The Walking Dead Shamble Over To AMC

In an effort to further distance itself from that pesky “American Movie Classics” moniker, AMC has announced plans to adapt Image Comics’ The Walking Dead as a live-action TV show. Frank Darabont, who has directed a pair of Stephen King prison movies (The Shawshank Redemption and The Green Mile), is set to helm the project. The Dead series (written by Robert Kirkman and illustrated by Charlie Adlard since issue #7) has been around since 2003, and follows a small group of survivors who are trying to survive a zombie apocalypse.

Sounds right up our alley, doesn’t it?

From the beginning, the wonderful thing about this book is that the story has never relied on the gore factor. Its black and white print run has kept the graphic imagery from being over the top, while the plot itself (aside from the obvious) has never been completely horror-driven. It’s more about how people would react given this nightmare set of circumstances, and what they might do to protect their family. At the heart of this band of refugees is the nuclear family unit of Rick Grimes (a small-town police officer from Kentucky), his wife Lori and his son Carl. A lot of the peripheral cast has been ever changing as they meet up with other pockets of survivors, and as they lose people to… well, y’know…brain chompers.

As The Walking Dead pushes past the 64th issue marker (something of a feat for a non-anthology horror book), there will be a wealth of material for the show to delve into. Hopefully AMC will treat this venture with as much respect and attention as they have with Mad Men, and we can all look forward to multiple seasons of undead action…
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In related news, NBC has just ordered a pilot script for DC Comics’ Vertigo mini-series Midnight, Mass. The original story follows a husband and wife team, Adam and Julia Kadmons, as they travel the world solving supernatural mysteries. In the book, the monster baddie had a connection to the Kadmons that was slowly revealed. What direction the project will take (if it has any life in it) is too early to tell.

That's it for now, kids. What do you think the odds are of either of these shows having legs? Better than The Middleman? (God I miss that show!) Let me know your thoughts in the comments section...

1001 Reasons To Strangle The Talking Chin

I hate you Jay Leno.

Yes, it’s completely irrational. I mean, granted, I’ve never thought you were all that funny. In fact, you have actually annoyed me at your inability to make me laugh coupled with the fact that your chin looks like it was grown in a lab using steroids and ape DNA. But none of that has ever actually affected me until now.

So, what is it that you’ve done? Well, your shift to prime time TV next fall is a move into my friends’ neighborhood. Suddenly there are 5 less spots for my buddies to live, since you took up so much space. Chuck’s job at the Buy More barely covers rent, and do you think Morgan’s got any money to lend him? Or the DuBois family – Alison’s psychic abilities sure didn’t detect this kind of betrayal. Thanks a lot, pal – you couldn’t have just found a nice retirement home for late night hosts?!

Okay, realistically, I know it’s not Jay Leno’s fault. But he’s a good face to attach my anger to. After all, I don’t even know what Jeff Zucker (chief executive of NBC Universal) looks like, so I can’t even shake a fist in his general direction. What has Mr. Zucker done, you ask? Well, he’s the one who wooed Leno into the 10 p.m. time slot in a bid to both retain his audience and keep Jay himself from jumping boat to a competing network. It makes financial sense – a “Tonight Show v. 2.0” is a guarantee to hard-to-please advertisers, and it’s much cheaper to produce than a scripted drama. But when late night shows start bleeding into prime time, it begs the question – how many do we really need?

The even bigger quandary: what happens to the current scripted landscape? E.R. is taking its final bow this year, so at least that’s one less headache. And despite denials from Knight Rider’s show runners, I think we can safely start planning the funeral for that clunker as well. Plus, sadly, Life never got the push that it deserved, leaving Charlie Crews and Co. on the seriously endangered list as well. But the most surprising exit possibility would come from one of the “Must See TV” comedies. My Name Is Earl hits local syndication next year, and unless it gets cheaper to produce/license, it could be left on the chopping block with the atrocious Kath & Kim.

And NBC has already attempted some cost-cutting measures this season by sharing production costs of Friday Night Lights with DirecTV (and letting them air the episodes first), which staved off cancellation for one year. But unless DirecTV agrees to pick up even more of the tab next season, FNL might be a goner as well. Similarly, we’ve seen some of the 500 or so Law & Order titles migrating to the USA network (which, along with the SciFi Channel, is also owned by NBC Universal) to chop the budget, so another L & O move wouldn’t be shocking.

