Image Credit: Doug Hyun/TNTLook below the surface, and Southland is one of the quietest shows on television. On last nights season finale, there was a car crash, a rooftop chase, some bloody gunplay, and a brutally extended fight sequence. One man was shot to death, and another fell of a building. A child was born. At one point, a skimpily-dressed hooker climbed up onto the hood of a cop car and loudly demanded ten dollars while beating her fists against the windshield wipers. It could play as bombastic, but Southland never feels over-the-top. Even though the finale delivered big emotional payoffs for most of the main characters and even though the shows future is still currently up in the air the show ended its third season on a thoughtful note.
The key, I think, is the lack of music. The big action sequence of the episode saw Ben Sherman chasing a fleeing child molester up a fire escape and across a rooftop, while his ailing partner-mentor John Cooper suffering from bad back, drug-addled brain, and a semi-existential detachment from reality struggled to follow. Its the kind of sequence that on most TV shows would be scored with 24-ish action music, but on Southland, the only soundtrack was the tinny creaking of the fire escape, the quickening footsteps, and the ambient city sounds of a disinterested metropolis.
Of course, it helps when a cast is stacked this full of talented actors. Last night was a good showcase for Michael Cudlitz, who has nailed John Coopers slow-motion moral descent. (It feels like weve seen the guy age ten years this season.) His last scene was devastating as he checked into a hospital, listing off all the prescription drugs he was addicted to, he still managed to look disgusted when the nurse asked him if he had taken cocaine and heroin. Im a cop, he said, which in context was both sad and funny.
It was also thrilling to see Shawn Hatosys Sammy avenge Nates shocking death. It was, admittedly, a curiously perpendicular vengeance: Nates killer was fleeing from the cops for a different crime and ended up getting shot by some other uniforms on the scene. Still, Sammy got some mortal retribution, whispering Nates name in the dying killers ear over and over again: Nate Moretta. Nate Moretta, mf. It was a weird, fascinating scene, made even stranger when we saw Sammy holding his newborn son just a few scenes later.
At the end of the finale, Sammy was back in a uniform, with Sherman as his new partner. Id be interested to see those two characters play off each other more if the show goes to a fourth season. Viewers, did you enjoy the finale? Want to see more Southland? If the show goes to a fourth season, what former teen star would you like to see gritt-ify their reputation? Jason Behr? Jason Dohring? Some other former teen star named Jason?
And they say girls are bitchy! Well, McFly are obviously a band who stick together because Danny Jones has been giving bandmate Dougie Poynter a bit of verbal support over his break-up with Frankie Sandford.
You're probably already aware that Frankie has since copped off with footballer Wayne Bridge - a replationship which Danny has insisted will not last.
Dougie is reported to have gone into rehab to help him get over the split, and things are obviously still a bit raw with Danny too.
Speaking to New magazine, he said: "I personally couldn't give a s**t what she does, she can do what she likes.
"I haven't had a one-to-one chat with [Dougie] since it happened because we've been so busy with the tour, but I said to him last week, 'We need to go for a beer and a catch-up'. He's living with Tom [Fletcher] at the moment, so it's all good."
And Tom Fletcher, the other third of McFly, said: "Our houses are next door to each other. We'd see each other every day anyway, so he's moved in with me since he split up with Frankie."
They also apparently confirmed that Dougie has been on "a few" dates since the split. Not with Vannessa Perroncel though, we imagine.
What do you reckon? Should Danny keep his nose out of it? Comments below if you please...
At least Dougie and Franklie hadn't tied the knot young like these poor saps...
The co-chairman of President Obamas deficit commission was making some kind of point about Social Security on Fox News when he slipped into the following observation:
grandchildren now dont write a thank-you for the Christmas presents, theyre walking on their pants with the cap on backwards listening to the enema man and Snoopy Snoopy Poop Dogg
Sources directly connected to Mel Gibson tell TMZ ... he's aware he's going to be charged with a crime, and is agonizing over the prospect of putting his family through a public, knock-down, drag-out trial.
We're told Mel is confident he will only be charged with a low-level misdemeanor. Nonetheless, he is uncertain if he has the stomach to endure a 1-year legal fight and is worried about the impact it will have on his children.
As TMZ has already reported, Mel will be criminally charged with a misdemeanor over the January 6, 2010 blowout between him and Oksana Grigorieva.
We're told the D.A. will file charges against Mel this week -- very possibly today.
Lily Allen is set to appear in a new Channel 4 series this evening as we follow her journey from popstar to vintage shop owner in Riches to Rags. The documentary starts as Lily decides to quit touring in favour of a quieter life and plans to open a store with her half sister Sarah. It is expected to be quite revealing as Lily goes through some personal problems. Are you going to be tuning in, or is it not for you?
