If you haven’t been keeping track, there’s this writer’s strike crap that’s currently ruining television. It’s been going on way too long. The thing is that it’s not just effecting the studios and the writers, but all the other people involved in creating and running all these television shows. So, rather than continuing to screw all these innocent non-writers, some shows have decided that the show must go on, even without the writers.

Every late show has returned, with writers (David Letterman and Craig Ferguson) or without writers (Conan and Leno. Notice I don’t include Carson Dailey, and Jimmy Kimmel). Since David Letterman owns his own production, ie Worldwide Pants, he has made deals with his and Craig Ferguson’s writers. However, Conan and Leno aren’t able to make any deals, only their studios can do that. Both Letterman and Consie (that’s Conan O’Brien) are sporting “writer’s strike” beards, you know in support or something.

All these people keep on saying how they support the writers, well I guess I’m one of the few that doesn’t. I mean it’s January and I’ve got no 24. Thank a lot writers. I’ve been watching Conan since he’s back and I think the show is just as good, if not better, without the writers. Jay Leno is still doing his monologue and it’s still just as funny and sucky (that’s not a word) without writers. As for David Letterman and Craig Ferguson, well, they sucked before the writer’s strike (especially Ferguson), so they still suck but now they’re paying the writers more money.

What all this says to me is that the only thing we really need writers for are shows like 24 and Heroes. Shows with plots and stories need writers. Jokes are a dime a dozen, and if you have a great host like Conan, or John Stewart for example, they pretty much are the show. And as I write this article about how useless writers are, I can’t help but think about the irony. Also, Fox, I’m available for scabbing if you need some writers to get 24 back on the air.

Beards!

OK so they made an Alvin and the Chipmunks movie. It has done very good in the box office, so you can bet they will make a another. That’s not what this post is about. This is about the beating David Cross has been taking for being in the movie. Mr. Cross is a fine comedian. I’ve enjoyed his work, most notably his work as Dr. Tobias Funke on Arrested Development. That show being canceled was one of the worst things to ever happen. Anyway David Cross has been building up his indie cred for years, but in just one movie, Alvin and the Chipmunks, he seems to have lost his cred.

David fired back in his blog with this statement:

“It was a little more than I had budgeted for [ a new home] but it was definitely worth it. I asked the owner if he’d take some of my credibility as payment. He looked at me as if I was an alien with A.I.D.S. speaking some intergalactic gobbledy-goo. I had to patiently explain to this country bumpkin about my indie hipster cred, and I would now like to cash it in. This rural rube was so backwards and ignorant that he couldn’t even conceive of how financial markets work and simple free market capitalism. I tried again to explain the concept of the value of “credibility” and “artistic integrity” but he refused to take it in exchange for the house. This guy was a f***ing idiot! But what could I do? He wouldn’t take no for an answer. If I wanted that cottage I would have to pay him money. Sigh. So I used my “Alvin and the Chipmunks” money to pay for the down payment.”

Unfortunately though he rips on his Alvin co-star Jason Lee a bit, who I also enjoy. Check out the whole blog entry from David here.

This is something I have been thinking about lately even before this story hit the net. It stemmed from the DVD release of Underdog and the Alvin and the Chipmunks movie. I admit Jason Lee has made 2 movies that I have to question but I still enjoy his work and when I saw that he and David Cross were in the Chipmunks movie I figured it would at least have a couple of good moments. What if Jason Lee decided to make those movies for his young children, is that wrong? Please remember folks that an actor like David Cross doesn’t have the luxury of picking and choosing only 5 star movies and golden TV shows. He states that he hadn’t worked in 6 months so he needed to work. I would love for David Cross to only do good movies because he is usually the best part of the movies he is in.

Even the biggest movie stars of today had to make some really crappy movies before they can choose only good roles. If you gotta rip on someone rip on the big movie stars that make crap. Not truly funny actors like David Cross.

Please say it’s not so. I’m sorry to report that the latest word on the upcoming Star Trek movie’s cast is the worst yet. It seems Mr. Black woman in drag himself, Tyler Perry, has a role in the film. Perry will be playing the head of Starfleet Academy. I know, you’d think he would at least play an alien or something. Maybe his character is somewhat of a Hoover type. You know, the type that likes to dress in drag.

Lame!

Well 2007 is almost gone. There were some really good movies, Transformers, there were some really bad movies, Spider Man 3. But while 2007 waves goodbye 2008 waves hello and brings with it fresh crop of movies. Check out this list from Moviefone, with their most anticipated movies of 2008.

