Archive: March 2010 (181-190 of 604)

Mar 22 2010 01:52 PM ET

'Dancing With the Stars': 10 ways to prepare for tonight's premiere

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Filed under: Reality TV and tagged: , , , , , , , , ,

In honor of season 10′s debut tonight, follow these 10 simple steps for a fluid transition from agonizing work day to dazzling ballroom night — and since my techniques might not work for everyone, suggest your own Dancing with the Stars preparation tips in the comments!

1. End all sentences with “Liiiiiiiiiive!” Whether you’re picking up the phone, greeting a coworker, answering a question in your Nihilism and Pop Culture philosophy seminar, or simply providing context to the action-based elements of a story, it’s a win-win. You get to pretend you’re Tom Bergeron; other people get to admire your enthusiasm in a world as bleak and meaningless as this one.

2. Go home You’ve annoyed everyone. It’s over.

3. Try to “dance” The rumba could go over very well on a crowded train or bus. Pick a target and put your back into it. You can do it. Hey, since when are you on the aggressive end of sexual harassment on public transit? Look at you, taking some initiative! READ FULL STORY »

Mar 22 2010 01:32 PM ET

Penélope Cruz to costar in next 'Pirates of the Caribbean'

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Filed under: Movies and tagged: , ,

cruz-sparrowImage Credit: Albert L. Ortega/PR Photos; Andrew EcclesPirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides will start shooting in June. Producer Jerry Bruckheimer has confirmed that Penélope Cruz has been added to the cast as the “feisty” daughter of new villain Blackbeard (Deadwood‘s Ian McShane), the nastiest pirate that ever lived. He also tells MTV News (watch) that there’ll be a little romance between Cruz’s character and Capt. Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp) as he searches for the Fountain of Youth. Geoffrey Rush will return as Barbossa. What do you think?

I like the Depp-Cruz pairing. The Blow costars should have chemistry, and I’m already envisioning a scene in which a drunk Jack has difficulty understanding her English. Plus, lord knows Cruz will look great in a corset. Between her and McShane (pity this will have to be PG-13), I’m no longer mourning the loss of Will (Orlando Bloom) and Elizabeth (Keira Knightley). You?

Mar 22 2010 01:16 PM ET

Is Mike Tyson's pigeon-racing show cruel? PETA says yes.

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Filed under: News, Reality TV, Television and tagged: , , , , ,

Mike-TysonImage Credit: Stringer/Getty ImagesLooks like PETA has stepped into the ring with boxer Mike Tyson: On March 18, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals sent a letter to prosecutors in New York City requesting that they investigate Tyson’s new pigeon-racing Animal Planet reality show, which will film in Brooklyn. The animal rights organization hopes prosecutors will look out for illegal activity “in connection with pigeon racing…it is likely that extensive wagering will take place on the outcome of these races, as it customary in the industry.”

But there is a bigger motivation behind PETA’s protesting — the organization also claims the reality show, tentatively called Taking on Tyson, might be cruel to its animal subjects. READ FULL STORY »

Mar 22 2010 01:01 PM ET

'Nurse Jackie' tweets: Byte me?

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Filed under: Television and tagged: ,

nurse-jackie-tweetsTalk about Twitter integration: Nurse Jackie‘s Dr. Cooper has a Twitter account that the character will post to during the show in real time. If only it were Zoey doing the posting I’d be a little excited. But Coop? Who says everything out loud? Why would I need insight into his inner thoughts?

It’s not that it’s a bad idea per se, but TV (even good TV) doesn’t have a very good track record when it comes to anything having to do with the Internet. Law and Order: SVU could be called “how the Internet will rape your children,” and characters described as bloggers are almost universally weirdos or losers. On Top Model last week, Tyra told the contestants she’d see them “in the chat room.” The Good Wife‘s scandalous Twitterer has a scant 600 followers — sure, that’s totally enough to be ruinous to a political career.

Can Nurse Jackie buck that trend? Maybe. Peter Facinelli, who plays Coop, is indeed an avid Twitter user, so perhaps he can lend some of his social media know-how to the character.

Does Nurse Jackie set your heart a-Twitter, PopWatchers?

Mar 22 2010 12:58 PM ET

Rod Blagojevich and Donny Osmond do look alike

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Filed under: Reality TV and tagged: , , , , , ,

osmond-BlagojevichImage Credit: Chris Hatcher/PR Photos; Mitch Haaseth/NBCMy favorite Celebrity Apprentice “trend” this season is turning out to be the general air of disgust of Manhattan streetwalkers upon being offered a handshake from former Illinois governor Rod Blagojevich. (That’s so gross, by the way — no one should have to swap skin with a stranger just because there’s a camera crew and a whackadoodle in her vicinity.) Anyway, my favorite person on last night’s episode was the woman on the street who mistook Blago for Donny Osmond. His ego deflated into a less imposing hot air balloon for a few seconds when that happened. Honestly, though, he should have been flattered. Rod Blagojevich may be a reality TV star, but Donny Osmond is a reality TV Star, and winner! Plus, the woman could have recognized him as Rod Blagojevich, and that would have been really embarrassing. Wait. Interesting. Discuss.

Annie on Twitter: @EWAnnieBarrett

Mar 22 2010 12:01 PM ET

'Doctor Who' trailer: See Matt Smith as the titular Time Lord...firing a gun?

