The Call Sheet

Steven Soderbergh Unretires

AP

Today in show business news: Steven Soderbergh is headed to television, Intervention will intervene no more, and USA is sending camp kids to battle.

By Esther Zuckerman

Apr 11, 2013

Here's the Plot of Hangover 3, from the New Trailer

Warner Bros. has released another clip for The Hangover Part III, the sequel you never knew you needed, and while it's more of the same hijinks, the clip does actually provide some plot for this thing. It's not the same formula; it's just the same jokes.

Comments | 7,819 Views

By Esther Zuckerman

Apr 11, 2013

'Man of Steel' Sounds More and More Like a 3-Hour Superman Therapy Visit

Superman officially has issues. He's going to have more on his mind this summer than anybody expected — Fear! Loneliness! Emotional engagement! — and Man of Steel might have reached the point where everyone else really should start worrying about the big blue boy scout's new blues.

Comments | 10,542 Views

By Richard Lawson

Apr 11, 2013

What We Watched

'American Idol': Candice Land

Something was in the air on American Idol last night, some spirit of Idol seasons past that gave some of the contestants a little extra oomph, maybe even genuinely good, likable performances. Well, two, anyway. From the same person. But still.

Comments | 2,589 Views

By Esther Zuckerman

Apr 11, 2013

James Franco to Pay for Stealing 'Spring Breakers' Character... on a Soap Opera

Rapper Riff Raff is taking his issues with James Franco into the world of daytime television.

Comments | 4,511 Views

By Esther Zuckerman

Apr 11, 2013

'Hunger Games' Has Mastered the Art of the Modern Movie Tease

Even though the second installment is seven months away and even though every other blockbuster has gotten desperate on social media, they're whetting the appetites of rabid young fans, one would-be viral Catching Fire image at a time. 

Comments | 4,254 Views

By Alexander Abad-Santos

Apr 11, 2013

Jay-Z's 'Open Letter' Is Addressed to These People

While Jay won't say who he's rapping about in his (timely) new song, here's a news analysis based on the recent Hova headlines on his trip to Cuba, his new sports agency, and more.

Comments | 6,301 Views

By Richard Lawson

Apr 11, 2013

The Smart Set

Is Miranda Kerr Still a Lingerie Model?

Today in celebrity news: Is a popular Victoria's Secret Angel actually not that popular? Plus, everyone wants a Jennifer Lawrence sex tape, and Kate Upton is not dating Diddy, you guys.

Comments | 11,958 Views

By Esther Zuckerman

Apr 11, 2013

Jon Stewart Says GOP Opposition to UN Arms Treaty Is Pro-Bond Villain

On last night's Daily Show Jon Stewart explained how the Senate blocked the U.S. from signing on to a UN arms treaty — a treaty that is decidedly anti-Bond villain.

Comments | 1,104 Views

By Dashiell Bennett

Apr 11, 2013

'Django Unchained' Pulled from Chinese Theaters at the Last Minute

An edited version of Quentin Tarantino's latest revenge-murder fest, Django Unchained, was supposed to open in China today, but was yanked from all its theaters—in some cases, even after the opening credits had already started rolling.

Comments | 920 Views

By Esther Zuckerman

Apr 10, 2013

Carson Daly Is Safe from Alec Baldwin (For Now)

Contrary to crazy reports, Alec Baldwin will not be on your television while you are fast sleep—at least not yet: NBC announced this afternoon that Last Call with Carson Daly, the show you did not know was still on, has been renewed for a 13th.

Comments | 368 Views

By Richard Lawson

Apr 10, 2013

The Call Sheet

Adrien Brody to Become Magician

Today in show business news: History is doing a miniseries about Houdini with TV actor Adrien Brody, Julie Taymor gets her Spider-Man money, and fans of Zack Morris can rejoice.

Comments | 2,392 Views

By Alexander Abad-Santos

Apr 10, 2013

Jay-Z Is Making Philadelphia Good Again

Today in viral videos: the festival that turns Philly nightlife from terrible to pretty fun, Kim Jong-un with makeup, and the chillest seal in the world.

