Archive: May 2009 (71-80 of 467)

May 26 2009 02:14 PM ET

'The Oprah Effect': What has the daytime queen entranced you into buying?

by
Categories: Oprah Winfrey

CNBC’s doing a special called The Oprah Effect on Thursday about how companies get their wares onto our Queen of Consumer Culture’s show so it’ll sell like mad. The documentary will tell us about folks who tried for seven years to get on the show (clip embedded below) and who were rescued from the brink of bankruptcy by an Oprah mention. I’m totally into this, if only so I can understand how I once ended up so desperate to buy a $56 plain white T-shirtthat not only was I willing to pay $56 for a plain white T-shirt, but Ireturned to the website dozens of times over the next few weeks afterfinding that the second Oprah crowned it the best-fitting cottongarment of all-time, the thing was sold out. (I guess I came out better than Liz Lemon, with her Oprah-approved sweater capes and calypso music.)

How about you, PopWatchers? What senseless stuff has Oprah hypnotized you into purchasing?

May 26 2009 02:12 PM ET

How interactive do you want your TV to be?

by
Categories: Advertising, Television, The Bad Man Scares Me!, To Care or Not to Care

NPR’s All Things Considered ran a piece Monday on the kind of interactive TV that awaits us in the fully digital age. We’ll someday be able to use our remotes to:

• cast votes for reality shows
• request recipes from cooking shows be emailed to us
• place an order with the Home Shopping Network

That all sounds great (particularly the recipes, which might actually get me to make something), but then there’s this: New technology will also allow advertisers with access to demographics and viewing habits to run targeted ads on our TVs. It’s not so much my privacy that I’m worried about at the moment — it’s that I think advertisers will see that I live in New Jersey and watched both Flashdance and the Indy 500 last weekend and somehow decide that makes me the perfect audience for White Castle’s pulled pork commercial when, in actuality, that sexy dancing pig freaks me the f— out.

What do you think your TV viewing habits and demographic will tell advertisers about you? Let’s pretend our privacy still isn’t an issue: What else would you like to be able to do with your remote?

May 26 2009 11:39 AM ET

'Idolatry' finale: Pink hair, Kris and Adam love, contestant snubs, and The Kara Problem!

by
Categories: American Idol, Idolatry

It’s here at last: The five-part Idolatry season finale! Okay, yes, it’s not technically our season finale. (Later this week, we’ll have in-depth interviews with season 8′s top 3 finishers — Kris Allen, Adam Lambert, and Danny Gokey.) But as far as your regularly scheduled Idol deep-dive is concerned, this is it, people! Press play and (hopefully) enjoy as my cohost Kristen Baldwin and I have one final 2009 chat (on camera) about our national obsession America’s favorite TV talent show. Questions on the docket: How did the season finale become a (possible) referendum on (possibly) gay rights? (Or did it at all?) Which piece of advice from Adam Lambert helped semifinalist/Jason Averett crush Jesse Langseth become even cooler during her Hollywood Week run? Who got snubbed hardest in the Idol season-finale extravaganza? (And why do the producers work so hard to spoil our enjoyment of said episode?) What changes would Kristen and I bring to Idol for season 9…if we were limited to one tweak apiece? (And how come neither of us immediately said “Fire Kara!”?) We give you bonus info about several members of the top 13 — yep, we’re spilling dish we gathered when the cameras weren’t rolling — there’s Bonus “Kristen With Glasses,” and phone interviews with semifinalists Jesse Langseth and Ricky Braddy! (UPDATE: Part 5, featuring Mr. Braddy, is now live and streaming! Sorry for the delay!) Oh, and of course, there’s footage of me getting my hair dyed Iraheta Fuchsia. And the countdown to my buzz-cut begins in 5, 4, 3, 2…

More on 'American Idol':
Get info on all top 13 contestants at our season 8 cheat sheet
Kris Allen: How can you not love the new American Idol?
'American Idol' recap: Don't Be Afraid of the Dark Horse
Photo Gallery: Kris Allen: His 'American Idol' Journey
Adam Lambert after the 'American Idol' finale: 'I'm really happy for Kris'
Kris Allen talks Queen, Adam Lambert, and, oh yeah, winning 'American Idol'
Not buyin' it, Bikini Girl
Cyndi Lauper, Jason Mraz and Queen Latifah talk about performing on the Idol finale
EW.com's American Idol HQ
'How old is Rod Stewart?'
'Idol': Gay-baiting banter? Again?!
'Idol': Season 8's best and worst fashion

May 26 2009 10:00 AM ET

Quote of the Day: 'Trainspotting' edition

by
Categories: PopWatch Quote of the Day

"Now I’m cleaning up and I’m moving on, going straight and choosing life." — Mark Renton (Ewan McGregor), escaping with the money that he stole from his "friends" in Trainspotting

May 26 2009 05:03 AM ET

Chris Harrison blogs 'The Bachelorette': Episode 2

by
Categories: Chris Harrison, Reality TV, Television, The Bachelorette, Things That Are Awesome!

