Filed under: Programming, OpEd, Doctor Who, Celebrities, Torchwood, Reality-Free

On a regular basis, we get press releases sent to us here in the palatial penthouse suites of TV Squad. Most of them are your standard write-ups about a upcoming series or television event that can’t be missed. Others, while they seem to print all of the necessary information, actually have an underlying subtext to them, arousing curiosity about what the networks and/or studios are not revealing.

Take the recent press release from BBC America that mentioned the beginning of filming on the newest series of Torchwood. The press release mentioned the subtitle of the series, Torchwood: Children of Earth, and that this newest series (actually, mini-series … only five episodes) will focus on one single adventure that has the team battling for the future of the human race. The release also mentioned the return of John Barrowman as Captain Jack Harkness, Eve Myles as Gwen Cooper and Gareth David-Lloyd as Ianto Jones.

Continue reading Filming begins on the third (mini)season of Torchwood

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Filed under: Programming, Celebrities, Awards

Look, I’m just going to go ahead and take credit for this one. Obviously Britney listened to me when I praised her for her awkwardly funny VMA promos with this year’s host, Russell Brand, and agreed that that was enough for this year. Her manager, Larry Rudolph, has confirmed that despite reports, Brit will not be picking up the sparkly underwear from the cleaners in order to perform at this year’s VMAs.

Fans of unruly extensions and gum-smacking need not fear, however: there is still a good chance that Ms. Spears will make an appearance at the fête. Britney is nominated for Video of the Year for her single, “Piece of Me.” Even though Britney Spears has been nearly synonymous with MTV and the VMAs for most of her career, she’s never actually won one of the coveted moon men, so I’m not sure how good her chances are of actually making an acceptance speech. Regardless, I wouldn’t be surprised if producers still find something for her to do during the show; if there’s one thing for which Britney can always be relied on, it’s creating buzz. Well, that and single-handedly keeping Cheetos in business.

The MTV Video Music Awards air on September 7.

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Filed under: Late Night, TV Royalty, Programming, Celebrities, Talk Show, Reality-Free

Here’s who’s on the late night talk shows tonight.

• Charlie Rose: TBA
• The Daily Show: coverage of the Democratic National Convention
• The Colbert Report: Representative Bob Barr
• The Late Show with David Letterman: Don Cheadle, Bryan Clay, and Little Anthony & The Imperials
• Jay Leno: Norm MacDonald, Nastia Liukin, and B.B. King
• Jimmy Kimmel Live: Don Rickles and The Game
• Tavis Smiley: Governor Ed Rendell
• Late Night with Conan O’Brien: Vin Diesel, Dave Atell, and The Virgins
• The Late, Late Show with Craig Ferguson: James McAvoy and Bengt Washburn (repeat)
• Last Call with Carson Daly: Kathy Griffin and Gavin DeGraw (repeat)

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Filed under: Celebrities, Children, Reality-Free

Parents, it is time to put our collective feet firmly on the ground. We have spent the last year-and-a-half pumping billions of dollars into the monstrosity that is the Hannah Montana/Miley Cyrus empire with the ever-increasing amount of products that give our daughters fits whenever they see them in the store. Everything and anything with even a picture of The Hannah or Miley has come into our homes, making our childless neighbors or those with a cadre of boys scratch their heads in curiosity as to why this teenager’s face graces so many surfaces.

Well, I say enough is enough! Time to put down our wallets and purses, straighten up and notify our children, in a firm but gentle manner, that we will no longer be supporting their Hannah/Miley addiction. The best place to start is to let them know that, in no uncertain terms, will we be plunking down $250 a pop (plus airfare, lodging, and rental car) to wish Ms. Cyrus a happy 16th birthday at Disneyland on October 5th. Oh, Cyrus will perform a few songs at the party, and it will be limited to 5000 of her closest fans. But, will the cost be worth it for something your daughters will forget when Miley eventually fades into the limelight and they begin to think about (gasp!) boys?

But, if you can’t resist, you better get to your phone, computer, or Disneyland now to be one of the first when tickets go on sale this Saturday at 9:00 AM PDT (that’s noon to us East Coasters). Don’t worry, the rest of us will be there to support you when you return. Just make sure you bring pictures and souvenirs of the event. Hey, we have only so much strength, you know!

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Filed under: Action, Casting, Sony, RumorMonger, Comic/Superhero/Geek, Remakes and Sequels

I feel like I have this long checklist of cast and crew that we’re slowly crossing off for this theoretical film. Now, you can put Bryce Dallas Howard on the “would sign tomorrow” list, thanks to MTV. “I would love to be apart of any continuation of the franchise. But, I also really understand that there’s so many different story lines that the fans are really excited to see, and the studio, and the producers, and the filmmakers really need to appease everyone,” the actress said. “Whether or not Gwen Stacy comes back, I mean, I wish it was up to me, but it’s not. But yes, if they’d call me, I’d be there in a heart beat.”

I’m not sure how they can really fit Gwen Stacy in — is there a point in having a romantic rival when Spider-Man is never ever going to leave Mary Jane onscreen? I remember when we all thought (or maybe it was just my corner of the Internet) that they would reverse comic book history, and kill off Mary Jane and hook Mr. Parker up with Gwen. (If House of M is to be believed, and it probably isn’t, that’s who he really wanted anyway.) Is there even any emotional impact if they kill off Captain George Stacy in a fourth film, as James Cromwell once said they planned on doing? Is the subplot of “I’m really sorry your dad died, my one-time love interest” really worth exploring? I could probably think more clearly if I could get the breakdancing scene out of my head.

