This episode centers on Arizona MC Random (aka MegaRan) and his compatriot K-Murdock. Random recently gave up his job as a college professor in order to pursue his dream of being a successful rapper. We caught up with Random and Murdock in the midst of touring the country before heading back here in July for Nerdapalooza.
A preservation of my history and occasional insights into the present
Thursday, June 30, 2011
Count3rCu1ture - A Random Episode
Brand new episode of Count3rCu1ture premieres not now...but right now.
This episode centers on Arizona MC Random (aka MegaRan) and his compatriot K-Murdock. Random recently gave up his job as a college professor in order to pursue his dream of being a successful rapper. We caught up with Random and Murdock in the midst of touring the country before heading back here in July for Nerdapalooza.
This episode centers on Arizona MC Random (aka MegaRan) and his compatriot K-Murdock. Random recently gave up his job as a college professor in order to pursue his dream of being a successful rapper. We caught up with Random and Murdock in the midst of touring the country before heading back here in July for Nerdapalooza.
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Meet "Scrap Daddy"
(What I thought was originally going on with this? Not quite what I thought was going on. Therefore, re-presenting...)
It was recently announced in the world of professional wrestling that, after nearly 16 years in the business, a former multiple-time World Champion has suffered a neck injury that has resulted in a potentially debilitating situation. With that in mind, he had to announce that he is going on “One Last Ride”.
Wait a minute, when did Edge announce he was going on one last run to say goodbye? Who the hell mentioned Edge?
Author: Al Pavangkanan from Van Nuys, USA
Courtesy of WikiMedia Commons
“Scrap Iron” Adam Pearce began his career in 1996 and had his first match shortly before he graduated high school. From there, he went on to work all over the independent circuit in the US, as well as in Mexico and Japan. He was the second-ever Pro Wrestling Guerilla world champion as well as the National Wrestling Alliance (yes, they are still around, thanks for asking) World Champion on three separate occasions.
“Scrap Iron” may be most well-known for his stint in Ring of Honor (where I first noticed and became a fan of his work). Pearce led the charge during that promotion’s feud with CZW and then became one of the most hated men in the ring. Pearce then took a different turn within the company and vanished from the ring altogether when he became the matchmaker for Ring of Honor after Gabe Sopolsky left the company.
Pearce has come this close to tasting the fame of the big time several times, but has shied away from the mainstream spotlight. He has been the Ultimate Pro Wrestling Champion when that promotion was a developmental system for World Wrestling Entertainment. He had also worked several television matches for WWE, which led to interest from backstage agent Terry Taylor after he left for WCW. He had two separate tryouts with World Championship Wrestling and was offered a contract - only to turn them both down for different reasons. He has been in the ring with “Diamond” Dallas Page, “The Masterpiece” Chris Masters, and has feuded with Sean Waltman, better known as X-Pac.
“Scrap Iron” Adam Pearce is the epitome of the journeyman wrestler in 2011. He has wrestled and traveled all over the world and has tasted success on his own terms. In today’s culture of bright lights and “sports entertainment”, Pearce is the epitome of a wrestler who has flown under the radar and thrived in doing so.
There’s much more to the story of Adam Pearce than can be written here. The stories he has to tell from his time on the road, as well as his own story of being the ultimate journeyman in 2011, is a fascinating tale better told by Pearce himself. As well as the story of "One Last Ride", which he still has yet to take. All of those stories will be told - by Pearce himself - here very soon.
In case you want to get more lowdown on Pearce's condition, give a listen to The Greg DeMarco Show courtesy of 411Mania Radio. Yes, my old stomping ground has gotten in to the broad-podcast business! Very happy for the crew there. In addition to getting some more info on Pearce, Ari Berenstein drops by and talks about the latest Ring of Honor iPPV, "Best In The World:
It was recently announced in the world of professional wrestling that, after nearly 16 years in the business, a former multiple-time World Champion has suffered a neck injury that has resulted in a potentially debilitating situation. With that in mind, he had to announce that he is going on “One Last Ride”.
Wait a minute, when did Edge announce he was going on one last run to say goodbye? Who the hell mentioned Edge?
Author: Al Pavangkanan from Van Nuys, USA
Courtesy of WikiMedia Commons
“Scrap Iron” Adam Pearce began his career in 1996 and had his first match shortly before he graduated high school. From there, he went on to work all over the independent circuit in the US, as well as in Mexico and Japan. He was the second-ever Pro Wrestling Guerilla world champion as well as the National Wrestling Alliance (yes, they are still around, thanks for asking) World Champion on three separate occasions.
“Scrap Iron” may be most well-known for his stint in Ring of Honor (where I first noticed and became a fan of his work). Pearce led the charge during that promotion’s feud with CZW and then became one of the most hated men in the ring. Pearce then took a different turn within the company and vanished from the ring altogether when he became the matchmaker for Ring of Honor after Gabe Sopolsky left the company.
Pearce has come this close to tasting the fame of the big time several times, but has shied away from the mainstream spotlight. He has been the Ultimate Pro Wrestling Champion when that promotion was a developmental system for World Wrestling Entertainment. He had also worked several television matches for WWE, which led to interest from backstage agent Terry Taylor after he left for WCW. He had two separate tryouts with World Championship Wrestling and was offered a contract - only to turn them both down for different reasons. He has been in the ring with “Diamond” Dallas Page, “The Masterpiece” Chris Masters, and has feuded with Sean Waltman, better known as X-Pac.
“Scrap Iron” Adam Pearce is the epitome of the journeyman wrestler in 2011. He has wrestled and traveled all over the world and has tasted success on his own terms. In today’s culture of bright lights and “sports entertainment”, Pearce is the epitome of a wrestler who has flown under the radar and thrived in doing so.
There’s much more to the story of Adam Pearce than can be written here. The stories he has to tell from his time on the road, as well as his own story of being the ultimate journeyman in 2011, is a fascinating tale better told by Pearce himself. As well as the story of "One Last Ride", which he still has yet to take. All of those stories will be told - by Pearce himself - here very soon.
In case you want to get more lowdown on Pearce's condition, give a listen to The Greg DeMarco Show courtesy of 411Mania Radio. Yes, my old stomping ground has gotten in to the broad-podcast business! Very happy for the crew there. In addition to getting some more info on Pearce, Ari Berenstein drops by and talks about the latest Ring of Honor iPPV, "Best In The World:
Listen to internet radio with Greg DeMarco on Blog Talk Radio
Sunday, June 26, 2011
Shut That Camera Off: Apple Targets Concert Filming - Blogcritics Music
Apple gets in bed with the major record labels. Censorship controversy ensues.
More of the ongoing saga of the corporate fatcats who want to control the new media vs. the future.
More of the ongoing saga of the corporate fatcats who want to control the new media vs. the future.
MegaRan and Storyville with Lost Perception - "One Winged Angel"
One of the coolest songs on one of the coolest albums so far this year now has its own video. How cool is that?
MegaRan's delivery on this song is top-notch. But this is the one track that Storyville could well out-shine him on. You now know, if you didn't before (and it's not like Advent Children made it easy or anything), why Sephiroth is the way he is and how he feels. Which, according to Storyville, is so nihilistic it's frightening. Excellent stuff.
We'll talk more about that with MegaRan - and K-Murdock! - as well as returning for Nerdapalooza 2011 and a lot more. Well, I already did talk to him, but this Thursday, you'll get to see it. You may also get to see another track from Black Materia: Final Fantasy VII performed live...
...oh, and kid-you-not - the moment I post this, Davey Richards takes the title from Eddie Edwards and carries Ring of Honor in to its future with Sinclair Broadcasting. Big congratulations to Richards, who has fought for this a long time now and should make a hell of a representative for Ring of Honor.
First pics of the new champ come courtesy of Ring of Honor announcer Dave Prazak:
MegaRan's delivery on this song is top-notch. But this is the one track that Storyville could well out-shine him on. You now know, if you didn't before (and it's not like Advent Children made it easy or anything), why Sephiroth is the way he is and how he feels. Which, according to Storyville, is so nihilistic it's frightening. Excellent stuff.
We'll talk more about that with MegaRan - and K-Murdock! - as well as returning for Nerdapalooza 2011 and a lot more. Well, I already did talk to him, but this Thursday, you'll get to see it. You may also get to see another track from Black Materia: Final Fantasy VII performed live...
...oh, and kid-you-not - the moment I post this, Davey Richards takes the title from Eddie Edwards and carries Ring of Honor in to its future with Sinclair Broadcasting. Big congratulations to Richards, who has fought for this a long time now and should make a hell of a representative for Ring of Honor.
First pics of the new champ come courtesy of Ring of Honor announcer Dave Prazak:
Saturday, June 25, 2011
Count3rCu1ture News Desk: 06.25.11
Another edition of the news desk features two brand new songs, DC Comics continuing to wuss out, and a wrestling promo you have to see to believe. Let’s get in to this.
Music Fuels The Savage Beast
First off, two new tracks from Apathy off of his new album, out August 23. The album that holds the honor of having my single favorite title of 2011 (at the very least)...Honkey Kong.
Track one is the first official single, “Check to Check”. Slightly more laid back than I’m used to from Ap on first listen. But a few more have revealed a focus and drive that Ap conveys best in a great track about trying to make it in today’s entertainment business.
