Obama, McCain and LiLo

Things you might need to know for this weekend's backyard BBQs:

A whopping 38.4 million people watched Barack Obama's speech last night at the Democratic National Convention, a better turnout than for the opening ceremonies of the Beijing Olympics and way more than tuned in for the Academy Awards last February. Maybe it was because he skipped the flying musicians and the droning montages.

Salacious, thy name is MTV. The network, fresh off its non-Britney deal, wants to find A Girl for Katy Perry to Kiss. Top choice: newly gayed-up LiLo. No word if it'll really happen.

Rod Lurie to John McCain: You owe me some money! The film and TV writer, decorated for his work on "The Contender," which earned Oscar nominations for Joan Allen and Jeff Bridges, said the scenario of an aging Republican presidential candidate who picks a younger, more inexperienced woman as a running mate was his idea. And he liked it better when it was fiction.

Oscar flicks: boxoffice buzz kills?

Could this year's crop of Oscar contenders stop the boxoffice momentum in its tracks?

Don't mean to be killjoys here, but in looking over various lists of Oscar hopefuls, some of them showing for the first time at the Sept. 4-launching Toronto Film Festival, we're noting an awful lot of, shall we say, difficult movies. As in, difficult to convince anyone to plop down some hard-earned ducats to see.

So far this year, serious is not what is driving people to the multiplex. Superheroes like "The Dark Knight," "Iron Man" and "Hancock" have reigned supreme this summer, as have popcorn flicks like "Indiana Jones" and family fare like "Wall-E" and "Kung Fu Panda." Looks like the season will finish on par with or better than last summer's record breaking grosses.

Some consistently well-reviewed indie movies with excellent word of mouth and nothing to do with the war in Iraq -- "The Visitor" and "Tell No One" to name a couple -- haven't cracked $10 million domestic. Documentaries, even the upbeat ones, can't get arrested.

What chance, then, does Charlie Kaufman's "Synecdoche, New York" have? The drama with a convoluted storyline, a play within a city wrapped by a warehouse, eventually got picked up for distribution by Sony Pictures Classics after a Cannes screening that left a lot of critics scratching their heads.

Not that boxoffice gold translates to Golden Guys -- which has been a source of ongoing criticism of the Academy that more mainstream movies can't get invited to the party. Could this be the year where that happens? No "Juno" has yet emerged.

And not to say there won't be some fine films in a year that, like many, will be back-loaded with serious awards contenders. Just can't imagine a real stampede for "Frost/Nixon." (The stars, Frank Langella and Michael Sheen, are pictured above). In fact, roll all the weighty Oscar hopefuls together and they probably won't equal the first few weeks' take of "Quantum of Solace."

The boxoffice will suffer. Will you? Let us know if you're already planning the trifecta of "Changeling" (with star Angelina Jolie, pictured), "Milk" and "Doubt" or if you're more psyched about "Twilight."

Snapped goes for Emmy jugular

Gratuitous true crime reality TV? Bring it on, complete with cheesy re-enactments, shaky hand-held cameras and dramatizations that have emerged as a likely source of work for at least some of L.A.'s bottomless pool of wait staffers.

So, with much anticipation we learn of an upcoming marathon of "Snapped," an Oxygen series that's a little "America's Most Wanted," some "Girls Gone Wild," and a lot of low-rent "Biography."

How in the world has this gem existed for so long without our notice? And how is it not on Emmy's radar? We're kidding about that last part, but only if the Academy can't find it in its collective heart to honor a show about seemingly normal women coming completely unglued and committing murder in sometimes creative but often very clumsy and traceable ways. We won't hold our breath on that one.

A press release today from Oxygen -- just for context, home to shows that star Tori Spelling and Janice Dickinson and many plus-sized projects from Mo'Nique -- tells us that the "Snapped" marathon is airing Sept. 21 in prime time, head to head with the Emmys. Now that's some counterprogramming for you. Oh snap, indeed.

Our TiVo will be busy with such profiles as Dixie Shanahan, a quiet Iowa farmwife who "shot her husband in their bedroom, then left the room and shut the door. It stayed shut for almost a year."

And this one: "Erika Sifrit was happily married and running a scrapbooking business, until police discovered she'd held onto a few mementos that weren't her own -- items that belonged to a local couple that had mysteriously disappeared."

Never trust those scrapbookers, we always say.

The victims are usually no-account boyfriends and husbands, and the show's been criticized in the past for painting the perps themselves as victims (a couple from past seasons are pictured here). Even so, it has a devoted audience and ranks among the top series on the cable network, helping to recast the channel as the place to see women reeking havoc (that would be the flip side of Lifetime).

The most recent episode of "Snapped" pulled in the series' highest ratings ever among female demos. Additional background here. Doubt there's many men watching, unless they're looking for clues on why their angry wives seem so happy to serve them dinner these days (hint: there's anti-freeze in that marinade).

What better way to spend the couch-ridden day after the Emmys than watching small-town moms give in to homicidal rage? Now that's a plan.

