Winner of the Grand Jury Prize and Special Jury Prize for Best Actress at this year’s Sundance Film Festival, comes Like Crazy, a story about what we experience when we’re in love. If there's one film to watch this year about the journey of love, this is it. Release Date: October 28, 2011 (limited release) Rating: PG-13
A love story is both a physical and emotional tale, one that can be deeply personal and heartbreaking for an audience to experience. Director Drake Doremus’ film Like Crazy beautifully illustrates how your first real love is as thrilling and blissful as it is devastating. When a British college student (Felicity Jones) falls for her American classmate (Anton Yelchin) they embark on a passionate and life-changing journey only to be separated when she violates the terms of her visa. Like Crazy explores how a couple faces the real challenges of being together and of being apart. Winner of the Grand Jury Prize for Best Picture at the 2011 Sundance Film Festival and of the Special Jury Prize for Best Actress for Felicity Jones, Like Crazy depicts both the hopefulness and the heartbreak of love.
Starring Anton Yelchin, Felicity Jones, Jennifer Lawrence, Charlie Bewley, Alex Kingston, Oliver Muirhead, Chris Messina, Finola Hughes, Ben York Jones, & Jamie Thomas King. Executive Producers Zygi Wilf Audrey Wilf Steven Rales Mark Roybal Produced by Jonathan Schwartz Andrea Sperling Written by Drake Doremus & Ben York Jones Directed by Drake Doremus
Like Crazy hits limited theaters October 28, 2011.
Here's some news for all of you fans of The Supremes and The Temptations! To celebrate the 50th anniversaries of these legendary groups, a series of CD and DVD releases are scheduled for the fall in both physical and digital formats! If you own every record from either band, these releases will actually include rare tracks and unreleased footage, so there's plenty to anticipate.
Their songs defined a generation from The Supremes with “Baby Love,” “Stop! In The Name Of Love” to The Temptations with “My Girl” and “Get Ready..." the 60s wouldn't be the same without these Motown artists. These groups made breakthroughs for African-Americans and for African-American women on stage, it's no wonder they are both inductees of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame!
Just Released: Diana Ross & the Supremes / 50th Anniversary: The Complete Singles 1961-1969, a 3-disc set featuring every A- and B- side from their beginning, when they were known around Motown as the “no-hit Supremes,” through their record-breaking triumphs, their 12 No. 1 hits, ending with their extraordinary decade-ending smash “Someday We’ll Be Together.”
The Temptations / 50th Anniversary: The Complete Singles 1961-1971, a 3-disc tribute to the original classic Temptations lineup, featuring every A- and B- side from their beginning, through their respective triumphs, including “My Girl,” “I Can’t Get Next To You” and “Just My Imagination (Running Away With Me),” closing with the departures of original members Eddie Kendricks and Paul Williams.
Releasing in November: More Hits By The Supremes: Expanded Edition, a limited edition 2-CD set featuring the original hit album, first issued in 1965, newly remastered in both original mono and stereo, plus two more albums’ worth of unreleased and rare tracks from the “girls” in their prime. It’s another in a continuing series of expanded versions of the group's original classic albums available on Motown/Hip-oSelect.com
Complementing the above CD releases are The Best of The Temptations on The Ed Sullivan Show (1 DVD) and The Best of The Supremes on The Ed Sullivan Show (1 DVD), as well as Motown Gold From The Ed Sullivan Show (2-DVD), which feature beloved appearances on the original Sunday night program by both groups. All three DVD collections are packed with classic Motown performances culled from the groundbreaking Ed Sullivan Show, taped live between 1964 and 1971, and all footage has been fully restored with the addition of never before released footage.
And that's not all! For the first time in decades, original Supreme Mary Wilson and The Temptations will perform together for a number of select dates that will be announced soon. So mark your calender for these upcoming release and stay tuned for more news on dates!
It's hard to believe that I was in Orlando, Florida just two weeks ago meeting Syfy's hottest talent for the Syfy Digital Press Tour. One of those talented individuals that I met was Cleve Hall who has his own docu-series, Monster Man coming to Syfy next year. And now there is a sneak peek, interview style. I cannot wait for this show to premiere! Until then, check out the new trailer below!
Covert Affairs is back next week in its new episode, “The Wake-Up Bomb.”
After failing a mission in Rio, Annie finds herself with no active operations, and begins to experience just how lonely being a CIA operative can be. But she’s quickly provided with a new assignment when she meets a chef with ties to the Basque separatist movement, ETA. Guest Stars include Santiago Cabrera and Matias Varela.
Here's a new clip! So excited!
Covert Affairs premieres next Tuesday, November 1st 10pm ET on USA Network.
Schuyler Fisk will be sharing her song, "Zombie" from her latest album, Blue Ribbon Winner, as a free download over at her official website from October 27, 2011 to Halloween night!
Her first album The Good Stuff debuted on Billboard’s Heatseekers Chart and at #1 on the iTunes Singer/Songwriter Chart. Check out my review of The Good Stuff here. I also really enjoyed Schuyler's sophomore album, Blue Ribbon Winner, especially "Zombie." Read all about it here.
Throughout her music career, Schuyler has performed with Sheryl Crow, Rachael Yamagata, Cary Brothers, Priscilla Ahn, and The Weepies. She has also played across North America in the Hotel Café tour, with Joshua Radin and most recently with Ben Taylor.
If you did not get the chance to see her play alongside these incredible artists, you may have heard her on some of your favorite soundtracks and television shows. She wrote and performed original music for the soundtrack to Zach Braff’s film The Last Kiss; she was sought out by producer Reese Witherspoon to write and perform a song for the soundtrack of the film Penelope; and continues to contribute songs to many other film and television projects including Dear John, Ugly Betty, and Life Unexpected.
On the acting front, Schuyler can be seen alongside Mia Wasikowska, Henry Hopper, and Jane Adams in Gus Van Sant's film Restless, which released earlier this fall. So be sure to head on over to Schuyler's official websire for your free download of "Zombie" and check your local theater to see Restless. Don't say I didn't tell you!
Release Date: October 18, 2011 Rating: G Feature Running Time: 100 minutes
Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory 40th Anniversary Ultimate Collector’s Edition is a Blu-ray + DVD Pack from Warner Home Video that contains over an hour of special features including a new interview with Mel Suart and a new DVD featurette on author, Roald Dahl. Other special features include a Willy Wonka documentary, commentary from the Wonka kids, and yes, yes, yes, there are sing a longs!
That's not even the best part! The Ultimate Collector's Edition comes with a 144 page book which is basically a walk through every aspect of the making of the film through Mel Stuart's eyes. The book has rare photographs and an overflowing amount of fascinating facts that hardcore Willy Wonka fans will not want to be without. To learn about the challenges behind the chocolate river, scouting shooting locations, and more... it brings an even bigger appreciation to a film that I already loved so much. The book takes a handful of hours to read but what your read... these are memories that will last a lifetime. It's a confirmation of just how much of a staple Willy Wonka is and will always be in the world.