Which leaves shows like Chuck and Medium scrambling for any remaining slots. Mr. Zucker, if you’re reading this I’ll give you a hint: pick up Chuck. Vastly entertaining, wonderful cast, a blend of action and comedy that just WORKS. You gave it a chance picking it up for a full order before this season started – now just stick with that gut feeling. Promo the hell out of it, and let other people fall in love with this underrated gem. Start selling merchandise - hell, I'd chip in for a Chuck lunchbox, a Nerd Herd VW Matchbox car or some Intersect Underoos! I do love Medium, but I’m hoping that CBS (who produces the show) would pick it up on their own network (which they’ve threatened to do every year). I’d love to see both back, but that may mean I’d have to strangle the talking chin to free up some air time.

Damn you, Jay Leno!

If it would save Life too, I’d choke the monologue out of him right now. I bet I could get Conan O'Brien on-board for this plan...

The Best Of Fall TV - Part 6 (Wrapping Up Wednesday Nights)

Not much left for Wednesdays, and one of these almost doesn’t count – you’ll see what I mean…

1. Pushing Daisies (ABC) – (Starts tonight) I’ve gushed enough about this show at the end of the last season (Don’t believe me? Check here.), so I’ll spare the synopsis. So where did we leave off last year? Let’s see – Chuck’s forgiven the Piemaker for accidentally killing her father when he brought his own mother back from the dead. Oh yeah, and a drugged up Lily reveals that she is actually Chuck’s mother. Huh – didn’t see that one coming. Tonight, the unlucky murder victim of the week is Kentucky Fitz, who died in a tragic bee-related incident. It’s a good thing Chuck has that bee-keeping suit then, isn’t it? Don’t miss out on your second chance to jump onboard this show – beyond the fact that it’s one of the most visually stunning shows you’ll ever see, the adult fairytale that’s unfolding is one of the most sweetly funny things on TV. (Oh, and you could just get the Season 1 DVD set here to catch up.)

2. Friday Night Lights (DirecTV) – (Starts tonight – for some of us) What pisses me off more: the fact that this fantastic show is on a channel I can’t receive without switching providers, the idea that the show won’t replay on its original home on NBC ‘til Spring, or the knowledge that even when it finally does play on NBC, the episodes will be trimmed down (there are “DirecTV exclusives” in the first airings, essentially extra scenes that won’t show up in the replay)? I’m going to go with “D”, all of the above. Grrrrr – we’ll talk more in the Spring, kids…

3. South Park (Comedy Central) – (Starts October 8th) What hijinks will the kids get into this year? Only time will tell, but let’s hope that the show is ready to take on some of the lousy political and economic situations going on around us. At its best, the show has given us a good look at current topics, simplifying it to a ridiculous degree, and often showing us how stupid it all is. The episode where the kids went to Afghanistan and did the old Bugs Bunny/Elmer Fudd routine substituting Cartman and Bin Laden was a bit of genius. Now if we can just get Parker and Stone to keep away from the dookie jokes and get back to that brand of storytelling, I bet there’s a Roadrunner/Wile E. Coyote gag with Obama and McCain somewhere in there…

The premiere grid, should you still need it, is here.

The Best Of Fall TV - Part 4 (Wrapping Up Monday Night's Schedule)

For a full synopsis of the shows I'm recommending here, use the handy time-travel feature to the right (the archives, silly). I did promos for most of these programs in May and June. For now, let’s focus on what’s coming up for the new season.

1. Chuck (NBC) – (Starts tonight) Here’s the one I’ve been waiting for – just an amazing blend of over-the-top action with zany comedy thrown in. So where did we leave off? Oh yeah, Casey was ordered to kill Chuck once the new Intersect was complete. Jeez, I hope they don’t kill off the main character, huh? On the bright side, it looks like Chuck may get to go on a real date with Sarah tonight – and she doesn’t even have to wear the Wienerlicious outfit. Dang. (For a better description, check out my previous post here.)

2. Life (NBC) – (Starts tonight) Okay NBC, let’s hope you know what you’re doing. They’re taking this sophomore drama, a complex conspiracy theory show interlaced with a weekly procedural, and pumping out two episodes a week for its first two weeks. One episode on Monday and one on Friday, until it switches to Fridays full time on October 17th - where it will hopefully not die a slow death in that dead zone of a night. For now though, a strong premiere episode featuring a new serial killer. This one lets his victims suffocate in trunks, strategically places them around town, and sends a riddle as to their location. Sounds like we might need Batman for this one – or Charlie Crews, since this is his show. (Check this out for a better show description.)

