Showing posts with label Twitter. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Twitter. Show all posts
Walking Dead Board Game: The Perfect Summer Excuse to Stay Inside
All of our favorite nerd pursuits combined into one product.
Just when I thought I was going to die of nerve explosion while waiting for the next season of AMC's The Walking Deadcomic-to-tv adaptation, Z-Man Games and author Robert Kirkman's Skybound Entertainment announced a joint venture to bring the very first Walking Dead board game to retail this summer.
We don't have very many details about gameplay beyond the general idea: beating up zombies, trying to live, collecting supplies, and so forth--pretty standard fare that with this license is going to be pretty awesome.
Robert Kirkman heartily endorses it, and he ain't no shmuck: "I've always loved board games, but never knew they could be this cool! We've done test plays of The Walking Dead board game at the office, and the game play scenarios ring true to what Rick and the other survivors face in the comic book. I couldn't be more impressed with Z-Man Games."
The game will be for 1-6 players, which means you can even play the board game based on the zombie comic book all by your lonesome, officially becoming the saddest image in the entire world. Though if this game plays out anything like Z-Man's amazing storytelling game Tales of the Arabian Nights, everything will be just fine.
Watch Game of Thrones' Seventh Episode a Week Early!
HBO GO unsheathes a special Game of Thrones offer for subscribers that lets users view seventh episode "You Win or You Die" immediately after episode six!
If you're anything like us, the wait in between Game of Thrones episodes, though merely a week, drives us madder than the Mad King himself with anticipation! But no longer!
Once this Sunday, May 22nd's episode "A Golden Crown" rolls its credits, HBO GO has a special offer for subscribers that allows them to immediately view episode seven "You Win or You Die" through the service! And trust us, once you've seen the climax of "A Golden Crown," you're going to need that next episode to avoid early withdrawals!
And if you weren't aware or watching already (which you should, now that season two is in store), the series stars Sean Bean as Ned Stark, and boasts an otherwise impressive cast comprised of Peter Dinklage as Tyrion Lannister, Mark Addy as King Baratheon, Lena Headey as Queen Cersei, and a host of others all vying for the iron throne of the fictional Westeros.
HBOGo.com also allows access to special features where you'll be able to see "alert feeds" that offer special features as you watch, including commentary from the creators, behind the scenes looks, maps, 3-D costume and item renderings and character guides!
Need more reasons to watch? Check it out, and sign up for HBO GO to watch episode seven after the official press release!
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HBO GO USERS GET EARLY LOOK AT EPISODE SEVEN OF Game Of Thrones STARTING MAY 22
Following the debut of episode six of Game Of Thrones on Sunday, May 22 (9:00-10:00 p.m. ET), episode seven of the hit HBO series, entitled “You Win or You Die,” will immediately be available to subscribers on the HBO GO platform. HBO GO can be accessed at hbogo.com or via the HBO GO app – now available for download on Apple’s iPad®, iPhone® and iPod touch® and numerous smartphones using Google’s Android™ operating system – and is free of charge to HBO subscribers through participating television providers.
The Awesome Gross Chick From Bridesmaids Announces Two Projects
The Bridesmaids scene-stealer is doubling-down with two new comedies.
When I first reviewed Bridesmaids I was so swept up with Kristen Wiig's performance (the best film comedienne since Madeline Kahn) that there were few column inches left to talk about the other performances.
As I exited the SXSW premiere, however, I recall saying to friends that "if it were a just world, Melissa McCarthy would be starring in films of her own."
Well, there's nothing like a movie overshooting its estimates (it made $25 million at the box office this weekend) and receiving near-universal praise to make miracles happen.
Deadline reports that McCarthy is teaming with Bridesmaids co-writer Annie Mumolo on a quest movie to steal the Stanley Cup for her dying husband. The husband will be played by McCarthy's actual husband, Ben Falcone, who plays the object of McCarthy's affection in the soon-to-be-if-not-already airplane scene in Bridesmaids.
What disgusting things are in store for this noble vessel?
Entertainment Weekly is also reporting that Bridesmaids director Paul Feig is setting up a project for McCarthy to star in. Nothing is yet known, except for the quote pulled in The Film Stage's article, "“If an actress like Melissa becomes a huge star? THAT is a world I want to live in.”
McCarthy uglied herself a bit for the role in Bridesmaids, but no matter how you slice it she has "unconventional Hollywood looks." To that end, we must all do what we can to support Ms. McCarthy and her career. Because she's really effing funny and we need more of that.
Lady Gaga releases 'Judas' video
Lady Gaga releases 'Judas' video
Facebook Buying Out Skype?
