Michael J. Fox In Talks To Return To Television

The Blot’s favorite actor of all time, hands down, is the 80’s icon Michael J. Fox (Family Ties, Teen Wolf, Back to the Future). So this latest exclusive from the king of scoops Michael Ausiello, recently relocated to EW.com and Entertainment Weekly, has me really excited.


According to Ausiello, “Michael J. Fox is nearing a deal to join the cast of Rescue Me for a multi-episode arc. He’ll play a love interest for Denis Leary’s on-screen ex, Janet.” (link) Evidently Fox and Rescue Me’s star Leary are longtime friends, so hopefully that will ensure Fox and the show come to some sort of agreement soon.


This will be Fox’s first time back on prime time television since his guest starring role on Boston Legal for a multi-episode arc back in 2006. It’s hard to get too excited though since new episodes of Rescue Me are not slated to begin airing on FX until early 2009. Nevertheless, I’m pretty pumped about this news because MJF sightings are becoming rarer and rarer ever since his diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease and his subsequent departure from his hit 90’s comedy Spin City.

Burn Notice Returns Thursday July 10th

I’ve been waiting all summer for tomorrow because it marks the start of Burn Notice's second season. I know I seem to be talking about this new show a little too much, but if you’ve caught up on Burn Notice Season 1 then you can definitely understand why! What surprises me is that USA’s breakout hit is not garnering more attention. Part of the problem is all of the craze surrounding AMC’s Mad Men, a show that aired in the same time slot as Burn Notice last summer.


From all of the media coverage, magazine covers and general hype surrounding Mad Men, you’d think it would have easily won its time slot against Burn Notice and have been the highest rated new show of last summer. I bet it would surprise most television fans to learn how far from the truth that is.

In fact, last summer’s battle between two great freshman cable dramas was overwhelmingly won by Burn Notice. While “Burn Notice never received the media blandishments of its time-period competitor, it beat the Madison Avenue drama every week in the ratings, averaging 2.9 million viewers a week to Mad Men's 900,000.” (link) And yet even with considerably higher ratings, all I ever read about is how great Mad Men is and how it's the show of the summer. Let me tell all the critics out there something, if there's one show of the summer debuting this month it's the spy fueled drama based in sunny, sand filled Miami. Besides, if you can't make it to the beach this summer then you can at least watch people living by the beach with Burn Notice. Plus, Burn Notice now stars Battlestar Galactica's Tricia Helfer, try to beat that Mad Men!

On a side note, it appears AMC has already admitted defeat because there won't be a second head to head showdown between these two hour long dramas this summer. AMC has called uncle and decided to air Mad Men’s sophomore season on Sunday nights. I think it's safe to say round two goes to the cast and crew of Burn Notice. Anyway, if you still haven’t watched Burn Notice Season 1 don’t worry, I’m sure tomorrow night’s season premiere will do a fine job catching you up to speed on all of the adventures of Michael Weston and Co. from the previous season. So now you really have no excuse not to tune in to the USA Network on Thursday, July 10th at 10/9C for Burn Notice’s Season 2 premiere and enjoy a little sun, surf and espionage.

Paul Pope's SDCC Exclusive The Masked Karimbah Vinyl Figure Set by Kidrobot

Busting out of the pages of Paul Pope’s THB comic book comes Kidrobot’s San Diego Comic Con 2008 exclusive Masked Karimbah, a 2 piece vinyl toy set. This amazingly detailed vinyl figure is “cast in Pope’s signature manga-meets-fine-art style” and includes two vinyl figures, an original 16 page comic and a secret vinyl throw in. (link) I’m hoping it’s not the Masked Karimbah’s signature fork, which I know he comes with.


Pope has described The Masked Karimbah as a cross between a Care Bear and a pro wrestler and his mighty steed Busyphillys as a magenta dog the size of a little Boston Terrier. These ridiculously detailed vinyl figures really bring Pope’s unique comic book characters to life and makes me a little bummed I’ll be missing out on all the fun at this year’s SDCC.


There are only 300 sets available, and each box set is $150. You can purchase these highly collectible designer vinyl toys at Kidrobot’s San Diego Comic Con booth #4529. As an added incentive, Kidrobot will be having an exclusive Paul Pole signing at their booth on July 26th from 1-4pm. This is Pole’s only appearance at SDCC 2008 so if you want to get any sketches or autographs on your vinyl figure set or THB comics make plans to stop by booth #4529 on the 26th.