Category: External TV (Page 208 of 419)

Heigl & Knight to leave “Grey’s Anatomy”?

February 11, 2009 / John Paulsen

The answer is yes, according to a co-star.

When Us Weekly asked James Pickens Jr. (a.k.a. Grey’s Dr. Richard Webber) on February 7 if [Katherine] Heigl is leaving the medical drama, he said, “Yes, she is.” And he continued, “Wherever Katherine goes, I wish her nothing but the best.”
Her outspoken BFF, [T.R.] Knight, 35. “He’s going too,” Pickens told Us at the NAACP Awards luncheon in Beverly Hills. “He just wanted to pursue other career paths.”
“He complains to Katherine all the time,” a set source has said of Knight (with Heigl). “The energy on set will be much better when he’s gone.”

I stopped watching the show a few seasons ago when everyone started sleeping with each other. But this is (probably) huge news to fans still devoted to the show. I have always like Heigl (ever since the days of “Roswell”) so it will be interesting to see where she lands next.

2/18 Update: According to Shonda Rhimes, the two actors aren’t leaving the show.

Actors, Actresses, External Entertainment, External TV, News, TV

Grey's Anatomy Katherine Heigl Roswell T.R. Knight

Mystery Science Theater 3000: Volume XIV

February 11, 2009 / Will Harris

Need further proof that Shout Factory rocks? No, of course, you don’t, because they’ve proved themselves dozens of times over by now. But at the very least, let’s give them a shout-out for not only taking over the release of “MST3K” DVDs but also not wasting time between releases. They started the ball rolling in November, with the show’s 20th Anniversary Set; now, it’s less than three months later, and we’re already being gifted with “Mystery Science Theater 3000: Volume XIV.” Better yet, it’s as if the producers of this new collection took the comments in my review of the anniversary set to heart, since the selections on “Volume XIV” are split straight down the middle: two from the Joel Hodgson era (“Mad Monster” and “Manhunt in Space”), two from the Mike Nelson era (“Soultaker” and “Final Justice”).

The big win here is unquestionably “Soultaker,” which not only stars Joe Estevez (who also featured in the last set’s “Werewolf”) but also features the return of both Joel and TV’s Frank for guest spots. Still, you can never go wrong with a Joe Don Baker film, so there’s much to be said for “Final Justice” as well. As for the Hodgson-era flicks, it must be said that any chance to take a trip in the wayback machine and experience some seriously old-school “MST3K,” and “Mad Monster,” which is from the show’s very first season, fits that bill perfectly. “Manhunt from Space,” from Season 3, is equally classic, with the film’s cheesy sci-fi effects inspiring references to everything from the B-52s to “Gamera.” Shout Factory has also come through with some nice bonus material: new interviews with Joe Estevez and “Final Justice” director Greydon Clark (both of whom are really good sports), the original trailer for “Mad Monster,” and a clip of Mike, Tom, and Crow appearing on ESPN Classic’s “Cheap Seats without Ron Parker.” Yep, it’s another great set all around, fans. Go forth and buy it.

Click to buy “Mystery Science Theater 3000: Volume XIV”

Action Movies, Actors, External Entertainment, External Movies, External TV, Horror Movies, Movies, Reviews, TV, TV Comedies, TV Sci-Fi

Cheap Seats Cheap Seats Without Ron Parker Final Justice Greydon Clark Joe Don Baker Joe Estevez Mad Monster Manhunt in Space MST3K MST3K Volume XIV Mystery Science Theater 3000 Mystery Science Theater 3000 Volume XIV Rocky Jones Space Ranger Soultaker Volume XIV

The Biggest Loser: Doing the right thing

February 11, 2009 / Mike Farley

So after last week’s elimination of the gray team, Carla and Joelle, there is no doubt that the remaining seven teams on NBC’s “The Biggest Loser” really want to be here. Brown team Ron and Mike were thankful at the start of last night’s episode, because they had dodged two straight weeks of possible elimination. Ron has a bad knee but his son Mike, 18, is also having trouble shedding pounds.

Host Alison Sweeney starts out by visiting the ranch, and if she is visiting the contestants in the house, they know a curveball is being thrown. As you might expect, it’s a “pop” challenge, one that can win a contestant 24 hours with a loved one from home. What they had to do was stand on a block, on one foot. Mike and Ron were the first ones out, and I’m pretty sure Ron was out in 15 seconds. One by one they couldn’t hold on, and it was down to both yellow team members, Mandi and Aubrey, as well as Filipe and Blaine. Mandi, who wanted to see her husband so bad, asked Filipe and Blaine to step off, and they both did because, well, they’re good guys. So did Mandi’s sister Aubrey. Mandi’s trainer, Jillian Michaels, however, was not happy with the fact that Mandi would miss a day of workouts to hang with her husband (and kids, as it turned out). But Mandi vowed it wouldn’t be a distraction.

