Schmoes Know
Actor, comedian, and co-founder of the movies and culture website Schmoes Know
PROFILE
Mark Ellis
Guest
FROM Mark Ellis
Press Play with Madeleine Brand
Friday Film: “Fifty Shades” Drops It’s Friday, and the day before Valentine’s Day, so we can all admit what news story is on our minds today: Fifty Shades of Grey” hits theaters this weekend. The movie already took in nearly $9 million from midnight showings last night, and it’s expected to hit the $70 million mark by Sunday. When it comes to pre-sale tickets, Fifty Shades has already been crowned the biggest Valentine’s release of all time. So, is it any good? We talk about that and more in our regular Friday film segment.
Press Play with Madeleine Brand
Birdman, Fury, and More On Friday, we talk movies in our weekly film roundup. On the docket this week: Birdman, Fury, The Book of Life, and more.
Press Play with Madeleine Brand
Dystopias, Sly Stallone and an Enormous Head Today on our weekly film roundup, things look a bit dystopic. New releases include a world without color, a world in which Sly Stallone is our only hope, and a world in which Michael Fassbender stars in a movie but we never see his face.
Recommended
Press Play with Madeleine Brand
Why did Jared Kushner want a back channel with Russians? News broke Friday that President Trump’s son-in-law and senior advisor, Jared Kushner, tried setting up a back channel between the Trump transition team and the Russian government. What are the consequences for Kushner, President Trump, and the investigation into Russian meddling?
Press Play with Madeleine Brand
Previewing James Comey's blockbuster testimony Former FBI director James Comey testifies Thursday in front of the Senate Intelligence Committee, but his opening statement has been released. In it, he says he felt pressured by Donald Trump to declare loyalty to him and publicly clear him of any wrongdoing in the Russia investigation.
Design and Architecture
Securing Public Spaces, Super Wealthy Asians Vehicles are increasingly being used as weapons, as seen in the London Bridge attack over the weekend and in New York’s Times Square last month. The Compton-based company Calpipe is designing security bollards to help make public spaces safer. And novelist Kevin Kwan satirizes the “crazy rich” Asian jet set and their luxurious tastes in his latest book, “Rich People Problems.”
The Business
Revisiting showrunner Steven Bochco on his memoir Steven Bochco, the writer-producer behind record-breaking Emmy winners Hill Street Blues, LA Law and NYPD Blue, fought battles with everyone from out-of-control actors to network censors in his long career. He isn’t afraid to tell those tales in his memoir, Truth Is a Total Defense. This week we revisit the conversation where he shared some of his favorite stories with us.