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Your Introduction to ‘The American Mall’ Musical

andPOP Staff — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 08:04:50 +0000

Fans of “High School Musical” need to get ready for their newest love: MTV’s new movie musical “The American Mall.”

To help introduce their audience slowly, before mind-boggling obsession will inevitably set in, MTV will launch the official web site today, www.vmtv.com.

The virtual Mall site allows fans to get to know the cast, including “The O.C” star Autumn Reeser, “Degrassi: The Next Generation” cast member Nina Dobrev, and dreamy “So You Think You Can Dance” contestant Neil Haskell. The site includes virtual tours of the set, video diaries, and exclusive photos and footage.

Fans can then blog about the movie, and attend events, like the virtual karaoke party on August 22.

The movie, airing Monday, August 11, “is the story of Ally, a hardworking young woman whose mother has owned a music shop that’s been the soul of the mall ever since it opened when Ally was a kid. Ally’s singer/songwriter dreams seem to come closer to fruition when she meets Joey, a musician who’s moonlighting as a janitor at the mall in order to support his own rock star ambitions. While Joey understands her songs (and heart) like no one else, Ally’s happiness and the fate of the music store are threatened when the mall owner’s spoiled daughter Madison – who will stop at nothing to get what she wants – becomes involved.”

The soundtrack will be available in stores the day after it airs.

Only 16 New Episodes Of The O.C. Ordered

andPOP Staff — Thu, 29 Jun 2006 12:55:51 +0000

Looks like NBC isn’t the only network afraid of the Thursday at 9 p.m. match up in the fall season.

According to E! Online, the Fox network is ordering a mere 16 episodes of its teen soap “The O.C.” for the fall schedule.

In the past four seasons, the soap has normally had an average of 25 episodes per season. It is unknown whether Fox will air all of the episodes in a chunk, or spread them out over the eight month season.

The 9 p.m. timeslot began to heat up when ABC announced it would be moving “Grey?s Anatomy” to that night and time to compete against “CSI” on CBS. NBC had originally planned to schedule Matthew Perry’s new drama, “Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip,” in that timeslot as well, but soon reconsidered and moved the show to Mondays, and putting in “Deal or No Deal” in its place.

The O.C.’s Peter Gallagher Sets Soul Album for November

andPOP Staff — Wed, 12 Oct 2005 12:35:18 +0000

The running joke on Fox?s The O.C., is that Sandy Cohen, played by Peter Gallagher, has ? aside from bushy brows ? a fondness for belting out show tunes. But viewers may be surprised to learn that this is one joke that has more than a bit of truth to it.

On November 8, Gallagher is hitting music store shelves with 7 Days in Memphis, a studio album of soul covers released by Epic Records. It will include the Broadway-trained actor?s renditions of Solomon Burke?s “Don’t Give Up on Me,” Carla and Rufus’ “When You Move You Lose,” Sam and Dave’s “Something Is Wrong with My Baby,? and Lucinda Williams? ?Still I Long for Your Kiss.?

Epic Records signed Gallagher after he was seen serenading his TV wife, Kirsten Cohen, with ?Don?t Give Up on Me? on episode eight of last season?s The O.C.

“The label suggested I record an album of songs like that and sent me a 10 CD set of recordings from the Stax era. I thought it was a great idea, but I also wanted to do some songs for my generation that while not [exclusively] from Memphis, might work with the Memphis sound,” Gallagher tells E! Online.

Gallagher says he has been singing his whole professional life. He made his musical debut 20 years ago in the first Broadway revival of Hair. However, he knows convincing new listeners won?t be easy. “I know for a fact that there will be people who won’t take my music seriously because I’m an actor on a TV show,” he says.

But he?s excited about the album, which will feature guitarist and Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Steve Cropper, known for crafting the Memphis sound. “Getting a record deal at my age is nothing anyone in their right mind could anticipate or hope for in this day and age…It’s one of the most extraordinary things that’s ever happened to me professionally,” he says.

He also adds that Sandy Cohen may be able to flex his singing chops some more this year as The O.C. enters its third season. “I’ve noticed a few singing references in the scripts so far, so it’s possible.?

How Long Will the OC Last? Adam Brody tells andPOP

Adam Gonshor — Fri, 16 Sep 2005 19:59:20 +0000

Fans of The O.C. spent the summer counting down the days until their beloved teen drama returned to their air for its third season. With the show back in full swing after its season premiere earlier this month, O.C. fans may soon be counting down the days until the show is done forever.

Adam Brody, who plays Seth Cohen on the show, and most of the other principle actors signed six-year contracts when the show started in 2003. Since the O.C. has given these actors many opportunities in film, they may bolt once their contracts run up.

“We all have six year contracts, so there’s at least that. Then who knows,” Brody told andPOP in an interview last week at the Star! Schmooze party.

Brody was in Toronto promoting “Thank You for Smoking” as part of the Toronto International Film Festival.

Brody was careful with his words, but when asked if he could see The O.C. lasting beyond his contract, he paused. He raised his eye brows and put his lips together.

“Umm,” he said, “I don’t know. I’d have to see when we get there. That’s something that’s unanswerable right now.”

Brody may be the actor benefiting most from the success of the show. Earlier this year, he had a part in the blockbuster “Mr. and Mrs. Smith.” He will be starring opposite Meg Ryan in “In the Land of Woman,” due out next summer.

