Archive: June 2009 (241-250 of 438)

Jun 12 2009 05:30 PM ET

Girls' Guide to Rocking: The antidote to Miley Cyrus?

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Look, I'm not about to bash Miley Cyrus — I will, in fact defend "See You Again" as a more-than-solid pop song. (And by "defend," I mean "gleefully karaoke it after two glasses of wine last Friday.") But I will support any endeavor to let budding female musicians know that they can — nay, should — rock far beyond Disney princesses. Allison Iraheta's awesome Janis Joplin-singing on this season of Idol was a nice start, and we salute the reemergence of Gwen Stefani: The "Just a Girl" Edition on tour with No Doubt this summer, eschewing her glam-queen rapping about clothing lines and bananas for wifebeater-wearing and empowerment anthems. Even better? Jessica Hopper's The Girls' Guide to Rocking, which helps budding Blondies, Cyndi Laupers, and Joan Jetts learn how to start bands, write songs, choose instruments, and book gigs. Not only is it chock full of practical advice, it also gives us occasion to watch Hopper's nifty little indie infomercials, like this one featuring Monika Bukowska of Brilliant Pebbles, Kevin Drew of Broken Social Scene, and Heart Shaped Hate:

The Girls' Guide to Rocking // Adventure from Alan Del Rio Ortiz on Vimeo.

What do you think, PopWatchers? Do girls need help rocking? Who are your favorite female rock role models of all time?

Jun 12 2009 05:25 PM ET

Please 'Stop Belieeeevin'.' This Journey needs to end.

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On June 10, 2007, The Sopranos faded to black to the tune of Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believin’.” Within hours, the 1981 anthem rocketed up iTunes Top 100 list. More than two years later, it’s still there, sitting comfortably at No. 55 — taunting me. I do not own “Don’t Stop Believin’.” I will not own “Don’t Stop Believin’.” But apparently, I am alone in loathing this song. I’m amazed — not just by it’s longevity, but by the sheer mathematics of it. Doesn’t everyone already have it by now? Who’s still buying it? I’m half-convinced that this is some bizarre Journey fan-club conspiracy similar to how Scientologists used to guarantee L. Ron Hubbard’s book were best-sellers?

Are you to blame for my continued exposure to Journey’s ubiquitous power ballad? Admit it: Are you purchasing the song digitally multiple times? What compromising pictures does Steve Perry have of you? And do you now hate me for sorta crapping on your favorite song of all time?

Do you have a song that everyone else loves that makes you twitch uncontrollably? (It better not be “Sweet Caroline.”)

Jun 12 2009 05:11 PM ET

Woody Harrelson's 'Zombieland': Paparazzi seem scarier

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Filed under: Movies and tagged: ,

Zombieland-harrelson_l The first photos have emerged of Zombieland, the comedy-horror Woody Harrelson had finished filming in April shortly before he had a tussle with a TMZ photographer at New York's La Guardia Airport. "I wrapped a movie called Zombieland, in which I was constantly under assault by zombies, then flew to New York, still very much in character," Harrelson explained at the time. "With my daughter at the airport I was startled by a paparazzo, who I quite understandably mistook for a zombie."

I took Harrelson's words at face value. He was saying he went Method and somehow thought he was under attack by the walking dead. But after seeing the images from the film at Ain't It Cool News — which look more funny than scary, particularly that one with a zombie that reminds me of a young Bobby Brown — I gotta wonder if he wasn't just taking the piss out of the paparazzo and likening him to a soulless abomination in the eyes of God. (Okay, maybe both?) What do you think now?

Jun 12 2009 04:48 PM ET

Elsewhere on EW.com...

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EW's own Owen Gleiberman and Lisa Schwarzbaum give us their head-to-head review of Pelham 123.

Ken Tucker is "guardedly optimistic" about Moon Bloodgood's role on Burn Notice.

Gaze into the crystal ball with our box office predictions. Can The Hangover hang on?

Sarah Palin and David Letterman keep the controversy alive.

Whitney Pastorek is braving the rain at Bonnaroo to bring you all the news from Tennessee. Did we mention it's raining? It's raining.

Phew! ADA Alex Cabot is staying put. Stephanie March has a new contract at SVU.

The best and worst remakes ever.

Last night's So You Think You Can Dance: zero surprises.

Jun 12 2009 04:37 PM ET

John Mayer's 'Pedamundo': Okay, we'll join the party

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John-Mayer_l John Mayer: Singer songwriter. Serial dater. And now: holiday originator. Behold the awesome powers of having over a million followers on Twitter.

On Wednesday night, Mayer apparently made up the word "pedamundo," which his followers told him meant "drunken party world." Mayer likie! From there on out, it was one tweet after the next: "When the lyrics to Sweet Child O' Mine describe your life story, that is Pedamundo," "You know that buzz you have 2.5 drinks in where everything in the world feels achievable? That is Pedamundo," "Pedamundo is coming… The official kickoff to Summer partying. For the people, by the people, in the people." And so on.

His followers responded in kind, offering "Here in Canada we're celebrating Pedamundo in our usual way-being extremely polite, murdering seals and listening to Rush!" "I'm raising my flag to double-mast in honour of Pedomundo," "If you could listen to every Beach Boys song instantaneously, it still would lack the feel good summer spirit of Pedamundo," etc etc partying etc.

Normally I'd find this kind of thing annoying, but…I am so on board with the start of summer party season! Monkey butler, bring me a daiquiri!

How are you getting in the summer spirit, PopWatchers? Can "pedamundo" bust up the June Gloom?

