BuzzSugar

Buzz News Roundup, 8/15

BuzzSugar — Wed, 15 Aug 2007 15:30:23 PDT

"Weeds" ratings hit a new, um, high on Monday, writes Variety.
The L.A. Times has confirmed that Edward Norton is indeed writing the screenplay for The Incredible Hulk.
Len Wiseman has signed on to direct the Escape From New York remake, Variety reports.
ABC is producing music videos for 11 of its shows, including "Ugly Betty" and "Brothers & Sisters," Billboard reports.
The AP is reporting that a stage musical version of Dirty Dancing will open in Chicago in September of 2008.
CBS has reached a multimillion-dollar settlement with Don Imus, who may return to radio before too long, Reuters reports.
According to Variety, 20th Century Fox is hoping to lure screenwriters by promising them that they will receive gross participation if their original scripts are made into movies.
Ellen DeGeneres is filming a two-hour variety show for TBS, writes the Hollywood Reporter.
Fox has bought a new game show called "Nothing But the Truth," in which participants will be hooked up to lie detectors and asked a series of personal questions for the chance to win $500,000.
Casting news: Chris Mulkey will play the new coach on "Friday Night Lights," Zap2it reports. According to the Hollywood Reporter, Benny Ciaramello will also join the show to play a love interest for Lyla, while TV Guide says Marin Hinkle will guest star on "Brothers & Sisters."

Photo courtesy of Showtime

What Comes After 300

BuzzSugar — Fri, 23 Mar 2007 06:56:39 PDT

Though 300 wasn't exactly a great movie, it was unlike anything I've seen on the big screen, which is why I'm excited to see what director Zack Snyder and the rest of the 300 gang will do next. Not surprisingly - given the movie's massive box-office success - most everyone involved in 300 has some very cool projects coming down the pike. Here's a look at what's brewing.

A 300 Sequel? Maybe

When a movie makes this much money, it doesn't take long for people to say "sequel." But director Zack Snyder says that issue should be taken up with Frank Miller, the graphic novelist behind the 300 source material. In a very geeky interview conducted in the virtual world of Second Life, Miller said he is talking to Warner Bros. about the possibility:

"I do know exactly what the sequel would be," Miller responded with a chuckle. "But I'll say to you the same thing that I've said to the people at Warner [Bros.]: That's all anybody gets without paying."

Snyder, meanwhile, is working on another project for the studio; for the details,

Snyder Eyes Watchmen

For his next film, director Snyder is tackling a beloved 1986 graphic superhero novel called Watchmen written by Alan Moore. According to a recent MTV News story:

Snyder has never met Moore, the notoriously reclusive author who has famously soured on Hollywood and said he doesn't want a Watchmen movie ever made. Still, Snyder hopes to arrange a meeting soon so he can explain that the script he's calling "closer to 'Dr. Strangelove' than 'Fantastic Four' " will embrace exactly what studios have feared in the past.

It sounds pretty awesome, so I hope that one works out.

A Sin City Sequel? Certainly

Though Miller is pretty mum about what will happen with the 300 sequel, the next installment of Sin City is a sure thing. In the Second Life interview, Miller revealed that the movie will likely begin shooting in June. "I just saw Robert Rodriguez the night before last, and we've nearly got the script," Miller said. Star Rosario Dawson will also be making an encore.

Gerard Butler's Remake

Meanwhile, star Gerard Butler, who plays King Leonidas, will likely join the cast of another cult classic: a remake of John Carpenter's Escape From New York. Butler would play Snake Plissken, the role originated by the wonderfully campy Kurt Russell.

Source

ABC Pilots: Get the Scoop on the Network's New Shows

Shannon Vestal — Mon, 14 May 2012 05:30:00 PDT

Upfronts are in full swing, and it's time to get acquainted with the new series that'll be hitting the small screen in Fall 2012. ABC has revealed the shows it's ordered after announcing which shows it's canceling, and we've got the info on the pilots right here.

