It’s Time To Meet The Muppets

It’s time to play the music, its time to light the lights, it’s time to meet the Muppets on “The Muppet Show” tonight. Long before the world of lovesick ogors, Sponge Bob Square Pants and voiceless mermaids there existed a show that relied solely on a group of puppets. In their first movie in over a decade, family comedy “The Muppets” brings audiences back to a time when the Muppets brought laughter to audiences across the globe. Jim Henson’s “The Muppets” first appeared on the show “Sam and Friends” in 1955 and have since created countless films and television series including “The Muppet Show” which aired on CBS from 1976 to 1981.

In the groups’ newest installment, Kermit the Frog finds himself a victim of fraud as he has unknowingly agreed to sell the original Muppet Studios to be knocked down along with each character’s trademark names. Now, with the help of Walter, his brother Gary, played by Jason Segal, and his girlfriend Mary, played by Amy Adams, Kermit must get the rest of the gang back together and put on one last show in order to raise the money needed to save the studios. There’s only one problem: “The Muppets aren’t famous anymore.”

The success of this film could argue otherwise as “The Muppets” brought in over $150 million after opening last November. With plenty of cheesy jokes and choreographed dancing, this film got its best laughs when it wasn’t afraid to make fun of itself. The movie’s story was written by actor Jason Segal who also won an Academy Award for one of the many songs sung throughout the film. Though Segal will not take part in the sequel that has already been announced, the Muppets have certainly made a comeback with this movie becoming the most successful film of the series.

Marry The Night

Dark comedy “Fright Night” might have sailed by moviegoers when it premiered at the tail-end of the summer, but this remake of the 1985 Tom Holland film has made its way into living rooms on DVD. The R-rated 3D film packs a lot of language, gore and laughs, but fails to keep viewers interested from a lack of mystery and suspense. With comparisons to the similarly-plotted “Disturbia,” this movie centers on a young teenager named Charlie, played by “Terminator Salvation” star Anton Yelchin, who becomes convinced that his neighbor is a blood-sucking vampire.

The story takes place in a small dessert development just outside of Las Vegas, perfect for Colin Farrell’s Jerry to go on a secluded killing spree without being noticed. Farrell gives both a convincing and frightening performance as a slick, seductive four hundred year old vampire. However, the film didn’t know whether to be seriously scary or outrageously funny, which is proven when Charlie’s mom, played by Toni Collette, barely reacts to just escaping her house being blown up by her neighbor. This could have been a great film had it not been for the lack of thrill or seriousness in tone.

It’s obviously alright for a dark comedy to be a little out there, but this was by far ridiculous. What “Fright Night” got wrong was immediately telling the audience that their suspicions were in fact correct and Jerry is indeed a vampire about fifteen minutes into the movie. The whole reason why films like “Disturbia” and “The Lost Boys” were successful was because the audience was kept in the dark as much as the main character and part of them really wonders if whether what the main character is thinking is real or if it’s all in their head.

Each writer’s take on vampire anthology is always different and in this form, vampires can create other vampires by biting them, but their victims can return to human form if they themselves are killed. “Fright Night” opened at number six at the Box Office and grossed only eight million dollars while accumulating nearly forty million dollars globally against its thirty million dollar budget. Although there were obvious issues with the story and some really bad lines, the film was mostly fun to watch with great computer graphics and a dark music soundtrack, but viewers couldn’t help but ask where this story was going.

I’m Gonna Give All My Secrets Away

Biographical drama “J. Edgar” sheds some light on the many secrets kept by the long running director of the FBI while also depicting the life and career of the somewhat paranoid but undoubtedly brilliant man. Directed by Clint Eastwood and starring Leonardo DiCaprio as the titular role, the film mixes fact with fiction while touching on the rumors that surrounded Hoover’s sexuality.

The movie begins in the early seventies with Hoover being interviewed in his office by a young journalist and flashes back and forth between the beginning and end of Hoover’s career. He showed an interest in organization and professionalism as the creator of the Library Catalog, which lead to the creation of the Social Security System and Fingerprint Files. Hoover shared similar beliefs with fellow government employee Helen Gandy, played by Naomi Watts, who became his personal secretary for fifty four years.

Hoover is perhaps most famous for solving the Lindbergh kidnapping through the use of Crime Scene Investigation and Forensic Sciences. However, he had many critics who were not too fond of the unjust ways he gathered evidence and was questioned whether he was good enough to handle his position. Hoover was able to get through these allegations with the help of his “number two” and long-time friend Clyde Tolson, played by Armie Hammer, who was rumored to be his lover.

The movie depicted Hoover as a very powerful man of information; it seemed as though he had secret files on nearly everyone including the Presidents of the United States and their relatives. He predicted President Kennedy’s assassination and uncovered incriminating evidence about him and Marilyn Monroe. His secrets supposedly died with him in 1972 when his secretary spent three weeks shredding the evidence before leaving the bureau herself, but if this were true then where did some of the information for this film come from?

