News: Aqua Teen terror plot?

You haven't lived until you've heard Charlie Gibson say "Aqua Teen Hunger Force." Seriously.

Why was Gibson talking about the Cartoon Network series on ABC News? Apparently an Aqua Teen marketing stunt threw Boston into a scare today.

About nine electronic devices planted at bridges and other Boston spots by the cable network to promote the show were mistaken for bombs, or other explosive devices. Highways and bridges were closed and bomb squads were sent in before authorities declared the devices were harmless. They were just boxes with magnetic blinking lights that formed the shape of an Aqua Teen character.

Cartoon Network: No. 1 in bonehead guerrila marketing ideas, G!

Art: Brownsville's Galeria 409 on TV news

oscar alvarez by liza longoria

The Rio Grande Valley's ABC affiliate News Channel 5 recently featured Brownsville's Galeria 409 in anchor/reporter Rick Diaz's weekly "Con Mi Gente" segment.

Diaz interviewed gallery owner Mark Clark about his 155-year-old building in downtown Brownsville. Diaz also spoke to artists Cande Aguilar and Oscar Alvarez. Both artists are now displaying their new work at the gallery.

Watch the Channel 5 segment here, and visit the gallery at 409 E. 13th St. It'll be worth it.

Music: Leonard Cohen on Veronica Mars

Looking for that Leonard Cohen (pictured) song from Tuesday's episode of Veronica Mars? Look no further.

It's called "A Thousand Kisses Deep" and you can find it on The Essential Leonard Cohen, a 2002 best-of release.

Below is a streaming MP3 link to the song. You can play it in your browser, but I reccomend picking up the album or heading over to iTunes if you really want to dig on this song all day. If anyone has a downloadable link, please let me know. Here's a taste:

Leonard Cohen - 'A Thousand Kisses Deep'

I'll try to post more music from VM in the coming weeks. A review of the latest episode should be up here soon.

TV: Battlestar Galactica (3.13) - 'Taking a Break From All Your Worries'

bsg 3.13

(Air date: 1/28/07)
Battlestar Galactica returned to form on Sunday with one of the best, rawest and most compelling episodes of the season.

Episode writer Michael Taylor -- who penned the great "In the Pale Moonlight" ep of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine -- crafted a tense, edgy story worthy of the series that some say has faltered in its third season. Edward James Olmos' urgent direction only drew me in further as Baltar and Apollo were tortured in very different ways.

The dark-sounding nursery rhyme that opened the first scene was a nice choice. "This ep is something different, and it's not for everybody," the rhyme seemed to whisper. This episode was different, fiercely different, than anything else on prime time TV. It reminded me of why I love this series. At its best, Galactica goes for the mind and the gut, ditching most superficial notions of sci-fi to focus on conflict and character. This time aboard the Galactica, we focused on Dr. Baltar, one of the series' richest and most captivating characters.

It was a smart move to follow up all the Final Five and Eye of Jupiter junk with an economic ep mostly about Balter. It's always fun getting in side Baltar's head, whether we're given privy to his lurid fantasies-turned-nightmares about a slew of Sixes, or diving into even darker territory. It's been obvious for months now that Baltar wanted to be a Cylon so that he could absolve himself of his guilt. It turned out he's probably not a Cylon, but his conscious got a nice rubdown anyway thanks to Roslin and Adama's brutal, mind-altering interrogation method.

Watching Baltar spill his secrets and confront his demons made for great TV. Lost in a drug-induced black sea, he claimed his innocence, questioned the loyalty and existence of Imaginary Six and came up feeling his soul was absolved.

Did Baltar betray humanity? The answer remains ambiguous, and we were given the chance to consider both perspectives. From Baltar's point of view, As Adama pointed out, he's the victim. He was forced to aid the Cylon occupation of New Caprica and was deceived into abetting the destruction of his home world. He never intended to hurt anyone and, in his mind, he did not conspire with the Cylons. From Roslin and Adama's points of view, Baltar is a traitor. He contributed to the attempted genocide and lacked the strength, character and humanity to stand up to the Cylons, allowing many humans to be murdered on New Caprica. He spent months on a Cylon base ship possibly helping the Cylons find Earth. Also, they really really hate the guy and want to see him suffer. At least Roslin did, but she eventually felt sympathy for the man. Adama stayed militaristic throughout. His objective was only to retrieve information that would help the fleet.

It was intense watching an incensed Roslin drag Baltar out of his cell and to the Caprica memorial. The treatment of Baltar was ugly and extreme in this ep, but it was also fascinating to watch. I was glad to see the Starbuck-Apollo arc take a backseat, since the Baltar arc is what's really driving the series right now, but both stories complimented each other well.

Apollo is now in a world of pain. He's in love with Starbuck, but he loves and respects Dee. His marriage is crumbling and he's resigned to drinking with Tyrol and spinning his wedding ring on the wet bar. Sure, having to choose between Katee Sackhoff and Kandyse McClure might not sound like a tragic situation, but Jamie Bamber really sold Apollo's torture and self-pity. I felt sorry for the dude, especially in that tail-end scene where he's trying to patch things up with Dee.

And what about Starbuck? Why did Sam bring up points that will eventually lead to the big question: Is Starbuck a Cylon? I'm not sure about that, but I will agree with Starbuck in that she's a "two-timing bitch of a wife."

Is Gaeta a Cylon? It makes sense. In another searing scene, Gaeta attempted to kill our man Baltar after Baltar whispered something in his ear. He only succeeded in stabbing Baltar in the neck (thank the gods), but ot looks like he's still out for blood. Baltar's definitely on to something here, especially if he's accusing Gaeta of being a bigger traitor than he is. Also, it was interesting to find out that Baltar allowed Gaeta to feed information to the resistance on New Caprica.

In the end Baltar is hauled off to sick bay, again, and Roslin visits Caprica Six in an extended bonus scene that SciFi.com is streaming in its entirety here. It seems Six will only talk if Baltar is given a trial. Roslin seems pleased with that response, since she was already planning to give him a trial anyway.

With Baltar back on the Galactica and major suspicion cast on major characters, Galactica is showing signs of a late season rally.

Memorable quote:
Starbuck: Kara Thrace and her special destiny? That sounds like a bad cover band.

TV: Veronica Mars (3.10) - 'Show Me the Monkey'

vm 3-10

Air date: (1/23/06)
Uh-oh. It looks like someone might have nabbed Veronica's "perfect murder" report and followed it step-by-step to get away with killing Dean O'Dell, who's death was officially ruled a suicide. Sounds like we got us a mystery arc for the rest of this season (I only wish it hadn't cost us Ed Begley Jr., he was great in this series).

So, who's the murderer? After two and a half seasons of series creator Rob Thomas proving he's way smarter than I am, I've learned to stop guessing so early on. NeptuneSite has a list of possible suspects, if you're into that sort of thing.

Instead of depositing my murder theories here, I'd rather dive into what this episode was really about: conviction (personal and political), relationships, and a monkey.

We catch up with Veronica six weeks after O'Dell's death. Veronica and Logan are still split, and she's hired by a couple of campus lab techs to find their stolen lab monkey.

