ABC to air ‘Skating With the Stars’. Whose double Salchow are you dying to see?

Image Credit: Joe Viles/FoxABC just announced that when the current season of Dancing With the Stars tangos off the stage, it will be replaced with a six-episode run of Skating With the Stars. Because what’s funnier then questionably coordinated B-listers in sequins? Questionably coordinated B-listers in sequins … on ice.

As soon as I heard about this edition, my mind flew back to that Fox show Skating With Celebrities from 2006 (pictured here) that found stars like Kristy Swanson, Bruce Jenner, and Todd Fields stumbling and bumbling with actual figure skaters like Nancy Kerrigan and Lloyd Eisler in a pairs competition. (Kristy Swanson and Lloyd Eisler ended up winning. And then hooking up. The pair are now married.) It was similar to Dancing, in that so much seemed to depend on how physically adept the star was. But on Skating, it seemed like female celebrities had an immediate advantage, because at least the professional men had impressive-looking lifts to fall back on, even if the star was a subpar skater. There was only so much the professional ladies could do with their mediocre male stars. I wonder how ABC’s version will deal with that? And which stars do you want to see strap the skates on? (The cast will be revealed on Nov. 2.) I nominate Moira Kelly!

Read more:
ABC schedules ‘Skating With the Stars’ and ‘V’

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'Conviction' producers respond to victim's family - Entertainment Weekly

The producers of the Hilary Swank movie Conviction, the new movie that tells the story of the woman who spends years of her life proving that her imprisoned brother (Sam Rockwell) is innocent of murder, responded to public complaints from the family of the real-life murder victim. In a statement, the producers said, “We have the deepest compassion and sympathy for the family of Katharina Brow and would like to arrange a private screening for Melrose and Charlie Brow. This will no doubt answer many of their questions surrounding the unthinkable and horrific tragedy that befell their mother.”

On Thursday, the Brows and their lawyer, Gloria Allred, held a press conference where they criticized the filmmakers for not reaching out to their family before making the movie.

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‘Showgirls’ director + ‘Obsessed’ writer = most awesomely bad movie since ‘Showgirls’?

Image Credit: Suzanne TennerSome people would read the Variety piece announcing that Paul Verhoeven is set to direct Eternal, a script from David Loughery that “centers on a recovering alcoholic who believes that he’s cheated on his wife — only to discover that the other woman is a ghost who is in pursuit of his soul,” and go, “Pass!” But they’re not thinking this through: This is the man that directed Elizabeth Berkley to put ice on her nipples in Showgirls collaborating with the man who outlined the MTV Movie Award-winning fight between Beyoncé and Ali Larter in Obsessed (pictured). It’s going to be awesome. “The other woman is a ghost who is in pursuit of his soul” — there are no words, just the chills I got retyping that. You know the wife is going to end up throwing down with the paranormal slut, somehow. I need to know how.

Who else sees this project’s potential to be the greatest/most awesomely bad thing since Showgirls?

Read more:
‘Showgirls’: The trainwreck that keeps chugging along, 15 years later

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30 'Did you see it?!' TV moments

Mad Men recap: Desperate Times
I've never felt so simultaneously full of hope and despair for Sally as this episode. Dr. Edna is a marvel, and I felt a flush of tears when she held onto that Go Fish card and made sure Sally absorbed her pride and belief in her. Kiernan Shipka played the episode beautifully, her Sally leaping years ahead of Betty in terms of maturity and wisdom. Sally was able to speak frankly of her mother's limitations (''She doesn't care what the truth is, as long as I do what she says'') while also shutting Glenn down from his line of attack. —Karen Valby

Read the full recap.

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'Jackass': Knoxville's mom says...

Image Credit: Tommaso Boddi/PR PhotosWhen you watch Jackass ringleader Johnny Knoxville get the stuffing knocked out of him by a professional boxer or take a sledgehammer to the groin, do you ever wonder: What must he have been like as a child? And what does his poor mother think about his daredevil-may-care ways? On the eve of the release of Jackass 3D, we went directly to the source for illumination. Lemoyne Clapp was kind enough to describe the experience of raising little Johnny (ne PJ Clapp), and how difficult it is to watch her son sacrifice his body for the sake of entertainment.

“I had raised two daughters, and PJ came 11 years later. He was completely different, but I thought it was because he was a boy and all boys acted like that. At 9 months old, he could climb up on his playpen and throw himself out on the floor. Luckily, we had carpet back then. But he never cried, even when he would get hurt.

When he was 2, he tried to put the cat in the washing machine. I happened to catch him doing it, and he said, ‘He’s duwty.’ He couldn’t pronounce his r’s…. When he was 14, playing baseball on a travel team, his teammates told me he was diving out the second-story window into the pool. That should’ve been a warning, shouldn’t it? But he’s got a heart of gold. He’s a sweetheart. I never heard him say a bad word till I saw it on TV. He never, ever sassed. I’d tell him when to come home, and it was ‘Yes, ma’am.’ He came home when he pleased sometimes, but it was always ‘Yes, ma’am.’

