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New Wallace and Gromit Story in the Works!

BuzzSugar — Thu, 04 Oct 2007 09:30:00 PDT

It's not a feature-length film, but the folks behind the lovable duo Wallace and Gromit are back to work on a 30-minute short! This next TV feature will be titled "Trouble At' Mill" and will air over BBC1 around the Christmas holidays in 2008.

According to Variety, "The film sees the pair open a bakery business before Wallace becomes sidetracked by a love interest, Piella Bakewell. With his master distracted, Gromit is left to solve a murder."

I love these guys! It's also neat to know how excited writer/director Nick Park is about the project. He says he enjoyed doing the full-length Curse of the Were-Rabbit, but it took about five years to complete, and it sounds like he had to compromise some of his ideas to make the film more palatable for American audiences. He can't wait to create a new TV adventure for the die-hard fans of the buck-toothed, cheese-loving Wallace and his loyal friend Gromit.

Source

"Creature Comforts": My New Favorite Thing

BuzzSugar — Fri, 20 Apr 2007 07:00:29 PDT

Sometimes an idea comes along that's so brilliant, I can't even believe it exists. That's how I feel about "Creature Comforts," the animated series from Aardman Animation, best known as the folks behind Wallace and Gromit. The show - which aired for two seasons in England and will premiere June 4 on CBS - features interviews with ordinary folks about work, health and love. The words are then put in the mouth of animated animals that fit the situations they're talking about - the "lovebirds" in the photo at right, for example.

Here's what CBS has to say about it:

In upcoming episodes, interviews with hundreds of ordinary Americans from across the United States cover a variety of subjects, such as the trials and tribulations of doctor's visits and being sick, what animal magnetism is and what they look for in a mate, as well as the truth about lies and what it takes to keep a secret. Told through the mouths of animated animals, insects and other un-human species, they reveal their thoughts in a new and distinct way: an older married couple listing their ailments as portrayed by two lovebirds, the couple who talk about their great height difference as portrayed by two dachshunds, and two men who seem to be examining the bouquet of a fine wine as portrayed by two dogs sniffing, well, another dog.

Basically, it's Studs Terkel meets Shaun the Sheep. What did I tell you? Brilliant!

I'm totally obsessed with "Creature Comforts," so to read more and see some videos,

read more The series is based on creator Nick Park's Oscar-winning 1989 short film that features zoo animals talking about their captivity. Both seasons of the British series are available on Netflix, and several segments from the series can be seen on YouTube. The creators have kept a blog about production on the U.S. series, complete with video clips and still photos, and the official "Creature Comforts" site has several short previews of the show. Here are two of my favorites: Photo courtesy of CBS

Amy, Aziz, and Rashida Chat Parks and Recreation at the Paley Center

Allie Merriam — Thu, 10 Mar 2011 11:38:24 PST

Amy Poehler dressed up in green last night to attend a panel for her show Parks and Recreation at LA's Paley Center For Media. Rashida is back in California after a quick press tour in NYC to chat about life at the fictional Pawnee Parks Department with her fellow EW cover stars like Aziz Ansari, Nick Offerman, and Aubrey Plaza, who just nabbed another comedy role opposite Andy Samberg and Bill Hader. The gang revealed that Rob Lowe isn't going anywhere just yet despite rumors of him replacing Charlie Sheen on Two and a Half Men, and Adam Scott, who joined the show at the same time, will likely stick around too. Amy had a few words to say about the burgeoning romance between Adam's character Ben and her Leslie. Amy commented, "They're very evenly matched. Leslie's like a single mother and Pawnee is her kid. And if Ben starts to like my kid. . . I'll have sex with him." Aziz, meanwhile, shared about his ideal guest star: Usher. He said, "I secretly want Usher to play my brother. . . [with his entrance having him] drop down from the ceiling."

