Sunday, May 31, 2009

TV: CBS's Finales: "Big Bang Theory," "How I Met Your Mother," "The Mentalist," "The New Adventures of Old Christine"

"Big Bang Theory"
The boys go on a 3-month expedition to Antarctica for a scientific study and Penny hides her feelings about how much she'll miss Leonard. The season was steadily funny and the progression of Penny+Lenny's relationship is running as smoothly as two opposites that attract would run. There's hope for a little more romance next season, but there's no telling what the boys will return to after 3 months. Who knows? Maybe Penny will pull a Joey and land a steady gig on a soap opera.

"How I Met Your Mother"
I guess we should've expected Barney's profession of love to Robin to be unorthodox, but I was hoping for a little more emotion. It felt anti-climactic and juvenile. I did, however, like how they explained Stella's tie to Ted's future wife. Since her husband felt pity for him, he recommended him to a university that was searching for an architecture professor.Apparently, the position will lead to his wife. It was a perfect segue. Now I wonder if his future wife will be his student, his teaching assistant, a fellow instructor, or the head of the program. The student angle is kind of gross, but Ted's definitely the guy that should fall in love with someone over time, so this could be good for him.

"The Mentalist"
I'm glad they addressed the Red John case again and that they tapped into Jane's inner frustrations regarding the case. But when Lisbon told him that he was being selfish by trying to use himself as bait, I wished she would've been a little bit more specific. She kept the emphasis on how much the team needs him, but the tears welling up in her eyes were indicating differently. I always wonder whether they realize how little he values life--if they've seen where he sleeps, which is the very vacant room his family was murdered in. He may seem cheerful, but his only reason for living is to catch Red John. He was skeptical about having caught the serial killer's latest partner and I was too. I figured he'd kill himself though, not try to kill Lisbon. I guess we at least know that he wouldn't sacrifice everything in order to find Red John. Since he shot him to save her, he won't get to interrogate him. But like I said, I seriously doubt he would've said anything useful. He had a warped sense of reality. He thought he needed to cage the girl he was obsessed with to protect her from drugs and teenage debauchery. That mind wasn't stable enough to manipulate. Plus, if Jane didn't kill him, chances are Red John would've figured out a way to.

"The New Adventures of Old Chrisine"
Christine never fails to steal the show. Not only did she accidentally hook up with old Christine's engaged dad, but she occupied Richard's time on his wedding day by wallowing in self-pity. Understandably, old Christine couldn't take it anymore and bailed on the wedding. Meanwhile, Barb found a hot guy (James Lesure from "Las Vegas") to chat up with her new outlook on love. Unfortunately, he was an INS agent and she overshared to the point of revealing her illegal citizen status. Next season, should be hysterically dramatic.

TRAILERS: "The Goods: Live Hard, Sell Hard," "The Answer Man," "'77," "Mr. Nobody"

• If you liked the time-jumping romance of The Curious Case of Benjamin Button and Eternal Sunshine of a Spotless Mind, then you might like Jared Leto's Mr. Nobody.

• I love John Francis Daley (Sweets on "Bones"), so I'd give his latest film, the indie dramedy '77 a shot. It's about a guy who loves movies so much that he tries to recreate them, and one day, the day he sees the trailer for the first Star Wars film, he pretty much reaches the climax of geekdom. As his friend says, "To everyone else movies are just something to do when you're tired of real life. To you, real life is something you do when you're tired of movies." That sounds like my life, which is probably why this cross between Fanboys and Adventureland sounds like something I'd see.

• Ok, so imagine if you were one of those people who made their living by writing self-help books. Now imagine that you were filthy rich and unbelievably famous because of it. Would you go outside? Would you slap your face on the book sleeve? Jeff Daniels' character didn't, which was actually a wise decision. The fans of his book are so crazed that he's literally like the Oprah of self-help books. However, unlike Oprah, he's none too pleased to get all the attention. He's bitter, overly sarcastic, and practically a shut-in. No one's been to his home in five years. So one day, when he throws his back out, he meets a chiropractor (the grossly underused Lauren Graham of "Gilmore Girls") and suddenly has an epiphany. While he already knew that a majority of his advice was bullshit, what he realized in that moment is that he really wanted to be just as answer-less as everyone else. He wanted to be normal enough to convince Graham's character to let down her guard and accept him into her and her son's life. Olivia Thirlby (The Wackness and Juno) plays Graham's secretary, and Lou Taylor Pucci (Thumbsucker) plays a guy who discovers Daniels' address and exchanges books for exististential advice. Take a look at The Answer Man (a.k.a. Arlen Faber).

• When I first read the premise of The Goods: Live Hard, Sell Hard, I thought it was stupid. Jeremy Piven ("Entourage") plays a sleazy car salesman who has an impeccable track record. Who wants to watch a guy sell cars? Um, so I watched the trailer and I almost peed myself. With a cast that includes Ving Rhames, Kathryn Han ("Crossing Jordan"), Noureen Deulf, Ken Jeong (Knocked Up), David Koechner, Ed Helms, Tony Hale, and Will Ferrell it's no wonder it had me in stitches. The part where he gets the team riled up against the Japanese had me dying. See for yourself. The plight of the down-and-out car salesman has never been so funny.
Release Date: Aug. 14th

BUZZ: "Body Politic" promo, Bruce Willis & Tracy Morgan are "Dicks," and more

TV NEWS
• I'm a little peeved that the political dramedy "Body Politic" starring Minka Kelly ("Friday Night Lights"), Jason Dohring ("Veronica Mars"), Jay Hernandez (Nothing Like the Holidays), and Gabriel Union didn't get picked up. Watch a 6-minute preview of what looked like a pretty damn good show about 20something future politicians in DC.

Freddie Prinze, Jr. just might've scored himself a steady gig on "24."


FILM NEWS
Bruce Willis, Seann William Scott, Adam Brody, and Tracy Morgan will star in the action buddy comedy A Couple of Dicks. It's about a "maverick cop (Willis) and his partner (Morgan) who, while tracking a valuable stolen baseball card, tangle with a memorabilia-obsessed gangster and rescue a Mexican beauty (Ana de la Reguera from Nacho Libre) who holds the key to millions in laundered drug money. Scott plays a thief known as the Shit Bandit for the souvenirs he leaves at his robberies. Brody is an abrasive detective not happy to be working with Willis and Morgan." I think the fact that Brody is playing "abrasive" is funny in itself.

• Sometimes there are plots that make you go: "What?" Paper Man has one of them: "Jeff Daniels plays a middle-aged writer, dealing with both the demands of his wife (Lisa Kudrow) and an imaginary superhero (Ryan Reynolds), who strikes up a friendship with a teenager played by Emma Stone (The House Bunny)." Imaginary friend? Really Ryan?

FILM REMAKES: Alien, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Tomb Raider, Footloose, & Girls Just Want to Have Fun

Here are a list of remakes in the works:

• The producers of the Tomb Raider reboot intend on giving it Dark Knight street cred by making it more character-driven and less action-oriented. Seriously? The only part of this reincarnation I'm interested in is that it's going to be an origin story and they promise it will be more realistic. Honestly though, if there aren't at least two action scenes, I'll be pissed.

Fran Rubel Kuzui, the guy who directed the 1992 version of Buffy, the Vampire Slayer, is remaking the movie and not using any of the characters from the television series. Thanks for nothing.

• Apparently, they have butchered the Alien franchise to the point that they need to start over. Music video director Carl Erik Rinsch is rumored to be restarting the entire saga and returning to the one alien concept. A lot of Alien fans are up in arms about it, but I think it's a good idea. Anything to erase the memory of Alien vs. Predator. Anything. Relax though. Producers are saying that they don't want to piss off die-hard fans so they're setting it in a time before the first film takes place, which probably means no Sigourney Weaver.

