IMMORTALS is the best new release this week

Today is 11/11/11 and there was a big marketing push around that for a few movies, particularly IMMORTALS. But what else came out today? Apparently, not much in terms of quality...

J. Edgar has the pedigree with Leonardo DiCaprio and Clint Eastwood involved. However, the reviews have been pretty mixed, given that caliber of talent.

Jack and Jill is so obviously terrible that I really don't need to get into it here.

And that leaves IMMORTALS. I saw it a couple weeks ago and while it's not a great Greek epic and certainly doesn't live up to 300, it was definitely an enjoyable watch thanks to some stellar visuals, amazing 3D, and visionary fight scenes. You can ready my full review on NapiersNews.com. 

And for those of my readers who are also fans of The Vampire Diaries, the evil king's sniveling sidekick is TVD's Klaus! He's way better at being evil than being evil's sidekick though. I was pretty disappointed he didn't get a chance to really shine - he was basically the movie's punching bag throughout.

If you see IMMORTALS this weekend, let me know your thoughts in the comments!

SNL Highlight: A Brief Interview with Drake

My favorite sketch from the Anna Faris/Drake SNL episode from Saturday isn't online because of copyright restrictions for the "Tell Him" song. Boo! So, instead of posting that video clip, I'll post my second favorite skit from the night: the Digital Short A Brief Interview with Drake.

Watch it here and let me know which segment was your favorite. I think mine was the extremely close up interview!

SNL Highlight: Arlene's sexual harrassment

Melissa McCarthy was a fearless and hilarous host on this past Saturday Night Live! She didn't always get the best material, but she was game for anything - including repeated falling down stairs and dousing herself in Ranch dressing. While those big gaffs were funny, I felt the sketches relied on too one-note a joke to make it into this week's highlight posts.

However, Melissa's Arlene was hilarious not only for her performance and comittment to the joke, but also for the somewhat surprising turn with Bill Hader. Check it out after the break, and let me know which sketch was your favorite in the comments!

The Vampire Diaries: Season 3 Episode 3 Recap

Putting the “Dairies” back in “The Vampire Diaries”

Tonight the diaries trope finally came back! For a show based around the diaries of Elena and Stefan, it’s a trope that is rarely used and was last season in the first few episodes. I didn’t miss it at all, but this week it was used perfectly. Elena’s reading of Stefan’s diary and the flashbacks to the 20s provided two different views of the same events. Throw in Klaus’ retelling and we get the full picture of just who The Ripper was during the roaring ‘20s. 

The Vampire Diaries: Season 3 Episode 1 "The Birthday" Episode Recap

Last we saw Mystic Falls, Stefan had turned into a blood drug-addict, completely changed from the nice guy we’ve seen up until now. Damon was on death’s door, but luckily Katherine brought him Klaus’s blood to save him - just as Elena was literally kissing Damon goodbye!


This season promises to be “the season of the originals” but I know I can’t wait to see how Stefan’s transformation plays out with Klaus and especially how Elena and Damons friendship could turn into something more in his absence. Read the full recap after the break!

SYTYCD Season 8: Top 4 Perform

Kenny Ortega and Katie Holmes join our judges tonight and it's the LAST performance episode of the season. I thought America got it right this season and am so happy with the Top 4. I'd be happy with any of them winning tomorrow night.

Melanie and Marko
Doriann Sanchez Disco
I Feel Love (12" Version) by Donna Summer
Well, the lighting and Melanie's faces were the best part of that painful routine. There's a reason this is one of the "dances of death." Katie loved their facial expressions and really that was the best part of the routine. Mary pointed out how their lifts, coming in and out, were rough and not smooth transitions. Nigel thought it was a bit of a struggle and they were uncomfortable in the style.

THE HELP opens in theaters today

With Gordon and the Whale closing its digital doors this month, I've found a new writing home at GeekTyrant and just posted my first review there! I saw THE HELP last week and really loved the "controversial" story. Watch the trailer after the break and then go read my review!

SYTYCD Season 8: Top 6 Perform

The Top 6 are being judged by the usual duo as well as Christina Applegate and Lil C. For time purposes, I may have to just not quote him at all, or I could be writing all night. The Top 6 are all strong, but I'm still a bit surprised to see Caitlynn there instead of Jordan. I just expected her to be there the whole time, it's hard to adjust. Oh well, let's get to tonight's dancing!

SYTYCD Season 8: Top 8 Perform

Tonight, Lady Gaga joins the judging table, as well as PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN 4 director Rob Marshall. The Top 8 take the stage with All-Stars, but also partner up with each other to bringing some "dances of death" along with one routine that may just be my favorite of the season.

