BuzzSugar

USA to Make "Thank You for Smoking" TV Series

BuzzSugar — Mon, 08 Oct 2007 11:25:46 PDT

So, this is weird.
According to Variety, USA has picked up the rights to create a TV series based on the 2006 movie Thank You for Smoking - which was based on the novel by Christopher Buckley. The TV version will have a different title and will pick up where the movie left off: "Nick Naylor, having kicked some of his more evil lobbyist habits, will use his rhetorical skills to help people more deserving of aid." As USA programming chief Jeff Wachtel puts it, "He'll live somewhere between the morally ambiguous character of the movie and Robin Hood."

Apparently, this has been in the works for a long time.
Wachtel and Smoking author Buckley went to college together and originally Wachtel wanted the novel to be a series on USA but "the challenge was how to make that character live successfully in our network." Writer James Dodson who is spearheading the TV script has apparently solved this problem.

I don't get it.
To me, this seems random and pointless. There's already been a movie based on the novel... how much further can they stretch out this story? And why are they continuing to try? I'm casting a wary eye on this project. What do you think?

Sex and Hare Krishna: Mad Men's Mother Lakshmi Didn't Follow the Rules

Annie Scudder — Mon, 21 May 2012 12:03:03 PDT

This week on Mad Men, we get a visit from Paul Kinsey, who has gone from progressive, pipe-smoking copy editor to confused Hare Krishna devotee. The Hare Krishna movement was founded in NYC in 1966, the year that's coming to a close on this season, and attracted beatniks like Allen Ginsberg and Beatle George Harrison, one of its most famous followers. The International Society for Krishna Consciousness, or the Hare Krishna Movement, as it is officially known, is based on Hindu traditions and got the attention of the city's hippies when it started. Ironically, it did not back free love.

On the episode, Paul Kinsey's Hare Krishna love interest, Mother Lakshmi, decides to seduce Paul's friend and former co-worker, Harry Crane. Showing up at the office, she lets Harry believe that sleeping together is not against the rules of the religion. You can't blame Harry for believing her, since the Hare Krishna meeting he attended had a strong counter-culture vibe. But in fact, "no illicit sex" is one of the four regulative principles of Hare Krishna consciousness.

Sexual contact is only OK between married couples for the purpose of reproduction, and sex is considered the most powerful connection to the material world, a bond Hare Krishnas want to break. The other three rules include: no eating meat, fish, or eggs, no gambling, and no use of intoxicants. Devoted Hare Krishnas would have disapproved of Roger Sterling's acid drop. But, of course, not everyone followed the rules in the '60s and high-profile members like Allen Ginsberg disagreed with the prohibitions.

Vegetarianism and yoga were part of what made Hare Krishna exotic back in the 1960s, while its negative attitudes toward premarital sex were conventional then. Today, things have switched around. Its rule against sex for pleasure seems extreme, thanks to the sexual revolution, while vegetarianism and yoga have gone mainstream.

13 Foods For Freaky Friday

YumSugar — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 10:33:45 PDT

In honor of Freaky Friday (today's Friday the 13th!), I thought I'd pull together a list of 13 freaky foods. Even if you don't have triskaidekaphobia (the fear of the number 13), you may be afraid of some of the things on this list. I know there are a bunch of other freaky things out there (how about almost anything Andrew Zimmern eats on his show?), so if you think something's missing, we want to hear it.

#13: Bubble Tea
I personally love this stuff; however, I've known quite a few folks who are freaked out by the tapioca inside of the tea. Come to think of it, I know a lot of people freaked out by tapioca in general . . .
#12: Squid ink pasta
I don't have a problem with this lovely pasta dyed with squid ink, but some find eating black pasta to be just a bit too freaky.
Keep reading to see more freaky foods perfect for Friday the 13th.

Meeting My Sperm Donor

The Good Men Project — Fri, 06 Apr 2012 10:00:50 PDT

We're happy to present this story from one of our favorite sites, The Good Men Project. Ben Sommer, conceived through alternative insemination, is a young man now and tells the story of deciding to meet his donor.

I grew up in a middle-class home in Cambridge, Massachusetts, with two loving parents, both of whom are women. My conception was perhaps the most organized and scientific miracle of the modern American family - my architecture, the dream of dozens of individuals conducting their work across thousands of miles.

Objectifying Ryan Gosling

I was conceived through alternative insemination. A donor submitted his sperm to the Sperm Bank of California in Oakland (TSBC). Later, it was sent to the Fenway Community Health Center in Boston. Since opening its doors in 1982, TSBC has helped families without the ability to conceive on their own to birth over 2,000 children. Two thirds of those have ended up, like me, being raised in a lesbian household. TSBC is also the first sperm bank to offer a donor-identity-release program, which allows children of alternative insemination access to their donors' information when they turn 18.

I am not as much an oddity as you might think. As of 2005, some 270,000 children in the United States had same sex-parents. We are a generation that is just now beginning to come of age and able to share our stories. This is mine.

Growing up in a lesbian household was much like growing up in any other family unit, I imagine: vacations to Cape Cod, parents working late and sometimes not, play dates with a diverse group of friends.

