by Chris Ullrich, Nov 12 2009 // 7:00 AM
The news spread through the Internets late yesterday that Fox has decided enough is enough and has officially canceled Joss Whedon’s ratings-challenged show Dollhouse. This seems to be the week for cancellations, actually, as ABC also mercifully axed Eastwick and Hank.
Sadly, the cancellation of Dollhouse really should not come as a surprise given the show’s poor ratings performance this season. As others have speculated around The Flickcast offices, we have to wonder if viewers stayed away this season because they didn’t want to get involved with a show they knew was probably going to get canceled. Whedon fans are somewhat gun-shy after the way Fox treated Firefly — although at least the network gave Dollhouse a second season pickup, which Firefly never had.
Still, any time a show with this kind of devoted fan base is canceled, people are going to be upset. Fortunately, it seems Fox will air the whole 13 episodes made for this season, which is something that most other shows never get to do. Although, having watched the de facto series finale “Epitaph One,” I wonder what Joss and company will end up doing to wrap everything up.
Who knows, maybe they won’t completely and we’ll see Echo and the rest of the Dollhouse gang grace the pages of their own comic sometime in the future?
Posted in: 20th Century Fox · Drama · News · TV · Whedon
Tagged: Dichen Lachman, Dollhouse, Eliza Dushku, Miracle Laurie, Tahmoh Penikett
by John Carle, Nov 11 2009 // 3:15 PM

Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment – $49.99
Score: 7.5
The music game formula is nothing new. Start out with a plastic instrument and pick a song. Successful completion of a song unlocks more popular but increasingly difficult tunes. For your sequel, include the ability to play as various famous recording artists, both living and dead. Lather, rinse, repeat. Occasionally pick a specific band and focus a game around them (i.e. Beatles Rock Band) or them and the music they inspired (like when we found out that Van Halen somehow relates to Third Eye Blind).
So what separates Lego Rock Band from the rest of the pack? Personality. Anyone who has picked up Lego Star Wars or Lego Batman sees that something special that Lego-izing a popular character or moment can bring to the screen. The unique and quirky humor of seeing a stormtroopers explode in to a pile of brings or watching the Lego Riddler get locked up in jail hold a special place in our hearts because we don’t just love Star Wars and Batman, but we love Lego too. Sorry Megablocks. It’s great to see that this humor carries over to give the Rock Band series not only its first ever “story” mode, but translates in to unique visuals that fit both the Rock Band and Lego licenses well.
Continue Reading →
Posted in: MTV · Music · Playstation 3 · Reviews · Video Games · Warner Bros · Wii · Xbox 360
Tagged: David Bowie, Lego, Lego Rock Band, Queen, Reviews, Rock Band, Rock Band 2, Video Game Reviews, Video Games, Xbox 360
by Joe Gillis, Nov 11 2009 // 2:15 PM
We get a lot of video sent to us so we don’t always share them here at the site, mostly because in a majority of cases guests on Jimmy Fallon’s show don’t really “wow” us. But when one of our favorite stars from one of the best shows currently on TV does something awesome, we just feel compelled to bring it to you.
Case in point is last night’s appearance by the beautiful and talented January Jones (Mad Men). On the show she talked about the usual stuff as most talk show guests do. She also joined Jimmy in a little game of what we like to call beer pong and we’ve got video of that to share.
Any woman who’s as good looking as Ms. Jones, can play beer pong and comments when her beer isn’t full enough definitely deserves our respect, admiration and affection. Plus, did I mention she’s really great looking?
Check out the video after the jump. Late Night with Jimmy Fallon airs weeknights at 12:30PM on NBC. Mad Men returns to AMC for a fourth season next year. That just can’t come soon enough.
