Bad knees, a sore back and diabetes force B.B. King to perform seated, but no ailment is preventing the jovial 80-year-old legend from living up to his title as the King of the Blues. Playing the first of two sold-out shows Thursday at the House of Blues, King also discounted news reports proclaiming his current tour as his last. Before professing that he'd return if fate allows, he and his crack seven-piece band turned in a cordial 90-minute concert that left no doubt about the truthfulness of his intentions.
Sunday, February 19, 2006
B.B. proves still he's King of the Blues
From a review of a recent show BB King performed in Chicago:
NBC has SNL videos pulled from web
NBC is biting the hand that feeds them -- the site, youtube.com, that actually helped Saturday Night Live regain some credibility, has been informed by NBC that they had to remove the "Lazy Sunday" clip, among others from its site. Although it is still there, since I just checked before posting this.
Saturday, February 18, 2006
Thursday, February 16, 2006
Getting sick of Smallville
Well, I'm about halfway through tonight's episode of Smallville, and I have to say, the show is really getting on my nerves lately. Hasn't Clark lost the right to burst into Lex's mansion unannounced and accusatory? What exactly is the deal with Clark and Lana? Are they still a couple? Lex and Lana? How many cars has Lana destroyed in 5 seasons? And I'm already tired of Lionel and Martha. I don't like Lionel as the longing puppy dog, ulterior motives or not.
While it's cool that they are bringing in comics characters like Cyborg (and the dual jump during the escape was kind of cool), this show is just treading water. Even with the momentous development of Jonathan's death, nothing new is happening.
Quite frankly, the show is getting boring at best, and cancel-worthy at worst.
I'll keep watching it of course because it is Superman after all, but I sure don't get the enjoyment out of it that I used to.
OK -- the very last scene was cool. And have Clark and Lana finally ended it? God, I hope so.
While it's cool that they are bringing in comics characters like Cyborg (and the dual jump during the escape was kind of cool), this show is just treading water. Even with the momentous development of Jonathan's death, nothing new is happening.
Quite frankly, the show is getting boring at best, and cancel-worthy at worst.
I'll keep watching it of course because it is Superman after all, but I sure don't get the enjoyment out of it that I used to.
OK -- the very last scene was cool. And have Clark and Lana finally ended it? God, I hope so.
Sunday, February 12, 2006
"Superman Returns" panel at WonderCon
On Saturday at WonderCon, Superman Returns director hosted a panel about the film showed the audience new footage from this summer's film, answered a lot of questions and then introduced Superman himself, actor Brandon Routh.
Singer was asked a lot of questions about the Christopher Reeve films, while Routh was asked a lot of costume questions, as well as what it was like to fill Reeve's boots:
Another report on the panel, including a description of the footage shown, can be found here.
Singer was asked a lot of questions about the Christopher Reeve films, while Routh was asked a lot of costume questions, as well as what it was like to fill Reeve's boots:
"Say this about Chris and what he means to this film and any actor portraying the role: Superman is a really great character - there have been many incarnations of Superman as actors, artists, and writers have each done their versions of the character - but Superman has grown throughout that past and all creators draw on the past as they create new stories. Chris was the guy for me. He is part of this; my portrayal is based on his as much as his was based on everybody else's."
Another report on the panel, including a description of the footage shown, can be found here.
Announcement: Grant Morrison to write "Batman"
At DC's "The Best is Yet to Come" panel at this weekend's WonderCon in San Francisco, DC announced that Grant Morrison will be writing Batman following the conclusion of James Robinson's 8-part arc running through Batman and Detective. Animated Batman writer/producer Paul Dini was previously announced as the new writer on Detective. Identity Crisis's Rags Morales will be the penciller for Dini's Detective:
A Grant Morrison spotlight panel was held at the convention. You can read about that here.
Dini writing one-issue mysteries in Detective with art by Morales, and Morrison writing a healthy, sane Batman (not to mention the 8-part Robinson story)? Waiting for the trades is going to be tough!
Morrison said that he’s already plotted 15 issues, and in his first issue alone, he has 15 ninja man-bats as well as Talia, and the story is called “Batman & Son”. Morrison said Batman coming out of 52 OYL will be a more of a “fun guy, more healthy”, more like the “Neal Adams, hairy-chested, love-god” version of Batman.The artist joining Morrison hasn't been announced yet, though it's expected to be either Andy or Adam Kubert, who announced they were exclusive with DC at WizardWorld Philadelphia last May, but haven't been attached to any projects yet.
A Grant Morrison spotlight panel was held at the convention. You can read about that here.
Dini writing one-issue mysteries in Detective with art by Morales, and Morrison writing a healthy, sane Batman (not to mention the 8-part Robinson story)? Waiting for the trades is going to be tough!
DC Direct Latest and Greatest at Toy Fair
See a slide show of all the latest acton figures, statues and other collectibles from DC Direct. Among the highlights of course are the items promoting Superman Returns. Click on the pic to see the whole slideshow.
Saturday, February 11, 2006
Wednesday, February 08, 2006
Pa Kent speaks
What did John Schneider think when he heard about Jonathan Kent's fate on Smallville? TV Guide asked him:
He saw the first Superman movie. He knew it was coming. He just didn't know when.
