2010 MTV VMA’s: Will There Be Surprises?

So Chelsea Handler’s going to host the 2010 Video Music Awards… remember the first time you even became aware of the VMA’s? (Hint: it was probably back when MTV actually had videos. You know, before the network  became wildly successful churning out reality shows featuring young people in various stages of development & clothing confronting one another in random metropolitan areas). Here’s some trivia you can toss out – the first hosts of the MTV VMA’s in 1984? Dan Aykroyd and Bette Midler. Next time you run into either of them be sure to ask how that went.  If you recall, last year’s VMA’s included (a let’s hope pixilated) Kanye West stealing the spotlight from Taylor Swift. There were other moments that involved Lady Gaga and Beyonce and Russell Brand, who hosted, but I’m not sure anybody remembers much besides the Kanye /Taylor debacle. So what will go down this September 12th when this year’s show airs? Will there be more trouble? Many people were a teensy bit surprised that Kanye was actually invited back to the VMA’s this year at all, much less to sing, and to them I would politely inquire: when’s the last time someone’s less-than-exemplary-but-ratings-grabbing–antics were deliberately squelched? What network would voluntarily turn away from the huge curiosity and the ridiculous tune-in that a return visit from both Kanye and Taylor has already  promised? I can’t name one TV channel that would willingly turn its back on that level of buzz (besides the ones selling  a) diamond pinky rings, b) those blenders that can make a tasty smoothie out of a chair leg or c) the return of Our Lord). So we’ll watch & wait & see. Although these awards shows with the massive youth component (e.g., Teen Choice, MTV Movie Awards, etc.) must now feel so forced to push the envelope and shock folks that I can no longer  tell what is “outrageous & beyond the pale” behavior and what is actually “scripted outrageous & beyond the pale” behavior. But again, maybe some of this will change with Chelsea Handler. Many years ago she came in as a guest on the radio station where I worked. When she arrived and began chatting with us on the air I knew only that she was an up-and-coming comedienne. Which seemed incongruous. More astonishing was the fact that she’s gorgeous, hilarious, articulate and really smart which is unusual (now before you go thinking me sexist let me finish the sentence) for ANYONE at 6:15 in the morning. But this one was easygoing and completely charming and I’m guessing she will handle the VMA’s nicely. Not that Russell Brand didn’t do a good job last year, but I suspect she’ll infuse it with a different vibe altogether. Particularly with the curiosity factor. I’ll certainly watch. Now, here’s where you can weigh in on the VMA’s winningest performers. Voice your choice in today’s featured poll and tell us, of the acts who have won the most Video Music Awards, which is your favorite:

1)    Madonna (20)

2)    Green Day (11)

3)    R.E.M. (12)

4)    Peter Gabriel (13)

Post a Comment (0) 8:36 am on August 19, 2010

Why Does Mad Men Work?

Now that we finally know who Rooney Mara is, let’s move on to another phenomenon. Specifically, let’s examine a little show (that came out of nowhere & won & may continue to win lots of Emmys) whose stars are getting cast right and left. Oh sure, a hit show always promises good things for its cast while it’s hot – they can usually count on a few more returned phone calls and auditions – but there’s something about Mad Men and perhaps even its cast that’s just plain different. Jon Hamm is about to hit the big screen in The Town (directed by/starring Ben Affleck – this may be one of the fall’s biggest films). We’ve just learned that January Jones was cast as Emma Frost in the upcoming X-Men: Origins- First Class. Elisabeth Moss has just signed on to appear in On The Road (yeah, that one) alongside Kristen Stewart and Viggo Mortensen. They’re all over SNL. Point is, the stars of AMC’s hit  show are on some kind of roll these days,  (Season Four’s third episode aired last weekend). We know that Emmy has recognized newbies like Glee and Modern Family and The Good Wife, and this fall we’ll be introduced to yet another crop. But Mad Men continues to get attention, even more so this year as its hero falls victim to the depression, rejection, doubt, and uncertainties that have been plaguing normal people for centuries. So what gives – why does it work – and seemingly get better? (Full disclosure: I’m an unabashed fan. I loved this show from the getgo and spent an awful lot of time trying to convince others to give it a gander. Including the fact that their current agency headquarters  is housed in the same building of my first job out of school).  So what’s the appeal of Mad Men, really? And why are so many people at a loss to explain why they’re hooked (and why do they always wind up snapping their fingers when they describe the entire devil-may-care era in which it takes place?) Like The Sopranos, it’s a boozy misogynistic super -stratified world of a very specific group of people. And yet it’s not like The Sopranos at all.  It’s set in another era, but unlike those History Channel shows which appeal to a slightly more seasoned audience, this one’s popular among the young. Is it because we live in an era where we’re completely jaded since everything is possible on account of YouTube and cell phones, but this group of strivers had no such technology and relied almost solely upon verbiage and a plunging neckline? Or is it because we live now in an age of fractured families, alienated youngsters, and legitimate global fears and here’s this little microcosm of society that just hints at what we know will come to pass? Who knows. Maybe it’s just a bunch of really attractive people who took the time to clean up and button down in order to pursue the American Dream at a time when one could still sleep soundly through the night. Maybe it’s one of the few shows that’s genuinely escapist without being weird or set on another planet or in another dimension. If you haven’t watched, give it a shot. Nor is it ever too late – the web is riddled with sites that’ll bring you up to speed in two shakes. Then let us know what you think about the show – good, bad,  or indifferent. If you are a fan, here’s something to consider. Voice your choice in today’s featured poll and tell us which Mad Men character – besides Don & Betty – you’re most fascinated by:

1)    Joan

2)    Pete

3)    Peggy

4)    Roger

Post a Comment (2) 8:28 am on August 18, 2010

Rooney Mara: Enter the Dragon (Tattooed Girl)

Did you see Eat Pray Love? I didn’t, and even though I loathed the book, sooner or later I’m sure I will catch the film. I just won’t hand over any of my own shekels to do it (even though, in a roundabout way, my cable company will pocket something). Today, let’s return to my favorite book to movie obsession featuring a novel I will never read and its journey into a movie I’ll never watch but I’m nothing if not a populist and I know that 9/10’s of the modern world did read and will watch so here goes. Turns out, the wait is over. This time they’ve found their Dragon-Tattooed Girl for The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo. And if you haven’t seen the headlines, there’s a lovely young lady who’s about to get a taste of Kristen Stewart’s life. Nor does anyone have the faintest idea about whether 25-year old actress Rooney Mara is as flummoxed by the off-camera spotlight as Stewart, but let’s hope she isn’t, because this gal’s probably looking at a minimum of four years of flashbulbs and scrutiny. And it’s official – after what’s been the most closely- followed casting conundrum in all of Hollywood (director David Fincher said he wanted an “unknown”) they’ve finally found their girl. Plus, these franchises are so valuable  (see Rowling, J.K. & Meyer, S.) that nobody signs on for just the one movie. They’ve already cranked up the machine to churn out three, and the actors (who also include Daniel Craig & Robin Wright) are aboard too. So who is Rooney Mara? (You will be seeing this question in print and on TV a lot in the coming weeks/months. Thus here’s a quick intro to bring you ahead of the curve). Let’s say you wind up at a party this weekend and someone turns to you and asks if you’ve been following this whole Dragon Tattoo book to movie thing. And even if you haven’t – even if you did in fact find the book waaaay too gruesome, you can just point out that  “everyone knows that kind of misogynistic violence is pure catnip to a Hollywood filmmaker .” And then return to your beer or your onion dip. Now, when the conversation turns to the girl who’ll actually play the elfin goth computer hacker heroine, you’re also prepared – with a little something extra. Certainly moviegoers will know that Rooney Mara is about to appear in the upcoming film The Social Network (a.k.a. the Facebook Movie). They might even know she was in that Michael Cera vehicle Youth In Revolt or the remake of Nightmare on Elm Street. Her sister Kate is an actress working a lot nowadays too. But again, those are movie facts and unless you’re a total film geek, they are no more interesting than any other actor’s CV. But there’s something about her pedigree that will guarantee maximum interest from casual onlookers. Believe it or not, this chick’s got major sports cred. For true. Rooney Mara hails from a very famous NFL family: one of her great grandfathers founded the New York Giants. And the other great grandfather ? He started the Pittsburgh Steelers. How’s that for a dynasty? That’s who Rooney Mara is. Now you know. With this in mind let’s look at a few of our favorite action heroines. Voice your choice in today’s featured poll and tell us which of these lovely ladies makes the best action hero:

1)    Sigourney Weaver

2)    Linda Hamilton

3)    Angelina Jolie

4)   Uma Thurman

Post a Comment (1) 7:28 am on August 17, 2010

J.Lo, Idol, Dueling Divas & Red Herrings

Don’t forget — if you haven’t done so already you’ve got til midnight tonight to submit your entry in the Nickelback Guitar Naming Contest. All you need’s a great name for the new Limited Edition Les Paul Guitar — if  Chad Kroeger and the boys feel it’s the one that truly captures the band, you’ll win yourself the axe itself PLUS VIP tix to a private show in Vegas. And all it takes is one great name in an email …so get your best entry in by midnight.

Now today, let’s address the J.Lo sitch. Because I guess I have to come clean.  Or at least look up the word “gullible” in the dictionary.

See last week I must have ingested some of that Fox Kool-aid. Contrary to reports, it seems the American Idol folks haven’t made up their minds about anybody who may/may not be in the running for a judge’s slot. And furthermore – they also haven’t bailed on any celebrities for being a difficult handful of no thanks. In other words, all that talk about J.Lo being out of the race because of her demands? Apparently hogwash. With which I gargled, because I hook/lined it all and went on about how the Idol people needed to heed her  demands lest they have a show that’s even more doomed than it currently is. Whoops. So now I quote – and this is from Entertainment Weekly who tends to check their facts very carefully:

“A source close to the negotiations tells EW.com exclusively “no deals have fallen apart due to unreasonable demands.”

