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First Look: The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency on HBO

BuzzSugar — Sat, 07 Mar 2009 13:30:13 -0800

A project I've been curious about for a while now is the television adaptation of Alexander McCall Smith's book series The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency. We first heard about it when it was planned as a movie directed by Anthony Minghella; now, almost two years later, it's been turned into a seven-episode series for the small screen that will premiere March 29 on HBO.

Before his death, Minghella directed the first two hours of the series, which centers on Precious Ramotswe, the woman in charge of Botswana's only female-run detective agency who not only investigates cases but serves as a kind of makeshift therapist to all who come to see her. Jill Scott stars as Ramostwe, with Anika Noni Rose and The Wire's Idris Elba in supporting roles.

This project apparently went through quite a lot to make it to the screen, and I'm curious to check out the finished product (which also aired in the UK last year). To check out a trailer for the series, just read more.

Source

HBO Has Female-Driven Programming On Deck

BuzzSugar — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 14:31:11 -0700

This year we've seen two network TV shows, Cashmere Mafia and Lipstick Jungle, that have tried to recreate the magic of HBO's Sex and the City, with mixed results. By contrast, HBO itself is moving on, leaving SATC for the big screen and once again developing interesting and unexpected female-driven projects.

Jill Scott and Anika Noni Rose will star in Oscar-winning director Anthony Minghella's adaptation of the popular book series the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency. The project, about an all-female private detective agency in Botswana, was originally developed as a movie. Variety reports that this story will now be told on the small screen as HBO has ordered 13 episodes of it. If this sounds confusingly similar to another recent female detective project, never fear, I've broken down the differences between the two. As for the other female-led show HBO has on deck, it's a little quirky, so read more.

Actually, "quirky" is probably a generous way to describe this other HBO project, though I think it will end up being quirky-awesome, not quirky-awkward. Apparently, The comedy is titled Driving Around With Joni and follows "a woman who spends her days driving around Los Angeles with her French bulldog, looking for meaning in her life after the sudden death of her husband." No word on who will star as the widow. Got suggestions?

French bulldog image source

What to TiVo: Friday

BuzzSugar — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 23:50:00 -0800

ABC is new with Supernanny, Shark Tank, and 20/20
CBS is new with Ghost Whisperer, Medium, and NUMB3RS
FOX has a repeat of House and is new with Kitchen Nightmares
NBC has a repeat of Law & Order and is new with Dateline NBC
The CW is new with the two-hour Smallville movie
MTV has SOS Saving OurSelves: Help for Haiti and a repeat of America's Best Dance Crew
TLC is new with What Not to Wear
VH1 has SOS Saving OurSelves: Help for Haiti and repeats of Let's Talk About Pep
Late-night highlights include Bill Maher on The Jay Leno Show on NBC; Jack Hanna and The Swell Season on The Late Show With David Letterman on CBS; Ozzy Osbourne and Barry Manilow on Jimmy Kimmel Live on ABC; Claire Danes and Jill Scott on The Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson on CBS; and Brian Williams, Amanda Seyfriend, and Sean Patton on Late Night With Jimmy Fallon on NBC

CBS's Fall Plans: Four New Series and a Rescue of Medium

BuzzSugar — Wed, 20 May 2009 09:00:06 -0700

CBS swooped in after NBC canceled Medium and picked up the Patricia Arquette drama at its Upfront this morning. Medium joins four other new dramas on CBS's Fall schedule, which seems downright reasonable after, say, ABC's 11 new series.

CBS's newcomers are the NCIS spinoff with LL Cool J and Chris O'Donnell; Three Rivers, a medical drama about organ transplants headed by Moonlight's Alex O'Loughlin; The Good Wife, starring Julianna Margulies as an attorney who goes back to work after her husband's public scandal; and Accidentally on Purpose, a comedy starring Jenna Elfman as a movie critic who gets pregnant from a one-night stand. Two more dramas - Miami Trauma and The Bridge - will join the network for midseason, along with two new reality shows.

On the scheduling front, The Mentalist shifts to Thursdays at 10 p.m., while The Big Bang Theory gets a promotion of sorts to the plum slot after Two and a Half Men on Monday nights. The NCIS spinoff (now officially called NCIS: Los Angeles) will air right after NCIS proper on Tuesdays. And Medium will air on Fridays - though I suppose fans should just be glad it's airing at all after its cancellation yesterday.

To check out the full schedule and see how CBS describes its new series, just read more.

MONDAY
8 p.m. How I Met Your Mother
8:30 p.m. Accidentally on Purpose
9 p.m. Two and a Half Men
9:30 p.m. The Big Bang Theory
10 p.m. CSI: Miami

TUESDAY
8 p.m. NCIS
9 p.m. NCIS: Los Angeles
10 p.m. The Good Wife

WEDNESDAY
8 p.m. The New Adventures of Old Christine
8:30 p.m. Gary Unmarried
9 p.m. Criminal Minds
10 p.m. CSI: NY

THURSDAY
8 p.m. Survivor
9 p.m. CSI
10 p.m. The Mentalist

FRIDAY
8 p.m. Ghost Whisperer
9 p.m. Medium
10 p.m. Numb3rs

SATURDAY
8 p.m. Crimetime Saturday
9 p.m. Crimetime Saturday
10 p.m. 48 Hours Mystery

SUNDAY
7 p.m. 60 Minutes
8 p.m. The Amazing Race
9 p.m. Three Rivers
10 p.m. Cold Case

** Midseason: Miami Trauma, The Bridge, Arranged Marriage, Undercover Boss

The New Shows
NCIS: Los Angeles is a drama about the high stakes world of undercover surveillance at the Office of Special Projects (OSP), a division of NCIS that is charged with apprehending dangerous and elusive criminals that pose a threat to the nation's security. By assuming false identities and utilizing the most advanced technology, this team of highly trained agents goes deep undercover, putting their lives on the line in the field to bring down their targets. Special Agent "G" Callen (Chris O'Donnell) is a chameleon who transforms himself into whomever he needs to be to infiltrate the criminal underworld. His partner is Special Agent Sam Hanna (LL Cool J), a former U.S. Navy SEAL who has seen action in both Afghanistan and Iraq, and a surveillance expert who uses state of the art monitoring equipment to look out for those in the field and feed them crucial information. Both Callen and Hanna report to Special Agent Lara Macy (Louise Lombard), the OSP team leader responsible for directing the operations and making life-or-death decisions. Assisting the team is Special Agent Kensi Lo (Daniela Ruah), the exceptionally bright daughter of a slain Marine who lives for the adrenalin rush that comes with undercover work, and Operational Psychologist Nate Getz (Peter Cambor), adept at getting into anybody's head, profiling the target and monitoring agents' states of mind before, during and after missions. Armed with the latest in high tech gear and sent regularly into life-threatening situations, this tight-knit team relies on each other to do what is necessary to protect national interests. Shane Brennan (NCIS) is the executive producer for CBS Television Studios.

