Who watches the Watchmen? Uh, given the movie’s looming release date, who doesn’t? Those guys are everywhere! Now the movie’s marketing is going into viral overdrive, hence two new tasty interweb tidbits we just came across: an old-skool arcade-style game (pictured) and a Flickr stream from The New Frontiersman, which is the newspaper in the book. While the game does include such geeky details as a "Veidt Enterprises" intro, it’s pretty static otherwise; the stream gets updated relatively often with goodies like classified documents and newspaper clippings, and photos of "historical" events, like Dr. Manhattan taking Neil Armstrong’s photo. So which one are you nerding out on?
Archive: February 2009 (271-280 of 448)
Feb 12
2009
01:47 AM ET
'Watchmen' goes viral!
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Feb 12
2009
01:38 AM ET
'Ugly Betty': Things you're loving, hating
With Michael Ausiello hearing that ABC will renew Ugly Betty, it’s a good time to have a PopWatch town hall on the show. Here are five things I’d like to see happen:
1. Betty has another crush that’s worthy. I’m happy that Betty walked away from Jesse (Val Emmich) when it became clear that she was just a human cup of cocoa to him, but I’m also sad that he turned out to be a bit of a douche. SPOILER: As Ausiello reports, Betty will meet a sports writer (Daniel Eric Gold) at YETI in the Feb. 19 episode. Fingers crossed he actually lets her speak.
2. Archie Rodriguez needs another haircut. I liked Ralph Macchio’s chemistry with Ana Ortiz. I cannot tell a lie.
3. Justin does…something. Quick. Someone think of a story that would give Mark Indelicato more screen time. They’re very all or nothing with him.
4. Christina has her baby already. I haven’t been this ready to see someone pop since the Weather Channel’s Heather Tesch was pregnant for, like, every morning that I turned on the TV for nine months. I can’t wait to see Willy with a baby. Because then we get to see Marc with a baby. And then Amanda with a baby.
5. Willy and Daniel struggle in their new relationships, but stay in them for a while. It’s been a nice change of pace to see these two stand vulnerable in front of seemingly decent people.
The mic is yours.
More on Ugly Betty:
Ausiello’s Ugly Betty scoop
Tanner Stransky’s Ugly Betty Bites
Feb 12
2009
12:05 AM ET
Bruce Springsteen's Super Bowl crotch slam (and much more), explained at last
If you’re still laughing and/or wincing at the epic crotch-into-camera encounter Bruce Springsteen inadvertently experienced during this year’s Super Bowl halftime set, you can finally rest easy. None other than the Boss himself has stepped up to uncover just what happened there. According to a lengthy journal entry he just posted on his official site, it was all a matter of timing: "Too much adrenalin, a latedrop, too much speed, here I come Mike…BOOM! And I’m onto his camera…."
Whether or not you ever cared about the crotch-slam moment, though, Springsteen’s journal entry is well worth reading for fans. It’s a revealing look at why he decided to take the Super Bowl gig, how he felt before, during, and after the big set, and what makes him keep going these days. The eloquent, literary prose style Springsteen uses is a reminder that the guy would probably be one of America’s finest writers if he wasn’t one of its finest rockers. And the Boss really doesn’t have to give away that level of detail about his emotions and thought processes — hell, he’s already opening up to us more in his music than many celebrities do with all the MySpace blogs and press junkets in the world. It’s a token of how much he respects us that he’s willing to publish such an honest piece, wouldn’t you say? Click here to read the whole thing — or, if you must, just keep reliving that crotch slam, below. We won’t tell.
More on Springsteen and the Super Bowl:
EW Gallery: Rare Springsteen Photos Unveiled
Springsteen’s Super Bowl halftime set: What did you think?
Listening to Springsteen’s wacky Super Bowl press conference
Springsteen’s Working on a Dream got an A review
Feb 11
2009
11:57 PM ET
Green Day's '21st Century Breakdown': We heard (some of) it!
Has it really been five whole years since Green Day released American Idiot? It has, and this May — with sold-out tours, a bunch of platinum plaques, and a pseudonymous side project behind them — the elder statesmen of pop-punk are returning with 21st Century Breakdown. Some coworkers and I just got back from hearing a few unmastered, in-progress selections from the new album at Green Day’s label. Short version: If you loved American Idiot, you will probably like this one, too. It’s another ambitious rock opera about America, love, and faith. Long version: Read on for the goods on the six songs we heard.
* "21st Century Breakdown": The title track unfolded like a Who-style mini-suite, cycling through chords and moods behind Billie Joe Armstrong’s angsty lyrics: "My generation is zero/I never made it as a working-class hero." (Interesting choice of words there.)
* "Know Your Enemy": A more straight-forward, guitar-charging anthem.
* "Before the Lobotomy": Armstrong opens this emotional number in a tender near-falsetto before some powerful riffage kicks in.
