2009 |
2008 |
2007 |
2006 |
2005 |
2004
1-20 of 28 articles from 2009 « Prev | Next »
Deconstructing the decade from 'The Shield' and beyond: Zap2it Rick's favorite episodes
23 December 2009 10:43 AM, PST
| Zap2It - From Inside the Box
| See recent Zap2It - From Inside the Box news
»
You can scarcely swing a dead cat lately without hitting some kind of best-of-the-decade list (even though, technically, the first decade of the 21st century doesn't end till next year).
Well, here comes another one. Rather than try to construct another best-shows-of-the-'00s list, though -- something that's already been done here, there and everywhere -- I decided to focus on individual episodes from 2000-09. Are these the flat-out "best" episodes of television over the past 10 years? Probably not. But these are the ones that stick with me, that I can still remember not just for brilliant lines or beautifully constructed plots, but for how I actually felt while watching them. They are, simply, my favorites.
Here's my list, in no particular order. What's yours?
"Final Grades" ("The Wire")
HBO sent critics the entire run of season four of "The Wire" before it premiered in 2006. I had watched the first
»
- editorial@zap2it.com
Permalink | Report a problem
John Mayer, Michael Moore, Simon Pegg And Others Respond To 'Avatar' In This Twitter-Wood Early Edition
21 December 2009 12:00 PM, PST
| MTV Movies Blog
| See recent MTV Movies Blog news
»
As you all know quite well, "Avatar" hit theaters this weekend. And while celebrities have ways of finagling themselves tickets to official premieres -- I think there's a secret handshake or something -- plenty of them turned out to "slum it" with their adoring public for public screenings of the movie. Or at least, that's what it seems like based on the influx of tweets on our Twitter-Wood feed.
The tone has been mostly positive on the Hollywood insider front. Hell, last week superstar actor Ben Stiller appeared on "The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien" with only one thing in mind: pimping James Cameron's sci-fi epic! "Oh, I'm here to talk about 'Avatar.'" he said. "I'm really excited about it, Conan. It's gonna be... it's just going to be an amazing movie." Hit the jump for more from celebs on "Avatar," fresh from the Twitter-Wood feed.
@johncmayer
»
- Adam Rosenberg
Permalink | Report a problem
Murphy's Sister-in-law Dies
16 December 2009 4:06 AM, PST
| WENN
| See recent WENN news
»
Eddie Murphy's sister-in-law Tisha Taylor Murphy has died at the age of 44.
Tisha, who was married to the Hollywood star's brother Charlie, passed away on Sunday at her home in New Jersey following a two-year battle with cancer.
Actor/comedian Charlie Murphy, best known for his role in U.S. TV series Chappelle's Show, married Tisha in 1997 and fathered two children with her.
Charlie Murphy's publicist confirmed the sad news in a statement to MTV.com: "Tisha Taylor Murphy, wife of comedian and actor Charlie Murphy, passed away peacefully on Sunday with family at her side after facing the challenges of cancer for the past two years.
"The Murphy family appreciates all of the support they have received from friends and fans and requests privacy during this very difficult time."
Actor/rapper Ice-t has led tributes to Tisha, passing on his sympathies to her husband in a post on his Twitter.com page. He writes, "My sincere condolences go out my man Charlie Murphy... Just heard he lost his wife to cancer."
Tisha Taylor Murphy is survived by her husband and their two children, daughter Eva and son Xavier.
»
Permalink | Report a problem
Charlie Murphy's wife passes away
15 December 2009 4:11 PM, PST
| digitalspy
| See recent digitalspy news
»
Tisha Taylor Murphy, the wife of Chappelle's Show actor Charlie Murphy, died on Sunday. The 44-year-old had been battling cancer for more than two years, reports MTV. Charlie Murphy's publicist said: "Tisha Taylor Murphy, wife of comedian and actor Charlie Murphy, passed away peacefully on Sunday with family at her side after facing the challenges of cancer for the past two years." He added: "The Murphy (more)
»
- By Mike Moody
Permalink | Report a problem
Guess What Comedy Central's Highest Rated Premiere and Worst Show Ever Have in Common
23 October 2009 4:30 PM, PDT
| Movieline
| See recent Movieline news
»
Placing The Jeff Dunham Show within Comedy Central's programming array is a challenge. Let's see: It combines Chappelle's Show's sketch format (We're doing Ok so far), South Park's invocation of racism and homophobia -- minus that onus of irony, darn it!-- and the googly-eyed, happy-slappy contrivance of Mind of Mencia. So what do we have? Voila: a quagmire of petty laughs and offensive gags aimed at the desperately ignorant. You'll be relieved to find there is a niche for such obscure humor; The Jeff Dunham Show dragged in Comedy Central's highest premiere ratings ever.
