PopArts TV Blog

Comic Con is upon us

2007-07-24T17:22:00.000-05:00

It is time for the annual pilgrimage to San Diego for Comic Con International, the convention that isn't just about comic books, and isn't just for comic book readers, but is in truth a convention that embraces almost all of the popular arts. This year cast members from Stargate SG-1 and Stargate Atlantis will be on panels, as just one example of the many ways in which a day at comic con can be filled with wonderful memory making experiences.

And more and more folks are coming to con to highlight what they are working on... here is just one example of the e-mails I've been getting to pysch me up for this 4.5 day adventure in fandom:

On behalf of Samuel Goldwyn Films, we are thrilled to announce that director Richard Kelly (DONNIE DARKO) will be at COMIC-CON to make a special announcement regarding his highly anticipated film, SOUTHLAND TALES starring DWAYNE �THE ROCK� JOHNSON, SEANN WILLIAM SCOTT, SARAH MICHELLE GELLAR, JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE, MANDY MOORE, CHERI OTERI, MIRANDA RICHARDSON, AND JON LOVITZ. Following his announcement, KELLY will be signing posters from the film.

Friday July 27th
11 AM � 1 PM
Location - AA12

The Band in the Bubble

2007-05-30T23:59:00.000-05:00

Cartel has been in the bubble for several days now, and things have been surprisingly interesting and fun... at times. :) (Curious about what has been happening in the Bubble, and with the Bubble thus far? Check out http://blog.myspace.com/cartels_bubble )

If you are interested in checking it out here are two free codes to access the exclusive content at www.drpepperbubble.com.

webcams are broadcasting Cartel's every move. With these codes, you can check out exclusive footage, daily highlights, and sneak peeks at Cartel's new tracks--as they're recorded!

Each one of these codes is good for 24-hour access to the official site. They are good for one full day of access on the site.

fingerlickin

circlekrocks

Please feel free to share them anyone and everyone

William Shatner is a comedian

2007-05-29T16:02:00.000-05:00

I've said it before, and I'll say it again, William Shatner is a comedian. I detested him as Kirk, it was simply the wrong role for him, and his amazing performance as Denny Crane on ABC's Boston Legal is PROOF POSITIVE that this man can act, he can entertain, and he can leave you laughing so hard you are SURE your laugh muscles are going to be sore the next day.

And yet, as outrageously funny as he is, there are times when both his character of Denny Crane and the character Alan Shore make these remarkable thought provoking comments that leave you with something to think about. Even when they are making me laugh "how can it be a disease if the pharmaceutical companies aren't trying to find a way to make money from it?" they are making me stop to think, both about the supposed "disease" in that case, and the way our pharmaceutical companies work, always having to think about having the money to make the next medication.

And then there is Jerry, Clarence, Claire... Shirley, Paul, Denise and Brad who keep the office hopping, interesting, and most importantly, both real and extreme all at once.

In a recent episode Jerry asked for his job back, and in it he gave a brilliant run down of the people who work at Crane, Poole and Schmidt. In it he pointed out the eccentricities that make each character special, and interesting, and asked how, amid such a cast of characters, she could wonder whether or not there was room for a man who keeps his hands on his thighs, and hops. And he was so clearly right, of all the places on TV Boston Legal is where he fits in.

Above and Beyond all that... Boston Legal is a show where characters grow, evolve, and change. They become more than they were in the beginning, and better... and watching that evolution is a wonderful experience.

Cartel is about to be the Band in a Bubble

2007-05-08T12:03:00.000-05:00

Have you heard about the band in a bubble that MTV is going to be sharing with the world in late May and throughout June?

