Former Republican presidential hopeful Michele Bachmann has been named a witness for the defense in a lawsuit against Tea Party HD, a failed television network founded in 2010.
Ann Coulter and Tea Party Nation founder Judson Phillips were also named as witnesses for the multimillion-dollar federal lawsuit surrounding the failure of the network billed as the "world's first HD provider of news about the Tea Party," according to The Tennessean.
An initial $19 million lawsuit was filed in November against California businessman Anthony Loiacono by GOP fundraiser Bill Hemrick, along with a group of conservatives from Tennessee who claim Loiacono used the investments they made in the network for personal matters. Loiacono countersued for $1 million alleging defamation and abuse of process.
Bachmann is likely included thanks to her Tea Party HD-produced response to Obama's 2011 State of the Union address, The Hill reports. Bachmann also has direct ties to Hemrick, who served as the state finance chairman for her presidential campaign.
Posted: January 28th, 2012 | Author:Chris Harnick | |
Ian Abercrombie helped bring to life one of TV's most persnickety bosses as "Seinfeld's" Mr. Pitt. From his accidental Hitler speech to the Snickers bar schtick, Mr. Pitt, Elaine's boss on the series, was responsible for many laughs. When news of his death broke, fans took to Twitter to remember the veteran TV star. In addition to his work on "Seinfeld," Abercrombie lent his voice to "Star Wars: The Clone Wars," and appeared in The WB's short-lived series "Birds of Prey" and Disney's "Wizards of Waverly Place."
Below, see what fans on Twitter had to say about Abercrombie's passing and watch some of his best "Seinfeld" moments.
Note: Do not read on if you have not seen Episode 4 of Lifetime's "Project Runway All Stars."
Faced with a "wagon wheel coffee table" in "When Harry Met Sally," Carrie Fisher's character Marie famously quips, "Everybody thinks they have good taste and a sense of humor, but they couldn't possibly all have good taste."
Truer words were never spoken, at least when it comes to this week's episode of "Project Runway All Stars." The challenge is supposedly "all about taste" on many levels, but everyone seem most concerned with the pun.
Angela Lindvall announces that the designers are to "create a tasteful outfit inspired by the colors and flavors of a seriously tasty dessert: gelato!" Really? It seems to me that there are more inspiring sweets, but what the heck?
On the runway, they feature a cart bearing the brand "L'Arte del Gelato" and ask the designers to pick flavors. Michael chooses grapefruit, Mondo picks cantaloupe, Rami -- who, for some reason, expects to be picked last because the designers choose their own order a la teams in gym class -- gets his beloved kiwi anyway.
That's when they roll out the big guns: Diane von Furstenberg. Yup. She's a guest judge this week and, while I'm still trying to figure out what she has to do with gelato, she announces that this is "the fastest challenge in 'Project Runway' history."
[Note: I may suggest that you turn this episode into a drinking game, taking a shot every time they repeat that phrase over the course of the hour.]
Anyway, the designers have only six hours in which to complete their ice cream-inspired garment. They sketch for 30 minutes as per usual and then off they go to what seems to be an annex of Mood, where April can't find any black jersey and Mondo accidentally doesn't get enough fabric.
Mila says she can imagine making a pair of leggings in six hours, but a whole outfit? Not so much. Kenley says her strategy is not to try anything new because she really just has to get something done. Don't get me wrong, I think she makes sweet dresses, but isn't that kind of always her strategy? Doesn't she always do a variation on the same thing?
Kara is left with chocolate and cayenne pepper flavored gelato and is disappointed. She wants to work with colors anyway, focusing less on the obvious brown and more on the chili flavor, which she describes as, "Chocolaty, spicy and then this furnace of fire." On the whole, the designers are taking this challenge super literally -- just going on color -- so I like that she's making that leap at least.
Austin laments, "Normally a fashion designer would never be in the predicament of having to design something in six hours." But Michael disagrees. He says this challenge is not a big deal because he works super fast and often has to whip things up for clients last minute. Jerell says that Michael's dress is "so easy a chimpanzee could do it." He also says April is going to need to "soften up" her layered purple strapless number.
That's when Joanna Coles walks in to mentor the designers and my husband looks up from his laptop long enough to ask, "Why is Tilda Swinton on 'Project Runway'?" Good question.
The Marie Claire editor announces that this is "the fastest challenge in 'Project Runway' history!" [CHUG!]
Joanna meets first with Kara, who explains that the colors on her dress will go from neutral to fire red like the flavor of her chocolate and cayenne gelato. The idea seems okay, but the colors look kinda drab.
Next, Joanna asks April: "How can you have a fashion moment if you stay with what you're comfortable with?"
She asks Mondo, "How on earth do you accessorize [with this type of dress]?"
She commands Austin, who has vanilla Madagascar flavor, "Don't channel the wedding thing; channel the fabulousness!"
She asks Rami, who is making a wrap skirt, "Are you sucking up to Diane von Furstenberg?"
Suddenly, it feels as if maybe the producers have given her questions and she's interviewing them? She asks Michael about his speed, "What is your secret?"
Then, the designers get catty for a moment. Anthony calls Mila's dress a "color block Christmas ornament disaster." Mila feels that "Rami's look is of questionable taste." Kara pisses off Austin and suddenly, it almost turns into sewing machine wars. Is anyone else starting to feel like Kara is sort of unconscious and not that considerate?
Anyway, the models show up and disaster strikes: April's dress doesn't fit her model and she doesn't have enough fabric to fix the problem. Tush will be exposed.
Jerell is into Mondo's dress. Wait? A designer has something positive to say about another? How nice and novel! He thinks it really embodies the fruit, but in a "modern abstract way." I agree.
