Monday, May 24, 2010

Legend of The Seeker - Cancelled!


The outlook had been bleak since last March, when many of Tribune Station Group’s markets dropped the syndicated series, which had been developed from Terry Goodkind’s fantasy novels by Hercules/Xena producers Sam Raimi and Robert Tapert. ABC Studios, which produces it, kept shopping it around. But, I’m told, they found no takers. So, after two action-packed seasons, Legend is history. I have to admit I would have enjoyed a third season because I really did feel the show had good actors and storylines. I liked how it ended this past weekend. It summed up the "stone of tears" storyline and the rift was sealed between the worlds of the living and the dead so all is right with the world. If you have to go out go with a smile!

Duchess Fergie's – Caught on Camera in a Scandal

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Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York, has apologized and says she is "devastated" after being caught on video accepting money in exchange for a promise of business access to her ex-husband, Prince Andrew, who is a British trade representative.

"If you want to meet him in your business, look after me and he'll look after you … you'll get it back tenfold," Ferguson, 50, is seen saying while accepting a $40,000 cash down payment from an undercover News of the World reporter.

"That opens up everything you would ever wish for," she says. "And I can open any door you want. And I will for you."

In the video, Ferguson falsely claims Prince Andrew, 50, knew of the deal, and advised her to demand more than $700,000. "He knows that he's had to underwrite me up to now because I've got no money," she says on the video.

In fact, Andrew reportedly knew nothing of Ferguson's secret dealings, which will be a royal pain for him as he seeks to maintain his credibility as a British ambassador.

Ferguson has now apologized and says she is "devastated" by the sting operation, according to the Times of London.

"I very deeply regret the situation and the embarrassment caused," she said. "It is true that my financial situation is under stress. However, that is no excuse for a serious lapse in judgment, and I am very sorry that this has happened. I can confirm that the Duke of York was not aware or involved in any of the discussions that occurred."

Scotland Yard has been quoted as saying Ferguson did nothing illegal.

Jimmy Kimmel's; LOST "Alternate Endings"

Did James Cameron Steal Avatar Concept?


James Cameron has been thrust into a legal mess by a San Diego woman who claims the director stole her idea. Kelly Van has filed a lawsuit claiming that Avatar has infringed on the copywright for her 2003 book Sheila the Warrior: The Damned.

The suit alleges that Avatar producers had access to her work and alleges that there is "substantial similarity in characters, setting, plot, visual effects, scenes, concept and feel."

Also in the suit, details stating that Van's concept includes characters with "long braided hair growing beyond the buttocks."

FOX tells The Hollywood Reporter, “This suit is absolutely baseless. Jim Cameron’s treatment for Avatar was written before Ms. Van alleges she even started to write her book.”

'Lost' Finale Addresses Years of Questions


The premiere of "Lost" ended memorably with Charlie's plaintive question to his fellow island castaways: "Guys, where ARE we?"

Six seasons and some 120 episodes later, many viewers might be wondering the same thing as the much-awaited "Lost" finale brought the series to a rapturous close Sunday night.

Viewers, where are we? The answer: Almost anywhere we want to be.

(Spoiler alert for what follows.)

If ever a TV series could be likened to a journey, "Lost" is it, and as it came to the end of the road it left its audience with comfort and inspiration more than hard answers. There was also, not surprisingly, a sense of being lost in the maw of a show that henceforth will give up nothing more, a show whose sweep and ambiguity will fuel debate and theorizing from its viewers for years to come.

That, dear viewers, is where you are.

Led by a two-hour retrospective, ABC's Super Bowl Sunday-scale drama event was capped by the two-and-one-half-hour-long finale.

As they have all season, story lines overlapped between the characters on the island and in their parallel lives in the "normal" world back home in California.

On the island, Jack (Matthew Fox) has volunteered from among the designated candidates to take over from Jacob (Mark Pellegrino) as the island's protector.

The Smoke Monster, occupying the body of Locke (Terry O'Quinn), wants to stop the candidates, kill them, destroy the island and sail away.

Back in Los Angeles, Jack, by profession a surgeon, is about to operate on Locke, who (in this incarnation) is crippled.