»
Permalink | Report a problem
Jay Leno Show Announces More Correspondents
8 September 2009 3:11 PM, PDT
| TVovermind.com
| See recent TVovermind.com news
»
The Jay Leno Show is set to debut on NBC on Monday, September 14 and whether you are excited or disgusted with this 'future of television' idea that is his show, chances are you're probably going to tune in, at least for those first few episodes. The buzz generated around this odd concept that will combine topical humor, celebrity guests, street correspondents, and God only knows what other comedic elements has been at an all-time high lately, and many reports are confirming the facts that even if Leno comes in dead last every night of the week in ratings, his show could still be profitable and lead NBC forward into the future. Of course, that doesn't mean that his ratings don't matter, but exactly what ratings NBC hopes for or expects is a question they haven't seemed willing ot answer yet. So is the future of NBC on that any of
»
- Bryan Jones
Permalink | Report a problem
Interview: Adam McKay and Neal Brennan Give Us ‘The Goods’
15 August 2009 4:08 PM, PDT
| FilmSchoolRejects.com
| See recent FilmSchoolRejects news
»
If you're Adam McKay, you might just love this interview. However, if you're Neal Brennan, you're going to find this interview incredibly boring. If you're not either of these two men, I have no idea what you'll think.
I say this because Brennan apparently doesn't like reading other people having fun, and, to be fair, the first four minutes of our conversation were overpowered by a looming discussion of Walt Whitman. For some reason.
So as a quick caution to you, dear reader, if you have a problem listening to two creative comedians and one idiot interviewer talk about how flaming a civil war-era poet and thinker was, I'd skip down a few lines and start there. I include a safety page-break so you'll know where the Whitman stuff ends. Also as a caution, we talk about details from the movie, so if you're really sensitive about spoilers, you may want to avoid.
Also
»
- Dr. Cole Abaius
Permalink | Report a problem
Movie Review - 'The Goods: Live Hard. Sell Hard.'
14 August 2009 2:42 AM, PDT
| GetTheBigPicture.net
| See recent Get The Big Picture news
»
The Goods: Live Hard. Sell Hard.
Starring Jeremy Piven, Ving Rhames, Ed Helms, and James Brolin
Directed by Neal Brennan
Rated R
Star vehicles, by definition, depend on the appeal of their stars. So, before you pay to see The Goods:
Live Hard. Sell Hard., you should ask yourself how much you like Jeremy Piven. The Entourage Emmy
winner is a used car salesman savant named Don Ready. He's as abrasive like Piven's Ari Gold, only in worse clothes. But if this is all Piven's got, haven't we
seen it already?
Unfortunately, even though there's a good cast of likely and unlikely comic heroes mingling the used
car lot, Piven gets most of the funny. And that's where this one bottlenecks.
It's not that Piven isn't funny or can't be funny, but in The Goods, it's one note over and over
again. That note isn't all that funny to begin with,
»
- Colin Boyd
Permalink | Report a problem
Interview: Jeremy Piven
12 August 2009 8:02 PM, PDT
| Cinematical
| See recent Cinematical news
»
It's rare that even a movie's biggest fan can recall all of the little throwaway lines of dialogue and performance details from supporting players. But if that supporting player is Jeremy Piven, you can almost guarantee it will come immediately to mind, whether he's an assaultive partygoer who turns introspective during a Gas 'N Sip hangout session in Say Anything, or a pal searching for romantic redemption during his high school reunion in Grosse Pointe Blank. Finally in charge of his own film, The Goods, Piven is no less generous with his comedic set-ups, sharing the screen with a talented ensemble of players (including Ving Rhames, Katheryn Hahn and Rob Riggle) who find themselves tasked with the challenge of liquidating an entire dealership's stock of cars over the Fourth of July holiday.
Cinematical recently spoke to Piven via telephone to discuss his participation in the film, which is produced by
»
- Todd Gilchrist
Permalink | Report a problem
Watch: 'Entourage's' Jeremy Piven in 'The Goods'
12 August 2009 1:57 AM, PDT
| Hitfix
| See recent Hitfix news
»
One movie that's flown a tad under the radar this summer is the new comedy "The Goods: Live Hard, Sell Hard."Produced by Will Ferrell and Adam McKay (among others) and directed by Neil Brennan (writer/creator/director of "Chappelle's Show"), the R-rated comedy probably would have saved Paramount's former sister division Paramount Vantage from being dismantled if it had come out a year earlier. Now, the big studio is releasing it after a blockbuster summer of their own. Can it only increase their massive tally? Time will tell.The flick finds Don Ready (Jeremy Piven), a master car liquidator and his team of
»
- HitFix Staff
Permalink | Report a problem
Exclusive: ‘The Goods’ Posters Will Sex You, Bite You
11 August 2009 8:28 AM, PDT
| FilmSchoolRejects.com
| See recent FilmSchoolRejects news
»
Paramount Pictures has provided Film School Rejects with a few cool exclusive new posters this morning for their upcoming release The Goods: Live Hard Sell Hard, starring Jeremy Piven, Ving Rhames and an alligator. At least, that is what we can gather from these two cool posters -- one featuring the suave Jibby Newsome, played by Ving Rhames, and the other featuring an alligator. The Goods, which is directed by Chappelle's Show executive producer and funny white guy Neil Brennan, follows the story of Don Ready (Jeremy Piven), a used-car liquidator who is brought in by a flailing auto dealership to turn their Fourth of July sale into a great source of profit.