Second up is new music from Anthrax. Oh yeah, you heard. The band’s first new album in seven years - and their first with Joey Belladonna in 21 years (!) - is upon us, as Worship Music is out September 13.
Now, most that know or have read me know I was totally against the idea of John Bush being ditched in favor of bringing back Belladonna. However, I have to say after seeing that lineup live last year, I will totally admit I was in the wrong here. They sound as good as they ever have on stage with Belladonna back in the fold.
So how does that translate in to new studio music? Holy crap, man. Almost like they never left.
Seriously, go get “Fight ‘Em ‘Til You Can’t”, like, right now. Trust me on this one. You won’t be sorry.
Superman Fears Politics
Remember when Superman renounced his American citizenship? And then had to take that back because of the reaction? DC apparently learned a lesson about how much the mainstream does not want to have to think when reading comics, because they did it again this week in much quieter fashion.
CBR broke the story that DC had announced in its weekly email to comic shop retailers that Superman #712 (which came out this past Wednesday) would have a completely different story that was inserted at the last minute. The original story, which was to be part of the “Grounded” story (which features Superman walking across America reconnecting with the people...think about that one for a second), saw Superman arrive in Los Angeles and featured a Muslim superhero called Sharif.
DC’s official reason? “DC Comics determined that the previously solicited story did not work within the "Grounded" storyline.“
Why is this a line of bull? The originally solicited issue promised a story where "Sharif discovers that in today’s current cultural climate, some people don’t want his help – they just want him gone."
What officially makes DC’s reason a line of bull? Writer Chris Roberson himself told CBR, "As much as I look forward to seeing an unpublished Kurt Busiek Superman story, it's a shame that DC didn't determine that the story we prepared for Superman 712 didn't work in the Grounded storyline in time for us to do a different story. As it happened, the Sharif story was included in the outline for the remaining issues of Grounded that I submitted in November. The outline was approved, and in February the issue synopsis that I provided was used to draft the solicitation text, to work up character designs for Sharif (the grown up version of Sinbad from the early 90s), and for cover art to be pencilled, inked, and colored. The script for the issue was accepted in April, and was drawn, inked, and lettered. Unfortunately, when the issue was ready to be sent to the printer in the third week of May I was informed that the decision had been made not to print it."
I’ve written about this sort of thing before. Nearly six years. Only then, it had to do with the WWE character Mohammed Hassan. When WWE turned a sympathetic American character with Arab origins in to the typical, one-dimensional “USA-hock-*ptui!*” heel, I thought it was a shame that a character like that couldn’t be used because of how people wouldoverreact in such a knee-jerk fashion. It’s a shame that, five years after that, there’s been no growth in the area of public conscious and intelligence whatsoever.
To their credit, DC realized this before they had a chance to come under from Fox News and the rest of those zombies for the second time in a few months. It’s just a crying shame they’ve been forced to do so.
What could have been:
The unused cover for Superman #712
”What y’all boys know about the Murphy Rec Center?”
In promoting this Sunday’s “Best In The World” show from Ring of Honor - as well as their future under the Sinclair Broadcast Group banner - the Briscoe Brothers aired a promo on YouTube. Some people love it, others hate it.
Put me in the former category. I’m pretty sure now I can officially declare the Briscoes (not Jack and Jerry, mind you) my favorite tag team ever. Part of it is because they go non-stop, from bell-to-bell, at a pace that has to be seen to be believed. The other reason is because the Redneck gimmick isn’t really a gimmick. What you see with jay and Mark is what you get. They’ll speak out about how they feel, and that stalwart passion has turned in to one of the best promos so far this year.
Bear in mind, though, this is NSFW due to bad language:
Whether it’s part of the storyline or not, I totally believe that they feel as if they’ve been overlooked and they’re looking to prove that they’re the team to take Ring of Honor in to the new frontier. And that’s what good wrestling should make me do - believe.
And speaking of the “Best In The World”, I’d lastly like to welcome back Ari Berenstein and the Column of Honor. I don’t know if this is a return to regular duty or not, but Ari previews “Best in The World” better than anyone else could even think about attempting. In short, it’s what he does and I’m glad to see it back for this.
Music Fuels The Savage Beast
First off, two new tracks from Apathy off of his new album, out August 23. The album that holds the honor of having my single favorite title of 2011 (at the very least)...Honkey Kong.
Track one is the first official single, “Check to Check”. Slightly more laid back than I’m used to from Ap on first listen. But a few more have revealed a focus and drive that Ap conveys best in a great track about trying to make it in today’s entertainment business.
Second up is new music from Anthrax. Oh yeah, you heard. The band’s first new album in seven years - and their first with Joey Belladonna in 21 years (!) - is upon us, as Worship Music is out September 13.
Now, most that know or have read me know I was totally against the idea of John Bush being ditched in favor of bringing back Belladonna. However, I have to say after seeing that lineup live last year, I will totally admit I was in the wrong here. They sound as good as they ever have on stage with Belladonna back in the fold.
So how does that translate in to new studio music? Holy crap, man. Almost like they never left.
Seriously, go get “Fight ‘Em ‘Til You Can’t”, like, right now. Trust me on this one. You won’t be sorry.
Superman Fears Politics
Remember when Superman renounced his American citizenship? And then had to take that back because of the reaction? DC apparently learned a lesson about how much the mainstream does not want to have to think when reading comics, because they did it again this week in much quieter fashion.
CBR broke the story that DC had announced in its weekly email to comic shop retailers that Superman #712 (which came out this past Wednesday) would have a completely different story that was inserted at the last minute. The original story, which was to be part of the “Grounded” story (which features Superman walking across America reconnecting with the people...think about that one for a second), saw Superman arrive in Los Angeles and featured a Muslim superhero called Sharif.
DC’s official reason? “DC Comics determined that the previously solicited story did not work within the "Grounded" storyline.“
Why is this a line of bull? The originally solicited issue promised a story where "Sharif discovers that in today’s current cultural climate, some people don’t want his help – they just want him gone."
What officially makes DC’s reason a line of bull? Writer Chris Roberson himself told CBR, "As much as I look forward to seeing an unpublished Kurt Busiek Superman story, it's a shame that DC didn't determine that the story we prepared for Superman 712 didn't work in the Grounded storyline in time for us to do a different story. As it happened, the Sharif story was included in the outline for the remaining issues of Grounded that I submitted in November. The outline was approved, and in February the issue synopsis that I provided was used to draft the solicitation text, to work up character designs for Sharif (the grown up version of Sinbad from the early 90s), and for cover art to be pencilled, inked, and colored. The script for the issue was accepted in April, and was drawn, inked, and lettered. Unfortunately, when the issue was ready to be sent to the printer in the third week of May I was informed that the decision had been made not to print it."
I’ve written about this sort of thing before. Nearly six years. Only then, it had to do with the WWE character Mohammed Hassan. When WWE turned a sympathetic American character with Arab origins in to the typical, one-dimensional “USA-hock-*ptui!*” heel, I thought it was a shame that a character like that couldn’t be used because of how people would
To their credit, DC realized this before they had a chance to come under from Fox News and the rest of those zombies for the second time in a few months. It’s just a crying shame they’ve been forced to do so.
What could have been:
The unused cover for Superman #712
”What y’all boys know about the Murphy Rec Center?”
In promoting this Sunday’s “Best In The World” show from Ring of Honor - as well as their future under the Sinclair Broadcast Group banner - the Briscoe Brothers aired a promo on YouTube. Some people love it, others hate it.
Put me in the former category. I’m pretty sure now I can officially declare the Briscoes (not Jack and Jerry, mind you) my favorite tag team ever. Part of it is because they go non-stop, from bell-to-bell, at a pace that has to be seen to be believed. The other reason is because the Redneck gimmick isn’t really a gimmick. What you see with jay and Mark is what you get. They’ll speak out about how they feel, and that stalwart passion has turned in to one of the best promos so far this year.
Bear in mind, though, this is NSFW due to bad language:
Whether it’s part of the storyline or not, I totally believe that they feel as if they’ve been overlooked and they’re looking to prove that they’re the team to take Ring of Honor in to the new frontier. And that’s what good wrestling should make me do - believe.
And speaking of the “Best In The World”, I’d lastly like to welcome back Ari Berenstein and the Column of Honor. I don’t know if this is a return to regular duty or not, but Ari previews “Best in The World” better than anyone else could even think about attempting. In short, it’s what he does and I’m glad to see it back for this.
Friday, June 24, 2011
Count3rCu1ture Audio Premiere Episode - Summer of Punk 2.0
Welcome to the first edition of Count3rCu1ture...Audio.
Yep, another component of the website goes live as we venture in to the podcast game. Somewhat. See, this isn’t going to be a regular thing. It’s a great way to deliver interviews I may have from time-to-time that aren’t caught on video or a good way to discuss something going in Pop Culture now. And that’s what this will be for.
This is in no way meant as any competition to the shows I listen to on a weekly basis - Slacker and the Man, Nerdy Show, Hipster, Please!, We Love Colt, I Want Wrestling, or Live Audio Wrestling. There’s no way what I can do will be as good as any of those guys. But is that gonna stop me from unloading more content? Of course not.
