Latest news with #Chapel
Los Angeles Times
13-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Los Angeles Times
Escape from reality with ‘The Librarians: The Next Chapter' this weekend
Welcome to Screen Gab the newsletter for everyone who needs a break from doomscrolling. If your brain needs a fantasy adventure to escape the realities of life, perhaps the escapades of a time-traveling librarian will suit your needs. 'The Librarians,' which started as a trio of TV movies that evolved into a four-season TV series, has built out its universe with the recent spinoff 'The Librarians: The Next Chapter.' Showrunner Dean Devlin stopped by Guest Spot to discuss how the new show connects to the wider franchise. And if you're into crime dramas as a form of escapist TV, this week's streaming recommendations include a new British detective drama that features a mismatched crime-solving duo and the prequel series in 'Dexter's' expanding serial killer universe. Must-read stories you might have missed 50 years after Marshal Matt Dillon's last draw, 'Gunsmoke' is a streaming hit: The adult western drama with James Arness is finding loyal fans and new audiences on Peacock, Paramount+ and Pluto TV. Commentary: Why on earth is Dr. Phil involved in immigration raids? Another made-for-TV event from a reality star president: Of all the alarming things that have happened in L.A., Dr. Phil hanging out with Trump's top border policy advisor during immigration raids was the weirdest. In 'Murderbot,' an anxious scientist and an autonomous robot develop a workplace-trauma bond: Alexander Skarsgård and Noma Dumezweni, co-stars of Apple TV+'s 'Murderbot,' discuss Episode 6 of the sci-fi series and the autism-coded robot at the center of the show. 'Materialists' is a smart and funny all-star love triangle with its own commitment issues: In Celine Song's rom-com follow-up to her Oscar-nominated 'Past Lives,' Pedro Pascal is rich, Chris Evans is poor and Dakota Johnson is a matchmaking mercenary. Recommendations from the film and TV experts at The Times 'Death Valley' (BritBox) Set not in our own dry desert but the verdant valleys of Wales, this adorable and comical mystery series from the great Timothy Spall, OBE — longtime favorite of director Mike Leigh and familiar to many as Peter Pettigrew in five 'Harry Potter' movies — stars as John Chapel, a former TV police detective living in small-town isolation after the death of his Welsh wife. Along comes Gwyneth Keyworth as the world's sweetest (actual) police detective Janie Mallowan, Chapel's biggest fan who knocks on his door in the middle of an investigation. After some back-and-forth, push and pull, they become one of those pro-am teams that figure in so many detective shows — like 'Castle,' without the sex — and never better done than here. Chapel takes to the job in grand thespian style, playing characters, improvising and analyzing motives through character analysis. (He's not always right.) Janie is alternately stressed and impressed. Backdrops for the cases include a local theater production, a walking group, a wedding and a school reunion — cozy stuff. — Robert Lloyd 'Dexter: Original Sin' (Paramount+ with Showtime) If superheroes can have origin stories, why not serial killers carrying on their secret mission of justice? That's the concept of Showtime's 'Dexter: Original Sin,' which travels back to 1991 to show how the crafty Dexter Morgan, the forensics specialist who moonlighted as a vigilante, began his killing ways while working as an intern at the Miami Metro Police Department. The series premiered last year as a prequel spinoff of 'Dexter,' the popular drama/dark comedy that ran for eight seasons and later continued its story in the sequel series 'Dexter: New Blood.' Patrick Gibson uncannily captures the mannerisms, facial expressions and inflections of 'Dexter' star Michael C. Hall, who provides the trademark narration that was one of the signatures of the original series. The show is the perfect appetizer for the July 11 premiere of 'Dexter: Resurrection,' which brings the titular antihero back to life despite being 'shot to death' by his son Harrison (Jack Alcott) in the finale of 'Dexter: New Blood.' — Greg Braxton A weekly chat with actors, writers, directors and more about what they're working on — and what they're watching 'The Librarians' is back after more than seven years, but things are a little different from when we last visited this fantasy land, which spanned three films (starring Noah Wyle) and a four-season TV series. In its latest iteration, 'The Librarians: The Next Chapter,' we're introduced to a new librarian named Vikram Chamberlain (Callum McGowan), who time-traveled from 1847 and now finds himself stuck in the present. He returns to his castle in Belgrade, Serbia only to find that it's now a museum — but more notably, his arrival releases magic across the continent, leading to some strange occurrences. He has to clean up the mess, with some help in the form of guardian Charlie (Jessica Green), scientist Lysa (Olivia Morris) — who inherited the castle — and historian Connor (Bluey Robinson). For fans of the original series, Christian Kane makes a guest appearance as librarian Jacob Stone. Also returning is showrunner and executive producer Dean Devlin, who is carrying the torch on the series. He stopped by Screen Gab to talk about the new season, which currently airs on TNT and is also available for streaming on TNT's website and app, — Maira