BuzzSugar

What to Download: New Music on iTunes

BuzzSugar — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 11:30:47 -0800

Tuesdays are big in entertainmentville: Not only do all the new DVD releases hit Netflix, but new music also pours into stores, including iTunes. So I take a spin through each week's iTunes music releases and pick out some albums and tracks worthy of a download. It's a pretty light week for new releases, but in addition to the picks below, you can also snag a new collection from Ghostface Killah and the soundtrack to Revolutionary Road. Here are today's selections:

Whoa, "Womanizer": If Britney Spears's "Womanizer" is always stuck in your head, you might want to consider picking up a remix EP that's out on iTunes today. The EP includes five different versions of the song, including some that are very club-y and others that are almost dreamy. At first listen, I most enjoy the Kaskade mix, and I couldn't help but bob my head during the Benny Benassi mix.

The greatest gift of all: If you enjoyed Stephen Colbert's tongue-in-cheek take on the holiday special, then you might want to get yourself over to iTunes this week, where Colbert's "Another Christmas Song" is free this week. The opening song from the special is old-fashioned and jazzy but with a good dose of holiday sarcasm mixed in ("The manger’s on fire/The holly’s a-glow/Hear the baby Jesus cryin’ ho ho ho").

I've got one more for you, so just read more.

Time to pretend: The Pretenders get credit for longevity (and the enduring coolness of lead singer Chrissie Hynde), and I'm curious to hear them reflect on their career and new album in this new iTunes Originals recording. The release is a mix of interview clips and intimate recordings, including new versions of tracks from this year's Break Up the Concrete and classics like "Talk of the Town." You have to buy the whole thing to hear the interview clips, but each song is available separately.

Holiday Spirit, Courtesy of Stephen Colbert

BuzzSugar — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 13:30:22 -0800

Not surprisingly, given what I do for a living, I often turn to my favorite TV specials (A Charlie Brown Christmas, The Snowman, and A Muppet Family Christmas, among many others) to get me in the holiday spirit. Well, this year, there's a new special on the scene, and it already seems destined to become a seasonal classic.

A Colbert Christmas: The Greatest Gift of All (hee) premieres Sunday at 10 p.m. on Comedy Central and will hit DVD two days later. The skewering of celebrity holiday specials looks hilarious, with special guests ranging from Toby Keith to Elvis Costello to Willie Nelson. Oh, and if it's not obvious from that list, it's a musical!

The songs are the handiwork of Fountains of Wayne bassist Adam Schlesinger and Daily Show producer David Javerbaum, and they include a tune sung by Jon Stewart as he tries to interest Colbert in Hanukkah and a vaguely dirty song about nutmeg courtesy of Colbert and John Legend. Also, Feist appears as an angel, and she sings a song of her own and then joins the whole cast in a rendition of "(What's So Funny 'bout) Peace, Love And Understanding." You setting that DVR yet?

There's actually some good to go along with the funny: a portion of the proceeds from the sales of the DVD and soundtrack (also available on Tuesday, exclusively on iTunes) will go to Feeding America. Hysterical and generous? That's our Colbert. To check out a clip from the show with Stewart and Colbert, just read more.

The Colbert ReportMon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c

A Colbert Christmas: Preview - Jon Stewart

Ron Paul Interview
Bob Barr Interview

Green Screen
Bill O'Reilly Interview

Photo courtesy of Comedy Central

TV Tonight: Indecision 2008, Live

BuzzSugar — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 11:40:28 -0800

Throughout this crazy election season, whenever I've needed a quick pick-me-up or a laugh at the day's wacky events, I've turned first to Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert. So it's only fitting that the two of them will be a big part of today's election TV coverage, with a live Indecision 2008: America's Choice special airing at 10 p.m. EST, 7 p.m. PST. Oh, and if you happen to be in New York City, you can stop by the MTV jumbotron in Times Square and watch it there, too.

The one-hour special marks the first time Stewart and Colbert will share a desk as co-anchors (though they did work together on Comedy Central's 2006 live special, the Midterm Midtacular). They won't be alone, either; The Daily Show's team of correspondents will also be along for the ride with reports from candidate headquarters (or, perhaps, "candidate headquarters." I guess we'll have to tune in to see).

I credit The Daily Show alone for getting me through the craziness of the 2000 election, and I'm curious to see what they and the Colbert Report folks will cook up this time around. To watch a preview for the special, just read more.

Photos courtesy of Comedy Central

Live From the Emmy Press Room: Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert

BuzzSugar — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 20:05:01 -0700

Nothing like Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert to liven up the Emmy press room! The two were just back here in the press room with their whole crews to talk about their awards for Outstanding Writing for a Variety, Music, or Comedy Program (Colbert) and Outstanding Variety, Music, or Comedy Series (Stewart).

"It's always great to come out here and win," Stewart quipped. "It's a long flight." He had nothing but kind words for his protege, Colbert, whose show beat Stewart's in the writing category.

Colbert, meanwhile, wasn't quite so kind to Stewart: "I've been gunning for him for years," he said. "Even when I worked for him, I did not wish him well."

Colbert was (probably unsurprisingly) a total goofball on stage, running around and clinking Emmys with his whole writing staff. As for insulting the Emmy chairman a couple of nights ago on his show? "I believe calling John Schaffner a world-class a-hole is what got me this award," he said.

Source

Do You Get Your News From The Daily Show/Colbert Report?

BuzzSugar — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 16:30:18 -0700

As most of you know, I've got my head buried in entertainment news all day and so - I'm not going to lie - sometimes when I turn on Comedy Central at night at watch The Daily Show and The Colbert Report I'm definitely looking to learn about the news of the day from comedians.

