Archive: June 2010 (71-80 of 584)

Jun 28 2010 03:15 PM ET

Marvel Entertainment expands into television. Which superhero should get their own show?

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Filed under: TV and tagged:

marvel-tvImage Credit: Marvel EntertainmentWhile the world waits in quiet terror to see if 2011′s Captain America and Thor will be good/bad/worse than Punisher: War Zone, Marvel is launching a surprise attack on the small screen. Today, Marvel Entertainment created a new Television division, to be headed by Jeph Loeb, an iconic comic book writer with a lengthy TV resume. (That resume includes Lost and Heroes, so this could go either way.) There’s more information at Marvel’s website. This thing is still in the early stages, but that doesn’t mean we can’t start writing up a wish list: What Marvel characters need get their own TV show?

My sense is that Loeb will be sifting through Marvel’s huge catalogue of second-string heroes. For one thing, the franchise players are probably worth more as movie fodder. More to the point, Marvel sold off rights to most of their best-known characters long ago (Sony owns Spider-Man, while 20th Century Fox has X-Men locked down). That’s not a bad thing, though. If you ask me, a TV series is perfect for some of the less-powerful characters in Marvel lore, who don’t require epic special effects.

READ FULL STORY »

Jun 28 2010 02:44 PM ET

Blagojevich considered Oprah and Arnold Schwarzenegger for Senate seat -- but not goldenrod balloons

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Filed under: News and tagged: ,

blagojevich-oprahImage Credit: Christopher Polk/Getty Images; Scott Olson/Getty ImagesAccording to FBI tapes played at Rod Blagojevich’s corruption trial today, the former Illinois governor/legendary Celebrity Apprentice star considered Oprah Winfrey and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger as options to fill the Senate seat vacated by President Obama. Seriously, looking at these two options — one of whom doesn’t even live in Illinois — how did goldenrod balloons not make the cut? (Oprah’s rep declined to comment; Gov. Schwarzenegger’s office has yet to issue comment.)

Of course, if pigs decided to take flight and either of Blagojevich’s choices had gone through, we’d have quite an interesting scenario. Oprah in politics? (This wasn’t the first time the possibility was brought up.) Hey, at least we’d get a free Pontiac G6 every time tax refund time rolls around. But do we want another celebrity in office? I’d vote no, but then again, we already have this in office. And this. Surely, a celebrity can’t make things much worse?

So tell me, PopWatchers: If you had to pick a celebrity to be to fill the Senate seat, who would it be? And if Blago was to turn his Senate seat selection into a reality show, what would it be called? (So You Think You Can Lead? Flip This Seat? Little Minds, Big Responsibilities? A Shot at Prison with Rod Blagojevich?)

Jun 28 2010 02:40 PM ET

The BET Awards: The parade of wacky red carpet choices continues

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Filed under: About Last Night, Music, TV and tagged: , , ,

BET-red-carpet-fashionLast night’s BET Awards brought out many things: Kanye’s highly anticipated return, Eminem’s surprise performance with B.o.B. and Chris Brown‘s emotional tribute to Michael Jackson. What it did not bring out, though, was dazzling fashion. You name the crazy, and it was there. No pants: Jada Pinkett-Smith; bandeau tops: Cassie; and next to nothing: former Sweet Valley twin Brittany Daniel, continuing this year’s trend in out-there red carpet statements.

Music award shows are famous (or notorious?) for their edgy red carpets. By no means do I expect flouncy dresses or girly ball gowns, but when did dressing in the most jaw-dropping outfits possible become the norm? Is the m.o. now to shock and, at times, horrify?

If celebrities want a real lesson in daring to be different, my advice is to follow Cate Blanchett’s lead. She practically wrote the book on toeing the line between edgy and tasteful.

What did you guys think of the fashion from the BET Awards?

Photo: Dan Steinberg/AP Images; Hollywood Press/startraksphoto.com; Chris Hatcher/PR Photos; Paul Archuleta/FilmMagic

Jun 28 2010 01:30 PM ET

Shrek is getting kids to eat onions. Great. Now someone sell them on broccoli.

