Sneak Peak: Movies for July 2009

These new movies are scheduled for theatrical release in July 2009.

See more at http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1522598/sneak_peak_movies_for_july_2009.html

Are Reality Shows Taking Over Television?

Are Reality Shows Taking Over Television?
Reality television shows are now on every channel. Is your favorite on the list?
http://www.associatedcontent.com/slideshow/8634/are_reality_shows_taking_over_television.html

About “Disney’s High School Musical: Get in the Picture”

Hosted by Nick Lachey, this ABC summer reality show awards one prize winner the chance to “get in the picture” when that person stars in a music video shown in the end credits of the feature film, Disney’s “High School Musical 3: Senior Year,” which premieres in theaters nationwide on October 24, 2008. The winner will also receive an exclusive talent hold agreement with ABC and a recording contract for two singles with Walt Disney Records, one of which will be a version of the song from the music video. The show airs on Mondays at 8 p.m., ET.

About “How to Look Good Naked”

Hosted by Carson Kressley, this remake of an original British series, uses objectifying images to work its positive-thinking mind games. Here, women, who are insecure about their bodies are encouraged to strip nude for the camera. Participants are never encouraged to undergo cosmetic surgery or to lose weight. Instead, Kressly teaches each woman how to dress appropriately for her body type, how to choose the right undergarments, and understand the right way to style her hair and use makeup. Finally, each episode is celebrated with a Hollywood-style photo shoot, where the woman gets to be a real show off! Look for it on the Lifetime television network, Tuesdays at 10 p.m., ET.

Teen Choice 2008 TV Awards

The Teen Choice Awards focus on film, television, music, comedy, sports, and fashion. Several categories also focus on reality television. Teens, from ages 13 to 19, can vote once each day for their favorite Teen Choice nominees at www.TeenChoiceAwards.com. Miley Cyrus a.k.a. Hanna Montana will host the 10th annual awards show on Monday, August 4, 2008 at 8 p.m., ET on the FOX television network. Mariah Carey will perform and the Jonas Brothers will field viewer questions. Also scheduled to appear is Mischa Barton; Drake Bell; Kristen Bell; Chris Brown; Sophia Bush; Steve Carell; Chace Crawford; Zac Efron; Selena Gomez; Josh Holloway; JoJo; Scarlett Johansson; Minka Kelly; Jesse McCartney; Chad Michael Murray; Danica Patrick; Hayden Panettiere; Jaime Pressly; Ryan Sheckler; and Brittany Snow. And the nominees are…

Choice TV: Reality Dance
America’s Best Dance Crew
Dance War: Bruno vs. Carrie Ann
Dancing with the Stars
So You Think You Can Dance
Your Mama Don’t Dance

Choice TV: Reality Music Competition
American Idol
Don’t Forget the Lyrics!
Making the Band 4
The Next Great American Band
Pussycat Dolls Present: Girlicious

Choice TV: Reality Beauty & Makeover
America’s Next Top Model
Beauty and the Geek
The Biggest Loser
Extreme Makeover: Home Edition
Project Runway

Choice TV: Celebrity Reality
Keeping Up with the Kardashians
Life of Ryan
Rob & Big
Run’s House
The Hills

Choice TV: Looking For Love
I Love New York
Flavor of Love
Rock of Love with Bret Michaels
The Bachelor: London Calling
The Bachelorette

Choice TV: Reality Competition
The Amazing Race
American Gladiator
Big Brother 9
Oprah’s Big Give
Survivor: Micronesia – Fans vs. Favorites

Choice TV: Game Show
Amnesia
Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?
Deal or No Deal
Duel
The Moment of Truth

Choice TV: Personality
Heidi Klum – Project Runway
Lil Mama – America’s Best Dance Crew
Ryan Seacrest – American Idol, E! News
Simon Cowell – American Idol
Tyra Banks – America’s Next Top Model

Choice TV: Breakout Show
America’s Best Dance Crew
Gossip Girl
Miss Guided
Samantha Who?
Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles

Choice TV: Male Reality/Variety Star
Brody Jenner – The Hills
David Cook – American Idol
Rob Dyrdek and Christopher Boykin – Rob & Big
Ryan Scheckler – Life of Ryan
The Jabbawockeez – America’s Best Dance Crew

Choice TV: Female Reality/Variety Star
Heidi Montag – The Hills
Kim Kardashian – Keeping Up with the Kardashians
Kristi Yamaguchi – Dancing with the Stars
Lauren Conrad – The Hills
Whitney Thompson – America’s Next Top Model

Choice TV: Villain
Ed Westwick- Gossip Girl
Michael Rosenbaum – Smallville
Spencer Pratt – The Hills
Vanessa Williams – Ugly Betty
Zachary Quinto – Heroes

Choice TV: Breakout Star Male
Chace Crawford – Gossip Girl
Ed Westwick – Gossip Girl
The Jabbawockeez – America’s Best Dance Crew
Thomas Dekker – Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles
Zachary Levi – Chuck

About “Meerkat Manor”

This one is my personal favorite!  I watch this with my 13-year-old daughter on the Animal Planet cable television network.   Last season, the Whiskers family, was dealt an agonizing blow, when their fearless leader, Flower, died from a vicious snake bite.  With the family in an uproar, Rocket Dog fought her way to the spot as top “kat” and new leader for the Whiskers clan. But, Maybelline didn’t accept her sister as queen and ditched the clan to form her own mob, the Aztecs. With the family divided, the sisters’ claws come out — and the Manor is changed forever.

Now, Rocket Dog and Maybelline must live within the rather large shadow of their late mother, Flower, and there’s very little room in the Kalahari for both sisters’ clans. Not only do the meerkats face predators, harsh desert weather and their archenemies, the Commandos, but they also most deal with dissent within their ranks. Without a solid leader to unify them, they face their toughest survival threat yet: each other.   Look for Meerkat Manor: The Next Generation, each Friday at 9 p.m., ET.

About “Top Chef”

This cooking competiion show airs on the Bravo cable television network.  Here, chefs compete against each other in weekly challenges. Chefs are judged by a panel of professional chefs and other notables from the food and wine industry with one or more contestants eliminated each week.

For the Quickfire Challenge, each chef is asked to cook a dish with certain requirements. Usually, they are given one hour or less to complete these tasks.  A guest judge selects one or more chefs as the best in the challenge.  In most cases, the winning chef(s) are granted immunity from the following Elimination Challenge.  They may also receive an additional reward.

For the Elimination Challenge, chefs prepare one or more dishes to meet the challenge requirements. Most of these are individual challenges and may require several courses, although some instances require teams to complete the challenge. Teams may be selected by the remaining contestants among themselves, but more often are selected by the random process of “drawing knives” from a butcher’s block, with the team identification revealed on the blade of the knife. The chefs may have from a few hours to a few days to complete this challenge. Ingredients for Elimination Challenges are generally limited to what is present in the “Top Chef” pantry and what the chefs purchase at a food store, with a possibly limited budget. However, certain challenges may provide specific ingredients or limit the type or number of ingredients that can be used, while others require non-traditional methods of obtaining ingredients (such as asking people door-to-door). After shopping, the contestants will cook for four judges, usually including at least one guest judge. In most cases, the contestants cook for the four judges and a group of guests or customers (for example, the cowboys in Colorado). The judges and the guests sample the food and rate the individuals or teams.

When the Elimination Challenge ends, the chefs are taken to Judges’ Table, where the four judges consider the guests’ comments and deliberate on the best and worst dishes. The top individuals or teams are called in, and may be asked questions of their meals before they are notified of their placement. One individual is named the winner of the challenge and may be awarded an additional prize by the guest judge. Then, the bottom individuals or teams are brought to the judges, and similar discussion of their courses is played out. From this group, one chef or team is determined to be the worst, and then the host asks one chef to “pack their knives and go.” This is usually followed by a knife packing sequence for the eliminated chef, and a clip of his or her exit video, to close out the episode.   Furthermore, this contest continues for 10 to 13 episodes, until the Finale.

About “The Amazing Race”

This CBS reality television game show consists of teams of two people, who race around the world in competition with other teams. Contestants strive to arrive first at “pit stops” at the end of each leg of the race to win prizes and avoid coming in last, which carries the possibility of elimination or a significant disadvantage in the following leg. Contestants travel to and within multiple countries in a variety of transportation modes, including  planes, taxis, rental cars, trains, buses, and boats.

The clues in each leg point the teams to the next destination or direct them to perform a task, either together or by a single member. These challenges are related in some manner to the country or culture where they are located. Teams are progressively eliminated until three teams are left; at that point, the team which arrives first in the final leg is awarded a grand prize of one million U.S. dollars.

About “Ghost Hunters”

This SciFi series follows a group of real-life paranormal researchers, who investigate hauntings throughout the country.  Jason Hawes and Grant Wilson, plumbers by trade, head up The Atlantic Paranormal Society (TAPS). TAPS is a group of ordinary people such as office managers, factory workers, teachers and even psychic (hotline gurus) moonlighting to understand seemingly unexplainable disturbances.

About “Dog The Bounty Hunter”

Currently, airing on A&E, this show chronicles Duane “Dog” Chapman’s operations at his job, Da Kine Bail Bonds in  Honolulu, Hawaii.  Dog is joined by his wife and business partner,  Beth Smith Chapman, his sons, Lelan, Duane Lee, and associate, Tim Chapman (not related), and his daughter, ‘Baby’ Lyssa Chapman.  

On November 2, 2007, the production and airing of the show was halted by A&E, after Dog Chapman was recorded uttering racist remarks. On February 19, 2008, after Chapman’s public repentance and vow to make amends, and after a show of support from fans and black leaders,  A&E announced the show’s return.