Flowers are blooming, the trees are turning green, and yet you’re still watching the same stale shows from the fall. You’ve yawned at recent movie releases and your iPod is gathering dust. The signs are all there — it’s time to spring-clean your whole entertainment schedule. We’ve gathered the best television shows, movies and music to brighten up your springtime — or at least give you some more ways to procrastinate as finals creep closer and closer.
Movies
The Bounty Hunter (March 19)
Who wouldn’t want sexy Scot Gerald Butler chasing after you? In Butler’s latest rom-com, he plays a buff bounty hunter in charge of tracking down his journalist ex-wife, played by Jennifer Aniston. You can expect all the usual elements in this film: verbal sparring, flirting and a battle of the sexes. But if Butler’s half as charming and naughty as he was in The Ugly Truth, then expect the theaters to be packed. Take your best friend, not your boy, to this romantic comedy and skip the Junior Mints — there’s plenty of eye candy in this flick.
Repo Men (March 19)
In this thriller, set in a dark dystopia, humans in the future can extend their lives by buying artificial organs on credit from a corporation called The Union. Jude Law and Forest Whitaker play detached repo men who track down and take back the organs from people who cannot pay. But there’s a twist: Law’s character suffers cardiac failure and wakes up with his own million-dollar heart. When he can’t pay up, the hunter becomes the hunted as Whitaker chases him down. This slick thriller also stars Liev Schreiber as the head of the sinister corporation that provides the expensive organs. When you feel your heart pumping in anticipation, you’ll be glad it’s your own.
Hot Tube Time Machine (March 26)
Start with The Hangover, add hot water and you get the year’s wettest and wildest comedy. Four adult friends party a little too hard and end up in the ‘80s with the chance to change the future. The cast includes former Daily Show correspondent Rob Corddry, Darryl from The Office and a seemingly out-of-place John Cusack. Grab a group of guys and girls and watch for cameos by Chevy Chase and Gossip Girl’s Sebastian Stan. You’ll come out of the theater with ‘80s music stuck in your head and the urge to jump in a hot tub yourself!
Clash of the Titans (April 2)
It’s up to Sam Worthington as Perseus, “born of a god but raised as a man,” to stop the gods from unleashing hell on earth in this ancient action movie. The Avatar star likely feels right at home in a movie filled with just as many special effects. The trailer may be a feast for the eyes, but let’s hope there’s a plot beyond battles and legendary monsters. Luckily, award-winning actors Liam Neeson, as Zeus, and Ralph Fiennes, as Hades, round out the cast. Brush up on your ancient Greek mythology to distinguish Andromeda from Athena and oh, bring your boyfriend — he’ll love the action scenes.
TV
Justified (FX) (March 16)
Timothy Olyphant as U.S. Marshal Raylan Givens sure looks good in a cowboy hat. Givens, “a true-blue hero and something of a throwback,” leaves Miami after shooting a gun thug and gets reassigned to small-town eastern Kentucky. He reluctantly returns to his hometown for the first time in years, where he reconnects with his father and ex-wife. This gunslinger has quiet sex appeal as he continues to protect witnesses and chase down fugitives, including his childhood best friend.
Parenthood (NBC) (currently on the air)
From the executive producers of Arrested Development comes a family dramedy, on the air since March 2nd. Craig T. Nelson is the elderly patriarch of the Braverman family, and Peter Krause from Six Feet Under is one of his four grown-up children. Fans of Gilmore Girls will be happy to see Lauren Graham back on television as another one of the Braverman children. This time, she’s traded Rory for two rebellious teenagers. This show is honest and funny in its portrayal of the trials and tribulations of family life. Get to know the Braverman family by watching old episodes on NBC or Hulu.
FlashForward (ABC) (March 18)
This freshman science fiction show has been off the air since December, and loyal viewers have been looking forward for its remaining 12 episodes to air. In case you’ve forgotten, a mysterious event caused almost everyone on Earth to lose consciousness for 137 seconds. Joseph Fiennes, John Cho and Lost’s Dominic Monaghan star as the team assigned to unravel the mystery. This might be a good show to watch if you’re a Lost fan looking for another show to get hooked on. Find character bios, past episodes and even a discussion board to talk theories all online at ABC.
Glee (Fox) (April 13)
You’ve still got a few weeks until Mr. Schuster and the Glee Club officially return from what seems like the longest hiatus ever. But here’s a refresher: back in December, the team had just won sectionals and Mr. Schuster puckered up and kissed adorable guidance counselor Emma Pillsbury. What’s next for the Glee kids? The blogs are buzzing with rumors of guest stars like Jennifer Lopez and a special episode featuring all Madonna songs. For those of you who haven’t seen Glee in all of its musical glory, now is the time to watch old episodes and catch up! Visit Hulu or Fox for all the old episodes plus behind the scenes videos.
Music
Grab that iTunes gift card you’ve been saving for a rainy day and redeem away!
Justin Bieber, My World 2.0 (March 23)
This 15-year-old was discovered by Usher and sings pop and R&B songs about high school and puppy love — just ask your preteen cousin. You’re probably a little too old to swoon over this teenage phenomenon, but don’t let that stop you from listening to his latest album. Bieber’s catchy new song “Baby” features a reminiscing Ludacris rapping about his own teenage crush.
She & Him, Volume Two (March 23)
Doe-eyed film darling Zooey Deschanel along with M. Ward make up the members of this indie folk band. You may have caught the twosome covering the Smiths on the 500 Days of Summer soundtrack, but if not, their new album is sure to be more of the same retro music. Deschanel’s soulful voice is a throwback to an earlier era and the album will be a perfect complement for a slow and sleepy Sunday.
Barenaked Ladies, All In Good Time (March 30)
We know you loved the band’s song “One Week” back in middle school. This Grammy-nominated band formed back in 1988 and has never stopped churning out clever hit after hit. The Canadian alternative rock band’s new song “Every Subway Car” is available on iTunes before the rest of the album comes out next week. Give it a listen on your MP3 player instead of your childhood Walkman.
Mariah Carey, Angel Advocate (March 30)
This R&B diva’s thirteenth album will include remixes from her last album Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel, plus new songs that did not make the cut last time. Two singles, “Up Out My Face” and “Angels Cry”, are already topping the charts. As always, Carey’s album will be filled with collaborations from some of the biggest names in rap and R&B, like T-Pain and Timbaland.
Drake, Thank Me Later (March 30)
Hip hop artist Drake’s song “Best I Ever Had” was named the “Hot Rap Song” of the year by Billboard. Check out his latest album to see if he can top that song and “Forever”, which featured verses by Kanye West and Lil Wayne. This spring, Drake will be touring the country and stopping at college campuses such as Cornell, Penn State University and the University of Kentucky.
Sources
The Bounty Hunter, http://www.thepursuitbegins.com/
Repo Men, http://www.repomenarecoming.com/main.html#/about
Hot Tub Time Machine, http://www.kicksomepast.com/
Clash of the Titans, http://clash-of-the-titans.warnerbros.com/
Parenthood, http://www.nbc.com/parenthood/
FlashFoward, http://abc.go.com/shows/flash-forward
Justified, http://www.fxnetworks.com/shows/originals/justified/
Glee, http://www.fox.com/glee/ March Music Releases, http://www.aolradioblog.com/2010/02/12/new-music-releases-march-2010/ Justin Bieber, http://www.justinbiebermusic.com/
She & Him, http://www.sheandhim.com/
Barenaked Ladies, http://barenakedladies.com/home
Mariah Carey, http://www.mariahcarey.com/
Drake, http://www.myspace.com/thisisdrake