April admits, "I'm definitely nervous because of how short the dress is. The bottom is not symmetrical." Kara says her dress' proportions are off. Jerell adds, "She had her [model] looking like a pregnant cupcake -- that's not the business." Well, he can't be nice about everything.
The Runway:
And just like that, they're back at the runway. Angela makes her first joke: "Seems like I just saw you a few hours ago!" You did, Angela! Because, as she reminds us again, this is "the fastest challenge in 'Project Runway' history." [BOTTOMS UP!]
The judges are Marchesa's Georgina Chapman, Isaac Mizrahi, DVF (mais oui!) and model Miranda Kerr, who will wear the winning garment to ... something.
For me, Mondo's dress looks best coming down the runway. It moves, it's very resort and it really does evoke a cantaloupe. I'm with Jerell. And actually, Jerell has made a nice maxi dress too -- a little less literal with a pattern evoking his quirky flavor "Fruits From The Forest." I sort of feel bad for Rami because I feel like he's choking a little, but I think his kiwi number is a hot mess. Kara's dress is obviously not working: It looks like an ice cream cone with ruffles all the way up the front. And, when it comes to April's strapless frock, there's definitely some butt action showing.
The Highest & Lowest Scores:
Kara is on the bottom. Georgina says, "I couldn't quite get the passion in the dress. I think the colors are letting you down." DVF adds: "It's just not flattering." hey all think it looks kind of pregnant.
Anthony is also in the bottom, though Isaac likes his explanation about melting green tea gelato. The construction is messy. DVF loves the skirt and concept, but that's about it.
For Mila, Isaac says, "I think this says cherry ice cream so clearly." I'm sort of surprised this dress is on the top with it's strange sheer red and white effect, but I think it was slim pickings this week since the designers had only six hours. (The only thing I can effectively complete in six hours is a "Project Runway" marathon.) DVF comments, "It's beautiful and the design is nice, but it kind of looks like it was done in short time." I agree.
Michael kisses some DVF butt and calls her an idol. She loves his dress, calling it "very fluid" and tells him to "call her." Georgina and Isaac think a "tartness" is missing from the color. I sorta think it looks like nicely draped satin pajamas, but whatever.
April's dress is a problem. "The back is scary," says Isaac. "The colors are nice," the judges offer. These guys are so nice and gentle compared to Nina, Michael and Heidi. It's so different.
Mondo's cantaloupe dress is a hit. DVF says, "I think it's great. It does look like a cantaloupe." Georgina says the colors and patterns shouldn't work together, but they do. They aren't sure about the bright orange he used, but -- I mean -- it's cantaloupe, so.
Deliberation & Decision:
They mostly agree: Anthony was ambitious, but his piece looked amateurish. Kara designs sweet clothing, but got stuck. Angela feels that Kara got scared of using brown and says, "What's wrong with chocolate brown?" Isaac retorts, "There is plenty wrong with chocolate brown." A bit of a disagreement -- finally! DVF says April's dress was like Halloween.
Michael's fabric was questionable. Mila's styling was heavy. Mondo's dress was gorgeous, but didn't show enough skin for Isaac. Then, Miranda Kerr comes up with my favorite reason yet for not picking a dress to win, saying that she's concerned about wearing Michael's dress without a bra while breast feeding. I love it! Now that is reality. (She is crazy pretty, by the way.)
Anyway ...
The Winner: Michael! Going Home: It's between April and Kara and ultimately, April is out. And yet, it's Kara who flips. She turns to the judges through rising tears and practically shouts, "I am really passionate about what I do!" Wait a minute, girl: You're not the one going home! Backstage, when she screams with happiness at getting to stay, Anthony has to remind her, "But that means April is going home." Tacky tacky all day long.
And that's all she wrote for this week's PRAS!
"Project Runway All Stars" airs at 9 p.m. EST on Thursday on Lifetime.
After nearly 50 years in the business, "Seinfeld" actor Ian Abercrombie died on Thursday at 77 years old. The TV icon who played Elaine Benes' (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) boss on Jerry Seinfeld's sitcom, passed away in Hollywood. He is survived by three brothers.
Although Abercrombie made a name for himself as Elaine's quirky boss, who cut his candy bars with a knife and fork and was more than a little particular about his socks, his most recent television run was on the Disney channel hit "Wizards of Waverly Place," playing three-thousand-year-old wizard school headmaster, Professor Crumbs.
Though Abercrombie did venture into movies, the majority of his career was played out in living rooms across the nation, on TV. Abercrombie earned roles in a breadth of TV genres including parts in "Columbo" (1972), "Who's The Boss" (1985), "Dynasty" (1984-1988), "Birds Of Prey" (2002-2003) and "Desperate Housewives" (2006).
John Corbett is no stranger to TV; but with his memorable roles being "Sex and the City's" woodworking Aiden and Tara's patient husband on "United States of Tara" (R.I.P.), he's not exactly the first guy you think of when you hear "Hallmark" and "made-for-TV movie." But here he is, and fun fact: He went to them to ask for this role.
Corbett stars in "A Smile as Big as the Moon" (premieres Sun., Jan. 29, 9 p.m. EST on ABC) as a football coach and special education teacher determined to take his students to space camp. Based on a true story and the memoir of the same name by teacher Mike Kersjes with Joe Layden, many of the students in the movie were played by young actors with autism, Down syndrome and learning disabilities.
Corbett opened up about how, in some ways, these productions are better than big-budget movies, then shared his own amazement at seeing Apollo 11 and confessed that he almost had a very different life.
