BuzzSugar

Buzz News Roundup, 10/22

BuzzSugar — Mon, 22 Oct 2007 14:03:35 -0700

You were right: After just four days and two episodes, Viva Laughlin is the season's first scripted show to get canceled, writes The Futon Critic.
Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt will produce an HBO dramatic series following disaster-relief workers, and PopSugar has the details.
According to USA Today, we shouldn't believe those spoilers about which new House doctors are sticking around.
ComingSoon reports that Eva Longoria, Jason Biggs and Rob Corddry have signed on for an "elementary school comedy" called Lower Learning.
Paramount and MTV have signed on to create the fact-based drama Bong Hits 4 Jesus, writes Variety.

Niki Taylor and Tyson Beckford will host a Bravo modeling competition series called Make Me a Supermodel, Zap2it reports.
Billboard reports that Jay-Z will briefly tour to support his American Gangster album.
Reuters reports that musician Chris Isaak has been cast in the film adaptation of Bret Easton Ellis' The Informers.

Photo courtesy of CBS

TV Tonight: Viva Laughlin

BuzzSugar — Thu, 18 Oct 2007 05:30:00 -0700

I wanted to like Viva Laughlin. I really did. I had heard great things about its forefather, the BBC's Viva Blackpool, and I wasn't about to say no to anything that had Hugh Jackman spontaneously breaking into song. So the idea of cops and corrupt casino owners occasionally singing instead of talking sounded a little weird (or a little Cop Rock). So what? I thought this would be a risk sure to pay off for CBS.

And then I saw the first episode.

There are a couple of great minutes in the episode, which airs tonight after CSI (the series will air another new episode this week in the show's regular Sunday night time slot). They're the ones when Jackman is singing. Everything else varies from thoroughly "meh" (the majority of the plot) to kind of painful (the majority of the scenes with Melanie Griffith). One critic even went so far as to compare it to Showgirls - though I still think Showgirls is way funnier.

I'm glad CBS is trying to break out of its victim-of-the-week procedural box this year; I just wish this show could have been more fun. Are you game for giving it a shot? I'll still check out Sunday's episode, just in case. You can check out a couple of preview clips for tonight's episode if you read more

Photo courtesy of CBS

Fall TV Preview: Five New Shows to Skip

BuzzSugar — Thu, 13 Sep 2007 07:30:00 -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. Today, I'm starting off with five shows that - based on their pilots - you'd be best to steer clear of this fall.

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

Pilot Watch: "Viva Laughlin"

BuzzSugar — Wed, 12 Sep 2007 08:30:00 -0700

The networks have announced their fall schedules, but which of the series will actually be worth watching? Throughout the summer, as I watch the pilots, I'll be posting my first impressions. A lot can change before a show makes it to air, so these aren't comprehensive reviews, just quick thoughts on how the shows look now. Today's installment: "Viva Laughlin," a musical drama - yes, you read that right - from CBS.

What's it about? A Nevada casino owner battles rivals and tries to support his family, all while spontaneously breaking into song.

Who's in it? Lloyd Owen, Madchen Amick, DB Woodside, Eric Winter, Melanie Griffith, Hugh Jackman (guest star)

The good: The show is based on the British series "Viva Blackpool," and while I've never seen it, I've heard mostly positive things about it - so the concept, at least, is a good one. Jackman has a nice touch with the bizarre singing bits, even though his screen time is limited.

The bad: This show is seriously confused. Is it a campy, fun musical, or is it a murder mystery? The song-and-dance numbers seem half-hearted and poorly placed, but the parts of the show that aren't set to music are even worse. Owen plays off Jackman just fine, but he doesn't command attention on his own - and that's bad, because it's not known how much Jackman will actually be on the show going forward.

Will I watch? I really, really wanted to, but in the end, this isn't even "so bad it's good." It's just "eh." And I'm not sure there's room for "eh" on my schedule this fall.