The writer that I am, I especially loved the retro Wonk Bar shaped tin box (that included scented pencils and an eraser) which I can keep my pens in. But what's an ultimate collector's edition without the Golden Ticket? Yeah, I've got a golden ticket! I've got a golden ticket! And not just any golden ticket. They've created an entirely new instant win where 5 winners receive a trip to LA and a VIP tour of Warner Brothers Studios! Ain't no Wonka anniversary like a 40th anniversary!
As I mentioned before, marking the 40th anniversary this month were a number of the original cast members and director, Mel Stuart. Check out my video interviews with Stuart and the cast below:
The original cartwheeling Oompa Loompa, Rusty Goffe and Director Mel Stuart
Peter Ostrum (Charlie Bucket) and Julie Dawn Cole (Veruca Salt)
Denise Nickerson (Violet Beauregarde) and Paris Themmen (Mike Teevee)
You've seen British-born Canadian Actor, Jonathan Lloyd Walker on the television series, The X-Files, V, and Smallville as well as on the big screen in “Red” starring Bruce Willis, Morgan Freeman, Helen Mirren, and John Malkovich, “Traitor” opposite Guy Pearce and Don Cheadle, “Transparency” with Lou Diamond Phillips, and “Shooter,” opposite Oscar Mark Wahlberg and Danny Glover.
Today, Jonathan stars in the Universal feature film The Thing , a prequel to the iconic 1982 John Carpenter film of the same title. He recently took some time out to talk to Hollywood the Write Way about The Thing, his screenwriting ventures, and more. Check it out:
So tell us about what attracted you to The Thing. I was a huge fan of the Carpenter movie. It impacted me quite profoundly. It stayed with me a long time after I left the theater. So when I heard that there was a prequel to the film being made, I was very excited about the possibility of being involved. I immediately contacted my agent to find out about it.
As a screenwriter and producer yourself, what would you say that you learned from this screenplay, as well as the producers on set? As a screenwriter, it is always rather interesting reading other people's work... particularly when it is a take on a world that you already have a relationship with or connection to. So it was more abut absorbing this particular take on this world. As far as the producers go, I think that the film everyone set out to do originally was not the film that we ended up making, for various factors. So that was an interesting process to watch the producers work through what they wanted to do and what ultimately they ended up doing. It's kind of like watching someone on a tight rope.
What is your favorite aspect of the sci fi and horror genres? I've always loved science fiction and I think what's so fascinating about it, why it endures, and why there's such a following for it is that you're able to tackle a lot of present day issues without tackling them directly. It allows the audience to sometimes talk about taboo subjects or push boundaries that you may not have been able to have done otherwise. Often, the best ones do not necessarily have high content that's driving it but it's about what's underneath, the common human struggle that we can all relate to. That's really at the end of the day what I love.
As far as challenges go in a different way, you also had a lot of action with guns on Red for example. What has been your favorite challenge over the years that acting has brought to your table? I am always looking to try to do interesting characters. Often times when you have to take on work that is based on real characters, it's often the hardest job of all. You're trying to inhabit somebody that people know very well or have a strong sense of. A number of years back I ended up playing Mark Twain. I did an exhaustive amount of research into him and tried to get as much source material so that I could really get down his mannerisms, dialect, and those sorts of things. That was an enormous challenge so I think that was one of the most rewarding.
How has traveling influenced your writing? I think that in order to have a rounded, global view, you have to experience different cultures, mindsets... you have to open yourself up to all sorts of things. We had a trip a couple of years to China all the way in mainland where there were very few Westerners. Just to experience that - it's a different way of life, a very different approach to just the state of being. People think differently, they process things differently. So that is very good as a writer because you spend so much time trying to get into your characters' heads, so the more cultures you immerse yourself in, the better.
And as someone who is very passionate about politics and social issues, is there anything that you want to shed light on right now that people should be more aware of today? What I am concerned about at the moment and hope that everybody will take the time to investigate is... we need to see some changes in the way that we all collectively think about finance, the stock market, and the banking industry. I do believe that it is a bit of a shock that the entire economy around the world was basically crippled a few years ago by a calamity very much cause by the banking community and yet nobody from those institutions have been brought up on charges or punishment for bringing the economy to its knees. I think it is important for people to question that and find out what we need to do to change it.
On his upcoming writing and acting projects: I am currently working on a television series called "Out of Time." It is a science fiction project about a bunch of fugitives from the year 2077 who manage to escape to present day and come in contact with one solitary police officer whose job it is to try to bring them all to justice and return them back to their time before they ruin the timeline. We are in the writing room for that right now. That will be set up in the United States in a couple of months and should be airing on television in both Canada and the United States the end of next Spring/beginning of Summer.
I am in negotiations for a couple of different projects and there's also a possibility that I will end up acting in "Out of Time" but that all depends on my availability since I'm in the writer's room. My schedule with writing is making it a bit challenging for me to commit to other projects so in order to focus on the writing, I have back-burned my acting projects.
California native, Sammy Boyarsky was first seen in the film Bruce Almighty at the tender age of four. Soon, Sammy can be heard as a voice in the video game, Diablo III. Today, she appears in the highly-anticipated and controversial feature film Rampart, directed by Oren Moverman.
Rampart, which premiered at the 2011 Toronto Film Festival, tells the story of the widespread corruption in the Community Resources Against Street Hoodlums (CRASH) anti-gang unit of the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) Rampart Division in the late 1990s. Sammy plays Margaret, one of Woody Harrelson’s daughters which also co-stars Ben Foster, Ice Cube, Cynthia Nixon, Sigourney Weaver, Robin Wright, Steve Buscemi, Anne Heche, and Brie Larson.
Sammy, an eighth grader, had to wait a few months to get a call back for Rampart, but when she did get the call back, it was the director. It wasn’t long before Sammy got to set and connected with the other actors, especially Woody Harrelson who plays her father and Brie Larson who plays her sister. Post-production, the cast found themselves premiering at the Toronto Film Festival, which Sammy called a “surreal experience. “ It finally sinks in once you get there. When you're on the plane getting there, you're not really...but when you're there, it is all coming true. It was a great experience to see myself on screen and it was a great feeling to be confident in my performance.” She also had this to say about Rampart and what she sees ahead for her acting career...
What would you say is the one thing that the director, Oren Moverman taught you that you'll always remember? Always be able to feel the character so that way it comes out as a very natural performance.
Did your role involve any research? My role doesn’t really have to do with the gang violence scenes. But one thing that I did learn was how to be the daughter of a cop in that time period and the things that you have to go through knowing what your father is doing. It wasn't just a family thing. It was, your father was on television for hurting people. It's definitely not a good feeling to have.
As far as the late 90s go, what was your favorite thing to discover? I was introduced to the Spice Girls music! My sister was a huge fan of the Spice Girls and I didn't even know that until we heard that I had the audition, it was set in the late 90s, and then my sister said, "You better listen to the Spice Girls on your way there."
What roles or genres are you looking for in the future? I've always loved doing drama but I have always loved comedy as well and I love improv. In Rampart, I was able to improv a few scenes. The director, he trusted that we understood the characters so well that we would be able to feel what they were feeling in the moment and express it right there.
Aside from acting, are you interested in writing, producing, directing, or going into another department in the business? I love writing though I may not particularly write screenplays as it is really hard for me to write dialogue but definitely something that has to do with writing will be in my future.