I didn’t have any idea what Jackass was. The name should’ve given it away. I’m sure that was the last thing he wanted to tell me — I live in the Bible Belt. I called three of my friends and told them, ‘Be sure to watch my son’s show!’ The first one was the worst one he ever did. I didn’t go out of the house for a week, and my friends didn’t call me back. A month later, they called wanting autographs for their grandchildren, and I said, ‘You made me feel so bad, I don’t think I’m going to get them for you.’ [Laughs]

Jackass was very painful to watch. If I thought he was going to get hurt, I just covered my eyes. But I couldn’t help but watch it. It was really funny. I worry about all of the boys, and when they’re through filming, it’s like somebody’s lifted a burden off me. He tells me not to worry — ‘Oh, Mom, the dangerous things are over’ — and I think, ‘Oh, he’s okay now.’ And then I find out he’s still filming. I truly hope [Jackass 3D] is the last one. It’s a good one to go out on. I watched with PJ and he said, ‘Mom, cover your eyes.’ But I didn’t get to close them before the buffalo threw him up in the air with his horns. I guess it’s a buffalo — it has horns. I reached over and hit his leg three times for doing it.

Does he pull pranks on me? I’ll read you the birthday card I got yesterday with flowers. I have back problems, and any time he sends flowers, I ask the girl if she’d mind carrying the flowers in the house for me. I was looking at the flowers, thinking how pretty they were, and I noticed she was giving me a strange look. Here’s the card: ‘Dear Mom, Ever since you got out of prison, you have been a different person. I hope the judge takes that into consideration at your next trial. We love you very much.’ I get these a lot, and it always has something to do with my prison record or drug rehab. The reality is, I don’t drink and I’ve had one speeding ticket — and they dismissed it! But as far as pranks, it’s just the cards and things. I laugh. I just know that’s him. And I wouldn’t change a hair on his head.”

Read more:
Jackass 3D preview
The terrible ideas we get from movies

View the original article here

‘Hangover 2′ without Heather Graham… yeah, we’re okay with that

Heather Graham will not return for The Hangover 2, a rep for Warner Bros. confirms. E!’s Online‘s Marc Malkin first reported the news, with a statement from a studio rep explaining that the story that takes Bradley Cooper’s Phil, Zach Galifianakis’ Alan, and Ed Helms’ Stu to Bangkok simply doesn’t allow room for her character, the Las Vegas stripper Stu married, to enter the picture. Even if you’re not a Graham fan, you have to admit she was great in the first film — but I don’t think anyone will be too upset over this. If there was ever a movie that doesn’t need the old ball and chain attached to it, it’s the Hangover sequel. As director Todd Phillips told EW last November while side-stepping a question about the film’s plot, “What people loved about The Hangover was not Las Vegas or the bachelor party but these three characters. I think you can take those characters and put them in other situations, and you don’t need the sell of Vegas and a bachelor party and all that other stuff.” (Still, Bangkok is a nice touch.)

Plus, even if Graham’s not in the movie, she can still show up at its premiere bra-less.

More Hangover 2:
Hangover 2 to get Bangkok dangerous
Hangover 2 photos surface: One of these Zach Galifianakis shirts is… just like the others

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PopWatch Rewind Week 9: ‘My Cousin Vinny’

My Cousin Vinny is not the greatest movie Joe Pesci ever made, but it is unquestionably the Joe Pesci-est movie Joe Pesci ever made. One of five 1992 films featuring the diminutive actor  (along with Lethal Weapon 3 and Home Alone 2), My Cousin Vinny stars Pesci as Vincent LaGuardia Gambini—clearly a name designed to evoke the best and worst of New Yawk Italian-Americans—a wannabe lawyer whose first case sends him into the murky waters of Broad Alabama Clichés to defend his young cousin, played by Ralph Macchio, when he is wrongfully accused of murder, much like Hilary Swank’s brother in this week’s Conviction. Along for the ride is Maria Tomei, in the performance that would win her an unfairly controversial Oscar, and a cast of brilliant supporting actors trying on terrible Southern accents. In the battle of stereotype-versus-stereotype, who will prevail?

DF: Am I the only one who thinks that, whenever Joe Pesci throws a tantrum in the movie, he’s this close to shooting Marisa Tomei in the face?

KS: It’s because of Goodfellas. We’re automatically conditioned to think that whenever Joe Pesci starts asking rhetorical questions, someone’s getting hurt. “What am I, a lawyer to you? Am I going to be litigating?” BAM! The essence of Joe Pesci is that when his fury and passive-aggression is released via violence, it’s horrifying. But when it’s just turned into frustration and exasperation, it’s hilarious.

DF: In 1992, Pesci was having a Jeff Goldblum moment: The strange man was suddenly adored by everyone in America. Vinny is a film built entirely around the Joe Pesci star persona as surely as Mission: Impossible is built around Tom Cruise. I think that’s why I like My Cousin Vinny so much — it recasts the Joe Pesci nutcase as the lovable romantic hero.

KS: I think what also helps make My Cousin Vinny work is that Joe Pesci’s stereotype is nicely counter-balanced by about 40 other stereotypes. “Oh, those simple country folk, with their one suit store, their wood cabins, and their death by electric chair. What charm!” Usually in a movie like this, city mouse and country mouse learn something about each other and realize that each have their strengths. But here, they basically tolerate each other for awhile and then go their separate ways, without learning that there was in fact anything beyond their initial impressions.

