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What to Netflix: New DVD Tuesday

BuzzSugar — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 09:30:00 -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. In addition to the titles below, you can watch some very funny recorded improv comedy starring Amy Poehler when you rent The Upright Citizens Brigade: Asssscat!

The Kite Runner
If you enjoyed Khaled Hosseini's bestselling novel, you won't be disappointed by how closely the screen adaptation resembles the book in both plot and its ability to tear your feelings apart. I gave this warning in my review and will say it again: The Kite Runner is not for the faint of heart, and some of the most gut-wrenching scenes from the book are even harder to take visually.

That said, there is much to appreciate about this story, which follows two young boys growing up in Afghanistan before and after the Taliban come to power. The relationship between the two friends is beautifully explored, as tense political events unfold around them. When one of the boys stands mutely aside while his best friend is brutalized, the decision sets off a series of mostly agonizing events and haunts him the rest of his life. In the end, however, it's a tale of love and redemption. Special features include commentary from Khaled Hosseini and the filmmakers.

Two more titles to go - one spooky, one that will take you back in time - so read more.

Party of Five: The Complete Third Season
Check out Matthew Fox's hair on that cover. Amazing. I know it's hard to get beyond Lost and Scream and The Ghost Whisperer, but once upon a time, these stars were on a little drama called Party of Five as a family of orphaned Salinger siblings who raise themselves (or is it . . . each other?).

Season Three was a turning point for most of the characters. Charlie's (Matthew Fox) girlfriend and family nanny gets caught plagiarizing a paper for her PhD, Kate (Jennifer Love Hewitt) reveals to boyfriend Bailey (Scott Wolf) that she wants to remain a virgin, Bailey turns into an alcoholic, and sister Julia (Neve Campbell) spends a lot of time dealing with her guilt after a friend's suicide. This is a great addition to your Party of Five collection and it's a fun journey back through the fashions and style of the '90s.

The Mist
Perhaps you missed the late November release of this spooky Stephen King film, since it's sometimes hard to get in the holiday spirit and see a scary movie at the same time. If that's the case, be sure to add The Mist to your queue this week, as it's pretty much everything one could want out of a scary movie.

The movie follows local townspeople trapped in a supermarket by a thick and deadly fog. While it's spooky to wonder what, exactly, in that mist is killing people, the really scary stuff comes from the way the group deals with the threat, bringing up all kinds of topics around End of Days. Marcia Gay Harden is particularly creepy as the town's religious fanatic Mrs. Carmody.

The special two-disc set includes commentary by writer/director Frank Darabont, deleted scenes, the behind the scenes webisodes, and the complete film in black and white.

Stop One Show!

BuzzSugar — Mon, 09 Apr 2007 23:29:54 -0700

It's the time of year when the networks start plotting their schedules for next season, checking out new pilots and deciding what shows to bring back. It's always a frustrating time for me, as I wonder why so many terrible shows make it back year after year.

At the end of the week, we'll learn the winner of Kristin Veitch's annual Save One Show campaign, which will help boost the winning show's chances of renewal. Meanwhile, I'm starting a poll of my own: the Stop One Show contest.

If you could pull one show from the air to make room for a quality series, which would it be? Unlike Kristin, I don't have the ear of the networks, so I can't promise that your vote will do anything to get the winner (loser?) kicked off the air. But I do promise to write about the show with all the ire and vitriol it deserves.

I've stocked the poll with some of my least-faves, limiting the candidates to scripted series only; I don't think I could possibly choose just one reality series to cancel. And I'm sticking with the broadcast networks' primetime shows; sorry, but "Pimp My Ride" and "Maury" don't count. Obviously, this is all in good fun, so if I've listed your favorite show among the candidates, please don't take it personally. You can vote here, but first you can check out the candidates if you read more

"ER": The show is just a shadow of what it was in the Carter/Greene/Ross/Susan years. After 13 seasons, all of the original main characters have moved on; I say the show should follow suit.

"American Dad": I'm pretty tolerant of Fox's Sunday animated lineup, but I really don't understand why you would watch this when you could put on "Family Guy" instead?

"Ghost Whisperer": I'm sorry, but "Jennifer Love Hewitt is hot" is not a good enough explanation.

