Doctor Who
Series 6, Episode 2 (Day of the Moon) and 3 (The Curse of the Black Spot)
Directed by Toby Haynes (Day of the Moon) and Jeremy Webb (The Curse of the Black Spot)
Written by Steven Moffat (Day of the Moon) and Steve Thompson (The Curse of the Black Spot)
Staring: Matt Smith, Karen Gillan, Arthur Darvill, Alex Kingston, Mark Sheppard, Stuart Milligan, Chukwudi Iwuji, Hugh Bonneville, Lily Cole, and Frances Barber
BBC America
Air date: April 30, May 7, 2011

Exams put my review of the new Doctor Who episodes Day of the Moon behind a bit more than I’d like, so I figured I’d lump it in with my The Curse of the Black Spot review. This ended up being a good thing, cause I have lots to say about one of these episodes and not so much to say about the other. Hit the jump for the full review [...]

In one of perhaps the most unusual cameos to ever happen in Doctor Who ever, NBC’s Meredith Vieira from the Today show makes an appearance on one of the closing episodes of the current series. After filming her cameo, Vieira aired a segment on her morning talk show, which you can check out at the bottom of this post.

Vieira’s segment not only features some cool “in-character” interviews with The Doctor (Matt Smith) and River Song (Alex Kingston), but some spoilery revelations as well.

While I love the fact that showrunner Steven Moffat and the Doctor Who crew give out little tidbits, teasers, and clues in the lead-up to the airing of episodes; I’m extremely surprised that they let some of these spoilers slip out (and be seen!) in Vieira’s segment for the Today show.

That being said, some of the footage and discussion in the video does match up with some of the theories that we’ve recently been discussing on the TARDISblend podcast [...]

NBC has been known for producing some pretty unwatchable shows in the past — the later seasons of Heroes and The Cape jump to mind — but even they see things for what they are before it’s too late on occasion.

It’s being reported that NBC has chosen to pass up on the Wonder Woman TV series they once saved from death. After many attempts to make the heroine into a movie, Warner Brothers decided to try the TV format. At one point it looked like no one would even touch the show, which was being developed by David E. Kelley, but then rose NBC, out of the shadows to pay some major coin to give Wonder Woman her shot.

Much work was done to prepare a pilot, which was filmed and delivered to what was said to be some “positive reactions,” but when it came down to choosing their fall lineup, NBC decided the show just wasn’t worth putting more money into. [...]

The Gold Box spotlight deal of the day over at Amazon today is Firefly Complete Series collection on Blu-ray for only $23.49 (that’s 74% off the list price of $89.98).

This deal is good only for today, Friday, May 13, 2011, until midnight PST while supplies last.

This Blu-ray edition comes with 14 episodes of the Joss Whedon scifi space western television series Firefly, which was canceled much too prematurely by Fox back in 2002 before the first season was even completed. This set includes the last three episodes that never aired on television.

Below is a run-down from the product page of the episode/special features that appear on the 3-disc Blu-ray set [...]

It’s seemed for a while now that CBS would be replacing Charlie Sheen on their hit sitcom Two and a Half Men instead of working things out with him or canceling the show all together.

For a while there was a “mystery man” they wanted to bring on to replace Sheen, and it was just revealed that this mystery actor was actually Hugh Grant, who ultimately decided to turn down the job. But it appears that the network had a back-up plan well in place already as it’s being reported that Sheen’s replacement has in fact been chosen.

Multiple sources close to the show are saying that CBS and That ’70s Show star Ashton Kutcher are putting the “final touches” on a deal that would see Kutcher taking over for Sheen, who famously went off the deep end before being fired by the network recently, and is currently capitalizing on that highly publicized meltdown with his own tour. [...]

So Alpha Flight is Canada’s premiere super hero team. The entire team has been killed off at least once in the last couple of years, probably even more. Somehow though those resilient buggers are back to kick some butt in an all new miniseries coming from Marvel Comics.

Writers Greg Pak and Fred Van Lente and artist Dale Eaglesham will be offering up their take on the super team. This new 8-issue miniseries is a Fear Itself tie-in that finds Canada in the grip of fear and their greatest protectors named as enemies of the state. So it appears this story will follow Alpha Flight as they battle the fear and try to restore order to the Great White North.

Alpha Flight 1 of 8 hits store shelves on June 6, 2011. Check out these early images [...]

For most big fans of IO Interactive’s Hitman franchise, it’s been known that the studio was very likely working on a long-awaited fifth title, though no official announcement had been made…until now.

Yes, after many rumors bathed in other rumors cuddled up in cozy blankets of rumors — a rumor Snuggie, if you will — we finally have official word: Hitman 5 is coming, and it will be titled Hitman: Absolution…which of course had been rumored recently.

You can read some new details about the game and see the very brief but exciting teaser trailer by clicking on over to the other side now.

According to 1UP, IO made the announcement via a press release with some new details in regards to what we can expect. The new game is “built from the ground up” with an entirely new engine (the Glacier 2 engine), and though it will still have that stealthy gameplay fans crave out of a Hitman game, there will be some new features to enjoy as well. [...]

