BuzzSugar

Fall TV's Five Toughest Tradeoffs

BuzzSugar — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 08:30:13 -0700

"What am I going to watch tonight?" Once Fall TV kicks in next week, that question gets more complicated. New series will duke it out with returning favorites for TiVo space, and some of my beloved shows will go head-to-head. Though there are plenty of ways to watch everything eventually, a gal can still only watch one thing at once, so here are the toughest tradeoffs on my schedule - and how I plan to solve them.

No. 5: Dexter vs. True Blood (Sundays, 9 p.m.) - If you have both HBO and Showtime, you're going to have a tough choice come September. Six Feet Under's Alan Ball makes his return to TV with the vampire-themed True Blood on HBO, while Dexter continues his slashing ways over on Showtime. Should you watch what could be the next big cable series - or the one that's a solid hit right now? Verdict: Established Dexter fans should probably stick with that series, but if you're new to the show, I'd TiVo it and watch True Blood live.

For my top four toughest tradeoffs, just read more.

No. 4: Ugly Betty vs. Kath and Kim (Thursdays, 8 p.m. and 8:30 p.m.) - ABC vs. NBC has been a good battle on Thursdays for a couple of years now (though ratings-wise, CBS usually wins the night). This year's biggest new entry looks to be Kath and Kim, the Selma Blair and Molly Shannon comedy that's overlapping with the second half of Ugly Betty. Both shows feature a hearty helping of ludicrous fashion, and while Ugly Betty was starting to feel a little stale last season, Kath and Kim is something fresh. Verdict: For at least the first couple of weeks, I'd stick with Betty first. Kath is only a half-hour long, so it's probably easier to squeeze in a TiVo replay.

No. 3: Dirty Sexy Money vs. Lipstick Jungle (Wednesdays, 10 p.m.) - Two shows about rich, well-dressed people are going head-to-head on Wednesdays. Both have intriguing new stars (Dirty Sexy Money has Lucy Liu; Lipstick Jungle has Mary Tyler Moore), and both have promised lots of soapy goodness. Do you want to watch the one whose creators have said will be "dirtier," "sexier," and even "monier" this year? Or should you stick with that other show about money and sex (that is occasionally also dirty)? Verdict: Lipstick is only guaranteed seven episodes this season, so I'd make those my priority. Dirty Sexy Money will be around for a while, so if you end up TiVoing a few, they won't be irrelevant.

No. 2: Friday Night Lights vs. legality. (Constantly, starting Oct. 1) - So, FNL won't be back on NBC till the Winter, but it will be on DirecTV in October - and I can't see how NBC is going to be able to keep it offline after that. Not that I'm encouraging digital piracy, but it's going to be tough to know FNL is out there and still stay away. Yet if people watch illegally, the show might not get the ratings needed to keep it going on NBC. What's a fan to do? Verdict: Blame Zach Gilford for this one. At the TCA press tour, the alter ego of QB Matt Saracen said he'd suggest fans watch the online version but pledge to turn on NBC later anyway. Hey, I'm just the messenger.

No. 1: Gossip Girl vs. Chuck (Mondays, 8 p.m.) - So, which Josh Schwartz show do you like better: the one with all the sex and drama, or the one with the goofy spy stuff? Cause they're up against each other on Monday nights now, and you'll have to pick one to watch first. Granted, Chuck had the better ratings last year - but it's Gossip Girl that gets the buzz. Verdict: If your friends will all be talking about Blair and Chuck in the morning, watch GG first. Chuck deserves a TiVo spot for sure, though.

Photos courtesy of NBC, ABC, Showtime, The CW, Source, and Source

Fall TV Preview: Five New Shows to Watch

BuzzSugar — Mon, 17 Sep 2007 08:30:00 -0700

All summer long, I've been giving you my first impressions of the networks' new shows. Now, with fall TV upon us, it's time to tell you which shows are deserving of space on your TiVo and which ... well, aren't. Last week I told you about five shows I'll be skipping this fall and five that I think are total tossups. Today brings my favorite of the lists: the five shows that I think are most likely to earn a season pass on my TiVo.