Facebook Buying Out Skype? $4 Billion Deal Being Talked About
See who Mark Zuckerberg is after these days. We hear the Facebook CEO is eyeing the takeover of the much popular Skype. If the grapevine is true to what it manages to churn out, Facebook might end up buying out Skype for a price close to $4 billion.
We need not tell you that Skype and Facebook have been associated with each other for some time now. If you would remember, Facebook had been in the scheme of things at Skype and this was demonstrated by Skype when they rolled out their version 5.0 software for Windows.
The software had a dedicated Facebook tab so as to enable users to chat or call Facebook friends via Skype. This was in fact made possible right from “the Facebook newsfeed which can be viewed from within the Skype application”.
By the way, if you are looking at going into what the $4 billion ‘possible’ takeover would bring to Skype, let us also take you to a situation where Skype had been mulling over an IPO. If you would remember, the Skype IPO was recently delayed by its new CEO until the second half of 2011. And that public offer would have brought to the Skype coffers only around $1 billion. Considering such a scene, the Facebook move, if at all that bears fruit, could mean a lot to Skype. We also hear Google too is looking at a venture with Skype. More details are awaited.
What do you think about the Facebook plan for acquiring Skype? Send in your views.
Comic-Con Cosplay: Black Widow
Black Widow doesn't need superpowers to impress -- she possesses a set of skills from gunplay to martial arts that will have any mouth dropping to the floor (as long as her swift kicks aren't putting them there in the first place). Check out this assemblage of lady Avenger goodness!
I'm Starting with the Black Widow in the Mirror
I imagine this is how Natalia Alianovna Romanova a.k.a. Natasha Romanoff a.k.a. Black Widow starts her morning. Fluff up the crimson do, make sure the leather battle suit is snug and take an iPhone shot for posterity. No harm in wanting to look good (and remembering the good looks) after a long day of kicking ass.
From Russia with Love
Natasha Romanoff is like the Evelyn Salt of the Marvel Universe. She was born in Russia, brainwashed by the KGB and, later, goes on the run in an effort to do good in the world. Her training in the "Red Room" gives her near-superhuman fighting abilities. She's also trained in the art of wall-clinging, demonstrated here by this nice Black Widow cosplayer.
No Rash Can Stop Her
In a rare Marvel/DC Comics crossover, Black Widow takes on another one of the deadliest women in comics: Poison Ivy. Hopefully she packed plenty of S.H.I.E.L.D.-grade ointment.
The Black Widow Pin-Up
How the Walmart photographer must have felt when this Black Widow cosplayer strutted into his studio...
The high quality picture features the faux-Natasha Romanoff doing what the Russian assassin does best: bending. Be jealous of the geeky male on the receiving end of this photo.
The New and Improved Natasha Romanoff
Now that the Marvel Movie U has become its own distinct and acceptable universe, movie cosplayers are being embraced by the more traditional comic-based groups. Yes, we live in a world where movie Black Widow can stand proudly alongside comic Black Widow without a cat (er, arachnid) fight breaking out.
Black Widows come in all shapes and sizes, but as long as you can rock the slim, black onesie, the signature pistol and a bracelet full of "Widow's Bite" electro-static energy blasts, then you'll be an equal to all of them. I wouldn't mess with this woman.
Most superheroes rely on their high-tech weaponry or brute strength to ward off foes, but Black Widow is different -- she's all about stealth. The catsuit is an asset all year round, but Romanoff is in her prime during the fall, when her bright red hair matches the changing leaves. Avoid cool, Connecticut weekends when Black Widow is in town.
Letting Loose
The Black Widow costume design is one of exceptional practicality and comfortability. During the day, zip it all the way up for maximum karate chopping and high kicking action. When you come back home for a rest, just unzip and let it all hang out. It's like a vacation in your body armor.
F for Fake
There are a lot of suspicious things going on in this picture: orange end cap for the barrel of the gun, pink trigger, wedding ring -- something doesn't add up. Last time I checked, Black Widow was sleeping around with Daredevil, not tying the knot.
Widow. Black Widow.
This Black Widow proves Natasha Romanoff is a modern day Bond girl. She'll run, jump, kick, slap, and let bullets fly, but at the end of the day, it's all class. You might have your own dreams, but after Black Widow wipes the table with her feeble cosplaying opponents, the only thing she'll be blowing is the end of her pistol.
Put Your Hand in the Air
Master of acrobatics, Black Widow is always ready to spring (literally) into action. Here, a cosplayer pulls off one of Widow's deadliest moves: the bend and snap. Or was that Legally Blonde? Either way, it's working.
The S.H.I.E.L.D. Initiative Is H.O.T.