Flashpoint #1
Written by Geoff Johns
Art by Andy Kubert
Inks by Sandra Hope
Colors by Alex Sinclair
Lettering by Nick J. Napolitano
Price: $3.99
Release Date: May 11, 2011

The world has changed, and Geoff Johns and Andy Kubert are responsible.

Readers of Johns’ recent stint on The Flash know that a big story has been building centering around The Flash’s arch rival Professor Zoom, aka The Reverse Flash. Aged bodies have turned up dead, and it seems that Zoom has found a way to bring the past, present, and future all to one moment in time, and all we know is that this can prove to be extremely dangerous.

Flashpoint is DC’s big summertime event that focuses on a displaced Barry Allen in an unfamiliar world, and honestly, I felt like Barry Allen when I read this comic.

Spoilers abound below for Flashpoint #1 so proceed with caution [...]

Chapter one of the Dark Angel Saga begins in June in Uncanny X-Force 11!

X-Force is Wolverine’s elite hit squad of mutants now in chaos due to Warren Worthington giving in fully to the darkness and becoming the Arc Angel. In an attempt to find a cure the team finds themselves in the Age of Apocalypse! No cure for Worthington will be found before the X-Force does battle with the Amazing X-Men though.

All of this sounds pretty melodramatic huh? Everything old is new again in the Marvel U these days. Hopefully the story will be entertaining enough to make it worth it. Rick Remender will be writing with art by Mark Brooks and Dean White. Check out these early images and if you’re so inclined grab Uncanny X-Force 11 on June 6, 2011 [...]

For thirty years, metal band Anthrax has been revered as one of the leaders of its genre. Part of the Big Four with Metallica, Megadeth, and Slayer, they are the instigators and pioneers of thrash metal. For over a year now, the Big Four tour and festival appearances have been the greatest live music draw for rock and metal fans.

It has been ten years since Anthrax lead guitarist Rob Caggiano first joined the metal superiors. Currently he has a lot on his plate: the Big Four, a new Anthrax album, and his other band, The Damned Things; but Rob was kind enough to stop for a chat. I encountered a funny, humble guy during the most fruitful period of his music career.

Geeks of Doom: Hi Rob, how are you?

Rob Caggiano: I’m good, man. Just been crazy, crazy busy doing the Big Four stuff and The Damned Things. There’s a lot going on! [laughs] We’re also trying to finish the Anthrax record too. It’s been fucking hectic [...]

The $10 t-shirt deal of the day over at RIPT Apparel is a mash-up of Seinfeld and The Beatles called “The Brooklyn Invasion” by artist ChazNeil.

The sale at RIPT began today, Thursday, May 12, 2011, at midnight CST, and will continue for 24 hours from then, and once it’s over, it will not be sold on the site anymore.

The design, called The Brooklyn Invasion — a take on The British Invasion — shows the four stars of TV’s Seinfeld posed like the Beatles from their album cover for With The Beatles [...]

A brand new poster for the Marcus Nispel (Friday the 13th, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre) remake of the 1982 Arnold Schwarzenegger title, Conan the Barbarian, has been released online.

The movie stars Jason Momoa (Game of Thrones) as the barbarian hero, as well as Rachel Nichols (G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra), Stephen Lang (Avatar), Rose McGowan (Scream), Saïd Taghmaoui (Vantage Point), and Ron Perlman (Hellboy).

If you haven’t seen the trailer for Conan the Barbarian yet, you can see it right here at Geeks of Doom, and you can click on over to the other side now to check out the new poster [...]

The casting party for the upcoming movie adaptation of Suzanne Collins‘ hugely successful book, The Hunger Games, just never seems to end.

We’ve heard about a bunch of actors being cast so far, namely the leads in Jennifer Lawrence as Katniss Everdeen, Josh Hutcherson and Liam Hemsworth as Peeta and Gale, and Elizabeth Banks as Effie Trinket.

But it doesn’t end there; some new names have jumped on board. It’s being reported that Woody Harrelson has signed on to play Haymitch Abernathy, mentor to Katniss who won the Hunger Games many years before. Joining him as new additions are Stanley Tucci — always a great addition to any movie he appears in — playing the role of the host of the games, Caesar Flickerman, and Wes Bentley (American Beauty), who will be playing head gamemaker Seneca Crane. [...]

A new teaser image was released today for Flashpoint, the big DC Comics summer event.

Geoff Johns, the Chief Creative Officer for DC Entertainment, is quoted as saying “Today The World Changes” in regards to the Flashpoint event, which began today with the release of Flashpoint #1.

Check out the teaser image here above.

The main series is written Johns with art by Andy Kubert and throughout the summer we’ll see 16 supporting mini-series and four one-shots that expand upon the new world created in Flashpoint, which is said to have “earth-shattering consequences” throughout the DC Universe. New characters will be introduced, while iconic characters will be reimagined [...]