As for balancing middle school and acting? Sammy says, "It's definitely a challenge but when you love acting as much as I do, you'll do anything to go to auditions."
Catch Sammy Boyarsky in Rampart when it releases in limited theaters later this year and expands in early 2012.
Release Date: September 20, 2011 Rating: NR Running Time: 528 minutes
The Pritchett clan has Jay sitting at the head, a true guys' guy experiencing a bit of mid-life crisis, has remarried a much younger wife, Gloria, whose passion and loyalty is matched by her 11-year-old son, Manny, a boy wise beyond his years. Blending together into this new family has quite the learning curve with some culture clashes, a few awkward misunderstandings, and plenty of sweet victories along the way
Jay's grown daughter, Claire, has her own family. Claire and Phil are the proud parents of three kids with whom they want that open, healthy, honest relationship. It's not always easy, especially when you have a teenage daughter who's growing up a little fast, a too-smart-for-her-own-good middle daughter and a scatterbrained boy. On top of that, Phil wants to be the "cool dad," while Claire is just trying her best to run a tight ship, determined not to let her kids have the rebellious childhood she had.
Claire's brother and Jay's grown son, Mitchell, adopted a Vietnamese baby with his partner of five years, Cameron. Opposites attract in this household, with Cameron having a wonderfully big personality and maybe a flare for the dramatic, whereas Mitchell is the more serious of the two. They balance each other out and are doting fathers trying to do their best as new parents.
All of these three families are unique unto themselves, and together they give us an honest and often hilarious look into the sometimes warm, sometimes twisted embrace of the modern family.
"Modern Family" stars Ed O'Neill as Jay, Julie Bowen as Claire, Ty Burrell as Phil, Sofía Vergara as Gloria, Jesse Tyler Ferguson as Mitchell, Eric Stonestreet as Cameron, Sarah Hyland as Haley, Nolan Gould as Luke, Ariel Winter as Alex and Rico Rodriguez as Manny. The series is produced by Twentieth Century Fox Television in association with Levitan Lloyd Productions. Steven Levitan and Christopher Lloyd are executive producers/creators.
As you know from reading my Modern Family Season 1 Review, I fell in love with Modern Family immediately. I knew that this would become my favorite new comedy of the season and one of my favorite comedies ever. Season two continued to set the bar high for every other television series out there. And of course, my week continues to not be complete without Ty Burrell as Phil Dunphy. There's something special and captivating about every actor (including the carefully chosen handful of incredible guest stars), every character, every story, and every setting. That's not any easy task to accomplish on television, especially when hoping that there's no sophomore slump.
Modern Family came back for season two just as strong as it did when it premiered season one. The writers get it right every time. Last season, Modern Family brought wonderful family comedies back on the map and this season is a statement saying it is here to stay. You'll laugh so hard you'll cry in every episode, guaranteed. The realism and relatability here is one thing but making each situation funny (when some of them definitely weren't when we experienced them in our own lives) and giving us multiples life lessons of course, it's brilliant. The writers on this show are clearly the best on the TV industry today and they also have their families to thank for inspiration as well. Modern Family is wildly entertaining but it also has heart in every single moment of screen time and that is what really holds this show together and makes this series so wonderful. So be sure to get your DVD or Blu-ray copy today... matter of fact, get two copies because you will be sure to play one copy out.
Bonus Features:
Deleted Family Interviews - The writers of Modern Family are comedic geniuses and the actors are superb. They own these roles. They were born for these roles. All of this footage is comedy gold that simply was unable to make the cut in the half hour long broadcast.
Deleted & Extended Scenes - There are plenty of deleted and extended scenes to go around for this ensemble cast but Ty Burrell takes the cake and Eric Stonestreet gives him a run for his money.
"Strangers on a Treadmill" Table Read - On August 3, 2010, the cast of Modern Family came together at the Zanuck Theater for a table read in front of Emmy voters and co. for an episode that they filmed a week later. While c-creator, Steve Levitan narrates, the writers were in the front row, ready to take notes for any changes between then and filming. Manny's DVR choice in this episode never fails to make me laugh so it was more than a thrill to find the audience react so well the first time around.
Mitch's Flash Mob - This feature takes viewers behind the scenes with Jesse Tyler Ferguson and Co-Executive Producer, Danny Zuker. The feature is quite short and Ferguson does playfully mention how the choreographer taught him the moves at his house, so there is not much more of a story to tell or a rehearsal to follow. But the flash mob always brings laughs, even behind the scenes. Fun feature.
"Imagine Me Naked" Music Video - You remember the episode when Dylan made up a song just for Haley and all of the adults ended up having the song in their head? Well, we've got not only a full length song but a full length real deal music video right here for your viewing pleasure! Truly hysterical. What a gem.
Gag Reel - This gag reel was unlike any other as it incorporated some of the funniest moments from the episode as well as outtakes. Because of this, it may seem like not many gags, but what is there laugh at is abundant, gag or not.
Modern Family Holidays - This feature takes viewers behind the scenes of the Valentine's Day episode, Mother's Day episode, Halloween episode. Watching the cast talk about their favorite and scariest Halloween moments and other holiday memories was quite fun, especially for people who are big on holidays like me.
Appearing in this Feature: Cast Members, Ty Burrell, Julie Bowen, Eric Stonestreet, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Ed O'Neill, Ariel Winter, Sarah Hyland, Rico Rodriguez Co-executive Producer, Danny Zuker, Dan O'Shannon, Ilana Wernick, Jeffrey Richman Director, Michael Spiller
Waiting for Oprah - This feature is a fun countdown, if you will, until the big Oprah telecast. So we follow Ferguson and Stonestreet as they arrive on set, get into hair and makeup, go to craft service for breakfast, get interviewed about the telecast prior to telecast, and then hear what the cast and Levitan have to say about the honor of Modern Family being featured on The Oprah Winfrey Show. Watching this feature is bittersweet because The Oprah Winfrey Show is over but the cast of this series was able to be featured before the end. Great move capturing this unforgettable moment on the Blu-ray!
Chatting With Steve Levitan - Co-creator, Steve Levitan sits down to talk briefly about the realism of the show, the use of the guest stars, and the series' recognition. If you're a writer anticipating an intimate sit down interview with all of your burning questions answered, this ain't it. But it is worth noting how meaningful it is that time was given to him for the special features.
At Home With Modern Family - This feature is a behind the scenes tour of Mitch and Cam's home, the Dunphy home, and the Pritchett home by Production Designer, Richard Berg. For those interested in production design, interior decorating, and/or getting to know these characters by the tone of their home, check this feature out.
Own Modern Family The Complete Second Season on Blu-Ray and DVD today.
Watch new episodes of Modern Family Season 3 Wednesdays at 9/8c on ABC.
Above: There's me tweeting away...and mingling with Amanda Tapping and Robin Dunne of Sanctuary before we enter The Wizarding World of Harry Potter.
Below: This is why the pros are the pros. Thanks Syfy for taking these fabulous photos while inside the park so that us bloggers with crappy cameras did not have to suffer with our barely visible images of the most fascinating theme park on earth!
I had a fantastic time at the 2011 Syfy Digital Press Tour and cannot wait to see everyone again next year! Thanks Syfy!
