Last season on “Gossip Girl,” teenage playboy Chuck Bass tried to force himself on 14-year-old Jenny, take advantage of bad-girl-gone-good Serena and succeeded in deflowering his best friend's girlfriend, the scheming socialite Blair.
When audiences first see him in Monday's premiere of Season 2, he'll be on a beach surrounded by a bevy of bikini-clad babes, who remove their tops just for him (and to, you know, avoid tan lines).
But something funny happened on the way to the Hamptons. Somehow this teenage cad won over “Gossip Girl” fans when no one was looking, despite his bad behavior when they first met him.
His romance with Blair will be the big draw when the show returns, according to executive producer Stephanie Savage. (A photo of Chuck offering up a dripping piece of cherry pie — and the texty tagline “ready4more” — covered the preview screeners sent to the press this month.) By the end of last season, it was difficult not to root for the caustic relationship between him and Blair, whom he earlier discarded and compared to one of his father's Arabian horses: “Rode hard and put away wet.”
How did this happen? Is this Luke and Laura 2.0? So wrong, yet so right?
During a presidential campaign, the politicians are the ones who should be making the sweeping statements about the superiority of one political tradition over the other while the news analysts comment as objectively as possible, pointing out contradictions, changes in position and historical tendencies but keeping their own personal leanings out of it.
Instead we had a Democratic candidate who spoke of finding common ground between such opposing forces as those who support abortion rights and those who don't, while the political analysts offered commentary that was unapologetically self-referential and occasionally argumentatively partisan.
At MSNBC, Keith Olbermann and Chris Matthews could barely speak they were so overcome with emotion after Sen. Barack Obama's speech; when they did it was strictly in tear-shaken superlatives. Meanwhile, over at Fox News, Brit Hume reluctantly acknowledged that the speech seemed to have played well with the delegates before turning it over to a panel of commentators who could barely sit still in their eagerness to tear it down. Fortune magazine's Nina Easton spat, practically incoherent in her derision of what she saw as the same-old, same-old, while Fred Barnes shrugged and admitted he liked the fireworks.
Shannen Doherty, Jennie Garth and the new cast members of CW's "90210" talk up the relaunch at the show's beachside premiere Saturday. Party took place in Malibu. (Not exactly in the zip code, but close enough.) The series premieres Sept. 2.
For the record: Earlier, this post said that ASIID was competing for the honor of presenting a VMA award. SoReal Cru will be competing, not ASIID. Sorry, ASIID fans, but you get to see them on the tour!
Now it really is a must-go event. Super Cr3w has confirmed that they are signing on to the 25-city "America's Best Dance Crew" tour with JabbaWockeeZ and Break Sk8. And the tour got some extra added energy with the addition of two of this season's fan favorites: Detroit's ASIID and L.A.'s own Fanny Pak! Here's part of the press release:
Following the live season two finale which drew more than 39 million fan votes, the hottest crews from the first two seasons will be joining forces for an electrifying 25-date national tour. SuperCr3w, ASIID and Fanny Pak will be battling it out nightly with previously announced season one winners the JabbaWockeeZ and the amazing b-boys on wheels BreakSk8, while L.A.'s Power 106 FM star personality E-Man will serve as the tour's house DJ and MC. The tour, presented by Glacéau Vitaminenergy (your natural energy source!) and promoted by AEG Live, kicks off in Miami on Sept. 18 and runs for five weeks across the country through Oct. 23 in Houston.
Tickets to "Randy Jackson Presents America's Best Dance Crew Live" are on sale now and can be purchased at Ticketmaster.com. Fans can visit www.dancecrew.aeglive.com for the latest tour updates and information.
Slowly, the design seems to be picking up on this season of "Project Runway." Leanne Marshall, Korto Momolu, Jerell Scott and in my opinion, Suede Baum and Kenley Collins all made the most out of a challenge designing outfits out of car parts, so that was a welcome sight this episode. So was Laura Bennett, the "mean mommy" from Season 3 who was as clear and direct a judge as we all knew she'd be, correctly saying that Blayne Walsh 's dress was poorly made (note to Laura: his stuff is ALWAYS poorly made) and saying with icy friendliness "Excuse me?" when Keith Bryce started mumbling to himself after his dress was criticized.
By now, you've probably read about the lineup for Season 7 of "Dancing with the Stars," which kicks off on Sept. 22.
This time around, we've got not one, but two Olympic gold medalists -- Misty May-Treanor and Maurice Greene -- but neither beach volleyball nor track would seem to present as big an advantage as ice skating did for Kristi Yamaguchi, the Season 6 winner. That said, of course, Olympians certainly know how to be disciplined in their training and how to handle adversity. And May-Treanor signaled a willingness to do absolutely anything when she presented her bikini-clad bottom for the president to slap. (He declined.)
