I had the chance to check out the pilot for Love Monkey last night starring the intensely likeable Tom Cavanagh as a A&R Rep looking for new music artists to sign while cursing the current industry push for more pop princesses and big bags of cash.  The show balances Tom’s job with his friendship with his three guy friends (Jason Priestley, Larenz Tate, and Christopher Wiehl) and his relationship with his best friend (Judy Greer).  More than a little bit reminiscent of the musical snobbery in High Fidelity but also very entertaining as Cavanaugh et al exude charm.  The show is based off Kyle Smith’s book.  Painfully though the monkey has been scheduled on Tuesday nights against one of the only good shows left on TV ABC’s Boston Legal meaning if you want to catch it you might have to do so in the next few weeks.  Here’s hoping it lasts long enough to find a branch to call its own.

Love Monkey
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The 63rd Annual Golden Globes a precursor to The Oscars. Just in case you missed one of many glorious nights in Hollywood, here is the recap. For more details check out the Golden Globes or see it again this weekend on Bravo.

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With the short recap below, you get out of seeing multitudes of commercials. For every 2 awards they gave out there was at least 4 commercials in between.

Highlights:
-Miss Golden Globe, Don Johnson and Melanie Griffith’s daughter, Dakota Johnson.
-Somebody tell Drew Barrymore, you can see right through her dress. I mean it, she wore this horrible old lady green dress with a complete see through opportunity for the boys.
-Johnny Depp looked like a starved street dweller.
-Clint Eastwood purposely studdering over Brokeback Mountain while announcing the nominees for Best Director. Better yet, Clint Eastwood giving out the Best Director to Ang Lee, Brokeback Mountain.
-Joaquin Phoenix laying a smooch and a man hug on John Travolta during his acceptance for Best Actor, Walk the Line.
-Tim McGraw got a tear in the eye while talking about Johnny Cash and June Cash for Walk The Line.
-What did Dennis Quaid mean by Brokeback Mountain being a film that rhymes with chick flick? Shame on you Dennis, we know exactly what you meant, and on TV no less!
–Brokeback Mountain got Best Motion Picture Drama, kick ass!

FILM AWARDS

Best Motion Picture – Drama
Brokeback Mountain

Best Motion Picture – Musical Or Comedy
Walk The Line

Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama
Philip Seymour Hoffman – Capote

Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama
Felicity Huffman – Transamerica

Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture – Musical Or Comedy
Joaquin Phoenix – Walk The Line 

Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy
Reese Witherspoon – Walk The Line

Best Performance by an Actor In A Supporting Role in a Motion Picture
George Clooney – Syriana

Best Performance by an Actress In A Supporting Role in a Motion Picture
Rachel Weisz –The Constant Gardener

Best Foreign Language Film
Paradise Now – Palestine
Best Director – Motion Picture
Ang Lee – Brokeback Mountain

Best Screenplay – Motion Picture
Brokeback Mountain
Written by Larry McMurtry, Diana Ossana

Best Original Score – Motion Picture
Memoirs Of A Geisha
Composed by John Williams

Best Original Song – Motion Picture
“A Love That Will Never Grow Old” – Brokeback Mountain

TELEVISION AWARDS

Best Television Series – Drama
Lost
Touchstone Television; ABC

Best Television Series – Musical Or Comedy
Desperate Housewives

Best Mini-Series Or Motion Picture Made for Television
Empire Falls

Best Performance by an Actor In A Television Series – Drama
Hugh Laurie – House

Best Performance by an Actress In A Television Series – Drama
Geena Davis – Commander In Chief
Geena lied about a little girl tugging on her dress and telling her she wanted to be president because of her role in Commander and Chief, and she worships Donald Sutherland

Best Performance by an Actor In A Television Series – Musical Or Comedy
Steve Carell – The Office
A very funny thank you speech he claims his wife wrote, that thanks her over and over again throughout the speech.

