Bill Paxton knows his old movies — and the star says his new CBS show “Training Day” will be chockablock with references to them.
“Training Day,” premiering Feb. 2, is a series adaptation of the 2001 crime thriller starring Denzel Washington and Ethan Hawke about two cops battling gang violence in Los Angeles. But it’s hardly the only famous movie the new show will name-check, both overtly and more slyly.
One episode plays around with a famous Texas battle. “It’s … ‘The Alamo’ we all grew up with — John Wayne, Richard Widmark,” Paxton, 61, said Monday at the Television Critics Association press tour in Pasadena, referring to the 1960 movie epic about the historic fort.
“We have another episode that is called ‘Sunset Boulevard,’ that is a total homage,” he added, referring to the 1950 Billy Wilder classic about a faded silent movie star and the hack screenwriter who becomes enmeshed in her world.
“It opens with me floating in the pool, for God’s sakes!” Paxton exclaimed. “Sunset Boulevard” famously began with a shot of screenwriter Joe Gillis (William Holden), face-down and dead in a swimming pool.
Paxton, of course, has a lengthy list of movie credits to his own name, including memorable roles in “The Terminator,” “Aliens,” “Apollo 13” and more. “Training Day” will be his first starring TV series role since HBO’s “Big Love.”
“I should be doing TCM — that’s the next thing after this,” Paxton joked.
Golden Globes: 11 Best and Worst Moments, From Meryl Streep to 'Hidden Fences' (Photos)
Best: Jimmy Fallon's Broken Teleprompter
Host Jimmy Fallon was forced to think on his feet at the top of the show when the Teleprompter broke right as he began his opening monologue. That's the risk you run with a live event.
Sofia Vergara continued to play up her broken English for laughs. This time, she mispronounced "annual" as "anal" several times in introducing Sylvester Stallone's daughters as Miss Golden Globes.
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Best: Steve Carell and Kristen Wiig Share Traumatic Movie Experiences
Before announcing the winner of Best Animated Film, Steve Carell and Kristen Wiig shared their first experience attending animated movies. Both kept the audience rolling with painfully emotional stories from their childhoods.
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Worst: "Chastain and the Redmayne"
Sorry, Jimmy Fallon, but leave the rapping to the pros. Fallon introduced Jessica Chastain and Eddie Redmayne, playing off their names in a quick spoof of the Cypress Hill classic "Insane in the Membrane."
It almost slipped by, but eagle-eyed viewers caught the two actors locking lips after Ryan Gosling won for "La La Land." Whether or not tongue was involved is anybody's guess.
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Worst: Casey Affleck's Acceptance Speech
Casey Affleck may have won for "Manchester by the Sea," but his speech was not awards-worthy. The younger Affleck looked in need of a nap (and a shave) as he delivered his speech on stage.
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Best: Meryl Streep
Meryl Streep is the best by default, but she reminded us why when she accepted her Cecil B. Demille Award. In a passionate speech, Streep called out Donald Trump for his bullying tactics (without mentioning his name), as well as calling on Hollywood to support a free and independent press.
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Best: Matt Damon Mocks "The Martian"
Matt Damon has always been able to laugh at himself. Before presenting an award, Damon laughingly reminisced about how he won in the comedy category last year for his role in "The Martian," a fact he said was funnier than anything that happened in "The Martian."
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Relive the highlights and lowlights of the 2017 awards ceremony
Best: Jimmy Fallon's Broken Teleprompter
Host Jimmy Fallon was forced to think on his feet at the top of the show when the Teleprompter broke right as he began his opening monologue. That's the risk you run with a live event.