Cracking the Case with the Cast and Producers of HBO Max’s ‘Perry Mason’

March 6, 2023 Mike Manalo

In 2020, Executive Producers (and geniuses) Robert Downey Jr. and Susan Downey unveiled a gritty HBO Max reboot of the iconic legal hero, Perry Mason, to the world. Audiences who were unsure of how the change in tone would work for the 1930s character were quickly wowed by the grounded, and relevant take on the character Team Downey, the cast, and the showrunners took with the material.

Reviews, Television, Video Games

NOC Review: ‘The Last of Us’ is a Game Changer

January 15, 2023March 1, 2023 Mike Manalo

If yesterday, you were to tell me the best video game adaptation ever put to any screen was Sonic the Hedgehog 2, the truth of the matter would sadly be that you’d likely be accurate. The subgenre has been suffering ever since the first Super Mario Bros movie from 1993 caused Nintendo to embargo any film rights to their games for at least three decades.

Interview, Television, Video Games

Protecting ‘The Last of Us’ with Star Gabriel Luna

January 13, 2023January 13, 2023 Mike Manalo

When you’re Gabriel Luna, and you’ve already been a Terminator and a Spirit of Vengeance, what’s the next logical phase in your life? How about surviving a hostile post-apocalyptic wasteland of zombies, cannibals, and marauders! Luna plays Tommy Miller in the new HBO adaptation of the Naught Dog masterpiece video game The Last of Us. And we were fortunate enough to speak with him about the series and his role as Tommy.

Interview, Streaming

Atsuko Okatsuka on the Journey to Her HBO Comedy Special, ‘The Intruder’

December 9, 2022 Keith Chow

For comedy nerds of a certain age, the HBO Comedy Special is synonymous with legends like George Carlin, Robin Williams, and Chris Rock. On December 10, Atsuko Okatsuka will add her name to the list when her HBO stand-up special, The Intruder, debuts.

Television, Video Games

Trailer for ‘The Last of Us’ Showcases a Faithful Adaptation of a Masterpiece Game

December 3, 2022December 5, 2022 Mike Manalo

With all the snobbery online today, people will likely get triggered by the use of the term “masterpiece.” Granted because people do have a tendency to throw the term around a lot, even if something is truly a masterpiece to them subjectively, someone has to cynically rain on their parade and go “that’s not a real masterpiece” (which is obnoxious by the way). However, I frankly believe no one will object to me calling The Last of Us video games masterpieces. They truly are. And at CCXP, HBO and Naughty Dog revealed a trailer for the video game adaptation that shows that the masterpiece is finally coming to life in stunning live-action.

Animation, Interview1 Comment

Uncovering the Secrets of Yorubaland with the Creators of ‘Iyanu’

November 29, 2022November 29, 2022 Mike Manalo

In 2023, the world will meet Iyanu! Based on the acclaimed Dark Horse graphic novel, Iyanu: Child of Wonder, HBO Max is teaming with Lion Forge Animation to bring the world its first Nigerian/Yoruban inspired animated fantasy epic series. And The Nerds of Color was able to get an exclusive look with creators, David Steward II and Saxton Moore.

Interview, Television

The Stars of ‘The White Lotus’ Preview Season 2 and Their Characters

October 28, 2022 Sophia Soto

HBO’s The White Lotus returns for season 2 on Sunday, October 30 and this time, audiences will be taken to Sicily. I had the absolute pleasure of speaking with Aubrey Plaza, Will Sharpe, Jennifer Coolidge, Jon Gries, Haley Lu Richardson, Adam DiMarco, Meghann Fahy, Theo James, F. Murray Abraham, Michael Imperioli, Sabrina Impacciatore, Simona Tabasco, and Beatrice Grannò!

Fantasy, Television1 Comment

Paddy Considine Wasn’t Aware of Viserys’ Choice in That ‘House of the Dragon’ Scene

August 22, 2022August 24, 2022 Laura Sirikul

The first episode of HBO Max’s House of the Dragon, the anticipated prequel to Game of Thrones, dropped this Sunday with over 10 million households viewing it on premiere night.

***This article contains spoilers from the pilot episode of House of the Dragon***

Fantasy, Television

‘House of the Dragon’ Actors Never Met Their Younger Counterparts

August 17, 2022August 18, 2022 Laura Sirikul

No one quite understands the methods that actors use to get into a character. For some, they immerse themselves into the character and get to know the cast who play the younger versions of themselves or vice versa. For others, they completely close themselves off in order to portray the character with no other influence.

Fantasy, Television

‘House of the Dragon’ Creatives Learned From ‘Game Of Thrones’ Mistakes

August 16, 2022August 16, 2022 Laura Sirikul

Game of Thrones has had its fair share of controversies — from the handling of sexual assault to the treatment of people of color, the creatives of HBO’s House of the Dragon says they’ve learned from the mistakes of the past.

