Archive: May 2009 (231-240 of 467)

May 14 2009 08:29 PM ET

'The Colbert Report': I've had it with edible gold!

Who here has consumed edible gold? Was it even tasty? Did the experience have any redeeming qualities besides the fleeting assurance that yes, you are wealthy? The question is relevant because Colbert did a $3,000 dine-and-dash on last night’s Report, and his final stop was NYC’s Serendipity for the Golden Opulence Sundae. Press play below.

 

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A thousand-dollar shaved lobster and caviar pizza is stupid, but fine, because that is FOOD. Edible gold is almost as useless as these gold pills that make your poop glitter or Lindsay Bluth’s diamond powder cream from Arrested Development. Just down a bottle of Goldschlager for dessert and call it a night.

May 14 2009 07:34 PM ET

Neil Patrick Harris hosting the Tonys: I'm setting the DVR

So Neil Patrick Harris is hosting the Tonys. Best! Is there nothing this man can’t do?

Harris recently showed off his hosting panache at the TV Land Awards, he killed on SNL a few months ago, he’s total gold as a talk-show guest (this is my favorite talkshow appearance by anyone, maybe ever), he can do magic tricks — he’s Dr. Horrible for crying out loud. And, let’s not forget, Barney Stinson.

I can usually take or leave the Tonys — if there’s a show or star I’m obsessed with, I’ll watch, but otherwise…meh — but the presence of NPH means I’m definitely watching on June 7. What about you, PopWatchers?

May 14 2009 07:13 PM ET

Bring the concert to your computer -- for free

Categories: Misc.

Icon_thesaver_12Movies, music, books, TV — the cost of keeping oneself entertained can add up, especially heading into blockbuster-heavy months of the summer. Fear not! We’ve got your budget covered. Check back every day this week for more posts on how to find the best in cheap — and free! — options.

Much like Deadheads once traded concert tapes with hushed reverence, Live Music Archive offers a wide array of peer-to-peer bootlegs for absolutely free — and legal! — download. Though the Dead are indeed on here, as well as dozens of next-gen jam bands, LMA’s music library stretches to include nearly 3500 artists: everyone from indie obesseions Animal Collective to alt-rock hereos the Smaishing Pumpkins and acoustic icon Jack Johnson. (Archived sets date back decads and to just last night.) Plus, helpful headings steer fans toward their favorites — and all the other good stuff they’ve yet to discover.

May 14 2009 06:23 PM ET

Comedy Central takes 'Sex Show' to TV: It isn't near as filthy as it sounds

Categories: Sexytimes, Tech

Comedy Central unveiled its new programming slate today, and it’s pretty standard CC: Dude shows, cartoons, cartoons about dudes, gettin’ high, stand-up stuff. But there was one surprising bright spot: Midwest Teen Sex Show! Holy crap, yay!

MTSS, which is nowherer near as filthy as it sounds, is a hilarious but legitimately informative Web series that explores issues of sex and sexuality through sardonic, often bizarre sketch comedy. The video below, "Condoms," contains frank language and a few suggestive scenes, but no nudity, so put your headphones on; if you’re prudish, just move along.

I think Midwest Teen Sex Show is fantastic so I’m thrilled to see them make the leap to mainstream television. What about you, PW nation? Does MTSS seem like Comedy Central fare to you?

More Comedy Central:
Comedy Central’s new programming slate

May 14 2009 06:00 PM ET

Gwyneth Paltrow, party starter: The GOOP celebrity DJ playlist

Categories: Bits and Bobs

Paltrowronson_lThis week, Teutonic blond actress/self-appointed lifestyle guru Gwyneth Paltrow takes a break from advising readers of her GOOP website (motto: “nourish the inner aspect”) on the merits of meat substitutes and 800-thread-count onesies to provide a list called Party Jams, featuring playlists from friends like DJ AM, Samantha Ronson (pictured, near left), fellow FoM (Friend of Madonna) Guy Oseary, and Coldplay manager Phil Harvey. “I thought I would ask some super cool music experts for their ten favorite party tracks,” she writes. “Looks good to me. Get your mother lovin’ dance shoes on…Love, Gwyneth.”

