Never, ever watched an episode of the original 70’s series Battlestar Galactica so it was with a little hesitation before I decided to check out the new/remake version of the show. My biz-partner at work has been absolutely raving about the show so I watched the pilot and half-way through… I was well and truly hooked. This is sci-fi TV at its absolute best! In fact, I’d go so far as saying, the show is downright brilliant and essential viewing! And now that I’m ensconced in the Galactica universe, the SCI-FI Channel has announced the development of a prequel series:
SCI FI Channel announced the development of Caprica, a spinoff prequel of its hit Battlestar Galactica, in presentations to advertisers in New York on April 26. Caprica would come from Galactica executive producers Ronald D. Moore and David Eick, writer Remi Aubuchon (24) and NBC Universal Television Studio.
Caprica would take place more than half a century before the events that play out in Battlestar Galactica. The people of the Twelve Colonies are at peace and living in a society not unlike our own, but where high-technology has changed the lives of virtually everyone for the better.
But a startling breakthrough in robotics is about to occur, one that will bring to life the age-old dream of marrying artificial intelligence with a mechanical body to create the first living robot: a Cylon. Following the lives of two families, the Graystones and the Adamas (the family of William Adama, who will one day become the commander of the Battlestar Galactica), Caprica will weave together corporate intrigue, techno-action and sexual politics into television’s first science fiction family saga, the channel announced.
Well, I… cannot wait for this one!
Two decades after the world’s worst nuclear disaster, photographer Paul Fusco has put together an incredibly disturbing and moving photo gallery of the victims of the Chernobyl catastrophe. The following photo essay is a vast emotional drain but it is something that everyone should see.
There was more conatmination released at Chernobyl than there was at the Hiroshima and Nagasaki nuclear bombings. The Chernobyl accident released a total amount of Caesium equivalent to 200 times the contamination at both Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
Around 70% of the fallout settled in Belarus where more than 3,500 settlements, including 27 towns and more than 2 million people were contaminated.
And if that wasn’t gut-wrenching enough, the Pixel Press website: ‘Nuclear Nightmares’, has a stunning series of photographs by Robert Knoth with reporting by Antoinette De Jong. The photo-essay documents the ongoing human impact of Chernobyl on those who survived, their children, and the extended communities around them.
via Boing Boing
Sopranos Series 6 Episode 7
Good old Artie Bucco! Easily one of my fave characters on the Sopranos and in this week’s episode, ‘Luxury Lounge’ he gets to shine! It’s as if Sopranos creator David Chase (and did you see his cameo in this week’s episode?) is giving many of the show’s characters a chance to bask in the center-stage spotlight. We’ve had the Paulie Wallnuts episode when he found out he is the bastard son of a now deceased nun. Silvio Dante got his share of center-stage when he became temporary leader of the crew. And Vito Spatafore shined on last week when he was finally outed and made a run for it. But the ongoing homosexual storyline barely got a look-in tonight making way briefly for ‘Mayor of Munchkinland’ Rusty Millio’s eventual whacking at the hands of the Naples imports.
But - with all this character showcasing, isn’t this all chewing up valuable airtime? We’re down to the last few episodes folks and only a handful to come next year. Didn’t the California scenes with Christopher and special guest Ben Kingsley just drag on for far too long? Although, it was damn funny seeing Christopher fall off-the-wagon at the sighting of a set of California titties. (Who can blame him tho!) “Fuckn A! Those are some amazing tits!” In the greater scheme of things - whatever that might be and wherever the Sopranos ultimately ends up… what will Chris’ Hollywood dreams have to do with it all? Is this all the calm before the inevitable shit-storm?
There are so many dangling storylines waiting to be tied up once and for all - the ultimate fate of Uncle Junior has barely received mention. And just what form of ‘mob-justice’ will befall the gay Vito Spatafore let alone the underlying terrorist angle with the Arabs which continues on.
Having been a fan of Rollins’ books, spoken word CD’s and his amazing spoken word shows for many years, I was eagerly awaiting a chance to view his new venture - The Henry Rollins Show.
The TV show promises to deliver “uncensored conversations with musicians, filmmakers and artists who have a lot more to talk about than what awards show they are going to or who they are currently dating.” And the debut show certainly delivers all that in spades.
