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Top Chef Producers to Create NBC Restaurateur Show

YumSugar — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 11:10:49 -0800

From Magical Elves, the producers of Bravo's Top Chef, Top Chef Masters, and the soon-to-air Top Chef: Just Desserts, comes yet another reality TV show, tentatively titled United Plates of America.

Unlike its sister productions, United Plates will air on NBC. The premise: aspiring restaurateurs compete in a number of challenges involving the restaurant's concept, cuisine, management, and marketability. The judges' panel will include wealthy investors in the culinary and business world.The prize is being called "among the biggest in reality show history" - the winner will receive a restaurant chain that opens in four locations across the US - funded by the investors themselves. "It's a culinary competition that anybody can take part in," said executive producer Dan Cutforth. "All you need is a great idea for a restaurant."

Finally, a different foodie reality TV concept. This show could be wildly captivating and educational, because the average American viewer doesn't have an inkling of knowledge about the operations behind a restaurant. I would definitely tune in to check out the show. What about you?

What to TiVo: Saturday

BuzzSugar — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 23:50:20 -0800

ABC has College Football
CBS has a repeat of The Mentalist and is new with 48 Hours Mystery
FOX is new with Cops and America's Most Wanted
NBC has repeats of Mercy, Law & Order, and Law & Order: SVU
Bravo has Brokeback Mountain
E! has The Wedding Singer
MTV has repeats of South Park, Real World/Road Rules Challenge, Twilight: Love Bites, and MTV News: New Moon Revealed
USA has Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End
VH1 has Trading Places
Late-night highlights include Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Dave Matthews Band on Saturday Night Live on NBC

Robert Pattinson Talks Teeth and Love on Today Show

PopSugarUK — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 01:09:06 -0800

Robert Pattinson showed us lots of his many facial expressions during his visit to the NBC Studios in New York City yesterday for his appearance on The Today Show. He chatted about his teeth, Edward's love story, and joked that every rumour about him is true: check out a video of his interview after the jump, as well as his appearance on Regis and Kelly. Robert and his New Moon costars have been taking over the TV schedules in the US this week in the lead up to the film's release today, with their visit to Jimmy Kimmel showing tonight, but now the movie's finally out there the stars will get to enjoy a well-deserved rest. To help deal with Robert-withdrawal symptoms, check out the trailer for Remember Me, watch his interview with David Letterman, and drool over all these pictures of his day in NYC yesterday: enjoy!

To watch Rob's interviews on The Today Show and Regis and Kelly, and see LOADS more pictures of all his adorable facial expressions at the TV studios, just read more.

Robert on The Today Show

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Robert on Regis and Kelly Part 1

Robert on Regis and Kelly Part 2

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No News Is Good News: Companies Going Broke

LibertySugar — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 00:01:13 -0800

Announcements from major media companies yesterday made it clear that the recession has hit those who report on it. Meanwhile, the Pulitzer Prizes announced plans to accept submissions from web-only news outlets, providing a redundant wake-up call to traditional news companies failing to get by. Here's a roundup of traditional media's most recent struggles:

New York Times: Like many Americans, the New York Times Company will borrow against its house to keep the cash flowing. Specifically, the paper of record will take $225 million out against its Manhattan headquarters.

For the rest of this sad news story, read more.

Tribune Co.: The media giant, which owns the LA Times and the Chicago Tribune filed for bankruptcy protection yesterday. Following the filing, the CEO sent employees a memo that said business will carry on as usual. He wrote: "The good news is that we have great brands, and we produce great products every day. It's up to all of us to continue to focus on what it is we do best."
NBC: The peacock network has had its head in its feathers apparently, as its chief Jeff Zucker told investors yesterday that a bad Fall performance may result in programming cutbacks. Last week, NBC laid off 500 employees. Zucker said: "We're in an era where if we don't change the models of these local TV stations, we will be newspapers, we will be car companies. I don't want to be a company that files for bankruptcy."

While the Tribune Co. seems optimistic about its products, Zucker's comments make it clear that he's happy to be in the TV business rather than newspaper. In a day where everyone seems to have an insatiable craving for information, it's a shame that these media companies cannot quickly adapt, especially since their reporting resources are still valuable in an online world.

