Archive: April 2009 (331-340 of 498)

Apr 10 2009 04:12 PM ET

'Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles' -- End of the season, or end of the line?

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Categories: I'm Just a Geek, Ninjas, Sci-Fi, Television

Sarahconnor_chronicles_l We few, we happy few, we band of brothers and sisters who have been faithful viewers of Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles have a milestone this evening. For tonight marks the season, and — unless Fox decides to act totally not like Fox and give it time to come into its own — series finale of this TV extension of the franchise James Cameron launched back in 1984.

I’m a sucker for all things Terminator, so I’ve been watching since the very beginning. To me, the show is/was like a slightly out-of-control boxer: just as likely to knock you out with a swing you didn’t see coming (Brian Austin Green = legitimate bad-ass) as to trip itself up and land on its ass (Sarah’s multi-episode insistence on exploring the significance of three dots). And kind of depressing — T:TSCC was not a program to turn to for laughs. Everyone was afflicted, overwhelmed, subsumed by the task at hand and, unlike the blues, one never felt better about their own troubles after watching.

But I would’ve like to have seen where it was going. When it first premiered, I predicted that The Sarah Connor Chronicles would end with the title character’s death. Because it was only with her gone that John could become the man he needed to be. As much as she was protecting him, she was holding him back. If tonight’s episode is truly the last, then I’ll never be proven wrong.

Here’s my favorite moment of the entire series, when John finally got to meet a long lost relative:

And you? Do you think Sarah Connor had more life in her, and she’s being cut down too soon? Or did it simply never pop your positronic chip?

More ‘Sarah Connor Chronicles’:
Sarah Connor Chronicles: Did the finale leave you hanging?
‘The Sarah Connor Chronicles’ returns to the air. Does anybody care?
Review: ‘Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles’
Comic-Con ’08: A bombshell from the ‘Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles’ panel

Apr 10 2009 03:39 PM ET

Dutch TV show finds Osama bin Laden not guilty

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Categories: Current Affairs, Reality TV, Television

Talk about pushing buttons, did a Dutch TV series really find Osama bin Laden not guilty of the Sept. 11 attacks? Yes, according to a piece in the Hollywood Reporter about the show Devil’s Advocate, which has a defense attorney represent the "world’s worst criminals" to a jury and, get this, "a studio audience." It’s hard not to marvel at how baldly offensive and controversial TV in the Netherlands seems willing to be. This was the country, after all, that created Big Brother, a reality show that the U.S. and many other nations soon adopted. Could TV juries be far behind? Would you watch if international criminals were tried on TV by a studio audience? Is that a step too far for reality TV in this country, or would it no doubt be a success?

Please note: This clip from the show contains some sensational images from Sept. 11 that some viewers may find disturbing.

Apr 10 2009 03:24 PM ET

'Ugly Betty' furlough: Don't fret, fans, there are webisodes!

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Categories: Television, Things That Are Awesome!, Ugly Betty

It’s Friday morning and we can’t talk about last night’s Ugly Betty because there was no new episode. (Damn you, Samantha Who? and In the Motherhood for co-opting the time slot until May 7!) We fans have been dealing with the void for some time, but that doesn’t change the fact that we still need a regular dose of the show’s ridiculata. Which, admittedly, comes mostly via the antics of Jack-and-Karen-esque duo Marc and Amanda. They’re genius. (Although I must take the opportunity to give much love to goddess Vanessa Williams, too.)

But never fear! In case you didn’t know, the duo’s genius has spread to the web in the show’s short, hilarious Web series Mode After Dark. In fact, a new installment — which finds Marc and Amanda gussied up and trying to best each other for who’ll sing lead during their night out karaoking — was just posted:

Super-fun, right? Yes. Is it weird that I find myself giggling at simple things like how Amanda spins as she walks down Mode‘s iconic tubular hallway? Marc’s eye makeup? Their rapport with the security camera? There are lots more webisodes on ABC.com — and they all feature Marc and Amanda! — so never fear, fans, Betty is always here.

