KAT ON THE COUCH

TREVOR MENEAR

2008-05-22T17:28:00.001-07:00

I had the fortunate experience of seeing this guy perform at the Gibson Show Room a couple of weeks ago. Wow, what a talent. I'm glad I got to see him live because his demo cd just doesn't do him justice; his passion just doesn't come through as strong. He's a real old-school blues rock guy--seemed a bit like a cross between Marc Broussard (vocals) and Stevie Ray Vaughn (mad guitar skills). Man could this kid PLAY THE GUITAR! You just don't see that kind of talent anymore--everyone just creates sounds in a studio. It was great and exciting to see! I'm sure I would have enjoyed it even more if I wasn't daydreaming about how to hold him down and give him a haircut. I get that it goes with his "All About the Music" look, but seriously, shampoo is your friend. I'm excited to see what his indie label SHANGRI-LA MUSIC does with him and his album. It could be really great. They've certainly had some great success and helped produce some beautiful music with one of my favorite bands of the moment, The Duke Spirit.

Miley does Madonna...

2008-04-14T11:21:00.001-07:00

Say what you will about Miley Cyrus (aka "Hannah Montana"), but this is freaking fantastic...
I wish I had those kinds of resources when I was her age. You have to hand it to her, at least the girl knows how to make her own fun. I'd love to know the story behind how they got this made...it had to be sponsored by Step Up 2 the Streets and "Hannah Montana" corporate spearhead DISNEY. Either way, she's one connected teenager. I love how she got her own grandmother to do a cameo, along with Step Up 2 the Streets stars Channing Tatum and Jenna Dewan, among others. Just lovely.

Camp Rock--It Launches!

2008-04-07T12:37:00.001-07:00

Disney Channel released the official trailer for its soon-to-be breakout hit original movie "Camp Rock," starring teen sensations The Jonas Brothers and newcomer Demi Lovato. Now, I have been singing the praises of these boys since I met them two years ago while working at Disney Channel. They were just doing a theme song for one of our animated series then. I would like to think that my enthusiastic support for them there helped to bring about their current successes. These boys really are amazingly talented and sweet as can be. They already have a fan following like you wouldn't believe and I know this movie will help to skyrocket them to true super-stardom. Think Disney Channel's "High School Musical" on steroids...get ready for the phenomenon that is sure to be "Camp Rock."

Disney Channel will also be debuting a new original series "J.O.N.A.S." starring the boys, in a Hannah Montana-esque comedy about three average High School boys who moonlight as secret spies as night. The pilot is simply adorable and sure to be a huge hit also.

ArtieTSMITW Drinks Your Milkshake

2008-04-07T12:21:00.000-07:00

Brandon Hardesty is an internet comedian and performer noted most for his skillful re-enactments of scenes from various famous films on YOUTUBE. In each scene that he re-creates, he plays every role himself (even female roles) and makes use of common household items for props and costuming. He is a favorite of Jimmy Kimmel, who had Hardesty re-create scenes from some of this year's Oscar-nominated films for his tv show "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" Thanks in part to Hardesty's uncanny re-enactment of There Will Be Blood, "I drink your milkshake" has become a popular social catchphrase. One of Hardesty's videos has also appeared on a Geico commercial. Because of his internet successes, Hardesty was cast in a small role in the upcoming comedic feature film Bart Got a Room with William H. Macy, Cheryl Hines, and Alia Shawkat. You can find his re-enactments of some of your favorite movies on YOUTUBE, under the pseudonym ArtieTSMITW. My favorite, a scene from Jurassic Park, is below:

Next Gen Femmes

2008-02-06T14:58:00.000-08:00

These stunning young offspring/siblings of Hollywood's greatest celebrities will likely not be able to deny the call to the spotlight that runs in their blood. Whether they find their way onto the Silver Screen or maybe just into LA's party scene (ala Paris Hilton), these girls are certainly ones to look out for in the next few years:

Riley Keough
daughter of Lisa Marie Presley
grand-daughter of Elvis Presley and Priscilla Presley
successful runway model (D&G, Dior, Victoria's Secret)

Lily Collins
daughter of singer Phil Collins
model and teenage host/correspondant

Alanna Masterson
half-sister to "That 70's Show" star Danny Masterson and "Malcolm in the Middle" star Christopher Masterson

Greer Grammer
daughter of Kelsey Grammer, younger sister to "GREEK" star Spencer Grammer, current Miss Teen Malibu 2007

Annie Starke
daughter of Glenn Close and producer John Starke

Zoe Kravitz
daughter of singer Lenny Kravitz and actress Lisa Bonet
appeared in No Reservations, The Brave One, and Assasination of a High School President

Lorraine Nicholson
daughter of Jack Nicholson and actress Rebecca Broussard
appeared in Click and Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement

Marine and Chloe Azria
daughters of BCBG Designer Max Azria

Daisy Lowe
daughter of singers Gavin Rossdale of Bush and Pearl Lowe of Powder
successful British Model

Katie Cassidy
daughter of 70's icon David Cassidy and fashion model Sherry Williams
recurred on "7th Heaven" and "Supernatural"
appeared in When A Stranger Calls, Click and Black Christmas
starring in the upcoming Dallas remake alongside John Travolta

Francesca Fisher-Eastwood
daughter of Clint Eastwood and actress Francis Fisher

Lily Costner
daughter of Kevin Costner

Androgyny at Its Best

2007-11-19T15:41:00.000-08:00

Okay, this post is absolutely premature as I haven't even seen the movie yet, but holy wow, the BOB DYLAN biopic I'M NOT THERE looks great. And its most interesting element? The fact that my uber-favorite thespian CATE BLANCHETT will be playing the rocker during perhaps his most infamous years. Just from viewing the preview clips, you get a sense that Blanchett's performance is simply SPOT ON. I can't wait. Other actors that will be depicting Dylan in this highly impressionistic and unconventional docudrama are Christian Bale, Heath Ledger, Richard Gere, Ben Whishaw, and young African American newcomer Marcus Carl Franklin. A truly innovative look at casting a biopic indeed, I only hope that this fantastical look at the life and works of Bob Dylan still carries with it the same heart and introspection as some of the famed documentaries of the singer, including my personal favorite No Direction Home, directed by Martin Scorsese.

See a sneak peek of Cate Blanchett's soon to be infamous performance as Bob Dylan below:

The Next LEONARDO DICAPRIO...

2007-11-19T15:02:00.000-08:00

EMILE HIRSCH

I was utterly floored by Emile Hirsch's performance in Sean Penn's critically acclaimed film Into the Wild. His depiction of real-life determined American adventurer Christopher McCandless is nothing short of amazing. Considering that nearly 80% of the film has little to no dialogue, all eyes are literally on Hirsch throughout the bulk of the film. He manages to switch easily between a sensibility of humor and enlightened reverence, giving the film both a heart-warming and heart-wrenching feel. Certainly inspired by the work of fellow thespian Leonardo DiCaprio, it seemed to me that there were clear glimpses of DiCaprio in Danny Boyle's (Trainspotting) THE BEACH throughout Hirsch's introspective performance. Who knew the cute kid from The Girl Next Door would grow into such a skilled and complex thespian? I should have gotten the hint with his spot on performance in the dark comedy The Dangerous Lives of Altar Boys. Anyhow, I have been thoroughly impressed and look forward to his future work, even if his next big movie is based on a cartoon (Speed Racer). Could there be an Oscar nom in Hirsch's future? I definitely don't think its beyond the realm of possibility.

Songs of Praise

2007-11-19T14:53:00.001-08:00

SONGS OF PRAISE
These two young performers are just on the cusp of what I imagine to be a lucrative entertainment career. They both got their start in the biz early, and quickly became notable for their ability not just to act, but to carry quite a tune also.

ANNA KENDRICK was the 2nd youngest person ever to be nominated for a Tony Award, which she garnered for her performance in the original "High Society" on Broadway. She continued her work with musical theatre until 2000, when she landed the lead in the feature film Camp. Most recently she was seen in the indie fave Rocket Science as fast-talking Ginny Ryerson. While she was also on the short-lived CBS series "Viva Laughlin," you can catch her in an upcoming film The Marc Pease Experience opposite Ben Stiller and Jason Schwartzman.

JIM STURGESS is a British actor whose career spanned many London television shows and movies. Recently, he starred as the troubled artist of Julie Taymor's Across the Universe that was out this year, helping to launch the film's soundtrack to the top of the charts thanks to his Ewan McGreggor-esque voice. Look for him in a series of much-anticipated films due out next year like The Other Boleyn Girl, Crossing Over, and 21 (the story of the MIT students that card-counted their way through Vegas).

I'M BACK!!

2007-11-19T14:44:00.000-08:00

Hey guys-- So I'm putting this blog back online. However, updates will focus specifically on actors that inspire me to post, so posting will likely be less consistent. If you wish to keep up with updates and have anything new that I've added sent straight to your inbox, please feel free to subscribe to my blog. Thanks!!

-CastingKat

TEMPORARY HIATUS

2007-10-09T18:11:00.000-07:00

Hey Ya'll!! So you've probably noticed that the blogspot here has been slacking a bit lately. Well, I'm officially announcing a temporary hiatus while I launch a new website targetted at a slightly different subject. Please check it out and let me know your thoughts on both. Thanks!!

TALKING 'BOUT MY GENERATION

Love, CastingKat

The Girls of Comedy

2007-10-02T17:53:00.000-07:00

Superbad was certainly a summer comedy targeted at a mostly male audience with its leading actors the kinds of goofy oddballs most guys were in their awkwards teen years. And what better way to tell a tale of boys becoming, well, older boys, than with some lovely young women as the objects of their affections. In any case, we have some extremely talented young actresses who are just coming up in the acting world and who are taking on roles in these kinds of comedies. Check them out below.

Emma Stone
Emma (or should I say Emily) got her start on a little known Partridge Family reality show from Sony, where she gained a small following. From there she became bit by the acting bug, and before long she landed a starring role in the FOX series "DRIVE." While the series itself was short-lived, Emma's talents shined through and before long she was starring in Superbad. Be sure to catch her in two movies due out next year: I Know What Boys Like (Anna Faris/Colin Hanks) and The Rocker (Rainn Wilson/Christina Applegate). I told you guys she was someone to know here...

Kat Dennings
While Kat wasn't actually in Superbad, she is no stranger to Judd Apatow comedy, starring as the rebellious teenage daughter in cult fave The 40-Year-Old Virgin. You might also recognize her as 13-going-on-30-year-old Jenny Brier from a memorable episode of "Sex and the City." This girl has certainly got a great comedic flair that has a real sense of heart. She'll appear alongside Emma Stone in the forthcoming I Know What Boys Like.

Martha MacIsaac also stole some hearts as off-beat and sweet Becca in Superbad. She was joined by Aviva, playing the hot and shallow Nicola who Christopher Mintz-Plasse's Fogell wins over in the end, and newcomer Carla Gallo, who makes the movie's most memorable scene as "Period Blood Girl."

What's great about all of these girls is that they're young, fun, quirky, and most importantly, they really look like high school students. Sure, they're no Megan Fox, but they certainly bring their own style and beauty to the screen and its really refreshing to see.

Seacrest Drowns the Emmys

2007-09-18T18:18:00.000-07:00

HAHAHA...I told ya so, FOX.

As to be expected, the Seacrest-hosted Emmys tanked in the ratings this year. It was the 2nd least-watched Emmy telecast EVER. Ryan Seacrest just does not appeal to the adult public, so instead of drawing viewers in, it pushed them away with a vengeance. Ratings in the 18-49 demo were down by 17% from last year. Ouch. I hope Seacrest's ego isn't bruised too much...

For some really fun reading, check out the "Ryan Seacrest Awkwardness Meter" here, brought to you by PATRICK HUGUENIN of the New York Daily News.

my muse

2007-09-14T18:05:00.001-07:00

Special Shout-Out to SUNNY "like the weather" LEE for inspiring so many of my posts this week!! She keeps me thinking :)

Celebrities: Untouched

2007-09-14T17:43:00.000-07:00

It never ceases to amaze me the wonders that photoshop can unfold. In today's image obsessed society, I find it more and more important for people to see the face BEHIND the magazine cover or fashion photo shoot. Dove has done a great job of this with their Dove Real Beauty campaign as seen in the video below. For a closer look at the retouching of some of our favorite celebrities, please visit this site and click on "Portfolio." Scroll through the almost two dozen celebrities and see the real photos and the final printed product. With images like these, its no wonder young girls are starving themselves as young as 8-yrs-old to be beautiful. Beauty of this caliber is a truly unreachable goal. It really does not even exist in the natural world and yet people are still struggling to achieve it. It makes me sad.

MySpace TV Goes Online

2007-09-14T15:13:00.000-07:00

While internet series have been taking off in a big way for awhile (with "Lonelygirl15" and "Sam Has 7 Friends"), MySpace's new series "Quarterlife" is the social networking site's first series to launch. While the previous internet series have been kinda fly by night endeavors, "Quarterlife" will mark the first series to be backed by a well-established set of Hollywood Producer/Creators: Ed Zwick and Marshall Herskovitz ("My So-Called Life," The Last Samurai, and Blood Diamond). The series, which began as a pilot for ABC called "1/4 Life," was presumed dead after the network passed on it almost 3 years ago. MySpace has fully revived the series, hoping to bring it to life on Nov. 11th. It will consist of short 8-minute episodes to be aired weekly during a 24-hour window for a total of 36 episodes overall. The show will be available on the series' signature site www.Quarterlife.com as well. Due to the popularity of MYSPACE and its current status as a well-oiled marketing machine, the series is expected to do well. I guess we'll have to wait and see how it pans out come November. I have to admit, it looks pretty good. It feels a lot like My So-Called Life, which I just adored.
Quarterlife Trailer

Add to My Profile | More Videos
Oh, and did I mention that my little favey "frat boy" from GREEK Scott Michael Foster is starring in the series alongside the title character played by Bitsie Tulloch. Yay, Scottie!

**UPDATE 11/19/2007** NBC has just completed negotiations to air the "QUARTERLIFE" internet series on NETWORK TV starting sometime in early 2008 (once the series has aired on the internet in its entirety). It will be put together in the form of 6 one-hour episodes, a form its producers had originally intended for it to be aired in the first place.

Quirk, Kitsch, and You

2007-09-14T11:41:00.000-07:00

There has been a bit of a backlash against American popular culture lately that I find to be highly entertaining. Last week famed designer Marc Jacobs sent fashions down the runway that produced an astonished and almost disturbed response from the fashion community. His fashions, always forward-thinking if not a bit odd, were particularly unique this season as they were inspired by the most popular characteristic of American culture at this time: Quirk. So quirky were his designs that some clothing appeared backwards, patterns mismatched, shoes slightly too small for its models, and the whole show done in reverse. This may have shocked the fashion community and even brought forth some unfavorable snickers from the audience, but I get what Jacobs is selling and I appreciate his momentum. He's able to embrace the kitschiness of our present culture while still working to perpetuate something new and interesting into the fashion world. This, you have to respect.

So what is Quirk and why has it rubbed so many people the wrong way? The Atlantic Monthly produced a fascinating article this month (found here) on the merits (or lack there of) of this American phenomenon. The contributing editor for this publication, Michael Hirschorn defined "quirk" as: “an embrace of the odd against the blandly mainstream. It features mannered ingenuousness, an embrace of small moments, narrative randomness, situationally amusing but not hilarious character juxtapositions...and unexplainable but nonetheless charming character traits. Quirk takes not mattering very seriously. Quirk is odd, but not too odd. That would take us all the way to weird, and there someone might get hurt." I have to say I love this definition b/c it captures that kind of American sensibility and tendency towards the strange yet sincere. There is certainly a sweetness to quirk that makes it resonate most with American audiences. Quirk is "Little Miss Sunshine" and "Flight of the Conchords." Its the newest YouTube sensation "Leave Britney Alone" and "Arrested Development" and "The Life Aquatic with Steve Zizzou." Its comedy, its oddity, its fun, its heart-warming while still maintaining a little roughness around the edges. Its not American reality, but rather a play on American sensibilities and culture.

The problem I think people are having lately with "Quirk" is not that they themselves lack an understanding of its charm. Rather, it is the fact that this previously counter-culture-esque movement has now found its way into the mainstream. Nearly everyone has "Napoleon Dynamite" listed as one of the favorite movies on facebook these days, proudly dawning their "Vote for Pedro" tees. Nearly every college-aged minion can drop "Anchorman" quotes like its their job. This transition should come as no surprise as nearly every counter-culture movement finds it way into the mainstream eventually. Even the goths and punks of the world find most of the wardrobe that defines them at the billion-dollar franchise that is "Hot Topic." "Urban Outfitters" is another perfect example of this. Its always this notion of "selling out" that gets people all riled up over any elements of our culture, but that's just the way it goes I guess.

I have to say I embrace the heart-warming qualities of Quirk and am not so quick to write it off as the latest pop cult phase of our generation. Sure, it'll continue to gain momentum until it so saturates our culture that even I will be ready for something new. But for now, let's just enjoy it, shall we? Its better than the infamous mindless reality tv phase of only a few years before, don't you think?

Marie Digby...Traitor.

2007-09-14T11:26:00.000-07:00

Marie Digby is a fake! A liar! A cheater!

She's the farthest thing from an inspiration or a testament to the magical qualities YouTube posesses in enhancing the American Dream.

Ugh, I feel so betrayed. Am I really surprised? Not at all. But it really sucks when someone successfully pulls the wool over your eyes. So I was shouting praises about this young lady here, and come to find out it was all an elaborate ruse perpetuated by her record label Hollywood Records. I'm too disappointed to elaborate, so please check out this Wall Street Journal cover article here and legendary music business afficionado Bob Lefsetz's response here. Both are very imformative, and overall very disturbing. This is what happens when I jump out of my area of "expertise" and into the fast-changing and ever complicated world of music.

SATC Movie

2007-09-14T10:59:00.000-07:00

So as I'm sure you've heard by now, the new "Sex and the City" movie begins filming this week in NY. While my anticipation for this has been a long time coming, I have to say recent reveals have made me a little uneasy about the whole thing. If they're gonna do, they sure as hell better do it right. This show holds such a place in women's hearts having had such a lasting impact on how female television is made. This movie better live up to the same standards and innovations that its precursor did and that's all I've got to say about that. So what sparked this rant? Everyone's favorite shoe-obsessed waif Carrie Bradshaw (Sarah Jessica Parker) has a personal assistant...and she will be played by the lovely and talented Jennifer Hudson. This has commercialization written all over it...

A Virtual Documentary

2007-09-05T18:09:00.000-07:00

A few things: I adore documentaries. In general, I am completely freaked out by the whole phenomenon that is "Virtual Worlds." Now, some brilliant film-maker named Douglas Gayeton has actually combined the two! And I'm not talking about your usual documentary about people who are engaged in virtual worlds looking from the outside...oh no, Gayeton takes us INTO the virtual world of Second Life, working to create an entire documentary in the world itself through his virtual avatar. Absolutely amazing. The documentary, entitled "Molotov's Dispatches in Search of the Creator: A Second Life Odyssey" follows Gayeton's avatar Molotov Alva as he traverses through the Second Life world. This will be like watching an animated film, but will show "real" human interactions happening through online avatars. So much more than just chatting goes into these virtual worlds. Second Life, started in 2003, is already home to over 9 million users, many of whom make a real life business off of their virtual retail stores and real estate. The whole process is genuinely fascinating, slightly terrifying, and should really be a joy to watch. HBO has picked up the 35-minute documentary to air sometime next year. I'm definitely intrigued.

The Fall's Hottest New TV Stars

2007-09-05T12:08:00.001-07:00

So after viewing nearly all of this Fall's hottest new network shows, I've decided to assess which aspiring stars seem to have the most breakout potential. The following actors are those that I feel really captured my attention throughout this whole pilot season. It was hard this year b/c you have so many "name" actors in the starring roles. Still, these relative unknowns really pulled out an awesome performance and really brought something new, fresh, and exciting to the screen. Could there be the next Hayden Panettiere or Adam Brody among them? I think so. These young hopefuls could easily become a household name by the end of the Fall Season if they play their cards right, so take note now:

The Girls
Anna Friel (Pushing Daisies)--Anna is just lovely, she has a real every girl quality about her and a true sweetness that makes her likeable all around.
Yvonne Strzechowski (Chuck)--Definitely the bombshell of the bunch, I was pleasantly surprised by Yvonne's acting talents as well. With such a sexy secret agent type role, she's sure to make waves.
Taylor Momsen (Gossip Girl)--I just adore this girl, and watching the pilot she certainly pops right off the screen. While much younger than the other girls, I certainly think she captures your attention the most, much like Hayden Panettiere on "HEROES."
Michelle Ryan (The Bionic Woman)--While Michelle is already a bit of an established name, I really think this role could help to push her career to that next level. There's definitely an exposed vulnerability and yet strength to her character that works much like Evangeline Lilly on "LOST."

The Boys
Seth Gabel (Dirty Sexy Money)--So sexy with flowing charisma, this young man was by far my favorite this pilot season. I mean it caught me off guard how immediately taken by him I was. He has the weight and sense of danger that Josh Holloway had when he burst on the scene with "LOST."
Thomas Dekker (Sarah Connor Chronicles)--So young, innocent, and just plain adorable, Dekker's sweet romance with Hayden on "HEROES" definitely made waves. I hope he can grab as much attention on his own as well.
Tyler Labine (Reaper)--Everyone's all "ooh...Bret Harrison" (who I do love and respect), but I have to say, Tyler Labine really steals the scenes. I mean the guy is just so darn funny, and with a higher profile show the the previous "Invasion" I really think he can make a name for himself here.
Penn Badgley (Gossip Girl)--The next Adam Brody if he plays his cards right, Penn really caught my attention with his striking good looks and goofy charm. Hopefully he can maintain it throughout the series.

