'Lost,' 'Grey's Anatomy' Tack on Episodes
Fans of "Grey's Anatomy" and "Lost" will get a little more of the shows they love this season. Eventually.
ABC announced Monday (April 14) that it's adding another episode to each show's season, allowing both to have two-hour season finales. That will make for 17 total episodes of "Grey's Anatomy" for the season and 14 of "Lost" (two short of the initially planned 16).
However, because ABC had scheduled its post-writers' strike episodes so tightly, the finale of "Grey's Anatomy" will force "Lost" off the air for a week in May.
Both shows had been scheduled to end their seasons on Thursday, May 22. Now, though, "Lost" will cede its place on the schedule that night to make room for the two-hour "Grey's Anatomy" finale. It will return on Thursday, May 29 for its own two-hour finale. (Both finales, incidentally, will fall outside Nielsen's May sweeps period, which ends Wednesday, May 21.)
ABC's other Thursday show, "Ugly Betty," will also have its season finale on May 22, as planned.
The network initially ordered five episodes of both series when the strike ended. Once the shows were up and running again, a combination of the ABC wanting the extra hours and the producers of the two shows believing they had more stories to tell resulted in the additional episodes.
Bill Cosby to release rap album in May
LOS ANGELES — Bill Cosby's path has taken him from pudding pops to hip hop.
The 70-year-old has recorded a hip-hop CD set for release next month. Cosby Narratives Vol. 1: State of Emergency blends the comedian's concepts and stories with a hip-hop, pop and jazz soundtrack.
"I do not rap on any of these things," Cosby told The Associated Press Monday. "I wouldn't know how to fix my mouth to say some of the words."
What Cosby does know, though, is that the hip-hop music he hears is profane and degrading. His album is "the opposite of what I think is the profanity for no particular reason, the misogyny for no particular reason. It really looks at the frustration and the anger that a young man may have," he said.
The album, assembled by Cosby's longtime musical collaborator Bill "Spaceman" Patterson, has guest rappers providing the rhymes. The subject matter? "The value of an education. The value of respecting one's self and ... giving (listeners) a chance to raise their self-esteem and confidence," Cosby said.
Patterson said he was surprised when Cosby first inquired about making a rap record — until the comedian revealed he wouldn't be the one doing the rapping.
"People started speculating — is he going to rap about Jell-O Pudding Pops or what?" Patterson said. "But he's always been involved in music and he was there for the first generation of spoken word ... He has always understood rap's potential, but he was appalled by the foul language and the misogyny — the way people used a medium that could be used to elevate people, to open their eyes and provoke thought."
Cosby made the album as a companion to his 2007 best-selling book, Come on, People: On the Path from Victims to Victors. And though he doesn't expect the CD to be a huge hit, it won't be his last hip-hop venture.
"We can do even better," he said. "The next one will be even more cheerleading."
Inauguration alters 2009 Oscar calendar
BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. - What's more significant: the inauguration of a new U.S. president or the announcement of the year's Oscar nominees? The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences decided politics takes precedence, announcing Monday that it has delayed the nominations announcement by two days.
Oscar nominees are usually revealed on a Tuesday about four weeks before the big show, which is typically held the last Sunday in February. For 2009, though, the targeted Tuesday — Jan. 20 — is Inauguration Day.
So the 81st annual Oscar nominees will be revealed Thursday, Jan. 22, and the Academy Awards will be presented Sunday, Feb. 22 — the earliest Oscars ever.
"It didn't make any sense for us to try to compete with (the inauguration) from a news point of view," academy Executive Administrator Ric Robertson told The Associated Press.
But the change will put the squeeze on the rest of the calendar, Robertson said.
"Ballots are due Jan. 12, and nominations are announced 10 days later, so that's getting pretty close to the minimum," he said. "The most critical path is the balloting-voting process. Since we remain committed, for security reasons, to paper balloting, and all PricewaterhouseCoopers tabulating is done by hand, it's not done by computers. ... They can turn things around quickly but they still need time."
Delaying the nominations also tightens production time for the Oscar telecast, since the show's makeup depends largely on the nominees. Producers of the ceremony usually have four and a half weeks to prepare. In 2009, it will be one month to the day.
"I know that whoever produces the show would like to have more time," Robertson said, "and this will be two days less than they've had in past years."
