PEACOCK CELEBRATES ORIGINAL SERIES HYSTERIA! WITH EXCLUSIVE PANEL AND BEHIND-THE-SCENES LOOK FOR FANS AT NEW YORK COMIC CON

The Pop-Horror Thriller’s Panel with the Series Creators and Stars Julie Bowen, Anna Camp and Bruce Campbell to Take Place on Thursday, October 17 in Room 405

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 17:

PEACOCK PRESENTS: SATANIC PANIC HORROR THRILLER HYSTERIA! PANEL
Join stars Julie Bowen, Anna Camp and Bruce Campbell, and showrunners and executive producers Matthew Scott Kane and David A. Goodman, for a look into Peacock’s original pop-horror thriller series Hysteria!, a tale of murders, kidnappings, and reported “supernatural activity” that triggers a small town’s witch hunt set during the “Satanic Panic” of the late 1980s.
WHEN: 5:00 – 6:00 PM on Thursday, October 17
WHERE: Room 405 – Javits Center (429 11th Ave., NYC)

HYSTERIA! NYCC ROUNDTABLE PRESS ROOM
WHO: Hysteria! stars Julie Bowen, Anna Camp and Bruce Campbell, and showrunners and executive producers Matthew Scott Kane and David A. Goodman.
WHEN: 3:00 – 4:00 PM on Thursday, October 17
WHERE: NYCC Press Room #2 – Javits Center (429 11th Ave., NYC)
**Please note, press RSVP is required and press room participation/attendance requires confirmation. RSVP to hysteriapr@civic-us.com**

ABOUT HYSTERIA!
When a beloved varsity quarterback disappears during the “Satanic Panic” of the late 1980s, a struggling high school heavy metal band of outcasts realize they can capitalize on the town’s sudden interest in the occult by building a reputation as a Satanic metal band, until a bizarre series of murders, kidnappings, and reported “supernatural activity” triggers a leather-studded witch hunt that leads directly back to them.

Premiere Date: October 18, 2024 (Binge)

Writers / Executive Producers: Matthew Scott Kane and David A. Goodman (The Orville)

Executive Producers: John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein (Dungeons & Dragons, Game Night); Chris Bender and Jake Weiner for Good Fear Content (My Spy, Mulan, Under the Silver Lake)

Supervising Producer: Scott Stoops for Good Fear
Director (101 & 108) / Executive Producer: Jordan Vogt-Roberts (The Kings of Summer, Kong: Skull Island)

Series Regulars: Julie Bowen, Anna Camp, Emjay Anthony, Chiara Aurelia, Kezii Curtis and Nikki Hahn

Recurring Guest Stars: Bruce Campbell, Garret Dillahunt, Nolan North, Elijah Richardson, Milly Shapiro, Allison Scagliotti and Jessica Treska.

NICKELODEON CELEBRATES 25 YEARS OF SPONGEBOB SQUAREPANTS
AT NEW YORK COMIC CON 2024

Nick’s Booth to Feature Immersive Tribute to SpongeBob SquarePants
Pilot Episode, “Help Wanted”; Legendary Voice Talent to Appear on Exclusive Panel

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Video Game and Max & the Midknights Animated Series
Panels Presented at Convention

Nickelodeon continues to celebrate the landmark 25th anniversary of SpongeBob SquarePants with an immersive experience at its booth that pays homage to the iconic first episode of the world’s most famous yellow sea sponge at New York Comic Con 2024. During the four-day convention, Nick’s booth on the convention center floor (#1523) will re-create and transport fans into the “Help Wanted” pilot episode with 3D-animation, augmented reality (AR) and replicas of SpongeBob’s pineapple home and The Krusty Krab.

Nickelodeon and Paramount invite fans to three panels during the convention: “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Video Games and Virtual Worlds,” showcasing the popular video game world; “Nickelodeon’s SpongeBob SquarePants 25th Anniversary Celebration,” a dive into the undersea world of Bikini Bottom and “Nickelodeon’s brand-new fantasy series, Max & the Midknights!,” a behind-the-scenes look at the all-new animated series.

The following is a rundown of Nickelodeon’s activities:

PANELS

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Video Games and Virtual Worlds
Thursday, 10/17 from 8 – 9pm (Room 408)
From PC and console to mobile and virtual worlds, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles have brought Turtle Power to countless original video games over the past few decades – and there’s more on the horizon. Join Doug Rosen, Paramount’s SVP of Games & Emerging Media, as well as representatives from Outright Games, Super Evil Megacorp and more to learn about the latest TMNT releases and get exclusive sneak peeks into these tubular titles.

Nickelodeon’s SpongeBob SquarePants 25th Anniversary Celebration
Friday, 10/18 from 11am – 12pm (Empire Stage)
Jumping Jellyfish! Grab a spatula and get ready to celebrate 25 years of one of the most popular characters and beloved animated series of all time – SpongeBob SquarePants. Join the legendary voice cast Tom Kenny (SpongeBob), Bill Fagerbakke (Patrick), Carolyn Lawrence (Sandy), Rodger Bumpass (Squidward), Clancy Brown (Mr. Krabs), and Mr. Lawrence (Plankton), along with executive producers Marc Ceccarelli and Vincent Waller as they pay tribute to the popular origins and reveal what’s happening next in Bikini Bottom. It’s going to be F.U.N.

Nickelodeon’s brand-new fantasy series, Max & the Midknights!
Sunday, 10/20 from 11am – 12pm (Room 405)
Join creator and executive producer Lincoln Peirce (Big Nate), showrunners and co-executive producers Sharon Flynn and David Skelly, and a host of other exciting panelists as they reveal how this cinematic and groundbreaking new TV series was transformed from the best-selling book series to the screen! Dragons! Monsters! Swords and sorcery!

