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What to Netflix: New DVD Tuesday

BuzzSugar — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 08:15:01 -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.

Two Lovers
This is the movie Joaquin Phoenix was supposed to be promoting on Letterman when he appeared to be losing it. His batty appearances at the time probably overshadowed the very good work he did in this aching drama about love and attraction. So, if you didn't catch this movie directed by James Gray, now it's out on DVD to take home.

Phoenix plays Leonard, a somewhat tortured soul living with his folks who falls for two women: kindhearted family friend Sandra (Vinessa Shaw) and the beautifully damaged Michelle (Gwyneth Paltrow). Sandra makes her feelings clear, and Leonard could have a stable relationship with her. But Leonard is drawn to Michelle because she's disturbed, confused, and vulnerable - just like Leonard. The question becomes: which one should he be with?

Special features include commentary with director James Gray, behind the scenes footage, and deleted scenes.

84%

Two more up next, just read more.

Secret Diary of a Call Girl: Season Two
Instead of paying for Showtime, I have some friends who just keep up with their favorite series on DVD. If you do this, too, it's time to check out the second season of Secret Diary of a Call Girl.

At this year's TCAs, the show's producer, Rebecca De Souza, talked about what audiences could expect from season two and said that the main story of the season is "Belle falling in love and can she manage to sustain a relationship? Can she juggle Belle and Hannah? Can Hannah get what she wants? Hannah wants a relationship. Or will Belle always take her away from that?"

Special features include "Billie On Belle," an interview with Billie Piper and Webisodes.

Entourage: Season Five
Entourage is one of those shows I love to watch on DVD because it's so fun to see these episodes back-to-back. Here's how Netflix describes the fifth season, now on DVD: "HBO's hit Hollywood-centered comedy is back for a fifth season, with movie star Vincent Chase (Adrian Grenier) once again at the helm of his considerable posse, including his friends from back home, his brother, his representatives and a cadre of beautiful women. This time around, Vince must pick himself up off the pavement and square his shoulders against Hollywood as he struggles to save face in Tinseltown after his biggest failure yet."

Special features include revealing behind-the-scenes interviews with cast and crew and three audio commentaries with creator/executive producer Doug Ellin, Kevin Connolly, Jerry Ferrara, Adrian Grenier, and producer Ally Musika.

Billie Piper Bares It All for Secret Diary of a Call Girl

BuzzSugar — Sun, 25 Jan 2009 07:30:34 -0800

One of the more surprisingly funny panels at TCA this month was for Showtime's Secret Diary of a Call Girl. Well, anytime you get a room full of critics talking about dominatrix training and "modesty sacks," it's got to be a pretty good time.

The show's star, Billie Piper, let us in on some of the upcoming stories for the show, how playing a call girl has changed perceptions of her, and whether the US or UK was more prudish about the show. Read on for highlights:

Playing Belle means men are terrified of her: "Men don't come anywhere near me anymore," Piper said. "They seem so threatened by me now. They also just stare for ages, like I'm going to do something wild and raunchy. And, you know, much to their disappointment, it never really happens."
She was never really worried that playing a prostitute would harm her image: "I really, really liked the early drafts of the script. I liked the idea," she said. "I didn't really think about it too much. I think my family and friends were quite concerned about my mental state and well-being when I was making the show, but they got over it pretty quickly."
But it sure surprised London: "People were really shocked when Billie took the role in the UK," said producer Rebecca De Souza. "Her perception at home was very much as a kind of girl-next-door darling, the nation's darling. So to take a role like this was really quite extraordinary, very, very bold."

To find out what's coming up for both Hannah and Belle and find out how to see the season two premiere even if you don't have Showtime, just read more.

Juggling Hannah and Belle will always be a problem. Having a legit identity and a call girl identity will dog Piper's character throughout the series. The main story of the second season will be "Belle falling in love and can she manage to sustain a relationship? Can she juggle Belle and Hannah? Can Hannah get what she wants? Hannah wants a relationship. Or will Belle always take her away from that?" De Souza said. In the third season, which is about to start production in the UK, Belle will write a book about her experiences.
UK audiences reacted more prudishly to the show than US viewers. "Over here, it's been nothing but a joy really," Piper said. "And people have been really open-minded - which, you know, I wasn't surprised about because when you look at the lineup on Showtime and other stations over here, TV is really advanced in terms of ideas."

Showtime has made the second-season premiere of Call Girl available for streaming, so to check it out, just head over here.

