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Henson Family Donates Original Muppets to the Smithsonian

  • News
  • August 31, 2010

Alongside his not-as-famous pals, Kermit the Frog was donated to the Smithsonian National Museum of American History by Jim Henson’s wife, Jane, this past Wednesday. Originally cast as a post-news puppet show, Kermit and the original Muppets debuted in 5 minute sketches, usually lip-syncing to popular music, after the local news.

While most today won’t recognize the other puppet-cohorts of Kermit, the museum plans to show clips from early appearances, and help promote the new display in the Pop Culture Gallery, set to debut in November. Curator Dwight Blocker Bowers (say that three times fast) said the Muppets would be a welcome addition to the museum’s collection. “It certainly shows the Muppets at the beginning of the career of a large family of entertainers,” he said. “More than anything, I think it shows the genius of Jim Henson.”

In order to hype this donation, and future installation, a road show has been set up, with a first opening in the Windy City, opening on September 24th at Chicago’s Museum of Science and Industry.

Jane donated this first batch of Muppets, with plans to continue the donation in the years to come. We hope in time to take out own children (when we have children, mind you) to the Smithsonian to see some of our favorites from Henson’s workshop, including any Muppets who made their way into Bill Cosby’s show. You know that episode we’re talking about. Doc eats the sausage sandwich, and have some weird dreams, ala Muppetland. He’s visited by the Hippocritic Oaf, and eventually opens the fridge to find all the contents to have been transformed into puppetry. But we digress… At very least,  expect Kermit’s longtime female companion, the far-from-kosher Ms. Piggy to join her lime-green romeo soon (in tow, we’re sure, with other actual major Muppet players). In the mean time… Expect Kermit and his pals to enjoy the sans-pig-silence.

Tip of the hat to artdaily, for sharing. Cause sharing is caring.

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Review: ‘FlashForward The Complete Series’

flashforwardcompleteseries-9918679In 1999, Robert J. Sawyer wrote FlashForward
, a clever science fiction novel that showed how the world reacted to a suddenly global blackout and people glimpsing their futures 21 years hence. The catalytic event was centered at the CERN supercollider in Europe and largely focused on the scientists who worked there.

Interestingly, it was optioned for television and was being developed into a series at HBO, which decided it was trending more towards a prime time broadcast network show, so the rights got to ABC. With great fanfare and terrific initial reviews, the show debuted on September 24, 2009.

Maybe it should have stayed a limited run series on the premium channel. The resulting 22 episodes had lofty goals and a dynamite cast, but the sprawling story was messy, with way too many things not holding up well enough to sustain viewer interest. Ratings suffered after the show took a break at the midpoint and was finally ended on May 27. On Tuesday, ABC Studios is releasing FlashForward: The Complete Series
as a five disc set.

One of the creative problems was that the producers had no idea how much time they had to tell their story. They received an initial order for thirteen and it was a month after the debut before ABC ordered the back nine and subsequently added three episodes to the order. As the ratings nosedived, the order was trimmed from 25 to 24 and finally the standard 22. The feeling that they were spinning their wheels makes sense now that you see what they had to deal with.

Additionally, the personnel guiding the characters and storylines also shifted which led to altered tones. The show was initially being run by Marc Guggenheim, David S. Goyer and Brannon Braga but shortly after the full season was ordered, Guggenheim left the show and Goyer took over until February when he moved away from the sinking ship, letting his wife Jessika, Lisa Zwerling and Timothy J. Lea complete the series.

What should have been a limited series run made substantive changes to Sawyer’s novel beginning with altering the flash forward from 21 years to a handful of months, April 29, 2010. The ensemble cast was centered not at CERN but at the Los Angeles branch of the FBI. Over the course of the first few episodes, it was fascinating to see people react to their visions or lack of visions. The FBI team, led by an overly dour Ralph Fiennes, discovered a vast conspiracy behind the event and their investigations let us meet many people around the world and get a greater sense of what was experienced and how society was being altered.

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‘Spider-Man’ caught by Australians

  • News
  • August 31, 2010

Dateline: Sydney! It seems a fickle Frenchman, nicknamed “Spider-Man” was nabbed by Aussie Police after he scaled a 57-story building in Sydney, with his bare hands! Alain “So not Peter Parker” Robert is a noted building climber… having scaled over 70 buildings, (as only a spider can.) including the 41-story Royal Bank of Scotland building in Sydney, The Sears Willis (ugh) Tower in Chicago, and the Petronas Towers in Kuala Lampur.

