GET ADDICTED: December 2008

Wednesday, December 31, 2008

TV DICTIONARY of 2008

The pop culture zeitgeist adds a lot of new words and phrases to our everyday vernacular. Here are a few from 2008 that I’ve deciphered for your future over-use:

Cheerleader Effect
n. When a group of girls/women look gorgeous simply by being in close proximity to one another, but are actually average or even hideous when examined separately. It’s also known as Bridesmaid Paradox and Spice Girls Conspiracy.
Source: One of Barney's many helpful observations on "How I Met Your Mother."

The Express
n. It's when a girl who is believed to be promiscuous goes "downtown" without any stops. Source: Sage's catty insult on “Privileged”

Freshman 15
n. It's when you sleep with 15 girls during your freshman year of college.
Source: Chuck's lewd meaning of the term on “Gossip Girl”

The 4 G's
n. The essential people who affect a girl’s decision: Guys, Girlfriends, and Gossip Girl.
Source: “Gossip Girl”

Lacrosstitute
n. A girl who loses her virginity to a Lacrosse player.
Source: Blair refers to her young protege's competition as Muffy the Lacrosstitute, since she was trying to lose her virginity to a jock on "Gossip Girl”

Paratrooping
v. You go out of town, but instead of getting a hotel room, you go straight to a bar with the sole intention of hooking up with a girl just so you have a place to stay. Also known as "banging for roof."
Source: According to Barney and Robin on "How I Met Your Mother."

Porn-shuied
adj. It’s the order that a room’s furniture is in so that no one can see the porn on your computer screen.
Source: "Rules for Engagement"

Spite Invite
n. It's when you invite someone to act as your fake date in order to piss off your real significant other.
Source: “Brothers & Sisters”

Snow day
n. A person who makes someone else feel as free and elated as they would if they got to miss a day of school due to bad weather.
Source: Jesse's description of Betty when she got him a gig at a fake Mode after party. "Ugly Betty"

Wingman
n. A guy who misleads someone into sleeping with you.
Source: According to Andy on "The Office."

Phrases

“Gay for Jamie”
We’ve heard of man crushes and bromances, but it wasn’t until Frank became obsessed with Liz’s underaged boy toy that we were exposed to a brand new phrase that pretty much unveils the true meaning behind those two terms.
Source: “30 Rock”

"I Call Slut"
You may do this if the only thing standing between your friend and sex is clothes.
Source: “How I Met Your Mother”

MY FAVORITE ALBUMS of 2008

The I Am… half of Beyonce’s latest
The first single off the disc, "If I Were a Boy," replayed in my mind for like 3 weeks. The disc itself is compiled of several amazing songs, "Halo," "Save the Hero," and "Brokenhearted Girl" (Babyface co-wrote), that are worth a second and third listen. The best, "Hero," describes a female protector, evoking the question: "Who's there to save the girl after she saves the world?"

Estelle’s Shine
This 28-year-old British R&B singer manages to juggle crooning about her crushes and venting about the pratfalls of love—from being the other woman to trying to get past the friendship stage. I particularly enjoy the Motown beats and lyrical rhyming that are reminiscent of Alicia Keys, Lauren Hill, and Macy Gray.

Jonas Brothers' A Little Bit Longer
They did a great job of stepping into the next phase of their musical careers, solidifying their chances of securing a more stable (and decidely older) fan base. I think the main issue with boy bands of the 90s is that they relied too heavily on a formula, giving their fans the same product wrapped in a new gimmick. When Justin Timberlake broke out of N'Sync, he reinvented himself, and when he returned from his hiatus, he "brought sexy back." What the Jonas Brothers have done is allow their more mature musical influences—that most of their fans have never heard of—seep into their new music, creating a sound (nearly) for all ages—well, at least female ones.

Pink’s Funhouse
You could say that this album shows that she went through the seven stages of grief, managing to verbalize her denial ("I Don't Believe You"), her anguish ("Please Don't Leave Me" and "One Foot Wrong"), her hatred ("It's All Your Fault"), her depression ("Sober"), and even the final stage: acceptance ("So What"). She dabbled in blues-ridden country rhythms, country rock, and, of course the purveyor of all things angry, rock itself. And unlike Jessica Simpson, who practically asked her fans permission to try country, Pink just did whatever the hell she wanted...and very well too.

MY TOP 50 FAVORITE SINGLES of 2008

An alphabetical list of songs that have been a mainstay on my iPod this year:

1. “Cold Shoulder” Adele
2. “Get Buck” Akon, Diddy, Ludacris, Lil Jon
3. “No One” Alicia Keys
4. “I Need You” Alicia Keys
5. “Gives You Hell” All American Rejects
6. “Single Ladies” Beyonce
7. “Radio” Beyonce
8. “Cemeteries of London” Coldplay
9. “Bad Girl” Danity Kane
10. “American Boy” Estelle feat. Kanye West
11. “In Love with a Girl” Gavin Degraw
12. “I have to thank you” Gavin Degraw
13. “Cookie Jar” Gym Class Heroes
14. “Peace Sign/Index Down” Gym Class Heroes feat. Busta Rhymes
15. “Starting Now” Ingrid Michaelson
16. “Far Away” Ingrid Michaelson
17. “The 1” Janet Jackson
18. “How do I sleep” Jesse McCartney
19. “Leavin” Jesse McCartney
20. “Burning Up” Jonas Brothers
21. “Lovebug” Jonas Brothers
22. “Foundations” Kate Nash
23. “Shit Song” Kate Nash
24. “Pumpkin Soup” Kate Nash
25. “Mannequin” Katy Perry
26. “Hot and Cold” Katy Perry
27. “Starstruck” Lady Gaga
28. “Miles Away” Madonna
29. “Paper Planes” M.I.A.
30. “Ching a ling” Missy Elliot
31. “Angel” Natasha Bedingfield
32. “Soulmate” Natasha Bedingfield
33. “Spazz” N.E.R.D.
34. “Miss Independent” Ne-Yo
35. “Apologize” One Republic
36. “Stop and Stare” One Republic
37. “Mercy” One Republic
38. “Sober” Pink
39. “When I Grow Up” Pussycat Dolls
40. "I Hate This Part Right Here" Pussycat Dolls
41. “Watcha Think About That” Pussycat Dolls
42. “Sexual Eruption” Robyn’s remix of Snoop Dogg’s song
43. “Handle Me” Robyn
44. “Love Song” Sara Bareilles
45. “Bottle it up” Sara Bareilles
46. “Gravity” Sara Bareilles
47. “It Aint Me” T-Pain and T.I.
48. “Therapy” T-Pain and Kanye West
49. "Freeze" T-Pain feat. Chris Brown
50. “Heartbreaker” will.i.am

