New trailer for Marvel's Avengers movie

Monkees singer Davy Jones dead at 66

Sad news: Davy Jones of the Monkees is dead from a heart attack at age 66, TMZ reports.
An official from the medical examiner's office for Martin County, Florida confirmed with TMZ they received a call from Martin Memorial Hospital informing them that Jones had passed away.

Jones is survived by his wife Jessica and 4 daughters from previous marriages. He was 66-years-old.

Jones joined The Monkees in 1965 ... along with Micky Dolenz, Michael Nesmith and Peter Tork ... and together they churned out a bunch of hugely popular songs including 3 number 1 hits -- "Daydream Believer," "Last Train to Clarksville" and "I'm a Believer."

New music I like: Paul Weller - That Dangerous Age

New one from the Modfather:




Still more vintage paperback cover parade







John Carter movie still picture gallery

Here are images from Disney's upcoming "John Carter," an adaptation of Edgar Rice Burroughs' Mars books. Stars include Taylor Kitsch ("Friday Night Lights") in the lead role, along with Lynn Collins, Dominic West, James Purefoy and others.














New poster -- and new name -- for Marvel's Avengers movie

Here's a new poster for the upcoming Avengers film. Two new posters, actually. Though the images are the same, you'll see that, in the U.K. version, the film is called "Avengers Assemble." This is reportedly to avoid stepping on the copyrighted toes of "The Avengers" spy TV series of the 1960s.


New comics Feb. 29, 2012

New releases of note this week. Click the links to order discounted items from Amazon.

Justice League of America Archives Vol. 10 (Archive Editions)


Avengers: The Big Three


FF, Vol. 1


Ka-Zar By Mark Waid & Andy Kubert - Volume 2


Vampirella Archives Volume 4 HC

Buffy's Juliet Landau to write Drusilla comic series

Juliet Landau, who played the delightfully creepy and unhinged vampiress Drusilla on "Buffy the Vampire Slayer," is penning a five-issue comic book series about her character, reports Entertainment Weekly.
Due to launch in June, the first issue of the spin-off, Landau tells EW, will pick up “literally a panel after” Drusilla’s final appearance in issue No. 9 of the Angel & Faith comic series (out April 25). “I think you will get different sides of Drusilla than have ever been seen before,” she adds, but her lips are sealed for any details on the story beyond that.

Plug: CBS Radio Mystery Theater site

Audio drama and old time radio is one of my myriad pop cultural interests, so I want to direct you to a great site that presents what was one of OTR's last gasps: CBS Radio Mystery Theater.

I remember listening to these shows over the car radio on family road trips and being transported (while I was being transported!) by the spooky/suspenseful stories and high-caliber acting. Episodes were stand-alone stories introduced by actor E.G. Marshall.

Not only does this site present the original programs, but includes cast info and historical background.

For those unfamiliar with the program, here are some details from the site:
In 1974 long-time radio producer Himan Brown convinced CBS to green-light a new anthology of Radio Dramas, CBS Radio Mystery Theater (CBSRMT). Radio Drama had been declared "dead" twelve years before.

CBS Radio Mystery Theater was meant to appeal to an audience that remembered when radio drama was a popular form of family entertainment.

Riding on the wave of nostalgia fever, the radio show attracted many younger listeners who would stay up late, hidden under their covers to hear the program on their bedroom radio (and many of them were not able to go to sleep after listening to the frightening program!) CBSRMT was able to attract a wide array of talent.

Many of the voices that were popular during the Golden Age of Radio made appearances on CBS Radio Mystery Theater, and younger talent, often from CBS Daytime Television and NY area stage was used as well.

More vintage paperback cover parade






BBC radio this week

Click the links to stream the following shows:

Hordes of the Things Available on BBC iPlayer
Tolkien's Lord of the Rings gets a going over with this spoof serial from 1980

Lionel Nimrod's Inexplicable World Available on BBC iPlayer
Spoof documentary series starring Tom Baker along with Stewart Lee and Richard Herring

Meet David Sedaris Available on BBC iPlayer
The American essayist presents a series of audience readings.

More Plain Tales from the Raj Available on BBC iPlayer
Oral history series telling the stories of British Imperial India

RL Stevenson - Kidnapped Available on BBC iPlayer
Robert Louis Stevenson's historical Scottish adventure, starring David Rintoul

Sir Harry Secombe - Goon Abroad Available on BBC iPlayer
The memoirs of Goon Show star Harry Secombe

The Goon Show Available on BBC iPlayer
Classic material from one of the all-time radio comedy greats

The Spike Show - Milligan Remembered Available on BBC iPlayer
Made for 4 Extra. Agent and friend Norma Farnes reflects on the comic legend.

Weird Tales Available on BBC iPlayer
Series of chilling and intimate plays

Johnny Cash: The American Available on BBC iPlayer
Paul Gambaccini celebrates the life of the great Johnny Cash.