The first edition is (*Spoiler Alert~!*) wrestling-related and centers on CM Punk and the storyline that took place on the 06.20.11 edition of Monday Night Raw. Hear my thoughts on that, how I think it might play out, and Punk’s possible meaning behind the entire angle by merely clicking on the image below.
Thanks again for reading, listening, watching...whatever you feel like doing here. Keep coming back - it works.
Yep, another component of the website goes live as we venture in to the podcast game. Somewhat. See, this isn’t going to be a regular thing. It’s a great way to deliver interviews I may have from time-to-time that aren’t caught on video or a good way to discuss something going in Pop Culture now. And that’s what this will be for.
This is in no way meant as any competition to the shows I listen to on a weekly basis - Slacker and the Man, Nerdy Show, Hipster, Please!, We Love Colt, I Want Wrestling, or Live Audio Wrestling. There’s no way what I can do will be as good as any of those guys. But is that gonna stop me from unloading more content? Of course not.
The first edition is (*Spoiler Alert~!*) wrestling-related and centers on CM Punk and the storyline that took place on the 06.20.11 edition of Monday Night Raw. Hear my thoughts on that, how I think it might play out, and Punk’s possible meaning behind the entire angle by merely clicking on the image below.
Thanks again for reading, listening, watching...whatever you feel like doing here. Keep coming back - it works.
Thursday, June 23, 2011
Count3rCu1ture - CEO 2011
Part 2 of our CEO 2011 coverage premieres right here!
This edition spotlights all the action at Florida's only major (and EVO sponsored) tournament. We chat with Mike Ross about the tournament as well as take a look at some of the action from this year's tourney.
This edition spotlights all the action at Florida's only major (and EVO sponsored) tournament. We chat with Mike Ross about the tournament as well as take a look at some of the action from this year's tourney.
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Sunday Morning Coming Down - More Digital Disdain: The Story Of Rebecca Black Gets Stranger
Rebecca Black squares off against Ark Records, and the famous video is already a casualty.
This is really late because I did something really dumb. Basically, it was a matter of hitting a button I forgot to hit. Nonetheless, here it is. Enjoy.
This is really late because I did something really dumb. Basically, it was a matter of hitting a button I forgot to hit. Nonetheless, here it is. Enjoy.
CEO on CEO
I was hoping to have CEO Main Man Alex Jebailey on one of the Count3rCu1ture episodes discussing CEO 2011. Unfortunately, it didn't come to pass. And I should have known better, watching him run around playing one man army and busting his ass to make CEO the awesome event that it was.
However, Alex put out his own video(s) talking about the tournament. Hear how it all went, some behind-the-scenes tidbits, and what to expect from CEO 2012 from the man himself. And a big thanks again to Alex for what turned out to be a hell of a time and a hell of an event.
Part 2 of Count3rCu1ture's coverage premieres on June 23. Stay tuned for that and thanks again.
However, Alex put out his own video(s) talking about the tournament. Hear how it all went, some behind-the-scenes tidbits, and what to expect from CEO 2012 from the man himself. And a big thanks again to Alex for what turned out to be a hell of a time and a hell of an event.
Part 2 of Count3rCu1ture's coverage premieres on June 23. Stay tuned for that and thanks again.
Friday, June 17, 2011
Count3rCu1ture - King of Chinatown
That's right - ANOTHER new episode of Count3rCu1ture! Learn all about the EVO Series Championships and the movie "King of Chinatown". Including an interview with Justin Wong!
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Count3rCu1ture - Episode Marc
We are back on the air!
Premiering today is a new episode of Count3rCu1ture featuring...the one, the only...Marc With a C. And some bad language. And some good music. And some bad language describing good music. All in all, a pretty fun show. Please enjoy it!
Monday, June 13, 2011
Ice Loves Coco
I have to preface this before I get in to the show proper. I was terrified of this idea when I first saw the commercials. I grew up on Ice-T. I know most of his catalog - including the work with Body Count - inside and out, for the most part. I own his book, The Ice Opinion, and have read it a few times. I’ve been a huge fan of ”the epitome of antidisestablishmentarianism” for well over 20 years.
All that in mind, of course I’m well aware of his relationship with Coco. I’ve actually met both Ice and Coco down in Tampa a little over seven years ago. Both were as gracious and cool as you’d imagine them being. Looking in from the outside (because that’s all any of us are doing, really), she seems to have made a huge difference in Ice’s life and happiness.
But, does that difference mean taming Ice? Is he the doting-husband-cum-corporate-sellout? Even considering a project like E!’s “Ice Loves Coco” would certainly seem to indicate that, much less making the reality show a reality that premiered Sunday, June 12. That’s why I was terrified of this whole idea - Ice-T being on the same network as the Kardashians (who rank right up there with Paris Hilton in the “why are they popular again?” category) and participating in a reality show that shows his relationship instead of something like, say, his directorial debut documentary he’s working on (The Art Of Rap) made me fear for the worst. But, in knowing how Ice rolls, that may have been an error in judgment.
After seeing the first episode (as well as the preview show they aired in the week leading up to it), I'm relieved to know that Ice knows what he's doing and that E! is on board with it. As indicated, Coco has made a difference in Ice’s happiness, but that doesn’t mean he’s become a punk over it. They're equals. On the same page. Neither plays second fiddle. His interaction with Coco on the show is a man in love with his wife, but who’s still...well, he’s Ice-T.
Take all the Bunnies out of the equation and he’s this generation’s Hugh Hefner. Ice is the epitome of cool. He has what every straight guy wants in Coco and he is what every guy wants to be. “Ice Loves Coco” opens the door to that idea for viewers. Many have seen Ice and Coco out and about on TMZ, Heyman Hustle, and all the other sites and each time they have, the overall thought is mostly the same - “Man, that Ice-T is a cool dude.”
I almost typed “a lucky dude” there, but that would have been horribly inaccurate. Many people point at Jay-Z as the ultimate “ne’er-do-good-made-good” but, to me, Ice has him beat. A few times over. This is a guy that lost his parents at a relatively young age and was a shot-caller (look it up) for the Crips at age 14. He overcame all that and a little more to become one of the most successful men on the planet - and all of it was self-made. Early on in his career, Ice made it a goal to show others that had no hope how to not only escape the dead-end life of the ghetto, but to make it out on top. The “sell-out” accusations are null and void for that reason; selling out indicates an abandonment of principles for the sake of money and fame. Ice not only did what he originally set out to do, but to this day has never lost sight of where he came from and who he is in the process. That’s been in the case ever since his first acting gig as a cop in New Jack City - which he pulled off so well that all the outrage that came from the initial announcement shut right the hell up once the movie made money. This show, so far, is another great example of Ice branching out in to new territory - the same territory that helped him escape a doomed path and also show others the way to do it. And E! is certainly one of the most unlikely places you’d think to look for it.
The show also displays a side of Coco we’re not used to seeing - that of a human being. Men look at her proportions and can’t want to get to the nearest bathroom. Women decry how fake it all looks. The show recognizes her physical appearance (how can it not?), but also focuses more on her personality and her interaction with her man. I’m glad to see that this side of Coco - which I’ve seen in person - now come out to the forefront so the general public can see it and maybe not focus so much on her ass.
All in all, the show doesn’t seem to be at all what I was so afraid of. E!, thank God, is straying away from the “OMGDrama” of the typical reality show and is simply showing one of the most notorious couples in the world just being a couple. If you want to get to know both Tracy Morrow and Nicole Austin, “Ice Loves Coco” is actually a pretty good way to do that. I’m actually looking forward now to watching the rest of the season.
All that in mind, of course I’m well aware of his relationship with Coco. I’ve actually met both Ice and Coco down in Tampa a little over seven years ago. Both were as gracious and cool as you’d imagine them being. Looking in from the outside (because that’s all any of us are doing, really), she seems to have made a huge difference in Ice’s life and happiness.But, does that difference mean taming Ice? Is he the doting-husband-cum-corporate-sellout? Even considering a project like E!’s “Ice Loves Coco” would certainly seem to indicate that, much less making the reality show a reality that premiered Sunday, June 12. That’s why I was terrified of this whole idea - Ice-T being on the same network as the Kardashians (who rank right up there with Paris Hilton in the “why are they popular again?” category) and participating in a reality show that shows his relationship instead of something like, say, his directorial debut documentary he’s working on (The Art Of Rap) made me fear for the worst. But, in knowing how Ice rolls, that may have been an error in judgment.
After seeing the first episode (as well as the preview show they aired in the week leading up to it), I'm relieved to know that Ice knows what he's doing and that E! is on board with it. As indicated, Coco has made a difference in Ice’s happiness, but that doesn’t mean he’s become a punk over it. They're equals. On the same page. Neither plays second fiddle. His interaction with Coco on the show is a man in love with his wife, but who’s still...well, he’s Ice-T.
Take all the Bunnies out of the equation and he’s this generation’s Hugh Hefner. Ice is the epitome of cool. He has what every straight guy wants in Coco and he is what every guy wants to be. “Ice Loves Coco” opens the door to that idea for viewers. Many have seen Ice and Coco out and about on TMZ, Heyman Hustle, and all the other sites and each time they have, the overall thought is mostly the same - “Man, that Ice-T is a cool dude.”
