Pop Culture Roundup May 17, 2007
Rock'n'roll pioneer Bo Diddley has suffered a stroke.
Tests showed that the stroke affected the left side of the "Who Do You Love" singer's brain and has impaired his speech and speech recognition, rep Susan Clary said. She had no other information regarding his condition, which is listed as "guarded," or how long his stay in the hospital is likely to be.
The 78-year-old Diddley, who has a history of hypertension and diabetes, was said to be acting disoriented during a concert in Council Bluffs, Iowa, earlier in the day.
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Bat Blog presents image of some cool Batcopter toys.
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"Veronica Mars" is not on the CW's fall schedule.
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Nestor Carbonell, who plays Richard Alpert on "Lost," will appear as Gotham City's mayor in the next Batman film.
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Newsarama excerpts a portion of "Brushstrokes with Greatness," a new book about the great comic book inker Joe Sinnott.
Tests showed that the stroke affected the left side of the "Who Do You Love" singer's brain and has impaired his speech and speech recognition, rep Susan Clary said. She had no other information regarding his condition, which is listed as "guarded," or how long his stay in the hospital is likely to be.
The 78-year-old Diddley, who has a history of hypertension and diabetes, was said to be acting disoriented during a concert in Council Bluffs, Iowa, earlier in the day.
--------------------
Bat Blog presents image of some cool Batcopter toys.
---------------------
"Veronica Mars" is not on the CW's fall schedule.
----------------------
Nestor Carbonell, who plays Richard Alpert on "Lost," will appear as Gotham City's mayor in the next Batman film.
-----------------------
Newsarama excerpts a portion of "Brushstrokes with Greatness," a new book about the great comic book inker Joe Sinnott.
Lost clues: "Greatest Hits" ep. 21, season 3
Synopsis:
Aware of the Others' plan to attack the beach camp, the crash survivors plan a counter-attack: They rig dynamite from the Black Rock ship to their tents, which will explode when the Others arrive.
At the same time, Sayid says he's trying to use Naomi's satellite phone to contact the rest of her crew. However, he can't get a signal.
Juliet reveals the Others' have been jamming all radio signals from the island. They're doing this with a counter signal broadcasted by a Dharma station called the Looking Glass, which is underwater off the coast of the island.
Desmond has a vision of Charlie flipping a switch, which somehow leads to the rescue of the crash survivors. The bad thing is, Desmond also sees Charlie drowning after he flips this switch.
Putting two and two together, Charlie figures he's destined to swim down to the Looking Glass and turn off the jamming signal, even if he dies in the process.
As Sayid, Jin and Bernard (man, haven't seen him in a while) stay behind to set off the explosives trap, Jack leads the other survivors away from the camp to, hopefully, await rescue.
Charlie and Desmond, meanwhile, paddle an outrigger canoe out to the site of the Looking Glass.
Desmond volunteers to go in Charlie's stead and is about to dive out of the canoe when Charlie knocks him unconscious with a paddle. He's determined to sacrifice himself. He dives down and gets inside the station but, it turns out, it's inhabited--two women with guns rush out toward him and he's captured.
Clues, observations, speculation:
* In season 1, Charlie tells Jack he can't swim. But apparently he can.
* Did Juliet know the Looking Glass was occupied when Charlie volunteered to swim down there? If so, she knew he was swimming into a trap. Can we really trust her? Or Jack, for that matter?
* Who are the women in the Looking Glass? Are they Others or remnants of the Dharma Initiative? They're dressed more like Others and it makes sense they would be since it sounded as if it was Ben's idea to run a jamming signal. Dharma folks would likely want the ability to communicate with the outside. Are they trapped down there because Locke blew up the Dharma sub?
* Or could the women be members of Naomi's rescue team?
* Any reason both are women?
* This woman looks like a bit like Cassidy, the mother of Sawyer's baby--the lady he conned.
* If the Others are in control of the Looking Glass, this means they must have staged a separate attack against Dharma to secure control of it, since the gas they released on the island wouldn't have harmed anyone underwater. Or, perhaps, the Looking Glass crew members were on the island at the time of the gas attack and were killed then.
* In the flashback, the woman Charlie saves from mugging is Sayid's girlfriend, Nadia. Is there a deeper story to the mugging--was it a simple purse-snatching or was the man trying to get something important from Nadia? Or was the whole thing set up to test Charlie?
* Will Charlie survive?
* What about Locke? Alive or dead? Will we see him again soon? I'm guessing he'll show up, in some form, right around cliffhanger time in next week's season ender.
