Why isn't 'Batgirl' a valid career choice?

As Twilight's release draws ever closer, Buzznet's getting into the spirit with a huge Twilight challenge that we announced yesterday (and sorry Twilighters, The Dark Knight will STILL be the bigger movie when it's all said and done...), and now we've got even more for you: a preview of Paramore's video for "Decode." Oooooh, see here...

Yesterday we found out more about Panic at the Disco and The Cab's upcoming videos, and now today we've got information on another Decaydance band's recent shoot.  The Hush Sound have filmed a video for the song "Medicine Man" from their latest album Goodbye, Blues. See more...

So, among the feeds I follow is MTV's Splash Page, which is entirely related to comic book and comic book movie related news.  It's how I keep up with stuff like Mikey Way's comic misadventures and potential Doctor Strange movies.

But for some reason, MTV decided that they needed to post to the Splash page announcing that they've started up another website: MTVMusic.com.  And while their actual entry reads "For all of you haters out there griping about how MTV doesn’t play music videos anymore, here’s something to calm the waters," my feed preview puts  it a little differently:


"Put a sock in it?"  Oh, sweetie, no.  There is a long list of things I don't put in my mouth and socks are actually the second item on there.  Don't ask about the first.


I guess I'm gonna sit over here and be a "hater" for a little longer, because I'm going to point out some flaws in your plans.  Sorry, MTV, but I see you rollin' and I hatin'.

Look, while it's all well and good that you're giving people access to music videos again, putting up a new website for it really doesn't solve the dilemma.  Let's point out the most obvious problem right now: it's still on the internet.  And your station is called "Music Television."  Remember?  "I want my MTV?"  The internet is not television, MTV, and it's not a truck.  It is a series of tubes.  And sometimes things get stuck in those tubes...

...which brings me to my next point.  MTV, your site is INFAMOUS for having some of the worst buffer rates around.  I believe I have referred to the situation as "Your videos buffer at the speed of toast."  Look, if I'm trying to watch Pete Wentz run around dressed like a vampire, fighting William Beckett, Brendon Urie and Travis McCoy who are ALSO dressed like vampires, I'm not going to sit through your crap buffer rate to do so.  I'm just going to YouTube. 

Which is point #3.  Youtube has basically already done what you're doing, MTV.  And they've done it with fewer region restrictions and less wait time for a video to load.  And they're not sitting there claiming I'm a "hater" because I have this CRAZY idea that a station about Music Television would PLAY MUSIC VIDEOS ON TELEVISION. 

Because let's face it: not everybody has the ability to watch online videos.  Slow internet connections and/or processors can make it difficult.  Not having an internet connection can make it impossible.  But people better not complain!  Or they're "haters!"

Oh, but you'll toss us a bone once in awhile.  You'll cancel TRL but give us F'NMTV, which I love, but an hour a week is NOT enough.  And you'll throw us video premiers after we sit through your craptacular shows like "The Hills," but you won't really stick to schedule.  You made Adam T. Siska cry.  I hope you're proud of yourself. 

Basically?  Another website isn't the answer.  Replacing some of your reality shows with music video blocks IS.  Get on that.

Pete Wentz's name causes a ruckus around these parts.  And it's caused a number of ruckuses (rucksi?) this past year, especially in regards to Pete's relationship with now-wife Ashlee Simpson-Wentz.  Fans were gushing in both joy and outrage as the relationship progressed from steady partners to engaged couple, to married couple, to married and expecting their first child. Read more...

With Halloween on Friday, it seems fitting that I'm writing an article that tackles two extremely scary topics: zombies and racism.

Fans of the Resident Evil video game series might remember a few months ago when the trailer for Resident Evil 5 premiered and caused huge controversy.  The trailer shows Chris Redfield, a character who acted as one of two playable characters in Resident Evil and also appeared in Resident Evil: Code Veronica, moving through an African village.  He is then attacked by hordes of zombies, apparently once again infected with a strain of zombie-virus.

The controversy comes from the fact that, because the game is set in Africa, the zombies are all native villagers.  Which means the game's trailer shows a white protagonist killing horde after horde of feral black zombies.



When the Japanese game developers were approached on the topic, they had the following to say:

We chose Africa [as RE5's setting] because we're extending the storyline logically. Following the tradition of the Resident Evil franchise, you'll remember from Code Veronica - the Progenitor virus comes from Africa so we wanted to go back to the root of where the virus originated.

For the people who think it's racist... well, we can't please everyone. We're in the entertainment business - we're not here to state our political opinion or anything like that. It's unfortunate that some people felt that way.

We've gone where the story has taken us...

-source

And now?  I'm torn on how I feel.  On one hand, I really don't believe there was a racial agenda when the game was developed.  Since the original RE games were set in the United States and Resident Evil 4 moved the plot to Eastern Europe, the idea of exploring the virus in other places makes sense.  And there's already backstory which indicates why Africa is a logical choice.

Also, part of the constant message in the RE games is the dangers of unchecked corporate entities.  Umbrella Inc., the fictional corporation in the games, is directly responsible for the events in most of the games.  They act in a way that benefits them, no matter what it may do to the poor or the weak beneath them.  And RE 5 would potentially continue that idea, showing people in impoverished African villages basically being used as science experiments for a rich, white, AMERICAN corporation.


But at the same time, even if there wasn't a racial agenda, didn't anybody feel the need to stand up and say "Um, guys?  White guy killing black zombies.  This...probably isn't going to go over very well."  The world is in a constant dangerous political climate when it comes to race.  And with the typical treatment of non-white nations by white nations, someone really should have stepped up and said "Okay, Africa is a good idea, but can we do this in a way that would deliver our message without delivering another more terrible one?"