TOP 20 ALBUM COVERS of 2008

Tuesday, December 30, 2008

SPOILERS: Ugly Betty, 90210, Grey's Anatomy

UGLY BETTY
Daniel might actually get Connor's girl, since they broke up.

90210
• Ryan's past will be revealed and he just might not be...Ryan, which might mean that he's the principal's son, and Silver will be diagnosed with bipolar disorder.
• That cheerleader that was pushing up on Dixon has a girlfriend. Awkward!!!

GREY'S ANATOMY
Izzie is going to tell Alex about her Denny visions.

VIDEO: "Gossip Girl" Jan. 5th Preview

More Chuck drunkeness, a little Uncle Bass action, and a smidge more:

Also, I read that Aaron aint coming back from Argentina! Woooooohooo!!! Blair and Dan will butt heads when they play opposite each other in a school play. And next season, they won't be going to the same colleges--they'll be split into three groups.

Sunday, December 28, 2008

BUZZ: "Marley & Me" Scores Big and "Privileged" Character Gets Cut

• I don't know what's more shocking: the fact that The Spirit was some weird amalgamation of Dick Tracy (old-school camp) and Sin City (aesthetically gorgeous), or the fact that a non-animated movie centered around a rambunctious dog came in at #1. It's true. Jennifer Anniston and Owen Wilson caught a lucky break, coming in at #1 with $52 mil this holiday weekend, but not all of the critics were impressed. No, all of the kind criticisms were spread out between The Curious Case of Benjamin Button and Valkyrie, which took the 3rd ($39 mil) and 4th spots ($30 mil). Both are a long way away from regaining their budgets ($75-150 mil), but it's more than what was expected. Meanwhile, kids predictably flocked to theaters to see Adam Sandler's Bedtime Stories, scoring him $39 mil. The dud-of-the-week had to, of course, be the film that I paid for and treated family to: The Spirit. Not only can I vouch for its horrendously bizarre caricatures--inspite of Gabriel Macht and Eva Mendes' spot-on performances--but so can everyone else who contributed to its $10 mil gross and put it at #9. Rounding out the top 10 are Yes Man (#5 - $50 mil), Seven Pounds (#6 - $39 mil), The Tale of Despereaux (#7 - $28 mil), The Day the Earth Stood Still (#8 - $64 mil), and Doubt (#10 - $9 mil). Lastly, the indies of the week, Revolutionary Road and Last Chance Harvey were worshipped by a majority of the top critics. Road grossed $192,000 in three theaters, while Harvey took in $132,000 in six.

• Michael Cassidy is leaving "Privileged." Unfortunately, Charlie's going back to college and his final episode is the 20th. But for those of you in need of some Megan-Charlie action, take comfort in knowing that they will eventually get their kiss-on. Of course, their smooch might punch a hole in her relationship with Will. This is potentially the first character-cut of the recession, since he was pink-slipped partially for budgetary reasons. NBC's "Heroes" also claims that there'll be a lot of death on the rest of their season, cutting down on characters to streamline the plot and return it to its peak. But it's possible that they're just feeling the penny pinch as well. You can catch Cassidy on TheWB.com in March 2009 where he'll star in a web series.

• Ashley Tisdale will headline the Teen Witch remake, even though I think either Selena Gomez or Demi Lovato should do it.

VIDEO: All-American Rejects Mock Britney Spears

Ok, technically this video clip is of the All-American Rejects covering Britney Spears' "Womanizer," but in actuality--if you listen very closely--you can hear Tyson say a lyric that doesn't exist in the song. After she says "Gettin' more than just a re-up/baby you/," he's supposed to say, "Got all the puppets with their strings up," but instead, at the 1:10 mark, he says, "K-Fed you/yeah you shouldn't sign a prenup." Hmmm. Kind of mean, no?

Also, there's a part near the end when they transition in and out of The Turtles' "So Happy Together."

On a good note, I saw The House Bunny, which Tyson has a bit part in, and he wasn't as bad as I expected him to be.

Friday, December 26, 2008

FILM: New in Theaters - 12/26/08

If you've finally escaped from your family or are just taking a break from eating, you might be interested in knowing what's in theaters:

For the kids with insane imaginations, the fantasy adventure Bedtime Stories helmed by Adam Sandler is perfect. He plays an uncle whose bedtime stories come to life after he tells them to his niece and nephew. Keri Russell plays his love interest and Courtney Cox is his sister.

For graphic novel fanatics, Frank Miller's visually impressive The Spirit is your best bet. Gabriel Macht (Because I Said So) plays a rookie cop who comes back from the dead to be a masked crime fighter. His arch nemesis is a lab technician who transformed himself into The Octopus (Samuel Jackson). It's sort of campy with old-school sleuthing, but the chemistry between Macht and his leading ladies (Jaime King, Eva Mendes, Scarlett Johansson, and Sarah Paulson) is something to tune in for.