According to the site, Paltrow, who showed off her musical talents this year in the movie Country Strong and on Glee, has signed a contract worth approximately $900,000″ with Atlantic Records.
Not exactly.
A rep for Paltrow confirms to Gossip Cop that no deal is done with any record company yet.
At this point, we wouldn't be surprised. We're sure producers are ready to try anything to get this show to finally turn a profit, including kicking the people who started it all to the curb.
Sources are reporting that Julie Taymor, the director of Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark on Broadway, may not be keeping that title for much longer.
The fact is, besides dealing with a slew of injuries and getting terrible reviews, the show's gone through tons of overhauls and nothing seems to be working. Perhaps, then, if Julie is the one standing in the way of major changes to the production, she'll end up being the major change herself.
As we understand it, something big is in the works either way over on 42nd street as it seems Bono has been called in for several meetings to talk about the show's future.
Um, how awkward is it gonna be if the producers turn around and say, "Hey Bono - fix the music!"
How you gonna tell Bono is his music is no good? He's got like 25 Grammys! He's freakin' Bono!
Things aren't looking good for you Julie, but here's hoping it all works out for the best for everyone.
Princess-to-be Kate Middleton visited Belfast, Northern Ireland with Prince William today, the latest stop in the royal couples tour of the United Kingdom. It was windy and rainy there, and she battled the elements in a double-breasted khaki trench coat by Burberry. The outerwear featured a wavy hemline and epaulettes at the shoulders, as well as a leather-covered buckle belt. The same coat could be yours: Its now for sale on Burberry.com for $995.
Alice in Chains Rocker, Celebrity Rehab Patient Mike Starr Dead at 44
Alice in Chains Rocker, Celebrity Rehab Patient Mike Starr Dead at 44
VH1
Mike Starr's demons tragically caught up with him.
The original bassist for Alice in Chains was found dead Tuesday in Utah. He was 44. Cause of death has not yet been released.
Starr, who battled drug addiction, appeared on the third season of Celebrity Rehab With Dr. Drew in 2009 and gave a testimonial marking six months and seven days of sobriety during season four.
But his latest run-in with the law implied that he had hit a roadblock in his recovery.
Starr was arrested last month in Salt Lake City on suspicion of felony possession of a controlled substance for allegedly having six Xanax pills and six tablets of the painkiller Opana.
"Devastating to hear of Mike Starr succumbing to his illness. So very sad. Our prayers are with his family," Dr. Drew Pinskytweeted this afternoon.
Starr, who was born in Honolulu, played in Seattle with Jerry Cantrell and Sean Kinney as the glam band Diamond Lie, which later morphed into Alice in Chains with the addition of Layne Staley.
Their first studio EP was 1990's We Die Young.
Starr left the band in 1993 while they were touring with Ozzy Osbourne and was replaced by Mike Inez. Starr mentioned during his time on Celebrity Rehab that he had been booted from Alice in Chains because of his drug problem.
Inez was the one to reunite with Cantrell and Kinney in 2005 for a benefit concert for victims of the tsunami in South Asia. Staley died of a drug overdose in 2002.
"I totally back Mike and I back his efforts to get clean and remain somebody that I and the band really care abouthe's a friend of ours, you know, and we wish him the best," Cantrell wrote in the liner notes to the band's 2009 album Black Gives Way to Blue.
(Originally published March 8, 2011, at 4:06 p.m. PT)
Lindsay Lohan to Sue Jewelry Store Over Sold Security Footage
Lindsay Lohan to Sue Jewelry Store Over Sold Security Footage
Sensing a legal opening along with a chance to cause misdirection and play the victim, Lindsay Lohan is going to sue Kamofie & Company jewelry store.
Why? She claims they had no legal standing to sell the infamous surveillance tape and that Lohan never licensed the rights to use her image for profit.
Kamofie sold the rights to distribute the tape to the Associated Press for at least $40,000. Lindsay says it's just proof they're using her to cash in.
No word on when Lindsay plans to file suit. [Photo: Pacific Coast News]
A rep for Kamofie tells TMZ that "We regret to hear there is trepidation by Miss Lohan in connection with the video" but that they had no choice but to sell.
Don't ask us why selling footage of Lohan allegedly committing felony theft to a media outlet became an involuntary act, but that's what they're saying:
The statement continues, "We hope everyone understands this is beyond our control, the flood of the requests to see this video were too overwhelming."
Calling all Kate Gosselin fans - the mama and her brood are back!
The Kate Plus 8family will return to TLC with all-new episodes beginning on Monday, April 4.
During the premiere, viewers will see the famous mommy and her eight children in Australia, the kids' farthest trip from home yet.
With Jon Gosselin not in the picture, its just Kate and the kids diving into exciting adventures not only in the Land Down Under, but in Alaska, as well.