5. "Gossip Girl" - Many of you have already gotten a chance to weigh in on "Gossip Girl," which certainly ranks among the fall's most highly anticipated shows. Like "The OC," which made "Gossip Girl" co-creator Josh Schwartz famous, "Gossip Girl" is all about the plight of super-rich kids who drink too much and make bad choices, and if you're not generally a fan of teen shows, "Gossip Girl" probably won't change your mind. But beyond the soapy exterior lurks an appealing (and generally age-appropriate) cast and an immensely popular book series from which any number of tantalizing stories can be drawn. I'm not sure it's the next "OC" quite yet, but the potential is there.

4. "Reaper" - "Reaper," a dude comedy from two women who earned their chops as writers on "Law & Order: SVU," could become one of the CW's first big breakout hits. Kevin Smith's influence can be felt all over the pilot, which showcases leading man Bret Harrison and hilarious sidekick Tyler Labine as a couple of unlikely heroes who work as bounty hunters for the devil. It's an unlikely premise, but it's got smart execution and humor to spare. But maybe the greatest thing about "Reaper" is the casting of Ray Wise as Satan himself; one look at that creepy smile, and I was sold.

For the top three I'll be watching, read more

3. "Dirty Sexy Money" - Any show starring Peter Krause will always get the benefit of the doubt from me, but "Dirty Sexy Money" didn't need any charity. The pilot episode was one of the strongest I watched. I have faith in the show's creator, former "Six Feet Under" writer Craig Wright, and I suspect that before long, this glitzy story of the high-powered Darling family and the well-meaning lawyer (Krause) who gets caught up in their antics will be must-see TV. In addition to Krause, there are several other standouts among the cast, especially William Baldwin and relative newcomer Seth Gabel.

2. "Chuck" - My words when I finished watching the pilot for "Chuck": "I don't know what that just was, but it was so much fun." It's the second buzzworthy show from Josh Schwartz this fall, and it's certainly the more whimsical of the two. Zachary Levi is instantly magnetic as a slacker who ends up being a key national security operative after the world's spy secrets are downloaded into his brain. The show has a fight scene with a ninja, a car chase involving a Volkswagen Beetle, and - as of last week - Rachel Bilson. If the show can maintain its sense of humor, it will deserve to be a hit.

1. "Pushing Daisies" - What can I say about this "forensic fairytale" that hasn't been said already? "Pushing Daisies," certainly the most-gushed-about pilot this year among critics, is unlike anything else on TV. It feels like a storybook, or a movie, or a particularly vivid dream I had once. Maybe the best word to describe it is "precious" - it's the kind of show that its fans will truly fall in love with. Lead actors Lee Pace and Anna Friel may be little known now, but that won't last for long if people tune into this gem. The immensely quotable script, inventive sets and unique characters should appeal to anyone looking for a little something different on television. It also features numerous shots of delectable pies, and if that doesn't earn it a spot on your viewing schedule, I don't know what will.

"Pushing Daisies" and "Dirty Sexy Money" photos copyright 2007 ABC, Inc.
"Reaper" and "Gossip Girl" photos courtesy of The CW
"Chuck" photo Source

Fall TV Preview: Five Total Toss-ups

BuzzSugar — Fri, 14 Sep 2007 06:30:00 -0700

All summer long, I've been giving you my first impressions of the networks' new shows. Now, with fall TV upon us, it's time to tell you which shows are deserving of space on your TiVo and which ... well, aren't. Yesterday, I told you about five shows I'll be skipping this fall, and on Monday, I'll be revealing my top five picks for the season. But today, I'm focusing on the shows that could go either way, just as likely to become megahits as they are to sink like stones.

5. "Bionic Woman" - "Bionic" has seen quite a bit of upheaval since the pilot I saw was filmed. One supporting part (the bionic woman's younger sister) has been recast and reconceived, and - just within the past couple of weeks - one of the executive producers left the show. In the version of the pilot I saw, lead actress Michelle Ryan didn't seem to have the sort of fearless toughness you'd want in an action star, and the whole thing seemed surprisingly low-energy. But now, "Friday Night Lights" producer Jason Katims will be consulting on the show, and NBC has ensured a steady stream of publicity by hiring Isaiah Washington for a guest spot. I'm still not confident about this remake, but I think it has an equal chance of being a breakout hit and a flop.

