BuzzSugar

Should William Shatner Have Been in the New Star Trek?

BuzzSugar — Fri, 15 May 2009 14:30:26 -0700

During the run-up to the premiere of J.J. Abrams's wildly successful Star Trek reboot, William Shatner was not shy about expressing how hurt he was to be left out of the movie.

Recently, two of the movie's writers said in an interview that there was a scene written for him originally. Ultimately, though, their idea didn't feel "organic" enough and they didn't end up using it.

Now that I've seen the movie I still can't decide if including Shatner would have been a good idea or not. On one hand, it's a nice nod to older fans and could have been an easy passing-of-the-torch gesture. On the other hand, if a scene doesn't work it doesn't work, and making a good movie was obviously the top priority for Abrams and his team.

What do you think? Should the new Star Trek filmmakers have found a way to include Shatner?

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Link Time! 9/9

BuzzSugar — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 13:32:56 -0700

Apple has upgraded its iPod Nano, iPod Touch, and iTunes application. - geeksugar
Five reasons to look forward to ABC's The Unusuals - already! - TV Squad
On a scale of 1 to 10: What's the likelihood you'll see the just-announced Jessica Alba movie, An Invisible Sign of My Own? - Popwatch
The CW should take the diversity of America's Next Top Model and spread it to some other primetime shows. - Jezebel
Four - count 'em, four! - new Andrew Bird songs. - You Ain't No Picasso
JJ Abrams explains why there will be no William Shatner cameo in the new Star Trek movie. - Cinematical
A new Bob Dylan music video? Yup. - Stereogum

Mad Men Holds Court at TCA

BuzzSugar — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 12:32:37 -0700

The centerpiece of Wednesday's presentations at the TCA press tour was the panel discussion with the cast and creator of Mad Men. More than a few critics who were in the room called the session a total lovefest, and it's easy to understand why. Creator Matthew Weiner is legendarily tight-lipped with details about plot twists, but he and his actors did let a few tidbits slip in the session:

Season two, which starts later this month, will pick up in February 1962, 14 months after the season one finale.
As the show goes on, we can get used to those kinds of time jumps: Weiner has "a five-year plan" for covering the '60s, ending up in roughly 1968 by season five (though Weiner insists there's no plan set in stone for the series and its storylines).
In the season's second episode, Pete Campbell will suffer a major tragedy, and the script will be about how someone reacts to bad news versus how they should react.
The cast still only rarely gets recognized on the street, but one of the biggest tragedies for the female cast members is that they can't wear their own favorite vintage clothes anymore lest someone think they're in costume.
The interaction that seems to best sum up Weiner's attitude about spoilers:

Question: What would you say to the viewers who will tune into the premiere and will want to know immediately what happened with Peggy and the baby?
Answer: I'd say trust me, I will give you the information as you need it, in the most entertaining fashion.
Remember that New York Times story about Weiner and Mad Men from a few weeks back? Weiner apparently thought it captured him perfectly.

As for the goings-on at the rest of TCA, just read more.

David Alan Grier is bringing a sketch show called Chocolate News to Comedy Central.
The newest dirty job to get its own show: New York City tunnel-diggers, on the History Channel.
Apparently there is a TV network called Retirement Living TV. Every day, I mourn the fact that the Puppy Channel from this This American Life episode was just a wee bit before its time.
Attention William Shatner fans: He's getting a talk show.
Note to self: never ask Eriq LaSalle about ER.

HBO is up later today and there's already lots of news coming out, so I'll share that in just a bit!

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What Will William Shatner Name His My Little Pony?

BuzzSugar — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 10:32:46 -0700

This AP story first caught my eye because the headline is so funny - especially with the image of a My Little Pony: "Sunshine, rainbows, James Spader?"

Sunshine, rainbows, James Spader, indeed. Apparently, cast members of Boston Legal (does this TV show choice seems random to you, too?) will design My Little Ponies to be auctioned off for the Give Kids The World charity "as part of a celebration of the toy's 25th anniversary." Who else is designing ponies? To find out, read more.

