Jonathan Rhys Meyers
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BirthDate BirthPlace |
07/26/1977
Dublin, Ireland |
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'Star Wars VII' Cast Breakdown: The Next Generation of Jedi Will Be Very 'Physically Fit'
June 19, 2013 2:46pm ESTA deft understanding and control of The Force is an invaluable skill set to have at your disposal. But of course, it'll get you nowhere if you aren't in halfway decent shape and stocked with an impressive jawline. Such is the nature of any big Hollywood production: The recipe for any blockbuster involves good looking people with well-sculpted torsos doing... well, what they're doing is pretty much immaterial as long as they're hot. And as far as we can tell from its newly publicized cast breakdown, the forthcoming Star Wars: Episode VII is using this showbiz mentality in the assembly of its stars. The notes below, released to Deadline via casting directors for the J.J. Abrams movie, paint the picture of a very "physically fit" headlining team, from its "witty" but not "classically handsome" male lead to its "military type" supporting player. In fact, of the seven characters described, the only absolved from demands for anatomical sculpting are the 30-year-old intellectual and the "tough" 70-year-old... so, the brains and the sage old man figure. All the young guns — those likely to monopolize screen time — need to be the sort of jags who'd always beat up the Star Wars fans in gym class. Check out the cast breakdown: A young man aged between 20 and 25, witty and smart, fit but not classically handsome Man in late twenties, also fit, but this one is handsome and confident Late teenage girl, independent, good sense of humour, also… physically fit Second young female, also late teens, tough, smart and physically fit Man in his forties, obviously physically fit, this one is a military type A man of around thirty or so, this one is an intellectual type Finally, a guy aged around seventy, strong opinions and tough Follow Michael Arbeiter on Twitter @MichaelArbeiter | Follow hollywood.com on Twitter @hollywood_com More:J.J. Abrams Will 'Honor But Not Revere' 'Star Wars'Jonathan Rhys Meyers in 'Star Wars VII'?20 Really Weird Things in 'Star Wars' From Our PartnersStars Pose Naked for 'Allure' (Celebuzz)Which Game of Thrones Actor Looks Least Like His Character? (Vulture)
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J.J. Abrams' 'Star Wars' Will 'Honor But Not Revere' the Old Movies
June 10, 2013 5:15pm ESTRinging through our minds every day, along with queries about God and mortality and the human condition, is the million dollar question: where do we stand on J.J. Abrams as the director of the next Star Wars movie? At this point, we're as torn as the last guy to beat a Wookie at a game of dejarik. His recreations of the Spielberg spectrum in Super 8 was spirited but half-cocked. His second jab at the Roddenberry universe left us... flustered. So how will he fare with the realm of George Lucas? And is he approaching the project with the right attitude? We're not sure about that either! Abrams' most recent ruminations about Star Wars VII only further muddle our feelings. Speaking to Deadline, Abrams delivered the following statement about how his project will tackle the near-holy material: "I think that the thing is so big and so massive to so many people that the key to moving forward is honoring but not revering what went before." First off, let's break down exactly what that could mean, courtesy of our pals at Merriam Webster: Honor: To Regard Or Treat With Admiration And Respect. Revere: To Show Devoted Deferential Honor To. Now that we've cleared up that ambiguity altogether, we can surmise how the maxim will take form in the newest Far, Far Away chapter: probably a lot like it did in Star Trek. Abrams might offer his share of nods to the Original Trilogy, tossing in a few in-jokes and expanding on some well-worn character arcs. But mostly, Episode VII should be a new breed — a different story told with familiar characters. It could be a good movie, a great movie even. But we're weary to assume that Abrams is going to deliver, or even intend to deliver, a true-to-form Star Wars picture. So what's your angle, Abrams? What exactly is your endgame in the collection and recreation of every sweeping science fiction and fantasy franchise in American history? Are you yourself of another galaxy? Have you