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Rescue Me Debuts Its Minisodes

BuzzSugar — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 09:42:56 PDT

Thanks (or no thanks) to the writers' strike, FX's Rescue Me won't be back on the air for its fifth season till Spring 2009. But Denis Leary and company weren't about to make fans go that long without at least a little taste of New York firefighter life.

On Tuesday, FX premiered the first of 10 Rescue Me "minisodes," bite-sized bits of the show (all approximately five minutes long) that are meant to tide fans over till next year. Each minisode will premiere at 10 p.m. on Tuesday for the next nine weeks; 10 minutes later, they'll show up on Crackle, and by the next day they'll spread through various other online video sites.

The first minisode, "Fast," finds Sean Garrity struggling to maintain his cleansing fast in the face of Lou's doughnuts. If you're a fan, will it be enough to get you through to next year? To watch "Fast" for yourself, just

From Crackle: Rescue Me: Episode 1

Photo courtesy of FX

Link Time! 6/24

BuzzSugar — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 13:36:48 PDT

Think you know all there is to know about Gilmore Girls? Take GeekSugar's Gilmore Girls tech quiz and find out if you remember some of the gadgets used on the show.
Popwatch has another installment of America's Next Top Doll, and this one's so funny, it'll "gut" you. Yuk, yuk, yuk.
You Ain't No Picasso has My Morning Jacket's entire three-hour Bonnaroo set available for download. What are you waiting for? Go!
Everyone's atwitter over Jason Bateman's latest comments regarding the Arrested Development movie (apparently it's happening for real and will be released in 2009).
TV with MeeVee has a long interview with Denis Leary of Rescue Me.
Stereogum alerts us to new tracks by Beck, now streaming on iLike. My take? I like. A lot.
TV Squad pitches five funny Angel/Buffy spinoffs.
Can't get enough of Entertainment Weekly's Top 1000 issue? Neither can Vulture, which points out 10 head-slapping pairings on the various top 10 lists.

What to Netflix: New DVD Tuesday

BuzzSugar — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 07:30:38 PDT

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.

Weeds: Season 3
I added the third season of the hit Showtime series Weeds to my must-haves for June because it's a must-watch before the fourth season starts up this month. This is a series I love to own because I want to watch the lovely Mary-Louise Parker and gang whenever I get the urge.

As I said in my must-haves post, the seasons prior to this one always balanced dark elements with high comedy but this third go-around is mostly dark. New faces in the cast this third season include Matthew Modine playing a real estate mogul and Mary-Kate Olsen as the religious (yet still tokey) girlfriend of Nancy's (Parker) son Silas. Even Carrie Fisher pops up - but that's all I'll say, so as not to spoil the fun.

Special features include eight commentary tracks, the full set of Good Morning Agrestic videos, and a sampler of the show's soundtrack.

Two more new titles - one TV, one movie - up next. So

Semi-Pro
I saw Semi-Pro when it first came out and had to admit that while the old Ferrell '70s shtick is getting old, I still buckled over in laughter during some parts. Instead of playing up the inflated ego of an anchorman, ice skater, or race car driver, this time Ferrell tackles the role of basketball player/manager. He sports an afro and his jiggly white skin is shoved into a teeny-tiny uniform for a good portion of the film.

It's not the best thing around, but definitely a crowd pleaser if you need something to flip on the tube with a group of friends. Special features include: Improv; "Love me sexy" - The Story Behind the One-Hit Wonder; Re-creating the American Basketball Association; 4 days in Flint; and The Man Behind Semi-Pro.

Rescue Me: Season 4
First of all, creepy cover, right? Fans of the critically acclaimed FX series starring Denis Leary can rejoice at the release of this exciting season on DVD. I've only paid passing attention to this show (it can be really intense!) but I have a secret soft spot for Leary, and the show's premise is compelling.

This is how Netflix summarizes the fourth season: "Haunted by the loss of friends who perished in the disaster, his failed marriage and his son's tragic death, Gavin grapples with his past, his future and his sanity."

Like I said: intense.

Special features include six featurettes, 22 deleted scenes, and a gag reel.

