I love when pop culture becomes an immersive experience: Reading the The Perfect Storm at night on a balcony overlooking the ocean, watching Jaws while sitting in an inner tube in a swimming pool, seeing Red River at a wooded drive-in (still my dream). Maybe that’s why I’m digging the concept of Louis, a silent film that revolves around 6-year-old Louis Armstrong’s dreams of playing the trumpet and stars Jackie Earle Haley as the villain, an evil judge with a secret that could derail his bid for governor of Louisiana. The film, directed by Dan Pritzker with cinematography by Oscar winner Vilmos Zsigmond, will tour five cities in late August, with live musical accompaniment by Wynton Marsalis, pianist Cecile Licad, and a 10-piece all-star jazz ensemble. With his interesting, expressive face and slight, whimsical build, Haley seems perfectly cast. Watch the trailer below. READ FULL STORY »
Archive: July 2010 (71-80 of 583)
Aretha jamming with Condi Rice, dogs and cats living together...mass hysteria!
Image Credit: Bill McCay/WireImage.comAretha Franklin is a die-hard Democrat and Condoleezza Rice was once passionate conservative George W. Bush’s right-hand foreign-policy woman. So what powerful force exists in this world that could bring these two together in perfect harmony? Music, baby. Music. And charity: The two shared the stage last night at Philadelphia’s Mann Music Center for a benefit supporting programs for inner city children. Rice played piano for the Queen on “I Say A Little Prayer” and “My Country, ‘Tis of Thee.”
City of Brotherly (and Sisterly) Love indeed. READ FULL STORY »
Kathy Griffin on 'Chelsea Lately': Two wrongs making a right
Kathy Griffin and Chelsea Handler finally had a meeting of the dirty minds when the My Life on the D-List star stopped by Chelsea Lately to promote the paperback release of her book (with bonus chapter talking smack about people she was too afraid to diss in the hardcover). Though fans desperately want them to be friends, the fact that Kathy doesn’t drink — and her wine-loving mother believes vodka, Handler’s beverage of choice, is for people with a drinking problem — probably means that dream will not come true. That said, Handler did encourage Griffin to date her brother (that exchange isn’t fit for a family website, so watch the interview below), and it was great to see Chelsea sit back and relax during a chat because she knew she was with someone who could spike whatever she was served.
Kevin Kline lights up 'Colbert Report'
Stephen Colbert has met his match. On last night’s show, he welcomed famed act-eur and “great Shakespearean grunter” Kevin Kline to his studio, where they discussed Kline’s new movie, The Extra Man. Apparently, the Oscar-winner is quite good in the film, in which he plays an old-fashioned escort of sorts, but he was simply masterful on the Report. Never has any guest pretended to take the host so seriously. It was like watching two chess grand masters, as Kline absorbed all of Colbert’s buffoonery and earnestly responded with the driest of wit. (The only time he flinched in the slightest was when Colbert threw out Kevin Decline, the nickname Kline was tagged with after turning down so many Hollywood roles.) Their elocution duel turned into a impromptu duet of an acting-class tongue twister, and even if Kline missed a couple of his fricatives, he clearly held his own. (Clip embedded after the jump.) READ FULL STORY »
Good luck, Old Spice Guy. Sincerely, Joe Isuzu
Isaiah Mustafa may be the new David Leisure. You remember Leisure: Joe Isuzu, the smarmy car pitchman who could catch a speeding bullet in his lying teeth. Back in the mid 1980s, the little-known actor turned his starring role in a series of funny commercials into a long run on NBC’s sitcom, Empty Nest. Now Mustafa, who’s famous as Old Spice’s personification of studly virility, is swan-diving into bigger projects. In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Mustafa announced that he’ll portray a cop in the upcoming Jennifer Aniston-Jason Bateman comedy, Horrible Bosses. Throw in a talent agreement with NBC, a guest spot on Chuck, and a role in Tyler Perry’s next movie, and Mustafa’s future smells pretty sweet.
The question, of course, will be whether he’ll ever be accepted playing a character other than the one that made him famous. For Leisure, Joe Isuzu was both a blessing and a curse, since his range became limited when so many of his subsequent characters incorporated Isuzu’s unapologetic insincerity. Mustafa has expressed an interest in playing superhero Luke Cage, and if he wants to eventually be considered for that type of action role, he’s going to have to be able to make audiences forget what made him famous in the first place.
