season Archives - Page 19 of 22 - MediaMikes

DVD Review “Teen Wolf: The Complete Season One”

Directors: Russell Mulcahy, Toby Wilkins, Tim Andrews
Starring: Tyler Posey, Crystal Reed, Holland Roden, Tyler Hoechlin, Linden Ashby, Jill Wagner, Eaddy Mays, Melissa Ponzio
Episodes: 12
MPAA Rating: Not Rated
Distributed by: 20th Century Fox
Release Date: May 22, 2012
Running Time: 522 minutes

Season: 2.5 out of 5 stars
Extras: 3 out of 5 stars

When it comes to “Teen Wolf”, there is really only one version the 80’s film with Michael J. Fox…and well maybe Jason Bateman in “Teen Wolf Too”, just for fun. This MTV version of this franchise feels a lot like a Twilight-infused version of the series. The first episode is rather hard to get through and the series doesn’t particular get much better from there. It is not unwatchable but definitely not a show that I would brag how good it is to watch. The show will probably be loved by it’s core audience teenage girls or crazy “Twi-moms”. Either way I will stick to the 80’s for “Teen Wolf”

This series takes us back to the beginning, unrelated 80’s franchise, of how one night will forever change or transform (literally) one teenager’s life. Scott McCall (Tyler Posey) gets bit by a werewolf bite which introduces him to amazing supernatural powers. He has to deal with everyday angst in High School, keep his identity a secret while dealing with being a werewolf. “Teen Wolf” stars some of a hip young cast, including Tyler Posey (Scott McCall), Crystal Reed (Allison Argent), Tyler Hoechlin (Derek Hale) and Holland Roden (Lydia Martin).

For a DVD set, this contains some decent special features. There is an Extended Finale for “Code Breaker”. There is a bunch of Deleted, Alternate and Extended Scenes, as well as a Gag Reel. There is also a Behind-The-Scenes featurette. The cast provide commentary on select episodes. Teenage girls will go crazy for the Shirtless Montage. “Following The Pack: Meet The Cast Of Teen Wolf” introduces this new young cast and feature them talking about the show. Lastly there is footage from the red carpet in “Teen Wolf: Working The Red Carpet”. If you are a fan of this show, this set is for you definitely and don’t forget to tune into season two June 3rd 2012.

Season One Episodes:
“Wolf Moon”, “Second Chance at First Line”, “Pack Mentality”, “Magic Bullet”, “The Tell”, “Heart Monitor”, “Night School”, “Lunatic”, “Wolf’s Bane”, “Co-Captain”, “Formality” and “Code Breaker”

Read Complete Article

Filed Under: DVD/Blu-Ray Reviews Tagged With: complete, dvd, review, season, teen, wolf, ...

DVD Review “The River: The Complete First Season”

Created by: Oren Peli
Starring: Bruce Greenwood, Joe Anderson, Paul Blackthorne
MPAA Rating: Not Rated
Distributed by: ABC Studios
Release Date: May 22, 2012
Running Time: 344 minutes

Our Score: 4 out of 5 stars

“The River” is a great combination of “Lost” and “Blair Witch Project and really takes the found footage genre to the next level. Oren Peli, the genius behind the “Paranormal Activity” series created and produced this show and his involvement is very apparent. My main issue with the show is that it is short running only eight episodes, although it also keeps the show tighter and not stuffed with a lot of filler. Unfortunately this show was not renewed for season two, so the season cliffhanger will have the serve as the series finale. Who knows maybe Netflix will revive this fantastic show! Hint…Hint!

The premise of the show follows the disappearance of Dr Emmet Cole, the host of a wilderness reality show, into the depths of the Amazon. He is presumed dead by friends and family until a signal from his communication device shows up on radar. His son & wife along with, his producer and colleagues head out to into the jungle to try and rescue him. While on this journey they decide to bring a camera crew along to document. The group finds that Dr. Emmet Cole was in a lot deeper than everyone thought and they might have a hard time leaving the jungle once they enter it.

Besides coming from the amazing mind of Oren Peli, this series was also Executive Produced by Steven Spielberg. Having a horror thriller on TV these days are incredible rare and like this one they unfortunately don’t last. This DVD does not only include the complete first season, there is also some decent special features. There are various deleted scenes included, worth checking out since you can imagine how much footage they shot for this season. There is a making of featurette, which is a little short but still worth watching. There is also commentary available for the episode “The Magus” and “Row, Row, Row Your Boat.” They are two of my favorite episodes and the commentary tracks are very welcomed.

Read Complete Article

Filed Under: DVD/Blu-Ray Reviews Tagged With: complete, dvd, review, river, season

Dorian Missick and Kate Kelton Join Third Season of SyFy’s Popular Series Haven

DORIAN MISSICK (SOUTHLAND, THE CAPE) AND KATE KELTON (HAROLD AND KUMAR, AMERICAN PSYCHO 2) JOIN THIRD SEASON OF SYFY’S POPULAR SERIES HAVEN

SEASON 3 OF HAVEN PREMIERES FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 21

NEW YORK – May 18, 2012 – Dorian Missick (Southland, The Cape) and Kate Kelton (Harold and Kumar, American Psycho 2) will join the cast ofSyfy’s popular series Haven in recurring roles when the show returns for its third season beginning Friday, September 21 at 10PM (ET/PT).

