Author: Wendy Mitchell (1-10 of 196)

Mar 18 2010 10:00 AM ET

The real Idols? These brave contestants on 'Afghan Star'

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On American Idol, they try to create “triumph over adversity” backstories with anyone who’s ever had a paper cut. But if you want to see people putting their lives on the line for their love of singing, you have to tune into Afghan Star tonight on HBO, at 8:30 p.m. (it repeats through March 30).

This documentary explores the lives of four contestants on Afghan Star, an Idol-type TV talent competition in Afghanistan. The show was started after the end of Taliban rule, which had banned TV and even made listening to music illegal. So a TV show about singing was quite a new thing. One woman, the inspiring Setara, gets death threats after she dances on stage. (We’re not even talking Showgirls dancing, we’re talking a little shimmy fully clothed during her singing performance.) And voting for the show’s winner is some people’s first democratic experience(!).

Havana Marking’s Sundance-prize-winning film is enlightening and entertaining. Check it out and you’ll never look at someone like whip girl on American Idol the same way.


Mar 15 2010 10:30 AM ET

Check out the WNBA star who can fix your house, and your life!

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Tags: , , , Reality TV, Television

When I first heard of HGTV’s new series Home Rules, which combines life coaching and home décor, I thought: Genius! Sign Me Up! What could be better than a calm mind and a beautiful house? Therapists would be so much better if they also helped you organize your closets.

I’m surprised this show hasn’t happened sooner – I mean, how many times have you watched Supernanny and thought the kids would be better behaved if they lived in a cleaner house? And don’t get me started on some of those Wife Swap freaks who look like they belong on Hoarders instead.

Enter life coach/former WNBA star Fran Harris who helps families tackle their homes and their problems. I like Fran’s approach – she’s tough love but not too mean, and certainly seems knowledgeable about how to help folks with their lives (and their curtains).

In the premiere episode (on tonight at 9 p.m. EST), Fran visits Bob and Denise Violette and their four kids in Wallingford, CT. They’re suffering from money troubles, half-finished home repairs, and some kids crashing on the sofas.

Mar 12 2010 09:45 AM ET

As 'Supernanny' celebrates 100 episodes, Jo Frost dishes on TV as babysitter, Mary Poppins' message, and those power suits

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Tags: , , , , , Reality TV, Television, Those Crazy Kids!

Our favorite modern-day Mary Poppins, Jo Frost, is celebrating the 100th episode of Supernanny, airing on ABC tonight at 9 p.m EST. That’s 100 episodes of tantrums, struggling parents, and tough discipline from the suit-clad, London-born childcare expert enforcing “time outs” with families across America.

In tonight’s 100th episode, Frost revisits some of the most memorable families from the show’s past: the McMillions of Arlington, TX (mom raising three boys while her husband served in Afghanistan); the Weinsteins of Amherst, OH (truckdriver dad David was a raging bull while his wife was a pushover with their four kids); the Lewises of Claremont, CA (Mom had to cope with her husband’s death and raising two toddlers); and the Newsomes of Tallahassee, FL (divorced mom struggling with her kids, a crazy work schedule, and downsized house).

EW.com caught up with the Naughty Step Supremo to talk about those suits, her fear of flying, and what she thinks of kids watching TV.

EW: As you celebrate 100 episodes of Supernanny, what has been the hardest day on the job?
JO FROST: I work so closely with families, every day is a tough day. But that’s part and parcel of what I do. You know going in that you’re not having ice cream. There are days when it’s incredibly tough. Emotionally it takes its toll, physically, mentally. I come home and I am “knackered” as we would say…

Also, I’ve been travelling to meet families for over six years, hotel to hotel. I don’t really like flying. That’s been a challenge for me. But I love what I do. And I have a purpose of what I do and I’m very passionate about what I do…This feels right for me, it feels like what I’m supposed to be doing.

How long will you keep doing Supernanny?
My expertise is in child care, in extreme situations or not, and being a family advocate. I want to continue to do that…But who knows. Everyone has to evolve. READ FULL STORY »

Mar 11 2010 04:00 PM ET

Amy Winehouse's fashion line? Bloody shoes cost extra.

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amy-winehouseImage Credit: XposurePreppy fashion company Fred Perry is sullying its tennis whites by doing a fashion line with Amy Winehouse. You read that right…Amy Winehouse. Women’s Wear Daily reports that the collection will be in stores in October, featuring “a girlish twinset; slim, thigh-skimming pencil skirts; capri pants, a mini bowling dress, and Fred Perry’s signature polo shirt” in a palette of mostly black and pink.

I know Winehouse used to glam it up with a retro-rocking look before all the drugs-divorce insanity, but lately we’ve seen too much of her messy life to think of her as a fashion icon. I don’t think I can ever rid my mind of these 2007 pictures of her running through the streets of London with bloody ballet shoes during a fight with her then-husband Blake Fielder Civil.

