Archive: January 2009 (151-160 of 354)

Jan 20 2009 11:40 PM ET

Oscars: What's next, a McDonald's logo on the red carpet?

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Oscarsredcarpet_lHe might be made of gold, but it looks like Oscar is getting hit by the economic crisis just like everyone else. TV Week reports that this year’s Academy Awards telecast (Feb. 22 on ABC) will have a budget of just $1.4 million, down from $1.7 million last year. On top of that, ABC has decided to break with tradition and air commercials for movies during the show for the first time ever. (In the past, the ads were forbidden to avoid giving the impression that movie studios had any involvement in the ceremony itself.) The move is apparently a business decision to bring more ad dollars to the program, which netted its lowest ratings in history last year.

Movie ads are a natural fit for the show (which already takes place in the, ahem, Kodak Theatre). But we’re a little worried that Oscar might resort to the following more drastic measures if he’s really strapped for cash:

1. Product Placement
A red carpet stenciled with McDonald’s arches. A podium fromIKEA. Oscar statues spray-painted blue, a la Watchmen‘s Dr. Manhattan. The possibilities are endless.

2. Recycled Sets
Those lavish sets must cost a fortune. One possible fix? Reusing sets from the year’s biggest movies. Hugh Jackman does his monologue from Iron Man‘s lab. Best Picture is announced in the temple from Indiana Jones. And the losers get shoved into the heroin factory from Tropic Thunder.

3. Digital Music
No more orchestra, just an iPod on shuffle. The world is treated to the sight of Kate Winslet taking the stage to the poignant strains of Miley Cyrus’ "See You Again."

4. Fanvid Montages
Instead of the usual FX-laden packages of movie clips, we get those same moments reenacted by bored teenagers in sweatpants. Actually, that one sounds like fun…

Your turn, PopWatchers. Are movie ads going to save the Academy Awards? And how else can Oscar save some pennies?

addCredit(“Jeffrey Mayer/WireImage.com”)

Jan 20 2009 11:27 PM ET

EW's New Music Roundup: Antony and the Johnsons, Pete Seeger, and more

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Anthonyseeger_lWelcome to this week’s edition of EW’s New Music Roundup,aregular post highlighting the "Download This" track recommendationsfrom the latest crop of music reviews found in Entertainment Weekly.All songs are from albums that are in stores now, and most are readilyavailable via iTunes, eMusic, or similar services. Enjoy — and be sureto share with your fellow readers if you’ve got opinions on any of thefollowing albums or singles…

Antony and the Johnsons (pictured, left), The Crying Light
Genre: Rock
EW Grade: A–
Download This: "Another World"
(Check out Antony and the Johnsons online)

Andrew Bird, Noble Beast
Genre: Rock
EW Grade: B
Download This: "Fitz and the Dizzyspells"
(Check out Andrew Bird online)

Lisa Hannigan, Sea Sew
Genre: Folk
EW Grade: B+
Download This: "Keep It All"
(Check out Lisa Hannigan online)

Umphrey’s McGee, Mantis
Genre: Rock
EW Grade: B+
Download This: "Mantis"
(Check out Umphrey’s McGee online)

Staff Web Pick of the Week:
"This Land Is Your Land" at the inaugural celebration
The hands-down highlight of HBO’s We Are One broadcast on Sunday came when Bruce Springsteen was joined by folk forefather Pete Seeger (and Seeger’s grandson Tao Rodriguez-Seeger) for a choir-backed version of Woody Guthrie’s "This Land Is Your Land." Once upon a time, Seeger (pictured, right) was blacklisted in this country for speaking his mind freely. Seeing him stride triumphantly onto the Lincoln Memorial stage at age 89 to sing that song in full, including a few verses that are often left out by more timid performers, was a moment for the history books. Is there a petition we can sign to make this the national anthem?
(Watch it below)

Jan 20 2009 10:29 PM ET

Joaquin Phoenix's rap career: To believe or not to believe?

