BuzzSugar

Bad News for Big Shots - But Good for Private Practice?

BuzzSugar — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 12:35:16 PST

Big Shots, one of those new shows that I wished would be better than it was, has been pulled from the ABC schedule, effective immediately. It's a curious decision given the writers' strike - the show had three finished episodes that could have aired, and you'd think any original programming these days would be better than repeats.

Not so at ABC, apparently; instead of Big Shots, the network will air repeats of Private Practice in the post-Grey's Anatomy time slot for the next three weeks. (Grey's will be in repeats the whole time, too.)

There's speculation that the move could be a tryout for Private Practice in the post-Grey's time slot, but I really hope that doesn't happen. For one thing, Private Practice seems to be doing just fine on Wednesdays. For another, I think putting the spinoff after the original would just make Private Practice look weak. I already miss Addison at Seattle Grace; seeing the shows back-to-back would only make that worse.

I've already said I'd like to see Cashmere Mafia air after Grey's to take on NBC's Lipstick Jungle. But if that doesn't happen, what about Dirty Sexy Money? It's a good show that's being mostly forgotten in its current time slot, and it shares the soapy tone of Grey's but is different enough that viewers might stick around to watch it. I know I would - what about you?

TV Tonight: The New Thursday

BuzzSugar — Thu, 27 Sep 2007 10:38:09 PDT

Last season, Thursday was the night I rarely budged from my couch, what with TV serving up a lovely cocktail of "Ugly Betty" plus "The Office" with a splash of "Grey's Anatomy" on top. This season's Thursday is already looking crowded, and several of the shows that make it such a blockbuster night - "30 Rock" and "Scrubs" on NBC, "Supernatural" on The CW - aren't even coming back just yet.

The rest are, though, starting with "Ugly Betty," which had one of the craziest cliffhangers of the spring. Tonight's premiere episode features a telenovela parody in addition to the big reveal of which characters made it through the finale's apparent bloodbath alive. Then, of course, there's a special hour-long episode of "The Office" going head-to-head with "Grey's" for the first time. Over on "CSI," the big mystery is the search for Sara, who was left for dead in the spring finale. And on "Smallville," Supergirl makes her first appearance. Add in "My Name is Earl," "Without a Trace," "Survivor" and the game shows over on Fox, and it's going to be a crazy night.

The evening's sole new network show is "Big Shots," which is heavy on the eye candy with Michael Vartan, Dylan McDermott, Christopher Titus, and Joshua Malina (for those who prefer eye candy of the geeky kind). Unfortunately, I thought the pilot was pretty dismal, though I'm holding out some hope that things could get better. In such a crowded field, what are you planning to watch? To watch previews for several of the shows, just

"Ugly Betty":

"The Office" and "My Name is Earl":

"Smallville":

"Big Shots":

"The Office" photo courtesy of NBC
"Ugly Betty" photo copyright 2007 ABC, Inc.
"Smallville" photo courtesy of The CW

Fall TV Preview: Five New Shows to Skip

BuzzSugar — Thu, 13 Sep 2007 07:30:00 PDT

All summer long, I've been giving you my first impressions of the networks' new shows. Now, with fall TV upon us, it's time to tell you which shows are deserving of space on your TiVo and which ... well, aren't. Today, I'm starting off with five shows that - based on their pilots - you'd be best to steer clear of this fall.

5. "Life" - I was into the premise of this show about a detective who gets sentenced to life in prison and rejoins the police force after his wrongful conviction is overturned. But the show itself was such a bundle of cop-show cliches and random quirks that it was already grating on me by 10 minutes into the pilot. Lead actor Damian Lewis gives his best shot, but if the writers want to create a "House"-style misanthrope, they're going to have to do more than make him wax poetic about fruit all the time.

4. "Viva Laughlin" - I once declared this musical drama the pilot I most wanted to see ... but then I actually saw it. What a bummer. I thought it would be a fun, cheesy, over-the-top hit. In reality, the musical numbers that didn't involve Hugh Jackman fell flat, and the dialogue was cringe-worthy. I still hold out hope that it could get better, but I doubt it's going to be on the air long enough to improve.

Three more to be wary of, so

3. "The Big Bang Theory" - Look! It's smart guys who are too inept to date a hot chick! How revolutionary! I don't claim that every single TV show on the air has to be groundbreaking; sometimes I just want a quick, mindless laugh. But I would prefer that shows stop relying on the same old, tired, geek-vs-hottie, pretty-girls-are-dumb, smart-boys-are-hopeless brand of "jokes," and this show never really gets beyond that.

