This was supposed to be a sports obituary.
Early Thursday, my favorite tennis player, my favorite athlete really, Roger Federer, lost in the Australian Open semifinals to Novak Djokovic. For the first time since I was in high school (which I promise you, was quite some time ago), Federer didn’t hold a single Grand Slam title, and more importantly, hasn’t even made a Grand Slam final since last year’s Australian Open. In Fed’s world, four straight losses before—at the very least—a major final, is four too many.
Granted, there’d been signs of Federer’s decline for a while now, some dating all the way back to 2008. But whenever we counted him out, it always seemed like he bounced back with another dominating title at Wimbledon or the U.S. Open, and once even in Paris.
Finally though, it seemed like the loss in Australia, where for the second time in two majors he couldn’t get by Djokovic, was the nail in the coffin. The guy I had watched grow from quirky upstart with a bad ponytail to the No. 1 player in the world, and ultimately to the best player of all time was officially washed up. Needless to say, it left me more depressed than one of the girls on The Hills if she hasn’t taken her Valium in a week.
But then a funny thing happened: I actually sat down and watched a replay of the Djokovic-Federer match. It wasn’t nearly what I expected it to be.
Then again, this is also why I always feel obligated to watch every match, tournament or game that I plan on writing about. Because a box score or recap only tells a part of the story, seeing everything in living color, with your own two eyes, can often show a different one.
Well, when I sat down to watch the Federer-Djokovic match, I was expecting the worst. I already knew that Djokovic had won in straight sets, and I was expecting it to be ugly. Like Tyson vs. Spinks or JWoww vs. Sammi kind of ugly. Going into the match, we knew that Novak was the younger, sprier and stronger player, and I assumed sitting down and watching a replay would be a two-and-a-half-hour verification of that.
Except that’s not what happened at all. Yes, Djokovic won, but not only was it not one-sided, you could make the case that Federer was the better player through a big part of it. Roger didn’t lose on serve once in the first set, and easily could’ve taken it in the tiebreak.
Then in the second set, he was up 5-2 and cruising, before taking his foot off the gas, and letting Djokovic back in. Within minutes it was 5-5, Djokovic had again seized control, and Federer was left with the same glaze in his eyes my grandma gets when you try to explain the internet to her. Novak cruised in the third, and won the match.
But while all the match reports said one thing, Federer-Djokovic wasn’t the one-sided beat down everyone made it out to be. Instead, it was hard-fought and back and forth for the first 60 percent, before Federer lost focus and control. And even as great as Federer is, you just can’t do that against someone as skilled as Djokovic.
Still, as I took everything in after the match, I couldn’t help but think that my idea for Federer’s obituary was way too premature, because the truth is much better: tennis is in the midst of a golden age.
Looking across the board right now, there appear to be four guys that are head and shoulders above everyone else: Djokovic, Federer, Andy Murray and Rafael Nadal. Sure others have their moments given the right circumstance or surface, but ultimately, after years of “Roger or Rafa,” we now have four guys that you’re comfortable saying, “I could see this guy winning this tournament,” every single tour stop.
What makes things really cool though, and what ultimately makes this the golden age of tennis, is that these four guys are all at slightly different points in their careers. And with that, a cool converging of eras has occurred.
Starting with Federer, he’s no longer the dominant force of nature he was in his prime, when I fell in love with his game. He’s a bit older, and a step slower, and with two young kids, undoubtedly no longer a young man, but instead just a man.
As we saw in Australia, he’s also no longer the guy that can go into Grand Slams, play flawless tennis for long stretches and not drop a set for matches at a time. More increasingly, there seems to be one or two early round matches that give him trouble, and draw him into five sets. Ultimately though, that’s ok. Time stops for no man. Even the Fed Express.
Still, what Federer is—even closing in on 30 years old—is a guy that should be favored against everyone other than Djokovic, Murray and Nadal, and can absolutely lay waste to any of the non “Big Three,” on any given night. That’s exactly what happened in the Australian quarterfinals against Stanislas Warwinka, where what was supposed to be an exciting match, turned into a 6-3, 6-3, 6-1 Federer laugher. It was over before it began and had less drama and excitement than a Friday night in Salt Lake City. Federer might not be able to turn on the fifth gear every night, but can still get there often enough.
That match was also why I believe Federer still has at least one major title left in him. On the right surface, in the right circumstances, is there any doubt Federer can take down seven matches in a row and hoist a championship trophy? It not only seems feasible to me, but probable.
Showing posts with label Not. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Not. Show all posts
Friday, January 28, 2011
Jennifer Aniston Adoption Rumors Not True
Another day, another false story surrounding Jennifer Aniston. The rumor mill was working overtime yesterday with claims that the actress was adopting, but there is no truth to the reports, according to Gossip Cop.
Stories started popping up yesterday with reports that Aniston had visited an orphanage in Tijuana and decided to adopt a baby.
Details about a $250,000 "gender-neutral" nursery in the actress's home started to come out as well, including the name of a celebrity nanny who the actress had reportedly hired. Courteney Cox's former nanny, Marva Soogrim, was reported to be Aniston's new nanny.
A rep from the actress, however, was quick to kill the rumors, telling Gossip Cop that the story was "fabricated."
When she's not batting down rumors surrounding her personal life, Aniston is busying working on her movie career and gracing magazine covers.
She was recently on the cover of Allure, creating headlines earlier this month when she admitted to the magazine that she was not a fan of her iconic "Rachel" haircut from the '90s.
"How do I say this? I think it was the ugliest haircut I've ever seen," she said.
Stories started popping up yesterday with reports that Aniston had visited an orphanage in Tijuana and decided to adopt a baby.
Details about a $250,000 "gender-neutral" nursery in the actress's home started to come out as well, including the name of a celebrity nanny who the actress had reportedly hired. Courteney Cox's former nanny, Marva Soogrim, was reported to be Aniston's new nanny.
A rep from the actress, however, was quick to kill the rumors, telling Gossip Cop that the story was "fabricated."
When she's not batting down rumors surrounding her personal life, Aniston is busying working on her movie career and gracing magazine covers.
She was recently on the cover of Allure, creating headlines earlier this month when she admitted to the magazine that she was not a fan of her iconic "Rachel" haircut from the '90s.
