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Buzz News Roundup, 7/2

BuzzSugar — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 13:32:44 -0700

According to Variety, Josh Hartnett will be starring in a London stage production of the movie Rain Man, taking on the role originally played by Tom Cruise.
Rapper Young Jeezy will join the cast of Ice Cube's comedy Janky Promoters, Billboard writes.
Michael Imperioli will join the cast of ABC's Life on Mars, Variety reports.
Four more actors have joined the cast of the Night at the Museum sequel, including Christopher Guest, ComingSoon reports.
Entertainment Weekly reports that Criminal Minds looks like the next CBS show to get a spinoff.
Billboard writes that at a private concert this week, Pearl Jam helped raise $3 million for the poverty-fighting charity the Robin Hood Foundation.
TNT will remake the British series Cracker, about an abrasive and heavy-drinking detective, with Robert Duvall as an executive producer, Zap2it reports.
A lost interview with the Beatles has been aired on BBC radio, the Associated Press reports.

Pilot Watch: Cougar Town

BuzzSugar — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 07:00:56 -0700

The networks have announced their Fall schedules, but which series will be worth watching? Throughout the Summer, as I watch the pilots, I'll be posting my first impressions. Note that a lot can change before a show actually makes it to air, so these aren't reviews, just quick thoughts on how the shows look now. Today's pick is the ABC comedy Cougar Town.

What's it about? A divorced 40-year-old real estate agent with a teenage son tries to find out if she can regain her dating mojo while also keeping her self-respect.

Who's in it? Courteney Cox, Busy Philipps, Christa Miller, Dan Byrd, Josh Hopkins, Brian Van Holt

The good: There's something familiar and welcoming about seeing Cox on screen again as Jules, and I got a kick out of some of the supporting players, especially Philipps as Cox's unabashedly trashy co-worker. There are a couple of funny continuing gags, including one with peanut butter crackers and another with footie pajamas. Byrd (Heroes, Aliens in America) does a great job of convincing us that having Jules for a mother would be embarrassing.

The bad: The show's language is surprisingly raunchy - I'd give an example, but I don't think I can print it here - and Jules can seem too sex-crazed and desperate (especially because it's hard to believe she's having such trouble finding a date in the first place). The show leans on physical comedy more than I expected, though to be fair, Cox can pull it off. I love that there's a show with a hot leading lady in her 40s, but judging from one episode, it doesn't seem quite like the sensitive, pro-woman comedy I was hoping for.

Will I watch? I'm really pulling for this show, and I have faith in its stars and creator, but I'm a little concerned about it. I'll still follow it for a while, at least.

To check out a preview video and some photos, just read more.

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"Private Practice" Rundown: Episode 2, "In Which Sam Receives an Unexpected Visitor"

BuzzSugar — Thu, 04 Oct 2007 13:14:06 -0700

It's week two of the season, and I'm beginning to wonder when I'm going to start tuning into "Private Practice" because of its inventive plot and compelling characters. Mostly, I'm still watching because I can't see Addison on "Grey's Anatomy" anymore. On the other hand, I thought this week's episode was somewhat better than the first one, and there might yet be the makings of a solid series in there. To chat about it, just read more

Interestingly, this week's episode was supposed to be the season's fourth episode, but it was moved up because ABC thought viewers would be sucked in by the swapped-baby story. I can't lie: I was sucked in. It was certainly the best medical case of the two (or three, depending on how you're counting) episodes we've seen, and even though it's a story that pretty much every medical show ever has done at some point, that doesn't make it less emotionally affecting. I was impressed by the scene where the mothers talked to each other about their babies, sharing all the things only a mother would know. It's an emotional note the rest of the show hasn't quite managed to hit yet, but it's nice to know it's possible.

My biggest problem with the show so far is that it hasn't quite figured out how to tie the cases and the doctors' lives together yet. Sam and Naomi's marriage issues aren't that compelling, and I really, really don't care about Violet and her ex (though watching her take out her aggression by hammering away at a $6,000 bike was pretty awesome). "Grey's Anatomy" has always made a point of making its medical cases mirror the doctors' lives, and while that's occasionally annoying - as with last week's change = change situation - it still makes the show more cohesive. I would have liked it if Sam's case with the poisoning grandma, in particular, fit more neatly into the theme of the episode. (Was there a theme to the episode? Maybe that's the problem.)

A few other thoughts:

One person who had the potential to be a scene-stealer is KaDee Strickland as Charlotte, the tough hospital administrator, but I just can't believe her as a tough whip-cracker. I keep imagining how much better Brooke Smith (Dr. Hahn, Burke's rival from the second-season finale of "Grey's Anatomy") would be in the role.
I actually thought it was kind of amusing that they ordered Sam a stripper. At least they didn't order him a stripper at work.
Will every conversation between Addison and Pete end with Pete saying "You want me to kiss you again"? His whole "I like my women real" speech also didn't ring true for me as something he'd say to someone he's known for such a short time, but maybe that's where the plan for this to be the fourth episode comes into play.
Naomi's best reason why Sam should appreciate her: "I do the New York Times crossword puzzle in pen."

