Guess what? Rachael Ray doesn’t like Dunkin’ Donuts coffee either
When Rachael Ray signed on to promote Dunkin’ Donuts, it always seemed like the pairing was a curious one. Whatever you may think of her shows or her recipes, almost everything she endorsed up until that time was of reasonable quality. Don’t get me wrong, I like DD’s coffee — if I make it at home. But whenever I get it at a store, it tastes like crap most of the time. I don’t know if they skimp on grounds, use too much water, or don’t clean their coffee machines, but the result is almost always the same weak, bitter brew no matter which store I go to (at least the ones here in New Jersey).
So it didn’t surprise me to read this piece on New York magazine’s website that speculates that Ray Ray doesn’t think much of DD’s coffee, either.
In the secondhand account, Ray is described as blowing onto the set of her latest DD commercial in a foul mood (something I’ve always attributed to her overextending herself, rather than an overall bitchy personality… but I don’t know her, so who knows?). The friend-of-a-friend then goes on to say: “I am also told she took one sip of her Dunkin’ Donuts coffee, yelled ’What is this shit? Get me MY coffee,’ and would not continue until she was given ’her’ coffee - i.e., Starbucks.”
Now, of course, we have no idea whether this is true or not. But, if it was, it would explain a lot. Look, there’s nothing wrong with Ray Ray grabbing the money while she has the opportunity. But usually people will trust a pitchman more if they, you know, actually stand behind the product that’s being pitched.
(Not for nothing, but I don’t like Starbucks coffee, either; I think the beans are so over-roasted that the brew ends up tasting like dirt. Give me Seattle’s Best Coffee, Peet’s, or smaller roasters any day of the week and I’ll be a happy guy.)
Fanboys Being Recut and Reshot by Weinstein Co?
So many years have passed without a release for the Weinstein Company’s Fanboys we’re surprised some kook hasn’t retitled it Cannedboys for his own sad amusement. Today word arrived via AICN that Judd Apatow’s producing partner Shauna Robertson is overseeing the film with possible reshoots and a major edit to the film’s plotline involving a fanboy with cancer.
The story follows a group of friends who try to break in Skywalker Ranch to steal a copy of Star Wars Episode 1. The reason they finally agree to do it is because one of the friends in dying of cancer and won’t live to see it in theaters. Apparently the Apatow people have done research which says most people won’t laugh for 5 or 10 minutes after cancer is mentioned so they want to do away with the entire cancer subplot and I’ve heard they have a version which edited out the entire cancer plot.
Mind you, the quote above comes from a “friend of a friend close to the production,” but either way, it sounds like there’s activity once again with the troubled production. How much of a hands-on role Judd Apatow has in this, if any, is unknown. If you’re asking what would replace such a pivotal aspect (re: cancer boy) of the flick if it’s in fact redacted, the source says the Weinstein Co. wants to make the fanboys’ mission a nutty idea for the sake of nuttiness a la a prototypical heist flick. I haven’t seen the movie, but Harry Knowles says such a change would suck its “soul” out. How do you feel about it? The last tentative date for the film in a litany of them was set for next weekend. More on on Fanboys‘ predicament as it develops.