Category Archives: News

Facebook reaches one billion active users

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A million users isn’t cool. You know what’s cool? A billion users.

Today Mark Zuckerberg announced that there are more than one billion people using Facebook actively each month. In his own words through a short but sweet blog post:

This morning, there are more than one billion people using Facebook actively each month.

If you’re reading this: thank you for giving me and my little team the honor of serving you.

Helping a billion people connect is amazing, humbling and by far the thing I am most proud of in my life.

I am committed to working every day to make Facebook better for you, and hopefully together one day we will be able to connect the rest of the world too.

Whether or not this incredible factoid will help boost the social network’s failing stock, it’s something to really think about. What this means is that one in seven people all around the world log on to Facebook and actively spend time there for at least a month. Zuckerberg tagged his post with a fact sheet that spits out other impressive bits of info like… there have been over 1.13 “likes” since the site’s launch; 219 billion photos uploaded; 17 billion location-tagged posts; 62.6 million songs have been played 22 billion times; Facebook now has 600M mobile users; the median age of the user is about 22 (close your account, mom!); and the list goes on.

To celebrate the milestone, Facebook teamed with ad agency Wieden & Kennedy to produce a minute-and-a-half “brand video” entitled The Things That Connect Us. In an interview with Ad Age, Facebook’s head of consumer marketing Rebecca Van Dyck shared the inspiration behind it. “What we’re trying to articulate is that we as humans exist to connect, and we at Facebook to facilitate and enable that process. We make the tools and services that allow people to feel human, get together, open up. Even if it’s a small gesture, or a grand notion–we wanted to express that huge range of connectivity and how we interact with each other.”

The ad is embedded after the break. Continue reading Facebook reaches one billion active users →

Kid Cudi drops new track off ‘Indicud’ album “King Wizard”

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Cudi is back with another new track off his upcoming fourth studio album Indicud. The song is called “King Wizard” and it’s during the hook when Cudi blocks out haters and makes it clear this is his time: “I push the lames aside/They’ll learn…F**k all the talk/In time, they’ll burn…They’ll never take me alive/King Wizard.” Sample the beat and Cudi’s flow in the player below, and click the download button for keeps.

In related news, Cudder officially dropped Indicud‘s first single “Just What I Am” (Featuring King Chip) on iTunes this week.

[Via Complex]

‘Walking Dead’ webisodes are back!

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The return of The Walking Dead may be a little over a week away, but that doesn’t mean you can’t get your zombie fill right now. The show’s makeup and special FX expert Greg Nicotero is back directing a new batch of Walking Dead webisodes. The four-part web series is titled Cold Storage and it follows Josh Stewart (No Ordinary Family) as Chase, a man trying to make his way to his sister in the early days of the zombie apocalypse. Thanks to some nasty walkers, he is forced to make a pit stop at a storage facility controlled by a guy (Lost‘s Daniel Roebuck) who thinks he has it all figured out.

“It’s such a thrill to revisit the The Walking Dead world from a new perspective and tell a bit of a darker story this time around with the webisodes,” said Nicotero. “We had a terrific cast, and once again the crew came up with some killer walker gags and visual effects. This year there’s a clear nod to the ‘show’ but our story could definitely exist on it’s own as the ‘what if’ story of The Walking Dead.”

Here are direct links to the four gory, suspenseful installments that make up Cold Storage:

PART 1 // PART 2 // PART 3 // PART 4

The Walking Dead returns with all-new episodes October 14 on AMC.

‘Arrested Development’ announces walk-on fan contest (video inside!)

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Arrested Development is in the middle of shooting its fourth season for Netflix. I know, it still hasn’t hit me yet. The creative team behind the show is collaborating with the streaming service for a fan contest aptly called “You’re Gonna Get Some Walk-Ons.” They’re going to allow six super fans to visit the set of the show in LA and appear in the upcoming episodes. So what do you have to do to win? It’s simple, really.

Show that you deserve a walk-on role by creating an original piece ofArrested Development content. Entries can be videos (less than 2 minutes), photos, artwork, essays and more.

We’re looking for entries that are the most creative, unique and relevant to the show.

That’s it. Entries can be shared via Instagram, Tumblr or Twitter with the hashtag #BluthWalkOn or submitted directly at the website youregonnagetsomewalkons.com. Hop over to that site to browse the latest entires if you’re short on ideas.

But you didn’t hear any of this from me. Jump after the break to get the news straight from George Michael! Continue reading ‘Arrested Development’ announces walk-on fan contest (video inside!) →

FOX bumps ‘Touch’ to January

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Sour news, Touch fans. You’re going to have to wait a bit longer for the return of Martin Bohm and his gifted son Jake. Today FOX made a schedule adjustment, removing Touch from its fall lineup and replacing it with Kitchen Nightmares. Gordon Ramsay’s show will premiere Friday, October 26 at 8PM and Touch is being benched until midseason. The network has yet to decide where exactly on the schedule Touch will resume; all we know is that it returns for a second season in January 2013. Hopefully that bonus episode has the power to hold you over until then.

