Logopolis

links for 2009-10-31

• Light-Skin Brothers Making A Comeback
  Ta-Nehisi Coates has a post about his feelings about 80s pop diversity that brings together the personal and political in a way that blogging was invented for. Well, it's probably not the reason it was invented. That was just ease of publishing. But why it's popular. No that's not right easier. That's cat pictures and incoherent partisan ranting. But why it's important and awesome and why I still wear my Blogger sweatshirt proudly even though I use typepad. This description has nothing to do with the post itself, but you should still read it because it's rock star writing.
  (tags: Ta-NehisiCoates culture race Prince Vanity biracial ILovethe80s)

Spoiler Alert

With all the behind the scenes drama at the remake of V, poster vandalism probably isn't all that big of a worry, especially since this particular vandalism isn't telling anybody who is actually interested something they don't already know.  Still though, it made me laugh.

You know what looks unexpectedly great?

The commercials for Astroboy.

Sent from my iPhone

New Doctor Who logo

Behold the awesomeness...

I can't believe it's taken them this long to do a TARDIS with the DW. It seems so obvious.

And also awesome.

Of course, some people hate it.

I, however, am pretty happy.

Like wondering where on my person the little DW tattoo should go happy

Tight Levis

So the back page of today's Red Eye we learn that Levi Johnston is logging mucho gym time in preperation for his appearance in Playgirl. Isn't it nice that somebody in that whole messed up clan has some follow through?

On the other hand, don't strain yourself. We liked you fine just they way you were. On a third hand, overly muscled hockey players...mmnmm.

Sent from my iPhone (which explains why there is sadly no illustration to this post)

links for 2009-10-02

• Top Ten People Who Laughed at Letterman's Show Last Night | The Blog | Chicago Reader
  Personally, I think Dave can keep making as many jokes about adultery as he wants. He's a comedian and that's his job. Making jokes isn't the same thing as passing judgment. It's not like he didn't even mock himself during his public confessional last night. unless some really, much more prurient details come out, I think Letterman may come out of this on a better place (professionally at least) The incident has created buzz and his apology, despite what the celebrity pundits (God, it makes me ill that there even are such a thing) on the Today show thought, the apology worked, seemed sincere, and probably saved him from a much bigger fiasco. His personal choices might not have been the wisest, but from the moment he started getting blackmailed, it seems like he's handled this very intelligently.
  (tags: letterman scandal topten chicagoreader)
• 'How I Met Your Mother’' exclusive: Rachel Bilson cast as you-know-who?! | Ausiello | EW.com
  "In what could turn out to be the mother of all casting scoops, Rachel Bilson has landed a pivotal — some would say legendary — role in How I Met Your Mother’s 100th episode." She may or may not be the titular mother, but either way, I love me some Rachel Bilson and I love me some HIMYM, so this pleases me.
  (tags: television EntertainmentWeekly HowIMetYouMother)

"Gee, I'm real sorry your mom blew up Ricky." // Review of The Boys Are Back (and I don't care)

Hmmmmm...

That's how I felt leaving The Boys are Back, the new movie starring Clive Owen as a widower raising his six year old son and re-acquainting himself with his teenage son from a previous marriage.  On one hand, it was a well acted (Owen is great and the kid actors are so believable you are almost certain someone's mom was murdered or someone's dad left him as a kid just to get the performances) with well written scenes (the part from the trailer where the six year old asks if his half-brother will like him is even better in the movie) and beautiful cinematography of southern Australia etc. etc.

On the other hand, even though it works through this tragic story in a somewhat believable way, I left feeling, to quote an overused Internet meme and favorite Lisa Simpson comeback:

Meh.

Maybe it's because the inspired-by-a-true-story story took a lot of dramatic twists that felt a little fake yet I excused them because they were probably the actual moments that were true. And didn't really care. Also, there were a number of creative licenses, including *spoiler alert* the conversations with dead wife who appeared on the screen as if she was there until she was not.  The first time this happened I wanted to punch the screen and yell "Come on, don't do that!" But by the end, I felt it was justified by the way it had all unfolded. But that's all it was -- justified by structure. They earned it from a coldly critical perspective. But certainly not emotionally. It's like the movie was a well put together gown on Project Runway but I was Nina Garcia down in the judge's row thinking, "God, I sure can see the seams."

I went along with the ride. I laughed at the right parts. I sighed sadly at the right parts. But I never guffawed. And I never wept. If a movie's sole existence is based on pulling your heart strings, but it only plucks, never tugs, I don't think it's a success.

And it's a freaking true story with Clive Owen and a six year old boy acting their freaking hearts out regarding the death of their wife/mother.  And I was left judging the performances. And cold.

(seriously, a hot loving man continually calls his young son "sweetheart" and I was barely moved...either my heart is dying or this movie didn't quite work... I think it's the latter... at least I hope)

James Franco "Travels on the Pineapple Express" , Accepts Role on General Hospital

As you know, I'm the last person in the world to diss soap operas as a genre. I, in fact, believe that I am their biggest supporter. But General Hospital in the last five+ years has gone from the wonderful show that I adored so much that I watched its spin off when it premiered in prime time to...well, a nearly unrecognizable, often tone deaf show that supports murderous mobsters over the former good guys and doesn't care that Luke cheated on Laura back when they were on the run with Lucky in Canada  before coming back to the show in the 90s. (If you don't know what that means, let's just say it's FUCKING sacrilege)

So it is with mixed feelings, to say the least, for me to report that James Franco is pulling a Macdonald Carey and going from big time movie star to soap star... a career path that is, shall we say, untraditional. On one hand, soaps are dying off very quickly and I think it'd be a sad, sad day if that happens completely. On the other hand, why isn't he on Young and the Restless or One Life to Live or a soap that doesn't currently suck?  (Actually, those are the only two with anything going for them these days, except for those cute gay guys who everybody seems to love on As the World Turns.)

Seriously, this is just weird

links for 2009-10-01

• Cheese or Font
  Guess which is which based on the name. Harder and more fun than you might think.
  (tags: typography Fonts game humor food)
• Rally in Chicago for Gay Rights
  "LGBT Change, a local grassroots initiative founded late last year, is organizing the Chicago rally, which starts at 1p.m., Oct 11, under the Picasso statue." More on this later maybe but mark your calendar just in case
  (tags: Chicago Gay activism)
• Gossip Girl's Little J gets a new bad-boy beau
  Kevin Zegers was awesome -- and delicious -- in Transamerica, so this could be a very, very good thing. Of course, I didn't like Michelle Trachtenberg on Buffy and I love her as Georgina so I suppose the reverse could happen.
  (tags: TVSquad GossipGirl television)