There's also the obvious picks: Bret Harrison on "REAPER," Lee Pace on "Pushing Daisies," Zachary Levi on "Chuck," Blake Lively and Leighton Meester on "Gossip Girl," the cast of "Private Practice," etc. Instead, I purposely picked a few people whose characters are a bit more under the radar, but who definitely popped right off the screen.

Subscribe to My Blog!!

2007-08-29T18:13:00.000-07:00

Hey Guys--here's a little note from your author. My blog now offers an email subscription service!! Your days of having to check back each day to see if there's anything new are over. You can simply type in your email address, and an email of blog updates (if there are any) will be sent directly to your inbox each morning! Simple and Easy! Just fill out the info in this box on the top right of the page, and follow the prompts to sign up. I promise I won't spam you with forwards, etc. Feel free to let me know your feedback on this service also so I can adjust it to suit your needs. Thanks!!

It's Always Funny in Philadelphia...

2007-08-29T15:33:00.000-07:00

I'm loving all the "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia" Season 3 teasers going around. Aside from the myspace preview, this little beauty just cropped up on the popular humor site FunnyorDie.com. Definitely NSFW... this little gem made me laugh out loud (as I watched it at work...haha). Enjoy!Danny DeVito & The Contract

*UPDATE* I love them so much!! Awesome new commercial :)

Marie Digby, on her way!

2007-08-27T23:52:00.000-07:00

MARIE DIGBY
I'm trying not to talk about too much music stuff overall because its a genre I know very little about (For real music knowledge head on over to Music Ramen blog), but I just have to mention this girl b/c I know she's gonna grow. Only a few short months ago, Marie (pronounced Mari-eh) posted her cover of Rihanna's "Umbrella" on YouTube. That video was seen by quite a few people and next thing we know it is the featured song on the premiere episode of this season of "The Hills." Now, Marie is sure to be taking off in a big way. She's adorable and young and really talented. I wouldn't be surprised if that little cover of hers launches not only a lucrative music career, but also one in film or tv as well. I hear she's already taking meetings all over Hollywood...

Its amazing what one can accomplish in 3 short months. See the video that started it all below:

Why SC...Why?

2007-08-27T16:23:00.000-07:00

Being originally from South Carolina (Charleston!!), this hurts me. There's not one coherent thought in the whole 45 seconds. I just love that she managed to bring South Africa and Iraq into her ramble...because that was SO related to the question. Gotta love those US Americans! Poor girl...

Ew...Ryan Seacrest.

2007-08-24T12:51:00.001-07:00

So FOX has just announced that RYAN SEACREST will be hosting the 59th Annual Emmy Awards on September 16, 2007. I mean, Ryan Seacrest, really? This is the same guy that has a contest every year where YOU can host red carpet arrivals with him. I mean, that is seriously amateur stuff. Yeah, he hosts "American Idol," but people aren't watching that show b/c of his appeal, I can tell you that much. I must have missed something here. I mean instead of pulling in viewers, they're pushing them away...I'm not about to watch Ryan Seacrest's smarmy face for 3 hours.

Oh, and PS, this is just for fun, but a friend of mine overheard this amazing line from Ryan that is just too funny not to share: "I could be being raped in the closet right now!" (this was apparently his astonishing reaction to about 6 fire trucks showing up across the street for a stopped elevator). Where is your mind at, Ryan? Just thought I'd share!

In the YouTube files, I pulled up this hilarious clip to give us a taste of whats in store. John Mayer (who can barely hide his contempt for Ryan) answers his question in fluent Japanese. I knew I like that guy.

"I Got a Crush...on OBAMA!"

2007-08-23T15:20:00.000-07:00

I just love it when Politics and Entertainment merge together. At the very least it shows that people our age are acknowledging that there's more out there than just the latest Britney gossip. Lately, there have been a whole slew of Political Candidate themed YouTube parodies. It all started with "The Obama Girl," who launched this love letter to Barack in early June.
Now, personally, I TOO have a crush on Barack Obama. Ever since reading his book "The Audacity of Hope," I've been a thorough supporter. He's such an amazing and fascinating man, really this book is a must read for anyone who is concerned about the future of our country (and that should be ALL Y'ALL, so READ IT).

Now, back to the YouTube parodies...there have been Guiliani Girls and McCain Mamas, but so far my favorite parody is the ode to Hilary Clinton entitled "Hott 4 Hill," featuring one of my favorite up-and-coming young actresses Taryn Southern. Taryn is a lovely actress and I love how she wrote and executive produced this little clip as well. You go girl :)
Ha, I see that this clip was co-produced by an actress named Meg Cionni who was in my office this very morning...such a small world.

The best thing about these clips is the intense political debates that ensue underneath the videos in the YouTube comment section. Who knew YouTube would turn into such a heated political marketplace? LOVE IT!

Rugby on ESPN.com

2007-08-22T11:01:00.001-07:00

Random again, but I'm a huge Rugby fan b/c my dad used to play internationally when he lived in Qatar (he's gonna love me for mentioning that).

ESPN just announced its plans to give the sport more of a presence on ESPN.com. In order to accomplish this, they recently purchased Scrum.com, which currently provides rugby news, scores, and other info about the sport. I assume this means they'll integrate the content from that site into ESPN.com's main site. I'm glad ESPN is taking an interest in international sports that might not be as popular in the US. They have also taken steps to expand upon Cricket (by purchasing Cricinfo.com) and Soccer (launching foreign language websites for the sport). All of this helps make ESPN more of a world superpower when it comes to Sports and not just an American phenomenon.

Heroes Hiring Frenzy

2007-08-21T12:12:00.000-07:00

Man, "Heroes" is hiring like crazy these days, tapping into all kinds of talent for upcoming arcs on the popular NBC Series. The biggest addition lately is the lovely and talented Kristen Bell of "Veronica Mars" fame. Since the cancellation of the cult series, its been a tv feeding frenzy for Miss Bell...its even been rumored that LOST producers were seeking her out for an arc as well. She'll join the cast of "Heroes" as a young, mysterious woman named Elle who is very actively involved in a lot of the character's lives even though her true intentions remain unclear. According to Michael Ausiello at TVguide.com, she'll be doing a whopping 13 episodes. Should be interesting. Bell is also rumored to be in the works to star as another Elle--Elle Woods, that is--in the broadway musical version of "Legally Blond," replacing current lead Laura Bell Bundy in the Spring.

Other cast additions are:
Janel Parrish (Bratz: The Movie)--the head cheerleader in Claire's new high school

Dana Davis ("The Nine")--a new humble hero and series regular

Dania Ramirez (X-Men: The Last Stand/"Sopranos")--a series regular hero with unknown powers

Nick D'Agnosto (Rocket Science)--Claire's new boyfriend with a "very cool superpower"

Barry Shabaka Henley (The Terminal)--Detective working for the NYPD

Holt McCallany ("CSI: Miami")--ring-leader to a group of Irish thugs

David Anders ("Alias")--ancient samurai warrior Takezo Kensei, Hiro's hero

Eriko Tamura ("The Nine")--Japanese Princess

Lyndsey Fonseca ("The Young and the Restless")--nice cheerleader

Dianna Agron ("Veronica Mars")--mean cheerleader

How are all of these people going to recur on one series that is already known for its prolific ensemble cast? Mighty ambitious, Tim Kring...mighty ambitious indeed. Check out what's in store for the new season, starting Sept. 24th on NBC.

Happy Birthday, Hayden!

2007-08-21T10:28:00.001-07:00

She's legal ya'll! Young starlet Hayden Panettiere celebrates her 18th birthday today, but not before she made this adorable appearance on Letterman last night in NY. I don't know why, but I believe in Miss Hayden. I think she's got a strong head on her shoulders and won't throw her life away like so many other young stars (**cough*Lohan*cough**). And hell, she's spending her 18th birthday working with "Declare Yourself," where she is an official spokesperson spreading a strong political message for people her age to go out and VOTE in the upcoming 2008 presidential election. Go Hayden!

HSM2 Mania!

2007-08-20T10:52:00.000-07:00

Disney Channel's "High School Musical 2" broke all kinds of records over the weekend with the highest cable premiere of ALL TIME. It just goes to show you that the tween audience is a force that cannot be denied.

A whopping 17.2 million people tuned in to see what Zac Efron, Vanessa Hudgens, Ashley Tisdale and the rest of the gang had to offer. Simply amazing. It was the most watched Friday night telecast in more than 5 years, not to mention the most watched basic cable movie ever, pulling in almost 38% MORE viewers that the previous record holder.

It hit Disney Channel's key demographic perfectly, proving itself to be an incredible marketing machine (most watched TV telecast ever in kids 6-11, and 2nd most watched in tweens 9-14). Now I've been expecting this, having seen firsthand the crazy popularity "High School Musical" garnered. I mean the soundtrack alone last year was the NUMBER ONE SELLING ALBUM OF THE YEAR. This auspicious debut really should come as no surprise to anyone. I'm awaiting the numbers on the encore premieres on Saturday and Sunday night, assuming that it too was capable of breaking all kinds of records.

Congratulations, my friends!! You deserve it!!!

**UPDATE** I was right, the rebroadcasts of "High School Musical 2" (A Sing-A-Long) on Saturday and Sunday averaged a whopping 8.44 and 7.54 million viewers respectively, making Saturday's broadcast the 4th most watched telecast ever and Sunday's the 9th. That's a grand total of 33.22 million viewers in ONE WEEKEND for the made-for-TV movie. Think about that...if this had been a theatrical release with ticket sales averaging around $8, it could have grossed over $265 MILLION. That's significantly bigger than the opening for Spiderman 3, which had the highest opening to date with $151 million. Craziness. Needless to say, this movie bumped cable channel Disney Channel into the No.3 network spot for the week, averaging more viewers than basic cable networks NBC, ABC, or the CW.

Fantasy Football Rocks My Socks!

2007-08-16T15:07:00.000-07:00

This is SO COMPLETELY UNRELATED to anything else on my site, but I'm really excited about my team, so I wanted to share. Sorry I am such a nerd. Please forgive me.

"Sunny" Returns...on Myspace!

2007-08-15T12:01:00.000-07:00

"It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia" is an amazingly under-rated sitcom on the FX network. Since FX is known for its dark and edgy programming, it might seem a little odd that it would have a comedy thrown in the mix, but believe me, "Sunny" is no ordinary sitcom. Its a brilliant social satire that presents some pretty controversial subject matter in a way that is just scandalous and hilarious all at the same time. Its tagline "Its Seinfeld...on crack" says it all really. You wouldn't believe some of the escapades this "gang" of egocentric and judgemental young twenty-somethings and their father who own a bar in Philadelphia get into. With titles like "Dennis and Dee go on Welfare" and "Mac Bangs Dennis' Mom," you've just gotta love it. The cast is amazingly talented, not only starring in the series itself but working to create, produce, and write it as well. Charlie Day, Glenn Howerton, and Rob McElhenney (the shows male stars) really do an amazing job of capturing an American attitude of comedy, selfishness, passion, and political correctness that really characterizes our generation. Kaitlin Olsen's character "Dee" is nothing like the typical leading female character you see on TV, and its so refreshing to see. She's one of the guys yet still a strong female character who's storylines never revolve around a latest love fling (This isn't TBS's "My Boys"). The edition of Danny Devitto to the cast as Dee and Dennis's crass father who is anything but paternal is really fun too. "Sunny" is so great because it has a sense of raw realism to it that it just so relateable even though it is so over-the-top. I mean the pilot was supposedly made for less that $100 dollars by the boys, and the entire first season with a meager budget of only $400,000. That's amazing! I just can't say enough great things about this show.

So what sparked this rave? Well, "Sunny" is set to premiere on September 13th, and the creators decided that that was just too long to make the viewers wait (I couldn't agree more). Therefore, they have decided to stream the newest episode "Mac is a Serial Killer" on MYSPACE Aug. 16th-23rd. You've gotta love a network that goes out of its way to appease it fans. I'm so excited. Check it out at www.myspace.com/sunnyfx starting tomorrow!!

PS, I love Mac...like woah. :) This scene is beyond amazing also:

**UPDATE** "Mac Is A Serial Killer" is my favorite episode yet!! Its amazing!! Please check it out on their myspace above and watch all 4 parts. The PepperJack scene is awesome...I mean "PepperJack love Fraggle Rock." Genius. If you haven't seen this show, you're missing out big.

Oh Mandy!

2007-08-15T09:46:00.000-07:00

There will always be a soft spot in my heart for Mandy Moore. She started out as just another teenage pop star with her single "Candy" back when Britney Spears, Jessica Simpson, and Christina Aguilera's bubblegum pop was all the rage. Back then I wasn't too keen on the blond teenage queen...but then she did something interesting. She went back to her natural hair color and landed herself the starring role in the Adam Shankman directed A Walk to Remember. Now, I hate chick flicks, but this one in particular has an undeniable pull, and there's something about Mandy that just radiated off the screen. She then abandoned her popstar status for a more lucrative film career. While she sticks mostly to the romantic comedy genre, I think her amazing on-screen presence could really lend herself to a strong role someday. Plus, I can honestly say that I think she is the nicest celebrity I ever met. Back when I interned at a boutique PR firm I got stuck with wrangling talent onto the red carpet (some of those guys are pretty sneaky). Mandy was so friendly and sweet, chatting with me casually while waiting for her turn with the press flashes. There are so many likeable qualities about Mandy in general... she never "rebelled" as a young teen actress, she never "sluts it out," she is always the epitome of elegance and class, charity and warmth. And she's always SMILING!! Plus, she had a huge arc on "Entourage" playing the former love of Vincent Chase's life, a fitting part indeed. Anyway, I just wanted to shower her with praise b/c its a crime she hasn't already been mentioned on my site.

On another note entirely (no pun intended), Mandy has turned back to singing and released an album "Wild Hope" earlier this year. She is currently on a national tour with Paula Cole and Rachel Yamagata. She, like so many singers this summer, has just released a cover video of the ever-popular Rihanna Song "Umbrella." Mandy's cover of the instant classic song is just lovely. See below:

Dirty Sexy Money Gossip Ads

2007-08-14T23:27:00.000-07:00

I'm all about advertising creativity, and being an entertainment blog junkie (Perez/Pink/TMZ), I have been loving the way ABC has been advertising my favorite of their fall dramas: "Dirty Sexy Money." Since the show revolves around New York's most affluent and powerful family The Darlings, the marketers have chosen to put faux gossip posts alongside real ones on some of our favorite blogs. You can learn about Juliet Darling's latest petulant slant while reading about Britney's most recent disgrace or Amy Winehouses last cancelled concert. Its all so very Allegra Coleman (for those of you who don't get the reference, I'll post on it later)! Check out one of the ads I pulled from Perez Hilton featuring my favorite of the Darling clan....don't get mad ABC, its free advertising!

Are You Ready for Some FOOTBALL?

2007-08-14T23:05:00.000-07:00

Its that time of year again!! Preseason has gotten under way and my fantasy team has been drafted. I can't wait for the 2007 football season to really get going!! Here's a little teaser to get everyone as excited as I am, featuring my man Reggie Bush and Peyton Manning. Yummy!

The Indie Prince: Joseph Gordon-Levitt

2007-08-13T15:33:00.000-07:00

Joseph Gordon-Levitt (famous for his late 90's roles on "3rd Rock from the Sun" and teen cult flick 10 Things I Hate About You) is coming back in a big way, and he's doing it with style. His first recent big break came with Mysterious Skin in 2004, followed shortly after by the indie hit Brick, where he plays the troubled hero Brendan in this modern teenage take on the Film Noir genre. The film is just beautiful and Joseph really shines in its title role. His stunning performances here helped to launch a full fledge indie career, starring in other films like The Lookout alongside Jeff Daniels, as well as the upcoming films Killshot and Stop Loss. He may have really found his niche with indies because most recently he's landed himself back to back starring roles in two more developing films. The first is Siegel/McGehee produced Uncertainty, and the second is the Darren Star directed film The Frog King. I would expect his career to really gain some momentum in the next few years...we may even see some serious thespian awards coming his way in the not too distant future.

OneRepublic Rock.

2007-08-08T19:02:00.000-07:00

Okay, so I don't normally do music posts, but I had to write this up for our company newsletter (!Nerd Alert!) because our usual music guy is chilling on the beach in Hawaii (Side Note, music guy is actually the real Douchbag McGee featured here in this entertaining and popular blog post by Sunny of SillyPipeDreams). Anyhow, I think this band is worth a mention.
OneRepublic
Music Spotlight on... OneRepublic, a pop-rock band from Colorado consisting of Ryan Tedder (lead vocals/guitar/piano), Zach Filkins (guitar/vocals), Eddie Fischer (drums), Brent Kutzle (Bass/Cello/Vocals), and Drew Brown (guitar). Tedder is a grammy-nominated song-writer and producer, responsible for many popular tracks on the albums of superstars like Natasha Bedingfield, Jennifer Lopez, Bubba Sparxxx. OneRepublic is the perfect product of the online age: despite never having released an album, they have gained tremendous notoriety and popularity through the MYSPACE online community. They have been ranked in Myspace Music's Top Artists since summer 2006, and are currently the #1 ranked unsigned band. Myspace users aren't the only ones taking notice of this band, Timbaland featured a remix of their most popular song "Apologize" on his 2007 album Timbaland Presents: Shock Value. Most recently, they performed live on Fox's "So You Think You Can Dance? after "Apologize" was featured in one of the dances (contemporary routine w/ Danny and Anya). Their self-titled album OneRepublic is set to release this fall.

Here is the video for the remix version of "Apologize" featuring OneRepublic and Timbaland:

JustSomeRandomGuy is Awesome

2007-08-08T18:54:00.000-07:00

"Hi, I'm a Marvel…and I'm a DC." by JustSomeRandomGuy
We've all seen the popular and witty Mac vs. PC commercials with funny guy Justin Long (j'adore.)and John Hodgman, but you might have missed the popular YouTube parody that focuses on the two comic book giants. The series of now 16 clips hosted exclusively on YouTube appear to be written, directed, and produced by "JustSomeRandomGuy." Who are you JustSomeRandomGuy? Put some more info out there on yourself so us network peeps can discover you and make you work for the man! The clips themselves are really quite impressive--extremely witty and well-made--and the skits are "acted out" by action figures...Genius. Yes, I am a nerd, but it's really funny stuff. Apparently there are a lot of fellow nerds out there because the original clip has had almost 2.5 million views. Check it out below:

JustSomeRandomGuy is one clever dude. Check out this precious video he made to apologize for not sticking to the delivery date. Love it.

Notes on Emmy Noms

2007-08-03T16:26:00.000-07:00

So I've finally gotten around to delivering my notes on my Emmy picks like I promised. Sorry for the delay, but its been a turbulent week. I got to pitch a few ideas I had to the President of the network and some other high-ranking execs and it went really well. Hopefully it'll bring about some really great things in my not-so-distant future. Send me well-wishes, will ya? Haha, anyway, let's take a glance at my thoughts on the Emmy Noms this year:

OUTSTANDING COMEDY SERIES: This is my favorite category each year, and I think all the choices are really strong contenders for the most part...the only show I don't watch (and Love) regularly is "Two and a Half Men."
"Entourage," HBO--So good...such a great representation of the LA/hollywood lifestyle. Plus its so well-written and Jeremy Piven (while predominantly absent this season) really breathes an amazing life into this series along with the rest of the cast. I'm so happy to see it finally acknowledged here...it really merits some recognition.
"The Office," NBC--It deservingly brought home the win last year, and continues to be a standout comedy series. Everything Steve Carrell and Rain Wilson do on this show has me in stitches...I love it so much.
"30 Rock," NBC--Best breakout comedy of the year I think. Alec Baldwin is a comic genius, no question about it, and his performance is peppered with an amazing cast. I really think this series could have what it takes to win this.
"Two And A Half Men," CBS--Given I've only seen one episode, but I really don't get what all the fuss is about. Maybe its just not my genre...
"Ugly Betty," ABC--This comedy really has that feel-good aspect going for it, and breakout star America Ferrera really shines. Again, another amazing cast with pretty exceptional writing.

OUTSTANDING DRAMA SERIES: My second favorite category...naturally. No real surprises here either.
"Boston Legal," --Really funny show, really well-written...I just don't really watch it.
"Grey’s Anatomy," ABC--I used to love this series, but somewhere in the middle of this season when I just couldn't take Ellen Pompeo for one more second, I bailed out. If it was enough to push me away from my favorite series, then its enough to keep it from winning...I'm sorry.
"Heroes," NBC--If you had asked me which series I thought should win the emmy before the last three episodes of the season, I would have picked this one hands down. I don't think I've ever been so crazy obsessed about a show before. But it let me down...badly...and I'm still pretty bitter.
"House," Fox--Another strong contender. Hugh Laurie really is an amazing actor, creating a character so human and so inhumane all at the same time. I love the cast and I love this show, but I'm not religious about it, so I place my vote elsewhere. I'd be happy if it won though, of course.
"The Sopranos," HBO--I think its another big Sopranos year. The Sopranos might have gone out in one controversial bang, but the magic this show creates is undeniable. The clear front runner in my opinion.

