Time for some humor thanks to Jack in the box.

Well, it looks like my excitement over the full season return of Futurama was very – very short lived.

Why?

It looks as if the original cast will not be returning to do the voice over work.

“We love the ‘Futurama’ voice performers and absolutely wanted to use them, but unfortunately, we could not meet their salary demands,” the studio said in a statement Friday. “While replacing these talented actors will be difficult, the show must go on.”

What Fox Studios doesn’t seem to be remembering is that the voice actors ARE the show.  The inflections, the method of delivery, and the inside jabs that come through are all picked up by the views to make a total viewing experience.  Sure, The Simpsons voice talent experienced the same issues – and ended up winning – but I fear that will not be case with Futurama.

At this point, I’d much rather have no new episodes than some watered down version of what the show once was.

A Google Alert jump into my inbox just now for Little Britain USA, one of my favorite shows of the last 6 months. The alert linked to the story “As season ends, networks can learn from cable”, which I quickly clicked on, and was horrified to see the following:

HBO had a bigger hit-and-miss ratio with the superb animated series “The Life and Times of Tim,” and the woefully unfunny “Little Britain USA.”

Woefully unfunny?

Aside from two reoccurring characters on the show that I found to be unfunny, the rest was side splitting hilarious. Like “I was laughing so hard I was crying” funny. Now, to turn the tables, I found The Life and Times of Tim to be enjoyable but it lost steam by then end of the season.

Ok, let’s continue on:

…FX had an uncommon bomb of its own in “Testees”…

WHAT!?? A bomb?!?

I admit that the show did not bat 1000%, but a bomb it was not. The humor was crude, sometimes things were just plain creepy – which was part of the magic – but in no way was it a bomb.

HBO imported the comedy “Summer Heights High” from Australia and it was funnier than some of its originals.

Really? You are joking right?

After watching the imported version, I was annoyed. Fingernails on a chalkboard annoyed. Someone breaking wind on an elevator annoyed. Screaming kids running around breaking your fine china and crystal ware while the parents look on thinking its cute annoyed.

The imported version was just bad as compared to the original. HBO took a funny series and butchered it in the hopes of making a U.S. friendly version.

HBO’s one-note (and yes, that one note is pretty funny) “Eastbound & Down” split opinions on whether HBO’s programming was too inconsistent.

Well, at least we agree on Eastbound & Down.

All this makes me ask, what did I miss? Really. Is my sense of humor that warped that only equally warped programming is interesting to me but not to the rest of the world?

Talk about a buzz kill

So, you want to hear to hear something very de-motivational?  This morning I went into work, while not nearly as sick as I was yesterday, still significantly below the weather.  In the first hour of being in the office I had three people say, and I quote, “You  look terrible.”

Not “I’m with stupid” and a “Fuck you!” hat terrible but that I physically poor.  I thought that it wasn’t that bad, apparently I was wrong.  By mind-day my back was killing me once again…  Sure, I’m getting better but just to hear “you look terrible” sure doesn’t help the mindset.

It’s about time another state joined in…

How do you define love?

Really, how?

For each person the concept of love is different.  What it means to you is not what it means to me. Frankly, it may not even mean the same thing to the person you love.  You and your lover may share commonalities in the way you feel and the values you share but it is truly impossible for two people to have the same exact definition of love. As such, there is no way to tell another that he or she is in love.

You can explain the way you feel, you can describe the sensations experienced, and you can the desires that go along with the concept of love but it is simply impossible to say “You cannot feel love for that person because he’s a man… and you are a man…”

That is why it is about time to see another state join in…

The Iowa Supreme Court this morning upheld a Polk County judge’s 2007 ruling that marriage should not be limited to one man and one woman.

The ruling, viewed nationally and at home as a victory for the gay rights movement and a setback for social conservatives, means Iowa’s 5,800 gay couples can legally marry in Iowa beginning April 24.

There are no residency rules for marriage in Iowa, so the rule would apply to any couple who wanted to travel to Iowa. 

