The Banned and the Unbanned: A Tale of Two Ads

April 17th, 2009 by david lay

Television commercials work, that’s why they are still around - and why advertisers are still paying top dollar for 30 second slots of television time during popular programs, sporting events and news broadcasts. Even now, during the age of TiVo and the DVR, television commercials still manage to make an impact. If the medium was obsolete, there wouldn’t likely be so much uproar over “offensive” TV ads.

When I heard a news teaser yesterday about a new Burger King ad being pulled off the air for being “offensive” I knew exactly which one it was. I had seen it several times, and thought it was mildly funny, but I knew that it wouldn’t be long before some people would be up in arms about it.

Oh, I get it. SpongeBob SQUARE pants! And as a product of the MTV generation, I know that song well. But I figured that many parents would think it inappropriate, as the ad is for a Kid’s Meal.

But guess what? That’s not the ad in question at all - apparently no one has a problem with using booty shaking and an extremely sexual song to promote a product geared towards children.

Nope, the ad that has been banned by Burger King is this one, for BK’s Texican Whopper:

My first thought was that it is “offensive” to professional wrestlers, but apparently that’s not it. According to the Houston Chronicle, the ad is “offensive” in “half a dozen ways”, including the argument that the cape worn by the luchador looks too much like the Mexican national flag, and that the pool scene looked as if it were implying that the Mexican character was swimming across the Rio Grande.

I’m speechless. Maybe I’m insensitive, but I watched that ad five times, and never made either of those connections.

While neither of these BK ads really offends me, it’s the first one that I would have suspected of drawing the fire… But what the heck do I know?


Posted in Television, Yada Yada | 2 Comments

Apatow’s ‘Funny People’ - Plus Oscar Bonus

February 25th, 2009 by david lay

Judd Apatow has made a living by creating hilarious and quirky comedies using unique and undiscovered talents (Seth Rogan, Jonah Hill, Jason Segal, James Franco) to make likewise hilarious and quirky films that mix a unique blend of immature comedy and often heartwarming romance - of the quirkiest kind.

I don’t know much about his new film, Funny People but the new trailer was recently introduced and it looks promising. Adam Sandler joins Seth, Jonah and the Apatow gang for what looks to be not only funny, but also a little tragic.

Check out the trailer for Judd Apatow’s Funny People:

…and now your blog bonus feature, the Apatow directed Oscars spot featuring a montage of some of the best and worst comedies of 2008


Posted in Yada Yada, Events, Movies | Comments Off

81st Oscar Winners

February 23rd, 2009 by david lay

Here are the winners from last night’s 81st Annual Academy Awards ceremonies.

Best Picture: Slumdog Millionaire
Best Director: Danny Boyle, Slumdog Millionaire
Best Actor: Sean Penn, Milk
Best Actress: Kate Winslet, The Reader
Best Supporting Actor: Heath Ledger, The Dark Knight
Best Supporting Actress: Penelope Cruz, Vicky Cristina Barcelona
Best Adapted Screenplay: Slumdog Millionaire
Best Original Screenplay: Milk
Best Art Direction: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Best Cinematography: Slumdog Millionaire
Best Costume Design: The Duchess
Best Film Editing: Slumdog Millionaire
Best Makeup: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Best Music (Original Score): Slumdog Millionaire
Best Music (Original Song): Jai Ho from Slumdog Millionaire
Best Sound Editing: The Dark Knight
Best Sound Mixing: Slumdog Millionaire
Best Visual Effects: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Best Animated Feature Film: WALL-E
Best Foreign Language Film: Departures
Best Documentary Feature: Man on Wire
Best Documentary Short: Smile Pinki
Best Short Film (Animated): La Maison en Petits Cubes
Best Short Film (Live Action): Toyland

Tally:

Slumdog Millionaire — 8
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button — 3
The Dark Knight, Milk — 2
Departures, The Duchess, Man on Wire, The Reader, Vicky Cristina Barcelona, WALL-E — 1


Posted in Events, Movies | No Comments

Great Oscar Moments

February 20th, 2009 by david lay

The Oscars are only a couple of days away, and since this is the least hyped Academy Awards season EVER, I thought I’d share some memorable Oscar Moments of days gone by.

Obviously some of these are before my time, but they are all poignant and have molded the Academy Awards show into what it is today:

Roberto Benigni Goes Nuts

Sally Field - “You Really Like Me”

So, the Academy is ridiculous, so the rest of these aren’t embedding properly, but if you double click you can watch them at the YouTube Page.

