Author: Richard Lawson

The Call Sheet

Jennifer Hudson Returning to 'Idol'?

AP

Today in show business news: Jennifer Hudson might become an American Idol judge, Jon Stewart finds a leading man for his risky directing debut, and Tom Cruise walks away from a movie. 

By Richard Lawson

Apr 26, 2012

The Call Sheet

Meryl Streep Just Wants Some Sex

Today: Meryl Streep is in a sexy new movie, Chloë Sevigny gets scary, and The Avengers is already a hit.

Comments | 12,645 Views

By Richard Lawson

Apr 26, 2012

An Afternoon 'Waltz' in the Dark at Tribeca

Though it had its premiere earlier in the festival, Sarah Polley's new film Take This Waltz, her second writing and directing effort after 2006's Away From Her, had another Tribeca Film Festival screening this afternoon for press stragglers like myself and, you know, the public.

Comments | 538 Views

By Richard Lawson

Apr 26, 2012

What We Watched

'American Idol': Queen and the Damned

Last night's Top Six episode of American Singing Competition began what I fear are the two or three most languid weeks of the season (other than auditions, naturally): The Top Six Creep really doesn't end until there are about three people left and the show starts to get exciting again.

Comments | 2,810 Views

By Richard Lawson

Apr 25, 2012

The Call Sheet

The Vampire Hunger Games

Today: A new book/movie combines tropes (sort of), Keanu Reeves suffers a setback, and Pixar contemplates death.

Comments | 1,860 Views

By Richard Lawson

Apr 25, 2012

'Smash' Recasts Its Biggest Role

Late last night news broke ("news broke" is sort of a dramatic phrase for this, but whatever) that Gossip Girl writer/producer Josh Safran will be taking over as the showrunner of NBC's Smash from creator Theresa Rebeck. Will this do anything to change the trajectory of the sadly disappointing show?

Comments | 1,486 Views

By Richard Lawson

Apr 25, 2012

Lost Days at the Tribeca Film Festival

I am coming to you live from the Cadillac® Tribeca Press Lounge (which is actually in Chelsea), eating a bag of Lays® potato chips, drinking a Diet Coke® (other options were water, either of the Smart® or Vitamin® variety), and sitting next to an actual Cadillac® automobile.

Comments | 902 Views

By Richard Lawson

Apr 25, 2012

What We Watched

'Frontline' Explains What Happened to All Our Money

Last night PBS aired the first installment of a new Frontline documentary called "Money, Power, & Wall Street," which was about, as you might imagine, that whole big ugly messy thing that happened in the financial sector a few years ago.

Comments | 4,811 Views

By Richard Lawson

Apr 24, 2012

The Call Sheet

Bill Maher Forever

Today: Bill Maher isn't going anywhere for a while, Mel Gibson keeps making bad choices, and Ryan Seacrest makes some more money.

Comments | 4,192 Views

By Richard Lawson

Apr 24, 2012

The End of the Lohan Era

Yesterday we learned that Lindsay Lohan, the last decade's fiery queen of destruction, has officially landed the starring role in a new Lifetime biopic of Elizabeth Taylor. It's a decent-sized coup for the largely unemployable actress, and, one hopes at least, a sign that Lohan is finally growing the hell up and getting her act together.

Comments | 5,845 Views

By Richard Lawson

Apr 24, 2012

What We Watched

'Smash' Gets Silly

Yes, it was just last week that we were gushing lamely about Uma Thurman's guest starring role on Smash, but we're going to gush lamely some more.

Comments | 1,780 Views

By Richard Lawson

Apr 23, 2012

The Call Sheet

Lindsay Lohan Headed to Lifetime

Today: Lindsay Lohan gets a big Lifetime role, Gina Carano keeps on acting, and the BBC cancels a show.

Comments | 3,729 Views

By Richard Lawson

Apr 23, 2012

Actually, 'The Killing' Is Getting Kinda Good

The show is still far from perfect, but the second season has actually been significantly better.

Comments | 1,552 Views

By Richard Lawson

Apr 23, 2012

Don't Forget That Lana del Rey Exists

Amidst all this talk about Girls, what with its New Yorkness and its girlness and its youthness, it was easy to forget about the other young New York woman who was recently dominating/trolling the pop culture conversation. Meaning: guys, we forgot all about Lana del Rey! Lucky for everyone, then, that she has just released a new video for us to scream at/about.

Comments | 2,712 Views

By Richard Lawson

Apr 23, 2012

What We Watched

'Game of Thrones': Magic Is Gathering

One way that Game of Thrones fans have wooed skeptics to their cause has been to insist that, though the show is fantasy, it's not, like, all wizards and spells and crazy creatures and all that.