DAILY BOOTH ACTIVITY

SpongeBob’s Interview Prep Experience
Help wanted! Step inside SpongeBob’s pineapple home to prepare for the big job interview at The Krusty Krab. Fans will complete exercises in SpongeBob’s weight room to ensure they are in top fry cook shape. Once finished, guests can scan their personal QR code to collect their shareable video file on their device.

SpongeBob’s Hungry Anchovy Frenzy
Grab a spatula and step up to the virtual grill to feed those hungry, hungry anchovies! In this one-of-a-kind digital whack-a-mole game, players have one minute to fling out as many virtual Krabby Patties as possible to feed the hungry lunch crowd. It’s a mad dash to the end of the shift, where players can earn their rightful spot as The Krusty Krab’s newest and greatest fry cook!

The Krusty Krab Mast Photo Moment
Ascend from SpongeBob’s pineapple and enter the vibrant world of The Krusty Krab, but watch out for the anchovies! Snap a photo by the iconic Krusty Krab mast just like Mr. Krabs and Squidward in the pilot episode.

Costumed Character Appearances: SpongeBob SquarePants and Patrick Star will make appearances at Nick’s booth at select times during the convention.

Giveaways: Special giveaways and posters will be handed out throughout the convention.

Since its launch July 17, 1999, SpongeBob SquarePants has reigned as the most-watched animated series for 22 consecutive years, while generating a universe of beloved characters, pop culture catchphrases and memes, theatrical releases, consumer products, a Tony award-winning Broadway musical and a global fan base. SpongeBob SquarePants is one of the most widely distributed properties in Paramount history, seen in more than 180 markets, translated in 30+ languages, and averaging more than 90 million total viewers every quarter. SpongeBob SquarePants was created by Stephen Hillenburg and produced by Nickelodeon in Burbank, Calif. The character-driven cartoon chronicles the nautical and sometimes nonsensical adventures of SpongeBob, an incurable optimist and earnest sea sponge, and his undersea friends.

NICKELODEON ORDERS THIRD SEASON OF AVATAR: BRAVING THE ELEMENTS

All-New Firebending Season of Fan-Favorite Podcast Slated to Debut January 2024

Nickelodeon has announced the renewal for a third season of Avatar: Braving the Elements, the official companion podcast for Avatar: The Last Airbender and Legend of Korra. Hosts Janet Varney (the voice of Korra) and Dante Basco (the voice of Prince Zuko) announced the news by a special video message to fans during the “Water, Earth, Fire, Air: Continuing the Avatar Legacy” panel at New York Comic Con 2023. Produced by Nickelodeon, the third season of Avatar: Braving the Elements will debut in Jan. 2024 and be available wherever podcasts are heard.

In season three (40 episodes), Varney and Basco re-watch Book 3 of the classic animated series Avatar: The Last Airbender, offering fans an intimate look inside the popular story where they will break down key themes, notable battles, and share behind-the-scenes stories and trivia. The all-new season will rollout weekly and feature multiplatform elements, including video shorts and corresponding YouTube content.

Award-winning Avatar: Braving the Elements extends the Avatarverse for loyal fans who grew up with the beloved franchise. In this weekly podcast, hosts Janet Varney and Dante Basco continue to re-watch every episode of Avatar: The Last Airbender. Special guests from cast members to producers to superfans drop in to explore elements of Book 3 and reveal secrets behind the making of the series. Fans can binge the first two seasons now to catch up on the podcast.

About Avatar: The Last Airbender
Nickelodeon’s Avatar: The Last Airbender emerged from its three-season run (61 episodes), from February 2005 to July 2008, as one of the most beloved animated properties in history. Honored with a Peabody Award and Primetime Emmy, along with multiple Annie Awards and Genesis Awards, the series follows the adventures of the main protagonist Aang and his friends, who must defeat Fire Lord Ozai and end the Hundred Year War to restore balance to the Four Nations.

In addition to the series’ success, the property has also been translated into several bestselling book series, which continue to roll out new original stories. The graphic novel series most recently spent two months on the New York Times Graphic Books Bestseller list in 2020, and the young adult novels have spent 24 total weeks on the New York Times bestseller list and have close to 700,000 copies in print. The DVD and Blu-rays are also incredibly successful, with the “Avatar: The Last Airbender: The Complete Series” generating nearly $38MM in retail sales since its 2015 release.

AMC NETWORKS RETURNS TO NEW YORK COMIC CON WITH
PANELS, SPECIAL SCREENINGS AND A LOOK AT WHAT’S AHEAD

Exclusive Early Screening of The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon Season Finale
Followed by Executive Producer Q&A to Take Place Thursday, October 12

HIDIVE Hosts World Dub Premiere and Q&A for
The Tunnel to Summer, the Exit of Goodbyes on Thursday, October 12

Shudder Presents V/H/S All Stars Panel Featuring Directors From Each Installment of the Popular Horror Franchise on Friday, October 13

AMC Networks Debuts New Scenes and Teasers from 2024 Series, Including
Orphan Black: Echoes, The Walking Dead: The One Who Live and Anne Rice’s Interview with the Vampire Season 2, Ahead of Daryl Dixon Screening

AMC Networks announced today its lineup at this year’s New York Comic Con, which runs from October 12 to October 15 at the Javits Center, including panels, special screenings and Q&As, along with an exclusive look at some of its most anticipated series in 2024.

A comprehensive schedule is below:

Thursday, October 12 from 4:15pm – 6:15pm; Empire Stage
NYCC attendees will be the first to see The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon season finale ahead of its airing on Sunday, October 15 at 9pm ET/8c on AMC and AMC+, followed by a Q&A with Chief Content Officer of the Walking Dead Universe Scott M. Gimple, Showrunner David Zabel and Executive Producer Greg Nicotero and moderated by Entertainment Weekly’s Dalton Ross.

Ahead of the episode screening, attendees will get an exclusive first look at new scenes and teasers from Orphan Black: Echoes, The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live and Anne Rice’s Interview with the Vampire Season Two.

