The Daily Top 10 » Television

Top 10 Acting Agents for Newcomers

fairlane — Mon, 25 Jul 2011 14:47:30 +0000

Just how much a new actor makes in Hollywood? Well, it really depends but we can give you guage.

First, it is advisable that you become a member of the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) and/or the American Federation of Radio and Television Artists (AFTRA) but it is not that easy to get in. Both require that you make a certain amount per year, get into a certain kind of show and have a certain amount of role.

If you have a major role but new in the dustry, you can get paid a minimum of $6,527 per TV episode. If you have a supporting role but appear several times in one episode and in multiple episodes you can get a minimum of around $3,500. If you are a supporting role in one episode, you will get a minimum of $1,920.

The average union actor makes just over $4,000 a year but if you book several TV episode appearances, a couple commercials or a small role in a mid-size film, they may be able to make $50K a year before expenses.

10. H. David Moss, H. David Moss & Associates

Website: H. David Moss & Associates

H. David Moss and Associates has a primary location in Los Angeles, the address for that location is:
733 North Seward Street, Penthouse
Los Angeles, CA, 90038

They represent several average actors for TV, movies, and theaters.

9. Marjorie Sperling of Pacific West Artist

Website: Pacific West Artist

12500 Riverside Dr
Valley Village, CA 91607
Neighborhoods: North Hollywood, Valley Village
(818) 755-8544

8. Kathy Hardegree, Atlanta Models and Talent

Website: Atlanta Models and Talent

Atlanta Models & Talent, Inc.
3091 Maple Drive NE
Suite 320
Atlanta, GA 30305
404-261-962

7. James J. Jones of Premier Talent Group

Website: Premier Talent Group

4370 Tujunga Avenue
Suite #110
Studio City, CA 91604
OFFICE: 818.752.5911
info@thepremiertalentgroup.com

6. Dawn Gray of Gray Talent Group, Inc.

Website: Gray Talent Group, Inc.

Gray Talent Group is located in the West Loop on Morgan near Adams. Business hours are 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. You can send general emails to info@graytalentgroup.com

222 S. Morgan, 3B
Chicago, IL, 60607
Phone: 312-666-5404

Top 10 Hollywood Talent Management Firms

fairlane — Wed, 20 Jul 2011 14:47:41 +0000

A legitimate talent agent is always considered “SAG Franchised”, meaning they are licensed and registered with the main actor’s union, The Screen Actors Guild.

If they are not listed with SAG, you have to be cautions and I would actually recommend you staying away because the only sure way you will get the full priveleges of working for the entertainment industry is if the Union backs you up.

Always ask an agent if they are SAG franchised before dealing with them. Remember that they will get 10% commission off the jobs they book you and they NEVER charge you upfront fees.

Below are some of the biggest firms that represent the biggest artists in Hollywood.

10.The Firm

Website: The Firm

The Firm have separate divisions for TV and film production, brand management, apparel licensing, beverages, video games and recording. Its music clients have included Kelly Clarkson, Korn, Ice Cube, Snoop Dogg, Dixie Chicks, Backstreet Boys, Jennifer Lopez, Audioslave and Limp Bizkit.

Founded in 1997 by Jeff Kwatinetz and partner Michael Green (who have both since left the company), The Firm also has divisions devoted to beverages, recording, animation, concerts, and TV and film production. In 2002 it purchased Michael Ovitz’s failed Artist Management Group for a reported $12.7 millionrepresenting artists like Leonardo DiCaprio, Cameron Diaz and Robert De Niro, has flourished.

9. CKX / MBST Entertainment

Website: CKX / MBST Entertainment

CKX has acquired MBST Entertainment. MBST represents Robin Williams, Billy Crystal and Woody Allen. They also have an advisory relationship with Apple Corps, the holding corporation for the Beatles.

They also produce movies like Arthur, Good Morning Vietnam, Throw Momma From the Train, and The Vanishing.

