Season 2 was a tremendous success thanks to our amazing fans but we need your help to ensure a Season 3. Please take a few minutes and watch (and rewatch) the season 2 finale here, and RATE and COMMENT. Show the network that our viewers are engaged and want more! If you’re looking for additional ways to help us, the best thing you can do is introduce the show to all your friends, spread the word, Facebook and Twitter links to the show. Every little bit helps!
As you all know, The Legend of Neil has been a real passion project for me and it’s been so inspiring to see how many of you have enjoyed the show to such a great extent. I try to read every comment and the fact that they’re overwhelmingly supportive (mixed with the occasional “you suck hard” comment) inspires me to do more. Here’s to hoping we get a Season 3.
Emilie Ullerup, best known for her roles on jPod and Sanctuary, guest stars on this week's Smallville episode, "Crossfire"
While Emilie Ullerup has won a Leo Award for Best Actress in the acclaimed show jPod, she is probably best known for the role of Ashley Magnus on Syfy’s Sanctuary. Having already guest-starred in such sci-fi and fantasy shows as Battlestar Galactica, Blood Ties and the film Paradox, she’s about to dive into another with a guest spot on this week’s Smallville. The timing couldn’t be more perfect, either.
With recent events on this season of Sanctuary, Emilie has gotten a lot of attention over the past few weeks. IMDb.com searches have gone up over 95% and a Google search of the past three weeks of posts regarding Emilie turned up almost 32,000 hits! With growing interest like that, a lot of Emilie fans may be tuning in to Smallville for the first time this week.
If you haven’t watched the first three episodes of Sanctuary this season and have avoided spoilers as of yet, don’t read any further until you’ve gone to Syfy.com and watched those episodes.
ÜberSciFiGeek (ÜSFG) I know you had surgery this summer. I’m sorry to hear you had complications! How are you recovering?
Emilie Ullerup (EU) Yeah… thank you. It was quite the process. Basically, it was a tumor that had grown out of my sacrum, wrapped itself around a couple of spinal nerves, and was causing me some grief. So, the only way to get rid of it was to surgically remove it, leaving large margins to make sure it wouldn’t spread. They took my tailbone, the nerves that were involved and (I think) some of my sacrum.
(ÜSFG) Ouch.
(EU) Ouch is right. Cool scar though! It’s easy to say that now that I’m on the other side of it. It was a life changing experience, wouldn’t do it again, but also wouldn’t take it back. I haven’t actually given the official statement until now! I know people have been wondering, so it’s time I let them know.
(ÜSFG) Yes, they have been wondering why you’ve been so quiet about it. I realize part of that would have to be because some of that time period overlapped with the Sanctuary shooting schedule and you can’t give away too many spoilers for the season. Are you expecting a full recovery? Will it affect your ability to do most of your own stunts in future projects?
(EU) It shouldn’t affect anything. It’s just a reaaalllyyy slow recovery. I’m not good at being patient but I’ve been forced to be in this case. I definitely count on being able to kick ass again some time in the future!
(ÜSFG) Good to hear!
(EU) Thanks and also thank you to everyone who has been thinking of me.
(ÜSFG) It did give you lots of time to spend with family though, right?
(EU) My mom came to Vancouver a couple of times throughout. Because there were a few unexpected bumps along the way, she felt best being here at times. It was scary and when it gets scary, the best one to have along with you is your mom… so we spent lots of time together in the hospital, talking, talking and talking.
(ÜSFG) Moms do have a knack with providing comfort in scary times.
(EU) They do indeed.
(ÜSFG) Are you pretty close to back to normal now or will it take a few more months?
(EU) I can do almost everything. I wasn’t allowed to sit for about four months, so that is still new to me. I can’t drive yet because of that but I’m going to the gym, core strengthening, trying to get back in shape, but at least I can be on my own now. I can do all the daily things. It’s crazy how much you can all of a sudden appreciate being able to put your own socks on!
(ÜSFG) When we spoke back in February about Season 2, you said you hoped the Sanctuary team would give you “some juicy, juicy stuff for us all to sink our teeth into” and “I would love some sort of head to head conflict with mom.” It seems you got what you wished for but not exactly in the way you were expecting. After being turned into a super-mutant vampire warrior and sent to destroy her mother and the rest of the Sanctuary network, Ashley apparently dies at the end of Episode 2 after being disintegrated by an electromagnetic field.
(EU) Yeaaaah… not exactly what I was expecting, you’re right.