The movie was not all serious, with many comical parts that include Hoover barking at his secretary and criticizing a member of the forensics team. The changes in people and places over the course of sixty years is visually stunning as is DiCaprio’s Oscar-worthy performance. It’s safe to say there weren’t too many odd moments, with the exception of a Norman Bates-esque scene involving Hoover’s mother’s clothes. But the interviewing scenes that mirrored each other were delightful to watch; “I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

The biopic was initially shown in limited release in the beginning of November and was subsequently followed with a wide release a few days later. The film opened with just under twelve million dollars and has gone on to accumulate almost thirty million dollars as of yet. With Awards season just around the corner, “J. Edgar” seems like a shoe-in for a Best Picture nomination, but don’t record me on that.

Good Girls Gone Bad

Raunchy school comedy “Bad Teacher” showcases a new kind of educator with outbursts of laughter from the film’s outrageous star Cameron Diaz playing the titular role. This film continues a new trend of foul-mouthed, female-driven comedies that seem to be taking over Hollywood since the debut of “Bridesmaids” last spring.

“Bad Teacher” tells the story of Elizabeth Halsey, played by Diaz, who just got dumped by her fiancé because he believes she only wanted to marry him for his money; he was right. Now, Elizabeth must return to work as a teacher where she plans to land a new man by getting her breasts enlarged; the only problem is she doesn’t have enough money to pay for the procedure.

After a few months of watching movies in class, Elizabeth’s students are reluctant to find out that the new syllabus includes getting the best scores on the state exam so that their teacher can endure the benefits. Filled with outrageous one-liners, ridiculous situations and hilarious stars, “Bad Teacher” learns that sometimes it’s good to be bad.

Perhaps the best thing about the film was “The Office” star Phyllis Smith who plays insecure Lynn Davies, a fellow teacher and wannabe friend of Elizabeth’s. Also on board was Lucy Punch as Amy Squirrel, an “across-the-hall-roomie” slash sworn enemy whose overachieving ways gets the best of her resulting in an incident similar to “what happened in 2008.”

Justin Timberlake also starred as a potential love interest for Diaz, who were once a real-life couple. Although Timberlake’s character was mostly annoying, this movie definitely ends up on the top of his hit list. On the other hand, “Forgetting Sarah Marshall” star Jason Segal’s sarcastic Russell Gettis, a gym teacher who makes constant advances on Elizabeth, was charmingly funny.

Geared with in-class hangovers, hot-boxing, and gold-digging, this film opened with over thirty million dollars and made over two-hundred million dollars worldwide; if this is what “Bad” feels like, then I don’t want to know good.

Time Of Your Life

Hit or miss actor/singer/comedienne Justin Timberlake tackles science fiction in his new thriller “In Time,” which hit theaters last week. Set in the future, this retro-influenced film packs some big names behind a dazzling compilation of eras.

The movie begins by informing the viewers that a genetic alteration allowed humanity to develop a system where individuals stop aging twenty-five years after birth. Timberlake plays Will, a twenty-eight year old man whose time in this world is about to run out.

Due to over-population concerns, time has replaced money as the standard currency and people must acquire more time through labor after turning twenty-five years of age, or die within a single year. The poor live in ghettos where people work each day to earn hours of life while the rich live in luxurious mansions for centuries based on how much time they have accumulated.

Amanda Seyfried plays Timberlake’s love interest and sports a short, red wig for the film while Olivia Wilde, fresh off her stint on FOX’s medical drama “House,” plays Timberlake’s extremely young-looking mother. “Mad Men’s” Vincent Kartheiser and “Batman Begins’” Cillian Murphy team up to try and stop both Timberlake and Seyfried from taking back time.

The movie opened in third place last weekend, behind “Puss in Boots” and “Paranormal Activity 3,” with twelve million dollars. With Timberlake’s history of major flops, “The Love Guru,” and minor successes, “The Social Network,” what list will this film be placed on?

Another One Bites The Dust

Struggling Big Four Network NBC was the first to swing the axe of cancellation this year when it revoked its membership to “The Playboy Club” after just three episodes. Soon to follow was the inappropriate and unfunny “Free Agents,” which couldn’t even hold onto half of its lead-in.

This shouldn’t come as much of a shock to anyone since NBC has been anything but “Must-See TV” in the last few years. Some of its suffering could be blamed on the infamous “Jay Leno” experiment two seasons back, but truthfully it’s just the fact that there isn’t much to see.

Since Sundays have been pre-occupied by NFL coverage until February, let’s start by having a look at Mondays: What the hell is “The Sing-Off” and why is it two hours long? Obviously these reality shows are cheap to produce, but what is the point if nobody is watching them? The same could be said for Tuesday’s good-hearted weight-loss reality show “The Biggest Loser.”

New baby comedy “Up All Night” starts things off right on Wednesday nights, but probably would have performed much better had it been given the coveted spot after “The Office.” NBC chose to move its highest-performing show from last season, “Harry’s Law,” to Wednesday nights and allow its producer David E. Kelley to shake up the cast just as he has done in the past.