Do you think stalwart media organizations like the New York Times and NBC can find a model that works as technology speeds ahead and a recession hits most businesses, or has their time passed?

Source

NBC's Chopping Block Gets Axed

YumSugar — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 13:00:28 -0700

Only three weeks into the show, and NBC has chopped Chopping Block, its new food reality TV competition starring UK bad boy chef Marco Pierre White.

Chopping Block turned out meager viewership, drawing a mere 2.6 million viewers last week. NBC said it hopes to bring the show back at a later date - but for now it'll be replaced by reruns of Law & Order: Criminal Intent.

I can't say I didn't see this news coming. Although I love Marco Pierre White (and the respectable critics who made guest appearances on his show), Chopping Block was far too mild and drama-free to survive in its competitive primetime slot.

Did this news surprise you? Are you disappointed to see Chopping Block fall by the wayside?

Source

What to TiVo: Monday

BuzzSugar — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 23:50:00 -0800

ABC is new with Dancing With the Stars and Castle
CBS is new with How I Met Your Mother, Accidentally on Purpose, Two and a Half Men, The Big Bang Theory, and CSI: Miami
FOX is new with House and Lie to Me
NBC is new with Heroes and Trauma
The CW is new with One Tree Hill and Gossip Girl
E! has E! Investigates: Last Days of Michael Jackson, and is new with The Soup Presents: Ladies, Ladies, Ladies and 10 Vampires We Love
MTV is new with True Life, Twilight: Love Bites, and Twilight New Moon: An MTV Movie News Special
TLC is new with Jon & Kate Plus 8
Bravo is new with Million Dollar Listing and Chef Academy
VH1 has repeats of Tough Love 2, For the Love of Ray Jay 2, and I Want to Work for Diddy 2
Late-night highlights include Taylor Lautner and Heather Locklear on The Jay Leno Show on NBC; Sharon Stone, Seth Meyers, Wyclef Jean, and Cyndi Lauper on The Late Show With David Letterman on CBS; Kristen Stewart, Judd Apatow, and Carrie Underwood on The Tonight Show With Conan O'Brien on NBC; Ted Danson, Khloe Kardashian, and Lamar Odom on Jimmy Kimmel Live on ABC; LL Cool J and Mindy Kaling on The Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson on CBS; and Tim McGraw and Anna Torv on Late Night With Jimmy Fallon on NBC

Barack Obama Says Change Is About Owning Up to Mistakes

CitizenSugar — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 00:01:46 -0800

President Obama may have started yesterday with the intention of selling his stimulus plan to the American people with a full-court media press, but he ended it defending his stake on change. On the NBC Nightly News Obama handled ex-nominee Tom Daschle's tax problems by confessing to Brian Williams: "I screwed up." Check out how Obama maintained that he's ushering in the era of responsibility, and other highlights from last night.

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

On Tom Daschle's withdrawal: Oh it made me angry and disappointed and it's something I have to take responsibility for. I appointed these folks. I think they are outstanding people. I think Tom Daschle as an example could have led this health care effort, a difficult effort better than just about anybody. But as he acknowledged, this was a mistake.
On whether politics as usual has won: [T]he fact of the matter is Tom Daschle pulled out today. And I'm here on television saying I screwed up and that's part of the era of responsibility, is not never making mistakes, it's owning up to them and trying to make sure you never repeat them and that's what we intend to do.

To read what the President wants to do to bailout regular Americans, read more.

On how the stimulus plan will help regular Americans: Now the recovery package that we've put together, has not only immediate relief to families, if they've lost their job, they're going to get extended unemployment insurance, they're going to get to keep their health insurance. We're going to make sure that states don't have to lay off teachers and that they can train teachers for the math and science that is so important for our children.
On whether the stimulus package is getting "pecked to death": Well look, it's got to go through Congress. That means there are 535 people who have an opinion about what's good policy. . . And I want to continue to work with Democrats and Republicans to find some common ground. But what I can't accept is the politics as usual where we think about scoring points . . . instead of acting. We've lost a million jobs in the last two months. We can't afford another four million jobs lost this year and every economist I talk to projects that if we don't act quickly, we could end up seeing a much more severe situation than we're seeing right now.

