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"Entourage" Swaggers Back in April

BuzzSugar — Thu, 08 Mar 2007 10:42:05 -0800

I got hooked on HBO's "Entourage" via my Netflix addiction, so I'm psyched that the show starts up its third season again on April 8 (along with the return of "The Sopranos.") Last we left Vince, the pretty boy had fired agent Ari, giving Jeremy Piven ample freak-out opportunities. Though HBO is keeping pretty damn quiet about what happens next, it has posted a "season tease" on the show's web site.

Admittedly, the utter dudeness of this show infuriates me at times, but there is plenty to love about it, so read more

"Entourage" never ceases to amuse me with startlingly funny one-liners, and I can't get enough of Kevin Dillon. Plus, I'm always happy to give my pop-culture support to Mark Wahlberg, and I'm even more excited about his next HBO project. According to Zap2It, Wahlberg is developing a drama with Martin Scorsese about the rise of Atlantic City; it will be based on Nelson Johnson's book Boardwalk Empire: The Birth, High Times, and Corruption of Atlantic City.

Until then, do you guys plan to watch "Entourage"?

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TV Highlight: "Lost," Episode 7

BuzzSugar — Thu, 08 Feb 2007 00:47:42 -0800

"Lost" returned Wednesday night after its three-month hiatus, and I have to say, it was worth the wait, answering some questions and raising more (of course). In this first episode that features flashbacks of an Other, we learn a great deal about Juliet's past and what kind of research she used to do. We also got a glimpse into the practices of certain other Others, which you'll see in this very creepy clip I got from last night's show. Check out my full episode recap or, to watch the video, read more

Also, if you need a refresher on the season thus far, check out my season recap, or watch all the episodes on the ABC website.

"Lost" Season 3 Refresher

BuzzSugar — Tue, 06 Feb 2007 09:32:05 -0800

After an outrageously long hiatus, "Lost" returns tomorrow, Feb. 7, at its new time of 10 p.m. This season has seemed a little desperate at times, trying feverishly to keep viewers riveted while the many, many plotlines spread out in chaotic ways, raising more questions than can possibly be answered. It’s been sometimes boring, and other times frustrating.

Still, like any addict, I can’t give it up! If you’ve forgotten some of the things that have happened in those six fall episodes (oh, they seem so long ago!), here’s a refresher.

Kate, Sawyer and Jack are being kept in captivity by "Henry Gale," whose real name is Ben, and some of the Others. Kate and Sawyer are in outdoor cages, while Jack is in an old shark tank. Jack’s main caretaker is an Other named Juliet who looks vaguely like Jack’s ex-wife, Sarah. The Others have a thick file on Jack, documenting his entire life up until the plane crash.
The Others’ community is like a real, modern village, with homes and kitchens and well-kept lawns.
Kate and Sawyer are forced into manual labor, breaking and moving rocks. Being prisoners together, without any other original "Losties," brings Kate and Sawyer together to the point where they get it on in Sawyer’s cage, and he tells Kate he loves her.
Alex appears at the place where Kate and Sawyer are breaking rocks and demands to talk to Ben, and tells Kate "They’re going to kill your boyfriend!" There is confusion about whether this means Jack or Sawyer.

Lots of other developments, so read more

In Sun’s flashbacks, we learn that she had an affair with Jae Lee, and since we already know that Jin is sterile, Sun’s baby may be Jae’s. We also see that Jae died by either jumping or being pushed out of a building (out of room 1516, yet another variation on the "special" numbers in the show).
On Desmond’s sailboat, an armed Sun encounters an Other named Colleen, who calls Sun by name and tells her, "We are not the enemy." Unconvinced, Sun shoots Colleen.
Ben proves to Jack that he is in touch with the outside world by playing a video of the Red Sox World Series win, and then promises Jack that if he cooperates with them, Ben will take Jack home.
Somehow, Desmond, Locke, Eko and Charlie survived that crazy explosion that reduced the Hatch to a hole in the ground. Then, however, the smoke monster returns to beat Eko to death. Just before he dies, he whispers in Locke’s ear, “You’re next.”

Eko’s God stick has the scriptural carving, “Lift up your eyes and look north,” which seems to be a message meant for Locke.

