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TV Tonight: The American Music Awards

BuzzSugar — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 13:30:36 -0800

This has been a huge year for music so far: Taylor Swift has won every trophy imaginable, Whitney Houston is staging her comeback, and Michael Jackson is still topping the charts, even after his death. Perhaps that's why tonight's American Music Awards sounds even better than in the past - and I'll be at the show to bring you all of the exciting moments!

Let's go over what to expect from the evening. First off, the performances. There are so many big-name acts I honestly can't choose which is my favorite. Janet Jackson is opening the first eight minutes, but The Black Eyed Peas, Kelly Clarkson, Jay-Z and Alicia Keys, Lady Gaga, Adam Lambert, Rihanna, and Carrie Underwood are taking the stage, too, among others. (I cannot wait to see what over-the-top spectacle Gaga has up her bedazzled sleeve!) As for the awards, everyone will be watching to see if Michael Jackson earns a posthumous statue; he's up for five categories, bested only by Taylor Swift who is in the running for six.

Check back for my coverage on all the winners, or follow me on Twitter where I'll be sending regular red carpet sightings. The show starts at 8/7c on ABC - are you tuning in?

Link Time!

BuzzSugar — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 13:30:04 -0700

Mad Men's Christina Hendricks got hitched! Check out the wedding photos - PopSugar
Bryan Singer calls dibs on another X-Men movie - Collider
Macy's Parade turns down the cast of Glee. Huh?! - TMZ
Alicia Keys is releasing her new album on Dec. 1. Get an early listen - HitFix
Think you know your Survivor history? Take the TV trivia quiz! - TV.com
Jimmy Kimmel follows in Letterman's footsteps and admits to a relationship with a staffer - Vulture
The new Chuck season may get bumped to an earlier premiere date - Ausiello Files
Jamie Oliver is taking reality TV to America's unhealthiest city - FitSugar
The biblical story of Moses is getting Hollywood's 300-style treatment. Here are five other ancient epics that should too - Cinematical
Where the Wild Things Are and eight other books that are impossibly hard to film - MTV Movies Blog

Who Was Your Favorite Performer at Last Night's VMAs?

BuzzSugar — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 11:30:54 -0700

We've already talked about the moonman winners at last night's MTV VMAs and the A-list beauty and fashion looks that were on the red carpet, but what did you think of the performances?

I know some of you were unsure about tuning in this year, but I'm so glad I did, if for no other reason than to see Janet Jackson perform "Scream" as a tribute to Michael. Lady Gaga was over-the-top as always with her bloody rendition of "Paparazzi," and Pink cranked it up a notch with an actual high-wire acrobatic act. And since Jay-Z has been at the forefront of my mind lately, you know I was psyched to see him close out the show with Alicia Keys belting it out at the piano.

So many great artists, so hard to choose! Which one was your favorite?

Announcing the Winners: The 2008 American Music Awards

BuzzSugar — Sun, 23 Nov 2008 23:01:50 -0800

Chris Brown, Rihanna, and Kanye West were among the big winners Sunday at the American Music Awards. Brown took home the biggest prize of all, winning Artist of the Year by beating out Lil Wayne, Coldplay, the Eagles, and Alicia Keys. It was one of three awards for Brown, who also won Favorite Male Artist in both the pop/rock and soul/R&B categories.

Rihanna was Brown's female counterpart, taking home Favorite Female Artist awards in the pop/rock and soul/R&B categories. Kanye was another double winner, named Favorite Male Artist in the rap/hip-hop category and also winning the Favorite Album award in that category for Graduation. Alicia Keys' As I Am was named Favorite Album in both the pop/rock and soul/R&B categories.

The night was also kind to American Idol winners, with Carrie Underwood winning Favorite Album in the country category for Carnival Ride and Jordin Sparks winning Favorite Artist in the Adult Contemporary category. Winners in all categories were picked by voters online and via text message, and to see the full list of people who took home awards, just read more.

