I’m sure all of the pros and cons were weighed when CBS was presented with the possibility of launching an updated version of their classic hit Hawaii Five-O.  Running 12 season from 1968 all the way into 1980, the original Hawaii was the longest running crime drama in history until Law & Order displaced it in 2003.  It was a hallmark of TV dramas and introduced us to one of the catchiest theme songs ever broadcast.  It also brought about a film industry presence in the state of Hawaii that persists today.  How could audiences not want to see a new version?

Relaunched as Hawaii Five-0 (now with a zero!!) a few weeks back, the reboot pulls cast from popular shows like Lost and Battlestar while retaining the original’s origin story, catch phrases (“Book ‘em Dano”), and that spunky theme song.  Does it work?  I’m torn.  Part of the problem with the show is how slick it has gotten.  The opening sequence of episode three made me want to puke it was cut together so fast.  It is hard to convey grit and a criminal underworld when HD cameras and primary colors are bursting with every shot.  The show is too pretty for its own good.  Even the criminals look tanned and relaxed as they commit crime in the Aloha state.

However, my biggest problems come from a casting choice and a writing decision.  First, I just don’t like our lead Steve McGarrett played by Alex O’Laughlin.    There’s little of interest to his character and I feel like he is more of a pale copy of JAG’s David James Elliott than of the original Hawaii‘s Jack Lord.  He just doesn’t have the charisma necessary to carry a show of this magnitude and will be overshadowed by Scott Caan (as “Dano”) and Daniel Dae Kim (as Chin Ho) weekly.  Both of those actors have been quite good so far.  The other problem I had through the first two episodes was how little Grace Park (as Det. Kona) was given or developed.  She is basically bait, being captured and tied to a chair twice already in the show.  Her tough girl persona is explained by little more than an introduction in which she punches out a fellow surfer.  We’ve seen her rock it in space, so I only hope they allow her to be more than a cute girl in a bikini in Hawaii.

So far, the new Hawaii Five-0 is neither sinking nor surfing.  It is just kind of sitting there, floating, waiting for a wave.  It is fun and you gotta love the paradise setting, but if something big doesn’t kick start the series soon, I’ll be striking it from the DVR shortly.

Bill Compton

Bill you are a bastard. You cheated on Sookie and had no plans of going back to her until the King discovered how transparent you were at feigning allegiance to him. You couldn’t have cared less when her best friend (Tara) was about to be murdered, and then you nearly drained your lady love in the back of a beat up van. With all Bill has done at this point we really don’t believe that he is capable of redemption, and we are starting to think Tara is right about him being a racist. You are already dead but we want you to meet your maker for realz. 5 stakes!

Sookie Stackhouse

Sookie, Sookie, Sookie. Ever heard of the book “he’s just not that into you?” Seriously. If a man cheats on you AND breaks up with you over the phone, it’s time too move on. Have enough sense enough not to chase him over state lines. We are going to attribute Sookie’s death wish to that crazy love you can only have in your 20s. Also considering the make up sex she had with Bill last week we really can’t blame our heroine for going back for more. One stake!

Tara Thornton

Tara what has become of you? You are on a never ending downward spiral. Lately anything that comes out of your mouth is shrill, aggressive and quite frankly almost as annoying as Sookie. You have had a hard couple of seasons, dead boyfriend, mind controlling maenad who made you a cannibal, being abducted by a sociopathic vampire. So we will let you slide for now. 2 stakes!

Jason Stackhouse

Jason your antics this season couldn’t be more annoying. We thought you would have learned your lesson about unnecessary violence from that incident you had with the fellowship of the sun! It seems you haven’t as last week you started a war with a very dangerous meth dealer/rabid shifter. You aren’t adding much to this season but we will give you a break for having nice abs. Why are the hot ones always so stupid? 3 stakes!

Check in next week for the rest of our cast predictions.

Hot Movie Releases

The Runaways

Dakota Fanning and Kristen Stewart as 70s rocker girls? Hell yeah, sign me up. I’m sure this one has more melodrama than it needs, and a tab bit of overacting from Stewart, but I still want to see her rock out as Joan Jett in this one, which is based on Neon Angel, the memoirs written by Cherie Currie, who is played by Fanning in the film. Yup, she’s all grown up, and looking good. Do yourself a favor and check this one out.

