Television

I’m so confused about what to make of World War Z. I loved the book, but have reservations about a film adaptation. Brad Pitt’s enthusiastic promotion over the last few weeks is kind of charming, but I can’t help but get a sense of desperation. Not to mention zombie fatigue and all. But then it’s trending nicely on RT and all the buzz seems to be good buzz so I guess I should just quit being a dickhead and be thankful I’m getting Brad Pitt in a summer blockbuster adaptation that people actually seem to care about instead of a Michael Bay brain cell killer starring Will and Jaden. That brings us to yodeling (who has two thumbs and is great at segues?). Last night — for some random reason — Jimmy Fallon’s comedy bit involved rooftops, Brad Pitt, and the lost art of the yodel. I imagine the idea spurred from Pitt’s rooftop availability and 1500s Alps look, or maybe it’s in reference to zombies sucking at stairs and the lack of modern technology during a zombie apocalypse. Not sure. All I do know is that while it’s not Fallon’s finest, there are a lot worse ways to burn two minutes on YouTube videos this morning. A LOT worse ways. I’m almost certain sure the “same” was a GOB Bluth reference. Late Night with Jimmy Fallon

“Breaking Amish: Brave New World: The Shunning Truth” airs Sunday, July 7 and Sunday, July 14

Budget office view boosts Senate immigration bill via Rickey.org In boost for Senate immigration bill, budget office says it would reduce deficit by billions WASHINGTON (AP) — Supporters of a far-reaching immigration bill in the Senate see fresh momentum from a report by the Congressional Budget Office that says the measure would boost the economy and reduce federal deficits by billions of dollars. Congress’ nonpartisan scorekeeping agency said Tuesday that the immigration bill would decrease federal red ink by $197 billion over a decade and $700 billion in the following 10 years as increased taxes paid to the government offset the cost of benefits for newly legal residents. The White House said the report was “more proof that bipartisan commonsense immigration reform will be good for economic growth and deficit reduction.” Several members of the “Gang of Eight” senators who drafted the legislation also welcomed the news. The CBO assessment came as the pace of activity increased at both ends of the Capitol on an issue that President Barack Obama has placed at the top of his domestic agenda. Challenged by protesters chanting, “Shame, shame,” House Republicans advanced legislation to crack down on immigrants living illegally in the United States, while the Senate lurched ahead on a dramatically different approach offering the hope of citizenship to the same 11 million people. The bill approved late Tuesday by the House Judiciary Committee on a 20-15 party-line vote would make being in the U.S. illegally a federal crime punishable by prison time, instead of a civil offense as it is now. It also would empower state and local law enforcement officials to enforce federal immigration laws. Republicans said the bill was needed to ensure enforcement of the law and said the legislation was a first step in an incremental approach toward solving the immigration issue, in contrast to the comprehensive approach being taken by the Democratic-led Senate. Many in the Republican-controlled House oppose tackling the immigration issue with a single, big bill. On Wednesday, the committee was to take up a bill creating a temporary agriculture worker program. “There has to be a first step, Mr. Chairman, and enforcing the law seems to me a reasonable place to begin,” said Republican Rep. Trey Gowdy of South Carolina, who wrote the bill approved Tuesday. Democrats called the bill a dangerous retread of a similarly tough enforcement measure that sparked mass protests around the country in 2006. Reading the bill, “you would think there are 11 million criminals in the United States,” said Rep. Luis Gutierrez, D-Ill. In the Senate, a bipartisan bill that Obama supports appeared on track for a final vote as early as July 4. The CBO said in its report and accompanying economic analysis that the Senate legislation would raise economic activity in each of the next two decades, in part because of the legal immigration fostered by the measure and also because millions of workers currently in the country illegally would join the legal workforce and pay taxes. The CBO said the bill would increase gross domestic product by 3.3 percent over the next 10 years compared with current law and by 5.4 percent over the following decade. The agency forecast that 8 million people now here illegally would gain legal status under the bill. The CBO also said that average wages would decline through 2025 as a result of the bill and that unemployment would go up slightly. One critic quickly seized on the impact on pay. “It’s going to raise unemployment and push down wages,” said Sen. Jeff Sessions of Alabama, top Republican on the Senate Budget Committee. Supporters of the bill saw it differently. Sen. Chuck Schumer, a New York Democrat and a member of the Gang of Eight, said the CBO report “debunks the idea that immigration reform is anything other than a boon to our economy and robs the bi

Sources tell THR the "Snow Flower and the Secret Fan" producer was instrumental in DreamWorks Animation's new China deal, a possible sign of dealmaking to come.read more

In this HitFix exclusive clip, Buzz Aldrin and Kal Penn face the designers as they prepare to discover who has won $50,000 and a dream job with WET. http://www.hitfix.com/blogs/starr-raving