Continue Reading →
Posted in: AMC · Comedy · Drama · NBC · News · Talk Shows · TV · Video
Tagged: Beer Pong, January Jones, Late Night With Jimmy Fallon, Mad Men
by Cortney Zamm, Nov 11 2009 // 1:15 PM
Even geeks need to keep warm, right? Especially in the frozen wasteland of Hoth. That’s why ThinkGeek has created the Tauntaun Sleeping Bag.
The sleeping bag comes complete with complete with saddle, printed internal intestines, a plush lightsaber zipper pull, and comfortable Tauntaun pillow head.
Once you get your hands on one of these babies, you’ll be the coolest person to have sleepovers with or you’ll educate your young ones about how The Empire Strikes Back is the best film of the Star Wars saga. Either way, the Tauntaun Sleeping Bag will set you back $99.99, a fair price to pay for supreme geek gear.
Tauntaun Sleeping Bags start shipping November 30th, just in time for the holiday season. Check back with The Flickcast for some more awesome holiday gift ideas to impress even the geekiest of your friends.
Posted in: Gear · Geek · Kids · News · Star Wars
Tagged: Sleeping Bag, Star Wars, Tauntaun, The Empire Strikes Back
by Matt Raub, Nov 11 2009 // 12:15 PM
While most of the country got to watch the Yankees take home the World Series over the past two weeks, fans of the hit FOX show Glee had to sit and wait while their show was on hiatus. That wait ends tonight with the brand new episode, “Wheels.”
In tonight’s episode, the glee club is still on the road to the sectionals, and tonight the story is more about Artie (Kevin McHale). The rest of the group realizes how difficult it can be for Artie to have to keep up from the confines of a wheelchair, so Will (Matthew Morrison) decides to show everyone just how hard it can be.
Tonight’s episode features the songs “Dancing With Myself” by Billy Idol, “Defying Gravity” from the Broadway show Wicked and Ike and Tina Turner’s “Proud Mary.” Check out the clips after the jump, and be sure to catch “Wheels” tonight, November 11th, from 9:00-10:00 PM ET/PT on FOX.
Continue Reading →
Posted in: 20th Century Fox · Exclusive · Music · Musicals · Networks · News · TV
Tagged: Billy Idol, Fox, Glee, Kevin McHale, Matthew Morrison, Tina Turner, Wicked
by Joe Gillis, Nov 11 2009 // 11:00 AM
This week on The Flickcast, Chris and Matt are joined by special guest Elisabeth Rappe and they waste no time diving into a whole ne batch of topics for the show. Some of these topics include Jim Cameron’s Avatar, Francis Lawrence’s Sgt. Rock movie for Warner Bros., Will Smith’s career and his remake of Oldboy, upcoming holiday movies, Cuba Gooding, Jr.’s career, clones, clones, clones and much more.
The three also made some cool picks this week, as they always do, including Elisabeth’s pick of the Netflix movie streaming service which features tons of great content, Matt’s pick of the sci-fi classic The Last Starfighter and Chris’ pick of the new V series on ABC which features, among others, Lost’s Elizabeth Mitchell, Party of Five’s Scott Wolf and Firefly’s Morena Bacarrin and Alan Tudyuk
As always, if you have comments, questions, critiques or offers of sponsorship, feel free to hit us up in the comments, on Twitter and at Facebook, MySpace or via email.
Posted in: ABC · Movies · Podcasts · TV
Tagged: Alan Tudyuk, Avatar, Episode 31, Firefly, James Cameron, Kenneth Johnson, Morena Bacarrin, Natalie Portman, Netflix, Oldboy, Serenity, Sgt. Rock, The Last Starfighter, V, Will Smith
by Joe Gillis, Nov 11 2009 // 10:00 AM
Our friends at Marvel have sent us yet another video that we can bring you. This time, its a character profile of Silver Surfer from from their animated kid’s show Super Hero Squad, which airs weekdays on Cartoon Network.
The video is pretty cute, especially if you’re a kid and helps to understans the motivations and history of one of the most complex and interesting characters in the Marvel U. So, be sure to check out the video after the jump.
