Archive: January 2009 (241-250 of 354)

Jan 12 2009 11:00 PM ET

'Evolution of Dance 2': Still grooving?

by
Tagged: , , , ,

Hey, would you look at that? Judson Laipply — a.k.a. that one guy who can do reasonably passable impressions of a bunch of popular dances, a.k.a. that one guy who somehow got over a hundred million YouTube views for a clip of him doing these impressions — has a new YouTube video! It’s called "Evolution of Dance 2," natch, and [SPOILER ALERT] it features Mr. Laipply doing some more okay-for-an-office-Christmas-party-quality dancing. He debuted his latest routine on the Today show this morning (embedded below, in case you missed it). The Today producers even did a Q&A with Laipply, wherein the auteur explored his "creative process" and teased the possibility of…wait for it…an "Evolution of Dance 3." Is your mind not blown?

But don’t mind jaded ol’ me. What do you think of the latest step in Judson Laipply’s evolution? Click through to the jump for the full list of songs to which Laipply busts moves and let me know if I missed anything on account of being distracted by the rug-cutting brilliance.

READ FULL STORY »

Jan 12 2009 10:30 PM ET

Clip du jour: Coronet Instructional Films

by
Tagged: , , ,

Would you have been popular in the 1940s and ’50s? Judge for yourself via a video from Coronet Instructional Films. The company made educational films for teenagers during the mid-20th century, and they’re now in the public domain.The clips are hilariously outdated, like my personal favorite: ”Are You Popular?” (embedded below). Some are disturbingly outdated, like ”Boys Beware,” which claimed that all homosexuals are murderous pedophiles. Coronet shorts are best viewed by gathering your most sarcastic friends and watching MST3K-style. (In fact, several videos actually were on MST3K.)

Jan 12 2009 10:20 PM ET

I'd rather get Omeletted

by
Tagged: , ,

Go ahead, press play.

If you made it ’til the end…you just got Bacon’d! Whatever that means.

Jan 12 2009 09:30 PM ET

Ann Coulter makes Elisabeth Hasselbeck look sane

by
Filed under: Television and tagged: ,

Q: What’s it take to make Elisabeth Hasselbeck seem like The View’s sane, cool-headed host?

A: Apparently, a visit from bat-crap nasty author and pundit Ann Coulter!

On today’s show (clip embedded below), Whoopi started things off by railing against Coulter for stating in her new book-type thing that single mothers are a plague on our society and that Hollywood actors use single motherhood to further their careers. Things got pretty heated, of course, and just when it seemed inevitable that the ‘Bot would interject an angry defense of Coulter (who at one point complained that the hosts were reading her book "as if it were Mein Kampf"), the Hasselbot actually landed a nice jab, suggesting that perhaps society’s focus should be on the deadbeat dads, not the single mothers they ditch — a statement rightly met by (stunned?) applause from the audience. (Go ‘Bot! Go ‘Bot!) The segment concluded with the entire table shouting over each other and Sherri Shepherd very nearly hauling off and walloping Coulter for disrespecting Babs. Looks like The View only has room for one blonde, conservative loon at a time.

Anyone catch this? What’d you think of the ‘Bot’s performance? Anyone think Coulter held her own with the View ladies? What would happen if Shepherd ever ran into Coulter in a dark alley after a few cocktails?

More Hasselbot and ‘The View’:
Elisabeth Hasselbeck eats post-election crow
‘Sassy’ Elisabeth Hasselbeck believes in Maverick Sarah Palin
Elisabeth Hasselbeck Watch: The ‘Bot vs. the White House and Melissa Etheridge
Which other clangy kitchen utensils could replace Elisabeth Hasselbeck on ‘The View’?
Whoopi Goldberg is new ‘View’ moderator

Jan 12 2009 09:10 PM ET

Site of the day: Red Carpet Fashion Awards

by
Tagged:

