The latest Doctor Who begins in Victorian Yorkshire, as a mysterious plot is underway by the strangely obsessed Winifried Gillyflower (Diana Rigg) that many be connected to odd deaths that have become known as The Crimson Horror. Madame Vastra (Neve McIntosh), Jenny Flint (Catrin Stewart), and Strax (Dan Starkey) are called upon to investigate the mystery, only to find that the Doctor (Matt Smith) and Clara (Jenna-Louise Coleman) are somehow involved.

During TARDISblend 64, we take a look at what is probably the first "split plot" for Doctor Who, with the first half being Doctor-Lite, and the other not so much. We also discuss the interesting presentation of the flashback sequences in this episode, and begin highlighting some of the references to Classic Doctor Who through this season.

Later, we continue talking some of the strange rumors associated with the 50th Anniversary, including one spoilerific rumor that if it becomes true, Greg says he will continue the TARDISblend after the 50th Anniversary!

All this and more on the latest TARDISblend! [...]

If aliens came to earth and wanted to know what true heavy metal is, you could do a lot worse than to introduce them to Iced Earth, the Tampa, Florida band of sheer brute force whose near thirty year history has given us ten studio albums. But they’re not done yet.

Overseen from the beginning and at all times by ever-present guitarist and founder Jon Schaffer, Iced Earth’s is a story of a man with a one-track metal mind. Fronted during their history by ex-Judas Priest pipesman Tim ‘Ripper’ Owens and long-serving lead singer Matt Barlow, Iced Earth embarked on another new chapter in 2011 by hiring Canadian Stu Block and releasing album number ten, Dystopia.

If those aliens enjoyed Dystopia, which of course they would, what with it being yet another storming heavy metal charge, they may also like to get their hands/tentacles on Iced Earth’s newest live album. Live In Ancient Kourion was recorded and filmed at the beautiful, historic Kourion amphitheatre in Cyprus and boasts close to three hours of Schaffer and his band cranking out their hits to some crazy Cypriots.

Schaffer, as he says, is a man who moves forward all the time, which is why the future of Iced Earth is bright. Now is the time to hear from the leader…

Geeks of Doom: How are you?

Jon Schaffer: Good, man, just busy writing, working, doing a lot of press for the DVD. I’m in the writing process for the next Iced Earth album, so it’s always a time of a lot of pressure and a lot of work but it’s good, very happy with what’s coming out so far [...]

So, you’ve seen Iron Man 3, and now you’re all excited to read some of the old shell head’s adventures in comic book form. Well, have I got a list for you!

Here’s a brief selection of some of the stories that inspired the movie, and some that’ll get you caught up with where the character is these days in the Marvel Universe.

Iron Man: Extremis – This is at least part of the basis for the plot of Iron Man 3, but like a lot of the Marvel movies, Iron Man 3 is only loosely based on this story (very loosely). Published in 2005 and 2006, Extremis features Tony Stark taking on a group of terrorists armed with some scary new technology that forces Iron Man to get with the times and upgrade his armor. The series, written by Warren Ellis, features a lot of new ideas for Iron Man. It is very much a Warren Ellis comic, with a bunch of near-futuristic concepts come to life and used to tell an exciting adventure. This is one of the first comics to really push Iron Man to the forefront of the Marvel universe, plus it’s a decent story and works well on its own. This is one of the best Iron Man stories to give to people who’ve never read one before [...]

Classic Albums: Black Sabbath – Paranoid
Netflix | Amazon | Google Play | YouTube
DVD | Blu-ray
Directed by Matthew Longfellow
Starring Tony Iommi, Ozzy Osbourne, Geezer Butler, Bill Ward, Henry Rollins, Jim Simpson, Tony Allom, Deena Weinstein
Eagle Rock Entertainment
Originally Released: June 30, 2010

With drummer Bill Ward’s birthday today, May 5, and with all the news surrounding the upcoming Black Sabbath album, 13, (despite Ward not being involved), I thought it would be timely to delve back into the past for this week’s streaming review. This week, we take a look at the band’s classic album called Paranoid, a ground-breaking release that established them as an international phenomenal, and put Black Sabbath’s name down on the history books as the first heavy metal band.

The significance of Paranoid, in union with the other first four releases by Black Sabbath, is unparalleled. Combining musical influences of rock and roll, blues, jazz, swing, and classical; and swarming it among darker occultist lyrical topics, the band laid down a basis that would not only establish their own careers, but also form the basis for all metal bands that would follow as well as all of the subgenres to break off from metal. Black Sabbath’s contributions to the early development of metal are incomparable to all who would follow [...]

