CONGRATS, MAKER ! !

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE

SOUTH CAROLINA GAMECOCKS!! On their LIBERTY BOWL victory against Houston!
This post is dedicated to Maker.

INDIANA JONES 4 A-GO

Man, JimSmash has been kind of a bummer these past few posts..... and I wish this one was a good one, but alas. Well, maybe it is, depending on the JimSmasher reading this....

Lucas has announced that filming for INDIANA JONES 4 will begin next year (2007). Apparently, he and Spielberg finalized a script (someone check outside for flying pigs) and Lucas stated, "It’s going to be fantastic. It’s going to be the best one yet!" Hmmmm, well take that for what it's worth, considering the source. I'll guess we'll find out Summer 2008 when its currently scheduled to be released.

Personally, I was sighing a sigh of relief when it was in development hell. I think a 4th Indy will bury and tarnish the saga. RAIDERS ruled, I think we all agree. TEMPLE OF DOOM and LAST CRUSADE, while fun at times and with their moments, were by far weaker. (post arguments and opinions of this in the Comments section, heh).

Lucas & Spielberg, JUST LET IT BE, guys! Stop digging up relics and ruining them. Yes, the lame pun was intended. BAHD DATES!

SADDAM HUSSEIN SWINGS

Saddam Hussein was executed a few hours ago. He was hanged under a sentence imposed by an Iraqi court. Hussein was found guilty over the killing of 148 members of the Shiite population of the town of Dujail after militants tried to assassinate him there in 1982, during Iraq’s war with Shiite Iran. Saddam's half-brother Barzan al-Tikriti and Awad al-Bander, the former chief justice of the Revolutionary Court, were also executed in connection with the Dujail killings.

RIP: GERALD FORD

1913 - 2006

THE GODFATHER OF SOUL

It's the end of an era....

Yesterday, Christmas Day 2006,
The Godfather of Soul,
JAMES BROWN passed away.

MERRY CHRISTMAS ! ! !

TO ALL THE SUPER JIMSMASH READERS:HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!!!!

(JimSmash will be INACTIVE until Jan 2007)

ARCHIE GETS REAL

Guess who's getting a makeover? Yep, after 60 years, ARCHIE & GANG are getting a new style in their comics; a more realistic approach for new and older audiences. I'm really not sure how I feel about this. On one hand, I feel that changing the look changes what makes Archie, well, Archie. Like colorizing Citizen Kane.... or updating the Andy Griffith Show into Manhattan. On the other hand, perhaps this is a good thing to bring in new readers. There is a new resurgence of young readers coming into the Comic Industry, particularily young girls. So I can see why they'd try and hook em with an updated, more realistic style (although the whole "Betty & Veronica fetish" goes the wayside). But, atleast they didn't go with a manga art style! I would have gone ballistic at that. On the other-OTHER hand, I've never read an Archie comic before so I really don't care. Well, ok, that's not entirely true. I am a sucker for tradition and good ole fashion Americana, and Archie definitely fits in there.

So, what do you think?
Did anyone actually read all the way to this point??
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This art change moves towards a more contemporary comic book style, more realistic, and less cartoony. The move, an Archie Comics representative told Newsarama, is a continuing experiment and exploration with the characters, showcasing not only their timlessness, but theur adaptability as well. The first of the “new look” Archie and company will appear in May’s Betty and Veronica Double Digest #151, in “Bad Boy Trouble”. In addition to the look, the stories themselves will change format, switching from short tales to fuller-length stories. As such the digests will contain four stories, spanning issues #151-#154 which will run 25 pages each, when fully told.

GUEST DOUCHEBAG OF THE DAY: GAMESTOP

We have a special guest writer today who would like to go off on his own personal Douchebag of the Day: GAMESTOP. So please give a round of applause for JASON!

---------------

Gamestop: The only retail video game store left.
In the last 5 years, they have bought all of their competition. They own EBgames, Funcoland, Planet X, and Babbages among others. So.. now that they have no competition,

They are ONLY selling their PS3's online as "bundles" for mid-Jan delivery. For the low low price of $985.00. What's in the bundle you ask?

