Stabs, Drunks and Cancellations

Ladies and Gentlemen…This week the entertainment world has been screaming with news! Some good, some bad but all of it evilly delicious. Some of which has got the whole media universe in a whirl. **Caution: Spoiler Alerts**

First and foremost, Friday the 15^th was the release of Wes Craven’s much anticipated Scre4m. Unfortunately it was a box office let down bringing in a disappointing $19.27m which fell about $10m short of their goal. Much more substandard-ness from the franchise was the complete lack of thought that went into this movie. Sure, after waiting 10 years one would think that Neve Campbell, David Arquette and Courtney Cox-Arquette would have given us a scare night to remember. However the film failed to make any memories for this reporter. The big “star” murder, which has become standard in the Scream movies (Drew Barrymore in Scream, Jada Pinkette Smith in Scream2, and even the infamous Liev Schreiber in Scream3) was seriously downplayed, by having Anna Paquin (True Blood) die and not even in the “movie” but in the “STAB6” parody within the film. Seriously a let down. As if that wasn’t enough, where was the motive Mr. Craven? The first three films tied together in motive, it was a family affair with true motive connected to Sydney’s mother. This installment however, fell far from the family tree which couldn’t have been their intention. Sure, it was in the family, Syd’s cousin but for what motive? Fifteen minutes of fame? Lame Mr. Craven…you’re falling into the same trap the “Saw” movies are, pushing too much. Sure the body count was higher, the voiceover still creepy, but really? And did we need to keep postponing the ending? We were promised some surprises and this gave us none. I do have to say however that Hayden Panettiere gave a great performance, and I was saddened with her demise, however it did pay homage to Tadam’s (Rose McGowan) garage door death from the first film.

In other celebrity news, Nicolas Cage was arrested in New Orleans over the weekend for domestic abuse, disturbing the peace and public drunkenness. Of course this was all captured on tape! Apparently he was down in the Big Easy, arguing with his wife Alice Kim over which house was theirs. (Something people always fight about apparently). After stumbling into a tattoo parlor demanding a tattoo with a bottle in his hand, the employees called the cops. This would be the second call of the night, a cab driver who passed Cage arguing with his wife and saw him grab her arm earlier had also informed the authorities after seeing him hit some parked cars. He was released on bond Saturday which was put up by my favorite bail bondsman, Duane “Dog the Bounty Hunter” Chapman. I wonder if we’ll see that on cable.

Lastly, the small screen says goodbye this year to two of our favorite daytime dirty indulgences. ABC has announced the cancellation of both “All My Children” and “One Life to Live.” I guess Susan Lucci will need to find somewhere else not to win Emmy’s. After 41 seasons though, I’m sure she’ll survive. AMC began in 1970, OLTL in 1968, such a long run for two of America’s most loved soap operas. AMC will air its last episode in September and OLTL in January 2012. According to ABC’s press release regarding the matter they claim, “To honor the core, passionate audience and their rich history with our soaps, both shows will conclude in a manner that respects their legacies and the longstanding hopes of many of their viewers.” This makes me wonder if NBC’s town of Salem and “Days of Our Lives” are next on the chopping block. Stay Tuned…