John Corbett in a Hallmark made-for-TV movie ... This is a Hallmark Hall of Fame -- this isn't on the Hallmark Channel down there on 247. This is on like Channel 4! [Laughs]
So what drew you to this? It's just a top-shelf project. I did a movie for Hallmark Hall of Fame a year and a half ago with Sam Elliott, a Christmas movie called "November Christmas." We did it in Halifax, Nova Scotia, and I was just amazed ... Look, I've done some low-budget movies and I've done some big-budget movies, and the big-budget movies were always kind of disorganized. So this was a nice medium-sized budget ... but it felt like you were making a $100 million movie the way these guys run their show over there at Hallmark. They've been doing it a long time. They know what they're doing. And I wanted to do it again.
So you approached them? When I heard about this movie, I made some inquiries to find out how I could throw my hat into the ring. You gotta go to them sometimes! So I went to them and they said, "Yeah, we like Old Johnny. We'll bring him back to be the football coach who takes the special needs kids to space camp."
The premise is really so touching -- add that to the idea of going to space camp and, I mean, space is amazing. I didn't really know what to expect, but as soon as you pull up to the building -- the U.S. Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama -- there's a giant building with the Apollo 11, from the rocket where Neil [Armstrong], Buzz [Aldrin] and Mike Collins sat. It's an exact replica, down to the threads of every nut and bolt, so that the guys could work on this thing and perfect it. You see it as you're down the freeway, then you walk under that thing and you just think, "My Lord ... Look at the size of just one of those five rockets. It's as big as a building." It's just amazing to see that technology and where we were putting our thinking in the '60s.
For this movie, your main costars were kids. Did it take you back at all to watch them experience this? What did you want to be when you grew up? You know, I like playing music and playing guitar, and I like to draw, so I thought I would end up just probably barely making a living, or probably having to have some other job, but being involved in one of those things that I really like to do. But that didn't work out like that. When I got out of high school, I didn't go to college -- I worked in a steel factory for six years. I made a pretty good living! It was a union job, it was 1980 or so and I was making $19 an hour. I actually got hurt in a steel factory in 1985 and so that changed my life. I went to a junior college and that's where I discovered acting. I'd never even seen a play by the time I was 24 years old. My life took another path, but yeah, I was happy working in that steel factory.
"A Smile as Big as the Moon" premieres Sunday, Jan. 29 at 9 p.m. EST on ABC.
Posted: January 28th, 2012 | Author:Chris Harnick | |
"Chuck" may be gone, but it certainly will not be forgotten. After five seasons, the little show that could signed off, but not without leaving quite an impact on its fan base.
From favorite quotes to favorite scenes, HuffPost TV asked fans to share their treasured "Chuck" memories. Check them out below.
Posted: January 28th, 2012 | Author:Rob Owen (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette) | | Some believe in suffering for their art, but in Ken Tynan's case, he'd rather wear Kevlar chaps. The Butler native, 52, is a chain saw artist. In an episode of "Saw Dogs," a show that debuted this week on Discovery's Velocity channel, Mr. Tynan had to create an NFL Hall of Fame-type bust of former Pittsburgh Steelers punter Mitch Berger in just two days.
Posted: January 28th, 2012 | Author:Alan Sepinwall (Hitfix) | | Well, we're all done with "Chuck." I already published my 5-part retrospective interview with Schwartz and Fedak (and I interviewed Fedak again about the series finale) and my list of great moments in "Chuck" history. All that's left is to review the final two episodes, and th...http://www.hitfix.com/blogs/whats-alan-watching
Posted: January 28th, 2012 | Author:Alan Sepinwall (Hitfix) | | So "Chuck" has come to an end. I reviewed the series finale here, and in addition to my 5-part interview series with Chris Fedak and Josh Schwartz (which Fedak would later joke was "egregiously long"), I got on the phone with Fedak one more time to discuss the events of the fi...http://www.hitfix.com/blogs/whats-alan-watching
Posted: January 28th, 2012 | Author:Maureen Ryan | |
Note: Do not read on if you have not seen Season 5, Episode 12 of "Chuck," entitled "Chuck Versus Sarah," or Season 5, Episode 13 (the series finale) of "Chuck," entitled "Chuck Versus the Goodbye" on NBC.
"Chuck, tell me our story."
Wasn't the answer Sarah got so much better than an upload from Intersect glasses?
I'll go on record right away as saying that I was very pleased with the "Chuck" finale, and I think the last 30 minutes of the final episode rank up there with the absolute best the show has ever done. It got dusty in my house many times during those last two hours, and as a sustained, well-earned sentimental farewell, the finale was everything I could have hoped for.
I needed to be convinced, however. When last week's episode ended with Sarah's memories gone, I was alarmed (even though I thought "Chuck Versus the Bullet Train" was a good episode). We've spent five years investing in the relationship of these crazy kids, and right here at the end, they were going to take that away from us? That was a hell of a risk to take in the show's final hours.
But you know what? I think that risk paid off, for a few reasons.
The "recovering Sarah's memory" story gave real stakes to the finale because we are that invested in Chuck and Sarah's hard-won happiness. There was part of me that wanted the gang to have one last victory lap, in which they would defeat some amusing or mildly scary villain and then ride off into the sunset; but at its best, "Chuck" has woven real emotions and real consequences into its best spy stories.
Sure, Quinn was another in a long line of bragging villains with eeevil intentions, but he was a mere device to get us to care about whether Chuck and Sarah would rebuild their relationship. On some level, I knew they would get back together by the end of the series finale, but the show gave me two hours of a broken-hearted Chuck, and Zachary Levi plays that so well that I was very much invested in his quest to win Sarah back. I knew in my logical brain that the quest would be successful, but damn it, in my heart and in the non-logical parts of my head (which are vast), I was rooting like hell for the good guys to win and for the couple I love to be happy again.