• I appreciate how Hollywood tries to cater to teenagers by cranking out dance-themed rom-coms, but it's getting very close to overkill. First, there were rumors of Dancing with the Stars' Julianne Hough co-starring in the Footloose remake with Chace Crawford (Nate on "Gossip Girl"), and now a Girls Just Want to Have remake is in the works. It was the 1985 teen movie starring Sarah Jessica Parker and Helen Hunt, where Parker teamed up with a bad boy (Lee Montgomery) to compete for a chance to be on a dance show against her father's wishes. Why does this wreak of Miley Cyrus? You know, besides the fact that she remade the song.

Saturday, May 30, 2009

TV: Summer 2009 TV Schedule

MAY
26th, Tues.
"Mental" (FOX) at 9pm
Chris Vance (Whistler on "Prison Break") and Jacqueline McKenzie (Diana on "4400") have teamed up for an hour-long drama about a psych ward. Vance attempts to be an innovative, think-outside-of-the-box kind of therapist, but unfortunately he's the only interesting character in the series...but barely. The story is dry and mundane. I'm glad Vance is in the market for a series, but he should maybe stick to more supportive roles.
Watch the pilot if you missed it.

30th, Saturday
"Pushing Daisies" (ABC) at 10pm
The network did us fans a solid by showing the rest of the season this summer, and giving us a little closure in the form of three more episodes. Tune in for a major development!! Alright, I'll tell you. Ned can't revive the dead anymore. dum-Dum-DUM!!!!


JUNE
4th, Thursday
"Burn Notice"
(USA) at 9pm
Last season Michael got from under the organization, which seemed like a genuine victory. However, without their protection, he's being hunted by old spy enemies and investigated by Detective Paxton (Moon Bloodgood from Terminator Salvation) of the Miami police. She could be a thorn in his side...or in Fiona's, depending on whether the sparks fly between them. Fi will have her own troubles to worry about by the end of the season, when an Irishman (Paul Blackthorne as Shane on "Lipstick Jungle") with a grudge starts to hunt her down.

"Royal Pains" (USA) at 10pm
The network has mastered unusual police procedurals and now they're veering into medical content. In this dramedy, a young doctor (Mark Feuerstein from "Good Morning, Miami") gets shunned after being blamed for the death of a hospital trustee. His last resort to salvage his career is to become an on-call doctor for the rich and aimless in the Hamptons. I pictured drug overdoses, botox treatments, and breast implant complications, but that's only half the cases he has to work on. Also in the cast are Paulo Costanzo ("Joey"), Jill Flint ("Six Degrees"), Campbell Scott ("Six Degrees"), and newcomer Reshma Shetty. Watch a pretty funny preview below and a few other clips here.



"The Listener" (NBC) at 10pm
Toby Logan (Craig Olejnik from "Runaway") is a 24-year-old telepathic paramedic. With his buddy Oz (Ennis Emmer), he cruises the streets helping others and working through his own issues. Detective Marks (Lisa Marcos from "Flashpoint") and his ex-girlfriend Olivia (Mylene Robic), an E.R doctor, convince him to help others with his gift. While it is difficult to work through the visions and process the emotions, he finds comfort along the way as he saves people and meets others with equally interesting gifts. The true mystery lies within his past, since he was an orphan and has no memory of who his parents were. Watch previews.

8th, Monday
"The Closer"
(TNT) at 9pm
Since Daniels transferred to a different department, Gabriel has to pull double-duty. Perhaps, the pressure gets to him, because he's eventually investigated for shooting a suspect. Pope tries to understand how Brenda runs things by joining the team on an assignment, which obviously ruffles her feathers. Meanwhile, Provenza starts mysteriously acting more surly than usual. Word is he has a new girlfriend.

"Weeds" (Showtime) at 10pm
I haven't seen the last season yet, so take a look a the new season for yourself.

"Nurse Jackie" (Showtime) at 10:30PM
Edie Falco, the lady, who outgrew her "Sopranos" success when she had an incredibly funny guest starring role on "30 Rock," has scored her own dramedy. She plays a strong-willed New Yorker who balances "a hectic work life with a complex personal life, all the while fighting the health care system along the way." Also in the cast are Peter Facinelli ("Damages" and Twilight) and Haaz Sleiman (The Visitor). Check out an incredible preview of not your average medical dramedy below and watch the pilot here.

14th, Saturday
"Kings"
(NBC) at 8pm
I'm so bummed. I was looking forward to seeing the rise of the new king and perhaps even Jack accepting his homosexuality. Who knows? Maybe we'll get to since the network will air the 7 remaining episodes of the season. Fingers crossed for an epic finish.

14th, Sunday
"True Blood"
(HBO) at 9pm
Sookie finally puts her powers to good use when she helps Dallas vampires find their lost companion, who might've been kidnapped by humans, on the one condition that they be turned over to human law enforcement rather than subjected to vampire justice. In other news, Sookie is none too pleased that Bill has to care for the girl he turned and the shit hits the fan when she realizes what he did to her crippled, child-molesting uncle. Jason accidentally involves himself in a vampire-hating, religious cult. Sam has to decide whether or not he's going to leave town because of the shapeshifting Maryann. Meanwhile, Tara hangs out with her coven of orgy-having puppets. Most of the suspense lies in what's happened to Lafayette, the mystery around the dead body found in the sheriff's car, and the identity of Sam's newest waitress (Ashley Jones from "The Bold and the Beautiful"). Watch previews.

16th, Tuesday
"HawthoRNe"
(TNT) at 9pm
Jada Pinkett Smith returns to television after 15 years as a doctor who must handle her hectic work schedule and cope with her husband's death. Also in the cast are Michael Vartan ("Alias"), Suleka Mathew ("Men in Trees"), Christina Moore ("90210"), and newcomers David Julian Hirsh and Hannah Hodson. Watch a sneak peek.

20th, Saturday
"Eli Stone"
(ABC) at 10pm
ABC may have canceled it, but they have the decency to finish off the season this summer. His aneurysm is gone, but are his visions?

21st, Sunday
"Merlin"
(NBC) at 8pm
In this 13-part miniseries flown over from the UK, set in the mythical city of Camelot, we learn of the magical stories of young Merlin (newcomer Colin Morgan) and the incredible adventures of young Arthur (newcomer Bradley James) before he became king. When Merlin's mom sends him away to start a new life, he discovers a place ruled by King Uther (Anthony Head from "Buffy, the Vampire Slayer") where using magic is punishable by death. But once he meets the Great Dragon, he realizes that it's his destiny to use his magic to protect the future king without his knowledge. Through their journey, they meet young Lancelot before he becomes a knight, encounter mystical creatures, discover Excalibur, and form an everlasting friendship. Watch a 4-minute preview.

22nd, Monday
"Secret Life of an American Teenager"
(ABC FAM) at 8pm
Ben starts to get jealous of Ricky's frequent visits where he's all alone with her (and their baby) in her bedroom. Meanwhile, Amy struggles to juggle motherhood, an unstable relationship, and high school. Take a peak at Ben's mounting jealousy.

"Make it or break it" (ABC FAM) at 9pm
It's a teen series about a group of competitive athletes who are training and preparing for the Olympics. The new girl has to figure out how to fit in and stick out. It stars Chelsea Hobbs ("Pasadena"), Cassie Scerbo (Bring It On: In it to Win it), Zachary Abel ("Secret Life of an American Teenager"), Candace Cameron Bure (DJ on "Full House"), Josie Loren (17 Again and Hatching Pete), and newcomer Ayla Kell. Watch a preview.

