Hey Emmys, you better vote for “Family Guy” in the Best Comedy category if you know what’s good for ya. “Family Guy” has created a viral video campaign called “Where’s My Emmy?” that is a playful attack on their competition in the Best Comedy category at the Emmys. They all essentially feature the same plot. Brian gets out of the shower and dries off. Stewie enters and asks Brian what show will be getting his Emmy vote. After Brian answers with a show that “Family Guy” is competing against, Stewie beats him senseless. So far, the videos have taken on “The Office,” “Flight of the Conchords,” and “Entourage,” so hopefully “How I Met Your Mother,” “Weeds,” and “30 Rock” are on their way.
Fans of Joss Whedon are probably familiar with Felicia Day. The self-proclaimed fangirl appeared as a Chosen One on the final season of “Buffy the Vampire Slayer,” co-starred in his hit web musical “Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog,” and recently guest starred on the lost episode of “Dollhouse.” What you may not know, however, is that Day is actually a bit of an auteur herself, writing and starring in her own web series about a group of MMORPG-obsessed geeks called “The Guild.”
Those who haven’t yet seen the first two seasons can do so (for free) on the official site, but she’s also just put out a music video (cleverly titled “Do You Want to Date My Avatar”) in conjunction with the upcoming premiere of Season Three, and suffice it to say, it’s worth checking out. Day has already proven that she can sing, but I’ll be damned if she doesn’t sound even better on this hilarious geek anthem. Is a music career in her future, or will some smart TV executive finally give the redheaded beauty her due? The answer to that is still very much in the air, but for the time being, I’m perfectly happy with swooning over her by whatever means possible.
Sam Peckinpah’s 1971 classic “Straw Dogs” stars Dustin Hoffman as a Hollywood screenwriter who moves with his wife Amy to her hometown. As Hoffman’s character, David, buries himself in work, Amy becomes annoyed and begins to flirt with the men in the town. Among them is her former boyfriend, Charlie, who begins to romantically pursue Amy. When he is unsuccessful, he rapes Amy while David is out of town. The scene was incredibly controversial at the time as Amy at one point appears to enjoy the rape.
The film offers a challenging take on males as carnivores. As the townspeople descend on the couple’s home, the previously mild-mannered David shifts into a homicidal rage. “Straw Dogs” is intriguing, thrilling, eerie, and raw.
So, I don’t know why anyone would want to remake it. I can’t see how an update would be relevant in the slightest. Rod Lurie, a former movie critic, will be directing. In the past, Lurie’s directed such films as “The Contender,” “The Last Castle,” and “Resurrecting the Champ.” The remake, which begins filming today, stars James Marsden as David and Kate Bosworth as Amy. Alexander Skarsgard, James Woods, and Dominic Purcell will play some of the town’s ruthless citizens. The movie is set for release sometime in 2011.
Many people are going to see this movie simply because it was Heath Ledger’s last role. That’s all well and good, but “The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus” has a lot more to offer. The film, which Terry Gilliam directed and co-wrote, began production in December of 2007 and was given a budget of $30 million. Over the years, Gilliam has gathered a worldwide recognition, and many fans have been eagerly awaiting this film, which is his first since 2005’s “Tideland.” Perhaps best known as the only American in Monty Python, he also directed their films “Monty Python and the Holy Grail” and “The Meaning of Life.” Gilliam later went on to direct such classics as “Brazil” and “Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas.” After Ledger unexpectedly died, Gilliam and co-writer Charles McKeown made some changes to this script, which now had Ledger’s character going through physical transformations. Thus, Johnny Depp, Jude Law, and Colin Farrell were cast to play different versions of Ledger’s character. Outside of some entertaining comedies, it’s been a pretty dry year for movies. Thankfully, it looks like “The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus” won’t disappoint.
Oh, and Tom Waits plays the devil in it. Need I say more?
Love him or hate him, it’s hard not feel something during his take on America’s health care companies. Never have I heard words spoken so eloquently on this issue that is so divisive. It’s a shame that people have turned off Bill Maher in the past because he’s crossed a line or spoken so adamantly against one of their views that they retreat towards a safer form of commentary. True, “The Daily Show” might have you laughing harder, but it’s lost that edge over the years that once made it so captivating. I remember when Comedy Central used to tout the show as “irrelevant” and “controversial,” but the show show is mere husk of its former self. The most compelling by far is “Real Time,” which seems somehow to have escaped the attention of young America.
Since I began watching a year ago, I’ve been saying it’s the best thing HBO has in their lineup. Like other talk shows, the schedule is privy to bouts of hiatus because of Maher’s stand-up schedule. Neverthless, new episodes are run throughout the year as it’s obvious this is what Maher enjoys the most. What’s great about the show is that Maher feels like he’s accomplishing something by being engaging.
I think people often forget that you don’t have to like the host. In the past, I thought Maher was smug, wordy, and unfunny. Well, he is smug, but I think that’s part of his appeal. Over time, I realized that I wasn’t tuning in for the jokes. I was tuning in because of his panel discussions and most importantly, his closing arguments. Interspersed with humor, the show’s final minutes are so passionate at times that I can’t help but actually listening instead of mindlessly taking in language. Also, I don’t mean “passion” as in “speaking loudly with force.” When I say “passion,” I mean that Maher feels like he cares about this species in a way that his erudition can actually motivate us to change. That praise is putting him in quite a position of authority, I know, but really, where else are you going to turn to on television to feel motivated about issues? “The Daily Show” abandoned that mission statement a long time ago and it’s obvious that the pundit shows on MSNBC and CNN aren’t very inspiring. Maher’s show is the opposite.
How about this for a New Rule: Not everything in America has to make a profit. It used to be that there were some services and institutions so vital to our nation that they were exempt from market pressures. Some things we just didn’t do for money. The United States always defined capitalism, but it didn’t used to define us. But now it’s becoming all that we are.
Hard to feel offended by anyone but the health care companies in that statement. So, give “Real Time” a shot, even if you hate the host.
