TVSquad

July is right around the corner, which means just one thing ... new webisodes of The Office. Starting July 10th, you'll be able to tune into the NBC website to view the latest adventures of the characters that normally don't have top billing during the normal seasons. And yet, they are just as funny (sometimes funnier) than the big stars that grace the show week after week.

As we reported back in May, this set of webisodes will feature Darryl, Oscar and, most prominently, Kevin. The plot of these webisodes are a bit fuzzy from the previews, but it seems that Kevin is in a bit of financial trouble and needs to take a loan out in order to cover some losses. During this time he is taken under the wing of Darryl, who helps Kevin reach his goals. All that, and we get to see Darryl wear a suit.

There are two videos after the jump. The first features scenes from the upcoming webisodes. The second is a behind the scenes look at the episodes by stars Oscar Nunez (Oscar), Craig Robinson (Darryl) and Brian Baumgartner (Kevin). It's here that we learn that Brian has filmed the webisodes sans pants. Something that us fans probably didn't want to know about.

Dennis Hopper is set to star in the new original series Crash, produced by Starz and Lionsgate. This is the first drama series for the network. Based on the Academy Award-winning movie, Crash has begun filming in New Mexico and Los Angeles. Sanford Bookstaver (Jericho, Bones, The O.C.) will direct the premiere episode.

According to the press release, the show "will continue to focus on an ensemble cast of characters" and "will explore the complexities of social tolerance in contemporary America by digging at the meaning of what it takes to reach the American dream." Hopper will play Ben, a veteran, maverick producer in the music biz who is looking for his last big score. Other stars include Clare Carey, Luis Chavez, Ross McCall, Jocko Sims, Brian Tee, and Arlene Tur. Crash will come to Starz in October.

Watch your backs, HBO and Showtime! This show looks good. And Paul Haggis is on the team of executive producers. He didn't just give us Crash. He gave us thirtysomething and The Black Donnellys. Don't mess with the Hag.

The Golden Globes (airing January 13) and Oscars (February 24) sought waivers to allow union writers to help put together their awards shows, but Reuters tells us that the WGA says it will deny those waivers. Show organizers say they will go on regardless. As for what to do for scribes, Leslie Unger, spokeswoman for the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, said "There are any number of possible options we might explore" regarding what the Oscars intend.

One possibility is to hire non-union writers. How pissed would the WGA be if the reviews were great, the jokes actually funny and the telecast considered to be the best Academy Awards show ever! Another possibility, and I have no idea why this hasn't been explored seriously already, is the Family Guy manatee writers. South Park showed how prolific they were, and there are simply tons of lame award show jokes that could be written on balls and thrown in the tank. Or do you think they're members of the union, too?

Apparently, holding the Guinness World Record for the most time spent in front of a television camera isn't enough. The AP is now reporting that 76-year old Regis Philbin has been signed to host the red carpet show for the upcoming Oscars. Dennis Doty, producer of the show, says he's a great host because "he knows everyone, and everyone loves Regis." The arrivals show for the 80th Annual Academy Awards airs at 5/4c February 24, 2008 on ABC.

I bet Ryan Seacrest is pissed. How dare a hosting gig come up and not be his. How do they expect him to become the new king of all media? But Philbin is one of the most beloved people. I mean seriously, does anyone not like the man? How do you achieve that level of likeability, anyway? I can tell you from personal experience it's not achieved by offering free back massages to everyone you meet. And I thought everyone liked massages, but no! Apparently, they like restraining orders more.

[via Yahoo! ]

A documentary about Second Life that actually takes place within the virtual world has been picked up by HBO for a premiere sometime next year.

The documentary, Molotov's Dispatches in Search of the Creator: A Second Life Odyssey, was created by multimedia director Douglas Gayeton, whose avatar, Molotov Alva, serves as a guide through the virtual 3D world. Gayeton previously worked on the CD-ROM version of the film Johnny Menemonic, and is a partner with Propaganda Films along with David Fincher, Spike Jonze, and Alex Proyas. The documentary was produced by Submarine in Amsterdam, however, not Propaganda.

It seems that Extra has done the leg work and taken heed to Jennifer Hudson's suggestion that someone rewind the American Idol tapes, to see all the nasty comments that Simon Cowell had said during her tenure on the show.

So a diligent production assistant in Los Angeles, had collected some footage that seems to show the more supportive side of Simon in this TV's Top 5! moment.

Here's a twist on the awards show formula - honor people who actually deserve a little recognition. The Brick Awards, to be broadcast by The CW on April 12th, are organized by Do Something, the non-profit internet company devoted to helping young people make positive "world changes." While the Bricks have been distributed for the past 11 years, this is the first time the ceremony will be broadcast.

Twelve young adults and four celebrities will be honored for their service in four areas: public health; community building; education and environment; and global impact. Award recipients, who range in age from 11 to 25, will receive a check for the charitable organization of their choice and a framed brick trophy - intended to symbolize a "building block" and be the antithesis of "shiny, perfect" Oscar-like trophies.

