12/12/12: Live Updates Of The Sandiest Concert Ever

There's been a lot of people clammering about how "12/12/12" is a once in a lifetime event. Yeah. Someday when your kids insist you tell them about that momentous day, what will you tell them? "I had a meatball sub and went Christmas shopping." Not. So. Special.

Fortunately, tonight is also 12/12/12: The Sandy Relief Concert, which I will review for you moment by moment. You lucky dog!

While I will be heaping out rich helpings of sarcasm and almost-humerous wit, I ask that everyone does what they can to help at www.121212concert.org

Let's get started.

7:25: CSI: Miami. Oh sad, foolish CSI: Miami. Does everyone in Florida talk in obvious observations and reach for puns to prove their professional swagger? One can only hope. The episode ends with a girl coming out of a coma and naming her supplier. Well, that makes it easy. I'd say that such a swift ending is... pretty dope. YYYYYYYYYYYEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH.....

7:30: Sandy's Greatest Hits Compilation. All your favorites: Hurricane photos, youtube videos of kids crying, the live crowd cheering at the wrong moments. They either don't see the destruction we're watching at home or they are really into The Weather Channel.

7:33: Bruce Springsteen  mentions thunder and railroads in the first twenty seconds of the opening song. This is where I usually skip to the deep cuts. He continues "Land of Hopes and Dreams," a song that features the most trains since "Conjunction Junction." Ever notice that The Boss never counts to 4? "1,2..." or "2,3,4!"... You've gotta wonder.

7:41: Springsteen launches into "Wrecking Ball." At first listen, it sounds preeetty insensitive. Too soon, Boss.

7:45: Flashback to THIS. Kinda hoping for the American sequel in 3....2....1...... nope.

7:46: Bruce warms up the crowd for the "big night." Not the most sensual thing he's said, but it's up there. He gets oddly specific. "There's an alley behind Shelley's Liquor where I used to shoot all kinds of drugs...." (not really.)

7:48: Well, this WAS a concert. Now it's Bruce's audio version of Walk The Line.

7:49: "City of Ruins." I get that he's relating these songs to Sandy and his home. But it's getting pretty obvious that all Bruce has done on the last decade is write songs about shitty happenings on the Jersey Shore. Like a depressing Boardwalk Empire. Only Steve Buscemi isn't playing the tambourine out of time.

7:53: My fiancee is genuinely concerned Bruce is going to a) have a heart attack saying "COME ON!" or b) shit his pants.

7:55: Bruce seems to be buying time with his "Sha la la"s. Dangerously close to slipping into an Adam Sandler voice.

7:56: If Bruce is the hero of Jersey, Bon Jovi is the piece of glass you step on playing frisbee on the beach. "Born to Run" never felt so forced.

7:58: Bon Jovi is like Sting. If Sting got drunk at a Christmas party and kept eyeing your girlfriend until she begged you to leave early.

8:05: Billy Crystal is still alive! And still throwing softballs. Homeland, Long Island Power, state legislation, jewish jokes... IS ANYONE STILL AWAKE?

8:07: The ocean Billy loved caused so much damage. Way to go, Billy Crystal! To add insult to injury, a bad Robert DeNiro impression.

8:09: Shouldn't the Robin Hood Relief Fund be stealing from Billy Crystal and giving to Sandy Victims? Just sayin'...

8:09: BREAKING NEWS: It's the fifth day of Hanukkah. Now you know.

8:10: Martha Stewart hasn't gotten enough face time, so she hid herself strategically behind the POWERHOUSE that is Susan Sarandon.

8:11:Roger Waters and Eddie Vedder, sounds like a concert is starting in MSG...

8:14: Waters was casted as Ricky Gervais' father tonight. The man wears a lot of black t-shirts.

8:17: Roger Waters says no to Sandy victims receiving education. Sad, really.

8:20: Eddie Vedder has had an AWKWARD 5 minute wait on stage so far. If only he had brought a magazine.

8:22: "Money." A song about how useless money is. At a concert. Asking people to donate money...

8:24: WHOA. Someone was late on the censor button. Especially when "Bullshit" is in the lyrics! Can't wait for Kanye!!!

8:28: The sax solo means it's that time, folks. YOU KNOW THAT TIME... Naptime at Madison Square Gardens.

8:29: Which is worse: Bruce getting us down about the destruction of the coast or Eddie Vedder just getting us down? I need an antidepressant to get through this set.

8:31: No end in sight... Running to the kitchen to the dulcet sounds of Vedder and Waters tear-soaked vibes...

8:35: It looks like Roger Waters is serenading a hurricane. A sexy hurricane...

8:36: Eddie Vedder gets a huge cheer for simply changing it up.

8:39: Vedder is great at singing handless or strangle-y.

8:45: Speaking of disasters, it's Adam Sandler.

8:51: Kristen Stewart rolled out of bed to look uncomfortable and read through her haze of money and talentless fog.

9:03: Let me get all of my Bon Jovi vitriol out real quick: nice turtleneck, jackass. Let's hear some strip club music. Doing a great impression of Jack Black.

9:09: Bon Jovi has reduced Springsteen to Wiggles quality. I would count how many times they are saying "S'ALRIGHT" but I can only count to 1,000,000,000,000,000,000,000

9:12: While Bon Jovi continues down his shallow list of hits, I'm going to research when the last time was he wrote a real hit...

9:15: OK, so technically hie still sells records. But only Gold on "The Circle"? Weak, Jovi. Weak.

9:17: You can't miss Chris Chirstie in a crowd. Important or fat? You decide.

9:21: John Stewart gets the first laugh of the night!

9:22: No one threw the hurricane at you, John. Except God. I guess...

9:23: Cheeseburgers and mini-golf, John? ....... Where can I get that this time of night??

9:26: It's Gary Old-..... Eric Clapton!

9:34: This is dangerously close to turning into a Phish-esque jam session. Now is the time to call FEMA.

9:39: They keep saying Kanye West like it's a threat...

9:40: I don't know who the woman in the purple dress is, who put her onstage or why it seems like the teleprompter is swinging to and fro, but... better than Kristen Stewart.

9:45: Jimmy Fallon is one step away from a bad John Travolta impression. "Aw, geez guys! This is CRAZY! Wow!" Guess there are WORSE impressions. Wink wink. Nudge Nudge. Etc.

9:48: Ladies and Gentleman, Mick Jagger's Skeleton!

9:51: There's something infinitely amusing in the idea of Jagger falling mid-cocky move and sentence. "I WAS A- AH, F@*!ING SH(# MY ASS!"

9:55: Keith Richards keeps forgetting and remembering where he is midsong.

9:57: Jagger has shed most of his clothes to reveal his Ricky Gervais costume.

10:01: Stephen Colbert laying down the hard facts! "Paul McCartney, cut your hair and lose the accent; you're a role model."

10:04: Hey, it's P "Untalented Kanye" Diddy and 13!

10:07: I'd give 1,000 dollars for Alicia Keys to start singing "SKYFAAAAAALL...."

10:12: Alicia Keys could read a cereal box and it will sound seductive.

10:13: "I want you to get your cell phones out for me." Damn, Alicia Keys. Getting all Rhianna on me...

10:17: Alicia could slip her grocery list into the song and no one will notice.

10:21: Steve Buscemi is blitzed. Luckily, his googly eyes are sober, so he'll make it through the night.

10:25: Steve Buscemi got verbally abused by Chris Christie's brother. That should have been the closer!

10:28: The Who may be the only infallible thing to happen tonight.

10:38: Wow, an actual tearjerking performance by Keith Moon. RIP.

10:40: No one should play Pinball Wizard without Elton John dressed fantastically.

