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TV Tonight: The Black List on HBO

BuzzSugar — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 14:30:07 PDT

Back at Sundance, the documentary The Black List, Vol. 1 was getting glowing praise from all those who were lucky enough to make it into a screening. HBO had already nabbed the rights to show the film, and tonight, it makes its broadcast premiere.

The film is a series of 22 short portraits of renowned figures from sports, politics, business, government, and the arts talking about race and the role it has played in their lives and work. Among the interviewees: Keenen Ivory Wayans, Toni Morrison, Chris Rock, Serena Williams, National Urban League President Marc Morial, and many more. NPR host and journalist Elvis Mitchell conducted the interviews, but he's never seen or heard in the film; instead, the camera stays trained on the subjects as they speak their stories one by one.

The best way to get a feel for the film before its 9 p.m. premiere is to watch a few clips from the portraits, so to see a making-of promo and excerpts from the interviews with Chris Rock and Serena Williams, just

Photo courtesy of HBO

Buzz News Roundup, 4/18

BuzzSugar — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 13:31:25 PDT

According to ComingSoon, IFC has picked up Madonna's directorial movie venture, Filth and Wisdom, and will give it a theatrical run.
Scrubs and 30 Rock will swap timeslots starting next week, The Futon Critic reports.
Keyboardist Danny Federici of Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band has died at the age of 58, Billboard reports.
Howie Mandel will star in a new unscripted sitcom for NBC, TV Guide reports.
Variety reports that Jennifer Garner and her producing partner Juliana Janes now have a first-look deal with Warner Bros. for their production company Vandalia Films.
The AP has news about the Houdini musical coming to Broadway in the Spring of 2010.
Zap2it writes that HBO has documentaries lined up for Monday nights this summer, including Sundance hit The Black List and films about Roman Polanski and high school debate teams.
Ridley Scott will direct Casey Affleck in the period noir drama The Kind One, writes Variety.
Halle Berry will star in and produce the psychological thriller Frankie and Alice, ComingSoon reports.

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Live From Park City, It's the Sundance Film Festival!

BuzzSugar — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 05:30:55 PST

It's cold! It's crowded! It's the 2008 Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah!

I've been here a couple days now and have luckily managed to the avoid black ice and nosebleeds. On the downside, this year's festival seems to be so popular, it's hard to get into the film screenings! Still, this is my first time here at Sundance and I am in awe of this experience. So much great art, so much enthusiasm, so many film fanatics, each with his or her own celeb sighting. Gotta love it. I have a few days left here, but I've gathered some initial thoughts and observations:

Buzz around town is that American Teen is the documentary of choice. The movie "intimately follows the lives of four teenagers in one small town in Indiana through their senior year of high school." Morgan Spurlock's super-secretive Where In the World Is Osama? premieres today, however, so we'll see where it lands in the list of favorite docs.
The Wackness has been getting audience reviews that range from "eh" to "amazing!" One person I chatted with said it might appeal most to people who have done lots of drugs.

More thoughts if you

I've heard only glowing praise for The Black List, the rights to which HBO has already snatched up. Fingers crossed I get into a screening of that one.
Some of these snow drifts are so ginormous I can't see over the tops of them. This is scary and also awe-inspiring.
Leaving the screening for The Mysteries of Pittsburgh, all I heard around me were male voices prattling on about how "smoking hot" Sienna Miller is. Of course, this was often preceded by "I don't know about her acting, but . . ."
Spotted: Paris Hilton (surprisingly gracious with the flock of starstruck girls), Quentin Tarantino (way taller than I ever thought he was), Scott Wolf (about my height, which I kinda presumed), and Emily Mortimer (she's too adorable for words; also quite fashionable).
Also spotted, at the super fun Entertainment Weekly party were cast members from Brothers and Sisters: Matthew Rhys (Kevin Walker), David Annable (Justin Walker), and Emily VanCamp (Rebecca Harper). I was working up the nerve to go talk to David (who is ridiculously cute in person) when Emily came in and started making out with him. Now, I know in real life she's not actually his half-sister, but still . . . kinda weird.

More to come . . . stay tuned!