The band is Cartel (aren't familiar with Cartel, we'll here's the two liner on 'em: Atlanta-based Cartel, recently highlighted as a �Breaking Band� in Rolling Stone , is generating major heat thanks to the success of Epic Records debut CHROMA and hit lead single �Honestly.�)... and as for this "bubble" they are going to be in, here's what I've found out about the Building of the Bubble

Currently being constructed on Hudson River Park 's Pier 54 in New York City , the bubble is a 40-by-40 foot state-of-the-art recording studio equipped with everything Cartel needs to record their next album. Designed by international firm TPG Architecture, the 2,000-square-foot structure will consist of 55,000 pounds of steel truss and quarter-inch-thick fireproof rigid fiber glass. Three semi-circular steel arches will loop the bubble and act as light trusses to provide a glowing effect. While in the bubble, Cartel will have access to a custom kitchen and dining room, a casual lounge area and a spa-like bathroom as well as a �Sleeping Bubble,� or mezzanine level, which will be a giant pod elevated nine feet off the ground and hung in place with airplane hanger cables, that will house the band's sleeping quarters.

The bubble will feature interactive Web cams that will stream every moment live so fans can watch on http://bandinabubble.fanaction.net/?L3378. These cameras will capture everything from the band members' waking moments and creative differences to their jam sessions and appearances by special guests. Special two-way microphones built into the window of the bubble will provide opportunities for the public to speak to band members on a daily basis.

Ya know... I'm thinking I wouldn't mind spending my next vacation in this bubble! (Check out our myspace fanspace profile for the band in the bubble... and leave comments about the show!

The Children of Men

2007-05-07T23:04:00.000-05:00

I have a fascination with movies that come from books, and books that come from movies, and often will watch a movie and read the book with hopes that one will contain "more" than the other, and knowing that I am likely to find a lot of differences.

I had no idea when I sat down to read The Children of Men what I was in for... a book written by a woman who has seen nearly twice as many years as I have, speaking of a time in which there is no hope, because there is no future.

My hope, that the book would contain more than the movie was exceeded, and my reading was enhanced both by understanding that the author was in her 70s when the book was published (in 1992) and that the movie was made in our moder (ie post 9-11) era. There were significantly different aspects of the culture portrayed in the movie and book... in many ways they were aspects that simply weren't touched upon in the other, and as a result may well have been there. That was something I really liked, that the changes could have just been enhancements, but the more I got was a better understanding of relationships... and rather different histories, and thus a different present, and most definitely a different future for the main character, Theo, who was so beautifully portrayed by Clive Owen.

This is a movie that could very well leave you with a great deal to think about... if for no other reason than it is intriguing to wonder how you would react, how you would live, if you knew you were one of the final generations of mankind.

Whether it is the movie, or the novel, that catches your eye, I strongly encourage one and all to experience this tale of the end of mankind... or is it... are we just so egotistical as a species that we think we can even see the end coming and have the final word... be right when we say it is all over?

Can't Stop the Serenity

2007-05-05T12:30:00.000-05:00

Fans of the movie Serenity, and the television show Firefly are once again using the film Serenity to raise money for Equality Now, known as a charity Joss Whedon supports.

Can't Stop The Serenity

And ReadMyChest.com is now a global sponsor of the Can't Stop the Serenity showings! So go see the movie, help raise money for a great cause, and you may come home with a little something from ReadMyChest.com :)

Dougray Scott on Desperate Housewives

2007-04-29T22:57:00.000-05:00

Dougray Scott is leaving Desperate Housewives?

I watched Ian pack, and I was devastated! Oh, don't get me wrong, what he said to Susan made perfect sense, and there is a part of me that is very glad to see that particular love triangle end as I've always been a fan of Mike and Susan as a couple... but... Dougray Scott is such a fantastic actor and he's been wonderful as Ian.

Here's hoping we see a LOT more work from this particular actor in the near future!

Drive

2007-04-25T12:22:00.000-05:00

Why do the advertisers of so many of the shows I love not the faith in them to give them a chance to grow, build, and become a tidal wave of excitement?

Yes, I'm talking Drive here. 4 episodes aired (if you count the two hour opener as the pilot and ep 2 which many do) and the show was FANTASTIC.

I sat down to watch all four episodes at once and was crushed at the end to know I wasn't going to find out more.

The conspiracy was a tiny bit "too grand" once or twice for me... the waitress in the diner... I mean, did they have waitresses hanging out in every diner around town to eavesdrop, bolster people's flagging courage, and generally poke about, or did mommie dearest just get lucky?

I enjoyed all of the characters, they were three dimensional and "real" where so many shows forget that every character arrives at the pilot with a past, as well as the present we are seeing, and assumptions/dreams for the future.