Thursday, October 12 from 7:30pm – 9:30pm, Room 405
Fans can join HIDIVE for the World Premiere of the English dub of The Tunnel to Summer, the Exit of Goodbyes followed by a Q&A hosted by Jacki Jing and featuring stars of the English dub, including voice actors Gabriel Regojo (voice of Karou) and Patricia Duran (voice of Anzu). The Annecy Award-winning film opens in U.S. theaters on November 3.

Friday, October 13 from 4:30-5:30pm; Main Stage
In celebration of the return of the popular V/H/S franchise – V/H/S/85 begins streaming on October 6 – Shudder brings together directors from each installment of the horror phenomenon to talk about their respective films, the horror genre today, the evolution of the franchise and what’s to come. The panel, moderated by Shudder’s VP of Programming Samuel Zimmerman, will feature David Bruckner (V/H/S/1), Chloe Okuno (V/H/S/94), Natasha Kermani (V/H/S/85), Jason Eisener (V/H/S/2), and Tyler McIntyre (V/H/S/99), among others.

CRUNCHYROLL HOSTS WORLD PREMIERE SCREENING OF
“MY HERO ACADEMIA” SEASON 6 ORIGINAL EPISODE:
“UA HEROES BATTLE” AT NEW YORK COMIC CON 2023
World Premiere Screening to Take Place on October 13 at NYCC

Join Crunchyroll at New York Comic Con this fall for the world premiere of an all-new original episode from My Hero Academia Season 6 entitled “UA HEROES BATTLE”. The screening will take place on Friday, October 13 at 5:00 PM ET at the Empire Stage for all badge holders attending NYCC.

This early, exclusive world preview will feature the English dub and will be available to NYCC attendees before it is screened in Japan. Get ready for some card-game action that will showcase your favorite heroes like never before! Also in celebration of this premiere, Crunchyroll will be giving away limited edition character cards at the screening provided by UVS Games that are based on the new original episode and playable with the My Hero Academia Collectible Card Game. Attendees can also receive these special My Hero Academia cards as a gift with a purchase at Crunchyroll’s merch booth on the show floor.

“UA HEROES BATTLE” is animated by BONES (Mob Psycho 100; Bungo Stray Dogs), based on the popular manga series My Hero Academia written and illustrated by Kohei Horikoshi.

My Hero Academia Season 6 original episode “UA HEROES BATTLE” Official Synopsis:
The third year, Mirio Togata, pays a visit to the students of Class 1-A, who are bored because they are not allowed to go outside. He brings them a card game called U.A. Heroes Battle that the support course made. This game, where players can use cards of various U.A. students, is tough, just like U.A. itself. Who will win the card battle?!

About My Hero Academia
My Hero Academia is a TV anime based on the popular comics by Kohei Horikoshi serialized in Weekly Shonen Jump (Shueisha) and over 85 million copies sold. It is set in a world where about eighty percent of the population has a superpowered Quirk. Heroes protect people and society from accidents, disasters, and villains—criminals who use their Quirks for evil. The story of Izuku Midoriya and his classmates at U.A. High School and their growth, fights, and friendship unfolds as they aim to become such heroes.

My Hero Academia garnered a nomination from the Hollywood Creative Alliance this year for Best Animated Series at the HCA TV Awards.

My Hero Academia on Crunchyroll: www.crunchyroll.com/my-hero-academia
Official English Facebook: www.facebook.com/MyHeroAcademia
Official English Twitter: www.twitter.com/mhaofficial
Official English Instagram: www.instagram.com/plusultra/

NATIONAL TOUR KICKS OFF RETURN OF ADULT SWIM’S “METALOCALYPSE,”
ALL-NEW FILM, SOUNDTRACK, AND “DETHALBUM IV” RELEASES FORTHCOMING

The long-awaited return of Adult Swim’s favorite heavy metal adventure “Metalocalypse” arrives with a nationwide tour of the series’ on-screen band DETHKLOK. A full-length original film, written and directed by Brendon Small, “Metalocalypse: Army of the Doomstar”, a companion soundtrack and “Dethalbum IV” will also arrive this year.

DETHKLOK will kick off their twenty-nine date national tour on August 30 with Japanese kawaii metal pioneers BABYMETAL as co-headliners and virtuoso guitarist Jason Richardson as support.

“It’s very surreal having so much new ‘Metalocalypse’ & DETHKLOK this year with the trifecta of the tour, movie and album,” said Small. “I’m so excited to get on the road with the powerful BABYMETAL, and to celebrate all the hard work that team ‘Metalocalypse’ & DETHKLOK put in over the last two years and beyond!”

The “BABYKLOK” tour will also include appearances at Blue Ridge Rock Festival in Alton, VA (Sep 10), Louder Than Life in Louisville, KY (Sep 23) and Aftershock in Sacramento, CA (Oct 7).

