- GRIMM UNCERTAINTY: Word leaked Thursday evening that NBC has picked up a full season of the fairy-tale cop series Grimm, which filmed its pilot in Portland. But before you don your favorite troll costume and start celebratingâthereâs no guarantee the series will be filmed here. âI have not received confirmation that the show is going to be filmed in Oregon,â Vince Porter at the Governorâs Office of Film & Television told WW Friday evening. âThere was no pre-deal like, âWe promise you weâre gonna come.â Weâre going to try like hell to put our best foot forward.â That pitch becomes more precarious with Gov. John Kitzhaberâs controversial proposal to expand tax credits for Oregon film production still in limbo in the Legislature. While youâre biting your long, poison-apple-red fingernails, watch a scene from the pilot at wweek.com.
- NIGHTLIFE ALERT: A woman is suing the manager of Couture Ultra Lounge in Old Town for allegedly assaulting her on New Yearâs Eve 2010. In the suit filed May 17 by attorney Greg Kafoury, Chung Kim claims club manager Mark Seidâs girlfriend assaulted her at the club, then Seid called Kim a âfucking bitchâ and punched her in the face. âI own a nightclub, I can do whatever I want,â Seid said, according to the suit. Kim is seeking $100,000 for pain and suffering. Seid did not return a phone call for comment.
- THE CRITICS ARE RESTLESS: This has not been the easiest Cannes Film Festival for Gus Van Sant. Not only did early notices for his doomed-teen romance Restless cement our worst fears (âbanal and indulgent!â raves The Hollywood Reporter; ânauseatingly twee!â gushes the Onion AV Club), but he left his U.S. passport in Portland while producing his new Starz TV show, Boss in Chicago, and didnât realize it until a day before the French premiere. As Deadline Hollywood reported, âa friend grabbed it, flew cross-country to give it to Van Sant and accompanied him to France.â
- NOIR NEWS: How much longer can West Endâs Pinot American Brasserie go on? Now on its fourth head chef in less than a year, Richard Huggins (formerly of the Crowne Plaza Convention Center), the restaurant has announced itâs cutting its lunch service. Head bartender Glen Allen also jumped ship on the weekend, snapped up by McMenaminsâ new Zeus Cafe.
- LOVE AND THEFT: Bob Dylan turns 70 on Tuesday, May 24. To celebrate, and to make up for all the mean things we said about Dylanâs creepy Christmas album, WWâs music staff has contracted a handful of local musicians to record Dylan covers for a free digital EP called Buckets of Rain. The EP, which will be up at wweek.com on Tuesday for your downloading pleasure, features And And And, Typhoonâs Kyle Morton, St. Even, Ghosties and more.
WWeek 2015