On FilmCrunch: New Moon Cast Tour

American Idol’s Fantasia Barrino Aims High

Posted by K.C. Morgan Categories: Music, Reality, American Idol, Gossip

Fantasia, 24, won the third season of American Idol…but now, she’s going after an even bigger goal: a high school education.

“I’ve been talking about it for so long,” she said in a recent interview. Barrino dropped out of school in the ninth grade. “It’s something that I really need to do and that I want to do.”

The singer made headlines recently when she experienced financial trouble. But, Fantasia says she’s doing much better these days. “I had to sit back for awhile and had to get some things settled,” she explained.

Fantasia will be working on releasing an album (her third) as well as her education this year, and could potentially be starring on another reality show in short order. Lately, her production company has been searching for a network willing to take on a Fantasia-oriented series.

Read More | E! Online

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The Secret Life of the American Teenager: Review

Posted by K.C. Morgan Categories: Drama, Kids, Prime Time, ABC, Cable, Editorial

Amy

The compelling promos, tons of press and Seventh Heaven association might have been enough to rope me into watching the premiere of ABC Family’s , but it was the mere presence of Molly Ringwald in the cast which sealed the deal. And so it was that last night during prime time, I found myself watching cable instead of network TV. I don’t think it was a mistake.

Rollicking pop music kicked off the top of the episode, which immediately plunged its viewers headlong into teen pregnancy. Seriously, the main character Amy (played by Shailene Woodley) was barely introduced (as a marching band member) before she was in the restroom staring at the positive results from a home pregnancy kit. No time wasted here on introductions.

Actually, it felt more than a little forced. The audience was given no time to connect with this character in any way before BAM! she’s knocked up. And then, the beginning credits rolled.

Click to continue reading The Secret Life of the American Teenager: Review

Read More | ABC Family

Disney to Get Serious Musical Competition: How Spectacular

Posted by K.C. Morgan Categories: Kids, Music, Cable, Gossip

Tammin Sursok can’t control the market on teen/tween musical movies for much longer, not if kids-based Nickelodeon has anything to say about it.

Spectacular, a new musical comedy set in high school, will begin shooting on April 21 - move over, . Newcomers Tammin Sursok, Nolan Funk, and Simon Curtis will star in the film, along with Zoey 101’s Victoria Justice. The film will focus on the school choir and one preppy, pretty female student in particular. A new rock-n-roller joins the group, however unwittingly, and soon enough musical romance is borne between them. Sounds a little familiar…but I can’t quite recall which musical movie plot this might be similar to. Hmmm.

Nick’s high school musical movie is not the classic, cookie-cutter musical film. The numbers in this flick are performance-based rather than random singing insertions. Think more Dreamgirls and less My Fair Lady. Right now, the Viacom-owned network isn’t planning on any sequels - though there are contractual options open for just such an occurrence.

Read More | Hollywood Reporter

90210 May Produce Spinoff

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Drama, Prime Time, FOX, The CW, Gossip

90210With now off the air, we can finally get back to the high school series that kind of started it all: Beverly Hills, 90210.

The FOX show that wrapped up almost eight years ago may have a chance to live on as a contemporary spinoff on CW.  If a pilot - developed by Veronica Mars’ Rob Thomas - is picked up, the new program would find a home on the same network as its New York-based counterpart, .

It is not known how the new cast of players will relate to the alumnae of Beverly Hills High.  It’s also not clear whether veterans will somehow be involved.  But should we see appearances from Ian Ziering and Gabrielle Carteris, it wouldn’t be the strangest thing in the world.  Fans of Degrassi already know how characters can stick around for generations to come.

Decisions on a possible pilot will be made by the end of the month.

Read More | Hollywood Reporter

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