Third season of “Boardwalk Empire” started last week and the life of Atlantic City’s most brutal continues to woo fans. The award-winning show started off a year and a half after season two and returned with questions that viewers are dying to find answers to, like what will the character of Gyp Rosetti bring? And can Nucky and Margaret’s marriage be saved?

HBO has released the plots of October’s episodes.

Episode #28: “Blue Bell Boy” – Sunday October 7 (9:00-10:00 p.m. ET/PT)

After tracking down a liquor thief, Nucky (Steve Buscemi) and Owen (Charlie Cox) spend a long night hiding out from the fedswith the precocious perp. In his boss’ absence, and with Rothstein (Michael Stuhlbarg) fuming over a late delivery, Mickey (Paul Sparks) overrules Eli (Shea Whigham) to make a routing call that will have far-reaching consequences for Nucky and Gyp (Bobby Cannavale). Margaret (Kelly Macdonald) encounters a familiar face while promoting Dr. Mason’s (Patrick Kennedy) classes at the new women’s clinic at St. Theresa’s. In New York, Lucky (Vincent Piazza) haggles with Joe Masseria (Ivo Nandi) over heroin splits, while in Chicago, Capone’s (Stephen Graham) feud with O’Banion (Arron Shiver) heats up when one of his collectors gets roughed up on the South Side.

Written by David Stenn; directed by Kari Skogland.

Episode #29: “You’d Be Surprised” – Sunday October 14 (9:00-10:00 p.m.)

After venting with Nucky about his liquor travails, Rothstein sends Gyp an unequivocal message in Tabor Heights. In Washington, Gaston Means (Stephen Root) sees opportunity in a Senate investigation of Harry Daugherty (Christopher McDonald) and the Justice Department. Billie (Meg Chambers Steedle) gets a new co-star to revive her faltering show; Van Alden (Michael Shannon) and Sigrid (Christiane Seidel) receive an unexpected visitor; Gillian (Gretchen Mol) worries about keeping her business afloat in Jimmy’s absence; Margaret has awkward moments at the hospital and, later, at Madam Jeunet’s (Anna Katarina).

Written by Diane Frolov & Andrew Schneider; directed by Tim Van Patten.

Episode #30: “Ging Gang Goolie” – Sunday October 21 (9:00-10:00 p.m.)

After being detained in Washington by Daugherty’s henchmen, Nucky approaches Esther Randolph (Julianne Nicholson), his onetime nemesis, and later entertains an intriguing proposition from GastonMeans. In Atlantic City, Margaret copes with Teddy’s (Rory and Declan McTigue) demons, while Owen investigates a suspicious fire; Gillian feuds with Lucky and finds a surrogate for Jimmy; and Richard (Jack Huston) connects with pugilistic vet Paul Sagorsky (Mark Borkowsky) and his daughter Julia (Wrenn Schmidt).

Written by Steve Kornacki; directed by Ed Bianchi.

Episode #31: “Sunday Best” – Sunday October 28 (9:00-10:00 p.m.)

On Easter Sunday, Eli looks to get back in Nucky’s good graces at a Thompson family reunion. While Richard and Tommy (Brady and Connor Noon) spend the day as guests of the Sagorskys, Gillian stays athome and makes a sacrifice to improve her future. In New York, after dinner and prayers, Gyp heads downtown in search of a blessing – from Joe Masseria.

Written by Howard Korder; directed by Allen Coulter.

For more on the series, please visit facebook.com/BoardwalkEmpire and twitter.com @HBO # BoardwalkEmpire.

Created by Terence Winter, “Boardwalk Empire” is executive produced by Terence Winter, Martin Scorsese, Mark Wahlberg, Stephen Levinson, Tim Van Patten and Howard Korder; co-executive producers, Eugene Kelly, Chris Haddock, Andrew Schneider, Diane Frolov, Rolin Jones; producers, Joseph Iberti, Rick Yorn; co-producer, Steve Kornacki; supervising producer, David Stenn.

