BuzzSugar

Watch, Pass, TiVo, or Rent: The Goode Family

BuzzSugar — Wed, 27 May 2009 11:30:37 PDT

Tonight, ABC will premiere The Goode Family, an animated series from King of the Hill's Mike Judge about a family of politically correct folks (vegans with a dog named Che who only buy organic, etc.) with an over-the-top desire to do right. Know anyone who fits that description?

Judge is a funny guy, and the strong voice cast includes Nancy Carell and Linda Cardellini - but this show still has me on the fence. Sometimes I think it's hilarious, while other times it just makes me cringe. Check out the clip below and tell me: Are you waiting eagerly to watch this one tonight? Will you TiVo it for later viewing? Or do you plan to skip it completely - or hold out to see if it makes it to DVD one day?

Do You Know Anyone Like The Goode Family?

TresSugar — Wed, 27 May 2009 09:00:00 PDT

An extremely politically correct cartoon-family is coming to a television near you. Mike Judge of King of the Hill and Beavis and Butt-head fame has created a new show - The Goode Family - which premiers on ABC tonight.

The Goodes are many shades of green. They use reusable shopping bags (not the ones made in sweat shops), drive hybrid cars, recycle, and ask themselves: what would Al Gore do? In addition to being environmentally conscious, they're also socially aware: they're vegans, have a dog named Che, and they even adopted a little boy from Africa. (Once they adopted Ubuntu, they found out he was actually born to white Afrikaans parents in South Africa. They still have him wear traditional African dress.)

The premise sort of reminds me of the South Park episode all about smug people in San Francisco. In that episode, the "smug" (smog) from preachy, hybrid car owners ends up causing an environmental disaster. Despite the similarities in using progressives as their targets, The Good Family does treat the earnest clan a little kinder than South Park would, making it apparent that the characters have genuine intentions.

Do you know anyone that tries a little too hard to do good(e)?

ABC's Fall Schedule: My Take (With Video!)

BuzzSugar — Tue, 13 May 2008 16:30:24 PDT

I just finished watching ABC's upfront presentation to advertisers, where the network's executives went over the schedule that was announced this morning and showed clips of the new shows - including Life on Mars, pictured above. The presentation gave me some insight into what ABC's thinking with its schedule, which only includes two new shows for the Fall:

Basically, Fall 2007 was so nice, ABC wants to do it twice. "By far, we had the best Fall in decades," entertainment president Stephen McPherson said, "and then came the lovely strike." So the network is mostly doing it over, bringing back the majority of the new shows from last year.
That doesn't mean ABC isn't actively developing shows for later in the year: They've picked up 20 pilots, split pretty evenly between comedy and drama.
McPherson promoted a few of those shows in his presentation, including Four Play, the new comedy from Will and Grace creators David Kohan and Max Mutchnick. If the show is as funny as those two were just talking about it, we'll be in for a treat.
Also funny: clips from ABC's remake of the Web series In the Motherhood. It reminded me a bit of Bravo's Significant Others if all the characters were moms battling bratty children.
On the downside, the presentation ended with clips from Wipeout, the game show with people falling and running into things. The voiceover dared me not to laugh. I didn't laugh.

To see what I thought of the new shows - Life on Mars, reality show Opportunity Knocks, and animated series The Goode Family - and see clips and pictures of them for yourself, just

Life on Mars
I was pleasantly surprised at how faithful the trailer for this BBC remake seemed to the original - and maybe I'm warming to Jason O'Mara as time-traveling detective Sam Tyler after all. Here's a video and pictures:

View 9 Photos ›

Opportunity Knocks
This traveling game show seems family-friendly almost to a fault. It definitely reminded me of the Saturday morning game shows of my childhood. I see it as more a companion to America's Funniest Home Videos, though, not necessarily anchoring Tuesday night.

The Goode Family
This animated series about a family of vegan, politically correct, recycle-happy folks from King of the Hill's Mike Judge could either be hilarious or unbearable. From the clip, I was actually leaning toward unbearable. What's your take?

View 6 Photos ›

Oh, and here's a Scrubs-on-ABC promo, just because:

ABC's Fall Schedule: Like 2007 All Over Again

BuzzSugar — Tue, 13 May 2008 09:30:02 PDT

ABC revealed its Fall TV schedule at the 2008 upfronts this morning, and, well, it looks pretty familiar. The network is bringing back many of the new shows it introduced last Fall, plus renewing a large number of its other series.

