by Andrea Reiher
14 Mar 2010 at 12:55pm
Paige Miles is excited to have made the Top 12 of "American Idol" and is looking forward to the Rolling Stones.She tells Zap2it was "a little scary coming into it without an established fan base like some of the other contestants had ... but once you get on that live show, it's a clean slate."She then gets very excited about a Jacksons theme week, where the Jackson brothers come to mentor and she can sing "Dancin' Machine." Are you listening, Jackson brothers? Follow Zap2it Andrea on Twitter and follow Zap2it on Twitter and Facebook for the latest TV, movie and celebrity news.Related:Andrew Garcia sings the 'Family Matters' themeCrystal Bowersox: 'It's up for grabs, it's not mine'Katelyn Epperly is pulling for Crystal Bowersox all the wayAlex Lambert: 'I wasn't expecting to go home'Lilly Scott: 'My voting demographic probably doesn't even own a TV'Siobhan Magnus on tattoos, eliminationsTim Urban on Top 12: 'It's such a blur, it's such a rush' Syesha Mercado's favorite was Todrick Hall, loves doing 'Dreamgirls'Photo and video credit: Gordon Lake

by Rick Porter
14 Mar 2010 at 11:22am
"Alice in Wonderland" cut off the heads of if its box-office rivals, delivering a second weekend of huge receipts. Four new movies, meanwhile, had modest openings."Alice" raked in a studio-estimated $62 million over the March 12-14 weekend and claimed the No. 1 spot for the second weekend in a row. The Tim Burton-directed movie has now passed the $200 million total and sits at $208.6 million.Matt Damon's Iraq war thriller "Green Zone" came in second for the weekend with $14.5 million, slightly below the $15 million-$20 million box-office forecasters had predicted. Two more newcomers, "She's Out of My League" ($9.8 million) and the Robert Pattinson-starring "Remember Me" ($8.3 million), finished third and fourth."Shutter Island" dropped from third to fifth place with an estimated $8.1 million, and the weekend's other new film, "Our Family Wedding," was sixth with $7.6 million. "Our Family Wedding" played on several hundred fewer screens than the other new releases, however, so its per-screen average of $4,735 was higher than "She's Out of My League" and "Remember Me."Rounding out the top 10 were "Avatar" ($6.6 million), "Brooklyn's Finest" ($4.3 million), "Cop Out" ($4.2 million) and "The Crazies" ($3.65 million).Follow Zap2it on Twitter and Facebook for the latest movies, TV and celeb newsRelated:'Alice in Wonderland' seizes $116 million. Oh frabjous day!'Alice in Wonderland' showtimesPhoto credit: Disney

by Rick Porter
14 Mar 2010 at 12:24am
Jude Law and a bunch of recurring sketches were the stars on "Saturday Night Live" on March 13.Law did quite well in his second time hosting the show, referencing his recent run as Hamlet on Broadway in his monologue and in a post-"Update" sketch. The show also had a lot of fun with the resignation this week of New York Congressman Eric Massa, beginning with the show's cold open, where Massa (Bobby Moynihan) tried to explain himself in an exit interview.It was a solid, and relatively brief, sketch. Law's monologue -- where he briefly re-enacted "Hamlet" with a detour into MTV's "Teen Cribs" ("It's like regular 'Cribs,' but with teens") -- worked pretty well too.Hands down, though, my favorite sketch of the night involved Law playing a Spanish lothario who tries to seduce two American girls (Abby Elliott and Nasim Pedrad, both of whom got a lot of screen time this week), whom he also promises to kill ("I keel you"). Law managed somehow to play his lines perfectly straight and be a giant ham (as in the picture above) at the same time; it was a completely goofy sketch, but it had me rewinding a couple times to catch lines I missed while I was laughing. The recurring/repeat sketches were a mixed bag. The show did another episode of the fake 1960s game show "Secret Word," featuring Kristen Wiig's crazypants Broadway actress and Law as a Soviet ballet dancer. It wasn't great, but Law did OK with his small bit, and it at least seemed shorter than previous the previous incarnation of it.The "Kickspit Underground Rock Festival" was a repeat from an episode earlier this season, while a late-show sketch involving Fred Armisen's incompetent court stenographer was just as funny -- which is to say, not very funny at all -- as it was the last time (though, again, it seemed shorter)."Weekend Update" featured the return of "Really?!?," and it was another good effort with Jerry Seinfeld joining Seth Meyers to heap some more grief on Massa. (And as a bonus, Seinfeld didn't overtly plug "The Marriage Ref.") The digital short was another Andy Samberg music video, wherein he and his racing-stripe haircut spread joy and dance to a boiled goose-eating world via his boombox. It had its moments, but it wasn't up to "I'm on a Boat" or "D*** in a Box" standards.The second "Hamlet"-related sketch was the best of the post-"Update" crop, with Law re-creating his audition for us and Moynihan, Bill Hader, Samberg and Jason Sudeikis playing other famous actors -- Nathan Lane, Al Pacino, Nicolas Cage and Sam Elliott -- in the room with him. Any sketch that ends with the line "The butts, indeed, are for pooping" is OK with me. Law's episode makes three pretty strong weeks in a row for "Saturday Night Live," which is nice to see after a dull stretch earlier in the season. The show is off for the next few weeks, then Tina Fey will return as host on April 10.What did you think of "SNL" and Jude Law?Follow Zap2it on Twitter and Facebook for the latest TV, movie and celebrity news.Related:Betty White hosts 'SNL' on May 8Zach Galifianakis shaves his beard during 'Saturday Night Live'Photo credit: NBC

