Friends costars’ reunion may be award-winning
Tuesday, March 2nd, 2010
The funniest things happen when old friends get together. And that was undoubtedly true when Lisa Kudrow (Phoebe) asked former Friends pal Courteney Cox (Monica) to guest in several episodes of her gut-busting Web Therapy. The online series stars Kudrow as a self-absorbed shrink (with dubious credentials) who’s more interested in exploiting her webcam patients for profit rather than offering guidance. Two seasons have been produced, a total of 30 short therapy sessions featuring top comedic talent. Improv is encouraged and—as seen in the two gag reels—often leaves Lisa doubled-over in laughter. Courteney’s arc involves an alleged missing ‘gift’ and an off-camera fiasco on The Tyra Banks Show. Both actresses are nominated for the 2nd annual Streamy Awards, which honor the best in webisodes: Lisa for Best Actress in a Comedy Web Series, and Courteney for Best Guest Star. Click here to watch both seasons and outtake reels. Joining the Friends nominees is Tatyana Ali (Ashley on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air), who’ll contend for Best Actress in a Drama for her ten episodes of Buppies.
In other award news, Tyler Perry’s House of Payne garnered four NAACP Image Awards this past weekend: Best Comedy Series, Best Actress (Cassi Davis), Supporting Actor (Lance Gross) and Supporting Actress (Keshia Knight Pulliam). In addition, Chris Rock (Everybody Hates Chris) won the Best Documentary nod for Good Hair; and The Office claimed honors for Best Writing in a Comedy Series.
The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air / Weekdays 8am & Sun. 2:30pm
Tyler Perry’s House of Payne / Weeknights 1am & Sun. 3:30pm
Everybody Hates Chris / Weekdays 1pm & Sun. 3pm
The Office / Mon. thru Sat. 7 & 7:30pm
Posted in Everybody Hates Chris, Friends, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, The Office, Tyler Perrys House of Payne | Comment Now 
Spread the word and “stuff the ballot box” for several deserving CW series to receive national recognition at the first awards show of 2010. The deadline to vote for your favorite People’s Choice nominees is Tuesday, Dec. 8, and this competition encourages the public to cast a ballot as often as possible. Just log on to 
Blake Lively will do a little moonlighting this weekend and certainly raise her stature in the entertainment world. The 22-year-old Gossip Girl actress becomes the first-ever CW star to host Saturday Night Live, an honor typically reserved for the most-buzzworthy performers. CW network forerunner The WB placed five young favorites in the SNL pantheon, beginning with Sarah Michelle Gellar (Buffy) in 1998, followed later by Jamie Foxx and Dawson’s Creek trio James van der Beek, Joshua Jackson and Katie Holmes. Fifteen other WBNX stars have taken the reigns over the past 35 years, including each Friends cast member (except Matt LeBlanc), plus Melrose Place queens Heather Locklear and Laura Leighton, and Ray Romano—who was cleverly joined in his monologue by Everybody Loves Raymond parents Doris Roberts and Peter Boyle. Ironically, Boyle was one of SNL’s earliest hosts, guiding the 13th episode of the very first season back in ’76. More recently, Ashlee Simpson (Melrose Place) is noted for her lip-synching fiasco as musical guest four years ago. With Gossip Girl set in New York, it seems likely we could see Blake’s boyfriend, Penn Badgley, or other CW costars making sketch cameos. In addition to her Upper East Side shenanigans, Blake is currently featured as young “Pippa” in the big-screen film, The Private Lives of Pippa Lee, and just finished shooting The Town, opposite Ben Affleck and Jon Hamm. Does the vivacious, oft-photographed beauty have some hidden comedic chops, as well? No one’s betting against Serena van der Woodsen. 
