Henry Phillips plays himself as an itinerant singer-songwriter who has played one too many disappointing gigs out in the heartland. His forte is the edgy, bawdy, irreverent, and (he hopes) funny acoustic ballad, and unwittingly performing such material before a truck stop audience of “Miniature Golfers for God” brings him to reevaluate the direction his career has been taking. So he decides to move to L.A., crash on his brother’s couch (of course the brother is a struggling actor), and find himself an agent: a middle-aged scrapper played superbly by Ellen Ratner, who describes Henry as “James Taylor on smack.” When Henry points out to her that James Taylor really was on smack, she doesn’t seem to understand his point. Moments like this are part of the fun.

I loved watching this movie. All the satire is spot on. In my younger days, I tried my hand at doing the singer-songwriter thing, and many of the scenes in this film are so familiar that they hurt. Ellen’s frenetic pace and non-stop faux optimism are priceless. The milieu of the coffeehouse “Espresso Yourself” reminded me of every open-mic hootenanny joint I’d played, where most of the audience were other “artists” waiting to perform. During Henry’s one demo recording session, the owner of the small record label won’t even let Henry finish a verse before demanding something snappier.

In a radio interview taking place at three a.m. — what time could have been more appropriate? — Henry makes it clear that he is no Bob Dylan, Paul Simon, or (for the sake of extra hyperbole) Albert Einstein, and that is what endears him to us. He is us. We can relate to every frustration and every fledgling hope, especially since Henry is not getting any younger and has been the victim of a terrible misunderstanding in the local press.

If this movie is shown in a theater anywhere near you, please go out and support it. We need films like Punching the Clown to keep cinema vibrant and interesting. There’s too much of the same old same old out there. What Viens and Phillips offer is the equivalent of the great little paperback novel you sometimes find on a back shelf when browsing in your local independent bookstore, if indeed such a place still exists in your neighborhood. It’s not War and Peace or Moby-Dick, but that’s all right. Sometimes all you need is a little dusty gem to keep you going.

THE PLAYBOOK: Suit Up. Score Chicks. Be Awesome, by Barney Stinson with Matt Kuhn is now available to the public.

Watch the video to learn more:

and

(8:00 p.m. EST, CBS)

Master Chef

(8:00 p.m. EST, FOX)

Minute to Win It

(8:00 p.m. EST, NBC)

Plain Jane

(9:00 p.m. EST, WB)

After college, Falk worked in Hartford where he joined the community theater. He appeared in three of the theater’s productions, including The Crucible and eventually signed with the William Morris Agency, in 1956, and moved to Greenwich Village. He appeared in a couple of off-Broadway flops before Falk was cast in the revival of The Iceman Cometh.

In 1972, Peter Falk won a Tony for his role in The Prisoner of Second Avenue. Even though Falk was receiving acclaim on Broadway, his agent advised him to explore the world of film. His first film performances were not ground breakers as he did a took small roles in less than memorable movies.

Eventually, Falk took the role of killer Abe Reles in the film Murder, inc., in 1960. This would prove to be a turning point his career. He continued the role of Abe Reles onto the small screen, in the TV series The Witness. Peter Falk was nominated for an Academy Award for his portrayal of Reles in the film.

Frank Capra cast Falk in his comedy Pocket Full of Miracles and, once again, was nominated for an Oscar. Falk appeared in many more movie roles too such as Rat Pack, The Great Race, and It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World.

We first saw Falk on television in 1957. He did a variety of guest spots on Studio One, Kraft Television Theater, Have Gun Will Travel and many more. His first lead role was in The Trails of O’Brien which had 22 episodes. Falk appeared in many series in the 1960s and 1970s, although, his most famous will always be Columbo. The character of Columbo was from the film Prescription; Murder. Falk’s portrayal of the police lieutenant was so fascinating an entire TV series was created from this role in the film. Columbo ran for eight years and inspired several feature films.

Falk continues to appear in movies, on stage and on TV.  He has two adopted daughters with his first wife Alyce Mayo.

Well, the latest one just went up and it might be the best one yet. Dinner for Schmucks comes out in theaters Friday and features both the man best known for The Hangover and Steve Carell, who will be leaving The Office next year.