4. "Carpoolers" - I'm really of two minds about "Carpoolers." On the one hand, the whole idea of inane car banter is why I try not to catch rides with casual acquaintances. On the other hand, this pilot made me laugh surprisingly hard, and I'm finding myself rooting for it. The writing may not be completely there yet, but the comic timing from funny guys like Jerry O'Connell, Jerry Minor, Fred Goss, and potential breakout star TJ Miller gives me hope - as does that Phil Collins video. I'm not sure if I see it getting more than a "Knights of Prosperity"-sized following, but if enough people give it a chance, maybe it will be a small hit.

Three more tossups - plus a brand-new clip of the first few minutes of one of them - so read more

3. "Moonlight" - "Moonlight" is a toss-up in the truest sense of the word because it's gone through so many changes. Virtually everyone except lead actor Alex O'Loughlin has been recast since the spring, and I haven't seen either the old or the new versions of the pilot. I generally suspect this will be a cheesy mix of vampire myth and cop drama, and its Friday night timeslot tells me CBS doesn't have a ton of confidence in it either. On the other hand, CBS has had a good sense of humor in promoting the show - witness this "Interview with a Vampire" clip and the creepy vs. sexy video - and I think there are legions of "Angel" and "Buffy" fans who might latch on to this show.

2. "Aliens in America" - Of all the pilots I watched for the fall, this one about a friendship between a small-town Wisconsin kid and his family's Pakistani exchange student, left me the most conflicted by far. On the one hand, it made me laugh harder than any other comedy pilot, and the two young actors in the lead roles are charming and perfectly cast. On the other hand, many parts of the pilot made me squirm because I wasn't sure if I was supposed to be offended or amused. I have no idea where the show will go from here, and - more than that - I have no idea how people will react. Will they think it's sweetly hilarious or blatantly over the line?

1. "Private Practice" - So far, this show is nothing but a giant question mark. It's the only pilot the general public has seen, and so we've all had almost four months to rip the very special episode apart - and nobody's been shy about doing that.
Some critics who have seen the proper first episode of the series say the show has gotten itself together, while others say it's even more inane than we feared. For me, the whole point of Kate Walsh's Addison on "Grey's" was to be sassy, complicated, and tough-as-nails; on the snippets of "Private Practice" I've seen, she seems gigglier and girlier, without the backbone that made her such a gem. Creator Shonda Rhimes has said this show won't be "Grey's 2.0" - but it's too early to tell whether "Private Practice" will be able to capture any of the magic that made that show a hit. Just for good measure, here's the newest preview clip:

"Private Practice" and "Carpoolers" photos copyright 2007 ABC, Inc..
"Moonlight" picture courtesy of CBS
"Aliens in America" photo courtesy of The CW
"Bionic Woman" photo Source
"Moonlight" photo courtesy of CBS

Fall TV Preview: Five New Shows to Skip

BuzzSugar — Thu, 13 Sep 2007 07:30:00 -0700

5. "Life" - I was into the premise of this show about a detective who gets sentenced to life in prison and rejoins the police force after his wrongful conviction is overturned. But the show itself was such a bundle of cop-show cliches and random quirks that it was already grating on me by 10 minutes into the pilot. Lead actor Damian Lewis gives his best shot, but if the writers want to create a "House"-style misanthrope, they're going to have to do more than make him wax poetic about fruit all the time.

4. "Viva Laughlin" - I once declared this musical drama the pilot I most wanted to see ... but then I actually saw it. What a bummer. I thought it would be a fun, cheesy, over-the-top hit. In reality, the musical numbers that didn't involve Hugh Jackman fell flat, and the dialogue was cringe-worthy. I still hold out hope that it could get better, but I doubt it's going to be on the air long enough to improve.