Garcia 'The Librarians' has amassed a legion of loyal fans over the years, first with the films and then with the series. What made you decide to return to it and how did you approach developing 'The Next Chapter' with a new cast? Honestly, I never wanted to stop telling stories in the world of the magical Library! When an opportunity came up to continue the franchise, I jumped at it. I didn't want to reboot the story, because in my mind (and the fans) the original team of Librarians are still out there doing missions. I wanted to focus on a different story that takes place in parallel. When the idea of a Librarian from the past appearing today, it felt like just the right 'fish out of water' story we needed to kick off a new series. The series features this push and pull of logic and magic, history and fantasy. How do you juggle history with the supernatural elements of the show? It's really important to us that viewers can Google things we talk about in our show. While we may not follow exactly the legends in the zeitgeist, we wanted there to be enough of a connection to deepen the enjoyment of our adventures. So history and mythology are at the heart of our show. Sometimes we'll give an alternate perspective or backstory, but there is always a nugget [of] connection to the stories we want to tell. Throughout your career, you've worked on a number of sci-fi and fantasy films and series like 'Stargate,' 'Independence Day' and 'The Ark.' What is it about these genres that appeals to you, and why do you think audiences gravitate toward them? Often 'escapist' entertainment is looked down upon as a lesser art form. But I find that audiences, especially after dealing with things like a pandemic, economic and personal hardships, [or] political divisions, have a real NEED to escape into a world of optimism and wonder and adventure. I'm no exception. What have you watched recently that you're recommending to everyone you know? It's not super recent, but I've loved watching 'Only Murders in the Building' [Hulu], 'Ted Lasso' [AppleTV+], 'Star Trek: Strange New Worlds,' 'Star Trek: Picard' (especially season 3) [both on Paramount+] and the new 'Doctor Who' [Disney+]. What's your go-to comfort watch, the film or TV show you return to again and again? If 'Tombstone' or 'Enter the Dragon' is playing on late-night TV, then I'm not getting any sleep. And of course, the 10th and 11th Doctors on 'Doctor Who' are a constant fallback watch for me.
The Herald Scotland
25-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Herald Scotland
Death Valley: does it deserve a welcome in the hillsides?
** I can imagine the pitch meeting only too well. 'So, what do you have for us?' 'A murder mystery.' 'Sounds quirky. Always risky, quirky, when dealing with death. Unless it's Only Murders in the Building, that's genius. Is it like Only Murders in the Building?' 'Well, the central character is a retired actor who used to play a detective on TV, and he solves cases with a kooky young woman Detective Sergeant, so it is a bit like Only Murders.' 'Kooky. That's as bad as quirky. Where's it set?' 'Vale of Glamorgan, hence Death Valley. Plenty of local actors involved, including Steffan Rhodri, aka Dave Coaches from Gavin and Stacey, and Gwen from Gavin and Stacey plays the mum of the young woman DS.' 'Gavin and Stacey, eh? That's more promising, but I still think it would be more at home in a sleepy afternoon slot rather than Sunday evening. So sorry, it's a no.' 'Did I mention we've got Timothy Spall, bona fide national treasure, lined up to play the retired telly detective?' 'Talk about burying the lead, mate! We'll have six episodes and don't stint on the scenery.' Given the series' reliance on Spall, the first episode takes too long to introduce his character. Police have been called to the home of a property developer who appears to have shot himself. As forensics officers gather evidence, there's a telly on in the background showing old re-runs of Caesar, starring John Chapel (Spall) as the crime-cracking supremo with a literary bent. Turns out Chapel lives in the village, and the officer in charge of the shooting investigation, DS Janie Mallowan (Gwyneth Keyworth), is his number one fan. But Chapel is a recluse and doesn't want to help. Then he does want to help, but now Mallowan has cooled on the idea of having a civilian involved. In short, a monumental amount of faffing goes on before we can get down to business, by which time the Janie character has become seriously annoying. It is a pity because under other circumstances, Kirstie Allsopp-lookalike Keyworth would be a likeable sort. And perhaps the gentle humour would land better. Are jokes about star signs still a thing? Spall is incapable of a duff performance, and his delightfully hammy Chapel/Caesar is reason enough to keep watching. But national treasure or not, the national patience has its limits. With the full series on iPlayer now, the better news for writer Paul Doolan is that Death Valley settles down and starts to grow on you, and a couple of starry guest appearances liven things up no end. This, however, was a patchy start. One of the highlights of the weekend (apart from the Bob Servant night on BBC4 on Saturday), was the documentary Liza: a Truly Terrific Absolutely True Story. The 101-minute film lived up to its title, with the standout turn Mia Farrow passing judgment on all who had crossed Minnelli's path, for good and ill. A portrait of Farrow next, please.
