The Moviefone Blog

What's Hot on Inside TV: Commercials, Grammy Performances, 'Dollhouse'

Meg Prossnitz — 2009-12-23T18:17:00+00:00

With snow across the country and travel impossibly slowed down, what's better than cuddling up and hiding out in front of the TV while enjoying your holiday break? Lucky for you, over at Inside TV we've rounded up the best of the best so you can stay nice and warm while you channel surf.

We give you our top 10 commercials of the decade, including the Fruit of the Loom Guys and the Budweiser Clydesdales. With snow across the country and travel impossibly slowed down, what's better than cuddling up and hiding out in front of the TV while enjoying your holiday break? Lucky for you, over at Inside TV we've rounded up the best of the best so you can stay nice and warm while you channel surf.

We give you our top 10 commercials of the decade, including the Fruit of the Loom Guys and the Budweiser Clydesdales.

This kind of reality TV makes us ask, really? TMZ reported that Dr. Conrad Murray, Michael Jackson's infamous personal physician, had a British documentary crew shooting a special about his first day back on the job.

Call it fate: When Beyonce won an award at the VMA's in September, she graciously invited Taylor Swift onstage to make the acceptance speech Kanye West so rudely prevented her from finishing earlier in the evening. Now, the two female powerhouses will perform at the Grammy awards. No word on a collabo ... yet!

Joss Whedon's 'Dollhouse' may be on the way out, but not without a big bang finale. Baller-turned-thespian Rick Fox will appear in a cameo with real life love Eliza Dushku.

Nielsen ratings are no longer exclusively the realm of the big-four networks. PBS, home to perennial favorites such as 'Sesame Street,' is signing up for a weekly analysis of its programs.

Remembering Brittany Murphy: The Actress' Career Highlights

Meg Prossnitz — 2009-12-20T18:30:00+00:00

Brittany Murphy, the spunky actress known for starring roles in 'Clueless,' 'Sin City' and 'Girl, Interrupted,' went into cardiac arrest Sunday morning and was pronounced dead on arrival at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. She was 32.

Out of the public eye recently, it appeared Murphy was about to return in full force, with five films currently in post-production, all due for release in 2010. Brittany Murphy, the spunky actress known for starring roles in 'Clueless,' 'Sin City' and 'Girl, Interrupted,' went into cardiac arrest Sunday morning and was pronounced dead on arrival at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. She was 32.

Out of the public eye recently, it appeared Murphy was about to return in full force, with five films currently in post-production, all due for release in 2010.

Oddly enough, she was parodied earlier this month in a 'Saturday Night Live' Weekend Update sketch, which poked fun at her ditzy public persona and the fact that she was fired for disrupting production on a new movie she was shooting, 'The Caller.'

Though she got her start in Hollywood at the age of 14 -- with guest spots on TV shows like 'Murphy Brown,' 'Blossom' and 'Sister, Sister' and a starring role on the short-lived series 'Almost Home' -- it was her fresh-faced naïveté in 1995's 'Clueless' that made her a star.

As transfer student Tai, Murphy had some of the most memorable scenes in the movie, including calling Alicia Silverstone's character Cher "a virgin who can't drive" and singing 'Rolling with the Homies' at her first big high school party in Beverly Hills.

Watch the 'Clueless' trailer:

Her achingly realistic portrayal of meth addict Nikki in 2002's 'Spun' showed that Murphy could conquer drama as well as comedy. She would reunite with co-star Mickey Rourke in 2005's 'Sin City.'

Watch the 'Spun' trailer [NSFW]:

In 2002, Murphy was both sassy and sexy as Eminem's love interest, Alex, in '8 Mile.' Though both scoffed at rumors of an off-screen romance, there was no denying their chemistry. Murphy enthusiastically rapped along to Em's performance of 'Without Me' at the 2002 MTV Movie Awards.

Watch the '8 Mile' trailer:

For her 2003 flick 'Uptown Girls' with Dakota Fanning, Murphy answered questions about the film submitted from AOL Moviefone readers. She later named Fanning as a co-star she kept in touch with in a questionnaire for a Cosmopolitan magazine cover story.

Watch the 'Uptown Girls' trailer:

Then there was 'Just Married,' her 2003 romantic comedy with Ashton Kutcher. The co-stars turned their onscreen love into a real-life romance, Kutcher's last known Hollywood relationship before he met and married Demi Moore.

After news of Murphy's death broke, Kutcher took to Twitter with his thoughts saying: "2day the world lost a little piece of sunshine. My deepest condolences go out 2 Brittany's family, her husband, & her amazing mother Sharon." Then: "See you on the other side kid."

Watch the 'Just Married' trailer:

2005's star-studded graphic novel adaptation 'Sin City' marked yet another dark turn in Murphy's career. She played Shellie, a tough-talking waitress who quickly learns to stand up to her aggressors.

