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Reality Roundup: Game Show in My Head, True Beauty, 13

BuzzSugar — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 07:00:38 -0800

American Idol's still the biggest thing on TV, but it's not the only reality show hitting the airwaves in January. Lots of new reality shows are starting up next month, and here, I've got previews for three of the biggies.

Ashton Kutcher is behind two of these shows, ABC's True Beauty and CBS's Game Show in my Head. For True Beauty, which premieres Jan. 5, Kutcher has teamed up with Tyra Banks for a show that's attempting to find the person out of 10 gorgeous contestants (models, pageant queens, and the like) who's the most beautiful both inside and out. The twist: The contestants don't know the "inner beauty" part of the game, which will be judged from secret footage by Vanessa Minnillo, Cheryl Tiegs, and Nole Marin. That show premieres Jan. 5.

To hear about the other two shows and see clips of all three, just

Buzz News Roundup, 10/22

BuzzSugar — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 13:32:07 -0700

Private Practice has been picked up for a full second season. — TV Week
Anne Hathaway will star in the romantic comedy The Fiance. — ComingSoon
Dominic Monaghan will guest-star in Chuck's 3-D episode in February. — Entertainment Weekly
Whoa — NBC might make a few more episodes of ER. — The Hollywood Reporter
Ashton Kutcher will star as a former hit man in the action-comedy Five Killers. — Variety
Tony Hale and newcomer Ben Koldyke have been cast as the leads in the Fox pilot Boldly Going Nowhere. — Zap2it
Naomi Watts is in talks to take the lead role in the based-on-a-true-story drama My Name Is Jody Williams. — The Hollywood Reporter
Kenny Chesney has scored his fifth No. 1 album on The Billboard 200. — Billboard

What to Netflix: New DVD Tuesday

BuzzSugar — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 08:30:16 -0700

All of the new DVD releases hit stores (and Netflix) on Tuesdays. So each week in What to Netflix: New DVD Tuesday, I sort through the best of the batch and tell you what to add to your queue. In addition to my selections below you can also take home the fourth season of Entourage, as well as season five of One Tree Hill (you know, the one where they leap ahead in time and everyone owns a business or is a famous writer or something). Also, Morgan Spurlock's documentary Where in the World is Osama Bin Laden? is out on DVD along with another great indie film, Son of Rambow.

What Happens in Vegas
This comedy starring Ashton Kutcher and Cameron Diaz didn't do so hot with critics when it first came out, but I found myself charmed by it, despite how staggeringly absurd it is at times.

Two opposites (Cameron Diaz, Ashton Kutcher) are forced to live together in matrimony so they can collect a large sum of money they accidentally won together in Las Vegas. Not only do the leads have a surprising amount of chemistry (well, I didn't expect any,
so. . .) but two supporting actors, the droll Lake Bell and The Daily Show's Rob Corddry, anchor the ridiculous moments with superb comic timing. All in all, it's a decent choice for your at-home enjoyment.

Special features include commentary from the director and a featurette titled "Sitting Down With Cameron and Ashton."

Two more up next so

Caption It: Which Caption Should Win?

BuzzSugar — Tue, 20 May 2008 05:45:10 -0700

This week's Caption It comes from What Happens in Vegas and has loads of comedic potential. You definitely gave me some laugh out loud moments with your entries, which are all awesome. Thanks to all of you for pitching in, but we can only choose one winner! Here are the finalists:

Frustrated by his failed attempts to cross-breed humans and slot machines in the laboratory, Dr. Wango decided to try it the old-fashioned way.

Warning: Too many drinks may lead to awkward sexual advancements on casino machines.

No, no, no, Ashton! That's where the COINS go!

"I need this cash to make Dude, Where's my OTHER Car?

It's your turn to vote: Which caption should win?Photo courtesy of 20th Century Fox

Caption It: Which Caption Should Win?

Frustrated by his failed attempts to cross-breed humans and slot machines...

Warning: Too many drinks may lead to ...

No, no, no, Ashton! That's where the COINS go!

"I need this cash to make..."

Caption It!

BuzzSugar — Wed, 14 May 2008 07:30:30 -0700

Welcome to the Caption It game on BuzzSugar! Every other Wednesday, I'll post a photo still from a TV show or movie here and challenge you to think of the most hilarious caption possible. I'll announce the finalists the following Tuesday, and you'll get to vote for the best caption; the winner will get a fabulous BuzzSugar T-shirt!

Last week's Caption It brought out some amazing entries! You were so creative about coming up with fun captions for Patrick's fun mini-kilt. The winning caption literally made me laugh out loud:

In a bold career move, Patrick Dempsey will be leaving Grey's Anatomy to take on the role of Blair Waldorf's newest rival on Gossip Girl.

Congrats to legaleagle! Little J should be scared.