This is on top of the fact that another game, Little Big Planet, recently had to be recalled because of lines from the Qur'an showing up in one of the game's songs.  Are game developers really that ignorant about the commotion this will cause?  Or worse: are they figuring that "mistakes" such as these and the Grand Theft Auto Hot Coffee Scandal will serve as cheap publicity for the game?

No matter what, I won't be playing RE 5.  Because zombies plus first person shooter means there is NOTHING this game will offer me other than nightmares and controllers broken in frustration.  But that doesn't mean I'm not bothered by this situation.

So, this week's TAI... TV features some mysterious (you gots to wiggle your fingers when you says it) happenings for the guys from The Academy Is... Okay, mostly for William Beckett and Adam T. Siska, but you get the idea:

Wacky, huh? But it raises an important question: which two people from your favorite band would you like to see swap bodies for a day? Panic at the Disco's Ryan Ross and Spencer Smith? Cobra Starship's Gabe Saporta and Victoria Asher? Fall Out Boy's Pete Wentz and Patrick Stump? Or one of the other bands you Buzznetters love so much? Discuss!

Edit: just realized that this might, for some, seem like a request for links to fanfiction.  PLEASE DON'T.  I know it happens, I don't want it here.

Ever since Panic at the Disco told Buzznet's own Breesays they had a video for "Northern Downpour" in the works, fans have been waiting (im)patiently for news. And while we did just get Panic's self-made video for "It's Almost Halloween," it sounds like Panic's still totally into the Trick or Treat spirit.  I don't know what the "trick" is, but apparently the guys will be "treating" us to the premier of Northern Downpour by the end of this week. Oh, absolutely...

So, in case you haven't caught it yet, there's a new ad out for Guitar Hero: World Tour.  The commercial parodies the classic "dancing in underwear" scene from Risky Business, but ads a new twist: there's four guys rocking out, and they miiiight just look a little familiar.



Ladies and gentlemen, I give you basketball star Kobe Bryant on vocals, baseball star Alex "A-Rod" Rodriguez on lead guitar, Record breaking Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps on bass and skateboarding legend Tony Hawk keeping rhythm on the drums.

Now, of course, the not-so subtle message is that with GH: World Tour ANYBODY can be a rock star.  But, let's go with an inverse theory: what if rock stars decided to try the sports Kobe, Alex, Michael and Tony would be giving up to be rock stars, hm?

Jon Walker of Panic at the Disco heads to the NBA:



William Beckett leaves The Academy Is... to pursue his love of baseball:



Pete Wentz trades touring with Fall Out Boy for the Dew Action Sports Tour:



...okay...maybe not so much...

Cobra Starship's Gabe Saporta...well, okay.  He doesn't actually BECOME an Olympic Swimmer.  He just wears Speedos.  All the time.  And nothing else.



...I'm strangely okay with this.

Okay, okay.  Like the rest of us, the athletes are never going to be rock stars outside of shredding along to video games in their own living rooms.  And these rock stars aren't going to be signing to any major leagues anytime soon.

As a coompromise, I suggest Jon, William, Pete and Gabe recreate that scene from Risky Business.  For the good of the world.  And science.

Remember back in March when Fall Out Boy were trying to set a world record by being the first band to play all 7 (yes, 7, Pete) continents?  Remember how that kinda fell through because Antarctica was apparently less than impressed with Infinity on High and responded like any angry fan would: becoming colder and colder? Well, check this out...

So, if you're like me, you've been pretty much squealing any time you get news about Tim Burton's upcoming take on the classic story Alice in Wonderland.  Because as of this point?  None of the news is bad.


Aside from Burton directing the picture, we already know that Mia Wasikowska, an up and comer, will be playing Alice.  And in one of the most obvious casting choices ever, Johnny Depp will be playing The Mad Hatter.  Apparently he's liking it, too, since he took a bite out of his top hat while on set and in character.

Oh Johnny Depp.  Never change.


Helena Bonham Carter and Anne Hathaway are also both rumored to be in on the project.  My assumption is Carter will be the Queen of Hearts, because, duh.  Helena Bonham Carter.  But no idea where Hathaway will fit in...maybe as the Duchess?


Oh, and there's a new name connected with the project.  The tart stealing Knave of Hearts will be portrayed by Crispin OH MY GOD HE'S CREEPY Glover.

Okay, now the easy question: HOW AWESOME IS THIS GOING TO BE?

So, before Stephenie Meyer put out Twilight, there was another vampire versus werewolves franchise that she probably didn't know about, given her documented dislike of horror movies.  She reportedly couldn't sit through the TV edit of Interview with the Vampire and finds The Lost Boys genuinely scary. 

...ooookay.

So odds are she's not familiar with the Underworld series, where vampires and werewolves/lycans also have a longstanding feud.  The first two films starred Kate Beckinsale and Scott Speedman as a vampire and a werewolf who fall in love, which isn't supposed to happen.  Very Romeo and Juliet with supernatural creatures and a lot more cursing.

Underworld 3, however, will serve as a prequel to the other movies and will explore characters that were actually killed off in the other two.  It will be a period piece, set when vampires and lycans got along...in that way where vampires enslaved lycans and lycans just went with it.

Beckinsale and Speedman obviously won't be involved since it's before their characters' times, but Michael Sheen, Bill Nighy and Shane Brolly will all reprise their roles from the earlier films.  Joining the cast will be Rhona Mitra who will be playing Sonja, a character who's influence on the Vampire and Lycan war is pretty huge.

Here's the trailer:



What do you think?

When Heath Ledger tragically passed away in January, he left behind an impressive body of work for a man who only lived until 28.  Ledger's films ranged from teen comedy 10 Things I Hate About You, to the historical action film The Patriot, to the anachronistic action-comedy A Knight's Tale, to award winning films such as Monster's Ball and Brokeback Mountain.  And of course, his amazing performance as The Joker in this summer's The Dark Knight.

