Swingtown has nothing to fear in Fear Itself
Two new summer shows debuted at 10pm last night, one on CBS and one on NBC (ABC had the first game of the Celtics/Lakers battle). And it turns out that more viewers wanted to see people swing than see people scream.
The first episode of the CBS series Swingtown, which depicts various neighbors in the 70s drinking, smoking, exchanging partners, and wearing bad clothes, beat the first episode of the new NBC series Fear Itself, a horror anthology series. Swingtown grabbed 8.6 million viewers while Fear Itself managed to get 5.2 million viewers. For the night, ABC won with the NBA game.
I’m rather embarrassed to say that I completely forgot that either of them was on. My night consisted of watching the Red Sox/Rays game (lots of fights and weirdness) and then reading a book until Letterman came on at 11:35. What did everyone think of either or both of these shows?
Cameron Mathison dances into game show role
He’s an actor, a pin-up hunk, he’s tried Dancing With the Stars, and now he’ll see what it’s like to be a Jim Lange or Wink Martindale. Cameron Mathison has been tapped to host TLC’s new game show Your Place or Mine? Looking at those eyes, I’d let him redecorate my abode!
“I’m thrilled to be a part of TLC’s first game show, and extremely excited about the fun concept,” said Mathison. “I think both men and women, of all ages, are really going to enjoy the show because there’s a little something in it for everyone.” Yeah, TLC is pitching this as a family show. Hmm…we’ll see. If it can capture the Trading Spaces vibe, they may be on the right track.
The premise of the game is simple: two families play each other answering questions (a la Family Feud) with the chance to win new furniture makeovers for their homes — and they can steal items from each other’s teams, too. As the game progresses, insightful, helpful decorating and home improvement tips will be injected. After all, TLC stands for The Learning Channel; it can’t all be fun, fun, fun — although the network is suggesting that there’ll be twists and turns along the way. The latter reminds be of Let’s Make A Deal, you know, will you trade the cash in your hand for what’s behind door #2?
The show premieres Sunday, June 8 at 8 o’clock, and TLC is counting on Cameron to bring the eyeballs. The actor has a large, loyal fan base thanks to his tenure on All My Children as Ryan Lavery. He’s been on the soap since 1998, and while he does other things — like hosting SoapNet’s I Wanna Be A Soap Star for two years — he believes in the old axiom, “Don’t give up your day job.” Sage advice for an actor in today’s economy, if you ask me.
[via Futon Critic]
Escape From New York Remake to Star Gerard Butler
CAA is shopping a remake of John Carpenter’s 1981 action classic Escape From New York with 300 star Gerard Butler attached to star.
Butler would play Snake Plissken, the one-eyed convict who must rescue the President of the United States from an inescapable maximum security prison formerly known as Manhattan. The film was set in a dystopian then-future 1997. Kurt Russell originated the role. The 1996 sequel Escape to L.A. was not as popular.
According to Variety, several studios are battling to make the project. A deal is expected to be made this week.
Black Hawk Down scribe Ken Nolan writing the screenplay.
I’m not sure what to think of this. When I re-watched the film a few months back, I thought to myself: “This could make a great big budget hollywood remake.” But who knows. However, I would rather see someone like The Rock or Vin Diesel play Plissken. I think it all depends on the director. This would be perfect for Michael Bay.
Did You Know: Snake Plissken was the inspiration for Solid Snake, hero of the Metal Gear series, and the plot was also the inspiration for Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake (sneak into an indomitable fortress to rescue a VIP and an important tape/cartridge that determines the fate of the world). Furthermore, in Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty, Solid Snake goes by the alias of Iroquois Pliskin. Metal Gear also uses the same font in its logo for the first game as Escape From New York.
Eva Longoria Promotes Abstinence?
Eva Longoria Promotes Abstinence?
For many couples tying the knot, the wedding night can be tricky business. Just ask Eva Longoria. She has chosen to abstain from sex until her wedding night. But it’s not a moral obligation. She is saying no for a different reason: the NBA Playoffs.
Tony Parker, Eva’s fiancé, is a basketball star. His team, the San Antonio Spurs, is looking good this season, and Eva wants to ensure their playoff run continues.
She told talk show host Jimmy Kimmel, “Luckily, we’re getting married after the play-offs and then we need to consummate the marriage. I scheduled it that way.”
The Desperate Housewives star has also dismissed rumors that the couple chose July 7th because it is a lucky date. According to Longoria, “We picked that date because it’s the only weekend we’re both off.”
Well it seems the sex ban is serving it’s purpose. In their first game Sunday against the Phoenix Suns, the Spurs were victorious - with Parker leading the team in scoring. It’s funny how a little motivation can go a long way.