OUTSTANDING ACTOR IN A COMEDY: Thank goodness Tony Shaloub wasn't nominated again this year, since he seems to have a monopoly on the category. Am I really the only one that doesn't see his appeal, AT ALL? There's something shady going on with the USA Network and the Emmy Committees in general...I'm just saying.
Ricky Gervais as Andy Millman, "Extras," HBO--Funny man, funny show. I get it.
Steve Carell as Michael Scott, "The Office," NBC--HILARIOUS man, who should have one hands down last year. I'd still be ecstatic to see him pull out the win this year too. I just love to see him as the "World's Best Boss."
Alec Baldwin as Jack Donaghy, "30 Rock," NBC--Seriously, I don't think I've ever felt like someone nailed a comedic character as well as Alec does as Jack Donaghy. Truly amazing performance each and every episode...I think he could even beat Carrell.
Charlie Sheen as Charlie Harper, "Two And A Half Men," CBS--yeah yeah yeah...okay. Not nearly up to par with the other nominees, but sure, he's a funny guy.

ACTRESS IN A COMEDY: gotta love the power comedy females!
Felicity Huffman as Lynette Scavo, "Desperate Housewives," ABC--I do love her, but I've stopped watching Desperate completely so I don't even know what she did this season to warrant this award.
Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Christine Campbell, "The New Adventures Of Old Christine," CBS--To my surprise, she took this award last year. This show is actually pretty funny though, just not twice in a row funny.
Tina Fey as Liz Lemon, "30 Rock," NBC--She really does a great job on the show and as the writer, also, I'm even more impressed.
America Ferrera as Betty Suarez, "Ugly Betty," ABC--I really think she's gonna steal the show here... everyone just loves and adores her and her performance is just so organic.
Mary-Louise Parker as Nancy Botwin, "Weeds," Showtime--Another great actress, but not quite as standout as some of the others here.

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A COMEDY: Again with the "Two an a Half Men"...clearly I'm missing something here. All the others are clear choices for me though.
Kevin Dillon as Johnny Drama, "Entourage," HBO--Who would have though Kevin Dillon would be nominated for an Emmy? He got the role b/c he WAS the character...but he does a PHENOMENAL job with it really. I'm very happy to see him nominated.
Jeremy Piven as Ari Gold, "Entourage," HBO--Oh, Super-agent Ari Gold has created his own empire of superfans...Jeremy Piven is undeniably genius in this role, but he did win last year.
Neil Patrick Harris as Barney Stinson, "How I Met Your Mother," CBS--Neil is so great as womanizer Barney, and I do really enjoy this show.
Rainn Wilson as Dwight Schrute, "The Office," NBC--Oh my gosh, hands down my favorite tv character ever. Rainn is amazing amazing amazing.
Jon Cryer as Alan Harper, "Two And A Half Men," CBS--meh.

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A DRAMA
William Shatner as Denny Crane, "Boston Legal," ABC--I get it.
T.R. Knight as George, "Grey’s Anatomy," ABC--oh Grey's...you make me sad. I do love TR Knight though and am happy to see him here.
Masi Oka as Hiro Nakamura, "Heroes," NBC--Best breakout star of the year certainly. So adorable as clueless and determined Hiro on HEROES.
Michael Emerson as Ben, "Lost," ABC--Another amazing Lost surprise, NO ONE had any idea whether he was truthful or lying at first, and he maintained the same creepy sense of mystery throughout. What a surprising talent.
Terry O’Quinn as John Locke, "Lost," ABC--Another strong actor, but I'm not sure he really has what it takes to win this category either.

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A COMEDYJaime Pressly as Joy Turner. "My Name Is Earl," NBC--Hilarious and really lovely actress... I'm a fan.
Jenna Fischer as Pam Beesly. "The Office," NBC--So easy to love, and that speech by the fire!! She easily won over my heart and my vote.
Holland Taylor as Evelyn Harper. "Two And A Half Men," CBS--Who? I need to watch this show more I think...
Conchata Ferrell as Berta. "Two And A Half Men," CBS--see above.
Vanessa Williams as Wilhelmina Slater. "Ugly Betty," ABC--Good casting, good performance...not outstanding for me.
Elizabeth Perkins as Celia Hodes, "Weeds," Showtime--Same as above.

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A DRAMA
Rachel Griffiths as Sarah Whedon, "Brothers & Sisters," ABC--I can't watch this show, I'm sorry. no opinion.
Katherine Heigl as Isobel "Izzie" Stevens, "Grey’s Anatomy," ABC--Her heart-wrenching performance at the end of the 2nd season stole my heart, and she's kept it ever since. I really hope she wins this.
Chandra Wilson as Dr. Bailey, "Grey’s Anatomy," ABC--nothing but love for this woman and her acting ability. She's great.
Sandra Oh as Cristina Yang, "Grey’s Anatomy," ABC--Always an amazing actress, but she didn't really grab me this season on Grey's.
Aida Turturro as Janice Soprano, "The Sopranos," HBO--Strong contender.
Lorraine Bracco as Dr. Jennifer Melfi, "The Sopranos," HBO--Another strong contender.
OUTSTANDING INDIVIDUAL PERFORMANCE IN A VARIETY OR MUSIC PROGRAM
Ellen Degeneres, "79th Annual Academy Awards," ABC--I put this category in here just so I could express my undying love for Ellen...what an amazing person and comedian. I want her to come back and host many many other awards shows!!
Stephen Colbert, "The Colbert Report," Comedy Central
Jon Stewart, "The Daily Show With Jon Stewart," Comedy Central
David Letterman, "Late Show With David Letterman," CBS
Tony Bennett, "Tony Bennett: An American Classic," NBC

OUTSTANDING WRITING FOR A DRAMA
"Battlestar Galactica: Occupation/Precipice," Ronald D. Moore, Sci Fi Channel--I frakking LOVE this show...I think its hands down the most under-rated show on tv and I really hope that it wins this category like it deserves!
"Lost: Through The Looking Glass," Damon Lindelof, Carlton Cuse, ABC
"The Sopranos: Kennedy And Heidi," Matthew Weiner, David Chase, HBO
"The Sopranos: The Second Coming," Terence Winter, HBO
"The Sopranos: Made In America," David Chase, HBO

CHOREOGRAPHY: Since my obsession with "So You Think You Can Dance" on FOX continues...you can just guess where my loyalties lie here...it was a tough call between the two, that's for sure.
"Dancing With The Stars: Episode 303A," ABC, Louis Van Amstel--Rock, my favy fave Monique was in this dance!!! Go Mo!! But DWTS is no SYTYCD...
"So You Think You Can Dance: Ramalama (Bang Bang)," Fox, Wade Robson--I just loved and adored this dance. It was so amazingly cool and innovative, and that's why I chose Wade's dance.
"So You Think You Can Dance: Calling You," Fox, Mia Michaels, Choreographer--Mia is such an amazing choreographer; nearly every single one of her pieces are so emotional and lovely, but this one really stood out from the rest.
"Tony Bennett: An American Classic, NBC," Rob Marshall, John DeLuca

Chyler Goes "Grey"

2007-07-31T14:51:00.000-07:00

I just confirmed that actress Chyler Leigh (mentioned here) has been filming episodes for the upcoming fourth season of "Grey's Anatomy." She was added to the cast earlier this month as a series regular, reprising her role as LEXIE GREY, Meredith's half-sister, who sparks a little Mc-chemistry in the finale episodes of last season. Chyler's character Lexie will be joining the staff at Seattle Grace Hospital as their newest intern and is expected to bring with her some spicy storylines. Similarly, they are planning on adding a little Mc-Mystery Man to the cast as well to throw another wrench into the ever-evolving relationship that is Meredith and McDreamy. Chyler on the cast might just be enough to bring me back over to the dark side and start fresh as a regular Grey's Mc-viewer. Okay, I'll stop "mc-ing" everything... it was fun for a Mc-second. Mc-ha.

Worst Interviewer Ever.

2007-07-26T16:08:00.000-07:00

Who the hell did this chick sleep with to get on TV? I mean really, its New York for crying out loud, not St. George, Utah. The city breeds good-looking well-spoken people. I just feel bad for Holly Hunter. The interviewer Merry Miller is practically unintelligible. Could she say "I love..." anymore? And who says "true true true" on the air? Just awful. This tape should be presented to all aspiring newscasters as the perfect example of what not to do in an on-air interview. Wow.

Indian-Americans Hit Their Prime!

2007-07-26T14:05:00.000-07:00

Primetime, that is. Looking over the cast lists for the upcoming series, I couldn't help but notice an increase of Indian-American actors in starring and major supporting roles in Primetime Network Television Shows. I think this is a huge step in moving away from token diverse characters and really acknowledging the abilities and depth a diverse actor can bring to a character. Ethnicity aside, its about the creation of a person who the audience can relate to and be entertained by during their time on the screen. Indian-American actors have been making huge strides on American television shows, showing up all over in a wide variety of important roles. While Indian culture is known for being rich in Entertainment (Bollywood), I'm excited that American culture is finally about to integrate their ever-present talents in the mainstream. Those Indian-American talents that are at the forefront of this transformation are listed below:

Parminder Nagra
Parminder stole the hearts of American movie-goers in 2002 with the indie hit Bend It Like Beckham, which was the first major movie to put Indian culture at the forefront of a western film. Her next big starring role was saving lives as Dr. Rasgotra on NBC's hit series "ER."

Sendhil Ramamurthy
Sendhil proved that Indian-American actors can be totally sexy as the smart professor Mohinder Suresh in NBC's latest hit "HEROES." While the role was originally written as a 60-year-old man, once the casting directors saw Sendhil, he popped so much that they reworked the part just for him.

Mindy Kaling
One of the geniuses behind NBC's "The Office," Mindy is phenomenal as ditzy, talkative, and romance-obsessed Kelly. While Indian-Americans are often stereotyped as either nerdy doctor/scientist types or convenience store owners, Mindy proves that they are no different from the rest of us; afterall, a true valley girl can come in all shapes, sizes, and colors.

Padma Lakshmi
Padma is the face of Bravo's hit series "Top Chef." Aside from the host spot on this popular series, the gorgeous model and actress has also written a popular cookbook entitled "Easy Exotic: A Model's Low-fat Recipes From Around The World."

Maulik Pancholy
Maulik plays the obedient assistant of Jack Donaghy (Alec Baldwin) on NBC's critically acclaimed series "30 Rock." It appears as though his character might have a man-crush on his boss, which adds some depth and comedy. Maulik has a whole slew of film projects coming up soon also.

Navi Rawat
Of both Indian and German descent, Navi is best recognized as the pregnant home-wrecking ex-girlfriend of Ryan Atwood on Fox's "The OC." These days she's landed herself a starring role on CBS's "Numb3rs" as brilliant mathematician and FBI Consultant Amita, proving that you can be young, sexy, and a genius all at once.

Kal Penn
Kal is perhaps one of the most recognizable Indian-American comedic actors, starring in feature hits Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle and Van Wilder. He's now hitting the primetime tv circuit as a series regular on Fox's hit "House," where he plays a young doctor under Hugh Laurie's title character.

Sunkrish Bala
Sunkrish stars as one of the title characters on ABC's midseason sitcom "Notes from the Underbelly," which was recently renewed for a second season. He plays the dutiful young husband to his pregnant wife.

Ravi Kapoor
Ravi plays Dr. Bug on NBC's series "Crossing Jordan." He began his role as the brilliant but shy forensic entomologist and has developed the role into a full blown love interest for another title character, showing the more human relationship sides to his scientific character.

Indira Varma
Indira played devoted Niobe on HBO's hit series "ROME" until her suicide at the end of the first season. She also starred in the short-lived CBS drama "3 lbs" until its premature cancellation.

Dilshad Vadsaria
Dilshad plays the cold priviledged freshman sorority pledge in ABC Family series "Greek." A senator's daughter, her character makes a nice rival to the sorority princess Casey.

The New Class:

Adhir Kalyan as title role of Pakistani Muslim exchange student Raja Musharaff in the CW's half-hour sitcom "Aliens in America"

Kunal Nayyar as Koothrappali, one of the pack of science geeks that befriend the gorgeous young woman living next door in CBS's comedy "The Big Bang Theory"

Vik Sahay as Victor, one of the major supporting roles in NBC's upcoming series from Josh Schwartz "Chuck"

And some other up-and-comers to keep your eye out for in the feature and television worlds:

Noureen DeWulf, Samrat Chakrabarti, Kavi Ladnier, Sheetal Sheth

Fall 2007 New Series

2007-07-26T11:49:00.000-07:00

So in case you were all interested, below is a list of the networks new shows for the fall, when they're airing, and who the stars are. I've taken the liberty of highlighting the shows I have any interesting in watching based on my opinion of the pilots and what their scheduling is. Some are shows that I think I'm gonna love to hate like "Gossip Girl" and "Chuck." We'll have to wait and see once everything airs b/c that an awful lot of tv on top of my current faves "Lost," "Heroes," "The Office," "30 Rock," "Cold Case," etc.

NETWORK NEW ORIGINAL SERIES—FALL 2007

ABC
Big Shots—Thurs/10 (Michael Vartan, DylanMcDermott, Christopher Titus, Joshua Molina, Nia Long, Paige Turco, Peyton List, Wendy Moniz, Jessica Collins, Amy Sloan)

Carpoolers—Tues/8:30 (Jerry O’Connell, Fred Goss, Jerry Minor, Time Peper, Faith Ford, Allison Munn, T.J. Miller)

Cavemen—Tues/8 (Nick Kroll, Bill English, Sam Huntington, Kaitlin Doubleday, John Heard, Stephanie Lemelin)

Dirty Sexy Money—Wed/10 (Peter Krause, Seth Gabel, Glenn Fitzgerald, Samaire Armstrong, Zoe McLennan, Natalie Zea, Billy Baldwin, Donald Sutherland, Jill Clayburgh, Laz Alonso)

Eli Stone—MS (Johnny Lee Miller, Natasha Henstridge, Victor Garber, Loretta Devine, Sam Jaeger, Laura Benanti, James Saito)

Miss/Guided—MS (Judy Greer, Brooke Burns, Krostoffer Polaha, Jonathan Sadowski, Earl Billings)

Private Practice—Wed/9 (Kate Walsh, Paul Adelstein, Amy Brenneman, Tim Daly, Taye Diggs, Audra McDonald, Chris Lowell)

Samantha Who?—Mon/9:30 (Christina Applegate, Jean Smart, Jennifer Esposito, Barry Watson, Melissa McCarthey, Tim Russ, Kevin Dunn)

Cashmere Mafia—MS Tues/9 (Frances O’Connor, Miranda Otto, Lucy Liu, Bonnie Somerville, Peter Hermann, Julian Ovenden)

Women’s Murder Club—Fri/9 (Angie Harmon, Paula Newsome, Laura Harris, Aubrey Dollar)

Pushing Daisies—Wed/8 (Lee Pace, Anna Friel, Chi McBride, Swoosie Kurtz, Kristen Chenowith, Jim Dale)

NBC
The Bionic Woman—Wed/9 (Michelle Ryan, Chris Bowers, Miguel Ferrer, Molly Price, Will Yun Lee, Lucy Hale)

The IT Crowd—MS (Joel McHale, Richard Ayoade, Rocky Carroll, girl TBD)

Life—Wed/10 (Damian Lewis, Sarah Shahi, Adam Arkin, Melissa Sagemiller, Robin Weigert)

Lipstick Jungle—MS (Brooke Shields, Kim Raver, Lindsay Price)

Journeyman—Mon/10 (Kevin McKidd, Moon Bloodgood, Gretchen Egolf, Reed Diamond, Charles Henry Wyson)

Chuck—Mon/8 (Zachary Levi, Yvonne Strzechowski, Adam Baldwin, Joshua Gomez, Sarah Lancaster)

FOX
Canterbury’s Law—MS Thurs/9 (Julianna Margulies, Linus Roache, Ben Shenkman, Trieste Dunn, Jocko Sims)

Back to You—Wed/8 (Kelsey Grammer, Patricia Heaton, Fred Willard, Josh Gad, Ty Burrell, Laura Moreno)

K-Ville—Mon/9 (Anthony Anderson, Cole Hauser, Maximiliano Hernandez, Blake Shields, Tawny Cypress, John Carroll Lynch)

New Amsterdam—Tues/8 (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Zuleikha Robinson, Alexie Gilmore, Stephen Henderson)

The Return of Jezebel James—MS Wed/8:30 (Parker Posey, Lauren Ambrose, Scott Cohen, Michael Arden, Ron McLarty)

Unhitched—MS (Craig Bierko, Rashida Jones, Johnny Sneed, Shaun Majumder)

The Sarah Connor Chronicles—MS Sun/9 (Lena Headey, Thomas Dekker, Summer Glau, Richard T. Jones)

The CW
Aliens in America—Mon/8:30 (Dan Byrd, Adhir Kalyan, Amy Pietz, Scott Patterson, Lindsey Shaw)

Life is Wild—Sun/8 (Leah Pipes, K’Sun Ray, Andrew St. John, Mary Matilyn Mouser, David Butler, Calvin Goldpink, Tiffany Mulheron, Atandwa Kani, Jeremy Sheffield, D.W. Moffett, Stephanie Niznik)

Reaper—Tues/9 (Bret Harrison, Allison Hossack, Andrew Airlie, Kyle Switzer, Missy Peregrym, Ray Wise, Tyler Labine, Rick Gonzalez, Valarie Rae Miller)

Gossip Girl—Wed/9 (Blake Lively, Leighton Meester, Penn Badgeley, Taylor Momsen, Connor Paolo, Chace Crawford, Ed Westwick, Kelly Rutherford, Sam Robards, Matthew Settle)

CBS
Cane—Tues/10 (Jimmy Smits, Hector Elizondo, Nestor Carbonell, Paola Turbay, Rita Moreno, Eddie Matos, Polly Walker, Lee Tergesen)

Swingtown—MS (Molly Parker, Jack Davenport, Grant Show, Lana Parrilla, Miriam Shor, Josh Hopkins, Shanna Collins, Aaron Howles, Brittany Robertson)

Viva Laughlin—Sun/8 (Lloyd Owen, Madchen Amick, Hugh Jackman, D.B. Woodside, Eric Winter, P.J. Byrne, Ellen Woglom, Carter Jenkins)

Moonlight—Fri/9 (Alex O’Loughlin, Shannyn Sossamon, Jason Dohring, Sophia Myles)

Big Bang Theory—Mon/8:30 (Johnny Galecki, Jim Parsons, Kaley Cuoco, Simon Helberg, Kunal Nayyar)

Pilot Re-Cast Alert

2007-07-25T15:30:00.000-07:00

Oh, the inevitable re-cast. Once pilots are picked up and its stars excited at the prospect of network tv stardom looming around the corner, the networks jump in and rip the magic carpet out from underneath them. Oh, its not all tragedy... sometimes its the stars themselves that want out and other times the actor just wasn't right for the role or the role is being reworked so its best for the rest of us if someone new takes their place. Still, you can't help but feel sorry for the ones that don't make the cut. I mean, they are just people afterall. Now that my sympathies are expressed, I'm gonna be completely hypocritical and judge them. Yes, judge them against their shiny new replacements. See below:

"The Bionic Woman" (NBC)
Mae Whitman replaced by
Lucy Hale
I already talked about this below. I love love Mae and thought she was great, but I'm happy for Lucy to have the opportunity. I'm hearing rumors that the character is being completely reworked to be no longer deaf and have amazing computer hacking abilities. Hopefully it was Mae walking away from the series herself to go on to do bigger and better things.

"Private Practice" (Grey's Anatomy Spinoff)(ABC)
Merrin Dungey replaced by
Audra McDonald
I like Merrin, but I have to agree with ABC here that she brought a disconnect to the budding series. I just didn't buy her and Kate Walsh as bff's. The chemistry just wasn't there. Besides, Audra has won like 4 Tony Awards...clearly the better choice :)

"Reaper" (The CW)
Nikki Reed replaced by
Missy Peregrym
So I wasn't in love with Nikki at all in the pilot, and I definitely felt like she was the weak link. That being said, I've never been all that sold on Missy either. I felt like her character in "Heroes" this past season fell kinda flat. I guess she's the prettier choice. Hopefully she can pull it out for this Kevin Smith series.

"Aliens in America" (The CW)
Patrick Breen replaced by
Scott Patterson
Boo. I don't really support this decision. I think Patrick is a solid comedic actor and was happy with the dynamic he brought to the series. While I am a fan of Scott's, I am not pleased at the prospect of sexy-ing the dad up, which places more of a focus on him and away from the kids. Changes the series completely. Oh well.

"8 Days a Week" (The CW)
Johnny Lewis replaced by
Justin Hartley
I still can't believe this series got picked up...I mean Mario Lopez is a series regular. Anyway, they definitely sexed the role up like 5 notches with Justin. Yes please, I'll take 2. Johnny was sweet, but not really star material. Still, I've heard Justin a pretty horrific actor. I guess we'll see how it all comes to together. I love how the CW's solution to everything is "More Sexy." Fabulous.

"Cavemen" (ABC)
Dash Mihok replaced by
Sam Huntington
Perhaps Dash realized this show was career suicide, I'm not sure, but he's out and adorable Sam is in. As long as fellow caveman Nick Kroll sticks with it, I'll give this show a few more episodes...he's hilarious. Hopefully Sam can add some more depth to his caveman...what am I saying here? I mean, this show is based on a Geiko commercial for crying out loud...its gonna die a fiery death.

