I'm a lifelong fan of comics, and of the actors who portrayed the characters in them. However, there are only a very few who had a pivotal impact on my life, those being the ones I encountered at my youngest, most formative years.
Actress and dancer Yvonne Craig was chief among those, one of those people who had always been there and, in my unthinking naivete, I presumed always would be.
Today, I have learned that Ms. Craig has passed away on August 17 at the forever young age of 78, after battling breast cancer.
While Craig will be eternally remembered for her portrayal of Batgirl in the iconic 1960s BATMAN television series, starring alongside Adam West and Burt Ward, fans will also recall her stunning portrayal of the green-skinned dancer, Marta, on STAR TREK. She also acted opposite of Elvis Presley in the 1964 musical, KISSIN' COUSINS.
Submitted by S.J. Mitchell on Thu, 07/30/2015 - 13:11
In a move that is one part opportunistic, one part marketing genius and two parts trolling a fan-base, SC Films International announces plans to launch an animated feature and tv series titled:
TROLL: "THE RISE OF HARRY POTTER, JR"
Based upon the 1986 cult film, TROLL, the new animated feature will revisit the world of wizardry in which a wicked, magical troll wizard seeks to take over the world. With the help of a witch, Harry Potter, Jr can save the planet.
Academy Award winner Patricia Arquette, has been signed for the witch and child actor Baxter Bartlett will lend his voice to the young Harry Potter Jr.
Provided he isn't enchanted with a 'Babbling Curse', by a ravenous fanbase who will no doubt be angered when they discover this isn't all about 'you know who'.
Submitted by S.J. Mitchell on Thu, 07/30/2015 - 06:47
Superman villains appear to be taking out their frustrations on his younger cousin.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Chris Browning, who appeared in seven episodes of SONS OF ANARCHY, will arrive in the third episode of SUPERGIRL on CBS. He will portray Ben Krull, a deadly Superman villain who wears a nuclear powered armored suit. According to the report, using the villainous name, Reactron, he'll be seeking to kill Supergirl in order to exact revenge on the Man of Steel.
DreamWorks Animation is preparing to release the second season TURBO FAST, an animated series featuring the title character from their animated film, TURBO, and his crew of racing snail buddies.
TURBO FAST is a collection of shorts, averaging around ten minutes each without commercials, putting the FAST crew into all kinds of unique situations. The animation, however, is not the same caliber as seen in the film. Unlike the tack taken by Disney*Pixar's CARS TOONS, where there was an effort to conform to the CGI to some extent, TURBO FAST shorts follow the more traditional 2D animation format, in a style akin to SPONGEBOB SQUAREPANTS.
Submitted by S.J. Mitchell on Mon, 07/27/2015 - 09:59
When 6 minutes of 'first look' footage was released, to get fans excited about the upcoming SUPERGIRL series on CBS, people wondered if they had watched the entire pilot. While a lot is still to be revealed by watching the pilot, it felt like I had seen it all before.
Submitted by Mike 'Ace' Maillaro on Thu, 07/23/2015 - 12:45
At San Diego Comic Con, they did a 10 minute look at ABC's THE MUPPETS. I've been a huge Muppets fan for as long as I can remember, so I was looking forward to this:
All in all, I thought it was pretty funny. Most of the jokes landed real well. I wasn't sure how a more adult version of THE MUPPETS would go, but if this trailer is any indication, it seems like it should work. I loved the legalization joke!
Submitted by Mike 'Ace' Maillaro on Wed, 07/22/2015 - 10:53
WB posted up a new promotional picture for THE FLASH season 2, and I immediately noticed something was different. Honestly, it took me a few minutes to figure out what, and I had to bring up a picture of the costume from season 1 (on the left) to figure it out.
The complete second season of the Syfy drama, BITTEN, is now out on DVD, allowing for some wonderful binge-watching of werewolves -- and, this season, of witches as well.
This sexy action-drama picks up with the murder of Elena's friend, who had discovered her lycanthropic secret. However, while that's touched on a little bit in this second season, it takes a back seat to the new plot, which introduces a coven of witches, led by Ruth Winterbourne (Tammy Isbell) and her daughter Paige (Tommie-Amber Pirie). One of their own, young Savannah (Kiara Glasco) has gone missing, and is being used to bring about the prophesied "Undoing" of all witches.
Submitted by S.J. Mitchell on Tue, 07/21/2015 - 11:07
Last month I read an interview with Aaron Ashmore (Warehouse 13) by Geek Girl Diva over at Entertainment Weekly. For those who aren't aware, Aaron is the identical twin of Shawn (Iceman from the X-Men franchise). The interview focused around the new Syfy show titled KILLJOYS, where he plays a bounty hunter.