And here’s where it gets really fun. Their source goes on to say:

“…you’d better believe no one — male or female — has been unreasonable at the negotiating table….This may simply be a case of one diva’s rep slinging mud to make another potential candidate look like a diva. There are a million agendas swirling out there”.

Wow – I never even considered that angle! Oh the humanity! We are one devious species, aren’t we?  Moreover, one of the points I made in last week’s blog was that you need someone high- profile and outrageous to keep the show in the headlines so folks will tune in out of curiosity and then – bingo – you get ratings. But you know what? They’ve outsmarted everyone because typically the negotiations are behind closed doors which means radio silence. That’s the blackout part, when we just twiddle our thumbs. But not any more. The crafty folks behind the American Idol curtain (or their publicity types) have figured out a way to keep people guessing and therefore arguing – even now – when they’re just negotiating. You know, like when they pick a new Pope – although I’ve never really understood how much of that transaction happens on earth as it were – they send out smoke signals to indicate that the deliberation is over? This ruse, if it is one, is sorta like that.  If this story about J.Lo’s demands is fake – and it was planted by a dueling diva – how genius! –  because it put, and kept, the whole thing in the spotlight. Nice work, you guys.

So who’s the other diva?  Who wants to make J.Lo look super high-maintenance (or at least reinforce a well-known fact)?  And how will this affect the already swirling rumors about Shania Twain and Paula Abdul? And who’s to say the diva’s a lady? When we hear that word of course that’s what we think,  but what if Steven Tyler is the one spinning everything? One thing is certain; this particular drama looks like it will get more embroiled before it gets resolved.  I still think the show is headed for disaster and will post a poll this week to see if  you all do too. But right now, let’s go to something altogether different for today’s  poll. Todd Phillips – who directed The Hangover – is making a new movie all about the life of actor John Belushi. Voice your choice in today’s featured poll and let us know who you think should play the part:

1)    Seth Rogen

2)    Zach Galifianakis

3)    Jonah Hill

4)    Jack Black

Post a Comment (29) 8:32 am on August 16, 2010

Eat Pray Love: Roberts’ Triumph or Indulgent Poor Me-Hicle?

Let it be said for the record that I love Julia Roberts. The big toothy smile is totally infectious and she makes characters memorable – and key here, always likeable. In fact, I’m not sure I’ve ever seen her play a baddie. Which may be part of her charm. For all I know she’s played plenty of them and I was so enchanted that I sat through whatever she starred in, rooting for her and probably missing the entire point of the movie. That’s how likeable. Obviously about eighty million people, give or take, feel the exact same way. For the record let me also state that I’m a big fan of Ryan Murphy’s. His name might not ring a big bell but he’s the guy behind Glee. And if you think that’s flash-in-the-pan stuff, or if you’d rather swallow broken glass than sit through any TV show with choreography and singing, just remember he’s also the guy behind Nip/Tuck.Which a whole other set of people found difficult to watch. For entirely different reasons. Now, why am I bringing these two people up? Because it’s Friday – Movie Day – and they’ve collaborated on a film that’s opening in theaters to which a lot of women, teens who like Glee, and anyone else who might go in for an escapist chick flick are going to flock. If you’ve somehow missed the rampant advertising campaign featuring J.Ro on a stoop with  a spoon and some frogurt looking wistful, it’s called Eat Pray Love. It too, like many other book adaptations out there, boasts top-notch costars – James Franco and Javier Bardem. I’m really hoping they can make this book work. The mammoth, Oprah-backed blockbuster bestseller about a gal whose marriage tanks and who finds salvation in other ways – via food and a hefty advance paycheck from her book publisher. And I guess there’s some yoga thrown in there too. I know people loved it, and mine is not a popular opinion. I just think Eat Pray Love would have been a good read had its protagonist (let’s hope ably played by Roberts) not been quite so successful (the character — though despondent — wants for nothing except apparently gelato and a hot guy. Everything else is taken care of –  evidently all one need do to achieve total holistic wellness is learn to giggle  in a foreign language).  Nor, on her many pan-continental sojourns of business-class self-discovery does she pay a lot of attention to the dumb stuff like history or architecture. Why would she? It’s not like there’s anything in Italy that’s notable, right? I’ll shut up now because a lot of people worked hard on the film and it deserves a viewing. But it’s Friday and I want to be excited about a Julia Roberts film especially since it was custom-made for my gender and age group. Instead, I will take my marbles to see the other movie opening that isn’t Sylvester Stallone’s shoot ‘em up The Expendables.  This one is called Scott Pilgrim Versus the World and it stars Michael Cera, who gets on some people’s nerves Big Time (not mine) and the idea is a nerdy guy wants to date a girl but he has to take down all her former boyfriends first. That genuinely looks like fun. Plus it’s got a killer soundtrack. The film that will make all the cash this weekend I suspect will be The Expendables, with Sly and Dolph Lundgren and Jason Statham. Couple of mercenary soldiers head down to South America to overthrow a ruthless dictator (is there any other kind?) I can only imagine the bullets. So what do you think? Can Julia Roberts save  an irritating self-indulgent book? Will the scenery be enough to make it watchable (& by scenery I’m including all three leads)? Or will you skip the flicks and do something altogether different. Perhaps you’ll rent Date Night which is now out on DVD and which is very, very funny. If you do decide to stop by a cineplex, voice your choice in today’s featured poll and let us know what movie you’re most excited about seeing this weekend:

1)    Eat Pray Love

2)    The Expendables

3)    Scott Pilgrim Versus the World

Post a Comment (2) 8:27 am on August 13, 2010

Not So Fast, American Idol

J. Lo Out Of Negotiations For American Idol

That was one of yesterday’s big headlines. And why is she out?

A source says:

“her demands got out of hand. Fox just had enough.”

Ok. Do we believe this? I don’t. I think it’s something else. I think that quote is just a fragment. Here’s what  I bet that “source” really thought:

“her demands got out of hand (since she’s not going to be employed long). Fox just had enough (from the gal they’re only bringing on temporarily til the whole thing plummets into a dark chasm of ratingless, viewerless silence).”

Will Fox save themselves money here? Maybe in the long run. But here’s why I think they made a big mistake cutting J. Lo loose so soon. American Idol is a show that feeds on talent – but it also feeds on ridicule and showmanship and oneupsmanship and overthetopsmanship and catty, catty people. Who isn’t trying to decipher the inner workings among the judges — that’s half the fun, no? Wouldn’t you pay cash money to know just what Ryan and Simon really think of each other? Who doesn’t wonder just how miserable Ellen was?  And let’s face it, Ellen’s issue with the show was  (allegedly) its meanness. But you know what? In the end, that might be true – but it’s not noteworthy. And Fox needs – and feeds on –  noteworthy. All reality TV does. Consider this: Who remembers the guy or the gal who politely leaves a party because they think the other guests are jerks? Nobody. Who do we remember? The jerk who should have left because they were being so difficult. The person prancing around talking too much and fussing and irritating everyone.  Something else that person — that showy noisy horrible person –  does, despite our loathing?  He or she makes the party memorable. So we go to another party and we talk about that jerk who behaved so badly. Do we share anecdotes about the pleasant guest who left but said she still respects the party itself – it just wasn’t the right fit for her? No way. That person is long forgotten.  American Idol needs a really memorable guest right about now. Which is precisely why I think they should have submitted to J.Lo’s demands. If you’re in charge of the biggest show in the country – shouldn’t  you do everything in your power to land the nation’s biggest pain-in-the !@#% in your boat?  Oh sure, maybe they’ll bring in Steven Tyler. A massive rock star. Who’s obviously known as a prancing, demanding showman of the first order. But let’s face it – he’s a guy. And for a show that loves to bait and tease people, why wouldn’t they – as a last ditch effort – play the sexist card, since it’s subliminally there anyway? That is to say, why not exploit the whole power/gender thing? You know, where they say if a well-known man behaves  in a controlling & difficult fashion he’s regarded as a leader or a visionary whereas  if a lady behaves that way she’s regarded as frequently something less-than-savory (and often unprintable)? If that’s already in people’s minds, then why wouldn’t American Idol milk it, embrace that paradigm, and encourage art to imitate life? Especially since the visionary’s moved on to another show. I could be (and often am) absolutely and horribly mistaken but I think this show is going down. If they’re looking for one last gasp, they ought to reconsider J.Lo. They need someone ridiculous and outrageous. A true force of nature. They need a genuine ire-provoking, mail-prompting, catalytic sensation. And believe it or not, with everyone you meet today sporting that bored, jaded, been- there-done-thattitude, there may actually be a shortage of eyepopping, scene-stealing dynamos who can single-handedly resuscitate a sinking ship. And she might just be the one to pull it off. Nor does anyone dispute her talent. That’s why, before the whole darn thing goes the way of the buffalo, someone needs to 1) consider the endangered species that is the diva, 2) suck it up  and  3) quietly, gently  — so as not to startle them — approach J.Lo’s people’s people’s people and ask her again nicely.

But that’s just me.

Today’s poll:

Actor Jack Black has signed on to star in an upcoming episode of Nickelodeon’s  iCarly. Voice your choice in today’s featured poll and tell us which of these Jack Black movies is your favorite:

1) King Kong

2) School of Rock

3) Shallow Hal

4) Year One

Post a Comment (1) 8:30 am on August 12, 2010

TV Salaries: How Much Is Your Favorite Star Worth?

