andPOP » Television

Radio Hosts Tell Spencer Pratt to Pay Up

Vanessa Baker — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 13:49:13 +0000

The hosts of radio show “Jojo, Reagan and the Mix Morning Show,” are asking Spencer Pratt to put his money where his mouth is and pay them the $1,000 he bet them Friday morning, reports TMZ. Pratt claimed his wife, Heidi Montag’s performance on the Miss Universe pageant was the most-watched television event in the history of time and space.

While one billion people tuned in to the pageant Aug. 23, Princess Diana’s funeral had 2.5 billion viewers. The radio hosts are waiting for their cheque.

Stephen Spielberg and Stephen King Join Forces

Vanessa Baker — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 21:00:22 +0000

Director Steven Spielberg is planning to bring Stephen King’s latest novel, Under the Dome, to television, reports CBC. DreamWorks TV announced Spielberg will be executive producer for a mini-series based on the novel, which hit stores Nov. 10.

Under the Dome is the story of a town that has an invisible force field descend around it, making it impossible to go in or out. The townspeople then divide into two warring camps as they struggle for survival.

Stars Wish Oprah Well

Vanessa Baker — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 19:49:08 +0000

News that The Oprah Winfrey Show will end in less than two years has prompted many stars to express their support and praise for the daytime talk show host, reports E! News.

“I am going to enjoy every episode between now and 2011,” said former Food Network star Rachael Ray, host of talk show Rachael Ray. “Oprah opened the door for me to move into daytime television and I can’t thank her enough. I look forward to seeing what she does next. There will only ever be one Oprah!”

“This is a very nostalgic moment for me,” said Dr. Phil McGraw, who got his television start as a regular on Winfrey’s show. “Oprah Winfrey is first and foremost one of my dearest friends and obviously the person who taught me everything I know about television. Her show was home for me for five of the most exciting years of my life. The Oprah Winfrey Show is the gold standard and I know that she will succeed at whatever she chooses to do next.”

There is talk that Dr. Mehmet Oz, a former medical consultant for the show, may be given Winfrey’s time slot.

“I know the rest of the world shares my heartfelt admiration and congratulatory salute to a woman who showed us how the power of television can make us better,” said Oz. “On a personal note, as a mentor and a friend, Ms. Winfrey built a bridge so I could take everything I learned in medicine and transfer it to television in an effort to teach millions. That is symbolic of the higher calling perspective she instills in everyone privileged enough to work with her.”

Several celebrities including Kim Kardashian, Nicky Hilton and Weeds star Kevin Nealon tweeted their disappointment about the projected end of the Oprah era.

Oprah Announces The Final Show

Joelle Tomlinson — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 04:58:49 +0000

The old adage is true: all good things must come to an end, including the beloved Oprah Winfrey show of 25 years.

The queen of daytime television announced that the show will not continue past 2011, and she will move on to pursue other projects in her life. According to people.com, a spokesperson announced the “the last day will be Sept 9, 2011 [...] She will speak about it on (Friday’s) live show.”

This mention of new projects brings to light Winfrey’s latest work on her new cable channel, called the Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN). Perhaps she will bring to life another version of her talk show on this channel?

Dose.ca published the following comment made on the CBS TV Distribution’s behalf. “We have the greatest respect for Oprah and wish her nothing but the best in her future endeavors,” said the company. “We know that anything she turns her hand to will be a great success. We look forward to working with her for the next several years and hopefully afterwards as well.”

The “Oprah Winfrey Show,” which has dominated daytime television for the past quarter century, combined aspects of charity, popular culture, self-help, and essentially an uncountable amount of topics. The queen of daytime television will be sorely missed by all, but with the OWN cable channel debuting in January, this is certainly not the last people will see of the beloved hostess.

How Oprah is Helping the Music Biz

Sara Harowitz — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 17:08:33 +0000

Thanks to illegal digital downloading, album sales are on a continuous decline. And as sales keep sliding, the music industry keeps looking for ways to make big events out of record releases. There have been partnerships with big retail companies (such as Walmart’s exclusive with AC/DC’s Black Ice), large-scale live shows (such as Jay-Z’s event before the release of The Blueprint III), and exciting fan contests (such as Pearl Jam’s artwork scavenger hunt for Backspacer). But as rollingstone.com reports, one sure way to guarantee an album’s success is Oprah Winfrey.

For example, Canadian singer Michael Buble’s new album Crazy Love went to the top of the charts after he appeared on The Oprah Winfrey Show, which led Variety magazine to examine what they are calling the “Oprah Effect.”

