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Gossip Girl Seasons 2 on HBO Max
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Evan Mock, Emily Alyn Lind, Savannah Lee Smith and More Attend Gossip Girl Season 2 Screening Hosted by NewFest and HBO

by Benjamin Schmidt
written by Benjamin Schmidt

HBO Max’s Gossip Girl, a reboot of the classic mid-2000s teen drama, has already made bright stars of its cast and is enjoying strong support among fans after a celebrated first season. Now T’V’s favorite all-knowing, riddle-loving narrator (the talented Kristen Bell) returns for the second season, along with much of the cast.

In order to celebrate the premiere, Human By Orientation (HBO’s own LGBTQIA+ organization), and NYC’s legendary NewFest (the city’s preeminent queer film festival for over 35 years) traded the Upper East Side for Brooklyn to host a show-stopping advance screening at the Nighthawk Cinema in South Slope. Guests were treated to a pre-show drink and popcorn before having a chance to enjoy the first episode of the second season.

Throwing audiences directly into the magic and chaos of Gossip Girl’s world, the first episode is a brash and fast-moving dive into the rarified (and often, very white) world of debutante balls. Even without having seen the first season, character building is strong and addicting- you want to know everyone. While watching the first season can help enjoy the story more its not a requirement in order to enjoy the episode.

Just one episode will have you indulging in modern slang, blink-and-you’ll-miss-it jokes, and satisfying references to NYC life that are the definition of if you know, you know. It’s always nice to see your city celebrated on the big screen and NYC has always been a bit of a plot point for Gossip Girl, given some of its unique cultural norms and tendencies.

Particularly refreshing is how candid the show is about queer life, where all kinds of relationships are normalized in a healthy way rather than fetishized as rare phenomenons. For example, the topic of a three-way relationship is interesting not because of the arrangement itself, but because viewers are let in on the emotional struggle of the participants. It’s refreshing and serious, but playful and real: a complicated relationship handled with the humor and care.

A post-screening Q&A, moderated by Them editor Michael Cuby, featured Gossip Girl director Joshua Safran and cast members including Emily Alyn Lind, Evan Mock, Savannah Lee Smith, and Grace Duah (who nearly steals the entire first episode with her chameleon-like presence of comforting chaos). The Q&A revealed some clues about the next season, especially around how viewers will learn more about the families of many of the characters. We’re also introduced to a returning teacher who seems to be as meddling as Gossip Girl themself.

After the screening, guests and stars alike descended upon the cinema’s bar for a roaring afterparty featuring custom cocktails, a photo backdrop, passed snacks, and an absolutely blowout DJ set by Kenni Javon.

Gossip Girl Season 2 is now streaming on HBO Max, with new episodes weekly. Stream it here.

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FilmThe LatestVideo

Exclusive: Kristen Bell & Kirby Howell-Baptiste Talk ‘Queenpins’ [Video]

by Kinsey Schofield
written by Kinsey Schofield

Have you ever felt flooded with guilt for immediately unsubscribing from a mailing list after utilizing the coupon code that you got for subscribing to their mailing list?

If the answer is yes then expect to experience a rollercoaster of emotions while watching Kristen Bell and Kirby Howell-Baptiste in Queenpins. Queenpins is based on a real-life multimillion-dollar criminal couponing bust that happened in Phoenix, Arizona. (Kirby’s got love for Phoenix, literally! Watch the interview to find out why. ?)

It was a brazen scheme. $25 million in counterfeit coupons. Can they get away with it?

Kristen Bell tells The Knockturnal‘s Kinsey Schofield, this is one of those unique films where you actually end up rooting for the good girls gone bad. She explains, “What excited me so much about the movie was, it is a dream come true to receive a script that the cover page says, ‘Based on true events.’ Because, you know, humanity is often stranger than fiction.”

“By the time they start their illegal empire, you are 100% on the side of the criminals and I think that’s rare that a movie can accomplish that.”

Both certified saints, Kirby and Kristen fess up to teenage naughtiness! “Have you ever taken anything that doesn’t belong to you?” Asks Kinsey, “Yes, not from another person!” insists Kirby. “No, but like, in high school… for sure,” admits Kristen.

“I guess, maybe, because I’m so scared of breaking the rules in real life, that I kind of like doing movies about breaking the rules,” Kristen tells The Knockturnal.

Kirby and Kristen talk Queenpins, Dateline, and dance contests in the interview above. Enjoy!

Queenpins stars Kristen Bell, Kirby Howell-Baptiste, Bebe Rexha, Dayo Okeniyi, Joel McHale, Paul Walter Hauser, and Vince Vaughn, and premieres in theaters on September 10th, 2021.

Kinsey Schofield is a contributor to The Knockturnal and you can follow her on Twitter, Instagram, or Facebook.

 

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Exclusive: Bebe Rexha Talks ‘Queenpins’ [Video]

by Kinsey Schofield
written by Kinsey Schofield

Have you ever felt flooded with guilt for immediately unsubscribing from a mailing list after utilizing the coupon code that you got for subscribing to their mailing list?

If the answer is yes then expect to experience a rollercoaster of emotions while watching Bebe Rexha in Queenpins. Queenpins is based on a real-life multimillion-dollar criminal couponing bust that happened in Phoenix, Arizona. Bebe plays Tempe Tina, a hardcore hacker that helps Kristen Bell and Kirby Howell-Baptist with their coupon scheme. We probably haven’t seen a hacker this hot since Angelina Jolie in… well… Hackers!

