Trailer Park

Adam Pascal and Rosario Dawson in the film version of the Broadway musical "Rent".

You're going to the movies. It starts at 7:10. By 7:30 you have eaten all your popcorn, your butt's asleep and the movie hasn't even started. Why? It's those damn movie trailers. Remember the days when you could go to a movie, see maybe two previews and the movie would start? Not anymore. Now before you even get to the trailer/preview you have to endure the annoying "Don't talk/use your cell phone/make a mess" public service announcement, a Coke commercial and an ridiculous plea from Ben Affleck aimed at convincing potential pirates that copying and swapping movies will put filmmakers out of work (Ben, if that's all it takes to get you to stop making turkeys like "Gigli", then I say light up the DVD burner!). It's getting to the point where enough is enough. So here is my suggestion: watch the trailers on the web. It's quick, free and you can see it as many times as you like. As long as you have a broadband/cable/DSL connection (and if you don't I weep for you) you'll have that sucker playing before it has even finished downloading.

Today I visited www.darkhorizons.com, a great site comprised of movie news, interviews and of course, movie trailers. The list of trailers is updated a couple of times per week and today at the top of the list was "Rent", the long-awaited movie version of the monster hit Broadway musical. If you have seen this show (and if you haven't, run right out and get tickets. Stop reading! Go!) and loved it like I did, then you will definitely get goosebumps watching the trailer for the movie. Damn, that guy from "Law & Order" can sing!

Then I went over to another favorite site, www.quicktime.com, where I watched a preview of what I think will be this summer's sleeper hit. "Must Love Dogs" stars Diane Lane and John Cusack as a couple who meet through online dating. If all it takes is a dog and an online ad to meet John Cusack, no wonder I'm still single. Tomorrow I'm buying a puppy...

After Quicktime.com, I headed over to Yahoo! movies (http://movies.yahoo.com/trailers/). It's not the greatest site, but it is usually one of the first sites to list the newest trailers. Two of the most popular trailers downloaded there are "Bewitched" and "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory". Watch the "Bewitched" trailer (#2) and tell me Will Ferrell does not crack you up. Then watch the "Charlie..." trailer and tell me Johnny Depp doesn't freak the pants off you.

Finally, check out www.movie-list.com where not only do they have current trailers, but you can also see classic trailers like "The Godfather, Part II" and "Some Like it Hot".

Here's a question for you: what was the best trailer you ever saw, only to have the movie turn out to be a disappointment? Mine was "The Ladykillers" with Tom Hanks. Funny trailer. BORING movie. Post your comments!

TV or Not TV...That is the Question...

Tommy Lee Goes to College premieres August 16th on NBC.


Now that summer is here, all of our favorite shows are on hiatus. What’s left to watch? There are some great series returning this summer (Six Feet Under, Nip/Tuck and Rescue Me) but what I am really fascinated by is the onslaught of new reality series set to premiere this month. I thought (hoping, actually) reality TV was dead! Although I did get a kick out of shows like My Big Fat Obnoxious Fiancé and Celebrity Mole, they never did hold my interest like some of the typical “serials” that have us glued to the TV each week in the cold winter months (OK, I was sucked into The Bachelor/Bachelorette series, so sue me). Even though I am looking forward to the return of some of the summer’s best shows (see above), I feel compelled to watch at least one of the fascinating, absurdly ridiculous reality television programs available this summer.

I think I will pass on Dancing with the Stars, which pairs six “celebrities” (including fame whore Rachel Hunter, last seen on the “Gilligan’s Island” reality show) with professional dancers to compete in a ballroom dancing contest. After the Pepto-Bismol fantasy that was known as Trista and Ryan’s wedding, I think it is safe to say that I never need to see Trista (the first “Bachelorette”) Rehn Sutter ever again.

Another show up for grabs is The Scholar, which will feature bright students competing for a college scholarship. They have to show book smarts, compete in oral exams and defend themselves to an Ivy League scholarship committee…and.…then….they….Oh, excuse me. I just dozed off there for a second. Can you say, BORING? Moving along…

I Want to Be a Hilton. Doesn’t everyone? Maybe I can try out for this show, where Paris’ mom, socialite Kathy Hilton, guides 14 young contestants through the New York social scene. Hmmm…camera crew and a Hilton. It could make for interesting TV.

From the files of washed up and desperate, comes Hit Me Baby, which unearths has-been music stars who try to show a live audience they still have what it takes. I smell a Vanilla Ice comeback…

Fire Me…Please films two people starting new jobs on the same day doing everything they can to get fired. The person who wins will earn more than he/she could ever hope for from the job. Is this for real? Act like an ass, get fired AND get a big payoff? Sign me up!

Tommy Lee Goes to College. For those of you who are wondering, this is the one I will be watching. The best reality TV always comes from the “fish out of water” scenario and I can’t wait to see how Tommy Lee whoops it up at the University of Nebraska. Tommy Lee in the marching band! Tommy Lee in the dorm! Tommy Lee in the dorm with a bunch of underage co-eds! This people, is fantastic television…