The 2009 presidential inauguration isn't the first event that prompted the academy to alter its calendar. The Oscar show was moved from the last Sunday in February in 2006 so it wouldn't conflict with the closing ceremony of the Winter Olympics, Robertson said.
"We have to look at other major global events," he said.
The academy's board of governors decided in 2004 to move the Oscar show from late March to late February to combat "awards fatigue" and "to maintain a higher level of interest and excitement," Robertson said.
Key dates for the 2009 Academy Awards are:
• Dec. 26, 2008: Nominations ballots mailed.
• Jan. 12: Nominations ballots due.
• Jan. 22: Nominees announced.
• Jan. 28: Final ballots mailed.
• Feb. 17: Final ballots due.
• Feb. 22: 81st annual Academy Awards.
Swift, Pickler, win big at CMT awards
NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Taylor Swift won video of the year and female video for her smash "Our Song" while newcomer Kellie Pickler took home three awards during Monday's Country Music Television awards. "I wrote that song in the 9th grade for a talent show," said the 18-year-old Swift, who won the night's top honor over Kenny Chesney, Brad Paisley and Sugarland.
"I never thought it would be on an album, never thought I'd record it, never thought it would be a single, never thought it would be No. 1 and certainly never thought it would win video and female video of the year."
Pickler, 21, won breakthrough video, tearjerker video and performance of the year for "I Wonder," a song about a daughter's feelings for her mother that she says connects deeply with fans. Like Carrie Underwood, Pickler is a former "American Idol" contestant.
"Thank you 'American Idol,' you are the rocket that launched my career," Pickler said from Scottsdale, Ariz.
Paula Abdul, who introduced Tim McGraw and Faith Hill's performance of "I Need You," remarked, "There are so many 'American Idol' alum here that I feel this is a reunion and I'm a proud mom."
Trace Adkins won best male video for "I Got My Game On." Adkins was something of a surprise winner, topping videos by Chesney, Paisley, Toby Keith and Keith Urban.
"I'm having a good year. So far it's been great. I never felt the support from the fans like I do this year," said Adkins, who recently finished second on NBC's "The Celebrity Apprentice."
LeAnn Rimes and Bon Jovi won best collaborative video for the steamy video "Till We Ain't Strangers Anymore." Rimes, who accepted the award without Bon Jovi, cracked, "I had a lot of fun rolling around with Jon in bed." Then she looked over at her husband in the crowd and added, "Sorry, honey. I love you. You're hotter."
The show was hosted by "Hannah Montana" star Miley Cyrus and her father, country singer Billy Ray Cyrus. The pair performed their duet "Ready, Set, Don't Go." During their opening segment, Billy Ray Cyrus joked about his daughter's popularity.
"I know what's going on here, OK. I didn't fall off the turnip truck yesterday ... it's pretty obvious what you're all doing. You're just using Miley to get to me."
Alison Krauss and former Led Zeppelin frontman Robert Plant won wide open video for their duet "Gone, Gone, Gone (Done Moved On)."
"I'd like to say how peculiar it is to be here. It's a great honor to have made a record in Nashville that sounds so good. I'd like to thank Don and Phil Everly for getting me through my teenage years, and I'd like to thank Alison for helping me get through my late 50s."
Paisley's "Online" won comedy video, while Sugarland's "Stay" won duo video. The two were the most nominated artists of the night.
The show opened with a skit about Adkins trying to get tickets to the show and featured presidential candidates Barack Obama, John McCain and Hillary Rodham Clinton.
Urban opened the musical portion with "Raise the Barn" and was joined by Brooks & Dunn.
Sugarland, Little Big Town and Jake Owen performed the '80s hit "Life in a Northern Town" by the British folk rock group The Dream Academy.
Snoop Dog joined Jason Aldean to introduce Alan Jackson's performance of "Good Time." The rapper wore a black outfit and cowboy hat in honor of the late Johnny Cash, who he said was the inspiration for his single, "My Medicine."
The fan-voted awards show aired live on CMT from Belmont University in Nashville.
So I Married An Ax Murderer returns in June
So I Married An Ax Murderer has made its way onto Sony Pictures Home Entertainment’s release schedule with a new Deluxe Edition DVD and a Blu-Ray Disc version in June.