It seems this Spider-Man has had plenty of run-ins with the law, having paid a whopping $676 dollar fine once before to the Aussie Feds for his previous scaling of the aforementioned Royal Bank, as well as numerous arrests for his previous climbs. “I’m sad he’s been arrested, but hopefully he’ll get out soon and we can have some champagne,” said his agent, Max Markson. We can only assume Robert and Markson’s next scaling may be away from the land-down-under. We suggest Chicago’s Trump Tower next. Why? Cause the Donald loves publicity stunts, and his half-filled building needs a little TLC from the media.

We stopped the editor of the Daily Bugle, one J. Jonah Jameson, who had this to say: “If we only knew the identity of our own city’s wall-crawler we could fine him too for all the buildings he’s scaled. I talked to our attorney, Matt Murdock, and he’s certain that if that French kid gets arresting for just climbing a building, our web-spinning, car-flipping, joke-spewing ‘Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man’ would get an instant ‘Go to jail, do not pass go, do not collect $200’ card! And we’ll figure out WHO the web-crawler is too… All we need is one more day.”

Kudos to Yahoo! for this one.

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The Point Radio: WHITE COLLAR Stands Out

  • News
  • August 30, 2010

Add WHITE COLLAR to the list of summer hits on the USA Network – and series star MATT BOMER talks about what he feels makes the show work, plus his possible return to CHUCK as well. And comics on Tuesdays – but not for most of us! Diamond sets the rules again!

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And be sure to stay on The Point via badgeitunes61x15dark31-8665502, RSS, MyPodcast.Comor Podbean!

Follow us now on facebook31-9819221 and twitter31-4714280!

Don’t forget that you can now enjoy THE POINT 24 hours a Day – 7 Days a week!. Updates on all parts of pop culture, special programming by some of your favorite personalities and the biggest variety of contemporary music on the net – plus there is a great round of new programs on the air including classic radio each night at 12mid (Eastern) on RETRO RADIO COMICMIX’s Mark Wheatley hitting the FREQUENCY every Saturday at 9pm and even the Editor-In-Chief of COMICMIX, Mike Gold, with his daily WEIRD SCENES and two full hours of insanity every Sunday (7pm ET) with WEIRD SOUNDS!

CLICK HERE TO LISTEN LIVE FOR FREE or go to GetThePointRadio for more including a connection for mobile phones including iPhone & Blackberrys.

 

 

Review: ‘Batman: The Brave and the Bold Season One, Part One’

1000149432dvdlef-7901621Growing up in the 1960s, DC’s super-heroes were proud to don their uniforms and battle for truth, justice, and the American way. They had a relatively easy camaraderie with one another and they used their wits and their powers to get out the devilish death-traps they inevitably found themselves in every now and then.

While DC’s heroes and villains have been successfully translated to animation through the years, none have quite captured that colorful joy in being a super-hero. As successful as Warner Animations[[[ Batman]]], [[[Superman]]] and [[[Justice League]]] have been for the current generation of fans, [[[Batman: The Brave and the Bold]]] is the show that those of us from an earlier era have been waiting for. No Wonder Twins, no Wendy & Marvin – our heroes and villains doing what they do best.

The first thirteen episodes of the Cartoon Network series are collected on Batman: The Brave and the Bold Season One, Part One. The two-disc set, without any extras whatsoever, is being released Tuesday and is a joy to have. Producers James Tucker and Michael Jelenic have designed a show that celebrates the heroic and it is brighter, jazzier, and in many ways more action-packed than its predecessors. Each episode opens with a teaser that shows the conclusion of another successful team-up between Batman and a member of the heroic community then we get a complete tale with a different collaboration.

The show has taken great pains to explore the far-reaches of the DC Universe, across the stars and through the years. As a result, one never knows who will be seen next which brings a sense of delight to the viewing experience. Batman is equally comfortable in the past, fighting Morgaine le Fey alongside Etrigan the Demon, as he is battling in the years of the Great Disaster, aiding Kamandi, the Last Boy on Earth. The writers have demonstrated not only a keen understanding of the core elements that make each hero and villain distinct, but adapts them well to television in order to avoid having them appear too similar to one another. The exception is Green Arrow, and the rivalry between the two heroes provides some welcome comic relief. Aquaman, king of the seven seas is also seen as a dim blowhard, eager for an adventure, always struggling to come up with an engaging name for it.

About the only adaptation that has failed to work for me is portraying Metamorpho, Black Lightning and Katana – the Outsiders – as a group of snotty teens. The most successful might be Jaime Reyes, the current Blue Beetle, who is one of the most frequent guest stars and is seen as a hero in training, struggling to gain the respect and approval of his mentors.