Only two new shows will be on the schedule come Fall: The adaptation of British series Life on Mars and a reality show called Opportunity Knocks, a sort of mobile game show produced by Ashton Kutcher. Among last year's shows, Eli Stone is indeed returning, while Women's Murder Club, Cavemen, Miss Guided, Cashmere Mafia, and Carpoolers said farewell.

ABC has a couple of other shows ready to go for midseason, including an animated series called The Goode Family from Mike Judge and yet another Kutcher-produced reality project, this one a beauty pageant that has Tyra Banks on board as well. And then there's Scrubs, relocated from NBC, which will also premiere at midseason.

Here's ABC's official press release, and to check out the full schedule and descriptions of the new shows, just

All caps = new show
** = new timeslot

MONDAY
8 p.m. Dancing with the Stars
9:30 p.m. Samantha Who?
10 p.m. Boston Legal**

TUESDAY
8 p.m. OPPORTUNITY KNOCKS
9 p.m. Dancing with the Stars results show
10 p.m. Eli Stone**

WEDNESDAY
8 p.m. Pushing Daisies
9 p.m. Private Practice
10 p.m. Dirty Sexy Money

THURSDAY
8 p.m. Ugly Betty
9 p.m. Grey's Anatomy
10 p.m. LIFE ON MARS

FRIDAY
8 p.m. Wife Swap**
9 p.m. Supernanny**
10 p.m. 20/20

SATURDAY
8 p.m. College football coverage

SUNDAY
7 p.m. America's Funniest Home Videos
8 p.m. Extreme Makeover: Home Edition
9 p.m. Desperate Housewives
10 p.m. Brothers and Sisters

Midseason: Lost, Scrubs, The Goode Family, According to Jim, The Bachelor, Primetime: What Would You Do? and the Kutcher/Banks reality project.

Here's how ABC describes the new shows:

Life on Mars
Life on Mars is based on the BBC series created by Matthew Graham, Tony Jordan and Ashley Pharoah. The series revolves around Sam Tyler, a modern-day police detective who, after a car crash, mysteriously finds himself transported back to 1973 and still working as a detective.

Life on Mars stars Jason O' Mara as Sam Tyler, Rachelle LeFevre as Annie Cartwright, Colm Meaney as Gene Hunt, Stephanie Jacobsen as Maya, Lenny Clarke as George Randall, Patrick Wenk-Wolff as Colin Raimes and Richard Benjamin as Milton Kornboll.

Opportunity Knocks
Opportunity Knocks is a new show that breaks the mold of typical game and reality shows. We will be showing up on America's doorstep and testing how well they know their family. Our mobile team will arrive at "Anywhere, America" in a semi-truck that is full of flat screen TVs, new furniture and big cash prizes that the family can win right there. We will take the action of a game show directly into our contestants' homes, setting up shop in a family's front lawn. The instant our host, JD Roth, knocks on the front door, the game will begin. Hollywood will invade a suburban neighborhood, and each week one lucky family will play the game of a lifetime in front of all their friends and neighbors.

The host poses trivia questions to family members based directly on their lives, each other and articles found in and around their home. If they're able to prove they know their family inside and out, they'll win the prizes of their dreams.

The Goode Family
A new animated series from Mike Judge, creator of King of the Hill. The Goode Family is obsessed with doing the "right" thing, whether it's environmentally, politically or socially. Unfortunately their efforts often have unintended comic consequences.

"The Goode Family" is voiced by Mike Judge as Gerald, Nancy Carell as Helen, Dave Herman as Ubuntu and Abby Elliot as Bliss.

Untitled Ashton Kutcher/Tyra Banks Reality Project
A beauty pageant unlike any you've ever seen, from executive producers Ashton Kutcher and Tyra Banks.

The Family Dinner - How Often Does It Really Happen in Your Home?

Lisa Horten — Fri, 25 May 2012 08:13:15 PDT

Like all good intentions (especially those pertaining to parenting, it seems), the family dinner is a concept that's great in theory but difficult in execution. If your kids are little, then you're likely to be walking a tight line between dinner and bedtime. Then, as they get older, sports practices and after-school activities get in the way. And that's not even factoring in Mom and Dad's professional, social, and otherwise time-consuming obligations.

Anyway, we "get it," so we're hoping you'll share . . . Exactly how often does your entire family sit down and eat dinner together? Let us know in the poll below, and share your additional thoughts, frustrations, tips, and tricks on the matter below. No judgment - we promise!

