Category: Trivia

Christmas Eve Thoughts

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As the hour quickly approaches for ole Saint Nick to arrive, I want to tell you a few things before I hustle off to sleep with dreams of what the morning will bring.

JoBlo has the first official pic for “The Riddick Chronicles.” I’m really hoping that this one lives up to my expectations.

There aren’t many foods that I dislike… except for beets and fruitcake. You can imagine my surprise that anyone likes fruitcake… but why in the world would Jay Leno want to eat a piece that was 125 years old?

Comic artists and comic companies usually send out the coolest Christmas cards.

Christmas will be upon us in less than an hour. I hope this message finds all ZONErs happy and healthy and surrounded by loved ones. I hope that each of you gets what you most desire or at the very least avoids getting what you don’t want.

best,

Craig

Sleeping With the Champ

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Chuck Wepner has received a bit of press lately since he filed a lawsuit against Sylvester Stallone for a percentage of the profits made off of the “Rocky” movies. While the lawsuit is laughable, it’s not as funny as this true story…Wepner fought Ali in 1975. Before the fight Wepner, known as the “Bayonne Bleeder” told his wife. “Go out and buy some expensive lingerie because after the fight you’ll be sleeping with the Champion of the World!” Ali won the fight. A bloodied Wepner walked back to his dressing room…… where his wife asked, “So, do I go to Ali’s room or does he come to mine!”

It Was 40 Years Ago Today…

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Forty years ago today… I was five years and one month old and President Kennedy was assassinated. Like everyone old enough to remember, I know exactly where I was when I first learned of it. 
I was in a grocery store in Miami with my grandfather. He and my grandma had taken me on vacation to Florida. It’s the one vacation that I can tell you specifically where I was on a given day.

I remember a man saying that the President had been shot and all of the adults looking scared. I’d never seen that before and it caused me some concern. My grandfather assured me things would be ok, but I remember us hurrying back to the hotel. I was only five years old but I followed the details as they became clear. President Kennedy was killed by Lee Harvey Oswald while visiting Dallas, Texas. Oswald acted alone and was caught after he killed a police officer named Tippett.  Oswald in turn was murdered [in a police station of all places] by Jack Ruby. I remember adults saying that Ruby should be given a medal for killing Oswald.

It wasn’t until I was older that I began to learn that maybe there was more to the Kennedy Assassination than we were led to believe. I read the Warren Commission Report. I watched and read every related item that I could get my hands on. As the years have passed I have continued to read and search out new information. I hope that someday we will definitively know exactly what happened.

But as each year passes, I find the only thing that I am truly sure of in relation to the Kennedy Assassination is where I was when I first heard of it.

Britney Bares No More

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Britney Spears appeared topless on the cover of Rolling Stone and British Elle magazines and even bottomless on the cover of Esquire. But now she says she going to keep her clothes on in future photo sessions.

Did I just hear the sound of males around the world sobbing?

Some Scary Facts

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I don’t know which surprised me more: that “Scary Movie 3” opened in first place [beating out “Texas Chainsaw Massacre,” “Mystic River,” “Runaway Jury,” etc.], that it earned $48.1 million in it’s opening weekend [$48.1 MILLION!} or that it posted the best first weekend ever for a movie opening in October.

One thing that won’t surprise me is that with numbers like that, there WILL be a “Scary Movie 4!”

Egging on Arnold!

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Did you happen to see the video of Arnold Schwarzenegger getting hit by a egg? If not, I’ve posted a pic of the incident. At any rate, the egg came flying from the crowd, and hit Arnold splattering his coat with egg and yolk.

Arnold looked down, saw the mess, and as he continued walking, shaking hands and greeting fans, took his jacket off without missing a beat.
There were a lot of ways that he could have handled it. Panic is one. Anger is another. Yet, the way Arnold dealt with the situation was very calm and cool. Impressive even.
I usually don’t deal with politics in my blog, but I felt that this really deserved a mention. I’m not sure how the election will turn out, but win or lose, I’ll bet Arnold doesn’t end up with egg on his face!