I almost typed “a lucky dude” there, but that would have been horribly inaccurate. Many people point at Jay-Z as the ultimate “ne’er-do-good-made-good” but, to me, Ice has him beat. A few times over. This is a guy that lost his parents at a relatively young age and was a shot-caller (look it up) for the Crips at age 14. He overcame all that and a little more to become one of the most successful men on the planet - and all of it was self-made. Early on in his career, Ice made it a goal to show others that had no hope how to not only escape the dead-end life of the ghetto, but to make it out on top. The “sell-out” accusations are null and void for that reason; selling out indicates an abandonment of principles for the sake of money and fame. Ice not only did what he originally set out to do, but to this day has never lost sight of where he came from and who he is in the process. That’s been in the case ever since his first acting gig as a cop in New Jack City - which he pulled off so well that all the outrage that came from the initial announcement shut right the hell up once the movie made money. This show, so far, is another great example of Ice branching out in to new territory - the same territory that helped him escape a doomed path and also show others the way to do it. And E! is certainly one of the most unlikely places you’d think to look for it.The show also displays a side of Coco we’re not used to seeing - that of a human being. Men look at her proportions and can’t want to get to the nearest bathroom. Women decry how fake it all looks. The show recognizes her physical appearance (how can it not?), but also focuses more on her personality and her interaction with her man. I’m glad to see that this side of Coco - which I’ve seen in person - now come out to the forefront so the general public can see it and maybe not focus so much on her ass.
All in all, the show doesn’t seem to be at all what I was so afraid of. E!, thank God, is straying away from the “OMGDrama” of the typical reality show and is simply showing one of the most notorious couples in the world just being a couple. If you want to get to know both Tracy Morrow and Nicole Austin, “Ice Loves Coco” is actually a pretty good way to do that. I’m actually looking forward now to watching the rest of the season.
Examining the DC Relaunch Part 03: The Heavyweights - Orlando Comic Books | Examiner.com
Concluding with the official word (so far) on Superman and Batman.
We had to know this was coming. Detective and Action Comics have both been announced to be completely reset come September.
I'm taking deep breaths and counting to ten, hoping and praying that Johns and Lee are right about what's to come. I really do.
We had to know this was coming. Detective and Action Comics have both been announced to be completely reset come September.
I'm taking deep breaths and counting to ten, hoping and praying that Johns and Lee are right about what's to come. I really do.
Friday, June 10, 2011
Examining the DC Relaunch Part 02: The Revamps - Orlando Comic Books | Examiner.com
Examiner's in-depth look at the DC Relaunch continues...
And honestly, I have to say my thoughts on the whole things have softened a little since I initially found out. I think my problem came not from that they were throwing away 77+ years of history, but doing it for what seemed like no real good creative reason. After talking to Hex, however, I think I get where they're coming from now.
Do I think this is going to be all roses in the end? Nope. I still give it two years - tops - before they switch it all back. (I've got two words for ya, folks: "New Coke".) But am I now more willing to give it a look and see what they have in mind? Sure, I will. Some of the stuff looks too cool for me not to at least do that.
And honestly, I have to say my thoughts on the whole things have softened a little since I initially found out. I think my problem came not from that they were throwing away 77+ years of history, but doing it for what seemed like no real good creative reason. After talking to Hex, however, I think I get where they're coming from now.
Do I think this is going to be all roses in the end? Nope. I still give it two years - tops - before they switch it all back. (I've got two words for ya, folks: "New Coke".) But am I now more willing to give it a look and see what they have in mind? Sure, I will. Some of the stuff looks too cool for me not to at least do that.
Thursday, June 9, 2011
Examining the DC Relaunch Part 01: The Business - Orlando Comic Books | Examiner.com
Beginning an in-depth, three part look at the DC Relaunch...
Now we're getting a little more in-depth with the "Relaunch", starting with the business side. Tomorrow, we get a little more in to the creative side...
Now we're getting a little more in-depth with the "Relaunch", starting with the business side. Tomorrow, we get a little more in to the creative side...
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
World of Hurt - Review
WWE Tough Enough ended earlier this week, but another wrestling-oriented reality show is still going.
The show is, of course, “World of Hurt” - and for more information on the premise, you can refer back here. At the time, the idea was to do a weekly review of the show...if possible.
The ”if” came from the fact that the show only airs in Canada (on The Cave network, to be exact). There are no real avenues here in the U.S. to be able to see it on a regular basis. However, the first three episodes were available for viewing, and that’s whet we’ll cover here. All in one shot.
Before we do, consider this your official SPOILER WARNING. If you’re able to see the show and don’t want details about the first three episodes that have already aired (including some not-so-pretty pictures), stop right now and hit the “Back” button. I am no longer responsible from this point forward if you read or saw something you shouldn’t have and get mad about it.
A couple caveats about the show already make it stand out just a little more. First, as you may remember, there is no competition here. No big cash prize or a WWE contract is on the line. Rather, ten hopefuls in an advanced class at trainer Lance Storm’s Wrestling Academy are here to learn the finer points ofsports entertainment pro wrestling in an effort to step up their game to make it to the big time. Second, because of that the show is a total of ten episodes for a reason; each episode focuses on a particular trainee (in no discernible order) during their advanced class. That leads us to third, each episode runs the entire duration of the training, culminating in the live event each had to participate in and their post-course evaluation from Storm as to why each one has not made it yet.
Episode 01 concentrates on Australia’s Irena, who “always wanted to be a television star” - an attitude that doesn’t endear her to fellow trainees Dylan Knight (who points out how Irena is not cut out to be in this business), “The French Stallion” Tom La Ruffa (who thinks that because she’s a girl that she simply doesn’t belong, period) and Tenille Tayla (who thinks Irena comes off as being “above” her fellow classmates and not knowing how to be “one of the boys”).
Irena possibly proves them right at approximately 4:45 in when she waayy undershoots a simple back bump:
Owitch. The look on Storm’s face tells that story.
Having to overcome this for the rest of the show , Irena draws sympathy from her friend Taya Valkyrie as well as tempered guidance from Storm himself. She also continues to draw ire from several other trainees who see her as a “diva” (not a WWE performer, mind you) who’s milking her own incompetence for commiseration.
Irena doesn’t win any of them over when she shows up for the live event with minutes to go before her match instead of when she was supposed to – which was to be hours before the event was even supposed to start. Irena’s opponent for the night, KC Spinelli, gets in to a shouting match with her, immediately casting doubt as to whether they can work together on the match itself to pull it off. They do, but it certainly ain’t pretty.
In the end, Lance explains that she hasn’t made it to the “big time” yet because she needs to leave the drama outside - which I have to agree with. Irena is too concerned with being a star than being a wrestler. In this business, you have to hold both in at least equal regard to be able to achieve that stardom, or else your whole character and act becomes transparent and any respect gained by putting in the hard work to perfect your craft is nonexistent.
Deryck Crosse doesn’t have that problem in Episode 02. Crosse is certainly dedicated to making it. So much so that he takes the idea of having a character that will cause an audience reaction to heart and creates...wait for it...the “Prince of Perversion”. Of course, this guy just had to be from Florida, too.
Yes, it’s exactly what it would sound like. Crosse gets his point across - or his character “over”, so to speak - by doing things like, say...this:
And that’s to his friend, T-Bone (no, seriously). To someone he doesn’t know, like “The French Stallion”? Even worse:
Some of the trainees get a little homophobic or, at the very least, feel like they had this done to them against their will. Stallion has to work with this guy at the live event, and now he’s uncomfortable as all hell! To his credit, Storm advises Crosse carefully; he tells Crosse that he has to be careful with a character like this in so far as not driving the audience out the door, but that it could still work if he is able to commit to it.
Crosse is a trooper, dedicating himself to this character in order to break down boundaries. Problem is, Crosse doesn’t carry through with it come the live event. He has several openings, but loses his nerve in front of the crowd. Knight, who came off as a complete douchenozzle in the first show, is actually helping Crosse near the end of this one, offering suggestions as to how he could make the character work. Come evaluation time, Storm plays along those same lines, advising Crosse that finding a character, believing in it, and making it work is why he hasn’t made it yet.
Carlo “Cash Money” Cannon seems to already have a personality in place in Episode 03. The problem is, it’s as the victim. The episode features on aggression, and it’s established that Carlo is everybody’s buddy. The nice guy. The one that sells like he’s getting murdered when it comes to the aggression drills. It also doesn’t help that Dylan knight is back in “alpha male” mode, being the douchenozzle we came to love in the first show.
Lance then pushes the “aggression” bit further with a hard and heavy workout for the whole crew. Cannon wears down further and further, and finally bogaloos ‘til he pukes. Knight gets a kick out of it, Taya Valkyrie looks worried...the usual reactions that now become expected as we have an idea of each trainee’s personality. Although we get a little more of an idea, as Knight has pretty much targeted Cannon--who he calls “Princess”.