Carol Burnett – comedic trailblazer, actor, singer, dancer, producer and author – has been named the 52nd recipient of SAG-AFTRA's highest tribute: the SAG Life Achievement Award for career achievement and humanitarian accomplishment. Burnett will be presented the performers union's top accolade at the 22nd Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards®, which will be simulcast live on TNT and TBS on Saturday, Jan. 30, 2016 at 8 p.m. (ET), 7 p.m. (CT), 6 p.m. (MT) and 5 p.m. (PT). Given annually to an actor who fosters the "finest ideals of the acting profession," the SAG Life Achievement Award will join Burnett's exceptional catal og of preeminent industry and public honors, which includes multiple Emmys®, a special Tony®, the Presidential Medal of Freedom and both a Kennedy Center Honor and its Mark Twain Prize for Humor.
Submitted by Mike 'Ace' Maillaro on Wed, 07/08/2015 - 08:53
Marvel has announced that Elodie Yung (Jinx in G.I. JOE: RETALIATION) will be joining the cast of DAREDEVIL season 2 as Elektra.
I will say upfront that I don't know Elodie Yung's work all that much, but she does seem to be an extremely beautiful woman. Which really isn't a required trait to play Elektra, just a personal commentary from me. I am definitely a fan of beautiful women.
Yes, you read that correctly: Harry Shearer has decided in the nick of time to remain with the 26-years-running animated comedy series, THE SIMPSONS, and will continue lending his voice to Mr. Burns, Ned Flanders and other characters.
According to Entertainment Weekly, Shearer's contract is not special, being the same as all the other primary voice actors: a four-year deal, with a dollar value estimated at nearly $300,000 per episode.
So rest assured -- the voices of your favorite characters will not be given to another actor. Shearer's deal was done just in time so production would not be affected. THE SIMPSONS will begin their 27th season on September 27th.
Now, FOX, what can you do about getting Phil Hartman back?
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – (July 1, 2015) – Call it the duck days of summer, the time when it’s 90 degrees outside and still four months away from hunting season. The Robertson family has come up with a way to chase away those summer blues and benefit deserving charities as well.
NEW YORK – July 6, 2015 – Actor Jeffrey Dean Morgan will join the critically acclaimed drama THE GOOD WIFE as a series regular during the show’s upcoming seventh season. Morgan will play Alex, a calm, experienced hourly investigator whom Alicia hires.
"We've loved and admired Jeffrey Dean Morgan for years, and we were thrilled to hear that Julianna did too, so it was a no-brainer to ask him to join our troupe," said executive producers Robert and Michelle King.
Submitted by S.J. Mitchell on Mon, 07/06/2015 - 12:20
It seems like every publication is doing a comic-con variant cover these days. With all of the superhero content hitting the airwaves, it makes perfect sense for TV Guide to get in on the act.
Submitted by Chris Delloiacono on Wed, 07/01/2015 - 16:35
There isn't enough epic horror in the world. Almost every horror story is a killer offing the cast one-by-one, or it ends up with a small group holed up somewhere trying to survive. When I say epic, what I'm talking about is a work like Stephen King's THE STAND, a continent-spanning adventure with multiple settings and dozens of characters. Some would say that's THE WALKING DEAD, but I wholeheartedly disagree with that assertion. It's just a group of characters hiding in various places talking season after season. It's not grand or epic in any way.
After having said it so often on THE APPRENTICE and it's spinoff, CELEBRITY APPRENTICE, Donald Trump must find it ironic to hear his trademarked expression thrown back at him. But it's true. The real estate mogul turned Presidential nominee was told to pound sand by NBC after his comments regarding illegal immigration included the words "rapists" and "drug dealers."
The network sent the following message to Talking Points Memo earlier today clarifying their announcement:
Submitted by Mike 'Ace' Maillaro on Thu, 06/25/2015 - 13:28
HEROES is returning to NBC this fall as HEROES REBORN. The show will be debuting September 24, but we got a first look at the trailer:
Commentary: Lots of action, but not a lot of information here yet. One thing I love is seeing Masi Oka as Future Badass Hiro. Masi Oka seems to always get typecast as a nerdy little character (Franklin from SCRUBS or Max from HAWAII FIVE-O....not to mention "normal" Hiro in HEROES). But, he actually looks great when they show him as Badass Hiro.
Last night on TBS's CONAN, Conan O'Brien announced that he is going to be immortalized with a set of four Pop! Vinyl figures to be available this July, when CONAN will become the first-ever late-night show to broadcast from San Diego during Comic-Con® International. Created for TBS byFunko, the figure designs include "Conan O'Brien,""Batman Conan,""Zombie Conan" and"Conan's Monster."
series on CBS, people wondered if they had watched the entire pilot. While a lot is still to be revealed by watching the pilot, it felt like I had seen it all before.
Commentary: Lots of action, but not a lot of information here yet. One thing I love is seeing Masi Oka as Future Badass Hiro. Masi Oka seems to always get typecast as a nerdy little character (Franklin from SCRUBS or Max from HAWAII FIVE-O....not to mention "normal" Hiro in HEROES). But, he actually looks great when they show him as Badass Hiro. 
