I didn’t have a dog growing up, but I did have a beloved family pet: Cornelius J. Franich, also known as “Corny,” a snake who entertained our household every fortnight when we fed him live mice.* So even though I’m no fan of canines, I’m intrigued by the Dog Wars controversy. To recap: Everyone knows that Mitt Romney once strapped his dog to the top of the car for a 12-hour drive from Massachusetts to Canada. Which is just cruel and unusual punishment. I mean, Canada. Ugh! READ FULL STORY »
Studies have shown that Hidden Gems of the Week, EW.com’s collection of reader-submitted ridiculata, is the best way to enjoy Dancing With the Stars without ever having to turn it on. It’s a visual feast of sparkles, fringe, and stunning awkwardness. Ready to go down the rabbit hole? Behold this bountiful smattering of Visible Gems!
MOST VALUABLE GEM (MVG) OF THE WEEK:
“Did Gavin borrow the canoe from Pocahontas in “Just Around the Riverbend?”" –Colleen
“Carrie Ann brought it.” –Fridgedancer, endorsed by SpeechTeacher89, LAG Award Winner, WiltedYouth
Primatologist, conservation advocate, and all-around role model Dr. Jane Goodall stopped by The Daily Show last night to talk about her latest project: Chimpanzee, an adorable new documentary from Disneynature. Though the 78-year-old ape expert didn’t work on the film, she’s acting as its spokesperson — her duties apparently include giving late night talk show hosts a “proper chimpanzee greeting,” complete with goofy ape noises. We’re not complaining!
Goodall explains that the film, which follows an orphaned chimp named Oscar, found its plot by accident; a film crew had been shooting on the Ivory Coast for a year before their main character’s mother was tragically killed by a leopard. (“It was luck!” joked Jon Stewart.) After losing his mother, Oscar was “adopted” by Freddy, the male leader of his troop. According to Goodall, “it brings tears to your eyes” to see the tender way Freddy treats his young ward.
Well, provided excessive cuteness makes you weepy. The Chimpanzee footage that accompanied Goodall’s appearance is almost unbearably adorable — who even needs a plot when you can watch chimps bumble around to the sounds of bouncy jazz for 78 minutes? Check out the interview below, then mark your calendar: the doc premieres on Earth Day, April 20. Plus, if you see it in its first week, a portion of your ticket price will be donated to the Jane Goodall Institute. That’s monkey business we can get behind.
Image Credit: The Hub
Love is always in the air in Equestria, the neigh-borly realm that’s home to My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic‘s four-legged stars. But on Saturday, April 21, this animated world will celebrate a particularly momentous occasion: Winged unicorn Princess Cadance and Shining Armor, a dapper colt, are tying the knot (reins?). And we’ve got a first look at the pony-focused announcement that’ll appear in The New York Times‘ wedding section this Sunday. That’s right: The paper of record is running a notice (full disclosure: it’s really an ad) about two cartoon horses getting hitched.
Naturally, the invitations request bridle attire.
Confused? Here’s the hoof, the whole hoof, and nothing but the hoof: READ FULL STORY »
“That is it! I’m am tired of these [bleep-bloop] snakes on this [bleep-bloop] plane!”
Now, is that a line from a crazy-amazing (emphasis on the crazy) 2006 Samuel L. Jackson movie, or the internal dialogue of an Australian pilot forced to make an emergency landing this week? Yes, my friends, nearly six years after Hollywood found a movie title so ridiculous it demanded to be made, the cinematic tour de force known as Snakes on a Plane came to life Tuesday. READ FULL STORY »
Spring is in the air, and Covert Affairs star Christopher Gorham captured a heartwarmingly symbolic sign of it today in Washington, D.C., when he filmed White House security reuniting a mother duck with her offspring who were struggling to make the step up onto the lawn. “Aw factor of 10!” Gorham wrote alongside his WhoSay video post. Check out the video below.
Image Credit: Murray Close
The Hunger Games film release is less than two weeks away – are you ready for the reaping? Join us on EW.com for the livestream of the premiere on Monday! But that’s hardly all that’s going on this week – there’s a bunch of Oscar-nominated films coming out on DVD so you can catch up on what you may have missed, plus Discovery Channel investigates life on ice and Idol is already down to the Top 12. Have a great week!
SUNDAY
YouTube: Japan in a Day
Today marks one year since the devastating earthquake and tsunami hit Japan. In commemoration of the disaster and to focus on the resilience of Japan, filmmaker Ridley Scott is using today to kick off work on his new project, Japan in a Day, which asks people around the world to film whatever they are doing today, March 11, and submit it for inclusion in a crowd-sourced documentary. Scott previously collaborated with YouTube on Life in a Day, which gathered footage from around the world and told a story of humanity. You can watch the trailer on YouTube now, and submit a video from anywhere in the world up until midnight tonight.
