Comic Con ’11 News

The first day of the nerdfest that is Comic Con has come and gone and here are the top headlines that has come out so far…

• DC Comics confirms that Flashpoint will be the reasoning behind the new DC 52 Relaunch coming this fall, and everything will be revealed in a splash panel in the final issue of Flashpoint. So if you are behind its about time you get caught up

• Marvel is beginning digital and print simultaneous releasing with their comics starting with issues of the Amazing Spider-Man (in fact starting with issue #666 next week which kicks off the Spider Island saga, other titles following suit will be Venom, Uncanny X-Men, and the new Wolverine and the X-Men), this is a huge step forward is saving the floppies in the comic industry
• In DC 52 relaunch news, Barbara Gordon will once again be Batgirl (and not the crippled Oracle any longer), also many of the young adult characters got regressed in age (Arsenal in particular), Wildstorm will be integrated into the DCU
• There will be a comic book crossover between Star Trek and the Legion of Superheroes

• Avengers Academy is continue post-Fear Itself, but one member of the team will not make it and a legacy character White Tiger will take his/her place

• Hugh Jackman has confirmed that in the sequel to X-Men Origins Wolverine, The Wolverine, his enemy will be the Silver Samurai

There wasn’t much from the first day of Comic Con, but I leave you guys with the new trailer for the Amazing Spider-Man which I did a post on a few days back. I’ll do another Comic Con post possibly this Sunday after it all wraps up.

Summer TV – What I’m Watching / First Impressions

Usually summer is the deadspot for tv, filled with reruns as they start shooting the shows for next fall. But I was actually able to find some decent shows to watch this summer, many of them have just started so I’ve going to give my first impressions of the upcoming season.

Sunday -

Falling Skies (Sci-Fi Drama, TNT)

My third favorite new show behind The Walking Dead and A Game of Thrones actually makes me tune into TNT and it’s not a cop drama. It does remind me a bit of The Walking Dead with the emphasis on survivalism over corny slaying of aliens. They also they screw around and hide what the alien looks like (ala Cloverfield). Also since this show is more survivalist than sci-fi, the show is more accessible to a general audience, so definitely give it a watch.

Entourage (Comedy-Drama, HBO)

So Entourage’s run will come to an end this season with an 8 episode finale starting this Sunday. Last season, it ended with Vince hitting another low in his career as well as all the other characters solving their own personal problems. Hopefully they can bring closure to the series somehow in only 8 episodes.

Monday -

Weeds (Black Comedy, Showtime)

I have no idea why I keep watching this show because it hasn’t really been good since season 2 and now its season 7. The Nancy character is just annoying now since she’s just not likeable anymore. Really what keeps this show going are all the supporting characters of Silas, Shane, Doug, and Andy. I’m hoping on this being the last season, just so I can be done with it.

Warehouse 13 (Science Fantasy – SyFy)

Now in its 3rd season, I friggin’ love this show now. To those who don’t know, Warehouse 13 is sort of like a funny version of The X-Files meets Indiana Jones. Every episode two agents go out to find some random artifact that causing destruction and they have to capture it and bring it back to the warehouse. They quickly solved where Myka went after the previous season’s finale, and now she’s back with the team and add in one new member, a new mysterious bad guy and everything is good again.

Eureka (Sci-Fi Comedy, SyFy)

I really hate SyFy’s scheduling of this show, technically even though its nearly a year later it’s still season 4 for some reason. It makes it hard to remember what happened last time. From the first episode of this half season we know they are still in the “alt” world, but no apparent season enemy/mystery yet. The promise of tonight’s cameo from Felicia Day is an awesome selling point though.

Alphas (Sci-Fi Drama, SyFy)

This new show is the last piece of SyFy channel’s new summer Monday lineup. It’s another try at making a show based on superpowers (Heroes, No Ordinary Family, The Cape). So far it contains the same character archetypes and plot designs as the other ones. Might have to give it a few more watches before you can tell how good it really is.

Thursday -

Futurama (Animated Comedy, Comedy Central)

Futurama is just a good show, nuff said. These new episodes are technically apart of the “second half” of the Comedy Central relaunch season. Futurama is sort of like Family Guy for me, at some point all the episodes will start to seem the same to me.

