It’s Friday…what a week. For one thing, PCA nominations came out (more on today’s Favorite Male Movie Star nominee in a moment). But first, how about Taylor Swift (also a PCA nominee, by the way)?! This little starlet swept the CMA’s and demonstrated that you can be young and funny and apparently very gracious too — as we learned during last weekend’s SNL. Hard to imagine that this young lady’s star could be any more on the rise, but it looks like we’ll be watching her sparkle for many years to come.
Couple of movies opening this weekend …some quite interesting but only one looks like a cash cow. Essentially it seems nobody wants to get in the way of 2012 (remember, we were warned) because there’s an apocalyptic-Mayan-Calendar-based-John-Cusack-end-of-the-world vehicle with “box office champ” written all over it. We also have a movie opening called Pirate Radio, starring Philip Seymour Hoffman that’s all about a 1960’s radio station that broadcast from a ship off the coast of England. Then, for the family (but it looks smart too…I’m betting you could catch this on a non-kid date and enjoy it as well) called The Fantastic Mr. Fox with the voices of George Clooney, Meryl Streep and Bill Murray. I tend to think these guys make pretty good movie choices. You might also watch Woody Harrelson in The Messenger, or perhaps you’ll catch a cool little movie called Dare with Ana Gasteyer, Emmy Rossum and Sandra Bernhard. Or maybe you’ll just get lots of popcorn, forget about plausibility and make Roland Emmerich (director of 2012) even richer. Which I suspect lots of folks will. I thought the trailer was pretty wild.
Now for today’s poll. The past two days we’ve asked about two of the Favorite Movie Stars — Brad Pitt and Hugh Jackman. Now let’s look at Mr. Johnny Depp and find out which of this movie star’s films are your favorites. Once again, I’m tossing out 4 random Depp films. Voice your choice in todays featured poll and tell us which of these listed is your favorite.
1) Edward Scissorhands
2) Charlie & the Chocolate Factory
3) Finding Neverland
4) Pirates of the Caribbean
11:08 am on November 13, 2009
Still excited about our PCA Nominees…specifically this week we’re talking about Favorite Male Actors…from Movies. Yesterday we asked you which Brad Pitt movie you liked best. Among the remaining nominees, we have Hugh Jackman, Johnny Depp, Robert Pattinson and Ryan Reynolds.
Oh wait…we need to touch on TV news. Apparently the Joss Whedon show Dollhouse was cancelled and I know that there were lots of you who will be more than disappointed by that turn of events. Similarly, in other Hollywood gossip, Office Space and Sex and the City star (among other things) Ron Livingston just married his Standoff costar and Rachel Getting Married star Rosemarie Dewitt — congratulations to these two.
But back to sizing up PCA nominees. Today let’s take a look at Hugh Jackman and his many, many credits. A bona fide movie star, hoofer AND singer, Hugh’s participated in just about every form of entertainment there is. Now we are going to give you 4 random films of his to consider. So voice your choice in today’s featured poll and let us know which of Hugh’s movies is your favorite.
1) Australia
2) Swordfish
3) X-Men Origins: Wolverine
4) Someone Like You
10:45 am on November 12, 2009
What a day …hope you caught the news from yesterday morning’s PCA Nominees Press Conference — so many stars to choose from …so many actors, actresses, singers, shows and movies. Now begins the countdown til our January 6th broadcast, when the 2010 PCA winners will be announced. And the best part, of course, is that YOU will decide who takes home EACH trophy. It’s all about you. (Me? I have to say I was absolutely thrilled that Twilight and members of its awesome cast were nominated as I am an unabashed fan but we’ll get to that later. While we’re at it…9 days from today is the New Moon premiere.)
But wait — TV news — did you see that Aaron Carter was summarily sent home from Dancing With The Stars? Now only Donny, Mya, Kelly and Joanna remain for the final hoof-off.
Now back to the People’s Choice Awards. Where to start with our 2010 nominees…how about Favorite Movie Actor. One of the most popular categories ever. In this group we have 5 guys, each of whom enjoys a more than devoted fan base, to say the least. The 5 are Brad Pitt, Hugh Jackman, Johnny Depp, Robert Pattinson, and Ryan Reynolds. (2 Americans, 1 Canadian, an Australian and an Englishman). Each inspires a tremendous following, all have starred in hit movies, and all have — to a greater or lesser degree — pretty good acting chops. That said, let’s base our poll today on the work of one of them (we’ll get to the others down the road)…and see how you feel about this guy’s (multiple) movie credentials. First up, let’s take a look at some of nominee Brad Pitt’s films. He’s done a great many of them, so we’re going to try and pull a reasonable cross section for you all to think about and vote on. (In fact, I’m sure you will all suggest countless other BP pics that weren’t included. But let’s just consider a few for now.) So why not voice your choice in today’s featured poll and tell us which of these Brad Pitt movies is your favorite.
1) Fight Club
2) Mr. and Mrs. Smith
3) The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
4) Ocean’s Eleven
11:07 am on November 11, 2009
Today’s the day! Get ready for the big news as we reveal the NOMINEES for the 2010 People’s Choice Awards! And of course, that’s “revealing” courtesy of special guests Jeff Probst, Sofia Vergara, Cat Deeley, and Kris Allen. I’ll be tweeting from the event so stay tuned and you’ll know as soon as we know just who’s headed for January’s big show.
In regular TV news (as opposed to DWTS news – it is Tuesday, after all), we have good news if you’re a fan of The Forgotten (that’s the new Christian Slater drama). It seems ABC hasn’t forgotten about this rookie show and they’ve gone ahead and ordered more episodes. Unfortunately, they didn’t grant the same wish for Eastwick, starring Rebecca Romijn, and so the future of that one looks pretty bleak. Now, on to Dancing With The Stars because the fact is, as our celebrity hoofer field gets thinner, the plot gets thicker. There are just 5 couples left, and tonight one of them won’t exactly be kicking up their heels. Last night, Mya and Dmitry triumphed with 59 points out of 60 for their two dances. For that reason, we’re not going to put her in today’s poll as a possible vote-off. But as we get down to the wire, who’s going home? Now, voice your choice in today’s featured poll and let us know which one of these 4 couples you think will get booted off the show tonight.
1) Aaron & Karina
2) Donny & Kym
3) Joanna & Derek
4) Kelly & Louis
11:19 am on November 10, 2009
Happy Monday. So it’s official…the People’s Choice Awards race is about to begin — our PCA Nominations Press Conference is tomorrow morning, right here in Los Angeles. And, to lend a hand with the hoopla we’ve enlisted the help of some very special guests to announce the 2010 nominees, including Kris Allen, Modern Family’s Sofia Vergara, Jeff Probst, and Cat Deeley. Over the past few weeks about a zillion people weighed in, and you’re about to find out which stars are now in the final running to take home trophies. (Don’t forget, these folks are in the race for one of the brand new Waterford trophies you also voted on). Plus, yours truly will be tweeting live from the press conference …so you’ll get the scoop right when it happens.
So back to the Monday stuff. In movie news, (as we predicted) Jim Carrey’s latest, A Christmas Carol got off to a strong start this past weekend as box office champ with an estimated $31 million dollar haul. A Christmas Carol is also expected to do nicely right on thru Christmas itself. (Then, keep an eye out for a few more end-of-the-year films expected to hit major box office pay-dirt, like The Twilight Saga: New Moon and Avatar). The Michael Jackson film This Is It also made more money in theaters this past weekend — great buzz on that one – and George Clooney’s new film did pretty well too. In TV news: did anyone happen to catch Taylor Swift hosting Saturday Night Live? Expectations were high for Taylor, especially after all that Kanye West nonsense from the MTV Awards. Turns out? The girl is an unquestionable talent, but I must say I didn’t know how funny she is, too. This of course got me thinking about other SNL guest hosts, and it occurred to me that maybe you all would have something to say about a few of them. So how about you voice your choice in today’s featured poll and let us know which recent SNL host — besides Taylor — was your favorite.