In the category of athletes, there's also Super Bowl champion Warren Sapp. Will he do as well as fellow NFL star Jason Taylor did last season? And what matters more, athleticism or deep experience with the reality genre, as represented in chef Rocco DiSpirito?
A few days before the Big Premiere, Jennie Garth, who is reprising her role as Kelly Taylor, enlightened the world as to why the new "90210" is likely to resonate with young viewers.
"It's going to reflect teenagers as they are. It's not going to sugarcoat it. You know teenagers are teenagers no matter if they live in Beverly Hills or if they live in crazy Kansas somewhere. All the kids are the same. They're going through the same elemental issues and problems."
Got it? Those crazy Kansans are just like you and me!
Make that reason No. 9874 I don't like Lo: She yanked Lauren from Stephanie's birthday party so fast that not even one word was exchanged between Speidi and Lauren.
Blame her for an episode that was, once again, all built up and no payoff. Four seasons in, who doesn't want to just hit fast-forward through all the discussions of weekend plans and straight to the main event? Sadly, this one was a non-event.
Lo keeps Lauren functioning like a high schooler. Let Lauren grow up, Lo. Or let her and Heidi go at it. For the sake of a viewing audience. Seriously, if you really care for Lauren, you'd care about those people helping to pay her bills. (Lo's also still being Ms. Passive Aggressive with Audrina, but that's old news. Besides, Audrina's getting good at standing up for herself.)
Before I get to Stephanie, a word to Brody: No one cares if you come or go. You're window dressing now that you dissed Lauren while she was in Paris. You've been replaced by Doug, at least temporarily, who unfortunately and unbelievably is more vanilla than yourself.
Even without the payoff, the evening's gold star goes to Stephanie, whose efforts to stir drama are tireless.
But in all seriousness, here's the truth: In the long run, Stephanie will wind up being a much better friend to Lauren.
She forces Lauren to deal. With uncomfortable moments, with broken friendships, with people who aren't your best friends forever. She reunited Lauren, Spencer and Heidi. Lauren was giggly but calm. She might have decided that she was over the past. That she wanted to start over. (The extended Season 4 trailer certainly makes it seem like it could have been a possibility.) But it was ruined when she was urged by Lo to run and take cover instead.
And Lauren reverted to her sullen, put-upon self. Look at how she practically threatened Stephanie off her show in the final scene: "It's not a secret to you that my all friends say that I shouldn't even trust you, and you just kind of set them back on that rampage."
Yeah, I know Stephanie's about to steal Doug away from Lauren too. Because she likes drama, sure. But also, just maybe, couldn't she be doing it for Lauren's own good? Not much to him after all. ...
I'm just saying.
Then there's Whitney, already being set up to go her own way in a spinoff of her own. I can't wait. Next week's preview makes her look so much more outgoing than Lauren. Flirting with the boys. Stepping up to career challenges. MTV must have been editing heavily all this time.
A last note: Kelly Cutrone bugs almost as much as Brent Bolthouse. Poor Jessica. We hope you were compensated well (or at least better than Lo).
ABC has confirmed it has ordered five new series for this TV season. Delays in production caused by the strike prevented the network from ordering as many series as it does normally in May, when the broadcast networks announce their lineups.
But after the filming of pilots this summer, ABC President of Entertainment Steve McPherson has ordered five new shows and expects to order more in the coming months, ABC executives have confirmed.
The new series will air in midseason.
Of the five shows, three are dramas:
“Castle” is described in the press notes as a comedic crime procedural about a famous mystery novelist, Nick Castle, who has gotten bored with his success. When a real-world copycat murderer starts staging scenes from Nick’s novels, he’s teamed with a female detective, and soon the sparks are flying. Castle is kept grounded by his Broadway diva mother, quick-witted teenage daughter, and his long-suffering ex-wife, who happens to be his editor. It stars Nathan Fillion as Castle, Stana Katic as Det. Kate Beckett, Molly Quinn as Alexis, Susan Sullivan as Martha, Monet Mazur as Gina and Ruben Santiago-Hudson as Capt. Montgomery.
From executive producer Rob Thomas ("Veronica Mars"), "Cupid” is a remake of the 1990s' series of the same title, starring Jeremy Piven. This version, according to the press notes, is romantic dramedy about Trevor, a larger-than-life character who may or may not be the Roman god of love, Cupid, sent to Earth to bring couples together. As fate would have it, Trevor is under the care of famous psychologist and self-help author Dr. Claire Allen, who is also dedicated to helping lonely hearts find their soul mates. While she agrees with his cause, she questions whether he’s crazy or really is Cupid. “Cupid” stars Bobby Cannavale as Trevor, Sarah Paulson as Claire, Rick Gomez as Felix and Camille Guaty as Lita.
