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Posted: 16 Aug 2011 07:11 PM PDT

LOS ANGELES (AP) - Summertime is for cutting yourself some slack, whether that means reading potboilers poolside or testing the limits of fried food at county fairs.

Television has its own seasonal playlist, mostly dominated by reality shows and topped by "America's Got Talent," the NBC contest that takes an expansive view of achievement.

Yes, angelic-voiced Jackie Evancho, 11, was a star last season on "AGT" (the efficient nickname used by its producers and NBC). But the show, airing Tuesdays and Wednesdays and hosted by Nick Cannon, welcomes much more than elegant child sopranos.

There's a wide variety of singers as well as dancers, the stuff of other TV contests. Then add contortionists, impressionists, jugglers, magicians, ventriloquists and "danger acts," the injury-defying sort that push "AGT" onto vaudeville turf. "For me, each year it's about giving the audience acts that others don't feature. We want different singers than 'American Idol' and 'X Factor,"' said the show's executive producer, Cecile Frot-Coutaz. "And we want young, cool variety acts that people talk about."

The attempts to be different aren't always pretty. "Whether it's 'AGT' or not, it's amazing what somebody will do to garner fame," said Howie Mandel, who judges the show with Sharon Osbourne and Piers Morgan. "It's probably more apparent in our audition rounds where it goes everywhere from brilliance to insanity."

This season, the mix has included a talking bird act, male pole dancer, BMX stunt team and a man who played a game of elimination by throwing himself on a series of boxes. One of them held a knife. Contestants who successfully tried out on YouTube, one of the "AGT" audition options, include preteen singing group Avery and the Calico Hearts, juggler Charles Peachock and the West Springfield Dance Team, all performing on this week's wild-card competition. Presenting a jumble of entertainment is vintage show business but a TV rarity these days: "We're the only show that offers this," Mandel said. "America's Got Talent" is hitting a ratings high in its sixth year, both among total viewers and advertiser-favored young adults, according to Nielsen Co. The Tuesday episodes are up 22 percent compared to last year, drawing an audience of 14.6 million, while Wednesdays are averaging 12 million, a 12 percent increase over 2010.

As with other TV vocal contests that offer established singers a promotional platform, "AGT" attracts a fair share of pop stars. Past performers include Stevie Nicks, Jason Derulo and Maroon 5, with Colbie Caillat appearing on Wednesday's show.

High-brow types inclined to complain about its cultural impact might consider this: A concert film that includes Evancho is being used to help raise funds for PBS stations, which air the "Masterpiece" and "Nova" series and other counterpoints to "America's Got Talent." Morgan puts the NBC show in the context of his native Britain's pop culture, recalling offbeat summer variety shows held by seaside towns and dubbed "End of the Pier." "It reminds me of 'AGT': You never know what's going to happen," said Morgan, who is also a CNN host.

That element of surprise extends to the judges, particularly Morgan and Mandel, who engage in regular on-screen sparring. They could be following the model that Simon Cowell, creator of "AGT" and the original "Britain's Got Talent," built with Paula Abdul on "American Idol."

But unlike Cowell and Abdul, who are reuniting as judges on Cowell's "The X Factor" and admit to a mutual fondness, Morgan and Madel seem to genuinely irritate each other. When Mandel joined the series last year and showed his fondness for silly acts, he said, Morgan started calling him "annoying, a half-wit," Mandel recalled. "Now he's not lying. I will do anything to annoy him."

Responds Morgan: "He does annoy the hell out of me. He's as annoying off-screen as on-screen."

(Morgan has other off-screen issues. His past as a London tabloid editor has put him in the spotlight of the U.K. scandal centered on Rupert Murdoch's News of the World. Morgan, who briefly edited the paper before moving to the rival Daily Mirror, has denied any involvement or knowledge of illegal phone hacking.)

Osbourne is no shrinking violet but keeps her focus on the contestants. After all, she says, she and her rock-star husband were "AGT" fans before she became a judge.

"The first season of the show, Ozzy and I were totally addicted to it. We were doing Ozzfest (the music tour) and we'd record it and watch it traveling," she said. "It was just so different. It was funny, it was exciting and we really got addicted to it."

The semifinals start Aug. 23, and Osbourne would like to see one of the more offbeat acts eventually take the $1 million prize. "If a singer wins we're like every other talent show on TV," Osbourne said.

