TVLine is reporting that Saturday Night Live has booked Daniel Radcliffe for his first hosting gig on the show. The episode will be on January 14th, 2012.
There is so much fertile material they can mine with his Harry Potter stardom alone. And Equus? Forget about it.
But Radcliffe has also proven himself quite adept at making fun of himself.
Take for instance his appearance on Ricky Gervais’s Extras, where he launched a condom at Diana Rigg:
This should be must-see television for nerds. And I’ve got a sneaking suspicion this might be the first live SNL I’ll watch in a long time.
The usual gang of idiots over at MAD Magazine annually is releasing their list of the stupidest people, events, and things of the year next week and we have an advanced look.
If you ask me, their political commentary is often as spot-on and relevant as The Daily Show and SNL and it makes me proud to bring their idiotic visions of politics to the readers of The Huffington Post.
Their number one pick couldn’t hit the nail more on the head. And that it was able to mash up two of my favorite things (making fun of politicians and The Walking Dead) made me very happy.
It’s pretty well known that HDMI=HDMI and there has been a lot of coverage of Monster Cable being shady as hell about the quality of cables and the insane price they charge. Now things have gotten even more ridiculous. Best Buy now has an Audioquest Diamond HDMI listed for $1000 and the reviews are solid gold. We even get one from Captain James T. Kirk. Head on over and check it out if you need to have a little faith in humanity restored.
At PAX Prime 2011, a D&D game was played like no other. This particular game boasted a geek ensemble cast of players who decided to play a D&D session live in front of many fans and cameras. You know you’re something when hundreds of people show up to watch you play D&D for nearly three hours and let me tell you, it’s worth it. They even have a couple of “bards” that perform little narrative tunes on guitar for them as they play. Follow Scott Kurtz, Wil Wheaton, Mike Krahulik, Jerry Holkins, and Chris Perkins as they travel to Newhamp Shire to receive a mysterious magical item from a family member that passed away…
You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, and it will only cost you a standard action…
Cast:
Jerry Holkins – Omin Dran
Scott Kurtz – Binwin Bronzebottom
Wil Wheaton – Aeofel “Al” Elhromane
Mike Krahulik – Jim Darkmagic
Chris Perkins – Dungeon Master
Videos and information received from www.wizards.com.
Zombietron, Kill-tacular-tron, Arse Bot, Vagatron, Mexicus Prime, and special guest, Senador Kooch
After last month’s disastrous lead-off of Jokin’ Off With Jimmy, the guys decided to axe the segment all together. Instead, this month’s podcast features a new segment, “What’s Hot on the Streets with DJ JimJam”. You can be the judge of this latest attempt at giving Mexicus Prime his own segment. Let’s just say he’s already decided to cut that segment as well – so next month you can look forward to hearing the first installment of “What’s Cooking in the Kitchen”.
The robots spend a good chunk of the first half of the podcast talking/ranting about Netflix’s new business plan to split into two companies. Arse-bot tries to talk about Star Wars on Blu-ray as Zombietron continues to play a Darth Vader “NNNNNOOOOOOOOOOOO!” sound bite over and over and over.
Kill-tacular-tron covers this month’s collectibles he’s purchased, which included a Lego Millennium Falcon! Piles and piles of comic books are also covered in the second half as Kiley leads the discussions on the new Ultimate Spider-Man as well as DC’s New 52. Everything is wrapped up with some video game talk in which Kill-tacular-tron and Arse Bot talk about powering through Dead Island, despite their growing disdain for the game.
Zombietron, Mexicus Prime, Kill-tacular-tron, Vagatron and Arse-bot
This month we bring you an edition of the Big Shiny Podcast that kicks off with “Jokin’ Off With Jimmy”! Unfortunately, Jimmy (Mexicus Prime) takes his “joke” to a level so far beyond even our line of decency it’s now in orbit around Jupiter. Needless to say, there was some editing that needed to be done but you should still get the idea. Let’s just say the Big Shiny Podcasters will never look at toboggons or chili the same way again. Ever.
After stomachs had settled in the aftermath of JOWJ a bunch of August Geekery is discussed. Zombietron professes his love for Ghost Rider pissing fire in the trailer for Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance, the ‘casters admit that for them it’s not always “In Nolan We Trust” with regards to The Dark Knight Rises, and talk about what it could mean for The Punisher and Blade now that Marvel has reacquired their movie rights. Vagatron brings his entire comic book hold to talk about, but we limit him to a few titles including Ultimate Comics: The Ultimates. In the second half of the podcast, Kill-tacular-tron talks about all the collectibles he spent his entire all but $12 of his paycheck on which includes a giant Stay Puft figure that no one is allowed to touch and a Hot Toys Spider-Man figure that Arse-bot politely states loudly interrupts he isn’t terribly impressed with. Everything is wrapped up with Arse-bot, Zombietron and Kill-tacular-tron discussing “Pre-orderpalooza 2011” in which they talk about all the big video game titles coming out at the end of the year and which ones they’ve already dropped cash on and why.
So hit us up on iTunes (and leave a review while you’re there!) or snag the mp3, plug in your headphones and geek out with us as you sit at work pretending to be busy!
This infographic from freestyle interactive breaks down the social networks (a few I’ve never heard of) into the superhero they most represent. I stick with Spider-Man and the Silver Surfer. What about you?
Zombietron, Mexicus Prime, Kill-tacular-tron, Vagatron and Arse-bot
It’s that time of the month again! No, not that one. It’s time for your monthly dose of the Big Shiny Podcast!
