Top 12 TV's Biggest Turkeys
By Tom on 9:59 AM
Filed Under: ABC, America's, Competition, Cool, Entertainment, Hollywood, Information, Interesting, NBC, People, Television, Thanksgiving, Trends, Turkeys, Tv
Fox's Lone Star
Status: DoneThe heavily marketed show about a big oil conman leading dual lives had the benefit of critical acclaim. Everything from the soapy series' out-of-the-box premise to its breakout leading man, James Wolk, garnered praise from early reviewers. But it wasn't enough to lure viewers. Some blame the show's unforgivable plot lines about cons and adultery; others blame its hard-to-define premise and hardly explanatory title. Whatever the reason, only 4 million or so tuned in, making it the fall season's first casualty.
ABC's My Generation
Status: DoneA documentary-style drama about nine people told in two time periods, the year 2000 and today. As show-runner Noah Hawley described it in his post-cancellation love letter to the show's loyal fan base: "No doctors, no lawyers, no murders to solve. Real life is dramatic enough. That was my feeling. … It was our great experiment, and then it was over." The end came when only 4 million or so tuned in, despite a plum Thursday night slot and a costly--albeit confusing--marketing campaign. Though the series was canceled after just two episodes, Hawley has completed eight episodes for release online.
NBC's Outlaw
Status: DoneFans may chalk up Outlaw's early demise to the show's Conan O'Brien association. After all, it was the displaced NBC host's company that produced the Jimmy Smits legal series for the network. The reality: The series struggled on multiple fronts. Critics bemoaned its improbable plot lines and poor writing, and viewers lacked interest. The drama averaged some 4 million viewers in its original Friday night slot, and its cancellation was announced after just four episodes. (The four remaining episodes aired in a Saturday night timeslot.)
ABC's Whole Truth
Status: DoneDespite heavyweight Jerry Bruckheimer's involvement, a leading lady in ER darling Maura Tierney and a cushy Wednesday evening timeslot, the legal drama failure to pique the curiosity of viewers. Thus far this season, the Tierney star vehicle has averaged only 4.3 million viewers, reports Nielsen. Co-executive producer Kristie Anne Reed confirmed the show's cancellation in late October: "ABC gave us the word," she tweeted. "We will only make 13 episodes of The Whole Truth."
NBC's Undercovers
Status: DoneFor those who think networks are incapable of--or at least uninterested in--canceling a J.J. Abrams show, think again. The latest high-concept drama from the famed producer-director featured a pair of retired, married spies who were lured back to the world of international intrigue. But viewers lacked the latter. According to Nielsen, the show averaged only 6 million or so viewers and will end its run after 13 episodes.
Fox's Running Wilde
Status: OverDespite heavy hype and an all-star pairing of Mitch Hurwitz and Will Arnett, the duo that brought viewers cult hit Arrested Development has once again failed to snag an adequately sized audience. The difference this time around is a lack of widespread critical support for the ratings-starved comedy, which has averaged about 3.5 million viewers this season. Hardly a vote of confidence: Fox benched the series for the remainder of November sweeps. (Fox pulled Arrested during the similarly important February sweeps six years earlier, and it petered out in the months that followed.) Though no network likes to throw around the term "canceled," Fox has opted against ordering more episodes.
NBC's Chase
Status: Limping AlongThough the Jerry Bruckheimer series received a full 22-episode order, it has fallen short of CSI status. While not outright nasty, early reviews were far from winning--critics called the formulaic show "mindless" and "unimaginative." Still worse, only some 5 million viewers have regularly tuned in for episodes of the action series the network had hoped to make a tent-pole.
NBC's The Event
Status: Shedding ViewersAt this rate, viewers may not get to find out what "the event" is, much less care. In spite of its heavy hype from marketers and critics alike, the network's high-concept, serialized drama billed by some as Lost meets 24 came out of the gate strong, only to fizzle in the weeks that followed. Recent episodes have averaged fewer than 6 million viewers, down from 11 million-plus on premiere night, reports Nielsen. Earlier this month, the network announced plans to yank the series for three months beginning in December.
CBS's Medium
Status: OverAfter seven seasons, two network homes, several awards, even more cancellation threats and a $58 million write down, the show's star Patricia Arquette announced the CBS drama would end its run. It will feel like déjà vu for long-time viewers, since former chief Ben Silverman once canceled it on NBC, where it had run until 2005. Given the strength of CBS' schedule, the 6 or 7 million viewers who regularly watch Medium aren't as appealing--and for that matter, necessary-- as they'd likely be at a lesser-watched rival.