10:43: Wow, the destruction footage behing The Who is bada-......oh.... whoops....

10:48: A beautiful use of the microphone to inject heroine!

11:01: "Have a fucking beer!" -Pete Townsend

11:03: There is NO difference between James Gandolfini and Will Sasso.

11:11: Chris Rock has been on stage for two minutes and hasn't said #*@@(#@*#2*! once. I'm amazed!

11:13: I've never been as jealous of something as Kanye's leather skirt.

11:19: No person can deny Jesus Walks. It's like Gangnam Style of the rap world.

11:28: Kanye is in a marathon right now. Paul McCartney has been pushed to 2:00 am.

11:33: The censor worked for the first time! Kanye is about to the point where he is rasping and reading his lyrics.

11:35: I can't tell if Jimmy Fallon and Jack McBreer were a part of Brian Williams' bit or just annoyed...

11:37: Bobby Moynahan is trying harder than Bon Jovi. And doing better. Barely.

11:38: Jake Gyllenhal is here tonight to play Joaquin Phoenix.

11:42: "BILLY JOEL? You play Captain Jack or you get the F@*# outta here!" That's what one drunk 50 year old man is saying somewhere.

11:45: "Only The Good Die Young" would be SO AWKWARD...

11:47: Billy Joel is "Movin' Out"... of Jersey.

11:57: More than one person in the crowd just woke up thinking Billy Joel was done. Realizing he wasn't they went back to bed.

12:00: I wonder how many people in MSG are losing patince. Because I sure am...

12:02: Billy Joel: Mitt Romney's heavy metal.

12:04: "You May Be Right" is something a lame dad gives his punk rock son. "He rides his motorcycle in the rain, son!"

12:08: Worst censor ever. Misses the swears, bleeps the sentences.

12:09: There it is. "Only The Good Die Young." AWKWARD.

12:13: And now, the saddest sequel to UP imaginable...

12:15: You can't see it, but snipers are ready to fire if Chris Martin doesn't speed this show along.

12:18: MICHAEL STIPE? Nice surprise, Chris Martin. #nosarcasm

12:23: A nice jab at the rock and roll elderly by Chris Martin.

12:29: Katie Holmes' first appearance since her escape.

12:33: Quentin Tarantino does not disappoint. The censor was ready on the button that time.

12:35: After 5 hours, Paul McCartney takes the stage. We made it, America!!!

REMEMBER! Go to www.121212concert.org to donate!

Saying goodbye to my 'City of Heroes'

With a heavy heart I am hanging up my cape.

Granted, it is not a voluntary action. "City of Heroes" is being shut down tonight. Unfairly I may add.
For seven years I have patrolled city streets, fought giant monsters and saved the world. It's also the longest relationship i've had with anything.

Being able to live out your imagination in a comic book world is an extrordinary thing. It is something i'll always cherish.

I've made great characters that will not go away when the servers go dark. Agent Donnell was my first role-playing character I made for a supergroup. Even years after quitting that group I still rp'd as him. He grew and so did I.

Flarearine was created out of a horrible situation. Years ago, my father went into a diabetic coma. I was tasked with staying at home and by the phone. With nothing else to do at 3 a.m. I created a fire/fire blaster. She ended up being my main character.

I just checked. I spent an amazing 1,275 hours (53 days!) playing as Flarearine. Slightly depressing, but you can see how much she meant to me. I could always depend on kicking ass and taking names with her.

"City of Heroes" wasn't just a game for me. It was there for me when I was at my lowest. When I needed a moment of clarity or a simple distraction, it was there for me.

Sure, I may have saved the world from a giant blob monster. But, I think "City of Heroes" actually saved me.

#SaveCOH

Great Ideas Episode 2.2!

Daniel and Sasha are back and digging out of their haze!

This week, the disastrous duo discuss Ann Coulter's classy moves, Sasha's metamorphic God, cheeseburger filled donuts and how the brain keeps you from hating your life.... most the time.


Enjoy the goodness, but don't forget!!!........

Follow us on Facebook!

Follow Sasha and Daniel on Twitter!

Don't forget to sign into SoundCloud via Facebook to like the podcast and share it with your friends!

Comments? Questions? Hate mail? "That ____ Guy" game ideas? Leave a comment below or email us at greatideaspodcast@gmail.com!

And now that we have beaten you to submission...

ENJOY EPISODE 2.2!

Great Ideas Season 2 Begins!

Season 2 of Great Ideas has begun and it's all over SoundCloud!

Sasha and Daniel are back to discuss Resident Evil, Kardashians, animal-controlled cities and the saddest rap battle you've ever heard!

Show your support by liking Great Ideas Podcast on Facebook, subscribe on SoundCloud and feel free to leave your comments to be read on air!

For now...

ENJOY EPISODE 2.1: RACCOON CITY!!!

Fantasy TV draft: Week one results

As we've blogged before, Stephanie and I entered into a fantasy TV draft.

The fall TV season has been scheduled all over the place. NBC was out of the gate first, but we've had to wait for the CW to premiere all of its shows.

Well, Thursday brought our last new fall show to start: "Beauty and the Beast."

The math has been calculated and tears have been shed. Here are the results of the draft for week one. We counted total amount of viewers for each first episode.

Stephanie:
Vegas 15.85
666 Park Ave. 6.97
Arrow 4.14
Made in Jersey 7.82
The Mindy Project 4.67
Revolution 11.65
Guys with Kids 4.62
Nashville 8.93
Mob Doctor 5.11
                          
Total - 69.76
Bonus:
First pickup 20
Second pickup 10
First canceled -10

Grand total - 89.76

Elementary 14.41
Go On 10.5
Last Resort 9.31
The New Normal 6.88
Partners 6.56
Beauty and Beast 2.78
Chicago Fire 6.61
Ben and Kate 4.21
Neighbors 9.22
Total -  70.48
Bonus:
First pickup 20
Second pickup 10
Grand total: 100.48

A few adjustments were made. Both "Go On" and "Guys With Kids" had multiple pilot airings, so we averaged the ratings for those. In addition, both "Elementary" and "Vegas" won their timeslots, and awarded an extra point.

"Go On," "The New Normal" and "Revolution" were all picked up on the same day, so we both were given the 20 first pick up bonus points. In a weird twist, "The Mindy Project" and "Ben and Kate" were second to be picked up, we were both awarded the 10 points.

"Made in Jersey" was the first show to be canceled, so Stephanie lost 10 points.

If that had not happened and Stephanie played the NBC comedy night point saver card (we both picked NBC Thursday comedies to use in case of emergency points) she would have won with 104.04 versus my 103.98.

Week two might find a new result as Stephanie's show have found better staying power. It will still be very close.

V/H/S: The Ultimate POV Horror Collection

V/H/S is not the blank check I thought it would be. POV horror sells, but V/H/S looks to pull its own weight with inventive writing, fun (if at times overly graphic) horror and some special effects it boasts with good reason. Since the film is more of a mini-festival, I'm going to break these down one by one. There are several directors and various actors throughout the movie, so instead of breaking THEM down, let me just say that there's a deep well of talent here on both sides of the camera.

Tape 56 (C-)

"Tape 56" serves as the main story line, a rather thin story that gets us into the films and not much else. We open with four men who seem to have a penchant for cheap Clockwork Orange antics: destruction of property, sexual assault and all-around criminal behavior. They are suspiciously hired to break into a house and steal a VHS tape. This plot point isn't really discussed much which means there is not much story to begin with.

The men get inside, find some morbid omens including a stack of TVs hooked to VHS players. So our stage is set for a slew of unnerving finds...