2. "Big Shots" - How do you screw up a show with three hot guys, one adorable smart guy, and a plum post-"Grey's Anatomy" time slot? You reach so hard for the "'Sex and the City' for men" premise that your characters must reinforce numerous times that they are not, in fact, women. There's just nothing here to hold onto besides trite story lines about adultery, unfulfilling sex and indulgent spending. This one has the star power to be a hit, but it needs some major retooling first.

1. "Cavemen" - I know. Shocking, right? The premise is just so flimsy here, and the joke so one-note, that I'm not sure there's any way this pilot could have overcome all the negative "you've got to be kidding me" press this show has gotten for months. I'll admit that there are funny things about this show (the costumes; the caveman who reads The Economist), but it still feels exactly like those Geico ads - and there's a reason they only lasted for 30 seconds.

"Big Shots" and "Cavemen" photos copyright 2007 ABC, Inc.
"Big Bang Theory" and "Viva Laughlin" photos courtesy of CBS
"Life" photo Source

Pilot Watch: "Big Shots"

BuzzSugar — Thu, 16 Aug 2007 04:30:00 PDT

The networks have announced their fall schedules, but which of the series will actually be worth watching? Throughout the summer, as I watch the pilots, I'll be posting my first impressions. A lot can change before a show makes it to air, so these aren't comprehensive reviews, just quick thoughts on how the shows look now. Today's installment: ABC's "Big Shots."

What's it about? "Men are the new women" is the mantra of this "Sex and the City" for men, which traces the disastrous personal lives of four high-powered CEOs.

Who's in it? Michael Vartan, Dylan McDermott, Christopher Titus, Joshua Malina

The good: It's a strong cast filled with three TV powerhouses (Vartan, McDermott, Titus) as well as nerdy Malina, an Aaron Sorkin favorite. A show like this can live or die by the guys' chemistry, and they play off each other decently well in the pilot.

The bad: Everything else. The most commonly uttered phrase seemed in the pilot seemed to be "we're men" - in case we could forget. It's trite and dull, with stereotypical jokes about demanding women, sexual fetishes, marriage therapy, etc. Also, much as I love Malina, he seems utterly out of place as a powerful businessman.

Will I watch? I doubt it - and, furthermore, I don't think it's worthy of the post-"Grey's Anatomy" time slot.

To watch a preview and see a gallery of photos,

View 25 Photos ›

TV Casting Roundup: "Heroes," "Bionic," "Big Shots"

BuzzSugar — Fri, 03 Aug 2007 12:07:14 PDT

Really, guys, how many "Heroes" are there going to be? Today brings news that Jessica Collins, formerly of "The Nine," has joined the cast in a recurring role. She'll play Sophie, a "mysterious woman with powers" - who isn't, these days? - who works at the organization that's tracking the heroes. She'll join fellow "The Nine" alum Dana Davis on the show.
Paul Blackthorne, most recently of Sci Fi's "Dresden Files," will appear this fall on ABC's guy-fest "Big Shots." His character will be the fifth CEO, a successful tycoon whom the other four CEOs - played by Michael Vartan, Christopher Titus, Dylan McDermott and Joshua Malina - envy.
Linda Park, most recently of "Raines," will be a regular on "Women's Murder Club," playing a deputy district attorney.
Bruce McGill, who's had supporting parts in pretty much everything, now has a recurring role on "Bionic Woman" as a powerful operative within the bionics program.

Source

ABC Dramas have a lot of Big Shots

PopSugar — Fri, 27 Jul 2007 15:31:10 PDT

Along with all the gorgeous women joining ABC's prime time, there will be plenty of eye candy for the ladies as well. The male version of Sex and the City is called Big Shots and stars Michael Vartan, Dylan McDermott, Christopher Titus and Joshua Malina. In the pilot these four CEOs sit around in a steam room bitching about their lives when Dylan's character finally says, "Men, we're like the new women." Talk about a guilty pleasure! Then there is the most hyped show of the season, the Grey's spin off, Private Practice. While everyone else is focusing on Kate Walsh, we'll lust after Taye Diggs who will get another shot at ABC prime time. For lots of upcoming PP and Grey's secrets, click here.