Syfy will celebrate the holiday season with its second annual Countdown to Christmas Week (December 4-10) featuring the two night miniseries Neverland, stand-alone holiday episodes of hit series Eureka, Warehouse 13, Ghost Hunters, for the first time, Haven, and the Saturday Original Movie Snowmageddon starring Michael Hogan (Battlestar Galactica), David Cubitt (Medium), and Magda Apanowicz (Caprica).
This original prequel to author J.M. Barrie’s classic Peter Pan sweeps in time from the turbulent seas of the pirates of the Caribbean and the back alleys of Dickensian London to a world of pure imagination. The film stars Rhys Ifans (The Amazing Spider-Man) as James Hook, Oscar nominee Keira Knightley as the voice of Tinker Bell, Anna Friel (Pushing Daisies) as Captain Elizabeth Bonny, Oscar nominee Bob Hoskins as Smee (who previously played the character in Steven Spielberg’s feature Hook), Raoul Trujillo (Tin Man) and Charlie Rowe (Pirate Radio) as one of literature’s most cherished characters, Peter Pan.
Photo Credit: Scott Miller/Syfy
The entire main cast of the four hour mini series agreed that while taking on this project meant big shoes to fill, they did the story justice while turning it on its head. Having already seen Neverland, I can say that the cast and crew did a terrific job with this origin tale. Expect an advanced review when it gets closer to the television premiere date. Although I can say now that I was glad Anna Friel mentioned that her character, an entirely new character to the story, had an Irish accent. At times, I was a bit confused as to what origin this pirate had.
Rhys Ifans had the perfect words to describe Neverland as a miniseries, "It's thrilling. That's the beauty of a miniseries is that, in a film, you wouldn't have the time that a miniseries offers to explore such complexities. And it is a real, kind of model roller coaster for Hook."
It doesn't end there. Ifans' has given such a depth to this character and he is so well spoken, that it was such a joy hearing him speak about his character. "We all know the Hook that we were presented with in the novel, and that Hook is essentially bad to the bone. And I wanted to kind of explore a journey. How would a man become that bad? What would it take for a man to shed pretty much all of his moral fiber and what happens to the mind when it's offered eternal life? Does it corrupt, or does it illuminate? In Hook's case, it corrupts, but it also liberates him from a very, kind of stifled, unrepressed Edward in England. Bonny liberates him completely and sexually, which wouldn't have been the case in England. Men were scared of women and women were scared of men. So it's a kind of double-edged sword, and it's an interesting question, you know. What's the price of liberty? So that was all very interesting to play... As Peter becomes better, Hook becomes worse."
And of course, there's a lot of action. 15 year old, Charlie Rose (who avoided watching Hook as prep to make Peter his own) even said, "Me and Anna have had a lot of lunch breaks just trying to beat each other with swords, which was fun. And we had long sessions on wires and stuff which is pretty exciting stuff. I mean, it's every boy's dream and every man's dream. I shouldn't say just a boy.
Charlie Rose On Wrapping Neverland: Nick Willing also said at the beginning of the shoot, "We are going to end exactly 7:00 on our last day." And after 54 days of filming, we ended at two minutes to 7:00, and that was like the icing on the cake. That was awesome.
Here I am with Charlie Rose and Anna Friel:
Neverland premieres Sunday, December 4 at 9PM & Monday, December 5 at 9/8c.
Photo Credit: Scott Miller/Syfy
On Tuesday, December 6, 2011 from 8-11pm, Syfy’s scripted series get into the spirit of the season with Eureka’s first ever animated episode including guest star Jim Parsons (Big Bang Theory) at 8PM, Warehouse 13’s “It’s a Wonderful Life” homage at 9PM, and a Christmas fantasy which makes the residents of Haven disappear, one by one, airing at 10PM.
In Eureka’s “Do You See What I See,” the quaint town of geniuses is transformed into animated versions of themselves. Sheriff Carter (Colin Ferguson) and Allison Blake (Salli Richardson-Whitfield) are secretly planning the perfect holiday surprise for their kids. But a mysterious kaleidoscopic wave of color crashes over Eureka, leaving the entire town and its inhabitants animated.
Here I am with Sammi T from TVGrapevine and Colin Ferguson:
In Warehouse 13’s “The Greatest Gift,” Pete Lattimer (Eddie McClintock) is hit in the head by an artifact and wakes up to a life where he was never born. Pete must hunt down and persuade the Warehouse team (none of whom recognize him) to go on this life or death mission with him to vanquish a long dead nemesis from the past to get everyone’s lives back. This episode takes a page from It’s a Wonderful Life and The Greatest Gift, which is the short story on which the iconic movie was based. As he did last year, showrunner Jack Kenny directed the holiday episode.
Here I am with Eddie McClintock:
In Haven’s “Silent Night,” Audrey Parker (Emily Rose) begins seeing Christmas decorations mysteriously popping up all over Haven in the middle of July yet nobody else, including Nathan (Lucas Bryant), seem to feel anything is unusual. Yet, when Haven residents start disappearing into thin air, Audrey convinces Nathan they must find a way to stop it.
Here I am with Emily Rose:
Stay tuned to Twitter for my thoughts on Eureka, as we were given a screener of the holiday episode. No spoilers from me, as per usual about what we can expect. At the actors mainly talked about what a joy it was on set/location shooting Christmas episodes in July and such. The real joy will be seeing all of these episodes back to back in December. Until then, I've got last season's Warehouse 13 Christmas episode in my head. How about you?
The holiday episodes of Eureka, Haven, and Warehouse 13 will air Tuesday, December 6, 2011 from 8-11pm only on Syfy.
Syfy acquired both seasons (26 episodes) of the hit Canadian supernatural drama Lost Girl which stars supernatural seductress Bo (played by Anna Silk/The Ghost Whisperer), a Succubus (a powerful female entity in folklore) who feeds off sexual energy. Raised by human parents, Bo had no reason to believe she was anything other than the girl next door -- until she “drained” her first boyfriend to death.
Bo discovers she is one of the Fae, creatures of legend and folklore, who pass as humans while feeding off them in secret, as they have for millennia. She is faced with choosing an allegiance between the Dark or Light Fae clans. Bo decides to take the middle path between humans and the Fae while embarking on a personal mission to unlock the secrets of her origin, protecting humans along the way.
Lost Girl co-stars Kris Holden-Ried as Dyson, a shape-shifting Fae, homicide detective and Bo’s love interest; Ksenia Solo as Kenzi, Bo’s human confidante and street-smart survivor, Zoie Palmer as Lauren, a human doctor who competes for Bo’s heart; Rick Howland as Trick, the mysterious owner and bartender at The Dal Riata tavern, with a secretive past that is yet to be unlocked, and K.C. Collins as Hale, a handsome male “Siren” who is the eternal bachelor, ultimate wingman and Dyson’s partner on the force.
Photo Credit: Scott Miller/Syfy
Silk says, "She (Bo) discovers at the beginning of the series, in Season 1, that she's not human, that she's actually a succubus and part of a whole Fae underworld that live and feed among humans. The adventure unfolds from there."