Cannes Minireview: The Sapphires

Allie Merriam — Thu, 24 May 2012 03:05:00 PDT

The Sapphires has turned out to be one of the sleeper hits to emerge from Cannes, thanks to The Weinstein Company, which has already acquired rights to the film. I caught a screening of the funny film from Down Under during the festival, so read on to find out what I thought.

Who's behind it? Director Wayne Blair was behind the lens of the picture, which is based on a play by Tony Briggs. Briggs's mother and her family actually inspired the story. Chris O'Dowd of Bridesmaids fame is the leading man. The movie's four leading ladies all have varying degrees of fame in Australia: Jessica Mauboy is a musical star after a turn on Australian Idol, and Deborah Mailman was the first Aboriginal actress to win the country's prestigious Australian Film Institute award for best actress. Relative newcomers Miranda Tapsell and Shari Sebbens round out the cast.
What's it about? It's a story about a group of Aboriginal women who overcome significant obstacles in Australia to pursue their dreams of singing in 1968. When the ladies run into Dave (O'Dowd) at a local singing contest, he agrees to be their manager and help them get a gig touring Vietnam to entertain US troops. There are subplots about racism and Australia's "lost generation" (until the 1970s, the government stole light-skinned Aboriginal children to be raised by whites elsewhere). Mainly, though, there is a lot of singing, dancing, and '60s-era costumes.

To read what I thought, just read more

Cannes Minireview: No

Allie Merriam — Wed, 23 May 2012 03:05:00 PDT

Two hours with Gael García Bernal, anyone? The Mexican actor only made one film last year, the Spanish-language No with director Pablo Larraín. Larraín is a well known in his native Chile, which was been the subject of two of his films so far. No is the third in a planned trilogy about his homeland, and it premiered at the Cannes Film Festival this week.

Who's behind it? Director Pablo Larraín rounded up a group of actors he usually works with, including Antonia Zegers and Alfredo Castro, for the project. Bernal came in as his leading man to round out the cast. Sony Pictures Classics has picked up North American distribution rights for No.
What's it about? The picture is set in 1988, the year Chileans were able to vote in a referendum for or against continuing the 16-year dictatorship of Gen. Augusto Pinochet. Gael plays René Saavedra, an ad man who accepts the potentially dangerous job of spearheading the TV campaign for the people against Pinochet - those who will vote "no" in the election. He's tasked with finding a unique and novel way to get the message across. René also has some family issues and is focused on raising a young son after separating from his wife.

To find out what we thought of the movie, just read more

5 Things You Always Wanted to Know About Paying For College

LearnVest — Wed, 23 May 2012 00:15:23 PDT

Paying for college is such a complex issue. LearnVest helps simplify it by answering some key questions in regard to paying tuition.

If you believe everything you read, then you might think you need to be a Rockefeller to have kids.

That, of course, isn't the case.

Yes, kids are expensive, and thinking about paying for a college education can be scary and frustrating . . . but that's where we come in.

As with everything else in life, figuring out what to do about your kid's college savings is all about the planning, says Stephany Kirkpatrick, CFP, LearnVest's director of financial planning. Depending on where you are in life right now and how old your kids are, you may have questions about how to set up a 529 plan (which is an education savings plan designed to help families set aside funds for future college costs), what to look for, and when to start saving.

If you're pregnant or have a newborn and are starting to think about this, then good for you! The earlier you get started socking away cash for their college, the easier it will be. You'll learn a lot in this article, but you should also check out our Baby on Board Bootcamp, which will tell you everything you need to know - financially - to be ready for a baby. It includes 529 advice, as well as financial tips on everything from putting together a will and picking out a life insurance policy to buying nursery basics.
If your kid is slightly older and you’ve done your research but haven’t yet started saving in a 529 plan, then first read the four mistakes to avoid when choosing a 529 plan, and then check out the different college savings plans available to you.
If this is the first you’re thinking about it, no matter your kid's ageI, then don't worry about it. You have to start somewhere!

Read on for more.

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.

Make Your Lil Graduate's Day Extra Special: 9 Fun Party Ideas For Pre-K and Kindergarten Celebrations

Lisa Horten — Mon, 21 May 2012 13:26:00 PDT

While this year's graduation may not be taking your little one much further than a new school down the block (thank goodness!), their achievements still deserve a celebration. Whether you're having a bash for the whole class, a graduation day playdate for a few friends, or just want to make family dinner extra special, here are nine fun ideas to celebrate your little grad. Oh, the places they'll go (one day)!