traveled to Earth, determined all of our most influential voices (Lucas, Roddenberry, Spielberg), and reshaped their material in order to brainwash the masses into succumbing to your new world order? It almost worked. You grabbed us with Felicity. You kept us with Lost. But then you had to go and muck up Into Darkness. So close. Follow Michael Arbeiter on Twitter @MichaelArbeiter | Follow hollywood.com on Twitter @hollywood_com More:Jonathan Rhys Meyers in 'Star Wars VII'?20 Really Weird Things in 'Star Wars''Star Wars' to Be Translated Into Native American Language From Our PartnersStars Pose Naked for 'Allure' (Celebuzz)Let’s Translate Walter White, Taylor Swift and More into Dothraki (Vulture)
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Al Pacino Almost Played Han Solo in 'Star Wars'
June 03, 2013 5:22pm ESTShorter, louder, and probably a lot more reckless behind the wheel of the Millennium Falcon. That's what we propose Han Solo would have been like were he given the form of iconic actor Al Pacino, who states that he almost took the part in the original Star Wars. As the Godfather star recently told The Telegraph, "[The role] was mine for the taking," but a minor issue stood in the way of Pacino's involvement in George Lucas' movie: "I didn’t understand the script." Funnily enough, Harrison Ford (the ultimate embodiment of the Kessel Run champion) also had a few harsh words to say about Lucas' script back during production in '77, infamously lamenting, "George, you can type this s**t, but you sure as hell can't say it." The moral of this story: no matter what Han Solo we'd have ended up with, he wasn't going to be happy about it. But that, in a way, is pretty fitting. Follow Michael Arbeiter on Twitter @MichaelArbeiter | Follow hollywood.com on Twitter @hollywood_com More:'Star Wars VII' Might Add Jonathan Rhys Meyers20 Weird Things About 'Star Wars''Star Wars VII' to Shoot in the U.K. From Our PartnersStars Pose Naked for 'Allure' (Celebuzz)Which Game of Thrones Actor Looks Least Like His Character? (Vulture)
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'Star Wars VII' Might Be Adding Jonathan Rhys Meyers to the Cast
May 20, 2013 3:17pm ESTUp until this point, there haven't been many big surprises in terms of Star Wars VII casting news. Director J.J. Abrams has amounted Original Trilogy veterans Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, and Harrison Ford to compile the cast list for the first of the forthcoming sequels, promising a Galaxy Far, Far Away that seems familiar. But if we're to believe the latest rumors, then we should have no concerns about the franchise picking up with something altogether fresh. Word is circulating from yet unconfirmed reports at Latino Review (which is well known, at least sarcastically, for its breaking Star Wars news) that Jonathan Rhys Meyers could be the first newbie to enter the Star Wars universe in the Abrams film. At this point, Meyers' involvement and any role he might take on are little more than speculation. But the Irish actor — having earned cinematic acclaim in Woody Allen's Match Point, Ang Lee's Ride with the Devil, and the Showtime series The Tudors — would be a welcome addition to the Rebel Alliance. He can muster that Skywalker earnestness, that Solo edge. Or perhaps a denizen of the Dark Side? That mug playing puppeteer with the Force... that's a haunting thought. Follow Michael Arbeiter on Twitter @MichaelArbeiterFollow Hollywood.Com On Twitter @Hollywood_Com More:20 Really Weird Things in 'Star Wars''Star Wars' to Be Translated Into Native American LanguageThe 10 Best 'Star Wars' Video Games From Our Partners:What Happened to 33 Child Stars (Celebuzz)40 Most Revealing See-Through Red Carpet Looks (Vh1)
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'The Michael J. Fox Show,' 'Sean Saves the World,' 'Dracula' Trailers Debut