The Good Wife is a drama starring Emmy Award winner Julianna Margulies as a wife and mother who must assume full responsibility for her family and re-enter the workforce after her husband's very public sex and political corruption scandal lands him in jail. Pushing aside the betrayal and crushing public humiliation caused by her husband Peter (Chris Noth), Alicia Florrick (Margulies) starts over by pursuing her original career as a defense attorney. As a junior associate at a prestigious Chicago law firm, she joins her longtime friend, former law school classmate and firm partner Will Gardner (Josh Charles), who is interested to see how Alicia will perform after 13 years out of the courtroom. Alicia is grateful the firm's top litigator, Diane Lockhart (Christine Baranski), offers to mentor her but discovers the offer has conditions and realizes she's going to need to succeed on her own merit. Alicia's main competition among the firm's 20-something new recruits is Cary (Matt Czuchry), a recent Harvard grad who is affable on the surface, but will use any means to ensure that he, not Alicia, secures the one full-time associate position that's available. Fortunately, Alicia finds an ally in Kalinda (Archie Panjabi), the firm's tough in-house investigator. Gaining confidence every day, Alicia transforms herself from embarrassed politician's scorned wife to resilient career woman, especially for the sake of providing a stable home for her children, 14-year-old Zach (Graham Phillips) and 13-year-old Grace (Makenzie Vega). For the first time in years, Alicia trades in her identity as the "good wife" and takes charge of her own destiny. Tony Scott, Ridley Scott, Robert King, Michelle King, Dee Johnson and David Zucker are the executive producers for CBS Television Studios.

Three Rivers is a medical drama that goes inside the emotionally complex lives of organ donors, the recipients and the surgeons at the preeminent transplant hospital in the country where every moment counts. However, dealing with donor families in their darkest hour and managing the fears and concerns of apprehensive recipients takes much more than just a sharp scalpel. Leading the elite team is Dr. Andy Yablonski (Alex O'Loughlin), the highly-skilled workaholic lead organ transplant surgeon, whose good-natured personality and sarcastic wit makes him popular with his patients and colleagues. His colleagues include Dr. Miranda Foster (Katherine Moennig), a surgical fellow with a rebellious streak and fiery temper who strives to live up to her deceased father's excellent surgical reputation; Dr. David Lee (Daniel Henney), a womanizing surgical resident who's broken as many hearts as he's replaced; Ryan Abbott (Christopher J. Hanke), the inexperienced new transplant coordinator who arranges the intricately choreographed process of quickly and carefully transporting organs from donor to patient; Dr. Sophia Jordan (Julia Ormond), the head of surgery and a dedicated medical professional; and Pam Acosta (Justina Machado), Andy's no-nonsense operating assistant and best friend. In this high stakes arena, in which every case is a race against the clock, these tenacious surgeons and medical professionals are the last hope for their patients. Carol Barbee, Curtis Hanson and Carol Fenelon are the executive producers for CBS Television Studios.

Accidentally on Purpose is a comedy starring Golden Globe Award winner Jenna Elfman as Billie, a single woman who finds herself "accidentally" pregnant after a one-night stand with a much younger guy, and decides to keep the baby . . . and the guy. A newspaper film critic, Billie is barely surviving a humiliating breakup with her charming boss, James (Grant Show), who's still trying to resume their relationship. Suddenly expecting a child with her "boy toy," Zack (Jon Foster), Billie and Zack make an arrangement: to live together platonically. Billie's party girl best friend Olivia (Ashley Jensen), and Abby (Lennon Parham), her conventional, younger married sister, eagerly look forward to the new addition and offer their own brands of advice and encouragement. But when Zack and his freeloading friends, including Davis (Nicolas Wright), start to turn her place into a frat house, Billie isn't sure if she's living with a boyfriend, a roommate, or if she just has another child to raise. Lloyd Braun, Gail Berman, Gene Stein and Claudia Lonow are the executive producers for CBS Television Studios. Pamela Fryman directed the pilot.

The Bridge is a drama about a tough and dedicated police officer who is voted to become the police union's dynamic leader. To serve the public as well as his 8,000 fellow officers, charismatic Frank Leo (Aaron Douglas) battles criminals on the street, corruption in the ranks and his own bosses. On the force is his able partner and confidante Tommy Dunn (Paul Popowich), who rides with Frank across the bridge that spans the divide between the rich and the poor in the area they patrol; Staff Sergeant Bernie Kantor (Frank Cassini), a voice of reason and moral sounding board; Jill (Inga Cadranel), a detective with a lot of attitude who is moving up the ranks; Billy (Theresa Joy), a young female cop who is determined to prove herself to the guys; and Ed Wycoff (Michael Murphy), the shrewd Chief of Police. Abby St. James (Ona Grauer) is a sharp prosecutor who begins working with the police union, and shares a mutual attraction with Frank. In his new position, Frank Leo takes on the politically-motivated department brass... and makes many powerful enemies in the process. Craig Bromell, Adam J. Shully, Laszlo Barna, Alan Di Fiore and Robert Wertheimer are executive producers for E1 Entertainment, 990 Multi Media Entertainment Company and Jonsworth Productions in association with CTV and CBS Television Studios.

