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Buzz Gift Guide: Dear Old Dad

BuzzSugar — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 14:30:55 PST

Yes, you read that right: the holiday season is already upon us! It's time to pack up our scary Halloween decorations and start brainstorming ideas for the perfect presents. I know how daunting holiday shopping can be, which is why I'm here to help you every step of the way for all the entertainment lovers in your life. Kicking things off: gifts for your proud papas.

Finding something great for my dad has always been a bit of a struggle, since he's already got a lifetime's worth of gadgets and gizmos, but that's where this guide comes in handy - he always needs new CDs for the stereo and some DVDs to help show off that plasma screen, right?

My parents love reminiscing about the '60s on Mad Men, and what dad wouldn't look dashing in Brooks Brothers' limited edition suit? It doesn't come cheap, but then again, neither does looking as suave as Don Draper.

Many dads, including my own, tend to love Ken Burns, so how about his latest doc, National Parks. Looking for something a bit lighter? As a die-hard Mel Brooks fan, I'm thinking of giving a Blu-ray box set of the classics including Space Balls and Young Frankenstein.

Pirate Latitudes by Michael Crichton ($9)	Bob Dylan's Christmas of the Heart ($10)
Ken Burns: National Parks - America's Best Idea ($70)	The Mel Brooks Collection ($90)
The Beatles Stereo Box Set ($180)	Brooks Brothers Mad Men Edition Suit ($998)

Spielberg Takes on Michael Crichton's Pirate Story

BuzzSugar — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 11:30:56 PDT

Steven Spielberg plans to produce and is thinking of directing a film adaptation of the late Michael Crichton's as-yet-unreleased novel Pirate Latitudes. The book will be adapted by screenwriter David Koepp, who developed the screenplay for Jurassic Park. Set for release Nov. 24, the story is set in 1665 and tells of "a daring plan to infiltrate Port Royal, one of the world's richest and most notorious cities, and raid a Spanish galleon filled with treasure."

Stacey Snider, Spielberg's producing partner and CEO of DreamWorks acknowledges that the studio will be distributing another pirate story, the fourth installment in the Pirates of the Caribbean series, but that the "movies won't clash because Pirate Latitudes will be more grounded in reality, as opposed to the supernatural fantasy of the Disney films."

Apparently, Spielberg "always wanted to direct his own pirate film," and he has only heartwarming things to say about the late author's work: "Michael wrote a real page-turner that already seems suited for the big screen. Michael and I have had almost two decades of solid collaborations. Whenever I made a film from a Michael Crichton book or screenplay, I knew I was in good hands. Michael felt the same, and we like to think he still does." Awww.

Buzz News Roundup, 4/6

BuzzSugar — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 13:30:21 PDT

Johnny Depp will lend his voice to SpongeBob SquarePants for the episode "SpongeBob vs. the Big One," premiering Friday, April 17. - Zap2It
Carrie Underwood was named Entertainer of the Year at the Academy of Country Music Awards on Sunday. - TV.com
Two months before it's even in theaters, there's news of a sequel to The Hangover. - Variety
The CW will air two reality shows, Hitched or Ditched and Blond Charity Mafia, this Summer. - TV Week
Christian Bale is reportedly joining Mark Wahlberg in the thriller Prisoners. - ComingSoon
Peter Gallagher and Diane Farr are joining Kathleen Turner as guest stars in the next season of Californication. - The Futon Critic
The Lost finale twist has its code name: "The Fork in the Outlet." - TV Guide
Christina Ricci has signed on for Adam Sandler's porn comedy Born to Be a Star. - The Hollywood Reporter
A new Michael Crichton novel will be released posthumously this Fall, with another to follow next year. - AP

Source and source

Author Michael Crichton Dies at 66

BuzzSugar — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 10:33:55 PST

Author, screenwriter, and ER creator Michael Crichton has died unexpectedly after a battle with cancer. Crichton's website reports that Crichton passed away on Tuesday in LA at age 66.

The site has been updated with an "In Memoriam" post that reads in part:

While the world knew him as a great story teller that challenged our preconceived notions about the world around us - and entertained us all while doing so - his wife Sherri, daughter Taylor, family and friends knew Michael Crichton as a devoted husband, loving father and generous friend who inspired each of us to strive to see the wonders of our world through new eyes. He did this with a wry sense of humor that those who were privileged to know him personally will never forget.

Through his books, Michael Crichton served as an inspiration to students of all ages, challenged scientists in many fields, and illuminated the mysteries of the world in a way we could all understand.

He will be profoundly missed by those whose lives he touched, but he leaves behind the greatest gifts of a thirst for knowledge, the desire to understand, and the wisdom to use our minds to better our world.

Crichton wrote more than 20 bestselling books of fiction and non-fiction - most famously Jurassic Park, which launched a similarly successful movie franchise. He also wrote the screenplays for movies including Twister and Rising Sun. In addition to creating ER, he wrote three episodes in the series' first season (including the pilot) and has been listed as a producer on every single episode.

His family is planning to hold a private memorial service.

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