May 13, 2013 12:19pm ESTNBC looks like they're keeping it all in the family this fall. Not only is the network bringing back a slew of familiar television faces like Michael J. Fox and Sean Hayes, but the newly released trailers for three of their upcoming comedies are centered around family dynamics. The Michael J. Fox Show, which brings the leading man back to the small screen, looks to bring the actor's battle with Parkinson's to the forefront with a mix of heart and wise-cracking humor. (In the preview, Fox's character jokes that a shaky ride in a van feels normal to him). Plus, there's Marie from Breaking Bad and Bunk from The Wire! In addition to The Michael J. Fox Show, there's also Sean Saves the World —which looks like a bit of an extension of Hayes' Will & Grace character Jack (he's a gay single dad, only it's a daughter instead of a son this time around). In Welcome To The Family, Glee's Mike O'Malley stars as an Average Joe dad whose life gets turned upside down when his college-aged daughter gets pregnant and his future in-laws don't quite gel. On the flip side, there are gritty dramas on the slate from NBC including the already-has-us-hooked The Blacklist, the bloody creepy Dracula (vampires aren't going away anytime soon, folks) with Jonathan Rhys Meyers, and the Blair Underwood-starrer Ironside, in which the actor plays a no-nonsense cop in the remake of the 1960s series of the same name. You can watch all of the trailers below and decide which ones you'll watch this fall. (Our money is on Dracula for the vamp appeal and The Michael J. Fox Show becoming a big hit thanks to the star's undeniable charms and his self-effacing humor). The Michael J. Fox Show Sean Saves the World Welcome to the Family Ironside Dracula Here's the fall 2013 lineup for NBC: Monday8 PM: The Voice10 PM: The Blacklist Tuesday8 PM: The Biggest Loser 9 PM: The Voice 10 PM: Chicago Fire Wednesday8 PM: Revolution 9 PM: Law & Order: Special Victims Unit10 PM: Ironside Thursday8 PM: Parks And Recreation8:30 PM: Welcome to the Family 9 PM: Sean Saves the World 9:30 PM: The Michael J. Fox Show 10 PM: Parenthood Friday8 PM: Dateline NBC9 PM: Grimm10 PM: Dracula Sunday 8:15 PM: NBC Sunday Night Football More: James Spader Gets Downright Criminal in 'The Blacklist' Trailer NBC's 2013-2014 Shows Feature Dermot Mulroney, Sean Hayes, and MoreNBC Cancels 'The New Normal,' Picks Up 3 New Series From Our Partners:Watch Justin Bieber Attacked in Dubai (Celebuzz)33 Child Stars: Where Are They Now? (Celebuzz)
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Second 'The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones' Trailer Delivers More Action... and More YA Romance
April 01, 2013 8:55pm ESTDemons, werewolves, and rogue shadowhunters, oh my! The newest trailer for The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones just hit the web, and while the extended footage does give fans more plot details than the first grand look — including our first glimpse of Lena Headey's mother-with-a-dark-past Jocelyn Fray! — it is starting to feel a lot more like the YA novel adaptation that it is. The first installment in Cassandra Clare's bestselling fantasy series tackles a world hidden from "mundane" human perception, and when New York teen Clary Fray (Lily Collins) starts to see things others can't after her mother goes missing, her world is turned upside down. She is thrust into the world of shadowhunters, a.k.a. demon hunters, and discovers her family's dark past and her mysterious connection to the rogue shadowhunter villain Valentine (Jonathan Rhys Meyers). Along the way, she meets bad boy shadowhunter Jace Wayland (Jamie Campbell Bower), and twins Alec (Kevin Zegers) and Isabelle Lightwood (Jemima West), with her mortal best friend Simon (Robert Sheehan) dragged along for the ride. RELATED: 'The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones' Trailer #1 While the first trailer released four months ago had an epic feel, this new clip focuses more on the budding (and quite... unique) relationship between Clary and Jace — and the resulting animosity Alec feels for Clary — giving it a much more tweeny, young adult feel. But the upside to the new footage is that it seems like it will stay true to the book, right down to the climactic battle at the end. Check out the trailer below: What do you think of the newest trailer? Are you excited to see Clary, Jace, Simon, and the Lightwoods battle the evil Valentine? Let us know in the comments! The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones hits theaters August 23, 2013. Follow Sydney on Twitter: @SydneyBucksbaum [Photo Credit: Screen Gems] From Our Partners:40 Most Revealing See-Through Red Carpet Looks (Vh1)33 Child Stars: Where Are They Now? (Celebuzz)
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Tattoos, Leather, and Hidden Symbols: What We Found On The 'Mortal Instruments' Set