Cop Out

Kevin Smith directs the first movie he didn’t write with this piece of work, and the results are about what you expect. Two mismatched cops who must work together to get back a stolen baseball card. Bruce Willis and Tracey Morgan star as the dysfunctional duo, and although it has its moments, Cop Out is nothing like Smith’s earlier films except that it falls back on the toilet humor that he’s known for, which almost makes it seem like he’s trying too hard. Oh wait, he is.

The Losers

Action, betrayal, revenge – The Losers has everything you want in a comic-turned-film movie. When a Special Forces unit is sent to the Bolivia jungle, they get double-crossed and are presumed dead. They use that to their advantage, and go undercover to clear their names, and even the score. Jason Patric, Chris Evans, Zoe Saldana, and Jeffrey Dean-Morgan star. I haven’t seen it, and don’t really care to, so you let me know.

TV on DVD

Jersey Shore UNCENSORED Season One

How can you not love a show that has someone named Snooki in it? Apparently a lot of people can’t, but I’m not one of them. While I have no interest whatsoever in Jersey Shore, I realize its appeal, about eight over-the-top young adults and their personal lives, and what attracts people to it. I’m not going to sit here and bash it, because frankly – I don’t have the time. I have a bunion that needs removing, and I’m already five minutes late.

Hot Movie Releases

The Bounty Hunter

As much as this movie fails to interest me, I do have to say that arresting your ex-girlfriend does seem like fun. Regardless, Jennifer Aniston and Gerard Butler do their best impression of Mr. & Mrs. Smith in this, avoiding the bad guys while uncovering a deeper conspiracy, all the while hating one another until the end when…well, I don’t want to spoil it for you, but I think you know where I’m going with this.

Chloe

The only reason I have any interest in seeing this at all is because of Julianne Moore and Amanda Seyfried, two of the hottest women in Hollywood. I doubt Liam Neeson will be his ass-kicking self in this, which is a bit of a downer, but still, seeing him seduced by Seyfried so Moore can find out if he’s being unfaithful should be fun. Hell, I wish someone would try and find out if I’m being unfaithful. I kid, I kid. Seriously though, this new one from Atom Egoyan looks, well…lackluster. That’s all I got to say about that.

TV on DVD

Psych: The Complete Fourth Season

Finally we get to the good stuff. It may be a dysfunctional buddy cop show, but Psych has got the goods when it comes to entertaining viewers through quirkiness. As they face off against a slew of potential suspects that include werewolves, ghosts, a shark, and those they trust, Spencer and Guster remain in good form. I never thought this show would last, but here it is. What can I say? Every once in a while I’m wrong.

Still, it’s a highly recommended, must see film.

The reason one would even make those declarations is because Inception has had incredibly lofty expectations placed upon it. Based on the the strength of its amazing trailer (seen below), incredible cast, filmmaker and huge shroud of secrecy, the general public was expecting the film to almost change the world, or at least the summer movie season.

Well, it opens today (Friday July 16) and you can finally find out for yourself. But try not to read anything about it, except this of course. Unlike basically every other movie released recently, the real reward in going to see Inception with no prior knowledge is the pleasure in discovering an original set of ideas and circumstances.

Inception isn’t a sequel, based on a book, or even a familiar arc. Instead, shock of shocks, it actually begins with its own, unique conceit and moves along from there. (Originally! At the movies!) It moves along for about two and a half hours and the one fault with the film is actually a result of that originality. Because the audience is totally unfamiliar with the situations presented, the film takes a good chunk of time to explain them and make the audience comfortable. It takes about half the movie. Then, the real fun begins.

So basically Inception feels like its own prequel and a sequel rolled into one. And while the prequel is interesting and entertaining, it’s also slightly jarring and awkward. You’ll be scratching your head more often than not. However, that whole section is wholly necessary. Without it, the “sequel” half wouldn’t be the edge of your seat, intense, action packed film that it is. The entire second half is basically just one, long awesome climax. It grabs you and takes you on a tour de force downward spiral of plot, editing, score, performance and production design. Nolan’s film gets to a point where a single shot, edited against another, can make an entire audience gasp. Finally, by the end, well, no spoilers remember?

Inception is an incredibly impressive piece of Hollywood filmmaking that many aspire to but few can achieve. It makes other movies – even good ones – feel phoned in. There are certainly issues with it, but even so, it’s well worth the price of admission and will occupy your thoughts for plenty of time after you leave the theater. A second viewing might even make it better. I can’t wait to find out.

