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Doux News: October 28, 2012


This Week: Mmm…Liver -- Mmm…Brains -- Mmm…Candy -- Mmm...Blood -- No More Happy Endings -- Do Showrunners Dream of Electric Sheep? -- What? How? What? -- Henri a Gagné le Gros Lot


Mmm…Liver

I usually start off my editions of Doux News with a recommended TV show, but I want to try something different this week: a film. That’s odd for me. The Departed, The Princess Bride, and The Usual Suspects are my three favorite movies; after that, there’s a steep drop-off into the realm of “meh.” So I was surprised/delighted/shocked to experience Prometheus, which might be the most fascinating film I’ve seen in years. It is now available on DVD. Please rent it, buy it, stream it.

Actually, scratch that. Read Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein: A Modern Prometheus first, then watch the film. That’s what I did, and that’s probably why, after the credits rolled, all I could say was “I’m going to need to watch that again.” Because it is completely, absolutely astonishing. So astonishing that I am even willing to forgive the score, which was completely, absolutely wrong.


Mmm…Brains

In case you hadn’t heard: zombies are hot right now. And for that very good reason (as if they needed one), SyFy is premiering a new original film on Saturday night, just in time for Halloween. Rise of the Zombies takes place, in part, on Alcatraz. And there are zombies. I believe that is all we need to know, right?


Mmm…Candy

Halloween is just a few days away: do you know where your costume is? If not, stay home, munch on candy corn, and read the upcoming billiedoux.com Halloween feature. Or pity me, stuck in traffic caused by the epic West Hollywood Halloween parade/block party that I can usually hear from 10 blocks away. Or—maybe something else? If you’ve got fun Halloween plans, let us know in the comments.

(If you live in a place that doesn’t celebrate Halloween, perhaps you should get that tradition started.)


Mmm…Blood

Deadline reported earlier this month that Carnivale creator Dan Knauf will helm NBC's upcoming (mini?) series Dracula. Jonathan Rhys Meyers of The Tudors will play the eponymous blood-sucker. The series will take place in late-1800s England. Hip, hip, hooray!


No More Happy Endings

Once Upon a Time showrunners Edward Kitsis and Adam Horowitz revealed this week that they wanted to kill Prince Charming (whose name may or may not be James, or possibly David) in the Once pilot. They were attracted to the idea of an unhappy ending, but luckily the network talked them out of it.

I’m happy Charming isn’t dead, because I want Snow to be happy. (We have the same haircut.) But I do like the idea of Once taking risks like that, and I wonder if that desire to create a heaping dose of unhappiness is what lead to the death of the Sheriff back in Season One. But then I wonder: does that mean he won’t come back? Because I liked him. And I want him to come back. And then I want happy endings for everyone, except Regina.


Do Showrunners Dream of Electric Sheep?

JJ Abrams and Fringe showrunner J.H. Wyman have paired for a new pilot, set to film in early 2013. The show is described as a “futuristic buddy cop show” with humans and androids pairing together to fight crime in a futuristic LA. I wonder if the LA of the future will look like Vancouver?


What? How? What?

NBC, long the butt of ratings jokes, has done the impossible: for the past three weeks, the broadcast network has had the most viewers in the coveted 18-49 age bracket. (CBS, of course, has the most viewers overall, since the baby boomers are old people now, and old people like simple stories. Everyone knows that.) According to New York Times television critic Bill Carter, NBC’s victory is more of an un-defeat: all other networks have been sinking, in part because they lack big new shows that draw viewers.

Now if only they’d realize adding Community back to the line-up would be a good think. Or perhaps Jack Donaghy’s efforts to tank the network are working subtle magic.


Henri a Gagné le Gros Lot

Do you all remember Henri, the sad puss who has lost his zest for life and turned into Jean-Paul Catre? His friend filmmaker Will Braden isn't quite as sad: according to a recent LA Times article, Braden make about $1000 per week from advertisements and Henri-related gear. A new video is expected this week; Henri was unavailable for comment.

Of course (as the article points out), Braden isn't the first person to make a cat video: that long, storied tradition extends all the way back to 1894, when Thomas Edison made a film of two cats boxing. I am not kidding. Seriously, click play:




(Additional reporting and translation by Celtic Marc.)

(No, there’s no reason for the Hobbit picture at the top. I’m just excited.)

16 comments:

  1. If NBC ever does hire Jack Donaghy, I call dibs on reviewing God Cop.

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  3. Glad for helping ! (Ça m'a fait grandement plaisir !)

    Meow, miaou, gri-gri !

    b) Oops, sorry JJ, been there done that, but a LONG time ago, and I still remember it fondly :

    http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0074005/

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  4. Awwwwww SOB !!!

    FINALLY' Community this upcoming Friday !

    At last !!

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  5. According to sort-of reliable sources (Tumblr), Graham was originally meant to be Peter Pan, but because they couldn't acquire the rights to it last season, they changed him to the Huntsman. I'm really disappointed, because I would sell my left kidney to see Graham and Hook face-off. Oh well.

    I'll be interested in seeing how JRM plays Dracula. I bet you $5 it'll be like Henry VIII but with fangs.

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  6. Absolutely awesome Doux News this week, Josie. And so cool with the translation services, Celticmarc!

    There's one piece of news I forgot to pass on -- season one of Lost Girl finally came out on DVD in the U.S. this week! If you haven't tried Lost Girl, give it a shot. It's a supernatural show featuring two women as the leads, it's sexy, and it's also quite funny. And it's getting a third season, which starts in January. (The season two DVD comes out next month.)

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  7. My pleasure Billie !!

    Any time and no trouble at all since, yes, once again, I love your blog so much !

    Now, If I can win at the lotto ASAP so I may retire, because I have a few TV shows that I'd like to review ! LOL

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  8. I misread "a new pilot, set to film in early 2013" for "a new pilot, set in early 2013" and automatically thought "oh, it's a futuristic show". It's still hard to come to terms with the fact we're already in 2012.

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  9. Excited about the new Dracula series. Loved JRM in the Tudors - but I love most historical dramas. So, glad this one is set in the 1800's, but nervous that it's NBC. They seem to go out of there way to ruin things lately, although Revolution seems to be an exception (so far) this year. Happy Halloween everyone!

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  10. Oh, Gus, I am so glad I'm not the only one who did that...

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  11. As a Whedon fan, you must have seen this video...but just in case I am posting it here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6TiXUF9xbTo&feature=youtube_gdata_player

    I know this isn't normally a political forum and I am not attempting to make it one, but Joss Whedon is just hilarious!

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  12. OMG, a.m., I loved it! Thanks so much for posting it.

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  13. Wow, thanks for the laughs a.m and Gus. I really needed them today! Not to mention this awesome review Josie. This place is so much fun.

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  14. Speaking of zombies and brains, have you seen this Joss Whedon clip? :)

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6TiXUF9xbTo

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