"Moonlight" (CBS)--PILOT OVERHAUL
Rade Serbedzija replaced by Jason Dohring, Amber Valletta replaced by Shannyn Sossamon, Shannon Lucio replaced by Sophia Myles
Clearly they're going in a different direction since they dropped about 50 years off of the character Josef b/w Rade and Jason. Both Amber and Shannon are cute, but that's about where their talents ended here. I'm a huge Shannyn fan, so I'm stoked to see her as an ass-kicking vampire, I think. I'm not familiar with Sophia at all, but she has a strong vampire movie background, so I'm sure she had a kickass reel for this. The real question is, why didn't they recast Alex O'Loughlin in the title role...wasn't a big fan.

Other recastings include the parents on The CW's "Life is Wild" (Brett Cullen and Judith Hoag) being replaced by D.W. Moffet and Stephanie Niznik. Jessica St. Clair's character on NBC's comedy "The IT Crowd" is also rumored to have a replacement in the works.

Also, Victoria Pratt (the lip-purser who I hated from Dirty Sexy Money) is being left out of announcements for the show...I hope this means there's a re-cast in her future...

Guest Star Stand-Outs

2007-07-22T22:10:00.000-07:00

Marshall Allman
So I thought it'd be nice to recognize those actors that perform small but essential roles on popular tv shows and that really catch my attention in the role. I noticed Allman as the murdered victim on a episode of "Cold Case" entitled 'Knuckle Up.' He did a really good job of capturing his character, an over-achieving high school student that found his passion in his prep school's fight club. Really touching portrayal. His imdb notes a recurring spot on Fox's "Prison Break" (a show I've never seen, so if he's a huge character, I apologize for my ignorance). He's also starring in the feature film "The Immaculate Conception of Lizzie Dizzie" alongside Natasha Lyonne.

Little Monster Man

2007-07-19T10:57:00.000-07:00

This is phenomenal. The little guy looks so real and the poor PETA guy is absolutely petrified. One word: AMAZING. I wish they'd bring this show back. Ashton Kutcher's "Room 401" on MTV can't hold at candle to its VH1 predecessor "Scare Tactics."

And the Emmy Nominees are...

2007-07-19T10:21:00.000-07:00

Its that time of year again...The EMMY NOMINEES for 2007 were announced today! Naturally, I'm excited to make my predictions. However, I should let ya'll know that I'm not the best at predicting the accolades of television b/c there's just so much of it, its hard to soak it all in. This year I feel particularly out of the loop; I guess the tv I watch isn't quite "award-winning" if you know what I mean. There were a few exciting surprises though. I'll get to my specific thoughts later, but for now here are my mostly uninformed guesses and personal preferences. The stars indicate ones that I am really serious about :)

EMMY NOMINEES

**COMEDY SERIES**
"Entourage," HBO
"The Office," NBC
30 Rock," NBC
"Two And A Half Men," CBS
"Ugly Betty," ABC

**DRAMA SERIES**
"Boston Legal,"
"Grey’s Anatomy," ABC
Heroes," NBC
"House," Fox
"The Sopranos," HBO

MINISERIES
“Broken Trail,” AMC
”The Starter Wife,” USA

MADE FOR TELEVISION MOVIE
“Bury My Heart At Wounded Knee,” HBO
“Inside The Twin Towers,” Discovery Channel
“Longford,” HBO
“The Ron Clark Story,” TNT
“Why I Wore Lipstick To My Mastectomy,” Lifetime

**REALITY**
"Antiques Roadshow," PBS
"Dog Whisperer With Cesar Millan," National Geographic
"Extreme Makeover Home Edition," ABC, Endemol USA
"Kathy Griffin: My Life On The D-List," Bravo
"Penn & Teller: Bullshit!," Showtime

REALITY COMPETITION PROGRAM
"The Amazing Race," CBS
"American Idol," Fox
"Dancing With The Stars," ABC
"Project Runway," Bravo
"Top Chef," Bravo

**ACTOR IN A COMEDY**
Ricky Gervais as Andy Millman, "Extras," HBO
Steve Carell as Michael Scott, "The Office," NBC
Alec Baldwin as Jack Donaghy, "30 Rock," NBC
Charlie Sheen as Charlie Harper, "Two And A Half Men," CBS

ACTOR IN A DRAMA
James Spader as Alan Shore, "Boston Legal," ABC
Hugh Laurie as Dr. Gregory House, "House," Fox
Denis Leary as Tommy Gavin, "Rescue Me," FX
James Gandolfini as Tony Soprano, "The Sopranos," HBO
Kiefer Sutherland as Jack Bauer, "24," Fox

ACTOR IN A MINISERIES OR MOVIE
Robert Duvall as Prentice "Print" Ritter, "Broken Trail," AMC
Tom Selleck as Jesse Stone, "Jesse Stone: Sea Change," CBS
Jim Broadbent as Lord Longford, "Longford," HBO
William H. Macy as Clyde Umney & Sam Landry, "Nightmares & Dreamscapes: From The Stories Of Stephen King - Umney’s Last Case," TNT
Matthew Perry as Ron Clark, "The Ron Clark Story," TNT

**ACTRESS IN A COMEDY**
Felicity Huffman as Lynette Scavo, "Desperate Housewives," ABC
Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Christine Campbell, "The New Adventures Of Old Christine," CBS
Tina Fey as Liz Lemon, "30 Rock," NBC
America Ferrera as Betty Suarez, "Ugly Betty," ABC
Mary-Louise Parker as Nancy Botwin, "Weeds," Showtime

ACTRESS IN A DRAMA
Sally Field as Nora Walker, "Brothers & Sisters," ABC
Kyra Sedgwick as Dep. Chief Brenda Leigh Johnson, "The Closer: Slippin’," TNT
Mariska Hargitay as Detective Olivia Benson, "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit," NBC
Patricia Arquette as Allison Dubois, "Medium," NBC
Minnie Driver as Dahlia Malloy, "The Riches," FX
Edie Falco as Carmela Soprano, "The Sopranos," HBO

ACTRESS IN A MINISERIES OR MOVIE
Queen Latifah as Ana, "Life Support," HBO
Helen Mirren as Jane Tennison, "Prime Suspect: The Final Act (Masterpiece Theatre)," PBS
Mary-Louise Parker as Zenia Arden, "The Robber Bride," Oxygen
Debra Messing as Molly Kagan, "The Starter Wife," USA
Gena Rowlands as Melissa Eisenbloom, "What If God Were The Sun," Lifetime

**SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A COMEDY**
Kevin Dillon as Johnny Drama, "Entourage," HBO
Jeremy Piven as Ari Gold, "Entourage," HBO
Neil Patrick Harris as Barney Stinson, "How I Met Your Mother," CBS
Rainn Wilson as Dwight Schrute, "The Office," NBC
Jon Cryer as Alan Harper, "Two And A Half Men," CBS

**SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A DRAMA**
William Shatner as Denny Crane, "Boston Legal," ABC
T.R. Knight as George, "Grey’s Anatomy," ABC
Masi Oka as Hiro Nakamura, "Heroes," NBC
Michael Emerson as Ben, "Lost," ABC
Terry O’Quinn as John Locke, "Lost," ABC

SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A MINISERIES OR MOVIE
Thomas Haden Church as Tom Harte, "Broken Trail," AMC
August Schellenberg as Sitting Bull, "Bury My Heart At Wounded Knee," HBO
Aidan Quinn as Senator Dawes, "Bury My Heart At Wounded Knee," HBO
Edward Asner as Luke Spelman, "The Christmas Card," HallmarkProductions
Joe Mantegna as Lou Manahan, "The Starter Wife," USA

**SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A COMEDY**
Jaime Pressly as Joy Turner. "My Name Is Earl," NBC
Jenna Fischer as Pam Beesly. "The Office," NBC
Holland Taylor as Evelyn Harper. "Two And A Half Men," CBS
Conchata Ferrell as Berta. "Two And A Half Men," CBS
Vanessa Williams as Wilhelmina Slater. "Ugly Betty," ABC
Elizabeth Perkins as Celia Hodes, "Weeds," Showtime

**SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A DRAMA**
Rachel Griffiths as Sarah Whedon, "Brothers & Sisters," ABC
Katherine Heigl as Isobel "Izzie" Stevens, "Grey’s Anatomy," ABC
Chandra Wilson as Dr. Bailey, "Grey’s Anatomy," ABC
Sandra Oh as Cristina Yang, "Grey’s Anatomy," ABC
Aida Turturro as Janice Soprano, "The Sopranos," HBO
Lorraine Bracco as Dr. Jennifer Melfi, "The Sopranos," HBO

SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A MINISERIES OR MOVIE
Greta Scacchi as Nola Johns, "Broken Trail," AMC
Anna Paquin as Elaine Goodale, "Bury My Heart At Wounded Knee," HBO
Samantha Morton as Myra Hindley, "Longford," HBO
Judy Davis as Joan McAllister, "The Starter Wife," USA
Toni Collette as Kathy Graham, "Tsunami, The Aftermath," HBO

GUEST ACTOR IN A COMEDY
Martin Landau as Bob Ryan, "Entourage," HBO
Sir Ian McKellen as Himself, "Extras, HBO
Stanley Tucci as David Ruskin, "Monk, "USA
Giovanni Ribisi as Ralph Mariano, "My Name Is Earl," NBC
Beau Bridges as Carl Hickey, "My Name is Earl," NBC

GUEST ACTOR IN A DRAMA
Christian Clemenson as Jerry “Hands” Espenson, "Boston Legal," ABC
Forest Whitaker as Curtis Ames, "ER," NBC
David Morse as Michael Tritter, "House, Fox
Tim Daly as J.T. Dolan, "The Sopranos, HBO
John Goodman as Judge Robert Bebe, "Studio 60 On The Sunset Strip, NBC
Eli Wallach as Eli Weintraub, "Studio 60 On The Sunset Strip, NBC

GUEST ACTRESS IN A COMEDY
Dixie Carter as Gloria Hodge, "Desperate Housewives," ABC
Laurie Metcalf as Carolyn Bigsby, "Desperate Housewives," ABC
Elaine Stritch as Colleen Donaghy, "30 Rock," NBC
Judith Light as Claire Meade , "Ugly Betty," ABC
Salma Hayek as Sofia Reyes, "Ugly Betty," ABC

GUEST ACTRESS IN A DRAMA
Kate Burton as Ellis Grey, "Grey’s Anatomy," ABC
Elizabeth Reaser as Jane Doe, "Grey’s Anatomy," ABC
Marcia Gay Harden as Star Morrison, "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit," NBC
Leslie Caron as Lorraine Chalmers, "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit," NBC
Jean Smart as Martha Logan, "24," Fox

**INDIVIDUAL PERFORMANCE IN A VARIETY OR MUSIC PROGRAM**
Ellen Degeneres, "79th Annual Academy Awards," ABC
Stephen Colbert, "The Colbert Report," Comedy Central
Jon Stewart, "The Daily Show With Jon Stewart," Comedy Central
David Letterman, "Late Show With David Letterman," CBS
Tony Bennett, "Tony Bennett: An American Classic," NBC

DIRECTING FOR A COMEDY
Julian Farino, "Entourage: One Day In The Valley," HBO
Ricky Gervais, Stephen Merchant, "Extras: Orlando Bloom," HBO
Ken Kwapis, "The Office: Gay Witch Hunt," NBC
Will Mackenzie, "Scrubs: My Musical," NBC
Scott Ellis, "30 Rock: The Breakup," NBC
Richard Shepard, "Ugly Betty: Pilot," ABC

DIRECTING FOR A DRAMA
Felix Alcala, Director "Battlestar Galactica: Exodus, Part 2," Sci Fi Channel
Bill D’Elia, "Boston Legal: Son of the Defender," ABC
Peter Berg, "Friday Night Lights: Pilot", NBC
David Semel, "Heroes: Genesis," NBC
Jack Bender, "Lost: Through the Looking Glass," ABC
Alan Taylor, "The Sopranos: Kennedy And Heidi," HBO
Thomas Schlamme, "Studio 60 On The Sunset Strip: Pilot," NBC

DIRECTING FOR A VARIETY, MUSIC OR COMEDY PROGRAM
Bruce Gowers, "American Idol: The Finale, Fox
Jim Hoskinson, "The Colbert Report: Show #2161, Comedy Central
Chuck O’Neil, "The Daily Show With Jon Stewart: Show #12061, Comedy Central
Don Roy King, "Saturday Night Live: Host: Alec Baldwin, NBC
Rob Marshall, "Tony Bennett: An American Classic, NBC

DIRECTING FOR A MINISERIES, MOVIE OR DRAMATIC SPECIAL
Walter Hill, "Broken Trail: Part 1 & Part 2, AMC
Yves Simoneau, "Bury My Heart At Wounded Knee, HBO
Susanna White, "Jane Eyre (Masterpiece Theatre), PBS
Philip Martin, "Prime Suspect: The Final Act (Masterpiece Theatre), PBS
Bharat Nalluri, "Tsunami, The Aftermath: Part 1 & Part 2, HBO

DIRECTING FOR NONFICTION PROGRAMMING
Rory Kennedy, "Ghosts Of Abu Ghraib," HBO
Kevin Burns, "Star Wars: The Legacy Revealed," The History Channel
Lauren Greenfield, "Thin," HBO
Christopher Wilcha, "This American Life: God’s Close-Up," Showtime
Spike Lee, "When The Levees Broke: A Requiem In Four Acts," HBO

ANIMATED PROGRAM (less than one hour)
Avatar: The Last Airbender: City Of Walls And Secrets," Nickelodeon
Robot Chicken: Lust For Puppets," Cartoon Network
The Simpsons: The Haw-Hawed Couple," Fox
South Park: Make Love, Not Warcraft," Comedy Central
SpongeBob SquarePants: Bummer Vacation / Wig Struck," Nickelodeon

ANIMATED PROGRAM (one hour or more)
Good Wilt Hunting (Foster’s Home For Imaginary Friends)," Cartoon Network
Hellboy Animated: Sword Of Storms," Starz
Secrets Of The Deep," Discovery Channel
Where’s Lazlo? (Camp Lazlo)," Cartoon Network

VARIETY, MUSIC OR COMEDY SERIES
"The Colbert Report," Comedy Central
“The Daily Show With Jon Stewart,”Comedy Central
“Late Night With Conan O’Brien,” NBC
“Late Show With David Letterman,” CBS
"Real Time With Bill Maher," HBO

VARIETY, MUSIC OR COMEDY SPECIAL
"The Comedy Central Roast of William Shatner," Comedy Central
"The Kennedy Center Honors: A National Celebration Of The Performing Arts," CBS
"Lewis Black: Red, White & Screwed," HBO
"Tony Bennett: An American Classic," NBC
"A Tribute To James Taylor (Great Performances)," PBS
"Wanda Sykes: Sick And Tired," HBO

SPECIAL CLASS PROGRAM
"79th Annual Academy Awards," ABC
"The 64th Golden Globe Awards," NBC
"Jerry Seinfeld - The Comedy Award," HBO
"Prince Super Bowl XLI Halftime Show," CBS
"The 60th Annual Tony Awards (2006)," CBS

**CHILDREN'S PROGRAM**
"Hannah Montana, Disney Channel," Disney Channel
"Nick News With Linda Ellerbee: Private Worlds: Kids And Autism," Nickelodeon
"The Suite Life Of Zack & Cody," Disney Channel
"That’s So Raven," Disney Channel
"When Parents Are Deployed," PBS

NONFICTION SPECIAL
"AFI’s 100 Years....100 Cheers: America’s Most Inspiring Movies," CBS
"Blood Diamonds," The History Channel
"Brando," TCM
"Ghosts Of Abu Ghraib," HBO
"Star Wars: The Legacy Revealed," The History Channel

**NONFICTION SERIES**
"American Masters," PBS
"Biography," A&E
"Deadliest Catch," Discovery Channel
"Inside The Actors Studio," Bravo
"Planet Earth" Discovery Channel

**WRITING FOR A COMEDY**
"Extras: Daniel Radcliffe," Ricky Gervais, HBO
"The Office: Gay Witch Hunt," Greg Daniels, NBC
"The Office: The Negotiation," Michael Shur, NBC
"30 Rock: Tracy Does Conan," Tina Fey, NBC
"30 Rock: Jack-Tor," Robert Carlock, NBC

**WRITING FOR A DRAMA**
"Battlestar Galactica: Occupation/Precipice," Ronald D. Moore, Sci Fi Channel
"Lost: Through The Looking Glass," Damon Lindelof, Carlton Cuse, ABC
"The Sopranos: Kennedy And Heidi," Matthew Weiner, David Chase, HBO
"The Sopranos: The Second Coming," Terence Winter, HBO
"The Sopranos: Made In America," David Chase, HBO

WRITING FOR A VARIETY, MUSIC OR COMEDY PROGRAM
"The Colbert Report," Stephen Colbert, Allison Silverman, Richard Dahm, Michael Brumm, Rob Dubbin, Eric Drysdale, Peter Gwinn, Jay Katsir, Laura Krafft, Frank Lesser; Comedy Central
"The Daily Show With Jon Stewart," Rachel Axler, Kevin Bleyer, Rich Blomquist, Steve Bodow, Tim Carvell, J.R. Havlan, Scott Jacobson, David Javerbaum, Ben Karlin, Rob Kutner, Josh Lieb, Sam Means, Jason Reich, Jason Ross, Jon Stewart; Comedy Central
"Late Night With Conan O’Brien," Mike Sweeney, Head Writer; Chris Albers, Jose Arroyo, Dan Cronin, Kevin Dorff, Daniel J. Goor, Michael Gordon, Berkley Johnson, Brian Kiley, Michael Koman, Tim Harrod, Brian McCann, Guy Nicolucci, Conan O’Brien, Andrew Weinberg; NBC
"Late Show With David Letterman," Eric Stangel, Justin Stangel, head writers; Michael Barrie, Jim Mulholland, Steve Young, Lee Ellenberg, Matt Roberts, Jeremy Weiner, Joe Grossman, Meredith Scardino, Bill Scheft, Aaron Blitzstein, Bob Borden, Frank Sebastiano, David Letterman; CBS
"Real Time With Bill Maher," Billy Martin, Head Writer; David Feldman, Matt Gunn, Brian Jacobsmeyer, Jay Jaroch, Chris Kelly, Bill Maher, Jonathan Schmock, Danny Vermont, Scott Carter; HBO

WRITING FOR A MINISERIES, MOVIE OR A DRAMATIC SPECIAL
"Broken Trail" Alan Geoffrion, AMC
"Bury My Heart At Wounded Knee," Daniel Giat HBO
"Jane Eyre (Masterpiece Theatre): Parts 1 & 2," adapted by Sandy Welch, PBS
"Prime Suspect: The Final Act (Masterpiece Theatre)," Frank Deasy, PBS
"The Starter Wife," Josann McGibbon, Sara Parriott, USA

**WRITING FOR NONFICTION PROGRAMMING**
"American Masters - Andy Warhol: A Documentary Film," James Sanders, Ric Burns; PBS
"Penn & Teller: Bullshit!: Wal-Mart," Penn Jillette, Teller, Sheryl Zohn, Jon Hotchkiss, Michael Goudeau, Star Price, Cliff Schoenberg, David Weiss; Showtime
"Planet Earth: Mountains," Gary Parker, Discovery Channel
"Star Wars: The Legacy Revealed," Steven Smith, David Comtois, Kevin Burns; The History Channel
"This American Life: God’s Close-Up," Nancy Updike; Showtime

ART DIRECTION FOR A MULTI-CAMERA SERIES
"The Class: Pilot," CBS
"How I Met Your Mother," CBS

**ART DIRECTION FOR A SINGLE-CAMERA SERIES**
"Deadwood," HBO
"Heroes: Genesis," NBC
"Rome," HBO
"Shark: Teacher’s Pet," CBS
"The Tudors: Episode 101," Showtime
"Ugly Betty: The Box And The Bunny," ABC

ART DIRECTION FOR A MINISERIES OR MOVIE
"Broken Trail," AMC
"Bury My Heart At Wounded Knee," HBO
"Jane Eyre (Masterpiece Theatre)," PBS
"Return To Halloweentown," Disney Channel
"The Starter Wife," USA

ART DIRECTION FOR A VARIETY, MUSIC PROGRAM OR SPECIAL
"79th Annual Academy Awards," ABC
"Cirque Du Soleil: Corteo," Bravo
"Desperate Crossing: The Untold Story Of The Mayflower, The History Channel
"Engineering An Empire," Egypt, The History Channel
"Hell’s Kitchen: Episode 210," Fox
"MADtv: Episode 1209," Fox
"Tony Bennett: An American Classic," NBC

**CASTING FOR A COMEDY**
"Desperate Housewives," ABC, Johnson/Genkinger Casting
"Entourage," HBO, Sheila Jaffe/Walken Casting
"30 Rock," NBC, Jennifer McNamara Casting
"Ugly Betty," ABC, Junie Lowry Johnsonn Casting
"Weeds," Showtime, Britt/Colloff Casting

**CASTING FOR A DRAMA**
"Brothers & Sisters," ABC, Bacharach/O’Neill Casting
"Friday Night Lights," NBC, Lowy/Brace/Sepko Casting
"Grey’s Anatomy," ABC, Lowy/Brace Casting
"Studio 60 On The Sunset Strip," NBC, Barnes/Maisler Casting, Liberman/Patton Casting
"The Tudors," Showtime, Moiselle Casting, Slater/Brooksbank (US Casting Consultant)