But The Dark Knight will not be Ledger's final film appearance.  Before his death, Ledger had begun work with Terry Gilliam, who he also worked with in 2005's The Brothers Grimm (which is a terribly underrated movie, by the way), on a film entitled The Imaginarium Of Doctor Parnassus.  Only one third of Ledger's scenes had been shot, so the fate of the film was in jeopardy.

However, the bright side is that this is a Gilliam project and his surrealist bend can account for just about anything.  The remaining scenes for Ledger's character were played by Jude Law, Colin Farrel and Johnny Depp.  And if you know anything about Gilliam?  It will all make perfect sense in a way that makes absolutely no sense and somehow you're perfectly comfortable with that.

Now, new pictures have surfaced of Ledger in the role of Tony, an "outsider" to the immortal Parnassus' magical circus troupe.  Like I said, it's Gilliam.

Okay, folks, the first thing I will do is assure you William Beckett hasn't done anything new or drastic to his hair.  Yet.  So deep breath. When you're ready, continue on...

We're nearing the end of the countdown to the November release of Twilight, the year's premier film about glitter-coated vampires and the klutzes who love them more than life itself.  And while my opinion on the books has left me with no hope for the film, even I'll confess to loving Paramore's contribution to the movie's soundtrack, "Decode."  Maybe not enough to pick up a copy of the soundtrack on November 4th, but probably enough to buy it from iTunes at some point. Read more...

Panic at the Disco might be on the road through November on the Rock Band Live Tour with Dashboard Confessional, the Plain White T's and The Cab, but come December you'll be able to bring them to your place for a nice long rest.  What's this?

At long last, the DC Universe Halloween Special, featuring an 8 page story by My Chemical Romance bassist Mikey Way, has hit news shelves. Sneak a peek, doodz!

So, in between writing the next arc of his Eisner Award winning comic series The Umbrella Academy and appearing at the 2008 Scream Awards on Spike, Gerard Way is still working on songs for My Chemical Romance's follow up to their hit The Black Parade.  Curious?

So, The 2008 Scream Awards Show actually took place Saturday night, but the telecast aired last night on Spike TV.  If you didn't get a chance to see it or if my liveblog just ain't doing it for you?  Here's a handy little guide to what you should try to catch on the replay.  Or Youtube.  Whatever. Read on...

During my liveblog of the 2008 Scream Awards, I was struck with a terrible idea: what if Saw's Jigsaw turned his attention to some of Buzznet's writers?  What kind of challenges would he put forth to test them?

Here's some speculation:

With his first foray into comic writing releasing tomorrow as part of DC's Annual Halloween Issue, Mikey Way finally gives us some details on the plot, as well as what My Chemical Romance has been up to lately. Details!

Tonight is the telecast of 2008 Scream Awards on Spike TV and I'll be here live blogging the whole thing starting at 9PM EST.  Come join me on the intertubes as they air performances by Kerli and The Smashing Pumpkins, as well as appearances by Selma Blair, Jon Favreau, Milla Jovovich, Jaime King, Kristen Bell, Julie Benz, Guillermo Del Toro, Summer Glau, Jared Padelecki, Seth Rogen, Seann William Scott, Kevin Smith, Liv Tyler, Rob Zombie, Samuel L. Jackson and this geeky kid named Gerard Way.  Plus, a Twilight world premier I will likely need your help getting through. Ready for it?

Xblanksface and I have been having a "civil discussion" that started with me spamming her with pictures of vampire William Beckett LIKE A GOOD FRIEND DOES, DAMMIT!


So...answer this question for me:  if it came down to a knock down, drag out fight, who would win:

DISCUSS!

So far, Marvel has brought Iron Man and The Hulk to the big screen in preparation for their planned Avengers movie.  They're also making plans for a Captain America movie as well as a Thor film which may be directed by Kenneth Branagh.  But still, four Avengers don't a team make.  So who else is going to make the cut?

Well, Marvel Studios President of Production Kevin Feige has dropped at least one possibly unexpected name: Doctor Strange.


Both Stan Lee and Neil Gaiman, along with my father who has far less authority in these matters, have stated they want to see Doctor Strange done as a live action film (a direct to DVD animated film was done in 2007)  And with Feige's exuberant explanation of Marvel's forthcoming projects for 2012 and 2013, it's looking more and more like the film could happen.  Feige even said "Dr. Strange? This is one of the best characters we have. [He represents] this amazing cosmic universe to Marvel that we haven’t played with in films yet and I think could be amazing to play with.”

Since Iron Man, Hulk and Captain America's powers are all rooted in science, both Thor and Doctor Strange could give the studio a chance to expand their film universe to include that sort of thing.  Of course, you'd need a third "magic" hero to round out the odds...and hey, no girls on the team yet!  Scarlett Witch, much?  (Okay, okay, far fetched, but you're doing a Magneto origins movie and you could establish Wanda's existence in that and then pull her into the Avengers films!  COME ON!)

So what could all of this mean?  Well, Gaiman is enough of a Strange fan that he could possibly be tapped to write the film.  He's worked with the character previously in Marvel 1602 and did an amazing job. 

It also means that casting speculation for Doctor Strange can OFFICIALLY begin!

What do you think?  About the Doctor Strange film, about casting for the film or Neil Gaiman's potential involvement or about my continuing attempts to get Marvel to confirm a female Avenger? 

...I'm just saying.  Black Widow would be easy to write in and I've got theories on how to slip in Carol Danvers.  Call me sometime, Marvel!

So, we all know that Gym Class Heroes frontman Travis McCoy really likes cookies, but what about his girlfriend, pop star Katy Perry?  After all, why should one half of the couple hog all the goodies?