Many primate jokes abound, including a "the case of the stolen monkey" jab courtesy of Piz, but only Veronica Mars can start an ep with such a basic mystery plot like "find the stolen monkey" and end up being one of the most engaging, fun and complex things to watch on TV.

Veronica goes undercover at the hilariously named PHAT (People for Humane Animal Treatment) group on campus to find the monkey nabbers. We get the usual role-playing and sneaky tactics she's used to great effect in the past, but it was obvious and a little disappointing to find that the guy behind the mystery turned out to be one of the techs who reported it. Also, there was a little too much "girlyness" going on in this ep for my comfort level -- and that's coming from a guy who's been watching Gilmore Girls for years. Plus, we had to sit through a few minutes of sad music scored animals right proselytizing (Blech), but those were small prices to pay for a damn fine hour of television that delivered a love interest for Mac, a LoVe reunion and the definition of "Manila."

The LoVe reunion that capped this ep was nice, but I really enjoyed Veronica's earlier scenes with Piz. They have a good dynamic, and I really related to their talk about not dating just to date. It's better to stick with what you like, especially when you know what you like, Piz said. True. Too bad for him then, since that means Veronica must go running back to Logan. Piz is cool, but there's tons more drama and conflict with Logan. I still felt for Piz in that last scene, though (Been there dude). But remember, Veronica's interest was peaked when Parker mentioned that he might have a girlfriend "back home," so the door was left a little open there.

And speaking of Logan, why does he hang around with every scuzzy guy on the planet? He goes surfing with Dick and who do they meet at the beach but none other than Chip Diller, the biggest panty waste on campus. So far, Logan's rolled with a fun loving but brain dead frat boy (Dick), a convicted rapist (Mercer), and now an accused rapist and misogynist (Chip). Come on Logan, I think it's time to find some new friends. Why don't they pair Logan up with Wallace? I've always dug watching them together. At least then Wallace might show up in a few more eps this season.

Besides the last act, episode highlights included the Ted Nugent digs, Veronica's mock rock out to Barenaked Ladies, the Canada room at the "around the world" party and, of course, Keith's scene with Landry at the bar.

What did Keith's "scotch" comment to O'Dell's widow mean? I'm sure he's talking about more than O'Dell's untouched bottle. Like I wrote before, I'm not guessing yet, but I'm looking forward to finding out.

Catch a video preview of the next ep here. Also, the CW is now streaming episodes of Veronica Mars online here.

Memorable quote:
Mac: OK. I get cruelty free, but I'm an animal too. The no bathing thing and the clove cigarettes is cruelty to me.

Gilmore Girls note:
I've decided to stop writing Gilmore Girls episode reviews after watching last Tuesday's ep. I probably won't even follow the show like I used to; it's just become so charmless over the past year. I might start blogging about it again if it gets any better, but I doubt it will.

Update:
This review was picked up for national newspaper Web site syndication!

TV: Heroes (1.12) - 'Godsend'

hiro

(Air date: 1/22/07)
There’s been tons of Heroes news since the series returned with a new episode on Monday.

TV Guide -- who will publish issues with four collectible covers featuring Heroes cast members next Monday -- reports that one of the series’ regular characters is heading for the grave. Also, Eric Roberts will join the cast in an upcoming sweeps episode and George Takei (Star Trek’s Sulu) is slated to guest-star as Hiro’s father. The series introduced another hero online, and NBC.com launched the Heroes 360 experience (more on that after the review).

Heroes did well in the ratings battle against 24 on Monday and has been getting more attention from the press than ever before. It seems America has really fallen for one of our favorite new series. Is all this praise and attention deserved?

Well, yeah dude.

Heroes returned with one of its strongest, most entertaining episodes to date with “Godsend.” We picked up two weeks after the last episode with Hiro trying to steal a sword, Niki frightening jail guards, a comatose Peter having scary prophetic dreams, and a doped up Sylar stuck in a roach-ridden cell.

Continue reading here.

Friday Video: Beck - 'Cellphone's Dead'

Dig on the Michel Gondry-directed clip for "Cellphone's Dead" from The Information.

Morning Dose: Deluxe Beck; No Holmes in Dark Knight; Heroes death; Luke Cage movie; more

beck

- Intercope is giving Beck's The Information the super massive deluxe treatment. Due Feb. 27, the three-disc release will include the original album plus three bonus tracks, remixes by Bumblebeez, David Andrew Sitek (of TV on the Radio) and others, and a DVD featuring a music video for every track, including Michel Gondry's clip for "Cell Phone's Dead."

- Giving more evidence to the Katie Holmes is brainwashed theory, the actress is skipping out on the Batman Begins sequel to star in something called Mad Money with Queen Latifah.

- EMI has merged the Capitol and Virgin record labels to form The Capitol Music Group.

- Which comic book-based films are nominated for Oscars? (Not X-Men 3).

- Speaking of comic books, fans can nominate their favorite comics and comic book creators for Eagle Awards, the comics industry's longest established awards voted on by fans. One question: Why is Vincent Gallo up for best comic villain?

-Tyrese and John Singleton talk about the upcoming Luke Cage movie.

- A major character is supposed to die on Heroes this season. God, please let it be Niki.

- Some idiots are circulating this petition to arrest Dakota Fanning's parents because of this movie.

-Will Britney Spears play a "raunchy bunch of sex mad aliens" on Dr. Who?

- Finally, somebody buy me this T-shirt. (Thanks Wil Wheaton!)

TV: Battlestar Galactica updates

In a recent interview with Backstage.com, Edward James Olmos and Mary McDonnell (pictured) chatted about their relationship on the set of Battlestar Galactica and about how rewarding the series has been for them as actors.

Olmos said the pilot script for the series reminded him of Blade Runner, the 1982 Ridley Scott film in which he appears alongside Harrison Ford. Olmos says he also liked the post-9/11 themes inherent in the script.
Read more here.

Music: 90s bands making comebacks

smashing pumpkins

"What's the deal with all these 90s bands getting back together?" my friend Jaime asked me a few weeks ago.

"I dunno. I guess they like money," I responded.

I'm really not that cynical, but it's hard to imagine why so many 90s alt. rock bands -- including Sebadoh, Rage Against the Machine and Smashing Pumpkins -- are choosing to reunite now, all at the same time. Ever Since the Pixies came back, it seems like every 90s buzzworthy band wants to give it another go.

Does anyone think these bands will, once again, have a major impact on the masses? I know popular music is in a state of crisis (may I point you here to prove my point?), but do the Gin Blossoms really think they can save radio?

Well, at least we might get a few good tunes out of this trend. The new Lemonheads album was a nice surprise.

