Category Archives: Entertainment

‘Lost’ auction nets over $1 million, fans revel at The Island one last time

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From August 21-22 the Barker Hangar in Santa Monica, California was transformed into a Lost fan’s wet dream.  Not only did it house Lost memorabilia for the show’s most diehard fans and collectors to bid on, but it also contained key set pieces from the show (ie. the Oceanic 815 plane, the hatch, pieces of The Black Rock and The Temple) and actors (Sterling Beaumon (Young Ben Linus), Andrea Gabriel (Nadia), and Daniel Roebuck (Dr. Arzt)) for fans to see and take pictures with.  The auction was a smashing success; people in-person, over the telephone, and online paid a pretty penny to call themselves owners of some of Lost‘s most recognizable items.  The first day of bidding netted around $900,000, and early estimates speculated that the second day would exceed sales of $1 million.  Though it has not been disclosed where all the money will go, it has been made public that an undetermined portion of the proceeds will land in the hands of Hawaii-based charities.

So how much did some of the most exciting items go for?  The Dharma Van proved to be the most valuable item at the auction; it sold for $47,500!  Not even Hurley’s hot Camaro, which sold for $20,000, could top the vehicle that turned Hurley’s luck around.  Somewhat fitting, isn’t it?  Other top prizes include: Jacob’s dial mechanism and mirror array from “The Lighthouse” ($27,500); the frozen donkey wheel ($22,500);  Faraday’s journal ($20,000); the Dharma Swan station computer ($16,000); the pilot script signed by J.J. Abrams & Damon Lindelof ($15,000); 12 cans of Dharma beer ($5,000); Locke’s wheelchair ($3,250); and Sawyer’s paperback copy of Watership Down ($2,750).

Look after the break for a slightly more extensive list of the top-selling items from the auction.  Also after the break is a 12-minute video that will take you on a brief tour around the hangar.

[Via EW-PopWatch; TheWashingtonPost] Continue reading ‘Lost’ auction nets over $1 million, fans revel at The Island one last time →

‘Piranha 3D’ sequel is on the way

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After a strong $10 million performance during its opening weekend at the box office and receiving rave reviews, Dimension Films announced today that a Piranha 3D sequel is in the works.  Director Alexandre Aja and producer Mark Canton will team up to create another fun gorefest featuring lots of 3D boobies and oh-so-much blood.  “We are thrilled that audiences are not just loving Piranha 3D, but cheering for it,” said Canton.  “And it’s fantastic that so many critics are really getting the movie and recommending it. We can’t wait to get to work on the sequel.”

It’s true; the campy bloodbath starring killer piranha strong a chord with audiences and critics.  The film currently sits at a respectable 82% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.  And read these words from the AP’s Christy Lemire: “Run, don’t walk: Piranha 3D is hilariously, cleverly gory. Mere words cannot describe how awesomely gnarly Piranha 3D is, how hugely entertaining, and how urgently you must get yourself to the theatre to see it. Like, now.”  Like, yeah–I saw this movie the other day and I whole heartedly agree with Lemire.  Piranha 3D is campy, bloody, sexy, fun.  Just the right ingredients for the perfect summer flick.

Though there has been no official word concerning the plot of the sequel, one can deduce it will likely involve the BLANK piranha introduced at the end of the Piranha 3D.  (Don’t want to spoil anything for those of you who have not seen it yet.)  A few weeks ago Aja mentioned in an interview that the production team was throwing some ideas around for a potential sequel.  “We had many ideas, like the full moon party in Thailand — a huge event with like 200,000 young people from all around the world taking mushrooms and partying on the beach.”  Can I preorder a ticket yet?  And where does the line start?

[Via EW-HollywoodInsider; MTV]

Single: Cee-Lo Green – “F–k You” (NSFW)

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Cee-Lo Green is a hip-hop/funk/soul artist whose been around since 1992; he is best known for his work with the Goodie Mob, but you will likely recognize his voice from his recent collab with Gnarls Barkley on the smash single “Crazy” off 2006’s St. Elsewhere.  Cee-Lo has a new album to promote, so he let loose this extremely catchy and profane single titled, um, “F–k You”.  In the song Cee-Lo curses out a girl who left him for a richer man.  There is a high level of profanity used in the track, but that is balanced out with really creative and witty lines like, “I’m sorry I can’t afford a Ferrari/I guess she’s an Xbox and I’m more Atari.”  This single could be an instant radio hit, but I don’t know how it would fare with the incessant bleeps.

Embedded above is the lyric video for the track (again, it’s filled with NSFW language).  A standard music video for the track is expected to drop sometime this week.  Cee-Lo’s third solo album Lady Killer hits stores October 4 December 7.