I’d buy lots of things with the Winehouse brand — say, bandaids, cigarettes, or some kind of hair gunk to achieve a messy beehive. Most of all I’d like to simply buy her next album, because she’s an AMAZING singer and doesn’t need to be a multi-hyphenate fashion guru. She just needs to sing more.

What do you think of Winehouse as a fashion inspiration? Did the world learn nothing from Lindsay Lohan and Ungaro?

Mar 11 2010 11:00 AM ET

George Lucas documentary: Exploring the love-hate relationship with 'Star Wars' fans

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george-lucasMany fans have a love-hate relationship with George Lucas. This is, after all, the man who gave the world Luke Skywalker, but later gave birth to Jar Jar Binks.

Director Alexandre O. Philippe bravely tries to get to the heart of this conflicted relationship between Lucas and his fans in the new documentary The People Vs. George Lucas, which has its world premiere at SXSW on Saturday.

In addition to a lot of contributions from obsessive fans, the film includes interviews with the likes of Neil Gaiman, Darth Vader actor David Prowse, Star Wars producer Gary Kurtz, and George Lucas In Love director Joe Nussbaum. There’s even a band singing “George Lucas raped our childhood.”

EW.com recently caught up with Swiss-born, Denver-based director Philippe, who spent nearly three years making the film, amassing 634 hours of footage and interviewing 126 people. (See trailer at end of interview.) READ FULL STORY »

Mar 10 2010 06:00 PM ET

'The Runaways': All-girl band, but not all-girl film!

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All the trailers I’ve seen so far for The Runaways have understandably concentrated on Joan Jett and Cherie Currie (played by Kristen Stewart and Dakota Fanning, respectively). But new clips out today from the film showcase their manager Kim Fowley. Because of the glam rock makeup, it took me a few minutes to even recognize that it was the astoundingly good Michael Shannon. You know him – he was in 8 Mile and Bad Boys II and then saw his breakout performance as the creepy neighbor’s son John in Revolutionary Road. Maybe his presence in the film can convince guys that The Runaways isn’t a “chick flick.” Or maybe guys don’t need convincing, because dudes dig rock biopics, and this movie’s girl-power themes don’t change the fact that it is, after all, a rock biopic.

Let’s put it to a poll:
Mar 10 2010 10:30 AM ET

Who Is Clark Rockefeller? He's Will with glasses!

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What if ER‘s Dr. Lewis and Will from Will & Grace made out? Well, you can watch it here! This Lifetime movie Who is Clark Rockefeller?, starring our beloved Sherry Stringfield and Eric McCormack, premieres Saturday at 9 p.m. ET. I’m having trouble separating these actors from two of my favorite TV personas, but I might tune in anyway. Regardless, I got a kick of of seeing McCormack smirking with that pipe!

Will you watch?

Mar 9 2010 03:40 PM ET

'Melrose Place' has a new guy playing doctor

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I was thinking, guiltily, that I haven’t really missed Melrose Place during its three-month hiatus, but now The CW has lured me back in with this teaser of the complex complex’s newest resident. Hello, Dr. Drew! (No, not that one.) Let’s face it, a new box of pool tiles would be more interesting than Auggie, but this guy is much better than the Auggster: a) he is playing a character with an actual human personality and b) Nick Zano (the Cougar Town hottie!) doesn’t seem to share an acting teacher with Ashlee Simpson. I’ll let the vampire joke slide just this once, because he’s a hot doctor who also plays beer pong.

I thought I was over it, but now I am definitely going to watch tonight and see what trouble will be stirred up by Amanda and Ella. Anyone else excited for the return of Melrose tonight?

Also catch a preview of Ella’s new fashions and the full teaser for tonight’s episode, “Oriole.”

Mar 9 2010 09:30 AM ET

Indie romance in space! Check out 'Mars' starring Cynthia Watros from 'Lost'

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It’s Libby from Lost as you (and Hurley) have never seen her before – animated!

Cynthia Watros stars alongside musician/actor Kinky Friedman (he plays the President) in new indie film Mars, which premieres this weekend at SXSW. Mark Duplass (Humpday, The Puffy Chair) plays an astronaut who goes on the first manned mission to Mars, looking for “life and love.”

The whole project is the brainchild of Austin, Texas-based animator Geoff Marslett, who has said he wanted the film to look like a cross between A Scanner Darkly and Sin City. But he also notes the film is more like an indie romantic comedy set in space.

The animation looks super-cool, right? And for added coolness, the soundtrack features Giant Sand’s Howe Gelb, Neko Case, Victoria Williams, Kristen Hersh and others.

EW.com has an exclusive clip from the film:

Did you, as one character says, pee yourself?

Mar 5 2010 04:28 PM ET

Clip du jour: Twitter comes to life

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If you love Twitter, you’ll love this. If you hate Twitter, you’ll probably love hating this.

Sween and Poeks asked their friends to make a film version of their favorite tweets — without any restrictions on interpretations. The result is Twitter: The Criterion Collection.

It’s after the jump (some language NSFW). READ FULL STORY »

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