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May 17 2013 06:04 PM ET

Peter Parker with a bong? Joe Casey springs 'The Bounce' -- FIRST LOOK

Tags: Animation, CapeTown: Comics, Comic Books, Comics, Exclusive First Look, Joe Casey, Books

Image Credit: Credit: Man of Action/Image Comics

When readers first met young Peter Parker, back in 1962 on the opening page of Amazing Fantasy No. 15, he’s wearing spectacles, carrying schoolbooks and listening too hard to the latest insult.

It’s a little different when readers are greeted by young Jasper Jenkins – the title character of Joe Casey’s The Bounce – in our exclusive preview of the first issue. Instead of eyeglasses, he’s got glassy eyes and the object in his hand looks suspiciously like a three-foot bong. He’s also ignoring the latest lecture. “With great power comes great responsibility” still applies — but in the case of this 21st century slacker soul, it may also be accompanied by metahuman munchies.

NOTE: The preview pages below contain R-rated language and drug use. READ FULL STORY »

May 17 2013 04:26 PM ET

Join 'The Voice' debate: Team Christina vs. Team Shakira -- POLL

by Samantha Highfill

Tags: Christina Aguilera, Reality TV, Shakira, Television, The Voice, This Could Be Interesting..., TV

Image Credit: Art Streiber/NBC; Mark Seliger/NBC

Ever since Shakira was first announced as Christina’s replacement, fans of the blond vocalists have been participating in a battle round of their own. And now that we know that both Christina and Shakira will return to their red swivel chairs within the next year, fans are more polarized than ever. While both are undoubtedly superstars, as coaches, they both have their pros and cons. Is Christina too mean? Is Shakira too nice? We’ve heard it all before. Now, we weigh in with our analysis, and you get to tell us which bombshell you prefer: READ FULL STORY »

May 17 2013 03:39 PM ET

'The Office' series finale. One writer hated it. One writer loved it. Let's discuss.

by EW staff

Tags: About Last Night, Let's argue, Steve Carell, The Office, This Could Be Interesting..., TV

Image Credit: Chris Haston/NBC

Last night’s series finale of The Office was way up in the ratings — meaning that a bunch of people who haven’t been viewing the daily happenings of Dunder Mifflin tuned back in to see Pam, Jim, Dwight — and yes, even Michael — one last time.

This morning at Entertainment Weekly Headquarters we naturally all had opinions about what worked and what didn’t in the farewell episode of the long-running sitcom. Was it a fitting end for America’s favorite paper company? Over email this morning, Jeff Labrecque and Erin Strecker hashed out the supersized episode — Jeff didn’t care for it; Erin loved it. Read their debate, and then tell us what you thought of the finale in our poll below.

JEFF LABRECQUE: For the record, I am a devoted fan of The Office. I’ve watched just about every episode from the very beginning and I’ve never been part of the herd that liked to complain that the show lost its fastball in the final few seasons. But I can’t remember a series finale of a beloved show that was more self-congratulatory. It was simple and total wish-fulfillment for every character. (Except Toby?) It almost felt like the writers crowd-sourced the plot from the whims of the show’s biggest fans. (Turns out they sorta did, according to Jenna Fischer, who told Dan Snierson that executive producer Greg Daniels asked each cast member for what their dream for their characters would be.) It just felt like one 75-minute long curtain-call, bow after bow after bow, patting itself on the back while taking every easy way out. Didn’t it feel a little pandering to you? READ FULL STORY »

May 17 2013 03:29 PM ET

'Saturday Night Live': A full directory of Stefon's favorite clubs. (This post has EVERYTHING.)

by Hillary Busis

Tags: Bill Hader, Comedy, NBC, Ridiculata, Saturday Night Live, Seth Meyers, SNL, Stefon, Things That Are Awesome!, TV

Image Credit: NBC

[Update: Find Stefon's very last club -- sob! -- at the end of the post.]

Here’s what we know about tweaky club kid Stefon Zelesky, by far Bill Hader’s most popular SNL character: He used to write for Smash. His dad is David Bowie. His brother is Ben Affleck (a.k.a. “David”). He lives in a trash can near the Radio Shack on 23rd St. and 7th Ave. He’s in love with Seth Meyers. And he’s got an encyclopedic knowledge of New York’s hottest clubs, from Scampi (“illegally parked behind the Statue of Liberty”) to SPICY (“the creation of club owner/rabbi Jew Diamond Phillips”) to Selfieee! (“based on the novel Push by Sapphire”).

But just like Booooooooof’s round-the-clock puke party, all good things must come to an end. And since this Saturday marks Hader’s last show as an SNL cast member, it may also be the last time we see Stefon horrify and amuse Seth — and himself — by rattling off facts about his favorite city hot spots.

So before he goes, let’s celebrate Stefon’s legacy by remembering all 31 of the crazy, improbable, disgusting, hilarious clubs he’s described over the past four seasons. And don’t worry — if the list makes you feel a bit misty, just reach down and grab yourself a human tissue. (It’s that thing of where a jacked midget wears a white shirt, and you blow your nose on it.)

READ FULL STORY »

May 17 2013 02:34 PM ET

Box-office preview... from Your Grandparents

by Your Grandparents

Tags: Box Office, Star Trek Into Darkness, Movies

Image Credit: Jupiterimages/Getty Images

EW’s box-office prognosticator Grady Smith is on vacation. Fortunately, your grandparents just sent you an email, and they made their own predictions about the weekend box office. Read on!