I'm not exactly sure who the other gal standing next to Black Widow is supposed to be, but I'd be down if she were cosplaying as Agent Coulson. The female version.
Assume this picture's background is blurry because whoever snapped the photo caught Black Widow zipping around the showroom floor. The next unseen frame is her punching two guys in the face and then dropping down into a tarantula stance.
Don't let your old cosplay costumes go to waste. That dusty Catwoman suit from a few years back? Rip of the ears, dye your hair red, add a few accessories and you have the perfect Black Widow getup. Fret not: the ghosts of the DCU won't haunt your leather jumpsuit.
Avengers Assemble
Two perks of cosplaying as Black Widow:
1. You get to pal around with all the macho Marvel characters without being "arm candy."
2. You're automatically everyone's favorite because you look hot in character, especially when standing next to raggedy Captain America.
Point Blank
The last thing you want to do is cross a Natasha Romanoff. Even in the fun-loving setting of Comic-Con, a Black Widow cosplayer will own your ass (even if it's only a blast of water from a squirt gun). She may smile when you ask to take her picture, but beware -- one wrong move and you'll be on the ground begging for Thor to save you.
If you're really going to match the Natasha Romanoff of the comic book, you can't rely on your already-Ginger look, however adorable that may be. What Black Widow has going up on her head isn't red, it's RED. This lady gets it and she went all the way: a full dye job of a color you only see on firetrucks and the surface of Mars.
Nick Fury and His Furies
When Nick Fury needs a job done, he calls Black Widow. Or is that Widows?
The world can never have enough hot, female assassins and it's as easy as a logic-less cloning arc in such-and-such Avengers book to act as incentive for doubling up on Romanoffs. If they make a S.H.I.E.L.D. movie, doubling Scarlett Johansson is the only requirement.
Spending a weekend in character as Black Widow requires a lot more than nailing the look. A lady cosplayer must act the part, and that requires practice.
This girl found the perfect regiment, creating her own "Red Room" at home using a trampoline. Emulating Romanoff's moves is a piece of cake when gravity isn't an issue.
What's this!? Mingling with a Batwoman?!
Rest easy -- this Black Widow shoots us a glance that says, "Can't you see I'm infiltrating enemy territory?" Go get'em, Natasha!
Times are tough for superheroes. Even saving the world doesn't bring in the cash that it did years ago.
That's why Black Widow had to resort to picking pennies out of her local mall fountain. But her spy training keeps her out of trouble, striking just the right pose when caught by cameras.
A Black Widow comes locked and loaded, ready for battle, but a smart cosplayer equips herself with a firearm just fantastical enough to not be taken seriously. Smart move -- you don't want to be bum rushed by authorities and have to show off your fighting skills.
Oh, Tony Stark, you creep. We can't blame you for checking out your smoking hot teammate (or notary, in the case of Iron Man 2), but maybe you could take a slightly subtler approach?
She can shoot a target from a mile away, break bones with her pinky finger, but since most of her adversaries are of the male gender, Black Widow's greatest weapon may be her femininity. Distraction is an assassin's greatest asset, and Widow certainly has that base covered. In this case, unsuspecting guys will have two bullets in their head before they can even make eye contact.
No discrimination here: Black Widow is a badass and this guy knows it. If you already own the red wig, why not?
To SURIVIVE the Friday Night Death Slot
Friday Night can be a harsh mistress when it comes to our favorite shows, but what of those who survived?
Battlestar Galactica
Lifespan: 75 Episodes
As tends to be the case with cable, and especially the Sci-Fi channel (not SyFy), plenty of shows actually fare better in Friday nights than other time slots. This particularly proved true with the Battlestar Galactica re-make.
Of course, the absurdly gripping drama, visuals and storytelling might have had something to do with it as well. Plus, what else did Battlestar fans have to do on a Friday night?
Law and Order: SVU
Lifespan: 266 Episodes to date
Truly, it doesn't matter when you air Mariska Hargitay's attitude and Christopher Meloni's rugged looks. Viewers will follow.
Despite never quite eclipsing the popularity of the original Law and Order (and what could), SVU debuted on a Monday before making its way to Friday, and slowly building a bigger audience toward its move to Tuesdays after the fifth season.
Wonder Woman
Lifespan: 59 Episodes
Ever as much the super-strong Amazonian as her namesake, Wonder Woman first found success in the Friday timeslot on ABC before the move to CBS produced similar results.
Let's see you to better, David E. Kelley.
Monk
Lifespan: 125 Episodes
Monk began life on ABC before the network passed it off to NBC's USA network, where it maintained consistent viewership through at least season six, ending up on Fridays as as a lead-in for Psych, when the network began angling itself around quirky comedies.