24th, Wednesday
"The Philanthropist"
(NBC) at 10pm
A billionaire (James Purefoy from "Rome") playboy reforms his reputation by using his funds and risking his life to help those who are in need, whether it's personally transporting vaccines or saving drowning children. Also in the cast are Neve Campbell (Scream) and Jesse L. Martin ("Law & Order" and Rent).


28th, Sunday
"Hung"
(HBO) at 10pm
In this new HBO comedy, Thomas Jane (The Punisher) plays a well-endowed former high school basketball star who became a coach. Unfortunately, he's not exactly rolling in dough, so he gets the brilliant idea to whore himself out. Of course, it's not as easy it looks and he's not exactly the best lover...cue the laughs. Anne Heche is also in the cast. Watch a sneak peek.


JULY
7th, Tuesday
"10 Things I Hate About You"
(ABC FAM) at 8pm
You remember this movie right? The one that put the late Heath Ledger on the map? Well, someone had the brilliant idea of making it into a TV show. The film was a modern adaptation of Shakespeare's Taming of the Shrew. The entire premise revolved around a younger sister getting two guys to pay and assist an outcast in wooing her older sister so that their overbearing dad would allow her to date one of them. The series starts earlier in the Stratford sisters' lives as they are starting high school. Kat ambitiously endeavors to "save the world and get out of high school as fast as she can, while Bianca wants to climb the ladder of high school popularity as fast as possible." Check out the cast breakdown and watch a preview.

10th, Friday
"Eureka"
(SCI FI) at 9pm
It's been a while since we've seen the series, but if you recall Nathan risks his life to save the town and his family, leaving the possibility of the future existence Sheriff Carter saw with Allison to be plausible. Meanwhile, Carter loses his job as sheriff and Allison discovers she's pregnant with Nathan's baby. Watch a preview of all the wild and crazy events that'll happen this season.

12th, Sunday
"Entourage"
(HBO) at 10:30pm
The boys reunited after a brief bromantic spat, and they're regrouping to rehabilitate Vincent's career. He scored himself a role in Scorsese's next film The Great Gatsby. Also there's rumors that Ari's main bitch Lloyd is looking to rise in the ranks whether it's at his agency or another. Take a look.

"Drop Dead Diva" (LIFE) at 9pm
"The show tells the story of a beautiful-but-vapid model wannabe, Deb (Brooke D'Orsay from It's A Boy Girl Thing), who has a fatal car accident and suddenly finds herself in front of Heaven's gatekeeper, Fred (Ben Feldman from "Living with Fran" and Coverfield), who declares her a self-centered "zero." Outraged, Deb attempts to persuade Fred to return her to her shallow existence but is accidentally relegated to the body of the recently deceased Jane Bingum (newcomer Brooke Elliott). A brilliant, thoughtful and plus-size attorney with a loyal assistant (comedian Margaret Cho), Jane has always lived in the shadow of her more comely colleagues, whereas Deb has always relied on her external beauty. Now, by a twist of fate and a bolt of divine intervention, Deb must come to terms with inhabiting Jane’s plus-size frame in the ultimate showdown between brains and beauty." Watch a preview.

15th, Wednesday
"Leverage"
(TNT) at 9pm
I sort of like this quirky Robin Hood-type action comedy, but they got a little heavy at the end of the season with Nathan's alcoholism. Luckily, the other characters keep it light and fun. My favorite is Harper, so the more scenes and lines they give her, the happier I am. They're sure to return this season with even more heists and personal agendas.

"Dark Blue" (TNT) at 10pm
Dylan McDermott ("Big Shots") found himself a new TV gig--this time on cable. He plays the head of an undercover police team, but he has a shady past that might interfere with his cover. Also in the cast are Logan Marshall-Green (Trey on "The O.C."), Nicki Aycox ("Over There"), and Omari Hardwick ("Saved").

"Warehouse 13" (SCI FI) at 10pm
Two Secret Service agents, played by Eddie McClintock ("Bones" and "My Boys") and Joanne Kelly ("Vanished"), who save the president's life get rewarded with a new post at the top-secret Warehouse 13, where they are "now responsible for the collection of every supernatural and unexplained item that the U.S. Government has ever collected. They must safeguard the warehouse itself, monitor the items within, and be always on the lookout for strange events that indicate another item to be retrieved, cataloged, and stored." Watch a clip.

18th, Saturday
"Dirty Sexy Money"
at 10pm
The tumultuous Darlings clan get their final days in the sunlight.

21st, Tuesday
"Ruby & the Rockits"
(ABC FAM) at 8:30pm
It's a series about a family of musicians helmed by both David and Patrick Cassidy. It also marks the return of 20-year-old Alexa Vega of Spy Kids fame. And the eye-candy du jour is Austin Robert Butler of "Zoey 101." Check out a preview.


AUGUST
7th, Friday
"Monk"
(USA) at 9pm
It's the last season and I hope they finally solve Trudy's murder case. One thing we can look forward to is the return of Sherona, his original caretaker. That shouldn't be awkward.

"Psych" (USA) at 10pm
Last season, Sean had a huge serial killer case that almost cost him his mom. We witnessed a little dramatic acting, and then we were treated to a sweet scene between him and Juliet. She finally asks him out. Unfortunately, he was already on a date with Abigail (Rachel Leigh Cook), his childhood crush, so we'll have to see who he chooses this season. While we wait, I'm sure Sean and Gus will continue their highly amusing spree of childish shenanigans.

TV: Cast of ABC Family's "10 Things I Hate About You"

Kat (the rebellious older sister) = Julia Stiles = Lindsey Shaw ("Aliens in America" and "Ned's Declassified School Survival Guide")


Bianca (the naive younger sister) = Larisa Oleynik ("3rd Rock from the Sun") = Meaghan Jett Martin (Camp Rock)


Patrick Verona (crushes on Kat) = Heath Ledger = Ethan Peck (French hottie in the Olsen twins' Passport to Paris)


Cameron (crushes on Bianca) = Joseph Gordon Levitt = Nicholas Braun (Disney's Minutemen)


Michael (Cameron's bff) = David Krumholtz ("Numb3rs") = newcomer Kyle Kaplan


Chastity (Bianca's bff) = Gabrielle Union (Bad Boys II) = Dana Davis (Monica on "Heroes")


Joey Donner (the douche) = Andrew Keegan ("7th Heaven") = Chris Zylka ("Hannah Montana")


Mandella (Kat's bff) = Susan May Pratt (Drive Me Crazy) = Jolene Purdy ("Do Not Disturb")

Watch a preview.

Thursday, May 28, 2009

MUSIC: Bands Reuniting: Blink 182, No Doubt, Creed, Limp Bizkit, Sugar Ray

Which band reunion are you most excited about?

Blink 182 - 27%
Creed - 12%
Limp Bizkit - 6%
No Doubt - 23%
Sugar Ray - 4%
None of them should reunite - 31%

Music lovers everywhere chose Blink 182 as the band they want to see reunited. Let's see what they're all up to:

Blink 182
The group took a hiatus after rumors of inner quarrels and some of the members joined other bands. Now they've reunited with promises of a new single and a world tour this summer, and a brand new album due out early next year. The tour will consist of Fall Out Boy and Weezer, and will start July 24th. Angels and Airwaves fans shouldn't fret though. Tom DeLonge intends on keeping his commitments to that band as well with a new album set for 2010.

No Doubt
They've already started making the rounds on daytime and late night television, and this summer they're going on tour with Paramore, The Sounds, Janelle Monáe, Bedouin Soundclash, Katy Perry, and Panic! at the Disco. With a purchase of a ticket, concertgoers are given the entire No Doubt music collection. Expect their new album to hit stores in 2010.