Gibson, Wyle & More

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  • Mel Gibson spent nearly $30 million of his own money to produce, co-write and direct “The Passion.” Some say it is a classic, while others hate it. Before I form my opinion, I think I should at least see it.
  • Noah Wyle will be taking a break this season from NBC’s top-rated drama ER. Wyle is not leaving for good but will take a break this season to spend more time with his wife, and their nine-month-old son. I’ll miss him but family has to come first!
  • Eighty-four prisoners escaped from a maximum security prison in northeastern Brazil early on Saturday through a 50-yard tunnel they dug to the jungle outside, police said. Colonel Klink is said to be shocked!
  • A burglar who took a nap after breaking into an elderly woman’s house in Amsterdam was arrested after she found him asleep on her couch. He’s hoping that he’s assigned to the prison in the item above!
  • A Japanese expedition equipped with infrared cameras will scour the Nepali Himalayas for six weeks starting Sunday in search of the legendary Yeti, or abominable snowman. I don’t know who will be happier if they find proof… them or Jazz!

Shutter Island & More

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  • Shutter Island by Dennis Lehane is one of the best novels I’ve read this year. Publisher’s Weekly said it best: Shutter Island “carries an ending so shocking yet so faithful to what has come before, that it will go down as one of the most aesthetically right resolutions ever written.”
  • Gregory Hines, the award-winning tap-dancing actor who starred on Broadway and film died yesterday at the age of 57. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family, friends, and fans.
  • German producers who backed Arnold Schwarzenegger’s “Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines” said there could be another sequel even if he succeeds in becoming Governor of California. Does this sound like a good idea to anyone?
  • After a six year absence, James Cameron has signed on to helm a film about the extreme sport of free diving. Does this sound like a good idea to anyone?
  • Britney Spears is in talks to executive produce [but not host] her very own syndicated talk show. Does this sound like a good idea to anyone?
  • Quote of the Day: “Anybody can win unless there happens to be a second entry.” – George Adel

Odd But True

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  • Let’s start off with a strange trailer today… “Bubba Ho-Tep” is a horror-comedy starring Bruce Campbell as an old Elvis impersonator who has to fight off evil… well, take a look. If you like it, you’ll say, “Thank you… thank you very much.”
  • Michael Crichton’s best seller, Timeline, is coming to the big screen! The trailer rocks! See it and then check out the book before the movie premieres!
  • I’ve been talking about how cool “Underworld” looks — any movie with vampires and werewolves has gotta be at least somewhat cool — anyway, there’s a new trailer online now. This one just keeps looking better and better!
  • BIRMINGHAM, Mich. – Ozzy Osbourne’s tour manager, in town for the Ozzfest heavy metal music festival, was found dead in his hotel room, the Oakland County Medical Examiner’s Office said today. You just know this is going to mess Ozzy up.
  • ROCKY M0UNT, Va. (Reuters) – Prosecutors accused three teen-age boys of promoting fist fights between boys who were in their care at a summer camp and charging other campers admission to watch the boxing matches. Only in America!
  • LONDON (Reuters) – An elderly British man who lived in a run-down house, bought second-hand clothes and watched television at his neighbor’s to save on electricity left a million pounds to a dog charity and nothing to his daughters, newspapers reported on Friday. Well, dogs are man’s best friends!
  • BERLIN (Reuters) – A giant catfish that ate a dog and terrorized a German lake for years has washed up dead, but the legend of “Kuno the Killer” lives on. Well, dogs are not catfish’s best friends!
  • SAN FRANCISCO – Rick Beal wanted to grab some cash on the way to the airport — so he hired a limo and allegedly robbed a bank on the way. “Just leave the motor running… I’ll be right back!”

Rumors, Dumb Criminals & More

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  • From Dark Horizons: Looks like Tuesday’s rumor about “Big Trouble in Little China 2” was just a rumor. That’s too bad since it was such a good rumor!
  • There’s been a lot of discussion about Mel Gibson’s next film, “The Passion.” Mel hosted a special preview and the crowd reaction was very strong and very positive. I, for one, can’t wait to see it!
  • The Z Review posted an interesting tidbit: “There’s no truth to the rumor that Sly Stallone is attached to star in “Beverly Hills Cop 4”. The idea did come up, and I believe it was mentioned to Sly as part of a new 3-pic deal Para has talked to him about but word is he … passed.” Interesting to note that Paramount may have floated a 3 picture deal at Sly! [A tip of the hat to Dark Horizons]
  • From Yahoo’s “Notable Quotes for today: “I went to check with my 6-year-old about whether I should take the job… . They (his children) don’t like to sit through my other films. But this they think is great.” — SYLVESTER STALLONE telling The Philadelphia Inquirer about playing the villain in “Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over.”
  • OKLAHOMA CITY (Reuters) – What was that again? Julia Roberts accused Richard Simmons of stealing her car and wanted Ronald Reagan to arrest him. Believe it or not this is a true story! [Although those named above are NOT the celebrities but every day people caught up in life.]
  • FORT WORTH, Texas – A bank robber made the ultimate bad career move when he wrote a holdup note — on the back of his resume. OK… so now he has something else to add to his resume.