Comments | 552 Views

By Richard Lawson

Apr 10, 2013

Movie Review

'To the Wonder': Twirling into Nothing

I've been something of a Terrence Malick apologist in the past, explaining to detractors why the plodding pace of The New World is just right, why the long origins-of-the-universe segment of Tree of Life is a vital burst of genius, but I'm afraid I'm out of excuses with To the Wonder.

Comments | 2,339 Views

By Richard Lawson

Apr 10, 2013

The Other Brad Paisley/LL Cool J Song Is Only Offensive In Its Badness

Two days after the Internet became aware of their godawful and actually racist collaboration, "Accidental Racist," we've been given the duo's second joint, the love tune "Live for You." Love songs are perfectly nice and harmless, right?

Comments | 3,679 Views

By Esther Zuckerman

Apr 10, 2013

Alec Baldwin at 1:35 in the Morning Is Good for Everyone but Carson Daly

The wee hours of the morning may be welcoming none other Baldwin into NBC's new late-night lineup, which leads to a bunch more questions, all with very sensible (if provocative and potentially dangerous) answers.

Comments | 1,840 Views

By Richard Lawson

Apr 10, 2013

What If the New 'Arrested Development' Is Not Good?

Fifteen new episodes of the beloved show will debut on the streaming site on May 26, an event that has many excited, yes, but many worried, too. What if it's not as good?

Comments | 7,756 Views

By Richard Lawson

Apr 10, 2013

The Smart Set

Lindsay Lohan Sheds a Lonely Tear

Today in celebrity news: LiLo and Letterman have a chat, Tom Cruise opens up about divorce, and Kate Upton must choose between Puff Daddy and Michigan's freshman hero.

Comments | 4,599 Views

By Alexander Abad-Santos

Apr 10, 2013

MTV Is at Muddy War with 'Buckwild' Because It Refuses to Die

MTV will cancel the show, a little over a week after of one the show's star cast members died of carbon monoxide poisoning. But does a network known for its questionable taste in reality TV owe it to the rest of the kids to keep the show on the air? That's what Buckwild​'s show runner is arguing, vehemently, as he vows to keep filming.

Comments | 2,202 Views

By Esther Zuckerman

Apr 10, 2013

'Elysium' Is Ready to Be Your Favorite Summer Blockbuster

Neill Blomkamp's District 9 followup — about which we knew next to nothing until this week, and which, as of last night, has a full trailer out in the wild — is officially going to be the next great sci-fi movie. Yes, the buzz is that good. 

Comments | 1,835 Views

By Adam Clark Estes

Apr 9, 2013

Highlights from the Met's New Billion Dollar Donation

Leonard Lauder, the heir to cosmetics mogul Estée Lauder's massive fortune, just donated 78 Cubist paintings to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. That adds up to a lot of Picassos: 33 to be exact.

Comments | 2,753 Views

By Adam Clark Estes

Apr 9, 2013

Obama Fails to Croon to the Crowd at White House Memphis Soul Party

It's always fun to watch President Obama go to music-related events, most especially because there's usually a good chance that he might get on stage to sing. Tuesday night was one of those nights. Except he didn't sing a thing!

Comments | 4,379 Views

By Richard Lawson

Apr 9, 2013

The Call Sheet

Can Saul Have It All?

Today in show business news: AMC is thinking about spinning off a beloved Breaking Bad character, Anne Hathaway lands a huge new role, and Chloe Sevigny has officially been made a detective.

Comments | 2,525 Views

By Jen Doll

Apr 9, 2013

Y.A. for Grownups

Meet the 17-Year-Old Who's Already Got a Three-Book Deal with Random House

Beth Reekles has a three-book deal with Random House, is working toward her physics degree, and is 17 years old. What have you done lately?

Comments | 6,058 Views

By Richard Lawson

Apr 9, 2013

Why They Can't Ever Make 'Labyrinth' Again

Labyrinth is in many ways one of the last non-animated, spectacle films of the pre-computer age. Now, so many years later, it's been announced that Disney has acquired a pitch called Labyrinth, which is not quite a remake nor could it be.