Jack Palance Finally Wins After 40+ Years in Hollywood

Scorsese’s LONG Overdue Directing Oscar

Princess Little Feather Accepts for Marlon Brando

Charlie Chaplin Gets a Long-Deserved Oscar


Posted in Tribute, Television, Yada Yada, Movies | No Comments

I Miss Arrested Development

February 18th, 2009 by david lay

Dear Arrested Development,

I miss you. Please begin filming Arrested Development: The Movie soon.

The End.




Posted in Tribute, Television, Yada Yada, Movies | No Comments

Tranformers Full Length (bootleg) Trailer

February 13th, 2009 by david lay

So tonight, with the release of the mediocre-ly anticipated remake of Friday the 13th, comes the first look at the full-length Transformers:Revenge of the Fallen trailer. While no “official” copies are on the internet yet I knew a bootleg would surface on YouTube eventually… and here it is:

I don’t expect it will be up long before it is forcebly taken down, but for now you can catch a glimpse without having to…er getting to watch Jason kill folks at Camp Crystal Lake.


Posted in Movies | 1 Comment

Dig Dug: Rise of the Pookas Trailer

February 2nd, 2009 by david lay

It’s no secret that movies based on video games rarely do well. Remember the Mortal Kombat movie, or Hitman? What about Street Fighter? They even made a game based on the Super Mario Brothers - and it has been one of the most successful game franchises in history… Still nada.

But hold to your helmet! This summer, from the creators of Oregon Trail and Tetris: The Movie, comes DIG DUG: Rise of the Pookas.

Tickets go on sale in March at all Game Stop and Play N Trade locations. Dig it!


Posted in Yada Yada, Movies | 2 Comments

Attention Rent-heads

January 30th, 2009 by david lay

You may or may not know that Rent: The Broadway Musical closed its curtains for the last time in November. In commemoration of the show’s 12-plus years on Broadway, the final show was recorded and available in theaters across America this past fall.

Many wondered if a Rent: Filmed Live On Broadway DVD would follow, and today I found out that it not only will, but that it will be released across the country on Tuesday, February 3rd. Grab your copy and hold on to the Rent legacy forever.

No day but today.


Posted in Tribute, Yada Yada, Events, Movies, Music | No Comments

New Fanboys Trailer

January 30th, 2009 by david lay

I have heard about Fanboys for a couple of years now through various blogs, etc. But I was wondering if it was ever going to happen.

Today I saw this new preview for the geekiest movie of the year. Definitely could be funny!

Fanboys hits the theaters this summer and stars Princes Leia, Lando Calrissian, Darth Maul, Shooter McGavin, Those warehouse guys from The Office, The Guy from Tropic Thunder, Jay, The Guy from Die Hard 4, The Hot Chick from Sin City, and Captain James T. Kirk.

Kristen Bell, Seth Rogan, Jay Baruchel, and Will Forte also appear. Check it out:


Posted in Yada Yada, Movies | 1 Comment

Three Guitars and a Tractor

January 29th, 2009 by david lay

This is awesome, so I thought I’d share. You can catch Three Guitars and a Tractor at a Cracker Barrel near you.


Posted in Yada Yada, Music | No Comments

Rourke to Fight for Realsies?

January 28th, 2009 by david lay

I loved Mickey Rourke in The Wrestler, and I was a big fan of the WWE and WCW when I was a kid, and the movie brought back a lot of memories. I particularly remember some of the novelty matches when non-wrestlers would have ‘arguments’ with some of the stars and become part of the action at the next pay-per-view event. Dennis Rodman, Karl Malone, Jay Leno and Lawrence Taylor were a few that I remember specifically.

Now it looks as if Randy ‘The Ram’ may be the next to enter the pay per view world as Mickey Rourke seems to be taking his personae into the WWE. Rumors have persisted for the last few weeks that the WWE may be looking to capitalize on Rourke’s success by bringing his character into the storylines leading up to WrestleMania - certainly The Wrestler would naturally share a huge fanbase with the WWE and vice versa.

On Larry King Live last night one of the WWE Superstars, Chris Jericho, “called out” Rourke, further implying that a match may be imminent.

I am all about viral advertising and I know how rabid WWE fans can be, so I think this could be a huge partnership for the WWE as well The Wrestler, which I consider to be solidly in the top three films of the year.


