X-men on Fox

X-Men are coming back to TV

After FX released the eight episodes of their X-men based Legion, Fox has released their trailer for the new mutant series The Gifted. From the trailer, one can gather that this TV show is going to be a part of the bigger X-men universe even if it is not directly connected. Marvel's itself is attached to this series so we will all have to see how well it does. It does not look like the X-men universe is going to cross-over with the rest of the MCU but with such a big cast of characters the possibilities are vast for story lines. Since the X-men cartoon of the 90's, I have been hoping for a well written and live-action version of X-men to be released.

Is this that show? I guess only time will tell.

Peter Capaldi is Leaving Dr. Who

Peter Capaldi announced that season would be his last season as the Doctor. He is going to exit the series and the Christmas special in 2017 will be his last episode. This means that the new head team for the British series will be starting fresh in 2018. It will be exciting to see who replaces Capaldi and what direction the series will take. Will we finally get our first female Doctor? Will the doctor be another race? I guess it can be said that "only time will tell."

Can "Heroes Reborn" Survive?

In September of 2006 a show premiered unlike most of the television of its day. This show had people with superhuman powers and they had a mission to "save the cheerleader, save the world". Besides Smallville there was just not a huge choice when it came to superhero shows. Heroes filled a gap on TV that was clear to people who were looking for a weekly episodic adventure.

The first season was great and the show drew in a pretty solid following. Then...disaster struck. The writers went on strike and many shows began to suffer as it drug on and on, week after week. When the writers finally returned, many television shows could not fully recover and  Heroes seemed to be one of those victims. The last few seasons before the network decided to pull the plug the series began to improve, but it could never regain its initial following.

Jump ahead almost 10 years and a show premiered in a very different climate. Superhero movies rule the box office. There are more superhero shows than there are days in the week with shows like Marvel's Agent Carter, Marvel's Agents of Shield, Arrow, Flash, Daredevil, and Gotham. And there are several more on the horizon.

Can Heroes Reborn find an audience? Watching the first episode, I found myself saying, "Where is Hiro, or Parkman, or any of the other older heroes I remember from the first series?" I did get drawn into the new show, but mainly to see what had become of the characters since we last saw them. I am hoping that this show will reveal where they have been, but even more importantly, give me a new story I can get excited about with where they are headed.

New Covers for Comic-Con

If you love to watch all the DC TV shows, then you are going to want to pick up a TV Guide magazine soon. 

TV Guide released 4 collectible covers for Comic Con. They are going to feature Arrow, Flash, Gotham and the new superhero, coming to CBS this fall, Supergirl. They are available at the Warner Bros booth during the event, but will be available nationwide on July 7, 2015. 

Look for all 4 at your local retailer. 

Rebels Gets Two Big Returns

***This blog will contain spoilers if you have not watched the finale of Star Wars Rebels***

The first season is over and it seems the Disney's XD really wanted to end Star Wars Rebels on a high note. Fire Across The Galaxy, as a fan, seems to be their strongest episode to date. They tie up a few story lines, but really just set the stage for a much broader universe for season 2. Two really big characters make their first appearance in the episode.

Dave Filoni and his team did an excellent job of investing the fans in a whole new set of characters before bringing in the more familiar ones. If you have not been watching Rebels it is a story of a Rebel cell and their adventures against the empire in and around the planet Lothal. The series opens when Ezra, a force sensitive kid, joins up with the other rebels and discovers that there is a Jedi still fighting against the Empire.

The best moment is when, after teasing us all season, they finally reveal the identity of Fulcrum. Chopper (an astromech droid) brings reinforcements to save the day and escape to hyperspace. As the heroes come back together they discover Fulcrum herself has come to their rescue. Most Star Wars: The Clone Wars fans were thrilled to see Ahsoka Tano return as Fulcrum and a leader in the galactic rebellion. Fans have wanted to know what happen to her and did she play a bigger role in the Star Wars universe. Filoni revealed that more of Ahsoka's story is to come in season 2. He also said that she is NOT a Jedi but rather she is neutrally affiliated. When she lights up her new lightsabers they will be white, showing she is neither Jedi or Sith.