DF: It does seem like there’s a slightly less genteel ending where everyone congratulates Pesci and the judge walks up and says, “You’re a hell of a trial lawyer,” but then also says, “Guess what! According to New York, you’re not a lawyer at all” and throws him in prison. At least that’s a bit more structurally sound than: “Remember that judge you mentioned that one time? I called him for help, and he helped! DEUS EX MACHINA!”

KS: They could have just had the judge say, “Oh, you weren’t who you said you were, but that was one great cross-examination,” mutual respect, shake hands, Joe Pesci says something untoward and gets a glare from the judge to prove that they’re still cut from different cloths, and then drive off into the sunset. Instead it’s, “Nope, we’re still lying, let’s just get out of here before these rubes arrest us.”

DF: It used to be a joke that Marisa Tomei won the Oscar. Now, her victory is the rare evidence that the Oscars don’t always get things utterly wrong. It’s actually someone who won a supporting actor trophy for a legitimately supporting performance, for a purely comic performance, and before she was even remotely famous.

KS: There was that silly rumor that Jack Palance accidentally read the wrong name when he presented the award. As if Jack Palance actually deserved his Oscar more than she did! But in years since, Tomei’s racked up two more nominations, for serious roles. So in the words of Mona Lisa Vito, “F— you, you freakin’ dumbasses!”

DF: So this movie was the beginning of Marisa Tomei’s career, the midpoint of Joe Pesci’s career…and the end of Ralph Macchio’s career?

KS: Pretty much. In Vinny, Macchio plays a twenty-something college student who looks about 14, even though he was actually 31 when the film came out. I’d heard that Macchio was considered at one point for the role of Marty McFly in Back to the Future, and now that makes sense since he can clearly control time. Either that or he made a deal with the devil to receive eternal youth but forgot to ask for eternal fame as well.

DF: Him and his wrongfully-accused friend are the main characters of the film for the first 20 minutes, and then they spend the rest of the movie doing spit takes whenever Joe Pesci does or says something stupid/brilliant.

KS: The real surprise of Vinny is that it is genuinely hilarious. I think going in you know that it’s Pesci doing meta-Pesci and Marisa Tomei snapping gum, and you look at the title and you think it’ll be an amusing concept comedy and that’s about it. But there are a ton of laughs, from Fred Gwynne drawling “Huwhat is a yute?” to the 20-minute long misunderstanding in which the friend thinks Joe Pesci’s going to rape him. And somehow within that is a really solid courtroom story that blows an episode of Law & Order out of the water.

DF: There’s the outward core of Brooklyn Stereotype meets Southern Stereotype. There’s lots of comical “who’s on first?” wordplay based on simple misunderstandings. And then there’s the final courtroom sequence, which allows Pesci to relentlessly chew the scenery.

KS: Let me just point out that on the IMDb entry for My Cousin Vinny, their recommendations if you liked the film include A Time to Kill, Call Northside 777, Freeway, Anatomy of a Murder, and Capote. I’m not sure they’ve quite got it nailed.

DF: Come on, what do you mean? Truman Capote and Joe Pesci both have hilarious voices.

Next Week: Paranormal Activity 2 is a haunted house movie in which a mysterious force messes with a couple’s child. Next week, we’ll be asking Carol Anne to stay away from the light in Poltergeist, the best film Steven Spielberg swears he didn’t direct.

Read more:
PopWatch Rewind: The Shawshank Redemption
PopWatch Rewind: Alien 3
PopWatch Rewind: Superman II

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ABC schedules ‘Skating with the Stars’ and ‘V’

Image Credit: Sergei Bachlakov/ABCGood news for fans of the lizard people: ABC announced today that V will return Jan. 4 at 9 p.m., behind a new timeslot for No Ordinary Family on Tuesdays. The network promises that season two of the high-concept show will feature more character and lizard reveals, along with more details about the V’s mythology.

In the meantime, ABC has decided to replace Dancing With the Stars when its current season ends with a program that features even more (B-level? C-Level?) celebrities making awkward dance moves in front of a live audience! But this time, they’ll do it on ice: Beginning Monday, Nov. 22, ABC will kick off a six-episode run of Skating With the Stars. The new series from BBC Worldwide Prods. will pair celebrities with “world class ice skaters” who’ll compete in front of a live audience. The skating pairs will be critiqued by a panel of expert judges and will receive a set of scores based on artistry and technique and by viewers at home, with one couple being eliminated each week.

The Skating With the Stars cast will be revealed Nov. 2, during the live Dancing With the Stars Results show.

Here’s the ABC schedule through January:

Nov. 22

8-9: Dancing With the Stars
9-11: Skating With the Stars (premiere)

Nov. 29

8-9:30: Skating With the Stars

Nov. 30

9-10: No Ordinary Family (new time period premiere)

Dec. 6

8-9:30: Skating With the Stars

Dec. 13

8-9: Skating With the Stars

Dec. 20

8-9: Skating With the Stars
9-10: Castle (repeat)
10-11: Castle (repeat)

Dec. 21

8-9: Skating With the Stars (season finale)

Jan. 4

8-9: No Ordinary Family (new time period)
9-10: V (season premiere)

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Ingraham's Take on 'View' Shoot-out - FOXNews

This is a RUSH transcript from "The O'Reilly Factor," October 14, 2010. This copy may not be in its final form and may be updated.