Kelton portrays the spirited and fierce “Jordan McKee.” She’s a waitress at “The Gun & Rose Diner,” and also an influential member of a mysterious organization of “troubled” people whose identity is known by the distinctive tattoo marking its members.

Missick plays “Tommy Bowen,” a street smart Boston detective who comes to Haven investigating a suspected serial killer case. A shrewd, calculating policeman, he’s also a fish out of water, completely mismatched with this L.L. Bean world.

Season three of Haven picks up immediately following the events of the gripping season two finale with Audrey having been brutally kidnapped; Nathan (Lucas Bryant) warned against pursuing a romantic relationship with Audrey; and Duke (Eric Balfour) seemingly engaged in a fight to the death with Nathan after he discovers his family lineage is to kill Haven citizens with troubles.

Haven, based on the novella The Colorado Kid from renowned author Stephen King, follows former FBI agent Audrey Parker, who becomes a cop in the small town of Haven, Maine, and soon discovers the town’s many secrets, which also hold the key to unlocking the mysteries of her lost past.

From leading independent studio Entertainment One (eOne), Haven is co-commissioned by Shaw Media in Canada and globally via Universal Networks International (UNI).

The creative team behind Haven includes executive producers John Morayniss (The Firm, Hell on Wheels) from eOne Television and David MacLeod (Legends of the Fall, The Ray Bradbury Theater) of Big Motion Pictures, who are joined by Lloyd Segan, Shawn Piller, Scott Shepherd (Stephen King’s The Dead Zone, Greek) of Piller/Segan/Shepherd and Matt McGuinness (Journeyman, Dark Blue) as well as Sam Ernst & Jim Dunn (Stephen King’s The Dead Zone), who also developed the series.

Haven is produced by Entertainment One and Big Motion Pictures in association with Piller/Segan/Shepherd and airs on Syfy in the U.S., Showcase in Canada and internationally on Universal Networks International’s channels. Entertainment One controls the worldwide distribution rights to the one-hour series and concluded a deal with Germany’s Tele München Group (TMG) for the television rights in Continental Europe.

About Syfy

Syfy is a media destination for imagination-based entertainment. With year round acclaimed original series, events, blockbuster movies, classic science fiction and fantasy programming, a dynamic Web site (www.Syfy.com) and a portfolio of adjacent business (Syfy Ventures), Syfy is a passport to limitless possibilities. Originally launched in 1992 as SCI FI Channel, and currently in more than 98 million homes, Syfy is a network of NBCUniversal, one of the world’s leading media and entertainment companies. (Syfy. Imagine greater.)

About Entertainment One

Entertainment One Ltd. (LSE:ETO) is a leading international entertainment company that specializes in the acquisition, production and distribution of film and television content. The company’s comprehensive network extends around the globe including Canada, the U.S., the UK, Ireland, Benelux, France, Germany, Scandinavia, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. Through established Entertainment and Distribution divisions, the company provides extensive expertise in film distribution, television and music production, family programming and merchandising and licensing. Its current rights library is exploited across all media formats and includes more than 20,000 film and television titles, 2,500 hours of television programming and 45,000 music tracks.

About Universal Networks International
Universal Networks International, the global channels division of NBCUniversal, is one of the world’s premier entertainment networks, delivering quality content and compelling brands to 150 territories across Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Latin America and Asia. The portfolio includes the brands Syfy, Universal Channel, DIVA Universal, Studio Universal and 13th Street Universal and now, with the acquisition by Comcast Corporation, E! Entertainment Television, The Style Network and Golf Channel. These brands deliver a full range of entertainment experiences to local audiences across the globe. Universal Networks International also operates Movies 24 and has an interest in the KidsCo joint venture.

About Shaw Communications Inc.

Shaw is a diversified communications and media company, providing consumers with broadband cable television, High-Speed Internet, Home Phone, telecommunications services (through Shaw Business), satellite direct-to-home services (through Shaw Direct) and engaging programming content (through Shaw Media). Shaw serves 3.4 million customers, through a reliable and extensive fibre network. Shaw Media operates one of the largest conventional television networks in Canada, Global Television, and 18 specialty networks including HGTV Canada, Food Network Canada, History Television and Showcase. Shaw is traded on the Toronto and New York stock exchanges and is included in the S&P/TSX 60 Index (Symbol: TSX – SJR.B, NYSE – SJR). For more information about Shaw, please visit www.shaw.ca.

Read Complete Article

Filed Under: TV Interviews Tagged With: dorian, haven, join, kate, kelton, missick, ...

“Being Human” Season 2 Interview Series

Season 2 of Syfy’s “Being Human” picks up in the aftermath of the first season, with Aidan trying to deal with the mess left behind by his now (fully) deceased mentor Bishop and taking charge of Boston. Josh and Nora are dealing with being wolf’s and the return of his ex fiance Julia. Sally, having missed her door last season, deals with being stuck in ghost-form and unable to move on indefinitely. This season also introduces many new characters to the show.

Media Mikes had a chance to chat with many of the cast from season two including Andreas Apergis (Ray), Dichen Lachman (Suren), Dusan Dukic (Reaper), Gianpaolo Venuta (Danny), Kristen Hager (Nora), Natalie Brown (Julia), Sam Huntington (Josh), Sam Witwer (Aiden), and Susanna Fournier (Zoe).

