Bloody hell!

I'm a huge fan of the original US ads, so to see these remakes is just really odd. But... well, you couldn't get better casting. It's utterly fantastic. Interestingly, there was talk that the original US ads couldn't be shown in the UK due to rules regarding negative advertising - but these don't seem hugely different. I wonder if they'll make it to broadcast.

It's interesting to note that Webb plays Mac with a slightly harder, more unpleasant edge than the US version. Mac in the US just looks embarassed at the camera, wheras Webb looks pretty disdaintful at times. I think that probably says a lot about the UK...

(Via NOTBBC.)

April 3, Tom Goes to the Mayor seasons one and two, DVD release
April 6, Grindhouse theatrical release
April 13, Hot Fuzz theatrical release
April 17, The Venture Bros. season two, DVD release
April 24, Moral Orel season one, DVD release
April 27, Balls of Fury theatrical release

Looks like some month, to me. (All dates are US dates, natch.)

And even though this is classified as film, I'd be remiss if I didn't say I'm already in agony at having to wait until April 13 for Page McConnell's first post-Phish album...funny how you can go so long without there being anything you're interested in seeing, only to have it all pile up right on top of each other like that.

It's that time again, folks! Peter Gordon has waved his magic software and produced another tribute to elderly British comedy. In this issue;

KENNETH WILLIAMS' lost show, A Tribute To Greatness, rediscovered

I'M SORRY I HAVEN'T A CLUE - A look back over the whole ruddy lot, with interviews from Graeme Garden and Barry Cryer

LET'S BOMB RUSSIA - The decline of Conservative satire

FRANK RANDLE - A look back at his film career

THE DOCTOR FILMS A film-by-film review

Essential reading for any students of British comedy, or if you just fancy a damned good read. Order here.

It's got to be, right?

He's played him before. It's got to be. Right?

Yes.

Continue reading "Alternate Cover - 24th January 2007" »

Shamelessly nicked from B3ta, but what the hell.

I think Chris Waddle's my favourite. Why aye man.

It sucks.

Continue reading "First Impressions of Hot Fuzz" »

Continue reading "Alternate Cover - 17th January 2006" »

Some really, truly, excellent news has emerged from the Television Critics Association this weekend, where Executive Producers of the fucking brilliant US drama Lost spilt the beans on some very interesting negotiations between themselves and the ABC network. And it could well become to stock answer to ANYONE who claims the show is going no where.

Continue reading "But they're making it up as they go along! We'll never find out the answers! It'll go on forever!" »

Read this and write your own. And you thought the Sony riots were bad.

BBC reports on how recent cancer sufferer Kylie Minogue has to stop show on her comeback tour halfway through due to illness.

BBC ask at the bottom of the article : Were you at the concert or do you know someone who was? Send us your experiences using the form below.

Mike Edge in Manchester replies : I paid £55 each for 6 tickets, it's a total disgrace. She said she was ill after the first song so she should have given up then rather than give the audience a half hearted 30 minutes.

Nice one, Mike. Hope you have to go through chemotherapy one day as well.

See this post on the Restoration Team forum.

I have mixed feelings about this. Some of their articles were entertaining enough, and I have respect for any magazine that originally started out as a fanzine, and ended up as a newsstand publication. On the other hand, despite having gone downhill the last couple of years, SFX covers much the same ground, and is generally more entertaining and well-produced. The worst example of this is when Dreamwatch copied SFX's idea of having a small section where the editorial staff gave their opinion on the issues of the month's news; SFX's was well-written and entertaining, wheras Dreamwatch's was simplistic, badly-written and embarassing. In the end, it's hard to shed too many tears about it going - although obviously, it's a huge shame for the editorial staff.

The strange thing is about mainstream UK SF mags, is that Doctor Who Magazine is by far the best-written and most entertaining of the lot, despite only being about one show - and could certainly show the other mags a few things about how to put together an entertaining and informative read. A marvellous magazine - if you've not picked it up, if you're at all interested in Who, I suggest you try it.

Continue reading "Alternate Cover - 10th January 2007" »

A Mozza for Europe... surely not?

If it's true, though, it would show a welcome bit of competitive spirit on the Beeb's part. Are they finally sick and tired of losing so horrifically each year? Have they finally realised that A Song For Europe and Making Your Mind Up and all that jazz show nothing other than the British public's staggering lack of taste (not that Eurovision is ever about taste, but you know what I mean)?

And, most importantly, why isn't it John Shuttleworth?

So what's your favorite episode of Tom Goes to the Mayor? Is it the one where David Byrne drops by to sing a song he wrote just for the show? The one where Tom goes to prison for rape? Or is it the one where Tom and the mayor visit Baghdad and enlist in the Sunni Death Squads?

Since they never made it to air you probably don't remember those episodes, but Tim Heidecker and Eric Wareheim, the writers and actors behind Tom Goes to the Mayor, sure do.

Last week I had the privelege of a telephone interview with Tim and Eric, catching them between two very busy days shooting their new live-action sketch comedy show, Tim and Eric Awesome Show Great Job, for Cartoon Network.

Continue reading "Phil Goes to the Mayor: an interview with Tim Heidecker and Eric Wareheim" »

Worryingly erotic.