NOT LIVING THE AMERICAN DREAM! LARRY DAVID RETURNS IN 'CLEAR HISTORY'!

Larry David, as you've never seen him before- with hair, in the comedy CLEAR HISTORY. Image: HBO.

Taking a mini-break from his outrageously below the belt but still achingly funny antics in CURB YOUR ENTHUSIASM, that comedy grouch genius with his own unique take on life, Larry David, returns to our screen with a new and well-received one-off film for HBO. CLEAR HISTORY, which aired last month Stateside. clearly has the former shows same kind of spirited humour whilst playing on the What If? scenario that we've all felt from time to time- only when it comes to Larry David you know that angst, anger and classic put-downs, with lots of sexual references, will lift this far above the norm!

David, uniquely hairy this time out, plays Nathan Flomm, a soon disgraced former marketing executive who came up with a great idea regarding the genesis of the electric car, only to years later discover that its been stolen and adapted for the better by his former boss, Will Haney (MAD MEN's Jon Hamm, making a fine entry into comedy), since gone on to become a millionaire and one of the most powerful and influential people in the world. Flomm, with his downtrodden life pretty much come to nothing, having hidden within a new identity, is well and truly madly deeply pissed off by this state of affairs, the old wounds soon resurfacing when his former "buddy" moves to a nearby town. And now he wants to get even!

▶ Larry David's Clear History Epic Trailer (HBO) - YouTube

Made in the same kind of fly-on-the-wall style as CURB, written by the star with buddies Alec Berg, David Mandel and Jeff Schaffer, and with the same kind of stellar supporting cast (Including the likes of Kate Hudson, Michael Keaton, Danny McBride and Eve Mendes, plus CURB's always funny J.B. Smoove, playing a new character in a similar vein, Jaspar), there's no confirmation of a UK airdate yet, but SKY ATLANTIC will surely have it by Christmas time.

MASTER MANIPULATORS! ' HOUSE OF LIES' RETURNS!

A sizzling time for the cast of HOUSE OF LIES. Image: SHOWTIME. 

Having enjoyed another heavy duty adventure of high-flying thrills, action and comedy as Robert Downey Jr.'s suited action buddy War Machine/ the Iron Patriot, in the brilliant IRON MAN 3, its back to Earth for versatile actor Don Cheadle, reprising his role as savvy business shark Marty Kaan, along with the rest of his team (including sexy VERONICA MARS/HEROES star Kristen Bell), in the new second season of the punchy and often deliciously sharp hit satirical comedy/drama from Matthew Carnahan, HOUSE OF LIES, back on the UK's SKY ATLANTIC HD from tomorrow.

▶ House of Lies Season 2 Promo 1 - YouTube
▶ House of Lies Season 2: Episode 1 Clip - Naughty Girl - YouTube
▶ House of Lies Season 2: Behind the Scenes - New Consultants - YouTube

This season shows the unashamedly determined group of management consultants, ambitious towards themselves as well as their clients, getting involved in a Las Vegas Casino, helping superstar Matt Damon (Yes, Matt Damon! House of Lies Season 2: Episode 4 Clip - A Good Story - YouTube) out at a charity gig, go on undercover assignment for a dating firm and get involved in a wrongful death suit. Meanwhile, on the personal side, Marty's relationship with ex-wife Roscoe (Donis Leonard Jr.) remains as complex and fractious as ever, whist his right-hand woman Jeannie (Bell) gets her claws out against new rival, Tamara (Nia Long), and has to deal with a surfaced sex tape from a bitter ex-boyfriend, all this whilst her memories of her drunken "night out" with Marty start coming back!

Looks like another quirky batch of episodes, and a series hit renewed for a third year to come on SHOWTIME.

TEARS AND BLOOD. THE BEST OF 'GAME OF THRONES' SEASON THREE

A cup runneth over. Deceit and death await in Season Three of GAME OF THRONES. All images: HBO.