Peter Krause stars in Dirty Sexy Money where he plays a lawyer who takes over his dead father's job as personal counsel for an uber-rich dysfunctional family. The creator of the show, Craig Wright, said it was inspired by the Dallas or Dynasty models but more updated. Ex-OC and Entourage star, Samaire Armstrong also joins the cast as the blonde bratty socialite that many are already comparing to Paris Hilton. Just what we need - another place to watch a tabloid family come to life. To check out a clip and learn more about the show just click here.

For lots more pics including Amy Brenneman, Tim Daly, Joshua Malina and more just

View 25 Photos ›

Images include Natalie Zea, Glenn Fitzgerald, Samaire Armstrong, Seth Gabel, Peter Krause, Zoe McLellan, Craig Wright, Greg Berlanti, Josh Reims, Matthew Gross, Michael Vartan, Christopher Titus, Joshua Malina, Dylan McDermott, Jon Harmon Feldman, Mark Gordon, Betsy Beers, Amy Brenneman, Taye Diggs, Shonda Rhimes, Kate Walsh, Tim Daly, KaDee Strickland, Chris Lowell, Marti Noxon, and Mark Tinker.

Source

Hysteria Director Tanya Wexler Talks Vibrators, Faking It, and Duck Sex

Tara Block — Fri, 25 May 2012 04:00:15 PDT

Don't be shy . . . It's time to talk sex toys! And Hysteria director Tanya Wexler is writing us a prescription for pleasure. Tanya's film - what she calls "the vibrator movie you can bring your mom to" - is in limited release and stars Hugh Dancy, Maggie Gyllenhaal, and Rupert Everett. When working on a romantic comedy that centers around the invention of the vibrator, you end up with some entertaining and embarrassing situations along the way, and lucky for us, Tanya spilled all the hilariously dirty details. From teaming up with the film's partner Jimmyjane for a drive-by vibrator drop-off to a certain female Oscar-winner to trying unsuccessfully to get ducks to shag on command, Tanya was bursting with great stories from working on this very unconventional film. And while Tanya isn't ashamed to discuss the sexy subject matter of her latest film with us, the mother of four and her partner of 21 years did have a tricky challenge telling her preteen kids what her movie was about. (She eventually gave them the script and let them figure it out themselves!) Check out our interview with the fun-loving director now, and we dare you not to have a girl crush on her by the end!

TrèsSugar: What were some of the challenges to getting a movie made about vibrators?
Tanya Wexler: Getting the script right was tricky because if you just make a movie about the invention of the vibrator, it's actually a really short movie: you go "bzz" and it's done. And we had a kind of light romantic comedy. I say I made the vibrator movie you can bring your mom to. But some people wanted it to be raunchy or some people wanted it to be more serious and about feminism. People project a lot onto this movie of what they want, because there isn't a lot out there about vibrators and women's pleasure, and we still don't really deal with that topic very well, or we're overly antsy around it. And as a result, people have a lot of ideas of what the movie could and should be, and you can't please everyone. [laughs]

TS: Ha, good one.
TW: It's nonstop!

TS: Do you find sex toys inherently funny or something to be seriously celebrated?
TW: Yes!

TS: Both?
TW: Yes! Yes. I think they make me laugh, and I think that the inner kind of Beavis and Butt-head in all of us goes "[laugh]." You know, that inner 13-year-old, like, "Hahaha vibrator . . . " and yet they're awesome and fun.

TS: What shocked you the most when researching the movie?
TW: That ducks are the rapists of the bird world, and you'll see when you see the movie, because there's a little bit of questionable duck behavior - or awesome duck behavior - in the movie. It's totally a sidebar, but you cannot make ducks shag on command. I'm just saying.

TS: What about the whole history of hysteria being a medical condition?
TW: When I first heard the idea, I was like, "What do you mean it was invented in Victorian times?" I knew about hysteria, but the idea that the treatment was manual [British accent] massage deparaxism - which is what they called it - and, of course, the denial. The most shocking thing is the denial, that they didn't think it was sexual.

TS: Do you think they were really in denial?
TW: No, I don't think that some people were. My college roommate was with her high school boyfriend for two years and she had never had an orgasm. I think there's all kinds of denial, especially with women's sexuality. So the fact that there are young women today who haven't had an orgasm, whether self-induced - which is insane - or with a partner, then why wouldn't we think back then that women wouldn't know what orgasms were?