by Rick Porter
13 Mar 2010 at 9:03pm
Like "Band of Brothers" nine years ago, HBO's World War II miniseries "The Pacific" is a massive achievement. And like its Europe-set predecessor, it's at its best when it focuses on the small things as a way of reflecting the huge story it's telling.The 10-part miniseries, which premieres at 9 p.m. ET Sunday (March 14), follows U.S. Marines as they advance across the Pacific theater of World War II, beginning with the landing on Guadalcanal in 1942 and continuing until the war's end in 1945. It's told principally through the eyes of three enlisted men: John Basilone (Jon Seda), Robert Leckie (James Badge Dale) and Eugene Sledge (Joe Mazzello), whose paths crossed during the campaign. The series is based in part on memoirs by Leckie ("Helmet for My Pillow") and Sledge ("With the Old Breed").On the large scale, "The Pacific" does a frighteningly good job at depicting the brutal conditions not just in battle, but also in day-to-day life in locations like Guadalcanal, New Britain, Peleliu and Okinawa. Intense heat, unrelenting rain, inadequate ammunition and supplies and the fatigue and illness that come with it -- to say nothing of a dug-in, relentless enemy -- wore these soldiers down to the point that they became shadows of their former selves.It's in depicting those things that writers Bruce McKenna, Michelle Ashford, Robert Schenkkan, George Pelecanos, Graham Yost and Laurence Andries, along with Dale, Mazzello, Seda and the rest of the cast really shine. Mazzello in particular undergoes an amazing transformation as Sledge turns from an eager enlistee to a hardened soldier. It's an incredible sustained performance, and a somewhat chilling one too.Dale and Seda are equally good. Basilone, a Medal of Honor winner who's shipped back the United States to help the war effort at home, comes to feel as though he's neglected his fellow soldiers and looks for a way to return to the front; as Seda plays it, it's a fairly stoic performance, but the regret he feels in leaving his comrades behind plays out in his eyes. Dale's Leckie, meanwhile, fights to maintain a link to his former life through frequent letters to a woman. He also suffers physical and emotional wounds; an episode midway through the miniseries finds Leckie recovering from illness at a hospital, where he spars with a psychologist (played by Matt Craven) about whether he's sane enough to return to his unit. There are echoes of "Catch-22" in their conversations, and it's a fascinating look at the mental toll the war took on its combatants.What's all the more impressive about "The Pacific" is that because it's staying true to the stories of its central characters, it can't focus on the same group of soldiers all the time, the way "Band of Brothers" did with Easy Company. Leckie and Sledge did in fact serve together in the 1st Marine Division, along with Sledge's childhood friend Sid Phillips (played by Ashton Holmes), but they were in different regiments and didn't fight side-by-side. Basilone was in a different regiment as well and spent a good portion of the war stateside before returning to battle in early 1945.Despite that, though, the miniseries doesn't meander. Though there are more than a few breaks from the fighting -- episode three deals primarily with a post-Guadalcanal respite in Australia -- "The Pacific" never feels like anything less than a cohesive whole. It's really a remarkable piece of television. I know what I'm doing for the next 10 Sunday nights.Follow Zap2it on Twitter and Facebook for the latest TV, movie and celebrity news.Related:'The Pacific': Real-life stories mean extra 'weight' for actors'The Pacific': Joe Mazzello grows up on cameraNew trailer for 'The Pacific' makes us even more excited to see itPhoto credit: HBO

by Rick Porter
13 Mar 2010 at 8:45pm
Edward Norton won't be turning into a giant green superhero anytime soon.Norton, who was at South by Southwest in Austin Saturday (March 13) for "Leaves of Grass" -- a movie directed by his "Incredible Hulk" co-star Tim Blake Nelson -- says he doesn't think a "Hulk" sequel is in the cards."I think it has got more to do with what Marvel is doing," Norton tells Cinematical. "I get the sense they have this grand vision of unspooling a lot of their characters and then starting to put them together. I think they can only do so many at a time. Obviously, they are doing 'Iron Man 2' and then getting some of the new ones out."The "grand vision" includes an "Avengers" film at some point, of which the Hulk -- at least the big, green, CGI-enhanced character -- presumably would be a part. Two other movies involving members of the team, "Thor" and "Captain America: The First Avenger," are scheduled for release in 2011.Follow Zap2it on Twitter and Facebook for the latest TV, movie and celebrity news.Related:'Captain America': Hugo Weaving may play Red SkullSecond 'Iron Man 2' trailer with more Scarlett Johansson, Sam RockwellPhoto credit: Getty Images 

by Rick Porter
13 Mar 2010 at 7:59pm
"American Idol" season 7 winner David Cook and pop starlet Ke$ha are set to perform on "Idol's" results show next week.The two artists both tweeted that they'd be appearing on the show, which will send the first of its 12 finalists packing on Wednesday night (March 17). Cook, who recently returned from a songwriting trip to Sweden, told his followers, "Oh and I brought a present back for everyone. We'll be performing on idol this wednesday! Be sure to check it out!"Ke$ha's announcement was a little more, uh, succinct: "Party time american idol woot t minus 3 dayz."If both Cook and Ke$ha perform, it could be a pretty crowded hour on Wednesday: Several reports also say that singer-guitarist Orianthi -- the guitar player for Michael Jackson in "This Is It" -- is also set to perform. That's all in addition to the cheesy group number, Ford commercial and elimination drama that are staples of "Idol" results shows.The top 12 will sing Rolling Stones songs on Tuesday, and one of them will go home after watching Cook, Orianthi and Ke$ha do their thing on Wednesday.Follow Zap2it on Twitter and Facebook for the latest TV, movie and celebrity news.Related:'American Idol': Kara DioGuardi's dad running for Senate'American Idol': Andrew Garcia sings the 'Family Matters' theme songCrystal Bowersox: 'It's up for grabs'Zap2it's State of the 'American Idol' UnionPhoto credit: Getty Images