Sexy Jesus rocks Oscar?

"Blame Canada" blazed the trail. Will "Rock Me Sexy Jesus" be next?

Here's an Oscar campaign that we can really get behind, mainly because a live performance that lovingly sings about Jesus's abs and his Satan-ass-kicking ability could do wonders for the ceremony. Sure couldn't hurt.

Focus Features is doing double duty, no doubt, with a full-page "for your consideration" ad in today's L.A. Times hawking the "Hamlet 2" ditty as a best original song contender.

The specialty label also desperately needs to put butts in seats, hence justifying its near-record-breaking $10 million Sundance payout for the Steve Coogan-starring high school-set farce. Kick off a splashy Oscar drive? Why not? The movie's made a miniscule half-million bucks since opening a week ago, though it's been in very limited release. It broadens out tomorrow and sure could use a little talk value.

The Focus-created Web address listed in the ad wasn't working for us, but you can go to the YouTubes for a sing-along version of the cheeky song, complete with Coogan crotch grabs.

Trivia du jour: Not only did Matt Stone and Trey Parker gets tongues wagging with their Oscar nomination at the 2000 awards for "Blame Canada," from "South Park: Bigger, Longer and Uncut," but they also caused near-fatal TV network aneurisms when they showed up on the red carpet in drag.

More on their fashion choices, and the fate of their nominated song, after the jump.

Critics singe Burn After Reading

That possible "Burn After Reading" booing and hissing we mentioned earlier today? Gee, that didn't take long.

Critics turned out for the Coen brothers' follow-up to their Oscar-laden "No Country for Old Men" at the Venice Film Festival today, and they didn't much like what they saw.

THR's Kirk Honeycutt calls "Burn After Reading" "a minor piece of silliness with all the trappings of an A-list studio movie." That would be the Oscar-heavy cast of George Clooney, Frances McDormand, Tilda Swinton and past nominee Brad Pitt. For them, the decorated brothers have created "looney-tunes roles" in "an anti-spy thriller in which nothing is at stake, no one acts with intelligence and everything ends badly."

But how do you really feel?

Variety's Todd McCarthy is even harsher:

"Nothing about the project’s execution inspires the feeling that this was ever intended as anything more than a lark, which would be fine if it were a good one. As it is, audience teeth-grinding sets in early and never lets up."

Even the not-so-brutal Guardian thinks that the Coen brothers film that "Burn" most closely resembles is "Intolerable Cruelty." Ouchie!

Unrealistic to think that the Coens, here wearing all the writing, directing and producing hats, could come up with back-to-back Oscar contenders? Maybe so. They don't look so hopeful in this photo, and it was taken before the screening.

Much shuffling of early Oscar predictions will now commence. And just think of it this way, if Clooney and Coens are out of the picture, there's more room for Leo and Sam Mendes!

 

Burn After Reading hits Venice

And the fans go wild. Why shouldn't they? It's Oscar winner George Clooney and past Oscar nominee Brad Pitt, two of the world's most genetically perfect human beings, doing a little gladhanding at the Venice Film Festival, where their "Burn After Reading" is kicking off the 10-day event.

It's all tuxes and photo opps, but with a humanitarian sidebar, as Clooney and Pitt are also in town for a fundraising event for their pet charity, Not on Our Watch, which has gathered more than $7 million for the needy in Darfur. Just makes them even more fawn-worthy.

This is the formal coming out party for "Burn After Reading," Joel and Ethan Cohen's follow-up (in its timing, but not its personality) to their Oscar-hoarding "No Country for Old Men." It's a comedy! About the C.I.A.! It'll be making the rounds now to Toronto, the San Sebastian International Film Festival and others as it looks to whip up some Oscar buzz and momentum.

Since there was little real excitement out of Cannes this year, other festivals could take on more heft as potential awards spotters. Ongoing debate about the cost vs. reward of rolling out an Oscar caliber film at a place like Venice hasn't seemed to keep filmmakers or stars away -- cast members/Oscar winners Tilda Swinton and Frances McDormand also hit the red carpet with the Cohen brothers.

Ears to the ground on how "Burn" goes over with the Italians and the critics, though it may take some mighty loud booing and hissing to knock it off those early Oscar projection lists. So far, it's all been about the pedigree, and this hilarious trailer.

No Brit, no Twit

Hopes dashed for a VMA show stopper, a la a coherent Brit Brit without a broke-ass weave. Don Draper's pithy 140-character missives cut down in their prime. And Oscar nominees, and that Cody chick, get another day in the sun.

Here's your afternoon wrap.

Britney Spears' manager says the singer's too busy in the studio working on her new record right now to jack up MTV's ratings by performing at the VMAs on Sept. 7.

She took time out to shoot a couple promos with cheeky Brit host Russell Brand, making us all wonder if the Grammy-winning pop tart would use the awards show as Another Redemption Vehicle. She's nominated -- for "Piece of Me" -- so it's likely she'll at least put in an appearance. But as for performing? We say, it ain't over 'til it's over.

