Billy Crystal will Host the 2012 Oscars

No sooner did I tell you guys that Eddie Murphy was out as Oscar host, than Billy Crystal announced via Twitter that he will indeed be back to host the Oscars in 2012.

That sound you hear is the Academy breathing a huge sigh of relief.

It'll be Billy's 9th go 'round as host and what do you want to bet there'll be an Eddie Murphy cameo as well?

The 2012 Academy Awards will air on February 26th on ABC.

Eddie Murphy Drops Oscar Hosting Gig

 

Eddie Murphy (l.) stars in director Brett Ratner's new film, 'Tower Heist.'

Image courtesy: Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images

Like many movie fans, I was pretty jazzed when the Academy announced that Eddie Murphy was going to host the 84th annual Oscar telecast in 2012.  Let's face it Eddie deserved the gig 'cause:

1. He's made Hollywood a fortune with movies like, "Beverly Hills Cop," "48 Hours," and "Shrek."
2. He was robbed, cheated, and rooked with a capital "R" out of that Best Supporting Actor statue for his first class turn in the film "Dreamgirls."
3. He can be incredibly funny.

But what happened next reads better than most scripts Hollywood is producing these days, and gave the people who run the Academy all kinds of headaches.

First Brett Ratner who was hired to co-produce the Oscars, and who brought Eddie on board as host, shot off his mouth last weekend about "rehearsals being for **insert gay slur here**."  But that wasn't bad enough. He followed that up with a stint on Howard Stern's radio show talking in great detail about his sexual exploits. 

Well the suits over at the Academy were understandably perturbed, and before you could say, "...And the Oscar goes to..." good ol' Brett had resigned amidst the critical heat.  Though he did apologize first.

Matthew Morrison's Halloween Party

Colton Haynes, Matthew Morrison, Bryan Fisher and a party guest

 

"Glee" may be off my TV radar this season but that doesn't mean that Matthew Morrison isn't still cute as a button, Or rather, bunny.  Here he is celebrating Halloween at his 2nd annual Halloween party presented by Bing. 

Happy Halloween!

"Revenge" and "Ringer:" Similar Shows, Solid Entertainment

Two new fall TV dramas, Revenge and Ringer, have become regular fixtures in my TV viewing calendar. And since both have been landing solid ratings each week, I was glad to hear they've each been picked up for full seasons.

Sarah Michelle Gellar in "Ringer," Image Courtesy: CW

Here's the lowdown on both shows:

They both have one world titles that start with the letter "R." 
They both star talented, blond actresses
They're both set in and around New York, including the ritzy Hamptons
They both have good guys, bad guys, blackmail, murder, betrayal and payback that rhymes with witch. 

Emily VanCamp in "Revenge," Image Courtesy ABC

Ringer marks the return of  Buffy Summers, er Sarah Michelle Gellar, to the CW.  The show takes the classic soap convention of the good twin and the evil twin, updates it, adds lots of money, and runs with it.

RIP Steve Jobs

I'm not a Mac fanatic, never have been, but I have iTunes, an iPod, and a Droid X, none of which would exist without the visionary genius of the late Steve Jobs.  His impact in the technological and entertainment world will live for years to come.

Melissa McCarthy on SNL: Laughs A Plenty (Video)

There's almost no one hotter in entertainment right now than Melissa McCarthy.

She stole the show in the hit movie, "Bridesmaids," she won an Emmy last month as Best Lead Actress in a Comedy for her sitcom "Mike and Molly," and last night she hosted "Saturday Night Live."

Just about every sketch she did was a hit, but my favorite was the following.  Enjoy!

 

 

And as a special bonus, here's a sketch about NetFlix and their recent cochamamie changes in service. McCarthy's not in it, but I just think it's a hoot.

 

NBC's "The Playboy Club:" Save Your Outrage

 

Image Courtesy NBC

Before it even premiered, the buzz about NBC's The Playboy Club was deafening. Gloria Steinem called for a boycott, the Parents Television Council urged affiliates to drop it, while at the upfronts, executives from the show claimed it would be all about female empowerment.

Well, the show premiered Monday night, and here's the scoop. The Playboy Club is a belated attempt to capitalize on AMC's excellent Mad Men. It's set at Chicago's Playboy Club in the early 60s and revolves around new Playboy bunny, Maureen (Amber Heard).

Within the first ten minutes of the episode, Maureen is nearly raped by a lecherous mobster in the backroom. Coming to her rescue is Nick Dalton (Eddie Cibrian), a crusading lawyer with a shady past.  But before Nick can do his hero thing Maureen gets the mobster in the neck with one of her killer stilettos.