Photo courtesy of Showtime

TCA Tidbits: Nurse Jackie, Call Girls, Henry VIII, and More

BuzzSugar — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 05:30:46 -0800

It's NBC's turn to present at the TCA press tour today, but before they take the stage, I wanted to pass along some of the remaining goodies from the CBS and Showtime presentations. I've got lots of good stuff - including an interview with United States of Tara and Rachel Getting Married star Rosemarie DeWitt -that I'll share in the coming days, but for now, some highlights from Wednesday's panels:

Showtime's Nurse Jackie, which stars Edie Falco, is about a woman who's the absolute best nurse imaginable but also has serious human flaws - namely a severe addiction to pharmaceuticals (and an affair with her pharmacist). The show will premiere later this year and be paired with Weeds. Two of the show's executive producers are recovering addicts, so that part of things should feel very real - but that doesn't make it somber. "We love addictions," cracked executive producer Linda Wallem. "We think they're hilarious and great."
The lovely Joss Stone came by to discuss her role as Anne of Cleves on The Tudors. It's her first real acting job and not an easy one to jump into, but she said that was OK: "I prefer to do that. I like to go headfirst into whatever it is." She said she also appreciated knowing that - unless the producers were seriously changing history - she wouldn't be leaving the show with her head cut off.
Speaking of which, if you're waiting for the part of the show where Jonathan Rhys Meyers gets ugly and fat to play King Henry, well, don't hold your breath.

To hear some funny revelations from the Secret Diary of a Call Girl panel, read more.

Where else at TCA besides the Secret Diary of a Call Girl panel would you hear someone say something like, "We had a dominatrix on set . . . we really needed her around"? Their session - with the lovely Billie Piper, who gave birth less than 12 weeks ago and was absolutely radiant - contained all kinds of fascinating revelations, including how producer Rebecca de Souza met the actual call girls who advise her on the show (she found them on the Internet, naturally).

Also interesting: People in London tended to be more prudish and taken aback by the show's sexual content, Piper said, while US audiences seemed more open-minded.
CBS has a 13-episode murder mystery show called Harper's Island premiering this Spring, and while story will end definitively after the 13 weeks with only one character left standing, the producers said they could imagine other shows following the same format airing on CBS in the future - which led to lots of jokes about "Harper's Spaceship" and, once the shows have killed off enough characters, "Harper's Zombies."
Moonlight fans, take note: CBS wants to do a deal with Alex O'Loughlin and is developing a show for him.
This American Life still has a place at Showtime and the executives are talking to Ira Glass about upcoming stories.

On to NBC - where we'll get some details about the still-untitled Amy Poehler show! Check back this afternoon for updates.

Photos courtesy of Showtime

What to Netflix: New DVD Tuesday

BuzzSugar — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 08:30:15 -0800

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 selections below you can also take home Battlestar Galactica: Season Four and Righteous Kill.

Pineapple Express
You guys, Pineapple Express is not just a stoner movie, OK? James Franco was nominated for a Golden Globe for his work! This is award-worthy stuff! I kid, I kid. But it is funny to me that Franco is up for a serious award for playing a pot dealer who has lines like, "Pandora can't go back into the box - he only comes out."

This movie was a lot of fun to see in the theaters and as a DVD it will probably get the most play in dorm rooms, frat houses, and 20-something apartments across the nation. Seth Rogen and James Franco are a match made in stoner heaven, but be warned: The movie is actually pretty graphically violent (just a heads-up if that's a buzzkill for you).

Special features include an extended version of the film, commentary with the filmmakers and cast, and of course, the gag reel.

Three more up next so read more.

The Wackness
The Wackness first premiered at last year's Sundance Film Festival and quickly charmed audiences. I myself was smitten when I later saw the movie at the Tribeca Film Festival. Starring Josh Peck, Ben Kingsley, Olivia Thirlby and, briefly, Mary-Kate Olsen, it's a quirky story of young love on the Upper East Side in 1994.

I highly recommend this movie (despite that one cringe-inducing moment). In fact, like Pineapple Express, The Wackness features a whole lot of pot smoking, so today's What to Netflix is practically a themed movie night!

Special features include a featurette entitled "Keeping it Real: A Day in the Life of Writer/Director Jonathan Levine," behind-the-scenes footage, and deleted scenes.

Secret Diary of a Call Girl: Season One
Showtime's Secret Diary of a Call Girl, is sly and slick, pulling back the curtain on the world of sex-for-money in London and leaving you feeling like the ultimate insider. The show stars Billie Piper as Belle, a high-class hooker - and the alter ego of Hannah, an everyday gal who prefers jeans and books to corsets and stilettos. There's not as much sex in the show as you would initially assume but there is a lot of charm. If you missed the first season of this show when it was on the air, now's the time to catch up.

