Harry Potter PUMPED!!!

I can't help myself. Today I got the new Entertainment Weekly with a picture of a fierce looking Emma Watson (Hermione) on the front. Then I visited my Yahoo! homepage where I was inundated with Harry Potter photos, facts, and clips from the latest film. As an avid fan of the entire literary series, as well as a watcher and owner of the films, it is safe to say that I am in a state of constant anticipation for this summers bombardment of all things Harry Potter.
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix will come out only eight days before the long awaited last book in franchise history. And while Harry Potter mania won't end there (there will be marketing schemes, TV spots, and hoards of interviews to boost appeal) I can't say that I won't be left with an empty feeling once all is said and done. Fortunatly Emma Watson, Rupert Grint, and Danielle Ratcliffe have signed on to do the remaining Harry Potter movies. They are set to start filming the next edition in September. While some might suggest that the actors will be too old to play their characters from the books (Rupert will be 21 by the estimated time of production ends, while his character will only be 17), I argue that with out this threesome the movies would flop. If you think age matters in Hollywood I have compiled a quick list of examples that prove otherwise: Rachel McAdams in Mean Girls (she was in her mid-twenties when that was made, her character was only 17 in the movie), Missy Peregrym in Stick It (she was 23/24 when the movie was being made and played a 16/17 year old character.), the same goes for Sophia Bush in John Tucker Must Die. The 25 year old actress went back to high school for that role, and guys everywhere in America were thankful. I could go on but you get the picture. The point of this blog: I'm excited for Harry Potter and like a number of great things out there, it is only getting better with age.

I thought American Idol was about singing...my bad

The first season of American Idol (and the last one that I watched with any consistency) was all about the talent. The quality of people's voices was what helped propel them to the next round. This week all the talk about the latest version of Fox's hit show has been all about one of the contestant's hair. The fact that more emphasis had been put on that than the actual quality of any of the contestant's vocal abilities is really quite scary. One of the these people is going to get a record contract and become a pop culture icon, and I am going to be inevitably forced to listen to their songs on the radio, at dances, or on the soundtracks to movies...because of this I would prefer that they actually have the ability to sing. I don't care what their hair looks like at this point in their career.
I'd rant more but I have to get ready for tonight's show. Who knows maybe we'll talk about this more there...lol

NO MORE PUNK'D?!

There has only been one show that I have watched with regularity on MTV over the past eight years. In fact there hasn't been very many shows on the network that have stayed on for eight whole seasons. Ashton Kutcher pulled people in with Punk'd. What could be better than watching our favorite celebrities get scared shitless and be made to look like bumbling idiots on TV? Who could forget the time that Justin Timberlake started crying thinking that the IRS was going to take all of his beloved possessions. What other show can feature celebrities like Hilary Duff, Lindsay Lohan, The Rock, Brittany Snow, Rachel Bilson, Jessica Alba, Jesse McCartney, and Zach Braff (I could continue listing but I am running out of space and time). I say thank you Ashton for eight years of quality television.

Here is some trivia for those of you who liked/like the show as much as I do.
*Wilmer Valderrama has been punk'd more than any one else on the show.
*Kutcher failed to punk Neve Campbell TWICE
*Kutcher was punk'd himself by MTV execs before the show even aired.

Um, Hayden you don't actually DRINK from the Stanley Cup

So I have scoured the Internet for something interesting to post. I'm pretty sure my AMCULT homework is more exciting than what Hollywood's finest have been dishing out lately. Even TV is boring. I kid you not Heroes Hayden Panettierre was on FIVE channels at once when I flipped on the TV. You could watch her in Raising Helen, Heroes, Ice Princess, Racing Stripes, and Bring It On: All or Nothing. Oh, I almost forgot, Hayden also was the spotlight on MSNBC's storied photograph page. By the way do you like the inclusion of photos now? I'm doing my best to spiff this page up a bit.
Speaking of TV movies, I would like to go on a small rant about how I despise the "this film has been edited for content and the time allotted' bull that is responsible for taking some of the best scenes out of movies. Let's use Ten Things I Hate About You for example. It is an entirely different movie when it appears on TV. The scenes with Ms. Perky are edited to the point where punch lines disappear and a once ridiculously funny portion of the film turns into a confusing and very unfunny section.
Ok now that I'm done with that...back to the "celebrity news" that is online. Lindsay Lohan and John Mayer have supposedly spent some time together. I am starting to believe Dina Lohan. I don't think Lindsay was in rehab for alcoholism, I think she was in rehab for being a serious slut. Ok that was harsh. I take it back...kind of. It just seems like everyday she is in the tabloids hanging all over some new Hollywood hunk. Maybe it's jealously. Who WOULDN'T want to be able to get with all those fine specimans? Either way I'm excited to see Lindsay back in the news for something non-rehab related.
In honor of TMNT's reign at the box office I have scoured IMDB to find a good piece of trivia for you guys. I found it!
*Oscar-nominated actor Mako was announced as the voice of Splinter at San Diego Comic Con the day before he died. Fortunately, he had finished the majority of his acting. TMNT was his last film.

