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What to Netflix: New DVD Tuesday

BuzzSugar — Tue, 26 May 2009 15:30:01 -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 my selections below, you can also add Jessica Biel's Powder Blue to your queue, along with the first season of Designing Women.

New in Town
Renée Zellweger stars in this quirky romantic comedy as Lucy Hill, a tough Miami executive who is sent to take over a processing plant located in the frozen tundra of New Ulm, MN. Lucy is supposed to lay off a bunch of employees, but the longer she's in town the more she sees how devastating her actions would be to the people of New Ulm who have been so gosh darn nice to her. The plight of the townfolk is given voice through the local ~~hottie~~ union rep, Ted (Harry Connick Jr.), who has lots of initial contempt for the new lady in town and sees Lucy as a corporate stooge. Until, of course . . . he doesn't.

This isn't the best thing you'll ever see but it's fun enough for a little movie romance on the couch. Special features include featurettes titled "The Folk Art of Scrap Booking" and "Pudding's Delicious Role," along with deleted scenes and audio commentary with cast and crew.

18%

One more up next so read more.

The Closer: Season Four
I haven't watched The Closer in a little while so I'll definitely be adding this to my queue. There are lots of fans of this show out there so I'll leave the season's description to some folks who know better than I (Netflix): "L.A.'s top high-priority homicide detective, Brenda Johnson (Kyra Sedgwick), returns to tackle more intriguing cases, such as the reappearance of a wanted psychopath, while trying to maintain her relationship with her fiancé, Fritz (Jon Tenney). This exciting and powerful fourth season blazes onto the screen as a murdered body is discovered in fire-ravaged Griffith Park."

Special features include unaired scenes, observational tips from an FBI interrogator, a gag reel and a featurette titled, "A Day in the Life of a Homicide Detective: Series star Corey Reynolds rides along with retired LAPD detective Mike Berchem."

TV Tonight: Amy Sedaris Takes on The Closer

BuzzSugar — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 09:30:54 -0800

I can't quite explain it, but there's something just completely adorable to me about imagining Kyra Sedgwick and Amy Sedaris in a room together. I think the two would have hilarious conversations. And tonight, we get to find out what it's like when they're acting side-by-side, as Sedaris shows up on the first of two episodes of The Closer.

Just from these brief video clips, it looks like she's perfectly suited to the role: Sedaris plays Fritz's sister, Claire, who shows up to help Brenda prepare for her wedding. And to say she's quirky is a bit of an understatement: She's a vegan home cook (it's hard to watch Sedaris present trays of carrot casserole and not think about her cheeseballs!) who also fancies herself a psychic - er, rather, an intuitionist. She ends up tagging along for one of Brenda's investigations, which should be a sight to behold.

Want to get an early look at Sedaris on the show? Just read more.

Photo courtesy of TNT

TV Tonight: The Closer and Saving Grace

BuzzSugar — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 05:15:53 -0700

A while ago, I speculated that TNT was becoming the official network of strong women. Tonight, two of the shows that have made it that way return for new seasons: The Closer begins its fourth season at 9 p.m. EDT and PDT, while Saving Grace starts its second immediately after.

The Closer has been a standout for several years now and spent last season shattering cable ratings records (many of which it already owned). The show has also earned wide acclaim for Kyra Sedwick as the no-holds-barred interrogator Brenda Leigh Johnson, who's practically a fixture in the Emmy and Golden Globe nominations these days. When this season begins, wildfires are tearing through Los Angeles, and Brenda is there to unleash her fury on anyone who seems to have done wrong.

Meanwhile, Saving Grace starts season two with Holly Hunter's Grace continuing to come to terms with her past - which seems to be darker and more haunted at every turn. Hunter spoke with reporters last week, including yours truly, and I'll be bringing you some of her comments later today. For now, though, you can get a sneak peek of the new episodes of The Closer and a quick recap of the first season of Saving Grace if you read more.

Source

TNT and TBS: The Official Networks of Strong Women?

BuzzSugar — Thu, 01 May 2008 15:44:25 -0700

I got a promotional e-mail today touting the Summer programming lineups on TNT and TBS. As I scrolled through looking for a return date for The Closer (July) and a start date for Raising the Bar (September), a banner at the bottom caught my eye:

"Kyra Sedgwick, Holly Hunter, Laura San Giacomo, Jordana Spiro, Nancy Travis, Jane Kaczmarek, and Gloria Reuben are just a few of the strong women coming to TNT and TBS this summer."