Lifespan: 111 Episodes
Lasting for five seaons, our favorite sleeves rolled, violence against a pretty backdrop cops of Miami Vice moved to Fridays in its third season, and while struggling against soap opera Dallas in a competing timeslot, still lasted for two more amidst a host of other difficulties.
Stargate: Atlantis
Lifespan: 100 Episodes (does anyone else hear the Sonic "100 Rings" music whenever they read that?)
Successfully spinning off it's predecessor SG-1, Stargate: Atlantis never managed to surpass the initial ratings boom of its first episode, but still enjoyed a successful five seasons as a staple of Sci-Fi's Friday night lineup.
And despite the eventual failure of Stargate: Universe, movies for Atlantis are still in the pipeline.
Lifespan: 122 Episodes
Nash Bridges maintained strong ratings in the Friday timeslot, but faced steep competition in its sixth season from Law and Order: Special Victims Unit.
Despite the solid audience numbers however, the increasing costs got the better of the network, as Don Johnson had endured enough and the network was satisfied with reaching syndication.
Full House
Lifespan: 192 Episodes
Full House primarily retained its Friday timeslot from its beginning in 1987, though ABC occasionally bounced the show to Tuesdays, or even both days to aid in building audience.
After finding more success in its second season following Perfect Strangers, the show went on to become an early flagship of the TGIF lineup, eventually ending after eight seasons.
Numb3rs
Lifespan: 118 Episodes
Because who doesn't love David Krumholtz and Judd Hirsch?
CBS, on the money as usual, kept Numb3rs in a mostly consistent Friday timeslot, where through six seasons the series regularly maintained an average of about ten million viewers
Hangin' Out with Mr. Cooper
Lifespan: 101 Episodes
Created by the mind behind Full House (Michelle and Uncle Jesse even appeared once), Jeff Franklin, Hangin' With Mr. Cooper became yet another series to be given a boost by ABC's Friday night TGIF lineup.
The show lasted for five seasons and made it to syndication, despite the final 13 episodes airing on Summer Saturdays.
Psych
Lifespan: 79 Episodes and counting
A smart premise, talented cast, low costs and Monk's lead-in kept Sean and Gus continually aflush with good ratings and critical praise in their initial Friday timeslot, eventually graduating to Wednesdays following Monk's finale.
Keep it up, boys!
Lifespan: 160 Episodes
Ah, TGIF. The safest, warmest haven of all things Friday night family television. Step By Step enjoyed a rather lengthy run during the end-of-the-week lineup, but found itself moved to CBS for the final season, which like others preceded its ultimate cancellation.
Supernatural
Lifespan: 119 to date
Okay, we're risking the wrath of Hell by including this, but nothing a good Colt couldn't beat back. After five successful seasons in a Thursday timeslot, Supernatural joined Smallville on Friday nights, also with Sera Gamble taking over as show-runner.
Ratings, particularly with Smallville as a lead-in have remained mostly solid, but should the worst happen and the Winchester boys not merit a seventh season the journey here has been a devlishly good time.
Lifespan: 163 Episodes
ABC managed to work its TGIF magic for four seasons with Sabrina, the Teenage Witch, and sold the show to The WB for an additional three seasons after putting the TGIF brand to rest following Boy Meets World's cancellation.
Viewers eventually waned, but it's hard to deny the charm of seven seasons of Melissa Joan Hart.
Lifespan: 210 Episodes
It would seem, in fact, that everybody did love Raymond, if not at first.
The show debuted to low ratings in its initial Friday timeslot, but found salvation in Bill Cosby (because who hasn't?) as he requested the show be moved to Mondays as a lead-in for his own, enjoying mammoth success for its nine seasons and resulting syndication.
Lifespan: 53 Episodes and counting
Initially debuting on Tuesday, this quirky comedy about the sheriff of a town goverened by the advances of science and technology has gone on to become one of the Sci-Fi channel's most watched and critically acclaimed shows, moving its time to Fridays in the third season and continuing its brand of humor into a fourth to date.
The Brady Bunch
Lifespan: 117 Episodes
Believe it or not, The Brady Bunch never found much critical or commercial success in its five-year run, yet still survived in the Friday slot long enough to make a huge cultural impression.
More impressive still, The Bradys went on to grow in re-runs and syndications into the palpable, if campy franchise we remember today.
Family Matters
Lifespan: 215 Episodes
Despite how increasingly ridiculous plotlines became as Steve Urkel grew to dominate the series, the show found incredible success as a member of ABC's Friday TGIF lineup.
CBS eventually bought the show for its final season as a plan to revive ratings with their "Friday Night Block Party," but to little avail.
