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Link Time!

BuzzSugar — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 13:30:14 -0700

Stephenie Meyer's The Host will be made into a movie - MTV Movies Blog
Betty White will play herself on 30 Rock - Zap2It
Dwayne Jones, Samuel L. Jackson, and Steve Coogan cast in Adam McKay's The Other Guys - Coming Soon
K-Fed joins the cast of Celebrity Fit Club - TMZ
True Blood's jewelry line has stainless steel and dastardly silver pieces - FabSugar
Bruce Willis' 10 best movies - Rotten Tomatoes
Where's Kirk Cameron? Preachin' about Darwin - Best Week Ever
The early Oscar predictions get started - Moviefone
Pee Wee Herman: Planning a comeback - Vulture
Can Modern Family be the new Arrested Development? - TV.com

Buzz In: Which Elderly Actors Should Get More Roles?

BuzzSugar — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 10:30:31 -0700

It has been a real treat to see Betty White out and about promoting her new movie The Proposal. She's a hilarious talk show guest and she's the best part of this viral marketing clip. She is also quite the scene stealer in the movie itself and gives one of the performances that helps to save the rom-com from mediocrity. In other words, please cast her in more movies! She's obviously a comedic gem.

Hollywood does not tend to love the elderly folks, even though that age bracket contains some of the most talented actors and actresses around. Jessica Walter (Gangy!) is another example of someone who should be much busier, in my opinion (and not on a show like 90210, thanks). I'd also be tickled pink to see the lovely and talented Marla Gibbs get more work.

What do you think? What other older actors would you like to see get more roles?

Photo courtesy of Walt Disney Pictures

The Proposal: A Predictable Journey But Funny Along the Way

BuzzSugar — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 09:30:12 -0700

The story in The Proposal is relatively predictable at every turn, and the basic plotline is tired at best: two people who dislike each other are forced together and feelings blossom between them (to their surprise but not ours). Even just from the previews for this movie we know where the story is going from the very beginning, but before we reach the inevitable conclusion, The Proposal offers up some cute/funny/surprising things along the way.

The story follows ice-queen publishing executive Margaret Tate (Sandra Bullock) who is a demanding and sometimes cruel boss to her handsome, hard-working assistant, Andrew (Ryan Reynolds). She's certainly no Miranda Priestly, but she knows that Andrew is determined to succeed at the company so when Margaret learns that she'll be deported back to Canada unless she takes some drastic measures, she uses a promotion to bribe Andrew to marry her. Nobody's quite buying this relationship, however - including the folks at the immigration office who will send Andrew to prison (and Margaret to Canada) if they find out the relationship is a sham. So, the fake lovebirds travel to Andrew's hometown in Alaska for his Gammy's (Betty White) birthday to make sure anyone who might be questioned will be able to verify that the two really are in love and getting married. All sorts of awkward and weird hijinks ensue, during which the two learn a little bit about each other and themselves. Yeah, read more.

The performances are what make this film good. Oscar Nuñez (Oscar from The Office) has a surprising role, woven delightfully into the narrative. He provides wonderful comedic relief during the more "dramatic" moments, and though he's used often, I almost wished we'd see even more of him. He was an inspired addition to an already fantastic and likable cast.

And, of course, Betty White steals a few scenes with her blithely sweet "but I'm just an old lady!" innocence - which of course masks a wicked sense of humor and mischievous streak. It's not a totally new device (the old woman who gets away with hilarious things because she's old and people underestimate her), but when Betty White does it she has such an endearing brightness you just want her to stay on screen forever. I wonder if I'll ever tire of Betty White's adorable bubbliness. I probably won't.

The first two-thirds of the movie, in which the snarky, thinly veiled disdain between our two protagonists (along with the fact that this is a professional relationship, so the usual rules of decorum that are ignored here make things even more awkward), are the most worthwhile. Or, worthwhile at all. These silly, jokey-joke moments are also the parts in which Reynolds and Bullock truly shine. They're both very comfortable with this material, and they excel at playing off one another as workplace acquaintances or even as buddies when their relationship begins to warm up. The sparky dynamic between them when they're trading barbs and trying to keep up appearances with gritted teeth is solidly entertaining. It's the real sexual chemistry that's lacking. As we come into the home stretch of the movie, all the tension, excitement, and fun of the previous hour or so comes to a screeching halt. Suddenly, words like "love" are being tossed about, as though they mean something in this situation. But while there's a clear fondness between the two characters by the end it's impossible to think of them as having deep feelings for one another.