"How do I say this? I think it was the ugliest haircut I've ever seen," she said.
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Regis Philbin Not 'Retiring' from Show Business
When Regis Philbin announced his retirement from 'Live! with Regis and Kelly' last week, all kinds of rumors circulated that the veteran host was leaving over a pay cut.
But when Regis sat down with Access Hollywood, the 79-year-old opened up about the bigger, emotional struggles he faced leaving the show after 28 years.
Regis said, "I was told by everybody within the ABC structure to do this the morning of my announcement, so we all had a meeting... and I told them this was it, I was going to leave the show... I'm not going to leave right now, it's going to be at the end of the season. I saw Kelly's eyes well up a little bit and Gelman got a little white, but it had to be done... You know that's the way it was going to be, but it is a sad occasion because there has been so much time together."
Kelly joined 'Live!' in 2001, and there's been a lot of speculation about who should join the bubbly blonde at the desk after Regis retires. Regis admitted his one regret was never getting Barbra Streisand to appear on the show, but other than that, he's ready for the next step.
Is Regis really ready to say goodbye to the industry he's worked in for 40 years? "In telling everybody 'This is it, I am going to leave,' I never said that I am retiring, because everybody considers me leaving that show to be retiring in this business... and that's not the case," he said. But after 28 years of the same routine, Regis said, "Maybe it's time I walk away and hopefully do something a little different and close it all out with that."
But when Regis sat down with Access Hollywood, the 79-year-old opened up about the bigger, emotional struggles he faced leaving the show after 28 years.
Regis said, "I was told by everybody within the ABC structure to do this the morning of my announcement, so we all had a meeting... and I told them this was it, I was going to leave the show... I'm not going to leave right now, it's going to be at the end of the season. I saw Kelly's eyes well up a little bit and Gelman got a little white, but it had to be done... You know that's the way it was going to be, but it is a sad occasion because there has been so much time together."
Kelly joined 'Live!' in 2001, and there's been a lot of speculation about who should join the bubbly blonde at the desk after Regis retires. Regis admitted his one regret was never getting Barbra Streisand to appear on the show, but other than that, he's ready for the next step.
Is Regis really ready to say goodbye to the industry he's worked in for 40 years? "In telling everybody 'This is it, I am going to leave,' I never said that I am retiring, because everybody considers me leaving that show to be retiring in this business... and that's not the case," he said. But after 28 years of the same routine, Regis said, "Maybe it's time I walk away and hopefully do something a little different and close it all out with that."
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
An "Office" Meeting Not to be Missed
Ricky Gervais' cameo is an opportunity for him and Steve Carell to take bows for jobs well done as bumbling bosses
Steve Carell's impending departure from "The Office" generally has been played down by the show's producers – an approach reinforced by the recent news that his last appearance will come four episodes before the season finale.
The dearth of fanfare belies the spirit of Carell's character, Michael Scott, who finds any excuse to insert self-centered, manufactured drama into the dysfunctional workplace that gives him his identity and the endless attention he craves.
Amid this decided lack of hoopla we're excited about what's being billed as blink-and-you’ll-miss-it cameo Thursday by Ricky Gervais, who co-created the original UK version of "The Office" and starred as David Brent, another boss unhindered by any sense of self-awareness.
It's an "Office" meeting worth looking forward to: a subtle encounter between two characters who are anything but.
The cameo offers both actors a chance to take a bow for jobs well done for playing paper company bosses linked by an often cringe-inducing cluelessness – even as they fashioned distinct, unforgettable characters for their times.
Gervais' Brent is a comedian in his mind, spewing what he thinks is harmless – but in reality offensive – nonsense at employees too downtrodden to do much more than muster laughs at his lame jokes. Scott is similarly convinced he’s entertaining, but his bizarre sense of humor is more often broad than cruel, intentionally or otherwise.
Those descriptions might make Gervais’ Brent sound worse than he was, or Carell’s Scott more benign than he is. Part of the divide rests not only in the actors’ unique approaches to a similar character, but in the differing realities of television on each side of the Atlantic.
Gervais’ “Office,” by design, ran for 12 episodes, proving alternately hard to watch and impossible not to. Given the limited run, Gervais and writing partner Stephen Merchant had the luxury of giving us characters whose strange appeal largely rested in their all-too-realistic unattractiveness.
The Jim and Pam, counterparts, Tim and Dawn, were sweet enough, but also came to realize they were well matched losers-in-love – unlike the too-often cutesy and too-cool-for-school American versions. Dwight’s equivalent, the bitter, would-be office henchman Gareth, came across as a nasty, bumbling caricature of the mercenary he fancied himself to be, devoid of Dwight’s quirky, cartoonish bearing.
The blessing and curse of a hit network show (for seven seasons and counting, in this case) is that the audience, on some level, needs to like the characters – a tough balancing act for a show like “The Office,” which thrives on viewers’ discomfort.
While Gervais’ version ultimately may be remembered by critics as the stronger, more daring effort, Carell’s Michael Scott is, in some respects, a more complex character than David Brent. The actor has managed to imbue the pathetic Scott with a certain likability despite – or perhaps because of – his buffoonery-driven tendency to self-destruct.
We feel his pain when he’s rejected by Holly, his soulmate in silliness – even if we cringe when he acts out in inappropriate ways (the trashing of the “Toy Story” doll Holly got from her boyfriend earlier this season provided one such moment). David Brent hurt others, without realizing or caring, while Michael more often hurts himself, leading some of his coworkers – and the audience – to want to protect him.
Michael Scott occasionally learns a lesson, as evidenced in last week's show in which he finally gives Holly some space to breathe. His is still a child in many ways, but one who at least experiences growing pains.
David Brent will push until he's over the edge and has dragged everyone into the abyss with him (the classic “Quiz Night” episode is one among many examples).
Gervais and Carell are masters of the comedy of the awkward, though to Gervais it's more of a game of chicken in which he refuses to blink.
He demonstrated as much at the Golden Globes, where he was slammed (unfairly) for skewering the Hollywood elite. It seems he was the only one in the ballroom to remember the show’s purpose was to entertain the folks watching at home.
