ArtVanderlay

NPR's Bob Mondello talked about seeing The Danish Girl and came away pretty disappointed. His basic gist was that he thought he was going to see a powerful drama about LGBT issues in post-WWI Europe and instead saw a Merchant & Ivory cotume porn drama in the Roaring Twenties, with a main character who just happened to be transgender.

And Lupica's awful show on WEPN was cancelled on August 15th, not exactly a good month for the guy. Never heard of the other two, can't say I feel sorry for any of them given the genrally awful New York sports press in general, and their obnoxious "New York against the world" attitude that they all seem to have. Let 'em go work as beat writers for the Kansas City Star or the Seattle Times, let them see how the rest of the world lives outside of "Noow Yoik."

Jesus, I can't believe the Texans were stupid enough to talk themselves into thinking that Brian Hoyer was a starting QB. I mean, the Browns and Bucs aren't any better with Josh McCown, but still....

Hopefully in this new one most of the apes have developed speech so you aren't stuck watching sign language with subtitles for two hours.

It's a bad rule. Doesn't make any sense. Should be abolished. People shouldn't follow it. And he certainly shouldn't be getting suspended for five years because of maybe doing something which is completely legal in his home state, especially when guys who test positive for everything from steroids to cocaine are getting much lighter sentences. So...do something about it. You and Craig H fly out to Vegas and protest at NSAC meetings, organize a "legalize pot" movement in Nevada and get it on the ballot. Don't just sit behind your computer and complain. "Be the change you want to see in the world." - Gandhi

As recently as 2008, a local dive bar in town still had a giant C-Band dish on the roof so they could get out of market pre-season NFL games. This was before NFL Network made nice with Time-Warner/Comcast/Charter and showed every game on tape-delay. Also, this: http://assets.amuniversal.com/c8d212402128102d94d7001438c0f03b [For some reason, the board won't let me imbed images from GoComics.com]

Inaki Miranda taking over on Catwoman art. Like his Judge Dredd run, though his Aquaman run seemed pretty stilted.

Fixed that for you.

Cho got taken to the cleaners by his ex-wife in their divorce. He admitted on his blog that he did that awful Savage Wolverine arc to finance his most recent Jungle Girl mini-series, but I don't think those actually sold very well, if at all, so it's back to the grind of a monthly Marvel title to try to re-fill his coffers. Maybe next he'll put out some new Liberty Meadows instead of fueling his beyond tired jungle goddess fetish. That's a bummer about his divorce, but one would assume he makes a killing in commissions, even without travelling to cons, that he wouldn't have to take books he doesn't want to do. Actually, checking his blog for the first time in about a month this morning, I see that Frank and his fiancee/second wife/whatever have just bought a house and are having the kitchen completely remodeled, so I can totally see him buckling down and committing to another monthly title. Not trying to be snarky. If the new wife wants a new house with granite countertops, than you'll buckle down and crank out a monthly Hulk series if that's what it takes for the downpayment.

Trivia Time! Q: Name the first WWF/WWE licensed video games to feature the following options: - Ring entrances - Title defenses - Managers who interfere in the match - DQ finishes - Title belts that are worn during the ring entrance - Backstage promos - Referees - Play-by-play announcers - The only WWF/WWE video game to feature Jesse "The Body" Ventura - The very first game to feature Bruno Sammartino - The ability to name the arena - The ability to replay historic matches and change the finish so the other guy wins - Ring announcing, by Howard Finkel no less! A: The very first WWF/WWE video game, Microleague Wrestling!

...and got three matches out of Rosie Lottalove for their troubles.

Oh, they will, trust me. There is nothing Quesada/Alonso/Buckley like to do more than troll "marriage fanboys." Mary Jane: So, Mr. Stark, do I get the job as spokesmodel. Tony Stark: [Locking the door] I don't know, Ms. Watson, what say we take a roll on my casting couch?