Parks and Recreation's Ron Swanson: 10 Fun Facts About the Man Behind the Mustache

Shannon Vestal — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 08:00:00 PDT

On Parks and Recreation, Nick Offerman plays one of the show's most fascinating characters: Ron Swanson. The curmudgeonly government official loves every kind of meat, barely tolerates people, and hates his same-named ex-wives. Over the course of three seasons, Offerman has managed to make Ron hilarious and surprisingly likable. He and series creator Mike Schur recently chatted with reporters about the upcoming season of the show, and Offerman revealed some details about himself that rival Ron's persona.

He Has a Secret Love For Ballet
Offerman responded to a question about which of his own personality traits he wants Ron to adopt by saying, "I have a penchant for the ballet, and I’ve been pitching the fellows for the whole time we’ve been in production for a Ron Swan Lake episode."
His Onscreen Ex Is His Real Wife
You may not know that Offerman is married to Parks and Recreation guest star Megan Mullally, who plays Ron's second wife, Tammy 2. He sang her praises, as well as Patricia Clarkson's, who will be on season four as his first wife, Tammy 1: "We’ve been incredibly fortunate with the selection of ladies that have graced our stage with their presence, talent, and beauty. I think what the audience will be surprised to learn is that Tammy 2, played by Megan Mullally, the gorgeous Megan Mullally, may turn out to be the most kitten-like, timid women of the Tammys. I am about as giggly as a schoolgirl to have landed in a position where I’m portraying a man who has made love to both Megan Mullally and Patricia Clarkson. That is a consummation devoutly to be wished."

To find out what other delightful details Offerman revealed about himself, just

He Really Plays the Sax Noting that Ron's wood shop is Offerman's wood shop in real life, Schur divulged another Offerman skill that has been integrated into the show. Schur said, "The Duke Silver saxophone playing is also a real-life Nick Offerman thing. Nick really plays the saxophone, that’s really him playing in the episode from season two. . . . There’s no end. We could probably just base episodes around Nick Offerman’s real-life skills and have a long and happy run."
He Thinks His Appeal Is in His Scent When Offerman was asked why he thought audiences had responded so well to Ron Swanson, Offerman credited his smell. "I usually assume it’s my musk that attracts people. I keep the dander to a minimum and I keep it clean, but I use just a little bit of hibiscus oil behind each shoulder. That would be my guess."
He May Be Patricia Clarkson's #1 Fan Offerman confessed his admiration of guest star Clarkson, admitting, "I’ve been such a huge fan of hers for many years, and it’s nothing short of a dream come true that I got to actually work in scenes with her. When the possibility arose, I couldn’t believe my lucky stars. And she even surpassed our expectations. Not only is she a gorgeous and an incredible actress, but she is insanely hilarious to boot. I think everybody on set was just bowled over with how funny she was on the show."
He's Not Starving Himself to Fit Hollywood's Ideals Offerman did a nude photo shoot with wife Mullally last year, and he joked (I think) about his unusual preparation method. "To prepare for that photo shoot, we took a three-week tour of Europe where I sampled the sausages of five nations, ending with a 16-inch long bratwurst in the town square of Prague, a mere 18 hours before that photo shoot. And if you look closely in the picture, you can make out a bulge that I think is representative of that particular pork sausage."
He Believes a Real Man Should Have Hair on His Chest Offerman's other tidbit about his photo shoot led to him decrying the trend of manscaping, declaring, "I can legitimately say that I insist on no shaving or waxing. I think that the emasculation of the modern man in popular culture is something that has weakened our society considerably. I don’t know why a heroic male these days has to have a hairless torso. You know, when I grew up admiring Joe Don Baker swinging a baseball bat and walking tall, he was a hairy son of a b*tch. And to me, that’s a hero. You know, I’m a big fan of your Brad Pitts and your Jude Laws, but I’d like to see a little hair on their chests if they’re going to be beating somebody up."
He Uses Spot-On Fish Metaphors Offerman offered up a little-heard analogy after he talked about his favorite things about playing Ron: "I love when I get to eat meat. I love when I get to dangerously make out with my wife to the point of destroying buildings and furniture. And I love everything about it. Every time I’m handed a new script, I feel like a large-mouth bass at a night crawler convention."
He Has a Hard Time Keeping a Straight Face . . . Offerman finds it a challenge to keep it together while filming the show, saying "One of the hardest things about the job, when you are working with a cast of 10 home-run hitters, is simply tolerating their skill without busting out laughing. For me especially, when Ron is supposed to be unmoved, which is quite frequently, especially in the face of Andy or Leslie just being the most amazing clown right up in my face, it can be really difficult. But at the same time, that’s what makes the job so fun - when we do have a moment to break out and laugh at each other, because we’re watching the funniest work going today."
In Fact, He's a Giggler Perhaps my favorite thing I learned about Offerman was something Schur let slip when he talked about how much the cast laughs on the set. Schur said: "I’m an uncontrollable giggler, as is Nick, as is Amy, as is Aziz. Everyone on our show loves to laugh and giggle. It makes for such a nicer, more-friendly environment."

