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Buzz Gift Guide: Dear Old Dad

BuzzSugar — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 14:30:55 -0800

Yes, you read that right: the holiday season is already upon us! It's time to pack up our scary Halloween decorations and start brainstorming ideas for the perfect presents. I know how daunting holiday shopping can be, which is why I'm here to help you every step of the way for all the entertainment lovers in your life. Kicking things off: gifts for your proud papas.

Finding something great for my dad has always been a bit of a struggle, since he's already got a lifetime's worth of gadgets and gizmos, but that's where this guide comes in handy - he always needs new CDs for the stereo and some DVDs to help show off that plasma screen, right?

My parents love reminiscing about the '60s on Mad Men, and what dad wouldn't look dashing in Brooks Brothers' limited edition suit? It doesn't come cheap, but then again, neither does looking as suave as Don Draper.

Many dads, including my own, tend to love Ken Burns, so how about his latest doc, National Parks. Looking for something a bit lighter? As a die-hard Mel Brooks fan, I'm thinking of giving a Blu-ray box set of the classics including Space Balls and Young Frankenstein.

Our Review of Beatles Rock Band, Clooney Has a Naked Man Fan, and Using Facebook Instead of 911?!

Molly — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 14:17:19 -0700

Beatlemania returns today as The Beatles: Rock Band hits stores, and we're here with GeekSugar's review of the hotly anticipated new game! Plus, watch cute clips of George Clooney's indecent proposal and David Beckham with his family on Ellen. All that plus two Australian girls who got lost and instead of calling the police, they updated their Facebook statuses to get rescued. Check out PopSugar Rush now!

Buzz In: What's Your Most Memorable 3-D Experience?

BuzzSugar — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 12:30:00 -0700

There's no better way to say it: 3-D movies are so hot right now. You should keep those glasses handy, because Disney is planning a 3-D remake of The Beatles Yellow Submarine, with Robert Zemeckis at the helm. Apparently we can expect all the Beatles tunes we know and love, in a format similar to Zemeckis's upcoming A Christmas Carol.

3-D movies were a rare treat when I was kid, and the experience isn't exactly the same as an adult. Don't get me wrong - I loved every minute of Up, but nothing compares to the magic (and fear) I felt the first time I put on those glasses at Disney World to catch Michael Jackson in Captian EO. I'll also never forget when I saw The Nightmare Before Christmas in 3-D, and there was a sizable earthquake during the movie. For better or for worse, what's your most memorable 3-D experience?

Buzz In: What Is Your Favorite Beatles Song?

BuzzSugar — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 15:30:44 -0700

Come September, the songs of the Beatles will begin to be released digitally, starting with the album Abbey Road. On Sept. 9, when the Beatles version of Rock Band will be released, "All You Need Is Love" will be available for Xbox 360 users as a downloadable song with proceeds of the single being donated to Doctors Without Borders. You can check out a trailer for the Rock Band game over on geeksugar.

At the E3 conference in Los Angeles recently, Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, Yoko Ono and Olivia Harrison revealed 10 of the 45 songs that should be included in The Beatles: Rock Band: "I Saw Her Standing There," "I Want To Hold Your Hand," "I Feel Fine," "Taxman," "Day Tripper," "Back In The USSR," "I Am The Walrus," "Octopus's Garden," "Here Comes The Sun" and "Get Back."

Though the Rock Band thing is pretty cool, I'm also excited to see that Beatles songs will soon be released digitally. What are your favorite tunes by the Beatles? Could you pick just one?

Sound Off: A Beatles Video Game?

BuzzSugar — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 15:30:28 -0700

No, it's not going to be another Rock Band game, though it may not be too far off. MTV Networks is teaming with Harmonix and the Beatles' Apple Corps Ltd. to develop a video game "based solely and exclusively on the entire Beatles catalog." Billboard has more details:

The game is designed to take users on an "experiential journey" through the Beatles' career, music and vision. It will also include new types of interactive gameplay associated with the Beatles' imagery in addition to its music. Surviving members Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr, as well as Yoko Ono Lennon and Olivia Harrison, are involved in the vision and creative direction.

The music will come from master recordings of the Beatles' U.K. releases, but will not be remixed or remastered.

Apple Corps CEO Jeff Jones went on to emphasize that this announcement "was in no way meant as a precursor to the Beatles' catalog arriving at digital music services."

What do you think of this news? Many of you found it blasphemous when there was Beatles night on American Idol - should the video game industry also just leave them alone? Or is a video game just a video game, no big deal?

Source

If Money Were No Object, What Memorabilia Would You Buy?