3. Prison Break (Fox) – Okay, this one has been on for nearly a month now, but I’m just getting around to checking things out on Tivo. While it is most certainly a guilty pleasure of a show, Prison Break has done a pretty good job of reinventing itself this season. We’re finally starting to get a glimpse of The Company, the uber-mysterious organization that has been trying to kill Michael and friends from day one. But now, with Michael “officially” leading his team to take down The Company? It’s been a fun ride so far, let’s hope they can keep it up…

4. My Own Worst Enemy (NBC) – (Starts October 13th) Guess what’s taking Life’s spot in the Monday rotation? Yep, this Christian Slater vehicle. I’m sure you’ve seen the ads – Slater plays a character who is unaware that he is leading a double life as both a suburban nobody and a secret agent. Is it schizophrenia? Hypnosis? Will one of the personalities sound oddly similar to Jack Nicholson? I guess we’ll find that out together…

5. Samantha Who? (ABC) – (Starts October 13th) Chronicling the life of an amnesiac (Christina Applegate) who used to be a bitch, but is now (at least temporarily) a sweetheart. This sitcom was a wonderful departure from the usual crappy formula, largely due to the phenomenal cast. Hopefully the second year can live up to the promise of the first. (And obviously, we’re very happy about Applegate’s full recovery this summer.)

Maybe tomorrow I can actually get to the Tuesday schedule. Or maybe I’ll sleep in again. Time will tell…

The Best Of Fall TV - Part 3 (Thursday Nights)

So, how fun was that presidential address last night, huh? I got home expecting to see Criminal Minds, only to see W’s big dopey face talking about the wonderful shape our economy is in. Grrrr. Not much new to report for Thursdays until October 9th, but we do have a few favorites that are returning tonight. (And a couple that started last week on the CW…)

1. Supernatural (CW) – There just aren’t enough monster-driven shows anymore. I mean, sure, Lost has its fair share of scares, but even those are some kind of high-tech island security so it just doesn’t inspire the same kind of fear. But Supernatural? Besides the demons they fight on a weekly basis, who are always good for some good old-fashioned civilian disemboweling, we also get a rogues gallery of monsters from a variety of mythologies – from your usual baddies like vamps and ghosts to more odd fair, like the “Anti-Santa” that dragged its victims up through a chimney. Great creature-feature flair with a generous dose of humor makes this another show that I can’t wait to watch. And last week’s season opener certainly didn’t disappoint. (*Spoilers ahead) They didn’t drag out the whole “Oh, Dean’s been ripped apart by a Hellhound and dragged into the fiery pits” storyline – I mean, boo-hoo, right? No, they brought him right back – and in the opening sequence, we see Dean dragging his sorry butt out of his own grave. Quite the comeback. Of course, things can never be simple for the Winchester boys, so why would his resurrection come without strings attached? Let’s just say that Angels might not be the folklore the boys thought they were, and that this season might start a whole new path…

2. The Return of Funny On NBC: My Name Is Earl and The Office – Ah, Earl – I love you so. But last season, you left me to go to jail – and you dragged out that bit for waaaaay too long. Then you got out and married Alyssa Milano, who seemed like she was perfect for you! Hooray! But then she turned into a psycho and made things unpleasant once again. Boo! But by the end of the season, things got back on the rails, Earl was set to start working the karma list again, and goodness prevailed. So hopefully this season will make me renew my love – and what better way to start than with tonight’s double-shot. Two new episodes! Then The Office takes over, and I confess I have no idea what’s going on – I’m one of the few people who didn’t catch on from the start, so I’ve got years of back story to fill in, which seems daunting. But this thing has one of the funniest men alive, Steve Carell, along with a fantastic cast – so what are you waiting for, go watch it…

3. Ugly Betty (ABC) – Christie (13) from Ohmagosh, Michigan writes: “OMG – So, like, Betty totally had to choose between Gio and Henry at the end of last season. I mean, Gio is, like, completely dreamy, so it seems like a no-brainer – but she totally had that fairytale romance thing going with that nerd Henry, even though he knocked up that skanky ex-girlfriend of his! And Henry was all like “I’m down on one knee with a ring” and stuff, so, it has to be him, right blogman?”
Or not. Since Christopher Gorham (the actor who plays Henry) has signed on to Harper’s Ferry, a midseason show on CBS, I wouldn’t expect much in the long-term for a Betty-Henry pairing. And what about all those other loose ends from the finale? Was it going to be Wilhemina or Daniel running Mode? Was Tony Diaz going to stay with his wife or move on to Hilda? And wasn’t Christina still Wilhemina’s baby mama? Presumably, we’ll find out at least ONE of those answers tonight…

