From AlJazeeraAmerica: the "Sodomite Suppression Act."
From InformedConsent: Juan Cole on what happens when a clown car tries to drive debate.
From TheVox: John Stewart and George Lucas mock FOX News.
From BillMoyers: Danny Schechter has died. He was the "News Dissector."
From RSN: It's that bad. Feminist writes want to retire.
From RSN: Likely 2016 presidential candidate, Martin O'Malley, the former governor of Maryland, says the big banks must be broken up.
From TheNation: An inconvenient truth about terrorists in America.
From InformedConsent: Juan Cole on Obama as the new Mr. Spock - at least in the way he comments about Israel.
From TheNation: The Pentagon finally, officially admitted that Israel not only has nuclear weapons, but also advanced armaments.
From Haaretz: John Boehner is officially the teen girl that Barack would not date in high school.
From RSN: Re Patreus - golden boys always get special priviledge.
From RSN and RSN: President Obama should give it up. Netanyahu is a racist.
From The Atlantic via RSN: Al Gore running...
From GuardianUK: Obamacare triggers massive drop in the number of uninsured Americans.
From RollingStone: Matt Taibbi once again on the hilarity that is NYT columinst, David Brooks.
From TheDailyBeast: It's a dumb idea because the people behind it are dumb, educated people.
From Politico: Actually, it was an opportunity to show just how that the GOP is now the PWPP - the preserve white power party.
From RollingStone: Matt Taibbi on the clown show of Netanyahu's Congress speech.
From CounterPunch via RSN: Drone warfare and civilian carnage.
From InformedConsent: GOP and Iran hardliners - kissin' cousin.
From ReverbPress: Sen. Tom Cotton of Arkansas bows down to his weapons lobbyist masters.
From HarvardCrimson: Speaking of Tom Cotton, read this hilarity from his days at the Harvard Crimson.
From TeleSur: Israel beats women for International Women's Day.
From RSN: This Billionaire Governor Taxed the Rich and Raised the Minimum Wage. Now, His State's Economy Is One of the Best in the Country
From YahooNews: Colin Powell - a dark vein of intolerance in GOP. For sure on that.
From ABCNews: I wonder if the ABC network news reported this anti-Netanyahu rally.
From BuzzFlash: America's history of terrorism - lynching.
From RollingStone: Matt Taibbi - Scott Walker, a man born to be slaughtered in a general election.
From NYMag: Frank Rich on the Giuliani circus.
From Counterpunch: The rise of fascism is again the issue.
From RollingStone: Matt Taibbi dogs Rudy Giuliani.
Saturday, March 28, 2015
Friday, March 27, 2015
Frank Miller and Geof Darrow's "The Big Guy and Rusty the Bob Robot" Gets Hardcover Treatment
Dark Horse to Publish ‘The Big Guy and Rusty the Boy Robot’ Hardcover Collection
Hearts of gold, fists of steel
MILWAUKIE, OR—Front and center, kiddos! Here comes action! Here comes adventure! Here comes The Big Guy and Rusty the Boy Robot—a roller-coaster ride through the minds of Geof Darrow and Frank Miller, the tag team that set you reeling with their hard-hitting series Hard Boiled.
Everything you remember about being eight years old and watching monster movies is right here, but with all the magnified detail that you always wanted to see, collected in hardcover for the first time ever!
With remastered color by the inimitable Dave Stewart, this stunning edition includes the Dark Horse Presents special and surprise extras!
Readers can preorder a copy of the Big Guy and Rusty the Boy Robot hardcover edition, coming in October 2015, from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or IndieBound, or contact a local comic shop through Comic Shop Locator.
Read the exclusive interview with Geof Darrow only on Newsarama (http://www.newsarama.com/23941-dark-horse-to-publish-big-guy-rusty-the-boy-robot-hardcover-with-new-material.html)
Praise for The Big Guy and Rusty the Boy Robot:
“A futuristic all-ages romp.”—Comic Book Resources
“Darrow’s art: fine-lined, tight and knotty, beautiful detail bestowed in every nook and cranny.”—ComicsAlliance
About Dark Horse
Founded in 1986 by Mike Richardson, Dark Horse Comics has proven to be a solid example of how integrity and innovation can help broaden a unique storytelling medium and establish a small, homegrown company as an industry giant. The company is known for the progressive and creator-friendly atmosphere it provides for writers and artists. In addition to publishing comics from top talent, such as Frank Miller, Geof Darrow, Mike Mignola, Neil Gaiman, Brian Wood, Gerard Way, Felicia Day, and Guillermo del Toro, and comics legends, such as Will Eisner, Neal Adams, and Jim Steranko, Dark Horse has developed its own successful properties, such as The Mask, Ghost, Timecop, and SpyBoy. Its successful line of comics and products based on popular properties includes Mass Effect, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Aliens, Conan, EVE Online, Halo, Serenity, Game of Thrones, and Domo. Today Dark Horse Comics is the largest independent comic book publisher in the US and is recognized as one of the world’s leading publishers of both creator-owned content and licensed comics material.