I am totally addicted to this show. I understand that sometimes the dialogue might be a little lacking, and the acting could use some work…but I’m still addicted. On tonight’s episode, some of the girls’ ugly secrets come out, complicating the school’s homecoming dance. One girl’s date choice may make her life a little more difficult. And who’s

performing at the dance? 2AM Club…and no, I have no idea who they are.

Warehouse 13 (9:00 p.m. EST, Syfy)

Myka (Joanne Kelly) and Pete (Eddie McClintock) must go to Detroit after a vigilante that at first seems indestructible begins using extraordinary methods to thwart criminals. Elsewhere, Leena (Genelle Williams), Artie (Saul Rubinek), and Claudia (Allison Scagliotti) try to move on from the past while making the warehouse a little less crappy.

Covert Affairs (10:00 p.m. EST, USA)

Tonight is the premiere of this series, and it kicks off with CIA trainee Annie Walker (the cute-as-a-button Piper Perabo) as she received a promotion as a field agent. However, her agency bosses quite possibly have an ulterior motive for the unexpected promotion. A military-intelligence agent who was blinded in the field (Christopher Gorham) gives Annie a hand.

24

1. 24: Minutes- It’s just like 24 except instead of 24 hours, Jack has 24 minutes.

2. 24 Presents: Obstacripple- Jack Bauer has 24 hours to stop a terrorist from blowing up the Statue of Liberty, but he is now completely paralyzed from the neck down and in order to get to the terrorist he has to get through a complicated series of obstacles ranging from a rope bridge to a pit of poisonous snakes to a pit of fire.

3. 24 Men And A Baby- Jack Bauer must face the toughest challenge of his life: raising a kid with 23 other very opinionated men, many of whom are played by Tom Selleck.

4. 24: Bathroom Break- It’s exactly like the regular show 24 except the entire time Jack has to go to the bathroom but he can’t cuz he’s in public and he’s gun shy about using public restrooms.

5. 24: Plus A Shitload of Bees- Jack Bauer has to race against not only time to stop the terrorists, but a humongous swarm of angry Africanized bees that he just can’t seem to shake.

The Cast:

Jessica Biel as Dorothy Petrillo Zbornak

Scarlett Johanssen as Rose Nylund

Those Triplets Hugh Hefner Banged as Blanche Devereaux

iCarly as Sophia Petrillo

In the Michael Bay remake Rose comes home flush with excitement, she’s met a new suitor and he’s just the cat’s meow! He’s 148 feet tall, made entirely of a metal that is extremely rare on Earth but common in outer space, and can turn into a big rig. Blanche says she’s happy for Rose and would love to meet this gentleman caller, but it’s obvious that she really wants to seduce him and have him all to herself. Hijinx ensue when while waiting for Rose’s new suitor to arrive a giant metal scorpion kills Sophia and Blanche, Rose, and Dorothy have to go on a quest to avenge Sophia, and learn a little something in the process, mostly through PG-13 rated group sex scenes.

On tonight’s episode, the team does its best to get their hands on a gunman who’s shooting inside a historic arena. The case causes Sam (David Paetkau) to wonder if he should really be on the team or not.

Say Yes to the Dress (9:00 p.m. EST, TLC)

Bride-to-be Catherine is using “Egyptian Barbie” as her fashion inspiration for her wedding. What a weirdo. Meanwhile, soon-to-be bride Kerry has her sights set on a $21,000 Pnina Tornai Gown and bride Jessica tries to find a dress that will compliment her fairy wings. Where do people come up with this stuff?

The Hills: From the Beginning (10:00 p.m. EST, MTV)

As the iconic reality series gets closer to its conclusion, we all get a chance to watch a recap of the show. Watch Lauren Conrad’s journey from Laguna Beach to Los Angeles, and relive all of the stand-out moments from the show, including Audrina’s rocky path to finding love, Heidi’s creepy plastic surgery transformation, and Kristin’s arrival to The Hills.

Dual Survival (10:00 p.m. EST, DSC)

On tonight’s episode, follow the hosts as they play out a lost-hiker scenario in the thick jungles of Laos. And what do they have with them? Backpackers’ supplies including condoms, a camera, and cigarettes. How will they get out of this one?

