Category: TV (Page 420 of 595)

The Kobe and Shaq of Hollywood

And the streak continues, not only with one of the best episodes of the season, but of the series thus far. Honestly, I don’t know how these guys do it, but they’ve managed to up the ante with each successive episode this season. The whole “Medellin” debacle was taken a step further this week when Snoop Dogg informs Vince and Eric that the “Medellin” trailer has been leaked on to YouTube. Walsh is quick to accuse Eric of sabotaging the film, and in return, Eric tackles Walsh right in the middle of the Barney’s café. What I want to know is why no one even thought to consider that Harvey was the one behind the leak. He certainly has his motives after being screwed over for the second time in as many years, but it was probably just one of the editors.

Nevertheless, the leak proves to be a rare positive moment in the film’s disastrous production, and now that every studio exec has had the chance to see footage from the film, everyone that’s anyone is ready to offer Vince a job. Of course, Ari is already on top of his client’s new passion project: “Lost in the Clouds,” some mountain climber memoir that already has Curtis Hanson (“L.A. Confidential”) signed on to direct. And that’s not even the good news. Dana Gordon – Ari’s ex-flame/blossoming movie exec – is in charge of the project, and so Ari swings by to schmooze her with Cristal and cupcakes. Unfortunately, Heath Ledger is already in final negotiations to nab the lead role, but when Ari convinces his agent (Josh Weinstein) that the character is gay (an obvious, but completely necessary, lie), the deal suddenly drops through.

Meanwhile, Eric and Walsh make amends (kinda) and join Vince for an interview with film critic Elvis Mitchell to discuss the making of “Medellin,” but it soon turns into a battle of egos, leading Mitchell to comment on how great of a rapport they have. Not quite the word I would have used, but Eric bites his tongue nonetheless, only speaking his mind afterwards on his feelings about Walsh. Of course, that’s when Ari calls to inform them of the good news: the studio wants to offer the “‘Medellin’ dream team” the chance to work together again on the new project. Vince will star, Eric will produce… and Walsh will direct. Eric’s response? “Fuck me.” I couldn’t have put it any better myself. It’ll be curious to see what happens from here, but methinks the two will kiss and make up once “Medellin” sweeps Cannes and award buzz begins to swell.

I’d be remiss (and probably ostracized by the “Entourage” viewership) if I didn’t mention the latest chapter in the Adventures of Drama and Turtle, but aside from offering some much needed comic relief, it didn’t serve much purpose to the story. Drama, desperate to embrace a younger image before the start of the new season of “Five Towns,” spots a black trucker hat (featuring the image of a marijuana leaf) while shopping around Barney’s, and suddenly, he’s obsessed with getting one himself. This leads the pair to a medical marijuana club and a visit to the doctor to fake the necessary symptoms needed for the all-important note, but when Drama arrives on set wearing his new hat, he soon discovers that all the cast really care about is getting their hands (or more specifically, their lungs) on some of that medical marijuana. This turns into a game of strip/smoke weed blackjack where Drama becomes the life of the party.

I’m glad to see Drama finally getting what he wants (work and fame), but how about giving the fans a little something as well; namely, actual footage of Drama working on the show. Oh yeah, and how about the return of that fine girl Turtle was dating?

A TCA posting on both Premium Hollywood AND ESDMusic?

Sure, why not a crossover…?

BET is running a new series entitled “Hip Hop vs. America,” and on the panel for the show was none other than the legendary Public Enemy front-man, Chuck D. The show focuses on the different sides of the hip-hop genre, and the social responsibility that its performers have to those who are listening. Great concept, and I’m psyched to see it…but, still, I had to ask what I knew lots of other wanted to know:

Yours Truly: Chuck, guys like you and KRS-One have taken rap and made political statements and aided it in being taken seriously as an art form. How do you think a show like, say, “Flava of Love” has affected you being taken seriously, I mean, as far as the rap community in general?
Chuck D: I come from a black family, and one thing black folks know, we always got that one in our family. But we take them in as family. Jimmy Carter had Billy Carter. You all remember him, right? It’s just that we outnumber Flava 12-to-one, but you might not draw focus on the other 11 — and Flava is a one-of-a-kind, believe that. He ain’t never ever changed and ain’t gonna change. So, hopefully, more shows — maybe we’ll get 11 guys to have shows that balance out the “Flava of Love.”

Word.