Also, as we are asked to do, following is the text the company has sent along to go with the video. And again, be sure to click through and enjoy the video.
Silver Surfer
As the Squad’s resident alien, the Surfer is a fish-out-of-water, constantly puzzled and amazed at the strange customs and culture of Earthlings. The Surfer, for all his innocence, is in hiding.
Continue Reading →
Posted in: Animation · Comics · Kids · Marvel · News · TV · Video
Tagged: Captain America, Cyclops, Hulk, Silver Surfer, Super Hero Squad, Wolverine
by Matt Raub, Nov 11 2009 // 9:00 AM
A few months ago, there was a little gathering of pop culture fans that some call San Diego Comic-Con. There, movie studios bring projects that are upcoming to show off, and almost every time, one of the fans shoots the footage on their phone and later posts it on the internet. This has happened to some of the bigger projects of the past few years, from Spider-Man to Iron Man, and it even happened to Matthew Vaughn’s Kick-Ass.
For a while, that bootleg footage was all we had to go by, until now. Lionsgate Studios has been on the marketing warpath this week, with the release of the first Kick-Ass posters hitting the web a few days ago. We now have our hands on the first theatrical teaser for the film, which is even more to salivate over.
The film, which is based on the ongoing Marvel series written by Mark Millar with art by John Romita Jr., stars such names as Nicolas Cage, Christopher Mintz-Plasse (McLovin), and relative unknown Aaron Johnson taking on the titular role of Kick-Ass.
Check out the first new teaser after the jump, which looks to already have some great panel adaptation, even in a two-minute teaser. Kick-Ass will hit theaters on April 16th, 2010.
Continue Reading →
Posted in: Action · Adaptation · Comics · Lionsgate · Marvel · Movies · News · Trailers · Video
Tagged: Aaron Johnson, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, John Romita Jr., Kick-Ass, Lionsgate, Mark Millar, Nicolas Cage, Trailer
by Chris Ullrich, Nov 11 2009 // 8:00 AM
To be honest, I just assumed this was something that had already happened. For someone who created such an enduring TV and film legacy and such a phenomenon, I thought Gene Roddenberry was already in the TV Academy Hall of Fame. Apparently, I was wrong because at a special ceremony at the Beverly Hills Hotel next year, the “Great Bird of the Galaxy” himself will join the ranks of Academy Hall of Fame inductees.
Other inductees to be honored at the ceremony include Candice Bergen, production and art director Charles Lisanby, announcer Don Pardo, Tom and Dick Smothers and game show producer Bob Stewart. Seriously, and I apologize in advance for the rant I’m about to go on, the guy who created Star Trek and Don Pardo are getting the Hall of Fame treatment at the same time? Come on TV Academy, what the heck are you thinking?
I don’t think I’m alone here, and this is nothing personal against Mr. Pardo who’s great at what he does, but Star Trek is one of the most popular, longest lasting and incredibly innovative pop culture icons ever created in the history of TV and the guy who announces Saturday Night Live and some production designer get into the Academy Hall of Fame at the same time as he does? I just don’t get it. I guess all I can say at this point is about frakkin’ time.
Posted in: Events · Fandom · Movies · News · Paramount · Sci-Fi · Star Trek · TV
Tagged: Gene Roddenberry, Great Bird of the Galaxy, Star Trek, Star Trek: The Next Generation, TV Academy Hall of Fame
by Matt Raub, Nov 11 2009 // 7:00 AM
On what started off as a slow news week, we already have the premiere of two brand new trailers today, the first of which being a brand new trailer of Louis Leterrier’s remake of the 1981 classic, Clash of the Titans.
Though the original is considered sacred by some (and schlock by others), the newest trailer looks to legitimize the story even more. Conceptually, this is the proportionate size that this film should have been, and technology is finally at a place where a director like Leterrier can pull it off.
