Speaking of Simon Pegg
Aug 22While we wait for Simon to help reignite the Star Trek franchise, he continues to bid his time in tiny romantic comedies – a Simon Pegg comedy tends to appeal to both halves of the gender demographic, which gives it a unique strength.
Run Fatboy Run was not only a solid bit of Peggian hilarity, it was a genuinely sweet romance story as well. And hey, anything that continues to help introduce Dylan Moran to the world, can’t be a bad thing.
And now comes Simon’s follow-up lead in the Toby Young bio-pic, How to Lose Friends and Alienate People. I hated the poster, but if you add Jeff Bridges to the equation, I’m forced to reconsider. Add Gillian Anderson (yes, she’s in there – watch closely), and I’m sold. SOLD!
Beam Me Up, Tim Bisley
Aug 22Have y’all gotten your first glimpse of Simon Pegg as Scotty?
Check out Rotten Tomatoes for a full range of Trekkian photos.
Quite a bit of buzzing/Tweeting/message boarding about Pegg being perhaps a bit more, ahem, follicularly-challenged than James Doohan. But I don’t know…something in his expression does say Scotty. Frankly, I’m more concerned about young Anton Yelchin, who, to me, has always come off kind of whiny and miscast in just about every role he lands (particularly Charlie Bartlett, which I think I would have really liked if they had gotten someone buy-able in that part). Still, I’m trying to keep an open mind…I mean, Chekov is kind of whiny.
What do y’all think? What’s most important when trying to cast an iconic role like this one? The physical? The general essence? Both? Take a break from your Friday drudgery and TELL ME.
Firefly Trilogy of Fun
Aug 21Inspired by yesterday’s Twit-run of Serenity/Veronica Mars/Wonderfalls/Brisco County Jr. crossover fanfic, here are three notable encounters I’ve had with Firefly people and the lessons we can take away from them.
1. Whilst interviewing Gina Torres and Kerry Washington in tandem, I asked Gina if there was any Serenity 2 on the horizon. “No Serenity 2,” she said, smiling kindly. “Not enough people showed up for the first one.” “I went twice!” I blurted out. “Oh my God!” yelled Kerry Washington. “I did, too! And I own it — not the bootleg, the real copy.” Lesson: Kerry Washington loves Firefly! That gal at Comic-Con? The one who you thought was just wearing a “movie version Alicia Masters” costume? That was really her!
2. At the Slither premiere/press screening (yes, it was a strange hybrid of the two), was introduced to Alan Tudyk by friend Jenelle. While talking to The Man Who Was Wash (no, I have no recollection of what was said), a strange lady was walking by, spotted him and stopped abruptly in her tracks. “Anthony!” she exclaimed. “Er, no,” said he. “Oh,” she said, looking confused. “Anthony Rapp,” he said. “Happens all the time. But I’m not him.” “Oh,” she said, giving him Gimlet Eye. She totally did not believe him! And was probably making plans to dismantle her “Seasons of Love…FOR MARK COHEN!!!” fanpage as soon as she got home. Lesson: I always get “hey, you look like Ugly Betty, has anyone very TOLD YOU THAT BEFORE?” Apparently, famous people get another version of that and it is way more obnoxious.
3. This one is short. One time I shook Nathan Fillion’s hand and told him I thought he was pretty awesome. “Thank you very much,” he said, then did something like a wink. Yet better than a wink, if that makes sense. Lesson: Nathan Fillion = so cute.
MiddleThoughts
Aug 19Now it’s time for what is slowly becoming a weekly event — my post talking about how The Middleman is awesome (actually, maybe I’ve only posted about that once or twice over here…the other instances were on Great Hera! or Twitter. But who has time for math?). Now here’s the thing: I’ve heard rumblings that The Middleman is not a total shoo-in for renewal. Cancellation would truly break my heart, for this show has ignited a special, personal kind of love I have not felt since the end of Veronica Mars. So follow Radio Free Javi’s advice and send ABC Family some M&Ms, because having Wendy Watson yanked unceremoniously from my screen would be like a sad, sad repeat of watching Kristen Bell’s mournful little back as it meanders down the rainy sidewalk and out of my life FOREVER.
Last night’s ep, I think, really brought together all the elements that make the show Must Genre Viewing. The vampire puppet plot was frenzied and fun (and a bit reminiscent of Angel’s great “Smile Time,” in a good way), the Wendy/Lacey bonding was on point, and the Middleman/Lacey stuff was unexpectedly heart-wrenching. One thing I really like about this show is its ability to balance out funny, lightning-quick references with an emotional through line. And it never feels like they’re changing the tone from scene to scene, because all of it — the funny and the sad and the weird — is part of the tone. They also use all of their characters; no one feels superfluous. And the references aren’t just there to be references — they have a point.
But one thing that made last night’s adventure really great was the little hint of mythology dropped in at the end. So Lacey isn’t the only woman Middleman loves, eh? Hmm. What’s nice about this is…we know it’s not Wendy. I mean, we can kind of tell because of how the scene is played, but we also know because Radio Free Javi has said so. Pretty refreshing that they’re not going there, right? Anyway, I hope we get to find out who it is, so please send in some M&Ms and get this show renewed. Come on! Dollhouse hasn’t even aired yet — surely those of you who are already working on that campaign can spare a little time.
Fandom and Harassment
Aug 18By now, I’m sure you’ve read John Debillo’s essay on sexual harassment at the San Diego Comic-Con. If you haven’t yet read it, click on over and give it a look.
I think it’s important to note that a “zero-tolerance” statement in Comic-Con materials on harassment is more than just a deterrent; it’s a declaration that the space is absolutely intended as a safe place for people of all genders, races and creeds to enjoy a relaxing weekend of being themselves without fear of lechery, discrimination, or assault. That’s an important statement to make and it should absolutely be made. There’s no question.
Let’s also not forget that these incidents of harassment (and countless others–it’s remarkable how many examples spring to mind if you just spend a few minutes thinking back on your experiences at conventions, comic shops, and other geek gathering places) are just the most tangible expressions of the underlying sexism and chauvinism that has churned throughout fandom for decades, fandoms of all stripes and in all places. You can draw a line from an Ed Benes splash page featuring Wonder Woman’s ass to the commonplace “models” hired in skimpy costumes to parade around booths, and then to those twisted individuals who feel entirely comfortable violating a woman just because she’s at a convention, and…um…a woman, I guess?
Casual objectification of women is part of the heart of this problem, and as long as it is part of the heart of mainstream comics, this culture is poorer for it. I’m not saying Power Girl’s cleavage is why these women were assaulted, but if we all shrug and say such images are a-okay, then it’s just a matter of degrees.