Carpenter/Russell, Hanks/Spielberg & More

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  • Dark Horizons posted an item from Wing King that talks are underway for a “Big Trouble in Little China” sequel with John Carpenter and Kurt Russell returning and Jackie Chan may be in the mix as well! Russell and Carpenter with Jackie Chan — yeah, I’m in!
  • Dark Horizons posted an item from Filmrot.com showing some new pics from the Hellboy set. This one keeps looking better and better!
  • Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg are gearing up for new 10-part WWII miniseries, which at this point is called “Untitled World War II Pacific Theater Project.” Perhaps a better name would be “Untitled Award Winning Money Making Project.”
  • LOS ANGELES – Leah Remini plays a wife on the CBS sitcom “The King of Queens” was recently married in real life. I don’t watch her show but I gotta tell ya, there is something very appealing about her…
  • LONDON (Reuters) – Criminals could avoid being taken to court if they agree to apologize personally to their victims, under plans outlined by the UK government Tuesday. “I’m really sorry I stole your money, burned down your house and kicked your puppy.” Yeah, that ought to do it.
  • SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) – A California man accused of stealing heads and other human body parts from a local hospital and stashing them at his house, posted $10,000 bail over the weekend, police said on Monday. Maybe he could just say he was “sorry.”
  • SALT LAKE CITY – The security chief for the 2002 Winter Olympics was pickpocketed while he attended the Moscow-Utah Youth Games. So how secure do you feel now?

BB2, 28 Days & The Goon

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  • I didn’t care much for “Bad Boys” but I really, really enjoyed “Bad Boys II.” Will Smith and Martin Lawrence have that rare screen chemistry that makes you enjoy just watching them interact. Add a script that is pedal-to-the-floor action with a good mix of humor, then throw in director Michael Bay and you have two and a half hours of fun. I”m not the only one who feels this way… BB2 opened at #1 this weekend! This movie gets a big thumbs up and a spot in my dvd library!
  • Remember when I told you about that great little zombie flick, “28 days later”? I’ve seen it twice [which is rare for me these days] and can’t wait for it to arrive on dvd. If you haven’t seen it yet, but decide to, be sure you wait through the credits! Starting July 25th an alternate ending will run!
  • Another thing that I’ve been talking up forever is The Goon comic by Eric Powell. Well, the July 25th issue of Entertainment Weekly lists The Goon at #4 in its “Must List” column. The Goon also gets an “A” rating in the same issue’s review section. ZONErs are always ahead of the curve!

Comics, Sports, Auctions & More

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  • Yesterday I told you that “The Shield” was being developed as a comic by IDW Publishing.  With the right team, this comic could really rock!
  • Steve Niles [Guns, Drugs and Monsters] is teaming with Rob Zombie to write a new comic called The Nail. It’s the story of satanic bikers and all the mischief that they can get into on any given day. The story is scheduled to begin in early 2004. I like Niles’ work so I’m going to keep up with this.
  • Orson Welles’ Oscar from “Citizen Kane,” regarded by many as the best movie ever made, is expected to fetch between $300,000 and $400,000 now that it is up for auction! You just know that Big Beatty would love this since he’s a big Welles fan. [Maybe he’ll sneak in a bid… then we could call him “Bid Beatty.”]
  • EAGLE, Colo. (Reuters) – Basketball star Kobe Bryant was charged today with sexually assaulting a 19-year-old hotel employee. In a statement, Bryant said, “I am innocent of the charges filed today. I did not assault the woman who is accusing me. I made the mistake of adultery. I have to answer to my wife and my God for my actions that night and I pray that both will forgive me.” Kobe had one of the best reputations in the league… I guess he should ask for forgiveness from the young lady as well. However this turns out it is sad for all involved.
  • If you don’t want to bid against Big Beatty for Orson Welles’ Oscar, you may want to try bidding on some personal items which belonged to JKF!
  • BERLIN (Reuters) – A German court fined a man 1,350 euros ($1,500) for attempted blackmail after he gave himself away by giving the intended victim his bank account details for the cash transfer. Another criminal mastermind who slipped up!
  • LAS VEGAS (Reuters) – Outraged by a Las Vegas company that claims to offer men a chance to stalk and shoot naked women in the Nevada desert with paintball guns, women’s groups and government agencies were scrambling to find a way to shut down such “Bambi” hunts. Now what will Big Beatty do to pass the weekends?
  • Okay, so you don’t want to bid on Orson Welles’ Oscar, and you don’t want to take a shot at JFK’s stuff… how about plunking down on a 40-year-old, handmade prototype for the G.I. Joe action doll that’s set for auction, with a record minimum bid of $600,000? I’d take a shot at it but if I won you’d have to call me G.I. Owe!
  • MELBOURNE, Australia – In a rushed grab-and-run robbery, two men with a sawed-off shotgun stole two bags of garbage from a gasoline station attendant. Police say they have no idea why the men grabbed the trash, but assumed they thought the bags contained money. One can never understand the mind of a criminal genus.
  • PANAMA CITY, Fla. – Jurors who were mooned by a defendant needed only 30 minutes Thursday to find the man guilty of armed burglary and aggravated battery. Cornell Jackson, 29, punctuated his insanity defense by loudly hooting “cuckoo-cuckoo” and then dropping his pants to moon the jury on Wednesday. How do you “hoot” “cuckoo-cuckoo”?