Andreas Apergis

Gianpaolo Venuta

Susanna Fournier

Also check out our interview series from season 1 of Syfy’s “Being Human”

Mark Pellegrino

Read Complete Article

Filed Under: Interviews, TV Interviews Tagged With: andreas apergis, Being human, dichen lichman, Dusan Dukic, gianpaolo ventua, interview, ...

Blu-ray Review “The Universe: The Complete Season Six”

Narrated by: Erik Thompson
MPAA Rating: Not Rated
Distributed by: A&E Home Video
Release Date: May 15, 2012
Episodes: 14
Running Time: 658 minutes

Our Score: 4 out of 5 stars

At the end of season five, “The Universe” series was thought to been done. But I guess there is always more to showcase when it comes to the unknown reaches of “The Universe”. Thanks to H2 (aka History 2) for producing this sixth season, I hope they continue to as well going forward. It is said that season 6 was even produced in 3D. But no idea why it was not release on 3D Blu-ray. I would have been all over that. I enjoyed this season just liked the past five but I wish it was longer than seven episodes, which is the shortest season to date.

There are fourteen episodes included in this season. In “Catastrophes that Changed the Planets” focuses on the events that shaped our planets. “Nemesis: The Sun’s Evil Twin” explores the existence of Nemesis and it’s affects. “How the Solar System was Made” covers from the birth from a thin cloud of dust and gas. “Crash Landing on Mars” discusses a “what-if” scenario about the first manned mission to Mars. “Worst Days on Planet Earth” reveals new discoveries that might have plagued Earth in the past. “UFO: The Real Deal” focuses on our unknown visitors. “God and the Universe” takes a scientific journey to find God. “How Big, How Far, How Fast” turns to astronomers who attempt to push the size, distance and speed within our universe.

The following episodes were not aired prior to this release. “Our Place in the Milky Way” focusing on how much we don’t know about it. “Alien Sounds” examines the probability of sounds from outer space. “Deep Freeze” looks at the coldest places in the universe. “Microscopic Universe” focuses on a different sort of universe, one of subatomic particle and quantum physics. “Ride the Comet” focuses on the ancient belief of comets. Lastly there is “When Space Changed History”, which focuses many different theories including a number of cataclysms, including the Biblical flood of Noah and Epic of Gilgamesh.

The Blu-ray presentation it self is impressive. The season is spread out over three Blu-ray discs. The 1080p transfer looks fantastic as usual and the CGI in the season is very impressive. I was not 100% satisfied with the DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 track though, I thought it was good but lacking for a show that relies so much on its special effects. Lastly there is no special features on this set unfortunately. If you are reading this H2, keep making this series and release this season in 3D, since it was shot in it.

Read Complete Article

Filed Under: DVD/Blu-Ray Reviews Tagged With: bluray, complete, review, season, universe

Dusan Dukic talks about playing Reaper in SyFy’s “Being Human”

Dusan Dukic is known best for playing Reaper in season 2 of SyFy’s “Being Human”. Dusan took out some time to chat with Media Mikes about the role and his reflection on season 2.

Mike Gencarelli: Tell us how you got involved with “Being Human” season two?
Dusan Dukic: I got a call from my agent to audition for a part called the Reaper in Being Human season 2. On the original casting breakdown it stated that it was a character that would recur for 3 episodes. I said I would do it, not knowing what would be the outcome, as I thought at first that the role would not be so heavily involved in the season. I was wrong and it was pleasantly surprising that I got to partake in such an exciting and interesting journey playing the Reaper.

MG: There is little known about the reaper, how did you prepare for the role?
DD: There is very little known about the Reaper, and when your character’s name is the Reaper, it seemed a very daunting role to play. However, Adam Kane and I had lengthy and extremely helpful conversations giving me great insight into the character, who he is, what purpose he serves and what is the precise connection to Sally. Yes the Reaper exists in Sally’s mind, but to her he is completely real. The most important question to me was, why did she create him and why does she need him.

MG: How was it working with Meagan Rath?
DD: Working with Meaghan was absolutely fantastic. She is very connected to her role, and she is extremely generous as an actress. She also has a great sense of humor. It was a pleasure.

MG: What did you enjoy most about season two? Favorite episode?
DD: My favorite episode and what I most enjoyed in season 2 was “Dream Reaper”. The episode was a blast to shoot, from the new décor, to the purple fashion invasion. It was a chance for the audience to see a different side of the Reaper. From my point of view he really was trying to help Sally, and I think he really cares for her well being in his own special way. I’m still getting so many wonderful comments by the fans @dusandukic on how much they enjoyed the episode. I’ve never had the chance to wear so much purple in my life before. I think, however, that Reapers prefer black.

MG: Can you reflect on the fantastic season two finale?
DD: The season finale was full of adrenaline and action. By the end of the episode all of the story lines are left hanging in the balance. We have no idea of what will happen to all of the characters. It was a rush to watch. I’m really looking forward to seeing Sally in “limbo” next season. I’m curious to see what it looks like and what happens there.

MG: Any word if the reaper is coming back for season three?
DD: Will the Reaper be back for season 3? We will have to wait and see. That rhymed by the way.

Read Complete Article

Filed Under: TV Interviews Tagged With: dukic, dusan, human, playing, reaper, season, ...

Susanna Fournier chats about playing Zoe in Syfy’s “Being Human”

Susanna Fournier is known best for playing Zoe in Syfy’s “Being Human”. The show recently ended its second season and is already beginning season three production shortly. Susanna took out some time to chat with Media Mikes about her role on the show and her reflection on season two.