The cool part here is, in Episode 01 when Storm got Irena’s com-uppance on Knight for her, Cannon does it himself here. During another aggression drill, Cannon takes it to Knight, who expresses some fear and thankfulness at the fact that Cannon didn’t go for a dive to the outside. In what becomes one of the coolest moments of the show thus far, Storm pep talks Cannon in to taking the risk and doing the dive:
Of course, Storm books Knight and Cannon as opponents on the live show and Cannon is freaking out about the dive because the ring is a little smaller. Cannon has a bigger problem when he pops his knee out at the entrance after slipping on the floor. He puts all that to the side and hits the dive during the match. It doesn’t look picture-perfect like the one in training, but it impresses Storm to the point that this was the first mainly positive evaluation of the show.
All in all, “World of Hurt” is a pretty good show, from what I’ve been able to see. There’s certainly some of the reality “drama” to be had, but most of it seems somewhat legitimate in dealing with the volatile personalities found in wrestling. Could some of it have been egged on by the producers? Certainly. This is a “reality” show, and it’s very tough to believe that, like any other reality show, at least some of it hasn’t been worked.
There are also some minor technical issues as far as the overall production, particularly with some choices in camera angles and things of the like. If you’re not looking for them, chances are they’ll go unnoticed – save for the intro to each episode, where Storm almost never looks directly in to the camera. When you’re talking directly to the audience, that sort of thing helps.
Speaking of the main man, the show-ending evaluations are well done, also. Storm doesn’t dress people down like Steve Austin did on “Tough Enough”, but he doesn’t have to. Again, Storm is fair and honest when it comes to the talent, what they do right, and what they need to work on.
This is as real of a show about the insides of the pro wrestling business - from the aspect of what’s expected from a performer wanting to make it big - as you’ll ever find. Storm isn’t too much of an ass nor is he too nice; his even temper is perfect for someone in his position, both in real life and as seen on television. The trainees each have their faults and foibles, but they give you a reason to cheer them on as well. It’s compelling television and a good show about pro wrestling, which are the two goals this show strives to hit and does consistently. Bug the hell out of your local cable provider or Netflix so you can see it for yourself.
The show is, of course, “World of Hurt” - and for more information on the premise, you can refer back here. At the time, the idea was to do a weekly review of the show...if possible.
The ”if” came from the fact that the show only airs in Canada (on The Cave network, to be exact). There are no real avenues here in the U.S. to be able to see it on a regular basis. However, the first three episodes were available for viewing, and that’s whet we’ll cover here. All in one shot.
Before we do, consider this your official SPOILER WARNING. If you’re able to see the show and don’t want details about the first three episodes that have already aired (including some not-so-pretty pictures), stop right now and hit the “Back” button. I am no longer responsible from this point forward if you read or saw something you shouldn’t have and get mad about it.
A couple caveats about the show already make it stand out just a little more. First, as you may remember, there is no competition here. No big cash prize or a WWE contract is on the line. Rather, ten hopefuls in an advanced class at trainer Lance Storm’s Wrestling Academy are here to learn the finer points of
Episode 01 concentrates on Australia’s Irena, who “always wanted to be a television star” - an attitude that doesn’t endear her to fellow trainees Dylan Knight (who points out how Irena is not cut out to be in this business), “The French Stallion” Tom La Ruffa (who thinks that because she’s a girl that she simply doesn’t belong, period) and Tenille Tayla (who thinks Irena comes off as being “above” her fellow classmates and not knowing how to be “one of the boys”).
Irena possibly proves them right at approximately 4:45 in when she waayy undershoots a simple back bump:
Owitch. The look on Storm’s face tells that story.
Having to overcome this for the rest of the show , Irena draws sympathy from her friend Taya Valkyrie as well as tempered guidance from Storm himself. She also continues to draw ire from several other trainees who see her as a “diva” (not a WWE performer, mind you) who’s milking her own incompetence for commiseration.
Irena doesn’t win any of them over when she shows up for the live event with minutes to go before her match instead of when she was supposed to – which was to be hours before the event was even supposed to start. Irena’s opponent for the night, KC Spinelli, gets in to a shouting match with her, immediately casting doubt as to whether they can work together on the match itself to pull it off. They do, but it certainly ain’t pretty.
In the end, Lance explains that she hasn’t made it to the “big time” yet because she needs to leave the drama outside - which I have to agree with. Irena is too concerned with being a star than being a wrestler. In this business, you have to hold both in at least equal regard to be able to achieve that stardom, or else your whole character and act becomes transparent and any respect gained by putting in the hard work to perfect your craft is nonexistent.
Deryck Crosse doesn’t have that problem in Episode 02. Crosse is certainly dedicated to making it. So much so that he takes the idea of having a character that will cause an audience reaction to heart and creates...wait for it...the “Prince of Perversion”. Of course, this guy just had to be from Florida, too.
Yes, it’s exactly what it would sound like. Crosse gets his point across - or his character “over”, so to speak - by doing things like, say...this:
And that’s to his friend, T-Bone (no, seriously). To someone he doesn’t know, like “The French Stallion”? Even worse:
Some of the trainees get a little homophobic or, at the very least, feel like they had this done to them against their will. Stallion has to work with this guy at the live event, and now he’s uncomfortable as all hell! To his credit, Storm advises Crosse carefully; he tells Crosse that he has to be careful with a character like this in so far as not driving the audience out the door, but that it could still work if he is able to commit to it.
Crosse is a trooper, dedicating himself to this character in order to break down boundaries. Problem is, Crosse doesn’t carry through with it come the live event. He has several openings, but loses his nerve in front of the crowd. Knight, who came off as a complete douchenozzle in the first show, is actually helping Crosse near the end of this one, offering suggestions as to how he could make the character work. Come evaluation time, Storm plays along those same lines, advising Crosse that finding a character, believing in it, and making it work is why he hasn’t made it yet.
Carlo “Cash Money” Cannon seems to already have a personality in place in Episode 03. The problem is, it’s as the victim. The episode features on aggression, and it’s established that Carlo is everybody’s buddy. The nice guy. The one that sells like he’s getting murdered when it comes to the aggression drills. It also doesn’t help that Dylan knight is back in “alpha male” mode, being the douchenozzle we came to love in the first show.
Lance then pushes the “aggression” bit further with a hard and heavy workout for the whole crew. Cannon wears down further and further, and finally bogaloos ‘til he pukes. Knight gets a kick out of it, Taya Valkyrie looks worried...the usual reactions that now become expected as we have an idea of each trainee’s personality. Although we get a little more of an idea, as Knight has pretty much targeted Cannon--who he calls “Princess”.
The cool part here is, in Episode 01 when Storm got Irena’s com-uppance on Knight for her, Cannon does it himself here. During another aggression drill, Cannon takes it to Knight, who expresses some fear and thankfulness at the fact that Cannon didn’t go for a dive to the outside. In what becomes one of the coolest moments of the show thus far, Storm pep talks Cannon in to taking the risk and doing the dive:
Of course, Storm books Knight and Cannon as opponents on the live show and Cannon is freaking out about the dive because the ring is a little smaller. Cannon has a bigger problem when he pops his knee out at the entrance after slipping on the floor. He puts all that to the side and hits the dive during the match. It doesn’t look picture-perfect like the one in training, but it impresses Storm to the point that this was the first mainly positive evaluation of the show.
All in all, “World of Hurt” is a pretty good show, from what I’ve been able to see. There’s certainly some of the reality “drama” to be had, but most of it seems somewhat legitimate in dealing with the volatile personalities found in wrestling. Could some of it have been egged on by the producers? Certainly. This is a “reality” show, and it’s very tough to believe that, like any other reality show, at least some of it hasn’t been worked.
There are also some minor technical issues as far as the overall production, particularly with some choices in camera angles and things of the like. If you’re not looking for them, chances are they’ll go unnoticed – save for the intro to each episode, where Storm almost never looks directly in to the camera. When you’re talking directly to the audience, that sort of thing helps.
Speaking of the main man, the show-ending evaluations are well done, also. Storm doesn’t dress people down like Steve Austin did on “Tough Enough”, but he doesn’t have to. Again, Storm is fair and honest when it comes to the talent, what they do right, and what they need to work on.
This is as real of a show about the insides of the pro wrestling business - from the aspect of what’s expected from a performer wanting to make it big - as you’ll ever find. Storm isn’t too much of an ass nor is he too nice; his even temper is perfect for someone in his position, both in real life and as seen on television. The trainees each have their faults and foibles, but they give you a reason to cheer them on as well. It’s compelling television and a good show about pro wrestling, which are the two goals this show strives to hit and does consistently. Bug the hell out of your local cable provider or Netflix so you can see it for yourself.
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
DC Comics Announces Complete Reboot. World Asks WHY?
You. Have GOT. To be. KIDDING. ME.
DC Comics announced today that the current ”Flashpoint” event series (you know, the one with sixteen different tie-in mini-series?) will end on August 31. On that same day, a new “Justice League” series by Geoff Johns and Jim Lee (nice!) starts at #1.
The following month, however, DC will unleash 52 new #1 titles as they set out to reboot the entire DC Universe.
Action Comics (currently at 900+ issues)? Detective Comics (currently at 875+ issues)? Wonder Woman? Green Lantern? ALL of them are starting over.
