Archive: July 2010 (271-280 of 583)

Jul 19 2010 02:26 PM ET

'Celebrity Rehab' season 4 cast announced: Rachel Uchitel now considered a 'celebrity'

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Categories: Reality TV, Water Cooler

celebrity-rehabImage Credit: Jason LaVeris/FilmMagic; Arun Nevader/FilmMagicVH1′s Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew will return for its fourth season later this year, continuing several trends I have a hard time comprehending: Drug Rehab as Entertainment; Drug Rehab as Celebrity Career Boost; and Redefinition of the Word ‘Celebrity’ to Feed the Reality TV Beast. But the show must go on, I suppose, and according to a release from the network, the cast slated to undergo detoxification and treatment at the Pasadena Recovery Center will include the following folks: “Jeremy London (Party of Five, 7th Heaven), Rachel Uchitel (Infamous Party Planner), Janice Dickinson (The Janice Dickinson Modeling Agency), Leif Garrett (Musician), Frankie Lons (Keyshia Cole’s Mother), Jason Wahler (The Hills) and Jason Davis (Socialite).”

Contributing to this surreal news is the way VH1 parenthetically describes some people using their TV credits, some using their professions, one via her blood relation to another celebrity, and one in a bizarre code that doesn’t really say why she’s famous at all. That last example, of course, refers to Uchitel, alleged former mistress of Tiger Woods and David Boreanaz. Let’s be honest: If any one of us had been widely reported to have had an affair with a famous married person, then we too might find ourselves on a VH1 series with the chyron “Infamous Office Procrastinator” or “Infamous Homemaker” or “Infamous Corporate Drone.” It’s enough to make me a trifle skittish thinking about the weird potential circle-of-reality-TV life being perpetuated here: Involvement in celebrity scandal leads to celebrity, celebrity + addiction earns a TV gig, which leads to increased fame, which leads to…what? Cure from addiction? Or the loss of one’s televised rehab as a means of publicity?

What do you think of VH1′s show? What do you think about the season 4 Celebrity Rehab cast? And will you be tuning in when it comes back later this year?

Jul 19 2010 02:15 PM ET

Lunchtime Poll: 'Inception' dreams of Tom Berenger

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Categories: Lunchtime Poll

Annie Barrett asked me to take over her Lunchtime Pollster duties while she’s on vacation in Canada or wherever. (Actually, she just left a post-it note on my computer screen: “DO MY JOB FOR ME, NERD!”) Like most people, I spent the weekend waiting in line to see Batman Minus Batman Inception. No spoilers here, but I do have one question: Is Christopher Nolan running a Career Renewal Center? As far as me and my friend IMDB can figure, Inception is the first time that Tom Berenger has starred in a major Hollywood release since Major League II, in 1994. (To all you Twilight fans: Tom Berenger was the coolest man alive in 1986, and then again briefly in 1989.)

You also have Lukas Haas (the dude with the crazy grandma in Mars Attacks!) and Tom Hardy, the only actor not wearing a perfectly-tailored monochrome suit. Before I saw Inception, I still mostly remembered Hardy for his role as Captain Picard’s Evil Romulan Clone in Star Trek: Nemesis. Which is not a sentence that Annie Barrett will ever write.

Who were you most excited to see in Inception, PopWatchers?

Read more:
‘Inception’: Let’s talk about that ending
‘Inception earns $60 million at the weekend box office
‘Inception’: What was the best scene?

Darren on Twitter: @EWDarrenFranich

Jul 19 2010 01:56 PM ET

'Anchorman 2' was going to be a musical, says Adam McKay

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Categories: Movies, Stage/Theater, Steve Carell, Things That Are Awesome!, Will Ferrell

anchormanImage Credit: Frank MasiThis is something we choose to believe because it would have been awesome: Adam McKay told CHUD the ’80s-set Anchorman sequel that fell apart over budget issues was going to be a musical. “We were going to do four months on Broadway and then jump right into filming,” he said. Two reasons to believe him aside from the “Afternoon Delight” moment in the first film (and the music video): Ferrell’s limited run with You’re Welcome America. A Final Night with George W Bush in 2009, and we know Paul Rudd loves to karaoke. (McKay’s reps did not have further comment on the matter when contacted earlier today.)

What other films would you like to see made into a Broadway musical? I wonder how The Notebook is coming? And Elf?

Jul 19 2010 01:42 PM ET

TBS to air 'Seinfeld' episodes featuring Yankee icon George Steinbrenner all week

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Categories: In Memoriam, Television, Things That Are Classy

George-Steinbrenner-seinfeldJason Alexander’s character on Seinfeld, George Costanza, had many problems: His cheapskate ways caused the death of his fiancée. His parents were nuts. And then there was that shrinkage. But one thing he could always count on (or not) was his job in the front office with the New York Yankees, given to him by The Boss himself, George Steinbrenner, who was played by the Seinfeld co-creator Larry David on the series. And now, with Steinbrenner’s passing last week, TV Guide reports that TBS plans to air 10 episodes that feature the Yankees owner all week long.

The first episode tonight — airing at 7 p.m. ET — centers on George’s first attempt to work for Steinbrenner. Sure, we’ve all seen it before, but a Seinfeld dedication to The Boss is still a home run.

Jul 19 2010 01:25 PM ET

'Sharktopus' trailer: Half shark! Half octopus! 100% fantastic garbage!

