G.I. Joe: Rise of Cobra - First Look at Cobra Commander

This post may mark the beginning of the end of The Blot’s love affair with G.I. Joe: Rise of Cobra. Let me preface things by stating this post does not include any actual photos of Joseph Gordon-Levitt as Cobra Commander. Instead, The Blot is posting the next best thing, the first leaked photos of an official movie tie-in Cobra Commander action figure. How Hasbro let these photos get out is beyond me!


Since the character’s look in the upcoming live action G.I. Joe movie is still in lockdown, this is really all we have to go by. And sadly, I am thoroughly disappointed! While I have loved everything I have seen about this movie to date, this bizarre alien looking Cobra Commander wannabe looks horrible. This is not the Cobra Commander I grew up, and after seeing this I’m now extremely worried about what Destro’s mask will look like in the film. Hopefully Hasbro and Paramount will give us an official look at the live action Cobra Commander soon.


G.I. Joe: Rise of Cobra debuts in theaters August 7, 2009.

Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant Win The 2009 NBA All Star Game MVP Award

Never in a million years did The Blot expect the 2009 NBA All Star Game to end the way it did last night. I was particularly excited for this year’s exhibition game because it would be the first time Shaq and Kobe have played together on the same team since O’Neal’s departure from the LA Lakers almost five years ago.


As many of you know Shaq is my all time favorite player and the Lakers are my all time favorite team, so it was pretty awesome for The Blot to watch Shaq and Kobe playing happily together under the tutelage of Lakers head coach Phil Jackson again, if only for one night. I honestly didn’t expect Shaq to play significant minutes in what could be his final All Star Game appearance, but when he came out during player introductions and did that sick dance with The Jabbawockeez, a hip-hop dance group, I knew he had one last great performance in him. And boy did he!


After the West went down 20-10 early in the game, Shaq and Kobe helped spark their team to a 19-0 run, which unknowingly put the West up for the remainder of the night. O’Neal finished the game with more points (17) than minutes played (11) and put on an amazing show that was capped with a pass between Dwight Howards legs to Chris Paul, who then passed the ball back to a cutting Shaq who finished the play with an emphatic dunk. Shaq’s output was also a new All Star Game record for most points scored in under 15 minutes of play. Kobe on the other hand finished with a game high 27 points to lead the Western Conference All Stars in a commanding victory over the Eastern Conference 146-119.

What’s really amazing about last night was how friendly Kobe and Shaq were to each other before and during the game. Shaq even went so far as to call Bryant the hands down best player in the league. Shaq seems to be making a concerted effort to finally let go of the animosity between he and Bryant, and is making some really crazy overtones about a possible return to the Lakers to finish out his career once his contract with the Phoenix Suns expires. This is music to The Blot’s ears, but whether or not Lakers owner Jerry Buss or Bryant would ever let this happen is another question entirely.


As co-MVPs, Kobe and Shaq have now each won the award three times. This ties them with Michael Jordan and Oscar Robertson for the second most All Star MVP Awards received behind Bob Pettit’s four.

My Chemical Romance Watchmen Music Video and Picture Disc Vinyl Record

While The Blot is not really a fan of My Chemical Romance, I think it’s pretty cool that as fans of the Watchmen graphic novel the band was able to do these tie-ins with the upcoming live action movie. Not only have they recorded a cover of Bob Dylan’s “Desolation Row” to be used in the film, they shot an awesome Watchmen inspired video for the movie and are releasing the single on an official Watchmen Picture Disc vinyl record.


You really don’t see bands get this involved with a movie anymore (unless of course they are creating the film’s entire score/soundtrack), so these tie-ins are an unexpected treat. The “Desolation Row” music video was actually directed by Watchmen director Zach Snyder, and I think he and My Chemical Romance did a great job with it. Check out the song and the music video below!

The My Chemical Romance “Desolation Row” Music Video


The Watchmen 12” Picture Disc, which features the Watchmen Smiley Face logo on one side and the Rorschach City Scene on the other, has two songs on it. Side A is My Chemical Romance’s “Desolation Row” while Side B is “Prison Fight” by Tyler Bates from the Watchmen Original Motion Picture Score. The record can be purchased here directly from the My Chemical Romance online store for the sale price of $11.99.

Watchmen debuts in theaters on March 6, 2009.

Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations - Philippines

This week’s episode is very cool because it features No Reservations fan Augusto, a runner up from last season’s Fan-atic Special, as one of Tony’s hosts through the Philippines. Even though Augusto wasn't picked for the Fan-atic Special, he made quite an impression on Tony, and in turn, is treated to a reunion with his family and “the best pig…ever” at a spectacularly large cookout.