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Filed under: Movies and tagged: , , , , ,

By now you’ve probably heard about (if not seen clips of) Joaquin Phoenix’s rap performance in Las Vegas over the weekend. The would-be rapper performed three songs from his upcoming album (said to be produced by Diddy), spitting a series of stilted, robotic rhymes while rocking a beard thick enough to shelter a family of opossum. When Phoenix first announced he was giving up acting for a life in hip-hop, we all thought he was nuts. Then, when videos of him actually rapping first circulated some weeks back, we started to think it had to be a put-on . And now, after this latest performance, coupled with the announcement that Casey Affleck is shooting a documentary about the entire experience, we’re starting to wonder this whole thing is just a rather unfunny Andy Kaufman-esque stunt that will end with the release of an Affleck mockumentary. Phoenix has shown a penchant for messing with people before, like the time he told a reporter on the red carpet that he felt like there was a frog coming out of his head. And why would Affleck make a documentary about Phoenix’s transition to rapping, seeing as he only just announced that he is now a rapper, so there’s little story to document? Here at EW, we’re as puzzled as you are about this whole thing. But if that spectacle on display over the weekend, which at one point included a disheveled Phoenix falling off the stage, is a serious attempt at a new career, then the one-time Oscar nominee has us seriously puzzled.

What do you think, PopWatchers? Can this be real? Do you see any redeeming value in it as a hip-hop performance? Would you be into an Affleck mockumentary about this insanity, should that be what it’s actually about?

More on Joaquin Phoenix:
Joaquin Phoenix’s rap career the subject of debate (and a Casey Affleck-directed documentary)
Joaquin Phoenix wants to be a singer? We’ve got the perfect lead single for him!
Joaquin Phoenix: His most memorable roles

Jan 20 2009 10:14 PM ET

Pilot Season: Grade Fox's latest orders

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Filed under: Television, To Care or Not to Care and tagged: , ,

Pilot_lFox has been busy greenlighting pilots, and some are sounding more promising than others. Variety has a rundown of the latest scripts set to go infront of the lens: Weigh in below…

• Walorsky: Ordered before Paul Blart: Mall Cop took the top spot at least weekend’s box office, this comedy is said to revolve around an ex-cop who now charged with keeping a Buffalo, NY shopping mall safe. "He’s forced to start caring about his job — and not just Buffalo sports — when he’s partnered with a rookie," Variety says. Casting will be crucial, but I’m actually kinda digging a potential send-up of the cop-buddy genre. TAG (Totally Arbitrary Grade): B

• Sons of Tucson: The comedy "revolves around a hustler who’s hired by three young brothers to act as their father." Title feels a bit stale, and I’m guessing by "hustler" they don’t mean of the escort variety. TAG: C

• The Station: Ben Stiller will exec produce this comedy which "takes place in a covert CIA office in South America, where the team must install a new dictator." If it’s a send-up of procedurals and features a new mission every week, I’m in. TAG: B+

• Two Dollar Beer: I love me some blue-collar comedy, but I hate me that title. This sitcom "centers on a Detroit couple and their family and friends, all of whom must adjust to the changing world around them." That’s sufficiently generic-sounding, but it’s from The Upside of Anger writer-director Mike Binder, so there’s probably some depth. TAG: C+

• HumanTarget: Based on the DC Comics character, it revolves around a "mysterious freelancer Christopher Chance, whotakes on a different identity each week to help those in need." McG is among the exec producers (plus!), but ABC already tried to adapt the title in 1992 — with Rick Springfield in the lead (minus!). TAG: B 

• Maggie Hill: It’s a medical drama about "a female surgeon who managesto work around her schizophrenia thanks to modern medicine." I’d be more psyched if she had multiple personalities, but it’s nice to see female lead. (Also, it sounds like it could do well in repeats a few years from now on TNT.) TAG: A-

• "Untitled reincarnation project":  This drama "focuses on investigators who try to resolve their clients’current woes by solving the mysteries encountered in their previouslives." The concept sounds interesting… and confusing. How do you film that? TAG: B

Which shows receive your highest and lowest totally arbitrary grades?

Jan 20 2009 07:35 PM ET

Jay Leno to Jimmy Fallon: The bigger stars are not necessarily the best talkers

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With 41 days until he debuts his Late Night program on NBC, Jimmy Fallon is getting serious about his transformation into talk show host. The latest webisode on his show’s site finds Fallon asking Jay Leno for advice following his appearance on Monday’s Tonight Show. Fallon asks Leno if there’s anything he knows now that he wishes he knew when he first started. In case you can’t decipher Leno’s surprisingly interesting response at the end of the clip below — Leno didn’t warn Fallon that it’s best not to do an interview while a band is playing? — here’s my best attempt at a transcript: "I mean, you learn a lot of stuff. You learn that the bigger stars are not necessarily the best talkers. You know, character actors that have stories [are just as good/better]….Actually, one thing you’ll find out is there’s only about 18 people in the world that mean anything ratings-wise….Well, I mean obviously, if you’ve got, you know, Drew Barrymore or Tom Cruise, these people also make a difference. But a lot of times, people you think will be huge, not necessarily huge, so it’s up to you to try and keep it funny….Big stars look good for name value, but they don’t necessarily make the show more interesting. The show is about you more than it is about [them]. Like we’re primarily a comedy show that has guests. In the old days, we used to be a talk show….The monologue in the old days used to be three or four minutes, now it’s 12 or 13, and then you have a comedy piece, and then you have a headline, and then you have a guest….You gotta keep it moving."

