My Kermy...

I'll forgive Jason Segal's work on a CBS sitcom if this movie is good.  Fingers crossed.  I'm not the biggest Muppets fan in the world, but the plot does sound pretty good..  Gary (Jason Segel) and Mary (Amy Adams) try to save the Muppet Theater from being bulldozed by Tex Richman (Chris Cooper) who wants to drill for oil discovered beneath the theater.  Gary, Mary and Kermit must reunite the rest of the Muppets for The Greatest Muppet Telethon Ever and raise the $10 million needed to save the theater.  The only problem is all the muppets have gone their separate ways: Fozzie now performs with a Reno casino tribute band called the Moopets, Miss Piggy is a plus-size fashion editor at Vogue Paris, Animal is in a Santa Barbara clinic for anger management, and Gonzo is a high-powered plumbing magnate 

Game of Thrones, episode six

Last night was the episode six of "Game of Thrones."  Below is a list of this week's winners and losers.  Be warned there are spoilers ahead!

Winners

Goodbye Oprah!

Oprah ends her show next week.  Among the things that I'll miss most when she's gone: her favorite things episode, her selection of creepy guests who have committed horrible crimes, and her yelling celebrity names...

UPDATE: What?

UPDATE: Stanley the Man Baby made waves with his appearence on The National Geographic Channel's "Taboo," so much so that Sen. Tom Coburn, R-OK, is asking the Inspector General to investigate Stanley's tax-payer funded cash flow.  In Coburn's letter he mentions Stanley's ability to determine what attire and actions are appropriate in public, his skilled crafsmanship used to custom-make adult baby furniture, and his thriving internet support group for other adult babies.

When asked to comment on the prospect of getting his social security benefits revoked, Stanley replied by email with the following:

"You wanna test how damn serious I am about leaving this world, screw with my check that pays for this apartment and food. Try it. See how serious I am. I don't care. I have no problem killing myself. Take away the last thing keeping me here, and see what happens. Next time you see me on the news, it will be me in a body bag."

Even more strange than his behavior, is his belief that people would be genuinely upset that he would no longer be a burden on taxpayers.

Airing tomorrow night on the National Geographic channel is "Taboo," a show that follows people with strange habits.  This particular episode focuses on Stanley, and adult baby, and his caregiver Sandra.  Perhaps "Taboo" belongs on TLC, not on a channel linked to a magazine established in1888. 

Neither Stanley or Sandra work, instead they make ends meet by living off of Social Security.  If Republicans need an arguement for entitlement reform, they should just show this four minute clip on the House floor.  I'm sold.

Social networking in person

An Austrailian comedy show, "Hungry Beast," sent two of their correspondents out to ask strangers the same questions Facebook asks of its users.  What's your sexual orientation?  Are you a male of female?  I plan on doing this at the next cocktail party I attend.

Le Tub

I'm not much of a beach person at all.  I burn easily so I stay out of the sun and away from the ocean.  However, a quick trip to Florida is rejuvenating when it involves sitting in an air conditioned building with a view of the ocean.

During a recent trip I stopped at Le Tub, a restaurant on the intercoastal waterway just outside of Miami.  Their burger was featured on Oprah, during one of her roadtrips around the country with Gail, and it was also voted by GQ as the best burger in the country.  The food was pretty good, but the atmosphere was absolutely charming.  The bar sits facing the water, and the entire restaurant was constructed from flotsam and jetsam floating in the water near the owner's jogging route.

Spring cleaning

The Washington Post has released their annual spring cleaning list of the top then things they’d like to “throw out.”

1. Engagement Rings
2. “Democracy”
3. Smartphones
4. “The Simpsons”
5. Tipping
6. Auto-Tune
7. Leftovers
8. Stability
9. Small Talk
10. Seniority-based firing

I think I could do without five of the things on this list. 

Oh, Rob Lowe.

Rob Lowe says, "Stop. Pooping."

Rob Lowe is as lovable as ever. 