All this doesn't negate the fact that there's some great stuff leading up to the ending. I just wish I'd had a fast-forward button for the last half-hour or so because it lags. And then we get to the credits, during which we're treated to some of the funniest parts of the whole movie. All in all, this will make the absolute best airplane movie: it's inoffensive, cute, and just entertaining enough to keep our attention.

Photos courtesy of Walt Disney Pictures

Movie Preview: Sandra and Ryan in The Proposal

BuzzSugar — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 11:43:08 -0800

Just trust me on this: Ignore the dumb-looking poster for The Proposal and head straight to the new trailer. The romantic comedy stars Sandra Bullock as Margaret, the Canadian-born, hard-driving boss of Andrew (Ryan Reynolds - adorable!) who learns that she is about to be deported. Desperate to stay in the States, she forces Andrew to marry her.

I'm a huge fan of both Bullock and Reynolds, and for once this seems like a satisfying melding of talented actors and funny material. Also: Betty White! Love her.

The Proposal opens June 12. To check out the trailer, read more.

Source

Recast Golden Girls and Win a Prize!

BuzzSugar — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 15:30:19 -0800

Every Wednesday on BuzzSugar, I post a Recast challenge, where I ask you to choose new actors for a classic TV show or movie. The reader who submits the best cast wins a BuzzSugar t-shirt!

If you could recast this 1985-1992 TV show with new actors, who else could capture the charm and pep of these funny ladies in their "golden" years? Who could play the flirty Southern belle Blanche, sweet Rose, no-nonsense Dorothy and her wisecracking mother Sophia?

Leave your entry in the comment section below, and I'll pick one winner to feature Tuesday, November 20, complete with a "new" cast photo.

To see a list of characters to recast and a photo of the BuzzSugar t-shirt, read more

Characters to recast:
Dorothy Petrillo Zbornak (Beatrice Arthur)
Rose Nylund (Betty White)
Blanche Devereaux (Rue McClanahan)
Sophia Petrillo (Estelle Getty)

If you need more of a refresher - or just a sweet trip down Memory Lane - check out the opening to Golden Girls. "Thank you for being a friend!"

The BuzzSugar t-shirt

Buzz News Roundup, 10/19

BuzzSugar — Fri, 19 Oct 2007 14:30:19 -0700

According to Reuters, there will be a remake of The Birds, with Naomi Watts rumored to star. FYI: The original Hitchcock version will air on AMC this weekend!
Variety reports that the X-Men Origins: Wolverine movie will open in May 2009.
Toni Collette will star in The United States of Tara, a Showtime comedy pilot about a woman with multiple-personality disorder from Steven Spielberg and Juno writer Diablo Cody, writes The Hollywood Reporter.
Ugly Betty will be getting a visit from Betty White, and The Futon Critic has all the details on her appearance.
ComingSoon reports that Woody Allen's Barcelona project has a title: icky Cristina Barcelona.
Billboard has the news that Radiohead will hit the road for a tour in 2008.
The Hold Steady, Bruce Springsteen, and KT Tunstall are among the artists with songs on a new Hard Rock charity compilation, Pitchfork reports.
Stephen Colbert's run for president might violate election laws, writes The Politico.
The AP has news that Roger Ebert will be honored at the Gotham Awards for "championing independent cinema."