Nathan Fillion and Melanie Lynskey knocked the ball out of the park with their performances. Their characters were so complex, and so well played that I simply couldn't look away. There are so many shows these days that you can simply listen to, but with Drive it was the facial expressions, and the unexpected that kept your eyes on the screen to see just what bit of sublty they'd add.

And the cinematography going between cars in the race scenes was FANTASTIC! Please, someone, give an award to the people that brought that magic to the screen.

Oh, and while I'm asking for favors from folks on high, would someone please release every bit of film from this show on DVD so I can see as much as they were allowed to put together... I know you didn't let them tell the entire story, but maybe, just maybe, you let them fill in a few more pieces, and answer a few of the questions I've got knocking around in my noggin.

Brothers and Sisters

2007-04-23T11:06:00.000-05:00

ABC has an amazing show on their hands with Brothers and Sisters. As a member of a "large family" that could only go to certain restaurants when I was a child, not because they were child friendly, but because they were the only ones that could seat such a LARGE family, I appreciate the dynamics and interplay between siblings.

I am kind of looking forward to Justin going to Iraq, not because I want him off camera, but because I want to see how the siblings deal -- and who stays in touch, and how. Justin strikes me as the type that you have to keep up with (I have a sibling like that) and I want to see who pulls it off. I kind of think it will be Tommy.

Rebecca won't want to get him down with her drama, and Sarah is busy balancing work and home, and Kitty... well Kitty is crazy busy and got politics thrown in for fun. And where will Kitty be living in the near future, she's finally come home, but if the Senator becomes a truly serious part of her life (and Bless Rob Lowe for his AMAZING portrayal of such a fantastic, charismatic and interesting character) will they be bouncing between LA and Sacramento, LA and DC... LA and who knows where? Then, finally, there is Kevin, who I think kind of wants to take a step back from his family for a little while because he is just starting to realize that all that drama is part of what keeps him from settling down in other respects, and yet he can't help but not only LOVE his family, but LOVE knowing that he is part of the drama because that is part of being the Walker family.

And Nora, of course, will stay in touch with him, but a mom's correspondence isn't really the same as a siblings... and then there is that difficult balance to find when someone you love is in the military. Do you only write to them about home? Try and give them a small part of what they aren't there to be a part of, of what they are missing. Or do you ask a zillion questions about what they are going through, about the life they are now living, and get so caught up in wanting to know about the life that you don't feel you are currently a part of that your letter doesn't give them the escapism they may very well need. The link to reality that a warzone lacks.

Justin going to Iraq may well prove to be the storyline the most people in America can relate to, if for no other reason than he is currently surrounded by a family that is truly a pack of loving characters, and we will get to watch how they go through this, how they cope and endure, and as an audience we will feel less alone, and perhaps gain both insight and new ideas.

House

2007-04-10T12:39:00.000-05:00

If ever there was an episode of the Fox show House that reminded me why that show has joined my guilty pleasures list, it was the episode Airborne in which House is on an airplane when the dreaded words "is there a doctor on board?" are uttered.

The show managed to drive home the importance of not scuba diving in close proximity to flying while also making fun of the lavs with House sending half the plane's occupants to expel their meals from which he's sure they got food poisoning, and pointed out just how many people on board an airplane have prescriptions in the carry on bags. (I for one ALWAYS travel with ALL my prescriptions in my carry on bag these days, I've had bags delayed up to three days when I went on an international trip, and while I did have my medications on me, others did not, and the stories I heard of their trying to figure out replacements in a country where they didn't speak the language left a lasting impression. Oh, and a helpful note in that vein, when traveling over seas know the GENERIC name of your prescription meds, not just the brand name, as the pharmacists over there can look up the Generic name with greater ease. I learned that from a 80 year old man whose heart-medication didn't make it to Barcelona with him.)

The episode also poked fun at their own show, when House calls upon three passengers to "help" and gives each instructions on how to behave. Each is, one would assume, taking the place of Foreman, Chase and Cameron, though his instructions aren't highly specific, they are nonetheless entertaining. (No matter what I say you agree... you say you don't understand... and you act morally outraged.)

