BuzzSugar

Win Win: It's a Winner

Lauren Bradshaw — Fri, 25 Mar 2011 05:30:00 PDT

Win Win has all the necessary elements for a great indie film: a down-on-his-luck central character, a strong cast, and a quirky but heartwarming comeback story told with humor. Though it's a smaller film, Win Win appeals to a wider audience with its charm.

Paul Giamatti stars as small-town attorney/high school wrestling coach, Mike Flaherty. Stuck with a struggling legal practice (and a bad hot-water heater), Mike is cutting costs to keep his business afloat while still providing for his wife Jackie (Amy Ryan) and his young daughters. When one of Mike's elderly clients needs a guardian to provide for his care, Mike takes on the job to make some extra cash. But when the man's grandson Kyle (Alex Shaffer) unexpectedly shows up, Mike becomes way more involved in the family's life than he bargained for.

To find out why I enjoyed the film,

read more. Kyle is a high school kid with bleached hair and back tattoos (Jackie calls him Eminem). After his mom (Melanie Lynskey) winds up in rehab, he flees home to track down the grandpa he's never met and encounters Mike instead. Mike takes Kyle in, and he starts bringing him along to his wrestling practices. The teenager proves to be star on the mat, and Mike finally eyes the opportunity to give his ragtag high school team a chance at ending their losing streak. Writer and director Thomas McCarthy (The Visitor, The Station Agent) gives the actors great material to work with, and the entire cast rises to the occasion. Mike is, by nature, a good guy who makes some wrong choices. Kyle's mom is an addict who's only out for herself, but we also get glimpses of her genuine remorse for her lack of parenting skills. The dynamic between Mike and his two closest friends played Bobby Cannavale and Jeffrey Tambor are especially hilarious. Win Win isn't just a film about a flailing wrestling team. It's about human connection, family, and the importance of doing the right thing. It's these larger themes that really take the film beyond being another underdog story.

The Stars of HBO Throw Their Weight Behind How to Make It in America

PopSugar — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 13:30:00 PST

The gang from How to Make It in America got together in NYC last to celebrate their upcoming series premiere, which airs on HBO Sunday on Valentine's Day. Stars Lake Bell, Bryan Greenberg and Victor Rasuk were joined by Eddie Kaye Thomas and Scott Mescudi, aka Kid Cudi, on the red carpet. We were able to recently chat with Bryan and Victor about their new Mark Wahlberg produced show - make sure to tune into PopSugar Rush Friday to see our exclusive interview! Lake was thrilled to meet other members of the HBO family, including Entourage's Adrian Grenier and Big Love's Chloe Sevigny.

Josh Lucas joined the cast at the after-party in the Bowery Hotel, which also brought out Kristen Dunst. Ed Westwick and Jessica Szohr had the evening off from Gossip Girl and were caught on their way home, as was Avatar's Zoe Saldana and her boyfriend Keith Britton. The How to Make It in America stars still have lots of press to do before their first episode airs this weekend, but the blizzard currently taking over the Big Apple unfortunately got in Bryan's way forcing him to reschedule a date with Jimmy Kimmel in LA.

To see more from the big night, including Zoe Kravitz, Kevin Bacon, and Leelee Sobieski, just read more.

View 50 Photos ›

Images include: Lake Bell, Zoe Saldana, Adrian Grenier, Chloe Sevigny, Bryan Greenberg, Agyness Deyn, Josh Lucas, Dan Abrams, Leelee Sobieski, Keith Britton, Bobby Cannavale, Eddie Kaye Thomas, Erika Christensen, Rachel Roy, Victor Rashuk, Zoe Kravitz, Kyra Sedgwick, Branka Katic, Jennifer Esposito, Kevin Bacon, Michael Stipe, Olivia Palermo, Agyness Deyn, Ed Westwick, Jessica Szohr, Kirsten Dunst, Shannyn Sossamon

Buzz News Roundup, 6/24

BuzzSugar — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 13:30:39 PDT

Zac Efron will star in and executive produce an untitled "sexy thriller." - The Hollywood Reporter
Bobby Cannavale will reprise his role on Cold Case. - TV Guide
Daniel Craig is in talks to star in Dream House, a psychological thriller set up to be directed by Jim Sheridan. - ComingSoon
Simon Cowell could become TV's best-paid star, topping Oprah. - Financial Times
After a decade of saying no, John Grisham has made a movie deal for his 1999 bestselling novel The Testament. - Variety
MTV has officially picked up Audrina Patridge's new reality show. - Entertainment Weekly
Fringe has cast Meghan Markle as an "attractive, brash" junior FBI agent. - The Hollywood Reporter
Craig Robinson, Heather Graham, Johnny Knoxville, and Camilla Belle will star opposite Kevin Spacey in Father of Invention, an ensemble comedy that Spacey is independently producing. - ComingSoon
Callum Blue will be Smallville's Zod. - E! Online

WireImage

Cupid's Arrow Strikes Again Starting Tonight

BuzzSugar — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 16:30:01 PDT

It's not like TV remakes are anything new (holla, 90210!). But a show's creator getting another shot at his or her own failed series is practically unheard of. That's why I'm curious about Cupid, the new - well, and old - series from Veronica Mars creator Rob Thomas that starts tonight on ABC.

