Few actors have capitalized on the tough-guy-with-a-heart-of-gold character as much as Dwayne Johnson, a.k.a. The Rock. The former WWE wrestling star (tagline: "Do you smell what The Rock is cooking?") has shown off his fighting skills in plenty of movies, but he seems to prefer those roles where he can show off his softer side, too. Case in point: today's Hulu Days of Summer feature, The Scorpion King.

Providing the back story to Mathayus' rise to become the Scorpion King we met in The Mummy Returns, The Scorpion King takes place in Egypt 5,000 years before Brendan Fraser ever came onto the scene. As the last true Akkadian mercenary, Mathayus is tasked with assassinating Memnon's sorceress, whose all-seeing powers are allowing the tyrant to rule the empire with an iron fist.

Wisely, lots of action keeps The Scorpion King moving along -- after all, The Rock was still fine-tuning his acting chops when this was filmed. With plenty of hand-to-hand combat and a sandstorm of a fight, the pro wrestler puts his years of grappling to good use. Sadly, the People's Elbow, The Rock's signature move, doesn't come into play. That's okay, though. There's an insolent camel, CGI fire ants and a sultry sorceress to make up for it. And it's here on Hulu, just in time for the premiere of The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor, in theaters tomorrow.

Rebecca
rebecca.harper@hulu.com

Keeping on top of Hulu's newest and most popular videos just got easier with the release of Hulu's new Widget Gallery. These widgets -- portable pieces of HTML code -- allow you to track the videos in your queue, as well as Hulu's top videos, from your desktop, personal blog or iGoogle page.

The Hulu Player Widget allows you to watch a variety of videos from the widget itself. Embeddable on your desktop, blog and personal home page, you can play videos from your queue or Hulu's featured, most popular or recently added lists, or you can find other shows, movies or clips on Hulu and other sites using the search bar within the widget.

To give the widget a try on your blog, iGoogle page, desktop or other platforms, you can grab it from our Widget Gallery or from the video player we've installed below. Just click on "Preferences" in the lower right, then click on "grab" to add the widget to a number of platforms, or click on "embed" to copy the embed code to your blog.

In addition to the Player Widget, our Widget Gallery features three other widgets: the Summer Widget, which helps you track the additions to our Hulu Days of Summer lineup; the Show Widget, which links you to the latest updates to your favorite shows or movie; and the Picks Widget, which connects you to the day's most popular, highest rated and recently added videos on Hulu. If you like to keep an eye on our recently added and most popular lists, the Picks Widget (below) is the widget for you.

These smaller widgets don't offer the ability to watch or search for videos from within the widgets, but you can click through to start the video in a new browser window. You can change the view from the settings menu on the lower right corner, and choose whether to show episodes, clips or both, at any time. Give them a try and let us know what you think here in the comments section, or at feedback@hulu.com.

Stas
stanislav.nikiforov@hulu.com
Hulu's Waterloo Wonder

In January 1997, I was walking curbside at Boston's Logan Airport. Waiting patiently in a line in the freezing temperatures was a guy named Steve James, the director of the documentary film Hoop Dreams. Steve was standing there by himself, minding his own business. I recognized him because he had just given a speech to a packed auditorium at a local university. I attended the speech, pressed up against the back wall due to the incredible response Hoop Dreams was getting in theaters at the time. When I saw him standing there on the curb, I walked up to him like a little kid and blurted out, "Hi. You made the best documentary I've ever seen in my life."

He looked at me and said "Man, you just made my day!"

We proceeded to talk at length about Hoop Dreams. It was fascinating to hear such passion in Steve's voice when it came to the topic of Arthur Agee and William Gates, the two friends with ambitious basketball dreams that together form the basis of the film. It was obvious that Steve cared deeply about Arthur, William and their families. I asked him about various nuances of the film, and he answered me with an excitement and sincerity in his voice, as though this were the first time anyone had asked him about this film that was generating such buzz across the country. At the end of our conversation, I shook his hand and left to catch my plane, comfortable with the knowledge that such an incredible film was made by a genuinely good guy.

Steve James is the real deal, as is his documentary, Hoop Dreams.

Please, if you have not seen this film, take the time to watch it. You won't regret it. It is a story that is painful and uplifting at the same time. And in my opinion, it possesses perhaps the most poignant and unvarnished line uttered in a documentary over the past 15 years. (Hint: it is a scene where William wonders aloud about the loyalty of his friends.)

Steve James, if you are reading this, thank you again for such an incredible film.

Jason Kilar
jason.kilar@hulu.com
CEO, Hulu

Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog. What is it? A mad, twisted, fever dream? A gay romp, filled with hi-jinks and hootenanny? A mushortio?

Dr. Horrible's sing-Along Blog is the (true) story of Dr. Horrible (wow, really?), a low-rent super-villain trying to get into the Evil League of Evil, defeat his boorish nemesis, Captain Hammer, and win the girl of his dreams, Penny (or at least talk to her.) It was directed by Joss "me" Whedon, and written by... oh let's not get bogged down in the details. Let's ask the tough questions: Why would you ever watch a musical about a super-villain?