by Rick Porter
13 Mar 2010 at 5:06pm
Celebrity chef Bobby Flay will help pick "America's Next Great Restaurant" on NBC next season.The Food Network star and restaurateur will be one of five investors and judges on the show, which will award the winning contestant a shot at starting a restaurant chain. The show is also starting a series of open casting calls next week in New York."America's Next Great Restaurant" comes from "Top Chef" executive producers Jane Lipsitz and Dan Cutforth. The show will put contestants through a series of tasks to discover the best restaurant concept. The five judges will also put up some of their own money to invest in the winning concept, which will launch in three cities.Casting calls will take place in New York; Raleigh, N.C.; Nashville; Columbus, Ohio; Chicago; Kansas City, Kan.; Denver; and Los Angeles between March 19 and April 5. More information is at NBC.com.Follow Zap2it on Twitter and Facebook for the latest TV, movie and celebrity news.Photo credit: Getty Images

by Rick Porter
13 Mar 2010 at 2:10pm
"American Idol" judge Kara DioGuardi's dad, a former congressman, is looking to re-enter the political picture.Joseph DioGuardi, who served two terms in the House of Representatives in the 1980s, is considering a run for one of New York's U.S. Senate seats. DioGuardi, a Republican, is expected to announce his campaign next week, the AP reports.The seat he's running for is currently held by Democrat Kirsten Gillibrand, who was appointed in 2009 after Hillary Clinton left the Senate to become Secretary of State. Whoever wins the special election in November will serve until 2012, then will have to run again to serve a full six-year term.DioGuardi, a certified public accountant, could be part of a potentially crowded Republican primary field. One other candidate, Bruce Blakeman, has already said he's running, and former New York Gov. George Pataki is also thinking about a run, as is former George W. Bush adviser Dan Senor and several others. Joe DioGuardi isn't the only pol with an "Idol" connection. Scott Brown, recently elected to the Senate from Massachsuetts, is the father of season 5 contestant Ayla Brown.Follow Zap2it on Twitter and Facebook for the latest TV, movie and celebrity news.Related:'American Idol': Andrew Garcia sings the 'Family Matters' theme songCrystal Bowersox: 'It's up for grabs'Zap2it's State of the 'American Idol' UnionPhoto credits: Truth in Government.org (Joe DioGuardi), FOX (Kara DioGuardi)

by Jethro Nededog
13 Mar 2010 at 1:34pm
At Austin's South by Southwest festival, Robert Rodriguez unveiled a featurette of "Predators," the next chapter in the "Predator" series."The idea with the film was not to make it feel like the fifth or sixth movie in a series," explains Rodriguez, "But the first." If you're a fan of the original movie, we hear that you'll love Rodriguez's reboot. It's meant to be both a sequel to the original film and a standalone for those who haven't seen the original and its sequels.A few cool things from this sneak peak:We finally get to see Adrien Brody and Laurence Fishburne in actionShot on location in Hawaii, we get to see the "Predators" world, where humans are the ones being hunted.We get a look at the new breed of "Predators."Check out the featurette below:

"Predators" opens in theatres on July 4.

NOTE: If you can't see the video above, check it out at the official "Predators" website.Are you excited for Rodriguez's 2010 "Predator" reboot?

Follow Zap2it on Twitter, @TheRealJethro on Twitter, and Zap2it on Facebook for all your movies, TV and celebrity news.

Related:

2010 Tribeca Film Festival announces lineupTriBeCa: Is It Real or Just Reel?

Photo credit: 20th Century Fox

by Rick Porter
13 Mar 2010 at 1:12pm
HBO's miniseries adaptation of "Mildred Pierce" has added several actors, including "True Blood's" Evan Rachel Wood, Guy Pearce and Oscar nominee Melissa Leo.Brian F. O'Byrne ("FlashForward") and James LeGros have also joined the project, which will star Kate Winslet. The adaptation of James M. Cain's novel follows the title character (Winslet) as she attempts to make a better life for herself and win the love of her ungrateful daughter in Depression-era Los Angeles.Wood, who next stars in the Robert Redford-directed "The Conspirator," will play Mildred's daughter Veda -- which will require her to play younger, Winslet to play older, or both, as in real life Wood is only 12 years younger than Winslet.Pearce ("Memento," "The Hurt Locker") will play Mildred's wealthy lover, while Leo ("Frozen River," "Treme") will play her close friend. O'Byrne will be the husband Mildred leaves behind, and LeGros ("Mercy") will play Pearce's business partner.Todd Haynes ("I'm Not There," "Far from Heaven") will direct the miniseries and is co-writing it with Jon Raymond. Filming is set to start in the spring.Follow Zap2it on Twitter and Facebook for the latest TV, movie and celebrity news.Related:Kate Winslet, HBO team for 'Mildred Pierce'Photo credit: Getty Images

by Andrea Reiher
13 Mar 2010 at 1:08pm
Andrew Garcia tells Zap2it that making the "American Idol" Top 12 has him "feeling so blessed right now."  And since by making the Top 12 Andrew will get to start having themed performance weeks, we asked him what his dream theme would be. Andrew gave us the best answer of the night by going with "TV show songs." (Which would be the most amazing night of "American Idol," forever and ever, amen.)When asked which TV show theme he would do, without missing a beat Andrew replies, "'Family Matters.' That would be tight, that would be dope." And then he sings a snippet for us!Andrew goes on to discuss "Straight Up" and whether he peaked too soon. His advice? "'Straight Up' get over it. That's what I do to music ... They can't get over it."And just for the record, our pick for TV show song week would be "The Facts of Life."Follow Zap2it Andrea on Twitter and follow Zap2it on Twitter and Facebook for the latest TV, movie and celebrity news.Related:Crystal Bowersox: 'It's up for grabs, it's not mine'Katelyn Epperly is pulling for Crystal Bowersox all the wayAlex Lambert: 'I wasn't expecting to go home'Lilly Scott: 'My voting demographic probably doesn't even own a TV'Siobhan Magnus on tattoos, eliminationsTim Urban on Top 12: 'It's such a blur, it's such a rush' Syesha Mercado's favorite was Todrick Hall, loves doing 'Dreamgirls'Photo and video credit: Gordon Lake