CASTING FOR A MINISERIES, MOVIE OR SPECIAL
"Broken Trail," AMC, Wendy Weidman Casting, Coreen Mayrs (Canadian Casting), Fiorentino/ Mangieri/ Weidman Casting
"Bury My Heart At Wounded Knee," HBO, Haynes Casting, Fisekci/Elizinga (Canadian Casting)
"Jane Eyre (Masterpiece Theatre)," PBS, Di Carling Casting
"The Path To 9/11," ABC, Liberman/Patton, Cook/Hilliard-Forde (Canadian Casting), Smith (UK Casting)
"The Ron Clark Story," TNT, Zuckerbrod/Finnegan, Fisecki/Elzinga (Canadian Casting)
"The Starter Wife," USA, Slater/Brooksbank Casting; Tom McSweeney (Australian Casting)

**CHOREOGRAPHY**
"Dancing With The Stars: Episode 303A," ABC, Louis Van Amstel
"So You Think You Can Dance: Ramalama (Bang Bang)," Fox, Wade Robson
"So You Think You Can Dance: Calling You," Fox, Mia Michaels, Choreographer
"Tony Bennett: An American Classic, NBC," Rob Marshall, John DeLuca

CINEMATOGRAPHY FOR A MULTI-CAMERA SERIES
"According To Jim: Hoosier Daddy," ABC
"Rules Of Engagement: Jeff’s Wooby," CBS
"Two And A Half Men: Release The Dogs," CBS

CINEMATOGRAPHY FOR A SINGLE-CAMERA SERIES
"CSI: Crime Scene Investigation: Built To Kill," CBS
"Deadwood: Catbird Seat," HBO
"Rome: Passover," HBO
"The Sopranos: Soprano Home Movies," HBO
"Studio 60 On The Sunset Strip: Pilot," NBC

CINEMATOGRAPHY FOR A MINISERIES OR MOVIE
"Broken Trail: Part 1," AMC
"Bury My Heart At Wounded Knee," HBO
"Jane Eyre (Masterpiece Theatre): Part 1," PBS
"The Path To 9/11: Night 2," ABC
"The Valley Of Light (Hallmark Hall Of Fame Presentation)," CBS

**CINEMATOGRAPHY FOR NONFICTION PROGRAMMING** (Single-Camera)
"Deadliest Catch: The Unforgiving Sea," Discovery Channel
"Meerkat Manor:Family Affair," Animal Planet
"Planet Earth: Pole To Pole," Discovery Channel
"This American Life: God’s Close-Up," Showtime
"When The Levees Broke: A Requiem In Four Acts," HBO

CINEMATOGRAPHY FOR NONFICTION PROGRAMMING (Multi-Camera)
"The Amazing Race: I Know Phil, Little Ol’ Gorgeous Thing," CBS
"Dirty Jobs: Mule Logger," Discovery Channel
"Intervention: Sylvia," A&E
"Project Runway: Iconic Statement," Bravo
"Top Chef: Episode 209," Bravo

COMMERCIAL
"Animals - American Express,"
"Battle - Cingular,"
"Happiness Factory - Coca Cola,"
"Jar - GE,"
"Pinball - Pepsi,"
"Singing Cowboy - Truth,"
"Snowball - Travelers,"

COSTUMES FOR A SERIES
"Deadwood: Amateur Night," HBO
"Desperate Housewives: Getting Married Today," ABC
"Rome: De Patre Vostro (About Your Father)," HBO
"The Tudors: Episode 103," Showtime
"Ugly Betty: I’m Coming Out," ABC

COSTUMES FOR A MINISERIES, MOVIE OR SPECIAL
"Broken Trail: Part 2," AMC
"Bury My Heart At Wounded Knee," HBO
"Jane Eyre (Masterpiece Theatre): Part 1," PBS
"Longford," HBO
"The Starter Wife: Part 1," USA

SINGLE CAMERA PICTURE EDITING FOR A DRAMA
"Dexter: Dexter," Showtime
"Heroes: Genesis," NBC
"Lost: Through The Looking Glass," ABC
"The Sopranos: The Second Coming," HBO
"The Sopranos: Soprano Home Movies," HBO

SINGLE-CAMERA PICTURE EDITING FOR A COMEDY
"My Name Is Earl: The Trial," NBC
"My Name Is Earl: Guess Who’s Coming Out Of Joy," NBC
"The Office: The Job," NBC
"Weeds: Mrs. Botwin’s Neighborhood," Showtime
"Weeds: Crush Girl Love Panic," Showtime

SINGLE-CAMERA PICTURE EDITING FOR A MINISERIES OR A MOVIE
"Broken Trail: Part 2," AMC
"Bury My Heart At Wounded Knee," HBO
"Jane Eyre (Masterpiece Theatre): Part 1," PBS
"Life Support," HBO
"The Path To 9/11: Night 2," ABC
"The Starter Wife: Part 3" USA

MULTI-CAMERA PICTURE EDITING FOR A SERIES
"American Idol: Idol Gives Back," Fox
"The Daily Show With Jon Stewart: # 12043," Comedy Central
"Dancing With The Stars: Episode 304," ABC
"How I Met Your Mother: Robin Sparkles," CBS
"Two And A Half Men: Release The Dogs," CBS

PICTURE EDITING FOR A SPECIAL (Single or Multi-Camera)
"79th Annual Academy Awards," ABC
"Cirque Du Soleil: Corteo," Bravo
"Lewis Black: Red, White & Screwed," HBO
"Tony Bennett: An American Classic," NBC
"A Tribute To James Taylor (Great Performances)," PBS

PICTURE EDITING FOR NONFICTION PROGRAMMING
"AFI’s 100 Years....100 Cheers: America’s Most Inspiring Movies," CBS
"Deadliest Catch: The Unforgiving Sea," Discovery Channel
"Ghosts Of Abu Ghraib," HBO
"Meerkat Manor: Family Affair," Animal Planet
"Planet Earth; Mountains," Discovery Channel
"When The Levees Broke: A Requiem In Four Acts," HBO

PICTURE EDITING FOR REALITY PROGRAMMING
"The Amazing Race: I Know Phil, Little Ol’ Gorgeous Thing" CBS
"American Idol: Memphis Auditions" Fox
"Extreme Makeover Home Edition: The Thomas Family" ABC
"Project Runway: Iconic Statement" Bravo
"Survivor: An Evil Thought" CBS

HAIRSTYLING FOR A SERIES
"Dancing With The Stars: Episode 303," ABC
"Deadwood: A Constant Throb," HBO
"Desperate Housewives: It Takes Two," ABC
"Rome • De Patre Vostro (About Your Father)," HBO
"Ugly Betty: I’m Coming Out," ABC

HAIRSTYLING FOR A MINISERIES, MOVIE OR SPECIAL
"79th Annual Academy Awards," ABC
"Broken Trail," AMC
"Bury My Heart At Wounded Knee," HBO
"Jane Eyre (Masterpiece Theatre)," PBS

LIGHTING DIRECTION (Electronic, Multi-Camera for VMC programming)
"79th Annual Academy Awards," ABC
"American Idol: The Finale," Fox
"Dancing With The Stars: Episode 308," ABC
"49th Annual Grammy Awards," CBS
"Late Night With Conan O’Brien: # 2408," NBC

MAIN TITLE DESIGN
"Dexter," Showtime
"Hu$tle," AMC
"The Lost Room," Sci Fi
"The Path To 9/11," ABC
"Standoff," Fox
"Ugly Betty, ABC

MAKEUP FOR A SERIES (Non-Prosthetic)
"CSI: Crime Scene Investigation: Fannysmackin’," CBS
"Dancing With The Stars: Episode 303," ABC
"Deadwood: I Am Not The Man You Take Me For," HBO
"MADtv: Episode 1210," Fox
"Rome: De Patre Vostro (About Your Father)," HBO

MAKEUP FOR A MINISERIES, MOVIE OR SPECIAL (Non-Prosthetic)
"Broken Trail," AMC
"Bury My Heart At Wounded Knee," HBO
"Desperate Crossing: The Untold Story Of The Mayflower," The History Channel
"Nightmares & Dreamscapes: From The Stories Of Stephen King," TNT
"The Starter Wife," USA

PROSTHETIC MAKEUP FOR A SERIES, MINISERIES OR SPECIAL
"CSI: Crime Scene Investigation: Living Legend," CBS
"Grey’s Anatomy: My Favorite Mistake," ABC
"House: Que Sera Sera," Fox
"MADtv: Episode 1203," Fox
"Nip/Tuck: Conor McNamara," FX

**MUSIC COMPOSITION FOR A SERIES** (Dramatic Underscore)
"CSI: Crime Scene Investigation: Law Of Gravity," CBS
"Ghost Whisperer: Love Never Dies," CBS
"Kidnapped: Pilot," NBC
"Planet Earth: Pole To Pole," Discovery Channel
"Rome: Philippi," HBO
"24," Fox

MUSIC COMPOSITION FOR A MINISERIES, MOVIE OR SPECIAL (Dramatic Underscore)
"Boffo! Tinseltown’s Bombs And Blockbusters," HBO
"Broken Trail," AMC
"Bury My Heart At Wounded Knee," HBO
"The Librarian: Return To King Solomon’s Mines,"TNT
"Longford," HBO
"Nightmares & Dreamscapes: From The Stories Of Stephen King: Battleground," TNT
"The Path To 9/11," ABC

MUSIC DIRECTION
"79th Annual Academy Awards," ABC
"Dancing With The Stars: Episode 310," ABC
"Scrubs: My Musical," NBC
"The 60th Annual Tony Awards (2006)," CBS

**MUSIC AND LYRICS**
"Family Guy: Peter’s Two Dads," Song title: "My Drunken Irish Dad," Fox
"MADtv: Episode 1209," Song title: "Merry Ex-Mas," Fox
"Saturday Night Live: Host: Justin Timberlake," Song title: "Dick In A Box," NBC
"Scrubs: My Musical," Song Title: "Everything Comes Down to Poo," NBC
"Scrubs: My Musical, " Song Title: "Guy Love", NBC

MAIN TITLE THEME MUSIC
"Dexter," Showtime
"Hu$tle: 401, AMC
"On The Lot: 102A," Fox
"30 Rock: Hard Ball," NBC
"The Tudors: Episode 5," Showtime

SOUND EDITING FOR A SERIES
"Battlestar Galactica: Exodus, Part 2," Sci Fi
"CSI: Miami: No Man’s Land," CBS
"ER: Bloodline," NBC
"Lost: A Tale Of Two Cities," ABC
"Smallville: Zod," CW
"24: 10:00 PM - 11:00 PM," Fox

SOUND EDITING FOR A MINISERIES, MOVIE OR SPECIAL
"Broken Trail: Night 2," AMC
"Bury My Heart At Wounded Knee," HBO
"The Librarian: Return To King Solomon’s Mines," TNT
"The Path To 9/11: Night 1," ABC
"Tsunami, The Aftermath: Part 1," HBO

SOUND EDITING FOR NONFICTION PROGRAMMING (Single Or Multi-Camera)
"The Amazing Race: I Know Phil, Little Ol’ Gorgeous Thing," CBS
"American Masters: Atlantic Records: The House That Ahmet Built," PBS
"Ghosts Of Abu Ghraib," HBO
"When The Levees Broke: A Requiem In Four Acts," HBO

SINGLE-CAMERA SOUND MIXING FOR A SERIES
"Boston Legal: Lincoln," ABC
"CSI: Crime Scene Investigation: Living Doll," CBS
"Deadwood: A Two-Headed Beast," HBO
"Heroes: Genesis," NBC
"The Sopranos: Stage 5," HBO
"24: 10:00 PM - 11:00 PM," Fox

SINGLE-CAMERA SOUND MIXING FOR A MINISERIES OR MOVIE
"Broken Trail: Night 2," AMC
"Bury My Heart At Wounded Knee," HBO
"Jane Eyre (Masterpiece Theatre): Part 1," PBS
"Krakatoa: Volcano Of Destruction," Discovery Channel
"The Lost Room: The Key And The Clock (Night 1)," Sci Fi

MULTI-CAMERA SOUND MIXING FOR A SERIES OR SPECIAL
"79th Annual Academy Awards," ABC
"The Daily Show With Jon Stewart: Episode # 12061," Comedy Central
"49th Annual Grammy Awards," CBS
"The Magic Flute (Great Performances At The Met)," PBS
"Tony Bennett: An American Classic," NBC

SOUND MIXING FOR A VARIETY OR MUSIC SERIES OR SPECIAL OR ANIMATION
"Entourage: One Day In The Valley," HBO
"My Name Is Earl: Our Cops Is On!," NBC
"The Office: The Coup," NBC
"Scrubs: My Musical," NBC
"30 Rock: Corporate Crush," NBC

SOUND MIXING FOR NONFICTION PROGRAMMING (Single Or Multi-Camera)
"The Amazing Race: I Know Phil, Little Ol’ Gorgeous Thing," CBS
"American Masters: Atlantic Records: The House That Ahmet Built," PBS
"Deadliest Catch: The Unforgiving Sea," Discovery Channel
"Planet Earth: Pole To Pole," Discovery Channel
"When The Levees Broke: A Requiem In Four Acts," HBO

**SPECIAL VISUAL EFFECTS FOR A SERIES**
"Battlestar Galactica: Exodus, Part 2," Sci Fi
"Eureka: Pilot," Sci Fi
"Grey’s Anatomy: Walk On Water," ABC
"Heroes: Five Years Gone," NBC
"Rome: Philippi," HBO

SPECIAL VISUAL EFFECTS FOR A MINISERIES, MOVIE OR SPECIAL
"Bury My Heart At Wounded Knee" HBO
"Drive: The Starting Line" Fox.com
"Nightmares & Dreamscapes: From the Stories of Stephen King: Battleground" TNT
"Nightmares & Dreamscapes: From The Stories Of Stephen King: The End Of The Whole Mess" TNT
"The Path To 9/11: Night 2" ABC
"Secrets Of The Deep" Discovery Channel

STUNT COORDINATION
"CSI: Miami: Rush," CBS
"CSI: NY: Sleight Out Of Hand," CBS
"ER: Bloodline," NBC
"Heroes: Genesis," NBC
"24: 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM," Fox

TECHNICAL DIRECTION, CAMERAWORK, VIDEO FOR A SERIES
"American Idol: Bon Jovi," Fox
"Dancing With The Stars: Episode 310," ABC
"Jimmy Kimmel Live: Jay Z Show," ABC
"Late Night With Conan O’Brien: # 2424," NBC
"Saturday Night Live: Host: Alec Baldwin and Musical Guest: Christina Aguilera," NBC

TECHNICAL DIRECTION, CAMERAWORK, VIDEO FOR A MINISERIES, MOVIE OR A SPECIAL
"79th Annual Academy Awards," ABC
"American Idol: Idol Gives Back," Fox
"Comic Relief 2006, HBO,"
"Dane Cook Vicious Circle," HBO
"49th Annual Grammy Awards," CBS
"Prince Super Bowl XLI Halftime Show," CBS
"Tony Bennett: An American Classic," NBC

EXCEPTIONAL MERIT IN NONFICTION FILMMAKING
"Jonestown: The Life And Death Of Peoples Temple (American Experience)," PBS
"A Lion In The House (Independent Lens)," PBS
"When The Levees Broke: A Requiem In Four Acts," HBO

Music to my Ears!

2007-07-18T17:08:00.000-07:00

DEBORAH CADE

Hey Y'all. My roommate is playing her first big show at the HOUSE OF BLUES--SUNSET STRIP tonight at 8PM. I'll be out to support along with a whole slew of people. So if you're feeling an awesome rock music vibe, please come check her out. For more information or to purchase her tracks online visit her website www.myspace.com/deborahcade. She's fab!

Who All Seen da Leprechaun, Say Yeah!

2007-07-18T16:53:00.000-07:00

An oldie, but a goodie! This news story from Mobile, AL in 2006 cracks me up everytime. So many amazingly quotable memories. It has spawned yet another internet sensation with "Where Da Gold At" music videos and "Amateur Sketch" t-shirts. For more information, check out WhereDaGoldAt.com.

I mean, it's got to be a crackhead, got ahold to the wrong stuff, and it told'm to get up in the tree and play a leprechaun. Obviously.

The Smallest Actors

2007-07-18T16:37:00.000-07:00

For being so notoriously shy, these otters seem to be hamming it up for the camera, taking on a big bad crocodile 10 times their size. This plays like an adventure movie. Too cute!! I had to share. Otters were my favorite zoo animal as a kid :)

Clip from "Planet Earth" as narrated by Richard Attenborough:

Rebuilding HOUSE

2007-07-18T15:07:00.000-07:00

Boo. I am very disappointed at a recent major revelation regarding the upcoming season of Fox's "HOUSE," starring Hugh Laurie. They've traded in my favorite team of young doctors with some younger models. Cameron (Jennifer Morrison), Foreman (Omar Epps), and the gorgeous Chase (Jesse Spencer) are being replaced with Kal Penn ("Harold and Kumar"), Olivia Wilde ("The OC"/"The Black Donnellys"), and Anne Dudek (White Chicks). Peter Jacobson ("Starter Wife"/Transformers)has joined the cast also. As you all hopefully know, Chase was fired at the end of Season 3, followed by resignations shortly after from both Foreman and Cameron, leaving Dr. House all alone. Now, I just naturally assumed that this would all be resolved in the start of Season 4. Not so, it seems, at least not right away. They've brought in this new team of recurring characters, probably hoping to breathe new life into the series that has run its course with the current cast of characters. I understand. Plus, its Hugh Laurie that really makes the show. It's pretty smart on Fox's part to experiment with new characters in hopes of extending the show's successes. Moreover Chase, Cameron, and Foreman aren't gone forever. They'll still be popping back in from time to time in the upcoming season...I hope, anyway. Until then, they will be missed.

Jesse Spencer, Jennifer Morrison, Omar Epps

Olivia Wilde, Kal Penn, Anne Dudek

**FUN FACT** Australian hearthrob Jesse Spencer (Chase) also starred in the aussie soap "Neighbors" that previously mentioned Michelle Ang was on. Additionally, he is engaged in real life to recent on camera sweetie Jennifer Morrison (Cameron).

Kiwi on the Rise

2007-07-17T15:57:00.000-07:00

Michelle Ang
This New Zealand native is certainly someone to know. At only 23, she's already accomplished quite a bit. She's gained acclaim around the world for her acting talents. She got her start on the New Zealand tv show "The Tribe" and gained further notoriety on Australian soap opera "Neighbors." You might recognize her stateside from a guest starring stint in the finale episode of "Xena: Warrior Princess." Still, through all this, she remains grounded and is currently studying at Victoria University in New Zealand with a double degree in Accounting and Commercial Law and Chemistry, while still actively pursuing her acting career in the US and abroad. She's another one of those people that just have an amazing energy about them. She's sweet and genuine, which is always a great find in a young actress. I look forward to many more appearances by Ang in the next few years.

I Love Lucy!

2007-07-17T15:28:00.000-07:00

I Love Lucy, Lucy Hale that is.
Actress Lucy Hale has been added to the series regular cast of NBC's upcoming "Bionic Woman" remake. I am simultaneously deeply saddened and yet optimistic by this development. Hale will be replacing Mae Whitman as the title character played by Michelle Ryan's deaf teenage sister Becca. I think Whitman is just phenomenal and am sad to see her leave the cast. However, I am happy to see Lucy have the opportunity to step into the role, as this is her first big series role. Previously she has done some guest spots on "How I Met Your Mother" and "The OC," among other things. Lucy is as sweet and vibrant an actress as can be, and I just knew she was someone to keep an eye on. I don't really see her as the misbent goth youth, but obviously the casting director saw something in her (its just as possible they've changed the role entirely). I was impressed with her energy most of all so hopefully she will be able to bring it to the screen and really make a name for herself in the network tv world! Congrats!

O Canada!

2007-07-16T12:10:00.000-07:00

Coming off of a fabulous Bastille Day celebration this weekend (shout-out to the Chez Stilts crew), I'm feeling a particular kinship to our partially French-speaking neighbors of the North: CANADA.

Canada is really an integral part of our American Film and TV industries. One that I feel is often under-appreciated and misunderstood. I think the lay person has no idea how much production is completed up there. Basically, Canada is the new Hollywood.

Its no secret that with location fees into the millions of dollars at times, it has become quite expensive to film in and around Hollywood, CA. While it is where all the finest (non-theatre) actors flock to each year, its not where most of the filming is being completed. Sure we cast the leads out of LA or NY, but what of the remaining 90% of a film or television cast? Well, all that casting is done on-location, and it is my experience that a lot of that on-location shooting is being done in Canada.
The cities of choice are Toronto, Vancouver, and Halifax, depending on what scenery you want (city, rural, etc.) and whether you plan of having some semblance of a diverse cast (as ethnic actors are somewhat hard to come by in certain locations). While there are countless movies and popular tv shows that shoot in Canada like SciFi's "Battlestar Galactica," ABC Family's "Kyle XY," NBC's upcoming "Bionic Woman," and practically everything on Noggin, I think the biggest genre of entertainment being shot here are TV Movies. Canada is the perfect location for these. Quick shoots, lots of reasonably priced locations to choose from, English speaking, culturally and geographically appearing like the US. Not to mention tons of Canadian actors who are pretty cheap for hire compared to SAG scale rates.

So what am I getting at here? I'm not really sure, but I know that if I was an up-and-coming actor who was sick of LA and was looking for a new place to live to gain a little more acting experience than LA will allow...I might consider Canada. Especially with all of our political mumbo-jumbo b/w red states and blue states here lately. Plus they have national heathcare, don't ya know?