Mike Gencarelli: How did you get involved with season two of “Being Human”?
Susanna Fournier: I had known about the show from season 1 since it shoots in Montreal. I had read some of the scripts when they were originally casting the show then. I liked the concept and then fell in love with the humor in the writing. I knew this was a show I wanted to be a part of. When I got the breakdown for Zoe I got a really strong sense of her, and felt this was a character I could bring a lot to. I put an audition on tape and within a week was headed to Montreal for the read through.

MG: What did you like most about playing Zoe Gonzales?
SF: I like how weird she is. She’s bad at a lot of things, like any kind of social interaction with another person is a nightmare–especially flirting–she can really kill a buzz. It’s not often you get a chance on tv to play someone so obviously not cool. I love awkward humor so her deadpan approach to life is right up my alley. Yet when it comes to ghosts she’s like a whole other person with confidence, friends, and vulnerability. I liked the challenge of discovering how both of these sides of Zoe are always at play depending on who she’s with.

MG: The cast seems like a big family, was it fun working with Meagan Rath and the rest of the cast?
SF: I had a blast. The whole team is amazingly friendly. Meagan and I had the most stuff together so it was great to get to know her over the 5 months of shooting. She cracks me up and I learned so much from her. The double Sam effect of Witwer and Huntington is quite a combo–their senses of humor compliment one another so well I was sometimes amazed we got any work done cause everyone’s laughing all the time. It really is like a big family (on a really bizarro adventure).

MG: You definitely had some emotional scenes, tell us how you prepared for the role?
SF: Well my job was made a whole lot easier by the writers of Being Human. Everything on Zoe’s journey leading up to Nick’s shredding was all about her learning to open herself up to love and life and risk getting hurt. The whole season really builds up to her allowing herself to really love someone, who in her case happens to be the ghost Nick, and then he’s taken away from her. Learning to love someone and risking getting hurt is a story I can relate to, so when it came time to play out her emotional scenes with Nick I just remember about how vulnerable love makes all of us.

MG: What was your favorite episode this season?
SF: Episode 10! Again the writers totally took me by surprise with the Dream Reaper episode. We shot most of it over one very long week in studio and it began to feel like we were living the episode….trapped in the studio never to see the light of day again…since much of the action took place on the stair case we had to remove walls to shoot certain angles and then there was always the question of which layer of Sally’s consciousness we were in…the whole thing became like a really awesome puzzle we were all in. Plus it was a roller coaster for each character, the stakes were really high and everything was down to the wire. Also, who doesn’t love getting bitten by a vampire?

MG: Any word if Zoe will be back for season three?
SF: I hope so! I think she’s an extremely useful character for Sally, Aidan, and Josh. I mean with the amount of trouble those three get into they need as many people on their side as possible. Who’s gonna rescue Sally the next time she gets all Reaper on us!?

MG: What do you look for in a role when approaching a project?
SF: I definitely track my reactions about a character when I’m first reading a script. I like to see if my first impression remains the same, or if through the story unfolding, I feel differently about the character at the end. People are full of contradictions, quirks, and secrets and I’m interested in playing characters that are written as complexly as humans are. I like to be surprised by a role and I like to risk playing a character I might not at first see myself as. Of course super powers or sword fighting are big draws for me…

MG: What else do you currently have in the works?
SF: I’m also a writer and am developing three new plays at the same time right now (insanity) with theatre companies in Toronto. I’ve also been directing a theatre project with grade 8 students dramatizing the lives and words of famous figures in social justice–it’s an amazing thing to introduce young people to acting and performance and watch them come out of their shells. Most recently I finished an exploratory workshop of Chekhov’s “The Seagull”–it was great to get back onstage again after a year of television and film!

Read Complete Article

Filed Under: TV Interviews Tagged With: chats, fournier, human, season, susanna

Sam Witwer talks SyFy’s “Being Human” & voicing Darth Maul in “Star Wars: The Clone Wars”

Sam Witwer is the star of Syfy’s Being Human, which just concluded its second season. Sam also recently voiced Darth Maul on “Star Wars: The Clone Wars”. Media Mikes had a chance to chat with Sam about playing Aiden on “Being Human” and Darth Maul on “Star Wars: The Clone Wars”.

Mike Gencarelli: What seems to be with your character and the women on the show?
Sam Witwer: Don’t date Aidan! [laughs] That’s what it’s about. If you are smart you won’t date this guy. He is dead and death kind of follows him everywhere. It’s too dangerous to be around him.

MG: What was it like working with Dichen Lachman on the show?
SW: Aiden had this strong emotional attachment to Dichen’s character Suren way back in the day. It didn’t really survive the decades. It wasn’t a good relationship. I think that Aiden is relieved in some ways but at the same time he didn’t want anything to happen to her. He has been looking for some solid ground but comes across the wrong solid ground.

MG: What was your biggest challenge playing the character this season?
SW: I think trying to maintain the sense that this guy is real. The stuff written was very dark and vampire like. I did my best to kind of fight against that as I don’t think people want to see Aiden sitting there saying a bunch of weird vampire stuff. I tried to bring as much realness as I could to the role this season.

MG: What was your favorite episode from season 2?
SW: I really enjoyed episode 10. That is the one where Sally is sort of stuck in her own head. I loved that situation and the range of that episode.