Buzz News Roundup, 11/2

BuzzSugar — Fri, 02 Nov 2007 13:30:30 PDT

Variety writes that Fox has set a release date for the second X-Files movie: July 25, 2008.
All My Children star Justin Bruening will be the new Knight Rider, reports Zap2it.
ComingSoon reports that Natalie Portman is starting a production company and will make her directorial debut with A Tale of Love and Darkness.
According to Hollywood Reporter, FX has ordered a fifth season of Rescue Me.
Variety reports that Forest Whitaker will produce a Showtime series called Mr. Untouchable about a "flashy Harlem heroin dealer."
James Marsden will join Cameron Diaz for the thriller The Box, writes Zap2It.
A YouTube series called We Need Girlfriends could become a CBS comedy produced by Sex and the City's Darren Star, according to the Hollywood Reporter.
According to Billboard, Jewel is going country with her brand-new Nashville-based label.
Variety has news about a sequel to Dances With Wolves, titled The Holy Road and directed by Simon Wincer.
Dennis Miller has signed on to host the NBC game show Amnesia; details are at The Futon Critic.

Source

Which FX Show is Your Favorite?

BuzzSugar — Tue, 03 Apr 2007 05:59:32 PDT

From "The Shield" - which starts its sixth season tonight - to "The Riches" and "Nip/Tuck," FX has become known for edgy dramas unlike anything else on TV. Which of the network's shows is your favorite?

Photos courtesy of FX

The Vampire Diaries "Before Sunset": The Good, The Bad, and The Bloody

Shannon Vestal — Fri, 04 May 2012 07:56:52 PDT

I didn't really expect things to get that crazy on The Vampire Diaries until next week's season finale, but wow, this week is full of intensity. There are a few big fights, a little bit of vampire torture, and though Alaric is the villain of the episode, the group is victorious in taking down another of their foes amid the chaos. Bonnie gets to use her witchy skills, but she's not the only lady who's channeling her girl power this week; Elena gets pretty tough, not just relying on a Salvatore brother to save her this time.

We're gearing up for next week's finale, and though there's some obvious setup for the next episode, there's a pretty big event that happens this week. And as usual, there's also an ample amount of great moments and funny lines. So, to get to the good, the bad, and the bloody, just keep reading.

Game of Thrones "The Ghost of Harrenhal": What We're Still Talking About

Becky Kirsch — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 08:15:27 PDT

There's a major game-changer on this week's Game of Thrones, as the many kings of Westeros continue to prepare for the next battle. Melisandre's recent birth has some major consequences and even Bran becomes part of rallying the troops. Things also take an interesting turn for Arya, and Catelyn makes an unexpected alliance.

Despite one major plot point, this episode isn't my favorite; it seems like we may have hit a bit of a midseason lull, but we're getting set up for a lot of impending action. To recap the moments that did make an impression, just

Did Renly just get killed by the rubber man from American Horror Story? After Ned's death, I know I should be prepared for anything when it comes to this show, but I was still shocked to see Renly Baratheon meet his maker so quickly. I was all ready for a big brother-on-brother showdown between him and Stannis, but Melisandre's creepy black death monster takes on the form of a shadowy man and stabs him within the first few minutes of the episode. Something about the moment just felt sort of anticlimactic to me, but maybe it's because I didn't think I'd have to deal with deadly smoke monsters after Lost ended.
Arya learns the power of three. Arya - I mean Arry - I mean Arya - is in a bit of a pickle right now, what with Tywin Lannister breathing down her neck and asking her hard-hitting questions and all. However, she does fall into a place of power with Jaqen H'ghar, the prisoner whom she rescued a few episodes back. Now that he's back in civilization, he's ready to repay his debt, and to the third power. Arya basically gets to name three people she wants dead and Jaqen promises to make it happen. Her first victim is the "tickler," the local torturer around town. Now the question is: who will she choose next?
Dany gets a decent proposal. Dany's only been in Quarth for a few days, but she's already freshly scrubbed, braided, and back to her khaleesi self. She's ready to move forward with her plans to take the iron throne, too, though we'll have to wait and see at what cost. Xaro Xhoan Daxos wastes no time making her an offer to help her with her goal, if she's willing to marry him. It seems like a legitimate power move to me, though Jorah feels differently about the situation. Is Dany ready to move on from her sun and stars, or will she be unwilling to share the power?
Catelyn and Brienne combine their girl power. Catelyn's been a bit of a wayward sheep this season, doing her best to make peace between the Baratheons, bring her girls home, and keep Robb at bay. She hasn't been able to make much of a difference just yet, and she ends up in the wrong place at the wrong time when Renly is attacked. Brienne is also part of the situation, and it doesn't take long before all of Westeros is linking their names with Renly's death. I was happy to see them make an alliance, since these are two of the most loyal and true characters on the show, so it's a bond we can actually believe in. Something tells me it won't be long before Cat may require Brienne's protection.

What'd you think of this week's episode? Are you looking forward to seeing Jon take on some responsibilities as ranger? Who do you think is next on Arya's list?

