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Archive: December 2009 (221-230 of 461)

Dec 14 2009 04:00 PM ET

'The Vampire Diaries' week-long marathon begins. Will you bite?

Categories: Television, The Vampire Diaries

Tonight, The CW begins a week-long marathon of The Vampire Diaries, replaying the series’ first 10 episodes, in order, two an evening. Obviously, it’s designed to lure in new viewers or cement fans who came to the show late. As EW’s resident VD recapper, I find myself wondering two things: (1) Is that “over 300 longing looks” line in the promo below actually an exaggeration? (2) Will it work? Not all the networks are airing repeats this week, however, DVR users who can record two shows at once might have an opening. PopWatch poll!

Dec 14 2009 03:00 PM ET

Hey, I'm watching the Science Channel (to learn about 'True Blood' fangs)!

by Mandi Bierly

Categories: Science, True Blood

I’m proud of myself: Last year, I managed to spend more hours watching the Discovery Channel than America’s Next Top Model marathons and learn important things like that the Real Genius house of overflowing popcorn could never have happened. This year, I’m going to try watching the Science Channel for more than Survivorman repeats. After viewing a clip from a six-month-old episode of Nar Williams’ Science of the Movies currently making the Twitter rounds, I’m feeling optimistic. He finds out how they make the fangs on HBO’s True Blood. The secret: They’re lateral incisors (as opposed to canines), and modeled after Diamondback Rattlesnake fangs. (We also find out that the Queen’s ginormous fangs in the season 2 finale weren’t that far-fetched after all, and that props are due to True Blood‘s sound department, which perfectly mimics a pissed-off rattlesnake bite as heard at 4:57 in the clip below.)

Anyone got a Science Channel show they’d like to recommend?

P.S. For Longshadow’s death and Bill’s walk in the sun, watch Part I.

P.P.S. On this Thursday’s episode, Nar helps FXPERTS reconstruct a 20-foot replica of Bumblebee from Transformers and morphs into a video game character at Image Metrics. He also digs into the science of 3D moviemaking at Stereoscope and gets his brain waves read by neuromarketing company fMRI.

Dec 14 2009 02:16 PM ET

Clip du jour: 'We Got That B-Roll'

by Margaret Lyons

Categories: Advertising, Clip du Jour, Viral Video!!!

I’m not sure how they missed “person in lab coat counts outs pills,” but otherwise, I think this hits all the classic b-roll tropes.

The depressed woman touching the wall is the best part, right, PopWatchers?

Dec 14 2009 01:16 PM ET

Simon Pegg knocked off 'Peanuts' pedestal by 5-year-old

by Annie Barrett

Categories: Animation, Awwwwww So Cuuuuuute, Fa-fa-fa-fa-fashion, Those Crazy Kids!, Why Am I Crying?

Five-year-old cancer survivor Alyssa Montenegro has been announced as the winner of Peanuts‘ 60th Anniversary Photo Look-A-Like Contest. (See more photos at the contest’s official website.) When informed of his fall from ultimate fame, Simon Pegg, the former look-a-like for Charlie Brown, said, “I know when I’m beaten; I know when to stand aside.” Alyssa’s mom, Anna, said Alyssa “embodies the true spirit of Peanuts. She is a good kid and never gives up — no matter how many times the football is pulled away.” Obviously this news has been permanently filed under Awwwwww So Cuuuuuute. Also attractive: One of the judges for the contest was (cue Tyra voice) “fashion photographer extra-or-din-aire, Niiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiigel Barker.” But really all of this is to say that…***A Charlie Brown Christmas repeats tomorrow night on ABC!***

Any of you P-Dubs (or your offspring) look like Peanuts characters? I used to dress like Peppermint Patty when I was a high school jock and would go out in public almost exclusively in warmup pants and athletic sandals, but now I just look like an older, busted version of the Hannah Montana doll. What about you?

Dec 14 2009 01:00 PM ET

Guilty Pleasures Semifinals: 'My Super Sweet 16' vs. 'Dog the Bounty Hunter'

by EW staff

Categories: Guilty Pleasures Reality TV Showdown, Reality TV, Television

We’re in the Semifinals of our Guilty Pleasures Reality TV Showdown (see full bracket here).

Semifinals, “Real” Lives: My Super Sweet 16 vs. Dog the Bounty Hunter

Here’s what some fans had to say during the first round of voting:

“et” on My Super Sweet 16: “I don’t think I’m exaggerating when I say My Super Sweet Sixteen is proof of the end of Western civilization. (That’s not to say I haven’t seen the entirety of most of the early seasons.)”

Cowboy Roy on Dog the Bounty Hunter: “It should be a crime to be able to kick so much ass. And the Dogisms … don’t even get me started!”