Never fear, since at the Los Premios, basically the Latin American VMA's, Katy showed her love for sweet treats after a performance of her hit single "I Kissed a Girl."



No word on what flavor the cake was, but the point here is that Katy dived into the wrong baked good.  If you're singing about kissing girls?  You'd damn well better be diving into a giant pie.

There is only one music video that is a must for Halloween.  No matter how hard others may try, they will never beat out the one, the only, the original music video for Michael Jackon's "Thriller."

And of course, one of the most iconic parts of the video is the extended dance sequence.  Known as simply "The Thriller Dance," it's been used in music videos by groups such as The Backstreet Boys and The Gorillaz. You're gonna want to be part of this...

So, I'm not exactly a fang banger, but I'm also not opposed to the idea of sex with vampires.  But what's the vampire of my dreams like, you ask?  Here, let me give you 5 of the undead's best:

Deacon Frost




So, aside from the fact that he's pretty much unquestionably evil, the guy's got the hot and seductive thing down, no question.  Plus, he's the sort of guy who buys a penthouse apartment with a pool/waterfall thing going on...and then fills the pool with rubber duckies.  Never underestimate the power of a sense of humor.

---

Dracula




The most famous vampire, no matter who you ask.  Well, okay.  Maybe if you ask some people they'd say someone else.  But they'd be terribly, terribly wrong.

---

Lestat de Lioncourt




Rock star vampire.  Everything Gerard Way WISHES he could be.

---

William the Bloody, AKA Spike




Ridiculously devoted, snarky, and well read.  Also, great taste in music.

---

Angel, AKA Angelus




Okay, sometimes he gets creepily obsessed.  But that's when he doesn't have a soul.  And then he's wearing leather pants.  It's a win/win situation, ladies.

Moral of the story? 

So, when you live in the zombie attack survival capital of the USA (old article...our current Mayor is even LESS likely to be prepared...), you spend time thinking about a lot of weird things.  Like, do I have a cohesive escape plan?  Should I rent an apartment that close to the likely center of the outbreak?  Are they more likely to be T-Virus zombies or Rage Virus zombies?  Are we talking immediate infection or are we talking you've got a few hours to find a cure?  Would Gerard Way survive? Let's think this over, with some tunes...

I'm just here for your pleasure, your entertainment.
Build me up to tear me down,
it's not me, it's mine.
You seem to think I'm proud to be desired for my
sins and scars.
The parts of me I try to erase
when they're gone I'll be empty and alone.
They only love me for my
sins and scars.
Is it worth loneliness to burn them out of me?
Too late to save myself, the pattern's long set
endlessly repeats in sequence.
As for those who fate decrees will send me roses,
I'd rather lotus leaves.
Forget my
sins and scars
Reborn without your ghost behind me,
too bad you're not really dead.
You'd make yourself a martyr.
Pretend to be a saint.
Holy man, please take away my
sins and scars.
But you refuse, you refuse,
too easy to see me kneel before your shrine.
Your whip's mark is on my
sins and scars.
Our Father of Loving Lies,
forked and silver be thy tongue.
Hold me close, then nail me to a wall
so you can fuck my
sins and scars.

In a new podcast, available for free on iTunes, Pete Wentz and Patrick Stump of Fall Out Boy are interviewed by "Mad Dog" and "Billy Blaze" of WCOB's Cobra Morning show.  Oh, the LOLZ...

If there's anything Fall Out Boy knows how to do, it's sweeten a deal.


Three pre-sale options for their new cd, Folie a Deux, are currently available through Gomerch.com, all of them touting special extras for ordering as part of "The Super Fantastic Economical Hair Bear Jamboree" pre-sale.  Prices on the presales range from $11.99 to a whopping $129.99 for the deluxe package.

The "Un" option will cost you $11.99 and will get you not only the physical CD, but also a rubber Folie a Deux wristband.

The "Deux" package costs you $39.99 and includes the CD and the wristband, but also a limited edition Folie a Deux silk screened poster and an exclusive Folie tee shirt.

The "Troi" package should probably have been called the "Folie" package.  It contains the CD, the wristband, the silk screened poster and the shirt.  But on top of that, you get a Folie hoodie, a 1GB teddy bear shaped USB drive loaded with exclusive footage from the making of the album and a hand numbered and autographed Folie a Deux vinyl.  This set will cause you to part with $129.99.  Mon Dieu!

What do you think?  Are the prices fair?  Think you'll shell out for any of these?

Apparently, expectant mother Ashlee Simpson-Wentz either shares her husband Pete Wentz's taste in movies, or bought him an extra special Halloween present.  Simpson-Wentz was spotted in Santa Monica, CA, buying a print from the classic Halloween film The Nightmare Before Christmas.


The question, however, is whether the print was bought to hang in the baby Wentz's nursery or for Pete himself, since he's a longtime fan of the movie.  Pete has gone so far as to have characters from the film incorporated into his sleeve tattoos.


Pete's band, Fall Out Boy, also appeared on the special edition re-release of the film's soundtrack, performing a cover of "What's This?"  Other artists on the soundtrack included Fall Out Boy's labelmates Panic at the Disco, as well as She Wants Revenge, flash rocker Marylin Manson and female powerhouse Fiona Apple.

Who do you think the print was for?  And if it's for Baby Wentz, what sort of nursery do you think Pete and Ashlee went with?

The Maine, who are still out rocking across the country on the Money Tour with All Time Low, have announced the tracklist for their upcoming EP ...And A Happy New Year. Read more...