4. Smallville (CW) – (This show started last week as well) Yes, I’m still going to watch. Lex was supposed to be Clark’s bald-headed arch-nemesis for all time, and Michael Rosenbaum did a superb job playing the role (to the point where he just looked abnormal WITH hair, as seen in Sorority Boys). And Lana – okay, she was getting a bit melodramatic towards the end, right? I mean, even IN the coma? Still, the fact that both of these characters will only be in a handful of episodes from this season isn’t going to help the show – but adding Green Arrow as more of a regular should boost things a bit. Oh, and we’ll see more of the Young Justice League. And hopefully a lot more for Chloe and Jimmy, who have become the most fun part of the show. Now if they could only get the rights to introduce that young Bruce Wayne character – then, we’d be talkin’!

5. It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia (FX) – (Another show that started last week – but the plots are insane, you can pretty much just jump on whenever you want…)
Here’s a quick synopsis of the FX sitcom: Take the premise of Friends, and substitute the main characters with self-centered misanthropes. Now switch out the coffee house for a dive bar. Then get Monica and Ross hooked on crack, turn Chandler into Phoebe’s creepy stalker and have Joey bang Rachel’s Mom. What’s that retching noise – oh, you get the basic idea? I find that once you stop questioning whether or not you’re going to Hell every time you laugh out loud, it’s a lot easier to digest. The fact that the double-dose of goodness in last week’s premiere saw this band of freaks switching gears between possibly being cannibals and selling gas door-to-door as part of a get-rich-quick scheme just makes sense – if you’re insane enough to follow their logic. And once you can do that, you’ll laugh so hard that milk will come out your nose – even when you’re not drinking any. It’s THAT funny. But make no mistake – you are going to Hell for laughing. And I’ll be right there next to you, since this is one of my favorite shows…

That’s it for now – I’ll preview the other new Thursday shows soon. And again, for a premiere grid go here.

The Best Of Fall TV – Part 2 (Wednesday Nights)

Okay, on to the Wednesday shows…

Hold on, what the hell happened to the Tuesday shows?
Ummmm… would you believe that the zombie hordes came back and I had to fight them off again? No? Okay, I overslept yesterday – I promise to get back to it soon. Are we okay?
Yeah, but don’t let it happen again. I was sitting in front of the TV all Tuesday night with no idea what to watch, and now my head hurts. But I do like that commercial with the monkey washing the cat!
Who doesn’t? Listen, I’m sorry I broke your brain, but we’ve GOT to move on…

New Shows – Wednesdays Are Slim Pickings

1. Knight Rider (NBC) – Oh boy! A talking car again! Mommy, can we please watch this show?! Yeah, they’ve resurrected another old show on NBC – I guess they didn’t learn from the poorly handled debacle that was The Bionic Woman. From what I hear, though, the Knight Rider TV movie that aired earlier this year (and served as a back-door pilot – tee-hee, that sounds naughty) was very well-received – thus the new show. Still a talking car show, however you cut it. I’m still holding out for that long-delayed crossover remake of Diff’rent Strokes and The A-Team, with Gary Coleman in full Mr. T costume – “What you talkin’ ‘bout, Fool?!”

2. Gary Unmarried (CBS) – Am I mad that Jay Mohr abandoned his comic relief post on Ghost Whisperer? Sure. Am I willing to overlook that slight if this lets him live up to his comic potential? Certainly. I just worry that no show will ever allow him the freedom to be the hilarious a-hole that he was in Action (available on DVD) with his mentor, Buddy Hackett. At any rate, THIS show focuses on Gary as he deals with trying to balance his old life (his ex-wife and two kids from a 15-year marriage) and his new girlfriend. Sound familiar? Yeah, it’s basically New Adventures of Old Christine if the lead was male, add one child. I’m counting on Mohr to spice that up – plus, I’ve had a little crush on Paula Marshall (who plays Gary's ex) since the original version of Cupid hit TV in ‘98…
(*Side note – you do know that Rob Thomas, the genius behind Veronica Mars, is revamping Cupid as a midseason show, right? No, Jeremy Piven will not be back to reprise the title role, but did I mention Rob Thomas?! Fan-frakkin’-tastic news – that might even tide us over ‘til the Veronica Mars movie…)