“The Unusuals” is a comedic procedural set in a New York police precinct, according to the press notes. Casey Schraeger started her day as an NYPD vice detective but is unexpectedly transferred to the homicide division. She quickly realizes that not only does everyone in her new department have a distinct sense of humor but also their own dirty little secret. “The Unusuals” stars Amber Tamblyn as Det. Casey Schraeger, Jeremy Renner as Det. Joe Walsh, Terry Kinney as Sgt. Harvey Brown, Kai Lennox as Det. Ed Alvarez, Harold Perrineau as Det. Leo Banks, Adam Goldberg as Det. Eric Delahoy, Monique Gabriela Curnen as Det. Allison Beaumont and Joshua Close as Henry Cole.
The other two new shows are comedies:
“Better Off Ted” is a satirical office comedy featuring a successful but morally conscious man, Ted, who runs a research and development department at a morally questionable corporation, Veridian Technologies. No achievement is too farfetched and no invention too unorthodox for Veridian, according to the press notes. Need a suicidal turkey? Done. Need a metal that is hard as steel but bounces –- and is edible? Done and done. Ted loves his seemingly perfect job; he loves his super-human boss, Veronica, and colleagues Lem, Phil and Linda, but he’s starting to take a closer look at the company’s extremely questionable practices, especially when they try to cryogenically freeze one of Ted’s scientists for testing purposes. It stars Jay Harrington as Ted, Andrea Anders as Linda, Portia de Rossi as Veronica, Jonathan Slavin as Phil, and Malcolm Barrett as Lem.
“Single With Parents” is a comedy about Lou, a woman in her mid-30s who is determined to have her own life despite her crazy blended family getting in the way. According to the press notes, she’s thrilled that her divorced parents are leading exciting lives -– really, she is –- except both of them rely on her way too much. Dad needs her as a surrogate parent, and Mom counts on her 24/7 as a shrink and confidante. Lou has resolved to finally find a fulfilling life for herself. The series stars Alyssa Milano as Lou, Annie Potts as Elizabeth, Beau Bridges as Joe, Amanda Detmer as Sasha, Meagan Fay as Nancy and Eric Winter as Charlie.
The five shows join other previously announced new shows: “Life on Mars,” a drama; “The Goode Family,” a comedy, and two alternative series, “Opportunity Knocks” and the untitled Ashton Kutcher and Tyra Banks Project.
-- Maria Elena Fernandez
(Photo of Nathan Fillion by Stephen Osman / Los Angeles Times)
The event just made everything so much clearer: Lauren's a blank slate until crossed. Heidi was her victim.
In fact, Saturday's Upright Citizens Brigade staged reading of the momentous"The Hills" episode "You Know What You Did," starring Janeane Garofalo as Lauren and Rachael Harris as Heidi, was nothing short of revelatory.
Sure, it was a kick see Rob Huebel flash Spencer's trademark toothy grin and Dannah Feinglass get dazzlingly ditzy as Audrina. Harris' Heidi, complete with over-annunciated drawl, was almost uncomfortably close to the real thing.
But seeing the episode deconstructed -- literally, a reading of the show's dialogue -- exposed something more. Something new.
Without a pop music soundtrack and mood lighting, Lauren simply comes off as a leech, her neediness sucking her victims dry until they've got nothing left to give. (Garofalo needy? Strange, but she pulled it off.)
It was almost tragic to see the evenings players, clad all in black, welcomed on stage by narrator Nathan Corddry, who first recited the words to "The Hills" theme song, Natasha Bedingfield's "Unwritten." Live your life with arms wide open / Today is where your book begins / The rest is still unwritten. (Sadly, the night's revisited events happened over a year ago, long before Lauren began feasting on friends like Audrina. But I digress...)
The show began with an already miffed Lauren, all dagger eyes and playing with her hair. She confided in work friend Whitney that she thought Heidi was behind the sex-tape rumors. Whitney, played pitch-perfectly by Robin Shorr, was stupefied, asking Lauren all about her woes and responding the safest way she knew how: "Wow."
Last season on “Gossip Girl,” teenage playboy Chuck Bass tried to force himself on 14-year-old Jenny, take advantage of bad-girl-gone-good Serena and succeeded in deflowering his best friend's girlfriend, the scheming socialite Blair. 
It's supposed to be the other way around. 
A few days before the Big Premiere, Jennie Garth, who is reprising her role as Kelly Taylor, enlightened the world as to why the new "90210" is likely to resonate with young viewers. 
Make that reason No. 9874 I don't like Lo: She yanked Lauren from Stephanie's birthday party so fast that not even one word was exchanged between Speidi and Lauren. 
ABC has confirmed it has ordered five new series for this TV season. Delays in production caused by the strike prevented the network from ordering as many series as it does normally in May, when the broadcast networks announce their lineups.