What would AMC do if "Mad Men" fans starting Twittering up a storm? Threaten to ruin the party.

Oscar nominees Ronald Harwood (adapted screenplay for "The Diving Bell and the Butterfly") and Nancy Oliver (original screenplay for "Lars and the Real Girl") and, oh yeah, the one who won, Diablo Cody (best original screenplay for "Juno") are in the mix for $115,000 in cash and the 2008 Humanitas Prize, given out for writing that shows some humanity (not inanity). "The Wire," "Boston Legal" and "John Adams" are among the TV competitors.

 

Highly aware of skipping NBC fall shows

Being among the 211 million people who soaked up a good deal of the Olympics coverage on NBC, we were just as incredulous as the rest of you probably were with those horrifying "Kath & Kim" promos.

Doesn't Selma Blair know not to go full retard?

After enduring one too many "My Own Worst Enemy" clips (what on earth is this show even about, anyway?), we can say with relative certainty that we are 59% more aware that we will not watch that crapfest.

There are two versions of the Olympics-promo-as-sales-vehicle story today, one in THR and another, far less charitable, in Variety.

NBC is trying to paint the picture that having the most-watched TV event in history will be the tide that lifts some truly mediocre looking new series. (Didn't seem to help "American's Toughest Jobs" last night).

Awareness for the fall launches is at 59%, insists the network's marketing chief.

If you ask us, that's because "America's Got Talent" used an adorable little lisping kid to sell the next round of the modern day Gong Show, everybody knows but doesn't necessarily love "Knight Rider" from back in the day, and the creators of the previously Emmy-nominated "Heroes" prostrated themselves before Comic-Con's Nerd Nation a few weeks ago, swearing on their mother's lives that this season will be better than last. Word gets around in the face of such pandering.

Alls we can say is, bring on "The Shield." And for a sneak into the final season of the Golden Globe- and Peabody-winning show -- at least the first eight episodes -- go here for a thoughtful review from our brother blog Live Feed and join us in the countdown to Sept. 2.

Fellini meets the Olympics

Sure, we like a ginormous spectacle as much as the next guy, so the closing ceremonies of the Olympics last night were high on our must-see list.

Never mind all the carping about lip synching, kid switching and fireworks faking from the opening show a few weeks back. So? Bring on the humanity! Or, come to find out, the inanity.

We're just relieved today to see that we weren't the only ones who hated the Zhang Yimou-meets-Fellini display that included Jackie Chan singing, giant drums flying and a zillion sleigh bells ringing. (That ad infinitum tink, tink, tink sound just made us itch!)

And we get the London connection and all -- the torch passing to the 2012 games -- but that scene with a warbling Leona Lewis caught in some "Alice in Wonderland" growth spurt? It wasn't any better when she shrunk down to regular size to serenade Jimmy Page. We'd venture a guess that a live version of "Whole Lotta Love" had never suffered such an indignity, even in Zeppelin's most pharmaceutical-fueled days.

Glad that's over.

Here's your brain teaser for the day: Did Led Zeppelin ever win a Grammy? And how about that Leona Lewis? Answer after the jump.

Music to McCain's ears

Never really pegged John McCain for a reggaeton fan. ABBA? Sure! But Daddy Yankee?

Why should the presumptive Republican candidate for president let something like personal taste get in the way of a good photo opp and a little targeted Hispanic outreach? During a campaign stop in Phoenix today, he graciously accepted the Latin Grammy-winning singer's endorsement and then busted out his white boy rendition of "Gasolina." (We made up that last part).

To be fair, McCain seems to be an eclectic guy, music-wise, telling Entertainment Weekly recently that he digs Roy Orbison, Neil Diamond, Frankie Valli and, wait for it...Usher! Rock on, old dude. And by that, we mean no disrespect.

Can't say the same for Madonna, who made her feelings known during her Sticky and Sweet concert tour kickoff this weekend in Wales where a video accompanying her song "Get Stupid" put McCain's mug with those of Adolph Hitler and Robert Mugabe. Subtle! And not even the tiniest bit a desperate cry for attention and ticket sales. Way to go, Madge!

But wait, more music news. Not to be outdone, there's the pop/rock/alt convergence, also known as the Democratic National Convention, this week in Denver where we haven't seen so many performers gathered in one place since Coachella, Lollapalooza, Ozzfest (back when it meant something), the Summer Jams of our youth, Bonnaroo and Bumbershoot combined.

Lots of heavily decorated artists, like multiple Grammy winners Rage Against the Machine, John Legend, Sheryl Crow and Kanye West (with or without the tantrums?) plan a mix of public and private shows. (But curiously, a Grammy Foundation fundraiser has no Grammy winners on the docket. Instead: Convention flip flopper Chris Daughtrey). Nelly's in town, and so is Death Cab for Cutie, Fall Out Boy and Moby.

If that's not enough to rock your vote, we don't know what is.