Even though you’re never supposed to discuss religion, politics, or money at the dinner table, as far as I know nobody forbids a conversation to do with outer space. Which is how we’re going to get around this sticking point, because it’s that time of year again when we need to bring up TV stars’ salaries. Which are once again of such an otherworldly, extraterrestrial, positively meta-planetary nature that it seems okay to discuss because it’s not really earth money, after all. And also because TV Guide did – in a really good feature story that breaks it all down. (I’m just going to give you some big names and dollar signs, but I think you’ll be interested in/appalled by some of these digits). Now before we get to the actual numbers, let’s remind ourselves that starring on a network television show is hard work. It may not require the physical wherewithal of say, hard manual labor. It may not require the intellect of a tenured university professor or a nuclear energy specialist investigating cold fusion in a lab. It may not be as strenuous and 24/7-ish as raising a family – but it certainly isn’t easy. This much we know. Plus, it’s a lot of pressure: you probably can’t eat too much or do anything stupid like go to jail and you have lots of people on your payroll and you’re wildly suspicious of everyone. The second thing we need to remember is that for every insane, ridiculously inflated dollar these guys earn per episode, there are people behind the scenes who are earning much, much more. I’m talking about the networks and the producers. Why? Because it’s all kept afloat by advertisers, and if an advertiser is happy he or she will pay handsomely to keep his or her product out there in front of our viewing faces. That said, let’s look at the bottom line. Among the drama fellas, the big earner is of course Hugh Laurie. Dr. House brings in $400,000 per episode. Any ideas on what you’d do if your work week ended with one of those checks in your mailbox? Mark Harmon brings in $375,000 per episode, Laurence Fishburne’s haul is  $350,000. Denis Leary? Reportedly this firefighter brings in $350,000 as well, while Chris Meloni’s paycheck is $395K. Now to the comedies, where Charlie Sheen himself puts everybody else to financial shame with his $1.25 million bucks an episode for Two and a Half Men. (His partner in crime Jon Cryer brings in $550,000). Jeremy Piven?  How about $350,000 a week for Entourage (you really can take an Emmy to the bank). Once he closes that Office door, Steve Carell kisses $297,000 a week goodbye. Although Steve may have even bigger dollars in store for him later, and we haven’t even mentioned the news anchors or talk show hosts. Now, not all TV stars make a fortune by Charlie Sheen standards. Selena  Gomez only makes $30 grand per show. Kaley Cuoco brings in $60,000 for Big Bang Theory (her costar Johnny Galecki earns the same, and both of them trump Jim Parsons by twenty grand. Go figure). On the other hand, Miranda Cosgrove, another young’un, brings in $180,000 for iCarly. And fortunately – so as not to provoke the biggest catfight of all – each Desperate Housewife pockets $400K a show. Whew!

Now, lets take a peek at some of the ladies who shine on the little screen; voice your choice in today’s featured poll and and tell us who is most deserving of their paycheck:

Mariska Hargitay  ( $395K/per episode)

Kyra Sedgwick ($350K/per episode)

Julianna Margulies ($175K/per episode)

Tina Fey  ($350K/per episode)

The top earners, by category:

Drama (per episode)

Hugh Laurie (House) $400,000+
Christopher Meloni & Mariska Hargitay (Law & Order: SVU) $395,000 (each)
David Caruso (CSI: Miami) $375,000
Marg Helgenberger (CSI) $375,000
Mark Harmon (NCIS) $375,000
Laurence Fishburne (CSI) $350,000
Kyra Sedgwick (The Closer) $350,000
Denis Leary (Rescue Me) $350,000
Gary Sinise (CSI: NY ) $275,000
Patrick Dempsey (Grey’s Anatomy) $250,000
David Boreanaz (Bones) $200,000
Jeffrey Donovan (Burn Notice) $200,000
Julianna Margulies (The Good Wife ) $175,000
Dana Delany (Body of Proof ) $150,000
Lauren Graham (Parenthood) $150,000
Jada Pinkett Smith (HawthoRNe) $150,000
Jimmy Smits (Outlaw) $150,000
LL Cool J (NCIS: Los Angeles) $125,000
Chris O’Donnell (NCIS: Los Angeles) $125,000
Mark Feuerstein (Royal Pains) $125,000
Jason Lee (Memphis Beat) $125,000
Joe Mantegna (Criminal Minds) $125,000
Tom Selleck (Blue Bloods) $125,000
Michael Weatherly (NCIS) $125,000
Matt Bomer (White Collar) $100,000
Nathan Fillion (Castle) $100,000
Thomas Gibson (Criminal Minds) $100,000
Jon Hamm (Mad Men) $100,000
Cole Hauser (Chase) $100,000
Alex O’Loughlin (Hawaii Five-0) $100,000
Timothy Olyphant (Justified ) $100,000
Scott Caan (Hawaii Five-0) $80,000
Angie Harmon (Rizzoli & Isles) $75,000
Anna Paquin (True Blood) $75,000
Blair Underwood (The Event) $75,000
Zachary Levi (Chuck) $60,000
Ian Somerhalder (The Vampire Diaries) $40,000
Shailene Woodley (The Secret Life of the American Teenager) $40,000
Ashley Tisdale (Hellcats) $30,000