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Atlantic City, New Year’s Eve, 1922: The Roaring ‘20s are about to begin in earnest. Despite a booming economy, alcohol is scarce and gangster violence is heating up. With his marriage to Margaret already on the rocks, Nucky Thompson faces the challenge of mending old relationships and encounters new competition from a hair-trigger gangster determined to siphon off his business.

From Terence Winter, Emmy Award-winning writer of “The Sopranos” and Academy Award-winning director Martin Scorsese, “Boardwalk Empire” is set in the 1920s during Prohibition, and chronicles the life and times of Enoch “Nucky” Thompson, the undisputed leader of Atlantic City. The Emmy- and Golden Globe-winning drama series kicks off its 12-episode third season Sunday, September 16 (9:00-10:00 p.m. ET/PT), exclusively on HBO, followed by other episodes on subsequent Sundays at the same time.

In season two, Nucky married Margaret Schroeder to prevent her from testifying in court and took revenge on Jimmy Darmody for his role in a plot against him. But his hopes for smooth sailing were derailed when she signed away his highway windfall to the church. Meanwhile, agent Van Alden fled to Illinois to escape the feds with baby and nanny in tow.

“Boardwalk Empire” stars Steve Buscemi as Nucky Thompson; Kelly Macdonald as Margaret, Nucky’s wife; Michael Shannon as federal agent Nelson Van Alden; Gretchen Mol as Gillian, Jimmy Darmody’s mother; Shea Whigham as Nucky’s estranged brother Elias; Michael Stuhlbarg as gangster Arnold Rothstein; Stephen Graham as gangster Al Capone;Vincent Piazza as gangster Lucky Luciano; Michael Kenneth Williams as Nucky’s ally Chalky White, leader of the city’s African-American community; Anthony Laciura as Eddie Kessler, Nucky’s valet; Paul Sparks as gangster Mickey Doyle; Jack Huston as Richard Harrow, a disfigured war veteran; Charlie Cox as Owen Sleater, Nucky’s right-hand man; Bobby Cannavale as Gyp Rosetti, Nucky’s new foe; Arron Shiver as gangster Dean O’Banion; Christopher McDonald as U.S. Attorney General Harry Daugherty; Stephen Root as Gaston Means, a go-between for Nucky and Daugherty; and MegChambers Steedle as Billie Kent, Nucky’s new mistress.

September’s episodes

Episode #25: “Resolution” – Debut: Sunday, September 16 (9:00-10:00 p.m. ET/PT)

While hosting a New Year’s Eve party for 1922-23, Nucky makes a resolution that does not sit well with Gyp Rosetti, a touchy gangster with a thirst for bootleg whiskey. Margaret looks to build on the Thompson endowment at St. Theresa’s Hospital, to her husband’s displeasure. In the absence of Jimmy and the Commodore, Gillian builds a new business while monitoring Richard’s mentoring of her “son,” Tommy. In Chicago, Al Capone is rankled by Irish mobster Dean O’Banion, and Van Alden stumbles onto a confrontation that could change his career path.

Episode #26: “Spaghetti & Coffee” – Debut: Sunday, September 23 (9:00-10:00 p.m.)

Mixing business with pleasure in New York, Nucky bristles at the collection tactics of Gaston Means, a “special investigator” with ties to Attorney General Harry Daugherty. At St. Theresa’s, Margaret is troubled when her altruism is met with resistance by both a patient and an idealistic doctor. Gyp extends his stopover in Tabor Heights, a town halfway between Atlantic City and New York, with an eye towards establishing a strategic foothold. Chalky and his daughter Maybelle (Christina Jackson) fail to agree on her future with Samuel (Ty Michael Robinson); Eli gets a new boss and faces new realities at home; a major liquor shipment takes an unexpected detour.

Episode #27: “Bone for Tuna” – Debut: Sunday, September 30 (9:00-10:00 p.m.)

Disturbed by a recent nightmare and Billie’s absence, Nucky reluctantly joins Margaret to receive a high honor from the Church. Meanwhile, Gyp makes a deal with Nucky for a onetime liquor shipment, though the mobster’s longtime intentions remain very much up in the air. Van Alden regrets trying to socialize with his co-workers; Margaret takes her women’s-clinic pitch to a higher authority; Lucky and Meyer (Anatol Yusef) protect their investments; Richard sets the record straight with Mickey, and with Nucky.