* Richard Alpert starts to ask Ben if Locke saw Jacob, but it is cut off by Ben. People in the Others' camp are curious as to what happened to Locke. Will Ben maintain control over them?
* In Charlie's childhood flashback you can hear someone say "Desmond come here..." right before young Charlie jumps into the swimming pool.
* Did Alex kill Ben's bunny? The white rabbit is certainly an Alice in Wonderland, "Through the Looking Glass" reference.
Aware of the Others' plan to attack the beach camp, the crash survivors plan a counter-attack: They rig dynamite from the Black Rock ship to their tents, which will explode when the Others arrive.
At the same time, Sayid says he's trying to use Naomi's satellite phone to contact the rest of her crew. However, he can't get a signal.
Juliet reveals the Others' have been jamming all radio signals from the island. They're doing this with a counter signal broadcasted by a Dharma station called the Looking Glass, which is underwater off the coast of the island.
Desmond has a vision of Charlie flipping a switch, which somehow leads to the rescue of the crash survivors. The bad thing is, Desmond also sees Charlie drowning after he flips this switch.
Putting two and two together, Charlie figures he's destined to swim down to the Looking Glass and turn off the jamming signal, even if he dies in the process.
As Sayid, Jin and Bernard (man, haven't seen him in a while) stay behind to set off the explosives trap, Jack leads the other survivors away from the camp to, hopefully, await rescue.
Charlie and Desmond, meanwhile, paddle an outrigger canoe out to the site of the Looking Glass.
Desmond volunteers to go in Charlie's stead and is about to dive out of the canoe when Charlie knocks him unconscious with a paddle. He's determined to sacrifice himself. He dives down and gets inside the station but, it turns out, it's inhabited--two women with guns rush out toward him and he's captured.
Clues, observations, speculation:
* In season 1, Charlie tells Jack he can't swim. But apparently he can.
* Did Juliet know the Looking Glass was occupied when Charlie volunteered to swim down there? If so, she knew he was swimming into a trap. Can we really trust her? Or Jack, for that matter?
* Who are the women in the Looking Glass? Are they Others or remnants of the Dharma Initiative? They're dressed more like Others and it makes sense they would be since it sounded as if it was Ben's idea to run a jamming signal. Dharma folks would likely want the ability to communicate with the outside. Are they trapped down there because Locke blew up the Dharma sub?
* Or could the women be members of Naomi's rescue team?
* Any reason both are women?
* This woman looks like a bit like Cassidy, the mother of Sawyer's baby--the lady he conned.
* If the Others are in control of the Looking Glass, this means they must have staged a separate attack against Dharma to secure control of it, since the gas they released on the island wouldn't have harmed anyone underwater. Or, perhaps, the Looking Glass crew members were on the island at the time of the gas attack and were killed then.
* In the flashback, the woman Charlie saves from mugging is Sayid's girlfriend, Nadia. Is there a deeper story to the mugging--was it a simple purse-snatching or was the man trying to get something important from Nadia? Or was the whole thing set up to test Charlie?
* Will Charlie survive?
* What about Locke? Alive or dead? Will we see him again soon? I'm guessing he'll show up, in some form, right around cliffhanger time in next week's season ender.
* Richard Alpert starts to ask Ben if Locke saw Jacob, but it is cut off by Ben. People in the Others' camp are curious as to what happened to Locke. Will Ben maintain control over them?
* In Charlie's childhood flashback you can hear someone say "Desmond come here..." right before young Charlie jumps into the swimming pool.
* Did Alex kill Ben's bunny? The white rabbit is certainly an Alice in Wonderland, "Through the Looking Glass" reference.
New and upcoming action figures May 17, 2007
DC Wonder Woman series 1 action figures, see below
Complete List of Marvel Legends Action Figures
Complete List of DC Direct Action Figures
Here's a look at action figures available via your local comics shop or via the TIP!-supporting links below:
DC Direct Action Figures
Superman Last Son Action Figures
--Last Son Superman
--Ursa
--Bizarro
--Zod
Shazam Action Figures
--Dr. Sivana
--Captain Marvel Jr.
