BuzzSugar

Buzz News Roundup, 7/8

BuzzSugar — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 13:30:39 -0700

Bravo's Real Housewives of NYC has been renewed - but it may be recast with new housewives. - The Hollywood Reporter
Tobey Maguire and Elizabeth Banks are set to star in the indie black comedy The Details. - ComingSoon
It's estimated that a billion people worldwide watched Michael Jackson's memorial service. - LA Times
Peter Krause has joined Mary-Kate Olsen and Vanessa Hudgens in Beastly, the CBS Films adaptation of the Alex Flinn fantasy novel. - Variety
Nine Inch Nails frontman Trent Reznor announced today that the band will play a final "handful of shows" in New York, Chicago and Los Angeles beginning Aug. 22. - Billboard
G4 technology show host Olivia Munn will guest-star on Greek as a love interest for a main character. - Variety
Now apparently Ryan Phillippe and Val Kilmer are in negotiations to join the Will Forte and Kristen Wiig in the full-length MacGruber movie. - Reuters
Comedy Central has won the rights to syndicate 30 Rock. - The Futon Critic

Photo courtesy of Bravo

Peter Krause, Maura Tierney to Play Siblings in Parenthood

BuzzSugar — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 07:30:01 -0700

Meet the Bravermans: Peter Krause and Maura Tierney have signed on for starring roles in NBC's TV remake of Parenthood, playing new versions of the characters made famous by Steve Martin and Dianne Wiest.

They join Dax Shepard, Craig T. Nelson, Mae Whitman (who?), and the previously cast Erika Christensen as the potential members of the sprawling Braverman clan. Here's a quick breakdown of the who's-who so far:

Krause will play Adam Braverman, "a married man with two children who is a lunatic beneath the surface."
Tierney will play his sister Sarah, the single mother of . . .
. . . Whitman's character, a rebellious 16-year-old.
Shepard's character is the youngest Braverman, a slacker.
Christensen is their sister Julia, a corporate attorney.
And Nelson will play the clan's father, "a Vietnam vet-turned-actor/hippie."

I was a little skeptical of this project at first, just because a TV adaptation of Parenthood failed once before, but I'm starting to get a kick out of this cast. I'll give anything with Krause a try at least once, so I'm starting to hope that this one makes it through pilot season and onto our TVs. What about you?

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What to Netflix: New DVD Tuesday

BuzzSugar — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 08:30:14 -0700

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, the Oscar-winning documentary Taxi to the Dark Side is also now available on DVD.

Iron Man
Hurray! It feels like just yesterday the Summer box office was electrified by this superhero hit. I really loved it (and saw it twice in the theaters), mostly due to a super cool performance by Robert Downey Jr. and the skillful storytelling abilities of director Jon Favreau. Gwyneth Paltrow, Jeff Bridges, and Terrence Howard also do well in this fun action movie. It's a good way to go back in time and shake off those dark, depressing blues you may have caught from your 10th viewing of The Dark Knight.

Special features include deleted and extended scenes, featurettes titled "I Am Iron Man: 7-Part Making-of Documentary," "The Invincible Iron Man: 6-Part History of the Hero," and "Wired: The Visual effects of Iron Man." Something I'm really curious to see in the extras is a Robert Downey Jr. screen test and a featurette on his acting process. More time with RDJ is always good.

Two more spiffy choices, so read more!

Forgetting Sarah Marshall
Another comedy from the Apatow universe to add to your at-home collection (or your Netflix queue): Forgetting Sarah Marshall, starring Jason Segel, Kristen Bell, and Mila Kunis in a story about a guy trying to get over his most recent ex. And this could be considered a good thing or a warning, depending on your opinion: VMA host Russell Brand is in this movie and has a ton of screen time.

The unrated version is cryptically described as including scenes "you couldn't see in theaters" which I pray does not mean more of Jason Segel's private parts. I saw plenty myself, how about you? Other special features include a gag reel and a featurette titled "Line-o-rama: Lines you'll be reciting for ages."

Sports Night: Complete Series
On days like today, I really wish Aaron Sorkin would stop fiddling around on Facebook and get back to writing really awesome TV shows. He's definitely more hit than miss on the small screen and today's release of the special anniversary edition of his acclaimed Sports Night is an example of what it's like when he's hit his stride.

If you've never heard of the show, it's loosely based on ESPN's Sports Center, and it takes a look at the behind-the-scenes dynamics. The awesome cast is led by Peter Krause and Felicity Huffman who skillfully deliver those faster-than-the-speed-of-light dialogues that Sorkin is so good at writing.

The special edition DVD set includes new interviews with Sorkin, cast members Josh Charles, Robert Guillaume, Felicity Huffman, Peter Krause, and Joshua Malina; a featurette where real SportsCenter employees compare their experiences with the characters on Sports Night; a look back with creators Sorkin and Thomas Schlamme; and of course, gag reels.