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The Incredible Darwyn Cooke Announced for 2015 Baltimore Comic-Con
Baltimore Welcomes Back Conner, Cooke, Palmiotti, and Tieri in 2015
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - Come to Baltimore's Inner Harbor for the 16th annual Baltimore Comic-Con on September 25-27, 2015 at the Baltimore Convention Center. We are excited to welcome to our show returning guests Amanda Conner, Darwyn Cooke, Jimmy Palmiotti, and Frank Tieri.
Working in the comics industry since the late 1980s, Amanda Conner got her start working for major publishers like Marvel Comics on Solo Avengers and Excalibur, and Archie Comics on Archie and The Adventures of Bayou Billy. As her career progressed, she worked for a number of noteworthy titles at smaller comics companies, including Soulsearchers and Company for Claypool and Vengeance of Vampirella at Harris. She has since had an extensive illustration career, both in and out of comics, and her latest industry work can be seen on DC Comics' Convergence and Convergence: Action Comics covers, and on Harley Quinn, where she is providing both art and writing (with her husband, Jimmy Palmiotti).
Last with us in 2008, Darwyn Cooke made his mark in the comics industry after working in animation such notable series as Batman: The Animated Series, Superman: The Animated Series, and Batman Beyond. His initial success at DC Comics on the graphic novel Batman: Ego parlayed into further work on Marvel's X-Force, Wolverine/Doop, and Spider-Man's Tangled Web. He later went on to work on such noteworthy titles as DC's Just Imagine..., Detective Comics, DC: The New Frontier, and Solo. More recently, Cooke has been the cartoonist behind IDW's Richard Stark's Parker series of graphic novels as well as work on a number of DC's Before Watchmen series and variant covers for Action Comics, Convergence, and Harley Quinn.
Jimmy Palmiotti is renowned in the comics industry as a writer, artist, and editor. Originally working as an inker, he has since gone on to contribute to major titles and runs at comic companies large and small. He co-founded Event Comics in the mid-1990s, where he worked on titles such as Ash and Painkiller Jane. He later moved to Marvel Comics, working on the launch of their Marvel Knights line with the "Guardian Devil" storyline in Daredevil. In addition to co-writing DC Comics' Harley Quinn with his wife, Amanda Conner, he also writes their Batwing: Future's End and Star Spangled War Stories featuring G.I. Zombie (both with writing partner Justin Gray), and BOOM! Studios' Palmiotti & Brady's The Big Con Job,
Writer Frank Tieri has established a strong voice in the comics industry, working for many publishers and injecting his unique style along with amusing references to popular culture. He has contributed to a broad range of titles across many publishers, including Marvel's Iron Man, Captain America, Amazing Spider-Man, and Punisher: Noir, DC's Batman, Detective Comics, Hawkman, and Grifter, Dynamite Entertainment's Red Sonja: The Black Tower, and Top Cow's The Darkness. His latest work can be found in DC Comics' Convergence: Suicide Squad, Convergence: Justice League, and Arkham Manor: Endgame, and Marvel's AXIS: Revolutions.
"It's been too long since we've seen Darwyn, and we missed Amanda and Jimmy last year," said Marc Nathan, promoter of the Baltimore Comic-Con. "Along with Frank, this is another fantastic group of talented creators that our fans clamor for, and we're so pleased they're returning!"
This year's confirmed guests for the show include: Jeremy Bastian (Cursed Pirate Girl); Christy Blanch (The Damnation of Charlie Wormwood); Mark Buckingham (Fables); Cliff Chiang (Wonder Woman); Frank Cho (Jungle Girl); Steve Conley (Bloop); Amanda Conner (Harley Quinn); Katie Cook (Gronk); Darwyn Cooke (Richard Stark's Parker); John Gallagher (Buzzboy); Cully Hamner (Convergence: The Question); Dean Haspiel (The Fox); Jaime Hernandez (Love and Rockets); Klaus Janson (Superman); Dave Johnson (Inhumans: Attilan Rising); JG Jones (Strange Fruit); Denis Kitchen (The Best of Comix Book: When Marvel Went Underground); Barry Kitson (Empire: Uprising); Seth Kushner (Schmuck); Mark Mariano (The Other Side of Hugless Hill); Ron Marz (Convergence: Batman and Robin); Terry Moore (Rachel Rising); Tom Palmer (The Avengers); Jimmy Palmiotti (The Con Job); David Peterson (Mouse Guard); Ron Randall (Convergence: Catwoman); Budd Root (Cavewoman); Don Rosa (Donald Duck); Stan Sakai (Usagi Yojimbo); Matteo Scalera (Black Science); Bart Sears (Bloodshot); Louise Simonson (Convergence: Superman - The Man of Steel); Walter Simonson (Convergence: Superman - The Man of Steel); Andy Smith (Earth 2); Charles Soule (Uncanny Inhumans); Ben Templesmith (Gotham by Midnight); Frank Tieri (Suicide Squad); John Totleben (Swamp Thing); Rick Veitch (Saga of the Swamp Thing); Mark Waid (Daredevil); and Thom Zahler (My Little Pony: Friends Forever).
In the coming weeks, look for more announcements from the Baltimore Comic-Con. We are looking forward to highlighting our guests, the Harvey Awards, industry exclusives, and programming. The latest developments can always be found on our website, Twitter, and Facebook pages.