For those who enjoy epic love stories and scifi, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button will knock your socks off. Brad Pitt plays a man who was born old and will die young. Although his life is difficult because of his condition, he still manages to enjoy his adopted family and fall in love with his childhood friend (Cate Blanchett). Their love is literally timeless and when it reaches the climax--when they're both the same age--that's when they realize how unbearable it'll be to lose.

For dog lovers and Jennifer Anniston-followers, I'd suggest Marley & Me. It's John Grogan's story about a married couple (Owen Wilson plays the hubbie) who get a dog to prepare for parenthood and are surprised to discover how equally stressful the experience is. It's kind of like when Beethoven ran amok with all of those kids, except there are no kids and the adults aren't as amused.

For those of you looking to drain your tear ducts, Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet are teaming up again for the adaptation of Richard Yates' Revolutionary Road. In an nutshell, it's about a married couple that is drowning in boredom due to their unfulfilled lives during the 50s. So it's like "Mad Men" minus the bustling ad agency.

For those who want to see Tom Cruise's comeback and are fans of Nazi hateration, you might enjoy the war thriller Valkyrie. Bryan Singer (Superman Returns) gears up to direct another heroic character, the man who led a German assassination team to bring down Adolf Hitler. Try to ignore the fact that Cruise doesn't have a German accent and is walking around with one eye, it's suspenseful--even though you know the end result...Hitler wasn't assassinated--and educational.

For those of you who are interested in the type of love that culminates in one day, the Before Sunrise-type of love, then maybe you'll want to watch Dustin Hoffman fall in love with Emma Thompson in Last Chance Harvey. It's the story of a man who loses his job and the privilege of walking his daughter down the aisle at her London wedding all in one day. While he drowns his sorrows, he runs into a sassy woman he can commiserate with, who inspires him to change his ways.

VIDEO: Ryan Gosling's Band Dead Man's Bones

Perez is reporting this as the first single from Ryan Gosling's band Dead Man's Bones' called "In The Room Where You Sleep." I think the use of a handheld and a room full of children makes it terribly endearing, but I'm not sure if he sounds like the guy who sings "Monster Mash" or if I'm just hallucinating that because the kids are dressed for Halloween. Either way, it still reminds me of The Killers. I mean, I wouldn't download it, but if it came on the radio, I wouldn't necessarily turn it off. Listen for yourself:

Thursday, December 25, 2008

TRAILER: Ben Affleck Returns, Gellar Gets Dramatic, Travolta's Bald Head, and more

• State of Play: While everyone's peeping J.Lo's new post-baby bod, Ben Affleck's been making a more sedated comeback from their Bennifer fiasco. Unfortunately, until he can regain the respect from critics as an actor that he got from them as a director, he'll have to take a backseat to the leading men of today. In this thriller, he plays a congressman who seeks the help of his journalist buddy (Russell Crowe) to uncover what really happened to his murdered mistress before his reputation is fully destroyed. Whether or not he ordered it to be done is the real story. Rachel McAdams also stars as a young reporter.

• 9: I don't normally promote animated films as being must-sees, but this one is just drawn incredibly well. The story is about a post-apocalyptic world where humanity must be saved.

• Veronika Decides to Die: Poor Sarah Michelle Gellar is still trying to make it in the film industry after five years of "Buffy, the Vampire Slayer" being off air. But aside from "The Grudge," she hasn't really had much luck, which is why I think she's going the dramatic route with Paulo Coelho's novel. It follows a woman who unsuccessfully attempts suicide and ends up in a mental hospital full of people who've chosen to live their lives unconventionally. Inspired by her surroundings, she finds the will to live. While it sounds uplifting, it actually looks kind of depressing. I really wish she'd stop doing these sad, dark, creepy films, and just give in to the machine and sign up for a romantic comedy or something. Cheer up Buffy!

• The Code: After the gentlemen of Wild Hogs and Bucket List and the ladies of Sex and the City, Mamma Mia, and The Women surprised Hollywood by grasping the attention of moviegoers despite their old age, it seems execs and producers thought they could sell us an action film where old men are doing a young men's job. Morgan Freeman and Antonio Banderas team up for a heist thriller.

• Free Style: When I first heard that Corbin Bleu (High School Musical) was starring in his own race car movie, I figured it would be some Disney flick with a cheesy moral ending. But it's actually semi-serious and could possibly entertain a few kids and their parents. Oh and yeah, and that's him singing in the background.

• From Paris with Love: Everyone's been ragging on John Travolta for his character's bald head and goatee, but it wasn't until I saw this truly crappy trailer that I realized that his look is only the beginning of its mediocrity.

BUZZ: "Narnia" Sequel Canned?, Bullock & Stallone Together Again?, Death on "Ugly Betty," and more