Let's separate fact from rumor concerning some of the recent purported 90s band reunions. Here's a list of some of the major bands that broke up but might be looking to make a comeback, listed in alphabetical order:

Gin Blossoms
Tempe, Arizona's Gin Blossoms seemed destined for greatness after the release of the debut EP Up & Crumbling and the commercial and artistic success of 1992's New Miserable Experience (the one with "Hey Jealousy").
After being fired from the band, guitarist and chief songwriter Doug Hopkins shot and killed himself in 1993 while songs from Miserable were blanketing MTV and radio.
The band tried to rebound with the song "Til I Hear it From You" from the Empire Records soundtrack and the so-so 1996 album Congratulations, I'm Sorry. Neither effort was as critically or commercially successful as Miserable and the band broke up in 1997 only to reunite for a tour, album and DVD release in 2002.
The band released the album Major Lodge Victory in Aug. 2006 and is currently on tour. Stream the new album and view upcoming tour dates here.
Selected discography:
Up & Crumbling, 1991
New Miserable Experience, 1992
Major Lodge Victory, 2006

James
You might remember James' great 1993 hit "Laid," but the band has been a part of the UK pop scene since the late 1980s.
The fey sounding, British jangle pop storytellers are readying for a reunion tour and, as the band's official Web site points out, they're still "fresh as a daisy."
Former James front man Tim Booth announced on his official Web page that the band is also recording new tracks.
The reunited version of the band, once dubbed "the new Smiths," hasn't performed together for more than six years. Tickets for the UK spring tour go on sale this Friday.
Selected discography:
Stutter, 1986
Laid, 1993
Millionaires, 1999

The Lemonheads
The only real constant in the Lemonheads' history has been singer-songwriter Evan Dando, the sole original member featured on the band's new, critically well-received, self-titled comeback album.
Dando hired drummer Bill Stevenson and bassist Karl Alvarez, both of the LA punk band The Descendents, to record the album, which features a somewhat rawer sound than anything the band put out in its late 90s heyday.
The rhythm section of The Pieces has backed Dando on a few live dates and Dando is expected to continue touring in support of the new album under the Lemonheads name.
Selected discography:
It's a Shame About Ray, 1992
Come on Feel the Lemonheads, 1993
The Lemonheads, 2006 (Listen to some new tracks on the Lemonheads MySpace page.)

Pavement
News of a Pavement reunion is based on pure rumor and some vague comments by front man Stephen Malkmus and guitarist Spiral Stairs.
In 2005, Malkmus told Chart Attack that the band might reunite "in five years." Malkmus went on to say that there was "still hope" for a reunion and joked that it would be for a "Legends Of Indie Rock" tour.
Stairs, a.k.a. Scott Kannberg, told Pitchfork last September that there had been talk of an eventual reunion.
"I think it makes more sense to let more time go past, you know? It would probably work well for a 20 year anniversary or something like that," he said.
The indie rock band split in 1999 after releasing its final album, Terror Twilight. Matador Records has since re-released the classic Pavement albums Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain, Wowee Zowee and the band's 1992 debut Slanted and Enchanted.
Malkmus has since recorded three solo albums with the Jicks, and Stairs records with Preston School of Industry.
Selected discography:
Slanted & Enchanted, 1992
Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain, 1994 (Download "Gold Soundz".)
Brighten the Corners, 1997

Rage Against the Machine
On Monday, the LA Times broke the news that a reunited Rage will headline this year's Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival. This was confirmed by a post on the band's official Web site.
As of now, vocalist Zack de la Rocha, guitarist Tom Morello, bassist Tim Commerford and drummer Brad Wilk are slated to perform at the festival on April 27.
The band rose to fame in the 90s with several albums worth of polemic leftist anthems set to a fierce blend of hip-hop, punk and metal. De la Rocha left the band in 2001 to record his yet unreleased solo album. His collaborative track with DJ Shadow, "March of Death" was released online in 2003 in protest of the Iraq war. The remaining members of Rage formed the Billboard chart-topping post-grunge band Audioslave with former Soundgarden front man Chris Cornell in 2001.
There's no word yet on whether Rage will tour or record after the initial reunion show.
Selected discography:
Rage Against the Machine, 1992
Evil Empire, 1996
The Battle of Los Angeles, 1999 (Listen to "Sleep Now in the Fire".)

Sebadoh
Singer-songwriter Lou Barlow's beloved 90s lo-fi band will kick off a spring tour Feb. 26 in San Diego. Click here for the complete itinerary.
Sebadoh's original lineup -- including Eric Gaffney, Jason Loewenstein and Barlow -- split in 1994, before the release of, arguably, the band's most successful albums Bakesale and Harmacy.
Barlow started the Folk Implosion around the time and Sebadoh released its final record, The Sebadoh, in 1999. Barlow has since recorded a few critically successful solo records and reunited with his earlier band Dinosaur Jr. for a 2005 tour.
Selected discography:
Sebadoh III, 1991
Bakesale, 1994
Harmacy, 1996 (Download a live version of "Too Pure")

Smashing Pumpkins
"IN STUDIO NOW! ALBUM OUT SOON!" reads the front page of the Pumpkin's official site. An awkward post on the band's MySpace page by front man Billy Corgan promises new tracks and a "tour of tears" for 2007.
Corgan even purchased full-page ads in the Chicago Tribune and the Chicago Sun-Times to announce the impending reunion.
Aside from drummer Jimmy Chamberlin, it's unknown who will be involved from the original lineup, which included guitarist James Iha and bassists D'Arcy Wretzky.
The Pumpkins achieved mainstream success with the 1993 album Siamese Dream, but the band hit a major turning point in July of 1996 when, touring in support of the double album Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness, keyboardist Jonathan Melvoin and Chamberlin overdosed on heroin in New York. Melvoin died and Chamberlin was arrested for drug possession.
Since then, the band's lineup has been in flux and the quality of its records has been spotty. Corgan formally disbanded the Pumpkins in 2000 and recorded a solo album and fronted the band Zwan.
The upcoming Pumpkins album will reportedly feature tracks produced by Roy Thomas Baker, who produced many of Queen's albums, and producer Terry Date, who has worked with Pantera and Soundgarden.
Selected discography:
Gish, 1991
Siamese Dream, 1993 (Listen to "Mayonaise".)
Pisces Iscariot , 1994

Who did I miss? Is Chumbawamba coming back?

Afternoon Dose: Spidey 4 villain?; Rage reunion; Oscars; Heroes, Trek news

the lizard

I'm still sick, but here are some of today's interesting headlines ...

- Will The Lizard be Peter Parker's nemesis in Spider-Man 4? Actor Dylan Baker, who plays The Lizard's alter ego Dr. Conners in Spidey 2 and 3, thinks so.

- Will there really be a Rage Against the Machine reunion, featuring Zack de la Rocha, at this year's Coachella fest? De la Rocha's official site seems to confirm it.

- Pan's Labyrinth, Children of Men and, finally, Mark Wahlberg have been nominated for Oscars. Babel, The Departed, Letters From Iwo Jima, Little Miss Sunshine and The Queen are up for Best Picture. View the entire list of nominees here. More on this later.

- Little Man and Basic Instinct 2 are up for Razzies. What, no hate for Just My Luck?

- B-movie prince Eric Roberts is joining the cast of Heroes. Also, have you visited PrimaTech Paper's Web site? Use the code MT36 to log in.

- Star Trek's Brent Spiner (Data) says fans are to blame for the last Trek film's failure.

- And finally, STARZ will air the Guided By Voices documentary The Electrifying Conclusion on Jan. 29. This one is on the house.