February 14, 2013 4:17pm ESTThe movie magic of bringing Cassandra Clare's YA fantasy series The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones to the big screen isn't just in the CGI (though there is some of that, transporting both the characters and the moviegoers to other realms and bringing terrifying demons to life) but in the minor details. The sketches on the bedroom wall of the New York City apartment where the story's heroine Clary (Lily Collins) resides, the tattoos that adorn the bodies of the marked Shadowhunters (including the likes of Jamie Campbell Bower and Jonathan Rhys Meyers), and the Gothic accents in the library of the hub that is The Institute. Hollywood.com had the chance to visit the Toronto set of The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones last October and saw firsthand, the intricate detailing that went into not only bringing the novel to life, but making sure all bases were covered when it came to capturing the essence of the story and the characters. Sets and the City: Trying to replicate the massive scale of New York City is no small task, so to speak. Even more challenging can be making a realistic NYC apartment. The team behind building the sets for TMI engineered a beautiful — and reasonably sized — living space for Clary and her mother Jocelyn (Lena Headey), right up the stairs from Madame Dorethea's (CCH Pounder) place in their Brooklyn walk-up. Clary's walls were lined with sketches that looked not unlike something you'd see in TMI fan art and the kitchen was spacious, even by fake NYC apartment standards, but a major fight unfolds in that room. Which is why, as production designer François Séguin explained, the kitchen's counters were padded. RELATED: Lily Collins Talks About How 'Mortal Instruments' Has a Different Kind of YA Heroine When TMI hits theaters this summer, moviegoers should keep an even closer eye on the library of The Insitution. Even Collins was blown away by how it turned out, as she told Hollywood.com, "[It is] literally is exactly how I pictured it in my head....as a fan, I think the world is encapsulated really, really well." The set of the library was a veritable what's what in the TMI world: the Mortal cup, the Mortal sword, and Mortal symbols are scattered throughout the gothic architecture, complete with stainglass windows and a fully stocked library. A grand piano, a map of Germany, a birdcage, a magnifying glass, and a statue constructed with the images of skulls and bones were also among the various trinkets and set pieces found in the study in The Institute belonging to Hodge Starkweather (Jared Harris). Perhaps most importantly, the sets impressed Clare, who was on the set as a consultant. "It's amazing to see it come to life like this, the sets are really beautiful, they are very intricate," the author said. "They really recreated these sort of imaginary places with incredible attention to detail. There's a place in the books called "The City of Bones" that is named after the underground city built out of human bones and corpses, and I think they made 1,000 to 2,000 different models of skulls and each one is different aged to look differently, each one has different sort of features and has been changed in a different way so even though you probably only see it in a glancing shot in the movie like I know every single one of those is different and I think it adds incredible texture to the film." (Fun facts: there were 87 swords on the TMI set and up to 16 runes scattered throughout). RELATED: Kevin Zegers as Alec in 'The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones' — EXCLUSIVE PHOTO Dress To Impress: Never mind that Collins had to do her fight sequences in high heels, Meyers had to do his with long braided hair! The actor, who had a meticulous eye for getting the details just right (during one particular fight sequence Meyers would ask director Harald Zwart for more takes to get the motions down pat) was in head-to-toe leather garb, giving his character Valentine something of a Matrix-meets-YA aesthetic. Meyers, just like Bower, was covered in fake tattoos by the TMI makeup department. As Bower explained about the tattoos, "These are runes, so each tattoo has a specific power so I’m covered in them and I have real tattoos as well, so my real tattoos have to get covered and then runes get put on top of my real tattoos." The actor, who plays Shadowhunter Jace joked, "I think I should just get runes tattooed all over me, then at least I wouldn’t have to spend three hours in the makeup chair because I’d spend fifteen hours in the tattoo parlor and be done with it for the rest of my life." You'll be able to keep an out for all the major makeup and minor details when The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones hits theaters on August 23. RELATED: 'The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones' Trailer [Photo credit: Screen Gems]