“Oprah is the one thing everyone wants,” Diarmuid Quinn, president of Reprise Records, told Variety. “If you get that call back from her production people, my god, it’s the Holy Grail.”

For years, Oprah’s Book Club has been credited for pushing under-the-radar books to the top of the bestseller lists. So, it’s no doubt that the daytime TV queen’s level of promotion power has made the easy transition into music. Recent success stories credited to Oprah include Whitney Houston’s I Look to You and Barbra Streisand’s Love is the Answer, the latter of which beat out new albums by Paramore and Mariah Carey to the top of the charts.

Variety also suggests that Oprah saved Journey. About a year after the band’s album Revelation was released, they appeared on Oprah’s Oct. 5 episode. The next week, Revelation sales increased by 681 per cent.

However, one of the biggest beneficiaries thanks to Oprah is perhaps the young, deep-voiced Josh Groban. In October 2007, the musician’s Christmas album, Noel, debuted quietly on the Billboard Top 200. However, after appearing as one of “Oprah’s Favorite Things” on Oprah’s show seven weeks after its release, sales of Noel skyrocketed, and the record topped the charts in early December. Noel spent five consecutive weeks at the top of the charts, a new record for a Christmas album. The CD experienced a sales increase each of those five weeks following its appearance on the Oprah show. By the end of the year, Noel ended up with just over 3.5 million in sales, making it the best-selling album of 2007.

So what’s next on Oprah’s promotion schedule? Movies? TV? Fashion? No doubt tons of people will tune in to find out.

Peak Season Insider Blog, Episode 1×6

Joelle Tomlinson — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 17:21:19 +0000

This week on Peak Season: Episode Six

Episode six of Peak Season was, for lack of a better word, overwhelming. To clarify, take the best parts of the Real World, Twilight and Intervention, mash them together, and you’ve got an imitation of life in Whistler. Don’t let those serene snowflakes at the beginning fool you, that’s what some people refer to as the calm before the storm, and this episode was a level nine on the Richter scale.

What happens:

Matt and Elle: Adrenaline-Junkies.

On a coffee date, Elle questions the value of remaining in Whistler to Matt, while he sheepishly defends his actions at the club earlier. One thing I really like about the Australians is their lingo, which consists of talking how I did in elementary school. I mean, how can Elle even consider leaving after hearing how “sucky” it will be for poor Matt?

Fortunately, all it takes is accompanying Elle to a skills competition, consisting of jumps, backflips and your typical ring of fire. I half-expected a bearded lady to Allie Oop through the ring after the competitors. After this, they continue on to complete their couple bonding by tandem bungee-jumping off a bridge. I’ll give it to Matt, he certainly knows how to make unique apologies. These Canadian fellows need to step it up!

Matt continues his new gentleman act at the bar when the Australian posse meets up for beers. When Elle is hit on, he immediately gets defensive, which translates into standing on the bar and making faces at the perpetrator. The poor guy is already single, don’t you think he has enough problems? A bar fight ensues, where they end up sloppy-UFC’ing outside in slippery conditions. Elle cries, because that’s what girls do best when someone else gets hit, and Matt the manly man comforts her outside the bar. All’s well that ends well.

Lauren: The Head-Honcho of Blackout Promotions.

Lauren and Fabia visit Peak to Pear novelties, to promote Blackout Promotions and select costumes for a snowboarding video premiere event. After picking out the most elegant options in pirate-wear, she moves on to complain about the elusive Steph Weber, who won’t answer her cellphone.

Later on, at Lily’s boutique, the two model their costumes (or lack, thereof) for the night to follow, and apparently that consists of skull tattoo’s on your boob for Fabia. Lauren then demonstrates what Whistleronians do best: fight on speakerphone (with Steph). This ensues in an awkwardness between the two pirates at the event later on, and a bit of a temporary downfall for their relationship. Hopefully the two work it out, they go together better than tequila and lime.

Amanda: The estrogen-pumped Chris Brown.

I think Amanda’s role in this episode would be much better explained in discovery channel mode:

It is commonly believed that the species, “Amanda”, attack mainly smaller, lip-pierced specimens, while this is not actually the case, and DJ’s in their prime are often stalked. Amanda’s have little stamina, and will usually get up close to the prey before charging. In about 10 per cent of kills, the prey is ambushed. The Amanda’s final charge is usually made from as close as 10 metres, seldom exceeding 20 metres. Attacks are best orchestrated under poor lighting conditions, wherein the victim (in this case, the species “Andreas”) will be unable to see and fend off the vicious female.