8. The Collective

Website: The Collective

The Collective manages musicians, film & television actors, screenwriters, comedians, and songwriters. They also develop media properties that extend the brand of their artists, they market talent, develop and distribute contents on different channels like traditional and new media. They are also involved in music publishing, finance, and sponsorship. With a roster of more than 100 artists,

7. Paradigm Agency

Website: Paradigm Agency

Paradigm has established itself as a leading entertainment talent agency, guiding the careers of an elite roster of actors, musical artists, directors, writers and producers. Led by chairman Sam Gores, the agency has carved out a distinctive niche in the entertainment landscape and earned a reputation for putting artists’ interests above all else.

6. Gersh Agency

Website: Gersh Agency

Gersh was established in 1949 by Founder Phil Gersh. With 125 employees, 60 agents and offices in Beverly Hills and New York, TGA maintains seven full-service departments: Talent, Feature Literary, TV Literary, Theater, Comedy, Below-the-Line, and a modeling agency.

TGA has a long and well deserved reputation for spotting talent and developing major careers. Whether enabling Tobey Maguire to star in the Spider-Man franchise, discovering then unknown Hayden Christensen for the role of young Darth Vader in the second Star Wars trilogy or breaking ground for its unprecedented re-negotiations for “Friends”, TGA has always embraced the philosophy that talent is truly king.

Top 10 Craziest Reality TV Moments

fairlane — Fri, 17 Jun 2011 14:08:43 +0000

The essence of reality TV shows is actually unscripted shows in real situation. Its history goes back to the 1940s. Candid Camera may be considered the first reality show when it debuted in 1948. It taped unsuspecting ordinary people reacting to pranks.

In 1948, talent search shows Ted Mack’s Original Amateur Hour and Arthur Godfrey’s Talent Scouts showed amateur talent competition and winners are determined by audience voting. Beauty Pageants may also be considered a reality show when Miss America first debuted on TV in 1954. Considering that the winner of the pageant became a celebrity.

Reality shows now are much “harsher” and much more publicized because of the often blurring of the line between what is real and what is not. Below are some of the best moments of contemporary reality shows.

10. The Apprentice: Omarosa Gets Fired and Hired and Fired

Donald Trump is a master of publicity stunts and he hit jackpot with Omarosa. Arguably the most annoying contestant to have ever emerged on any reality TV show, Omarosa showed America how you can be famous by asserting yourself and not knowing when to stop. She also has a predilection for thinking she is always right and talking over other people.

9. Jon & Kate Plus 8: The Gosselins Announce Their Divorce

Jon Gosselin is one clear example of what can happen to your when you don’t have your own identity. Jon used to work an 8-5 until Jon and Kate Plus 8 came into their lives. He decided to quit his job and appear on the show with his wife. Whenever the show is off season, they go around doing publicity to make themselves more marketable. Kate is a naturally assertive and domineering person and it wasn’t long until America was starting to call Jon “Kate’s Husband”.

For all it’s worth, they are good parents. They managed to raise 8 well behaved good kids. Their marriage, on the other hand, didn’t stand the test of limelight.

8. Bachelor wannabe-wife Affair with Producer

When Rozlyn Papa was pulled aside by host Chris Harrison to tell her she has to leave the show because of her affair with a producer, she said “I don’t think my personal life is anyone’s business”. It was clear she didn’t know what she was getting herself into. I think the word “reality” was just scratched out of her mind.

In all fairness to her, “reality tv” is a loose term.

7. Newlyweds: Jessica Simpson and the Chicken of the Sea

When Jessica Simpson asked her husband if chicken is tuna and tuna is chicken, America was in shock. No, it wasn’t a stereotype of blondes. It was just a stereotype of Jessica.

6. The Bachelor: Jason Picks Melissa, Then Molly

Seriously?

You choose a girl on television then break up with her on television and on the same breath goes back to the one you didn’t pick? How much of an ass can you be?

Couldn’t you save whatever is left of your privacy to do all those?