Spader and his costars on the show, Candice Bergen and William Shatner will contribute designs, along with a smattering of others: LeAnn Rimes, Deborah Gibson (another iconic presence from my youth!), actor Danny Aiello, Spanish illustrator Catalina Estrada, "New York graffiti artist-turned-designer Claw Money and Japanese manga artist Junko Mizuno."

The AP goes on to explain My Little Ponies:

The pastel-colored ponies - with names like Rainbow Dash and Daybreak - usually sport decorations on their hind quarters, often of hearts, balloons or stars. The celebrities and artists were given blank, 18-inch versions of the usually 4-inch-tall ponies to decorate, Hasbro spokesman Dan Benkwitt said.

Did you used to play with My Little Ponies? What do you think will end up on Shatner's pony's hind quarters?

And finally, I must note here that, upon reading this news, CitizenSugar (who gets to Sugar HQ way earlier than any of the rest of us) quipped: "I hear the NIH classified ponies as the key to 'whinny-ing' the war on illness!" Ha. Ha ha.

The Results Are In: Recast "Gilligan's Island"

BuzzSugar — Tue, 25 Sep 2007 16:36:04 -0700

Every Wednesday on BuzzSugar, I post a Recast challenge, where I ask you to choose new actors for a classic TV show or movie. The reader who submits the best cast wins a BuzzSugar t-shirt!

The cast of "Gilligan's Island" is a fun one to recast because the characters are of various ages, so you can pick your favorite actors of several different generations. I absolutely loved many of RCLdesigngirl's picks, like Ginnifer Goodwin as Mary Ann, Donald Sutherland as Thurston Howell III, and Becki Newton as Ginger.

I also enjoyed pistonsjenny's idea of Phillip Seymour Hoffman playing Skipper, and the idea of Jason Schwartzman as Gilligan, suggested by both LaLa0428 and HelloKittyMini. Finally, I think GiggleSugar and Moley25's pick of Rachel Bilson as Mary Ann is a very cute idea.

Yet my favorite cast list overall this week comes from eme391! To see who eme391 picked, along with a new cast photo, read more

eme391's cast:
Gilligan - John Krasinski
Skipper - William Shatner
Mary-Ann - Alyson Hannigan
Ginger - Kate Walsh
The Professor - James Denton
Mr. Howell - Alan Dale
Mrs. Howell - Swoosie Kurtz

Emmy Breakdown: Supporting Actor in a Drama

BuzzSugar — Fri, 17 Aug 2007 07:15:00 -0700

In the weeks leading up to the 2007 Primetime Emmy Awards, I'll be looking at the nominees in some major categories and trying to predict who's most likely to win in these Emmy Breakdowns. Up today: Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series, which really seems like a toss-up.

Michael Emerson ("Lost") - Everyone loves to hate Emerson’s character Ben. A clever, cold-hearted villain of the worst kind, Ben is a master of manipulation, always playing on peoples’ worst fears. He’s outrageously evil, but what makes Emerson’s performance so riveting is that he sometimes manages to make Ben seem almost… sympathetic! Against my better judgment, there have been times when even I have fallen prey to those huge, round, unblinking eyes and believed every cunning word. Emerson makes me loathe Ben as a magnificently bad guy, but I’m also fascinated by him and think he makes a worthy adversary for those we consider the good guys, like Locke. I would not be surprised if Emerson had the voters under his spell as well. Chance of winning: High

Michael Imperioli ("The Sopranos") - How much do the Emmys really want to celebrate "The Sopranos" this year? If they truly want to shower the show with awards, then I could easily see this going to Imperioli; Christopher was always among my favorite supporting characters on the show, and the episode he submitted ("Walk Like a Man") was chilling. Then again, he's won before, and voters might want to recognize someone new here. Chance of winning: High.