After this engaging display, Amanda is physically escorted from the bar. I remember this game I used to play with my 6”4, 200 pound father, where I would grab hold of his leg and he would obligingly drag me around the house. Imagine Dre as the father, and Amanda as my former eight-year-old self, and you’ve got the perfect reenactment of my youth.

Dre: Apparently this makes him the Barbadian victim.

After witnessing the bruises and scratches on Dre’s arm, I was surprised he didn’t call 9-1-1, but then I realized that it’s probably one of his friends on a snowmobile with a siren and a first-aid kit.

I wonder if he found anyone to lick his wounds after the attack. If not, it was certainly on his mind during his boys-bonding moment shoveling the drive. He contemplates his female options in the city, which admittedly, must be excessive. Then again, maybe it’s time for Dre to take a break from the dating game, and focus on his bros. Their touching snow-flinging shovel fight is reminiscent of female pillow-fighting fantasies. It doesn’t seem like a fair trade in the fantasy game, but beggars can’t be choosers, right?

Ian: The perfect picture of innocence.

I kind of missed the ever-witty Ian in this episode. Fans were treated to his and Amanda’s shredding skills and high-pitched screams on the jumps (yes, both of them), and the east-coast stud showed that he’s worth more than his dirty texting abilities. After talking with Amanda about the biting incident at the Savage Beagle, I’ll admit he gives some pretty solid advice. Unfortunately, I didn’t quite hear it, as I was too absorbed in the disarming pom-pom on his toque. I’ll give him some credit this week, good choice of headgear, and top-notch behaviour points.

Steph Weber: The sad pirate.

It appears that Steph takes styling advice from Ian in this episode, as she proudly dons her oversized pink feathered pirate hat to Blackout’s first big event. It’s a battle of the wenches between her, Fabia and Lauren, as she is told to surrender and set sail from the bar. In this case, I perceived the villain to be Fabia, who was (perhaps) a little too the pirate theme, and showed no mercy to the crying wee lass. All in all, it’s another bump in the road for Steph and Lauren’s friendship, but this busty blonde has staying power.

Best lines:

“Like, that’s going to be so sucky..like..yeah.” -Matt about Elle leaving.

“Just don’t bite him, ever again.” -Ian

“Keep your teeth to yourself.” -Amanda

“Is that your girlfriend? …That must be spectacular” – Random guy in the bar to Matt

“Just trying to import.” -Dre, in reference to city girls.

“Classy chicks don’t bone on couches, do they.” -Dre’s friend, Jason.

“You’re a f**cking liar, you’re a f**cking liar… kiss me.” -Amanda to Dre

Overall:

What an episode. Abusive relationships, bar fights and pirates are all in a day’s work for Peak Season. I wouldn’t recommend taking relationship advice from this show, you might end up picking skin of out your teeth for a few days. I have an almost-maternalistic pride for Lauren and her company, as though my watching has helped her mature from the world of cleavage shots into the world of business. In conclusion, not too sucky at all Peak Season, not too sucky at all!

andPOP insider interview with Amanda Scheller:

It’s about time we hear from this firecracker. Drama seems to encircle her like a hungry vulture. Read and see what she has to say about her life in Whistler.

Describe Peak Season in one sentence

“It’s just a group of 20-somethings, and we’re just living our life in Whistler.”

Did you have to audition for the show?

“No, I didn’t. I met the producers after they had all of their cast, and I guess they really liked me and Dre so I got on the show.”

What has been your favorite moment in the show so far?

“Favorite moment? Well (chuckles), the funniest moment is the date that me and Stoof went on with the boys. It was so funny to watch!”

What about least favorite moment?

“Probably the scene with me and Dre, and the little fight that we got into. That was the worst.”

When you re-watch the arguments between you and Dre, does it feel like you are living the fight over again?

“Actually, I’ve teared up a few times, because it was so hurtful.”

Do you think the show has shown all sides of you as a person yet?

“No. Not yet, there’s lots more to come.”

What drew you to live in Whistler?

“Well, after high school I came straight up to Whistler to snowboard because I did the whole-sponsored thing and I did contests and everything. Dre was living in Vancouver at the time, but I met him around then in Whistler.”

Were you dating Dre before you started working for his mom?

“Yeah, I was. I was dating him and then I started helping his mom out and got a job with the company. It wasn’t so much awkward between me and his mom, because it was on a professional aspect, but he would come into the office sometimes, and it was just super weird.”

Were you riding for anyone during this first season?

“Yup! I rode, and am still riding for Electric, Home and Forum, I was on the program. I think there’s a few more shots of me snowboarding, and there was that one already in the beginning with me and Dre. I’m sure there’s more shots.”