A video preview of Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations - Philippines


During Bourdain’s trip to the Philippines he delves deep into what it means to be Filipino by exploring their history and the many prominent cultures of the nation’s many islands. While it would be impossible for Tony to visit all 7,107 islands that make up the Philippines, he does a great job of experiencing a huge cross section of the country’s varied and unique food culture. In this episode Bourdain travels to Manila, Pampanga, and Cebu, visits a Filipino dampa and dines on some incredible food including adobo shrimp, sisig, crab, goat heads soup, ox tail and lechon (a.k.a a suckling pig).

Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations airs every Monday at 10/9c on the Travel Channel.

Joss Whedon's Dollhouse Premieres Tonight On FOX

After months of anticipation, Joss Whedon’s Dollhouse will finally premiere tonight on FOX at 9/8c. Whedon has become one of the unofficial kings of pop culture and amassed a serious cult following after creating some truly great stories on television, the internet and in comic books (Buffy, Angel, Firefly, Dr. Horrible, Astonishing X-Men). Don’t get me wrong, the guy is a genius and I love his work, but for some reason his shows aren’t always as successful as they should be.


Take Dollhouse for instance. Besides being given the timeslot of death (Friday nights at 8!?!), there were rumors of rewrites, reshoots and recasting from the very start. Plus, no matter how FOX and the show’s producers want to spin it, a network never airs a show on Friday nights if it sees a potential hit. Friday nights is where shows go to die. On the positive side, FOX has invested a ton of time and money into this new series and I don’t think anyone wants to see Dollhouse fail.


Even after all those negatives I am still excited to watch tonight’s series premiere! Besides being written by the great Joss Whedon, it also stars some of The Blot’s favorite actors: Eliza Dushku (Buffy, Tru Calling) and Tahmoh Penikett (Battlestar Galactica). The show’s plot sounds a little convoluted, so make sure you read Dollhouse’s official show overview here or at the very least read this short excerpt about the show's storyline:

Dushku’s character Echo is an "Active," a member of a highly illegal and underground group of individuals who have had their personalities wiped clean so they can be imprinted with any number of new personas. Hired by the wealthy, powerful and connected, the Actives don't just perform their hired roles, they wholly become -- with mind, personality and physiology -- whomever the client wants or needs them to be. Whether imprinted to be a lover, an assassin, a corporate negotiator or a best friend, the Actives know no other life than the specific engagements they are in at that time.

For more background information on Dollhouse click here.

Star Wars Mighty Muggs Internet Exclusive Wave Photos

While it’s not quite February 25th, it looks like Hasbro has prematurely unveiled what four characters will be included in its upcoming Star Wars Mighty Muggs Internet Exclusive Wave by releasing official photos of the figures. Sadly it’s been the worst kept secret since we’ve already seen leaked photos of three of the four figures and the fourth figure had been rumored for some time. Regardless, it’s a very cool set that includes Luke Skywalker in Hoth Gear, Episode IV Obi-Wan Kenobi, a Gamorrean Guard and a Biker Scout Trooper.



The Blot still can’t figure out how Episode IV Ben Kenobi can be considered a never before seen Mighty Muggs character since he was a part of Wave 2, but I’ll let it slide. I guess it’s partially true since Sir Alec Guinness has never been recreated in Mighty Mugg form.



What has me the most excited about this Wave is the Gamorrean Guard Mighty Mugg. His horns are a new feature on the classic Mighty Muggs platform and should be a great new accessory for customizers to play with. I expect some killer devil Mighty Muggs to hit the web as soon as these Muggs are released.

No official release date is known for this Wave yet. Keep checking back for more details!

Watchmen IMAX One Sheet Movie Poster

This news made The Blot laugh. After previously announcing the last Watchmen promo movie poster the film’s final one sheet, Warner Bros. goes and releases another new poster! I guess Warner Bros. just couldn’t help themselves anymore after already releasing somewhere around 20 promotional posters for Watchmen’s March release.


This poster is specifically for Watchmen’s release in IMAX theaters. I always assumed Watchmen would be released in IMAX, but it’s good to see we finally have confirmation of this. I can not wait to see this movie’s crazy special effects in hi-def on a giant IMAX screen! My only problem with this poster is that it’s just a little too much. I love these characters and all, but do we really need such an up close and personal shot of the film’s cast?

