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Always Sunny Promises Recession Jokes & More Kitten Mittens

BuzzSugar — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 08:15:22 PDT

If you're a fan of It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, you've probably already seen the video featuring Charlie's invention to soften the sound of cat claws: Kitten Mittens. But did you know that there will be far more merchandise options than just the mittens in the coming season of FX's comedy? It's true - a "nudie pen" with Dennis' body being revealed when the pen is tipped, a new kind of bath towel and a new way of getting a "shot" at a bar that is too funny for me to describe here are some of the brilliant inventions brought to us by the bizarre Philly crew. It's all in a new preview video for season five of the show, along with new footage from Charlie's Kitten Mittens promo spot ("you'll be smitten!"). In another video the cast explains more of the storylines we can expect to see in the coming months, starting with the season premiere on Sept. 17.

These videos make me laugh. If you're a Sunny fan, chances are they'll have the same effect on you. To check them out,

There's some NSFW language in the videos.

Photo courtesy of Fox

FX Plans Curb Your Enthusiasm-Style Series About Fantasy Football

BuzzSugar — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 12:00:00 PDT

Much of what I find entertaining about Curb Your Enthusiasm is the semi-scripted, semi-improvised aspect, which often makes the awkwardness or hilarity (or both) of a scene that much more authentic and funny. And of course, because the show is on HBO they can get away with some outrageous stuff. But if any network is going to pick up a tonally similar show and run with it, it should probably be FX. Some of the things they get away with on Nip/Tuck and It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia boggle my mind!

So, it makes sense that FX is adding the new fantasy football-centered comedy The League to its slate. Curb Your Enthusiasm executive producer/director Jeff Schaffer will direct the series, which will be semi-scripted and include improvisational elements. Here's more:

The project, which Schaffer co-created with his wife, Jackie Marcus Schaffer, centers on a fantasy football league and tackles issues of marriage, friendship, parenting and love in suburbia.

In the words of lead character Pete (Mark Duplass): "God bless fantasy football. There are many things a man can do with his time; this is better than those things."

I love that Schaffer developed the show with his wife, and it'll be awesome to see this kind of comedy on a channel that isn't pay cable. I don't even care about fantasy football and I'm already looking forward to this series.

New Season of Damages Starts Tonight on FX

Sponsor — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 12:47:37 PST

FX’s Damages,starring Emmy-Award Winner Glenn Close and Rose Byrne, Premieres Tonight at 10PM ET/PT. Watch this exclusive scene from the upcoming season.

TV Tonight: It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia Season Premiere!

BuzzSugar — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 05:30:48 PDT

Always Sunny fans, listen up! The fourth season starts tonight on FX with two (count 'em, two!) new episodes - and they are doozies. In the first, "Manhunt," Dennis and Mac go on a manhunt (as in, they go hunting - camouflage and all - for a man) while Dee and Charlie become convinced that they are cannibals (thus the preview clips of the two of them at a morgue with a hot plate and a six-pack of beer). In the second episode, "The Gang Solves the Gas Crisis," well, the gang solves the gas crisis . . . um, kinda.

I was treated to "Manhunt" when I went to the Always Sunny panel at Comic-Con back in July, and it is as hilariously crass and disgusting as ever. If you've never seen the show, however, I would suggest starting from the very beginning - not for any timeline reasons, simply because it might take an episode or two to get used to these guys and their outrageously politically incorrect ways.

The fourth season premieres tonight on FX starting at 10:00 p.m. (check local listings). To see a preview of this new season,

Photo courtesy of FX

Get "Damaged" With FX's Saturday Marathon

BuzzSugar — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 12:30:00 PDT

FX's thriller-mystery series Damages, starring Glenn Close, was one of the best entertainment-related things to come out of 2007, period. It's dark, edgy, and so well written, it succeeded in becoming another one of FX's shows (along with Nip/Tuck and It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia) that brings the cable channel into a whole different league. These shows have way more in common with stuff you'd see on HBO or Showtime than say, USA. In fact, as Broadcasting & Cable points out, "Damages, along with AMC’s Mad Men, became the first basic-cable drama series ever nominated in the Golden Globes Outstanding Series category."

The show won't pick up again with new episodes until 2009, but if you missed the first season last Summer, FX is reairing the entire season tomorrow, Saturday Aug. 9, starting at 7:00 a.m. To find out what I love so much about this show,

Glenn Close plays ruthless litigator Patty Hewes and Rose Byrne is Ellen Parsons, Patty's young, doe-eyed employee. Together with senior associate Tom Shayes (Tate Donovan), the team is embroiled in a class-action suit against billionaire CEO Arthur Frobisher (Ted Danson). Yet when murders start occurring - including the murder of someone close to Ellen - Ellen realizes the stakes are way higher than she'd originally perceived. Intricately-woven mysteries, red herrings, and crazy plot twists (like even more shocking murders) abound.

It's most fascinating to watch the dynamics of Rose Byrnes and Glenn Close's hero-villain dichotomy, partly because it's refreshing to see two female leads in a legal/crime drama. In particular, Close engages the audience in a constant push-pull; just when we think of Patty as the most evil, amoral snake imaginable, she somehow gains our sympathy - for just a moment. But that moment is enough to keep us riveted.