TV: Battlestar Galactica (3.12) - 'Rapture'

bsg rapture

(Please note: I'm sicker than a dog as I write this, but i have a TV Fodder deadline to meet. It's hard to focus, what with my head turning to mush and all. Please forgive the lack of insight or any Nyquil-induced dips into excessive hyperbole. My head, and my brain, are hurtin' bad ... Really.)

(Air date: 1/21/06)
Rejoice. This wasn't a filler ep, nor was it a gimmick ep like I feared it would be. After the slow grind that was "The Eye of Jupiter" and the Internet chatter about executive producer Ron Moore wanting to "shock" fans and kill off a major character, I was glad to see that "Rapture" stayed tense, smart and surprising almost from the outset. Even the supernova effects were impressive.

I was in-and-out for the first few minutes, but my eyes were locked on the blue glow after Helo went against the fleet's best interests and smoked Sharon. This, I thought, is what the series is all about. Galactica isn't just a simple political allegory set in space as many glossy magazines might have you believe -- it's about people and what they do to survive. This idea was played out perfectly in this ep and it was underscored in almost every plot thread.

Was Adama ready to nuke the planet to keep the Cylons from finding Earth? His actions prior to this would make me say no, but the opening scenes were still tense. This is a series where people are changed by circumstance and are sometimes governed by impulse. Even Adama must make sacrifices to survive. I was glad to see the nuke standoff ended soon, since there were many more plot points left hanging from the last ep, including D'Anna and Baltar's vision quest, Sharon's plan to find Hera and the fate of Starbuck.

How bad was Starbuck's crash? Bad enough to make me think "Man, Katee Sackhoff looks like crap." We catch up with the impulsive Kara Thrace sitting inside the smoky crash site with puffy bruises and sliced hands. It's fascinating how this series continues to cut, bruise and bleed its leading characters on screen. War is hell, and top billing won't save anyone on Galactica. The survival theme was played out here with Dee and Starbuck reluctantly working together to pilot the beaten ship back into orbit. I'm not a fan of the darker Dianne and Sam dynamic now hovering over Apollo and Starbuck, but I like the way it was played out here. Seeing Starbuck and Dee help each other and seeing Lee and Anders come to a shaky truce in the name of survival felt realistic -- miles away from the soap operatics that were on display in "Jupiter."

The question of "Will Sharon (Athena) betray the fleet?" weighed heavily in the first half of this ep. Grace Park really sold the emotion and ambiguity here, leaving space for the thought that, maybe, she'll side with the Cylons and deliver the goods on Galactica. Like Roslin warned, we still don't know if she can be trusted. But it seems Sharon only wanted to ensure her family's survival and -- in an applause worthy twist -- Caprica Six, who's now stuck in Galactica's brig, helped her do that.

Baltar -- who's looking more and more like Ron Moore in every ep -- is also, I assume, now stuck in the brig. It was great fun watching him subtly manipulate D'Anna to ensure his own survival and answer his burning existential questions. Is he a Cylon? i hope not. I'm not sure about most fans, but I'm rooting for the little weasel to come out on top somewhow. Maybe it's just James Callis' bizarre line readings and facial expressions, but I always look forward to the Baltar scenes, especially when he's on edge, as he was in this entire ep. Capping his mini-arc off with the death of D'Anna was a good kick in the gut.

I really wasn't sucked in by all the mythology people were babbling about. It was hard to make sense of it all, especially with a medicine head, but it seems the characters didn't know what to make of the Temple of Five or the Eye of Jupiter either. What did it all mean? That and some other very intriguing questions remain:
- What will come of the Chief's spiritual awakening?
- Why did Tigh put the wounded "civie" in the brig?
- Who is the Cylon that D'Anna apologized to? Is it Starbuck -- she who scribbles prophetic circles?

I can't wait to see what' will be done with Six and Baltar. It's about time they got back on Galactica and off that eerie base ship. And is it just me, or is everyone else glad that we won't have to endure that awkward crib on the base ship visual anymore?

SciFi should have the ep up for streaming, not to mention Ron Moore's podcast commentary, soon. Next week: Will Lee choose Starbuck?

Memorable quote
Tyroll: (To Baltar right before he knocks him out) "Welcome home, Mr. President."

TV: Stream Veronica Mars episodes online

vm cast

Following in the footsteps of ABC and NBC, The CW is now offering full episode streams of some of its most popular shows, including Veronica Mars. Go here to stream the last four season three episodes aired before the winter break.

If you haven't watched any season three eps yet, these four should prepare you for the series' return on Tuesday. Visit NeptuneSite for episode recaps and check back here for reviews of upcoming episodes.

For now, check out some video goodness from the VM panel at ComicCon 2006 below.

Morning Dose: Spidey 4?; Goblin pics; Departed sequels; Fillion and Minear on Drive

franco goblin

- Official sources are already talking about Spider-Man 4.

- Take a look at more pics of James Franco's new Navy Seal style Goblin costume from the upcoming Spider-Man 3. Is that a hoverboard up there?

- Mark Wahlberg says Martin Scorsese and crew are talking about making sequels (or prequels) to The Departed. Wahlberg says most of the cast might return if the films are a go.
"They're talking to Robert De Niro and a couple of other people. ... Anybody who is anybody wants to work with Marty," Wahlberg told MTV. Wahlberg starred in the 2006 film with Matt Damon, Jack Nicholson and Leonardo DiCaprio.

- The Whedonverse is alive and kicking on TV. Fox just picked up former Firefly co-producer Tim Minear's new drama Drive, which stars Firefly's Nathan Fillion and Angel's Amy Acker. Click here for a network description of the series. The two-hour series premiere airs Sunday, April 15 on Fox. Fillion and Minear discuss the series at TV Squad.

Friday Video: Sloan - 'The Good in Everyone'

I feel like celebrating, so here's Sloan's "The Good in Everyone" from way back in 1996. Terrible video quality, but great song. Happy Friday.

Afternoon Dose: Smallville clips; Trek X1 news; Superman sequel?; Halloween script leaks

smallville

- Smallville fans can catch a 12-minute preview of tonight’s highly anticipated episode, “Justice,” here. The clips feature Clark and Green Arrow meeting up with Impulse (or Gen-Y Flash).

- SyFy Portal reports that the upcoming Star Trek XI film will be all about character. That’s a good sign, no?

- One of the Superman Returns writer says that the film’s sequel will feature more villains from the DC canon and more action.

-Will Ewan McGregor play Kurt Cobain in an upcoming biopic?

- Bad fan reaction to the script for his Halloween remake is really pissing Rob Zombie off. Read AintItCoolNews.com’s merciless review of the script here.

TV: New Heroes sneak peak videos

heroes cast
Originally uploaded by gold_teeth.

NBC's Heroes returns with new episodes on Jan. 22, but NBC.com has posted three sneak peek videos of upcoming eps on the official Heroes page. I posted one below that features Hiro and Nathan.

The Jan. 22 ep is called "Godsend" and it guest-stars former Doctor Who star Christopher Eccleston. Make sure to check here for a review after the ep airs.

Music: Meet Of Montreal

of montreal
Originally uploaded by gold_teeth.