More on ‘Ugly Betty’ from EW:
‘Ugly Betty’ Bites: The Marc & Amanda Edition!
Scoop: Ashley Jensen exits ‘Ugly Betty’
‘Ugly Betty’ Bites: Betty takes on Wilhelmina
Casting scoops: ‘Ugly Betty,’ ‘Big Love,’ ‘Nip/Tuck,’ and more
‘Ugly Betty’ Bites: Suzuki St. Pierre speaks!

Apr 10 2009 03:12 PM ET

'Bones' recap: It's back!

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Categories: About Last Night, Bones, Television

It’s been a season of tough love for Bones (where I’m concerned), but this episode was a definite return to form. The case was…entirely over my head, but as I’ve said before, I’d rather be hearing words that I don’t understand than seeing Booth and Brennan ride a motorcycle and sidecar. Here’s what it did right:

• Had a meat puzzle that took everyone to solve (except for Angela, who was apparently either too distracted by her celibacy vow or her visiting father’s agenda to kill Hodgins to actually work): The remains of Dr. Diane Sidman, editor-in-chief of the prestigious Journal of the Collar Institute, were found in garbage bags. Gross, yes. But we got to see Hodgins and Nigel-Murray (I refuse to call him Vincent) do TWO experiments. The first involved firing a cannon at a dummy in the Jeffersonian, which earned them a scolding by Cam, who said the two of them could no longer be in a room together without supervision — ha. (Booth pushing Brennan to the wall when they heard the shot felt too forced to be hot — I’m not that easy, people.) The second involved them flash-freezing a turkey and dropping it off the balcony to watch it shatter into pieces like the body of the victim. Only, it didn’t. It bounced, flew into the air, and hit Angela in the face. REALLY? She was hit in the face by a flying turkey? I just pretended that did not happen. And so did the show’s writers — no one mentioned it again. (If I were hit in the face by a frozen turkey, it’s all I’d be talking about. Like the second time I slipped on a banana peel.) Booth and Brennan’s investigation led to some great comedic moments, such as when Brennan found the formerly radioactive spot in the victim’s office ("Testing me in the cancer chair?!" Booth squealed, before saying, "I gotta go to the bathroom" and running out) and the two of them trying to counteract the wavelengths when they were locked in the sonic wavelength chamber thingie (the tortured faces and high-pitched noises they made had to come with some great footage for the DVD blooper reel).

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Apr 10 2009 02:51 PM ET

Kanye West: Master of humility or marketing genius?

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Categories: Animation, Hip-Hop/Rap, Merchandising

Kanyewest_lKanye seemed like he was feeling chastened after a recent South Park episode mocked him as a…gay fish with a big ego. (Watch the episode here. Too much to explain.) Indeed he even responded on his blog with a good-natured post, saying "IT HURTS MY FEELINGS BUT WHAT CAN YOU EXPECT FROM SOUTH PARK! I ACTUALLY HAVE BEEN WORKING ON MY EGO THOUGH." Nice, Kanye, I thought. Way to be gracious and thoughtful. But wait a minute. Turns out Kanye’s just happens to also have some new marketing deals in the works. It seems this week he’s signed up for a personal fragrance and a Kanye-branded energy drink. And he also released his own Nike shoe, the Air Yeezy, last weekend to hoards of sneaker fans across the country. So the South Park episode aired just as he was hawking his shoes? Was this part of his master plan? Did he know? Did he just get the last laugh on South Park? Conspiracy!

Apr 10 2009 02:48 PM ET

Leave Lindsay Alone!

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Categories: Celebrity Feuds, Current Affairs, Things That Are Sad

Lindsaylohan_lHow freakin’ dare anyone out there make fun of Lindsay — after all she’s been through?! (Yes, I’m talking to you, Stevie Nicks and Tyson Beckford.) She’s had problems with drugs, a public break-up, trouble nabbing (*sniff*) any role outside cheesy Jem-like Fornarina commercial spots. And all you celebrities seem to want to do is insult her left and right. She’s a human! Leave her alone! [Sobbing] Sure, Stevie, Lindsay playing you in a biopic is a bit like Gary Busey portraying Paul McCartney on the big screen. But you’re lucky someone young and beautiful is willing to appreciate your musical genius! Rather than scoff at her through reporters (*sniff*), why not deny the young actress with a "Thanks, but no thanks" professionalism? Why is it okay to publicly bash someone who’s going through a hard time? LEAVE LINDSAY ALONE! Right now! Puh-leeeeease… [Sobbing]  I mean it! Anyone who has a problem with her, you deal with me. She’s not well right now.

