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TV Tonight: SpongeBob SquarePants Documentary

BuzzSugar — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 07:30:48 -0700

I can't believe it's been 10 whole years since SpongeBob SquarePants came bounding enthusiastically into our living rooms, but it's true! To mark the occasion, tonight VH1 will air Square Roots: The Story of SpongeBob SquarePants, an original SpongeBob SquarePants TV documentary. Then, from July 17-19, Nickelodeon will air a 50-hour "event," hosted by Patchy the Pirate, which "will include an unprecedented 11 SpongeBob premieres and a top-10 countdown of celebrities' favorite SpongeBob episodes."

Here are a few more details on tonight's documentary, produced by Wordplay's Creadon O'Malley:

Commissioned by Nickelodeon to commemorate the anniversary of the series' first episode, the documentary chronicles the beloved character's journey to international pop culture icon status and showcases the series' impact on everyone from President Barack Obama, kids across the globe and San Quentin inmates who readily sing its catchy theme song. The one-hour documentary, features an opening song from Avril Lavigne and commentary from creator Steve Hillenburg, cast and crew members, industry experts, fanatics and celebrities like LeBron James, Ricky Gervais and Rosario Dawson.

Aww. I can't wait to tune in for this. Technically SpongeBob SquarePants is a kids' show, but it's so clever and witty, I actually watch it fairly regularly with my friends because it often makes me laugh way more than certain adult comedies do. I used to think Squidward was my favorite character but I also have a major soft spot for the evil schemer, Plankton.

Are you a SpongeBob fan? Do you have a favorite character or episode?

Sex Rehab With Dr. Drew - Will You Tune In?

TresSugar — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 09:13:37 -0700

VH1 has ordered eight episodes of a Celebrity Rehab spinoff that will attempt to clarify sex addiction, an oft-misunderstood illness. Much like the original, Sex Rehab With Dr. Drew will follow a group of people in Los Angeles who struggle with the very real addiction and its destructive side effects. VH1 really sells it with this seductive promo:

For addicts, sex isn’t even pleasurable, but rather a way to escape the pain of past loss, childhood trauma, abuse, and abandonment. Like many other addictions, their habits can cost them their jobs, their marriages, even their lives.

Well, I'm sold! Are you?

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Buzz In: Who Should Get Their Own Behind the Music?

BuzzSugar — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 06:30:56 -0700

There once was a time, long before Real Housewives reruns on Bravo, where you could count on VH1's Behind the Music series to be on the air at just the moment you're too lazy to do laundry or pay bills. Those were the good old days (between 1997 and 2006, to be specific) when you could learn all kinds of things about people like Leif Garrett, Billy Idol, and Red Hot Chili Peppers from the cable channel's rock documentary series.

Well now, the network is bringing the series back, and its first subject will be - yes! - Lil Wayne. Great first pick. This revamp is apparently going to "focus more on contemporary artists than the veteran talent of previous incarnations." Which brings me to my question: Who do you want to see get their very own Behind the Music? I think a Jonas Brothers one would be kind of hilarious (I just imagine the little one saying something like, "I struggled my whole life until I found the music!") and I think Kings of Leon would make a good subject as well.

Now it's your turn! Who would be your picks?

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Scream Queens Spotlights Women in Horror

BuzzSugar — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 08:30:00 -0700

Starting tonight, VH1 is searching for the next queen of horror film. In Scream Queens, 10 unknown actresses will put their shrieking, crying, and butt-kicking skills to the test for the chance to win a feature role in the upcoming Saw VI. (Yes, there's going to be a Saw VI.)

The trailer for the show looks kind of hilariously awesome, in that White Rapper Show-esque, self-aware kind of way. But it's also gotten me thinking about women in horror generally and whether this show is a good or a bad thing.

On the one hand, well, the title says a lot: The show's looking for someone who can scream all damsel-in-distress-style, presumably while being attacked by some menacing thing. So often in horror movies, female sexuality and violence go hand-in-hand. You certainly would never see a competition looking for male screamers, right? But on the other hand, the trailer seems to be playing up the ass-kicking aspect of being a horror star, and show judge (and original Saw gal) Shawnee Smith has said there's a lot more to being a "scream queen" than just playing the victim.

In this Halloween month, it's as good a time as any to get talking about women in horror - so I invite you to post your thoughts on that below. You can check out the Scream Queens trailer if you read more.

