Archive: March 2009 (61-70 of 518)

Mar 27 2009 07:00 PM ET

'Grey's Anatomy' by way of 'Twin Peaks': What is it about ceiling fans?!

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

On last night’s episode of Grey’s Anatomy, troubled Iraq War vet Dr. Owen Hunt (Kevin McKidd) had a night terror set off by his g.f. Cristina’s ceiling fan swirling round and around. The sight of Owen going nuts — and then rolling over in bed to strangle poor Cristina — immediately gave me flashbacks to Twin Peaks which, IMHO, remains the scariest bit of storytelling ever to hit the television airwaves. You’ll recall that in both David Lynch’s TV series and big-screen prequel, Fire Walk With Me, the ceiling fan was a key storytelling device. The camera would flash to it ominously whenever the killer BOB was around. (Click on the embedded video below…if you dare!) That it lived at the top of the stairs, near Laura Palmer’s bedroom, only added to the creepiness. The way it whirred and whooshed in hypnotic slow motion scared the bejeezus out of me — almost as much as BOB himself. It was the perfect Lynchian treatment: Take an everyday household item and turn it into a terrifying object. The banality of evil, if you will. (Speaking of BOB…! Have worn-and-torn jeans ever looked more nefarious?) For years, I swore I’d never, ever allow any home of mine to have any kind of air-circulation apparatus that operated above my head. I still don’t like the things very much. But at least I’ve made it to the point where the mere sight of them doesn’t stop me dead in my tracks, paralyzed with fear as I wait for the odor of burning oil to wash over me.

Did any of you notice the connection last night? Anyone else out there scarred for life by Twin Peaks, or perhaps other seemingly harmless objects used to horrifying effect in pop culture? Do share!

Mar 27 2009 06:33 PM ET

'Galactica' withdrawal? Then watching the final cast readthrough won't help at all

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Filed under: Television and tagged: , , , ,

If you, like me, are just coming to terms with the fact that there won’t be a new episode of Battlestar Galactica on tonight — or any other Friday night, ever — then this little clip will pick those scabs clean off. This here is video footage of the cast read-through of the final episode of BSG. If you were trying to imagine what it was like for people who’d devoted years of their lives to Battlestar as they stood on the precipice of the finale…wonder no more. Warning: There will be tears. From you, too.

Mar 27 2009 06:32 PM ET

Site of the Day: Vintage Dharma Initiative ads

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Filed under: Lost, Television and tagged: , , ,

Dharma_cigsFlickr user Hot Meteor created six full-page Dharma Initiative recruitment ads. They look so real! Our favorite Lost nod, which features Dharma cigs, is so brilliant Don Draper may as well have scribbled its slogan on his cocktail napkin. Any guesses as to what kind of mind-blowing s— might happen if you aimed a steady stream of Dharma cig smoke directly at a rapidly approaching Smokey the monster? I personally think…you’d just die. Smoke together, die alone.

Click here to see them all!

Mar 27 2009 05:53 PM ET

The 'Spider-Man' musical: A 'circus rock-n-roll drama'? Really?

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Spiderman_lOf all the phrases I didn’t want to hear today, Julie Taymor’s statement in a presentation to Broadway ticket brokers that Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark isn’t a musical, it’s a "circus rock-n-roll drama," comes a close second to "Well, Mr. Bernardin, you didn’t NEED that pinkie toe." Let me be plain: I’m neither a musical guy nor a theater guy. (The on-stage explosions are never quite big enough for me, and I haven’t seen lasers on Broadway since Starlight Express.) But I am a comic book guy, and I’ve been following the development of a Spidey show with more than an idle interest.

Taymor’s involvement is a good sign — despite my previous statements, I did see The Lion King years ago, and thought it was magnificent — and music from Bono and the Edge amps my curiosity even more. Will I go, when Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark opens in January of next year? Probably. Something like this feels like it can go only one of two ways: phenomenal or absolutely disastrous — either of which will still be entertaining.