Three more to be wary of, so read more

3. "The Big Bang Theory" - Look! It's smart guys who are too inept to date a hot chick! How revolutionary! I don't claim that every single TV show on the air has to be groundbreaking; sometimes I just want a quick, mindless laugh. But I would prefer that shows stop relying on the same old, tired, geek-vs-hottie, pretty-girls-are-dumb, smart-boys-are-hopeless brand of "jokes," and this show never really gets beyond that.

2. "Big Shots" - How do you screw up a show with three hot guys, one adorable smart guy, and a plum post-"Grey's Anatomy" time slot? You reach so hard for the "'Sex and the City' for men" premise that your characters must reinforce numerous times that they are not, in fact, women. There's just nothing here to hold onto besides trite story lines about adultery, unfulfilling sex and indulgent spending. This one has the star power to be a hit, but it needs some major retooling first.

1. "Cavemen" - I know. Shocking, right? The premise is just so flimsy here, and the joke so one-note, that I'm not sure there's any way this pilot could have overcome all the negative "you've got to be kidding me" press this show has gotten for months. I'll admit that there are funny things about this show (the costumes; the caveman who reads The Economist), but it still feels exactly like those Geico ads - and there's a reason they only lasted for 30 seconds.

"Big Shots" and "Cavemen" photos copyright 2007 ABC, Inc.
"Big Bang Theory" and "Viva Laughlin" photos courtesy of CBS
"Life" photo Source

Fall TV's Five Toughest Tradeoffs

BuzzSugar — Tue, 04 Sep 2007 07:30:00 -0700

"What am I going to watch tonight?" Come the start of fall TV this month, that question gets infinitely more complicated. New shows will duke it out with returning favorites for TiVo space, and some of my favorites will go head-to-head. A gal can only watch one thing at once, so here are the toughest tradeoffs of my fall TV schedule so far - and how I plan to solve them.

No. 5: "Chuck" vs. "How I Met Your Mother" & "Aliens in America" (Mondays, 8-9 p.m.) - "Chuck," one of my favorite new shows, is battling against the underappreciated comedy "How I Met Your Mother," which I've pledged to watch this season, and "Aliens in America," one of the most intriguing new shows. Which has more pull: My goofy TV crush on Zachary Levi, or my curiosity about where "Aliens" will go? Solution: Zach wins, at least so far. I'll watch "Chuck" live and TiVo the other two.

No. 4: "Reaper" vs. "House" (Tuesdays, 9-10 p.m.) - Cranky doctors, or the cranky devil? This one's a tough call. "House" had one of the better cliffhangers of the season last year, ending with House's entire team gone; "Reaper" was one of the most fun pilots I watched. I'll watch them both, but which comes first? Solution: At the start of the season, "House" comes first, but once things get back to normal at PPH, I might switch over to "Reaper."

For the rest of my tradeoffs, just read more

No. 3: "Private Practice" vs. "Gossip Girl" (Wednesday, 9-10 p.m.) - This fall, Wednesday TV in general is the best thing going, with ABC's killer lineup of "Pushing Daisies," "Private Practice," and "Dirty Sexy Money," plus "America's Next Top Model" on the CW and the possibly-could-be-good "Bionic Woman" on NBC. Of all the tough choices that night, the worst is at 9 p.m., with these two sudsy shows airing simultaneously. Do I want to watch young women who sleep with the wrong guys, or older women who sleep with the wrong guys? Solution: I'm curious to see if "Private Practice" is fabulous or a flop, so I'll watch that live at first; Josh Schwartz's newest teen heartthrobs will just have to wait.

No. 2: NBC Thursday vs. ABC Thursday (Thursdays, 8-10 p.m.) - So many TV favorites, so little time. Which takes precedence: ABC's dramedies, or NBC's comedies? Meredith Grey or Michael Scott? This was hard enough last year, but now that "The Office" and "Grey's" are airing at the same time - and especially with "The Office" being an hour long at the start of the season - it's much, much worse. Solution: I think I'll kick off my lineup with "30 Rock," then flip to "Ugly Betty," stay glued to ABC for "Grey's," and finish my night off right with "The Office."