Creed
The band broke up after their third album. So far all the members are returning for a reunion tour this August. The new album has an undetermined date that falls somewhere between August and September. One thing's for certain is that the title reflects everything they've gone through: Full Circle.

Limp Bizkit
After a directing stint (The Education of Charlie Banks and The Longshots), Fred Durst and his band are reuniting because they are "disgusted and bored with the state of heavy popular music." That kind of sets the bar high for them, but they've always been a cocky bunch. The new album, dubbed Hatorade, will come out some time this year, and their North American tour will start in July.

Sugar Ray
The band wasn't exactly broken up as they were piggy-backing off of old tracks for the last 6 years. Their new album hits iTunes July 21st and they've comically named it Music for Cougars.

Most of you didn't actually want any of the bands to reunite, but I'm genuinely excited about No Doubt's return. Here's a list of my favorite tracks/videos:
• "Spiderwebs"
• "Just a Girl"
• "Ex-Girlfriend"
• "Simple Kind of Life"
• "Hella Good"
• "Hey Baby"
• "Underneath It All"

and the #1 song in my heart: "Don't Speak"

TV: FOX's Finales: Bones, Fringe, Lie to Me, Prison Break, Terminator

Bones: I felt misled. They said that Bones and Booth getting it on would not be a dream, a fantasy, or a hallucination. But Bones writing the story of her and Booth being a married couple and owners of a bar called The Lab is just as fake as any of those other options. It's not satisfying to see them happily together if they're not even actually themselves. However, it was interesting to see pretty much every character, including all the potential interns and even Zack, involved in the plot, portraying essentially caricatures of themselves--Sweets as a bartender, because they are like psychiatrists with alcohol, and Hodgins as a fiction writer, since he has such a wild conspiracy theory imagination. OMG! I almost forgot. He wakes up from surgery with amnesia. He forgot her. Next season should be interesting, since they'll have to reform their awesome bond.

Fringe: I knew it!!! I knew that the whole idea of other dimensions would eventually explain what's so peculiar about Peter. When it was first stated that Peter had died and the creepy, bald-headed man who appears at every odd incident was the one who helped Walter save him, I knew that there had to be more to it. Then, in this episode, when they mentioned the idea of taking the place of your double by traveling to another existence, I realized that it's possible that Peter isn't from this reality, and it was confirmed when we saw his tombstone. (So creepy.)
As for Olivia going to the other dimension to meet William Bell, my interest is a little peaked. But I'm more interested in the idea of the drug that was injected into her as a child being "activated," and the effects it'll have on her. Will it make her superhuman or will it destroy her and everyone within an unsafe distance? [On a side note: I liked the nice touches of Obama still being president in this alternate universe, and the Twin Towers still existing. Perhaps this other world is a utopia.]


Lie to Me: Normally, after a full season, characters we were quickly introduced to develop into more complex individuals. By the end of this series' season, Dr. Lightman inefficiently hid his feelings for his partner Dr. Foster, while she finally realized her recovering-alcoholic husband was cheating on her. Eli, the compulsive truth-teller, lied for the first time in a long time and lost everyone's respect. And Ria pushed Lightman off the pedestal she had him perched on in her mind after he hid the fact that her boyfriend had been injured so she'd finish a case with a clear head. But while all of this was necessary and appreciated, the coolest development had to be the addition of Mekhi Phifer's character Agent Ben Reynolds. He brought just the right amount of danger, angst, and knowledge that the series needed. Everyone else is so faintly emotional, but there's no mistaking his determination and commitment.


Prison Break: L-A-M-E!! I know most of you had christened this series lame since the second season started to taper off into absurdity, but the fact that Michael dies--from a cerebal syndrome no less--was the final straw...literally. It ended with Sarah bringing their four year old, who bears his name, to his grave, where Lincoln, Sucre, and Mahone were paying their respects. They all get to live and he dies. You have got to be kidding me. What's even more surprising is that the person who clears their name for good and gives them the perfect lives they've always desired was Kellerman (Paul Adelstein), the senator's lapdog who tortured Sarah and then saved her life. Lincoln settled in some tropical place with Sofia, and LJ reluctantly attends college. Sucre lives with his wife and his beautiful little girl. Mahone is on good terms with his ex-wife, even though their son was brutally murdered by the Company, and he's dating his ex-partner, who helped him escape more than once in the past. And since C-Note was their random connection to Kellerman, we got to see that he too is living comfortably with his family. Don Self, the agent who initially double-crossed them, became a vegetable after an operative heavily drugged him. And it turns out the Scoffield's adopted Lincoln after his parents died while working for the Company, and he's not really Michael's brother. Luckily, Michael loved him more than he loved his mom, so when she tried to shoot him, it was okay that Sarah shot her dead. Lastly, T-Bag went back where he belonged, into the clink. Bittersweet, but fitting. The only loose-end that I didn't appreciate them not tying up was Gretchen. She got shot half way through the season and it was presumed that she was sent to prison in Miami, but I would've preferred that she got a happy ending, especially since Mahone and Kellerman, who became a congressman, got one. I always wanted her to end up with LJ even though there's probably a 10-year age difference between them, but she took a shine to him and he understood her pain. Ultimately, the entire series deserves a C+ for a solid effort and decent ending.

Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles: I was really surprised by the series finale when John ended up in the future face-to-face with his father, his uncle, and what could possibly be a human Cameron. That storyline had so much potential for drama, action, and possibly even romance. Who knows, maybe they'll use it in the upcoming film trilogy.

TV: ABC's Finales: Castle, Desperate Housewives, Grey's Anatomy, Lost, Ugly Betty

Castle: The plot thickened. Castle uncovered something major about Kate's mother's murder. It wasn't a fluke. She was targeted and it was pre-meditated. As for their budding relationship, he has a little more competition now that her ex-boyfriend, Agent Sorenson, is back in town and milking his hospital stay.

Desperate Housewives: I'm glad Dave didn't kill MJ. That would've been horrific. And I'm also happy that it brought Susan and Mike closer together. Whether it's close enough for them to have gotten married again, I'm not sure. Maybe he didn't really ditch Katherine at the airport and her life doesn't suck. Maybe. Lynette learning that she's pregnant with twins really blew my mind. That woman is like a baby factory. How are they going to afford having those two kids and paying for both Tom and the twins' college tuition? They better win the lottery. I do, however, like Tom's great idea to learn Chinese do he can start selling ads in international markets. It's about time he did something helpful. If it wasn't for his brazilliant idea to have sex for an entire month, they wouldn't be in the predicament they're in right now. Bree's storyline is the most scandalous. She's fallen in lust with Susan's ex, Karl, and intends on having an affair with him as long as Orson continues to blackmail her into staying in their marriage. Meanwhile, Gabrielle and Carlos have taken in a relative of his who happens to be a teenage boy-magnet and a bad example for the little girls. Can't wait till Gabby puts her in her place.