To see my thoughts on the other four nominees just read more

T.R. Knight ("Grey's Anatomy") - Knight's nomination makes me feel a bit uncomfortable, and I'm not sure I can pinpoint quite why. On the one hand, I think Knight proved himself as an actor on "Grey's" this season, especially in the episodes he submitted (the "Six Days" installments, in which George deals with his father's illness). On the other hand, there was just so much on- and off-set drama this year, with Knight at the center of much of it. Fair or not, I think that makes him a little bit poisonous for voters. Chance of winning: Low.

Masi Oka ("Heroes") - Aside from being outrageously likable onscreen, Masi Oka has proven himself a versatile actor, which is most apparent in the episode that is submitted for consideration (“Five Years Gone”, or "The String Theory"). In this episode, the charming innocence and sweetness that Oka gives to Hiro’s character is turned on its head when Oka portrays a “future Hiro” in addition to the "present-day Hiro." The two Hiros meet which makes for many hilarious lines and interactions. Most of all, however, I was floored at Oka’s ability to make the same character seem older, wiser and more bitter. Oka is excellent in most every episode of “Heroes,” but even if voters only know this episode of his work, I predict they'll be very impressed. Chance of winning: Moderate to high.

Terry O’Quinn ("Lost") - The character of John Locke had one hell of a Season 3. Anyone following the show for all three seasons knows that O’Quinn is a solid and consistent performer, but this was definitely his season to shine as Locke came to terms with his daddy issues, grappled with his feelings about the Island and the Others, and played all sorts of power games with Ben (played by Michael Emerson who is, ironically, also nominated in this category). He’s had to go from flashbacks in which he seems weak and sad to being a total badass on the Island. I’m a huge fan of O'Quinn and I’m thrilled that he has been recognized with the nomination, but given the incredible competition in this particular category, I think his chances are only so-so. Chance of winning: Moderate.

William Shatner ("Boston Legal") - If we know two things about Emmy voters, it's that they like a) "Boston Legal" and b) William Shatner. He's now been nominated three times for the show, and he's won once. But I find his nomination in the category strange, especially considering the number of quality performances on shows that are more strictly dramatic; I always think of Shatner's role as comic relief on a show that's frequently silly anyway. Do I think he deserves to win? No. But he still might. Chance of winning: Moderate.

O'Quinn, Emerson, Shatner and Knight photos copyright 2007 ABC, Inc.
Imperioli photo Source
Oka photo Source

Big Changes Coming for "Boston Legal"

BuzzSugar — Thu, 14 Jun 2007 05:30:00 -0700

The offices of Crane Pool & Schmidt are going to look quite different come fall. Several "Boston Legal" cast members won't be returning to the show, while two new actors are joining the cast and a third will become a series regular.

Don't worry: William Shatner, James Spader and Candace Bergen aren't going anywhere. But Julie Bowen, Mark Valley, Rene Auberjonois and Constance Zimmer aren't so lucky; they weren't given the option to renew their contracts in an effort to keep the show fresh, according to David E. Kelley Productions.

Meanwhile, John Larroquette will be joining the cast to play a senior partner from the firm's New York office who transfers to Boston. Tara Summers (Abby from "Dirt") will play a junior partner at the firm, and Christian Clemenson will become a series regular, ensuring more screen time for his character, Jerry "Hands" Espenson.

I'm not a regular enough watcher of "Boston Legal" to know how much these changes will affect the show. Will the departures matter? Or is the show really a Spader/Shatner/Bergen affair?

What Do You Think About the Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama?

BuzzSugar — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 19:32:08 -0700

Michael Emerson is taking home the Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama for Lost! He beat out Christian Clemenson, William Hurt, Aaron Paul, William Shatner, and John Slattery.

I am so excited he finally got the recognition after so many amazing seasons as Ben. What do you think about this win?

Vote on all my Emmy Awards polls here!