And they have good reason to spotlight that: Of the five series featured in the e-mail, only one (The Bill Engvall Show on TBS) has a male character in the lead. The rest are either female-led or have women in the majority of the starring roles: My Boys on TBS and all three of TNT's dramas, The Closer, Saving Grace, and the new series Raising the Bar. And, what's more, three of those four series have leading ladies over the age of 40 - a relative rarity in Hollywood.

I'm not sure if TNT and TBS set out to become networks full of programming featuring women who are tough, quirky, and relatable (and succeeding in roles typically earmarked for men, at that), but regardless, I find it encouraging that it's happened. They aren't the only networks in this game; FX's Damages drew a ton of acclaim with Glenn Close in its leading role. I just like the fact that these networks see their roster of shows with older, female stars not as a risk but as something to be celebrated. What's your take?

The Closer Returns with a Christmas Special

BuzzSugar — Mon, 03 Dec 2007 12:31:37 -0800

The Closer is going home for the holidays. Tonight, TNT will air a special two-hour version of the show called "Next of Kin."

The special finds Krya Sedwick's Brenda heading home to Georgia over Christmas - but she's there on business, not family matters, at least at first. A gang robbery of armored cars leads Brenda back home in pursuit of a suspect. But once Brenda's parents learn she's nearby, they start lobbying her to spend Christmas with them as a family. TNT's description of the episode promises the story involves "the federal Do-Not-Fly list, a long trip in an RV, missing Perry Como CDs and some questionable tactics that could, potentially, lead to deadly consequences on Christmas Eve." Sounds like a jam-packed two hours, indeed.

The special leads into the first of four new episodes of Saving Grace, the Holly Hunter series that premiered on the network this summer. I wish I'd kept up with the show better this summer, because its reappearance on Monday nights could give me something to watch now that Chuck and Heroes are heading off the air. Did anyone else stick with it? If you're like me and need to catch up on the first season, check out this quick recap. Or, you can watch a preview of the Closer special over here.

Photo courtesy of TNT

Buzz News Roundup, 9/12

BuzzSugar — Wed, 12 Sep 2007 15:33:48 -0700

Rolling Stone reports that the White Stripes have canceled their fall tour on account of Meg's "acute anxiety."
According to the BBC, Ang Lee has cut out 30 minutes of his sexy espionage thriller Lust, Caution for audiences in China.
Variety reports that if you have On Demand service, you can watch all of NBC's pilots for free right now.
Former "Saturday Night Live" star Chris Parnell has joined the cast of the ABC comedy "Miss/Guided," Zap2it reports.
Variety reports that Run, Fat Boy, Run is the No. 1 movie in the U.K.
Led Zepplin is reforming for one night only, at a tribute show for the late Atlantic Records co-founder Ahmet Ertegun, Billboard reports.
"The Closer" broke its own cable ratings record for its season finale on Monday, writes the Hollywood Reporter, drawing 9.2 million viewers.
Things weren't as rosy for "Tell Me You Love Me" and "Curb Your Enthusiasm," both of which had disappointingly low ratings for their premieres, according to the Hollywood Reporter.
Paul Morrison will direct Little Ashes, a movie about the young life and loves of Salvador Dali, Luis Bunuel and poet Federico Garcia Lorca, says Variety.
Hollywood Reporter has news that Naomi Campbell will star in a film adaptation of the novel Bad Love.
Don Cheadle will star in a live-action film version of the 1971 children's book Hotel for Dogs, Variety reports.
Meanwhile, ComingSoon reports that Adam Brody and Josh Lucas have been cast in the drama Death in Love.

Source

Buzz News Roundup, 8/1

BuzzSugar — Wed, 01 Aug 2007 15:30:48 -0700

"The Closer" has been renewed for a fourth season, and the Futon Critic has all the details.
Meanwhile, ABC Family has ordered 10 more episodes of "Greek," Zap2it reports.
According to Hollywood Reporter, there will be a live-action Jack and the Beanstalk movie, starring Christopher Lloyd, Chevy Chase and Gilbert Gottfried.
Elvis's Graceland is getting even more over the top, writes Billboard.
ComingSoon reports that Ricky Gervais is set to star in a comedy titled Early Retirement about a workaholic who quits his job to spend more time with his family.
Kanye West has asked Peter, Bjorn and John to be his backing band when he plays in Sweden this month, Pitchfork reports.
Blair Underwood will join the cast of "Dirty Sexy Money," playing the nemesis to the wealthy Darling family, writes the Hollywood Reporter.
Variety reports that David Wain, "The Simpsons"' Harry Shearer and Rob Barrett are launching their own comedy site similar to FunnyOrDie called MyDamnChannel.
"Idol" finalists Sabrina Sloan and Sundance Head will record duets together for the Universal Motown label, Entertainment Weekly reports.