(ÜSFG) Did your surgery have any effect on that or was this something they had already scripted before you found out about it?
(EU) No, my surgery had nothing to do with this. Killing off Ashley was a network decision made before I knew I had to have surgery but I have faith that there are no real deaths in sci-fi… There will be storylines in the future where I’m sure Ashley could be worked in…
(ÜSFG) What was your reaction to the death of Ashley when you first found out about it?
(EU) I was of course sad. I’ve had a blast on the show and I felt Ashley had so much story to explore still.
(ÜSFG) Yes, she did. And with the turning evil bit, there was so much to explore with her and through her interactions with her friends and family.
(EU) At the same time though, I am excited for what lays ahead. I am excited to get into new projects and hopefully remain busy with lots of colorful characters to explore.
(ÜSFG) I’m looking forward to it, too. I’m certain you have big things in store!
(EU) I believe that there is a reason for me to be out in the world of unemployed actors again and I can’t wait to see what happens next in my career.
(ÜSFG) Was it hard to keep the secret after reading the script?
(EU) At times it was hard. Being at Haven 1 was hard.
(ÜSFG) Oh? Lots of fan questions, I imagine.
(EU) Yeah… They were good though. They knew I couldn’t reveal too much.
(ÜSFG) You didn’t have a lot of dialog in your final three episodes so most of your acting was non-verbal. The final look Ashley gave Magnus broke a lot of fans’ hearts. What was the feel on set while filming that emotional final scene with Amanda Tapping?
(EU) Tough day for sure. Amanda and I were both really feeling the heaviness of the situation; gave way to some true organic moments. There were a few of the tough guys who had to clear their throats here and there. It was really sweet.
(ÜSFG) There’s been a lot of anguish over that final scene. That final glance, you looked 100% sincere.
(EU) Yeah, that was all real and the final scene of Eulogy was almost impossible to do. It was the final scene for me, and throughout rehearsals I was in tears. The director had to remind me that I couldn’t be in tears, that Ashley was supposed to be at peace, so I really had to pull myself together. Ryan, Robin, Chris and Amanda were all there, all so sad, and I was like “REALLY?!? I have to pull it together as the only one?!?!” There was so much love though… it felt really nice.
(ÜSFG) It’s good to know everyone was there for you though, feeling the pain of losing you to a network decision. I know you said you’ve seen some of the comments from fans over killing Ashley. Many fans, especially those who’ve been watching since the web series days, are saying they are done with the show and don’t plan to watch anymore unless she is brought back. Were you expecting this kind of backlash from fans and how do you feel about it, knowing that you’ve got such a strong, supportive fan-base? I imagine it’s a mixed feeling, appreciating the support but wanting something you put so much of yourself into to continue to thrive even without you.
(EU) I have been completely overwhelmed with the outpouring of support. I am so grateful to have so many people that care so much! And hopefully that will mean that there will be a place for Ashley in the future.
(ÜSFG) You’ve been so genuine and available to fans and that makes a huge difference in the sci-fi community.
(EU) Well, they’re all so genuine and available to me, so really, it’s a two-way street. Aw shucks… so much love everywhere…
(ÜSFG) Whether or not you return to Sanctuary, I’m certain it will continue to have a lasting influence on you as an actor and on your career. What do you think is the most important thing you have learned while working on Sanctuary?
(EU) I will be eternally grateful to Sanctuary. Were it not for Sanctuary, I would not have this huge fan-base who (I hope) will continue to follow me as I venture into new projects.
(ÜSFG) I’m sure they will!
(EU) I think the most important thing I have learned is to never take anything for granted. Things can change in a heartbeat… and also to try to not take things too personally.
(ÜSFG) Difficult but good lessons to learn.
(EU) Invaluable in this business I think.
(ÜSFG) Well, you’ve proven to be a tough cookie so I’m sure you are going to do just fine, whatever comes your way. Many fans are hoping this is a marketing ploy to stir up the fans and drive stronger interest in the show. With the body absent, it does leave lots of room for Ashley’s return at some point in the future. A lot of fans want to know what you will do until we all know if Ashley really is dead or just being manipulated by Dana and the Cabal. There are tons of independent film projects in Vancouver as well as a dozen TV shows. Have you had any auditions lately?
(EU) Oh yes, I have been very busy lately. There are still projects that I am not able to do physically, but I try to get out for as much as possible. I have been incredibly close on almost everything, which feels great. And I did an episode of Smallville but I also have to remember to heal first, work later; so, one day at a time.