“Boardwalk Empire” recently received 12 nominations for the upcoming 64th Primetime Emmy Awards, including Outstanding Drama Series, Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series (Steve Buscemi) and Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series (Tim Van Patten).

In September 2011, “Boardwalk Empire” received eight Emmy Awards, the most of any program that year, in the 63rd Annual Primetime Emmy Awards competition, including Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series (Martin Scorsese).

In January 2011, “Boardwalk Empire” received two Golden Globe Awards, for Best Television Series – Drama and Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series – Drama (Steve Buscemi).

For two years in a row, the series has received Screen Actors Guild awards for both Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series and Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series (Steve Buscemi).

Among the critical raves for the second season, which concluded in December 2011, New York’s Daily News called the show “delicious entertainment” and “one of the best shows on television,” while Daily Variety termed it “consistently bold and lusty,” as well as “good to the last illicit, intoxicating drop.” The Boston Globe hailed “Boardwalk Empire” as “a must-see show” and “remarkable,” and Entertainment Weekly noted that “drama this good should be illegal.”

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The last weeks of summer are fast approaching. As these penultimate days play-through, many face a difficult decision. Spend this fleeting time enjoying the verdant earth in all its lazy summer glory, or catch up on all the best TV shows before the Fall season comes around? This list is for those who choose the latter (better) option.

The best are:

Supernatural

After 149 episodes, the CW’s “Supernatural” has no right to still be this good. Seven years in and the classic, Patrick Swayze popularized, combination of paranormal activities and glistening abs has yet to lose its well-lubricated sheen. But to reduce its brilliance to a pair of favorably-positioned nipples is to do the series a great wrong. Ghoul hunters, Sam and Dean, have been to hell and back during the course of the show. Literally. The journey that the brothers have undertaken has been rife with drama, intrigue, action and wry wit.

Some of the narrative arcs during the middle seasons lagged; the fight for Sam’s soul became the fight for Dean’s soul, which became the fight for Sam’s soul, which became a long period of watching “Friends” re-runs instead. But, recently, “Supernatural” has returned to the ‘joie-de-vivre’ of its charismatic youth and season 8 ushers in the the fresh voice of new show-runner, Jeremy Carver (Being Human).

At its very best, “Supernatural” delivers breathtaking plot-twists that will hit the viewer like a souped up Chevy Impala barreling down a long, dark road. At its worst, “Supernatural” is still the show that has the guts to include God, THE God, as a primary character, and in “Supernatural”‘s worldview, God is no Yoda-meets-Santa Clause figure in a white robe and Birkenstocks.

So, come this fall season, “who you gonna call?”

Boardwalk Empire

The 1st and 2nd seasons of HBO’s prohibition gangster drama “Boardwalk Empire” have received a lot of somewhat counter-intuitive flack from the critics. Some suggest that many of the key elements of the show may constitute factors that could be described, unfavourably, as Emmy/Oscar-bait– expansive and involved plot, painstakingly reproduced sets, carefully maintained historical context, big name actors, and a pilot episode directed by Martin Scorcese.

But my gosh what a show! — expansive and involved plot, painstakingly reproduced sets, carefully maintained historical context, big name actors and a pilot episode directed by Martin Scorsese! In addition, taking a leaf out of “Game of Thrones’” gilded tome, “Boardwalk Empire” is not afraid to make the necessary sacrifices in the name of good TV. Some compare “Boardwalk Empire” to “Mad Men.” If this comparison is supposed to be a veiled insult, it’s very well hidden indeed; “Mad Men” is great, and so is this show.

