Author: Craig Zablo

SZ, Lehane & More

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  • Thanks to Garth at Dark Horizons and ABKing for the tip of their hats to StalloneZone for the Sly item that appears there today! Ya gotta love that!
  • Has anybody here read Mystic River by Dennis Lehane? I’ve been tempted to pick it up [along with Lehane’s Shutter Island]. Now that the official movie site has opened, I’m more tempted than ever!
  • Jennifer Aniston is the number-one celebrity on this year’s Forbes magazine Celebrity 100 which is based on earnings and media exposure. Anyone else surprised by this?
  • Nick Nolte has made the news by saying he wasn’t using drugs during “The Hulk” shoot. It’s pretty bad when it is news that an actor is NOT using drugs!
  • Whitney Houston and Bobby Brown are set to star in “Beffy and Charlie” as musicians who are also gangsters. The film will be full of singing, robbing, and stealing. I’ll bet the theater will be empty though.
  • Mick Jagger had this to say about Justin Timberlake, “I’ve watched Justin, but every single move he does is stolen.” Hmmm… maybe Justin can get a part in “Beffy and Charlie.”
  • Kelly Clarkson isn’t afraid of “The Hulk.” Seems her movie opens the same day as the big green guy’s movie. Oh… for a minute I thought she was talking about Rueben.
  • According to this report the latest trend among teens and 20-somethings who indulge in so-called extreme body modification, is having one’s tongue cut down the middle so that it forks like a snake’s. And some people used to think that tatoos were extreme.

Media Tidbits

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Ah, but it’s good to be home. We had a nice little getaway up to the mountains and even to Heroes Con… but now I’m home and back in the ZONE.
  • Is anyone else getting tired of seeing promotion for “The Hulk” everywhere? It’s starting to get on my nerves.. and you wouldn’t want to see me angry.
  • Luther Vandross’ new album debuted at No. 1 and his condition has improved enough that he has been moved out of intensive care. If good news comes in three’s then Luthor is in for a treat!
  • Dennis Miller has signed to do a weekly segment on Fox News’ “Hannity & Colmes” show. Won’t that be spiffy?
  • Michael Chiklis’ ex-managers have filed a $1 million lawsuit against him for breach of contract and fraud. I hope that this is resolved quickly and quietly.
  • NEW DELHI (Reuters) – A man was found dead in his seat at a cinema in the Indian capital after the late-night screening of a horror film which the director has warned could pose a health risk to those of a nervous disposition. And you just KNOW that this will help it at the box office!
  • BERLIN (Reuters) – German police are investigating the discovery of a headless body near castle Frankenstein in Germany. And I thought the last item was bizarre!
  • NEW YORK – Ever wonder how many hot dogs the Fridge can hold? Well you’ll find out this summer as William “The Refrigerator” Perry, the 400-pound-plus ex-NFL star, participates in the annual July 4th hot dog eating contest in Coney Island. It’s nice to know that the Fridge hasn’t lost his competitive edge.
  • A duck living on a lake here isn’t letting a dart in its head stop it from eating, swimming, socializing or paddling away from rescue attempts. Next time the animal will know to, uh, duck.

Sly, Luther and Silence

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  • Sylvester Stallone will write, direct and star in “Rampart Scandal” based on the murders of rap stars Tupac Shakur and Biggie Smalls. Stallone will play Detective Russell Poole, the real-life cop who investigated the murders. Filming is expected to begin on September 1st. For full details check out Cinescape.com.
  • Luther Vandross is showing signs of emerging from a stroke-induced coma.
  • An German painter refused to speak for 29 years because his father was against his career in art! I thought you should try to silence your critics, not yourself.

Cruise, Sandler, Cage & More

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  • Yesterday I told you that Tom Cruise was in talks to play a hitman in Michael Mann’s next movie. Can you believe that Adam Sandler is in talks to play the cab driver? Can I have my money back?
  • Marvel Comics Luke Cage: Hero for Hire may be coming to the big screen! Sweet Christmas! I loved Luke Cage comics when I was a kid!
  • Mick Jagger and the Rolling Stones were performing concert in Germany when several pairs of underwear were thrown on the stage. Jagger was used to females doing that but was quoted as saying he did see a few pairs of large men’s underpants on the stage. Hmmm… I thought Big Beatty was in Orlando?
  • A London judge has ruled that the lyrics of a rap song asking someone to “shizzle my nizzle” did not violate the law. So no ixnay on the shizzlelay.

Incredible Collateral & More

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    • The folks that brought you Toy Story  are coming back with The Incredibles.   The trailer is up now and is a hoot! Man, can I relate to that guy!