Watch "The O'Reilly Factor" weeknights at 8 p.m. and 11 p.m. ET!

BILL O'REILLY, HOST: Now for the top story tonight: reaction from both the left and the right, beginning with Fox News analyst Laura Ingraham, author of the big best-selling book "The Obama Diaries." Ms. Laura joins us now from Washington.

LAURA INGRAHAM, FOX NEWS CONTRIBUTOR: Hey, Bill, my ears are bleeding. I mean, that was wild.

O'REILLY: Well, it was wild. Nobody expected it, by the way. I didn't expect that to happen.

INGRAHAM: It wasn't a contrived walkout, because it looked a little too convenient to me. Let me tell you.

O'REILLY: No, no, it wasn't. Go ahead.

INGRAHAM: Now, well, Bill, here is what I say. Who gave Joy Behar the badge? Last time I checked, she wasn't an official speech police officer but apparently she has appointed herself as such. I'm a little surprised that Whoopi Goldberg would go down that road, because she said some really sensible things lately when I was on "The View" and I know when you have been on before about taxes and so forth.

But here we are at a point in our country, Bill, where you can't actually say something that is true without getting jumped and without people getting up, saying inane things like repeating themselves over and over again without making an argument, walking off the stage and then demanding an apology essentially from you. I find that to be mind-blowing.

O'REILLY: The distinction -- I'm interested to hear your opinion on this and also Alicia Menendez, a liberal, is coming up behind you. I want her opinion, too.

INGRAHAM: Good.

O'REILLY: The distinction that Ms. Behar and Ms. Goldberg make is that you can't say in this country Muslims attacked us. You have to say…

INGRAHAM: Well they consider themselves Muslims. They consider themselves Muslims.

O'REILLY: Of course they do, and they are justifying their attack by what Allah is telling them to do.

INGRAHAM: It's ridiculous.

O'REILLY: But you can't say – you must say Muslim extremists. I submit to you and everybody watching tonight that after 10 years, we got it. We know the difference between peace-abiding Muslims and people who make war under the banner of Islam. We know that, but wait, here is the question.

INGRAHAM: Yes?

O'REILLY: As I mentioned in the "Talking Points Memo." Did we say in World War II we were attacked by Japanese extremists or German extremists? Did we do that? No.

INGRAHAM: No. Of course we didn't.

O'REILLY: We said we were attacked by Japanese. We were attacked by Muslims. That's who attacked us.

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Krueger vs. Ghostface: Scarier?

Image Credit: Everett Collection (2)Yes, it’s midnight, PopWatchers. But don’t fall asleep now! After all, 1, 2, Freddy’s coming for you we’re here to help you celebrate Halloween with our Scariest Big-Screen Psycho Killer single-elimination tournament. During the month of October we’re asking you to vote for the movie murderer you’d least want to meet in the depths of your dreams. Today we kick off the battle for Top 8 supremacy with A Nightmare on Elm Street‘s Freddy Krueger, who claws at Scream‘s Ghostface; The Silence of the Lamb‘s Hannibal Lecter, who hopes Se7en‘s John Doe’s days are numbered; The Texas Chainsaw Massacre‘s Leatherface, who’ll face-off with Carrie‘s Carrie White; and No Country for Old Men‘s Anton Chigurh, who will bingo with Inglourious Basterds‘ Col. Hans Landa. So heat up a plate of fava beans,  pour yourself a nice Chianti, and vote in the polls below. Then click here to check out our entire bracket of 32 fiends, split into the HorrorVerse and DramaVerse categories.Image Credit: Richard Foreman; Francois Duhamel; Everett Collection

View the entire Psycho Killers Bracket

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‘Jackass’: Johnny Knoxville’s mother on her danger-seeking son with a ‘heart of gold’

Image Credit: Tommaso Boddi/PR PhotosWhen you watch Jackass ringleader Johnny Knoxville get the stuffing knocked out of him by a professional boxer or take a sledgehammer to the groin, do you ever wonder: What must he have been like as a child? And what does his poor mother think about his daredevil-may-care ways? On the eve of the release of Jackass 3D, we went directly to the source for illumination. Lemoyne Clapp was kind enough to describe the experience of raising little Johnny (ne PJ Clapp), and how difficult it is to watch her son sacrifice his body for the sake of entertainment.

“I had raised two daughters, and PJ came 11 years later. He was completely different, but I thought it was because he was a boy and all boys acted like that. At 9 months old, he could climb up on his playpen and throw himself out on the floor. Luckily, we had carpet back then. But he never cried, even when he would get hurt.

When he was 2, he tried to put the cat in the washing machine. I happened to catch him doing it, and he said, ‘He’s duwty.’ He couldn’t pronounce his r’s…. When he was 14, playing baseball on a travel team, his teammates told me he was diving out the second-story window into the pool. That should’ve been a warning, shouldn’t it? But he’s got a heart of gold. He’s a sweetheart. I never heard him say a bad word till I saw it on TV. He never, ever sassed. I’d tell him when to come home, and it was ‘Yes, ma’am.’ He came home when he pleased sometimes, but it was always ‘Yes, ma’am.’

