Tag: Politics as Entertainment (1-10 of 822)

Jun 12 2013 07:01 PM ET

Who should play Edward Snowden?

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You know it’s coming.

The moment you saw The Guardian‘s riveting video interview (below) with the 29-year-old kinda-hot globe-trotting NSA leaker, you knew: Sooner or later, there is going to be a movie about Edward Snowden.

It might be in theaters. It might be on HBO. It could be a Silkwood-like tragedy or an All the Presidents Men-style procedural drama. But there will be something. Because everything about this story, so far, is Hollywood-bait. There’s a timely controversial issue (digital privacy), real-life spy on the run, high-tech snooping and that classic based-on-a-true-story trope: One man — allegedly an idealist — battling the system.

Most of all, there’s Snowden himself — Hero? Traitor? Or just, as Snowden says, ‘an American’? Take any side you like, but there’s no denying Snowden has been a surprisingly articulate spokesperson for his own cause and has generated a flurry of “Team Edward” online admirers. Plus, how many real-life whistleblowers ditch a hot pole-dancing girlfriend?

So let’s cast this as-yet-nonexistent movie. Here’s some names we thought of: Daniel Radcliffe, Aaron Paul, Ryan Gosling, Tobey Maguire, Alexander Skarsgard, Jamie Bell, Eric Balfour, Elijah Wood, Josh Radnor and Justin Timberlake. Also, we should add Shia LaBeouf, since he apparently already revealed this surveillance program years ago. (One request to producers: Let Jesse Eisenberg sit this one out, okay?)

Vote in our poll below. You can also make your own suggestions by filling out our comment form … or just type it into Google or Facebook and we’ll ask the NSA what you searched for.
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Jun 10 2013 03:33 PM ET

Hillary Clinton just launched your new favorite Twitter account

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Sure, her first foray into micro-blogging wasn’t catalyzed by Stephen Colbert. But between her iconic avatar (which should look familiar), her Tumblr-baiting first tweet (which gives a shout-out to Texts from Hillary co-creators Adam Smith and Stacy Lambe), and her certifiably awesome bio (“Wife, mom, lawyer, women & kids advocate, FLOAR, FLOTUS, US Senator, SecState, author, dog owner, hair icon, pantsuit aficionado, glass ceiling cracker, TBD…”), Hillary Clinton’s brand-new Twitter account has her husband’s beat. Maybe that wouldn’t be the case if he were still using @PrezBillyJeff as his handle.
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May 28 2013 10:56 AM ET

Scarlett, Reese, Jessica, Amanda -- who's your pick to play Hillary Rodham Clinton? POLL

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Image Credit: Gennadi Avramenko/Getty Images

Rodham, an upcoming film about Hillary Clinton’s younger years, basically has “Oscar” written all over it. The movie’s screenplay won the number 4 spot on last year’s Black List of best unproduced scripts, an annual roundup that has cited future Best Picture winners like Slumdog Millionaire and The King’s Speech in the past. It’s a period biopic about a complicated political figure, which is a long way of saying “Academy catnip.” And it’s stuffed with meaty roles — future president Bill Clinton, future Massachusetts governor William Weld, Hillary herself — that are sure to attract a plethora of big-name stars.

Speak of which, four celebrated actresses are already rumored to be in contention for the film’s starring role: Scarlett Johansson, Reese Witherspoon, Jessica Chastain, and Amanda Seyfried, according to the UK’s Sunday Times.  READ FULL STORY »

May 12 2013 01:10 PM ET

Adam Lambert and Frank Ocean are honored at GLAAD Media Awards

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Image Credit: Han Myung-Gu/WireImage

Adam Lambert and Frank Ocean both won trophies at last night’s GLAAD Media Awards in San Francisco. Melanie Brown from the Spice Girls presented the onetime American Idol-er with the Davidson/Valenti Award which is given to a member of the LGBT community who has made a significant difference in promoting equal rights. Meanwhile, Lambert and Ocean tied in the category of Outstanding Musical Artist. Other awards went to the film Any Day Now and to writer Marc Lamont Hill for his article, “Why Aren’t We Fighting for CeCe McDonald?“

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May 1 2013 05:11 PM ET

Pass the doughnuts: Which TV show has the worst cops?

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Image Credit: Joseph Lederer/A&E

Small towns are so much more interesting on television. Their quirks are quirkier, their drama is more dramatic and their faults somehow make them more endearing. But there’s another feature we’ve spotted in the hit small town dramas we’re currently obsessed with: The cops in these series aren’t all that skilled at, well, being cops.