Friday -

Torchwood: Miracle Day (Sci-fi, Starz)

I became a major Doctor Who fan last year and this will be the first season of the Torchwood spinoff series I’ll see and it blew me away. It’s a lot different from Doctor Who and is more like a thriller-drama than sci-fi. This is actually a really good jumping on series for American watchers just in general since the new partnership with Starz has brought in a bunch of U.S. actors and upped the production value by a lot. This is definitely my favorite show of the summer.

I Don’t Watch, Maybe You Should

• Wilfred (New Comedy, FX)
• Breaking Bad (AMC)
• Louie (FX)
• Damages (FX)
• True Blood (HBO)
• Rescue Me (FX)

What to Watch? – Fall 2010 TV

Hey its one of those random posts that tell you what you should be watching this Fall, yeah those kinds of posts. We’ll, the new TV season has already hit us (sorry I’m so late with this). But this is kind of a guide to what to watch, even though in actuality its just my upcoming TV watching list. You might totally be on the flipside of this list or you might follow along. Anyways here’s the 2010 Fall Edition of What to Watch?

Mondays

Chuck (NBC, Season 4)

The show that seems to always be on the brink of cancelation and then is saved by the fans is back again. So far I’ve watched just episode 1 and the season will revolve around the search for Chuck’s mother. It will be interesting what they’ll do to keep Chuck fresh this season, but so far the writers have done at good job at bringing the twists as well as the laughs.

Gossip Girl (The CW, Season 4)

So far watched 2 episodes from the current season and its turning out to be good so far. Basically picking up from the shitstorm ending of the previous season. The rich kids from New York continue to deal with their random outrageous problems and the audience just eats it up. Hey, I only watch it for the ridiculousness, who wants to watch realistic drama(cough couch 90210).

The Event (NBC, Season 1)

We’ll I no longer have Heroes to watch, sigh. In its place is some show called The Event, which I know nothing about. Why watch it? I have this unending desire to find out what the F, The Event is. When I finally do, I probably lose interest in this one.

Tuesdays

Glee (Fox, Season 2)

There’s just something about Glee that makes me come back to it week after week. I know its kind of High School Musical, but yet it’s not. There’s the promise of new characters and two new dedicated episodes to Britney Spears and The Rocky Horror Picture Show. Also more singing, which the cast does sooooo well.

No Ordinary Family (ABC, Season 1)

Basically its going to be Fantastic Four the sitcom. OK I’ll bite, the comic book nerd in me will give it a shot.

Caprica (SyFy Channel, Season 1.5?)

Caprica had its bright points and got better as the episodes went along. Then it randomly went on break after episode 8? What’s up with that? Anyways, it’s coming back sooner than thought with new episodes this October, but it’s possibly lost its thunder. They would never have done that to Battlestar Galatica!

Wednesdays

Southpark (Comedy Central, Season 14)

I like about half of the episodes of Southpark that are produced per season. Anyways its back again from break starting October. I wonder what random poltical/current event they will diss on this time?

Blue Mountain State (Spike TV, Season 2)

OK sometimes you just have to watch something that is completely stupid and laugh at it. Blue Mountain State is that show. BMS is like those straight to DVD American Pie movies but as a TV show. Why do I watch it? Cause its funny, though in the back of my mind I know it could end at anytime.

Thursdays

The Big Bang Theory (CBS, Season 4)

My top show from last year is still going on and heading into its 4th season. Sheldon’s actor finally won an Emmy so that’s got to count for something. It really seems like they’ve done every single gag they can do about science, but who knows, they might surprise me.

Community (NBC, Season 2)

I gave it a shot last year and Community turned out a lot better than anyone expected. They single handedly made community college seem like the most awesome place in the world. Basically they just have a single setting and the rest is totally up to the writer’s imaginations.

Fringe (Fox, Season 3)

JJ Abrams does an amazing job with season finales, just throwing it all on the line and making us desperately want to come back for more. Season 1 touched on the concept of alternate realities and Season 2 made the jump over to the other side. Season 3 will finally let us journey between both and it will be awesome.

The Office (NBC, Season 7)

Supposedly this might be the last season of The Office, at the very least this will be the last one with Steve Carell. So I’m hoping they do it big for it’s final hurrah.

The League (FX, Season 2)

Another surprise find from last year, it has jumped to the top of my must watch list for TV. If you know about fantasy football and you don’t watch The League, you are missing out. You wish your fantasy league was this awesome.