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Categories: 100% Pure Cheese, Horror, Movie Trailers, Movies, Sci-Fi, Television

shark-octopusImage Credit: Valerie Taylor/Ardea/Retna Ltd; Pat Morris/Retna LtdWhat’s scarier than a shark or a giant octopus? That’s right! A Sharktopus!

Actually, having just watched the trailer for the new, Eric Roberts-starring, Roger Corman-produced Syfy channel movie of that name, I’m not convinced sharktopuses — or should that be “sharktopi”? — are scary at all. But that’s not really the point, is it? With a bungee jumper getting eaten in mid leap, a retro-cheesy theme song, and Roberts chewing the scenery like, well, a hungry shark-octopus hybrid super weapon of some sort, this has “Unmissable crud” written all over it. In blood! And octopus ink!! And possibly waterproof paint as well!!!!!!!!

Check out the clip after the jump, and tell us what you think. READ FULL STORY »

Jul 19 2010 01:03 PM ET

Simon Pegg will accept 'Mission: Impossible 4,' Wes Bentley to star in post-apocalyptic 'Hirokin'

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Categories: Casting, Deals, Excess Hollywood, Geekery, Movies, Television

excess-hollywood

  • Simon Pegg is in talks to accept his next mission: reprising his role as Benji Dunn in Mission: Impossible 4. [THR]
  • Wes Bentley, Jessica Szohr, Julian Sands, Angus Macfadyen, and Laura Ramsey will all star in Hirokin, a post-apocalyptic drama about a man (Bentley) who “must fulfill his destiny when forced to choose between avenging the murder of his family or fighting for the freedom of a people long abused.” In a twist ending, he decides to just film a plastic bag instead. [Variety]
  • Star Trek‘s Clifton Collins will play a man who refudiates the president (Blair Underwood)’s agenda in NBC’s The Event. [THR]
  • News from Jupiter’s c**k: Dustin Clare has nabbed the lead role in Starz’s Spartacus prequel, playing gladiator Gannicus. Dextaaa‘s Jaime Murray and General Hospital‘s Marisa Ramirez have also joined the cast. [THR]
  • Looks like Love could rock: Will & Grace writing-producing pair Jon Kinnally and Tracy Poust will act as showrunners of NBC’s midseason series Love Bites. [THR]
Jul 19 2010 01:00 PM ET

'Inception': What was the best scene?

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Categories: Movies, Snap Judgment, Things That Are Awesome!, Water Cooler

INCEPTIONImage Credit: Stephen VaughanIt’s been three days since I saw Inception, and I am still marveling at what Christopher Nolan was able to accomplish. Whenever a writer can construct a totally new world — with its own set of rules, its own fundamental logic — I am in awe. The way Christopher Nolan created and deeply understood every inch of his urban, surprisingly un-surrealistic dream world reminded me of J.R.R. Tolkien’s complete knowledge of Middle Earth . You might call him the architect of Inception. Making brilliant use of his talented cast, fascinating script, and $175 million budget, Nolan dreamt up a number of truly breathtaking scenes, each of which contributed to the movie’s  grand, epic tone. Three particular scenes have been on my mind (or is it my subconscious?) since I saw the film, and each impressed me for totally different reasons: (Major spoilers ahead) READ FULL STORY »

Jul 19 2010 12:23 PM ET

'True Blood': Is this the best Eric's ever looked?

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Categories: Sexytimes, Skarsgard Your Loins, Television, True Blood

eric-light-blue-sweaterImage Credit: HBOEverything looks better in the King of Mississippi’s mansion, including Eric, who donned this cashmere V-neck J. Crew sweater in last night’s episode. (Yeah, I asked HBO.) Now I would say my appreciation for this look was enhanced by my extreme dislike of his hair in the Viking flashback, but we saw the sweater first and I immediately swooned. Is this the hottest Eric has ever looked? If not, what ensemble topped it?

More True Blood:
Recap of last night’s episode
Ken Tucker’s review of last night’s episode
Grant Bowler (Coot) reflects on his “love scene” with Stephen Moyer
Set secrets from production designer Suzuki Ingerslev

Jul 19 2010 11:02 AM ET

Clip du jour: 50 Nintendo 'spoilers'

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Categories: Clip du Jour, Videogames

Can you “spoil” the end of a Nintendo game just by explaining what happens when you win? I vote no, but that doesn’t make this “50 Nintendo Spoilers” video any less entertaining. Yes, it’s from The Fine Brothers, kings of the spoiler-list video. READ FULL STORY »

Jul 19 2010 10:04 AM ET

'Next Food Network Star' recap: Red herring on the menu?

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Categories: Food and Drink, Reality TV, Television, The Next Food Network Star, TV Recap

next-food-network-starMaybe I shouldn’t have watched PBS’ Marple: The Blue Geranium on my DVR immediately before last night’s episode of The Next Food Network Star, but I can’t help but feel as though the show’s producers were engaged in a poorly disguised game of subterfuge. How else to explain the absence of Serena from the bottom three, despite her weak, semi-homemade attempt to rethink the pineapple upside-down cake? Or the suggestion that Aria’s reinvention of the pig in a blanket as a piece of fried shrimp with caviar and creme fraiche was anything other than ridiculous? (As Bobby Flay so succinctly put it: “You threw the pig out the window.”)

Oh wait. But without those unexplained phenomena, how else would the producers convince us that the show’s sixth season is anything more than a formal procession that will end with the coronation of bubbly Indian-food expert Aarti? READ FULL STORY »

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