"War at Home": This show is a thorn in my side. It causes me physical pain every time I hear Michael Rapaport snivel about how men and women are different and kids ruin your life. Make it stop!

"My Name is Earl": Sorry, Jason Lee fans. I know "Earl" has become a staple of NBC's Thursday lineup, but frankly, I think it's the weak link. NBC can definitely do better.

"CSI: Miami": It might be one of the best comedies on TV, except it's meant to be a drama.

"Medium": I like to see my Arquettes succeed, but this show is nowhere near as good as many of the dramas NBC is threatening to cancel.

"George Lopez": It's nothing personal, George. It's just that ABC has put more episodes of this show on the air in place of almost every show they've canceled this year, and I'm over it.

"Law & Order": Yes, it started one of television's biggest franchises, but the rotating cast of female counterparts lost me a while ago. Sam Waterson's eyebrows deserve more!

"Prison Break": This show has its fans. But it should have lasted for one season, and as TV Guide critic Matt Roush recently wrote, there's nowhere good for it to go now.

What to TiVo: Friday

BuzzSugar — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 23:50:59 -0800

ABC has Shrek the Third, and is new with 20/20
CBS is new with Ghost Whisperer, Medium, and NUMB3RS
FOX has repeats of House and Bones
NBC is new with Law & Order and Dateline NBC
The CW is new with Smallville and has a repeat of America's Next Top Model
MTV has repeats of Southpark and Nitro Circus, and has Grindhouse Presents: Death Proof
TLC is new with Say Yes to the Dress and Happily Ever Faster
E! is new with The Soup
USA is new with Monk and White Collar
VH1 has repeats of For the Love of Ray Jay 2 and I Want to Work for Diddy 2
Late-night highlights include Kellan Lutz on The Jay Leno Show on NBC; Viggo Mortensen on The Late Show With David Letterman on CBS; Eva Mendes and Bon Jovi on The Tonight Show With Conan O'Brien on NBC; Robert Pattinson, Kristen Stewart, Taylor Lautner, and Death Cab for Cutie on Jimmy Kimmel Live on ABC; Neil Patrick Harris and David Gray on The Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson on CBS; and Joseph Gordon-Levitt on Late Night With Jimmy Fallon on NBC

What to TiVo: Friday

BuzzSugar — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 23:50:43 -0800

ABC is new with Supernanny, Ugly Betty, and 20/20
CBS is new with Ghost Whisperer, Medium, and NUMB3RS
FOX has repeats of House and Bones
NBC is new with Law & Order and Dateline NBC
The CW is new with Smallville and has a repeat of America's Next Top Model
USA is new with Monk and White Collar
Bravo has Legally Blonde
E! is new with The Soup
TLC is new with Say Yes to the Dress and Battle of the Wedding Planners
MTV has repeats of Southpark and Jackass, and has Kill Bill: Vol. 2
VH1 has Cocktail and a repeat of Sex Rehab With Dr. Drew
Late-night highlights include Terrence Howard and Sheryl Crow on The Jay Leno Show on NBC; Mariah Carey on The Late Show With David Letterman on CBS; Reese Witherspoon, Danny DeVito, and Kris Allen on The Tonight Show With Conan O'Brien on NBC; Diddy on Jimmy Kimmel Live on ABC; Harry Connick Jr. on The Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson on CBS; Amanda Peet on Late Night With Jimmy Fallon on NBC; and Emmy Rossum on Last Call With Carson Daly on NBC

What to TiVo: Friday

BuzzSugar — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 23:50:28 -0800

ABC is new with Supernanny, Ugly Betty, and 20/20
CBS is new with Ghost Whisperer, Medium, and NUMB3RS
FOX has repeats of House and Bones
NBC is new with Law & Order
The CW is new with Smallville and has a repeat of America's Next Top Model
Bravo has Legends of the Fall
E! has repeats of Leave it to Lamas, Wildest Dating Show Moments, and The Girls Next Door, and is new with The Soup
FX has Shallow Hal and Grandma's Boy
MTV has repeats of South Park and Real World/Road Rules Challenge
USA is new with Monk and White Collar
VH1 has Rock Docs NWA: The World's Most Dangerous Group
Late-night highlights include Ricky Gervais on The Late Show With David Letterman on CBS; Elizabeth Banks on The Jay Leno Show on NBC; The Pixies on The Tonight Show With Conan O'Brien on NBC; Ted Danson, Khloe Kardashian, and Lamar Odom on Jimmy Kimmel Live on ABC; Rosie O'Donnell and Ian Somerhalder on Late Night With Jimmy Fallon on NBC; and Ewan McGregor and Regina Spektor on The Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson on CBS

