Tag Archives: television

‘Two and a Half Men’ adds Ashton Kutcher to the mix

Posted on by
Reply

There was so much hype around Charlie Sheen when he was axed on “Two and a Half Men.” He filed a $100 million lawsuit. He rampaged. He unknowingly became the No. 1 spokesman for psychiatry in the world. But today, CBS announced his replacement on the hit TV show! Ashton Kutcher will come on as a wealthy, bearded Internet genius who’s unlucky with the ladies. His character is set to move in with Alan (Jon Cryer) and young Jake (Angus T. Jones).

They'rrrrreee baaaaaack

“Two and a Half Men” returns for its ninth season Monday. The show’s writers and producers had a couple of challenges dealing with the loss of Charlie Sheen, who met his end on the show in a a fatal car accident. But according to co-star Cryer:

“The writers had an enormous challenge and you’ll see they handled it beautifully. Change is often shocking but it’s so true to the show. And sometimes stuff you don’t see coming happens in life. And in that respect it was very true to life.”

Kutcher seems to be a good-natured, safe addition to the trio. I think after getting “Sheen-ed” last seaon, the show creators were looking for the goods Kutcher can deliver. But I guess we’ll see how the revamped cast pans out next week.

Click here for more on Sheen and click here to read the full news article.

 

Monday mix: Coffee … please

Posted on by
Reply

For this Monday’s mix, I’m going with a scene from FX’s TV show “Louie.” It stars comedian, writer Louis C.K., and it’s hilarious! Season 2 will air on Thursday, June 23. The thing I like about Louie’s comedy is he writes his own material and he makes it a point to always create new comedy: he won’t recycle the same joke for his taped specials. Hope you enjoy and happy Monday. Click here to watch previous Monday mix posts.

Theme Song Thursday: Pete and Pete’s ‘Hey Sandy’ screams 90′s

Posted on by
2

Flashback to the early 90′s. Flannel shirts, Nirvana, MTV still showed music videos and Nickelodeon ruled in the realm of adolescent programming. Thus begat THE ADVENTURES OF PETE AND PETE.

You might remember the Pete brothers; Petunia, the flashy pin-up tattoo; and their mother’s metal head plate. Thinking back to a lot of Nickelodeon theme songs, this was one of the most mature (*lyrics below) and definitely the most true to the 90′s. The theme’s called “Hey Sandy,” by Polaris, which was an off-shoot of the band Miracle Legion. They were featured in an episode of PETE AND PETE, and did a few other songs for the show.

I just rewatched an episode, and I understand its appeal to the Nickelodeon demographic. PETE AND PETE is way better than HANNAH MONTANA or THE SUITE LIFE OF ZACK AND CODY. I sometimes babysit (hang out with) and 8-year-old, and whenever we watch TV, it’s of course, age-appropriate. If I have to watch younger TV shows, I’m game for VICTORIOUS, iCARLY or BIG TIME RUSH.

PETE AND PETE was relatable to a larger group of kids, which many shows of this kind lack today, i.e., Hannah Montana leads a double life as a pop star, the teens of BIG TIME RUSH are in a pop group. Maybe it’s nostalgia talking, but I think the 90′s produced some great TV.

Here’s the theme song.

*Hey smilin’ strange
You’re looking happily deranged
I could’ve settled if you shoot me
Or have you picked your target yet?

Hey Sandy
dontcha talk back
Hey Sandy

Theme Song Thursday is a weekly look back at memorable, not-so-influential, nostalgia-inducing theme songs by the Herald’s Melinda Lavine and Ryan Johnson. Click here to read earlier entries, and feel free to share!

It’s a mad, mad, mad, mad world on TV’s Mad Men

Posted on by
3

News that MAD MEN, the multi-Emmy-winning series on AMC, had its fifth season delayed until 2012 is a disappointment for the show’s viewers. I’m catching up with season 4, and it’s as good as ever. (As much as I’d like to delay finishing to tide me over until next year, I don’t think it’s possible.)

In case you haven’t seen it, the show takes place in 1960′s New York City, revolves around an ad agency and focuses on Don Draper (played by actor Jon Hamm). What’ll initially catch your eye is the wardrobe, the incessant smoking, the nonstop liquoring and shameless womanizing. (If you’re trying to quit tobacco, this show won’t help.)

I get sucked into the beauty and allure of the 60′s, New York City, cheap prices for everything. One character goes to an Allen Ginsberg poetry reading, another to a Bob Dylan concert. I’m a bit jelly for their (fake) experiences, but the show doesn’t romanticize the past. It doesn’t hide the civil rights movement, the objectivity of women in the work place and the Cold War paranoia.

MAD MEN CAST

Male colleagues attribute the advancement of a female copy writer’s career with unwarranted quips to her waning virtue, all within her presence. A man draws an obscene cartoon and posts it in a female assistant’s office and plays it off with this stunner: “This is why I don’t like working with women. They can’t take a joke.” (Post-feminist readers, I feel your awe and disgust.) African-American men and women tend the elevators, restrooms and lunch carts, and characters don’t hide their bigotry, which is accurate for the era. A female assistant comforts a newbie in regard to the intimidation of a typewriter by saying “It was designed by a man, and he knew to make it simple enough for a woman to use.” (Arg!) This show also touches on homosexuality in the 60′s, how the discussion is avoided … basically, it’s a repression sandwich.