I’d love to hear which stars are expected to be ratings gets — and aren’t. Any guesses?

How are you feeling about Fallon’s March 2 debut now, knowing the show is more about him than those he’ll interview?

More on Jimmy Fallon and Jay Leno:
Jimmy Fallon’s Late Night video blog: Stand still, will ya?
Jimmy Fallon to take over for Conan O’Brien in ’09
Margeaux’s Mix: The Roots join Late Night?
Jay Leno to prime time: Why NBC is doing it

Jan 20 2009 06:46 PM ET

Obama's inauguration: Freedom rings! (From the pores of Aretha Franklin's enormous bow/hat)

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We don’t exactly need an "entertainment-related angle" to blog about the Must Watch of the Week (or the Year?), the inauguration of President Barack Obama. But Aretha’s giant hat is as good an excuse as any. If you haven’t been able to watch today’s coverage on the sly at work, here’s a brief glimpse at the major moments. My favorite: confusion over where to place the adverb "faithfully." Press play for Obama’s oath and the end of his speech.

What channel are you guys on? Rachel Maddow and Keith Olbermann’s voices lured me in to MSNBC early on, but right now it’s just way too much footage of a girl hula-hooping. I can watch a Wii commercial for that crap.

Thoughts on the inauguration? Share ‘em below!

Jan 20 2009 04:20 PM ET

Michael Cera to battle Brandon Routh and Chris Evans (in 'Scott Pilgrim')

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Routhevanscera_lIf Superbad‘s Michael Cera wants to get the girl in the movie adaptation of Bryan Lee O’Malley’s Scott Pilgrim graphic novels, he’ll have to defeat Superman Returns‘ Brandon Routh and Fantastic Four‘s Chris Evans. I love it already.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Routh and Evans have been cast as two of the seven exes Cera’s Canadian slacker/wannabe rocker Scott Pilgrim will have to battle if he’s to win the heart of his dream girl (Mary Elizabeth Winstead, who played Bruce Willis’ daughter in Live Free of Die Hard). Per the trade, "Evans plays evil boyfriend No. 2, Lucas Lee, a pro skateboarder-turned-movie star, while Routh plays the third evil boyfriend, Todd Ingram, a rocker with vegan psychic powers."

Are you diehard Scott Pilgrim fans down with the casting for Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, or do you wish Universal would go back to the drawing board? I’m just happy that Cera gets to graduate high school. Scott Pilgrim is 23 when the six-volume Oni Press series begins. (Vol. 5 hits shelves Feb. 4.)

More on Scott Pilgrim and Michael Cera:
EW reviews Scott Pilgrim Gets It Together
EW reviews Scott Pilgrim & the Infinite Sadness
Cera in final talks for Scott Pilgrim
EW catches up with Cera at Sundance

Jan 20 2009 04:14 PM ET

'Momma's Boys': It's finally over

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Mindyfinney_lThe season finale of Momma’s Boys left me with more questions than answers.  Why would anyone subject themselves to this kind of torture? Why did NBC put the show on during the holidays (and not the summer)? But mostly, how much of of the show was completely staged? Yes, I know most reality TV has a planned out story line and the producers know how they want things to turn out, but this show was a bit too perfect.  It could also be that they found the perfect cast, who molded perfectly into what the producers wanted.

Of the three guys, JoJo Bojanowski had the worst mom. Like I mentioned in the first recap, it really seems like his mother wants to bed him. Sure, the producers mixed in audio bits from her first tape with things she said on "their date," but what mother says their son is "sexy, good looking, handsome, has great muscles, and great teeth." There was such a creepy undertone with every compliment she gave. I’m surprised she didn’t slip her tongue down his throat after parasailing. But JoJo was smart and knew that his mom was keeping the leash tight. Thank god he realized how messed up her actions were and basically dumped his mom for Mindy.  You have to give it to Mindy for having the guts to tell Mrs. B and JoJo that her parents brought her up to be "respectful, classy, and well-rounded."  Yes Mrs. B, that was a slam in your direction, and for everything you said on the show. Of course, Mrs. B was pissed with JoJo’s decision and didn’t want to do her final exit interview. No loss there, like we really wanted to hear more hatred spew out of her mouth.