I didn’t have any idea what Jackass was. The name should’ve given it away. I’m sure that was the last thing he wanted to tell me — I live in the Bible Belt. I called three of my friends and told them, ‘Be sure to watch my son’s show!’ The first one was the worst one he ever did. I didn’t go out of the house for a week, and my friends didn’t call me back. A month later, they called wanting autographs for their grandchildren, and I said, ‘You made me feel so bad, I don’t think I’m going to get them for you.’ [Laughs]

Jackass was very painful to watch. If I thought he was going to get hurt, I just covered my eyes. But I couldn’t help but watch it. It was really funny. I worry about all of the boys, and when they’re through filming, it’s like somebody’s lifted a burden off me. He tells me not to worry — ‘Oh, Mom, the dangerous things are over’ — and I think, ‘Oh, he’s okay now.’ And then I find out he’s still filming. I truly hope [Jackass 3D] is the last one. It’s a good one to go out on. I watched with PJ and he said, ‘Mom, cover your eyes.’ But I didn’t get to close them before the buffalo threw him up in the air with his horns. I guess it’s a buffalo — it has horns. I reached over and hit his leg three times for doing it.

Does he pull pranks on me? I’ll read you the birthday card I got yesterday with flowers. I have back problems, and any time he sends flowers, I ask the girl if she’d mind carrying the flowers in the house for me. I was looking at the flowers, thinking how pretty they were, and I noticed she was giving me a strange look. Here’s the card: ‘Dear Mom, Ever since you got out of prison, you have been a different person. I hope the judge takes that into consideration at your next trial. We love you very much.’ I get these a lot, and it always has something to do with my prison record or drug rehab. The reality is, I don’t drink and I’ve had one speeding ticket — and they dismissed it! But as far as pranks, it’s just the cards and things. I laugh. I just know that’s him. And I wouldn’t change a hair on his head.”

Read more:
Jackass 3D preview
The terrible ideas we get from movies

View the original article here

'Jackass 3D': The Reviews Are In! - MTV.com

The first two "Jackass" flicks shotgunned their way to the top of the box office. "Jackass 3D" will probably be no different. The only question should be if the third of Johnny Knoxville's stunt-heavy movies can top the opening of his second.

"Jackass Number Two" bowed to $29 million on over 3,000 screens in 2006. "Jackass 3D," by contrast, is set to screen in about 30 more theaters, and comes with an inflated ticket price, thanks to its third dimension. Some box-office experts are predicting the new movie will gross upwards of $30 million, which would make it the first film to cross that plateau since "The Expendables" in mid-August. Other B.O. authorities expect "Jackass" to land in the mid-to-high $20 million range.

Where the movie ends up at the end of the weekend will likely depend on its word-of-mouth. Here's what the critics are saying about "Jackass 3D."

The Story

"Like the show that inspired it, 'Jackass 3D' has no narrative. Rather, it's comprised of a nonstop series of stunts, pranks and stupid tricks that the now-established ensemble of idiots play on each other, and seemingly as often, themselves. Their leader, as always, is the indefatigable Johnny Knoxville, who subjects himself to many of the worst stunts despite being the one who most often gets the most injured. Meanwhile, there's Steve-O and Chris Pontius, stars of the 'Jackass' spin-off 'Wildboyz,' both of whom are still game to tackle whatever Knoxville makes them eat, wear, or in Pontius' case, not wear. Bam Margera is also back, terrorizing his parents Phil and April, as are his cohorts Dave England, Ehren McGheghey and Ryan Dunn. And then there's Preston Lacy and Wee Man, whose contrast in physical size continues to be a great source of humor." — Todd Gilchrist, Cinematical

The Laughs:

"[N]ovelty has never been a prerequisite for hilarity with this franchise, and 'Jackass 3D,' like its forerunners, offers the spectacle of comedy pared down to its barest essence, stripped of the distractions of motivation, purpose and narrative. There's a certain purity to the way these jokers relentlessly pursue their oral/anal fixations, and their eagerness to degrade themselves is curiously ennobling. The troupe's likability goes a long way toward making it all go down easy; even their socially transgressive stunts, as when Knoxville dons his familiar dirty-old-man prosthetics, never approach Sacha Baron Cohen levels of mean-spirited anarchy." — Justin Chang, Variety

The 3-D

"The 3D is utilized exactly as it should be for a 'Jackass' movie. For the majority of the film, it is lowbrow, over the top, and in your face. This is not an intimate exploration of the world of the Na'vi, this is a balls in your face, puke-fest. The opening and closing sequences, however, are strangely beautiful, even in their ludicrous hilarity. Fans will particularly enjoy the footage from the original series, and childhood photos of the boys, that run throughout the credit sequence." — Roth Cornet, ScreenRant

