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Gather around, baking enthusiasts! This Friday at 9:00 Am on Food Network, get ready for a delightful spring-themed episode of “Spring Baking Championship” with Season 10’s “April Showers.”

Host Jesse Palmer invites the talented bakers to his charming spring tea party, where they’ll be tasked with creating delicate petit fours. As the April showers fall outside, the competition heats up in the kitchen as contestants aim to impress judges Duff Goldman, Kardea Brown, and Nancy Fuller with their intricate and delicious creations.

But the fun doesn’t stop there! Following the tea party, the bakers will gather around the maypole to showcase their skills once more, crafting beautiful May Day shortcake wreaths to celebrate the arrival of spring in style.

Don’t miss out on the sweet treats and friendly competition in “Spring Baking Championship: April Showers,” airing this Friday at 9:00 Am on Food Network. It’s sure...

Calling all baking enthusiasts! Prepare for a sweet and delightful evening with the latest episode of “Spring Baking Championship” Season 10, titled “April Showers,” airing this Monday at 8:00 Pm on Food Network. Hosted by Jesse Palmer, this episode promises to be a treat for the senses as the bakers gather for a charming spring tea party.

As April showers bring May flowers, the competitors will be challenged to create elegant and delicious petit fours that are sure to impress judges Duff Goldman, Kardea Brown, and Nancy Fuller. With their culinary skills put to the test, viewers can expect to see stunning creations and mouthwatering treats that capture the essence of spring.

But the fun doesn’t stop there! After the tea party, the bakers will join the judges around the maypole to craft May Day shortcake wreaths, adding a festive touch to the competition. With creativity, talent, and a dash of springtime magic,...

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They say that April showers bring May flowers, and, while rain may not have been the primary cause behind my lack of A-list encounters in April, there was definitely a crop of roses waiting for me in May.

"The Avengers" promotional train crossed over into the beginning of the month, offering a couple more chances at meeting the cast, and I finally succeeded! Not only did I get to meet Loki himself, Tom Hiddleston, but I also managed to meet actual Avenger, Mark Ruffalo.

The annual Met Gala soon followed, as well as the television Upfronts, which is when networks trot out their hottest talent for potential advertisers. "Twilight" stars, Oscar nominees and even a "Bridesmaid" were among the highlights of my flower-filled month.

Loki and the Hulk Do a Partial Assemble For Me

I got a tip that Tom Hiddleston would be making an appearance on Fuse's "A Different Spin,...

Welcome to The Power Rankings! for the week ending May 6. April showers (of blood, naturally) bring May, um, stability? Well, it doesn't roll off the tongue but it's mostly true. The only big entry this week and for a few more to come is Sherlock on PBS. More important, we haven't had quite the episodic quality fluctuations of the past, so things at the top are relatively solid. Of course, that just tightens up the race for the mid to lower rankings, so our friend flux is here (and the competition has pushed out two of my favorite comedies).

read more...

So.... we stayed very dry this month. So sorry about the annual April Showers event which just didn't happen. April's other traditional event (New Oscar Predictions) did finally happen and the conversation continues. But more than any month in recent memory this one felt like it dragged me behind it mercilessly while it sped through a series of stressful events. Offline. We'll see how May treats us. But it'll have to be better.

Here are ten highlights of this scattershot month in case you missed them...

Hello Gorgeous Barbra Streisand's filmography. It's like butta.

The Evil Queen's Library Someone give her a library card.

April Showers: The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo well at least I started the series off well. My stamina failed me. 

Mirror Mirror what an odd mix of fairy tale, visual indulgence, and hit and miss performances.

Take Three: Anne Heche Anne Heche Craig's...

Yes, we are aware of the date — it is April 25, a full two months before the calendar officially declares it summer and at least a month before most people will be able to contemplate a beach trip, barbecue, or any of the other recreational activities that typically signify the season. (If you live on a beach in Mexico, we congratulate you and ask what you are doing on the Internet.) But the time is near — you can feel it in the air, and on the radio, which has already been infiltrated with the first round of super-sunny, expertly dumb pop songs meant for Song of Summer contention. Isn’t it too early for SoS? you might be wondering. Well, we did too, and yet the very question filled us with deja vu, as if in years past we'd been dancing to some frothy tune during April showers and thinking...

waterworks each weeknight at 11. This particular installment of April Showers was first published in 2009.

One of the greatest disconnects I've ever had between consensus response to a movie and my own reaction was in 1995 when Jodie Foster's second film Home for the Holiday debuted. It was mostly ignored by the public and the critics were out for blood. Maybe Jodie Foster had just been too successful and too lauded and it was time for the pendulum to swing back? Perhaps the undercurrent was along the lines of 'Does she have to be good at making movies in addition to acting in them?'