It's still hard for me to accept that most of the world has never heard of Of Montreal, one of the most progressive sounding, mind blowing bands that'll ever make you shake that ass.

Of Montreal is one of those prolific indie pop bands that's constantly evolving and racking up the critical praise, but, I guess, they still don't sell that many records.

The Athens-by-way-of-Brooklyn band released on of its best albums, Statanic Panic in the Attic on Polyvinyl in 2004 and followed up that success with The Sunlandic Twins in 2005. Now, Polyvinyl has released Hissing Fauna, Are You The Destroyer?, arguably the band's most accesible disc to date.

The new album is classic Of Montreal -- containing infectous guitar and keyboard-driven melodies, complex arrangements, off-kilter dance beats and singer-songwriter Kevin Barnes' singular high-pitched vocals -- but the band sounds more urgent and in control of its craft.

Polyvinyl is also offering the band's discography in one special set. Of Montreal hits San Antonio on Jan. 21 and will continue its tour througout the year. Consume the media below for now.

MP3:
Of Montreal - 'Heimdalsgate Like A Promethean Curse' from Hissing Fauna

Of MOntreal - 'Disconnect the Dots From Satanic Panic in the Attic

Of Montreal - 'So Begins Our Alabee' from The Sunlandic Twins

Video:

TV: More on David Hewlett's Starcrossed

atlantis_hewlett
Originally uploaded by gold_teeth.

Rodney McKay fans are in luck. David Hewlett, the actor who plays McKay on the Sci Fi Channel's Stargate:Atlantis, will write an upcoming half-hour comedy for the cable network.

The series is called Starcrossed and, according to Sci Fi, it will go behind the scenes of a long-running space opera. Sci Fi's press release for the series makes comparisons to The Larry Sanders Show and Galaxy Quest.

This series is sure to be fun if Hewlett's wit and top par geekiness are behind it. No word yet on whether Hewlett will star in the series, but I'm guessing he'll at last pop up onscreen a few times if he's not part of the regular cast.

Read Hewlett's blog post about the Sci Fi deal here and take a look at a clip from the film he wrote, directed and stars in below. It's called A Dog's Breakfast and it also stars Atlantis cast members Paul McGillion (Dr. Beckett) and Rachel Luttrell (Teyla). It seems Starcrossed and Dog's share some themes.

Starcrossed is in development and is expected to air sometime this year. Stargate Atlantis returns with new episodes later this year.

Film: Netflix to offer streaming service

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Originally uploaded by gold_teeth.

Netflix, arguably the best place to rent DVDs online, will start streaming films and TV shows online starting Tuesday. They're calling this feature/service "Watch Now," reports the Associated Press.

The good:
-Netflix says it takes about a minute to install the streaming software.
-Netflix will offer most if its vast catalog for streaming. Initially, the service will stream a load of B movies and some classic fare like Chinatown and Amadeus. The studios contributing to the new service include Paramount, NBC Universal, Sony Pictures, MGM, 20th Century Fox, Warner Brothers, Lion’s Gate and New Line.
-It's not too expensive. $17.99 monthly package subscribers will receive 18 hours of Internet viewing time. Your streaming allotment depends on your existing Netflix package.

The not so good:
-Only about 6 million subscribers will be able to access "Watch Now" initially until Netflix beefs up its servers, etc. They expect to introduce the service to about 250,000 subscribers each week through June.
-You'll only be able to stream the films on a PC or a laptop with a high-speed connection and Windows. The service is not iPod or portable device friendly.

So, will you "Watch Now?"

Morning Dose: Lost end date; Sci-Fi shows; Whedon and The Office; Critics Awards

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Originally uploaded by gold_teeth.

Lost producers determine end date

It seems the creators of Lost don't want the series to wear out its welcome.
Producers told the Associated Press that they're in talks with ABC to set an end date for the series. With that end date in mind, the writers will be able to determine exactly how to cap the story.
"Once we figure out when that will be, a lot of the questions will go away," said Carlton Cuse, an executive producer for the series.
Apparently the end date will not be any time soon, but it's good to know that the people working on Lost would rather try to end on a high-note than drag things on way past the series' prime.
Lost returns to ABC with new episodes in Feb with an uninterrupted run through May. Also, the producers noted that the story will go "back to the beach," meaning we'll spend more time with the entire cast in the new episodes, not just Jack, Kate and Sawyer.


NewSci Fi shows announced

Do we really need a new Flash Gordon TV show? The Sci Fi Channel thinks so.
The network also announced a slate of new shows including The Diamond Age, a miniseries based on Neal Stephenson’s best-selling novel and produced by George Clooney.
Also coming to Sci Fi is a comedy written by Stargate Atlantis star David Hewlitt. The series, called Starcrossed, will be about the behind-the-scenes of a long-running sci fi soap opera. I'll definitely give this one a look.


Whedon, Abrams to direct Office eps

Joss Whedon and Lost creator JJ Abrams are slated to direct episodes of The Office. The eps are slated to run in late February.


Steven Seagal: My movies suck

Apparently, Steven Seagal agrees with most of the world and thinks the movies he makes are crap. He now wants to focus on his crap music instead.


Whitaker, Departed top Critics Choice Awards, Globe nods

Forest Whitaker, Helen Miren, Eddie Murphy and The Departed took top honors at the Critics Choice Awards last night. Borat was named Best Comedy and Al Gore's An Inconvenient Truth won Best Documentary.
Most of these performers and films were also nominated for Golden Globe Awards.

Now get to work and remember to read about the Martin Luther King Day events happening in your community.

TV: Will Veronica Mars ditch season-long dramatic arcs?

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Originally uploaded by gold_teeth.

I wouldn't normally point my browser to Michael Ausiello's page over at TVGuide.com, mainly because the guy seems to live for spoilers. I don't have any use for TV or movie spoilers, and I'm baffled by those who do -- why would you want to ruin the excitement and intrigue? Anyway an item on NeptuneSite led me to Ausiello's page and the following bit of news.

Ausiello quotes Veronica Mars creator Rob Thomas as saying that, if picked up, season four of the show will lean toward more self-contained episodes instead of a season-long arc, like we've seen in seasons one and two.

"Our fear is that the big mysteries are keeping casual TV viewers away, and it's very difficult to engage Veronica in a multi-episode mystery without making it extremely personal," Thomas said. "Season 1 was built around the mystery. Veronica's best friend was dead. Every series regular was intertwined with the mystery. Without replacing the cast with each mystery and/or killing Wallace, I'm not sure we can devise enough personal connection to a case to keep the momentum we had in Season 1."

So, there you go, from the man himself. I don't know what to think about this. Can it be that hard to keep decent dramatic arcs going? Buffy did it for seven years.

I mean, the implication is that the CW network and the series' creators want to cater to the people who don't watch the show instead of loyal fans. That's pretty disappointing. But, some said this was going to happen for season three, and that hasn't been the case. Sure, this season's mystery arc was wrapped up in the first half of the season, unlike in years past, but it still has been a great season full of surprises, great writing and acting. Plus the show had record ratings for its winter finale episode, mainly because it wrapped up a half-season arc. That's proof that dramatic arcs do bring in ratings, so it's unlikely that Thomas and crew will toss out the arc concept altogether.

