HBO is going all out to advertise the June 13 return of True Blood. This week’s new poster is simple and blunt — just the word VILF. Reading what it stands for to myself (Vampire I’d Like to F—, presumably) actually made me a little uncomfortable at first. It’s like HBO knows (of course they know), and that’s somehow more embarrassing than me saying it. Again and again and again. And again…and again.
Archive: March 2010 (21-30 of 604)
Mar 31
2010
09:42 AM ET
'True Blood' VILF poster: Too much of a mirror?
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Mar 31
2010
09:25 AM ET
'16 and Pregnant' recap: Two social issues for the price of one
Image Credit: MTVI think this is the first week that teen pregnancy wasn’t the most troubling social issue to be brought to light by an episode of 16 and Pregnant. Rather, the hour was a subtle case for better educational standards. Case in point: Teen father Tyler, barely 16 years old, hadn’t been to school since he was 13. Yes, 13.
This is where I insert a disclaimer that I’m not an education policy expert, but as a viewer, all I can say is: Whoa. Kudos to the teen for enrolling in a program to obtain his GED (which he did four days before his daughter was born), but it was sad to watch someone who had clearly fallen through the cracks. I’ll leave the in-depth discussion of this issue to you all, but it was definitely worth mentioning off the top because it was the most distinctive part of an otherwise basic episode of 16 and Pregnant, where 16-year-old Nicole and the aforementioned father were expecting their first child to mixed reviews from family members (Tyler’s mom being the most out-spoken opponent). READ FULL STORY »
Mar 31
2010
09:14 AM ET
Jaime Escalante, 'Stand and Deliver' teacher, dies at 79
Image Credit: Everett CollectionThe passing of math teacher Jaime Escalante on Tuesday echoes far beyond the East L.A. classrooms where he taught underprivileged students for decades. The 1988 film, Stand and Deliver, introduced his stubborn dedication to the barrio kids of Garfield High School to the world, and even middle-class kids in suburban New Jersey like myself were inspired by his drive and ingenuity. Edward James Olmos (Battlestar Galactica) was nominated for an Oscar for his portrayal of Escalante, an unconventional educator who refuses to give up on his kids and inspires them to pass the difficult Advanced Placement calculus exam. I have no doubt that Escalante and Olmos also inspired a generation of teachers to try new ways to connect with their own students. It’s funny. When I read the sad news, my first thought was of Olmos’ performance in the film. But the second was of my own beloved high school mentors who made such an impact on my own life. We’re lucky to have maybe one teacher who recognizes a latent talent in ourselves even before we do, and even if they weren’t dashing like Robin Williams’ Mr. Keating or artsy like Richard Dreyfuss’ Mr. Holland, their fingerprints are all over our subsequent achievements.
What role models do you remember growing up? Let’s pay tribute to them today, in honor of Kimo’s passing.
Mar 31
2010
08:54 AM ET
Donald Trump on Jesse James' TV prospects: 'Whether you like Jesse or not, he's now a much hotter commodity'
Image Credit: Virginia Sherwood/NBCJesse James is America’s Most Wanted — and not in a good way. But one person who believes that James’ Hollywood career won’t be derailed by his alleged infidelity while married to Sandra Bullock is the man who once fired him: Donald Trump. (The motorcycle mogul and former host of Monster Garage and Jesse James Is a Dead Man finished third on the 2009 edition of The Celebrity Apprentice.) Trump asserts that, “In terms of television, it probably helps him…. Whether you like Jesse or not, he’s now a much hotter commodity than before this happened. And his audience — they love him.” (The Donald does note that James won’t likely be landing any endorsement deals soon.)
And what did Trump think of James when he was on the show? “I knew Jesse very well during The Apprentice,” he says. “He was very quiet. I really thought he had a great relationship with his wife, and actually, I would ask him on more than one occasion, ‘What the hell did Sandra ever see in you?’… He’s a tough guy, but very smart. And very guarded. I’d rarely see him let down his guard.”
For more on James and how the scandal may impact his career, check out the new issue of Entertainment Weekly, which hits newsstands later this week.
Mar 31
2010
08:50 AM ET
Alex Lambert joins 'If I Can Dream'...will American Idol's loss be Web series' gain?