The language is not safe for work, so many put on your headphones, but you’ll never look at Carell, or his nose, the same way again.

Storming out of nowhere and onto BBC America in 2008, I almost didn’t even watch the American premiere of Gavin and Stacey.  Thankfully, at the last minute I tuned in and felt the kind of immediate love for a show that I hadn’t experienced since season two of The Office (U.S.).  Created by James Corden (who plays Smithy) and Ruth Jones (Nessa) in 2007, this BBC comedy followed the lives of two families (formed of blood and friendship) from the oddly separate yet similar worlds of Barry, Wales and Essex, England as they are brought together by the love of Gavin Shipman and his Welsh sweetheart Stacey West.  If you think you can guess how the show proceeds from there, I can assure you you’re quite wrong.

By shrinking their characters’ existence so much, Jones and Corden were able to create an even bigger world for them to play in, one with an endless onslaught of references and minutia lost to the great big world, but utterly Earth shattering to each of them.  From the ordeal of ordering Indian take away to the mastery Gwen put into the art of the omelet, Gavin and Stacey grew larger with each seemingly mundane detail it portrayed.  But what is truly special about this series is what they don’t show.  Some episodes jump months ahead from the previous one.  Jones and Corden have mastered the art of leaving it to your imagination.  Nessa in particular is a character that references past experiences so outrageous they demand explanation, but instead all you get is knowing nods and confirmations from her pals.  In fact, as a viewer, you often feel left out of the joke as these characters display an intimate knowledge of one another usually reserved for the closest of married couples.  Frustrating?  Surprisingly no!  It is the off-hand remark, the punchline with no set up that is predominately the funniest part of the episode.  Whether by design or not, it is what you don’t know that makes you thirst for more and love this world so much.  In an internet world of complete transparency, Gavin and Stacey is nothing short of refreshing.

Jones and Corden have publicly said they don’t see going any further with Gavin and Stacey, that they have done all they can with the characters.  I find that hard to believe because as a fan, I can see so much more to tell, but I guess they feel the journey is over.  Word is BBC want a 2010 Christmas Special and while Corden has stated special are a possibility given time and the right story, it might not be the best idea for fans to sit around holding their breath.

While I am saddened to leave the world of “hi-ya” and “what’s occurin’” behind, I am extremely grateful for the 20 episodes that do exist and the quality they represent.  I could pontificate on the why’s and how’s all day, but what it comes down to is the show makes me smile.  That wide, giddy happy kind of smile that warms your whole heart.  I love television, and I love a lot of shows, but Gavin and Stacey will take its rightful place in the upper echelon of my all time favorites.  Thank you gang, it was a crackin’ good time.

Applegate is reportedly pregnant with her first child.  She and fiancé Martyn Lenoble have confirmed the information to People Magazine.

Lenoble asked the beautiful blond actress to marry him Valentine’s Day this year after having dated for two years.  The Dutch bass player supported Applegate during her battle with cancer that lead to a double mastectomy.  ”I’m very grateful to Martyn for coming along at a time that he did because he’s been my rock through all of this,” said the actress to People. “He gave me something to really want to live for and something to smile about.”   They have yet to set a wedding date.

Both of the performers have been married before.  The Samantha Who? star and her first husband, Johnathon Schaech, divorced in 2007.

“I have a small but mighty support system and Martyn has really been an incredible part of my life,” said the smitten Applegate to Us Weekly back in April.  ”Without him, I don’t know if I could’ve gone through any of it. He kind of came around at a time when there was a lot of loss in my life on many levels, so he’s been a really incredible help.”

Congratulations to the happy couple!

Guillaume joined the Karamu Players from Cleveland, Ohio shortly after college and was cast in Broadway’s Free and Easy in 1959. He continued to grace the stage for many years appearing in such shows as Kwamina, Guys and Dolls, The Phantom of the Opera and Purlie! and was nominated for a Tony award for his performance in Guys and Dolls. Guillaume created a controversy when he replaced Michael Crawford as The Phantom of The Opera because he was the first and only black actor, to date, to play the role on Broadway or a national tour.