1) Ryan Reynolds
2) Gerard Butler
3) Megan Fox
4) Drew Barrymore
11:11 am on November 9, 2009
Happy Friday! The weekend is here, and thus you now have countless opportunities for entertainment. Take for example, the movies. Essentially, there are five big new movies on the radar this weekend for your viewing pleasure. Here are your options. You can watch George Clooney star in The Men Who Stare at Goats, based on a book about a secret military plan to use paranormal skills to, well, take out barnyard animals with a glance (and presumably a hairy eyeball). Or, perhaps you’ll go see The Box, a suspense thriller about a couple presented with a box, a button, and a few life or death options.Starring Cameron Diaz. You could also catch Precious: Based on the novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire, a harrowing but ultimately uplifting urban drama that’s got real Oscar buzz. Then again maybe you’re intrigued by The Fourth Kind, starring the gorgeous Milla Jovovich (whose appearance in The Fifth Element leads me to wonder if she has a thing for ordinal numbers). This one’s about creepy disappearances in an Alaskan town. Your final movie option? A Christmas Carol, which combines Jim Carrey, that weird motion capture animation, a PG rating, plus an oldie but goodie storyline. Which will probably add up to major box office bucks right on thru the holidays. And this got me thinking: why would a studio release a Christmas movie weeks before even Thanksgiving? And then I remembered: because it’ll make tons of cash. And who better to star in a pre-holiday holiday blockbuster than Jim Carrey? So of course I got to wondering about your favorite Jim Carrey films. Hence today’s poll. Now, I am sticking with JC’s “fun” films and steering clear of Oscar bait like Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind and The Truman Show.Voice your choice in today’s featured poll and let us know your fave Jim Carrey film.
1) Ace Ventura
2) The Mask
3) Liar, Liar
4) Me, Myself & Irene
10:25 am on November 6, 2009
When it comes to the old do -you-remember-where-you-were-when game, 2009 is definitely a year of amazing milestones in pop culture. As we mentioned a few weeks ago, the movie Pulp Fiction is 15 years old. Now, what do Say Anything, Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure, Heathers, Big, Road House, Batman, & Born on The Fourth of July all have in common? These films were each released exactly 20 years ago. Do you remember seeing them in theaters? Television is also marking some huge milestones. 20 years ago a show called “The Seinfeld Chronicles” hit the little screen. The title would be shortened of course, but you get the point. Plus, another one of TV’s biggest birthdays happens next week, because on November 10th, Sesame Street will celebrate its 40th anniversary.(If you’re wondering, a quick check to anniversary symbols reveals that the 1st anniversary is traditionally celebrated with paper, the 20th is celebrated with china and platinum, and the 40th is known as the “ruby” anniversary).
It’ll be quite a season for Sesame Street, and to honor this groundbreaking and beloved children’s program, even Google is celebrating. They’re incorporating Big Bird into their homepage, so every time people search on November the 10th, they’ll find Big Bird’s orange and pink legs. Happy 40th, Sesame Street! Additionally, the anniversary kickoff show will feature some pretty terrific guest stars, including First Lady Michelle Obama and Cameron Diaz.(The People’s Choice Awards will also be celebrating on November 10th…but more on that later on).
In this era of TV shows that last for less than a season, 40 years is a long time to be on top. And as someone who actually remembers the first year of Sesame Street, I’ve been thinking about the show’s characters I loved and identified with,as well as the ones more popular with kids today. With this in mind, and as we salute Sesame Street on their 40th anniversary, please voice your choice in today’s featured poll and let us know which Sesame Street character(s) is(are) your favorite!
1) Big Bird
2) Elmo
3) Kermit
4) Oscar the Grouch
10:36 am on November 5, 2009
It’s Wednesday. Halfway there. In TV news, you all were right, if how you voted yesterday was any indication of how Dancing With the Stars would turn out after another double elimination round. Appealing as they were, we had to say buh-bye to Michael Irvin and Mark Dacascos. But far more enlightening for many of us was the performance of the Ballas Hough Band, comprised of dancers Mark Ballas and Derek Hough, Did you see it? Should dancers be allowed to sing? This notion of crossovers is of course where we’re headed with today’s poll, but we’ll get to that in a minute. First up, some big award show news — it seems Steve Martin and Alec Baldwin have both been tapped to host the Oscars…how do you feel about that? We will of course be asking you more pointed questions about your favorite Oscar hosts in the coming weeks. But for now it’s something to consider, and it’s probably a pairing, regardless of its success in terms of ratings, that will make more than a few of us laugh out loud. A lot. In other TV news, many of you were very, very pleased to learn that TNT has rescued Southland, but how do you feel about NBC’s decision not to keep going with Trauma, another brand new medical show barely on its feet before it got the axe? Now let’s get back to today’s business at hand, which is crossover talent. Because the appearance of the Ballas Hough Band made me wonder where genuine talent ends, and where skill — and vanity – begins. Although to be fair, there are a number of actors who have taken to song when we didn’t know they could, with excellent results. Meryl Streep can absolutely sing. Kevin Kline can entertain us with song and dance. Mandy Moore does everything. Hugh Jackman too. Billy Ray Cyrus had a series, and then some. Christopher Walken can totally dance. Patrick Swayze had real pipes. And so on. So now, while we’re on the subject of crossover talent, let’s go the other way and see which singers you think should act more. Herewith, four singer performers who have appeared in movies and TV. Of them, please voice your choice in today’s featured poll and tell us which of these singers who decided to act is your fave.
