The creator of The O.C., Chuck and Gossip Girl is developing a new X-Men movie that will revolve around a teenager who is attending the Xavier Institute for Higher Learning. [more]
Should be a television series, not a movie. A teen soap set at the Xavier Institute is a legitimately promising idea.
» Why don't computers in movies ever run Windows or Mac OS? Microsoft and Apple aren't exactly reluctant to place products in entertainment properties. If I had the resources, I'd document all the curious operating systems I've seen in movies. In Iron Man, for example, the Dell in Tony Stark's office runs an OS with a Mac OS X-like dock and Vista Flip 3D-like folder viewing.
• Grand Theft Auto IV's Apple/iPhone parody
» Faux search engines also amuse me. Does Google charge for permission?
» One of the faux web sites that you can visit in GTA IV is myroomonline.net, which is also the name of the faux MySpace on Degrassi.
» Speed Racer: The Next Generation premiered last Friday on Nickelodeon. Who greenlit this? Terry Semel?
» I hate when I click on a news headline link and a video opens. Just because you can present news in video form doesn't mean you should.
» The blogosphere contains many strange, miserable people who can't handle watching a movie at a cinema.
» To the homeless woman I passed on University Avenue in Palo Alto: You need to edit down your sign. No one can read a whole paragraph while walking by. Thus, no one will re-consider snubbing you.
» University Avenue is home to an inordinate number of rug stores.
» The Sharks are the Tracy McGrady of hockey.
» As if absurd surcharges aren't enough, Ticketbastard begins selling tickets on weekend mornings.
Why do I think I've seen this Travel Channel special on hamburgers before? [more]
I think everyone's seen that Travel Channel special on hamburgers before.
» This weekend, I discovered that I cannot sleep on couches anymore. After sleeping regularly on a tatami, a couch wreaked absolute havoc on my back.
» Opposite the couch was an unopened Monopoly box that promoted the inclusion of a "speed die," so the game can bore you faster.
» The SFIFF precluded me from attending Maker Faire. What did I miss? Oh… only THE MAN WHO CREATED MACGYVER!
I saw an ad in some paper (read a lot of them on public trans this weekend) for Siegfried and Roy present Darren Romeo, The Voice of Magic, a billing which isn't gonna change anyone's opinion of magic.
I also devoured Entertainment Weekly's summer movie preview issue.
Notes:
» The actual previews continue to shrink. I remember when "also playing"-type flicks received half a page.
» Layout totally phoned in the design for this year's summer preview.
» UN Goodwill Ambassador Angelina Jolie on Wanted: "Now that I'm holding this shotgun, my little boys are going to think I'm so cool when they're 11."
» My interest in WALL•E plummeted after learning that it's almost dialogue-free.
» I'm not sure that Hancock is an improvement over its working title, Tonight, He Comes.
» Director Rob Cohen on The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor: "Ever since I converted to Buddhism and made Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story, I've wanted to make a movie about China."
» "Kevin Costner is a layabout who choice will decide the presidential election in Swing Vote." Better/worse than the Supreme Court?
With his WWE contract about to expire, Jonathan Coachman was hired for an anchor position at ESPN. [more]
Coachman's attempt to blow up a midget backfires
Hey, Rich Eisen was a stand-up comedian before ESPN hired him.
• Coachman's debut on WWF television opposite The Rock
• Alvin and the Chipmunks sing Coachman's entrance music
The eateries around my office all tune their televisions to CNN during my lunch hour, so I see a lot of The Situation Room, and every day, Wolf Blitzer wheels out Donna Brazile and a mystery Republican for a chat.
Donna Brazile is useless. Go finish second in a horse race! I'm trying to eat!
• Poor Michigan…
• Kraft Launches New Lazy People Food
• Choco-Bacon
• The Art of the Stanley Cup Playoff Beard
• Off-Season Fun With Anti-Meth Ads