Two thumbs up for a very talented cast that speaks the medical lingo with shocking ease, or so it seems to me as a viewer, and teaches me things in almost every episode, things that have been relevant to my own life (such as people with metal in their bodies can't have MRIs) and things that were simply interesting (houses built before a certain time used to be connected for electricity to go from one house to another... which is why people in older houses might want to tell their neighbors when they have their house tempted by the exterminator, there is a reason after all that the occupants have to go stay in a hotel.)

I'm not convinced I'd want Dr. Greg House treating me, his bedside manner leaves a lot to be desired, but from the outside looking in the humor factor is not only high up on the scale, but is still funny when the episode reruns, as, if we are lucky, these episodes will continue to do for years to come. Along with newer and even funnier ones of course!

Crossing Jordan

2007-02-01T12:32:00.000-06:00

33 Bullets was an amazing episode of Crossing Jordan, a show that has finally returned to the air after too long away!

The episode did a remarkable job of showing the need for a balance between a swift trial, and taking the time to gather all the facts.

This may well be one of the best episodes of Crossing Jordan to air to date, and for me, they will have a hard time topping it, as I have rarely seen a show which made me not only stop and think, but wonder if perhaps there wasn't a headline, or more than just one headline, this story was ripped from. I couldn't help but wonder if our rush to justice, while a much slower rush than in the days on lynchings and gun fights, isn't still too fast at times.

Oh I'm not campaigning for a return to the times of Cicero, when a murder case could be brought 30+ years after the fact simply to destory a man's career, but there are times when the wheels of justice move so swiftly that I can't help but wonder if there isn't a fact, or some detail that falls out, and gets run over in the process.

NBC Annonuces MidSeason Schedule

2006-11-30T03:17:00.000-06:00

NBC has announced their midseason schedule... and Crossing Jordan fans can rejoice as the crew of their favorite morgue rejoins comes home:

NBC�s midseason schedule:

Mondays
8-9 p.m. -- Deal or No Deal
9-10 p.m. -- Heroes
10-11 p.m. -- Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip

Tuesdays
8-9 p.m.-- Dateline NBC (beginning December 26)
9-10 p.m. -- Law & Order: Criminal Intent
10-11 p.m. -- Law & Order: Special Victims Unit

Wednesdays
8-9 p.m. -- Friday Night Lights (January 10)
9-10 p.m. -- Deal or No Deal (January 3)
10-11 p.m. -- Medium

Thursdays
8-9 p.m. -- My Name Is Earl
8:30-9 p.m. -- The Office
9-9:30 p.m. -- Scrubs
9:30-10 p.m. -- 30 Rock
10-11 p.m. -- ER

Fridays
8-9 p.m. -- 1 VS 100
9-10 p.m. -- Las Vegas
10-11 p.m. -- Law & Order

Saturdays
Drama repeats

Sundays
7-8 p.m. -- Dateline NBC (February 11)
8-9 p.m. -- Grease: You're the One That I Want (January 7; first two weeks will run from 8-9:30 p.m.)
9-10 p.m. -- The Apprentice" (January 7; first two weeks will run from 9:30-11 p.m.)
10-11 p.m. -- Crossing Jordan (January 21)

PopArtsPlace.com Photo Galleries at DotPhoto

2006-11-09T16:17:00.000-06:00

It has been a while since we posted a reminder that a selection of photos PopArtsPlace.com photographers have taken at conventions can be purchased online.

Searchchips.com

2006-10-31T21:32:00.000-06:00

There's another site offering free goodies for using them for your websurfing... and telling your friends about it. If you haven't already heard about it, check it out here:

Runaway

2006-10-18T22:55:00.000-05:00

If the new CW wanted to keep viewers like me who followed One Tree Hill over from "the old" WB despite other faves like Everwood being cancelled, then giving up on Runaway so early in the season was a mistake.

The show needed time to build, and suck in it's audience, but it had the potential to be a Prison Break for all ages, with dynamic family members, and an interesting struggle to pull together as a family despite having been a less than fully functional family before all hell broke loose in their lives, and pass themselves off as the all American small town family.

