BuzzSugar

Upfronts Update: CBS Axes Old Christine and Five More

BuzzSugar — Tue, 18 May 2010 11:00:21 PDT

Here's a few more shows to move to the cancellation list. Ahead of its big schedule announcement at tomorrow's upfronts, CBS has pulled the plug on six shows: say goodbye to The New Adventures of Old Christine, The Ghost Whisperer, Accidentally on Purpose, Miami Medical, Gary Unmarried, and Cold Case. Personally, I'm going to miss Accidentally on Purpose the most, but are you sad about any of these shows?

Photo courtesy of CBS

LilSugar Exclusive! Actress Jenna Elfman Tweets Motherhood

LilSugar — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 14:15:16 PDT

Jenna Elfman may play the expectant Billie on CBS's Accidentally on Purpose, but in real life she's a mom of two. The actress and her husband, Bodhi, are parents to Story Elias, 2, and Easton Quinn Monroe born in March. The belly Jenna sports in tonight's season finale is not a pillow, it was her son. We recently had the opportunity to ask her our Four Lil Questions via Twitter. Check out what she (@jennaonpurpose) tweeted us about motherhood!

LilSugar: Fill in the blank. You know you’re a mother when ____?
Jenna Elfman: You first experience that spectacular, overwhelming love for your new baby.

LilSugar: Fill in the blank. Why didn’t anybody tell me _____ about motherhood?
Jenna Elfman: That breastfeeding is a learned ability!

LilSugar: What’s the best trick your mama (or parent) taught you?
Jenna Elfman: No tricks, just love and communication.

LilSugar: Are you a helicopter mom or do you believe in free-range kids?
Jenna Elfman: Helicoptering from a distance. Free range until helicoptering is necessary.

Tune in tonight for the show's season finale!

Mary Pols on Her Accidentally on Purpose TV Show, Take 2!

LilSugar — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 06:00:36 PDT

A mom's life may play out like a sitcom, but no woman ever expects to actually watch hers on the small screen. This is exactly what happened to Mary Pols, author of Accidentally on Purpose the brilliant memoir of a 39 year old who had a one-night stand and ended up pregnant. I recently had a chance to chat with Mary about how her book became a CBS show starring Jenna Elfman. The second part of the season finale airs tonight. If you missed the first portion of the interview, check it out!

LilSugar: This one is for the wishful readers who rooted for the relationship, are you and Matt together now?
Mary Pols: We're not together. No traditional happy ending, just like the book. But being co-parents who are completely united in raising a child is a happier ending than a lot of people get, you know? I can live with that. Both of us could have had easier paths, but this little boy we share is just gloriously fun and sweet and charming and because of him, I wouldn't choose another life for anything. There isn't a day that goes by that I don't think, this is hard, and then, "I am so lucky." Which is really the sum of parenting, isn't it? If you feel blessed, it's all the same, whether you're married, single, straight, gay, adoptive, transgender but miraculously reproducing or what have you. Damn, this is hard. Damn, I'm lucky.

LilSugar: Dolan is now six, does he know his life story has gone to Hollywood? Or does he live like a normal kindergartner?
Mary Pols: Dolan knows I wrote a book about him but is blissfully ignorant of the whole Hollywood angle. Unless I was the inspiration for "Glee" or the "Berenstain Bears" I don't think he'd care much if he did know. Someday when he's older, I'll tell him. But for now we're just glad his rapidly advancing spelling skills don't yet extend to S-I-T-C-O-M.

LilSugar: Where will you watch the season finale?
Mary Pols: I'll probably have to watch the season finale on my laptop via CBS.com, late next Wednesday night, because I am so often at a movie screening on the nights when the show airs. But I saw a lot of it being taped, so I already know a few secrets. Like the baby's name, which is not Dolan but is a name I am very fond of and does appear in my book!

To see Mary's thoughts on motherhood,

LilSugar: Fill in the blank. You know you’re a mother when ____?
Mary Pols: You're grateful someone threw up on you because you are so much easier to clean than the rug, the couch, or the car seat.