I'm sure Veronica Mars will still be a compelling, funny and smart series if renewed for another year, but those arcs are a big part of what keeps me watching. What do you think?

Friday Video: Busdriver - 'Avantcore'

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Originally uploaded by gold_teeth.

Dig on this great, playful clip from Busdriver. Happy Friday. Also, those evil bastards at Pitchfork are offering a new MP3 from Busdriver's new album here.

Morning Dose: Cobain movie?; SXSW 2007; Meat puppets; Wil Wheaton; Venom figure

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Originally uploaded by gold_teeth.

Kurt Cobain movie on the way?

A post on AccssHollywood.com informs that Courtney Love has acquired the rights to the Charles Cross biography of Kurt Cobain Heavier Than Heaven. She is in discussion with several studios to produce a film based on the book. Apparently, Courtney posted all of this information on a fan site and says the movie will be an "A list" production.
Is it just me, or do legions of Cobain and Nirvana fans out there feel nervous about leaving the filmic fate of Kurt in Courtney's hands? Whatever happens, let's just hope the next film inspired by Kurt's life and music is more exciting than Gus Van Sant's Last Days.


SXSW 2007 news

South by Southwest 2007 is set to start March 9 in Austin. Here's an early look at what's on tap for the film portion. As for the music portion of the festival, expect a keynote address from Pete Townshend and a sit-down with Ricki Lee Jones


Want to control a real-life avatar?

Ever wanted to have a real-life, flesh and blood avatar? Here's your chance. The Medaimatic gallery in Amsterdam will present a two-week exhibit in which people can manipulate four real people (or avatars) from the comfort of their own home. The project is called The Girlfriend Experience and takes place in a villa you can observe from your computer. The weirdness starts on Jan 26.


Wil Wheaton on Star Trek: The Experience

Wil Wheaton blogs about his first time at Star Trek: The Experience in Las Vegas. According to him, it's fuckin' awesome. Read his post, it's a real treat, especially for Trek fans. Here's an excerpt:
"Being inside those walls, even though it was in a casino in Las Vegas, I was safe. I was protected from the bullshit that had been the focus of my life since I quit the show. When that bullshit was washed away, I saw Trek for what it is: a huge part of my life."


Venom and Jen's figures

Finally, check out the new Spider-Man 3 Venom action figure, now available for order along with other new Spider-Man junk. Oh yeah, apparently Jennifer Aniston's breasts are getting a lot of attention today. Oh, and my first TVFodder.com post is online here. I'll be covering Battlestar Galactica for the site, so check it out if you're a fan.

Music: Meet Talib Kweli

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Originally uploaded by gold_teeth.

I had such a busy one yesterday that I forgot to post about a new band you should check out. Now, instead of doing that, I'll post about an MC -- Talib Kweli.

The Brooklyn MC, formerly of Back Star with Mos Def and DJ Hi-Tek, just released a colabo disk with Oakland-based producer and MC Madlib called Liberation. A post on Kweli's MySpace blog informs that Liberation, which was offered as a free download before its first week of release, is a gift to fans of independent hip-hop. In the post, Talib goes on to praise Madlib's talents and reveals more about the inspiration for this album.

"In this era of over produced and over marketed product, Mad Lib leads the pack of independent artists who could care less about all of that. I am a part of the music industry, and lord knows I'm needed, but for our own sanity we must step outside the system and create that which is not packaged for mass consumption," he writes.

Liberation is definitely worth listening to. It's one of the most interesting collaborative records I've heard in a long time. Madlib's beats are soulful, imaginative and unexpected, while Talib's singular flow is always welcome. Unfortunately, it's not available for free download anymore, unless you do some creative searching, of course. Keep checking the Stones Throw Web site for an official release date.

Look for Kweli's next solo project Eardrum to hit the street later this year.

Here's some media to consume:

MP3:
Talib Kweli & Madlib - 'The Function (feat. Strong Arm Steady)'

Video:

Comics: Order your copy of Joss Whedon's Buffy: Season 8 now

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Originally uploaded by gold_teeth.

Dark Horse comics reports that issue one of Joss Whedon's upcoming Buffy Season 8 comic will hit stores on March 7. You can pre-order your copy here.

As reported before, Whedon will write the first few issues of the comic, which will be an official continuation of the TV series that ran for seven seasons.

TVSquad reports that the plot for the first few issues will involve new slayer "cells," Giles and Amy the witch. Oh yeah, and if you didn't notice, that's Xander in the preview image for issue no. 2 posted above. Looks like he pulled a Wesley and went rogue.

Morning Dose: X-Men 4?; Buffy book; Trek news; No Hobbit for Jackson

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Originally uploaded by gold_teeth.

Storm brings the pressure for X-Men 4

After winning her People's Choice Award this week, Halle Berry asked X-Men fans to write letters to a Fox executive to encourage the studio to do X-Men 4. Funny, I would be in favor of another X-flick only if Berry were not allowed anywhere near the set.


The Science of slaying

Science is everywhere in the Buffyverse, according to writer Jennifer Ouellette. Ouellette's new book The Physics of the Buffyverse uses characters, concepts and plot lines from joss Whedon's Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel to illustrate physical science concepts like sound, electricity, thermodynamics, time travel, wormholes, black holes and more. Almost makes you wanna become a science teacher. The book answers questions like the following in scientific terms:
- What’s the best kind of wood to use for a stake, especially against a Turok-han?
- How much energy would you need to create enough extra mass to turn Mayor Wilkins into a giant snake?
Buy the book here.


Star Trek XI news from Abrams, Shatner

Lost creator JJ Abrams and William Shatner are offering some information on the upcoming Star Trek film. Abrams comments make it seem like his finished script for the film is a reboot, like Batman Begins.
"... The movie does not require you to know anything aboutStar Trek. I would actually prefer [that] people don't know the series, because I feel like they will come to it with an open mind," Abrams told Entertainment Weekly about the script. Abrams might also direct the film.
Shatner tells Sci-Fi Wire that he plans to meet with Abrams and will appear in the film if asked. He confirms that the story is about young Kirk. The film is due out in 2008.


Peter Jackson vs. New Line

The whole Peter Jackson vs. New Line spat is getting ugly. New Line Chief exec Robert Shaye has some pretty nasty words to say about Jackson, who says he won't do The Hobbit. Read about the mess at Cinematical.


Crazy like Matthew Fox

Finally, read about how Lost's Matthew Fox is kind of a wierdo and enjoy this new song from Talib Kweli and Madlib.

Comics: X-Factor No.14 review

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Originally uploaded by gold_teeth.

In the first-page primer for X-Factor No. 14: "Multiple Issues," writer Peter David hilariously sums up the origins of this latest incarnation of X-Factor in his trademark self-aware and self-effacing style.

"...The X-Men broke up but were later reunited as X-Factor, but then they stopped being X-Factor and a bunch of guys who no one was that interested in became X-Factor. It was eventually canceled. But then Andy Schmidt got the bright idea to do a limited series based on Madrox, called in Peter David to write it and Pablo Raimondi to pencil it, and it sold real well and now here we all are," reads David's history of, arguably, his best series yet. (If you want a weightier version of the book's evolution, go here).