Nikita (The CW, Season 1)

Wait a spy show on The CW? I gave this one a shot and watched the pilot so far and it definitely has potential. It comes from the people behind Chuck and Human Target, so it should do well (especially in fight scenes). And hey, Maggie Q is in it and she’s a super hot asian, good enough for me.

$#*! My Dad Says (CBS, Season 1)

Slightly pisses me off that something stupid like a twitter stream gets turned into a sit com. But hey like 75% of CBS comedy shows turn out to be actually good. I’ll give it a watch and decide later if I’ll come back for more or not.

Outsourced (NBC, Season 1)

Another comedy show that I’m giving a try. Turns out this is based on a indie film from a few years ago, kind of weird trivia for you. But I’m hoping it turns out like Community or The Office, though I could do with less comedy to watch on Thursdays.

Fridays

Smallville (The CW, Season 10)

This is it, I’ve followed this show for about 7 of its previous 9 seasons and this will be the last one. Clark finally becomes Superman and they’re gonna throw everything into this finale. The past few seasons have gotten significantly more comic booky, but that’s better for me anyways.

Human Target (Fox, Season 2)

It’s like watching Mission Impossible week after week. I do have to say the episodes are hit or miss, but the action sequences are movie quality and very fun to watch. The cast is pretty awesome too, especially Jackie Earle Haley as Guerrero (such an amazing character).

Sunday

Family Guy (Fox, Season 9)

Family Guy is getting pretty old at this point. The episodes are all basically the same with just random gags. But there’s not much else to watch Sunday nights so I’m picking this one over American Dad and The Cleveland Show.

Boardwalk Empire (HBO, Season 1)

Martin Scorsese is apart of this show, so yeah I’m going to watch it. Hopefully the show itself is worth the hype.

The Walking Dead (AMC, Season 1)

One of the best written comics ever has been turned into a TV show. This has to be the most anticipated show for me that is coming out, especially based off of the other AMC shows that have come out. And of course it has to debut on Halloween, get pumped.

Maybe Watch These Shows… (Sadly I Won’t)

• It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia (pretty funny, but haven’t seen that many episodes to keep up)
• Running Wilde (from the people behind Arrested Development with some cast members of said show)
• Hawaii Five-O (the classic show kind of got the CSI treatment to it)
• Undercovers (its made by JJ Abrams)
• Modern Family (won the Emmy for best comedy, finally dethroning goddam 30 Rock)
• Hellcats (i guess it has cheerleaders in it?)

Casting Critique: Scott Pilgrim vs. the World (Pt. II)

We started this post the other day with most of the heroes and supporting cast of the film, but we continue the critique today with the villains of the movie.

Envy Adams – Brie Larson

• Famous In: Sleepover, United States of Tara, Greenberg
• Envy Adams in 2 Words: Bitch, Smoking
• Larson in 2 Words: Blondie, Singer
• Match Percentage: 75%
• Who Else Might Pull It Off?: Amber Heard

Matthew Patel – Satya Bhabha

• Famous In: Not Much, New Actor
• Matthew Patel in 2 Words: Indian, First
• Bhabha in 2 Words: ? (I’m not even gonna try)
• Match Percentage: 50% (racist me gives in that at least)
• Who Else Might Pull It Off?: Dev Patel

Lucas Lee – Chris Evans

• Famous In: Not Another Teen Movie, Fantastic Four, Push
• Lucas Lee in 2 Words: Action, Brash
• Evans in 2 Words: Jock, Hothead
• Match Percentage: 90%
• Who Else Might Pull It Off?: Chris Pine

Todd Ingram – Brandon Routh

• Famous In: Superman Returns, Zack and Miri Make a Porno, Chuck
• Todd Ingram in 2 Words: Arrogant, Vegan
• Routh in 2 Words: Confident, Heroic
• Match Percentage: 25%
• Who Else Might Pull It Off?: Channing Tatum

Roxie Richter – Mae Whitman

• Famous In: Arrested Development, Avatar: The Last Airbender, American Dragon: Jake Long
• Roxie Ricter in 2 Words: Lesbian, Ninja
• Whitman in 2 Words: Voice, Deadpan
• Match Percentage: 60%
• Who Else Might Pull It Off?: Kat Dennings

