Category Archives: News

NBC renews Community, The Office & 30 Rock (+ Parks & Rec cast welcomes Lowe, Scott)

News, Television, , , , , , , , ,

Great news for fans of NBC Thursday night comedy!  In addition to giving Parks & Rec the go-ahead for a third season, NBC has decided to renew the rest of its Thursday night lineup, including freshman comedy Community and old staples like The Office and 30 Rock.

While we’re on the subject of NBC comedies, it’s be let known that two new characters are joining the already-strong cast of Parks & Recreation.  Actor Rob Lowe will be leaving his current post at ABC’s Brothers & Sisters and will join Parks & Rec at the end of this season; series creator Michael Shur hints Lowe will be on board for “a number of episodes stretching into Season 3.”  Funnyman Adam Scott (you know him from Step Brothers; he played Brennen’s brother Derek) will also become a recurring character who will enter the scene towards this season’s end.  Lowe and Scott will likely be welcome additions to Pawnee’s colorful, hilarious cast.

[Via EW-AusielloFiles; IGN]

Listen: Kid directs air traffic at JFK

News, Video, , ,

OK this is scary.  The Federal Aviation Administration is currently investigating how a small child made his way inside a traffic control tower at JFK airport and instructed pilots when it was safe to land their airplanes.  National Air Traffic Controllers Association on the matter: “We do not condone this type of behavior in any way. It is not indicative of the highest professional standards that controllers set for themselves and exceed each and every day in the advancement of aviation safety.”  It’s one thing to not condone these actions; it’s quite another to MAKE SURE SOMETHING LIKE THIS NEVER HAPPENS.

[Via CBS News]

Gilligan’s Island is being remade for the big screen

Movies, News, ,

Warner Bros. and Atlas Entertainment are bringing back the seven castaways of Gilligan’s Island, the highly popular and successfully syndicated show that originally aired on CBS for three seasons between 1964 and 1967.  For you younglings, Variety does a fine job at summizing the premise of the show: “[It] centered on the wacky misadventures of seven castaways — two crew members, a millionaire couple, a professor, a movie star and a girl-next-door type — on an uncharted and uninhabited island in the Pacific.”  Details about the movie’s plot are undisclosed since it has yet to be written.  Sherwood Schwartz (original show producer and composer for “The Ballad of Gilligan’s Isle,” the iconic theme song) and son Lloyd Schwartz are the executive producers with Charles Roven (The Dark Knight, Scooby Doo, The International) and Richard Suckle (Scooby Doo, The International) as producers.  Brad Copeland (Wild Hogs) will pen the script.  Production could start as early as next year, but that all depends on when they find a director and when the script is finalized.  Roven on the remake: “The characters are so good.  We think it’s going to be a great story to transport these cultural icons to the modern day.”

Sherwood Schwartz said he envisions Michael Cera cast as the iconic lead character Gilligan.  Do you think that’s a good choice?  What about the others…

The ship set ground on the shore of this uncharted desert isle, with Gilligan, The Skipper too, the millionaire and his wife, the movie star, the professor and Mary Ann, Here on Gilligans Isle.

[Via Variety]

Zipper Interactive is back with SOCOM 4

Images, News, Technology, , , , , , ,

One of the most beloved video game franchises is making its way back onto the PlayStation 3 this year.  After creating MAG, a PS3 exclusive multiplayer-only shooter, Zipper Interactive is going back to its roots and bringing the masses the next installment of SOCOM.  SOCOM: Confrontation, the first game in the series to hit the PS3, was developed by SlantSix and did not fare well with SOCOM players coming from the PS2 due to lag issues, among other problems.  Original developer Zipper Interactive plans to bring a solid single player experience to SOCOM 4, in addition to the obligatory multiplayer game it’s well known for.  Though not a ton of details were let loose by the devs, they made it clear that this go around the SOCOM experience will be inviting and very much accessible to newcomers of the franchise.  IGN sat down with Zipper and got the scoop on the single player campaign.  Besides revealing basics like support for up to 32 players and a promise for “an all new experience,” nothing else was spilled about the SOCOM 4 multiplayer aspect.  Although I personally feel SOCOM never felt the same after SOCOM II on the PS2 (that online experience was incredible!), with the promise of a hardcore single player feature and the multiplayer experience we’ve come to know and love, I still have faith in Zipper Interactive to create a handsome, solid SOCOM game for its allegient fanbase.  Initial screenshots in the gallery below.

