Amber Tamblyn Grows Up in "The Russell Girl"

Amber Tamlyn, who won acclaim and a lot of fans as a high school student in "Joan of Arcadia," returned to TV Sunday night in the Hallmark Channel's TV movie "The Russell Girl." This is perhaps the first grown-up role for Tamblyn, who also played a teen in the movie "The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants."

The story concerns a young woman is secrets in her past (Tamblyn) who is diagnosed with a potentially fatal illness, and apparently there another tragedy that confronts her as well. Despite having an all-star cast, however, "The Russell Girl" got mostly bad (sometimes scathing) reviews. The Detroit Free Press said, "Hallmark Hall of Fame movies generally are drenched in melancholy. 'The Russell Girl' serves up a double helping." However, the same review says that the movie is "somewhat saved by Amber Tamblyn's stellar performance in the title role and a strong supporting turn by Jennifer Ehle."

That's another star in the movie besides Tamlyn: Jennifer Ehle, who was great as Elizabeth Bennet in the BBC miniseries version of "Pride and Prejudice," from about 10 years ago, with Colin Firth as Mr. Darcy. "The Russell Girl" also features a performance from Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio, who plays the mother of Tamblyn's character is what is said to be a minor role. (Now I know I'm getting old: I remember when Mastrantonio was playing teenage roles (and when she actually was a teenager, too).)

USA Today also is not impressed with "The Russell Girl," but it also applauds Tamblyn's performance.

For more on Amber Tamlyn and "The Russell Girl," check out the movie's page at the Hallmark Hall of Fame's Web site.

Video of Wild Party at Caveman Bachelor Pad

Party with everyone's favorite cavemen. This photo is from a viral video that's either from Geico or from ABC to promote its new "Cavemen" sitcom, or it's something whipped up by a person with a real love of the caveman idea (and with a lot of money and free time, as well).

You can find more images and videos of the party prep, the event itself, and the sad scene the next morning, at www.cavemanscrib.com.

These hairy dudes really know how to party; in the video you see them get down (literally) as they do the limbo. It looks like a fun party, until that guy lights the bar on fire...

Fidel Castro Trying Out for "Cavemen"?

Top: Current cavemen. Bottom: New caveman?

Rumors are flying in Cuba and elsewhere that dictator Fidel Castro was on a secret mission in Hollywood to try out for a role on ABC's new Fall sitcom, "Cavemen." Castro was not seen at celebrations for Cubas's revolution day a couple of weeks ago, and observes have speculated about his whereabouts.

Cuban government officials and ABC-TV execs declined comment when asked about the matter, but sources said that the hirsute dictator was intrigued about the "Cavemen" series and thought he would be a natural for a supporting on-screen role.

"Fidel's got the hair and the beard, he really wouldn't need much time in the makeup trailer," one Hollywood source said. "And Fidel's friends have said that he was fascinated by the whole plotline of the series, the cavemen feeling discriminated against and having trouble fitting in."

Naturally, getting paid network wages would bring much-needed cash to the dictator, whose country has been under trade sanctions by the U.S. for decades. And a friend of Fidel's said that after more than half a century of wearing green military fatigues, Castro was practically drooling at the idea of running loose in a Hollywood wardrobe trailer.

Fidel's brother Raul was filling in for his brother at the revolution celebrations. Fidel hasn't been seen in public for a year.

Is Fidel going Hollywood? Look at the photos above and judge for yourself.