Showing posts with label MTV. Show all posts
Showing posts with label MTV. Show all posts
Q and A: Week of Sept. 30
A: Well, I don’t want to give too much away and spoil the surprise! But I did speak recently with series regular Kasha Kropinski (who plays Ruth), and she gave me a little tease as to what to expect as the season winds down. The South African beauty (who is a total sweetheart!) told me: “People are going to be totally and utterly shocked by what happens in these last few episodes. It is totally left field what transpires. I think that people already have created an idea of what they think is going to happen. But I don’t think anyone could come up with what actually transpires.”
“Some new relationships develop; some unexpected relationships come to fruition. Expect some death and destruction, as usual — it is ‘Hell on Wheels,’ after all. I don’t think that’s a spoiler at all. Just hold onto your socks because they might blow off.” Check back later this week for the full interview.
Q: I was heartbroken when you announced that TNT had not renewed ”Monday “Mornings.” I spent 46 years as a registered nurse, mostly in a hospital, in various areas. This was the only hospital-based show I have been able to watch past the first episodes. I appreciated the doctors being challenged about decisions and outcomes. — Elizabeth B., via email
A: I have received quite a few letters expressing dismay over the cancelation of “Monday Mornings.” This series hit home with a lot of viewers, but apparently not enough for the numbers people at TNT. I miss the days when networks gave shows longer that one season to build an audience, and gain momentum and a following. Imagine if “The Office” had debuted this season instead of 10 years ago: With the low numbers the show’s first season brought in, it would have been canceled in a flash. Just imagine all the great television we’d have missed out on!
Q: I feel like I’ve been waiting forever. When will “Awkward” return with new episodes? — Nicole F., Athens, Ga.
A: MTV’s hit comedy returns from its summer hiatus on Tuesday, Oct. 22, at 10:30 p.m. ET/PT with 10 new episodes to round out the third season.
READERS: It’s time for another contest! In honor of “China Beach” finally being released on DVD, I’m giving away four copies of the first season to four lucky readers. There are four ways to win, and you can enter once via each method. You can send me a letter: Cindy Elavsky, King Features Weekly Service, P.O. Box 536475, Orlando, FL 32853-6475; enter at letters@cindyelavsky.com; follow me on Twitter at twitter.com/celebrity_extra to get details; and like my FB page for details http://www.facebook.com/pages/Celebrity-Extra/152752278792. All those who enter are eligible for the grand-prize drawing to win a box set of the entire series! Get your entries in and/or postmarked by Oct. 31.
Q and A: Week of May 6
A: You can see Sherry this Mother’s Day weekend when she stars in the Hallmark Channel original movie, “The Confession.” It’s a sequel to the top-rated “The Shunning,” both of which are based on the best-selling novels by Beverly Lewis, and both of which Sherry stars in. Sherry plays Laura Mayfield Bennett, a wealthy, terminally ill heiress who recently began searching for the daughter she gave up for adoption to a loving Amish couple.
When I spoke with Sherry recently, she told me why she wanted to work on this movie, and with the Hallmark Channel again: “I like that the stories are straightforward; they are a little more family-oriented. There’s no violence, which I hate. I’m so tired of violence. And now violence is really in our lives in a real way, and I just can’t go there. I just can’t.”
Instead, Sherry hopes people will take away a message of love and forgiveness when they watch this movie. “This is a reminder about what’s really important in life. And how life’s so fragile. We’re all just here. I hope the movie will make people think about what they’re doing with their life and what their priorities are, and do they have love in it?”
“The Confession” premieres Saturday, May 11, at 9/8c on the Hallmark Channel, and check back Wednesday for my full interview with Sherry.
