One tiny "Star Trek" bonus

OK, this is for the die-hard Star Trek fans, but I just found a slightly different version of the Star Trek trailer that I posted a few days ago. It's really the very same trailer, with one tiny addition that will give Trek fans the goosebumps. If you're strapped for time and just want to cut to the money shot, it comes at the very end of the trailer. The links are found here.

Happy Thanksgiving!

"Pushing Daisies" will be pushing up daisies

Well, we've been anticipating this for a while, but it appears that our beloved Pushing Daisies is being axed officially by ABC. There are still 6-7 unaired episodes yet to air, but whether or not ABC will air them at all (or simply release them on DVD) is yet to be seen.

The one bright spot in this rotten news is that creator Bryan Fuller hopes to bring Pushing Daisies to the big screen. I have my doubts, but at least it's something to hope for.

TV just got a lot less interesting!

Happy Monday, Jon

What do you think of the trailer? Will Trekkies renew their love for Cap'n Kirk? And will Abrams be able to bring Trek to a new generation of fans?

One more "HP6" trailer

Here's another fun trailer for Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, which is quite different from the previous two I have posted here. Since this is one of my favorite HP books, I really hope they get it right. Watch the trailer here.

Fair weather report

Tonight's "The Office" was a big, stinky letdown. This season has had some real highs (the weight-loss episode, last week's Jim/Dwight showdown, almost anything with Holly), but tonight's episode was slow, dirty, tired (Kelly & Ryan again...really writers?), and almost completely devoid of any charm. If it hadn't been for the long-overdue reunion of Jim and Pam, I would have been mad that I wasted 30 minutes of my night on the show. I hate to be such a fickle fan, but seriously...that was the best the writers could come up with?

In other news, I've been totally hooked on Survivor this season. I was drawn to it this time because it was filmed (for the first time) in glorious HD, but I've stuck with it because of the addicting drama from week to week. In my mind, Survivor is at its twisty best when it is unpredictable, as it as been the past few weeks. And this season has had a great mix of likable heroes (Matty, Bob, Sugar), villains (Ace, Randy), and everything in between. If The Amazing Race weren't always so dependably innocent and fun, I'd say Survivor could give it a run for its money as my favorite reality show.

"The Office" news

Ain't It Cool News reports that B.J. Novak ("Ryan") will be leaving The Office cast indefinitely while he pursues his film career. Since he has always been the least-funny character on the show, I say good riddance. Novak will, however, continue to write occasional episodes.

Additionally, I read yesterday on EW.com that guest star Amy Ryan ("Holly") is not currently scheduled to appear in any future episodes of the show, leaving a bitter-sweet ending to what looked to be a promising match for Michael Scott.

In happier news, here's a funny deleted scene from last week's episode, which revealed that Dwight was correct in his accusations of Kelly's unethical customer survey reporting.

"Angels & Demons" trailer

Dan Brown's Angels & Demons was always a superior novel to The Da Vinci Code, if you asked me. Which I hope will give Tom Hanks, Ron Howard, & company better source material with which to craft an exciting cinematic mystery. Based on the first trailer, which premiered online today, they've got the look down...the tone is appropriately dark, and even Tom Hanks' hair has improved. Watch it for yourself here.

I liked The Da Vinci Code, especially since I had the chance to visit some of the sites included in that Paris-based mystery. But Angels & Demons was a creepier, twistier thriller of a book, and was a fun one to read for our dearly-departed book club several summers ago. (I still remember Jon asking everyone to create their own anagram...). This looks to be a movie to look forward to next May. What do you think?

Sign the "Pushing Daisies" petition!

ABC hasn't publicly threatened to cancel Pushing Daisies, although its absence from next week's schedule (the first Wednesday of November sweeps) indicates the network's limited confidence in the show. Consequently, I found an online petition to help save the show from cancellation, which you may find and sign here.

I don't frequent the E! channel nor its website, but I did Google Pushing Daisies today and found this interesting commentary about the show's unlikely future. Read about it here.

The show may just be a little too inventive or unconventional for its own good. Maybe a new timeslot would help...perhaps following another ABC show that could lend it a few of its viewers? Either way, I'd love to see something from ABC indicating their faith in the show. After all, if the network can give Jim Belushi several seasons of his strangely unfunny sitcom, why can't they just show a little more faith in something they can be proud of, like Pushing Daisies?

Jack's back: new "24" trailer

This is an exciting trailer for the upcoming seventh season of 24. If you want to be completely surprised come January, don't watch it. Otherwise, enjoy!

New "Harry Potter" trailer

Here's a new, semi-long, and very nifty little trailer for Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. It gave me the chills, and also made me giggle...I guess you could say it made me chiggle.



The bad news is that we still have to wait until July 17, 2009 for the movie...

