Entertainment Express: Gerry Coffin, Critics Choice TV Awards, Dave Chappelle, Coldplay, Interpol, Chelsea Handler
Good day to you – no prize for guessing what America Ferrera and I share in common, as How to Train Your Dragon releases on the big screen in South Africa this weekend…
* He penned over 50 Top 40 hits during his career – Gerry Coffin, former husband and songwriting partner of Carole King, died on Thursday in Los Angeles, at the age of 76. It’s been wonderful to see people sharing their favourite songs on social media. Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow is no doubt a timeless classic, but The Locomotion earned its place in my heart too.
* Orange is the New Black (finally finished binging on Season 2 this past weekend) and Fargo, which wrapped up this week, won top prizes at the Critics Choice TV Awards on Thursday night. OITNB’s Kate Mulgrew, who plays Red, tied with Masters of Sex’ Allison Janney for best supporting actress. Uzo Aduba, who plays “Crazy Eyes”, got best guest performer and the series earned best comedy series. It had been submitted in that category even though the show is loved for its dramatic elements too.
* Staying with Netflix, Chelsea Handler will be moving on from E! to the site, signing a deal that will make her the first late night talk show host for the streaming service. The question on everyone’s mind is whether a format that’s worked so well for TV will work for a new generation of on-demand viewing. The show will debut in 2016, but according to Netflix’ Chief Content Officer Ted Sarandos, the episodes won’t be made for binge-watching, like OITNB.
* Comedian Dave Chapelle has kicked off an 8 – make that 9 – night residency at Radio City Music Hall in NYC, to “make enough money to disappear again.” The notoriously reclusive comic, known for walking away from his big-number Comedy Central deal, hasn’t played New York in over 10 years, and by all accounts, it sounds like he’s been sorely missed.
* Today’s installment of Things To Make You Smile come courtesy of Coldplay, with their video for A Sky Full of Stars, which sees the band wearing their instruments and walking through, presumably, London, while bystanders join in and sing along. Bless. New Yorkers Interpol have also released a new video set in London. The single Anywhere, from their forthcoming fifth album, was shot at the NME Awards, from a fan-in-the-crowd perspective.