Comedy sensation Mike Myers stars with Nancy Travis in this hatchet-driven romantic comedy about a wedlock-shy coffee house poet who finally meets the perfect woman. When it comes to love, Charlie Mackenzie has had his share of bad luck: Sherri was a klepto - Charlie still can't find his cat. Jill was unemployed - but Charlie knew she really worked for the Mafia. Pam smelled like soup - beef vegetable soup. Good thing for Charlie these shortcomings become apparent, if only to him. Good thing for Charlie he discovered the truth before things went too far - before he stumbled into MARRIAGE! Because to Charlie the "M" word is just one step away from the fate foretold in that chilling phrase: "Till death do us part." When Charlie meets Harriet Michaels everything changes. Harriet's not like the others. She's smart, sexy, and crazy about Charlie. This time Charlie is determined to overcome the fears that sabotaged his past relationships. This time, he's ready for some commitment. Sure, Harriet may have her shortcomings - but so what? After all those other women, what's the worst she could be? An axe murderer?
No exact details have been announced for this release but we will make sure to keep you posted as soon as exact specs and bonus materials come in.
“So I Married An Axe Murderer” will arrive in storeso n June 17 and will carry a $19.94 sticker price for the DVD version and a $28.95 price tag on the Blu-Ray version.
Lee still gets a Rush
You'd think, at this stage of his career, no performance could give Rush singer/bassist Geddy Lee the butterflies. But he gets them when he knows a show is being recorded for a live album.
"There's always a bit of nerves when you're recording, even though we played about six million shows and we've done so many live recordings that it's getting ridiculous," Lee tells Sun Media. "When you know that you're being recorded you want to put your best foot forward.
"Sometimes that translates into you rising to the occasion, and sometimes that translates into you tightening up a little bit. All you're really after is trying to get an honest impression of what it's like to be at one of our shows musically."
The two-disc, 27-track new album was recorded over two nights last October in Holland. It contains new songs off Snakes & Arrows as well as a bevy of staples such as Freewill, Tom Sawyer and The Spirit of Radio.
The live recording process also went a bit smoother than 2003's Rush In Rio, a one-shot affair that presented several logistical nightmares.
"That was basically cross-your-fingers," Lee says. "With this one, we recorded both nights and there are songs on there from both nights -- so it gives you a bit more comfort. You're a bit more relaxed about it knowing if you screw it up at night one, you can nail it on night two. All in all I think we played very well those two nights."
And unlike groups releasing a combined live CD/DVD package, Rush aren't rushing the DVD portion out until the fall. Lee says the DVD will have the obligatory bonus footage and extras.
"We filmed both nights and it turned out really terrific, we're really quite excited about that," he says.
Rush spent a large chunk of 2007 touring, but they're already on another 49-date North American trek, which kicked off in Puerto Rico on the weekend. They play Canadian shows May 24 in Winnipeg, May 25 in Regina, May 27 in Edmonton, May 29 in Vancouver, June 12 in Montreal and July 9 in Toronto.
Lee says this current leg sees four or five changes in the set list, with some rarities played last year replaced by more signature material.
"We're playing more cities on this tour that we haven't played in quite some time," he says. "And I think those fans kind of want to hear more of the classic tracks."
The request for rarities isn't something the band ignores, but Lee says deciding which ones to dust off isn't an easy process.
"We try them out at rehearsal to see which old songs we can still stomach, and which old songs we can actually improve upon," he says.
Lee also says that the newer songs are often the toughest to pull off in concert, because of their newness and intricacies.
"When we record there are so many layers, that means we have to have a lot of samplers and sequencers that we have to trigger with our feet," he says. "And early in a tour it's always difficult to learn to sing and play at the same time. When you record it you do those things separately."
Rush have a few things in the planning stages, including a new studio album they see somewhere on the horizon. A possible Feedback II covers album of '50s and '60s rock songs is also something Lee doesn't close the door on.
"It would be fun," he says. "I think my manager goes to sleep having dreams that we'll do that. It was really a lot of fun to do and pretty easy. You never know, maybe when we're on the verge of our 50th anniversary."
A Rush documentary is also in the works, but Lee is a bit miffed why anyone would want to film the trio.
"A filmmaker thinks that we're interesting," he says. "We're doing our best to disappoint."
New Releases, April 15: Asia, Mariah Carey, Hannah Montana/Miley Cyrus, Rush
Asia "Phoenix"
Asia’s eponymously titled debut album in 1982 was both ecstatically received and the biggest selling album of the year. It spawned a trio of US top 10 singles in "Heat of the Moment", "Only Time Will Tell" and "Sole Survivor." Over the greater part of the 80s, Asia racked up 15 million in global record sales.