The term “Must-See TV” must be a distant echo in the halls of Thirty Rockefeller Center as we are left with the likes of “Whitney,” an old-fashioned sitcom starring the tacky titular comedienne. The Maria Bello police procedural “Prime Suspect” looked like it would have been a good, gritty cop show, but like all of NBC’s programs it hasn’t held onto its viewers.

Fantasy horror drama “Grimm” will settle into its Friday night death slot next week and while it certainly looks captivating, it’s never going to make it. “American Idol” rip-off “The Voice,” nineties film-turned-television show “The Firm,” and promising broadway drama “Smash” are all on board for midseason.

NBC has really tried everything to win back its viewers from two failed “Law & Order” spinoffs to countless Americanized-British sitcoms that got lost in translation. And does anyone remember that three hour comedy block last spring or how about the triumphant return of “American Gladiators?”

It’s time to wake up and smell the cancellation: not one show on its schedule is watched by more than ten million people; in fact most are seen by nearly half that amount. Take my advice NBC: cancel everything and start new, before The Big Four becomes The Big Three.

Not Over You

Gavin DeGraw returns to radio with his new single “Not Over You” off his album “Sweeter,” which offers a bittersweet story of break up. The thirty-four year old singer-songwriter is best known for his songs “Chariot,” “Follow Through,” and “I Don’t Want to Be,” which has been featured as the theme song for the television show “One Tree Hill” since 2003.

Armed with an old fedora and new Ray Bans, DeGraw’s new music video has him singing about an ex who happens to be a beautiful, mostly naked, model. The split screen music video was shot in New York City and should be featured on VH1’s reboot of “Pop-Up Video” any day now.

Since his days of “I Don’t Want To Be,” DeGraw has debuted two albums prior to the release of his fourth studio album “Sweeter,” which premiered at number eight on the Billboard Hot 100 in late September. The album was pushed back after the singer was hospitalized over the summer.

The mope-pop singer was assaulted by several people in New York City early on a Sunday morning and was subsequently struck by a taxi. DeGraw suffered a broken nose, a concussion, two black eyes, and lacerations to his face, forcing him to cancel shows as well.

DeGraw defined the new album as “more refined yet edgier sound; funkier and more sexy than the albums I’ve made in the past.” DeGraw will be touring with David Cook this fall and after such a horrible ordeal, it looks like his life will get a little “sweeter” after all.

Put A Ring On It

“Beautiful teens with problems” network The CW premiered its first leap into adult television with its new drama “Ringer” starring Sarah Michelle Gellar and Sarah Michelle Gellar.

The dramatic serial focuses on a recovering addict named Bridget, Gellar, who is on the run from the mob and poses as her twin sister Siobhan, also Gellar, who just committed suicide in one of the worst digitally enhanced scenes ever to make it on air. If that’s not confusing enough for you it turns out that her sister is not only still alive, but is also hiring somebody to kill Bridget.

And the drama doesn’t stop there as the pilot continues to unravel secret after secret including Siobhan having an affair with her best friend’s husband, her tumultuous relationship with her own husband, and the fact that she is about four weeks pregnant. That’s a lot of exposition to get out in the first episode and it’ll be interesting to see where the show could go from here.

Since “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” wrapped in 2003, Gellar has taken time off to focus on her family and while she looked great, she did seem a little tired but after all she was playing a recovering addict and stripper. She recently stated in an interview that this show will be nothing like “Buffy,” and she was right. Neither Bridget nor Siobhan resemble the wit or physical strength that “Buffy” possessed.

There are just too many shocking twists that make this show move way too fast; Bridget seemed to become her sister without even trying or really thinking about it. The one secret that was not revealed in this first episode was why Siobhan cut all ties with her sister in the first place, which definitely has something to do with a young boy seen in a photograph.

Tuesday night’s premiere brought in 2.7 million people, which is pretty decent for the CW if you compare that to “90210,” which aired just before “Ringer” and brought in only 1.6 million people. However; “Buffy’s” heyday saw somewhere around five million people an episode.

While it is uncertain whether this show can make it on the CW, considering nearly every cast member is on the wrong side of thirty, you shouldn’t judge a show after just one outing. After all, many shows have had terrible pilots, and complete first seasons for that matter, and have gone on to produce compelling stories. “Ringer” airs Tuesday nights at nine o’clock on the CW.

Pumped Up Kicks

New-found indie rock band “Foster the People” brings the hypnotic pop back to life this summer with their hit “Pumped Up Kicks.” The band, which formed in 2009 in Los Angeles, California, definitely has a synthetic feel similar to “MGMT.”

“Pumped Up Kicks” reached number one on Billboard’s Alternative Songs chart and number three on the Billboard Hot 100. The Band was also nominated for Best New Artist at the 2011 MTV Video Music Awards, but lost to some idiot who rapped about hookers and brought his entire extended family on stage to thank God for inspiring the song.

The follow up single off the album “Torches” is titled “Helena Beat” and can be purchased on iTunes or stolen on FrostWire. The video for the song seems to be an edgy rendition of the movie “Terminator: Salvation” or just some random, odd, everyday occurrence. The band’s website is even more trippy, with artwork that definitely reminds me of a friend or two of mine from college.