Posted in Television, Sports, Events, Movies | 1 Comment

Screen Actors Guild Award Winners - 2009

January 27th, 2009 by david lay

The SAG awards were held last night in Hollywood. I like the SAGs because they offer the actors to adjudicate their peers for their work in both film and television. No awards for writing or directing - only for acting performances.

Here are the nominees and winners (in bold) from last night:

Awards for Outstanding Performances in Primetime Television

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries

  • LAURA DERN as Katherine Harris - “RECOUNT” (HBO)
  • LAURA LINNEY as Abigail Adams - “JOHN ADAMS” (HBO)
  • SHIRLEY MacLAINE as Coco Chanel - “COCO CHANEL” (Lifetime)
  • PHYLICIA RASHAD as Lena Younger - “A RAISIN IN THE SUN” (ABC)
  • SUSAN SARANDON as Doris Duke - “BERNARD AND DORIS” (HBO)

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries

  • RALPH FIENNES as Bernard Lafferty - “BERNARD AND DORIS” (HBO)
  • PAUL GIAMATTI as John Adams - “JOHN ADAMS” (HBO)
  • KEVIN SPACEY as Ron Klain - “RECOUNT” (HBO)
  • KIEFER SUTHERLAND as Jack Bauer - “24: REDEMPTION” (FOX)
  • TOM WILKINSON as Benjamin Franklin - “JOHN ADAMS” (HBO)

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series

  • SALLY FIELD as Nora Walker - “BROTHERS & SISTERS” (ABC)
  • MARISKA HARGITAY as Det. Olivia Benson - “LAW & ORDER: SPECIAL VICTIMS UNIT” (NBC)
  • HOLLY HUNTER as Grace Hanadarko - “SAVING GRACE” (TNT)
  • ELISABETH MOSS as Peggy Olson - “MAD MEN” (AMC)
  • KYRA SEDGWICK as Dep. Chief Brenda Johnson - “THE CLOSER” (TNT)

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series

  • MICHAEL C. HALL as Dexter Morgan - “DEXTER” (Showtime)
  • JON HAMM as Don Draper - “MAD MEN” (AMC)
  • HUGH LAURIE as Gregory House - “HOUSE” (FOX)
  • WILLIAM SHATNER as Denny Crane - “BOSTON LEGAL” (ABC)
  • JAMES SPADER as Alan Shore - “BOSTON LEGAL” (ABC)

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series

  • CHRISTINA APPLEGATE as Samantha Newly - “SAMANTHA WHO?” (ABC)
  • AMERICA FERRERA as Betty Suarez - “UGLY BETTY” (ABC)
  • TINA FEY as Liz Lemon - “30 ROCK” (NBC)
  • MARY-LOUISE PARKER as Nancy Botwin - “WEEDS” (Showtime)
  • TRACEY ULLMAN as Various Characters - “TRACEY ULLMAN’S STATE OF THE UNION” (Showtime)

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Comedy Series

  • ALEC BALDWIN as Jack Donaghy - “30 ROCK” (NBC)
  • STEVE CARELL as Michael Scott - “THE OFFICE” (NBC)
  • DAVID DUCHOVNY as Hank Moody - “CALIFORNICATION” (Showtime)
  • JEREMY PIVEN as Ari Gold - “ENTOURAGE” (HBO)
  • TONY SHALHOUB as Adrian Monk - “MONK” (USA)

Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series

  • BOSTON LEGAL (ABC)
  • THE CLOSER (TNT)
  • DEXTER (Showtime)
  • HOUSE (Fox)
  • MAD MEN (AMC)

Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series

  • 30 ROCK (NBC)
  • DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES (ABC)
  • ENTOURAGE (HBO)
  • THE OFFICE (NBC)
  • WEEDS (Showtime)

Awards for Outstanding Performances in Film

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role

  • AMY ADAMS as Sister James - “DOUBT” (Miramax Films)
  • PENÉLOPE CRUZ as Maria Elena - “VICKY CRISTINA BARCELONA” (The Weinstein Company)
  • VIOLA DAVIS as Mrs. Miller - “DOUBT” (Miramax Films)
  • TARAJI P. HENSON as Queenie - “THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON” (Paramount Pictures)
  • KATE WINSLET as Hanna Schmitz - “THE READER” (The Weinstein Company)