A vicious polar bear makes an appearance having dragged Eko into a cave sometime after the Hatch explosion. Inside the cave there are human skeletons, one of which sports a t-shirt with the Dharma logo on it.
At the Pearl hatch, Locke and the fresh-faced newcomers, Nikki and Paulo, discover video footage of a man with an eye patch.
Ben reveals to a psychologically tortured Sawyer that there are actually two islands: the one where the Losties crashed, and the one where the Others are keeping Jack, Kate and Sawyer captive. Thus, escaping the Others just got a lot harder.
Sawyer has a daughter he has never met, but for whom he set up a bank account. He had a large sum of money put into it, demanding that the transaction be anonymous.
Jack spots X-rays of a man’s spine and notices a cancerous tumor. It becomes apparent that the X-rays are Ben’s and that he will die unless Jack, the only qualified surgeon around, operates on Ben. Juliet asks Jack to mess up during the operation, making Ben’s death look accidental. She lets him know that "some of us want a change."
Having escaped from the shark tank (probably not a mistake on Ben and Juliet’s parts), Jack steps into a room full of TV monitors and sees Kate and Sawyer cuddled up together in Sawyer’s cell. Ben appears and reminds Jack that he will get to go home if Jack just does the surgery, and Jack agrees.
During the operation, however, Jack makes an incision in Ben’s kidney sac and threatens to let him die there on the table unless the Others set Kate and Sawyer free. This is how the first part of the season ends: with Ben possibly dying and Kate and Sawyer possibly being freed from the Others.

Need more? You can watch all six episodes online before "Lost" returns tomorrow night.

Season Recap: "Desperate Housewives"

BuzzSugar — Tue, 26 Dec 2006 13:45:34 -0800

Desperate Housewives was not at its best last season, and many people felt the series got a little cheesy and muddled. The first ten episodes of Season 3 seem promising, though, with many of the same old characters and antics, but also with new mysteries to mull over. In case you need a refresher course in what’s been going on so far on Wisteria Lane, read on.

Lynette
Lynette grapples with the challenge of including Tom’s child Kayla in the Scavos’ lives, while trying to avoid Kayla’s mother, Nora. Nora, meanwhile, uses Kayla to manipulate her way into as many of the Scavo activities as possible. Tom decides he wants to leave the advertising world and open a pizza parlor, though Lynette thinks it’s a terrible and risky idea. Claiming to support Tom in whatever he does, Nora comes on to Tom, who rejects her. Then Lynette awesomely kicks open Nora’s door and tells her to keep her interactions with her husband and family strictly to dropping off Kayla at the house.

The following episode, titled “Bang” was the big shocker episode of the season. To find out why, read more

Carolyn Bigsby, neighbor and friend to Orson’s ex-wife Alma, is on a mission to hunt down her cheating husband, Harvey. She enters a crowded grocery store with a gun and holds everyone hostage as her way of making Harvey talk to her. Carolyn shoots Nora who, just before dying, asks Lynette to raise Kayla as her own daughter. Carolyn tries to shoot Lynette as well when Art, the new neighbor on Wisteria Lane, throws off Carolyn’s aim so the bullet only strikes Lynette’s shoulder. Edie’s nephew Austin tackles Carolyn to the ground and then a woman shoots her in the head.

One day Lynette and her son Parker come across Art’s basement which is full of toys and a pinball machine, as well as a wall of photographs of young boys in swimsuits. Lynette suspects him of sinister things and her suspicions ignite the neighbors’ fury towards Art. Art’s wheelchair-bound sister Rebecca lives with him, and she tells Lynette she is ruining their lives. When Art shows up at the holiday block party dressed as Santa Claus, he and Rebecca get the cold shoulder from all the neighbors. The stress is too much for Rebecca in her condition, and she dies. As Art is packing up to leave Wisteria Lane, he sneers menacingly at Lynette, and creepily alludes to the idea that now that Rebecca is gone he won’t have to hide his true self anymore.

Gaby
The first ten episodes of this season could be called The Gaby and Carlos Fights. It’s the usual antics, times ten: over-the-top arguments, stubbornness, and vengeance, all jumbled up and confused with passion and affection. They ultimately call a truce, however, after seeing the real violence at the grocery store.

Xiao Mei’s water breaks at Bree and Orson’s wedding, yet when the baby is born, it is clearly African-American, and the fertility clinic admits that sometimes mistakes happen. During a spa weekend, Gaby runs into John, all grown up and sexier than ever. They enjoy a for-old-times-sake romp before Gaby learns that John is engaged, and, after the spa tryst, doesn’t want to continue to see Gaby for fear of losing his wife-to-be.

Gaby hopes to spark up her modeling career again but only manages to get a photo shoot in which she poses as the frumpy mother of a hot teenage girl. Frustrated and insecure, Gaby takes up an offer to teach beauty pageant skills to little girls. As a bonus, Gaby meets a gorgeous single dad, Bill, and the two start a promising flirtation.

