Archive: June 2010 (161-170 of 584)

Jun 23 2010 01:31 PM ET

Lunchtime Poll: Eliot Spitzer to host CNN show

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Categories: Casting couch, Celebrity Scandals, EWWWWWWWWWW.com, Hell to the No!, Lunchtime Poll, Politics as Entertainment, Sexytimes, Strange Bedfellows, Television, Things That Are Criminal, Things That Make Me Die Inside, Unfortunate Developments

Former New York governor and prostitute enthusiast Eliot Spitzer will replace Campbell Brown in CNN’s 8 p.m. time slot. Along with Washington Post columnist Kathleen Parker, Spitzer will host a roundtable discussion program to debut this fall. “Other cable news channels force-feed viewers one narrow, predictable point of view; in contrast, CNN will be offering a lively roundup of all the best ideas,” explained CNN president Jon Klein. So many questions! Among them: “Will this end up boosting CNN’s ratings?”…and the important one below. [THR]

Jun 23 2010 01:15 PM ET

'Zombieland' director Ruben Fleischer to helm 'Babe in the Woods'

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Categories: Horror, Movies

Ruben-FleischerImage Credit: David Livingston/WireImage.com; Michael Loccisano/WireImage.comZombieland was one of last year’s truly original delights, so it’s no surprise that its first-time director, Ruben Fleischer, has suddenly found himself very popular. A Zombieland sequel seems like a no-brainer, but it’s also reassuring that Fleischer is picking projects with creative people he knows and admires. He’s re-teaming with his young star, Jesse Eisenberg, for 30 Minutes or Less, and he confirmed to EW.com recent reports that he’ll direct Babe in the Woods, a Mike White (School of Rock) script about a female college student who gets mixed up with the mob. ”Mike White gave me my start in the entertainment industry [with] a job as a PA on Dawson’s Creek, which he was a producer on,” says Fleischer. “It was from working on [his] Chuck & Buck and The Good Girl that I got inspired to try and be a director, so it is incredibly gratifying to now actually be directing a movie Mike wrote.”

With just one film, has Fleischer leaped to the top of the heap of action-comedy directors working today?

Jun 23 2010 01:08 PM ET

'America's Got Talent' is stringing us along

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Categories: America's Got Talent, Reality TV

Aaaaaah, my eyes are still burning from the gross string trick from teenage illusionist Frankie Elliston on last night’s America’s Got Talent. The two-hour bloc was a little too much “talent” for me — it seemed like there were more crummy acts-per-episode than usual, and I’m having a harder and harder time imagining any of these talents as long-form shows. How much of a kid in a Mozart costume can you watch? READ FULL STORY »

Jun 23 2010 01:06 PM ET

'Glee' reality show shelved

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Categories: Glee, Music, Television

Glee-Hell-oImage Credit: Carin Baer/FoxSome people might believe that there’s no such thing as too much Glee, but the show’s creator, Ryan Murphy, is not necessarily one of them. According to New York Magazine, Murphy nixed the previously-announced Glee reality show, in which unknowns would compete to appear in upcoming episodes of the hit television show, because it would require too much attention. A FOX spokesperson concurred, saying “There’s only so many hours in his day.” Hopeful songbirds who had already uploaded audition video to the proposed reality show’s MySpace page shouldn’t despair: Videos have been received and evaluated by the show’s producers, and the most promising talents could still be cast on Glee.

Jun 23 2010 01:02 PM ET

'Wipeout': The Most Satisfying Wipeout of Week 1

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Categories: Animals, Bitchery, DVR Screengrab of the Day, Fa-fa-fa-fa-fashion, Gay/Lesbian/Kathy Griffin, Now That's What I Call a Face!, Ooops!, Reality TV, Things That Are Sad, To Care or Not to Care, Wipeout

All summer — unless nobody seems to care whatsoever — I will present one formerly beaming Wipeout contestant with the Most Satisfying Wipeout of the Week award. It is a prestigious honor right up there with Dancing With the Stars‘ MVG (most valuable gem). Congratulations to the winner of last night’s season premiere: Eddie “The Fierce Dragon” Moton Sr.!