* "March of the Dogs": My favorite of the songs we heard, this one pairs pull-no-punches lyrics about organized religion with a propulsive backbeat. The hook reminded me of American Idiot‘s "Holiday," always a good thing.
* "Restless Heart Syndrome": We only heard the second half of this song, which built from crystalline pianos to squalling guitars. The lyrics ("I’m elated/Medicated/I am my own worst enemy") could be about addiction, or something else entirely.
* "21 Guns": A sensitive arena-rock cut that made some of my colleagues think of Toto’s "Africa." I thought the chorus sounded more like ELO’s "Telephone Line." Neither of those comparisons should necessarily be taken as a criticism.
So? Does all that make you more or less excited to hear the new Green Day album? Only a few months to go…
Feb 11
2009
11:38 PM ET
Howard Stern business proposal: If satellite radio crashes, why not do a podcast?
With the news that the struggling satellite radio conglomerate Sirius XM may be filing for bankruptcy, fans of fart jokes and Artie Lange death-watchers everywhere are asking the question: What will happen to Howard Stern?
If Sirius XM needs to cut costs, getting rid of Howard would certainly free up some cash: $100 million a year, actually, which would pay for an awful lot of classic-rock deep cuts. But then again, cutting loose Howard Stern is a good way to lose a lot of subscribers. Stern was saying on his show just this morning that there’s nothing to worry about, it’s just a minor snafu and satellite radio will be ruling the free world on schedule. Obviously, that’s what he needs to say — it wouldn’t do to have the flagship host crapping his pants on air. And if it comes to pass that satellite radio does sign off, Stern’s listeners needn’t panic because satellite radio needs him more than he needs satellite radio.
I was e-mailing with marketing wizard and lifelong Sternophile Ernest Lupinacci (here’s some Stern inside-baseball trivia: Ernest is the man who orchestrated the Robert Goulet version of “Restless Restless.” If you’re a fan, you’ll know what that means), and he proposed that Stern could easily do the show on his own and sell it as a daily podcast, using the Ricky Gervais model. “In the new digital age, distribution is fungible,” Ernest wrote, adding that if Stern builds himself a studio, he can record a daily show and then easily distribute it to subscribers. Let’s say he has 3 million listeners willing to pay just $3 per month for daily podcasts. (As compared to Sirius XM’s $12.95 monthly rate.) That’s $108 million in revenue a year. And, Ernest adds, “he could hire a competent sales guy, and if they can generate (conservatively) another million a month in ad revenue — that’s $12 million more.” It ain’t Sirius money, and he’d likely have to pare down his staff, but it’s enough to keep his core group of cohosts and producers happy, with a little money left over for a Purell budget. (You don’t want to know the germs that a guest like Jeff the Vomit Guy will leave behind.)
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Feb 11
2009
11:11 PM ET
YOU get to vote for the Oscars! Kinda!
With Oscars producers teasing that they’re shaking up the ceremony this year, we’re all waiting for details on just what that means. Turns out step one is a biggie: They’re letting the public vote…for the dresses! (You didn’t really think the Academy would turn over its precious precious voting power to us mere plebes, did you?)
Starting today, over at the Oscars site (warning: registration required) readers can vote for a dress that will be worn by the person who has the very important job of not dropping the golden statuette until it can be handed over to its rightful owner. (And technically, you’re voting not just for the dress but the model who will get to do the presenting, too. How very Project Runway of the Academy!)
The seven nominated dresses (pictured after the jump) vary from standard to spectacular, and the designers range from up-and-comers to established names like Maria Pinto and Robert Rodriguez. Looking through the choices, it strikes me that some of these dresses — like Marianne Kooimans’ dramatically embroidered one-shouldered gown — would be beautiful on a nominee, but just distracting on a trophy presenter. So, personally, I’m rooting for Maria Pinto’s silver column gown, which is interesting enough that it’ll give me something to admire during the ceremony’s slow moments (I’m looking at you, PriceWaterhouseCoopers!) but not so captivating that it’ll detract from the tears that we can only hope Kate/Angelina/Anne will be shedding up there.
What do you think PopWatchers -– which of these dresses do you want to see on stage at the Oscars? Vote in our poll, after the jump, and then we’ll see how PopWatchers’ sartorial opinions stack up against the rest of the country’s come Feb. 22!
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Feb 11
2009
09:51 PM ET
Will Smith's 'Star Currency' is astronomical
Forbes just released its list of Hollywood’s "most valuable actors," ranking 100 marquee names on their "star currency," an approximate hybrid of an actor’s global earning power and star power. To the shock of no one, Will Smith tops the list — he’s a combo of box office gold (his films have brought in more than $5.2 billion worldwide) and substantive talent. The rest of the top 10 is similarly snazzypants: Johnny Depp, Leonardo DiCaprio, Angelina Jolie, Brad Pitt, Tom Hanks, George Clooney, Denzel Washington, Matt Damon, and Jack Nicholson.
