Image Credit: Hamish Blair/Getty ImagesFirst the World Cup, now this? What an exciting day for sports news! After almost ten hours of play at Wimbledon, a first-round match between American John Isner and France’s Nicolas Mahut has become the longest match in tennis history — and it still isn’t over! Due to a rule that prohibits fifth-set tiebreakers at Wimbledon, the tennis stars are currently tied at 59-59, and the match has been suspended until Thursday. It must be grueling for the players, but the audience must be exhausted as well. I’m sure some bored spectator thought, “I’d rather watch grass grow than watch this for another hour,” only to realize that on Wimbledon’s courts, you can do both. Tennis jokes aside, though, this record-breaking match has got me wondering: What else could I accomplish in ten hours? I’ll start the list below, and you can serve up your ideas in the comments! READ FULL STORY »
Archive: June 2010 (151-160 of 584)
Wimbledon tennis match has gone on for 10 hours: What else could you do in that time?
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Oprah Winfrey Network to investigate Zach Anner-Dr. Phyllis voting controversy
After various websites noted a curious surge in votes Tuesday for a contestant in Oprah Winfrey’s “Your OWN Show” contest, OWN, the television network Winfrey will launch in January, confirms to EW it is investigating. The online contest is really a search for contestants for an OWN reality series in which competitors will then vie for their own show on the network. Until yesterday, Zach Anner, a witty wheelchair-bound Texan who explains in his video that he has cerebral palsy (“the sexiest of the palsies”) and pitches “a travel show for people who never thought they could travel,” held a commanding lead. But in the afternoon, contestant Dr. Phyllis — who proposes a reality show on teachers because the drama is in the classroom, rather convincingly — took the top spot by amassing votes at a rate that spurred some techno-savvy readers into sleuth mode. Geekosystem has a detailed breakdown of the various claims (complete with graphs), among them that for at least a few hours, the source code for Phyllis’ “Vote” button differed from that of all the other contestants and that as quickly as her vote-per-minute average rose it dropped later that day (from 1,923 votes a minute to 3). Contacted by EW, a spokesperson for OWN issued the following statement: “The online voting rules for the ‘Your OWN Show’ video submission competition were carefully crafted to be fair to everyone. Any allegations of impropriety will be investigated and the appropriate actions taken to keep the process unbiased.” (As of 5:15 p.m. ET Wednesday, Anner was back in the lead, by a margin of more than 400,000 votes; Dr. Phyllis could not be reached for comment.)
While some conspiracy theorists have gone as far as to suggest that Winfrey could be rigging the competition against Anner, he has not jumped to that conclusion: “I sincerely doubt that Oprah would do anything like that,” he says in a statement to EW. “She’s probably too busy building schools and helping children to even notice someone like me. I’m grateful for everyone’s continued support and to Oprah for giving me this opportunity. Thanks again, happy travels, and keep being sexy!”
Read more:
Evidence of a benevolent Internet: Zach Anner’s journey into the Oprahsphere
Oprah’s 13 Hall of Fame Episodes
Bret Michaels interview on ‘Oprah’: Every hospital bed has its badass bandana
‘Footloose’ remake: Six things Kenny Wormald needs in order to channel fluffy Kevin Bacon from 1980
Image Credit: Everett CollectionKenny Wormald, who will star in the Footloose remake to be released April 1, 2011, is not a complete unknown, you charlatans! He toured with Justin Timberlake, was featured in MTV’s Dancelife, played a shirtless backup dancer on the third episode of The CW’s Melrose Place, and contributed his ballet and hip-hop techniques as Tommy Anderson in Center Stage 2. As pictured, Kenny has already nearly achieved 1980 Kevin Baconness. If I want to be picky, he is about six degrees away. He needs 1) Fluffier hair; 2) better turnout; 3) slim-fit jeans; 4) slightly pursed lips; 5) haunting lighting scheme; 6) a car. Right now he is like Bacos, but I’m confident he can turn it up and elevate himself to a full strip.
