Pop Culture Safari!

Clip from the Veronica Mars movie

Out next March.

Season's greetings from Batman!

Preview for Doctor Who "Time of the Doctor" Christmas special

New Spider-Man 3 pics showcase Jamie Foxx as Electro

Hear the Zombies' new Christmas tune

John LeCarre's Smiley novels dramatized on BBC Radio - stream 'em here

Who doesn't like a good radio drama? And the BBC does such a fabulous job. Hear adaptations of John Le Carre's "George Smiley" stories here.

TV doc explores making of most-recent Paul McCartney LP

Details from the press release:

PAUL McCARTNEY: Something NEW is an unprecedented behind-the-scenes look into the creative life of the most successful artist in music history. Viacom's hi-def music network Palladia will premiere the one-hour program on Thursday, December 5th at 9:00 PM ET. VH1 Classic will also air the special on Friday, December 13th at 9:00 PM ET/PT. Something NEW features incredible live and backstage footage shot around the world during his amazing run of shows in 2013 and documents the creation of Paul McCartney's recently released album NEW. Rapturously received upon its October release, NEW has rightfully earned some of the best critical notices of Paul's solo

discography, including Rolling Stone placing it high in their Top 50 Albums of 2013 and raving "As Macca understands better than almost anyone, rock & roll is fueled by a hunger for good times and an ageless exuberance."

Directed by Don Letts, whose credits include the GRAMMY-winning The Clash: Westway to the World, the program also integrates intimate footage of the actual recording process along with vivid memories and incisive reflections of Paul and the album's star-studded production team.

There was no particular plan for Paul McCartney's sixteenth studio album. The initial intention was to go in and demo with a handful of producers, and see who was the right fit for the full album. There is Paul Epworth, architect of Adele's monstrously successful 21 and Mark Ronson, known for his work on Amy Winehouse's classic recordings. And close to the family, there is Giles Martin and Ethan Johns, both celebrated producers in their own right and both sons of men renowned for their prominent roles in Paul's previous works. "I did a lot of work with Giles's Dad, George, in Beatles days; Glyn Johns worked with us on Let It Be and Wings stuff," Paul says in case anyone needed reminding.

Chronicling yet another peak into Paul McCartney's legendary career, Something NEW is a rare glimpse into his incomparable artistry, his creative process and the incredible impact his music has all over the world.

Season's greetings from Annette!

Jeff Smith launches new webcomic

The creator of "Bone" has a new series called Tuki up and running on his site. Check it out.

Details: "Sherlock" season 3 opener

From the BBC:

Ep 1/3
Wednesday 1 January
9.00-10.25pm
BBC ONE

BBC One’s much praised, multi-award-winning drama Sherlock, starring Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman, returns for an eagerly awaited third series of three, 90-minute films – The Empty Hearse, The Sign Of Three and His Last Vow.

The contemporary re-imagining of the Arthur Conan Doyle classic, co-created by Steven Moffat and Mark Gatiss, has caused a sensation since it first aired in the summer of 2010, the last series delivering an audience of more than 10 million viewers who have tuned in to watch Sherlock and John Watson navigate a maze of cryptic clues and lethal killers in three thrilling, action-packed adventures.

In episode one of this new series, two years after the devastating effects of The Reichenbach Fall, Dr John Watson has got on with his life. New horizons, romance and a comforting domestic future beckon. But, with London under threat of a huge terrorist attack, Sherlock Holmes is about to rise from the grave with all the theatricality that comes so naturally to him. It’s what his best friend wanted more than anything, but for John Watson it might well be a case of ‘be careful what you wish for’! If Sherlock thinks everything will be just as he left it though, he’s in for a very big surprise…

Benedict Cumberbatch returns as Sherlock Holmes, with Martin Freeman as John Watson, Mark Gatiss as Mycroft, Rupert Graves as Inspector Lestrade, Una Stubbs as Mrs Hudson, Amanda Abbington as Mary Morstan and Louise Brealey as Molly Hooper.

Details: "The Time of the Doctor" Doctor Who Christmas special 2013

Here's a press release from the BBC:

Wednesday 25 December
7.30-8.30pm
BBC ONE

Orbiting a quiet backwater planet, the massed forces of the universe’s deadliest species gather, drawn to a mysterious message that echoes out to the stars - and amongst them, the Doctor.

Rescuing Clara from a family Christmas dinner, the Time Lord and his best friend must learn what this enigmatic signal means for his own fate and that of the universe.

Stars: Matt Smith; Jenna Coleman and Orla Brady

Written by Steven Moffat

Directed by Jamie Payne

Season's greetings from Shirley Eaton!

Harlan Ellison to release his unused script for 1966 Batman TV show

Sci-fi author Harlan Ellison has been publishing collections of his teleplays over the past few years, and the most recent volume will include his pitch for an episode of the Adam West "Batman" TV show.

Details:

Though Harlan’s written numerous comic book scripts for the Dark Knight, his first slide down the Bat-Pole was in 1966 when he pitched an episode to ABC’s Batman, starring Adam West and Burt Ward. Tragically—for reasons explained in the editor’s notes—“The Two-Way Crimes of Two-Face” treatment was never produced, but now you can read what the Unrepentant Harlequin had in mind for the Dynamic Duo and their Bifurcated Foe.

More here.