POP OR ROCK MUSIC

FAVORITE MALE ARTIST
Chris Brown

FAVORITE FEMALE ARTIST
Rihanna

FAVORITE BAND, DUO OR GROUP
Daughtry

FAVORITE ALBUM
Alicia Keys, As I Am

COUNTRY MUSIC

FAVORITE MALE ARTIST
Brad Paisley

FAVORITE FEMALE ARTIST
Taylor Swift

FAVORITE BAND, DUO OR GROUP
Rascal Flatts

FAVORITE ALBUM
Carrie Underwood, Carnival Ride

RAP/HIP-HOP MUSIC

FAVORITE MALE ARTIST
Kanye West

FAVORITE BAND, DUO OR GROUP
Three 6 Mafia

FAVORITE ALBUM
Kanye West, Graduation

SOUL/RHYTHM & BLUES MUSIC

FAVORITE MALE ARTIST
Chris Brown

FAVORITE FEMALE ARTIST
Rihanna

FAVORITE ALBUM
Alicia Keys, As I Am

SOUNDTRACKS

FAVORITE ALBUM
Alvin And The Chipmunks

ALTERNATIVE ROCK MUSIC

FAVORITE ARTIST
Linkin Park

ADULT CONTEMPORARY MUSIC

FAVORITE ARTIST
Jordin Sparks

LATIN MUSIC

FAVORITE ARTIST
Enrique Iglesias

CONTEMPORARY INSPIRATIONAL

FAVORITE ARTIST
Third Day

ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Chris Brown

T-MOBILE BREAKTHROUGH ARTIST
Jonas Brothers

HONORARY AWARD
Mariah Carey

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The Secret Life of Bees: Just Sweet Enough

BuzzSugar — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 05:30:43 -0700

When I left my screening of The Secret Life of Bees I felt comforted and content, and it took me a while to understand why: This movie calls back to older, Southern-set, empowering movies like Steel Magnolias and Fried Green Tomatoes. Those films celebrate womanhood and the importance (and potency) of female friendship, all against the unique backdrop of the American South. The stories are beautiful and sentimental, with tragedy and heartache going hand-in-hand with love and humor. This is what The Secret life of Bees is like, while also including the tension of race relations in South Carolina in 1964 and a coming-of-age story. I've sometimes wondered mournfully if movies like these were no longer relevant or could not be made well in this day and age, so it is with relief that I report to you: They can, and have.

Dakota Fanning plays Lily, a 14-year-old girl in South Carolina whose mother died when she was young, leaving her in the care of an abusive father (Paul Bettany) and a kind housekeeper named Rosaleen (Jennifer Hudson). Lily decides to run away from her father and her small town, and she takes Rosaleen with her. Included in her mother's belongings, Lily has a piece of wood with an image of a black Mary holding a black infant Jesus and the name of a town written on the back. So, Lilly and Rosaleen head off for this town and discover that the image of Mary matches the labels on some locally-made honey. Further investigation brings them to a bright pink house where the honey is made. It's more than just a brightly-colored house, though, so read more.

The pink house is home to the Boatwright sisters: May (the magnificently endearing Sophie Okonedo), June (Alicia Keys) and August (Queen Latifah). The sisters take in Lily and Rosaleen, though the suspicious June doesn't think it's a good idea. In the peaceful Boatwright home, Lily learns the secrets to making honey - and secrets to her past. Lily also discovers the story behind the Boatwright sisters' attachment to the black Mary, and watches as the women pray to Mary and worship her. Of course, no place is a utopia (even a bright pink house), and trouble seems to follow Lilly wherever she goes. But in the end it's a sweet and soulful little movie with a strong message of hope.

From time to time the movie veers into some Hallmark-y schmaltz, but the issues of the times - discrimination, violence at the dawn of great change - temper any silliness. The setup (three black women with a successful business taking in a little white girl and her caretaker) is also bizarre enough within this time period to somehow negate the possible cheesiness.

Having read the book I had my own vision of this world and the movie is not far off from what I imagined. I was worried that the idea of a religion that worships Mary would come across as silly in the film, as opposed to powerful and comforting. To my relief, it all works fine onscreen. The beauty of this tradition and these women's beliefs is easily conveyed, and it rings as true as any sisterhood (thankfully without any screaming of "ya-ya!"). This truthfulness and comfort stayed with me long after the credits rolled.

Photos courtesy of Fox Searchlight

Love It or Leave It: Alicia Keys & Jack White's Bond Song

BuzzSugar — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 13:30:04 -0700

The idea of a Jack White (of White Stripes) and Alicia Keys collaboration for the next James Bond theme song sounded like it could be awesome, or maybe disastrous. Now we can take a listen to "Another Way to Die" and find out what we're in for when Quantum of Solace comes at us Nov. 14.

I've listened to the song a few times now, and I think I like it. But as a Bond theme song? I'm not sure. . . Take "Another Way to Die" for a spin and tell me what you think.

Another Way To Die (Feat. Jack White) - Alicia Keys

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Movie Preview: The Secret Life of Bees

BuzzSugar — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 15:44:49 -0700

It's not every day that the film adaptation of a well-loved book appears to capture the same atmosphere and sentiments that the book does, but in my opinion, the trailer for The Secret Life of Bees looks like it might do just that. I loved the novel by Sue Monk Kidd; it was one of those books that left me feeling sad at the end because I had to part with characters I'd come to care about deeply.

