This review contains spoilers for the novel “The Three-Body Problem” and the television series “Three-Body.” There’s no way around it. The highly acclaimed trilogy of Chinese science-fiction novels collectively known as “Three-Body,” in which Earth is threatened with invasion by technologically superior aliens, is generally understood to reflect historical Chinese anxieties about Western domination. Which makes it a little amusing that, 17 years after the story was first serialized, the books are about to get more attention than ever because of a big-budget American adaptation, due later this year on Netflix . Comments about appropriation and cultural sensitivity will start to pour in minutes after the episodes are posted. In the meantime, little attention is being paid in the United States to an ambitious Chinese series, “Three-Body,” that has beaten Netflix’s “3 Body Problem” to the screen. No trade barriers or worries about state secrets here: The 30 episodes of … [Read more...] about ‘Three-Body’ Review: A Chinese Series Beats Netflix to the Screen
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‘Celebrity Jeopardy!’ Winner Reveals His Secret Strategy—and Who He Didn’t Mean to Piss Off
The first-ever Celebrity Jeopardy! was almost destined for joke status. After all, the Saturday Night Live version of the famous people-only edition of the game show remains indelible, becoming one of SNL ’s more famous recurring sketches. But the real, hour-long show, which wrapped its 13-episode season on Thursday, ended up distinguishing itself as a worthy entry in the hallowed Jeopardy! canon . Better yet: It was easily one this TV season’s most consistently rewarding watches. Fellow celebrity nerd Mayim Bialik hosted this special primetime take on the show, which had a different format than a traditional half-hour Jeopardy! match. Instead of having contestants compete to rack up the most money for as many games as possible, Celebrity Jeopardy! had a more rigid structure: A bracket-style competition created unique stakes, with each round pitting three celebs against each other. Six starting rounds became three semifinals, as the contestants tried to … [Read more...] about ‘Celebrity Jeopardy!’ Winner Reveals His Secret Strategy—and Who He Didn’t Mean to Piss Off
Bringing a Little Queerness to Acting Roles
Name: Poppy Liu Age: 32 Hometown: Xi’an, China Now Lives: In a three-bedroom ranch-style home on the East Side of Los Angeles with their partner, Jonah Tucker. Claim to Fame: Poppy Liu is a first-generation Chinese American actor who plays Kiki, a sassy private blackjack dealer in the HBO series “Hacks.” Although Ms. Liu’s characters do not always identify as nonbinary or queer, “if they cast me in it, I’m like, ‘Well, this character is a little bit queer now,’” said Ms. Lui, who uses “they” for a pronoun. “I think the essence of who you are is always present, and I really embrace that.” They are also a doula to women of color and transgender people, and founded Collective Sex , a queer production company dedicated to inclusive stories about sex and healing. Big Break: After graduating from Colgate University in 2009, Ms. Liu moved to New York City and landed various roles in downtown theater. In 2019, a casting call for “Sunnyside,” an … [Read more...] about Bringing a Little Queerness to Acting Roles
An Undercurrent of Darkness, Even at Disney
HOTSHOT TV animators used to knock on Disney Channel’s door very infrequently. For a generation of cartoonists raised on “The Simpsons,” Disney had a reputation as too worried about protecting its brand to have fun. The cool kids wanted to work elsewhere. How the cartoon tides turn. Disney hired some daring young managers — notably Mike Moon, known for Cartoon Network’s “Foster’s Home for Imaginary Friends” — and took a chance on a silly show everyone else turned down: “ Phineas and Ferb .” It became a smash hit, and the Disney Channel was in the game. Which brings us to Alex Hirsch, 27. As a student at the California Institute of the Arts, he was talented enough to get noticed by Jeffrey Katzenberg, the chief executive of DreamWorks Animation. (“He called me during class and was, like, ‘Hey, buddy!’ ” Mr. Hirsch said.) But Mr. Hirsch couldn’t be swayed: He wanted to work for Disney’s TV shop. The result is Mr. Hirsch’s spooky and flatly bizarre “ Gravity Falls ,” which … [Read more...] about An Undercurrent of Darkness, Even at Disney
Together We Cope hosts Pasta & Ponies 2017
0 This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own. Kids & Family Together We Cope, homeless prevention agency based in Tinley Park, hosts annual pasta dinner fundraiser Oct. 4 Together We Cope , Community Contributor Posted | Updated Reply Together We Cope sets its annual pasta dinner and fundraiser, Pasta & Ponies 2017, for Wednesday, Oct. 4 at a new venue, Palos Country Club at 13100 Southwest Highway in Orland Park. The dinner buffet begins at 6 p.m. and features a wide array of pasta, chicken, wings and salad dishes. Tickets are available from Kathy Rogge at 708-263-0302 ext. 6101 or [email protected] . Reservations are $35 for adults ($45 at the door), $10 for children 4-12 ($15 at the door), while children 3 and under are free. Tickets include the buffet and one drink ticket for adults, as well as unlimited soda drinks. Videotaped horse races, with … [Read more...] about Together We Cope hosts Pasta & Ponies 2017
New this week: ‘Your Place or Mine’ and ‘All That Breathes’
This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate 3 Here’s a collection curated by The Associated Press’ entertainment journalists of what’s arriving on TV, streaming services and music and video game platforms this week. MOVIES — Shaunak Sen’s “All That Breathes,” one of the more transfixing and beautiful documentaries of the past year, is about a pair of brothers in New Dehli who make a makeshift clinic to mend and heal the birds of prey who are increasingly falling to Earth in the pollution-choked Indian capital. The film, nominated for best documentary at the Academy Awards, is a stirring and poetic portrait of ecological urban rescue that begins streaming on HBO Max on Tuesday. (It also premieres on HBO on Tuesday.) Nadeem Shehzad and Mohammad Saud may be amateurs, but they've saved some 20,000 birds. — With Valentine's Day fast approaching, the rom-coms cometh. Two notable ones are on tap this week: “Your Place or Mine” on … [Read more...] about New this week: ‘Your Place or Mine’ and ‘All That Breathes’