Even Robert Downey Jr playing Tommy got bad reviews for his performance as teh gay brother to Holly Hunter's Claudia. Though his performance is pretty out there with his needling rapid fire joking -- he's consistently pushing things too far -- it's also exactly in...

I know a few of you had had problems with commenting but the problem should be resolved now. So please sound off. What's on your cinematic mind? Do I dare see Cabin in the Woods this weekend? You know how squeamish I am about horror.

P.S. If you've ever seen one of Travis Mathews short films (worth seeking out) you'll want to read Craig's interview -- how do you feel about explicit scenes in real films? sound off on that post. And if you've ever seen Snow White (duh, you have!) we've totally been talking about her so join in. Let's make her ears as red as her lips. If you don't comment on animated films how will I know you want more posts about them?

Have you ever made this face?

P.P.S. April Showers is returning soon after this week's hiccup.

P.P.P.S. Titanic...

In the years doing the April Showers series it's become clear that there are basically four types of shower scenes in movies: sex scenes, sight gags, horror moments when characters are at their most vulnerable and emotional cleansing moments (that the body also gets scrubbed is just a bonus). Dragon Tattoo's shower sequence is clearly the latter type, after Lisbeth's brutal rape. David Fincher famously quipped pre-release that his movie had too much anal rape for Oscar. Oscar didn't mind so much nominating it for several Oscars.

Fincher's discussion of the sequence [after the jump. Nsfw] on the commentary track is interesting. ...

March happened at me. I hope yours was better. The blog has been a bit more tepid than usual in the post Oscar malaise and all around off-blog madness. But here were ten highlights from the month in case you also were caught between rocks and hard places or entire boulders and cliff faces.

Burning Questions: To Read or Not To Read in this age of adaptations, Michael wonders whether it's better to read the book first or see the film.

Cosmopolis + Cronenberg nine favorite images from the f'ed up teaser. 

Ladyhawke the third season of "hit me with your best shot" kicked off with a bird-like Pfeiffer and the wolfen Rutger Hauer 

The Hunger Games reviewed

Carrie Off Broadway the 70s horror classic is a thing again

Stupid News: Chloe as Carrie a terrible casting idea. They're all going to laugh at you, Moretz! 

Divas & Heroes more Film...

AfterElton.com readers, after last week’s little—well, tangent seems too strong of a word; shall we go with tirade? Angry, prattle-filled tirade?—after last week’s angry, prattle-filled tirade against the producers of Spartacus: Vengeance for yet again not showing any scenes of physical intimacy between our favorite circuit boys Agron and Nasir, you can imagine my reaction to this week’s episode of the show since, for the ninth straight time this season, Agron and Nasir did not get to enjoy the fruits of their love while parading around for us in their Fruit of the Looms. In fact, I wrote my reaction down for you. Would you like to hear it? Would you? I thought you might. Here’s what I wrote, word for word:

Agron what? Nasir who? Huh?

Oh yes, AfterElton.com readers, after this week’s celebration of all that is good and...

The following is a list of all comic books, graphic novels and special items that will be available this week and shipped to comic book stores who have placed orders for them.

215 Ink

Extinct Gn, $17.99

Abstract Studios

Rachel Rising #6, $3.99

Action Lab Entertainment

Exo 1 And The Rocksolid Steelbots Volume 1 Gn, $14.95

Monsters Are Just Like Us Gn, $12.95

Space-Time Condominium Season One Volume 1 Tp, $14.95

Antarctic Press

Honey Badger Adventures #1, $3.50

Ape Entertainment

Dream Reavers #4 (Of 4), $3.99

Helldorado #3 (Of 3), $3.99

Archie Comic Publications

Archie The Married Life Volume 2 Tp (not verfied by Diamond), $19.99

Betty And Veronica Double Digest #199, $3.99

Ardden Entertainment

Wulf #5 (resolicited), $2.99

Aspen Mlt

Charismagic #5 (Cover A Khary Randolph), $3.50

Charismagic #5 (Cover B Siya Oum), $3.50

Charismagic #5 (Nicola Hwang Variant Cover), Ar

Avatar Press

Dicks #2 (John McCrea Regular Cover), $4.99

Dicks #2 (John McCrea Classic Black & White Variant Cover), Ar

Dicks #2 (John McCrea Offensive Cover), $4.99

Ferals #3 (Gabriel Andrade Regular Cover), $3.99

Ferals #3 (Gabriel Andrade Gore Cover), $3.99

Ferals #3 (Gabriel Andrade Slashed Variant Cover...