I’d like to take this opportunity to publicly berate myself for being openly obsessed with 2000′s Center Stage but utterly clueless about 2008′s Center Stage: Turn It Up. It practically just came out! I was sitting right here! If the universe fulfills its destiny we might even Turn It Up Higher in 2012! Anyway, take two minutes to familiarize yourself with Kenny Wormald and his knack for the gettin’-to-know-you dance tutorial scene. Off-topic, I kind of love how the last phrase Kenny utters in this clip is “Shoot the s—.” READ FULL STORY »
Nurse in photo that makes romantics weep dies at 91. How come no one has ever made a movie about this?
Image Credit: Alfred Eisenstaedt/Time & Life Pictures/Getty ImagThe news that Edith Shain, the woman believed to be nurse in the famous photograph by Alfred Eisenstaedt, has died is a bit of a stretch to blog here, I admit. But her passing has brought to attention what I consider a glaring Hollywood oversight. The identities of the people in the photo have been the subject of debate for decades, and while I’m not a historian prepared to make a case for any particular claim that’s been made over the years, as a moviegoer I wonder: How come Hollywood has never given us its take on this story (and I’m talking about more than just a shout-out in Watchmen)?
Part of me believes that some things are better left to the imagination. The whimsical story we each make up in our own minds and the emotion the photo evokes is certainly enough to make our hearts flutter — my own completely fictional version of the story has the kiss being the first meeting in a great epic romance. And it would be a crime to taint such an iconic photograph’s impact with a movie in the spirit of Pearl Harbor (which I secretly adore but hate that I do). But if the movie was produced with the same tone of mystery and uncertainty that surrounds the image’s history and honored the photo as a celebration of peace, it might not be the worst idea.
In my head, it’d have to star Rachel McAdams because I think she’s classy and has proven she can pull off portraying the era. But the guy would have to be a ruggedly handsome unknown. Of course, this could all be my Wednesday Crazies talking. Interesting to think about, though. Would anyone watch this movie with me, PopWatchers?
New 'Piranha 3D' poster: Come on, where's the cheese?
Dimension has revealed its latest poster for Aug. 20′s Piranha 3D — and it’s as disappointing as a Kenny G song without the soprano sax. Come on, Piranha 3D: You’re a movie called…Piranha 3D. We should fully expect the poster equivalent of processed orange Easy Cheese, and what we’ve got here is a hunk of brie. I mean, we’re talking about a movie with a plot involving giant, growling (yes, growling!) fish attacking teens whose key to survival seems to be simply staying out of the water!
And yet all I want to do is send this tooth-baring fish back to the Jurassic Park reject pile from which it came. (Because, does it even look like a fish? I’m seeing T-Rex snout.) So, I say try again, Dimension. I want to see stupid. Something along the lines of gigantic piranhas exploding as they launch themselves into buildings. Ask SyFy — they’ll know what to do.
Jason Reitman nabs 'Elliot Allagashm,' Mos Def gets 'Enlightened'
- Up in the Air director Jason Reitman has optioned Simon Rich’s novel Elliot Allagash, which follows a ridiculed private school boy who attaches himself to a villainous teen. Billy Zabka to apply. [THR]
- Most def good news for Mos Def: The actor will star as a regular in the Mike White-Laura Dern HBO comedy Enlightened. [Deadline]
- Fox has confirmed that 24 director Jon Cassar will work as executive producer and director on Steven Spielberg’s prehistoric series Terra Nova. Unclear: How Nova‘s T-Rex-es will dismantle bombs Jack Bauer-style with such tiny arms. (I don’t know, guys. It’s hump day. Cut me a break.)
'Toy Story 3': Best reaction you witnessed from a child?