Contact Information
Please use the following e-mail addresses to contact the Baltimore Comic-Con:
press@baltimorecomiccon.com - for any general press inquiries or to be added to our PR distribution
registrar@baltimorecomiccon.com- for exhibitor, publisher, and Artist Alley registrations
harveys@baltimorecomiccon.com - for the Harvey Awards ceremony and banquet
general@baltimorecomiccon.com - for general Baltimore Comic-Con inquiries
About The Baltimore Comic-Con
The Baltimore Comic-Con is celebrating its 16th year of bringing the comic book industry to the Baltimore and Washington D.C. area. For more information, please visit www.baltimorecomiccon.com.
About The Harvey Awards
The Harvey Awards are one of the comic book industry's oldest and most respected awards. With a history of over 20 years, the last 10 in conjunction with the Baltimore Comic-Con, the Harveys recognize outstanding achievements in over 20 categories. They are the only industry awards nominated and selected by the full body of comic book professionals. For more information, please visit www.harveyawards.org.
------------------
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - Come to Baltimore's Inner Harbor for the 16th annual Baltimore Comic-Con on September 25-27, 2015 at the Baltimore Convention Center. We are excited to welcome to our show returning guests Amanda Conner, Darwyn Cooke, Jimmy Palmiotti, and Frank Tieri.
Working in the comics industry since the late 1980s, Amanda Conner got her start working for major publishers like Marvel Comics on Solo Avengers and Excalibur, and Archie Comics on Archie and The Adventures of Bayou Billy. As her career progressed, she worked for a number of noteworthy titles at smaller comics companies, including Soulsearchers and Company for Claypool and Vengeance of Vampirella at Harris. She has since had an extensive illustration career, both in and out of comics, and her latest industry work can be seen on DC Comics' Convergence and Convergence: Action Comics covers, and on Harley Quinn, where she is providing both art and writing (with her husband, Jimmy Palmiotti).
Last with us in 2008, Darwyn Cooke made his mark in the comics industry after working in animation such notable series as Batman: The Animated Series, Superman: The Animated Series, and Batman Beyond. His initial success at DC Comics on the graphic novel Batman: Ego parlayed into further work on Marvel's X-Force, Wolverine/Doop, and Spider-Man's Tangled Web. He later went on to work on such noteworthy titles as DC's Just Imagine..., Detective Comics, DC: The New Frontier, and Solo. More recently, Cooke has been the cartoonist behind IDW's Richard Stark's Parker series of graphic novels as well as work on a number of DC's Before Watchmen series and variant covers for Action Comics, Convergence, and Harley Quinn.
Jimmy Palmiotti is renowned in the comics industry as a writer, artist, and editor. Originally working as an inker, he has since gone on to contribute to major titles and runs at comic companies large and small. He co-founded Event Comics in the mid-1990s, where he worked on titles such as Ash and Painkiller Jane. He later moved to Marvel Comics, working on the launch of their Marvel Knights line with the "Guardian Devil" storyline in Daredevil. In addition to co-writing DC Comics' Harley Quinn with his wife, Amanda Conner, he also writes their Batwing: Future's End and Star Spangled War Stories featuring G.I. Zombie (both with writing partner Justin Gray), and BOOM! Studios' Palmiotti & Brady's The Big Con Job,
Writer Frank Tieri has established a strong voice in the comics industry, working for many publishers and injecting his unique style along with amusing references to popular culture. He has contributed to a broad range of titles across many publishers, including Marvel's Iron Man, Captain America, Amazing Spider-Man, and Punisher: Noir, DC's Batman, Detective Comics, Hawkman, and Grifter, Dynamite Entertainment's Red Sonja: The Black Tower, and Top Cow's The Darkness. His latest work can be found in DC Comics' Convergence: Suicide Squad, Convergence: Justice League, and Arkham Manor: Endgame, and Marvel's AXIS: Revolutions.
"It's been too long since we've seen Darwyn, and we missed Amanda and Jimmy last year," said Marc Nathan, promoter of the Baltimore Comic-Con. "Along with Frank, this is another fantastic group of talented creators that our fans clamor for, and we're so pleased they're returning!"
This year's confirmed guests for the show include: Jeremy Bastian (Cursed Pirate Girl); Christy Blanch (The Damnation of Charlie Wormwood); Mark Buckingham (Fables); Cliff Chiang (Wonder Woman); Frank Cho (Jungle Girl); Steve Conley (Bloop); Amanda Conner (Harley Quinn); Katie Cook (Gronk); Darwyn Cooke (Richard Stark's Parker); John Gallagher (Buzzboy); Cully Hamner (Convergence: The Question); Dean Haspiel (The Fox); Jaime Hernandez (Love and Rockets); Klaus Janson (Superman); Dave Johnson (Inhumans: Attilan Rising); JG Jones (Strange Fruit); Denis Kitchen (The Best of Comix Book: When Marvel Went Underground); Barry Kitson (Empire: Uprising); Seth Kushner (Schmuck); Mark Mariano (The Other Side of Hugless Hill); Ron Marz (Convergence: Batman and Robin); Terry Moore (Rachel Rising); Tom Palmer (The Avengers); Jimmy Palmiotti (The Con Job); David Peterson (Mouse Guard); Ron Randall (Convergence: Catwoman); Budd Root (Cavewoman); Don Rosa (Donald Duck); Stan Sakai (Usagi Yojimbo); Matteo Scalera (Black Science); Bart Sears (Bloodshot); Louise Simonson (Convergence: Superman - The Man of Steel); Walter Simonson (Convergence: Superman - The Man of Steel); Andy Smith (Earth 2); Charles Soule (Uncanny Inhumans); Ben Templesmith (Gotham by Midnight); Frank Tieri (Suicide Squad); John Totleben (Swamp Thing); Rick Veitch (Saga of the Swamp Thing); Mark Waid (Daredevil); and Thom Zahler (My Little Pony: Friends Forever).