--Mary Marvel
--Billy Batson and Hoppy
--Captain Marvel
Superman Vs. Doomsday
Doomsday
Lex Luthor and Robot
Solar Suit Superman
Superman
Batman and Son
Batman
Ninja Man-Bat
Robin and Daimin
The Joker
52 Weeks
Animal Man
Batwoman
Booster Gold
Supernova
DC Direct Reactivated Action Figures
--Batman
--Wonder Woman
--Lobo
--Superman
DC 13-inch Figures
Green Lantern
Lex Luthor
Martian Manhunter
Catwoman
Nightwing
Classic Batman
Batgirl gray costume
Batgirl black costume
Elseworlds Action Figures Series 2
--Red Son Batman
--Red Son President Superman
--Kingdom Come Jade
--Kingdom Come Spectre and Norman McKay
--Gotham By Gaslight Batman
Elseworlds Action Figures Series 3
--Supergirl
--Batgirl
--Nightstar
--Kingdom Come Aquaman
--Red Son Green Lantern
First Appearance Series 4
--Blue Beetle translucent
--Blue Beetle
--Brave New World Atom
--Warlord
--Brave New World Martian Manhunter
--Brave New World Aquaman
Infinite Crisis Action Figures Series 1
--Powergirl
--Omac
--Mongul
--Earth Prime Superboy
--Alexander Luthor
JSA Action Figures
--Mr. Terrific
--Hawkgirl
--Dr. Midnite
--Hourman
--Golden Age Atom 2-pack
DC Direct Wonder Woman Series 1 Action Figures
--Wonder Woman
--Agent Diana Prince
--Circe
--Donna Troy as Wonder Woman
Fantastic Four Rise of the Silver Surfer action figures
Battle Stretch Mr. Fantastic
Fire Blast Human Torch
Raging Thing
Silver Surfer
Hanna Barbera Series 3 Action Figures
--Fred Flintstone Quittin' Time
--Twinkle Toes Fred Flintstone
--Great Grape Ape
--Huckleberry Hound
--The Jetsons
--Secret Squirrel
--Snagglepuss
McFarlane Lost series 2 action figures
--Crash site box set
--Sawyer
--Jin
--Sayid
--Desmond
--Sun
--Mr. Eko
Marvel Figure Factory Sets
--Angel
--Beast
--Black Costume Spider-Man
--Deadpool
--Invisible Woman
--Silver Surfer
Marvel Legends Action Figures
Hasbro Marvel Legends Action Figures Series 2
--Wolverine
--She-Hulk
--Yellow Jacket
--Quick Silver
--Lord Asgard Thor
--Magneto Xorn
--X3 Jean Grey
--First Appearance Storm
Hasbro Marvel Legends Figures Series 3
--Bucky Barnes
--First appearance Captain America
--Marvel Girl Rachel Grey
--Heroes for Hire Black Knight
--Hydra Soldier
--X-3 Colossus
--Astonishing X-Men Cyclops
--Danger
Hasbro Marvel Legends Icons 12-inch Action Figures
--The Punisher
--Doctor Doom
--The Human Torch
--The Silver Surfer
Marvel Legends Masterworks Sets
--Spider-Man Vs. Green Goblin
--Fantastic Four Vs. Mole Man
--Hulk Vs. The Thing
--Galactus Vs. Everybody
Marvel Select Figures
Best of Marvel Select Figures
--Grey Hulk
--Thanos
--Ultimate Spider-Man
--Green Goblin
--Mephisto
Marvel Sideshow Toys Figures
--Venom
--Black costume Spider-Man
--Spider-Man
--White Queen
--White Queen Exclusive
NECA 7-inch John Lennon action figures
--Color
--Black and white
NECA Grindhouse action figures
--Quentin Tarantino as soldier
--Dakota
--Cherry
Pop Culture Roundup May 15, 2007
Hip-O Select/Geffen is reissuing a couple of Love's post Forever Changes LPs June 26.
"The Blue Thumb Recordings"...will include a previously unreleased disc of live recordings taped in England in 1970.
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See NBC's official Web site for it's upcoming "Bionic Woman" series, including a short video preview.
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Here's a Web site promoting the upcoming direct-to-DVD Doctor Strange film from Marvel.
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Despite speculation the series could be retooled for the new season, it looks like it's all over for "Veronica Mars."
The CW has officially greenlit three dramas and two unscripted magazine shows — and it's looking like the sun is going down on "Veronica Mars."
Definitely gone: "All of Us," the Will Smith-produced laffer that ran for three seasons on UPN and CW. Returning shows snagging official pickups: Laffers "Girlfriends" and "The Game," and dramas "Smallville," "Supernatural" and “One Tree Hill." CW picked up "Everybody Hates Chris" for a third season earlier this spring
And while nothing's official, people familiar with the situation said "Mars" was, indeed, canceled.
"The Blue Thumb Recordings"...will include a previously unreleased disc of live recordings taped in England in 1970.
-------------------
See NBC's official Web site for it's upcoming "Bionic Woman" series, including a short video preview.
--------------------
Here's a Web site promoting the upcoming direct-to-DVD Doctor Strange film from Marvel.