• Last weekend, Jim Carrey's Yes Man dominated the box office, coming in at #1 with $18 mil. (It was pretty damn funny.) Will Smith's heartwrenching Seven Pounds, which came in at #2 with $14 mil, however, was butchered by the critics. And while The Tale of Despereaux did top the other animated films, coming in at #3, it only opened with $10 mil, which isn't really that impressive. Meanwhile, critics' favorite The Wrestler made $288,220 in 4 theaters, grossing more per theater than any other film.
• Disney bailed out on the third installment of The Chronicles of Narnia. The first film made its profit back domestically without breaking a sweat, ultimately grossing $745 mil worldwide. Prince Caspian, on the other hand, stalled right out of the gate, only grossing $141 mil domestically--sixty short of the budget. In the end, it could only muster $420 mil worldwide. I preferred the second film and was looking forward to the third because of Ben Barnes alone. But I guess until the franchise is picked up by a more cost-efficient studio, it'll be yet another victim of the recession.
• There are plans to remake Judge Dredd sans Sylvester Stallone. Speaking of the old bags of muscle, rumor has it that he's been chatting with his old Demolition Man co-star Sandra Bullock for a role in his upcoming star-studded action film, The Expendables. He's already locked in Jason Statham (Transporter), Jet Li, Dolph Lundgren (his old Swedish boxing nemesis from Rocky IV), and Forest Whitaker is rumored to have signed on as well. I hope he's not booking her for a girlfriend role. I think she's due for some major Demi Moore-G.I. Jane-type ass kicking.
• Katee Sackoff, cult favorite of "Battlestar Galactica," paid her dues playing second fiddle in NBC's failed "Bionic Woman," and they're rewarding her with her own series, "Lost & Found." It's about an "offbeat LAPD detective who, after butting heads with higher-ups, is sent as punishment to the basement to work on John and Jane Doe cases." Sounds kind of like "X-Files" minus the crazy.
• Lauren Velez (Lieutenant on "Dexter") has been tapped to join the cast of "Ugly Betty" as a nurse for a muder plot concerning a major character. Could they possibly be killing off her father Ignacio?

Saturday, December 20, 2008

TV's Mistletoe(-Worthy) Men

Last year on an episode of "Bones," Brennan and Booth kissed under the mistletoe, sparking blog comments that of all of the characters or actors to be stuck under the mistletoe with, David Boreanaz wasn't half bad. It inspired me to think of other TV actors worthy to be dubbed a Mistletoe Man and--while excluding Dexter, for obvious reasons--I came up with a Top 20 (in order of the night they appear):

Charles Carver
Age: Between 16-18
Mistletoe-Worthy Status: His storyline this season, where he's basically a hopeless romantic that'll fall for any rom-com plot
What to DVR: ABC's "Desperate Housewives"
Up next: Possibly going to jail when the series returns next year.

Sam Trammell
Age: 37
Mistletoe-Worthy Status: His aw-shucks demeanor and selfless acts-of-kindness
What to Rent: Season 1 of HBO's "True Blood"
Little-known Fact: Was nominated for a Tony in '98
Hot Little-known Fact: Super smart--studied at Brown University
Up next: The thriller Unshakable with Ving Rhames.

Michael Raymond-James
Age: 31
Mistletoe-Worthy Status: His character's Southern Cajun drawl
What to Rent: Season 1 of HBO's "True Blood"
Little-known Fact: Had a dialect coach for his role
Hot Little-known Fact: Has the word 'Ohana' (which is Hawaiian for "family") tattooed over his heart.
Up next: He had a guest-spot on NBC's "Life," and hopefully he'll book more.

Ed Westwick
Age: 21
Mistletoe-Worthy Status: Um...he's Chuck Bass. Enough said.
What to DVR: The CW's "Gossip Girl"
What to Rent: Season 1 of "Gossip Girl"
Little-known Fact: A lot of people are still unaware that he's British.
Hot Little-known Fact: He's in the band The Filthy Youth
Up next: S. Darko, the sequel to Richard Kelly's Donnie Darko

Zachary Quinto
Age: 31
Mistletoe-Worthy Status: His brooding wounded animal ploy and sinister voice
What to DVR: NBC's "Heroes"
Little-known Fact: He can't do the Vulcan hand sign with his right hand, since he's a lefty.
Hot Little-known Fact: He's been single for 2 years
Up next: Playing Spock in Star Trek, his first feature film.

Taylor Lautner
Age: 16
Mistletoe-Worthy Status: His Twilight character's protectiveness and nervous gestures
What to DVR: The rest of NBC's canceled series "My Own Worst Enemy"
Go See: Twilight
Little-known Fact: He's French, Dutch, and German
Hot Little-known Fact: He's a black belt.
Up next: Hopefully, the sequel New Moon.

Michael Rady
Age: 27
Mistletoe-Worthy Status: His character's modesty and stuttering speech.
What to DVR: ABC Family's "Greek"
What to Rent: CBS's "Swingtown" and The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants
Little-known Fact: He's from Philly
Hot Little-known Fact: He surfs
Up next: The drama InSearchOf.

Daren Kagasoff
Age: 21
Mistletoe-Worthy Status: He's a bad boy with a devious smile
What to DVR: ABC Family's "Secret Life of the American Teenager"
Little-known Fact: He was hand-picked for his role
Hot Little-known Fact: His dad is a diamond dealer and his mom is a designer--wedding preparations are set.
Up next: Second season of his hit series, which returns January 5th

David Boreanaz
Age: 39
Mistletoe-Worthy Status: His character's over confidence and corny jokes
What to DVR: FOX's "Bones"
What to Rent: The WB's "Angel" and "Buffy, the Vampire Slayer"
Little-known Fact: Was bullied as a child, so he became a football player in high school.
Hot Little-known Fact: Bypassed his machismo and married a Playboy playmate.
Up next: A girl's basketball drama called Our Lady of Victory.

Tristan Wilds
Age: 19
Mistletoe-Worthy Status: Those dimples, that smile...
What to DVR: The CW's "90210"
What to Rent: HBO's "The Wire" and The Secret Life of Bees
Little-known Fact: He's from Staten Island
Hot Little-known Fact: He's appeared in music videos for Jay-Z and Alicia Keys.
Up next: The drama Indelible and possibly a starring role in George Lucas' Tuskegee Airmen flick.