In between each film, "Tape 56" picks up and progresses its own story further, producing a haunting mystery that, unfortunately, is never truly resolved. 

Amateur Night (C+)

If you can stomach the opening minutes of dueling dousche bag Dane Cooks, "Amateur Night" picks up on three friends with a "bright" idea: put a camera in a pair of glasses and secretly record an adult movie once they pick up some ladies. Flawless, right?

Well, our lucky cameraman happens upon a mysterious young lady (who the observant viewer can spot before she's introduced, almost like she is hunting...) who is much more than what she appears.

"Amateur Night" is a solid introductory piece. There's shaky cam, gore and nudity. If that's not what you want, walk out then because it's just setting the stage for what's to come.

Second Honeymoon (B+)

Male fiancees beware: this one hits close to home. A happy couple is roadtripping and taking in the sights along the way. This includes a mysterious drifter with a knack for camcorders, knives and one hell of a surprise.

The acting in this piece stands out because of the realistic chemistry of the couple. It's a shorter piece, but serves it's purpose in unsettling the audience. 

QUICK NOTE: Honey, if you're reading this... let's avoid motels...

Tuesday the 17th (A)

The title says so much: a story that has been beaten to death, but this one holds a twist in the telling that rejuvenates a genre of horror. Four kids, an adventure to a lake house, and hormones. YEAH YEAH YEAH. 

But wait for it... soon you start seeing things, a blunt statement is made by one of our characters, and we see subgenres folding into each other. This culminates in a somewhat abstract, fun and creepy story.

Hey kids! Stay out of the F*@#ing woods already!

The Sick Thing That Happened To Emily When She Was Younger (B)

Speaking of revisiting old ground, Emily thinks her house is haunted. Her logical, pre-med boyfriend doesn't. But Emily reacts to the idea the way us horror fans would: she wants to see it, speak to it, fix it. She isn't really afraid. Via webcam, this short follows her over a few nights as she comes closer and closer to finding the secret of the haunting.

Some quick shots offer standard scares and the ending is a bit hit-or-miss, but well done characters make you wonder about Emily's mental state and about her boyfriend....

10/31/98 (A+)

Easily my favorite. The film ends on a high note with this installment, centered around four friends on Halloween who are on their way to a party. Nothing is out of the ordinary until they arrive and the party is deserted. This film really worked for me because of the starkness of it. Obviously, they were invited. Obviously, there was supposed to be a party; I've never been so creeped out by a house with all the lights on.

The friends make their way through the house and our cameraman starts to see some strange things that let us know all is not well. Ghostly reflections and camera flickers set the tone for what turns into a true nightmare as the friends stumble upon a disturbing scene. 

The execution of the film highlights some incredible special effects and choreography that truly remind you of the last bad dream you had. The laws of physics bend, panic sets in and your final moments are both surreal and possible.

***

Overall, V/H/S collects some incredible spooky stories and some fantastic nightmares. For genre fans, it's guaranteed satisfaction. For those who may not be up to snuff with the heavier horror films, BEWARE.

TV fantasy draft: It's on

Tim and I had our annual TV fantasy draft this evening. Basically we divide up the new fall shows and choose our lists. We get points based on ratings, season pickups and lose points for cancellations and poor performance.

We will have a secondary draft around January for midseason replacements.

So here's our lists in the order we chose them.

Stephanie:                                                          Tim:

"Vegas"                                                              "Elementary"
"666 Park Avenue"                                             "Go On"
"Arrow"                                                              "Last Resort"
"Made in Jersey"                                                 "The New Normal"
"The Mindy Project"                                            "Partners"
"Revolution"                                                         "Beauty and the Beast"
"Guys With Kids"                                                 "Chicago Fire"
"Nashville"                                                           "Ben and Kate"
"The Mob Doctor"                                               "The Neighbors"
Bonus: "The Office"                                              Bonus: "Parks and Recreation"

Bonus shows are our "break glass in case of emergency" choices that we can use when we have a really bad week.

So there is our complete draft. We'll keep you updated with who's winning and what's doing a great and what's dragging down the team in the coming weeks.

It Came From Netflix!: Lake Mungo

Bieber???

Maybe it's because I had just seen The Possession or because I had just woke from a sickly haze like a feral badger in a vet office, but Lake Mungo became my first victim. I don't think I will be charged with any crime because no jury in the world would convict me of a crime after seeing this dull, lifeless and stale movie.

Released in 2008, Lake Mungo revolves around the drowning of Alice Palmer and the SUPPOSEDLY creepy happenings afterward. These happenings include found footage of the family and mostly centers around rediculous Bigfoot-esque stunts.

I enjoy the IMDB description MUCH more though: "A supernatural drama about grief."

Alice's brother tries to cope with the loss with his photography, introduced as naturally as Slug from The Goonies trying to make a cow eat a whopper.

This leads to some of the cheapest and overused gimmicks in movie history. The next 40 minutes are almost exclusively pictures and video zoomed in closely to show a figure that looks like Alice sitting around, as bored as the audience. After the 40 minutes, we discover that ALL of this.... ALL OF THIS.... was staged by the brother.

Hey, Alice's brother? Let me have a word with you over here. Just for a moment. Thanks. 

F*** you, Alice's brother. Your sister died, you d***. C'mon...

Anyways, that is supposed to count as one twist, followed by a couple more twists that are either unnecessary, not explained well or BOTH.

If you hate found footage, see Lake Mungo. Then go see any Paranormal Activity movie and you will enjoy it more than a fat midwestern gentleman with Applewood sausage watching the a mechanical dinosaur eat a car.

The Possession: Meet Natasha Calis

If I had a dime for every parking lot I saw THIS happen in...

The last time a young girl got under the skin of an audience in a very real and haunting way, it was 1973 and Linda Blair was spitting split pea soup all over her room.

Welcome to 2012, where we have a new contender for Best Creepy Little Girl in the form of Natasha Calis who plays Emily in the under-written, brilliant executed The Possession.

It's a simple story of girl meets demon. Em's mom (Kyra Sedgwick) and dad (Javier Bardem... no it's not, it's Jeffrey Dean Morgan....oh... huh... twinsies...) are getting a divorce. The bitter kind, that includes neglected kids, a lukewarm father figure in mom's new friend, and the perfect amount of tension for a demon to slip in.

Em finds an odd box at a yard sale and her dad buys it for her. And, as usual, this is where things get dark.

But in The Possession, you know where the movie is going but not what to expect. The writing of Juliet Snowden and Stiles White (co-writers on Knowing and Boogeyman) is far from surprising or in any way edgy. But in an "out of left field" move, director Ole Bornedal (trust me, you don't know him) adds a level of dread and suspense to an otherwise predictable story. 

Which brings us to the incredible, upsetting and powerful Natasha Calis. I'm not sure if it was some great directing or if Natasha is an alien that feeds on acting talent, but she is a true show stopper. Early in the movie, it's seen in animalistic stares, her eyes wildly following possible prey. It evolves to vacant looks of terror, uncomfortable conversations, and culminating in one of the most low-key, intense and terrifying bedside scenes ever. Natasha does more with a stare than some actors do in a two hour performance. You truly start to wonder what her father is wondering: who is really staring back at you?

The Possession can easily be seen for it's faults in writing and some B level effects. But overall, with powerful acting and execution, The Possession is one of the better modern horror movies and definitely worth seeing.

Oh.... uh... heeeeey....I like your boots?

ParaNorman: A Beautiful Edge Apart

Paranorman started as an interesting, average movie I might have rented. When I left the theatre, it was up with Cabin in the Woods and The Avengers as some of the most entertaining cinema of the year.

At first glance, Paranorman is a cookie cutter alt-teen horror story. It's got all the tell tale signs: claymation, zombies, a loner hero, and plenty of so-so humor. But with some stunning visuals, a relatively edgy script and enjoyable voice acting, it becomes a movie with some punch.

Kodi Smit-McPhee plays Norman, an odd kid with the gift of gab... with dead people. Within the first ten minutes of meeting the main character, you notice a tinge of originality and quality to the film you may not have expected: Norman is portrayed (through voice and animation) as a real kid. He's not your overdone loner. He IS social, he's just tired of trying. He isn't jaded, he has a good grasp on the world.

Norman has a chance encounter with the over-the-top creepy Mr. Prenderghast (hillariously portrayed by John Goodman) when a curse comes to light: a witch is on her way to raise the dead and torment his town.

Paranorman is surprisingly story-heavy; you get a strong feel for the characters, how they interact, and by the end you care more for Norman than you do most characters like him.

Among some of the highlights that set ParaNorman apart include heavy morals (terrorism, prejudice and cruelty), an awkward love story between Norman's sister Courtney and Mitch (brilliantly dimwitted acting by Casey Affleck), and an incredibly shocking hint at the end to a rather adult point.

Speaking of which, a quick story: one character at the end hints vaguely at their homosexuality. That's right, not something you would expect but something fun to watch an audience soak in. It serves as a hilarious twist to a subplot near the end, and should be commended for its bravery.

Overall, ParaNorman is a surprisingly heavy and entertaining flick, beautifully animated and full of delightfully morbid moments and morals.

'Expendables 3' dream cast

With the success of "Expendables 2" apparent, the inevitable prospect of "Expendables 3" is probably already on the works.

Assuming they get everyone back, including Jet Li whose presence in "Expendables 2" is questionable, it's time to start thinking about which action stars to add to the cast for part three.

The obvious choice seems to be Steven Seagal but he seems too full of himself to man up for the fans. Besides he's so much of a d-bag he would bring down the fun, campy levels of the franchise.

Next up is Wesley Snipes, who would make a great bad guy for the team to go after. Of course, Snipes legal troubles make him currently unavailable, but producers may be willing to wait for him. Imagine the fun of another face off between he and Stallone.

Tim has heard rumors of Nicolas Cage, which I think could make the third one the best in the series. Cage is never better than when he goes full throttle crazy.

I think the movies need more female flavor and would love to see Linda Hamilton return to action legend status. If all our suggestions got picked up it would be a full on "Terminator" reunion.

Other names we've discussed include "American Ninja" Michael Dudikoff, Michael Pare, Michael Biehn and Stallone's ultimate opponent Mr. T (you know you've been dreaming of a rematch since "Rocky 3."

So who have we missed who would be perfect for "Expendables 3?"

'Why do we fall down Bruce? To get back up'

At times like these there aren't really words that can comfort or make sense of things. But there is something that those of us left behind can do. Stand up and don't be afraid.

Early in "Batman Begins" Thomas Wayne says to Bruce "Why do we fall down Bruce? To get back up."

That is how Batman lives his life, particularly in "The Dark Knight Rises." So maybe right now we should take our cues from Batman and his fellow superheroes and stand up to fear.

No matter what comic or movie they enjoy fans can agree the purpose of superheroes (Batman especially) is to inspire and show the world that it's not how you fall, it's how you get back up.

I've often been asked why I love heroes and comic books so much. The answer is because they represent the best of us. They are who we would like to be given the opportunity. They use their tragedies and fears for a better purpose.

Superman could have easily conquered the world with his powers, but he chooses to save it. Tony Stark builds the ultimate weapon and uses it to help others. And batman could have just been a billionaire playboy who spends his trust fund and never gets over his parents' death, but....he stood up

Batman is the story of a young boy who took the worst tragedy of his life and turned it into the inspiration to become a hero. Gotham City is a horrible place, and yet Bruce never stops believing it can be saved.

Every time The Joker breaks out of Arkham and terrorizes Gotham, Batman reminds them that one crazy criminal will not break his city.

So as corny as it may sound, it's time for us to remember that one disturbed individual does not influence how we live our lives. He committed a horrific crime that he will be punished for.

The grieving will take awhile, perhaps forever for some, but right now it's up to the rest of us to support the victims and their families and show them that it's safe to get back up, we've got their backs. 

 

The Dark Knight Rises- The Legend Overwhelms or does it?

It's been a long time coming but it finally came.

The third installment in the Batman film and the film to end the legend or so the billboards say. For Christopher Nolan's last piece-de-resistance in the caped crusader's saga, Nolan could have pulled out all the stops resulting in a full throttle type of film that is usually what summer blockbusters are made of. 

Does he do that?

So far, the Dark Knight Rise has attracted a hailstorm of hype, drama, speculation and tragedy. Ironically, mass shooting of Colorado moviegoers at the midnight showing of the film's opening night sadly costed lives and shattered the innocence of being able to attend a film to escape from the violence of the real world. And while, the tragedy will definitely overshadow most of the publicity surrounding the Dark Knight, how does the film stand up on its own, independent of its external circus.

Undoubtedly, Nolan is one of the greatest directors of this generation, he shows adroitness in creating film as well as reaching into the audience to create lasting impressions. What the Dark Knight Rises suffers from is in deed Nolan's greatness and the large shadow of the near-perfect cultural milestone that was the Dark Knight. And that film was the second centerpiece in the trilogy, leaving Nolan only so far where he can go.

The Dark Knight Rises clocks in around at 164 minutes and the film definitely feels long as it explores past the point of sufficient expository information, Bruce Wayne and the implications of Batman. Christian Bale, reprises his role and does one great job showing the vast layers of Wayne. What can be taken away from this film though is how much masochism Wayne/Batman endures at the hands of protecting Gotham, that's always been a crucial point in the Batman narrative but this film really dishes out the pain to our beloved hero and Nolan does not flinch, the violence is hard and real. With Bale's performance of Wayne/Batman fans may be asking themselves the greatest Batman question of them all: Which is the mask?

In the Dark Knight Rises, this is somewhat of the subtext as the film explores the aftermath of Batman's fall from grace in Gotham. The Dark Knight Rises takes place 8 years after the Joker. Nolan treats TDKR very sober, shying away and completely avoiding the presence of the Joker and making the film a standalone from the prior film only related by liner points in time.

TDKR is ambitious and visually formidable, Nolan knows how to create awe-inspiring sequences of horror and ultra violence but for this film, the ultra violence and spasms of horror are stretched too thin across a movie that drags itself around by the third act. In some places the film, goes on necessarily long. Yet, Nolan keeps the audience at the seat of their edge with pop up shocks here and there to keep the plot moving.

For Batman fans, there is plenty to love, plenty to fall in love with. Yet again, for Batman fans the ghost of the second film manages to appear again and again in comparison. It's not that TDKR is a bad film, that is not the case at all. It is definitely enjoyable, definitely engrossing and worth the price of admission. However, when greatness is a bar set so high and almost unattainable, it's hard to stay consistent at such a high level.

There is so much to say about a film that has so much to say about the world we live in. The film tackles present day societal issues as they arise but it is how they are dealt with that might be more of a shock. Gotham is not isolated from the near class-warfare of the Occupy movement and this is reflected in the villain this time around, Bane.

Bane, as played by Tom Hardy is the villain after the Joker, a feat that is large and daunting. How does an actor inhabit a role that aims to surpass or to match a role that basically came to immortalize a performer? That's not an easy task. Hardy does his damnedest with his chiseled physique and British accent but Bane is hardly the villain that Gotham is asking for, rather Bane is just simply not that interesting to watch. There are no fireworks between Bane and Batman other than what has been hinted at in trailers.