  • Tom Cruise is in talks to play a hitman in Collateral, writer-director Michael Mann’s next project. Can I buy a ticket now?
  • Rocky Balboa not only makes the AFI’s “100 Years…100 Heroes & Villains” but cracks the top ten! Take that Luke Skywalker!
  • Martin Scorsese is bringing together a great cast which includes Leonardo DiCaprio, Cate Blanchett, Kate Beckinsale and singer Gwen Stefani to star in “Aviator,” a Howard Hughes biopic. Surprisingly this doesn’t really get me flying.
  • Singer/songwriter Barry Manilow walked into a wall in the middle of the night with such force that it broke his nose and left him unconcious for several hours. Anybody want to chip in for some nightlights?
  • A German judge fined an ill-tempered pizza delivery man $610 for spitting into a salad order. Everyone knows you NEVER tick off the delivery guy!

“Assault on Precinct 13” Remake; “Blade III”, “Shade” and More

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  • According to a post at Ain’t It Cool News, one of my favorite John Carpenter movies, “Assault on Precienct 13” is being remade. I’d love to see Sly Stallone play Napoleon Wilson in a low budget remake. 
  • Ain’t It Cool also has a post about “Blade III”with writer David Goyer set to direct. I didn’t care for “Blade” but thought that “Blade II” was one of the best horror movies in years so I don’t know what to expect with “III.” 
  • Dark Horizons reports that “Shade” “the Stallone film will recieve its world premiere at the Cinevegas Film Festival on June 21st.” Ah, life is good! 
  • “Finding Nemo” earned $70.6 million this weekend which is the best ever weekend haul for an animated movie. Look for “Nemo: Reloaded” coming to a theater near you! 
  • Mswati is Africa‘s last absolute monarch and he says that women wearing pants are the reason the world is in such a sad state and that human rights are an “abomination before God.” And here I thought it was because of mimes. 
  • A German wanted for theft has been arrested after he reported his wallet stolen. Can you say “poetic justice?” 
  • Singapore plans to rate public toilets using a five-star system called “Happy Toilet” which is similar to that used to grade hotels. Although I think it’s a pretty good idea, I’m sure there are those who think it is a load of crap.

Ridley, MTV Awards & More

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  • John Ridley’s Those Who Walk in Darkness is a departure. Usually Ridley’s stories are noir tales of a man on a path to possible ruin. Not this one. The lead is female, the tale can best be described as a sci-fi/thriller… but it does have one thing in common with Ridley’s other novels… it’s excellent! I’ll bet there’s more to come with this character / storyline.
  • “The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers” won the Best Picture award at the 2003 MTV Movie Awards ceremony held yesterday. We’re not even half way through the year and already MTV is handing out awards? I like the idea of a more “hip” awards show but can’t we wait until the year is almost over?
  • I haven’t checked out the tv guide yet, but I have a feeling I’ll watch “44 Minutes” on FX tonight. That whole situation has intrigued me since the day it happened. I’m surprised we haven’t seen more robberies like it.
  • It’s been a year for Jennifer Garner who picked up the Female Breakthrough Performance Award at the MTV Awards.
  • Doesn’t Pink remind you of one of those girls in high school that weren’t really your type but you found yourself watching when she was around?

Zeck, Grant & More

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* In 1997 Mike Zeck [penciler] teamed up with writer Steven Grant, inker Denis Rodier and colorist Kurt Goldzung to create one of my all-time favorite comic mini-sereies. It was a hard-boiled crime story called DAMNED. Finally a trade paperback is scheduled to ship in August. This book is well worth the price!

* A failing British company fired 2,500 employees by sending text messages to their mobile telephones. ” U R Fired.”

A wanted man was arrested after his parole officer spotted him kissing his girlfriend in a live crowd shot displayed on the scoreboard at a Cincinnati Reds game. If convicted he could get up to 18 years in prison. He could be heading for the [grand] slammer.

More Chili, Opie’s Girl & More

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  • John Travolta is in talks to reprise Chili Palmer, the character he played in “Get Shorty.” The sequel, “Be Cool” would be based on the novel by Elmore Leonard who wrote the original novel as well. “How cool is that?”
  • Kirsten Dunst has dropped out of talks to star in M. Night Shyamalan’s “The Woods.” Bryce Dallas Howard [director Ron Howard’s daughter] will take on the role in her film debut. Set in 1897, “The Woods” revolves around a close-knit community that lives with the frightening knowledge that a mythical race of creatures resides in the woods around them. “I’ve got a sixth sense about these things… the signs are all there… the movie will be a hit and my record will remain unbreakable.
  • Mike Tyson said, in an interview to air tonight that he’s so angry about his rape conviction 11 years ago that he wants to rape his accuser and her mother now. Now that’s a way to win back fans.
  • A Nebraska lawmaker is so fed up with constituents crossing the state border to Iowa to gamble that she proposed going to war with the state. Anyone wanna bet that it doesn’t happen?

