Watchers Watch -- Film, Movie and TV Blog -- December, 2007

Watchers Watch

Commentary on Television, Film and Video

Contact Us
Film Releases
Homepage
Linking to Us
Movie Books
RSS Feed
WWFeeds.com

December, 2007 Archives | Homepage

What's on TV on New Year's Eve

Photo of Dick Clark, Fergie and Ryan Seacrest

The television choices for New Year's Eve are varied: there really is something for everyone. On ABC there's "Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve" with Dick Clark and Ryan Seacrest in Times Square and Fergie in Los Angeles. Carrie Underwood, Akon, Taylor Swift and Will.I.Am will perform. On MTV viewers can see Tia Tequila and Perez Hilton count down the New Year. Mary J. Blige, Kid Rock and Paramore will appear and/or perform.

Fox is presenting "New Year's Eve Live" hosted by Cat Deeley, the host of "So You Think You Can Dance." American Idol winner Jordin Sparks and runner-up Blake Lewis are slated to perform in what sounds like a real yawnfest. BET is offering up "106 & Party: New Year's Eve Special" hosted by Terrence and Rocsi. Scheduled to appear and/or perform are Soulja Boy, Swizz Beatz, Bow Wow, Omarion, Lil' Boosie, Webbie & Fox, Hurricane Chris and Mims.

Carson Daly will be hosting over at NBC. Lenny Kravitz and Alicia Keys are slated to perform. On CNN you can see Anderson Cooper in Times Square as he does a count down and checks in with other celebrations around the world. Aiming at a totally different demographic than the Tia Tequila show is PBS' "Live From Lincoln Center" in which violinist Joshua Bell is the featured performer. Lorin Maazel conducts the New York Philharmonic in an evening of violin music.

And if none of that does it for you, there's always the South Park mini-marathon on Comedy Central. Or, you could strap on your dancing shoes and hit the town. Happy New Year, everyone!

Posted on December 31, 2007
Permalink | Digg this | Blogs linking to this post: Google | Technorati

Johnny Depp Talks Sweeney Todd

Screenshot of Sweeney Todd

Johnny Depp reveals how disturbing it was to film one scene in his new hit movie, Sweeney Todd.

The 44-year-old actor says that a simple flashback scene in 'Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street' had him and director Tim Burton shaken to their cores. It was when young Sweeney's happy life before he was sent to prison by the judge. Although seemingly normal, the actor and the director who created the movie couldn't stomach it. "I think that was the weirdest thing I ever had to shoot," Depp says in an interview. "[Burton] literally was sobbing. He left the set of his own movie." The 49-year-old director says the melodrama of the scene was too much to bear. "That's when I knew [Depp] was a great actor, because that was terrible. That was so bad."

*****

"That and having to soap up Alan Rickman's face were two of the scariest moments, maybe of my life," quips Depp.

Sweeney Todd has gotten rave reviews from critics and has been nominated for a number of Golden Globe awards.

Posted on December 28, 2007
Permalink | Digg this | Blogs linking to this post: Google | Technorati

Pilot Season is in Jeopardy

The writers' strike isn't ending anytime soon, and it's looking the traditional tv pilot season may not happen at all.

The disruption of the pilot season, which runs from January through April, would shake up the $9 billion "upfront" market that begins in May when advertisers pay to book commercial time long in advance of a broadcast.

Some experts believe the very time frame of the broadcast season as a whole, which has traditionally run from September to May, may now be relegated to entertainment history. "This strike is certainly going to cause a shift. If it isn't resolved by February 1, it will rule out many pilots," said Jeff Hermanson, assistant executive director of the Writers Guild of America (WGA).

*****

Industry sources said the networks have only a few scripted programs in development and even fewer pilots shot. Some fear the 2008-2009 TV season may be scuttled altogether if the strike lasts into February or that the upfronts -- during which networks sell roughly 85 percent of their annual commercial inventory -- will be pushed to June or July.

We think that if the strike isn't settled soon (and the AMPTP refuses to even come back to the bargaining table) the entire television industry will change. That could eventually be a good thing, but it's going to make for some truly awful television programming for the next year or so.

Posted on December 21, 2007
Permalink | Digg this | Blogs linking to this post: Google | Technorati

Lost Has a New Timeslot, The 4400 and The Dead Zone Canceled

Lost is moving to Thursdays at 9:00 p.m. Eastern time. The move is part of ABC's shuffling of its schedule in response to the ongoing writers' strike.

For those of you who will be looking for Lost next year, you won't find it in the usual spot. Staring down the dimly lit hatch of a spring with no new episodes of Grey's Anatomy, Ugly Betty, Brothers & Sisters or Desperate Housewives, ABC has opted to move the Emmy-winning Lost to Thursdays at 9 p.m., the time slot that in prestrike days would have played host to the weekly Grey's-CSI battle.

But the scribes are at a standstill, and it's Lost that will be getting the primo prime-time real estate as part of ABC's attempt to make its strike-impacted schedule look as attractive as possible in the absence of the rest of its scripted heavy hitters. Not that Lost's reemergence won't bring along its own set of issues-the castaway drama is still one of myriad series that has only half of its preordered episodes in the can thanks to the writers' strike.

Fox, for instance, opted to postpone the seventh season of 24 indefinitely until it could air an uninterrupted "full day." But apparently ABC has figured that some Lost-eight consecutive new episodes instead of 16-is better than none at all, considering how none too pleased audiences were when the series' third season was interrupted by a three-month hiatus. So, Lost's fourth season will premiere Jan. 31 at 9 p.m., where it will serve as lead-in to the new drama Eli Stone.