Source

Buzz News Roundup, 6/20

BuzzSugar — Wed, 20 Jun 2007 15:29:22 -0700

Monday's season premiere of "The Closer" broke the series' own record to become basic cable's all-time most-viewed episode of a series, Broadcasting & Cable reports.
Meanwhile, Lifetime's "Army Wives" has gotten more viewers every week, says the Futon Critic.
Children's series The Sisters Grimm, about orphaned girls Daphne and Sabrina Grimm (descendants of the Brothers Grimm), is being developed for the big screen with hopes to become "a huge family adventure franchise," Variety reports.
According to Pitchfork, we'll have to wait until 2008 for a new Magnetic Fields album, but on the bright side, Arcade Fire and LCD Soundsystem are touring together.
A "Speed Racer" cartoon is planned for Nicktoons and should launch around the same time as the Speed Racer movie, though the two projects technically aren't related, Variety reports.
Jack Black has been cast in Man-Witch as a man who realizes he is a witch but when he goes to witch school, he’s the only guy there, Zap2It says.
Toby Keith's new album, Big Dog Daddy, lives up to its name by landing at No. 1 on the Billboard charts.
Paula Marshall, recently of "Veronica Mars," will join the cast of "Nip/Tuck" when the new season begins, writes the Hollywood Reporter.
NME reports that the Black Crowes, Andrew Bird, and John Mellencamp are among the artists contributing to the Song of America tribute album conceived by Janet Reno.
Marc Foster, director of Finding Neverland and Monster's Ball, will direct the next James Bond film, Bond 22, says Reuters.

TNT Brings Us "The Closer," "Heartland" Tonight

BuzzSugar — Mon, 18 Jun 2007 16:44:02 -0700

Much of this season's best TV is on cable, and tonight TNT premieres its first round of summer shows: the third season of "The Closer" and the first of "Heartland."

I rarely go out of my way to watch "The Closer," but when I do catch it, I'm never disappointed. As cop dramas go, it's pretty by-the-books, with decent (if not groundbreaking) cases for Deputy Chief Brenda Johnson (Kyra Sedgwick) and her team to solve. But the plot matters less than Sedgwick's strong performance: Her engaging presence invites us to try to make sense of Brenda, a tough yet lovable bundle of neuroses. I love how she takes no sass from nobody, but still maintains her Southern sweetness in a job that can break the best of 'em. Even though I'm just an occasional viewer of the show, I can understand why Sedgwick took home the Golden Globe for best dramatic actress this year.

Unfortunately, judging by its first episode, "Heartland" isn't yet a worthy companion to "The Closer." Treat Williams stars as Nathaniel Grant, a talented transplant surgeon whose philandering and single-minded dedication to his work have screwed up his relationship with Kate (Kari Matchett), who works as a counselor for the families of organ donors. The medical parts of "Heartland" are perfectly adequate, but when the show focuses on the characters' personal lives, it can be downright dreadful. Something about the pacing in the first episode seemed off, too, as if the show were simultaneously trying to do too much and not advancing the plot carefully enough. Still, it wasn't unwatchable, and true medical show junkies might want to give it a shot.

To watch previews for both shows, read more

Source

TBS, TNT to Put Shows Online This Summer

BuzzSugar — Wed, 30 May 2007 16:33:13 -0700

TBS and TNT are getting into the online-TV act with their summer series. Much like ABC and NBC, the networks will be making each new episode of several original series available online at 3 a.m. the day after they air. The networks are the first major cable networks to commit to streaming a whole season of shows, though some smaller networks have tried it and other large ones have made individual episodes available online.

Episodes of original series "The Closer," "Heartland," "Saving Grace" and miniseries "The Company" will be available on TNT's Web site, while the TBS site will have episodes of "My Boys," "Tyler Perry's House of Payne," "The Bill Engvall Show" and "The Frank Show." "The Closer," "The Bill Engvall Show," "My Boys" and "The Frank Show" will also be available on iTunes.

I think this is a great idea - as long as they make the episodes available to as many people as possible. Right now the whole first season of "My Boys" is online, but only those with Windows computers can see it.

"The Closer" photo Source