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Page 2 — Saturday, December 3, 2022 — Sampson Independent

Love and ‘real’ life: Del Toro puts signature spin on ‘Pinocchio’ By Raye Smith TV Media

WHAT’S NEW ON NETFLIX “Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio” (2022) The delightfully twisted mind of Academy Award-winning director Guillermo del Toro (“Pan’s Labyrinth,” 2006) brings his own version of a classic children’s tale to life with the stop-motion animated film “Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio,” premiering Friday, Dec. 9, on Netflix. Working alongside stopmotion legend Mark Gustafson (“Claymation Easter,” 1992), the duo reimagine Italian author Carlo Collodi’s original 1883 book “The Adventures of Pinocchio,” about a wooden puppet named Pinocchio (voiced by Gregory Mann, “Victoria”), made by kindly woodworker Geppetto (voiced by David Bradley, “After Life”). Desperately lonely and longing for a family, Geppetto brings Pinocchio to life by wishing on a star. Although Geppetto loves Pinocchio like his own son, Pinocchio becomes enraptured by the idea of becoming a “real boy” and having real-life experiences. Hoping to make his own wish come true, he embarks on a grand, enchanted adventure, learning about the world and the true power of love. Directed by del Toro and Gustafson, “Pinocchio” is written by del Toro, Patrick McHale (“Adventure Time”) and Matthew Robbins (“Crimson Peak,” 2015). The film’s all-star voice cast is rounded out by Ewan McGregor (“Obi-Wan Kenobi”), Ron Perlman (“Nightmare Al-

Gepetto and Pinocchio in “Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio” ley,” 2021), Finn Wolfhard (“Stranger Things”), Cate Blanchett (“Carol,” 2015), Burn Gorman (“The Expanse”), Tim Blake Nelson (“O Brother, Where Art Thou?,” 2000), Tilda Swinton (“Suspiria,” 2018), John Turturro (“Severance”) and Christoph Waltz (“The French Dispatch,” 2021).

WHAT’S NEW ON HULU “Back in the Groove” - Season 1 Get back into the swing of things with the new reality dating series “Back in the Groove,” premiering Monday, Dec. 5, on Hulu. Playing off of and taking inspiration from the 1998 film “How Stella Got Her Groove Back,” the show follows three 40-something women as they check into The Groove Hotel, a resort in the Dominican Republic where their goal is to “rediscover their youth, live joyously and find love with men half their age” (per Hulu). As they look to build up some self-love, create stronger friendships and maybe enjoy a fling (or two), the series aims to

Helping Families and Friends Honor Their Loved Ones

break the double standards that women face as they age. With helpful concierge Pedro Salamanca at the ready to help them with whatever they may need, contestants Sparkle, Steph and Brooke can focus on living their most relaxed, self-indulgent lives. The series’ inaugural eight-episode season is hosted by actor Taye Diggs, who made his big-screen debut in the 1998 film.

WHAT’S NEW ON PRIME “Something from Tiffany’s” (2022) Give in to the powers that be and settle in for the new holiday romance film “Something from Tiffany’s,” premiering Friday, Dec. 9, on Prime Video. Set in New York City during the magic, excitement and mayhem of the holiday season, one special little box from the iconic jewelry brand, Tiffany’s, has the power to change multiple lives. Happy enough as a couple but not quite ready to make a lifelong commitment, Rachel (Zoey Deutch,

“The Politician”) and Gary (Ray Nicholson, “Licorice Pizza,” 2021) are quietly continuing along it their lives together. Meanwhile, Ethan (Kendrick Sampson, “Insecure”) and Vanessa (Shay Mitchell, “Pretty Little Liars”) are madly in love and ready to take the next big step to make it official. In a twist of fate, a simple mix-up of gifts sets events into motion that cause all of their paths to cross, leading them all to where they’re truly meant to be. Based on the 2011 book of the same name by Melissa Hill, “Something from Tiffany’s” is written for the screen by Tamara Chestna (“Moxie,” 2021) and directed by Daryl Wein (“How It Ends,” 2021). The film also stars Rose Abdoo (“Hacks”), Javicia Leslie (“Batwoman”), Leah Jeffries (“Beast,” 2022), Jojo T. Gibbs (“Twenties”) and Stephanie Shepherd (“Keeping Up with the Kardashians”).