Top 10 Funniest Opening Monologue of an Award Show

fairlane — Tue, 14 Jun 2011 14:00:42 +0000

I often say that the highlight of an award show is the opening monologue of hosts. Most of the time, I’m right. It is always a treat to hear a string a half-meant jokes about the craziest things that has happened since the last award show.

Here are some of my favorite moments and hosts. I watch these opening more than twice and it still manage to make me smile.

10. Whoopi Goldberg

Awards Night: Academy Award

Before becoming one of the The View’s talkers and a great actress, Whoopi was a stand up comedian. Unlike, most of them, she doesn’t really “insult” people. Her humour is actually a bit more “intellectual” than most. It drives you to think and pause for split sec before getting the joke. This opening is a proof of it.

9. Connan O Brien

Awards Night: Emmy’s

Connan’s brand of comedy is not for everyone. It’s very niche. I am lucky to be one of those who can appreciate it. His is rougher and often slightly crosses the line of decency.

8. Justin Timberlake

Awards Night: 2008 ESPYs

I have always known that Justin is a funny guy. I think I would have liked him more if he became a comedian. I’m not exactly a boyband fan. However, that doesn’t get in the way of my opinion about him as a comedian. In the 08 ESPY, he held his own.

7. Ricky Gervais

Awards Night: Golden Globes

That controversial night. I think he had the balls to say what others wouldn’t dream of saying except in their bedrooms.

6. Ellen De Generes

Awards Night: Academy Award

Ellen’s humour is as cute as a button. It’s clean and certainly for General Patronage.

Top 10 Best TV Villains

fairlane — Tue, 07 Jun 2011 14:20:15 +0000

A lead character is just as strong as his villain. Afterall, the life of the lead character depends on the moves of the villain.

The most powerful villain, on the other hand, is the one that stays a step ahead of the lead character and figures out a way to be strong on aspects the lead character is weak at.

Below are some of the most powerful villains.

10. Jeremy Wendell

TV Show: Dallas

Played by: William Smithers

Best Quality: One of those guys that were born to be hated. In fact, even outside of Dallas, he exudes an air of arrogance that makes you want to hate him.

9. The Riddler

TV Show: Batman and Robin

Played by: Frank Gorshin

Best Quality: Don’t you just hate it if someone can’t get straight to the point? I mean, come on. If you want to kill me, the least you can do is tell me straight.

9. Murdoc

TV Show: McGyver

Played by: Michael Des Barres

Best Quality: What he lacks in ingenuity, he makes up with determination.

8. Sylar

TV Show: Heroes

Played by: Gabriel Gray

Best Quality: He eats brains.

7. Damon Salvatore

TV Show: Vampire Diaries

Played by: Ian Somerhalder

Best Quality: He can create and control fog, crow, and controls minds and change memories. AND he is hot.

6. Annie Douglas

TV Show: Sunset Beach

Played by: Sarah Buxton

Best Quality: Twisted ability to execute twisted scientific experiments like implanting someone with a sperm cell without the girl knowing it.

Top 10 TVs Damsels in Distress

fairlane — Mon, 06 Jun 2011 14:19:38 +0000

Many Psychologists and Sociologists have claimed that the one thing stronger than our need for food, is our need to feel important.

That is why many guys prefer to be with girls who always need help. Damsels in distress make guys feel important and stronger than they actually are, needed and so awesome for being the Knight In Shining Armor.

Through the years, we have been treated to some girls who can’t seem to live life on their own on television. They are the ones who always manage to get themselves into trouble only to be saved by the show’s heroes.

Did I miss anyone?

10. Joey Potter

TV Show: Dawson’s Creek

All her life she just wanted to be with Dawson. When Dawson wanted her, she changed her mind and wanted to be with Pacey. She has the constant need to complicate her life. From studying to love life to sex life. Her only redeeming quality is that she chose Pacey in the end.