Look, I’m a crazy person. When it comes to American Idol, I bruise easily, and I never truly heal. People with clear-thinking brains and/or good therapists are no longer filled with RAGE thinking about how Aloha Mischeaux, Sabrina Sloan, and Ricky Braddy all got robbed from their respective top 12 slots in seasons 4, 6, and 8. I, on the other hand, continue to seethe…my only succor found by listening to Aloha’s bangin’ R&B tracks on her MySpace page, dreaming about Sabrina’s never-completed duets disc with Sundance Head, and following Mr. Braddy on Twitter. READ FULL STORY »
Mar 31
2010
08:23 AM ET
'American Idol': On the scene for the Top 10 performance night
Image Credit: Michael Becker/PictureGroupAs Aunt Whittlz and Adam “The Beav” Vary previously revealed, I’m the Idol on-the-scene newbie. This was the first time I’ve ever stepped inside the Idoldome, which is not so much a dome as a futuristic black box, and let me tell you, I had a blast. As I walked up the stairs to my seat, I couldn’t help but feel a slight tingle on the back on my neck as I caught a glance of the neon American Idol logo. Oh, this place really does exist! The thing is, on television, Idol takes on an almost mythic quality — you watch knowing that you’re one of the 20 million viewers tuning in. But in the Idoldome, it’s just you, the judges, and 1,000 or so fellow human beings, including the 7-year-old girl sitting next to me (Crystal’s stilettos had nothing on this girl’s pink hippopotamus shoes). Simply put, I’ve been to Sigur Rós concerts larger than this, and they don’t even sing in English. Ah, but there goes a camera crane whizzing by, capturing this medium-sized concert and zapping it to TV after TV after TV. That little girl instinctually knew to wave at the camera, and if I wasn’t waving, it was only because I was furiously jotting down notes.
READ FULL STORY »
Mar 31
2010
07:35 AM ET
'V' recap: Why can't it let its sci-fi flag fly?
Image Credit: Jack Rowand/ABCIf V were a child, it would be an alien-human hybrid toddler who scores extremely well on aptitude tests but suffers from severe personality disorders because of emotionally distant parents. V was supposed to stand next to FlashForward in ABC’s beautiful dream of a schedule full of fan-crazy serialized shows, big-myth sci-fi headtrips that could replace the outgoing Lost. Perhaps because FlashForward had some questionable opening numbers, production on V shut down for a full month, with a planned four-month break to come after just four episodes. READ FULL STORY »
Mar 30
2010
10:09 PM ET
'Lost': Let's open 'The Package' and start talking! SPOILER ALERT!
Welcome to the Sideways world, in which Doc Jensen is a theology professor who watches no television and was once arrested for lecturing in the buff, while I am a 5-foot-7.5-inch EW.com writer who recaps Lost episodes in traditional 5-7-5 haiku format. (“LA X”: Flash sideways — What if?/No, wait… Real reality?/Ouchy! Pulled my brain) Without further backstory, why don’t we whip up a few poems that — no, no, wait! Please don’t leave. I was just kidding. Doc Jensen will be here very, very soon to deliver his Thoughts of Awesome on this week’s episode, titled “The Package.” In fact, if you listen closely, you can hear the frantic, inspired tapping of his titanium-reinforced keyboard. But until his analysis arrives, let’s get a quick conversation started about “The Package.”(WARNING: If you haven’t watched “The Package” yet, stop reading right now, or you’re going to get spoiled something fierce.) READ FULL STORY »
Mar 30
2010
06:49 PM ET
'Castle' renewed! Which show are you championing now?
Image Credit: Michael Desmond/ABCThe news continues to be good for Castle. After hitting a series high with last night’s conclusion of the two-part serial killer event (14.5 million viewers, the Alphabet’s best scripted performance in the time slot in 14 years), word came today that ABC has renewed the show for a 22-episode third season. That’s the power of Rick Castle/Nathan Fillion’s charm (they really are one in the same) and of a smart, sexy woman packing heat (Stana Katic). Let’s also give props to ABC for giving the show time to grow and a solid lead-in. (Cough, Better Off Ted, cough.)
Now the big question: Which show are you still championing for renewal? Make your passionate plea in the comments. And bookmark Michael Ausiello’s updated Renewal Scorecard.
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