We saw a brother step up to protect his sister, even when he was mad at her, and we saw a sister say that which she knew would salvage her brother's ego... even when she would have liked to see him suffer for basic sibling differences, but when it came right down to it, the family was there for one another, cared for one another, and was ready to stick it out while dad did whatever it took to find out the truth.

Was dad the best role model on tv? No! He skipped out on bail instead of letting the justice system do its thing... but that was "dealt with" and explained in your typical tv conspiracy way such that a new generation was going to be introduced to the ins and outs of the great government conspiracies of old, the type of plot that has kept multiple generations entertained!

I can't help but hope after having switched the show from Mondays (aka Prison Break night) to Sundays (aka Desperate Housewives night) and only given regular viewers the one chance to find the shows new location the CW will rethink the decision to pull the show and bring it back sooner rather than later!

Stargate SG-1

2006-10-12T12:25:00.000-05:00

There are hints coming as to the future of Stargate Sg-1... Gateworld.net has posted an article that mentions: MGM has given a green light for the show's creators to produce two direct-to-DVD movies based on SG-1. Executive producer Brad Wright let TV Guide in on the news this week.

Given the popularity of the Stargate seasons on DVD, the audience is already accustomed to picking up their favorite characters on DVD, and I anticipate that the movies will sell very well as a result.

As for whether or not the movies will air on SciFi... they are not being made FOR SciFi, so only time will tell.

Without a Trace

2006-10-08T13:23:00.000-05:00

Without A Trace is back for another season and the show is rocking along nicely. This is a show with well defined relationships between most of the characters (Martin and Sam could use a little work Mr. Head Writer Person) and a lot of good stuff happening within the office and among the lead characters while the ever interesting missing persons cases keep coming.

Shark on CBS

2006-10-05T22:25:00.000-05:00

Shark is your typical lawyer show, and probably would have impressed me more tonight, the first episode I watched, had it not felt like such a "straight from the headlines" episode that I already knew who was guilty, and some of the basic twists and turns the plot was going to take.

For me the only real "shock" was when they did NOT draw a direct parallel between a parent child relationship in the courtroom and a different parent child relationship out of the courtroom, especially since they very easily could have. Instead they gave the father and daughter a relatively touching moment... that skimmed the surface of what was going on between them, and in some respects lacked the depth and sincerity of the moment they'd effectively set up.

Ah well, not every episode will feel like a case I've already read about on the web, or so I hope, and so I'll watch a few more episodes as the cast is very talented, and it was the cast that kept me coming back after each commercial break even when the script did not. Here's hoping the scripts become as fun and interesting as the cast!

Boston Legal

2006-10-03T13:20:00.000-05:00

William Shatner, "star" of Boston Legal, is a comedian. That just about says it all!

If you haven't watched Boston Legal, but want to see some downright good comedy, check out Boston Legal... the 44 min. lawyer joke.

Fraggle Rock -- another old fave out on DVD

2006-09-13T14:42:00.000-05:00

Fraggle Rock -- another old fave out on DVD

Beginning September 5th , save your worries for another day , as The Jim Henson Company, HIT Entertainment and Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment present more Fraggly fun with the all-new DVD release of the Fraggle Rock Complete Second Season . Available in a rockin' five-disc box set, this latest release from the award-winning children's television series � and one of HBO's first original series � will feature all 24 episodes from the second season of Fraggle Rock . Additionally, the DVD will offer innovative bonus features, including a replica of creator Jim Henson's original pitch book for the show, a special video tribute to legendary co-creator Jerry Juhl and exclusive interviews with the cast and crew members.

The release of the Fraggle Rock Complete Second Season comes on the heels of a fan-driven campaign calling for the series' DVD debut. Legions of Fraggle Rock devotees proved that they were, indeed, down with Fraggle Rock , as they created an online petition that was signed by more than 35,000 fans urging for the DVD release of Fraggle Rock . HIT Entertainment responded and launched the Fraggle Rock Complete First Season in 2005.

Additionally, this fall will feature the first mass distribution of Fraggle-themed products from Sababa Toys and new junior apparel and accessories -- including hosiery, hats, loungewear and t-shirts -- from partners Hyp, Jerry Leigh and Zazzle.com.