Lessons learned from "Arrested Development"

This post might sound a little broken-recordish, but I'll tell you why I feel a responsibility to bark up this tree again. Thanks to the glories of HDNet (one of the most bizarrely-programmed channels I've found), I've recently become a fan of the late, great Arrested Development. You might remember this show as one in a long list of critically-beloved, viewer-challenged shows that failed to find an audience. By some miracle (and an Emmy or two), Fox allowed the decidedly untraditional (and occasionally irreverent) sitcom to last for three abbreviated seasons. I don't know how I missed the show the first time around, but it's the silliest, wittiest 30 minutes of my day, and I'm devastated to learn that I've only got about four days to go before I'm all out of fresh episodes. That Arrested Development never found a large audience is truly a television tragedy.

While I can't say that I'd put Pushing Daisies on the same comedic pedestal as Arrested Development, it does share a few things in common with AD: it is just as unique, just as witty, and just as viewer-challenged. And in my mind, in just as much danger of an early retirement.

So for all of you who ever got attached to a show that was cancelled due to low viewership (Jericho, Moonlight, etc.) let's rally around Pushing Daisies, shall we? The good karma you'll engender will be worth the hour on a Wednesday night (especially if you're a Nielsen household).

And Katie, Bones isn't on tonight, so you have no excuse...

The new "Office" romance

Is it just me, or is Holly the sweetest thing to happen to The Office since Pam? And yet, something tells me that Michael's going to screw this one up. Partly because the actress who plays Holly is only scheduled to appear for a few more episodes, but also because she just seems a little too, well, normal to end up with someone like Michael Scott.

Am I the only one who is cynical about this new romance on The Office? And am I the only one who thinks it's time for a happily-ever-after ending for some of these characters?

"Bourne 4" looking good

Maybe this is old news by now, since I reported earlier that Universal was keen on extending the Bourne franchise. But I hadn't heard much since February, so it's nice to see Variety report today that a screenwriter has formally been hired for the as-yet-untitled fourth Bourne installment, again starring Matt Damon and directed by Paul Greengrass. A release date has not been announced, but I'd guess we can probably expect this to hit theaters by summer 2010. Read more about it here.

This sends a chill up my spine. The good kind of chill.

Deleted scene from last week's "The Office"

Last week's episode was weird but funny. It kills me how spot-on the satire is of corporate hypocrisy. As for this deleted scene, I just think Phyllis is hilarious.

Leftovers

It's been nearly two weeks since I've updated the blog (sorry), so here are a few random things that I feel are worth sharing:

• We saw Eagle Eye last week, and overall enjoyed it. Shia Labeouf is becoming very dependable for these types of roller-coaster rides (Transformers, Disturbia, Indiana Jones 4), and Eagle Eye continues that trend. The film is fast-paced and slick enough to momentarily forget the severely hole-ridden plot, which is a mishmash of The Fugitive/Wall-E/Flightplan and other paranoia-driven thrillers. It's not classic cinema, but felt worth the price of a ticket + a babysitter. If you haven't seen it yet, you could probably wait for the DVD. (*** out of four)
• Johnny Depp has apparently become very fond of Disney. In a recent announcement by the studio, it was revealed that he has signed on for no less than three future projects with Disney, including a continuation of the lucrative Pirates of the Caribbean franchise (in what could be another two movies). Additionally, he has agreed to play Tonto in a Disney live-action version of The Lone Ranger, though the Ranger himself has yet to be cast. Finally, in maybe the most interesting news, Depp has agreed to play the Mad Hatter in a live-action Alice in Wonderland by director Tim Burton. I'm not a huge fan of the animated Alice in Wonderland, but the material seems perfect for the quirky combination of Burton and Depp. I can't wait.
• The Dark Knight has officially been slated for a Dec. 9 DVD/Blu-ray release. This officially puts to bed the speculation that WB was interested in beating Titanic's box office record, which was a silly theory of mine anyway. Having said that, I still think the studio is putting a lot of money behind an Oscar campaign for the film. We'll find out in late January if it works.
• I'm loving Survivor in HD this season. I haven't always been a die-hard for this show; I usually catch one out of every three seasons. But for the first time, CBS filmed the reality show in HD, and it looks fantastic. Now let's hope that CBS will offer the same shiny package to the next edition of The Amazing Race, which remains my favorite reality show on TV.
• Speaking of TV, Pushing Daisies needs your help. Since its return to TV two weeks ago, it has lost more than half of the audience it pulled in last year. Yes, it's got tougher competition than it did last year, but it's losing, and badly. How badly? Last week it lost to NBC's dreadful reincarnation of Knight Rider. If it doesn't find an audience soon, not even Ned will be able to revive it. Wednesdays at 7:00 p.m!
• Finally, I wrote a while ago about a possible revival of the 80s miniseries, V. Now, ABC has made it official: the creepy alien lizards are coming back to TV. The original miniseries and its sequel were the type of stuff that we loved as kids (and then paid for with nightmares at night), so it will be interesting to see how a new version turns out. Stay tuned!
  

"Pushing Daisies" returns tonight

Last season's best new show (and perhaps one of the best, most unique shows currently on TV) returns tonight after an extra-long strike-induced hiatus. That's right, it's time for the return of Pushing Daisies, tonight at 7:00 (Utah time) on ABC.