The Dissenters

"The element of half-crazed, death-defying danger that was present in all previous 'Jackass' endeavors has faded, perhaps pushed out of the picture by girlfriends and wives and kids who, incidentally you'll see glimpses of during the movie's sappy, family photos themed closing credits. ... Still, there's plenty of pain, mostly in the form of ball punching, and Knoxville does do a quick run around a ring pursued by an angry bull. But none of it really feels as dangerous and on the edge as it once did. All that's really left of the Jackass facade is the ability to be gross and, getting old or not, they've still got that down." — Josh Tyler, Cinema Blend

The Final Word

" 'Jackass' stands apart from similar shows and imitators because of the particular personalities involved, and because of the surreal sensibility that has always been such a big part of the show. Anyone can do a physical stunt, but these guys always build a context around the joke that takes it two or three steps beyond. And during the closing moments of the film, as they essentially unleash a soundstage apocalypse, leading into a closing credits sequence set to Weezer's 'Memories' that features footage from the full decade they've been shooting, there's a poignancy I wouldn't have expected from 'Jackass.' Ever. I think it's because we've watched these guys get older without growing up one little bit, and since we can't all get away with that, there is a freedom and, yes, a beauty to watching someone else pull it off." — Drew McWeeny, HitFix

Check out everything we've got on "Jackass 3D."

For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com.

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A classy new mash-up: ‘Mad Men’ theme song meets Nat King Cole’s ‘Nature Boy’

Here’s something really cool to play at your Mad Men finale party: The VideosRecordedLive YouTube account uploaded their first video, a single shot live performance of a Mad Men theme song and “Nature Boy” mash-up. According to their YouTube page, this all came about because they “wanted to put lyrics” to what I consider to be the best theme song currently on television. Nat King Cole’s “Nature Boy,” they felt, was the “perfect fit” for the theme song, “A Beautiful Mine” by RJD2, and I have to agree (watch a video of Nat King Cole performing the original “Nature Boy” here to refresh your memory). I think I like this treatment of “Nature Boy” even more than the one made famous in Moulin Rouge, but maybe I’m just on Mad Men overload right now.

Normally for me when I think mash-ups, I tend to think of something a little bit more Biggie and Miley — which does have a special place in my heart — but it certainly has a different vibe than this Mad Men theme song/”Nature Boy” twist. The “A Beautiful Mine” RJD2 song and the cover of Cole’s “Nature Boy” compliment each other perfectly, and the ’60s style live performance component fits not only both the songs, but the whole Mad Men vibe as well. Even the lyrics have me thinking about Don Draper — he certainly does feel “a little shy and sad of eye but very wise” this season. But in its famous lyrical ending, “Nature Boy” ends with “The greatest thing you’ll ever learn is just to love and be loved in return.” Now this doesn’t seem like wisdom that will spew from the lips of Don Draper anytime soon — or ever — but maybe is advice that he really needs to hear.

This is only VideosRecordedLive’s first YouTube hit, but they promise that more videos will be coming soon. And judging by the talent in this one, and the refreshing lack of auto-tune, dubbing, and cuts, I can’t wait to see what they have in store. What do you think, PopWatchers? Do you like this version or are you a purist of the originals?

Read more:
TV insiders podcast: EW experts weigh in on the ‘Mad Men’ finale, Florence Henderson sexing it up on ‘DWTS’, and a big ‘Survivor’ switcheroo
‘Mad Men’ recap: Desperate Times

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'Smallville': A fine 'Homecoming'

I’ll admit that when I saw that the 200th episode of Smallville was called “Homecoming” and would involve James Marsters as Brainiac 5 taking Clark Kent on trips into both the past and the future, I sighed, rolled my eyes, and prepared myself for some mushy tedium. After all, not many TV shows, let alone one as freighted with mythology as Smallville is, can pull off time-jumping without becoming absurd, or a mere clip-job-with-some-new-bits.

What a pleasant surprise, therefore, to see that “Homecoming” was a lot of fun and another example of how deftly the final season of Smallville is juggling so many story-lines and characters. The key one this week was James Marsters’ Brainiac, now Brainiac 5, a Legion member who traveled back from the future to help Clark out of what’s become the thing that’s preventing him from fulfilling his promise. That would that darned “darkness” the season has been invoking so frequently.

Brainiac 5 took Clark through glimpses of his past, particularly the death of his father, Jonathan. “The darkness is the past,” Brainiac 5 told Clark — that is, it’s Clark’s dwelling on the past, his feelings of unworthiness, that are sabotaging him. Later in the hour, Brainiac 5 added that “fearing the future” was the other part of the “darkness,” and that Clark didn’t need to be afraid of that.

Why? Because, Brainiac 5 showed Clark and us, Kent would grow up to become Superman and the “nerdy,” bespectacled adult Clark Kent, who, we also saw, shared a wonderful future with a radiant Lois Lane. And the exchanges between Clark and Future Clark were pretty delightful.

Speaking of delightful, Erica Durance continues to give one of the most charming performances on TV these days. She pulled off the extended joke about no one remembering Lois at the high-school reunion, a running gag that could have been a groaner but was saved by Durance’s various reactions to being snubbed. And her final dance with Clark conveyed the appropriate dreaminess necessary, complete with their mutual declarations of “I love you.” (Durance has begun to remind me of what I think of as the ideal Lois Lane — the one drawn in the comics by the great Kurt Schaffenberger.)