Ken/Kyle Katayanagi – Shota/Keita Saito

• Famous In: Japanese Flicks
• Ken/Kyle Katayanagi in 2 Words: Twins, Robots
• Saito Twins in 2 Words: ? (Haven’t seen more than 1 non-anime japanese flicks)
• Match Percentage: 90% (especially for finding Japanese twins)
• Who Else Might Pull It Off?: Maybe Rain and John Foo

Gideon Graves – Jason Schwartzman

• Famous In: I Heart Huckabees, Funny People, Bored to Death
• Gideon Graves in 2 Words: Famous, Mastermind
• Schwartzman in 2 Words: Comedian, Jewish?
• Match Percentage: 60%
• Who Else Might Pull It Off?: Jim Sturgess

Whew, that’s all the characters that are of importance to the comics and basically some dream/secondary picks for the roles. Now all I got to do is see the movie and I’m set.

Casting Critique: Scott Pilgrim vs. the World (Pt. I)

So a movie I’m pretty amped up to see this coming Friday is Scott Pilgrim vs. the World. Since this movie has such a collected ensemble of actors/actresses from indie films, I’m doing a quick critique on how I feel they fit the character they’re playing from past roles. As of today, I haven’t seen the film yet, except for a few clips and the commercials, so I’m going off the comics.

Scott Pilgrim – Michael Cera

• Famous In: Arrested Development, Superbad, Youth in Revolt
• Scott Pilgrim in 2 Words: Heroic, Slacker
• Cera in 2 Words: Awkward, Shy
• Match Percentage: 40%
• Who Else Might Pull It Off?: Jesse Eisenberg

Ramona Flowers – Mary Elizabeth Winstead

• Famous In: Sky High, Live Free or Die Hard, Final Destination 3 (Crush Girl Post)
• Ramona Flowers in 2 Words: Outgoing, Colorful
• Winstead in 2 Words: Sexy, Outgoing,
• Match Percentage: 75%
• Who Else Might Pull It Off?: Emma Stone

Wallace Wells – Kieran Culkin

• Famous In: Home Alone 1 &2, She’s All That, Igby Goes Down
• Wallace Wells in 2 Words: Wise,  Homosexual
• Culkin in 2 Words: Overshadowed, Wisecracker
• Match Percentage: 25%
• Who Else Might Pull It Off?: Anton Yelchin

Kim Pine – Allison Pill

• Famous In: Milk, Dan in Real Life, Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen
• Kim Pine in 2 Words: Snarky, Smartass
• Pill in 2 Words: ? (Haven’t seen enough of her in stuff)
• Match Percentage: n/a
• Who Else Might Pull It Off?: Ellen Page

Stephen Stills – Mark Webber

• Famous In: Drive Me Crazy, The Good Life, Explicit Ills
• Stephen Stills in 2 Words: Shrewd, Rational
• Webber in 2 Words?: ? (This dude is not in any mainstream movies)
• Match Percentage: n/a
• Who Else Might Pull It Off?: Johnny Pacar

Young Neil – Johnny Simmons

• Famous In: Evan Almighty, Hotel for Dogs, Jennifer’s Body
• Young Neil in 2 Words: Shy, Fanboy
• Simmons in 2 Words: Loyal, Friendly
• Match Percentage: 85%
• Who Else Might Pull It Off?: Devon Werkheiser

Stacey Pilgrim – Anna Kendrick

• Famous In: Up and Away, Twilight 1-4
• Stacey Pilgrim in 2 Words: Mature, Younger
• Kendrick in 2 Words: Determined, Focused
• Match Percentage: 90%

• Who Else Might Pull It Off?: Emma Roberts

Knives Chau – Ellen Wong

• Famous In: Nothings, Welcome to movies Ellen
• Knives Chau in 2 Words: Obsessive, Fangirl
• Wong in 2 Words: -see famous in-
• Match Percentage: 50% (at least she’s asian)
• Who Else Might Pull It Off?: Valarie Tian

Julie Powers – Aubrey Plaza

• Famous In: Funny People, Parks and Recreation (Crush Girl Post)
• Julie Powers in 2 Words: Annoying, Maneater
• Plaza in 2 Words: Stutter, Heartbreaker
• Match Percentage: 30%
• Who Else Might Pull It Off?: AnnaLynne McCord

Come back tomorrow for Part 2 that critiques the 7 Evil Exboyfriends and every other character I forgot…