And that was really the key to why the "recovering Sarah's memory" story worked -- Zachary Levi and Yvonne Strahovski played the hell out of every single scene they were given. In the hands of lesser actors, the whole memory-wipe story might have played out like a sci-fi cliche; but they gave us so many levels and layers of pain, hope and heartbreak. Sarah's face as she watched the video files, recounting her relationship with Charles Irving Bartowski; Chuck's face as he sat in their dream home, talking about the first time they really kissed; the two of them as they sat on that beach at the end, talking and laughing and crying and just being so right together -- that all worked like gangbusters.
Just as Sarah got to fall in love with Chuck all over again, we got to fall in love with their relationship once more, and revisit all its highs and lows in so many different ways. There were Sarah's videos, Chuck's recollections and at the end, a calvacade of glimpses into their most memorable moments (dual Weinerlicious uniforms!). The quest to get Sarah to recall everything that they'd been through allowed "Chuck" to stroll down memory lane, and this show took full advantage of it. It was risky to take that path, but when the show ended with those two kissing on the beach as The Head and the Heart's "Rivers and Roads" played, it was incredibly romantic, and this is a show that does intense romance very, very well.
So, sure, I can understand if you found it hard to see Chuck so heartbroken for parts of the finale, and if you found it hard to find Chuck and Sarah out of sync for so much of it, but there was a deeper reason that the finale worked for me. Throughout the two hours, we saw how Sarah literally couldn't pull the trigger on Chuck. Something lingered in her, some emotions and undercurrents that she couldn't account for. No memory wipe can take away how people change you, and Chuck had changed Sarah. And, of course, vice versa.
And that was the lovely subtext of the finale: The people we love have an effect on our lives, an effect that nothing can ever take away, not even super-complex spy devices.
Throughout the finale, Sarah's memories were slowly returning -- and I believe they would have returned in full over time, because I want to believe that. Bt what really happened in that last hour is that Sarah came to understand in her heart, head and soul how much that Nerd Herder had affected her.
Everyone had changed so much over five seasons. Think about these things in the context of who these people were at the start of Season 1: In the finale, John Casey was wearing a World's Greatest Dad apron and scrubbing the kitchen floor that his roommate Morgan Grimes had dirtied ("You really think I've changed?"); Morgan Guillermo Grimes got a great scene in which he, the Bearded One, challenged Casey's go-it-alone, tough-guy rationale; hell, even Jeff and Lester had changed. Jeff is now disturbingly clean and sober, and Lester is... well, still Lester; but good Lord, he can really hit those high notes these days. As for Big Mike, he's still Big Mike, finally in on the spy secret, but completely unwilling to believe it and happy to continue to eat fresh at Subway. (OK, so maybe not everyone changed -- but maybe some people didn't need to.)
Not that Zac and Yvonne didn't own the finale, but there were so many other great scenes for the rest of the cast, all of which paid tribute to the special bonds these characters shared (and I'll briefly mention just a few of my favorite moments in the bullet-point list below). And in terms of just plain old "Chuck"-tastic goodness, I just loved, loved, loved the Jeffster sequence at the concert hall. Not only did the band get to have one last big moment, one last scene of epic keytar greatness, but they also got to save the day.
That's why that finale worked so well for me: It had all the goofy humor, the brisk action and the well-acted heart that this show brings to the table when it's at its best. A really fun Jeffster scene, preceded by a Wienerlicious scene, featuring Chuck and Sarah going full badass? An embassy scene and Gen. Beckman invoking "old Casey"? Ellie telling Chuck that he's "aces" and Mama Bartowski flashing a firearm in front of her granddaughter? Zac and Yvonne doing some of their best work (and that's saying something)? How could I resist any of that?
Hot damn, I'm going to miss what this show did when it was really cooking with gas, which it was on its final Friday night.
So here's where we left the "Chuck" characters: Chuck and Sarah were back together and falling in love again (and presumably returning to Carmichael Industries, with Chuck re-Intersected); Casey was turning down an espionage job in favor of reconnecting with his old flame, Gertrude Verbanski; Awesome, Ellie and baby Clara were moving to Chicago (Ryan McPartlin's real hometown), a move I strongly approve of, because it's also my hometown; Gen. Beckman was continuing to be an awesome leader of men and women; Jeff and Lester as German pop stars were freely indulging in "women ... and men"; Big Mike was continuing to work at the Buy More with a smile on his face and a sandwich in his hand; and Morgan Grimes was moving in with Alex and probably getting married himself some time soon.
Before going on that last mission to reconnect with Sarah, Chuck Bartowski once again turned off a beeping alarm clock and tried to figure out how he would deal with his day. But this time, he was surrounded by friends and family who knew his secret, knew his strengths and wouldn't let him give up on the girl of his dreams, the girl who, when the show began, was way, way out of his league.
With the help and support of those who had changed him and whom he had changed, he got out of bed, got a plan together and eventually got the girl. Again. And he even believed he deserved her. By the end, they deserved each other, in the best possible way.
Also in the end, Morgan was right: "Grab this woman and kiss her." I firmly believe, with all my heart, that it worked.
Here is bullet list of some favorite or otherwise notable moments from the finale:
Morgan and the Cloak of Invisibility were comedy gold. I loved that in the final two episodes, they gave the cast these great little comedy bits and character moments. And Morgan finding an amazing Harry Potter artifact was delightful. "You're a wonder, Harry!"
Morgan and Sarah got one little scene as well. Lovely.
Another great moment between two characters who haven't had many (if any) one-on-one, in-person moments together: Casey and Gen. Beckman. "For this job, I need you ruthless. Anything less will get you killed. I need old Casey. I need the Colonel." And that great moment from Bonita Friedericy was followed by a great Casey grunt, of course.
One of my favorite moments in the whole finale was the scene of Jeff and Lester corralling the Buy Moreans into an act of coordinating stalking that would have impressed (or terrified) the NSA. After years of being essential and amusing background players, several of my favorite employees actually got some dialogue, and the way Jeffster masterfully ran their intel-gathering operation was a thing of beauty. "Unleash the perverts!"