In other tv news, USA Network has abruptly canceled The 4400 and The Dead Zone and the word is that there will be no series finale aired. We are not happy about this at all.

Posted on December 20, 2007
Permalink | Digg this | Blogs linking to this post: Google | Technorati

The Hobbit is Back On and Peter Jackson is On Board

It's official-- Peter Jackson has settled his lawsuit with New Line, has sung Kum Ba Yah with former arch-enemy Bob Shaye of New Line so that The Hobbit films can go forward. Yes, that's right, LOTR fans -- the Hobbit is On. Jackson will executive produce the first film, and maybe direct it if he can find the time. He is more likely to direct the second film. A fairly giddy MGM CEO Harry Sloan talked about the deal in an interview:

Can you tease us with who might be in line to direct? Guillermo Del Toro, Sam Raimi...

Well, those are the names that have been mentioned and they're both top directors, excellent directors. It's Peter's project. Peter and Bob Shaye are going to oversee it creatively but in the end ... our choice had always been Peter. But if after he and Fran [Walsh, Jackson's wife] and whoever they work with develop the script, if Peter feels comfortable and Bob feels comfortable with another director, then there will be another director.

Is there any chance that Peter could direct the Hobbit sequel?

Well, he could direct either of them.

He's been busy with The Lovely Bones, so has it been a scheduling thing?

Well, he's got Lovely Bones, he's got Tin Tin, he's got two or three projects, but it is the right time for him to devote his intentions to developing the property and the script with himself and Fran and maybe other writers as well. And once the property is developed and there's a picture that's ready to go, he may consider directing it -- although the second film might be more likely due to scheduling.

Does Peter have the right to refuse a director for this one, or script approval?

Neither us nor New Line would want to hire a director that Peter was not completely comfortable with. Remember it's Peter's project, he's overseeing it. So I don't want to tell you what's legally in the contract.... But we wouldn't do that.

We think Peter should drop everything to write and direct both films. But, alas, he hasn't asked our opinion about what he should do.

Posted on December 18, 2007
Permalink | Digg this | Blogs linking to this post: Google | Technorati

I Am Legend Breaks Box Office Records

Scene from I am Legend

Will Smith stole the box office this past weekend: his SF film I Am Legend made a whopping $76.5 million. That is a new box officer record for December that was previously held by Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, which opened with $72.6 million in 2003.

In second place was the poorly-reviewed Alvin and the Chipmunks which made $45 million. The Golden Compass hung on for third place, making $9 million. In fourth place was Enchanted which made another $6 million. In fifth place was No Country for Old Men, which made $3 million.

Posted on December 17, 2007
Permalink | Digg this | Blogs linking to this post: Google | Technorati

Golden Globe Nominations Announced

The Golden Globes nominations were announced and there were plenty of snubs -- especially for shows such as Heroes and Lost. Keira Knightley's new film, Atonement, was nominated in multiple categories and America Ferrera was nominated for Best Actress, which is nice. Nominees in the major film categories are:

Picture, Drama: American Gangster, Atonement, Eastern Promises, The Great Debaters, Michael Clayton, No Country for Old Men, There Will Be Blood.

Actress, Drama: Cate Blanchett, Elizabeth: The Golden Age; Julie Christie, Away From Her; Jodie Foster, The Brave One; Angelina Jolie, A Mighty Heart; Kiera Knightley, Atonement.

Actor, Drama: George Clooney, Michael Clayton; Daniel Day-Lewis, There Will Be Blood; James McAvoy, Atonement; Viggo Mortensen, Eastern Promises; Denzel Washington, American Gangster.

You can see the full list here.

Posted on December 14, 2007
Permalink | Digg this | Blogs linking to this post: Google | Technorati

Trailer for Will Ferrell's Semi-Pro

Here's the new trailer for Will Ferrell's new movie, Semi-Pro, a sports comedy set in 1976. The popular pro basketball league, the ABA, competed with the staid NBA with flashy stunts, wild promotions and its trademark red, white and blue ball. Eventually the ABA merged with the NBA.

Posted on December 11, 2007
Permalink | Digg this | Blogs linking to this post: Google | Technorati

Tom Brokaw Goes Back to 1968

Sex, drugs, rock and roll, student protests and and the dawning of the civil rights movement: 1968 was a turbulent time. Tom Brokaw's new documentary premieres Sunday, December 9 at 9-11pm ET/PT on The History Channel and it looks really interesting. 1968 with Tom Brokaw explores the significance of of this pivotal year and how it is still affecting our society today.

Posted on December 8, 2007
Permalink | Digg this | Blogs linking to this post: Google | Technorati

Speed Racer Trailer

Here is the trailer for the upcoming Wachowski brother's Speed Racer film starring Emile Hirsch as James "Speed" Racer. The film will open on May 9th, 2008. Information about the film can be found on IMDB.com and on the official website.

Posted on December 7, 2007
Permalink | Digg this | Blogs linking to this post: Google | Technorati

George Clooney and Brad Pitt Honor Julia Roberts

George Clooney sent in a video to American Cinematheque's tribute to Julia Roberts, which aired last night on AMC. The tribute was shot in bathroom stall and...well, you'll just have to see for yourself.

Posted on December 6, 2007
Permalink | Digg this | Blogs linking to this post: Google | Technorati

Our Blogs

Bloggers Blog
Crafters Craft
Drivers Drive
Fantasy SF Blog
Gamers Game
Health News Blog
HowToWeb.com
The IWJ Blog
Lovers Love
Media Cynic
Petosphere
Pleasant Morning Buzz
Readers Read
Science News Blog
Shopping Blog
Singers Sing
Surfers Surf
Traders Trade
Video Nacho
Watchers Watch
Workers Work
The Write News
Writer's Blog