The film also stars James Brolin, David Koechner, Kathryn Hahn (who was awesome in Step Brothers), Ed Helms, Arrested Development's Tony Hale, Alan Thicke and Ken Jeong (The Hangover). It hits theaters this Friday, August 14th. Check
»
- Neil Miller
Permalink | Report a problem
Battle of the Bands
10 August 2009 8:39 AM, PDT
| ifc.com
| See recent IFC news
»
This week offers animation from Asia, science fiction from South Africa, horror from Europe and romance on the home continent.
Download this in audio form (MP3: 16:23 minutes, 15 Mb)
Subscribe to the In Theaters podcast: [Xml] [iTunes]
"Bandslam"
Despite the odd detour to pen such fare as the unpleasant 1993 remake of "The Vanishing," actor-turned-writer/director Todd Graff has returned time and again to themes of ambitious young performers struggling for recognition. With his follow-up to 2003's "Camp," he offers up a plush, pristinely PG tale of a gaggle of Texas high school misfits who congregate under the believe-in-yourself banner to put together a fledgling rock band. "High School Musical" star Vanessa Hudgens co-stars as Sa5m (the 5 is silent), the object of affection for wannabe rock star Will (Gaelan Connell). Aly Michalka, Charlie Saxton and Ryan Donowho fill out the "Breakfast Club"-esque supporting roles.
Opens wide.
"Cloud 9"
With what's
»
- Neil Pedley
Permalink | Report a problem
Will Ferrell in The Goods Clip
8 August 2009 12:00 PM, PDT
| WorstPreviews.com
| See recent Worst Previews news
»
We previously heard that Will Ferrell will have a cameo in the upcoming Jeremy Piven comedy "The Goods: Live Hard, Sell Hard." Today, we have a funny clip from the movie featuring Ferrell falling out of an airplane with a dildo in his hand. Check it out below. Plot: In the movie, a used-car liquidator Don Ready (Piven) is hired by a flailing auto dealership to turn their Fourth of July sale into a majorly profitable event. "The Goods" is directed by Neal Brennan ("Chappelle's Show") and is scheduled to hit theaters on August 14th.
Restricted Clip:
If you cannot see the player, click here.
Click here to read more about "The Goods: Live Hard, Sell Hard."
»
Permalink | Report a problem
Rick James' Daughter Ty Keeps Dad's Legacy Alive Five Years Later
6 August 2009 3:50 AM, PDT
| MTV Music News
| See recent MTV Music News news
»
Ty James, who is working on a musical and film, says, 'The exact person that needs to play him has pretty much agreed to do it.'
By Kyle Anderson
Rick James and his daughter Ty
Photo: Kevin Winter/ Getty Images
Five years ago, one of the greatest and most controversial entertainers in a generation died. Rick James, who helped bring R&B and funk to the masses and inspired an early wave of hip-hop with songs like "Super Freak" and "Give It to Me Baby," died of heart failure August 6, 2004. Following his struggle with drugs and a stint in jail, James received a second wave of popularity when he appeared on an episode of "Chappelle's Show" and Chappelle turned the phrase "I'm Rick James, bitch!" into a household phrase.
But his real legacy is being carried on by daughter Ty. In the five years since her father's passing, she
»
Permalink | Report a problem
Rick James' Daughter Ty Keeps Dad's Legacy Alive Five Years Later
6 August 2009 3:50 AM, PDT
| MTV Music News
| See recent MTV Music News news
»
Ty James, who is working on a musical and film, says, 'The exact person that needs to play him has pretty much agreed to do it.'
By Kyle Anderson
Rick James and his daughter Ty
Photo: Kevin Winter/ Getty Images
Five years ago, one of the greatest and most controversial entertainers in a generation died. Rick James, who helped bring R&B and funk to the masses and inspired an early wave of hip-hop with songs like "Super Freak" and "Give It to Me Baby," died of heart failure August 6, 2004. Following his struggle with drugs and a stint in jail, James received a second wave of popularity when he appeared on an episode of "Chappelle's Show" and Chappelle turned the phrase "I'm Rick James, bitch!" into a household phrase.
