Browsing Tag

celebrity

CBS Social Week

Just in time for my group’s class presentation about The Good Wife, CBS is embracing social media to connect with viewers next week, including The Good Wife fans.

Each show updated fans via Facebook and Twitter today to announce their plans for everyone’s favourite actors to share their own insights via the shows’ official social media accounts beginning Sunday night.

This is hardly the first time shows’ cast and crews are live-tweeting, but usually the official TV show account retweets their commentary, whereas next week CBS is letting its stars gain control over online interactions. I’m curious to see if the stars will use more shorthand or slang than usually seen in the accounts’ messages and I’m sure it’ll depend on which actors are composing the tweets.

Viewers who watch the shows live during their scheduled timeslots (and aren’t distracted by a phone or computer) may have noticed that some shows have a watermark during the first scene featuring a hashtag, such as #HIMYM for How I Met Your Mother.

Bravo’s Lisa Hsia shared with Mashable that “getting talent actively involved with a social media strategy is essential to building greater community engagement,” so this is clearly a calculated attempt to heighten viewer engagement.

I suspect that the initiative will increase check-ins amongst GetGlue users who will be eager to join the live conversation. Personally, I suggest CBS support their initiative with more stickers for GetGlue fans as a token of appreciation.

As for The Good Wife, I’d like to see what Matt Czuchry has to say about Cary’s new promotion in his own words – not just reiterated by a reporter. That was quite a fabulously dramatic ending in last week’s episode and I’m excited to see what happens next this Sunday.

To save space here, you can peek at the network’s full live-tweeting schedule courtesy of The Hollywood Reporter.

November 3, 2011 by

Ted Finally Reunited with the Slutty Pumpkin, Eh?

“The Slutty Pumpkin Returns” — Ted (Josh Radnor) and Naomi (Katie Holmes) revisit the rooftop Halloween party where they first met on HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER, Monday, Oct. 31 (8:00 – 8:30 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network. Photo: Monty Brinton/CBS © 2011 CBS Broadcasting, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

After hearing great hype about tonight’s How I Met Your Mother episode, I was curious what sorts of hilarity the show would entail. I was pleasantly surprised by the amount of Canadian humour, though I didn’t quite understand why Robyn chose to dress up as a hockey player from Vancouver of all places, but maybe that’s just due to my lack of NHL knowledge. Speaking of comparisons between the States and Canada, I wonder if Dunkin Donuts in the States sells as many pumpkin flavoured treats as Tim Horton’s.

I thoroughly enjoyed how Katie Holmes’ Slutty Pumpkin character knew Barenaked Ladies’ songs by heart, especially because it served as a throwback to a time when Steven Page was still with the band. Though I consider myself a loyal fan of Dawson’s Creek, I much preferred Britney Spears and Rachel Bilson’s guest appearances on HIMYM to Katie Holmes’ stint tonight.

As I watched Ted and his friends at the rooftop party, I noticed that there were far too many store bought packaged costumes that exhibited far too little creativity for a show that’s known for its original concepts like “pregnancy brain” and the “hot-crazy scale.” Barney made an amusing entrance as per usual and it was nice to see a change in his wardrobe this season from the yellow duck tie he’s been sporting since September.

I’m looking forward to seeing what other terms CBS will introduce to our lingo this season. In the meantime, whether you’re tricking friends, enjoying treats or merely tweeting, Happy Halloween!

October 31, 2011 by

Music Video: Coldplay – Paradise

Coldplay – Paradise

Coldplay debuted their new music video for Paradise today and it’s wonderful from beginning to end. Watch it, play it in the background as you download the song on iTunes, and then play it on loop on your iPod, I dare you.

I’ll be keeping an eye open for information about an upcoming tour from the group because I loved their last show!

October 19, 2011 by

The New Girl

Before I delve into my commentary about Facebook’s changes, I want to share a recommendation for FOX’s new TV show, The New Girl.

Katy Perry’s highly charming doppelganger, Zooey Deschanel stars in the sitcom about a girl who moves in with 3 guys who she meets by responding to a Craigslist ad.

Thanks to Deschanel’s comedic timing, the pilot is funny from beginning to end. Her A-list Hollywood status leads me to believe that The New Girl has staying power and the men’s spontaneous serenade to cheer up their new friend cemented this show into my fall TV schedule.

The New Girl airs Tuesday nights at 9 on FOX/CityTV.

TIP: The pilot episode is available as a free download on iTunes!

September 23, 2011 by

Concert Review: Lionel Richie

If the stadium had a roof, then everyone would have been dancing on the ceiling Tuesday night at the Rexall Centre. Soft rock and R&B legend Lionel Richie’s performance marked the third concert in the BlackCreek Summer Music Festival’s inaugural season.

The former Commodore had the crowd on their feet and singing along from the moment he took the stage at about 10 pm. Lionel’s arrival on stage was delayed due to rain, but the opening set by Michael McDonald was unaffected by the weather. By the time Lionel started, most of the audience was already wearing BlackCreek ponchos and eager to hear him open with “All Around the World”.

Radio stations tend to exaggerate when they claim to play all your favourite hits, but Richie really delivered, by performing many of his chart-topping hits from the 80’s to present, such as “Ballerina Girl” and “Running with the Night”. Recognizing that the crowd ranged from university students to retirees, he ensured that his set list included a balance of ballads, dance numbers and remixes.

Unlike concerts at other amphitheatres that are filled with preteens constantly snapping photos, there was relatively little fan photography. When Richie and his band members joined together for a photo op at the front of the stage during “Brick House”, this was of little significance to the crowd who preferred to continue dancing. There was even a couple off to the corner of the stage who swing danced to Richie’s music and made the most of being at an outdoor concert in a spacious stadium.

Richie shared that he expected a quiet and mellow group to sit back and listen to love songs, but loved how the crowd was “going in another direction.” Some of his comments admittedly sounded scripted, but fans didn’t seem to care as they danced in the aisles and near the entrances alongside event staff – it was like a timeless dance party Tuesday night.

Richie opined that he hasn’t seen audiences dance like that “since ’84,” a time before I was even born! Speaking of flashbacks, Richie seemed to get a kick out of looking at dated promotional photos of himself that fans standing at the edge of the stage motioned for him to sign (a few of which he did). “What was I thinking?” he joked, assessing his fashion choices and past hairdo, insisting that it was a photo of his father. As for his current tour wardrobe, Richie accessorized his all-black outfit with a chunky gold necklace and watch.

Lionel Richie’s show was the liveliest in the BlackCreek Festival to date. In some ways, I find it hard to believe he’s the father of a reality TV star known for her foolish behavior on The Simple Life because there’s such a contrast – this Richie seems to really know what he’s doing. You could’ve had an obstructed view sitting behind the stage and still enjoyed listening to Richie singing and playing the piano, while accompanied by his outstanding band.

June 30, 2011 by