Now because the mobster is a pretty dangerous character, Melanie and Nick get rid of the body and pretend nothing happened except that they went back to his apartment for a little pre-sexual revolution sex.

"Big Bang Theory Returns:" Penny and Raj Sittin' in a Tree (Video)

If you were as rivted by the "Big Bang Theory" cliffhanger as I was--Penny (Kaley Cuoco) and Raj Kunal Nayyar) waking up in bed together--you'll be itching for tonight's season premiere.  Here's a clip.

Dun, dun, dunnnnnnn!!!

"Desperate Housewives" Ending? It's Time

I'm sure y'all have heard by now that after eight seasons, "Desperate Housewives" will come to an end in May 2012.

As a fan of the show from the beginning, I freely admit, it's about time.  Let's face it, the show has pretty much been coasting for the last couple of years.

Except for a few random laughs courtesy of Eva Longoria and Teri Hatcher, and some warm and fuzzy moments courtesy of Marcia Cross and Doug Savant, the show was just barely entertaining and I would watch primarily out of habit.

Creator Marc Cherry had it right when it was announced the show was coming to an end:

One of the things you see in television is shows that overstay their welcome. People just forget about them and they're unceremoniously booted off. I wanted to go off while we were still doing well.



Let's hope he uses the final season to let the cast shine, and to tell some compelling and of course, funny final tales from Wisteria Lane.

"True Blood's" Eric, Sookie and Bill Triangle Heats Up

For all y'all "True Blood" fans, I wanted to let you know that the triangle between Eric (Alexander Skarsgard), Sookie (Anna Paquin) and Bill (Stephen Moyer) really starts to heat up tomorrow night. 

And I guarantee that the last few minutes of this week's episode will leave you breathlessly waiting for the first few minutes of next week's.

Meanwhile poor Pam (Kristen Bauer van Straten) is trying to keep her face from falling off while still helping Eric, Jesus (Kevin Alejandro) and Lafayette (Nelsan Ellis) head to Mexico and get into even deeper mystical trouble and Terry (Todd Lowe) and Arlene (Carrie Preston) try to reverse the effects of their devil baby.

Heh.

Here's a preview clip where Eric gets a visit from a dear old, dead friend.  Enjoy.

Some Career Advice for Rupert Grint aka "Harry Potter's" Ron Weasley

Now that the Harry Potter films have come to an end with the release of "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows:  Part II,"--and no, I haven't seen it yet, waiting for the crowds to die down--I have some career advice for Rupert Grint who played the adorable, red-haired, Ron Weasley in the films.

Because Rupert has a unique challenge, post-Potter if he wants to continue acting. 

Daniel Radcliffe, who played Harry will do very nicely for himself.  He's already been critically acclaimed in a Broadway production of "Equus," and he's currently showing off his inner hoofer in "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying."

Emma Watson, will also do well because she's already taken steps forward by chopping off Hermione's long curly locks, and showing off a chic, youthful, sophisticated, non-Hermione-like Emma on red carpets around the world.

Those images of the new Emma are helping distance her from her Potter-Hermione image.  She's also going to college and seems to be testing the acting waters slowly.  Smart girl

But Rupert's the one who's going to have it tough, because while Daniel can play off his star status and Emma can use smarts, sex appeal and a makeover to have casting directors give her a fresh look, Rupert wasn't the start and still looks very similar to the way he did 10 years ago when the films started: floppy red-hair, crooked, mischievous grin, but now without the cuteness of a child.

That's often deadly in Hollywood.

So if he wants to continue with an acting career, and I'm assuming he does, here's what I'm advising him to do:

1. Hire the best stylist he can afford and come up with a look that's manly and attractive but has a roguish quality.  Think an adult Leonardo DiCaprio.
2. Look for films with ensemble casts and begin building up an adult resume of roles that are strong supporting ones, in which he can steal a scene or two.
3. Look into new plays being developed for the West End.  I don't know that he can sell as many tickets as Daniel can when it comes to theatre, but if he picks the right play, he could impress the critics.
4. DO NOT take any starring roles in blockbuster films about wizards, sci-fi monsters, time travel or aliens.  If they flop, he'll get blamed and be branded as someone who can't carry any kind of movie.
5. Think about taking a break.  Once again, I'll use Leonardo DiCaprio as an example.  Post-"Titanic," Leo had a terrible time because of the massive success of the movie and because he was so identified with the role of Jack Dawson.  It wasn't until a few years later, when he lost that cute, older adolescent face, and re-emerged as a man that he was able to match his considerable acting skills to some excellent, quality roles.