Q: Ever since you mentioned “Devious Maids,” I can’t wait for it to start. Do you know when that will be? — Pamela L., Austin, Texas
A: The all-new drama, brought to you by Marc Cherry and Eva Longoria, premieres June 23 on Lifetime at 10 p.m. ET/PT. The 13-episode series stars Ana Ortiz, Roselyn Sanchez, Susan Lucci, Grant Show and Brett Cullen, and explores the lives of five maids with ambitions and dreams of their own while they work for the rich and famous in Beverly Hills.
Q: I saw a promo on TV for a series called “Cedar Cove,” which I’m hoping is based on Debbie Macomber’s books. Do you know when and where I can see this? — Joanne C., via e-mail
A: The Andie MacDowell-starring drama, which is indeed based on the book series of the same name by Debbie Macomber, premieres July 20 on the Hallmark Channel at 8/7c.
Q: I have been anxiously awaiting new episodes of “America’s Most Wanted.” Has it been canceled? — Peter J., Harrisburg, Pa.
A: I am sad to report that Lifetime has canceled the crime-fighting series, which was hosted by John Walsh. However, the network is developing a pilot with John; stay tuned for more info on that as it becomes available.
Q: Can you tell me when “Call of the Wildman” will be back? — James R., Bowling Green, Ohio
A: Turtleman and company will be back for a 20-episode second season on Animal Planet beginning Sunday, June 2, at 9 p.m. ET/PT. This season, “Turtleman” Ernie Brown Jr. hits the road and travels to Texas and Mexico to rescue wild critters in the hit reality series. Kentucky’s most famous backwoods animal-trapper acknowledges his strange appeal to audiences, saying, “People think I’m crazy, but they can’t help but like me.”
Q: I’m a big fan of MTV’s “Buckwild,” and I wondered if the show will continue after the death of Shain Gandee? — Gerry T., Bentonville, Ark.
A: MTV spokesman Jake Urbanski said that although it was not an easy decision, “given Shain’s tragic passing and essential presence on the show, we felt it was not appropriate to continue without him.”
“Buckwild” producer J.P. Williams of Parallel Entertainment announced last month that he has already sent out a casting call in Texas and Alaska, with plans to retool and recast the show in one of those states, with plans to shop the show around to other networks.
Q and A: Week of Aug. 8
CORRECTION: It was recently reported in this column (as well as many other entertainment columns) that Mariska Hargitay would be in only 13 episodes of this coming season’s “Law and Order: SVU.” Well, I am happy to amend that report with news from the Big Guy himself: Showrunner and executive producer Warren Leight contacted me to dispel the rumor. He told me: “Mariska will be in all 22 ‘SVU’ episodes this season. Rumor she is leaving at 13 just wrong.” With Christopher Meloni’s Detective Stabler leaving, it’s a relief to learn Mariska’s Detective Benson will be sticking around.Q: It seems like every other year, there is a rumor that “Jurassic Park 4″ is going to made. But so far, no movie. Will it ever happen? — Paul G., Miami
A: All signs point to “yes.” Producer/director Steven Spielberg told a crowd of enthusiastic sci-fi fans at last month’s San Diego Comic-Con fan convention that there will be another “Jurassic Park,” and it might be only two to three years away. Steven said that he has a story and a screenwriter ready to go for the fourth movie of the dinosaur-clone series, and Steven himself will serve as producer.
Q: I really love MTV’s new teen comedy, “Awkward.” The actor who plays Matty looks really familiar. Can you tell me what else I might have seen him in recently? — Cara D., via e-mail
A: Beau Mirchoff, 21, plays Matty, the nice-guy jock with a heart — and it appears he also has a thing for our heroine, Jenna. You might remember Beau from “Heartland,” or from his turn as Drea de Matteo’s son on “Desperate Housewives.”
Of his year on “DH,” Beau told me: “I learned so much from all the people on that set. They are pros, and they know what they’re doing. I learned a lot from Jeffrey Nordling, who played my father, and Drea de Matteo, who was my mother. I had a big crush on Drea. I hope it didn’t read on camera. That would have been creepy.”