Those new #1s include costume redesigns for more than 50 superheroes (look to your left for an idea) and - get this - “a more modern, diverse DC Universe, with some character variations in appearance, origin and age. All stories will be grounded in each character's legend - but will relate to real world situations, interactions, tragedy and triumph,” according to DC's Senior Vice President-Sales Bob Wayne.
Which, according to Wayne, also means - you betcha! - "Some of the characters will have new origins, while others will undergo minor changes.”
So how, exactly, does DC justify throwing away 77 years of history like Ah-nuld ditching a Kennedy for a dumpy middle-aged Hispanic chick? Here’s Co-Publisher Dan DiDio to explain (via USA Today): "We looked at what was going on in the marketplace and felt we really want to inject new life in our characters and line. This was a chance to start, not at the beginning, but at a point where our characters are younger and the stories are being told for today's audience."
In other words, they’re going to pull an Ultimate Marvel (go look it up). The only difference is, when Marvel did this sort of thing, it was to attract readers who had seen the X-Men and Spider-Man movies and give them a latching on point without scaring the hell out of them with several decades of ongoing plotlines that would turn them right off. They made a line of comics that new readers could jump right in to if they wanted to, but were still smart enough to leave in place their established line for those fans who had invested all of their time, money, and effort in to following those stories.
Not DC, jack! No way! They’re tossing out EVERYTHING! And the sick, sad part of it is...they’re doing it for no good reason.
Let’s torpedo the whole “All stories will be grounded in each character's legend - but will relate to real world situations” right the hell now. Superman recently announced his US Citizenship to become more of a global hero (among several other logical reasons). That was met with a knee-jerk, ignorant response from people who hadn’t read these books since the days of Curt Swan and Murphy Anderson (and that’s being generous) that Sooperman’s an Uh-murh-kin, Gawd demmit! You don’t like it, you kin git out! Hence, DC rescinded the move - and asshats like the guy who wrote the article at the other end of the previous link celebrated, feeling safe that a fictional alien comic book character was back on the side of the “good guys”, not realizing that he’d never left in the first place. So, out goes the “real world situations” argument.
Next? Oh yeah - "We looked at what was going on in the marketplace and felt we really want to inject new life in our characters and line.” WHY?? You have the Green Lantern movie coming out. You have Batman: The Brave and the Bold as well as Young Justice on the Cartoon Network. You have DC’s animated movies making a pretty good killing at a pretty good pace. Where can you possibly see where they need to be “freshened up” when people around the world know and recognize these characters and where they came from?
Marvel didn’t feel the need to relaunch their entire comics line when Iron Man made bank at the box office, did they? No - because they were well aware of the marketplace and their fans. They didn’t try to shove down consumers’ throats the idea of starting all over because the core fans wouldn’t have stood for it and, I’m sorry to have to break the bad news here but, if newer fans were coming in to buy the books based on the movies, they would have already shown up. Instead, DC is out to alienate both sides. Stupendeous.
This argument and several other tangents and examples pointing out how monumentally idiotic of an idea this is could continue for days. At the end of the day, DC has inexplicably done what they do best...when the train is rolling with full momentum, they’ve decided to slam on the brakes and attempt to make a left turn right off the track. As a lifelong DC fan, it hurts to say...and they wonder why Marvel keeps kicking their asses.
WCW - one of many examples of why ”rebooting the product” doesn’t work.
DC Comics announced today that the current ”Flashpoint” event series (you know, the one with sixteen different tie-in mini-series?) will end on August 31. On that same day, a new “Justice League” series by Geoff Johns and Jim Lee (nice!) starts at #1.
The following month, however, DC will unleash 52 new #1 titles as they set out to reboot the entire DC Universe.
Action Comics (currently at 900+ issues)? Detective Comics (currently at 875+ issues)? Wonder Woman? Green Lantern? ALL of them are starting over.
Those new #1s include costume redesigns for more than 50 superheroes (look to your left for an idea) and - get this - “a more modern, diverse DC Universe, with some character variations in appearance, origin and age. All stories will be grounded in each character's legend - but will relate to real world situations, interactions, tragedy and triumph,” according to DC's Senior Vice President-Sales Bob Wayne.Which, according to Wayne, also means - you betcha! - "Some of the characters will have new origins, while others will undergo minor changes.”
So how, exactly, does DC justify throwing away 77 years of history like Ah-nuld ditching a Kennedy for a dumpy middle-aged Hispanic chick? Here’s Co-Publisher Dan DiDio to explain (via USA Today): "We looked at what was going on in the marketplace and felt we really want to inject new life in our characters and line. This was a chance to start, not at the beginning, but at a point where our characters are younger and the stories are being told for today's audience."
In other words, they’re going to pull an Ultimate Marvel (go look it up). The only difference is, when Marvel did this sort of thing, it was to attract readers who had seen the X-Men and Spider-Man movies and give them a latching on point without scaring the hell out of them with several decades of ongoing plotlines that would turn them right off. They made a line of comics that new readers could jump right in to if they wanted to, but were still smart enough to leave in place their established line for those fans who had invested all of their time, money, and effort in to following those stories.
Not DC, jack! No way! They’re tossing out EVERYTHING! And the sick, sad part of it is...they’re doing it for no good reason.
Let’s torpedo the whole “All stories will be grounded in each character's legend - but will relate to real world situations” right the hell now. Superman recently announced his US Citizenship to become more of a global hero (among several other logical reasons). That was met with a knee-jerk, ignorant response from people who hadn’t read these books since the days of Curt Swan and Murphy Anderson (and that’s being generous) that Sooperman’s an Uh-murh-kin, Gawd demmit! You don’t like it, you kin git out! Hence, DC rescinded the move - and asshats like the guy who wrote the article at the other end of the previous link celebrated, feeling safe that a fictional alien comic book character was back on the side of the “good guys”, not realizing that he’d never left in the first place. So, out goes the “real world situations” argument.
Next? Oh yeah - "We looked at what was going on in the marketplace and felt we really want to inject new life in our characters and line.” WHY?? You have the Green Lantern movie coming out. You have Batman: The Brave and the Bold as well as Young Justice on the Cartoon Network. You have DC’s animated movies making a pretty good killing at a pretty good pace. Where can you possibly see where they need to be “freshened up” when people around the world know and recognize these characters and where they came from?
Marvel didn’t feel the need to relaunch their entire comics line when Iron Man made bank at the box office, did they? No - because they were well aware of the marketplace and their fans. They didn’t try to shove down consumers’ throats the idea of starting all over because the core fans wouldn’t have stood for it and, I’m sorry to have to break the bad news here but, if newer fans were coming in to buy the books based on the movies, they would have already shown up. Instead, DC is out to alienate both sides. Stupendeous.
This argument and several other tangents and examples pointing out how monumentally idiotic of an idea this is could continue for days. At the end of the day, DC has inexplicably done what they do best...when the train is rolling with full momentum, they’ve decided to slam on the brakes and attempt to make a left turn right off the track. As a lifelong DC fan, it hurts to say...and they wonder why Marvel keeps kicking their asses.
WCW - one of many examples of why ”rebooting the product” doesn’t work.
Sunday, May 29, 2011
BlogCritics.org: An Interview with MC Lars and Weerd Science
The heart of "DIY" rap and an artist that's made professional and personal turnarounds talk to BlogCritics.
As mentioned earlier this week, here are MC Lars and Weerd Science - although I think this could have gone better. Nothing against either one of them; I should just know by now the evils of email interviews.
Although I may be looking to fix this soon, too.
As mentioned earlier this week, here are MC Lars and Weerd Science - although I think this could have gone better. Nothing against either one of them; I should just know by now the evils of email interviews.
Although I may be looking to fix this soon, too.
Saturday, May 28, 2011
Count3rCu1ture News Desk: 05.28.11
Welcome back, kids. We have some more news to go over. One bit is AWESOME and the other two...well, let’s just get to it, shall we?
I’m SO Seeing This Movie Now...
Latino Review (don’t let the name fool you, it’s a geek-centric movie site) beat everybody to the punch late Thursday night by reporting that the Avengers movie due next year has another villain up its sleeve. It’s already been reported that the Big Bads are Loki and the shape-shifting Skrulls, but there’s another on the horizon.
Since it is a SPOILER, I’m not giving it away here. You’re more than welcome to go read it here if you want to know as well. I did read it. And all I have to say is...
Holy crap. If I weren’t already interested in seeing this movie, then this. One of my top five favorite villains. IOn any genre. Ever. Would convince me to go see it. As the guys on Nerdy Show would say...”Shut up and take my money!”
Make It Stop Already!
My problem with Spider-Man: Turn Off The Dark is already well-documented. But the problems plaguing this thing haven’t deterred these fools. Nope. It opens on Broadway on June 14...
...the same day the Cast Album has been announced for release.
Since a picture is worth a thousand words...
RoboCop Returns To Wrestling??
No, seriously. Let’s back up a bit.
It’s been 21 years since RoboCop first made his appearance at a wrestling event. It was Capital Combat in May of 1990 that WCW brought in...for one show...RoboCop.
As I Want Wrestling.com’s Dave Lagana puts it, “It’s a moment a lot of fans groan over – even to today.“ Do I have to explain why? Even Jim Ross, who was a ringside commentator for the “event”, disavows his role in what happened.