No. 1: Friday TV vs. my life (Friday nights) - In the past, this was a no-brainer: Nothing good was on on Fridays! But this year, the networks have decided to make things difficult. "Friday Night Lights" is on Fridays now, along with Fox's music-centric lineup of "The Next Great American Band" and "Nashville," ABC's "Men in Trees," and CBS' "Moonlight." Dude, when am I supposed to watch movies? Solution: My life wins - a girl's got to step back from the TV every now and then, right? Besides, I think "FNL" goes well with Saturday morning brunch.

My 5 Favorite Comedy Couples

BuzzSugar — Fri, 29 Jun 2007 04:30:00 -0700

It almost seems unfair that some of the funniest people in Hollywood right now are also in committed relationships with each other. Hilarious, good-looking, totally in love - what more could anyone want? From Ben Stiller and Christine Taylor to Danny DeVito and Rhea Perlman, there are a ton of fantastic comedy couples out there right now. Here are my five favorites:

No. 5: Sacha Baron Cohen and Isla Fisher
Look at them! He's so tall and she's so utterly adorable! In my opinion, this couple absolutely has it all: They're both good-looking, smart, and hilarious, with his Borat-style improv and her Wedding Crashers cuteness. And soon there will be a golden child borne from their funny/beautiful loins. Okay, so maybe I'm a little too excited about Baby Baron-Cohen-Fisher, but come on: The little one will probably spring from the womb looking gorgeous and making inappropriate jokes about religion and politics and third-world countries.

No. 4: Portia de Rossi and Ellen DeGeneres
These two are endearing to me for a variety of reasons. For one, they seem to genuinely adore and respect each other. Secondly, they are individually hilarious, yet they rarely - if ever - tend toward gross-out, scatalogical or otherwise cheap humor, which is always honorable in my book. Third, they're an openly gay couple in a society and industry where that's still something to gawk at, and they conduct themselves with grace and elegance. Plus, Portia de Rossi is drop-dead gorgeous and they make a very handsome couple.

To see my three favorites, read more

No. 3: Steve Carell and Nancy Walls
Can you even imagine what it must be like for two former "Daily Show" correspondents to watch the late-night news together? Or, really, to do absolutely anything together? It makes me happy to think of Steve and Nancy going through life hand-in-hand, making fun of random things and cracking each other up at every turn. The thing I love most about them is how down-to-earth they seem, even though Steve's a major star now. I once saw a tabloid photo of them walking out of an ice cream parlor, and they each had huge cones and she was wearing one of those Little Miss T-shirts, and it struck me that a) they looked refreshingly normal, and b) they seemed to be having so much fun.

No. 2: Amy Poehler and Will Arnett
These two are fantastic individually, but what makes them stand out is how amazing they are together. Need proof? Some of my favorite "Arrested Development" episodes involved Amy playing Will's accidental wife, and they stole scene after scene as a brother-sister pair in Blades of Glory. Apparently all of Hollywood is starting to realize how great these two are as a set: They'll soon appear together in On Broadway and Spring Breakdown, and they're each set to voice a character in the Dr. Seuss adaptation Horton Hears a Who. I can't think of a better package deal in comedy.

No. 1: Judd Apatow and Leslie Mann
Leslie Mann is my favorite part of Knocked Up, a movie I loved so much it's hard to pick just one favorite part. And, of course, that movie - not to mention "Freaks and Geeks," The 40-Year-Old Virgin and many of my other favorite things - wouldn't exist without Judd's keen, clever vision of modern life. With the way he thinks and the way she delivers lines, they are a comedic powerhouse. I also find it totally sweet that their real children were in Knocked Up, lending a wholesome little element to a not-so-innocent movie. Kind of makes you wonder if there are lots of unseen Pearl-style home movies with little Iris and Maude Apatow floating around somewhere, doesn't it?

Source and Source

Top 5 TV Moments That Always Make Me Cry

BuzzSugar — Fri, 22 Jun 2007 11:29:34 -0700

I've said before that I'm a bit of a sap, and it's never more evident than when I break into tears while watching TV. There are a bunch of moments that always make me lose it - no matter how predictable or silly they are, no matter how many times I've seen them - and so, just in case you're feeling mopey today, I'm counting down a few of the scenes most consistently guaranteed to leave me drowning in a pile of soggy tissues.

