aaron sorkin

Aaron Sorkin-Like Presence Invades Facebook In The Name Of Research

9:30AM Seth | We invite devoted Defamer readers to think back now, to almost two years ago to the day. The U.S. dollar dominated global free markets. Whitney Houston was in the middle of a liquor-store-robbery crime spree that left dozens dead. And a little show by the name of Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip had captured the imaginations of the American working class, caught up weekly in its by-turns harrowing and inspirational tales from the front lines of the network sketch comedy wars. If you’re still with us, you’ll too recall Defaker, the Defamer-inspired mock gossip site that attempted to promote the series on NBC.com by opening itself up to visitor comments. Several harsh insights followed (”Aaron Sorkin, I’ll be seeing you soon! Posted by: Crack | September 21, 2006 08:30 PM” springs to mind), the site was quickly shuttered, and the ill-conceived exercise was chocked up by the lauded series creator as yet another example of the ugliness that will inevitably spring forth from the anonymous blogging wilds. More »

Don Cheadle Brightens Civilian’s Day By Cruising By Bus Stop In Rented Lexus

8:05AM Seth | PrivacyWatch celebrity sightings are submitted by our readers, and are posted several times a week, so send them in often–the fate of the universe relies upon it! Submit yours to tips[AT]defamer.com (please put “sighting” or “PrivacyWatch” in the subject line so we don’t lose them) and tell everyone about the time you spotted Tara Reid having her credit card denied at Blockbuster. More »

Emmy Nominees As Excited As Nominees Of Bigger, More Prestigious Awards

9:00AM Defamer Hollywood | The Emmy announcements are no exception to the time-worn awards show tradition of news outlets eliciting statements from the newly shortlisted artists – asking them, still dizzy from their gold-star high, to try as best as they can to put into words what it feels like to be recognised as more talented than their peers. (Until the night of the ceremony, that is, when four of the five are again reminded of their mediocrity.) We present a round-up of some of the most memorable, “it’s just an honour to be mentioned in the same breath as Two and a Half Men” reactions: · “This is an outrage.” – Tina Fey [Variety] · Nomination presenter Kyra Sedgwick deconstructs the existential dilemma of having to read one’s own name off the TelePrompter: “It was pretty nauseating. I couldn’t believe they wouldn’t tell us before! I just thought, if I won’t be nominated, I’ll take a deep breath and be grateful I’m there to announce. It was a surprise.” [USA Today] More »

Aaron Sorkin Opens Up About The Demise Of ‘Studio 60′

4:15AM Defamer Hollywood | With the final episodes of ill-fated sociopolitical drama Studio 60 on The Sunset Strip now all ignominiously burned off by the network that renounced its onetime anointed Nielsen Messiah, showrunner Aaron Sorkin is ready to reflect upon the possible reasons that his much-hyped peak behind the scenes at a curiously humourless late night sketch comedy show failed. (In case you missed it, our recap of the series finale is here to help you get some closure.) While Sorkin is willing to admit to making “too many mistakes for it to survive,” he posits that Our Obsession With Hugely Successful, Famously Troubled Man Behind The Curtain might have gotten in the way of the public’s enjoyment of his characters’ lively banter about the ethics of employing hostage-reclaiming mercenaries in Afghanistan or concerning potentially fatal pregnancy complications. Reports the LAT’s Patrick Goldstein after a sit-down with Sorkin: “I don’t know how to emphasise this enough that I’m not disappointed or upset with anyone but myself,” Sorkin says over lunch at Nate ‘n Al’s last week where he is repeatedly interrupted by fans wanting to share how much they enjoyed his work. More »