TV heroes have certainly changed since the days of C.H.I.P.S. and the A-Team, where everyone on the show would go out of their way not to actually hurt anybody. If Timothy Olyphant had been on the A-Team they wouldn’t have been able to afford a van because they would have had to spend all their money on body bags.

I caught up with Timothy Olyphant at a Starbucks in Los Angeles and asked him about his craft, and how he prepares for a role, and in response he shot me at the base of the spine and then made fun of me for crapping myself while I laid there dying. Then he grabbed the girl working behind the counter by her tie and made out with her and when she asked him his name he told her to “Shut Up” and then threw boiling coffee at a guy who was staring at him and then left without a second look back at the chaos he had caused.

God Timothy Olyphant, you’re so cool.

The Twilight Saga: Eclipse

Being hailed as not only one of the best movies of the summer, but the best one in the series so far, Eclipse is debuting first this week on Wednesday. Watch as Bella struggles with her decision to marry Edward, or lose herself to Jacob, all while preparing to graduate high school, and dealing with a new enemy that has come to town. Granted, the Twilight movies may not be the best piece of celluloid you’ll ever see, but there’s no denying the impact they have had on popular culture. Personally, I liked New Moon the best, but what do I know? I’m a 32-year old male, not exactly their demographic now am I? You may commence making fun of me…now.

The Last Airbender

Screw you, James Cameron, for ruining this film before it even came out by making them remove ‘Avatar‘ from the title. Okay, maybe it wasn’t James Cameron who made the decision, but there’s no denying his film influenced it. Regardless, M. Night Shyamalan returns to direct what at first I thought looked like crap, but am now really anxious to see. It’s hard to imagine Shyamalan directing something like this, but the effects look amazing, the cast looks surprisingly good for relatively unknowns, and, well…I just want to see it kick Twilight’s ass. Although I think that might be pushing it. I’ll be in line for this one though, and expect you to be there too. Note to self: see the 2D version.

Hot Movie Releases

Hot Tub Time Machine

The premise is outlandish, but the laughs are bountiful in this rude and crude comedy starring John Cusack, Craig Robinson, and Rob Corddry. Seriously, a hot tub that takes you back in time to the Eighties where you risk changing the future if you screw up? How can you not want to see that? While Cusack gives another strong, comedic performance, the film really belong to Robinson and Corddry, who have been on the fringe of a breakout role for some time. Could this be the one? Watch and decide for yourself. One things for sure, the title may be stupid, but the movie is absolutely hilarious.

The Crazies

Yet another horror remake in a long line of them that have been hitting the box office in recent years. Based on the 1973 flick by George Romero, The Crazies may not be a cinematic masterpiece, but it holds its own amongst the crap that has been coming out of Platinum Dunes as of late. Starring Timothy Olyphant (one of the most underrated actors around), it centers on a small town that goes, well…crazy, after a virus is placed in the water supply. Lots of blood, gore, and scares to keep you huddled under the blanket with your significant other for a 90-minutes or so; but don’t be surprised if you find yourself wishing you had 90-minutes of your life back once it’s over.

Percy Jackson & The Olympians: The Lightning Thief

It isn’t Harry Potter, but Percy Jackson is going to surprise and delight you in the way it takes an everyday misfit, and plops him down into a world of Greek mythology. After learning that he’s the son of Poseidon, Percy Jackson (Logan Lerman), must learn to control his extraordinary powers while clearing his name for stealing Zeus’ lightning bolt. Based on the popular book series, this one is sure to please the youngsters, and make you wish you had of paid a little more attention in school.

TV on DVD

Warehouse 13: Season One

After saving the life of the president, two Secret Service agents are transferred to Warehouse 13, a place that holds every fantastical item ever acquired by the U.S. government. From there it’s off to investigating claims of the paranormal and surreal, as they try to stack Warehouse 13 with more objects. Lots of gadgets, thrills, and one liners, Warehouse 13 is a pretty decent show, but it’s no X-Files.

Grown Ups

I don’t know about you, but what looks to be one of the funniest movies I’ve seen in a while is hitting the big screen this weekend in the way of Grown Ups, and I’m going to be first in line to check it out. Seriously, look at the cast. Adam Sandler, Kevin James, Chris Rock, Rob Schneider, David Spade, Selma Hayek, and Maria Bello. How can you go wrong with a lineup like that? The trailers look hilarious, featuring the five friends who grew up as teammates on the same basketball team only to reunite years later to mourn the passing of their coach, and in interviews I’ve seen for the film, everyone looks like they had a really good time making it. With chemistry like that, Grown Ups is sure to be worth more than just a few laughs. You’ll probably squirt some Pepsi out of your nose, which is a sign of a truly funny movie.