Did this episode help you warm up any to "Private Practice"? Or do you still see it lacking? And will you keep tuning in?

Buzz News Roundup, 7/6

BuzzSugar — Fri, 06 Jul 2007 14:58:37 -0700

ABC's canceled serial thriller "The Nine" will air six more episodes starting in August, says the Futon Critic.
The makers of Indiana Jones 4 are insisting on not using any CG effects in order to maintain the style of the older Indiana Jones movies, reports the New Haven Register.
The Los Angeles Times says fans of "The Black Donnellys" are sending crackers to HBO, hoping the channel will pick up the series.
Variety brings news of a Dirty Dozen remake written by Zak Penn whose credits include X-Men 2 and Fantastic Four.
Billboard reports that Miley Cyrus' (a.k.a. Hannah Montana) album is beating out Kelly Clarkson's and is topping the Billboard 200 chart.
Joan Baez, the Shins and Donovan are among the artists recording "Little Boxes" for the third season of "Weeds," Zap2it reports.
According to TV Guide, Lara Croft will be getting her own online animated series, with Minnie Driver as Croft's voice.
"Everwood" alum Stephanie Niznik will star in The CW's "Life is Wild," writes the Hollywood Reporter.

I Like Food: Munchies from Musicians

BuzzSugar — Tue, 24 Apr 2007 06:58:45 -0700

In my mind, rock music and yummy food truly are two great tastes that taste great together. So Kara Zuaro is a girl after my own heart: She's compiled a book of recipes from rockers including the Hold Steady, the Decemberists, Ted Leo and the Pharmacists, My Morning Jacket, and the Mountain Goats called I Like Food, Food Tastes Good.

Now, I tend to associate rock show food more with "hey, is that pizza place still open?" than with elaborate gourmet delicacies, so I'm excited to see that Camera Obscura apparently has a way with veggie paella and the Drive-By Truckers make a mean banana pudding. On the other end of the scale, there's Strung Out's Rock 'n' Ramen (two ramen flavors, not one) and this, um, recipe from freak-folker Devendra Banhart:

RIGHT ON!!!!!!
here is my favorite recipe for:
AFRICANAS RICAS!
you shall require!
many bananas!
a box of graham crackers!!!
two eggs!!!
SOUR CREAM!!
HONEY!

Those of you in New York can check out one of the book's release parties scheduled throughout the next couple of weeks. In the meantime, head over to YumSugar to see Grizzly Bear's recipe for pecan pie.

Source

TV Preview: "Andy Barker, P.I."

BuzzSugar — Tue, 13 Mar 2007 12:36:32 -0700

Andy Barker is, well, a pretty boring guy. He's an accountant prone to wearing putty-colored suits, and the closest he gets to cursing is muttering "oh, cheese and crackers!" But then he moves into the office of a former private investigator and inherits some of the man's clients, thrusting himself into a life of murder, mystery, and mayhem.

That's the premise of "Andy Barker, P.I.," Andy Richter's cop-drama spoof, which premieres Thursday as part of NBC's new comedy lineup. After checking out a couple of episodes, I have both good news and bad news about the show. The bad: The premiere episode isn't wonderful. The good: Other episodes are much better, giving me hope that "Andy Barker" could become a great comedy if NBC gives it time to grow.

The show is simultaneously silly and sincere, and much of the credit for that tone goes to Richter, whose bumbling Andy approaches investigative work with the childlike enthusiasm of a guy who watches "Law & Order" reruns in bed at night. But the show's supporting characters really make the show work, so read more

Tony "Buster Bluth" Hale and Marshall Manesh are great as the friends who become Andy's detective team, and I couldn't get enough of Harve Presnell as Lew Staziak, the crusty old detective whose office Andy now occupies.

But for my money, the best supporting character is Andy's secretary, played by Nicole Randall Johnson. I loved her in "Significant Others," and in "Andy Barker," she embraces the sassy clerk stereotype and twists it so even the tired jokes feel fresh. In fact, that could be said of the show as a whole: It sticks close to TV conventions, but it knows how to play with them so they're funny again. The one exception might be Andy's wife, Jenny, whose earnestness is so over-the-top, it's grating.

"Andy Barker" is only getting five episodes as a try-out - six if you include the online exclusive - and that might not be enough time for the show to catch on. But "The Office" only got six episodes in its first season, failed to build much of an audience, and came back to become one of the best shows on TV. I'm not sure if that will happen to "Andy Barker," but the show certainly has potential. Can't wait till Thursday? You can watch all the episodes online right now.

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