MG: Can you reflect some on the season 2 finale?
SW: I think that we are going to see a lot of changes. I think the effort that we make is to make each season different. I think you will see the roommates spending a lot more time together in season 3.

MG: Can you tell us about voicing Darth Maul in “Star Wars: The Clone Wars”?
SW: It was awesome! And it continues to be awesome. I was worried about getting the roll and thrilled when I did finally get it. It was a huge challenge. We were trying to reinvent this character. He originally only had two lines so we knew there had to be more to him than that. You still have yet to see who this guy is. As we start to see him in season 5 we see there is more to him and he is a much smoother and dangerous than we originally thought. He was trained to be much more than just a great fighter. The experience is great. I love playing the mad side of Darth Maul. You get to see the face of the dark side.

MG: How has it been juggling both the role of Darth Maul and Aiden?
SW: “Clone Wars” has been very reasonable with my schedule. There is no real conflict. They have been great.

Read Complete Article

Filed Under: TV Interviews Tagged With: reflects, sam, season, witwer

DVD Review “Eagleheart: Season 1”

Directors: Jason Woliner, Eric Appel, Jay Karas
Starring: Chris Elliot, Maria Thayer, Brett Gelman
Distributed by Adult Swim
Running Time: 134 minutes

Season 1: 4 out of 5 stars
Extra: 4 out of 5 stars

“Eagleheart: Season 1” tells the story of bumbling U.S. Marshall Chris Monsanto (Chris Elliot) and his equally incompetent partners Susie Wagner (Maria Thayer) and Brett Mobley (Brett Gelman). Together the three carry out justice in a way that can only be found in a show produced by Conan O’Brien and shown on Adult Swim. Filled with slapstick humor, gore and the occasional parody “Eagleheart: Season 1” delivers.

The cast and crew involved with this show have a real top notch product on their hands. Even though most of the 12 episodes included in season 1 clock in at just under 15 minutes each episode is packed full of pure goodness. Chris Elliot and crew turn in some hysterical performances while the special effects department appears to be at the top of their game providing a number of over the top blood filled explosions. It was hard to pick just a few episodes to focus on for my review as I truly enjoyed them all. I found Brett Gelman to be the unsung hero of the show and even though his lines were somewhat limited the ones he did have were nothing but side splittingly funny. Maria Thayer does a good job as the somewhat confused voice of reason that only further compliments Elliot and Gelman throughout each episode.

The Special Features portion of the DVD had everything you could ask for in a Special Features section. Deleted scenes, commentary tracks and a kill reel are just a few of the things found in this section. My personal favorite was the scenes of the unaired pilot which feature a much different storyline coupled with an appearance from Conan O’Brien. If you are a fan of gore filled comedic police dramas then you will surely want to pick up a copy of “Eagleheart: Season 1”.

Read Complete Article

Filed Under: DVD/Blu-Ray Reviews Tagged With: 1, dvd, eagleheart, review, season

Brendon Small talks about Season Four of Adult Swim’s “Metalocalypse”

Brendon Small is a God among metal fans. He is the guy behind Adult Swim’s hit show “Metalocalypse” and the virtual band Dethklok. He has even went on tour with the band across the country. “Metalocalypse” is currently beginning its fourth season on Adult Swim on April 29th. Media Mikes had a chance to chat with Brendon about what we can expect this season and also get a glimpse into the show/band’s future.

Check out our interview with Brendon Small about his new solo album “Galaktikon”.

Mike Gencarelli: Since you started “Metalocalypse” almost seven years ago, did you think this show was going to be as successfully as it has even spawning the virtual band Dethklok?
Brendon Small: Well the whole idea of the show, or any show, is to make it gets made. Then you want to keep it on the air and that is your job and your way to pay rent, feed you dog etc. What I realized what that after doing “Home Movies”, making the show costs a lot of money but making music doesn’t cost as much money. When you start including animators and a huge team of 40-50 people, it starts getting expensive. I thought wouldn’t it be cool to create a show that if it ever got canceled or ended, that it would continue on through music. I studied music forever and have been crunched over a guitar for the better back of 20 years. I always wanted to put music and comedy together but I didn’t want to be like a guitar-parody act on stage. I figured if I could talk the studio into doing 20 episodes, I could also get them into doing a record, tour and etc.

MG: The show hasn’t aired since October 2010, why the major gap? How long does each episode take to complete?
BS: It takes a lot time. We have been in production actually since early 2011 and we are in still in the same production cycle, just to give you an idea of time. I have 12 quarter hour episodes that I am doing this season and have spent well over a year in production. It takes a long time. Animation is like hurry up and wait [laughs]. All the writing has been done now. I am currently in post-production and have been writing a lot of the music. After this, I still have like one more voice to record. It takes about 3-4 months per episodes but we have them staggered, so a few are in the works at the same time.

MG: With season four, the show returns back to the 11-minute format, why was that decision?
BS: This show is huge amount of work between the music and the animation and as I get through the years I ask myself “How can I make my job easier? How can I take the weekends off?” [laughs]. So, that is what I am trying to do. This season has been plotted out more in advance than any other season. The network gave us the option of doing quarter or half hours. The quarter hours are much easier but I think the show also functioned really well in the half hour format. I thought for the story in this season, that we should do it in quarter hours. So that was the reason and I am really happy with it.