Case in point: Bates Motel. Sure, the cops of White Pine Bay, Ore. are corrupt, but they also don’t even seem to know how to work a crime scene. The first thing that the Sheriff did upon arriving at a murder scene in this Monday’s episode was touch the murder weapon and then the dead body … with his bare hands. Surely even small town peacekeepers know about latex gloves, right? Assuming they have cable, I’m betting they’ve at least seen Law & Order: SVU and could have learned a thing or two about contaminating a crime scene.
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Apr 28 2013 02:57 PM ET

White House Correspondents' Dinner: Watch Kevin Spacey's 'House of Cards' parody and Steven Spielberg's 'Obama' -- VIDEO

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Last night’s White House Correspondents’ Dinner features two different spoof videos featuring extensive celebrity/politico cameos. First up came House of Nerds, in which Kevin Spacey’s utterly corrupt House of Cards politician took the screen opposite probably-corrupt real-life politicians like John McCain, Valerie Jarrett, Michael Bloomberg, and a lot of other people who almost certainly have more important things to do. Bonus: There’s an NBC joke! Watch the video: READ FULL STORY »

Apr 28 2013 02:12 AM ET

White House Correspondents' Dinner: President Obama on NBC, 'The Bible,' and Taylor Swift. Plus: Conan O'Brien's best jokes

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Image Credit: Pete Marovich-Pool/Getty Images

C-Span insistently stamped the hashtag “NerdProm” on their coverage of this year’s White House Correspondents’ Dinner, but the annual political roast looked more like Washington’s answer to the Golden Globes. By which I mean, there were several pointed jokes and untold gallons of booze. Conan O’Brien was the official comedy diplomat of the night — a return trip for the late-night host, who slung jokes in President Clinton’s direction back in 1995. But O’Brien was overshadowed by his opener: President Barack Obama, who took the opportunity to make several jabs at NBC, CNN, and even Taylor Swift. Read on for the best zingers by the former Tonight Show host and the Commander-in-Chief of these United States. READ FULL STORY »

Apr 12 2013 11:13 AM ET

'Glee' tackles school violence: How'd they do?

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Last night’s Glee struck a nerve with viewers loyal and otherwise. But how could it not?

The episode addressed one of the most sensitive issues of recent memory, as McKinley High School was put under high alert after gunshots were fired in the school. Naturally, one can assume that this is the show’s way of tackling a topical subject that four months ago rose to the top of public consciousness in wake of the stomach-churning tragedy in Newtown, Conn. that left 20 children and six faculty dead.

Glee has never shied away from tackling heavy topics. In fact, episodes usually have more than one topic du jour. (Last night’s school shooting hour also included a “catfishing” storyline.) In the past, students have dealt with everything from homophobia, bullies, eating disorders, domestic abuse, and teen sex. The latter, actually drew some negative attention from a parent group.

But that’s what Glee does — it rocks the boat. And a quick glance at the comments on EW’s recap is evidence that this episode did exactly the same. READ FULL STORY »

Apr 9 2013 12:16 AM ET

Stephen Colbert sets up Twitter account for Bill Clinton, has former prez dictate very first tweet

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Tonight’s Colbert Report featured a suave, handsome icon beloved by millions for his political leadership and activism… as well as William Jefferson Clinton, the 42nd president of the United States.

Though the conversation between Clinton and Colbert — filmed at this year’s Clinton Global Initiative University, an annual meeting for college students and youth organizations — was certainly entertaining, it was also fairly predictable. Clinton was chatty and charming as always, while Colbert kept struggling valiantly not to be taken in by his guest’s charisma.

Near the end of the talk, though, Colbert had an actual surprise for Clinton: He had taken the liberty of setting up a brand-new Twitter account for the former president, who generally steers clear of social media. And while most of the monikers Colbert tried to snag were already taken, “@PrezBillyJeff” just happened to be free. (Who woulda thunk it?) Clinton, ever the good sport, proceeded to dictate his first-ever tweet to Colbert from the stage; you’ll find that special message below. READ FULL STORY »

Apr 3 2013 04:40 PM ET

Bill Clinton to be honored at GLAAD Media Awards

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Image Credit: Alex Wong/Getty Images

Barack Obama may be America’s “first gay president” — but Bill Clinton is the (former) commander-in-chief GLAAD has chosen to honor at its Media Awards in Los Angeles this month. (The advocacy group’s New York Media Awards ceremony was held March 16 in Manhattan; its San Francisco awards are scheduled for May 11.)

Clinton will receive GLAAD’s inaugural Advocate for Change Award. The ex-president began advocating for marriage equality in 2011, worked against North Carolina’s proposed amendment to ban both marriage and civil unions for gay couples, and recently penned an op-ed urging the Supreme Court to overturn the Defense of Marriage Act — a bill that Clinton himself originally signed in 1996.

“President Clinton’s support of the LGBT community and recognition that DOMA, the so-called Defense of Marriage Act, is unconstitutional and should be struck down shows that the political landscape continues to change in favor of LGBT equality,” GLAAD strategic giving officer Wilson Cruz said in a statement. “Leaders and allies like President Clinton are critical to moving our march for equality forward.”

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