Zach Braff

With the heart-wrenching, beautifully articulated "The High Cost of Living," Canadian writer-director Deborah Chow makes an exceptionally accomplished feature debut. She is as gifted a writer as she is a director, and no wonder Zach Braff and French Canadian star Isabelle Blais were attracted to her project. Set in a noirish, gleaming Montreal, this handsome, captivating, well-paced and stylish film is fully realized in every aspect. A sophisticated young American, Braff's Henry clearly has many options yet has allowed himself to drift into a fast life as a Montreal drug dealer.

If you look at what's trending on Yahoo, you might think today is not just Fried Chicken Day  but also White People's Day. But before you pack up a picnic or go looking for the parade, that was actually two days ago, according to comedian Chris Rock.  In his typical in-your-face-manner, Rock sent out a provocative missive on Twitter for Independence Day that's stirring up a bit of chatter still on Friday. "Happy white peoples independence day the slaves weren't free but I'm sure they enjoyed fireworks," he tweeted.

After watching their show shuffled around for four years, then dropped from the fall schedule announced in May, the cast and crew of NBC's "Scrubs" can feel good about their work, said the comedy series' creator, Bill Lawrence. The show about medical residents, starring Zach Braff, received four Emmy nominations Thursday: for best comedy series, actor, casting and multi-camera picture editing in a comedy series. "Scrubs" developed a loyal fan base and sales of its DVD went well, Lawrence said.

It's Tuesday, one of the biggest days in Cary Brothers' life, the day his album "Who You Are" is released, and the singer-songwriter is talking about good fortune. "I hope my karma is saving itself for the record," he jokes from his home in L.A., where he is laid up. "I cracked my ankle doing the video shoot, then I lost the hard drive on the laptop that does everything for me."

The Television Critics Assn. Press Tour, the semiannual gathering of television journalists from around the country that began July 8, continues at the Beverly Hilton. We offer these dispatches. All those pesky reports that ABC's "Life on Mars" suffered a rocky start? Executive producer Josh Appelbaum tried to skirt the issue Wednesday by saying simply that "there was a David Kelley version." Kelley is no longer involved with the series, which is now being run by the team that did "October Road."

Whether doing drama or comedy, Julianna Margulies always seems to leave a lasting impression. Here's a look at some of her credits: "ER," NBC (1994-2000): As stormy-natured nurse Carol Hathaway, she nearly overdosed in the pilot episode over her failed romance with Dr. Doug Ross (George Clooney). The pair's tumultuous relationship captivated viewers for six seasons before they exited Chicago's County General (and the show), ostensibly to raise twins together in Seattle. Margulies won an Emmy the first season and was nominated again each year until she left.

"Finding Neverland," a family drama that imagines how Scottish playwright J.M. Barrie was inspired to create "Peter Pan," was chosen best film of the year Wednesday by the National Board of Review of Motion Pictures. The organization selected Jamie Foxx as best actor for his performance as the late singer Ray Charles in "Ray" and Annette Bening as best actress for her turn as a '30s stage star in the comedy "Being Julia." Michael Mann won best director honors for the thriller "Collateral."

In the '80s, everybody knew their names: the casts of "Cheers" and "St. Elsewhere," one of that decade's best comedies and one of its best dramas. Tonight, NBC is getting those acting bands back together, if only for one episode each of the venerable "Frasier" and the up-and-coming "Scrubs." Like, gnarly. On "Frasier" (9 p.m.), the good radio doctor (Kelsey Grammer) and family fly to Boston for a business conference, only to run into Cliff Clavin (John Ratzenberger) as they deplane.

What you'll be talking about: the Shins. Before 2004, the Shins were a semi-successful indie pop band whose fans considered themselves "in the know." Then Zach Braff's film "Garden State" came out and thousands of swooning teens watched as a beguiling Natalie Portman told Braff's character the band's music would change his life. Now the Shins are beloved not only by informed followers of music, but sorority sisters and their boyfriends as well.