Best Performance by an Actress In A Television Series – Musical Or Comedy
Mary-Louise Parker – Weeds

Best Performance by an Actress In A Mini-series or Motion Picture Made for Television
S. Epatha Merkerson – Lackawanna Blues
Hot flashes and all, this is her first leading role after 15+ years of working in the industry.

Best Performance by an Actor in a Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television
Jonathan Rhys Meyers – Elvis
He beat out some brilliant performances by Kenneth Branagh, Ed Harris and Donald Sutherland.

Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Series, Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television
Paul Newman – Empire Falls
No Show

Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television
Sandra Oh – Grey’s Anatomy
A studdering and stammering thank you.

Cecil B. DeMille Award
Anthony Hopkins
He was sure to thank all the little people from the catoring truck to the hair dresser not excluding grip carriers and lighting. What a wonderful man.

It was a perfect award show, with all the right people, shows and films getting credit for the best of. I can’t wait to see what the Oscars has in store for us next.

Miss a show or forget a DVD release or movie opening?  Don’t fret true believers cause we’re here to help you out.  Here’s what’s on tap for your entertainment dollar this week.

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RazorFine gets you set up for the week with a look at what’s coming to your local theater, video store, and beamed directly into your television this week.  Here’s what’s happenin’ this week…

Love Monkey

TV
This week on the tube:

The 63rd Annual Golden Globes 8:00/7:00 Monday NBC
American Idol 8:00/7:00 Tuesday FOX (just kill me!)
Love Monkey (series premiere) 10:00/9:00 Tuesday CBS
Skating with Celebrities 9:00/8:00 Wednesday FOX (kill me now!!!)
Miss America 8:00/7:00 Saturday CMT
Dennis Miller All In 10:00/9:00 Saturday HBO

DVD
New releases for Tuesday January 17:

Lois & Clark Season Two

Adventures of Superman – Complete Second Season
Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman – Complete Second Season
Doogie Howser, M.D. – Season Three
The Mary Tyler Moore Show – Complete Third Season
The Devil and Max Devlin
Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room
Junebug
Lord of War
The Man
My Dog, the Thief
Two For the Money
Wild Hearts Can’t Be Broken

Film
Movies opening Friday January 20th:

Underworld Evolution
The sequel to 2003’s Underworld continues the tale of the war between death dealers (vampires) and lycans (werewolves).  Returning are most of the original characters including Kate Beckinsale, Scott Speedman, Bill Nighy, Shane Brolly, and Michael Sheen.  Who’s been waiting for this sequel?

Transamerica 
This has been out in limited release for a few weeks and finally gets a long delayed wide release.  One of Aaron’s Top 10 movies of the year (read Marion’s review here).  Felicity Huffman plays a pre-op transsexual who learns of a teenage son just days before his/her surgery.  It’s a journey about self-discovery and life’s choices.  The last half of the film is simply spectacular and Huffman gives an Oscar worthy performance.  Not for everybody, but definitely worth a look for those of you not turned off by the subject matter.

The New World
A Terrance Malick flick!  Malick goes where many have gone before in telling the story of John Smith (here played by Colin Farrell) and the struggles between the Native Americans and English settlers in the 17th century.  Also along for the ride are Christian Bale, Christopher Plummer, and Q’orianka Kilcher as Pocahontas.  Promises to be beautifully shot but can Malick breathe new life into a well-trodden story?

Looking for Comedy in the Muslim World
Albert Brooks is hired by the United States Government to discover what makes Muslims laugh.  The film was a hit when it was released at the Dubai Film Festival last year and opens in limited release in the US this week.  The film was dropped by Sony Pictures because of it’s controversal title and nature but was picked up by Warner Independent Pictures who hope they can find an audience for this off-beat little film.

Why We Fight
Also opening in limited release this documentary examines the issue of whether or not American foreign policy is too influenced by the military.  Has the military industrial complex become a monster that we can no longer control?  Eugene Jarecki asks these questions and more.  (Sounds like what I wanted Syriana to be).