1) Base system 60gig version $600
2) Wireless extra controller $50
3) NBA07 game $60
rated 4.9/10
"doesn't have the entertaining story mode that the PlayStation 2 version has, but it does have most of that version's flaws, and some new ones, too."
4) Untold Legends: Dark Kingdom game $60
rated 6/10
"unremarkable hack-and-slash game whose most noteworthy feature
seems to be that it's coming out at the launch of the PS3."
5) Full Auto 2 $60
5.7/10
"technically proficient, but almost every aspect of this car combat
game's gameplay is messed up in one way or another."
6) Resistance: Fall of Man $60
8.6/10 only bundled game that looks cool

Total so far is $890,
$180 in totally crap worthless games which will be in the "under $20" bin by Feb. So for your extra $105 of "bundle value" you get:

7) Resistance: Fall of Man Official Strategy Guide
(I personally hate strategy guides for "story" based games,
what the hell is fun about repeating the exact steps from a book
complete with maps? No plot suprises, no immersion, no sense of accomplishment
They should add a final page to these guides telling the person to
jump off a roof, with a map and diagram.)
8) 1 year product replacement plan (extended warranty)
(the PS2 only had a 90 day factory warranty, the PS3 comes with a 1 year factory warranty
I'd only buy one of the extended warranties if the product was used.)
9) 12 month subscription to Gamestop owned Game Informer Magazine.
(The number 1 gaming magazine...
Amazing how fast you can become #1 when you become the only one
visible in the store for sale, uhh since we own all retail game stores,
how about we put all the competitor's magazines in the "special" storage file)

Honorable Mention of things to bundle with the PS3 that didn't quite make it:
Buttplug "precationary measure to widen your anus for the PS4 launch"
Breadmaker "everyone needs one"
Stealth Blu-Ray Disc
"I bought a PS3 bundle and it came with this shirt" t-shirt
A Nintendo Wii "so you might have fun."
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*thanks, Jason! And nice stab against Stealth. Punk. Hahaha!

JIMSMASH CHRISTMAS ALBUM

Here is a compilation of great Christmas songs to make your very own JIMSMASH CHRISTMAS ALBUM!! Now, you may prefer some of these songs by other artists or have other songs not listed (I know I'm missing several).... so please chime in in the Comments Section!

*In no particular order*
CHRISTMAS IN HOLLIS (by RUN DMC)
CHRISTMAS VACATION (by Mavis Staples)
THE SPIRIT OF CHRISTMAS (by Ray Charles)
MELE KALIKIMAKA (by Bing Crosby)
HERE COMES SANTA CLAUS (by Gene Autry)
JOY TO THE WORLD (by Angelo Badalamenti)
JINGLE BELL ROCK (by Bobby Helms)
MY FAVORITE THINGS (by Tony Bennett)
HAVE YOURSELF A MERRY CHRISTMAS (by The Carpenters)
I'LL BE HOME FOR CHRISTMAS (by Frank Sinatra)
LET IT SNOW! LET IT SNOW! LET IT SNOW! (by Dean Martin)
RUDOLPH THE RED-NOSED REINDEER (by Dean Martin)
IT'S BEGINNING TO LOOK ALOT LIKE CHRISTMAS (by Perry Como)
WHITE CHRISTMAS (by Bing Crosby)
HAVE A HOLLY JOLLY CHRISTMAS (by Burl Ives)
SILENT NIGHT (by Nat King Cole)
SANTA BABY (by Eartha Kitt)
BLUE CHRISTMAS (by Elvis Presley)
FROSTY THE SNOWMAN (by Jimmy Durante)
CHRISTMAS EVE/SARAJEVO 12/24 (by Transiberian Orchestra)
SANTA CLAUS IS COMING TO TOWN (by Fred Astaire)
WE WISH YOU A MERRY CHRISTMAS (by Alvin & the Chipmunks)
12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS (by Bob & Doug McKenzie)
YOU'RE A MEAN ONE, MR GRINCH (by Thrul Ravenscroft)
SILVER BELLS (by Twisted Sister)
OH COME ALL YE FAITHFUL (by Twisted Sister)

and any other XMas songs by Bing Crosby, Nat King Cole, Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Perry Como, The Carpenters....... So jump onto iTunes (or AllofMP3.com) NOW!
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*Adam Sandler's Hannakuh song is absent this year because crappy Radio DJs play it waaaay too much and act like its the first time they've ever heard it.