On the debut show which aired on April 1 on IFC (Independent Film Channel), Henry kicked things off with an interview with outspoken director Oliver Stone who is in the midst of developing his new movie ‘World Trade Center’ - based on the events of 9/11. Alt band Sleater-Kinney also performed their song ‘Entertain’ which I thoroughly enjoyed. I hadn’t heard of this band before and was pretty impressed with their energy and aggresive, melodic tune. One to look out for.
Slickly produced with some fabulous title credits and a gorgeous grungy as hell set, the show moves at a snappy pace and is the perfect vehicle for Rollins to express his views. Let’s face it, I could sit and listen to Hank sprout about this, that and everything for hours, my only gripe with the show is that it is far too brief. The interview with Stone ended just as things were beginning to get juicy but rather than challenge Stone on some of his views, Rollins pretty much agrees with the man so we end up with a rather cozy and friendly chat rather than really explore some of the views and ideologies at hand.
A good start but I am looking forward to seeing the show develop over time and and be a little harder-edged in places.
The Henry Rollins Show airs Saturday nights at 10pm on IFC.
Now these are damn cool! A detailed replica of quite possibly, the most famous robot on TV… B9 from ‘Lost In Space’. Having grown up watching (and loving) ‘Lost In Space’ - it sure was every kid’s dream to have their very own robot! They are an expensive $25,000US each - and if I had such cash, I’d want one of these babies!
For more info on the robots, visit the official site here.
Sopranos Series 6 Episode 6
It was indeed left of center in the last Sopranos’ season when top-earner Vito Spatafore was seen by Meadow Soprano’s boyfriend, Finn performing oral sex on a security guard. We knew then this was not going to be some throwaway scene and there would be permeations in that story arc down the track. Here we are in the next season, and things are getting decidely uncomfortable for the gay mobster. The word is out that he is gay, and even tho he is one of boss Soprano’s number one guys - that don’t matter when you’re a homosexual. You may as well be broadcasting on radio ‘W-RAT’.
Tony’s crew all have their mind made up. Vito must die. They are all jockeying for position on who should do the actual deed. That is, when they’re not laughing themselves silly with schoolyard humour and one-liners. (And when there’s one-liners being flung about, you know there’s gonna be some gold Paulie Walnuts moments!)
Vito Spatafore, played beautifully by actor Joe Gannascoli, is enjoying his increased air-time now that the gay story arc is unfolding. It was Gannascoli’s idea to make Vito homosexual.
“I saw him as, like, a cross between Mike Tyson and Liberace,” the 47-year-old Brooklyn-born actor told The Associated Press. “I wanted to make him sort of in self-denial, self-loathing, a real gay hater.”
And so Vito Spatafore has a stay of execution for another week. Whether he succumbs and decides to off himself, or whether the looming black-cloud of homophobic mobsters eventually get to him - he will need to either ‘live free or die’. Of course his fate rests in the hands of boss Tony Soprano - but Vito is in hiding and no where to be seen. The ultimate and tragic irony will be if Soprano tells his goons to lay off, but the exiled Vito will end up killing himself regardless.
Sopranos Series 6 Episode 5
Come on now! Which show is gonna give you a mob wedding, a mafia boss wailing like a baby, an extremely obese wife fainting and falling backwards like a giant domino, another mob boss beating an underling to a pulp and then said show gratouisly winds things up with a mobster all decked in gay leather-gear dancing up a storm in a macho gay club - all in the space of 50 glorious minutes?
Another amazing episode of the Sopranos graced our TV (and computer screens!) this week as the Steve Buscemi directed episode ‘Mr & Mrs John Sacrimoni Request…’ hit the airwaves and clogged the torrent bandwidth of the WWW to a standstill.
It’s all about respect, and by episodes’ end Johnny Sack had lost some and Tony Soprano had gained it in spades! As Tony was beginning to feel undermined by his crew with every passing day - he knew he had to set an example or lose his leadership completely. Humiliated at the church entrance when he nearly collapsed when removing his shoes, Tony could feel every eye staring at him as one of his goons had to help him. In this weak and fragile state, he is seen as not being a suitable boss and leader and is surprised at the attitude and backchat he receives from his posse.