Awards Season is fast approaching and the one ceremony which relies on fan balloting needs our early input. The 36th annual People’s Choice Awards want to condense their list of potential nominees in each category from a dozen to the top five. There are ten television-related groups, plus 12 for movies and nine for music. If your favorite is not already listed, voters can also write in their own choices. Here are the current WBNX-related names which appear on the ballot: 
Gossip Girl returns Monday night with the first of eight all-new episodes to close out Season 2. Think there’s gonna be some wild drama? Count on it. Executive producer Stephanie Savage hinted as much in response to a question about the soon-to-reappear Georgina Sparks (played by Michelle Trachtenberg): “You need to have one unhinged sociopath, don’t you?” Serena’s longtime nemesis will surprise you with her bizarre ‘change’ in four upcoming episodes, and Savage didn’t discount Georgina’s presence on the show next season. Savage also told The Futon Critic why she loves writing about teen angst. “It allows you to tell stories where characters can make really bad decisions and not be judged too harshly for them. Teenagers have such a spectrum of emotions and choices they can make where ultimately you can forgive them and fold them back into the family because they’re learning and they don’t know any better. You have a much larger canvas on which to paint.” Trachtenberg, incidentally, has a major role in 17 Again, a big-screen comedy which should do gangbusters at the box-office when it premieres April 17. She co-stars with Zac Efron, Matthew Perry (Chandler on Friends) and Adam Gregory (Ty on 90210). 
WBNX actors had impressive opening weekends at the box-office, but may have been overshadowed by word that fan-obsessions Jericho and Veronica Mars are destined for new life on the big-screen. Jensen Ackles (Dean on Supernatural) and My Bloody Valentine 3D narrowly missed second-place among the top grossing films, while Lisa Kudrow (Friends) and Kyla Pratt (One on One) were close behind at #5 with Hotel For Dogs. [Kudrow made a hilarious talkshow appearance to plug the flick three nights ago dressed in a Snuggie blanket.] Jennifer Aniston’s Marley & Me just crossed the $130-mil cume, with her next comedy—He’s Just Not That Into You—premiering in less than three weeks. Meanwhile, director Jon Turteltaub tells ifMagazine, “We’re developing a feature for Jericho,” one that would appeal even to those who’ve never seen the CW show. “It would get into life after a (nuclear) event on a national scale…the bigger, full-on American version of what’s going on beyond the town of Jericho.” And yes, he said, the TV cast would return. Similarly, AcesShowbiz.com reports that Veronica Mars creator Rob Thomas and star Kristen Bell are both on-board for a film adaptation of the former CW series. “For me, that’s the next project, but my writing it is really just half the battle—somebody has to pay for it,” he says, adding that mega-producer Joel Silver has already called and asked when the project can begin. Thomas revealed that he has “about 70%” of the plot thought out already, and that the movie would pick up near the end of Veronica’s college career. 
She’s known ‘round the globe for her neurotic character “Monica”, but Courteney Cox has no regrets about the challenges of reinventing a career. “I wouldn’t be sitting in this office if it wasn’t for Friends. It’s given me opportunities I would never have had and freedom financially,” she tells Britain’s Daily Mail in a candid interview. Cox and her husband, actor David Arquette, now run their own West Hollywood production company, while acting and doting on four-year-old daughter, Coco. She admits her marriage has had rocky patches, but “I get shocked by people getting divorced all the time, that’s why I choose to work on it. We love being together.” And motherhood clearly agrees with the 44-year-old. “I can’t imagine life without a child,” Courteney confides. “It’s all that really matters.” She and David have lots of help from best-friend Jennifer Aniston (Rachel), who is Coco’s godmother. “They see each other and play together every weekend. The other day Jen came over with her yoga teacher and Coco stuck it out for an hour doing yoga with them.” What makes her friendship with Aniston so enduring? “We’ve known each other nearly 15 years now, we grew up together emotionally. I lost my father, Jen got divorced, and I had a baby. We’ve been through huge life changes together; I can be myself around her.” Friends for life, you might say. 
Over the next two days, WBNX has a sleighfull of holiday specials and Christmas-themed programs to keep your family occupied—before and after Santa’s arrival. Wednesday night, Emma Roberts and Norm McDonald are the voice stars of our brand new animated hour, The Flight Before Christmas; followed by The Story of Santa Claus—featuring old pals from The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Betty White and Ed Asner. Earlier risers on Christmas morning will find TV specials beginning at 6am; and throughout the day, sitcom families celebrate the season in their own humor-filled ways. Sam and Dean Winchester aren’t laughing, however, when they track down the Anti-Santa on A Very Supernatural Christmas. Here’s a quick rundown of at least a dozen Yuletide shows you can enjoy: 
