CD new releases Oct. 30, 2007
Wedding Album by Leon Russell and Mary Russell
Americana by Leon Russell
Life & Love by Leon Russell
Live Album by Leon Russell and New Grass Revival
Goffin & King Song Collection 1961-1967
Dirt Farmer by Levon Helm
That's Swift: Instrumentals From the Norman Petty Vaults by Various Artists
Spirit of St Louis by Ellen Foley
Feeling the Blues by The Chambers Brothers
Knee Plays by David Byrne
In Concert by Gene Clark
Some Things Just Stick in Your Mind: Singles and Demos 1964-1967 by Vashti Bunyan
I Wanna Go Backwards by Robyn Hitchcock
Pop Culture Roundup Oct. 29, 2007
TV alert: "American Masters" on PBS profiles Peanuts creator Charles Shulz.
Like the new Schulz biography by David Michaelis (an interviewee and consultant here), the program makes illuminating use of panels from a half-century’s worth of “Peanuts” to illustrate the biographical sketch being supplied by friends and family. It’s a savvy approach that makes you realize that his sparse style wasn’t so simple after all, that beneath any given strip may have lurked Mr. Schulz’s real-life loneliness, lost love or broken marriage.
Along the way you meet the inspiration for Linus, an early art-instruction colleague of Mr. Schulz named Linus Maurer; the actual little red-haired girl, Donna Wold; even, in some photos, Charles F. Brown, the man whose round head Mr. Schulz immortalized. You learn that “A Charlie Brown Christmas,” the 1965 special that is among the most beloved pieces of television ever made, might easily have been ruined by CBS, except that Mr. Schulz by then had enough power to impose his vision.
--------------------------
A live-action Green Lantern movie is planned.
When they went in to pitch, Berlanti had a concept artist draw up 30 images of key scenes and images to help sell to the studio the movie he wanted to direct. He also pitched Warners brass a series of movies, with the first being an origin of how Jordan becomes a member of the intergalactic police force.
The biggest challenge in setting up "Lantern" was waiting for the technology to become available to create fantastical worlds as well as overcoming the prejudice of a ring-bearing hero.
Like the new Schulz biography by David Michaelis (an interviewee and consultant here), the program makes illuminating use of panels from a half-century’s worth of “Peanuts” to illustrate the biographical sketch being supplied by friends and family. It’s a savvy approach that makes you realize that his sparse style wasn’t so simple after all, that beneath any given strip may have lurked Mr. Schulz’s real-life loneliness, lost love or broken marriage.
Along the way you meet the inspiration for Linus, an early art-instruction colleague of Mr. Schulz named Linus Maurer; the actual little red-haired girl, Donna Wold; even, in some photos, Charles F. Brown, the man whose round head Mr. Schulz immortalized. You learn that “A Charlie Brown Christmas,” the 1965 special that is among the most beloved pieces of television ever made, might easily have been ruined by CBS, except that Mr. Schulz by then had enough power to impose his vision.
--------------------------
A live-action Green Lantern movie is planned.
When they went in to pitch, Berlanti had a concept artist draw up 30 images of key scenes and images to help sell to the studio the movie he wanted to direct. He also pitched Warners brass a series of movies, with the first being an origin of how Jordan becomes a member of the intergalactic police force.
The biggest challenge in setting up "Lantern" was waiting for the technology to become available to create fantastical worlds as well as overcoming the prejudice of a ring-bearing hero.
Pop Culture Roundup Oct. 26, 2007
A 16-CD box set collecting the entire studio works of Pink Floyd is out Dec. 4.
Oh By the Way, due Dec. 4 internationally. For the time being, the limited pressing of 10,000 will only be available as an import in the United States.
The box spans Pink Floyd's 1967 debut, "The Piper at the Gates of Dawn," to its 1994 swan song, "The Division Bell," with a new portrait collage from longtime visual collaborator Storm Thorgerson. Also included is a 20" by 30" poster.
Each album is a reproduction of the original vinyl release, with the "Dark Side of the Moon" cover appearing on CD for the first time since the early 1990s.
----------------------------
The "Lost" curse strikes again: Daniel Dae Kim, who plays Jin, is the third cast member to be busted for driving under the influence in Hawaii.
In December 2005, the Hawaii Five-O snagged a twofer, busting then Losties Michelle Rodriguez and Cynthia Watros on separate DUIs on the same highway within 15 minutes of each other. Both pleaded guilty to charges of driving under the influence, with Rodriguez even serving a brief jail stint for the offense. Both actresses met their demise by season's end.