Comments | 4,798 Views

By Richard Lawson

Apr 20, 2012

The Call Sheet

Taylor Swift to Potentially Ruin Another Thing

Today: Taylor Swift considers sacrilege, Catching Fire has its director, and Matthew Perry is going back to work.

Comments | 10,372 Views

By Richard Lawson

Apr 20, 2012

Hail to the 'Veep'

Here's some good, surprising news for you: Something genuinely great is happening in Washington. 

Comments | 8,618 Views

By Richard Lawson

Apr 20, 2012

Movie Review

Broken Hearts Club: 'The Lucky One' and 'Goodbye First Love'

Today we review two movies about romance, The Lucky One and Goodbye First Love.

Comments | 4,771 Views

By Richard Lawson

Apr 20, 2012

What We Watched

'American Idol': The Dying of the Dark

Last night was, truly, the most shocking rose ceremony in Idol history.

Comments | 3,311 Views

By Richard Lawson

Apr 19, 2012

The Call Sheet

Jake Gyllenhaal, Live and in Person

Today: Jake Gyllenhaal takes to the stage, Bravo gives us the goods, as does Magic Mike.

Comments | 1,781 Views

By Richard Lawson

Apr 19, 2012

What We Watched

'American Idol': The Devil's Dance

What exactly was happening on American Idol last night? Didn't things seem off and strange?

Comments | 2,898 Views

By Richard Lawson

Apr 18, 2012

The Call Sheet

The Great 'Arrested Development' Dump

Today: Netflix goes all in, Bravo renews your favorite show, and Showtime has a new project.

Comments | 4,251 Views

By Richard Lawson

Apr 18, 2012

Five Things Wrong with This Year's 'Time 100'

Time magazine released their annual 100 Most Influential list today and while it's mostly your typical mishmash of heads of state, captains of industry, and stars of stage and screen, there are a few things about this year's list that strike us as particularly wrong.

Comments | 9,948 Views

By Richard Lawson

Apr 18, 2012

Please Drop 'The Bachelor' Discrimination Lawsuit

Yesterday, two football players from Tennessee, Nathaniel Claybrooks and Christopher Johnson, announced that they plan to sue ABC and the producers of The Bachelor for racial discrimination.

Comments | 1,940 Views

By Richard Lawson

Apr 18, 2012

What We Watched

Everyone's Leaving 'Glee'

It's the middle of April now and graduation season is fast approaching. For Glee that means potentially saying goodbye to many of its main characters.

Comments | 5,266 Views

By Richard Lawson

Apr 17, 2012

The Call Sheet

Who Should Play Rupert Murdoch?

Today: Rupert Murdoch gets the movie treatment, Disney resurrects an amphibian, and Charlie Sheen is, well, winning.

Comments | 619 Views

By Jen Doll and Richard Lawson

Apr 17, 2012

Some Advice to Prepare for Summertime

There are some important things you can do right now to start getting ready for America's best season. Here is our list of ten ways to get an early jump on making Summahtime 2012 the best one ever.

Comments | 3,877 Views

By Richard Lawson

Apr 17, 2012

No One Watches Your Precious Shows

Yesterday we learned that HBO's new series Girls, perhaps more written about than any new show this year, premiered to only so-so numbers. And by "so-so" we mean for premium cable.

Comments | 12,610 Views

By Richard Lawson

Apr 17, 2012

What We Watched

Welcome, Uma!

It was just last week that we were complaining about how depressing Smash has gotten, with everyone fighting and breaking up and becoming pillheads. But luckily last night a tall blonde Veela arrived and started to get things back on track.

Comments | 1,293 Views

By Richard Lawson

Apr 16, 2012

The Call Sheet

'Girls' Doesn't Quite Run the World

Today: a wildly talked-out about show wasn't watched that much, James Cameron is huge in China, and the Tribeca Film Festival picks some strange judges.

Comments | 3,604 Views

By Richard Lawson

Apr 16, 2012

What We Watched

'The Good Wife': Sunday's (Relatively) Unsung Hero

Amidst all the big prestige cable shows currently clogging up Sunday (plus Once Upon a Time), it can be all too easy to forget another gem on the end-of-weekend lineup, CBS' sharp and surprising The Good Wife.

Comments | 2,069 Views

By Richard Lawson

Apr 16, 2012

The Smart Set

Pippa Middleton: Potential Jailbird

Today: Royals are acting criminally, Tiki Barber hits a marital snag, and Nicki storms off the internet.

Comments | 4,686 Views

By Richard Lawson

Apr 13, 2012

The Call Sheet

Hey, That Dog Has a Blog

Disney gives a blog to a dog, Nancy Meyers and Tina Fey are looking for an old man, and Pauly D is very very rich.

Comments | 4,167 Views

By Richard Lawson

Apr 13, 2012

Movie Review

'The Cabin in the Woods' & 'Lockout': Look Out Below

Today we review two new sci-fi-ish thrillers, The Cabin in the Woods and Lockout.