Wed-Aug-30-23 – Houston, TX – 713 Music Hall
Thu-Aug-31-23 – Dallas, TX – South Side Ballroom
Sat-Sep-02-23 – Orlando, FL – Orlando Amphitheater
Sun-Sep-03-23 – Atlanta, GA – Coca-Cola Roxy
Tue-Sep-05-23 – Nashville, TN – Nashville Municipal Auditorium
Wed-Sep-06-23 – Cleveland, OH – Agora Theatre
Fri-Sep-08-23 – Pittsburgh, PA – UPMC Events Center
Sat-Sep-09-23 – Wallingford, CT – Toyota Oakdale Theatre
Sun-Sep-10-23 – Alton, VA – Blue Ridge Rock Festival
Tue-Sep-12-23 – Philadelphia, PA – The Mann Center
Thu-Sep-14-23 – Boston, MA – MGM Music Hall at Fenway
Fri-Sep-15-23 – New York, NY – Hammerstein Ballroom
Sun-Sep-17-23 – Sterling Heights, MI – Michigan Lottery Amphitheatre
Mon-Sep-18-23 – Toronto, ONT – RBC Echo Beach
Wed-Sep-20-23 – Grand Rapids, MI – GLC Live at 20 Monroe
Thu-Sep-21-23 – Chicago, IL – Byline Bank Aragon Ballroom
Sat-Sep-23-23 – Louisville, KY – Louder Than Life Festival
Sun-Sep-24-23 – Milwaukee, MN – The Rave/Eagles Club
Mon-Sep-25-23 – Minneapolis, MN – The Fillmore
Wed-Sep-27-23 – St. Louis, MO – Saint Louis Music Park
Thu-Sep-28-23 – Omaha, NE – Steelhouse Omaha
Sat-Sep-30-23 – Denver, CO – Fillmore Auditorium
Sun-Oct-01-23 – Salt Lake City, UT – The Complex
Tue-Oct-03-23 – Vancouver, BC – PNE Forum
Wed-Oct-04-23 – Seattle, WA – WaMu Theater
Sat-Oct-07-23 – Sacramento, CA – Aftershock Festival
Sun-Oct-08-23 – Las Vegas, NV – Pearl Theater at Palms Casino Resort
Tue-Oct-10-23 – Phoenix, AZ – Arizona Financial Theater
Wed-Oct-11-23 – Los Angeles, CA – YouTube Theater

Ticket information and VIP packages can be found at thebabykloktour.com.

Also coming later in 2023 is “Metalocalypse: Army of the Doomstar,” an original full-length movie written and directed by Brendon Small (“Metalocalypse”) and produced by Titmouse, Adult Swim and Warner Bros. Discovery Home Entertainment. The film stars Small, Tommy Blacha, Victor Brandt (“Metalocalypse”), Stephen “Thundercat” Bruner (Grammy® Award Winning Musician), King Diamond (KING DIAMOND; MERCYFUL FATE), Mark Hamill (“Batman: The Animated Series”; “The Machine”), Kirk Hammett (METALLICA), Jon Hamm (“Confess. Fletch”; “Top Gun: Maverick”), Scott Ian (ANTHRAX), Amy Lee (EVANESCENCE), Malcolm McDowell (“A Clockwork Orange”), Juliet Mills (“Passions”), Laraine Newman (“Saturday Night Live”), Raya Yarbrough (“Metalocalypse: The Doomstar Requiem – a Klok Opera”), and Livia Zita (2022 Winner – Society of Voice Arts and Sciences Award).

The all-new animated movie begins after the heroic rescue of Toki Wartooth; DETHKLOK frontman Nathan Explosion finds himself traumatized in a BRUTAL professional and romantic flat-spin, all while he is tasked with fulfilling the prophecy and confronting the ultimate songwriting challenge to save the planet. Can Nathan Explosion look beyond his brutally damaged ego to save his band, stop the Metalocalypse, and finally face the ultimate evil: Salacia?

As a special highlight, fans can also anticipate the release of two full-length albums this year. WaterTower Music will release both the film soundtrack, “Metalocalypse: Army of the Doomstar (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)” as well as “Dethalbum IV” around the launch of the film. Meanwhile, fans can summon DETHKLOK by streaming the Metalocalypse: Dethklok Complete Collection playlists.

“Metalocalypse” originally premiered in 2006 on Adult Swim and was created by Brendon Small and Tommy Blacha.

Long before Media Mikes was created – we just cerlebrated our 13th Anniversaryl – I have been a huge supporter of the amazing Planet Comicon Kansas City.

That being said, I’m happy to announce that we have once again teamed up with our KCPC friends and are giving five lucky readers (2) passes to the event.  

The best show in the Midwest, hands down, this years celebrity guests include William Shatner, Richard Dreyfuss, Jeffrey Kramer, Jonathan Frakes, William Daniels and Giancarlo Espisito.

All you have to do is comment below and let us know who you would like to see at a future show.  It’s that simple.

Fi ve random comments will be chosen and those picked will receive (2) passes to this year’s show.

This contest runs through midnight on Wednesday, March 15th.  Winners will be notified by email.  GOOD LUCK!

Take a few minutes to see this great highlight video from last years show HERE

Includes ALL 138 Episodes from the Epic Series, Plus the First Theatrical Film, and All the Enhanced Content in a 20-Disc DVD Set!

Hey Aqua Teen Fam! Everyone’s favorite fast-food trio from Adult Swim creators Dave Willis (“Squidbillies,” “Space Ghost Coast to Coast”) and Matt Maiellaro (“Space Ghost Coast to Coast,” “12 oz. Mouse”) are coming together for the first time on DVD from Warner Bros. Home Entertainment with a complete collection including all 138 episodes from the hit series 11 season run, as well as the first theatrical film titled Aqua Teen Hunger Force Colon Movie Film For Theaters, plus hours over 30 hours of bonus content.

SYNOPSIS:

Three unique detectives, the Aqua Teen Hunger Force, share a rental house in New Jersey. This mystery-solving trio is comprised of human-sized food products: Master Shake, the big-mouthed, self-appointed team leader with a short attention span and no work ethic; Frylock, the only reasonable member of the group, who happens to be a box of French-fried potatoes–spuds with power; and Meatwad, a talented round mound of meat who can take the shape of a hot dog or an igloo. Together, this triple threat tackles unusual cases from the luxury of a neighbor’s swimming pool–unless they’re confronted by danger. Then, of course, the three run like hell.