9. Angela Chase

TV Show: My So Called Life

Angela Chase, played by Claire Danes, is a 15-year-old sophomore at Liberty High School in Three Rivers, Pennsylvania, a fictional suburb of Pittsburgh. Like most teens in the throes of self-evaluation, Angela is attempting to discover and assert her identity. What is totally stupid is her decision to distance herself from her past, pulling away from her parents and her childhood friends, Sharon Cherski and Brian Krakow.

That is what you call drama.

8. Brenda Walsh

TV Show: 90210

Let me count the ways:
1. She pretended to be a college student to romance a young lawyer name Jason.
2. She felt she was poor.
3. She got implicated in shoplifting when she met a new friend, Tiffany.
4. She rescued Kelly from a bad date in spite of the fact that she didn’t have her license yet.
5. She dyed her hair to get Dylan’s attention to disastrous results.
6. She volunteered for a rape crisis center and got to know an unseen student date-rape victim and saves her from an attempted rape.
7. She started falling for Dylan McKay, stirring different reactions from her family.

We are going to be here for days.

7. Claire Bennet

TV Show: Heroes

Claire sure seems to get into a lot of danger, considering that she’s, you know, invincible. How is that even possible? The entire first season hinged upon “Save the cheerleader, save the world,” with all the characters freaking right out over and she seems to not care.

6. Sookie

TV Show: True Blood

She know all the dangers of the vampire world and is even dating one of them. Yet she insists on going out alone at night. Throughout Season 1, she had to be saved countless times after getting herself into dangerous situations, and she really should have known better.

Top 10 Most Memorable TV Father-Son

fairlane — Fri, 29 Apr 2011 14:20:28 +0000

Fathers are not usually given credit in influencing their children as much as the mothers are. Fathers are expected to earn the bucks and the mothers are the ones who raise the kids.

Below are some of the fathers who exert more influence than what is normally believed.

Read and you just might find a close one to the relationship you have with your father.

10. Walter and Peter Bishop

TV Show: Fringe

Portrayed by: John Noble and Joshua Jackson

Peter is a genius and is also a son of another genius, Walter. Peter has not seen Walter since Walter was checked in an insane asylum. The next time they saw each other, Peter learned that Walter worked on fringe science and the only way Walter would work again is if Peter works with him.

Walter seems incapable of making any sort of emotional connection and often makes it hard for Peter to establish any sort of father-son relationship. Peter is often sarcastic in his remarks towards his father. Despite these, they work well together. Peter takes care of all “engineering” and “muscle” work while Walter takes care of the biology side of it.

Peter often calls his father Walter but when he had a near-death experience, he called Walter “Dad” which visibly touched Walter.

9. Dan, Lucas and Nathan Scott

TV Show: One Tree Hill

Portrayed by: Paul Johansson, Chad Michael Murray, and James Lafferty

Nathan is a controlling father who pushes his son, Nathan, to his limits. He is also an asshole who abandoned Lucas when Lucas was still a kid. As his children grew up and realized how their father is spoiling their lives, they decided to join forces and ignore their father. Being the asshole that he is, he devices ways on how to make the lives of his two sons a living hell.

8. Jimmy and Hope Chance

TV Show: Raising Hope

Portrayed by: Lucas Neff

They have all the right ingredients for a good future for the kid. Jimmy is a 23-year-old who is clueless about raising a child and everything else. Before having Hope, he met and had sex with Lucy, resulting in her pregnancy and the birth of Hope. He did not know about Hope until eight months later after contacting Lucy. He also did not know that Lucy was a serial killer until she was put in prison by his family.

7. Jor-El and Kal-El

TV Show: Smallville

Portrayed by: Terence Stamp and Tom Welling

Unlike the other fathers on this list, Jor-El was already dead in the beginning of Smallville. His thoughts and brains lived on, however. Clark’s access to him was limited to the Fortress. He put Clark through different tests to prepare him to fulfill the mission set out for him.

Jor-El was never really known for showing his affection to Clark. Despite this, his influence over his son is so powerful that he has essentially dictated the way Clark lives his life.