Ahsoka's master also returned at the end of this episode. That is right! Darth Vader himself has made an official appearance on Star Wars Rebels. The creators, writers and voice actors promise that they are treating Darth Vader with all the respect he deserves. Dave Filoni does not want to over use Vader but does want to give him a role in this part of the Star Wars universe.

These two returns were huge for fans of the Star Wars cartoons. With these two returning to the small scene it raises a few questions. Will Master and Padawan meet and do battle? How will Ahsoka's story play out? How will Kanan and Ezra be affected by the return of another, former Jedi?

X-men on TV?

It has been announced that Fox is exploring the possibilities of launching a live-action version on the X-men franchise for television.  It is still very early in the development, but some key people have signed on to explore options. What could a TV version of X-men look like? They need to answer a few questions if it is going to be successful.

1. Can they use any of the better know mutants? One of the decisions they will have to make could be crucial to its success. If they do not use Cyclops, Storm, Jean, and Wolverine will fans still watch the show? With the upcoming schedule of movies, do they have room for a live action TV series?

The rumored movie schedule for the X-men series is:
 Deadpool (2016)
 X-Men: Apocalypse (2016)
 Gambit (2016)
 Untitled The Wolverine sequel (2017)
 X-Force (?)

2. What time period will they set the X-men TV series? They have the option of setting the TV series during the time that Scott, Jean and the other X-men were in school. They could chose to explore the first class. There are also X-men set in the future.

3.  If they use lesser know mutants, then which ones will they choose? The X-men universe is so large that they have the option to tell one of many different stories. The question is...is the fan base willing to accept a show about lesser known mutants?

4. Who owns the TV rights to the X-men? It is clear that 20 Century Fox owns the rights to the X-men cinematic universe but the television rights are a little more ambiguous. There was a deal made behind closed doors when 20 Century Fox sued Marvel over the Spike series, Mutant-X. So, who owns the rights to television is not known by the general public.

Fans really hope that these and other questions get worked out to bring a good X-men series to television. Fox could have the DC/Marvel block with Gotham and X-Men. What do you think? Can these issues be resolved to open the door to a whole new television universe?

Atom is Coming

The Atom is coming to Arrow.

It has been announced the Ray Palmer will wear the Atom suit for the first time in the episode “Nanda Parbat”.

Below is the released image. Are you excited to add another hero to Arrow? How did they do making the suit new and realistic? Does it pay homage to the original character?

Here is the write up for the episode.


“Nanda Parbat” — (8:00-9:00 p.m. ET) (Content Rating TBD) (HDTV)

MERLYN IS CAPTURED BY RA’S AL GHUL; THE ATOM SUIT REVEALED —Malcolm (John Barrowman) is captured by Ra’s al Ghul (guest star Matt Nable) and taken to Nanda Parbat. Because of his love for Thea (Willa Holland), Oliver (Stephen Amell) considers saving Merlyn. Ray (Brandon Routh) is obsessed with finishing his Atom suit so he can save the city but Felicity (Emily Bett Rickards) fears he is heading down the same path as Oliver (Stephen Amell) and tries to pull him out of the lab. Gregory Smith directed the episode with story by Wendy Mericle & Ben Sokolowski and teleplay by Erik Olesen & Ben Sokolowski (#315). Original airdate 2/25/2015.

Arrow and Flash

The first crossover event is behind us and I think it is fair to take a look at how it went. I want to answer two different questions. Did the crossover event introduce viewers to the other series if they are not watching it? Did the crossover event serve a greater purpose?

On the first question, I believe they did very well. The schedule was a challenge because their new show Flash comes Tuesday nights, a day before their established show Arrow on Wednesday nights. Many shows who attempt to use a crossover to prompt the new show have an older show and then newer show approach. I applaud the creators of Arrow and Flash for going newer and then older. If Arrow watchers did not catch the first part of the crossover on Flash it was done in such a way that both stories had a conclusion, so a viewer who had their interest peeked could go back and watch it without having much of it spoiled.