First Look: Dirty Sexy Money's Second Season

BuzzSugar — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 14:30:11 -0700

The last episode of ABC's Dirty Sexy Money aired so long ago, it had a Nutcracker theme. The show - like its counterparts in ABC's Wednesday night lineup, Pushing Daisies and Private Practice - went off the air during the writers' strike and never returned. This week, Dirty Sexy Money is back, amid a bunch of promises from the producers that this year's show will be "dirtier," "sexier," and - you got it - "monier."

Along those lines, they've added Lucy Liu to the cast as Nola Lyons, a "whip-smart, overachieving, and very fashionable" attorney who goes up against Peter Krause's Nick George. Nick, meanwhile, will find himself more affected by the over-the-top wealth and naughty antics of the Darlings, even as he tries to stay on the sidelines.

The show's gone through a lot of turmoil since its premiere (several executive producers, episodes that were reshot or ditched altogether), but I'm hoping Dirty Sexy Money can pull it together for season two. I was recently rewatching parts of last season online, and there were definitely signs of a fun soap opera in there. Want to check out how things are looking so far? To watch three clips from the premiere, including one with Liu, just read more.

Photo and videos courtesy of ABC

PaleyFest: Scoop from Damages and Dirty Sexy Money

BuzzSugar — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 08:30:16 -0700

I may be back in sunny San Francisco, but the Paley Festival is still going strong in LA. This week kicked off with panels for Damages and Dirty Sexy Money, with more to come from The X Files and Mad Men.

I was worried that neither the Damages nor the Dirty Sexy Money events would be very well-attended, because last week I got an e-mail from the Paley folks offering up free tickets to either panel. Sure enough, The Futon Critic reported that the crowd for Damages was "surprisingly thin." Who turns down a chance to chat with Glenn Close?

Still, it sounds like the Damages panel was well-received by those who were there - including TeamSugar's own Phasekitty, who wrote up a great rundown of the night's discussions and revelations. Among them:

Damages is the first legal show ever to air on FX, because the network had never before found one that fit its brand. That said, the creators said this is more a drama about the "social dynamic of power in the workplace" than a legal show; in 13 episodes from the first season, only part of one scene took place in the courtroom.
FX initially suggested Close for the lead role because of their good experience with The Shield. That got Ted Danson to pay attention, and he was looking for a different sort of project anyway. As you'll hear him say in the video clip below, he didn't want to do another half-hour comedy because he'd even ceased to amuse himself.
David's stalker, Lila, was always intended to be a red herring, never the actual killer.
The show has been renewed for two more seasons, and while the creators said they want to make it easy for new viewers to jump in, they also like the mystery format. The base of the show will always be the relationship between Patty and Ellen.

For some of the highlights from the Dirty Sexy Money panel and videos from both events, just read more.

Once again, the crowd was small for Dirty Sexy Money. I wish I could have been there for that one, as I've really enjoyed Peter Krause's return to TV. If I'm being honest, though, Donald Sutherland is my favorite part of the show, and he wasn't there, so I suppose I'll live.

Both The Futon Critic and TV Squad were there, though, so I'll leave most of the talking to them. Just a couple of things that jumped out to me:

Billy Baldwin didn't merely know about his character's relationship with Carmelita, his transsexual lover, before he took the role - it was a reason for him even taking the role in the first place.
Spoilers or teasers about the second season were hard to come by, but there were some hints that Dutch's murder would be solved in the upcoming season, and had the strike not happened it would have been solved in the first season.
The show is apparently incredibly expensive to produce. Hey, all that jewelry doesn't come free.

Here are video highlights from both panels:

Damages:

Dirty Sexy Money:

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TV Tonight: Dirty Sexy Money

BuzzSugar — Wed, 17 Oct 2007 08:30:00 -0700

I haven't been writing much about it, but Dirty Sexy Money has been working its way up to a place on my must-watch list. The presence of Peter Krause as idealistic attorney Nick George helps, but he's not the only good thing about the show. In fact, I'm most drawn to the wealthy, dysfunctional Darling clan Nick works for, from secretive patriarch Tripp Darling (Donald Sutherland) to his spoiled starlet daughter Juliet (Samaire Armstrong).

So far, I've enjoyed the over-the-top soapy elements of the show (a photo shoot with lions! a catfight over bangs!) more than the overarching story of Nick's quest to find out who killed his father, who had been the Darlings' lawyer before his death. But I have a feeling the two are going to collide quite nicely in tonight's episode, when Nick and his wife head to Italy to look for clues and end up running into Karen Darling, who never quite knows when to keep her mouth shut. Meanwhile, Letitia finally admits to Tripp that she had a long-running affair with Nick's father - a little secret Nick accidentally spoiled in last week's episode. So much drama! Are you also getting sucked into this saga? To check out two clips from tonight's episode, just read more

Pilot Watch: "Dirty Sexy Money"

BuzzSugar — Wed, 25 Jul 2007 04:30:25 -0700

The networks have announced their fall schedules, but which of the series will actually be worth watching? Throughout the summer, as I watch the pilots, I'll be posting my first impressions. Note that a lot can change before a show actually makes it to air, so these aren't comprehensive reviews, just quick thoughts on how the shows look now. Today's installment: ABC's "Dirty Sexy Money."