DC Comics, Hard N.O.C. Life

Hard NOC Life 277: DC’s Crisis of Infinite Corporate Mergers

August 8, 2022August 8, 2022 Hard NOC Media

Keith is still out, so Britney and Dominic are once again joined by Vanessa Shark and Brother Nate Milton to pick up the pieces of the fallout from Warner Bros. Discovery’s cancellation of Batgirl and the future of DC and HBO Max.

Sci Fi, Television

Heading Back to ‘Westworld’ with the Stars and Showrunners of Season 4

June 24, 2022June 20, 2022 Mike Manalo

Black hats and white hats assemble. It’s time to return to the Westworld. Westworld Season 4 is coming. And to celebrate our latest trip to the new world, we were given the opportunity to join the hosts and guests of the famed Delos park to discuss what’s in store for their characters and what new mysteries will be unlocked for the show’s return this coming Sunday, June 26 on HBO and HBO Max.

Interview, Streaming, Television

Steven Moffat and David Nutter Talk HBO’s ‘The Time Traveler’s Wife’

June 18, 2022 Sophia Soto

Writer Steven Moffat and director David Nutter executive produce The Time Traveler’s Wife. The season one finale will air on HBO and be available to stream on HBO Max this Sunday.

Interview, Streaming, Television

Desmin Borges and Natasha López on Their Roles in ‘The Time Traveler’s Wife’

June 17, 2022 Sophia Soto

Desmin Borges and Natasha López play Gomez and Charisse in The Time Traveler’s Wife. The season one finale will air on HBO and be available to stream on HBO Max this Sunday.

Television, Video Games

Updates on ‘The Last of Us’ from Summer Game Fest

June 10, 2022June 10, 2022 Bray Lawrence

The long rumored remake of The Last of Us: Part 1 arrives on the PS5 later this year on September 2 and PC at a later date. Announced at this year’s Summer Games Fest, Naughty Dog Co-President and The Last of Us creative director, Neil Druckmann spoke with Geoff Keighley about the remake, the announced multiplayer spin-off, and the upcoming TV series after the new trailer aired.

Streaming, Television

‘Our Flag Means Death’ and the Importance of Clear Queerness

June 7, 2022June 7, 2022 Adonis Gonzalez

The pirate’s life is a hard one indeed. They don’t talk about that enough, do they? The swashbuckling escapades of Jack Sparrow and our other favorite fictional pirates might seem like a boatload of fun, but real pirating is dangerous.

Streaming, Television2 Comments

HBO Max Celebrates the 20th Anniversary of ‘The Wire’

June 2, 2022 Keith Chow

Fresh on the heels of the finale of We Own This City, HBO is commemorating David Simon’s original and uncompromising look into corruption and policing in Baltimore, The Wire, two decades after it transformed the television landscape forever.

Interview, Television

Theo James and Rose Leslie Discuss ‘The Time Traveler’s Wife’

May 15, 2022 Sophia Soto

Theo James and Rose Leslie star in The Time Traveler’s Wife as Henry and Clare. The HBO original six-episode drama series premieres Sunday, May 15, and will also be available to stream on HBO Max.

Movies, Streaming, Television

HBO Max Highlights AAPI Content and Announces Short Film Competition For May

April 28, 2022April 29, 2022 Laura Sirikul

Asian Pacific American (APA)/Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month is approaching and that means we’re about to get more AAPI spotlights and movements coming out way.

Hard N.O.C. Life, Marvel

Hard NOC Life 260: Oscar (Isaac) Season

April 4, 2022 Hard NOC Media

Keith, Dominic, and Britney aren’t done talking about the Oscars — both the Academy Awards fallout and the star of Disney+’s Moon Knight.

Interview, Streaming

Brenda Song and Lana Condor Discuss AAPI Representation in Entertainment

March 30, 2022March 30, 2022 Mike Manalo

The Nerds of Color absolutely loves Brenda Song and Lana Condor! And yesterday, the two leading Asian American actresses had a chance to sit down with one another to discuss their portrayals of multi-faceted Asian women on-screen and the importance of having representation in mainstream media.

Sports, Television

One on One with ‘Winning Time’ Stars John C. Reilly and Quincy Isaiah

February 28, 2022February 28, 2022 Adonis Gonzalez

Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty takes viewers on a stylized journey through one of the most important times in the team’s legacy; the beginning of the 1980s. Known as the “Showtime Era,” this moment in NBA history changed the league immensely, revitalizing public interest in basketball, and introducing the world to the Lakers dynamo squad of Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Norm Nixon. These star players ball alongside the rest of the packed Lakers team, coached by Jerry West, and led by Jerry Buss.

Interview, Streaming, Television7 Comments

NOC Interview: Austin Abrams on the Final Episodes of ‘Euphoria’ Season 2

February 20, 2022February 21, 2022 Sophia Soto

Austin Abrams portrays Ethan in the hit drama, Euphoria. The series has already been renewed for a third season. New episodes air Sundays on HBO and HBO Max. The following interview will include spoilers for episode 2×07 “The Theater and Its Double.”