Update: 50 Cent has gone ahead and added a single new verse to the track.  In the freestyle he assumes the role of the rich man who stole away Cee-Lo’s lady.  Listen to 50’s addition after the break.

Update 2: In an interview with EW, Cee-Lo said that Lady Killer will drop later than expected on December 7.  He also revealed that a profanity-free radio edit is in the works.  “It’s called “Forget You,”” he says.  “It’s pretty close to the original, but not as effective.  But it’s politically correct.”  So I guess that catchy tune (minus its naughty bits) will make its way to the radio at some point.

[Via WSJ; EW-MusicMix] Continue reading Single: Cee-Lo Green — “F–k You” (NSFW) →

Kanye West debuts “Power” remix, promises new songs every weekend until X-mas

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Kanye West dropped the official remix to his super single “Power” over the weekend.  The track features a verse from Kanye’s long-time collaborator Jay-Z and production by Swizz Beatz.  Jay-Z opens the remix strong; he raps about living in the 31st century, makes a Norman Mailer reference, and says this: “In search of the truth, even if it goes through Taylor Swift/Tell her this.”  Yes, this marks the first time a Kanye track alludes to the harsh “imma let you finish” Swift incident from last year’s VMAs.  After Jay-Z does his thing, Kanye hops onto the record with two brand new verses.  In them be brings up topics like social commentary (“Now we’re not all gonna be American idols/but you can at least grab a camera, shoot a viral”) and politics and war (Bring our troops back from Iraq, keep our troops out of Iran/So the next couple bars, I’ma drop them in Islam/They say as-salaam alaikum, say wa alaikum as-salaam/That’s no Oscar Mayer bacon, you should run and tell your mom/Now the question is, how we gon’ stop the next Vietnam/Keep Flex out of Korea, ’cause you know we drop bombs”).  With about 2 minutes left, a Swizz Beatz produced sample of “The Power” by Snap! consumes the track and Kanye goes in for one more verse.  He raps, “Don’t even think you can allude to the rumors/I’m immune to the booze, I’m a prude to you losers.”  When the five minute 15 second track is about to end, Swizzy pops on to kill it: “Chill, ‘Ye, chill/Sh-t’s burnt up already/It’s over.”

Overall the remix is really great.  It does away with the “21st Century Schizoid Man” sample and introduces a different but familiar flow for the chorus.  In many ways the remix is bigger than the original track (Kanye opens up about more topics in the former), but they both hold their own weight.  Be sure to preview the remix below; there’s also a download link for keeps.

Download: Kanye West – Power (Remix) (Featuring Jay-Z & Swizz Beatz)

[audio: Kanye West – Power (Remix) (Featuring Jay-Z & Swizz Beatz).mp3]

Late last night Kanye shared some very exciting news.  He promises to release new music every weekend until Christmas.  On G.O.O.D. Fridays (G.O.O.D. Music is the name of his record label) new songs will be released; he specifies that they may come from him, Jay-Z, and other rappers.  He released “See Me Now” (Featuring Beyonce & Charlie Wilson) last week for the fans, and he realized that the fans deserve new content on a regular basis.  He tweeted: “I know yall need the music so I’m dropping 1 new song every weekend until Xmas. It may be my song it may be a new Jay song etc… I’m calling it good Fridays. Yall know every Friday yall gone have a new joint from our family. We look at the game completely different now. It’s about the fans. No more holding back. That’s why I dropped see me now… It wasn’t about me it was about the Summer the BBQs etc…“  Though Kanye has not mentioned what’s on deck for next weekend, many speculate that “All of the Lights”, the planned second single off his upcoming album that he previewed during his UStream chat, might be it.  Kanye is also finalizing a remix to Justin Bieber’s “Runaway Love” with Raekwon, so that’s in the pipeline, too.

Currently Kanye is in Prague working Dark Twisted Fantasy, an artistic film that will accompany the untitled album when it releases November 16.

[Via KWBlog; Twitter; EW-MusicMix; WSJ; Rap-Up]

Creative Arts Emmys made winners out of Betty White, NPH & network and premium cable series

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The Creative Arts Emmys ceremony acts as a precursor to the actual Emmys (which airs live next week) and many of the awards given cover guest spots and technical achievements.  Betty White, Neil Patrick Harris, John Lithgow, and Ann-Margret took home Emmys for their guest roles in Saturday Night Live, Glee, Dexter, and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, respectively.  (Fun(ny) fact: When John Lithgow accepted his award for best guest spot in Dexter, he thanked HBO.  Dexter is a Showtime series!  Oops!)  HBO took was awarded 17 trophies; its mini-series The Pacific brought in 7 of them.  ABC (15 Emmys), FOX (9), and CBS, NBC, and PBS (7 each) followed.