BASICS:

Release Date: September 20, 2022

Audio: English (5.1)

Subtitles: Eng SDH, French, Spanish

Rated: TV-14 (DLSV)

DVD Price: $112.99 SRP ($129.99 in Canada)

About Warner Bros. Discovery 

Warner Bros. Discovery (NASDAQ: WBD) is a leading global media and entertainment company that creates and distributes the world’s most differentiated and complete portfolio of content and brands across television, film and streaming. Available in more than 220 countries and territories and 50 languages, Warner Bros. Discovery inspires, informs and entertains audiences worldwide through its iconic brands and products including: Discovery Channel, discovery+, CNN, DC, Eurosport, HBO, HBO Max, HGTV, Food Network, OWN, Investigation Discovery, TLC, Magnolia Network, TNT, TBS, truTV, Travel Channel, MotorTrend, Animal Planet, Science Channel, Warner Bros. Pictures, Warner Bros. Television, WB Games, New Line Cinema, Cartoon Network, Adult Swim, Turner Classic Movies, Discovery en Español, Hogar de HGTV and others. For more information, please visit www.wbd.com. 

About Adult Swim

Adult Swim (AdultSwim.com), launched in 2001, is WarnerMedia’s #1 brand for young adults offering original and acquired animated and live-action series. Airing nightly from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. (ET/PT) on its linear channel, and also available through HBO Max, Adult Swim is basic cable’s #1 network with persons 18-34 and 18-49, and is seen in 94 million U.S. homes, reaching over 40 million viewers via HBO Max.

Well, thank God that’s over. The final film award ceremony of 2021 is over, and not a minute too soon.

Viewers who tuned in to the 93rd Academy Awards ceremony (guilty, but I have a website. What’s your excuse?) were treated to un-enthusiastic presenters, amazingly long speeches (I’m guessing Questlove wasn’t told he could play people off) and an “In Memoriam” segment that looks like it was thrown together at the last minute. And can someone tell me how a show with no host, opening monologue and zero musical numbers – unless you count the embarrassing “Oscar Music Trivia” game that featured Glenn Close shaking her ass to E.U.’s “Da Butt” – ran almost 3 1/2 hours??

On a positive note, there were some great achievements rewarded. A woman of color (Chloe Zhao) was named Best Director, only the second time a woman has won that Award. Think about that. Out of 465 nominees only SEVEN women have been nominated: Lina Wertmuller, Jane Campion, Sophia Coppola, Kathryn Bigelow (who won), Greta Gerwig, Ms. Zhao and Emerald Fennell, who with Ms. Zhao was nominated this year. Which means such female directors, like Penny Marshall and Barbra Streisand, have been totally ignored, even though in the past they had directed films nominated for Best Picture!

Daniel Kaluuya and Youn Yuh-jing took home the Best Supporting Actor and Actress awards, respectively, putting a slight dent into the #OscarSoWhite reputation.

Frances McDormand became the second actress to receive (3) Best Actress awards when her name was announced last night, putting her right behind the immortal Katherine Hepburn, who won (4). Meryl Streep does have (3) Oscars, but one was for Best Supporting Actress. Ms. McDormand picked up a 4th Oscar as one of the producers of the evening’s Best Picture, “Nomadland.” And whose idea was it to give the Best Picture award out early? Normally it’s the last award of the night, but on this night it was awarded before Best Actress and Actor were named. My hunch is that the producers assumed the late Chadwick Boseman, who was nominated for his final performance in the film “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom,” would win, which would have made for a nice emotional way to end the evening. Instead, Joaquin Phoenix sheepishly announced Anthony Hopkins as the winner of the Best Actor award, and that was a wrap!

My beef with the “In Memoriam” segment was that, for some reason, the Academy figured if you were watching you knew who everyone was and what they did. An introduction that took u 1/3 of the segment, no film clips and, while known talents like Christopher Plummer, George Segal and Wilford Brimley got a few seconds of screen time each, others – among them Marge Champion (a great dancer), Shirley Knight (a fine actress), Kelly Preston (same) and Michael Chapman (an amazing cinematographer whose credits include “Taxi Driver,” “Raging Bull,” “Dead Men Don’t Wear Plaid” and “The Fugitive”) whizzed by in a blink.

The fact that only nominees and presenters were allowed to be in the venue also made for dull television. Smatterings of applause signaled that the guests in the theatre were apparently as bored as the ones at my house.

Blame it on COVID. Blame it on the fact that none of the films nominated were “NAME” films – no “Titanic,” “Avatar” or “Lord of the Rings” in the bunch. Blame it on bad television. There’s plenty of blame to go around.

For those of you who went to bed early, here is a list of the winners:

Best Picture – Nomadland 

Best Actor in a Leading Role– Anthony Hopkins (The Father)

Best Actress in a Leading Role – Frances McDormand (Nomadland)

Best Director – Chloé Zhao (Nomadland)

Best Actress in a Supporting Role – Youn Yuh-jung (Minari)

Best Actor in a Supporting Role – Daniel Kaluuya (Judas and the Black Messiah)

Best Adapted Screenplay – The Father, Christopher Hampton, Florian Zeller

Best Original Screenplay – Promising Young Woman, Emerald Fennell

Best Animated Feature Film – Soul 

Best International Feature Film – Another Round (Denmark)

Best Sound – Sound of Metal, Phillip Bladh, Nicolas Becker, Jaime Baksht, Michelle Couttolenc, Carlos Cortés, Carolina Santana

Best Costume Design – Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, Ann Roth

Best Makeup and Hairstyling – Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, Matiki Anoff, Mia Neal, Larry M. Cherry

Best Live Action Short Film – Two Distant Strangers

Best Animated Short Film – If Anything Happens I Love You 

Best Documentary Feature – My Octopus Teacher 

Best Documentary Short Subject – Colette 

Best Original Song – ‘Fight for You,’ (Judas and the Black Messiah)

Best Visual Effects – Tenet, Andrew Jackson, Andrew Lockley, Scott R. Fisher, Mike Chambers

Best Cinematography – Mank, Erik Messerschmidt

Best Production Design – Mank, Donald Graham Burt, Jan Pascale

Best Film Editing – Sound of Metal, Mikkel E.G. Nielsen

Best Original Score – Mank, Trent Reznor, Atticus Ross

THIS COULD BE THE STRANGEST OSCAR CEREMONY EVER

In its 93 years the Academy Awards have seen some strange occurrences.