[Via IGN]

Happy 10th Anniversary, PlayStation 2

News, Technology, , , , , ,

Can you believe it’s been a whole ten years since PlayStation 2 reinvented the video game console on March 4, 2000?  For many it was their first DVD players, for others it brought sheer pleasure with games like God of War, Guitar Hero, SOCOM, Ratchet and Clank: Up Your Arsenal, Gran Turismo 4, Devil May Cry 3, and Grand Theft Auto III.  It was the PS2 that officially knocked Nintendo off his high horse, introducing video playback and the desire for better, high-end graphics for immersive games.  The legacy of PS2 will live on in our nostolgic hearts and minds.  Check out this timeline (if you haven’t already) that Sony put together in celebration of 15 years of PlayStation.

TiVo Premiere hardware & software is sleek and shiny

Images, News, Technology, , , , , , ,

 On Tuesday TiVo announced their latest set-top box.  The TiVo Premiere intros a brand new, very sleek hardware box and even more exciting, a Flash-based (but you couldn’t tell) HD-ready user interface.  The UI redesign focuses on upgraded search capabilities and relies on the power of the Internet for updating informational content.  It features an IMDB-like database, giving you access to a wide range of movie and actor info.  Besides controlling your cable TV lineup, the box hooks you up to Blockbuster On Demand, Amazon Video on Demand, and Netflix for additional viewing choices.  TiVo also unveiled a redesigned Bluetooth remote that features a slide-out QWERTY keyboard, making the new search options all the more welcome.

TiVo Premiere (320GB HDD) and TiVo Premiere XL (1TB HDD) go on sale this April for $299 and $499, respectively.  The QWERTY remote (price undisclosed) and a Wi-Fi adapter ($99) will be sold separately at a later date.  For more information about TiVo Premiere, look after the break for the official press release.  UI images and a closer look at the remote in the gallery below.  Welcome to the modern age of HD and information overload, TiVo!

[Via Engadget]

1 2

Continue reading TiVo Premiere hardware & software is sleek and shiny →

The “principal” behind the webcam-spying-on-students fiasco

Hilarity, News, Technology, , , ,

You’ve probably heard this story in the news: Lower Merion School District in Philadelphia gave out laptops to their high school students and used the built-in camera to spy on them.  The administrators had the ability to remotely turn on the webcams so the students could be watched outside school grounds.  After being caught red-handed, the school claimed this was a security measure meant to find stolen laptops.  Having been sued by one student and entering a legal investigation concerning privacy issues, the school has since shut down the webcam “security” feature.

This here video is a “hypothetical look inside the webcam-spying principal’s office,” brought to you by Giz’s Adam Frucci and DC Pierson of Derrick Comedy fame.

[Via Gizmodo]

“Glee Live! In Concert!” hitting four cities this spring

Music, News, Television, , , , ,

That’s right, fellow Gleeks.  The main ensemble of FOX’s hit show Glee are going on tour this spring.  They will perform seven shows total in four cities.  The cast includes Lea Michele (Rachel), Cory Monteith (Finn), Amber Riley (Mercedes), Chris Colfer (Kurt), Kevin McHale (Artie), Jenna Ushkowitz (Tina), Mark Salling (Puck), Dianna Agron (Quinn), Naya Rivera (Santana), Heather Morris (Brittany), Harry Shum, Jr. (Mike), and Dijon Talton (Matt).  Matthew Morrison (Will Schuster) and Jane Lynch (Sue Sylvester) are noticibly absent from this list; bummer, I know!  Part of the setlist was leaked to the press (I wonder who did that…): “Don’t Stop Believin’,” “Somebody To Love,” “Jump,” “Don’t Rain on My Parade,” and “Sweet Caroline.”  And here’s the schedule:

May 18 – Phoenix, AZ Dodge Theatre
May 20 – Los Angeles, CA Gibson Amphitheatre
May 21 – Los Angeles, CA Gibson Amphitheatre
May 25 – Chicago, IL Rosemont Theatre
May 26 – Chicago, IL Rosemont Theatre
May 28 – New York City, NY Radio City Music Hall
May 29 – New York City, NY Radio City Music Hall

Tickets go on sale at Ticketmaster on March 12 (for Phoenix dates) and March 13 (for New York, Chicago and LA dates).  And if you can’t make it don’t fret; Glee returns Tuesday, April 13 at 9PM on FOX.