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role

  • JOSH BROLIN as Dan White - “MILK” (Focus Features)
  • ROBERT DOWNEY, JR. as Kirk Lazarus - “TROPIC THUNDER” (Paramount Pictures)
  • PHILIP SEYMOUR HOFFMAN as Father Brendan Flynn - “DOUBT” (Miramax Films)
  • HEATH LEDGER as Joker - “THE DARK KNIGHT” (Warner Bros. Pictures)
  • DEV PATEL as Older Jamal - “SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE” (Fox Searchlight Pictures)

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role

  • ANNE HATHAWAY as Kym - “RACHEL GETTING MARRIED” (Sony Pictures Classics)
  • ANGELINA JOLIE as Christine Collins - “CHANGELING” (Universal Pictures)
  • MELISSA LEO as Ray Eddy - “FROZEN RIVER” (Sony Pictures Classics)
  • MERYL STREEP as Sister Aloysius Beauvier - “DOUBT” (Miramax Films)
  • KATE WINSLET as April Wheeler - “REVOLUTIONARY ROAD” (Paramount Vantage)

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role

  • RICHARD JENKINS as Walter Vale - “THE VISITOR” (Overture Films)
  • FRANK LANGELLA as Richard Nixon - “FROST/NIXON” (Universal Pictures)
  • SEAN PENN as Harvey Milk - “MILK” (Focus Features)
  • BRAD PITT as Benjamin Button - “THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON” (Paramount Pictures)
  • MICKEY ROURKE as Randy - “THE WRESTLER” (Fox Searchlight Pictures)

Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture

  • THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON (Paramount Pictures)
  • DOUBT (Miramax)
  • FROST/NIXON (Universal Pictures)
  • MILK (Focus Features)
  • SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE (Fox Searchlight Pictures)


Posted in Television, Events, Movies | No Comments

Dr. Manhattan News Report from 1970

January 27th, 2009 by david lay

Watchmen fans are gonna love this.

Check out this new viral marketing campaign for Watchmen in the form of a news reel from March 11, 1970.

I don’t know very much about Watchmen yet, but this is pretty clever and definitely piqued my interest in the movie and the Dr. Manhattan character.


Posted in Tribute, Movies, Politics | 1 Comment

The Dark Knight: Overlooked or Overrated?

January 23rd, 2009 by david lay

With the Oscar nominees being announced yesterday, we seem to have ushered in one of the most controversial Oscar seasons in recent history. The internet has been bombarded with “Are you *bleeping kidding me’s” and “Those guys are gonna pay’s” from well-meaning Batman fans who feel that their FAVORITE movie of the year should be considered by the Academy as the BEST movie of the year.The Joker Will Win an Oscar

I absolutely loved The Dark Knight, and I am extremely impressed that it is now the second highest-grossing film of all time. However I still think that it is overrated. Keep in mind that something can be overrated and still be extremely good. But based on the incredible, ridiculous amount of hype that The Dark Knight garnered, I don’t think there is any way it could have possibly lived up. I can’t help but wonder how the film would have made out if Heath Ledger had not died.

Additionally, only one of this year’s nominated films has had a wide release prior to the Oscar deadline and that one (The Curious Case of Benjamin Button) has only been released for a month. I think if more people had a chance to see the other nominated films they wouldn’t be as quick to chastise the Academy for leaving out their favorite. There really are some great films out there this year (I personally would have loved to see Gran Torino and The Wrestler get more love) and The Dark Knight is certainly one of them - but certainly not the only one.
By the way: Slumdog Millionaire, The Reader, and Frost/Nixon all open nation-wide today.

History will be - as it always is - the judge of where The Dark Knight fits into the 2008 film hierarchy, and even more so, where it fits into the annals of film history. The good news is: the film will live on as an Oscar winner as Heath Ledger is a sure thing to win Best Supporting Actor - it won’t even be close!


Posted in Tribute, Events, Movies | No Comments

Thundercats Fan-made Trailer

January 23rd, 2009 by david lay

You may have heard by now that a live-action Thundercats movie is in the works. It currently is set to be released in the summer of 2010.

While no trailers have been released yet, someone did send me a fan made trailer that might give us an idea of what we might be in for. Check it out and see if you can figure out who all of the actors are and which movies they used to create the trailer.

Thundercats Movie Trailer. (fanmade) @ Yahoo! Video


Posted in Movies | 3 Comments

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