Category Archives: Entertainment

See Avatar in 4D (in Korea only!)

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In Korea, 3D just doesn’t cut it.  By adding an extra dimension to the epic Avatar 4D movieplexes “use more than 30 effects during the 3D film’s 162 minute run, including moving seats, smells of explosives, sprinkling water, laser lights and wind.”  If you’ve experienced Shrek 4D at Disney then you probably have an idea of what Avatar in 4D would be like.  In fact, Tom Oh of 20th Century Fox Korea refers to Avatar in 4D as a “ride” and calls the Korean 4D plex “the first in the world that fully offers five-sense experiences with a movie title.”  Avatar in IMAX 3D was definitely enough of a trip for me.  I feel like the addition of moving seats and shots of water to the face would just distract me (not further immerse me) from Pandora and its spectacular inhabitants.  What say you?

[Via Variety]

This year’s Super Bowl is now the most-watched show in U.S. history

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On Sunday Super Bowl XLIV was crowned the most-watched show in U.S. history.  Averaging 106.5 million viewers, this year’s Super Bowl dethrones M*A*S*H, the previous record holder that garnered 106 million viewers during its two-hour series finale in 1983.  M*A*S*H star Alan Alda has this to say about the loss of such a coveted record: “I’m happy for New Orleans. I want to see that city come out first in every way that it can, even if it means giving up a record that M*A*S*H held for a long time.”  With M*A*S*H out of the way, TV viewers and analysts now have Super Bowl XLVI as a new comparison to look at when discussing most-watched television programs.

In related Super Bowl news…want to know which ad people liked most?  According to the USA TODAY ad meter, Snickers’ ad with Betty White and Abe Vigoda getting pushed around in the mud playing football earned the top spot.  The ad meter panel gave the Snickers commercial a rating of 8.68 out of 10.  Lesson learned?  People like watching old people playing rough sports.  Missed out on the commercials?  Check out a bunch of ’em here.

[Via NYT; AC]

Super Bowl XLIV commercials

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Overall I found this year’s collection of Super Bowl commercials to be stale.  Super Bowl commercials are supposed to be top notch, big budget, and make you fall over laughing by surprise.  In fact, there are some people out there who watch the Bowl just for the commercials.  The smorgasbord of reusable ads from GoDaddy and the beer companies simply didn’t cut it this year.  Anyhow, I’ve collected this year’s favorite ads and pasted them below.  At least Megan Fox was featured in one of them!

Motorola, featuring the Motorola Devour with MOTOBLUR w/ Megan Fox

Bud Light, autotune with T-Pain

Look after the break for more Super Bowl commercials, including those from Vizio, Bud Light, Snickers, Doritos, Audi, Coke, FLO TV, Cars.com, Intel, and Google. Continue reading Super Bowl XLIV commercials →

The Big Bang Theory sans laugh track makes things ..awkward

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The laugh track is something we all take for granted in today’s sitcoms.  (Although it is worthy to note that a handful of shows like The Office, Parks & Rec, and Modern Family are taking a different route.)  Watch how things quickly become awkward for Sheldon Cooper in this scene from an episode of CBS’ The Big Bang Theory that’s stripped of a laugh track.

[Via EW]

David S. Goyer steps down from FlashForward

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Just before ABC’s FlashForward went on its lengthy hiatus in December, a number of production-related changes came to light.  Namely, co-creator and co-showrunner Marc Guggenheim (Eli Stone) dropped out to focus on other projects.  Today brings news that fellow co-creator and head showrunner David S. Goyer (The Dark Knight) is also stepping down from his top position.  A new showrunner has yet to be announced.  There’s no need to fret, FlashForward fans.  Goyer will remain behind the scenes in some form, and he assures that the show will be put into “great hands:” “As my feature projects have started ramping up again, I felt I was being pulled in too many directions. I’m proud of the show and excited about the relaunch. It’s in great hands.”  I am excited about the relaunch, too.  During its first run of episodes, FlashForward proved to have much potential and this reshuffling of showrunners might just add a pinch of freshness the show needs to step things up to whole new and exciting level it certainly can achieve.

FlashForward returns March 18 on ABC.

[Via IGN]

Andy Samberg is coming to Parks & Rec

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Andy Samberg joins Fred Armisen as the second Saturday Night Live alum to guest star on the NBC comedy Parks & Recreation.  According to the NYPost he is going to play “Carl, the head of park security who butts heads with Leslie (Amy Poehler) after someone gets mugged in one of their parks.”  And it gets even better.  Parks’ Aziz Ansari (he plays Tom Haverford) twittered that the Samberg episode is going to be “a great Jerry heavy episode.”  Let’s just say I’m already in knots.

[Via IGN]

Lost premiere a ratings winner, finale moves, Darlton takes questions

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Lost: The Finale Season premiere event lived up to the hype and proved to be a mind-bending good time.  The premiere captured an average of 12.1 million viewers, and according to EW, this “is 1 million more than the series’ average audience for season 5 and less than 1 million more than the audience for its season 5 premiere. About 6 percent more people tuned in at 9 p.m. than finished the two-hour episode at 11 p.m.”  This is interesting to say the least…you’d think that Lost would maintain a steady viewership this far into its lifespan, especially because it’s a highly serialized show.  (You can thank the marketing blitz for the recent upsurge.)  Anyhow, I’m glad it fared well.