by Andrea Reiher
13 Mar 2010 at 12:42pm
Crystal Bowersox has been practically crowned the "American Idol" winner already by judge Simon Cowell, but she tells Zap2it it's still up in the air because now it's up to the American people.She also says that she's feeling good, she's healthy and she's just grateful to be there.When asked if she'll ever lose the guitar and really surprise us, Crystal says, "I don't know if the guitar's gonna go away, but it might be something out of the box. And if I tell you, it wouldn't be a surprise, so... shhh." Follow Zap2it Andrea on Twitter and follow Zap2it on Twitter and Facebook for the latest TV, movie and celebrity news.Related:Katelyn Epperly is pulling for Crystal Bowersox all the wayAlex Lambert: 'I wasn't expecting to go home'Lilly Scott: 'My voting demographic probably doesn't even own a TV'Siobhan Magnus on tattoos, eliminationsTim Urban on Top 12: 'It's such a blur, it's such a rush' Syesha Mercado's favorite was Todrick Hall, loves doing 'Dreamgirls'Photo and video credit: Gordon Lake

by Rick Porter
13 Mar 2010 at 11:39am
"Good Morning America" weekend anchor Kate Snow is switching networks, leaving ABC to join NBC.Snow will be a "Dateline" correspondent at her new home. She's expected to be on the air later in the spring and will contribute to other NBC News programs as well."She's the whole package," "Dateline" executive producer David Corvo says of Snow. "She can cover breaking news, she can interview, she can write, and I'm happy she'll be doing all that at 'Dateline.'"Snow has been an anchor of "GMA's" weekend show since it launched in 2004. She covered the Haiti earthquake for ABC earlier this year and was also on the campaign trail during the 2004 and 2008 presidential elections. Prior to joining ABC in 2003, she worked at CNN for five years. Snow had been considered a contender for the news anchor job on the weekday "Good Morning America" when Diane Sawyer moved to "World News," but the job went to Juju Chang instead.Follow Zap2it on Twitter and Facebook for the latest TV, movie and celebrity news.Photo credit: Getty Images

by Rick Porter
13 Mar 2010 at 10:59am
Fast National ratings for Friday, March 12, 2010The season finale of "Numb3rs" led CBS to a ratings win Friday night, holding off NBC, which saw "Who Do You Think You Are?" improve some in its second week and got better-than-average viewership for "Dateline."CBS drew 8.25 million viewers and a 5.1 rating/9 share for the night, narrowly beating NBC's 7.75 million and 5.1/9. ABC (4.9 million, 3.3/6) came in third. FOX (3.6 million, 2.2/4) took fourth, while The CW averaged 1.6 million viewers and a 1.1/2.The adults 18-49 race was close as well: CBS led the demo with a 1.8, just ahead of NBC's 1.7. ABC and FOX tied for third at 1.4, and The CW drew a 0.6.Friday hour by hour:8 p.m.CBS: "Ghost Whisperer" (7.85 million viewers, 4.9/9 households)NBC: "Who Do You Think You Are?" (7.15 million, 4.5/8)ABC: "Supernanny" (4.9 million, 3.2/6)FOX: "House" rerun (3.1 million, 2.0/4)The CW: "America's Next Top Model" rerun (1.7 million, 1.2/2)18-49 leader: "Ghost Whisperer" (1.9)9 p.m.CBS: "Medium" (8.15 million, 5.1/9)NBC: "Dateline" (7.8 million, 5.2/9)ABC: "Supernanny" (4.18 million, 2.8/5)FOX: "Kitchen Nightmares" (4.16 million, 2.5/4)The CW: "America's Next Top Model" rerun (1.8 million, 1.3/2)/"High Society" rerun (1.1  million, 0.7/1)18-49 leader: "Medium" (1.8)10 p.m.CBS: "Numb3rs" season finale (8.7 million, 5.4/10)NBC: "Dateline" (8.3 million, 5.5/10)ABC: "20/20" (5.6 million, 3.8/7)18-49 leader: "Numb3rs" and "Dateline" tied at 1.8Ratings information includes live and same-day DVR viewing. All numbers are preliminary and subject to change. Source: The Nielsen Company. More ratings at Zap2it: Daily, weekly and cablePhoto credit: CBS

by Christine Law
12 Mar 2010 at 10:11pm
In the last episode of "Gossip Girl," we discovered that the woman Chuck spotted at his father's grave may be his mother. On Monday (Mar. 15), the multi-millionaire gathers more intel on the mystery lady in "The Lady Vanished."What else can we expect?Rufus and Lily start to smell something fishy with Jenny's new beau. Good luck trying to tell Little J who she can and cannot see, you two.  Vanessa resurfaces in this episode (she was MIA in the last episode), and she and Dan talk about their feelings and the resulting new awkward situation. Look for a smooch between these old friends.As for Serena and Nate, go ahead and work up an appetite for a hot and steamy kitchen scene. Yum.A fun fact: '80s icon Andrew McCarthy directs Monday's episode. Ironically, "St. Elmo's Fire" is on TV right now, and I'm watching. I guess McCarthy did get some solid firsthand exposure to dramedies about dysfunctional youth.Watch the trailer for "The Lady Vanished" here:   Follow Zap2it on Twitter and Facebook and Zap2itChristine on Twitter for the latest movies, TV and celebrity news.Related:'Gossip Girl' Chace Crawford on 'Live...': Yes, Elton John gets our show shipped to U.K.When 'Gossip Girl' is away, the stars will play'Gossip Girl': Expect a 'very sexy,' 'very emotional' Chuck and Blair'Gossip Girl': Jenny's not done playing in Damien's dangerous world'Gossip Girl': 5 Season 3 spring wishes for EPs Josh Schwartz and Stephanie SavagePhoto credits: The CW