HarrisonIf you’re new to this blog, and it appears we have some new readers, I usually start off by answering or responding to some of your comments. But this week I want to start by letting you know I’m writing this the night before our final rose ceremony. By the time you read this, the season will be officially wrapped. This is the first time in the history of the show we have still been in production while the show is on the air. Now, on to your comments. 

Teacher, you are correct — I am not a master of the written or spoken word. I should be better with my grammar and set a better example for my kids. Just not sure that ain’t gonna happen… oops! No, it didn’t rain before episode one. This is where TV and common sense run in different directions: The director wants the driveway wet so it looks good on TV. Meanwhile, wardrobe puts Jillian in a full-length light colored gown. Not a good combination. What you guys didn’t see is when Jillian was walking in and out of the house, I was trailing behind her holding her dress off the wet cement so it wouldn’t get trashed.  It didn’t help much. Somebody mentioned at rose ceremonies that names are written on the roses to help Jillian know who to call. Not true, but that’s a really cool idea. Not sure the art department would be up for that little plan. For those who asked, you can find me on twitter @chrisbharrison. Sorry, just not up to the Facebook challenge yet — baby steps. Glad to see there’s still some outraged haters out there. I’d hate to think that everybody was happy and content. Oh, and not sure what you meant by asking if I like to get wet like Jeff Probst — but all of a sudden I felt as creeped out as Jillian’s feet. Now, on to episode 2!

READ FULL STORY »

May 26 2009 04:22 AM ET

A Joss Whedon-less 'Buffy' movie: Worst idea ever of the year

by
Categories: Buffy, Comic Books, Hell to the No!, I'm Just a Geek, Movies, Ninjas, Television, Things That Make Me Die Inside

According to the Hollywood Reporter, the rights holders of Buffy the Vampire Slayer — which began as the 1992 crapmound film starring Kristy Swanson and was later transformed by writer Joss Whedon into one of the touchstone TV series of the last 25 years — are planning a remake/relaunch. Now, fans of the Buffyverse have been clamoring for a feature extension ever since the show’s end in 2003; and they’ve made the Whedon-overseen comic books best sellers. Whedon has long been the hand on the wheel of the Buffy franchise, and his cultish fanbase are legion.

That raucous sound you hear is that fanbase currently consulting an engineer to figure out exactly how to support all of the hell they’re gonna raise. Because — get this — Whedon isn’t involved. AT ALL. (Update: Joss Whedon responds.)

According to the news item, the producers aren’t against the idea of Whedon’s involvement, but they haven’t "reached out to him." What’s more, this new "film" would have no connection with the TV series, nor would it feature any of the show’s robust supporting cast. In other words, they’d be jettisoning everything and everyone that made Buffy work. I swear, sometimes it’s as if Hollywood sets out with "failure" plugged right into the GPS.

The only reason that Buffy remains a viable franchise is because of the rabid, happy-to-purchase fanbase. And the only reason that fanbase exists is because of Joss Whedon. (There are actually t-shirts out there with "Joss Whedon is my master now" printed on them.) Why leave all that money on the table simply to make a shoddy Twilight-lite? Because there’s no way those fans would turn out if Whedon wasn’t involved — what’s more, they’d actively work to undermine it in every way possible.

Clearly, Joss has more Buffy stories to tell. Why not let him? Would you go see this film without Joss Whedon at the helm? Vote in our poll. Sound off in the comments section.

 
May 26 2009 02:03 AM ET

'The Bachelorette' episode 2: Naked ambition

by
Categories: The Bachelorette

Well, Bachelorette fans, we’re only two weeks in and already we’re being assaulted — emphasis on "ass" — by completely inappropriate bachelor nudity. Are you as traumatized as I am? While there was definitely plenty else to talk about on tonight’s episode, first I’m going to need to take about 14 Silkwood showers to get that image out of my mind. For all the details, click over to my full TV Watch recap and for cool behind-the-scenes dish, don’t miss Chris Harrison’s exclusive PopWatch blog. And while you’re here, feel free to vent your anger/shock/surprise/nausea about the episode in the comments section below. If you need something to cheer you up, check out the second installment of The Doll Bachelorette, in which Zambonae must decide which stud deserves the all-important First Impression Rose. Enjoy!

May 25 2009 04:00 PM ET

Harlan Ellison documentary on TV tonight: Don't miss it (or you will make him even angrier!)

by
Categories: Documentaries, Star Trek, Things That Are Awesome!