**Any XMas song by a poplular band post-1980 is forbidden (like Blink 182's "We're too cool to enjoy Christmas". Whatever.).... Twisted Sister is the exception to this rule because their new XMas album is actually really really good. Seriously. No, SERIOUSLY.
---------------------------------------
*thanks, Ali, for the idea!

MOVIE THEATER CANDY

I was at the Movie Theater a couple weeks back and noticed a sad fact of Today's Movie Going Experience - the candy selection blows.

The "Classics" were no where to be seen. Instead, there were bags of candy you can find in any candy aisle at the grocery store. Kit Kat bites? Gourmet Chocolate bars? What the fuck? I'm sorry, but I want the classic movie theater candy, damnit!!! I want a box of milk duds that will still be glued to my molars when I leave the place. I want Snow Caps and Goobers, 2 candies I have NEVER seen outside of a theater. Why would I pay 5-bucks for a bag of M&Ms I can get for 75-cents next door at the fucking Rite Aid? Hey, I'm all for variety, but I've noticed that those old classic, what I thought were STANDARD, candies are no longer being sold at Theaters. And Hollywood wonders why theater sales are down, heh. Get out of there Hershey's.... This here theater is NESTLE Territory!!

Its time for another addition of EMPEROR JIM (haven't done one of these in a long time).... When I become EMPEROR JIM, it will be LAW to have these candies available for movie-goers in all theaters:

* MILK DUDS
* GOOBERS
* JUNIOR MINTS
* RAISINETS
* SNOW CAPS
* WHOPPERS
* MIKE & IKE
* HOT TAMALES
* JU JU BEES
* NERDS

any other favorites you'd like to add?

SNOW DEATH STAR

(I miss snow)

HOLIDAY CHARITIES

Christmas doth approaches! Tis the season to give, right? Well, as you're running around this weekend in that last mad-dash to buy presents for your loved ones, take a moment to think of the less fortunate and maybe spend some of that hard-earned cash on them.

TOYS FOR TOTS and TOYS FOR TEENS are classic Holiday charities. I mean, giving a toy to a needy kid? Cool. Be Santa for someone.

Also, there's WORLD VISION GIFTS which is run by the humanitarian agency World Vision. For small amounts of money, you can buy a goat ($75) for a man in a poor African country that will alow him to sustain his family. Or you can pay for a sewing machine and lessons ($270) for a woman living in a Third World country to help her start a business and feed and clothe her family. A fishing kit ($40) for a hungry family.... Imagine helping to change the direction of another life!

Now, if you're wary of charities (or don't know where to start), try CHARITY NAVIGATOR. You can choose a cause and make sure your money is being put to good use.

If anything, please take a moment to check out the above links.
HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!!!

BEHOLD THE SILVER SUFER

Here's the first glimpse at the SILVER SURFER from Fantastic Four 2. My first thought was, "well, they didn't fuck it up." I was hoping he'd look a bit more alien, although the smoothed-over ears are a step towards that. Avi Arad, Marvel's CEO, said on screen, the Surfer "will look somewhere between gun metal and fluid metallics so you can see the body motion, the breathing, the muscle tone, the mood..." As long as he doesn't move like an actual surfer in water. Yes he's on a long "surf board", but he's never been shown to "surf" - he rides the Cosmos. I don't want to see him pulling off surf maneuvers and emulating "stoner surfer dude stereotypes" and saying shit like "Hang 10, Dude!" as he fights. Odds are he does.

RIP: HARDIN "JACK" BURNLEY

Bryan McKenzie wrote a nice piece about the death of comic artist Hardin "Jack" Burnley, who passed away Tuesday.

