‘Couples Therapy’ Creators Break Down How They Make the Showtime Docuseries

Todd Gilchrist editor On “Dave,” a show co-created by and starring Dave Burd that dramatizes his exploits as terminally navel-gazing hip-hop star Lil Dicky, there can be little room to explore the lives of others in his orbit. But since the 2020 pilot, Davionte “GaTa” Ganter has not-so-quietly been stealing scenes as Burd’s hype man and closest confidante. Not only has GaTa become the sounding board and best friend that everyone wishes they had (whether they’re a famous rapper or not), he has offered an intimate window into his own mental health struggles, reenacting them on screen with devastating vulnerability. As tough as his journey has often been to watch throughout the series, GaTa says that performing heavy scenes comes naturally. This is despite the fact he has no prior acting experience. “It’s easy for me to get emotional,” he says. “And I’m also a Cancer, and they say we’re emotional people.”

“Transformers” movie, you wouldn’t be wrong.Beginning with 2007’s “Transformers,” seven live-action movies have been released. The first five were directed by Michael Bay, who remained a producer on the two most recent films.The first five films take place in present day, while the sixth film “Bumblebee” (the only film without “Transformers” in its title) is set in 1987. The upcoming film “Transformers: Rise of the Beasts” is set in the ’90s, so it’s a sequel AND a prequel.Confused? Don’t be.

Anna Tingley If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, Variety may receive an affiliate commission. Nintendo’s latest and highly anticipated installment of the Legend of Zelda series, “Tears of the Kingdom,” sold more than 10 million copies in just three days, so it’s no surprise that complementary merch, like the Zelda Nintendo Switch and this The Legend of Zelda Encyclopedia, have also become immediate bestsellers since the game’s buzzy May release.

Tina Turner passed away at 83.Turner leaves behind an impressive stable of hits like “Proud Mary,” “What’s Love Got To Do With It,” “The Best,” “River Deep, Mountain High,” “We Don’t Need Another Hero (Thunderdome)” and a sterling reputation for being a one-of-a-kind electric live performer.And if you never got a chance to see her in concert — Turner’s last U.S. performance was in December 2008 on her ‘Tina! 50th Anniversary Tour’ — you can pay your respects to the Queen by checking out her touring “Tina – The Tina Turner Musical.”The Tony Award winning musical that tells Turner’s life story is currently playing venues all over North America for the foreseeable future.That includes runs at Rochester Auditorium in Rochester, NY from June 4-9, 2024 and Proctors Theatre in Schenectady, NY from July 30, 2024 through Aug.

Todd Gilchrist editor Following a handful of supporting roles in “Tag,” “Green Book” and “The Irishman,” Sebastian Maniscalco makes his first bid for leading-man status with “About My Father,” a family comedy sourced from the same semi-autobiographical material that made his stand-up a commercial and cultural phenomenon. To say it’s better than all three “Meet the Parents” films may be a dubious compliment, but it’s one made more significant because it co-stars Robert De Niro — and more importantly, actually features recognizable human behavior amidst its suitably outlandish set pieces. Whether or not Maniscalco has a legitimate future as a movie star, he proves a likeable presence as a romantic lead, while director Laura Terruso skillfully delivers comedic payoffs that tap into his wheelhouse while introducing him to a wider audience.

Hunter Ingram SPOILER ALERT: This story contains spoilers for “NMB NMP,” the fifth episode of “Somebody Somewhere” now streaming on HBO Max. Season 2 of HBO’s slice-of-life dramedy “Somebody Somewhere” has, up to this point, put its platonic love story between Sam and Joel in a slowly ascendant bubble, according to star Bridget Everett. But in Sunday’s fifth episode, the bubble burst. After a season and a half spent piecing her life and relationships back together, Sam (Everett) slides back into isolating old habits after being confronted with back-to-back revelations. “We don’t move at a very fast clip on this show, so it kind of takes awhile to rev up to this moment and what is going to be a big fallout for Sam and the people around her,” Everett tells Variety.

Apparently, Princess Catherine AKA Kate Middleton was made the punchline of a crude joke in the new thriller series, Citadel. You know, the same show that stars Priyanka Chopra Jonas who is best friends with the 41-year-old royal’s rival Meghan Markle!

Todd Gilchrist editor “White Men Can’t Jump” holds a special place in a lot of moviegoers’ hearts; while not the enduring sports classic that writer-director Ron Shelton delivered with his baseball mash note “Bull Durham,” the buddy comedy vividly captures the world of pick-up basketball players, and features three standout performances by Wesley Snipes, Woody Harrelson and Rosie Perez. Director Calmatic’s 2023 remake not only fails to recapture the energy of the first film but seems to misunderstand the cinematic language of streetball, and is largely uninterested in utilizing stars Sinqua Walls and Jack Harlow except as delivery systems for exposition. Updated only in its excess of contemporary slang and overwrought backstories, “White Men Can’t Jump” exemplifies the aversion to risk and lack of imagination in storytellers mining intellectual property at the behest of blandest-common-denominator-seeking corporate overlords.