Knight and Day

Knight and Day is described as a “sexy action-comedy,” which tells me right there that it’s probably going to blow. Why do you think the studio is releasing it on a Wednesday? Reuniting Tom Cruise and Cameron Diaz, who starred together in the film Vanilla Sky, this one has all the makings of a Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego on steroids, as the two prance around the globe to uncover world changing secrets while dodging assassins. Been there, done that. Is it just me, or is Tom Cruise losing his appeal? Oh wait, he lost it when he divorced Nicole Kidman, hooked up with Katie Holmes, and jumped on Oprah’s couch. Can you say, “Whack job?” Regardless, I’m sure Knight and Day will find an audience, but I won’t be in it.

On tonight’s episode, Charlotte (Sophie Winkleman) thinks back onto how she met Wayne (David Walton). Leslie (Smith Cho) gets news that her ex is remarrying. Finally, Wayne confides that his father has cut him off, putting him in a financial situation. I’m wondering how many people are actually watching this show—and, if they are watching, what they think. Sound off!

Rookie Blue (9:00 p.m. EST, ABC)

Just what we need…another cop show. And this one’s sure not to stand up to Southland. But whatever—some of you may want to watch it, so here’s the info. In this series, we follow five motivated first-year officers; during the premiere, Andy McNally (Missy Peregrym) makes a rookie mistake, unintentionally messing up an undercover drug sting. She does her best to redeem herself with heroics that involve an armed man—might not be the smartest move there, Andy.

Burn Notice (9:00 p.m. EST, USA)

On tonight’s episode, Sam (the incredibly awesome Bruce Campbell) and Michael (Jeffrey Donovan) become involved in a hostage situation in a bank. Meanwhile, Fiona (cutie-pie Gabrielle Anwar) lends a helping hand to Jesse (Coby Bell) in the efforts of finding information on a weapons runner.

On tonight’s episode, Detective Wilden (Bryce Johnson) searches for answers while using his connection to Hanna (Ashley Benson) and Ashley (Laura Leighton) to his advantage. Elsewhere, the girls honor Allison’s (Sasha Pieterse) memory; Spencer (Troian Avery Bellisario) deals with Melissa’s (Torrey DeVitto) anger; Aria (Lucy Hale) crosses paths with her dad’s (Chad Lowe) ex-mistress; and Emily (Shay Mitchell) is shown a new side of Toby (Keegan Allen).

Downfall (9:01 p.m. EST, ABC)

Yes, you read that right—this show starts at 9:01 p.m. This game show involves contestants on top of a 10-story building responding to trivia questions as quickly as possible. The objective is to prevent a conveyor belt filled with prizes from dumping out over the side of the building. Enjoy the premiere of the show tonight, and let us know what you think!

Memphis Beat (10:00 p.m. EST, TNT)

On the crime drama’s premiere, meet offbeat detective Dwight Hendricks (Jason Lee), a Southern dude who loves his city—and blues music. On tonight’s episode, Dwight looks into the abuse of an elderly female DJ; however, his loose investigation methods irritate his by-the-books boss (Alfre Woodard). Elsewhere, Dwight’s mother seduces a neighbor. George Clooney is the show’s executive producer, so it better be good.

Hot Movie Releases

Green Zone

Matt Damon is back kicking some ass in the movie that’s not a Jason Bourne movie, but could be is you just changed the title. Hell, it’s even directed by the same guy who did The Bourne Supremacy and Ultimatum, so you do the math. Damon stars as rogue U.S. Army officer who has to get the bad guys. Old plot, new explosions, but all-in-all, another run of the mill action flick.

Remember Me

He may not be a vampire in this one, but that doesn’t change the fact that Robert Pattinson looks pretty much the same as he does in the Twilight flicks. There’s no blood, just a troubled youth with a chip on his shoulder who meets a girl who understands him, and yadda-yadda-yadda, they fall in love and have a good time. Typical romance set against the backdrop of 9/11. Maybe this time, Pattinson will take a hit.