COMEDIES

Malibu Country: Reba McEntire plays a woman who moves with her kids from Nashville to Malibu to live with her mother (Lily Tomlin) after her husband cheats on her.
How to Live With Your Parents for the Rest of Your Life: Sarah Chalke stars as a recently divorced woman who has to move in with her eccentric parents, played by Brad Garrett and Elizabeth Perkins.
Family Tools: A man (Kyle Bornheimer) puts his life on hold to take over the family handyman business from his father, played by J.K. Simmons.
Neighbors: A family, which includes Jami Gertz, moves into a gated community and discovers that it's full of aliens disguised as humans.

DRAMAS

666 Park Ave.: Dave Annable and Rachael Taylor play a couple who notice supernatural occurrences in the New York City apartment building they've been hired to manage.
Last Resort: The crew of a nuclear submarine (played by the likes of Scott Speedman and Andre Braugher) has to escape to a NATO outpost after they ignore an order to fire nuclear missiles.
Zero Hour: Anthony Edwards stars as a longtime editor of a magazine that disproves conspiracies when he's pulled into one.
Red Widow: The widow (Radha Mitchell) of a murdered criminal has to take over his place to save her family.
Nashville: This family soap follows two country stars, played by Connie Britton and Hayden Panettiere, one who's at the top of her career and another whose star is just rising.
Mistresses: Alyssa Milano stars in this drama about the love lives of four women, which also costars Lost's Yunjin Kim.

Carrie Underwood Celebrates Her New Album With a Glamour Cover

Lauren Turner — Tue, 01 May 2012 08:38:41 PDT

Carrie Underwood went bright in a Rochas dress for the cover of Glamour's June issue. She's promoting her new album Blown Away, out today, and the accompanying tour, which kicks off at the end of the month. Carrie's getting back to music after taking a break to settle into married life with husband Mike Fisher. The singer talked to the publication about life with Mike, how they handle fame, and her first big splurge. Here's more from Carrie Underwood in Glamour:

On her first big purchase after finding fame: "My first stupid purchase was an accident. I was in Paris and went into one of those big, name-brand, fancy-schmancy designers, and I picked up a sweatshirt. Maybe I didn't understand the price tag. I'm really bad with numbers. But when I went to check out, that sucker was $2,000. I've worn it twice."
On staying grounded: "But my husband came from a small town and hardworking parents like I did, and I don't think we've lost that mind-set. We don't have a bowling alley in our basement. We don't have houses on the beach and one in New York and one in LA. I drive a three-year-old Ford Escape Hybrid. We don't care about stuff like that."
On her relationship with Mike: "A plus is, he knew what to expect. In Canada he was a big celebrity, so he knows what it's like living under a microscope. And he travels a lot, which is good for both of us. We're both independent people, so we can't have somebody around 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The drawback is that we can go weeks without seeing each other. But he's the only guy I've never had to worry about."

L.A.M.B. Fall 2012

Marisa Tom — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 21:38:20 PST

Inspired by the "1960s rogue girl with a Japanese street sensibility," Gwen Stefani chose to show off her latest L.A.M.B designs against a collage of black-and-white New York City street snaps and closeup shots of girls getting their eye makeup done, all while Nancy Sinatra's "These Boots Were Made For Walkin'" boomed overhead. Each look seemed to reflect a moment in Gwen's iconic style evolution. Case in point: her "Hey Baby" houndstooth print made a serious comeback, landing on everything from sporty totes to bomber jackets; her "Sweet Escape" moto-edged attire popped up in zippered jacquard jackets; and those Clueless-worthy platforms? That's just a classic Gwen staple. While the outerwear was athletic and tough, the attention to feminine details was also spot on. Look to the Peter Pan collars, sexy Morgenthal Frederics cat-eye glasses, impeccably pleated circle skirts, and sheer knee-high nylons for proof of Gwen's girlier side. No matter how you spin it, this is an ultra-wearable lineup of '90s-cool gear with a hint of retro and a pop of graphic-print modernity.