CW's Life Unexpected
Status: OverDespite early critical praise, the CW series failed to generate either the pop cultural attention of Gossip Girl or the ratings success of The Vampire Diaries. Instead, the Portland-based drama about a foster child who has reconnected with her birth parents has averaged about 1.5 million viewers an episode in its second season. Though an official announcement won't come until May, Lux's season has been cut to just 13 episodes and its future is far from bright.
NBC's Apprentice
Status: Limping AlongThe network's decision to bring back the civilian version of Apprentice has proved a questionable one. The Donald Trump star vehicle, which once made a catch phrase out of "You're Fired," is lacking in buzz and viewership. In recent weeks, the show's audience hovered around 4 million. The 10 p.m. hour it currently occupies on Thursday evenings will be filled by a third hour of comedy come January. The good news for The Donald and his host network: The more popular celebrity iteration will return this spring.
NBC's Parenthood
Status: Limping alongDespite an all-star cast in front of the camera (Peter Krause, Lauren Graham, Dax Shepard) and behind (Friday Night Lights' Jason Katims), the series based on the late 1980s flick of the same name has struggled to find an audience. Its lackluster ratings followed a particularly rocky start care of a cancer-stricken cast member and an unrelated death on set. NBC will attempt to give the series another push with a new timeslot early next year.
10 Most Luxury Apartments in US
By Tom on 3:34 AM
Filed Under: Amazing, America, America's, Apartments, Awesome, Cool, Information, Interesting, Luxury, Most, Top, Unique, USA
New York
778 Park Ave., No. 15/16- List price: $24.9 million
- Previous list price: $46 million in May 2008
- Reduced: $21.1 million
- Price cut: 45.9%
Corcoran listed the unit for $46 million in May 2008. Stribling & Associates relisted it in February 2009 for $29 million and then for $24.9 million in August 2009, according to StreetEasy.com. Architect Rosario Candela designed the building in 1931.
New York
812 Park Ave., penthouse- List price: $15.9 million
- Previous list price: $36.5 million in November 2007
- Reduced: $20.6 million
- Price cut: 56.4%
Architect James Carpenter won an award from the American Institute of Architects' New York chapter for his work on this building in 1927, according to Corcoran.
New York
740 Park Ave., No. 4/5C- List price: $26 million
- Previous list price: $35 million in August 2008
- Reduced: $9 million
- Price cut: 25.7%
Sotheby's International Realty listed the property on StreetEasy.com for $35 million in August 2008 and reduced the price to $26 million in January 2009. The building, designed by architect Rosario Candela, also has been home to Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis and John D. Rockefeller Jr.
Las Vegas
1 Hughes Center Drive, No. 1901- List price: $11.7 million
- Previous list price: $20 million in January 2008
- Reduced: $8.3 million
- Price cut: 41.5%
New York
610 Park Ave., penthouse- List price: $25.8 million
- Previous list price: $32.8 million in March
- Reduced: $7 million
- Price cut: 21.3%
The building, formerly the Mayfair Hotel, was converted into luxury condos by Donald Trump in 1998, according to Observer.com.
Los Angeles
1 West Century Drive, No. 34A- List price: $8 million
- Previous list price: $14.3 million in June
- Reduced: $6.3 million
- Price cut: 44.1%
Las Vegas
2777 Paradise Road, No. 3801/3901- List price: $10 million
- Previous list price: $16 million in January 2009
- Reduced: $6 million
- Price cut: 37.5%
Miami Beach, Fla.
800 S. Pointe Drive, PH-A- List price: $16 million
- Previous list price: $22 million in 2008
- Reduced: $6 million
- Price cut: 27.3%
New York
43 Fifth Ave., fifth floor- List price: $19 million
- Previous list price: $25 million in January
- Reduced: $6 million
- Price cut: 24%
It was listed on Trulia.com by Anne Weintraub in January for $25 million and reduced to $19 million in April. The building, built in 1903 and converted to a cooperative in 1978, according to Cityrealty.com, was once home to actor Marlon Brando.
New York
770 Park Ave., No. 8D- List price: $11 million
- Previous list price: $16.8 million in May 2008
- Reduced: $5.8 million
- Price cut: 34.5%
Hollywood's Biggest Turkeys Of 2010
By Tom on 11:53 PM
Filed Under: Amazing, America's, Biggest, Celebrities, Cool, Entertainment, Famous, Hollywood, Information, Interesting, Luxury, Moments, Trends, Turkeys 2010, Unique, Unusual
2010 is shaping up to be a strong year at the movies with the box office on pace to be the highest ever. But there have still been plenty of bombs. To compile our list of the biggest turkeys of 2010, we compared global box office with each film's estimated budget to come up with a percentage of the budget each film earned back. They are ranked from the worst up.