Miami Trauma is about a team of expert surgeons who work at one of the premiere trauma facilities in the country, where only patients with life threatening injuries are treated. Dr. Matthew Proctor (Jeremy Northam) is new to the trauma team, after a tour of duty in a MASH unit during the Gulf war. Dr. Eva Zambrano (Lana Parrilla) is a workaholic surgeon who is more comfortable in her scrubs than she is out in the real world. Dr. Christopher Deleo, "Dr. C.," is a playboy who thrives on the high-stakes of trauma medicine and is, by his own description, a genius redneck. Dr. Serena Warren (Elisabeth Harnois) is fresh out of medical school, and head nurse Tuck Brody (Omar Gooding) keeps the doctors on track and the patients' families updated in this chaotic corner of the medical profession. Together, this team of doctors excels in the "golden hour," the 60 minutes after being critically injured, when a patient's life hangs in the balance. Jerry Bruckheimer, Jeffrey Lieber and Jonathan Littman are executive producers for Jerry Bruckheimer Television and Bonanza Productions Inc. in association with Warner Bros. Television Distribution.

Arranged Marriage is a series that brings the tradition of arranged marriages, which is still practiced successfully by many cultures throughout the world, to the U.S., where it is virtually an inconceivable option for most single Americans. Three adults who are anxious to get married, but who have been unsuccessful in their own search for a mate, choose a life-altering path. They rely on their closest family and friends, those who love and know them best, to choose someone for them to marry based on shared goals, values, experiences and the commitment to make it work. The series intimately documents these three arranged marriages, starting with the first meetings of the families and the wedding day; and then follows the couple through the day-to-day joys, challenges, and emotional tumult that results from their arranged union. Emmy Award nominees Jane Lipsitz and Dan Cutforth are executive producers for Magical Elves Inc.

Undercover Boss is a new reality series that follows high level corporate executives as they slip anonymously into the lowest level jobs within their companies. Once undercover, they'll get their hands dirty with the rank and file, find out what their employees really think of them and discover how smoothly their companies are really run. In the process, these senior executives learn about themselves, the perception of their company and the spirit of their work force. Stephen Lambert is the executive producer for Studio Lambert, Ltd.

Photos courtesy of CBS

Kanye, Amy Winehouse Lead Grammy Nominations

BuzzSugar — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 10:39:55 -0800

Kanye West, Amy Winehouse, and Rihanna each swept up multiple nominations when the Grammy Award nominations were announced this morning.

West leads the field with eight nominations, including one for Album of the Year and many others in the rap performance categories. Winehouse scored six nominations, including Album, Record and Song of the Year and Best New Artist.

The Album of the Year category is an interesting one this time around, with Herbie Hancock, Vince Gill, and the Foo Fighters joining West and Winehouse. Beyonce, the Foo Fighters, Rihanna, Justin Timberlake and Winehouse will square off for Record of the Year.

The most pleasant surprise: Four nominations for my gal Feist, including Best New Artist. The awards - the Grammys' 50th - will be presented Feb. 10.

This list has all of the nominees in more than 100 categories, and to see the highlights - including the rock, pop, rap, R&B, and country nominees - just read more

RECORD OF THE YEAR
"Irreplaceable" - Beyonce
"The Pretender" - Foo Fighters
"Umbrella" - Rihanna featuring Jay-Z
"What Goes Around…Comes Around" - Justin Timberlake
"Rehab" - Amy Winehouse

ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace - Foo Fighters
These Days - Vince Gill
River: The Joni Letters - Herbie Hancock
Graduation - Kanye West
Back to Black - Amy Winehouse

SONG OF THE YEAR
"Before He Cheats" - Josh Kear & Chris Tompkins, songwriters (Carrie Underwood)
"Hey There Delilah" - Tom Higgenson, songwriter (Plain White T's)
"Like a Star" - Corinne Bailey Rae, songwriter (Corinne Bailey Rae)
"Rehab" - Amy Winehouse, songwriter (Amy Winehouse)
"Umbrella" - Shawn Carter, Kuk Harrell, Terius "Dream" Nash & Christopher Stewart, songwriters (Rihanna Featuring Jay-Z)

BEST NEW ARTIST
Feist
Ledisi
Paramore
Taylor Swift
Amy Winehouse

BEST FEMALE POP VOCAL PERFORMANCE
"Candyman" - Christina Aguilera
"1234" - Feist
"Big Girls Don't Cry" - Fergie
"Say It Right" - Nelly Furtado
"Rehab" - Amy Winehouse

BEST MALE POP VOCAL PERFORMANCE
"Everything" - Michael Bublé
"Belief" - John Mayer
"Dance Tonight" - Paul McCartney
"Amazing" - Seal
"What Goes Around...Comes Around" - Justin Timberlake

BEST POP PERFORMANCE BY A DUO OR GROUP WITH VOCALS
"(You Want To) Make A Memory" - Bon Jovi
"Home" - Daughtry
"Makes Me Wonder" - Maroon 5
"Hey There Delilah" - Plain White T's
"Window In The Skies" - U2

BEST POP COLLABORATION WITH VOCALS
"Steppin' Out" - Tony Bennett & Christina Aguilera
"Beautiful Liar" - Beyoncé & Shakira
"Gone Gone Gone (Done Moved On)" - Robert Plant & Alison Krauss
"The Sweet Escape" - Gwen Stefani & Akon
"Give It To Me" - Timbaland Featuring Nelly Furtado & Justin Timberlake

BEST POP INSTRUMENTAL PERFORMANCE
"Off The Grid" - Beastie Boys
"Paris Sunrise #7" - Ben Harper & The Innocent Criminals
"Over The Rainbow" - Dave Koz
"One Week Last Summer" - Joni Mitchell
"Simple Pleasures" - Spyro Gyra

BEST POP INSTRUMENTAL ALBUM
The Mix-Up - Beastie Boys
Italia - Chris Botti
At The Movies - Dave Koz
Good To Go-Go - Spyro Gyra
Roundtrip - Kirk Whalum