(ÜSFG) You’re playing Catherine “Cat” Grant in the episode “Crossfire” which airs tomorrow night on the CW. There are a couple of leaked shots of the episode and I have to say, you are looking great! That dress suit is quite a departure from the dark outfits Ashley wore on Sanctuary or the casual wardrobe Kaitlyn wore on jPod.
(EU) Ha, yeah it sure is.
(ÜSFG) Did you like getting to play a sunny, feminine role again?
(EU) I had a lot of fun with Catherine Grant. I got to be light and bright and bumbling and a bit dorky. Bumbling and dorky are two of my own strong traits. It would be a great character to further explore but I had a blast with what I was given on the one episode.
(ÜSFG) Did you do any research into Catherine’s TV and comic book history before shooting the role?
(EU) Yeah, but they went in a bit of a different direction with the TV version.
(ÜSFG) If Smallville follows previous storylines in the Superman mythology, Catherine could very well become the third corner of a Lois/Clark/Cat love triangle. Did you and Tom (Welling) have the kind of on-screen chemistry that you think could lead to Cat Grant becoming a recurring role for you?
(EU) I guess we’ll see tomorrow! I had a blast shooting with Tom. He’s so relaxed and fun, and I know Erica (Durance) because Kyle (Cassie) worked with her earlier this year… so it would be a blast getting to muck things up for the two of them.
(ÜSFG) I think adding Cat to the mix would certainly be a great monkey-wrench in the Clark/Lois relationship that is developing this season. Hopefully the producers feel the same and invite you back a few times.
(EU) Yeah! Let’s hope!
(ÜSFG) You did a cameo in Steph Song‘s upcoming film, Paradox. Do you have any plans or have there been any talks of projects with other Podsters in the future?
(EU) Wouldn’t that be absolutely amazing?!! I think we would all LOVE to work together again. Hopefully it’ll be in the cards at some point. We are all still such close friends. It’s wonderful. That was just the dream cast, for me anyway.
(ÜSFG) I think it was for all of you. As a fan of the show, it’s great to know your onscreen chemistry extended to real life.
(EU) Yeah, we just had FUN on that set. It was nonstop silliness. And it extended well beyond the cast as well. Kyle and I are headed to J.B. Sugar‘s Halloween party tomorrow actually. We all try to see each other as often as possible. Steph just drove me to an audition earlier this week. It’s really wonderful!
(ÜSFG) That was sweet of her. She is pretty awesome.
(EU) Yup!
(ÜSFG) I personally find it an interesting coincidence that Steph’s episode and your episode of Smallville are airing back to back. 🙂
(EU) Ha! Yeah, we laughed at that too. We are continuously intertwined, her and I…
(ÜSFG) I talked to her last week and had such a blast. I can just imagine the two of you hanging out and what fun it is.
(EU) We get pretty silly. And we can lean on each other for career advice which is just invaluable.
(ÜSFG) Hopefully you’ll get to work together again in the future. 🙂 Would you consider doing another web series?
(EU) I would most certainly be interested in another web series. I have full faith in what that can do after my Sanctuary experience.
(ÜSFG) You mentioned doing a music video with Caleb’s Hope. Do you have any musical talents and aspirations for fans to look forward to? You mentioned wanting to work in New York. Is Broadway in your possible future?
(EU) Oooh… eh hehe… I can actually sing. I am shy though.
(ÜSFG) Awesome!
(EU) It’s not something I’ve worked a lot on, and therefore don’t feel super confident, but the dream is there, for sure. A musical would be a blast, like what Glee is doing right now — SO great!
(ÜSFG) Very cool! So what is your vocal range?
(EU) This is getting technical now.
(ÜSFG) Lol. Um, okay, what singers do you find it easier to sing along with or what musicals and parts do you like best and feel more comfortable belting out?
(EU) When I was driving, I would sing along to Adele. Now Kyle has to drive me everywhere, so I’ve toned down the belting. Chris (Heyerdahl) and I sang along to “Summer Nights” from Grease at the convention (Wolf Haven One), that was quite a sight…
(ÜSFG) Oh, I would have loved to have heard that.
(EU) Hehe… I bet you would…
(ÜSFG) I’m listening to Adele’s To Make You Feel My Love at the moment. How does your voice compare? Do you have that Joplin sound or just more comfortable hitting those notes?