Which is what he and Carell succeeded in doing in their respective versions of “The Office,” in ways that defied sitcom convention. A glance of David Brent and Michael Scott on the same small screen seems a fitting tribute to two characters who made us laugh and squirm as they wove office misery into unlikely classic comedy.
Steve Carell's impending departure from "The Office" generally has been played down by the show's producers – an approach reinforced by the recent news that his last appearance will come four episodes before the season finale.
The dearth of fanfare belies the spirit of Carell's character, Michael Scott, who finds any excuse to insert self-centered, manufactured drama into the dysfunctional workplace that gives him his identity and the endless attention he craves.
Amid this decided lack of hoopla we're excited about what's being billed as blink-and-you’ll-miss-it cameo Thursday by Ricky Gervais, who co-created the original UK version of "The Office" and starred as David Brent, another boss unhindered by any sense of self-awareness.
It's an "Office" meeting worth looking forward to: a subtle encounter between two characters who are anything but.
The cameo offers both actors a chance to take a bow for jobs well done for playing paper company bosses linked by an often cringe-inducing cluelessness – even as they fashioned distinct, unforgettable characters for their times.
Gervais' Brent is a comedian in his mind, spewing what he thinks is harmless – but in reality offensive – nonsense at employees too downtrodden to do much more than muster laughs at his lame jokes. Scott is similarly convinced he’s entertaining, but his bizarre sense of humor is more often broad than cruel, intentionally or otherwise.
Those descriptions might make Gervais’ Brent sound worse than he was, or Carell’s Scott more benign than he is. Part of the divide rests not only in the actors’ unique approaches to a similar character, but in the differing realities of television on each side of the Atlantic.
Gervais’ “Office,” by design, ran for 12 episodes, proving alternately hard to watch and impossible not to. Given the limited run, Gervais and writing partner Stephen Merchant had the luxury of giving us characters whose strange appeal largely rested in their all-too-realistic unattractiveness.
The Jim and Pam, counterparts, Tim and Dawn, were sweet enough, but also came to realize they were well matched losers-in-love – unlike the too-often cutesy and too-cool-for-school American versions. Dwight’s equivalent, the bitter, would-be office henchman Gareth, came across as a nasty, bumbling caricature of the mercenary he fancied himself to be, devoid of Dwight’s quirky, cartoonish bearing.
The blessing and curse of a hit network show (for seven seasons and counting, in this case) is that the audience, on some level, needs to like the characters – a tough balancing act for a show like “The Office,” which thrives on viewers’ discomfort.
While Gervais’ version ultimately may be remembered by critics as the stronger, more daring effort, Carell’s Michael Scott is, in some respects, a more complex character than David Brent. The actor has managed to imbue the pathetic Scott with a certain likability despite – or perhaps because of – his buffoonery-driven tendency to self-destruct.
We feel his pain when he’s rejected by Holly, his soulmate in silliness – even if we cringe when he acts out in inappropriate ways (the trashing of the “Toy Story” doll Holly got from her boyfriend earlier this season provided one such moment). David Brent hurt others, without realizing or caring, while Michael more often hurts himself, leading some of his coworkers – and the audience – to want to protect him.
Michael Scott occasionally learns a lesson, as evidenced in last week's show in which he finally gives Holly some space to breathe. His is still a child in many ways, but one who at least experiences growing pains.
David Brent will push until he's over the edge and has dragged everyone into the abyss with him (the classic “Quiz Night” episode is one among many examples).
Gervais and Carell are masters of the comedy of the awkward, though to Gervais it's more of a game of chicken in which he refuses to blink.
He demonstrated as much at the Golden Globes, where he was slammed (unfairly) for skewering the Hollywood elite. It seems he was the only one in the ballroom to remember the show’s purpose was to entertain the folks watching at home.
Which is what he and Carell succeeded in doing in their respective versions of “The Office,” in ways that defied sitcom convention. A glance of David Brent and Michael Scott on the same small screen seems a fitting tribute to two characters who made us laugh and squirm as they wove office misery into unlikely classic comedy.
Monday, January 24, 2011
NHL All Star Game: Sidney Crosby Officially Announces He Will Not Participate
The NHL All-Star Game is almost here. Instead of who’s on the roster, one of the hottest topics has been who may or may not be on the roster. After weeks of speculation, it’s official. Sidney Crosby announced today that he will not be participating in this year’s NHL All-Star Game due to the lingering symptoms of his concussion.
The NHL was giving Crosby (along with other currently injured players Evgeni Malkin and Ales Hemsky) until Friday to announce whether or not they would be able to play. The league, as well as fans, were holding out hope that Crosby would be able to play. After all, prior to his injury, he’s been the most prolific player this year.
Alas, it was not meant to be. Crosby and the Penguins are putting the star’s health first, as they should. As Crosby said in his media scrum, “People say mild concussion, but I’m not sure there’s such a thing. It’s a serious thing.” Since Crosby is still recovering, and has yet to be even cleared to resume skating, he and the Penguins decided to go ahead and announce he wouldn’t be competing, instead of leaving it to the last minute.
What does the face of the league’s absence mean for the All-Star Game? Unfortunately, Crosby hasn’t played in an All-Star Game since 2007 due to injury. Most recently, he missed the 2009 game in Montreal due to a knee injury. However, since the league was (and is) still fighting for attention, Crosby did them a favor and still attended the festivities.
Crosby won’t be travelling to Raleigh though this year. Luckily for the league, they announced a new format for the All-Star Game as their gimmick this year. Hopefully, the new format will build excitement and cause viewers to still tune in to the All-Star Game.
Honestly, I don't think it makes a difference whether Crosby attends or doesn't attend the All-Star Game. If he had missed the Winter Classic, the playoffs, or the Olympics with a concussion, then it would be a big deal.
Sure, the game is still a competition, but it's played for fun and to showcase the league's top talents. Crosby is one of those top talents, but with all the other top names, his presence won't have a huge impact.
But the All-Star Game is really for those flashy personalities to show off in the skills competition. Crosby has never been one of those flashy personalities, a fact that he's been criticized for in the past. It's also another way for the league to show off their top talent and attract new fans.
