He’s Our You – A Lost discussion with George Lang and Matt Price
In something of a blog crossover — think of those classic Justice League/Justice Society team-ups — George Lang of Staticblog and I, Matt Price of Nerdage, will share some thoughts on this week’s episode of “Lost,” “He’s Our You.” As the episode begins, Sayid has been captured by the Dharma Initiative, and Sawyer plans to save him. Plans are afoot to continue this as a regular feature if interest continues. Spoilers ahead.
A SPOILERIFFIC DISCUSSION OF “He’s Our You.”
MATT: Well, I feel like this episode wasn’t perhaps as awesome as the last two — there was simply a lot of moving pieces into place for that final shot. Still, I did notice some interesting things.
1. Sawyer’s beard coming back. 
MATT: Since Jack and crew returned to the island, Sawyer is looking more like Sawyer and less like LaFleur.
GEORGE: Kate just brings out the beard in him. Makes him all hairy and man-musky, instead of looking, ‘77 stylee, like he’s ready to sit in with America on a lovely rendition of “Ventura Highway.”
2. Kate and Juliet
MATT: Maybe they should just rock-paper-scissors?
GEORGE: Yeah, except that in Juliet’s case, it would be suture scissors. Rock-paper-scissors would be one option, but Kate’s handy with guns and rigging explosives, and Juliet, as a medical professional, probably knows how to make Kate’s death look like an accident — at least to your average or below-average Dharmanians. Juliet basically has squatter’s rights (in the “possession is 9/10ths of the law” sense, perv) on this one, but Kate’s psychology is structured toward deviancy — she can get what she wants. Plus, Kate’s a good tracker, so Juliet can’t just run away. Kate has the upper hand.
3. What happens to the timeline?
MATT: Does Sayid’s action change the timeline, or was this what was always supposed to happen? Is Ben dead in the future? Given the fact that the island brings back those it’s “not done with,” could Ben return? Could Ben be saved by Jack, since the island now has a surgeon?
GEORGE: I personally hope that Lindelof and Cuse are killing off Ben, not because he’s not a sparkling personality or a good guy, but because it messes with Space-Time Continuum(tm) and paradoxes. Sure, Ben could be saved by Jack, but we’ve been there before. I want to see the world twist because Ben Linus isn’t around making googly eyes at us.
4. Why are the castaways in 1977, anyway?
MATT: My original theory was that they were there to prevent the slaying of the Dharma Initiative. Then, I wondered if they were there to redeem Ben. I don’t know if either theory got more credence with last night’s episode.
GEORGE: I don’t know if Ben’s redemption is what anyone is looking for — I think your original theory holds water. It certainly isn’t for the 13-percent interest rates of the “stagflation” era.
5. Callbacks
MATT: Sayid being tortured while Sawyer watches recalls Sayid’s torture of Sawyer in season 1.
GEORGE: But what’s missing is 12-year-old Ben Linus pushing up his bangs to reveal that he is, in fact, The Boy Who Lived, and that Sayid’s got nothing on Tom Riddle.
6. Why the crap
MATT: Why didn’t Sayid just go along with Sawyer’s plan? Why didn’t Sawyer just come out and make up some story about what Sayid told him?
GEORGE: It’s basic lack of trust, and Sayid’s not the kind of guy to go along with something unless massive torture, or Zuleikha Robinson in knee-high boots, or both, is involved.
Torchwood: Children of Earth official trailer
In one epic story told over five nights the new series, airing later this year on BBC AMERICA and BBC One in the UK, re-joins Captain Jack (John Barrowman), Gwen Cooper (Eve Myles) and Ianto Jones (Gareth David Lloyd) who are still coming to terms with the death of two of their closest friends. Despite their pain, they have a job to do. This time they are faced with their fiercest threat to date – one which throws the future of Torchwood and the entire human race spiralling into danger. They battle against the odds but do they stand a chance of saving mankind? Torchwood is executive produced by Russell T Davies and Julie Gardner. The producer is Peter Bennett (Doctor Who).
Q&A with Powerpuff Girls creator Craig McCracken
Craig McCracken created the Powerpuff Girls as a student film that later became a Cartoon Network series. The three superpowered kindergarteners went on to become a media sensation. McCracken answered questions about the Powerpuff Girls as the show celebrates its 10th anniversary with a new special and marathon, airing Jan. 19, and a DVD release on Jan. 20.
Matt Price: Did you think “Powerpuff Girls” would be a big success? At what point did you realize “Powerpuff Girls” was going to be as big a deal as it has become?
Craig McCracken: I really had no idea. It started as a student film of mine when I was an animation student at Cal Arts. And, I got an opportunity to do a short at Cartoon Network in ‘94. And I just made the show because I thought it would be entertaining and fun. I had no idea it would become a phenomenon. But I think it was maybe a year or 2 after the show premiered and some of the merchandise started coming out, and I started seeing it everywhere. On kids, or people referring to it in television or media or whatever. I started thinking, ok this is becoming a lot bigger than I ever anticipated. And that’s everybody’s dream, is that actually can happen. Any cartoonist wants to have some sort of character that resonates with worldwide audiences. But you never really think that’s really going to happen. So it was kind of surprising when it did.
