My Gleeful Support

So we love Jonathan Groff on Glee don't we? Yah, who wouldn't.

Now get his cousin James Wolpert on the show! Vote for him here.

Here's his audition video singing "Rehab".



Here's some of his other vids he's made for youtube. Adorable and listen to that VOICE. (Apparently it runs in the family):

"Mississippi" - (Original Song by James Wolpert)


"Breakeven" (by The Scripts):


"I Don't Need No Doctor" (John Mayer and Ray Charles):


"Lucky" (by Jason Mraz and Colbie Caillat) with sister Rachel (seriously, apparently it's in the genes)


"June" - Original Song by James Wolpert


And yes, he was on ABC's reality show (to win the closing credits in HSM3) High School Musical: Get in the Picture. He lost. What a sham.
With Bailey Purvis singing "Bleeding Love"


Stan Carrizosa, Tierney Chamberlain, Christina Brown, Isaiah Smith, TJ Wilkins, and James Wolpert performing popular TV Themes: One Day At A Time, Mary Tyler Moore, Greatest American Hero and Cheers:


Vance at http://tapeworthy.blogspot.com

More After the Jump...

Actors Wanted, And If You're Hot, I'll Be Waiting On The Couch

For the poor suckers that have to go back to work today, well, at least you have a job. For the rest of us, I swear I'll start blogging again as soon as I have time between all the holiday parties, seeing everyone visiting from out of town, my end-of-year-movie-catch-ups and eating way too much deserts. And isn't it nice to sleep in for once?

In the meantime, if you're an actor in New York and reading my blog. Well first of all, hello! And if I've ever slagged you in any way, you know it's in loving jest, right? hehe... he... er... ugh...

Anyways, ModFab is looking for some actors to be part of his staged reading of a show in early February '09 with a few rehearsals in late January. You can read about the details and his breakdown here or below. So go and be fabulous for ModFab and his company MadShag Performance Group and if you become famous, don't forget about me in the Oscar speech (or with the invites to any hot party).

Calling all actors! MadShag is seeking talented performing artists for its upcoming semi-staged reading of GILGAMESH, a multi-artist collaborative adaptation. Currently accepting headshots/resumes for:

MALE ROLES (1) - 25-50 yrs old, 5' 11" or taller, all races/types, voice and/or physical movement training a plus

FEMALE ROLE (1) - 25-35 yrs old, all races/types, voice and/or physical movement training a plus

FEMALE ROLE (1) - 35-65 yrs old, all races/types, voice and/or physical movement training a plus

REQUIRED AVAILABILITY:
Saturday, January 24, 2009 - 9AM-2PM (Read-Through/Rehearsal)
Friday, February 6, 2009 - 5PM-11PM (Rehearsal)
Saturday, February 7, 2009 - 1PM-10PM (Rehearsal/Reading)

Available and interested actors should email headshot and current resume ASAP to madshag@gmail.com. Auditions will take place in early January for selected applicants. Rehearsals and reading have no financial remuneration, but offer an excellent opportunity to work with eleven (eleven!) hot new playwrights and be seen by producers, artistic directors, and the NYC theatrical industry.

More After the Jump...

The Office - And The Tony Award Goes To... A Totally Unbiased Review

The Office - Employee Transfer - Ep. 505

Okay, maybe I'm biased because my friend Anthony Q. Farrell wrote this episode (his first on his own!), but I thought it was AWESOME!!! (and I'm saying AWWWWESOME with a whole church choral operatic higher pitched voice). (And I'm not just saying that because he's my ticket to visiting the set)

Every storyline was funny. It was awkward. There was heartbreak. Weirdness. And a lot more hilarity. Exactly what a great The Office episode should be!

Dwight was funny by being an annoyance to Andy but wasn't himself actually annoying for once.

Jim's brothers trying to prank him by talking down at (a supposedly participatory) Pam was awkwardly awesome and the double eyes-into-the-camera by Jim's brother and Jim (for two very different reasons) was brilliant, if I do say so myself!

And although I hate the fact that Holly (the superb and invaluable Amy Ryan) has to leave, her road trip with a weepy Michael and chauffeur Daryl was hilarious! Plus we got to hear Canuck Tom Cochrane's "Life is a Highway" about 5 times! Way to add some music rights money into the Canadian economy Tony! Keep it coming!

Plus the cold Halloween opening with 3 Jokers and Pam as the sole New Yorker dressed up (as Charlie Chaplin with hat, Hitler without) was simply hysterical!

Yey Tony! (and all the writer's as well of course since I do know there is teamwork involved!)

Jim is going to New York to visit Pam and they are meeting Jim's brothers for dinner (or to be beat up? Loved that line). Pam is planning to punk Jim by pretending to lose her wedding ring but the brother's have their own lame idea which is wince inducing. It's as if they were Michael's brothers, here to prod Jim and Pam again!

Michael and Daryl are on their way to drop off Holly at another branch she's being forced to transfer to and the tears come down between Michael and Holly (who wasn't touched by Daryl. Just making sure you all know that) who are being forced apart. Which isn't as loud as the tears I'm dying from either laughing at the nerdy antics of Holly and Michael, or from the sadness of realizing Amy Ryan isn't signed on permanently to the show.

Back at the office, Dwight comes in with a Cornell sweatshirt on to annoy Andy and the war continues all the way to the rival beet farm Andy plans to start (with a shirtless Andy in only overalls which is frighteningly kind of sexy).

I'm so proud of Anthony, even if he did go to my alma maters rival school, but I'll forgive him. I don't want to end up opening a beet farm or anything.

More After the Jump...

Amelia Will Fly Onto Screens Next Fall!

Considering I've been meaning to post a Fall Movie preview for over a month (and I'm not sure it's going to happen), this is a bit of a jump on an early preview, but they've finally announced a release date (and have an official website!) for Amelia!!! Unfortunately, it's OVER a YEAR from now, on October 23rd, 2009.

I know, it looks like another one of those star studded Hollywood Biopics that might be solid drama but slightly plain and dry (see Ray or Walk The Line, movies Hollywood used to churn out and think will win Oscars but no longer do) but I've got my reasons for being excited about this movie nonetheless!

The cast alone is enticing. Hilary Swank as Amelia Earhart. Richard Gere as her publicist/husband George Putnam. Ewan MacGregor as Gene Vidal. And if the picture below doesn't start telling a spoiler story, I don't know what does! (and filmed at Toronto's Elgin Theatre!).

Add in Virginia Madsen (Sideways) as Dorothy Putnam and Christopher Eccleston (back together in the same movie with Ewan since Shallow Grave) as Fred Noonan, and up-and comer Mia Wasikowska (Alice in Tim Burton's soon to be made Alice in Wonderland, below with Gere) as Elinor Smith, with a cameo from Mariska Hargitay. In a film directed by Mira Nair (The Namesake, Vanity Fair, Monsoon Wedding) with a script from Ron Bass (Rain Man).

More After the Jump...

Plugging The Ones I Love On Valentine's Day

Okay, time for some shameless plugging again. On Valentine's Day.

First of all, for the New Yorkers out there (or anybody planning to visit in the next month), go check out Traces by Montreal group les 7 doights de la main/ the 7 fingers at the New Victory Theatre on 42nd Street.

For a top price ticket of $35, much cheaper than a ticket nextdoor for Young Frankenstein, you'll get a bigger bang for the buck in this circus show that is like Cirque de Soleil if the local skateboarders in the hood performed it. Of course, it helps that they are all young and hot!

Here was my original review, as well as my Best of Stage 2007 list where it landed in at #4 on my Top 12 list. Check it out and let me know what you think.

For Torontonians (or the poor souls planning to visit us in the next few wintry cold months), the Diesel Playhouse is housing the return of Evil Dead The Musical! Back for its 3rd mounting in Toronto. And starting on Valentine's Day TONIGHT no less! You wanted red on Valentine's Day and they are giving you lots of it, albeit in blood format. (Especially in the Splatter Zone, which is well worth it).

The show is far funnier than you would imagine (so if you are scared of the horror element, don't fret, it's a silly comedy, albeit with lots and lots of blood) and well, in full disclosure my friend co-wrote it and co-directed it so even though I'm required to say it's good, I will anyways despite the connection because, it actually IS really good (in a silly campy way, this ain't no Shakespeare if that's what you're looking for).

(I'll get back to you on a promo code. I thought I remembered it to be something but it's not working for me so let me see if it's still valid)

Now I have nothing associated with this but with Hollywood opening a batch of movies on Valentine's Day today (um, all of which I want to see, including The Spiderwick Chronicles, Definitely, Maybe (both which are getting pretty good reviews actually, with TSC at 78% right now, and DM at 77% (I'm kinda shocked though)), and Jumper (not getting great reviews but I'm still curious)), I'm going to plug Step Up 2 the Streets, the cash grab sequel/repeat to the surprise hit Step Up.

I loved Step Up. Okay, maybe not love, but really really liked, but part of the charm was pairing a Shameless Plug favorite Take the Lead's Jenna Dewan with a then up-and-comer Channing Tatum (well, he still is but now we all turn our heads when we hear that name).

Neither of them which appear in the "sequel" (ahem, redux)... With none of the original writers or director...

But it's a dancing movie. And really, even a bad dancing movie is usually pretty good. (Think about it, what dancing movie is ACTUALLY really good, and then divide that with all the dancing movies you actually like/have on dvd/will rewatch when it airs on TV?).

Plus, so there's no hot Channing Tatum. Instead, we get his She's The Man co-star Robert Hoffman and if you read my blog, I REALLY REALLY REALLY like She's The Man and part of it is the scenes with Tatum and Hoffman, both who ease charm on the screen. Plus, Hoffman is an actual dancer turned actor (instead of vice versa) so this may bode well for the actual dancing scenes in Step Up 2!

Oh yeah, and there's some new girl Briana Evigan in it too. And Cassie.

So let's dance!



Oh, and is that Will Kemp as a teacher? Yes it is! Hot damn. Saw him in Matthew Bourne's The Car Man in London years ago. AMAZING.

More After the Jump...

Big Brother Trifecta - It Takes A Blonde To Save The Day, Just Not From This Season

The season started out so promisingly. Remember the good ol' days when we listened to Nick list out his Top 5 Guys and Dustin got to boot out his Gonorrhea screaming ex Joe and Jen wore that unitard (which seems funny now) and we could all unanimously hate homophobic Kail? Remember those days? Good times good times.

Now, the best moment of our current Big Brother Season 8 was seeing Janelle from Season 6 and 7 pop up in the house to host the Veto game. Oh Janelle! Now THERE was a true Blonde fighter! That was GAMEPLAYING! Hmm... I wonder what Kaysar is up to now as well?

But first, Eric and Jessica? That loud noise you hear? Is the rest of us screaming "WE TOLD YOU SO" as they find themselves in trouble at Zach's nominations. Even more sad, Eric still doesn't see Dick and Daniele's hand in it, all while Dick, Daniele and Zach continue to plot out Jessica and Eric's eliminations. So the only way Eric or Jessica could save themselves is for Eric to win the POV, thus enforcing Zach to nominate Daniele or Dick in Jessica's place.

So dah dah dah DAH! SUPA Janelle is back to host the POV! She feels the love from the fellow faux-blondes, as well as the drool from a leery Evil Dick (shudder) while Eric makes fun of Janelle just before he realises she's actually in the house. Seriously Eric. Just Stop NOW. Haven't you done enough already? So, it's another identify-the-moving-photoshopped-faces game and Daniele wins the POV leaving her and Dick in control.

You gotta give the girl some credit. As delusioned as she may be about her life, her role as a daughter, her gameplay or her lovelife, she has gotten this far in the game by winning Veto's and switching sides and backstabbing people at the right moments.

Oooh, in the most exciting moment of the night, there's a commercial for Shoot 'Em Up and it's the first time I've seen it played on TV! Go see the movie! And yes, I'm totally shamelessly plugging it here!

Uh, so there's some infantile part where we see Eric doing America's Choice to mimic Dick but at this point, America is as big of an idiot as Eric AND Dick combined. Seriously. America STILL puts Dick as the most popular player in the polls? I hope it's his son who tampered with the polls and is voting a gazillion times.

So, Daniele chooses not to use the POV leaving the J girls on the block, which I guess is still a better move for them since they can still vote off Jessica but keep Eric in the dark about their plan to vote out Eric next for a few more days.

So tune in Thursday when ModFab sadly reports of Dick and Daniele getting their way AGAIN, while QTA will be back Sunday with the new HOH and their nominations, and uh... don't forget to watch Shoot 'Em Up this weekend! Clive Owen! Monica Belucci! Naked! (Well, he is! Albeit very briefly. STILL. GO!)

More After the Jump...

The Geeks Like It! - Shoot 'Em Up Might Not Be A Total Bomb After All!

So Shoot 'Em Up seems to be getting some good buzz out of this past weekends Comic-Con in San Diego. (quietly in my head, oh thank god... and for more reasons than you would think). Well, I'm glad I apparently don't really know how to read a script (um, wait. that DOES worry me), although I guess the whole point of the film really isn't about the words. It's really about Clive Owen being cool (which, I think comes off WAY too easy for the jokester (yes, quite the prankster actually)).

I'm guessing Monica Belucci playing a character named DQ (Dairy Queen, I'll let you make the inferences) doesn't hurt getting the nerd boys to the box office either.

More After the Jump...

I'm A Nerd But Not That Kind of A Nerd

So Comic Con starts today in San Diego. [crickets]

Still, there seems to be enough influx of Hollywood trying to suck up to the comic geeks with Bionic Woman, Heroes, Lost, Battlestar Galatica etc. etc. that there should be interesting news coming out of there this weekend.

I've mainly noticed though because oddly enough in timing, I've had to track down some comic stuff for work and all the offices are deserted this week at all these different comic places because they are all down at Comic Con. It's like a giant Nerd exodus from the rest of the continent to the great pilgrimage in San Diego. God forbid I need I.T. help this week.

New Line will show clips (at 2:15pm Friday the 24th, in Hall H) of Shoot 'Em Up so it should be interesting to hear how it seems so far (I'm being cautiously optimistically cynical) and I forgot to post the general poster the other day so here it is.


New Line will also show The Golden Compass, which I'm excited about. Though I haven't read Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials, I hear it's good and very dark and NOT like The Chronicles of Narnia. It's almost the flip version. The poster isn't very enticing but from everything I've heard from the book, (and subsequent stage version from The National Theatre in London), it is.

Plus we get evil Nicole Kidman and a very handsome looking Daniel Craig (the best Bond EVER and apparently one that will be compensated very well for being so) (hey, wait? Aren't they in The Invasion together too?)

On a side note, according to Reel Fanatic, Naomi Watts is going to be Narcissa Malfoy in the Harry Potter movies? Belatrix Lestrange's blonde sister and mother of Draco Malfoy? How FANTASTIC!

More After the Jump...

Let The Adverts Begin! So They AREN'T Going To Totally Bury It!

Shoot 'Em Up finally has some posters up! I noticed them while I was seeing Hairspray, another New Line film (though COMPLETELY different)


Clive Owen above, 2 more posters (of Monica Belucci and Paul Giamatti) after the jump.


Shoot 'Em Up is currently scheduled for release on Sept. 7, 2007.

More After the Jump...

Instant Star - Like a Powder Mix

Instant Star Season 3 starts tonight at 9:30pm on CTV (it has already aired on The N in the states). What's Instant Star do you say? And where were Seasons 1 and 2? Who cares. Just watch Season 3. It's all that matters...

And if you can't get into our Instant Star Jude Harrison (winner of Instant Star, the show within the show much like the Idol series) and her flip flopping between hunky producer Tommy and her childhood pal Jamie, then watch it for the great look of the series. Plus Tyler Kyte (above right, with Alexz Johnson as Jude) stars in the show too and I loved him since his days as kid host on the Canadian-made Popular Mechanics For Kids (though his counterparts, Elisha Cuthbert (24), Jay Baruchel (Knocked Up, Undeclared, Million Dollar Baby), and Vanessa Lenghies (American Dreams) have all seem to have done slightly better over in Hollywood).

The series is made by the same folks who make Degrassi: The Next Generation, though it's much less controversial and far more soapy.