This week’s Smallville didn’t abandon last week’s Oliver Queen coming out as Green Arrow plot. Ollie gave his first media interview, a jarring one in which he lashed out at “arm-chair bloggers [who become] critics instead of leaders.” Well, I guess billionaires are sensitive to the press they receive.

The key point Smallville wanted you to come away with this week was that Clark has now made peace with his past (depicted this night in the scene at his father’s grave site) and can shake off his adolescent insecurities and grow into the man he’s destined to be. On that level, it was a success.

What did you think?

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Elected Officials Call for Fox/Cablevision Arbitration - Multichannel News

The number of elected officials that have joined the chorus to prevent Fox Networks from pulling its signal from Cablevision Systems at midnight has ballooned to at least 26, with each one calling for the parties to submit to binding arbitration to settle their dispute.
Cablevision's carriage agreement for Fox television stations WNYW and WWOR in New York, WTXF in Philadelphia and cable networks Fox Deportes, NatGeo Wild and Fox Business Network is set to expire at midnight. Cablevision has called for Fox to submit to binding arbitration in the matter, which would also require that Fox not pull its signal during negotiations. Fox has declined that offer, adding that its needs would be better met through direct business to business negotiation.
The two sides have tossed barbs through dueling newspaper, TV and radio ads over the past several days as the deadline has approached. If an agreement is not reached, Cablevision customers risk losing access to National Football League programming - including the hometown New York Giants, Major League Baseball's National League Championship Series and on Oct. 27, the World Series.
In a press release Friday, Cablevision said the list of local legislators that have joined the call for independent binding arbitration has swelled to include seven members of Congress from New York and New Jersey, eight New York State Senators, three New Jersey state legislators, three Connecticut state representatives and six local New York area legislators including Babylon Town Supervisor Steve Bellone (D-NY), Rockland County Legislator Ed Day (R-NY) and Westchester County Legislator Bill Ryan (D-NY).
"If we can't reach agreement, Cablevision will accept the bipartisan calls of 27 elected officials for binding arbitration to solve this matter without any interruption in programming," Cablevision executive vice president of communications Charles Schueler said in a statement. "We urge the leadership of News Corp. to put viewers first and join us in this fair and impartial process. Cablevision would never take these broadcast stations away from our customers, and we have urged News Corp. not to pull the plug on Fox 5 and My9."

In a statement, Fox said Cablevision should concentrate on negotiating a deal.

"Cablevision needs to stop hiding behind a call for binding arbitration and negotiate in good faith," Fox said in the statement. "We appreciate the requests for Cablevision and Fox to enter binding arbitration and we share the concern for protecting viewers' access to programming. As we previously stated, binding arbitration would, unfortunately, reward Cablevision for refusing to negotiate fairly and will only ensure that more unnecessary disputes arise in the future. Direct business-to-business negotiation is the  only way to resolve this issue, while also preserving the long-term stability of the broadcast system. We will continue to negotiate and are committed to putting all our resourceas towards reaching a fair resolution."

For those keeping score, a list of the elected officials follows:
Congressman Peter King (R-NY)
Congressman Steve Israel (D-NY)
Congressman Tim Bishop (D-NY)
Congresswoman Yvette Clarke (D-NY)
Congressman Steve Rothman (D-NJ)
Congressman Albio Sires (D-NJ)

NY State Senator George Maziarz (R-NY)
NY State Senator Jose Peralta (D-NY)
NY State Senator Dean Skelos (R-NY)
NY State Assemblyman Karim Camara (D-NY)
NY State Assemblyman Adriano Espaillat (D-NY)
NY State Assemblyman Denny Farrell (D-NY)
NY State Assemblywoman Amy Paulin (D-NY)
NY State Assemblyman Mike Spano (D-NY)

NJ State Senator Paul Sarlo (D-NJ)
NJ State Assemblyman Upendra Chivukula (D-NJ)
NJ Speaker of the Assembly Sheila Oliver (D-NJ)

CT State Senator Gayle Slossberg (D-CT)
CT State Rep. Chris Perone (D-CT)
CT State Rep. William Tong (D-CT)

Babylon Town Supervisor Steve Bellone (D-NY)
Rockland County Legislator Ed Day (R-NY)
NYC Councilmember Erik Martin Dilan (D-NY)
NYC Councilmember Dan Garodnick (D-NY)
Westchester County Legislator Bill Ryan (D-NY)
Harrison Town Supervisor Joan Walsh (D-NY)

At Trylon SMR, we are dedicated Public Relations professionals solely serving clients in the media, technology, telecommunications, and related industries. We understand the specialized types of audiences our clients need to reach and the best media to reach those audiences. Tryl..more

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Hobbit movies get green light, location still in question - AFP

Hobbit movies get green light, location still in question(AFP) – 10 hours ago

WELLINGTON — The long-awaited movies based on JRR Tolkien's "The Hobbit" were given the green light Saturday but no location was named amid an ongoing union threat to boycott the production in New Zealand.

The announcement by New Line Cinema and its parent company Warner Brothers confirmed Peter Jackson, who masterminded the multi-award-winning "Lord of the Rings" trilogy, as the director and said filming will begin next February.

