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June 13th 2008

Get Your Smokey On: The Bear Is Back

Filed under: campaigns, film-tv, television — michael @ 10:21 am

Since debuting in 1944, Smokey the Bear has been slapping us all across the head in an effort to think about how our careless actions can have devastating consequences for America’s forests. Lately, with all the recent fires we’ve had around the country, we could all use a few more reminders. Thanks to the Ad Council — in partnership with the USDA Forest Service and the National Association of State Foresters — the bear is back. 

And just like everything else these days, Smokey has gotten a CGI upgrade. He also appears to have been working out in-between the last set of PSAs. From the release, 

“Research shows that many Americans believe that lightning starts most wildfires. In fact, more than 88 percent of wildfires nationwide are started by humans and the majority of these fires are accidental. The principle causes are campfires left unattended, trash burning on windy days, careless discarding of smoking materials, BBQ coals and operating equipment without spark arrestors. As such, the number of misinformed is quite alarming and threatens to become a contributing factor that will impact our environment.”

In other words, get your smokey on. Check out the new PSAs and other info here. 

June 13th 2008

Slate SLAMS Planet Green, Goes After ‘Living With Ed’

Filed under: film-tv, television — michael @ 9:52 am

I was actually starting to wonder when all of the ‘zippity-do-da’ reviews of Discovery’s Planet Green would include one of scathing disgust. There was no way, I assured myself, that such a 24-hour network of green goodness could bypass some TV critic with an ax to grind over the whole environmental movement. Thankfully, Troy Patterson of Slate did not let me down. Here are some highlights

Troy’s feelings on environmental-stewardship:

“Concern for the environment is, among other things, an upper-middle-class privilege and a status marker.”

On Adrian Grenier’s Alter-Eco:

“It’s impossible to say whether the show’s smug superiority is more grating than its anorexic thinness of content, but seeing them in combination may fill you with a kind of retributive rage. I for one want to go out and kill a dolphin.”

On Ed Begley Jr.’s Living With Ed:

“Living With Ed is clearly the most phony and least enlightening show yet devised about the home lives of celebrities, and I include Keeping Up With the Kardashians in that count.”

On how he starts his last paragraph:

“To be fair, Planet Green isn’t always this stupid. What could be? “ 

Wow, Troy, you’ve really sold it with the whole ‘fair and balanced’ angle — which is probably what you were thinking when you titled the piece, “The Dreadful Planet Green Network”. Your take on the environmental movement as something only accessible or solely existing as a “status marker” to upper-middle-class citizens further adds ill repute to any objective journalism you might bring to the table. Do you really believe that kids can do better to watch Keeping Up With the Kardashians than Living With Ed? I would really, really love to hear that argument. Have you seen the April episode with the following synopsis?

“After Kim purchases a Bentley, jealousy ensues as the girls fight over petty grievances. Kris gets drunk and gets a tattoo. Bruce begins showing symptoms of a mid-life crisis.”

Get real. Planet Green has some growing to do with its content, but it’s by no means the “unforgivable waste of energy” you insist it is. I’m happy to see programming that inspires people to think about their impact on the world, its resources, and the ways we can all live more sustainably. If you want to cozy up with the Kardashians and curse people driving hybrids and recycling, go ahead. Just don’t bitch and claim you’re going to “kill a dolphin” when the rest of us have moved on and are interested in something else. 

June 12th 2008

Eco-Warrior John Abraham Producing Film On Tigers

Filed under: animals, film-tv, television — michael @ 3:50 pm

We first discovered Bollywood actor John Abraham about a week ago when he was honored as an ‘Eco Warrior’ by the Earth Matters Foundation. Now, we’re starting to catch wind of a whole bunch of great projects and initiatives he supports. 

The latest is this new documentary he’s producing called Return of the Tigers. It should actually probably be called Ruin of the Tigers, because the synopsis doesn’t paint a happy ending. 