MONDAY
The Hunger Games premiere, live on EW.com
The big day is almost here. You can officially start planning your Katniss/Effie/Peeta costume –The Hunger Games premiere in Los Angeles is Monday night and we’ll be streaming it live on EW.com! The movie officially opens around the country on March 23, but catch Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson and co. on the red carpet here first. And if you’re in LA, you’d better already be downtown at the Nokia Theater where they are allowing fans to camp out overnight for a chance to attend the big event.
TUESDAY
Major DVD releases: Melancholia, The Descendants, My Week With Marilyn, Young Adult, The Adventures of Tintin
It’s a big day for home viewing – catch (nearly) everything you didn’t get a chance to see in the theaters before Oscar week as some major films come out on DVD. One of our favorite ‘Nominated for Nothing’ flicks, Melacholia with Kirsten Dunst, is in the mix, along with The Descendants, Michelle Williams’ nominated turn in My Week With Marilyn, animated film The Adventures of TinTin, and the edgy Jason Reitman-helmed Young Adult.
WEDNESDAY
American Idol : The Top 12 perform, Fox, 8p.m.
We’re getting there – American Idol is already down to its Top 12 contestants and tonight they take the stage for the judges. The theme hasn’t been announced yet, but rocker Daughtry will perform on the follow up results show Thursday, so maybe there will be a harder edge to the songs this week?
THURSDAY
Community, NBC, 8 p.m.
Bonus: DVD rental The Ides of March
As one astute commenter pointed out, Community makes its valiant return tonight on NBC. Will the fan favorite hold its own being scheduled up against ratings winner Big Bang Theory?
Also, just for fun – it’s the Ides of March– March 15, like the real ides of March — but this year there’s a film out on DVD to go along with the ever-ominous date. So grab a copy of the George Clooney/Ryan Gosling political thriller The Ides of March and do your best Caesar impression at home.
FRIDAY
Film releases: 21 Jump Street, Casa de Mi Padre
March is notoriously slow for movie releases, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t some fun (although perhaps a bit mindless) comedies hitting the multiplex. 21 Jump Street is a fun ride down memory lane (where’s Johnny Depp?), with Channing Tatum and Oscar-nominated Jonah Hill as a pair of ne’er do well cops sent to break up a school drug ring. Also out this weekend: hear Will Ferrell’s reportedly impressive Spanish in Casa di mi Padre.
SATURDAY
Chasing Leprechauns, Hallmark Channel, 8 p.m.
Don your favorite green outfit and check out Hallmark’s latest cutesy holiday-themed endeavor – the story of a corporate hack (Adrian Pasdar) sent to Ireland to close a deal on a construction site that – get this – is rumored to be inhabited by leprechauns. I kid you not, this is really on TV. Or there’s always the ultimate St. Patrick’s Day-themed horror flick, Leprechaun (1993), starring Jennifer Aniston in her film debut.
SUNDAY
Frozen Planet, Discovery Channel, 8p.m.
Penguins, and polar bears, and sea lions, oh my! In this new co-production with the BBC, Discovery Channel explores life in the polar areas of the world, giving a new view of these vast, frozen landscapes. Alec Baldwin narrates the seven-episode series.
A few days after claiming the Golden Collar Awards were “fixed,” Conan O’Brien’s cigar-chomping canine correspondent Triumph the Insult Comic Dog crashed the Jan. 13 ceremony. The footage finally made it to air last night on Conan. Behold the irascible mutt as he accuses a tiara-clad Cavalier King Charles spaniel of having “work done” (you’ll have to watch to see which TV personality he holds up as her “Before” picture), makes below-the-collar accusations about Blackie the Doberman from Hugo, and accosts a Real House Pet of Beverly Hills. But which prime-time pooch finally takes Triumph down a peg? Find out after the jump. READ FULL STORY »
Dear Reality TV,
STOP IT!
Love, Annie
P.S. American Idol, you are just as bad.
Oh and speaking of pets, I think we all know who’s behind this…. READ FULL STORY »
Image Credit: Seth Wenig/AP
If you missed the cutest three hours on primetime last night, there’s a new top dog: Malachy the Pekingese, Best in Show at the 2012 Westminster Dog Show. The first night of the doggy showdown featured the Hound, Toy, Non-Sporting and Herding groups. Last night featured the Sporting, Working, and Terrier groups. (Click here for a gallery of the show’s top dogs.)
Malachy competed in the Best in Show group last year but lost to Hickory the Scottish Deerhound. But the Pekingese rose to the occasion this year, making him the first Pekingese to take the title since 1990. READ FULL STORY »