You also model, what led you to that?

“One of my friends is a photographer, and she just kind of set everything up for me, and was like ‘you should model.’ So it was just, ‘do this, and do that.’ I definitely think being in the show will help my modeling career, there’s a lot more in the show to come, so watch!”

Have you noticed a change in the public’s perception of you?

“Yeah, like being in Vancouver, a bunch of people stop me on the street, and they’re like ‘Oh my god, you’re from Peak Season, I love you!’. It’s so crazy and weird, they know me by name.”

Do you ever regret signing up for the show?

“No, most definitely not. No regrets at all.”

Is there anything else you want to let the Peak Season fans know?

“Thanks for the support! And, I just came out with a calendar, and the proceeds go to spinal cord research. You can get it on my blog at http://www.amandascheller.blogspot.com or my fan page.”

Just Bust a Move, Prime Minister Harper

Stephen Baldwin — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 00:44:06 +0000

Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s Bollywood debut was so awkward I could barely watch, but I couldn’t look away either.

There has never been any mistaking Harper for a cool guy; an Obama-type personality. Harper belongs on TLC, not MTV, and that isn’t news. But his appearance on India’s version of So You Think You Can Dance reaffirmed that there really isn’t much personality under his tough conservative skin.

In early October, Harper performed on stage with famous cellist Yo-Yo Ma. Harper’s rendition of The Beatles’ With a Little Help From My Friends was actually…not too bad. It was the first time that many had seen Harper peek his head out of a Conservative shell that he’d been hiding in since he became Prime Minister. I started to cut him some slack.

But the on-stage embarrassment in India made me reassess my thought. Harper stumbled down a step on the stage as he was being introduced, and then proceeded to put on the most bland display of rhythm and dance that I’ve ever seen. Watching his wife Laureen was almost as disappointing.

Being a good dancer is by no means a Canadian Prime ministerial requirement, but cultural enthusiasm should be. Even George W used to get down. Loosen up Harper.

Kramer Tries to Restore Image

Stephen Baldwin — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 22:29:05 +0000

Seinfeld’s Michael Richards, aka Kramer, made an appearance on Curb Your Enthusiasm, attempting to make a joke out of his 2006 racist rant at the Laugh Factory, TMZ reports.

In an episode of Seinfeld-creator Larry David’s popular series, Richards goes off on a African-American character and threatening him, says, “”If only there were a horrible name that I could call you … that would make you as angry as I am.”

At the same time he is being filmed by a group of spectators, mimicing the 2006 incident. He then pulls of a few Kramer-like gestures and storms off.

For fans of Richards, the 2006 tirade was the disappointing destruction of arguably the most popular character in sitcom history. While this may have helped to ease the tension, I think the best thing for Richards is to bury the incident completely.

Ken Ober Dead at 52

Stephen Baldwin — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 22:21:49 +0000

The Popular MTV host whose game show helped spark the careers of comedians like Adam Sandler, Colin Quinn and Dennis Leary was found dead in his house on Sunday, MTV.com reports.

Between 1987 and 1990, Ober hosted “Remote Control”, a popular music trivia game show that was one of the first non-musical programs on MTV.

The show was a highlight of a career that started with his comedic discovery on Star Search in the mid-1980s. He was also involved on the production of shows like Mind of Mencia and The New Adventures of Old Christine.

“Ken Ober was one of the sharpest, quickest, sweetest guys I ever met,” Adam Sandler said to MTV news, “He was always a great friend and I will miss him very much.”

Dennis Leary added, “Kenny Ober was and always will be the quickest wit in the room. He was fall-down funny from the moment he was born — a smart, fast and hilarious human being who made many of us, including myself, laugh until we cried. As the star and host of ‘Remote Control,’ he was a welcoming ringmaster who helped to kickstart the careers of numerous talents, including Adam Sandler, Colin Quinn and myself. He will be remembered always by each of his friends not only for his massive talent but for his true, deep and enduring friendship.”

Ober’s impact will survive in his work, along with the work of the comedians he influenced.

My Little Pony Returns to TV

Vanessa Baker — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 15:23:14 +0000

A revival of 1980s cartoon My Little Pony is being developed by Hasbro Studios for a new children’s cable channel by Discovery-Hasbro, reports Perez Hilton. This comes after the special My Little Pony: Twinkle Wish Adventure got high ratings on the Disney Channel.

“The runaway success of My Little Pony on the Disney Channel affirms our belief in the long-term value of this project,” said Stephen Davis, president of Hasbro Studios.