Before last night's middling VMA telecast, MTV snuck in an extra episode of Jersey Shore complete with a big Italian meal, a botched hookup for The Situation and Pauly D, and our first glimpse at a truly crestfallen Vinny. But how fresh-to-death did the guidos remain? Let's take a look at their report card.
A few years after a TV adaptation of Mr. and Mrs. Smith tanked at the pilot stage, Hollywood is giving True Lies a small-screen spin (even though the "married people with guns" genre may be rather crowded after Undercovers premieres). James Cameron will produce the series adaptation of the Arnold Schwarzenegger/Jamie Lee Curtis action comedy, and the project is currently out to networks. Don't blow this golden opportunity, Tom Arnold! [Deadline]
Note to future Video Music Award hosts: Television critics are generally not fans of herpes humor, pre-taped sketches parodying sexual harassment, overtly sexual come-ons, one-liners about accidental pregnancies, casual racism, or any kind of material about your promiscuity and/or alcoholism -- at least if you're a female comedian. Take Movieline's word for it, because Chelsea Handler learned the hard way. Read on for nine criticisms -- from fair to downright hateful -- of the first lady VMA host in sixteen years.
It's been clear for the last few weeks, but last night's finale drove it home: The third season of True Blood really should have ended with that episode where Russell makes his literally spine-tingling news appearance and provokes a full-out human/vampire war. Instead, the show's follow-ups have mostly sidestepped that promising development, and all of the season's plotlines either ran out of steam or were hurriedly shuffled away for abrupt character reboots that felt like an overeager jump on season four. The season began strong and laid out a lot of promising ideas, but that finale...well, let's see how it fared via the Sex and Violence Meter, shall we?
Mark September 22 down on your Tivo schedule as the day that Joaquin Phoenix will return to the Late Show with David Letterman, this time to promote his unsettling new documentary I'm Still Here. The actor/rapper last appeared on the show in February 2009 in one of the greatest late night segments of the decade. By the time the segment wrapped, the Late Show host was asking his cranky guest about the Unabomber and threatening to show up at Phoenix's house to chew gum. [Vulture]
America was faced with a very important decision last night: Watch Don Draper swim laps at the YMCA while delivering a haunting inner monologue about life, or tune into the 2010 Video Music Awards. If you have any self-respect, you chose the former viewing option, but a sea of you masochistic little monsters probably parked your television on MTV to see Chelsea Handler unleash one untrained white dove from her nether region. Because that was the least confounding moment arising from the Nokia Theater last night, Movieline has decided to answer some of the other questions that you undoubtedly shouted at your television during last night's 2010 VMAs.
Because of S.T. VanAirsdale's commitments up north at the Toronto International Film Festival -- and perhaps because of last week's knock-down-drag-out twelve rounder -- the part of your trusty Mad Men recapper will be played by... me. Welcome all! Pull on your best pair of swimming trunks and click ahead for some thoughts on "The Summer Man."
Also in this morning's TV Bites: Fox makes parents Outnumbered... a Garth Brooks song becomes a Lifetime movie... Dan Aykroyd might stage a semi-Blues Brothers reunion on The Defenders... and more ahead.
Woohoo! Raisin' funds! No, that's not the name of that failed Mark-Paul Gosselaar law drama -- it's what's happening on all the major networks tonight. Click through to learn more about "Stand Up to Cancer" (starring Mr. Stevie Wonder) and how to find your favorite Movieline writer -- hint, I'm a Movieline writer -- on HLN this evening.
That might be the first time I've started a Project Runway recap with a Papa Roach reference, but it won't be the last. (Kidding.) Michael Kors harassed the designers into making resort wear in last night's episode, and in a twist, Tim Gunn raised his arm like a sorcerer and made everyone pair up to sew each others' garments. Ivy devolved into a shrieking hedgehog for a change, and some of the others were insufferable too. Let's see how it all went.
First you got a sneak peek of Sue Sylvester's tracksuit closet, then a look inside the eagerly awaited Britney Spears episode and now, dear Gleeks, you are getting another season two preview of the goings-on at McKinley High. Find out which original Rocky Horror Picture Show cast members have agreed to share the screen with Cory Monteith and Lea Michele below.
The internet let out a collective wail when it was confirmed that Jenny Slate had been fired from Saturday Night Live after one season. If you think Slate's in a state of depression, however, her latest tweet should sate your fears: "Hey guess what? I just bought a million flowers & put them in my house & im pretty f***ing pumped about that bc it rules & so does being a lady!" Stay strong, Jenny! [@jennyslate25]
Everyone and their mother has offered up their opinion on who should inherit the Dunder Mifflin throne once Steve Carell's lovable Michael Scott retires, but now, THR has finally learned how NBC plans on moving forward with The Office -- and "the plan" is a lot more complicated and uncertain than anyone ever imagined.
The MTV Video Music Awards are on Sunday, and you know what that means: celebrity swag suites the day before, woo! Wait. Are you saying that tomorrow is 9/11, the solemn anniversary of the worst terror attack ever committed on American soil? Hmm, how can celebrities feel good about picking up free sunglasses and liposuction gift certificates with that looming over their heads? Here is the terrible, terrible answer.
Kevin McHale will have a dream sequence set to "Stronger." Heather Morris will reenact "Me Against the Music." Matthew Morrison will be forced to sing and dance to "Toxic." The New York Times slideshow from behind the scenes of Glee's highly anticipated Britney Spears episode has all of these revelations and other intriguing sneak peeks, but for me, none resonate more than a snapshot of Jane Lynch's tracksuit-stuffed wardrobe rack. Taste the rainbow!
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