From the personal journal of Darth Vader:

I’m sitting here in Dexter’s Diner drinking some blue milk, though not very effectively as the straw doesn’t squeeze too well through the ventilator holes in my mask. It’s relatively quiet in here today. I don’t mean quiet as in nobody’s here; no they’re all just staring at me.

This happens frequently among the people on Coruscant when they haven’t seen a lightsaber used in some time. Or maybe it’s because they fear me so much that they have the poodoo scared out of them.

They’re all staring at me uncertainly. I’m absolutely sure this will get back to my master, The Emperor. He’s going to be angered at my conduct here today.

You think he’d thank me though. It’s not every day you get to behead Jar Jar Binks with a lightsaber.

Perhaps he might be more amused if I prepare something for him [...]

It’s time once again for another glorious Free Comic Book Day! It’s that most special day of the year when you can stroll down to your local comic book dispensary and partake in any number of comics (usually 3, unless you’re in the Underoo set, in which case most good stores will load you up), all for the price of nothing. It’s a great day to celebrate comics and to say thank you to your friendly neighborhood comic book store, and for them to say thanks to you. Many stores will be having special signings and appearances from local comic book people, or some other kind of festivities, so be sure to find a local store, even if you’re not a big comic fan. And bring the kids along if you have any. Any good store will have activates with them in mind, and you can maximize the free stuff you get if you bring a child with you.

And if you are a big fan already, try to buy something from the store you go to on Free Comic Book Day. I know that sounds like it defeats the purpose of the day, but the stores have costs associated with getting the comics they had out, and the owners sure will appreciate putting a little money in the coffers to recoup those costs [...]

The Disney films of 2015 will revolutionize the direction of the studio. Grand statement, yes. True statement, most likely. This will mark the first year Disney will release a mix of two Pixar features, two Marvel pictures, the long-awaited seventh Star Wars, and a handful of other big-budget movies. This edition of Disney In Depth previews these projects and others that may make 2015 the most financially-successful year in not only the studio’s history, but also that of all film studios.

2015 could very well be the first year Disney reaches the $2 billion mark at the domestic box office. Only one other studio (Warner Bros) has claimed that honor, so will Disney be the second? Let’s take a peek at those odds. [...]

Each and every week, I, “It’s Playoff Time, Baby!” Henchman21, and “I Don’t Care” Empress Eve read a lot of comics. Seriously you guys, a lot of comics. Maybe too many comics. I mean, it is possible… theoretically. Naturally, we look forward to some more than others. I mean, who doesn’t? So, let’s take a look into the depths of our pull lists, grab some comics, and we’ll let YOU know what the top books to look forward to are for the week of May 1, 2013. Single issues and trades, they’re all here.

It’s Free Comic Book Day this week, so you may be planning to hold off on picking up your new books till Saturday, but I’m here to tell you right now that is a mistake, because there is too much good stuff to pass up. You can get your free books on Saturday, and you can pick up a metric ton of cheap books on Wednesday. That, and you can pick up an exciting new series, and the next issue in one of the hottest series out there. So you’ve got that, and so much more. Oh, and I guess there’s a little movie coming out this week you may be excited to see. And just like FCBD, The GoD List is always free, free, free! [...]

You would be hard pressed to find a musician who has had a more expansive and eclectic career than the illustrious Mike Watt, who started during the last waves of the original punk scene in California during the late 1970s and gained his original prominence as the bassist in the post-punk trio The Minutemen, which became one of the more well known bands of that genre and helping SST records (along with Black Flag, Sonic Youth, and the Meat Puppets among others) become a major player in the DIY music scene that was crystallizing itself as the 1980s rolled on. With lead singer/guitarist D. Boon and drummer George Hurley, The Minutemen spanned genres within the post-punk genre, adding dashes of funk, jazz, classic swamp rock like Creedence Clearwater Revival and the hardest edged swords of punk proper and released scores of albums and EP’s which have become highly influential and spawned many other bands which followed in their wake.

D. Boon died tragically in December 1985 and it marked the end of an era for The Minutemen. The rhythm section of Watt and Hurley thundered on however, and a new band, Firehose, with Ed “From Ohio” Crawford” was born, which also had their own cult niche as they released three sonically challenging records as the 1980s winded down. Since then, Mike Watt has been on scores of projects, many of his own solo bands and bands with like-minded musicians and also on big league ensembles such as Porno For Pyros and his new gig, which has been doing for almost ten years now, being the bass player in the Detroit Rock City powerhouse The Stooges.

I had the golden opportunity to conduct a lengthy interview with the man via video Skype, in which he waxed incredible about all the aforementioned topics and projects, and plenty of others, including his propensity for analog and digital when it comes to recording, some of his favorite bands and genres, life as an “econo” musician (a term he coined and which in essence, the man refreshingly still is) and of course, the upcoming Stooges album, Ready to Die [...]

