I already wasted time and web space making fun of the (sigh) Planet of the Apes prequel back in May, so let’s just get to the goods, shall we? This is either the first photo from the set of Rise of the Apes, or some strange guy in a bodysuit following James Franco and his girlfriend home.
Decide for yourself in our comment section below.
via CHUD
I’m sure my friends are glad that the Emmys have come and gone, as now they no longer have to hear me talk about what a shame it is that none of the Community cast got nominated. So, what was the cast of the best new show of last season doing instead of sitting in the Emmy audience waiting to hear their name called? Doing car commercials.
But wait! It was no where near as bad as it sounds. I actually rather liked it…or perhaps I was just really in need of a Community fix until the new season starts. See for yourself:
And as not to load this post down with with videos, here’s the links to part two and three on YouTube. New season starts September 23rd!
Sandler on the set of his comedic remake of "Taxi Driver". Suri Cruise is playing the Jodie Foster part.
Remember last year when we heard that Adam Sandler would play both Jack and Jill in a romantic comedy of the same name? That’s still a thing. I’ve learned from I Watch Stuff that Katie Holmes is being groomed for the role of Jack’s wife, which at least means we can all thank God that Sandler will not be shamelessly wooing himself on film.
But the real tragedy here is that while Jack and Jill is an actual multi-million dollar film, my pitch for the Dane Cook vehicle Old Mother Hubbard (Dane Cook must disguise himself as his own grandmother while still trying to score with the chick from Twilight) is still languishing in development hell! By which I mean Peter Segal hasn’t called me back yet. So I’ve decided that every time I read another stupid piece of news about Jack and Jill, I’ll churn out another “Nursery Rhyme Title as Raunchy Romantic Comedy” premise. Eventually, Hollywood’s sure to snap one up. Here’s my latest:
Peter Peter
Jonah Hill stars as college senior Peter Peter. He’s about to graduate and he still hasn’t got up the nerve to ask out the hottest girl on campus (played by whoever almost wins this season of The Bachelor). His love life isn’t helped by his terrible allergy to pumpkin, which–instead of giving him a rash or killing him–causes him to launch involuntarily into a series of hilarious, and often racist, character voices. When the hotty dares him to eat 100 pumpkin pies before graduation, with a night of passion as the prize, Peter’s got no choice but to grab the Cool Whip and hope his uncontrollable alter egos don’t get him into too much trouble!
Done. Money in the bank.
Adam Green’s Hatchet was no work of art, but it completely delivered the “Old School American Horror” that the posters promised. I left the theater thinking Green could be the next Eli Roth, and started wishing for a whole slew of quickly made Hatchet sequels, a la the Friday the 13th films in the ’80′s.
Three years and a few decent films later, Green is finally granting my wish. And while the teaser trailer for Hatchet II spends most of it’s time reviewing the first film, I have to admit that I’m still very excited. Let’s hope that this gets a wide enough release so I can catch it in theaters.
Remember Norm Macdonald? He’s that guy who got fired from SNL for being funny, made two very awesome but unsuccessful films, then somehow ended up starring in his own sitcom on ABC. Only in America, kids.
Although I haven’t seen it since it originally aired, The Norm Show (later renamed Norm), was must-see-TV for high school Logan. The reason it worked was, quite simply, because it didn’t work. Norm Macdonald was always the first person to point out that he couldn’t act. He was also one of the most uncreative comedians around, often labeling things exactly how they looked (hence “Wiener Dog” as the name of his wiener dog). Norm Macdonald had no business being on primetime, network television…but this is what made the show so awesome.
Shout! Factory, which I seriously cannot stop saying amazing things about, recently announced plans to release the complete Norm Show on DVD, which I find both exciting and scary. Exciting because I remember loving this show and scary because I’m secretly afraid it’s not going to hold up. But then again, there’s this clip, which alone is worth at least half of the $45 Amazon pre-order price.
Anybody else remember this show? Thoughts?
Are you aware that we live in a world where a film like Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World, arguably one of the funniest and most creative films of the year, bombs at the box office, while Vampires Suck opens as a certified hit? What’s wrong with people?