She’s Out of My League

The title of this flick pretty much reveals the entire plot of the movie, as Jay Baruchel stars as a geeky, awkward dude who tries to land the woman of his dreams. Unless he’s got loads of money like Bill Gates, the chances of this ever happening in real life are slim to none, so suspend your disbelief when you hit play.

TV on DVD

Entourage: The Complete Sixth Season

I love this show, I love the cast, and I love that it’s still on the air. Seriously, what’s not to love about getting an inside look at a bunch of Hollywood players, even if it may be a little unbelievable? If you’ve never seen an episode of Entourage, you’re going to want to go back and see what you’ve been missing before jumping in to season six. Now if that’s not reason enough to have your friends over for a drunken TV marathon, I don’t know what is.

For An Older Audience: Lois And Clark (1993 – 1997)

In one of the first attempts to bring Clark Kent and Superman into a modern, more Generation X type environment, the television show Lois and Clark played out Superman’s life as a mid-twenties professional. Spanning four seasons and starring Dean Cain and Teri Hatcher as Clark Kent/Superman and Lois Lane, the ABC drama/comedy/sci-fi adventure series followed the Man of Steel as he struggled to balance his life a reporter, a super hero and suddenly a boyfriend. Lois and Clark was mildly successful in that it did run for longer than most shows, but during the mid nineties the story of the Clark Kent never caught on as much as the network had hoped.

Unfortunately Lois and Clark was canceled in 1997, but all four seasons can be purchased on DVD.

For A Teenage Audience: Smallville (2001 – Present)

In probably the most successful television rendition of the Superman story, Smallville continues to go strong as the ninth season has recently come to an end. Although the CW and cast members of Smallville have already stated that the tenth season will be the final season, fans still remain hopeful. Smallville follows the story of Clark Kent from high school through his early years working at the Daily Planet. During this time his dedication to the human race is constantly put to the test as Smallville‘s core story telling element is how Superman discovers his true meaning. With a much more science fiction feel to the story lines and characters, Smallville has garnered attention from the dedicated comic book audience as well as branching out and reaching a core teen audience. With stars like Tom Welling, Kristin Kruek, Allison Mack, Erica Durance and Michael Rosenbaum, it’s no wonder the teen audience has caught on.

The first nine seasons of Smallville can be purchased on DVD as we eagerly await the final chapter.

For A Young Audience: Superman The Animated Series (1996 – 2000)

When Warner Bros and DC Comics teamed up for the iconic Batman: The Animated Series, something amazing was discovered. Not only was the story telling a perfect meld of animation and traditionally paneled comic books, the show spoke to a young audience and introduced them to some of the super heroes their parents grew up on. The natural next step after the success of the Batman series was to create a series in the same vein for Superman. Superman: The Animated Series ran for four successful seasons on the WB and followed Clark Kent as he discovered some of his most famous enemies including Braniac and Lex Luthor. With voice talent from Tim Daly, Dana Delany and a host of other talented performers, Superman: The Animated Series was a hit for all ages.

All four seasons of Superman: The Animated Series can be purchased on DVD.

On tonight’s episode, Vince (Michael B. Jordan) gets the quarterback position despite doubts about his ability to efficiently handle the spot. Meanwhile, Tami (Connie Britton) does her best to soothe the broken-hearted and grieving Julie (Aimee Teegarden); Luke (Matt Lauria) sustains an injury; Riggins (Taylor Kitsch) has an awkward run-in with Becky’s (Madison Burge) father; and Landry (Jesse Plemons) hits on Jess (Jurnee Smollett).

Flashpoint (9:00 p.m. EST, CBS)

On tonight’s episode, a young woman who was kidnapped by a cult leader 15 years earlier robs a convenience store. The team learns that the cult leader has a plan to murder all of his followers by the end of the day, so they do everything they can to prevent the mass murder. And, hopefully, the convenience store robber will be able to lend a hand.

Shameless (9:00 p.m. EST, SUNDe)

On tonight’s episode, Karen (Rebecca Atkinson) and Jamie’s (Aaron McCusker) relationship goes through a hard time when she has a miscarriage; Liam (Johnny Bennett) is the winner of a modeling contest that Debbie (Rebecca Ryan) entered him in, and they try to keep Monica (Annabelle Apsion) in the dark about the money prize and the photo shoot. Elsewhere, Stan (Warren Donnelly) and Tom’s (Michael Legge) prank war goes a bit too far.

