day 342

footloose hits another bump

i think we should start calling the footloose remake the movie that will never get made. after losing leading man zac efron earlier this year and an extensive search for the female lead, the movie seemed like it was back on track when chace crawford and julianne hough finally committed. then the movie stalled. production was set to start this fall, but buzz on the project went silent when production was pushed back until march. supposedly, julianne hough needed work in the acting department and getting her on track caused the push back. and, now, there's yet another stall put on the movie. director kenny ortega has dropped out. known for choreographing dirty dancing and directing the high school musical trilogy, ortega pulled out of the project after disagreements with the studio over budget and tone, according to variety. ortega was expecting a $30 million budget with a lot of emphasis placed on big time musical numbers. the studio, on the other hand, wants to spend less than $25 million with the musical numbers playing second fiddle to the dramatic storyline. the stage production that the remake is based on is very much a musical, with big numbers and bright colors, so i would figure ortega's vision would be what the studio wants. dark and dreary with little emphasis placed on the musical numbers? uhmm...how does that differentiate this version from the kevin bacon original. the studio is reportedly starting a search for a new director on monday. all these problems just scream to me "give up!" but the other part of me wants to see this movie happen just to see if they can pull it off. or if it's just going to blow up. either way, kenny should wind up find. he directed the michael jackson concert film this is it, set to hit theaters this week. expectations are high for the flick, both fan and revenue wise.

day 215

footloose finally on its way

while chace crawford has been confirmed for about a month now, his leading lady in the footloose remake has been mia - until now. julianne hough has been offered the role of ariel in the reboot and is said to be very close to signing a contract - she just has to check any scheduling conflicts first. um, julianne? remove everything else from your calendar. a movie debut in what is sure to be one of the biggest films of 2010 is way more important than singing at a couple state fairs. julianne beat out the likes of hayden panettierre and amanda bynes, but don't count them out quite yet. there are still supporting roles to fill, and i could see amanda as the comic relief in a lot of the scenes. the film is set to be released june 18, 2010, going into production this fall.

that's it for now...check back later

day 192

candy spelling, why you crazy?
when you're the widowed wife of a tv icon with a crazy ass mansion on your hands and a daughter who doesn't talk to you, what should one do? go on the radio and blab about it, of course! promoting her new book, stories from candyland (the book's release date was moved up before tori's latest bestseller, mommywood, hit shelves), candy stoppped by a massachusettes radio station. "my daughter one day decided that she wasn't speaking to my husband, myself and my son, and that's how it's continued for the last, oh gosh, four or five years," said candy. hmm...people don't just to that out of no where. that's what killed my husband, actually. he just didn't want to live after that" wow, blaming your daughter for killing her dad? genius! i don't think saying she's reponsible for aaron spelling's death is the way to win her over. nor is saying you won't sell the mega-mansion tori lived in for a year and a half if you get to see your grandchildren. how about a surprise visit to the spelling-mcdermot house? perhaps while the tori and dean cameras are around? that episode would be huge. huge. c'mon, candy. you were married to a tv legend - you have to have some tricks up your sleeves on how to make good tv, even if it is just "reality."

chace crawford speaks!
but it's not that important. it's just about footloose. chace says that both he and "friend" zac efron have to make the best choices for their careers and, well, it just so happened that zac's right move left room for chace's. chace says his audition process was the most rigorous he's even been through, with daily 5 hour routines in front of the film's creative team. but, in the end, it was obviously all worth it. the casting team even said they knew chace was their guy. so why'd he have to go through all the craziness? did you just want to have fun with him? later this week, a decision may be made on chace's leading lady, too. chace and dancing with the stars' julianne hough will screen test together. according to insiders, julianne has a leg up on any competition; the role of ariel is the most singing intensive of any part in the film and requires a little country flavor. if you didn't know, julianne is also the most recent addition to the blond bombshell country singing club. the film recently got a rewrite from the minds behind erin brockovich (though i doubt this movie will win any oscars) to better suit chace. plus, expect a few familiar faces to pop up around the dance-free town. rumor has it that original stars, like kevin bacon and sarah jessica parker, should make cameos. one thing that probably won't be making a reapparance (at least if crawford gets his way)? the high beam flips and jumps from the warehouse scene. says chace, "“i’ve got some movement in me, but i’m not a dancer." boo you whore.