Anywhozle, Will Ferrell (15th) edged out both Meryl Streep (16th) and Robert De Niro (17th). I have to admit, I was a little surprised to see Vince Vaughn in the respectable number-32 spot, until I found out that Four Christmases out-grossed Tropic Thunder, which…made me confused for different reasons. The Rock and Ashton Kutcher tied for 73rd, just beating out Philip Seymour Hoffman in 74th.
You can read the top 100 and marvel at the global economy here. And then let us know whether you think Will Smith and company are really all Forbes claims they’re cracked up to be.
Feb 11
2009
09:10 PM ET
Who is the reigning 'Idol' Fashion Victim: Paula, Kara, or Randy?
I had difficulty concentrating during the ”holding room of doom” portion of last night’s American Idol episode. Maybe it was the blinding glare coming off Paula Abdul’s torso-sized metallic necklace, which was so cumbersome the ”Straight Up” singer seemed to be struggling to keep her head up. Or perhaps it was Kara’s lace-and-fringe blouse, which kind of resembled a crow caught in a giant spider web. Then again, it could’ve been The Dawg, who proved there is a look more frightful than the painted-on-tuxedo t-shirt: Behold the appliquéd-necklaces V-neck! Who looked most absurd? Vote in the poll below!
More on ‘American Idol,’ ‘AI’ graduates:
‘Idol’: The 10 Best — and 5 Worst — Song Choices Ever
‘American Idol’ recap: Hollywood Week, episode 3
‘American Idol’ recap: Hollywood Week, episode 2
‘American Idol’ recap: Hollywood Week, episode 1
‘American Idol’: 10 Greatest ‘Hollywood Week’ Moments
EW’s ‘American Idol’ HQ
‘American Idol’: Get the scoop on what 14 of your favorite former contestants are doing now
Fantasia covers ‘Lady Marmalade’! Roof height at venue permanently altered.
Feb 11
2009
09:10 PM ET
Site of the Day: This Is Why You're Fat
Okay, maybe the title is a little offensive. But This Is Why You’re Fat is actually an accurate reflection of the blog: an amazing, updated-daily chronicle of the most artery-clogging meals in existence. My personal favorite is the "Double Bacon Hamburger Fatty Melt" (pictured), due to my love of bacon, grilled cheese, and burgers. In the words of my beloved Liz Lemon: I want to go to there.
What about you, PopWatchers? Do any of these strike your fancy, or are you completely repulsed by all of them?
Feb 11
2009
08:57 PM ET
'Top Chef Masters': Who'd be in your dream cast?
Bravo’s announced some more details on Top Chef Masters, the spin-off slated to air this fall. The premise: Twenty-four contestants will compete in a series of weekly events — "a twist on the classic quickfire challenge" and "a more involved elimination challenge" — until one person’s left with the title of…Top Chef. [Dramatic pause.] MASTER. Kelly Choi (pictured, right), host of NYC TV’s weekly restaurant show Eat Out NY (and a former EW editorial assistant, I just discovered) will host Masters. New York Magazine food critic Gael Greene, culinary expert James Oseland, and British journalist Jay Rayner will join the judges’ panel. So…pretty much the exact same thing as Top Chef, then. As your Top Chef TV Watch recapper Kate Ward just put it in an e-mail, "It’s like taking Runway, adding professionals, and replacing Heidi with CindyCrawford and Tim Gunn with Tim Curry, or something." Okay, I’d totally watch that. But I’d likely be oh-so-very alone.
It could be something I just ate, but I feel funny. Doesn’t the whole "masters" element render the original Top Chef a bit…inferior? (I’m picturing the first eliminated master chef getting treated to the gentle suggestion, "You might want to consider, like, regular Top Chef," and the rest of the whitecoats engaging in a collective cringe.) I’m concerned about the sanctity of the word "top" here. Not to mention, is "Gael" a higher-quality spelling for a judge’s name than "Gail"? Bravo is upending my entire belief system and I won’t have it!
Well, I might. Who am I kidding — you know I’ll watch any show with food in it. Since Bravo’s likely to cast world-renowned chefs who’ve guest-judged on Top Chef in the past, I’d love to see Anthony Bourdain and Eric Ripert (pictured, left and center, respectively) compete in something like this, if only because Ripert is ADORABLE inside and out, and because I’d skin a live eel to see Anthony Bourdain pretend to care about someone else’s critique. But that’s very wishful thinking becuase those two probably wouldn’t have the time. Todd English and Food Network’s Melting Pot host Michelle Bernstein have been rumored as potential cast members. Who would you want to see on Top Chef Masters?
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