Apparently Jennifer Hudson hasn't been reading her own press. She seemed truly stunned tonight when her name was announced for Best Supporting Actress during the 79th Annual Academy Awards (even though she was the favorite!).

When the former Idol contestant took the stage, she took a moment to take it all in and that moment seemed to make her tear up a bit. She thanked her grandmother, her large family, cast and crew of DreamGirls and God got a few shout-outs. The music nearly drowned out her quick 'thank you' to Jennifer Holliday, the actress who originated the role of Effie on Broadway. She did not thank anyone from American Idol.

I think she just one-upped Kelly Clarkson!

There are a lot of things that suck about Hollywood awards shows (the self-important attitude of the whole thing and the cheesy dialogue come to mind). But the most prominent annoyance is the 'Thank You' speech. I don't know about you, but I don't care about Reese Witherspoon's lawyer and I can't help counting when... um... Jonathan... um... Demme... wins for... um... Silence of the Lambs.

This year, producers for tonight's Academy Awards are trying to avoid the 45-second long lists of thank yous from winners by offering them the 'Thank You' cam. It's a camera that winners can turn to when they exit the stage and finish their list of 'thank yous'. The video will be immediately broadcast on Oscar.com. The host of the 'thank you' cam says, "It takes the pressure off. Don't worry about the list, say what you want to say from the heart and the rest will live on the internet."

First of all, who the hell is going to watch this? Second of all, it sounds doomed to fail. Most of the people who win feel obligated to thank a million behind-the-scenes folks with deep wallets in order to get more work/money.

So... sit back with the mute button at the ready. Or find something else to do tonight.

Jack Palance is one of those actors who has been around for so long and has been seen in so many varied projects, that when he dies, every type of entertainment publication feels compelled to run his obituary.

Palance died today of natural causes in his California home. He was 87. Palance is probably best known for his long career playing tough-guy roles in movies like Shane and City Slickers (for which he won an Oscar and did those one-handed pushups at the ceremony). On TV, played the lead role on Playhouse 90's landmark 1957 production of Requiem for a Heavyweight, which won a Peabody award. But younger TV fans will likely remember him as the host of the show Ripley's Believe It or Not, which ran from 1982-1986 on ABC.

God, was it creepy when he ended one of those segments about someone with two noses or some other equally freaky subject by slowly saying in his calm, low tone, "Believe it... (inhale) or not." Gave the teenaged me the willies. But I tuned in each and every week. Gonna miss the guy.

Movie critic Roger Ebert is still recovering from surgery he had in June to remove a cancerous growth on his salivary gland and then emergency surgery he had in July when a blood vessel burst. Ebert published a letter in Thursday's Chicago Sun-Times saying that he hopes to be back at work (at the paper and on television) in time for the Oscars and the Cannes Film Festival. He also said he plans to review The Queen, starring Helen Mirren, in this Friday's newspaper since a producer managed to get him a DVD copy of the film.

Since Ebert left his television show, Richard Roeper has hosted various guest film critics including Kevin Smith and Jay Leno. This week's co-host is A.O. Scott, a reviewer for the New York Times.

The Office webisodes begin on Thursday. The video shorts star Angela, Kevin and Oscar in a series of whodunit stories where the trio of accountants try to figure out why $3,000 is missing. There will be special appearances by Rainn Wilson (Dwight Schrute) and the actress who plays Phyllis.

The series of ten episodes begins tomorrow on NBC's The Office webpage.

One of these things is not like the other. I read this story and that's the song that got stuck in my head. The Hallmark Channel just bought the rights to air 29 feature films on its network. Soon, films like Miss Congeniality, Troy, The In-Laws, and New York Minute will pick up where Little House on the Prairie and Moment of Truth movies left off. The one movie that really stands out from the others is March of the Penguins. It actually makes a little bit of sense that it's on the Hallmark Channel, because the movie ends up being very emotional and about life's struggles and the saving grace of family. I just expected it to be on Discovery.

Caroll Spinney, the man who performs both Big Bird and Oscar the Grouch on Sesame Street, will receive a lifetime achievement award at the Daytime Emmys in April. Spinney was with the series from the very beginning, appearing as Big Bird in the first scene of the first episode. Jim Henson and Sesame Street writer Jon Stone came up with the idea for Oscar after encountering a grumpy waiter at a restaurant in Manhattan called Oscar's Tavern. Spinney based Oscar's voice on a gravel-voiced cab driver who once picked him up to take him back to the Sesame Street set.

Two of the boys from 'N Sync have an idea for a television show. One of them is a slob, the other is a clean freak: and they're roommates! Sound familiar? Joey Fatone and Lance Bass are creating a reality-ish series based on their lives for UPN. See.. it's the funniest thing. Joey is a total slob. And Lance is a tight ass. Get it? Oh the comedy that will ensue. I don't know about Lance, but Joey actually seems like a fine actor. He had a memorable supporting role in My Big, Fat, Greek Wedding.

UPN says the show is a modernized version of The Odd Couple (but you already figured that out, didn't you?). Its working title is Out of Sync and UPN is planning for a launch this fall.