MG: What crazy brutal shit can we expect Dethklok to get into this season?
BS: [laughs] I think you will notice that we upped the brutality in a real fun and clever way. I think some people were missing the brutality a little bit in season three. Our main issue was that we didn’t just want to kill people…we wanted to find a clever way to kill people and have fun with that. I think we have a whole bunch of that put into this season. In addition to that, what I think you will also notice when you see season four is that there is a bigger “Metalocalypse” story. There is something dramatic going on, of course, also laced with tons of jokes and stupidity. The idea is to start telling the bigger story and start involving the band more and then moving on from there.

MG: How does the music in season four compare to the past seasons?
BS: I don’t really know. I really trying to do something that we haven’t done and/or keep that sound alive. That sort of changes from season to season. I still think it sounds like Dethklok and I am still using the same element. I think we have a great couple of cool musically highlights in this season.

MG: Can we ever expect “The Dethalbum III” consisting of season three’s songs? Should I start begging?
BS: You can beg. I love people are begging for me to do more [laughs]. All I can say right now is stay tuned. We hopefully will have some really cool news in the very near future.

MG: What do see in the card for the future of “Metalocalypse”?
BS: We are living in an amazing era of cable TV right now. With all cable stations like AMC, HBO and, of course, Adult Swim, you see that people are utilize the format and still able to tell a story. The way that this show works is that in order for this to be a story, it will have to have an ending. And the ending is in sight for this show. It doesn’t mean the show will be totally done but the story I want to tell has a finish to it. I don’t want to sit around and vamp for 15 years instead of telling a cool story.

Read Complete Article

Filed Under: Interviews, TV Interviews Tagged With: adult, brendon, dethklok, future, metalocalypse, season, ...

DVD Review “Bob’s Burgers: The Complete 1st Season”

Created by: Loren Bouchard
Voices of: H. Jon Benjamin, Dan Mintz, Eugene Mirman, John Roberts, Kristen Schaal
MPAA Rating: Unrated
Distributed by: 20th Century Fox
Release Date: April 17, 2012
Running Time: 286 minutes

Season: 3 out of 5 stars
Extras: 3.5 out of 5 stars

If you can get past the first episode of this show, you will find this is a decent but not amazing show. If you find the voice of Bob familiar BTW, that is because is it done by H. Jon Benjamin, who also voices Agent Sterling Archer on FX’s “Archer”. I like the animation overall, it is raw and not perfect (which a a rare thing). If you are a fan of this show be sure to tune it and support it. It is currently airing its second season on Sunday nights on Fox. I think the first season is a bit better than the current season as well.

The show centers on the Belcher family, who run the hamburger restaurant, Bob’s Burgers. The show is fun for all the family and definitely included quite a bit of family dysfunction. Some of the situations that Bob deals with are that his oldest daughter, Tina, can’t control her hormones. His middle son, Gene, helps promoting the restaurant by dressing up as a giant burger, but forgets to take the costume off to pee. Lastly we have Louise, the youngest, that tells her class that Bob’s burgers are made from human flesh!. It is no “Family Guy” or “The Simpsons” but it is far better than crap like “American Dad” and “The Cleveland Show”.

The special features are impressive overall. If you are a fan of audio commentary, this DVD set has it. In fact, it has an audio commentary for every single episode, which is quite sweet. There is a funny music video for “Lifting Up the Skirt of the Night”. There are two audio outtakes for the following episodes “Bed & Breakfast” and “Sexy Dance Fighting”. Lastly there is the original demo included with an introduction from the creator Loren Bouchard.

Read Complete Article

Filed Under: DVD/Blu-Ray Reviews Tagged With: 1st, bobs, burgers, complete, dvd, review, ...

Chris Elliott talks about Season 2 of Adult Swim’s “Eagleheart”

Chris Elliott is the star of Adult Swim’s “Eagleheart” playing the role of US Marshall Chris Monsanto. The show is entering its second season on April 12, 2012. Chris is known for his film’s like “Groundhog Dog”, “Scary Movie 2” and “Cabin Boy”. Media Mikes had a chance to chat with Chris about “Eagleheart” and what we can except from the second season.

Mike Gencarelli: What do you like most about playing US Marshall Chris Monsanto this season?
Chris Elliott: It is bigger, badder and more bloodier than season one. Also it is more surreal that season one. It has all these different plot turns and twists, all in 11 minutes. It feels like a bigger show than last season and I thought that last season felt really big.

MG: Each episode is 11 minutes, how do you enjoy working in that format?
CE: Even though it is only 11 minutes long, it is the hardest show I have ever worked on. It is so jam packed. I also have to work with Brett Gelman…so…you know that feel a little long than 11 minutes [laughs]. Maria and Brett are just brilliant. This season we get to do more plots with the three of us not just me. The show is more evenly divided…so I have even less work to do [laughs].

MG: The show is so over-the-top and follows no rules, have you ever been told to tone it down on the show?
CE: It been pretty much no-holds barred. I mean, with any network, Adult Swim will have notes on some scripts but in general we are left alone to do what we do. That is really to Adult Swim’s credit. This show cannot be done anywhere else and if it was it would be a watered-down cop parody. This show was always planned to be this fun, surreal almost psychedelic trip. It really feels like that to me. So much of the show is depending on editing and how fast it moves. Sometimes I wished I had a little more time for a moment of acting here or there but we are so short on time you have to sacrifice that for the little bit of story we are telling. You make up for it though with the laugh that you get with just how fast this thing is moving and that is a best part of it.