Read about all the routines and who I think will be going home tomorrow after the break.

SYTYCD Season 8: Top 12 Perform

Tonight the judges panel is filled with Jesse Tyler Fergeson (Mitchell on Modern Family), who has an extensive background in Broadway, and one of my favorite choreographers Sonya Tayeh. With only 6 couples left, they'll all be performing two routines so this night is packed to the brim with dancing. Love it!

We're so close to the Top 10 and there are more than few couples I didn't imagine would make it this far. I'm sure you can guess I'm thinking of Ryan and Jess. Their respective partners are great, but I definitely didn't see these two in my Top 10. This is the last chance for America to make my dream Top 10 a reality! The other couple I didn't expect to see this far in is Caitlynn and Mitchell. They have been a fantastic surprise duo! They not only pull off the dancing well, but they have amazing chemistry as partners and even pull of the romantic stories well. (Which I didn't quite expect from someone as flamboyant as Mitchell, that just proves how talented at performing and diving into his character he is.)

Now, on to the dancing!

SYTYCD Season 8: Top 14 Perform

This week Travis Wall and Carmen Electra join the judging table. While Travis makes complete sense, Carmen Electra doesn't...is she going to critique their stripper abilities? After her intro, she does have a bit of dance credibility - she majored in ballet and performance arts, danced with Prince and won Miss Dance Ohio. I didn't even know there was such a thing!

Justin Gilles Guy's Contemporary Routine
Song: Prague by Damien Rice
Chris, in the back far right, was really off for one small section of the routine and that really threw off the whole aesthetic. I liked the slow introductions to each guy and how each piece was a bit separate but then came together to up the emotion.

SYTYCD Season 8: Top 16 Perform

This week Kristen Chenoweth and Lil C join the judges panel to comment on the Top 16 performances. If you don’t know who Kristen Chenoweth is, you need to get on Netflix and watch Pushing Daisies. Ok, you back after watching? Good, we’re in some fantastic dancing tonight! Let’s get to it.

Tyce D’iorio Group Broadway Routine

Song: Hit the Road Jack by Ray Charles

The chairs were really well incorporated into the choreography and they were really throwing them, which added a bit of danger to the routine. I thought they all did a great job, even though I’m not a fan of Tyce and therefore it’s hard for me to admit that.

Sasha & Alexander

Dee Caspary Contemporary

Song: Belong by Cary Brothers

I loved that Sasha came out of the piano and that ending bit where her hands came out of the piano. Nigel thought Alex needed more of a connection with the audience, Sasha, and the emotion of the piece. Kristen loved that she couldn’t even hear Sasha dance, she was just so graceful and fluid. Lil C loved it and said it so verbosely that I can’t quote him.

SYTYCD Season 8: Top 20 Perform AGAIN

This week, living legend Debbie Reynolds is guest judging! Famous for her work in SINGIN' IN THE RAIN and tons of other musical movies, and danced with dancing legend Gene Kelly.

Ricky & Ryan
Mandy Moore Jazz
Song: Addicted to Love by Robert Palmer
Ricky's jump into the splits was impressive. Otherwise, nothing really stood out to me and thought it was just average for the show. Nigel thought they were on the Hot Tamale Train, with it being so hot and raunchy, with huge sexual tension "like something between Mary and [Nigel]." Mary shrieked that she's addicted to them and thought Ryan was a "warrior vixen" while Ricky was in character the whole time. Debbie Reynolds was hilarious: "I've never seen anyone dance sexier, I mean you fell out of your top, you fell out of your bottom, you gave it your all!"

SYTYCD Season 8: Top 20 Perform and Wow America

This week the Top 20 perform in 10 awesome partnerships. Megan Mullaly is the guest judge, and just to prove that she does belong there, they went over her previous dance creditials: danced in a ballet company in New York during high school and just after graduating and just recently starred in 3 broadway shows.

Unfortunately, there's already been an injury in the ranks. Mitchell hurt his elbow after his first rehearsal, so he's sitting this episode out and in danger of going home this week. Let's get started with the dancing!

STYTCD Season 8: Top 20 Revealed!

This season the format gets changed up again. They're taking the best of both worlds and having a Top 20 where the contestants will have a steady partner until they are eliminated or until the Top 10. Then, the Top 10 will partner up with a new All-Star each week. So we get to see some great chemistry and partnerships form while the contestents grow, but then we also get to see our favorite dancers from previous seasons return! They won't announce the All-Stars until the Top 10 are revealed, but who do you think they'll bring back? I'm hoping Twitch and Courtney will return, but since they came back last season they might get all new All-Stars.