BEST POP VOCAL ALBUM
Lost Highway - Bon Jovi
The Reminder - Feist
It Won't Be Soon Before Long - Maroon 5
Memory Almost Full - Paul McCartney
Back To Black - Amy Winehouse

BEST DANCE RECORDING
"Do It Again" - The Chemical Brothers
"D.A.N.C.E." - Justice
"Love Today - Mika
"Don't Stop The Music" – Rihanna
"LoveStoned/I Think She Knows" - Justin Timberlake

BEST ELECTRONIC/DANCE ALBUM
We Are The Night - The Chemical Brothers
† - Justice
Sound Of Silver - LCD Soundsystem
We Are Pilots - Shiny Toy Guns
Elements Of Life - Tiësto

BEST TRADITIONAL POP VOCAL ALBUM
Call Me Irresponsible - Michael Bublé
Cool Yule - Bette Midler
Trav'lin' Light - Queen Latifah
Live In Concert 2006 - Barbra Streisand
James Taylor At Christmas - James Taylor

BEST SOLO ROCK VOCAL PERFORMANCE
"Timebomb" - Beck
"Only Mama Knows" - Paul McCartney
"Our Country" - John Mellencamp
"Radio Nowhere" - Bruce Springsteen
"Come On" - Lucinda Williams

BEST ROCK PERFORMANCE BY A DUO OR GROUP WITH VOCALS
"It's Not Over" - Daughtry
"Working Class Hero" - Green Day
"If Everyone Cared" - Nickelback
"Instant Karma" - U2
"Icky Thump" - The White Stripes

BEST HARD ROCK PERFORMANCE
"Sweet Sacrifice" - Evanescence
"The Pretender" - Foo Fighters
"I Don't Wanna Stop" - Ozzy Osbourne
"Sick, Sick, Sick" - Queens Of The Stone Age
"The Pot" - Tool

BEST METAL PERFORMANCE
"Nothing Left" - As I Lay Dying
"Never Ending Hill" - King Diamond
"Aesthetics Of Hate" - Machine Head
"Redemption" - Shadows Fall
"Final Six" - Slayer

BEST ROCK INSTRUMENTAL PERFORMANCE
"The Ecstasy Of Gold" - Metallica
"Malignant Narcissism" - Rush
"Always With Me, Always With You" - Joe Satriani
"Once Upon A Time In The West" - Bruce Springsteen
"The Attitude Song" - Steve Vai

BEST ROCK SONG
"Come On" - Lucinda Williams, songwriter (Lucinda Williams)
"Icky Thump" - Jack White, songwriter (The White Stripes)
"It's Not Over" - Chris Daughtry, Gregg Wattenberg, Mark Wilkerson & Brett Young, songwriters (Daughtry)
"The Pretender" - Dave Grohl, Taylor Hawkins, Nate Mendel & Chris Shiflett, songwriters (Foo Fighters)
"Radio Nowhere" - Bruce Springsteen, songwriter (Bruce Springsteen)

BEST ROCK ALBUM
Daughtry - Daughtry
Revival - John Fogerty
Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace - Foo Fighters
Magic - Bruce Springsteen
Sky Blue Sky - Wilco

BEST ALTERNATIVE MUSIC ALBUM
Alright, Still... - Lily Allen
Neon Bible - Arcade Fire
Volta - Bjork
Wincing The Night Away - The Shins
Icky Thump - The White Stripes

BEST FEMALE R&B VOCAL PERFORMANCE
"Just Fine" - Mary J. Blige
"When I See You" - Fantasia
"No One" - Alicia Keys
"If I Have My Way" - Chrisette Michele
"Hate On Me" - Jill Scott

BEST MALE R&B VOCAL PERFORMANCE
"Woman" - Raheem DeVaughn
"B.U.D.D.Y." - Musiq Soulchild
"Because Of You" - Ne-Yo
"Future Baby Mama" - Prince
"Please Don't Go" - Tank

BEST R&B PERFORMANCE BY A DUO OR GROUP WITH VOCALS
"Same Girl" - R. Kelly Featuring Usher
"Disrespectful" - Chaka Khan Featuring Mary J. Blige
"Hate That I Love You" - Rihanna Featuring Ne-Yo
"Baby" - Angie Stone Featuring Betty Wright
"Bartender" - T-Pain Featuring Akon

BEST TRADITIONAL R&B VOCAL PERFORMANCE

"Walk A Mile In My Shoes" - Otis Clay
"All Night Long" - Randy Crawford & Joe Sample
"In My Songs" - Gerald Levert
"I Apologize" - Ann Nesby
"I Am Your Man" - Ryan Shaw

BEST URBAN/ALTERNATIVE PERFORMANCE
"Make A Baby" - Vikter Duplaix
"That’s The Way Of The World" - Dwele
"Daydreamin'" - Lupe Fiasco Featuring Jill Scott
"Fantasy" - Meshell Ndegeocello
"Dream" - Alice Smith

BEST R&B SONG
"Beautiful Flower" - India.Arie & Joyce Simpson, songwriters (India.Arie)
"Hate That I Love You" - M.S. Eriksen, T.E. Hermansen & Shaffer Smith, songwriters (Rihanna Featuring Ne-Yo)
"No One" - Dirty Harry, Kerry Brothers & Alicia Keys, songwriters (Alicia Keys)
"Teachme" -Ivan Barias, Adam W. Blackstone, Randall C. Bowland, Carvin Haggins, Johnnie Smith II & Corey Latif Williams, songwriters (Musiq Soulchild)
"When I See U" - Louis Biancaniello, Waynne Nugent, Erika Nuri, Kevin Risto, Janet Sewel & Sam Watters, songwriters (Fantasia)

BEST R&B ALBUM
Funk This - Chaka Khan
Lost & Found - Ledisi
Luvanmusiq -Musiq Soulchild
The Real Thing - Jill Scott
Sex, Love & Pain - Tank

BEST CONTEMPORARY R&B ALBUM
Konvicted - Akon
Just Like You - Keyshia Cole
Fantasia - Fantasia
East Side Story - Emily King
Because Of You - Ne-Yo