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Bar Refaeli Celebrates Her Hotness With Maxim

Katie Henry — Fri, 25 May 2012 10:18:22 PDT

Bar Refaeli hit the red carpet at Maxim's Hot 100 List party in NYC last night. She earned the top spot on the magazine's annual list and joins past winners Katy Perry, Eva Longoria, and Jessica Simpson. Though Bar's known for her bikini body, she opted for a sexy black L'Agence jumpsuit and a Christian Louboutin clutch for last night's soiree. Bar partied alongside Olympic athlete Shaun White, though when it comes to guys, apparently the supermodel has a tough time finding dates. Bar told Conan O'Brien about her personal woes, saying, "No one hits on me . . . no one flirts with me; it's very sad actually." We think Bar will probably be OK in the dating department, but she does need your help in the PopSugar 100. Be sure to vote for Bar and all your other favorite stars and don't forget that just by logging into your Sugar account and playing our PopSugar 100 faceoff game, you're entered to win $2,500!

Why Everyone (Even 20-Somethings) Should Make a Will

Business Insider — Tue, 22 May 2012 00:15:44 PDT

Getting a will is not just for those who are on the cusp of retiring. People of all ages should consider writing one, says Business Insider. Here's why.

Despite the well-known fact that everyone alive today will kick the bucket at one point or another, nearly 60 percent of Americans admitted in a 2011 poll conducted by online legal service Rocket Lawyer that they didn't have a will.

In fact, one-third said they'd rather do their taxes, get a root canal, or give up sex for a month than lay out their dying wishes in black and white.

All right, let's not get out of hand now.

Making a will these days is easier than ever, and if you've been putting it off simply because it seems daunting, then you could be making a big mistake.

"You do it for your family's [future]," says Rocket Lawyer founder Charley Moore. "[A will] enables you to start thinking about issues like whether you have the right insurance coverage, life insurance, and ways of replacing your lost income."

Whether you're 22 years old and just ran your umpteenth marathon or you're ready to retire, laying out an estate plan should definitely be near the top of your to-do list.

It's one of the three most important documents every adult should have.

Here are the other two, according to Moore:

A living will: Also called an advanced healthcare directive, a living will is where you lay out all the nuts and bolts of your end-of-life care. If you wind up in a coma or unresponsive in the hospital, then a living will can help your family decide how to handle your medical treatment.

Durable power of attorney: Choose an attorney you trust to administer your estate after your death, says Moore. He or she will be objective (unlike family members), and their entire job is to follow your wishes.

Read on for more.

Back on Track: Map Out the Week's Healthy Dinner Menu

Jenny Sugar — Mon, 21 May 2012 13:45:06 PDT

After getting home from a busy day of work, especially if I hit the gym, the same question always pops into mind - what to make for dinner? Without a plan in mind, it's easy to fall back on boxed mac and cheese or Chinese takeout, which aren't the healthiest options. To prevent scrambling to whip together a not-so-healthy meal, take time to map out your dinner menu for the week. Knowing which dishes you're making will also make you more efficient in the grocery store. Here's a sample menu (complete with a grocery list) that you can follow to ensure your weekdays always end in a nutritious meal.

Monday: Salad With Grilled Chicken and Fresh Strawberries

What you'll need:

Chicken
Fresh spinach
Carrots
Cucumber
Green peppers
Broccoli
Strawberries (feel free to add other fresh or dried fruits)
Avocado
Goat cheese (optional)
Your favorite dressing

Continue reading for the rest of the week's healthy menu and grocery list.

What to TiVo: Sunday

Maggie Pehanick — Sat, 12 May 2012 23:59:00 PDT

8:00 Once Upon a Time (new, season finale)
9:00 Desperate Housewives (new, series finale)

8:00 Survivor: One World (new, season finale)
10:00 Survivor: One World Reunion (new)

8:00 The Simpsons (new)
8:30 Bob's Burgers (new)
9:00 Family Guy (new)
9:30 American Dad (new, season finale)

8:00 Harry's Law (new)
9:00 Celebrity Apprentice (new, season finale)

Molly Sims on the Most Surprising Thing About Pregnancy, Her Glam Maternity Style, and More

Lisa Horten — Fri, 11 May 2012 08:12:58 PDT

She may be 34 weeks pregnant, but that didn't stop mom-to-be Molly Sims from squeezing time into her hectic schedule to chat with us. In addition to her acting and modeling work, Molly was recently named the Global Ambassador for Population Service International (PSI)'s child survival program, Five & Alive, and she's counting down the weeks until the birth of her baby boy.