(EU) I’m comfortable in the midrange and can relatively easily go into my falsetto… but I’m sure I’d need some fine tuning. My mom is big on music, so we always played and sang together, weddings and such…
(ÜSFG) You mentioned last night that the theatre scene isn’t that big in Vancouver but have you been to any shows?
(EU) I’ve been to a couple. It’s hit and miss here…
(ÜSFG) Awesome. I have been known to belt out “Don’t Cry for Me Argentina” more than once. 😀
(EU) Me too!
(ÜSFG) You really have tons of freedom at the moment so it must be just as scary as it is exciting for you. Are you planning on sticking around Vancouver for a while longer or are you looking at making a move or spending the summer in some place like LA or New York?
(EU) I’m actually planning to do this LA thing in the New Year. It’s time to try and swim in the big pond. I feel like I’ve got enough under my belt to make it worthwhile.
(ÜSFG) You definitely have accomplished a lot in a fairly short amount of time. And you’ve covered quite a spectrum of characters in that time.
(EU) Yeah, I’ve been so lucky. There’s still so much more to learn, but at some point you have to take the leap, right?
(ÜSFG) Yes, you do. Hmm. Steph said she was going to LA this summer, too. Are you going on that adventure together?
(EU) We might very well be down there at the same time and so might Ben (Ayres); David (Copp) is already there and I think actually Torrance (Coombs) is going too! How great is THAT?!
(ÜSFG) That is awesome! Maybe you can do a cheesy horror together? I know Torrance just worked with Kody Zimmermann on the Familiar so maybe some indie project like that awaits you all.
(EU) I’m in!
(ÜSFG) You know, Steph has the production side of things (because of Island Films) and you all have such great chemistry. Ever thought of doing an indie project together, as in you all write it and produce it together? Look at films like The Brothers McMullen and Paranormal Activity. Friends got together and produced something they loved for about $10,000-$15,000 and made more then $10,000,000 at the box office.
(EU) We all have dreams of getting our own stuff made. Kyle and I have several projects that we are working on. The dream is to get to work with your friends. So when we can fit characters in that work for people we want to work with, we try to make that happen. Right now though, Kyle and I are all about developing. We’d like to sit on a bunch of creative property so that when the right connections are made, we have several different genres to lure people in with… That sounds evil… it wasn’t meant to.
(ÜSFG) No, it doesn’t sound evil. It sounds like a smart business plan. When you do get that break and produce some amazing content, you want to make sure you have another ace up your sleeve for the follow-up.
(EU) Precisely… It’s exciting to be on this side, too; to feel like you’ve got some say in your career. When the phone goes silent, it’s all about making it happen for yourself.
(ÜSFG) Yes, exactly. That’s why so many talented people are taking advantage of the Internet to directly produce their own projects, cutting out the middleman and taking control of their lives and careers.
(EU) I think that extends so much further than our profession. We have to take responsibility for our own destinies.
(ÜSFG) Yes, we do. Is there anything else you want to say to fans?
(EU) I actually have a question for the fans.
(ÜSFG) Oh?
(EU) If Ashley ever came back to the show, how could it be done in a manner where viewers aren’t like, “Oh, what a boring way to bring her back”? How to not make it “cheap”, and in what capacity would they want to see her back?
(ÜSFG) Oooh. Good question. I’ll make sure to plaster that all over the message boards, if that’s okay with you?
(EU) Yeah…
(ÜSFG) Well, I appreciate you taking the time to speak with me and for being so candid. Thank you!
(EU) You’re welcome! Always a pleasure.
In science fiction, even when there’s a body, dead isn’t always dead. A perfect example would be Daniel Jackson of Stargate SG-1 who died and came back several times throughout the show and Carson Beckett of Stargate Atlantis who was brought back in the form of a clone after much backlash and an unyielding fan campaign finally overwhelmed the producer’s decision. On Battlestar Galactica, actress Katee Sackhoff and the producers of the show staged a huge blowup over the death of her character Starbuck that even the other actors of the show weren’t aware of. As part of a super-secret plot and marketing strategy, she and the producers had a very public falling out that turned out to be a ruse and Starbuck came back in a season finale surprise that completely steered the direction of the remainder of the show. Sometimes, though, favorite characters are killed off permanently, as was the case with Stargate SG-1‘s Dr. Janet Frasier.
While her future seems grim, there is some cause for hope. In a promo for interactive fan experience, Sanctuary and Beyond, we see Will Zimmerman speaking with a mystery woman in the infirmary. She asks, “Will my blood be of any use to Dr. Magnus’ daughter? Will she be able to save her?” Zimmerman replies “I don’t know” before getting interrupted by our eavesdropping.