Gossip Girl

Many people would approach with skepticism any reviewer who recommends the CW’s adolescent soapie, “Gossip Girl”, as appropriate viewing material for the thinking mind. But, this much dismissed show has been the medium for some of the greatest TV plot-twists of the past 5 years. Yes, a lot of the “Gossip Girl’s” screen-time is taken up by frequent scenes of attractive hairless people making out next to superbly maintained indoor pools, but one can forgive the writers their indulgent moments if one takes into consideration two truths:

1. “Gossip Girl” approaches satire in its level of keenly absurdist self-awareness. Everything about “Gossip Girl” is done to deliberate excess– it’s a thing of laconic, one-liner stuffed, beauty.
2. “Gossip Girl” caters to the wishes of its audience like no other. If you’ve blogged about it, internet world, it might well make an appearance. In some respects, “Gossip Girl” is like a serial version of ‘Snakes on a Plane’… in Louboutins.

The combination of these two basic principles has been enough to attract some incredible guest stars not only amongst actors, but also amongst the Manhattan gliterati.

The last season was not good, it’s true. However, nobody, nowhere, nohow does a finale like “Gossip Girl” does. And, as this 7th season is slated to be the show’s last, one can expect the UESiders to go out not with a whimper, but a bang (no pun intended.)

Community

Though Zooey Deschanel cavorts around in broad-rimmed glasses being all adorkable on Fox’s “New Girl,” the real home of weird is most certainly NBC’s “Community.” Having been on the verge of cancellation, the show has undergone some changes– namely, Dan Harmon has recently been ejected from his position as showrunner.

Nonetheless, the thing that keeps “Community” consistently hysterical is an unshakably strong ensemble cast whose comedic chemistry is infectious; “Community” is “Friends” meets “Big Bang Theory” meets a whole planet of crazy. Everything on the show is done with complete and utter commitment and the ever revolving chain of guest writers has made for 3 seasons in which every episode has been totally unique. Changtastic.

The Walking Dead

AMC’s “The Walking Dead” has been breaking records (and fictional skulls) everywhere during its first two seasons on air. The success of the show is unsurprising considering the fact that its list of screenwriters includes names that would make Shakespeare blush in professional shame. Oh, and there are zombies too!

“The Walking Dead” is shot so convincingly that one might be forgiven for feeling like one was actually watching footage of the Zombie Apocalypse– it’s gray, it’s bleak and it’s gory. However, before the world at large grabs a 9 gauge in one hand and a ‘Queen’ record in the other, one should remember that this is only a show–  albeit a very good one.

Honorable Mentions:

Parks and Recreation

Leslie Knope and the colorful inhabitants of Pawnee– the US’s most dysfunctionally happy city–transform middle America from a cautionary Green Day music video into the epitome of rustic charm. Miraculously consistent, “Parks and Rec” is poised for another great season driven by its 2 most compelling, and always hilarious, isms: optimism and Swansonism.

Raising Hope

Has political correctness gone mad? Not really, because somebody somewhere continues to endorse the televising of “Raising Hope.” Unsurprisingly, that somebody is a TV executive at Fox. But, where Fox regular Seth MacFarlane is crude, brash and in-your-face, “Raising Hope” approaches its subjects with subtlety. Indeed, for a show whose titular character is the illegitimate toddler of a convicted serial killer and a ‘special’ checkout clerk who lives with his white-trash parents, “Raising Hope” has managed to lend a surprising degree of intelligent, quirky restraint to both its 1st and 2nd season.

Modern Family

The beauty of this show is that, in a world of seat-squirmingly bleak “Louie,” “Peep Show” and “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” “Modern Family” gives its audience a chance to laugh with, not at, it. In the last season, particularly, many of the most hilarious moments were tempered with genuine sentiment, edging away from the didacticism of the voice-over with some raw, very human, emotion. “Modern Family” is apple-pie and ice cream and a Christmas sweater. It is also very funny.

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The widely acclaimed HBO series Boardwalk Empire opened a second season on HBO and will continue its tale of Enoch “Nucky” Thompson, a politician and a gangster who reigned prohibition era Atlantic City this coming November.

The first episode of the Emmy Award-winning show was the most expensive pilot in television history and directed by the careful hands of Oscar-winning director Martin Scorsese.

Fans and critics have praised the show for its visual and historical accuracy and audiences can look forward to more character-driven drama by Steve Buscemi as the corrupt treasurer of Atlantic County, Michael Pitt as Nucky’s protege Jimmy Darmody and Kelly MacDonald as Margaret, Nucky’s mistress. Also starring is Michael Shannon, Shea Whigham and Paz de la Huerta.