My Favorite Canadian Casting Director: COREEN MAYRS (Supernatural, Smallville, Battlestar Galactica, The X-Files, Kyle XY, Fantastic 4, Butterfly Effect, X2, etc.)

My Favorite Canadian Talent Rep: PACIFIC ARTISTS
#1404-510 West Hastings Street
Vancouver, BC V6B-1LB
Canada
Phn: 604-688-4077
info@pacificartists.com

Addendum to SYTYCD!

2007-07-13T17:27:00.000-07:00

For my fellow "So You Think You Can Dance?" fans out there, I thought you'd all enjoy this fabulous parody to the Lacey and Kameron dance I posted previously. The quality is a bit bad, but I promise you, its worth a look. Mia would be so proud.

10 Posts in One!

2007-07-13T14:43:00.000-07:00

Sorry guys--I've been pretty caught up in my own stuff lately and have been slacking on the posts once again. Vacation will do that to you. I apologize. So 10 things on my mind to get you all up to speed:

1.) Minnesota is one lily-white state. I think I saw 2 "ethnic" people the whole time I was there. And its overrun with teenagers that want to act and are fascinated with the entertainment business. Very interesting.

2.) Ratatouille is weird...cute sorta. But really weird. Not your usual Disney/Pixar movie. I'd rent it instead and put the movie going cash towards something a bit more worthwhile.

3.) Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix is awesome. The movie takes what I consider to be the best parts of book 5 and leaves a lot of the really dark depressing stuff behind. Moreover, if you choose to see this movie in the theatre, PLEASE splurge for the 3D Imax experience. You certainly won't regret it. It makes the movie all the much more amazing. Trust me here. Also, Evanna Lynch who plays Loony Luna is AMAZING. Holy cow, we're gonna be seeing more of this girl. She was just phenom.

4.) Man, those Harry Potter kids grow up fast. Emma Watson is lovely as ever. She speaks out here against all her bad publicity with finishing the Harry Potter series saying she just wanted to attend "University" to help her "keep in touch with reality" and not squander her education b/c she's famous. Smart Girl. Daniel Radcliff is all sex-symbol in this month's "Details" magazine, kinda creepy but totally hot. With the London production of "Equus" and various other things, he's doing a great job of being more than just "that Harry Potter kid." Even Neville (Matt Lewis)'s looking a bit like a young Adam Levine in some pics, which is weird b/c he's so not supposed to be cute. Good for him though.

5.) Shia LeBeouff is great. His performance in this summer's biggest blockbuster Transformers is getting rave reviews. Plus he's due out in a whole slew of other big movies like the next Indiana Jones. He really is our next biggest rising star so pay attention. Its becoming harder and harder for kids to switch from child star to adult actor lately.

6.) VH1 gave Perez Hilton a show, "What Perez Sez." Damnit, that was my idea, but it was "too edgy" for my network. Ah well, good for him. I'm sure it'll be one part "Best Week Ever" and two parts "Talk Soup." Hopefully it'll be good. He's such an awkward human being though in interviews. I don't know if I'd want to look at him for a whole hour. And so arrogant, yuck. But funny. We'll see. Meanwhile, this is funny:

7.) I've been seeing my boy Zac Efron EVERYWHERE. Wowie, even the likes of Perez Hilton have been giving him some extra special attention. I'm really excited to see Hairspray still, as I'm a big fan of Storyline Entertainment and Adam Shankman (he's so loony, its great). Rumors are even flying that he's the next Kevin Bacon in an upcoming Kenny Ortega remake of Footloose. "High School Musical 2" has been getting amazing press as well, even getting its own People Magazine Special Collector's Edition. I love those kids. Oh, and he's not gay. Promise.

8.) "So You Think You Can Dance" is the summer's hottest show in my opinion. Its quite fascinating to watch. I'm Lacey and Kameron all the way, but Kameron better step it up b/c if he ever finds himself in the bottom, I think he could easily get booted. The real star of this show though is the fabulously lovely and talented Cat Deeley. She's phenomenal, and I'm extremely picky about hosts. Usually I find them as the most superfluous and useless parts of competition shows. Cat is completely different. She is fun and genuine and sweet. Her presence really adds to the show and keeps me wanting more. Oh, and Wade Robson is a genius, nuff said. See my fave Mia Michaels' dance with Lacey and Kameron below:

9.) Speaking of guilty pleasures, ABC Family aired its series "GREEK" on Monday at 9PM. I'm loving this show so much, words cannot express. I hear its getting a lot of negative press from Greek organizations around the country, but they're all looney. Take it from someone who lived it, GREEK is a pretty accurate depiction of sorority and frat life. Plus its just so damn entertaining. The kids in it are great, and it really just gets me all nostalgic. *Tear*

10.) If I hear one more thing about those people coming to America, I'm gonna puke. You know who I'm talking about. Side note: I am really excited for that reality show though. While she seems like a total oddball bitch in photos, I find her to be quite warm and funny in interviews. Plus, he's just gorgeous.

And that's the world according to Kat. Ta ta!

When 5-become-1...again.

2007-06-28T11:41:00.000-07:00

So...embarassing reveal #357...I was a huge Spice Girls fan in Jr. High (What? I was 12!!). Anyhow, the SPICE GIRLS reunited on stage today for the first time in 9 years for a press conference at London's 02 Arena to announce that they will be doing a World-Wide Reunion Tour with all five members: Emma Bunton (Baby), Melanie Brown (Scary), Melanie Chisholm (Sporty), Geri Halliwell (Ginger) and even Victoria Beckham (Posh). The tour is expected to kick off in Los Angeles on December 7th of this year, then go on to make other appearances in the US, UK, China, Australia, and further abroad. Now, naturally, I hope to be in attendance. If for no other reason than to relive my glory days as a rambunctuous pre-teen...the nostalgia is already setting in. For any other former Spice fans out there, go to www.thespicegirls.com to register for a chance to buy tickets once they're released. They've assured the press that they're not in it for the money, but we'll wait until ticket prices are revealed to be the judge of that.

The Girls are certainly looking a bit different these days. Maybe they should change their name to the Spice Women as they're all looking a bit mom-ish in this pic...with the exception of Victoria who looks like a female terminating robot from outerspace, despite actually having the most children and the hottest husband (David Beckham...yum!). At least they've still got their signature high high heels. Should be interesting...GIRL POWER!!

Mika Brzezinski is my hero...

2007-06-26T19:01:00.000-07:00

Oh my gosh, I love this so much!! I just couldn't wait until it was up on YouTube or somewhere else where it could be embedded. Please please check out this link on MSNBC starring respectable news anchor Mika Mrzezinski. Its a series of clips taken throughout the day of Mika's newscast. Apparently she was battling it out behind the scenes with her Producer because she adamantly refused to present Paris Hilton's release from jail as news. You've got to admire her for taking a stand!
http://video.msn.com/v/us/v.htm?g=e771e428-bc1a-4ba7-8715-b871d757ccce&f=06/64&fg=email

**UPDATE**It's been posted on YouTube. See below!

The Newest Pearl

2007-06-26T18:38:00.000-07:00

Pearl vs. Will Ferrell Pt. 2
Certainly by now you have heard of a famous clip floating around the internet of Will Ferrell and his young daughter on Funnyordie.com entitled "The Landlord." Its some pretty funny stuff. Well, they just released the next and final chapter in the adventures of young Pearl. Check it out below:Good Cop, Baby Cop

For those of you who miss the original, check out this entertaining blooper reel that illustrates the difficulty of working with young actors. Its pretty adorable how this little girl is coaxed to say hilarious things that she doesn't understand to "daddy." Love it!The Landlord Out Takes

You don't know who DAVE ANNABLE is??

2007-06-26T15:52:00.000-07:00

So, I was under the false impression that everyone knew of the talented and muy caliente Dave Annable, but apparently I was wrong. After fighting with my boss for a few days over his "name value" (somehow I lost), I've decided to express my affections for him publicly. He has a sweet and goofy charm that is just adorable, plus he comes off with a certain air of intelligence and honesty, which I admire. I think he's a very respectable actor who is certainly gaining a following due to the success of ABC's "Brothers & Sisters," and even a little in part to the not-so-successful Fox show "Reunion." In a few years, hopefully he'll have so much "name value" that he's passing on MOW offers from our little cable network. Until then, best of luck!

Hear all about him on and off the set from himself and his "Reunion" cast members below:

BRATZ? OMG. BFFS!!

2007-06-19T16:00:00.000-07:00

I HATE to admit it, but you just know this is gonna be HUGE. I mean, those whore dolls are one of the top-selling toys, even beating out Barbie. Now, I'm not sure how I feel about the most popular product for girls 3-11 being a doll impossibly proportioned and dressed like a common street-walker, but what do I know about marketing to kids? All I know is that based on this kind of popularity, this movie is gonna bring in some serious cashflow. Therefore, I think its important to take a moment and examine our children's future role-models because I doubt they're going away anytime soon when they're backed by such a successful franchise. It is a little disturbing watching them take these sweet innocent-looking preteen actresses and "slutifying" them for this role. Oh, Hollywood.

LOGAN BROWNING "SASHA"--This is a first movie role for Logan, who has gotten the bulk of her experience in TV shows, commercials, and music videos. She also has a bit of gymnastics and cheer training that she makes use of in this role.

JANEL PARRISH "JADE"--I've been following Janel for a few years now. She's a very sweet young actress from Hawaii. She's most noted for having quite a talent for singing, starring in a touring production of Les Miserables. She's also had a few minor tv roles as well.

NATHALIA RAMOS "YASMIN"--Nathalia brings a bit of TVQ to the movie, having had a significant arc on the critically acclaimed series "Arrested Development." I've always found her to be a lovely actress as well.

SKYLER SHAYE "CLOE"--A bit older than the other girls, I've always felt a kind of sex-kitten vibe from this young actress which I guess its perfect for this movie. She has a lot of tv experience, and even received some critical-acclaim for a small guest star spot on "Grey's Anatomy."

CHELSEA STAUB "MEREDITH"--The only one of the bunch that I've really seen in action, Chelsea is just a joy to watch. She can make anything funny with great comedic timing and creative delivery. I am happy to see her here.
Now doesn't that just make you want to gouge out your eyes? As much as it pains me to admit, the girls are quite cute and they didn't take the slutty thing too far it seems so that's good at least.

Big Girl, You are Beautiful!

2007-06-19T15:09:00.000-07:00

This just makes me happy. It's a positive step and fun music to boot.Mika "Big Girls (You Are Beautiful)"

On a similar note, newcomer Nikki Blonsky, star of this summer's much-anticipated musical HAIRSPRAY is getting a lot of positive buzz. Could she be the next Jennifer Hudson? She's pretty cute and sweet as can be. She's so well-spoken, poised, and well, Happy. She's a ball of energy and excitement and is really a joy to watch. A bit of a cinderella-story, 17-year-old Nikki found out she got the part via Access Hollywood cameras while she was scooping icecream at Cold Stone; since shooting she has even been a guest on Oprah.I'm a sucker for a good musical so I'm really excited to check this one out and see how she fairs. Plus, its got my boy Zac Efron in it, so of course I'm gonna be there to support. I really think this could be the big hit of the summer!!

Flight of the Conchords: A Rockin' Review

2007-06-18T18:23:00.001-07:00

FLIGHT OF THE CONCHORDS

Okay, so the few reviews I've read of this show have been pretty negative. One writer for the Hollywood Reporter cited one of the biggest problems of the show as being "Our slacker-nerd heroes are always sweating." Well, I don't know about all that, but I'm gonna stand up for these boys. I really really liked this show. I had very low expectations going in, but following an epic episode of Entourage, I was in a particularly good mood. I found the duo of Kiwis Bret McKenzie and Jermaine Clement to be especially likeable in fact. Sure, they're doofy, but its in a very self-aware and satiric kind of way. As I had hoped, the best part of the series is the spontaneous breaks into song.
I mean with lyrics like "You could be a part-time model...but you'll probably still have to keep your normal job," what could possibly go wrong? I don't know how this show will fair against a judgemental and often oblivious American audience, but we'll soon find out.

"Affirmative. I poked one it was dead."

Pictures Worth 1000 Words...and Stars!

2007-06-18T14:03:00.000-07:00

So I am on IMDB a great deal, as you can imagine, since I work in casting and all. One thing I've noticed is that there are two photos that have come up in my various searches more times than ANY OTHER PHOTO, and each time I discover someone new and interesting that I perhaps had never considered before. The irony here is that both photos are publicity shots from films that I've never even heard of, let alone seen. I have a feeling neither movie is going to be all that great, but they certainly both have quite the ensemble cast so I definitely need to get on it. Anyway, I thought I'd share my discoveries with you all!
SOURCE: BRINGING RAIN
PICTURED: Niesha Butler, Olek Krupa, Adrian Grenier ("Entourage") ; middle row: Ray Santiago (Meet the Fockers), Paz de la Huerta (Cider House Rules), Larisa Oleynik (10 Things I Hate About You) ; bottom row: Rodrigo Lopresti, Merritt Wever ("Studio 60"), Ryan Donowho ("The OC"), Nathalie Paulding, Alexis Dziena ("Invasion"), Noah Fleiss (Brick)

SOURCE: DOA: Dead or Alive
PICTURED: Devon Aoki (Sin City), Holly Valance ("Prison Break"), Sarah Carter ("Shark"), Jaime Pressly ("My Name Is Earl"), Natassia Malthe (Elektra)

Both pictures contain a mixture of big stars and up-and-comers. I would definitely keep a look out for the unknowns. Who knows, maybe these pictures hold the keys to entertainment success? :)

Two Actresses I Know Nothing About...

2007-06-18T12:43:00.001-07:00

TWO ACTRESSES I know nothing about, but I think I should know...are listed below.

ALEXIS DZIENA
Alexis' first big series starring role was in the ABC show "Invasion" that was unfortunately not picked up for a second season. She is positively adorable. I saw her on an episode of "Law & Order: SVU" from a few years ago and her performance definitely caught me attention. She gives a startling and memorable performance opposite Bill Murray as "Lolita" in last year's Broken Flowers as well. She can be seen in 3 upcoming features: Tenderness with Russell Crowe and Laura Dern, Sex and Breakfast with Eliza Dushku and Macauley Culkin, and Fool's Gold with Kate Hudson, Matthew McConaughey (another romantic comedy with these two?), and Donald Sutherland.

EMMA STONE
Emma was in the failed series (that they're apparently still shooting?) "DRIVE" on Fox. She got her start on some Partridge Family reality show that I've never heard about and gained some popularity there. She's a young cute girl, so hey, I should probably know who she is and thus, so should you. Catch her in the upcoming feature film Superbad starring Michael Cera ("Arrested Development") and Jonah Hill ("Knocked Up").

"Casting About" A Film

2007-06-14T11:47:00.000-07:00

I just love it when people start to take a more in depth look at my industry. Casting really is such a complex, artistic, and intriguing process and its wonderful for people to take a moment to acknowledge its beauty. In the wake of a failed theatrical project, Filmmaker Barry J. Hershey has chosen to put all his casting footage to good use. With the help of editor Marc Grossman, he's carefully crafted hours of audition footage into one documentary feature about the casting process entitled "Casting About." I am quite intrigued. So far its only been shown in New York and Sydney, Australia, but I can't wait to get my hands on it and see the casting process from a filmmaker's prospective. Plus, I'm sure it showcases quite a colorful array of actresses trying to make their way in this business.

Find out more information at www.castingaboutmovie.com

Little Miss "Britain's Got Talent"

2007-06-12T14:02:00.000-07:00

Its only her first round of auditions, but already Little Connie Talbot is making waves on the British hit tv show "Britain's Got Talent." Play the clip below and watch a 6-year-old's pitch perfect rendition of the classic song "Somewhere Over the Rainbow." On top of her beautiful singing, Connie carries quite a stage presence for someone so young. Its just lovely.

**UPDATE**Congratulations to Connie for being the runner-up on "Britain's Got Talent"!! The winner was opera singing phenomenon Paul Potts, a former bus driver who certainly has a voice like an angel. If only American Idol had contestants like these...

Dollface by Andy Huang

2007-06-11T12:50:00.000-07:00

Here I am always talking about people being physically attractive, I thought I'd mix it up and show something with a bit more depth. I thought this clip was beautiful and inspired. Its an amazing commentary on the unrealistic standards of beauty in the media. It illustrates getting caught up and trying so hard to be something else that you can end up destroying who you really are. Just lovely.

Thanks Justin for bringing this clip to my attention!

New! Sexy! Cool!

2007-06-08T12:54:00.000-07:00

So two actors have caught my attention lately that I feel are worth mentioning:

Annalynne McCord
What a gorgeous girl. I mean, she is just stunning. She has a really unique look that is absolutely striking; it catches your attention almost instantly. Also, there's an edginess to her that you usually don't see in really pretty girls (ala Angelina Jolie). Her acting is a bit green, but I think if she works hard she could have what it takes to be a star. Right now, intriguing guest star roles are her forte on shows like CSI: Miami ("Kill Switch") and Ugly Betty ("Petra-gate").

Jerry Zatarain Jr.This guy just has something great. He has that interesting ability to show a vulnerability even while engaging a very tough-guy kind of role. Plus, he's funny, and all of this really helps develop a character that you can believe in. I am super impressed with his natural acting talents considering he hasn't had too much experience yet. Oh, and did I mention he just oozes with sex appeal? Love him.

3 WORDS: Scott Michael Foster

2007-06-08T12:33:00.001-07:00

Seriously, Scott Michael Foster...Scott Michael Foster...Scott Michael Foster! Remember that name. He's hilarious and charming and everything you need in a teen hearthrob. I'm mentioned it before, and I'm saying it again. SCOTT MICHAEL FOSTER. He's just great. See him on ABC Family's "GREEK," premiering Monday, July 9th @ 9PM!

Check Out More Here and Here!

My Favey Boy-Banders: The Jonas Brothers

2007-06-04T18:14:00.000-07:00

THE JONAS BROTHERS
I have to sing their praises because I just adore them so. The Jonas Brothers are a punkish rock group from New Jersey. They're three teenaged brothers (each 2 years apart) who are just as sweet and likeable as can be. Their music has gained huge popularity on the teen set (the boys posted a photo on their myspace during my visit with them that gained a whopping 1000 comments in just under 15 minutes). While they can certainly sing and rock out in concert, it seems that's not the only trick they have up their sleeves. Disney Channel is developing a tv pilot for them where they'll star as a group of crime-fighting rockstars. I'm so excited for them. Honestly, I do not know a more sweet, kind, enthusiastic, and friendly group of teenage boys. They're amazing and you just can't help but love them. Show them some love on their myspace or check this interview below.

"What Not to Say!" Episode 1

2007-06-04T16:27:00.000-07:00

Welcome to the first installment of "What NOT to Say!" brought to you by the world's most self-indulgent actors! Below is a list of real taglines and gimmicks used on headshot postcards that I found to be particularly abhorant in the sea that comes across my desk. Look, Laugh, and Learn people! These are guaranteed to keep you from getting the job!

Annoying Postcard Taglines

“Call me when you need to cast ‘short, pale, and stunningly average-looking'!” (Way to sell yourself)

“I’m holding my breath until you check out my new reel…please take a look so I can breathe again!” (Please refrain from theatening the casting directors...)

“Armed and Dangerous with Aspirations and tremendous determination” (Danger not so appealing)

“Agents and Casting Directors beware! This actress is armed, dangerously funny, and gunning for you!” (Again with the threats...)

“Think Cameron Diaz meets Scarlett Johannson.” (Ugh...where to begin)

“New Chinese Face” (Wow.)

“It’s Time to Meet!” (Oh Really...)

“Seeking Opportunity!” (I bet you are.)

“Jack of all Trades: The Actor, The Musician, The Reality TV Star, The Author” (Those are not pros...)

“3 Accents for the Price of 1: Buy Me!!” (Buy you, since when are people for sale?)

“I just have to stay on your mind…and maybe your desk too” (Creepy come-hither looking picture--I'm afraid)

“Remember, I’m here for your last minute day planner needs this season—Give me a call!” (Way to sell yourself short)

“J. Keane, the acting machine. Sidekick to the Stars Since 1952.” (rhyming, really?)

“You get me work. Humperdink suffers.” (Who?)

“I feel like my castability is perfect.” (oh really?)

“The Funny Girl Next Door.” (Good for you.)

“Available Immediately: Leading Man Ready to Take Career to Next Level!” (Sad)

Star on the Rise: Christina Milian

2007-05-29T17:09:00.000-07:00

CHRISTINA MILIAN
This girl has real Talent with a capital "T," and she's got serious superstar potential. This beautiful young actress of cuban descent isn't new to the scene. In fact, she's been in it since she was a teenager. She started (as so many young'ns do) on the Disney Channel as one of the "Movie Surfers," but that's probably not what got your attention. You see, not only can Christina act, but she can sing, dance, and even produce. This is perhaps how she's best known, being nominated for a "Best Contemporary R&B Album" Grammy Award in 2005. So you're wondering...If she's really got it, then why isn't she big already? Well, I've got a few theories on that. First, she came onto the scene as a DC kid, a pop princess with the bubblegum rep. After a few years of this, she switched her rep around entirely. She became the R&B sexpot whose albums get sold and whose talents get recognized. She became the singer, the rapper's girlfriend with some urban flavor. This worked for her and really helped to skyrocket her music career. But she's older now, and I think this 25-year-old has finally found her niche. She's cleaned up her look, less sex and more glam (ala Angelina Jolie) and I know its only a matter of time before her true acting talents take center-stage. People just don't know the new and improved Christina Milian just yet (I got my first glimpse in the yet-to-be-picked-up pilot 8 Days a Week). She's a name that's never gone away, but one that will certainly start making it on some shortlists once word gets out. There's something to say about a new sophisticated look and when you've got the talent to back it, the sky is the limit.