Season 2 is already filmed and in post-production so we fans will just have to wait out the season to find out if Ashley is Daniel-Dead or Janet-Dead. In the meantime, get your Emilie Ullerup fix by watching her tomorrow night on Smallville and by picking up the DVD of the wonderful series jPod. Paradox is still in post-production but should be out sometime in 2010 so don’t forget to keep watching for that as well.
Thanks to Emilie for taking the time to speak with us today and a special thank-you to 2Shy, ljscott, PlayItGrand, WR_Systems, Missreepicheep, Aaron and Victoria for sending in questions for her.
With the premiere of the remake of the popular 80’s TV series V on November 3rd, ABC is sweetening the anguish of waiting with a look at the first nine minutes of the new series. V features several sci-fi familiars such as Morena Baccarin (Firefly, Stargate SG-1), Elizabeth Mitchell (Lost), Joel Gretsch (The 4400, Minority Report), Laura Vandervoort (Smallville, The Dresden Files, Mutant X). Other talented cast members include Scott Wolf (Party of Five, Everwood), Morris Chest (G.I. Jane, Half Past Dead), Logan Huffman (Lymelife, America) and Lourdes Benedicto (24, ER, Dawson’s Creek). You can learn more about V at ABC’s official website and at VisitorSite.Net.
In celebration of today’s release of the season finale, Atom.com is hosting a live chat with the cast of The Legend of Neil this evening at 6 p.m. PST. Join creator Sandeep Parikh and stars Tony Janning (Neil), Mike Rose (Old Man) and Felicia Day (Fairy) as they answer your questions about The Legend of Neil.
For more information about how you can get your question asked, check out Atom.com. Additionally, if you are on Twitter, just tweet your questions with the tag #legendofneil and Atom will forward them to the cast. Make sure to add Atom and The Legend of Neil on Twitter while you are at it.
When we last spoke with Steph Song, she had just finished principal photography on the films The Thaw and Paradox and was about to begin the film festival circuit promoting the wonderful Dim Sum Funeral. She was kind enough to catch us up recently on what she’s been up to.
Be sure to watch Steph as Roulette on Smallville this Friday October 23rd. The Thaw is now available on DVD and Paradox is still in post-production. jPod is available to watch streaming on CBC.com and TheWB.com, and can be purchased from Amazon.com. Also, don’t forget to stop by stephsong.com and islandfilms.net to keep up-to-date on Steph’s latest projects.
The latest episode of The Clone Wars features Padmé Amidala in the thick of enemy intrigue as she undertakes a controversial spy mission on the behalf of the Jedi Council. She is tasked to spy on a former flame who is believed to be conspiring with the Separatists. Actress Catherine Taber, who provides the voice of Padmé Amidala was kind enough to answer a few questions about this episode, “Senate Spy.”
This episode takes a break from the battlefield action to slip Padmé behind enemy lines to spy. Did you enjoy the opportunity to explore a bit of Clone Wars espionage for a change?
This episode is full of action — just a different kind than we are used to seeing. I had a lot of fun recording this episode — the back-and-forth with Matt Lanter (Anakin) was so much fun for starters. And of course the idea of being a spy is so cool, I loved it!
What do you think makes Padmé particularly suited for this mission?
I think she is pretty calm and collected — good attributes for a spy. She doesn’t panic easily and she is very smart. Plus, she is pretty adept at being able to use her, shall we say, “feminine charms” to distract… kind of like her own version of a “Jedi mind trick”!
While Anakin is over-protective of Padmé by nature, it almost seemed to strengthen her resolve to go forward with the mission — one she had initially refused. Do you think Anakin’s over-protectiveness (and underlying jealousy) may have contributed to her decision to spy on an ex-lover?
To me, there is a strong stubborn nature running through both Padmé and her daughter Leia — so, I love when we can explore that character trait. It is not wise to tell either of these women they can’t do something. You are pretty much guaranteeing they will do it. Which is fun for me to play because I think anyone who knows me would say I am the same way. “Never tell me the odds!”
Any chance the Jedi Order might come to her again for future missions on the sly?
She is sure up for it. Not only is she always looking for any way she can personally help the cause of the Republic but I think she is also very eager to get out of the stuffy old Senate building and into the action any chance she gets. I know I am!