He is also just a winner in general for being so damn fierce. First runner-up: Peet “Smack Efron” Montzingo, lover of musicals, handler of  balls. Second runner-up goes to Leanne Thomson, who “lives to farm” and says spinach is her favorite fruit. Honorable mention: animal cruelty lover Jonelle and the lady who attempted the course with a block of cheese on her head.

Nominate your own deserving Most Satisfying Wipeout contenders in the comments!

Read more: ‘Wipeout’: Host Jill Wagner talks spills, big red balls

Annie on Twitter: @EWAnnieBarrett

Jun 23 2010 12:36 PM ET

World Cup miracle! U.S. scores in stoppage time, advances to next round!

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Categories: Sports

Landon-DonovanImage Credit: Stuart Franklin/Getty ImagesHow did that just happen? After 90 minutes of missed opportunities, blocked shots, fruitless hustle, and some seriously debatable refereeing, the United States soccer team prevailed over Algeria to advance to the next round of the World Cup! When the clock finally hit 90:00, it seemed like it was all over. The U.S.’s admirable campaign to get Americans interested in soccer had failed. Our dream team hadn’t lived up to expectations. Soccer moms across America had lost some common ground with their kids. But then, just as I was about to click out of my gamecast, it happened. In the last few minutes of additional stoppage time, star U.S. player Landon Donovan connected the ball with the back of the net, and the United States took a 1-0 lead over Algeria! Even here in the EW offices, an audible cheer rang loud and clear. The game finished moments later, and in a single play, the U.S. went from the back of the pack to first place in Group C. (Check out the video below.) READ FULL STORY »

Jun 23 2010 12:27 PM ET

Sandra Bullock opts for guitar over wardrobe malfunction at Nashville Rising

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Categories: Country Y'all!, Music, Sandra Bullock

Sandra Bullock made a surprise appearance at Tuesday’s Nashville Rising: A Benefit Concert for Flood Recovery. When her Blind Side co-star Tim McGraw and his wife, Faith Hill, invited her to introduce Faith, she thought she’d come and do some funny bits, have a wardrobe malfunction. But after hearing how generous the community had been when it came time to take care of one another, she wanted to give them something more: a song. She strapped on a guitar, asked the audience to be quiet, and launched into “Smoke on the Water.” Watch the clip below. (Yes, this is a comedy bit, and Bullock’s streak of charming public appearances at a time when most celebrities would be asking for complete privacy continues to keep fans firmly in her corner.)

P.S. If you were wondering, Miley Cyrus, who was among the artists delivering real performances, did tame her wardrobe for the event. She wore pants.

READ FULL STORY »

Jun 23 2010 12:16 PM ET

'My Life on the D List' recap: Old Miss Imperfect

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Categories: Arrested Development, Awwwwww So Cuuuuuute, Bitchery, EWWWWWWWWWW.com, Gay/Lesbian/Kathy Griffin, Grooming, Horrifying But Hypnotic, Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List, Middle-Aged Butt-Kicking, Now That's What I Call a Face!, Off With Her Head!, Reality TV, Shenanigans!, Things That Are Classy, Total Trash, TV Recap, Why Am I Crying?

d-listImage Credit: Jaimie Trueblood/BravoOn last night’s My Life on the D List, Kathy Griffin judged a toddlers’ beauty pageant with her mom (of course), then put on her own toddler beauty pageant for her mom and a completely bewildered audience. “It’s about making a connection with people,” Kathy summed up looking like the Red Queen, cupcake hands all wrong (pictured). The whole thing was very Sports Kids Moms and Dads, Toddlers & Tiaras, Little Miss Perfect, and Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, Yo Gabba Gabba!, and Night of the Living Dead all wrapped up in a filled-to-bursting tank of disgusting kiddie spray tan. It was exactly like that. Oh, and Kathy’s remodeling her “house,” which is now a war zone. She has no plan, just demolition, stacks of wood, a sad pipe where her bar used to be, and a single glass of white w(h)ine for her mother.