And now, we see who of the final 31 contestants gets to become - Season 8 Top 20. 

ABDC Season 6: And the Winner is...

Tonight it all ends. Either IaMmE wins or I may just give up on this show forever and stick with So You Think You Can Dance only. I guess we'll see tonight! Over 50 million votes were cast, breaking all previous records for this show. Along with crowning a winner, all five previous champions are back to perform again. We'll get amazing routines from Jabbawockeez, Super Crew, Quest Crew, We are Heroes, and Poreotix.

Opening Number: IaMmE and Iconic Boyz
Raise Your Glass by Pink
The two final crews performed together in a rocking opening number and I was very impressed with how well the integrated the two crews style. My favorite move was Marvelous Moon's little slide and rock and roll move, front and center.

Read about the other performances after the break.

ABDC Season 6: The Battle of the Final Two

What's the point of this episode? I thought their last routine was the "last chance dance" that traditionally ends the competition and we just wait to crown the victor. But I guess they wanted to add another episode to the season, so tonight the crews are doing one last episode of "no holds barred" dancing to show America what they've got.

If Phunk Phenomenon had made it to the finale, I would care about this episode a lot more. I don't really care to see Iconic Boyz dance three more times. I just want to see them lose already!

For the first routine, the judges picked their most stunning performance from each crew for them to recreate and kick up a notch. See what routines the judges picked, after the break.

ABDC Season 6: Kanye West Challenge

The top three take the stage to Kanye West's tracks and have to attack a type of dance that relates to Kanye's constant evolution through dance styles. I guess Kanye's too busy with all that power to intro the songs since Season 5 winners are introducing the crews to their challenge. Also, instead of each of the crews getting a single Kanye song, they'll be dancing to a super master mix and all have to include The Dougie, Boogaloo, and Isolations.

Group Performance
Kanye West Song: All of the Lights feat. Rihanna
Awesome routine with some great use of the stage and interaction with the audience. It's just glaringly obvious that Iconic Boyz are being outdanced in these numbers though. If they win this show, I'm going to be pissed. This is supposed to be America's BEST Dance Crew, not America's CUTEST Dance Crew.

The crew locked in for the finale is...

ABDC Season 6: Nicki Minaj Challenge

As a big fan of Nicki Minaj, I have high hopes for this week! They'll also finally do a group performance. I wish they would do these more often, instead of just the first week and the Top 4.

Group Performance
Nicki Minah Song: Massive Attack
Great group number that let every crew shine! I especially loved that Iconic Boyz were hidden behind the shrubs in the beginning and then when they came out, tried to grab Oliva from IaMmE, but she slipped through their fingers.

The final four crews come from across the country, from LA to New Jersey, and Boston to Houston. I was mistaken last week in saying the West was out of the running; I don't know why I thought Street Kingdom was from either the South or the East? Oh well, just wanted to correct what I said last week. The West could still hold on to their reign, if Street Kingdom hangs on until the end.

ABDC Season 6: Justin Bieber Challenge

This week is probably going to be torturous for many of the fans. Seriously, who associates Justin Bieber with hip hop dancing? I know he’s Usher’s protégé, but come on.

With only 5 crews left, it’s getting harder and harder to pick out which crew will be in the bottom. The first group to be safe is either Instant Noodles or Iconic Boyz. Are you kidding me? Iconic Boyz are safe andInstant Noodles are in danger of going home. I guess it’s appropriate that the teen boys are the first to dance to the “teen dream” Bieber.

Crew: Iconic Boyz
Justin Bieber Song: Baby featuring Ludachris
Background: They have to incorporate basketball moves into their routine, since he played basketball in his movie NEVER SAY NEVER. They won’t have a ball on stage, so they’ll have to mime together to get the imagery across.
Routine: I love that their master mix included D-Trix’s commentary on how they’re “all like a bunch of dancing Justin Biebers.” Oh snap, did I just enjoy their routine? That was my favorite of their routines yet. They did a great job incorporating basketball movements, but JC thought it was all really easy choreography. He wants them to step up their game since that didn’t show off that they’re supposed to be among the best. Lil Mama got what they were going for and thinks they’re growing. D-Trix didn’t agree with JC this week, and turned his insult back on him. “Don’t be a crackhead, man.” He loved the progression in their movements and the story of the game they told. He’s got Bieber Fever, but this week D-Trix caught Iconic Fever.