Paramore is all over the place right now.  Between their appearance on the soundtrack to the upcoming Twilight film, to Hayley's appearance in Guitar Hero: World Tour, to Buzznet's Halloween Polaroid Contest.  But now, Paramore are headed to the United Kingdom, the place that gave the world the Sex Pistols, The Beatles and this dude, for a rocking tour in early 2009!



Paramore are set to play the following shows:

• January 29 Manchester Apollo
• February 1 London Brixton Academy
• February 4 Birmingham Carling Academy
• February 6 Bristol Carling Academy
• February 8 Portsmouth Guildhall
• February 9 Nottingham Rock City
• February 10 Glasgow Academy
• February 12 Newcastle Academy
• February 13 Leicester De Montfort Hall

Keep your eyes open for ticket information!

Recent stirrings had indicated that LeATHERMOUTH had been in talks with a record company who's named rhymed with "smepitaph." 

And now it's official: LeATHERMOUTH has signed on with Epitaph records and will likely release their debut album in early 2009. Read more...

Yesterday I reported that My Chemical Romance bassist Mikey Way wrote a comic that combines Batman and The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.  And now today, information about another Batman comic being written by a celebrity has hit the 'net.  Neil Gaiman, infamous for writing the Sandman series, as well as books such as Stardust, Neverwhere and American Gods, is currently working on a two-issue story set in the caped crusader's world. Read more...

Panic at the Disco, currently on the Rock Band Live Tour with Dashboard Confessional, know what it's like to be the group of guys who get teen hearts beating faster, faster.  So, when Rolling Stone sat down with the newly chilled Panic, who are already at work on music for a follow-up to this year's Pretty.  Odd., what did the Las Vegas boys and their bassist from Chicago have to say to that OTHER group of teen heartthrobs, The Jonas Brothers? They had some ideas...

It's been almost 25 years since Ghostbusters first hit the big screen.  But the foursome of paranormal exterminators keep going strong in pop culture.  Ghostbuster is still a huge Halloween costume choice, a new video game is slated to come out to act as the third part of the Ghostbusters Saga, and the first issue of the new Ghostbusters Comic Series releases today.


The series is going to be closer in line to the movies than to spin offs such as "The REAL Ghostbusters" cartoon, meaning that Slimer will not appear.  To quote series writer Keith Champagne “It’s just a real back-to-basics approach to the property. It’s a different kind of adventure for the team, part adventure, part hard boiled crime drama, plenty of comedy,”

Not sure if you'd be into it?  Check out the six page preview on MTV's Splash Page!

This allays my fears of Hollywood attempting to remake the Ghostbusters films anytime soon, as they're on my ever growing list of "films you just DON'T remake."  But if they did, I think there might be a few musicians interested in auditioning:

So, remember when they announced the release date of the DC Halloween Comic that will feature a story written by Mikey Way of My Chemical Romance?  And I channeled The Umbrella Academy's Rumor while telling you that it would involve Batman? Well, get this...

So, recently there was news that the Foo Fighters had told John McCain to stop using their song "My Hero" at live events, as he had not asked the band's permission to use the song.  The Foos joined artists such as John Mellencamp, Van Halen, Heart and Jackson Browne (who sued over the usage of his song "Running on Empty") in admonishing the campaign for not asking permission to use their songs.He's a maverick...

So, I'm sure by now you already know about the big Fall Out Boy news.  Folie a Deux pushed back. New release date of December 16th.  Amazing new single featuring Elvis Costello and a horde of Fueled by Ramne guests out to soothe the savage beasts inside our...hearts. 

But the best thing about a band that has an internet savvy frontman with a big mouth and an equally big heart?  You constantly get updates on what's to come. And you know an awesome way to get instant updates?  Following Pete Wentz's Twitter.


The issue with Twitter (if you don't know what it is, visit the site) is that it's a 140 character limit per message.  And Pete's explanation of the new Folie a Deux delux editions (Yes, that's right.  Plural) couldn't be contained to one message.  Or as they call them?  One tweet.

Ps the delux edition being offered of fad right now is not the one the band is creating. There will be four or five other ones with the preorder which in...

...our mind will have even sweeter stuff in em

Fall Out Boy's delux edition for Infinity on High featured bonus tracks such as "G.I.N.A.S.F.S." as well as a set of album-themed tarot cards.  And while Livejournal group icecreamhdaches reported on the current Folie delux's bonus tracks, we can pretty much guarantee that we'll see something a little bigger and a lot weirder from the band themselves.



But don't worry, it won't be long until we find out.  Because Pete's follow up Tweet reads: These preorders and delux preorders will be revealed in the next month or so on fobr.

What are you hoping for out of the Folie a Deux delux edition?

And if one of the things on your list is "a different cover," then you should enter Buzznet's Folie a Deux by YOU community challenge!  You only have until Friday to enter!

(Political Blog.  My opinions.  I don't like THAT hockey mom.  Deal.)

Yeah, so, John Cleese.  One of the funniest men in history.  From Monty Python, you know?


...he was Nearly Headless Nick in Harry Potter, people!

Anyway, during an interview, Cleese gave his thoughts on Alaska's darling Sarah Palin.  And they're not all complimentary...




Okay, John.  Like you didn't expect a bunch of nerds to see that and run out to make macros and/or .gifs!

Ever seen a certain Bill Murray movie and said "This needs more Pete Wentz and Ryland Blackinton?"


Well, Pete has just posted a video on his Friends or Enemies blog that will soothe your injured souls.  Or something. 

The video, made for humor media site The Real, features the Cobra Starship guitarist getting back to his acting roots.  It also features Pete Wentz attempting to act again.

...can't win 'em all, I guess?

The Cure's 13th studio album 4:13 Dream doesn't release until October 28th.  But at a concert in Rome, the band performed all 13 tracks from the upcoming release.  For free.  Oh, and it was broadcast on MTV for those not living la bella vita.


