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New original series GLOW arrives on Netflix tomorrow

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New original series GLOW arrives on Netflix tomorrow

From the makers of Orange is the New Black, brand new series GLOW lands on Netflix tomorrow.

GLOW, or “Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling”, revolves around women’s wrestling in the late 1980s. The show gives viewers an insight into the obstacles women faced during a period when female fighting was seen as unconventional.

Set in Los Angeles, the drama centres around Ruth Wilder, a struggling actress whose lack of cash leads her to a rather unusual audition for a fledgling professional wrestling promotion.

As she progresses in her new-found career, Ruth finds herself rising to fame just how she had always wanted and, more importantly, helping in the fight towards equality for women in the sport.

GLOW will run for 10 episodes for the first series and will be available to watch on Netflix from June 23, 2017.

Alison Brie, who plays Ruth, told The Independent what attracted her to the script initially: “The writing is so nuanced. And the idea of having so many great female characters in one show, watching these woman explore this thing that is so different and challenging for them, and obviously not something I have ever tackled, wrestling.

“And the character of Ruth drew me in, especially because I could relate to her immediately. It seemed like a role I hadn’t played before, a grittier show than I’ve done before.”

GLOW is available to watch on Netflix from Friday, June 23. 

Netflix launches interactive TV shows where you choose what happens

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Netflix launches interactive TV shows where you choose what happens

Netflix has announced the arrival of interactive storytelling onto the site.

The streaming service will soon release TV shows that allow viewers to decide what happens next during an episode.

The feature has only been introduced into children’s programmes at present, although Netflix has claimed they will be extending the technology for all audiences in the future.

The first release is Puss In Book: Trapped In An Epic Tale, clips of which can be seen in the new Netflix trailer.

Users are presented with 13 different directions they can take the story, meaning there are numerous variations to the show which could last anywhere between 18 minutes and 40 minutes.

With 13 different choices presented throughout, viewers can whip through the adventure in 18 minutes, while the longest root can take almost 40 minutes.

Carla Engelbrecht Fisher, director of product innovation at Netflix, said: “This project has taken two-and-a-half years, it’s been a long time coming and it’s all about how to make the members’ experience better.

“Kids think everything is there to be interacted with so we took all those things and it was this great a-ha moment – we can put kids into the directors’ seat and let them control the story.

“We have tested with kids as young as four but they often had younger siblings there and they all understand touch screens and they love that they get to choose and pick.”

When asked whether adults will get to enjoy the feature too, Engelbrecht Fisher said: “We have built the tools to be able to offer this to our creators, who have stories to tell. It’s all about the stories.”

Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt renewed for season 4 by Netflix

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Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt renewed for season 4 by Netflix

Popular comedy series Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt has been renewed for a fourth season by Netflix.

Less than a month after the release of season three, it has been a quick renewal for the show created by Tina Fey and Robert Carlock.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, the streaming service has ordered a fourth season after the series was met with yet another round of excellent reviews.

Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt stars Ellie Kemper as Kimmy, a woman adjusting to life in New York after being locked in a bunker for 15 years (because the leader of a doomsday cult managed to convince her the apocalypse has arrived).

Cast members also include Tituss Burgess, Carol Kane, and Jane Krakowski.

Originally ordered by NBC, the show moved to Netflix after the first season and became one of the streaming service’s first original comedies. The series has amassed 11 Emmy nominations, including two in the Outstanding Comedy Series category for each of its first two seasons.

Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt seasons 1-3 are available to view on Netflix now.

Filming for second season of 13 Reasons Why has begun

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Filming for second season of 13 Reasons Why has begun

13 Reasons Why star Christian Navarro has announced filming is now underway for season two of the Netflix series.

The actor who plays Tony in the serious suicide drama confirmed the news on Twitter yesterday when he wrote: “Day One. S2. Ready to make some magic.”

The next instalment is expected to land sometime in 2018 and will consist of another 13 episodes starring Katherine Langford, Dylan Minnette, Mark Pellegrino and Kate Walsh.

Showrunner Brian Yorkey recently responded to fans questioning where the storyline can go now that Jessica’s (played by Alisha Boe) storyline is “done”. Speaking to EW, he explained: “When people intimate that Jessica’s story is done, I find that a horrific thought because Jessica is just beginning the process of recovering from her rape, and we have a rapist who has not in any way been brought to justice.

“To leave those two things hanging out there in the world would be upsetting.”

Last month, Netflix announced there will be an additional warning added to the start of the series about “graphic content”, and they will strengthen the warnings already in place for other graphic episodes. This followed criticisms from mental health organisations, who argued the 13 Reasons Why could be potentially harmful or triggering for certain viewers.

“There has been a tremendous amount of discussion about our series 13 Reasons Why,” said Netflix in a statement to The Hollywood Reporter.