Late Night/Talk Syndication (per year)

Oprah Winfrey $315 million
Judge Judy Sheindlin $45 million
David Letterman (The Late Show) $28 million
Jay Leno (The Tonight Show) $25 million
Conan O’Brien (The Conan O’Brien Show) $10 million
Ellen DeGeneres (The Ellen DeGeneres Show) $8 million
Jimmy Kimmel (Jimmy Kimmel Live) $6 million
Chelsea Handler (Chelsea Lately) $3.5 million
George Lopez (Lopez Tonight) $3.5 million

Reality (per year)

Ryan Seacrest (American Idol) $15 million
Joel McHale (The Soup) $2 million
Piers Morgan (America’s Got Talent) $2 million
Kate Gosselin (Kate Plus 8) $250,000 per episode
Nicole “Snooki” Polizzi (Jersey Shore) $30,000 per episode

Comedy (per episode)

Charlie Sheen (Two and a Half Men) $1.25 million
Jon Cryer (Two and a Half Men) $550,000
Marcia Cross (Desperate Housewives) $400,000
Teri Hatcher (Desperate Housewives) $400,000
Felicity Huffman (Desperate Housewives) $400,000
Eva Longoria Parker (Desperate Housewives) $400,000
Dan Castellaneta (The Simpsons) $400,000
Julie Kavner (The Simpsons) $400,000
Tina Fey (30 Rock) $350,000
Jeremy Piven (Entourage) $350,000
Steve Carell (The Office) $297,000
Angus T. Jones (Two and a Half Men) $250,000
David Duchovny (Californication) $200,000
Kevin Dillon (Entourage) $200,000
Adrian Grenier (Entourage) $200,000
Miranda Cosgrove (iCarly) $180,000
Edie Falco (Nurse Jackie) $175,000
William Shatner ($#*! My Dad Says) $150,000
David Spade (Rules of Engagement) $150,000
Ed O’Neill (Modern Family) $100,000
Patrick Warburton (Rules of Engagement) $85,000
Betty White (Hot in Cleveland) $75,000
Kaley Cuoco (The Big Bang Theory) $60,000
Johnny Galecki (The Big Bang Theory) $60,000
Ty Burrell (Modern Family) $50,000
Jane Lynch (Glee) $50,000
Jim Parsons (The Big Bang Theory) $40,000
Matthew Morrison (Glee) $30,000
Selena Gomez (Wizards of Waverly Place) $30,000
Dylan and Cole Sprouse (The Suite Life of Zack and Cody) $20,000 (each)
Rico Rodriguez (Modern Family) $15,000

News (per year)

Matt Lauer (Today) $16 million +
Katie Couric (CBS) $15 million
Brian Williams (NBC) $12.5 million
Diane Sawyer (ABC) $12 million
Meredith Vieira (Today) $11 million
Bill O’Reilly (Fox News) $10 million
George Stephanopoulos (ABC) $8 million
Keith Olbermann (MSNBC) $7 million
Shepard Smith (Fox News) $7 million
Wolf Blitzer (CNN) $3 million
Christiane Amanpour (ABC) $2 million
Lawrence O’Donnell (MSNBC) $2 million
Eliot Spitzer (CNN) $500,000

Post a Comment (1) 8:34 am on August 11, 2010

Stuff Your Parents Don’t Want You To Hear

So who watched  the Teen Choice Awards or, in a less subtle rephrasing, who will admit it? I did, and part of it is because I’m a fan of pop culture. And Glee. But that’s not it entirely. In all honesty, the teens caught me two years ago when I was weak and impressionable with that whole Twilight Saga thing. But it was strictly that. If this was the era when our youth was all over, say, wizards, or witches, or magic, or spacemen, or anything but that inexplicably appealing vampire tale, I wouldn’t pay attention. I was going to say that next year when the teens move onto something else I’ll not care one whit, but you know what? Next year there will still be a Twilight phenomenon, same with the year after that, even though Kristen Stewart and Rob Pattinson will also be a) consulting plastic surgeons, b) embarking on a calcium regimen and c) investigating Hollywood “mid-life” roles. So I watched. The appeal of Justin Bieber’s white pants suit coupled with his 16-year old Canadian faux gangsta thuggery remains a mystery, but that’s just me. Speaking of teens and what they want vs. what their parents want, here’s some controversy we can court: there are lots of brand new shows headed our way this fall. One of the most buzzed about newcomers stars William Shatner (himself no stranger to fandom and teen-choosing about forty years ago). Point is, his new program is now in some scalding H2O. The show’s called “!@@$^&* My Dad Says” and it was based on a Twitter blog /book by the same name. However, a very influential group called The Parents Television Council sent letters to more than 300 advertisers who are regularly visible on prime time TV and asked them not to advertise until they change the name of the show. This will continue to be, I am certain, a dicey topic indeed. (Why someone didn’t point out that the title might simply be a little dumb & confusing is beyond me). A quick check to the headlines says that while a lot of parents are indeed upset by the term (or what’s being substituted for the term) there are now a surprising amount of parents who just don’t seem as bent out of shape about it. What do YOU think? Having grown up in a family where bad language was not tolerated, I still wince reflexively when I hear it on TV now. Similarly, I’ve worked in radio where you don’t cuss because if you do, your radio station gets fined, which frequently means you get fired. So I’m not crazy about the bad language in a public forum. I’m all for free speech, but (as we witnessed at the Teen Choice Awards) if kids are anything it’s impressionable – they find role-models like heat-seeking missiles and if those role models are swearing, obviously the tots will too. What I do wish, however, is that these same groups who get all sanctimonious about verbiage would maybe get a little more sanctimonious about the violence on TV which, I guess is all anybody wants to watch. I predict that this hubbub will generate lots of viewership for the show right off the bat, and then, given the preview I saw, it’ll begin to seem like a one-trick-pony with a few funny one-liners and then it’ll wither and die on the vine pronto and parents will forget they complained and they’ll go back to letting their children watch shows with respectable titles where grisly murders and dismemberment are the norm. But again, that’s just me.