Crosby's presence will be missed for that, but it's more important for him to focus on his health. That makes him an even bigger role model for young hockey players, showing them that they need to be wary of their health. This reflects even better on the league, having smart players like Crosby will portray a better image for the face of the NHL.
The NHL was giving Crosby (along with other currently injured players Evgeni Malkin and Ales Hemsky) until Friday to announce whether or not they would be able to play. The league, as well as fans, were holding out hope that Crosby would be able to play. After all, prior to his injury, he’s been the most prolific player this year.
Alas, it was not meant to be. Crosby and the Penguins are putting the star’s health first, as they should. As Crosby said in his media scrum, “People say mild concussion, but I’m not sure there’s such a thing. It’s a serious thing.” Since Crosby is still recovering, and has yet to be even cleared to resume skating, he and the Penguins decided to go ahead and announce he wouldn’t be competing, instead of leaving it to the last minute.
What does the face of the league’s absence mean for the All-Star Game? Unfortunately, Crosby hasn’t played in an All-Star Game since 2007 due to injury. Most recently, he missed the 2009 game in Montreal due to a knee injury. However, since the league was (and is) still fighting for attention, Crosby did them a favor and still attended the festivities.
Crosby won’t be travelling to Raleigh though this year. Luckily for the league, they announced a new format for the All-Star Game as their gimmick this year. Hopefully, the new format will build excitement and cause viewers to still tune in to the All-Star Game.
Honestly, I don't think it makes a difference whether Crosby attends or doesn't attend the All-Star Game. If he had missed the Winter Classic, the playoffs, or the Olympics with a concussion, then it would be a big deal.
Sure, the game is still a competition, but it's played for fun and to showcase the league's top talents. Crosby is one of those top talents, but with all the other top names, his presence won't have a huge impact.
But the All-Star Game is really for those flashy personalities to show off in the skills competition. Crosby has never been one of those flashy personalities, a fact that he's been criticized for in the past. It's also another way for the league to show off their top talent and attract new fans.
Crosby's presence will be missed for that, but it's more important for him to focus on his health. That makes him an even bigger role model for young hockey players, showing them that they need to be wary of their health. This reflects even better on the league, having smart players like Crosby will portray a better image for the face of the NHL.
Paul Rudd's "My Idiot Brother" a Sundance Hit That May Not Travel
In terms of star power, there’s nothing this year at Sundance that can touch “My Idiot Brother”: Paul Rudd, Elizabeth Banks, Zooey Deschanel, Rashida Jones, Emily Mortimer, Steve Coogan, Hugh Dancy and Adam Scott.
So when the bus pulled up to the Eccles theater there was a throng of eager beavers laying in wait, begging us as we stepped off, “Does anybody have an extra ticket? I need a ticket!” And the Press & Industry long was more than twice as long as usual.
Based on the anticipation alone, it's no surprise that The Weinstein Company and Ron Burkle announced they were teaming up to acquire the rights to "My Idiot Brother" seemingly before the applause had stopped.
But one of the tricky things about seeing a film at Sundance is that the audience is often rooting so hard for them, that their response can sometimes exceed the reality up on the screen. “My Idiot Brother” feels like just such a film.
Rudd stars a Ned, a bio-dynamic farmer who gets busted selling pot one day, landing in jail for eight months. Upon his release he finds that his girlfriend has moved on and laid claim to his beloved dog, Willie Nelson. After a brief stay at his mother’s house on Long Island, he makes camp at the New York City homes of each of his three sisters. Asked about how he prepared himself to play a stoner doofus, Rudd was, well, distracted.
“I got the first part of the question, but I’m so high I was zoning out on the second, something about how much research did I do? My Method? Surprisingly little,” he offered with a smirk.
According to director and co-writer Peretz, he and Rudd have been fine-tuning this character for years.
“We had many projects that got about 10% into an idea in which he played characters kinda like this. Like, definitely, we always had the vision of him playing some dude with a big beard and long hair. And we really wanted to do something about the complexities of grown sibling life… My sister and I are two of four, we just had a divorce in our family that set a bunch of weird energy in fractures within, and eventually all our siblings came together. So we were sort of trying to dig into that. That’s sort of where it started and then the story just found it’s way.”
Ned is “the most open, un-cynical person” said Peretz. Ned, as such, owes a heavy debt to Chauncey Gardiner, Peter Sellers’ brilliant creation from “Being There.” But where Gardiner came off as a deeply profound man, Ned’s lack of guile causes havoc for all those around him. Because he doesn’t need to lie, he can’t understand why others might, and so he is constantly jeopardizing the stability of everyone who’s close to him.
“My Idiot Brother” is at times hilarious, and there’s a sincere sweetness to much of it, but it feels like a four-episode marathon of a new hit sitcom, rather than a feature length film. It starts out strong enough, with a nice montage that quickly introduces you to all the layers, just offering you rough sketches of who they are.
The performances are as good as you’d expect from such a cast, though having the British Mortimer play an American married to the British Coogan caused a bit of dissonance, and whoever styled Jones' lesbian lawyer went a little too arch.
"My Idiot Brother" does a great job of poking fun at its target audience: self-absorbed New Yorkers who live in lofts with six other people, or worry about their kid’s elementary school interview or what Lady Arabella is up to. But they’re all two-dimensional and their problems ultimately get solved with a shocking ease that makes the ending is so pat and tidy you’d think you were watching a “Night Court” re-run.
So when the bus pulled up to the Eccles theater there was a throng of eager beavers laying in wait, begging us as we stepped off, “Does anybody have an extra ticket? I need a ticket!” And the Press & Industry long was more than twice as long as usual.
Based on the anticipation alone, it's no surprise that The Weinstein Company and Ron Burkle announced they were teaming up to acquire the rights to "My Idiot Brother" seemingly before the applause had stopped.
But one of the tricky things about seeing a film at Sundance is that the audience is often rooting so hard for them, that their response can sometimes exceed the reality up on the screen. “My Idiot Brother” feels like just such a film.