God, that was so bush league at the start of the show when Dikaj & Diesel were making their ring entrance and the camera focused on those two frat boy guidos standing next to the entry ramp drinking beers and not paying attention to anything going on. Also, Jay Lethal doing guest commentary makes me long for the ultra-charismatic Bella Twins as heel guest commentators.

It is actually named after the NYC cop. No idea why. William Friedkin's never before seen director's cut contains a 30-minute prologue where Popeye Doyle is a beat cop in Baton Rouge but is fired from the force after he gets a little rough with a transvestite prostitute.

Jesus Christ, what is this, 1985?

At least they're actually doing something with MJ, I'll probably pick this up as MJ is my favorite Marvel character.

And then the Great Khali lawsuit hit and Roland stopped posting here. ------------------------ Also, please tell me I'm not the only one who saw the header and thought Rippa was talking about Guillotine LeGrande, that guy who hangs around Steve Corino and only seems to be booked on indys that Corino is running.

You stay classy, Shitsburgh:

Browns claim Robert Turbin off waivers and cut Terrelle Pryor. 92.3 The Fan is saying that the veterans demanded that Pryor be cut b/c of his lousy attitude in the locker room.

Given Harrison Ford's repeated desires to kill off Han Solo and general apathy towards the character, Peter Mayhew's crippling back problems which would make any sort of extended appearances in the 8th and 9th films a problem (let alone the 7th), and the fact that the "we're home" footage seems to indicate that it had been years since either Han or Chewbacca had set foot inside the Falcon... ...how would you not walk away from those trailers and not think that the Millenium Falcon scenes we've seen end with the Falcon (and Han and Chewie) slamming into the bridge of a Star Destroyer to buy time for Han's kids while they escape from the Sith?

As the founder of the "One-Hit Wonder" thread, I'll be curious to see which of the 'new' actors from the sequels go on to have careers and which ones will be permanently joining the convention circuit before the end of the decade: [At the autograph signing line at a comic book convention:] John Boyega: Bloody hell, my wrist hurts. Think I must have signed over a dozen autographs. Nichelle "Uhura" Nichols: This your first autograph signing, honey? John Boyega: Yeah, Nichelle Nicholas: Hey, Sylvester, it's this kid's first signing and he's already complaining about a sore wrist. Sylvester "Doctor Who" McCoy: Hope he has health insurance, that carpal tunnel syndrome's a bitch. Billy Dee Williams: Works every time! [All the "veteran" celebrities in the signing line exchange laughs while Boyega, Daisy Ridley, and Adam Driver exchange nervous glances with each other.]

Well, according to the sales figures on Comics Beat, issue 42, the first one I read, lost over 18% in sales and was down to almost 22,000 units moved, which is damn near cancellation territory. Unless it's doing gangbusters in digital sales, Valentine may want to think about changing direction pretty quick because this mob story arc isn't bringing in the readers. EDIT: Admittedly, Lobo is selling in the 12,000 unit range, though even then, with DC cutting back on royalty payments, I can't imagine Ms. Valentine is going to be very happy when she gets her direct deposit statements from Time-Warner payroll.

Cho got taken to the cleaners by his ex-wife in their divorce. He admitted on his blog that he did that awful Savage Wolverine arc to finance his most recent Jungle Girl mini-series, but I don't think those actually sold very well, if at all, so it's back to the grind of a monthly Marvel title to try to re-fill his coffers. Maybe next he'll put out some new Liberty Meadows instead of fueling his beyond tired jungle goddess fetish.

And speaking of You 52, after giving it three issues I'm dropping Catwoman. Selina Kyle, bisexual mob boss did nothing to impress me. There's Stephanie Brown, recast here as a hotheaded vigilante instead of the "fun personified' girl from post-Zero Hour continuity, there's another blond who is Selina's consigliere, and then I can't tell if there is a third blonde who is a cop or if that's just the consigliere. There's an Asian woman who is also Catwoman, but it's not clear if she's working with Selina or in opposition to her, at least, it's not made clear in each issue. Not a fan of the art, either.

Only when I'm feeling particularly masochistic and can't find my whip covered in thorns to self-flagellate with.