Today’s poll:

The Vice President’s wife, Jill Biden, has appeared in an episode of Army Wives. Voice your choice in today’s featured poll and tell us which of these actors who became politicians is your favorite:

1)    Arnold Schwarzenegger

2)    Clint Eastwood

3)    Fred Grandy

4)    Fred Thompson

Post a Comment (0) 2:55 pm on August 10, 2010

Smells Like Teen Spirit

Should we be surprised that Inception, the year’s biggest head-scratcher of a movie which I GUARANTEE we will be hearing more about at Oscar time, was brutally unseated at the box office by The Other Guys, the Will Ferrell buddy cop parody of buddy cop movies?  It had to happen sometime. Two weekend news items (before we get to why I think teens haven’t the faintest idea how ultra-lucky they are nowadays): 1) English pop singer Robbie Williams  has tied the knot with is longtime GF in Hollywood. When you bring this up at the water cooler and just over half of the people standing around have only a vague recollection of who he is, you can always say “you know he was in that boy band Take That” which either make people think you have a marvelously diverse  pop music background, or they will think you’re a teensy bit geeky, in which case you just blame me. Then 2) we have an obituary today: Oscar-winning actress Patricia Neal passed away at age 84; Neal was perhaps best known for her film and Broadway work and also for being  the wife of Roald Dahl – who wrote James and the Giant Peach. Neal also had an amazing voice and if you’ve ever heard her commercials (or anything else she did) you’d recognize it immediately.
Now, how lucky are teens today?  Well, for one thing they have everything seemingly at their fingertips, for better or worse. Then, they’re the audience everyone is crazy about connecting with – so that means there’s nine zillion percent more fun stuff out there created exclusively for their enjoyment (which explains Justin Bieber). And thus, if for some reason the stuff teens like has somehow — shockingly — escaped you, don’t forget to tune into the 12th annual Teen Choice Awards (tonight 8/7c on Fox) and see for yourself why, in my opinion, teens have it really really good nowadays. This year ‘s show is hosted by the super-popular, super-current, very hot non-teen Katy Perry along with – wait for it – the boys from Glee: Chris Colfer, Kevin McHale, Cory Monteith and Mark Salling. Plus it gets better for the teens and the people who spawned/are related to/ watch TV with/date them because this year, not surprisingly, the show is all about vampires. Like the ones on both the big screen and the little screen and we know already there’s a whole lot of Justin Bieber too. This is a great example of the phrase “know your audience”. Because everyone likes stuff where us regular folk can vote – the PCA’s being of course the best example of said phee-nom. But if you’re reading this and you’re not actually a teen, can you remember life before things like the Teen Choice Awards? When nobody seemed to care about what teens cared about? I do…and I remember being obsessed with several movies that now seem so-so (Ode To Billy Joe, Saturday Night Fever, The Goodbye Girl, The Turning Point, & Grease)  and being obsessed with some TV shows which seem still pretty genius  (Gilligan’s Island,  Get Smart, The Brady Bunch, & The Partridge Family). So when I was a teen, did I ever imagine that anyone would even begin to care about what we liked? Enough to broadcast an awards show about it? Not in a million years.  The truth is, teendom is an awkward stage in your life – for everyone except probably Dakota Fanning and Taylor Lautner. It’s a part of life many of us would like to forget, featuring as it so often did hairstyles, accessories, and clothing choices that might have benefited from a little more scrutiny or in my case, a large bonfire. But now? Teens are quite impressive – they know exactly what they want; they’re very poised and articulate, and when they say “vampire” everyone listens. Including me, which is exactly why I’ll watch the show. You know, as part of some cultural research I’m doing.