There are some definite stand outs for the upcoming year. The first big one looks to be J.J Abrams Cloverfield. The recent trailers have made me more interested in this one. He also has his version of Star Trek coming out later. Of course the new Rambo is on the list. There is mention of the new Harry Potter, Indiana Jones, and Narnia movie. It looks like comic books will be strong this year with (my most highly anticipated movie) The Dark Knight, The Incredible Hulk, Iron Man, and Hellboy 2.

What are you most looking forward to in the coming year? Let us know.

“All they have to do is call, I would love to see that happen. That would be fun.” That’s what Nicolas Cage had to say when asked about a Ghost Rider sequel. As a person who actually set through that dreadful movie I implore you Nic “DON’T MAKE ANOTHER!!!”. Of course Nicolas hasn’t made the best choices for movies in the recent years so this is not really a surprise.

After the success of National Treasure 2 it looks like Mr. Cage wants to make more sequels. I guess it wouldn’t be to hard to make a better movie, the bar is set pretty low. Cage said “If I think there’s room to grow with the character and if you can make it better than the original, absolutely.”

The good news for this story? There are no actual plans for a second GR movie, so we don’t have to be to frightened yet.

When was the last time something totally captured your heart and your beer gut at one time. As short lived as Porkins life in Star Wars was, he is still a true classic. With his trusty AstroKeg droid by his side he gallantly fought the Empire giving his life for the cause.

This is a fitting tribute to the great Porkins, don’t you think. I am a sucker for Legos and Star Wars so if they are combined its even better. This little beauty was done by Mike Crowley aka Count Blockula. He’s been doing this little models for years and they are pretty cool check them all out here at CountBlockula.com.

Will Ferrel’s next big sports comedy gets a new trailer. There’s also an age-restricted trailer on the official site here. For some reason I couldn’t get it to work. Let me assure you I am well over 17 years of age and for some reason the system keep denying me access. Oh well, maybe you’ll have better luck. The above trailer was the only one I could get to work.

I also watched some of the short clips on the site like “ball girls” and “pancakes and camels” which were actually much funnier than the trailer. Check them out.

Balls!

That’s right folks Tekken is coming at you as a movie. Are you worried that your beloved Tekken will be ruined? Have no fear Tekken fanboys the film will be helmed by Dwight Little. Have no idea who he is, well let his former work speak for him. Remember the classic Anacondas : The Hunt For the Blood Orchid so there’s one amazing movie. Murder at 1600 and Free Willy 2: The Adventure Home was also his. But wait a sec Tekken is a martial arts game, does he have any martial arts experience? You bet, he did Brandon Lee’s movie Rapid Fire and one of the greatest movies ever Marked For Death starring Steven Seagal.

Dwight had this say about his upcoming project

“The film plays out as a science fiction story set in the near future, about a rebel who rises up against the Tekken Corp. to seize freedom for his people. It’s a gladiator story, but the videogame has a complicated enough storyline that it provides the template for a martial arts spectacular.”
Completely can’t wait for this one!

So it’s a slow news day and I thought I’d post a bunch of Iron Man stuff I’ve seen around and been collecting the past few days. The first picture comes to us from Arvo, Lego designer extraordinaire. Check out more of his Lego creations here. [Newsarama]

Social networking is all the rage these days so why wouldn’t Iron Man have his own MySpace page? In fact, he does. Well actually, the upcoming Iron Man movie has a page. If you just can’t get enough Iron Man and you need another MySpace friend, check it out.

The Iron Man movie already has some cool action figures. Want to see ‘em before they’re released. Marvelous News has you covered. Check ‘em out.

Finally the newest movie still gives us an amazing shot of Iron Man standing tall and looking good. I’m not sure whether this is a photo or a CG rendering, either way it looks amazing and I can’t wait until next May. I’m also throwing in an older shot you may not have seen. Because it’s just as amazing.

Incredible!

It’s not all bad for the upcoming Street Fighter : Legend of Chun Li movie. At least she’ll be hot. Kristin Kreuk of Smallville fame will play the lightning leg kicking hottie. I guess she’s half Asian so that’s a bit better then Jessica Biel who had be rumoured to be playing the role. Although either one is nice to look at.

I gotta say that Chun Li was my girl on Street Fighter, but I still am a bit puzzled on why she’ll get her own movie. Hopefully they will be able to get Jean Claude Van Damme to reprise his role as Guile and Kylie Minogue will come back as Cammy. I choose not to make a Raul Julia as M. Bison joke because he’s dead.