What to do? Well you pick the strongest and most intense member of your entourage and you give him a beating that neither he or the rest of your crew will ever forget. You show them who’s the boss in a way that they understand by burning a lasting impression in the very sinews of their collective minds! The Alpha-male has reclaimed his throne but the once dapper and intense Johnny Sack is now seen as a whimpering, disheveled man casting doubts into the mind of many of his most loyal soldiers…
He’s an emotional man the ole Johnny Sack, he loves his daughter.
I used to be a huge fan of KISS back in the day and all the way up until their massively successful Reunion Tour of 1996-1997. Although, I wouldn’t consider myself a fan these days as the band has become an absolute joke and completely ruined by greed and ridiculous merchandise opportunities that are nothing short of farcical. We won’t even begin to mention the KISS Store they were set to launch here in Melbourne, Australia. Doomed from the outset, the supposed store never even launched. The band these days is nothing but a glorified tribute/nostalgia act - I mean, dressing up your road manager in Ace Frehley make-up and costume is downright ludicrous. These schmucks think they can pull that one off but the fans are leaving them in droves.
But from the quagmire that is modern day KISS, I must admit getting a little bit excited about these new collector figures that are about to be released. The KISS band members have been meticulously recreated by Sideshow’s artistic team. Sculptor Pablo Viggiano, working with clothing fabricators Greg Mowry and Gidget Earle, has created the definitive 1:4 scale reproduction of each band member. Sideshow’s Premium Format sculptures stand approximately 18 inches tall, and utilize a variety of components, including polystone, metal, and fabrics to achieve an astonishing likeness.
Sideshow’s Creative Director, Tom Gilliland, anticipates limited editions for each Premium Format KISS figure, with an MSRP of $249.99. The KISS line will begin shipping with ‘The Spaceman’ figure in fourth quarter, 2006. A new figure will be shipped every other month thereafter, until all four band members have regrouped in your collection. Sideshow is the premier source for highly collectible figures, statues, busts, framed art, prop replicas and figure-study maquettes. Sideshow products are available online at: www.sideshowcollectibles.com, as well as through specialty shops, comic book stores, and via collectible web sites worldwide.
Sopranos Series 6 Episode 4
Upon watching the last few episodes of the Sopranos, I turned to my biz partner and fellow Sopranoholic and commented “I bet you at the conclusion of all this, Tony Soprano will be in the mob no more. He will end up in witness protection…” After last night’s episode, I firmly believe that this is where series creator David Chase is taking us… Tony Soprano’s ultimate salvation… the Witness Protection Program.
But knowing the twists and turns that always permeate the Sopranos’ story arcs - such an outcome for Tony would be a little too obvious.
Currently in our midst, we are seeing a weakend mob boss and it is only a matter of time before his crew start to see the same. Negotiations with imprisoned Johnie Sack via Phil Leotardo are meek and mild. Tony surrenders and accepts Sack’s first counter-offer. Much to Leotardo’s surprise.
Already Tony’s crew are taking matters into their own hands. Bacala’s botched attempt to shoot the rapper in the thigh, and the much-troubled Paulie Wallnuts putting the squeeze on Jason by wrecking his knee and demanding a $4,000 a month kick-back, are all behind Tony’s back. All this after Tony promised Jason’s mother that nothing would happen to him. His crew are basically freelancing and their responsibilities to the boss are falling short - as are the monetary perks a mob boss expects.
Add to the fact that Carmella has just informed Tony to watch out for both Paulie and especially Vito. How will Tony handle these situations? Has Tony’s near-death experience softened him up to the point where he will seek an out from the mob life? Or will revenge on his beloved Uncle Junior, who has tried to kill him before, snap Tony out of his current lethargy.
Tony Soprano is now at the most vulnerable point in his life. His inner thoughts, will either destroy him or be his saviour. The same can be said for both his families.
Adidas creates a film series celebrating color, customization and personal expression. Each director was given a blank canvas to create a short film based on their emotional and creative responses to a given color - Red, Blue, Yellow, Green, Pink, Black or White. The seven directors are Roman Coppola & Andy Bruntel, Neill Blomkamp, PSYOP, TRONIC, Saiman Chow, Charlie White, and Happy.
Continuing the adicolor blow-out, adidas has commissioned 7 different directors to make video shorts for each adicolor hue. The first one just dropped - White was created by Tronic and stars Jenna Jameson playing a game of whack-a-mole. Apparently we now have adiporn, but don’t get too excited - it is work safe.