He’s also made a difference on pop culture, whether he admits it or not. When Seth displayed a Death Cab for Cutie poster on his wall, the band woke up the next morning with an enlarged fan base.

Brody shrugs off his impact on the band’s success, even though a search of his name and the band’s name together brings up over 11,000 results on Google.

“I don’t think I had anything to do with it,” he said. “Maybe it has like half a percentage to do with the show. Indie music in general has become not even indie music anymore, but in a good way.”

Brody is now back at work on The O.C. Only a handful of episodes for the third season have been filmed so far.

“4000 things are going to happen in the next few months,” he promises, “and I can’t even begin to speculate (what those are).”

TV Column: Good Ideas vs. Bad Ideas: This Month on Television

andPOP Staff — Wed, 20 Jul 2005 23:40:00 +0000

Anyone remember the Good Idea/Bad Idea segment featured on the WB?s Animaniacs? No? Just me? Fine then. Here?s the deal: a lot has happened in the wild world of television in the last few weeks. I?ve broken down my cheers and jeers regarding some of these recent developments into what I believe are good ideas and bad ideas. How will the industry?s decisions affect the biz, the programming and the fans? Permit me to be the judge.

GOOD IDEA: Emmy nods for both Kiefer Sutherland and 24
I defy anyone who has never seen an episode of this show to watch even five minutes and not desperately need to know how the season concludes. There has been very little like 24 before it came along in 2001, and there are plenty of upcoming shows playing copycat ? marks of a truly great program. Kiefer Sutherland is practically flawless in his portrayal of renegade federal agent Jack Bauer, who must spend an entire day each season thwarting terrorists in Los Angeles. Though some have argued the role is hardly a stretch for Sutherland ? once noted for his temper, substance abuse and reckless behavior ? the fact is both the actor and the show continue to provide high-caliber, original entertainment and for that they are both in dire need of an Emmy.

BAD IDEA: Showtime?s Ice Cream for a Year Promotion
Beginning in October, new subscribers to the Showtime network will be invited to submit three months worth of past cable or satellite bills in exchange for twelve coupons good for one pint of Haagen-Daz ice cream each. In a press release announcing the deal, Showtime?s Vice President of Promotions and Partnership Marketing Rick King proclaimed that both the cable channel and Haagen-Daz were a natural pairing as ?these two brands represent quality, indulgence and escape.? In other words, Showtime and Haagen-Daz want to encourage viewers to park their gradually expanding asses in front of the TV with pints of ice cream while hiding from their real-life problems amidst hours upon hours of expensive cable programming. Thanks, guys.

GOOD IDEA: Frankie Muniz contemplates the end of Malcolm in the Middle
As andPOP reported earlier this week, Frankie Muniz has suggested that the upcoming sixth season of his Sunday-night sitcom may be the last. According to Muniz, the cast and crew want to go out in a blaze of Seinfeldian glory; exiting the ring while they?re still entertaining their fans. Having never really enjoyed it myself, I?ve felt for some time that the show ? which worked when Muniz was younger and the premise centered on the ?child genius in a family of morons? gimmick ? was past its prime. No one wants to watch Malcolm in the Middle Age. Besides, he has a burgeoning film career to attend to, creating important films of the Agent Cody Banks persuasion.

BAD IDEA: Seven of Nine joins The O.C.
OK, I have very little against Trekkies, but I harbor a fiery, burning passion for The O.C., and I do not want to see Jeri Ryan (Star Trek: Voyager) grace the sands of Newport Beach to play Kirstin?s drinking buddy in rehab. Unfortunately, the deal is done, and Ryan isn?t the only new addition, either ? Eric Mabius (Eyes, The L-Word) has signed to portray the new dean of Harbor School. My disdain for these newcomers has nothing to do with their past work (although I would rather perform self-dentistry than watch Star Trek) and I?m sure they?re terrific actors; however, as many fans of The OC will tell you, this show does not do ?new characters? well. The best plots centre on the original cast, and outsiders, who are never well received, don?t tend to stick around for long as a result. Just like Newport Beach, fans of The OC don?t take kindly to those who don?t belong, so unless your last name is Cohen, you hail from Chino or you?re a closet alcoholic, then trust me, you?re on the wrong show.

GOOD IDEA: Reading this column next Thursday for more good and bad ideas.

BAD IDEA: Missing it.

Mischa Barton Splits with Boyfriend

andPOP Staff — Wed, 13 Jul 2005 12:23:41 +0000

Mischa Barton, star of The O.C. has broken up with her boyfriend, Brandon Davis, according to People Magazine.

They had been dating for more than a year.

“They are no longer together but they remain close friends,” said Craig Schneider, her publicist.

No details have been released as to the cause of the split, but Schneider said a third party was not involved.

Barton and Davis, grandson of billionaire Martin Davis, began dating in February 2004 after meeting at a charity function.

Barton is currently back on the set of The O.C. after filming a new movie in Europe.

Jeri Ryan Joins OC Cast

Adam Gonshor — Wed, 13 Jul 2005 12:12:58 +0000

Trekkies and hipsters will all be watching the OC this year, as former Star Trek: Voyager star Jeri Ryan has joined the cast of the hit Fox show.

Ryan will appear on the OC for seven episodes, befriending Kristen Cohen (played by Kelly Rowan) in rehab.

Ryan has also appeared in Boston Public, The Commuters, Dracula 2000, and Down with Love.

The OC is returning to Fox for its third season this fall.