But at first blush, I don’t think I want "circus rock-n-roll drama" in my Spider-Man peanut butter. Do you feel the same?

More Spider-Man musical:
Bono, The Edge’s ‘Spider-Man’ musical opening on Broadway February 2010
Get ready for ‘Spider-Man’ the musical
Bono and The Edge writing songs for a ‘Spidey’ musical
‘Spider-Man’! The Musical!

Mar 27 2009 05:47 PM ET

'Lost Babies,' they'll make your dreams come tru-ue

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Filed under: Lost and tagged: , , , , ,

I would never have guessed this mash-up would work, but oh boy does it: Lost and Muppet Babies, together at last.

The best part is definitely Skeeter as Sun. And now that I think about it, the lyrics to the Muppet Babies theme song definitely connect to Lost in their own strange way: "When your world looks kinda weird and you wish that you weren’t there / Just close your eyes and make believe and you can be anywhere." Take that, Benjamin Linus!
 

After the jump, another (marginally less successful) episode of Lost Babies.

READ FULL STORY »

Mar 27 2009 04:22 PM ET

Tori & Candy Spelling: Renewed drama or publicity stunt?

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Candytorispelling_lAnd the broken-relationship saga between Tori and Candy Spelling continues: Tonight at 10 p.m., the Hollywood matriarch speaks to Elizabeth Vargas on ABC’s 20/20 about her rocky relationship with her Beverly Hills, 90210-star daughter. In the interview, Candy apparently says that she still doesn’t know why things are so amiss with her daughter. Really, ladies, are we still doing this?

A preview story on ABC.com reveals that, supposedly, Candy has yet to meet her 9-month-old granddaughter Stella. Yet, it was very well reported that when Tori’s first child, son Liam, was born in March 2007, grandmother Candy, intent on reconciling, was present in the delivery room. What happened since then? I’m sure the answer is nothing. But you can be sure some tale will be spun describing it all tonight.

The pair have very publicly feuded over the years, watermarked by thereport that when daddy and hubby, Hollywood power TV producer AaronSpelling, died in June 2006, Tori was set to inherit just $800,000 ofhis estimated $500 million fortune. Candy, natch, was the executor ofhis estate, but her other child, son Randy, also reportedly onlyreceived $800,000.

But let’s break it down now: Candy is promoting her new book, Stories from Candy-land, a tome about how she was a Hollywood trophy wife, or "an arm piece," as she tells 20/20. It comes out Tuesday. This interview airs just four days before. Which makes the whole renewed fracas between the pair seem like a cheap publicity stunt to sell more books (or, on the 20/20 front, to get people to tune in tonight). My EW colleague Kate Ward’s assassination about the general ridiculousness of Stories from Candy-land is a must read (not the book, mind you) on the topic — apparently, Candy has no problem with dinging Tori at every turn.

But, PopWatchers, what do you think? Is the renewed drama between the Spelling women a bunch of baloney? Do you even have the energy to muster a drop of care about this anymore? Will you even pick up Candy’s book — or watch her on 20/20?

More on the Spellings from EW:
Candy Spelling’s ‘Stories from Candy-land’: I read it, so you don’t have to!
Tori Spelling returns to Beverly Hills
EW Pop Culture Personality Test: Tori Spelling
Welcome back, Donna!

Mar 27 2009 04:03 PM ET

'30 Rock': Am I Lizzing or Jacking?

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Filed under: About Last Night and tagged: ,

Ah, another solid 30 Rock, though "Apollo, Apollo" didn’t quite slay me like the last few episodes have. Sure, Tracy’s fake space flight was funny, and yes, Alec Baldwin can infuse smarminess with a subtle humanity in a way no one else really attempts, but the episode was heavy on my least favorite relationship on the show: Liz and Jenna. It’s been a long time since we’ve seen Jenna do something redemptive — and I’d settle for anything not strenuously vacant and narcissistic. I get that that’s her bit, but we see so many dimensions of the other characters: think of how tenderly Tracy and Kenneth treat each other, or Jack’s mommy issues, or even the little glimpse of Pete lamenting his could-have-been career in politics. Jenna, though, is totally one note, and that note is starting to drive me crazy. Blerg. Anyway, on to the highlights!