Playing a teen on “Awkward.” has Beau remembering his own awkward time in high school: “Everything seems like such a dire situation. Like it’s the last time you’ll be able to do something. Or it’s the end of the world if you can’t go out with that girl. But it’s really not, and it’s so insignificant looking back. But you’re growing up and you’re figuring things out.”
Q: I was so sad to hear about the passing of singer Amy Winehouse. Do authorities know what caused her death? — Grant D., via e-mail
A: Toxicology reports will probably take weeks to get back, so it might be a while before we know what killed the troubled songstress, who was only 27 when she passed away on July 23. Amy had publicly battled addiction, but police say there were no signs of drug or paraphernalia in her home at the time of her death.
MTV's Harry Potter World Cup
NEW YORK – JUNE 16, 2011 – With the final installment of the Harry Potter film series headed to theaters this summer, MTV News is launching the Harry Potter World Cup, a month-long tournament that will have fans voting online to lay to rest, once-and-for-all, the question, “Who is the greatest Harry Potter character of all time?” Will Harry, Ron and Hermione remain fan favorites or will Voldemort, Draco Malfoy or another villain slink through to victory? 64 will compete, but only one will emerge as the Wizarding World's Champion — and it’s up to you.
As announced by James and Oliver Phelps (the Weasley twins), the Harry Potter World Cup will launch on Monday, June 20th with an intensity and fierceness rivaled only by the most extreme Quidditch matches ever seen. Round by round, the single-elimination event will unfold online with fans championing, fighting and voting for the character they believe is the greatest in J.K. Rowling’s epic fantasy series. The two finalists will be announced on Monday, July 11th, kicking off a championship round just days before the release of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 2.
The winner will be revealed during MTV News' livestream coverage of the film's red carpet premiere in New York City. In addition to voting online at MoviesBlog.MTV.com, fans are also encouraged to utilize the official Twitter hashtag #mtvpottercup to spread the word about voting.
Each round will feature new videos and articles from Harry Potter stars, experts and fans handicapping the race. To view the Harry Potter World Cup bracket click here.
The Harry Potter World Cup Tournament Voting Schedule is as follows:
Round 1 – Monday, June 20th through Sunday, June 26th
Round 2 – Monday, June 27th through Thursday, June 30th at Midnight
Sweet 16 – Friday, July 1st through Tuesday, July 5th at Midnight
Elite 8 – Wednesday, July 6th through Thursday, July 7th at Midnight
Final 4 – Friday, July 8th through Sunday, July 10th at Midnight
Championship Round – Final 2 announced Monday, July 11th. Voting will continue up until the New York City premiere of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2.
Tags: Movie Trailers, Movies Blog
Interview: Beth Littleford Is Everyone's Favorite Naughty Mom
Now Beth co-stars as RJ Berger’s mom, Suzanne, on MTV’s cult teen hit, “The Hard Times of RJ Berger” (airing Monday nights). However, don’t let the “teen” moniker fool you. In preparing for my interview with Beth, I watched season one of the show online, and it is smart, wickedly funny, well written and well acted. You have time to catch up with the show before its May season-two finale, and I highly suggest you do.
When I chatted with Beth recently, she told me all about this role, as well as her new summer movies coming out: “Crazy, Stupid, Love” with Steve Carell and “Movie 43,” with basically every single A-list actor in Hollywood.
Celebrity Extra: I’ve been a fan of yours for many, many years, starting with “The Daily Show.” Tell me about the early days of being on such a boundary-pushing show.
Beth Littleford: The Daily Show started out with a teeny tiny budget in like a corner of a PBS building. A small corner where no one had their own offices; everyone was in cubicles. You would laugh if I told you how much I got paid, and basically I was in the red spending the money on the suits and the dry cleaning and getting the nails done. CE: I just rewatched your interview with David Cassidy at my desk on my lunch break, and I had to cover my mouth almost the entire time to keep from laughing hysterically and disturbing my co-workers.