---------------------
Despite speculation the series could be retooled for the new season, it looks like it's all over for "Veronica Mars."
The CW has officially greenlit three dramas and two unscripted magazine shows — and it's looking like the sun is going down on "Veronica Mars."
Definitely gone: "All of Us," the Will Smith-produced laffer that ran for three seasons on UPN and CW. Returning shows snagging official pickups: Laffers "Girlfriends" and "The Game," and dramas "Smallville," "Supernatural" and “One Tree Hill." CW picked up "Everybody Hates Chris" for a third season earlier this spring
And while nothing's official, people familiar with the situation said "Mars" was, indeed, canceled.
Lost preview May 16 episode
Click here for a preview synopsis of tonight's episode. Then come back here tomorrow for a full look at clues and observations.
Also see:
The Best "Lost" Sites on the Web.
"Lost" Season 3 Episode Guide.
"Lost": What we STILL don't know.
Also see:
The Best "Lost" Sites on the Web.
"Lost" Season 3 Episode Guide.
"Lost": What we STILL don't know.
Upcoming pop culture books of interest
Click titles to order from Amazon.
The Rough Guide to Film Noir
From dimly lit streets and glamorous apartments to world-weary detectives and irresistible femmes fatales, The Rough Guide to Film Noir illuminates every corner of cinema’s darkest and most compelling genre. From early masterpieces like Double Indemnity and Kiss Me Deadly through to neo-noir classics such as Chinatown and LA Confidential, this book highlights all the groundbreaking noir movies. There are profiles of legendary performers such as Humphrey Bogart and Barbara Stanwyck, great directors like Fritz Lang plus key cinematographers, composers and designers. Complete with website listings and books for further reading, this Rough Guide takes a fascinating look at the noir movies made in the Classical Hollywood era and beyond.
Paperback: 312 pages
Encyclopedia of Film Noir
When viewers think of film noir, they often picture actors like Humphrey Bogart playing characters like Sam Spade in The Maltese Falcon,the film based on the book by Dashiell Hammett. Yet film noir is a genre much richer. The authors first examine the debate surrounding the parameters of the genre and the many different ways it is defined. They discuss the Noir City, its setting and backdrop, and also the cultural (WWII) and institutional (the House UnAmerican Activities Committee, and the Production Code Administration) influences on the subgenres. An analysis of the low budget and series film noirs provides information on those cult classics. With over 200 entries on films, directors, and actors , the Encyclopedia of Film Noir is the most complete resource for film fans, students, and scholars.
Hardcover: 488 pages
Neptune Noir: Unauthorized Investigations into Veronica Mars
Neptune Noir is a collection of essays on the hit drama Veronica Mars, and is not authorized by CW, the creators or producers of Veronica Mars, or any entity associated with the show.
More than just a high school drama, Veronica Mars is a smart and savvy teen detective show that offers complex mysteries and rapier wit, engaging social commentary, and noir sensibilities—with the occasional murder thrown in for good measure. This collection, edited by the creator and executive producer of the show, offers supreme insight into the class struggles and love stories of the series. Essays by top writers intelligently address a multitude of questions, such as Is Veronica a modern-day vigilante? Why is a show that features rape, potential incest, and a teen girl outsmarting local authorities so popular with America’s conservative population? and Why is Veronica and Logan’s relationship the most important story-driving factor in the show?
Paperback: 224 pages
American Science Fiction Television Series of the 1950's
From Booklist: ...describes, in alphabetical order, 20 nationally syndicated series.
...An extensive bibliography of source material follows the A-Z entries. Two indexes conclude the volume, one listing all the episode titles, and a general index principally of names. Writing is clear and competent, if sometimes opinionated.
Paperback: 261 pages
The Rough Guide to Film Noir
From dimly lit streets and glamorous apartments to world-weary detectives and irresistible femmes fatales, The Rough Guide to Film Noir illuminates every corner of cinema’s darkest and most compelling genre. From early masterpieces like Double Indemnity and Kiss Me Deadly through to neo-noir classics such as Chinatown and LA Confidential, this book highlights all the groundbreaking noir movies. There are profiles of legendary performers such as Humphrey Bogart and Barbara Stanwyck, great directors like Fritz Lang plus key cinematographers, composers and designers. Complete with website listings and books for further reading, this Rough Guide takes a fascinating look at the noir movies made in the Classical Hollywood era and beyond.