When the revival of Porky and Bess came around in 1963, Robert Guillaume jumped at the role of Sportin’ Life. During his time on stage, Guillaume also joined the Robert de Cormier Singers and The Pilgrims that release a folk album, Just Arrived.

He also had many guest appearances in TV sitcoms, including Sanford and Son, Good Times, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air and the Jeffersons. Guillaume then started portraying the role we know him best for, Benson Du Bois, on Soap in 1977. Benson DuBois got his own spin off, in 1979, entitled Benson. There he stayed until 1989 when he moved on to star in The Robert Guillaume Show. He also appeared as a regular on Pacific Station and Sports Night.

On January 14, 1999, Guillaume had a mild stroke on the set of Sports Night. The writers set it up so that Guillaume’s character also had a stroke so he continued in the role for another year. During his career, Guillaume has also lent his voice to a variety of animated characters, including Rafiki from the Lion King.

Guillaume has won two Emmy Awards, one for Outstanding Supporting Actor – Comedy Series in 1979 for Soap, and the other for Outstanding Lead Comedy Actor in 1985 for Benson. He is to this day the only African American actor to win the Lead Comedy Actor Emmy Award and St Louis awarded him a star of the St. Louis Walk of Fame.

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.

Running Wilde will reunite a slew of Arrested Development actors including Will Arnett and David Cross. The series focuses on a Beverly Hills douchebag named Steve (Arnett) who falls for a sweet hippie-type chick named Emmy (Keri Russell—welcome back, Felicity!). Too bad she despises him and everything he stands for. Emmy makes it her life’s goal to change Steve into a better person, and Steve makes it his goal to win Emmy over. I smell romance!

Cross will join the cast for seven episodes as the radical environmentalist fiancé of Emmy. The role was originally played by Andrew Daly.

After watching the show’s trailer, I am even more stoked. I actually laughed out loud several times. Arnett’s douchiness is dry and hilarious, and Russell’s sweet disposition is laced with a touch of sarcasm, which I find charming. And, for some reason, the quirky chemistry between the two characters seems to actually work.

Running Wilde is set to premiere on September 21 at 9:30 p.m. EST…and you can count on me watching it.

Earlier this year, it looked as if Anchorman 2 might be a reality…but not so now.

McKay stated, “It’s not happening, for sure, 100 percent. I’ll put it to bed. The only way it could come back [would be] in two years, three years, but to line everyone’s schedule up and to get everything done, and when it fell apart, to put that back together again, you’re still talking about waiting.”

But the sequel wouldn’t have been your ordinary movie. There would be no boring, regular dialogue during the film. McKay confirmed that it would have been a musical. He stated, “It was a musical. We were going to do four months on Broadway and then jump right into filming.”

While most people are, after learning that little fact, breathing a sigh of relief that a musical Anchorman 2 will not be happening, I’m a little bummed. I’m a big fan of comical musicals, and I think the Anchorman cast would nail a hilarious musical performance.

After watching the music video for “Afternoon Delight,” I just want more. And more. And more…

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.

With it being Steve Carell’s last season, we had to see Holly again.  Writer/executive producer/cast member Paul Lieberstein has confirmed that yes, Holly will be back, but not just for a quick cameo.  Ryan will be around for eight episodes.

That means we’ll be able to enjoy Holly Flax for a third of the season, leading me to believe she might have something to do with Michael Scott leaving at the end of the season.

The season finale showed Scott asking Sabre CEO Jo (Kathy Bates) asking if she could bring Holly back.  Jo will do just that, but Holly will not be a happy camper about being back in Scranton.  Apparently she’s built herself a nice life with her boyfriend A.J. (Rob Huebel who may or may not return) and doesn’t want to leave it according to Lieberstein.

In regards to Carell’s departure, Lieberstein says he doesn’t want to see Carell go but at the same time thinks it may bring a fresh angle to the show.  ”To actually get to write someone out who’s a main character, it’s a cool opportunity. Not that I want Steve to leave, but in the long run” it could be a benefit to the series.

There’s been no solid decision on who will replace Carell, but it was reported earlier that writer/executive producer/cast member (jeez, does everyone on this cast serve multiple functions?) Mindy Kaling is pushing for Rainn Wilson’s Dwight to snag the job.