1. Yay for the return of Dennis — though I would have loved to have seen juuuuust a little more of him. "Hello, dummy," was a great opening line from the Beeper King, but his  "One word: coffee. One problem: Where do you get it?" business plan was even better.

2. "I’m Lizzing!" (Funny when Liz said it; 20 times funnier when Tracy said it.)

3. "I once shot a manatee."

4. "What is this, Horseville? Cause I’m surrounded by naysayers!"

5. Kenneth’s Sesame-o-vision

6. "Aw, guys, come on, I ate in there!"

7. "Oh my god, you puked! Why wouldn’t you warn me?! I’m staring at your mouth!"

8. In possibly my favorite moment of the season, Liz’s goofy Muppet walk.

9. "Is that Billy Jean King?"

10. And of course, this:

Okay, PopWatchers, how feel you about "Apollo, Apollo"?

Mar 27 2009 03:49 PM ET

The year's oddest book title

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20092014worldoutlookThe trade magazine The Bookseller just named the year’s oddest book titles. The winner? The 2009-2014 World Outlook for 60-milligram Containers of Fromage Frais. (Available now on amazon for $795!) Other contenders include Baboon Metaphysics, Curbside Consultation of the Colon (really? You want to do that curbside?), and Strip and Knit with Style. My absolute favorite title though, was a previous year’s winner: People Who Don’t Know They’re Dead: How They Attach Themselves to Unsuspecting Bystanders and What to Do About It. Seriously, these are awesome! How about you? What’s the best-worst (or worst-best) title you’ve ever seen?

Mar 27 2009 03:17 PM ET

'The Wire' Creator David Simon and his New Orleans pilot 'Treme'

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Filed under: Television and tagged: ,

Davidsimontreme_lThe more I hear about David Simon’s potential new HBO series Treme, set in post-Katrina New Orleans, the more exciting it sounds. We’ve previously posted on some of the casting news here and here, and a recent interview with Simon about the project has helped build it up even more. Simon talked with The Canadian Press outside Vaughan’s Lounge near the devastated Lower Ninth Ward. He discussed how his show will avoid the usual tourist spots in the French Quarter and delve into the grittier neighborhoods that have been "under-chronicled." I can’t think of anyone I’d rather have chronicle neglected urban communities, especially in a city, as he says, "with an ornate and essential culture and musical tradition that is maybe one of the most original things America ever invented." What do you think PopWatchers? Is Simon a good fit for the Big Easy? Will he have as deft a hand when he’s not on his home turf in Baltimore?

More on David Simon from EW:
High ‘Wire’: The End of a Masterpiece
TV Review: ‘Generation Kill’
‘Generation Kill’: Too Good to Languish in DVR Hell!

Mar 27 2009 02:37 PM ET

Original Survivor Richard Hatch trying to get out of prison

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Names I haven’t thought of in awhile: Vern Troyer. Zsa Zsa Gabor. And…Richard Hatch? The AP just informed me that the very first (and very naked) Survivor winner is asking a judge to release him from the four-year prison sentence he’s now serving in West Virginia. You’ll remember (or actually, maybe you won’t) that Hatch was found guilty in 2006 of evading taxes on the $1 million he won on the first season of the CBS reality hit. Is it strange that now I feel a little guilty for forgetting the guy who helped launch this massive reality TV franchise was in jail all this time? I mean, I wasn’t exactly a fan of his, but I did love the first season of Survivor and I’m sure part of that was due to Hatch’s evil-genius routine. What about you PopWatchers? Did you remember Richard Hatch was still in the pen? Are you amazed by how quickly some of these reality stars fade from memory?

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