Comments | 8,388 Views

By Elspeth Reeve

Apr 9, 2013

Brad Paisley Is Still Happy About His 'Accidental' Racism

Why did country star Brad Paisley write the song "Accidental Racist"? Because he thinks it's time musicians step in to have a national conversation about race.

Comments | 3,260 Views

By Alexander Abad-Santos

Apr 9, 2013

Here Is Beyoncé's New Song — 12 Whole Seconds of It

Today in viral videos: Beyoncé teases "Grown Woman" again, a raccoon pleases, and everything that's wrong with Les Miserables including Anne Hathaway. 

Comments | 4,221 Views

By Esther Zuckerman

Apr 9, 2013

How Convenient: 'Accidental Racist' Just Disappeared from YouTube

Less than 24 hours after the, shall we say, misguided Brad Paisley and LL Cool J song went viral, YouTube videos featuring the song appear to have been taken down — but it might not be YouTube doing the pulling, exactly.

Comments | 8,392 Views

The Only White House Correspondents' Dinner Seating Chart You Need

All of the invite news leading up to DC's Nerd Prom can be a confusing batch of pomp and absurdity, so we'll be updating this handy, interactive, and officially unofficial guest list of media outlets and celebrities until that grandest of evenings is finally upon us.

Comments | 2,720 Views

By Esther Zuckerman

Apr 9, 2013

Lena Dunham Is Probably Going to Win a Webby for Pissing Off Republicans

The closest thing the Internet has to its own version of the Oscars now has its nominees and, well, Dunham might have to clear some room on her starting-to-be-very-full shelves: she's been nominated for that Obama video. Yeah, that one.

Comments | 2,874 Views

By Jen Doll

Apr 9, 2013

Spelling Bee Champs Will Now Also Need to Know What Words Mean

There is a change in the venerable Scripps National Spelling Bee, which will take place May 28 to 30 near Washington, D.C. Spelling is not enough. There's a vocabulary portion of the competition, now, too.

Comments | 1,834 Views

By Esther Zuckerman

Apr 9, 2013

London Theater Audience Votes to Kick Thatcher When She's Dead, in Song

An audience at the West End production of Billy Elliot last night didn't really care that a song in the show slandered the name of the recently deceased — and still reviled — former prime minister. Last night, a show of hands said so.

Comments | 917 Views

By Esther Zuckerman

Apr 9, 2013

What's Baz Luhrmann's 'Gatsby' Surprise?

You would think that a movie adaptation of a book as widely read as The Great Gatsby wouldn't really have a spoiler. Apparently, director Baz Luhrmann came up with one. 

Comments | 3,742 Views

By Richard Lawson

Apr 9, 2013

The Smart Set

The 'Teen Mom' Sex Tape Nobody Wants to See

Today in celebrity news: A Teen Mom-and-a-porn-star rumor is running rampant across the Internet, Kate Middleton has a new boat, and Brad Paisley will not say he's sorry for that "Accidental Racist" song.

Comments | 31,285 Views

By Esther Zuckerman

Apr 9, 2013

Will the 'Man of Steel' Trailers Ever Get Less Existential Than This?

The new Superman movie's new TV spot doesn't really have much new footage, but it doesn't prove that Zack Snyder is prepared to beat us over the head with almost religious sounding music and questions of identity. When do we get more than that?

Comments | 3,664 Views

By Jen Doll

Apr 9, 2013

Telling Parents to STFU for Fun and Profit: A Q&A with Blair Koenig

Blair Koenig is the 30-year-old Brooklynite behind the four-year-old blog STFU Parents, which is now also a book. I talked to Koenig about what it's like to see her Internet baby grow up into print.

Comments | 4,120 Views

By Connor Simpson

Apr 9, 2013

Kevin Ware Got to Cut Down the Nets

Fab Five reunion and an unlikely performance from a current freshman couldn't stop Louisville from coming from behind to beat Michigan for the NCAA championship.

