The ShowBuzz Weekly Forecast
A lot of big names are coming out with various products this week: Harry Connick Jr., Diane Keaton and Mandy Moore, Norah Jones, Madonna and even Doris Day. Harry and Norah have got the music, Diane and Mandy have the new movie, and Madonna and Doris Day have DVDs covered.
So, you see, as we move into February, which is the most desolate month in many parts of the world, things are not as bleak as you think, although "Hannibal Rising" is on its way to theaters. But that's not till next week, so you're reasonable safe till then.
MOVIES
In "Because I Said So," Diane Keaton plays a mother who decides it's up to her to find Mr. Right for her daughter, played by Mandy Moore. It sounds formulaic, but hey! It's Diane Keaton!
In "The Messengers," a family moves to an old farm and … oh come on! You know nothing good is going to come of this. Teenager Jess (Kristen Stewart) begins to see scary apparitions and everyone, including her own parents (Dylan McDermott and Penelope Anne Miller), begin to doubt her sanity. There's even a mysterious farmhand (John Corbett) along for the ride.
Opening in limited release is "Factory Girl," the story of Edie Sedgwick (played by Sienna Miller), who became a star in the 1960s through her friendship with artist Andy Warhol (Guy Pearce). Others in the movie include Jimmy Fallon, Hayden Christensen and Sally Kirkland as Grandma Sedgwick.
TV
Behind the picket fences of suburbia lurks more than one deadly secret, and "Suburban Secrets" aims to expose a whole community of them. This 15-episode documentary series chronicles true tales of crimes committed by devoted mothers, community leaders and hardworking neighbors who leave their corner of the world rocked by scandal.
On the premiere, airing 10 p.m. Monday on Court TV, a vicious murder puts a neighborhood on edge in the sleepy town of Conway, S.C., when 17-year-old Crystal Todd turns up dead after a night out with friends. A second half-hour episode at 10:30 p.m. tells of two men who break into the home of a young married couple in the middle of the night. The husband is murdered, but before attacking his wife, the assailants demand that she give them the keys to the bank where he worked ... or so she claims.
On the Supreme Court, nine judges appointed for life make decisions that govern every American's life. With immense power and considerable mystery, the court of final appeal has helped write history. But even though it's one of the pillars of American democracy, its inner workings are seldom laid bare for an inquiring TV camera. PBS' four-hour "The Supreme Court" fuses history with biography to humanize the enigmatic black-robed figures.
Airing 9 p.m. Wednesday (check local listings), Part 1 examines the creation of the court and follows it to the brink of the Civil War. Then Part 2 focuses on the issues before the court during the postwar era of unprecedented economic growth, when industrialists like Carnegie and Rockefeller were earning millions. On Feb. 7, the concluding two hours follow the court up through the civil rights era and measure the towering influence of the court under Chief Justice William Rehnquist.
It's a challenge even Mean Joe Greene might find daunting: 15 of the greatest Super Bowl commercials are going up against his classic 1980 Coca-Cola ad, the reigning champion for the past five years. The outcome will be announced on "Super Bowl's Greatest Commercials 2007," airing 9 p.m. Friday, Feb. 2, on CBS.
Can any commercial beat the one that featured Greene, the imposing Pittsburgh Steelers defensive tackle, softening his gruff exterior when a youngster offered him a cold bottle of Coke after a tough day on the gridiron? The winner will be chosen by online voting at CBS.com, where displays the top 15 contenders (including "Cat Herders," "1984" and "Cedric's Date"). The special, which will originate from Dolphins Stadium in Miami, site of Super Bowl XLI, is hosted by Daisy Fuentes and Jim Nantz.
It's a touching concept. With "Oh My Nola," (translated Oh My New Orleans, La.), Harry Connick Jr. offers a salute to the spirit and musical history of his hometown, New Orleans. The CD is composed mostly of songs that have a strong association with the city and its people, including "Won't You Come Home, Bill Bailey?" and "Sheik of Araby." He has also included four original compositions.
Norah Jones has a new one out this week: "Not Too Late," a collection of songs she wrote either on her own or in collaboration with someone else.
"American Idol" star Katharine McPhee comes out with a self-titled collection with not a "Rainbow" in sight.
BOOKS
This one sure doesn't need another plug, since it's the current pick for Oprah's Book Club, but when Sidney Poitier writes his memoirs and titles it "The Measure of a Man: A Spiritual Autobiography," well, how can one not sit up and take notice? He already released a different autobiography in 1980 (sensibly titled "My Life"). But, given his experiences as an icon and role model, it's fascinating to be invited in for a look at the inner man.
Here is a book that gets credit for a clever title: "Babyproofing Your Marriage: How To Laugh More, Argue Less, and Communicate Better As Your Family Grows." There's no question that having children changes the relationship between Mom and Dad, and the three authors (Stacie Cockrell, Cathy O'Neill and Julia Stone) break it down in practical and often very funny terms.
For pure fiction, there is "Deep Storm" by Lincoln Child, who frequently writes books with Douglas Preston. This book is his third solo effort, a science fiction thriller about the possible discovery of the lost continent of Atlantis.
It's time for the third and final part of "The Coast of Utopia" by Tom Stoppard at Lincoln Center's Vivian Beaumont Theater. This time, it's "Salvage," beginning preview performances Tuesday, Jan. 30. The cast includes Billy Crudup, Ethan Hawke and Amy Irving.
On Friday, Feb. 2, look for previews to begin for "Howard Katz," a play by Patrick Marber, with a powerhouse cast including Alfred Molina, Elizabeth Franz and Euan Morton, presented by the Roundabout Theatre Company at New York's Laura Pels Theater.
In his lifetime, J.M. Barrie did more than write "Peter Pan." As a matter of fact, one of his other plays, "Mary Rose," was a success in the 1920s and later served as an inspiration to master filmmaker Alfred Hitchcock. "Mary Rose" is about a young woman who disappears, then later returns, and it's not quite clear if she's a ghost or not.
"Mary Rose," with Keir Dullea and Paige Howard (daughter of Ron Howard) begins previews Thursday, Feb. 1, at New York's Vineyard Theatre, which is where the Tony-winning hit "Avenue Q" started its very successful life before it moved to Broadway.
DVDs:
You could put this one under CDs or DVDs, but since it's Madonna, it really needs to be seen and heard. It's "The Confessions Tour: Live From London," and it's being released as a CD/DVD set. It was filmed and recorded at Wembley Arena in 2006.
If you prefer your cultural icons a little more demure, there are a few Doris Day movies just out on DVD, including "Move Over, Darling" (1963) with James Garner and Thelma Ritter, "Do Not Disturb" (1965) with Rod Taylor and Hermione Baddley, and "Caprice" (1967) with Richard Harris and Ray Walston.
For TV fans, there are quite a few new releases: