BuzzSugar

HBO Gets on the Wrong Side of the Hells Angels

BuzzSugar — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 10:36:57 -0700

In a throwdown between a notorious biker gang leader and a major pay-cable network, who wins? We're about to find out, as Hells Angels founder Sonny Barger has filed a lawsuit saying HBO stole his ideas without credit when creating the upcoming biker-gang drama 1%.

The show, which stars Donal Logue, was about to start production on its pilot. But Barger is arguing that the pilot's writer and producer, Michael Tolkin, is using stories they developed together without giving him credit. Tolkin was once hired to write a screenplay based on Barger's autobiography, and Barger says he also told Tolkin about a number of novels he'd written based on a fictional motorcycle club. The two apparently pitched the idea for a series together, and Barger claims that after he objected to a number of details in the pilot, HBO decided it wanted nothing to do with him. According to the suit, the original pilot used Barger's nickname (Chief), some actual place names (the major setting of Carefree, AZ, which is near Barger's home), and details of his life (that he moved from Northern California) without giving any credit. All of those details have since been changed.

Barger now wants due credit for his ideas - and it's not clear if this will keep the pilot from getting off the ground. The thing is, I'm pretty sure nobody wants to mess with the Hells Angels.

Source

Buzz News Roundup, 4/11

BuzzSugar — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 13:30:45 -0700

Despite rumors that Universal Pictures did not want Rose McGowan to play Barbarella in an upcoming remake, she insists she's got the role and has the contracts to prove it, ComingSoon reports.
Adrien Brody is set to star in a thriller called Giallo about a search for a woman abducted by a serial killer named Yellow, according to the Hollywood Reporter.
Heroes creator Tim Kring has signed on to co-write a book trilogy, USA Today reports.
Mariah Carey's having a good week as her single "Touch My Body" has scored a second week at No. 1, Billboard reports.

Neil Patrick Harris doesn't think How I Met Your Mother needs any more guest stars, the Associated Press reports.
EW has new details about the Sex and the City movie soundtrack that will include Fergie and Jennifer Hudson.
In pilot casting news, Zap2it reports that Donal Logue has joined the cast of 1% on HBO, while TV Guide reports that Marcia Gay Harden has been cast in The Tower, a CBS journalism drama.

Source

Buzz News Roundup, 8/26

BuzzSugar — Mon, 27 Aug 2007 15:30:10 -0700

The foul-mouthed kiddos of "South Park" will be around through at least 2011, writes the New York Times.
Mexican actor Demian Bichir is signed on to play Fidel Castro in Steven Soderbergh's upcoming films The Guerrilla and The Argentine while Benicio Del Toro plays Che Guevara, Variety reports.
"Buffy" and "Tru Calling" star Eliza Dushku has signed a deal with Fox in which the network will develop projects for her, writes the Hollywood Reporter.
London theaters are all about taking cues from Hollywood these days as a stage adaptation of Pedro Almodovar's All About My Mother readies to open tomorrow and Christian Slater takes on Kevin Spacey's role in a stage version of Swimming With Sharks, says Variety.
ComingSoon reports that Keanu Reeves will star in a remake of the sci-fi classic The Day the Earth Stood Still.
Roger Ebert and Disney are squabbling over the use of the critic's famous thumbs, Variety reports.
Donal Logue will star in a Fox comedy called "Hackett," about a "bad-boy literary luminary" who ends up teaching at a public school.
ComingSoon reports that Warner Bros will release an extended version of High School Musical 2 on December 11.

Photo courtesy of Comedy Central

The "Knights" Will Rob Again Tonight

BuzzSugar — Wed, 08 Aug 2007 07:30:00 -0700

I always got a kick out of "The Knights of Prosperity," ABC's canceled comedy about a band of inept robbers trying to break into Mick Jagger's apartment. It was great fodder for the Buzz Reel back in the day, and I thought the show's offbeat humor managed to stay on the right side of stupid.

The show got pulled in February and missed the cut for a second season, but at least we can get one last little taste of the crew when the show returns tonight with two of its previously unaired episodes. The episodes, which have the Knights turning their attention to robbing Ray Romano, will air at 8:30 and 9:30 p.m. Eastern and Pacific, with an "According to Jim" repeat in between. At least one more episode is scheduled for next Wednesday, while the fate of the fourth unaired episode is not known.

To celebrate the Knights' brief return to TV, I've got video of one of my favorite moments from the show, which you can watch if you read more

"The Knights of Prosperity": Off the Air, but Still Funny

BuzzSugar — Mon, 19 Mar 2007 11:21:42 -0700

"The Knights of Prosperity" is gone from ABC's schedule, but the comedy may not be dead yet. It hasn't been officially canceled, and according to Variety, some of ABC's higher-ups are fans, which might give it a shot at a second season. Plus, some fans are rallying around the show too. It was one of my favorite comedies this year, so I hope it gets more time to find an audience.

Nine episodes of "Knights" aired, some clips from the unaired episodes have turned up on YouTube. I chuckled at the one where Squatch sabotages a movie shoot with Ed Burns. But my hands-down favorite involves intern Louis Plunk making a movie trailer in an attempt to get a job at a production company. The fake movie, Higher Powers, stars Eugene Gurkin (Donal Logue) as an alcoholic superhero named Midnight Justice who has resorted to using his laser eyes to cook drugs in an alley when his friends stage an intervention. Come for the Mystery Men-style superheroes, stay for the spot-on movie trailer references. To watch the video, read more

TV Tonight: "The Knights of Prosperity"

BuzzSugar — Wed, 21 Feb 2007 15:01:27 -0800

Looking for alternatives to "American Idol"? You actually have some options tonight. The 8 p.m. hour is packed with goodies, including the first new episode of "Jericho" since November and a new "Friday Night Lights" intriguingly titled "I Think We Should Have Sex" (all you Matt and Julie fans, take note).

But I'm maybe most excited about "The Knights of Prosperity." I've been impressed with this show about a band of down-on-their-luck folks who decide to rob Mick Jagger; it's had a few down episodes, but the gags that work are priceless (did you catch Gary's "Cat's in the Cradle" montage in the Buzz Reel a couple of weeks back?). The show's pacing and dialogue are pretty unique as network sitcoms go, more "Arrested Development" than "George Lopez."

Tonight, the Knights finally get into Jagger's apartment, only to find themselves stuck in the singer's panic room. Before that, though, the Knights take some time to enjoy Mick's toys, as you can see if you read more

TV Preview: "The Knights of Prosperity"

BuzzSugar — Tue, 19 Dec 2006 15:39:34 -0800

Lots of clips are surfacing for the new ABC comedy "The Knights of Prosperity," which premieres Jan. 3 at 9 p.m. It follows a band of down-on-their-luck folks who decide their ticket to the good life will be robbing Mick Jagger's apartment. There are scenes online here, here, here, and here, and the show's official site has an interview with stars Donal Logue and Sofia Vergara. But if you only watch one thing, make it the video below, in which the premise is explained in song by character Rockefeller Butts (played by Kevin Michael Richardson). I hope the whole show is this funny!