BL: Thank you! To me there is no greater compliment than I had to cover my mouth to keep from laughing out loud. That’s a fantastic compliment and that is my life goal really, to make people laugh so hard that they have to cover their mouth so milk doesn’t come out or they don’t disturb and upset others.
Most people do remember the David Cassidy interview. They love that. That to me was almost the straw that broke the camel’s back, in terms of I didn’t know if I could do that anymore. I couldn’t be that mean. But basically we were told by his publicist that if anyone deserves it, he does. He’s an unhappy man and he’s not a nice man, but I don’t want to judge anyone, because God knows it’s hard to grow up in this business. I don’t know what he went through and I don’t know his insides. But he certainly kind of asked for it.
I’m much more of like a mushy, soft-underbelly sensitive soul than you would think, especially after having done four years of snarky. But you want to prove you can hang with hard-core comedy, so you’d better cut, and you’d better cut hard.
CE: I noticed you took it a little easier on Jesse Ventura — is that because he’s such a gigantic man, or did you like him?
BL: He is a charmer. You know I love the charmers. I was always charmed by Kato Kaelin. I was charmed by Todd Bridges. I was vaguely charmed by G. Gordon Liddy, which I was as shocked as you are. But most surprisingly, I really adored Jesse the Body. Most of the time, the interviews were a lot of fun: karaoke with Dionne Warwick and dancing with Boy George. Really, most of the time, it was fun, and only occasionally did it turn too cruel for my taste. But that’s the stuff that people remember the most.
CE: On to your current show, “The Hard Times of RJ Berger”: Of course, I had heard of it, but I hadn’t seen any episodes until recently, thinking that because I am 38, it might not appeal to me.
BL: Most people feel that way. But I have to say I think you will be surprised by the second season.
CE: I agree: This show is so smart, funny and well written, it really is for all adult age groups.
BL: Adults like us, I would assume would have no interest in the show. But I have to say, especially this second season, it goes really deep. It continues to push the envelope on a lot of levels, but there is also a lot of really hard, squeezing angst. A lot of no one’s what they appear to be, and life is more complicated. My character continues to be a little bit cartoonish, but then she goes deep. You see the love and you see the heartbreak.
CE: When you were first presented with the show, what did you think about it? Why did you decide to do it?
BL: In high school, either you feel like an outsider, or you’re in a lot of denial or you’re doing a good job pretending. Adolescence is a crazy time for that. So I love anything that explores that and explores that with honesty and depth, and although this continues to be a show about dudes just trying to get laid, it’s also a show about how the things we want maybe aren’t the things we want, and the efforts of just trying to do the right thing and fit in and find love and self-definition.
Because the parents are regular characters this season, I get some juicier story lines. RJ’s dad and I get divorced. Basically, daddy lost his job two years ago but didn’t tell anyone and pretended to be going to work all that time, so he went through our entire life savings. We’ve lost the house, and he’s now in a fleabag motel and we’re in a little apartment. I’m just so angry and betrayed by that. It’s not your typical family, because we are swingers. So it’s not like he had an affair with the secretary kind of betrayal. It’s like, we were so open and so connected, and you have been living a lie for two years and you have driven us into the ground financially. So, we’ll see where that goes! There’s a big cliffhanger at the end of the second season.
CE: Because “RJ Berger” is on MTV and not on network television, like “The Daily Show,” it must afford you all a lot more leeway as far as what you can explore in the series?
BL: Yes, much like “The Daily Show” indeed. These guys get the creative freedom that they wouldn’t otherwise. Like you said, it’s on MTV, and if they want to push the envelope, they are all just really supportive of this new direction. It’s also the first sitcom ever on MTV. My husband directed the first season of “The Real World” in 1992, and at first, they wanted to do a scripted show. They wanted to do a soap opera, and they ran the numbers and they were like, “We can’t afford to do that.” So that is why they decided to a reality soap opera. They were like, “Well we can’t afford actors, and we can’t afford writers, so let’s have no writers and actors for free!”