While The Cure have been releasing a single a month since this past May, the concert also featured tracks such as "The Real Snow White" and "The Hungry."  And while the concert was mostly about the new material, one classic Cure song made the set list: the hit "Lovesong."

Missed the live show and the broadcast?  Don't worry, Stereogum has video of all 14 performances for your viewing pleasure! 

Back in high school, it used to be a tradition for the local punk(?) teenagers to go see a couple of local bands and then head to our town's one local Denny's for the night to talk about getting out of the suburbs and changing the world.

Apparently?  Even bands that have made it like to eat at Denny's on occasion.  But being in an up-and-coming band on tour means you probably don't have a lot of money: you're sleeping in vans that you have to pay to put gas in (and let's face it, that ain't cheap), you're hauling your own equipment, paying to replace stuff that's missing or broken and maaaaybe you'll be able to eat at some point if you're lucky.

But Denny's knows their fan base.  Not only do they believe  in letting suburban punk kids hand out for hours while nursing the same cup of coffee, they're also willing to help out these young bands on tour.  So they started the Denny's Allnighter Program, which "adopts" bands and allows them to eat free at any Denny's they come to while on tour.


In the past, Denny's adopted bands such as Metro Station, Forever the Sickest Kids and Buzznet's favorite homeboys All Time Low.  But now it's time for a new group of bands, and who won the fan voting? 

Anberlin, Heavy Mojo, The Morning Light, Four Year Strong, Socratic and The Cab.

Denny's also recently released their Rockstar Menu, featuring dishes designed by bands like The Eagles of Death Metal, The Plain White-T's, Taking Back Sunday and The All-American Rejects. 

But the question is, are they ever going to allow their adopted bands to create dishes for the menu? What kind of dishes do you think any of the adopted bands would come up with?  What would they taste like?  Does they has a flavor?

Fall Out Boy makes good on their word.  You can't deny that.

After the recent fiasco involving the announcement of Folie a Deux being pushed back, followed quickly by the announcement that that album will in fact release in December of this year, Fall Out Boy fans have been fighting to "stay gold," as the band might put it.  However, the band seems to have moved to apologize for the album date changing already, as another track from Folie a Deux, "What a Catch, Donnie," has released on iTunes. The awesome, it is this way...

So, the 2008 Halloweenies poll for Best Vampire Hunter has gone up.


Look, guys, Edward Cullen is going to win "Best Vampire."  It's inevitable.


So come on, let's make sure Buffy wins Best Vampire Hunter.


She was already voted Entertainment Weekly's Top Butt-Kicking Babe!  And she's taken down vampires, cyborgs, evil politicians, a hellgod and the embodiment of all evil.  That's a resume!

Once again, thanks to CFOBmania for the tip off.  If youre not following their Twitter?  Youre too far behind!

If youre gonna need some new Christmas...or assorted other Winter Holiday...carols this year, dont worry.  Fall Out Boy's Folie a Deux will not only release in 2008, it will release December 16th, just in time for the holidays.


Pete announced this on his blog. "While that late in the year may be a surprise to some, we felt that it was important to get our record out this year for our fans."  Pete, sweetie, to borrow a little from you: we don't care when you release, so long as we get that album. 

But we almost didn't get the album this year.  Apparently marketing statistics showed that holding off until next year was the best idea, until the band collectively said there was no way that was happening.  They want their fans to have the CD before midnight strikes on December 31st, 2008.

So take this chance to share the joy of giving this holiday season.  Give a friend a chance to listen to "I Don't Care" or "Headfirst Slide Into Cooperstown on a Bad Bet" and see what they think.  Join a street team, make a fanvideo with one or both of the songs, request them over and over again on the radio, see if you can perform them at karaoke.  Fall Out Boy is doing what they can to make sure we get this album in 2008, lets do what we can to show the label the demographic research only tells you so much.

So, fate has sort of been encouraging me to declare a Buffy Marathon in the near future.  Meaning I will actually clean my apartment, invite friends over, pop in one of the early seasons, order some pizza or Chinese or something, and enjoy the Slayage.


And the Whedonesque Twitter totally just re-enforced that plan.  They linked to Entertainment Weekly's list of the Top 25 Butt Kicking Babes.  And NATURALLY, Buffy Summers was at number 1.

With the news that Fall Out Boy's Folie a Deux will be postponed, many people are looking for answers.  While the guys explained themselves perfectly in a post on their website, the question is still out there:



Well, the answer to this question, my friends, is in the stars.  So sit down and talk to da NewAge Amazon's Psychic Hotline Blog!  Your first call is free, but it'll be $5 a minute next time!

The answer, my friends, lies in the fact that Mercury went retrograde in Libra on September 24th.  What does this mean?


And look at what's happened since then!

• The announcement of Limp Bizkit's return.
• Gabe Saporta refuses to cancel or delay the Cobra Starship/Forever the Sickest Kids Sassyback Tour after his doctor finds a vocal cyst.
• The music video for "I Don't Care" is released...
• ...but it's the wrong version...
• ...and Pete Wentz is censored when he speaks out about it...
• Someone announces they're going to smoke Kurt Cobain's stolen ashes for an art exhibit
• Paramore puts out a great song for a movie based on some crappy book
• Rick Astley is nominated for the MTVE award for "Best Act Ever" (see the rest of the astrological implications of this fact here!)
  
• Muse and Linkin Park are confirmed for the soundtrack for that movie based on a crappy book (My Chemical Romance THANKFULLY escapes)
• Some psycho actually starts the Church of Hot Addiction.
  

And now Folie a Deux's delay.

But don't worry!  According to the charts, everything should resolve itself by October 31st.  So this may mean we'll have a release date for Folie.  Or a Simpson-Wentz baby.

