B.J. Novak
B.J. Novak Launches Gourmet Chain Restaurant Food Festival ChainFEST
B.J. Novak is continuing to invest in his love for chain restaurants, following up his Chain pop-up concept by launching the world’s first chain food festival. ChainFEST, set to take place Dec. 1 and 2 at Hollywood’s Nya Studios, will feature one reimagined, iconic menu item inspired by each classic chain restaurant, including Chili’s Grill […]
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How Chain, B.J. Novak’s Concept Restaurant, Built a Nostalgia Factory With Hollywood’s Help
During a podcast interview in 2018, actor and foodie B.J. Novak teased an idea he had for a chain-themed restaurant that would, contrary to the fundamental business model of chain restaurants, consist of a single brick-and-mortar location. It would be a nostalgia play, drawing on a collective wistfulness for the menu items and now-kitschy aesthetic […]
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B.J. Novak and Mindy Kaling Reminisce on ‘The Office’ Days at PGA Awards: “She Cared So Much About Everything”
B.J. Novak recalled the early days in his career, working with Mindy Kaling on The Office, while presenting her the Norman Lear Achievement Award in Television at the 2023 PGA Awards Saturday night. “The first thing I noticed about Mindy in that writers room is that she cared so much about everything,” the Vengeance actor […]
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Kim Kardashian, Scott Budnick Talk Criminal Justice and Storytelling at Propper Daley Summit
Social impact agency Propper Daley hosted its second “A Day of Unreasonable Conversation” summit on Thursday, featuring a starry lineup including Kim Kardashian, Uzo Aduba, Chrissy Teigen, B.J. Novak and director and producer Scott Budnick. The invite-only event — produced in collaboration with culture change agency Invisible Hand, with The Hollywood Reporter as a media partner — […]
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B.J. Novak, Chrissy Teigen, Uzo Aduba Set for Propper Daley’s A Day of Unreasonable Conversation
On Sept. 15, Propper Daley’s second A Day of Unreasonable Conversation gathering will return to Los Angeles, after being canceled in both 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The invite-only event — produced in collaboration with social impact and culture change agency Invisible Hand — will take place at The Wallis Annenberg Center […]
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Ashton Kutcher, John Mayer on Collaborating With B.J. Novak for ‘Vengeance’
After a fruitful acting and writing career, B.J. Novak becomes a triple threat with Vengeance, making his directorial debut while also starring as a New York journalist who travels to Texas to investigate the death of a woman he’d previously hooked up with. Along the way he starts a podcast to tell the story and […]
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Finneas O’Connell and B.J. Novak Were “Two Brothers Figuring It Out” as Rookie Film Composer and Director for ‘Vengeance’
John Mayer may have only a cameo in new darkly comedic thriller Vengeance, but he had a leading role in connecting B.J. Novak, who both stars in and makes his directorial debut with the film, and its first-time film score composer: eight-time Grammy winner Finneas O’Connell. A few years back, Novak stopped by his pal […]
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B.J. Novak on Landing ‘Fresh Air’ Host Terry Gross to Play ‘Queen Bee’ Radio Mogul in His Film ‘Vengeance’
After wrapping an interview with Terry Gross for her NPR radio series Fresh Air in September, B.J. Novak surprised the iconic interviewer with an offer. “I said, ‘Hey, I have a role for you,’ and she was so confused and surprised,” Novak tells THR‘s Kim Masters on a new episode of KCRW’s The Business. The […]
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B.J. Novak and Issa Rae in ‘Vengeance’: Film Review | Tribeca 2022
Novak directs himself alongside Rae and Ashton Kutcher in a film about a New York wannabe podcaster who ventures into the West Texas desert.
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Tribeca Festival: B.J. Novak’s ‘Vengeance’ to Make World Premiere as Centerpiece Screening (Exclusive)
The 2022 Tribeca Festival has added the world premiere of B.J. Novak’s feature directorial debut, Vengeance, as its centerpiece screening, The Hollywood Reporter has learned. The Focus Features film, written and directed by and starring the Office alum, is a darkly comedic thriller about a journalist who travels from New York City to West Texas […]
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B.J. Novak’s ‘Vengeance’ to Hit Theaters in Late July
Focus Features announced Thursday it will open Blumhouse’s Vengeance in theaters on July 29, giving the film a prime summer berth. The darkly comic thriller marks the directorial debut of writer and star B.J. Novak (The Office). Vengeance is about Ben Manalowitz, a journalist and podcaster who travels from New York City to West Texas […]
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B.J. Novak Reflects on Working With Ed Asner on ‘The Premise’: “It Was Quite a Role”
During his appearance on Late Night With Seth Meyers on Wednesday, B.J. Novak praised Ed Asner for his love and dedication to acting while working on his show The Premise. “He was really wonderful and inspiring to work with,” Novak said about Asner who recently died on August 29 at age 90. “He would rest […]
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