Much like Buffy creator Joss Whedon, David's one of those writers who can take a story, in this case a comic book, full of outsiders or second-tier heroes and make it spark with dense plotting, humor, great dialogue and a real love for the characters. The noir twist that's going on in this book, underscored by Raimondi's sleek penciling and the almost monochrome color pallete, is a welcome bonus.

"Multiple Issues" smartly deals with the fallout of a few big events from the last couple of issues. Told in a gumshoe flashback style, Jamie Madrox starts out dealing with the literal cuts and bruises he's collected from Siryn and Monet and ends up on a personal quest to quiet his existential demons.

After kicking a few back with Rictor -- and revealing that Monet's a real tiger in the sack -- Madrox heads to the Central Park Zoo and calls in Dr. Samson to shrink his head a bit. Enlightening words are exchanged, monkey poo is tossed and Madrox decides to pull himself together, literally, by collecting all the dupes he's sent out into the world.

I really liked the conversation between Madrox and Samson here. The spacious panels really sold the reflective tone, and I like the idea that maybe Madrox's decision to send out his dupes wasn't a good idea after all. the decision has certainly has lead him to be a more complex character, but I'm looking forward to following him on his dupe-collecting journey, even though it means he might leave his teammates behind.

Finally, we had some unexpected good news for the rest of the team. Thanks to Layla's interference (she really does know stuff, you know), Monet and Siryn make up, girlie style, and head to Paris to do some retail therapy. Funny stuff.

Guido bluntly confesses to Mrs. Buchanan about accidentally smoking her husband while under Singularity's mind control. She reacts with understanding, and David lays down the workings of a great, compassionate character with a nice knack for eloquence. I hope we see more of Buchanan in issues to come.

Now, what to make of Madrox's run in with Val at S.H.I.E.L.D? And who kidnaped him outside the offices? And what about Pierto and Rictor? Will one influence the other to change his tune? Big time X-book fans probably already know the answer to this, but I'm a newbie here, so I'm still very intrigued by the possibilities.

Once again, David and crew delivered a muted, funny and smart issue that's more invested in character instead of world-ending arcs or, well, tights. For me, X-Factor remains one of the most compelling superhero books on the shelves.

Memorable exchange:
Madrox: I read in a few decades, polar bears might be extinct 'cause of global warming, courtesy of maknkind
Samson: How do you feel about that?
Madrox: It sucks. For one thing, what'll they use to sell Coca Cola?

Links:
Peter David's blog

Marvel's X-Factor page

Film: Pan's Labyrinth comes to Brownsville

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Originally uploaded by gold_teeth.

I don’t believe it. Pan’s Labyrinth is coming to Brownsville this Friday. First Children of Men and now this!

Pan's was released nationwide in December, but like a lot of smaller or independent movies, it has yet to play anywhere near Brownsville. I'm sure the film is expanding to our market simply because it's making a lot of money, like a few other well-received indie films out right now. I hope this is a trend that continues. It’s about time the local Cinemark screened some quality, non-Hollywood films. (I’m not boasting, but I can’t help but think that this might have something to do with this little article)

I can’t wait to see this film, not only because it’s one of the best reviewed of 2006, but also because I’m a fan of director Guillermo del Toro. Del Toro’s credits include The Devil’s Backbone, Cronos and Blade II, all superior and original entries into the horror/fantasy genre.

Click here for showtimes at Brownsville’s Cinemark Sunrise Mall. I’m planning on seeing Pan’s this weekend, so expect a review here soon.

Here’s a good feature about the film. Check out the trailer below.

Film: Children of Men review

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Originally uploaded by gold_teeth.

(Cinemark Sunrise Mall, Brownsville, TX; 1/7/07)
It’s hard to single out one moment in director Alfonso Cuarón’s Children of Men that doesn’t feel urgent, tense or, more frighteningly, very plausible.

Set in a dystopian, war ravaged future Britain where no child has been born for 18 years, the film effectively draws a straight line between the bleak, bombed-out future on the screen and current events, including the war in Iraq and the crackdown on illegal immigration.

“This is where we’re heading,” Cuarón is trying to say, but Children of Men, based on the book by P.D. James, is remarkable not because of its social commentary, but for the way it doles the commentary out.

Cuarón — clearly a follower of the “show don’t tell” philosophy — has crafted a thrilling technical achievement here, creating a gray, violent British police state full of visual exposition that shows us everything we need to know. We’re not told the world is in chaos, we see it in the newspaper clippings with wartime headlines, the downbeat TV news reports about casualty counts and terrorist bombings, the political graffiti and in the faces of caged refugees on the street.

Corporate structures and bureaucratic buildings are all that stand intact — it’s hard times for sure. It’s anyone’s guess who started the war or who’s on the right side, but that information isn’t really pertinent to the film’s sim-plistic story.

Clive Owen cuts a decidedly glum figure as Theo, a former revolutionary turned beurocratic drone who now kills time by getting high with an aging pot dealer (played warmly by Michael Caine). Theo’s revolutionary past comes back to tap him for a favor in the form of his ex-wife (Julian Moore), the leader of a political extremist group. Moore’s faction is protecting a young woman (Claire Hope Ashitey) who, somehow, is pregnant. It’s up to Theo to use his political pull to get the pregnant woman, named Kee, to another political group called The Human Project. There, supposedly, Kee will get the medical treatment and care her and her baby will need to survive.

Children of Men is a surprisingly economic film of ideas, but the film’s driving story is too simplistic. While the world around them is burning with conflict, the film’s main characters follow a standard road movie formula. There are a few shocking scenes along the way, but if you’ve seen the trailer, you know where the film’s heading.

Children of Men is most effective when the turbulent world outside comes crashing in on the main characters, leading them into chaotic and shockingly realistic scenes of guerilla warfare and terrorist action. There’s a tense, stunningly shot stretch in the second half of the film in which Owen runs through an urban war zone, evading sniper bullets while those around him fall bloody to the ground. The scene rivals anything I’ve seen in recent war films, including the opening shots of Saving Private Ryan.

There’s much to recommend here, including good performances by the cast (especially Hope Ashitey), great music and profound cinematography. I only wish the main story would have taken a few more unexpected turns. Maybe then the film would have held the gripping pace it sometimes achieves.

Links:
Official Children of Men Web site

Trailer

Alfonso Cuarón at imdb.com

TV: Is this the final season for Gilmore Girls?

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Originally uploaded by gold_teeth.

Could this be the last season for Gilmore Girls? While talking about her upcoming film Because I Said So, GG star Lauren Graham told ComingSoon.net that she’s unsure whether or not the series will continue after this year.

I’m not surprised to hear this, and I’m sure most GG fans aren’t either. Even before the Palladinos split, the show seemed to be going in a strange direction, and things are really hit-and-miss now under new show runner David Rosenthal.

Here are the highlights of the Graham interview:

“I don't know (if this will be the last season) because it has been expressed to me that they would like another season, but then there's nothing that's happened toward that. I'm not sure. I don't know what would make my decision clearer," Graham said. She goes on to talk about how Alexis Bledel has mixed feelings about returning for another year as well. She also said she’d rather now work on a project in which she is not the lead, calling her work schedule “difficult.”