When Sarah arrived at the Buy More, wasn't that a golden opportunity for one more slow-mo, fan-enhanced walk into the store? I suppose having Chuck nervously greet her was more appropriate, but I enjoyed how the hot-person-entering-the-Buy-More became a running joke on the show.
Would Evil!Sarah have really left the Intersect glasses where Chuck could easily find them? Would Chuck really have let her have them just before Quinn shot him? Those things stopped me a bit in the finale, but you know, I'm going to let 'em go.
A favorite line, thanks to the way Zac delivered it: "Everyone keeps telling me Sarah's gone, but she's not. She's right here!"
At the risk of sounding like a broken record, Zac and Yvonne proved once again what versatile actors they are. Yvonne brought so much heart and ass-kicking awesomeness to the role of Sarah, and she could be dryly funny too. Zac always nailed the comedy, became convincing as an action star, and from Day One knew how to bring the heart.
We got a few more scenes of the Giant Blonde She-Male being badass: Sarah's long leg coming out of that bag on the plane (Kalinda on "The Good Wife" rightly gets a lot of attention for wearing sexy boots very well, but let's give it up for the woman who has been doing that -- and kicking so much bad-guy behind -- for five seasons); Sarah taking out five guards at the DARPA facility; and finally. Sarah coming out of the ocean looking particularly fierce. I'm going to miss that woman on my television screen.
We got one last outing for the Nerd Herder during the Ellie chase scene. Nice.
"You're afraid that when you're with us, that's when you're at your best. And that's the truth, man." You tell him, Morgan! Of course, the entire cast was on its A-game in the finale, but I have to say how much Joshua Gomez impressed me during the show's five-year run. Especially in recent seasons, he was not only the audience's surrogate (the show's Hurley, if you will), he was so funny and so delightfully enthused about everything. In the first season, I wasn't quite sure I'd ever care that much about Morgan or Sarah, but boy, did those actors (and the writers who came up with the most memorable material for them) prove me wrong.
"Grandma, what did we say about baby Clara seeing firearms?" Nice to see Awesome get a few good lines in the finale.
I loved that the symphony crowd was really digging Jeffster, and Morgan conducting the orchestra was dementedly inspired.
Jeff and Lester weren't about to let their pop-music career pass them by, but before they exited the Buy More, we got one single tear from Canada's most notable Hinjew. I will miss those goofballs so much, you have no idea.
I know the pop music on the soundtrack of "Chuck" gets a lot of attention (as well it should, thanks to Alexandra Patsavas' great work as the music supervisor), but I think composer Tim Jones did a terrific job in the finale, especially when Chuck and Sarah were in the dream house (his tender piano music was just right). Throughout the finale, he did a great job of backing up the emotion and action in various scenes. Well done, sir.
They used Mark Pellegrino only for one brief scene? Oh darn, I wished he'd gotten a more meaty arc on the show (he previously appeared in Season 2). He's great (and almost in Titus Welliver and Mark Sheppard territory in terms of how often he pops up on TV). Still, Pellegrino got one good line: "The Ring. What amateurs." (Quinn: "I never liked the Ring.")
Check out the new Talking TV with Ryan and Ryan podcast that will arrive Saturday afternoon; Ryan McGee and I will talk all things "Chuck" for that special edition of the podcast. Ryan's review of the finale is here, by the way. And speaking of "Chuck" coverage, Alan Sepinwall's finale week coverage is essential reading for fans.
You know what's awesome? The "Chuck" fandom. I teared up several times in the finale, but I really got verklempt when the bidding ended on a special Chuckfest item, which was part of my Swag for Charity auction. "Chuck" fans, guess what? Between that and some other "Chuck" items in the auction, you raised almost $1,200 for Operation Smile (in addition to the many other charitable fundraising things that the fandom has done in the past).
I love that this fandom didn't just help save the show (and it's worth reading NPR critic Linda Holmes on that subject) you also put your collective power to work doing good in the world. Four children will now get much-needed operations because of you. That is indisputably awesome.
Thanks not just for communing with those of us in the media during five years of ups and downs (and more ups than downs, I'd say); but thank you also for several years of delightful Comic-Con and C2E2 panels, for lots of good give-and-take on Twitter and for always being frisky and smart in comment areas. I hope we experience much awesomeness together in future.
Posted: January 27th, 2012 | Author:Crystal Bell | |
Happy Friday, Gleeks! It's that time of the week again -- all of the songs from the anticipated "Michael" episode of "Glee" have been finally been released. We're really digging Mercedes (Amber Riley) and Sam's (Chord Overstreet) sweet "Human Nature" duet, and Artie (Kevin McHale) "Scream"-worthy track with Mike (Harry Shum Jr.).
"Black and White" is also a standout track, and surprisingly not one of the tracks that lead vocalist McHale pitched to Ryan Murphy and the writers. "There's a number that Harry and I are doing that we really fought for, so we were excited to do it," McHale told HuffPost TV in January. "'Black or White' is definitely another one that I was happy to do. Harry and I actually threw a few song ideas out there toward Ryan [Murphy] and the writers, and 'Black or White' wasn't one of them, so I'm so happy that they kind of didn't listen to us there and added that one."
Besides 10 Michael Jackson classics, what can viewers expect from the upcoming "Michael" episode? Expect a showdown between Sebastian and Blaine (Darren Criss), while Finn's (Cory Monteith) proposal to Rachel (Lea Michele) is still up in the air. Will Rachel say yes? The cast isn't spilling any secrets, but we do know that the "Glee" lovebirds will sing Jackson's classic tune, "I Just Canât Stop Loving You."
