BuzzSugar

Buzz News Roundup, 1/30

BuzzSugar — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 12:29:37 -0800

The Juno soundtrack has become the No. 1 album on Billboard's charts, writes Billboard.
Police uncovered a real-life Weeds-style pot garden in the suburb where Weeds films some of its scenes, the LA Daily News reports.
According to ComingSoon, Kevin Nealon will play the dad to Ashley Tisdale's character in the alien movie They Came From Upstairs.
ABC is issuing a disclaimer for the Eli Stone premiere after complaints about a storyline that links childhood vaccines and autism, TV Guide reports.
After a last-minute controversy that almost got it dropped from the Oscar ballot, "Falling Slowly" from Once is officially eligible for the Best Original Song award, according to the New York Times.
Hollywood Reporter has news that director Sam Raimi will create a live-action weekly TV series titled Wizard's First Rule, based on the fantasy series The Sword of Truth.
Channing Tatum and Dennis Quaid are the latest additions to the live-action G.I. Joe movie, Variety reports.
Another season of the Celebrity Apprentice is on the way for 2009, and this season will end with a live finale; details are at The Futon Critic.

Which Season of Weeds Is Your Favorite?

BuzzSugar — Mon, 19 Nov 2007 15:25:14 -0800

Showtime's dark comedy Weeds wraps up its third season tonight (don't worry - it's already been renewed for a fourth). I didn't love this season at first, but the past few episodes have sucked me back in and made me wonder where everything will end up tonight - especially because few shows do cliffhangers better than Weeds. Overall, though, I still think season two was my favorite. How about you?

Photo courtesy of Showtime

What to Netflix: "Weeds" Season One

BuzzSugar — Thu, 04 Jan 2007 14:48:34 -0800

It is so great to see Showtime's "Weeds" nominated for a couple of SAG awards (Mary-Louise Parker for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series and the stellar cast for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series). I recently Netflixed the first season of "Weeds" and I am totally loving it. The writing is superb - including the dialogue, which is where so many shows fall short.

Even more spectacular is the casting, as I can't even imagine better actors playing any of these characters. Mary-Louise Parker is sarcastic yet sympathetic as Nancy Botwin, a suddenly widowed mother of two who starts selling marijuana to the wealthy soccer moms and dads in her suburban community of Agrestic, Calif. She gets to know her dealers, a family governed by the steely, sassy mama Heylia James, played with strength while somehow avoiding cliche by Tonye Patano. Heylia's nephew is the kindhearted (not to mention sexy) Conrad (Romany Malco), who becomes Nancy's ally in "the business."

Elizabeth Perkins is also fantastic as Celia Hodes, the catty, self-medicating housewife, who does things like berate her husband's mistress then buy her rounds of drinks because she's "a good listener." Kevin Nealon provides generous comedic relief as Doug Wilson, one of Nancy's best clients as well as her accountant.

Initially I was afraid this would be some kind of campy, silly comedy with no substance, but it's not at all, so read more

"Weeds" is remarkable in its ability to combine smart humor with poignant moments of loss, anxiety, and bitterness. Also, the use of music in the show is extremely impressive. I thought one person had written all of the music, because each song is so pitch-perfect for the scene with which it's paired. But according to the "Weeds" website, the music is not just performed but also written by a variety of artists, including Regina Spektor, Snoop Dogg, and The New Pornographers. All in all, the portrayal of this "perfect" town in which many of the most successful-seeming inhabitants lead double lives is refreshing and relatable.