Here's a surprise: The much-publicized interview between Matt Lauer and former president George W. Bush drew in a disappointing 7 millions viewers, and only scored a 1.7 rating in the 18-49 demographic. To put that in perspective, that's lower than what Chuck routinely pulls down in the demo...and that show is proverbially on the bubble. Better luck next time, President Bush. [TV by the Numbers]
For the second year in a row, Dakota Fanning was crowned homecoming queen by her North Hollywood high school classmates at Campbell Hall Prep. The 16-year-old actress, high school senior and varsity cheerleader was awarded the honor during this weekend's homecoming game. Fanning begins production on the Breaking Dawn installments of the Twilight franchise shortly. And now you know. [Us]
The buzz on Unstoppable has been decidedly low-key over the last couple of weeks, but that will all probably change over the weekend. After all, when hordes of moviegoers head to their local theaters, what are they going to decide to see: Morning Glory or a movie that features a runaway train? People love trains! Especially speeding and unhinged ones. Ahead, Movieline offers up a list of five speeding trains to get your juices flowing for Unstoppable.
Also in today's edition of The Broadsheet: David Fincher called out by raging Swede... Frank Zappa's son is only in it for the money... Steve Carell goes Lennonesque... Zach Galifianakis splits hairs... and more...
Having surpassed $280 million worldwide, Resident Evil: Afterlife is now the highest grossing Canadian production of all time. I know that sounds a bit sad in a cultural-void type of way, but consider that the previous record was held by Porky's. Sure, you could split hairs about which film is less worthwhile (I'll personally take any Bob Clark movie over a 3-D sequel), but maybe we should just call it a draw and move on for today. [Toronto Star]
On the eve of part one of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, scientists are pitching in to help make the real world a bit more magical. Except of course, they're using empirical data and facts and things like that. Yes, Scottish researchers have made new progress developing a material that would make the wearer appear invisible; just like that invisibility cloak that seems to get more useful at Hogwarts with each passing year.
· TLC's Cake Boss (which is different than the Food Network's Ace of Cakes and Cupcake Wars, the PAX network's Cakes Be to God, and Logo's One of These Drag Queens is Actually a Cake) invites a special guest to the show tonight: Jersey Shore's Snooki. She doesn't seem thrilled about it judging by the way she languidly explains GTL to Buddy Valastro. Maybe there's a frosted hair/frosting metaphor these two can agree on? [Zap2It]
Before today, it was somewhat easy to view the fainting, seizures, vomiting and other maladies afflicting some viewers of 127 Hours as part public health hazard and part publicity gold mine. But after reading the personal account one such viewer sent today to Movieline, I can see why Fox Searchlight would distance itself entirely from the rare side effects of Danny Boyle's arm-amputating masterpiece.
At a True Blood fan convention in Orlando over the weekend, Joe Manganiello (who plays the werewolf Alcide on the show) told the gathering mob that he was talking with director Zack Snyder about playing Superman. Naturally, Manganiello backtracked on Twitter ("As of today, I am not 'negotiating' to play SuperMan"), but it looks like Jon Hamm isn't the only 30-something actor with a hit Sunday night cable show in the running to play the Man of Steel. [Vulture]
· With Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows hitting theaters next week, isn't it about time that you took a trip down memory lane to see how Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint and Emma Watson have changed over the years? Of course it is. Click ahead to see their growth since Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone and stick around for more Buzz Break.
It only took a year and a half, but Mad Men star Vincent Kartheiser finally got around to explaining what everyone else apparently misunderstood about Pete Campbell's rapey Season 3 tryst with the German au pair.
"US actress Angelina Jolie (right) talks to an unidentified member of the crew on the set during the shooting of Untitled Love Story that is the first film she will direct in Budapest, Hungary, 04 November 2010." That caption is presently all anyone has to go on to identify the woman working alongside Jolie on her controversial directing debut, but come on. I think this nattily dressed doll needs a name attached to the face as soon as possible.
Where will providing the voice for Mr. Peanut slide in on the list of Robert Downey Jr.'s most important roles? The New York Times reported this weekend that Kraft Foods is giving the iconic Mr. Peanut a makeover, complete with the help of the Due Date star's devil-may-care pipes.
So 127 Hours experienced a spectacular opening in limited release, earning an estimated $266,000 over the weekend on four screens. Somewhere among those congested theaters and hyperventilating throngs we must have had at least a few additions to our 127 Hours Emergency Timeline, right? Well... yes and no.
Twitter was a-twitter over the weekend with news that Ben Stiller, Jim Carrey and Judd Apatow were recording a commentary for the 15th anniversary Blu-ray release of Cable Guy. Huzzah that this misunderstood non-classic-but-solid-comedy is going to get a second life, but its mere existence does speak to a growing problem in Hollywood: Anniversary overload. Oh, sure, no one stopped to celebrate the 15th anniversary of Fair Game, but that's about where the line has been drawn. What has caused this headlong run into nostalgia? Movieline has one idea.
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