Paperback: 312 pages
Encyclopedia of Film Noir
When viewers think of film noir, they often picture actors like Humphrey Bogart playing characters like Sam Spade in The Maltese Falcon,the film based on the book by Dashiell Hammett. Yet film noir is a genre much richer. The authors first examine the debate surrounding the parameters of the genre and the many different ways it is defined. They discuss the Noir City, its setting and backdrop, and also the cultural (WWII) and institutional (the House UnAmerican Activities Committee, and the Production Code Administration) influences on the subgenres. An analysis of the low budget and series film noirs provides information on those cult classics. With over 200 entries on films, directors, and actors , the Encyclopedia of Film Noir is the most complete resource for film fans, students, and scholars.
Hardcover: 488 pages
Neptune Noir: Unauthorized Investigations into Veronica Mars
Neptune Noir is a collection of essays on the hit drama Veronica Mars, and is not authorized by CW, the creators or producers of Veronica Mars, or any entity associated with the show.
More than just a high school drama, Veronica Mars is a smart and savvy teen detective show that offers complex mysteries and rapier wit, engaging social commentary, and noir sensibilities—with the occasional murder thrown in for good measure. This collection, edited by the creator and executive producer of the show, offers supreme insight into the class struggles and love stories of the series. Essays by top writers intelligently address a multitude of questions, such as Is Veronica a modern-day vigilante? Why is a show that features rape, potential incest, and a teen girl outsmarting local authorities so popular with America’s conservative population? and Why is Veronica and Logan’s relationship the most important story-driving factor in the show?
Paperback: 224 pages
American Science Fiction Television Series of the 1950's
From Booklist: ...describes, in alphabetical order, 20 nationally syndicated series.
...An extensive bibliography of source material follows the A-Z entries. Two indexes conclude the volume, one listing all the episode titles, and a general index principally of names. Writing is clear and competent, if sometimes opinionated.
Paperback: 261 pages
DVD: Film Noir Classic Collection Vol. 4
Out July 31, this set collects 10 grim'n'gritty flicks on five disks. It's available for pre-order now from Amazon.
Here's the lineup:
Act of Violence / Mystery Street
Ex-GIs are on a collision course in a crisp tale directed by Fred Zinnemann (The Day of the Jackal) in Act of Violence. And in Mystery Street, CSI Noir: John Sturges (The Great Escape) helms a procedural whodunit in Boston environs.
Crime Wave / Decoy
A hardboiled cop: Sterling Hayden (The Asphalt Jungle) heads an L.A. manhunt in Crime Wave. A drop-dead dame femme fatale Jean Gille revives her hunk from the dead (!) because he knows where the loot is buried in Decoy.
Illegal / The Big Steal
D.A. Edward G. Robinson turns to defending lowlifes in a snappy remake of The Mouthpiece. On the lam, down Mexico way: Out of the Past's Robert Mitchum and Jane Greer reteam, Don Siegel directs in The Big Steal.
They Live By Night / Side Street
In love... in danger. Thugs force lovebirds Farley Granger and Cathy O'Donnell to be accomplices in They Live By Night. And in Side Street, the duo returns as struggling Manhattan marrieds who unwittingly get their hands on mob dough.
Where Danger Lives / Tension
A corpse behind. A dead end ahead. Woozy Robert Mitchum and Faith Domergue are on the run in Where Danger Lives. In Tension, genre icon Audrey Totter is bad to the bone. But milquetoast hubby Richard Basehart may be worse!
Here's the lineup:
Act of Violence / Mystery Street
Ex-GIs are on a collision course in a crisp tale directed by Fred Zinnemann (The Day of the Jackal) in Act of Violence. And in Mystery Street, CSI Noir: John Sturges (The Great Escape) helms a procedural whodunit in Boston environs.
Crime Wave / Decoy
A hardboiled cop: Sterling Hayden (The Asphalt Jungle) heads an L.A. manhunt in Crime Wave. A drop-dead dame femme fatale Jean Gille revives her hunk from the dead (!) because he knows where the loot is buried in Decoy.
Illegal / The Big Steal
D.A. Edward G. Robinson turns to defending lowlifes in a snappy remake of The Mouthpiece. On the lam, down Mexico way: Out of the Past's Robert Mitchum and Jane Greer reteam, Don Siegel directs in The Big Steal.
They Live By Night / Side Street
In love... in danger. Thugs force lovebirds Farley Granger and Cathy O'Donnell to be accomplices in They Live By Night. And in Side Street, the duo returns as struggling Manhattan marrieds who unwittingly get their hands on mob dough.
Where Danger Lives / Tension
A corpse behind. A dead end ahead. Woozy Robert Mitchum and Faith Domergue are on the run in Where Danger Lives. In Tension, genre icon Audrey Totter is bad to the bone. But milquetoast hubby Richard Basehart may be worse!
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