Kaling, who received a nomination for co-writing last season’s Jim/Pam wedding episode, is very much Team Dwight.  “I’d love to see Rainn Wilson in that position.  Dwight has become so nuanced — you actually care about him now. I think if [we did a good job laying the groundwork] this coming season, he would be a fantastic boss.  But that’s my dream.  It certainly hasn’t been approved by people that are more powerful than me and who make those kinds of decisions.”

As a “promote from within” kind of girl, Kaling thinks having Wilson’s character take over will be easiest for the cast and the viewers.  ”It’s like the stand-up [expression]: The audience doesn’t want someone whose hand they haven’t sniffed,” said the actress.

Of course, if she (and many others) had her way Carell wouldn’t be leaving at all, but when faced with the options she’d rather have Wilson.  As a co-producer for the show she may actually have some pull to turn this “dream” into a reality, especially if she ends up winning the Emmy.  Obviously the girl can write well (the Jim/Pam wedding episode has been hailed as one of the best in the show’s history), so maybe she can write the job transition episode.

So what do you folks think?  Would Dwight Schrute be a suitable replacement?  Or are you hoping that Carell will still make that 11th hour change of heart like the cast is?

Baldwin spoke about his future plans and current passions in an interview with CNN. He said, “As much as I like acting, I know that I would love to have a different life. A private life…I think that doing this now for a living has become really, really hard. I would rather go do other things, and [with] whatever amount of time I have left in my life, have a normal life.”

The long-time actor looked pretty sad uttering the above words, and it may be the first time I’ve seen Alec Baldwin come across as purely sincere and genuine.

It makes perfect sense to me, Alec. While so many of us dream about a life of fame and celebrity, we don’t think about what all comes along with it. When I do think about those things, I am thankful for my little, semi-normal life. But rest assured that your fans will certainly miss your shining face.

Geez…first Steve Carell leaving The Office…now Alec Baldwin leaving 30 Rock. What’s next? Amy Poehler leaving Community?!

He started with “Last day of shooting tomm. Bittersweet!” And then added this bombshell, “There is one more season after this one.”

The 7th season of the show premiered on June 27 and will continue this Sunday with its second episode. This season will see Vince and the boys go through some of their toughest trials yet including drugs, lack of work, girl problems, money issues and much, much more. So, it makes sense that next year will be the last. As Vince and the boys spiral downward, maybe next year will see them end up back on top where they belong. Until, of course, they do that movie they’ve been talking about.

Ferrara isn’t the only Entourage star currently tweeting up a storm. Star Adrian Grenier is on there, as is Jeremy Piven, show creator Doug Ellin, plus porn star Sasha Grey, who plays a major role this year. Other stars who cameo this year and tweet alot include Bob Saget, Maria Menounos and NBA Free Agent Chris Bosh.

But the stand up comedian star, writer and producer of that show, Louis C.K. was not done. Being one of the most brilliant and respected stand ups in the world has its pluses. Not to mention that he was a writer for Late Night With Conan O’Brien, The Chris Rock Show, wrote and directed Pootie Tang and more. This guy has a high quality pedigree and a very unique voice. And FX saw an opportunity in that.

While Lucky Louie made fun of the sitcoms people loved, the new show Louie (FX, 11 p.m., Tuesdays) just makes fun of Louis. He stars as himself, a divorced stand up comedian with two young daughters, and the show cuts between stand up acts and dramatizations of awkward/ funny situations that are discussed in the comedy.

It’s not as rude or crude as the HBO show was, but being that it’s on so late, as well as airing on a very content liberal cable network, the show can push the envelope pretty far. The language and subject matter are very nasty at times, but also very honest and funny. It exhibits humor that needs to take some time to get used to, humor where you are laughing at something you shouldn’t be laughing at, but continue to do so. Shows like The Office and 30 Rock dabble in this sort of cringe sensibility but never hit the mark like Louie.

That said, those shows have been constantly funny, and have developed characters and long story arcs over several seasons. Louie has only been on for one week. But, in that week, we’ve seen a light at the end of the tunnel of what’s possible from a television comedy.