LilSugar: Fill in the blank. Why didn’t anybody tell me _____ about motherhood?
Mary Pols: That it is primitive and basic and beautiful enough to survive and thrive outside societal norms. Well, to be truthful, plenty of people told me, from Anne Lamott via her great memoir Operating Instructions to the women in my book club. There are very few wisdoms that haven't already been told. I just wasn't ready to listen.

LilSugar: What’s the best trick your mama (or parent) taught you?
Mary Pols: To find the comedy hidden within every drama.

LilSugar: Are you a helicopter mom or do you believe in free-range kids?
Mary Pols: Free range and organic all the way. Except at dinner, when I must say "bottom IN your chair" at least 20 times.

Mary Pols on Watching Her Accidentally on Purpose Life on TV

LilSugar — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 15:00:44 PDT

LilSugar: It’s one thing to write a memoir that people can purchase and read, it’s another to have your life (or a show based on your life) broadcast on national television, how did you deal with everyone knowing your business?
Mary Pols: The thing about the show is, it's so different from my actual life - which sadly, does not include having shirtless Jon Foster to make out with on a regular basis - that it now feels like it's its own entity. Billie's got the same profession I have, although a different employer (I no longer write for a Bay Area newspaper, I review movies for Time and write a parent-oriented entertainment column for MSN), and she got pregnant on a one-night stand with a much younger man, but after that, our paths really diverge. She's less controlling, freaked out by her situation and just generally nicer than me.

LilSugar: In More magazine you wrote that Accidentally on Purpose was something you ”slaved and wept over" and were really proud of and that you hoped that the CBS show would get the memoir into more hands. Has it?
Mary Pols: I think the memoir has reached a few more hands, definitely. Perhaps mostly the writers and actors on the show, who seem to have diligently done their homework even though the story is so different. I got the loveliest email from Lennon Parham, the very funny actress who plays Billie's sister, after she read the book, which was so kind it made me cry! And I was really touched when Nicolas Wright, who plays slacker stoner Davis, told me during a set visit that he'd read Accidentally on Purpose and loved it. And I think some strangers are finding it too, just based on the emails I get. Although I think people expecting a light and frothy, sitcom-style story would be surprised. There's a lot of sadness in my book, a lot of trying to come to terms with things that don't work out in a happy, easy way. You know, like life.

To see how Accidentally on Purpose went to Hollywood and what Mary's baby's dad thinks of it all, just

LilSugar: How did the series come about and how involved are you in the show? What is it like to watch Jenna Elfman play you?
Mary Pols: The book was optioned and the producer, Gail Berman, who is cool and smart and a powerful woman, just took it from there. My only involvement is to be a cheerleader and to occasionally send emails like, "you know, the newspaper industry is in the toilet so if you want any background on that, give me a call." But I think it's healthier to stay out of it. I've been down to the set twice, and everyone was so nice to me. It was surreal beyond belief the first time and just kind of fun the second time. Here's what I'll say about Jenna Elfman: She looks about 25, is about 6 feet tall and even dragging around a vast and entirely authentic baby "bump," is just really, really lovely. So it's flattering. And I think she has great, very natural comic timing and even though she's positively dainty in person, projects an earthiness I enjoy a great deal. Also, it is so fun to see a real life pregnant woman on TV who is not hiding behind grocery bags or cereal boxes as she grows. In real life Jenna just had her baby, Easton, a few weeks ago, and she just sent me a photo. He's gorgeous and I feel a weird little thrill that she ended up having a little boy born in early March, just like I did. Cool little kharma thing there. With Dharma no less.

LilSugar: How did /does Matt feel about the book and subsequent show? Did parts like the “strawberry” bit upset him?
Mary Pols: I think the TV show was actually harder for Matt to come to terms with than the book. Which is surprising in a way because the book is all truth and the show is way kinder and gentler to his character than I was. He's only seen a few episodes, I think, and God knows, I'm not going to force it on him. But he's such a good guy that I believe he hopes, as I do, that the show will be renewed. He knows how much I want to buy our son a house.

Check out Lil next Wednesday to see what Mary had to say about raising her 6 year old, her relationship with his father, and the finale secret she divulged!