MG: Is there room for improv during shooting?
CE: That is a really good question. We are like to improvising and like playing around…and we do on the set but not usually when the cameras are rolling. We are usually on a really tight shooting schedule. Also we know that once these scenes get into the editing room, you can only use the essential things you need to move the story along. So there really isn’t a lot of room for improvising. You can change line a little here or there or an alternate joke. In terms of going crazy for a whole scene, the rare times we do get to do that it hardly ever makes it in.

MG: Well there is always room for that material on the DVD releases, right?
CE: Yeah, that’s right. Exactly, extra content! Well the good thing is about these writers, Michael Koman, Andrew Weinberg and Jason Woliner, is that everything is funny right on the page. There is little need to punch anything up. These guys are really great writers. They are especially good writing for me since they known I don’t like to learn long lines [laughs].

MG: Are you completed with shooting the season yet?
CE: Season two is done. We are waiting to hear about season three. I am sure we will do another season. Then we will see how old I look after that and well see about a season four.

MG: What is the typical length it takes to shoot each episode?
CE: Well it is hard to pin that down since we shoot a number of episodes all at once. Honestly, it is probably only about two days per episode…maybe three. In one shooting day, we can be shooting scenes, all out of order, from three different episodes at the same time in one day. All the scripts are written in advance. That is the only way we can do it with the budget we have.

MG: I hear we got some pretty sweet guest stars for season two?
CE: We have Ben Stiller this season. Dean Norris from “Breaking Bad” pops in. We have Bud Cort from ‘Harold and Maude”. Lastly we have Conan (‘O Brien), who has a guest appearance as well.

MG: When is “Eagleheart: The Movie” coming out [laughs]?
CE: I will honestly do anything with this creative team, Adult Swim and my co-stars. I think we all work together really well. We talked about if we should do a 30 minute “Eagleheart” but it would actually change the show quite a bit. You would have to slow it down quite a bit, you couldn’t maintain that pace. So who knows?

MG: Tell us about what we can expect from the DVD release of the first season?
CE: We did commentary on a bunch of the episodes. There is our comic con appearance footage. I think there is also a gag reel included as well. It is just packed with great stuff.

Read Complete Article

Filed Under: Interviews, TV Interviews Tagged With: 2, adult, chris, eagleheart, elliott, season, ...

Brett Gelman talks about Season 2 of Adult Swim’s “Eagleheart”

Brett Gelman has appeared in a number of films and television shows. More recently Brett has reprised his as role as Brett alongside co-stars Chris Elliot and Maria Thayer in the late night Adult Swim series “Eagleheart” Brett took time out of his busy schedule recently to talk with Media Mikes about season 2 of the show.

Adam Lawton: How is this season of “Eagleheart” going to top the craziness of season 1?
Brett Gelman: There are a lot more head explosions than last season. There is organ cutting going on and a lot more specific violence happening rather than just people exploding or getting shot. The writers picked certain body parts to explode this season. I don’t remember a lot of it because it was so traumatic for me as I am very method. I blocked a lot of it out. (Laughs)

AL: Can you tell us about some of this seasons guest starts?
BG: We have Ben Stiller and Conan O’ Brien doing an episode this season. We have Dean Norris from “Breaking Bad” and Bud Cort all coming on this season as well. I didn’t get a chance to work with Ben or Conan as their footage was shot separately. I have met those guys before and they are heroes of mine. Working with Dean was really great. He is a pro and comes right out of the gate. Bud Cort is a 70’s icon, so that was really great also.

AL: What can you tell us about Brett having a baby this season?
BG: There is two me’s in that episode. I got to act with myself which was really fun. I finally got to work with an actor that was up to my ability. (laughs) It was challenging to work with a stand in and then be the other character. The Bezoar character is the evil version of Brett and in a lot of ways he is way more of a guy than Brett will ever be. Maria and I have a lot more going on this season and it’s more of an ensemble driven show in a way. Chris is still the star but you get the sense that we are a comedy team. It was more fun to do it that way. I was excited when they gave me such a meaty episode.

AL: Do you get to see the scripts prior to shooting?
BG: We get them about a week before. Sometimes we will get major changes right before. For me it doesn’t really matter because my character is so dumb and doesn’t know what’s ever going on. It kind of works for me. (laughs) It’s kind of like a sparrow with no short term memory. He says something then another thing happens and he forgets it.

AL: Are you allowed to improv on the scripts at all?
BG: There is not a lot of improv as we just don’t have the time. There is so much stuff that needs to be dealt with on the shoots that we are constantly racing against the clock. You are also dealing with an 11 minute show so you can improvise but, really at that point you are just wasting time. The writing is very good and well orchestrated so all the pieces fit well into the puzzle. Everything is so good that often times you don’t need to improvise.

AL: What else can we expect from the Brett character this season?
BG: He will be constantly having hallucinations this season. Things are telling him that no one likes him and he is very insecure. Wanting to be liked by everyone especially Chris’s character really drives Brett this season. There will be a lot more of Brett and Maria which is really exciting.

AL: What other projects can we be looking for you to appear in?
BG: I will be guest staring on an MTV show called “The Inbetweeners” which will be coming out this summer. I will be playing the principle of a high school. The night that “Eagleheart” airs I will be on “The Office” as well. I will be continuing with my “Gel-Mania” Podcast’s and shooting things for Funnyordie.com. Tim Heidecker and I have some plans to do some videos together, so that should be a lot of fun. I am also scheduled to shoot an independent film this summer called “Lemons” as well. I am pretty excited for that.