What's it about? A lawyer takes over his dead father's job as the personal counsel to a rich, crazy New York family, getting sucked into a world he spent his childhood resenting.

Who's in it? Peter Krause of "Six Feet Under," Donald Sutherland, William Baldwin, Jill Clayburgh, Natalie Zea

The good: Considering the size of the cast, this pilot does an amazing job setting up the dark, decadent world of the Darlings without feeling heavy-handed. Where other pilots rely on expositionary dialogue ("but you're the best-selling author in history!"), "Dirty Sexy Money" has mastered the art of showing and not telling - one of my favorite touches was how the character of each Darling is revealed through a ring tone on Nick's cell phone.

The bad: This pilot does a great job of setting up the world of Nick and the Darlings, but it doesn't give me a great sense of how the show will be structured from week to week. I worry that the wacky Darlings, so amusingly quirky in the pilot, will be tiresome by a few weeks in.

Will I watch? Definitely. Krause alone was enough to get me to give the show a chance, but all the curveballs his character gets thrown in the second half of this pilot will keep me watching.

To watch a preview for the show and check out a gallery of photos, read more

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Where is the Fisher Family Now?

BuzzSugar — Fri, 13 Jul 2007 12:28:38 -0700

With today's news that Freddy Rodriguez is joining the cast of "Ugly Betty," nearly every actor who played a main character on "Six Feet Under" is now back on TV somewhere. Here's a look at where the Fisher and Diaz folks have ended up:

Peter Krause (Nate Fisher) will star in ABC's "Dirty Sexy Money" this fall as Nick George, an attorney who takes over his father's role as counselor to the absurdly wealthy Darling family.
Michael C. Hall (David Fisher) has reinvented himself as a blood spatter analyst-turned-serial killer in Showtime's "Dexter," for which he already received a Golden Globe nomination.
Lauren Ambrose (Claire Fisher) has been cast as Parker Posey's sister in "The Return of Jezebel James," a Fox comedy from "Gilmore Girls" creator Amy Sherman-Palladino that is currently scheduled to air as a midseason replacement.

Lots more - including Rico's new role - so read more

Freddy Rodriguez (Rico Diaz) is newly cast in "Ugly Betty" as Gio, an ambitious blue-collar sandwich maker who just might complicate the burgeoning love between Betty and Henry.
Rachel Griffiths (Brenda Chenowith) now plays Sarah on ABC's "Brothers & Sisters" - and is a big part of the reason I hope the women of that show will pull in some Emmy nominations.
Jeremy Sisto (Billy Chenowith) had a short-lived stint on NBC's "Kidnapped" last fall, but this year he'll be back as the new detective on "Law & Order."
Lili Taylor (Lisa Kimmel Fisher) starts a starring turn this Sunday as a mixed-up therapist on Lifetime's "State of Mind."

As for the others, Frances Conroy (Ruth Fisher), Mathew St. Patrick (Keith Charles) and Justina Machado (Vanessa) are currently filming movies, while James Cromwell (George) starred this past season as Jack's dad on "24."

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Rewind: This Week's Buzz

BuzzSugar — Sat, 05 May 2007 09:05:48 -0700

Peter Krause is very good looking. He's now in a movie called Civic Duty. I also interviewed him. In the flesh.
It has been "Grey's Anatomy" and "Private Practice" Central 'round these parts. Check out my "Grey's" recap, and then my "Private" recap, and then vote: which show will you prefer?
Can you think of new actors to play the characters in Clueless? Recast that movie and you might win a prize.
Seriously, listen to Kevin Michael. He is an artist to watch!
Check out my rundown of the interesting-looking summer dramas, and then tell me which one looks the best. Also, which big-budget summer flick can't you wait to see?

I recently asked you which show you would cancel if given the option, and here's what you all decided. However, this has nothing to do with the fact that Gilmore Girls has been canceled, I swear!
Do I have a great song for you: Listen to Franz Ferdinand covering LCD Soundsystem. It is amazing.

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Interview: Peter Krause of Civic Duty and "Six Feet Under"

BuzzSugar — Thu, 03 May 2007 23:15:34 -0700

From Casey McCall on "Sports Night" to Nate Fisher on "Six Feet Under," Peter Krause tends to play the everyman. In his new film, Civic Duty, Krause turns that everyman identity on its head as Terry Allen, who starts out as an Average Joe in a media-saturated world and eventually turns into a paranoid vigilante after becoming convinced that his young Muslim neighbor is a terrorist. The film - which is both a tense thriller and a political statement about prejudice and paranoia - opens in limited release today.