Relive some classic moments on video — and vote — after the jump. READ FULL STORY »

Dec 14 2009 12:25 PM ET

'On Her Majesty's Secret Service' 40th anniversary: Life.com unearths rare James Bond photos

by Chris Nashawaty

Categories: British Things, Casting, James Bond, Movie Casting, Movies, Things That Are Classy

Forty years ago, the producers of the James Bond film franchise had a doozy of a dilemma on their hands : Who would replace the indelible Sean Connery as 007 in their next chapter, On Her Majesty’s Secret Service? Connery had already appeared in five Bond films and it wasn’t exactly news to anyone that the Scottish star was chafing at the restrictions of the role and his contract. So when he walked, the producers scrambled to find their replacement. It was no easy feat, to say the least. READ FULL STORY »

Dec 14 2009 12:00 PM ET

MTV casts its 'Teen Wolf' (and he's the little boy from 'Maid in Manhattan'!)

by Mandi Bierly

Categories: Casting, Television, You Know You're Getting Old When...

I realize that by writing this item, I not only outed the fact that I’ve seen 2002′s Maid in Manhattan, but also that I consider the casting of Tyler Posey, the guy who played Jennifer Lopez’s son in the film, as the star of MTV’s Teen Wolf pilot worthy of an exclamation point. But come on! He was adorable in Maid in Manhattan! Granted, I haven’t seen him act since then (he did do a recent stint on ABC Family’s Lincoln Heights, pictured), but look at that face and tell me those eyes don’t draw you in.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, MTV’s much-talked-about take on Teen Wolf, as scripted by Criminal Minds creator Jeff Davis, is “a dramatic thriller with a buddy-comedy element at the center and a romantic plot line.” Posey will play Scott McCall, a high school dork who develops the ability to attract girls (and other super powers) after a wolf attack. His best friend (Dylan O’Brien) is originally skeptical, but goes all Scooby Gang and begins researching human-werewolf transformation. As for the drama: There’s a boy (7th Heaven‘s Tyler Hoechlin), who’s already “a vicious and predatory werewolf capable of great harm.” And for the romance: the school’s got a sweet new girl (Crystal Reed) who takes an instant liking to Scott.

How are you feeling about MTV’s Teen Wolf now? I’m liking the “dramatic thriller” angle and believe Posey will make an adequate heartthrob. (Though having seen him as a child in Maid in Manhattan could keep the Twimom age bracket from making Team Tyler panties. Possibly.) I also think the show could fit nicely on a network that plans on running Buffy the Vampire Slayer reruns starting next month.

Photo credit: Ron Tom/ABC

Dec 14 2009 11:39 AM ET

George Stephanopoulos on 'Good Morning America': How'd he do?

by Annie Barrett

Categories: Happy Holidays, Morning Madness, Politics as Entertainment, To Care or Not to Care

George Stephanopoulos began his Good Morning America shift today. It was a little weird watching ABC’s chief Washington correspondent interview Dr. Oz and ask holiday shopping expert Becky Worley earnest questions like, “Now, are there any gifts that are more likely to have coupon codes?” But Stephanopoulos also managed to lobby for a windfall profits tax on the bonuses of bankers in a satellite interview with White House Senior Adviser David Axelrod. They discussed President Obama’s appearance on 60 Minutes and how Obama told Oprah he graded himself a B+ for the first year of his administration. I’m surprised Stephanopoulos and Axelrod didn’t delve into Christmas at the White House‘s rather illuminating segment about the history of the presidential gingerbread house, but I’ll live.

Did you tune in this morning? (If not, you can watch videos at GMA’s website.) Are you missing Diane Sawyer already, or did the hypnotic qualities of George’s red-orange tie — which totally matches the on-screen graphics — make you a believer in Stephanopoulosity?

Dec 14 2009 11:18 AM ET

'Uncharted 2: Among Thieves' is the game of the year? Uh...

by Margaret Lyons

Categories: Videogames

This weekend’s Video Game Awards named Uncharted 2: Among Thieves the game of the year. Really? Over Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2? (COD:MW2 only took home one award, for best shooter.) U2:AT is awesome, but I’m surprised it beat out bigger titles, especially because it’s the first PS3 title to take top honors.

I know the VGAs are about as prestigious as a Cable Ace award (or a Webby! Zing!), but I wish they could focus just a little more energy on indie games. We all know The Beatles: Rock Band is great, and that Left 4 Dead 2 is a blast — and there are nine jillion categories for big-title games. But all the indie games are grouped together, so more action-heavy games like Trials HD are up against Osmos and Flower (which won). Does Dragon Age need more attention, or might independent developers benefit from just a fraction of that spotlight?

What’s your game of the year, PopWatchers?

Dec 14 2009 10:45 AM ET

Kathleen Turner playing Molly Ivins in one-woman show: Perfect casting?

by Mandi Bierly

Categories: Politics as Entertainment, Stage/Theater

If her performance as super agent Sue Collini on this season of Showtime’s Californication wasn’t enough to prove Kathleen Turner’s tongue is as sharp as ever, this will: She’ll star this spring as bawdy newspaper columnist Molly Ivins in the world premiere of the one-woman show Red Hot Patriot: The Kick-Ass Wit of Molly Ivins. Written by journalists Margaret and Allison Engel and directed by David Esbjornson, the play, presented by the Philadelphia Theatre Company, will run March 19 to April 18 in the City of Brotherly Love. Yes, that’s the perfect place to remember the late liberal Texan who described the 2000 presidential campaign thusly: “It’s like having Ted Baxter of the old Mary Tyler Moore show running for president: Gore has Ted’s manner, and Bush has his brain.”