“The story of the film will revolve around four tigers and the problems faced by them such as the scarcity of preys, the repercussions of tourism and human plundering in animal habitat.”

If it’s anything like Discovery Channel, they’ll all be dead in the end. You know, just like the meerkats they get you attached to and then with stunned horror you watch them all get picked off one-by-one by eagles and wild dogs. Bastards. 

The doc is still on the scripting floor, but expect wildlife filmmaker and environmentalist, Mike Pandey to direct. Let’s hope there are still some lions around to participate when it comes time to shoot. 

via Bollywoodbuzz

June 11th 2008

The Green Quote: Alec Baldwin Has A Sexy Star Trek Idea

Filed under: film-tv, television — michael @ 3:20 pm

“I once pitched a show to (Fox president of entertainment) Kevin Reilly. I told him I wanted to bring back space travel on TV, like “Star Trek,” but that I wanted to have sex in the space capsule and get really adult. In the show, the space capsule will have left Earth, and because of global warming, the Earth is dying. I’m the commander of this ship and I say, “We can never go back!” So Reilly is sitting there listening very patiently and finally says, “Well, we’re never going to do that.”

– Alec Baldwin during a roundtable discussion of television with several other actors and The Hollywood Reporter.

(To which Rainn Wilson replied, “I would love to have sex in outer space.” ) 

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June 10th 2008

Tom Brokaw Cleverly Knocks Letterman On Environmental Footprint

Filed under: film-tv, television — michael @ 9:21 pm

It was oh so subtle, but last night on the Late Show, Tom Brokaw threw an upper-cut at David Letterman that landed hard on the host’s environmental hypocrisy. 

Brokaw was there to promote his new book, Boom! Voices of the Sixties: Personal Reflections on the ’60s and Today, but soon found himself discussing the recently failed climate change bill and the historical significance of the Bush administration. When Letterman bemoaned the lack of government support on the issue of global warming, Brokaw replied, “The government has to lead and those of us who drive (insinuating Letterman) — uhh uhh — big carbon-emitting vehicles or fly in airplanes that have only two passengers on them…” Which provoked Letterman to utter, “Alright, alright, that’s fine Tom,” and end the conversation. 

Uncomfortable, are we? 

So, yes, Letterman cornered himself and does not have much of a record to be advocating for change when his own personal life reflects nothing of that conviction. Kudos to Brokaw for calling him on it. It’s a tricky line to balance as a celebrity pontificating on global warming. These days, simply talking about it is not enough to earn you respect. You have to back it up. Somehow, someway.

Otherwise, the joke’s on you. 

via Newsbusters

June 9th 2008

Video: Ecorazzi At The Planet Green Launch With Adrian Grenier, Tommy Lee

Filed under: ecorazzi exclusive, events: la, film-tv, green and famous, television, video — michael @ 1:04 pm

Ecorazzi’s Anna Griffin hit the Planet Green launch celebration last week and chatted with such celebrities as Tommy Lee, Adrian Grenier, Summer Rayne Oakes, and Kennen Ivory Wayans. Check it out below!

June 7th 2008

Video Preview Of An Inconvenient Truth: The Opera

Bring tissues.

Filed under: film-tv, music, television, video, web — michael @ 12:37 pm

Last week’s news that an opera house in Milan, Italy had commissioned an opera version of Al Gore’s An Inconvenient Truth brought with it some moans and groans, with 69% of our readers expressing the sentiment of “Shoot me” in our poll. 

Of course, it didn’t take long for a parody of what such a musical interpretation might look like. The Australian comedy show The Mansion dreamed up this exclusive first-look, complete with a sad polar bear, Al Gore’s attempts with Powerpoint first (he eventually switched the Mac’s Keynote software), and that memorable hydraulic lift scene. It’s all so moving.

And believe it or not — the music is actually quite good. Check out the hilarious video below the fold. 