Comments | 1,097 Views

By Connor Simpson

Apr 8, 2013

Everyone Is on Board for This 'Crossfire' Reboot on One Condition...

Rumors have been swirling that CNN may revive Crossfire, the shuttered political debate show, since last Friday, and now it seems that most of the regular talking heads on the old Crossfire think it's a great idea so long as CNN doesn't make one fatal mistake. 

Comments | 1,459 Views

By Esther Zuckerman

Apr 8, 2013

How the British Papers Are Covering Thatcher's Death

Mourning for former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher wasn't entirely ceremonious. In fact, it was tampered with a reminder that she was also widely hated by people even in her own country. So how are Britain's papers—including their often biting tabloids—dealing with the news on their front pages?

Comments | 3,087 Views

By Richard Lawson

Apr 8, 2013

The Call Sheet

Judge Judy: Four More Years

Today in show business news: Judge Judy has just signed a new long-term deal, Disney is doing some layoffs, and new details about Captain America's next movie.

Comments | 543 Views

By Richard Lawson

Apr 8, 2013

Remember: Not That Many People Watch 'Mad Men'

The season six premiere attracted 3.4 million viewers, meaning that more people watched Wife Swap last week than watched Mad Men Sunday night.

Comments | 1,622 Views

By Esther Zuckerman

Apr 8, 2013

Questlove Has All But Confirmed That The Roots Will Be on the 'Tonight Show'

In a new interview, The Roots drummer/face man tentatively confirmed that his band will remain the ultimate in-house band for Jimmy Fallon — or at least that The Roots are "staying" with him. 

Comments | 541 Views

By Connor Simpson

Apr 8, 2013

Will Chris Webber Outlive His Timeout?

With the Michigan Wolverines playing for a national title twenty years after Chris Webber and the Fab Five let one slip through their grasp, everyone wants to know if this will finally be the year the former players and the school finally bury the hatchet and let things go. We're a few hours away from game time, but it doesn't seem likely.

Comments | 5,767 Views

By Richard Lawson

Apr 8, 2013

Brad Paisley and LL Cool J Have a Conversation About Racism

It seems that country singer Brad Paisley is having an identity crisis. See, he's from the South and he's proud of that, but one time a (presumably black, possibly invented for the purposes of storytelling) Starbucks employee was not a fan of his Confederate flag T-shirt. So he's written a song called "Accidental Racist."

Comments | 12,795 Views

By Esther Zuckerman

Apr 8, 2013

Annette Funicello Was Disney's Original Teen Idol in the Making

Today we know all too much about former Mickey Mouse Club stars like Justin Timberlake, Britney Spears, and Ryan Gosling, but the original Mousekeeter turned teen star was Annette Funicello, who has died at the age of 70 after a close relationship with Walt Disney himself defined her career.

Comments | 1,075 Views

By Esther Zuckerman

Apr 8, 2013

Words to Remember Roger Ebert by, from His Funeral

Ebert was eulogized Monday at a funeral mass, with his family, colleagues, and fellow Chicagoans speaking of a man who shared himself with the world and fought as "a soldier for social justice."

Comments | 1,081 Views

By Connor Simpson

Apr 8, 2013

The Fired Rutgers Athletic Director Gets to Keep the iPad New Jersey Bought Him

The state school is still going to pay the man who didn't act on acts of violence around $1.2 million through the next year, and pay for his car, and let him keep the laptop and iPad the school purchased, likely by way of taxpayer dollars. That must be nice for him.

Comments | 721 Views

By Richard Lawson

Apr 8, 2013

The Smart Set

Jenna Jameson Might Have Battered Someone

Today in celebrity news: Former XXX movie star Jenna Jameson was arrested this weekend, Halle Berry is unexpectedly with child, and Chris Brown might be dating. 

Comments | 5,732 Views

By Esther Zuckerman

Apr 8, 2013

Who is Don Draper's New Lover?

The big spoiler of last night's Mad Men premiere wasn't the gorgeous symbolism, or really even the year in which the series picked up. It was a familiar face, at least to fans of short-lived TV shows.

Comments | 12,901 Views

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