your daily funny.
last week, idol wannabeen katherine mcphee was cornered by the papparazzi in la, but was "saved" by a local homeless woman, quween. funnyordie got a hold of the two to make a fake celebrity protection advertisement. check it out below. all i have to say is "hell no letters and words. hell no."

Katharine McPhee in Paparazzi Protection from Katharine McPhee

check the twitter later for little updates, like about the rest of the cast for i'm a celebrity...

day 183

will this movie ever get made?

the musical remake of footloose sure has a lot of buzz around it, but with production supposed to start in the next month or so, the film is still without stars.  from all the news, it seems like the creative team behind the flick isn't satisfied with any of the actresses they've seen for the leading role of ariel.  actresses who have been seen by director kenny ortega and the casting department include heroes' hayden panetierre, dancing with the stars julianne hough, and even amanda bynes.  now sources close to the production are saying that the casting director really only has one name in mind for the role: miley cyrus.  miley hasn't auditioned for the part, but why would she need to?  she can obviously "sing" and dance, and fits the country girl bill to a tee.  the problem with miley?  the disney star is booked straight through the summer and fall, when shooting would need to take place for footloose.  cameras begin rolling later this summer on the last song, miley's new nicholas sparks flick (the book hasn't even been released yet) and her (possibly final) hannah montana season shoots right before and after song.  so what's the kevin bacon flick reboot to do?  that remains to be seen.  the movie doesn't even have a leading man yet - chace crawford is said to be a lock, but no contracts have been signed and derek hough is still in the running.  the production team better make some decisions fast; the studio already announced the movie will hit theaters june 18, 2010.  if miley does somehow fit another project into her schedule, i'd say male lead casting needs to be refocused; chace crawford is a little old for the 16 year old starlet, even if she dates one of his peers.  

update: chace crawford was confirmed today as the movie's frontman! i'd say go with julianne hough or amanda bynes then (but only amanda if there's some really good comedy bits)

even more fall tv changes

some of your favorite series may be goners come september.  samantha who? is no officially dead at abc, amongst others (the unusuals, cupid) and ugly betty may be headed to death's door.  the show is no longer a thursday night comedy - it's been moved to the typical "we're done with you" night of fridays, alongside supernanny and wife swap and is being replaced on thursdays by flash forward, an experimental drama (i, for one, won't be watching  - plus i don't understand a night of dramas, forward being played alongside grey's anatomy and private practice).  but, the alphabet net doesn't want us to think the worst; execs say they hope betty's move will reinvigorate the night, which abc owned in the 90s with their tgif line-up.  they're looking at cbs' ghost whisperer as an example; the show has been a ratings winner for the eye net.  ghost whisper may actually get some company on fridays at cbs; nbc decided not to pick up psychic themed medium, but cbs owns the show and thinks an other-worldly themed friday night might be great for them.  nbc also decided not to pick up my name is earl (which, in my opinion, is a move in the right direction), but it's owned by 20th century fox, who plans on shopping it to fox and abc. nbc did, however, decide to keep chuck around for 13 eps (yay!).  and, as for the cw?  they're making some changes, too.  though it has a strong fan base, the freshman dramady privileged won't be back (though many thought a midseason pick-up was possible).  instead of privileged, the ceedub has picked up ashlee simpson-wentz's starring vehicle melrose place, mischa barton's model-themed a beautiful life, and the twilight inspired vampire diaries.  the gossip girl spin-off is in limbo right now, being retooled in hopes of a mid-season pick-up.  god, fall tv is getting confusing. i have yet to see a show that i'm really excited about, but i'll give most of them a try.  remember to check entertainment weekly's cheat sheet for up-to-the-minute cancellation and pick-up news.  

