April Entertainment News

It's time to hit the couch. HBO's hit series In Treatment, starring Gabriel Byrne as Dr. Paul Weston, returns this month but with a changed schedule. Rather than a new episode each night of the work week, HBO will air two back to back episodes on Sunday night followed by three back to back episodes on Monday evening so you better adjust your DVRs or this could be the time to finally learn how to use it. As expected, this season of In Treatment will bring new clients for Dr. Weston including John Mahoney (The Broken Hearts Club,) Allison Pill (who played Anne Kronenberg in the film Milk) with Michelle Forbes (True Blood) and Dianne Weist (The Birdcage) reprising their roles from last season. *** Weist will also appear in Rage, a drama written and directed by Sally Porter featuring Jude Law (The Talented Mr. Ripley), John Leguizamo (To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything Julie Newmar), Eddie Izzard (The Riches) and Steve Buscemi (Parting Glances.) *** With the number of Gay people involved in the sequel to Hairspray, it should be called "Hair As Folk." So far the project is called Hairspray 2: White Lipstick, and is being written by John Waters, with music by Marc Shaiman under the direction of Adam Shankman. This is a re teaming as all three worked on the original Hairspray. Holiday movie goers helped make Shankman's Bedtime stories, starring Adam Sandler, a hit but more importantly he also directed the web sensation Proposition 8: the Musical which effectively addresses the hypocrisy of California voters who supported Proposition 8.
John Travolta had previously given Shankman the thumbs up on returning for the Hairspray sequel but with the recent tragic death of his son Jett, the role of Edna Turnblad could be written out. Shankman has confirmed that Michelle Pfeifer will not be returning as the creative team have plans for a new nemesis. Here's an idea, I hear Condaleeza Rice is searching for work. Look for the musical to open in 2010. ***
No shock on my face to learn the the Australian stage production of High School Musical closed 4 weeks early. As I've suffered High School Musical overload to most of my senses I would like to propose, after High School Musical 1, 2 & 3, that if Disney greenlights another sequel, it must be titled - High School Musical 4 - Dummies. ' On the subject of over marketing, The Hannah Montana movie opens this month and it could be the campiest film of the year. In addition to star Miley Cyrus and her former mullet king, dad Billy Ray the cast includes, Vanessa Williams (Ugly Betty), Tyra Banks (America's Next Top Model), Vicki Lawrence (Mama's Family), Barry Bostwick (Brad from the Rocky Horror Picture Show) and if that wasn't enough - Dolly Parton. Give it 6 months and Netflix will be offering a two for one special, if you rent The Hannah Montana Movie you get the Jonas Brothers in 3-D movie for free. ***
Keir Gilchrist, the Gay son, Marshall, on Showtime's The United States of Tara, joins his costar from that series Brie Larson, for the film Just Peck. A Brie of a different kind also joins the ensemble with Marcia Cross ( Bree on Desperate Housewives) as Gilchrist's very strict mother. The plot follows a teen who's overbearing parents force him to enter the Science Fair. Poor Keir, goes from one dweeb role to another. What's next, the sequel to Napoleon Dynamite? ***
Dragonball: Evolution, the live action film version of the Dragonball Z animated series opens April 8th. Justin Chatwin (War of the Worlds) stars as Goku, the hero destined to defend the Earth by locating the 7 powerful Dragonballs. And you thought Dragons only had two? The magical orbs grant endless power in order to defeat the evil Lord Piccolo played by James Marsters.Just wait till you see HIS weapons of mass destruction. Though a familiar face to fans of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, and Smallville, Marsters added to his cult fan followers when he played the former love interest of Capt. Jack Harkness on the hit UK series Torchwood. *** A fascinating ensemble is found in the May 1st opening of X-Men Origins: Wolverine. The first in what is intended to be a series of X-Men movie prequels, covering the early days of the film trilogy's most popular characters. Hugh Jackman returns in the title role with Ryan Reynolds (Blade: Trinity) as Deadpool, Liev Schreiber (The Manchurian Candidate) as the young Sabretooth, Dominic Monaghan (Lost) as Beak, Taylor Kitsch (Friday Night Lights) as Gambit, the 6' 6" Kevin Durand (Smokin Aces) as the Blob, Lynn Collins (True Blood) as Silver Fox and from the Blackeyed Peas Will I. Am as John Wraith. ***
Here comes a Xena Warrior Princess reunion of sorts on the new action thriller web series called Angel of Death starring Zoe Bell. What? You say that the name of Zoe Bell doesn't ring one for you? Why everyone over 40, who lives in their parent's basement, spends most of their time with computer games, who only get out of the house for Star Wars conventions and greet others with the Vulcan, Live long and prosper hand salute knows who Zoe Bell is. Since I'm not in my 40s and my parents didn't have a basement, I'll go ahead and enlighten you. Zoe Bell was the longtime stunt double for Lucy Lawless on the series Xena Warrior Princess. The reunion aspect comes from the fact that one of Bell's costars will be Ted Raimi who not only played Joxer on the Xena series but is the brother of the show's executive producer Sam Raimi. And if that's not enough to satisfy Xena fans, the warrior princess herself will appear in the role of Vera. ***
The lawsuit, delaying the latest season of Project Runway, continues, between Bravo and the Lifetime Cable Channel. Host, Heidi Klum has asked fans to organize protests at the home of uber producer Harvey Weinstein, blaming him for the delay. Though still now premiere dates for the 6th season, former Project Runway contestant Kenley Collins was arrested in Brooklyn a couple weeks ago. The bratty designer was charged with assault against her ex-fiance which stems from her attacking him with a lap top computer and her cat. Yes, you read that right, her own BFF - Best Feline Forever. Clearly, Ms. Collins misunderstood her mother's relationship advice which told her daughter, "Whenever you think you might be loosing your man, just show him your pussy!"