by Andrea Reiher
14 Mar 2010 at 12:55pm
Paige Miles is excited to have made the Top 12 of "American Idol" and is looking forward to the Rolling Stones.She tells Zap2it was "a little scary coming into it without an established fan base like some of the other contestants had ... but once you get on that live show, it's a clean slate."She then gets very excited about a Jacksons theme week, where the Jackson brothers come to mentor and she can sing "Dancin' Machine." Are you listening, Jackson brothers? Follow Zap2it Andrea on Twitter and follow Zap2it on Twitter and Facebook for the latest TV, movie and celebrity news.Related:Andrew Garcia sings the 'Family Matters' themeCrystal Bowersox: 'It's up for grabs, it's not mine'Katelyn Epperly is pulling for Crystal Bowersox all the wayAlex Lambert: 'I wasn't expecting to go home'Lilly Scott: 'My voting demographic probably doesn't even own a TV'Siobhan Magnus on tattoos, eliminationsTim Urban on Top 12: 'It's such a blur, it's such a rush' Syesha Mercado's favorite was Todrick Hall, loves doing 'Dreamgirls'Photo and video credit: Gordon Lake

by Rick Porter
14 Mar 2010 at 11:22am
"Alice in Wonderland" cut off the heads of if its box-office rivals, delivering a second weekend of huge receipts. Four new movies, meanwhile, had modest openings."Alice" raked in a studio-estimated $62 million over the March 12-14 weekend and claimed the No. 1 spot for the second weekend in a row. The Tim Burton-directed movie has now passed the $200 million total and sits at $208.6 million.Matt Damon's Iraq war thriller "Green Zone" came in second for the weekend with $14.5 million, slightly below the $15 million-$20 million box-office forecasters had predicted. Two more newcomers, "She's Out of My League" ($9.8 million) and the Robert Pattinson-starring "Remember Me" ($8.3 million), finished third and fourth."Shutter Island" dropped from third to fifth place with an estimated $8.1 million, and the weekend's other new film, "Our Family Wedding," was sixth with $7.6 million. "Our Family Wedding" played on several hundred fewer screens than the other new releases, however, so its per-screen average of $4,735 was higher than "She's Out of My League" and "Remember Me."Rounding out the top 10 were "Avatar" ($6.6 million), "Brooklyn's Finest" ($4.3 million), "Cop Out" ($4.2 million) and "The Crazies" ($3.65 million).Follow Zap2it on Twitter and Facebook for the latest movies, TV and celeb newsRelated:'Alice in Wonderland' seizes $116 million. Oh frabjous day!'Alice in Wonderland' showtimesPhoto credit: Disney

by Rick Porter
14 Mar 2010 at 12:24am
Jude Law and a bunch of recurring sketches were the stars on "Saturday Night Live" on March 13.Law did quite well in his second time hosting the show, referencing his recent run as Hamlet on Broadway in his monologue and in a post-"Update" sketch. The show also had a lot of fun with the resignation this week of New York Congressman Eric Massa, beginning with the show's cold open, where Massa (Bobby Moynihan) tried to explain himself in an exit interview.It was a solid, and relatively brief, sketch. Law's monologue -- where he briefly re-enacted "Hamlet" with a detour into MTV's "Teen Cribs" ("It's like regular 'Cribs,' but with teens") -- worked pretty well too.Hands down, though, my favorite sketch of the night involved Law playing a Spanish lothario who tries to seduce two American girls (Abby Elliott and Nasim Pedrad, both of whom got a lot of screen time this week), whom he also promises to kill ("I keel you"). Law managed somehow to play his lines perfectly straight and be a giant ham (as in the picture above) at the same time; it was a completely goofy sketch, but it had me rewinding a couple times to catch lines I missed while I was laughing. The recurring/repeat sketches were a mixed bag. The show did another episode of the fake 1960s game show "Secret Word," featuring Kristen Wiig's crazypants Broadway actress and Law as a Soviet ballet dancer. It wasn't great, but Law did OK with his small bit, and it at least seemed shorter than previous the previous incarnation of it.The "Kickspit Underground Rock Festival" was a repeat from an episode earlier this season, while a late-show sketch involving Fred Armisen's incompetent court stenographer was just as funny -- which is to say, not very funny at all -- as it was the last time (though, again, it seemed shorter)."Weekend Update" featured the return of "Really?!?," and it was another good effort with Jerry Seinfeld joining Seth Meyers to heap some more grief on Massa. (And as a bonus, Seinfeld didn't overtly plug "The Marriage Ref.") The digital short was another Andy Samberg music video, wherein he and his racing-stripe haircut spread joy and dance to a boiled goose-eating world via his boombox. It had its moments, but it wasn't up to "I'm on a Boat" or "D*** in a Box" standards.The second "Hamlet"-related sketch was the best of the post-"Update" crop, with Law re-creating his audition for us and Moynihan, Bill Hader, Samberg and Jason Sudeikis playing other famous actors -- Nathan Lane, Al Pacino, Nicolas Cage and Sam Elliott -- in the room with him. Any sketch that ends with the line "The butts, indeed, are for pooping" is OK with me. Law's episode makes three pretty strong weeks in a row for "Saturday Night Live," which is nice to see after a dull stretch earlier in the season. The show is off for the next few weeks, then Tina Fey will return as host on April 10.What did you think of "SNL" and Jude Law?Follow Zap2it on Twitter and Facebook for the latest TV, movie and celebrity news.Related:Betty White hosts 'SNL' on May 8Zach Galifianakis shaves his beard during 'Saturday Night Live'Photo credit: NBC