In the coming weeks, look for more announcements from the Baltimore Comic-Con. We are looking forward to highlighting our guests, the Harvey Awards, industry exclusives, and programming. The latest developments can always be found on our website, Twitter, and Facebook pages.
Contact Information
Please use the following e-mail addresses to contact the Baltimore Comic-Con:
press@baltimorecomiccon.com - for any general press inquiries or to be added to our PR distribution
registrar@baltimorecomiccon.com- for exhibitor, publisher, and Artist Alley registrations
harveys@baltimorecomiccon.com - for the Harvey Awards ceremony and banquet
general@baltimorecomiccon.com - for general Baltimore Comic-Con inquiries
About The Baltimore Comic-Con
The Baltimore Comic-Con is celebrating its 16th year of bringing the comic book industry to the Baltimore and Washington D.C. area. For more information, please visit www.baltimorecomiccon.com.
About The Harvey Awards
The Harvey Awards are one of the comic book industry's oldest and most respected awards. With a history of over 20 years, the last 10 in conjunction with the Baltimore Comic-Con, the Harveys recognize outstanding achievements in over 20 categories. They are the only industry awards nominated and selected by the full body of comic book professionals. For more information, please visit www.harveyawards.org.
------------------
Great-Granddaughter Releases Book About Silent-Era Filmmaker, Charles O. Baumann
Jillian Ada Kelly Releases New Book: THE MOVIE MAKER: CHARLES O. BAUMANN
Great-granddaughter of early 1900s silent film pioneer writes how he discovered Chaplin, Sennett, and many more
GOLD COUNTRY, Calif. /PRNewswire/ -- Charlie Chaplin and Mack Sennett have been household names for 100 years, but few people know how they got their start in the film industry. Who were the career-makers of the early 1900s in film? They were brave pioneers like author Jillian Ada Kelly's great-grandfather Charles O. Baumann who helped forge a new industry and set the standard for how films are made to this day.
Before there was ever a Hollywood, there were great filmmakers, producers, directors, and movie executives in New York and New Jersey, those who paved the way for the greatest industry in the world, the movie industry. In the new book THE MOVIE MAKER: CHARLES O. BAUMANN Silent Era Film Pioneer Who Discovered Chaplin, Sennett, Ince, and Many More, Kelly shares her great-grandfather's journey and phenomenal success in the early film industry. She writes:
"Not only was Charles Baumann a producer, director, distributor, financier, and an executive of filmmaking, he was also a visionary and a man of many firsts in an industry of imitators. He was the first to supply movie houses with posters for advertising in 1909; the first to hire Mack Sennett, the 'King of Comedy,' as a director in 1909; the first to make multiple-reel weekly movies in 1910; the first President, and co-founder, of Universal Film Manufacturing Company (now Universal Studios, the oldest studio in the U.S.) in 1912; the first to hire Charlie Chaplin for a movie role in 1913; the first to bring together top directors Mack Sennett, Thomas H. Ince, and D. W. Griffith, with top actors, including first-time movie actor Douglas Fairbanks, to form the powerhouse Triangle Film Corporation in 1915; and the first to create a money-lending corporation, the Great Northern Finance Corporation, to fund aspiring movie producers to create excellent cinema in 1921. These are just a few, but certainly not all, of the pioneering things that Charles O. Baumann did to help mold and bring greatness to the motion picture industry."
Kelly shares her inspiration for writing this book: "My great-grandfather had such a profound impact on the early film industry, I wanted to ensure that he was not forgotten."
Book is available in paperback and as an eBook at: http://www.JillianAdaKelly.com
---------------
Great-granddaughter of early 1900s silent film pioneer writes how he discovered Chaplin, Sennett, and many more
GOLD COUNTRY, Calif. /PRNewswire/ -- Charlie Chaplin and Mack Sennett have been household names for 100 years, but few people know how they got their start in the film industry. Who were the career-makers of the early 1900s in film? They were brave pioneers like author Jillian Ada Kelly's great-grandfather Charles O. Baumann who helped forge a new industry and set the standard for how films are made to this day.