As someone who always thinks of Phoebe from Charmed when I hear the word, "succubus," I will be more than happy to share my association with the word with another show. And I've read many series about Fae, so it will be fun to see their take. I had never heard of this series before the press tour but I am very intrigued and cannot wait for its premiere.
She continued on to say, "It was a great relief for her to find out what she is, but at the same time, it opened the door to a lot of questions. And those questions get answered and challenged throughout the season.
I was especially intrigued with her answer as to what attracted her to this role. "What I loved is that it's Bo's greatest sense of shame grows into her greatest strength. And that's something that appealed to me, and I think it appeals to young women watching the show."
Zoie Palmer, also in attendance for the panel, plays Dr. Lauren Lewis, one of the few humans that work directly with the Fae. If that weren't complex enough, there'z quite a love triangle to look forward to as well. There's plenty to anticipate with all of these characters and it pains me to know that a small number of countries are watching season 2 when season one has yet to air here. Now I know what it feels like when my friends across the globe have to wait! It sucks. But the cast and crew is currently filming episode 15 of season 2 so it's not ahead by an entire 2 seasons which is comforting.
Lost Girl comes to Syfy January 16, 2012 at 10/9c right after Being Human!
Photo Credit: Scott Miller/Syfy
Monster Man goes behind the scenes of one of Hollywood’s most respected monster prop building workshops. For more than thirty years, when studios have wanted a bizarre creature or out-of-this world alien, they’ve turned to Cleve Hall and his very unique family business. Only the horrifying monsters they build match the craziness of this extremely talented family. Monster Man stars Cleve Hall, his daughters Constance and Elora Hall, his ex-wife, Sonja Maddox-Hall, best friends, Roy Knyrim and Johnny Saiko, as well as office manager, Cindy Miller.
Cleve Hall is not only an incredibly intelligent guy but an incredibly down to earth guy. He is so easy to talk to and what makes him so engaging is his passion for what he does. His passion for his work encouraged his daughter at 13 years old to join the ranks and ten years later, Hall has got quite a family business here.
The family dynamic is going to create for some very entertaining moments. Daughter, Constance says, "He'll tell you what to do, like, "Oh, make this. Make that." It will be like, "Where is this going?" until the very last moment. It all comes together. I like to draw things and try to plan it out and have schematics or whatever. --" Cleve cuts her off to say, The reason for this being... sometimes I don't have a finished thing in my head. I have a visual idea in my head what I want, but I create as I go, and it's not until the last 48 hours, okay. Bam. It suddenly hits me." Needless to say, this should be interesting!
Hall has worked for KISS, Alice Cooper, and Devo to name a few and has worked for a number of Syfy original movies. Plainly put, Syfy is letting us into the life of a monster mastermind. Hall said it best, "I think CG is a good compliment to the physical effects. It shouldn't replace them." No it shouldn't and it won't, at least not until we get a handful of seasons out of this new series which is sure to be a hit when it premieres. Until the premiere, whenever you see Godzilla, think of Cleve Hall. If not for Godzilla, Hall may not have been so driven to get into this industry and we wouldn't get to see this fascinating docu-series coming soon.
Monster Man comes to Syfy this March!
Syfy will bring the international hit Total Blackout – a half-hour game show which places contestants in complete darkness to compete in challenges -- to its prime time schedule for eight episodes in 2012
Total Blackout is a comedic game show in which contestants battle each other and their fears in a series of challenges. However, there is a twist -- all the challenges are played in complete darkness. There are no lights, no blindfolds and no-holds barred as the players face their fears and unexpected surprises in a series of nerve-wracking games. Total Blackout will be hosted by Jaleel White (Family Matters, Grown Ups).
Photo Credit: Scott Miller/Syfy
Henrik Nielsen says of the inspiration for the show: I think this is based on some of the best times in my childhood and some of the worst times in my childhood. The best times is when I pretended I had a spider I was chasing four sisters with, and obviously, I had no spider because I hate spiders. And they knew that, but they were still terrified. And the look on their faces was priceless. The worst time in my life was probably when we -- at the country house in Sweden, when my mom would come in and say goodnight, and I knew there was a spider in the room, and she would shut off the light. And my face would have been a laugh as well because I was terrified. So it's a combination of both.
Choosing the Contestants: They do go through a psychological test. We don't want anybody to freak out that much that they can't react. They have to be able to put their hands in. And they think it's fun afterwards. And, actually, a lot of contestants who have done the show in many other territories, they have overcome their fears by this, and they think that they really overcame themselves and are happy they did it.
I am especially excited to see the portions of the show where there are couples. The individuals are funny but based on the footage shown at the tour, the pairs are going to bring even more comic relief. I cannot wait! Ya'll are going to love this so much!
Here I am with a fellow writer, Jen Juneau and Jaleel White:
The series premiere date of Total Blackout is to be determined. Stay tuned for more information.
The hit reality-competition series set in the magical world of top-notch special effects and make-up artistry returns for a second season featuring 14 aspiring special effects make-up artists competing for their shot at make-up-effects stardom and the chance to breakout in the competitive field. This season, contestants will re-imagine iconic characters from the book “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz,” create a waterproof sea creature, bring to life terrifying phobias and craft an elaborate body painting challenge that must incorporate two live models.
Judging the series is multiple Academy Award-winner Ve Neill, famed special make-up effects artist Glenn Hetrick and director and creature designer Patrick Tatopoulos. McKenzie Westmore hosts the series. The season also contains a number of guest appearances including Vivica Fox, musical artist Asher Roth and noted horror makeup artist Tom Savini.
This season, the ante has been upped so incredibly...the foundation challenges, the spotlight challenges, everything! Season two has seven women and seven men contestants, which is an equal battle of the sexes as opposed to last year when women were the minority. In fact, the first challenge of the season is a battle of the sexes. Not only that, but it seems to be a pretty level playing field as far as talent and experience is concerned.
As for the challenges... the contestants start off with a challenge of reinventing the three main characters (Tin Woodsman, the Cowardly Lion, and the Scarecrow) of "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz," original book. Ve Neill said, "The important thing to mention about that was we really didn't want them to do anything that was in the movie."
Westmore went on to say, "Then we went into aquatic creatures. I took them down to the Long Beach Aquarium and they got to travel through the aquarium and take a look at all of the different animals and create a human aquatic creature...waterproofed. And they then had to figure out how to make their entire makeups, head to toe, waterproof so that their models could be submerged in a tank for five minutes."
Another challenge takes place at Linda Vista Community Hospital in downtown Los Angeles, which is a very haunted landmark of hospitals in America. Oh yeah, they were woken up at 1am in the morning to have the challenge delivered to them at 2am. Westmore says, "They had the challenge of taking a phobia and incorporating it into their own thought of a horror one. So they were then individually put into rooms for 30 minutes to inspire them to create..."
And the infamous nude-body-painting challenge is back only the models were doubled. So each contestant or teams of two had to do two models. They had to choose a background and then one had to blend and one had to be a character.
There will also be plenty of guest judges, some from the Syfy family. And McKenzie Westmore gets her first cast done for the new promo campaign! Basically, there's a ton to look forward to this season. Season 2 cannot come soon enough!