First off, you got something better to do? Need to wash that hair (or a man right out of it)? Need to watch another "blood spatters 'n' semen" procedural? Need to work in order to live? Bah.

Dr. Horrible is diabolical, relentless and surprisingly hummable. It's presented in three separate acts, so if you don't like one, you're perfectly free to suck it up and watch the other two in pain! And it's on HULU, the premier site for people who like joy and life and children and America. More importantly, HULU is one of the best fort-under-attack movies ever made, and Michael Caine's blue eyeshadow is adorable.

Oh. That's ZULU. Well, fine. Point being, HULU hosted Dr. Horrible for free for a week, which we, the mushortio-makers, are forever grateful for, and now you can stream it for free on their site. How awesome is that? I know, you're humbled. Stop groveling. Just remember: the more you watch it, the more you will understand about life and the universe and hydroponics. You'll laugh, you'll cry.... and you just might learn long division. With songs! PLEASE watch it. We're so lonely...

Kisses,
Joss "me" Whedon
Agent of H.U.L.U. (Hydroponically Undeveloped Loofa Users.)
(Hideously Ugly Laminating Umpires?) (I don't think this site really exists.) Bye-ee!

Open Your Eyes -- or Abre Los Ojos, as this Spanish-language film was called during its theatrical release -- is a mind-bending tale with enough plot twists and turns to keep you from guessing the resolution. That is, unless you've seen Vanilla Sky, Tom Cruise and Cameron Crowe’s 2001 remake of this film.

Rife with melodrama, love and psychological thrills, the story follows handsome Cesar (Eduardo Noriega), whose pretty boy looks are disfigured following a wrong turn made with a jilted lover. His new appearance calls into question his budding relationship with Sofia (Penelope Cruz) and turns him into a bitter, conflicted man who chooses to hide behind a mask. We watch as his world falls apart and starts to come back together, only to fall apart again, and we're left to piece it all together as Cesar and his psychiatrist explore the thin line between reality and dreams.

In the end, writer-director Alejandro Amenabar creates haunting images of a life spent dreaming, and a final science-fiction twist turns Cesar's plight into an interesting story about love and madness. From early on, it's evident that everything in the film is there for a reason; each scene is another piece to Amenabar's puzzle.

Open your eyes…
Rebecca Harper
rebecca.harper@hulu.com

We often receive requests for more educational programming, and today's Hulu Days of Summer addition should deliver. We've put together a collection of five new-to-Hulu documentaries that span the globe. These films, from our partners at K2 Communications, offer a close look at the world around us. Originally produced for IMAX® theaters, they offer high-impact, educational and inspirational entertainment for the entire family.

First, you can prepare yourself for the upcoming Shark Week on cable television with Search for the Great Sharks. Traveling from the coast of California to remote parts of South and Western Australia, the film pursues blue sharks (found everywhere from Newfoundland to Argentina), whale sharks and the notorious great white shark.

And then there's Africa: The Serengeti. Narrated by James Earl Jones, it tracks the Great Migration across the Serengeti plains in Tanzania and Kenya. Over two million grazing animals -- including wildebeest, zebras and gazelles -- make the trek each year.

If you prefer natural wonders, The Greatest Places ventures to seven spectacular spots: Greenland, Madagascar, Namib, the Okavango Delta in Botswana, Tibet, Iguazu Falls in South America, and the Amazon. If you've seen the latest Indiana Jones movie, the dramatic Iguazu Falls will look familiar. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is nearly four times as wide as Niagara Falls, with 275 different cascades plunging 270 feet into the gorge below.

In addition to these, there's also Ocean Oasis, an underwater look at the Sea of Cortes in Baja California, and The Great American West, a recap of the frontier's history through the stories and words of the real-life settlers of the Western territory.

Enjoy,
Rebecca
rebecca.harper@hulu.com

In a time when tomatoes and jalapenos can cause a major salmonella frenzy, the story lines of today's Hulu Days of Summer addition seem all the more relevant. A science drama about the fictitious North American Biotechnology Advisory Committee (NorBAC), ReGenesis follows a team of biologists who are the first responders to bioterror attacks and large-scale epidemic outbreaks.

While there's a bit of House (diagnosis, trip-hop theme song) and CSI (forensics) in ReGenesis, I also think CBS's NUMB3RS owes a lot to this Canadian import. Just as NUMB3RS uses metaphor and snappy graphics to break down math, ReGenesis uses computer graphics to create an otherwise unseen molecular world (with some artistic license, of course) that helps explain scientific concepts to the audience.

You can tune in to the first season as the NorBAC team tracks down ebola, mad cow disease, bioterrorism, SARS, cancer and the Spanish flu. (And you'll even get to see Juno's Ellen Page.)

As you watch, don't be surprised if you find yourself wondering what would really happen if any of these outbreaks occurred. I highly recommend the Ontario Genomics ReGenesis Episode Guide for those curious about the topics covered in the series. Each easily digestible summary offers detailed information about the real-life science used in every episode.

Rebecca
rebecca.harper@hulu.com
Hulu's Science Buff

A history lesson: In 1855, England and France were at war with Russia in the Crimean territory, south of what is now the Ukraine. During the war, payment for the British troops was sent by rail from London. Secured in a double-locked traveling safe that was guarded throughout the journey, this gold traveled to Paris, where authorities discovered that it had been replaced with lead, making this the first robbery to occur on a moving railway train.

And that is the basis for Michael Crichton's 1975 bestselling novel, The Great Train Robbery, which he later turned into a film. Released in 1979, The Great Train Robbery is a classic heist flick, full of snappy one-liners delivered by Sean Connery and Donald Sutherland. Connery pulls off the heroic mastermind Edward Pierce with aplomb, playing a gallant thief whom you can't help but root for -- a Victorian-era Danny Ocean of sorts. Meanwhile, Sutherland is Robert Agar, a knuckle-cracking safecracker who lends his talents to the caper. Their accomplice, Pierce's lover, Miriam (Lesley-Anne Down), is a ready-and-willing distraction when Pierce and Agar need access to a crucial set of keys.

As Pierce says himself, it takes genius, charm, timing, nerve and courage to pull off a robbery like this -- and the cast is perfectly willing to go along. Connery did his own stunts and even fell off a moving train at one point, and Crichton's hair caught on fire during the filming. While The Great Train Robbery's high-velocity conclusion seems a bit slower compared to the special effects we see so often today, this intricately planned caper still stands the test of time.

Rebecca
rebecca.harper@hulu.com
Editor

Today's Hulu Days of Summer entry, Pitch Black, starts off with a bang when a spaceship crashes onto M6-117, a seemingly barren planet. Carolyn Fry (Radha Mitchell), the ship's docking pilot, is the only crewmember to survive impact, but she's joined by her cargo: The few passengers who survived the emergency landing, including a blindfolded and shackled murderer named Riddick. Played by Vin Diesel (of xXx fame), Riddick has glowing eyes that see into the darkness -- very helpful in spotting the vicious monsters who roam the planet at night.

Pitch Black owes a lot to other science fiction films. It draws most notably from Alien, but there's also an element of Jurassic Park: The creepy, night-stalking aliens could be escapees from Michael Crichton's Lost World. But this lower-budget flick proves that recycled components can go a long way. Co-writer/director David Twohy creates a visceral world where the darkness looms, and knowing that those alien monsters could be lurking behind every dark corner builds palpable suspense that just might keep you on the edge of your seat.

Rebecca
rebecca.harper@hulu.com

Flashback to 1985: perms are big, Cadillacs are pink, and nerds are the pariahs of high school. Luckily, the dorks of Weird Science, Gary (Anthony Michael Hall) and Wyatt (Ilan Mitchell-Smith), have the computer skills needed to dream up a solution to their social-misfit status. The two pool their brainpower to program themselves the perfect woman, Lisa (Kelly LeBrock), and bring her to life.

Lisa is the boys' entree to the in-crowd, and she works her magic to give them makeovers, throw them parties, and clean things up with Wyatt's jerk of a brother, Chett (Bill Paxton). As the boys try to keep up with their girlfriend, they discover that being cool is a lot harder than it seems.

Written and directed by John Hughes, Weird Science is a lot more fantasy-based than other Hughes creations, such as Sixteen Candles and The Breakfast Club, but the underlying themes of teen angst and rebellion remain the same. And though the '80s hair styles, fashion and music aren't exactly timeless, Weird Science is still fun -- particularly every scene featuring Ironman himself, Robert Downey, Jr., playing the cool guy with popped shirt collars and gelled hair.

"We're in,"
Rebecca
rebecca.harper@hulu.com
Hulu Editor

Everyone has a movie that they don't really want to admit is a favorite, and yet, they've watched it over and over and just can't get enough. The Rundown is that kind of movie for me. Call it a guilty pleasure or a frivolous indulgence, but I can't help but LOVE it.

The story is simple: An enforcer with a heart of gold -- and soft spot for gourmet cooking -- takes one last job to win his freedom, and adrenalin-pumping hijinks ensue. But something elevates this little romp to a meaty and satisfying action adventure. In fact, there are five good reasons to watch The Rundown:

No. 1: The Cast
What's not to love? The cast includes Ewan Bremner (Trainspotting), Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, a surprisingly likable Seann William Scott, the lovely Rosario Dawson and, of course, Christopher "Can I Get a Little More Cowbell?" Walken. This was The Rock's third film -- it follows his CGI appearance in The Mummy Returns and his first leading role in The Scorpion King -- but more importantly, it's the first time the former pro wrestler shows a commitment to acting. In an opening sequence that's powerful enough to make you sit up and cheer, Johnson proves that the WWE's "People's Champion" doesn't need a paycheck from Vince McMahon; he'll do just fine in Hollywood. And who knew he could be such a graceful fighter?

No. 2: Clever Repartee
The Rundown's script shows great character development, from Beck's internal struggle against his current circumstances to Travis' growth from a self-centered man-child to a more empathetic adult. The actors have wonderful chemistry, and the lighter side of the dialogue is nonstop fun.

No. 3 Capoeira Fight Scene
Beck takes on the smallest, fastest, most hardcore freedom fighters in the jungle.

No. 4: Christopher Freakin' Walken
Don't make us say it again…

Reason No. 5: Masterful Editing and Sweet CGI
The Rundown has many well-crafted moments that really grab you and pull you in. There is a little moment in the climatic scene where an explosion sends a flaming truck tire at Travis' head, and it makes me hold my breath every time. I must admit I've always wondered whether these moments come from a skilled editor, or from the insightful eye of the great Peter Berg.

I just don't know -- but I like it. I think it's the perfect addition to the Hulu Days of Summer, and a classic you'll enjoy again and again as you beat the heat.

Jessica
jessica.ivy@hulu.com
Hulu's Adrenalin-Pumping Hijinks Junkie

"You take the good, you take the bad, you take 'em both and there you have The Facts of Life." After spending many of my grade school years watching repeats of today's Hulu Days of Summer addition, The Facts of Life, those lyrics are forever ingrained in my head.

I grew up a latch-key kid of the '80s, coming home from school every day with the TV as my babysitter. I might as well have been under the careful watch of Mrs. Garrett, myself. The girls -- spoiled Blair, tough-as-nails Jo, chubby Natalie and tattletale Tootie -- seemed like older sisters to me.

A spin-off of Diff'rent Strokes (Mrs. Garrett was the Drummonds' housekeeper), the feel-good series lasted nine seasons, long enough for the girls to graduate from high school, change their hairdos countless times, and begin their lives as grown women. In the course of its run, The Facts of Life hosted several guest stars who went on to become famous, including George Clooney (the hair!), Helen Hunt, Molly Ringwald, Seth Green and Juliette Lewis.

While it's the Clooney era I remember best -- and I swear it has nothing to do with his appearance -- I'm excited to go back and relive the third season here on Hulu.

Rebecca
rebecca.harper@hulu.com
Hulu's Tomboy with a Heart of Gold

New this week: Mini episodes of your favorite NBC shows, your favorite news guys return from summer vacation, and Paris Hilton delivers some cheap thrills.

Web Exclusives
The Office team returns with another round of web-only episodes for the summer. While last year's focus was on finding $3,000 that went missing from the accounting ledger, this time Kevin is looking for a loan to fund Malone's Cones. In the first 2-minute webisode, "Money Trouble," Kevin quizzes Oscar on the dos and don'ts of getting a loan.

Another NBC favorite, Heroes, is also running a series of web episodes called "Going Postal." In the first webisode, "A Nifty Trick," a typical postman discovers an extraordinary talent after a run-in with a Doberman.

Back from Summer Break
They're back in the news: Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert return in full episodes of The Daily Show with Jon Stewart and The Colbert Report. Get your dose of the daily headlines, from Indecision 2008 to The Word.

Gaming News
For video game buffs, G4's E3 '08 Live offers coverage of this year's Gamers' Conference. From a hands-on demo of Sierra's Ghostbusters: The Video Game to the E3 trailer for Resident Evil 5, it covers the latest news from this week's E3 conference.

Guilty Pleasures
Finally, here's something about watching starlets meet their maker in slasher flicks. It's even better when that starlet is Paris Hilton or even the pop star Pink. Sure, the scripts aren't the best and the celebs won't be winning Oscars any time soon, but Nine Lives (starring Paris Hilton) and Catacombs (featuring Pink) rely on psychological chills, screams and celebrity appearances for thrills.

Enjoy,
Rebecca
rebecca.harper@hulu.com
Hulu Editor

Fiddler on the Roof is one of those movies that just happens to have extraordinary meaning in my life. The first time I saw the play Tevye the Milkman was in Kiev, Ukraine, at the age of nine. My family, like most other Jews in the Soviet Union, had the full writings of Sholem Aleichem on its bookshelf, and I grew up a big fan of the legendary Yiddish writer's work.

My family came to the US as refugees in '91, right around the fall of the Soviet Union. The first film I remember seeing was Norman Jewison's Fiddler on the Roof. Based on the wildly successful musical, which in turn is based on Aleichem's short stories about Tevye the Milkman, Fiddler on the Roof tells the universally relatable story about the milkman Tevye (played brilliantly by Oscar-nominated Topol) struggling to raise his five beautiful daughters and to understand God's will for his "chosen people."

Each of Tevye's three oldest daughters follows a path he hadn't quite envisioned. The oldest, Tzeitel, is in love with the poor tailor Motel. Hodel falls in love with the communist Perchik who's sent to a labor camp in Siberia. Worse yet, Chava falls in love with the Ukrainian peasant Fyedka. In the background, the treatment of Russian Jewry is getting worse and worse, and the village Constable is having a difficult time protecting his Jewish friends. On top of all this, Tevye is barely making ends meet.

Despite the difficulties Tevye faces, he keeps a truly strong spirit and an infectious sense of humor. In one hilarious scene, Tevye and the butcher Lazar argue about Tzeitel, with Tevye thinking the entire time that he's discussing his prized milking cow. More than that, Fiddler on the Roof features truly memorable musical numbers for which it was awarded an Oscar. Two songs in particular, "If I Were a Rich Man" and "Sunrise, Sunset," have become a part of pop culture. The former was most recently sampled by Gwen Stefani, and the latter is often the father-daughter dance in weddings.

So, back to extraordinary meaning in my life. I first saw the play in Kiev as a kid, the film in the US as my first Hollywood movie, and, finally, the musical on Broadway in New York (starring Harvey Fierstein as Tevye) as the first outing with my future mother-in-law. Fiddler on the Roof has taught me valuable life lessons -- new ones each time I watch it -- while at the same time cracking me up and (embarrassingly) inspiring me to sing out loud. I very much hope you enjoy the film as much as I do.

(Not-quite) Anatevka refugee,
Alex
alex.kruglov@hulu.com

In The Fall Guy, Colt Seavers (Lee Majors) is a Hollywood stuntman by trade, but work in Tinseltown is sometimes hard to come by. Fortunately for him, there's never a shortage of bail-jumping bad guys to hunt down, so he makes extra rent money as a bounty hunter with the help of his cousin, Howie, and a sexy stuntwoman, Jody (Heather Thomas).

Created by Glen Larson (the brains behind Knight Rider, Battlestar Galactica and Magnum, P.I.), The Fall Guy is a quintessential '80s show, complete with fistfights, death-defying stunts and a heroic lead -- not to mention a catchy theme song, sung by Majors himself. ("Well, I'm not one to kiss and tell, but I've been seen with Farrah…")

Then there's the truck. Colt's tan and brown GMC 4x4 pickup has a 6-inch lift, 34-inch off-road tires, a roll bar and custom grille. And while it's not the General Lee or KITT, it offers Colt everything he needs for high-speed chases and over-the-top jumps. It even has a hidden compartment -- the perfect spot to stash some weapons or even a criminal.

Meanwhile, the nature of Colt's work offers the opportunity for cameo appearances by all sorts of stars, including The Incredible Hulk star Lou Ferrigno and Charlie's Angels beauty Farrah Fawcett.

If this '80s flashback makes you nostalgic for another show or movie, we always welcome suggestions. You can send an email with your content request to our team at content@hulu.com, and we'll do our best to get it for you.

Rebecca
rebecca.harper@hulu.com
Hulu's Unknown Stuntwoman

Long before Mike Meyers spoofed 007 as the psychedelic, oversexed Austin Powers, there was 1967's Casino Royale. Not to be confused with the 2006 version starring Daniel Craig, this satiric romp through Ian Fleming's spy stories comes courtesy of an all-star cast: Orson Welles, Peter Sellers, Deborah Kerr, Ursula Andress and Woody Allen, with David Niven as the aging James Bond.

Bond is forced out of retirement when several of his spy colleagues are killed off, and soon enough, he's battling the mysterious forces of SMERSH. The master plan: to create several James Bonds to confuse the enemy and then bankrupt the evil organization. And what better way to stop the bad guys than by taking out Le Chiffre, their baccarat-winning bankroll?

Like the Albert Broccoli and Harry Saltzman-produced Bond films, this adaptation of Fleming's Casino Royale features a lot of location hopping, sexy female operatives and spy gadgets galore, but there's also plenty of shtick from Sellers and Allen, and an atomic hiccup of a conclusion.

In all, Casino Royale is a campy, silly take on Bond. But what's also fun is the groovy, '60s-fabulous Burt Bacharach soundtrack. It's credited with providing some inspiration for the Austin Powers movies. (Bacharach even makes cameo appearances in all three.)

Rebecca
rebecca.harper@hulu.com
Hulu's Secret Operative

P.S. Clues to this week's Hulu Days of Summer are posted on our calendar. Can you figure out what these tiny hints mean?

Once in a while, you'll find one of those movies that has something for everyone, a real sci-fi action romantic comedy thriller that you can watch over and over. The Fifth Element is one of those movies. Director Luc Besson (known for such explosive action films as La Femme Nikita and Léon: The Professional) pulls together seemly disparate actors and elements to create a spectacular visual feast and a beautifully crafted movie, giving viewers a two-hour futuristic thrill ride.

Set 250 years into the colorful future, the fate of the world is once again threatened by evil and, as it turns out, only the fifth element can save the planet (because the 240-megaton warheads didn't work). Fortunately, the fifth element isn't air, water, fire or earth, but instead a beautiful alien woman named Leeloo (Milla Jovovich). She unexpectedly drops in on our reluctant hero and weapons expert-turned-taxi driver, Korben Dallas (Bruce Willis). Through a clever turn of events and character development, Korben is tasked with saving the world, and he sets off for an exotic planet to find four stones that will save Earth. But this time, evil has help from one of the baddest guys in the universe, Mr. Zorg (Gary Oldman). Zorg lets nothing stand in his way from getting the stones.

Add an over-the-top, flamboyant radio jockey, Ruby Rhod (Chris Tucker), and a fast-thinking priest, Vito Cornelius (Ian Holm), to the heroic bunch and the excitement doesn't stop until the movie ends.

The Fifth Element also incorporates an amazing score by Eric Serra and an operatic scene that's nothing short of out of this world. Winning seven different international awards, including best director and best special effects, The Fifth Element really delivers a super-green summer movie.

Enjoy,
Mark
mark.forbes@hulu.com
ZF-1 enthusiast

Today's Days of Summer debut, Underworld: Evolution, picks up where the first Underworld left off. Vampires and werewolves (Lycans) are at war, and vampire Selene (Kate Beckinsale) is leading the fight to stop the release of the original Lycan werewolf, William, from the dungeon he's been hidden in for centuries. She's helped by Michael (Scott Speedman), a vampire-werewolf hybrid who's in possession of a medal that may help unlock the secrets of the two clans' bloodlines.

As the two trace the beginnings of the ancient feud -- Selene outfitted in skintight leather, naturally -- they battle vampires and werewolves alike. Full of bloodthirsty action, intrigue and passion, Underworld: Evolution transports you to a Gothic world full of werewolf gangs and vampire bacchanalia -- just the thing to sink your teeth into this summer.

Go ahead, take a bite.
Rebecca
rebecca.harper@hulu.com
Editor

Private detective Harry Dresden has it all: good looks, a growing practice and luck with the ladies. But the thing that makes the Chicago P.I. particularly successful is what also makes him unique. Dresden is a wizard, so he uses magic to help solve cases in The Dresden Files, today's Hulu Days of Summer debut.

I missed this show during its one-season run last year. It's a shame, too, because it has all the things I love in a good paranormal show. Like his counterparts on Buffy, Angel and Charmed, Dresden encounters the seedier underbelly of his city, including ghosts, vampires, werewolves, incubi and even dragons, and he uses spells, a magical hockey stick and good old-fashioned fighting skills to overpower and banish the bad guys to another realm.

Dresden doesn't do it all by himself, of course. He has help from Lt. Connie Murphy, a tough cop who comes to Dresden whenever she encounters supernatural cases; Bob, a dry-witted medieval ghost who serves as his adviser; and Morgan, a warden from the High Council of wizards who's a stickler for rules.

With a magical mix of detective noir and fantasy, plus a pinch of snarky humor, The Dresden Files is a fun escape for this summer. No wonder it's been among the most requested shows from our users, and we know many of you will be happy to see it here on Hulu. Tune in for a spell and share your review on any episode page.

Rebecca
Editor

This week brings even more classics to Hulu, with a circa-1980s animated feature about some overly intelligent lab rats, a classic Dickens tale and two vintage television shows.

We've also introduced new keyboard shortcuts to make mouse-free viewing a little easier. Now you can press the space bar to pause and resume playing, while hitting the "F" key switches to full-screen mode.

More Movies
The Secret of NIMH is a trip down memory lane, the 1982 animated adaptation of the Newbury prize-winning Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH. Touching, inspiring and at times a little scary, The Secret of NIMH tells the story of a family of field mice and a society of super-intelligent rats who want to free themselves from their dependence on humans.

Another classic tales comes to Hulu this week: Nicholas Nickleby, based on the Charles Dickens story. It takes us to 19th-century England while a penniless young Nicholas Nickleby (Charlie Hunnam) struggles to overcome the obstacles his scheming uncle (Christopher Plummer) places in front of him. Anne Hathaway (just after her turn in the first The Princess Diaries), Nathan Lane and Alan Cumming are also featured in smaller roles.

More Classic Television
Ann Romano is a recently divorced mom raising her two strong-headed daughters on One Day at a Time. We have the first season of its nine-year run, complete with Schneider, the lovable building superintendent; Julie, the rebellious older daughter; and Barbara, the more mature younger daughter. Like many shows of the mid '70s, it broached sensitive subjects, including birth control, pre-marital sex and suicide.

After leaving WJM-TV, Mary Richards' famously gruff boss, Lou Grant (played by the Emmy-winning Lou Asner), returned to his roots as a newspaper editor in Los Angeles. Like One Day at a Time, Lou Grant touched on the era's hot topics, as well as the ethics involved with journalism. Season 2 is now available on Hulu.

And the winner is…
In case you missed it, Chef Ramsey picked a winner on last night's Hell's Kitchen finale. Did Chef choose the creative Petrozza or the more reliable Christina? Tune in to find out:

Rebecca
rebecca.harper@hulu.com
Editor

I'm a child of the '80s. Mike Scott taught me how to throw a Wiffle Ball curveball. Up-up-down-down-left-right-left-right-B-A-Select Start would be my secret nuclear launch code if anyone was silly enough to give me that power. Encyclopedia Brown and Which Way books got me through the tedium of long summer car rides, and the only thing that calmed the summer heat in the backseat of the family station wagon was a stockpile of Ecto Cooler juice boxes.

Ecto Cooler was more than just a cold, sugary punch in the brain. It was a way I could bring a part of Ghostbusters, my favorite movie as a kid, with me every day. When I have my first child, there is probably a 50-50 chance that names like Mark and Brian will lose out to Egon, Venkman, Slimer, Gozer or Zuul. All right, the odds are more like 60-40, but you get the point.

In Ghostbusters, we get spectacular, hyper-quotable performances from Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd and Harold Ramis. Many of us got to meet Ernie Hudson before his turns in The Crow and Oz, and Sigourney Weaver made us want to learn the cello (or any other string instrument, for that matter).

Ghostbusters is everything that is good and right about the movies. It's part absurd escapism, part science-fiction mumbo jumbo and part mismatched buddy comedy. At heart, it's 100 percent fun and infinitely re-watchable. It's the reason I looked out my window every night before bed to make sure the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man wasn't scaling our house. It's the reason I ruined more than one backpack trying to make my own proton pack and vowed never, ever to cross the streams. And it is the reason I'm the movie buff I am today.

Enjoy Ghostbusters on Hulu, whenever you want. Dogs and cats, living together: mass hysteria, indeed.

Who ya gonna call?
Matt
The Sixth Ghostbuster
(Counting Rick Moranis in the Slimer-driven bus in Ghostbusters II, of course.)

You've asked for it: We've added Season 2 of one of my favorite comedies, It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, making the entire run (so far) available on Hulu. Created by Rob McElhenney, the show was a breath of fresh air when it surprised audiences in the summer of 2005. Since then, it has become one of the most innovative comedies out there, ranking up there with 30 Rock and The Office, and often compared to Seinfeld, Curb Your Enthusiasm and South Park. The Hulu audience must agree -- it's one of the most-watched series on Hulu.

Shot in a pseudo-documentary style with handheld cameras, Sunny revolves around an idiotic trio of nihilist bar proprietors -- Charlie, Dennis and Mac -- who, together with Dennis' sister, Dee, find themselves in ridiculous situations. By the end of each episode, they have learned absolutely nothing, usually making a big mess of things. In the first season, we get to know the gang and get a glimpse of their deadbeat associates, including the inbred McPoyle twins and the lovelorn coffee shop waitress.

Season 2 introduces Danny DeVito as Dennis and Dee's father, Frank. We learn just where their selfish idiocy might have come from: Frank went to 'Nam in 1994 to open a sweatshop, saying "A lot of good men died there." Meanwhile, the siblings try their mightiest to get addicted to crack, Mac sleeps with Dennis' mom, and Charlie gets crippled.

In the second-season finale, we find out how Dennis and Dee, 5-foot-11 and 5-foot-8 respectively, ended up with a father who's barely 5 feet tall. It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia is irreverent, incredibly offensive and rip-roaringly funny. Get ready for a wild bellyache from laughter.

Alex
Paddy's Pub Regular

By popular demand, we're adding more episodes of two vintage, award-winning sitcoms as today's Hulu Days of Summer debuts: The third seasons of The Mary Tyler Moore Show and The Bob Newhart Show.

The story behind The Mary Tyler Moore Show is well known: Mary Richards is a city girl who moves to Minneapolis and gets a job in the newsroom of a local television station. One of the first independent, career-oriented women portrayed on television, Mary became an inspiration to women of her day -- particularly when she asks Lou Grant (Ed Asner) for the same salary as her predecessor in the third-season opener:

Like The Mary Tyler Moore Show, The Bob Newhart Show is smart, mature and funny. It's full of wonderfully dry humor, courtesy of Newhart's deadpan delivery as a psychologist who is a bit of a mess himself. It's been a real treat for me to watch the first two seasons on Hulu and see the understated comedy and exquisite timing that are lacking in many current sitcoms. Sure, some of it is dated, but Bob Newhart never tried to be hip.

These classic comedies deliver humor, style and wit, showing us why they're still notable now, more than 30 years later.

You're gonna make it after all,
Rebecca

P.S. Clues for next week's Hulu Days of Summer TV shows and movies are available at Hulu.com/summer. Can you name any of the upcoming titles?

Today's Hulu Days of Summer release, Jerry Maguire, owes much of its success to the remarkable script and screenplay by Cameron Crowe. The plot is relatively simple: Sports agent Jerry Maguire suffers a nervous breakdown and decides that the sports management business has sold out. He leaves his agency in hopes of opening his own business. Dorothy Boyd -- played by Renée Zellweger, virtually unknown at the time -- applauds Jerry's courage and decision, quits her job at the firm and decides to help Jerry on his mission. Jerry subsequently loses all his clients to his former sports management agency, but one -- Rod Tidwell (played by the effervescent Cuba Gooding, Jr.), a wide receiver who has been down on his luck -- offers Jerry his only chance for honest success. The movie continues on, testing relationships, partnerships and boundaries until, at the end, Rod makes a huge career leap. Rod's success, and ultimately his own, makes Jerry realize that his one true love happens to be his best friend and his one true supporter, Dorothy.

The story makes for a good drama but what makes Jerry Maguire most memorable to me are the quotes. They're now iconic: The ''Show me the money'' phone call where Rod challenges Jerry to be a better agent, Jerry's ''You complete me'' plea for a second chance with Dorothy, and her ''You had me at hello'' response all keep this movie ingrained in our culture.

These standout lines make Jerry Maguire not only a great summer blockbuster (perfect for the Hulu Days of Summer), but also a timeless classic that crosses gender lines, sure to be a remembered for years to come.

Enjoy,
Betina

As the long weekend approaches, we're doing our best to be sure there's plenty to watch in between the fireworks displays. We've introduced 11 movies in the last week (all part of the Hulu Days of Summer), plus a few things you may have overlooked:

More from MOJO
MOJO continues to serve up more content on Hulu this summer. This week, we've added two new MOJO shows that appease your need for more sports and more technology. Fields of Glory, hosted by college sports broadcaster Brent Musburger, offers an insider's view of college football's greatest stadiums. Take a look and see if your alma mater is represented. Meanwhile, The Circuit's geek-chic host Deepak Ananthapadmanabha (just call him Mr. Ananthapadmanabha) delivers gadget- and tech-related news with wonderfully dry delivery -- what better way to learn about glow-in-the-dark pigs? (Of course, enlisting the help of Howard Stern's Bowling Beauties to demonstrate Wii Bowling doesn't hurt, either.)

Talent Show
Think America has talent? You can be the judge with clips from America's Got Talent. Whether the Southern Belles wow you with their synchronized clogging, Miss PussyKatt makes you blush with an act that's straight out of shop class, or 9-year-old David Militello melts your heart with his spot-on rendition of Michael Jackson's "Ben," there's a little bit of entertainment for everyone.

Hill Street Blues
Before The Shield and even NYPD Blue, there was Hill Street Blues. Covering the work and personal lives of Captain Furillo, Sergeant Esterhaus and the rest of their squad, it offered a "real," detailed view of the grittier side of life on the force. What made Hill Street Blues remarkable was its accurate portrayal of the force, the large ensemble cast, and the interwoven plot lines that arced over the course of several episodes. We're happy to be able to bring another season on board for its devoted fans.

Be careful out there,
Rebecca
Editor

The Fourth of July is synonymous with a number of things, including fireworks, backyard barbecues and good weather. It's also the time to expect another summer blockbuster movie from Will Smith. This year doesn't disappoint, with Smith's new superhero film, Hancock, premiering today in theaters across the country. (You can catch Will Smith talking about the film and his career in this excerpt from The Today Show.)

In honor of Smith's Fourth of July accomplishments (and in time for the three-day weekend), today's Hulu Days of Summer debut is Men in Black, an entertaining movie about two secret agents (Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones) who must try to save the world after alien "bugs" threaten to blow it up.

How did it all begin? On July 2, 1996, or "Willie Weekend," as it is called by numerous film critics, Smith starred in Independence Day, and his summer box office fate was nearly instantly sealed. Combining Smith's humor, charm and Roland Emmerich's powerhouse effects, Independence Day brought in a whopping $306 million. Smith cemented his position as the King of July Fourth with three more releases over the next five summers, with Men in Black ('97), Jon Peters' Wild Wild West ('99) and Men In Black II ('02). This trio grossed over $550 million total. And when Smith projects weren't pegged for July Fourth, they came around just a week or two later, including Bad Boys II ('03; $138 million) and I, Robot ('04; $144 million). Now that's taking it to the bank!

Brandon

Today's Hulu Days of Summer debut is all about the laughs, courtesy of that master of multiple roles, Eddie Murphy. In The Nutty Professor II: The Klumps, Murphy plays eight roles himself, including the portly Professor Klump and a sex-crazed grandma.

Picking up where the original Nutty Professor (a remake of the 1963 Jerry Lewis film) left off, Sherman Klump is a professor in search of a miraculous elixir to stop aging. Unfortunately for Sherman, he never managed to fully eradicate his arrogant alter-ego, Buddy Love. Now Buddy's back with a vengeance, threatening to screw up Sherman's upcoming marriage to cutting-edge DNA scientist, Denise Gaines (Janet Jackson) and take all the credit for the youth serum.

Fortunately for the Professor, Buddy has to go through Sherman's family to get to the remedy. Poor Buddy doesn't know what's coming to him.

Rebecca
Editor