CE: Tell me about one of the movies you have coming out this summer, the first being “Crazy, Stupid, Love” with Steve Carell.
BL: I play the nosy, disapproving, neighbor friend of Steve Carell and Julianne Moore. I’ve seen it, and I can promise you that it is a fantastic movie. I laughed, I cried. It’s going to be, I think — please, God — I really think it will be just a beloved movie. I think audiences will love it. Great performances by these fantastic actors: Julianne Moore, Emma Stone, Ryan Gosling, Marisa Tomei, Kevin Bacon — I’m one degree of Kevin Bacon now! There is a lot of real sweetness, and everything is interwoven and comes back together. It's heart-wrenching and happy, but true betrayals of relationships and marriage and teenage crushes and all kinds of stuff. I can say honestly: Run, don’t walk, when that opens on July 29.
CE: And then you also have “Movie 43” …
BL: Who even knows what that’s going to be? It’s got the biggest cast in the history of Hollywood. It’s all these comedy guys that I know and have worked with and have come up with. And then it’s like Kate Winslet, Hugh Jackman, Gerard Butler, Naomi Watts and Liev Schreiber. I don’t know what it’s going to be, but I can’t wait to see it!
Q and A: Week of April 18
Q: The other day I stumbled across a show on MTV called “The Hard Times of RJ Berger” — I absolutely loved it! The actress who plays RJ’s mom looks very familiar. Can you tell me about her? — Stan R., Nashville, Tenn.A: Actress/comedian Beth Littleford portrays Suzanne Berger, RJ’s unconventional (and always entertaining) mom in the MTV scripted comedy — the first-ever sitcom on MTV. You might remember Beth from her four years on Comedy Central’s “The Daily Show.” I chatted with Beth recently (check back later this week for our full interview), and she told me how excited she is about season two.
“This season goes really deep. It continues to push the envelope on a lot of levels, but there is also a lot of really hard, squeezing angst,” she said. “No one is who they appear to be, and life is more complicated. My character continues to be a little bit cartoonish, but then goes deep. You see the love and you see the heartbreak. And because the parents are regular characters this season, I get some juicier story lines.”
You can catch Beth this summer in the Steve Carell comedy “Crazy Stupid Love,” as well as part of the super-mega-all-star cast of “Movie 43.”
Q: I know this is the final season for “The Oprah Winfrey Show,” but can you tell me when her final show will air? — Annie L., via e-mail
A: Oprah’s Harpo Productions, which produces “Oprah,” confirmed that the final original episode of “The Oprah Winfrey Show” will air May 25. Oprah tweeted last month that she was “hard at work planning the final shows” of TV’s top-rated talk show for more than 20 years. Check your local listings for time and station — I have a feeling the entire month will be packed with stuff you won’t want to miss!
Q: I heard that because of contract negotiations, “Mad Men” won’t be back for a fifth season. Please tell me this isn’t true! — Heather F., via e-mail
A: Don’t fret. The show is getting a late start because of contract-negotiation specifics with “Mad Men” creator Matthew Weiner, but it will return for its fifth season in early 2012.
READERS: It’s time for our third contest! On Tuesday, May 10, the Ovation network is premiering its original series “In Search of Food.” The program spotlights the popularity and resurgence of the “locavore” movement — cooking with locally sourced ingredients — that has invigorated local growers and farms around the country. Barton travels to Minneapolis, New York and San Francisco, where he meets local farmers, chefs and food craftsmen. “In Search of Food” is hosted by acclaimed chef, author and sustainability advocate Barton Seaver. I have five copies of Barton’s “For Cod and Country,” a beautiful hardcover cookbook highlighting cooking with fish. Write to me at letters@cindyelavsky.com or at King Features Weekly Service, P.O. Box 536475, Orlando, FL 32853-6475, and tell me how far you have gone in search of good food. Deadline is May 31.
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