Grey's Anatomy: OMG! It was epic. It was epically epic! lol I could really care less about Izzie. No offense. I love the girl, really. But she's like the dying person in a horror movie, who milks their death scene. As it turns out, a season-long death warrant isn't actually that interesting. I did, however, love that she allowed Alex to unload all of his frustrations on her because they thought she wouldn't remember, since she kept losing her memory every few minutes after Derek removed the tumor completely. Unfortunately for Alex, who cutely asked afterwards, "Did you forget yet?", the side effect of the surgery wore off and she could remember consistently from then on. And even more unfortunately for Alex, he only had but a few minutes celebrate before she flatlined. I was also slightly disinterested in the chief and Arizona's tug-of-war over Bailey. She had to choose between General Surgery and Pediatrics, and she ultimately chose GS. It turns out her husband gave her an ultimatum and she decided to divorce him, which means she couldn't dedicate two years of long hours if she intends on acquiring full custody of her son. Then there was Mark's lame attempt to get Lexie to move in with him and then ultimately deciding he would start creating a future with or without her by buying himself a house. Then there was Meredith and Derek's decision to post-pone their City Hall wedding by temporarily writing their vows on a post-it note and signing on a drawn line. Lastly, after seeing the torture Alex was going through trying to salvage his relationship with Izzie, Christina decided to jump head-first into a relationship with Owen. He tried to go back to war after a brave soldier opted to sever his pain-stricken leg and replace it with a prosthetic in order to go back to war, but Christina begged him not to, and then she convinced him to finally tell his mom he was back. All of that was great, but the epic moment had nothing to do with them. Nope!! It was all about George! George. The guy who's been completely ignored this entire season in order to squeeze in Mark+Lexie, Owen+Christina, and Cali+Arizona moments. That guy's storyline blew me away. After being trained in trauma by Owen for the last couple of weeks and helping him with the brave soldier, he made a decision to enlist. Yes, that's insane, but that's not what was epic. It was the John Doe that was carted into the ER because he pushed a pedestrian out of the way of a wreckless bus driver and ended up being dragged half a block. His face was swollen, there was bleeding in his cranium, and several other injuries that needed to be treated immediately. After Cali, Meredith, and Bailey were informed that George was going to war, they decided to schedule an intervention for before he clocked out at the end of the day, but the chief had given him the day off so he could spend it with his mother who would surely miss and worry about him. So while everyone hadn't seen George ALL day, no one thought for one second that he could be the patinet lying swollen and too destroyed to speak or hold a pen. The big reveal was done at the end when he traced 0-0-7 on Meredith's palm, the nickname that Alex gave him after he killed a patient. She freaked and ran to all of the attendings, screaming "It's George!!!!" I couldn't freaking believe it. What's worse is that he flatlines on the OR table at the same time that Izzie does, and we see her enter an elevator in her prom dress--the dress she wore on the day Denny died--and the elevator door opens to a view of George in his military uniform. The both of them on death's door. Who will die is the major question? I think neither of them will. I know there's been plenty of buzz that both actors want off the series for bigger and better things and more screen time, but there are a few things that make me pretty certain it isn't going to happen. For Izzie, it's the fact that she's made Alex a better man. Maybe her death could give him an interesting storyline of going down a dark path after so much pain, but her recovery could also provide a different type of love story that the other couples aren't experiencing. And as for George, the girl he saved, well, she's pretty much dubbed him her Prince Charming. Her knight in white. It's about time George had a love interest and some much deserved screen time. However, since his face is destroyed, there's talk of another actor replacing him after facial reconstruction. Woa!

Lost: Wow! I've never loved Juliet more than I did after this episode. Jack's plan to continue Daniel's expedition to nuking the island in order to prevent the future almost didn't happen. He dropped the nuke into the hole, but it didn't detonate. The magnetic energy was released and all the metal objects around the hole started to get sucked in, which includes the drill, the cars, the weapons, and the chain that wrapped itself around Juliet and dragged her in. Kate and Sawyer heartbreakingly failed to pull her out, and it was believed that she fell to her death. But we were shone that she woke up at the bottom of the pit, right next to the bomb. Instead of screaming for help or waiting to die, she out-badassed Kate (and even Sun), and raged at the bomb while pummeling it with rocks. Then, boom. All white. While that was my favorite part, the most interesting occurence had to be the moment we saw that John Locke had never risen from the dead and the man who said he was John was actually semi-introduced to us in the beginning. He was Jacob's ultimate enemy, the man who endeavored to find a loop hole in order to murder him, and apparently that loop hole was to convince a vengeful Ben to do it for him. Success. Jacob is supposedly dead, but he didn't die before telling faux John that "They're coming." Perhaps he was referring to the lost-in-time characters. Either way, this just got way more interesting. Who is this guy? How did he impersonate John? Why did he want Jacob dead? For the last question, I get that he wanted to stop him from bringing people to the island--the way in which he did that, by the way, was so awesomely depicted--but why did he care? Is the fact that Jacob wore white in the beginning and this mysterious man wore black symbolic of something? Could this dark figure be the myst that can manifest its self into any person? And was he the one who impersonated Ben's daughter in order to better control him? So many questions, and yet only one season left to the series. But according to the text promo for next season, "Destiny will be found."

Ugly Betty: I was super excited about Henry's return (although I would've preferred Gio), but I'm bummed that it lead to what I believe was the most unnerving double cross in the history of the series. Matt was heartbroken when he saw Betty kiss Henry goodbye--after they realized they would never stop loving each other--and because she dodged all of the opportunities he gave her to confess. So even though he suddenly had a professional reawakening as an artist, he decided to take his dad's job offer at Mode. But last we heard there was only one job opening at Mode and Betty got it. So does that mean he stole her job? He said he would be her boss though, so I'm not sure. Either situation is so vindictive and petty and...Mark and Amanda should help Betty bring his flaky, unreliable, indecisive ass down. Speaking of devious, I can't wait till Wilhelmina tracks down Connor. She needs to get more leverage at Meade, now that Claire is the Queen B. On a sad note, Daniel's storyline was sooooo heartwrenching. I really liked Holly and I didn't want her to die, but I appreciated how he saw her spirit when he won the magazine award--so romantic. My other favorite scene was when Marc took Justin aside and cheered him up after he was rejected from Laguardia, the one school he could go to where he wouldn't feel ashamed about being gay. I'm glad he's going to public school in Queens though. Someone needs to teach them, and all the kids watching, how to be fierce.

Tuesday, May 26, 2009

TV: NBC's '09 Finales: Chuck, Heroes, Life, The Office, 30 Rock, FNL, and Parks & Recreation

Chuck: Chuck finally got the Intersect out of his brain, but in order to escape the lair of a new mysterious organization after Bryce was killed and Sarah and Casey were captured, he downloaded an altered version of the Intersect into his mind. Only after it was done did everyone realize that the alteration was that now he is allowed to upload...which basically means that everything he didn't know how to do before, he can learn in seconds. Martial arts. Languages. You name it, he can master it. That promises for an interesting season next year now that he can save himself and he'll technically be their equal. Other interesting components of the next season is the fact that Captain Awesome knows he's a spy, his father is hanging around, Morgan supposedly moved to Hawaii with Anna, and there's a new boss in town.

Heroes: A new chapter begins and some of the "heroes" are fighting back. We've been led to believe that Sylar has been tamed, mind-warped into believing that he's Nathan, which leaves an opening for a more menacing villain. Water-girl seems to be the main cause for concern since she's murdering all the people who were involved in rounding up the heroes from this season. No word yet on whether it's because she enjoys it or if it's to protect Mika.

Life: This turned out to be the series finale. Luckily, they got around to giving us a nicely wrapped up story. Charlie succeeded in taking down the Russian, saving Dani, and he was even given control over all the dirty cops in Cali. I would wish for a 2-hr made-for-TV movie where he rounds all of them up and makes the most controversial mass arrest in the history of the LAPD, but I guess that's too much to ask for.

The Office: She's pregnant! I knew it! As soon as I heard the nurse say that they will have to do an x-ray and she has to make sure Pam wasn't pregnant first, I knew she would be. I don't know what's more enjoyable, the look of sheer glee on Jim's face or the fact that people will most likely make pregnant-bride jokes next season. lol Meanwhile, back at the company picnic, Dwight and Angela seemed to have moved past their anger towards friendship, and Michael hoped for a future with Holly after a comically sweet afternoon together. The best was when he said: "I think we're just one of those couples with a long story...when people ask how we found each other." Awwww.

