Gary McKee Has Bullets for Jimmy Bobo
Last year at HeroesCon Gary McKee surprised and gifted me with the sketch above of Sly as Jimmy Bobo from Bullet to the Head. What an amazing sketch and gesture from a great artist and friend.
Z-View Twilight Zone: “King Nine Will Not Return” [Season 2, Episode 1]
Twilight Zone: “King Nine Will Not Return” [Season 2, Episode 1]
Original Air Date: September 30, 1960
Director: Buzz Kulik
Writer: Rod Serling
Starring: Robert Cummings
The Overview: Beware of Spoilers…
An American bomber pilot [Cummings] wakes up in the desert lying next to his downed plane. He has no memory of how he got there and his crew is nowhere to be found.
Rating:
15 Campy Facts About “Batman”
Jake Rossen and Mental_Floss present 15 Campy Facts About Batman. Here are three of my favorites…
1. A QUARTERBACK FOR THE L.A. RAMS ALMOST PLAYED BATMAN.
The kitschy approach of Adam West was not on producer Ed Graham’s mind when he optioned Batman for a television series from DC Comics (then National Periodical Publications) in 1962. Figuring he could capitalize on a Saturday morning kids’ series similar in tone to the George Reeves-starring Adventures of Superman from the 1950s, Graham struck a deal with CBS and enlisted former Los Angeles Rams quarterback Mike Henry for the title role. With CBS dragging their feet, Henry decided to opt out and play Tarzan instead; ABC was more ambitious about the idea, securing the license from National and moving ahead with producer William Dozier and writer Lorenzo Semple Jr., who agreed the show would work best if it didn’t take itself seriously. (Just seriously enough not to cast a football player.)
6. IT HAD THE LOWEST TEST SCORE OF ANY TV PILOT IN HISTORY.
Before its January 12, 1966 premiere, ABC screened the pilot for a test audience. Using knobs that could express their approval (or disapproval), the group verified the equipment was working when they gave the “control” footage, a Mr. Magoo cartoon, a favorable rating. When Batman ended, it scored in the upper forties, a disastrous number. (Most pilots of the day scored in the mid-sixties.) The national audience, prepared with weeks of advertising to help contextualize the humor, found it funnier: the show was an immediate success.
10. BRUCE LEE SCARED THE TIGHTS OFF OF BURT WARD.
Ward, who fancied himself something of a martial arts expert, once boasted to West that he had sparred with Bruce Lee. When Lee made an appearance on the show as part of a crossover with Dozier’s other series, The Green Hornet, he and Robin were scheduled to have a fight. According to West’s autobiography, Lee showed up to the set wearing a dour expression and looked ready to kill Ward, who put his hands up in a defensive reflex. Lee cracked a smile and called out, “Robin’s a chicken!” Everyone but Ward found this funny.
Z-View Twilight Zone: “A World of His Own” [Season 1, Episode 36]
Twilight Zone: “A World of His Own” [Season 1, Episode 36]
Original Air Date: July 1, 1960
Director: Ralph Nelson
Writer: Richard Matheson
Starring: Keenan Wynn, Phyllis Kirk and Mary LaRoche
The Overview: Beware of Spoilers…
When Victoria West [Kirk] returns home unexpectedly she spies her husband, successful writer, Gregory [Wynn] with another woman [LaRoche] in his study. Victoria hurries in the only entrance/exit to the study and finds her husband alone. Victoria confronts Gregory but his explanation is unbelievable… but as she sadly learns is true.
In addition to a classic Twilight Zone twist ending, we’re treated to an additional surprise before the ending!
Rating:
Walking Dead Coloring Book
One of the latest fads [and I sure didn’t see it coming] was coloring books for adults.
The cover above is for a Walking Dead Coloring Book that will feature 96 pages from the comic series.
My guess is that a LOT of kids will buy it as well. Wonder if they’ll be disappointed to find out Daryl isn’t in it?
Source: Flickering Myth.
Z-View Twilight Zone: “The Mighty Casey” [Season 1, Episode 35]
Twilight Zone: “The Mighty Casey” [Season 1, Episode 35]
Original Air Date: June 17, 1960
Director: Alvin Ganzer and Robert Parrish
Writer: Rod Serling
Starring: Jack Warden
The Overview: Beware of Spoilers…
Mouth McGarry [Warden] is the manager of the Hoboken Zephyrs, a pro baseball team with a tradition of losing. This year is no different until McGarry gets an amazing pitcher on the team that single-handedly takes the team to the play-offs. All is going well until the commission learns that the new pitcher is a robot. McGarry has a plan that will make his robot human enough to play not realizing that this is The Twilight Zone.