3. Do Not Disturb (Fox) – I’m just saying that this show is new – I’m NOT endorsing it. Granted, all I saw was a leaked pre-season pilot, but it was B-A-D spells lousy. Ritzy hotel with skinny model-types at the front desk in uncomfortable-yet-sexy attire and high heels, while people in the support department downstairs want to work upstairs - yet might be too “large” to meet requirements. That ongoing battle creates hijinks, and supposedly, hilarity will ensue. Did I mention that Jerry O’Connell was in this wreck – he hasn’t picked an appropriate vehicle since he stepped through his last wormhole in Sliders, so if that says anything…

Old Standards

1. Bones (Fox) – I’m not a huge fan of procedurals, but the fact that I rush home to watch this show should speak volumes. Funny and dark, this show pairs the investigative talents of the FBI – specifically, agent Seeley Both (played by the phenomenal David Boreanaz) – with those of the “squints” at the Jeffersonian Institution in Washington D.C. – led by Dr. Temperance “Bones” Brennan (played by the lovely Emily Deschanel – yes, Zooey is her sister). Each week, a fairly gross set of bones is found, and the team sets about investigating – generally with a great deal of internal bickering, simmering sexual tension and outright slapstick comedy. And the fact that Boreanaz broke the mold of the dark-and-brooding vampire from his years playing Angel (on both Buffy and his eponymous spin-off) to portray this light-hearted, smiling character is a testament to his abilities, and to the show’s writers. The truth is, Bones has accumulated one of the finest ensemble casts in TV. Luck, coincidence, perfection – call it what you will. Just watch, though – things just seem to keep getting better…

2. Criminal Minds (CBS) – I know, I know – I said I don’t love procedurals, yet I’ve lumped two together in one section for one night. Sue me, I’m fickle! First off, don’t believe anything you read in USA Today – they’re infamous for bashing this show, saying that it’s too dark and violent. Well, for those of us who LIKE the darkness? Let’s not forget that it’s just entertainment, kids. Another fantastic cast, although not quite as amazing since swapping out Mandy Patinkin for Joe Mantegna as team leader. But the dynamics between the rest of the team (especially the silly and fun tech agent, Penelope Garcia) keep the foundational bonds strong. And tonight, we finally get the answer to who got blowed up in the season finale – they showed multiple agents getting into their SUVs, but no clear shot of which one was exploding. While I quietly hate them for making me wait, I NEED to know, dangit!

More soon, people – but for those of you who want a handy chart with premiere dates and fun links, go here.

The Best Of Fall TV - Part 1 (Monday Nights - Yes, Belated)

Fall TV actually started a couple of weeks ago, so why the delay? Well, networks seem to be unfurling their new schedules slowly, possibly due to the writers’ strike having stunted the progress of new shows. At any rate, they’re just tossing out a few new nuggets every week. So, are those nuggets gold or something that came out of Lassie’s posterior? I’ll try to clue you in during the next few weeks – but my Tivo has been smoking and rumbling with the amount of new stuff in the “To Do” list, so be patient!

This week in particular is a big one, so stick with me – I’m taking you onto the front lines:

1. Returning And New Monday Comedies On CBS – You can either try to give your funny bone more Calcium, or just tune into CBS tonight. I can promise that the 8-9pm hour of How I Met Your Mother and The Big Bang Theory is possibly the funniest 60 minutes of the week. (Alone, I think My Name Is Earl could probably still kick either of their butts. But together? I’m pretty sure Leonard would trip Earl while Barney taunted him while he was down.) Tonight, we get introduced to Worst Week – which is yet another British remake, and could go either way. The plot seems a bit thin – a groom-to-be makes a (repeatedly) bad impression on his future in-laws. But there have been worse ideas that have turned into great shows, so I’ll try it out – plus, Week features Red Forman (Kurtwood Smith) from That 70’s Show. Who knows?
(Some might question my omission of Two And A Half Men. I’ve never gotten around to watching it, and I simply don’t have time to get hooked on any more TV. ‘Nuff Said.)

