In the Peanut Gallery with Mystery Science Theater 3000: Essays on Film, Fandom, Technology and the Culture of Riffing

In the Peanut Gallery with Mystery Science Theater 3000

from McFarland:

In the Peanut Gallery with Mystery Science Theater 3000: Essays on Film, Fandom, Technology and the Culture of Riffing
Edited by Robert G. Weiner and Shelley E. Barba

277 pages $40 softcover (7 x 10)
14 photos, notes, bibliographies, index
ISBN 978-0-7864-4532-5 Ebook ISBN 978-0-7864-8572-7 2011

The award-winning television series Mystery Science Theater 3000 (1988-1999) has been described as “the smartest, funniest show in America,” and forever changed the way we watch movies. The series featured a human host and a pair of robotic puppets who, while being subjected to some of the worst films ever made, provided ongoing hilarious and insightful commentary in a style popularly known as “riffing.” These essays represent the first full-length scholarly analysis of Mystery Science Theater 3000 — MST3K — which blossomed from humble beginnings as a Minnesota public-access television show into a cultural phenomenon on two major cable networks. The book includes interviews with series creator Joel Hodgson and cast members Kevin Murphy and Trace Beaulieu.

Robert G. Weiner is associate humanities librarian at Texas Tech University. His works have been published in the Journal of Popular Culture, Public Library Quarterly, Journal of American Culture, International Journal of Comic Art and Popular Music and Society. He lives in Lubbock, Texas.

Shelley E. Barba has written for Texas Library Journal. She is a metadata librarian at Texas Tech University.

Order now at Amazon.com:
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Or order directly through the McFarland website.
Order Line: 800-253-2187

A Very Hairy Hero Joins the Fight in the Must-See, Two-Part Season Finale of “Star Wars: The Clone Wars”

from StarWars.com:

In the pulse-pounding, hour-long season finale, Ahsoka Tano is taken captive and stranded on a planetary game preserve, where she finds herself on the run from merciless and sadistic Trandoshan hunting parties. With the odds stacked against her and no rescue in sight, hope for survival begins to dwindle — that is, until her escape efforts receive an unexpected boost from a friendly — and furry! — fellow captive. The chase begins with “Padawan Lost” and continues into “Wookiee Hunt” — it’s a must-see, double dose of Star Wars: The Clone Wars, airing at 8:00 p.m. ET/PT Friday, April 1 on Cartoon Network.

By now, it’s no secret that a familiar face will join Ahsoka’s private guerilla battle against the Trandoshans. After all, it’s hard to keep a seven-foot Wookiee under wraps, and Chewbacca’s certainly not one to hide in the shadows when his friends are in danger. Making his Clone Wars debut, loyal and lovable Chewie teams up with the desperate Padawan to wreak havoc on the vicious hunters’ plans — proving once and for all that it’s not wise to upset a Wookiee.

“Everybody loves Chewie, “says Dave Filoni, Supervising Director of Star Wars: The Clone Wars. “He’s like a big teddy bear, except that he’s got a temper. You want him on your side, because if he’s on your side, he’s the best friend you could ever have — and who wouldn’t want a Wookiee for a best friend? But we didn’t include him lightly. He’s such a special part of the films, and we knew that we had to do right by him. The story had to do him justice.”

Both literally and figuratively, the finale’s guest star is a big one for The Clone Wars — but even bigger than a towering Wookiee was the challenge of bringing the gentle giant to life. But the Clone Wars crew had the blessing — and the expert counsel — of actor Peter Mayhew, the man who has played the iconic role since Star Wars’ debut in 1977.

“Having Peter’s involvement was essential, and it was a major coup for the crew,” says Filoni. “We’d done some preliminary designs and some rough animation tests, but we were coming from a place of observation. He’s lived with the character for more than three decades. He is Chewie. He helped us focus in on the qualities that make Chewie live and breathe. His input helped make our version of the character that much more authentic — his mannerisms, details of his walk, facial expressions, that sort of thing. We couldn’t have done it without him; it just wouldn’t have been Chewie.”

Beyond capturing the iconic mannerisms and distinctive idiosyncrasies of everyone’s favorite “walking carpet,” the Clone Wars crew pushed the visual envelope in other areas, as well — most notably with the finale’s lush locations and impossibly rich environments. But setting the bar for TV animation is no easy task. It’s a constant uphill battle, especially considering production constraints and the level of fan expectations for the series. Helping Filoni lead the team effort is CG Supervisor Joel Aron — a visual effects veteran whose credits include two of the live-action Star Wars prequels.