SNL Coming to Thursdays for Presidential Election

LibertySugar — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 15:00:19 -0700

So, Buzz just gave me the scoop on NBC's upcoming Fall schedule.

Saturday Night Live will be bringing a half hour of its "Weekend Update" to Thursday nights beginning Oct. 16. It'll be like Jon Stewart – but live and at primetime!

NBC's president of entertainment thinks "there's nothing better than Saturday Night Live in an election year." Do you agree? Has SNL returned to its political-skewering roots with a Hillary/Obama-fueled renaissance? Would this replace your Daily Show/fake-news fix, or does SNL Thursday Night Live sound a little like reheated leftovers?
Source

The Office, "Murder": Best Lines of the Night and Video!

BuzzSugar — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 07:30:00 -0800

Well, I do declare! This week's The Office was silly good fun. Distraught over rumors of bankruptcy, Michael suggests that the employees engage in a murder mystery game called Belles, Bourbon and Bullets to keep their spirits up. Pam's recent bad attitude seems to lift as she gets into character, and Andy uses the opportunity to ask Erin on a date. (I can't wait for when those two finally hook up!)

Ready to take a look at some of my favorite quips from the episode (and share your own in the comments)?

Jim: "With all due respect to everyone here, I think the most worthy opponent of you is you."
Dwight: "That is correct. Unless there happen to be measles present."
How awesomely ridiculous is the opening scene where Dwight tries to fight himself during his own karate instructional?! That right there is why Rainn Wilson gets nominated for Emmys.

For more funny lines, plus a video of the Clue-like antics, read more.

"Your feelings journal? You told me to put it in the time capsule."-Erin
Check out Erin delivering yet another great quote this week! I'm curious to see what the writers do with her character, especially now that they're setting up this will-they-or-won't-they thing with Andy that's slightly reminiscent of another Office couple.

"You can all have jobs at Schrute farms as human scarecrows. It doesn't pay much, and you can't unionize."-Dwight
Leave it to Dwight to concoct a plan when news of the company's money loss hits the Scranton branch.

"Operation got me through my vasectomy, i.e. my operation. I don't think I would've been able to endure my breakup with Holly had it not been for Toss Across."-Michael
Michael explains his use of board games as a coping mechanism to Jim, but my favorite part is when he plays "Lullaby" by Sean Mullins on his computer to wallow in his sadness. Anyone else remember that song? Love the '90s nostalgia!

Kevin: "Now do the Swedish Chef."
Andy: "I'm not familiar, what province is he from?"
Kevin: "He lives on Sesame Street, dumbass."
Andy does such a good job with his Savannah accent using his "molasses" technique that oddball Kevin asks him to talk like the Swedish Chef from Sesame Street. But I have to mention Creed -I was dying when he shows up to the office, hears about the "murder," and speeds off in his car! Also, kudos to the crime scene with Meredith and to Oscar for putting on the strangest accent I have ever heard. Check him out in this video:

"Today is the hardest I have worked in a long, long time."-Michael
Sad thing is, Michael's probably telling the truth.

So what's your assessment of the evening? It sounds like there are tough times ahead for everyone, since David Wallace says the company will be out of money by the end of the year. What do you think will happen? My hopes are that Michael and Dwight will cook up some solution that doesn't involve scarecrows. And what do you make of the Erin and Andy romance - do you want to see it happen?

Don't forget that you can discuss the episode in full over at The Office! group in the BuzzSugar Community! Here are two words to get you started: Tube city.

Photo and videos courtesy of NBC

Halle Speaks Up About Her Effort to Stop Domestic Violence

PopSugar — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 14:05:30 -0800

Halle Berry flashed a smile as she ran errands in LA yesterday, but this evening we'll see her more serious side on the NBC Nightly News. In the segment, Halle shared her own experience with domestic violence while talking about her work with the Jenesse Center in LA, saying, "My mother was a battered woman and that was my childhood for a good chunk of it...Early on in my life, I made choices, and I chose men that were abusive because that was what I knew growing up." Halle has come a long way in speaking out about her own difficult past and recently finding happiness with Gabriel and Nahla. Next month, Halle will be honored for her work in the industry at the Hollywood Reporter's Power 100: Women in Entertainment breakfast where's she will receive the Sherry Lansing Leadership Award.

For more photos of Halle out and about just read more

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