LilSugar: Congratulations! How are you feeling?
Molly Sims: I'm coming into the end of my third trimester, and there's been a lot of swelling. I've been putting my feet up and soaking them in freezing cold water. That seems to work. We just went on the hospital tour and that made me a little nervous. I kept asking, "What's that?" and Scott [Stuber, Sims's husband] was taking notes on his BlackBerry. I said, "Can you tell we're first-time parents?!"

LS: Any other pregnancy tips and tricks that have worked for you?
MS: My back has been bothering me the whole time and the best investment I made was the Sleep Number bed. You can sleep with your feet up! It's great for my husband and I, and it means that he can rest without my waking him all throughout the night.

LS: You just had your baby shower - how was that?
MS: It was so great, just so much fun. We didn't really have a theme, but afterwards, we had a Cinco de Mayo party with everyone.

LS: Any favorite gifts?
MS: I love [online retailer] Layla Grace, and they sent me this supersoft rocking horse. I also got three great strollers - a Bugaboo that I'll use in New York, the Orbit System, which is supposed to be really easy to take apart, and then Baby Trend sent me a custom one - it's the coolest thing! I walk and hike a lot, so it was important to me to have a really good jogger. What's been great is that all of my friends have been giving me the products that they found really worked. There's so much out there, so that's been really helpful. I've also been working with Margot Stuart at Ready Me Baby. She helped me narrow down my Amazon Wish List to the 15 or so things that I really need.

Keep reading to see what's been the biggest surprise in Molly's pregnancy and her cravings.

5 Reasons Being a Single Man is Kind of Overrated

The Good Men Project — Fri, 11 May 2012 04:00:47 PDT

We're happy to present this story from one of our favorite sites, The Good Men Project. Today, Damon Young names five reasons being a single man is overrated.

While most will probably remember 2012 as the "Year Of The YOLO" (and by "most" I mean "like seven people"), it holds special significance for me because it’ll likely be the first year since 2002 where I spent the entire year single. I haven’t completed a full calendar year yet - May will make it seven months since the former Lady Champ and I decided to go our separate ways - but because I seem to enjoy doing random anthropological experiments on myself for absolutely no reason (and because I’m an INTJ and INTJs apparently suck at relationships), I’m confident that I’ll make it to 2013 without having to change my Facebook relationship status again.

Three Little-Known Stressors That Are Killing Men

Anyway, if I could sum up my seven months of singledom in one word, it would most likely be "interesting." I’ve met some "interesting" people, done some "interesting" things, made some "interesting" decisions, and, most importantly, thought some "interesting" thoughts. The most "interesting" of these "interesting" thoughts? Being a single man is kind of overrated.

Now, as I stated on the day where I wrote about orgasms, "overrated" doesn’t mean "bad." In fact, as the careers of Tupac and Derrick Rose continue to prove, something can be very, very good - even great - and still be overrated. I’ve enjoyed being single, and will likely continue to enjoy it. But, while it seems like many assume that being a single man (a single Black man, at that) is nothing but an utopic stream of easy popsicles and cold pancakes, there are a few downsides.

It can be very lonely. As a person who wanted to be single, is a natural introvert, and generally enjoys doing things by himself, I’m surprised by how, for lack of a better term, "noticeable" the solitude and loneliness of singledom can be. Even when seeing multiple people and/or having tons of friends, being single means that you are . . . single, by yourself, and there may be times when you want to have someone around but there will be no one that you want to be around readily available to be around.

Then, to add insult to injury, if you’re an angsty motherf*cker like me, you’ll start thinking things like "Wait. I’m a single man. A single Black man. My dad named me after Dolemite. Shaka Zulu is my second cousin. People who’ve never even met me call me "Champ" for chrissakes. Why the f*ck do I feel lonely right now?" which’ll make it even worse.