Why not both?

November 4th is going to be a day that changes American History and Politics no matter what.  Either we'll have the first ever African American President or the first female Vice President in our nation's history.

But we won't have Fall Out Boy's new album. Oh whaaaat? Read more...

I saw All Time Low at an old rollerskating rink.

I mean, I really WISH that could be my whole write-up here 'cause it kind of sums up the awesomeness of last Friday's date on the Compromising Morals, Integrity and Principles for Money Tour.  I'd never been to the venue, Gravity Nightclub in Pittsburgh, and wasn't sure what I was getting into.

More bands need to play this place.  The atmosphere is amazing.  Like I said, it used to be a rollerskating rink but has been refurbished into a nightclub and concert venue.  Which means the acoustics are far superior to Diesel, where I shot Reggie and the Full Effect in September.  PLUS it means they've still got the old snack bar set up, there's a giant disco ball hanging from the ceiling and can we TALK about the carpet?

Okay, okay.  Fine, let's talk about the bands! Since that's what you're all here for!

The show opened with Every Avenue, a band I wasn't familiar with at all.  Which was my loss, because they are amazing live.  Great stage presence and their music is fantastic.  The lead singer has a hell of a voice...oh, and he's easy on the eyes, too.  Unfortunately, my pictures from that set didn't turn out, but my "date" for the evening, Hollow1005, scored a shot of David Ryan Wentz-facing afterward!


Next up was The Maine, who do their soundcheck in beards and wigs.  I don't know why, but I deem this totally awesome.

 
The guys took full advantage of the venue's roller skating facilities.  Oh, and did so in their underwear.  And they were kind enough to take video for us!


Their set was high energy and the crowd was really into it.  Which marks the biggest difference between this show and a few others I've been to: the crowd was aware that they were at a concert and were supposed to be having some FUN.  Like, I went to a Cobra Starship show where nobody danced, but at this show there were people all over the place going crazy and dancing like spazs...without caring who saw them.


After The Maine's set was Mayday Parade.  I can't say I was as into them as I was the other bands.  I just thought their live show was a little off.  They played a ballad about three songs in, just after the crowd's energy was peaking, and musically they were just sloppy enough to throw me off.


But their fans were TOTALLY into it, rocking out and singing along.  And hey, while their live show might not be my thing?  Their fans got MORE than they were asking for.  And in the long run that's what's important!

Y'all know what's coming up now, right?

All Time Low are rock stars, man.  Even if the rest of the world doesn't know it, even if they're still not "big" when compared to other acts?  When these guys get on stage they are rock stars.  Between the high energy on stage performances, the stage banter and the sheer rock and roll, they got the crowd moving, moshing and crowd surfing. 



Of course, they were minus Alex Gaskarth for the night.  Reportedly he's run off, joined a Buddhist Monastery and taken a vow of silence.  ATL is currently being fronted by the man, the myth, the legend: Uri von Blargle.

Listen up, witches.  Sometimes the only thing that curse or hex you're working on is lacking?  Is a soundtrack.


So I've put one together for you.  The idea was a mix that sounded a little weird and ethereal for the most part, but also mixed in some folkier stuff (hedge witches represent!) and closed it out with one of my favorite "witchy" songs ever. 

       


(Before anyone gets offended: I know about real witch craft, I am a practicing witch.  I know Halloween is technically a holy day and I should probably be offended by stereotypical witch costumes and blah blah bliddly blah.  It's all in good fun, and if you can't deal with that?  Stick a broom in it. 

Bored now.)

Pretty much any video game fan knows there is one phrase that will ensure a game is likely going to be utter crap.

"Movie tie-in."

Video games based on movies have a tradition of sucking pretty hardcore.  Since the game tie in for E.T.: The Extra Terrestrial, many games have been released that ask the same question: did the developers even SEE the film?

Actually, the show Code Monkeys dealt with that question pretty well.

Okay, occasionally you'll get a decent movie tie in (I kid you not, Lego Star Wars is amazing.  Game play is fairly simple and it appeals to geeks and nerds of all ages), and at one point a movie tie-in game was voted to be better than the movie it was based on.  I'm speaking of course of the video game tie-in for The Chronicles of Riddick, "Escape from Butcher Bay."  Interestingly enough, a second Riddick game is in the works, while the next Riddick movie is supposedly still in a script writing phase.


However, in an interview with PJ Hruschak of Geek Monthly, Gerard Way has pretty much assured that there will not be a tie-in game when his comic book, The Umbrella Academy, comes to the big screen at some point in the future.


Though, Gerard does comment on what an Umbrella Academy game would look like in his ideal world.

I hope I am not alone in saying that a video game where you drink coffee and then kill zombies would be fucking amazing.  Though a little too close to what I do in real life.

The second installment of The Umbrella Academy releases November 26th, but a special three page preview is available online!  Plus, the limited special edition of The Apocalypse Suite will be available on October 22nd, with plenty of extra goodies!  And be sure to check out the rest of Gerard's interview (including his thoughts on the upcoming Watchmen film that My Chemical Romance is recording a song for!) in an upcoming issue of Geek Monthly!

So, awhile ago we brought you news that My Chemical Romance bassist Mikey Way was following his band's tradition at failing at hiatus.  Way recently had the opportunity to pen a comic for the DC Universe Halloween 2008 issue.  More info...

So, Vice Presidential Nominee Sarah Palin is on the cover of Newsweek.  If you've been following Palin's road to the White House, you'll know it's been bumpy.  Her ability to govern has been called into question, her knowledge of the Federal Government has been poked at and her family has come under the same kind of scruntiny that any candidates has...and has turned up a few skeletons.