And so, another edge of your seat, addictive season of HBO's lavish and incredible GAME OF THRONES comes to an all-too quick end, as that long, cold, nail-biting wait for 2014's fourth year begins anew. What this past third season may have lacked in spectacular action and spooky horror (what with the Battle of Blackwater and the legions of White Walker zombies at large during the end of year two), it more than made up for in strong and memorable character arcs and breathtaking, surprisingly visceral, bloodshed-the penultimte episode, The Rains of Castermere, will surely go down as one of the most iconic and notorious episodes of the series-watching it's grim and emotionally shattering finale, you genuinely felt as you'd been in that nightmare Grand Hall with those poor Stark souls...

Here's a look back at some of this series great moments. Note: If you haven't yet seen this season, look away - there are SPOILERS!

Daenerys (Emilia Clarke) lets loose her dragons on the slavers of Astapor, in And Now Hs Watch Is Ended.

Enter the Wildlings...

Jaime (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau) and escort Brienne (Gwendoline Christie) face danger together in Dark Wings, Dark Words.

Court intrigue for Lord Varys (Conleth Hill) and Lady Olenna (Diana Rigg).

Paul Kaye, as woodland renegade Thoros of Myr, makes an impression in Season Three.

Petulant maniac King Joffrey (Jack Gleeson) is temporarily reined in by Tywin Lannister (Charles Dance) .

A courtly wedding for Tyrion (Peter Dinklage) and Sansa (Sophie Turner) in Second Sons.

Grim times ahead for Arya (Maisie Williams) and The Hound (Rory McCann).

Sam (John Bradley) kills his first White Walker in Second Sons. 

No fury like a woman scorned. Ygritte (Rose Leslie) prepares for revenge.

As Catelyn (Michelle Fairley) experiences the horrors of The Rains of Castamere.

The liberated Yunkai, praising their new goddess, in Mhysa.

Series One and Two of the series are now available on Blu-ray, here: Game of Thrones - Season 1-2 Complete Blu-ray Region Free: Amazon.co.uk: Sean Bean, Mark Addy, Peter Dinklage, Lena Headey: Film & TV

THE GREAT PERSUADERS! 'MAD MEN' SEASON SIX.

The world according to Don Draper (Jon Hamm). MAD MEN returns. Image: AMC.

"Are you alone?"

Three little enticing words spoken from the lips of an inquisitive and beautiful single woman which act like the ultimate red rag to a bull. The "bull" in this case being the enigmatic, just can't help himself playboy that is sixties ad-man supreme, the cool demeanoured Don Draper-back on his sublime self-annihilistic course of self-distraction and pleasure, played once again to perfection by Jon Hamm, in the new sixth season of Matthew Weiner's critically acclaimed MAD MEN, back on SKY ATLANTIC HD from Wednesday 10th April, transporting us with ease to the dying world that is the stylish and evocative late sixties: a heady brew of neon, nicotine and nylons.

Draper's supposed to be a renewed man- seemingly happily married to a younger woman, Megan (Jessica Paré), herself on the eve of her own career, but the burnt out ashes of past mistakes in his life and career continue to haunt his self obsessed frame. His work at Sterling Cooper Draper proves more intense than ever, the competition both internally and externally closing in like a pack of tigers (his once secretary/protege, Peggy (Elisabeth Moss), now in a league of her own), whilst the suicide of his former colleague, Lane Pryce (Jared Harris), continues to exert a hefty toll of guilt on his mind and spirit.

Just where will the ever-changing and evolving march of time into the dreary early seventies send our chain-smoking, chain-drinking anti-hero? And as the series weaves itself towards its finale years, will he soon be on the endangered species list like so many of the once distinctive brands he helped to create?

Stylish, provocative and an intriguing time capsule of the men and women who made the world to their own image, MAD MEN continues to strike a chord with viewers, whom love their quality television sharply cut.

Mad Men Season 6 Sneak Peek [EXTENDED] - YouTube

Official AMC FACEBOOK page for the series: Mad Men

THE COLD FLAMES OF WAR. 'GAME OF THRONES' SEASON THREE BEGINS...

They're almost here... GAME OF THRONES boldly brings its dragons to bear in Season Three. Image: HBO.