Susan
After months of visiting Mike in the hospital, Susan hesitantly agrees to go on a date with Ian, a fellow caretaker of a comatose loved one. The two start dating, and then spend a weekend away together. Over this romantic weekend, Edie accidentally witnesses Mike waking up from his coma with a hazy memory, and she moves in on him, badmouthing Susan, and convincing Mike that he was in love with Edie. Thus, when Susan returns to Mike’s hospital room, overjoyed at his recovery, he is chilly toward her. Susan learns of Edie’s cruel tricks and is heartbroken, having no way to convince Mike otherwise.
Adding insult to injury, Edie’s nephew Austin comes to live with Edie and he starts flirting with Susan’s daughter Julie. Susan, believing Austin to be a bad influence, tries to end their relationship, but Julie ignores her mother’s wishes.

Susan learns from Carolyn Bigsby that Orson was the prime suspect in his wife’s murder, but when they searched his house, everything had been cleaned with bleach. When a woman’s body shows up, police think it might be Orson’s former wife, Alma, and they begin an investigation. There is a phone number written on her wrist which turns out to be for Mike’s plumbing service. When questioned, Mike’s memory loss prevents him from being able to give any solid answers. However, he does have a flashback to seeing a woman who looks like Alma or Monique in lingerie. The police take him to jail and, fearing that Mike might be guilty, Edie breaks up with him. Susan tells Mike she believes he’s innocent, even if he himself doubts it.

Determined to find evidence against Orson, Susan sneaks into his office and discovers a document showing that Orson was admitted into a mental institute in 1981. She takes the document to use in Mike’s case. Ian tells Susan he will pay for the best lawyer in town to bail Mike out if she promises to never see him again. She agrees.

Bree
After just two weeks of being engaged, Bree and Orson get married. At the reception, however, the police show up and bring the newlyweds into the station to view a body that may be Alma’s. Orson says it isn’t, but whispers an endearment to the body, calling her “Monique,” just before leaving the room.

Bree sees Andrew on a news special about homeless teenagers and tracks him down. He is resistant to coming home with her, but ultimately shows up on her doorstep. Meanwhile, Bree finds out that her daughter Danielle is seeing her history teacher, Mr. Faladi, and she goes to Mr. Faladi’s house with Danielle’s luggage, insisting Danielle move in with him if they are to continue with the affair. Mr. Faladi hastily breaks things off with Danielle who is so furious, she tells the school officials and Mrs. Faladi.

Carolyn Bigsby continuously warns Bree about Orson while Carolyn’s husband Harvey admits to Orson that he’s been having an affair with a French woman named Monique. Harvey says he is upset because Monique seems to have disappeared. Orson soon tips off the police to Harvey’s involvement with Monique, and the police take him in for questioning in Monique’s murder. Bree learns of Harvey's infidelity, and she tells Carolyn about Monique. This causes Carolyn to go on her rampage at the grocery store.

Since the holidays are coming up, Bree tracks down Orson’s mother, Gloria, and insists Gloria come live with them, to Orson’s frustration. Gloria proves a miserable house mate and tells Bree that Orson was cheating on Alma with Monique. Orson later explains that he and Alma became pregnant and were married for the sake of the child. Alma miscarried, but Gloria would not hear of divorce, so Orson resigned himself to an unhappy marriage with Alma. He then met Monique, and fell in love with her. Bree buys his story, and the two rent Gloria a condo to get her out of their lives. When Gloria’s ride shows up, we see that it’s Orson’s first wife, Alma!

Play Our Brand New Holiday Movie Faceoff and Win a Prize!

BuzzSugar — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 12:30:14 -0800

There's no denying it now - the holiday season is officially upon us, which means it's time to dust off those decorations, blast those merry tunes, and cuddle up to watch festive movies. Everyone has a favorite, whether it's a classic like It's a Wonderful Life or the always-hilarious Elf. There are tons of great ones, and now we're pitting them head-to-head in our brand new faceoff game! Spend some time playing, and you'll be eligible to win an amazing prize package of holiday favorites! Just click here to get started!

The winner will receive the ultimate Holiday movie collection courtesy of Warner Home Video! It includes the upcoming new release Four Christmases as well as favorites How the Grinch Stole Christmas and Peanuts a Charlie Brown Christmas. That’s not all – your collection will be completed by three spectacular Holiday movies boxed sets – the Holiday Comedy Collection: DVD 3-Disc Box Set: Includes "Elf / National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation / Fred Claus", the Holiday Family Collection: DVD 3-Disc Box Set; Includes "A Christmas Story / Happy Feet / The Polar Express", and the TCM Greatest Classic Films Collection: Holiday: DVD; 2-Disc Set; With Sleeve; Includes "A Christmas Carol / Christmas In Connecticut / It Happened On 5th Avenue / The Shop Around The Corner."