Now it's time for this week's challenge from the Ashton Kutcher/Cameron Diaz romcom, What Happens in Vegas:

Leave your captions in the comment space below before 5 p.m. PST on Monday, May 19 to be considered for a spot in the voting round. Have fun! To see a photo of the BuzzSugar T-shirt, just

ABC's Fall Schedule: Like 2007 All Over Again

BuzzSugar — Tue, 13 May 2008 09:30:02 -0700

ABC revealed its Fall TV schedule at the 2008 upfronts this morning, and, well, it looks pretty familiar. The network is bringing back many of the new shows it introduced last Fall, plus renewing a large number of its other series.

Only two new shows will be on the schedule come Fall: The adaptation of British series Life on Mars and a reality show called Opportunity Knocks, a sort of mobile game show produced by Ashton Kutcher. Among last year's shows, Eli Stone is indeed returning, while Women's Murder Club, Cavemen, Miss Guided, Cashmere Mafia, and Carpoolers said farewell.

ABC has a couple of other shows ready to go for midseason, including an animated series called The Goode Family from Mike Judge and yet another Kutcher-produced reality project, this one a beauty pageant that has Tyra Banks on board as well. And then there's Scrubs, relocated from NBC, which will also premiere at midseason.

Here's ABC's official press release, and to check out the full schedule and descriptions of the new shows, just

Box Office: Iron Man Continues to Soar

BuzzSugar — Mon, 12 May 2008 08:30:32 -0700

Update: As of this afternoon, What Happens in Vegas beat out Speed Racer for the No. 2 spot at the box office, Variety reports.

It will come as no surprise to the majority of movie critics who screened Speed Racer that the highly anticipated Wachowski brothers' flick had a disappointing opening weekend.

Not only did Speed Racer fail to knock Iron Man out of the top spot (the Marvel action hero brought in another $50 million over the weekend), but it's still unclear if the film can truly claim second place as What Happens in Vegas is hot on its trail in what Variety is calling a "photo finish." Vegas only earned an estimated $200,000 less than Speed Racer and both films are currently hovering around the $20 million mark.

In addition to poor reviews, another problem Speed Racer had is that it seemed to only appeal to kids, and filmmakers were shooting for a broader audience. An executive for the film told Hollywood Reporter, "What's hurting us is that the picture is playing very young." The Hollywood Reporter article also points out that if this is the case, then they'll have a hard time when even more competition heads to the theaters next weekend in the form of The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian.

Made of Honor fell to fourth place followed by Baby Mama to round out the top five.

Photos courtesy of Paramount Pictures

What Happens in Vegas: Sometimes the Formula Works

BuzzSugar — Fri, 09 May 2008 06:30:06 -0700

Perhaps it's because last week's Made of Honor left me with sub-zero expectations for this genre but whatever the reason, I really liked What Happens in Vegas. Sure, it's cheesy, there's a ton of overacting and absurd coincidences, but there's also a strange charm to this movie. And while I never thought there might be real chemistry between Ashton Kutcher and Cameron Diaz, two actors who I think have become like robots trying way too hard to impersonate human beings with their exaggerated goggle-eyes and faux indignation, there is, actually, something there between them.

These two leads are also seriously aided by an engaging, well-paced (if a little silly) plot that rarely drags, and supporting actors like Lake Bell (whose droll humor is great in small doses here, as opposed to the leading lady roles like the one she had in Over Her Dead Body) and The Daily Show's solid comedian Rob Corddry, both of whom help anchor the ridiculous moments with dashes of sarcasm and superb comic timing. It's one of those times when I just want to give the casting director a kiss for taking this project from so-so to a pretty good time. For more of my take on What Happens in Vegas,

New What Happens in Vegas Trailer Is . . . Almost Kinda Funny

BuzzSugar — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 10:37:33 -0700

To be honest, I'd sort of brushed aside the Ashton Kutcher-Cameron Diaz rom-com What Happens in Vegas because from the trailer it struck me as vapid and charmless. This new trailer, however, is slightly better, I must admit. Diaz tiredly steps back into her kooky-goofball-hot-girl shoes as Joy, a woman who takes off for Las Vegas in a post-breakup getaway. There she meets Jack (Kutcher) and the two spend a wild night together that ends with their nuptials, which, of course they regret the morning after. Then, when one of them wins a jackpot using the other's quarter, as the plot description goes, the "unhappy pair try to undermine each other and get their hands on the money — falling in love along the way." Yeah.

It's not going to be thoughtful and poignant, but it also doesn't look that bad. The movie opens May 9. To check out the new trailer,

TV Tonight: Miss Guided

BuzzSugar — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 09:30:00 -0700

These days, every network seems to be developing a comedy niche. NBC has its single-camera, deadpan workplace comedies like The Office and 30 Rock; CBS has its laugh-tracked, massively appealing Monday night lineup led by Two and a Half Men; Fox has its Sunday night animation block. ABC, though, has been largely left out of the game, gambling with shows like Cavemen and canceling other series that were wonderfully strange but little-watched (The Knights of Prosperity).