RedcarpetWith the Golden Globes eons away (by Internet standards), by now you’ve probably decided who you thought was the best dressed of the night and who struck out. Well, I just found a new site that’ll make you see the red carpet in a whole new perspective. Red Carpet Fashion Awards digs out the original couture versions of the stars’ gowns and runs them side by side with the Globes looks, so you can see the all the nips, tucks, and tweaks that the dresses endured on their way to the red carpet. You probably won’t be surprised that Megan Fox’s dress is a little tighter — and a lot lower-cut — than the original Ralph Lauren. But it’s fun to see the looks that drew the stars to their dresses in the first place: Renee Zellweger’s head-scratcher of a gown makes a lot more sense (though it still doesn’t scream awards season) in its original pencil length skirt. And Drew Barrymore’s ethereal Dior creation is even more impressive when you see the, shall we say fashion-forward, sheer cobalt single-sleeved (?!) version it was based on. But the biggest surprise in this round? Miley Cyrus’s dreamy Marchesa gown looks even better on the teen star than on the willowy model. Score one for (almost) real women!

Jan 12 2009 07:20 PM ET

'Hi, I'm Alec Baldwin for E!...'

by
Filed under: Golden Globe Awards, Television and tagged: , , ,

I know, I know, enough already with the Golden Globes, no one cares, etc. But if you missed E’s red carpet coverage last night (and I’m guessing/hoping for your sake that you did), know that Alec Baldwin’s interview with Ryan Seacrest had barely anything to do with the Globes and is absolutely worth watching:

I love how Baldwin saves Ryan some face at the end with a simple "I love talking to you." I have to start using that all the time. What do you think — if 30 Rock ever dies [shudder], should Alec Baldwin take over Andy Rooney’s spot on 60 Minutes, or just settle for Giuliana Rancic’s spot on the red carpet?

Jan 12 2009 06:12 PM ET

'Brothers & Sisters' recap: I think this line's mostly filler

by
Filed under: About Last Night, Television and tagged: , ,

Brothersandsisters_lI bet the writers for Brothers & Sisters have a special name for the kind of episode we saw last night, a transitional hour designed to set landmines for storylines to come. Call it a ramp-up, or call it filler. Regardless, it was kinda boring. There was nothing explosive — not even those arguments between Sarah and Kitty.

Sarah found herself in another financial pickle when Greenotopia needed $120,000 to stay on target for its launch and demo at some technology convention. Nora, knowing how proud Sarah is, convinced a reluctant Kitty to offer her a check. Sarah wouldn’t take it because she found Kitty swooping in to save the day condescending. They fought. The Walker sibling phone tree was put in to effect, and Sarah reconsidered — after her small business loan was turned down. By then, Kitty didn’t want to give her the check because Sarah wasn’t willing to put something of her own on the line for her company — like her home. They fought again. In the end, after Tommy reminded Sarah that their father would’ve risked everything for something he believed in, she took a second mortgage on her home. And Kitty signed as guarantor. Whoopee.

Juicier, but still not at all satisfying, was the stage being set for a future Kitty-Robert blow-up over his decision to run for governor of California without consulting her because he knows she doesn’t want to be on the campaign trail when they adopt their baby because he wants to wait until he has all his ducks in a row. Here’s what I don’t get: Kitty was a strong woman and a public figure when he met her, so he shouldn’t resent her being in the spotlight as she shills her book. So, assuming that’s not it, he’s just being a douche. Even if you can’t stand Regis and Kelly — and I can’t when they’re doing canned bits on ABC shows (remember them on Ugly Betty?) — you have to watch them when they’re interviewing your wife, Robert. And you should also show up at her book signing. That goes for you Walkers, too — the empty chairs almost made me tear up. Still, what upsets me more than Robert placing his dreams above Kitty’s, is that the stress of working for Robert and lying to Kitty about his planned gubernatorial run, is taking a severe toll on Kevin’s quips! Where were they last night? I wish Kevin would’ve quit his job when Robert gave him the conflict of interest out, but it makes sense that he didn’t. Kevin is ambitious, and as a lawyer, he knows how to separate emotion from the facts. (After he whines about it for a while.)

