Archive: April 2011 (281-290 of 473)

Apr 14 2011 02:37 AM ET

'American Idol' on the scene for Top 8 performance show: 10 fun tidbits you didn't see on TV

Paul-McDonald-Idol

Image Credit: Frank Micelotta/Fox/PictureGroup

There are nights where the Idoldome feels like a bundle of nerves, as determined by the state of the wary contestants, so much so that the entire audience, by sheer proximity, feels jittery, too. And then there are nights that are completely the opposite, where the studio positively bubbles over with effervescence and confidence. Last night was blissfully the later, as the Idoldome brimmed with the power of the warblers — singing their favorite “Songs from the Movies,” led by Paul McDonald’s upbeat “Old Time Rock and Roll” (pictured here) — on the warpath toward becoming the next American Idol. Who can say what it was? Maybe everyone was buoyed by the exuberance of being in the presence of luminous judge Jennifer Lopez, who we were reminded more than once, was just named People‘s Most Beautiful Woman? It’s possible. (I know I always am buoyed by her presence, especially when it involves a glittery mini dress complete with frontal tu-tu, like it did last night.)

Truly, though, it wasn’t a particularly eventful night on the scene in the dome, but this reporter still dutifully sat in the audience, observed, and took copious notes about the stuff that went down that you, our dear viewers who watched on the telly, might night have seen. (You know, things that the luminous-as-J.Lo EW staffer Annie Barrett might not have noted in her genius recap.) So, heres’s a rundown of what went on between commercials and while the camera was trained on something else, everything from the (apparently) delightful banter between the hilariously paired famous guests Elvira and Rob Reiner (?!?) to Steven Tyler’s continued role as the Ladies Man of the Idoldome.

READ FULL STORY »

Apr 13 2011 08:13 PM ET

Cable providers: They're just not that into you.

Cable-Guy-Carey

Image Credit: Everett Collection

This week, I almost broke up with my cable company. We had a big fight over a move from Venice, Calif. to Santa Monica, Calif., a distance of all of three miles. The argument was over whether or not my new apartment was Unit B or Unit D. The cable company insisted it was D. I insisted it was B. I thought I might have won the debate when the company sent a workman to Unit B to install a cable TV box, Internet modem, and telephone, but then, just like a cable company, it changed its mind. A few days later, another workman came to the building to snip my wires. When I called to ask why, I was told it was because I was in Unit D, not B, even though I was in point of fact a resident of Unit B. There were screaming matches over the phone (with me doing all of the screaming; the cable company operator mostly listened) and at one point I even threatened divorce and marriage to a competing cable service.

Of course, most people have a love-hate relationship with their cable provider. READ FULL STORY »

Apr 13 2011 08:00 PM ET

'American Idol': Discuss 'Songs from the Movies'!

Filed under: American Idol, Reality TV, TV and tagged: ,

Update: Annie’s recap is live

Now that we’ve debated which songs the Top 8 should sing for ‘Songs from the Movies’ Night, it’s time to watch our young contenders fling themselves at the feet of the three Fates… and then gossip about ‘em! The prospect of J.Lo making this “I’m feelin’ it” face is about all I am living for, as usual. We can also dream that the judges will actually judge this week, but let’s not get too ridiculous.

Chat here about American Idol‘s 90-minute performance show, then come back later for my full recap and a detailed on-the-scene report from Tanner Stransky. THIS! Is Entertainment Weekly.

Follow Annie on Twitter

Read more:
Annie’s top 8 performance recap: Movie Wailers
The disastrous booting of Pia Toscano reveals why critics, yes, DO matter
Women didn’t vote for Pia because they’re jealous? Ridiculous!
Pia Toscano was never a frontrunner, says ‘Idol’ EP Nigel Lythgoe
‘American Idol’: Have YOU voted for your favorite?

Apr 13 2011 05:42 PM ET

New 'Glee' promo: Sue-pervillians! Gwyneth Paltrow! Themed songs! And my impatient weeping.

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

You’ve had the patience of a thousand un-sexed Emmas, Glee fans. But the wait is almost over — for us; I don’t speak for Emma.

Glee returns with new episodes next week, and I’m thrilled. The last episode (recapped here) left off on a lovely note with a Blaine/Kurt kiss and New Directions moving on to Nationals.

When we pick up next week, New Directions holds a fundraiser and sings songs by neglected artists (which I’m guessing doesn’t mean malnourished/unbathed…or maybe it does), Sue forms a club I want to be in, and Gwyneth Paltrow returns.

Excited, Gleeks?  READ FULL STORY »

Apr 13 2011 05:34 PM ET

Hugh Laurie to show his softer side for 'Mister Pip.' Are you sweet or sour on this?

Filed under: Movies, News and tagged: , ,
Hugh-Laurie

Image Credit: Chris Hatcher/PR Photos

Poor Hugh Laurie. Here’s an actor so convincing in his performance every week on House, M.D., he’s often associated with being just as cranky and biting as the show’s titular character.

When it was reported by Deadline that Laurie was set to appear in director Andrew Adamson’s big screen adaptation of Lloyd Jones’ Mister Pip, nowhere in his character’s description do the words “snippy,” “mean-spirited” or “sarcastic” come up. In other words, Laurie, who is actually trained as a comedic actor, seems to be putting an end to any typecasting.

