Archive: September 2010 (211-220 of 588)

Sep 21 2010 01:49 PM ET

Who is the best TV president?

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Categories: 24, Politics as Entertainment, Television

TV-PresidentsImage Credit: Joseph Viles/NBC; Gale Adler/ABC; Kelsey McNeal/Fox; Isabella Vosmikova/Fox; Justin Stephens/SyFy; Paul Drinkwater/NBCHail to the chief, he’s the chief and he needs hailing. Last night, Blair Underwood entered the hallowed pantheon of TV commanders in chief, but his President Martinez has a lot of work to do on The Event if he wants to truly be one of the greats. Is he as smart and funny as Josiah “Jed” Bartlet? As committed and ethical as Laura Roslin? As independent and determined as Mackenzie Allen? David Palmer’s the quintessential decider; Allison Taylor the secretly pragmatic idealist. And then there’s the weasely Charles Logan — maybe not a great leader, but oh what a TV character.

So here it is, PopWatchers: Election day! Who is the greatest TV president?

Sep 21 2010 01:08 PM ET

'Mike & Molly' premiere: What did you think?

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Categories: About Last Night, Fall TV, Snap Judgment, Television

Mike-and-MollyImage Credit: Monty Brinton/CBSHow long do you give a sitcom to get past a narrow premise and branch out into more diverse and arguably more interesting/funny storylines? That’s the question looming over CBS’ new sitcom Mike & Molly, which spent the majority of its pilot last night focusing obsessively on the weight of its two lead characters, who meet-cute at a local Overeaters Anonymous gathering. Molly (Melissa McCarthy, formerly Gilmore Girls‘ quirky chef Sookie St. James), is a fourth grade teacher who can’t command a room of rowdy children without using her outside voice, and Mike (Billy Gardell) is Chicago police officer with a secret interest in ichthyology (fish). Each is blessed with honesty and a self-deprecating sense of humor, so it’s not hard to understand their instant attraction. READ FULL STORY »

Sep 21 2010 12:32 PM ET

Michael Jackson MMO game in the works

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Categories: Dude, THAT's Your Plot?, Games, HeadScratcher, Hell to the No!, Michael Jackson, Music, Videogames

planet-michaelFinally, a MMO game about Michael Jackson’s life and vision. It’s just what we’ve all been waiting for: “an immersive virtual space themed after iconic visuals drawn from Michael’s music, his life, and the global issues that concerned him.” World of Warcraft has never seemed so wonderful.

The newly licensed Planet Michael will launch in late 2011, so you have plenty of time to prepare yourself. According to the AP, “fans will be able to collect and trade virtual Jackson merchandise, and earn credits by performing challenges related to his music and dance moves. As in other virtual worlds, players can replenish their game accounts using real money.” You don’t say!

Planet Michael isn’t the only King of Pop videogame in the works. Michael Jackson: The Experience comes out for the Wii in November and for Kinect and Move in early 2011, and it’s a more standard, if challenging, dancing game (and singing, on Kinect and Move).

Can I imagine trying to learn some MJ dance moves with The Experience? Sure, I guess. But spending time in a Jackson world just to…have spent time in one? I don’t know, PopWatchers. Maybe my Planet just isn’t aligned. Is yours?

Sep 21 2010 12:08 PM ET

'Bones': Warming up to the 'Jersey Shore'-inspired episode?

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Categories: Bones, Jersey Shore, Television

bonesImage Credit: Richard Foreman/FoxNews of Bones doing a Jersey Shore-inspired episode this fall was met with mixed reaction, even though exec producer Stephen Nathan made a pretty convincing argument to EW’s Michael Ausiello why even viewers who despise the MTV reality show should be entertained: “It will do what many people in America would like to see themselves — which is one of those people dead.” After watching Emily Deschanel’s chat with Access Hollywood (below), I’m on board. She confirms that Antonio Sabato Jr. will guest in the episode. (I was recently reminded of his dimples on an episode of TNT’s Rizzoli and Isles, when he guested as a male nurse too nice for Angie Harmon’s cop character to date) And though we’ve already heard that forensic anthropologist Brennan will be an expert on guidos and guidettes, Deschanel explains why — and it makes total, hilarious sense: “She watched what she thought was a documentary on television, which was obviously one of those reality shows that we’ve all seen or have avoided, either way. So it’s kind of funny: You don’t expect her to know about any of these things, but she kind of treats it as an anthropological study of cultures.”

I love that: Someone as intelligent and pop-culturally challenged as Brennan (does this mean she finally replaced her TV?), gets duped because it wouldn’t occur to her that television would sink that low. READ FULL STORY »

Sep 21 2010 11:33 AM ET

'Chase' premiere: What did you think? (And wasn't that villain terrific?)

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Categories: About Last Night, Television, The Bad Man Scares Me!

chaseImage Credit: Vivian Zink/NBCSo there I was, all ready to kind of loathe Chase for being predictable, unoriginal, and vaguely stupid. And while its pilot was all those things — and more! — I found myself kind of enjoying it anyway. Who am I?!

Chase is a Jerry Bruckheimer show in every conceivable capacity. It’s action-heavy and high on adrenaline. Indeed a good amount of the pilot episode was in fact spent chasing: on foot, in a helicopter, in a river, through a rodeo, etc. But to the show’s credit, those chases were really exciting! Sure, Kelli Giddish’s Annie Frost (oy) is somewhere in the Olivia Benson/Temperance Brennan spectrum of Female Crime Solver With Criminal-Daddy Issues, but the show didn’t dwell long enough on that for it to bug me.