Sex, sadism and swordplay- all in days work for the cast of the lavish and brutal GAMES OF THRONES, as its third season of epic storytelling- the first half of A Storm of Swords - begins tonight on the US HBO network, and tomorrow on the UK's SKY ATLANTIC HD. That he could conjure up incredible lands and characters above and beyond our imagination was never in any doubt, but who knew that such a cuddly old bear as George R. R. Martin could be so vicious and so naughty at the same time! And we wouldn't want him any other way!

Game Of Thrones Season 3: Trailer - YouTube

Horse-backed White Walkers and wide-winged dragons will gain greater prominence this season, alongside further heightened aspects of the spiritual and supernatural. Expect new alliances and building plans of revenge within and without the walls of the four families, amongst the many new characters joining the series (most notably Ciaran Hinds as the Wildling's intimidating leader, Mance Rayder, and Diana Rigg- having a good run in telefantasy this year- as the calculating, doesn't-miss-a-trick Olenna Tyrell). Martin will once again be handling the reins of one of this seasons key episodes- part seven, titled The Bear and the Maiden Fair. Other returning directors to the show, bringing style and atmosphere, include David Nutter and Alex Graves.

If our very own BBC has to wonder why the series has such a devoted following, then I worry that their dramatic film-making skills are on the wane. If I were in the top-tiers of company management, I'd have them all go out on a GAME OF THRONES viewing sabbatical so as to find out for themselves, and then steal from the best!


Game Of Thrones Season 3: Chaos Preview - YouTubeGame Of Thrones Season 3 Trailer #2 (HD) - YouTube

Game Of Thrones Season 3 "The Beast" Promo (HD) - YouTube
Game Of Thrones Season 3 "War" Promo (HD) - YouTube
Game of Thrones Season 3 "Enemies" Promo (HD) - YouTube
Game of Thrones S3 Ep. 1 Clip: Dany and her dragons - YouTube
Game of Thrones S3 Ep. 2 Clip: Jaime and Brienne - YouTube

KINGDOM OF THE DEAD! 'GAME OF THRONES' SEASON THREE

To launch an army. Daenerys Targaryen (Emilia Clarke) finds new support? GAME OF THRONES Season Three begins soon. Images: HBO.

The clashing realms of Westeros are once again vividly realised by David Benioff and D.B. Weiss with the upcoming March start of Season Three of the eagerly anticipated adaptation of George R. R. Martin’s next book in the world popular, audience winning saga: A Storm of Swords, certainly one of the most popular and beloved of all the series so far, and certainly boasting an epic page length that will truly be a challenge to bring to the TV screen. Still, the producers/writers and HBO have indeed proved game and their previous epic results in creating such epic storytelling speak for themselves. Even better, as if the series couldn’t get more lavish and detailed enough, these new Season Three episodes will also, much to the shows continued benefit, boast slightly longer durations, often taking them into full hours rather than forty five to fifty minute, as had been the case with the show’s first two years.

King Joffery (Jack Gleeson) has a new playmate: his equally spiteful wife, Margaery Tyrell  (Natalie Dormer) .

Last noble standing? Peter Dinklage as Tyrion Lannister.

As the new series begins, the War of the Five Kings is still very much ongoing, the early results of which have been devastating: the lands of House Stark have been ravaged and its noble children are missing, whilst a major sea and land battle between Houses Baratheon and Lannister has destabilised both power bases and their overall relationships beyond their respective kingdoms. But an even greater danger looms for the whole of Westeros with the emerging, en masses forces of the savage looking White Walkers, whilst the exiled Wildlings and their army of winter warriors also plan havoc within their own frozen domain. As the courageous few of the Night’s Watch do their best to maintain order, the series building supernatural and fantasy elements come ever closer to the fore: those lovely dragons of Danerys Targaryen (Emilia Clarke) are growing up, and the princess’s own plans to sit herself upon the immense Iron Throne gather momentum as she begins her quest to find sea transport. Amidst the fire and ashes of war, where old enemies make fresh alliances, revenge is renewed, reversals of fortune beckon and nothing is what it seems, further stunning new characters and environments continue to be introduced, as Ramin Djwadi’s mighty series theme will be pulling us back in to the show with its hypnotic and enthralling overtures of dramatic power, war and ambition: GAME OF THRONES retains its crown as one of the greatest TV genre events ever made…

In the frozen wastes, Jon Snow (Kit Harington) has to make new allies.