Ryan Eggold
Age: 24
Mistletoe-Worthy Status: His troubled eyes and anguished expressions.
What to DVR: The CW's "90210"
What to Rent: FX's "Dirt"
Little-known Fact: He continues to recur on "Entourage," as a member of Johnny Drama's show-within-the-show.
Hot Little-known Fact: Is in the band Eleanor Avenue
Up next: The comedy he co-wrote with Adam Rose (who co-starred in the last season of "Veronica Mars") called Lunchers.

Michael Cassidy
Age: 25
Mistletoe-Worthy Status: He has the uncanny ability to play both an amazing listener to his female best friend and a manipulative jerk convincingly.
What to DVR: The CW's "Privileged"
What to Rent: The CW's "Hidden Palms"
Little-known Fact: He's married.
Hot Little-known Fact: Boldly auditioned for Superman Returns, and impressed McG enough to score a role on "The O.C."
Up next: A possible Josh Schwartz ("Gossip Girl") music-oriented web series called "Rockville, CA."

Joshua Jackson
Age: 30
Mistletoe-Worthy Status: His quick wit and slick smile.
What to DVR: FOX's "Fringe"
What to Rent: The WB's "Dawson's Creek"
Little-known Fact: Screen-tested for Batman Begins
Hot Little-known Fact: Saved a drowning girl in Wilmington, while shooting "Dawson's Creek."
Up next: Rumored to be starring in Fletch Won, a sequel to Chevy Chase's infamous role.

Lee Pace
Age: 29
Mistletoe-Worthy Status: His character's humble and shy personality.
What to DVR: The last season of ABC's "Pushing Daisies"
What to Rent: Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day
Little-known Fact: He's so passionate about his work that he never broke character while on the set of The Fall as a paralyzed stunt man, and convinced the entire crew that he was.
Hot Little-known Fact: Got his bag stolen in India, tackled the thief, and got it back.
Up next: The dramatic thriller Possession with Sarah Michelle Gellar.

Simon Baker
Age: 39
Mistletoe-Worthy Status: His sly smile and charm
What to DVR: CBS's "The Mentalist"
What to Rent: The romantic drama Something New
Little-known Fact: Nicole Kidman is the godmother to one of his children.
Hot Little-known Fact: Used to surf as a teen
Up next: The kidnapping thriller Not Forgotten with Paz Vega, a Hitchcock horror adaptation The Lodger with Shane West, and an Australian war drama Last Man with Guy Pearce.

Freddy Rodríguez
Age: 33
Mistletoe-Worthy Status: His melodic voice and serene demeanor.
What to Rent: Season 2 of ABC's "Ugly Betty" or HBO's "Six Feet Under"
Little-known Fact: One of his sons played his son on "Six Feet Under"
Hot Little-known Fact: He married his high school sweetheart. All together now: awww.
Up next: The thrillers Identity and Fortuna.

John Krasinski
Age: 29
Mistletoe-Worthy Status: His sardonic humor and hilarious facial expressions.
What to DVR: NBC's "The Office"
What to Rent: The romantic comedy Leatherheads
Little-known Fact: Taught English in Costa Rica
Hot Little-known Fact: If you find height to be a deciding factor in how hot a guy is, you'll be happy to know that not only is he 6' 3'', but his brothers are 6' 6" and 6' 10".
Up next: Sam Mendes' comedy Away We Go with Maggie Gyllenhaal, and his screenwriting and directorial debut of the adaptation of Brief Interviews with Hideous Men.

Kevin McKidd
Age: 35
Mistletoe-Worthy Status: His intense stare and ability to speak volumes with just a simple phrase.
What to DVR: ABC's "Grey's Anatomy"
What to Rent: HBO's "Rome"
Little-known Fact: Studied engineering
Hot Little-known Fact: He's Scottish
Up next: The action-drama Bunraku with Demi Moore, the biopic Dylan, about the famous welsh writer Dylan Thomas, and the thriller Catwalk.

Robert Buckley
Age: 27
Mistletoe-Worthy Status: Has a way of making insecure women feel as attractive as they should.
What to DVR: What could be the last season of NBC's "Lipstick Jungle"
What to Rent: Lifetime's Flirting with Forty
Little-known Fact: Was once a chubby little tyke
Hot Little-known Fact: Used to be an economics consultant--so he can help you with your finances while looking uber hot
Up next: The straight-to-dvd scifi film Robot Battle and the western Legend of Hell's Gate.

Jeffrey Donovan
Age: 40
Mistletoe-Worthy Status: Plays a smooth and compassionate spy, who is incredibly intelligent.
What to DVR: USA's "Burn Notice"
What to Rent: TNT's "The Pretender"
Little-known Fact: Likes to garden
Hot Little-known Fact: Knows aikido and Brazilian jujitsu
Up next: 3rd season of his hit series returning Jan. 22nd

ALBUM REVIEW: All-American Rejects' "When the World Comes Down" vs. McFly's "Radio Active"

All-American Rejects' When the World Comes Down
Three years ago I ate up their sophomore album, Move Along, and was completely surprised at how many tracks I grew addicted to (and still play). But their latest is something that needs to grow on you...if you have time. For those in need of a quick AAR fix, download these:
• "I Wanna": It's as catchy as "Swing Swing."
• "Give You Hell": This is definitely a crowd-pleasing, stadium-ready hit.
• "Falling Apart": It's a perfect example of the new sound they've been fiddling with that's sort of reminiscent of what Panic at the Disco has been dishing out.

McFly's Radio Active
As their first worldwide album, the young British band makes a semi-mellow, loving debut. But I'd wait for their sophomore effort. However, until then, download these:
• "Falling in love": This is a nice guitar-driven romantic song.
• "Corrupted": I prefer it when they get crazy and loud, and let loose. And they'd probably do better on this side of the pond if they stuck to more passionate music like this.