And yet… last night’s fugitive of the week, a sort of Josh Hollowy-lite Travis Fimmel as Mason, was one of the creepiest, most invigorating villains I’ve seen on a procedural in a long time. Yes, I’m always happy to see Prison Break‘s Amaury Nolasco and The L Word‘s Rose Rollins, but the real star of last night’s premiere was definitely the country music-loving murderer/thief who never got over his first love. (Again, not reinventing the wheel, but taking it for a pretty good spin.)

Did you watch Chase last night, PopWatchers? Was it too reminiscent of other cop shows for you, or did you kind of dig it?

Sep 21 2010 11:22 AM ET

'Sesame Street' still the coolest show on TV: Katy Perry, Jason Bateman, Kara DioGuardi among the new season's celebrity guests

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Categories: Awwwwww So Cuuuuuute, Fall TV, Jason Bateman, Katy Perry, Kids' Corner, Neil Patrick Harris, Oprah Winfrey, Sesame Street

If you remain unsure about whether ubiquitous singer Katy Perry is annoying with her Betty Boop eyes and whip cream-shooting bikini or actually a pure pop delight, take a look at her cameo appearance on the new season (the 41st! debuting Sept. 27!) of Sesame Street. She may in fact be the most adorable creature alive: READ FULL STORY »

Sep 21 2010 10:00 AM ET

Children reenact 'Inception' trailer with household items and their dog

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Categories: 100% Pure Cheese, Animals, I Remember When It Used To Cost A Nickel, Kids' Corner, Magic, Movie Trailers, Shenanigans!, Those Crazy Kids!, Toys

Remember how awesome the Inception trailer was? Then remember when everyone decided they needed to make their own spoof version? (Dora’s Incepcion, anyone?) Everyone wanted in on summer’s blockbuster hit. The people over at MakerBaker (they make and bake things, hence the name) are a little late to the game, but I think it was well worth the wait.

They decided to reenact the trailer using things they found around the house. I have to say they do a pretty good job. For a refresher, take a look at the original Inception trailer here. Then, watch the MakerBaker’s version after the jump. READ FULL STORY »

Sep 21 2010 09:44 AM ET

Jane Lynch talks new 'Glee' nemesis with Jay Leno on 'Tonight Show'

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Categories: Glee, Television

glee-jones-lynchImage Credit: Adam Rose/FoxWhen you hear an actor praise a new character on their show, you tend not to take them too seriously. It’s their show. What are they supposed to say? But when that person is Jane Lynch, you listen. Last night, she told Jay Leno (and fellow guest Justin Timberlake) about her new nemesis on Glee, Coach Beiste (guest star Dot Jones, pictured). The new football coach is large and intimidating at 6’4″ (Lynch is 6′), but she’s a very, very sensitive girl, Lynch said. “I love this character. The pathos is just amazing. She wears red lipstick, and then every once in a while, you see tears going down her cheeks. Her feelings get hurt very easily, and so of course, Sue Sylvester goes after her.” Watch the clip below. Does hearing Timberlake laugh when Lynch explains that Beiste (pronounced “Beast”) is French make anyone else think he needs a guest spot on Glee? He’d be fantastic.

During the two-part interview, Lynch also asks Timberlake how nervous she’ll be hosting Saturday Night Live and talks about Jimmy Fallon caressing her breasts during the opening number of the Emmys and why Sue Sylvester is a perfect Halloween costume. (Note: If you are planning to dress as Sue, check out our gallery of 30 of her best quips so you can stay in character.)
READ FULL STORY »

Sep 21 2010 09:00 AM ET

'The Dilemma' trailer: Vince Vaughn knows a secret about Winona Ryder

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Categories: Movie Trailers, Movies

Doesn’t everyone want a friend like Vince Vaughn? Sure, he’s the life of the party who never turns down the opportunity to start a fraternity or engage in a illegal gang fighting, but would he tell you if your wife is cheating on you? Eh, that depends. In The Dilemma, directed by Ron Howard, Vaughn and Kevin James are co-workers and best friends. They support each other in big meetings, suffer through the odd musings of Queen Latifah, and even go on double dates with their perfect spouses (Jennifer Connelly, Winona Ryder) together. But Vaughn quickly learns that James’ “perfect” marriage is on the verge of falling apart when he catches his wife with Channing Tatum. (Disclaimer: While some at PopWatch believe Kevin James to be a total hottie, he’s totally out of his league here when compared to the tanned, tattooed Tatum. Sorry, Kev.) Unsure of what to do, Vaughn resorts to soliciting strangers about ways to handle this (typing James an anonymous note and sticking it in his dresser drawer doesn’t seem to be one of them. Guess he doesn’t watch Jersey Shore), learning the various meanings of  the “guy code,” and getting some nasty-looking rash in the process. Take a look and tell us what you think. READ FULL STORY »

Sep 21 2010 08:00 AM ET

Clip du jour: 'Glee' reimagined as an 8-bit video game

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Categories: Clip du Jour, Games, Glee

What if Glee were an 8-bit game? It’d be like coffee coming with free beer, pretty much: two greats, together at last. This is 90 percent cute YouTube video, 10 percent Choose Your Own Adventure story, 100 percent Gleeky goodness: READ FULL STORY »

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