Archive: January 2010 (401-410 of 461)

Jan 6 2010 03:13 PM ET

'Saturday Night Live': Chas is back!

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I’m in love with these promos and the idea of Charles Barkley, who is not a role model despite appearing in thousands of T-Mobile commercials, getting to host the first Saturday Night Live of the decade. Or of the year, I guess, if you’re one of THOSE PEOPLE. Every time Barkley guests on a talk show (like when he brought laughter to The Jay Leno Show in November) is a win. Any of Barkley’s TV appearances counts as the NBA championship ring he never won. Ha, not really! Sidenote: Did any other 1990s Chicago Bulls fans ever “feel bad” for Chas when the Bulls kept winning and he was trying so hard? Mike Bruno and I are sitting here all choked up about it. Press play below.

That was a nice touch with Barkley calling Jason Sudeikis’ finger-spin useless. He is all about the fundamentals. I wonder what the SNL cast would need to do to get into Barkley’s Fave 5? Actually, never mind, Penelope has just confirmed to EW that she was in his Fave 4 five years ago, so…[hair-twirl]. Anyone else gambling on the Sir Charles episode paying off for SNL?

SUNDAY UPDATE: SNL with Charles Barkley — see Ken Tucker’s recap

Jan 6 2010 02:00 PM ET

What's on your 2010 calendar?

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Truth be told, I do have an Extraordinary Chickens calendar waiting for me at home — the title alone brings me such joy. But in the office, I’m rocking Hear the World’s 2010 charity calendar. Hear the World is a global initiative by hearing system manufacturer Phonak that raises awareness of the social and emotional impact of hearing loss and addresses prevention of and solutions to the problem. Bryan Adams photographed fellow “ambassadors” including cover girl Annie Lennox, Reneé Zellweger, Peter Gabriel, John Legend, Lenny Kravitz, Common, and Mr. January Jude Law (pictured here, with Annie, who’s pretending she’s in the museum scene in Ferris Bueller’s Day Off).

What’s on your calendar(s) this year?

Jan 6 2010 01:00 PM ET

Trailer: 'Tucker and Dale vs. Evil'

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Two passionate pop-cultural demographics will be doing backflips after viewing the trailer for Tucker and Dale vs. Evil. Fans of geek-TV will be ecstatic that Firefly‘s Alan Tudyk and Reaper‘s Tyler Labine will join forces for this gruesome comedy, and admirers of Edgar Wright’s Shaun of the Dead will be literally foaming at the mouth, since it turns a similarly beloved horror genre — murderous hillbillies in the woods — on its head.

Loved Labine’s scythe. The film premieres late this month at Sundance, and I’m officially on board. (And yes, that is Cerie (Katrina Bowden) from 30 Rock playing the ditch-digging college girl).

Jan 6 2010 12:24 PM ET

Mariah Carey feeling celebratory in this precious video

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Mariah Carey won an award last night at the Palm Springs Film Festival for best breakthrough performance. Her acceptance speech is, indeed, precious. Easy on the…whatever you’re celebrating with there, friend.

Nothing can top her episode of Cribs, but this is certainly my favorite Mariah Carey video ever.

Jan 6 2010 12:15 PM ET

You say 'Yemen,' I say 'Friends'

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I’m definitely not the only one who, upon hearing the word “Yemen,” first thinks not of what is going on in the news but of that Friends episode in which Chandler had to pretend he was moving to Yemen to get rid of Janice. Right? And that’s okay, right? Right.

Related: Seinfeld fans are also one step ahead of the general populace because they already know that Burma is the same as Myanmar, should that ever come up. Thanks for all the cultural awareness, NBC in the ’90s!

For more Yemeni pop culture fun, watch Stephen Colbert explain why we’re talking about Yemen in the first of The Colbert Report‘s unlimited-part series, Better Know an Enemy, below.

I could watch that man randomly bring Snoopy into the discussion (I love how he starts drawing at the bottom of Snoopy’s ear!) all day. Actually, now that this video is on my computer’s default homepage, I just might. Make it happen, Barrett!

Jan 6 2010 11:54 AM ET

'Modern Family', 'Cougar Town' return tonight, as do Jules' fingerguns

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Tags: , , , , Modern Family, Television

One of my new favorite pastimes is watching celebs jump on the Modern Family bandwagon via Twitter. (All aboard, Jon Favreau, who “powered thru” the season to date on iTunes New Year’s Day.)  The show returns tonight with a new episode and guest star Benjamin Bratt (as Gloria’s ex). Here’s hoping he’s more of a Shelley Long than an Ed Norton…

Cougar Town also returns, with guest star Lisa Kudrow as a much-feared dermatologist who treats Jules and dates her ex. Watch a preview clip after the jump, along with what’s probably still my favorite scene from this series (and the one that hooked me on the show): “the full Shawshank experience.”  READ FULL STORY »

Jan 6 2010 11:46 AM ET

'Chuck' returns Sunday! How are we going to make people watch?

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Good lord, I am excited for the return of Chuck.

Sunday, Sunday, Sunday! Before moving to Mondays. Because changing days is really good way to get people to watch struggling shows. It’s almost hard to believe NBC is struggling with its ratings!