Lowe has been making the rounds for his New York Times Bestseller book, which details his rise from Midwestern boy to Hollywood leading man, and struggles he endured with substance abuse. 

Lowe has had a successful run on cult favorite “Parks and Rec.” 

And last week Lowe inked a deal to star in the film “Knife Fight.”  Though it won’t be a reprisal of his role as “West Wing’s” Sam Seaborn, it will bring him back to the world of politics.  He’ll play a political crisis specialist navigating the October campaign surprises.

Just like Jon Hamm and Justin Timberlake, Lowe has the leading man looks and the comedic chops to set him aside from the rest of the bunch.  Lowe is able to poke fun at himself and go places other actors would be afraid might tarnish their image.  See the above GIF. 

Game of Thrones, episode five

Last night was the episode five of "Game of Thrones."  Below is a list of this week's winners and losers.  Be warned there are spoilers ahead!

Winners

Gary and Ace

By now everyone has seen the live-action "Ambiguously Gay Duo" sketch from this week's SNL.  It was a stand-out for many reasons.  First, Jon Hamm has the jaw line of a leading man, yet doesn't take himself seriously the way Brad Pitt and Tom Cruise do, so he's adept to do comedy.  Second, "The Daily Show's" line up of correspondents from the early-2000's (Steve Carrell, Stephen Colbert, Ed Helms) reunite as the legion of evil-doers in the sketch.  Third, the sketch did not involve Kenan Thompson or any other current cast members from SNL.  Sadly, the quality of the show has gotten progressively worse since Will Ferrel's departure, and this sketch just punctuates that SNL has long since jumped the shark. 

Bridesmaids

It seems that critics and audiences really love “Bridesmaids,” and I’m one of the only people who was underwhelmed by the movie. 

The studio, creators, and cast have been marketing the film as if it’s the “female version of ‘The Hangover’” so I went into the theater expecting to see an ensemble cast get caught up in some far-fetched, incredibly crude hijinks.  Instead,   I got a chick flick hybrid of a Judd Apatow/Paul Feig film.

Chosen to be her best friend's maid of honor, Annie, played by Kristen Wiig, looks to fake her way through the expensive and bizarre rituals that lead up to Lillian’s wedding.  The oddball group of bridesmaids includes the eccentric groom’s sister Megan (Melissa McCarthy), the bride’s married yet love-starved cousin (Wendy McLendon-Covey), Lillian’s innocent and newlywed co-worker (Ellie Kemper), and Lillian’s perfect-in-every way boss, Helen (Rose Byrne).  

Scenes that featured the rest of the bridal party got the most laughs in the theater, and rang true to the Hangover comparisons.  Most notable was the dress fitting scene, where the entire group (except Helen) gets food poisoning while wearing expensive dresses at the bridal salon.  In a normal chick flick you wouldn’t see the women vomiting, and going to the bathroom in a sink, or in the middle of the street while wearing a wedding dress.  If the Wiig and co-writer Annie Mumalo had written more scenes like this, I think “Bridesmaids” would have been a monumental step for women in comedy.

Instead, Wiig and Mumalo erred on the side of caution and marketability by including a whole love interest subplot.  The chemistry between Wiig and O’Dowd is believable, and would enhance the story in a conventional chick flick, but it seems out of place in a movie that aspires to be cutting-edge.  “Bridesmaids” is a great starring vehicle for Wiig, but the best parts of the movie were those that showcased the talents of McLendon-Covey and Kemper.  Additionally, Rose Byrne was heavily underutilized as mega-bitch Helen. 

It wasn’t quite in line with Apatow and Feig’s uber-successful comedies, but at least we’re making progress from rom-coms like “He’s Just Not That Into You.”

World War Z

Zombies are so hot right now.  AMC's "The Walking Dead" was a critical success.  Now, pre-production has finally started on the long stalled adaptation of Max Brooks's "World War Z."  