Trends: Houndstooth print, pleated skirts, sportswear-inspired outerwear, and Peter Pan collars.
Colors: A dark, cool palette - red, black, gray, and ecru - with surprise pops of neon yellow.
Key Piece: The gray pleated circle skirt paired with a sweet collared top makes a sexy take on schoolgirl classics.
Accessories: Sporty tote bags, cat-eye secretary glasses, knee-high nylons, and '90s-style chunky platforms.
Who Would Wear It: The girl with a sportier fierce edge when it comes to dress, like Rihanna.

Diet Tricks the Pros Tell Their Friends

Health — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 04:25:12 PDT

We are pumped to share one of our favorite stories from Health.com here on FitSugar.

By Leslie Barrie, Health.com

Wish you had your own get-slim dream team? Well, you're in luck: we tapped celebrated weight-loss pros and asked them to share the one strategy they feel makes the biggest difference.

Weave these seven wonders into your daily routine, and you’ll be wowed by how the little changes really do add up.

Trick your taste buds
"Taste buds are malleable little fellas. When they can’t be with the foods they love, they learn to love the foods they're with. Make a short-term commitment to choosing more wholesome closer-to-nature foods with less added salt, sugar, saturated fat, and trans fat. Within weeks, you’ll start to prefer these now-familiar foods."
- David Katz, MD, director of the Yale University Prevention Research Center

Health.com: Fat-Proof Your Life

Indulge every day
"Eat a small amount of dark chocolate - I'm talking a 100-calorie piece that’s made of at least 70% cacao-every day. I consider it ‘the daily dark chocolate escape.’ Doing this curbs your cravings for both sweet and salty foods. You’re much more likely to be satisfied and not reach for those cookies or chips. My clients say this allows them to pass up samples at the market without feeling deprived."
- Cynthia Sass, RD, author of Cinch! Conquer Cravings, Drop Pounds, and Lose Inches and co-author of The Ultimate Diet Log

Health.com: 16 Little Ways to Lose Big Pounds

Keep reading! There are more helpful tips after the break.

The Smurfs Trailer: Ready or Not, Here They Come

Becky Kirsch — Fri, 11 Mar 2011 09:45:01 PST

The first full-length trailer for The Smurfs is reminiscent of other cartoons-gone-live-action, like Alvin and the Chipmunks - and I don't mean that in a good way. Neil Patrick Harris and Glee's Jayma Mays star as the couple who accidentally happens upon the tiny blue creatures when they escape from their village and end up in New York City.

The smurfs are voiced by Katy Perry, George Lopez, and Alan Cumming to name a few, and as expected, there's no shortage of using the word "smurf" as a substitute for just about anything near a swear (the movie's tagline is "where the smurf are we?"). I will say, though, that I got a kick out of seeing Hank Azaria all dressed up as Gargamel. Even if it's a far cry from the cartoon we grew up with, I have a feeling that kids will get a big kick out of this one when it's released in August. Watch the trailer for yourself when you

Pilot Scoop: Unforgettable

Rose Curiel — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 05:30:36 PDT

Some familiar faces return to television this Fall, including former Nip/Tuck alum Dylan Walsh and Without a Trace's Poppy Montgomery, who have teamed up for CBS's new crime show, Unforgettable. Montgomery revisits familiar territory, starring in her second procedural with the network, but this time around, her character has a unique talent that helps her solve crimes.

What it's about: Montgomery stars as Carrie Wells, a former detective with a rare condition called hyperthymesia, which allows her to recall the minutest details of events in her life. When she unexpectedly crosses paths with her former colleague and boyfriend Al Burns (Walsh), he convinces her to return to crime solving as a consultant for the New York Police Department.
Where it works: We flash back with Carrie as she dissects her memories of everything from witness accounts to victims' home decor. With a TV landscape robust with the crime show procedural that revolves around DNA evidence, it's interesting to see how something as simple as a recalled shadow or photo hanging on a wall can help break a case.
Where it doesn't: The only thing that escapes Carrie's memory are the details surrounding her sister's murder, which occurred when the siblings were young children. We've seen TV detectives, like Horatio on CSI: Miami and Adrian on Monk get caught up in solving the murder mysteries of loved ones, so it's hard to find this backstory compelling or original.
You might like this show if: You like crime shows where investigators have amazing observational skills, like The Mentalist or Lie to Me.
When it's on: Tuesdays at 10 p.m. on CBS.