DVD, special celebrate Powerpuff Girls
Three super-powered kindergarteners are turning 10. The Powerpuff Girls will celebrate their 10th anniversary with a Cartoon Network marathon and special on Monday, and the release of all 78 episodes on DVD on Tuesday.
Creator Craig McCracken said those working on the show were trying to entertain themselves as well, and he thinks that added to the show’s appeal.
“Even though ‘Powerpuff’ kind of gets labeled a kids’ show or a girls’ show, it was always made for all audiences, just like ‘Bugs Bunny,’” McCracken said in a recent phone interview. “We were just making ourselves laugh and trying to come up with entertaining things. I think people pick up on that sincere creative expression of just making fun cartoons.”
Super-powered sisters Blossom, Bubbles and Buttercup will return for an all-new animated special, “The Powerpuff Girls Rule!!!,” at 7 p.m. Monday. This will follow the marathon, which includes McCracken’s favorite episodes, airing from 5 a.m. to 7 p.m.
The DVD will include all 78 episodes, and lots of extras, including the Christmas special, the special that airs Monday, and a new documentary.
After “Powerpuff Girls,” McCracken was the executive producer of another show, “Foster’s Home for Imaginary Friends,” which recently wrapped production. McCracken said he’s glad to be out from the grueling deadlines for a while. He’s working with Cartoon Network on the Cartoonstitute, a program to search out new potential animation projects. He also plans to work on a graphic novel.
“There’s something about doing your own comics or graphic novels or things like that, where it’s your drawings, your words,” McCracken said. “There isn’t the whole big crew and committee and getting stuff approved by everybody. It’s more like an intimate, direct approach to cartooning. I’ve been talking to some publishers and I’ve got some ideas that I want to explore in that medium.”
- by Matthew Price
From Friday’s The Oklahoman
Ricardo Montalban dies
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Ricardo Montalban, the Mexican-born actor who became a star in splashy MGM musicals and later as the wish-fulfilling Mr. Roarke in TV’s “Fantasy Island,” died Wednesday morning at his home, a city councilman said. He was 88.
Montalban’s death was announced at a meeting of the city council by president Eric Garcetti, who represents the district where the actor lived. Garcetti did not give a cause of death.
“The Ricardo Montalban Theatre in my Council District — where the next generations of performers participate in plays, musicals, and concerts — stands as a fitting tribute to this consummate performer,” Garcetti said later in a written statement.
Montalban had been a star in Mexican movies when MGM brought him to Hollywood in 1946. He was cast in the leading role opposite Esther Williams in “Fiesta.” He also starred with the swimming beauty in “On an Island with You” and “Neptune’s Daughter.”
A later generation knew Montalban as the faintly mysterious, white-suited Mr. Roarke, who presided over an island resort where visitors were able to fulfill their lifelong dreams. “Fantasy Island” received high ratings for most of its 1978-1984 span on ABC television and still appears in reruns.
In a 1978 interview, he analyzed the series’ success:
“What is appealing is the idea of attaining the unattainable and learning from it. Once you obtain a fantasy it becomes a reality, and that reality is not as exciting as your fantasy. Through the fantasies you learn to appreciate your own realities.”
———
AP entertainment writer Sandy Cohen contributed to this story.
Christian Kane sings, promotes “Leverage”
Christian Kane (”Angel”), from Norman, promotes his new show “Leverage” in Oklahoma City. Look for more from Kane in an article by Brandy McDonnell in Saturday’s Life section.
Third “Wolverine and the X-Men” trailer
See “Friends” for Thanksgiving
Over at TheWB.com, all nine of the Thanksgiving-themed “Friends” episodes are available to watch for free. From Joey’s maternity pants, to the trifle, to the turkey on the head, check out the holiday-themed humor. (Most of the Thanksgiving episodes hold up pretty well.)
– Matt Price
“Honeymoon in Metropolis”
Watch more Lois & Clark: The New Adventures Of Superman videos on AOL Video
Here’s one of the “Lois and Clark” episodes I was talking about, from season 1. Like the 1950s “Adventures of Superman,” “Lois and Clark” started out semi-serious with investigative journalism as an important motivator behind the show. Both series tended to get more goofy as time wore on.
In “Honeymoon in Metropolis,” Lois Lane, taking a rare night off, stumbles upon some shady dealings, which require her and Clark to masquerade as a honeymooning couple. This has several of the things that made “Lois and Clark” work — a sexy, clumsy scene involving Lois Lane (in a bathtub), Tracy-and-Hepburn-style banter between Lois and Clark; and plenty of Daily Planet interaction.
“Gamma Corps” cancelled; folded into “Avengers” cartoon
According to Marvel Animation Age, the in-development “Hulk: Gamma Corps” cartoon is being shelved. However, much of the work done there will continue as part of the upcoming “Avengers” cartoon. From the report:
Joshua Fine, Director of Animation Development for Marvel Animation, tells Marvel Animation Age that the Hulk: Gamma Corp animated series was in pre-production when the decision was made to fold the creative work being done there into the upcoming The Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes animated series. Even though the creative team was well into pre-production of Hulk: Gamma Corps, with scripting underway, they saw the chance to tell bigger stories that reached far beyond Hulk’s universe.
“It became apparent to us that the creative work that was being done to bring Hulk’s world and his villains to life was too good to relegate to his universe alone, and would be much better suited as part of an full-on Avengers scenario,” says Fine.