Well, Lagana also brings word (same link as above) that once wasn’t enough. Robocop has made his return to wrestling.
It’s moments like this that, when someone gets on my case about being a wrestling fan, that my explanations of defense can only go so far. If this gets thrown in my face, I’m pretty much left with no choice but to immediately tap out.
Although, as far as RoboCop goes...has this guy had a banner year or what?
I’m SO Seeing This Movie Now...
Latino Review (don’t let the name fool you, it’s a geek-centric movie site) beat everybody to the punch late Thursday night by reporting that the Avengers movie due next year has another villain up its sleeve. It’s already been reported that the Big Bads are Loki and the shape-shifting Skrulls, but there’s another on the horizon.Since it is a SPOILER, I’m not giving it away here. You’re more than welcome to go read it here if you want to know as well. I did read it. And all I have to say is...
Holy crap. If I weren’t already interested in seeing this movie, then this. One of my top five favorite villains. IOn any genre. Ever. Would convince me to go see it. As the guys on Nerdy Show would say...”Shut up and take my money!”
Make It Stop Already!
My problem with Spider-Man: Turn Off The Dark is already well-documented. But the problems plaguing this thing haven’t deterred these fools. Nope. It opens on Broadway on June 14...
...the same day the Cast Album has been announced for release.
Since a picture is worth a thousand words...
RoboCop Returns To Wrestling??
No, seriously. Let’s back up a bit.
It’s been 21 years since RoboCop first made his appearance at a wrestling event. It was Capital Combat in May of 1990 that WCW brought in...for one show...RoboCop.
As I Want Wrestling.com’s Dave Lagana puts it, “It’s a moment a lot of fans groan over – even to today.“ Do I have to explain why? Even Jim Ross, who was a ringside commentator for the “event”, disavows his role in what happened.
Well, Lagana also brings word (same link as above) that once wasn’t enough. Robocop has made his return to wrestling.
It’s moments like this that, when someone gets on my case about being a wrestling fan, that my explanations of defense can only go so far. If this gets thrown in my face, I’m pretty much left with no choice but to immediately tap out.
Although, as far as RoboCop goes...has this guy had a banner year or what?
Friday, May 27, 2011
World of Hurt - Introduction
Before we get in to this proper, let’s answer a couple questions I’ve been asked quite a few times...
No, “World of Hurt” is not another show I’m doing. For those asking, “When are new episodes of Count3rCu1ture coming out?”, the answer is: the week of June 13-17. There’s a couple events happening June 10-12 (one of them already discussed in detail) and those will be filmed. I’m also playing with a slightly different format for those events to spread out the content a bit.
Basically, consider the first episode about Free Comic Book Day the pilot. The show really kicks off in roughly two weeks off of the tapings listed above. There are some (sound) issues to work out, along with a couple other minor production points. The show is supposed to have a rougher look to it, but that doesn’t mean it has to be so sloppy it’s unwatchable.
With that out of the way, let’s do this.
Now, you can see by the “Introduction” headline above that “World of Hurt” will become a semi-regular feature here at Count3rCu1ture. Just like everything else, these will happen as they become available. In this case, it would be episodes of “World of Hurt,” which I plan on reviewing all of, or at least as many as I can.
As many of what? Why, “World of Hurt,” of course. Yeahbuwha? Okay, now we get to the explanation proper.
“World of Hurt” is a departure for me as it is the first reality show I have ever sought out to watch on my own. Which is quite a feat, because it’s not even on in the US. The show airs Sundays at 5pm EST on The Cave in Canada (the Northern equivalent to Spike TV).
As for what the show is about, “World of Hurt” features former WWESuperstar wrestler Lance Storm, who now runs his own wrestling training school in Canada, the Storm Wrestling Academy. Ten students embark on an “advanced course” at his school - no learning to run the ropes or take a fall. These students have already passed that point and are seasoned wrestlers making their rounds on the independent circuit in an effort to break in to the “big time” - i.e. WWE or TNA Impact! Wrestling. Storm is there to guide them through the finer points of the wrestling industry, to let them know where they succeed or where they fail...and the whole thing is caught on film.
For a lifelong wrestling fan, this is a fascinating concept that I wanted to see the moment I heard about it. Kinda odd, considering that “WWE Tough Enough” is back on television, right? Okay, let’s answer that - and explain a little more about this feature - before we go any further...
Why “World of Hurt” > “Tough Enough” (and every other reality show I’ve ignored until now)
Like Ivory Soap, 99.44% of all reality TV shows are essentially the same premise. X amount of people are put in situation Y and all have to compete for some big prize at the end of the season, while learning how to co-habitate. Along the way, any sense of “reality” is thrown right out the window because the contestants are given characters and scripted lines “put in situations” that test their relationships with one another. Alliances Friendships form, producers put people at each others’ throats for ratings enemies are made, and predictable BS “drama” is made. That includes “Tough Enough”, where the contestants vie for a WWE developmental contract by the end of the season.
And that show bugs me even more, because...to borrow an analogy from Marc with a C, let’s say you have a reality show with, uh...I dunno...twelve people. Sure, twelve sound good. Four of them have taken some sort of Anatomy & Physiology course in Community College. Two of them are pre-Med students. One of them is at the Bachelor’s level of schooling. The other five have taken high school Biology, if they’re lucky. Yet, by the end of this twelve-week television series, one of them - we have no idea which one, mind you - will have somehow proven that they have the skills, bedside manner, and knowledge to become one of the top brain surgeons in the world.
Sound a little frackin’ ridonkulous, right? To me, so does “Tough Enough”. For that same reason. Despite having trainers like “Stone Cold” Steve Austin” and Trish Stratus, you can’t teach someone, in give-or-take twelve weeks’ time, to be one of the top wrestling performers in the world. Pro wrestling is a performance art that takes a long time to master. Call it “fake” all you want, but there’s an art to learning how to carry a character, to connect with dozens of thousands of people at a time, to make a match look as real as possible without causing serious injury. Bret Hart has said that one of the things he’s proudest of in his career was that he never seriously hurt anyone in the ring – and his matches were among the best in terms of drama, psychology, and action. That’s how it’s done right, and to expect someone who’s never stepped in the ring in their life to perform at that level is preposterous.
Put it this way – could you step in a wrestling ring and make yourself a star in front of thousands of people in an arena and millions more watching at home? I already know damn well I couldn’t do it. (Which, for those of you who’ve asked me why I’ve never tried to become a wrestler...there was your answer.)
“World of Hurt”, however, is a different animal. First of all, the contestants—wait, that’s wrong. There are no contestants, because the ten students on the show aren’t competing for any prize at the end of the rainbow. They’re in a school to learn how to get to the next level on their own merits. I like the fact that the the show’s website refers to it as “a documentary series”, because that’s what it is. No pre-scripted “reality” to be had.
Second, from the clips I’ve seen this is also a pretty good look at the inside of pro wrestling and what it takes to do what these people do. Storm has said in interviews that there are no “challenges” that have nothing to do with wrestling (something else “Tough Enough” is guilty of) nor is there any “scripted drama” with all these people living in the same house. Just a straight, serious look at what it takes to make to the top of the pro wrestling heap.
As a lifelong wrestling fan...sure, I’m interested in this. All without the dog-and-pony shows that other reality shows are guilty of? Sign me up.
So, beginning next week there will be reviews posted of each episode here (as I’m able to see them). I’m excited about checking this out and getting some attention on a show that sounds worth getting that attention for. And hopefully get it some airplay in the states as well. Or at least on Netflix.
No, “World of Hurt” is not another show I’m doing. For those asking, “When are new episodes of Count3rCu1ture coming out?”, the answer is: the week of June 13-17. There’s a couple events happening June 10-12 (one of them already discussed in detail) and those will be filmed. I’m also playing with a slightly different format for those events to spread out the content a bit.
Basically, consider the first episode about Free Comic Book Day the pilot. The show really kicks off in roughly two weeks off of the tapings listed above. There are some (sound) issues to work out, along with a couple other minor production points. The show is supposed to have a rougher look to it, but that doesn’t mean it has to be so sloppy it’s unwatchable.
With that out of the way, let’s do this.
Now, you can see by the “Introduction” headline above that “World of Hurt” will become a semi-regular feature here at Count3rCu1ture. Just like everything else, these will happen as they become available. In this case, it would be episodes of “World of Hurt,” which I plan on reviewing all of, or at least as many as I can.
As many of what? Why, “World of Hurt,” of course. Yeahbuwha? Okay, now we get to the explanation proper.
“World of Hurt” is a departure for me as it is the first reality show I have ever sought out to watch on my own. Which is quite a feat, because it’s not even on in the US. The show airs Sundays at 5pm EST on The Cave in Canada (the Northern equivalent to Spike TV).As for what the show is about, “World of Hurt” features former WWE
For a lifelong wrestling fan, this is a fascinating concept that I wanted to see the moment I heard about it. Kinda odd, considering that “WWE Tough Enough” is back on television, right? Okay, let’s answer that - and explain a little more about this feature - before we go any further...