Just be sure you're logged into your PopSugar Community account to be entered, so if you're not already a member, register now. To read all the official rules, click here. Now what are you waiting for - play now! The more you play, the more entries you have to win! Don't forget to tell your friends to join in on the fun.

Glee-ful Highlights and Video From Episode "Wheels"

BuzzSugar — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 05:30:00 -0800

After a few arduous weeks without Glee, the show is back - and thankfully, it doesn't disappoint. Not only are there some fabulous performances (showcasing new voices), but we learn a few secrets about Tina's stutter and Sue's family life.

Meanwhile, Finn and Quinn's relationship is unraveling fast, and Puck is ready to stand up and win his baby mama back. Ready to discuss all the fun? First check out the Glee Club in Community, then read more.

After sitting on the sidelines (no pun intended) for most of the first season, Artie finally gets his time in the spotlight this week. His rendition of "Dancing with Myself" is so good. Dare I say he's got a better voice than Finn? It's heartbreaking when the rest of the team doesn't rally behind him at first to try to raise money for the bus, but I love that Artie sasses Rachel back, saying, "You're irritating most of the time, but don't take that personally." Mr. Schue gives his all to try to teach the Gleeks a lesson, making everyone sit in a wheelchair for 3 hours a day - which leads to a pretty stellar performance of "Proud Mary."

I could watch Artie's solo over and over again:

Artie's not the only supporting character we learn more about this week; Tina finally comes out of her shell a little. She plants a big kiss on Artie (!) before revealing that she's been faking her stutter for years. Unfortunately Artie turns the sweet moment into a dour one, giving Tina the cold shoulder for pretending to be "different" when she's really "just like everyone else." Though Artie is wounded, I felt like he's a bit harsh to Tina - especially since his disability clearly has no bearing on the way she feels towards him. Hopefully he'll give her another chance.
Quinn's also feeling like an outcast now that she's off the Cheerios. Seeing her out of that uniform is so refreshing, though her snotty attitude towards Finn was wearing on me. She does share a sweet moment with Puck though (fun times in the home ec room!), and I have a feeling that it's only a matter of time before she switches boyfriends, leaving Finn available for Rachel.
Mr. Schue gives his singing and dancing skills a rest this week, but his rivalry with Sue continues. Schue is shocked when Sue agrees to take Becky for the Cheerios and thinks she's up to no good. I have to admit I also thought that Sue has an evil plan in mind, but she does have a point when she tells Schue that she's treating handicapped Becky "no different from anyone else." Then, we realize that Sue isn't entirely made of stone after all when she visits her handicapped sister in a home.
It's business as usual for Rachel when Mr. Schue offers her the lead vocals on "Defying Gravity," but Kurt finally takes a stand against her. Though the part is written for a woman, Schue arranges a "diva-off" when Kurt's dad stands up for his son. The relationship between Kurt and his dad makes a lot of progress - especially when Kurt throws the sing-off to protect his dad from attacks about having a gay son.

Check out Kurt laying down the voting rules:

Are you as happy as I am to have Glee back? Are you excited about the new coupling between Artie and Tina? Use the comments to chime in!

Photo courtesy of Fox

The Office, "The Promotion": Best Lines of the Night

BuzzSugar — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 09:32:42 -0700

Once Jim is promoted to co-manager of the The Office, we all know some wacky banter with Michael isn't far behind. On this week's episode, the Dunder Mifflinites are adjusting to the new hierarchy while Jim and Michael have their first squabble about how to run things. Meanwhile, Pam is still planning for that big Niagara Falls wedding next week - check out a sneak peek of the JAM nuptials here.

As usual, I've put together some of my favorite jabs and one-liners of the night, but if you want to discuss The Office all week long, head on over to Jenna V's community group dedicated to the show. For my thoughts, just read more.

"You know what eats a large amount of the day are naps. You go to sleep, it's lights out, you wake up its dark. That's the whole day. Where did that day go? I have no idea." - Michael
"You mean on a weekend?" - Jim
"Yes." - Michael
Within about five minutes of having to make their first major decision again, Jim is already having problem staying professional with Michael. Nothing has changed between them and Jim still calls Michael out on his unprofessional antics, like unnecessary meetings.

"Can I also be a boss?" - Stanley
Stanley's observation about Jim and Michael's disorganization made me chuckle, because he hits the nail right on the head. The more Jim and Michael squabble, the more it seems like a couple of kids pretending to run an office. I also loved Oscar's followup where he describes the "necessity" of two monarchs, two ship captains, etc.

