Go see the nice gallery of 'The Force Unleashed' concept art at Amy Beth Christenson's site.
January 11, 2010
January 10, 2010
'The Simpsons' No Longer Funny?
An article by QCS managing editor Chris Schmaedeke, and I find he makes some good points, personally I find Simpsons stopped being funny the season after 'Maggie Shot Mr. Burns' and that was ages ago, season 8 or 9? I kept watching it regularly up until a couple years ago, I just can't seem to hold on to it. When something as simple as Family Guy and American Dad can actually hold a story together in a better and more consistent way than The Simpsons, you have to wonder, where are all the those good writers? I've never watched the Cleveland Show, but I have to admit the writing for American Dad after the first season got really solid. Either way, I'm looking forward to the 450th episode special airing tonight.
It seems like just yesterday I was discussing with some animators the fact that their 10th season was starting up. I think Simpsons have reached an untouchable level, the fact they've survived 20 years and become the pop culture icons that they are, makes them capable of doing ANYTHING on television, the writing and characters could degrade to nothing, the stories could get sooooo bad that it still wouldn't matter. It's "the Simpson", therefore it's OK, they can do whatever they want now, they deserve it.
The show can get so intolerably bad that it's actually funny. The writing and stories can become so awful to the point where that IS what makes the show funny. We can get tired of the characters or the lack of plot for every episode, but it really doesn't matter, they're The Simpsons, and whatever they do, people will like it enough to keep the show going.
Read the article:
When one of your favorite TV shows of all time is preparing to celebrate its 20th anniversary you should be thrilled and excited. Any show that can last that many years still has to make people laugh, right?
Not necessarily. I’m trying to figure out when “The Simpsons” stopped being funny.
As I watch Fox’s Sunday night “Animation Domination,” I realize “The Simpsons” are the least funny show in the lineup. All the others really outshine the once-dominant animated comedy. And with the football regular season coming to a close, people will be looking for other things to watch on a Sunday night.
Now I have been a fan of the show since the day my parents were watching the “Tracey Ullman Show” and I saw this cartoon premiere on it. I own the first 10 seasons on DVD and when I get bored I have no problem putting a season in and watching the whole thing in an afternoon.
The show used to be that good. Now not so much.
The show seems out of touch. It doesn’t have the wise-cracking split-your-side jokes it had in its early seasons.
The episode last Sunday night did have a crack about the newspaper business, but it was one of the few jokes that seemed recent and relevant. Grandpa Simpson is approached by a reporter and the reporter tells him who he is.
Grandpa replies: “You’re in the newspaper business? Something that’s going to die before I do.”
Ouch. That one hit a little close to home.
But at least it was a current-event kind of joke, which is hard to find in the episodes today. They now seem to parade guest-star voices and that is supposed to keep fans happy. It doesn’t keep this fan happy.
Most of the plots don’t even make sense anymore. You watch the first 10 minutes and think this is what the episode is going to be about and most of the time you are totally wrong and it takes a different turn. The show is only 30 minutes long. Get to the point before it’s over.
Now this Sunday, when the 20th anniversary documentary will be airing, I will check it out. There is no way I can’t but I won’t be expecting much. It may have its funny moments but the comedy will still be out of touch and irrelevant.
“The Simpsons” should call it quits after this season. It has had an amazing run but with the rising of “Family Guy” and “American Dad” it seems to not have a chance. Even “South Park,” which has been on the air for 15 years, still has better jokes and great gags.
“The Simpsons” have been good for so many years but like a lot of shows it held on for too long. Breaking the record for longest running scripted show is great but now it is time to have the Simpson family call it a career.
Chris Schmaedeke is managing editor of the Quay County Sun. Contact him at 461-1952 or by e-mail: chris_schmaedeke@link.freedom.com
[Via qcsunonline.com]
January 09, 2010
First Shots from MacGruber!
A Miata? Not bad. I've always thought of the Ford Probe as king of outdated sporty ridiculousness, but the Miata certainly holds its own.On April 23rd, the film is released, and it could be funny.
Only one American hero has earned the rank of Green Beret, Navy SEAL and Army Ranger. Just one operative has been awarded 16 purple hearts, 3 Congressional Medals of Honor and 7 presidential medals of bravery. And only one guy is man enough to still sport a mullet. In 2010, Will Forte brings Saturday Night Live’s clueless soldier of fortune to the big screen in the action comedy MacGruber.
In the 10 years since his fiancée was killed, special op MacGruber has sworn off a life of fighting crime with his bare hands. But when he learns that his country needs him to find a nuclear warhead that’s been stolen by his sworn enemy, Dieter Von Cunth (Val Kilmer), MacGruber figures he’s the only one tough enough for the job.
Assembling an elite team of experts–Lt. Dixon Piper (Ryan Phillippe) and Vicki St. Elmo (Kristen Wiig)–MacGruber will navigate an army of assassins to hunt down Cunth and bring him to justice. His methods may be unorthodox. His crime scenes may get messy. But if you want the world saved right, you call in MacGruber.
Not familiar with the character? Go here.
NBC Making More Terrible Late Night Programming Decisions
Oof, did anyone see this article? NBC, the network determined to keep Jay Leno on the air until he dies (and probably for a week or two after that if they have enough Headlines to prop against his bloating corpse), is reportedly looking at plans to move the former Tonight Show host back to his former 11:35 spot, bumping Conan from his bequeathed position to a 12:05 spot.Great, NBC. Permanently damage your relationship with your loyal, actually-funny host in order to squeeze a few more years of Jaywalking segments in after the local news. Is this somehow all a plot by HBO to get another Late Shift TV movie going? If so, great work.
I don't want to see my desk through my computer anymore!
Samsung had a 14" laptop prototype on display at the ongoing Consumer Electronics Show with a transparent OLED display. That means you can see the screen AND your legs at the same time. Maybe even your penis! Kidding, kidding, it's not a giant magnifying glass. Oooooh, emasculated to the emaximus! Samsung's 14-inch transparent OLED laptop [engadget]
First Look at 'Ironclad' and a Day's Worth of Sword
Here's a shot of The Philanthropist holding a novelty-size sword designed to make Braveheart look like an asshole. The photo comes from Ironclad, a British indie being described as a "medieval Seven Samurai" and which had better contain at least one scene in which James Purefoy slides between a guy's legs while holding this sword up, perfectly splitting him down the middle, or I know one audience member who's going to be really, really disappointed.
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