LOST and Drowned

2007-05-29T16:22:00.000-07:00

**SPOILER WARNING**
So my favey little couple from LOST Charlie (Dominic Monaghan)and Claire (Emilie de Ravin) seems to be splitting up next season on account of my favey character Charlie going and killing himself off in the big season finale. I was a bit disappointed, but I can't say that I didn't at least see it coming. The reformed drug-addict rockstar with a good heart and wit about him gave his life so that his comrades could be rescued--heart-warming tale, indeed. Of course, with LOST, things aren't always what they seem, so who knows what's in store of our survivors before their inevitable rescue and even after. I loved the twist tossed in by creators J.J. Abrams and Damon Lindelof. I mean, what a creative twist! I definitely didn't see it coming. Even up to the last few moments when Jack (Matthew Fox) is talking to Kate (Evangeline Lilly), I was still very confused...how could they have known each other all this time? Your brain races back to the first season...its implausible, impossible even. Then your brain starts to click...HOLY HELL! These haven't been flashbacks all this time...they've been FLASH FORWARDS. Genius, I say. Props to them for rescuing a dying series and for a fabulous cast that was able to pick up the slack and overcome. I look forward to all that is in store!

PS, Michael Emerson is one creepy mofo. You never know what his character is thinking...now that's some serious acting.

Giving it the 1-2-How-Do-Ya-Do?

2007-05-23T13:05:00.001-07:00

Remember when I mentioned Clark and Michael here ? Well, here they are again. Their CBS Innertube Show "Clark and Michael" debuted today. Just as expected, its quite a hoot. I had the pleasure of seeing the original that they shot themselves to pitch the show, which was genius and I'm so glad that CBS saw what great comedians these guys are and gave them their own series. These boys aren't just actors or comedians, they worked their butts off for all aspects of this show and it really looks great. If you're craving a laugh, you won't want to miss this. They bring out the comedy in the little things of life. Check it out at www.clarkandmichael.com

If you like these guys, make sure to check out the new episodes every Wednesday on their website above!

Pilot Review: The Return of Jezebel James

2007-05-23T12:14:00.000-07:00

The Return of Jezebel James
FOX PILOT

Parker Posey, Lauren Ambrose, and Michael Arden

Concept: A 30-something children's book editor decides that she is ready to have a child, but when she finds out she is unable to conceive, she looks to her 20-something estranged slacker sister for help.

Review: Cute. Not great, but it could definitely grow on you like "How I Met Your Mother" started for me. Strange concept, but Parker Posey can make anything funny.

Parker Posey. LOVE LOVE LOVE. She is so funny and interesting in everything that she does, whether it be a bitchy high school senior in "Dazed and Confused" or a neurotic pet owner in "Best in Show," I love it all. She's hysterical and adorable all at the same time, and even though the characters that she creates are only charicatures of real people, she makes it work on a level unmatched by most actors.

Lauren Ambrose. Interesting combo to Posey, I've never really considered Lauren to be all that funny. Still, she's cute and sweet and a good actress, so maybe she can make this work.

Michael Arden. He's a good find. He has great comedic instincts and he's just adorable. He looks like a young slightly more charismatic TR Knight. I'm interested to see where this show takes his career.

Honorable Mentions: Dana Ivey as the sarcastic boss and Savannah Stehlin as the little girl. Both were entertaining.

"HEROES" Finale a big ZERO?

2007-05-23T00:43:00.000-07:00

Did any other diehard HEROES fans watch the Season Finale last night to GRAVE DISAPPOINTMENT? I mean, I was so upset by that cheesy predictable ending, I don't even know what to say...

It's all "GREEK" to me!

2007-05-23T00:36:00.000-07:00

Woot! There's finally a preview out for this show that I'm so obsessed with. Check it out:

ABC Family "GREEK"

Add to My Profile | More Videos

For more info see previous post:
I'm a Geek for GREEK

Pilot Review: The Bionic Woman

2007-05-22T14:29:00.000-07:00

The Bionic Woman
NBC PILOT
Michelle Ryan, Chris Bowers, Katee Sackhoff
Miguel Ferrer, Will Yun Lee, and Mae Whitman

Concept: A re-imagining of the 1970's TV series about a woman implanted with super-human bionic body parts. Here, she is a 22-year-old bartender who is saved from a tragic car crash by her scientist-doctor boyfriend in the hopes that she will serve his secret company's purpose once she is healed.

Review: I really liked it. Overall, it felt very 24 meets Battlestar Galactica. There was a lot of heart to it amongst the action and the characters seemed pretty relatable and interesting. Even though its a remake, I would definitely watch this series.

Michelle Ryan. I wanted to not like her for some reason going in, but I found myself liking her a lot. She plays this strong yet oddly vulnerable woman that works so well for this character. She's very multi-dimensional and I feel like she was a strong choice for this role.

Katee Sackhoff. LOVE my BSG peeps! I was so excited to see her on the screen here; I think she's a phenomenal actress. At first it was very clear to me that she had taken some tips from BSG co-star and real-life best friend Tricia Helfer because I definitely saw a lot of Number 6 in Sackhoff's "Sarah." It worked well for the character, so I don't hold it against her, and towards the end, she definitely infused a lot of her own interpretation into the character of "Sarah" that emerged.

Chris Bowers. Of all the characters, I liked him the least. He's dry and a bit boring at times...its really hard to buy him as the romantic lead. Hopefully he'll be able to pick up the pace a bit once the series gets underway.

Miguel Ferrer. I always like this guy, he's a great actor and while he doesn't especially stand out, he's a great addition to any cast. He's consistant and always manages to develop a very human character that the audience can relate to and be interested in.

Will Yun Lee. Will is another solid actor that always brings something interesting to every cast. He's typically pretty dry, but unlike Bowers it works well for his characters because there's almost an eery quality about him that keeps the audience wondering.

Mae Whitman. Oh, I love her. She's such a fabulous young actress who has been in the business for years in great roles, but who also manages to stay under the radar (my favorite is the dorky yet adorable little girl from Hope Floats). Here she plays The Bionic Woman's rebellious teenage sister who is also deaf. Its a great role for her with a lot of depth and I'm excited to see what more she brings to the character.

Honorable Mention: Molly Price. I thought she was great as the one female scientist, kind but strong.

Pilot Review: Gossip Girl

2007-05-21T13:10:00.000-07:00

Gossip Girl
The CW PILOT

Blake Lively, Leighton Meester, Chace Crawford, Ed Westwick
Penn Badgley, Taylor Momsen, Matthew Settle, and Kelly Rutherford

Concept: The private school social scene of a group of New York's most priviledged teenagers, as narrated by the school's own "Gossip Girl" who keeps everyone in school in the know via her gossip blog. The pilot follows the re-entrance of infamous mean girl Serena after a brief hiatus in boarding school (following a hook-up with her bff's bf, of course).

Review: HATRED. Its not that its bad, but there's just something about this pilot that rubs me completely the wrong way. As for it being the most talked about new series...I just don't get it. The characters are simply not likeable and completely unrelateable and some of the main plot points and storylines are stripped straight from The OC. Now, I loved The OC, and I had high hopes for USC Alumni Josh Schwartz, but if this is any indication of what he's got, then throw him back because I don't want it.

Penn Badgley. I'm starting with him because I loved him. He was the only thing I really liked about this series at all. He's a very likeable actor, charming, endearing and personable with a sense of wit. The only thing is...his character kind of sucks. He's just too cute to be believable as a goofy outcast, plus we've seen it all before. Seth Cohen, anyone?

Blake Lively. Eh, okay. The actors weren't really terrible in this series...its the series itself that sucks so much. She's pretty cute, but she's too sweet to be believable as some kind of super-bitch only a few months before the pilot enters into the story.

Leighton Meester. You're supposed to hate her, I think, and I pretty much did. Nothing too spectacular about her that stands out in my mind though.

Chace Crawford. Who? He's supposed to be one of the main characters, but he got lost in the story for me. He's very cute, but I'm gonna need to see more from him if he's going to carry out the series. He might have a real actor in there somewhere.

Ed Westwick. Hatred yet again. His character is oh-so-cliche and one-dimensional, think of a combo of all the bad qualities of characters in Cruel Intentions without any of the likeable ones. Not to mention, I didn't think he was cute...just obnoxious and slimy. Its easy to create a villian, its harder to make person who's bad...and he had no really human qualities it seemed.

Taylor Momsen. She was so adorable, I really liked her a lot and was happy to see her back in entertainment all grown up (she was the adorable little girl in The Grinch). She was perfectly cast in this role (young, innocent, with a touch of spunk) and really held her own for being the youngest cast member.

Other Cast Mentions:
Connor Paolo. Cute, likeable. I wanted to see more of him than most of the other guys, that's for sure.
Matthew Settle. I liked his acting, I just didn't feel he was cast well. I mean, there's hot-dad, then there's too-young-and-hot-to-be-a-dad. It wasn't just that of course, he didn't seem to fit the role overall. Plus, when you combine him with Kelly Rutherford and Florencia Lozano (the other parents), it felt very OC again.

**PS**If you were wondering who the infamous "Gossip Girl" is who narrates the series, I'll tell you. Its none other than the CW's own KRISTEN BELL from Veronica Mars!

Pilot Review: Aliens in America

2007-05-20T17:09:00.000-07:00

Aliens in America
The CW PILOT

Dan Byrd, Adhir Kalyan, Amy Pietz, Lindsey Shaw, and Patrick Breen

Concept: A young high school student struggles with fitting in and being "cool" at his school in Wisconsin, when his neurotic mother decides to import him a friend through the school's foreign exchange program, only the student that arrives is a Pakistani muslim, not the English golden boy that they all expected.

Review: Awesome. This was a pleasant surprise. The cast is amazing and fun, all of which are in their first big series role. This show has a lot of heart and even a little spunk and wit thrown in for good measure. A perfect family-oriented series.

Dan Byrd. For being so young, I got a feeling that he had great comedic instincts. He's a versatile actor too (his performance in The Hills Have Eyes was impressive, and that's hard to do in a cheesy horror movie). Plus, he is in a awkward-looking teenager phase which is perfect for this series.

Adhir Kalyan. This newcomer was a gem. Sweet, endearing, and funny. Perfect for this role and really fun to watch.

Amy Pietz. I love her, and she was so good as the neurotic mom who's just looking out for her child, but in all the wrong ways. She first got my attention in a great episode of L&O:SVU, where she plays a lesbian mom accused of sexually abusing her daughter. She's a phenomenal actress and hilarious to boot.

Lindsey Shaw. For being the stereotypical "hot sister," I felt like she really brought something new and interesting to the role. It felt more real than most portrayals of such a character b/c she's not what you expect, but it works for her.

Patrick Breen. Funny guy for a funny role. Its always good to bring in someone with seasoned comedy chops that everyones else can play off of. I liked him as the dad here.

Pilot Review: Back to You

2007-05-17T14:53:00.000-07:00

Back to You
FOX PILOT

Kelsey Grammer, Patricia Heaton, Ty Burrell, Fred Willard, and Ayda Field

Concept: An anchorman gets fired from his fancy LA job and comes back to work at his old station from 10 years ago, where he discovers a one-night-stand with a co-anchor produced a daughter.

Review: It had its moments, but overall it sucked. Too much like a wannabe Anchorman plus 10-20 years, but without Will Ferrell and Steve Carell of course. It just seemed out-dated...my roommate came in and goes "Are you watching "Frasier" or "Everybody loves Raymond," which was funny, but shows that it doesn't have much originality.

Kelsey Grammer. Oh, how I want Kelsey to find something that works again. He really is a phenomenal actor, but maybe he should stay away from TV for awhile. No one can see him as anything but Dr. Frasier Crane.

Patricia Heaton. I never watched "Raymond," so I haven't had much exposure to her as an actress, but I liked her. I thought she had great comedic timing and a likeable demeanor.

Ty Burrell. Same actor as the "man in red" in "Lipshitz," this guy really is funny. He was certainly the one that caught my attention the most in this series.

Fred Willard. A comedy staple, this character actor is always a good addition to any type of comedy whether it be tv or film.

Ayda Field. I remember who she is and what she did, but not much about her acting...which couldn't have been too terrible or I would have remembered, but couldn't have been too good either.

Pilot Review: 8 Days A Week

2007-05-17T12:55:00.000-07:00

8 Days A Week
THE CW PILOT

Christina Milian, Anna Chlumsky, Johnny Lewis, and Robert Ri'chard

Concept: 4 Twenty-Something friends struggle to make a career and a life for themselves while working under New York's top executives.

Review: I didn't hate it. I really wanted to like this series b/c I can absolutely relate to the storyline, but it felt a little flat to me. It seemed to be a cross b/w Ugly Better and The Devil Wears Prada, but I don't have much else to say about it because it didn't really strike me one way or the other.

Christina Milian. She was the saving grace of this series. She's so adorable, sweet, and engaging, how has she not broken in big yet? This girl is on the cusp. She has never looked better and her acting skills have been honed.

Anna Chlumsky. This is the former "My Girl" star's first big gig since her return to acting. She maintains that sweet yet tough tomboy thing that worked so well for her as a kid and she brings something a bit different to the screen along with her obvious familiarity. I liked it.

Johnny Lewis. He was cute and sweet. I found his very endearing. Hopefully he can bring a little more of an edge if this show gets picked up to series.

Robert Ri'chard. I had the same reaction to him as I did to Johnny. Cute, Sweet, not a lot of depth, but I think he can bring it.

Honorable Mentions: Derrex Brady as "Wilson" (Milian's ex-boyfriend)and Jerrika Hinto as "Marjorie" (Milian's boss).

NOT Honorable Mentions: Mario Lopez (such a bad actor, please take him off the screen), and Rosa Blasi (who I usually like, but her annoying/stupid character really annoyed me...I didn't find her that funny here at all)

Pilot Review: Reaper

2007-05-16T17:56:00.000-07:00

Reaper
CW PILOT
Bret Harrison, Tyler Labine, Nikki Reed, and Rick Gonzalez

Concept: A 21-year-old slacker finds out that his parents sold his soul to the devil before he was born, so now he must act as a bounty hunter for the devil to save his mother's life.

Review: It's a CW show. That says it all really. It's pretty good I guess, but the concept just seems so out there to me, I just don't think I can get behind it. Its definitely targeted at a younger audience too.

Bret Harrison. THAT is Bret Harrison? Wow, he looks so different these days...filling out I guess. He's still cute and charming. He's pretty funny too, I liked him a lot.

Tyler Labine. HAHA, this guy is great. He's funny-looking and has great comic timing and delivery. I'm kind pissed I didn't find him sooner...maybe if I had watched "Invasion"...

Nikki Reed. I was so impressed with this actress's real life achievements and the movie "Thirteen," but I have to admit, she's hasn't been my favorite as of late. I just feel like I can see her acting too much...then again, she hasn't really had a chance to prove herself yet.

Rick Gonzales. He didn't have much of a part so its hard to judge, but I liked him. He's definitely entertaining and has a great look.

**UPDATE** I knew Nikki Reed was the weakest link here. She was recently replaced by Missy Peregrym of "Heroes" and "Stick It" fame. While she has never really stuck out for me, I think she has a lot of potential if put in the right role. We'll see how she fairs as Bret's love interest as this series progresses.

Pilot Review: CHUCK

2007-05-16T17:01:00.000-07:00

CHUCK
NBC PILOT

Zachary Levi, Sarah Lancaster, Yvonne Strzechowski, and Joshua Gomez

Concept: A goofy 20-something computer nerd is the CIA's most valuable asset when he becomes a walking computer full of government secrets after his college roommate sends him an encripted email.

Review: The concept is just outrageous...and there are a lot of flaws in the storyline. Plus it fels like he's trying too hard to be a loser. Still, its got a lot of good points too. It's well-made overall, but I just don't know if it can work.

Zachary Levi. At first I really liked him and found him to be cute, funny, and endearing, but as the story progressed it just felt forced.

Sarah Lancaster. I always see her and think "oh, how cute!" but then I see her acting, and I'm like "oh, how annoying!" She just doesn't come off genuine or real at all to me.

Yvonne Strzechowski. She's a great find. I really liked her performance and she was the one thing kinda pulling this whole thing together I felt like.

Joshua Gomez. The goofy slacker friend, who also happens to work as a member of the "nerd herd." Okay.

Pilot Review: Big Shots

2007-05-16T16:19:00.000-07:00

"Big Shots" fka Perfect Gentleman
ABC PILOT

Michael Vartan, Dylan McDermott, Christopher Titus, and Josh Molina

Concept: Touted as the male version of "Sex and the City," Big Shots follows the lives of four successful business men and the relationships they share.

Review: Kinda Lame. I mean, who is gonna watch this? Male SATC isn't going to appeal to guys...and as a girl, I wasn't too interested either. I wanted it to be better, and it just kept getting worse.

Michael Vartan. Hot, sexy, sweet. You're supposed to buy him as a golden boy (which is fine) who is head over heals in love with his wife, this not-so-hot chick who cheats on him. Bleh.

Dylan McDermott. His character was kind of cool but far too predictable...well, minus the whole trannie incident. Still, I was less than impressed and I have always like Dylan.

Christopher Titus. Considering I can't remember much about his storyline and I watched it yesterday, that is not a good sign. Still, he's a funny-looking guy so that counts for something.

Josh Molina. What an oddball, but he definitely had the coolest storyline. A neurotic dork who is cheating on his gorgeous wife with some ditzy ho. Interesting. I like how its the sweet funny one that is the cheater, mixes it up a bit.

Pilot Review: Sam I Am

2007-05-16T14:03:00.000-07:00

Sam I AM
ABC PILOT
Christina Applegate, Barry Watson, Jennifer Esposito, and Jean Smart

Concept: A successful woman (Applegate) finds herself waking up after being in a coma for 8 days, having no recollection of the life before her. As she discovers who she used to be, she struggles to find herself again and be not who she was, but who she can be.

Review: Most Promising. I was skeptical about the show going in b/c it seemed very "lifetime movie" for my taste, but I have been converted. It's really good. Within the first 30 seconds, you just know that its going to be good. Its hilarious and warm and really a nice multi-faceted comedy, reminiscent of the feel you get from Friends.

Christina Applegate. She's as cute as ever. Her comedic timing has not faltered and she has that slightly-neurotic hot chick thing going for her that works. While it only lasted one season, I remember really enjoying her in "Jesse" all those years ago, so I have full confidence that she can carry a series, and unlike "Jesse," "Sam" has some real depth to it.

Barry Watson. So I'll admit, my first response was "oh no, that guy is in this?" But he won me over. I hated him as poor-little-hot-guy in "What About Brian," but I've got to give him credit here. I found him to be extremely endearing and sweet. You really pull for him in this.

Jennifer Esposito. Again, I don't normally like her, but she works so well in this. I don't think I've ever seen her be so funny and the superficial best friend thing works really well for her here.

Jean Smart. As the "mom," she is an essential element that pulls this whole thing together and no one could have done it better. She was hilarious really, the perfect neurotic mom to the neurotic daughter. I loved her lots.

Honorable mentions go to Melissa McCarthey (Lorelei's best friend on Gilmore Girls), Tim Russ (the doorman here) and Kevin Dunn(the dad). All brought some great and interesting comedy elements to pepper the series.

Pilot Review: Cavemen

2007-05-16T12:40:00.000-07:00

Cavemen
ABC PILOT

Bill English, Nick Kroll, and Dash Mihok

Concept: Based on the Geiko Commercials, Neanderthals struggle with the negative stereotypes of their kind in modern society.

Review: I mean really, does it matter? Everyone knows this isn't going to be the next "LOST," but its not that terrible. It certainly has its hilarious moments. My favorite is pictured below:

Funnymen Bill English, Nick Kroll, and Dash Mihok are cast as the hilarious trio of cavemen that center the story. Nick Kroll is certainly the breakout star here...practically everything he says is hilarious with excellent comedic timing and great lines like "I'm gonna biscuit it up." Realistically, I don't think this show has too much of a shelf-life, but you never know...it could become an instant cult classic.

Pilot Review: Carpoolers

2007-05-16T12:37:00.000-07:00

I'm not even going to justify this ABC show with a whole post. It was terrible. Sure, it had like one or two funny things, but overall, it just didn't make sense and really didn't go anywhere...and quite frankly, the jokes just weren't funny enough to sustain it.

You're so Trendy!