Watchmen debuts in theaters in just over three weeks on March 6, 2009.

Obey Giant - Red Japanese Fabric Pattern Print Set by Shepard Fairey

As you may or may not have heard, Mr. Fairey was recently arrested for “an old graffiti charge from 2000 as the artist was on his way to the Institute of Contemporary Art in South Boston” for the opening night of his newest exhibit, Supply and Demand. (link) Fairey was released later that evening, and thankfully everything seems back to normal already. He’s even found time to produce a new OBEY Giant print! On Friday, February 13, 2009 OBEY will be releasing an all new red Japanese Fabric Pattern four print set.


I think Fairey’s pattern print sets are always really stunning and well crafted, and this latest release is no exception. The Japanese Fabric Pattern Set (Red) is limited to a production run of just 100 sets and includes all four prints seen here (each print measures 18” x 18”). Each set of four prints will be $120 and sold on the OBEY Giant website. While the exact time this print set will go on sale is a mystery, for those persistent few Friday will be a very exciting day.

The Blot’s Jigsaw Mighty Mugg Giveaway

The Blot is extremely excited for my very first giveaway. Starting today, The Blot is giving away one of the rarest and hardest to find Mighty Muggs around, a Toys R Us exclusive Marvel Legends Jigsaw Mighty Mugg! To enter the drawing all you have to do is leave a comment in this very blog post. I like to think of this as a thank you to all the loyal The Blot Says… readers out there!


And please spread the word about this contest to any other Mighty Muggs fans out there who aren’t yet reading The Blot Says… We can always use more Mighty Muggs enthusiasts reading and commenting here! For those of you not into Mighty Muggs don’t worry, The Blot’s already lined up another giveaway for next month.

Make sure you include your email address in your comment so I have a way to contact you if you win. I’ll be taking entries for the next two weeks ending on February 25th. After that I’ll put all the names in a hat and pick out a winner. Please, only one entry per person. Sorry to all our overseas readers, but this contest is only open to residents of the US and Canada.

Lost - The Little Prince

The Blot hates to admit this, but the reason it’s taken me this long to blog about last week’s episode of Lost is because I was really underwhelmed by its pacing. The more I find out about the story of the Oceanic 6 the less I care. While I didn’t know from the start that it was Ben who was behind the custody battle over Aaron, did it really come as a surprise? Ben manipulates, that’s what he does. How else could he convince Kate that both she and Aaron needed to return to the island? If anything, that big reveal was just annoying.

The second big reveal from last week’s episode was that Jin is alive! I’m so glad they didn’t drag this little tidbit out because it was quite possibly the worst kept secret in the history of Lost. The fact of the matter is not only was Daniel Dae Kim still appearing in Lost advertisements, he was included in the Season 5 cast photo and in the opening credits. Typically when a character is killed off of a show that actor is no longer a part of the cast and they don’t use them in promos for the upcoming season. The perfect example of this is Emilie de Ravin.

De Ravin’s character Claire hasn’t even been killed off, but once the show's producers determined she would not be appearing in Season 5 (don’t worry she’ll be back for all of Season 6), they removed her from the opening credits, she did not appear in the Season 5 cast photo and they definitely haven't used her in Lost's television ads anymore. I know I might be over thinking this, but Lost challenges its audience to think. So why then does ABC and its marketing department continue to think we’re stupid by giving away such important details like the fact that Jin is still a part of the show?

The most exciting reveal had to be the return of Danielle Rousseau. She may not be back from the grave, but this is definitely the next best thing! I had read we would be finding out more about Rousseau and her fellow castaways sometime in the next two seasons and it’s great to know that time is finally here. Rousseau has been around since the beginning of the show and yet is still a complete mystery to both the Losties and us Lost fans. I’m interested in finding out if the sickness that afflicted her friends is the same sickness that is now killing Charlotte and Miles, and most of all I can’t wait to see how Ben ultimately steals Alex away from Danielle.

Other than these three big reveals, I don’t think much happened on the island or off. It has been brought to my attention that we might know more about Ms. Hawking that I first realized. **SPOILER** It turns out that the possible mother to Daniel Faraday has the same first name, Eloise, as the young female Other who led Daniel by gun point to the hydrogen bomb. Her first name was mentioned in the enhanced version of “The Lie.” What a crazy twist that turned out to be!?!? I’m excited to find out what impact this revelation will have on the outcome of the show, as well as what part Jughead the hydrogen bomb will play. I guess we'll all find out more come Thursday night!