Nolan manages without fail, to bring out the best in his actors, drawing out stellar performances. Lot has been said about Anne Hathaway as Catwoman / Selina Kyle. Hathaway did not blow me away. I went in expecting her to radiate a certain unhinged sexiness, a certain allure but Hathaway played Catwoman very safely and oh-so-very matter-of-factly. It was good but it was not enough to detract me away from seeing Hatthaway.

This review has gone on almost as long as the film itself, I don't want to throw in spoilers but rather want to leave with the lasting quip that this is not the best Batman film but it's not terrible or bad by any stretch of the imagination. Coming up short to perfect is nothing wrong.

Comic-Con 2012 Hall H madness

Stephanie at Comic-Con 2012 'Firefly' reunion panel

Stephanie at the Comic-Con 'Community' panel

My need to see "Spider-Man" is not so amazing

I like Spider-Man.

As a character, I enjoy him. I think the character, written correctly, is hilarious. I love that his coping mechanism is comedy. In the comics, he always steals the show with the best lines.

The last three movies? I didn't hate them. I had problems with the second and third films, but I still saw them.

Opening days in fact.

I have a comic book movie rule. I see all the big movies. Yes, there are exceptions. "Elektra," sorry.

All three previous "Spider-Man" films I saw as soon as I possibly could. I even braved horrible crowds to see the third one.

I love, love comics. I'm a huge nerd. I make it a point to not give anyone a reason to take my geek card away.

Then why is it that I really don't want to see "The Amazing Spider-Man?"

I didn't go to a midnight screening. I didn't call in sick to see it. I didn't leave work early to see it. As I type this, I've been off for three hours and have missed four screenings at the theater less than a mile from my house. I can literally walk there in 20 minutes.

Maybe a bit of it is anger. Sony isn't making this movie because they have a great idea. They're afraid of the rights going back to Marvel, so they're rebooting it. Yes, the last Spider-Man movie came out five years ago.

Add to that I just don't like the look. It doesn't LOOK good to me. I think the Lizard is a D-list Spider-Man villain at best.

Will I see it? Eventually. I'm in no rush.

Perhaps I'll wait for it to come out on Redbox.

ICFR! 'Sherlock Holmes: Game Of Shadows,' lack of wits

It's too often that Hollywood sequels aim for what audiences like to see and not what audiences like to experience. It's even worse when they miss the mark completely.

This week,  "Sherlock  Holmes: Game Of Shadows" struck me as one of  these rare films: the offspring of a fantastic, intelligent and stylish adaptation that seems to have been locked in the closet and taking swings at a pinata that's not even in the damn room.

(I'm getting to the point. I promise) Even MORE astounding is that the original cast returns with the same director and they even added the fantastically undertoned work of Jared Harris (Mad Men) as Professor Moriarty, Sherlock Holmes' archnemisis. In a rather dry and flavorless movie, Harris adds a hint of deliciously peppered malice.
When Moriarty was hinted at (VERY much in the same vein as The Joker tease in "Batman Begins") in the original Sherlock  Holmes, I was ecstatic. I may be a novice in the world of Holmes, but any childhood nerd knows of the deadly battle of wits between Holmes and Moriarty.

Which brings me to my point: there's not much to fuel the fight in this movie. We open with a quick idea of the volatile political  environment that serves as a backdrop, but there's as much history mentioned between the two characters as there is behind a possible Bob Dylan/Justin Bieber duo album.

That is, of course, except for Moriarty dropping Rachel McAdams' character like she planned the Greek  economy. (Bieber AND political jokes? I'm on fire!)

So we're left with a somewhat aimless march through the paces. The paces being the things producers think will sell and NOT MUCH ELSE. Lots of stylish editing, lots of overly-charming banter, lots of chuckles. NOT. MUCH. ELSE.

Which left me wondering: where is the mystery? Where is the intrigue? Where is the incredible wit of Holmes and Watson?

It's been gutted and replaced with Watson and Holmes acting more like  Captain America (well, Captain England?)  without any super powers.

It seems that "Game Of Shadows" is a hollow attempt to keep  a franchise paletable to the general public by removing any chance of a truly chalenging mystery or compelling story.

'Superman vs. the Elite' updates classic comic story

One of the biggest questions that has always plagued comic book fans is why heroes don't just kill some super villains, instead of arresting them so they can come back and terrorize more citizens.

In the Superman story "What's so Funny About Truth, Justice and the American Way" writer Joe Kelly introduces The Elite, a team of heroes who kill villains, becoming judge, jury and executioner. This idea does not sit well with the Man of Steel and a confrontation is inevitable.

In DC Animation's latest film "Superman vs. The Elite" Kelly brings his critically acclaimed story to life.

George Newbern returns to voice Superman, "NCIS" star Pauley Perrette is Lois Lane and accomplished voice actor Robin Atkin Downes is Manchester Black, leader of the Elite.

What makes the story so fascinating is that it poses very real questions in the guise of a fictional comic book world. For Kelly it was answering these questions that drove him to write the original comic.

"The germ for the story really came from a very visceral reaction I had to a comic I was reading at the time – 'The Authority.' It was a dark anti-hero comic," Kelly said.

"I really like the Authority and its characters, but there was an issue in particular that felt like it had pushed the boundaries of what makes a hero and what makes anti-hero. I found myself getting ‘fanboy mad,’ which I don’t normally get," Kelly continued. "We had an anniversary issue, and I asked Eddie (Berganza) if we could directly address those characters. I wanted Superman to take those characters on. And that became the germ for 'Action Comics 775.'"

Of course the original story was told in a single issue, so Kelly had to expand things a bit to fit a film script.

"We wrote a lot of new content for the film, and it was funny looking back at the comic because I forgot how much is discussed rather than shown. There’s so much going on between the panels," Kelly said. "It was very exciting to get to see the action sequences that were just hinted at. I’d always seen them in my head, now I get to see them played out in animation."

So does Kelly agree with The Elite's quick justice or Superman's more civilized ideals.

"I’m definitely more in the Superman camp. There are plenty of people I get angry about, and the eye-for-an-eye mentality does flash though my head. I think it does for anybody. But at the end of the day, I do believe we need to aspire to higher ideals. Maybe I’m being naive, and I may not be able to achieve those ideals myself, but we must make the attempt," he said.

"Superman vs. The Elite" is out on DVD and video on demand today.

Great Ideas Episode 15: Shark Boxing!

Sasha and Dan have returned! Great Ideas has a new episode available now.

This week, Dan and Sasha get deep on some of  the more interesting news stories of late including zombies, marijuana, Planned parenthood and children in pain!

Sounds funny, right? If you nodded at your computer screen like a mental patient, than you should CLICK  HERE!

MovieCats Episode 3: Snow White and the ZZZZZ

Heillo, Inscaped fans!

I bet you're wondering "Where can I find to slightly mentally unstable people who boil movies down to insane rants, then throw it out there in an amusing fashion?"

Well, I have an answer! The totally free and mostly  amusing Moviecats podcast! The new episode is available now and you can listen by CLICKING HERE.

Black Panther may join the fight

There's been plenty of rumors over the years that Marvel was greenlighting a Black Panther movie. However, the website Latino Review has report that says Black Panther will be Marvel's next big hero movie.

The idea certainly fits with Marvel's current franchise since the Black Panther has fought both with and against The Avengers.

Latino Review suggested "Red Tails'" Nate Parker for the role and while he might work as a young Panther, he wouldn't be believable as the King of Wakanda.

We've casted this role before and narrowed the choices down to Chiwetel Ejiofor or Idris Elba. Of course now that Elba is Heimdall in "Thor" he's out of the running.