"I love rivalries. Michael or Jim? Paris or Nicole? Heidi or LC? It's so much fun. But, I guess if I'm really thinking about it and answering your question honestly, I'd have to go with LC. Heidi's a bad friend. And her skin is terrible." - Kelly
We can always count on Kelly to bring celebrities into everything. I also loved when she alluded to needing a raise to help fix Ryan's car.

"Why doesn't Crate and Barrel let you register for a toaster full of cash?" - Pam
While Jim and Michael are trying to figure out how to deal with the raise situation, Pam has her own money problems. She just wants cash for her wedding, but feels awkward asking for it, which means she can expect a romantic birdhouse from Phyllis once the big day arrives!

So what did you think of this week's episode? Does anyone else think there's not nearly enough Andy this week? And how sweet is Michael's gift to Jim?

Photos courtesy of NBC

Buzz In: What Are Your Favorite Halloween-Themed TV Episodes?

BuzzSugar — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 12:30:53 -0700

October is almost halfway through, and Halloween is everywhere you turn. There's plenty of fun to be had beyond the candy and costumes - like special episodes of some of my favorite TV shows. CBS is already gearing up for the holiday with special episodes of NCIS, The Mentalist, Ghost Whisperer, Medium, and, Numb3rs, but I hope the fun doesn't stop there.

I'd love to see something extra spooky on The Vampire Diaries (especially since there's a pivotal Halloween event in the book), and maybe this year How I Met Your Mother can match "The Slutty Pumpkin" episode from a few seasons ago. We've still got a couple of weeks to go, but what are some of your favorite Halloween-themed episodes of the past?

Oh, and don't forget to fill out my Scariest Movie Bracket for a chance to win a prize!

An Education: A Wonderful, World Weary Coming of Age Tale

BuzzSugar — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 05:30:00 -0700

There's very little time left for Carey Mulligan to be an unknown. She plays the central character in An Education, and it's a mesmerizing, star-making turn.

Nick Hornby is behind the screenplay, which follows 16-year-old schoolgirl Jenny as she navigates her strict school-minded parents and the affections of a man twice her age in '60s London. Though some might be turned off by the Lolita-esque premise, this isn't a movie about a May-December romance but the story of Jenny's discovery of the world and adulthood.

To see what I liked about the movie, just read more.

Peter Sarsgaard is the older man, whom he plays with the seductive blandness the role calls for. It's not Sarsgaard's character, David, who tempts Jenny; it's the idea of him. Before David shows up, Jenny has a path set forth by her parents and her English teacher: Oxford.

When David enters the picture by chance, Jenny suddenly has a choice: Oxford or the glamorous life David exposes her to that doesn't require a college degree. She declares her first date with David as the best night of her life. It's easy to see why: fabulous dinners and concerts in London with David's friends, played by Rosamund Pike and Dominic Cooper. Pike is really too worldly looking to be playing such a dim bulb, but she's luminous as a representation of Jenny's possible future.

Jenny soon learns that David’s seemingly easy life may not be what she truly wants, and she finds herself at a crossroads. The movie does an excellent job at making you live the conflict too - it's not obvious what life Jenny will choose, even though a traditional Hollywood movie would make it clear what the "right" thing to do is. Instead, you find yourself in Jenny's shoes thanks to the engrossing performance of Mulligan, whose angelic face and throaty voice shift easily from dedicated student to London sophisticate.

Mulligan's likability is matched only by her Oxford-pushing father, played by Alfred Molina. Some of the most entertaining scenes are those in which Molina is either brusquely insulting one of Jenny's suitors or being entranced by David himself. At first I wondered why Jenny's parents would let her go off so easily with David when I watched the trailer, but it plays out plainly: David is irresistible. Like a snake-oil salesman, that is. He feeds Jenny and her parents what they want to hear, and when things go awry, Jenny angrily confronts her father about how he could have been so seduced by David. This is one of the lessons Jenny learns from her affair with David; that despite education, maturity, and age, authority figures are fallible.

The other authority figures of this movie are compelling as well: Olivia Williams plays Jenny's encouraging teacher (whose radiance can't be hidden by a pair of horn-rimmed glasses) and Emma Thompson has a cameo as a rigid headmistress who seems to take pleasure in threatening Jenny about her future.

However, no one shines brighter than Mulligan. Her Jenny is a strong, bright young woman who never completely loses her way, despite the situation she gets caught up in. It's her performance in An Education you'll be talking about when you leave the theater - and maybe in a few months when awards season begins.

Photos courtesy of Sony Pictures