WHAT’S NEW ON APPLE TV+

Nanjiani (“The Big Sick,” 2017) and Emily V. Gordon (“Crashing”), “Little America” is also executive produced by Alan Yang (“Parks and Recreation”), Joshua Bearman (“Argo,” 2012), Joshua Davis (“West Coast,” 2000) and Arthur Spector (“Breaking,” 2022). The Season 2 cast includes Riley Jackson (“A Genie’s Tale,” 2022), Bernard White (“Big Sky”), Bonnie Hellman (“Amsterdam,” 2022), Connor Weil (“K.C. Undercover”), Monika Gossmann (“Mank,” 2020), Peter James Smith (“The West Wing”), Sathya Sridharan (“The Whale,” 2022), Wyatt Lindner (“Apollo 10 1/2: A Space Age Childhood,” 2022), Mohammad Amiri (“Fighting with My Family,” 2019), Ali Olomi (“Wildcat,” 2021), Lily Mae Harrington (“Single Drunk Female”), James Saito (“Eli Stone”), Elham Ehsas (“Shantaram”), Zachary Shadrin (“The Last Mercenary,” 2021) and Sasha Frolova (“Little Women,” 2019).

WHAT’S NEW ON DISNEY+

“Idina Menzel: Which Way to the Stage?” (2022) Actress and singer Idina Menzel takes fans behind the scenes of her hectic life on the stage in the new special “Idina Menzel: Which Way to the Stage?” premiering Friday, Dec. 9, on Disney+. A powerhouse vocalist who’s brought life to characters in famous productions including “Rent,” “Wicked,” “Frozen” (2013) and many more, Idina Menzel still has one major goal to reach for: to headline a concert at Madison Square Garden in her hometown of New York City. In “Which Way to the Stage,” audiences get a joyous and in-depth look into Menzel as she’s never been seen before, with cameras following her on a national tour over the course of 16 shows. Produced by Ideal Partners, the special is directed by Anne McCabe (“Younger”). Menzel, Robbie Chafitz (“The Broken and the Bad”), Wendy Federman (“The God Committee,” 2021) and newcomer Jeff Selikoff act as executive producers.

“Little America” - Season 2 Get a look at a slice of classic American life when Season 2 of the anthology streaming series “Little America” premieres Friday, Dec. 9, on Apple TV+. Inspired by true stories featured in Epic Magazine, the series’ eight new episodes dig deeper into the funny, heartfelt, romantic, inspiring and surprising tales of immigrants in America. Written and executive produced by Lee Eisenberg (“The Office”) and Sian Heder Zoey Deutch and Kendrick Sampson in “Something From (“CODA,” 2021), who serve as Tiffany’s” co-showrunners, and Kumail

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Sampson Independent — Saturday, December 3, 2022 — Page 3

Cover

Heat up the holidays: CBS launches ‘Fit for Christmas’ and other films

By Dana Simpson TV Media

F

or many who formed the tradition of celebrating the holiday season by watching films and television specials with friends and family, CBS was the place to go. For a long time — many point to the 1965 launch of Charles Schultz’s “Charlie Brown Christmas” as the starting point — CBS has long been a comforting home for the holidays, but since 2012, Christmas has looked a little different on the Viacom network. Last year, following a nine-year hiatus, CBS reinstated its tradition of launching original holiday films and specials, premiering “Christmas Takes Fight” and “A Christmas Proposal,” among other titles. This year, on Sunday, Dec. 4, the holiday premieres begin again, kicking off this time with a new film called “Fit for Christmas.” Starring dancer, fitness instructor and co-host of the daytime talk show “The Talk” Amanda Kloots, “Fit for Christmas” follows Audrey (Kloots) as she prepares to celebrate the spirit of the season with sweat (and style) in the small, aptly named Montana town of Mistletoe. An instructor at the local community center, which is struggling to keep its head above water amid troubling times, Audrey isn’t about to let the center’s financial troubles dampen the town’s Christmas spirit. As luck — or maybe fate — would have it, Audrey isn’t the only person with her mind on the failing business over the holidays: a businessman named Griffin (Paul Greene, “When Calls the Heart”) has arrived to take a look at the situation himself. Unfortunately for Audrey and the Mistletoe townspeople, Griffin’s plans do not involve saving the community’s gathering place. Instead, he is hoping to buy the center out and turn the property into resort space. While Audrey and Griffin are initially at odds regarding the fate of the small town’s social/activity hub, “Fit for Christmas” is, after all, a holiday romance. As the pair butt heads while trying to iron out conflicting business plans, they become more interested in one another, ultimately complicating their relationship and learning that there may just be more im-