by Rick Porter
13 Mar 2010 at 9:03pm
Like "Band of Brothers" nine years ago, HBO's World War II miniseries "The Pacific" is a massive achievement. And like its Europe-set predecessor, it's at its best when it focuses on the small things as a way of reflecting the huge story it's telling.The 10-part miniseries, which premieres at 9 p.m. ET Sunday (March 14), follows U.S. Marines as they advance across the Pacific theater of World War II, beginning with the landing on Guadalcanal in 1942 and continuing until the war's end in 1945. It's told principally through the eyes of three enlisted men: John Basilone (Jon Seda), Robert Leckie (James Badge Dale) and Eugene Sledge (Joe Mazzello), whose paths crossed during the campaign. The series is based in part on memoirs by Leckie ("Helmet for My Pillow") and Sledge ("With the Old Breed").On the large scale, "The Pacific" does a frighteningly good job at depicting the brutal conditions not just in battle, but also in day-to-day life in locations like Guadalcanal, New Britain, Peleliu and Okinawa. Intense heat, unrelenting rain, inadequate ammunition and supplies and the fatigue and illness that come with it -- to say nothing of a dug-in, relentless enemy -- wore these soldiers down to the point that they became shadows of their former selves.It's in depicting those things that writers Bruce McKenna, Michelle Ashford, Robert Schenkkan, George Pelecanos, Graham Yost and Laurence Andries, along with Dale, Mazzello, Seda and the rest of the cast really shine. Mazzello in particular undergoes an amazing transformation as Sledge turns from an eager enlistee to a hardened soldier. It's an incredible sustained performance, and a somewhat chilling one too.Dale and Seda are equally good. Basilone, a Medal of Honor winner who's shipped back the United States to help the war effort at home, comes to feel as though he's neglected his fellow soldiers and looks for a way to return to the front; as Seda plays it, it's a fairly stoic performance, but the regret he feels in leaving his comrades behind plays out in his eyes. Dale's Leckie, meanwhile, fights to maintain a link to his former life through frequent letters to a woman. He also suffers physical and emotional wounds; an episode midway through the miniseries finds Leckie recovering from illness at a hospital, where he spars with a psychologist (played by Matt Craven) about whether he's sane enough to return to his unit. There are echoes of "Catch-22" in their conversations, and it's a fascinating look at the mental toll the war took on its combatants.What's all the more impressive about "The Pacific" is that because it's staying true to the stories of its central characters, it can't focus on the same group of soldiers all the time, the way "Band of Brothers" did with Easy Company. Leckie and Sledge did in fact serve together in the 1st Marine Division, along with Sledge's childhood friend Sid Phillips (played by Ashton Holmes), but they were in different regiments and didn't fight side-by-side. Basilone was in a different regiment as well and spent a good portion of the war stateside before returning to battle in early 1945.Despite that, though, the miniseries doesn't meander. Though there are more than a few breaks from the fighting -- episode three deals primarily with a post-Guadalcanal respite in Australia -- "The Pacific" never feels like anything less than a cohesive whole. It's really a remarkable piece of television. I know what I'm doing for the next 10 Sunday nights.Follow Zap2it on Twitter and Facebook for the latest TV, movie and celebrity news.Related:'The Pacific': Real-life stories mean extra 'weight' for actors'The Pacific': Joe Mazzello grows up on cameraNew trailer for 'The Pacific' makes us even more excited to see itPhoto credit: HBO

by Rick Porter
13 Mar 2010 at 8:45pm
Edward Norton won't be turning into a giant green superhero anytime soon.Norton, who was at South by Southwest in Austin Saturday (March 13) for "Leaves of Grass" -- a movie directed by his "Incredible Hulk" co-star Tim Blake Nelson -- says he doesn't think a "Hulk" sequel is in the cards."I think it has got more to do with what Marvel is doing," Norton tells Cinematical. "I get the sense they have this grand vision of unspooling a lot of their characters and then starting to put them together. I think they can only do so many at a time. Obviously, they are doing 'Iron Man 2' and then getting some of the new ones out."The "grand vision" includes an "Avengers" film at some point, of which the Hulk -- at least the big, green, CGI-enhanced character -- presumably would be a part. Two other movies involving members of the team, "Thor" and "Captain America: The First Avenger," are scheduled for release in 2011.Follow Zap2it on Twitter and Facebook for the latest TV, movie and celebrity news.Related:'Captain America': Hugo Weaving may play Red SkullSecond 'Iron Man 2' trailer with more Scarlett Johansson, Sam RockwellPhoto credit: Getty Images 

by Rick Porter
13 Mar 2010 at 7:59pm
"American Idol" season 7 winner David Cook and pop starlet Ke$ha are set to perform on "Idol's" results show next week.The two artists both tweeted that they'd be appearing on the show, which will send the first of its 12 finalists packing on Wednesday night (March 17). Cook, who recently returned from a songwriting trip to Sweden, told his followers, "Oh and I brought a present back for everyone. We'll be performing on idol this wednesday! Be sure to check it out!"Ke$ha's announcement was a little more, uh, succinct: "Party time american idol woot t minus 3 dayz."If both Cook and Ke$ha perform, it could be a pretty crowded hour on Wednesday: Several reports also say that singer-guitarist Orianthi -- the guitar player for Michael Jackson in "This Is It" -- is also set to perform. That's all in addition to the cheesy group number, Ford commercial and elimination drama that are staples of "Idol" results shows.The top 12 will sing Rolling Stones songs on Tuesday, and one of them will go home after watching Cook, Orianthi and Ke$ha do their thing on Wednesday.Follow Zap2it on Twitter and Facebook for the latest TV, movie and celebrity news.Related:'American Idol': Kara DioGuardi's dad running for Senate'American Idol': Andrew Garcia sings the 'Family Matters' theme songCrystal Bowersox: 'It's up for grabs'Zap2it's State of the 'American Idol' UnionPhoto credit: Getty Images