Also, fun fact: Ve Neill just wrapped The Hunger Games in North Carolina with NC resident, Conor McCullagh, the Face Off Season 1 winner after running into McCullagh at Monsterpalluza and also invited contestants, Tate and Anthony to work for her in New York on The Amazing Spiderman. For more on The Hunger Games, catch my brief interview with Neill after the panel and a snippet of the panel below:
Here I am with Ve Neill:
Face Off season 2 premieres Wednesday, January 11, 2012 at 10/9c.
I have been a big fan of Karmin from YouTube for quite some time now and am thrilled to bring to you readers their debut single, "Crash Your Party!" LA Reid signed them just weeks ago... needless to say, their lives have forever changed. Their new album will be released on Epic Records in 2012, so stay tuned for more information coming soon!
Karmin grew to become a YouTube sensation with covers such as this:
Bon Voyage! Take a journey across the ocean with a trio of friends who make front page headlines when a dream trip turns into a hilarious case of mistaken identity. The delightful jet-setting comedy MONTE CARLO arrives on Blu-ray and DVD on October 18th. Produced by Academy Award®-winner Nicole Kidman* (Moulin Rouge, The Stepford Wives), MONTE CARLO will take you on a fanciful ride through the picturesque sights of Europe - with three charming girls in tow!
Actress and pop sensation Selena Gomez (Ramona and Beezus, “Wizards of Waverly Place”) lights up the screen as Grace, a high-spirited high school graduate looking forward to a vacation in Paris with her best friend Emma (Katie Cassidy, “Melrose Place”), and stepsister Meg (Leighton Meester, “Gossip Girl”). Just as the girls think their trip is ruined when their hyperactive tour guide leaves them behind, Grace is mistaken for a wealthy socialite and the trio is whisked away to Monte Carlo for a thrilling week of glitz, glam, and unforgettable fun.
MONTE CARLO features supporting performances by Cory Monteith (“Glee”), Pierre Boulanger (Monsieur Ibrahim), Luke Bracey (Home And Away), and Andie McDowell (Groundhog Day).
As a fan of all of the leading ladies of this film, I was already sold. But I am a sucker for these young female led... okay, tween films anyway. While I am not a little girl anymore, this film is a fun reminder of that time and equally exhilarating escape into this different world. The execution of this fun premise is so great that I am planning on reading the novel from which the film was (from what I hear, loosely) based on, Jules Bass's "Headhunters." Everything about this film is enchanting and inspiring, from the visuals to the score to the story and characters who are all flawed in their own way but that's what makes their journeys worth watching and worth rooting for.
And while Grace is the main character, Meg (Leighton Meester) goes through the biggest metamorphosis... and Meester adds a depth to her character that otherwise would not be there so there's definitely something more here to appreciate. This isn't just another fluffy chic adventure for the younger audience. There's plenty of comedy and yes, eye candy, but there is so much more to this adventure, so much so that it makes this one of my favorite films of the year. I know that I am in the minority when I say that but I don't care. No, it is not Oscar worthy but that doesn't mean there isn't heart here, great writing, and even better performances.
Yes, the film is rather predictable but the lessons learned and positive messages that are conveyed in the end... you can't get enough of these reminders in life. So as adorable and fun as this film is, it is grounded just enough in reality to capture what it means for these girls to find themselves and that is definitely worth watching. If there's not a sequel to this, there needs to be! I'm not ready yo let these characters go! Anyway, be sure to get your copy to add to your DVD collection today.
Bonus Features:
Deleted Scenes (6:48 minutes) - There are seven deleted scenes including "Meet Madame Valery," "Try on the Dior," "Owen Plays Soccer," and "Owen at Sacre-Coeur." "Pont Des Arts Bridge" is my favorite deleted scene as it's all about the visuals. There is no dialogue, just beautiful music playing as the ladies walk on Pont Des Arts Bridge. Beautiful. I also really enjoyed "Cordelia Confronts Alicia" and "Cordelia’s Fate" as I am a big fan of Catherine Tate ever since Doctor Who and find any extra scene of her (opposite Selena Gomez) entertaining.
Monte Carlo Match Up - This is a game consisting of ten questions that results in telling you which Monte Carlo character you are, Meg, Grace, or Emma. I was expecting to get Grace and even accepted the possibility of getting Meg while knowing that Emma was not even an option for me. And to my delight, I got Grace, so the game seems to definitely match up correctly. This is a fun, quick game that if I were younger would be sure to play with all of my friends at a sleepover.
Ding-Dang Delicious: The Boys of Monte Carlo (5:46 minutes) - This feature puts the spotlight on Cory Monteith, Luke Bracey, and Pierre Boulanger as the cast and crew talk about casting the guys, working with the guys, and of course... the documentary maker and goofball Monteith is on set, the Australian hunk that Bracey is, and incredible sweetheart French actor, Boulanger is. It's a great homage to the few guys of the film who were clearly great sports in a film that mainly following three young ladies. This feature captures the young, fun, and inspiring spirit on set and that is worth capturing and sharing so good job on this feature.
Also Appearing in this Feature: Screenwriter, April Blair Director, Thomas Bezucha Producer, Alison Greenspan Cast Members, Selena Gomez, Katie Cassidy, Leighton Meester
Backstage Pass (3:47 minutes) - Selena Gomez, Katie Cassidy, and Leighton Meester take viewers behind the scenes of Monte Carlo in the makeup trailer, on set and on location very briefly as Gomez compares her dual roles in the film, Cassidy talks about shooting, and Messter discusses her jet setting and big stunt for the film. The feature is just long enough to get some satisfying footage but can also be seen as a tease with the locations that the film shot in. The landscape of the film is really a whole 'nother beauty here that time cannot put limit on for a feature. Best watch the film over and over again for that.
In a universe as vast as it is mysterious, an elite, powerful force has existed for centuries. Protectors of peace and justice, they are called the Green Lantern Corps. When a new enemy called Parallax threatens to destroy the balance of power in the Universe, their fate and the fate of Earth lie in the hands of their newest recruit, the first human ever selected: Hal Jordan (Ryan Reynolds). Hal is a gifted and cocky test pilot, but the Green Lanterns have little respect for humans, who have never harnessed the infinite powers of the ring before. But Hal's humanity is one weapon no member of the Corps has ever had, and if--with willpower, determination and the encouragement of fellow pilot and childhood sweetheart Carol Ferris (Blake Lively)--Hal can quickly master his new powers and find the courage to overcome his fears, he will save the Earth and all of mankind from certain destruction.
Of the DC Comics superheroes, Green Lantern has never particularly stood out among the rest to me. Although it's not like I've read enough Green Lantern comics to put down a definitive answer. So while I anticipated the film adaptation, I did not have high expectations. This makes it easy for me to say that the film did not completely captivate me. It reached and reached to tell an epic tale and convey the depth that this story holds but barely touched the surface of the potential for story telling here. There's something missing here that I cannot quite put my finger on but I do know that the pace of this film was much too slow for my taste, there were not enough lighthearted moments or comedic bits like in other superhero films in recent years, which brings me to mentioning that the tone was sleepy and dare I say it, the acting was dry. And while I love Blake Lively's work, she was definitely miscast here. Also, it seemed like there were too many aliens to follow. So in some aspects, it was too much and others, not enough. It's not like I heard an abundance of good things about the film when it was in theaters, so I guess it is no surprise the disappointment this was.