1) Madonna
2) LL Cool J
3) Bon Jovi
4) Queen Latifah
10:30 am on November 4, 2009
Two words today: David Cook. With the arrival of Carrie Underwood’s CD Play On and yesterday’s poll about former Idols you’re most psyched about, it seems lots of you are overwhelmingly keen on David Cook, who wasn’t one of the four choices. Next time, I promise! Plus we have Hollywood baby news: first, actor Mel Gibson and his current GF Oksana Grigorieva, are the new parents of a daughter named Lucia (and baby makes 8 for papa Mel). Also, actress Mary Stuart Masterson had a baby boy with hub Jeremy Davidson. (If MSM’s name’s not ringing a bell, think Fried Green Tomatoes and one of my personal favorites, Some Kind Of Wonderful). Congratulations. And some REALLY good news for all of you Southland fans — and there are plenty. TNT has rescued the drama which NBC cancelled a few weeks back. So rest assured, Ben McKenzie is still on the beat. Speaking of beats — it’s Tuesday and we know what that means. Time to check in on Dancing With The Stars to see who’s going home tonight in another double elimination round. Who’s left? Why is everyone getting sick? (And who thinks the “stars” should have been designing any of the dancers’ costumes??) So — remaining we have: Donny, Michael Irvin, Mark Dacascos, Mya, Aaron Carter, Kelly Osbourne, and Joanna Krupa. The musical guest tonight will be none other than Rod Stewart. But wait! That’s not all we get, because there will also be a special appearance by the “Ballas Hough Band” (comprised of — you guessed it — Mark Ballas and Derek Hough). They’ll be performing their new single “Move”. We’ll see about that. But now, for today’s featured poll: how about you all voice your choice and let us know which “stars” are not going to make it ’til Wednesday?
1) Michael Irvin
2) Mark Dacascos
3) Kelly Osbourne
4) Aaron Carter
10:25 am on November 3, 2009
Happy Monday! Happy Post-Halloween (and post-trick-or-treating-did-you-stop-the-kids-from-ingesting- every-bit-of-chocolatey-goodness within a ten-mile radius of your home?) Or, did you enjoy the requisite costume party for adults where you spend tons of time wondering if your costume’s innovative and “fun” enough only to realize — a day later – that it really didn’t matter so much because everyone had a great time anyway? Just so long as everyone remembered to set the clocks back. But let’s get to the entertainment stuff. As in, Michael Jackson’s movie This Is It brought in over $101 million dollars worldwide this weekend…that’s quite a showing for the King of Pop…did you catch it? And now begins our cinematic trek towards the holiday blockbusters…your New Moon, Invictus (from Clint Eastwood, starring Morgan Freeman & Matt Damon) Sherlock Holmes, Avatar, 2012 and other films that’ll be probable moneymakers. Speaking of moneymakers, Carrie Underwood’s latest album Play On gets released tomorrow, and there are LOTS of excited fans. This American Idol’s momentum has never really slowed, and Play On’s likely to keep her going for a while. Which got me wondering…and here comes today’s poll…which other former Idols are you most excited about? We’d love you to weigh in specifically on a few past Idol winners (as opposed to some of the insanely popular and wildly successful singers who didn’t win, but whose careers haven’t suffered one bit). As we get ready for Carrie and Play On, I’d like to know which of these former winners you still like best. Voice your choice in today’s featured poll and let us know which Idol, in your opinion, still has what it takes.
1) Kelly Clarkson
2) Ruben Studdard
3) Fantasia Barrino
4) Taylor Hicks
10:33 am on November 2, 2009