Standing a steely six inches tall, the Little Frakkin’ Toasters Cylon Centurion Animated Maquette is hand-painted, cast in resin and available in an edition of just 1,000 statues. He’s individually numbered and comes on a mirrored black stand. Based on an original design by Battlestar Galactica CG artist Dustin Adair, our Little Frakkin’ Toaster comes complete with attitude as he beckons you to “come get some”.
If it’ll make you feel a little safer, you can always paint a red stripe across his back.
This year marks the 10th Anniversary of SpongeBob SquarePants, and Nickelodeon continues its ongoing celebrations with the release of a huge treat for fans of the iconic cartoon character who “lives in a pineapple under the sea”, the SpongeBob SquarePants: The First 100 Episodes DVD megaset. This treasure chest contains the entire first five seasons’ worth of episodes plus exclusive bonus features, and, as an added gift, there’s a pull-tab on the box that reveals a code to enter the Happy Squared Sweepstakes. The publicists at Nickelodeon splashily announced:
It’s the Best SpongeBob DVD Collection EVER!
38 Hours. 14 Discs. 1 Yellow Sponge.
You’ll be the envy of Bikini Bottom with the first 100 episodes of SpongeBob SquarePants.
“Are you ready?!” for the spongetacular adventure, comedy and drama? Go ahead, backstroke through ten years of hilarity with “Help Wanted,” “SpongeBob’s House Party,” “Christmas Who?” and “Dunces and Dragons.” You’ll laugh and guffaw as you cruise through this massive DVD collection with SpongeBob, Patrick, Mr. Krabs, Sandy, Squidward, and, yes, even Plankton.
Whether you’re a super-absorbent fan or just beginning to soak up the wonderful world of SpongeBob, these first 100 episodes are all you need to become an expert on Bikini Bottom and our most beloved sponge. It’s all here: “Ripped Pants,” “The Camping Episode,” “Goo Goo Gas,” “Atlantis SquarePantis” and much, much more!
Are you getting a nice squishy feeling inside? You know you are. That’s because a rising tide of Happy is lapping at the shores of your brain!
Wow. 100 episodes and a tidal wave of special features. Talk about going to your Happy Place!
SpongeBob SquarePants: The First 100 Episodes is a solid brick of a box set, its sturdy slipcase enclosed by a wrap-around sleeve that opens at the top and bottom. The sleeve’s wide edges have the title and logo printed on almost identical seascape art, so you can display either spine on your shelf depending on your character preference. Patrick joyfully chases a jellyfish with a butterfly net on one side, while Squidward cowardly runs from another pink, squishy blob on the opposite side. SpongeBob, of course, gets star placement on the front of the box, where the limited-edition lenticular panel pops him and his bubble-filled surroundings out of the cover in a trippy, 3D effect. The only thing that could have made the brightly coloured packaging more spectacular is if the set came with a little Gary the Snail toy to perch on top of the box.
Inside the box are seven slimline cases, the cheerful jacket art featuring close-up portraits of the series’ main characters: SpongeBob, Patrick, Gary, Squidward, Mr. Krabs, Sandy, and Plankton. The clear plastic cases house two discs each, with 7-8 episodes per disc and audio commentaries from the cast and crew on discs 11-13. Episodes are presented in their original fullscreen format and retain the crisp picture quality and Dolby Digital stereo sound of their initial television broadcast. The disc menus are unanimated, yet still attractively designed, and are accompanied by an instrumental version of the theme song. This simple, stripped-down approach makes the playlist extremely user-friendly, especially for small fry who want to put in a disc and just hit the “play all” button. The show’s credits are compiled as a separate selection, so when multiple episodes are played they flow seamlessly from one to the next without the interruption of scrolling text. Of course, the best thing about SpongeBob SquarePants: The First 100 Episodes is that there are 100 Episodes. It’ll be a long sea voyage before you run out of material to watch and need to start over at the beginning, by which time the episodes will seem fresh again. Next time you throw a Hawaiian-themed party, consider playing SpongeBob SquarePants: The First 100 Episodes in the background instead of a traditional Don Ho or ukele CD. Not only will the DVDs add some fun, luau-appropriate visuals to your gathering, your guests will never have to listen to the same track twice. A person can only hear the song “Tiny Bubbles” so many times without having a Squidward-style meltdown, after all.