The book is constructed in a series of short anecdotes, none longer than twenty pages, detailing the global war against zombies.  The story is set in a post-zombie era, as the author travels the globe to interviewing survivors about their experiences before, during and after the war.  The piecemeal accounts come together to give a reader a full scope view of the war, and overall creates a very compelling read.

After finishing "World War Z," I'm very curious to see how the book will be adapted to film.  Part of the book's novelty was the high volume of characters, over thirty, and the broad range of experiences they had, which helped bring the entire plot together.  As a movie, it would be impossible for audiences to keep track of, or become attached to, over thirty meaningful characters.

Set for release in 2012 or 2013, the movie will star Brad Pitt as the traveling author, and Mireille Enos from "The Killing" as his wife.

Which American Girl Doll were you?

Almost every girl I knew as a 9-year-old either owned or wish they owned an American Girl doll.  I didn't know the dolls existed until after I had finished reading half of the books.  My favorite by far was Addy.  Her story was one of survival and endurance.  Naturally, when I found out there were dolls she was my first choice, followed by Felicity.  My younger sister had Samantha and Felicity.  Between the two of us, we had a house full of American Girl accessories.  They lived a much better life than we did at that age.  


A recent article provided a breakdown of what each American Girl doll said about their owner. 

Game of Thrones, episode four

Last night was the episode two of "Game of Thrones."  Below is a list of this week's winners and losers.  Be warned there are spoilers ahead!    

Winners

Philip Treacy in the Sit Room

People say this photograph taken by Pete Souza during the Bin Laden raid captures the raw tension experienced by the President and his advisers as they watched the events in Pakistan unfold.  (h/t Londington.)

First Kiss

Five-year-old best friends share their first kiss, then high five. 

The return of Sawyer

This is just a friendly reminder that Josh Holloway, better known as Sawyer from "Lost," will be on "Community" tonight.  It's the first of a two-part season finale, and even better it's the paintball episode redux.

Summer Lineup: Comic Book Movies

I don't read comic books, but I have a soft spot for movies based on comic books.  Almost always, the dialogue is overly cheesy, but ultimately they're fun to watch, with the exception of "Spiderman 3." Emo Tobey McGuire as Peter Parker was pretty bad.  This summer there's a comic book movie coming out virtually every other week:

May 6: Thor
May 13: Priest
June 3: X-Men First Class
June 17: Green Lantern
July 22: Captain America: The First Avenger
July 29: Cowboys & Aliens
August 19: Conan the Barbarian


Below are the trailers for "X-Men: First Class," and "Captain America: The First Avenger."

Skinny Chris Evans creeps me out.

She's DARK SIDED!

ABC's "Wife Swap" is adapting its format to feature Z-list celebrity moms trading lives for two weeks.  We can only hope to see a meltdown like the God Warrior's on the a 2005 episode of "Trading Spouses."

Hell on Wheels

AMC's "Hell on Wheels" begins production later this month, as the cable channel continues to build its repertoire of quality original programming.  Set just after the Civil War, the show centers on a fomer member of the Confederacy searching for the Union soldiers that killed his wife.  He ends up becoming a part of a dangerous, lawless town that travels with and services the construction of the transcontinental railroad.  The show is set to debut in late 2011.

AMC will challenge HBO's dominance at the Emmy for the next few years with their strong lineup of "Mad Men," "Breaking Bad," "The Walking Dead," "The Killing," and "Hell on Wheels."  How is it possible for the networks to compete with those shows and HBO's "Boardwalk Empire," and "Game of Thrones?"

Summer Anthem

I hate that I like this song, and realize I'm late to the bandwagon.

The year of the documentary

This past week I had the opportunity to see two really interesting documentaries, "The Bully Project," and Morgan Spurlock's "The Greatest Movie Ever Sold."  Review on TBP forthcoming, and Spurlock's movie comes highly recommended.  It's awfully clever, and lighthearted.


Out in limited release on June 24, yet another doc: "Page One: A Year Inside the New York Times."  Any journalist, aspiring journo, or news junkie will be drawn to this film.