BEST RAP SOLO PERFORMANCE
"The People" - Common
"I Get Money" - 50 Cent
"Show Me What You Got" - Jay-Z
"Big Things Poppin' (Do It)" - T.I.
"Stronger" - Kanye West

BEST RAP PERFORMANCE BY A DUO OR GROUP
"Southside" - Common Featuring Kanye West
"Make It Rain" - Fat Joe Featuring Lil Wayne
"Party Like A Rockstar" - Shop Boyz
"Int'l Players Anthem (I Choose You)" - UGK Featuring OutKast
"Better Than I've Ever Been" - Kanye West, Nas & KRS-One

BEST RAP/SUNG COLLABORATION
"I Wanna Love You" - Akon Featuring Snoop Dogg
"Kiss, Kiss" - Chris Brown & T-Pain
"Let It Go" - Keyshia Cole Featuring Missy Elliott & Lil' Kim
"Umbrella" - Rihanna Featuring Jay-Z
"Good Life" - Kanye West Featuring T-Pain

BEST RAP SONG
"Ayo Technology" - Nate (Danja) Hills, Curtis Jackson, Timothy Mosley & Justin Timberlake, songwriters (50 Cent Featuring Justin Timberlake & Timbaland)
"Big Things Poppin' (Do It)" - Clifford Harris & Byron Thomas, songwriters (T.I.)
"Can't Tell Me Nothing" - A. Davis & Kanye West, songwriters (Kanye West)
"Crank That (Soulja Boy)" - Soulja Boy Tell'Em, songwriter (Soulja Boy Tell'Em)
"Good Life" - A. Davis, F. Najm & K. West, songwriters (J. Ingram & Q. Jones, songwriters) (Kanye West Featuring T-Pain)

BEST RAP ALBUM
Finding Forever - Common
Kingdom Come - Jay-Z
Hip Hop Is Dead - Nas
T.I. vs T.I.P. - T.I.
Graduation - Kanye West

BEST FEMALE COUNTRY VOCAL PERFORMANCE
"Simple Love" - Alison Krauss
"Famous In A Small Town" - Miranda Lambert
"Nothin' Better To Do" - LeAnn Rimes
"Before He Cheats" - Carrie Underwood
"Heaven, Heartache And The Power Of Love" - Trisha Yearwood

BEST MALE COUNTRY VOCAL PERFORAMNCE
"Long Trip Alone" - Dierks Bentley
"A Woman's Love" - Alan Jackson
"If You're Reading This" - Tim McGraw
"Give It Away" - George Strait
"Stupid Boy" - Keith Urban

BEST COUNTRY PERFORMANCE BY A DUO OR GROUP WITH VOCALS
"Proud Of The House We Built" - Brooks & Dunn
"How Long" - Eagles
"Moments" - Emerson Drive
"Lucky Man" - Montgomery Gentry
"Sweet Memories" - The Time Jumpers

BEST COUNTRY COLLABORATION WITH VOCALS
"Days Aren't Long Enough" - Steve Earle & Allison Moorer
"Because Of You" - Reba McEntire & Kelly Clarkson
"I Need You" - Tim McGraw & Faith Hill
"Lost Highway" - Willie Nelson & Ray Price
"Oh Love" - Brad Paisley & Carrie Underwood

BEST COUNTRY INSTRUMENTAL PERFORMANCE
"Little Monk" - Russ Barenberg
"Mucky The Duck" - The Greencards
"Throttleneck" - Brad Paisley
"Rawhide!" - Andy Statman
"Fidoodlin'" - The Time Jumpers

BEST COUNTRY SONG
"Before He Cheats" - Josh Kear & Chris Tompkins, songwriters (Carrie Underwood)
"Give It Away" - Bill Anderson, Buddy Cannon & Jamey Johnson, songwriters (George Strait)
"I Need You" -Tony Lane & David Lee, songwriters (Tim McGraw & Faith Hill)
"If You're Reading This" - Tim McGraw, Brad Warren & Brett Warren, songwriters (Tim McGraw)
"Long Trip Alone" - Brett Beavers, Dierks Bentley & Steve Bogard, songwriters (Dierks Bentley)

BEST COUNTRY ALBUM
Long Trip Alone - Dierks Bentley
These Days - Vince Gill
Let It Go - Tim McGraw
5th Gear - Brad Paisley
It Just Comes Natural - George Strait

BEST TRADITIONAL FOLK ALBUM
Try Me One More Time - David Bromberg
Let Us Now Praise Sleepy John - Peter Case
Banjo Talkin' - Cathy Fink
Dirt Farmer - Levon Helm
Charlie Louvin - Charlie Louvin

BEST CONTEMPORARY FOLK/AMERICANA ALBUM
The Calling -Mary Chapin Carpenter
My Name Is Buddy - Ry Cooder
Washington Square Serenade - Steve Earle
Children Running Through - Patty Griffin
Orphans - Tom Waits

BEST CONTEMPORARY WORLD MUSIC ALBUM
Céu - Céu
Gil Luminoso -Gilberto Gil
Momento -Bebel Gilberto
Djin Djin - Angelique Kidjo
An Ancient Muse - Loreena McKennitt

BEST MUSICAL SHOW ALBUM Best Musical Show Album
A Chorus Line
Company
Grey Gardens
Spring Awakening
West Side Story

BEST COMPILATION SOUNDTRACK FOR MOTION PICTURE, TELEVISION, OR OTHER VISUAL MEDIA
Across The Universe
Dreamgirls
Hairspray
Love
Once

BEST SCORE SOUNDTRACK ALBUM FOR MOTION PICTURE, TELEVISION, OR OTHER VISUAL MEDIA
Babel
Blood Diamond
The Departed
Happy Feet
Pan's Labyrinth
Ratatouille

PRODUCER OF THE YEAR, NON-CLASSICAL
Howard Benson
Joe Chiccarelli
Mike Elizondo
Mark Ronson
Timbaland

BEST SHORT FORM MUSIC VIDEO
"God's Gonna Cut You Down" - Johnny Cash
"1234" - Feist
" Gone Daddy Gone" - Gnarls Barkley
" D.A.N.C.E." - Justice
" Typical" - Mute Math