For 10 years, Smallville has been the agony and the ecstasy of superhero fans across the world. Some, like me, have loved having a weekly dose of Superman on their TV. Others have found it far too cheesy to take seriously. Either way, it’s hard to deny that certain episodes stand out from the pack and really shine. By the time the series comes to an end this Friday, the show will have produced 217 episodes, making it the longest-running science fiction series in American TV history. Love it or hate it, Smallville has delivered some stuff that has turned the heads of even the most hardened skeptics. With so many episodes to choose from, it’s a real challenge to name the very best, but there’s no harm in trying, is there? In the spirit of nostalgia, let’s take a look at the best of the best! [...]

Anvil
Juggernaut of Justice
U.S.: CD | MP3
UK: CD
Produced by Bob Marlette
The End Records
Release date: May 10, 2011

The great thing about Anvil is that no matter what, they will keep on rockin’, keep on poundin’. Where some of their younger contemporaries have embarked on or completed farewell tours, insisting age has claimed another victim, Anvil will keep going.

For years now they have raised the bar for themselves with each new release. On their latest album, Juggernaut of Justice, they have raised that bar very high indeed; these are the best songs Anvil has ever written. After over 30 years together and in the form of their lives, they would be foolish to stop this juggernaut now.

Anvil previewed title and opening track “Juggernaut of Justice” on their Facebook page ahead of release. It’s a storming metal song with a typically catchy lead riff and unyielding rhythm that got me very excited and gave back-up to my argument that Lips is one of the most underrated lead guitarists in metal. The dildo-wielding, naked photo-posing Lips of old may not be around any more, but the most significant difference in him is that Lips is now an even better guitarist. His scintillating solos on the rampaging, Motorhead-esque “On Fire” will bring a smile (and an air guitar) out in all Anvil fans [...]

Each week, MK2Fac3 and Henchman21 read a lot of comics. Seriously, a lot of comics. Maybe too many comics. They look forward to some more than others, I mean, who doesn’t? So, let’s take a look into the depths of their pull list, grab some issues and we’ll let YOU know what the top books to look forward to are for the week of May 11, 2011. Single issues and trades, they’re all here.

MK2FAC3

Sorry guys and gals, it’s an all DC week for me with an emphasis on Bat this week. I try really hard to bring in indie books for this feature, and if you want that make sure to check out Northlanders, but sometimes it just has to be Gotham. So, if you don’t like Batman, a.) what’s wrong with you? and b.) skip down to Henchman’s Marvel love fest!

ISSUES

Batgirl #21 (DC Comics – $2.99): Batgirl is a phenomenon. It consistently hits on all cylinders, so there’s nothing not to look forward to. For 21 issues, Bryan Q. Miller has not disappointed with his scripts on this book, and while I did not prefer the artist on the past couple of issues, the story has been strong, cute, funny, and action packed. And this issue, and I know this for sure because I’ve seen the previews, features the return of the amazing Dustin Nguyen to the title, and his work on the title is breathtaking. I mean, the cover shown here is probably going to be my cover of the year. I’m really looking forward to this issue, and don’t be surprised when I have the next few issues of my pull list, as well. Deal with it. Or buy the issues! [...]

The video game deal of the day over at Amazon today is Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock Guitar Bundle for only $49.99 (that’s 38% off the list price of $79.99).

The sale is for the bundled version of the game for Playstation 3 or Nintendo Wii, which includes the Guitar controller. (The game bundle is also available slightly discounted for Xbox 360, but that is not part of this sale.)

Note, this deal is valid only for today, Wednesday, May 11, 2011, until midnight PST while supplies last [...]

Writer Paul Jenkins and artist Pascal Alixe are bringing us a 5-issue miniseries following the adventures of Ka-Zar as he defends the sacred Savage Land against mysterious soldiers determined to burn the whole thing down. A mythical tribe is also prepared to defend the land against the soldiers leaving Ka-Zar and Shanna stuck in the middle of a brewing war.

We have some early art from issue 1 of the miniseries for you to check out.

Ka-Zar #1 issue 1 hits store shelves on June 6, 2011. Check out the preview here [...]

With Iron Man director Jon Favreau’s new movie, Cowboys & Aliens, set to try and make a huge splash this summer movie season, it looks like pitting unlikely foes against our extraterrestrial friends could be on its way to a trending status in Hollywood.

With production wrapping up on Men in Black III, director Barry Sonnenfeld has entered into a deal with Liquid Comics and Cheyenne Enterprises to develop both a graphic novel and feature film with comic book writer Grant Morrison that will be titled Dominion: Dinosaurs Versus Aliens.

Sonnenfeld will direct the movie when the time comes, and Morrison will write not only the graphic novel, but the adapted screenplay as well.

Dominion will follow a storyline that tells of a great world war long, long ago in prehistoric times when aliens attack the planet. The only hope for defense are the many numerous dinosaurs that once dominated the Earth…and who were actually a lot smarter than we thought they were. [...]