BuzzSugar — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 16:30:04 -0700

Today Billboard is reporting that more Beatles memorabilia is going for big bucks. For one, "the hand-painted drum skin that appeared on the sleeve of the Beatles' ground-breaking 1967 album Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band sold for $1.1 million at auction on Thursday in London, four times its estimate." Additionally, John Lennon's handwritten lyrics to the song "Give Peace a Chance" went for $834,000.

Coincidentally, I also got a notice today about the couch used as "Dylan's couch" in Beverly Hills, 90210, which is up for auction. It got me thinking: If money were no object, what kind of music, TV, and movie memorabilia would I buy?

There are plenty of costume items that totally make me drool, like that green dress from Atonement, and of course, Audrey Hepburn's lovely black number from Breakfast at Tiffany's. Plus I know plenty of women who would love to have the tutu from the opening credits of Sex and the City. As for objects, it might be fun to own some of the bar stools from Cheers or the velvety Central Perk couch from Friends. And I would personally find it amusing to own one of Bill Cosby's famous sweaters.

What about you?

Source, Source and Source

Buzz News Roundup, 7/2

BuzzSugar — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 13:32:44 -0700

According to Variety, Josh Hartnett will be starring in a London stage production of the movie Rain Man, taking on the role originally played by Tom Cruise.
Rapper Young Jeezy will join the cast of Ice Cube's comedy Janky Promoters, Billboard writes.
Michael Imperioli will join the cast of ABC's Life on Mars, Variety reports.
Four more actors have joined the cast of the Night at the Museum sequel, including Christopher Guest, ComingSoon reports.
Entertainment Weekly reports that Criminal Minds looks like the next CBS show to get a spinoff.
Billboard writes that at a private concert this week, Pearl Jam helped raise $3 million for the poverty-fighting charity the Robin Hood Foundation.
TNT will remake the British series Cracker, about an abrasive and heavy-drinking detective, with Robert Duvall as an executive producer, Zap2it reports.
A lost interview with the Beatles has been aired on BBC radio, the Associated Press reports.

Source and source

Buzz In: What's Your Favorite Soothing Music?

BuzzSugar — Sat, 31 May 2008 13:30:19 -0700

Music is a very personal thing. What's pleasing to the ears of one person can be nails on a chalkboard to another. Even iPod playlists are like snowflakes: no two alike. But I find that people can be most varied when it comes to what they listen to when they need to be soothed.

The very definition of the word "soothe" is "to tranquilize or calm." Think auditory Xanax. A quick Amazon search of "soothing music" leads to mostly instrumental compilations meant to lull you to sleep. For me, these Enya-eque tunes are more boring than calming.

So, what mellows me? Well, a little Sade goes a long way. Her voice is sensually raspy, and I instantly get transported to whatever perfect-love scenario she's currently crooning about. The Beatles have a similar calming effect. It probably has something to do with growing up listening to their albums, back when I had no adult responsibilities. I asked Bella this question and she says calms the ol' nerves with The Sea and Cake.

What about you? What CD or artists do you listen to when you just want to kick back and relax?

Buzz News Roundup, 3/24

BuzzSugar — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 12:40:10 -0700

Billboard reports that Maroon 5 and Counting Crows are planning a spring and summer tour together starting July 25.
Gibson Guitar filed a patent infringement lawsuit related to Guitar Hero and Rock Band. According to Reuters, Gibson claims the games "violate a 1999 patent for technology to simulate a musical performance."
Kristen Bell has herself a leading man in Jon Heder who will play her love interest in Disney's upcoming romantic comedy When in Rome, Variety reports. Hopefully this love interest is nicer to Bell than this guy has been. Sheesh.
Sadly, Grammy-nominated singer Corinne Bailey Rae's husband died suddenly over the weekend. A musician himself, he was only 31 when he passed away.

Hollywood Reporter says the Scrubs cast is back to work, though it's still unclear what network they're actually working for.
The longtime friend and business manager of the Beatles', Neil Aspinall, passed away at age 66.
The LA Times reports that the new Pennywise album, Reason to Believe will be free for two weeks to fans starting tomorrow thanks to a partnership with MySpace Records.

Source

Beatles Night on American Idol: Awesome or Blasphemous?

BuzzSugar — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 11:40:08 -0700

When the top 12 American Idol contestants take the stage tonight, they'll be singing Beatles songs for the first time ever in the competition. I have to say, I'm feeling torn about it. On the one hand, Beatles songs are covered so often and so much I'm becoming desensitized to it (Target's version of "Hello Goodbye" with the pun "good buy" has stopped being so irritating, for example). On the other hand, stop butchering the Beatles!

What do you think about American Idols covering the Beatles? Is it going to be interesting and cool, or totally blasphemous?

Photo courtesy of Fox