To watch a couple of preview clips and see a gallery of photos, read more

View 11 Photos ›

Photos courtesy of CBS

Get a Sneak Peek of the New CBS Shows!

BuzzSugar — Thu, 17 May 2007 18:05:36 -0700

CBS is joining ABC and NBC by giving us video previews of its new fall shows. Some info on the new series is over at the network's fall preview site, but I've got all the clips and photos right here - including a special look at Hugh Jackman singing in the first episode of "Viva Laughlin"! Check it out:

One more "Viva" clip, plus clips from the other shows and a ton of pictures, so read more

"Viva Laughlin"
This clip features Ripley (Lloyd Owen) singing "Viva Las Vegas" as he dances around his casino.

"Cane"
This show starring Jimmy Smits seems like a slightly more wholesome version of "The Sopranos," if the Sopranos were in a legal business.

"The Big Bang Theory"
"The nerds are taking over" is this show's claim. I didn't expect to find this amusing, and yet I kind of did.

"Kid Nation"
If you crossed Lord of the Flies with "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition," I imagine it would look a lot like this.

"Moonlight"
"Being a vampire really sucks," says the narrator of this vampire/detective series. Hmm ...

"Swingtown"
This show looks retro, fun, and way too racy for CBS!

"Cane"

View 2 Photos ›

"Viva Laughlin"

View 3 Photos ›

"The Big Bang Theory"

View 3 Photos ›

"Moonlight"

View 2 Photos ›

"Kid Nation"

View 3 Photos ›

All photos courtesy of CBS

The CBS Fall Schedule: My Take

BuzzSugar — Wed, 16 May 2007 14:02:46 -0700

Now that I've had a while to think through the new CBS fall schedule, I have some thoughts on which news is good, which is bad and which is still a little baffling. Take a spin through my list, then let me know what you think. (Don't forget to look at my thoughts on the ABC and NBC schedules, too!)

Could this be the year I actually watch CBS? (Sign No. 2 of the apocalypse, right up there with Friday TV being good.) I've rarely gotten hooked on a CBS show, and a lot of you say it's your least-watched network too. And yet, I'm finding myself excited about a couple of the shows they announced this morning, specifically "Viva Laughlin" (at right) and "Swingtown."
Speaking of "Viva Laughlin," I think it has an equal chance of being a disaster and of being completely brilliant. It's based on the BBC series "Viva Blackpool," which I've never seen, but YouTube has some clips. Anyone here seen it? What do you think?
A point raised by Phil: Will "Shark" being on Sunday nights hurt "Brothers & Sisters" on ABC? I've never seen "Shark," but I hear good things about it. Could their audiences overlap?

A few more thoughts, so read more

Regarding "Swingtown," I think the show sounds a little edgy for the network's typical baby boomer audience - and that's exactly why I like it. It sounds a little like a TV version of The Ice Storm, and it's got "Six Feet Under" producer Alan Poul behind it.
On the other hand, "The Big Bang Theory" sounds pretty bad - and honestly, I haven't found a comedy yet this week that sounds amazing (besides, possibly, NBC's "The IT Crowd"). I wonder, though, if comedies just don't translate well on paper, because so much has to do with the writing and the acting and the actual jokes.
I haven't watched much "How I Met Your Mother," but all of your comments in support of the show have convinced me to give it a try. I know what DVD set I'll be renting this summer!
"Kid Nation": Intriguing social experiment or cheesy reality show? Discuss.

Photo courtesy of CBS

CBS Shakes Things Up with Edgier Shows

BuzzSugar — Wed, 16 May 2007 10:55:47 -0700

I usually think of CBS as the most boring and reserved of all the networks, but it might be getting a bit of an image makeover come fall. Announcing its new shows at today's upfronts, the network introduced some fairly unconventional dramas - including a musical, a vampire show, and a series about 1970s swingers - plus one comedy and one reality show. The network's president said the goal this year was "to be daring and different," and with "Viva Laughlin" alone (pictured above), I'd say they've got that covered.

The network also introduced a summer reality series hosted by Drew Carey called "Power of 10," which sounds a little like "Family Feud": Contestants will have to guess the results of nationwide surveys.

Among returning shows, here's some of the big news:

A whopping 17 CBS programs are returning.
"How I Met Your Mother," once in danger of cancellation, is back, while "The Class," "Close to Home" and "Jericho" are out.
"Shark" is moving to Sundays, while "Without a Trace" heads to Thursdays after "CSI."
"The Amazing Race" and "The New Adventures of Old Christine" will be back at midseason.

Here's the network's official press release, and to see the full schedule and descriptions of the new CBS shows, read more

All caps = new show (except "NCIS" and "CSI")
** = new time slot

MONDAY
8-8:30 p.m. "How I Met Your Mother"
8:30-9 p.m. "THE BIG BANG THEORY"
9-9:30 p.m. "Two and a Half Men"
9:30-10 p.m. "Rules of Engagement"
10-11 p.m. "CSI: Miami"

TUESDAY
8-9 p.m. "NCIS"
9-10 p.m. "The Unit"
10-11 p.m. "CANE"

WEDNESDAY
8-9 p.m. "KID NATION"
9-10 p.m. "Criminal Minds"
10-11 p.m. "CSI: New York"

THURSDAY
8-9 p.m. "Survivor"
9-10 p.m. "CSI"
10-11 p.m. "Without a Trace"**

FRIDAY
8-9 p.m. "Ghost Whisperer"
9-10 p.m. "MOONLIGHT"
10-11 p.m. "Numb3rs"

SATURDAY
8-10 p.m. "Crimetime Saturday"
10-11 p.m. "48 Hours Mystery"

SUNDAY
7-8 p.m. "60 Minutes"
8-9 p.m. "VIVA LAUGHLIN"
9-10 p.m. "Cold Case"
10-11 p.m. "Shark"**

Returning shows "The Amazing Race" and "The New Adventures of Old Christine" and new drama "Swingtown" will premiere later in the season.

Here's how CBS describes the new shows:

"The Big Bang Theory"
"The Big Bang Theory" is a comedy from the Emmy Award nominated Co-Creator and Executive Producer of "Two and a Half Men" Chuck Lorre, about brainy best friends Leonard (Johnny Galecki, "Roseanne") and Sheldon (Jim Parsons "Judging Amy"), who can tell you anything you want to know about quantum physics, but when it comes to dealing with everyday life here on earth they're lost in the cosmos. Neither fully understands that scientific principles don't always apply in matters of the heart - until they meet their sexy new neighbor Penny (Kaley Cuoco, "8 Simple Rules..."), a friendly screenwriter/waitress from the midwest who also happens to be newly single. She quickly makes an impression on the other members of Leonard and Sheldon's geek squad - Howard Wolowitz (Simon Helberg, "Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip"), who portrays himself as the Casanova of Cal Tech, and fellow whiz kid Rajesh Koothrappali (Kunal Nayyar, "NCIS"), who is rendered speechless around anyone unprepared to converse about the Theory of Relativity or other scientific jargon. The chemistry between this gaggle of geniuses and a delightful damsel is about to undergo a stimulating series of inter-personal experiments. Multiple Emmy Award winner James Burrows ("Will & Grace") directed the pilot. Lorre and Bill Prady ("Gilmore Girls," "Dharma & Greg") are executive producers for Warner Bros. Television.

"Viva Laughlin"
Executive produced by Tony and Emmy Award winner Hugh Jackman ("The Boy from Oz," "X-Men"), "Viva Laughlin" is a mystery drama with music about eternal optimist and freewheeling businessman Ripley Holden, whose sole ambition is to run a casino in Laughlin, Nev. Occasionally using upbeat contemporary songs to accentuate the drama and humor and advance the story, the series is based on the hit BBC show "Viva Blackpool." Ripley (Lloyd Owen, "The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles") is the ultimate gambler with an infectious personality who is on the brink of making a killing ... just as soon as he opens his casino that's nowhere near completion. When his financing suddenly falls through, the fearless and tenacious Ripley approaches his enemy - dashing, sarcastic, wealthy casino owner Nicky Fontana (Hugh Jackman) for help. Though the odds are stacked against him, Ripley doesn't miss a beat, even when he becomes embroiled in a murder investigation after the body of his ex-business partner is found at his club. At home, Ripley uses his dry wit to adjust to the demands of his family: his gorgeous wife, Natalie (Madchen Amick, "ER"), wants more attention; his teenage daughter, Cheyenne (Ellen Woglom, "The O.C."), wants his approval; and his son, Jack (Carter Jenkins, "Surface"), wants to help him at work. All of this adversity would defeat a lesser man, but for the outgoing and passionate Ripley there's no such thing as bad news, only deals to be struck and wagers to be won in the intoxicating neon glow of Laughlin, where the cards are on the table, romance is in the air and lively music is on the stage. Eric Winter ("Wildfire") and D.B. Woodside ("24") also star. Directed by Gabriele Muccino ("The Pursuit of Happyness"). Golden Globe Award nominee Hugh Jackman, John Palermo ("X-Men: The Last Stand"), Bob Lowry ("Huff"), Paul Telegdy and Peter Bowker ("Viva Blackpool") are executive producers for BBC Worldwide Productions, Seed Productions, CBS Paramount Network Television in association with Sony Pictures Television.

"Cane"
"Cane" stars Emmy and Golden Globe Award winner Jimmy Smits ("The West Wing") in an epic drama about the external rivalries and internal power struggles of a large Cuban-American family running an immensely successful rum and sugar business in South Florida. When the family patriarch, Pancho (Hector Elizondo, "Chicago Hope"), is offered a lucrative but questionable deal by his bitter adversary, the Samuels, to purchase thousands of acres of sugar fields, he's faced with a tough choice: Should he cash out of the sugar business and focus solely on rum, which would please his impulsive natural son, Frank (Nestor Carbonell, "Lost"), or protect the family legacy that he built from the ground up by not selling, and side with his adopted son, Alex (Smits), who mistrusts the Samuels and still sees value in sugar. Alex and Frank's approach to business is as different as their approach to life. While Frank might lose focus chasing women, Alex is deeply in love with his beautiful wife, Isabel (Paola Turbay, "Bailando por un Sueo"), who is also Pancho's daughter. Married when she was just 17 years old, Isabel balances Alex by choosing not to involve herself in the business, focusing instead on their three children, who are determined to forge their own paths outside the family. For the Duques, will family allegiance come first or will their secrets and acrimonious conflicts over love, lust and control of the family fortune be their downfall? Eddie Matos ("General Hospital"), Rita Moreno ("West Side Story"), Michael Trevino ("The Riches"), Lina Esco ("CSI: NY"), Sam Carman ("Bones"), Alona Tal ("Veronica Mars") and Polly Walker ("Rome") also star. Cynthia Cidre ("The Mambo Kings"), Jonathan Prince ("American Dreams"), Jimmy Iovine ("8 Mile") and Polly Anthony ("Lifehouse: Live in Portland!") are the executive producers for ABC Studios in association with CBS Paramount Network Television.