Friday, December 19, 2008

BUZZ: "Great Gatsby" Adaptation, "Night at the Museum" Trailer, and more

• Despite the fact that Baz Luhrman's Australia didn't do well in theaters, he plans to adapt yet another epic love story, F. Scott Fitzgerald's classic The Great Gatsby.

• Stephen Chow will no longer star in and direct Seth Rogen's Green Hornet adaptation. Instead, he'll just star as Kato and leave the directing to someone else due to creative differences.

• I did not find Night at the Museum very funny, but the sequel, subtitled Battle of the Smithsonian, looks hilarious:

ALBUM REVIEW: Britney Spears' "Circus" vs. Lady Gaga's "The Fame"

I realize everyone's claiming that Christina Aguilera has been poaching 22-year-old New York native Lady Gaga's style and sound, but since she's on-the-rise to take the presently vacant throne of the Queen of Pop, I thought it would be fitting to compare her to her predecessor, Britney Spears, who is actually making a successful comeback.

Britney Spears' Circus
Last year there was a lot riding on Britney's first album attempt in four years, Black Out. She had been deeply involved in tabloid-worthy behavior (i.e. shaving her head, getting rushed to the hospital, dating a paparazzi, etc.) instead of wowing us with her dance moves and bubbly personality. While all of the singles ("Gimme More," "Piece of Me," "Radar," and "Break the Ice") were dance-worthy, that didn't exactly guarantee that Britney was, in fact, back. And her latest album, Circus, doesn't exactly prove that either.

As many critics have pointed out before, the title isn't really a metaphor for what her life has turned into--flashing bulbs and tabloid fodder--or indicative of what the tracks have to offer, but there are a few that are revealing and a few that are club-worthy. What more do you want from a recovering addict and mother-of-two? Geesh! Besides the singles "Womanizer" and "Circus," download these:

• "Out from Under" is a slightly depressing, heart-wrenching ballad. I wonder if when she goes into the studio to record songs that she hasn't written, if they ask her what she wants the song to be about or if they study up on her and give her songs they think describe her life, because this one just screams "Britney!" It's about someone who feels trapped in a relationship that's going nowhere...which kind of sounds like all of her past relationships. I think it would be awesome to interview the person who listens to all of her raw emotions and turns them into lyrics.
• "Shattered Glass": On several of the songs she sounds like her old "Lucky" self, especially this one. It's a nice mix of her emotions with dance music.
• "Unusual You": This is my favorite ballad off the album, even though it sounds like it would be perfect for a stripper slow jam. But it's actually about the wonder of new love and how it changes all the rules--her best ballad yet.
• "Mannequin": This should be her next single. It would make for a rocking dance video, where maybe she could dance more than strut and pose.

Honorable Mentions: "Kill the Lights," which incorporates paparazzi allusions, is bearable until the semi-high-pitched chorus; "If You Seek Amy," which most reviewers loved, is supposed to be a play on words--say it fast enough and it's "F-U-C-K me!"; "Blur," which explores the night-after-drinking experience, but doesn't feel as genuine since she doesn't address her drug-abuse in public; "Mmm Papi," which has a hot psychedelic beat, but gets murdered with the lyrics; "Trouble," an iTunes preorder bonus track, that's kind of catchy; "Amnesia," a UK & Japan bonus track, that is soooo 80s; and "Quicksand," a Euro iTunes bonus track, which was actually co-written by Lady Gaga, that doesn't sound half bad.

Lady Gaga's The Fame
Instead of starting out with her real name, like Beyonce, and gravitating towards a stage name, Stefani Joanne Germanotta debuted as Lady Gaga, a reference to Queen's "Radio Gaga." The Italian-American, ectropop/hip hop sensation was signed by Akon after running back-up vocals for his other artist, Tami Chynn. She's slowly rising to the top with her wild-child style and unorthodox music videos. However, there are still a few people who are on the fence about her image and her agenda, but I'm sure after they listen to her first album, The Fame, they'll start to give in, since her songs can be slightly addictive. Most of them have elements of Gwen Stefani (especially on "Summerboy") and 80s Madonna (on "Fame"). Besides her first single, "Let's Dance," download these:
• "MoneyHoney" admittedly sounds kind of like a sampling of Salt-n-Pepa's "Push It," but it's fun and could easily be added to the Shopaholic's movie soundtrack.
• "Again Again" I like because it shows that she's not just ruled by one sound, but it annoys me that it ends so abruptly. Plus, she sounds the most like Aguilera here.
• "Starstruck," which features Flo Rida, is my favorite. It has the perfect mix of electro, pop, and hip hop to make for a great club song. Maybe with this track she can seem a little less robotic on stage and wow us at the Grammy's...if they give her a shot.

Honorable Mentions: "Beautiful Dirty Rich" is danceable, "Eh, Eh (Nothing Else I Can Say)" is a very light Caribbean song, "Poker Face," the second single, and the "Material Girls"-like "Fame" are pretty catchy, and "Paper Gangsta," a Euro-track, is a tolerable attempt at rapping.

All in all, I'd say Gaga has started her career off nicely. Now all she has to do--to beat Rihanna to that throne--is gain a more active public presence and score better producers.

FILM: New in Theaters - 12/19/08

If you want to see a heart-wrenching romance starring Will Smith and Rosario Dawson, then watch Seven Pounds. The major plot is supposed to be top secret. You should stop reading if you don't want to know what I've heard. The blogosphere is reporting that Smith is playing a survivor who feels guilty for causing an accident where seven people die, and to repent he decides that he's going to choose seven ailing people to donate his organs to once he commits suicide. Unfortunately, Dawson plays a woman who needs a heart, and while unknowingly making a case for herself, he falls in love with her. He must make the hardest choice of his life--stay alive and be with her for the short period she has to live or kill himself and give her a chance to have the life she dreams of. Cue the violins.