Before there was ever a Hollywood, there were great filmmakers, producers, directors, and movie executives in New York and New Jersey, those who paved the way for the greatest industry in the world, the movie industry. In the new book THE MOVIE MAKER: CHARLES O. BAUMANN Silent Era Film Pioneer Who Discovered Chaplin, Sennett, Ince, and Many More, Kelly shares her great-grandfather's journey and phenomenal success in the early film industry. She writes:
"Not only was Charles Baumann a producer, director, distributor, financier, and an executive of filmmaking, he was also a visionary and a man of many firsts in an industry of imitators. He was the first to supply movie houses with posters for advertising in 1909; the first to hire Mack Sennett, the 'King of Comedy,' as a director in 1909; the first to make multiple-reel weekly movies in 1910; the first President, and co-founder, of Universal Film Manufacturing Company (now Universal Studios, the oldest studio in the U.S.) in 1912; the first to hire Charlie Chaplin for a movie role in 1913; the first to bring together top directors Mack Sennett, Thomas H. Ince, and D. W. Griffith, with top actors, including first-time movie actor Douglas Fairbanks, to form the powerhouse Triangle Film Corporation in 1915; and the first to create a money-lending corporation, the Great Northern Finance Corporation, to fund aspiring movie producers to create excellent cinema in 1921. These are just a few, but certainly not all, of the pioneering things that Charles O. Baumann did to help mold and bring greatness to the motion picture industry."
Kelly shares her inspiration for writing this book: "My great-grandfather had such a profound impact on the early film industry, I wanted to ensure that he was not forgotten."
Book is available in paperback and as an eBook at: http://www.JillianAdaKelly.com
---------------
Negromancer News Bits and Bites for the Week of March 22nd to 28th, 2015 - Update #19
NEWS:
From BleedingCool: The show is called "Fear The Walking Dead."
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From TheVerge: A connected universe of multiple Transformers movies... No, it's not April Fool's Day yet...
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From Indiewire: Bradley Cooper is now reportedly set to direct that A Star is Born remake that Clint Eastwood abandoned.
----------------
From Deadline: Those darned Negroes, taking jobs from Caucasian actors!
From Vulture: Then, scorn followed that Deadline article.
----------------
From YahooMovies: Steven Spielberg signs to direct sci-fi novel to film for Warner Bros.
----------------
From YahooMovies: Who can get $20 million a film.
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From YahooMovies: Born in New Zealand, Russell Crowe still can't get Australian citizen, although he has lived in the country since he was four.
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From THR: The winner of the March 20th to 22nd, 2015 weekend box office is Insurgent with an estimated take of $54 million dollars in its debut weekend.
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From SoundonSight: Chris Rock is working on to a follow-up to the well-received Top Five (of which I will post a review soon). Producer Scott Rudin wants some of the cast of Top Five back for the new film, which will not be a sequel.
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From YahooCelebrity: Michelle Rodriguez talks about her grief over the death of her "Fast & Furious" franchise costar.
COMICS: Titles and Movies:
From YahooGames: Ryan Reynolds tweets first image of his Deadpool costume for next year's "Deadpool" film.
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From Comicvine: Jesse Eisenberg as Lex Luthor - first look.
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From TheVerge: The Avengers comic book has a new look and a new team.
----------------
From CinemaBlend: Tyrese Gibson hints that his is the new Green Lantern.
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From YahooGames: New "Fantastic Four" movie poster is revealed.
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From CinemaBlend: In the upcoming Ant-Man, Scott Lang may be depicted as a straight-up criminal, something that Marvel had recently played down.
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From Vulture: The Russo Brothers, the directors of Captain America: Winter Soldier and its sequel, Civil War, will reportedly director the two Avengers: Infinity Wars films.
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From YahooTV: Jennifer Lawrence says that her stint as Mystique in the X-Men is coming to an end.
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From CinemaBlend: The movie Spider-Man may indeed by Peter Parker... sadly.
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From YahooTech: The plot of "Captain America 3?"
Spike TV Launches "Spike UK"
Spike Bursts onto UK Television with Breaking Bad, Big-Name Talent and British Commissions
Stephen Merchant, Vinnie Jones to feature from 15th April launch
Breaking Bad to air in its entirety for 1st time on British TV and new seasons of The Walking Dead
US pop culture phenomenon, Lip Sync Battle joins lineup for new channel
LONDON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--A new free-to-view TV channel will launch with a bang in millions of UK homes on 15th April, when Spike goes on air offering a mix of British commissions and big-name talent alongside a range of acclaimed drama and entertainment.
“Spike is a driven, high-energy channel offering a point of view and programme mix I think is different from anything else on British TV right now. I can’t wait to see our viewers embrace this exhilarating new channel.”
Original commissions will feature prominently on Spike from launch. Police Interceptors Unleashed marks a return to British TV screens for actor and former professional footballer, Vinnie Jones, who will front the series, following the work of the high-speed police interception unit. Another new series, Tattoo Disasters UK, will seek out some of the most painful examples of British body art and the individuals having to learn to live with their inky mistakes.
Spike’s launch line-up will also feature some of the most acclaimed and talked about TV drama of recent times, including Breaking Bad, which will be broadcast from start to finish for the first time on British TV. The latest and fifth series of The Walking Dead will also be available on Spike, the first time it will be accessible free-to-air to British TV viewers.
Other acquired dramas that will broadcast on Spike from launch include the British TV premiere of mythological blockbuster, Olympus, Emmy nominated Justified and crime thriller Sons of Anarchy.
Lip Sync Battle, hosted by two-time Grammy Award-winner LL COOL J, will be the entertainment flagship of Spike’s launch schedule. The highly-anticipated half-hour original series – based on the cultural phenomenon of lip sync battling seen by millions on television and online – has been created by Jimmy Fallon and his Eight Million Plus Productions, Stephen Merchant (Hello Ladies, Extras, The Ricky Gervais Show), John Krasinski (The Office, Promised Land, It’s Complicated), Matador (Banksy Does New York) and Casey Patterson. Merchant also features on-screen as one of the many A-list musical combatants in the series.
