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"Age of Love" Is Coming!!

Molly — Mon, 18 Jun 2007 11:04:02 -0700

What would summer be without a salacious new Reality TV Show to watch with all your friends? Well meet this season's guilty pleasure: "Age of Love" premiering tonight at 9/8c on NBC.

The show is hosted by Mark Consuelos and centers around finding love for 30-year-old Australian tennis player Mark Philippoussis. The twist that Philippoussis doesn't know going into it is that he will be choosing between two very different groups of women: experienced women in their 40s (the "Cougars") and wild women in their 20s (the "Kittens").

Faced with this difficult decision and all the beautiful ladies, Mark will have to figure out what exactly he is looking for in the woman he loves.

Thanks to NBC for sponsoring this post.

To check out a preview for the show just read more

Bad Idea of the Week: NBC's "Age of Love"

BuzzSugar — Sat, 12 May 2007 14:01:39 -0700

A while back, when NBC first announced its summer schedule, I noticed a listing for a show called "Age of Love." It was a dating show, but NBC hadn't released any other hints about its premise. Now the details are out - and they're awful.

Here's how NBC describes the show, which will premiere June 18:

31-year-old Australian tennis superstar Mark Philippoussis will attempt to find true love among women ranging in age from 21-48 in this unique series based on the current phenomenon of younger men dating older women. Philippoussis will date 13 women from two very different groups - the "Kittens," six fun, enthusiastic women in their 20's, and the "Cougars," seven beautiful, sophisticated women in their 40's.

First of all: Mark Philippoussis? Random! Why would NBC spend its time hooking up a semi-famous tennis pro and not just some average dude? And how on earth did they know Philippoussis was looking for love? Did they come to him? Did he go to them? I'm baffled. Also, now we're probably in for a whole summer of tennis/love puns ("40-love," "mixed doubles," etc.). Greeeat.

As for the setup of the show, well, I just feel icky, so read more

Here's more from NBC's press release:

The suspense builds in early episodes as Mark - unaware of the concept - is first introduced to the "Cougars." As he meets them one by one, their ages increase much to his surprise. The series takes a dramatic turn when Mark learns there's a second group of much younger women - the "Kittens" - who will also be attempting to vie for his affections. Unaware of each other, the two groups of women meet for the first time taking the competition for Mark's affections to a whole new level. From there, each week the field of women will be narrowed down with the remaining vying for his attention - but only one can win Mark's heart.

When, exactly, did "cougar" become a desirable (or even acceptable) term? I've always thought of it as something close to a slur, not something that would be bandied about on primetime TV. Furthermore, as a woman in my 20s, I'm a little offended to be referred to as a "kitten." (And we worry about "Grey's Anatomy" being bad for women.)

Let's face it: There's no way this poor guy can win. If he dates an older woman, he'll be perceived as a little gross; if he goes with a younger woman, he'll be accused of doing the "classic man" thing - choosing the youngest, prettiest gal in the room. And what exactly are we going to learn - that everyone should date someone 10 years older, or 10 years younger? Yeah, don't think so.

Finally, reality shows where the contestants don't know the twist never seem to end well - anyone remember "Boy Meets Boy"? I'm going to go ahead and guess that Mark and the viewers won't "discover if love is truly ageless," as NBC promises. We're more likely to discover that looking for love on a contrived, offensive reality show is just a really bad idea.

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Greenberg: A Harsh Look Under a Magnifying Glass

BuzzSugar — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 08:30:00 -0700

It always feels slightly off when a comic actor takes on a serious role. Not that Ben Stiller hasn't proven his flexibility with fare like Reality Bites or Friends & Neighbors, but never before has he seemed so straight-faced, vulnerable, and well, depressing, as he does in Noah Baumbach's latest Greenberg. In fact, it took a few scenes for me to settle in to Stiller as Roger, a 40-year old with severe social and mental anxiety. His face is tired, there's no sense of a smirk - even Stiller's gray hair is on display (Derek Zoolander would not be pleased).