Smallville
Lifespan: 210 Episodes (217 by the finale)
Smallville's impressive lifespan rivals that of Superman himself, as floundering ratings toward the seventh and eighth seasons saw the shift to Friday nights.
Since the move, however, the series began to pick up steam with the addition of notable DC characters and guest stars, eventually granted enough life to sustain a ninth, and tenth season, given a graceful exit and transition into the Superman mythos.
Lifespan: From 1963, and still going!
Despite its cult status and extensive history, Doctor Who didn't really get going stateside until the Sci-Fi channel picked up the revival featuring the grittier 9th doctor in 2006.
Since then, the good Doctor has continued to find successful ratings (as do many of Sci-Fi's friday lineup) and a much stronger American following continued through the 10th, and 11th Doctors.
The Six Million-Dollar Man
Lifespan: 99 Episodes, with 6 TV movies
Adapted from the original Martin Caidin covel Cyborg, The Six Million Dollar Man debuted with three TV movies before finally finding re-animation in his own Friday-debuting series, which went on to incredible success over five seasons, while Hollywood continues to salivate with remake intentions to the day.
Las Vegas
Lifespan: 106 Episodes
Initially airing on Mondays, NBC successfully maneuvered Las Vegas into a Friday slot midway through its third season. The show made it to a fifth based mostly on its strong fanbase, extensive celebrity guest stars, and the network's previous tendency to re-air episodes on Friday anyway.
Boy Meets World
Lifespan: 158 Episodes
The lynchpin of ABC's TGIF (Thank Goodness It's Friday) lineup from 1993-2000, the show proved one of the rare subversions to the wasteland of Friday television and brought forth the network's unprecedented popularity at a time of struggle.
So too when the show ended in 2000, did ABC retire the TGIF block. We'll miss you, Mr. Feeny.
Stargate: SG-1
Lifespan: 214 Episodes
Boy, the shows that can quietly coast by on the Sci-Fi channel without you ever realizing it.
Few might remember that Stargate SG-1 ran for its first five seasons on Showtime with a Sunday timeslot, before the network realized they couldn't bring new viewers with the show in syndication and Sci-Fi picked up the rights. Initially positioned before Farscape, the series went on to universal success with the network's Friday lineup (aided by previous reruns on Monday), and continued almost to the point of an eleventh season.
Even then, reunions and additional films continue to languish in possibility.
Lifespan: 601 Episodes and Counting!
Smackdown initially debuted on Thursdays against WCW Thunder, but found a much larger following after the move to Friday nights and the CW, from UPN, moreso than most of the sitcoms aired!
2008 saw a fall from The CW to MyNetwork TV, eventually landing on SyFy. Still, SyFy exists under NBC, and thus Smackdown finds itself advertised and available on USA as well!
The Incredible Hulk
Lifespan: 82 Episodes
Beginning a long trend of CBS's success with Friday night programming, The Incredible Hulk found strong ratings as a lead in for both The Dukes of Hazzard and Dallas, and continued beyond its fifth season with several TV movies.
Okay, I'll say it. HULK SMASH FRIDAY NIGHT DEATH SLOT!
Friday Night Lights
Lifespan: 76 Episodes
Clearly, we must put Friday Night Lights on Friday nights! It writes itself, death slot or no!
Friday Night Lights never sustained the highest of ratings during its run despite critical acclaim, though the move to Friday made for a gimmicky sort of sense that kept viewer interest up long enough to run through five seasons.
Interestingly, one could chalk up low Friday ratings to its audience actually being out supporting their school's Friday football.
The Dukes of Hazzard
Lifespan: 145 Episodes
Running (driving?) from 1979 to 1985, the good old boys had themselves a huge hit with CBS' friday night lineup, taking the timeslot just before Dallas.
We continue to remember the Dukes today, whether through servicable remakes, reunion specials, or just a good old fashioned pair of short shorts.
Dallas
Lifespan: 357 Episodes
Dallas initially began its run on Saturdays before eventually making its way into a Sunday timeslot, and finally settling on Fridays, if alternating between 9 and 10.
Still, with the notorious popularity and length of soap operas, CBS had little trouble keeping Dallas in dirty business on Fridays, and lord knows the upcoming re-make will fare if given the same slot.
The X-Files
Lifespan: 202 Episodes
Please, can you think of any better to break the stigma associated with Friday nights? The X-Files provided a shining beacon of hope for Friday night (particularly with Fox), as TV Guide described that members of the younger demographic would often watch the show prior to heading out (though this had the downturn of killing most shows paired with it.)
Eventually The X-Files moved to Sunday, and...well...we all know what happened after that.