The film stars Sam Worthington, Gemma Aterton, and some of the coolest casting decisions for Greek gods ever seen. In no particular order, Liam Neeson is stepping in a Zeus, Ralph Fiennes is playing Hades, and Danny Huston (X-Men Origins: Wolverine) will be playing Poseidon.
Check out the first full trailer after the jump, and try not to hold the line “Titans Will Clash” against the film. Clash of the Titans hits theaters March 26th, 2010.
Continue Reading →
Posted in: Action · Casting · Classics · Movies · News · Trailers · Warner Bros
Tagged: Clash of the Titans, Danny Huston, Gemma Aterton, Liam Neeson, Louis Leterrier, Ralph Fiennes, Sam Worthington
by Joe Gillis, Nov 10 2009 // 4:15 PM

Here’s a list of some of the new movie and TV shows coming to DVD and Blu-ray this week that we’re looking forward to seeing. Also, there’s some classic, and not-so-classic, movies hitting Blu-ray for the first time this week as well.
Of all the new releases, we’re particularly interested in the Blu-ray versions of movies and TV shows such as Michael Mann’s awesome film Heat (shown above with Robert De Nero and Val Kilmer), Logan’s Run, Up, Monsters, Inc. and the Watchmen “Ultimate” Cut. Plus, there’s the second volume of Batman: The Brave and the Bold coming out this week as well.
Check them out:
Movies
The Accidental Husband ~ Uma Thurman, Colin Firth, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, and Sam Shepard (DVD and Blu-ray)
The General (1926) (Silent) ~ Buster Keaton (Blu-ray)
Heat ~ Al Pacino, Robert De Niro, Val Kilmer (Blu-ray)
Logan’s Run ~ Michael York (Blu-ray)
Love Finds a Home ~ Patty Duke, Jordan Bridges, Haylie Duff (DVD and Blu-ray)
Monsters, Inc. (4-Disc Edition) ~ Billy Crystal, John Goodman, Bonnie Hunt (DVD and Blu-ray)
Near Dark ~ Lance Henriksen, Adrian Pasdar, Bill Paxton, Jenny Wright (Blu-ray)
Continue Reading →
Posted in: DVD · Movies · News · TV
Tagged: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Batman: The Brave and the Bold, Frank Oz, Heat, Jim Henson, Kim Kardashian, Logan's Run, Michael Mann, Monsters Inc., Red Heat, Robert De Niro, Sesame Street, Up, Val Kilmer, Watchmen, Zack Snyder
by Joe Gillis, Nov 10 2009 // 3:30 PM
Director Francis Lawrence, who’s previous credits include I Am Legend, Constantine and TV’s Kings has picked up another directing gig. He will take on the big screen adaptation of DC’s comic character Sgt. Rock for producers Joel Silver and Akiva Goldsman. The film, who’s previous director Guy Ritchie left to take on DC’s Lobo adaptation, will be scripted by relative newcomer Chad St. John.
Another change announced for this project is the shift from a WWII setting, where in the comics Sgt. Rock leads his “Easy Company” team of soldiers against the Nazis, to the future where, reportedly, the producers feel the film will be more universally accepted due to the comic’s current “pro-America” stance. Plus, the producers are worried about the relative box office success of a big budget WWII action film, Tarantino’s Inglourious Basterds notwithstanding.
I guess both of those things make sense. Although, I would argue that WWII is a great place to set a movie and Nazis are always okay as bad guys. Look at the huge success of the Call of Duty video game franchise and Tarantinio’s film as examples. Setting the film in the future, whatever that might mean, just seems kinda like a cop out.
No word on casting or a release date for the film as of yet. Or on what further changes will be made to the premise. We’ll keep an eye on this one and let you know what develops.
Posted in: Action · Adaptation · Comics · DC · Deals and Dealmaking · Movies · News · War · Warner Bros
Tagged: Constantine, Easy Company, Francis Lawrence, Guy Ritchie, I Am Legend, Kings, Sgt. Rock