I never gave much thought to that mysterious figure across the country. I never questioned the fact that I didn't have a father. As far as I was concerned I didn't need one. Is having two moms really all that different than having a mom and a dad? Parents are parents, right? I didn't see a difference at the time. My parents didn't either - at least at first.

They decided to conceive through a donor, in part, to avoid the complications that a third parent would bring. Asking a close male friend to donate, like some couples have done, can create unforeseen consequences. In the past, there have been custody battles between the donor and the parents raising the child. This was the case with a friend of mine, whose parents arranged donation from a male family friend. With a semi-anonymous donor like the man my parents chose, it would be clear who my parents were. And it was.

That's not to say that it was smooth sailing. "When we first learned you were going to be a boy, we really panicked," my mother told me recently. "Who's going to teach him to throw a ball? We didn't have many male friends. There was even basic stuff, like who's going to teach him to pee standing up. That doesn't come naturally."

Read the rest of the story below.

Mad Men's 5 Maddest Moments: "Tea Leaves"

Becky Kirsch — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 09:32:43 PDT

On this week's episode of Mad Men, Betty's back - and in an, um, "big" way. Thanks to January Jones's real-life pregnancy, Mrs. Francis has packed on a few pounds after what appears to be more than one afternoon spent on the couch with a box of Bugles. Things take a dramatic turn when Betty's mother-in-law advises a trip to the doctor, and he finds a tumor in her throat.

As Betty contemplates her mortality, Don and Harry take a little work offsite to a Rolling Stones concert in the name of Heinz. Back in the office, Peggy adds a new copywriter to Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce, and the tension between Roger and Pete continues to build. It's a relatively slow episode ("Zou Bisou Bisou" is a tough act to follow), but let's break down the biggest moments when you

Scary situation: Betty's clearly a bit bored in her life as Mrs. Francis, and as her mother-in-law points out, Betty is starting to let herself go. She heads to the doc in hope of scoring some diet pills, but he finds a tumor instead. Betty begins contemplating what will happen to her kids if she has cancer, and starts having nightmares to go along with it. Ultimately, the tumor is benign, but the scare doesn't shake Betty into reevaluating her life: it only makes her help herself to more ice cream.
Wise beyond her years. Betty's not the only one who's initially shaken up by her tumor: Don is also starting to panic. He's suddenly caring and introspective (perhaps because he recently lost Anna to cancer), but he's also pushing Megan away. When bikini-clad Megan is hurt that he wants to blow off their trip to Fire Island because he's upset about Betty, he tells her that she's 26 and basically insinuates that she's too young to understand. Megan handles the situation nicely, reminding Don that she's old enough to handle death and even manages to convince Don to come along on the trip. Yet another case of Megan proving that Don's temperament doesn't scare her.
Let's spend the night together: Don and Harry head backstage at a Rolling Stones concert in hope of scoring the band for the new Heinz campaign. They basically redefine "fish out of water" standing in their suits and ties among teenage girls smoking joints. Harry gets an in with a groupie, which leaves Don fraternizing with a young fan - and for the first time, Don actually seems fatherly instead of trying to hit on her. It's all for naught though: Harry ends up signing a band called The Trade Winds thinking he got the Stones. Whoops!
Tension in the ranks: Even with his new office, Pete and Roger are still butting heads around SCDP. Pete concedes the Mohawk account to Roger, much to Roger's pleasure - only to essentially take it back at the end of the episode. As he pops a bottle of champagne, Pete announces that Roger will be dealing with the day-to-day, but he'll still be the one in charge. Roger is obviously disgruntled about this and laments to Don that he's starting to feel like he's being shoved out the door at Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce. This relationship seems like a ticking time bomb, but what will prompt the big blowout?
New guy: With Mohawk airlines back on the client list for SCDP, Roger demands that Peggy find a new copywriter. Enter Michael Ginsberg, whom Stan dismisses as too qualified (he warns Peggy of hiring someone who might be her boss someday), and Roger likes because of his Jewish background. Peggy is immediately turned off when he thinks she's a secretary, and is concerned how Don will feel about his off-putting remarks. As it turns out, Don's completely fine with Ginsberg, and he gets a job. There's just one late-breaking twist: despite Michael's claim that he has no family, friends, or ties of any kind, we learn at the end of the episode that he lives (and cares for) his father. Wonder how this one will affect his promise to live in the office 24/7.

I was happy to see Betty back on the show, but I'm not sure where they'll take her character throughout the season. Plus, it felt like more Betty meant less Joan, and I definitely missed Joannie this week. How'd you feel about the episode?

Photo courtesy of AMC

Chick-a-Dee: A Smoke Detector For Design Fans

Elka Karl — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 11:47:17 PST

During the New York International Gift Fair this past weekend, bloggers nominated their favorite products, with Evan Orensten from CoolHunting naming the Chick-a-Dee his personal favorite. Designed by artist Louise van der Veld, the Chick-a-Dee smoke detector was developed through a Dutch design contest that aimed to raise raise public awareness of fire hazards in and around the home. Fifty designs were submitted, and the Chick-a-Dee smoke detector emerged as the winner thanks to its innovative, unique design and social relevance.