Photos copyright 2010 CBS Inc.

TV Show Check-In: Accidentally on Purpose

BuzzSugar — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 14:30:38 PST

Last week, I did a check-in on Cougar Town to let you know what's so great about it, and today I'd like to mention another show that I don't normally recap, but have been watching and enjoying: Accidentally on Purpose. The freshman comedy stars Jenna Elfman and Jon Foster as Billie and Zack, a couple who gets to know each other and starts dating after she gets pregnant from a one-night stand.

First impression: I thought the pilot was cute enough, and I kept up with the show since Billie's pregnancy keeps things moving at a rapid pace.
Why I'm still watching: The show has found a chemistry winner between Elfman and Foster, who plays Billie's baby's father, Zack. When the show was just about them trying to get along platonically for the sake of their unborn baby, it almost lost me, but the decision to let them be together in the middle of the season was a great one. There's no need to keep them apart - watching them figure out a relationship and parenthood is entertaining enough. Also, though some of the jokes are a little lame, the show seems like it's toning down the antics of the friends, as well as Elfman's over-the-top punchlines and mannerisms.

To hear why you should watch and see a funny clip of the show, just

Why you should watch: If you're looking for a traditional sitcom that's pretty non-offensive and not a huge investment, Accidentally on Purpose fits the bill. It's a sweet look at a relationship between an older woman and younger guy that only revolves around the lightest of issues.

Photo courtesy of CBS

Holiday TV Sneak Peek, Part 2

BuzzSugar — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 16:30:12 PST

Holiday TV is upon us, my friends! Though many shows already had their holiday and Thanksgiving episodes, there are still plenty of series with a festive themed episode coming up, including NBC's Thursday night comedy lineup. Check out the photos for a glimpse into Christmas future!

Link Time! Janet Jackson to Open Up on TV About Michael

BuzzSugar — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 13:30:09 PST

Janet Jackson will be talking about her brother in a new primetime special - TV Squad
The Real Housewives of New Jersey are invading NBC's Mercy. Seriously. - The Ausiello Files
Ryan Seacrest is letting regular people grab money from celebs for his new show Bank of Hollywood - Vulture
Here's a guide to all of the guest stars during November sweeps - TV.com
George Clooney's top 10 movies - Rotten Tomatoes
CBS picks up five more episodes of Accidentally on Purpose - HitFix
Michael Jackson's This Is It takes No. 1 on Billboard - Rolling Stone
Listen to a preview of Adam Lambert's new album - Best Week Ever
Colin Hanks to play "Jack" to Bradley Whitford's "Dan" - Collider
Twilight's Rob and Kristen finally talk about each other. Check out snippets from the interview - PopSugar
Sigourney Weaver and Alia Shawkat sign on for Cedar Rapids - Zap2it
Prepare for the onslaught of skinny jeans: Kings of Leon are creating their own limited-edition clothing line - Spinner

What's Your Favorite New Fall TV Comedy?

BuzzSugar — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 10:31:53 PDT

By now, all the pilots for the most anticipated new shows have premiered, and I've already picked my faves and permanent TiVo residents. There have been some really strong freshmen comedy shows that run the gamut from romantic, musical, slapstick to pregnancy, including Glee, Modern Family, Cougar Town, Community, Accidentally on Purpose, and Bored to Death.

Which comedy is your new fave?

CBS's Accidentally on Purpose Pales in Comparison to Book

LilSugar — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 12:30:03 PDT

Mary Pols's Accidentally on Purpose made me laugh, cry, and relate. I rooted for the 39-year-old film critic and her baby daddy, Matt, as I read the author's witty account of her unplanned journey into motherhood. Considering the book to be the mama of all pregnancy must reads, I even gifted it to several expecting friends. So last night, I sat on my couch crossing my fingers that CBS's new sitcom based on the text would live up to my expectations. It didn't even come close. Here's why.

I couldn't wrap my mind around Jenna Elfman as Billie - I kept seeing Dharma and her over-the-top antics, but no Greg.
Twenty-one minutes passed before I laughed.