April showers will be bringing episodes of Showtime's "Nurse Jackie," "The Big C" and "The Borgias." All three shows will premiere on Sun., April 8.

The Season 4 of "Nurse Jackie" leads the night at 9 p.m. Est with Jackie (Edie Falco) finally confronting her addiction while trying to keep her troubled marriage and family intact. Season 4 guest stars include Bobby Cannavale, Rosie Perez, Joel Grey, Aida Turturro, Stephen Wallem, Arjun Gupta, Lenny Jacobson, Green Day's Billie Joe Armstrong and New York Knicks' forward Carmelo Anthony.

The third season of "The Big C" follows at 9:30 p.m. Est. Cathy (Laura Linney) and her family are dealing with the tragedy that came at the end of last season. Viewers will also learn if Sean (John Benjamin Hickey) moved back indoors and whether or not Andrea (Gabourey Sidibe) really took out a hit on her ex-fiance.

Closing out the night at 10 p.

April showers will be bringing episodes of Showtime's "Nurse Jackie," "The Big C" and "The Borgias." All three shows will premiere on Sun., April 8.

The Season 4 of "Nurse Jackie" leads the night at 9 p.m. Est with Jackie (Edie Falco) finally confronting her addiction while trying to keep her troubled marriage and family intact. Season 4 guest stars include Bobby Cannavale, Rosie Perez, Joel Grey, Aida Turturro, Stephen Wallem, Arjun Gupta, Lenny Jacobson, Green Day's Billie Joe Armstrong and New York Knicks' forward Carmelo Anthony.

The third season of "The Big C" follows at 9:30 p.m. Est. Cathy (Laura Linney) and her family are dealing with the tragedy that came at the end of last season. Viewers will also learn if Sean (John Benjamin Hickey) moved back indoors and whether or not Andrea (Gabourey Sidibe) really took out a hit on her ex-fiance.

Closing out the night at 10 p.

File this under 'The Hollywood Walk of Fame Makes No Sense.' The star-getting procedure is such that some people get them in their first few years of fame while the danger of "flash in the pan" still looms and other bonafide legends get them a full four decades after they started making cinema-shaking waves. In short, it's utter nonsense.

But that doesn't mean we don't still like seeing the nation's actresses celebrated whenever that does occur. Congratulations, Sissy! 

Usually star ceremonies will include co-stars pushing whichever new project the star has (in this case The Help) and at least one really famous co-star (like when Bridges was on hand for Pfabulous Pfeiffer's star a few years back though they hadn't worked together since the 80s) but this one was oddly attended. Bill Paxton (Sissy did a guest role on Big Love) and David Lynch who directed Sissy in The Straight Story...

10 ways to add a nautical theme to your wedding Fab quiz: how well do you know your shoe designers? 360 degrees of Diane Kruger's coolest plait yet Apps and sites to help you choose wine wisely Miley Cyrus and her mom break out their bikinis in Brazil! Tips for an enjoyable - and hopefully successful - first date! Egg in a nest, meet the grilled cheese PopSugar City NYC: Visit these local spots to earn your sun-worshiper status Building blocks rock! Construction sets for your small fry April showers bring May flowers Meet the America's Next Top Model all stars! When to stash or trash important papers 5 foods that help kick Pms to the curb Video: Angelina makes Cannes a family affair and laughs it up with Jack Black!

As the saying goes: April showers bring May flowers, and May TV brings season finales (pretty sure it's something like that). The time has come to bid adieu to some of your favorites until next fall; here's a quick calendar of when some of this year's biggest season-enders will air. (P.S. You can also test your knowledge of some of these shows with TV.com's drag-and-drop Season Finales game.)

Wednesday, May 4

Are We There Yet? (8:30pm, TBS)

Justified (10pm,...  More >>...

Monthly Movie Preview – May 2011

If what they say is true and April showers do indeed bring May flowers then consider May ripe for the picking. After the past few lukewarm months at the box office, it seemed like Hollywood had hit a slump. It’s sort of to be expected in January, which is commonly known as “dump month” where studios pile all of their garbage into one long month… but then things didn’t really seem to let up as we entered February and even March. But it is with May that we’re seeing some signs of life at the box office again.

This month may not feature a whole lot of new picks, but it’s breaking out some of the heavy hitters that is sure to bring a rip-roaring start to the Summer season. Check out the list below and be sure to sound off on...

Are you ready? It’s here. After the April showers, we get the May movies, and the start of the Summer Movie Season for 2011! Studios have been promoting these films down our throats all year long so far, but will they be worth the hype? Donny Broussard and Jon Peters tell you what you need to see or skip this month, making for a handy guide for yourself. What to see? What to skip? Let’s see in Killer Film‘s May Movie Preview!

(May 6th)

Thor

The IMDb plot: “The powerful but arrogant warrior Thor is cast out of the fantastic realm of Asgard and sent to live amongst humans on Earth, where he soon becomes one of their finest defenders.”

3D Option? Yes.

Jon: One of the hardest Marvel characters to adapt, in my opinion, is Thor. Yet, after numerous stills and trailers, I’d say director Kenneth Branagh nailed the right formula.

As illustrated by that pocketful of sunshine, Emma Stone.

April Showers: American History X (1998), How Stella Got Her Groove Back (1998), A Walk on the Moon (1999), South Pacific (1958), Lara Croft: Tomb Raider (2001), The Long Good Friday (1980), Groundhog Day (1993), A Streetcar Named Desire (1951), The Hurt Locker (2009), I Robot (2004), Single White Female (1992), The Fifth Element (1997) and Shutter Island (2010).

May Flowers: Weekdays at noon. Any suggestions?

oh, okay, okay. I know we can't end without actually watching Emma doing "Pocketful of Sunshine" again. If the entirety of Easy A had been as great as this post-credits opening scene, the movie would have been an A+

P.S. This one-minute delight is nominated in the 2010 FiLM BiTCH Awards for Best Musical Number from a Non-Musical Film. Here's that last page of honorees in progress. Almost finished. Sorry for that weirdly protracted hiatus.

Hope you've enjoyed the April Showers series. There are So many films we could have covered. (Tangent: I'm dying to know, for example, when the first shower sequence ever filmed was. The earliest I personally know of is Marilyn Monroe in Niagara (1953) which I meant to write about. Oops. But there has to be something earlier, right? I've searched but can't find any definitive info.)

Though I hate to end on a disturbing note I haven't been able to get Edward Norton out of my mind recently so we have to look back at American History X (1998).

Edward Norton as "Derek" in American History X

I'm not sure how Mr. Norton became lodged in my brain recently but if I had to guess it'd be the combo of Mark Ruffalo taking over the Hulk (they just started filming The Avengers) and a random flashback to The Painted Veil. Then at...

Apurva Asrani writes about how the movie going experience is a lamentable affair. Cheap content & expensive movie tickets are a bad combination he says…

Last weekend I battled April showers and a waterlogged Bangalore to reach a multiplex playing a much hyped Bollywood release. With petrol prices at Rs.66 a litre, I filled a modest quarter tank at Rs 500 and pulled a parking coupon at the mall worth Rs 50. My date, who watches every Bollywood release religiously waited anxiously by the box office window. To our delight, the cinema was hardly crowded and I learned from the cashier that I could pick any two seats at the back of the hall. But my joy was short-lived and I almost choked when he printed the receipt for my tickets; I was asked to pay a whopping Rs 700!

?No No!!? I mumbled, thinking the cashier had made a mistake, ?I don?t want the gold class,...

Apurva Asrani writes about how the movie going experience is a lamentable affair. Cheap content & expensive movie tickets are a bad combination he says…

Last weekend I battled April showers and a waterlogged Bangalore to reach a multiplex playing a much hyped Bollywood release. With petrol prices at Rs.66 a litre, I filled a modest quarter tank at Rs 500 and pulled a parking coupon at the mall worth Rs 50. My date, who watches every Bollywood release religiously waited anxiously by the box office window. To our delight, the cinema was hardly crowded and I learned from the cashier that I could pick any two seats at the back of the hall. But my joy was short-lived and I almost choked when he printed the receipt for my tickets; I was asked to pay a whopping Rs 700!

?No No!!? I mumbled, thinking the cashier had made a mistake, ?I don?t want the gold class,...

The label goes bright, bold, and even studded for the spring/summer season! Get your first look at the brand new styles here!

When the weather gets warmer, sunglasses are a crucial accessory — and if you have yet to scoop up a new pair, feast your eyes on the latest collection from Burberry. The classic label continues to up their cool quotient, and that’s exactly what they did with their bright (and bendable) shades.

I know I always have trouble trying to fit a ginormous sunglass case into my purse, but luckily that isn’t an issue with the ‘Burberry Brights’ collection — the bendable shades fold up into a small, circular case. While these are definitely the most different style in the collection, there’s still something for everyone out there.

For example, if something super bright isn’t your style, you can still show off your edgy side...

Sure, April showers bring May flowers and all that, but it also brings serious frizz. Take a stand, ladies! Hothead's new Hand Dry Hair Towel saves the day with super-absorbent micro-fibers that quickly absorb wetness from hair without roughing up delicate hair cuticles (which can cause the two B's: breakage and bushiness). Basically, it dries hair so fast it doesn't even give frizz a chance to set in! Plus, squeezing hair dry with this genius hair towel shortens your blowdry time, which helps protect tresses from heat damage.Hotheads Hand Dry Hair Towel, $28, hotheadshairbrush.com...

waterworks weeknights at 11

Robert (writer of Distant Relatives) here, sitting in for Nathaniel, with an April Showers entry. Every have a really terrible day you just want to end? Turns out Bill Murray's legendary curmudgeon Phil Connors is having one of those days. So what to do?

Retreat.

Take a hot shower.

very hot.

too hot!

It's a seemingly throw-away gag, but actually epitomizes why I think I love Groundhog Day more each time I watch it (and I've watched it many times now).

Yes, even Phil Connors' attempt to relax goes wrong. His day sucks. You don't blame him for blowing off the Groundhog Dinner just a scene earlier (though you do blame him for being a jerk about it). And you don't realize yet that going to the dinner-engaging with life rather than avoiding it, was the right thing for him to do.

Dang, if only he...

Thank God March is over! It's basically Sad Bridge Month between Oscar Insanity and "okay so what's this year going to be like?" Then our Beloved Dame Elizabeth Taylor died and so the month was a bit of a bummer. But, I must add, for our time spent getting to know you with Reader o' the Day! In case you've been a fair weather reader -- it's a pleasant 78° in here year round. There's no need to migrate -- here's what'cha missed on Tfe.

It was unusually animated. Pun intended.

A History of Women in Film -From "American's Sweetheart" Mary Pickford to Best Director winner Kathryn Bigelow.

101 Dalmatians 50½ thoughs on its 50th anniversary. Woof woof.

Salo and Dogtooth Robert bridged the distance between two shock classics.

Hit Me With Your Best Shot We all shouted "Stelllllaaaa" with Brando in A Streetcar Named Desire. (As part of a weeklong Tennessee Williams...

It's almost April, so you know what that means?  Well besides baseball's Opening Day and April showers and all that crap.  The final advertising push for the summer movie season is underway.  We've already gotten a handful of new trailers and posters for this summer's studio tentpoles and now Harry Potter has come out to play.  Last week, on ABC Family, Warner Bros. showed off some behind the scenes footage for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2, and now today we've got a pretty intense new poster.

Hit the jump to check out Harry and Voldey in a stare down of epic proportions.

For today's reader interview we have the lovely movie-mad Dominique who lives here in New York.

Nathaniel: Do you remember your first ever moviegoing experience?

Dominique: The first film I remember seeing in theaters is Disney's Beauty and the Beast. I would've been a little over 5. My dad had been reading an abridged version of it as a bedtime story and so I kept wondering how they could make a whole movie out of a ten-page picture book. I guess I assumed the film would be pretty short or something. Naturally, I was blown away and it remains a favorite film of mine until this day.

When did you start reading The Film Experience? I think it was around 2007.  I'm attracted to how unpretentious the site is. All the writers and collaborators seem to genuinely love film and I can feel that in every article. I also love random features...

Modern day audiences were shocked 3 years ago when an animated film with very little dialogue captured the imaginations of audiences young and old. Critics called it revolutionary, a brilliant film-making achievement. Pixar's Wall-e was all of these things, but 66 years before, there was another film with minimal dialogue, mostly visual storytelling, and a powerful environmental message. Bambi is usually not people's favorite Disney movie, but I think it has more to do with the film's difficult message. It is hard to feel warm and fuzzy when humankind is the villain.

Bambi opens with the birth of Bambi, the newest “prince” of the forest. Slowly, Bambi's mother teaches Bambi all the workings of the forest. Eat the greens as well as the clovers. Never run into the meadow. Keep an eye out for humans. He becomes friends with a rabbit named Thumper and a skunk named Flower. He learns about birds,...

It's Reader Appreciation Month so we're doing interviews with You. Well not you literally (although... maybe?) but you collectively. Here's Paolo from Toronto.

Nathaniel: Do you remember your first moviegoing adventure / obsession?

Paolo: Probably The Lion King, coming out weeks before the movie I actually remember watching first: Forrest Gump. We had a full row in the theatre, my artsy paternal grandma, me, my sister and like five cousins from my dad's side. I remember the bus stop interludes, "run Forrest run", meeting Jenny for the last time, but none of the Vietnam, hippie, black power, Gary Sinise, coked up whore scenes in between. I was seven. I don't even remember Forrest being special needs. Either the old country censored the hell out of the movie, I slept during some parts, or Lacuna exists.

My first movie obsession was with Anastasia, the cartoon. It's about a princess, what else...

In spite of having grown up as a part of the Disney “VHS Generation”, one of the first groups of children to have the privilege and opportunity to enjoy nearly every Disney classic in the comfort of my home on demand, I don’t have much nostalgia for my childhood favourites. They still have a special place in my heart because they undeniably have a hand in the person I have become, but they have since been replaced by other Disney films I didn’t necessarily appreciate as a child.

I have my qualms with Disney, none of which I plan on getting into right here, but I can appreciate many of their films for their artistry and heartfelt sentiment. This list does not reflect the tastes and impulses of my childhood self, but the obsessions and preferences of my young adulthood. That isn’t to say there isn’t any nostalgia involved,...

What a quaint play on words for the title of the movie: Knight and Day.

The two main characters are completely opposite of each other in regards to personality and abilities that they are as different as night and day. There is also a sly connection to the idea of the lead male character acting as a modern day version of a knight in shining armor for the leading woman.

Roy Miller is his name and he works as a national security agent who holds plenty of combat skill, which serves to protect his lady in waiting, June, from the evil people of the world. The only real catalyst of the relationship would be the fact that he dragged her into a life-threatening situation to begin with, which led to the dilemma that he constantly had to protect her from the dangerous criminals who presumed she was his working partner.

Posterized [episode 4]

Angelina Jolie turns 35 today. Her supernova career holds many lessons for talented young actors (and we civilians, too). While an unforgettable presence, the key ingredient, is not exactly duplicable even for those with above average skills, other elements are. If a young actor can muster up even half of her watchability, they'll have a robust career. Just a quick perusal of her filmography brings certain lessons to light.

Cyborg 2 (1993) | Hackers (1995) | Foxfire (1996)

Rule #1 Take anything you can get (at first).

Ms. Jolie, unlike many children of Oscar winning movie stars before her, didn't exactly aim high at first. She'd do youth movies, genre movies, straight to video movies, music videos, short films, television, cyborg movies. You can lose a lot of opportunities if you're too picky, too soon. Those posters up top are just a few from her teenage and early 20s period.

Gia (1998) | Playing God (1997) | Playing By Heart...

In keeping with the spirit of "Upfronts Week" in which networks announce their new seasons, I thought I would do the same. It's common place now for blogs to have "series" but I am proud to say I was one of the early adopters of this 'I'm my own network!' approach. I enjoy the creation and evolution of series and it seems that barring a couple of them over the years, you (the active audience) enjoy them too.

The Film Experience will always be somewhat random since spontaneity is oxygen (and other less pleasurable reasons also interfere). Sometimes ambitions collapse before execution due to lack of funding, corporate slavery, cat illness, backlog of unfinished business or loss of passport. But series and general structure help keep things on track regardless; Attempts at discipline never hurt anyone. So here's what we hope is coming up...

Sunday: new series Take Three...

Allison Strong, Union City, N.J."April showers bring May flowers." Imagine that phrase was a song that summed up the rainbow highs and lows of my past year. Press play. On April 30, 2009, I lost my grandmother—one of the biggest loves of my life and the Auntie Mame of my small family. A few weeks before Christmas 2008, she suffered two strokes that left her completely paralyzed, and six months later a third one took her from us. Mamita, as we all lovingly called her, was a youthful 94 years old. Now stop and press repeat. On April 9, I lost my 13-year-old sheepdog-terrier mutt, Magic, to prostate cancer. We had known since July that his cancer was aggressive, but since he outlived the local vet's expectations, we shrugged it off as a misdiagnosis. But after an impromptu visit to my veterinarian cousin Marcy in Brooklyn the first week of April, my...

April showers bring May flowers - and new albums from four of indie rock's heavyweights. On The Download has your essential rock rundown.

The Band: Broken Social Scene

The Album: "Forgiveness Rock Record" (Arts & Crafts, out now)

The Details: After a trio of albums with longtime producer Dave Newfield, the Toronto collective headed to Chicago for the more subtle sonic guidance of John McEntire (The Sea and Cake, Tortoise). The result is a strong collection sparkling with studio polish, led by the Kevin Drew-sung throaty guitar anthems "World Sick" and "Forced To Love," and showcasing lovely ...

Copyright 2010 by NBC Universal, Inc. All rights reserved.

This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

April showers bring May flowers, but this year we're looking forward to big stars, blockbuster movies, and highly anticipated show finales! Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart kick off the media storm leading up to the June 30 release of Eclipse with scheduled appearances on Oprah and The Ellen DeGeneres Show. The lovely ladies of Sex and the City 2 are marching their Jimmy Choos into theaters May 27 and dozens of stars from Shia Labeouf to Carey Mulligan are expected at this year's Cannes Film Festival. Buzz has been talking about the Lost finale for months and after playing their greatest Lost character of all time we're pretty pumped too. So, tell us - what May event are you most excited about? What Huge May Event Are You Most Excited About? Rob and Kristen on Oprah - I hope my DVR can handle the hotness. Sex and the City 2 - Nothing...

April showers bring... lots of action for Abby on "NCIS" in May. 

That's better than flowers, right?

Korbi TV caught up with Pauley Perrette, who plays Abby, and she seemed excited about the episodes to come.

"I don't know exactly what the details are, but they basically told me, get your rest, because there's a lot of Abby stuff coming up for May and a lot of Abby-centric things going on," Perrette tells us.

We, however, asked her to be a bit more specific.

"There was talk of a trip to Mexico," she says. "There's an interesting Latino stranger."

Maybe some romance for Abby?

"Perhaps," Perrette teases.

Watch the video for that, plus Perrette's take on costar Michael Weatherly carrying her cardboard cutout around at Paley Fest last month...

Follow Zap2it, Marisa and KorbiGirl on Twitter plus Zap2it on Facebook for all your TV, movie and celebrity news.

Alexa from Pop Elegantiarum here, sneaking in some April Showers before the month is up. When I walk into my bathroom I really just want to see a fully-dressed Cary Grant in the shower. Sadly, I still can't find a shower curtain that realizes that dream, so here are some other ideas to film-ify your bathroom.

Of course you can always resort to the obligatory Psycho homage. This $5 bathroom makeover doesn't require much more than a black sharpie and some acrylic paint. If that sounds like too much work, you can just buy the shower curtain here.

This bloody curtain and math mat set brings to mind the bathroom scene from The Conversation.

But really, if you want to scare yourself at 2 a.m., I think this Nosferatu curtain is the way to go.

After inviting a killer to your shower, it's probably a good idea to bring in The Enforcer.

The trench coat gets a twist, thanks to colors and ruffles!

Like Blake Lively in her leather version, Heidi Klum, Gweneth Paltrow, and Kiera Knightley, (in Burberry), your best bet for the unpredictable spring weather is a cute trench coat! There’s something both sexy and classic about the basic go-to piece of outwear. Whether you go for something traditional or liven up the trend with a twist, it’s both stylish and practical! My favorite trend is the trench with an unexpected belt. Check out our picks below if you’re looking to stay dry in style, just in time for April showers!

-Katrina Mitzeliotis

Rachel Roy Db Trench, $94.99

Nordstrom Tahari ‘Eve’ Asymmetrical Ruffle Trench Coat, $128

Forever 21 Country Trench Coat, $39.80

Miss Sixty Pleated Trench Coat, $64.90...

Geek's got great gadgets and iPads a plenty Yum's loving a sweet cake stand and cheesy Springtime snacks Bella's bugging out over the latest trends from Japan and bold eye palettes Tres's head over heels for the page turner Men and Dogs Lil's jumping for joy over new jumpers and activity walkers Fab found must-have accessories and sandals for warmer weather Casa's prepped for April Showers and Earth Day celebrations Buzz's full of Glee and ready to Kick Ass this month! Savvy's got tips for Spring cleaning your budget and credit report Fit's flipping for Water Bobbles and Gaiam's gym bag Pet's picking up Buddy Belts for their four legged friends...

Egads. I haven't been doing my monthly wrap-ups to point you to highlights should you just be joining us. So back to that, must I go. In case you're just joining us. Which would be really weird since Oscar season recently ended. Here's 10 highlights from this month that flew right by.

Boys and Their Dogs

Pete Doctor, "Mr Madcap" Robert completes his terrific Pixar auteur trilogy

Do You Talk With Your Hands? If so I know just the career for you

10 Actresses to Watch in the 'Teens ...so much can happen in a decade

"As Long As He Needs Me" a look back at Oliver!'s classic torch song

Yes, No, Maybe So: Eat Pray Love wanna take Julia's trip?

A Conversation... with Guy Lodge about Best Actress 2010/11

The Kathleen Turner Story How did The Man With Two Brains (1983) know what was to be?

Top 10 Characters of the Aughts Tom Stall,...

Chicago – We have now reached the fourth and final week of the 13th Annual European Union Film Festival at the Siskel Film Center, and what a fantastic festival it has been. From international sensations to critically acclaimed gems rarely available in the Us, the EU annual line-up is consistently one of the finest offered by any festival in the Windy City.

The first three weeks were loaded with highlights that just seemed to get better as the days progressed. Some of the selections, such as Austria’s diabolical delight “The Bone Man” and the Netherlands’ beguiling documentary “Rembrandt’s J’Accuse,” were more entertaining than the majority of mainstream Hollywood releases. Both France and Italy had several exceptional entries this year, including Amos Gitai’s spellbinding “Disengagement” and Luca Guadagnino’s ravishing “I Am Love.” Read more here, here and here.

The final week is somewhat of a letdown in comparison,...

It's the day before my favorite holiday of the year (Oscars!) and I immediately start worrying about a post-Oscar hemorrhaging of readers. There's more to The Film Experience than Oscar... though we admit to getting completely carried away this time of year.

Returning soon... (or so goes the plan... I think I've worked out scheduling kinks) April Showers, Best Pictures From the Outside In (next up: The Lost Weekend and *shudder* Dances with Wolves), Mad Men @ the Movies and the too-long neglected Personal Canon and Streep @ 60. Okay so even if I only get half of that done, that'll be awesome!

Plus the usual frequent doses of random cinematic musings, contests, actresses, interviews and new movies. Stick around and stay noisy. We love a rowdy comment section. Am also toying with the idea of a return to the Reader Request but let's see how the relaunch of these old favorites goes first.

More Spring Preview: [Theatrical Calendar]

[Repertory Calendar]

[Jason Reitman's Favorites]

Over 85 films will be filing through arthouses and multiplexes between now and the end of April, but nearly triple that number will be accessible from the comfort of home, whether it's on demand, online or on DVD. Here's what will be hitting televisions, computer screens, Netflix queues and store shelves this spring.

On Demand

Once you get through the masterful six-hour "Red Riding Trilogy" currently available on demand through May, IFC Films and their Sundance Selects label have quite the collection of festival favorites available to beam directly onto your TV in the next few months. It starts on February 17th with the Festival Direct release of the acclaimed John Bryant comedy "The Overbrook Brothers," about two siblings who find out they're adopted, as well as the Sundance Selects release of "Flannel Pajamas" director Jeff Lipsky's multi-generational comedy "Once More With Feeling," starring Chazz Palminteri as...

Mark Thimijan sent us this movie trailer for his upcoming independent film “Barstool Cowboy” starring Tim Woodward and Rachel Lien (Ticket Out, April Showers). Synopsis: An unemployed Cowboy who can’t find love vows to stay on a barstool for three months hoping to find some answers at the bottom of a beer bottle. Shortly thereafter, he meets a young female art student and quickly forgets his misery. The pair begin to transform each other’s worlds while spending time drinking, dancing and examining the mysteries of life. Will the Cowboy finally find love or should he have just stayed on his barstool? Stay tuned to Shockya.com for more independent film news and trailers.

Apr 28, 2009   For this critic, reviewing a movie like April Showers is very difficult. I often think that movies made this recently about a tragedy as deep and damaging as what happened at Columbine High School ten years ago this month veer dangerously close to exploitation. It turns out that a label like that would be too easy a way to write off this accomplished, harrowing, and deeply, deeply personal film. Writer/director Andrew Robinson was actually there on that day in that school. A Columbine grad, a decade later he has become a filmmaker with ...Read more at MovieRetriever.com...

This week's indie film focus is on the Andrew Robinson helmed and written drama "April Showers;" an important film based on a true story. Indie Flix distributes the film in limited areas on April 24th. The cast includes Kelly Blatz, Daryl Sabara, Tom Arnold, Ileana Douglas, Janel Parrish and Ellen Woglom. Robinson is a survivor of the Columbine High School tragedy and directs this dramatized retelling of what it was like to be a survivor in the midst of the nation’s largest school shootings. Based largely on actual events, April Showers follows the story of Sean Ryan (Kelly Blatz, Prom Night) as he and fellow survivors attempt to make sense of the horrors they’ve just witnessed and, for Sean, coping with the loss of his friend April (Ellen Woglom, Viva Laughlin). Featuring breathtaking cinematography by Independent Spirit Award Nominee, Aaron Platt (Wild Tigers I’ve Known). See the trailer here.

This week's indie film focus is on the Andrew Robinson helmed and written drama "April Showers;" an important film based on a true story. Indie Flix distributes the film in limited areas on April 24th. The cast includes Kelly Blatz, Daryl Sabara, Tom Arnold, Ileana Douglas and Janel Parrish Ellen Woglum. Robinson is a survivor of the Columbine High School tragedy and directs this dramatized retelling of what it was like to be a survivor in the midst of the nation’s largest school shootings. Based largely on actual events, April Showers follows the story of Sean Ryan (Kelly Blatz, Prom Night) as he and fellow survivors...