A spokesman for New Line Cinema said no decision has been made yet on the location for the 500 million US dollar prequels to the "Lord of the Rings" but Warner Brothers president Alan Horn was emphatic Jackson would be at the helm.

Confirmation the two movies would go ahead came two days after New Zealand unions and filmmakers held "productive" talks on the row threatening "The Hobbit" but would not say if a boycott of the films had been lifted.

International actors' unions slapped the ban on the production after Jackson refused to negotiate with NZ Actors Equity over minimum standards on the set, prompting the director to threaten to move the shoot from New Zealand.

The country's stunning natural scenery was a key element in the look of the spectacular Lord of the Rings films.

"There is no human being on the planet as qualified as Peter Jackson to direct these films," Horn said in a statement.

"Peter is incredibly talented and has the creative vision and experience to bring this beloved property to life in a way that no other filmmaker could."

The statement said Jackson "will utilise groundbreaking visual effects" for the "Hobbit" movies which will be filmed in 3-D.

Jackson said that exploring Tolkien's Middle-earth would go "way beyond a normal film-making experience. It's an all-immersive journey into a very special place of imagination, beauty and drama."

With funding secured, the only apparent hurdle in the way of filming is the ongoing row between unions and producers over a collective contract for "Hobbit" actors.

Jackson has accused the unions of "bully boy" tactics, sparking allegations from actors that workers on his sets are being short-changed.

However, following the talks in New Zealand on Thursday a joint statement said all parties agreed "it was a useful and productive discussion".

The Hollywood studios backing Jackson have previously indicated if New Zealand is ruled out they are scouting alternative locations in Scotland, Ireland, Canada, Australia and eastern Europe.

Copyright © 2010 AFP. All rights reserved. More »

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‘The Exorcist’ DVD giveaway

Hey, PopWatchers! We’re giving away 25 copies of The Exorcist on DVD! Get in the Halloween spirit with this remastered classic horror film. Our pick for one of the Scariest Movies of All Time, The Exorcist was a trailblazer in its genre, but does any other exorcism movie compare?

The DVDs are courtesy of our corporate siblings at Warner Home Video, and are available while supplies last. Want to win a copy? Here’s how to enter:

1. Go to our Facebook page.

2. Click “Like” at the top of the page

3. Find the post on our Wall announcing the giveaway, click Comment, and paying respect to The Exorcist, name the second best exorcism movie scene ever. (Note: Commenting on this post won’t enter you in the giveaway; see the official rules after the jump.)

4. If you’re a winner, we’ll contact you via Facebook message to request your mailing address.

The giveaway starts NOW!

EW’S “THE EXORCIST” DVD CONTEST OFFICIAL RULES (NO PURCHASE NECESSARY)

Open only to those to whom this or notice has been addressed, provided that entrant is a legal U.S. resident age 21 or older at the time of entry. Void where prohibited by law. Limited to one entry per Facebook account. The first 25 persons to post a qualifying comment on the related post on our Facebook wall (www.facebook.com/entertainmentweekly) will receive a DVD of The Exorcist, which has an approximate retail value (ARV) of $30. Each contestant must answer the question posed in our Facebook post as directed, or their entry may be disqualified. Where Entertainment Weekly is not the sponsor, it cannot guarantee the availability of any of the items described. Sponsor not responsible for any damage to computer equipment related to participating in this promotion. Items being distributed are not transferable or redeemable for cash. Consumers who obtain items are responsible for any and all taxes. Promotion begins at 6:00 p.m. ET or EST on 10/15/2010 and ends at 11:00 p.m. ET or EST on 10/15/2010. Entertainment Weekly will contact the winners by Facebook message requesting their mailing address on or before 10/20/2010. Winners will have 24 hours to respond, after which time they forfeit their prize. Employees of Entertainment Weekly, Time Inc., Warner Home Video, or any related companies are not eligible to enter or win. Anyone who has won a prize from Sponsor during the previous 90 days is disqualified. The winner(s) may be required to complete an affidavit or eligibility and waiver of liability before prize(s) can be awarded. For a list of winners, visit ew.com/winners seven days after the end of this contest.

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Alicia Keys & Swizz Beatz's Baby Boy: Egypt Daoud Dean! - Just Jared

Alicia Keys and husband Swizz Beatz are the proud parents of a baby boy!

The couple welcomed a son, Egypt Daoud Dean, on Thursday (October 14) in New York City, JustJared.com can confirm.

This is the first child for Alicia, 29. Swizz (real name: Kasseem Dean), 32, also has three other children.

Congrats to the new parents!!!

Alicia Keys and Swizz Beatz Welcome Baby Egypt!
Coming a bit earlier than expected, Alicia Keys and Swizz Beatz have welcomed their first child into the world. Miss Keys is said to have gone into labor on Thursday (October 14) during which time she gave birth to little Egypt Dauode Dean at New York's St ...
Drake Says He Wrote Alicia Keys' 'Un-Thinkable' About Nicki Minaj
On her single "Un-Thinkable (I'm Ready)," Alicia Keys sings the tale of a tempting and forbidden love that may not be accepted by everyone. The song, which was co-written by Drake, has been rumored to be the story of Keys' own personal experiences. But who ...

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