What to TiVo: Wednesday

BuzzSugar — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 23:59:00 PST

8:00 The Middle (new)
8:30 Suburgatory (new)
9:00 Modern Family (new)
9:30 Happy Endings (new)
10:00 Revenge (new)
12:00 Jimmy Kimmel Live (new, with guests Tim Allen and Jackson Rathbone)

8:00 Survivor: South Pacific (new)
9:00 Criminal Minds (new)
10:00 CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (new)
11:35 Late Show With David Letterman (new, with guest Jerry Seinfeld)
12:37 Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson (new, with guest Michael Ian Black)

8:00 The X Factor (new)

8:00 Up All Night (new)
8:30 Up All Night (repeat)
9:00 Harry's Law (new)
10:00 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (new)
11:35 Tonight Show With Jay Leno (new, with guests Robin Williams and Maria Bello)
12:35 Late Night With Jimmy Fallon (new, with guests Martin Short, Kermit and Miss Piggy, and Michael Stipe)

8:00 America's Next Top Model
9:00 America's Next Top Model (new)

More shows to watch when you read more

What to TiVo: Wednesday

BuzzSugar — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 23:59:00 PST

8:00 CMA Awards (new)
12:00 Jimmy Kimmel Live (new, with guests Robert Pattinson and Freida Pinto)

8:00 Survivor: South Pacific (new)
9:00 Criminal Minds (new)
10:00 CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (new)
11:35 Late Show With David Letterman (new, with guest Adam Sandler)
12:37 Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson (new, with guests Ellen Barkin and Dave Attell)

8:00 The X Factor (new)

8:00 Up All Night (new)
8:30 Up All Night (repeat)
9:00 Harry's Law (new)
10:00 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (new)
11:35 Tonight Show With Jay Leno (new, with guests Sarah Hyland and Kelsey Grammer)
12:35 Late Night With Jimmy Fallon (new, with guests Kathy Griffin and Dominic Cooper)

8:00 America's Next Top Model
9:00 America's Next Top Model (new)

More shows to watch when you read more

6 Tasks to Complete For a Productive Sunday

Emily Co — Sun, 06 Nov 2011 03:05:23 PST

Sunday is the perfect day to get chores done. Friday is reserved from detaching yourself mentally from the work week, Saturday is for mindless fun and catching up with friends, and Sunday is the designated day to complete tasks and prep for Monday. Check out this list of tasks to bump up your productivity today:

Prepare meals: Do your grocery shopping today to prepare your meals for next week. If you're not the type to bring your lunch to work, consider doing it this week to save. Do a little bit of food prep then freeze what you made or put it in the fridge to save for next week. To save money on grocery shopping, don't buy these items at the supermarket.

Check finances: It's always good to check your finances regularly so you know you're on the right track and not in danger of falling prey to overdraft fees. Know how much you have in your savings account and remember to budget for the amount you're going to spend on travel and presents this holiday season.

Make Christmas lists: Speaking of presents, start on your Christmas list today if you haven't already. If you're like me, you'll already be thinking of what to get people for a few months. If you need some inspiration, we have plenty of gift guides for you, including one for what to get your overachieving buddies.