“I can’t make it happen; I can only envision it. Joel is the guy who makes it come alive. He’s my right hand, my hit-man, my Vader. He’s revolutionized the show, no doubt in my mind,” says Filoni. “I really push him, and so does George [Lucas]. I’ll draw a picture and say ‘This is what I imagined’ — and he makes it happen. It’s a challenge, it’s what he wants — it’s food for him and the team. We’re taking that knowledge, applying it forward. Just look at the backgrounds in these episodes; we’ve got our characters, and now the background environment has also become a character.”

Bringing with him lessons learned at Lucas’ Industrial Light & Magic, Aron inspires enthusiastic innovation, just as he struggles to strike the delicate balance between creating something completely unique and quintessentially familiar.

“My goal is always to capture the essence of Star Wars, the key elements that stick with you,” says Aron. “It’s a very specific feeling, and it’s not always completely literal. We’re in a different medium than the films, working on a different timeline with different tools. That’s a unique challenge; we have to find stylistic ways to reflect those familiar ideals — using shapes and colors, adding textures to backgrounds. But everyone on the crew is up for it, and we love it when it pays off.”

Impressive though it may be, the Season Three finale is still just a stepping stone in the show’s ongoing evolution — a jumping off point as The Clone Wars kicks into hyperdrive.

“These finale episodes are among the best we’ve produced, and it’s only going to keep getting better,” says Filoni. “This is what audiences can expect to see in Season Four. There’s still a big galaxy out there.”

Star Wars: The Clone Wars Season Four will launch on Cartoon Network this fall.

Life Isn’t Easy When You’re a Fulltime Superhero in Hot New Anime Action Series “Tiger & Bunny”, Simulcasting on VIZAnime.com

from VIZ Media:

VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), one of the entertainment industry’s most innovative and comprehensive publishing, animation and licensing companies, invites fans to dive into the crime-fighting action of one of the most anticipated anime series of 2011 with the simulcast premiere of Tiger & Bunny on Saturday, April 2nd. The new series launches on VIZAnime.com, the company’s exclusive web destination for anime, the same day it debuts in Japan! New FREE weekly episodes (subtitled) will be available to stream on VIZAnime beginning at 12:00pm (PST) each Saturday.

Tiger & Bunny (rated TV-14) is directed by Keiichi Sato (director of The Big O), with original character designs by Masakazu Katsura, creator of I”s and Video Girl Ai (also released by VIZ Media). Stern Bild is a metropolitan city where superheroes called NEXT help to maintain peace. Sporting sponsor logos on their suits, these heroes work to solve cases and save people’s lives in order to earn Hero Points, while also helping to improve the public image of their corporate sponsors. Their activities are documented and broadcast by the popular show “HERO TV,” in which each superhero strives to become the “King of Heroes” of the year.

One such hero is Wild Tiger (real name Kotetsu T. Kaburagi), a veteran superhero who relies on his years of experience and instincts to fight crime. Though obligated to work for his boss’s best interest, Kotetsu follows his own code of honor and is even willing to cause destruction to public property for the sake of protecting the lives of his fellow citizens. Over time, he has grudgingly earned the nickname “Crusher for Justice.” Now, Kotetsu suddenly finds himself forced to team up with rookie hero Barnaby Brooks Jr.

“Tiger & Bunny is the latest series from the famed anime studio, Sunrise, and we’re very excited to make it available to fans in North America exclusively through VIZAnime.com,” says Ken Sasaki, Sr. Vice President and General Manager of VIZ Media. “The inventive story matches a veteran hero who is dealing with all kinds of quirky personal and professional problems with a young partner who is impulsive and unmanageable. When they team up to fight crime, they also usually end up battling each other. Tiger & Bunny is a fun new series that combines plenty of action and humor with an exploration of an unlikely friendship, and we invite fans to catch the premiere!”

To view the official trailer and to follow Tiger & Bunny on the official Facebook page, please visit facebook.com/TigerAndBunny. For more information on Tiger & Bunny and other animated titles from VIZ Media please visit VIZAnime.com.

ThinkGeek, Your One-Stop Prank Superstore!

from ThinkGeek:

Pranksters, we salute you.

Remember the days when you could get weeks of laughs from a whoopie cushion? You never outgrow the joy of pranking, but you do outgrow your pranks. We at ThinkGeek are dedicated to bringing you the best in devious technology designed to bug the crap out of the people you love the most.

April Fool’s Day is just around the corner — are you prepared to unravel lesser minds?

Roll for Sanity!
Maybe the Elder Gods aren’t visiting, but that doesn’t mean you can’t chip away at your coworkers’ sanity. Hide an Annoy-a-tron in their space — we recommend above drop ceilings! — and watch them twitch and squirm. For a limited time, get your own insanity device for only $4.99.