And Superman wept.

Hardin “Jack” Burnley, the artist who made visible the Man of Steel’s inner strength and provided the prototype portrait for a universe of comic book heroes, died Tuesday in Albemarle County. He was 95.

Burnley was the first person to draw Superman, Batman and Robin other than their creators.

His drawing of the three heroes for the cover of an issue of “World’s Fair Comics” in 1940 marked the first time the crime fighters appeared together in public. He was also the first to carefully outline the caped crusaders’ muscle structures, setting the style for hundreds of heroes who followed. Continued...

Rest in Peace, Jack! Thank you for your awesome contribution to the Comic World! It is still felt today!

TAKARA MEGATRON ! ! ! !

Ouch. I just cracked my skull open from fainting with glee after seeing Takara's next Masterpiece figure. Hmm, but didn't they already make Prime and Starscream? Yep. So that's right, the next is none other than Mighty MEGATRON.

He's a gun (the proper Walther P-38) and he looks like his cartoon version. Fuck yeah!!! Oh, and what's that he's holding? Why, its none other than KrimZeeek!! (Full-fledge Transformers Geeks should know and remember KrimZeeek from an episode of the old show.) Megatron's feet are a bit skinny, but rumors are the final version (prototype above) will have more bulk. Too bad his arm cannon can't be scaled down a bit...either way, Jimmy wantie!!!!!

So Jay!! Next time you're in Japan or China, grab me some Takara Starscreams and Megatrons!!! I use the plural because I have friends who want them, too. Hahahaha!
or anyone can buy it here (marked up in price).

And as with the other Takara Transformers, he's about 12" tall and fully transformable!! Below are Takara Prime & Starscream. So freakin' sweet, I'm gettin' chubby!
The Takara Transformers Line Thus Far:
MP-01: Optimus Prime
MP-02: Ultra Magnus
MP-03: Optimus Prime w/Trailer (pic above)
MP-04: Starscream (pic above)
MP-05: Megatron
Come on SOUNDWAVE for MP-06!!!! Please!!!

HARRY POTTER 7 TITLE

Oooooohh, the title of the 7th, and Final, HARRY POTTER book has been revealed!

"HARRY POTTER & the DEATHLY HALLOWS"

Oooooh, sounds sinister!
I can't wait!!!


--------------------------------------------------------------
* thanks, Mr Legs!!
** Pic is from the British version of Book 6

DOUCHEBAG OF THE DAY: ROSIE O'DONNELL

Should have posted this before, but fuck it... better late than never.

CHENEY CHRISTMAS

ALL THE ROCKY FIGHTS FOR YOU

ROCKY BALBOA
(aka ROCKY VI)
hits theaters tomorrow.

So click here
to watch all his fights!

You know you want to.

RIP: IMAGINATION (SPIDEY 3)

Here is the new "Green Goblin" from Spiderman 3. I use "bunny quotes" because I don't think a dude in black motorcross gear on top of a dance-pad-revolution board is worthy of the name.

Rest in Peace, Imagination. You will be missed.

FUNNY BLURB

This cracked me up:

"Here's the poster to the film adaptation of Nancy Drew, the premiere of which I suspect will be a Dateline pedophile raid. As the poster implies, this case features N.D. hot on the trail of finding out who shaved this fat little Ewok in the lower left."

(source)

RODRIGUEZ TO RUIN MADMAN

Well, Robert Rodriguez is going to produce a live-action MADMAN film, based on Mike Allred's ginchy comic of the same name. George "Swimming With Sharks" Huang is set to direct. Huang and Allred will co-write the script.

I love MADMAN. Its a great, fun, funny pop-art comic that always leaves me feeling better for reading it. However, I just don't see this working as a live action film --Much like THE TICK didn't quite translate over to live action. Maybe if they went along the lines of the TANK GIRL adaptation (which, in addition, incorporated comic stills and animation into the movie).... hmmm, MAYBE 2D animated film could work... but again, you lose that pop-art feel which makes up so much of the experience and tone.