The final disc in The First 100 Episodes set is dedicated to special features. Square Roots: The Story of SpongeBob SquarePants is an insightful and trivia-filled look into the evolution of SpongeBob SquarePants that cuts together behind-the-scenes footage, media clips chronicling SpongeBob’s rise to fame, and infectiously enthusiastic interviews with series creator Stephen Hillenburg, the show’s creative team, and a host of devoted fans, many of them celebrities. The 43-minute documentary is also the only material in the box set to earn an advisory warning, though exactly why is unclear, unless a candid but fairly brief discussion of the SpongeBob/Patrick “gay controversary” could be viewed as offensive by some. Life Lessons from Bikini Bottom, a featurette done in the style of a 1950s educational film, explores the distinctive personalities and worldviews of the characters who inhabit Bikini Bottom, and “Help Wanted”: The Seven Seas Edition is an audio remix of the pilot episode that samples SpongeBob SquarePants‘s many international translations. The energetic Kick-Wham-Pow-Bob Music Video is basically a clip-reel set to the heavy metal beat of Pantera.
A must-have DVD set for cartoon afficionados of all ages, SpongeBob SquarePants: The First 100 Episodes is a bargain for longtime fans who have yet to buy the individual seasons, and serves as an immersive introduction for those new to the classic series. (For the complete SpongeBob experience, be sure to add a copy of The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie, which isn’t included in the box set.) So, grab a Krabby Patty, pull on your squarest pair of pants, and prepare to dive deep into the world of SpongeBob SquarePants!
Dig this 2-part Fresh Ink Online special where host Blair Butler chats with comic book legend Brian Michael Bendis at Golden Apple Comics in Hollywood.
In Part 1, they chat about the evolution of Spiderwoman, from The Avengers to his upcoming print and motion comic editions, which leads to a spirited discussion of comics going digital via Kindle, iTunes, and Apple or Microsoft tablets. What does the future hold for comic books and does going digital represent the death of print media?
In Part 2, Blair and Brian chat about the evolution of intellectual property and creator owned books. They get into the history of bringing his acclaimed comic Torso to the big screen and he gives insight into consulting on the Iron Man movie and being part of the Marvel creative committee. You’ll also get juicy details on the Powers TV pilot for FX, plus updates on Kenneth Branagh’s upcoming Thor movie and the upcoming Avengers movie. In addition, Brian talks about the re-launch of Powers on November 27 and the December launch of Marvel’s 4-issue mini-series Siege, which kicks off with the Siege of the Cabal debut issue, unites Thor, Iron Man and Captain America, and marks a seismic shift in the Avengers books via the end of the Dark Reign plot. Whew!
Star Wars: The Clone Wars: Republic Heroes is now available for the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, PLAYSTATION 3 computer entertainment system, Wii, PlayStation 2 computer entertainment system, PSP (PlayStation Portable) system, Nintendo DS and PC.
Star Wars: The Clone Wars: Republic Heroes allows players to fight as both Jedi Knights and clone troopers through over 40 unique missions, all created from shared visual assets from the TV series. Featuring a brand-new storyline, players get the chance to take part in the key events that lead directly into the highly anticipated second season of the animated series, Star Wars: The Clone Wars. Jedi characters can slice and dice their way through countless enemies, commandeer droids and show off their combat prowess on foot and in a variety of vehicles. Clone troopers fire things up with a heavy weapons armament that includes rocket launchers, thermal detonators and even jet packs in levels built specifically to take run-and-gun gameplay to exciting levels.
To capture the Jedi Master and Padawan dynamic, as well as the squad camaraderie of everyone’s favorite clone troopers, the game also supports two player local drop-in and drop-out cooperative play on the Xbox 360, PLAYSTATION 3 and Wii. Families have made the television series a cross-generational success and now they can truly experience the most authentic Star Wars: The Clone Wars video game experience together.
Sculpting:
The 16″ tall vinyl doll reuses the basic Miss Piggy body that is the foundation for every dressed doll in the Miss Piggy Collection. The doll is an absolutely perfect likeness of the Muppet character it’s based on, capturing Miss Piggy’s outgoing personality so well that you nearly expect the doll to come to life and start channeling the attitude of her on-screen counterpart.