Sony Pictures Classics announced today they have acquired all rights in the United States, Canada, Latin America, Scandinavia, India, Middle East, Turkey, Southeast Asia (excluding Taiwan and South Korea) and airlines within those territories to Fernando Trueba and Javier Mariscal’s upcoming Bossa Nova-themed animated film, “They Shot the Piano Player.” Sony Classics plans to release the film at the end of the year to qualify for year-end awards consideration.A true international production, the film is produced by Cristina Huete of Trueba PC (“Chico & Rita”) in Spain, along with Serge Lalou for Les Films d’Ici (“Josep”) in France, Janneke van de Kerkhof for Submarine Sublime (“Buñuel in the Labyrinth of Turtles”) in the Netherlands, and Humberto Santana in Portugal. It is executive produced by Nano Arrieta of Atlantika and Fabien Westerhoff of Film Constellation.From Fernando Trueba and Javier Mariscal, who previously directed the Oscar-nominated “Chico & Rita,” “They Shot the Piano Player” is narrated by Jeff Goldblum.

Sony Pictures Classics has picked up rights to the animated feature They Shot the Piano Player for the U.S., Canada, Latin America, Scandinavia, India, the Middle East, Turkey, Southeast Asia (excluding Taiwan and South Korea) and airlines within the aforementioned territories. The film from Fernando Trueba and Javier Mariscal, two of the directors behind the Oscar-nominated animated feature Chico and Rita, is set up for a fall awards push from SPC.

Emmerdale fans were left baffled as they watched the latest drama for Moria and Cain Dingle unfold. It became clear in the ITV soap earlier this week that the couple are struggling for money with various bills mounting.

Charlotte Dawson was seen breaking down in tears as she opened up about the extent of the trolling she receives as she prepares to welcome her second child. The reality star and her fiance Matthew Sarsfield are preparing to welcome their 'rainbow baby' after suffering a heartbreaking miscarriage.

EXCLUSIVE: In 2016, the hottest book in Hollywood hadn’t even been published yet. Circulating in galley proofs, it was the latest non-fiction work from author David Grann, whose 2009 book The Lost City of Z: A Tale of Deadly Obsession in the Amazon had recently been filmed by James Gray and produced by Plan B. His new book was another mouthful — Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI — and it proved just as tasty.

Manori Ravindran Executive Editor of International At Sunday night’s BAFTA TV Awards in London, the most popular couple in the room won’t actually be British. Given the U.K. reception to Australian series “Colin From Accounts” — which was acquired by the BBC in one of its smartest deals in years — that honor will likely go to Harriet Dyer and Patrick Brammall, the real-life partners who created and star in the half-hour rom-com. The couple will be presenting a BAFTA during the ceremony, and afterwards, they’re available for selfies. “If we land in the U.K. and people recognize us on the street, that’ll be massive, because it’s never happened to me,” says Dyer. “I’ve lived in L.A. for five years, and I’m on a network television show, and not a single person has gone, ‘Are you from “American Auto?”’ Not one. So I’m pumped. I want to take some pictures with some people.”

Todd Gilchrist editor The explosive growth of film and television production in New Mexico has broadened perceptions about its eclectic landscape in a short amount of time, but despite increasingly well-documented evidence to the contrary, some misconceptions stubbornly persist. “One of the main comments I hear is ‘I didn’t know New Mexico has trees,’” says Amber Dodson, director of the state’s film office. While the state’s natural elements are undoubtedly beautiful and have stood in as a range of locales for countless film and TV productions, they’re only one factor in the state’s transformation from a short-term production location to a true hotspot for studios looking to put down roots.

All part of the game? Katie Maloney has a compelling theory on why Tom Sandoval told Tom Schwartz about his secret affair with Raquel Leviss.

For better or worse. Welcome to Plathville stars Ethan Plath and Olivia Plath have faced their fair share of challenges since they exchanged vows.

After Jeremy Renner suffered blunt chest trauma and orthopedic injuries from a near-fatal snowplow accident, his "Avengers" co-star Scarlett Johansson wasn’t sure if she would ever see her friend again. Johansson, 38, recalled the moment she learned that Renner had been crushed by a nearly 15,000-pound snow machine while he attempted to save his nephew’s car. "I was very upset," the Marvel star recounted during an interview with Variety.

Glam goals! Nicole Scherzinger shimmered onstage during King Charles III’s coronation concert on Sunday, May 7. 

Charna Flam Hitmaker Jenna Andrews’ “The Green Room Talks” digital series takes on difficult topics like drug and alcohol addiction, eating disorders, anxiety and depression in its latest episode. Featuring Ryan Dusick, Maroon 5 founding member and former drummer, Shirley Halperin, Variety’s executive editor, music, and Angie Pagano, founder and CEO of AMP Entertainment, the four discussed mental health struggles those in the music industry face, particularly when an artist starts out their career at a very young age. Dusick left the band he co-founded after he suffered from a breakdown on the “Songs About Jane” tour in 2005. Since then Dusick has received his master’s degree in clinical psychology at Pepperdine University, and as a result, has become a marriage and family therapist. Most recently he wrote about his difficult time as a musician in his memoir, “Harder to Breathe: A Memoir of Making Maroon 5, Losing It All, and Finding Recovery.”