Rating:
The Fix by Spencer and Lieber
Nick Spencer [writer] and Steve Lieber [artist] are teaming up for The Fix, a new on-going crime series which will drop in April from Image Comics.
Z-View Twilight Zone: “The After Hours” [Season 1, Episode 34]
Twilight Zone: “The After Hours” [Season 1, Episode 34]
Original Air Date: June 10, 1960
Director: Douglas Heyes
Writer: Rod Serling
Starring: Anne Francis
The Overview: Beware of Spoilers…
Marsha White [Francis] is looking for a gift for her mother. The elevator operator suggests it can be found on the ninth floor and drops her off there. Although the floor appears to be deserted a saleswoman appears and sells her just what she is looking for.
As she is leaving the store, White realizes the gift is scratched and goes to exchange it. When explaining she bought the gift on the ninth floor, she is told that there is no ninth floor. Things get even stranger when White sees the sales lady who sold her the gift. The sales lady turns out to be a store mannequin.
White feels that if she can get back to the ninth floor the mystery will be revealed… and she is right.
Rating:
Who’s Batman to You?
Who’s Batman to You?
Lewis Wilson and Robert Lowery are pretty unknown to me. I’ve seen photos and clips but that’s all.
Adam West was the first live action Batman I saw as a kid and is still one of the best to play Batman. West’s look and delivery was perfect for the type of Batman the 60’s classic tv show wanted.
I was not a Michael Keaton fan. He didn’t look like the Bruce Wayne or Batman that I always pictured. I also wasn’t a fan of the Batsuit being armor. It makes sense but not for the Batman that I grew up with.
Val Kilmer made a decent Batman and a good Bruce Wayne.
George Clooney was in the worst Batman movie but made a good Batman and Bruce Wayne.
Christan Bale (except for the scratchy Batman voice) was excellent in both roles.
I have high hopes for Ben Affleck’s portrayal of Bruce/Batman… not as much for the movie.
Source: ComingSoon.net.
The “Pandemic” Poster and Trailer are Here!
The Pandemic Poster and Trailer are Here!
Z-View Twilight Zone: “Mr. Bevis” [Season 1, Episode 33]
Twilight Zone: “Mr. Bevis” [Season 1, Episode 33]
Original Air Date: June 3, 1960
Director: William Asher
Writer: Rod Serling
Starring: Orson Bean and Henry Jones
The Overview: Beware of Spoilers…
Bookkeeper Mr. Bevis [Bean] is a remarkably kind but eccentric man. After being fired from his job, Bevis meets a “Guardian Angel” who can help him turn his life around if he is willing to make some changes.
Rating:
A Conversation with “Streets of Fire” Co-Writer Larry Gross
Streets of Fire is a movie that I truly enjoy. Streets of Fire didn’t receive great reviews and box office when first released, but over the years I’ve met more people who liked it than not.
Recently /Film posted A Conversation with Streets of Fire Co-Writer Larry Gross which presents an oral history of sorts. The article is definitely a read for Streets of Fire or movie fans.
How Streets of Fire came together to create an alternate universe – comic book movie not based on any comic book – rock and roll fable – musical is interesting. I particularly enjoyed reading who they wanted and just missed signing for the leads [Tom Cruise and Darryl Hannah]. Can you imagine Tom Cruise as Tom Cody or some of the others who auditioned for the part [Eric Roberts, Patrick Swayze, Willem Dafoe]? Although the movie tested well, the release fell flat and that makes for interesting behind-the-scenes reading as well.
So what are you waiting for? Click over and enjoy A Conversation with Streets of Fire Co-Writer Larry Gross
Z-View Twilight Zone: “A Passage for a Trumpet”
Twilight Zone: “A Passage for a Trumpet” [Season 1, Episode 32]
Original Air Date: May 20, 1960
Director: Don Medford
Writer: Rod Serling
Starring: Jack Klugman and John Anderson
The Overview: Beware of Spoilers…
Trumpeter Joey Crown [Klugman] is at the end of his rope. He drinks too much and has burned bridges with his friends. Crown pawns his trumpet (yet again) and is hit by a truck as he leaves the pawn shop.
When Crown wakes up no one can see him. Believing himself dead, Crown is surprised when he meets a fellow horn player who convinces Crown that all is not lost.
Rating:
10 Amazing Optical Illusions and How to Make Them!
Today we have 10 Amazing Optical Illusions and How to Make Them!
