Month: January 2003

Both “Angel” and “Buffy” are looking mightily apocalyptic this season. And considering the average apocalypse historically takes an episode, two at most to handle (and indeed became so SOP that it was reduced to a mere “B” plot in the hilarious BTVS episode “The Zeppo”), we’re obviously talking some major league world destruction.

The two series are going about it from very different approaches, however. Buffy has essentially become Slayerfest 2003, “Private Benjamin” meets “The Untouchables” with stakes as Buffy channels Sean Connery to whip her troops into shape (“I don’t know but it’s been said, Rupert Giles might be dead! Sound off, one two!”). Meanwhile Angel, who these days is just as likely to hang up on the helpless as help them (when was the last time they actually *did* that, and no, helping Conner doesn’t count) has become darker, more foreboding and, frankly, more compelling.

The recent episode was no exception. The only problem I had with it is that it came across like house cleaning. Let’s face it: Wolfram and Hart never went anywhere. They had senior partners, the exact nature of which we never really knew. They had a doomsday plan, the specifics of which we never learned. They had some connection to Pylea (or however you spell that dimension), the details of which were never pursued. And now, this week, they’re all dead. It came across (to me at least) like the producers saying, “You know what? Screw it. They’ve been around for three seasons, we don’t know what to do with them anymore, they’re more annoying than menacing, and they’ve said repeatedly they can’t kill Angel because he’s ‘important,’ so there’s only so much menace they can provide. Let’s just annihilate them and move on.” Which, barring a surprising plot development, is what they did.

As for Cordelia bøffìņg Conner…I dunno. I could see out-of-character behavior for someone who’s never endured end-of-the-world scenarios before. But Cordelia’s an old hand at this. It was–how shall we put it–questionable. Except I hear scuttlebutt that Charisma Carpenter’s pregnant. If that’s true, this might be how they cover it. She was sent back by the Powers That Be to have it off with Conner and produce yet another baby to be yanked off to another dimension. Either that or send her out on missions carrying a laundry basket in front of her.

PAD

In answer to repeated questions:

Yes. It’s true. I’ve been approached by Dreamwave about doing a new “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” series tying in with the new animated TV show. And I said I would do it because, frankly, my kids wouldn’t have it any other way. My three elder daughters are huge TMNT fans (Caroline hasn’t weighed in with an opinion) and made it clear there would be dire–DIRE–consequences if I passed up the opportunity.

Further details will be forthcoming as soon as Dreamwave irons out the final kinks with the Turtles folks.

PAD

Pretty amazing. Todd McFarlane who, according to recent court decisions does not own the copyright to Miracleman, is taking the fingers-in-ears, la la la I’m not listening approach. He’s soliciting a Miracleman statue and is ostensibly casting about for writers for a new series on a property that either he doesn’t own outright or, at the very least, shares copyright on.

Because, y’know, judges just *love* it when people act like legal decisions haven’t been made. That’ll help tons on the appeals as he does everything he can not to treat Neil Gaiman with respect.

PAD

UPDATED COMMENT–I just saw a picture of the statue. It looks like Miracleman is staring at his right hand in horror after a door slammed on his fingers and broke them.

At this very moment, Shana and Gwen are at the Club Med resort in Cancun, Mexico. Why? Because they won a free trip from Comedy Central’s “Win Ben Stein’s Vacation” sweepstakes. Actually, Gwen filled out the entry form, but since she was under 21 she put in Shana’s name. And she asked me the trivia questions, which I answered correctly. So Shana, who didn’t do anything and didn’t even know she was being entered, won.

My Daughters Won a Free Trip to Cancun and All I Got Was This Lousy Blog Entry.

PAD

Just saw “Catch Me If You Can.” Nicely done. It was as if Spielberg chose to get out of the way of the story, and it was a good decision. Impressive to see Tom Hanks in a supporting role.

One comics-related observation: Interesting that Hank’s G-man Carl Hanratty was able to determine that his quarry, Frank Abagnale (Leonardo DiCaprio) was not an adult because Abagnale used the name “Barry Allen” as an alias. As soon as Hanratty learned that Barry Allen was the Flash, he said, “He reads comic books! We’re looking for a kid!”

Back in the early 1960s, apparently it was just that simple.

PAD

Bill Mumy, co-creator of SPACE CASES, occasional comic book collaborator and all around great guy, will be traveling to Vancouver next week to film the sequel to “It’s A Good Life” titled “It’s Still a Good Life” for the “Twilight Zone” TV series. Bill will be reprising the role of “Anthony Fremont,” the kid who would turn you into a jack-in-the-box or send you into the cornfield if you pìššëd him off. And in a terrific casting maneuver, his daughter Liliana (who played the kid sister in “Santa Clause II,” shows up recurring in “My Wife And Kids,” and looks like a miniature Bill Mumy) plays his daughter, Amy Fremont. Cloris Leachman is supposedly on board as well, although that can’t be confirmed as of right now. It’s 30 years later in Peakesville, Ohio… the village that was seperated from the world by Anthony all those years ago. If you thought it was tough going THEN…

There’s more nifty plot stuff that I can’t reveal. I can tell you that it’ll be airing during February sweeps. If you haven’t been watching “Twilight Zone,” admit it: You just KNOW you’ll be tuning in for that one.

PAD