I also find this surprising as I was under the impression that the Twilight series was already funny enough. I mean, why bother with a spoof when the material being spoofed is funnier? Case in point: Breaking Dawn. Sure, it’s not even out yet, but if it ends up anything at all like the book, we’re looking at what might possibly be THE BEST WORST FILM EVER. Ryan and I discussed it back in this podcast, but here’s the quick version in case you missed it:
I don’t think I’ve talked about Mad Men on the blog before, primarily due to my unspoken agreement with Logan to deny the existence of any television show that doesn’t feature Chevy Chase. I’m breaking that streak today to discuss the most surprisingly compelling character of this season: Glen Bishop.
I enjoy Mad Men, but it’s frustratingly disorganized in its storytelling. It doesn’t really have story arcs, so much as vague themes. Characters may get tons of screen time for several episodes, only to disappear completely without warning. Whatever happened to Joan’s closeted lesbian roommate? Are we ever going to see Sal again? And where the hell has Betty Draper been this season? Until recently, I thought Glen Bishop had evaporated as well. But before we discuss the present, let’s take a look back to when we first met the little scamp:
Glen is the young son of Helen Bishop, a divorced single mother who lives in the Draper’s neighborhood. When Helen’s babysitter falls through, she guilts Betty into watching Glen for the evening. While Betty is using the bathroom, Glen walks in on her (quite on purpose) and proceeds to stare at her until she’s able to get the door closed. Betty confronts him about it. He cries and apologizes. So far, Glen’s kinda weird. But, hey, he’s a lonely, sexually curious nine-year-old. Give him a break.
Then he asks for a lock of Betty’s hair. So, ya know…we’re getting into creepy town now. He tells her that he wants it because she’s like a princess. Of course, because Betty Draper is pretty unhinged herself, she ends up giving it to him. It’s a neat scene because not only do you get to watch this really messed up little kid, you also realize how lonely Betty herself must be to oblige him.
Glen disappears for a bit after that, then shows up again when his mother finds the lock of hair and tells Betty to keep away from her son. Later, the two meet by chance in a parking lot where Betty breaks down and admits how isolated she is, causing Glen to tenderly (and SUPER creepily) comfort her by saying that he wishes he were older.
Eventually, he runs away from home and hides in the Draper’s doghouse, explaining to Betty that he’s come to rescue her, and that the two can run away together. It’s clear now, even to Betty, that this kid is damaged. She calls his mom. He views it as the ultimate betrayal, and tells Betty he hates her. So ends their affair. Glen fades into the ether, never to be seen or mentioned again.
Until now! Oh yes, friends. This season opened with the Draper kids (now the Francis kids after Betty’s divorce) bumping into Glen while Christmas tree shopping. But this time he’s only got stalker-eyes for young Sally. In a way this is a step up, since she’s actually his age. In another way, it’s kind of like a psycho ex-lover showing up to menace the family of the one who spurned him.
And we’re in luck, Glen fans. Our boy has discovered exciting new ways to be unnerving. Every scene he’s in explodes with awkwardness! He shows Sally his menacing pocket knife, chats about divorce in a detached monotone, calls her up in the middle of the night, and–in his Glenniest move yet–breaks into the Francis home and wrecks the shit out of it, leaving only Sally’s room intact.
And then…nothing again. He’s been absent for the last three episodes. C’mon, Mad Men, what’s up with this kid? Is he using Sally as a creepy surrogate for her mom? Is he a serial killer in the making? Is he going to have a seen with Don where the two hash things out over scotch? What is Glen’s deal!
To make matters weirder, Glen is played by Martin Weiner, son of the show’s creator, who presumably looked at his son one day and said “This kid is so quietly shudder-inducing, America will be helpless to look away!” Maybe that at least means he won’t be forgotten like all those other great side characters.
Either way, you guys can count on me to keep you updated on the creepy exploits of Glen Bishop from here on out. Unless those exploits involve him appearing outside my bedroom window with his father’s hunting rifle. By the time I learn of that exploit, it will be far too late for me.
Thanks to the Mad Men Wiki for jogging my memory. Also check AMC’s blog for an interview with the surprisingly well-adjusted Marten Weiner.
At a certain point, I begin to wonder if being a guy who has hated almost everything Wes Craven does but still continues to follow his work for some reason, is any different from being his biggest fan. Maybe I’m just kidding myself? Or is that killing myself!
Anyway, he’s actually directing again! Check out the trailer for My Soul to Take. The original title was 25/8, but presumably Craven couldn’t get funding for that many eighths. It’s pretty much your standard slasher, with the twist that one of the kids may be the reincarnated spirit of the murderer. Kind of a neat idea. I wonder how he’ll screw it up.
[via I Watch Stuff]