Alas, the Golden Globe-winning actor would be set to play the role of Mr. Watts, the last white man remaining on the war-torn island of Bougainville. After Watts opens a school on the island, he bonds with his young students over his favorite novel, Great Expectations. You’re hearing House-like quips in your head right now, aren’t you?  READ FULL STORY »

Apr 13 2011 04:03 PM ET

Russell Brand joins 'Rock Of Ages' cast. Move over Aldous Snow?

Filed under: Movies, News and tagged: , ,
Brand

Image Credit: Glen Wilson/Universal

We can’t fight this feeling anymore, PopWatchers: the ever-expanding line-up for the Rock of Ages feature has got us pretty stoked. While New Line confirmed to EW that Oscar nominee/all-around busy lady Amy Adams unfortunately won’t be joining the all-star cast (which, thus far, includes Tom Cruise, Alec Baldwin, Paul Giamatti, and more) on the big screen for the adaptation of the Broadway musical, Russell Brand will.

Adam Shankman, who will be at the helm of Rock of Ages, told followers via his Twitter Wednesday, “I can officially announce Russell Brand as your Lonny in #rockofagesmovie ! I see a mullet in his future…maybe a Nikki Six?” New Line Cinema confirmed to EW that while Brand has not officially closed the deal yet, he will very soon. (He was hopeful about joining the cast back in March, when he told EW at the Hope premiere: “I have to make sure I see me wife [Katy Perry] enough, but if we can work out the schedule, then yeah, I want to do it.”)  Still, this is a lot of awesome information to absorb at once, so let’s break it down: Brand will not only play Lonny, the over-the-top, former rocker who now runs the Bourbon (the club owned by Baldwin’s character Dennis), but he may also be shaping his famously manic hair into a mullet. READ FULL STORY »

Apr 13 2011 03:25 PM ET

98 Degrees' Jeff Timmons will raise Chippendales' temperature for a limited run

As a former hardcore 98 Degrees fan (don’t laugh), I’m not really sure what to say about the news that Jeff Timmons will be teaming up with Chippendales in Las Vegas from May 12 to June 5. (Chippendale’s would like to stress, however, that Timmons will not be stripping, but may show some skin.) So I will try to discuss this piece of “news” the only way I know how: By using the track list of the album that will always hold a special place in my heart (and my 1998 CD tower), 98 Degrees and Rising. Here goes: READ FULL STORY »

Apr 13 2011 03:00 PM ET

Lunchtime Poll: Which 'Sweet Valley High' secondary character did you most want to befriend?

We’re still on a contact high after Sweet Valley High creator Francine Pascal visited the EW office yesterday, so here’s a very important Lunchtime Poll (hey, West Coast!) about which secondary character — i.e. anyone not named Wakefield — you most wanted to befriend.

I’m partial to Annie Whitman (as we share the nickname “Easy Annie”), but Kirsten Baldwin won’t shut up about cheerleading co-captain Robin Wilson. SPOILER ALERT: She dies! At least neither of us cared about rich, handsome snob Bruce Patman (pictured), because we happen to have a little something called taste. And dignity. Even though I just told everyone I was easy. 

Hopefully we can work out our differences in time for the Droids concert we’re attending in our imaginations after work. Kristen’s got a fresh bi-level haircut going. It’s gonna be huge. Vote below. READ FULL STORY »

Apr 13 2011 02:45 PM ET

'Parenthood': Please don't kill Gary.

Scott-Michael-Foster_320.jpg

Image Credit: Byron Cohen/NBC

Last night’s episode of Parenthood left off on a pretty horrific note, with Amber (Mae Whitman) and her Attractive Bad Influence (Scott Michael Foster) getting into a severe-looking car crash.

I’ll preface by saying that there’s no way Amber is dying. Not. A. Chance. It’d be bad decision considering how much her off-beat character resonates with audiences (especially Parenthood‘s younger viewers.) And she’s awesome. Foster, however, is a newbie, and in the scope of the show, it’d be a good opportunity to have a character turn into a cautionary tale. And if you’re familiar with the tradition of family dramas, the Attractive Bad Influence is often used to teach moral lessons — and usually that means they need to die. But in this case, I plead: Don’t kill Gary! READ FULL STORY »

Apr 13 2011 02:19 PM ET

'American Idol': The disastrous booting of Pia Toscano reveals why critics, yes, DO matter

2011-idol-judges

Image Credit: Michael Becker/Fox (2); Frank Micelotta/Fox

Anyone who’s a critic these days has to contend with a steady anti-mainstream-media drumbeat, one that sounds something like this: Critics don’t matter! They’re out of the touch with The People! They’re snobby hacks whose opinions carry no more validity than anyone else’s! (Memo to haters: Have I left out any of your complaints?) If you accused me of being defensive on this issue, you would probably be right. It’s how I make my living, so of course I’m bound to get a little touchy about it. Yet I also think that I’m capable of setting my personal bias aside to talk about why critics, at their best, really do matter. And offhand, I can think of no better illustration of why they matter than what happened on American Idol last week, when the golden-throated songstress Pia Toscano got booted off before her time. The audience voted, presumably with their hearts, but where were the judges, the tastemakers — the critics! — when we needed them? READ FULL STORY »

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