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'Mortal Instruments': Lily Collins On Working With Her Real Life Beau and a Different Kind of YA Heroine
February 14, 2013 12:47pm ESTHaving your head repeatedly banged against a table by Jonathan Rhys Meyers is all in a days work. At least, it is if you're Lily Collins and you're playing Clary Fray, the protagonist in the long-awaited adaptation of Cassandra Clare's beloved YA saga The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones. Clary is no ordinary girl (a New York City teen whose world gets turned upside down when she learns about her connection to a group of demon fighters called the Shadowhunters) and Collins is no ordinary Hollywood starlet. "I’ve had many experiences on this set of intense, emotional, physical… I’m doing stunts in these [high heels] the whole time, sometimes in a mini dress, so it’s been maneuvering myself around the sets. I’ve gotten so many bruises at 4 in the morning, all hours of the night, so it’s been an intense ride, but it’s been really fun," Collins told Hollywood.com on the Toronto set of The Mortal Instruments last October. On this particular day (which marked the 40th day of the TMI shoot) Collins had been filming a scene with Meyers, who plays rogue Shadowhunter Valentine Morgenstern who holds a major key to Clary's past, in which he tries to get an important piece of information from Clary by, well, slamming her head against a table. And while Collins had a stunt double stand in for the actual choreographed act of violence, it doesn't mean the 23-year-old actress didn't get down and dirty for this particular fight sequence. RELATED: 'The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones' Trailer "On that last take, I actually did smack [my head] against the table," she revealed. "It really helps, I have to say, with a lot of the stunt stuff...something is bound to go a little awry, and most of my reactions have genuinely been me saying, 'Ow!' and screaming." Perhaps the main reason why Collins — whose previous credits include Priest, The Blind Side, Abduction, and Mirror, Mirror — was willing to get a little banged up on the job, is because, as she put it, "I was actually a fan of the series before I was cast. Having read the books and being really familiar with Clary, and just kind of admiring her as a character." Collins' fandom over the project was only matched by her relief of how the movie version of The Mortal Instruments — which had been two years in the making, as the Screen Gems feature had been passed over by Sony and has since undergone frequent rewrites — had turned out. "I think everything happens for a reason because the team we got together for this is so amazing. Everyone has brought something new to the table. Harald [Zwart] is the ultimate director for this project because it’s not really his genre, but he’s all about character and emotion. And it’s taking the project that could have been so CGI-based, and he’s made it a story about real people in this fantasy world." Of course, it probably didn't hurt that the very things that got a fan like Collins excited for the big screen adaptation (the actress said she "got emotional" when she saw the movie's replica of The Institute, a major hub in the story, and that it was "literally is exactly how I pictured it in my head....as a fan, I think the world is encapsulated really, really well") got the approval from Clare, who was on set for filming and worked as something of a consultant. "It's been really great to have her here, see her reaction to stuff and to have her input on the way we are changing up certain scenes for film. Just really hearing her laugh and her enthusiasm on set is really awesome." Next: Working with her TMI cast mates, including real life love Jamie Campbell Bower Still, Collins (who producer Don Carbody said is "the most natural I've ever seen" and that "she observes and she lives the character in her own psyche"), credited the collaborative effort of the entire ensemble — which also features Jared Harris, Lena Heady, Kevin Zegers, Jemima