Graham seems in favor of ending the show on a semi-high note.

“I would rather leave people feeling like 'I wish that they would have continued' than leave people feeling like, 'wow they really did it beyond when the time was,’” she said.

If this is the season finale, Graham said she'd be alright with where the story ends.

"If you took all the other elements away like money and job security and stuff like that, Alexis' character is about to graduate from college. That to me seems to be the place to end it because then what? Then she moves back to town. That seems perfect, you know. It makes sense and that would be an event and then you sort of see that character goes off and does whatever she's going to do. I don't know. It's very weird," she said.

So what do you think? Is it time to say goodbye to Stars Hollow? Gilmore Girls returns to The CW with new episodes Jan. 23. Check back here for episode reviews/recaps and more news.

TV: Battlestar Galactica updates

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Originally uploaded by gold_teeth.

Fanboys rejoice. Playboy has announced that Tricia Helfer, who plays Six on the Sci-Fi Channel’s Battlestar Galactica, will pose nude for an issue due out next month. “On Battlestar Galactica she's known as Number Six, but we can't think of her as anything less than a 10,” read Playboy’s predictably tacky press release.

Dynamite Entertainment has released a new limited comic book series about Richard Hatch’s character Zarek. Battlestar Gala-tica: Zarek No.1 focuses on the life of Zarek, the political extremist, terrorist and one-time presidential candidate on Galactica. The series is written by Brandon Jerwa and illustrated by Adriano Batista.

Finally, Sci-Fi will run a Galactica marathon on Jan. 15. The marathon will air all of the first half of season three starting at 8 a.m. The marathon will feature a crawl with selected fan comments starting at noon. Also, Sci-Fi will give away a Galactica prize pack to a few lucky fans who can answer trivia questions during the marathon. Click here for more info. Galactica returns with new episodes Jan. 21.

Check out this season three gag reel that popped up online a few days ago.

News: Hiro speaks; Franz records; Shaun of the Grindhouse?; Casting news; Music of Men

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Originally uploaded by gold_teeth.

Masi Oka reveals all about Hiro

Did you know that Hiro wasn’t in the original draft of the Heroes pilot? Tim Kring, creator of the NBC series, added him as an afterthought. Did you know that Hiro will soon have another love interest on the show that isn’t named Charlie? Oh yeah, and Star Trek’s George Takei will play Hiro’s dad in upcoming episodes. Read Heroes star Masi Oka’s revealing interview with ComingSoon.net for more.


Franz Ferdinand in the studio

It looks like Franz Ferdinand will be heading into the studio soon for album no. 3. Lead Ferdinand Alex Kapranos told NME that he’s also producing the new album for UK trio The Cribs. Kapranos says his new Franz songs have a “rougher, rawer feel to them.”


Shaun of the Dead director joins Grindhouse

Fangoria.com just reported that Shaun of the Dead director Edgar Wright will direct one of the faux trailers for Quentin Tarantino and Robert Rodriguez’s upcoming flick Grindhouse. It’s rumored that one of the trailers will feature Nick Cage turning into a werewolf. Sounds like fun.


Casting News

Kyrsten Dunst as Blondie’s Debbie Harry? She’s got the perfect face for it. Sophia Bush as Wonder Woman? She’s got the perfect … er … hair for it. What do you think?


Music of Men

Lastly, did anyone see Children of Men this weekend? (I’m working on my review, it should be up soon.) How about all that great music in the film? Donovan, the Libertines, Roots Manuva. I’m on a mission to track down down Franco Battiato’s version of “Ruby Tuesday.” Check out the hilarious, anti-child video below for Roots Manuva’s ”Witness." The song was featured early in the film.

Friday Video: Devo - 'Whip It'

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Originally uploaded by goldteethblog.

At least one good thing came out of CNN's decision to cover nothing but the ghost ride the whip idiocy today. Because of the network's constant coverage, I've had Devo's "Whip It" (which is actually not about getting high from nitrous oxide) stuck in my brain all day. Here's the video. Lucky you.

Music: Do you Daytrot?

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Originally uploaded by goldteethblog.

The good, indie music loving folks over at Daytrotter.com offer something not many music Web sites can: exclusive, unreleased tracks by great musical artists.

Daytrotter invites traveling musicians to its recording studio in Rock Island, Ill., to record four songs exclusively for the site. They post the songs for all to download for free. Daytrotter also posts reviews, features and inteviews with the bands and great illustrations (like the one of Elf Power posted above).

So far, Daytrotter has recorded the likes of Mates of State, Elf Power, Shearwater, Of Montreal, Sound Team, Cold War Kids, Bonnie Prince Billy and tone more.

Here’s a link to Mates of State’s cover of Nico’s “These Days” recorded for Daytrotter.

Morning Dose: Aqua Teen movie; Teens vs. God; M.Ward; O.C. dies, Bionic Woman lives

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Originally uploaded by goldteethblog.

Aqua Teen movie on the way

It’s called Aqua Teen Hunger Force Colon Movie for Theaters and it’s due out in March, reports ComingSoon.net. The animated feature, based on the Cartoon Network series, is Adult Swim’s first feature and will detail the origins of Meatwad, Frylock and Master Shake.
"Never before will the silver screen be engaged in such a celebration of animation," said creators Maiellaro and Willis simultaneously and in unison when interviewed recently.
The show will continue to run on TV and it looks like sequels might even follow this initial film.


Wired weird science

The good people at Wired started a show called Wired Science that premiered last night on PBS. Anyone watch it? David Byrne composed the theme music. To learn more and see clips, click here. While we're on a short science kick, check out this list of top pharmaceutical innovations of 2006. Anyone in need of some Zoster vaccine.


YouTubing in blasphemy's name

Did you know that more than 400 young people have joined a YouTube campaign created by the Web site BlasphemyChallenge.com to stake their souls against the existence of god? Sounds like 400 people didn’t see Bruce Almighty, Dogma or any of those old George Burns movies. If you go by Hollywood, and you always should, God is cooler than Samuel L. Jackson. Anybody wanna stake their soul against the existence of Samuel L. Jackson. … I didn’t think so.


M. Ward scores film

SuicideGirls.com reports that singer-songwriter M. Ward, praised for the albums Post War (2006) and Transistor Radio, just finished scoring his first film called The Go Getter. The film is a road trip drama starring Zooey Deschanel, Jena Malone and … M. Ward. It was written by the dude who wrote Stealing Harvard, so, you know, it might be quite terrible. Here’s to hoping Tom Green stayed away from the shoot.
Download M. Ward’s Vincent O’ Brien.


Fox cancels The O.C.; Bionic Woman green lit

ComingSoon also reports that the sun will set on the so bad it’s still really bad nighttime soap The O.C. on Feb. 22. Please tell me One Tree Hill is next. … SuperHeroHype.com reports that the Bionic Woman will return to TV in an NBC remake. No casting news yet, but let’s hope they keep that cool bionic sound thing going.

That’s all I got time for. Now, listen to this Of Montreal track and get to work.