Do You Have A Summer Movie ‘Hangover?’

September 7th, 2009 | Posted by James K in Film - (1 Comments)

the hangover Do You Have A Summer Movie Hangover?
How will you remember 2009′s summer movies as the season comes to an end? AOL polled fans and this is what they said. Where do you stand?

Which movie was most worth your cash?
The Hangover – 35%
Star Trek – 18%
Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen – 16%
Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince – 12%
District 9 – 10%
Up – 10%

Which movie was least worth your cash?
Year One – 33%
Land of the Lost – 30%
Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen – 17%
G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra – 11%
The Ugly Truth – 10%

What was the best action movie?
Star Trek – 31%
Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen – 30%
X-Men Origins: Wolverine – 16%
District 9 – 14%
G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra – 10%

What was the best chick flick? (more…)

Cool Summer TV

August 31st, 2009 | Posted by James K in Television - (0 Comments)

end of summer tv Cool Summer TV
I know you can’t wait until the Fall TV season starts… but hold on, we’re still got some terrific summer TV to savor. As August turns to September, let’s reflect back on a fun-filled summer on the tube… and I’m only talking about scripted series. Thanks mainly to cable, there was was something to watch (or tape) every night of the week. And unlike, the rest of the year, no repeats, no long dry spells between episodes. And there are still big finales to come.

Here’s my summer Top 10:

  1. Rescue Me (FX) — best season yet. Final ep Tuesday.
  2. True Blood (HBO) — Sunday bloody Sunday.
  3. Royal Pains (USA) — perfect summer show.
  4. Burn Notice (USA) — nice comeback season.
  5. Secret Life of the American Teenager (ABC Family) — hidden gem.
  6. Pushing Daisies/Eli Stone/Dirty Sexy Money (ABC) — glad we got to see them finish.
  7. Monk (USA) — going out on a high note.
  8. Leverage (TNT) — fine cast, fun escapism.
  9. Warehouse 13 (Syfy) — good fit for rebranded network.
  10. Merlin (NBC) — well-produced take on pre-Camelot.

Honorable mention — Hung (HBO), Nurse Jackie (Showtime), Eureka (Syfy), The Philanthropist (NBC), Defying Gravity (ABC).

Summer Books for JoyHogs

June 9th, 2009 | Posted by JP in Articles | Books - (0 Comments)

joyhogsummerreading Summer Books for JoyHogs
Let it begin!  The suntan lotion is packed, the wine is chilled, the new two-piece has been picked out.  It’s time for a little beach reading.  Here are a handful of titles we’re razzed about for the summer months.

(more…)

Summer TV: Shows To Watch

June 4th, 2009 | Posted by James K in News | Television - (0 Comments)

tv at the pool Summer TV: Shows To Watch
Summer is stocked with fresh TV… returning old favorites (Burn Notice, The Closer, True Blood, Entourage, Mad Men) and new editions of reality hits (Big Brother, Project Runway, The Next Food Network Star). But there are also plenty of new scripted series to check out.

  • Royal Pains (USA, June 6) — Mark Feuerstein plays an on-call doc to the wealthy in the Hamptons.
  • Nurse Jackie (Showtime, June 8) — Three-time Emmy winner Edie Falco follows up “The Sopranos” with a dark comedy about an ER nurse with problems of her own.
  • HawthoRNe (TNT, June 16) — Nurses are hot. Jada Pinkett Smith plays by her own rules in this medical drama.
  • Merlin (NBC, June 21) — Merlin (Colin Morgan) and Arthur (Bradley James) are young men in Camelot.
  • Hung (HBO, June 28) — What’s a well-endowed high school teacher (Thomas Jane) who is down on his luck to do? HBO says it’s not a smarmy sex comedy.
  • 10 Things I Hate About You (ABC Family, July 7) — Update of the 1999 movie that starred Heath Ledger.
  • Warehouse 13 (Syfy, July 7) — Action show about Secret Service agents hunting dangerous artifacts launches SciFi’s transformation.
  • Dark Blue (TNT, July 15) — Dylan McDermott is a deep-undercover cop in the latest Jerry Bruckheimer production.

THOR Gets a Lead

May 16th, 2009 | Posted by Joy Hogger in Film | News - (0 Comments)

thor THOR Gets a Lead
Chris Hemsworth (George Kirk form Star Trek) That’s who it is. Apparently he will also being playing THOR in ‘The Avengers.’

The story is being described as…

“…like a superhero origin story, but not one about a human gaining super powers, but of a god realizing his true potential. It’s the story of an Old Testament god who becomes a New Testament god”

I’m not sure if THOR is supposed to be in all caps, but it sounds like it should be.

Hog Quickies (May Day)

May 1st, 2009 | Posted by James K in News - (1 Comments)

hog quick Hog Quickies (May Day)
Our Joy Hog mascot is dancing around the Maypole to celebrate May Day, which in addition to being a celebration of Spring, a neopagan festival and a saint’s feast day, is also a day for organized labor and political protests.

  • May 1 is also Opening Day of the summer movie season. It’s a limp start judging from high-profile reviews of “X-Men Origins: Wolverine.” Rolling Stone’s Peter Travers gives it two stars. EW’s grade is a C-plus.
  • Christina Applegate is on the cover of People’s 100 Most Beautiful issue. Christina Aguilera with baby Max, Michelle Obama and the cast of “90210″ are also honored.
  • “Chuck” is the top pick in USA Today’s annual Save Our Shows poll, followed by “Cold Case,” “Without A Trace” and “Castle.” USA Today did not include “Life,” “Dollhouse” and “Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles,” figuring those shows are already doomed.
  • Catherine Zeta-Jones is reportedly interested in acquiring the film rights to Susan Boyle’s life story… and playing the frumpster.
  • The great Pete Seeger celebrates his 90th birthday May 3 with a gala benefit concert at Madison Square Garden. The all-star guest list includes Bruce Springsteen, Dave Mathews, John Mellencamp, Eddie Vedder and Emmylou Harris.

Summer Movies ’09: Nine That Shine

April 29th, 2009 | Posted by James K in Film - (1 Comments)

wolverine summer Summer Movies 09: Nine That Shine

Honorable Mention: