TVSquad

TV Guide has a couple of weekly recap shows about American Idol when it's on, but even so this seems a bit excessive. I know Twilight is a big hit with the kids, but is it big enough that we need a weekly hour-long show to build up to the premiere of New Moon, the second film in the franchise.

"This week we'll interview the cast and crew and show you some sets. Next week we can talk more to the cast and show you another piece of set. Ooh! Ooh! Wanna see an exclusive six second sneak preview of Jacob growing fur and a snout. Enthralling!" Sadly, this will probably work. If nothing else, it will get young girls watching ReelzChannel.

I have no problem with the behind-the-scenes specials we get to spotlight upcoming movies, but an entire series based on one movie seems a bit ridiculous. That said, maybe NBC should look at picking this up in case Leno doesn't work out. Make it a nightly thing. After all, there's more movies coming!

The folks at our sister site Cinematical are working hard to give you news and reviews of the best -- and worst -- the silver screen has to offer. Here are some of their musings on the latest blockbusters, indies, and everything in between:

• It's bad enough there was a sequel, but now Meet the Parents is becoming an honest-to-God Franchise? Apparently Little Fockers has a director. Also, I want to kill myself.
• Could this whole 3-D movie craze we're in the middle of come to a crashing halt, now that theaters and studios are haggling over the price?
• Look, I haven't seen Twilight, so I know nothing about vampire-lover Kristen Stewart, other than the fact that she looks pissed off all the time. That's why I'm kind of reticent to watch her in a comedy. Read the review of Adventureland to see how she does.
• Martha Stewart has been Tweeting about the upcoming film, Food, Inc. She says that it'll make you only buy organic from now on. Personally, I'm terrified. Cinematical has an exclusive first look at the poster for Food, Inc.
• There's really not much that needs to be said about this: Cinematical Seven: Our Favorite Hot Rod Girls.
  

Even before I caught Twilight on the big screen, I was comparing it to Roswell, the great teen sci-fi/romance series that aired on The WB (and later The CW UPN) from 1999-2002. The Twilight ads and trailers seemed to tell the same story Roswell told more than nine years ago: A sensitive girl is saved by a supernatural hunk who makes it his mission to protect her at all costs. The two fall in love, but the relationship is complicated by his other-worldly circumstances.

It's not exactly the most original story in the world. This sort of thing goes back to Bram Stoker's Dracula, (and probably further back than that). Still, after watching Twilight, I was a bit shocked by its similarities to Roswell, especially since Roswell wasn't half as popular as Twilight. I haven't read the Twilight or Roswell book series, so I can't tell you if the similarities persist in print (but my friend Stephanie can). I can only compare the big screen and TV versions.

From major plot points to character motivations, these two franchises have a lot in common, but one clearly stands above the other. Let's compare, and you'll see what I mean:

The folks at our sister site Cinematical are working hard to give you news and reviews of the best -- and worst -- the silver screen has to offer. Here are some of their latest musings on the latest blockbusters, indies, and everything in between:

• Disney's coming out with a non-Pixar animated movie. It involves Miley Cyrus and an adorable puppy! But is it any good? Find out when Cinematical reviews Bolt.
• Apparently Australia makes movies. You know, other than the upcoming Australia. They're not movies I've ever seen, but the Cinematical Seven takes a look at the greatest movies to come from the former penal colony.
• Look, if you're my fourteen-year-old niece, you're going to put on your Hot Topic arm warmers and see Twilight the moment it comes out. It will quickly become the Best. Movie. Ever., regardless of whether or not it's actually good. For those of you who are old like me, you may want to check out Peter Martin's review of Twilight to see if this vampire love story (that's what it is, right?) is worth shelling out ten bucks for.
• Dude. Twilight is huge. Cinematical is taking care of all of your Kristen Stewart interview needs. She's the human lady, right?.
• So the ending of 1986's Little Shop of Horrors? Not the original one. Cinematcial has the much darker ending here.