[Via TVLine]

NBC grants full season orders to ‘Revolution’, ‘Go On’ & ‘The New Normal’

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If you’ve been glued to the intriguing drama Revolution and eccentric but heartfelt comedies Go On and The New Normal, it’s time to celebrate because NBC has granted these three new series full season orders! This means these selected shows will fill out their premiere seasons with new episodes that will run into spring.

NBC Entertainment President Jennifer Salke released the following statement.

“We’re impressed with the imagination and creative direction of the entire team on Revolution, not to mention the immediately strong response we got from the audience. Ordering the full season of this show is a pleasure. Thanks to J.J. Abrams, Erik Kripke, Jon Favreau, and everyone at Bad Robot and Warner Bros. Television for their dedication to making a truly unique series. And I personally love to escape into a world where there is no power, the phone doesn’t ring, and the pace of life slows down — if only for one hour a week!”

“We’re also very proud of our new comedy block of Go On and The New Normal. In partnering with Matthew Perry for Go On, creator Scott Silveri has created a comedy with a highly original voice that deftly combines humor and emotion. And Ryan Murphy and Ali Adler have created a truly unique family in The New Normal that is reflective of the changing dynamics of the world we live in. These shows are both welcome additions to our new lineup!”

If you’re into the ratings numbers, Revolution is averaging 3.6/9 in adults 18-49 and 9.8 million viewers (it’s also been noted as the fall’s strongest DVR performer thus far); Go On is averaging 3.2/9 in the demo and 8.6 million viewers; and The New Normal is averaging 2.2/6 in the demo and 6.0 million viewers.

The network is on a roll this week. In addition to granting the aforementioned FSOs, the Peacock was named the “winner of premiere week” averaging the highest share ratio in the coveted adults 18-49 demographic; they received a 2.9 and that’s up a solid 12% from last fall. The network can thank programming like Revolution, The Voice, and Sunday Night Football for the prize. In total viewers, however, NBC trails CBS and ABC averaging 8.2 million viewers (but that’s up 9% from last fall).

The fates of other new comedies Animal Practice and Guys with Kids hang in the balance. New drama Chicago Fire debuts next week.

Revolution airs Monday nights at 10. Go On and The New Normal air Tuesday nights at 9 and 9:30, respectively.

[Via Deadline; EW 1, 2]

Seth MacFarlane is hosting the Oscars

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It was announced today that Seth MacFarlane, the creator of Family Guy, is set to host the 85th Academy Awards. MacFarlane is hot off his Saturday Night Live hosting stint and his motion picture directorial debut Ted which garnered over $420 million worldwide.

Oscars producers Craig Zadan and Neil Meron had this to say about the newly minted host. “We are thrilled to have Seth MacFarlane host the Oscars. His performing skills blend perfectly with our ideas for making the show entertaining and fresh. He will be the consummate host, and we are so happy to be working with him.”

MacFarlane responded to the news like this: “It’s truly an overwhelming privilege to be asked to host the Oscars. My thoughts upon hearing the news were, one, I will do my utmost to live up to the high standards set forth by my predecessors; and two, I hope they don’t find out I hosted the Charlie Sheen Roast.” And with a video featuring his dad, embedded after the break.

In addition to his many voices (Family Guy, American Dad, The Cleveland Show), MacFarlane has a Grammy-nominated big-band jazz album under his belt, Music Is Better Than Words, so you can expect the jack of many trades to follow in his predecessor’s footsteps with a musical number, amongst other gags.

The Oscars air live Sunday, February 24 on ABC. Continue reading Seth MacFarlane is hosting the Oscars →

TV reminder: ‘Homeland’ premieres tonight (9/30) at 10PM on Showtime

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In season two of Homeland things pick up six months later; Brody’s in office and Carrie’s forgotten but feeling better. The critical darling recently scored multiple Emmys for Best Drama, Best Actor (Damian Lewis) and Best Actress (Claire Danes), so the stakes are high for this show to continue to produce creatively intense hours of politically and emotionally driven action and drama. In (showrunner) Howard Gordon (24) we trust.

Check out images from tonight’s premiere “The Smile” in the gallery below. Eye the season’s key art above (with the tagline “It hits home”), and check out an alternate pic after the break (with the tagline “The obsession continues”). And don’t forget we’ve been privy to two short Homeland teasers and one impactful trailer.

Homeland premieres tonight at 10PM on Showtime.