2007-05-16T11:53:00.000-07:00

I'm so sorry my blog has been on the "All Pilots All The Time" Channel for the past few days, but its really all I've had time for. Since its so consumed my life, I've started to notice various trends and common threads throughout the pilots that some might find amusing. See below:

PILOT TRENDS

1.) The Year of the VoiceOver (Pilot after pilot start and often continue throughout with the voiceovers--its an epidemic)
2.) Women in Power (Its all about replacing that "Sex and the City" gap with groups of powerful women)
3.) The Supernatural (Whether it be Vampires, Aliens, Zombies, or The Grim Reaper himself, there is certainly an influx of things unexplained.)
4.) Work-Place Laugh-Fest(Jumping on the success of office-related comedies like "The Office" and last year's "30 Rock," the networks have scrambled to develop their own office success story)
5.) Classically Trained Actors (Actors from prestigious Theatre school backgrounds with Tony Awards and Stage Experience--this isn't your usual crop of Texas and midwest Los Angeles transplants who want to be a star)
6.) Foreign Stars (It seems a lot of our talent is being imported this year from England and the like at a much higher percentage than normal. The audience seems to be sick of seeing the same old stars.)
7.) Acupuncture (Not sure why, but there have been numerous references to this in the pilots I've seen)
8.) Transvestites (Transvestites are the new gay I guess...going from never seeing them on TV to seeing 2 decent-sized parts in 2 huge pilots is intriguing)
9.) Making the Old, New (From "Bionic Woman" to "Sarah Connor Chronicles"-Terminator to "Mr. and Mrs. Smith" and the Grey's Spinoff "Private Practice" its been all about taking something that worked once and making it work again)
10.) Law & Order, Crime and Punishment (Per usual, the networks get that the procedurals work and scramble to discover the next big crime drama)

Pilot Review: Dirty Sexy Money

2007-05-16T10:26:00.000-07:00

Dirty Sexy Money
ABC PILOT
Peter Krause, Donald Sutherland, Samaire Armstrong, Billy Baldwin
Seth Gabel, Glenn Fitzgerald, Natalie Zea, and Victoria Pratt

Premise: In this Dynasty-meets-SixFeetUnder drama, lawyer Nick George (Krause) takes on the financial management of high society's most powerful and recognizeable family after his father's plane crashes to his death.

Review: All right, now we're getting somewhere. This is really good! Dirty Sexy Money is all that its name implies. It's chock full of scandal, secrets, and sex, and it has a phenomenal ensemble cast. Surprisingly, this pilot has a lot of heart and promises to humanize the demons of fame and fortune. I also just love how it ties in aspects (and real life actors) of our own American power-families.

Peter Krause. Man, first leading man that I was really excited for from the start and continued to be excited for throughout the pilot. Not only is he sexy beyond belief, but he just carries with him this relatable human quality that allows him to do some perhaps morally questionable things and yet you still know in your heart that he's a boyscout.

Donald Sutherland. Ooh, what a phenomenal actor, it gives me chills up my spine. His character is just so decisively evil and yet a perfect gentleman all in the same breath. Some things only Mr. Sutherland could pull off and this might be the role he was born to play, the ultimate patriarch.

Samaire Armstrong. While I lit up to see her on the screen again, I have to admit that she fell kinda flat. Yes, her character is slightly vapid and empty (ala Paris Hilton), I still didn't enjoy her performance. Hopefully she can step it up when the show is picked up to series.

Billy Baldwin. Oh, how I love the Baldwins...its uncanny how recognizeable they are. I wasn't really aware of Billy's work up to now, but his performance in this certainly got my attention. It seems that while he is the family gold boy (successful, married with kids), he might be in love with a lovely transvestite (ala Alexis Arquette).

Seth Gabel. He was so my favorite! His character reminded me a bit of a charicature of Pete Doherty (Kate Moss's husband/boyfriend) if Pete was charming and hot and effortless cool. His character is just so fabulous, a rebellious drug addict and spoiled brat who knows his own power and influence. Plus, he's just a trip to watch.

Glenn Fitzgerald. His character is genius, a "man of god" who is certainly the most corrupt out of the whole bunch. Glenn has this cool, no-apologies kind of corruption that is just very intriguing to watch. I was really impressed with him.

Natalie Zea. I liked her. She has this sweet, almost regal, yet slightly trashy thing that is perfect for her character...I don't know how else to describe it.

Victoria Pratt. Eh, she just seemed like a poor man's Kate Winslett to me, and I didn't like it. I felt like she didn't really bring anything new and interesting to the table, plus she kept doing this lip-pursing thing when she talked that made me want to scream.

Other supporting cast members worth mentioning are Jill Clayburgh (the matriarch), Zoe McClellan (the wife), and Candis Cayne (the trannie). All of whom did a great job as well.

**UPDATE** THESE CAST PHOTOS WERE JUST POSTED ONLINE:

PILOT WATCH

2007-05-15T17:47:00.000-07:00

So I've been watching pilots far faster than I can post my reviews of them...there's just so many to get through, and I wanted to have an unbiased opinion befored things got picked up. But, alas, I am not quite like the "Bionic Woman" and I don't move at the speed of light, so the pickups have begun and I've only put a small dent in the overall list. To give you an idea of what I've been dealing with here, I've decided to post the pilots for each network in order of their "buzz." I've starred the ones I've watched. As you can see, I've started at the top of the list and tried working my way down. The highlights are for those lucky pilots that have already gotten the greenlight:

ABC
*PRIVATE PRACTICE (Grey’s Spinoff)
*DIRTY SEXY MONEY
*PUSHING DAISIES
BIG SHOTS (aka Perfect Gentleman)
*MARLOWE
FOOTBALL WIVES
CASHMERE MAFIA--Midseason
*ELI STONE--Midseason
SUSPECT
JUDY’S GOT A GUN
WOMEN’S MURDER CLUB
MR. & MRS. SMITH
UNT. RINA MIMOUN aka REINVENTING THE WHEELERS

*CAVEMEN
*SAM I AM
*CARPOOLERS
*MISS GUIDED--Midseason
THE CALL
FAMILY OF THE YEAR
NICE GIRLS DON'T GET THE CORNER OFFICE
THE MIDDLE
THE HILL

CBS
LOS DUQUES
BABYLON FIELDS
THE MAN
SWINGTOWN--midseason
PROTECT & SERVE
CANE
SKIP TRACER
VIVA LAUGHLIN
UNT. BARRY SCHINDEL aka LAW DOGS
DEMONS
MOONLIGHT

THE CAPTAIN
THE BIG BANG THEORY
GIANTS OF RADIO
THE RICH INNER LIFE OF PENELOPE CLOUD
FUGLY

Fox
SARAH CONNOR CHRONICLES--midseason
APOSTLES
THEM
NURSES
K-VILLE
THE CURE
CANTERBURY’S LAW--midseason
NEW AMSTERDAM
SUPREME COURTSHIPS
NSA INNOCENT

ACTION NEWS aka BACK TO YOU
SLUTS
THE RULES FOR STARTING OVER--midseason
THE RETURN OF JEZEBEL JAMES--midseason
MINISTER OF THE DIVINE
ME AND LEE?
PLAYING CHICKEN

The CW
*GOSSIP GIRL
*REAPER
UNT. SOUTH AFRICA aka WILD AT HEART aka LIFE IS WILD
BARNES aka WORLD ACCORDING TO BARNES
SPELLBOUND
PAIGE ARMSTRONG

*ALIENS IN AMERICA
DASH FOR CASH

NBC
JOURNEYMAN
*CHUCK--under lock and key
BIONIC WOMAN
LIFE

*THE IT CROWD--midseason
LIPSTICK JUNGLE--under lock and key
BUSINESS CLASS
I'M WITH STUPID

MISC: M.O.N.Y (unknown), Insatiable (Showtime), Californication (Showtime)

And those are just the ones that I know about...

Pilot Review: Miss/Guided

2007-05-15T11:29:00.000-07:00

Miss/Guided
ABC PILOT

Judy Greer, Kristoffer Polaha, Brooke Burns, Jonathan Sadowski

Concept: A quirky high school guidance counselor struggles between who she is now and who she was in high school (a misfit teen) while having a crush on another teacher. To make matters worse, the homecoming queen just joined the faculty.

Review: I liked this one. I heard the buzz wasn't too strong, but I thought it was cute, quirky, and fun. Its a light-hearted comedy with not a lot of substance, but there's a sweetness to it that I found very appealing. It felt a lot like Desperate Housewives if that show was a single camera comedy instead of a multi-camera drama.

Judy Greer. I've always really liked her. She has that quirky-if-not-slightly-neurotic character down and it really works for her. Plus, she really is quite funny.

Kristoffer Polaha. Eh, he's okay. He's pretty to look at I guess, but I didn't really feel there was much substance behind him. Then again, he didn't really get much chance to prove himself in this episode either so we'll see what he can do if the series gets picked up.

Brooke Burns. This is the perfect role for her. Overgrown homecoming queen with an obvious err of superiority. It works really well and I found myself liking hating her at least.

Jonathan Sadowski. I don't really have much to say on him. I liked the line about her thinking he was gay, that was funny.

Pilot Review: Eli Stone

2007-05-14T18:43:00.000-07:00

"Eli Stone"
ABC PILOT

Jonny Lee Miller, Natasha Henstridge, Victor Garber, and Loretta Divine

Concept: A lawyer working for a top law firm starts having interesting visions/hallucinations. After later discovering that he has a brain annurism, he starts to believe that perhaps he is a modern prophet whose life should now be dedicated to helping people through his work.

Review: Luke warm yet again. This just felt like I've seen it all before. It's very "Ally McBeal" in its quirkiness and lawyer-based plot lines. Plus, didn't Billy have a brain annurism towards the end of the series too? A lot of the dialogue and plot points seem very contrived...for example, he takes the case of the woman who he lost his virginity to and who had a child by him that is now autistic as the result of the corporation's drugs AND his fiancee practically dumps him seconds after he finds out he has a brain annurism. Oh, did I mention Tom Cavanagh does a cameo as his "drunk" father? I mean, come on. Are we supposed to believe that? They didn't even attempt to dirty up his image a little.

Jonny Lee Miller. He's so awkward looking, really. Still, there was a quirky charm about him in this role...very Adam Brody plus 20 years. It seemed kind of endearing, plus his character is dying afterall so you start to feel for the guy.

Natasha Henstridge. Wow, she looks amazing by the way. I really liked her, which I'm not sure what to make of because I think that you're not supposed to like her character. She plays Eli's slightly snobby and hard-hearted fiancee. Still, I kept pulling for her and not the other chick he was supposed to be helping. There's a raw quality about Natasha that just doesn't work as a cold-hearted bitch...its what made Species work b/c even though she was running around killing people, you felt sorry for her. Maybe they have a sweeter side planned in the series that could really make this character work.

Victor Garber. I love Victor. He has that morally-questionable lawyer thing down to a science. Plain and simple, he's a fabulous actor and I like what he could bring to a series like this. Plus, to find out he was also playing Natasha's dad was fab.

Loretta Divine. Usually I LOVE and ADORE Loretta. However, I just didn't like seeing her as a secretary I guess. Her sweet tough-as-nails approach should have worked here, but it didn't really for me. I see her as being in more of a power position than that.

Pilot Review: Pushing Daisies

2007-05-11T11:21:00.000-07:00

"Pushing Daisies"
ABC PILOT
Lee Pace, Anna Friel, Chi McBride, and Kristin Chenoweth

Concept: A man discovers he has the power to bring dead people back to life with one touch. However, one consequence of this is that he can never touch them again or they will instantly die. After his childhood sweetheart is murdered, he brings her back to life to try to solve her murder, and while he is overwhelmed with feelings for her yet again, he can never touch her, ever, or she will die.

Review: AMAZING. Best pilot I've seen so far. This quirky story is beautiful and poetic. It is set up much like a fairytale and is filmed in a unique storybook type way. Very reminiscent of Tim Burton's "Big Fish." It's from "Wonderfalls" and "Heroes" writer Bryan Fuller, and is directed by "Lemony Snicket's" EP Barry Sonnenfeld. I was pleasantly surprised by this dark comedy that seemed to have real heart and vitality despite its focus on death.

Lee Pace. I have to admit, he wasn't what I was imagining for the role, but he won me over almost instantly. There is a sweetness and innocence about him that is necessary for "Ned." Plus this Julliard graduate really is a fabulous actor, picking up on various subtleties in the role that were quite profound.

Anna Friel. Friel captures the sincere and playful spirit of "Chuck," the object of Ned's affections, perfectly. She's kind and sweet, and with just enough spunk to make the character seemlessly adorable.

Chi McBride. McBride plays Ned's greedy yet oddly lovable business partner "Emerson Cod." While he tries to maintain a sort of hardass exterior, he's really a funny and kind-hearted guy, which adds more dimension to the character and makes him fun to watch.

Kristin Chenoweth. Ned channels his lonliness as a pie-maker in a shop by day, and Chenoweth is his ditzy and naive waitress with a big heart. While she is meant to be obnoxious, Chenoweth is just so freaking adorable, that she's hard not to like.

Honorable mentions go to the supporting cast: Chuck's aunts played by Swoosie Kurtz (she is so hilarious and fun in a dark, disturbed kind of way)and Ellen Greene, narrator Jim Dale (his voice is just so perfect for this), and Field Cate and Sammi Hanratty who play young Ned and Chuck, respectively.

This is a very classically trained cast, which is exciting to see for a single tv show. I hope it gets picked up and that the American public can appreciate it for what it is: a quirky, loveable, and unique dark comedy.

Pilot Review: Marlowe

2007-05-10T17:13:00.000-07:00

"Marlowe"
ABC PILOT

Jason O'Mara, Amanda Righetti, and Adam Goldberg

Concept: Film Noir for the 21st Century. This detective drama centers around Philip Marlowe, a Private Investigator on LA's Sunset Strip and the very seedy cases that unfold around him.

Review: The jury is still out on this one too. I like the main guy, a lot, I'm just not sure if America is ready for the film noir genre's valient return on network television. Take last year's Brick for example: while it was a critical masterpiece, the modern audience wasn't too impressed. Marlowe is complicated and fast-paced and, as quick as I am, I still found myself trying to focus my brain to keep up. This is not a show for the infamous multi-tasker. Still there is something about it that catches your attention, its a little reminiscent of an FX show (dark and disturbing), "Nip/Tuck" in particular.

Jason O'Mara. He took some warming up to, but I was really impressed with O'Mara's performance. He brings something new and yet nostalgic to the tv screen. His character is sarcastic and biting (like Dr. House on Fox but without all the bitterness), and yet has the perfect flavor of the old crime dramas of the 40's and 50's. He's charismatic and flawed all at the same time, and he carries with him a certain sex appeal that should be noted.

Amanda Righetti. I've never really been the biggest fan of hers, but here I found her presence almost distracting. She just seemed flat to me, and even her lines which were meant to be funny just came off annoying. Still, I'm willing to give her another chance to prove herself as a real actress with yet another series.

Adam Goldberg. LOVE LOVE LOVE in general. As for this, his pornstache was a bit much, but I thought he did a decent job. He's mastered the neurotic jewish character, and I'm proud of him for trying to step out of his box. There were definitely elements of the same old Goldberg, but I felt like he brought something a bit darker and more fresh than usual.

I don't want to give any more attention to the other characters because they are likely just guest stars, passing in the wind. Although, I was particularly annoyed by Jaime Ray Newman, who played the female victim. The "femme fatale" character played by Lisa LoCicero was good, and Aja Evans a co-star also caught my eye. My favorite though was the guy who played the dead guy's brother, Matt Dentzler. Of course, he's not listed on IMDB so I'll have to figure out who he is on a later date.

BSG: Frakin' Great

2007-05-10T11:02:00.000-07:00

Okay, so I have revealed myself to be a sorority girl already...now its big reveal #2: I am a huge dork. I have been known to be drawn into the Sci-Fi genre on occasion (not StarTrek and the hardcore stuff though). However, even I was surprised at how overcome I've been by the SciFi series "Battlestar Galactica." I cannot say enough great things about this show. It's brilliantly written, a drama set in space, not a space show w/ drama. The characters are so real, its unlike anything I've ever seen before. Their personal conflicts and inner turmoil are profoundly realistic. You can see yourself making every right and wrong decision along the way, and you feel the pressure the few have on them to try to save the many. Its beautiful and insightful and sucked me right in without a fight. While a lot of this credit goes to the writers, credit is still due to the phenomenal (and mostly foreign) cast that really reveals these characters as representatives of mankind to the audience. They feel so real, so human, so not characters created on a page, and for this, I commend them.

Edward James Olmos--Stern and undoubtedly wise, Olmos has crafted the perfect military leader as "Commander Adama," the kind of guy you hope and pray would be around in the ultimate crisis.

Mary McDonnell--The opposite of Olmos in her approach, but just as credible. McDonnell's peaceful, sympathetic, and almost enlightened character brings an element of hope to the series in the form of "President Laura Roslin."

Jamie Bamber--Bamber reveals the brave "Apollo" to be a plagued hero, one who is smart and strong, but who lacks the real wisdom and faith to lead just yet.

James Callis--Brilliant actor. See previous post.

Katee Sackhoff--The headstrong "Starbuck," Sackhoff has carefully crafted a man's role into that of a woman, and she's done so in a sympathetic and beautifully developed way.

Grace Park--The human cylon "Boomer", Park does an amazing job of showing both the human and "toaster" sides to a machine, created in the human image--almost too human. Still, she maintains a distance, a confusion, that is necessary for this role.

Tricia Helfer--Helfer has the complicated task of portraying "Number 6," who appears to know everything that is to be with both cylons and humans alike. While she is crafted as the perfect machine (gorgeous, manipulative, unaffected), she maintains a human and spiritual element that seems to surprise even herself at times.

A few others of note:

Aaron Douglas--The noble "Chief," an enlisted man who truly believes in the system. Douglas does a magnificent job of bringing life and notice to a character that could easily be lost in the story.

Paul Campbell--The humble President's assistant "Billy," Campbell brings an innocence and naivete to the ship whose character is peppered with good instincts, intelligence, and a freeness of speech that few others get to experience.

Kandyse McClure--The petty officer on the ship in charge of its communications, "Dee" is loyal and obedient by nature, but illustrates a kind heart, level head, and strong will. Her on-ship romance with Billy is sweet in its innocence.

If you've never seen this show, please give it at least one episode. My bet is you'll get sucked right in despite its science fiction base. It's a story of humanity and each actor does an amazing job of pulling hard at our heartstrings with each passing ep.

Pilot Review: Lipshitz Saves the World

2007-05-09T12:45:00.000-07:00

So the Pilots are starting to roll in from across the land, and I'll give you my sneak-peak reviews as I get them. First up:

"Lipshitz Saves the World"
NBC PILOT

Leslie Nielson, Jack Carpenter, Ty Burrell, and Brooklyn Decker

Concept: Lipshitz is your typical teenage outcast, a forgotten kid who secretly feels he is destined for greater things. One day, Leslie Nielson shows up and reveals that Lipshitz might be "HE" who is destined to SAVE THE WORLD. Of course saving the world isn't easy, and neither is being an outcast teen, so trouble arrises with the most popular girl in school (Brooklyn Decker) and "The Man in Red" (Ty Burrell).

Review: I'm kinda split here. I mean, the show is very very funny and the jokes are quick, extremely witty, and fresh, but I just don't know if the whole thing sold me overall. The comedy is a lot like "30 Rock," which I love. However, I found some of the actors to be annoying and fake...to a distracting degree.

First of all, Leslie Nielson! He's just great. He's like comedy royalty. I just love this man...I mean, he's SO OLD, and yet he's still kicking...literally. There are some interesting fight sequences in this show.

Newcomer, Jack Carpenter. Eh. He was okay. I thought his voice was really annoying, but there is a Jon Heder-Napolean Dynamite quality about him that almost works.

Ty Burrell. Its so hard to judge because the script is just so strange, but I kinda liked this guy. He's so awkwardly funny. He handles a really bizarre sleazy character predominantly well.

Brooklyn Decker. BORING. She's like the poor man's Rachel Bilson, but blonde and without any real acting ability. She's really cute, but that's about it.

Look Out For...

2007-05-09T12:12:00.000-07:00

RYAN DEVLIN

I've heard this young up-and-coming actor's name more than once in that past few weeks from Directors, Producers, Managers, and the like. He's creating quite a buzz about him. You might recognize him from various guest-starring roles over the past few years on TV, like "The War at Home," "Grounded for Life" and an arc on "Veronica Mars" (creepy rapist guy). He's a pretty versatile actor that can handle the cutesy boyfriend roles as well as some things with more of an edge. He just finished an anticipated pilot called "The World According to Barnes" for The CW, where he stars opposite Autumn Reeser; the series will hopefully get the greenlight sometime this week. Personally, he's a really cool guy with a great sense of humor and a passion for the craft. I hope he finds his way in this hustle-and-bustle business.

Good at Being Bad.

2007-05-09T09:43:00.000-07:00

Two of my FAVORITE TV Villians...

ZACHARY QUINTO (SYLAR on "HEROES")
Quinto masters the perfect personification of evil, comic book style. He's a sympathetic character who became evil because he felt forgotten and alone. Now, however, his evil seems almost subhuman, like his heart was replaced with something cold and dark and even he is overwhelmed by it. I just love how he can be oh so creepy, and yet sometimes you really do feel a twinge of sympathy for him. Quinto is a pretty versatile actor to be able to capture all of this and still freak the socks off people with each coming episode. His facial expressions are genius and really bring depth and that true sense of evil to his character.

JAMES CALLIS (DR. GAIUS BALTAR on "Battlestar Galactica")
So I haven't even taken the time to delve into what a phenomenal cast this show has, and Callis is just the tip of the iceberg. He is such a versatile actor and you get to see many sides of what he can do on the show. While Quinto is the personification of evil, Callis presents a more human villian. He's a pathological narcissist who only looks out of himself, and yet he's a complete coward, weak and yet wildly intelligent. Not to mention, more than a little bit crazy. Talk about a difficult character to portray believably, and Callis does it with ease, brilliantly in fact. I think he might be one of the greatest actors I've seen in recent years, and I don't use that phrase lightly. There's such a charisma about him mixed in with all these things that even though his character is essentially a really bad man, part of me still wants him to win.