Social media comedy phenomenon, Fail Army, has also been reworked for television and will be introduced to UK TV audiences by Spike.
Spike will also be the UK TV home of mixed martial arts. The channel will televise Bellator MMA, the emerging sports franchise featuring many of the world’s greatest fighters including British champion, Liam McGeary, and Paul Daley. Spike has also signed an exclusive deal with the British Association of Mixed Martial Arts (BAMMA) for its tournaments, which will feature in a Saturday 'Fight Night.'
The channel will also offer a range of reality series from Spike in the US, including Catch a Contractor and Frankenfood, as well as repeats of some of Channel 5's most popular factual output.
The 24-hour network will be available from launch on the majority of the UK’s digital TV platforms, including Sky TV, Freesat and Freeview, on which it will occupy channel slot 31.
Ben Frow, Channel 5’s Programme Director, whose editorial team will oversee commissioning, scheduling and acquisitions for the new channel, said: “Spike is a driven, high-energy channel offering a point of view and programme mix I think is different from anything else on British TV right now. I can’t wait to see our viewers embrace this exhilarating new channel.”
About Spike UK
Spike UK is the latest general entertainment channel from the Channel 5 stable, bringing its portfolio of free-to-air UK networks to nine. The channel will be available from launch on 15th April via the main digital TV platforms in the UK, including Sky TV, Freesat and Freeview on which it will occupy channel slot 31. Spike UK offers a mix of original commissions, smash hit acquired drama and blockbuster films, factual library content and adrenalin-fuelled sports blended with a range of reality series from Spike in the U.S., which is consistently amongst the highest rating basic cable networks. Both Spike in the U.S. and Channel 5 are owned and operated by Viacom International Media Networks, a unit of Viacom (NASDAQ: VIA, VIAB), one of the world’s leading creators of programming and content across all media platforms. Live It Like Spike by accessing www.spiketv.co.uk and following the channel on social media – twitter.com/spiketvuk and www.facebook.com/SpikeTVUK.
-------------
Stephen Merchant, Vinnie Jones to feature from 15th April launch
Breaking Bad to air in its entirety for 1st time on British TV and new seasons of The Walking Dead
US pop culture phenomenon, Lip Sync Battle joins lineup for new channel
LONDON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--A new free-to-view TV channel will launch with a bang in millions of UK homes on 15th April, when Spike goes on air offering a mix of British commissions and big-name talent alongside a range of acclaimed drama and entertainment.
“Spike is a driven, high-energy channel offering a point of view and programme mix I think is different from anything else on British TV right now. I can’t wait to see our viewers embrace this exhilarating new channel.”
Original commissions will feature prominently on Spike from launch. Police Interceptors Unleashed marks a return to British TV screens for actor and former professional footballer, Vinnie Jones, who will front the series, following the work of the high-speed police interception unit. Another new series, Tattoo Disasters UK, will seek out some of the most painful examples of British body art and the individuals having to learn to live with their inky mistakes.
Spike’s launch line-up will also feature some of the most acclaimed and talked about TV drama of recent times, including Breaking Bad, which will be broadcast from start to finish for the first time on British TV. The latest and fifth series of The Walking Dead will also be available on Spike, the first time it will be accessible free-to-air to British TV viewers.
Other acquired dramas that will broadcast on Spike from launch include the British TV premiere of mythological blockbuster, Olympus, Emmy nominated Justified and crime thriller Sons of Anarchy.
Lip Sync Battle, hosted by two-time Grammy Award-winner LL COOL J, will be the entertainment flagship of Spike’s launch schedule. The highly-anticipated half-hour original series – based on the cultural phenomenon of lip sync battling seen by millions on television and online – has been created by Jimmy Fallon and his Eight Million Plus Productions, Stephen Merchant (Hello Ladies, Extras, The Ricky Gervais Show), John Krasinski (The Office, Promised Land, It’s Complicated), Matador (Banksy Does New York) and Casey Patterson. Merchant also features on-screen as one of the many A-list musical combatants in the series.
Social media comedy phenomenon, Fail Army, has also been reworked for television and will be introduced to UK TV audiences by Spike.
Spike will also be the UK TV home of mixed martial arts. The channel will televise Bellator MMA, the emerging sports franchise featuring many of the world’s greatest fighters including British champion, Liam McGeary, and Paul Daley. Spike has also signed an exclusive deal with the British Association of Mixed Martial Arts (BAMMA) for its tournaments, which will feature in a Saturday 'Fight Night.'
The channel will also offer a range of reality series from Spike in the US, including Catch a Contractor and Frankenfood, as well as repeats of some of Channel 5's most popular factual output.
The 24-hour network will be available from launch on the majority of the UK’s digital TV platforms, including Sky TV, Freesat and Freeview, on which it will occupy channel slot 31.
Ben Frow, Channel 5’s Programme Director, whose editorial team will oversee commissioning, scheduling and acquisitions for the new channel, said: “Spike is a driven, high-energy channel offering a point of view and programme mix I think is different from anything else on British TV right now. I can’t wait to see our viewers embrace this exhilarating new channel.”