Sign up for Award Wallet: I can't go on enough about how useful Award Wallet is. It's basically a site that organizes your reward points for you and it even sends you alerts when they're expiring. I just received an alert a few days ago for some American Airlines miles that were about to expire. I used them up in the nick of time and saved a bundle on a hotel stay. Take time this Sunday to sync up your reward accounts with Award Wallet and you'll never see your points go to waste again!

File expenses: It's hard to remember to do little chores when you're busy with work during the week days, so file expenses with your company if you have them. Perhaps you're expensing the Halloween candy you bought for the office or maybe it's the professional development class you recently took.

Clear your mind: Start off on the right foot by clearing your mind this weekend. Do some yoga or go for a run today to find some inner piece before the daily grind begins on Monday. Greenery is great for relaxation so if you have the time, go for a mini escape in a nearby park.

21 Jump Street Trailer: Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum Go Undercover

Becky Kirsch — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 15:49:46 PDT

The '80s series 21 Jump Street may have been a crime drama, but the big-screen version is most definitely a comedy - and a buddy comedy at that. Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum play a pair of former high school rivals who become best buds during their police training. Life in the force isn't as badass as they were expecting, though - until they get called in to revive "an undercover police program from the '80s," in a very obvious nod to the original series. The guys are pulled back into the throes of high school, with a mission to bring down the dealers of the hottest new drug in town.

Hill is as hilarious as ever, and Tatum seems to be his perfect comedic foil - their background as the former high school bully and nerd is a nice touch. The film is also peppered with some of my favorite funny people, like Parks and Recreation's Nick Offerman, Rob Riggle, and Ellie Kemper from The Office. The film hits theaters next March, but watch the guys party with the best of 'em when you

What to TiVo: Wednesday

BuzzSugar — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 23:59:00 PDT

8:00 The Middle (new)
8:30 Suburgatory (new)
9:00 Modern Family (new)
9:30 Happy Endings (new)
10:00 Revenge (new)
12:00 Jimmy Kimmel Live (new, with guest Ellen DeGeneres and Gabourey Sidibe)

8:00 Survivor: South Pacific (new)
9:00 Criminal Minds (new)
10:00 CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (new)
11:35 Late Show With David Letterman (new, with guests Condoleezza Rice and Amy Sedaris)
12:37 Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson (new, with guest Ted Danson)

8:00 The X Factor (new)

8:00 Up All Night (new)
8:30 Up All Night (repeat)
9:00 Harry's Law (new)
10:00 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (new)
11:35 Tonight Show With Jay Leno (new, with guests Taylor Lautner and Martha Stewart)
12:35 Late Night With Jimmy Fallon (new, with guests Billy Bob Thornton and Taraji P. Henson)

8:00 Ringer (repeat)
9:00 America's Next Top Model (new)

More shows to watch when you read more

What to TiVo: Wednesday

BuzzSugar — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 23:59:00 PDT

8:00 The Middle (new)
8:30 Suburgatory (new)
9:00 Modern Family (repeat)
9:30 Happy Endings (new)
10:00 Revenge (new)
12:00 Jimmy Kimmel Live (new, with guest Amanda Seyfried)

8:00 Survivor: South Pacific (new)
9:00 Criminal Minds (repeat)
10:00 CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (repeat)
11:35 Late Show With David Letterman (new, with guest Justin Timberlake)
12:37 Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson (repeat, with guest Jonah Hill)

8:00 Up All Night (repeat)
8:30 Whitney (repeat)
9:00 Harry's Law (repeat)
10:00 Prime Suspect (repeat)
11:35 Tonight Show With Jay Leno (new, with guest Amanda Seyfried)
12:35 Late Night With Jimmy Fallon (new, with guest Salma Hayek and Elizabeth Olsen)

8:00 World Series Game 6

8:00 Ringer (repeat)
9:00 America's Next Top Model (new)

More shows to watch when you read more