$10 off $50+ Orders — Stock up for your nefarious plans
Looking to add a few new pranks to your arsenal? We’re all about supporting your evil deeds and tricksy plans. Use code TRICKSY for $10 off orders of $50 or more, good through 3/25/11 at 11:59 pm EST.

Find more What’s New items at ThinkGeek!

VIZ Media’s Shonen Jump Website Offers Exclusive New Content and Celebrates “SJ Heroes Week” Online

from VIZ Media:

VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), one of the entertainment industry’s most innovative and comprehensive publishing, animation and licensing companies, has announced that its Shonen Jump website will feature a special week-long “SJ Heroes Week,” during which it will publish a different manga (graphic novel) hero profile online every day from March 27th to April 1st.

The SJ Heroes Week coincides with the new commemorative 100th issue of Shonen Jump magazine, which is on sale now. Fans and subscribers can log on to the Shonen Jump website at ShonenJump.com for fresh daily updates of all-time favorite manga heroes. A second round of Shonen Jump Heroes, to be featured in the upcoming May 2011 print edition (on sale April 5th), will post on the website during the second half of April with expanded entries for each manga character. This content further extends the magazine’s new subscriber initiatives featured on the Shonen Jump website.

Shonen Jump’s print and website redesign for 2011 welcomed the new decade with a fresh, contemporary look and notably expanded content. These new features complement several digital subscriber-only premiums, as well as the online debut of a brand new manga series, Nura: Rise of the Yokai Clan (rated ‘T’ for Teens). This is Shonen Jump’s first title to be serialized digitally on ShonenJump.com. The redesigned site offers fresh content updated daily that includes special Manga Spotlight Features, Manga Profile Features, Anime Episode Updates, Weekly Fan Art submissions, Trading Card Game Tips, Video Game Features and much more!

“Shonen Jump magazine is the most popular manga magazine today, with over a million readers in its original language version in Japan, as well as hundreds of thousands of fans in the U.S.,” says Joel Enos, Shonen Jump Senior Editor. “And now Shonen Jump is expanding its online coverage with new daily updates to give readers more of what they want — features on manga, anime, card games and video games, plus exclusive online manga content for subscribers. During the next two months, we’ll also profile Shonen Jump heroes from a variety of Shonen Jump’s most loved manga series. From international sensations like Naruto and One Piece to beloved classics like Dragon Ball, we will spotlight every SJ hero that ever came out in the U.S. in either graphic novel format or in the magazine!”

For more information on Shonen Jump Magazine and other Shonen Jump titles, please visit ShonenJump.com.

Ernie Kovacs, Meet Keith Olbermann!

from Shout! Factory:

If you’re in NYC, make sure the April 12 Ernie Kovacs panel at The Paley Center for Media is on your to-do list. Moderated by Keith Olbermann, it also features Robert Smigel, MST3K’s Joel Hodgson, Rowan & Martin’s Laugh In producer George Schlatter and others.

Keep up with the latest Shout! news throughout your day by following us on Twitter and Facebook. Plus, visit our YouTube page for trailers, clips and music videos.

J!NX: Introducing Minecraft Clothing

from J!NX:

Six official Minecraft shirts by J!NX are here, and as a loyal minion that is subscribed to the J!NX Newsletter, you have exclusive access to the Minecraft Official Store one day before the rest of world.

What is Minecraft? 5.5 million people will tell you that it’s a game of building, exploring, crafting, danger and, really, absolute freedom to create whatever you want. This game has ensnared the J!NX crew in a titan’s grip, and we immediately reached out to Notch and the Mojang, for the nod to begin crafting shirts.

“When the J!NX guys presented the t-shirt ‘I Porkchop Minecraft’, we knew we had found the right merch partner. We’re excited to launch the first products in the official Minecraft merch store and can’t wait to show you what we have in store for the future.” — Carl Manneh, Mojang

March Manga Madness Continues with Debut of “Dragon Ball Z” for the VIZ Manga App for iPad

from VIZ Media:

March Manga Madness is fully underway as VIZ Media continues to offer readers special promotions and new manga (graphic novel) titles available exclusively for the VIZ Manga App for the Apple iPad mobile device. The latest round of updates features debut of the classic action manga Dragon Ball Z, as well as new updates for 8 other acclaimed manga titles currently available.

Fans should also stay tuned for an exciting digital manga first as Bakuman Volume 4 prepares to debut on the VIZ Manga App on March 28th, ahead of the print edition’s national release on April 5th.