Photo courtesy of HBO

Danny Seo Celebrates Earth Day With a One Kings Lane Tastemaker Sale to Benefit Charity

Guest Writer — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 04:00:00 PDT

We're excited to present a post from guest writer, eco lifestyle expert, and all-around awesome guy Danny Seo.

Late last year, I had the privilege to sit down with one of the co-founders of One Kings Lane, Ali Pincus, and talk about our favorite places to shop, how I'm addicted to the home shopping site, and to talk about ways I could get involved with One Kings Lane. We came up with the idea for me to do a TasteMaker tag sale where I could collect some of my favorite vintage and antique items from my home and put them up for sale on the site. I agreed under one condition: if we could donate the proceeds to my favorite charity, Baby Buggy.

Baby Buggy, in case you aren't familiar, is the wonderful nonprofit founded by Jessica Seinfeld that has the motto "Love, Recycled." It's so appropriate because they accept lightly used baby gear, clothes, and new baby and children essentials to help families in the greatest need. They are a clearinghouse of sorts that works with a network of nonprofits who call Baby Buggy with a wish list of goods they desperately need. And like a fairy godmother, Baby Buggy always comes to the rescue. With the proceeds from this sale, Baby Buggy will be able to buy the most needed essentials to help families in need. In the spirit of Earth Day, selling vintage and antique items is green for Mother Earth since it's reusing what already exists; the sale proceeds will coincidentally help many mothers here on Earth.

In this special CasaSugar post, I'm excited to give you a sneak peek at three items for sale and the unique story behind them. I've traveled the world for work and always found time to visit out-of-the-way antique stores, flea markets, and galleries to search for beautiful things. I hope whoever buys these goodies will cherish them as much as I have over the years.

Indian ArrowHead Collection When I was filming my TV show "Simply Green with Danny Seo" (all episodes on Hulu now), I made a point to visit a small antique store in the sleepy town of Point Pleasent, PN. Down an alley and past a blacksmith shop (of all things!), I found a little antiques store that was going out of business. Rummaging through box after box, I came across a collection of mounted arrowheads, all hand mounted on colorful felt with a hand pounded metal backing in glossy black frames. What I loved about these pieces is that clearly someone had scavenged the woods of Pennsylvania for each arrowhead, cleaned them, and displayed them in a very beautiful and interesting pattern. I also love the pop of color in the background.

Keep reading to learn about two more special items from the sale

Mad Men's 5 Maddest Moments: "Signal 30"

Becky Kirsch — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 07:49:04 PDT

It's all about Pete Campbell on Mad Men this week, as we get a little more insight into what's making him so miserable. Though he's guilty of a few despicable acts, we also get to see Trudy in her best form, plus the added bonus of seeing Pete get put in his place in a very unexpected manner.

The Campbell comeuppance isn't the only twist: there's also an awkward kiss that takes place within the walls of Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce, and some great zingers from Don. Is it just me, or is Don funnier than ever this season? Just another reason why I'm a fan of the Megan effect. Let's break it down when you

The company you keep: Despite his resistance, Don and Megan get roped into a dinner party at the Campbells' new suburban home at Trudy's urging. Don's the man of the hour, as Pete can't stop brownnosing, and Don comes to the rescue when the sink starts flooding. The real hilarity is that no one can remember poor Cynthia's name (Don gives a classic "Hello, you" when he arrives, and Megan even blurts out Cynthia's name during her "eureka" moment). It's a nice insight into Pete's seemingly perfect life, complete with an adoring wife, cute daughter, and of course, a brand-new stereo.
Hail to the king: We've known that Pete's been unhappy for quite some time, but his issues with both work and his home life come to a head this week. First off, he's taking driver's ed, but he's learning a lot more about a fellow teenage student than he is about the rules of the road. His blatant ogling is enough to make my skin crawl, but then he takes it up a notch by actually asking her out on a date. Multiple times. (Even she appears to be a bit weirded out by the situation). No matter though, because she finds herself a suitable lad her own age, and Pete turns to a hooker for a self-esteem boost, but more on that later. The real bottom line here comes from Pete himself, who says to Don, "I have nothing."
Big leagues: After a jolly good World Cup outing, Lane befriends a fellow Brit named Edwin, who's interested in using Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce to represent Jaguar. Even though he's not an account man, Lane wants to wine and dine Edwin on his own, and Roger even preps him for the dinner. Unfortunately, Lane can't deliver the goods, so Roger, Don, and Pete take over. They court Edwin with a lobster dinner, but he's got more sinister ideas on his mind. He asks the SCDP guys to show him a good time, which is essentially code for a prostitute party. Everyone wastes no time shacking up - except Don, who seems to be sticking to his guns and staying faithful to Megan. Everything seems to be well and good, until Edwin's wife finds some chewing gum in an, um, unfortunate area, and Edwin pulls the plug on working with SCDP.
Dukes up: Lane's furious about the guys going behind his back, and puts all the blame on Pete. Pete insults Lane in return and they settle the score with a legitimate fist fight right there in the meeting room. Bert, Don, and Roger can't help but watch as the two throw punches, and Lane eventually knocks Pete out. Pete's obviously mortified, and even Lane doesn't get much time to celebrate his victory, since he makes a fool of himself a few minutes later. When Joan comes in to talk about the situation, he makes a pass at her. Lucky for him, Joanie just sweeps it under the rug and it doesn't seem like it'll affect their friendship.
Writer's block: Ken and Peggy seem to be butting heads a little, until we learn that they've got a secret pact: if either of them leave, they'll bring the other one along. It's not a main focus of the episode, but it's definitely something that will likely pop up again later this season. What is a major focus of the episode is Ken's writing career. Posing as his alter ego "Ben Hargrove" (so clever, Kenny), Ken's been getting his sci-fi works published under the radar. At least he is until Cynthia spills the beans at the dinner party and Pete reports the information back to Roger in no time. Ken claims that he's giving up to "leave the writing to the writers," but it's clear that he's still indulging in his passion at the end of the episode - and perhaps using Pete as inspiration?