Bob Harper, the other trainer, told the brown team they needed to eat more calories in order to burn more, something they had been hard-wired not to do. Then Bob was shown doing yoga with his team, which he said is a better workout than most people might think….and that it helps build mental focus. Remember I just wrote that, okay? Jillian, meanwhile, was having trouble keeping green teamer Laura focused, until she threatened to have Tara slap her in the face every time she lost focus. Yikes, but it worked.

External TV, Reality TV, The Biggest Loser, TV

Alison Sweeney American Idol Blaine and Dane Bob Harper carb loading Carla and Joelle challenge Damien Filpe and Sione Fox gameplay Helen and Shannon Iron Man Jillian Michaels Kristin and Cathy last chance workout Laura and Tara Mandi and Aubrey NBC Ron and Mike The Biggest Loser The Biggest Loser: Couples weight loss

American Idol: You call this an improvement?

February 11, 2009 / Mike Farley

So as Fox’s “American Idol” turned the page from Season 7 to Season 8, they vowed some improvements to help boost ratings. Well, we’re finding out that there was a bit of hot air in those promises. Yes, they added a fourth judge, and maybe they extended Hollywood week on TV another seven days, but an improvement? Not really. In fact, they barely showed any performances last night. I think they showed more of the judges deliberating and the contestants’ agony waiting for said deliberation than actual singing. Something is getting stale and the producers of the show can’t seem to learn any new tricks. But I’ll say this…the talent this year is pretty freaking good….and I believe it may carry the ratings regardless of the production.

Anyway, as the 72 remaining contestants got ready to sing in front of the judges solo but with some backup singers and a keyboard, the judges began their unenviable task of weeding out the mediocre ones. Then they were separated into four rooms..and you would think that two of the rooms would stay and two would go home, but that’s not exactly what happened. Only one room was sent packing, and I’m pretty sure there were no more than 15 or 20 in that room.

Among them, Kendall, the first girl of the night, attempted Carrie Underwood, and while yours truly is not a Carrie fan in the least, Kendall made Underwood look like Martina McBride…..Keneshe Young, the 16 year old from Cincinnati, who I thought was great, did not make it past this round…India Morrison, who led a fantastic group performance that included buddies Danny and Jamar, did not stand out enough on her own…..and Michael Castro, Jason’s brother, didn’t stay in Hollywood either, though they haven’t shown him performing since his initial audition (really now, how is that possible?).

American Idol, External TV, Reality TV, TV

72 remaining contestants American Idol auditions Believe Bobby Brown Carrie Underwood Cher Cincinnati Dallas Cowboys Danny and Jamar Daughtry final 36 fourth judge Fox Georgia on My Mind Get Your Popcorn Ready Hey There Delilah Hollywood Hollywood week I Hope You Dance I'm Going Home Jason Castro Joanna Pacitti Ju'Not judges' mansion Kara DioGuardi LeeAnn Womack Lil Rounds Martina McBride Michael Castro My Perogative Nick Mitchell Norman Gentle Paula Abdul Randy Jackson Ray Charles Ryan Seacrest Season 7 Season 8 Simon Cowell singing competition Steven Fowler Tatiana Terrell Owens The Divas

Killer Movie

February 10, 2009 / Will Harris

Ever since 1996’s “Scream,” it’s been tough for filmmakers to do subtle parodies of the horror genre without being greeted with a bored “it’s been done.” Kudos to Jeff Fisher, then, for deciding to take a slightly different approach by mocking reality TV and horror movies but managing to get a few laughs without sacrificing the scares. (He has the right resume for it: he used to work on “The Simple Life.”) Although “Killer Movie” can’t be called a groundbreaking scary-movie entry, it has a wittier-than-average script and a strong cast, including Nestor Carbonell (“Lost”) as a sleazy agent who looks sharp but doesn’t think twice about sacrificing morality in favor of a big paycheck, Kaley Cuoco (“The Big Bang Theory”) playing the middle ground between Paris Hilton and Lindsay Lohan, and Leighton Meester (“Gossip Girl”) in what can only be described as a glorified cameo.

The premise of the film involves a reality-show director – played by Paul Wesley, late of ABC Family’s “Fallen” – who gets drafted for a gig covering a high school hockey team in White Plains, ND, but ends up battling with the show’s executive producer (Cyia Batten), who’d rather go sensational and focus on the death of the team’s former coach, who had just gotten out of prison after having had his murder conviction overturned. It will not surprise you that the coach’s death soon becomes only one of many within White Plains, but you probably will find yourself unexpectedly impressed by Cuoco’s performance in the film, which gives one hope that she may yet have a film career ahead of her…not that we’re hastening the end of “The Big Bang Theory,” you understand. Beyond the blood, what keeps the film moving is the decision to intersperse interview footage with the characters between scenes. Though there’s a decent amount of typical horror stuff here, it’s those bits which raise “Killer Movie” a bit above the ordinary.

Click to buy “Killer Movie”