Today’s poll:

Guilty Pleasures 101: Which of these escapist reality programs is your favorite:

1)    Keeping Up With The Kardashians

2)    Jersey Shore

3)    Jon & Kate Plus 8

4)    The Simple Life

Post a Comment (3) 8:41 am on August 9, 2010

If It Walks Like a Comedy…

Today I’d like to talk about our insatiable need to categorize and sub-categorize everything. Now, despite what looks like a dearth of good movies opening today, a) it’s still Friday which means at least there’s something new to see at your local cineplex, b) we could be pleasantly surprised and c) at least you have the weekend to relax. And who knows, maybe you’ll get trapped in an elevator with Carol Burnett which, according to yesterday’s poll, is something many of you would welcome. Now onto movies – and what seems to me an overwhelming amount of genres at our fingertips (ably represented by today’s releases). Because let’s face it – you can’t just say you want to catch something funny anymore. It’s nowhere near specific enough for 2010’s demanding  consumer. Think about it – if you lived in the 1930s or ‘40s – you might be known as one of those people who likes a black & white drama. Or perhaps you’d be a fan of the black & white comedy. Or maybe the black & white thriller – and we’d probably not even have that groundbreaking  new step if it weren’t for Hitch (the director, not the vaguely lame Will Smith vehicle). As far as genres go – that was pretty much it. Not any more. Now? Sky’s the limit. There are genres, and genres within genres within genres. Nor do films today even fall into relatively simple classifications like “a comedy” vs. “a raunchy comedy for mature audiences”. Nope. These days we get  “R-rated horror” vs. “R-Rated Tongue-in-cheek-funny horror”. That’s how distinct they are. For example, tonight you have as much chance of strolling into a party and hearing someone say “they adore a great 3D adventure” as you are to encounter those teens “who love their sex-slasher flicks” – or even that uptight couple at the table next to you “who only goes in for serious docs”.  Would that ever have been the case 50 years ago? It’s the same as how we can go have Thai, or sushi, or Mexican, or Organic, or Asian Fusion, or Italian or Indian food – and not even have to leave the mall. But that’s another blog. Back to flicks. Personally, I’ll always opt for a “romantic comedy” but nowadays there’s actually no such thing – you have to get into subcategories: do I want the “Seeking Mr. Right” romantic comedy, or the “Ugly Duckling” romantic comedy or the “Four Weddings and a Funeral” –type romantic comedy (usually involving  confused but appealing English people talking very fast, with a lot of mixups, and everyone racing through verdant  meadows). Our need to classify dramas is even more unsettling  – do we watch the “Human Condition drama”, the “Morality Tale drama”  or the “Modern Divorce drama” (not to be confused with the “Absent Parent drama”)?  Or maybe we’ll catch the “Coming of Age drama” which should NEVER be mistaken for the “Fish Out of Water drama”,  the  “Class Warfare Drama”  OR the “Urban Struggle drama”.  (I know right now you’re thinking: but where does that leave the “Social Injustice drama”?) You can get into a lot of trouble mixing  these things up, as I have done on many occasion.  Then again I’ve always wondered about the “Buddy Cop movie” (which has two variants, of course – the dramatic one which usually involves one partner avenging the death or injury of the other, or the comic one which involves one partner screwing up more than the other – and you’re supposed to root for the one who’s  a) chubby, b) misunderstood or c) wearing a Hawaiian shirt). There’s a movie opening today called  The Other Guys and this is obviously a comedy because Will Ferrell’s in it. But the other thing here is that it’s clearly a buddy cop movie aiming to parody the whole genre of buddy cop movies and in so doing, it’s managed to become its own genre. See how that works? (Either you’re following my line of reasoning or I was left alone too long as a child). Similarly, Step Up 3D is another new genre hybrid that’s both a competition drama, a coming-of -age drama, and a dance movie,  but WAIT — it’s also in 3D which seems to be all anyone cares about nowadays. (I noticed you can catch this film in 2D, too. Has there ever been a movie shot in just “D”?) I still can’t decide what to watch tonight. Maybe I’ll go see Despicable Me again, because who doesn’t love the old Animated-Lion-With-A-Thorn-In-His-Paw-Cold-War Parody/Scrappy-Orphans-Comedy? Voice your choice and tell us which of these buddy cop movies is your favorite?

1.) Turner & Hooch
2.) Rush Hour
3.) Lethal Weapon
4.) 48 Hours

Post a Comment (1) 9:09 am on August 6, 2010

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About Liz Warner

People's Choice staffer Liz Warner has been delivering news, entertainment & arts coverage to entertainment fans for years, most recently on air and online at LA's Indie 103.1 FM. Liz is also an author and actress who appears frequently in both LA and New York. Her solo monologue show The Wandering Eye premiered at HBO's Aspen Comedy Festival. Her critically acclaimed first book of essays, "Ditched by Dr. Right" (Random House) was published July 2005. Most recently, she was one half of the "He Said/She Said" Official Blogging Team for ABC's The Bachelor, and she is also announcer for Twentieth Century Fox TV's new series "Wedlock or Deadlock". Her second book is due for publication in 2011.

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