What can you learn, once GOOP-approved footwear is donned? That many of the world’s most famous, well-paid DJs like pretty much the same stuff you and the guys at the old Columbia/BMG “12 CDs for a penny” warehouse did back in 1993: Prince, Dee-Lite, Guns ‘N Roses, Depeche Mode…and of course, Her Madgesty.

The youngest track on DJ AM’s ’80s- and ’90s-centric playlist? 2003′s “Be Faithful,” by the relatively lesser-known Fatman Scoop and the Crooklyn Crew, tied with Beyonce’s “Crazy in Love” from that same year. Samantha Ronson (“America’s best-loved and most well-known female DJ”) skews a little younger, with MGMT and her brother Mark Ronson alongside Pink Floyd and, yes, Madonna. Gwyneth’s own picks? Prince, the Strokes, Coldplay (nepotism!), Beyonce, and a mashup featuring Gwynnie pals Jay-Z and Radiohead.

So tell me, PopWatchers, will you be using la Paltrow’s playlists to plan your spring parties? Or would you prefer your index finger and an iPod shuffle?

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May 14 2009 05:46 PM ET

Attack of the all-star casts: Is more always merrier?

Categories: Casting, Movies, Trend Watch

Carrellfeymark_lThe recession has already coughed up great deals like double coupons, half-off clothes, and free chicken dinners. And now it looks like the discount craze is headed for our local theaters with a crop of movies that might as well save a few more bucks by splitting a single tagline: "Buy one movie, get six stars, free!"

Whether it’s an actual phenomenon or just a coincidence, the list of celebs packed into three upcoming releases — the musical Nine, and the comedies Valentine’s Day and Date Night (three cast members pictured) — reads like the seating chart at the Academy Awards (in Nine alone the cast members have a whopping 20 Oscar nods between them). I won’t bother rattling off all the actors for you (click on the links above for cast info), but it seems like we’ve got about 60 percent of Hollywood’s A-List packed into three pics.

It’s easy to come up with examples of times when the all-star strategy worked (Ocean’s Eleven) and didn’t (All the King’s Men, anyone?). But overall, I subscribe to a more-is-better philosophy when it comes to movies. Why should the "best friend" be played by some One Tree Gossip Night Lights thing if Jennifer Garner is up for the job?

What do you think, PopWatchers? Which of these movies are you looking forward to most? Is more always merrier? Or is there such a thing as star-overload? (And why wasn’t Star Overload ever the name of a synth-pop duo?)

May 14 2009 05:22 PM ET

'The Office' season finale: Amy Ryan's return!

Categories: The Office

Theoffice_l Season finale…er, season is upon us, and tonight’s 100th episode of The Office is one I’ve been excitedly looking forward to, ever since we found out that it marked the return of Amy Ryan as the thoroughly awesome Holly. (Idris Elba also reprises his role, though I don’t love Charles with the same fervor that I love Holly, so I’m less excited about him.)

Office season finales have to this point involved pivotal moments for Jim and Pam: His confession and their kiss in "Casino Night,"* Jim asking her on their first real date in "The Job," Jim revealing that he’s going to propose in "Goodbye, Toby." As much as I love them — which is roughly on par with how much other people love their pets or children — I’m not dying for a big PB&J moment tonight: I’m more looking forward to a Michael and Holly connection, or honestly, an Andy and Kelly one. (Kandy! Please! Make this happen!)

Those finales each asked one central, thematic question: What are you willing to gamble on? What are you able to sacrifice? What do you do when the plan goes awry? A lot has gone on this season, so "Company Picnic" has a lot to work off of — but the stakes, they are high.