by Rick Porter
13 Mar 2010 at 5:06pm
Celebrity chef Bobby Flay will help pick "America's Next Great Restaurant" on NBC next season.The Food Network star and restaurateur will be one of five investors and judges on the show, which will award the winning contestant a shot at starting a restaurant chain. The show is also starting a series of open casting calls next week in New York."America's Next Great Restaurant" comes from "Top Chef" executive producers Jane Lipsitz and Dan Cutforth. The show will put contestants through a series of tasks to discover the best restaurant concept. The five judges will also put up some of their own money to invest in the winning concept, which will launch in three cities.Casting calls will take place in New York; Raleigh, N.C.; Nashville; Columbus, Ohio; Chicago; Kansas City, Kan.; Denver; and Los Angeles between March 19 and April 5. More information is at NBC.com.Follow Zap2it on Twitter and Facebook for the latest TV, movie and celebrity news.Photo credit: Getty Images

by Rick Porter
13 Mar 2010 at 2:10pm
"American Idol" judge Kara DioGuardi's dad, a former congressman, is looking to re-enter the political picture.Joseph DioGuardi, who served two terms in the House of Representatives in the 1980s, is considering a run for one of New York's U.S. Senate seats. DioGuardi, a Republican, is expected to announce his campaign next week, the AP reports.The seat he's running for is currently held by Democrat Kirsten Gillibrand, who was appointed in 2009 after Hillary Clinton left the Senate to become Secretary of State. Whoever wins the special election in November will serve until 2012, then will have to run again to serve a full six-year term.DioGuardi, a certified public accountant, could be part of a potentially crowded Republican primary field. One other candidate, Bruce Blakeman, has already said he's running, and former New York Gov. George Pataki is also thinking about a run, as is former George W. Bush adviser Dan Senor and several others. Joe DioGuardi isn't the only pol with an "Idol" connection. Scott Brown, recently elected to the Senate from Massachsuetts, is the father of season 5 contestant Ayla Brown.Follow Zap2it on Twitter and Facebook for the latest TV, movie and celebrity news.Related:'American Idol': Andrew Garcia sings the 'Family Matters' theme songCrystal Bowersox: 'It's up for grabs'Zap2it's State of the 'American Idol' UnionPhoto credits: Truth in Government.org (Joe DioGuardi), FOX (Kara DioGuardi)

by Jethro Nededog
13 Mar 2010 at 1:34pm
At Austin's South by Southwest festival, Robert Rodriguez unveiled a featurette of "Predators," the next chapter in the "Predator" series."The idea with the film was not to make it feel like the fifth or sixth movie in a series," explains Rodriguez, "But the first." If you're a fan of the original movie, we hear that you'll love Rodriguez's reboot. It's meant to be both a sequel to the original film and a standalone for those who haven't seen the original and its sequels.A few cool things from this sneak peak:We finally get to see Adrien Brody and Laurence Fishburne in actionShot on location in Hawaii, we get to see the "Predators" world, where humans are the ones being hunted.We get a look at the new breed of "Predators."Check out the featurette below:

"Predators" opens in theatres on July 4.

NOTE: If you can't see the video above, check it out at the official "Predators" website.Are you excited for Rodriguez's 2010 "Predator" reboot?

Follow Zap2it on Twitter, @TheRealJethro on Twitter, and Zap2it on Facebook for all your movies, TV and celebrity news.

Related:

2010 Tribeca Film Festival announces lineupTriBeCa: Is It Real or Just Reel?

Photo credit: 20th Century Fox

by Rick Porter
13 Mar 2010 at 1:12pm
HBO's miniseries adaptation of "Mildred Pierce" has added several actors, including "True Blood's" Evan Rachel Wood, Guy Pearce and Oscar nominee Melissa Leo.Brian F. O'Byrne ("FlashForward") and James LeGros have also joined the project, which will star Kate Winslet. The adaptation of James M. Cain's novel follows the title character (Winslet) as she attempts to make a better life for herself and win the love of her ungrateful daughter in Depression-era Los Angeles.Wood, who next stars in the Robert Redford-directed "The Conspirator," will play Mildred's daughter Veda -- which will require her to play younger, Winslet to play older, or both, as in real life Wood is only 12 years younger than Winslet.Pearce ("Memento," "The Hurt Locker") will play Mildred's wealthy lover, while Leo ("Frozen River," "Treme") will play her close friend. O'Byrne will be the husband Mildred leaves behind, and LeGros ("Mercy") will play Pearce's business partner.Todd Haynes ("I'm Not There," "Far from Heaven") will direct the miniseries and is co-writing it with Jon Raymond. Filming is set to start in the spring.Follow Zap2it on Twitter and Facebook for the latest TV, movie and celebrity news.Related:Kate Winslet, HBO team for 'Mildred Pierce'Photo credit: Getty Images

by Andrea Reiher
13 Mar 2010 at 1:08pm
Andrew Garcia tells Zap2it that making the "American Idol" Top 12 has him "feeling so blessed right now."  And since by making the Top 12 Andrew will get to start having themed performance weeks, we asked him what his dream theme would be. Andrew gave us the best answer of the night by going with "TV show songs." (Which would be the most amazing night of "American Idol," forever and ever, amen.)When asked which TV show theme he would do, without missing a beat Andrew replies, "'Family Matters.' That would be tight, that would be dope." And then he sings a snippet for us!Andrew goes on to discuss "Straight Up" and whether he peaked too soon. His advice? "'Straight Up' get over it. That's what I do to music ... They can't get over it."And just for the record, our pick for TV show song week would be "The Facts of Life."Follow Zap2it Andrea on Twitter and follow Zap2it on Twitter and Facebook for the latest TV, movie and celebrity news.Related:Crystal Bowersox: 'It's up for grabs, it's not mine'Katelyn Epperly is pulling for Crystal Bowersox all the wayAlex Lambert: 'I wasn't expecting to go home'Lilly Scott: 'My voting demographic probably doesn't even own a TV'Siobhan Magnus on tattoos, eliminationsTim Urban on Top 12: 'It's such a blur, it's such a rush' Syesha Mercado's favorite was Todrick Hall, loves doing 'Dreamgirls'Photo and video credit: Gordon Lake