All of that said, it was quite a pleasant surprise to find that after viewing the bonus features, I am actually much more intrigued with the Green Lantern comic book series than I initially was. The bonus features bring more depth to the Green Lantern than the film did. There's a moving story here and who better to share its significance the best way than the comic creators, writers, and artists? The bonus features were more than satisfying and make up for my dislike for the film. This was not the winning attempt at telling the tale of Green Lantern on the big screen but it was an attempt that plenty of hard working people were behind, so some credit has to be given for trying.
Bonus Features: * Extended Cut
* Justice League #1 Digital Comic
* Preview of Green Lantern: The Animated Series
Maximum Movie Mode with Picture in Picture Pods - Maximum Movie Mode is my favorite aspect of the Blu-ray special features period. As the film plays, the writers, producers, cast members, etc... take you on set, in the writers room, and inside many other departments involved in bringing the film together. Interviews with the cast and crew are more complex than the generic promo interviews which is refreshing. Since this is based on a comic, there is an abundance of images to see, comic fans will love it! This feature takes viewers behind the scenes in a way that no other feature can. It is the must see feature of the Blu-ray if there is only one you'll choose to watch.
The Universe According to Green Lantern - Green Lantern creators, writers, artists, and others involved with the comic book series give me quite the history lesson about the origination of Green Lantern and concept of the characters, conflicts, reinventing the franchise, etc... It's quite an eye opening feature as it really breaks down this superhero and gives him more significance than I personally thought that the film did. This 20 minute feature makes me want to read the comic book series from start to finish. Comics have much more depth than the mainstream audience is willing to accept and this feature does a fantastic job at exemplifying this very fact.
Ryan Reynolds Becomes Green Lantern - Ryan Reynolds, the cast, and crew sit down on set to talk about Reynolds' transformation into the Green Lantern as behind the scenes footage from the set is shown. If you are claustrophobic, one part of this feature will make your skin crawl. If you are interested in seeing how some of the stunts worked out, you'll want to tune in here. This is not a lengthy feature, so if you have ten minutes to spare, check it out.
Additional Scenes - There are no more than five deleted scenes here, some complete, others in-complete production wise. None of these scenes added anything to the film, so they were axed for good reason. So if you had your fill of Green Lantern on screen with the film, there's no need to watch these few deleted scenes. There's nothing for you here.
Buy Green Lantern today on Blu-ray™ Combo Pack with UltraViolet Digital Copy or Digital Download.
Gym Class Heroes took the stage at the Electric Factory in Philadelphia, PA last night and put on quite a show to remember. Gracing the stage before our favorite act was New York native, Outasight. He took the stage at 7:30pm for a half hour set which consisted of about seven songs, one of which included the song, "Tonight is the Night." You may have heard it in a Pepsi commercial recently. Outasight got the crowd pumping, especially with his number, "Losing My Mind." Having never heard of Outasight, I was in for a surprise going in and was thrilled to find out of his singing and rapping abilities. He's quite a talent.
Touring with Gym Class Heroes this fall is The Dirty Heads. I was also unfamiliar with this act but after hearing their set, I am definitely going to get their upcoming album. The Dirty Heads is unlike anything that I have seen and heard before. The reggae, hip hop, rock fusion of music from a band of white guys, it's actually quite a fantastic blend. Gym Class Heroes may have been the headliner but The Dirty Heads gave them a run for their money as the crowd sang along to every song which I believe was about sixteen songs total including a unique cover of The Rolling Stones' "Paint It Black." The songs were not played out in their full length, as the set ended at 9:15pm but the transitions between each number were very smooth. I, along with the crowd particularly enjoyed "Stand Tall," "Check the Level," and "Shine." Dirty J has fantastic stage presence and had the crowd going on every number. Also, the guitarist, Dustin Bushnell was going through guitars like tissues. This band really knows how to rock out... and in a positive way with positive messages (pot smoking aside, depending on how you feel about the subject). The best part about the set was actually a tradition that the band has in bringing up one of the fans to sing a line of a song that Dirty J leaves out at a previous show. A little blonde girl came onto the stage and rocked out to the entire song at hand and had the crowd going just as hard as the band did. Good times.
Finally at 9:50pm, Gym Class Heroes took the stage and started off with "Live A Little." Things were just heating up as all eyes were on Travie when "Peace Sign/Index Down" came on next and then Travie continued to swoon us all with "The Queen And I." But the night wouldn't be complete without"Cupid's Chokehold" and an acapella rendition of "Billionaire" from the audience which was beautiful. Oh yeah, Travie did take a bill out of his pocket, crumpled it up, and throw it out into the audience. Must be nice to be able to do that. Major points there. And how could I forget one of my favorite songs, "Papercuts." It's even better live. As for new material, "Solo Disco Tech" was smooth but more important that night was "Martyrial Girl$" since it was the first time that Gym Class Heroes performed the new track. The most popular track of the moment, "Stereo Hearts" was saved for last as the concert came to an end at 11pm.
Travie knows how to get a crowd jumping and have a good time. The energy was kept high for every second the band was on stage. Not only that but as the entire band was immersed in the music, you could tell that all of these guys continue to have such a strong passion for what they do. In case you didn't know, it really is about the music with these guys. They are the real deal. And that's not all. Travie has no problem getting close to the fans. He came down from the stage and leaned into the crowd, working both sides of the stage during the "Martyrial Girl$" number. Whether it was to distract the fans from noticing if he would mess up again (as he got caught on the first line of the song and had to start over once) or simply have a more intimate moment in an already intimate setting, it was a thrill. The whole night was unforgettable. Gym Class Heroes not only put on a phenomenal show last night, they reminded me why I love music so much. So if you get a chance to see them on tour, do not pass it up.
I fell in love with Chuck the very moment that the "Pilot" was shown at San Diego Comic Con. Since then, it's unclear just how many times I've been to Subway in support of the show and I cannot measure the fun I had when interviewing those that have appeared on the show. Chuck is and will be one of my favorite series NBC has ever brought to the light so I am sad to see it go now rather than two or three seasons from now. But I couldn't be more proud that the show made it this far and it is going out on a high note so be sure to watch the final season this fall. Check out the two newest promos below.
The fifth and final season of Chuck premieres October 28, 2011 at 8/7c on NBC.
The first panel of the Syfy Digital Press Tour 2011 was for one of my current favorite Syfy shows, Being Human.
The second season of Syfy’s hit drama series Being Human will premiere on Monday, January 16, 2012 at 9/8c and will consist of 13 episodes. Check out a preview below.
As Being Human Season 2 starts off this January, Aidan tries to steer a leaderless Boston while resisting his deadlier vampire instincts as he finds himself tempted and tormented by a figure from his past. Sally must face the consequences of missing her door while figuring out how to navigate life on earth as a ghost. Josh searches for a cure for his condition while struggling to maintain his relationship with Nora and, like the rest of his roommates, trying to build a future for himself beyond simply being a monster. Guest stars this season include Dichen Lachman (Dollhouse) as Suren and Kyle Schmid (The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants).