Roth, McCartney, DeNiro & More

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  • David Lee Roth’s lawsuit against Van Halen moves forward. Diamond Dave wants his fair cut!
  • Paul McCartney [60] and wife, Heather Mills, are expecting a baby later this year. Brings a whole new meaning to “will ya still need me, will ya still feed me… when I’m 64.”
  • A man described as a paranoid schizophrenic sneaked through security at Pittsburgh’s airport late at night and was found sleeping aboard a parked commuter airplane the next morning, authorities said. And you wonder why I don’t like to fly?
  • Robert De Niro will be honored next month with the American Film Institute’s Lifetime Achievement Award. When told of his winning, Mr. DeNiro was quoted as saying, “Are you talkin’ ta ME?”
  • Bill Murray will play “Garfield” in a new live-action movie. That Murray is one funny cat.

Hope, Hope & More

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  • It’s hard to believe, but Bob Hope turns 100 on Thursday! I can remember seeing his specials when I was a little kid and thinking, he’s pretty funny for an old guy.
  • When Boston Public returns this fall it will be on a new night [Friday] and without Joey McIntyre, Jon Abrahams, Cara DeLizia and China Shavers. I just hope the audience returns.
  • Two Texas prison inmates have received permission to marry even though they have never met and cannot honeymoon until at least 2036. That brings a whole new meaning to if you love me, you’ll wait.
  • A woman gave birth to a baby in a well she had jumped into when she could not take the labor pain, police said. I’m happy to report that the mother and child are both doing, ah… well.

Crais is Great & More

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* A couple of days ago I wrote to say that LA Requiem by Robert Crais is one of the best books I’ve read this year. It is, but believe or not, his follow-up The Last Detective, is even better! I read it almost non-stop this weekend. It’s that good! If you’ve never read any of Crais’ work, now is the time to give him a shot!

* Can you believe that “Bruce Almighty” earned $86.4 million at the box office this weekend AND it knocked “The Matrix Reloaded,” from the top spot.

* Busta Rhymes has been charged with misdemeanor assault and battery charges on a fan. Busta was busted.

No TV & More

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  • Don’t you just hate this in-between time for tv seasons? No new epsiodes of “Alias,” Boston Public,” “24,” “The Shield,” “West Wing,” or “ER.” At least I can look forward to new episodes of “Lucky” and “The World Series of Poker.”
  • Stephen Glover aka Steve-O of MTV’s “Jackass” admitted in a Swedish court that he had drugs in his hotel room. “I had an ecstasy pill in my bag and I smoked marijuana in the hotel room. I admit to both of those crimes,” Steve-O said but claimed he was joking about swallowing a condom filled with marijuana and hashish. Jackass indeed!
  • A judge overturned a convicted murderer’s death sentence because jurors consulted Biblical passages such as an “eye for an eye” during death-penalty deliberations. Would there have been a conviction if they had read “turn the other cheek?”
  • A philosophy student took her virginity off the auction block after an anonymous benefactor lent her the tuition money she lacked. “To give or not to give -THAT is the question.”
  • Spiders have infested a county jail in northeast Arkansas, biting at least 15 inmates and confounding the exterminator. Confounding the exterminator? “Uh warden, I’m a bit confused… those little buggers are too fast for a needle and they won’t sit in the chair! What am I to do?”
  • Meow Mix chief executive officer Richard Thompson is recovering — with his sense of humor intact — after being bitten by a Rottweiler. “Talk about turning the other cheek.”

No TV and Strange News

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  • Don’t you just hate this in-between time for tv seasons? No new epsiodes of “Alias,” Boston Public,” “24,” “The Shield,” “West Wing,” or “ER.” At least I can look forward to new episodes of “Lucky” and “The World Series of Poker.”
  • Stephen Glover aka Steve-O of MTV‘s “Jackass” admitted in a Swedish court that he had drugs in his hotel room. “I had an ecstasy pill in my bag and I smoked marijuana in the hotel room. I admit to both of those crimes,” Steve-O said but claimed he was joking about swallowing a condom filled with marijuana and hashish. Jackass indeed!

  • A judge overturned a convicted murderer’s death sentence because jurors consulted Biblical passages such as an “eye for an eye” during death-penalty deliberations.
    Would the conviction have stood if they had read “turn the other cheek?”
  • A philosophy student took her virginity off the auction block after an anonymous benefactor lent her the tuition money she lacked. “To give or not to give -THAT is the question.”

  • Spiders have infested a county jail in northeast Arkansas, biting at least 15 inmates and confounding the exterminator. Confounding the exterminator? “Uh warden, I’m a bit confused… those little buggers are too fast for a needle and they won’t sit in the chair! What am I to do?”
  • Meow Mix chief executive officer Richard Thompson is recovering — with his sense of humor intact — after being bitten by a Rottweiler. “Talk about turning the other cheek.”