As part of the March Manga Madness promotion, all Volume 1 manga titles are available this month for only $0.99 each (instead of $4.99). After shopping, fans are invited also enter to win a $50 iTunes gift card by taking the VIZ Manga App survey. By the end of March the VIZ Manga App will feature more than 100 manga volumes available for download.

Creator Akira Toriyama’s much-loved manga classic, Dragon Ball Z (Rated ‘A’ for All Ages), debuts on today with Volume 2 to be available before the end of the month. After years of training and adventure, Goku has become Earth’s ultimate warrior. And his son, Gohan, shows even greater promise. But the stakes are increasing as even deadlier enemies threaten the planet. Dragon Ball Z is the ultimate science fiction-martial arts manga.

The VIZ Manga App is available for free through the iTunes Store and all manga volumes are generally available for purchase and download in the U.S. and Canada within the application for $4.99 (U.S. / CAN) per volume.

Additional new manga volumes available this week include:

Death Note Vol. 9
MeruPuri Vol. 3
Naruto Vol. 18
Natsume’s Book of Friends Vol. 2
One Piece Vol. 18
Rosario + Vampire Vol. 2
Rurouni Kenshin Vol. 9
Toriko Vol. 3

The VIZ Manga App is the leading application to read Japanese manga on the iPad, with a downloadable library of the most popular manga series in the world. Readers are encouraged to check the app regularly, as new additions to the store and free Chapter 1 previews of other forthcoming manga series for the iPad are featured.

For more information on the VIZ Manga App, please visit VIZ.com/apps/.

Nintendo 3DS Changes the Way You View Portable Entertainment

from Nintendo of Canada:

Nintendo introduces portable entertainment in 3D — without the need for special glasses. The Nintendo 3DS system goes on sale in Canada on March 27 at a suggested retail price of $249.99. It comes with a collection of pre-installed games and fun features, with more on the way.

“Nintendo 3DS can play 3D video games and take 3D pictures, but that’s just the tip of the iceberg,” said Nintendo of America President, Reggie Fils-Aime. “The 3D display is amazing in its own right, but just as compelling are the new forms of gameplay it delivers, and the groundbreaking ways it will connect players to new content… and each other.”

To celebrate the arrival of the system, Nintendo is hosting launch events in Toronto and Vancouver on March 26 from 6 PM to 12 midnight. The events will feature hands-on Nintendo 3DS demos with food, music and giveaways (while supplies last), leading up to a countdown to midnight, when the Nintendo 3DS system goes on sale. Fans can visit nintendo.com/3ds/events/canadian-events/ for more information on the launch events as well as the Nintendo 3DS sampling tour.

Nintendo 3DS has 18 games available on launch day, with more than 30 total available by early June. Nintendo-published games available March 27 include:

Pilotwings Resort, a high-flying aerial adventure that lets you soar over a tropical island in a plane, on a hang glider or with a rocket belt. You can take on more than 30 challenging missions, or go sightseeing and snap pictures in the game.

nintendogs + cats, which lets you train and interact with your very own puppy and kitten. They react to your voice and will even welcome you with a lick of the face as you lean in. There are three different versions of the software, each featuring a different starting breed: Toy Poodle, Golden Retriever or French Bulldog. In each version, players can eventually unlock all 27 different breeds to enjoy.

Steel Diver, an action-packed and immersive 3D submarine combat adventure. Take command of your sub to control its speed, depth and pitch, and use both the touch-screen and motion-sensitive controls to navigate through lush undersea environments and fire torpedoes at enemy ships and obstacles.

Nintendo’s third-party publishing partners are rolling out their biggest names for launch day. Games ready for March 27 include Super Street Fighter IV 3D Edition from Capcom, The Sims 3 from EA, Madden NFL Football from EA Sports, Pro Evolution Soccer 2011 3D from Konami Digital Entertainment, Inc., LEGO Star Wars III: The Clone Wars from LucasArts, Ridge Racer 3D from Namco Bandai Games America Inc., Super Monkey Ball 3D from Sega, Bust-a-Move Universe from Square-Enix, Inc., Samurai Warriors: Chronicles from Tecmo Koei America Corp., plus Asphalt 3D, Combat of Giants: Dinosaurs 3D, Rayman 3D and Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon: Shadow Wars from Ubisoft.

Meanwhile, Nintendo is working on Nintendo 3DS games from its top franchises, including The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D, Star Fox 64 3D, Kid Icarus: Uprising and new installments in the Super Mario, Mario Kart, Animal Crossing and Paper Mario series. The system is also ready to play nearly every single Nintendo DS game with its original 2D graphics. Nintendo DS games that required the use of the Game Boy Advance slot are not compatible with the Nintendo 3DS system.