For the rest of my observations,

The stereotypical characters on the small screen lacked the depth of those in the text. Billie is a haphazard cougar on the prowl and Zack (Jon Foster) is an overgrown kid with poor pickup lines and idiot friends, a big stretch from the endearing 20-something in the book that got a woman several years his senior in the sack.
The season premiere was rushed. In a single episode, we saw the demise of Billie's relationship with James (Grant Show), her rebound fling with Zach, the two move in together and a nursery concocted.

I won't be watching the show again . . . unless the network saves the one-dimensional sitcom by hiring Pols as head writer. What's your opinion?

Lil's still holding out hope for Fall's other hot-mom shows, so tune in tonight and follow LilSugar's live tweets as we watch The Good Wife!
Photo courtesy of CBS

Five Minutes With Accidentally on Purpose's Ashley Jensen

BuzzSugar — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 16:00:41 PDT

New sitcom Accidentally on Purpose premieres tonight on CBS, with Jenna Elfman in the lead role as a San Francisco movie critic who becomes pregnant after a one-night stand (Elfman went totally Method: she just announced her real-life pregnancy). Playing her best friend? British actress Ashley Jensen. Jensen has struck comedy gold on both sides of the Atlantic, earning an Emmy nomination for her work alongside Ricky Gervais in Extras and making a splash as Betty's best friend (and Wilhelmina's surrogate) in Ugly Betty. Jensen and I chatted at the CBS/CW party at the TCA press tour about how she landed the role (after getting horribly lost on the way to her audition) and how she'll play a party girl despite being pregnant in real life. Here are highlights:

On her character, Olivia: "She's a party animal girl, sort of the cheeky, sassy, witty one who kind of is independent and doesn't need to be tied down. She seems to have a boyfriend in every place that she works . . . which is good fun to play!"
On playing pregnant on Ugly Betty and now being pregnant: "I've been pregnant for over two years! This [belly]'s a little bit more difficult because I can't remove it at lunchtime. I said to someone earlier, 'If I'd realized what it was like to be pregnant and wearing four-inch heels, I may have walked a little bit different in the last season of Ugly Betty.' I was just strutting about!"

To hear her Ugly Betty highlights, how she stumbled into meeting Ted Danson and how she feels about using her own accent on TV, just

On the highlights of her time on Ugly Betty: "Going to the Golden Globes at the beginning was quite exciting. We'd done maybe 10 episodes. . . . To find myself suddenly on a red carpet wearing dresses and diamonds and having people doing my hair, I'd never had all that before. So that was all incredibly new, and that was amazing, and for the show to have such an impact so immediately was very exiting. And going back to New York [last season] was exciting - I think that gave it an extra wee bit of like, 'Ooh!' Because I never went to New York [full-time] - I commuted. I found that quite exotic. I was like, 'Oh yes, I have to fly to New York for five and a half hours for my work.'"
On her best New York to LA flight experience: "I got to fly with Ted Danson one day, which was quite exciting. It was the day after the Emmys, actually, after I'd been nominated for Extras. And the [flight attendant] was like, 'Oh, you looked lovely last night!' And I was like, 'Oh, thanks,' and she was like, 'It's such a shame you never won,' and I could see Ted Danson going, 'Who's this?' And then I sat down beside him, and he was like, 'Were you there last night?' and I said 'Yes I was,' and he went, 'Sorry for being really ignorant - what were you in?' and I said it was Extras and he was like, 'Oh my God!' So Ted and I sat down, shared a bit of breakfast, watched a little movie, had a little sleep, exchanged restaurants in New York, and it was fleeting but beautiful. That was a highlight, going to sleep with Ted Danson."
On being one of the few UK actors to use her natural accent here: "The two jobs that I've done, I've gone in and used an American accent, and they go, 'Do it in your own.' And then they go, 'It's funnier. It's funnier in that strange little accent that you have.' I think it adds color to shows, doesn't it, when there's another accent in there. . . . I think comedy is easier in your own accent, as well - I've lived with this accent all my life, and I know the rhythms and the pauses that make it funny, so I think that absolutely helps."