No. 5: The final moments of "A Wedding Story"
There was a period in my life when I worked nights and had days free, and so my morning routine went a little like this: Wake up late, make lunch, turn on TLC, cry. The whole "A [Something] Story" block of programming could make me weepy - yes, even "A Makeover Story," in my weaker moments - but "A Wedding Story" was by far the worst. No matter what squabbles the couples had on their way to the ceremony, no matter how many disasters with the caterers or the parents, the couples always made it down the aisle just fine, looking beautiful and ready to say "I do."

No. 4: The crowning of the "American Idol"
It's one of the most predictable events in television, at this point. Most of the time, it's not even surprising to learn which of the final two "Idol" contestants is going home with the crown, and we've already heard the cheesy coronation song at least twice. But there's still something about an overwhelmed teen or 20-something getting showered with confetti and balloons, singing in front of an audience of millions and somehow holding it together despite the overwhelming emotions, that gives me chills - regardless of whether I even like the winner.

Three more, including my No. 1 scene guaranteed to bring the tears, so read more

No. 3: The big reveal on "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition"
My gym used to show ABC's programming block on Sunday nights, and I'd go early to make sure I snagged a treadmill in time for "Desperate Housewives." But I had to stop, because getting there early meant catching the part of "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" where the family in need gets their first view of their new house. I don't even like the show, but as soon as the kids of the family began screaming at the sight of their new racecar- or dolphin-themed bedrooms, I became mayor of Waterworks City - while simultaneously stumbling through a jog.

No. 2: The end of the "Grey's Anatomy" pilot
I was hooked on "Grey's" the moment the very first episode revealed that Meredith's narration had actually been a speech to her mother, who is so ravaged by Alzheimer's Disease that she no longer knows who Meredith is. There's this one perfect shot when Ellis looks up at Meredith blankly and asks "Are you a doctor?" that just makes me feel like I've been socked in the stomach - no matter how many times I watch it, even now that I know it's coming.

No. 1: The final moments of "Six Feet Under"
I always say that the ending of "Six Feet Under" is my favorite series finale ever, but to be honest, I didn't really even see it until the day after it aired - simply because I was too busy sobbing the first time through to see much more than a blur of shapes and colors. I don't want to say too much about it so as not to spoil it for anyone who might still be catching up on DVD, but it's the perfect mixture of satisfying moments and heartbreaking revelations. Because I'm a glutton for punishment, I dug up the YouTube video, but I seriously advise against watching it in public.

"Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" and "Grey's Anatomy" photos copyright 2007 ABC, Inc.
"Six Feet Under" photo Source
"A Wedding Story" photo Source
"American Idol" photo courtesy of Fox

90210 vs. Melrose Place: Which Was More Scandalous?

BuzzSugar — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 09:30:12 -0800

This week's CW drama block may have its share of cool guest stars like N.E.R.D. and Samantha Ronson, but, on the whole, it's a total mess. On the one hand, you've got the unstable girls of 90210 having emotional breakdowns at the drop of a hat; on the other, the Melrose Place residents are busy sneaking around to cover up their crimes. Personally, I was a bit annoyed by all the over-the-topness - especially you, Annie. Oh, and you, Ivy. But hey, at least it gives us a few surprising moments.

Ready to dissect each show and decide which packed more punch? (Warning: major spoilers!) Take a peek at my arguments and then weigh in with your own when you read more.

90210 point: Sasha is officially a nut job. First she tells Dixon that she's pregnant, but when Debbie gets wind of it, she questions Sasha even further to catch her in her baby lies. But the best part? When Debbie says the line, "It starts with you're not pregnant, and it ends with stay away from my son." Oh, snap! Congrats Debbie, you just went up a notch on the list of cool TV moms. Sasha backs off, telling Dixon she had a "miscarriage."
Melrose Place counterpoint: Did David kill Sydney? They sure try to make it seem that way. David tells Ella that he was blackout drunk that night after finding out that Syd was sleeping with his father - and then he has a flashback where he wakes up with blood all over himself and a knife in his hand. I gasped a little over the big reveal, but I'm not entirely convinced that David wasn't set up by someone else.