Image Credit: Disney/PixarThere are those adults who would go to a late showing of Toy Story 3 in an attempt to avoid seeing it with children who haven’t yet learned that one doesn’t talk during movies. Then there are those of us who can’t do that know that hearing what an uncensored child says during a Pixar film is part of the experience. What’s the best reaction you witnessed at Toy Story 3? My Father’s Day afternoon screening had plenty of surprisingly well-behaved kids. (On second thought, I’ve never had a problem at Pixar movies because they hold children’s attention.) The moment I was reminded I was surrounded by kids was when (spoiler alert!) Buzz was about to be switched to demo mode. One boy at the back of the theater screamed “Noooooooooo!” The isolated outburst wasn’t annoying, it was heartwarming. You felt how much he loved Buzz and didn’t want him to change.
Your turn.
More Toy Story 3:
Toy Story 3 Q&A: John Morris, the voice of Andy, on how he won the role
Toy Story 3 poll: Did you cry?
Owen Gleiberman reviews Toy Story 3
Owen Gleiberman’s message to men: Yes, it’s okay to cry at Toy Story 3
10 Pixar classics: EW’s movie critics rank ‘em
Happy birthday Jason Mraz! The cool of 'I'm Yours' still hasn't done run out.
It’s officially summer, which can only mean two things: 1) We can expect to hear Jason Mraz’s “I’m Yours” on a constant loop on the radio, as we have since 2008, and 2) We can celebrate Mraz’s 33rd birthday — today! So in honor of this warm day — and Mraz’s feel-good song, which happens to be the third best-selling digital single of all time (and also holds the record for most weeks on Billboard’s Hot 100 chart) — let’s re-evaluate our love for the ditty with a poll!
PopWatch Confessional: Have you ever disturbed the peace with your singing?
Image Credit: Everett CollectionThe South Carolina beach community Sullivan’s Island wants to outlaw singing in public, particularly between the hours of 11 p.m and 7 a.m., if you’re loud enough to be annoying. The town administrator told CNN the residents have already voted twice in favor of the ordinance, and if they do so again in July, violators could start receiving a ticket and a maximum $500 fine in August. The exact wording of the ordinance: “It shall be unlawful for any person to yell, shout, hoot, whistle, or sing on the public streets, particularly between the hours of 11:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. or at any time or place so as to annoy or disturb the quiet, comfort, or repose of persons in any office, or in any dwelling, or other type of residence, or of any persons in the vicinity.”
As someone who’s been annoyed by the sound of her neighbors’ stereos (and drunks on the street) on more than one occasion, I can understand the desire to shush people. And I can only imagine the kind of shenanigans a beach community sees when the bars let out. I’m sure there will be some clear-cut cases, but I also see gray areas: Let’s say you’re walking home after a really crappy day and three sober guys in front of you suddenly break into “Day Man” from It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia. If you’re a Sunny fan, this random act of musical hilarity is like a little sign from God that your life doesn’t totally suck. If you’re not, men doing falsetto could be considered irritating. I hate to think I would have missed out on that moment because those guys were afraid of getting fined. Can I suggest an amendment to the ordinance that allows sober people to sing comedy references as long as they’re moving (that way, they won’t be annoying anyone in particular for too long)?
Have you ever disturbed the peace with your singing? My colleague Kate Ward just admitted that she got detention in third grade for singing the hula song from Dirty Dancing in the hallway.
Your turn.
Cynthia Nixon on 'The Big C': Welcome back to the small screen, Miranda!
Image Credit: Eric Charbonneau/Le Studio/WireImage.comCynthia Nixon is returning to cable TV — though this time she’s not playing Sarah Jessica Parker’s friend but Laura Linney’s in Showtime’s The Big C, the network confirms. (The news was first reported by Deadline.) While no one could replace Miranda Hobbes in our heart, the prospect of Nixon sharing screen time with Linney has us pretty excited. So now all we need is to get the rest of Carrie’s sidekicks back on the small screen where they belong. What say you PopWatchers — which TV shows would you like to see Charlotte (Kristen Davis) and Samantha (Kim Cattrall) join?
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