Author: Deb Medsker (Page 52 of 70)

A new reason to love summer

March 20, 2006 /

Dreading the summer TV doldrums? Have no fear: NBC is set to give you a fun-filled fix of 10 brand-new episodes of “The Office” this summer.

What’s the catch? Well, technically, they’re webisodes, not episodes, and can only be seen at NBC.com. Also, perennial favorite cast members Steve Carell, John Krasinski, and Jenna Fischer will not appear, as the webisodes’ storyline focuses on the accounting department’s hunt for $3,000 in missing company cash (and Steve, John & Jenna will be off making movies). However, resident basket case Dwight Schrute (Rainn Wilson), as well as several other supporting cast members will also appear to assist (or, in Dwight’s case, more likely impede) the accounting team in their quest.

Will these episodes be just as fully enjoyable as a standard “Office” half-hour, sans the poignant Jim-Pam-Roy love triangle and the self-absorbed antics of one Michael Scott? Probably not. Will they nonetheless be a vast improvement over “Big Brother 7,” “America’s Hottest Grandmas,” and other typical summer TV fare? Hell, yes.

The Office, TV

My So-Called Cameo

March 20, 2006 /

Veering dangerously close to a “Will & Grace”-style special guest star overdose, the creators of “Desperate Housewives” follow up their recent Carol Burnett announcement (not to mention recent appearances by Adrian Pasdar, Jane Lynch and Wallace Shawn) with news that former “My So-Called Life” teen heartthrob Jared Leto will appear in a four-episode arc as a sexy grocery-store worker who catches Gabrielle’s eye.

Well, since Leto is pushing thirty-five these days, at least we can assume that Gabby’s days as a statutory rapist are behind her for good. And who knows? With his last decent movie role (in “Requiem for a Dream;” rent it on a night when you won’t mind suffering a little Post Traumatic Stress Disorder afterwards) six long years behind him, maybe Leto is testing the water for a return to series TV, if the right project comes along. After all, it’s a far cushier gig than playing bitch to both Colin Farrell and Oliver Stone in the same movie.

Of course, Leto is already getting great press for the yet-to-be-released flick “Chapter 27,” in which he followed the George Clooney/Robert De Niro “Eating for Oscars” diet, so I wouldn’t hold my breath looking for Leto to turn up as Joey Tribbiani’s kooky new roommate. Plus, if that whole acting thing doesn’t work out, he’s always got his career as a so-called rock star, as founding member of 30 Seconds to Mars.

Dammit, Jordan Catalano, why must you keep on breaking our hearts?

Actors, Desperate Housewives, TV

It’s the movies, stupid

March 15, 2006 /

In yet another example of movie executives just plain missing the point, the film industry has come out with two new ideas designed to halt the decline in moviegoing. According to MPAA chief Dan Glickman, all that’s needed to put those missing butts back in cinema seats is a good old-fashioned ad campaign promoting the general idea of moviegoing (as opposed to touting specific films). Oh, that, and the ability to prevent moviegoers’ cell phones from receiving a signal while inside the theater.

That’s right, folks: the movies themselves don’t need any fixing. Deuce Bigalow: European Gigolo was an outstanding piece of filmmaking with widespread appeal; the only reason it didn’t score higher at the box office was because the general public was simply worried about being bothered by cell phone users at the cinema, or needed to be reminded that moviegoing is a generally enjoyable activity.

Now, don’t get me wrong: I hate those drooling inbred halfwits who yap on their phones during movies, and I support any steps taken to curb their inappropriate behavior. I have been known to hurl both expletives and popcorn in their direction, and I would be pleased as punch if the FCC actually grants the theater owners’ wishes to jam cell signals while on theater property. It won’t happen, but it’s a lovely dream.

But if the MPAA actually thinks that a cell-signal jam and a happy-go-lucky ad campaign reminding America how much fun it is to go out to the movies is going to solve the problem, they’re in for a nasty surprise. It was bad enough that they wasted precious Oscar telecast time scolding us for viewing movies on DVD and honoring “movies that should only be viewed on the big screen;” now they plan to waste huge gobs of money on an ill-fated ad campaign, as well. Imagine the results they might get if they instead devoted that time, energy and money into making movies that people actually have an interest in seeing.

Of course, that one’s even more of a long shot than getting the cell-signal jam approved…but Hollywood’s all about making dreams come true, right?

Movies, News

Going for the Gold

March 14, 2006 /

Bodyrocker Justin Timberlake and his main squeeze Cameron Diaz hope to star in a new movie about two ice skaters who fall in love at the Olympic Village. What is this, “Cutting Edge 2: Revenge of the Toe Pick”? Nope, wait: Hollywood already made that one, starring neither Moira Kelly nor D.B. Sweeney, and focusing on the twenty-ish daughter of a couple that was not yet married as of fourteen years ago.

Which is a shame, because we were just starting to get excited about seeing the former brillo-haired boy-bander trying to pull off the role of a hunky, muscular ex-hockey player who suddenly realizes that his true destiny is to make jazz hands and twirl with his lady love in a shiny sequined costume for all to admire. Instead, Timberlake will likely play a speed skater, with Cameron left to flip her short skirt around on the ice all by her lonesome. What a drag.

Actors, Actresses, Movies

Indiana Jones and the Last Croissant

March 14, 2006 /

Harrison Ford has reportedly proposed to longtime love Calista Flockhart by placing her engagement ring in a brown paper bag with a cup of coffee and a croissant. Awwww, ain’t that cute? That’s almost as cute as the guy my husband knows who put the ring on top of a can of Budweiser in the fridge and told his then-girlfriend to go get him a beer.

The funny thing is, Harrison was taking quite a risk, there, with that proposal method. I mean, come on: a croissant?! Those things are made of, like, solid butter dipped in lard and rolled in pure cane sugar. There’s no way that Calista, all fifty-five pounds of her, has ever eaten an entire croissant in her life…so how did she find the ring? Either the article was a misprint, and the fancy sparkler was actually buried beneath a 10-calorie Quaker puffed rice cake, or Harrison had to coerce Ally McBeal into picking up the croissant to find the ring by telling her the tasty pastry was actually stuffed with figure-flattering amphetamines.

Actors, Actresses, News

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