May 31 2010

TV: Week of May 30

Category: TV,Upcomingvelveetahead @ 2:22 pm

It is now officially the first week of summer since there are tons of reality shows on the network channels and USA is back with its fun-time shows, starting with Royal Pains and Burn Notice.

Pick of the Week

Royal Pains
Channel: USA
Time:
10/9c
Starring:
Mark Feuerstein, Paulo Costanzo, Reshma Shetty, Jill Flint
Premieres: Thursday, June 3
Trailer

Synopsis: A doctor gets blackballed in New York so he sets up shop in the Hamptons as a concierge doctor. He found out at the end of the season that he has no money since his brother lent it to his father, who lost it.

My Take: If you like other USA shows, then you would like this one too. Good characters and tons of fun to watch.

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May 29 2010

FOX Upfronts

Category: TV,Upcomingvelveetahead @ 5:42 pm

In the middle of May every year, the networks get together to show off the new shows they picked up, congratulate those that they renewed and try not to talk about the shows they canceled. This year, FOX tried to deal with the effects of ending 24 and the waning popularity of American Idol, so it tried to outshine all of that with Glee, which seems to be its most popular show currently.

What Was Canceled

I think 24 went on a few seasons too long so I think it is good that it had its series finale this year. I’m surprised that Dollhouse was renewed for a second season, but still no one watched it, so I wasn’t surprised that it was canceled either. I enjoyed it while it was on.  Other FOX shows that were canceled that you might not know were even on the air: Brothers, Sit Down Shut Up, Sons of Tucson, Past Life, ‘Til Death and The Wanda Skyes Show.

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May 28 2010

Movies Opening May 28

Category: 2010,Movies,Openingvelveetahead @ 9:36 am

The movie studios probably see the movies being released as one for women (about fancy clothes and girlfriends) and one for guys (action film), but I think Prince of Persia with a very buff Jake Gyllenhaal is for women and Sex and the City 2 is for gay men.

Nationwide Releases

Sex and the City 2
Prince of Persia

Sex and the City 2
Directed: Michael Patrick King
Starring: Sarah Jessica Parker, Kim Cattrall, Kristin Davis, Cynthia Nixon, Chris Noth, David Eigenberg, Evan Handler
Trailer

Synopsis: Two years after the first movie, all the women are bored with their lives so they escape New York City for Abu Dhabi.

My Take: I was disappointed in the first movie since it was such a letdown from the series that I loved. This looks even worse. Also, why are they in the Middle East?

RT Score: 16%
RT Consensus: Straining under a thin plot stretched to its limit by a bloated running time, Sex and the City 2 adds an unfortunate coda to the long-running HBO series.

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May 23 2010

TV: Week of May 23

Category: TV,Upcomingvelveetahead @ 3:04 pm

It has finally come to the end, with the final episode ever of Lost. It is taking over the entire night too. so just sit back and let it envelope you. Then the rest of the week is spent showing the season finales for all the shows that haven’t ended yet for the regular season. After this week, it is time to make room for summer reality and cable shows!

Why?

100 Questions
Channel: ABC
Time: 8:30/7:30c
Starring: Sophie Winkleman, Christopher Moynihan, David Walton, Smith Cho
Premieres: Thursday, May 27
Trailer

Synopsis: A woman is having a hard time finding Mr. Right so she fills out a questionnaire for a dating service and each question reminds her for a time in the past.

My Take: It sounds like a really lame premise for an ensemble show about dating people sitting around cracking jokes.

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May 21 2010

Movies Opening May 21

Category: 2010,Movies,Openingvelveetahead @ 5:26 pm

This week has another SNL skit that tries to turn itself into a movie, but fails miserably. They’ll keep trying since every once in a while, a movie actually works. Then there is Shrek that is in 3D and apparently selling tickets for $20 a piece in NYC to watch it on an IMAX screen. Ridiculous.

Nationwide Releases

MacGruber
Shrek Forever After

MacGruber
Directed: Jorma Taccone
Starring: Will Forte, Kristen Wiig, Ryan Phillippe, Powers Boothe, Maya Rudolph, Val Kilmer
Trailer

Synopsis: Based on the SNL skit that parodies MacGyver.

My Take: MacGyver is completely ready to be parodied, but I’ve only seen one SNL skit and this trailer. I didn’t find either one funny.

RT Score: 55%

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May 17 2010

MWG: Big Trouble in Little China

Category: 1980s,Movie Watching Group,Movies,Reviewsvelveetahead @ 3:15 am

It is Jim’s turn to pick the movie for us this month. Here is what he said when asked to pick a movie, “I’m going to go with the great John Carpenter masterpiece, Big Trouble in Little China.”  I’m surprised he didn’t pick it sooner.

Netflix synopsis: Traveling through a shadowy world filled with supernatural creatures and spectacular action, regular guy Jack Burton (Kurt Russell) and lawyer Gracie Law (Kim Cattrall) try to track down a 2,000-year-old magician, Lo Pan (James Hong), who has kidnapped Burton’s friend’s green-eyed fiancée. John Carpenter directs this adventurous spoof of the martial-arts movie genre set in San Francisco’s Chinatown district.

RT Score: 81%

Watch it and review it!

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May 16 2010

TV: Week of May 16

Category: TV,Upcomingvelveetahead @ 3:10 pm

The Survivor finale is tonight and a bunch of other shows have their finales this week too since the end of regular network season is wrapping up. There will be one new show premiering this week (Good Guys), but it is really just a preview. It will return in June, so if you like it, hopefully you will remember it in a month to watch it again.

Pick of the Week

The Good Guys
Channel: FOX
Time: 8/7c
Starring: Colin Hanks, Bradley Whitford, Diana Maria Riva, Jenny Wade
Premieres: Wednesday, May 19
Trailer

Synopsis: Detective show from the creator of Burn Notice, there is one cop who is stuck in the ’80s, especially with that mustache and another rookie, who isn’t too pleased by his choice of partners.

My Take: It’s supposed to be goofy fun that would probably fit right in on USA, but hopefully will find a home on FOX.

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May 04 2010

Where the Wild Things Are

Category: 2009 Reviews,Movies,Reviewsvelveetahead @ 8:54 pm

I read the book when I was kid, but I don’t remember much about it beyond the pictures. That is what stuck with me over the years. I saw it with only that memory, but guessed I would enjoy it since Spike Jonze is an oddball. I wasn’t disappointed.

Max is a kid that seems to be lonely. His older sister would rather hang out with her friends than play with him. When her friends start playing a bit to rough with Max and destroys his igloo, he retaliates against her bedroom. When his mom comes home and is too busy with either, work or a new boyfriend, he acts out. After demanding dinner and biting his mom, he runs off where he finds a boat that leads him to a magical land.

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May 02 2010

TV: Week of May 2

Category: TV,Upcomingvelveetahead @ 5:37 pm

Nothing really new starting this week since the regular tv season is wrapping up and May sweeps is going on. There will be quite a few season finales coming up the next few weeks before all the cable channels bring on all their new seasons starting in June.

The season finale of Cold Case is tonight, which might also be the series finale. It hasn’t been renewed for next season and gets more expensive to produce each season. I would actually be surprised if CBS does renew it at this point, but I think seven years is long enough for the show. On Wednesday, Fly Girls ends its first season. Did anyone watch this show?

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