Other notable winners include: Modern Family (Best Casting of a Comedy Series, Best Picture Editing for Comedy Series); Saturday Night Live (Best Makeup/ Multi-Camera (Non-Prosthetic), Best Direction of Variety); 24 (Best Music Score); Lost (Best Picture Editing for Drama Series (Single Camera)); Late Night with Jimmy Fallon (Best Short Form Picture Editing, Best Creative Achievement in Interactive); FlashForward (Best Stunt Coordination); Glee (Best Sound Mixing for a Comedy or Drama Series); The Colbert Report (Best Variety Writing).

Look after the break for the full list of winners.  Make sure to tune into the Emmys hosted by Jimmy Fallon August 29 on NBC.

[Via EW; AP; LATimes] Continue reading Creative Arts Emmys made winners out of Betty White, NPH & network and premium cable series →

HBO porn series is in the works

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Executive producers Mark Wahlberg and Steve Levinson, who currently work together on HBO’s Entourage and the upcoming series Boardwalk Empire, are teaming up with controversial writer James Frey to produce a new one-hour drama about the porn industry that will star both actors and porn stars.  According to the NY Post, “The plot will focus on a giant video company under siege from Internet competitors and a girl from the Midwest whose boyfriend convinces her to move to Los Angeles to become a star.”  Frey, who is currently writing the pilot, shares, “We’re going to make a sprawling epic about the porn business in LA.  We’re going to tell the type of stories no one else has told before, and go places no one has gone before.”  OK I’m hooked.

[Via IGN; NYP]

Malin Akerman hints at a third season of Childrens Hospital

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You probably know actress Malin Akerman for her pivotal role in Watchmen as  Silk Spectre II or her comedic turn in Couples Retreat.  More recently she has decided to foster her funny side by starring in Rob Corddry’s web series-turned-TV show Childrens Hospital.  In season 2 of the satirical medical comedy Akerman plays Dr. Valerie Flame.  In an interview with IGN she describes her character as “the new hot-to-trot lady in the hospital who gets all the guys going.”  Season 1, which was filmed for the web in 2008, just finished airing on Adult Swim.  It starred Lake Bell who lended her voice for narration of the series.  After the show got picked up for TV, Corddry decided to film a second season made for TV.  This time around, however, Bell was committed to HBO’s How To Make It In America, so her role was downsized and Akerman was given narration duty.

In the interview with IGN Akerman hints that if ratings continue to impress then the whole team would definitely consider filming a third season:

“As long as time permits and schedules all come together properly, then absolutely! I’d go back, and they have asked about availabilities and such, so I’m guessing that’s a good sign. There’s definitely been talk about a Season 3 – I see that possibly happening. The numbers have been great, and I think people have been watching and enjoying Childrens Hospital, which means there’s a lot of sick people out there which is great!”

If you happened to have missed season 1 of Childrens Hospital during its web and TV run, that’s OK.  This is one of those shows that you can just jump into and start laughing.  It really is hysterical.  And with an all-star cast including Rob Corddry, Ken Marino (Party Down), Megan Mullally (Will & Grace), Rob Huebel (Human Giant) and Henry Winkler (The Fonz!) and guest stars including Ed Begley Jr. (Arrested Development), Nick Offerman (Parks and Recreation), and John Cho (Star Trek), Childrens Hospital is a must-see.  It returns with brand new episodes tonight (8/22) at 10:30PM on Adult Swim.  Season 2 will consist of six 11-minute episodes and will run consecutively through Sunday September 26.

[Via IGN]

Justin Bieber track “U Smile” slowed down 800%, sounds glorious

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I hate on Jusin Bieber as much as the next person does, but there’s no denying how insanely epic his song “U Smile” is…when it’s slow down 800 percent!  Twenty-year-old musician and producer Nick Pittsinger slowed down the track using a computer program called Paulstretch.  What started as a joke quickly turned into an Internet meme of epic proportions.  When played at eight times slower than normal, the song becomes a thirty-five minute trippy score that could easily find a home in something as cinematic as James Horner’s Avatar soundtrack.  Listening to it really is a mind-blowing experience.  What was once so annoying and shameful has turned into a musically precise and epic journey.  Turn up your speakers, close your eyes, and enter the world of Pandora, erm…listen to a Bieber track slowed down.  (Feel free to compare it to the original version here.)

[Via Gizmodo]

Chelsea Handler to host the VMAs

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Last night comedian Chelsea Handler announced on her E! late night show Chelsea Lately that she will be the host of the 2010 MTV Video Music Awards.  But why Handler?  She explains, “This has been a huge year for hip-hop and rap, and it is well-known that I have the closest ties with these communities — musically and sexually.  I am to rap and hippity-hop, what Warren Buffet is to finance, minus the sex.”  Yup, that’s Chelsea.  Fun fact: She is first female to host the awards show since 1994.  With expected performances from Kanye West, Justin Bieber (eh), Drake, Jay Sean, B.o.B, and Florence + The Machine, this year’s VMAs should be memorable in just the right way.  The VMAs airs live from the Nokia Theatre in LA September 12.  Check out this year’s nominees!  Look after the break to watch Chelsea make the exciting announcement.