Less than a year later, in September 2006, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje was arrested on charges of driving without a license and disobeying an officer.
Best Lost Sites.
-------------------------------
The Milt Caniff estate is selling an exclusive online DVD collecting four episodes of the 1958-59 live-action "Steve Canyon" TV series. Profits from the disk will help fund restoration of the entire series, including all 34 episodes. More info here.
--------------------------------
Manga publisher Tokyopop names its 10 best-selling titles during its first decade of operations.
----------------------------------
The New York Times reviews a new documentary about director David Lynch.
Whether you dig “Lynch,” a feature-length video visit with the director David Lynch, will largely depend on your views of his work and whether you think there’s something instructive and characteristically wonderful and weird about him telling an assistant, “I want a one-legged 16-year-old girl.”
-----------------------------------
Dial B for Blog wishes you a Bizarro Halloween.
------------------------------------
Cate Blanchett talks about playing Bob Dylan.
After watching the important Dylan documentaries and studying the press conferences he held during his 1966 tour (the footage supplied by Dylan's manager Jeff Rosen), Blanchett turned the singer into an asexual, creative imp. "He was a creature. You see him jumping around in Don't Look Back [the 1967 documentary] and he's completely androgynous." She was captivated by his defiant, occasionally cruel playfulness, behaving "like a cat with a mouse, with this girl in a French hotel room" and drawing a fake moustache on his own face.
Best Bob Dylan Sites.
-----------------------------------
The Museum of Jewish History in Paris is presenting a Superman exhibition.
230 original drawings and printed works by major cartoonists and graphic novelists will be shown. The core of the exhibition will be the artists living and publishing in New York and their influence on European graphic storytelling as far as Jewish Memory is concerned.
Best Superman Sites.
Oh By the Way, due Dec. 4 internationally. For the time being, the limited pressing of 10,000 will only be available as an import in the United States.
The box spans Pink Floyd's 1967 debut, "The Piper at the Gates of Dawn," to its 1994 swan song, "The Division Bell," with a new portrait collage from longtime visual collaborator Storm Thorgerson. Also included is a 20" by 30" poster.
Each album is a reproduction of the original vinyl release, with the "Dark Side of the Moon" cover appearing on CD for the first time since the early 1990s.
----------------------------
The "Lost" curse strikes again: Daniel Dae Kim, who plays Jin, is the third cast member to be busted for driving under the influence in Hawaii.
In December 2005, the Hawaii Five-O snagged a twofer, busting then Losties Michelle Rodriguez and Cynthia Watros on separate DUIs on the same highway within 15 minutes of each other. Both pleaded guilty to charges of driving under the influence, with Rodriguez even serving a brief jail stint for the offense. Both actresses met their demise by season's end.
Less than a year later, in September 2006, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje was arrested on charges of driving without a license and disobeying an officer.
Best Lost Sites.
-------------------------------
The Milt Caniff estate is selling an exclusive online DVD collecting four episodes of the 1958-59 live-action "Steve Canyon" TV series. Profits from the disk will help fund restoration of the entire series, including all 34 episodes. More info here.
--------------------------------
Manga publisher Tokyopop names its 10 best-selling titles during its first decade of operations.
----------------------------------
The New York Times reviews a new documentary about director David Lynch.
Whether you dig “Lynch,” a feature-length video visit with the director David Lynch, will largely depend on your views of his work and whether you think there’s something instructive and characteristically wonderful and weird about him telling an assistant, “I want a one-legged 16-year-old girl.”
-----------------------------------
Dial B for Blog wishes you a Bizarro Halloween.
------------------------------------
Cate Blanchett talks about playing Bob Dylan.
After watching the important Dylan documentaries and studying the press conferences he held during his 1966 tour (the footage supplied by Dylan's manager Jeff Rosen), Blanchett turned the singer into an asexual, creative imp. "He was a creature. You see him jumping around in Don't Look Back [the 1967 documentary] and he's completely androgynous." She was captivated by his defiant, occasionally cruel playfulness, behaving "like a cat with a mouse, with this girl in a French hotel room" and drawing a fake moustache on his own face.
Best Bob Dylan Sites.
-----------------------------------
The Museum of Jewish History in Paris is presenting a Superman exhibition.
230 original drawings and printed works by major cartoonists and graphic novelists will be shown. The core of the exhibition will be the artists living and publishing in New York and their influence on European graphic storytelling as far as Jewish Memory is concerned.
Best Superman Sites.
Pop Culture Roundup Oct. 25, 2007
The London Times interviews Richard Lester, director of the Beatles' "A Hard Day's Night" and "Help!" The latter is now out as a remastered double DVD.