About Spike UK
Spike UK is the latest general entertainment channel from the Channel 5 stable, bringing its portfolio of free-to-air UK networks to nine. The channel will be available from launch on 15th April via the main digital TV platforms in the UK, including Sky TV, Freesat and Freeview on which it will occupy channel slot 31. Spike UK offers a mix of original commissions, smash hit acquired drama and blockbuster films, factual library content and adrenalin-fuelled sports blended with a range of reality series from Spike in the U.S., which is consistently amongst the highest rating basic cable networks. Both Spike in the U.S. and Channel 5 are owned and operated by Viacom International Media Networks, a unit of Viacom (NASDAQ: VIA, VIAB), one of the world’s leading creators of programming and content across all media platforms. Live It Like Spike by accessing www.spiketv.co.uk and following the channel on social media – twitter.com/spiketvuk and www.facebook.com/SpikeTVUK.
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Season 6 is the End of "Downton Abbey"
Carnival Films and MASTERPIECE on PBS Announce Upcoming Season 6 to Be Final Season of “Downton Abbey”
Series Is Most-Watched Drama in PBS History
Season 5 Seen by 25.5 Million Viewers; Episodes Streamed More Than 12.6 Million Times
BOSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Carnival Films and MASTERPIECE on PBS announced that Season 6 will be the final season of the hit drama series “Downton Abbey.”
“We are indebted to our UK partners for making a show which will go down in television history, not just for its impeccable writing, acting and production values, but most importantly, for its enormously warm-hearted audience appeal.”
Carnival’s Managing Director and Executive Producer of “Downton Abbey,” Gareth Neame said, “Millions of people around the world have followed the journey of the Crawley family and those who serve them for the last five years. Inevitably there comes a time when all shows should end and ‘Downton’ is no exception. We wanted to close the doors of ‘Downton Abbey’ when it felt right and natural for the storylines to come together and when the show was still being enjoyed so much by its fans. We can promise a final season full of all the usual drama and intrigue, but with the added excitement of discovering how and where they all end up…”
A runaway hit since it debuted on PBS in 2011, “Downton Abbey”—a Carnival/MASTERPIECE co-production—is widely credited with reigniting American viewers’ passion for British drama. It is the top PBS drama of all time, the most popular series in MASTERPIECE’s 44-year history, and one of the most-watched dramas on American television, frequently beating the competition in its Sunday night time slot. MASTERPIECE is presented on PBS by WGBH Boston.
“PBS and our member stations have been so proud to be the home of ‘Downton Abbey’ on MASTERPIECE in the United States," said Paula Kerger, President and CEO, PBS. “We, like the fans, simply cannot wait to see what will happen to the Crawley family and their beloved staff as this incredible series culminates in Season 6. The series has enjoyed such success over the past five seasons and we'll certainly be working alongside Carnival, MASTERPIECE and PBS member stations to make Season 6 the biggest yet. Until then, Sunday nights on PBS continue to offer fans a full slate of 'must view' British and, soon, American historical drama."
With 51 Emmy® nominations, more than any other British show in Emmy® history, “Downton Abbey” is one of the most honored series on television. It has won 11 Emmys®, three Golden Globes®, three Screen Actors Guild Awards, a Producers Guild Award, and three BAFTAs.
“‘Downton Abbey’ has been a television executive's dream come true: a beautifully-made, returning series that captures a nation's attention and becomes a household name. It's been a game-changer for MASTERPIECE,” said MASTERPIECE Executive Producer Rebecca Eaton. “We are indebted to our UK partners for making a show which will go down in television history, not just for its impeccable writing, acting and production values, but most importantly, for its enormously warm-hearted audience appeal.”
Season 5, which concluded on March 1, was seen by 25.5 million people. The season had a weekly average audience of 12.9 million viewers over its nine-week run, an audience nearly even with that for Season 4 (13.3 million) (Source: Nielsen Live+7 data). “Downton Abbey, Season 5” had impressive online streaming numbers as well, with over 12.6 million streams of full episodes across all PBS and station digital platforms, 13 percent more streams compared to Season 4 (Source: Google Analytics, 1/5-3/15/15). A huge presence on social media, “Downton Abbey” set records for tweets of a PBS show, with Season 5 generating more than 190,000 total tweets and more than 24 million total impressions (Source: Nielsen, 1/4/15 to 3/1/15, live/new). During its nine-week run, “Downton Abbey” placed in Nielsen Social’s Daily Top 5 for series and specials seven times (Source: Nielsen, 1/4/15 to 3/1/15).
“Downton Abbey” has become an indelible part of the popular culture, parodied by Jimmy Fallon and Stephen Colbert, and on “Sesame Street” and “Saturday Night Live.” It has been the topic of countless discussions on Twitter and Facebook, and has garnered as much publicity as any series on television, with the acclaimed cast gracing the covers of Entertainment Weekly and TV Guide and appearing on “TODAY,” “Good Morning America,” “The View” and other popular TV shows.
Julian Fellowes, writer and creator of “Downton Abbey,” said, “The ‘Downton’ journey has been amazing for everyone aboard. People ask if we knew what was going to happen when we started to make the first series and the answer is that, of course we had no idea. Exactly why the series had such an impact and reached so many people around the world, all nationalities, all ages, all types, I cannot begin to explain. But I do know how grateful we are to have been allowed this unique experience. I suspect the show will always be a principal marker in most of our careers as we set out from here, and if so, I consider that a blessing and a compliment.”