For those who missed the nine episodes that aired last year, here's the most important thing to know about the show: Ned (a piemaker) somehow has gained the ability to reawaken the dead simply by touching them. Unfortunately, this power also means that if he touches the person again, they die again...this time forever. Further complicating the issue, Ned's childhood sweetheart, Chuck (short for Charlotte), is one of the beneficiaries of his powers, and yet the two can't touch each other for fear that Chuck will die again permanently. This romantic dilemma, where the two leads are in a physically-unfulfilled relationship, is the central story here, complimented by weekly comical mysteries and quirky subplots with the show's talented supporting cast.

The admittedly far-fetched (and slightly morbid) premise may be off-putting to some, especially those who normally shy away from fantasy. But those who think this is only a show for Harry Potter fans will quickly realize that the show has more in common with Tim Burton's Big Fish than anything you'd see at a comic-book convention. I'd even compare it to Stephanie Meyer's Twilight books, only it's got a lot more intelligence (and cleavage) than the treacly vampire books. Aside from being whimsical and witty, it's also the most visually-inventive show on TV, and probably the most romantic story to hit the air since Jim & Pam. Don't just take my word for it: read what USA Today and Deseret News have to say about tonight's episode here and here.

Though the show was mildly successful in its limited run last year, I would think that it needs to establish a broader audience for ABC to continue to justify its costly budget. So if you haven't already watched it, give it one episode tonight and see if you're not hooked. Then tell all your friends. After all, wasn't I right about 24, Lost, and The Amazing Race?

"The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" trailer

I can't say I'm a huge Brad Pitt fan, but I do like Cate Blanchett, and this movie looks just different enough to be interesting to me. Sort of a cross between Forrest Gump and, well, just click on this trailer and let me know what you think. It's not nearly so cryptic or artful as the first trailer, but you can view both trailers here.

The movie comes out at Christmastime...will you shell out $8 of your precious holiday money to see Brad Pitt age backwards?

Tina Fey as Sarah Palin

We all knew that this was coming, and it doesn't disappoint. (Disclaimer: As with most SNL skits, this parody is mildly edgy.)

Tobey Maguire signs up for "Spidey 4 & 5"?

A recent article from Times Online indicates that Tobey Maguire has agreed to film back-to-back sequels to Spider-man in a deal that could equate to nearly $50 million dollars for the actor. One of the key negotiations, reportedly, is that Maguire be given early mornings and evenings to spend with his daughter, Ruby. Though Sony has not officially commented on this deal, you can read more about it here.

I have a few thoughts about this deal, assuming it is true:

1. Though $50 million seems like a killing, you have to consider that it's for the lead role in two more editions of one of Hollywood's most successful film franchises. It's not unheard of for big stars like Tom Cruise or Adam Sandler to earn upwards of $25 million per movie, so I don't really think the amount itself is that newsworthy (except that any actor making that much money is absurd...).
2. Having said that, to have Tobey Maguire return as Peter Parker/Spider-man without director Sam Raimi would be a mistake. Let's hope that a deal for Raimi is forthcoming. Hopefully $50 million will inspire them back to their stellar work in Spider-man 2.
3. This business about "family time" seems to be controversial, but being a family man myself, I actually think it's pretty great. Not only that Maguire would insist on it, but that the studio would allow it. Good for them. Now please make a good movie.
4. No word on whether Kirsten Dunst or any of the other actors from the first three movies will return, although it seems like it would be hard to maintain the Tobey Maguire universe without his Mary Jane. Kirsten Dunst isn't my favorite actress, but I really like movies that reward their viewers with continuity. Do you hear me, Mummy movies?

I haven't heard an official release date for either of the Spider-man sequels, but stay tuned. In the meantime, let's all go try to negotiate more family time with our employers.

WB announces "The Dark Knight" re-release

Well, I'm nothing if not a Hollywood psychic. A few weeks ago I speculated that one of the reasons for Harry Potter 6's move from November to July might have had something to do with the awards-season consideration for The Dark Knight. Now Warner Bros. has announced that they will re-release The Dark Knight into select theaters in January "as a reminder for people." Of course by "people," they mean "academy voters." Read about it here.

My theory wasn't all correct though: sources are saying that WB intends to release the Bat-sequel on DVD and Blu-ray sometime in December, meaning that the studio doesn't have any intentions of trying to top the box office heights of Titanic. Still, they'll make a killing off the DVDs during the holiday season, and the die-hards and industry insiders can still re-enjoy the movie on the big screen come 2009. Sounds like a pretty neat plan.

As for the film's Oscar odds, only time will tell. We're about to enter the season when studios release all their Oscar-bait prestige pictures, meaning that The Dark Knight will need to do something to stay fresh in potential voters' minds. Heath Ledger is a lock for a nomination (if not a win), but I'd be pleased to see the film considered for Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Screenplay as well. As psychic as I am, we'll still have to wait until January like the rest of the world to find out.