Click here to “Mad Men” yourself.

MAD MEN doesn’t hide the paralleled difficulties for women and African-Americans to be seen as equal citizens. I don’t want to recommend this show over a history book, but it showcases the small battles, which a history lesson may not always illuminate. Watching this makes me reflect on the opportunities I’m lucky enough to have today, it makes me grateful for the battles won before my time and happy that there’s something on television that makes me think beyond the screen.

Ok, I get that after all that, these characters and this time period may not seem preferable to watch, but there’s so much more to it: superior writing, character development and notable acting (Elisabeth Moss has had me rewinding scenes to applaud her nuanced performance). If anything, the carefully mapped set designs and costumes take you away from the current day, and that’s one of the hallmarks of entertainment for me. You’d be mad to miss it.

Click here to see Don Draper let loose on 30 Rock.

Open call for Charlie Sheen interns

Posted on by
Reply

I can’t imagine fawning over and picking up after Charlie Sheen, his ego or his goddesses, but for some reason, three University of Minnesota students are vying for the opportunity. One intern wannabe, Shanna Henderson, said this:

“I will keep Sheeniacs salivating for more day to day controversy.”

Another, Josh Schriener, said this:

“(Working for Sheen) would be like going from high school to the NBA.”

I can’t say I agree with them.

SHEEN, THE WARLOCK

So, Charlie Sheen has caused a media frenzy after being ousted from his hit TV show, TWO AND A HALF MEN. He has more than 3.4 million Twitter followers. (I’m proud to say I’m not one of them, but I can’t say I wasn’t tempted to get updates on a train wreck). And our pop culture cannon has new additions in #TigerBlood, #Winning and #Warlock.

This call for interns is screaming reality TV show, and Charlie Sheen is well on his way regardless. It’s gross, but, we’ll see what happens next.

Click here to read the full news report on this intern call-to-arms.

Monday mix: Don Draper on 30 Rock

Posted on by
Reply

For those of us who suffer from a case of the Mondays, I’m starting a series of Monday posts that feature a clip that might brighten your day. Here’s a clip from 30 ROCK , season 4. If any of you are familiar with Jon Hamm from AMC’s MAD MEN, you’ll really appreciate this because he gets to be goofy, which is very non-Don Draper-esque. So often during MAD MEN flashbacks, I feel like Don Draper smiling is almost creepy because it seems so unnatural for his character. It’s a delight to see Jon Hamm make guest appearances on 30 ROCK because you can tell he’s having fun.

In this clip, Mad man Don Draper, does one heck of a Jamaican accent. And Jason Sudeikis, as always, is comedy gold.

Charlie Sheen one-ups the Oscars

Posted on by
Reply

The Oscars. Most of the banter Monday was about Melissa Leo dropping the F bomb during her lengthy acceptance speech for best supporting actress in “The Fighter,” Kirk Douglas’ appearance as a presenter, and Charlie Sheen … who was not nominated for an Academy Award, but was interviewed on the Today Show Monday morning, and his outlandish behavior is upstaging Oscar talk, unfortunately.

SHEEN

To catch you up, CBS canceled Sheen’s TV show, “Two and a Half Men,” due to his recent public behavior, which included calling out the show’s creator, Chuck Lorre. Sheen is now demanding CBS publicly apologize “while licking his feet.”

When asked how long he’s been clean, Sheen simply stated “drugs tests don’t lie.” This was also his answer to the interviewer’s question: “When was the last time you did drugs?” Sheen replied: “I don’t know. I don’t care. Drug tests don’t lie. Score boards don’t lie.” It’s my understanding that recovering addicts know to the hour how long they’ve been clean, but you can make up your own mind. He seemed to be high on something, but according to Charlie Sheen, he was high on a drug called … Charlie Sheen. (Comedian Patton Oswalt posted this on Twitter: David Simon needs to do a 6th season of THE WIRE, where Marlo and his crew start selling Charlie Sheen on the corners.)

So enough about Charlie, his rant and his alleged sobriety. The Oscars were sort of ho-hum. I watched the awards show with several who loved James Franco’s dead-pan humor. It didn’t work for me, and Anne Hathaway was really endearing, cute and sweet, but that didn’t work for me either despite her many wardrobe changes. Oscar hosts should be more commanding. Let’s get Alec Baldwin back. Don’t get me wrong, I appreciate these actors and look forward to their work. In fact, I wondered if Franco was drafted to play the “dumb stoner,” which is a shame because he is anything but. He’s working on his MFA at Columbia University and recently finished filming his directorial debut movie.

FIRTH

The King’s Speech swept the big Oscar categories with wins for Best Picture, Best Director (Tom Hooper) and Best Actor (Colin Firth). I wondered if the Academy didn’t tip the scales for Firth as a compensation for last year’s loss for his role in “A Single Man.” (Jeff Bridges snagged it in 2009 for playing an over-the-hill country star battling alcoholism in “Crazy Heart.” If there was a time to split the gold statuette, last year would have been one of them.)