This month we talk about some of our favorite things from this year’s Comic-Con including all the new Ghostbusters swag, the Amazing Spider-Man panel, leaked trailers and all that good stuff. We talk Netflix rate hikes, badger Mexicus Prime for being off his game and try to stop him from doing multiple really bad impressions to no avail. All of us gush over Captain America as we spoil pretty much the entire movie for Zombietron – who has yet to see it and is the biggest Cap fan out of all of us. We have Vagatron’s usual grab bag of comics to talk about, and this month he brought a very unusual but good lot of recommendations, including Screamland. Stick around for the end of the ‘cast as we bring you another edition of “Joking Off with Jimmy” as he and Arse-bot share the overly dramatic story of opening up comicbook holds and how his girlfriend’s aunt wanted to bang him on a camping trip!
So hit us up on iTunes (and leave a review while you’re there!) or snag the mp3, plug in your headphones and geek out with us as you sit at work pretending to be busy!
Remember that zany cartoon about the Warner Brothers and the Warner sister? (she was the cute one). Not only do I remember it, but I still think Animaniacs is one of the greatest cartoons ever created. I even quote it on a regular basis and occasionally sing “Yakko’s World” for my friends (whether they want me to or not.)
Since I’m such a fan of the show, you can easily imagine my delight when I recently had the opportunity to meet Rob Paulsen at his Rob Paulsen Live seminar in Atlanta, Georgia. You may not know his name or his face, but you certainly know his voice. From Animaniacs, he is Yakko Warner, Pinky, and Dr. Scratch ‘n’ Sniff. He is also Carl Wheezer from the Adventures of Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius, Raphael from the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles cartoon, and a myriad of other characters, including some from G.I. Joe and the Snorks. A much more comprehensive list can be found at his IMDB page here.
Mr. Paulsen’s career has spanned nearly 30 years, and I was thrilled to have the opportunity to meet him. When I arrived at the seminar, he walked right up to me and introduced himself, and he was extremely friendly and down-to-earth. He greeted everyone as they entered and referred to them by name when they asked questions. By splitting his seminar into two sessions, he was able to keep the groups small, and the result was a more intimate gathering with an open discussion and a very relaxed atmosphere. He explained that his goal was to have a more interactive event rather than merely standing in front of the room and talking.
Mr. Paulsen began the event by recounting some of his history and how he got into voice acting. He grew up in Michigan and initially dreamed of becoming a hockey player. When he realized that hockey wasn’t in the cards, At the age of nineteen, he moved to Los Angeles to join a theater company. He lived there for about a year before moving back to Michigan and joining a rock and roll cover band. After about two years of singing, he moved back to California and returned to acting. He found a gig on a cable access show and signed with an agent. Commercial work followed, as well as appearances on MacGyver and St. Elsewhere.
When the voice acting jobs became more and more numerous (to the point that they conflicted with acting auditions), he made a decision to focus solely on voice acting. He was hired for Haji on Johnny Quest and had roles on Transformers, Smurfs, Gummi Bears, Darkwing Duck, Talespin . . . the list goes on and on.
A highlight in his career came when he won a Daytime Emmy Award for “Outstanding Performer in an Animated Program” for Pinky in Pinky and the Brain. He spoke of how he forgot to think Maurice LaMarche (the voice of The Brain) in his speech and had to call him afterwards, and how the one and only Mr. Rogers congratulated him personally after his win. He also added that Andrea Romano, the casting director of Animaniacs, has so many Emmys that she “dresses them in Barbie clothes.” (I wasn’t sure if he was being serious or not).
Below is some video of him saying some of Pinky’s best lines:
Without a doubt, the best moment came when I asked Mr. Paulsen how long it took him to learn the song “Yakko’s World,” in which Yakko Warner sings the names of the countries while pointing at them on a map. He answered with some history of the song, saying that songwriter Randy Rogel was helping his child with geography and realized there was a song to be found there. Mr. Paulsen received the song, had a week to rehearse it, and it only took two takes (and they used the first one). He then asked if we’d like for him to perform it.
Here is the result:
One of his latest projects is to voice Donatello for the upcoming Nickelodeon version of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. The new version of the four turtles named after Renaissance artists will debut next year, and it will be CGI. Sean Astin and Jason Biggs are also turtles (Raphael and Leonardo, respectively.) Actor Greg Cipes takes on the role of Michaelangelo (the party dude!).
If you have the opportunity, I urge you to attend a Rob Paulsen Live seminar. Go if you’re a fan, if you want to know more about the voice acting business, or if you just want to be entertained. He was funny, genuine, and ever so willing to answer any questions. And, everyone who attends has the opportunity to speak with Mr. Paulsen one on one and receive a signed picture.
He will be in Dallas on September 17th, and tickets can be purchased at his website.
I got the most intriguing email from the IFC today about two of my favorite YouTuber(s), the following is all it said, followed by a link to the video I’ve posted below:
We all knew Harry Potter fans were a bit rabid for their favorite wizard, [” target=”_blank”>but click on the link below] to see IFC’s own commercial kings, Rhett & Link and their musical homage inspired by one Potter SUPER fan who risked malaria and exposure in the great outdoors in an attempt to express her dismay, anxiety and fear about how the end of the Potter universe will impact her life forever!
This… is perhaps the BEST fan inspired/made homage to the Harry Potter I’ve seen to date (if you don’t count A Very Potter Musical)