BEST LONG FORM MUSIC VIDEO
"Live & Loud At The Fillmore" - Dierks Bentley
"Trapped In The Closet Chapters 13-22" - R. Kelly
"The Confessions Tour" - Madonna
"10 Days Out - Blues From The Backroads" - Kenny Wayne Shepherd & "Liberacion - The Songs Of The New Cuban Underground" - Various Artists

Source

What to Download: New Music Today

BuzzSugar — Tue, 05 May 2009 16:30:47 -0700

Tuesdays are big in entertainmentville: not only do all the new DVD releases hit Netflix, but new music also pours into stores. So I take a spin through each week's music releases and pick out some albums and tracks worthy of a download. In addition to my picks below, you can also download Ciara's new album featuring musical talent including Justin Timberlake and Missy Elliot). Here are today's selections:

Ben Harper rocks: When I think of Ben Harper, I think back to lazy times in my college dorm room listening to his laid-back music. On his new album, he takes a different approach than I'm used to and rocks out on many of the tracks. So far I'm digging songs like the toe-tapping and passionate "Lay There & Hate Me" and the hard-driving rhythms of "Number With No Name."

Neo-soul sounds so good: I'm a huge fan of Jill Scott's music, and Chrisette Michele feels like her second coming. These vocals are to die for. I was into her 2007 debut, I Am, and I've already downloaded a few tracks off today's Ne-Yo-produced second album, including "Fragile," "Another One," and "Epiphany (I'm Leaving)." It's girl power with depth and emotion.

Another one up next, so read more.

AKA Bright Eyes: Conor Oberst, best known for his work in the band Bright Eyes, has an album out today with his new project, Conor Oberst and the Mystic Valley Band. Though there's a full band playing on the album, the songs I'm drawn to most are the stripped-down tracks with just Oberst and his guitar, like "White Shoes." "Spoiled" also stands out.

Chuck vs. the WonderCon

BuzzSugar — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 01:45:07 -0800

The highest point of my WonderCon experience came Sunday afternoon, when I moderated the Chuck panel with Zachary Levi, Yvonne Strahovski, Adam Baldwin, Joshua Gomez, and cocreators Chris Fedak and Josh Schwartz. It was an absolute delight: Everyone on the panel was lively, funny, and eager to chat about a show that obviously makes them all proud.

The crowd definitely reciprocated their warmth. I couldn't see all the way to the back of the Esplanade Ballroom, but folks in the crowd estimated that somewhere around 2,000 people showed up for Chuck. There was a huge line for audience Q&A and lots of enthusiastic cheering, especially for references to the Chuck/Sarah romantic entanglements, Scott Bakula's first appearance in the five-minute trailer we screened, and pretty much anything Adam Baldwin did. In fact, Levi gave a very genuine and impassioned thank you to the crowd at the end of the panel, and everyone told me they're thrilled with - and extremely thankful for - the kind reception they've always gotten at fan events. If you couldn't be in the room, read on for some of the highlights:

First of all, the five-minute clip from the upcoming episodes was intense; I'll discuss some of the more spoilery stuff after the jump. But it also drew a bunch of big laughs from the crowd. In one section, we saw Tony Hale's Emmett fighting (and, it seems, losing) a battle at the Buy More. In another, Chuck appeared to be undergoing some kind of torture and seems proud to be rating it at about an eight out of 10 - until Sarah tells him the torture hasn't even started yet. Oh, and there was also a scene of Jeff clad in nothing but a bathrobe.
Does the entrance of Chuck's dad signal that wedding bells are on the way before the end of season two? Schwartz said there will be not one but two weddings before the season is up (which prompted Levi and Gomez to joke - I think - about the impending Chuck/Morgan nuptials).

To find out the details of Chuck's first spy move, what's coming up in the Chuck/Sarah relationship, which past characters might be returning before the season's up, and a special bonus answer to a question I ran out of time to ask on stage, just read more.

I asked if Chuck is ever going to learn any spy moves, and Levi said that yes, in fact, he is. He then hopped up on his chair to demonstrate "The Morgan," which looks sort of like the Heisman Trophy pose if you were more concerned with covering your face and "the jewels" than going in for a score. However: The episode in which The Morgan appears is called "Chuck vs. the First Kill." Take from that what you will.
The Chuck and Sarah romance will be something the show tackles head-on for the rest of the season, Schwartz said. That said, it won't be easy, especially because in an arc that starts with tonight's episode, Sarah will be cozying up to an MI-6 agent, and her motives may not be entirely work-related.
I asked what episodes the cast and creators felt were most representative of what the series wanted to be, and Levi suggested the first season's "Chuck vs. the Wookie" and this year's "Chuck vs. the Seduction" guest-starring John Larroquette. Gomez threw out "Chuck vs. the Best Friend" and then named a couple of other Morgan-centric episodes, causing Schwartz to suggest that maybe there was a pattern there.
On the topic of guest stars, Schwartz and Fedak said they write the roles first and then look for people for the parts. They like to cast against type, like making the baby-faced Andy Richter the head of a menacing Fulcrum sect. Schwartz said one of his favorite guest-castings of the season has been Reginald VelJohnson as Big Al.
I asked about the guest stars the cast had most admired, and Gomez said for him, it's the athletes like Michael Strahan and Jerome Bettis who have appeared on the show because he knows he could never in a million years do what they do.

Pretty much anything Adam Baldwin said got a roar from the crowd, but he was especially funny when the writers were talking about the little touches he brings to the role, like having Casey sit down for a dinner scene and start absentmindedly sharpening his knife and fork.
The end of season two is a big potential game-changer, Schwartz said - so it's definitely written as a season finale and not a series finale. The episodes leading up to it are also the most serialized they've ever done. Schwartz asked the crowd if they'd be ready to mobilize to convince NBC that Chuck deserves a third season, and not surprisingly, there was a huge cheer.
That's probably as good a place as any to talk about the Chuck's dad spoiler from the clip: Somehow, Chuck's dad and Chevy Chase's character know each other, and there are definitely some hints that Chuck's dad may have been a spy, or at least worked with them, years earlier. I, uh, may have audibly gasped at that part.
Gomez says he thinks that Morgan does, at this point, suspect that Chuck has something going on besides Nerd Herding, but as a good friend, he sees his role as covering for Chuck when necessary and not asking questions.
Strahovski said one of her favorite fight scenes from the two seasons of the show was the choreographed fight with Bryce when they were back-to-back, mirroring each other's moves.
Speaking of Bryce, I asked if he'd be returning, and the crowd reaction was definitely mixed - from where I stood, it sounded like maybe 25 percent of the room was in favor of more Bryce, while 75 percent of the room wanted him to stay away. Schwartz and Fedak decided to neither confirm nor deny anything after hearing that reaction.