Of course, this is all idle speculation when no official announcements have been made. And as for Sam Raimi he’s now playing coy with MTV about returning to the director’s chair, and says he wants to wear the Spidey suit instead. That’s one way to cut the budget.

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Filed under: Animation, Casting, RumorMonger, Comic/Superhero/Geek

It’s not too hard to find some super-sympathetic villains right now. You can travel the Internet waves and check out Dr. Horrible, or head to toon town and watch The Monarch and the other Guild of Calamitous Intent members in Venture Brothers. You can see dudes sending in applications to the evil organizations, bad guys storm the wrong building, and even crappy reassignments that suck one’s loathing hatred out of their job. These incarnations are great, addictive pieces of fun.

Could the same be said of Ben Stiller’s forays into the fold? (*cough* Mystery Men) Not really. But would it help with Robert Downey Jr. and Tina Fey? Entertainment Weekly posts that both actors are looking into joining Stiller’s animated villain film, Master Mind. (Christopher blogged about it here, last year.) The premise is simple. A villain accidentally kills the guy he’s arching, and loses his will to live.

Having these two voices certainly sweetens the pot, but as we’ve learned after many years of disappointment — amazing casts don’t necessarily make even decent movies. It all comes down to the script (written by Alan Schoolcraft and Brent Simons), and Stiller’s involvement. We’ll have to wait and see.

Note: EW says that Cameron Hood and Kyle Jefferson are still on to direct, but Moviehole talked to a Dreamworks source who said that they left the project months ago. IMDb, meanwhile, says it’s Gary Trousdale.

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Filed under: Late Night, TV Royalty, Programming, Celebrities, Talk Show, Reality-Free

Here’s who’s on the late night talk shows tonight.

• Charlie Rose: coverage of the Democratic National Convention
• The Daily Show: Ben Stiller (repeat)
• The Colbert Report: Dick Meyer (repeat)
• The Late Show with David Letterman: Tracy Morgan, Shawn Johnson, and Solange
• Jay Leno: Senator John McCain, Dara Torres, and Juliana Hatfield
• Jimmy Kimmel Live: James Franco, Tommy Lee, and From First to Last (repeat)
• Tavis Smiley: coverage of the Democratic National Convention
• Late Night with Conan O’Brien: Daniel Radcliffe, Steve Coogan, and The Hold Steady
• The Late, Late Show with Craig Ferguson: Sigourney Weaver, Stanley Bing, and Three 6 Mafia (repeat)
• Last Call with Carson Daly: Jose Canseco and Lupe Fiasco (repeat)

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Filed under: Music and Variety, Celebrities, Reality-Free

He’s survived being encased in ice, being buried alive in a grave, being trapped in a plexiglass box high in the air, holding his breath underwater for Oprah, and standing on top of a pedestal for a few days, but this is the first stunt where magician David Blaine will wear magnetic footwear. Take that, Criss Angel!

ABC has announced the next special to feature Blaine, who seems to be loved and loathed in equal measure. The show is titled “The Dive of Death,” and will feature Blaine walking on the underside of a thin wire high above Wollman Rink in New York City. He’ll do it for three days and nights, with the help of magnetic boots. On a related note, “The Dive of Death” also describes the bar down the street from my apartment.

Continue reading David Blaine to strap on magnetic boots for next stunt

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Filed under: Comedy, Independent, Casting, Cinematical Indie

*Warning: Clip contains foul language.*

Only nine years ago, Ron Livingston played the young, fax machine-stealing, disgruntled worker Peter Gibbons in Office Space. Whoever would’ve thought that less than a decade later, he’d head back to the office to be an aging businessman. Man, Hollywood is tough on age.

Variety reports the Livingston will lead an indie comedy called The Company Men, that Raul Sanchez will direct from his own screenplay. As the star, Ron gets to be “an aging businessman who struggles with a collapsing economy as he tries to save a sinking company.” I guess the over-the-hill moniker sticks (Livingston is 41). It’ll be interesting to see how this lives up to the cult favorite, and fan expectations. But really, the big question is: Will he use a red Swingline stapler?

Meanwhile, Livingston has a co-starring gig in The Time Traveler’s Wife, which hits screens on Christmas Day.

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Filed under: Comedy, Romance, Casting, Deals

You think Hilary Swank would have learned her lesson after finding deep love that died way too early and left her with a suspenders scar. You’d also think she might be wary about her involvement in perky fare, since her forays into the genre haven’t brought her as much success as her dramatic work. Guess not.

Swank is going nuts scooping up projects to produce and star in. Earlier this month, she was looking at Fat, and now Variety reports that she wants to backstab her best friend. Along with producing partner Molly Smith she’s grabbed Emily Giffin’s debut novel, Something Borrowed. Instead of borrowing, say, a hairbrush, she’s stealing her friend’s man. This potential starring vehicle for the actress focuses on a “Manhattan attorney who becomes involved with her best friend’s fiance following her 30th birthday.” Yes, her best friend since elementary school. Oh, but before you think she’s the only jerk — the woman realizes she’s in love with the man and sick of her manipulative friend. Wait. That’s still jerky.

The project is out to writers, and Swank has already practiced one unhappy-lookin face (look to the upper right).

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