Metro
02-05-2025
- Metro
The 'Rome of Portugal' is a lesser-visited gem that's 20°C in May
With tens of millions of tourists flocking to its ancient streets every year, Rome can feel suffocating. In the summer it becomes so flooded with people it can be difficult to enjoy – not to mention the sweltering heat. And this year is set to attract more crowds than ever: the Italian capital is celebrating its Jubilee Year 2025, and the death of Pope Francis has already brought droves of pilgrims to the Vatican. But there are ways to enjoy a Roman holiday without stepping foot in the Eternal City. One of them is across the continent in Portugal, where the country's third city has been dubbed the 'Portuguese Rome.' Braga, a small city in the far north of Portugal, is the less touristy sister of Lisbon and Porto. In 2024, it was named Europe's next emerging destination in the prestigious World Travel Awards. Fuel your wanderlust with our curated newsletter of travel deals, guides and inspiration. Sign up here. A mainstay of the Roman empire, Braga has had much significance in Portugal's history. From ornate architecture to ancient buildings and a thriving culinary scene, the city has everything that Rome does, without the crowds. Often referred to as the heartland of Portugal, Braga is a historic city steeped in religious heritage. That can only mean it's home to a swathe of elaborate churches. Portugal's most photographed church, Bom Jesus do Monte, is located in Tenoes, just outside the city, with a Baroque stairway leading up a hilltop. Towering 116 metres high, the church captures a sweeping panorama of the surrounding region. Braga Cathedral is even older, built between 1070 and 1093 on the ruins of a Roman temple. Incorporating Gothic, Baroque, Manueline and Renaissance styles, the church has a museum filled with local relics. Elsewhere, the Chapel of São Frutuoso was constructed in the sixth century AD, making it one of the oldest buildings in the entirety of Portugal. According to tradition, it was built to replace an ancient Roman temple dedicated to Asclepius, AKA, the god of medicine and good health. There's also the Santa Barbara Garden, which is attached to the 14th century Archbishop's Palace, one of the city's most important historic structures. But enough about churches. Braga also has a charming city centre with tree-lined streets, fashion boutiques and beautiful gardens. It's cute but compact, definitely doable in one weekend. The city has a thriving food scene, and many regional delicacies to try. A good starting point is bacalhau (salted cod) and caldo verde (soup with potatoes, kale and chorizo), followed by bife à Bragança (a traditional steak dish) andpastel de nata (the famous custard tarts). The city is home to nine Michelin restaurants and myriad trendy bars. TripAdvisor reviewers recommend checking out the Sardinha Biba nightclub if you fancy a dance. The easiest way to get to Braga from the UK is to fly to nearby Porto. In May, one-way fares start from as little as £28 if you fly from London Stansted, or £58 flying from Manchester. From Porto, it's less than a 40-minute drive. Taxis typically cost around £50. For accommodation, the average cost of a hotel room in Braga during the summer season is between £75 and £90. The best time to visit Braga is undoubtedly the summer. More Trending In May, temperatures reach highs of 20°C, perfect walking weather. In July and August, the mercury can reach 25°C. If sun isn't your thing, temperatures for the rest of the year don't typically dip much below 10°C. In January and February, expect highs of 14°C, while in November it remains a pleasant 17°C. Do you have a story to share? Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@ MORE: Missed out on Glastonbury tickets? Here's 5 'hidden gem' festivals you've probably never heard of MORE: Woman dragged off Ryanair flight after 'on-board fight' diverts it to Italy MORE: Spanish 'mini Maldives' gets brand new TUI flight from UK airport
San Francisco Chronicle
26-04-2025
- Entertainment
- San Francisco Chronicle
Eighties indie rockers to host mini S.F. residency
Yo La Tengo is a true rock 'n' roll love story. The New Jersey indie rock band was formed in 1984 by vocalist/guitarist Ira Kaplan and vocalist/percussionist Georgia Hubley, who linked up after spotting each other out and about at record shops and concerts. They got married three years after starting the band and have been together ever since. While the band has seen a few members come and go over the years, Kaplan and Hubley have been staples since the beginning. The group released its first LP, 'Ride the Tiger,' in 1986, and began to establish more of a following with its third release, 'President Yo La Tengo' (1989). It has been widely celebrated for its experimental incorporation of shoegaze, R&B and country sounds in its rock music foundation ever since. For decades, Yo La Tengo has been steadily rolling out albums, and now the group is set to take on a mini residency at the Chapel in San Francisco from Friday-Saturday, May 9-10, and Monday-Tuesday, May 12-13, giving Bay Area fans four days to catch them live. Yo La Tengo: 9 p.m. Friday-Saturday, May 9-10; 8:30 p.m. Monday-Tuesday, May 12-13. Tickets start at $170. The Chapel, 777 Valencia St., S.F. 415-551-5157.