Were you surprised to see Lane and Pete come to blows? How much longer do you think Don can stay faithful?

Photo courtesy of AMC

Grey's Anatomy Rundown, "Support System"

Becky Kirsch — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 09:01:03 PDT

We take a painful trip down memory lane on this week's Grey's Anatomy, as the story behind Owen's affair unfolds through flashbacks. Actually, it's even more depressing to see Cristina and Owen hashing it out in real time, as the tension, bickering, and tears between the couple feel all too real.

Their staycation has an effect on their peers, too, since they call in sick with the "flu" (this might mark the first time anyone on this show has opted to take a day off), which prompts Mark to get drunk on the power of being the temporary chief of surgery. Ready to break down the emotional episode? Just

Cristina demands to hear the story of Owen's one-night stand, and he acquiesces even though he doesn't want to hurt her. The fateful mistake is slowly revealed, with the story cutting to gut-wrenching shots of Cristina sobbing in real time, and it's also interspersed with memories of all of the fights that led to the downfall of Owen and Cristina's relationship. Eventually, Owen packs up and leaves, but not before assuring Cristina that she's the love of his life, and that he'll never love anyone else. Overall, it feels very, very bleak, leaving me with no hope for these two at all.
We learn that the other woman (who remains nameless since Owen doesn't even remember it) came into the hospital with her friend, who was a patient of Owen's. After Owen saves her life, they get a drink at the bar, and naturally, that turns into a few more. At the end of the night, Owen lingers just a little too long saying goodbye (that's always how it happens, am I right?) and the woman asks to be kissed. Owen tries to resist a few times, and despite my loud screams at the TV, he gives in to temptation.
It feels like the doctors have been studying for their boards forever, but now they're heading into the home stretch. Meredith is sitting pretty thanks to the "Torres method," while Alex and April browbeat poor Lexie - who isn't even taking the boards - to act as their human textbook. It isn't long before Jackson and even Meredith (as a proxy for Cristina) pile on her. Luckily, Meredith eventually comes to her rescue (though scolding the other doctors seems a bit hypocritical). I'll forgive her though, because she starts her own study group at her house for her friends - and even Cristina joins in.
While the chief's away, the Sloan will play. More specifically, he'll play chief. Armed with his bluetooth headset and his lackey Avery, Mark goes into full dictator mode to step into Owen's shoes. He ticks off everyone who comes into his path: he tries to impart cheesy words of wisdom to Derek, forces Jackson to have "beef with the chief," and meddles in most of the surgeries. Webber is the only one who refuses to take him seriously; as a former chief himself, he overthrows Mark's orders, and in one of his famous speeches, makes Mark realize that a chief can't be a perfectionist. The real twist: we learn at the end of the episode that Owen had never asked for Sloan to fill in at all.
Teddy is finally ready to go out again, but her friends aren't up for the challenge. Callie and Arizona try to round up the other surgeons for "ladies' night," but over the course of the night becomes clear that everyone would rather be, um, salsa dancing instead. Just when everyone is about to bail, Arizona realizes that they need to be there for Teddy.

Did you feel Owen and Cristina's heartbreak this week? Do you think it's finally over between them for good?