6. Homer and Bart Simpson

TV Show:

Portrayed by: Sean Hayes and Michael Angarano

When the father is more demented than the son, what kind of relationship are you going to expect?

Top 10 TVs Most Powerful Women

fairlane — Mon, 25 Apr 2011 14:07:46 +0000

Women is the perfect species. I know so because it is the one created last. When God first created man, he realized all the mistakes he made and corrected it when he created the next one.

That is why I don’t like women being portrayed as a weak human being because they are not. They are strong and more powerful than what many give them credit for.

Below are some TV shows and corresponding characters that paid tribute to this side of women.

10. Lois

TV Show: Malcolm in the Middle Mother

Played By: Jane Kaczmarek

She’s the only women in her house filled with men who are either a genius or hardcore lunatic yet she is able to control everyone’s lives. She commands everyone with so much control that everyone literally freaks out at the sound of her voice. The men in her life would so rather be shot in the head than experience the consequences of her anger.

9. Deborah Morgan

TV Show: Dexter

Played By: Jennifer Carpenter

She is a darn good cop and a straight one. She has the mouth of Eminem and Kanye West combined. She managed to rise among the ranks without playing a single dirty card. She takes shit from no one and her favorite moment is when someone tells her she can’t do something because it gives her the opportunity to prove them they are wrong.

8. Kelly Garrett, Kris Munroe, Sabrina Duncan, Jill Munroe

TV Show: Charlie’s Angel

Played By: Jaclyn Smith, Cheryl Ladd, Kate Jackson, Farah Fawcet

The very first TV show that gave full control and full power to women. With three female lead characters endowed with outstanding fighting skills usually seen on men, the show made the world realize how fighting can be sexy and lethal at the same time.

7. Dharma

TV Show: Dharma and Greg

Played By: Jenna Elfman

She is the hippie one. Therefore, more disorganized… at least that’s what it will look like in the beginning. As the show progresses, she has proven to be the more decisive of the pair. She knows what she wants and is not scared to stand by her decision. She does not agree with social conventions and lives her life exactly how she wants it. She believes that the only opinion that matters when it comes to her life is hers.

6. Dr Addison Montgomery

TV Show: Private Practice

Played By: Kate Walsh

She is one of the best OB Gyne in the world and that has been emphasized and re-emphasized in the show. She is also not shy in giving her opinion to her patients and colleagues even if it means she is alone on her side.

Top 10 TV Brothers We Would Love To Adopt

fairlane — Tue, 19 Apr 2011 14:21:01 +0000

Ever since Hollywood started becoming infested with siblings that are equally hot, men have been obsessed with the hotness times two.

But what about the brothers? TV has provided us with equal number hot brothers. And there are some you would want to be a part of your family if you’re a guy and a part of you “ensemble” if you’re a girl.

Did I miss anyone?

10. Lincoln Burrows and Michael Scofield

TV Show: Prison Break

Lincoln is the muscle and Michael is the brain and the looks. When you’ve got two brothers whose bond is stronger than the government, you know you’re family will always be safe.

9. Don and Charlie Eppes

TV Show: Numbers

One of the brothers is a number genius and the other one not so gifted but what he lacks in genius he compensates with his personality. Together, they make the unbeatable crime fighting tandem.

8. Alan and Charlie

TV Show: Two and a Half Men

Because these two are simply hilarious. Growing up with them will be like in a perpetual state of joint high.

7. Randy and Earl

TV Show: My Name is Earl

These two lovable losers, small-time crooks, and lovers of karma are arguably the funniest siblings currently on TV. Being around them will make you feel like you are the coolest sibling in the history of civilization.

6. Kevin and Wayne Arnold

TV Show: The Wonder Years

Anyone who grew up with a bully of an older brother really understood what Kevin went through with his jerk of an older brother Wayne. I don’t think you’d like Wayne but I am sure you’ll take Kevin anytime.

Top 10 Dysfunctional TV Families

fairlane — Sun, 17 Apr 2011 14:17:03 +0000

In the scale of 1 to McKenzie Phillips’ family, how would you rate your family’s sanity?