Jun 12 2009 04:35 PM ET

Amy Poehler: Heroic lunch lady? Yum!

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Filed under: Those Crazy Kids! and tagged: , ,

Amy-poehler_l Ohmahgah! Amy Poeheler is set to star in the big-screen adaptation of a series of YA graphic novels. Exciting! But this isn't a silly superhero casting (though…I would so be on board for that, FYI Hollywood): She'll be playing a heroic lunch lady who "secretly dishes out helpings of justice." The film will be based on author and illustrator Jarrett Krosoczka's upcoming Lunch Lady books — Lunch Lady and the League of Librarians, Lunch Lady and the Cyborg Substitute, Lunch Lady and the Author Visit Vendetta, and Lunch Lady and the Summer Camp Shakedown are all due over the next year.

And the script? Adapted by none other than Internet darling Sarah Haskins. Excuse me while I go fan myself.

When I hear "lunch lady," I immediately go to the Adam Sandler song from SNL, but even given the "sloppy joe, slop, sloppy joe" refrain going through my head right now, I am psyched. I'm the only person who totally loves Parks and Recreation — and I can live with that, thankyouverymuch — but I love seeing Poehler play someone more powerful and commanding.

Thoughts, PopWatchers? Are you smelling what Poehler's cooking?    

Jun 12 2009 04:01 PM ET

Danny DeVito: It's always Miller Time in Philadelphia

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Filed under: Food and Drink, Television and tagged: , , ,

We’ve expressed our love for Danny DeVito before, and we’re pretty sure fans of It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia believe him when he says that he was just acting drunk to make this recent 8:17 a.m. interview on a Philly Fox affiliate interesting. DeVito, along with Rob McElhenney and Charlie Day, took a break from filming a scene (in which DeVito’s Frank is having a beer) to talk to reporter Jenn Frederick live. I think DeVito knew he could have a good time with Frederick and wanted to see if he could throw her…by asking how the baby she’d birthed since they last spoke looked when it came out and if the short dress she was wearing now allowed for “easy access.” Inappropriate but hilarious — just like Sunny. And Danny’s right: That’s much more fun than Frederick trying to regain control of the interview by talking Eagles football with McElhenney. (Though it was entertaining to watch the in-studio anchors try to throw real questions to Frederick to no avail.) Also, DeVito came clean when Limoncello fueled his most memorable interview on The View. Unless he comes out with a microbrew now, I say he’s a man of his word.

Jun 12 2009 03:40 PM ET

If Eric Roberts is 'back,' who's the next reclamation project?

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Filed under: Television and tagged:

Eric-roberts_l Remember when Mickey Rourke accepted his Independent Spirit Award for Best Actor and he went out of his way to pimp his pal Eric Roberts? ("Eric is probably the best actor I ever worked with…He deserves a second chance.") Well, at least Starz was listening. As Ausiello reported yesterday, Julia's big bro has landed a regular spot on the second season of Crash, playing a billionaire intent on bringing a professional football team to Los Angeles. 

Roberts is an Academy Award-nominated actor (for 1985's Runaway Train), but his resume since then is a study in mediocrity. His small role as a crime boss in last year's Dark Knight was a step up, but it doesn't completely erase his reputation as a straight-to-DVD staple. When I think of Eric Roberts, I stumble over his ham-and cheese portrayal of a Cuban-American crime boss in 1994's The Specialist, opposite Sharon Stone and Sylvester Stallone. That he's the worst thing in that atrocious film is actually an achievement.

So maybe this is a smart move for the actor. Crash isn't a hit, but the show will give Roberts space to develop a character beyond the cliched hood he's typically handed. His smirks and mumblings will wear thin after the first episode, so he's going to have to dig deeper. If he does, maybe there's hope for Eric Roberts after all. And if there's hope for Eric Roberts, can Andrew Stevens be far behind?

Does Eric Roberts even register on your radar, PopWatchers? Does his involvement make you more likely to tune in to Crash this September? And what other actors, besides the immortal Andrew Stevens, deserve a shot at Hollywood redemption?

Jun 12 2009 02:25 PM ET

Betty White and Jimmy Fallon get it on, beer-pong style

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

Late Night with Jimmy Fallon keeps getting better and better. Earlier this week, viewers were treated to an appearance by Raising the Bar‘s Mark-Paul Gosselaar in full Zack Morris character. Then, last night, Golden Girl Betty White stopped by to promote her new flick The Proposal…and to play a little beer pong. Fallon finally broke his 0-3 losing streak (he’s recently lost to heavyweights like Serena Williams and Ivanka Trump), but the 87-year-old White proved a good sport. No pity!

And while some beer pong aficionados argue that you’re supposed to bounce the ball on your side of the table first, chances are your grandma isn’t this hip. Anyone else feel like Fallon is headed in the right direction?

Jun 12 2009 02:11 PM ET

Digital TV switchover is today: Don't forget to call your grandma

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Filed under: Television and tagged: ,

Today is the day that television stations nationwide will finally begin ending their analog broadcasts for good. It’s great news for digital technology, but according to the AP, not-so-great news for the estimated 1 million people who haven’t gotten converter boxes for their older TVs and will be left without service by the end of the day. Scary, right? So you know what that means: Call your grandparents and make sure they’ve been set up with a box (go here to get more info). Or better yet, buy them a new freakin’ TV. Don’t they deserve one?

While we’re saying farewell to analog, let’s all share our favorite rabbit-ear memories. I’ll go first: one of my earliest TV experiences was watching Happy Days reruns and being perfectly content to stand really close and hold on to the antenna just so the picture would come in a tiny bit better. How about you?

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