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April 25 - May 1, 2022 Page 3 ACROSS 1. Series for Jesse Lee Soffer (2) 8. "__ Hand Luke"; Paul Newman film 9. Debtor 10. Actress on "Mr. Mayor" (2) 14. Pulmonary disease, for short 15. "__ of Practice" (2005- 06) 16. __ de cologne 17. "__ __ You"; 2019 Helen Hunt movie 18. ... DDE, JFK, LBJ, __ ... 19. Bruce or Laura 20. Opening quartet 24. Three thousand 27. "__ of the Century"; 1983-89 game show 28. Battery size 29. "__ About You" 32. Ski lift type (hyph.) 33. Emily Wickersham's "NCIS" role (2) 36. "How sweet __ __!"; Jackie Gleason's line 37. John of "Good Times" 38. "NCIS: Hawai'i" role (2) DOWN 1. "Hangin' With Mr. __" 2. Actor William 3. "__ Fly Away" 4. Big toe woe 5. "On Our __" (1994-95) 6. Fonda or Finch 7. "I __ of Jeannie" 8. Picked 11. Greeting from Stallone 12. Actress Kelly 13. "__ All Night"; 2015 Liam Neeson film 14. "El __"; Charlton Heston movie 20. Breathing disorder 21. Large monkey 22. Applauds 23. German article 24. West of Hollywood 25. Actor Yoba 26. Island nation near Sicily 29. Netlike fabric 30. Stomach muscle 31. Most famous 1981 bride 34. "Star Wars: Episode __ - Revenge of the Sith" 35. Role on "Cheers" Solution is on page 2. CoverStory By George Dickie "The Godfather" stands as an American cinemat- ic masterpiece that has endured the test of time and enthralled genera- tions since it hit theaters a half-century ago. And it almost didn't get made, a story told in an upcoming limited series on Para - mount+. In "The Offer," a 10-ep- isode drama premiering Thursday, April 28, the story unfolds through the perspective of Albert S. Ruddy (Miles Teller, "Whip - lash"), a computer pro- grammer-turned-Hollywood producer who believes the novel by a struggling writer named Mario Puzo (Patrick Gallo, "The Irishman") is a potential film classic and pushes through a num - ber of obstacles to help then-unknown filmmaker Francis Ford Coppola (Dan Fogler, "The Goldbergs") get it made. Chief among them is mob boss Joe Colombo (Giovanni Ribisi, "Sneaky Pete"), who ironically is concerned the film would further the stereotype of Italian Americans as violent animals. And there's push - back from the studio, Para- mount Pictures, about cost and possibly incurring the wrath of the Mafia, which put studio chief Robert Ev - ans (Matthew Goode, "The Crown") in the crosshairs. But in Ruddy's corner is his assistant Bettye Mc- Cartt (Juno Temple, "Ted Lasso"), an astute go-get- ter whose resourcefulness and powers of persuasion match those of her boss. The series was created by Michael Tolkin ("The Player"), who co-wrote the script with fellow executive producer Nikki Toscano ("Hunter") and is based on the experiences of Rud- dy, who also served as an executive producer on the project as well as an invaluable resource for the man playing him, Teller. "He's just a producer, man — he gets stuff done ...," the actor says. "And that was really one of the big pleasures of playing him, was just (he's) a man of action and a guy who was thrown in the fire and just has to figure it out. And he's an underdog and he's out of his comfort zone constantly. And yet he just continues to press on. He only knows how to go forward. He doesn't know how to go backwards. ... So it was really a pleasure and an honor to play him in this." As Evans, Goode cap- tures the essence of a consummate Hollywood insider and dealmaker, complete with sun tan and trademark horn-rimmed glasses. In addition to his research on the legendary executive, who died in 2019, the British actor drew inspiration from spectacles owned by Evans that a friend of castmate Temple had bought in an auction. Paramount +'s 'The Offer' is one that shouldn't be refused The identity of the featured celebrity is found within the answers in the puzzle. In order to take the TV Challenge, unscramble the letters noted with asterisks within the puzzle. InFocus "Senior Year" (Netflix — movie premiere, May 13) TV producer/director Alex Hardcastle ("American Woman," "You're the Worst") made his feature film directorial debut with this original comedy that stars Rebel Wilson as a 37-year-old woman who emerges from a 20-year coma and returns to the high school where she was once a popular cheerleader. Angourie Rice, Sam Richardson, Zoe Chao and Alicia Silverstone also star. I FOUND IT! Whether you are looking for the latest garage sale bargain, a reliable car, a home or a new job. You are sure to find what you want in the classified section of … Nobody Covers Your Hometown Better!

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