Watch the 'Sin City' trailer:

Murphy's career stretched beyond movies though. In 2006, she teamed with musician Paul Oakenfold to do vocals on his dance hit 'Faster Kill Pussycat.'

Watch the music video:

She was also known as the voice of Luanne Platter on Fox's animated TV series 'King of the Hill,' which ran for 13 seasons.

Watch the best of Brittany Murphy
as Luann Platter on AOL Television now

And these are just some of her most memorable roles -- did we miss one that you love? Share your favorite memories of Brittany Murphy with us in the comments section below.

More on Brittany Murphy:
News: Brittany Murphy Dead at 32
Status of Brittany Murphy's Last Films Largely Unknown
The Press Had Been Rough on Brittany Murphy for Years
Brittany Murphy's Husband Simon Monjack: Who Is He?

What's Hot on Inside TV: 'Jersey Shore' Nickname Generator, Donald Trump Goes Golfing on Reality TV, and a Werewolf Sinks Teeth Into Sookie

Meg Prossnitz — 2009-12-16T15:36:00+00:00

While you were busy figuring out how to secure 'Avatar' tickets, over at Inside TV we've been rounding up the hottest TV moments for you to enjoy, without you having to stay in. Even though we hope you've purchased those tickets online and stayed out of the cold.

Our staff tries out the 'Jersey Shore' nickname generator. Just remember, kiddies, the nickname "The Solution" is already taken -- by Conan O'Brien. Mike "The Situation" Sorrentino bestowed it himself. While you were busy figuring out how to secure 'Avatar' tickets, over at Inside TV we've been rounding up the hottest TV moments for you to enjoy, without you having to stay in. Even though we hope you've purchased those tickets online and stayed out of the cold.

Our staff tries out the 'Jersey Shore' nickname generator. Just remember, kiddies, the nickname "The Solution" is already taken -- by Conan O'Brien. Mike "The Situation" Sorrentino bestowed it himself.

Speaking of the 'Jersey Shore' swarm, none other than the businessman with a coif to rival Snooki's, Mr. Donald Trump, is set to replace the void left in the golf world by Tiger Woods. Reportedly, The Donald signed a deal with the Golf Channel for a reality show titled 'Donald J. Trump's Fabulous World of Golf.'

Succumbing to pressure from the success of Taylor Lautner? 'True Blood' has added a werewolf to its roster in the form of 'One Tree Hill' hunk Joe Manganiello. As Alcide Herveaux, Joe will 'get to know' mind-reading Sookie (Anna Paquin).

In last night's second episode of 'Sing Off,' judges gushed over Nota's rendition of 'Down' by Jay Sean and 'Right Round' by Flo Rida. You couldn't drag us to an a cappella concert in college, but with hip-hop in the mix, nobody can deny the infectious fun. What did you think?

Everyone loves indulging in a guilty pleasure, so own up and vote on your favorite reality TV show. Between 'The Real Housewives of Atlanta' and the above-mentioned reality behemoth, we're torn!

What's Hot On Inside TV: Richard Burgi to Star on 'SVU'; Stephanie Pratt's Out of the Loop; Frank the Entertainer Gets a Spin-Off

Meg Prossnitz — 2009-12-09T16:15:00+00:00

When it snows, ain't it thrilling, though your nose gets a chilling? We'll frolic and play the TV way ... and turn to Inside TV to keep us warm with all the inside scoops.

Loose lips sink plot twists: NBC announced yesterday that Richard Burgi and Lena Olin will be guest stars on an upcoming 'Law & Order: Special Victims Unit' episode, perhaps inadvertently answering the question of who died on Sunday's plane-crash episode of 'Desperate Housewives.' When it snows, ain't it thrilling, though your nose gets a chilling? We'll frolic and play the TV way ... and turn to Inside TV to keep us warm with all the inside scoops.

Loose lips sink plot twists: NBC announced yesterday that Richard Burgi and Lena Olin will be guest stars on an upcoming 'Law & Order: Special Victims Unit' episode, perhaps inadvertently answering the question of who died on Sunday's plane-crash episode of 'Desperate Housewives.'

'The Hills' star Stephanie Pratt isn't up on all the latest drama on her show, telling Inside TV, "I am so out of the loop because of my legal issues that I have been dealing with" at Tuesday's "Decade Event' party in Hollywood honoring Travis Barker's Famous Stars and Straps 10th anniversary and Snoop Dogg's 10th album, 'Malice in Wonderland.' Though she hasn't "even been on the Internet and seen the last four or five episodes," she has had time to quit drinking and catch up with enemy-turned-BFF Lauren Conrad.

Sure, Lady Gaga may love Barbara Walters so much that she will take off her sunglasses while sitting for an interview with her. But why is she lauded as one of the most fascinating people of the year when there are so many un-fascinating people to discuss? Check out our list of TV's most un-fascinating people of 2009.