Rupert's already completed a war movie, "Comrade," and he's scheduled to play Eddie the Eagle, England's first Olympic ski jumper, in an upcoming film.  If those films are good and well received that will help.  But if they're not, Rupert will have to work even harder to break free of post-Potter expectations. 

I like Rupert Grint and I think he can grow into a reliable, capable actor.  But what I would hate would be five years from now, some casting director seeing his head shot and saying, "Oh yeah, Rupert Grint--he was the kid in the Harry Potter movies.  Outgrew the cuteness.  What's he done lately?"

Image Courtesy Warner Bros

Big Emmy Nominees: "Mildred Pierce," "Game of Thrones" and "Mad Men"

Game of Thrones Courtesy HBO

Mildred Pierce, Boardwalk Empire and my personal favorite, Game of Thrones, did very well when the primetime Emmy nominations were announced this morning. So did Mad Men, The Good Wife, Modern Family and The Big Bang Theory.

Mildred Pierce Courtesy of HBO

I'm thrilled with the nominations for Game of Thones and especially Peter Dinklage for Best Supporting Actor in the series.  In fact the Best Supporting Actor in a Drama category is a strong one.  Joining Dinklage are Josh Charles and Alan Cumming for The Good Wife, John Slattery for Mad Men and Andre Braugher for Men of A Certain Age.

Some wonderful surprises: Johnny Galecki getting his first nomination for The Big Bang Theory; likewise, Melissa McCarthy, who was announcing the nominations with Fringe's Joshua Jackson, and gasped in delight as Jackson read out her name. 

The Big Bang Theory Courtesy CBS

McCarthy's always done great work--remember her from Gilmore Girls as Sookie St James?--and this year she's gotten extra buzz because of her comic turn in the movie Bridesmaids.

Where the Heck is Casey Affleck?

I watched the movie "Gone Baby Gone" starring Casey Affleck last week.

I'd seen it before, but not for a couple of years and it got me to thinking, where the heck is Casey Affleck!?

"Gone Baby Gone" is an excellent thriller about the hunt for a kidnapped girl, but what really hits it out of the park is Affleck's performance.  He delivers a lot of his lines in a low-key, Boston accented mumble, but he carries the movie from beginning to end.

Despite Affleck's slightly build, he brings a toughness and sensitivity to the role that more well known actors might have overplayed.

Affleck's other notable role was in "The Assassination of Jesse James," which earned him a Best Supporting Actor Oscar nomination in 2008, but since then--nothing.

Yeah, he directed that mockumentary about brother-in-law Joaquin Phoenix's weird patch a couple of years ago, "I'm Still Here," and he's in the midst of a couple of sexual harassment cases, but as far as another big screen hit, nothing.

Affleck's next big movie is scheduled to be released next year, a Ridley Scott period piece, "The Kind One."  I guess 'til then I'll have to hunt down "The Assassination of Jesse James" and wait patiently.

 Image Copyright Miramax

"True Blood's" New Season Doesn't Suck

Alexander Skarsgard, Anna Paquin, Stephen Moyer

Image: Art Streiber/HBO

Well actually “True Blood’s” new season does suck, but only in the best sense of the word.  Season 4 of “True Blood” premieres this Sunday on HBO at 9pm, and with "Game of Thrones" gone, it's just in time. 

I’ve seen the first three new episodes of "True Blood" and it’s a mixed bag of supernatural shenanigans, over the top pathos and tongue-in-cheek humor.

If you remember, the last time we left Sookie (Anna Paquin), she’d found out Bill (Stephen Moyer) orchestrated their original meeting at the request of Queen.  Heartbroken, Sookie kicked him out of her life and went off with the fairies to Fairy World.

Russell Edgington (Denis O'Hare) was buried alive in cement by Bill and Eric (Alexander Skarsgard), Jason (Ryan Kwanten) inherited a backwoods group of shape-shifting panthers, Tara (Rutina Wesley) left town, Lafayette (Nelsan Ellis) was still having visions, Sam (Sam Trammell) shot his brother for stealing from him, Arlene feared she was carrying a devil baby and Bill and the Queen were about to fight to the true death

A Big Jump Forward

This season kicks off with Sookie in the Fairy World, a place that looks like an updated version of one of those pleasure planets from the original “Star Trek.”  But just like those pleasure planets, there’s a hidden dark side.

Serious business at 'Big Bang' table read - Entertainment News, Emmy News, Media - Variety

If you're a fan of CBS's "The Big Bang Theory," here's a behind the scenes article that shows how those funny lines don't just come out of thin air.

Serious business at 'Big Bang' table read - Entertainment News, Emmy News, Media - Variety.

Photo Courtesy/Copyright CBS