30 Rock: Jack through a benefit for his organ-needing father that warranted a crapload of musical guest stars, including Mary J. Blige, Sheryl Crow, Adam Levine, Norah Jones, Sara Bareilles, and many, many more. Meanwhile, Liz somehow managed to convince people she was capable of giving relationship advice, finishing her enlightening rants with mottos like, "Not on my watch biatch" and "S that D! Shut it down!" It was a perfect mockery of archaic talk shows that range from "Maury" to "Tyra Banks." Jack said it best: "Suburban 7th graders have more sexual experiences than you do." That's sad...but true. And Tracy finally put the cherry on top of the ridiculousness that is celebrity commencement speaking. Honestly, celebrities don't deserve honorary PhD's, not unless they forked over that tuition like the rest of us.

Friday Night Lights: Coach Taylor has been offered a job on the other side of Dillon, Texas. If he takes it, he'll be up against his former team and it could cause a little strife with his principal wife. But the most important fact is that if he whips this half-assed team into shape and succeeds in destroying his former team, both Buddy Garrity and that douche Joe McCoy will have to eat crow. Can't. Freaking. Wait!!

Parks & Recreation: Leslie still hasn't made any visible progress on the pit, but she has reached an interesting point in her relationship with Mark. I think viewers were expecting him to be Jim-levels of Prince Charming, but in a span of one episode he managed to actually redefine Ryan-levels of sleaze ball. He hit on Ann while she was pissed off at Andy for unnecessarily prolonging his recovery for 2 weeks because he wanted to be pampered, and drunkenly suggested that he and Leslie have another meaningless one-night stand, which was never meaningless to her. Thankfully, he fell in the pit, possibly severely injuring himself. Paybacks a bitch. [On a side note: I loved when Andy reeled off the list of names his band had gone through. My favorites: Teddy Bear Suicide and Department of Homeland Obscurity.]

Monday, May 25, 2009

VIDEO: Jessica Biel Singing "Mad About the Boy" in Easy Virtue

Jessica Biel's period piece rom-com Easy Virtue didn't get much press and was eventually given a limited 10-theater release on May 22nd. It made less than $200 grand, but a majority of the major critics thought it was a wonderfly cheeky comedy, and I'm sure her impressive singing didn't hurt either:

TRAILER: Guy Ritchie's "Sherlock Holmes"

I love Guy Ritchie! I mean, I loved-loved-loved the gritty, bare knuckled feel of Snatch, BUT!! I was a little wary of his adaptation of Sherlock Holmes...until I saw this:

Sunday, May 24, 2009

FILM NEWS: New Moon Changes, Clooney Spy Flick, Christensen as a Magician, and more

• Apparently, they've tweaked New Moon for the big screen. Bella's supposedly more daredevilish in the film than she is in the book. Her reason for recklessness was to lure Edward back, so in order to justify Robert Pattinson's multiple appearances as an apparition, they've amped up her wild side. So expect the cliff dive and more. Also, I believe in the book we are told that the werewolves/shapeshifters murder Laurent, the evil vampire henchman of Victoria, but it isn't described. In the film, however, we will be shown an action-packed scene where they destroy him. Lastly, in the book Edward swears he'll turn Bella if she marries him, but they'll be a different ultimatum in the film. Hmmm, I wonder if it'll be to stay far-far-far away from Jacob. That would surely amp up the tension between them for the third film. And I also wonder if this'll change future scenes since their marriage is the climax of the saga. What do you think?

• It seems George Clooney figured out a way to work from home. His next film is set in Italy, where he'll play an assassin with one last job in the adaptation of Martin Booth's novel A Very Private Gentleman. His character normally avoids social interaction, but for this last assignment he infiltrates a small town, makes friends, and falls in love, which will obviously complicate his mission in the end.

Hayden Christensen has yet to find a project big enough to launch him into the Hollywood stratosphere. His potrayal of young Anakin did him no favors as most Star Wars aficionados were displeased with the first three episodes. But hopefully his next project, Mandrake the Magician, will finally get him the accolades he's been working so hard for. The title character is an underground magician and escapologist, who does insane tricks like escaping from an SUV that drops out of a plane during the Burning Man festival. The CIA is so impressed with his skills that they hire him to help one of their deep cover agents escape from a maximum security prison in 24 hours. Unfortunately, it's all a trap. The prisoner is actually a double agent who then invites him to join his crime ring. If he doesn't, not only will the CIA be on his tail, but so will the kingpin's goons.

George Clooney and Ewan McGregor are starring in the comedy The Men Who Stare at Goats, where "a down-on-his-luck reporter (McGregor) gets more than he bargains for when he meets a special forces agent (Clooney) who reveals the existence of a secret, psychic military unit whose goal is to use paranormal powers to end war as we know it." I wonder if it'll get campy.

• On what planet does the Comedy Central comedian Carlos Mencia have the acting chops to go toe-to-toe with Forest Whitaker and America Ferrara? Alright so maybe I could've started this blurb off by asking, "On what planet is Forest Whitaker funny enough to go toe-to-toe with Carlos Mencia and America Ferrara?" Either way, it's an odd trio, and the casting isn't even finished yet. The comedy is about two overprotective dads who have to put aside their differences to plan their children's wedding in less than two weeks. So they still have the groom and the wives to cast. Who would you cast to round out the hilarity?

Rita Wilson is writing (and hoping to star in) a comedy called Terms of Embarrassment, where a middle-aged couple end up attending the same college as their son. It'd be pretty hilarious if she and her husband Tom Hanks starred alongside their son Colin. It would also be beneficial to Colin, who really needs to start cashing-in on the family legacy if he ever intends on making it before his geriatric years.

• While we're on the subject of plots-wtih-potential-to-be-hilarious, there's an untitled comedy about a rich couple who lose their money on Wall Street and are forced to move in with their loser son. Again, perfect vehicle for the Hanks family. lol

• Check out the first look of M. Night Shymalan's The Last Airbender. It's actually looking kind of good.

Thursday, May 21, 2009

VIDEO: Beyonce's "Ego"

Yet another amazing dance video. I love the way she transitions from girlie sexual to gangster. Unbeliveable!

Monday, May 18, 2009

TRAILERS: Beyond a Reasonable Doubt

"High profile lawyer, Martin Hunter (Michael Douglas) has an impeccable record putting criminals behind bars and is a shoo-in for governor in the upcoming election. But when ambitious rookie journalist, C.J. Nichols (Jesse Metcalfe) begins investigating Hunter for tampering with evidence to secure his convictions, the district attorney’s perfect record is up for scrutiny."

I know, I know. It's Metcalfe. But I swear, it doesn't look that bad. Sure, he's not that great of an actor in the trailer, but the story's pretty good. The journalist fakes a crime to prove the lawyer is lying, but the lawyer's so good at faking evidence the journalist goes to prison and it's up to his girlfriend (Amber Tamblyn) to save him. It's a bit of a nail biter. This could mark the return of the former soap star-turned-cougar bait.

ON-THE-RISE: Chris and Liam Hemsworth


When I was watching Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan this weekend, I noticed a new actor who was barely mentioned during the entire publicity of the film. Chris Hemsworth played Captain Kirk's dad for about 5-10 minutes before sacrificing himself for the entire Enterprise crew. Now, the 25-year-old Australian scored the lead in the film Thor, an epic tale about the god of thunder, which also stars Samuel L. Jackson, and a role in the Red Dawn remake.