“While many of our members find the show to be a valuable driver for starting important conversation with their families, we have also heard concern from those who feel the series should carry additional advisories.

“Currently the episodes that carry graphic content are identified as such… Moving forward, we will add an additional viewer warning card before the first episode as an extra precaution for those about to start the series and have also strengthened the messaging and resource language in the existing cards for episodes that contain graphic subject matter.”

13 Reasons Why season one is available to view on Netflix.

Orange is the New Black season 5 lands on Netflix tomorrow

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Orange is the New Black season 5 lands on Netflix tomorrow

The day we have all been waiting for finally arrives tomorrow, as the fifth season of Orange is the New Black is released onto Netflix.

After months of waiting in agony, OITNB season five will be available to view from Friday, June 9 on the popular streaming service.

Last year’s season finale left us on quite the cliffhanger and viewers have been itching to find out the fate of the Litchfield inmates ever since. After they rose up to take revenge over the covered-up manslaughter of Poussey, the inmates took over the prison in the last scene, with Taystee leading a charge of attack and Daya pointing a gun at Thomas Humphrey’s head.

This season will answer the question everyone is asking: Will Daya pull the trigger?

In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Dascha Polanko (Daya) suggested her character could very well be capable of shooting Humphrey.

She said: “I think Daya’s definitely experiencing some postpartum depression.

“She might pull back and think about being a mother and not wanting to miss the opportunity of being with her child. But a woman going through postpartum — at that point, they’re very fragile and very sensitive.”

We will have to wait until tomorrow to find out how this rebellion ends, but Taystee actress Danielle Brooks was able to give fans a small teaser about the upcoming season.

She explained how the whole of the new series will take place over just three days, promising: “It will be very detailed, very intense. You better get ready, get your popcorn, your tissues.”

Orange is the New Black season five lands on Netflix tomorrow (Friday, June 9). 

Flaked: Season 2 lands on Netflix tomorrow

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Flaked: Season 2 lands on Netflix tomorrow

The Netflix original series Flaked returns for a second series tomorrow (Friday June 2).

The next six-episode instalment of the human comedy series lands on the streaming site tomorrow and it looks as though this season’s main theme will be that of redemption.

Starring Will Arnett, Flaked was co-written by creators Arnett and Mark Chappell (The Increasingly Poor Decisions of Todd Margaret). The dry-humoured series follows the life of Chip, a well-known AA leader and local hero in Venice whose public image and reputation rests on a tangled web of lies.

In season one, we saw Chip fall for the object of his best friend’s fascination (London, played by Ruth Kearney) but, when his dishonesty catches up on him, he is soon left without a home or career, let alone the respect of his friends and community.

In season two, we find Chip where we left him: at rock bottom. His life is fast unraveling as he hides his return to drinking, continually denies his addiction and persists in covering up a drunk-driving accident that killed a man a decade previously. However, as Chip finally follows the road to redemption, will he be able to accept the past, forgive and change his life for the better or will his history of lies always come back to haunt him?

“The rubber hits the road in the second season,” Arnett, who plays Chip, told the Daily News. “The stark reality of broad daylight kind of paints a different picture, and all of a sudden these people who met under these circumstances where they were lying to each other — what does that do?”

Flaked: Season 2 lands on Netflix June 2. 

Netflix unveils viewing statistics – and they might surprise you!

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Netflix unveils viewing statistics – and they might surprise you!

Netflix has revealed data about which shows their users like to watch at different times of the day, and the results may surprise you.

According to streaming data, which included accounts across more than twenty countries over a period of six months, the time of day made a significant different as to what shows users decided to watch on Netflix’s platform.

Breakfast viewing was skewed in favour of comedies, which was a clear winner at around 6am in the morning. Apparently early risers were more 34% likely to enjoy the exploits characters of Barney Stinson on How I Met Your Mother or other sitcoms than at any other time of the day.

At lunchtime, Netflix viewers are most likely to be in the mood for some drama – with 47% of the viewing audience at that time tuning in for dramas such as Orange is The New Black and Breaking Bad on the platform.

As one might expect, drama is also the one to beat in the evenings, with thrillers such as The OA enjoying dominance in the early to mid-evening.

However, as bedtime draws nearer users are more likely to switch over to comedy again to help get them in the mood for sleep. By 11pm, the drama is beginning to filter out for the world of comedies to gain a final foothold in the day’s viewings.

Those who enjoy watching telly in the very early hours of the morning are not ignored, however, and interestingly, they’re 24% more likely to be watching documentaries at this time than any other time of the day.

Cindy Holland, Netflix’s Vice President of Original Content said: “For years our lives had to fit around television, now it’s the other way around.”