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Filed under: Food and Drink, Movies and tagged: , , ,

Today’s Wall Street Journal contained a fun little article about how Shrek Forever After‘s tie-in with the Vidalia Onion Committee is getting youngsters to eat onions. The campaign, which includes in-store displays with giant inflatable Shreks and images of characters on the packaging, is being credited, at least in part, to some eight million more pounds of Vidalias being sold so far this year compared to the same period last year. “There’s no question that Shrek has driven sales at the consumer level,” says John Tumino, a sales director at Richter & Co., a Charlotte, N.C., company that supplies onions to Safeway.

I have a four-year-old at home, and she will not eat onions, Vidalia or any other. She’s not buying the “but these onions are sweet!” line. She meticulously extracts every tiny speck from her fried rice, piling them on the edge of my plate. Or flinging them on the floor. So you can color me intrigued if Shrek — whom she likes, though not as much as Donkey, who is also featured in some in-store displays — can get her to eat them. After all, it’d make my life easier if I didn’t have to worry about whether stuff had onions in it…or fight to enjoy my dinner while a certain little someone amasses a greasy heap of discards next to food I’m trying to eat.

But there’s no major nutritional value to onions, so it’s more interesting than a godsend if a movie character gets her to eat them. Broccoli, brussells sprouts, salmon, breakfast that doesn’t have to be drowned in sweeteners — now we’re talking. READ FULL STORY »

Jun 28 2010 01:00 PM ET

Questions for 'True Blood' production designer Suzuki Ingerslev?

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Filed under: Television, TV and tagged: , ,

true-blood-productionImage Credit: John P. Johnson/HBOHave you paused this season to marvel at Lafayette’s bathroom decor or the contents of Jason’s refrigerator? Are you dying to know what hidden gems we’ve yet to notice on the walls of Fangtasia, Merlotte’s, or the King of Mississippi’s home? Well, now is your chance to geek out and discuss all that and more with True Blood’s production designer Suzuki Ingerslev (an Emmy nominee for her work on this show, Six Feet Under, Tracey Takes On…, and Shark). She’ll be taking your questions tomorrow afternoon, so post them below before noon ET Tuesday. Come back to PopWatch on Friday for her answers.

More True Blood:
Ken Tucker’s recap of the latest episode
True Blood: TV’s most twisted sex scene of all time?

Jun 28 2010 01:00 PM ET

Warren 'The Ape' DeMontague: A primate for all seasons

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Filed under: TV

warren-the-apeImage Credit: MTVI’m not a huge fan of reality TV, particularly on MTV. I lost interest in the genre after the first season of The Real World (you remember, with Julie the Southern girl and Heather B. and that model dude and the other guy). But I’ll be tuning into MTV tonight to catch my new favorite reality show about a washed-up celebrity letting camera crews tape his humiliating attempts to get back on top. I’m referring, of course, to Warren the Ape, the latest spin-off of Greg the Bunny, the brilliant puppet act that’s been bouncing around cable channels in one form or another for nearly a decade now.

Warren’s last big break was in prime time on Fox’s version of Greg the Bunny, a brief-lived 2002 sitcom that took you behind the scenes of a children’s TV show in a universe where puppets weren’t only real creatures, but treated as second-class citizens in the most adorable metaphor for racial injustice you’ve ever seen. Warren DeMontague, of course, was the veteran stage actor puppet (voiced by series co-creator Dan Milano) with an ego the size of a gorilla and multiple substance-abuse issues who was slumming his talents by playing Professor Ape on the kiddy show. After Fox canceled Greg the Bunny, Warren got sporadic work doing shorts for the Independent Film Channel (where he and Greg got their start before Fox discovered them). Now, after years on the skids, but still inexplicably wearing a football helmet, the primate thespian is getting another shot on MTV, letting viewers tag along as he attends the Adult Video Awards, loses a breakfast cereal endorsement deal, and has a session with celebrity therapist Dr. Drew Pinsky. In last week’s episode, Greg himself hopped along for a guest spot (Warren took him to a brothel). Fingers crossed for this week’s third installment: We’re hoping Count Blah makes a cameo.