For design lovers, the Chick-a-Dee provides a smoke detector that's a joy to look at in your home - not a liability. And who can argue with a chirping, rather than beeping and screeching, smoke alarm? At the first sign of smoke, the Chick-a-Dee makes the chick-a-dee-dee call of the bird it's named after, with the call's volume increasing and turning into a loud dee-dee-dee sound if smoke thickens.The Chick-a-Dee comes with a battery with a one-and-a-half-year battery life and a three-year warranty.

You can buy one online for around $79 US, or wait until the product hits the virtual and real US shelves this month.

What We're Sweet On: A Smoky, Sultry Eye Shadow Palette

Jaime Richards — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 03:05:00 PDT

The great thing about smoky eyes, besides the fact that they add an element of intrigue to any ensemble, is that you can wear them in so many ways. With Smashbox's Smokebox Photo Op Eye Shadow Palette ($42), from its Fall 2011 Girls on Film collection, the possibilities are endless. Pile it on or play it subtle - without spending loads of time in the process - thanks to the shadows' highly pigmented, easy-to-spread formulas.

The set includes six shades that range from light peach (Bliss) to a subtle shimmery, deep charcoal (Blacktop). Peel the label on the back side to uncover two looks (soft smoke and smoldering cat-eye), along with step-by-step tutorials on how to get them. You can even use a QR reader app on your phone to see a video of the brand's pro lead artist, Lori Taylor, demonstrating the looks. Holy smokes, indeed.

The Vampire Diaries "The Birthday": The Good, the Bad, and the Bloody

Shannon Vestal — Fri, 16 Sep 2011 10:00:13 PDT

The Vampire Diaries is back! The series marked its return with a birthday party, a highly anticipated sex scene, and a sadistic new personality for Stefan. While Elena and Damon are left in Mystic Falls, Stefan is off gallivanting as Klaus's puppet, partying it up and dismembering the occasional Southern belle.

While we didn't get to see much heat between Damon and Elena (aside from a jealousy-inducing bubble bath scene), the premiere episode set up and even gave us a cliffhanger and a couple brief moments of emotion. To talk about it all, just check out the good, the bad, and the bloody after the jump

Buckingham Palace Drops More Royal Wedding Details

Susannah Chen — Mon, 18 Apr 2011 11:07:07 PDT

With less than two weeks to go, Buckingham Palace is finalizing details on the royal wedding, including what guests will have to eat and drink. The world already knows what kinds of cake Prince William and Kate Middleton will be cutting into - but what about the rest of the menu?

Following the wedding, 600 guests will head to the palace for a reception where they'll feast on 10,000 some odd canapés, including smoked salmon on beet blinis and quail eggs sprinkled with celery salt. Although the bride and groom will have some say, the majority of the menu will be decided upon by the Queen herself.The bubbly will likely come from Bollinger, the official Champagne of the royal family. That includes the French house's top-of-the-line Vielle Vignes Françaises - given the stamp of approval, as the seal reads, "by appointment of the Queen Elizabeth II, the Royal Majesty" - as well as, some speculate, the small-production Grand Année 1999 vintage. And in traditional fashion, the groom will probably make the first toast to thank the bride's family.

Boy, do I wish I were one of those lucky 600 - but I don't envy the 21 chefs who'll be toiling away at 10,000 canapés come April 29. What do you think of the royal menu?

Update: Turns out all the Bollinger speculation was incorrect. It's been confirmed that Prince William and Kate are bucking tradition and serving nonvintage Pol Roger at the wedding!

Fabio Viviani on Top Chef All-Stars Episode 12

Guest Writer — Thu, 03 Mar 2011 11:54:37 PST

There's no one who could provide a more entertaining perspective on the all-star season of Top Chef than a former contestant. That's why we've asked Top Chef New York contender (and All-Star!) Fabio Viviani to watch the show and share his thoughts. Fabio, take it away!Let me start by saying that it's a pleasure to share this fun recap with YumSugar, you guys are been very kind to me and not only I like your site very much but I also love you to pieces!

As soon as the episode start I already witness something that pissed me off: Richard telling everybody how much the departure of Dale Talde make him sad is the only departure that make him very sad! Richie, WTF? I thought we had something. I thought that since I dropped Stefan now you were my lover, and instead of telling everyone how much you miss me all I hear is that you will only miss Dale? Fine, Professor. Forget about that I was your real love on the show, forget that we were roommate for almost five weeks while Dale was sleeping with "Angela" and "The Black Italian" Tre . . . forget about the fact that I made you win Restaurant War . . . forget about the fact that I carried you throughout the Italian challenge . . . forget about the fact that I got kicked off cause someone that knows how to make great Boo-Ger didn't helped too much, forget about that I was the one that prepped the food for you and sent you to the Barbados, let's forget all this, go with Dale and be happy with him. BTW, he has a girlfriend. Hope you like to share.

To find out what he thought of the episode's outcome, keep reading.