Episode #19: “Peg of Old” – Debut: Sunday, Nov. 6 (9:00-10:00 p.m. ET/PT)

While Nucky enlists heavyweight champ Jack Dempsey (Devin Harjes) to promote the wireless broadcast of his upcoming fight, Jimmy faces a decision that could shape the future of Atlantic City. Margaret travels to Brooklyn for a bittersweet reunion with the family she left behind in Ireland.

Irked by the arrival of Daugherty’s (Christopher McDonald) new federal prosecutor, Esther Randolph (Julianne Nicholson), Nelson (Michael Shannon) weighs his options as his personal and professional problems converge. Badly in need of support, Lucy (Paz de la Huerta) visits an old flame for a handout. Owen (Charlie Cox) settles one score, and sets his sights on a new conquest.

Episode #20: “Two Boats and a Lifeguard” – Debut: Sunday, Nov. 13 (9:00-10:00 p.m.)

In the wake of a personal loss, Nucky solicits advice on his political situation from Arnold Rothstein (Michael Stuhlbarg), while Eli (Shea Whigham) remains suspicious of his brother’s actions. Nucky finds himself in the unfamiliar position of showing gratitude toward a federal agent; Angela (Aleksa Palladino) meets a new friend at the beach, and eavesdrops on her husband’s treachery;

Nelson gets a nanny; Nucky approaches Owen with an overseas proposition; Jimmy flexes his muscles, at Mickey Doyle’s (Paul Sparks) expense.

Episode #21: “Battle of the Century” – Debut: Sunday, Nov. 20 (9:00-10:00 p.m.)

Arriving in Belfast, Nucky and Owen meet with IRA leaders with a barter proposition.  Meanwhile, in Atlantic City, Jimmy and his partners broker a deal with George Remus (Glenn Fleshler) for his “medicinal” alcohol before taking a break to see/hear the Dempsey fight. Margaret frets when Emily’s (Josie and Lucy Gallina) illness takes a turn for the worse;

Dunn Purnsley (Erik LaRay Harvey) orchestrates a worker’s strike at the Ritz; Waxey Gordon (Nick Sandow) takes action against Manny Horvitz (William Forsythe) in Philadelphia; Randolph and Clifford Lathrop (Curt Bouril) grill Halloran about Nucky’s past.

Episode #22:  “Georgia Peaches” – Debut: Sunday, Nov. 27 (9:00-10:00 p.m.)

Undercut by Nucky, who has a new source for alcohol, Jimmy and his partners look to cultivate a new revenue stream in Atlantic City. With the peak tourist season approaching, the Commodore’s (Dabney Coleman) crew faces a choice in dealing with the city’s striking workers: negotiate or fight back.

Fearing that sin has led to misfortune, Margaret approaches Father Brennan (Michael Cumpsty) with an “act of devotion.” Nucky gets a new lawyer; Van Alden faces an uncertain future; Manny Horvitz takes exception to a debt payment.

Created by Terence Winter, Boardwalk Empire is executive produced by Terence Winter, Martin Scorsese, Tim Van Patten, Stephen Levinson and Mark Wahlberg.

Image Courtesy of  http://www.facebook.com/boardwalkempire

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New York City is getting a boost in its economy all thanks to the entertainment business. A recent surge in movies and television shows being filmed in New York City over the past few months is said to add 100,000 new jobs for New Yorkers as well as $5 billion to the city’s economy.

There are now 23 prime time television shows being filmed throughout New York City, which is an all time record in the metropolitan area. This number has skyrocketed over the past five years. In 2006, there were only nine television shows filmed in New York City. Recent hits on the small screen call New York City home, including HBO’s Emmy Award winning show Boardwalk Empire.

The prohibition-era Atlantic City set is recreated in Brooklyn’s Steiner Studios. Located at the Brooklyn Navy Yard, Steiner Studios is becoming one of the most important movie studios in the country. Understanding the positive financial impact movie and television production has on the local economy, New York City has invested $28 million in the expansion and renovation of Steiner Studios.