The film follows Roger as he returns from a recent institutional visit (due to a nervous breakdown) to house-sit for his brother Phillip (Chris Messina). He spends his days writing angry letters to Starbucks and Mayor Bloomberg, and looks on as neighbors play in the backyard pool, afraid of human contact. The only lifeline Roger actually makes is the family's personal assistant, Florence (Greta Gerwig) and their German shepherd.

Almost immediately, Florence and Roger hop into a bumbling courtship. Roger seems drawn to her mid-twenties youth; Florence, in turn, is grappling with quarterlife uncertainty about life, and in Roger she sees someone much older who hasn't figured it all out either. It seems feasible that they'd get together, but not quite as likely that she'd put up with him. Basically, Roger is a very unlikeable guy, and like most Baumbach movies, his human flaws are both intriguing - and painful - to watch.

To see what I mean, read more.

Through interactions with his ex Beth (Baumbach's wife and muse Jennifer Jason Leigh) and longtime friend Ivan (a great Rhys Ifans), we learn that Roger has always been motivated by selfish reasons. In his earlier days, he had a band with Ivan, which he single-handedly ruined after refusing to agree to a contract. As such, Roger still doesn't want to commit to anything. It's an issue which is further brought to light as Florence suggests that he be her boyfriend. He handles the situation by doing what any self-involved person might - he snaps at her. Not once, but many times. Unable to hang around Florence or people his own age, Roger instead turns to his niece's teenage friends, doing coke like it's the eighties and rambling on about olden days. Will he ever get a reality check?

Oh, it comes. But not quite with the clearly-defined resolution that you might hope for.

Stiller is great in the role, portraying Roger with a subtle touch. But perhaps his performance is overshadowed by just how much you want to shake Roger. Instead, I'd argue that the film actually belongs to Gerwig. How refreshing to watch an actress who looks and acts like a regular woman, and as Florence, she evokes that somewhat-needy, twenty-something girl that we all know and love despite her questionable choices. Florence is the heart of the film, and as such, she keeps it from completely succumbing to the doldrums. Be warned though, there are no laughs or real sweetness here. You'll likely find yourself feeling mixed about Roger and the film, because frankly, they're both downers. But as character self-examination goes, Greenberg still makes for an interesting study.

If you'd like to review a movie you've seen recently, check out the Movie Reviews Group in community. I may even feature your critique on the site!

Photos courtesy of Focus Features

Rewind: This Week's Buzz

BuzzSugar — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 07:00:00 -0800

And the fangirls go wild! The Twilight Saga: Eclipse trailer finally debuted, and we responded by breaking it down, screenshot by screenshot.
The Oscars aired Sunday, and after all the big winners were announced, we kept the excitement going with our favorite moments of the show as well as how to improve on the telecast next year. And because we're always looking ahead, we showed you where to find the winners next!
You asked for it, you got it: Conan O'Brien announced that he's going on the road for a 30-city comedy tour starting next month. Get your tickets soon!
Two funny Bettys made TV news: Betty White confirmed that she's coming to Saturday Night Live, and Ugly Betty Suarez is finally getting that makeover!
Sadly, we lost a former child star too soon: Corey Haim died this week at age 38, and I said goodbye with a retrospective of the actor's most memorable work.
I interviewed hilarious She's Out of My League stars Jay Baruchel and Nate Torrence, and to salute mismatched movie couples of yore, I put together a slideshow of my favorite pairs of opposites.
Time to let Jack Bauer ride off into the sunset: a rumor surfaced this week that 24 is likely getting canceled after its eighth season.
Movie sneak peek time! Check out the gallery of gorgeous photos from the upcoming Eat Pray Love, starring Julia Roberts, Javier Bardem, and James Franco.

Hiptobesquare's Favorite Oscar-Winning Movies

Buzz Community — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 15:00:10 -0800

This post comes from BuzzSugar Community member hiptobesquare, who submitted her favorite Oscar-winning films to the Movie Lists group.

1. My Fair Lady
Audrey Hepburn and Rex Harrison absolutely dazzle me every single time I see this film. It has been a favorite of mine since I was a kid, when we watched it on 2-VHS set. "I Could Have Danced All Night," "The Rain in Spain," and all the other wonderful songs make this movie worth the watch, over and over.

2. The Sound of Music
I can not tell you how much I love this movie. Every part of it (though I could do without "Climb Every Mountain," my mom's favorite) is beautiful and so much fun. Even when they're running away from the Nazis. Christopher Plummer is bloody attractive (he has aged so well, as evidenced in The Last Station) and Julie Andrews shines (every last inch of her performance is top notch). The kids are great, too.

To see the rest of her favorites, just read more.

3. Breakfast at Tiffany's
My favorite love story, and there is nothing that even compares to the ending, when Paul Varjak helps Holly find Cat. I love, also when they spend a day in idyllic 1960's NYC, and steal from the 5 and 10 store. I watch it whenever I'm sad and it picks me right back up.

4. Forrest Gump
Life is, indeed, like a box of chocolates. I love this movie, I love Robin Wright, I love Tom Hanks. I live in Washington, DC, and I can not go to the Lincoln Memorial without thinking of Jenny running to Forrest. Also, the re-dubbed interviews and technical elements are so ahead of their time.

5. Casablanca
Humphrey Bogart is one of my all time favorite leading men, so obtuse, but yet so endearing. He and Ingrid Bergman play out a killer love story, filled with quotable lines, and heartbreaking songs ("As Time Goes By").

6. Shakespeare in Love
I so wish this were true. As a person of the theatre, I find this even more wonderful. The costumes are lovely, Queen Elizabeth shines, and Colin Firth is exactly *not* the leading man. Joesph Fiennes oozes sex appeal and Gwyneth is radiant.

7. No Country for Old Men
I didn't think I'd like this movie. The story is addicting, you really feel for Josh Brolin's character. The ending isn't even a little bit what you think it's going to be. The film is stunning and well acted.

8. The Departed
I liked this move because for nearly the entire thing I had no idea what was going on. The ending was a bit much, but wow, what a story!

9. The Pianist
Despite my love for this movie, I am not sure I could watch it again. It is graphic and dark, but also so beautiful. The music Adrien Brody's character plays helps the viewer escape from the grim Holocaust to a lighter, happier place. If you haven't seen it, I suggest you do, even if it's only for the one time.

10. Babe
Baa Ram Ewe, Sheep be true! It's cute, it's clever, it's a treat. At the end, when the farmer says, "That'll do, Pig," I get weepy. A classic, no doubt.

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Link Time! 9/16

BuzzSugar — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 13:31:41 -0700

What if silent film enjoyed a revival? Which modern actors would do well with this format? - FilmExperience
I might like this post about Bonnie Hunt's new talk show more than I would like the show itself. - Popwatch
Still trying to wrap my head around this TwilightMoms contest which rewarded women for cleaning their homes during the weeks leading up to the Breaking Dawn release. - MTV Movies Blog
What the set of Fringe is really like. - The TV Addict
Yup, Kanye's "Love Lockdown" has been remixed a bunch already. - Pretty Much Amazing
NBC's Ben Silverman was talking crazy again at the New York TV Festival. - Vulture
For whatever reason, I find the new video for TV on the Radio's "Golden Age" ridiculously amusing. - Stereogum
Some suggestions for fixing The Hills that I mostly agree with, except for the one about ditching Kelly Cutrone. - TiFaux

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Classic Novel Meets Classic Beast: Five New Ideas

BuzzSugar — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 12:30:27 -0800

First there was Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, the Seth Grahame-Smith novel that's currently being adapted into a film starring Natalie Portman. Then there was Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters, penned by Ben H. Winters, but no word of a movie version just yet. However, Tim Burton has his eye on the latest in the monstrous-twist-on-an-old-favorite genre, with plans to turn Grahame-Smith's Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter, into a major motion picture. Got all that?