While bright and shiny, they still show death and its ramifications, as witnessed by the recap of Bruce Wayne’s youth and other random, senseless acts of violence. Batman has overcome those dark days and is a tireless, driven crimefighter, ready to take on any threat. His square-jawed design is evocative of how he was depicted by the likes of Sheldon Moldoff and Mike Sekowsky in the early 1960s, just before the “New Look” era began. The one element I feel does the show a disservice is the ability for his cape to morph into a jetpack while the Batmobile is an all-in-one sea to surface to air vehicle. While these are lovely animation shortcuts, they take us a step beyond the Batman they are celebrating.

And don’t think its all adventure as many stories also deal with emotional themes such as Red Tornado’s quest for humanity and Wildcat struggling with age.

The first half season ends with a two-part visit to a parallel world and the Injustice Syndicate, as batman struggles to fit in disguised as his counterpart Owlman. As one would expect justice triumphs but not without putting up a vigorous fight.

This set is a welcome addition to the DC video library and comes well recommended.

2010 Harvey Awards Announced!

  • News
  • August 29, 2010

harvey-award-statue1-6712718The Harvey Awards, named for famed writer/cartoonist Harvey Kurtzman, once again hit the Baltimore Comic Con in style. Emceed by PvP’s esteemed artist and writer Scott Kurtz (not only because his name is close to Harvey’s, but because he’s genuinely funny!), is held in tandem with a celebratory dinner and ceremony. Our intrepid Glenn Hauman was on scene tweeting the winners to us all, and shucks, he even joined the folks for the after-party. We here at ComicMix congratulate all this years nominees and celebrate the victories for this years winners! Did your favorite take home the ole’ Harv’? Find out below!

Best Writer:
This years nominees are:

  • Jason Aaron, Scalped, Vertigo/DC
  • Geoff Johns, Blackest Night, DC
  • Robert Kirkman, The Walking Dead, Image Comics
  • Jeff Kiney, Diary of a Wimpy Kid #3, Amulet Books
  • Mark Waid, Irredeemable, Boom! Studios

And the winner: Robert “Suck it Johns, I PWN Zombies” Kirkman!

He joins other Harvey Winners like Alan Moore, Grant Morrison, Brian K. Vaugn, and Neil Gaiman!

Best Artist:
This years nominees are:

  • Robert Crumb, Book of Genesis, W.W. Norton
  • Guy Davis, BPRD:Black Goddess, Dark Horse Comics
  • Brian Fies, Whatever Happened to the World of Tomorrow, Abrams ComicArts
  • David Petersen, Mouse Guard: Winter 1152, Archaia Entertainment
  • Frank Quitely, Batman and Robin, DC
  • JH Williams III, Detective Comics, DC

And the winner: Robert Crumb!

He joins other Harvey Winners like Dave Gibbons, Alex Ross, Mike Mignola, and Brian Bolland… but c’mon. He’s already had a movie about his life. Gibbons, Ross, Mignola, and Bolland should be proud they now share this award with Robert.

Best Cartoonist:
This years nominees are:

  • Darwyn Cooke, Richard Stark’s Parker: The Hunter, IDW
  • Jeff Kinney, Diary of a Wimpy Kid #3, Amulet Books
  • Roger Langridge, The Muppet Show Comic Book, Boom! Studios
  • David Mazzucchelli, Asterios Polyp, Pantheon
  • Seth, George Sprott (1894-1975), Drawn and Quarterly

And the winner: Darwyn “Now who do I fight next?” Cooke!

He joins other Harvey Winners like Paul Chadwick, Jeff Smith, Chris Ware, and Sergio Aragones!

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A Few Guiness World Book Record For Your Consideration

  • News
  • August 28, 2010

According to our fine friends at Comics Alliance, a gaggle of costumed cohorts congregated at the corner of Hollywood and Highland in in L.A. yesterday. In order to top Australia’s record for most people dressed in superhero costumes in one place at one time, a craigslist ad posted to bring as many cosplayers to the call as possible. While we weren’t able to confirm if more than 1245 vigilantes showed up between 12:30 and 12:45 PM as called for, we have faith in our American cosplayers. If someone out there on the left coast wants to tell us how it went, please share in the comments!

In a related story, not to be outdone by us silly Americans, last week, 519 Marios, Warios, Luigis, and WaLuigis gathered in Chifeng City, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China. They gathered not only to score the record of “Largest Gathering Of People Dresses As Mario”, but to celebrate the Fifth Hongshan Culture Festival and Chifeng Animation Festival. Oddly enough this explains how Mario is able to fall into various pits of death, and flaming traps in his misadventures… It simply appears if one of him “game overs”… he’s replaced!