But through it all, Sarah Palin has held her head high and maintained that she's a "Maverick."  That she's not a Washington insider, that she's just like your average "Joe Six-pack."  Which is utterly untrue, the woman is hardly middle class, but her speil has pulled people in.  And so, she's on the cover of Newsweek.


And now her publicity team is throwing a massive fit.

Why?  Because the Newsweek cover is unairbrushed.  Because you can see flaws in Sarah's face, because you can see the human imperfection in it.  And this is apparently insulting.

I don't know how Govenor Palin actually feels about this cover, since it's been her publicity team handling everything I've seen.  But the fact is, her people are spinning this HORRIBLY WRONG.  They're saying the cover doesn't make her look pretty, is meant to highlight her flaws.

I'm sorry, isn't this the face of the woman who has basically said she's not going to be "pretty" with the American people?  During the Vice Presidential debate, she looked straight at the camera and said "I may not answer these questions the way you want to hear, or the moderator wants to hear, but I'm going to talk straight to the American people."

So you know what you could have done with this cover?  You could have said THIS is what Sarah Palin wants.  To take off the make-up, to get rid of the flash and the filters of the trail and say "Hey, I'm human.  I'm like everyone else out there.  That's why I deserve this.  This is why you should vote for me."

Instead, her spin team is basically re-enforcing the sort of thing that Amy Poehler said, in jest, during the infamous "I can see Russia from my house!" skit on Saturday Night Live.

And you know what?  You're the people complaining about sexism on the campaign trail.  You know what I find sexist?  Prettying a woman up on a magazine cover because there's a belief people won't vote for an "unattractive" woman.  And before you go into "They airbrush Obama!" keep in mind a few things:

• Jezebel.com has a retrospective of Obama's covers...all of which have unflattering features shown
• Palin and McCain want to claim THEY understand the American people better than Barack Obama.  So coming off as unairbrushed, unfiltered, unfixed?  Would have HELPED their cause.  They could have spun it into "Barack Obama is a pretty face...but we don't feel the need to airbrush ourselves like he does."

I feel like anyone who would vote for or against Sarah Palin based on her looks (or her taste in glasses...I'm looking at you here, MOM) isn't getting the point.  We're supposed to be voting based on the woman's politics, her views on issues and what she can do for our country, not whether she's a MILF or she's got some age lines and wrinkles.

WHICH IS WHY I WILL NOT BE VOTING FOR THE WOMAN.

Sarah Palin, in another universe I would be all about you as the first female Vice President.  You are a woman who has balanced a career and a family, someone who hunts, fishes, governs and mothers.  In another universe, I could have felt like you saying things like "I'm going to talk straight to the American people" gave you more cajones than many of your male counterparts.

It's just a shame your politics are anti-woman, you don't believe in evolution, you don't seem to understand we're in the middle of an economic crisis and that your debate tactics boil down to this:

When it was announced that there would not be a follow-up to the cinematic DISASTER that was X-Men: The Last Stand, some fans, like me, lost hope that we would ever see some of our favorite X-characters brought to the big screen.  The first three films kind of missed a number of big name team members and villains who might have been able to show up in another film.  If the people making X3 hadn't decided that rather than make a good movie they wanted to make a movie bad enough that they could try to save it with bad internet memes.

However, with the announcement of Wolverine: Origins, it seemed that we'd at least be getting more of Hugh Jackman as the amnesiac Candadian with a healing factor and a nasty set of claws.  What we DIDN'T expect was that this movie was going to take steps to apologize for X3.

The film will bring in a few fan-favorite Marvel characters.  One of these is Deadpool, the Merc with a Mouth, being played by Ryan Reynolds.  Which, if you've seen him in Blade Trinity as Hannibal King?  You realize that yeah, he can probably pull this part off.


But then the big news came out: Gambit will finally make his big screen debut in the franchise, portrayed by Friday Night Lights star Taylor Kitsch.

(Please note: Continuing to read this article after this disclaimer acknowledges that you have a sense of humor about faith and religion and will not get offended at some jabs that could be taken as sacrilegious.  If comments indicating otherwise are posted, they can and probably will be deleted.  It's all in good fun, folks.)

So, apparently you can found a religion based on anything.  And not just popular things like Zombie Jewish Carpenters or meditating reincarnated princes or a bet that you could start a church to make a profit. There is a Church of Elvis.  There's The Order of the Beak.  And of course, Peter Griffin founded the Church of the Fonz.

And now people are apparently trying to start a religion based on THOSE books.  I dare not speak their names.  But if you read my blog enough, you KNOW which ones I'm talking about.

You know what this calls for?  The OFFICIAL founding of The Church of Hot Addiction.  Because if you can try to found a religion based on bad supernatural romance novels?  I'm sure as HELL able to found one based on Gabe Saporta's peyote-induced hallucinations.

William Beckett isn't just the lyricist for The Academy Is....  I mean, being the lyricist for a band with such a devoted fan following is already pretty impressive.  But Beckett doesn't stop his writing there.  He's also a poet and a fiction author (there was talk at one point about him possibly co-authoring a book with Pete Wentz) and recently has taken to blogging.  Ooooh, more...

Odds are, Paris Hilton wouldn't normally have involved herself in the current political situation.  After all, she's Paris Hilton and she's got other things to do, like shopping and picking out her new BFF.  But after John McCain's camp ran an ad negatively comparing opponent Barack Obama to Hilton in an attempt to mock Obama's supposed "celebrity status," Hilton and her family were outraged...especially considering the $4,600 they'd donated to McCain's campaign earlier this year!  Oh no he di-int...

As the election draws near, I've pretty much given up the pretense of being nonpartisan.  Except when it comes to registering to vote.  I'd like to see the 18 to 35 year old age group have significant representation in this presidential election, regardless of who wins.

But come on, you all know who I'm voting for, right?