About Fraggle Rock�

Premiering in January 1983, this wonderfully inventive program was designed to entertain while also encourage an understanding and embracing of diversity. Through the fun adventures of the Fraggle gang � Red, Gobo, Wembley, Boober, Mokey and Uncle Traveling Matt � the show captured the hearts of children and adults alike while featuring a unique mix of music that ranged a number of genres, from folk, blues and gospel to country and rock. The show also secured several prestigious awards, including a Cable ACE Award and five International Emmys.

David Foster, you've got my vote, don't give up!

2006-09-09T14:48:00.000-05:00

David Foster, you've got my vote, don't give up!

Marie Osmond gives wonderful feedback, and shares her vast understanding of duets and stage performing on Celebrity Duets, but David Foster gives great feedback for the AUDIENCE that has helped me to enjoy the show more and more.

Read the rest of what PopArtsPlace.com has to say about Celebrity Duets here

Stargate Cancelled?

2006-09-08T14:45:00.000-05:00

The internet is abuzz with talk that on the eve of the 200th episode it is said that the folks who make Stargate were told that while the 200th episode would air... the show would not be coming back for another season.

Stargate is a show that has proven while life may have begun on Showtime it could continue on SciFi channel, and anchor what evolved into an amazing Friday Night Science Fiction line up.

So now the questions is, will some other network/channel step up, grab hold of this opportunity and strike a deal with MGM that could do the same for them? Does the future of SG-1 lie on Spike TV???? Just a thought we've had around here and couldn't help but share as we cross our fingers and hope the folks at Spike TV are thinking along the same lines!

Vanished

2006-08-22T15:40:00.000-05:00

VANISHED

It aired last night on FOX, and the pilot will be airing again tonight for those who missed it... this show is definitely worth checking out... I watched it last night and may well watch it again tonight to see what I missed.

There is a lot going on in this show that places a large number of pieces from a jigsaw puzzle out on the table and gradually starts to shift them into place to help the audience figure out just what is going on... was Sarah Collins kidnapped? Did she "run off"? Has she done this before? What's her real name? And just what secrets are her "parents" keeping?

Based on the pilot, this show could turn out to be a very well written, very carefully woven storyline, and most decidely worthy of airing just after Prison Break!

EUReKA

2006-08-17T15:07:00.000-05:00

The new SciFi channel series EUReKA didn't sound like my kind of show. I like science fiction, though I have yet to find it in my heart to give the new Battlestar Galactica a try given the old one is, to me, the show worthy of that name, but I do like Stargate, both SG-1 and Atlantis, and those two shows have proven, since moving to SciFi, if nothing else, that SciFi is no longer so determined to put their fingerprints all over a show that they will take a show like Sliders and force it away from being the show the fans love.

So... if SciFi is no longer "ruining" perfectly good shows that belong on their channel, and are in fact the driving force, it seems, behind some truly awesome shows, why not give EUReKA a chance? The commercials. Simply put they made the show look silly, like it was nothing but fluff, with minimal "quality" behind it.

But I was persuaded to watch the first three episodes last night and I LOVED what I saw! The characters are interesting, and fun to get to know. The means of introducing the audience to the town of Eureka was entertaining... and I came out of the first ep grateful we had a second one to watch, and I came out of the second episode just KNOWING I was going to be disappointed that we only had one more qued up to watch... and I was!

These scientists have, in their own ways, people skills... at least they can interact will with other scientists! And the non-scientists who are trying to keep them, and the rest of us safe, have a fun way of looking at the world around them.

So, kudos to SciFi... and please, keep this show on the air!

Stay tunned for our next EUReKA article... in which we threaten to figure out if a single episode of this show can be made without at least one actor who has spoken at least one line of dialogue on an episode of Stargate.

Rebecca Gayhart & Esai Morales are coming back to TV

2006-08-15T11:51:00.000-05:00

Vanished is a new show coming from FOX where the disappearance of one member of a prominent family reveals a variety of secrets that could bring down the entire card house that makes up her family!

With a premise that sounds a bit like an episode of Without A Trace launching a season long Criminal Minds plot line, it isn't hard to imagine what audience Fox is hoping to intriuge with Vanished!