Rudd stars a Ned, a bio-dynamic farmer who gets busted selling pot one day, landing in jail for eight months. Upon his release he finds that his girlfriend has moved on and laid claim to his beloved dog, Willie Nelson. After a brief stay at his mother’s house on Long Island, he makes camp at the New York City homes of each of his three sisters. Asked about how he prepared himself to play a stoner doofus, Rudd was, well, distracted.
“I got the first part of the question, but I’m so high I was zoning out on the second, something about how much research did I do? My Method? Surprisingly little,” he offered with a smirk.
According to director and co-writer Peretz, he and Rudd have been fine-tuning this character for years.
“We had many projects that got about 10% into an idea in which he played characters kinda like this. Like, definitely, we always had the vision of him playing some dude with a big beard and long hair. And we really wanted to do something about the complexities of grown sibling life… My sister and I are two of four, we just had a divorce in our family that set a bunch of weird energy in fractures within, and eventually all our siblings came together. So we were sort of trying to dig into that. That’s sort of where it started and then the story just found it’s way.”
Ned is “the most open, un-cynical person” said Peretz. Ned, as such, owes a heavy debt to Chauncey Gardiner, Peter Sellers’ brilliant creation from “Being There.” But where Gardiner came off as a deeply profound man, Ned’s lack of guile causes havoc for all those around him. Because he doesn’t need to lie, he can’t understand why others might, and so he is constantly jeopardizing the stability of everyone who’s close to him.
“My Idiot Brother” is at times hilarious, and there’s a sincere sweetness to much of it, but it feels like a four-episode marathon of a new hit sitcom, rather than a feature length film. It starts out strong enough, with a nice montage that quickly introduces you to all the layers, just offering you rough sketches of who they are.
The performances are as good as you’d expect from such a cast, though having the British Mortimer play an American married to the British Coogan caused a bit of dissonance, and whoever styled Jones' lesbian lawyer went a little too arch.
"My Idiot Brother" does a great job of poking fun at its target audience: self-absorbed New Yorkers who live in lofts with six other people, or worry about their kid’s elementary school interview or what Lady Arabella is up to. But they’re all two-dimensional and their problems ultimately get solved with a shocking ease that makes the ending is so pat and tidy you’d think you were watching a “Night Court” re-run.
Sunday, January 23, 2011
'The Closer': Not Dead Yet?
TNT is not ready to close the book on The Closer. We hear that the cable channel is contemplating ways to extend the hit crime drama starring Kyra Sedgwick, including ordering additional episodes with Sedgwick and continuing the show without her, with another character (Mary McDonnell's Capt. Sharon Raydor, perhaps?) stepping up on the existing series or via a new spinoff series.
Among the scenarios currently discussed at TNT is super-sizing the 15-episode seventh and final season to 21-episodes with an order for 6 extra episodes. That, of course, is contingent on a deal with Sedgwick, whose contract is up at the end of Season 7. Additionally, the cable network is eying a possible 9-episode order for a new series, either The Closer sans Sedgwick in the mold of the transition on NBC’s comedy The Office after the pending exit of star Steve Carell, or a spinoff series featuring characters from The Closer in a new setting. (The latter will probably be a little easier to pull off as Sedgwick plays the title character in the original series.) Two years ago, TNT took a stab at launching a Closer spinoff called The Fixer, about a professional fixer and his daughter, which was to feature two characters from the original series, G.W. Bailey’s Det. Provenza and Tony Denison’s Lt. Flynn.
It would be understandable for TNT to try to extend its flagship show, which remains the most watched basic cable series of all time and this summer helped launch TNT’s most promising series since The Closer, Rizzoli & Isles. (Some say the network may have jumped the gun too soon with the end-of-series announcement on The Closer in early December.)
Additionally, a potential order for 6 more episodes of The Closer along with 9 for a successor series would make a combined 15-episode run, giving TNT another full season to play with that would include a highly-rated 6-episode conclusion of The Closer starring Sedgwick segueing into the show without her. Sedgwick, who in August won her first Emmy for playing Deputy Police Chief Brenda Johnson, had said that she wanted to move on after the end of her current contract for The Closer that is up after Season 7.
Among the scenarios currently discussed at TNT is super-sizing the 15-episode seventh and final season to 21-episodes with an order for 6 extra episodes. That, of course, is contingent on a deal with Sedgwick, whose contract is up at the end of Season 7. Additionally, the cable network is eying a possible 9-episode order for a new series, either The Closer sans Sedgwick in the mold of the transition on NBC’s comedy The Office after the pending exit of star Steve Carell, or a spinoff series featuring characters from The Closer in a new setting. (The latter will probably be a little easier to pull off as Sedgwick plays the title character in the original series.) Two years ago, TNT took a stab at launching a Closer spinoff called The Fixer, about a professional fixer and his daughter, which was to feature two characters from the original series, G.W. Bailey’s Det. Provenza and Tony Denison’s Lt. Flynn.
It would be understandable for TNT to try to extend its flagship show, which remains the most watched basic cable series of all time and this summer helped launch TNT’s most promising series since The Closer, Rizzoli & Isles. (Some say the network may have jumped the gun too soon with the end-of-series announcement on The Closer in early December.)
Additionally, a potential order for 6 more episodes of The Closer along with 9 for a successor series would make a combined 15-episode run, giving TNT another full season to play with that would include a highly-rated 6-episode conclusion of The Closer starring Sedgwick segueing into the show without her. Sedgwick, who in August won her first Emmy for playing Deputy Police Chief Brenda Johnson, had said that she wanted to move on after the end of her current contract for The Closer that is up after Season 7.
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Rafael Soriano Contract Not Brian Cashman's Idea; Situation Awkward
About a week ago, the Yankees signed Rafael Soriano to a three-year, $35 million contract, the magnitude of which caught a lot of people off guard. There were rumblings at the time that the front office was split on the decision, and on Wednesday, general manager Brian Cashman confirmed to the press that this wasn't really something he wanted to do.
Yankees general manager Brian Cashman admitted he was overruled by ownership, which signed reliever Rafael Soriano over his objection.
Cashman felt that he could better allocate the club’s resources elsewhere, and that he could improve the bullpen by other means, if necessary.