Plus his brother Liam (Knowing), just signed on to play Miley Cyrus' love interest in the adaptation of the book The Last Song that Nicholas Sparks (The Notebook) wrote for her. He'll play--and I quote--an "awesome beach volleyball player with Ivy League dreams," while Cyrus tackles the role of a girl who has to face the father who abandoned her in what will seem like the longest summer of her life. It seems like Hollywood is opening a lot of doors for these brothers.

TRAILER: "Nine" Musical

I saw a sneak peek of the Nine musical and was absolutely blown away by Fergie's singing. I knew she could sing, but damn! Then there's Daniel Day-Lewis' transformation and the Rob Marshall's (Chicago and Annie) direction. It's going to be fantastic. Here's the plot: "Famous film director Guido Contini struggles to find harmony in his professional and personal lives, as he engages in dramatic relationships with his wife, his mistress, his muse, his agent, and his mother."

Friday, May 15, 2009

TRAILER: Indie "Precious" a.k.a. "Push"

When I think of African American films, I think of crap like Next Day Air, but Precious is what an African American film should be like: a true-to-life depiction of what it's like to grow up in the slums of New York, what it's like to have dreams of escaping poverty and early responsibilities, and the constant put-downs by every person who looks down on you and (worst of all) punishes you for their own inferiority complex. Precious, which is an indie that was originally titled Push, is an inspiration to all those who are born without hope and feel no certainty that they'll ever have any. The story is about a teenage girl (newcomer Gabourey Sidibe) named Clareece "Precious" Jones, who is overweight, illiterate, and pregnant with her second child. She has one shot to make it if she enrolls in an alternative school. Paula Patton (Deja Vu) stars as her inspirational teacher, Mariah Carey as her relentless social worker, and comedian Mo'Nique as her abusive mother. Also appearing are Sherri Shepherd ("The View") and rock star Lenny Kravitz.

BUZZ: Westwick in "Wuthering Heights," Pattinson & Jackman, 2 Jekyll & Hydes, and more

• If you liked the ensemble cast feel of He's Just Not that Into You, then you'll love Valentine's Day (some of you probably for the first time, lol). Julia Roberts, Anne Hathaway, Jessica Alba, Jessica Biel, Jennifer Garner, Shirley MacLaine, Bradley Cooper and Ashton Kutcher signed up for "five slightly interconnecting stories playing out during a Valentine's Day in Los Angeles. Roberts plays an army officer on leave from Iraq on a flight to Los Angeles. Cooper, on the same flight, is a gay man whose lover is a closeted football player. Kutcher is an owner of a flower shop who proposes to his girlfriend (Alba), only to realize he is in love with his close friend (Garner) who discovers her boyfriend is married. MacLaine plays Roberts' mother, a happy retiree who reveals to her husband a long-ago affair. Hathaway is an assistant working at the biggest talent agency in town and dating a mailroom assistant. And Biel is a publicist unlucky in love who has no date on Valentine's Day." Hopefully it'll be more Love Actually and less HJNTIY, so people will like it more.

Ed Westwick ("Gossip Girl") and Gemma Arterton (Quantum of Solace) just scored the lead roles in Peter Webber's (Girl wtih a Pearl Earring) adaptation of Wuthering Heights. The project used to have Natalie Portman attached, but I guess the producers needed to cut the budget, and a TV actor and a Bond girl was all they could afford. Lucky them.

• Robert Pattinson scored a legitimately major gig. Let's be honest, Twilight is sort of a big joke in Hollywood, so the fact that he scored a gig with Hugh Jackman and Rachel Weisz for the period drama Unbound Captives is his first step in being taken seriously. It's "about a woman (Weisz) whose husband is killed and her two children kidnapped by a Comanche war party in 1859. She is rescued by a frontiersman (Jackman), while Pattinson will play the son."

• The producers of Martin Scorsese's Frank Sinatra biopic want Johnny Depp to play old blue eyes, which is certainly an Oscar bait role. But as usual Scorsese would prefer to work with Leonardo DiCaprio. I dunno. Neither of them scream Jersey crooner, but I think Depp is a closer match. Luckily, they're not looking for someone who can sing, so we don't have to worry about either of them butchering "New York, New York."

• Let's see. Would I rather watch a Jekyll and Hyde adaptation starring Keanu Reeves or one with Forest Whitaker and 50 Cent? Hmm. Such a hard decision. It's like Sophie's Choice.

Paul Walker might star in the thriller Protection, which "is about a twenty-one-year-old daughter of a Mexican judge who's targeted by mob types after she sees them kill her father and other family members. The pair must stay on the run through dodgy places on both sides of the border, while an agent tries to protect her and the bad guy is hot on her trail." I don't know why they always hire him to make scared/exasperated/determined faces. Can't he just relax for once. lol Before he starts on that project, he'll star in the bank robbing film called Takers with Matt Dillon and Hayden Christensen. That should be a change of pace.

• Alright, this looks rather promising. Lindsay Lohan is starring in a fantasy comedy called The Other Side with Woody Harrelson, Giovanni Ribisi, Dave Matthews and Alanis Morissette. It's about "a grad student who must spend the summer working at a scientific institute on a remote island. She discovers an eccentric community of characters who are hiding a secret about a tragedy that took place many years before." It...could be funny. Or in great Lohan fashion, it could suck. Hopefully, this won't put a wrench in Ribisi's career. By the time it's released, he'll have appeared in Public Enemies and Avatar, so hopefully that'll be enough to make sure it doesn't go straight-to-DVD.

Jean Claude van Damme and Vinnie Jones (Snatch) will play rival assassins who team up in the action thriller Weapon. "Jones will play a master sharpshooter while Van Damme's character is skilled with a knife. The two join forces to take down the head of a drug cartel who is backed by the DEA." Russell Mulcahy (Resident Evil: Extinction) is directing. Ever since van Damme made an unexpected comeback with the self-depracating crime comedy JCVD in 2008, he's successfully reintegrated himself into the action scene.

Philip K. Dick's novel Flow My Tears, the Policeman Said is being adapted. It's the story of a futuristic, dystopian world where a celebrity who wakes up after an assassination attempt realizes that no one has ever heard of him. Sounds more like a fantasy to me. A world where a celebrity can be forgotten. Wow! They should pick someone who can play obnoxious and outrageously offended. Maybe someone like Chris Evans, who played a publicity-obessed Johnny Storm in Fantastic Four.

• In Dermot Mulroney's (Wedding Date) directorial debut, a family dramedy called Keep It Together, "an idealistic young newlywed who is also a marriage counselor returns from her honeymoon only to learn that her parents, whom she saw as the model for a happy marriage, are getting a divorce." Ouch! Hmm, who should this unlucky girl be played by?

Thursday, May 14, 2009

TV NEWS: Hilarie Burton & Chad Michael Murray Exit "One Tree Hill"

Word is Hilarie Burton and Chad Michael Murray aren't returning to "One Tree Hill," and three other actors will fill the void they leave behind. My vote was on Julian (Austin Nichols) being one of them, so Brooke can spice things up when Haley and Nathan start to bore me. But it's been reported that "the three new faces include: Quinn, Haley's free-spirited, strong-willed older sister; Alexis, a model-actress-crazy bitch in her 20s who Brooke hires to be the new face of her clothing line; and Clayton, a young and brash sports agent who takes on Nathan as a client."

When I heard the news, I wasn't heartbroken—their story has run its course—I was actually wondering what they intended on doing with all their free time, because it's not like they're heavily-sought-after actors.