To answer my second question, I believe they hit a home run. The two characters have very different styles. One is a vigilante and one is becoming a hero. They see the world differently and that made for good character interaction. I believe both of these characters will have some subtle changes in their approaches that will be developed over the rest of this season.

I hope they plan on a few more crossover events, but I do not want the line between the shows to get too blurred. I trust that they will use it on occasion but hopefully leave us wanting more. These two shows are quickly ascending to become two of my top shows on TV today. What do you think? Did it work or not?

Wildcat and Black Canary

Arrow last night gave us just a glimpse into these new characters. Wildcat (Theodore "Ted" Grant) trains the new Black Canary (Laurel Lance) to fight and defend herself. Laurel is still struggling with the lost of her sister Sara and is looking for an outlet for this pent-up rage. In the coming weeks, fans will get to see a whole new side of Laurel and what she is capable of if she focuses herself. Ted is going to provide that stabilizing force she needs at this time. With all the heroes, Starling City will have to be one of the safest places on the entire planet. It will be very interesting to see the character development unfold on characters like Atom, Speedy, Black Canary, and Wildcat.

If you are not watching Arrow,.... Why?

I encourage you to catch up on Netflix or Hulu and see what all the buzz is about this show.

Arrow... not just another superhero show.

Star Wars Rebels

Disney XD has launched its new Star Wars show set in the time period between Episode 3 and Episode 4. This is a very rich time but also a dark time in the Star Wars universe. The defenders of the light side of the force, the Jedi order, are in hiding because of order 66. The majority of Jedi have been killed, captured, or escaped into exile. Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi has sent a warning telling all Jedi to stay clear of the temple and not to return to Coruscant.

The show seems like it is going to focus on one small band of rebels and their adventures facing the ever increasing power of the new galactic empire. Star Wars Rebels introduced us to young Ezra Bridger and Jedi Kanan Jarrus who is the leader of these rebels. Ezra is sensitive to the force and Kanan is teaching him about it. It will be interesting to see how they weave in the known Star Wars characters with this unknown period of the Star Wars universe. There is potential for cameos from everyone including Darth Vader, Obi-Wan, Yoda, or even younger versions of Luke, Leia, and Han Solo.

Dave Filoni did an amazing job bringing the period between episode 2 and 3 to life with his Cartoon Network show Star Wars the Clone Wars. I am very excited to see what he and his team can do with this time in the Star Wars universe. May the force be with you.

The Reverse-Flash Revealed

The Reverse-Flash or Professor Zoom is the arch-nemesis of the hero of CW's new show The Flash. He is a time traveling super-speedster with a very brilliant mind. He has already appeared in the pilot, even if you were not sure what you were seeing in the yellow and red blur. Barry Allen will soon discover that he is not the only person with his particular power. The difference between these two is how they choose to use their super-powers. Fans are really looking forward to just how the CW is going to match our young hero Allen against his sociopath of an arch-foe.

Here are a few images of the Revere-Flash.

Arrow Season 3

Well, it is almost time for the third season of Arrow. This season promises to be one of the best seasons so far. There are a lot of things fans are excited about and here are just three.

1. Oliver and Felicity - The sparks of romance have been flying since season 1 and now, with what happened in the season finale, we will have to see if something happens between these two. Is she the right person to finally balance out Oliver and help him trough all the recent tragedies he faced at the hand of Slade Wilson?
2. Red Arrow Suits Up - Roy Harper, Green Arrow's trusty side kick, is finally getting a hood of his own. With a very similar look to Oliver's suit but in red, his new look has fans very excited for his first appearance.
3. Ray Palmer - Arrow is going to be adding one more DC superhero to their cast. Ray Palmer who is The Atom. This is a great choice for Arrow. He will be a great addition for his superhero skills and his interactions with Felicity Smoak. 