Not yet. The season-two winner, ventriloquist Terry Fator of Dallas, signed a five-year, $100 million dollar Las Vegas headliner deal. And a finalist from last year, Recycled Percussion, a band that uses a hodgepodge of buckets and other noise-making tools, signed its own Vegas casino show deal.

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The Princess’s Man holds promise

Posted: 16 Aug 2011 04:43 PM PDT

A pall of doom overshadows the entire story of The Princess's Man.

THIS writer is not particularly fond of shows that hint of a tragedy at the very start of the show. I prefer to be lulled and eased into a story, instead of being thumped on the head with a "this will end badly" montage.

(And since The Princess's Man is based on actual historical events and characters, those familiar with Korean history will know for certain that this, indeed, does not end well for some parties.)

This is how The Princess's Man begins. It takes place in Korea's turbulent past, where factions in the Korean kingdom are vying for power in the wake of the King's failing health.

Young nobleman Kim Seung Yoo (Park Shi Hoo) is racing across the dark countryside on horseback, running away from his captors who have actually let him go on purpose.

Seung Yoo doesn't realise that he is leading his enemies to his father, Kim Jong Seo (Lee Soon Jae), an important court official that has been accused of treason by the King. When he does arrive at his father's hiding place, his enemies – men of Prince Suyang – barge in with swords drawn. But his attempts to protect his father proves to be in vain as he is not only badly injured but his father is slain before his very eyes.

Then, we flashback to a year ago during happier times; Seung Yoo had less pressing concerns then.

He was often drunk and a regular client of gisaengs (the Korean equivalent of geishas), much to the disapproval of his world-weary father.

But one day, he is summoned to the palace to tutor the strong-willed and beautiful Princess Kyung Hye, who scares her tutors so much that no one is willing to teach her. The Princess isn't interested in chasing away another tutor, so she concocts a plan with her lady in waiting, Se Ryung (Moon Chae Won), Prince Suyang's eldest daughter. She tells Se Ryung to put on her royal garments and pretend to be her.

Se Ryung's first encounter with Seung Yoo was an eventful one. Seung Yoo, aware of Kyung Hye's many tricks, boldly raises the screen which separates them and warns her of chasing him away with her wiles. Se Ryung, on the other hand, points out the lipstick stain on his neck and chides him for being a vulgar man.

So begins the two star-crossed lovers' journey. Park, in his first leading role in a sageuk (Korean historical costumed drama), was charming and mysterious in Prosecutor Princess. As Seung Yoo he is mostly charming, with a sly and confident streak that plays off Moon's spunky, if typically opinionated, noblewoman.

However, thanks to what we saw in the beginning, we know that things are not going to be easy for our lovebirds. (And with the producers describing it as a "Romeo and Juliet" story, it doesn't seem the lovers will have a happy ending either.)

The first few episodes are mostly light-hearted, but because of the pall of doom that overshadows the entire story, the humour is tinged with tragedy. And depending on whether you're in the mood for tears, this may turn you off or draw you in.

But I can see that this sageuk has lots of potential. For one, it is handsomely shot and there's careful attention to costumes and sets so everything looks very authentic. The action scenes are convincing, and the characters compelling enough, and the story layered and deep.

Perhaps, too deep. While I do enjoy Seung Yoo and Se Ryung's romantic dance, I find myself zoning out as their elders – mostly the King, Suyang and Jong Seo – plot and scheme to ensure their political survival. The scenes weigh the already heavy drama down further, and it's somewhat disorienting to bounce from these scenes to the lighter, happier interactions between Seung Yoo and Se Ryung.

Still, the political scheming has a point, nevertheless. As Seung Yoo and Se Ryung flirt innocently with each other, they are actually being used as pawns by their fathers.

I do appreciate how the writers paint the villains in a more "realistic" light. They are not the way they are because they are evil, but because they are merely trying to survive.

Prince Suyang is largely a doting father and family man, and says at one point that he has to make his move first to ensure that the future king would not execute his family, which many in the court consider a threat or a real contender to the throne. While his methods are far from admirable, one can understand the motivation behind it.

Another plus point of The Princess's Man is its length. While many sageuks are unnecessarily long – like Jumong, which stretched to 81 episodes – The Princess's Man is expected to have only 24 episodes. Unless, of course, Korean Broadcasting System (KBS) decides to extend the number of episodes due to good ratings.

For those adverse to tragedies, here's a glimmer of hope. Although based on real history, there is still a possibility that Seung Yoo and Se Ryung's fate may be more pleasant than we think, comparisons to Romeo and Juliet, notwithstanding. History doesn't always report everything (or the truth), and who knows, maybe Seung Yoo and Se Ryung manage to survive against all the odds and to live their lives in peace, undetected by historical scribes.

The Princess's Man airs every Wednesday and Thursday at 9.03pm on KBS World (Astro Ch 391).

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'Teen Wolf' lead star is ready to howl

Posted: 16 Aug 2011 01:30 AM PDT

HOLLYWOOD (MCT): All of his life actor Tyler Posey has been hyperactive. He thinks that's one reason he was able to work nine-hour days as a nine-year old kid and still squeeze in the required schooling on the set.

All that excessive energy is going to come in handy as Posey assumes the role of Scott McCall in Teen Wolf, MTV's slick new thriller series that's currently showing on Astro's AXN Beyond HD (channel 720).

Posey, 19, has been acting since he was six. He entered the business because of his dad, John Posey, a journeyman actor. It may be the wisdom of his dad that makes Tyler so comfortable in a business fraught with disappointment. "I don't really get deterred," he says sitting on the edge of a couch in a hotel room here. "I go on so many auditions and get maybe 1 percent of the things I go in on. It's insane, but that's the business. It's all I've known for the past 14 years of my life."

He says he never becomes so discouraged that he wants to stop. "I don't think of it like that. I did my best work. I know I'm a good actor and everything happens for a reason. I didn't get the project for a reason. I don't know, I guess it's OK with me, unless it's a project I really, really wanted. Then it's 'OK, that really sucks.' If I didn't get Teen Wolf I would've been bummed, but there would've been something else that would've caught my eye."

Posey's ADHD was a problem in school. "I wasn't a bad kid, never been in a fight. I wasn't the best in school. I think I was in school just to hang out with my friends. I didn't care about the curriculum. I didn't care about any of that. Which is bad," he pauses, and speaking louder, he says, "Kids, stay in school, PLEASE.'

"When I say I didn't try, there was a point when I did try. It just didn't click with me. I think I'm ADD, that's why. I would really try and just get these bad grades and I remember I would go home and be so bummed I would cry sometimes ... I just don't get it. And even though I had a lot of fun in high school you grow up, it's hard being a teenager. It's hard, you know?"

There was a time when his fascination with acting dimmed. "When I got into high school I started getting out of acting a little bit and wanted to be more with my friends. I was going through a rebellious stage. I was a young teenager and really just wanted to focus mostly on my friends. So I had this moment where I stepped out of acting for a while and really got to look at what a great thing it really is. Ever since then I renewed my passion for it, and it's just 110 percent now, so it's all I want to do, but I also have a band which is another thing I want to do."

As a kid he was shy about his avocation. "I didn't want my friends to know what I did. I didn't want my friends talking about it. I hated being recognized on the street. When anyone would recognize me, I'd say, 'No, it's not me. I just look like that kid.' "

It's different now. "I own up to everything. I don't know what it was, I was immature. I was pretty shy. I grew up on the set and hung out with adults, so I matured a lot quicker than the other kids. I was shy around my friends. It was weird. I think I was more mature than them and they were just kind of annoying I thought. I grew out of that when I was a junior."

The audition for Teen Wolf was the first lead role he'd ever tried out for. He mustered through two auditions when he was called for a third. "The whole MTV was in the room. The audition process was six hours long, but it was awesome," he says. "It was definitely the longest, definitely the most fun ... That same day I was almost late to the airport because I had to go shoot a movie in Louisiana. On the way to the airport I got a call from my agent. She said, 'Tyler, oh, I'm sorry ... you got it!' 'Yeeess," he shakes his fists.

Teen Wolf is not just a spooky adventure, it's also a romance. Posey admits he's performed many onscreen kisses. "My first one was right when I got back into acting, at 17, I was on a TV show called Lincoln Heights and played Rhyon Brown's boyfriend. ... I wasn't embarrassed at all. I thought, 'Am I cool? Now all these people can watch me kiss.' Now I'm proud of everything I do, before I was so ashamed and that's completely gone. I just feel so good and it's almost like a rebirth ... It's a perfect example: if you have a dream, go do it."

In Teen Wolf Posey plays Crystal Reed's boyfriend. Counting the scenes that had to be reshot, Posey figures they've kissed over 200 times. "It's definitely good practice," he laughs.

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Selasa, 16 Ogos 2011

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Selasa, 16 Ogos 2011

The Star Online: Entertainment: TV & Radio

The Star Online: Entertainment: TV &amp; Radio

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The Star Online: Entertainment: TV & Radio