day 164

julianne gets some competition

though she is said to be the front runner for the role of ariel in the upcoming footloose musical remake, julianne hough is still being tested.  alongside the (now) former dancing with the stars and current country crooner is heroes star hayden panettiere.  the actress hits theaters this summer in her first headlining role in i love you, beth cooper.  so, if she can open a movie on her own, the guys behind footloose are sure to be even more interested.  and, don't worry, hayden can dance and sing.  panettiere dropped a single last year as part of her candie's contract, "wake up call," and is currently signed to hollywood records.  hay also starred in the bring it on series' fourth outing, all or nothing, in which she had to learn choreography.  personally, i like julianne to be paired with new star chace crawford; they look moreso the same age.  hayden still looks like a teen.  and, while i know that footloose is supposed to take place during high school, if you cast one older looking actor, the whole cast needs to be filled out that way.  plus, julianne is more girl-next-door, no?  the only question is whether or not she can act. 

and if you haven't seen the promos for fox's new show glee, then check out this one.  looks so good  - especially because jane lynch (the bitchy cheerleading coach) is in it.  i figured i would post the video since there aren't many stories today.

day 150

yep, we've hit 150 posts! 

dina lohan to the rescue

this isn't so much of a story, but a blurb/tweet-worthy - i still thought it was pertinent to your understanding of the world. okay, not really. i just really live lindsay lohan and her mess of a life, which includes her mother. lindsay's mother, donata aka dina, always says she doesn't want to be famous, yet will take any moment she can to get some press. hypocritical much? aside from her self-promotion on her e! tv program, living lohan (which is supposed to return sometime this year), dina has taken to talking about lindsay's "projects" like her life depended on it. we all know about lindsay's funnyordie eharmony skit, and dina would like you to know it was her idea. dina told entertainment tonight that she approached lindsay about doing funnyordie because she thought it would be a great, funny way to tackle the rumors.  really? did dina sell the rights to lindsay's story to us weekly, too? the two "outlets" seem pretty contradictory - are you making fun of your life or taking it too seriously. make up your minds lohans :). oh and lindsay's extended fam is apparently taking measures to send the starlet back to rehab. obvi dina is not involved, as she recently dropped lindsay off at a club (see vid above). 

gwyneth paltrow has frenemies? 

after a recent post on her living site/newsleter goop.com, people are starting to speculate as to who gwyneth is meaning by the "person [who] really did what they could to hurt me." here's the letter as it appeared on the site:

all fingers are pointing to gwyneth's former gal-pal winona rider. the duo were inseparable throughout the 90s until gwyn won the role of viola in the 1998 oscar winner shakespeare in love. tensions grew especially when gwyn took home the little gold man for her role, too.  and could the "something unfortunate" be winona's legal troubles after her five-finger discount? hmm...i'll let you decide for yourself. 

everybody cut footloose!

what was once a vehicle for musical megastar zac efron - who takes his first step as a non-disney leading man in tomorrow's 17 again (this movie could make or break his career) - kenny ortega's musical remake of kevin bacon 80's classic footloose is shaping up to be a chance to launch two new movie careers. gossip girl star chace crawford is said to be this close to signing on to the project and filling zac's (probably tiny) shoes. this would be chace's first big screen outing as a leading man, other than 2008's little seen horror flick the haunting of molly hartley. can chace even sing? let's hope so - footloose's soundtrack is set to be a big hit if the movie does make it past pre-production. another surprise casting news? dancing with the stars' and rising country star julianne hough has reportedly auditioned and is being strongly considered for the leading lady role in the flick.  julianne has said that the next natch (that's natural for my non-abreve inclined friends) step in career evolution would be acting. plus, a musical would make complete sense with her singing career and all. let's just hope chace doesn't back out - julianne's bro derek hough is said to be the crew's second choice (technically third after zac) and i don't know about you but i don't need to see any incest on the big screen.