If you want to have a laugh that is completely non-holiday related, then you should see Jim Carrey's Yes Man. In 2007's Chaos Theory, Ryan Reynolds played a guy who was sort of OCD and paranoid, and prone to freaking every time things didn't go as he planned them. His world starts to unravel and eventually, he accepts his chaotic fate and goes with the flow. This flick is adapted from Danny Wallace's autobiography, where he decided to throw caution to the wind and say "Yes" to every question and request asked of him for an entire year after a well-known history of always saying "No." So in the movie, if someone says to Carrey, "Let's get a tattoo," he has to get one. If someone suggests bungee jumping, he has to jump (which Carrey begged to do himself). You get the gist. They're slightly different films, but they have the same moral. If you let go and live a little, you just might fall in love. While it's a little difficult to believe that Zooey Deschanel (The Happening and Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy), who is half Carrey's age (they ironically have the same birthday though), would ever be interested in him in real life, her mellowed-out demeanor is a nice break from Carrey's erratic ADD slapstick.

If you or your kids are fans of Ratatouille and fairy tales, then saddle up for the animated Tale of Despereaux. I love cartoon underdogs, especially when their story focuses on prejudice...in a fun way. Matthew Broderick voices a heroic little mouse who is an outcast because of his rebellious attitude towards all things human. He doesn't fear cats or mouse traps, he befriends rats, which is apparently the equivalent of a human befriending a hobo, and aspires to be a knight--mini-sword and all. This behavior endangers his community, so they banish him. He then finds refuge in the companionship of a human named Princess Pea (voiced by Emma Watson of Harry Potter), who teaches him how to read, and Roscuro the Rat (Dustin Hoffman), who loves his tales of bravery. Unfortunately, since humans hate rats too, Princess Pea ends up shunning Roscurro, so he stages her kidnapping, leaving Despereaux to come to her rescue.

If you want to see the resurrection of Mickey Rourke in an Oscar-buzzworthy role he was practically born to play, then I suggest you find an indie-theater nearby and watch The Wrestler. Rourke plays an ailing, retired professional wrestler known as Randy "The Ram" Robinson, who decides to return for one final blow-out to defeat his longtime rival. I know, it sounds a little Rocky-ish, and I'm sure if it wins an Oscar Sylvester Stallone will be pissed. But take comfort in knowing that we were spared from Nicholas Cage scoring this role. Marisa Tomei (War, Inc. and Before the Devil Knows Your Dead), who's also slowly getting back into the big leagues, and Evan Rachel Wood are co-starring, and Darren Aronofsky (The Fountain) is directing.

If you're not interested in seeing Kate Beckinsale half-naked, vamped-out, or sporting a British accent, but you do love her endearing charm (which she showcased on "Ellen"), then I'd support the aspiring ingenue by seeing her political indie Nothing But the Truth. The film is a dramatization of the Judith Miller/Valerie Plame scandal, where Miller refused to name her CIA source for her article that exposed an unlawful American missile attack against Venezuela. Beckinsale has already been nominated for her performance as Miller by the Critics' Choice Award--her first major American nomination for a lead role.

Thursday, December 18, 2008

BUZZ: "Dark Knight" Rumors, Lautner Gains Weight for "Twilight," and more

• Twilight News of the Day: Taylor Lautner is so eager to keep his part as Jacob that he's been lifting weights and gaining pounds. He's put on 19 so far, and plans on gaining 10 more. Let's hope his upcoming meeting with Chris Weitz goes well, cause there's nothing I hate more than an actor-switcheroo mid-saga or series. I mean, how epic would Lord of the Rings have been if Sam was switched after the second film?

• Dark Knight Rumors of the Week: The working title is Gotham, Eddie Murphy has been tapped to play the role of the Riddler, Shia LaBeouf is up for Robin, and Rachel Weisz will play Catwoman. I don't know what's weirder--LaBeouf in tights or a British Catwoman.

• Connor Cruise, one of Tom's adopted kids, scored his first role as the younger version of Will Smith's character in Seven Pounds. I guess being friends with Smith does have its benefits.

• "Ugly Betty" Casting: Daniel Eric Gold (Charlie Wilson's War) has been tapped to play a love interest for Betty, who she meets at YETI (Young Editors' Training Initiative). Since he has a series regular option in his contract, there's a chance that he could stay on. So does that mean that he'll get a job at Mode or even better, will they start a mag together?

• Watch as Beyonce tries to play the angry, jealous, homicidal wife in the thriller Obsessed:

Wednesday, December 17, 2008

BUZZ: Lily & Rufus' Love Child on "Gossip Girl," "Smallville" 2009 preview, and more

• "Gossip Girl": I guess my question has been answered. According to the blogosphere, Lily didn't have an abortion, she gave up the child. Naturally, because it makes for a better plot. The poor little orphan will shake things up in April or May, and unfortunately for us, it's yet to be decided if it'll be a guy or a girl. Fingers crossed for a Serena part deux or even better...a guy that'll put Chuck's antics to shame. After all, we've already had a Georgina, it's time for the guys to show us what they're made of. Of course, we have to take into consideration that whoever this kid is, they're not exactly a kid, since Lily gave birth a few years before Serena, making the orphan either a college student or a recent graduate. Hmm. Let's just hope that whoever it is, they'll be more interesting than Aaron.

• "90210": Looks like Naomi will get over Ethan, and even her Latin lover, quick, since she's rumored to be getting a new love interest, played by Matt Lanter ("Heroes").

• "Greek": Just in case you were thinking that Calvin and his ex were getting back together, you might be sad (or happy) to learn that he'll be getting a hot new love interest as a roommate.

• Lauren Graham ("Gilmore Girls") will be starring in the Broadway revival of Guys & Dolls.