Click here for a dramatic preview of An Inconvenient Truth: The Opera

June 6th 2008

Razzi Snap: Anya Hindmarch To Design For Target

Filed under: fashion, film-tv, television — michael @ 12:27 pm

Man, what’s happening with the big stores lately? They’re doing a pretty decent job with bringing on some major designers. The latest drop is that Anya Hindmarch will be creating some bags for Target. While Anya’s no Stella when it comes to sustainable or animal-free creations — she has been known to rock the green world every now and again. Here’s to hoping it happens — and is affordable! [Read more...]

Another interesting trend are famous folk offering retreats to those celebs in need. Last month, it was Mel Gibson giving Britney Spears some time at his ranch in Costa Rica. This time, Johnny Depp has offered Lindsay Lohan free use of his island in the Caribbean. The location, appropriately called “F**k Off Island”, is a perfect, secluded, paradise — something Depp believes Lohan could use for a break. [Read More...]

Rocker Bruce Springsteen offered Discovery Exec David Zaslav some brand-building advice for the network while over dinner recently. The boss apparently told Zaslav that he needs to “make people fall in love” — much in the way that the Planet Earth series made people love the planet more. He said that’s exactly what he tries to do with every song he creates. Hey, if it works for him, lets hope Planet Green gets people swooning. [Read More...]

Ludacris and Tommy Lee have created a hilarious trailer for their Battleground Earth series. Jump to it here. 

June 5th 2008

Neve Campbell’s New Eco-Thriller Not Getting Any Love Stateside

Filed under: film-tv, television — michael @ 4:59 pm

Back in December, we told you about a new mini-series called Burn Up that was under production featuring actress Neve Campbell and actor Bradley Whitford. The plot deals with Big Oil clashing with an environmentalist (played by Campbell) who’s brought on for what’s eventually revealed to be a massive greenwashing venture. The former Party of Five actress says that the message of the film is very timely — something she’s not always keen to push in film, but happy to have done in this instance. 

However, while Canadian and British TV have been receptive to airing the mini-series, producers have yet to find an American network that’s interested. “Networks are sometimes afraid of these topics depending on where their politics are,” Campbell told the Canadian Press. “When you’re making a piece like this, there’s got to be balance. You want to give adequate and accurate information and not feel that it is just sensationalist.”

Let’s hope some network (ahem, Planet Green) decides to grab Burn Up. For the rest of the interview with Campbell — including why she’s disappointed in Calgary’s environmental efforts — hit the article here. 

June 4th 2008

Razzi Snap: Angelina Jolie Trying Hard For A Natural Birth

Filed under: cars-houses, film-tv, politics, television, transport — michael @ 3:56 pm

Even though Entertainment Tonight continues to stand by their story of Angelina Jolie’s twins being born, the general consensus is that her and Brad Pitt are still awaiting their arrival. One thing revealed lately is how badly Jolie wants to give birth naturally. “She prepared for a natural child birth for Shiloh and was very disappointed when her doctors told her she would have to undergo a Cesarean section,” a source close to Angelina tells OK!. “She is praying everything will go her way and she will be able to enjoy a natural birth.” [Read more...]

Al Gore called Barack Obama last night to congratulate him on grabbing the Democratic nomination for president — but there was no talk of any cabinet role, something Gore’s spokesperson Kalee Kreider says he’s not interested in pursuing. According to Kreider, the former VP isn’t even sure when he’ll give Obama his endorsement. Yawn. Enough with the games — can we all just please get behind the nominee and move on? [Read more...]

The reality TV series Big Brother is attempting to green for its 2008 run. The sixteen contestants will be required to grow their own vegetables and season their food from the communal garden. There will also be a large recycle bin in the kitchen. However, compared to the green efforts undertaken by this season’s Real World, these changes amount to a drop in the bucket. Try again next year. [Read more...]

Owen Wilson was spied riding around on a bike through New York City’s West Village yesterday. And no, it has absolutely nothing to do with ex-flame Kate Hudson reportedly being romantically linked to Lance Armstrong… [Read more...]