(Okay, Chris Crocker impressions aside, in all seriousness, Stevie Nicks, (ahem, EW) et. al., why must we kick Lindsay while she’s down?

Apr 10 2009 01:58 PM ET

Krod Mandoon: Not quite on fire

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Categories: About Last Night, Snap Judgment, Television, The 'Eh' List

Last night, Comedy Central premiered its new fantasy comedy series, Krod Mandoon and the Flaming Sword of Fire, but despite an aggressive ad campaign, I can’t imagine its prospects are too bright. The show’s premise had promise — It seemed to resemble a goofier The Princess Bride—but its execution left plenty to be desired. The series’ chancellor villain — played by Matt Lucas — came off as Dr. Evil light, and I have a hard time getting behind a program whose only female character is a scantily clad woman that sleeps with her enemies to fend them off instead of opening up a can of whoop-ass. (And my feminist rage-o-meter officially exploded off the charts during the episode’s pagan gang-bang. See below for clip). That being said, I did laugh at some of its juvenile jokes—yes, including Horst Draper, lord help me—and I find Sean Maguire to be a charming leading man worthy of a vehicle far superior to this one (think of him as a Ryan Reynolds in training). And I can’t help but love me a John Rhys-Davies cameo.

What did you think of the show, PopWatchers? Was it stupid, or silly fun? Here’s my official review, which appeared in EW last week:  Warrior Kröd aims to defeat an evil chancellor with his band ofmisfits: a pagan girlfriend, an inept sorcerer, a dim-witted slave, andhis mentor’s male lover. The fantasy spoof’s gags are infantile, but aJohn Rhys-Davies cameo brings class to a show that boasts a runningjoke about bestiality.  

Krod Mandoon Thursdays 10p / 9c
Dance of the 300 Raccoons
comedycentral.com
Matt Lucas Kevin Hart Sean Mcguire
Apr 10 2009 01:19 PM ET

'Daily Show': Jason Jones explores the warty underbelly of sex with seniors

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Categories: About Last Night, Horrifying But Hypnotic, News You Can Use, Sexytimes, Television

So that’s why there’s so much plastic on the furniture! As I watched The Daily Show’s "Dirty Bird Special" segment three times in a row on the subway, my emissions progressed from silent smirk to full-out chortle. Press play below.

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart M – Th 11p / 10c
Dirty Bird Special
thedailyshow.com
Daily Show
Full Episodes		 Economic Crisis Political Humor

My favorite Hidden Gem: The utter disgust on the short-haired woman at 2:15. What about you? What’s your "stick"? Beware of the cunnulinguism, y’all!

Apr 10 2009 12:00 PM ET

Clip du Jour: Michael Ian Black and Michael Showalter take on Billy Bob Thornton

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Categories: Clip du Jour

Joaquin Phoenix’s crazy uh, antics got mocked on the Oscars. Billy Bob Thornton will have to settle for being mocked on the Internet. And yeah, I’d ask Tom Petty about this.

Anyone else super excited for Michael and Michael Have Issues?

Apr 10 2009 11:47 AM ET

Jeff Probst blogs 'Survivor: Tocantins' (episode 7)

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Categories: About Last Night, Reality TV, Survivor, Television

Jeffprobstblog_l

I have to say, I really enjoyed tonight’s episode. It was very different from your typical Survivor episode and maybe that’s what I liked about it. I don’t always like an episode dominated by strategy talk but tonight was an exception. Tonight, I loved the dizzying amount of strategizing.

There are so many alliances going on that for the first time in 18 seasons I am delightfully confused. I can barely keep track of them all. It doesn’t take a very smart 5th grader to tell there are going to be a lot of blindsides coming up in the next few weeks. It’s almost guaranteed with this many alliances, not all of them can hold up. Betrayal is coming. To win this season of Survivor you are going to have to play a fantastic mental game from here on out.

If you let your guard down for one moment or trust that anybody is telling you the truth, your odds for being out skyrocket.

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