They would get a massage, and the doctor's saying, "Without a penis, this isn't sex, because sex is about procreation," so what is this? The best physical therapy you've ever had. So once you don't think of it as something other than what the doctor's supposed to do to cure your uncontrollable crying or uncontrollable laughter or whatever, then it's just an awesome muscle spasm. If you don't think women have their own inherent sexuality, then you're not thinking about it like that.

Keep reading for Tanya's thoughts on Fifty Shades and more!

Exclusive Behind-the-Scenes Look at the Novogratzes' New Family Collection For CB2

Rebecca M Gruber — Wed, 23 May 2012 11:11:48 PDT

They've been called "the coolest family in the world," but for Bob and Cortney Novogratz, just being family is enough. The stars of HGTV's Home by Novogratz and mom and dad to seven kids ranging from 3 to 15 have made family their mantra and are now putting it on their designs. The founders of Sixx Design have partnered up with CB2 for a line of products, aptly named FAMILY, that reflect their signature style. According to Bob, "We came up with the idea of FAMILY a long time ago. Maybe six, seven years ago we got some light boxes and made the letters ourselves. We have a big family, so we thought we should really create a family brand, because we didn't feel like there was anything out there like that."

The first piece, a colorful rug emblazoned with the word FAMILY that appeared on the show last season, will be available at CB2 stores and online in July (starting at $399). We were invited to the Novogratzes' home along NYC's Hudson River as the family posed with the rug for CB2's Summer catalog. With Justin Bieber and Fun blasting on the stereo, Cortney negotiated her teenagers' wardrobe issues, separated bickering twins, and goaded all seven kids into smiling for the camera (and yes, plenty of jellybeans and promises to play with her iPhone were used). Between shots, Bob discussed the collaboration with CB2 and decorating with kids.

Cannes Minireview: On the Road

Allie Merriam — Wed, 23 May 2012 02:50:15 PDT

Required reading for teenagers in America, Jack Kerouac's On the Road is now a big-screen film, and the finished product just debuted at Cannes. It's one of the most anticipated movies to be screened at the Grand Palais - read on to see what we thought.

Who's behind it? Walter Salles, of The Motorcycle Diaries, was tasked with directing the picture, which is of course based on the Kerouac classic. Salles has a long list of stars - at one point, I wondered who isn't in this movie. Sam Riley, who had a star-making role in 2007's Control, plays the lead role of Sal Paradise, and Garrett Hedlund is his pal Dean Moriarty. Kristen Stewart and Kirsten Dunst have smaller parts as Dean's love interests, and Amy Adams, Viggo Mortensen, Tom Sturridge, Steve Buscemi, Elisabeth Moss, and many more have other cameos. The production has been in the works for decades. Francis Ford Coppola secured the movie rights back in 1980.
What's it about? It's the beat generation in the USA during the 1940s, but Sal Paradise can't seem to get past his writer's block. Sal takes up with a group of friends who love drinking, talking, dancing, and moving. Dean Moriarty enters the picture and offers adventure. He likes to move around the country, not caring where the money comes from or which hearts he breaks. Sal's a devoted friend to Dean, and they travel the country meeting up with friends, family, strangers, and going wherever the road takes them.

To read what I thought, just read more

A First Look at Versace's Fall/Winter 2012 Campaign: Donatella Would Wear Every Look

Lucky — Tue, 22 May 2012 13:17:05 PDT

Lucky magazine is one of our favorite sources for great shopping tips. We're thrilled to share this fabulous story from our friends at Lucky!

Summer officially arrives in less than a week but the Versace team is already thinking about next season. The brand just released its Fall/Winter 2012 campaign and although the clothes are technically for cooler weather, we wouldn't mind wearing them now. The über sexy Italian label isn't really big on covering up, so most of the pieces would probably work for a breezy May or June night. But since nothing hits stores for at least two or three months, we're happy to obsess over the pictures first.

The black and white images feature model Elza Luijendijk with a severe blonde bob, posing on chain-covered cement bricks with big moody photographs of the ocean in the background. The styling was clearly influenced by head designer Donatella; we could see her wearing every single look on the red carpet-especially that black mini dress with the knee-high boots.

Click over to Lucky to see every shot.

For more fashion and style from Lucky, here are more Lucky stories.