CBS News
13-02-2025
- Entertainment
- CBS News
Celebrated Bay Area songwriter Chuck Prophet plays Valentine's show at the Chapel
Beloved SF raconteur and guitarist Chuck Prophet plays a special Valentine's set of songs backed by a string quartet at the Chapel Friday night. Born in the Southern California town of Whittier and raised the Bay Area suburbs, Prophet first came to fame in the mid-1980s after joining the country-influenced neo-psychedelic band Green On Red when the group relocated to Los Angeles from Tuscon, Arizona. The band would record it's landmark Enigma Records effort Gas Food Lodging, earning the group accolades in the U.S. and Europe and a major label deal with Mercury. While the band continued to receive critical acclaim for the vivid character studies and rootsy country psychedelia heard on 1987's The Killer Inside Me and Stones-flavored Here Come the Snakes two years later, by 1992 the group had called it quits. That freed Prophet up to pursue his solo songwriting career that he started with his first recording Brother Aldo in 1990. Mixing modern lo-fi sensibilities with his storytelling songs and swampy roots influences, Prophet released a string of celebrated albums during the 1990s including the semi-autobiographical Homemade Blood and the clanking, Tom Waits-tinged The Hurting Business. The songwriter's contemporaries took notice of his skills as a tunesmith, with the likes of Texas punk-roots singer Alejandro Escovedo, rock band Heart and blues great Solomon Burke covering his songs. Early in the 2000s, Prophet convened the first line-up of his backing band the Mission Express, a crew that drew on some of the finest players in the city. The songwriter continued his solid hitting streak, releasing more critically lauded albums such as the eclectic Soap and Water in 2007 and his more recent triumphs like the historical San Francisco travelogue Temple Beautiful in 2012 and the character-driven Night Surfer two years later. The gifted guitarist released his acclaimed effort Bobby Fuller Died For Your Sins on Yep Roc Records in 2017, earning another round of ecstatic reviews. Self-described by Prophet as "California noir," the songs on the collection ruminate on mortality whether lamenting SFPD officer-involved shooting victim "Alex Nieto" or paying respects to David Bowie and other passed legends on "Bad Year For Rock And Roll." While his most recent recording for Yep Rock -- entitled The Land That Time Forgot -- came out in 2020 during the height of the pandemic, Prophet has maintained a steady pace of activity with online and in-person concerts showcasing the evocative new tunes including the wistful lament "High As Johnny Thunders" and the pointed salvo directed at former President Trump, "Get Off the Stage." Prophet has also been performing as part of the Casual Coalition, a collective of Bay Area all-stars including members of Mother Hips, Phil Lesh & Friends and Stu Allen and the Mars Hotel playing music from Bob Dylan's landmark late '60s recordings with the Band that eventually saw partial release in 1975 as The Basement Tapes. The ensemble appeared at the Huichica Music Festival in 2019 and has reconvened for a number of local performances since. Prophet made a sobering announcement last year when he confirmed that he had been diagnosed with lymphoma and was undergoing treatment. While the diagnosis forced the singer to cancel a number of shows, he returned to the live stage this past summer, delivering the kind of performances that have made him a Northern California institution. Late last year, Prophet and the Mission Express also released their first proper live document, a fiery 2LP recording of a concert in Paris showcasing the songwriter's later work that was originally only available as a CD sold on tour in Europe. This past October, the songwriter released a new album for Yep Rock that stands as a major stylistic departure: a collaboration with cumbia group ¿Qiensave? entitled Wake the Dead. Formed from jam sessions with the group in their hometown of Salinas during his lymphoma recovery, the songs heard on Wake the Dead run the gamut from sharp social commentary ("In the Shadows (For Elon)" and "Sally Was a Cop") to Prophet's trademark vivid, character-driven tales of loss and redemption ("Sugar into Water" and "First Came the Thunder"), closing with the heartfelt celebrations of survival "It's a Good Day to Be Alive." Recorded live with ¿Qiensave? and augmented by members of the Mission Express the album has earned the songwriter some of the best reviews of his illustrious career. The songwriter showcased the tunes with his new ensemble the Cumbia Shoes for a sold-out show at the Chapel late last year. For this special Valentine's Day show, Prophet and a stripped-down trio featuring his wife and longtime bandmate Stephanie Finch (vocals/keyboards) and drummer Vincente Rodriguez reprise their live collaboration with the Make Out Quartet for the second year in a row. Prophet revisited songs from The Land That Time Forgot in 2021, featuring the same string section on a live EP that was recorded and filmed at SF Mission District bar the Make Out Room. The Friday show at the Chapel with Prophet performing a career spanning set with the same trio plus strings format, putting a cinematic twist on some of his greatest hits before he and his band head across the Atlantic for a UK tour. The group will also be playing a seated sold-out show on Saturday night at the HopMonk Tavern in Novato.