"Moonlight"
"Moonlight" from prolific movie producer Joel Silver ("The Matrix," Trilogy), is about Mick St. John (Alex O'Loughlin, upcoming "White Out"), a captivating "undead" private investigator who uses his acute vampire senses to help the living ... instead of feeding on them. In an agonizing twist of fate, Mick was "bitten" 60 years ago by his new bride, the seductive and beguiling Coraline (Amber Valletta, "Hitch"). Immortal and eternally as young, handsome and charismatic as he was then, Mick is sickened by Coraline and other vampires who view humans only as a source of nourishment. With only a handful of undead confidantes for company, including deceitful ally Josef (Rade Serbedzija, "24"), Mick fills his infinite days protecting the living, and trying not to think about how his life would have been if he hadn't followed his heart. However, after six decades of resisting, he wonders if it's time to pursue the love of a mortal. He has his eyes on Beth Turner, a beautiful, ambitious reporter who has been covering the ongoing plague of unusual murders. But would Beth even consider giving up a normal life to be with him, and can Mick risk the pain of seeing himself as a monster in her eyes? As Mick lives between two realities, fighting his adversaries among the undead and falling in love with Beth, he knows he needs to figure out a reason to keep "living." "Moonlight" is directed by executive producer Rod Holcomb ("ER"). Joel Silver, Ron Koslow ("Birds of Prey"), Trevor Munson and Gerard Bocaccio are also executive producers for Warner Bros. Television.

"Kid Nation"
"Kid Nation" is a reality-based series in which 40 kids will have 40 days to build a new world - in a ghost town that died in the 19th Century. These kids, ages 8-15, will spend more than a month without their parents or modern comforts in Bonanza City, N.M., attempting to do what their forefathers could not - build a town that works. They will cook their own meals, clean their own outhouses, haul their own water and even run their own businesses - including the old town saloon (root beer only). They'll also create a real government - four kid leaders who will guide the group through their adventure, pass laws and set bedtimes. Through it all, they'll cope with regular childhood emotions and situations: homesickness, peer pressure and the urge to break every rule they've ever known. At the end of each episode, all 40 kids will gather at an old fashioned Town Hall meeting where they will debate the issues facing Bonanza City. They'll show wisdom beyond their years and the unflinching candor that only kids can exhibit. There are no eliminations on "Kid Nation" - you only go home if you want to. And in every Town Hall meeting, kids may raise their hands and leave. Will they stick it out? In the end, will these kids prove to adults everywhere (and their own parents!) that they have the vision to build a better world than the pioneers who came before them? And just as importantly, will they come together as a cohesive unit, or will they abandon all responsibility and succumb to the childhood temptations that lead to round-the-clock chaos? KID NATION is produced by Emmy Award winner Tom Forman ("Extreme Makeover: Home Edition") for Tom Forman Prods. and Good TV, Inc.

"Swingtown"
"Swingtown," from the director of "Big Love" and "Rome," peeks into the shag-carpeted suburban homes of the 1970s to find couples reveling in the sexual and social revolution that introduced open marriages, women's liberation and challenged many conventional wisdoms. During this heady era of provocative change, Susan (Molly Parker, "Deadwood") and Bruce Miller (Jack Davenport, "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest") move their family to an affluent Chicago suburb in search of a different sense of community, and they look forward to barbecues and get-togethers with their new neighbors, as well as a change of pace for their teenage daughter and pre-teen son. Enter Tom (Grant Show, "Melrose Place") and Trina (Lana Parrilla, "24") Decker, a striking, outgoing couple on the hunt who redefine the term "neighborhood watch." After a mind-blowing evening with them, Susan and Bruce realize that couples in this town share much more than recipes, local gossip and a view of Lake Michigan, and are worlds apart from their former conservative neighbors, Janet (Miriam Shor, "Big Day") and Roger (Josh Hopkins, "Brothers & Sisters") Thompson. Susan's loyal friend Janet is appalled by what she witnesses in this new neighborhood, while Roger, though dutiful to his wife, may be more intrigued than she knows. In a changing social climate - defined by its music, fashion and style - everyone in "Swingtown" is confronted with personal choices, experimentation and shifting attitudes. Shanna Collins ("Wildfire"), Aaron Howles and Brittany Robertson ("Freddie") also star. Mike Kelley ("The O.C.") and director Alan Poul ("Six Feet Under") are executive producers for CBS Paramount Network Television.

Photo courtesy of CBS