BuzzSugar

Buzz In: What TV/Movie Characters Did You Look Up To?

BuzzSugar — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 14:30:12 -0700

I don't think about her often anymore, but the news that Danica McKellar (aka. Winnie Cooper on The Wonder Years) recently got married reminded me that once upon a time I wanted to be Winnie Cooper. At the time, I'm not even sure it had much to do with the character's personality - I think I just coveted her long, straight hair. But for whatever reason, I thought Winnie Cooper was totally rad. I was also slightly obsessed with Punky Brewster and wished I were as fun and fearless as she seemed to be (when I wore mismatching sneakers, it just looked like a sad mistake).

One of my other major "role models," of sorts, was Chris Parker (Elizabeth Shue) from Adventures in Babysitting. I think more than anything I wanted her to be my babysitter, but I also admired Chris and wanted to be like her - clever, pretty, able to improvise a blues song when need be - when I grew up.

What about you? What characters on TV and in the movies did you think were just the coolest?

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The Results Are In: Recast The Wonder Years

BuzzSugar — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 14:30:40 -0700

Every other 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!

Thanks to all of you who chimed in with suggestions for The Wonder Years, which is a challenging one due to all the young characters. I really like the ideas for Winnie Cooper, including Whip's suggestion of Selena Gomez, and agree I with arienne that Madeline Zima would have been perfect if she were a tad younger.

And then of course there's the all-important Kevin Arnold to recast (it's so hard to think of anyone but Fred Savage in that role!). Nick Jonas, as leeluvfashion suggests, definitely has the right hair for the period and there were several suggestions for Michael Cera which is actually right on in terms of little Kev's neurotic nature.

But as you know, I could only choose one and the winning recast's suggestions for Winnie and Paul totally won me over. Congratulations johnsonkm20!

To see who johnsonkm20 chose, along with a new cast photo, read more.

johnsonkm20's cast list:
Kevin Arnold - Natt Wolff
Paul Joshua Pfeiffer - Alexander Gould
Gwendolyn "Winnie" Cooper - Anna Sophia Robb
Jack Arnold - Scott Patterson
Norma Arnold - Robin Wright Penn
Karen Arnold - Sara Paxton
Wayne Arnold - Chris Hunter
Mr. Cantwell - Bob Saget

Recast The Wonder Years and Win a Prize!

BuzzSugar — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 07:30:20 -0700

Every other 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!

Last week there was news that NBC has ordered a pilot by the writer of The Wonder Years that will be similar in tone to the classic dramatic series, except it'll take place in the '80s. So even though it's not a remake, I thought it would be fun to recast Kevin Arnold and gang anyway! I loved this show set in the late '60s/early '70s, and the first few lines of the opening credits song still give me goosebumps.

So, who could possibly play Kevin Arnold, the tween at the heart of the show? What about his nerdy, loyal friend Paul, and his childhood crush (whose hair I wanted so badly!) Gwendolyn "Winnie" Cooper?

Let's also recast the rest of the Arnold family: Kevin's dad Jack (played with perfect moodiness by Dan Lauria), stay-at-home mom Norma, Kevin's free-spirited sister Karen, and big brother from hell, Wayne. And for kicks, who could play Mr. Cantwell, the junior high school science teacher, famously portrayed by Ben Stein?

Leave your entry in the comment section below, and I'll pick one winner to feature Tuesday, Sept. 16, complete with a "new" cast photo.

To see a list of characters to recast and a photo of the BuzzSugar t-shirt, read more.

Characters to recast
Kevin Arnold (Fred Savage)
Paul Joshua Pfeiffer (Josh Saviano)
Gwendolyn "Winnie" Cooper (Danica McKellar)
Jack Arnold (Dan Lauria)
Norma Arnold (Alley Mills)
Karen Arnold (Olivia d'Abo)
Wayne Arnold (Jason Hervey)
Mr. Cantwell (Ben Stein)

The BuzzSugar t-shirt

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NBC Gets Itself Lost in the '80s With Wonder Years-Style Show

BuzzSugar — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 15:35:22 -0700

Imagine The Wonder Years, but with Jordache jeans, mall hair, and music with heavy synthesizers. That's part of what NBC has in mind for its new drama pilot called Lost in the '80s.

The project comes from Bob Brush, who won an Emmy for his writing on The Wonder Years and envisions this pilot as a companion piece to the earlier series - not a remake, just a show with a similar feel set 20 years post-Kevin Arnold. A couple of other notable things about it:

In addition to the Wonder Years tone, the show is being described as Fast Times at Ridgemont High meets The Ice Storm.
Among those who have signed on to produce is Arrested Development's Mitchell Hurwitz.

My first thought was, "Sounds like Freaks and Geeks with a voiceover." But having tossed it around for a while, I think this show could be a great idea. After all, I watched the '60s-set Wonder Years while growing up in the '80s; now, 20 years later, why shouldn't today's tweens get to connect with a next-generation Kevin and Winnie?

Do you think a Wonder Years-style show about the '80s has potential?

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Buzz Brainteaser

BuzzSugar — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 04:30:51 -0700

Welcome to Buzz Brainteaser, the trivia feature on BuzzSugar! Every weekday I'll test your knowledge about TV shows, music, and movies. If you enter in the correct answer, you win points! Name the artist who sings the song used as the theme song for The Wonder Years.
Note: Not the artist(s) who did the original version of the song, but the artist whose version was used for The Wonder Years.
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Buzz Brainteaser

BuzzSugar — Tue, 11 Sep 2007 04:30:00 -0700

Welcome to Buzz Brainteaser, the trivia feature on BuzzSugar! Every weekday I'll test your knowledge about TV shows, music and movies. If you enter in the correct answer, you win points! True or False:
(Just type in either True or False below, no other explanation is necessary)
In "The Wonder Years," Winnie's older brother returns from the Vietnam War with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.

What to Download: New Music Today

BuzzSugar — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 14:30:29 -0800

Time for more Tuesday entertainment! I've already shared a few new DVD releases to give your movie library a shot in the arm, but now, let's amp up your iPod. Big-name albums hit shelves today, so be sure to read up on these three. (And if you want to see your own music reviews featured on Buzz, submit them in the Music Review Group in the community!)

Fan-pleasing pop: American Idol fans rejoice: you've said that you're interested in post-AI albums, and now Kris Allen's anticipated self-titled debut is finally here. The song selections started a bit bland for me, but Allen picks up momentum with "The Truth" and the soft but moving ballad "Bring it Back." Both songs get needed oomph from orchestral accompaniment to create a sweeping sound that's sure to make Allen aficionados swoon. As for the rest of the album, it's predictable, but likable, much like the singer himself.

Why the sad face? Listening to John Mayer's latest, Battle Studies, you've got to wonder who ripped his heart out - Jessica Simpson? Jennifer Aniston? Every song is about a hurt guy who doesn't want to love again. Sensitive crooning isn't anything new to Mayer, but this time, it feels like mundane easy listening. I long for the days of "No Such Thing" when we had a more upbeat Mayer, or the Mayer who can riff on the guitar like nobody's business. But we don't really get either here. Still, it's worth noting his collaboration with Taylor Swift on "Half of My Heart," and my personal fave, "All We Ever Do Is Say Goodbye."

See one more release when you read more.

Diva in training: Leona Lewis burst onto the scene two years ago with "Bleeding Love," and now she returns with her sophomore follow-up to Spirit, Echo. Lewis hits the high notes - and she'll once again draw comparisons to Mariah Carey - but the lyrics don't always pack the same punch, and they often feel like recycled love musings. I was pleasantly surprised, however, to see Lewis branch out of her usual comfort zone with the dance track "Outta My Head" and "Can't Breathe," which goes heavier on the R&B. If you've seen those Precious promos, you've heard another song from the album, "Happy," but it was recently announced that Lewis will be providing the title track for the film Avatar, so listen for her voice to show up there, too.

What to Netflix: New DVD Tuesday

BuzzSugar — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 06:30:00 -0800

There's a silver lining to TV shows going into reruns, and it's more time to watch movies! Happily, today there are a few highly-anticipated flicks, and I've gone through them to tell you What to Netflix. In addition to the three movies mentioned below, you can also catch Robert Pattinson's pre-Twilight dramedy How to Be.

Star Trek

This year's updated version of Star Trek turned the franchise on its head. With hot young things Chris Pine and Zachary Quinto in the beloved roles of Captain Kirk and Mr. Spock, the film completely changed the series' history so they could start over with a fresh new story.

It worked like gangbusters: the space-set action movie is clever, entertaining, and tons of fun. It manages to make a sex symbol out of a pointy-eared geek, whom I personally drooled over. The movie manages to pay respect to the original, so those fans are still happy, while pleasing folks who weren't fans of the first (like myself).

The DVD's got lots of extras, including deleted scenes, a special feature on casting and a gag reel.
95%

See two more movies releasing today when you read more.

Bruno

Sacha Baron Cohen's mockumentary follow up to 2006's wildly successful Borat, Bruno is more of the same: cringe-worthy setups that make for laughs. This time, though, the envelope that was pushed in the former is torn to pieces in the latter. It's not for the faint of heart or easily offended, but if you like Baron Cohen's humor, you'll appreciate the awkward-beyond-words situations.