Toy Story 3

Finally, it’s here. After an 11-year wait, Toy Story 3 is upon us. I don’t know about you, but I’m damn excited to see this. The Toy Story movies are some of the most beloved of all the Disney/Pixar creations, and for good reason. What’s not to love about Buzz Lightyear, or Woody? This time around, the gang gets dropped into a day care center after their owner, Andy, departs for college. The plot may be simple enough, but with a host of new characters, Toy Story 3 is not going to disappoint you.

Jonah Hex

A science fiction/action movie based on a comic book starring Josh Brolin, John Malkovich, and Megan Fox? Hell yeah! Sign me up! The trailers look great, and although we’re sure to be treated to the one-dimensional acting talents of Fox, Jonah Hex is going to be one of those movies that you walk in to, shut your brain off, and just enjoy the ride. Explosions, special effects, and Malkovich as the villain, this one is going to be a crowd pleaser for sure. Not to mention Josh Brolin, who is no slouch in the acting department. Yup, this weekend, revenge gets ugly.

The former rapper turned actor is shouting it from the rooftops that he will be lending his voice to a Griffin, a character in the upcoming game Gears of War 3.  Wednesday night in Los Angeles, Ice-T (with wife Coco by his side) attended an E3 party where Cliff Bleszinki and crew from Epic Games formerly announced the actor’s involvement with the game.  At the party, Bleszinki posted a photo on twitter with the caption, “The hotness. Ice won’t stop telling everyone about his role as Griffin in Gears 3.”

Gears of War started as a first-person shooter video game made by Epic Games for Microsoft Game Studios.  The game centers around the Delta Squad, troops who set out to save the human inhabitants on the fictional planet Sera from the Locust Horde.  The game spawned a sequel in 2008 (Gears of War 2) where you continue to play as the leader of Delta Squad, Sergeant Marcus Fenix, on Sera. Gears of War 3 will be the third installment in the series.

Ice-T doesn’t have a large history with voice acting, but it’s clear that the man is happy to be a part of the project.  Besides his involvement however, there’s no real information out there about the character he’ll be portraying, nor is there much info about the project at all.  Since Epic has put forth so much effort into getting him on board (I mean, they made a special announcement about his role for goodness sakes), it’s safe to say Griffin will most likely play a large role in the game.

I really hope Ice-T does well in the role.  Voice acting can add many awesome years onto an actor’s career and Ice-T deserves the exposure.

The Fifth Element

Channel: HBO

Time: Thursday, June 17, 2010, 9:30 AM CT

Bruce Willis is a New York City Cabdriver that tries to save the future from the impact of an anti- life force. This movie is screening on multiple channels this weekend.

Body of Lies

Channel: MAX

Time: Friday, June 18, 2010, 9:15 AM CT

A CIA operative, played by Leonardo DiCapario, creates a plan to catch a terrorist leader.

Rocky II

Channel: ENCRA

Time: Saturday, June 19, 2010, 11:30 AM CT

Sylvester Stallone is the famous underdog Rocky Balboa who gets a chance to fight Apollo Creed. Again.

Lethal Weapon

Channel: AETV

Time: Sunday, June 20, 2010, 12:00 PM CT

Two detectives (Danny Glover and Mel Gibson) try to hunt down drug smugglers.

Jaws III

Channel: ENCRA

Time: Monday, June 21, 2010, 12:35 PM CT

A marine biologist and an engineer face of with a white shark mom, in Florida.

The Heist

Channel: ACMAX

Time: Tuesday, June 22, 2010, 11:15 AM CT

A former convict, who was double crossed by his partner, plots revenge.

Hot Movie Releases

The Book of Eli

Usually I don’t mind Denzel Washington. I mean, the guy can act when he wants to, right? Put him in a post-apocalyptic movie that is filled with religious undertones though, and you have the makings of a film that can only be viewed through the lens of destruction if you want to enjoy it. Which I guess is just what The Book of Eli accomplishes. It’s not a great movie by any means, but Gary Oldman as the villain is hard not enjoy. Hell, any movie with Gary Oldman is hard not to enjoy. All-in-all, The Book of Eli is worth a rental, unless your wife just can’t get enough Denzel, then you’ll have to buy it. Sorry.