What to TiVo: Friday

BuzzSugar — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 23:50:03 -0700

ABC is new with Supernanny, Ugly Betty, and 20/20
CBS is new with Ghost Whisperer, Medium, and NUMB3RS
FOX has a repeat of House
NBC is new with Law & Order and Dateline NBC
The CW is new with Smallville and has a repeat of America's Next Top Model
AMC has Young Frankenstein
MTV is new with MTV Ulalume: Howling at New Moon
USA is new with Monk and White Collar
E! is new with The Soup
VH1 has The Jacksons: An American Dream
Late-night highlights include Regis Philbin and Weezer on The Late Show With David Letterman on CBS; John Cusack on The Jay Leno Show on NBC; Alice in Chains on The Tonight Show With Conan O'Brien on NBC; Paris Hilton and Slipknot on Jimmy Kimmel Live on ABC; Lauren Graham on The Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson on CBS; Wanda Sykes and Andrew Bird on Late Night With Jimmy Fallon on NBC; and Masi Oka on Last Call With Carson Daly on NBC

Join the BuzzSugar Community!

BuzzSugar — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 06:30:00 -0700

I've given you guys tons of Halloween stuff to get you in the spirit, but if you're the kind of person who enjoys scary movies or TV shows all year 'round, check out the BuzzSugar Community. It's full of groups devoted to spooky entertainment offerings like these guys.

Ghost Whisperer Fans	Twilight the Saga	Vampire.Witch.Halloween.enthusiast
Hooked on Vampire Diaries	The Friday Night Horror Club	True Blood Southern Vampire Series

What to TiVo: Friday

BuzzSugar — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 23:50:00 -0700

ABC is new with Supernanny, Ugly Betty, and 20/20
CBS is new with Ghost Whisperer, Medium, and NUMB3RS
FOX is new with Brothers, 'Til Death, and Dollhouse
NBC is new with Law & Order and Dateline NBC
The CW is new with Smallville and has a repeat of America's Next Top Model
MTV is new with My Super Sweet Sixteen and My Super Psycho Sweet 16
TLC is new with Say Yes to the Dress
USA is new with Monk
E! is new with The Soup
Late-night highlights include Amy Poehler on a repeat The Late Show With David Letterman on CBS; Colin Firth and First Lady Michelle Obama on The Jay Leno Show on NBC; Robin Williams on a repeat of The Tonight Show With Conan O'Brien on NBC; Catherine Keener on Jimmy Kimmel Live on ABC; Julia Louis-Dreyfus on The Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson on CBS; and Kristen Wiig on a repeat of Late Night With Jimmy Fallon on NBC

What to TiVo: Friday

BuzzSugar — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 23:50:00 -0700

ABC is new with Ugly Betty and 20/20
CBS is new with The Ghost Whisperer, Medium, and NUMB3RS
FOX has Major League Baseball
NBC is new with Law & Order and Secrets of the Lost Symbol
The CW is new with Smallville and has a repeat of America's Next Top Model
Bravo is new with 13 Scarier Movie Moments
MTV has repeats of Pranked and Nitro Circus
TLC is new with Say Yes to the Dress
E! is new with The Soup
Showtime has a repeat of Dexter
USA is new with Monk
VH1 has repeats of My Antonio and Real Chance of Love 2: Back in the Saddle
Late-night highlights include Uma Thurman and Tim McGraw on The Late Show With David Letterman on CBS; Rachel Griffiths and John McCain on The Jay Leno Show on NBC; Dashboard Confessional on The Tonight Show With Conan O'Brien on NBC; Michelle Monaghan and Toby Keith on The Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson on CBS; Serena Williams on Jimmy Kimmel Live on ABC; and Gina Gershon on Late Night With Jimmy Fallon on 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!