As for the New Directions' big stage performance of "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'" -- on which Blaine takes the lead -- the photos do offer a look at which Michael each of glee clubbers is dressing as: McHale, told HuffPost TV that the red leather "Thriller" jacket was bestowed upon him while Brittany got tied up in a "Bad" costume.
"The one number we did where everybody wore a different Michael outfit was just incredible. It was like everybody liked somebody else's more than their own," McHale said. "We had no idea what everybody was going to wear until we got to set and were like, "Oh my god! Look at yours!' ... We were all just freaking out."
Listen to the music from "Michael" below. All of the music is also posted over at Glee the Music.
"Glee's" tribute to the King of Pop airs Tues., Jan. 31 at 8 p.m. EST on Fox. Take a look at some of the official photos from "Michael" below.
Posted: January 27th, 2012 | Author:Alex Moaba | |
Katherine Heigl's "One for the Money" press rounds have turned into something of a "Grey's Anatomy" goodwill tour this week. In several interviews, the former medical drama star discussed her regrets about leaving the show and spoke emotionally about how much she misses the cast and playing her character, Dr. Izzie Stevens. Friday on "Rachael Ray" (weekdays on ABC), Heigl reiterated many of those same sentiments, but also mentioned one "Grey's" episode she didn't mind missing: last season's widely-panned musical.
"I watched the musical episode, which I thought was so fun, and it was crazy to me that they could all sing. I was like, 'They did not display this talent when I was there. None of them were singing,'" she joked. When Ray asked Heigl if she had the skills to "bust out" a tune, the actress quickly quipped, "No, I cannot."
Want to judge for yourself? Watch Heigl's performance of Elton John's classic "Bennie and the Jets" in "27 Dresses."
TV Replay scours the vast television landscape to find the most interesting, amusing, and, on a good day, amazing moments, and delivers them right to your browser.
Posted: January 27th, 2012 | Author:www.tmz.com | |
"Teen Mom" star Amber Portwood has struck a plea deal after her drug arrest last month -- requiring her to serve a 5-year prison sentence -- but TMZ has learned, there's still a way for her to keep her freedom.
The road ahead won't be an easy one for McIntyre, who is ten years younger than his predecessor in the role. Both "Spartacus" and Whitfield were wildly popular, breaking ratings records for Starz and drawing in approximately 6 million viewers per episode, according to the channel. When McIntyre steps into the arena for the first time, he'll be fighting as much for fans' acceptance as he will be for the rights of the rebel slaves that Spartacus leads into battle.
HuffPost TV chatted with McIntyre about his breakout role, his admiration for Whitfield and what's ahead for the rebel leader in "Spartacus: Vengeance."
It's been a bit of a whirlwind for you, hasn't it? You're stepping into a character that Andy Whitfield did such a phenomenal job at creating.
Oh, didn't he, though? It's just the strangest, hardest, most exciting experience ever. I went through four months of tests to get the job. During these tests, you're not even thinking of getting the job; but then one day, someone rings up and says that you got it, and then you have to take stock in what you've got. It's a huge responsibility. It's an iconic character that's already been done with such amazing aplomb by Andy. At the time, we all were hoping that he would get a lot better. There was so much hope. There have been a lot of mixed emotions and ups and downs.
Did you talk to Andy about where to go with the character? I know that Andy gave his consent to be recast.
Andy was so supportive. He obviously loved the show. It was apparent in everything we discussed. First of all, to have the best opportunity of your life and then have it taken away in such a tragic way must have been impossibly hard. And then, to have someone else do it, and to really get behind it, is just jaw-dropping. As for actually being like Andy, that's a conversation we never had. In fact, I kind of got the opposite; not to be like him. I had seen the show, but you just know as an actor, you don't copy people because it never works out. [Spartacus is] still the same character; he's written the same way; and he still feels the same. But I took what I knew of that character and made it my own. I didn't try to mimic anyone.
In what ways have you made him your own?
He's going on a different journey now. He's gone through the ludus [i.e. hellish gladiator academy] at the end of Season 1, so now he's in the big bad world, as it were. Increasingly, he's having to take on the role of being the leader of these people, which isn't exactly why he stepped into that position to begin with. Obviously, he wants to do right by Sura [Spartacus' late love interest] and atone for that, but he finds himself in control of this ragtag bunch of rebels. He's got to learn the lesson of what it takes to really be a leader, which is where the Spartacus myth comes into being. It's really the story of a man leading all these desperate people to amazing things. So I think the character is growing, but it will be up to the audience to see how I'm different. We look different and we sound different, but hopefully the soul is still there.
What's it like reading an action sequence? Do you get excited at the thought of playing with all those weapons?
On paper, these action scenes are described so amazingly, and then they hand them over to the stunt team, and they find a way to make them even more amazing. You'll read them and get really excited, and then you'll see what they've done to make them come alive and you're like, "Oh my god, I never thought of that! It's amazing!" This year, the stuff they achieved on screen is like nothing else I've ever seen on television.
What's your favorite show on TV? Aside from your own, of course.
Well, that's the weirdest part, actually. I was such a huge fan of "Spartacus," but now I'm going to watch and just criticize myself. It's sad, in a way.
Did you do any research for the role?
Yeah. It was cool because the producers had, like, 30 books on it, and I was like, "Yep, thanks!" I might be wrong about this, but I feel like I know the most about this period out of everyone, aside from some of the really, really dedicated behind-the-scenes people. I would challenge Steven DeKnight. I think he would win, but I'll still take him on.
I bet your training was insane as well.
The hardest thing, by a mile, was getting my weight back up. I had just lost about 45 pounds for a film, so I was down to, like, Christian Bale's weight. And then the next day, they were like, "So you're in New Zealand today to test for this role in 'Spartacus.' And then I'm like, 'I've seen that show. I don't look like that guy.'" Four months of training later, I'm on track, at least. I trained every day of the whole season, which I'm quite proud of because they were 14-hour days.