Cashman did say that he feels the Yankees are better with Soriano than without him, which keeps him from sounding too negative, and front offices throughout baseball seldom share a unanimous opinion on anything anyway. At the same time, though, perhaps the day of Rafael Soriano's formal introduction at Yankee Stadium is the wrong day for Cashman to publicly declare that Soriano's acquisition didn't have his support.
Soriano: I'm happy to be a Yankee and to be pitching in front of the greatest closer of all time
Cashman: And we're happy that you're a Yankee too, although I'd personally be happier with other players instead
And just for good measure, Cashman dropped another, unrelated nugget a little later on:
Cashman admitted that he engaged Carl Pavano’s agent, but nothing came of their discussions.
For Brian Cashman, Make Everyone Around You Uncomfortable Day has been a resounding success.
Yankees general manager Brian Cashman admitted he was overruled by ownership, which signed reliever Rafael Soriano over his objection.
Cashman felt that he could better allocate the club’s resources elsewhere, and that he could improve the bullpen by other means, if necessary.
Cashman did say that he feels the Yankees are better with Soriano than without him, which keeps him from sounding too negative, and front offices throughout baseball seldom share a unanimous opinion on anything anyway. At the same time, though, perhaps the day of Rafael Soriano's formal introduction at Yankee Stadium is the wrong day for Cashman to publicly declare that Soriano's acquisition didn't have his support.
Soriano: I'm happy to be a Yankee and to be pitching in front of the greatest closer of all time
Cashman: And we're happy that you're a Yankee too, although I'd personally be happier with other players instead
And just for good measure, Cashman dropped another, unrelated nugget a little later on:
Cashman admitted that he engaged Carl Pavano’s agent, but nothing came of their discussions.
For Brian Cashman, Make Everyone Around You Uncomfortable Day has been a resounding success.
Chad Pennington not Done Yet
Chad Pennington has decided to try another comeback.
The 34-year-old quarterback lasted only two plays this season with the Miami Dolphins, then underwent surgery on his throwing shoulder for the fourth time. But Pennington said Tuesday he's not ready to retire and hopes to play in 2011, although many obstacles to a full recovery remain.
"This will be a daily and weekly process," he said in a telephone interview. "At any given time my body can say, 'That's enough.' It will be an interesting time. It's a step of faith to see how far I can take this."
The Palm Beach Post first reported Pennington's decision to attempt another comeback. He has twice been chosen the NFL Comeback Player of the Year, each time after returning from shoulder surgery.
In December, as Pennington prepared for surgery, he said it was 50-50 as to whether he would retire. After weighing his options, he decided his shoulder might be up to a 12th NFL season.
"I feel if I don't test it and see what's out there, I'll always have questions in the back of mind," Pennington said. "I still have the desire and passion to play the game. Until that fire burns out, I need to go after that."
A shoulder injury ended Pennington's 2009 season in Week 3. Following arduous rehabilitation, he began the 2010 season as a backup, made his season debut when he started against Tennessee but had to leave the game after only two snaps with a dislocated shoulder and torn capsule.
Pennington becomes a free agent this offseason and it's uncertain whether the Dolphins will re-sign him, although he advised coach Tony Sparano of his comeback plans.
"I've accepted the possibility of being with another team," Pennington said, "and the possibility of no one being interested. I have to see what the options are."
Miami may be more inclined to re-sign Pennington because he has ties with Brian Daboll, who will be hired as the Dolphins' offensive coordinator, team sources told ESPN's senior NFL analyst Chris Mortensen. Daboll was the New York Jets' quarterbacks coach when Pennington played there in 2007.
Pennington's career completion percentage of 66.0 is the highest in NFL history among quarterbacks with at least 1,500 attempts. In 2008, his one full season with the Dolphins, Pennington led them to their only playoff berth since 2001.
The 34-year-old quarterback lasted only two plays this season with the Miami Dolphins, then underwent surgery on his throwing shoulder for the fourth time. But Pennington said Tuesday he's not ready to retire and hopes to play in 2011, although many obstacles to a full recovery remain.
"This will be a daily and weekly process," he said in a telephone interview. "At any given time my body can say, 'That's enough.' It will be an interesting time. It's a step of faith to see how far I can take this."
The Palm Beach Post first reported Pennington's decision to attempt another comeback. He has twice been chosen the NFL Comeback Player of the Year, each time after returning from shoulder surgery.
In December, as Pennington prepared for surgery, he said it was 50-50 as to whether he would retire. After weighing his options, he decided his shoulder might be up to a 12th NFL season.
"I feel if I don't test it and see what's out there, I'll always have questions in the back of mind," Pennington said. "I still have the desire and passion to play the game. Until that fire burns out, I need to go after that."
A shoulder injury ended Pennington's 2009 season in Week 3. Following arduous rehabilitation, he began the 2010 season as a backup, made his season debut when he started against Tennessee but had to leave the game after only two snaps with a dislocated shoulder and torn capsule.
Pennington becomes a free agent this offseason and it's uncertain whether the Dolphins will re-sign him, although he advised coach Tony Sparano of his comeback plans.
"I've accepted the possibility of being with another team," Pennington said, "and the possibility of no one being interested. I have to see what the options are."
Miami may be more inclined to re-sign Pennington because he has ties with Brian Daboll, who will be hired as the Dolphins' offensive coordinator, team sources told ESPN's senior NFL analyst Chris Mortensen. Daboll was the New York Jets' quarterbacks coach when Pennington played there in 2007.
Pennington's career completion percentage of 66.0 is the highest in NFL history among quarterbacks with at least 1,500 attempts. In 2008, his one full season with the Dolphins, Pennington led them to their only playoff berth since 2001.
Monday, January 17, 2011
Jane Lynch not Bothered by Sue's Bullying Ways
Jane Lynch's best supporting actress win for her character Sue Sylvester in "Glee" was one that, for the most part, was well received. Lynch's performance of the acerbic cheerleading coach carries every scene she's in, and the character is unlike any other on television. However, Sue Sylvester is at the end of the day, a massive bully. During a time when bullying has become an epidemic, does this bother Lynch in any way?
"I think the reasons that Sue became a bully are explained on the show," she said at the Fox after-party, with her Golden Globe not far from sight. "It's a product of the relationship she had with her mother, which was masterfully played by Carol Burnett."