In 1973, Marlon Brando, who was announced as the winner of the Best Actor Award, sent an actress pretending to be a Native American up to the podium to refuse the award, citing the way Native American’s were portrayed in films.

The next year, David Niven was startled when freelance photographer Robert Opel decided to “streak” across the stage behind them.  I always thought that this was a set-up.  The camera angle was such that none of Mr. Opel’s nether-region was shown and Mr. Niven was awful quick and his quip: “The only laugh that man will ever get in his life is from stripping off and showing his shortcomings!” 

And, of course, who could forget the 1989 ceremonies when Rob Lowe and Snow White engaged in a musical number?  Only months before a sex-tape with Lowe and two women (one underage) had been released, which I’m sure upset the folks at Disney, who were already upset because they hadn’t given their permission for the character to appear.

But this year could be the strangest and most unpredictable ceremony ever.

Tonight, for really the first time since last year’s Oscars, nominees have been encouraged to be in attendance.  In the past year, shows like the Emmys have had a minimal crowd (usually first responders) and the awards have been “delivered” to the winner via Zoom.  Tonight we could actually see people walk across the stage to give their acceptance speeches.

Tonight also notes the first time that a streaming service has received more total nominations than any of the established studios.  NETFLIX leads the way with 35 total nominations, followed by Amazon with 12.  The highest number of studio nominations is 8, shared by Warner Bros. and the Walt Disney Company.

Streaming has been the thing this year.  Though theatres are now open again, very few people are going.  The one closest to me, and 18 screen mega-plex, is showing films that range from current (GODZILLA vs KONG, MORTAL KOMBAT) to titles that are months old.  They are even trying to fill their screens with Bollywood features.

In the past year, I have seen three films in a movie theatre.  The aforementioned GODZILLA vs KONG and MORTAL KOMBAT, both in the last 2 months.  Before that, the last film I saw on the big screen was TENET.  And I LOVE going to the movies.

With the exception of TENET, every other Oscar nominated film or performance I have seen this year has been either on a streaming platform or a DVD screener.  A nice way for a critic to binge on what they need to see but also a way that takes the fun out of the movies. 

I enjoy going to the theatre.  Getting my popcorn and sitting in a room with 250 strangers who are about to share an experience with me.  I like hearing others laugh along with me and I like sitting in the silence and hearing if anyone else is crying at the incredibly sad scene I just witnessed.  And I like talking to people as we exit the auditorium, discussing what we saw and whether or not we liked it. 

I should note that there were no more than four other people in attendance at the three films I have seen in a theatre.  Which makes for a lonely exit conversation.

Hopefully after the awards some of the winners will be released to theatres.  That is how Hollywood makes a little more money off of their films – re-releasing them to theatres after the awards to get a post-Oscar push at the box office.  I, for one, would love to see MANK on the big screen.  It’s impeccable recreation of 1940s filmmaking would be glorious to take in on a screen 40 feet high.

However, there are also good reasons to watch the Awards this year.  Many of the nominees are a “pick-em” – there are no such things as “Titanic” nominated tonight.  But my fingers are crossed for two awards and the reaction they will receive. 

The late Chadwick Boseman is nominated as Best Actor for his amazing performance in “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom.”  It is his last film performance and it is brilliant.  A victory here would not only honor a talent gone much too soon but will surely bring the house to it’s feet.

Secondly, tonight Glenn Close is nominated (for the eighth time) for her Supporting turn in “Hillbilly Elegy.”  Not only is she the best thing in the film, she is so overdue for a win.  Should she not win tonight, she will tie the late Peter O’Toole as having the most acting nominations without a win.  O’Toole did receive an Honorary Oscar in 2002.  A win by Close would surely trigger and emotional standing ovation.  It certainly will at my house.

I had only been in Baltimore about a year when it was announced that the NFL”s Baltimore Colts would be moving to Indianapolis. The mood in the city was like a close friend had died. But teams moving was really nothing new in 1984. I grew up in Tampa and I still own t-shirts for the Tampa Bay Giants and the Tampa Bay White Sox, two teams that held their cities ransom with a threat to move in order to get new stadiums built.

In 1980 the Los Angeles Rams moved from L.A. to Anaheim (since then they’ve moved to St. Louis and back to L.A.). Seeing Los Angeles as a prime place to have a team, Oakland Raider managing partner /Al Davis decided to move his team to the empty Los Angeles Coliseum, with the promise of upgraded facilities and, of course, more money. But it wasn’t easy.

Entertaining and informative, “Al Davis vs the NFL” is another feather in the ESPN 30 for 30 cap. The film introduces both Pete Rozelle, who would become NFL commissioner and Davis, who helped found the American Football League (AFL) and soon became the managing partner of the Oakland football team. We see Rozelle in 1963 refusing to comment on a possible merger with the upstart AFL (it happened in 1966) and Davis’ team always running into bad luck, especially against the mighty Pittsburgh Steelers. Glory comes so close for the silver and black, only to be dashed away by Franco Harris’ “Immaculate” Reception one year, and a field of solid ice two years later. Now Davis and Rozelle go head to head in Federal Court to decide where the Raiders will play next.

Told through archival footage, and narrated by reenactors, The film is an amazing look back at a much simpler time in sports. Though quite popular in the mid-1980s, football did not have the amazing impact it has now. As “Just Win, Baby” becomes the phrase of champions, we learn how simple animosity between two men led to a landmark legal decision. We are also reminded of some of the great sportscasters of that decade, including Howard Cosell, Phyllis George, and Curt Gowdy. The legal battle is fun to watch, as neither Rozelle nor Davis want to be the first to throw in the towel.