With the recent launch of The Flash and the return of Arrow, DC comics is getting a great push from its television ventures. With all of the superhero TV available these days, it is a great time to be a GEEK!

Flash Begins Tonight

The CW's show Arrow has spawned  its first spin-off. Last season the fans of Arrow were introduced to Barry Allen and were shown a glimpse of his town, Central City. The Flash runs on to your TV October 7, 2014.

The most exciting thing about Arrow and The Flash is that both of these shows take the superhero genre very seriously. They understand that fans want an touch of reality but also a heavy influence of the fantastical. Arrow has changed the face of television superhero adventures while The Flash is expected to capitalize on this strong fan base. In comics and cartoons Barry Allen has always had a quick wit and comeback for every villain's threat. Hopefully, this new version of him will capture the lighthearted speedster's personality while giving him some new traits that we will grow to love.

Good luck to everyone involved in the launch of The Flash and catch him (tonight) if you can.

Absorbing Man: What does he mean?

In the season 2 premier of Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., we were introduce to a villain who was called Absorbing Man. He has the power to absorb any element and change his body's molecules to become that element. He seems to work for the highest bidder and might even have a connection to Hydra.

The most significant part of the appearance of Absorbing Man is not him or his power, but rather the fact that he is a recognizable villain from the Marvel universe. With his addition and the announcement of Mockingbird, the live action television branch of Marvel Studios is getting a major boost. With the success of the first season, it appears that the studios has decided that there is a valid place for this show and others like it. We will have to wait and see if the universe becomes any smaller with any possible cameos in any of the studio's upcoming major motion pictures.

Once Upon a Time Returns

Do you want to build a snowman?

ABC's Once Upon a Time returned September 28th with a blast of cold air. Disney has decided to capitalize on their amazing success of Frozen. This season adds a story line that includes these new characters to the adventures of our fairly tale heroes. The Arendale characters seem to be picking up where the movie left off.

Unlike so many of the other characters in Storybrooke, Elsa and Anna have not been re-envisioned, but seem to step right out of the movie into this new world. Most of your fairy tale characters up to this point have left some air of mystery of who they are and how they are different from their original story. Snow White is not just a young lady who cleans the dwarfs' house, but is rather an amazing self-sufficient woman of adventure. In Once Upon a Time, it is discovered that Grumpy is mad, not because of his sad choice in names, but because he was not allowed to be with his true love. The Beast is not a large furry creature, but an evil dark one who continues to make bad decisions.

With the success of Frozen and the attachment to the characters, I am not surprised that they chose to keep these characters very near to the original. By keeping them very recognizable they can possibly attract new viewers who loved the movie, but have not yet discovered the town of Storybrooke.  Hopefully, as the Frozen story unfolds we will see some of the twists and turns that Once Upon A Time is great at. Even I will have to admit it was fun watching Marshmallow run down the streets of this little Maine town.

Gotham: A Pre-Batman Story

I watched the premier of Gotham on Fox last night. In many ways, I was impressed with this show. Some people have raised  the question "How can you do a Batman show without the bat?" Here are just a few of my reasons why I believe this show can work.

1. The City - Gotham is a city that almost everyone knows. This is Batman's town and where crime runs rampant. The city is a character in the story of Batman. It is not just a place. Gotham's personality is something that fans will want to explore. 
2. The Villains - Some of the most iconic villains in the super hero universe come from the Batman story line. Where did they get their start? How did they change from villains to super villains? If Gotham handles these stories with care, fans will love a chance to revisit these characters.
3. Jim Gordan - With a chance to have a show that centers around the one police detective brave enough to stand up to an entirely corrupt force, this is a story fans want to see. How does he keep his soul when everyone wants to buy it? What role will he play in the early development of Bruce Wayne?

I have high hopes for this show. As long as the writers will keep in mind the spirit of the history of these famous characters, I will not mind a few changes in their origins. I am hoping for a fresh take on a very famous city and good treatment of its most infamous characters.

Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Return

With only a few more days util the return of Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. I am curious about what to expect from this season.