Read Complete Article

Filed Under: TV Interviews Tagged With: 2, adult, brett, eagleheart, gelman, season, ...

Maria Thayer talks about Season 2 of Adult Swim’s “Eagleheart”

Maria Thayer stars alongside Chris Elliot and Brett Gelman in the Adult Swim series “Eagleheart”. Media Mikes talked with Maria recently about the upcoming season of show and what it’s like working with such a funny cast.

Adam Lawton: What can we expect from you character Susie this season?
Maria Thayer: I think a lot more. Some really terrible things happen to Susie this season. It’s exciting! Susie is a little less uptight I think this season. She is still the sane one when being compared to Chris or Brett. I only had one fight scene last year but I have a lot more this time. I participated whole heartedly in the violence. There is one episode where I turn into a monster. That was pretty fun. I also have a relationship with a Bezoar in another episode.

AL: Did you notice any differences in the shooting this season as compared to last season?
MT: We didn’t have a lot of time last season and we really did not have a lot of time this season. It is always so fast. I think unless you are working with Clint Eastwood or someone like that you will always feel like you didn’t have enough time. A lot of times we were shooting 5 different scenes from 5 different episodes all in one day. Sometimes it would take a second or two to remember what was happening. There are always a lot of things going on. I don’t know how the directors did it.

AL: Did you get to work with any of this season’s guest stars?
MT: I didn’t get to work with Conan O’Brian this time however I have worked with him previously. He is actually how I met two of the executive producers. When I was first in New York I did sketches on Conan. It’s funny as 10 years later I am still working with those guys. I worked with Dean Norris and he was really great. I love his other work as well.

AL: How does working on “Eagleheart” compare to working on film like “Forgetting Sarah Marshall”?
MT: Everything is different. Because of the time crunch on this show and the smaller operation you get closer to everybody. We only have two writers so everyone contributes. Even though Chris, Brett and I are only together for about 10 weeks for shooting we become like a family, a dysfunctional family. I am really excited for people to be able to see the new episodes.

AL: Do you have any other upcoming projects you can tell us about?
MT: I have started doing a web series with Funny or Die. I have never done something on my own before so I have been blowing other things off in order to be able to do this project. The series is based around Pilot season here in Los Angeles. Janeane Garofalo is going to be in one of the episodes. The episodes are going to be me going to various auditions.

Read Complete Article

Filed Under: TV Interviews Tagged With: 2, adult, brett, eagleheart, gelman, season, ...

DVD Review “The Real Adventures of Jonny Quest: Season 1, Volume 2”

Created by: Doug Wildey
Directed by: Mike Milo
Starring: J. D. Roth, Michael Benyaer, Jesse Douglas, George Segal, Robert Patrick, Frank Welker, Quinton Flynn, Rob Paulsen, Jennifer Hale, John de Lancie
MPAA Rating: Not Rated
Distributed by: Warner Archive
Running Time: 286 minutes

Our Score: 3 out of 5 stars

If you are a boy and love cartoons, who doesn’t love Jonny Quest, seriously. It has adventure, action and plenty of thrill, especially for a cartoon. This series is revival of the 1960s Hanna-Barbera Jonny Quest franchise. It aired from 96-97, with only a mere 52 episodes produced. It does not pack the same thrill though that the original series had. This reinvention is more the “high-tech” upgrade of the series. Fans of the original Hanna-Barbera (like myself) might want to remember this franchise more like the original series, though this is not terrible overall.

This series still contains adventures with Jonny Quest, Hadji Singh, and Jessie Bannon as they follow Dr. Benton Quest and bodyguard Race Bannon to investigate strange phenomena, legends, and mysteries. This is where it differs a little bit, some of the action in this series takes place in the virtual realm of QuestWorld, which is 3D cyberspace land. So the series, takes a leap into CG but falls a little short. The late 90’s were a time in animation, where CGI was trying to make it’s presence known but was still a little premature.

In this volume two of episodes, it contains the next 13 episodes completing the first season…finally. Warner released the first thirteen episodes in volume 1 all the way back in February 2009. So fans had to hold their breath for a long time for this one. Luckily, Warner Archive Collection is great with releasing archive cartoon series but I am not sure how long fans are going to have to wait before the second season of 26 episodes is released.

The Real Adventures of Jonny Quest: Season 1, Volume 2 is now available from Warner Archive at http://bit.ly/GXOb0F

Synopsis: Team Quest is Back! In this pulse-pounding second volume, The Real Adventures reinvention of the classic animated adventure series Jonny Quest continues. Jonny, scientist father Benton Quest, bodyguard Race Bannon, paranormal pal Hadji and Race’s daughter Jessie, unravel mysteries and uncover strange phenomena while criss-crossing the globe. The scientific secrets of the dazzling virtual reality domain known as Questworld (rendered in CG sequences that broke ground for the era’s TV animation) receive the full Team Quest treatment as well in this 2-Disc Collection of The Real Adventures of Jonny Quest, Season One’s second 13-Episodes. Strap in for suspense and thrills! Special Feature: “Journey into Questworld.”

Read Complete Article

Filed Under: DVD/Blu-Ray Reviews Tagged With: 1, 2, adventures, dvd, jonny, quest, ...

Page 19 of 22