Photo courtesy of FX

Citizen Recap: 30 Days Working in a Coal Mine

LibertySugar — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 00:00:49 PDT

Did you think I forgot to watch the season premiere of 30 Days, with all of Tuesday's Democratic nomination wrap up, and the accompanying speech mania? Well, don't worry, because even though this recap is a day late, I still caught the episode which had filmmaker Morgan Spurlock working under the earth's surface for 30 days as a West Virginian coal miner.

Morgan spent his 30 days living with 35-year veteran miner Dale Lusk and his wife Sandy. Every morning before Dale left for the mines at around 2:00 a.m. he wrote Sandy a love note, just in case a disaster prevented him from returning home that day. The episode helped explain what motivates miners like Dale to take such risks - and the biggest incentive seemed to be cash. Dale, who has no college degree, makes over $100,000 a year.

Morgan slowly became accustomed to the dark, and labor-intensive life of a miner. To find out more about his experience,

In fact, he soon appreciated the tranquility and novelty of working beneath the earth's surface. But, near crises shocked Morgan out of his false sense of security, as did the reality that many miners, and some he had built relationships with, face debilitating health conditions like black lung.

Coal mining makes up 50 percent of America's energy supply. This episode reminded me that when I work or play on my computer, with my television, or anything else that requires electricity, I am depending on the routine and dangerous efforts of a West Virginian Coal miner.

Did you catch the episode? Stay tuned next week for 30 Days in a Wheelchair . . .

Source

First Look: The Riches, Season 2

BuzzSugar — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 14:32:47 PDT

The Riches, FX's drama about a family of Irish travelers trying to swindle their way to the American Dream, returns a week from tonight for its second season - and things aren't looking so good for the ~~Riches~~ Malloys. The first season was spent building their lies and getting their ritzy new community to believe them; now, it appears that their precarious dream life is about to collapse.

Maybe that's not giving enough credit to Doug Rich/Wayne Malloy (Eddie Izzard), the first-class con man who's always been able to get his family out of any jam up till now. But this time around, the rest of the Malloys - especially Wayne's wife, Dahlia (Minnie Driver) - don't seem to be as on board with his scams. It looks like an interesting new dynamic for a family that's gotten where they are by working as a unit, them against the world.

The Riches will only have seven episodes this season as a result of the writers' strike, so I'd expect things to move pretty quickly from the start of the March 18 premiere. To check out a couple of clips with scenes from the season and interviews with the stars, just

Photos and video courtesy of FX

First Look: Dirt's Second Season

BuzzSugar — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 11:30:06 PST

Lucy Spiller is back and more ruthless than ever when Dirt returns March 2 for its second season. This time around, the show is pushing hard on the celebrity scandal angle, with each episode focusing on a story ripped directly from the tabloid headlines. (I'm pretty sure one of them's Britney Spears - just sayin'.)

I think it's interesting to see Dirt moving in that direction when there are so many ripped-from-the-headlines shows already, from the Access Hollywood-style news shows to True Hollywood Story to even Law & Order and CSI (remember L&O's take on Anna Nicole Smith?). Still, it seems like a good fit for the show - and a reason to get me to tune back in after I stopped watching partway through the first season. Another good reason: Farber Kauffman (Ryan Eggold), a new character who comes to Dirt straight out of journalism school and has a tough time adjusting to the celeb-gossip world - while also developing a romance with Willa. From the previews I've seen, I'm really going to like that guy.

You can hear the Dirt cast talking about the second season and see the celebrity scandal from the first episode if you just

Photo and videos courtesy of FX

Learn to Scam with The Riches Webisodes

BuzzSugar — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 11:30:09 PST

Ever wanted to be a professional con artist? Let Doug Rich teach you how. On the first-season DVD for FX's The Riches, which comes out on Tuesday, several of the bonus features show Doug (Eddie Izzard) teaching his kids how to con.

Best Buy has a few of the clips online now - including two that are exclusive to the Web site and won't be included on the DVD. It's so great to see this dysfunctional family in action again. Season two is slated for this spring, but FX hasn't announced a premiere date yet; I'll keep you posted.

In the meantime, you can check out several of the Webisodes, plus a recap of season one, on the Best Buy site. Or, to watch my favorite video, in which a jaded Cael and Delilah brush off their dad's lessons on how to turn nothing into something, just

Photo courtesy of FX

Damages Will Be Back - Twice!

BuzzSugar — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 13:31:58 PST

Good news, Damages fans: FX has finally made its decision about renewing the acclaimed but low-rated drama - and it's getting not just one but two more seasons!

The network has committed to a total of 26 new episodes - two 13-episode seasons - of the series, and it's expected to go back into production early next year (presuming the writers are writing again by then, I suppose). Glenn Close, Rose Byrne, and Tate Donovan are all signed on for the additional seasons - but there's no mention of Ted Danson. Is that a clue about the ultimate fate of Arthur Frobisher?

I said earlier that I couldn't imagine how the show could get a second season, but the season finale made me change my tune; I loved the dynamic it set up between Close's Patty Hewes and her young, now not-so-innocent associate, Ellen (Byrne), and I'm thrilled we'll get to see it play out. Do you think Damages can keep up its dramatic twists for two more years?

Photo courtesy of FX