It’s up to us, Chuckleheads: How are you getting your friends to watch Chuck? The challenge with some shows is convincing people to stick with it or to give it a second chance, but one episode of Chuck usually does the trick. The hard part is getting them to watch that first one. My strategy is to bribe them with snacks, beer, and PG-13 nudity. Just kidding, Mom! I usually emphasize that it’s like the best ’80s movie ever, except it’s a modern TV show, or that it’s everything you ever liked about Seth Cohen minus everything that ever sucked about The OC plus espionage shenanigans.

Help a sister out, PopWatchers: How are we going to convince the uninitiated to watch Chuck?

More ‘Chuck’:
Ausiello: It’s official: NBC renews ‘Chuck’ (but there’s a catch)
Ausiello: First Look: Angie Harmon and Brandon Routh on ’Chuck’
PopWatch: ‘Chuck’ readies for return — too bad about the time slot
Ken Tucker: ‘Chuck’: What are the essential episodes a newbie needs to watch?


Jan 6 2010 11:25 AM ET

'Mad Men' theme's RJD2: 'The era of really cool TV themes has passed'

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The Mad Men theme song, a short-edit version of hip-hop producer RJD2′s instrumental track “A Beautiful Mine,” has become so evocative of that show, and subsequently the era it depicts, that it’s actually jarring to hear Aceyalone rap 21st century lyrics on the non-instrumental version. RJD2 chatted with the Washington Post about how his song became an iconic TV staple and shared his likes and dislikes when it comes to other notable TV tunes. (Thumbs up: Knight Rider. Thumbs down: The Sopranos). “I feel like the era of really cool TV themes has passed us by,” laments RJD2 (born Ramble John Krohn), who lists Airwolf and Scooby-Doo as two of his childhood faves. He might be right, though I’m a little disappointed the actual lyrics for the Mad Men theme aren’t “Mad Men, Mad Men, sixties, cigarettes, thin ties, short hair…”

Does the Mad Men theme make you want to free-fall into oblivion like an animated Don Draper? Are there any other current TV theme songs that you refuse to fast-forward through?

Jan 6 2010 08:00 AM ET

'The Simpsons 20th Anniversary Special' tops our Must List this week. What's on yours?

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In 2007, my friend and I took almost two hours worth of public transportation so we could go to a 7-11 in Maryland that had been transformed into a Kwik-E-Mart as part of a promotion for The Simpsons Movie. I bought $40 worth of Krusty-Os, Buzz Cola and Squishee cups (I refused to put actual drink into my glasses, for fear the sugar-laden beverage would compromise the quality of my cup).

I thought I was dedicated and have always considered my sister – who can recite any episode seasons 1-10 from memory – an even bigger fan. But deep down, I know we’re only the tip of The Simpsons superfan iceberg. I’m sure there are people out there who dream of yellow, four-fingered people, say ”okily-dokily” in 100 percent seriousness because it is second nature, and who believe no other cat name exists other than Snowball.

But this next week isn’t about how big of a fan you are (or once were), it’s about celebrating what The Simpsons is: The kinda inappropriate cartoon comedy that paved the way for totally inappropriate cartoon comedies. At the center of this time of reflection (and my Must List pick for the week): The Simpsons 20th Anniversary Special: In 3-D! On Ice! (airing Sunday on FOX). Super Size Me‘s Morgan Spurlock directed the documentary. I call BS for it not being in 3-D or on ice, but it will nonetheless be a fun watch.

What about you, PopWatchers? Are you as excited as me about The Simpsons special? Or is something else on your Must List this week? Sound off below (and make it good)!

For your viewing pleasure, I leave you with a Simpsons promo spot featuring House‘s Lisa Edelstein (Love her!).

Jan 6 2010 06:00 AM ET

'Ugly Betty' PSA: This show's worth a second chance in its new Wednesday timeslot -- starting tonight!

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After Ugly Betty languished on Friday nights from October through December—and dropped a couple million viewers along the way—ABC recently decided to give its one-time hit a better chance of surviving to its fifth season and moved it to the comedy-filled Wednesday nights. And, hark, fans! That night has finally arrived! Tonight, the fabulous gang from Mode makes its debut on Wednesday for the first time. And it’s the first time the show has appeared on a desirable night since last May. Hallelujah!

Now, I’m not judging you, believe me, but I’m more than certain lots of you out there have skipped out on Betty this season—or maybe even last season, too. (Or—gasp!—even season 2.) Well, there’s no time like the present to get back into the fray! Why? Because Betty is, without question, better than ever. The creative juices are flowing at the show’s writing headquarters and—this is a good thing!—the series seems to have recaptured that rather elusive juice that made it so delightful during back in season 1.

So, what I’m saying is: Get back on board, people! To help get you up to speed, I’m presenting the five essential things you must know about the show currently. Read up and then dive back at 10 p.m. on ABC tonight:

• Betty ain’t so ugly anymore. Didja hear? (Or, rather, just see America Fererra’s smiling face above.) Betty got a makeover—lost the bangs, got sleeker glasses, and her clothes are a tad less crazy. And—here’s the big shocker!—she’s losing the braces soon, too. Plus, in case you didn’t watch through last season, she got promoted to Associate Features Editor at Mode, so she’s no longer a lowly assistant. How’s that for injecting life into a storyline? (Also: Her new hot looks may have something to do with the fact that producers are mulling whether to hook her up with former boss, Daniel.) READ FULL STORY »

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