Random Acts

Random Acts: Scarlett Johansson plays charades, Ali Larter goes boar hunting and Amber Heard… God knows what Amber Heard is up to

Scarlett Johansson plays charades on Jimmy Fallon's show

Normally, Scarlett Johansson would clean up in the ‘random acts’ stakes by her slightly random decision to play charades with Jimmy Fallon, Tariq from The Roots and Drake. I mean, who would have seen that coming?

She even tried to do interviews in a New Jersey accent for an extra bit of random.

But surprisingly, Ali Larter came out of left field to temporarily steal the lead by talking about her experiences of boar hunting in Germany:

“It was a very traumatic experience for me. But it’s ceremonial, and they roast it and it’s a whole thing. So I did try it.”

And, again, normally that would be enough to get our Ali the title in the random prize fight. But then Amber Heard, currently here in London – Brixton to be exact, obviously relishing our delightful Autumn weather as she films an adaptation of Martin Amis’s London Fields – decided to bring along an entourage so random, it blew everyone else out of the water.

Amber Heard filming London Fields in Brixton

No, I have no idea what’s going on here.

Charley says: Learn to read with Bob Hoskins in On the Move

It’s not something that people talk about much these days, but not all adults can read, even those who’ve been to school. But back in the 70s, adult literacy was a pressing concern for a government concerned about social mobility and the white heat of technology.

In 1975, in conjunction with a national government campaign, the BBC did its own little bit by creating a TV show, On The Move, that starred Bob Hoskins in one of his first TV roles. Written by Points of View presenter Barry Took, the series of 50, 10-minute episodes saw illiterate removal man Hoskins driving his van around and learning to read, in various combinations, while the likes of Nigel Stock and Patricia Hayes provided the viewer with various exercises. Along the way, various other future notables, including Martin Shaw, popped up to demonstrate the value of reading.

The show spawned two sequels, Your Move, and Right Away, but you can view some of the original Hoskins show below. The catchy theme was sung by The Dooleys, in case you’re wondering.

Tuesday’s “A Walking Dead spin-off, Rob Lowe’s Sex Tape and Starhunter returns” news

Film

Film casting

Trailers

  • Trailer for Grace of Monaco, with Nicole Kidman

Canadian TV

UK TV

  • Sky to invest £1bn in Irish content over the next five years [subscription required]

UK TV casting

US TV

US TV casting

New US TV shows

New US TV show casting

Monday’s “Dylan Moran’s US sitcom, Arrow casts The Flash and scenes from The Tunnel” news

Doctor Who

  • Peter Davison confirmed for 50th anniversary celebrations
  • Watch acquires BBC America Doctor Who documentary

Film casting

Trailers

UK TV

New UK TV shows

  • Images from Sky/Canal+’s The Tunnel

New UK TV show casting

  • Philip Glenister, Bernard Hill et al join BBC1’s From There To Here
  • Casting on BBC1’s Jamaica Inn, BBC2’s A Poet in New York and ITV’s Lucan

US TV

US TV casting

New US TV shows

  • ABC developing historically tone deaf, alternative reality show The Thirteen
  • Dylan Moran to write and star in ABC sitcom
  • Fox orders: The Middle Man from Glenn Gordon Caron and Ben Affleck
  • NBC developing CIA comedy

New US TV show casting