I was given the news during this season's ninth episode ["Lexmas"], and ["Reckoning"] was our 12th. I have an office at Warner Bros., with a development deal and a company there and all that sort of stuff, so I was given the news a bit early so that I could shovel myself into some of the things that we've been developing over the last two years. I thought it was very kind that they gave me that sort of notice so I could get my ducks in a row. The awkward part about all that is that I was told "Nobody knows this but you and us, so don't tell anybody," so I had two-and-a-half episodes in "Smallvilleland" to keep this secret. I kept looking around at people, wondering if anybody knew. [Laughs] I think we've all been assumed dead at [various points]. Certainly when meteors are coming into your living room, you have to assume somebody's not going to make it.
He saw the first Superman movie. He knew it was coming. He just didn't know when.
Tuesday, February 07, 2006
Aquaman Pilot Info
What's going on with the Aquaman pilot, especially with the news of the merger between the WB and UPN networks? We know Smallville is safe, but what about Clark's future JLA buddy? Learn the latest here.
Spotlight on "Clerks II"
Kevin Smith's Clerks 2 doesn't reach theatres until this fall, but the publicity has already begun. A recent USA Today article notes that the premise of the movie is about expectations and how the familar characters have changed in the 10+ years since the original:
The new movie features the oriignal movie's cast, as well as Rosario (Sin City) Dawson, and Jason Lee, who got his start in Smith's Mallrats.
The article includes a couple of sidebars: one talks about the impact the original Clerks had on independent filmaking when it debuted in 1994, while the other asks whether or not Smith has sold out by returning to the familiar one (or two, or three) too many times.
After reading about the new movie, check out Smith's video diary of the film here, where you'll find lots of digital video clips of the behinds the sceneds goings on of the movie. The best one features Jason Lee, now known for the smash sit-com My Name is Earl. Lee talks about the difference between making the film and the TV show, does some of his movie lines in his Earl accent, and endures some ribbing by Jason Mewes, who accuse Lee of acting like a big shot.
Maybe Smith has sold out, but then again -- stick with what you know. I know I'll be seeing it.
Free from his dead-end job (and lodged in a new one), Dante begins to break free of his rut, planning to move away with his clingy fiancée, played by Smith's wife, Jennifer Schwalbach Smith, who used to work for USA TODAY. Dante is ready to leave the horrors of minimum-wage New Jersey behind, but Randal — always the more hostile of the two — starts to become overwhelmed by his own rancor.
The new movie features the oriignal movie's cast, as well as Rosario (Sin City) Dawson, and Jason Lee, who got his start in Smith's Mallrats.
The article includes a couple of sidebars: one talks about the impact the original Clerks had on independent filmaking when it debuted in 1994, while the other asks whether or not Smith has sold out by returning to the familiar one (or two, or three) too many times.
After reading about the new movie, check out Smith's video diary of the film here, where you'll find lots of digital video clips of the behinds the sceneds goings on of the movie. The best one features Jason Lee, now known for the smash sit-com My Name is Earl. Lee talks about the difference between making the film and the TV show, does some of his movie lines in his Earl accent, and endures some ribbing by Jason Mewes, who accuse Lee of acting like a big shot.
Maybe Smith has sold out, but then again -- stick with what you know. I know I'll be seeing it.
New "Ultimate Avengers " clips
Hitting stores on Feb.21 is Ultimate Avengers: The Movie, a direct-to-DVD feature starring the Ultimates, a new take on the Avengers. Two clips from the movie are now available online.
The clip available on this page features Nick Fury, the Wasp, Black Widow and Hank Pym.
And the clip you'll find here features Bruce Banner and a certain just-revived super solider.
The clip available on this page features Nick Fury, the Wasp, Black Widow and Hank Pym.
And the clip you'll find here features Bruce Banner and a certain just-revived super solider.
Monday, February 06, 2006
SNL: Not Dead Yet
Here's a great article on the continued resurgence of Saturday Night Live, with a little help form new, younger cast members and the internt, thanks to the popular digital shorts like "Lazy Sunday."
Last weekend featured a new digital short called "The Tangent," which featured a host of famous cameos.
Last weekend featured a new digital short called "The Tangent," which featured a host of famous cameos.
Gwen and Capt. Stacy cast for "Spider-Man 3"
A few weeks ago, actress Bryce Dallas Howard (Ron's daughter, featured in The Village) was cast as Gwen Stacy, the doomed love of Peter Parker's life (before Mary Jane). She appeared on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno last week, showing off her new, Gwen-like blond hair, very much looking the part, as you can see here:
The storyline for the characters remains unknown, as both were killed in the comics by villains who have already appeared in the first two movies -- Gwen was killed by the Green Goblin (in a scene reenacted in the first movie with a surviving MJ filling in for Gwen) and Capt. Stacy was killed by Dr. Octopus (who was featured in Spider-Man 2), but not before revealing to Peter he knew his identity. This means predicting their movie story arcs will not be easy. We shall see. Nice job in casting though.
The storyline for the characters remains unknown, as both were killed in the comics by villains who have already appeared in the first two movies -- Gwen was killed by the Green Goblin (in a scene reenacted in the first movie with a surviving MJ filling in for Gwen) and Capt. Stacy was killed by Dr. Octopus (who was featured in Spider-Man 2), but not before revealing to Peter he knew his identity. This means predicting their movie story arcs will not be easy. We shall see. Nice job in casting though.
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