Along with private investments, Steiner Studios is receiving a large upgrade and is attracting more attention as a prominent movie studio on the east coast. Thousands of jobs have been created for the expansion of this studio. It is projected to be the biggest movie studio in all of New York City.

ABC’s recent hit, Pan Am, is also filmed at Steiner Studios. Set in the 1960’s, Pan Am is a newly debuted prime time television show that focuses on the lives of Pan Am stewardesses. The interior of the plane’s cockpit and cabin are recreated in Steiner Studios. Also filmed at this Brooklyn studio recently was Will Smith’s Men in Black III.

Not far from Steiner Studios is Silvercup Studios in neighboring Long Island City, Queens. Silvercup Studios is also a famous movie and television location and is host of shows such as Gossip Girl and A Gifted Man. NBC’s popular show, 30 Rock, and newly debuted show Unforgettable are also filmed in Queens.

The rise in television production on the east coast has shown that New York City is growing popular among the entertainment industry, rivaling Hollywood. Along with television shows and movies filming within indoor movie studios, New York City is famous for being the backdrop to hundreds of movies and shows every year.

The Law and Order series is widely known to shoot on location throughout New York City, when they are not filming at their indoor set in Chelsea Piers. Shows like Pan Am, Gossip Girl, Blue Bloods, Nurse Jackie, and Unforgettable have been spotted filming on the streets of Brooklyn, Manhattan and Queens.

The uniquely characteristic streets of New York City can be seen on both the small and big screens. Local businesses benefit from the recent increase in film production throughout the city. There are over 4,000 businesses that assist in the movie and television production.

Although many residents in local neighborhoods don’t always appreciate street closings and restricted parking spots, the film industry has been able to boost the city’s economy tremendously.

Songquan Deng / Shutterstock.com

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The critically acclaimed Boardwalk Empire, about Prohibition era America, has been approved for a third season after resounding award-winning approval of the series second season, debuting on September 25. President of HBO programming, Michael Lombardo, made the announcement last week.

“Following a triumphant first season, I was eager to see what Terry Winter, Martin Scorsese and the rest of their stellar team had in store, and they continue to surpass our highest expectations,” said Lombardo. “The response from the media and our viewers has been extremely gratifying.”

Emmy Award-winning writer of The Sopranos, Terence Winter, is the creator of the revered series set in the 1920s, in the early days of Prohibition. It chronicles the life and times of Enoch “Nucky” Thompson, the undisputed leader of Atlantic City, and the lives and souls that surrounded him.

According to a press release from HBO, the renewal of Boardwalk Empire is the latest in a number of recent drama series pickups, following True Blood, Game of Thrones and Treme, as well as commitments to new series including Luck, Life’s Too Short and Aaron Sorkin’s as-yet untitled project.

Steve Buscemi leads the impressive cast that includes Kelly Macdonald, Paz de la Huerta, Michael Pitt, Gretchen Mol and Michael Shannon. Among the early critical raves for the new season, New York’s Daily News called the show “delicious entertainment” and “one of the best shows on television,” while Daily Variety termed it “consistently bold and lusty,” as well as “good to the last illicit, intoxicating drop.”

The Boston Globe hailed the Atlantic City gangster drama as “a must-see show” and “remarkable,” and Entertainment Weekly noted that “drama this good should be illegal. Boardwalk Empire has managed to rank among HBO’s most popular series with an average gross audience of 10.7 million viewers.

The mesmerizing character of ‘Nucky’ Johnson is based on the real life Johnson. According to IMDB.com, the real life ‘Nucky’ resembled the physique of James Gandolfini in The Sopranos more than Steve Buscemi but Winter wanted to write a character that differed from his previous show and wrote the role specifically with Buscemi in mind.

At the recent Primetime Emmy Awards, the series was nominated for eighteen awards, including Outstanding Drama Series, Lead Actor in a Drama Series and Supporting Actress in a Drama Series. The show’s director Martin Scorsese won the category Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series.

In January this year, the show further received two Golden Globe Awards, for Best Television Series – Drama and Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series – Drama, Steve Buscemi.

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