I recently sat down with Krause to talk about the film - which he also produced - and its message, life outside of Hollywood, and why he almost said no to his new TV pilot. In person, Krause is fiercely intelligent, quietly thoughtful, and refreshingly unafraid to express his political opinions. Here's how our conversation went:

I didn't realize you lived in the Bay Area. What's it like being away from the LA crush?

I should have done it long ago. I really love what I do. I love being on a sound stage. I even love the city of Los Angeles. But in terms of a home, I'm much more comfortable in a rural setting. I know I'm sitting here in a suit right now, but I'm usually wearing a pair of bib overalls and a hat to keep the sun off my face.

So, about Civic Duty. Almost six years past 9/11, do you think there are still people like Terry? Or do you think we've turned off the media more and become desensitized?

I think that it's exhausting, obviously, to stay in a heightened state of panic. I'm not sure that it's anything except a function of nature, that it's the way we are as animals that we can only remain that vigilant for so long before we start to go crazy or batty. I think we also have a built-in mechanism - nobody wants to live in that world. Nobody wants to live in paranoia, they really don't. I do think that there are fewer people out there who are this afraid. I don't know if it's becoming desensitized or if it's just because of a lack of terrorist activity that that sense of paranoia is diminished.

Lots more about Civic Duty, his acting roles and his upcoming projects, so read more

I read that when you became involved in the project you changed Terry a little bit.

I did, along with [director] Jeff Renfroe and the blessing of the writer, Andrew Joiner. He understood what I was trying to do by bringing Terry to the middle and making him a member of the silent majority rather than being conservative. We weren't going to alienate anyone by having conservative people feel like they were being made fun of or let liberal people off the hook, let them lean back and say, "Oh, this crazy conservative." Because the truth is, we were all very paranoid for good reason after September 11.

What drew you to the project?

I didn't feel at the time - we made this almost two years ago - that there had been enough response from the artistic community about what was happening now in our world. Also, there was no real response from the artistic community about what was happening to the mental landscape of your average American. It was an incredibly frightening time immediately following September 11. The media kept reflecting our fears, saying there could be thousands of these terrorist cells, there could be thousands of these terrorists here in the country. I think that our worst fears were being reflected back to us - orange alerts and red alerts. The flames of fear were definitely being fanned by the media, by the government, and we became a paranoid nation.

You play really interesting, complex characters. When parts come your way, are there things you look for?

I don't like to be bored, so that's part of it. When I read something and I'm not into the story, or the character's not - there's not something there that I'm like "What? What's going on here?" - then I don't tend to gravitate toward it. There was a miniseries I just did for the Sci Fi Channel called "The Lost Room," which was really a refreshing change for me. I got to play a classic hero who knew right from wrong and was very uncomplicated. His daughter gets lost in another dimension, and he's got to get her back. It was that simple, and I understood when I did that how I could get sucked into playing those sorts of roles, because it's psychologically very easy. It's healthy. It feels good to know right from wrong and to get the job done. It's so unlike life.

I haven't said that before, but it's very true. It's true about the movies. The movies that do really well are the movies that are so unlike life, where characters know right from wrong and they get the job done. That definitely is a part of life - we want our heroic ideals, and we want to strive for them. But real life is a lot more messy and complicated. Civic Duty is in the spirit of that attitude. It's not a simple look at the world, and it's definitely an extreme look at the possible output of paranoia and the possible output of a government that hasn't taken very good care of its people.

Is Civic Duty the first truly political thing that you've done?

Mm-hmm

Were you nervous about doing that at all?

I guess at the time I was, and now I feel less nervous about it. The film is really a jumping-off place for conversation, for talk, for communication. There are things that I think the majority don't know. I don't think the majority know that they don't get to vote on foreign policy, that they get to vote on elected officials who then get to represent them to other countries without much of their say. If we want to be a different country we have to step forward and be a different country.

I wanted to ask about your new TV pilot ["Dirty Sexy Money," which is being developed for ABC]. I thought it was funny, as a "Six Feet Under" fan, that you were once again playing a guy who took over his dad's business.

Yeah, that was one reason I almost didn't do it. But Craig Wright, who wrote it, was a writer on "Six Feet Under," and he had a long talk with me about what "Dirty Sexy Money" is and what "Six Feet Under" was and what similarities they share and how they're different. If it goes, it will be a very different show. It will have a lot more comedy than "Six Feet Under," but it will also examine some of the more wobbly things in the world - greed, division between rich and poor, that sort of thing. But a laugh a minute!

First, third and fourth image Source
Second image courtesy of Freestyle Releasing