Plus, I don't like Rodriguez' films. Bah!!!

Instead, someone pay Allred to make more Madman comics!! I mean seriously, when is this book going to be back on a regular schedule? Its been years, dude.....

COKE IS BAD FOR YOU

WHAT HAPPENS TO YOUR BODY
IF YOU DRINK A COKE RIGHT NOW?

Have you ever wondered why Coke comes with a smile? It’s because it gets you high. They took the cocaine out almost a hundred years ago. You know why? It was redundant.

• In The First 10 minutes: 10 teaspoons of sugar hit your system. (100% of your recommended daily intake.) You don’t immediately vomit from the overwhelming sweetness because phosphoric acid cuts the flavor allowing you to keep it down.
• 20 minutes: Your blood sugar spikes, causing an insulin burst. Your liver responds to this by turning any sugar it can get it’s hands on into fat. (There’s plenty of that at this particular moment)
• 40 minutes: Caffeine absorption is complete. Your pupils dialate, your blood pressure rises, as a response your livers dumps more sugar into your bloodstream. The adenosine receptors in your brain are now blocked preventing drowsiness.
• 45 minutes: Your body ups your dopamine production stimulating the pleasure centers of your brain. This is physically the same way heroin works, by the way.
• >60 minutes: The phosphoric acid binds calcium, magnesium and zinc in your lower intestine, providing a further boost in metabolism. This is compounded by high doses of sugar and artificial sweeteners also increasing the urinary excretion of calcium.
• >60 Minutes: The caffeine’s diuretic properties come into play. (It makes you have to pee.) It is now assured that you’ll evacuate the bonded calcium, magnesium and zinc that was headed to your bones as well as sodium, electrolyte and water.
• >60 minutes: As the rave inside of you dies down you’ll start to have a sugar crash. You may become irritable and/or sluggish. You’ve also now, literally, pissed away all the water that was in the Coke. But not before infusing it with valuable nutrients your body could have used for things like even having the ability to hydrate your system or build strong bones and teeth.

(original)

RIP: JOE BARBERA

More sad news....
JOE BARBERA, of Hanna-Barbera, died today of natural causes. He was 95.

Like so many others, I grew up on Hanna-Barbera Toons. Along with partner, Bill Hanna, Joe found his first success with TOM & JERRY! What I always loved about Tom & Jerry was at first glance you think Tom is the bad guy; the vile villain chasing Jerry. But then you realize that its usually because Jerry always starts shit! hahaha. Hanna, who died in 2001, once said he was never a good artist but his partner could “capture mood and expression in a quick sketch better than anyone I’ve ever known.”

Other infamous creations co-created by Barbera include "The Flintstones,” “The Jetsons,” “Yogi Bear,” “Scooby-Doo” and “Huckleberry Hound and Friends.”

Thank you for all the laughs, Joe!
You had a tremndous, positive impact on all our lives!

ALIENS CLIX

Check out some better pics of the upcoming assortment of Clix based on AVP. Yeah, the movie was an attack on all things good in the world, but this set still looks neat. Manly because the sculpts are so small, you can't really tell they are the crappy "Pumpkinhead" alien designs of the movie. Also, there's no lame looking AVP Predators or annoying bad actors (ok, there's 1). Anyway, they look like the cool ALIENS to me (more or less - squint) and I plan on buying this bad boy in Jan 2007! More info.

SW: LEGACY #6

Cover to Star Wars: Legacy #6.
I dig the costumes; a mix of Vader and Crimson Guards.
(I haven't read this new series yet... but just picked em up today.)

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
*"SW Legacy takes place 137 years after Return of the Jedi. Since then, Luke Skywalker has unified the Jedi order into a cohesive group of powerful Jedi Knights. It is a time of relative peace, yet darkness approaches on the horizon. Skywalker's descendants face new and resurgent threats to the galaxy, and to the balance of the Force."