The network did score one bona fide comedy hit with Samantha Who? last Fall, though, and it's possible they have another in Miss Guided, which premieres tonight. The show stars Judy Greer (known best to me as Kitty from Arrested Development) as Becky Freely, a high school guidance counselor who returns to her alma mater for work. Sure, she may have lost the orthodontics and the terrible hair, but Becky is still a high schooler at heart — right down to the sophomoric way she talks to her crush (a Spanish teacher who's just "one language lab ahead" of his students) and cowers in the face of her high school rival, who — of course — has also gotten a job back home.

The show's had a bit of behind-the-scenes turmoil (Office writer Caroline Williams created the show; Rob Thomas of Veronica Mars was brought in to run it; he left just a short time later; now a producer from That '70s Show is in charge, which makes sense because Ashton Kutcher is one of the executive producers). But what's come out of it is a pretty funny sitcom, if you're into goofy, over-the-top, occasionally absurd humor in the style of Arrested Development or even Family Guy, so

Cameron and Ashton Know When to Hold 'Em

BuzzSugar — Wed, 16 May 2007 11:47:30 -0700

It was only a matter of time, really, before goofy Cameron Diaz and goofier Ashton Kutcher got together for a romantic comedy. The two are in talks to do What Happens in Vegas, and not unlike Lucky You, I have an inkling that this will be chock full of "roll the dice and take a chance in love" puns.

Variety has a plot description:

Set in Sin City, story revolves around two people who discover they've gotten married following a night of debauchery, with one of them winning a huge jackpot after playing the other's quarter. Unhappy pair try to undermine each other and get their hands on the money -- falling in love along the way.

The article continues to say that neither actor has definitely signed a deal, so Variety may be bluffing on this one.

Source and source

"Crashers" Crashes, while "Medium" has a Future

BuzzSugar — Mon, 07 May 2007 13:12:51 -0700

Apparently, Monday at 10 p.m. is NBC's Time Slot O' Death. NBC's latest attempt to get something going in the post-"Heroes" hour, "The Real Wedding Crashers," has crashed and burned, just like "The Black Donnellys" and "Studio 60" before it. Tonight's episode is still on the schedule, but NBC will air repeats of "Law & Order: Criminal Intent" in its place for the rest of the season. USA Today is reporting that the three remaining "Crashers" episodes will air on Mondays at 8 sometime over the summer.

Frankly, I find it hard to believe that NBC hasn't been able to find a single show all season that can work after a hit as big as "Heroes." They already have a ton of viewers at that time of night; why can't they manage to keep them?

Meanwhile, another NBC show can foresee good things in its future: "Medium" has been renewed for next season. I hadn't expected the network to make any more announcements about returning shows until it reveals its full fall schedule next week, so this was a bit of a surprise. I can't help but wonder what it means for NBC's other dramas that haven't been renewed yet, including "Crossing Jordan" and, of course, "Friday Night Lights," which got an order for more scripts at the same time as "Medium."

Source

TV Tonight: "The Real Wedding Crashers"

BuzzSugar — Mon, 23 Apr 2007 02:03:42 -0700

We Sugar Network folks aren't the only ones with weddings on the brain these days. NBC's newest reality show, "The Real Wedding Crashers," premieres tonight after "Heroes." Produced by Ashton "Mr. Hidden Camera" Kutcher, the show features real-life couples who allow their weddings to be crashed by professional improv actors. Yup, the bride and groom are in on it — but the same can't be said for their parents, or the wedding party, or the guests.

At first, I thought the show could be morbidly entertaining, but after watching a few of the clips NBC released, I'm less hopeful. Granted, I'm not the biggest fan of "punk'd"-style humor — but my biggest problem with "The Real Wedding Crashers" is that it just doesn't look that funny. I couldn't even make it through this video about a mishap in a cake shop, and the one where the best man gets "arrested" with Cuban cigars wasn't much better. I can't imagine that this show will get better ratings for NBC than either "Studio 60" or "The Black Donnellys" did in that time slot, but hey, I also didn't foresee the success of "Are You Smarter than a Fifth Grader?"

To see NBC's promo for the show,

Ashton Kutcher: King of the Hidden Camera

BuzzSugar — Mon, 19 Mar 2007 12:13:54 -0700

This April, the man who made "punk'd" part of the popular lexicon will unveil his latest hidden-camera adventure, called "The Real Wedding Crashers." Essentially a reality-show version of the hit movie, the six-episode series "will record improvisational actors who go undercover at real weddings," according to an NBC press release. Kutcher is executive producing under his Katalyst shingle.

I'll admit: This show could be morbidly entertaining, not to mention a nice counterpart that other crappy wedding show. But I can't help but find Ashton incredibly irritating, no matter how snappy a dresser he is. Now it seems he has yet another hidden-camera show in the works, too. For the details,