Packaging:
When First Mate Piggy arrives in the mail, three layers of cardboard armour surround the well-protected doll. It’s doubtful that the hull of the USS Swinetrek is even this thick and effective! Inside the corrugated shipping box is a sleeve of white corrugated cardboard that slides over the doll box. Since the doll is not meant to be displayed in its packaging, the doll box has no window, affording an extra measure of protection. Sturdy yet simple in design, the doll’s glossy box is a sophisticated lavender and white with just a small Miss Piggy Collection logo adorning the shoebox-style lid, much like the boxes fancy perfumes come in. Inside the box is a lift-out cardboard liner tray with a foam pad at each end. A sheet of tissue paper is folded around the entire tray, and a soft netting is wrapped around the doll’s head to keep the wig tidily in place. The box is deep enough that the doll doesn’t come near to touching the lid, so the tissue paper doesn’t actually protect anything, but it is an appropriately feminine accent. In place of the wire twist-ties that are most often used to secure dolls in their packaging, satin ribbons are threaded up through the liner tray’s bottom to tie the doll to the back of the box. Besides leaving no unsightly impression marks on the doll like the wire ties tend to, the ribbons add to the elegance of the presentation and make it very easy to remove the doll from the box or secure her back in.
Paint:
The only paintwork on First Mate Piggy is on her face, and is perfectly clean and smooth in application. The eyes are even, and the black eyeliner and purple eyeshadow realistically mimic the look of real make-up. A light “blush” is sprayed on to give Miss Piggy her apple cheeks.
Articulation:
Unlike the majority of Tonner’s fully articulated dolls, the Miss Piggy doll only has five points of articulation: neck, shoulders, and hips. While this eliminates the unsightly exposed seams of jointed elbows and knees, it does drastically reduce the doll’s posability. With a character as theatrical as Miss Piggy, it’s a bit disappointing to not be able to display her in her trademark diva poses.
Accessories:
First Mate Piggy doesn’t come with any accessories, since she really didn’t have any recurring props on the show. She also lacks a display stand, which is an essential item for a doll that can’t bend well enough to sit on the edge of a shelf. Tonner does offer a saddle-style 16″ stand and waist-gripper 17″ stand, though, for a very minimal price, and selling the stands separately allows customers the flexibility to choose exactly how they want to display their doll.
Outfit:
Miss Piggy’s silver first mate uniform is a nearly exact recreation of the one she wore on the Swinetrek bridge, a knit dress embroidered with the Pigs in Space logo and sprinkled with appliqué stars across the chest. The stars, made of the stiff plastic that sequins are normally made of, tend to get their points caught in the fabric of the dress, so a softer material for them would have been ideal. They should also be white rather than silver. Beneath the dress are a pair of stretchy silver tights, and the silver, faux-leather belt secures around the waist with a metal snap. The doll comes fully dressed except for the gloves, epaulets, and boots, which are stapled to the side of the box in plastic bags. A lot of doll gloves are just crude mitts, sometimes with partial finger separations sewn in to give the illusion of being fingered, but this doll’s gloves, made of the same material as the tights, are real gloves in miniature. This attention to realism makes the gloves a bit of a challenge to get on, as the seams can easily pop when stretching the form-fitting fabric over Miss Piggy’s hands, but the end result is well worth the effort. The faux-leather epaulets easily attach over the gloves with velcro tabs, and the matching boots have zippers hidden in the back seam to make them easier to pull on. Note that, despite no labels on the packaging to let you know, the boots are foot-specific. The boot for the leg that’s bent at the knee is slightly shorter in the back so that the boot cuff won’t bunch. As a finishing touch to the doll, you just need to fluff up the gorgeous wig to give it Miss Piggy’s famous, gravity-defying volume and bounce.
A growing selection of additional outfits and custom-made, changeable wigs are currently available in the Miss Piggy Collection, but remember, “Miss Piggy cannot (and will not) share clothing with other pigs.”
First Mate Piggy comes in a limited edition of 1000, at a price of $159.99. She’s a fabulous gift for Miss Piggy and sci-fi fans, and now that Miss Piggy has made her sci-fi debut at Tonner, hopefully the company will also make Mermaid Piggy as a fantasy companion piece.
The leading lady of Pigs in Space will soon have some new sci-fi companions, as well. Tonner currently has plans to release BBC-approved Doctor Who and Torchwood character figures. Brilliant!
The sixth and second to last episode of the season has arrived. It’s definitely one of our favorites. A whole heck of a lot of poop hits the fan on this episode when the Moblins and Neil square off and Neil’s relationships with the Fairy and Old Man get pushed to the limits.
This episode was probably the most difficult to shoot as it rained on us most of the day, so I’m really proud that we were able to pull out what I think is one our best efforts story wise. I hope you enjoy it as well, feel free to tell me if you do or don’t on Facebook and Twitter. And as always, support the show and buy a t-shirt!