The first Cupid, starring Jeremy Piven and Paula Marshall, aired 10 years ago on ABC but only lasted 14 episodes. Thomas said back at the TCA press tour in January that he hadn't even talked about the show in almost a decade. "There was no reason to," he said. "It was an idea that I had gotten on the air. There was no reason to believe anyone would want to do it again." Then ABC approached him about a remake (as did the CW, which ended up making the short-lived Valentine, Inc. instead), and soon he was jumping back into Cupid's world.

This version of the story stars Bobby Cannavale in Piven's old role and Sarah Paulson in Marshall's. The premise is essentially the same: Cannavale believes he's Cupid sent down from heaven to match up lovelorn singles; only after 100 successful love matches can he return to Mt. Olympus. Paulson is a well-regarded relationship therapist and skeptic assigned to Cupid's case (though she calls him by his human name, Trevor).

I wasn't a fan of the original series (nor was I a detractor - I somehow missed the whole thing entirely), but I saw enough in the first episode of this Cupid to keep me watching for a while. Specifically, Cannavale is a lot of fun as the goofy Trevor, and while I'm less a fan of Paulson, she plays well off of him. What I didn't like was the dull couple-of-the-week story, and those are going to have to get better in a hurry if Cupid wants to keep me around. But I'm most curious to see what fans of the original have to say about this one, so if that applies to you, come back here and tell me, OK? In the meantime, to watch a couple of clips from tonight's premiere, just

First Look: Cupid

BuzzSugar — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 05:30:08 PST

I've been curious for a while now about ABC's Cupid, which is expected to air sometime this Spring. It comes from the mind of Veronica Mars creator Rob Thomas, who's been given the chance to remake his own short-lived 1998 show. We first heard about the remake more than a year ago, and finally, there's some footage!

Bobby Cannavale (one of my favorite "that guy"s who seems to turn up everywhere) stars as Trevor - or, as he'd rather be known, Cupid, the Roman God of love. He believes he's been put on this earth to bring couples together for their chance at true love, but other people just think he's crazy. Like, certifiably crazy - which is where psychologist Claire Allen (Sarah Paulson) comes in. She's devoted her life's work to helping singles find their soul mates, but even she isn't totally convinced that Trevor is Cupid in the flesh.

Maybe it's just Cannavale's spirited singing, but this trailer makes the show look like a perfect fit with the equally fantastical Eli Stone - or even Pushing Daisies, should the show still be around in the Spring (fingers crossed). I'm curious to hear what you fans of the original Cupid think of this new footage. To check it out, just

ABC Picks Up Five Shows for Midseason

BuzzSugar — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 10:37:54 PDT

The Fall TV season hasn't even started yet, and already, at least one network is looking a few months ahead. ABC, which only has one new scripted show (Life on Mars) on its Fall schedule, has picked up three dramas and two comedies for midseason.

Among them: Rob Thomas's Cupid, his remake of his own 1998 show, which now stars Sarah Paulson and Bobby Cannavale (at right). I've been curious about that project for a while now, so I'm glad it's taken the next step toward becoming a series.

The other dramas:

Castle - Starring Nathan Fillion, the show focuses on a horror novelist who helps the NYPD solve crimes.
The Unusuals - Starring Amber Tamblyn, this one's described as an "ensemble dramedy" set in a police precinct.

For descriptions of the comedies, and to see what else ABC has in its pipeline,

read more. ABC's midseason comedies are:

Better Off Ted - Jay Harrington stars as a moral man trying to do the right thing in this office-set show.
Single with Parents - This comedy from How I Met Your Mother producer Kristin Newman stars Alyssa Milano as a woman juggling a dysfunctional family.