Semi-Pro

While I wouldn’t call it the funniest movie, Semi-Pro has a fair number of funny-ass scenes.  I have a feeling that it’s a movie that gets funnier and funnier each time.  There is is one scene that is funny as hell… and worth seeing…

It’s NSFW…

Apparently the Swedes are known for more than their cars…

I understand people have passion for subjects close to their heart. When a subject is criticized, some form of personal identification takes place with those close to the subject. This makes it seem as if the supporter of the subject is being criticized or attacked, which elicits a response on behalf of the supporter.

It’s the whole “transitive property” aspect – You criticize a topic, I believe and support said topic, ergo you criticize me.

I get it; I understand.

Roughly a week ago I raised the same question with Big Love. Some members of the Mormon community raised concerns about a sacred ceremony, saying a line had been crossed. With input from a blog reader, and with more thought on the subject, I can understand how one could, potentially, be offended.

Do I think that means the topic should be avoided? No.

What I have a problem understanding; however, is why some people get so upset with pure fiction – enter Dan Brown.

It was described as a “phantasmagorical cocktail of inventions”, a “masonic plot” and a “pot pourri of lies”. Now a nervous Vatican is braced for the sequel to The Da Vinci Code and the return of its nemesis, Dan Brown.

…

The film is to be released in Italy on May 13 and in Britain a day later, as Pope Benedict XVI finishes his tour of the Holy Land. A strong reaction is more likely because the antiDa Vinci campaign was led by Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, then Archbishop of Genoa and now the Vatican’s Secretary of State – and as such the Pope’s right-hand man. Gianni Gennari, a leading theologian and a columnist for Avvenire, the newspaper of the Italian bishops, called on Catholics to boycott Angels & Demons, accusing the film-makers of “exploiting the Church to swell takings at the box office”. He said the film was part of a plot to undermine the credibility of the Church.

No, this is fiction… not an attempt to undermine the credibility of the Church. This is an expert weaving of fictional stories into a modern setting purely for the entertainment value.

Any credibility the Church had was long lost when the individuals who head the Church decided to cover up the years of child abuse by priests. If one has to spend time defending a work of fiction from another work of fiction, while ignoring the evils within his or her own belief system, I think that person’s priorities are a bit off.

But, hey, that’s just me.

Wandering Coyote wonders this same thing about The Da Vinci Code…

Look for it…..

True or not, and it looks to be the case unless somone was really dedicated to the cause, it’s still funny as hell.

The Terminator series got some good news yesterday.  Terminator 5 was “greenlit” even thought Terminator Salvation (aka #4) hasn’t even hit theaters yet.  

I was very… cautious… about Terminator Rise of the Machines.  I thought it was a ploy to make more money (well, what isn’t, really) but I actually enjoyed the movie.  How can you go wrong with Nick Stahl and Claire Danes?

Well, with Terminator 4, McG (Charlie’s Angels, We are Marshall) and Christian Bale (as in “Batman” Christian Bale) signed on for both episodes, it will be interesting to see how it plays out.  

Here is my one question – what happens if Terminator 4 isn’t a box office success?  That is an expensive bet for the studios, no?

Need a break from the day? Need a quick smile? Take a 60 second time out and watch the Old Spice Commercial featuring Bruce Campbell (of Evil Dead fame)  Best. Commercial. Ever.

… “people just seem to know” …

Below you will find a rather cool video to The Orb’s “From a Distance”. The version used in the video is not the same as the album version.

If anyone has info on where to get this version, please email me.

I enjoy anime, and animation in general, but when it comes to anime I find myself pulled into shows that have compelling characters and stories – none of this fan service crap.  Usually shows that are dark and have characters that are facing some major conflict tend to capture my interest.

Last evening I was watching the “Ballad of Fallen Angels” episode of Cowboy Bebop and was reminded how beautiful and emotional animation can be.  The music, the color… wonderful. Here is the last 8 minutes “Ballad of Fallen Angels” where you can witness what I am talking about.