On working with Burnett, Lynch said "she was an absolute dream," and insisted Sue's bullying was nothing to be worried about in the real world.
"I think the reasons that Sue became a bully are explained on the show," she said at the Fox after-party, with her Golden Globe not far from sight. "It's a product of the relationship she had with her mother, which was masterfully played by Carol Burnett."
On working with Burnett, Lynch said "she was an absolute dream," and insisted Sue's bullying was nothing to be worried about in the real world.
'Ryan Reynolds Is Not My Lovah' Says Sandra Bullock
Relax ladies: Sandra Bullock and Ryan Reynolds are just friends.
The pair have been spotted out together a number of times since Reynolds announced his divorce from Scarlett Johansson, but the Oscar-winning actress told 'Today' host Al Roker that her close relationship with the actor is a platonic one.
Although Bullock recognizes the hunk appeal of her recent arm-candy, she says, "I think there will be a collective sigh amongst women across the United States when I say he's not my lovah."
Reynolds and Bullock, who starred together in 2009's 'The Proposal,' have been lending each other support during their tough times. "He's just an amazing friend for 10 years," says Bullock. "But I don't get his loving after dark."
While Reynolds was noticeably absent from the Globes on Sunday, his ex Johansson did attend and in a dress that was strikingly similar to Bullock's. By all accounts the two did not cross paths and their seating arrangements placed them far apart from each other.
The main source of love in Bullock's life these days? Adorable 1-year-old son Louis, whose adoption she announced following her split with husband Jesse James.
While Bullock has had a number of high-profile romances in the past, don't expect her to be lax on the dating front when it comes to her little "Cajun cookie." The actress says that Louis is "off the market 'til he is 18."
The pair have been spotted out together a number of times since Reynolds announced his divorce from Scarlett Johansson, but the Oscar-winning actress told 'Today' host Al Roker that her close relationship with the actor is a platonic one.
Although Bullock recognizes the hunk appeal of her recent arm-candy, she says, "I think there will be a collective sigh amongst women across the United States when I say he's not my lovah."
Reynolds and Bullock, who starred together in 2009's 'The Proposal,' have been lending each other support during their tough times. "He's just an amazing friend for 10 years," says Bullock. "But I don't get his loving after dark."
While Reynolds was noticeably absent from the Globes on Sunday, his ex Johansson did attend and in a dress that was strikingly similar to Bullock's. By all accounts the two did not cross paths and their seating arrangements placed them far apart from each other.
The main source of love in Bullock's life these days? Adorable 1-year-old son Louis, whose adoption she announced following her split with husband Jesse James.
While Bullock has had a number of high-profile romances in the past, don't expect her to be lax on the dating front when it comes to her little "Cajun cookie." The actress says that Louis is "off the market 'til he is 18."
Friday, January 14, 2011
Holly Madison Is Not a Fan of Hugh Hefner's New Fiancee Crystal Harris
Holly Madison is finally speaking out on ex-boyfriend and Playboy founder Hugh Hefner's proposal to Playboy Playmate Crystal Harris, and she is not happy. She even warns Hefner to reconsider.
In an interview with Life & Style magazine, Madison says, "I'd like to see Hef settle down. I just want it to be with the right person, and I feel like he's making a hasty decision. I'm not sure Crystal is the best thing for him."
Madison, 31, was one of Hefner's three girlfriends who rose to prominence from the E! reality show 'The Girls Next Door.' But Madison was Hefner's "number one" girlfriend for more than six years before they broke up in October 2008 over his refusal to wed. Harris, 24, moved into the Playboy Mansion in January 2009. Hefner proposed to Harris on Christmas Eve last year.
Madison continues, saying, "Crystal hasn't been around very long – she's a mysterious character. No one knows much about her. Plus, she's very young, probably too young to settle down. I've seen a lot of girls try to date Hef, and some have ulterior motives. I don't think it would be a bad idea for him to get to know her a little better. I think it's possible Crystal could break Hef's heart. They could end up divorcing, and she could take half his money."
Madison tells E! Online, "I have a lot of different feelings on it [the engagement]. I don't just feel one way. I kind of didn't want to put a generic statement out there like 'Congratulations!' because I felt everyone would see through that."
Instead, she arranged a meeting with Hefner and Harris in January to see the couple's supposed joy for herself. "I wanted to check up in person. I told them that I wish them the best and that Crystal had better not do him wrong or else I'll kick her butt. It was definitely awkward," Madison tells Life & Style.
She concludes by saying, "I'm not jealous that he'd marry someone else. I just don't want it to be a girl who's using him to start her career. Basically, I think he could do better than Crystal."
In a RadarOnline interview, Madison mentions that the producers of her Las Vegas burlesque performance 'Peepshow' told her that she needed to lose weight. "I always thought I looked fine. It was a shock to me when they told me to lose weight. I just feel like I market myself as a sex symbol. I don't market myself as a fitness model or a professional dancer, so I feel like the way I look is fine!"
In an interview with Life & Style magazine, Madison says, "I'd like to see Hef settle down. I just want it to be with the right person, and I feel like he's making a hasty decision. I'm not sure Crystal is the best thing for him."
Madison, 31, was one of Hefner's three girlfriends who rose to prominence from the E! reality show 'The Girls Next Door.' But Madison was Hefner's "number one" girlfriend for more than six years before they broke up in October 2008 over his refusal to wed. Harris, 24, moved into the Playboy Mansion in January 2009. Hefner proposed to Harris on Christmas Eve last year.
Madison continues, saying, "Crystal hasn't been around very long – she's a mysterious character. No one knows much about her. Plus, she's very young, probably too young to settle down. I've seen a lot of girls try to date Hef, and some have ulterior motives. I don't think it would be a bad idea for him to get to know her a little better. I think it's possible Crystal could break Hef's heart. They could end up divorcing, and she could take half his money."
Madison tells E! Online, "I have a lot of different feelings on it [the engagement]. I don't just feel one way. I kind of didn't want to put a generic statement out there like 'Congratulations!' because I felt everyone would see through that."
Instead, she arranged a meeting with Hefner and Harris in January to see the couple's supposed joy for herself. "I wanted to check up in person. I told them that I wish them the best and that Crystal had better not do him wrong or else I'll kick her butt. It was definitely awkward," Madison tells Life & Style.