10 BEST THINGS ABOUT CHRISTMAS VACATION

SQUIRREL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
*(pic should be animated gif... if not, click on it)

Click here for
The 10 BEST THINGS ABOUT CHRISTMAS VACATION

DOUCHEBAG OF THE DAY: HACK TRAILER MAKERS

Last night I saw a commercial for the dvd release of LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE and I wanted to cock-punch somebody. What an absolute abyssmally assembled commercial to sell a movie. If I hadn't already seen the movie, I would have thought it was a direct-to-dvd piece of shit with barely an ounce of humor or merit. Jesus, people! Your jobs are to PROMOTE the film and make people want to not only WATCH it but go out and spend their hard earned cash on the goddamn dvd. Quit your day jobs and stay away from any form of storytelling, please!! Or, perhaps next time WATCH the fucking movie?? Maybe that would aid in putting together a dvd trailer? I'm sorry, but it really irks me to see talentless people impairing the potential success of a movie made by talented people.

So yeah, please DISREGARD the shitty commercial now airing and rent the film. It's a lot of fun and one of my favorites this year.

Earlier quick review.
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*apologies for the hostilities... just found out I have to work this weekend.

BAKEOFF ANNOUNCEMENT

The list of films that made it into this year's Visual Effects "Bakeoff" have been released. Sadly, FLAGS OF OUR FATHERS did not make it in. The seven films are:

Poseidon
Eragon
Casino Royale
Night at the Museum
Pirates 2
Superman Returns
X-Men the last stand

Last year's Bakeoff post
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*The Bakeoff: Every year, 7 films are considered for Oscar nomination in Visual Effects. Then, in february(?), those members of the Academy who are IN visual fx, and anyone who would like to attend, go to "the Bakeoff", where each fx crew from each movie pre-nominated presents a 15minute reel of their best work from the movie, followed by Q&A. At the end of the evening, the visual fx academy members then vote for the 3 films that will actually be nominated.

MAN-THING FRIDAY

MAN-THING!*Upcoming comic and badass statue I'd like to have.

STAR TREK ANIMATED SHOULD LOOK LIKE . . .

So the Star Trek Animated news got me thinkin' and geekin' (shocking, eh?). And I'd like to see an animated show that looks very similar to the old school Gold Key Star Trek comics!! As they look now.... same "muted" color scheme and "texture" about it... very painterly. Think 60s/70s Heavy Metal Magazine art. Psychedelic and cosmic.

Check out the covers here!

STAR TREK: ANIMATED SERIES ! !

Looks like STAR TREK may get another incarnation, but this time on the web and animated. The new pitched series, which hasn't been green-lit yet, would be similar to the Star Wars: Clone Wars series, running about 6min each episode. Here's the plan and article. In the right hands (mine), this could be fucking rad!! However, if history is any indication, it will suck greasy Ferengi balls.

Oh, and they are actually taking submissions for 2D work!
Inquiries can be sent to zeroroomprods@gmail.com

HOSTEL II POSTER IS TASTY

Here's the new poster for
HOSTEL 2.

Yummy!

I never saw Hostel 1.

DIE HARD 4 TRAILER

Here's the trailer for DIE HARD 4. Is it just me, or does McCLANE simply not work with the shaved head? Bruce Willis, ok. But not John McClane. Oh well, I guess a hair piece would have been worse. This part 4 in a series that had no reason to have even a part 2. Therefore I think this looks awesome! Lots of popcorn fun, lame title.

COLBERT DICTIONARY PAGE

Here is the NEW improved dictionary page from the COLBERT REPORT that includes the worth "TRUTHINESS." If you saw the show the other day, he went off that Webster recently stated that "Truthiness" was the word of the year, yet didn't include it in their latest edition. So print this out and paste it into YOUR dictionary. As Stephen emphasised, this fun activity is only for your copy... don't go pasting in your library's copy or stores.

*Click image to enlarge & print*

SOUNDWAVE REISSUE

Man, that STARSCREAM got my geeky Cybertronian blood pumping!!! Check out the reissue SOUNDWAVE now available!!!! He comes with LASERBEAK and RAVAGE. Sweet. But would it have killed them to also include RUMBLE? I'd get one, but I still have my ORIGINAL, baby!!!! But if you want one, its $70 here.
*(Toys R Us carries them, too, I believe).