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Filed under: Television and tagged: , ,

This just in: A spankin’ new trailer for the upcoming season of Doctor Who, premiering April 17 on BBC America! As a big fan of David Tennant’s incarnation of The Doctor, I have to admit I’ve been experiencing some slight trepidation about his youthful-looking replacement, Matt Smith. But in this minute-long clip, the new guy seems to bring plenty of wit and zest and derring-do to the role, enough so that I’m hoping the Tennant-to-Smith transition will go as smoothly as the Christopher Eccleston-to-Tennant one that preceded it. One question, though: What’s our firearms-phobic hero doing with that gun at the end of the trailer? Hopefully it’s just a misdirect, not a new direction for the character.

Karen Gillan, in the role of The Doctor’s new companion Amy Pond, remains more of an enigma at the end of the 60-second spot, but that’s okay. I could use the extra month to warm up to the idea of a Who without Catherine Tate’s hilarious-righteous Donna Noble.  And hey, at least we’ve got some Weeping Angel action, if not the Ood. Also falling under Very Good News, I can hear Alex Kingston, even if I can’t see her.

What do you think of the new Who trailer? Are you ready to embrace a non-David Tennant Doctor? And will you be tuning in April 17? READ FULL STORY »

Mar 22 2010 11:19 AM ET

There are some great reality shows on C-SPAN lately

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On this week’s 56 and Pregnant with Audacity (CSPAN, Sundays, 11 p.m. ET), a Congress member in the audience called pro-life Michigan Democrat Bart Stupak a “Baby Killer” as Stupak spoke against the anti-abortion amendment to the health care bill.

Do you think “Baby Killer” yeller is connected to “You Lie” Guy? Maybe they make the rounds together at all of the political reality show auditions. It’s so hard to get noticed these days.

Annie on Twitter: @EWAnnieBarrett

Mar 22 2010 10:49 AM ET

'Eclipse' sneak peek: Lots of action, and Lautner catching grapes

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Filed under: Movies and tagged: , , , ,

twilight-eclipseWalmart’s exclusive seven-minute sneak peek behind the scenes of The Twilight Saga: Eclipse on its Ultimate Fan Edition DVD of The Twilight Saga: New Moon has naturally leaked online. It’s embedded after the jump (at least until it’s taken down). What I got out of it? There’s going to be as much action in the film as you’d expect, considering it’s about Victoria (Bryce Dallas Howard) raising an army of young vampires to help her kill Bella, and the Cullens and the Wolf Pack joining forces to protect her. We see the cast training for their fight scenes, performing on wires, and getting thrown around. Totally enjoyable.

While I’m a sucker for the simple imagery of Dakota Fanning removing Jane’s hood, I’m also a sucker for Taylor Lautner doing flips. Seriously, the guy just stands around doing back flips because he can. IN A ROBE. The crew also enjoyed having Taylor go long and then throwing grapes into his mouth. This would’ve been how I chose to pass downtime as well.

Despite the fun and games on the set, which even serious director David Slade got into (jousting, anyone?), there is a darker, “more realistic” tone to the film. As Howard says, with Bella having to choose between becoming a vampire and staying with her true love Edward, or remaining human and settling for Jacob, the question is, “Will she give up her life or will she give up her life?” We’re treated to one scene from Eclipse, the bedroom talk about consequences that’s in the trailer. “You believe I have a soul, and I don’t. But to risk yours, just for the sake of never having to lose you, is the most selfish thing I’ll ever do,” Edward says. It must be exciting for someone who doesn’t know how this story ends. But for me, I’d have preferred an action sequence, something with Victoria, who still manages to look badass doing green screen. READ FULL STORY »

Mar 22 2010 08:00 AM ET

'Life': Periscope-eyed flies and killer komodo dragons, oh my!

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

From the trio of cheetahs bringing down an ostrich, to the pod of bottlenose dolphins stirring up the sea bed for food, last night’s two-part premiere of the Discovery Channel mini-series Life definitely delivered a gaggle (a herd! a flock! a school!) of jaw-dropping HD goodness. If I had to pick just one standout critter from the first hour, though, I’d have to give it up for the Stalk-Eyed Fly.

To repeat, this fly literally inflates its own head because, as narrator Oprah Winfrey tells us, “Females love a bug with really long stalks.” Oprah! How ribald!

My standout for the second, reptile-and-amphibian-centric hour was far and away the formidable komodo dragon. But because my mom usually reads my Popwatch posts, and because she (like I imagine many of you) is very much not a fan of lizards of any stripe, I’ll post that clip after the jump. (Mom, now’s the time to watch Idolatry.) READ FULL STORY »

Mar 22 2010 08:00 AM ET

Joshua Malina talks 'Backwash,' his surreal celeb-filled summer web series

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Filed under: Web Surfing and tagged: , , , , ,

backwashImage Credit: Sony Pictures Television / Jordin Althaus What do Jon Hamm, John Stamos, Sarah Silverman, John Cho, Allison Janney, Hank Azaria, Fred Willard, Michael Vartan, Dulé Hill, Mary Lynn Rajskub, Jeffrey Ross, Ken Marino and David Wain have in common? They all cameo as themselves in Backwash, a 13-episode web series written by and starring Joshua Malina (Sports Night, The West Wing) debuting on Sony’s Crackle.com this summer. The series, directed by Harold & Kumar Go To White Castle’s Danny Leiner, follows three eccentric losers (pictured, from left to right, Malina, Michael Ian Black, and Michael Panes) who hit the road in an ice cream truck pursued by the police after one of them inadvertently robs $100,000 from a local bank. With production wrapped as of last week, Malina phoned PopWatch to answer a few of our burning questions: READ FULL STORY »

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