What do you think, Popwatchers? Is anybody else out there going ape over Warren?

Jun 28 2010 12:49 PM ET

Angelina Jolie in August's 'Vanity Fair': Open to working with Brad Pitt again, maybe on a 'Mr. & Mrs. Smith' sequel

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Filed under: Movies, To Care or Not to Care and tagged: , ,

vanity-fair-coverImage Credit: Vanity Fair MagazineAngelina Jolie is on the cover of August’s Vanity Fair, ostensibly to promote July 23rd’s Salt, but surprise, surprise, the snippets leaked so far say almost nothing about that promising movie and lots about her relationship with…uh…whatshisname…oh yeah, Brad Pitt. There are tidbits on their kids: Maddox is an intellectual! Shiloh wants to dress like a boy! The Oscar winner (speaking on the Venice set of The Tourist) also speaks about her acting career — namely, that she might be giving it up sooner rather than later: “It’s not the most important thing in my life. Acting helped me as I was growing up. It helped me learn about myself, helped me travel, helped me understand life, express myself, all those wonderful things. So I’m very, very grateful, it’s a fun job. It’s a luxury. Look, I’m at work today in the middle of Venice. But I don’t think I’ll do it much longer….Because I have a happy home….I got back from work last night, and everybody was playing music and dancing and I suddenly found myself dancing around with a bunch of little fun crazy people.”

More interesting to me were Jolie’s thoughts on a potential Mr. & Mrs. Smith sequel: READ FULL STORY »

Jun 28 2010 12:47 PM ET

Christopher Nolan started 'Batman 3' script, will.i.am. says Fergie not leaving Black Eyed Peas

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Filed under: Movies, Music, News, Television, TV and tagged: , , , , ,

excess-hollywood

  • Holy awesome, Batman! Christopher Nolan has confirmed that he has started writing a sequel to The Dark Knight, which will be based on a story he composed with David Goyer. [MTV News]
  • Despite rumors that phunked with our hearts, will.i.am Tweeted that Fergie will not be leaving the Black Eyed Peas: “Don’t believe gossip about fergie leaving the group (we are never breaking up) its all lies!!!”
  • Showtime announced in a press release that David Nevins has been named the network’s new president. Showtime’s current president, Robert Greenblatt, will see his contract expire in July.
  • Judy Greer will star in the CBS midseason comedy Mad Love, replacing Lizzy Caplan in the ensemble comedy about four friends who are searching for romance. No word on whether or not Greer will look for love with glasses on or hair up. [Deadline]
  • Brothers and Sisters‘ Emily VanCamp will star in the Hallmark telefilm Let Them Shine, which follows an “inexperienced teacher who overcomes impossible odds to make a difference in the lives of homeless students.” Memo to Coolio: It’s comeback time! [Variety]
Jun 28 2010 12:37 PM ET

'Kourtney and Khloe Take Miami' recap: Getting away with (accusations of) murder?

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

My descent into enjoying the ridiculous, casual horribleness of Kourtney and Khloe Take Miami continued last night, with an episode that found “Khloé” in “journalist” mode and attempting to better understand the mind of the sociopath/serial killer. How she managed to lure Miami’s police chief to her late-night radio show, or score an audience with a renowned serial-killer expert is a mystery worthy of Jessica Fletcher — perhaps there’s just a little bit of famewhore inside all of us? — but I will state for the record that this woman makes me laugh. READ FULL STORY »

Jun 28 2010 12:20 PM ET

Lunchtime Poll: Does Victoria Beckham have a social responsibility to set better hair trends than this?

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Filed under: Music, To Care or Not to Care and tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Victoria-BeckhamImage Credit: Splash NewsWhat the hell, Posh Spice?

Someone needs to have aspirational short hair for all of us out there who would look ridiculous with short hair. I thought it would be you, forever. But now there are pelts on your shoulders. People used to look like you. Now you look like everyone. You are supposed to inspire Kate Gosselin, not follow her lead. Do something. Fix it! Think of the herds of teenagers, who also already look like this. Think of your shoulders. Can they withstand the weight?

Please just think about everything.

I am SO SICK of the fake hair, people.

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