Of course, if you follow football you know that soon the Browns went to Baltimore and became the Ravens and the Oilers left Houston for Tennessee. Meanwhile, the Raiders returned to Oakland and then, this year, began -playing in their new home city of Las Vegas. You’ve heard the saying “you can’t tell the players without a scorecard?” Well, these days, you can’t tell the NFL without an Atlas!

Just in time for the Super Bowl (go Chiefs!), “Al Davis vs the NFL” airs on ESPN this Thursday, February 4. It will also run on ESPN+ after the broadcast.

A Full-Day Marathon of the Daytime Emmy Award-Winning Comedy Rock Series Hosted by the Aquabats

Aquabats, let’s go! Shout! Factory TV will proudly present The Aquabats! Super Show! Super Marathon on December 5 to celebrate the fan-favorite musical comedy series’ debut on Shout! Factory TV. The marathon will feature every episode of The Aquabats! Super Show!, the unaired pilot episode, specials and music videos.

Fans can hang out with The Aquabats as they answer popular questions from the fans, share never-before-heard trivia and behind-the-scenes tidbits and showcase actual props from the show. One lucky winner will also receive a prize pack including a Fender guitar signed by The Aquabats and a signed, limited edition vinyl copy of the band’s new album Kooky Spooky…in Stereo!

The Aquabats! Super Show! premiered in 2012 on the Hub Network and aired for two seasons and a total of 21 episodes. The series was helmed by Christian Jacobs, Scott Schultz (creators of the series Yo Gabba Gabba!), and director Jason deVilliers. Throughout its run, the show received eight multiple Daytime Emmy nominations and one win. Shout! Factory previously released 

The Aquabats! Super Show!: Season One on DVD in 2013. Based on the superhero mythology of The Aquabats!, a real comedy rock band which series co-creator and lead singer Jacobs formed in 1994, The Aquabats! Super Show! follows the comic adventures of a fictionalized version of the band, a musical group of amateur superheroes, as they haphazardly defend the world from a variety of villains and monsters. Styled similarly to the campy aesthetics of 1960s and 1970s children’s television and Japanese tokusatsu, The Aquabats! Super Show! utilizes various mediums of visual styles and special effects, mixing live-action storylines with cartoon shorts, parody advertisements and musical interludes.

The marathon begins Saturday, December 5 at 9 a.m. PT and will continue all day. The stream can be viewed on ShoutFactoryTV.com; Shout! Factory TV’s Roku, Amazon Fire, Apple TV, and Android apps; and the following digital streaming platforms: Twitch, Pluto TV, Samsung TV Plus, Comcast Xfinity, Xumo, Vizio, Redbox, IMDb TV, STIRR, Sling TV, THETA.tv and Local Now. 

Every episode of The Aquabats! Super Show! is also now available for viewing on demand on ShoutFactoryTV.com; Shout! Factory TV’s Roku, Amazon Fire, Apple TV, and Android apps; and on various Shout! Factory TV branded channels including Tubi, Amazon Prime Channels, and the Roku Channel.

About The Aquabats! The Aquabats!, formed in 1994 in Orange County as a way to have some harmless fun in a music scene that took itself too seriously. Their Paul Frank designed “power belts,” trademark rash guards, black eye masks, “anti-negativity” helmets and onstage antics quickly caught on, earning the group a fiercely loyal following that spans generations. Their line-up and music is continuously evolving, including Blink 182’s Travis Barker as former drummer “Baron Von Tito.” In 2012, the band debuted The Aquabats! Super Show!, a live-action musical action comedy television series which aired on the Hub Network. The show received eight multiple Daytime EMMY nominations and one win. To date, The Aquabats’ music library includes The Return of the Aquabats (1996), The Fury of the Aquabats! (1997), The Aquabats vs. The Floating Eye of Death (1999), Myths, Legends and Other Amazing Adventures, Vol. 2 (2000), Yo! Check Out This Ride! (EP, 2004) Charge!! (2005), Radio Down! (EP, 2010), Hi-Five Soup! (2011), and 2020’s newest addition – full studio album Kooky Spooky… In Stereo! Current members are Christian Jacobs as “The MC Bat Commander” (lead singer), Chad Larson as “Crash McLarson” (bass, vocals), Ian Fowles as “Eaglebones Falconhawk” (guitar), Richard Falomir as “Ricky Fitness” (drums), and James Briggs, as “Jimmy the Robot” (keyboards, woodwinds, vocals). 

About Shout! Factory TV Shout! Factory TV is a digital entertainment streaming service that brings timeless and contemporary cult favorites to pop culture fans. Shout! Factory TV offers an unrivaled blend of original programming and TV shows and movies curated from major studios, independent producers and its own distinctive entertainment library. The Shout! Factory TV family of channels also includes Mystery Science Theater 3000, TokuSHOUTsu™ and Johnny Carson TV, with more to come soon. Shout! Factory TV provides an immersive, high-quality viewing experience across a wide variety of platforms: online at ShoutFactoryTV.com, on smartphone devices, tablets and connected TV, and via apps on the Roku player, Android, Apple TV, and Amazon Fire TV. Shout! Factory TV is also available as a branded channel on Amazon Prime Channels, Comcast Xfinity, IMDb TV, Pluto TV, Redbox, Roku Premium Subscriptions, Samsung TV Plus, STIRR, Tubi, Twitch, Vizio and XUMO, among others. For more information, please visit ShoutFactoryTV.com.   

• BELUSHI
• Documentary
• Directed by: R.J. Cutler
• Rated:  Not Rated
• Running time:  1 hr 48 mins
• Passion Pictures

He was the first movie star of MY generation.  Springing almost seemingly from nowhere he appeared on my television one late Saturday night and remained there for five years, giving my friends and I unending laughs and so many catch phrases – “but NO!” – to take us all the way through high school.  He made hit films, inspiring an amazing Toga Party at my house that is still part of Tampa’s legacy.  He is John Belushi, the subject of an incredible new documentary airing this Sunday, November 22, on SHOWTIME.