READ FULL STORY »

Jan 12 2009 06:05 PM ET

ABC hopes 'Slumdog' can revive 'Millionaire'

by
Tagged: ,

Slumdogmillionaire_l_4You probably didn’t need to call Miss Cleo to see this one coming: Hot on the heels of the critical and commercial success of Slumdog Millionaire, and in the midst of the country’s prolonged economic slump, ABC is hoping to return Who Wants to Be a Millionaire to its prime-time lineup this summer. According to TV Week, Who Wants to be a Millionaire, which dominated the ratings when it initially aired on ABC in 1999, would return for a one- or two-week special run, coinciding with the 10th-year anniversary of the show’s U.S. debut. (Ten years already? No wonder Regis Philbin looks so young in the photo to the left.) Even as someone who never got on the Millionaire bandwagon, the idea makes sense, but what I don’t understand is why ABC seems so intent on the idea of a multi-night run. Why not air Millionaire twice a week — tops — to avoid the kind of burnout/backlash that met the show in its first prime-time incarnation? Take our handy poll, then weigh in on your feelings about a Millionaire revival and who should host it (Reege? Meredith Vieira? The Hasselbot?) in the comments section below!

 

More on ‘Millionaire’:
EW’s review of ‘Slumdog Millionaire’
‘Slumdog Millionaire’: Brace for the backlash
In Regis we trust: ‘Who Wants to be a Millionaire’

Jan 12 2009 04:46 PM ET

Vanessa Hudgens as 'New Moon' werewolf Leah: What do you think?

by
Tagged: ,

Vanessahudgenstwilight_lTalk about every 13-year-old girl’s fantasy film team: High School Musical could be joining forces with Twilight. Sorta. As we reported earlier, rumors are swirling that Disney tween dream Vanessa Hudgens has auditioned for the role of disgruntled werewolf Leah Clearwater in the upcoming Twilight sequel New Moon. And as much as I want to hate the idea, I don’t. Sure, she’s much cuter than I ever imagined Leah to be, but her mix of Filipino, Spanish, Chinese, Irish, and Native American ethnicities, make her a physically good match for the Quileute shapeshifter.  Plus, she’s already got big hair.

That being said, the 20-year-old has to show us something she hasn’t before: angst. Known for perky parts, most notably High School brainiac Gabriella, Hudgens will have to bring it as a girl dumped by her love who becomes the only female werewolf of her tribe. If she can embody this mix of contempt and snark with a dash of vulnerability thrown in, I think she could not only nail the role but make a nice foil to Taylor Lautner’s Jacob.

What do you think, PopWatchers? Should Hudgens join the pack for New Moon or stick to crooning show tunes? Also, what role can we give Zac Efron? (Don’t pretend you don’t want to see him and Rob Pattinson in an epic battle of Tiger Beat proportions.)

More Twilight:
Stephenie Meyer confirms Taylor Lautner will be in ‘Twilight’ sequel
Casting ‘The Volturi’ in ‘New Moon,’ the ‘Twilight’ sequel
‘Twilight’: Who would you recast?

Jan 12 2009 04:25 PM ET

Why you shouldn't watch awards shows with Tina Fey haters

by
Filed under: About Last Night, Golden Globe Awards and tagged: , , ,

30rock_lGood morning, PopWatchers! It’s exceptionally good for me, because anything seems better than having to endure the Golden Globes with a roommate who thinks he’s above all that "trivial stuff." As my lovely friend Jessica said last night, "Why was he watching?" So, for your benefit, here’s a list of people you should never, ever watch an awards show with:

The "Cooler Than This" Roommate: While snarking on the attendees is fine, a constant litany of "Why do you care about this?" is liable to get him a takeout container to the face.

Your Friend Who Only Watches Entourage: Because she doesn’t seem to understand that there are, in fact, actors out there besides Jeremy "Hg" Piven.

People Who Think Tina Fey Isn’t Funny: They will totally ruin an amazing acceptance speech with their derisive snorting. And yes, these people do exist.

The One Who Knows Nothing About Pop Culture: In my case, this is a friend who says that "94 percent" of his pop culture knowledge comes from me. Exclude them so that when you ask why Tom Cruise was even nominated for Tropic Thunder, you don’t have to deal with responses like, "Tom Cruise was in Tropic Thunder?"

Is there anyone I left out? You tell me, PW-ers.

Advertisement

TV Recaps

Powered by WordPress.com VIP