Ejiofor is the only actor who can realistically pull off T'Challa's mix of royal gravitas, scientific genius and badass warrior. Plus he has to be able to hold his own with Robert Downey Jr. and Samuel L. Jackson.

Not to mention the Black Panther has a long romance with and eventually marries Ororo Munroe a.k.a Storm. So even though it will never occur on screen, this is the man who will end up with Halle Berry.

Parker couldn't certainly work in a smaller role but Ejiofor is the only logical choice.

The Theron of Them All : Snow White and The Huntsman

I wanted to really sink my teeth into the dark fairytale of Snow White and The Huntsman. But I couldn't and for the reason simply being there was not enough to sink into.

The film, started with great promise, lush and dark colors hinting that this would be the grimmest retelling of the story and not the high-camp-fluff of the Julia Roberts clone Mirror, Mirror. No, this had serious actors, like Charlize Theron, Ian McShane, Nick Frost, THOR (Chris Hemsworth) and of course, K-Stew.

This. Is. A. Serious. Movie, Guys.

Despite its early promise, a really cool breaking out of the evil castle scene done by Snow White, the movie gets stuck right when things should pick up. For starters, Kirsten Stewart was miscast. That is one of the pivotal sins of this movie and I saw this hoping that Stewart would break free from her Bella rut of passivity and one-note facial expressions, but oh no, I was wrong. Instead from time to time, I could have sworn I was watching Twilight and that's not a good thing. The character for Snow White and the Huntsman is ideally a feminist character (note: ideally) and she's supposed to be unlike that other Snow White who waits around waiting for her prince to come... someday. Nope, not this one. Our new Snow White jumps out of castles, yells, runs in armor, slashes faces, coming for the throne all the while remaining painfully awkward and still, waiting for someone more equipped to do the rest of the job, like fighting the bad guys and oh yeah, ripping her own dress.

At one moment, in a bizarre rallying cry, she inspires her legion of followers to uprise against the evil Queen, Ravenna but all she can muster is "use me as a weapon!"

What? Use YOU?  Um, no.

And while it would be easy to blame Stewart for the lag in Snow White and Huntsman its essentially the writing that does more damage than any poisoned apple could. It's clunky and trope-o-rific, Snow White is the destine one, her beauty is pure and innocent, she is pure and innocent and repeat. As you can see there is little character development here.

However, all is not lost in the dark forest. While Stewart may be the odd choice, supporting actors in this movie really do carry the film and carry they do try. Theron is magnificent, cruel and oh so glamorous in couture pieces that most fashionistas would froth over. The evil queen has complexity and makes for good screen time whenever we see Theron and her icy eyes. She radiates evil and contempt for men all the while devouring the youth of virginal peasant girls. Part of the premise of Snow White makes for good feminist critique: only the purest and fairest can defeat Ravenna? Yet, Ravenna's tragedy is that the very same qualities that were ideal for her success are also her tools for destruction. Despite Theron's candor, there is still room for improvement, Theron's evil queen is decidedly evil but makes too much of a show by screaming how evil she is. What's more, with such a stellar performance from Theron is the audience really expected to believe that Stewart is the fairest among them?

Running at an almost over-indulgent 2 hours, Snow White and The Huntsman manages to delivers the goods on special effects (price of admission for the Dark Forest and a screen by screen rip off of Miyazaki's Princess Mononoke) Braveheart and Lord of the Rings fantasy and war portions with a healthy dose of cross-cultural European influences with a decidedly American cast.  It's not the grimmest it should have been or could have been, the potential is staggering in the first half and loses its cool during the second right around when we see Ravenna lose hers. In time for the onslaught of the summer blockbusters, its good but not great, dark but not sinister, plausible but not convincing. But most damning of all, new but not revelatory.

'Les Miserables' trailer finally premieres

When it was first announced a screen version of the classic Broadway musical "Les Miserables" longtime fans were excited but a little skeptical.

Now that the trailer has premiered, it's all excitement. Famous scenes are played out against Anne Hathaway performing the show stopper "I Dreamed A Dream."

High school drama geeks (including me) the world over are rejoicing right now.

'Chernobyl Diaries:' 'The Hills Have Eyes' in Russia too!

Few things hurt me more than getting into a movie, investing myself in the characters and turning off the cynicism, just to have it all come back to bite me in the ass. So is the case of "Chernobyl Diaries."

Let me get this out before I lose my mind on this "movie:" "Chernobyl Diaries," as far as the first 45-60 minutes goes, is a great movie.

The cast has amazing chemistry; Jesse McCartney and  Johnathan Sadowski play brothers who have met up in Russia with friends and end up on an impromptu "extreme tourism" trip to an area outside Chernobyl. During this stretch of the film, you get to know the characters, their relationships and learn to love how real they are drawn. Even Yuri, the tour guide, could have come across overly Russian, but is done in a way that you find yourself enjoying the  trip as much as the group themselves.

Trouble begins for the group when they  become stranded in the deserted city with the threat of  wild animals and strange nosies. Over the next day and a half, it becomes a taught, atmospheric survival story with sparse horror themes.

Trouble begins  for the AUDIENCE shortly after. When it becomes apparent  there  is more at play than simple  survival, the movie starts reaching into the toy box of derivative bullshit that makes you cringe. The culmination of the horrible descent into B-grade horror is when the survivors make their way through tunnels modeled much like a haunted house. One of the survivors dumps juxtiposition on us like Eric Cartman at Casa Bonita.

(QUICK NOTE: Other than Oren Peli, who I still give innovative credit to, the other listed writers include Carey and Shane van Dyke. You may know them from their work on "Paranormal Entity," "Titanic 2" and "MEGAPYTHON VS. GATOROID." I shit you not.)

By the end  of  the movie, you can't be sure if the filmmakers are shooting for a twist or if they are just too lazy to finish like an 80 year old man with diabetes on his fifth plate at Hometown Buffet.

In defense of 'Bob's Burgers'

Cause child labor laws are pretty unnecessary

I'm not too big on broadcast television but when it comes to cartoons, I can get a little passionate.

The problem is that, these days,  it's hard to get into anything new without disregarding the given flaw that it either comes out of the "Family Guy" or "Simpsons" cookie cutter.

"Bob's Burgers" isn't immune to this reduction, but it certainly makes a case for itself and justifies being renewed, as Stephanie posted. A week ago, I saw a commercial for "Bob's Burgers" and thought "Yay. Another cartoon for Fox to shove down people's throats Sunday night."

Then I began mainlining Season 1 and wasn't only surprised, but pleasantly surprised. This may look and sound like another Fox cartoon from the commercial but it's actually a witty, character-heavy chucklefest.

The cast displays the comedy you're getting: H. Jon Benjamin (Archer, Home Movies) plays the main character and owner of the title restaurant, Bob. With the help of his three kids and slightly out of touch wife Tina (Dan Mintz), Bob runs a mom-and-pop burger place in a downtown city filled with interesting characters, rivalries and shemale prostitutes.

His children are played with slight mental disorders by comedians John Roberts (socially inept Linda), Kristen Schaal (sociopath Louise) and the hillarious Eugene Mirman (Assburger's Syndrome candidate Gene).

The usual plotlines are less like the "Simpsons" and "Family Guy" (A slight story vehicle that only exists for jokes) and more along the lines of an adult "Hey Arnold" (a story about local city characters with some grim truth) if Arnold grew up, had kids and kinda hated life.

The jokes also land a bit better than the two larger comedies. The depth of each punchline doesn't slide off like "Family Guy" and isn't as shallow as the celebrity-depraved Simpsons have become (I gave up after season 12). Instead, the cast delivers gems like this interaction between the kids:

Louise: If we want to be real artists, we need to cut off someone's ear!