Tonight's premiere sees a nice big ol' cake fight between Jude and her new rival nemesis (and Instant Star 3 show-within-a-show winner) Karma.

And yes, I think she should be with Jamie (Kristopher Turner, above right with Tommy, Tim Rozon). (Jamie is the Noel to Jude's Felicity, which is weird since on Felicity, I thought she should be with Ben).

Oh, also trivia note, the house and pool they use for the Bar Mitvah scenes is apparently Prince's house (as in the artist formerly known as...) while he was in Toronto.

More After the Jump...

Do You Really Have To Ask What Shoot 'Em Up Is About?

OMG! When did the Shoot 'Em Up Movie Website go up? And it has a brand new (official) trailer on it (instead of the previous version that was made for Cannes last year)! Whether you like this blog or hate it, you can somehow blame Shoot 'Em Up for the conception of tapeworthy (but I won't explain how).

Well, I have no idea if the movie will be any good or not, because the script was retarded but hey, it has got Clive Owen (hello!), Monica Belucci and Paul Giamatti in it. And a lot of shooting. If you can't tell from the title already.

Shoot 'Em Up is currently scheduled to open September 7, 2007 (which is sort of like the graveyard for summer movies. Not a good sign).

More After the Jump...

Aren't We So Great?

Of course the sh#t hits the fan at work, the Friday before the (Canadian) long weekend so I won't be writing much today, plus I missed all the Season Finales last night anyways (I did that for you Art. All for you!), but a big congrats to my buddy TF (who I happen to be visiting this weekend in LA anyways) for getting the new writing gig on The Office! HOLY COW!!! CONGRATS!!!

Now I have an outlet to divert my complaints to (not that I have many with The Office)!

Our little "Joseph" gang has done pretty well for itself hasn't it? Evil Dead The Musical, The Office, whatever little cult show I'm on...

More After the Jump...

Going Evil - Evil Dead: The Musical That Is

Evil Dead: The Musical - Diesel Playhouse, Toronto, ON

Alright Torontonians, time to get bloody again and go see Evil Dead: The Musical, our little Fringe Fest (that already brought Broadway The Drowsy Chaperone) darling show that could, after its return from New York (with a positive review from the NY Times!!!). I went to see last nights show, and again, was wildly entertained and splattered with (fake stage (I hope)) blood in the Splatter Zone.

The Toronto cast was top notch with Ryan Ward returning once again as Ash, and Matt Olmstead back from the ORIGINAL Original Fringe show as Scott, and (slightly) less annoying (which is the perfect way it should be) Cheryl played by Rachel Fischer and a terrific Sarah Cornell as Shelly and Annie. Mike "Nug" Narhgang makes an impressive Jake as well.

There were still some sound problems and mic levels kinda went all over the place but the energy of the show was there and people pretty much get the point when blood is squirting all over the place.

It opens officially tonight so chainsaw a leg! (in keeping with the spirit of the show). Good job Bond!

UPDATE: The Toronto Star's Richard Ouzounian gave the show 4 stars!!!!

More After the Jump...

2007 Summer Movie Preview - There Are Movies That Don't End In 3, But Where Did the Movie Stars Go?

Well, it's May and nowadays, it's considered the beginning of the summer movie season! So time to check our brains at the door! Anyways, here's a listing of movies that intrigue me so far (from the info I know, some lots, some little, all after finally having time to peruse Entertainment Weekly's Summer Movie Preview). The following are listed in order of opening dates (usually the first one, if it opens in limited release. Dates subject to change due to studio execs fearing bigger movies clobbering them and trying to get them far far away). There's the big big big movie's that I'll see anyways (Spiderman 3, Pirates of the Caribbean 3, Shrek 3) but they don't really need more press (though neither does Harry Potter 5 but I'm still going to mention it again anyways).


Waitress (limited LA and NY May 2, opens nationwide throughout the month)
This is the movie with Keri Russell (Felicity), Nathan Fillion (Firefly), Jeremy Sisto (Six Feet Under) and Cheryl Hines (Curb Your Enthusiasm) and it's supposedly a splendidly warm and loving little movie directed by Adrienne Shelly who unfortunately was murdered last November in her own apartment. The NY Times already likes it, it got raves at Sundance and I'm really looking forward to this one. If there might be a little indie movie to break out this year, this might be the one. Plus, it's like a gathering of TV Star favorites all in one sitting!