Jonah Hex
Box Office: $11 millionReturn Ratio: 24%
For years now studios have salivated over comic book adaptations, and the dark Jonah Hex seemed like a good bet for Warner Bros. The story of a vengeful, disfigured Old West bounty hunter had been a hit comic but it didn't fare so well when adapted for the screen. It earns the dubious title of the worst performing film of 2010 (to date).
Extraordinary Measures
Box Office: $15 millionReturn Ratio: 48%
The sappy tale of a tough old doctor out to help a father with two sick young children had movie-of-the-week stink despite the presence of Harrison Ford and Brendan Fraser. Audiences stayed away in droves. The film was one of the first from CBS' new film production division. The company is still waiting for a hit.
Repo Men
Box Office: $32 millionReturn Ratio: 56%
This futuristic thriller from Universal Pictures starred Jude Law as a repo man who takes back human organs. Audiences and critics failed to see the heart in the film. It earned a mere 22 rating on Rotten Tomatoes and only $32 million at the global box office. Lucky for Law his previous film, Sherlock Holmes, was the best performing of his career.
Scott Pilgrim vs. The World
Box Office: $60 millionReturn Ration: 77%
Scott Pilgrim came out of this year's Comic-Con with maximum buzz, and fanboys like Ain't It Cool News' Harry Knowles raved about the film. Most mainstream critics liked it too. But audiences weren't interested. The film failed to even earn back its production budget at the box office. Director Edgar Wright has yet to commit to his next directing project.
Let Me In
Box Office: $20 millionReturn Ratio: 85%
The Swedish vampire flick Let The Right One In was the kind of cult hit that begs for an American remake. So expectations were high for Let Me In, which starred up-and-comer Chloe Moretz. Sadly, the movie died a quick death in theaters, earning only $20 million globally. That's still double what the original film earned, but Let Me In had a higher production budget.
Splice
Box Office: $25 millionReturn Ratio: 85%
Splice is the kind of genre horror flick that could have offered a nice return for Warner Bros. studio. It involved two scientists toying with DNA with dangerous results. But the $30 million film failed to connect with horror fans. It earned only $25 million at the box office despite the presence of Oscar winner Adrien Brody.
MacGruber
Box Office: $9.3 millionReturn Ratio: 93%
Movies based on Saturday Night Live skits usually perform poorly at the box office. MacGruber was no exception. The comedy, about an inept MacGyver-esque agent, earned a paltry $9.3 million at the global box office (less than $1 million of which came from overseas). The only reason this film doesn't rank higher on our list is because it cost only $10 million to make.
Green Zone
Box Office: $95 millionReturn Ratio: 95%
Matt Damon films can do very well. His three Jason Bourne movies have earned almost $1 billion at the global box office. But like any star, Damon has had his share of flops. Green Zone reunited Damon with Bourne director Paul Greengrass but failed to turn a profit at the box office.
Furry Vengeance
Box Office: $35 millionReturn Ratio: 100%
Participant Media (started by eBay's Jeff Skoll) is best known for message films like An Inconvenient Truth and Food, Inc. The family comedy Furry Vengeance had a not-so-subtle message about the environment. An evil developer, played by Brendan Fraser (making his second appearance on our list) is attacked by forest animals when he tries to destroy their habitat.
From Paris with Love
Box Office: $52 millionReturn Ratio: 100%
Starring John Travolta as a wild American secret agent, this is the kind of movie that should have enjoyed a nice profit had it been made on the cheap. Instead the film cost a reported $52 million. That means it earned its production budget at the box office, but with half of that money going to theater owners and advertising costs not included, the film was a dud.
Charlie St. Cloud
Box Office: $44 millionReturn Ratio: 100%
Zac Efron has helped Disney earn billions with the High School Musical franchise. But when the actor branched out for a more serious film about a young man grieving over his dead brother, his young fans mostly stayed away. Charlie St. Cloud only earned its production budget at the global box office.
Edge of Darkness
Box Office: $81 millionReturn Ratio: 100%
Edge of Darkness was meant to be a comeback of sorts for Mel Gibson after his drunken D.U.I. rant that hurt his career. Unfortunately for Gibson it was something of a bomb. His personal brand crashed even more when his girlfriend publicized phone tapes of Gibson (allegedly) threatening her. His next film, The Beaver, has yet to secure a U.S. release date.



