***Mild Spoilers Alert****

I am not including anything that ABC has not released in one of their many teaser trailers. But, if you don't want to know anything about the new season, then stop now and do not read on.



Since the events of Captain America: The Winter Soldier and the finale of last season, the agency and the attitude toward it have changed greatly. S.H.I.E.L.D, is no longer a trusted secret government agency with all the answers to the world's darkest secrets. S.H.I.E.L.D. is now a fractured and broken group of people not sure who they can trust and what their purpose is now. Agent Coulson is now the director and he is trying to root out any remaining HYDRA agents and undo the damage they have done to the organization. The villains are getting stronger, but so are the heroes. It has been announced that Mockingbird will be joining this season. How big her role is going to be will have to play out.

This season looks to have a lot of promise. I am hoping for a quicker start than last season and a strong story arc about the rebuilding of the agency. Who can they trust? How much damage did HYDRA do? Who will be the next major third party threat?

Ken Jennings vs Brad Rutter

Who is the most famous Jeopardy player in history?

Ken Jennings is the contestant who had the longest consecutive run on the Game show Jeopardy! He won 74 Jeopardy! games in 2004. The rules for Jeopardy! changed in 2003. Before 2003, you played for 5 consecutive games and then to qualified for the Tournament of Champions. Ken was just the type of player that the producers had hoped for since they decided to change the rules. Ken Jennings became a household name and everyone was trying to predict when his streak would end.

Brad Rutter is the contestant who won the most money ever playing the game. Brad appeared on Jeopardy! in 2000 before the rule change and after winning his 5 consecutive games, he qualified for the Tournament of Champions. He went on to win the tournament and received $100,000. He later won the million Dollar Masters Tournament and the Ultimate Tournament of Champions. He also pitted his talents against a computer in the IBM Challenge where he placed 3rd overall. Brad has never lost to a human competitor. With all of his endeavors he accumulated $4,555,102 in winnings.

In the most recent tournament, The Battle of the Decades in 2014, once again had both Jennings and Rutter in the finals. The competition was close, but in the end, Rutter came back and won, but only because Jennings got the final Jeopardy! question wrong. He secured his undefeated streak and won the tournament. So, who is the most famous Jeopardy! player ever? Jennings or Rutter? Streak verses winnings? You have to decide for yourself.

The Simpsons Marathon on FXX

FXX has been taking advantage of one of the strongest and most popular shows on television by showing every Simpsons episode...ever. With the Simpsons marathon nearing an end, I thought I would just write a few things that I enjoyed watching and reminiscing.

Why I enjoyed The Simpsons Marathon:

1. The humor - It has been so much fun to re-watch a cartoon with such clever humor and well-timed gags.
2. The family - The way the Simpsons interact is great. Yes, they have struggles, but they seem to still care about one another. You can really see these strong relationships when watching them back to back.
3. The original openings - I know that some people are really obsessed with the openings, but I had forgotten most of them. When you watch them consecutively, you are able to compare them and can truly see the cleverness.
4. Homer Simpson - Yes, he is an idiot sometimes, but he does adore his family.

Well, if you missed the marathon, don't worry! It looks like FXX will continue to be the Simpson-powered channel. For now, on Mondays and Fridays, the channel will air a Simpsons block from 6 pm - midnight. Every Tuesday and Thursday will have an 8 pm - midnight block. Sundays will have the longest block with a 7-hour slot running from 4 pm - midnight. They are also planning holiday-themed marathons all throughout the year.

Who is Coming (Update)

Wow...

I just finished watching the new Doctor and my head is swimming. I loved the last few regenerations and I am convinced I will love this one as well. Peter Capaldi did an excellent job of making him the Doctor we know and love but yet making him different than both Tennant and Smith. I almost feel like he is more in line with Christopher Eccleston.

The writers seem to take the Doctor in a little different direction and that is exciting. Now that he has a purpose to his travels he seems to be a little more intense and focused. It will be exciting to see how this plays out!