Photo courtesy of VH1

GiggleSugar Interviews Margaret Cho!

GiggleSugar — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 04:00:00 -0700

When I think of Margaret Cho, I think of her hilarious standup act in flashes of representative scenes. There's Margaret telling everyone how weird it is to be an Asian American on an airplane with a flight attendant offering you Asian chicken salad. ("That is not the salad of my people!") There's Margaret imitating her mother's cute Korean accent and puzzling over gay men and their, uh, interest in "the ass." And then there's Margaret imagining how period-centric the world would be if men menstruated. The busy comedian/activist/all-around rad diva took some time out of her schedule to talk with us about her many projects, including VH1's The Cho Show (the second episode airs tomorrow), what it's like to have a day named after you in San Francisco, and who is hotter: Lindsay Lohan or Samantha Ronson?

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To check out the interview (and/or to listen to it!), read more.

GiggleSugar: People feel very connected to you personally. Do you have any funny or crazy fan stories?

Margaret Cho:
People really connect with me for a lot of different reasons. I was the first Asian American person they ever saw on TV, and I was the first person to talk about gay stuff. I think when people see images of themselves in the media they feel like they matter, they exist and they‘re real so a lot of my connection with people who are fans of mine, it goes deeper than just an entertainment or artist kind of relationship, so I don’t really have like, a funny or weird fan story.

GS: You have a lot on your plate right now, particularly with The Cho Show which premiered on VH1 last week. I really love the chemistry you have with Selene, your gay friends, and your parents. It seemed to me like a 21st-century family.

MC: It’s like this beautiful, queer, multicultural, and very functional family. It’s really beautiful.

GS: Can you tell me what your vision for the show was?

MC: Well, I wanted to do a show about another Asian American family because I brought the first Asian American family to TV (All-American Girl) and I then I was alarmed that there had not been another one.

GS: Race, and sexuality and gender have been really central to your work and have inspired lots of people to join comedy who might not have felt like they could be a part of it. What do you think the state of race issues in comedy is these days?

MC:
It’s a big deal. Race is still very much a factor in how much we see of you. Like I look at my contemporaries, the people I started with are people like Ben Stiller, and I feel like, considering the difference in our careers, and how far he goes . . . he’s white, he’s straight, he’s a man. I think he’s great, I like him a lot, but . . .Race is a big factor in how successful people become.

GS: With some comedians I get the sense that they’re saying we’re post-identity, post-race, they think race doesn’t matter as much because now we’re all liberated . . .

MC: No! It’s just as bad as it always was. It’s incredibly sexist, incredibly racist, and incredibly homophobic. There’s no difference. It’s not liberated.

GS: I’m wondering if you saw the pictures of the Spanish basketball team . . .

MC:
Oh, yeah. That to me is so offensive but I feel that to them it was supposed to be affectionate. That’s how you’re affectionate, by showing racism. I think that there’s such a casual attitude towards racism against Asians that exists because I feel like the Asian community at large and especially the Asian-American community is not responsible enough to stand up to it and so I feel like it’s my responsibility to stand up to it.

GS: Who are some of the comics who inspired you and who are some of your favorite comedians now, and why?

MC:
When I was growing up, probably Joan Rivers or Richard Pryor or George Carlin or Steve Martin, Whoopi Goldberg, Paula Poundstone. Major huge influence. Love her. And now Wanda Sykes is my favorite. Chris Rock. Dave Chapelle. Bobby Lee. I’m a big fan of comedy.

GS: Do you see comedy evolving?

MC: I feel like comedians are becoming political - they’ve always been political - but they’re becoming more political now, and are even invited into the political realm to talk about politics. I’m an Obama campaign surrogate so to me that’s a very exciting thing to do. And so, I think, comedy has evolved and people are taking us more seriously as social commentators. Which is really cool.

GS: This is more a personal question but is also related to your humor. In your earlier shows like The Notorious C.H.O. you talk a lot about your experimentation when you were younger with sex, drugs and being kinda self-destructive. Do you regret any of that or do you think it contributed to who you are now and to your humor?

MC: I don’t regret that. I feel like . . . I want the brain cells back. (Laughs.) That’s the hard part . . .

GS: Don’t we all!

MC: Cuz I remember I used to be so lightning fast and it was like really crazy how smart I was. And now I’m just f*ckin’ so dumb, and I can’t remember sh*t.

GS: I think that’s age, too, cuz I’m right there with you.