2. Monday Is Heroes Night On NBC – Three. Hours. Of. Heroes. Wow. So what’s going on tonight? Well, the first hour is a catch-up clip show. You can’t have a huge conspiracy/
superhero/serialized drama without the ability to catch new viewers up before your new story arc starts - that would just be silly. Will they gloss over the fact that season 2 of the hit drama found them losing viewers because they kinda went off the track, storywise? Will they play down the idea that the strike ending that story might have been the best thing that could have happened? Most definitely on both counts. But that just gave the writers/creators time to sift through fan feedback and retool.
So whats’s up for new stuff? Well, the fact that the name of the new arc is “Villains” should clue you into some of it. At the end of last year’s finale, we saw Sylar regaining power, so you can bet your sweet patootie he’s involved. And there looks to be a slew of big bads we haven’t seen yet.
And Dark Claire. Yeah, they’ve been doing the promo shots implying that the former cheerleader will end up as one of the baddies. But with Peter’s/Hiro’s ability to time travel, we’ve seen that all futures are not destined to be – so we’ll wait impatiently and see. At it’s best, this show had the ability to do what an old Buffy episode did for me on a weekly basis – it left you with a “What the f…?” moment that made you both hate the writers for making you wait until the following week for an answer and simultaneously love them for making you invested enough to need to know. I’m hoping for another season like THAT.

3. Terminator-y Goodness On Fox – (*WARNING - Spoilers ahead*) I know I’ve already talked up The Sarah Connor Chronicles, but it needs to be said again. It’s fun. It’s pretty. It’s pretty fun. Seriously though, the opening montage to the first episode of the second season (yes, it started on the 8th, so sue me) alone is why the show is worth watching. There was no dialogue, only music (the incomparable talent of Shirley Manson of Garbage – who also happens to play the new uber-villain – doing a remake of “Samson & Delilah”). Yet, during that opening sequence, we wrap up the cliffhanger from last season with Cameron walking out of the blown-up Jeep while Sarah and John escape their bonds and defeat their captor. Sounds peachy, right? Did I mention that Cameron accidentally started a house fire on her way in (which threatens to burn our heroes alive), and that she tries to kill John when her damaged processing chip orders her to “Terminate”? Things are never simple for this crew.
And Shirley Manson’s villainous move at the end of the episode? Morphing from a urinal to reveal that she’s a T-1000 style Terminator? Besides bringing a whole new meaning to Porta-Potty, it tells me that this second season has a few new tricks in its bag. (And even more impressive would be how the geeky Brian Austin Green from Beverly Hills 90210 has transformed into grizzled freedom fighter Derek Reese – and has actually been believable.)

That’s all the tidbits for now – there will be more updates from here on, and even more Monday night stuff. Just hold on ‘til then, kids…

A Wonderful Week To Be A Geek: New Web Productions From Both Joss Whedon and Heroes

TWO new web series in one week? I may not be able to contain my geekthusiasm! It’s like Christmas morning, when you come downstairs to find the chocolate eggs hidden inside the Jack-O-Lantern. Too…much…goodness!

Is it True? The genius behind Buffy, Angel and Firefly is trying his hand at… musical comedy? Oh, come on – you know you’ve seen the Buffy episode “Once More With Feeling” a thousand times, and what would you call that? Joss Whedon’s latest project is “Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog” (click the link – you know you want to), and it’s one good thing that came from the Writers Guild picket lines. Mr. Whedon and some other folks (including his brothers Zack and Jed) were talking about how to circumvent the whole studio system to produce something fairly cheap to distribute on their own terms. And here we are – there are three 10-minute Acts to this comedic musical oddity. Each will be released on a separate day during this week (Act One on July 15th, Act Two on July 17th and Act Three on July 19th), but *poof*, they all disappear at midnight on July 20th.

But why do they have to go away? And what the hell is this thing even ABOUT, anyway? Keep your pants on people – you’ll still be able to download the series for a fee, or you can wait to buy the DVD. Joss would actually like to be able to pay some of the crew after all… As for what it’s about – I’ll leave that to Joss: “It’s the story of a low-rent super-villain, the hero who keeps beating him up, and the cute girl from the laundromat he’s too shy to talk to.” says Whedon. “Doctor Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog” will star Neil Patrick Harris as Dr. Horrible, Nathan Fillion as Captain Hammer, Felicia Day as Penny and a cast of dozens.” (For Whedon’s whole manifesto about the project, click here.)

And NBC’s Heroes starts their first series of webisodes this week, too? It’s true - we may not have to leave the house all week! “Going Postal” is a trilogy as well, starting on Monday July 14th, with new chapters the following two Mondays. We are introduced to Echo De Mille, a mailman who seems to have a Black Canary-like sonic scream thing going on - and Mama Petrelli from the regular show seems to be along for the ride.


While you’re at the Heroes site, check out the web comics they have. There’s a new one posted every Monday, regardless of whether or not the show is airing new episodes. Do these people know how to treat us geeks or what?

Have fun everyone!