What were you doing to train?
Lifting heavy things, really. They would give me heavy things to lift, and then it was like a rinse-repeat type of thing for the rest of the year. [Laughs]
When you stepped into the prop room for the first time and saw the set, were you just like a kid in a candy store?
That's one of the funniest memories I have from the tests, going down these little back allies of New Zealand and then coming into this little warehouse. I had this idea of what these big studios looked like, where they shot shows like "Spartacus"; but it was this little warehouse, one of the many converted warehouses that the studios use. It had this old fruit shop logo at the top, and then I'm like, "Are you sure this is the place?" Then, they took me in, and suddenly, I was in ancient Rome. The costume room looks like this big clothing store, but then when you actually look at the clothes, they're all ancient Roman vests and thong sandal shoes. We have incredible leather workers on set. Someone told me that those leather workers "love leather like I love my girlfriend."
What about Lucy Lawless? I have to ask, what was it like working with "Xena"?
I actually got to bring home a chakram, and it was from Lucy Lawless herself. That was pretty cool. It wasn't the actual prop. It was one of the toys, but still, it was actually from her! As far a role model goes for this business, because I'm new at this, she's it. She's done it for so long, with so much success, but she's still a normal, funny person. But on screen, she's wicked this season, a total menace. Man, who wouldn't want to watch the show with her on it? When she makes her appearance on screen, you'll get chills.
"Spartacus: Vengeance" premieres on Fri., Jan. 27 at 10 p.m. EST on Starz.
After discussing plans to leave New York with Kourtney, the reality star gets emotional as she tries to grapple with her lack of connection to her then-husband Kris Humphries, a man who she says is "everything on paper [she] wants."
"I invited all these people to this huge wedding and flew everyone out, wasted everyone's time and everyone's money -- everyone's everything -- and I feel bad!" she says. "At 30 years old, I thought I'd be married with kids and I'm not. I failed at this. People change their minds, people make mistakes."
Posted: January 27th, 2012 | Author:Andy Dehnart | | Tags:VH1 | Mob Wives star Angela Raiola, aka "Big Ang," was once a cocaine dealer who was indicted and convicted for selling cocaine in New York nine years ago. The Smoking Gun reports that she "was one of 15 defendants indicted--and later convicted--for their roles in the narcotics operation, which distributed crack cocaine, powdered cocaine, and marijuana in Brooklyn and Manhattan," adding that "Federal agents described Raiola as an associate of the drug ring's leader." Indictment records... keep reading »
Now in its eighth and final season, "Desperate Housewives" is preparing to say goodbye to Wisteria Lane forever. But how does the cast want things to end for their characters? And, more importantly, what are they going to take from the set when the show wraps?
"I think a couple 'Housewives' should die," Huffman said. "I think it would be good."
"God, that would be great," Savant agreed. "Could you imagine the line in Vegas? Like you could take odds on your character dying -- I like that!"
Watch the video below to see what else they'd like to see for their characters, and who is already plotting to steal Eva Longoria's character Gabrielle's gorgeous Aston Martin.
Mamie Gummer is returning to "The Good Wife." The recurring guest star will appear in an upcoming episode of the hit legal drama, Robert and Michelle King, "Good Wife" co-creators and executive producers, confirmed.
"We're thrilled to be facing off against Mamie Gummer's Nancy Crozier again," the Kings said in a statement. "This time she's representing the family of a suicide victim against Lockhart/Gardner when Alicia thinks to out-blonde her by bringing Caitlin (Anna Camp) onto the team."
Gummer has appeared on "The Good Wife" three other times as the cunning Nancy Crozier. The last time she popped up was in the Season 2 episode titled "Getting Off."
Her other TV credits include ABC's "Off The Map" and she recently guest starred on CBS's "A Gifted Man."
Posted: January 27th, 2012 | Author:Megan Evans | |
If asked to think of a lesbian, most people's thoughts drift to the stereotypical image of a butch lesbian. It may come as a surprise to some that this is not the only type of lesbian that exists, oh no -- there are some who are "femmes."
Despite slightly increased visibility (mainly thanks to fictional characters), one issue remains for femme lesbians: how to be recognised as being a lesbian. People look for the telltale signs to figure out whether a woman is a lesbian or not: short hair, no makeup, wearing baggy jeans and a t-shirt. Some lesbians can be spotted right away, and there are those who are a mix between masculine and feminine and are slightly easier to spot, especially for the well-trained lesbian eye. But what about femmes?
We suffer from femme invisibility. We mainly slip under the radars of both straight and gay people. For example, I used to go out gay clubbing twice a week whilst at university (the majority of my friends were gay males), and it was very hard for me to find a lady when out because 1) other lesbians most likely assumed I was straight or a "fag hag," and 2) I assumed the majority of pretty ladies in the club were straight or fag hags. See the dilemma? I often felt that flashing a neon sign proclaiming "Yes, I am gay" would help. I've also observed the frequency of couplings of femmes with butch lesbians; it seems far rarer to see a femme/femme couple. I've toyed with the idea of ditching my heels, dress, and lipstick for a polo shirt, jeans, and Converse sneakers for a night out, just to see what would happen, but I just couldn't do it. Luckily, I ended up meeting my lovely other half online, and three years later we are engaged.
Many other femmes ask us how to find fellow femmes to date, and the answer is that it's not easy. Looking femme has its disadvantages: not only is it harder for femme lesbians to find girlfriends and avoid those fears of being "forever alone," but femme lesbians also get looked at by other lesbians like we don't belong, and straight people don't believe we're gay. Don't get me started on the hassle I get from straight males, who often say things to me like, "But you're too pretty to be gay," or, "Who wears the trousers?" So femme lesbians are left wondering, "Where exactly do I fit in, and where can I find others like me?"
