WGA strike = Brownback reruns
Next week on The Tonight Show, don't miss an awkward apology from Mel Gibson and a performance by Daniel Powter. Over on The Late Show, be sure to catch presidential hopeful Sam Brownback and the hilarious antics of Miss Teen South Carolina. Meanwhile, on Desperate Housewives … well … um, it's going to be a rerun if you haven't caught on to this faux promo scheme yet. Not only is the Writers Guild of America strike showing no signs of an expedient resolution, but CBS now faces an inclement walkout from its news writers, editors, and producers as well. This could spell death for the network Murrow built. Katie Couric is struggling as it is; just imagine how low the ratings will be when she has nothing to cover but Elian Gonzalez, Iran-Contra, and the tragic passing of Mister Ed.
Tom and Jerry at the Box Office
Jerry Seinfeld stung the competition at the box office last weekend, as Bee Movie topped with a $26 million showing. Get it? And they say all the good writers are on strike. Bee Movie bested last weekend's No. 1, American Gangster, which finished a close second with a $24 million, score. That pun was admittedly worse, but this is a family publication and that's the most overt heroin reference they'll allow. The weekend's two major debuts ranged from underwhelming to regular 'whelming. Fred Claus, an early-November release about a fish out of water at the North Pole, starring a cast member from Old School that was in no way the same as Elf, notched a cool $18 million thanks to a strong showing from the at-least-it's-not-Luke-Wilson-as-Rudolph's-stableboy crowd. Lions for Lambs grossed a dismal $6 million, which didn't even cover the cost of all the furniture Tom Cruise jubilantly destroyed during production. Just kidding. Seriously though, that's pretty terrible.
Wahlberg to bring on the 'Payne'
Every so often, a story breaks that just seems to make too much sense. Not since David Hasselhoff was named a judge on America's Got Talent, though, has a development of this intuitive magnitude unfolded. According to reports, Mark Wahlberg will portray Max Payne in John Moore's adaptation of the awesomely violent video game. Considering the nature of the film and that his last effort was the sensibly titled Shooter, one could not cast a movie better unless Courtney Love somehow coaxes Lindsay Lohan to play her in the upcoming Kurt Cobain biopic.
2008 Woodie Awards