The story follows 14-year-old Lily (Dakota Fanning) whose mother died, leaving Lily with an abusive father. Together with her caregiver Rosaleen (Jennifer Hudson), Lily runs away from her father, and the two wind up at a pink house and under the protection of four smart, strong, beekeeping sisters.

The trailer does seem to veer into sappiness a few times, but is just grounded enough to avoid looking like a Lifetime TV movie. Queen Latifah has a solid, maternal way about her in this role, which is refreshing, and it's really great to see Dakota Fanning playing an older character. Alicia Keys has a good presence onscreen, and I may be most excited to see Sophie Okonedo (who was nominated for an Oscar for her role in Hotel Rwanda), whom I find absolutely mesmerizing every time I see her in another movie.

The Secret Life of Bees opens October 17. To see what I'm talking about, read more.

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Buzz News Roundup, 7/30

BuzzSugar — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 13:30:46 -0700

The Hollywood Reporter has news that CBS will remake the 1970s cop series The Streets of San Francisco.
ComingSoon reports that Guillermo del Toro is producing a remake of the horror-thriller telefilm Don't Be Afraid of the Dark.
After a legal battle, John Goodman is back on board for the medieval drama Pope Joan, Variety writes.
Speaking of legal battles, the New York Daily News has an update on the Project Runway proceedings - including the shocker that Tim Gunn didn't get paid for the first season!
Alicia Keys will sing the next James Bond theme song, which was written by Jack White, E! reports.
Miley Cyrus's album Breakout debuted at the top of the charts this week, reports Variety.
In other remake news, The Hollywood Reporter writes that ABC has won the rights to remake the French comedy Do This, Don't Do That.
Josh Lucas will star in the Showtime pilot Possible Side Effects, Zap2it reports.

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The 2008 BET Award Winners

BuzzSugar — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 23:45:12 -0700

Well, there may not have been any robot suits at this year's BET Awards, but there was plenty of other entertainment, starting with Usher's pyrotechnic performance and continuing through T. Pain's transformation of the awards show into a circus. He told the audience to "ride with the ringleader," since "this industry is my circus."

There were some fierce performances from the female side as well, with Alicia Keys bringing up girl groups of yore, SWV, En Vogue and TLC, for a medley of the groups' hits, which definitely got "Waterfalls" stuck in my head for the foreseeable future. Kanye West took away two awards and performed with Young Jeezy. The actor and actress taking home awards this year were Halle Berry and Denzel Washington, and Al Green received the Lifetime Achievement Award.

For a full list of the 2008 BET Awards winners, read more.

FEMALE R&B ARTIST:
Alicia Keys

MALE R&B ARTIST:
Chris Brown

GROUP:
UGK

GOSPEL ARTIST:
Marvin Sapp

FEMALE HIP-HOP ARTIST:
Missy Elliott

MALE HIP-HOP ARTIST:
Kanye West

NEW ARTIST:
The-Dream

COLLABORATION:
Kanye West f/T-Pain, "Good Life"

VIDEO DIRECTOR:
Erykah Badu and Mr. Roboto

VIDEO OF THE YEAR:
UGK f/Outkast, "International Player's Anthem (I Choose You)"

ACTRESS:
Halle Berry

ACTOR:
Denzel Washington

FEMALE ATHLETE:
Candace Parker

MALE ATHLETE:
Kobe Bryant

BET J AWARD:
Raheem DeVaughn

VIEWER'S CHOICE:
Lil Wayne, "Lollipop"

LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD:
Al Green

HUMANITARIAN AWARD:
Quincy Jones

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Buzz News Roundup, 4/25

BuzzSugar — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 13:30:13 -0700

It's been rumored for more than a year, but now it's nearly official: NBC has plans to announce that Jimmy Fallon will take over for Conan O'Brien in 2009, Reuters reports.
Speaking of confirmed rumors, Guillermo del Toro will officially direct The Hobbit and its sequel, Zap2it reports.
Alyssa Milano and Nathan Fillion are in talks to star in pilots for ABC, writes the Hollywood Reporter. Milano's is a comedy about a dysfunctional family, and Fillion's is a drama about a mystery novelist who works with the NYPD.
ComingSoon has news that Ewan McGregor is in talks to join the Da Vinci Code prequel Angels and Demons.
Wesley Snipes has been sentenced to three years in prison for tax evasion, the Associated Press reports.
The Lachey family now has two reality-TV hosts: Nick Lachey will host ABC's High School Musical series this Summer, Variety reports.
First Jordin Sparks left the Alicia Keys tour; now, Keys herself had to cancel some tour dates, though she should be back this weekend, E! reports.
JJ Abrams and his company will produce a comedy film called Hot for Teacher, whose plot is pretty much exactly what it sounds like, writes the Hollywood Reporter.

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