Season Three of GAME OF THRONES begins on the UK’s SKY ATLANTIC HD from 1st April.

Recent Season Three news and video features:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d3-hlG6Nn1s

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7VB0JA78wJ4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AaedhISdshA&feature=player_embedded

Official GAME OF THRONES Facebook page: Game of Thrones

Diana Rigg joins the series as the manipulative Lady Olenna Redwyne.

Tywin Lannister (Charles Dance) is as shrewd and dangerous as ever.

Previous behind the scenes on Season Three: 

Game of Thrones - Sky Atlantic HD

http://insidetv.ew.com/2012/12/18/game-of-thrones-longer-season-3/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rpSDSgChsaI

http://www.sfx.co.uk/2012/06/27/game-of-thrones-season-3-showrunners-to-direct-for-the-first-time/

http://blastr.com/2012/09/george-rr-martin-teases-t.php

http://insidetv.ew.com/2012/08/17/game-of-thrones-mance-rayder/

http://uk.ign.com/articles/2012/06/13/game-of-thrones-who-were-excited-to-see-in-season-3

GENERATION GAME! 'BLUE BLOODS' RETURNS

One family you don't want to mess with, personally or professionally. The Regans (Donnie Wahlberg, Bridget Moynahan, Tom Selleck and Will Estes) are back in BLUE BLOODS. Image: CBS.

Blood truly is thicker than water when it comes to being within a family of Police officers, especially those based from within the long established, crime hardened state of America that is New York City. The solid foundations of the generational Regan family return for their third season of police procedural drama from tonight, as BLOOD BLOODS exclusively makes its stance on the UK's SKY ATLANTIC HD channel. Well-cast Tom Selleck, Donnie Wahlberg and lovely Bridget Moynahan all return in their popular roles as pa Frank, cop Danny and prosecutor Erin, ready to serve and protect to the delight of the shows dedicated and loyal viewership. Certainly, Selleck is having a great time these days as a character actor, now long removed from the positive and negative aspects of having been linked to his iconic Hawaiian private investigation days on MAGNUM.

And this season looks set to have more strong cases and character interaction for the actors to grab a hold of: it's opening episode sees Danny taking on a dangerous criminal from his past (the always brilliant and intimidating Michael Madsen), followed by a clash with a corrupt councilman, the search for a vigilante shooter out for justice, a battle against a Malayasian drug cartel and even an investigation into a voodoo cult!

Blue Bloods Season 3 Promo #1 (HD) - YouTube

Blue Bloods 3x02 Promo "Domestic Disturbance" (HD) - YouTube

Blue Bloods 3x03 Promo "Old Wounds" (HD) - YouTube

COWBOYS VS MOBSTERS! 'VEGAS' ARRIVES...

Changing times for law and disorder in the new American period drama series VEGAS. Image: CBS.

They may not at first have believed their eccentric late comrade Bugsy Siegel's dreams of commercial enterprise avarice operating from the cattle filled, desert dunes of Las Vegas, Nevada, but by the 1960's it was soon a thriving melting pot of crime, gambling, entertainment-where the superstars of music, stage and screen mixed with other types of "personality"- with mighty vice generating profits for The Organisation (aka The Mob) that seemed just too good to be true, overlooked by on the payroll corrupted crime fighters. Dreams were made, empires were built, the beautiful people thrived, and the money flowed in- and anyone that got in the way of all of that...well, that wasn't a problem, either! Anything went and probably did, in a time and place where greed got greedier, and the bloodshed got bloodier!

Now, hot on the heels of popular and adult gangster TV and film dramas like BROADWALK EMPIRE, CASINO and GOODFELLAS, and having worn out the Vegas locale in modern series like CSI, TV producers have found a new way to tap the storytelling well of both aspects and create further mileage and strong characters by going back to the Golden Age of the Strip-its aura and iconism- with its emerging crime dynasty and the attempts by a small group of law-enforcers to fight back against them, blending it all together in a stylish and zippy PG audience friendly concoction. VEGAS is the result, from writer/creator Nicholas Pileggi and Greg Walker, whose prior September debut States-side proved a critical hit for its CBS makers (coming soon to the UK's SKY ATLANTIC channel).