Linda: I need my ears, I have glasses.

Louise: (to Gene) What's your excuse?

Gene: Don't have one! HAVE AT IT!

Luckily, despite poorly reported ratings, Fox has renewed "Bob's Burgers" for a second season, giving it an opportunity to get the following it deserves.

In a world of two cartoon parties, there's finally a chance for a third party... and intelligent party... to take hold.

CBS sticks to the script, adds more crime

More than any other network CBS knows who it is and who's its audience. Once again the schedule is procedural heavy, but if it ain't broke. The only major move is "Two and a Half Men" to Thursday at 8:30 p.m. following "The Big Bang Theory." This could create a ratings block the other networks have no answer for.

Monday:
8 p.m. "How I Met Your Mother"
8:30 p.m. "Partners" - Michael Urie and David Krumholtz are lifelong best friends and business partners who must bring their new lovers into their very co-dependent realtionship. Brandon Routh and Sofia Bush play the significant others.
First Impression: If it sounds like "Will & Grace" that's by design because it's from the creators/executive producers of the NBC hit. This could fit in nicely with CBS' comedy juggernaut, but it all depends on the chemistry between Urie and Krumholtz.


9 p.m. "2 Broke Girls"
9:30 p.m. "Mike and Molly"
10 p.m. "Hawaii Five-0

Tuesday:
8 p.m. "NCIS"
9 p.m. "NCIS: Los Angeles"
10 p.m. "Vegas" - Dennis Quaid is the cowboy sheriff in 1960s Las Vegas where he must try to keep the peace as rival mob families take over. Michael Chiklis is the newest crime boss in town and Carrie-Ann Moss is Quaid's love interest.
First Impression: Quaid is the definition of leading man and Chiklis is at his best when he's playing a tough guy. Add in the '60s period and this could be CBS' newest crime hit.


Wednesday:
8 p.m. "Survivor"
9 p.m. "Criminal Minds"
10 p.m. "CSI"

Thursday:
8 p.m. "The Big Bang Theory"
8:30 p.m. "Two and a Half Men"
9 p.m. "Person of Interest"
10 p.m. "Elementary" - Sherlock Holmes is updated to modern day New York in this new take on the classic detective. "Eli Stone" star Jonny Lee Miller is the new Holmes and Lucy Liu is his counterpart Joan Watson. Yes Watson is a woman.
First Impression: Full disclosure time. I'm in love with Steven Moffat's "Sherlock" and think the chemistry between Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman can't be matched. "Sherlock" is both critically successful and very popular so "Elementary" can't avoid the comparisons, they can only hope to contain them. Curiosity and a strong timeslot will drive ratings, however, not sure if those qualities can help it top an already immpeccable update.


Friday:
8 p.m. "CSI: NY"
9 p.m. "Made in Jersey" - British actress Janet Montgomery is a very New Jersey lawyer who joins an upscale Manhattan law firm and uses her street smarts to win cases. Kyle Maclachlan is her boss and Stephanie March is another lawyer in the firm.
First Impression: Could be a fun Friday night diversion if they don't go overboard with the New Jersey fish out of water concept.
&lt

10 p.m. "Blue Bloods"

Sunday:
7 p.m. "60 Minutes"
8 p.m. "The Amazing Race"
9 p.m. "The Good Wife"
10 p.m. "The Mentalist"

The No. 1 question to look out for is "The Good Wife" vs. "Revenge" match up Sunday night. Those first few weeks of ratings should be interesting. Also CBS needs to start thinking about its future because the "CSI" franchise, "The Mentalist" and "Two and a Half Men" are obviously all in their last few seasons, so its time to start rebuilding.

Up next: Cable and The CW

Donna Summer: 1948-2012

The music world lost another game changing legend when the Queen of Disco Donna Summer died May 17 at the age of 63 after battling cancer.

Summer's powerful mezzo-soprano voice helped her gain fame in the 1970s with chart-topping hits like "Hot Stuff," "Bad Girls" and "Last Dance."

Perhaps disco's biggest star, her career had its ups and downs but her songs remained in constant play on classic radio stations and in nightclubs. Even today most dance clubs still end the evening with "Last Dance."

Her influence can be heard in the popularity of acts like Rhianna, Beyonce and Lady Gaga, and in the endless stream of young girls singing her songs on "American Idol," "The X Factor" and "The Voice."

To celebrate her legacy, here are the songs every Donna Summer fan should have on their playlist.








And of course one "Last Dance" with the "Queen of Disco."

FOX decides it's not broken, doesn't change much

Fox announced its Fall 2012-2013 schedule early this morning, keeping its current layout largely intact. The only major change was the move of "Glee" from its Tuesday 8 p.m. timeslot to Thursday at 9 p.m. This will put the once powerful, but recently struggling dramedy in "Grey's Anatomy" territory, setting up fall's most interesting battle.

Monday:

8 p.m. "Bones"

9 p.m. "The Mob Doctor" - Jordana Spiro is a surgeon on the rise who must pay off her brother's debt by secretly becoming the mafia's personal general practioner. The supporting cast includes Zach Gilford, William Forsythe and Zelko Ivanek.

First Impression: Spiro has always been a charming lead and Forsythe as the mob boss is perfect casting. This premise has been tried before but the strength of this cast could make this the incarnation that works.

Tuesday:
8 p.m. "Raising Hope"
8:30 p.m. "Ben and Kate" - A serious minded single mom reconnects with her immature, well meaning brother in this comedy that co-stars Nat Faxon and Dakota Johnson.
First Impression: On paper it sounds generic, but Faxon's charm and his chemistry with Johnson make this a worth a few watches.
9 p.m. "New Girl"
9:30 p.m. "The Mindy Project" - "The Office" alum Mindy Kaling gets her own show as a OB/GYN who loves romantic comedies and thinks life should be more like the movies. Ed Weeks and Chris Messina play her colleagues and possible love interests.

First Impression: Kaling was always one of the best parts of "The Office," but her character here seems like she could get a little annoying. However, her past work buys her at least three chances.

Wednesday:
8 p.m. "The X Factor" (fall) "American Idol" (midseason)

Thursday:
8 p.m. "The X Factor Results" (fall) "American Idol Results" (midseason)
9 p.m. "Glee"

Friday:
8 p.m. "Touch"
9 p.m. "Fringe"

Sunday:
7:30 p.m. "The Cleveland Show"
8 p.m. "The Simpsons"
8:30 p.m. "Bob's Burgers"
9 p.m. "Family Guy"
9:30 p.m. "American Dad"

Midseason:

"The Goodwin Games" - Scott Foley, Becki Newton and Jake Lacy as siblings who reconnect while fulfilling the absurd rules of their father's will. Created/executive produced by Carter Bays and Craig Thomas ("How I Met Your Mother") and co-starring Beau Bridges as the Goodwins.
First Impression: Has the unique qualities of HIMYM and established TV veterans like Foley and Newton, but also seems like it could be too different and not find an audience.

"The Following" - James Purefoy is a infamous serial killer who escapes from prison and Kevin Bacon is the former FBI agent who captured him and must now come out of retirement to figure why he escaped and recapture him.
First Impression: Looks like a promising, dark thriller. Plus it's Kevin Bacon!

FOX is sticking with what has worked for them, while building off of last season's breakout hit "New Girl." It will be interesting to see how the "Glee" move works out.

Up next: ABC

NBC bets on comedy

NBC has rolled out its Fall 2012 schedule and announced its new shows. As the No. 4 network, NBC still has nothing to lose, yet it seems to be presenting the least risky slate of new shows.