Nintendo 3DS features two screens. The top screen displays 3D images without the need for special glasses. The bottom screen is touch-sensitive. It also has three cameras. One inner camera points at you, while two exterior cameras let you take pictures of your friends and family in 3D or 2D. It weighs approximately 8 ounces and is available in Cosmo Black or Aqua Blue.

Built-in games and applications include Mii Maker, which uses facial recognition technology to create a Mii character that looks just like you; Face Raiders, which requires you to shoot at comical depictions of your own face as well as others around you; AR Games, which superimpose graphics and animations on the real world using the included AR Cards; and Nintendo 3DS Sound, which lets you listen to MP3 or AAC music files, or make your own recordings and play with them using fun filters. The StreetPass feature lets some of your games and applications wirelessly swap small bits of game data as you pass other Nintendo 3DS users throughout the day, if you choose. SpotPass, on the other hand, lets the Nintendo 3DS system detect wireless hotspots or wireless LAN access points and allows users to obtain information and game data when the system is in Sleep Mode. Free software and videos will also become available with future system updates.

Soon Nintendo will roll out a series of additional features for Nintendo 3DS, including an Internet browser, an online store called Nintendo eShop, and the ability to access 3D Hollywood movie trailers.

Remember that the Nintendo 3DS system features parental controls that let adults manage the content their children can access. For more information about this and other features, visit nintendo3ds.com.

Big-Screen Board-Games: The Warhammer Movie

from GeekChicDaily:

We’re all a little tired of video-game movies, right? For every Mortal Kombat, there’s a Mortal Kombat: Annihilation. Sure, the Resident Evil movies keep chugging along, but that’s mainly because we love to watch Milla Jovovich doing gun-fu, which has almost nothing to do with the games themselves.

So rejoice: the movie industry has moved along to the next big thing. Tabletop games! Sound silly? Yeah, until you look at the actual details. Peter Berg, who directed The Rock’s best movie (The Rundown) is almost done with his Battleship flick starring Liam Neeson and Rihanna. Ridley Scott’s getting ready to pass go and collect more than $200 on a theatrical adaptation of Monopoly. But beating them all to the punch is Ultramarines, a snazzy all-CG feature based on Warhammer 40,000.

Set in the 41st century, Ultramarines sees a squad of genetically enhanced warriors answer a distress signal on a distant planet, only to discover that forces far beyond what they expected are at work. Terence “General Zod” Stamp voices squad leader Captain Severus, while John Hurt plays the mysterious chaplain who sent the distress call. As the movie is unrated, what ensues allows plenty of blood to be shed, and, uh, wars to be hammered out.

The only way to see this film, however, is by ordering the DVD online. Loaded with a bonus disc and a companion graphic novel, it’s an ultra-sweet deal.

Choose your side. Fight the invasions. Enter the RIFT.

from Trion Worlds:

Adventure in the world of Telara as either a noble Guardian or technomagical Defiant and enter a dynamic fantasy where 8 primal forces battle for control in an ever-changing landscape. Build your own class using the Ascended Soul system and embark on epic conflicts that bring you into the story, taking your RPG experience to new heights of achievement and excitement!

Massive Dynamic Battles:
Invasions unfold zone-wide, creating epic conflicts that bring you into the story! Save the world now alongside hundreds of other players or fight to reclaim lands from invading hordes.

8 Primal Forces:
Creatures from the Air, Earth, Fire, Water, Life, and Death planes battle for control of the world of Telara! Two warring factions — the Guardians and the Defiant — face off against each other and fight extra-planar creatures as they seek to save the world.

Build Your Class:
No other game lets you build your class the way Rift does. Specialize in a single class or pick and choose abilities from many to create a character uniquely suited to your play style — and have fun while you experiment!

Choose Your Role:
Each character can have up to four different roles, so you can choose different classes for every situation! You might have one for PvP and another for raids; or perhaps you want a high-damage or high-defense build. The choice is yours to mix and match as you see fit!

PvP Combat:
Battle others in exhilarating Player vs. Player combat! Earn PvP ranks, titles, loot, and unique Souls to further enhance your character. Head to cross-server Warfronts and fight others in world PvP.

Full-Featured:
Guilds, dungeons, raids, auctions, crafting, a vibrant economy, Player vs. Player combat, and more!

Deeper Gameplay:
New features like Guild Quests and Artifact Collections enhance your gaming experience by giving you earned achievements that matter.

Highly Accessible HD Graphics:
Play a game that has stunning visuals on virtually any computer, even if your PC isn’t state-of-the-art.

Order Rift now on Amazon, or look for it at your favorite game retailer.