The entire episode was surreal. I only tuned in because Liza Minnelli was on last week; I don’t usually watch this show at full attention, but now I know I’ll never stop. I used to assume I’d want to violently shake Kathy Griffin by the shoulders the whole time, and that’s still true, but I’d want to do that because I love her so much, if that makes sense. Also, I want to get drunk with her mom.

Favorite KG quote of the night: “It was really fun judging the infants. You could judge on character, poise, and if they s— themselves while being held by their gay father.” More gems after the jump. READ FULL STORY »

Jun 23 2010 11:58 AM ET

Superman might visit your hometown, unless you live in the South

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Categories: Comic Books, I'm Just a Geek

supermanImage Credit: DC ComicsSooner or later, all great men take a road trip across America. John Steinbeck. Lewis & Clark. The dudes in Easy Rider. Forrest Gump. And now, the Last Son of Krypton. Today, the 700th issue of Superman hits stores, beginning a year-long storyline called “Grounded,” in which the superhero will walk from sea to shining sea. But wait, there’s a meta-twist! According to DC’s website, Superman might visit your town. All you have to do is write an essay “describing why Superman should visit.” I assume he’ll only do so in the comic book and not in real life, but hey, who knows what kind of contract Brandon Routh signed?

Unfortunately, Superman’s travel plans are pretty set in stone at this point: beginning in Philadelphia, Penn., he visits Chicago, Ill., Des Moines, Iowa, Omaha, Neb., Denver, Colo., Salt Lake City, Utah, Las Vegas, Nev., Los Angeles, Portland, Ore., and Seattle, Wash. (Yeesh, Supes really likes the Pacific Northwest. Guess he must prefer coffee to mint juleps. Or maybe he just really wants to go skiing? Err, super-skiing?) The essays are supposed to be 75-1,000 words. Here is my humble plea:

READ FULL STORY »

Jun 23 2010 11:38 AM ET

'Next Fall' is Broadway's first post-Tony casualty; what's next?

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Categories: Stage/Theater, This Week on Stage, Tony Awards

next_fallImage Credit: Carol RoseggThe gay-themed Broadway drama Next Fall will close July 4 after 26 previews and 136 regular performances — reportedly losing the entire $2 million investment of its producers, who include Elton John and David Furnish. Ouch. Despite some rave reviews and Tony nominations for Best Play and Best Director, the show (pictured left) filled just over half its seats in the week after the Tony Awards broadcast.

The Tonys, which aired June 13, did boost the fortunes of some of the night’s biggest winners: The sensational drama Red (a limited-run show that closes on schedule this weekend) and the mediocre Best Musical winner Memphis both saw their grosses climb about 20 percent for the week ending June 20 — though Memphis was still playing at about 86 percent capacity. The sold-out revival of Fences, starring Tony winners Denzel Washington and Viola Davis, continues to break house records at the Cort Theatre, grossing an impressive $1.1 million last week. (The show is slated to end its planned limited run on July 11.) Best Musical Revival winner La Cage aux Folles was up a modest 7 percent and is playing at about 86 percent capacity.

Some of the biggest box office winners were Tony also-rans that benefited from prominent production numbers on the telecast: The musical Million Dollar Quartet had a 25 percent bump in grosses over the previous week; the Green Day musical American Idiot was up 15 percent; and the musical revival Promises, Promises, starring Tony host Sean Hayes, was up 10 percent. While Promises, Promises is nearly sold out these days, both Million Dollar Quartet and American Idiot are playing to houses that are less than 70 percent full — so they’ll need that post-Tony momentum to carry them profitably into the fall, when New York tourism tends to wane.

Like Next Fall, some of this season’s other Tony underachievers are similarly falling short at the box office. Twyla Tharp’s Frank Sinatra dance musical Come Fly Away was down 15 percent last week. And David Mamet’s drama Race, which is currently slated to close Aug. 23 with a new cast headlined by Eddie Izzard and Dennis Haysbert, played to less than half-full theaters last week. If either show appeals to you (and I had a blast at Come Fly Away), act quickly. And needless to say, you can probably pick up discounted tickets for both at TKTS.

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