Category: Video (Page 17 of 34)

What’s up with “The Norm MacDonald Reality Show”?

August 28, 2009 /

Some will remember a few months back when comedian Norm MacDonald announced that he was creating a new show for the FX Network entitled “The Norm MacDonald Reality Show.” Everything appeared to be a go and diehard fans have eagerly awaited for its premier in the fall. The show even has its own IMDB page and everything, despite being very skimpy. We assumed it would appear opposite FX’s single comedy series “It’s Always Sunny in Philadephia.” Now things aren’t looking so good. When FX announced their upcoming fall schedule, Norm’s show was curiously absent. Instead, word has surfaced that three new comedies have been confirmed. They are Louis CK’s new comedy “Louie,” the partly-improvised “The League,” and the animated series “Archer.” So, what the hell?

It seems like Norm’s been making a comeback over the past couple years. He released a solid comedy album, vexed everyone at the “Comedy Central Roast of Bob Saget,” made a hilarious appearance on “Saturday Night Live’s” Celebrity Jeopardy, and has certified himself as the funniest guest to have on a late night talk show. When you watch him with Letterman, Conan, and Jon Stewart, you can see how much they’re having just letting Norm do his thing.

So sit back and enjoy these clips. If FX has abandoned the project, I hope the show ends up on a network looking for some guaranteed hilarity. Maybe TBS or USA will bite.

News, TV, TV Comedies, Video

Epix secures new Lewis Black special

August 27, 2009 /

Black

Epix is a brand new premium channel owned by Paramount Pictures, Lionsgate, and MGM Studios. Minimal information has been released regarding the fledgling network. Based on what’s known, things haven’t been looking good. DirecTV, Comcast, and Cablevision have confirmed that they would not carry the channel due to the saturated market. With HBO, Showtime, Starz, Encore, Cinemax, and others already on television, it’s clear why Epix would have a tough time getting picked up. You see, the cable providers are the ones who pay out the premium channels in these relationships. There really isn’t any dire need to add Epix to their bills. Luckily, on July 28th, Epix reached a deal with Verizon Communications Inc.’s FiOS network, who became the channel’s very first distributor.

CEO Mark Greenberg has inferred that Epix will be more similar to HBO than Starz, airing comedy specials, original series, and other special features. It’s first original pilot, “Tough Trade,” created by “Weeds” writer Chris Ouffut, is in the works. A mini-series adaptation of Ayn Rand’s Atlas Shrugged has also been suggested. Today, Epix took one step forward towards their vision, nabbing Lewis Black’s newest comedy special “Stark Raving Black.”

Standup will star in the special “Stark Raving Black,” which reps the burgeoning pay channel’s first original comedy event.

Spec, to be filmed at Detroit’s Fillmore Theater, will run in December. It will also unspool this fall in theaters in 20 U.S. markets, as well as 25 international territories. An introduction to Epix will be featured during the screenings.

Besides the special, which will run on Epix’s TV and broadband platforms, the deal also includes an online event featuring Black, who will participate in a chat via Epix’s website following the show.

Epix will launch on October 1st and give America yet another reason to stay inside.

Humor, News, TV, TV Comedies, Video

Cronkite, the action hero + more

August 26, 2009 /

As at least a large chunk of America mourns the passing of Ted Kennedy, today is a day when we honor William Faulkner’s phrase: “The past is not dead. In fact, it’s not even past.”

* Did you know that the late Walter Cronkite stumbled into a den of Colombian narco-terrorists? The result was that a few years later the most trusted man in America gave testimony before a Florida jury. No surprise, a major conviction resulted. Now, as Michael Fleming tells it, international thrillmeister Luc Besson wants to turn Uncle Walter into a movie action hero, or something close. Interesting.

* Great news for those of us who are involved with cinema’s past here in Southern California. The endangered film program of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) has been given a $150,000 reprieve.

* Something tells me that maybe Vin Diesel is taking that Faulkner quote a bit too seriously. Does anyone want XXX III?

* Martin Anderson of Den of Geek wonders about the future of Blu-Ray in general and a newer superduper 3-D compatible version being tied to “Avatar.”  He’s right about the still-problematic nature of at least some of the glasses and the fact that we quickly forget we’re even watching 3-D after the first few minutes, so there’s a point of diminishing returns for the viewer which might prevent folks from making the large initial investment in the technology. For me, I love 3-D as a novelty for certain kinds of movies, but I really don’t think we need it to become standard. Having 3-D available to me at home would almost defeat the purpose and ruin the fun.

* More deaths: Writer turned film producer turned diarist Dominick Dunne (h/t David Hudson) and widescreen/large format pioneer, Panavision cofounder, cinematographer, and director Richard Moore.

Action Movies, External Entertainment, External Movies, Movies, News, Sci-Fi Movies, Video

The Cos honored with Mark Twain Prize

August 20, 2009 /

Since 1998, The Mark Twain Prize for American Humor has honored our nation’s comedians who have made a significant impact in the comedy industry. Using the term “industry” my sound like a bit of a downer, but ever since the vaudeville era, America has always adored their comedians and given them a platform to express their talents. In chronological order, the recipients have included Richard Pryor, Carl Reiner, Jonathan Winters, Whoopie Goldberg, Bob Newhart, Lily Tomlin, Lorne Michaels, Steve Martin, Neil Simon, Billy Crystal, and Geroge Carlin.

Jerry Seinfeld, Chris Rock, Phylicia Rashad, Malcolm Jamal-Warner, Willie Nelson, and a host of others will honor the 72 year-old comedian on October 26th. PBS will then air the special on November 4th.

Although Bill Cosby has acted on tad nutty in public appearances over the past couple years, he is undoubtedly one of the funniest people I’ve ever witnessed. I watched The Bill Cosby Show growing up and later got his albums …Is a Very Funny Fellow, I Started Out as a Child, Why Is There Air?, and Wonderfulness. His comedy primarily consisted of storytelling as opposed to using one-liners. It was always clean and silly, but it often contained a strong moral message he hoped Americans would take to heart. His influence is easily apparent in comedians like Jerry Seinfeld and Billy Crystal who can be observant and hilarious without being dirty.

Humor, News, Stand-Up Comics, Video

RiffTrax Live! – “Plan 9 from Outer Space”

August 20, 2009 /

By the time you read this, it may be too late, but just in case it isn’t, the guys from RiffTrax.com – Mike Nelson, Kevin Murphy, and Bill Corbett, all late of “Mystery Science Theater 3000” fame – will be doing a live event in a theater near you this evening: riffing on the Ed Wood classic, “Plan 9 from Outer Space.” The evening will be hosted by Veronica Belmont, the host of “Tekzilla” on Revision3 and “Qore” on the PlayStation Network, with musical guest Jonathan Coulton and a special segment by Rich “Lowtax” Kyanka of Something Awful. In addition, the night will also feature the world premiere of a brand new, never-before-seen short.

If you’d like to attend, just head over to the Fathom website and see if the live theatrical simulcast will be offered in your area. And if you’re not familiar with the film in question…well, geez, have you been living under a rock, or what?

Here’s the trailer for your viewing enjoyment, and I can assure you from personal experience that it’s every bit as bad as it looks…though, of course, I mean that in the best possible way.

There’s no doubt about it: “Plan 9 from Outer Space” definitely transcends badness to become a legitimate classic.

External Entertainment, External Movies, Movies, News, Sci-Fi Movies, Video

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