ABC Entertainment President Steve McPherson hinted to the Hollywood Reporter that some of ABC's other pilots might be getting the go-ahead later on. The network still has Captain Cook's Extraordinary Atlas starring Janel Moloney and Rob Thomas's other pilot, Good Behavior, as well as the Alicia Silverstone/Alia Shawkat comedy Bad Mother's Handbook, as possibilities. Source

Sarah Paulson Shot by Cupid's Arrow

BuzzSugar — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 14:32:01 PDT

Sarah Paulson, last seen as the uptight Harriet Hayes on Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip, is heading back to TV - in a comedy this time. Paulson has landed the female lead in Cupid, Rob Thomas' remake of his own 1998 series.

Paulson will play opposite Bobby Cannavale on the show, which originally aired for one season on ABC. Cupid focuses on Trevor Hale, who believes he's a Roman god sent to earth to help people find love. Paulson will play his therapist, Claire, who's assigned to cure him of his delusions. In the original, Paula Marshall played Claire, while Jeremy Piven starred as Trevor/Cupid.

It's not every day that we get to see a producer remake his own material, so I'm curious to see what becomes of this pilot. If you've never seen the original, TV critic Alan Sepinwall has a great set of recaps of the whole series, which is available nearly in full on YouTube. The only thing missing is the start of the first episode, so to check out the script for that part, just head over here.

Source

Ryan Gosling Pays a Visit to The Visitor Premiere

Molly — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 07:45:00 PDT

Ryan Gosling may not have shown up with a date on his arm, but Ellen Barkin was the lucky lady posing by his side at the after party of The Visitor premiere in NYC last night. Seriously, she gets to hang out with all the good ones. Hot hot Mr. Gosling and Ellen aren't actually in the movie, but neither are Patricia Clarkson, Stanley Tucci or Steve Buscemi who were all out for the event. Hey no complaints, anywhere we get to see Ryan is a very welcome bit of midweek manjoyment.

To see more from the premiere and after party including Sidney Lumet, Peter Dinklage, Bobby Cannavale, Ryan Gosling, Steve Buscemi, Blythe Danner and others just read more

View 28 Photos ›

Images include: Patricia Clarkson, Hiam Abbass, Danai Gurira, Haaz Sleiman, Ellen Barkin, Tom McCarthy, Sidney Lumet, Peter Dinklage, Bobby Cannavale, Ryan Gosling, Steve Buscemi, Blythe Danner, Jennifer Missoni, Stanley Tucci Source

Fergie's Still Talking, the Girl Can't Help it

PopSugar — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 11:30:22 PST

After a quick stop by Fashion Week in NYC, Fergie was back in musical mode at the 4th Annual Peapod Foundation Benefit Concert in LA yesterday. She and John Legend got to practice their big Grammy duet, and Fergie also got to spend some time with her fellow Black Eyed Peas. The outgoing pop star always has plenty to say for herself, and in a recent interview she talked about everything from her man to Josh to her music to addressing those pregnancy rumors. Here are highlights:

On trying to maintain some privacy in her relationship with Josh: "It's hard, I have a really big mouth so I talk too much. We don't do red carpets together or photoshoots in our kitchen for magazines. But we go to movies and we're normal people so sometimes they catch you."
On comparing herself to Princess Di in Blender: "Oh gosh, that interview! I was talking major trash. I regret saying that. Sometimes I feel I'm so familiar with the person I'm talking with, and I have a big mouth. Please don't take it all too seriously. I apologise for putting myself and Princess Di in the same sentence. It was meant as a joke. It doesn't really translate in print. My grandma called me about that! It's my New Year's resolution not to treat interviews as therapy sessions or think I'm hanging out with my buddies."

To see what else Fergie had to say, including her plans for the Black Eyed Peas and babies, just read more

On those pregnancy rumors: "Yeah, it's like the 15th time I've been pregnant. No. Not pregnant."
On the status of the Black Eyed Peas: "Taboo's getting married this year. Apl has an album coming out, Will's doing his thing, recording every day of his life. We're still together. I don't think we'll ever break up. As far as a new album, I can't say what comes next. I'm going to get into the studio and get inspired and crafty. I need some time to chill for a minute, go away and make some more music. I want to go home, be home and see my dogs, my man, my fiance."

Even if Fergie's mouth gets her in trouble from time to time, we always love hearing her make fun of herself. Plus, her realness is all just part of her charm, right?

View 42 Photos ›

Images include: apl.de.ap, Bai Ling, Bobby Cannavale, Common, Corinne Bailey Rae, Fergie, Joey Fatone, John Legend, Lil' Jon, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Melissa George, Natalie Cole, Natasha Bedingfield, Ne-Yo, Nia Long, Nicole Sherzinger, Nikki Costa, Randy Jackson, Sam Gores, Slash, Taboo, will.i.am Source