Esther (Rob’s mom) basically chopped off his balls. At one point I thought Esther was this great, open-minded woman, and then she flipped when she saw her son falling for an African-American woman. It was only when Rob was with Camilla that Esther thought she "wasn’t right for the family" and "wouldn’t fit in." And while she approved of Lauren, she also seemed to approve of Nikki, the other white girl Rob brought to the islands.  Interesting Esther, interesting. Rob wanted to choose Camilla, but Esther’s claws sank deep and his guilt led him to Lauren. (Anyone else notice how short Lauren’s skirt was at the elimination? And when she went in for that first kiss on their date?! FAKE!) Alas, it wasn’t meant to be, as we learned that he left the islands early, sans Lauren.

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Jan 20 2009 01:59 PM ET

David Faustino's Web series 'Star-ving': Better than 'Surreal Life'?

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Filed under: Television, To Care or Not to Care and tagged: , , ,

If a celebrity is looking for a career shot-in-the-arm (or, frankly, a few extra bucks), I so prefer the self-deprecating Web series over easier and far less creative Fox/VH1 reality show humiliation. David "Bud Bundy" Faustino, having already tried the latter (2002′s Celebrity Boot Camp) is now dabbling with the former in his new Web series Star-ving, which debuted its first three episodes last week on Crackle.com. It’s a simple, predictable premise: Having been screwed out of Married With Children residuals by his invalid manager, Faustino is now a pathetic, washed-up porn store proprietor. He lays it out in the show intro: "My money’s gone, my mother’s a midget, my wife left me for my neighbor Coolio….Oh, and I’m freakishly short. Thanks, God!" Ed O’Neill stars in the first episode (embedded below), where he drops some 50 or so F-Bombs in a short couple of minutes before driving off in his Porsche and telling Faustino "Suck my d—."

 

The less-funny Episode 2 has Faustino babysitting Gilbert Gottfried’s obese, mentally handicapped 34-year-old son Sparky, and the third segment, starring Coolio, plays the wiggas-meet-Compton homeies card for all it’s worth. It’s moderately amusing, and Faustino’s co-star, and real-life friend,Corin "Parker Lewis" Nemec shows some promise (assuming you believe wiping your butt with adead plant is funny — I do). But with the O’Neil bit already done, I wonder if we aren’t already looking down the mountain on this thing. Faustino’s other Married co-stars, Katey Sagal (Peg Bundy) and Christina Applegate, are also scheduled to appear, and seeing as I’m a big Married fan, I’m on board for at least another couple of episodes. Anyone gonna join me?

Jan 20 2009 12:00 PM ET

President George W. Bush: Thanks for the (pop culture) memories!

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Say what you will about outgoing president George W. Bush, but the man certainly has left a mark on pop culture during the past eight years. As a final farewell to the man who inspired the entrance of words like "strategery" and "truthiness" into the national lexicon, here’s our best reckoning of all the movies, TV shows, music, books, and various cultural flotsam that Dubya has caused, influenced, or simply infused with that certain Bushian je ne sais quoi. (Yep, it’s officially okay to use French again!) But tell us, our fellow American PopWatchers, what did we forget? –Compiled by Saba Mohtasham, Adam B. Vary, and John Young

2000

Oct. 7: Saturday Night Live — Will Ferrell, as George W. Bush, is asked in a presidential debate skit to sum up his campaign in one word. He chooses "strategery."

2001

Jan. 8: George W. Bushisms — The first edition of Slate.com’s paperback series documenting "the accidental wit and wisdom of our 43rd president" debuts before Bush’s inauguration. Sample: "I understand small business growth. I was one."

April 4: That’s My Bush — South Park creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone’s short-lived sitcom set in the Bush White House debuts on Comedy Central, starring Timothy Bottoms as the commander-in-chief.

2002

Mar. 14: Journeys With George — A documentary directed by Alexandra Pelosi (daughter of future Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi) chronicles her time covering the Bush campaign during the 1999/2000 primary season.

July 23: "Son of a Bush" — The hip-hop outfit, Public Enemy, devotes a track of their Revolverlution album to the president. The song’s refrain: "He’s the son of a baaaaaad man."

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