Video: Jennifer Garner Being Attacked by Gary Busey on the Oscar Red Carpet

I was watching Ryan Seacrest do his thing on the Oscar red carpet last night on E!, and lo and behold -- the sh*t hits the fan. This is one of the most awkward live television moments I have ever seen -- and I love it!

Ranking the Ladies of the Stage: Roberts, Moore, Danes and Garner

It can't be easy to go from the relatively cushy confines of film-and-television land to the demanding, 8-shows-a-week pressure of performing on Broadway. Just ask Julia Roberts, Julianne Moore, Claire Danes or Jennifer Garner!

I caught Jennifer Garner's last performance in Cyrano yesterday afternoon, in the company of a star-studded audience that included Ben Affleck, Tyne Daly, Victor Garber, Ron Rifkin and Dan Ackroyd. Everyone was cheering the former Alias star on, and the scene at the stagedoor was total madness.

But did she do a good job?

Well, I've seen all four film stars on stage now, and I'm ready to rank 'em. Here goes...

1. Claire Danes, Pygmalion
The former My So Called Life star had probably the most difficult task of any of the other ladies on this list -- making Eliza Doolittle work, accent and all. And, lo and behold, she pulled it off! She was tough, vulnerable, funny, and, above all, believable as the Cockney girl who makes good. I must admit, I was very impressed with her chops.
GRADE: A-

2. Julianne Moore, The Vertical Hour
The Far From Heaven actress certainly didn't embarrass herself, but what works for her onscreen (subtlety, nuance) didn't quite translate to the Broadway stage. It also didn't help that Bill Nighy was acting circles around her.
GRADE: B-

3. Jennifer Garner, Cyrano
Garner is gorgeous, no question, but her performance in this show left me a bit perplexed. Not because she was terrible -- she wasn't (despite a hard-to-place accent). I just couldn't figure out why she would have chosen to make her Broadway debut in this piece -- the character (Roxanne) is not particularly likable, and she didn't get to show off many of her skills beyond, well, looking gorgeous. I was underwhelmed.
GRADE: C+

4. Julia Roberts, Three Days of Rain
From the moment I first saw her in Mystic Pizza, I've been a huge Julia Roberts fan, which makes her failure to create any sort of compelling character in this Richard Greenberg play all the more disappointing. Where was the Pretty Woman charisma? This simultaneously uptight and limpid performances ranks as one of my most disappointing moments in the theater.
GRADE: C-

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TV Review: The New Bionic Woman is No Hero

I love Heroes. I also loved Alias. So why don't I love Bionic Woman?

NBC was kind enough to send me a screener of the pilot for the reconfigured Bionic Woman, and while there is definite potential for interesting mythologies and stories to develop, so far I am underwhelmed.

A large part of the problem for me is Michelle Ryan as Jaimie Sommers, the titular character. Unlike Jennifer Garner in Alias or Peta Wilson on La Femme Nikita, Ryan, at least thus far, is not capable of carrying a show. She's boring! And considering what her character has been through (after a car crash she's had bionic limbs and and an eye implanted), you'd think there would be room for interesting character choices. But, no. On top of that, she's not even that pretty! I spent a good amount of time watching the pilot simply wondering why they chose to cast this girl -- it's a serious handicap to overcome, considering Ryan is in most scenes of the first episode.

The other main problem is the tone of the show -- it's simply too dark. There is no humor. None. Heroes had Hiro for laughs, and Alias could play off of the romantic triangle between Sydney, Vaughn and Will, but Bionic is just serious. Annoyingly so.

The definite highlight of the pilot is Katee Sackhoff's (Battlestar Gallactica) appearance as Sarah Corvus, the "original Bionic Woman." As of now Sackhoff is billed only as a recurring player -- hopefully the creators will figure out what's good for them, and bring her on full time.

Will I keep watching? Yeah, I will -- at least for a few more weeks to see if Ryan can step up her game, and if the show's gloominess dissipates.

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Live Blogging: MTV's New and Improved VMA's are Not So Improved

9:40 This was the year that was supposed to bring MTV's Video Music Awards back to the entertaining, sometimes shocking occasion it used to be. Well, 40 minutes in, I'm not so impressed.

In fact, aside from Britney's embarrassing lip synching session, during which I was convinced MTV really had achieved a coup by bringing Anna Nicole Smith back from the dead, there hasn't yet been one full performance. I mean, Kanye West performed in a hotel suite or something, but what is that all about? How about a performance on the stage, or is that too traditional? I was enjoying the bit of Maroon 5, but the show went to commercial a minute into the song.

The presenters have been an eclectic bunch, with Fifty Cent and Kanye West continuing their at-this-point ridiculous "we hate each other publicity tour." As for the awards, the one notable surprise so far is Beyonce's victory for "Earthshaking Collaboration," over Justin/Timbaland, Gwen/Akon, and U2/Green Day. But what does a Moon Man mean, really?

9:50 Ok, it was pretty fun to watch Chris Brown dance like that, I must admit The kid definitiely has talent, and he's cute as all get-out. But could he have been anymore obviously lip synching? And that "duet" with Rihanna was hardly a duet -- they each performed their own song, and they met in the middle of the arena for a little dance move. Not exactly the "shocking duet" that was billed.

9:55 If they really wanted an earthshaking collaboration, couldn't they have gotten Heidi in on Hills presenting team? She's an MTV employee for god sake!

9:58 Of course Justin is the Male Entertainer of the Year -- duh. It was nice of him to give a little shout-out to Chris Brown and the "next generation" -- even though at 25 he's a bit young to be pulling the old pro card. Still, I am in support of all things JT.

10:06 It's amazing how much street cred Justin Timberlake has accumulated in the last few years. Six years ago he was performing with Lance Bass and Joey Fatone -- now he's jammin' with Fifty Cent. That's a bit of a difference.

10:08 Ferfie for Female Artist of the Year. Hmmmm. I love "Big Girls Don't Cry" as much as the next person, but really? Ok.

10:21 I have to admt, I'm not a huge Linkin Park devotee, but that performance rocked! Maybe the last half hour is where the real excitement come.

10:27 Fall Out Boy for Best Group? I know I've already declared the awards themselves irrelevant, but still...

10:37 I love Alicia Keys, and I can't wait to get her new CD, but I'm not really feeling her new song yet. Hopefully it'll grow on me, but it seems a little forced melodcally, and the lyrics are kinda ordinary. Loved the cover of George Michael's "Freedom," though. Wouldn't it have been awesome if he had shown up? Why didn't you make that happen, Timba-timba-timbaland?

10:48 Well that was a big hot mess. Jamie Foxx riffing on a Kid Rock/Tommy Lee fight (love it!), Jennifer Garner looking gorgeous but like she'd much rather be taking her daughter for a walk, both namedropping their upcoming movie, and then Garner announcing the winner as "Gym Class Fallout."

10:49 I can't handle that Miss Teen South Carolina just gave that speech. I literally threw up in my mouth.

10:59 Who is this big musical guest they keep teasing? I'm on pins and needles...

11:11 Wow, that was a letdown. Don't get me wrong, I always love seeing Justin, and Nellie is super-fly, but that was the performance we were all waiting for? It was more appropriate for a Timbaland tribute than the close of the VMA's. Ah well. Another one bites the dust.

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It's Official: Jennifer Garner and Kevin Kline Coming to Broadway in Cyrano

From the moment I first saw Jennifer Garner as "Hannah," Noel's girlfriend, on the classic TV show Felicity, I fell in love. Now the Alias star is coming to Broadway!

Garner will be making her debut on the Great White Way opposite Tony and Academy Award winner Kevin Kline in a revival of the classic play Cyrano de Bergerac. The pair will be joined by Daniel Sunjata, who was amazing (and naked!) in Take Me Out, and currently appears on both Rescue Me (as studly firefighter Franco) and ESPN's The Bronx is Burning (as legendary ballplayer Reggie Jackson).

According to the producers of the show, Cyrano is "a classic tale of romance and tragedy. The soulful poet/philosopher and brilliant swordsman Cyrano (Kline), a cadet in the French Army, falls for the beautiful, strong-willed Roxane (Garner), but is too ashamed of his large nose to tell her. Instead, when he learns that she loves the handsome Christian de Neuvillette (Sunjata), his dim-witted comrade, he pens poetry and love letters to Roxane on Christian's behalf. After many years, the truth is revealed. Will love or beauty conquer all?"

Jennifer Garner this season, and Jake Gyllenhaal next? Does it get much better than this?

Tickets to Cyrano de Bergerac go on sale via an exclusive pre-sale to American Express cardholders Aug. 22, and to the general public on Sept. 8 at www.Ticketmaster.com.