The Lost series finale (I can’t believe I just said that) will air May 23 from 9PM to 11PM.  Note the 23rd is a Sunday, not a Tuesday.  Though it won’t really matter for Lost fans, the move to Sunday was likely decided so that the finale does not pit itself against part one of American Idol’s season finale.  On Sunday there’s virtually no competition.  Sunday, May 23 will be LOST DAY.  Per usual, a special one hour recap episode will lead into the finale starting at 8PM.

Lastly, on the night of the premiere Lost fanatic Jimmy Kimmel had Darlton (that’s Lost exec producers Carlton Cuse and Damon Lindelof) on his show.  Jimmy framed his questions looking for “coincidence or fate” answers, and Darlton did their best to answer them appropriately without giving away too many spoilers.  Check out the interview in the video below (there are two parts).  Also, look after the break for a comedy sketch where Jimmy places himself in the Hurley-Jacob scene from the premiere.

[Via EW, here, here & here; IGN]

Continue reading Lost premiere a ratings winner, finale moves, Darlton takes questions →

Oscar nods are announced; ‘Avatar’ and ‘The Hurt Locker’ 9 nods each

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This year’s Oscar nominations are in!  Let’s have a look see…

Best Picture: Avatar, The Blind Side, District 9, An Education, The Hurt Locker, Inglourious Basterds, Precious, A Serious Man, Up, Up in the Air

A bunch of these films deserve the win.  However, there can be only one, and my prediction lies with The Hurt Locker.

Best Director
Kathryn Bigelow, The Hurt Locker
James Cameron, Avatar
Lee Daniels, Precious
Jason Reitman, Up in the Air
Quentin Tarantino, Inglourious Basterds

As much as I want Quentin Tarantino to take this category for Basterds, I have a feeling James Cameron will reign once again.

Best Actor
Jeff Bridges, Crazy Heart
George Clooney, Up in the Air
Colin Firth, A Single Man
Morgan Freeman, Invictus
Jeremy Renner, The Hurt Locker

You know who deserves a big win here?  Jeremy Renner.  And he will get it.

Best Supporting Actor
Matt Damon, Invictus
Woody Harrelson, The Messenger
Christopher Plummer, The Last Station
Stanley Tucci, The Lovely Bones
Christoph Waltz, Inglourious Basterds

Christoph Waltz.  Period.

Look after the break for all nominations and more predictions.  The 82nd Academy Awards, hosted by Steve Martin and Alec Baldwin, airs March 7 at 8PM on ABC. Continue reading Oscar nods are announced; ‘Avatar’ and ‘The Hurt Locker’ 9 nods each →

Asimo stars in “Living with Robots” documentary

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Our favorite robot Asimo stars in a Honda short-film documentary called “Living with Robots.”  The docu “investigates humankind’s keen interest in robots and how robots can challenge the impossible by saving lives while also holding the promise to become more integrated and helpful in daily life.”  In case you never heard of Honda’s ASIMO (Advanced Step in Innovative Mobility), he’s “the world’s most advanced humanoid robot, and the company’s commitment to researching and developing bipedal mobility and how the research improves technologies across the company.”  You can take a peek at the trailer for it above.  If it pings your interest, the full length film was shown at this year’s Sundance Film Festival and will hopefully find its way to DVD and Blu Ray soon.  Full PR after the break.

Isn’t that final sequence chilling, when Asimo looks at himself in the mirror?  He very naturally tilts his head inquisitively, as if he were human.  Help me realize our future: will robots take over the world (ie. iRobot) or will they develop to help maintain and better our lives?

[Via Engadget]

Continue reading Asimo stars in “Living with Robots” documentary →

THE BEGINNING OF THE END

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Lost: The Final Season is almost here.  To celebrate the anticipation I will be adding new Lost-related content to this post leading up to the premiere event on Tuesday, February 2.

UPDATE: Lost: The Final Season starts tonight!  Get pumped by watching  two new trailers, the second of which includes a gun-toting Claire and makes you believe Juliet did the deed.  Check it out and see what I mean.  Following the two trailers is a Lost recap of all important events ranging from season one to season five, as reenacted by an extended Italian family (it’s hysterical!).

 

Tons more Lost-related content can be found after the break. Continue reading THE BEGINNING OF THE END →

NBC renews Parks & Rec

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This is very, very good news!  NBC has decided to pick up Parks & Recreation for a third season to debut next fall.  Apparently the show had “production timing issues” which made such an early renewal necessary.  Whatever that means…it looks like Parks & Rec is here to stay.  Just can’t get enough of Leslie Knope, Tom Haverford, Ann Perkins, Ron Swanson, and Andy Dwyer.  Oh yeah, Jerry too.  Season 2 has brought Parks & Rec into the mainstream and has already proved itself to be a worthy contender in TV comedy.  Having dropped the overly recurring theme of building Leslie’s dream park, the writers have taken the show in a new, better direction this season, following the antics of the bumbling yet lovable Leslie Knop.  If you haven’t seen The Office-esque Parks & Rec, please do yourself a huge favor and watch “Hunting Trip.”  It’s not only the funniest episode of this season thus far, it also happens to be one of my all-time favorite episodes from any comedy.

In other related TV show renewal news, CBS picked up How I Met Your Mother, NCIS: LA; and The Good Wife.

[Via The Wrap; EW, here, here, & here]