Come to think of it, every family is dysfunctional in one way or another. It really all depends on how you will define normal, I guess. Some parents marry their children as soon as their age hits double digits, some parents bear children so the children can work and put food on the table, some parents never allow their children to go to school, and some parents marry their own children.

Below are fictional families born through the idiot box and their kind of dysfuctionalness isn’t as disgusting as the ones I’ve mentioned above. Most of them are just crazy in that funny kind of away, the kind you would want to be a part of… sometimes.

10. The Wilkersons - Malcolm in the Middle

Family Members: Hal, Lois, Francis, Reese, Malcolm, Dewey and Jamie.

Dysfunctionalness: The outrageousness of this family is really spearheaded by their mother Lois who runs the entire family like a crazy canine general who blackmails her boys by destroying their favorite toys and threatening to sledgehammer their beloved TV set and other tricks like that. She kept everyone together despite the enermous and clashing differences of her children. Malcolm is the genius who despises being in the “gifted class”. The other children have their own gifts too:
* Francis is charming
* Reese is a talented cook and baker
* Dewey has great musical abilities, and
* Hal has ability to have fun in even the most stressful circumstance (believe me, they needed it)

9. The Ewings - Dallas

Family Members: The new series will primarily center around J.R. Ewing’s son John Ross, and Bobby’s adopted son Christopher. There was mention of four other Ewing heirs: Lucy Ewing, Lucas Krebbs, (Bobby and Jenna’s biological son, who was raised by brother Ray), and JR’s other two sons, James Richard Beaumont (via an affair), and Terrance Harper (via second wife Cally)

Dysfunctionalness: They are badass rich and they have the habit of having sex with just about everyone. They have sex with their boyfriends, children’s boyfriends, brothers’ boyfriends, sisters’ boyfriends, etc.

8. The Bundys - Married With Children

Family Members: Al Bundy, a once-glorious high school football player (who scored four touchdowns in a single game for Polk High School) turned hard luck salesman of women’s shoes; his tartish, obnoxious wife Peg; their attractive but dimwitted and sexually promiscuous daughter Kelly; and Bud, their unpopular, girl crazy, oily but comparatively smart son (and the only Bundy who ever attended college)

Dysfunctionalness: They are eternally broke, are the joke of the neighborhood, and eat so very little that they were often willing to trample each other for a turkey leg. Then there’s Bud – and no one wants to be related to Bud.

7. The Bunkers - All in the Family

Family Members: Edith, his wife, and their daughter, Gloria. Another essential character in this family is Gloria’s husband Michael, better known (at least to Archie anyway) as Meathead.

Dysfunctionalness: In 1989, Terry Rakolta, a conservative homemaker from Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, led a boycott against Married… with Children after viewing the episode Her Cups Runneth Over. Offended by the images of an old man wearing a woman’s garter and stockings, the scene where Steve touches the panties of a mannequin dressed in S&M gear, a homosexual man wearing a tiara on his head (and Al’s line “…and they wonder why we call them ‘queens’”), and a half-nude woman who takes off her bra in front of Al (and is shown with her arms covering her bare chest in the next shot), Rakolta began a letter-writing campaign to advertisers, demanding they boycott the show. When you have people campaigning against you, you know your show is nuts.

6. It s Always Sunny in Philadelphia – The Reynolds

Family Members: The series follows “The Gang”, a group of five depraved underachievers: siblings Dennis and Deandra “Sweet Dee” Reynolds, their friends Charlie Kelly and Mac, and Frank Reynolds, Dennis and Dee’s adoptive father, who run Paddy’s Pub, a run-down bar in South Philadelphia.

Dysfunctionalness: They are dishonest, egotistical, selfish, greedy, unethical, disloyal, lazy, manipulative, maniacal, diabolical, deceitful, hypocritical, vengeful, remorseless, overly competitive, immature, antagonistic, and arrogant, and are often engaged in controversial issues.