to work with him.”

Source: https://variety.com/2023/film/news/lance-reddick-john-wick-chapter-4-premiere-keanu-reeves-1235559521/

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Harrison Ford on Playing Indiana Jones for the Last Time | Variety

By Marc Malkin, January 31, 2023

Lucasfilm Ltd.

Welcome to this week’s “Just for Variety.”

It’s not every day that an action movie stars an 80-year- old.

But leave it to octogenarian Harrison Ford to return as Indiana Jones in “Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny,” the fifth installment of the iconic franchise.

While moviegoers may be surprised to see Ford return four decades after making the first film, the actor has long felt he’d be back.

“I always wanted to do it,” he told me at the premiere of his Apple TV+ comedy series “Shrinking.” “I wanted to do the rest of the story to see the end of his career.”

Source: Harrison Ford on Playing Indiana Jones for the Last Time – Variety

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How Barbara Walters’ Career Mirrored the Rise of TV News – Variety

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A look back at the pioneering journalist’s ascent as documented in the pages of Variety

By Cynthia Littleton, December 31, 2022

Getty Images

It’s hard to imagine Barbara Walters as anything other than a marquee-name, intrepid and pioneering journalist. But she didn’t get there overnight. A look back at the early career of the broadcast journalist, who died Dec. 30 at age 93, as documented in the pages of Variety shows the clear trajectory of a well-connected, industrious young woman who was destined to reach the summit of New York media and literati circles.

Variety’s coverage of Walters’ climb starting in the early 1950s also neatly tracks the rise of network TV news as a cultural force, and the subsequent evolution of TV news personalities into celebrities.

Walters’ status as the daughter of Broadway producer, booking agent and nightclub owner Lou Walters surely afforded her an early entrée into attention from Variety. Her first few references always included a reference to her father’s showbiz pedigree. But it wasn’t long before the younger Walters was earning items on her own. Barbara Walters stood out for the quality of her work even before she was on camera.

Editor’s Note: Read more, see link below for original item…

Source: How Barbara Walters’ Career Mirrored the Rise of TV News – Variety

Current Affairs, Film & Movies, Love & Relationships, Memories & History, Pleasures, Television

Back to the Future Fans Cry as Michael J Fox Christopher Lloyd Reunite – Variety

By Zack Sharf, Oct 10, 2022 8:24am PT

Mike Coppola/Getty Images for ReedPop

“Back to the Future” fans were brought to tears on social media after videos from New York Comic Con went viral for capturing the emotional reunion between stars Michael J. Fox and Christopher Lloyd. The duo appeared visibly moved when they took the stage to a huge applause from the crowd, with Fox emotionally hugging Lloyd and Lloyd putting his arm around Fox. One video of the reunion has earned over 7 million views on Twitter.

“Watching [Michael J. Fox] hug Christopher Lloyd like this is so beautiful,” wrote one Twitter user. “I think it’s safe to say that today belongs to Michael J. Fox and Christopher Lloyd. As it should… It’s a beautiful moment in time.”

Fox joined “Back to the Future” after production was already underway, with Lloyd having filmed scenes with original Marty McFly actor Eric Stoltz. Director Robert Zemeckis came to realize that Stoltz wasn’t right for the part, so Fox was cast and the production had to reshoot scenes.

Source: https://variety.com/2022/film/news/back-to-the-future-fans-cry-michael-j-fox-christopher-lloyd-reunion-1235397800/

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‘Rings of Power’: How to Watch the Lord of The Ring Series Online – Variety

The hotly anticipated series premieres on Amazon Prime Video this week.

By Anna Tingley, Aug 30, 2022 11:44am PT

Courtesy of Amazon Studios

It’s almost time to travel back to Middle-Earth. Amazon Prime Video’s hotly anticipated new Lord of the Rings series, “The Rings of Power,” arrives on the streamer on Sept. 2.

The fantasy series is one of Amazon Studios’ most ambitious projects to date, already breaking records ahead of its release.

Not only is it reported to be the most expensive television series ever made (Amazon apparently shelled out close to $715 million for all eight episodes), but the show’s first trailer racked up an unmatched 257 million views when it first debuted at this year’s Super Bowl, more than any Super Bowl trailer in history.

Source: ‘Rings of Power’: How to Watch the Lord of The Ring Series Online – Variety