MC: Yeah, but it’s f*ckin’ drugs. For me, it was totally drugs. I have huge gaps.

GS: But you weren’t a huffer or anything? (Laughs.)

MC: No, but you know, I did every drug, and a lot.

GS: You were a San Francisco girl, how could you avoid it?

MC: It’s so fun, but I miss the brain cells.

GS: They’ll regenerate. I think. (Laughs.) So, speaking of San Francisco, how does it feel to have a Margaret Cho day christened by the mayor?

MC: That was April 30. That was just last April. It was really cool and I actually work with Mayor Newsom a lot, because he and I are big gay marriage advocates.

GS: And your parents are still in San Francisco?

MC:
No, they moved. They’re in San Diego now.

GS: They’re so cute!

MC: They’re really cute.

GS: Your parents seem so not uptight!

MC: Well, they have their moments of getting super-uptight. They can’t fight their culture all the time. They can be pretty uptight sometimes and annoying. But they’re super-sweet and really fun, too.

GS: How does it feel to be successful and to also remain rebellious? Do you still feel like an outsider?

MC: I’ll always be an outsider because of who I am. There’s never going to be a feeling where I feel like I’ve arrived or I’m comfortable, but I feel like I’ve created my own thing. I love performing, I love doing standup comedy, and I love writing.

GS: You’ve been married for six years.

MC: We’ve been together for like 10. We’ve been married forever!

GS: But you still identify as bi or queer.

MC: For sure. Which I’ll always be. That doesn’t change.

GS: That’s wonderful. Are there any other projects that you’re working on that you’d like to talk about?

MC:
I’m doing a show for the Lifetime Channel now called Drop Dead Diva which is a comedy/drama. I play a legal secretary which is really cool and funny. I have to cover up my tattoos in a suit and be super-vanilla which is cool and which I love. And it’s a great show and then I’m going to finish out my tour dates, and then I’m gonna see if I finish out season two of The Cho Show. (I hope we are!) But we don’t know yet.

GS: What are some things that your fans might not know about you that would surprise them?

MC: Like, I am really a dog mom.

GS: Oh . . . ! [This is where I kept quiet about my cat fetish.]

MC: I have three dogs. They’re my whole life.

GS: Silly questions, now. Either or questions: Strawberry or grape-flavored gum?

MC: I can’t chew gum because I’m such a spaz like I would bite the inside of my mouth so much and bite my tongue and then my whole mouth would be filled with blood. It’s really stupid. I’m really dumb about chewing gum. I’m not sure how to. Sometimes, I’m super dumb about stuff. The other thing I’m dumb about is I don’t know how to do the laundry.

GS: I wish I didn’t know how to do the laundry and then I could make someone else do it. Granny panties or thongs?

MC: Um, I’d say thongs. But I do appreciate a granny panty in moderation.

GS: Lindsay Lohan or Samantha Ronson?

MC: Oooh. I love Samantha. (GS: I know!) MC: She’s such a hot dirty butch. I like her a lot.

MC: That’s it Margaret, thank you so much for your time. I hope to catch your show, Beautiful, in Santa Rosa!

What to Download: New Music on iTunes

BuzzSugar — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 12:30:31 -0700

Tuesdays are big in entertainment-ville: Not only do all the new DVD releases hit Netflix, but new music also pours into stores, including iTunes. So I take a spin through each week's iTunes music releases and pick out some albums and tracks worthy of a download. Here are today's selections:

The provocateur: Finally the album that made headlines long before it was ever released is here, and getting fairly good reviews. The album seems intense, and while I'm already bouncing my head to some of the melodies and rhymes ("Queens Get the Money" and "Make the World Go Round" featuring Chris Brown), other tracks are so thick with messages and insinuations it will take more than a quick listen to suss it out ("Sly Fox," for example, is an all-out attack on Fox News).

A new songbird: Every once in a while I flip on VH1 while I get ready in the morning because that's one of the few times I'm able to find actual music videos on the television. On one such morning, I caught this young Aussie singer (and former star of the TV show Neighbours), Delta Goodrem, and she sounded alright. Kinda reminded me of a slightly more upbeat Sarah McLaughlin. Check out the tracks "In This Life" and "Brave Face" from her self-titled album now available in the U.S. and let me know what you think.

One more pick to go (hint: it's a soundtrack) so read more!