Photo Credit: Scott Miller/Syfy
The entire cast agrees that season 2, which takes off roughly one month after the season one finale, is much darker... or as Meaghan put it, "It should be 'Being Human, Welcome to the Dark Side.'" Huntington even said, "We kind of all go off on our own independent paths this year, respective paths, that are all obviously interlaced with one another, but they are quite dark."
What's next for Aidan? Witwer says, "There's all of these really neat identity issues throughout this season. As we saw last year, we went back to it a few times. We went to the '50s. We went to the '70s. We are going way back to the '80s with a keystar player and a band that Bishop was a singer, and there's this whole thing of, like, "But I want to be the singer. You be the keystar player...
When we go back to the '30s, we discover a time when the vampires weren't taking these awful day jobs that they didn't want to be taking, and they didn't have to hide as hard core as they do in modern day. And then we even go back to 1918, and we learn what happened before then. We discover Aidan perhaps at the height of his influence and power, and he's doing really, really well. And we learn why they were all scattered and sent into the shadows and they all hide. So, as I talk about this identity thing, we really get a strong contrast for who Aidan was and this ideal Aidan...
And he keeps having options removed and avenues of escape. He's having all of these things taken away from him. Once you have all of your options taken away, you really do learn who you really are, not who you want to be and not who you were, but who you are. And that's one of the scary things that he goes through this season."
As for Josh...a romance from his past comes back in an unexpected way. Huntington says, "Nora is still a huge part of Josh's life at the end of Season 1. That continues into Season 2 and gets very, very complicated when said romance from his past comes back. Hurting other people is his biggest fear. And he's a lover, and so it's really, really difficult for him, which has been really fun for me to play."
Huntington also got quite serious when touching upon another topic... "There's one scene in particular that I think is going to be a very, very difficult scene for people to watch, especially people who have gone through what we are going through. This is a very human thing." Look for this scene in the beginning of the season.
As for what we can look forward to for Sally, Meaghan had this to say, "She's dealing with the consequences of missing her door and what that means to her. She's dealing also with a lot of temptation in regards to her exploring more of the rules of the afterlife and really sort of discovering new things that she can do and coming into new powers, a lot of which are very dangerous and addictive and painful for people around her. And so she's battling with that a lot and meeting a lot of new characters. I think there's tons of new characters on the show this year."
Dichen Lachman (Dollhouse) plays Suran, a 700 year old vampire who is Aidan's old love interest and Kyle Schmidt will play Henry. Oh yeah, we also might see Bishop again. Witwer says, "I mean, after all, we have 200 years of history so you never know when he just kind of shows up."
But back to Sally. "For Sally, her whole thing is trying to find a purpose. In her death, her longings are the same. She wants to feel important and special and unique, and so she falls for someone who is living in life and tries to be with him and will do whatever it takes to be with him, which also falls into the whole dangerous category."
It seems like there is quite a lot to look forward to in season 2 of Being Human. I absolutely loved the first season and actually prefer the US version over the UK version, so I am excited to see how they veer off into their own territory this season especially as things become much darker. Looking forward to it!
Here I am with Sam Witwer as well as Sammi T from TVGrapevine and Meaghan Rath. My photo with Sam Huntington is here.
Being Human Season 2 premieres Monday, January 16, 2012 at 9/8c only on Syfy.
Release Date: October 11, 2011 Rating: R Running Time: 98 minutes/106 minutes extended cut
Management candidate Nick Hendricks (Jason Bateman) has been logging 12-hour days and eating everything his twisted supervisor Dave Harken (Kevin Spacey) dishes out, toward the promise of a well-earned promotion. But now he knows that's never going to happen. Meanwhile, dental assistant Dale Arbus (Charlie Day) has been struggling to maintain his self-respect against the relentless X-rated advances of Dr. Julia Harris, D.D.S. (Jennifer Aniston), when she suddenly turns up the heat. And accountant Kurt Buckman (Jason Sudeikis) has just learned that his company's corrupt new owner, Bobby Pellit (Colin Farrell), is not only bent on ruining his career but plans to funnel toxic waste into an unsuspecting population.
What can you do when your boss is a psycho, a man-eater or a total tool? Quitting is not an option. These monsters must be stopped. So, on the strength of a few-too-many drinks and some dubious advice from a hustling ex-con whose street cred is priced on a sliding scale (Jamie Foxx), the guys devise a convoluted but foolproof plan to rid the world of their respective employers... permanently. But even the best-laid plans are only as good as the brains behind them.
Watching three average guys come together to create a scheme in order to kill their bosses after reaching the limit of being under appreciated and disrespected... this journey was just as disturbing as it was hysterical. What makes these three guys so hilarious is that they really have no idea what they are doing...so the revenge game goes array! If they thought that things were chaotic before they came together to play this out, they were completely unprepared for what came afterwards. But the crazy turns this story takes is not what keeps me tuned in. It's the cast.
Each cast member brings their own comedic charm to this film that without them would have made this film far too crude to care to continue on. It's not as crude as say, Bridesmaids, but the language is over the top vulgar at times. Though I must say there weren't as many gags as I thought there would be... and most of them were not just laugh out loud worthy but all actually furthered the story along. Anyway, Kevin Spacey, Colin Farrell, and Jennifer Aniston make the perfect horrible bosses. Aniston's character is especially a riot. Aniston's chemistry with Charlie Day is perfect and makes the relationship even more hysterical. However, those familiar with Charlie Day's character on It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia may find this character of his here to be basically an extension. But I'm alright with that. Sunny fans in general may probably be okay with that as well, because that character is so lovable. The chemistry is also fantastic between Day, Jason Bateman, and Jason Sudeikis.
Too bad the film isn't just a tad bit less vulgar, as I would love to sit with the family and watch these three actors banter back and forth. I would watch the film again with the right group of friends. Also, Jamie Foxx, Julie Bowen, Lindsay Sloane, and Isaiah Mustafa among others make appearances in the film. But let's leave the raunchy films to Judd Apatow. Bowen, Aniston, and company are better than this. In the end, it all depends on what you like and if you don't mind watching this extremity of horrible bosses.
Blu-ray Bonus Features: * Extended Cut Feature Film - 8 minutes of all new hilarious moments not seen in theatres * My Least Favorite Career * Surviving A Horrible Boss * Being Mean Is So Much Fun * Making of the Horrible Bosses Soundtrack * Deleted Scenes
Own Horrible Bosses on Blu-ray Combo Pack (Totally Inappropriate Edition), DVD and Digital Download today.
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A love story is both a physical and emotional tale, one that can be deeply personal and heartbreaking for an audience to experience. Director Drake Doremus’ film Like Crazy beautifully illustrates how your first real love is as thrilling and blissful as it is devastating. When a British college student (Felicity Jones) falls for her American classmate (Anton Yelchin) they embark on a passionate and life-changing journey only to be separated when she violates the terms of her visa. Like Crazy explores how a couple faces the real challenges of being together and of being apart. Winner of the Grand Jury Prize for Best Picture at the 2011 Sundance Film Festival and of the Special Jury Prize for Best Actress for Felicity Jones, Like Crazy depicts both the hopefulness and the heartbreak of love. 