[Via EW-MusicMix]

PlayStation Network error is corrupting ‘fat’ PS3s everywhere [UPDATE: FIXED]

News, Technology, , , , , , , , ,

Late last night Error: 8001050F hit PlayStation 3’s ’round the world.  At first it simply did not allow PS3 users to log into their PlayStation Network accounts and play games online.  Since then things have taken a turn for the worse.  Apparently this error is turning back the console’s clock to January 1, 2000 causing major problems like data loss.  Sony has figured out that the error is only affecting ‘fat’ PS3 models; all PS3 Slim models should be in the clear.  In the meantime, if you own a ‘fat’ PS3, Sony is recommending its customers: DO NOT TURN IT ON until the error is fixed.  Sony “hope[s] to resolve this problem within the next 24 hours.”  Look after the break for official details on the matter straight from PlayStation Blog.

Check back for updates; I’ll be sure to let you know when Sony tells us it’s safe to start gaming and Blu-ray-ing again.  What a disaster.

UPDATE: According to the official PlayStation Blog the PSN bug has been squashed.  They say it’s safe to turn on “phat PS3s” now.  Joystiq spoke to a Sony rep; check out the short Q&A if you are concerned with lost trophy data and the like.  Cue sigh of relief.

[Via PlayStationBlog]

Continue reading PlayStation Network error is corrupting ‘fat’ PS3s everywhere [UPDATE: FIXED] →

‘The Guild’ enters the comic book world

Comics, Image cache, Images, News, ,

Felicia Day is all over the place these days.  We watched her shine as Penny in Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog, she was featured in an episode of House last season, and now she’s bringing her award-winning web series The Guild to the comics!

In this origin tale of the Knights of Good, we learn about Cyd’s life before joining the guild, how she became Codex, and how she began to meet the other players who would eventually become her teammates. This storyline fills in details never before revealed on the web show, making it a delightful new chapter for existing fans as well as a perfect jumping-on point for new fans!

If you haven’t heard of The Guild, you can watch seasons 1-3 online.  It follows the on- and off-line lives of a group of gamers.  It’s a very character-driven show, it’s smart, funny, and definitely worth a viewing (or two).  You can preview issue #1 below and preorder the first part of the three-issue miniseries at Dark Horse Comics.  It comes out March 24.  Mark your calenders, Guildies.

[Via DarkHorseComics]

Joss Whedon & Eliza Dushku aren’t done yet

Movies, News, , ,

Sure, due to low ratings FOX’s Dollhouse didn’t last long for creator Joss Whedon and star Eliza Dushku.  But that doesn’t mean they are parting ways so quickly.  From Dushku’s mouth to our ears, she and Whedon will be working together again, this time on a feature film:  “I would say that we would [be working on something new very soon]! I think we’re going to work on a kickass feature together that we’ve been thinking about for a few years.”

The dudes over at Slashfilm have geniusly tied this comment to a future Whedon project, a horror movie called Goners that features a female lead.  In 2005 Whedon described it:

It is a fantasy thriller, it is pretty dark and it’s all me. So people will pretty much know what that means if they look at my body of work. But it’s a new universe set in the present day with a new concept for me and a new bunch of characters. It’s been a long time since I got to do that, so that’s really fun.

It’s the story of a young woman’s journey that involves a great deal of horror and some heroics.

Though we can’t be certain that such a connection exists, news that Whedon and Dushku have something in the works is more than exciting.  You can be sure I’ll be keeping my ear to the ground on this one and will report back with new details as they surface.

[Via Geektyrant; Slashfilm; HollywoodLife; Wiki]

Locke & Ben team up for new series post-Lost?

News, Television, , ,

That post title already has you salivating, doesn’t it?  So let’s get right to it, hm?  Though Darlton (the exec producers of Lost) made it clear that there will not be any spin-off series, it is quite possible we will see Terry O’Quinn (John Locke) and Michael Emerson (Ben Linus) star in a new show together!  According to TVGuide, O’Quinn has been “shopping around a bible for a TNT-type show that would pair him back up with…Michael Emerson as suburban hit men juggling family issues.”  O’Quinn has spoken to Lost creator J.J. Abrams about his ideas and says, “I really hope this works out because Michael would be in his prime in this. We’d play kind of awkward partners.”  Emerson’s response?  “It’s very sweet of him. I’m all in favor of it. Any reason to work with Terry again.”  Locke and Ben together again as hitmen?  BOO YAH, I’M IN!

[Via TVGuideMag.com; IGN]