Movies, TV, Novels & More

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  • “Identity” features John Cusack, Ray Liotta, Amanda Peet in a sweet little mystery directed by James Mangold of “Cop Land” fame. It reminded me of something that could have been an episode from the classic years of “Twilight Zone.” It’s got a twist ending… followed by another. It’s definitely worth a rental.
  • “The Hunted” stars Benicio del Torro as a special forces soldier who has gone off the deep end and Tommy Lee Jones as the man who trained and therefore feels compelled to bring him in before more people are killed. This movie features some of the most brutal and realistic knife fights ever put on film [way to go Rafael!] If you like action/adventure then this one may be worth a look.
  • “A Man Apart” could have been so much better. Don’t get me wrong, it wasn’t bad but it wasn’t great. Vin Diesel plays a cop whose wife is murdered after he brings down a drug lord. Vin then goes after his wife’s killers. I’m glad I saw it and you may be too if there’s nothing better on…
  • Michael Crow has with just two books, become one of my favorite authors. I told you about him after I’d finished his first book, Red Rain. It was one of the best crime novels I’d read in years. Well, I’ve finished his second, The Bite, and it is just as good. Check him out, you’ll thank me later!
  • Miramax Films and Quentin Tarantino,the writer-director of ’90s landmarks “Pulp Fiction” and “Reservoir Dogs” have announced unusual plans to splice his long-awaited new action film, “Kill Bill,” into two movies and release them within months of each other. It’ll be interesting to see if fans will turn out since “Kill Bill” doesn’t have the built in fan base of “The Lord of the Rings” or “The Matrix.”
  • NEW YORK – One of Sharon Osbourne’s dogs was eaten by a coyote — and husband Ozzy Osbourne managed to save another dog from a similar fate. As a dog owner, I can imagine the pain that they’re going through.
  • The Emmy nominations have been announced and here’s who I’m pulling for… Best Drama Series: “24” / Best Actor in a Drama: Michael Chiklis for “The Shield” / Best Actress in a Drama: Jennifer Garner for “Alias” / Best Supporting Actor in a Drama: John Spencer for “The West Wing” / Best Supporting Actress in a Drama: Lena Olin for “Alias” / Best Comedy Series: “Everybody Loves Raymond” / Best Actor in a Comedy Series: Ray Romano for “Everybody Loves Raymond” / Actress in a Comedy Series: Patricia Heaton for “Everybody Loves Raymond” / Supporting Actor in a Comedy: Peter Boyle for “Everybody Loves Raymond” / Supporting Actress / Comedy: Doris Roberts for “Everybody Loves Raymond”
  • Since we’re talking about the best in television… one of the best shows on tv will soon become a comic. “The Shield” is going to be published by IDW — the same people who publish the comic adaptation for “CSI” and Steve Niles’ novels [like Guns, Drugs and Monsters and Savage Membrane]. This could turn into something very cool.
  • SANTA FE, N.M (Reuters) – A New Mexico family is suing their local Catholic church over a funeral Mass in which they claim a priest said their relative was only a middling Catholic and going straight to hell. And that was the nicest thing he could find to say??
  • ALBANY, N.Y. (Reuters) – A convicted murderer wants the state of New York to pay $500,000 for his sex change and a key ruling in his case has moved him closer to his dream of serving the rest of his sentence in a women’s jail. Yeah, he’s a convicted murderer, let’s help him achieve dream. Yeah, that would be REAL justice.