"If I can fix you, Mr. Locke, that's all the peace I'll need," Jack says.

But then back on the island, Jack and the Monster-Who-Looks-Like-Locke have a tense confrontation.

"So it's you," says Monster-Locke, meaning the island's new protector. "I assume you're here to stop me."

"Can't stop you," Jack says, but promises instead, "I'm gonna kill you."

Well, he doesn't. But a bit later, Kate (Evangeline Lilly) somehow kills the monster-who-is-mortal-again with a single gunshot after a fierce cliffside fight between him and Jack.

Back in L.A., Locke's surgery is a success. From his bed, he gratefully tells Jack he has feeling back in his legs.

"Jack, I hope that somebody does for you what you just did for me," Locke says to a disturbed-looking Jack, who seems to be having flashes of memory of his alternate existence. It's the sort of memory bursts all the characters are having: island recollections invading their consciousness.

A few minutes later, Jack runs into Kate, his island love, as they, too, play the haven't-I-seen-you-somewhere-before game.

"What is happening to me?" says Jack, bewildered as she looks at him adoringly. "Who are you?"

"I know you don't understand, Jack," she says. "But if you come with me, you will."

Come with her where?

To a church where the former castaways are gathered for what seems a beatific funeral reception for themselves. At this reunion, everyone is smiling and embracing. The room floods with light.

And Jack reconciles with his dead father, whose body he had been bringing back from Sydney when Oceanic flight 815 crashed on the lost island at the start of the series.

Jack has a tender conversation with the man he had clashed with so often before.

"I don't understand," says Jack. "You died."

"Yes, I did."

"Then how are you here right now?"

"How are YOU here?" his father (John Terry) replies.

"I died, too," says Jack, beginning to weep.

"That's OK, son."

And yet it's all real, his father assures him.

"Everything that's ever happened to you is real. All those people in the church, they're all real, too."

"They're all dead?" Jack asks.

"Everyone dies sometime, kiddo," his father replies gently.

Through the run of the series, there was much talk among its characters of being on the island for a purpose. As it draws to a close, "Lost" has sustained the eerie feeling (eerie for TV, anyway) that it was on the air for a purpose -- a special purpose beyond selling products and filling time, or even entertainment.

Its cast, producers, writers and the rest seemed drawn to create "Lost," and keep creating it year after year, thanks to fate as much as show-biz urgencies.

Deeper and wider than any TV series should dare to be, it has been thrilling, captivating, confounding (and, at times, pretty tedious), while it challenged its viewers to think, talk and feel.

The series ended where it began six seasons ago after the plane crash: with a close-up of Jack's eye opening as he lay on the ground. But this time, his eye was open and it shut.

That's where "Lost" leaves us viewers as it shuts down. Maybe not so clear about all we've seen, but challenged. Still a little lost, but reassured.

Simon Monjack, Brittany Murphy's Widower, Found Dead in Los Angeles


Simon Monjack, the husband of late actress Brittany Murphy, was found dead Sunday night in his Hollywood Hills home, according to the Los Angeles Police Department. He was 40. The screenwriter was reportedly found by his mother-in-law, Sharon, in the master bedroom at the house he once shared with Murphy. The cause of death is being investigated.

Now I know he was sick months before Brittany passed away. Something to do with his breathing or the like. So do you think it could be related? Weigh in below.

'Buffy's James Marsters Is Engaged


Actor James Marsters, 47, announced his engagement to longtime girlfriend Patricia Rahman, US Weekly exclusively reports. A rep for the actor confirmed the news today.

Marsters, best known for his role as Spike on 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer' and 'Angel,' proposed to his fashion designer girlfriend in Trier, Germany. The actor met Rahman, 24, at a concert in Amsterdam and they are planning to wed this coming fall.

The actor, also known for memorable roles in 'Smallville,' 'Caprica,' and 'Torchwood,' is heading back to the small screen next fall. Along with 'Lost' alum Daniel Dae Kim, Marsters stars in the new CBS series 'Hawaii 5-0' which will debut in September.

This will be Marsters second marriage. He has one son, Sullivan, with ex-wife Liane Davidson.