90210 point: Annie is getting in way over her head with Jasper, and unfortunately, she seems much too insecure to dig herself out. When Navid hears that Jasper is a dealer, he tells Annie and she confronts Jasper about it. Jasper wigs out, making Annie cry and beg forgiveness. Later, we see Jasper selling drugs to someone, so we know the rumors are true. For more on his buyer, keep reading.
Melrose Place counterpoint: Jonah makes out with Kendra, the hot movie producer, literally within the first five minutes of the episode. (That didn't take long.) He stops things from going further, but when he comes clean to Riley, he gets on her case again for her kiss with Auggie. She apologizes profusely, but the damage has already been done. By the end of the episode, I was thinking, Wait, did they actually just break up?! I don't think so, but if you stuck around for next week's promo, things do not look good for the engaged couple.

90210 point: Jen is back, throwing around her prima donna wicked attitude. She walks in on Ryan during his date with the bartender from the previous episode and goes into attack mode with the verbal jabs. ("You look older closer up.") Ryan is actually turned on by her jealousy, and the two become exclusive. But what I can't understand is why, after he knows that she lies, does he actually trust her story about Liam coming on to her? He totally buys it!
Melrose Place counterpoint: Auggie finally gives his a-hole boss Marcello a piece of his mind, er, fists. Marcello passes off one of Auggie's recipes as his own, and then he makes a few lewd comments about Riley - and you know how Auggie feels about Riley. He starts swinging, knocking Marcello out. Back at the apartment later, Violet shows up, and in a moment of what I can only blame on Auggie's emotional distress, the two finally knock boots. I'm guessing this means we'll be seeing Violet's worst kind of crazy very soon (right before she and Auggie say sayonara).

90210 point: Adrianna is inching closer to her previous life of drug use. It starts when she plays a song asking for Navid's forgiveness. (So cheesy!) He turns her down, so she continues sulking in bed, sobbing. Silver and Naomi want her to go to a meeting so she can stay clean, and with due concern - at the end of the episode, we see her buying from none other than Jasper.
Melrose Place counterpoint: Ella's squeaky-clean client, Jessie, is hospitalized with major cocaine in his system, so she begs Lauren to write a fake report citing an allergy as the cause of his stay. Lauren refuses. (Anyone else confused about why Lauren continues to take the high road, despite her side prostitution gig?) Ella then discovers a wad of cash in Lauren's room and realizes her Pretty Woman secret. Of course Lauren denies the accusations, but no matter - Ella decides to let her star take the fall anyway and promises to never question Lauren again.

90210 had way more melodramatic outbursts, but those ladies were so crazy that it kind of turned me off. (You girls give women a bad name. Even Violet seemed normal this week compared to you.) So I'm giving this week to Melrose by default: I was genuinely shocked at David's bloody flashback and the fact that Jonah has suddenly broken out of his perfect-fiance persona. I expect scandal from someone like Auggie or Ella, but from Jonah? Come on!

Do you disagree? Were you actually loving all of the melodrama on 90210?

Don't forget that you can also keep the conversation going over in the 90210 Superfans group in the Buzz Community. Check it out!

Photos courtesy of The CW

Box Office: Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs Shines Bright

BuzzSugar — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 05:45:03 -0700

This weekend's new movies were full of A-list talent but Sony's cute animated characters topped them all. Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs made $30.1 million at the box office. The children's book adaptation in 3D had a huge lead over The Informant!, which earned $10.5 million. Last week's champ, Tyler Perry's I Can Do Bad All By Myself, followed next at No. 3.

Unfortunately, the other new offerings of the weekend had disappointing debuts. Most of you said you were excited about Jennifer Aniston's Love Happens, but at $8.4 million the movie only made enough to garner fourth place. Jennifer's Body finished out the top five with $6.8 million.

Photo courtesy of Sony Pictures