Wood, and Robert Sheehan, among others — for making it all come together after all this time. Even the ones that knock her head against a table. "Wit this movie, all the cast have an amazing rapport. It actually makes it really cool because we’re all going through this together. Even someone like Jonathan, who is so incredible and so intense and so seasoned, he still likes to have fun as well. And that makes it a really group experience and very family-like." RELATED: Kevin Zegers as Alec in 'The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones' — EXCLUSIVE PHOTO One person Collins certainly liked having on the set of TMI is her real-life beau, Jamie Campbell Bower, who plays her on-screen love interest, a mysterious Shadowhunter named Jace. Collins recalled meeting Bower during the auditions back in 2010. "I read with a couple of different guys. Jamie just came in and... that was it. He was just himself. He had this perfect mixture of being this witty, kind of jokey, cocky in the best sense of the word. But also extremely vulnerable, emotional and this great mixture of emotions. And that’s what Jace is. He has to walk in a room and make people turn their heads and that’s what Jamie does." Sure, this could sound all too familiar: an off-screen couple playing a supernatural on-screen couple, but Collins insisted TMI is no Twilight. Especially when it comes to comparing her Clary Fray to that of Bella Swan. "She’s thrown a new twist every five minutes and it’s this constant battle against herself of, 'How do I overcome this?' Collins said of her character. "She’s dealing with creatures that she’s never even believed in or thought existed. She’s got this new superhero power...she’s a teenager growing up trying to discover herself. That’s enough of a worry. Now she has to find out she’s a Shadowhunter. So I think what makes her different is just this sense she’s constantly finding out new information about herself." Collins also noted that throughout the script's rewrites ("One thing I wasn’t expecting on this project is how collaborative it is with the actors and Harald," she admitted, "We're kind of able to reword our own scenes as we go to see how things flow in the moment...and then also having Cassandra here to help clean up things that need to be fine-tailored and stuff) Clary's character has only gotten more fierce and independent. RELATED: A First Look At 'The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones ' "Clary has become way more proactive since the beginning, since the first script. She really fuels a lot of the scenes. It’s less about being thrown all this information and floundering: she gets thrown a lot of information now and she’s actively pursuing an outcome. I felt like she’s gotten stronger and stronger in the rewrites." But it's not just Clary's strong-willed nature that Collins thinks sets her aside from the YA pack: "She doesn’t rely on any guys, but the guys [do] end up helping her discover herself more." "It's not a movie about a love triangle," the star insisted, regarding the relationship between Clary, Jace, and her platonic pal Simon (Sheehan), "The romance is only one portion of this kind of epic adventure. Yes, it fuels certain scenes and it’s an undertone, but it’s in no way a love story that has action in it. It’s a full-blown action/adventure fantasy film that is based in reality that has this romance in it." Now that's worth fighting for. [Photo credit: Screen Gems] From Our Partners: 'Groundhog Day' Cast: Where Are They Now? Bradley Cooper Dancing Is Surprisingly Awkward
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Johns Vs. Jims — The Pop Culture Super Bowl
February 02, 2013 8:12am ESTAlready a month into 2013, some of us might be taking issue with the year’s deficit of opportunity for pop culture showdowns. Following a particularly fruitful autumn — one drenched in battles of political (Elephants Vs. Donkeys and Pizza Vs. Burritos), athletic (Tigers Vs. Giants), and fantastical (Edwards Vs. Jacobs and Trolls Vs. Dwarves) natures — the New Year has propagated quite a civil attitude on the pop culture front… save for an inceptive Babies Vs. Old Men mêlée. And while we saw a good deal of historic events hit the headlines in January — like presidential inaugurations and 30 Rock finales — we’ve yet to stumble upon a marvel worthy of showdown status. But fear not, you desensitized combat junkies, for the biggest face-off of the year is