Luck be a ladle: the final three and the finale of 'Top Chef: Las Vegas' coincide tonight at 10 p.m. on Bravo. Scope out our contestant-by-contestant projected winner preview.

Frank the Entertainer and his forehead knot are back! The enthusiastic basement-dwelling crooner of season 2 of 'I Love New York' and both seasons of 'I Love Money' is getting his own VH1 reality show, 'Frank the Entertainer ... in a Basement Affair,' which premieres Sun., Jan. 3 at 8 p.m. We can only hope the over-the-top hilarity of Miss Tiffany Pollard stops by for a guest episode and ends up joining the competition, though we know it's beneath her.

Antoine Dove put a ring on fellow 'The Biggest Loser' contestant Alexandra White last night. Who says losers can't be winners?

What's Hot on Inside TV: Aziz Ansari Discusses His Larks on 'Parks,' 'Ugly Betty' Ratings Not So Pretty, a 'Supreme' New Twist on the Standard Courtroom Drama

Meg Prossnitz — 2009-12-02T16:25:00+00:00

Too busy keeping up with the latest twist in the Tiger Woods controversy to know what's hot on our Inside TV blog? Don't worry, we've got you covered, from our chat with Aziz Ansari to drama on TV, whether it's winners and losers in ratings or hot topics on The View.

We kick back and chat with Aziz Ansari of 'Parks and Recreation' about Judd Apatow and Raaaaaaaandy. Too busy keeping up with the latest twist in the Tiger Woods controversy to know what's hot on our Inside TV blog? Don't worry, we've got you covered, from our chat with Aziz Ansari to drama on TV, whether it's winners and losers in ratings or hot topics on The View.

We kick back and chat with Aziz Ansari of 'Parks and Recreation' about Judd Apatow and Raaaaaaaandy.

CBS' 'Big Bang Theory' lives up to its name with its biggest gain in ratings this season; ABC's 'Ugly Betty' isn't looking so pretty with the biggest drop-off.

"Balloon Boy" Falcon Heene lifted off with one ofthe Most Memorable TV Moments of 2009.

Something to sing about: 'Glee' co-creator Brad Falchuk has signed a two-year development deal with 20th Century Fox.

A new twist in the standard courtroom drama formula: NBC has picked up a show called 'Tommy Supreme,' based on real-life attorney Tom Goldstein.

A voicemail left by Tiger Woods to his mistress published by US Weekly this morning elicited his first press release on the matter.

'The View' ladies discussed when plastic surgery goes wrong, telling the story of former Miss Argentina Solange Magnano, who died from butt implants gone awry.

New Victoria's Secret Angel Kylie Bisutti ruffles our feathers.

Meredith Baxter of 'Family Ties' came out as a lesbian on the 'Today' show.

Hot on Inside TV: Earlier Emmys, Favorite Sidekicks and High-Ratin' Palin

Meg Prossnitz — 2009-11-18T20:05:00+00:00

Our editors at Inside TV bring us exciting news today, from scene-stealing sidekicks to next year's early Emmys.

-- The Emmys are scheduled to arrive a bit earlier in 2010, airing on August 29 instead of the usual mid-September. Beach bodies on the red carpet sound good to us.

-- What would Johnny Carson be without Ed McMahon? Conan without Andy? Check out our favorite TV sidekicks. Our editors at Inside TV bring us exciting news today, from scene-stealing sidekicks to next year's early Emmys.

-- The Emmys are scheduled to arrive a bit earlier in 2010, airing on August 29 instead of the usual mid-September. Beach bodies on the red carpet sound good to us.

-- What would Johnny Carson be without Ed McMahon? Conan without Andy? Check out our favorite TV sidekicks.

-- Is Charlie Gibson feuding with his 'World News' successor Diane Sawyer? ABC News does have a history of creating stars and letting them fight it out.

-- Community's Joel McHale and Ken Jeong talk about going from part time acting to primetime television.

-- Fred Willard, known for his hilarious turns in parodies like 'Epic Movie' and Christopher Guest's mockumentaries like 'Best in Show,' will play Ty Burrell's father on 'Modern Family.'

-- MTV has acquired the television rights to Michael Jackson's 'This Is It,' bringing the star back to the network that made him famous.

-- Welcome back, Boone! 'Lost' creator Damon Lindelof spoke on the show's upcoming final season at Paramount's DVD launch party for 'Star Trek,' revealing that it will focus on "the original castaways that we have been following since the beginning." It's confirmed that we'll be seeing more Ian Somerhalder, Dominic Monaghan and Elizabeth Mitchell.

-- Get to know '90210' actor Tristan Wilds, Rihanna's rumored paramour.

-- Will Arnett, one half of the cutest couple in comedy, will join wife Amy Poehler on 'Parks and Recreation' - playing a co-conspirator in her character Leslie Knope's sex scandal. The two also played a couple in 'Arrested Development.' We weigh in on which other couples should share the small screen.