Bebe talked Tempe Tina to The Knockturnal‘s Kinsey Schofield, “Playing this character, she is extremely, like, in your face. She’s all about the business. She’s not trying to waste time, she’s trying to just get straight to the money. Make her money. Do her thing and move right along. That’s what I loved about this character. She’s just super strong, super kick-ass, and it kind of reminds me of the people I was surrounded by in New York. And you know, I’m from New York too. It’s just that energy that I love, so yeah, I love playing a badass chick!”

While Tempe Tina might an identity thief, Bebe likes to play by the rules! “Have you ever stolen something?” asked Kinsey, “Probably when I was younger. I think I stole gum or something from the store and my mom freaked out and like made me bring it back. You know when you were a baby and you would just grab,” admits the award-winning musician. “Other than that, not really! I’m too much of a scaredy-cat to steal something!” “You’re a good girl!” Kinsey reiterates,

Explore manifesting, Juicy Fruit gum, and getting in the car with Tempe Tina aka Bebe Rexha in the interview above.

Queenpins stars Kristen Bell, Kirby Howell-Baptiste, Bebe Rexha, Dayo Okeniyi, Joel McHale, Paul Walter Hauser, and Vince Vaughn, and premieres in theaters on September 10th, 2021.

Kinsey Schofield is a contributor to The Knockturnal and you can follow her on Twitter, Instagram, or Facebook.

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EntertainmentThe LatestTVVideo

Exclusive: Josh Gad and Cast Talk New Apple TV+ Show ‘Central Park’ [Video]

by Kinsey Schofield
written by Kinsey Schofield

“Strangest press junket I’ve ever done. #CentralPark from home in quarantine where I am the cameraman, lighting tech, and sound engineer. I love this show so much I would frankly do ten more jobs to make this happen. Get ready. May 29th on @AppleTV” Josh Gad is glad to be introducing us to Central Park!

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EntertainmentThe LatestTV

We Chat With Glenn Howerton, Patton Oswalt & Kristen Bell At 2017 NBCUniversal Upfront

by Catherina Gioino
written by Catherina Gioino

With the warm weather issuing in summer binge watching and season reruns, the NBCUniversal Upfront red carpet showed us what we have to expect for the fall. With appearances from Jennifer Lopez and Ne-Yo for World of Dance to Amy Poehler and Nick Offerman for The Handmade Project, NBC made sure everyone knew of its new and continuing projects for next season.

We had the chance to speak with several showrunners on their shows and what viewers can expect to see. We spoke with Glenn Howerton and Patton Oswalt for their new, Seth Meyers/Mike O’Brien written show, A.P. Bio, a show that follows Howerton as a former college philosophy professor teaching A.P. Biology to high school students. Check out the informative banter the two offered us.

What can viewers expect for the new show?

GH: Two comedy legends going head to head on NBC.

PO: There could only be one. Wait a minute, that sounds weird.

GH: Highlander.

PO: Yea, only one of us is going to survive the pilot.

GH: It’s like Highlander, only it’s funnier than Highlander, I hope.

PO: We kill each other with jokes. Then we cut the other’s head off and we absorb his comedy skills.

GH: That’s right.

PO: The quickening happens. And then the Queen song plays.

GH: And that’s basically what the show’s about.

PO: You can expect a lot of very funny awkwardness on this guy’s part. Yes, but this is on a different level then It’s Always Sunny, you’ll see.

Kristen Bell stopped for us as well on the carpet, telling us there’s plenty on Ted Danson’s side of their show, The Good Place, that we can expect for season two. She said the show will have, “More weird stuff. Season two takes on an entirely different meaning because of the reveal at the end of season one, and it’s a lot more from Ted Danson’s character’s perspective this season, so it’s a little bit nastier. And it’s a lot of fun.”

Among The Handmade Project, A.P. Bio, and World of Dance, other new shows coming to NBC next season include Tina Fey’s highly talked about project, Good News, as well as The Brave, and a revival of Will & Grace. 

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Falcone x McCarthy Present ‘The Boss’

by Catherina Gioino
written by Catherina Gioino

We love Ben Falcone and Melissa McCarthy, and we’re pretty sure they love each other almost as much. So when there’s another movie with the duo, we just could not help but find out more about it and our next obsession.

The Boss is the next film written and directed by Ben Falcone and written and starring Melissa McCarthy. Coming on April 8, 2016 by Universal Pictures, the film will follow the story of Michelle Darnell, played by McCarthy, who is sent to prison after being found guilty of insider trading. After she is released, she hopes to start afresh and make herself known as a caregiving and wonderful person, although she is haunted by the people whose money she took and must make amends.

The film will star a huge boatload of people we would love to see in a comedy like this, including Kristen Bell, Peter Dinklage, Tyler Labine, Margo Martindale, Kathy Bates, Cecily Strong, Kristen Schaal, Annie Mumolo, Timothy Simons, Ella Anderson, Carrot Top, and more. With Falcone, McCarthy, Will Ferrell, Adam McKay, and Chris Hency producing the film, we sure can bet it’s going to be laugh out loud hilarious. Filming began on March 12, 2015 in Georgia.

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