DVD extras include a featurette titled "Billie Piper - Coming to America."

The Tudors: Season Two
Hey, ye olde Tudors fans! Season two is now out on DVD, which is fun because I prefer to watch this show in one big clump rather than week-to-week. Jonathan Rhys Meyers returns as the young King of England who gets down to business divorcing the queen in order to make room for the ambitious Anne Boleyn. In this season the historical period known as the Reformation is ushered in, as King Henry looks to break from the Catholic church and faces resistance from his own court - not to mention Pope Paul III, played by the wonderfully chilling Peter O'Toole.

Special features include a featurette on the descendants of Henry, a premiere episode of This American Life: Season 2, and photo galleries.

TV Preview: Secret Diary of a Call Girl

BuzzSugar — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 08:15:18 -0700

Watching Secret Diary of a Call Girl, which starts tonight on Showtime, is like getting let in on the juiciest piece of gossip ever. The show is sly and slick, pulling back the curtain on the world of sex-for-money in London and leaving you feeling like the ultimate insider.

The show stars Billie Piper as Belle, a high-class hooker - and the alter ego of Hannah, an everyday gal who prefers jeans and books to corsets and stilettos. In the first couple of episodes, Belle explains, in blunt and clever language, the mechanics of her job: Keep two closets and two cell phones, take the money first, give the client what he wants - and don't be afraid to enjoy it.

There's surprisingly little sex in Call Girl (and some of it is more funny than salacious, like when Belle puts a saddle on a particularly dorky, heavily sideburned client who has a thing for horses). The real seduction comes from Piper, who's eminently watchable as the confident, sassy Belle. Belle often speaks directly to the camera, not unlike Carrie in the early episodes of Sex and the City, but the narration doesn't seem forced or awkward. Indeed, it's all part of the fun, with Piper tossing her hair, cocking an eyebrow, and looking - it seems - right at you as she reveals another trick of her trade. It's clear, from the first few episodes, why people seem to fall in love with Belle left and right. I know I did.

The series premieres tonight at at 10:30 p.m. EDT and PDT. No Showtime (or can't wait)? You can check out the first two episodes online right now. To watch a preview with Belle talking about her life as a call girl, just read more.

Rewind: This Week's Buzz

BuzzSugar — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 07:30:48 -0700

CBS learned a big lesson this week: Britney equals ratings gold. I learned you should never mess with the fanboys of Fanboys.
The Oliver Stone Bush biopic cast is quickly filling out. I wonder who's going to play Dick Cheney? Which reminds me, all that horse-loving talk aside, I'm starting to think Kristy Lee Cook is an evil genius.
This is one of those weeks where TV news makes a lot of sense and then none at all. I can understand why there is interest in shows about escorts after the Spitzer scandal. But a show that's just people falling? Really?
More good stuff came out of the Paley Festival in Los Angeles this week, including the goods on Gossip Girl, Damages and Dirty Sexy Money.
Well it's the end of the road for the March book club, thanks to everyone for reading along! I'm really excited about April's book, The Life Before Her Eyes. I hope you can hunt down a copy for yourself this weekend and join in. And don't worry, I can confidently state the new editions of these books will never be selected.
Axl Rose, if you're listening, please finish up that that album so America can toast you with Dr. Pepper!
Can you guess which rock songs these lyrics belong to? Also, can you guess what TV show I'm recasting based on these lyrics? "What would we do, baby, without us? Sha-la-la-laaaa. . ."

Photo courtesy of CBS

First Look: Secret Diary of a Call Girl on Showtime

BuzzSugar — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 15:36:08 -0700

Starting this Summer, premium cable is going to be all about the premium prostitute. Showtime and HBO each have a series about high-end call girls in the works, one imported from the other side of the Atlantic, one developed right here by Sex and the City's Darren Star - and yes, this all started even before Eliot Spitzer's scandal broke.

The first of the shows, the UK's Secret Diary of a Call Girl, will hit Showtime in June, while Star's Diary of a Manhattan Call Girl was just given the go-ahead from HBO. Secret Diary of a Call Girl, which aired its first season in the UK last Fall, is based on the anonymous blog of a London "working girl," while Star's show draws its inspiration from a semi-autobiographical novel by a former New York call girl. No, no chance for confusion there.

Showtime recently released a trailer for its series, and I'm curious to know if you'll be tuning in - or, if you've already seen the UK version, if you think we in the US should give this show a shot. The series starts June 16, but you can watch the trailer for yourself right now if you read more.