By the way, Chuck said he wasn’t really interested in getting his own show…although he said he did think that Professor Griff would do pretty good with one (though, personally, I have to wonder if that wouldn’t have the potential to be even more damaging to hip-hop’s reputation than Flav’s show)…but he admitted that, if he did get his own show, he’d want it to be a one-on-one interview format. I said, “Oh, kinda like Henry Rollins?” I knew he’d been on Rollins’ show…but, damn, boyee, I didn’t know how much he’d enjoyed it. Chuck just lit up and was, like, “Oh, man, Rollins, I love Henry Rollins, I love him, I love everything he does, and I’d love to do anything like that guy.”

In closing, another writer asked Chuck if he thought Flava would ever find love, and he instantly offered up a laugh and a scoff, saying, “Flava found love. Flava got more love than he know what to do with!”

TCA Press Tour: Relative Relaxation ’til Showtime

Howdy do. So yesterday was a bit of a wind-down day for me, thankfully…and good thing, too. I needed it. After running from panel to panel, then doing the obligatory schmoozefest at the end of the evening, only to return to my room and write for an hour or two, was getting a little exhausting, and I was really starting to feel it. (I know, I probably lessened the amount of sympathy I might otherwise have gotten by referencing the schmoozefest aspect of my day, but at least I was honest.)

The day started with a trio of Disney Channel panels: “The Wizards of Waverly Place,” “High School Musical: The Music in You,” and the long-awaited-by-just-about-every-kid-you-know “High School Musical 2.” “The Wizards of Waverly Place” seems cute enough, a standard Disney sitcom about two teenagers who are training to be wizards; not really my cup of tea, but if I was a kid, I’d imagine that the blending of teen comedy and “Harry Potter” – because, c’mon, who are we kidding, that’s what inspired this – would be something I’d want to check out. As far as “High School Musical 2,” I admit it: I’ve never seen the first one. That said, though, the songs they played from the sequel were immediately endearing and catchy, and the choreography was fantastic, so, God help me, maybe I should go check out the original before this new one premieres. Ultimately, though, the far more interesting program was “High School Musical: The Music in You,” a documentary by Academy Award winning documentarian Barbara Kopple (“Harlan County USA,” “American Dream”) which details two rival high schools who are putting on their own renditions of “High Schol Musical.” As a music geek, I was most fascinated / depressed by the information about how expensive it is to stage one of these productions, simply as far as paying the publishing royalties. I never thought about that before…but, geez, you can see that these people certainly do…

Julia Worthington, one of the teachers putting on the musical, explained that “it depends on, first of all, how many performances you’re going to do, the size of your venue.” Worthington’s school’s production usually only has an audience of about 100, and, based on that average, she says that “the licensing and the royalties and everything was about $2,300.” Apparently, the amount started at around $500, and it varies wildly depending on the number of seats, the number of performances, and so forth…but, of course, that’s only for “High School Musical.”

Continue reading »

“Far” out? No way, dude. “Far” IN!

Per the Sci-Fi Network’s panel at the TCA press tour…

“Sci-Fi.com has ordered a 10-part webisode series based on the multi-award-winning “Farscape” the fan and critical darling that has been widely recognized as one of the greatest sci-fi series in television history. Executive-produced by Brian Henson and Robert Halmi, Jr., and produced by The Jim Henson Company, in association with RHI Entertainment, the series will revive and expand the beloved “Farscape” universe.”

Duchovny speaks!

After the “Californication” panel yesterday, David Duchovny was literally SWARMED by writers with their recorders extended…and, yes, I was one of them. But, eventually, my arm got tired – I was having to stretch over the shoulder of another fella – and I have to give up the ghost. Still, I got this pic, and I also got this valuable info:

Duchovny is anticipating that he’ll finally, FINALLY be receiving the script to the forever-gestating “X-Files” movie sequel. It’s a co-write by Chris Carter and Frank Spotnitz, which longtime fans of the show will be giddy about, given that Carter, of course, is the show’s creator, while Spotnitz wrote, story-edited, and produced many fine episodes for the series. (Carter will also direct, according to Duchovny.) Gillian Anderson is on board, as you’ve no doubt heard rumored…but, then, this flick has been nothing but rumors for the longest time. Lord knows we’ve heard rumors that a script was on the way before. So what makes this different?

“This time,” says Duchovny, “I really am supposed to get the script next week. And I’m looking forward to seeing what (Chris) did.”

It’s to be a one-off script, i.e. there are no intentions to continue the franchise as an ongoing series of sequels, and – all things being equal – the plan is for filming to begin later this year, with a release date for sometime in 2008.

Bonus anecdote: Evan Handler, who plays Duchovny’s character’s agent on “Californication,” joked, “It’s going to open the same weekend as the ‘Sex and the City’ movie.” Duchovny’s reply: “We’re gonna crush ’em!”

« Older posts Newer posts »

© 2026 Premium Hollywood

Theme by Anders NorenUp ↑