Dear Sport,

Your grandmother and I sure are excited about all the movies coming out this winter. Wait, it’s summer? I must have switched up my pills again. Anyhow, you forgot about Mother’s Day. Grandmothers are still mothers!

We’ve been to the movies quite a bit lately. It’s hard to put on 3-D glasses on top of bifocals. But we were so excited about Bash Lerman’s The Great Gatsby, which reminded us of the good old days. It would have been lovely if it had been a silent film and also if it had been much shorter. READ FULL STORY »

May 17 2013 01:58 PM ET

Vincent Kartheiser will play Mr. Darcy on stage

by Adam Carlson

Tags: Casting, Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice, Stage, The Guthrie Theater, Vincent Kartheiser

Image Credit: Jason Merritt/Getty

Vincent Kartheiser is going back in time — okay, further back in time. The Guthrie Theater in Minnesota announced that the Mad Men star will star as Mr. Darcy in its upcoming production of 19th-century novel Pride and Prejudice. Previews begin July 6, with the show running July 12 through Aug. 31, the Guthrie’s 50th anniversary. Playwright Simon Reade adapted Austen’s oft-adapted romance; Joe Dowling will direct.

Kartheiser, though famous as perennially under-loved and -respected adman Pete Campbell, has a long history with the Minneapolis theater, starting with his turn as A Christmas Carol‘s Tiny Tim at age 7. He later appeared in subsequent productions of Henry V and Henry IV.

Since the casting announcement will bring with it an inevitable onrush of questions — “How will Kartheiser compare as Mr. Darcy? Who’s the best Mr. Darcy, like, ever?” — we’ll start: Does Kartheiser’s scowl compare to, say, Matthew Macfayden’s? Is Colin Firth’s reign as lord of the Darcy manor at risk? Methinks not (but me could be incorrect).

Follow Adam on Twitter

May 17 2013 10:40 AM ET

Jimmy Kimmel's 'The Baby Bachelor' is almost too cute for words -- VIDEO

by Sarah Caldwell

Tags: Jimmy Kimmel, Jimmy Kimmel Live, TV

Baby Wesley is Jimmy Kimmel’s nephew, lives with his parents, has some cool dinosaur toys, and is looking for love. So Kimmel decided to make Wesley the first ever Baby Bachelor. The first episode is below and is filled with adorable kids saying adorable things. For the most part, Wesley is a gentleman, opening doors for the ladies, grabbing their hands, and giving one a kiss on the cheek when she’s crying. Still, when a beautiful blonde shows up, who is 316 months old, he can’t help but be intrigued. “I’d like to get the big girl,” Wesley says.

If you liked Pearl The Landlord, you’ll probably like this video. And look, we’re all still crying from The Office finale and this will make you so so happy, so watch it: READ FULL STORY »

May 17 2013 10:21 AM ET

Adam Sandler's sage advice to Jay Leno: 'Go to Fox!' -- VIDEO

by Hillary Busis

Tags: About Last Night, Adam Sandler, Comedy, Fox, Jay Leno, Jimmy Fallon, NBC, Seth Meyers, The Tonight Show, TV

NBC’s coming late-night shakeup affects three-fourths of the the network’s post-11:30 p.m. programming. (Enjoy stability while it lasts, Last Call with Carson Daly.) Saturday Night Live has to find a new Weekend Update anchor… because Seth Meyers is moving to host Late Night… because Jimmy Fallon is moving to host The Tonight Show… because Jay Leno is getting forced out, just three years after NBC reinstated him as Tonight‘s host. Phew!

So while everyone else at the network is movin’ on up, what should Jay’s next move be?

His pal Adam Sandler — who stopped by last night to talk Grown Ups 2 ~~The Streets~~ — has a few ideas. Namely: “Don’t you think he should just take it easy, enjoy, breathe… maybe go to Fox, do a show at 11:00?” he asked Tonight‘s audience, to cheers and applause. Leno laughed off the suggestion genially, as is his wont — but you’ve got to wonder if he might consider it seriously come 2014.

READ FULL STORY »

May 17 2013 10:00 AM ET

EW's Morning Bite: And the best sound bite from last night is...

by EW staff

Tags: Bite of the Night, Morning Bite, Rainn Wilson, Steve Carell, The Office, TV

Submitted by CooperJack141:

Dwight: “I can’t believe you came.”

Michael: “That’s what she said.”

–Dwight (Rainn Wilson) and Michael (Steve Carell) on The Office series finale

Check out the rest of your picks from Thursday, May 16 and come back Sunday to share your pick for best bite!

May 17 2013 09:58 AM ET

Kanye West is super psyched to be on 'SNL' this week -- VIDEO

by Hillary Busis

Tags: Ben Affleck, Fred Armisen, Kanye West, Music + Comedy = Good Thing?, NBC, Saturday Night Live, SNL, Music, TV

Kanye West, certified Good Sport, has a notoriously robust sense of humor — so it’s no surprise to see how giddily excited he is about his upcoming stint on Saturday Night Live. (He’s the season finale’s musical guest; Ben Affleck is its host.) Just look at the goofy grin on ‘Ye’s face, or his amiable, up-for-anything body language!

READ FULL STORY »

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