Rising from the ashes in 2008, the Multi-Platinum Supergroup Asia returns with "Phoenix," the first new album featuring the original line up in 25 years. With a revered musical pedigree, Geoff Downes (Yes, The Buggles), Steve Howe (Yes), Carl Palmer (ELP), and John Wetton (King Crimson) have returned to their hit making roots. Featuring the anthemic lead track "Never Again", and the poignant "An Extraordinary Life," Asia’s revived the sound that made them radio staples.
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Mariah Carey "E=MC²"
The mega-platinum singer returns with her eleventh studio album. "E=MC²" follows 2005's chart-topping "The Emancipation of Mimi," which won three Grammy Awards and scored two No. 1 singles.
The first single from the new Einstein-inspired title is "Touch My Body," which was written and produced by Mariah Carey, C. "Tricky" Stewart and The-Dream. Other star producers on the set include Jermaine Dupri, DJ Toomp, Stargate, Will.I.Am and Bryan Michael Cox.
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Hannah Montana/Miley Cyrus "The Best of Both Worlds Concert"
Mariah's main competition for chart supremacy this week appears to come from Disney queen Miley Cyrus, who is still vastly better known by her stage name, Hannah Montana.
The CD/DVD combo "The Best of Both Worlds" documents Cyrus' recent blockbuster tour, during which she appeared onstage as both herself and as Hannah Montana. The set includes the young diva performing with the equally red-hot Jonas Brothers on the track "We Got the Party."
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Rush "Snakes & Arrows Live"
The Canadian prog-rockers are back with a two-disc set that documents their 2007 amphitheater tour. "Snakes & Arrows" features such fan favorites as "Tom Sawyer," "The Spirit of Radio" and "YYZ." It also reportedly includes, as fans would expect, a mega drum solo by Rush's Neil Peart.
Rush is currently on the road and supporting this live set, which follows last year's studio album, "Snakes & Arrows." The trek is scheduled to hit major North American amphitheaters through late July.
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Black Francis "Svn Fingers"
Having reclaimed his old moniker Black Francis with 2007's "Bluefinger," the artist otherwise known as Frank Black [ tickets ] sticks with that same artistic billing for the release of this mini-album. Black (whether used as his first or last name) is, of course, best known as the frontman for the Pixies. Yet, he's released a sizable catalog outside of that legendary alt-rock group. The compilation "Frank Black 93-03," also released last year, highlights some of his most-acclaimed work as a solo artist.
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The Kooks "Konk"
The British indie-pop-rockers are ready to "Konk"-er America with this sophomore set. The band has already taken much of the rest of the globe by storm, having moved some 2 million copies worldwide of "Inside In/Inside Out." The Kooks will tour North America, beginning with a May 18 date in San Diego.
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More new releases:
Children of Bodom, "Blooddrunk" (Frontiers)
Gaither Vocal Band, "Lovin' Life" (Spring House)
Marilyn Horne, "The Complete Decca Recitals" (Decca)
Lady Antebellum, "Lady Antebellum" (Capitol)
M83, "Saturdays=Youth" (Mute)
James McMurtry, "Just Us Kids" (Lightning Rod)
The Naked Brothers Band, "I Don't Want to Go to School" (Sony)
Ours, "Mercy (Dancing for the Death of an Imaginary Enemy)" (American)
Tristan Prettyman, "Hello" (Virgin)
Dianne Reeves, "When You Know" (Blue Note)
Kate Rusby, "Awkward Annie" (Pure)
Frank Sinatra, "Sinatra at the Movies" (Capitol)
Thrice, "Alchemy Index, Vol. 3 & 4: Air and Earth" (Vagrant)
Various Artists, "Miles from India" (Four Quarters)
Actors' petition doesn't sway SAG board
LOS ANGELES - The prospects are looking dim for the proposal to limit which Screen Actors Guild members can vote in upcoming contract talks.
SAG's board of directors on Saturday referred the matter to committee rather than immediately act on it, as more than 1,400 guild members demanded in a petition. It sought to restrict voting to actors who work at least one day a year.
The proposal ran into strong opposition from board members who argued it would exclude most guild members.
The majority of SAG's 120,000 members don't work regularly. Supporters of the proposal reason that nonworking members would be more likely to favor a walkout.
Contract negotiations with studios begin Tuesday.