Pop Culture Roundup May 14, 2007

NBC has announced details on a couple of new genre shows featured in the networks upcoming fall schedule:

"JOURNEYMAN"-- From Emmy Award-winning writer-producer Kevin Falls ("The West Wing") and Emmy Award-winning director-producer Alex Graves ("The West Wing"), "Journeyman" is a romantic mystery-drama about Dan Vasser (Kevin McKidd, "Rome"), a San Francisco newspaper reporter and family man who inexplicably begins to travel through time and change people's lives. Along the way, he also must deal with the difficulties and strife at work and home brought on by his sudden disappearances. However, his freewheeling travels through the decades reunite him with his long-lost fiance Livia (Moon Bloodgood, "Day Break") -- which complicates his present-day life with wife Katie (Gretchen Egolf, "Martial Law") and their son. Reed Diamond ("Homicide: Life on the Street") and Charles Henry Wyson ("The Curious Case of Benjamin Button") also star. "Journeyman" is a production of 20th Century Fox Television. Falls is executive producer and writer; Graves is executive producer and director of the pilot.

"CHUCK" - From executive producer, Josh Schwartz ("The O.C.") and executive producer-director McG ("Charlie's Angels," "We Are Marshall") comes a one-hour, comedic spy thriller about Chuck Bartowski (Zachary Levi, "Less Than Perfect") - a computer geek who is catapulted into a new career as the government's most vital secret agent. When Chuck opens an e-mail subliminally encoded with government secrets, he unwittingly downloads an entire server of sensitive data into his brain. Now, the fate of the world lies in the unlikely hands of a guy who works at Buy More. Instead of fighting computer viruses, he must fight assassins and international terrorists. With the government's most precious secrets in Chuck's head, Major John Casey (Adam Baldwin, "My Bodyguard") of the NSA assumes the responsibility of protecting him. His partner is the CIA's top agent (and Chuck's first date in years) Sarah Walker (Yvonne Strzechowski, "Gone"). They'll keep him safe by trading in his pocket protector for a bulletproof vest. Also starring are Joshua Gomez ("Without a Trace") as Chuck's best buddy Morgan and Sarah Lancaster ("What About Brian?") as Chuck's ever-supportive sister Ellie. Josh Schwartz and Chris Fedak wrote "Chuck," which is produced by College Hill Pictures and Wonderland Sound and Vision in association with Warner Bros. Television.

"BIONIC WOMAN" - Struggling as a bartender and surrogate mom to her teenage sister, Jaime Sommers (Michelle Ryan, "EastEnders") didn't think life could get much harder. But when a devastating car accident leaves her at death's door, Jaime's only hope for survival is a cutting-edge, top-secret technology that comes at a hefty price. With a whole new existence and a debt to re-pay, Jaime must figure out how to use her extraordinary abilities for good, while weighing the personal sacrifices she will have to make. Ultimately, it's Jaime's journey of self-discovery and inner strength that will help her embrace her new life as the Bionic Woman. Also starring are: Mae Whitman ("State of Grace") as Becca, Jaime's younger sister; Miguel Ferrer ("Crossing Jordan") as Jonas, the man who employs Jaime's boyfriend; Chris Bowers ("Rescue Me) as Will, Jaime's boyfriend, who performs the operation; Will Yun Lee ("Witchblade") as Jae, the specialized operations leader; and Molly Price ("Third Watch"), as Ruth, Jonas' second-in-command. "Bionic Woman" is produced by NBC Universal Television Studio and executive-produced by David Eick ("Battlestar Galactica"), Glen Morgan ("The X-Files"), Michael Dinner ("Kidnapped") -- who also directed the pilot -- and Jason Smilovic ("Lucky Number Slevin"). Laeta Kalogridis ("Birds of Prey") is also an executive producer on the pilot.

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Another addition to NBC's schedule, a "Heroes" spin-off series.

"Heroes: Origins" will air in "Heroes'" Monday night time slot when that smash hit takes a hiatus. The net has ordered six segs of "Origins," which, combined with "Heroes," makes for 30 hours altogether.

"Heroes: Origins" will center on characters not yet seen on the original show. Peacock has also added an interactive element to the show: Viewers will be asked to pick their favorite character from "Origins," who will then join the cast of the full-blown "Heroes" skein the following year.