It seems that within the last couple of years, the representation of lesbians has risen on TV. In particular, there has been an influx of femme lesbian characters, like Santana on Glee, Emily on Pretty Little Liars, Sian and Sophie on Coronation Street, and Callie and Arizona in Grey's Anatomy. This is rather welcome, as a lot of TV series bring in gay male characters but rarely lesbians. There does, however, seem to be a peculiar trend of keeping gay male characters around longer, and the writers definitely don't try to turn them "straight" again. Conversely, TV series will follow the story of a feminine woman coming to terms with being gay, establishing a relationship, and coming out to everyone, but she will then be shown returning to a male either for sex (The Kids Are All Right, a movie, granted, but still) or to form a relationship. This is rather disheartening, and although this sort of trajectory may be true for some lesbians out there, it perpetuates the idea that lesbians can be "turned" while gay men cannot, when in fact we are probably born the way we are, and just because we are femme does not mean that we will one day be swayed by men.
The question remains: how do we tackle femme invisibility? More and more gay men are coming out in the celebrity world, but there is still a great lack of openly out and proud feminine lesbians. We have Portia de Rossi, up-and-coming actress Amber Heard, Miss California hopeful Mollie Thomas, and country singer Chely Wright. I'm not sure Lindsay Lohan or Megan Fox really count, do they? There is a great lack of lesbian role models. Who do the young lesbians have to show them that they can be feminine and still be gay? Growing up is confusing for anyone, and I certainly felt that there was no one to look up to and help me see that my future could be bright, with a gorgeous wife and the house with the white, picket fence.
In order to help tackle the conundrum of femme invisibility, I launched a Femme Visibility campaign on my blog, What Wegan Did Next, with the simple plan of inviting femme lesbians to send in their photos and together take a step toward shattering stereotypes and pulling off our invisibility cloak. If you are a fellow femme and want to stand up loud and proud and join in with the voices of other femmes, please email your photo to whatwegandidnext@gmail.com.
In the meantime, check out a slideshow of 10 famous femme lesbians from real life and the small screen:
Posted: January 27th, 2012 | Author:Ellen Gray (Philly Daily News) | | LUCK. 9 p.m. Sunday, HBO.
PASADENA, Calif. - "Does anyone mind if I take my shoes off?" rasped Nick Nolte.
Posted: January 27th, 2012 | Author:Crystal Bell | |
In a battle of snark, who would win? Santana Lopez (Naya Rivera) and her quick-tongue or Sebastian Smythe (Grant Gustin) and his "CW hair?" Looks like we'll find out on next-week's all-new episode of "Glee," titled "Michael." Yes, that means that the New Directions and the Warblers will sing nothing but 10 of Michael Jackson's legendary hits, as a tribute to the King of Pop.
Besides ten MJ songs, what can viewers expect from the upcoming "Michael" episode? Expect a showdown between Sebastian and Blaine (Darren Criss), while Finn's (Cory Monteith) proposal to Rachel (Lea Michele) is still up in the air. Will Rachel say yes? The cast isn't spilling any secrets, but we do know that the "Glee" lovebirds will sing Jackson's classic tune, "I Just Canât Stop Loving You."
As for the New Directions' big stage performance of "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'" -- on which Blaine takes the lead -- the photos do offer a look at which Michael each of glee clubbers is dressing as: Kevin McHale, who plays Artie, recently told The Huffington Post that the red leather "Thriller" jacket was bestowed upon him while Brittany got tied up in a "Bad" costume.
"The one number we did where everybody wore a different Michael outfit was just incredible. It was like everybody liked somebody else's more than their own," McHale said. "We had no idea what everybody was going to wear until we got to set and were like, "Oh my god! Look at yours!' ... We were all just freaking out."
Watch the performance below.
"Glee's" tribute to the King of Pop airs Tues., Jan. 31 at 8 p.m. EST on Fox. Take a look at some of the official photos from "Michael" below.
"The Good Wife" is in take-no-prisoners mode. In "Another Ham Sandwich," (Sun., Jan. 29 at 9 p.m. EST on CBS), Wendy Scott-Carr's (Anika Noni Rose) investigation into Will Gardner (Josh Charles) comes to a head. It's a big episode of the hit legal drama.
If you'll recall, Season 2's "Ham Sandwich" was a game-changer for "The Good Wife." This year's "Another Ham Sandwich" will definitely leave fans talking, and the episode's events will send ripples through the character's lives.
While we won't reveal all the details -- that is, of course, until the recap Sunday night-- we can offer a tease in the form of five things to look forward to.
Two characters will take their relationship to a new level. It's not who you think.
Alicia's time on the stand is as fiery as the promo leads you to believe. Wendy Scott-Carr and Alicia Florrick have a fierce face-off.
David Lee vs. Eli Gold: Round 2. Caitlin is caught in the crosshair.
There's a sweet Kalinda and Alicia moment. A little hesitation goes a long way.
There's an even better Alicia and Cary moment. It will make you cheer for Cary.
Check back for a full recap of "The Good Wife" on Sunday.
"The Good Wife" airs Sundays at 9 p.m. EST on CBS.
Posted: January 27th, 2012 | Author:Andy Dehnart | | Tags:so you think you can dance | Former So You Think You Can Dance choreographer Alex Da Silva was sentenced today to 10 years in prison after being convicted of raping a dance student and assaulting another with the intent to rape her. L.A. Superior Court Judge Kathleen Kennedy told him in court that he "does not respect women" and "believes he is entitled to do whatever he wants when he wants," ">according to E! News, which notes that he received the... keep reading »