TAKARA'S STARSCREAM

"Hello. I'm STARSCREAM. I'm 12inches tall!

Could I BE any cooler? Buy me for Jimmy."More pics here.

NEW NIN DVD

NINE INCH NAILS is coming out with a new live DVD on Feb 27 (US). And according to Neil's rad SOULKILLER site, Trent will begin mixing the new studio album in January 2007. Here's the dvd set list:

NORTH AMERICAN WINTER TOUR 2006:
01: LOVE IS NOT ENOUGH
02: YOU KNOW WHAT YOU ARE?
03: TERRIBLE LIE
04: THE LINE BEGINS TO BLUR
05: MARCH OF THE PIGS
06: SOMETHING I CAN NEVER HAVE
07: CLOSER
08: BURN
09: GAVE UP
10: ERASER
11: RIGHT WHERE IT BELONGS
12: BESIDE YOU IN TIME
13: WITH TEETH
14: WISH
15: ONLY
16: THE BIG COME DOWN
17: HURT
18: THE HAND THAT FEEDS
19: HEAD LIKE A HOLE
...and some additional content (other shows, videos, etc)
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*Check it out! He's not opening with Terrible Lie anymore? That's been a staple first song for 15 yrs! Um, holy crap, its been 15 years since I first heard them. yikes.

GHOST RIDER TRANSFORMATION

DAVID X. COHEN TALKS FUTURAMA

David X. Cohen, producer of FUTURAMA, discusses the upcoming new episodes with JIMSMASH:

JIMSMASH: How long after the last “series finale” does the new season take place? And what can we expect for the Fry and Leela relationship?

COHEN: When our story resumes, two long years have passed. As for the Fry/Leela relationship, we will be visiting that subject right away, so I refuse to tell you where it will lead on the grounds that I want you to buy the DVD.

JIMSMASH: How much continuity will the new season feature?

COHEN: Within the new season, we will definitely feature more continuity than in the past. We will also be shedding light on several lingering questions from the original run, including hitherto unknown facts about Nibbler, dark matter and Seymour the dog. By the way, that was my first use of the word “hitherto” in an interview. I think it went well.

JIMSMASH: [Laughs] Nice. How much of the original cast and crew were you able to put together?

COHEN: We have the entire cast back, as well as a good chunk of the writing staff. We also have Rough Draft Studios animating once again, and they seem determined to top even their own amazing work from the first time around. To complete the reunion of our original crack team, it looks like we will also have Chris Tyng back to work his magic on the musical score.

JIMSMASH: Are there any guest voices lined up yet?

COHEN: We will have a number, yes, but I can only officially report on the one we have already recorded—up-and-coming voice-over star Al Gore. For the first time, we are going to show what really determined the outcome of the 2000 Presidential election.
-----------
Ok, I didn't do the inteview, TOYFARE did.
But I thought it'd give the ole blog some pizazz.
Thanks, Toyfare!

TWILIGHT FOR THE KIMONO

KYOTO, Japan. His fingers muscled from almost a century of weaving, Yasujiro Yamaguchi, like Japan's signature kimono, is slipping into winter. At 102, he is among the last master weavers of Nishijin, the country's most celebrated kimono district, and his pace has slowed. He rubbed the morning chill from his knuckles, fitted his hunched shoulders deeper inside his indigo jacket and resolutely pushed on.

This kimono -- for the role of a willowy beauty in a classical Noh play, withering from the loss of her lover -- will take him a full year to make. If Yamaguchi doesn't finish it, there are few weavers left in Japan skilled enough to take over. "This kimono must be beautiful, but there is also sorrow in the weave," Yamaguchi said, eyes trained on his stitch. "The audience will see this and immediately understand that the character is mourning for something precious, for something lost."

More here.