Turtle Power

Can I just say how incredibly excited I am that TMNT has surpassed 300 to take the number one spot at the box office. I grew up a ninja turtles fan and not only did I religiously watch the cartoon, but I went to all three of the movies in theatres, bought a poster for my room, and had the Michaelangelo costume which I frequently wore with my cousins when playing. There was nothing greater than running around yelling "cowabunga" and "tubular" all the while wishing you had an endless supply of pizza to fuel your adventures (although I was happy to do without the anchovies). I was never a power rangers person (although I was thrilled that they included women warriors into the franchise). The fact that their appearance phased out my favorite green friends was a sharp blow to my childhood. Now, past my teenage years, I long for the days of playing dress up while listening to the Ninja Turtles soundtrack (dang straight I had it, I played "coming out of our shells" so many times the tape warped). For all of you who have shared/share my feelings for the heroes in a half-shell you'll be thrilled to know that you can find the songs from that album on the internet. And, after what has seemed like an eternity of waiting, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles are back on the big screen. The only thing that could make this experience better would be if Patrick Stuart (who lends his voice to the animated feature film) would have included the line he used at the Michigan game this year when leading the marching band. Either way I'm excited to see that current and future generations alike will be blessed with the crime fighting power of Rafael, Donatello, Leonardo, and Michaelangelo...I am already sleeping better at night as a result.

Did someone really use the words "golden globe" and "Hilary Duff" in the same sentence?

Our good old friend Hilary Duff is back in the news again. Blaming the media for her severe weightloss is nothing new, her new leading role is, however. Duff has apparently signed on for a role in "The Emancipation of Johnny" which will be shot in Australia and is currently in pre-production. Normally a Duff movie role wouldn't get space on the Ebuzz blog, but something about this headline caught my attention. In the first two articles I read regarding the new film I found the same startling quote:
"The film is a heart-felt, emotional drama; one in which will be Hilary Duff's most engaging yet - her metamorphosis from amateur to 'Golden Globe nominated' worthy actress."

I couldn't make this shit up, I promise you. I will be the first to admit that I have watched almost every one of Hilary Duff's past cinematic disasters (come on, I know I wasn't the only one who saw Chad Michael Murray and Jennifer Coolige provide some laughs in 'A Cinderella Story'). While I have enjoyed her past performances I have never imagined Duff as a serious actress. Then again, I never imagined Lindsay Lohan as a serious actress either. In a world full of "tween talent" (i.e. Hayden Panettierre, Lindsay Lohan, Hilary Duff, etc.) Duff has always seemed to fit right in. Her albums have sold millions, mostly to screaming 13 year old girls, and her movies have racked in millions at the box office (working with Steve Martin and Bonnie Hunt couldn't have hurt her cause either). Both of these successes have never been attributed to her incredible talent as either an actress or a singer, though. She has star quality, an innocent likability, and up until two years ago when she started becoming anorexic (ok I don't know that for sure, but she did loose a crap load of weight), she had a relate ability that other young starlets just couldn't match. Every little girl could see herself as "Lizzie McGuire". The question is, with new teeth, a new hair color, and a new attitude, can Duff be as relateable to the older masses? Apparently we'll find out when, "The Emancipation of Johnny" eventually hits theatres.

It is fitting that today's trivia be from a former Hilary Duff flick.
Believe it or not but Rupert Grint had originally gotten the role of Austin (now played by Chad Michael Murray) but had to turn it down in order to tape Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban.

Evan Rachel Wood and Johnathan Jackson were set to star in Raise Your Voice, but had to give up the roles to Duff and Oliver James due to production changes. The movie was also originally title "Heart of Summer".

Finally the movie Material Girls was originally written for Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen before being made with Hilary and Haylie Duff. The Olsens got lucky as the movie, released in 1500 theatres, royally tanked.

TRL no longer TRL

So I haven't watched TRL on MTV since I was in jr. high BUT I remember the glory days of the program. I remember when the Backstreet Boys, NSYNC, and Britney Spears were in their heyday and used the show as a vehicle for their work. I remember thinking how amazing it would be to stand outside the studios in Times Square while blocks of New York's street were closed down so that teenagers could get a glimpse of their favorite celebrities. While TRL has most certainly lost its edge as far as TV goes (come on as soon as Carson Daly left the show went down hill) but is it really necessary for MTV to stop producing TRL as a LIVE show? MTV decided to tape the shows live on Mondays and Wednesdays and tape the remaining shows AFTER the live shootings on those days. SO if you are still one of those fans who enjoys calling in to ask your favorite celebs questions it sucks to be you.

I scoured up some fun trivia for today though. Today's trivia is for the movie 300.
*It was shot in 60 days.
*Post productions took almost a year.