A little research will show you that Grahme-Smith and Winters hardly have the monopoly on the market. Classics like Anna Karenina, Emma, and even Sherlock Holmes have been inundated with the likes of zombies and beyond. While I thought the Pride and Prejudice adaptation was clever, and the making of another vampire movie is more than understandable, I'm still not sold on the whole trend. However, it doesn't look like it's going away, and if you can't beat 'em, join 'em. Check out a few of my own ideas on how your most beloved stories could be tweaked with the help of a few creepy creatures:

Romeo, Juliet, and Robots: The centuries-long feud between the House of Montague and House of Capulet is only worsened by Romeo's discovery that Juliet's entire family are actually androids plotting to take down Verona. Romeo and Juliet still fall in love, but take their own lives upon the realization that Juliet's database isn't capable of processing the glitch (aka, feelings) in her system.
Gatsby vs. Godzilla: The gap between East Egg and West Egg just got a whole lot bigger. Will Gatsby find the time to throw his lavish parties, and save Daisy from Japan's most threatening monster?
The Adventures of Huckleberry's Finns: Floating down the Mississippi is a whole lot easier (and more complicated!) when you're half boy, half shark.

Two more ideas if you read more.

Great Alien Expectations: Pip can't figure out why Estella won't let him win her heart, and takes off to London to forget about her. When he returns, she's been turned into alien, forcing Pip to make a decision about whether he'll continue to pursue life as a gentleman or let Estella take him away on her UFO.
The Werewolf in the Rye: It's a coming-of-age tale of Holden Caulfield, only this time his adventures away from boarding school get pretty - wait for it - hairy.

Movie Preview: Breaking Upwards

BuzzSugar — Sat, 20 Feb 2010 10:30:00 -0800

The only thing I love more than seeing a good story played out on screen is a movie with an equally good story behind it. In the upcoming indie film Breaking Upwards, Daryl and Zoe are a twentysomething couple who decide to take some time apart to figure out if they're meant to be together. Here's the twist: they also allow themselves a few days a week to be a full-on couple. Adult coming-of-age tales are nothing new, but I'm intrigued because Breaking Upwards is actually based on Daryl and Zoe's real-life relationship and breakup experiment (the actors play themselves and Daryl Weir directed).

The film looks sweetly relatable, thanks to references like shared Netflix queues and gchat conversations (you know, the important factors in relationships these days). The realness of the characters and their chemistry also shines through in the preview, though I was happy to see a couple of other familiar faces in the trailer - most notably Olivia Thirlby.

The film has a spot at the upcoming SXSW festival in March. To see the trailer, just read more.

lilkimbo's Favorite Sports Movies!

Buzz Community — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 09:30:00 -0800

BuzzSugar Community user lilkimbo submitted her Favorite Sports Movies to the Movie Lists group. Check it out below!

This particular list was difficult for me to compile because I love sports movies. I love the adversarial nature of both sports and sports movies; it's great to have someone to cheer for and someone to root against. I love the jitters over the big game, the desire of the characters to be the best. And to me, that's what truly great sports movies are about: the characters. A good sports movies makes you forget about the sport and focus on the people playing it.

You want the underdog to overcome the odds because he's worked hard and he deserves it. You want to aging star to have one last shot at glory. You want the fallen hero to redeem himself. I've never been an athlete, but I typically identify with the athletes in these films. I think in a way we all do. Why? Because we've all felt like the underdog at one point or another; we've all wanted another shot to be great; we've all wanted forgiveness for our mistakes. So, without further ado, here are my top ten sports movies of all time:

10. Jerry Maguire
9. Rudy
8. Hoosiers
7. A League of Their Own
6. Major League

To see the top five, just read more.

5. The Natural
4. Bull Durham
3. Caddyshack
2. Rocky
1. Raging Bull

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Movie Preview: Ricky Gervais's Cemetery Junction

BuzzSugar — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 16:30:25 -0800

It seems like Ricky Gervais is everywhere these days, and it's not for nothing: the man has been really utilizing his range of talents, from hosting the Golden Globes to developing an animated series for HBO. Now we get a peek at some of the fruits of his labor with the trailer for Cemetery Junction. Gervais wrote and directed the film with Stephen Merchant, and makes an appearance as well (though he's not the central focus this time around).

The movie centers around Christian Cooke as Freddie Taylor, a 20-something who's looking for more from life than his job at an insurance company in the '70s. It looks like a coming-of-age film about Freddie and his friends as they wrestle to find their paths in life and love, depending on each other along the way. The trailer definitely has a British feel to it - from the dry humor to "All the Young Dudes" playing in the background - but see it for yourself when you read more.