Continue reading TV reminder: ‘Homeland’ premieres tonight (9/30) at 10PM on Showtime →

TV reminder: ‘FRINGE’ the final season premieres tonight (9/28) at 9PM on FOX

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It’s the beginning of the end. Tonight is the season five premiere of Fringe, the first of thirteen episodes that will encapsulate five years of freaky science, discovering the impossible, and most importantly, getting to know a group of characters that have grown immensely since we were first introduced to Walter Bishop, his son Peter, and Agent Olivia Dunham.

And if showrunner J.H. Wyman has anything to say about it, this is going to be an emotional roller coaster ramping up to a hopeful conclusion. In a recent interview with TVLine, Wyman shed light on what long time viewers can expect. “One thing I was adamant about was getting inside the emotion of the characters that everybody has grown to know over four years, and really pay that off in a big way. [This season] is about questions, about emotion, about family… I want to put the viewer down on ground level with our characters, so they can go through this final experience with them.” Wyman goes on to describe how he hopes to feel after the series finale has come and gone. “I want to get into my car the next day, drive off and feel like, ‘Hmm, I can imagine where these characters are today. I can imagine what they’re doing.’ That was really important, because I can’t accept closure that doesn’t have some form of hope. That’s just who I am.”

So what do we know, plot-wise, as we near tonight’s premiere? Season five will take place mostly in the year 2036, a time when the Observers have taken over the planet. As we learned in last season’s pivotal future episode “Letters of Transit,” Olivia and Peter’s daughter Henrietta un-ambers Water, Peter, and Astrid to come together and start a resistance to take down the bald-headed dictators. Where’s Olivia? What happened between the time Peter and Olivia were happily married with little Etta and the amber situation. What is up with the Observers? These questions will be answered, assures Wyman, and more. “All the stuff that’s really, truly important, the emotional things, will be addressed.”

The season premiere, “Transilience Thought Unifier Model-11”, the first in a “13-hour feature film saga” boasts Wyman, airs tonight at 9PM on FOX. As you shake in anticipation, check out the radical key art plastered above and in the galleries below you’ll find character stills and pics from the episode.

They are coming. Let’s fight for the future, shall we?

[Images via IGN]

TV reminder: ‘South Park’ premieres tonight (9/26) at 10PM on Comedy Central

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The second half of South Park season 16 premiere tonight at 10PM on Comedy Central. The episode is called “Sarcastaball” and if the logline has anything to say it’s that Randy Marsh is in the middle of it.

Randy’s attitude toward new safety rules in the game of football CHANGES THE SPORT IN A BIG WAY. As a concerned parent, Randy radically changes the way football is played at South Park Elementary. The new version of the game quickly becomes the nation’s most popular sport. One gifted student emerges as a star athlete in Sarcastaball.

In a preview embedded above, Randy has a hard time with sarcasm. This is lining up to be a good’un.

TV reminder: This is the official start week to the new fall season

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*This post will remain at the top of the page through the end of the week. For newer posts, simply scroll down.*

A friendly reminder: Today, Monday, September 24, is when you’ll start to see an explosion of new programming from the big four networks. Many new and returning shows are scheduled to premiered this week through Sunday the 30th. And then there are some–like Nashville and Community and The CW’s entire lineup–that won’t enter the scene until next month. Here are quick links to my previously posted 2012 Fall TV Schedules:

NBC // FOX // ABC //  CBS //  THE CW

I’ll be back to remind you about select premieres on cable periodically through the fall season. Happy watching!

California Governor signs a bill bringing autonomous vehicles closer to reality

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On Tuesday a bill was put into California law that creates a legal framework and operational safety standards for the testing and operation of autonomous vehicles on state roads and highways. California Governor Jerry Brown signed the bill “SB1298” at Google HQ with Google’s Sergey Brin on hand to provide additional information regarding the development of self-driving cars.

Google has been working hard on making autonomous vehicles a reality for over two years now. Brin admits that there is “a long list” of issues to get through before such vehicles will be able to take over the road. His team must take into account every possible “eventuality” a car might experience on the road. He does promise, however, that an autonomous car will never speed through a red light. At the signing, a reporter asked if Google has plans to manufacture their own vehicles at some point. Brin responded by saying such plans are not in the works; Google is busy developing the technology to make cars drive themselves and talks are already underway with popular car manufacturers and they will implement Google’s tech when it’s ready for primetime. And then there’s the ultimate question: when can we expect to actually see and use these smart cars? “You can count on one hand the number of years until ordinary people can experience this,” teased Brin. With the law in place it’s only a matter of when, not if. The future is coming.

Watch the California Governor and the Google genius talk about the bill and the initiative behind it in the video embedded above. Brin gives his two cents around the 6 minute mark. And yes, he’s sporting his pet Project Glass.

[Via Google+)