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Speaking of which, here are details on tonight's episode of "Heroes."

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Dial B for Burbank counts down the top 10 best villains from The Shadow movie serials.

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Check out Toy Collector Magazine, a free PDF periodical that looks like a lot of fun.

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Just a reminder, Neato Coolville's month-long look at the 30th anniversary of "Stars Wars" continues. Recent entries include looks at the first Marvel Comics' adaptations of the film, "Star Wars" soundtrack LPs and more.

Vintage Comic Book Ad



Underdog movie pictures











Today's video: Duane Eddy performs "Rebel Rouser"

DC Direct Reactivated series 3 action figures


REACTIVATED! SERIES 3:
SUPER FRIENDS ACTION FIGURES

Each figure features multiple points of articulation and a base.
Advance-solicited; on sale August 29, 2007 • Action Figures • PI
Superman 6.3"
Wonder Woman 6"
The Flash 6.3 "
Batman 6.3 "

DC Direct Justice League of America series 1 action figures


JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA
SERIES 1 ACTION FIGURES

Each figure features multiple points of articulation and a base.
Advance-solicited; on sale August 8, 2007 • Action Figures • PI
Superman 6.75"
Black Lightning 6.625"
Black Canary 6.5"
Vixen 6.5"
Red Arrow 6.625"

DC Direct Alex Ross Justice action figures box set

Click link to order.


JUSTICE: ACTION FIGURE BOX SET
Features four of the most popular JUSTICE heroes!
Bases included. Includes the 32 page. comic of JUSTICE #1! From the best-selling JUSTICE series with art by Alex Ross! Packaged in a four-color window box.
Advance-solicited; on sale October 31, 2007 • Box Set • PI
--Batman 7.25"
--Superman 7.25"
--Wonder Woman 7"
--Green Lantern 7"

DC Direct Batman and Son action figures

Click links to order


BATMAN: BATMAN & SON
Designed by Andy Kubert
Based on the best-selling BATMAN series storyline: BATMAN & SON, art by Andy Kubert, written by Grant Morrison.
Each figure features multiple points of articulation and a base.
Advance-solicited; on sale October 17, 2007 • Action Figures •PI
--Batman 6.75"
--The Joker 6.75"
--Robin & Damian 2 pack 3.75" h & 4.75"
--Ninja Manbat 6.75"

DC Direct Superman vs. Doomsday action figures

Click links to order


SUPERMAN vs. DOOMSDAY ACTION FIGURES
These figures are in 4" scale. Each figure features multiple points of articulation and a base.
Advance-solicited; on sale October 3, 2007• Action Figures • PI
--Superman 4.5"
--Doomsday5.25"
--Solar Suit Superman 4.5"
--Lex Luthor & Robot 2 pack 4.25" and 4.3"

DC Direct Superman Last Son Action Figures

SUPERMAN: LAST SON ACTION FIGURES
Designed by Adam Kubert
Based on the best-selling ACTION COMICS storyline “Last Son,” with art by Adam Kubert and written by Richard Donner & Geoff Johns!. Each figure features multiple points of articulation and a base.
Advance-solicited; on sale November 14, 2007 • Action Figures •PI
Superman 6.75"
Bizarro 7"
Zod 6.75"
Ursa 6.5"

DC Direct Shazam!/Captain Marvel Action Figures

SHAZAM! ACTION FIGURES

Each figure features multiple points of articulation and a base.
Advance-solicited; on sale November 28, 2007 • Action Figures •PI

Shazam! 6.75"
Mary 6.5"
Mary (variant) 6.5"
Jr. 6.5"
Dr. Sivana (with Mr. Mind) 6.5"
Billy Batson & Hoppy (2 pack) 6.15" & 6.25"

DC Direct Wonder Woman action figures series 1

Click links to order


DC Direct Wonder Woman Series 1 Action Figures
--Wonder Woman
--Agent Diana Prince
--Circe
--Donna Troy as Wonder Woman

DC Direct New Frontier Series 2 Action Figures


NEW FRONTIER SERIES 2 ACTION FIGURES
Designed by Darwyn Cooke
Each figure features multiple points of articulation and a base.
BATMAN 6.625”
THE FLASH 6.5”
DR. FATE 6.5”
MARTIAN MANHUNTER 6.5”
Advance-solicited; on sale December 12, 2007 • Action Figures• PI