I’m holding out hope that Michael will have a moment of dignity. What are you hoping for, PopWatchers?

*Easily one of the best episodes of this show, ever

May 14 2009 05:00 PM ET

'America's Next Top Model' finale: Unbeweaveable!

Topmodelfinale_lThat headline is just about all the excitement I can muster up for America’s Next Top Model cycle 12, which ended last night with whatever is a greasy runway’s aural equivalent of a "bang." I won’t spoil the winner here, but I will admit that when her name popped up on the You’re A Cover Girl: It’s All Downhill From Here screen, I realized with amazement that I’d never noticed exactly how it was spelled. That pretty much sums up the season.

It wouldn’t be too spoiler-y to revel in the Allison vs. Teyona (pictured, bottom) runway-show ridiculata, though. The hair people totally sabotaged Teyona’s weave on purpose so she’d have to whip all three feet of it around and around (pictured, top) like the fabulous paint-wrestler she’d dreamed of being since she was a little girl. That was the best part of the runway spectacle; the non-competing models flailing lifelessly in a heap with "We don’t have to play Showgirls too, right?" faces ran a close second. This was almost as fierce a challenge as the "real. live. ANIMAL BLOOD!" photo shoot on EW.com’s famed America’s Next Top Doll.

Thoughts on the finale, PopWatchers? They better be fierce. We need to see more of your personality.

More Top Model:
Paulina Porizkova fired from ‘Top Model’. When will the recession end?!

READ FULL STORY »

May 14 2009 04:37 PM ET

'Cliffhanger' reboot: What the what?

Producer Neal Moritz (Fast & Furious) is planning to reboot the 1993 Sylvester Stallone film Cliffhanger. "Just as they rebooted Star Trek, we’re going to do the same with Cliffhanger," Moritz told Variety . This statement seems ridiculous for multiple reasons:

1) In the words of Mike Bruno, does he mean "broaden its appeal beyond the geeky Cliffhanger die-hards who hold Cliffhanger conventions and such?"

2) Even though I believe that the opening sequence of that Renny Harlin-directed action movie is one of the best ever, I’ve never found myself wondering what a young Gabe (Stallone) and Hal (Michael Rooker) were like. I haven’t spent the last 16 years wishing I knew how Gabe (Stallone) and Jessie (Janine Turner) met. I had to look up Jessie’s name just now.

3) I get that Cliffhanger is a pretty great title for an action-thriller about rock climbing, but why couldn’t they just come up with an original concept. I find it interesting that Moritz’s production company is called Original Films and yet it’s also attached to a remake of Kurt Russell’s Escape From New York.

P.S. If you’re going to revisit the Stallone and Russell canons, wouldn’t a Tango & Cash redux be more economical? I would actually enjoy seeing what LA’s top cops were like in their prime…

May 14 2009 04:27 PM ET

Guillermo Del Toro 'Strain' website launches: Ready for more vampires?

Categories: Books, Tech

ThestrainAttention vampire fans: The website for Guillermo del Toro’s The Strain is up and running! The horror auteur is co-penning a trilogy of vampire novels (the first one hits shelves this summer), reworking the history of the supernatural creatures back to their "Old Testament origins". But the back story isn’t the half of it: In Del Toro’s version, a vampire-creating virus is now set to sweep New York City on its way to total world conquest.

Anyway, the site is every bit as creative and creepy as you’d expect from the guy who brought us Pan’s Labyrinth and the Hellboy movies. With an abandoned subway platform as a backdrop, the portal offers up a variety of sneak peeks to whet your appetite, including fake medical reports, a character blog, and some photos explaining Del Toro’s re-imagining of vampire anatomy. I’m not a huge bloodsucker-lit fan myself, but even I found myself getting sucked into this stuff — it’s just plain cool.

Take a look at the site and let us know what you think. Are you ready to catch The Strain? Or has the recent vampire-mania sucked you dry?

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