We definitely haven't seen the last of Jill: Levi said she returns for another episode this season.
Jeffster! will be back!
In talking about how much Chuck's geekiness is actually Zach's geekiness, Levi - who was attempting to draw a line in the sand between the two - ended up delivering a long diatribe about video games, offering his critiques of some new titles, and even starting a dialogue with some audience members about his opinions. At which point Gomez leaned into his microphone and said, "So they're completely different."

During the fan Q&A portion, one questioner asked which other characters on the show the cast would like to play. Gomez offered up that he'd like to be Sarah Lancaster, "and I'd just stare at myself all day." Strahovski said she'd like to be Lester.

I'd planned to ask if Chuck was ever named anything but Chuck in early drafts of the script, but we ran out of time on the panel. Luckily, though, Fedak was kind enough to answer backstage. He said Chuck did initially have a different name, but while he and Schwartz were working on the show, they were reading some Chuck Klosterman, and Schwartz decided their show's main character should get Klosterman's name. Fedak wasn't sold initially, but after his loved ones told him he was an idiot for not going with it, he eventually came around.

It also bears mentioning that all the panelists seemed legitimately hopeful about their chances for a third season. Shooting wraps up this week, and then it's just a wait to hear from NBC about the future. So, if you're a fan, finger-crossing time starts now.

What to Netflix: New DVD Tuesday

BuzzSugar — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 09:30:00 -0800

All of the new DVD releases hit stores (and Netflix) on Tuesdays. So each week in What to Netflix: New DVD Tuesday, I sort through the best of the batch and tell you what to add to your queue. In addition to the titles below you can view the thriller We Own the Night starring Joaquin Phoenix and Mark Wahlberg. Also on DVD today is Romance and Cigarettes, a musical that's definitely not for the High School Musical set.

Gone Baby Gone
For his directorial debut, Ben Affleck brings together a talented ensemble cast that includes his brother Casey Affleck, Morgan Freeman, Ed Harris and Amy Ryan. The film is set in the Affleck brothers' hometown of Boston and is adapted from a novel by the author of another dark Boston tale, Mystic River.

Casey plays Patrick Kenzie, a private detective hired to help bring home a missing 4-year-old girl. In the process, he discovers a complex and disturbing underworld based on the broken dreams of families living in one of the country's toughest neighborhoods.

Relative newcomer Amy Ryan earned herself an Oscar nomination for her portrayal as the little girl's drug addict mother, and our very own Boston native Molly really enjoyed this heart wrenching flick so it's a pretty safe bet for your Netflix queue.

A little depressing? Two more lovey titles are next so read more.

No Reservations
It's often the charming, warmhearted little films like No Reservations that slip off peoples' radars in the summer movie season due to the noise that giant big-name mega-blockbusters make that time of year. If you missed this sweet romance starring Catherine Zeta Jones and Aaron Eckhart I highly recommend warming up some delicious treats and settling in for the night with this movie that I really enjoyed.

Based on the the German film Mostly Martha, the movie follows a hard-hearted top chef, Kate (Zeta Jones) whose sister dies suddenly, leaving Kate's little niece (an adorable Abigail Breslin) now resting in her care. As Kate struggles to adapt to parenthood, she also soon finds herself involved with the new chef in her kitchen (Eckhart). Special features include a Marc Summers visit to the set to talk to the film's stars for an episode on his Food Network Series.

Why Did I Get Married
Tyler Perry sets aside his alter-ego Madea, but preserves his keen ability to create relatable characters in this drama exploring the ins and outs of married life. The movie stars Perry himself, along with Malik Yoba, Sharon Leal, Michael Jai White, Denise Boutte, Lamman Rucker and music hit-makers Janet Jackson and Jill Scott.

Based on one of Perry's plays, Why Did I Get Married? follows a group of married friends that gather in a mountaintop resort to confront their various marital issues. Perry's trademark melodrama and preachiness combined with a more serious subject matter proved to be a very potent mix that really hit home with audiences.

West, Winehouse Win Big at 2008 Grammys

BuzzSugar — Sun, 10 Feb 2008 23:56:22 -0800

Sunday's 50th annual Grammy Awards were packed with powerful performances - including Kanye West's tribute to his mother and Beyonce's duet with Tina Turner - and musical luminaries from both the past and the present. But awards-wise, the night belonged to Amy Winehouse. Winehouse, who performed via satellite from London after being denied a visa, won five of the six awards she was nominated for, including Best New Artist and both Record of the Year and Song of the Year for "Rehab."

West also had a big night, picking up four awards including Best Rap Album and performing both a stirring tribute to his mother and a glow-in-the-dark rendition of "Stronger" featuring Daft Punk's first TV appearance ever. But one of the biggest surprises came in the Album of the Year category, where both West and Winehouse were beaten by 11-time Grammy winner Herbie Hancock and his album River: The Joni Letters.

You can see a full list of honorees over here, but to see the major winners, read more.