Unseen, but heard of for years… since the Classic Doctor Who episode The Invasion of Time, and last season’s The Doctor’s Wife, fans now finally get to Journey To The Centre Of The TARDIS. In a moment of lowered security, the TARDIS is magnetically hauled in by a group of salvagers, hoping to profit from the find.

But the TARDIS is damaged in the haul, and the Doctor (Matt Smith) separated from Clara (Jenna-Louise Coleman) as he is found inexplicably outside of the TARDIS. Slyly enlisting the assistance of the salvagers, the Doctor begins a search for Clara; which will lead to a perilous situation in which they will all need to find their way to the centre of the TARDIS…

During TARDISblend 63, we bring up the onslaught of continuity tips thrown in to the episode, from The Eye of Harmony to The Doctor’s Crib, and much more. We also go into the newer elements shown in the TARDIS within this chapter, including some that may play a part, or at least hold clues, to the season finale and the 50th Anniversary Special [...]

Happy Birthday today to The Spaceman, the irrepressible Ace Frehley, whose lead guitar work in the original version of the rock and roll quartet KISS elevated that band to one of the all-time great groups of that genre.

While the co-frontmen — Gene Simmons, with his blood-spurting, bass-playing rock shock antics, and Paul Stanley, all-around good guy with the sly wink — were pretty much always (and continuing to this day) at the forefront, it was the guitar sounds of the Space Ace and his attitude as well, which seemed to come from the Johnny Thunders/Ron Asheton/Wayne Kramer down and dirty rock variety that gave KISS arguably its musical cock walk strut on record, on stage, and in print. Frehley was the dark horse of the group who usually had musical photo finishes; he was the iron glue and in a lot of ways the one who experienced the most identity crisis, almost like the George Harrison in the theatrical greasepaint, the makeup which concealed the band’s identity during their heyday in the 1970s, but never concealed the band’s workman-like musical ethic [...]

The Stone Tape
Instant Video | DVD
Directed by Peter Sasdy
Written by Nigel Kneale
Starring Michael Bryant, Jane Asher, Iain Cuthbertson, Michael Bates, Tom Chadbon
BBC Two
Originally Released: December 25, 1972

In the most recent Doctor Who episode, entitled Hide, which we reviewed on the latest TARDISblend, the Doctor finds himself meeting a duo of "ghost hunters" in a mansion. Investigating the alleged haunting, the Professor explains to the Doctor a rundown of the sightings in the building, and incidents including the discovery of cans of Spam and a letter hidden behind a boarded up stone steps. This key moment in the episode is a direct reference to a notable BBC story from the 1970’s called The Stone Tape, and was a key influence on that episode.

Being an obstinate Whovian, I was curious to learn more about The Stone Tape, and was pleasantly surprised to find it streaming from Amazon. Not only does the classic televised play feature essential plot elements that would be implied in the Doctor Who episode of Hide, but it’s also implied that Hide is almost somewhat of a sequel (in a manner of speaking, to a degree, maybe) of The Stone Tape [...]

This week, the potential dangers of crowdsourcing a manhunt, a hacked tweet that cost economic markets billions of dollars, Twitter Music, Windows brings back the start button, Netflix’s winning strategy, and a couple of bills in the US Congress you won’t want to ignore [...]

The Drill Down 275 Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

LA’s hard rockin’, hard partyin’ heroes Buckcherry have survived more band and personal problems than most. Lead singer Josh Todd has lived through them all and barely survived to tell his tales.

Thankfully, though, he has and his band is back with arguably the album of their career. Confessions contains a lifetime of those stories and thoughts based loosely around the seven deadly sins and tied up with Todd’s personal demons. Read the Geeks of Doom review HERE.

Fresh from successful support and headline shows, Josh Todd and Buckcherry are ready for the summer festival season and the chance to share their Confessions with the world [...]

Three decades later, Disney Channel is as strong as ever. With its original programming that draws millions of young viewers, the network catered to families has evolved almost as much as the company itself over the past 30 years. Journey back in time with me as we explore many of the much-missed shows of years yonder, and travel into the future as we view the positive potential of Disney Channel.

The Disney Channel, as it was called when it launched in 1983, was a premium network that did not even air for 24 hours each day. How things have changed. The channel aired a variety of programming blocks catering to different audiences, from the young ones during the daytime hours, to adults late at night. The shows reflected the time period, of course. Ready to exercise with Mickey and friends in Mousercise? And who could forget Welcome to Pooh Corner? Certainly not this young viewer. [...]