on the horizon: the Super Bowl. Yes, the Super Bowl. A ratings giant so stimulating in its fury, it is reported to be the leading cause of larynx irritation (next to supermarket parking lots). Responsible for undoing the work of marriage counselors nationwide, the Super Bowl is the perfect new subject for our Pop Culture Battles series. Unfortunately, the teams playing this year are the Ravens and the 49ers. And what the hell are we supposed to do with “49ers”? But there is another route. For, the true rivalry this year will transpire on the sidelines, as Baltimore Ravens coach John Harbaugh and San Francisco 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh are, indeed, brothers. And what is the only category of human bearing more animosity than opposing team coaches? Siblings. As such, thanks to the wonder of Super Bowl XLVII, we dive with vigor into what might be our most heated battle yet — Johns Vs. Jims. Place your bets, order your hot wings, crack open your beers. It’s going to be a long, commercial-filled skirmish. And yes, we know. This is ridiculous. FIRST HALF The Superman Play: Jonathan Kent Vs. Jimmy Olsen Coaching for the Johns: Jonathan Kent, Clark’s Kansas-native adoptive father His Playbook: Filled with old school sensibilities, life lessons, and several diatribes devoted to the importance of maintaining a strong jaw Coaching for the Jims: Jimmy Olsen, nubile photographer for The Daily Planet His Playbook: Filled with an overeager attitude and a perpetual smile, but an almost nonsexistent focus on actual skills of any kind The Winner: Jonathan Kent. Dude's got class. (1/0) The Ordinary Hero Play: John Ferguson Vs. Jimmy Stewart Coaching for the Johns: John “Scottie” Ferguson, Jimmy Stewart’s fear-stricken hero in Alfred Hitchcock’s Vertigo His Playbook: Filled with one rule, over and over — avoid high places. Coaching for the Jims: Actual Jimmy Stewart. His Playbook: Filled with admittedly far-fetched ambitions to bestow unto his loved ones natural lunar satellites. (Warning: the below clip WILL make you cry.) The Winner: Real Jimmy Stewart. Tell me that clip didn't make you burst out in tears. (1/1) The Belushi Play: John Belushi Vs. Jim Belushi Coaching for the Johns: John Belushi, film and sketch comedy icon His Playbook: Filled with memorable SNL skits, John Landis movies, and some sordid personal affairs Coaching for the Jims: Jim Belushi, television presence His Playbook: Filled with canned laughter and some wacky neighbors The Winner: John Belushi... naturally. (2/1) The Room Play: The John Vs. The Gym Coaching for the Johns: The john. The lavatory, the restroom, the W.C. — you get the picture. Its Playbook: Let’s just gloss over this one. Coaching for the Jims: The gym — the sole source of self-worth for a large percentage of the United States' North Atlantic region. Its Playbook: Filled with repeated mandates to wipe down equipment after using it. The Winner: The gym, if only for its prevalence in reality television culture. (2/2) SECOND HALF (The second half of our Pop Culture Super Bowl consists of a series of plays that, through the grace of Beyoncé, can be perfectly executed via single videos illustrating the rival coaches’ showdowns.) The Poli-Economic Play: Jon Stewart Vs. Jim Cramer Coaching for the Johns: The Daily Show host Jon Stewart His Playbook: Filled to the brim with dry wit, a sharp understanding of the political machine and its enslaved media, and that New Jersey wrath Coaching for the Jims: Mad Money host Jim Cramer His Playbook: Filled with incriminating sound bites, and a bunch of rubber hammers… The Winner: Jon Stewart... and Mr. Stewart, we thank you for that. (3/2) The Big Bang Theory Play: Johnny Galecki Vs. Jim Parsons Coaching for the Johns: Johnny Galecki, portrayer of Leonard Hofstadt on The Big Bang Theory His Playbook: Filled with anxious grimaces and pleas for romantic attention from the neighbor girl Coaching for the Jims: Jim Parsons, portrayer of Sheldon Cooper on The Big Bang Theory His Playbook: Filled with deadpan delivery and, somehow, a whole bunch of Emmys The Winner: Jim Parsons. You can't argue with Emmys (well, you can, but it's futile). (3/3) The Greendale Community College Play: Jim Rash Vs. John Goodman Coaching for the Johns: John Goodman’s Community character, Vice Dean Robert Laybourne His Playbook: Filled with a thespian articulation, a hyper-menacing presence, and a passion for air conditioner repair