by Andrea Reiher
13 Mar 2010 at 12:42pm
Crystal Bowersox has been practically crowned the "American Idol" winner already by judge Simon Cowell, but she tells Zap2it it's still up in the air because now it's up to the American people.She also says that she's feeling good, she's healthy and she's just grateful to be there.When asked if she'll ever lose the guitar and really surprise us, Crystal says, "I don't know if the guitar's gonna go away, but it might be something out of the box. And if I tell you, it wouldn't be a surprise, so... shhh." Follow Zap2it Andrea on Twitter and follow Zap2it on Twitter and Facebook for the latest TV, movie and celebrity news.Related:Katelyn Epperly is pulling for Crystal Bowersox all the wayAlex Lambert: 'I wasn't expecting to go home'Lilly Scott: 'My voting demographic probably doesn't even own a TV'Siobhan Magnus on tattoos, eliminationsTim Urban on Top 12: 'It's such a blur, it's such a rush' Syesha Mercado's favorite was Todrick Hall, loves doing 'Dreamgirls'Photo and video credit: Gordon Lake

by Rick Porter
13 Mar 2010 at 11:39am
"Good Morning America" weekend anchor Kate Snow is switching networks, leaving ABC to join NBC.Snow will be a "Dateline" correspondent at her new home. She's expected to be on the air later in the spring and will contribute to other NBC News programs as well."She's the whole package," "Dateline" executive producer David Corvo says of Snow. "She can cover breaking news, she can interview, she can write, and I'm happy she'll be doing all that at 'Dateline.'"Snow has been an anchor of "GMA's" weekend show since it launched in 2004. She covered the Haiti earthquake for ABC earlier this year and was also on the campaign trail during the 2004 and 2008 presidential elections. Prior to joining ABC in 2003, she worked at CNN for five years. Snow had been considered a contender for the news anchor job on the weekday "Good Morning America" when Diane Sawyer moved to "World News," but the job went to Juju Chang instead.Follow Zap2it on Twitter and Facebook for the latest TV, movie and celebrity news.Photo credit: Getty Images

by Rick Porter
13 Mar 2010 at 10:59am
Fast National ratings for Friday, March 12, 2010The season finale of "Numb3rs" led CBS to a ratings win Friday night, holding off NBC, which saw "Who Do You Think You Are?" improve some in its second week and got better-than-average viewership for "Dateline."CBS drew 8.25 million viewers and a 5.1 rating/9 share for the night, narrowly beating NBC's 7.75 million and 5.1/9. ABC (4.9 million, 3.3/6) came in third. FOX (3.6 million, 2.2/4) took fourth, while The CW averaged 1.6 million viewers and a 1.1/2.The adults 18-49 race was close as well: CBS led the demo with a 1.8, just ahead of NBC's 1.7. ABC and FOX tied for third at 1.4, and The CW drew a 0.6.Friday hour by hour:8 p.m.CBS: "Ghost Whisperer" (7.85 million viewers, 4.9/9 households)NBC: "Who Do You Think You Are?" (7.15 million, 4.5/8)ABC: "Supernanny" (4.9 million, 3.2/6)FOX: "House" rerun (3.1 million, 2.0/4)The CW: "America's Next Top Model" rerun (1.7 million, 1.2/2)18-49 leader: "Ghost Whisperer" (1.9)9 p.m.CBS: "Medium" (8.15 million, 5.1/9)NBC: "Dateline" (7.8 million, 5.2/9)ABC: "Supernanny" (4.18 million, 2.8/5)FOX: "Kitchen Nightmares" (4.16 million, 2.5/4)The CW: "America's Next Top Model" rerun (1.8 million, 1.3/2)/"High Society" rerun (1.1  million, 0.7/1)18-49 leader: "Medium" (1.8)10 p.m.CBS: "Numb3rs" season finale (8.7 million, 5.4/10)NBC: "Dateline" (8.3 million, 5.5/10)ABC: "20/20" (5.6 million, 3.8/7)18-49 leader: "Numb3rs" and "Dateline" tied at 1.8Ratings information includes live and same-day DVR viewing. All numbers are preliminary and subject to change. Source: The Nielsen Company. More ratings at Zap2it: Daily, weekly and cablePhoto credit: CBS

by Christine Law
12 Mar 2010 at 10:11pm
In the last episode of "Gossip Girl," we discovered that the woman Chuck spotted at his father's grave may be his mother. On Monday (Mar. 15), the multi-millionaire gathers more intel on the mystery lady in "The Lady Vanished."What else can we expect?Rufus and Lily start to smell something fishy with Jenny's new beau. Good luck trying to tell Little J who she can and cannot see, you two.  Vanessa resurfaces in this episode (she was MIA in the last episode), and she and Dan talk about their feelings and the resulting new awkward situation. Look for a smooch between these old friends.As for Serena and Nate, go ahead and work up an appetite for a hot and steamy kitchen scene. Yum.A fun fact: '80s icon Andrew McCarthy directs Monday's episode. Ironically, "St. Elmo's Fire" is on TV right now, and I'm watching. I guess McCarthy did get some solid firsthand exposure to dramedies about dysfunctional youth.Watch the trailer for "The Lady Vanished" here:   Follow Zap2it on Twitter and Facebook and Zap2itChristine on Twitter for the latest movies, TV and celebrity news.Related:'Gossip Girl' Chace Crawford on 'Live...': Yes, Elton John gets our show shipped to U.K.When 'Gossip Girl' is away, the stars will play'Gossip Girl': Expect a 'very sexy,' 'very emotional' Chuck and Blair'Gossip Girl': Jenny's not done playing in Damien's dangerous world'Gossip Girl': 5 Season 3 spring wishes for EPs Josh Schwartz and Stephanie SavagePhoto credits: The CW

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