You have to wear condoms. And, wearing condoms sucks. If you’re one of the 137 people left on Earth who always has protected sex - even if in a long-term, monogamous relationship - just skip this section and move on to #3. Also, I’ve left a plate of gotdamn sugar cookies at the end of this post as a reward for your duty. Please eat them with a gotdamn smile.

If you’re not one of these people, you should be able to relate to how frustrating it’s been to go from condom-less sex to having to worry about having gotdamn condoms all the damn time. And, even if you’re not actively having sex, "Do I have condoms?" and "Since I don’t have condoms, is there somewhere close where I can buy them?" always has to be on your mind.

Also, from a logistical perspective, they’re a hassle to put on, they smell like a pack of slutty balloons, and "sex with condoms" will always be the Mike Conley of coitus. There is always the alternative - just don’t wear condoms while single, either - but I think one Cromartie per generation is enough.

(Btw, is it just me, or has the price of condoms spiked dramatically in the past four years? I was last single in 2008, and I don’t remember a box of condoms costing as much as it does to fill a gas tank. Does this qualify as a "first world problem?" If a Black blogger bitches about condoms in the woods, would Kanye’s missing draws make a sound?) As much as condoms suck, they don’t suck as much as . . .

Having to participate in the dating game. In a paradox so annoying that I almost didn’t mention it today because I plan on spending an entire day on this sole topic soon, I love meeting new, interesting women but I hate the process that usually goes along with meeting new, interesting women. I understand (and appreciate) the purpose of the process, but knowing why it’s necessary doesn’t mean that you have to enjoy it.

The superficial romantic connections synonymous with singledom gets old. Ironically, the best thing about being a single man - possessing the ability to have myriad short, commitment-free relationships AT THE SAME DAMN TIME!!! - ends up being one of the worst after enough time has passed. This actually hasn’t happened to me yet. I guess I’m still in the single honeymoon phrase. But, I’m certain it will, and the thought of this happening is already depressing me. Actually, this entire list is getting depressing. ***Making note to self to make sure tomorrow’s post is about the playoffs or strippers or something***

You start to realize some, um, "unpositive" things about yourself. I’ve been in three long-term - "long term" = "monogamous relationship lasting at least a year" - relationships as an adult. Each of these relationships failed, and my wanting to be single was the main catalyst behind each of these failures. Now, because I’ve always been a guy who did all the "right on paper" relationship things - I’ve never cheated, never physically or verbally abused any girlfriends, always followed the chivalry handbooks, etc - I’ve always assumed that I’m good at being a partner. But, these last few months have made me realize that I have some real deficiencies in the relationship department - personality quirks that have subtly sabotaged each relationship I’ve been in.

I wouldn’t quite call myself a trojan horse - the sabotage isn’t intentional (at least it’s not consciously intentional) - but I’m just not very good at this relationship thing right now, and I intend to spend the rest of 2012 trying to figure out why.
That’s it for me today. Fellas - single or coupled up - how do you feel about the concept of singledom? Is it all the beer commercials make it out to be, or do you agree that it may be slightly overrated? Also, ladies, are the "single man problems" expressed today at all similar to any "single woman problems?"

Queen Elizabeth Looks Like a Fairy-Tale Monarch at Parliament's Opening

Annie Scudder — Wed, 09 May 2012 10:45:14 PDT

Kate Middleton is a modern royal, most recently making an appearance last night at a black tie gala with a sky-high and surprisingly sexy slit in her dress. But today in full regalia, Queen Elizabeth II took royal watchers back in time during the state opening of parliament. Each year the queen marks the start of a new parliamentary session in the UK dressed in a regal fur coat and an imposing crown, technically called the State Diadem. In fact the crown, which has 1333 diamonds, rides to parliament in its own carriage, with the Cap of Maintenance and Sword of State. With all the trappings, Queen Elizabeth laid out the reforms coming up this year. After listing economic and other legislative priorities, the queen referenced plans that would allow the potential first-born daughter of Prince William and Kate Middleton to rule as queen one day. She said, "My government will continue to work with the 15 other Commonwealth realms to take forward reform of the rules governing succession to the crown." See photos of the event.