Coaching for the Jims: Jim Rash’s Community character, Dean Craig Pelton His Playbook: Filled with costumes. Lots and lots of costumes. The Winner: Jim Rash. Goodman may have won the battle, but Rash came out on top in the end. (3/4) The Lost Play: John Locke Vs. Jim LaFleur Coaching for the Johns: John Locke, recovering paraplegic and spiritual know-it-all His Playbook: Filled with requests for his players to “believe in the island” Coaching for the Jims: Jim LaFleur, a.k.a. James Ford, a.k.a. Sawyer His Playbook: Filled with pejorative nicknames and romance novels The Winner: Good ol' Saywer. Because that's a chin you can get behind. (3/5) And so, the victory goes to the Jims. Does this mean that the 49ers will take the Super Bowl this year? Almost definitely — these battles are cold, hard science. Sorry, Baltimore. At least you have The Wire. Note: We would like to extend an apology to all the Johns and Jims we wanted to include in this Pop Culture Super Bowl, but couldn't due to time constraints: Jim Davis, John Williams, John Lennon, Jim Carrey, Jon Hamm, Jimmy Fallon, Jimmy Buffett, Jimmy Kimmel, Johnny Cash, John McCain, Jimmy Carter, John Carter (of Mars), Jim O'Heir, Jim Halpert, John Hodgman, Jim Morrison, Jimi Hendrix, Johnny Depp, Johnny 5, John F. Kennedy, Jonathan Taylor Thomas, Jonathan Rhys Meyers, John the Baptist, Jimmy the Greek, Jon Voigt, Jon Bon Jovi, Jim Gaffigan, Jim Caviezel, and John Laroquette. We love must of you. [Photo Credit: Getty] More: 'Mad Men' and The Super Bowl: How Would Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce Advertise? The Hottest Guys of Super Bowl XLVII: Ravens Vs. 49ers 7 Super Bowl Commercials That Will Make You Bawl You Might Also Like: Biden? Ford? Surprisingly Hot Young Pics of Politicians Who Wore This Crazy Hat? Stars Who Changed Their Look After Love
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TV Tidbits: 'The Vampire Diaries' Takes a Bite Out of Ratings
January 18, 2013 2:57pm ESTMariah, Minaj and Vampires Reach Ratings Success: Looks like that catty new judging panel is working! The second night of the American Idol Season 12 premiere dropped only 2 percent: Good news, considering 19 percent of viewers changed their minds after night one last year. Meanwhile, The CW has something to celebrate today, as The Vampire Diaries beat NBC's 30 Rock and 1600 Penn in its demo. [EW] More Laughs on the Peacock: NBC has officially greenlit three comedy pilots — one from The Office vet Greg Daniels, another from Will Ferrell and Adam McKay, then a sperm donor comedy called Donor Party from relative unknowns Alex Schemmer and Geyer Kosinski. All three shows are single camera and sound relatively quirky, which (hopefully) means that NBC is going with smart over broad this year. (Here's looking at you, Guys With Kids.) [Deadline] Ben and Kate... and Jesse: In addition to his recurring role on the new season of Army Wives, Jesse McCartney is set to guest star in a February episode of Fox's breakout comedy Ben and Kate. In the episode, Kate returns to college and shares a class with BJ who tries to get her to let loose and have fun, but Kate is determined to focus on her studies this time around. But that might be a little difficult with Jesse (McCartney), a hot fellow student, trying to get Kate's attention and eventually asking her out. His episode is slated to air Tuesday Feb. 26. [E!] Arrow Beauty Heads to Dracula's Lair: NBC confirmed on Friday that Arrow’s Jessica De Gouw will play the female character Mina in the upcoming series Dracula, which stars Jonathan Rhys Meyers. Dracula has been described by NBC as a "provocative" version of Bram Stoker's classic, set in 1896. The 10-episode series begins when Dracula arrives in London, pretending to be an American entrepreneur, who claims he is trying to bring modern science to Victorian society. His real goal is to enact revenge on people he believes have wronged him. Dracula's one problem with revenge occurs when he falls in love with a woman (De Gouw), who appears to be a reincarnation of his dead wife. [Yahoo News] Follow Shaunna on Twitter @HWShaunna [PHOTO CREDIT: The CW] MORE: TV Tidbits: Meredith Vieira In Talks To Host Her Own Daytime Talk Show 'TV Tidbits': Ali Larter Joins 'Legends,' 'Once Upon a Time''s Snow White Gets a Mom TV Tidbits: Salma Hayek On Board for '30 Rock' Finale From Our Partners: 54 Cutest Celebrity Kids! (Celebuzz) Craziest Celebrity Swimsuits (Celebuzz)