But his real legacy is being carried on by daughter Ty. In the five years since her father's passing, she
»
Permalink | Report a problem
Does Wayne Brady have to choke a critic? The Let's Make a Deal panel - TCA Report
3 August 2009 4:54 PM, PDT
| AOL - TVSquad
| See recent AOL - TVSquad news
»
Filed under: TV Royalty, Daytime, Game Show, TCA Press Tour, Reality-Free
Once the panel for the new Let's Make a Deal was announced, you knew that at some point someone was going to ask Wayne Brady if he was going to have to choke a bitch.
That line, from the hilarious Chappelle's Show bit where Brady made fun of his squeaky-clean image, came up halfway through, when a critic asked Brady the question, "submitted from one of our readers on Twitter." I wonder if that reader was one of us critics, who all burned up the Twitterverse with the line as soon as we heard Brady would be here today.
Brady, who can improvise a song on the spot, just sat there in semi-silence. "That was a great choice of question," he said sarcastically. He isn't running from the bit, he said, and he's heard ten-year-olds try to say the
»
- Joel Keller
Permalink | Report a problem
Jeremy Piven' Restricted The Goods Trailer
27 July 2009 4:00 PM, PDT
| WorstPreviews.com
| See recent Worst Previews news
»
Thanks to Funny or Die, we now have a new restricted trailer for the upcoming Jeremy Piven ("Entourage") comedy "The Goods: Live Hard, Sell Hard." Check it out below. Plot: In the movie, a used-car liquidator Don Ready (Piven) is hired by a flailing auto dealership to turn their Fourth of July sale into a majorly profitable event. "The Goods" is directed by Neal Brennan ("Chappelle's Show") and is scheduled to hit theaters on August 14th.
Restricted Trailer:
If you cannot see the player, click here.
Click here to read more about "The Goods: Live Hard, Sell Hard."
»
Permalink | Report a problem
The Goods: Live Hard, Sell Hard Red Band Trailer
27 July 2009 10:45 AM, PDT
| FilmJunk
| See recent FilmJunk news
»
A new red band trailer for the upcoming comedy The Goods: Live Hard, Sell Hard has arrived online this week courtesy of Funny or Die [1]. It seems only appropriate since the movie is produced by Will Ferrell and Adam McKay, who also run Funny or Die. Although there doesn't seem to be a ton of buzz surrounding this movie as of yet, the trailers have been consistently funny, and the cast is solid.
This new trailer shows off a lot more of Ed Helms, no doubt thanks to his role in The Hangover (a movie that seems to be influencing everything around it). There's almost an Anchorman feel to the whole thing with the competing teams of car salesmen, not to mention the presence of David Koechner. The only unproven quantity here is director Neal Brennan, who worked on Chappelle's Show for years, but who has only directed the made-for-tv comedy Totally Awesome.
»
- Sean
Permalink | Report a problem
Jeremy Piven's Restricted The Goods Clip
22 July 2009 6:00 AM, PDT
| WorstPreviews.com
| See recent Worst Previews news
»
Paramount Vantage has released a restricted clip from the upcoming Jeremy Piven ("Entourage") comedy "The Goods: Live Hard, Sell Hard." Check it out below. Plot: In the movie, a used-car liquidator Don Ready (Piven) is hired by a flailing auto dealership to turn their Fourth of July sale into a majorly profitable event. "The Goods" is directed by Neal Brennan ("Chappelle's Show") and is scheduled to hit theaters on August 14th.
Restricted Clip:
If you cannot see the player, click here.
Click here to read more about "The Goods: Live Hard, Sell Hard."
»
Permalink | Report a problem
Charlie Murphy Attending America Ferrara's Wedding
6 July 2009 9:29 AM, PDT
| cinemablend.com
| See recent Cinema Blend news
»
While you bemoan the decline of Eddie Murphy's career and blindly hope that Beverly Hills Cop 4 might make it all better, have hope: there is still one vaguely funny Murphy sibling left. Sure, Charlie Murphy hasn't done much of note since Chappelle's Show (the Rick James sketch embedded below in case you've somehow forgotten), but he still has potential, unlike his brother, who seems to have given up entirely.
So maybe celebrate just a little that Murphy has been cast in Family Wedding, according to Variety. He'll be playing a friend to a character played by Forest Whitaker; also among the cast are America Ferrera and Carlos Mencia. We reported a little on this movie a few months back, about a feud between two fathers (Whitaker and Mencia) whose kids are getting married.
»
Permalink | Report a problem
2009 |
2008 |
2007 |
2006 |
2005 |
2004
1-20 of 28 articles from 2009 « Prev | Next »
See all NewsDesk partners
IMDb.com, Inc. takes no responsibility for the content or accuracy of the
above news articles. News articles are published for the entertainment of our
users only. The news items do not represent IMDb's opinions nor can we
guarantee that the reporting therein is completely factual. Please visit the
site responsible for the article in question to report any concerns you may
have.