[Via EW-Popwatch] Continue reading Chelsea Handler to host the VMAs →

Conan releasing two comedy (rock) albums on Jack White’s Third Man Records label

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With his highly anticipated TBS show looming on the horizon, Conan O’Brien is readying two comedy albums for his most loyal fans.  The first record, “Conan O’Brien Live at Third Man”, is a live LP that features “an amazing set of rock and roll tunes and hilarity” and includes performances by Conan and The Legally Prohibited Band (from his Legally Prohibited from Being Funny on Television Tour), 7 Nation Army, and The White Stripes’ Jack White duet with Conan of Eddie Cochran’s 20 Flight Rock.  This 12″ vinyl is available to purchase today.  The second record “And They Call Me Mad” is a 7″ vinyl; the A side features a improvisational spoken word take on the Frankenstein legend, and the B side is an interview with Conan conduced by Jack White.  This record is due out August 24.  Both of them were recorded at Third Man Records (founded by White) in Nashville, Tennessee during his stop there on tour.  A blog post on the TeamCoco website describes the studio session:

Conan blazed through a rocking setlist of stuff from our Legally Prohibited show – as well as a few other jams that we’ve never done!  The energy in the room was incredible: The band lit by a dim red light, the hot Nashville air thick with excitement; the room packed to capacity – it was a scene the likes of which I’ve never experienced.  I could totally see this show being something that happened outside under a tent in the South in the 50’s.  A very, very cool vibe.

[Via EW-MusicMix; TeamCoco]

Jed Whedon’s debut album “History of Forgotten Things” out now

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Jed Whedon, the man behind all the catchy tunes from Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog, released his very first album unto the world on August 10.  Hopefully you previewed three tracks from the album History of Forgotten Things when I shared them with you a few weeks ago.  If you did you would know that the album has no connection to his cheery, catchy hits from Dr.H.  (Except for the fact that Felicia Day lends background vocals and violin strings to a number of tracks.)  Instead it takes a more personal, grounded journey that covers many bases ranging from traumatic experiences to character-study songs.  In a humorous interview led by his brother Joss, he listed Paul Simon, Brian Eno, Jane’s Addiction, and Pink Floyd as influences on the record, categorized the album as “alternative/singer-songwriter/ambient/rock”, explained that the cohesive theme is nostalgia, and talked about the nature of the album title:

“The title comes from a few things — the terrifying feeling that we are forgetting our life as it rolls along. My obsession with all the history that was never documented (though in the digital age, that may be over). As well as the sensation that history can give you. A feeling that is indescribable. That feeling of connection through the ages. It is related to nostalgia. Sometimes, when I pass through a town I have never seen before, I long to not only live there, but to have lived there my whole life; to be nostalgic for it. I get the same feeling from history. I yearn to have lived during all those times. And, of course, in the future.”

Jed plans to continue his music career by releasing some EPs “soon” and another album “in the future.”  “But first”, he says, “I am going to start fleshing out some DH2 stuff.”  You hear that, Dr.H fans?  The sequel really is being worked on!  Too bad Joss is busy working on other projects at the moment (ahem–The Avengers).

History of Forgotten Things is available to download at the iTunes Store.  So stop reading this and listen to it right now.

Star Wars coming to Blu-ray in 2011

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At this year’s Star Wars Celebration V, George Lucas himself was on hand to announce that the entire Star Wars saga is coming to Blu-ray in Fall 2011.  Here’s what you can expect from the box set:

The Star Wars Blu-ray Box Set will feature all six live-action Star Wars feature films utilizing the highest possible picture and audio presentation, along with extensive special features – including documentaries, vintage behind-the-scenes moments, interviews, retrospectives and never-before-seen footage from the Lucasfilm archives.

In an interview with The New York Times, Lucas said that the first three original Star Wars films (A New Hope, The Empire Strikes Back, and Return of the Jedi) included in the Blu-ray box set will be the re-released special edition versions of the films that were digitally restored a number of years back.  To release the original versions of these films on Blu-ray would be too costly, Lucas explained.  Feeling down about this last bit of news?  Well I have just the thing to cheer you up again.  Sitting after the break is a “missing lightsaber scene” from Return of the Jedi!

The press release (also after the break) does not specify price, a hard release date, and if movies will be available to purchase individually on Blu-ray.

[Via Engadget; NYT] Continue reading Star Wars coming to Blu-ray in 2011 →