PETER BOYLE PASSES AWAY

Aw, man! PETER BOYLE passed away today. I loved Boyle. This is really upsetting news. I'll always remember him from his brilliant, hilarious contribution to YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN and now, more recent, his great portrayel of Frank on "Everybody Loves Raymond." He will be missed. If there is a Heaven, I'd like to grab a beer with him up there when the time comes. He seemed like a really cool, standup guy. Rest In Peace, Peter. And thank you for all the great work - it was truly enjoyed and appreciated!

A VERY TWISTED CHRISTMAS !

"What do youuu wanna doo with yor life?!!"

"I WANNA ROCK!! (ROCK!)"

---

Oh man! I saw TWISTED SISTER last night at the House of Blues on Sunset! It was
"A VERY TWISTED CHRISTMAS" where the band played songs from their new CHRISTMAS album! Yes, you read that right, a Christmas album by Twisted Sister; classic XMas songs done in their twisted fashion. It was A LOT of fun and actually put me into the Holiday Spirit! This was the first time the band has been together on stage since 1986! Dee came out in a Santa costume, but at the 2nd song changed into the classic "Stay Hungry" outfit we all know and love. They alternated between xmas tunes and their classic songs.

The show was great, I had a blast, and I'm actually going to go buy their XMas album. Seriously, its fun and a perfect cd to pop in the day after Thanksgiving to start getting in the mood!

Supposedly, TS put the album together for fun and to officially kill Twisted Sister; go out in style instead of their extremely ugly breakup in 1986. But instead, the cd flies off the shelves, they get a gig at HoB and a new album contract! hahahaha! So look for a new album soon... they played their first (and only) new song and it rocked! Eat it, Tipper Gore. The Sister is back!!!!

OH! And catch TWISTED SISTER TONIGHT on The Tonight Show!! SURREAL!!!! (again, eat it and gag, Tipper Gore!!)

NO JOY OF PAINTING

ah crap! Adaptive Gatekeeper & Fearless Rogue of Addictive Gaming Entertainment (AGFRAG) has cancelled their plans to release their planned “Joy of Painting” by Bob Ross-based video game!!!! Its like losing Bob all over again.

More here.

IMPERIAL ROSE PARADE

This year's Rose Parade has an extra dork factor involved. George Lucas is the Grand Marshal and he invited the fan club "501st Legion" (made up of dorky fans worldwide) to accompany him in the parade.... dressed as Stormtroopers. The club has 3,000 members who appear at fundraisers and charitalble events and 200 Stormtroopers will be marching behind Lucas alongside 2 Star Wars themed floats. One float will be the "Endor" float with Ewoks (sigh) and the other will be the "Naboo" float with 3 hotties dressed as Padme and 2 Jedis. Makes total sense because those are the 2 planets fans want to see in a Star Wars parade, right? Jesus, George! Are you truly THAT removed from your fans? Anyway, check out the parade if you're awake and your hangover isn't too torturous.

PAULY SHORE VS REDNECK

Yes, I like Pauly Shore! I admit it. His early standup and ENCINO MAN rule! So I feel for the Weasle... fucking Rednecks.

*thanks, Jason!

RANDOM FIND: WTF RIDER?

BLACK ADAM IS SO FREAKING RAD

Oh man, DC just released their solicitations for March 2007 and the cover to 52 #45 has me giddy like only a geeky fanboy can be!!

Ok, DC... I want a statue of Black Adam on his thrown asap!!!!

*Click on image to geek out, too!*

JIMSMASH BY GLAZY !

Check out these awesome gifts Andrew just sent me!THANKS, ANDREW!!!!!!!!!!!

http://glazy.blogspot.com/

GREEN LANTERN CREATOR PASSES AWAY

Another Comic Book Legend passing.... MARTIN NODELL passed away at age 91. Nodell is best known for creating the first GREEN LANTERN, Alan Scott. He was also part of the advertising group that created the Pillsbury Doughboy.

I was fortunate enough to meet him at Comicon a couple years ago and he was awesome; super friendly and a love of the medium and fans. He signed a Green Lantern ring for me!

Rest in Peace, Martin. And thank you for all your many awesome contributions to Comics that are still being used and enjoyed today!

More here.