Comments | 2,293 Views

By Richard Lawson

Apr 13, 2012

What We Watched

'American Idol': Something's Rotten in the State of Idol

OK, that was some hot chicanery on American Idol last night, was it not? That was some straight up flimflammery, a scam and a cheat and an ol' run-around. That was a scheme faker than a Jennifer Lopez song. We've been had, America. Hoodwinked and bamboozled.

Comments | 5,224 Views

By Richard Lawson

Apr 12, 2012

The Call Sheet

Britney Spears About to Have Job Again

Today: Britney Spears is close to a big deal, Christian Slater stumbles again, and some Batman snaps.

Comments | 3,756 Views

By Richard Lawson

Apr 12, 2012

'Girls': Getting It Right While Doing It Wrong

I must first admit to some bias. I approached Girls, HBO's new series about the aimless youngs of Brooklyn, with more than a little snide skepticism.

Comments | 10,419 Views

By Richard Lawson

Apr 12, 2012

What We Watched

'American Idol': You Can Go Home Again

There was nothing terribly adventurous about any of the singtestants' endeavors last night, but, you know, this really isn't a bad group. There are no true clunkers, which is a rare thing on American Idol these days. So thank god at least for that.

Comments | 2,586 Views

By Richard Lawson

Apr 11, 2012

The Call Sheet

Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson Together Again

Today: The two cool guys are putting something together, AMC gets back in the comic business, and LMFAO is trying to make it official.

Comments | 2,073 Views

By Richard Lawson

Apr 11, 2012

Who Should Direct the Next 'Hunger Games' Movie?

Now that The Hunger Games director Gary Ross is officially not directing the second movie in the series, Catching Fire, it's time to start speculating about who Lionsgate might hire. Or rather, who they should hire.

Comments | 1,993 Views

By Richard Lawson

Apr 11, 2012

What We Watched

'Justified' Walks Off Into the Sunset Once Again

After a strange and somewhat scattered run of episodes, FX's grainy and appealing crime show Justified wrapped up its third season last night, giving us some satisfying moments amidst all the chaos.

Comments | 1,267 Views

By Richard Lawson

Apr 10, 2012

The Call Sheet

Jennifer Aniston to Become a Hooker

Today: Jen considers a risque role, a legendary rap album comes to life, and Tom Hanks might go seriously Disney.

Comments | 5,589 Views

By Richard Lawson

Apr 10, 2012

The (Very Near) Future of Television

The happy news comes today that HBO has officially renewed their successful fantasy series Game of Thrones for a third season. Gods be good! Seems like lots of shows are getting renewed right now. Let's take a look at what we'll be watching next TV season.

Comments | 13,377 Views

By Richard Lawson

Apr 10, 2012

What We Watched

'Smash': Life is a Bummer

If there's one thing we never expected a show about musical theater to be, it's depressing.

Comments | 2,459 Views

By Richard Lawson

Apr 9, 2012

The Call Sheet

'Game of Thrones' Is Unstoppable

Today: HBO has a real hit on its hands, Zooey Deschanel will be back in the fall, and the Eastwood reality show drops.

Comments | 4,691 Views

By Richard Lawson

Apr 9, 2012

'The Lion King' Rules Broadway

Over the Easter weekend, a busy one for New York theater, Disney's smash-hit musical The Lion King became Broadway's smashest hit ever, surpassing ancient veteran The Phantom of the Opera.

Comments | 503 Views

By Richard Lawson

Apr 9, 2012

What We Watched

'The Client List' Doesn't Hit the Right Spots

Last night Lifetime: Television For Room-Temperature Wine Drinkers debuted its newest series, The Client List, a supposedly sexy and scandalous show about a gal (Jennifer Love Hewitt) who joins the oldest profession (sort of) to make ends meet in these tough economic times.

Comments | 4,047 Views

By Richard Lawson

Apr 6, 2012

The Call Sheet

The Big 'Hunger Games' Shakeup

Today: Katniss has no leader, Nicole Kidman is to become a princess, and an injured actor gets litigious.

Comments | 5,702 Views

By Richard Lawson

Apr 6, 2012

Movie Review

'American Reunion' & 'Damsels in Distress': Youth Is Revolted

Today we review two new movies based on faded youth, the American Pie gang getting back together for American Reunion and Whit Stillman's revisiting college life with Damsels in Distress.

Comments | 3,927 Views

By Richard Lawson

Apr 6, 2012

What We Watched

'American Idol': We're Glad You Came

Another day, another Idol kid sent to the dustbin of pop culture history.

Comments | 2,195 Views

By Jen Doll and Richard Lawson

Apr 6, 2012

Remembering the Titanic, All Over Again

We were so much older then. We're younger than that now. 

Comments | 2,134 Views

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