Liza Lapira in “Must Love Christmas” portant things in life than getting their own way. In addition to leading the cast, Kloots serves as an executive producer for “Fit for Christmas” alongside the film’s writer, Anna White (“My Christmas Inn,” 2018). Produced for CBS by Brad Krevoy’s (The Princess Switch franchise) Motion Picture Corporation of America, “Fit for Christmas” also stars Rebecca Budig (“General Hospital”). Also joining the CBS holiday roster this year is Mark Amato’s “Must Love Christmas,” premiering Sunday, Dec. 11. Amato is behind more than a dozen holiday films, including the Vanessa Hudgens-led (“The Princess Switch,” 2018) film “The Knight Before Christmas” and last year’s CBS original, “A Christmas Proposal,” in which a food truck chef (Jessica Camacho, “All Rise”) agrees to pose as a lawyer’s (Adam Rodriguez, “CSI: Miami”) girlfriend in order to help

him land his dream job of taking over the family firm. New this year, “Must Love Christmas” stars Liza Lapira (“Crazy, Stupid, Love.,” 2011) as Natalie, a romance novelist famous for her sultry, holiday-themed content who escapes to a snowy cabin in Cranberry Falls for the season. While there, she finds herself caught up in an interesting love triangle with her former childhood crush and the persistent reporter who is trying to save his failing magazine by landing a tell-all interview with her. Also produced by Krevoy’s MCPA, “Must Love Christmas” co-stars Neal Bledsoe (“Ugly Betty”), Nathan Witte (“Charmed”) and Adam Beauchesne (“Tucker and Dale vs Evil,” 2010) and is directed by Amato’s occasional collaborator, “Virgin River” director Martin Wood. Wrapping up the holiday festivities on the third Sunday of December is CBS’s final original holi-

day film of the year, “When Christmas Was Young.” Premiering Sunday, Dec. 18, this holiday romance features a screenplay written by scriptwriter and bestselling novelist Robert Tate Miller (“Marry Go Round,” 2022) and original theme music from awardwinning pop/country musician Sheryl Crow, who also serves as an executive producer. Set against the country and western background of Nashville, Tennesee, “When Christmas Was Young” stars Tyler Hilton (“One Tree Hill”) as Luke Dawson, a music manager who returns to his hometown in a determined attempt to secure the rights to a Christmas love song written by his high school girlfriend, Melody (Karen David, “Fear the Walking Dead”). Shawn Williamson (“The Good Doctor”) and Jamie Goehring (“The Confirmation,” 2016) of Lighthouse Pictures produce “When Christmas Was Young”

alongside Tom Mazza (“Date My Dad,” 2017), David Calvert-Jones (“Same Time, Next Christmas,” 2019) and Everywhere Studios’ Karen Glass (“Ice Princess,” 2005). In addition to these three new films, CBS also airs a selection of classic specials, including “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” (1964), “Frosty the Snowman” (1969), “Frosty Returns” (1992), “The Story of Santa Claus” (1996), “Robbie the Reindeer” (1999) and more. Still to come this season on CBS are the National Christmas Tree

Lighting’s 100-year celebration (Dec. 11), “Mariah Carey: Merry Christmas to All!” (Dec. 20), the 24th annual “A Home for the Holidays” special at The Grove (Dec. 23) and last year’s Katie Lowes-led (“Scandal”) holiday original “Christmas Takes Flight,” about a financially rigid CEO (Evan Williams, “Blonde,” 2022) who buys a family airline around the holidays. Join CBS for this year’s newest selection of holiday programming. It all begins Sunday, Dec. 4, with “Fit for Christmas.” Happy holidays!

Page 4 — Saturday, December 3, 2022 — Sampson Independent

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