Photo courtesy of Showtime

Buzz News Roundup, 12/19

BuzzSugar — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 13:28:14 -0800

Ewan McGregor will play Jim Carrey's love interest in the "dark comedy" I Love You, Phillip Morris, reports Variety.
E! Online has news that Josh Groban's holiday album sales have broken a record originally set by Elvis Presley.
MTV and Jerry Bruckheimer are teaming up to make video games, Broadcasting & Cable reports.
Zap2It reports that Brad Pitt may replace Heath Ledger in the drama Tree of Life.
TV Guide writes that USA has canceled The 4400 and Dead Zone.
The Smashing Pumpkins will release an acoustic EP in 2008, NME reports.
Mischa Barton has signed on for the indie thriller Homecoming, writes Variety.
Showtime has bought Secret Diary of a Call Girl, a British series based on a sex worker's anonymous journal, Mediaweek reports.
From the department of weirdness: Michael Douglas is now doing the voiceover for the NBC Nightly News, TV Guide reports.

Source and source

Link Time! Lauren Bacall Walks Away With an Honorary Oscar

BuzzSugar — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 13:30:10 -0800

Lauren Bacall was among the winners at the Honorary Oscars over the weekend - HitFix
You go, Uncle Jesse: John Stamos gets a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame - Vulture
The woman's identity behind Showtime's Secret Diary of a Call Girl is not so secret anymore - TV Squad
Bob Dylan wears a wig in his Christmas video for "Must Be Santa." Too weird. - Pitchfork
New Moon is already beating advanced ticket sales records - Deadline
Miss The Wire? Re-live the series with these top 100 quotes - Warming Glow
Oasis is getting back together - minus Noel - Rock & Roll Daily
Sci-fi fanboys are getting a new TV series on NBC - ComingSoon
Vote for the kraziest characters on TV (yes, "crazy" with a "k") - TV.com
Go inside Private Practice star Kate Walsh's house - CasaSugar
New Moon's stars interview each other with fan questions - Moviefone
Here's a brilliant idea: Adult Swim is allowing fans to customize their own DVD - Collider

Glee-ful Highlights From This Week's Episode, "Vitamin D"

BuzzSugar — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 07:30:00 -0700

Just when you thought Glee couldn't get any wackier than baby buying and middle-aged students, they go and take uppers. Yup, this week's episode didn't disappoint in the hilarity department, from the A-Rod steroid jokes to Sue's dear diary moment. I do wish there could have been more performances, though there were some serious strides in the story lines, particularly with Will and Emma.

In case you missed it, be sure to take our fun Glee quiz for a chance to win a hangout session with a cast member - at the finale of So You Think You Can Dance! Ready to get gleeky? Just read more.

After laying low on last week's episode, Sue is back with a vengeance. Not only does she convince Terri to take a position at school, but we also get a peek into her psyche during her ~~diary~~ journal-writing session. Call me crazy, but I never pegged her for the pensive writer type. Sue is actually the mastermind behind the boys/girls sing-off, thanks to some words of wisdom she passes on to Will over lunch. Check out her little speech in the video below.
Speaking of the lunchroom, can we talk about Will and Emma for a second? They really kick things up a notch this week, starting with the mustard incident and ending with a teary-eyed moment after Emma breaks the news to Will about her engagement to Ken. I know that Terri is insufferable (not to mention ridiculous), but it still seems out of character for Will to even consider a relationship with Emma - for all he knows, there's still a mini-Schu on the way!
Rachel and Quinn share a very tender, bonding moment by the lockers this week but will it last? They seem to be making headway, but I just can't imagine that they'll stay civil forever - it's only a matter of time before Finn's girl situation ("I like Rachel in a Swimfan kinda way) puts the ladies at odds once again.
It's Finn and his sleepy eyes that bring on the biggest laughs, after a little help from Nurse Terri. From the moment the boys vs. girls competition begins, you know that there are going to be some sneaky tactics involved, but "performance enhancers?" Too good. How amazing are the musical numbers with the kids flailing around on stage, while Mr. Schu has no idea what's actually going on? I particularly loved Rachel's little monologue ("Also, angels!") and Finn's dance moves. Check out a video of the guys' performance below.

I can't help but feel for Mr. Schu at the end of the episode: his wife is a nut, his true love is engaged to someone else, and now he has Sue for a glee club partner. He's punished for the secret that his kids kept from him, and I can only imagine what's going to happen when he inevitably discovers that Terri's been lying to him all this time too; though perhaps that's exactly the exit he needs to finally be with Emma.

So, who would you have voted for in the sing-off? Do you wish Will would dump Terri and just get with Emma already? Chime in with your comments, and head on over to the Glee Club to keep the fun going.