Paris Je T'aime (May 4 in NY, May 18 in LA, Additional Cities to Follow)
18 stories directed by more than 20 directors starring more (international) actors than a Robert Altman film all as a love tribute to Paris. I'm getting hot under the collar just thinking about it.





Away From Her (May 4)
A movie about old people directed by the very young Sarah Polley based on a short story by Alice Munro and pretty much all Canadian funded (read: bleak). I know. Screams blockbuster doesn't it?





Knocked Up (June 1st)
Much like The 40 Year Old Virgin, the poster alone is funny and I think Seth Rogen (Undeclared) and Katherine Heigl (Grey's Anatomy) will do a bang up job getting knocked up (get it? get it?). Plus, it's like a gathering of TV Star favorites all in one sitting! Again!





Evan Almighty (June 22)
Speaking of the The 40 Year Old Virgin, if anybody can turn a sequel of a so-so movie without its original star into a laugh riot, my money would be on Steve Carrell. Oh look, they plucked then unfamous Steve Carrell from the original (Bruce Almighty) and cast him in the "sequel" where God makes him build an Ark, Noah styled, with Lauren Graham (Gilmore Girls) on hand as his wife. Plus, it's like a gathering of TV Star favorites all in one sitting! Again again!





A Mighty Heart (June 22)
They will probably never do a great job with this, but then again, who would have thought United 93 would have turned out so moving and poignant, and as with that movie, this one has another critically acclaimed British director attached. Angelina Jolie plays Marianne Pearl during the whole ordeal of her husband Daniel's kidnapping and subsequent death at the hands of Al Qauda. Plus it has Dan Futterman (Judging Amy, The Birdcage, writer of Capote) as Daniel Pearl. I'm completely intrigued even though I'm not a huge Angelina movie fan (though as a person, I think she's pretty cool).





Ratatouille (June 29)
It's Pixar. Do I really need to say more? They turned cars, a fish, monsters in the closet, bugs and toys into lovable characters. A rat with a love for fine French dining should be no problem.





Evening (June 29)
I have no idea what this is about but just look at the cast. I'm a sucker for these big casts.




Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (July 13)
It's about some boy wizard in battle with some evil guy that starts with a V. I hear it's based on some book?




Hairspray (July 20)
As I've stated before, I'm super excited about this movie for a musical I thought was so-so. Again, big cast. Me. Sucker.






Talk To Me (July 20)
Don Cheadle, Taraji P. Henson (superb in Hustle & Flow) and Chiwetel Ejiofor in a Kasi Lemmons film. Looks a bit formulaic and treacly but I want to see it as part shameless plugging and in part for the cast.




No Reservations (July 27)
I just want to see Catherine Zeta Jones eat. Aaron Eckhart feeding her doesn't hurt either.





Fat Girls (July)
Looks seriously indie and cheap and super sweet and funny.


Charlie Bartlett (August 3)
Seems like half the cast of Degrassi TNG is in it, along with Hope Davis and Robert Downey Jr. , about a teen who runs a nice scam. Buzz before the shoot was that the script was pretty clever for a "high school teen" movie. Looks interesting.




The Bourne Ultimatum (August 3)
Okay, fine. One part 3 movie on my list. It's again being directed by Paul Greengrass (United 93) who also did The Bourne Supremacy. Seriously, it's like the smart man's guide to action movies. Cannot WAIT! Who would have thought Matt Damon would have made a great action hero? Surely not after seeing School Ties!




Superbad (August 17)
Michael Cera (Arrested Development) is in it. That's enough to sell me. Superbad looks Supergood (you know I had to!)!





The Invasion (August 17)
Nicole Kidman and Daniel Craig. SOLD! I don't care what this movie is about, or that it's a remake of Invasion of the Body Snatchers. I'm totally SOLD!




Eleven Men Out (August 24)
A gay guy comes out to his soccer team in Iceland. Another blockbuster winner! Seriously though, can't wait!

More After the Jump...