Seemingly out of nowhere, Conan O’Brien is hosting the 97th Academy Awards. The announcement was made by ABC and The Academy early this morning, on a Friday, no less, with a subdued amount of fanfare. This will be O’Brien’s first time emceeing the Oscars.

The Breakdown: Sign up for Gregory Ellwood’s new newsletter column and get Oscar Predictions before they are posted online. You don’t want to miss this.

Continue reading Conan O’Brien Is Your Surprise 2025 Oscars Host at The Playlist.

Despite being his most polarizing film to date, Jordan Peele’s “Nope” still a very respectable 83% on Rotten Tomatoes and more than $171 million at the worldwide box office. Sure, that latter number is almost roughly $100 million less than the grosses of “Get Out” and “Us,” but given the current theatrical climate, it’s a big win. That means fans and theater owners are very much anticipating the next Peele film.

Continue reading Jordan Peele Is “Psyched” For His New Film & Says It Might Be His “Favorite” Yet, If He “Makes It Right” at The Playlist.

Netflix’s “Murderville” isn’t just another true-crime series for the streaming giant that’s been at least partially built on the back of events like “Making the Murderer” and even repeats of network hits like “Criminal Minds.” More than ever, people love to play detective. But this isn’t a typical mystery show. It’s more of a blend of those game parties wherein friends try to solve a crime together and the improvisational comedy stylings of something like Comedy Central’s “Drunk History.” Just like that show, some of the sharpest humor here comes from completely unexpected places, highlighting the improv skills of some very talented guests and a great regular cast.

Continue reading ‘Murderville’ Review: Will Arnett Mixes Crime & Improv In This Uneven Comedic Exercise at The Playlist.

How do you solve a mystery without any clues? It’s an intriguing concept at the heart of Netflix’s new series “Murderville.” The project introduces a new guest star each week and tasks them with finding a murderer as well as their motives. The catch? They are not given a script — leaving everything improvised. Based on a popular British series, “Murderville” utilizes well-known celebrities from film and TV, such as Annie Murphy, Conan O’Brien, Ken Jeong,  Kumail Nanjiani, Marshawn Lynch, and Sharon Stone, to help Will Arnett solve murders.

Continue reading ‘Murderville’ Trailer: Will Arnett Is Joined By Celebrities In The Improv Murder Mystery Comedy Series at The Playlist.

Judd Apatow’s newest film, the 4 ½ hour documentary “The Zen Diaries of Garry Shandling,” finds the director examining his hero, former boss, and certified comedy legend. The HBO film, tracks the entire life of Apatow mentor, with a notable focus on Shandling’s Buddhist beliefs, and features interviews with over 40 of his personal friends and family including James L. Brooks, Jim Carrey, Sacha Baron Cohen, David Coulier, Jon Favreau, Jay Leno, Kevin Nealon, Conan O’Brien, Bob Saget, Jerry Seinfeld and Sarah Silverman.

Continue reading ‘The Zen Diaries of Gary Shandling’ Trailer: Judd Apatow Examines A Comedy Legend at The Playlist.

'The Simpsons' Turns 25: Watch 80-Minute Talk With Conan O'Brien & The Show's Writing Team

Continue reading ‘The Simpsons’ Turns 25: Watch 80-Minute Talk With Conan O’Brien & The Show’s Writing Team at The Playlist.

Watch: Michael Shannon, Nick Offerman, Conan O'Brien, Steve Albini And More Appear In Video For Tweedy's "Low Key"

Continue reading Watch: Michael Shannon, Nick Offerman, Conan O’Brien, Steve Albini And More Appear In Video For Tweedy’s “Low Key” at The Playlist.

Continue reading Conan O’Brien Joins ‘Arrested Development,’ Hayley Atwell Solves ‘Crime,’ ‘S.H.I.E.L.D.’ Adds Another Agent & More at The Playlist.

Watch: Will Ferrell Is Inconsolable About R-Patz/K-Stew Break Up On 'Conan,' Calls Her A 'Trampire'

Continue reading Watch: Will Ferrell Is Inconsolable About R-Patz/K-Stew Break Up On ‘Conan,’ Calls Her A ‘Trampire’ at The Playlist.

Christopher Nolan Responds To Rush Limbaugh's Comments; Conan O'Brien Cuts A New 'Dark Knight Rises' Trailer

Continue reading Christopher Nolan Responds To Rush Limbaugh’s Comments; Conan O’Brien Cuts A New ‘Dark Knight Rises’ Trailer at The Playlist.

Continue reading Conan O’Brien Live Revue & Tour May Get The Documentary Treatment at The Playlist.

As Cinematical notes (but without quotes), Eddie Murphy was on The Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien last night (here’s the video, beware: NBC’s site has so many ads, you’ll go nuts) and discussed various things (obviously he was on the show to promote his upcoming kid’s comedy, “Imagine That”).

What caught our ear, however was a discussion about James Brown where Conan suggested Murphy should play the late, hardest working man in showbiz.

Continue reading Eddie Murphy Endorses Wesley Snipes As James Brown, Says Do The Movie Now! Further Debunks Riddler Rumor at The Playlist.

Wait, that doesn’t make any sense. Entertainment Weekly called him the next Will Ferrell, and tons of comedians including Seth Rogen and Ferrell have sung his praises, Danny R. McBride is having a moment. Or at least, he’s about to.

“I’m calling it right now: he’s the funniest person on the planet,” declared “Superbad” star Jonah Hill to EW recently.

Continue reading Is Danny R. McBride This Year’s Breakout Comedy Star? at The Playlist.