Trailer: Vegas: sezon 1 - trailer #2 - YouTube

Law-breaker and law-maker: Michael Chiklis as Vincent Savino and Dennis Quaid as Sheriff Lamb.

Carrie-Anne Moss adds glamour to the glossy new series.

Having played the charismatic and uncompromisingly dangerous detective Vic Mackey in THE SHIELD, Michael Chiklis finally gets another hit series for his considerable acting chomps to wade into and enjoy (as well as making the most of a cool sixties wardrobe, too!) playing Vincent Savino, a man with ambition and plenty of attitude, based on the criminal exploits of a real-life boss of the time, Marcello Giuseppe Caifano. Facing off against Savino and his equally opportunistic family of devoted henchmen is stern rancher lawman Ralph Lamb, McCloud he certainly aint'!, played by the always-in-demand Dennis Quaid, a fine film actor with a diverse body of work (recently giving a brilliant performance as former president Bill Clinton in HBO's THE SPECIAL RELATIONSHIP), obviously enjoying the potential for this new series and the name talent of its creators, whilst, in a nice change, gamely taking the plunge into an interesting opportunity for some work on the small screen. Adding glamour and sex appeal to the male clash of good and evil is THE MATRIX's Carrie-Anne Moss, shedding her form fitting costumes as flying butt kicker Trinity to become law-following Assistant district attorney, and obvious love interest and dramatic confidante to Lamb, Katherine O'Connell. Cancelled series fantasy favourites amongst the mix include Sarah Jones, away from the dirty cells of ALCATRAZ, looking much more glamorous and feminine as savvy gangster daughter Mia Rizzo, whilst TERRA NOVA's lead hero Jason O'Mara wears a cowboy hat well as Ralph's younger brother and equally square-jawed deputy, Jack.

The Lambs have an early run-in with Savino and his boys.

Sheriff Lamb makes his presence felt in Savino's empire

They say what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas, but with the evolving times, clash of ideologies, and shotgun blasting to come, I think we'll all be addictively caught in the dramatic crossfire soon enough.

CELEBRATING THE TRIUMPHS OF 'GAME OF THRONES' SEASON TWO

The terrifying visage of a zombie-fied White Walker brings Season Two of GAME OF THRONES to a memorable and gripping close. Images: HBO.

NOTE: THIS FEATURE CONTAINS SPOILERS!

I can only use so many superlatives to describe how much I loved, and became further addicted to, the second ten episode season of HBO's GAME OF THRONES, and particularly relishing how it maintained its quality, drama and star power in matching, sometimes surpassing, what had been an exemplary prior first season. A CLASH OF KINGS, based on the illustrious and iconic work of George R. R. Martin, had pretty much everything you could ever want from a great and memorable TV series, and then taken up a notch!

A full review of this evocative and memorable year, as well as 2013's upcoming third adaptation, will appear on the KOOL TV site in the not too distant future. Instead, and as a nice teaser to all that eventual goodness, I'd thought I'd share some of my favourite images/moments from Season Two with you...

Despite the birth of her dragons, things did not go so well for Daenerys Targaryen (Emilia Clarke) and her faithful follower Ser Jorah Moromont (Iain Glen) at the beginning of the season.

Nightmare child! King Joffrey (Jack Gleeson) continued his rein of pubescent terror on King's Landing.

Acting as a boy, the fugitive Arya (a superb performance this year from Maisie Williams) and bastard Baratheon child   Gendry (Joe Dempsie) make an effective on-the-road pairing.

The mysterious shape changing assassin Jagen H'ghar (Tom Wlaschiha) made his impressive debut this season.

Carice Van Houten's witch Melisandre provided some creepy moments, too!

Warrior woman Brienne of Tarth (Gwendoline Christie) was a brilliant new addition to the series, especially as escort to Stark family prisoner Jaime Lannister (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau).