Harlan Ellison is a TV writer (the original Star Trek series, The Outer Limits), sci-fi author (his 1967 short story I Have No Mouth, and I Must Scream is among the most hauntingly horrific tales ever penned), and counter-culture icon. But, mostly, he’s just angry as hell. At one point in tonight’s documentary Dreams With Sharp Teeth (which is on the Sundance Channel at 9 p.m.), the scribe recalls the kind of advice he gives to fellow author Dan Simmons when the latter is having professional problems with someone. "He doesn’t want to know what he should do, he wants to know what I would do," explains Ellison. "And I say, ‘Well, I’d get a garden hoe and I’d bury it in the motherf—er’s head." Elsewhere, he derides the output of Tom Clancy and Judith Krantz as "crap" and essentially likens them to "things that live in Petri dishes." The septuagenarian also compares death to "a salivating fan boy at a Star Trek convention, it’s just out of eyeshot but you know it’s there."

In short, you probably wouldn’t want to be married to Harlan Ellison, a point that is proven when his long-suffering spouse recounts the occasion he locked her out of their house despite the fact that she was naked at the time. But his righteous indignation makes the author a fascinating and hugely entertaining documentary subject. Dreams With Sharp Teeth has no shortage of talking-head contributions from pals such as Robin Williams, Coraline scripter Neil Gaiman, and Battlestar Galactica overlord Ron Moore. But director Erik Nelson wisely devotes large chunks of his film to Ellison himself as he rages against the machine. And pretty much everything else.


HARLAN ELLISON: DREAMS WITH SHARP TEETH: Movie Trailer – The most popular videos are a click away

May 25 2009 03:49 PM ET

'Jon & Kate' premiere: Will you watch?

by
Categories: Jon & Kate Plus 8

Jonkate_dlJon & Kate Plus 8 premieres its fifth season tonight (TLC, 9 p.m.) after the kind of tabloid-publicity onslaught that has made even my non-TV-geek, non-tabloid-reading friends ask me who these people are and why they should care. (In case you missed it somehow, cheating insinuations have been circling both sides of the couple, though each one has denied his or her respective accusations.) Translation: Ratings for the quiet little TLC hit could go way up. It’s Memorial Day, there’s a marathon of reruns leading up to the premiere that could tripwire a bunch of unsuspecting folks into watching, and plenty of viewers will flock just to see what the fuss is about. (Whether they’ll admit it tomorrow is another story.) But I also have to agree that the clips TLC has released to promote the new season do look a little…uncomfortable. The funny thing about gossip coverage and reality TV is the way they seem to survive by eating each other until there’s nothing left: The press feeds the show, and the people selling their personal lives on TV fuel the gossip because their "real lives" are just continuations of their televised lives’ story lines. Then, suddenly, the gossip either hits saturation point and makes us sick of these "characters" and ready for new fodder (The Hills) or the real stuff gets a little too real for our viewing pleasure — and the latter is happening here. It feels to me like watching the tail end of Newlyweds: Nick & Jessica: It just makes me sad. What used to be a fun romp (which included, ha ha ha, wacky personality differences and the funny little irritations of married life) now feels fraught with real tension. Add in the fact that Jon and Kate have these eight adorable children, and that makes it even worse.

But maybe I’m reading too much into things. What do you think, PopWatchers? Has the Jon and Kate publicity piqued your interest in the new season? Or just freed up your Memorial Day evening for TV-free barbecuing?

May 25 2009 04:22 AM ET

Should Nathan Fillion be Green Lantern? Survey says, YES!

by
Categories: Comic Books, I'm Just a Geek, Movies, Ninjas, Sci-Fi, Tech

I don’t usually go in for fan-made trailers for films that’ll likely never get made, created using footage from their favorite totally-non-related movies…but this spot for a Green Lantern movie starring Nathan Fillion hits me in two sweet spots:

Sweet Spot #1: Nathan Fillion. My man-crush on Captain Tightpants is well-documented. I’ll watch anything the man is in. Mandi Bierly and I have weekly thumb-wrestling tourneys to decide who gets to wear the EW’s Biggest Filli-fan Ceremonial Hawaiian Shirt.

Sweet Spot #2: Michael Giacchino’s Star Trek score. Nothing I’ve heard in a good long while summons the same feeling of heroic grandeur/call of destiny.

I still stand by my "Brian Austin Green would be pretty rad as Hal Gordon" stance. But only if Nathan passes. Because I’m a loyal Browncoat, and that’s how we roll. Geek tirade over.

Any fan-created trailers float your boat? Anyone else you’d rather see as Hal Jordan? Anyone else you dig as much as I dig Nathan Fillion?

Advertisement

TV Recaps

Powered by WordPress.com VIP