So, should any of you fine ComicMix fans out there happen to have caught the cossies in L.A., or would like to beat some of the other odd records stored within the Guiness Book, let us know, and we’ll celebrate it!

Today is Read Comics in Public Day– and we’re doing it in Baltimore!

  • News
  • August 28, 2010

What started out as a joke between editors of the Daily Cross Hatch blog, Brian Heater and Sarah Morean, has stormed across the land to become a for us nerds to celebrate in tandem. Read Comics in Public Day is exactly what it sounds like. Remember to the “norms”, “muggles”, and “non-nerds” comic books are but mere childish things. While they may have heard of “Graphic Novels”, and probably have seen more than one film lately that was once based on some form of comic literature… they themselves wouldn’t be caught dead perusing an issue of Action Comics or Ghost World whilst out and about. And while hipsters flick and pan on their iPhones, iPads and Kindles, and the spinsters cling to their romance novels whilst whisking themselves on planes, trains, and buses… They look down their noses at we who de-bag our copy of Ultimate Spider-Man, and revel in the mid-adventures of Peter Parker. They don’t “get” our Hellboy BPRD patch sewn lovingly on our Messenger Bag of Holding. They scoff at our mock Blue Lantern Ring, which we wear on Mondays, to remind us to hope for a good week. And when they gaze that steely gaze… we may feel… less good about our choices.

But Not Today.

On this day, I tell you to don ALL your extra giveaway rings. Put that mock Mjolnir on your belt. Don your favorite Kirby-era 70s faded in the wash New Gods shirt. And more than any of that… pull out one of those “kitsch-rags” whilst you are in public. And if you find yourself in the Baltimore Area, take some public transportation, in full cosplay gear, and read that new Brightest Day you had squirreled away. Laugh out loud when Scott Pilgrim makes a funny declaration. Snort and chortle as loudly as you’ve ever chortled before when Deadpool breaks the fourth wall. And then when those who choose to mock you do so? Look them in the eye, and exclaim “Excelsior!” Then… get off that public transportation, and find your way to the Baltimore Comic Con! Join your brothers and sisters in arms, and celebrate all the goodness that can be had at a great convention. And while you’re there? Say hi to some of the ComicMix family in attendance. On the floor, and at their own tables are Mark Wheatley, Robert Tinnell, Adriane Nash, Mike Gold, Timothy Truman, John Workman, Andrew Pepoy, and Glenn Hauman! Shake their hands. Take their picture. Then have them snap a shot of you, reading that new Lone Justice trade you needed. Better yet… Go outside with that copy of Lone Justice, and read it in a nice public park. Snap the picture there, and then send it on to the folks at readcomicsinpublic.com.

You have your marching orders. Now go make us proud.

Saturday Morning Cartoons: Did He-Man Touch You?

  • News
  • August 28, 2010

In the past, we’ve celebrated those excellent YouTubers who’ve gone above and beyond to take some of our favorite childhood cartoons and twist them up real good. Other times, we’ve dusted off some cartoon classics from our own childhood (not too long ago, but classics still!) just to put a smile on your faces. Today, we found an actual PSA that in this day and age, bears repeating. It seems sometimes when you’re a young prince, prancing about in purple pantaloons, you may in fact be a victim of naughtiness. No matter how many times Man-At-Arms tells you he’s a professional… well, you get the picture. Now let He-Man and She-Ra tell you how-it-is:

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The Point Radio: Robert Rodriquez Blood & Headlines

  • News
  • August 27, 2010

Robert Rodriquez’ MACHETE was born out of a fake trailer, but is based in current events. Robert, along with star DANNY TREJO, talk about old school exploitation film with the most unique cast on the screen in decades.  Plus IMAGE gets their own iPhone app – and it’s incredible!

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And be sure to stay on The Point via badgeitunes61x15dark30-4244160, RSS, MyPodcast.Comor Podbean!

Follow us now on facebook30-1386848 and twitter30-9122824!

Don’t forget that you can now enjoy THE POINT 24 hours a Day – 7 Days a week!. Updates on all parts of pop culture, special programming by some of your favorite personalities and the biggest variety of contemporary music on the net – plus there is a great round of new programs on the air including classic radio each night at 12mid (Eastern) on RETRO RADIO COMICMIX’s Mark Wheatley hitting the FREQUENCY every Saturday at 9pm and even the Editor-In-Chief of COMICMIX, Mike Gold, with his daily WEIRD SCENES and two full hours of insanity every Sunday (7pm ET) with WEIRD SOUNDS!

CLICK HERE TO LISTEN LIVE FOR FREE or go to GetThePointRadio for more including a connection for mobile phones including iPhone & Blackberrys.

 

 

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