Archive: November 2011 (21-30 of 361)

Nov 29 2011 06:48 PM ET

'The Book of Mormon' is in the black

The-Book-of-Mormon

Image Credit: Joan Marcus

Producers of  The Book of Mormon announced today that the Tony-winning hit musical has earned back its initial investment. What does that mean? It’s profit time, baby. Mormon—which is believed to have cost around $9 million to produce and $600,000 per week to stage—has been earning an average of $1.1 million weekly since it opened last March. Its total earnings are now upwards of $45 million dollars, thanks in part to an airline-style differential pricing policy that enables producers to charge top dollar for seats based on availability.

Some more Mormon numbers: The show, created by South Park creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone with Avenue Q‘s Robert Lopez, has had 310 performances as of Sunday. It’s sold more than 338,000 tickets so far and broken 22 house records at the relatively modest-sized Eugene O’Neill Theatre—which hosted fellow Tony winners Nine and Spring Awakening, as well as The Full Monty. It’s the fourth-highest-grossing Broadway musical this year (behind Wicked, The Lion King, and Spider-Man: Turn off the Dark). Average ticket price: $134.35. Highest ticket price: $470. Getting in to see it: priceless.

Nov 29 2011 06:27 PM ET

It's okay, John Lennon's cable didn't work either

I have never really related to John Lennon until I read the the To-Do list he wrote for his assistant Fred Seaman that’s being auctioned off by Gotta Have Rock & Roll. No. 1 on his list: “H.B.O. guy coming between 3 – 5. BE THERE. (The other guy didn’t know what was wrong.)” He even put a star by BE THERE. That would absolutely be my top priority. And P.S. Celebs get a two-hour window? That’s so unfair!

Lennon’s cable outranked his need for marmalade and vanity (“Tell me about my hair dryer — yea or nay”). But I think what’s really fascinating is imagining being able to write a list of EVERYTHING mundane you need done in your life  – “Hook on door in our bedroom falling off” — and wondering whether you’d feel the need to tell the person you’re handing it to what they can do while waiting two hours for the cable guy (something with “Photos in Books”). Helpful or micromanaging?

Nov 29 2011 05:37 PM ET

'Glee': Meanwhile, back at McKinley High

Categories: Glee

Adam Rose/Fox

After a two-week break, tonight’s aptly titled “I Kissed a Girl” episode not only features this titillating version of the Katy Perry hit, but it also boasts a Coach Beastie and Sue face-off. Not sure if it has anything to do with the fact that someone messes with the student council election results, but that’s happening tonight as well.

Yet what I’m most interested to see is how the Puck-Quinn-Shelby love triangle progresses. He’s somewhere between making an all-out play for the teacher and staying with Quinn. The promos are hinting that he’ll spill the beans about his burgeoning relationship to Quinn. I hope not. I know Puckerman is not the brightest bulb in the pack but he really should know that Quinn would use that as a weapon to get baby Beth back. We’ll see.

Come back tomorrow morning for my recap but stop back here after the show to tell us what you thought of it.

Read more:
‘Glee’ Central

‘Glee’: 15 Best Performances

‘Glee’ Covers vs. Originals: Who Sang It Better?

Nov 29 2011 05:29 PM ET

Contrarian Corner: Robin doesn't belong with Barney

how-i-met-your-mother

Image Credit: Monty Brinton/CBS

Should I duck now? I should probably duck (tie) now. I’m sure you’re all preparing to hurl plenty of slaps my way. But still, PopWatchers, I can’t deny these horrible feelings I’m feeling. After seven seasons of wishing, hoping, and praying that Barney and Robin would get together once and for all on How I Met Your Mother, I’ve had to admit to myself: Robin just simply does not belong with Barney.

I feel this not only as someone who has handed out (and received) plenty of romantic advice in my life, but also as a TV watcher. Admit it: Part of you cheered when the couple broke up after they experimented as a couple in season 5. As boyfriend and girlfriend, Barney and Robin simply didn’t spark on screen. READ FULL STORY »

Nov 29 2011 05:10 PM ET

Alan Cumming to bring one-man 'Macbeth' to New York's Lincoln Center Festival

Categories: Stage/Theater
Alan-Cumming

Image Credit: Andrew Evans/PR Photos

Toil and trouble, indeed. Apologies to my old theater teacher Mrs. Lefkoe for even mentioning the Scottish play, but if something goes wrong in this particular production of Macbeth, only one actor will suffer from the witches’ curse. The Good Wife actor and occasional Broadway star Alan Cumming will play every role in the National Theater of Scotland’s upcoming stab at Shakespeare’s classic bloodbath, including the titular role and that of his murderous wife.The production will originate in June at the Tramway in Glasgow, and hit the U.S. for New York City’s Lincoln Center Festival from July 5 to July 14. READ FULL STORY »

