BuzzSugar

Buzz News Roundup, 7/25

BuzzSugar — Wed, 25 Jul 2007 15:28:37 PDT

"Pirate Master" has been cut adrift, writes Zap2it, and the final five episodes will air only online.
In other reality news, ABC is developing a show in which young married couples will compete for cash, writes Mediaweek.
Following in McCartney's footsteps, Joni Mitchell signs to Starbucks' Hear Music label, reports Billboard.
Variety reports that Disney will discourage depictions of cigarette smoking in their movies, and will include PSA's about the dangers of smoking on DVDs of movies that do have smoking.
MTV is moving up the coast for "Newport Harbor: The Real Orange County," a new "Laguna Beach"-style show, writes the Hollywood Reporter.
Coldplay tells NME that its new album has a Hispanic theme.
Hollywood Reporter has news that Michael Rappaport will be joining the cast of "My Name Is Earl."
R. Kelly is "Trapped in the Closet" for 10 new installments of the bizarre film series, which will premiere on IFC before an Aug. 21 DVD release, Billboard reports.
Apparently, JJ Abrams calls Greg Grunberg his "good luck charm," so Grunberg will appear in some way in Abrams' 1-18-08 project. ComingSoon has more info on Grunberg's report from the set of the movie.

Photo courtesy of CBS

"Pirate Master": Even More Ridiculous Than I Expected!

BuzzSugar — Fri, 01 Jun 2007 13:42:50 PDT

Of course, I knew "Pirate Master" was going to be silly, but this week's premiere episode was more absurd than I was expecting. Basically, it feels like a parody of a reality show, not an actual series that anyone should take seriously. I recommend watching it very late at night, when you've already got the giggles. Here were some of the most over-the-top moments:

First of all, how did they make a pirate show without a plank? Nobody walks the plank; instead, the rejected wannabe pirate gets lowered onto a raft and then literally set adrift ... where I'm sure he or she travels about 15 feet before being rescued by a team of CBS producers.
Nothing about this show is even remotely real. The lagoon where the "pirates" carried out their challenges looked basically like "Six Flags Over Blackbeard," with super-fake skeletons dangling from trees and artfully-placed slimy moss. And there's no way those crabs just happened to find their way in to the chest filled with the $40,000 in gold coins. Speaking of which, isn't that a remarkably round figure for coins that were supposedly buried hundreds of years ago?
The outfits Joe Don and the officers got after their election looked way more like Civil War reenactment costumes than pirate gear.
John, we hardly knew ye ... and your "scientist/exotic dancer" self. Granted, he was a little crazy and looked like a refugee from an '80s hair-metal band and made me uncomfortable, but he would have been fun to watch for a few more weeks.
Not a single "yarrrrrr" all episode, people! Not a single "ahoy" or "matey," either! C'mon, pirates, you've got to step it up.

Photo courtesy of CBS

TV Preview: "Pirate Master"

BuzzSugar — Fri, 18 May 2007 16:16:59 PDT

It's a little embarrassing - OK, maybe a lot embarrassing - to admit how much I'm looking forward to "Pirate Master," the CBS reality show premiering May 31. In fact, I've been obsessed with it since I first heard about it, mainly because I can't believe it actually exists. But exist it does, complete with 16 modern-day pirates (read: regular people wearing pirate gear) who will be sailing around the Caribbean for 33 days in search of hidden treasure.

CBS just sent over an incredibly melodramatic trailer, and the show looks like it's going to be "Survivor" at sea (but with funnier outfits). Each week, the "pirates" will fight for gold dubloons - which they'll be able to use as actual currency once they leave the show, though I don't know where dubloons are accepted these days - and search for a map to the ultimate treasure. The trailer promises danger, anger and possible mutiny, which makes me all the more eager to tune in. Guilty pleasure ahoy! To watch the trailer,

Mark Burnett Invading China, Encouraging Piracy

BuzzSugar — Wed, 18 Apr 2007 10:13:58 PDT

"Survivor" creator Mark Burnett has China and piracy on the brain - and I'm not talking about illegal DVD bootlegs. Reuters is reporting that the next installment of "Survivor" will take place in China, making it the first reality show to film entirely in a Communist country. CBS has not yet said when or where production will get underway.

China will be a far cry from Fiji or the Caribbean. But lest you think Burnett is abandoning island life entirely, the reality-show guru also has a new summer series, called "Pirate Master," starting on Thursday, May 31. According to a CBS press release, the show:

"will send 16 modern-day pirates on a high seas adventure where they will live as buccaneers and travel around the Caribbean island of Dominica in search of hidden treasure that will total $1 million. ... Each week, the pirates will embark on extraordinary expeditions where they will decipher clues along the way in search of missing treasure."

Australian actor and musician Cameron Daddo will host the show, which follows the contestants as they live aboard a 176-foot ship. I, for one, would love to hear more about these "modern-day pirates." Is that just CBS's cute way of describing players pretending to be pirates? Or is Burnett recruiting people who currently earn their livings as pirates? I'm sure it's the former, but the latter would be awesome. Either way, this should be rich.