I felt a little less guilty about this when I read a recent New York Times profile of Jon Stewart that calls his show "a genuine cultural and political force," and notes that in a study about the most admired journalists in America, Jon Stewart came in fourth place.

I find this kinda funny considering neither Stewart nor Colbert is an actual journalist. Do you get your news from Comedy Central's fake news shows?

Source

Link Time! 2/14

BuzzSugar — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 14:30:23 -0800

FilmExperience is excited about today's news that Amy Adams will be one of the performers at this year's Oscars, singing "Happy Working Song" from Enchanted, while Kristin Chenowith will sing another song from the film, "That's How You Know."
Stereogum has found some funny Valentines for your indie sweetheart.
Pop Candy also rustled up some Get Smart and The Office e-valentines if you want to have a very Steve Carell-y V-Day.
TV Squad's Annie Wu danced with Stephen Colbert at a Colbert Report taping. Jealous? Who, me?
The MTV Movies Blog has outed Nicole Kidman as the person who will play CIA agent Valerie Plame.
Give Me My Remote has clips of Dexter cleaned up for CBS.
I Guess I'm Floating rounds up a whole bunch of covers of Arcade Fire's "Black Mirror."
Cinematical has a list of movies that make you glad to be single, including Sleeping With the Enemy and Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?

Pushing Daisies photo copyright 2008 ABC, Inc.
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Link Time! 2/5

BuzzSugar — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 13:30:40 -0800

Popwatch wonders: Is "I drink your milkshake" from There Will Be Blood the best movie quote of 2007?
Vulture picks the top 10 Arrested Development inside jokes that better make it into the movie.
Television Without Pity has launched its own online video shows.
Watch a video of Juno director Jason Reitman being interviewed by middle school kids over on /Film.
The TV Addict wants your Smallville questions for an upcoming interview.
CitizenSugar has video of the amazing Stephen Colbert-Jon Stewart-Conan O'Brien smackdown over who "made" Mike Huckabee.
Cinematical wonders what Amy Adams' role will be in the Night at the Museum sequel: Betsy Ross? Susan B. Anthony?
Wanna see the first-ever 3-D video, courtesy of Missy Elliott? Stereogum has got you covered.

Source

Stewart, Colbert Ratings Up - Even Without Writers

BuzzSugar — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 11:30:31 -0800

While most TV shows (even American Idol) aren't drawing the viewers they usually do during this strike-disrupted season, there's news this week of one big exception: Ratings for The Daily Show with Jon Stewart and The Colbert Report have soared since the two shows returned Jan. 7 without their writers. Both shows are drawing their biggest audiences of this season, and they're also up significantly over last year. They're also the only late-night shows - writers or no - to be performing well.

Some are speculating that Colbert and Stewart are so darn funny on their own that writers are just a bonus, not a necessity. But couldn't their boost be attributed just as easily to election season and all the wonderful fodder for satire that we're getting from the campaign trail every day?

I'm curious what you Daily Show and Colbert fans make of this news. How do you think they've been doing without their writers? Have you found yourself tuning in more? And why do you think their ratings are up?

Photos courtesy of Comedy Central

Buzz News Roundup, 1/25

BuzzSugar — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 13:33:06 -0800

Stephen Colbert's WristStrong bracelets have raised more than $170,000 for charity, the Associated Press reports.
In Sundance deal news, the well-received comedy Baghead has been bought by Sony Pictures Classics, Variety reports.
Lionsgate and Marvel have struck deals with the striking WGA that will let union writers work on their projects, USA Today reports.
After completing Revolutionary Road, director Sam Mendes will get to work on an untitled comedy written by David Eggers and Vendela Vida, reports Zap2It.

Shout Factory has gotten the rights to release every episode of Mystery Science Theater 3000 on DVD, writes The Hollywood Reporter.
Scarlett Johansson's album of songs written by Tom Waits will be released May 20, writes E! Online.
Lance Reddick of The Wire has been cast on the new JJ Abrams show Fringe, as has John Noble of The Lord of the Rings movies, TV Guide reports.
Variety has news that The Color Purple will end its run on Broadway February 24. Meanwhile, Reuters writes that Phantom of the Opera will mark its 20-year anniversary on Broadway this weekend.
NBC is all about competing parents this spring, scheduling the reality show My Dad is Better Than Your Dad and searching for America's Favorite Mom; details on both are at The Futon Critic.

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TV Tonight: Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert Return

BuzzSugar — Mon, 07 Jan 2008 13:36:11 -0800

Just in time to skewer the New Hampshire Primary, America's fake-news stalwarts Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert are returning to the air tonight. The Daily Show with Jon Stewart and The Colbert Report will be new for the first time since the writers' strike began in November.

But how will they do it without writers? Colbert and Stewart, themselves both members of the striking Writers Guild of America, are barred from writing anything - and, after Jay Leno was smacked down by the union after writing a monologue last week, the two of them will probably be extra-cautious. Comedy Central hasn't confirmed Colbert's guests yet (though Andrew Sullivan, former editor of The New Republic, says it's him), while Stewart is planning to interview Ronald Seeber, a conflict resolution specialist. Heh.

No matter what else happens, I'm guessing this is going to be one wacky hour of television; as of yesterday, a Comedy Central spokesman was saying Stewart and Colbert were still figuring out what to do on their shows. Will you be watching as these two return to the air? Or are you staying away in support of the strike?

Photos courtesy of Comedy Central