She concludes by saying, "I'm not jealous that he'd marry someone else. I just don't want it to be a girl who's using him to start her career. Basically, I think he could do better than Crystal."
In a RadarOnline interview, Madison mentions that the producers of her Las Vegas burlesque performance 'Peepshow' told her that she needed to lose weight. "I always thought I looked fine. It was a shock to me when they told me to lose weight. I just feel like I market myself as a sex symbol. I don't market myself as a fitness model or a professional dancer, so I feel like the way I look is fine!"
Camille to Kelsey: You're Not Divorcing Me Yet!
Camille Grammer just fired off a legal response asking the judge to reject Kelsey Grammer's request to get a quickie divorce -- and estimates the estate's value at $120 million ... TMZ has learned.
Camille says in her declaration, Kelsey is trying to bifurcate the divorce (get a quick decree now and work out the property settlement later) "...solely for the reason that he intends to remarry as soon as possible."
Camille continues, "I don't believe this is a sufficient reason to prejudice my rights to the community estate."
In the docs, Camille also lists their assets -- including "multiple real estate properties" and more than 25 vehicles.
The rest of the declaration gets pretty technical, but the bottom line is this ... it looks like Camille's lawyers believe Kelsey's papers don't square with the legal requirements for a quick divorce decree.
And get this -- if the court grants Kelsey's request Camille wants $10 million immediately ... to hold her over until a final decision is made on the separation of the estate.
Camille says in her declaration, Kelsey is trying to bifurcate the divorce (get a quick decree now and work out the property settlement later) "...solely for the reason that he intends to remarry as soon as possible."
Camille continues, "I don't believe this is a sufficient reason to prejudice my rights to the community estate."
In the docs, Camille also lists their assets -- including "multiple real estate properties" and more than 25 vehicles.
The rest of the declaration gets pretty technical, but the bottom line is this ... it looks like Camille's lawyers believe Kelsey's papers don't square with the legal requirements for a quick divorce decree.
And get this -- if the court grants Kelsey's request Camille wants $10 million immediately ... to hold her over until a final decision is made on the separation of the estate.
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Holly Madison Is Not a Fan of Hugh Hefner's New Fiancée Crystal Harris
Holly Madison is finally speaking out on ex-boyfriend and Playboy founder Hugh Hefner proposing to Playboy Playmate Crystal Harris and she is not happy. in fact, she warns Hefner to reconsider.
In an interview with Life & Style magazine Madison says, "I'd like to see Hef settle down. I just want it to be with the right person and I feel like he's making a hasty decision. I'm not sure Crystal is the best thing for him."
Madison, 31, was one of Hefner's three girlfriends who rose to prominence from the E! reality show 'The Girls Next Door.' But Madison was Hefner's 'number one' girlfriend for over six years before they broke up in October 2008 over his refusal to wed. Harris, 24, moved into the Playboy Mansion in January 2009. Hefner proposed to Harris on Christmas Eve last year.
Madison continues to say, "Crystal hasn't been around very long – she's a mysterious character. No one knows much about her. Plus, she's very young, probably too young to settle down. I've seen a lot of girls try to date Hef, and some have ulterior motives. I don't think it would be a bad idea for him to get to know her a little better. I think it's possible Crystal could break Hef's heart. They could end up divorcing, and she could take half his money."
Madison told E! Online, "I have a lot of different feelings on it (the engagement) I don't just feel one way. I kind of didn't want to put a generic statement out there like 'Congratulations!' because I felt everyone would see through that."
So Madison told Life and Style that she arranged a meeting with Hefner and Harris in January to see the couple's supposed joy for herself. "I wanted to check up in person. I told them that I wish them the best and that Crystal had better not do him wrong or else I'll kick her butt. It was definitely awkward."
She concludes by saying, "I'm not jealous that he'd marry someone else. I just don't want it to be a girl who's using him to start her career. Basically, I think he could do better than Crystal."
In a RadarOnline interview, Madison mentioned that the producers of her Las Vegas burlesque performance 'Peepshow' told her that she needed to lose weight, "I always thought I looked fine. It was a shock to me when they told me to lose weight. I just feel like I market myself as a sex symbol, I don't market myself as a fitness model or a professional dancer so I feel like the way I look is fine!"
In an interview with Life & Style magazine Madison says, "I'd like to see Hef settle down. I just want it to be with the right person and I feel like he's making a hasty decision. I'm not sure Crystal is the best thing for him."
Madison, 31, was one of Hefner's three girlfriends who rose to prominence from the E! reality show 'The Girls Next Door.' But Madison was Hefner's 'number one' girlfriend for over six years before they broke up in October 2008 over his refusal to wed. Harris, 24, moved into the Playboy Mansion in January 2009. Hefner proposed to Harris on Christmas Eve last year.
Madison continues to say, "Crystal hasn't been around very long – she's a mysterious character. No one knows much about her. Plus, she's very young, probably too young to settle down. I've seen a lot of girls try to date Hef, and some have ulterior motives. I don't think it would be a bad idea for him to get to know her a little better. I think it's possible Crystal could break Hef's heart. They could end up divorcing, and she could take half his money."
Madison told E! Online, "I have a lot of different feelings on it (the engagement) I don't just feel one way. I kind of didn't want to put a generic statement out there like 'Congratulations!' because I felt everyone would see through that."
So Madison told Life and Style that she arranged a meeting with Hefner and Harris in January to see the couple's supposed joy for herself. "I wanted to check up in person. I told them that I wish them the best and that Crystal had better not do him wrong or else I'll kick her butt. It was definitely awkward."
She concludes by saying, "I'm not jealous that he'd marry someone else. I just don't want it to be a girl who's using him to start her career. Basically, I think he could do better than Crystal."
In a RadarOnline interview, Madison mentioned that the producers of her Las Vegas burlesque performance 'Peepshow' told her that she needed to lose weight, "I always thought I looked fine. It was a shock to me when they told me to lose weight. I just feel like I market myself as a sex symbol, I don't market myself as a fitness model or a professional dancer so I feel like the way I look is fine!"
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