“If the film holds up,” Lester says of Help!, “it’s probably because silliness doesn’t date.” It was a silliness that, certainly during the filming of Help! in the Bahamas, was assisted by the Beatles’ consumption of vast quantities of the local herb.
“I didn’t demand a standard of professionalism and get stroppy with them,” says Lester. “If they wanted to indulge in certain substances, well, that’s fine.”
Best Beatles Sites.
---------------------
Comic book writer/editor Bob Greenburg has details on his upcoming "Essential Batman Encyclopedia."
The book will "...cover the whole history. Excepting comics based on Batman media properties, this should cover Batman's appearances across the DC Universe from 1939 through last month's titles.
I do my best to clearly explain all appearances on the parallel worlds, post-Crisis, post-Infinite Crisis, the new Multiverse, etc. Stuff that seems contradictory (the new Joker origin anyone?) is mentioned but being an encyclopedia, no analysis or judgment is made.
Best Batman Sites.
----------------------------
Via Journalista!: See rare strips Calvin and Hobbes creator Bill Watterson drew in his college days.
----------------------------
Love and Rockets cartoonist Jaime Hernandez provided this nifty promotional poster for Bob Dylan's Theme Time Radio Hour program on XM.
“If the film holds up,” Lester says of Help!, “it’s probably because silliness doesn’t date.” It was a silliness that, certainly during the filming of Help! in the Bahamas, was assisted by the Beatles’ consumption of vast quantities of the local herb.
“I didn’t demand a standard of professionalism and get stroppy with them,” says Lester. “If they wanted to indulge in certain substances, well, that’s fine.”
Best Beatles Sites.
---------------------
Comic book writer/editor Bob Greenburg has details on his upcoming "Essential Batman Encyclopedia."
The book will "...cover the whole history. Excepting comics based on Batman media properties, this should cover Batman's appearances across the DC Universe from 1939 through last month's titles.
I do my best to clearly explain all appearances on the parallel worlds, post-Crisis, post-Infinite Crisis, the new Multiverse, etc. Stuff that seems contradictory (the new Joker origin anyone?) is mentioned but being an encyclopedia, no analysis or judgment is made.
Best Batman Sites.
----------------------------
Via Journalista!: See rare strips Calvin and Hobbes creator Bill Watterson drew in his college days.
----------------------------
Love and Rockets cartoonist Jaime Hernandez provided this nifty promotional poster for Bob Dylan's Theme Time Radio Hour program on XM.
New and upcoming action figures Oct. 24, 2007
New Teen Titans Action Figures from DC Direct
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
DC Direct New Teen Titans Figures
--Jericho
--Robin
--Deathstroke
--Terra
DC Direct New Gods Figures
--Darkseid
--Lightray
--Mister Miracle
--Orion
DC Direct Matt Wagner Trinity Action Figures
--Superman
--Wonder Woman
--Batman
--Ras Al Ghul
DC Armory Action Figures
--Aquaman
--Batman
--Flamebird
--Nightwing
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
DC Direct Reactivated Action Figures
--Batman
--Wonder Woman
--Lobo
--Superman
DC 13-inch Figures
Green Lantern
Martian Manhunter
Nightwing
Classic Batman
Batgirl gray costume
Batgirl black costume
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
DC Direct New Frontier Series 2 Action Figures
--Batman
--Dr. Fate
--The Flash
--Martian Manhunter
Fantastic Four Rise of the Silver Surfer action figures
Battle Stretch Mr. Fantastic
Fire Blast Human Torch
Raging Thing
Force Field Invisible Woman
Silver Surfer
Lightning Attack Dr. Doom
Blast-off Human Torch
Super Strength Thing
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 3 action figures
--Sayid
--Desmond
--Claire
--Ben/Henry
Marvel Legends Action Figures
Hasbro Marvel Legends Fantastic Four Action Figures
--Mr. Fantastic
--Invisible Woman
--The Thing
--Human Torch
--Silver Surfer
--Dr. Doom
--Mole Man
--Sub-Mariner
Hasbro Marvel Legends Spider-Man Action Figures
--Sandman
--Venom
--Spider-Man (black costume)
--New Goblin
--Mary Jane
--Green Goblin
--Dr. Octopus
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 Series 4
--Nova
--Astonishing X-Men Beast
--Black Bolt
--Tigra
--First-appearance Daredevil
--Punisher
Hasbro Marvel Legends Icons 12-inch Action Figures
Series 4
--Cyclops
--Magneto
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
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