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Golden Globes: Amy Poehler roots for “Avatar” and Tina Fey wants best picture

Thu, 03 Jan 2013 19:48:00 +0000

If the promos are any indication, you'll want to tune into 70th Annual Golden Globe Awards this year, hosted by comedians Amy Poehler and Tina Fey. In a newly released video, the two speculate on who the big winners will be: Tina Fey and "Avatar." "I, personally, would like to win best picture," says Fey. "Just me, like, as a person, winning best picture, I think would be unprecedented especially because I didn't even really make a movie this year."

And, spoiler alert, but Daniel Day-Lewis might be up for something, too:

Poehler: I haven't been keeping up with pop culture, is it "Avatar" this year?
Fey: Yes, yes.
Poehler: We've been practicing: And the winner for best actor in a drama is ...
Fey: Daniel Day-Lewis.
In unison: For "Avatar."

Character actor Charles Durning dies at 89

Wed, 26 Dec 2012 14:13:00 +0000

LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Charles Durning grew up in poverty, lost five of his nine siblings to disease, barely lived through D-Day and was taken prisoner at the Battle of the Bulge.

His hard life and wartime trauma provided the basis for a prolific 50-year career as a consummate Oscar-nominated character actor, playing everyone from a Nazi colonel to the pope to Dustin Hoffman's would-be suitor in "Tootsie."

Durning, who died Monday at age 89 in New York, got his start as an usher at a burlesque theater in Buffalo, N.Y. When one of the comedians showed up too drunk to go on, Durning took his place. He would recall years later that he was hooked as soon as he heard the audience laughing.

He told The Associated Press in 2008 that he had no plans to stop working. "They're going to carry me out, if I go," he said.

Durning's longtime agent and friend, Judith Moss, told The Associated Press that he died of natural causes in his home in the borough of Manhattan.

"Not only was Charlie a World War II hero but he was also a hero to his family. Charlie loved Christmas and if he could have chosen a time to pass, he would have chosen this day," said a statement from his stepdaughter, Anita Gregory, released Tuesday by Ana Martinez, spokeswoman for the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce.

Must-see morning clip

Wed, 19 Dec 2012 14:04:00 +0000

On last night's "Jimmy Kimmy Live," actor Samuel L. Jackson described "Django Unchained" as "a cowboy movie that crosses the Mississippi" during the era of slavery. He also seemed confused about why he's "known for cursing":

Ali G returns

Thu, 13 Dec 2012 21:11:27 +0000

Although audiences have seen comedian and actor Sacha Baron Cohen take on supporting roles in dramas (Inspector Gustav in "Hugo" and Thénardier in the upcoming "Les Miserables"), most will forever remember him as Bruno, Ali G and Borat in his hilarious character sketch comedy, "Da Ali G Show."

Ali G made a triumphant return to television at the British Comedy Awards two nights ago, where Ben Kingsley honored Cohen with an outstanding achievement award. Ali G, who hasn't been on TV for 10 years, said he's all "grown up now."

I ain't living in my nan's house anymore," said the wannabe rapper. "I am living in her garage."

Watch the full speech below:

James Franco releases a music video

Tue, 11 Dec 2012 16:04:00 +0000

The world's second best blogger is a singer, too. James Franco's band, Daddy, has released "Can't Say Goodbye," the third video released from their EP, which came out in September. Franco tells MTV that the song is about the death of his father:

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The band's goal is to "push beyond the sonic space of music into the surrounding ecology. Daddy investigates the territories of film/video, installation, and performance while simultaneously exploring the connections that form between them."

Must-see morning clip

Tue, 11 Dec 2012 12:46:00 +0000

Matt Damon tells Jay Leno what it was like to meet Bill Clinton for the first time at a screening of "Good Will Hunting":

Forbes declares Eddie Murphy Hollywood’s most overpaid actor

Wed, 05 Dec 2012 18:00:00 +0000

Forbes is amazed that comedian Eddie Murphy is still getting paid to act. The magazine has declared that the career of the former "SNL" and "Coming to America" star "has just collapsed," earning him the title of Hollywood's most overpaid actor.

Each year, Forbes calculates Hollywood stars' "ROI" of sorts, averaging the salaries of the top 100 most powerful celebrities over their total box office earnings. Murphy's box office return was $2.30 to every $1 the actor was paid for his last three films. Though Forbes notes that Murphy hasn't had a non-animated hit in five years, this could, of course, also just be bad luck with picking movies.

Murphy's record doesn't look so bad, though, when considering that last year's list topper, Drew Barrymore, didn't even turn a profit. Barrymore gained 40 cents per dollar earned last year. This year, she didn't rank -- but the reason why says it all: To be considered by Forbes, an actor has to be the clear star of the movie and have had three "big" releases in the last three years. As far as Forbes is considered, Barrymore hasn't had enough recent hits.

Rider Strong to have “no official involvement” in “Boy Meets World” follow-up

Thu, 29 Nov 2012 14:30:00 +0000

Rider Strong, better known to most '90s kids as the rebellious but charming Shawn Hunter from "Boy Meets World," has announced that "at this point" he will have "no official involvement" in the "Boy Meets World" spin-off, "Girl Meets World." He posted a note on his Web site earlier today:

So I am extremely happy for Ben and Danielle to be able to continue the story. At this point, I have no official involvement in Girl Meets World. There might be a chance to see some of the BMW cast in a guest spot, and I think it would be nice to find out where our characters have been all these years. But Girl Meets World will be, and I think it should be, it’s own show. It will be about Cory and Topanga, their daughter, and a new set of characters.

Strong recounted all the positive ways in which the show changed his life, but the note didn't say why Strong wouldn't sign on. To say that this is a disappointment for superfans is an understatement. After all, the best-friends-from-different-worlds conflict between Cory and Shawn sourced half of the drama on the 7-season show.