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First Look: Life on Mars

BuzzSugar — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 14:30:48 -0700

So far, we haven't seen too much of ABCs remake of Life on Mars. The show, which will begin airing after Grey's Anatomy on Oct. 9, had a pretty tricky road to TV, with nearly every actor being recast except for leading man Jason O'Mara. The cast now includes Michael Imperioli, Gretchen Mol, and Harvey Keitel, who are finally starting to show up in promos and clips.

The show, based on a British series, finds O'Mara's character - a New York City cop named Sam Tyler- mysteriously transported back to the 1970s. Keitel plays an older detective, Gene Hunt, who doesn't always follow protocol, while Imperioli plays another officer and Mol plays a woman trying to prove she deserves a shot at police work.

One clip of Sam and Gene meeting in a bar surfaced recently, and now there's a brief ABC promo showing shots of Imperioli and Mol as well. Still no pilot, but I'm hoping that will appear before too long. I enjoyed the British version of the show, but all the trouble this adaptation has run into has left me feeling wary. At least it's good to see some proof that there will be a show after all! To watch the new promo, just read more.

Buzz News Roundup, 7/2

BuzzSugar — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 13:32:44 -0700

According to Variety, Josh Hartnett will be starring in a London stage production of the movie Rain Man, taking on the role originally played by Tom Cruise.
Rapper Young Jeezy will join the cast of Ice Cube's comedy Janky Promoters, Billboard writes.
Michael Imperioli will join the cast of ABC's Life on Mars, Variety reports.
Four more actors have joined the cast of the Night at the Museum sequel, including Christopher Guest, ComingSoon reports.
Entertainment Weekly reports that Criminal Minds looks like the next CBS show to get a spinoff.
Billboard writes that at a private concert this week, Pearl Jam helped raise $3 million for the poverty-fighting charity the Robin Hood Foundation.
TNT will remake the British series Cracker, about an abrasive and heavy-drinking detective, with Robert Duvall as an executive producer, Zap2it reports.
A lost interview with the Beatles has been aired on BBC radio, the Associated Press reports.

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Emmy Breakdown: Supporting Actor in a Drama

BuzzSugar — Fri, 17 Aug 2007 07:15:00 -0700

In the weeks leading up to the 2007 Primetime Emmy Awards, I'll be looking at the nominees in some major categories and trying to predict who's most likely to win in these Emmy Breakdowns. Up today: Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series, which really seems like a toss-up.

Michael Emerson ("Lost") - Everyone loves to hate Emerson’s character Ben. A clever, cold-hearted villain of the worst kind, Ben is a master of manipulation, always playing on peoples’ worst fears. He’s outrageously evil, but what makes Emerson’s performance so riveting is that he sometimes manages to make Ben seem almost… sympathetic! Against my better judgment, there have been times when even I have fallen prey to those huge, round, unblinking eyes and believed every cunning word. Emerson makes me loathe Ben as a magnificently bad guy, but I’m also fascinated by him and think he makes a worthy adversary for those we consider the good guys, like Locke. I would not be surprised if Emerson had the voters under his spell as well. Chance of winning: High

Michael Imperioli ("The Sopranos") - How much do the Emmys really want to celebrate "The Sopranos" this year? If they truly want to shower the show with awards, then I could easily see this going to Imperioli; Christopher was always among my favorite supporting characters on the show, and the episode he submitted ("Walk Like a Man") was chilling. Then again, he's won before, and voters might want to recognize someone new here. Chance of winning: High.

To see my thoughts on the other four nominees just read more

T.R. Knight ("Grey's Anatomy") - Knight's nomination makes me feel a bit uncomfortable, and I'm not sure I can pinpoint quite why. On the one hand, I think Knight proved himself as an actor on "Grey's" this season, especially in the episodes he submitted (the "Six Days" installments, in which George deals with his father's illness). On the other hand, there was just so much on- and off-set drama this year, with Knight at the center of much of it. Fair or not, I think that makes him a little bit poisonous for voters. Chance of winning: Low.

Masi Oka ("Heroes") - Aside from being outrageously likable onscreen, Masi Oka has proven himself a versatile actor, which is most apparent in the episode that is submitted for consideration (“Five Years Gone”, or "The String Theory"). In this episode, the charming innocence and sweetness that Oka gives to Hiro’s character is turned on its head when Oka portrays a “future Hiro” in addition to the "present-day Hiro." The two Hiros meet which makes for many hilarious lines and interactions. Most of all, however, I was floored at Oka’s ability to make the same character seem older, wiser and more bitter. Oka is excellent in most every episode of “Heroes,” but even if voters only know this episode of his work, I predict they'll be very impressed. Chance of winning: Moderate to high.

Terry O’Quinn ("Lost") - The character of John Locke had one hell of a Season 3. Anyone following the show for all three seasons knows that O’Quinn is a solid and consistent performer, but this was definitely his season to shine as Locke came to terms with his daddy issues, grappled with his feelings about the Island and the Others, and played all sorts of power games with Ben (played by Michael Emerson who is, ironically, also nominated in this category). He’s had to go from flashbacks in which he seems weak and sad to being a total badass on the Island. I’m a huge fan of O'Quinn and I’m thrilled that he has been recognized with the nomination, but given the incredible competition in this particular category, I think his chances are only so-so. Chance of winning: Moderate.

William Shatner ("Boston Legal") - If we know two things about Emmy voters, it's that they like a) "Boston Legal" and b) William Shatner. He's now been nominated three times for the show, and he's won once. But I find his nomination in the category strange, especially considering the number of quality performances on shows that are more strictly dramatic; I always think of Shatner's role as comic relief on a show that's frequently silly anyway. Do I think he deserves to win? No. But he still might. Chance of winning: Moderate.

O'Quinn, Emerson, Shatner and Knight photos copyright 2007 ABC, Inc.
Imperioli photo Source
Oka photo Source

More Lovely Bones Casting: Imperioli and Sarandon

BuzzSugar — Thu, 02 Aug 2007 11:00:38 -0700

I was trying to take a break from writing about Peter Jackson's screen adaptation of The Lovely Bones, but the cast just keeps expanding. In fact, I think we can officially start calling it "star-studded" now.

The latest news is that Michael Imperioli of "The Sopranos" has signed on to the movie. According to the Hollywood Reporter, Imperioli - who got five Emmy nominations, including one this year, during his time on "The Sopranos" - will play Detective Len Fenerman.

Susan Sarandon also has joined the cast since last I wrote, playing the character of the grandmother who moves in with the family after Susie's death. I know casting isn't all about looks, but I really can picture Rachel Weisz as her daughter.

While the pre-review of the screenplay still makes me wary, I have to say I like the way the cast is coming together. What do you think?

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