Theon Greyjoy (Alfie Allen) betrays the Stark family and takes Winterfell, deserving all that will hopefully come to him!

A sad but noble end for Maester Luwin (Donald Sumpter).

Trouble for Daenerys in the city of Qarth when she meets the warlock Pyat Pree (Ian Hanmore).

The Battle of Blackwater gets off to a spectacular start...

...and Tyrion Lannister (Peter Dinklage) shows true bravery despite terrible injuries.

Daenerys and her now fire breathing Dragons prove triumphant!

Out in the wilds of the North, our Night's Watch heroes (including Ben Compton and John Bradley) face new dangers. 

Jon Snow (Kit Harington) meets the infuriating Wildling, Ygritte (Rose Leslie). 

GAME OF THRONES Season One is available on DVD and Blu-ray (but get it fast, before the cut versions, minus the behind the scenes decapitated George Bush head in-joke that ultimately went badly wrong for HBO, replace the originals!).

EXECUTIVE STRESS! JULIA LOUIS-DREYFUS IS 'VEEP'

Politically challenged? Julia Louis-Dreyfuss in VEEP. Image: HBO.

One of the writing/producing pioneers of modern British comedy, with such notable BBC examples as ALAN PARTRIDGE and THE THICK OF IT under his recent belt, it was no surprise to me that American film and TV chiefs would snap up the talented Armando Iannucci for projects their side of the pond. With a flair for satire and subtle but often belly-aching observational humour and believable farce, and a finger firmly on the pulse of today’s finicky viewers tastes, HBO are surely hoping that the Brit will bring the same kind of kudos and audience success with his transatlantic debut: VEEP, the ambitious and hopefully promising new series set within the upper echelons of the White House, and a look at the life and career of the first female Vice-President, Selina Meyer, as played by the popular ex-SEINFELD actress Julia Louis-Dreyfus, swapping the divorcee/household madness of THE NEW ADVENTURES OF OLD CHRISTINE for pearls, power dressing and stilettos whilst treading the powerful and majestic corridors of the American political system, in a showcase that will hopefully be a lot more interesting and for the popular actress/comedienne, playing a role that, in real-life, has so far eluded the likes and grip of the clever and tough Hillary Clinton!

Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZUnAbwaDYr0

http://skyatlantic.sky.com/veep/armando-ianuccis-veep-teaser-trailer

The overall selection of an American Vice-President has often been portrayed in a contentious and ignorant way within TV drama: the key selectee seemingly and unwillingly chosen as part of the overall winning ticket in key electoral territory battles that the President himself can’t emerge victorious from without the additional support. How this modern scenario is factored into the fly on the wall documentary-esque style of VEEP, and what comedy problems will arise when Meyers enters office and liaises with her new staff should prove intriguing and, hopefully, often very amusing. With the exception of some of Aaron Sorkin’s mild comedy mixed into the drama of THE WEST WING, as well as the often real life black comedy that was the George Bush Jr. political reign, there hasn’t been a true US TV comedy series set in the White House that I can recall (I am a Brit, though, and I’m probably wrong!), so this has lots of potential, carrying on the clever and sophisticated, often edgy US comedy seen with the likes of 30 ROCK, SEINFELD and CURB YOUR ENTHUSIASM, as well as British inspirations/re-works like THE OFFICE. Backing Iannucci in his comedy work is a fine pedigree of UK and US talent including FOUR LIONS controversial but always funny writer/director Chris Morris and fellow director Tristram Shapeero (a helmer on COMMUNITY), as well as THE THICK OF IT co-writers Simon Blackwell, Tony Roche, Sean Gray, Roger Drew, Ian Martin and Jesse Armstrong.

In a modern America of spin doctors, big business over humanity and a rootin’ tootin’ Sarah Palin who has more than proved that anything can happen at the right time and place, it will be interesting to see how long VEEP survives both the unexpected and surely awkward situations she finds herself in, and the dictates of the viewers cruising the TV airwaves.

VEEP comes to the UK’s SKY ATLANTIC in June.