“Downton Abbey” is a Carnival Films/MASTERPIECE Co-Production written and created by Julian Fellowes. It is Executive Produced by Gareth Neame, Julian Fellowes, Liz Trubridge and Nigel Marchant. Chris Croucher is the Producer. The Executive Producer for MASTERPIECE is Rebecca Eaton.
--------------------
Series Is Most-Watched Drama in PBS History
Season 5 Seen by 25.5 Million Viewers; Episodes Streamed More Than 12.6 Million Times
BOSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Carnival Films and MASTERPIECE on PBS announced that Season 6 will be the final season of the hit drama series “Downton Abbey.”
“We are indebted to our UK partners for making a show which will go down in television history, not just for its impeccable writing, acting and production values, but most importantly, for its enormously warm-hearted audience appeal.”
Carnival’s Managing Director and Executive Producer of “Downton Abbey,” Gareth Neame said, “Millions of people around the world have followed the journey of the Crawley family and those who serve them for the last five years. Inevitably there comes a time when all shows should end and ‘Downton’ is no exception. We wanted to close the doors of ‘Downton Abbey’ when it felt right and natural for the storylines to come together and when the show was still being enjoyed so much by its fans. We can promise a final season full of all the usual drama and intrigue, but with the added excitement of discovering how and where they all end up…”
A runaway hit since it debuted on PBS in 2011, “Downton Abbey”—a Carnival/MASTERPIECE co-production—is widely credited with reigniting American viewers’ passion for British drama. It is the top PBS drama of all time, the most popular series in MASTERPIECE’s 44-year history, and one of the most-watched dramas on American television, frequently beating the competition in its Sunday night time slot. MASTERPIECE is presented on PBS by WGBH Boston.
“PBS and our member stations have been so proud to be the home of ‘Downton Abbey’ on MASTERPIECE in the United States," said Paula Kerger, President and CEO, PBS. “We, like the fans, simply cannot wait to see what will happen to the Crawley family and their beloved staff as this incredible series culminates in Season 6. The series has enjoyed such success over the past five seasons and we'll certainly be working alongside Carnival, MASTERPIECE and PBS member stations to make Season 6 the biggest yet. Until then, Sunday nights on PBS continue to offer fans a full slate of 'must view' British and, soon, American historical drama."
With 51 Emmy® nominations, more than any other British show in Emmy® history, “Downton Abbey” is one of the most honored series on television. It has won 11 Emmys®, three Golden Globes®, three Screen Actors Guild Awards, a Producers Guild Award, and three BAFTAs.
“‘Downton Abbey’ has been a television executive's dream come true: a beautifully-made, returning series that captures a nation's attention and becomes a household name. It's been a game-changer for MASTERPIECE,” said MASTERPIECE Executive Producer Rebecca Eaton. “We are indebted to our UK partners for making a show which will go down in television history, not just for its impeccable writing, acting and production values, but most importantly, for its enormously warm-hearted audience appeal.”
Season 5, which concluded on March 1, was seen by 25.5 million people. The season had a weekly average audience of 12.9 million viewers over its nine-week run, an audience nearly even with that for Season 4 (13.3 million) (Source: Nielsen Live+7 data). “Downton Abbey, Season 5” had impressive online streaming numbers as well, with over 12.6 million streams of full episodes across all PBS and station digital platforms, 13 percent more streams compared to Season 4 (Source: Google Analytics, 1/5-3/15/15). A huge presence on social media, “Downton Abbey” set records for tweets of a PBS show, with Season 5 generating more than 190,000 total tweets and more than 24 million total impressions (Source: Nielsen, 1/4/15 to 3/1/15, live/new). During its nine-week run, “Downton Abbey” placed in Nielsen Social’s Daily Top 5 for series and specials seven times (Source: Nielsen, 1/4/15 to 3/1/15).
“Downton Abbey” has become an indelible part of the popular culture, parodied by Jimmy Fallon and Stephen Colbert, and on “Sesame Street” and “Saturday Night Live.” It has been the topic of countless discussions on Twitter and Facebook, and has garnered as much publicity as any series on television, with the acclaimed cast gracing the covers of Entertainment Weekly and TV Guide and appearing on “TODAY,” “Good Morning America,” “The View” and other popular TV shows.
Julian Fellowes, writer and creator of “Downton Abbey,” said, “The ‘Downton’ journey has been amazing for everyone aboard. People ask if we knew what was going to happen when we started to make the first series and the answer is that, of course we had no idea. Exactly why the series had such an impact and reached so many people around the world, all nationalities, all ages, all types, I cannot begin to explain. But I do know how grateful we are to have been allowed this unique experience. I suspect the show will always be a principal marker in most of our careers as we set out from here, and if so, I consider that a blessing and a compliment.”
“Downton Abbey” is a Carnival Films/MASTERPIECE Co-Production written and created by Julian Fellowes. It is Executive Produced by Gareth Neame, Julian Fellowes, Liz Trubridge and Nigel Marchant. Chris Croucher is the Producer. The Executive Producer for MASTERPIECE is Rebecca Eaton.
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