Many were surprised at Trent Reznor’s win for Best Original Score for “The Social Network” over Hans Zimmer for “Inception.” Christian Bale plugged Dick Ecklund’s website during his acceptance speech for best supporting actor in “The Fighter.” Some boos were heard in the crowd. Natalie Portman’s fiancee, Brian Millipied, helped her up the stairs to accept the Best Actress Oscar, a sweet assistance considering she’s pregnant. Her speech started beautifully and genuine, and I almost teared when she said she’s training for her most important role, as a mother.

PALTROW

Jennifer Hudson presented the award for Best Song, and the whole time she was on stage, I wanted her to tear it up with her power-house talent, but alas, she wasn’t there to sing. Randy Newman won his Nth Oscar for Best Song.  And later, I felt tense and empathetic during Gwyneth Paltrow’s performance of “Coming Home” from her movie, “Country Strong.” What an audience to perform for.

Here’s a list of winners at the 83rd Academy Awards, and here’s a photo gallery.

Let’s talk about the show, the winners, losers, hosts. What did you think about the event?

OSCARS: One opinion on best supporting nominations

Posted on by
Reply

Christian Bale and Melissa Leo have a fighting
chance at supporting-actor Oscars

By Rafer Guzman
Newsday

Where’s Justin Timberlake?

In “The Social Network,” he had the small but crucial role of a slick-talking dot-commer who walked away with a slice of the Facebook pie. Critics were impressed, but when Oscar nods were announced, Timberlake’s name was not called. In the meantime, Timberlake will surely be graciously cheering for his colleagues in this year’s best supporting actor category. Here are the contenders:

  • Jeremy Renner, “The Town.” Renner followed up his reckless Army bomb defuser in 2009’s “The Hurt Locker” with a trigger-happy bank robber in this crime drama from Ben Affleck. Renner again drew fine notices, but his rising star hasn’t yet hit the firmament.
  • Mark Ruffalo, “The Kids Are All Right.” Call him the straight man in this comedy-drama about a lesbian couple. Though widely considered a top-notch actor, Ruffalo has a natural, deceptively easy style, which may explain why he had never before gotten an Oscar nomination.
  • John Hawkes, “Winter’s Bone.” John who? Think of him as a male Melissa Leo. After years of hard work in the bit-part trenches, he lands a major role in this gritty indie drama and now, at 51, finds himself in need of an Oscar-night tuxedo. He won’t win, but he’s worth rooting for.
  • Geoffrey Rush, “The King’s Speech.” In any other year, Rush would win for his terrific portrayal of real-life eccentric vocal coach Lionel Logue. The movie will likely win many awards, just not this one.
  • Christian Bale, “The Fighter.” And in this corner, it’s not the movie’s star, Mark Wahlberg, but Bale who seems destined for an Oscar knockout. Bale dropped 30 pounds to play a crack-addicted former boxer, and his performance has made him the heavyweight in this fight.

Best Supporting Actress

The winner seems already decided, but this year’s list of supporting actress Oscar nominees is still full of surprises.

One is Jacki Weaver, an Australian few Americans had heard of until she earned a nod for playing a crime-family matriarch in the thriller “Animal Kingdom.” Another is young Hailee Steinfeld, who plays a little girl gunning for rough justice in “True Grit,” the Coen brothers Western that has done unexpectedly well at the Oscars with 10 nominations, second only to “The King’s Speech” with 12.

There’s also the Melissa Leo question. The front-runner’s unorthodox Oscar campaign, in which she took out her own ads in trade publications, has raised enough eyebrows that a last-minute win for Helena Bonham Carter (“The King’s Speech”) almost seems possible.

Leo remains the front-runner, but the mini-scandal has at least helped spice up this particular race. Here are the ladies in waiting:

  • Amy Adams, “The Fighter.” As a no-nonsense bartender, Adams delivered one of this film’s best performances. But just as Mark Wahlberg paled next to Christian Bale, Adams has been outshone by Leo.
  • Hailee Steinfeld, “True Grit.” The bad news: She won’t win. The good news: She’s now an Oscar-nominated 14-year-old whose first major role came in a Coen brothers film alongside Jeff Bridges, Matt Damon and Josh Brolin.
  • Jacki Weaver, “Animal Kingdom.” This film has earned just over $1 million in ticket sales, according to BoxOfficeMojo, which means few people have even seen it. Luckily for Weaver, academy voters were among them.
  • Helena Bonham Carter, “The King’s Speech.” After a long stretch of cartoony roles in the “Harry Potter” films and partner Tim Burton’s 2010 version of “Alice in Wonderland,” Bonham returned to classical form as the young Queen Mother. The contrarian view says this could be her year.
  • Melissa Leo, “The Fighter.” As the chain-smoking mother of a crack addict, Leo delivered such a spot-on performance that this race seems hers to lose. And could she, given her rogue Oscar campaign? Either way, let’s hope for a close-up when the winner is announced.