The Office star Jenna Fischer married screenwriter Lee Kirk in a private ceremony this past weekend.  The couple has been together since January 2008, but it wasn’t until the September 2008 Emmy Awards that they stepped out for the first time together.  Fischer called him her “super-cute boyfriend.”  The pair became engaged in the summer of last year.

Co-star Rainn Wilson was among the attendees and shared his happiness for the couple on his Twitter account.  ”Went to the most beautiful wedding I’ve ever experienced,” Wilson tweeted. “Total Love, Jenna Fischer & Lee Kirk!”  Fischer is best known for her portrayal of Pam Halbert on the show based off the BBC original.

Fischer, 35 years old, was married to director James Gunn before their divorce in 2007.  The split seemed amicable, with Fischer asking her fans at the time not to bash Gunn.  ”You might be tempted to make one of us ‘feel better’ by putting the other one down in a post. Please don’t – we still have the utmost respect for one another,” said the statement to her Myspace fans.  This will be Kirk’s first marriage.

This news comes not long after another The Office star, Angela Kinsey, filed for divorce from her husband and co-worker, Warren Lieberstein.

What we have here is a 10 minute montage of the 100 greatest insults in movie history. From Star Wars to Full Metal Jacket, and everything in between, this video is just plain awesome and a great love letter to movies. In a subversive, potty mouthed kind of way.

On Thursday, July 1st, Colbert Report touched on some pretty big topics, including

Who is really behind the BP oil spill in the Gulf? Colbert has the answer: Dawn dishwashing detergent. NPR recently covered the “cutting-edge” report that one of the main ingredients is petroleum. In fact, Colbert points out, Dawn is one-seventh petroleum. “For every seven gallons they use to clean up a bird, they have to use another gallon just to clean up the Dawn,” Colbert states. “It’s the worst cleaning product scandal since Mr. Clean was caught giving the Brawny guy a Spic and Span. It was fantastic,” He concluded.

Next, Colbert takes on the Spaghetti-O’s recall. The reason the soup was recalled? It was “underprocessed.” Wait a minute…isn’t that what the soup is? Processed pasta? According to Colbert threat number two is actual food. Apparently, you can never have food that’s too processed.

But the gem of the video is Colbert’s report that Texas wants to criminalize sodomy and make gay marriage a felony. “Folks, this is a fool-proof way to end homosexuality in Texas. Gay people are good law-abiding citizens, so if we make sodomy illegal, I’m sure they’ll stop doing it. And if they don’t, we’ll send them to jail, where there is no sodomy,” Colbert said. Obviously, the Texas GOP is threat number one, according to the comic. “Sometimes sodomy can be a depraved, unnatural act of debasement between a man and a woman, as God intended,” he wrapped up.

You’re hilarious, Stephen. Will you be my creepy but funny uncle?

I had the opportunity to sit down and interview Pauly Shore about his latest project: Adopted. Adopted is a funny, surprisingly honest mockumentary about Pauly adopting two African kids. The idea of Pauly Shore adopting African children is pretty funny even as an idea, and Pauly managed to take what could be a goofball premise and imbue it with something human. It’s worth checking out, and so is this equally fun and honest interview I had with him. Also of note, you can’t tell, but I gave him the nice chair.

RealTVAddict’s Exclusive Interview w/Pauly Shore! from RealTVAddict on Vimeo.

Now, you can watch him “Grab the Remote” for a chance to win a sick , fully 3D capable, home entertainment center.

The second of three Everyman Challenges, presented by Klondike, kicks of July 1 and implores you to come up with the most creative and lazy way to grab your remote from the couch. You know the situation. It’s TV time, so you plop on the couch and realize the remote is on the other side of the room, way out of reach. Sure, you could actually GET UP but you’ve already got your beer, your snacks, and you’re tired. So, the question is, how are you going to grab the remote?

Check out how Adam figured it out below, visit the Klondike Everyman Challenge website for official rules, then make your own video. The deadline is July 22.

If you win, you get the following:

•     55-inch flat screen 3-D TV

•     3-D Blu-Ray player

•     A Home theater

•     Two plush recliners

•     $2,500 cash to stock it right

So grab on, dear TV addicts. And if you win, I want to watch Avatar.