RECORD OF THE YEAR
"Rehab" - Amy Winehouse

ALBUM OF THE YEAR
River: The Joni Letters - Herbie Hancock

SONG OF THE YEAR
"Rehab" - Amy Winehouse, songwriter (Amy Winehouse)

BEST NEW ARTIST
Amy Winehouse

BEST FEMALE POP VOCAL PERFORMANCE
"Rehab" - Amy Winehouse

BEST MALE POP VOCAL PERFORMANCE
"What Goes Around...Comes Around" - Justin Timberlake

BEST POP PERFORMANCE BY A DUO OR GROUP WITH VOCALS
"Makes Me Wonder" - Maroon 5

BEST POP COLLABORATION WITH VOCALS
"Gone Gone Gone (Done Moved On)" - Robert Plant & Alison Krauss

BEST POP INSTRUMENTAL PERFORMANCE
"One Week Last Summer" - Joni Mitchell

BEST POP INSTRUMENTAL ALBUM
The Mix-Up - Beastie Boys

BEST POP VOCAL ALBUM
Back To Black - Amy Winehouse

BEST DANCE RECORDING
"LoveStoned/I Think She Knows" - Justin Timberlake

BEST ELECTRONIC/DANCE ALBUM
We Are The Night - The Chemical Brothers

BEST TRADITIONAL POP VOCAL ALBUM
Call Me Irresponsible - Michael Bublé

BEST SOLO ROCK VOCAL PERFORMANCE
"Radio Nowhere" - Bruce Springsteen

BEST ROCK PERFORMANCE BY A DUO OR GROUP WITH VOCALS
"Icky Thump" - The White Stripes

BEST HARD ROCK PERFORMANCE
"The Pretender" - Foo Fighters

BEST METAL PERFORMANCE
"Final Six" - Slayer

BEST ROCK INSTRUMENTAL PERFORMANCE
"Once Upon A Time In The West" - Bruce Springsteen

BEST ROCK SONG
"Radio Nowhere" - Bruce Springsteen, songwriter (Bruce Springsteen)

BEST ROCK ALBUM
Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace - Foo Fighters

BEST ALTERNATIVE MUSIC ALBUM
Icky Thump - The White Stripes

BEST FEMALE R&B VOCAL PERFORMANCE
"No One" - Alicia Keys

BEST MALE R&B VOCAL PERFORMANCE
"Future Baby Mama" - Prince

BEST R&B PERFORMANCE BY A DUO OR GROUP WITH VOCALS
"Disrespectful" - Chaka Khan Featuring Mary J. Blige

BEST TRADITIONAL R&B VOCAL PERFORMANCE
"In My Songs" - Gerald Levert

BEST URBAN/ALTERNATIVE PERFORMANCE
"Daydreamin'" - Lupe Fiasco Featuring Jill Scott

BEST R&B SONG
"No One" - Dirty Harry, Kerry Brothers & Alicia Keys, songwriters (Alicia Keys)

BEST R&B ALBUM
Funk This - Chaka Khan

BEST CONTEMPORARY R&B ALBUM
Because Of You - Ne-Yo

BEST RAP SOLO PERFORMANCE
"Stronger" - Kanye West

BEST RAP PERFORMANCE BY A DUO OR GROUP
"Southside" - Common Featuring Kanye West

BEST RAP/SUNG COLLABORATION
"Umbrella" - Rihanna Featuring Jay-Z

BEST RAP SONG
"Good Life" - A. Davis, F. Najm & K. West, songwriters (J. Ingram & Q. Jones, songwriters) (Kanye West Featuring T-Pain)

BEST RAP ALBUM
Graduation - Kanye West

BEST FEMALE COUNTRY VOCAL PERFORMANCE
"Before He Cheats" - Carrie Underwood

BEST MALE COUNTRY VOCAL PERFORAMNCE
"Stupid Boy" - Keith Urban

BEST COUNTRY PERFORMANCE BY A DUO OR GROUP WITH VOCALS
"How Long" - Eagles

BEST COUNTRY COLLABORATION WITH VOCALS
"Lost Highway" - Willie Nelson & Ray Price

BEST COUNTRY INSTRUMENTAL PERFORMANCE
"Throttleneck" - Brad Paisley

BEST COUNTRY SONG
"Before He Cheats" - Josh Kear & Chris Tompkins, songwriters (Carrie Underwood)

BEST COUNTRY ALBUM
These Days - Vince Gill

BEST TRADITIONAL FOLK ALBUM
Dirt Farmer - Levon Helm

BEST CONTEMPORARY FOLK/AMERICANA ALBUM
Washington Square Serenade - Steve Earle

BEST CONTEMPORARY WORLD MUSIC ALBUM
Djin Djin - Angelique Kidjo

BEST COMEDY ALBUM
The Distant Future - The Flight of the Conchords

BEST MUSICAL SHOW ALBUM
Spring Awakening

BEST COMPILATION SOUNDTRACK FOR MOTION PICTURE, TELEVISION, OR OTHER VISUAL MEDIA
Love

BEST SCORE SOUNDTRACK ALBUM FOR MOTION PICTURE, TELEVISION, OR OTHER VISUAL MEDIA
Ratatouille

PRODUCER OF THE YEAR, NON-CLASSICAL
Mark Ronson

BEST SHORT FORM MUSIC VIDEO
"God's Gonna Cut You Down" - Johnny Cash

BEST LONG FORM MUSIC VIDEO
"The Confessions Tour" - Madonna

Source

Separated at Birth: The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency and "Women's Murder Club"

BuzzSugar — Tue, 26 Jun 2007 10:40:26 -0700

From "Bones" to "The Closer," female detectives are hot right now. So hot, in fact, that two suspiciously similar projects, "Women's Murder Club" (pictured above) and The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency, are currently in development (the latter just cast Anika Noni Rose). Lest you be confused should the topic arise at your next cocktail party, I've put together this handy guide to telling the projects apart.

Title	What is it?	Adapted from	Premise	Location	Stars	It's like ...
"Women's Murder Club"	A new ABC drama scheduled for Friday nights in the fall	A series of books by James Patterson	A group of women working in the justice system come together to solve crime	San Francisco	Angie Harmon, Paula Newsome, Aubrey Dollar, Tyrees Allen	"Law & Order" meets Steel Magnolias
The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency	A new movie by Oscar-winning director Anthony Minghella	A series of books by Alexander McCall Smith	An African woman establishes herself as her country's first female detective	Botswana	Jill Scott, Anika Noni Rose	"Murder She Wrote" in the savanna