Watch a preview when you

Photo courtesy of CBS

Leighton Meester Is Lovestruck at Her Vera Wang Commercial Shoot

Susan Yara — Sat, 20 Aug 2011 03:29:24 PDT

Leighton Meester was named the face of Vera Wang's new perfume Lovestruck last November. Since then, we've seen print ads and a commercial of her awaiting a handsome suitor on a New York City fire escape, all while donning a gorgeous couture gown. This behind-the-scenes spot features a cameo from Vera Wang herself as she mingles with the Gossip Girl star, as well as some close-ups of model Tommy Dunn's dimples. If this is what being Lovestruck looks like, sign us up.

Pixar Announces New Dinosaur and Inside-the-Human-Mind Movies at D23

Lindsay Miller — Sun, 21 Aug 2011 11:52:01 PDT

At yesterday's Disney expo D23, Pixar fed the fandemonium by announcing two all-new movies now in production. This year marks the animation studio's 25th anniversary, and judging by yesterday's offerings, their innovative spirit shows no signs of fading. The first film they unveiled explores what the world might have been like if dinosaurs were never wiped out by a giant asteroid, but continued to exist on Earth. Director Bob Peterson, a longtime Pixar story artist and the voice of characters like Doug from Up, is helming the movie. He said Walt Disney's animatronic dinosaurs, which he first saw at the New York World's Fair as a child, inspired the idea. Bob shared one still with the audience, but the finished product won't arrive in theaters until Holiday 2013.

The second movie will take a look inside the human mind and explore the reasons why we get songs stuck in our head, why we dream, and even why we remember. Not many details were revealed about how scientific, or fantastic, Pixar's approach to the subject matter may be, and the effort is clearly in the early stages - the movie won't be released until Spring 2014. For more details on the rest of the 2012-2014 animated Disney films previewed yesterday, just

Brave: Pixar's first female-driven film stars Boardwalk Empire's Kelly MacDonald as Merida, a princess set on escaping her fate of an arranged marriage to one of three idiot clan leaders. A group of mostly Scottish actors, including Kevin McKidd, Billy Connolly, and Craig Ferguson, rounds out the cast. Two short clips previewed for the audience showed that the studio's dedication to authenticity, including several research trips to Scotland, paid off. The scenery and attention to detail were breathtaking, and it's refreshing to see a smart, gutsy heroine finally take the lead in a Pixar project. Brave is out on June 22, 2012.
DisneyToon Studios’ Planes: Following the success of Cars, Walt Disney Animation Studios head honcho John Lasseter told the crowd, he was inspired to find a way to continue to explore the idea. The only non-Pixar animated project debuted at D23, Planes stars John Cryer as Dusty, a cropduster who decides to take off an adventure around the globe. The actor was on hand to talk about the movie, telling fans he's thrilled to be starring as Dusty: "I'm so geeked out!" Planes is due out in Spring 2013.
Wreck-It Ralph: This innovative film goes inside the world of retro, 8-bit video games to follow Wreck-It Ralph, an arcade villain who's looking for a way to prove he's not all bad. Voiced by John C. Reilly, Ralph promises to be one of Pixar's most endearing and unique characters yet, and a supporting cast including Sarah Silverman and 30 Rock's Jack McBrayer are also on board to bring the laughs. The short look at the movie that Pixar shared stayed true to the look of classic video games and had a decidedly grown-up appeal. Look for it in theaters in 2012.
Monsters University: Pixar is in the midst of creating a prequel to Monsters Incorporated that will take us back in time to show how Mike and Sully became buddies. Like many a great friendship, Pixar decided, theirs began at college. Billy Crystal made a surprise appearance to chat about the project. To make Billy and John Goodman's characters age in reverse, artists gave Mike a retainer and Sully a slimmed-down, fluffier profile. The filmmakers also shared a look at the campus, which is still being designed. The director, Dan Scanlon, joked that they toured schools from Harvard to Berkeley to find out what "real college" looks like, since most of the filmmakers went to art school.