“We’ve given consumers control and it’s interesting to see the behaviours that emerge when viewers aren’t tied to a schedule. And even more so to see that these routines are replicated by millions the world over.”

WATCH: Trailer for GLOW, a new comedy drama about female wrestling arriving on Netflix

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WATCH: Trailer for GLOW, a new comedy drama about female wrestling arriving on Netflix

An exciting new comedy drama is landing on Netflix this June and if you’re all about female power then we’d definitely recommend giving this series a go.

Netflix introduces GLOW to its audiences next month, a brand new series about women’s wrestling in the late 1980s. The show gives viewers and insight into the obstacles women faced during a period when female fighting was seen as unconventional.

The initials standing for “Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling”, GLOW is named after the 1986-1992 women’s wrestling organisation.

Set in Los Angeles, the drama centres around Ruth Wilder, a struggling actress whose lack of cash leads her to a rather unusual audition for a fledgling professional wrestling promotion.

As she progresses in her new-found career, Ruth finds herself rising to fame just how she had always wanted and, more importantly, helping in the fight towards equality for women in the sport.

From the makers of Orange is the New Black, GLOW will run for 10 episodes for the first series and will be available to watch on Netflix from June 23, 2017. The show is based on the professional women’s wrestling syndicated TV series that existed in the ’80s and, like the original, will feature “big hair and body slams”.

GLOW will be available to view on Netflix June 23, 2017.

American Horror Story’s Mat Fraser says TV opportunities for disabled people are “minimal and pathetic”

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American Horror Story’s Mat Fraser says TV opportunities for disabled people are “minimal and pathetic”

American Horror Story star Mat Fraser has spoken up about the inadequate opportunities for disabled actors on television.

Fraser starred in AHS’s Freak Show as Paul the Illustrated Seal Boy and is also about to become the first disabled actor to play the villainous Richard III in a new stage adaptation of Shakespeare’s play. However, the actor has argued that opportunities for disabled entertainers in the industry are nowhere near where they should be.

“In terms of opportunity for disabled people, there are four more people on telly than there were 20 years ago. Excuse me for not having a party,” Fraser told BBC News.

“If I didn’t have the experience, I wouldn’t be asked to be doing damned Richard III, you know? If people didn’t think I could act, no-one would let me near the role. But can I get a look-in in any of the BBC dramas? Can I hell.”

Talking about his role as the anti-hero in Richard III, Fraser highlighted how disabled people are never usually cast as villains due to oversensitivity.

He explained: “Disabled people are where black people were in the ’80s. They can’t be baddies. People [in the TV industry] are too politically correct. But they’re not ready to give us the hero role yet. So we get no role.”

Fraser referred to the limited appearances from disabled figures on each channel, remarking how Channel 4’s The Last Leg “doesn’t impress” him.

“BBC are alright. ITV are okay. I mean it’s minimal and pathetic, but they have something… something I can hold on to. What have I got on Channel 4? Some damned lad who’s on The Last Leg. Woo. Doesn’t impress me, mate.

“And as for those panels – I’ve been doing panels since 1996 about trying to get disabled actors in. I’m just done with panels. Jobs not panels.”

American Horror Story is available to view on Netflix. 

Stranger Things casts Nashville’s Will Chase for season 2

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Stranger Things casts Nashville’s Will Chase for season 2

Nashville‘s Will Chase is to join the cast of Stranger Things 2, which will be landing this October.

According to TVLine, the actor-singer will be taking on a “pivotal recurring role” in the upcoming instalment of the Netflix series.

Reportedly, Chase will be playing Neil Mayfield, “the father of a family of recent transplants to Hawkins Indiana from California,”  and it is suspected the character could be the dad of Max and Billy, played by Sadie Sink (American Odyssey) and Dacre Montgomery (Power Rangers).

Joining Chase on the list of new cast members, Sean Astin (Lord of the Rings) and Paul Reiser (Mad About You) will also be making an appearance in season two this year.

Details about the upcoming season will be kept strictly under wraps until the spooky season comes around, as producer Shawn Levy recently admitted he wishes to keep the next series a secret in order to excite a “delicious torture” among fans.. However, cast members have promised even darker and scarier episodes than before.

“I think this season will be a lot [darker]. A lot more horror-oriented. I think people are going to like it more than the first season,” Finn Wolfhard, who plays Mike, said.

Dustin actor Gaten Matarazzo added: “You’re going to see a lot more into the lives of how the characters are coping with what’s been going on… they’re all very emotionally scarred.

“They feel alone because their best friend is back and he’s not acting like their best friend anymore. He’s changed.”

“I am so excited for you all to see this season. It’s so fun and dark and complex,” actor David Harbour said.

Stranger Things 2 returns October 31 (Halloween) on Netflix.

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