According to Mustafa, he has a few months left on his Old Spice deal. Should he be hoping they call him to make another ad, or should he play hard-to-find, as repeated performances as the ultimate man could make it harder for him to be accepted in other roles? READ FULL STORY »
Howard Bragman talks celebrity 'Coming Out' show: 'You'll be happier if you're out than if you're a closeted action star'
Image Credit: Todd Williamson/WireImage.comOver the past two decades, public-relations exec Howard Bragman has helped close to a dozen celebrity clients (from Meredith Baxter to Dick Sargent to Amanda Bearse) come out of the closet, and you can expect that number to climb when his one-time reality special, Coming Out, premieres on A&E during the fourth quarter of 2010. The program, which was greenlit last week, will focus on famous people going public with their homosexuality, and Bragman says he views it as “an opportunity to change the world a little.” We caught up with Bragman to ask him about his dream cast, fear of spoilers, and the criticism that his show is simply unnecessary.
ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: What would you say to folks who respond to the concept of Coming Out by saying “What’s the point of this show? We don’t need to know about these people’s personal lives!”?
HOWARD BRAGMAN: Oh come on, we love knowing about people’s personal lives! Look at your sister publication, People magazine! I mean, we want to know every detail, every nuance. Heterosexuals don’t seem to be ashamed about selling wedding pictures and baby pictures, and we have to start telling our stories, too. And you know what? If you don’t want to know about it, we have this wonderful thing called the remote control: Use it! READ FULL STORY »
'Covert Affairs' recap: A little Latin flavor
Image Credit: Steve Wilkie/USA NetworkCovert Affairs’ third episode, “South Bound Suarez,” was the show’s first foray into the international field, and after last week’s stellar installment, which focused heavily on character development and set up some big-picture questions, I had high expectations. However, this episode — from its very first seconds — was all about the mystery-of-the-week, which was sort of a letdown. I mean, for a story set in Venezuela, I would have hoped for a little more spice (and a lot less procedural drama), but it was still an entertaining hour of TV. Watching Annie Walker learn the ropes of being a CIA agent on the job is an absolute pleasure. But enough rambling — let’s get to the recap! Keep scrolling “south,” where you’re “bound” to find a write-up that “Suarez” fun to read! (Just embrace it.) READ FULL STORY »
'Deadliest Catch' season finale recap: A happy ending
Image Credit: Discovery ChannelThe 2010 Opi season is over. We, the viewers, share the crews’ overriding sentiment: Thank god. I wouldn’t trade the experience of watching these final episodes for anything (unless it meant the event that set them in motion, Phil’s stroke, wouldn’t have happened), but it’s been a workout. I thought I’d finally made it through an hour without tearing up, but the final shot got me: Seagulls, which are said to be the images of sailors gone, chillin’ on the Cornelia Marie. Initially, part of me wished it had just been one seagull, but then I realized Phil would, of course, be surrounded by friends, and it became comforting. Especially with Josh in the wheelhouse. (Anyone else’s stomach sink when the camera jerked to the left earlier in the episode as Josh worked on deck to reveal the relief skipper in Phil’s window above him? If that got to us — as did seeing Josh standing in Phil’s room onboard — just imagine what it was like for him.) READ FULL STORY »
Video of 1982 Miss Valley Girl Competition: Twi-Hards don't seem so annoying now, do they?
Yesterday, Jezebel unearthed this nearly 30-year-old video from Real People chronicling the 1982 Miss Valley Girl Competition in Encino, Calif. Watch it to hear such “Val” expressions as “Bag your face!” and “Gag Me With a Spoon” screeched by Moon Unit Zappa in a decibel likely to attract the nearest canine, and you’ll begin to think those crazy Twilight kids are somewhat sane after all.
It’s hard to believe kids used to talk like this, but, then again, it’s also hard to believe that Nicolas Cage once had hair like this. (Then again, maybe it’s not.) Either way, the mere presence of Fred Willard in the video — I’d like to think this was research for his future work with Christopher Guest — is worth the future hearing aid. At least they’re not singing “Midnight at the Oasis.” READ FULL STORY »
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