Teen angst: This soundtrack might be to today's youngsters what Empire Records soundtrack was to me back in the day. It's a cute, timely mix of songs from a great little movie, and includes tracks from a range of artists including MGMT, Cat Stevens, and The Ting Tings. And while I may not be a teenager, I'm definitely loving this mix. The folks behind this movie have excellent taste in tunes.

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TV Tonight: I Love the New Millennium

BuzzSugar — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 08:30:10 -0700

Apparently, VH1 is so smitten with the pop culture touchstones and trainwrecks of the past eight years, the network couldn't wait to talk about them. Tonight, VH1 debuts I Love the New Millennium, the latest in its series of I Love the [Insert Decade Here] specials - despite the fact that this decade is still far from over.

The odd timing is no problem for VH1's team of comedians and culture mavens, who will be turning their lovingly sarcastic eye on everything from the "Thong Song" to Big Mouth Billy Bass. I Love the New Millennium will showcase two years from the decade each night from tonight through Thursday, going all the way back - as the network put it - to "a time when Brad Pitt was happily married to Jennifer Aniston." VH1 has called on its typical I Love the . . . team, including comedians Michael Ian Black and Lonny Ross, to do the job, with an assist from a couple of dozen folks who have benefited (or suffered) from the whims of the new millennium firsthand: Shaggy, Kat Von D, even Jenna Von Oy!

It strikes me as a little soon for VH1 to be so reflective; I think some of the most absurd and memorable pop culture moments only get better with time, as we saw with I Love the '80s. Still, it's really never too soon for me to listen to VH1 personalities snark about trucker hats. Are there any particular culture milestones you hope make an appearance in this week's specials? And will you be watching? To check out a clip of a rant about Fear Factor, just read more.

<a href="www.vh1.com" target="_blank">Fear Factor Stupidity</a>

Fear Factor Stupidity

Photo courtesy of VH1

Vintage Video: Behind the Scenes With Mimi LaRue

PetSugar — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 17:00:49 -0700

Sadly, Mimi LaRue passed away but she's far from long gone from my mind – how many dogs have we seen sporting tulle for goodness sake? It's not just me who loved this pup, Tori Spelling herself said:

She was not just a dog but a fashion icon and legend amongst Hollywood dogs. She received fan email on a regular basis, and I often joked she got sent more designer clothes than me!

Check out this classic video from season one of So NoTORIous!

VH1 Looking for a Few Good Screamers

BuzzSugar — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 12:36:57 -0700

Think your scream could top the wailing of the legendary Fay Wray? VH1 just might be looking for you. The network has teamed up with Lionsgate for Scream Queens, a new reality series searching for the next great horror film actress.

According to the Hollywood Reporter, the series - set to premiere in the Fall - will gather 10 unknown actresses to compete for a "major" role in a Lionsgate horror film, for a director to be named later. (Should I be concerned that even the Reporter put "major" in those possibly ironic quotation marks?) The contestants will compete in various challenges and be schooled by acting coach John Homa, with one winner presumably going on to scream loudly on the big screen.

The series doesn't sound entirely unlike Sam Raimi's 13 for the CW, though so far as I know, the winner of 13 won't get to continue living out the horror-movie fantasy in a film. On the one hand, I'm intrigued to see how VH1 puts this show together; on the other hand, I'm not sure if watching 10 wannabe actresses screech loudly sounds like my cup of tea. What's your take?

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Buzz In: Which Former Teen Idols Would You Put on VH1?

BuzzSugar — Fri, 09 May 2008 05:30:55 -0700

It's a weird world where Scott Baio can become a programming tycoon, but I guess that's what two successful "celebreality" shows can do these days. Following the success of Scott Baio is 45 . . . And Single and Scott Baio is 46 . . . And Pregnant, Baio is launching a reality show that aims to do for others what VH1 did for him.

Here's the idea: Eight teen idols from the '80s and '90s, all guys, will live in a house together and reflect on the best and worst parts of their short-lived fame. With help from life coaches and experts in the entertainment industry, they'll come to a decision by the end of the show: either pursue fame again, or promise to stay far away from Hollywood for good.

So now, here's the key question: Which eight male former heartthrobs would you want to see in the house? Frankly, after The Two Coreys, I would veto both Haim and Feldman. But an appearance by Kirk Cameron could be great, if only because I'd love to see what he's saying these days. Fred Savage might be doing too well to qualify, but what about Corin "Corky" Nemec of Parker Lewis Can't Lose?

OK, your turn! Which teen idols would you put in that house?

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