Nov 29 2011 05:02 PM ET

Victoria's Secret Fashion Show: Six jiggly, jewel-encrusted reasons to watch

Victorias-Secret-fashion

Image Credit: Michael Stewart/Getty Images

Update: Annie’s reflections upon the bones of the Angels

Six more hours until the beautiful beef jerky runway show begins! (10 p.m. ET on CBS.) Check back after the show airs on the west coast, when I’ll have updated this post with my Top 6 (or more) Reflections. They’re gonna be deep!

Why I’m excited for the VS Fashion Show

6. Glitter train wreck

5. Celebs in the audience wearing sunglasses — are you serious? READ FULL STORY »

Nov 29 2011 04:45 PM ET

Casey Anthony, Justin Bieber, Kim Kardashian among biggest stories of 2011

Casey-Anthony

Image Credit: Joe Burbank/AP Images

Though Harold Camping turned out to be wrong — twice! — 2011 wasn’t a banner year for humanity. Just look at the most-searched online terms, according to Bing: Hurricane Irene (No. 3 Most Searched News Story), Japan earthquake (No. 4), Amy Winehouse’s death (No. 5). Sitting at No. 1 is no surprise to Nancy Grace: the Casey Anthony trial. It really can’t compete with natural disasters for true tragedy, but if you’re in the mood to lament our civilization, you can’t really do better than our universal obsession with the Anthony trial.

If there’s a silver lining, it’s that we cared much less about Kate Gosselin and Jesse James this year compared to 2010. Of course, they were replaced on the Most Searched Person list by Lindsay Lohan and Megan Fox. (Megan Fox? Really? In 2011?) READ FULL STORY »

Nov 29 2011 04:20 PM ET

Barney Frank won't be running for re-election in 2012: A sad week for politics (and television)

Barney-Frank

Image Credit: Getty Images

No matter what your personal and political beliefs may be, you have to hand it to Barney Frank: He made for some damn good television. Yesterday, the 16-term Massachusetts Democratic representative announced he won’t run for re-election in 2012. As CNN.com reported, Frank, who said he had planned to retire in 2014 and is leaving his post, in part, because the “district is very substantially changed,” also stated during a press conference, “I will miss this job.”

Of course, many will miss the 71-year-old right back. Namely, The Daily Show, The Colbert Report, and Saturday Night Live, who had fun with the persona of the always-outspoken liberal. Check out some of the best Barney Frank moments from those shows, including his interview with Stephen Colbert in 2005 and a controversial SNL bailout skit, below: READ FULL STORY »

Nov 29 2011 03:55 PM ET

'Wainy Days' are here again! Watch the season 5 trailer -- VIDEO

Ladies, did you really think David Wain wasn’t going to call you back? After that remarkable first date, where you (CHOOSE AS MANY AS ARE APPROPRIATE) marveled at his tiny penis/made out with the waiter/animated him as a one-armed fart monster/were knocked over by him on roller-skates/laughed at his beasteality experience? Well, 18 months after his last Wainy Days episode, the creator of Childrens Hospital and writer/director of the upcoming Wanderlust is back to share his foibles for a fifth season. The first new episode will be available on MyDamnChannel.com Dec. 5. It’s enough to make you want to dance (scroll to 1:40). Watch the trailer below, as David welcomes a new crop of potential Mrs. Wains. READ FULL STORY »

Nov 29 2011 03:30 PM ET

Did 'Kourtney and Kim' break up Kris and Kim? Source says...

Kris-Humphries

Image Credit: Donald Bowers/Getty Images

A paranoid parade of conspiracy theories has sprung up around the whirlwind marriage of Kim Kardashian and Kris Humphries, which lasted a mere 72 days but nevertheless netted the couple a big payday. However, a new possibility for the quick break-up of the marriage emerges from a close viewing of Monday’s season premiere of Koopa and Koolio Annex New Haven: Maybe Humphries just didn’t want to live with insane people. A source close to Humphries tells EW, “In the episode, Kris reacted like any normal newlywed husband would when a new sister-in-law brings a naked yoga instructor into his home [and] has a screaming 2-year-old outside his bedroom door.” READ FULL STORY »

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