Source

What to TiVo: Friday

BuzzSugar — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 23:50:43 -0800

ABC is new with Supernanny, Ugly Betty, and 20/20
CBS is new with Ghost Whisperer, Medium, and NUMB3RS
FOX has repeats of House and Bones
NBC is new with Law & Order and Dateline NBC
The CW is new with Smallville and has a repeat of America's Next Top Model
USA is new with Monk and White Collar
Bravo has Legally Blonde
E! is new with The Soup
TLC is new with Say Yes to the Dress and Battle of the Wedding Planners
MTV has repeats of Southpark and Jackass, and has Kill Bill: Vol. 2
VH1 has Cocktail and a repeat of Sex Rehab With Dr. Drew
Late-night highlights include Terrence Howard and Sheryl Crow on The Jay Leno Show on NBC; Mariah Carey on The Late Show With David Letterman on CBS; Reese Witherspoon, Danny DeVito, and Kris Allen on The Tonight Show With Conan O'Brien on NBC; Diddy on Jimmy Kimmel Live on ABC; Harry Connick Jr. on The Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson on CBS; Amanda Peet on Late Night With Jimmy Fallon on NBC; and Emmy Rossum on Last Call With Carson Daly on NBC

What to TiVo: Friday

BuzzSugar — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 23:50:28 -0800

ABC is new with Supernanny, Ugly Betty, and 20/20
CBS is new with Ghost Whisperer, Medium, and NUMB3RS
FOX has repeats of House and Bones
NBC is new with Law & Order
The CW is new with Smallville and has a repeat of America's Next Top Model
Bravo has Legends of the Fall
E! has repeats of Leave it to Lamas, Wildest Dating Show Moments, and The Girls Next Door, and is new with The Soup
FX has Shallow Hal and Grandma's Boy
MTV has repeats of South Park and Real World/Road Rules Challenge
USA is new with Monk and White Collar
VH1 has Rock Docs NWA: The World's Most Dangerous Group
Late-night highlights include Ricky Gervais on The Late Show With David Letterman on CBS; Elizabeth Banks on The Jay Leno Show on NBC; The Pixies on The Tonight Show With Conan O'Brien on NBC; Ted Danson, Khloe Kardashian, and Lamar Odom on Jimmy Kimmel Live on ABC; Rosie O'Donnell and Ian Somerhalder on Late Night With Jimmy Fallon on NBC; and Ewan McGregor and Regina Spektor on The Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson on CBS

What to TiVo: Friday

BuzzSugar — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 23:50:03 -0700

ABC is new with Supernanny, Ugly Betty, and 20/20
CBS is new with Ghost Whisperer, Medium, and NUMB3RS
FOX has a repeat of House
NBC is new with Law & Order and Dateline NBC
The CW is new with Smallville and has a repeat of America's Next Top Model
AMC has Young Frankenstein
MTV is new with MTV Ulalume: Howling at New Moon
USA is new with Monk and White Collar
E! is new with The Soup
VH1 has The Jacksons: An American Dream
Late-night highlights include Regis Philbin and Weezer on The Late Show With David Letterman on CBS; John Cusack on The Jay Leno Show on NBC; Alice in Chains on The Tonight Show With Conan O'Brien on NBC; Paris Hilton and Slipknot on Jimmy Kimmel Live on ABC; Lauren Graham on The Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson on CBS; Wanda Sykes and Andrew Bird on Late Night With Jimmy Fallon on NBC; and Masi Oka on Last Call With Carson Daly on NBC

January Jones and Diane Kruger Looking For an Unknown White Male

BuzzSugar — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 11:30:07 -0700

January Jones is everywhere right now: This week's Mad Men was exceptionally stellar, her scandalous GQ issue is currently on stands - and the latest news this morning is that she will be appearing on the big screen soon, as well. (Much like some of the other Mad Men ladies.) Jones has been cast along with Diane Kruger in the thriller Unknown White Male. The film follows a man (Liam Neeson) who awakes from a coma to find that his identity has been stolen. Jones will be playing his wife who doesn't believe him, and Kruger stars as a cab driver who helps him seek out the truth.

Hmm, playing the spouse of a guy with identity issues? This shouldn't exactly be a stretch for Betty Draper's alter-ego.

I'm excited about this female pairing. I've always liked Diane Kruger (especially in Inglourious Basterds), and I'm curious to see if Jones can ride her current wave of success into full-fledged movie star status. (And Unknown White Male sounds like a more challenging part for her than say, American Wedding or Love Actually.)

What do you think of Jones and Kruger's new roles? Do you have a hard time picturing Jones as anyone but Betty?