When In Rome

Man, I don’t know about you, but I’m a little tired of these movies that use romance and the supernatural as a plot device. I’m no expert on romance films, mind you, but I do know enough about them to say that any movie like that can’t be good. When In Rome is no exception. A girl that plucks coins from a fountain in Rome, only to have the men who threw them in there fall in love with her? Come on, you can do better than that, can’t you Hollywood? Oh, right, I forgot who I was speaking to. Josh Duhamel should stick with fighting off robots, because as a romantic lead, he’s the pits, and Kristen Bell? She should stick with television. Good television. Heroes doesn’t count.

TV on DVD

Family Guy Volume 8

I don’t care who you are, if you don’t like Family Guy, there’s something wrong with you. There’s at least something in each episode that appeals to anyone with a sense of humor, so if you’re not laughing, you probably don’t know funny very well. Thankfully, I do know funny, and Family Guy is funny. Volume 8 is no exception, as it features some of the best episodes, including ‘Not All Dogs Go To Heaven’ and ‘Jerome Is The New Black.‘ Giggity giggity!

Gillian (Kelli Williams) and Cal (Tim Roth) reflect on the main events of their lives (including when they first met at a therapy session) after one of Cal’s former colleagues at the Pentagon passes away due to a car bombing. I’m expecting tears out of this episode, folks.

The Bachelorette (8:00 p.m. EST, ABC)

Ali’s down to 11 guys, and she’s taking them all with her on an around-the-world trip in New York. The bachelorette poses for InStyle magazine and brings seven of her suitors to meet Broadway producer Thomas Schumacher (best known for “The Lion King”). One-on-one dates include a helicopter tour and exclusive visit to the Museum of Natural History as well as a private Joshua Radin concert–but who will be the lucky two guys that Ali chooses for these two dates? Elsewhere, one contestant decides to take the role of Ali’s protector while another bachelor tells a very personal secret. And two of the guys will be sent home before the show ends.

For Neda (9:00 p.m. EST, HBOe)

This documentary narrated by Shohreh Aghdashloo profiles Neda Agha-Soltan, an Iranian woman who was killed on camera during a political protest against the results of Iran’s 2009 elections. The documentary investigates the events leading up to the presidential election as well as the worldwide efforts to share images of the protests. It includes interviews with journalists, human-rights activities, Neda’s family and educators. The film was directed by Antony Thomas.

SyFy Channel – Taken

In one of the biggest North American produced science fiction television projects, Steven Spielberg took Thomas H. Cook‘s novel Taken and transformed it into a ten week mini series. Taken follows three main families and their subsequent generations from 1944 to about 2001. The Keys, Crawfords and Clarkes are all in some way effected by alien visitors dating all the way back to the second World War. With twists and turns like alien visitors taking the form of humans and memorable Roswell incidents, Taken embodies everything an alien abduction story should. But in true Spielberg fashion, Taken is less about the events and the aliens and more about the characters that have to deal with it all. Put them all together in a cross generational story arc that covers decades of family bloodlines, global events and politics and you could definitely waste your weekend exploring the inner emotions of the characters. The mini series has a large cast, but some bigger names you might recognize include Julie Benz, Dakota Fanning and Anton Yelchin.

HBO – Band of Brothers

Band of Brothers was the first big behind the camera team-up between two of Hollywood’s most powerful people, Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks. In the epic tale of WW II parachute infantry East Company original penned by Stephen Ambrose, Band of Brothers became a ten episode journey of brotherhood, companionship, war and tragedy. Although most television experiences center around one incident and build the story around it, Band of Brothers follows the growth of boys to men during one of the most difficult times our world has ever seen. From training days until the end of the war, Spielberg and Hanks go very deep into the psyche of a WW II soldier and show that it is always the characters that carry a story from beginning to end. Band of Brothers went on to become one of the most celebrated television events in history and stars recognizable names like David Schwimmer, James McAvoy and Ron Livingston.

HBO – The Pacific

The Pacific is the second installment of the Hollywood team up of Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg and follows three marines through separate combat missions in the Pacific War. Marines Sledge, Leckie and Basilone (played by Joseph Mazzello, James Dale and Jon Seda) carry The Pacific through events like the Battle of Tenaru, a memorable face-off at Peleliu’s Bloody Nose Ridge and the eventual home coming when the Japanese surrender. Although at first glance, The Pacific looks similar to Band of Brothers, the style is actually quite different. This ten episode mini series chronicles events in Okinawa, Iwo Jima and Australia, but like a lot of the other successful series’ from Spielberg, the strength is in the characters.