Told though audio interviews with many of the people who knew him best, ‘Belushi” introduces us to a young man that was seemingly born with a will to succeed.  As a young boy he would entertain his neighbors, had a successful band and was King of his high school prom.  When he and a couple of friends form their own imrov group it isn’t long before they are asked to audition for the prestigious Second City Comedy Troupe.  He becomes the first person to audition for the group and be asked to join the First Stage group, not learn the ropes in the touring company.  This leads to New York, the National Lampoon show “Lemmings” (and their weekly radio show) and, eventually, “Saturday Night Live,” which my friends and I all watched in my living room the night it premiered.    Soon came Hollywood, albums and fame but sadly the demons also came along with them.

The son of Albanian immigrants, John’s father came to America with dreams of becoming a cowboy.  Instead, he settled his family in Wheaton, Illinois and opened a restaurant.  Both of his parents were ashamed of their accents but John and his brothers and sisters loved America and set out to find their dreams.    When he meets Judy Jacklin at high school (their first date is the senior prom) he finds someone who loves him unconditionally.  The film highlights many letters that John sent to Judy throughout his life.  Whether they contained good career news, or his heart breaking words while dealing with his various addictions, the love he has for her is front and center.  Conversations with Judy, and best friend Dan Aykroyd, reveal the John Belushi nobody really knew and the ache in their voices when they explain they did all they could do to save him from his demons  is real.   After the release of their last film together, “Neighbors” – a film that was not loved by critics – Aykroyd describes talking to Belushi and finding him “sad and defeated.”  Aykroyd informs John that he is writing their next project and that it will be a success.  That film was “Ghostbusters.” 

But “Belushi” is also a testament to the man’s talent.  Early performance clips, including his audition tape for “Saturday Night Live,” show a man

Full of love and humor John only wanted to share both with people.  In 1978 John Belushi did something no other entertaining ever did.  In one week he not only starred in the No 1. Show on television – “Saturday Night Live” – but also in the No 1. Film that week, “National Lampoon’s Animal House.” To add to this historic achievement, he also, along with Aykroyd, had the No 1 Album in the country – “Briefcase Full of Blues” – with the Blues Brothers.  Through the audio interviews, we hear from many people that knew John best, from his mother and brother, Jim, through people that worked with him over the years, including Chevy Chase, Harold Ramis, Joe Flaherty, Penny Marshall, Carrie Fisher, Richard Zanuck and Lorne Michaels. It is these performances that are the highlight of the film.  I have always maintained that John Belushi would have had a career similar to Robin Williams.  Both men had unlimited range and talents and I would not have been surprised if Belushi won an Oscar one day.  Sadly, we will never know what joys John Belushi could have given us.  But the ones he left us in a single decade of work are much more than most performers leave in an lifetime. 

BURBANK, Calif. (July 2, 2020) — The out-of-this-world animated movie “Phineas and Ferb The Movie: Candace Against the Universe,” from Disney Television Animation, will premiere exclusively on Disney+ Friday, August 28. The soundtrack, from Walt Disney Records, will be available the same day. 

Executive-produced by the creators/executive producers of the Emmy Award-winning “Phineas and Ferb” series, Dan Povenmire and Jeff “Swampy” Marsh, “Phineas and Ferb The Movie: Candace Against the Universe” is an adventure story that tracks stepbrothers Phineas and Ferb as they set out across the galaxy to rescue their older sister Candace, who after being abducted by aliens, finds utopia in a far-off planet, free of pesky little brothers.  

Voice talent reprising their roles from the original series and movie include: Ashley Tisdale as Candace Flynn; Vincent Martella as Phineas Flynn; Caroline Rhea as their mom, Linda; Dee Bradley Baker as Perry the Platypus; Alyson Stoner as Isabella; Maulik Pancholy as Baljeet; Bobby Gaylor as Buford; Olivia Olson as Vanessa Doofenshmirtz; Tyler Mann as Carl; and Povenmire and Marsh as Dr. Heinz Doofenshmirtz and Major Monogram, respectively. David Errigo Jr. joins the cast as Ferb Fletcher. 

The movie also stars: Ali Wong (“American Housewife”) as Super Super Big Doctor; Wayne Brady (“Whose Line Is It Anyway?”) as Stapler Fist; Diedrich Bader (“American Housewife”) as Borthos; and Thomas Middleditch (“Silicon Valley”) as Garnoz.

In addition to Povenmire and Marsh, the talented crew includes: director Bob Bowen (“Family Guy”), composer Danny Jacob (“Phineas and Ferb”) and songwriters Karey Kirkpatrick (“Something Rotten!”), Emanuel Kiriakou (Whitney Houston’s “I Look To You”) and Kate Micucci (“Garfunkel and Oates”).

All four seasons of the original animated series “Phineas and Ferb,” along with the Disney Channel Original Movie “Phineas and Ferb the Movie: Across the 2nd Dimension,” are also available to stream on Disney+. Beginning Tuesday, August 25, all episodes will be presented on Disney XD leading up to the movie’s premiere.

In addition to the soundtrack for the new movie, brand extensions for the movie will include cross-category product available at Hot Topic, BoxLunch and Amazon this August.

#DisneyPlus

#PhineasandFerbMovie

#CandaceAgainstTheUniverse

About Disney+

Disney+ is the dedicated streaming home for movies and shows from Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, National Geographic, and more. As part of Disney’s Direct-to-Consumer and International (DTCI) segment, Disney+ is available on most internet-connected devices and offers commercial-free programming with a variety of original feature-length films, documentaries, live-action and animated series, and short-form content. Alongside unprecedented access to Disney’s incredible library of film and television entertainment, the service is also the exclusive streaming home for the latest releases from The Walt Disney Studios. Disney+ is available as part of a bundle offer that gives subscribers access to Disney+, Hulu (ad-supported), and ESPN+. Visit DisneyPlus.com to subscribe and/or learn more about the service.