• "Smallville": Lois and Chloe will switch places, which I love because it shows how great the actors are at imitating each other. EW's Ausiello has said: "In one scene from the ep, Clark stares lovingly into Chloe's eyes, but only because he thinks it's Lois. It's at that moment that Chloe learns how hard Clark has fallen for Lois." Doesn't that mean that Lois still won't learn he's in love with her? Ugh! They are driving me nuts.

Watch a preview of next year's "Smallville" season:

TRAILER: X-Men Origins: Wolverine

Mutants Cast in the film: Sabertooth (Liev Schreiber), Wolverine's sworn enemy, Silver Fox (Lynn Collins from "True Blood"), Wolverine's first love, Deadpool (Ryan Reynolds), who is an expert marksman and a teleporter, Gambit (Taylor Kitsch from "Friday Night Lights"--he looks totally in his element), who has explosive bio-kinetic energy which he channels through playing cards, Kestrel (rapper Will.i.am), another teleporter, Barnell Bohusk (Dominic Monahan from "Lost"), who manipulates energy and electricity, and The Blob (Kevin Durand from "Lost"), who has an indestructible layer of fat.

There are also cameos by younger versions of well-known mutants, like Cyclops, Jason Stryker (William's lobotomized telepathic son), and Storm. See if you spot her--she's the white-haired kid in the trailer:

Tuesday, December 16, 2008

BUZZ: Twilight's Jacob Recast?, J.Lo's Next Project, & Andy Samberg's Album

• There are rumors that B-list actor Michael Copon (The Scorpion King and "One Tree Hill") has been tapped to play Jacob. *sigh* I'll miss Taylor Lautner and all his cuteness, but hopefully this will leave the door open for bigger and better things for him. Ironically, Ben Barnes (The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian), who I originally wanted to play Edward, is rumored to be campaigning for the role of the sinister Aro. Hmm.

• Jennifer Lopez is starring in the romantic comedy Plan B, "which centers on a single woman who conceives twins through artificial insemination (her Plan B) only to meet the man of her dreams (her Plan A) on the very same day."

• Andy Samberg and his buddies Jorma Taccone and Akiva Schaffer are collaborating on a comedic music album with Justin Timberlake, T-Pain, Norah Jones, and Jack Black that will be released Feb. 10th. I can't wait to see those music videos.

Monday, December 15, 2008

BUZZ: Alba on "The Office," Ford + McAdams, and "I Love You, Man" Clip

• For God knows what reason Mamma Mia beat Titanic's record, becoming the highest-grossing American movie ever released in the U.K. Man those Brits are hard to please.

• Jessica Alba and Jack Black will be guest-starring on the "The Office"-spinoff this January as the cast of a bootleg movie the Dunder Mifflin staff watches during work.

• The writer of The Devil Wears Prada, Aline Brosh McKenna, has written a comedy for Harrison Ford and Rachel McAdams called Morning Glory, where Ford will play a veteran anchor who quits because of the new gossip-heavy stories he has to report. An up-and-coming producer (McAdams) tries to recruit him to revive a morning talk show, but then discovers that her suggested co-anchor is his rival.

• Paul Rudd's next comedy, I Love You, Man, follows a groom on the hunt for a best man after he realizes that he ditched all of his guy friends once he got a serious girlfriend. So basically it's a romantic comedy where a straight guy goes on several "dates" with straight men to pick the lucky bastard who will stand beside him on the altar. Cue the laughter. This'll be the first heterosexual romantic comedy where the women aren't even relevant. Jason Segel (Forgetting Sarah Marshall), Jon Favreau (Four Christmases), Andy Samberg, and Nick Kroll ("Cavemen") also star. Check out a clip.

FILM: Box Office Results - 12/12/08

Aliens are taking over! Keanu Reeves' The Day the Earth Stood Still may have gotten bad reviews, but it managed to debut at #1 with $31 mil, sliding the top 5 (Four Christmases, $88 mil, Twilight, $150 mil, Bolt, $89mil, Australia, $38mil, and Quantum of Solace, $158mil) down one slot. The Hispanic family film Nothing Like the Holidays came in at #7 with $3.5 mil. I would say that it's a travesty that more people weren't interested in seeing a cultural holiday film, but I did and it really wasn't that great. John Leguizamo has been funnier and even more dramatic, and it just wasn't as good as it should've been.

The other animated flick in the top 10, Madagascar 2 moved down to #8 with $170 mil, making stiff competition for the newbie, Delgo, which barely made the top 20 and didn't even clear a million bucks. Oscar-hopeful Milk had 200 more theaters added, putting it at #9 with almost $8 mil. And rounding out the top 10 is Transporter 3, which only lasted 3 weeks in the box office and grossed $29 mil. I do not forsee another sequel in the wings.

Meryl Streep's Doubt grossed $525,000 with a 15-theater release and managed to woo the critics, while Clint Eastwood's return to the big screen in Gran Torino grossed $284,000 with a 6-theater release and an even higher score on Rotten Tomatoes. In fact, it had the highest per theater gross of the weekend. The Reader, which didn't please very many of the top critics, grossed $182,000 with an 8-theater release, but Wendy and Lucy, which was critically worshipped, opened with $28,600 in a 2-theater release. And the little-indie-that-could Slumdog Millionaire, which got 90 more theaters added, climbed up one spot to #11 with $8 mil.

Next week, Will Smith will test his star-power with the heart-wrenching drama Seven Pounds, Mickey Rourke will learn whether or not he can manage a Robert Downey Jr.-esque resurrection with the much-buzzed about Wrestler, Jim Carrey will add some humor to the top 10 with Yes Man, and another animated film, The Tale of Despereaux, will tousle with a heroic dog and wild animals for the affection of children everywhere.

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