Burton is presently filming Provinces of Night, an adaptation of William Gay's romantic drama:

"The year is 1952, and E.F. Bloodworth (Kris Kristofferson) has returned to his home - a forgotten corner of Tennessee - after twenty years of roaming. The wife he walked out on has withered and faded, his three sons are grown and angry. Warren (Val Kilmer) is a womanizing alcoholic, Boyd (Dwight Yoakam) is driven by jealousy to hunt down his wife's lover, and Brady (W. Earl Brown) puts hexes on his enemies from his mamma's porch. Only Fleming (Reece Thompson from Rocket Science), the old man's grandson, treats him with the respect his age commands, and sees past all the hatred to realize the way it can poison a man's soul. It is ultimately the love of Raven Lee (Hilary Duff), a sloe-eyed beauty from another town, that gives Fleming the courage to reject this family curse."

I don't know if you noticed but there was no mention of Burton's character, so I'm assuming she doesn't exactly have a large role. Taking a backseat to Duff can't be a great stepping stone. But at least she's doing better than Murray. He doesn't even have any projects lined up and the last time he made a film was in 2006. Maybe he'll use the free time to marry his 21-year-old fiancee.

Update: This was pulled of her blog by Perez: "On the blog that I have for my production company, we're producing a web series that we're going to start shooting on Memorial Day. We've also got a television show that we're turning into a graphic novel, and we've got a film we're raising money for. I'm busy."

Tuesday, May 12, 2009

NEW SINGLE: Jennifer Lopez's "What is Love?"

The last time J.Lo had a #1 single was in 2005. Her career has been on the backburner for a couple of years now, putting her husband and her twins in the forefront. But her latest single, "What Love Is," is actually better than what she's been shelling out lately. It's a tear-jerker with a danceable beat for those slow-jamming summer nights. It's about hoping to fall in love and believing it just might never happen. It...won't cheer you up, but maybe you can relate.

TRAILER: "Gamer": Gerard Butler, Michael C. Hall, & Milo Ventimiglia

Gerard Butler stars in Gamer, a sci-fi action thriller, that reminds me of Death Race. Both films involve prisoners participating in a sport/mission for the amusement and profit of others. The warden in this film is a Southernized Michael C. Hall ("Dexter"). It takes place in a futuristic world where humans can control other humans in multi-player games. One popular game is called Slayers, where players get to control prisoners dressed in army gear as they try to survive a war zone. Logan Lerman's (3:10 to Yuma and "Jack & Bobby") character has full control over Butler's, but Butler's character has other plans. The rules state that if a prisoner survives 30 sessions, he'll be granted freedom. Butler is up to 27, a feat no other prisoner has achieved, and Hall doesn't want to lose his star player. From the trailer, I think Hall kidnaps Butler's wife (Amber Valletta from Transporter 2) and puts her in the game, making his plan of simply winning the game not enough. He begs Lerman to set him free, so he can control his own actions and take Hall down. I don't know where Milo Ventimiglia ("Heroes"), John Leguizamo, rapper Ludacris, or Kyra Sedgwick ("The Closer") fit in, but it's sure to be an action-packed, 300-meets-Black Hawk Down kind of film, especially since the boys behind Crank (Mark Neveldine and Brian Taylor) are writing and directing.



Release Date: Sept. 4th

NEW SINGLE: Jordin Sparks' "Battlefield"

I really like Jordin Sparks' new single "Battlefield." Pardon the pun, but it sounds like it could be an explosive video.

Monday, May 11, 2009

TV RECAP: "Gossip Girl": Valley Girls Prelude & Chuck as a Fairy Godmother

Valley Girls
One of GG's one-liners summed up the spinoff's premise perfectly: "If you think we're bad, you should've seen our parents." The series will indeed beef-up the scandal with drug abuse and industry double-crosses, but its most interesting tidbits were the introductions.

First off, the brunette bouffant-bearing boy in the previews didn't turn out to be a young Rufus. His name is actually Owen Campos (Shiloh Fernandez from "Jericho," who kind of looks like the product of a Chuck+Dan+Joaquin Phoenix orgy). That's not that major right? Wrong!! Because as it turns out, according to Lily's mom, he was her first love--the boy she forced her to give up in the Valley. Hmm, wonder if he'll pose a threat in the future...and I wonder if Rufus knows he was his replacement. Honestly, they're practically the same boy: a brunette, music lover with a penchant for blondes.


The second big reveal was a blonde douche who kind of resembled a Ken doll...if Ken were an asshole. His name? Keith van der Woodsen (Matt Barr, the crazed stalker on "One Tree Hill")! So either Lily marries the rich guy who took advantage of her sister Carol and refused to give up the music video he promised her (because her mother forces her to) or he has a much nicer and less threatening brother/cousin waiting in the wings. I'm hoping for the latter. Either way, witnessing the road she goes down to ultimately obtain the surname will be quite interesting...especially because she has to give up Rufus' kid before she can ever have Serena. I can't imagine what redeeming quality Keith could possibly possess to get her to marry him after sleeping with her sister and pretty much insinuating that she'd only get the music video back if she did it again.

Besides the reveals, I was totally feeling the sisterly vibe. GG is normally about female rivalries, so it was refreshing to see less catty behavior. The series setup tells us that Lily got kicked out of school on purpose so she could spend quality time with her workaholic dad, who seems to be hiding something--probably a new wife. When he rejects her attempt to move in and she realizes that her only other option is her shrill mother, she opts to drive all the way to Cali to find her sister with only $9 in her wallet. Even in the '80s that wasn't enough to survive on. Carol moved there to be an actress. We know from GG that Lily was a photographer at rock shows and that's how she met Rufus, who was in a band. We've already seen the inside of the club she'll probably meet all the rockers she'll later photograph and we saw the diner she'll probably get a job at in order to make ends meet. Consider the scene set.

I think as long as it continues with the twists and turns that hint at a future Lily, it just might garner an audience. The best part of launching a spinoff while the original is still on the air is that it entices viewers to watch both, because once you watch a young Lily, you'll want to see what she turned out like, and once you get invested in the older Lily's love life, you'll wonder what led her there. Genius.

Chuck's Fairy Godmother Act
I was pretty certain that Chuck was the one who got Blair the gorgeous black-and-gold dress and screwed up all of her other prom plans. But he swore that he wasn't trying to break them up. However, I'm sure that if it were a by-product of his desire to give her the night of her life, he wouldn't exactly be angry. lol Nate seemed to take it like a man when Blair broke up with him. Although, I'm sure he feels like an ass now cause he totally ditched Vanessa for her. But hopefully this'll open doors for fresh new faces next season cause we all know Nate "the manwhore" Archibald can't go a week without a new girlfriend.

Favorite parts:
• When Blair wanted to see the damage done to her prom dress by the dry cleaners, Derotta says in her best broken English: "This body bag--corpse not pretty."

• When Dan calls Lily to ask if Serena was ignoring his apologetic messages, unaware that she volunteered to stay in jail until her mother agreed to let her live her life, he whines: "I can't leave Serena one more message and still call myself a man...not that it's exactly manly to be calling her mother but..."

Blair at first objected to the idea of prom queen before being nominated: "We don't do prom queen. That's for suburban schools and the lame teen comedies that are set at them."

Young Lily taunts Owen with these lines when he sees her uncharacteristically dressed punk chic in her sister's clothes and he later says the exact same lines to her when they lock eyes while dancing: "Is this the moment you fall in love with me? Oh it is isn't it? You're totally falling in love with me right now!"

Next week is going to be insane!! Georgina! Carter Baizen!! And a Gossip Girl take-down!!! And don't get me started on Blair's demand for Chuck to tell her that he loves her again. It's going to be epic.