I was torn - I wanted to laugh as hard as I did at Borat, but most of the time I was just wincing.

DVD extras include alternate and deleted scenes, as well as enhanced commentary.

67%

My Sister's Keeper

Need a good cry? Rent the tearjerker My Sister's Keeper. The drama stars Cameron Diaz as a mother presiding over her Leukemia-stricken daughter Kate, and the child they had in order to provide a kidney donor for Kate, Anna - who's played wonderfully by Abigail Breslin. When Anna sues her own parents for the rights to decide what to do with her own body, Diaz and her husband Jason Patric try to figure out what's really going with her.

I was definitely moved by the film, but you'd have to be made of stone not to, considering the subject matter. If you read the book, take heed: the ending in the film isn't exactly the same.

47%

Buzz Gift Guide: The Girly Girl

BuzzSugar — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 12:30:56 -0800

We've all got one: that best friend, sister, cousin, or co-worker who just can't enough pink. She's the one who's hosting the Sex and the City marathons and insisting that everyone drink cosmos. Luckily, the girly girls of the world are among my favorites to shop for!

Confessions of a Shopaholic is the perfect chick flick to watch with friends, while Madonna's Celebrations anthem is a must for great pre-party tunes. Be sure to check out all of my gift guides plus holiday coverage across the PopSugar Network as the most wonderful time of the year steadily approaches!

FlashForward Breakdown, "Playing Cards With Coyote"

BuzzSugar — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 12:30:30 -0800

After Al's tragic suicide on last week's episode of FlashForward, this week shows how the idea of "changing the game" has affected all the characters. Mark and Olivia start to find new hope for their relationship, Lloyd teaches Simon a lesson, and Aaron learns more about where his daughter has been for the past two years.

Ready to get into all the details? Just read more.

"The future can be changed": Al's death makes headline news when Celia gets her letter in the mail, instilling hope in Mark and Demetri - for a bit. Mark whisks Olivia off on a romantic getaway and things seem to be much happier between the two. But once they're back to regular life, they both get a reality check: Mark gifts her the lingerie she's wearing in her flash forward, and Aaron's reunion with Tracy makes Mark go back to believing that the visions may be set in stone.

The stars are aligned: Mark thinks he has a big lead when some footage shows up of a man he recognizes from his vision - a woman named Ingrid reports a crime and her phone images reveal a man with a tattoo of three stars on his arm. Thinking it's the same pern who breaks into his office in the future, Mark immediately dedicates himself to finding the guy. Using Ingrid as bait, Mark manages to take kill him, and rushes home to Olivia to tell her that they're going to have a second chance because he changed the game. But then - surprise! There's a whole crew of dudes with that tattoo. Um, seriously Mark? This never occurred to you? It's not like the guy has an unmistakable tattoo of Edward Cullen on his arm.

That was a crazy game of poker: Feeling guilty about that whole deadly experiment thing, Lloyd sends out an email to a few colleagues saying "We have to take responsibility." Of course, Simon isn't pleased about Lloyd's plans to go public and wants to settle their argument over a game of Texas hold 'em. There's plenty of trash talking from Simon, who thinks that he and Lloyd are gods for the impact they've had on the planet. He tosses around ideas of fate (was anyone else thinking about Lost's Charlie and his fate finger tape?) and just when Simon thinks he's sitting pretty, Lloyd turns the tables with a sleight of hand. (Some U2 lyrics come to mind here). Somehow I still don't think Simon is going to make it easy for Lloyd to publicize what they've done.

Reunited and it feels so good? Tracy is back at home with Aaron, but she's not exactly the same girl that went off to war. She's lost her leg in combat and suffering from PTSD, which she's reluctant to discuss with her dad at first. Feeling confident from his flash forward, Aaron encourages Tracy to open up about what happened overseas. She finally reveals that her near-death experience was an ambush from Jericho, a group of military contractors that she ratted out after seeing something she shouldn't. Tracy is paranoid after living a life on the run for two years (and is not at all pleased when Aaron talks to Mark about her situation). Though keeping track of all the different characters and their separate story lines is getting confusing, I'm liking this new development in Aaron's story.

Other plot points:

Janice tries to quit but Stan won't let her. As she continues to contemplate Al's death and her vision, she starts looking into sperm donation - does this mean those are tears of joy in her flash forward?

Ingrid says that she remembers one of the shooters saying "QED," which is also brought up during Simon and Lloyd's poker game.

Ingrid and her bird collection can be added to the list that already includes the crows and the bird crashing into Fiona's window.

So, is that Simon strangling Nicole in her vision? Creepy. I'm wondering if she finds out his secret and tries to intervene.

How'd you feel about this week's episode? Any new theories on what's going to happen over the next few months? Let's get the conversation going!