Monday:
8-10 p.m. "The Voice
10 p.m. "Revolution" - When all electricity suddenly goes out, the world is thrust into chaos and must learn to live simpler life. Of course it turns out there is also giant mysterious conspracy to solve. The pilot is directed by Jon Favreau and the series is executive produced by Eric Kripke and J.J. Abrams.
First Impression: I'm intrigued by the cast and impressive pedigree. Tim's not interested but I think this could be a good show if handled properly.

Tuesday:
8-9 p.m. "The Voice"
9 p.m. "Go On" - Matthew Perry is a sportscaster who must enter therapy to deal with the death of his wife. It is here he meets an ecletic group suffering with their own unique sob stories.
First Impression: I still love Perry and will always give his series' a chance. Does this remind anyone else of the often underappreciated "Dear John."
9:30 p.m. "The New Normal" - Ryan Murphy's new comedy stars Justin Bartha ("The Hangover") and Andrew Rannels as a gay couple who turn to a surrogate to carry their child. Ellen Barkin co-stars as the loud, outspoken mother of surrogate Goldie.
First Impression: In a world where I can already watch "Modern Family," why do I need its less funny cousin.
10 p.m. "Parenthood"

Wednesday:
8-8:30 p.m. "Animal Practice" - A veterinarian who loves animals but is terrible with people and the wacky doctors he works with. And there's a monkey.
First Impression: No. Just no.
8:30-9 p.m. "Guys with Kids" - A group of dads who hangout and deal with fatherhood. Stars Anthony Anderson, Jesse Bradford and Tempestt Bledsoe, and executive produced by Jimmy Fallon.
First Impression: Anderson and Fallon make this worth at least a try. Though right now it seems like it could go either way.
9-10 p.m. "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit"
10-11 p.m. "Chicago Fire" - The pressures and trials of a fire crew in Chicago after they lose one of their own. Jesse Spencer ("House"), Taylor Kinney, David Eigenberg and Eamonn Walker star.
First Impression: I enjoyed this previously when it was "Third Watch."

Thursday:
8-8:30 p.m. "30 Rock"
8:30-9 p.m. "Up All Night"
9-9:30 p.m. "The Office"
9:30-10 p.m. "Parks and Recreation"
10 p.m. "Rock Center with Brian Williams"

Friday:
8-8:30 p.m "Whitney"
8:30-9 p.m. "Community" - Seriously NBC! What the hell!?
9-10 p.m. "Grimm"
10-11 p.m. "Dateline NBC"

Sunday:
"Sunday Night Football"

Midseason:
"Next Caller" - Dane Cook as a shock jock who must suddenly co-host his show with an NPR feminist.
First Impression: I'd rather watch "Animal Practice," though Jeffrey Tambor helps a little.
"Save Me" - Anne Heche as a divorcee turned prophet.
First Impression: ?
"Do No Harm" - A young successful doctor has a Jekyll and Hyde alternate personality. He must fight his darker tendecies and protect his family and patients.
First Impression: This all depends on Steven Pasquale performance as Ian the Mr. Hyde of the duo.
"Infamous" - Meaghan Good is a cop who returns to the rich family she grew up in, as the maid's daughter, to solve the possible murder of the socialite daughter. Victor Garber plays the patriarch of the family, while Tate Donovan returns to his "O.C" roots as his son.
First Impression: A full-on nighttime soap, however it lacks the sophistication of "Revenge."

NBC has presented a mixed bag and seems to be continuing with the throw up everything and see what sticks approach. However, there are some interesting prospects still to come with "The Munsters" reboot "Mockingbird Lane" and "Hannibal."

Up next: FOX.

Why 'The Avengers' is important (to me)

"I have had a dream all my life, and it was not this good."

Joss Whedon spoke those words in Hall H at Comic-Con almost two years ago. He was joined on stage by "The Avengers" cast and the crowd was going wild.

Seeing it first hand I can say the noise level was so high that it almost was dream-like. It was a magical moment. I still remember the looks of amazement on the faces of the people around me.

"The Avengers" as a movie is a dream come true.

I best explained this to a co-worker today. For nerds and comic geeks, this is one of the biggest things in our lifetime. Second only to a "Justice League" movie.

My co-worker tried to understand what I meant and said "So is this like the excitement I would have seeing Axl and Slash performing as Guns 'N' Roses again?"

YES!

For my entire life there has always been "The Avengers." I have early memories (man, I must have been 4-years-old) of Captain America and The Hulk. My brother and I would play in the park as Avengers all the time. In school, my friends and I would dream cast roles.

I wish I would have kept those. Late 1980s actors as the Avengers? Sweet.

But, for some reason, the thought of an "Avengers" movie was so close, yet so far away. It always seemed "too big" to be made. It was long thought to be a dream project that was just that, a dream.

And it kind of feels like that still today. As of writing this, I'm about 30 hours away from seeing the film. Thirty hours away after 30 years of waiting.

My 11-year-old niece Zoe is excited to see the movie too. I can't imagine what my 11-year-old self would do in that position.

So, don't write "The Avengers" off as just another comic book film. It is far more than that.

It is a dream come true for many wonderful and patient people

We have a winner!

Last Night, Drag Queen and Supermodel of the World, RuPaul crowned season 4 winner of the hugely popular reality show "RuPaul's Drag Race." After a messy season of highs and lows, questionable challenges, even more questionable runway looks the winner of this season was revealed during the reunion episode by popular vote. And while the winner was named by popular vote (fans could vote through Facebook) ultimately, it was up to RuPaul to choose the next "face of drag." And what a face it was. In the final three viewers were left with Chad Michaels, Phi Phi O'Hara and Sharon Needles. Each had something unique to bring to the table, so to speak but it was Sharon Needles who won over America's imagination with her dark camp. It was not really a shock, but RuPaul played into fan fear by postponing the winner instead of announcing it outright. I'm suspecting this was done to bait fans to watch the reunion special. Feisty queen and sometimes wolf-in-sequins, Phi Phi O'Hara garnered clout as the villain of the show early on due to her ruthless competitive edge nicknaming and popularizing Sharon by giving her the nickname "Party City." And then there was Chad Michaels, the solid, showgirl, old guard queen who week after week delivered consistent results but failed to surprise the judges. Personally, I wanted Chad Michaels to win. Michaels represented drag in all its beauty and adorning glory and was very talented. Case in point? During the election episode, Michales dared to create a bizarre Lady-Pimp character who created the catchy "Up-Do," political slogan. Michaels was engaging, warm and personable. Aside from Michaels, a crime I simply am not ready to forgive Ru for was the elimination of LaTrice Royale at the hands of keeping Phi Phi O'Hara. All I can say Ru is, the shade of it all. Yet in the end it was 'spooky' queen Sharon Needles who won. I understand why Needles was picked. She's lively, immensely creative and talented and likely to stir trouble. And stir trouble she already has. Before she was even announced as the winner, information surfaced that Sharon Needles used racist words and imagery during some of her shows, and was even using racial slurs on her facebook. The entire scandal was problematic. I believe that Needles is a talented performer and was Team Sharon until this information surfaced, however, I don't see why a talented queen like her would need to use racial slurs and or imagery to elicit shock. There are other ways to draw out discussions on race in America that don't revolve around using words. In her defense, Needles claimed that it was just a word, but this argument is not appeasing. I hope that with her newly acquired fanbase that includes people of all backgrounds, experiences and such that this will give Needles a much needed look at her repetoire of drag and improve. She definitely has the talent. The decision was indeed controversial and I think that is what Ru intended. As Needles was quoted saying in a recent interview : "It means RuPaul has lost her G-d damn mind!"