For the First Time, Three Houseguests will Find Themselves Nominated for Eviction

One of the original anchors of the re-imagined "Nightline," Moran's post begins later this summer. read more

As of yesterday, there were 54 days left until Breaking Bad‘s glorious return to our sad, blue lives. Fifty-four is also the number of episodes of Breaking Bad has aired up to this point, which can only mean one thing: Megan Draper is dead. OK, two things: Megan Draper is dead and, jeez, only 54 episodes? Feels like 59 to me. Breaking Bad pre-season hype will soon turn into a deafening roar — no complaints here; there’s never too much Hank Schrader — but we’re still in the calm before the storm caused by a bomb strapped to a wheelchair, so every interview and teaser feels like a gift from the Pink Bear in the Sky him/herself. Last night, Bryan Cranston took part in an Ask Me Anything on Reddit where he answered questions about being Bryan Cranston and why it’s awesome being Bryan Cranston, all while raising money for the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, which, in his words, “has helped recover more than 183,000 missing children.” He’s still the best. If you could do a whole new season for either Breaking Bad (a season 6) or Malcolm in the Middle (a season 8), which would you chose, and why? Wow. How about breaking in the middle? Season 15. (Via) You may not remember, but late last summer you went to a popular restaurant in Culver City (the one with the outside seating that’s first-come, first-serve). You pleasantly asked if you could sit at our table since there were no other seats left, and we happily obliged. After glancing at you about five times, I realized who you were. Having just completed a marathon of Breaking Bad’s entire run, I awkwardly asked if I could shake your hand, and you did! My husband told you that he’s been trying to get his big brother (also sitting with us) to watch your show for months, and that he still hadn’t. Then you said, in a menacing, methodical voice (aka Heisenberg), “Your brother’s a pussy.” Did your brother finally start watching the show or does he still have a vagina? Edit: not that having a vagina is a bad thing. It just needs to be with the appropriate person. (Via) Do you think, given the proper equipment, you could produce crystal meth? That presumes I haven’t already. Do you have any recommendations for tighty whitey/button down combos? My Hanes don’t match my Nordstrom’s dress shirts. And don’t even get me started on when I wear them with my Timberlands. Haha! I wish I could comment but I’m in negotiations to represent those brands. See them in a JC Penney’s catalogue soon. (Via) My coworker Bob claims he is dating your niece. We live in northern California. Can you confirm or deny this? Bob is a f*cking liar. I have a job opening for him. How could Hammond Druthers not see that the majestic skyscraper looked like a giant penis? Anything tall and thick looks like a penis to him. (Via) Does Breaking Bad end the way that you wanted it to? Breaking Bad ended the way Vince Gilligan wanted it to… which is exactly what I wanted. (Via) How did it feel to get that pizza throw perfect on the first try? Well, I would have patted myself on the back but I was holding a pizza. Yeah, I did it in one try. It was a real pizza (a super xtra large) and very heavy. I just got lucky and it landed in the right place on the very first try so we let it be that way. What’s the funniest thing that’s happened on set in your career? There was a guy who was hit by a crane and killed instantly. I couldn’t stop laughing. That might be the darkest answer I’ve ever seen on an AMA. I love it. Dark? (Via) What are you most proud of during your career as an actor? That I was able to make a living as an actor nearly my entire adult life. (Via) You seem to be such a funny person on and off set – what’s it like for you to switch from doing something so funny like Malcolm in the Middle to something so deadly and serious like Breaking Bad? What I discovered is that

BluPrint and Jade – Meet the Top 20 – So You Think You Can Dance 10 – Video via Rickey.org BluPrint and Jade – Meet the Top 20 – So You Think You Can Dance 10 – Video This performance didn’t impress me as much as their auditions at first, but then it kicked into gear towards the end and I enjoyed it a lot more. That was down not to the dancers (who are great), but to the choreographer, Christopher Scott, who crafted a slow build into the dance. The judges and audience loved the whole thing, though, and that’s what really counts here! Watch their video below. The Voice • American Idol • The X Factor

San Diego is too small a stage for Ron Burgundy. The dim-witted anchor, perhaps the greatest addition to Will Ferrell's gallery of grotesques and buffoons, is back for another adventure in "Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues." Related Articles: 'Anchorman 2' Trailer Compares Ron Burgundy to Jesus, Jay-Z 'SNL' Marks 100th Digital Short With Justin Bieber, Will Ferrell, Justin Timberlake, Jon Hamm, Natalie Portman and Michael Bolton (Video) Amy Poehler, Adam Scott Re-Create Opening Credits to 'Hart to Hart' (Video) read more