Why “World of Hurt” > “Tough Enough” (and every other reality show I’ve ignored until now)
Like Ivory Soap, 99.44% of all reality TV shows are essentially the same premise. X amount of people are put in situation Y and all have to compete for some big prize at the end of the season, while learning how to co-habitate. Along the way, any sense of “reality” is thrown right out the window because the contestants are And that show bugs me even more, because...to borrow an analogy from Marc with a C, let’s say you have a reality show with, uh...I dunno...twelve people. Sure, twelve sound good. Four of them have taken some sort of Anatomy & Physiology course in Community College. Two of them are pre-Med students. One of them is at the Bachelor’s level of schooling. The other five have taken high school Biology, if they’re lucky. Yet, by the end of this twelve-week television series, one of them - we have no idea which one, mind you - will have somehow proven that they have the skills, bedside manner, and knowledge to become one of the top brain surgeons in the world.
Sound a little frackin’ ridonkulous, right? To me, so does “Tough Enough”. For that same reason. Despite having trainers like “Stone Cold” Steve Austin” and Trish Stratus, you can’t teach someone, in give-or-take twelve weeks’ time, to be one of the top wrestling performers in the world. Pro wrestling is a performance art that takes a long time to master. Call it “fake” all you want, but there’s an art to learning how to carry a character, to connect with dozens of thousands of people at a time, to make a match look as real as possible without causing serious injury. Bret Hart has said that one of the things he’s proudest of in his career was that he never seriously hurt anyone in the ring – and his matches were among the best in terms of drama, psychology, and action. That’s how it’s done right, and to expect someone who’s never stepped in the ring in their life to perform at that level is preposterous.
Put it this way – could you step in a wrestling ring and make yourself a star in front of thousands of people in an arena and millions more watching at home? I already know damn well I couldn’t do it. (Which, for those of you who’ve asked me why I’ve never tried to become a wrestler...there was your answer.)
“World of Hurt”, however, is a different animal. First of all, the contestants—wait, that’s wrong. There are no contestants, because the ten students on the show aren’t competing for any prize at the end of the rainbow. They’re in a school to learn how to get to the next level on their own merits. I like the fact that the the show’s website refers to it as “a documentary series”, because that’s what it is. No pre-scripted “reality” to be had.
Second, from the clips I’ve seen this is also a pretty good look at the inside of pro wrestling and what it takes to do what these people do. Storm has said in interviews that there are no “challenges” that have nothing to do with wrestling (something else “Tough Enough” is guilty of) nor is there any “scripted drama” with all these people living in the same house. Just a straight, serious look at what it takes to make to the top of the pro wrestling heap.
As a lifelong wrestling fan...sure, I’m interested in this. All without the dog-and-pony shows that other reality shows are guilty of? Sign me up.
So, beginning next week there will be reviews posted of each episode here (as I’m able to see them). I’m excited about checking this out and getting some attention on a show that sounds worth getting that attention for. And hopefully get it some airplay in the states as well. Or at least on Netflix.
Thursday, May 26, 2011
The Onset Of Horris Records
Recently, a fascinating press release came across the Count3rCu1ture News Desk (reprinted in part):
MC LARS Launches HORRIS RECORDS!
To Become The Official Home of "DIY/Punk Culture-Based Indie Rappers"
As the music-industry-at-large begins to shrink dramatically, the music underground is beginning to surge again. Seeing the dearth of attention given to the burgeoning indie rap culture growing within the punk world, world-renowned post-punk laptop rapper MC LARS has launched his very own label HORRIS RECORDS to help build and nurture the growing indie rap scene. "The goal with Horris is to help as many talented, like-minded, DIY / punk culture-based indie rappers have as many self-sustained careers as possible," explains the 'indie rap entrepreneur'. To launch the label, he has enlisted close friend/confidante/peer WEERD SCIENCE (a.k.a. Josh Eppard, ex-Coheed & Cambria/current drummer for rock band Terrible Things) to have the debut album to bear the Horris Records imprint. "I couldn't have signed a more amazing artist and I am going to help him blow up because I love him and his work so much." Weerd Science's SICK KIDS comes out today, May 17, 2011.
A very tangible and encouraging indication of support MC Lars has with his fans and the indie rap culture is the incredible success of his Kickstarter campaign he launched in April 2011. With the initial goal of raising $5,000 to fund "video production, touring, mixing, mastering and sick merch," Lars raised a whopping total of $23,282 - close to five times his goal (his original amount was shockingly doubled in the first 48 hours alone). "It's crazy," he says excitedly. "Who needs the inefficiency, bureaucracy, and general ineptitude of a label when you can reach out to your fans on the internet and get a $23,000 advance for your next album based on your reputation alone?"
Named after a character from a classic 1987 movie called Monster Squad, Horris Records symbolically reflects Lars' own life (for accuracy sake, the film character's name was spelled "Horace"). "In Monster Squad, Horace gets bullied throughout the whole movie, but at the end, he whips out his gun and says, 'My name is Horace,' and no one messes with him anymore. It's a perfect metaphor for my experience in the once elusive and exclusive hip-hop game," explains Lars about the affront he experienced being a punk-based white rapper. "Weerd Science has a similar background and goals as me - a rock kid who played in bands but truly wanted to make hip-hop since that is his real love. I've been a fan of his since 2005."
With Weerd Science making the "artist introduction", Lars will be releasing a mixtape in June as a "label introduction," featuring KRS-One, Sage Francis, Grieves, Sole, MC Frontalot, Rittz, Scroobius Pip, Weerd Science... and his father. "The mixtape is the first in what I hope to be a series of free projects that highlight the diversity and my ability to network within our subgenre of rap," he says. "All of the rappers featured are people I reached out to directly and they all bring a different take to my 'post-punk laptop rap' style. The project features a bunch of collabs, including one with my dad, a California poet and spoken word artist known as MC Bob Nielsen."
With one release out today and the mixtape out next month, Lars is already strategizing and planning ahead. "The short term goal is to help Weerd Science brand himself as one of the dopest MCs in the game; the long term goal - notoriety for many years to come," he laughs. "I'm dropping my third official studio album, LARS ATTACKS! this Summer and plan to put out many more albums. I'm also putting together a pilot this Fall for a hip-hop themed kids' TV show, featuring artists' friends as guests. It's going to be Pee-Wee's Playhouse meets Yo Gabba Gabba meets Sesame Street with a whole new twist. I'm stoked and I know you're going to love it!"
Horris Records' debut release Sick Kids by Weerd Science is out now. MC Lars and Weerd Science are currently touring the UK together and will be performing on the 2011 Vans Warped Tour all Summer long. Information on the mixtape, LARS ATTACKS! and future releases to come shortly!
There are quite a few (probably pretty obvious) reasons why this made my ears perk up like Lindsay Lohan catching a whiff of coke. For one, the idea of “DIY” is one that I’m a very obvious champion of. Technology has afforded artists to get out from under or, in this case, even completely bypass the domineering corporate label system that has been the bane of creativity for decades. It also turns out that, in the words of Dave Mustaine, ”the system has failed,” which may leave up-and-coming artists (or those with the foresight and desire to abandon the corporate system) with no choice but to strike out on their own.
The creative freedom afforded to them is much more abundant and, as an added bonus, the money they make doesn’t have to be repaid to a label thanks to a ridiculous system where the artist owes the label much more for “advances” and “costs” after they’ve already done their part in making and promoting their record.
Think about it - how fair is it for someone to give you money up front for doing your job, but that money has to be spent on doing your job and your first several months (years?) of pay goes back to the company to repay that money you were given to do your job. With interest. How would any other company get away with that? Yet major labels have for decades - only now artists that are smarter to the system and that realize they can do it without that tyranny hanging over them. So, they do. And the end result is often much better in terms of product quality and fan service.
On top of all that, look at some of the names involved in this: MC Lars. Joshua Eppard (great guy to talk to). MC Frontalot. KRS-ONE. All very talented and dedicated to the art. This seems to already be in pretty good hands.
At the end of the day, all manner of artists in all manners of genres and styles are looking to make their own mark on their own terms. That particular mindset - not a specific type of artist or a personal favorite or only an exclusive genre - is what Count3rCu1ture is about. It’s about breaking barriers and crossing lines in order to make your mark, and to see a record label dedicated to that very mindset is right up my alley.
So, with that said and done...yeah, I’ll be interviewing both Lars as well as Eppard very soon. I’m curious to see what they have to say - Eppard about his time afterI talked to him last being a member of Coheed & Cambria, and Lars about the label and his DIY ethic. Should be interesting stuff. In the meantime, check out the CNN video below to get a little more familiar with Lars and his new venture (and hear him talk about a lot of what I just did):
Oh, and don’t think I’m not chasing down KRS-ONE, either. I’ve wanted to talk to that man for years now, anyway.
MC LARS Launches HORRIS RECORDS!
To Become The Official Home of "DIY/Punk Culture-Based Indie Rappers"
As the music-industry-at-large begins to shrink dramatically, the music underground is beginning to surge again. Seeing the dearth of attention given to the burgeoning indie rap culture growing within the punk world, world-renowned post-punk laptop rapper MC LARS has launched his very own label HORRIS RECORDS to help build and nurture the growing indie rap scene. "The goal with Horris is to help as many talented, like-minded, DIY / punk culture-based indie rappers have as many self-sustained careers as possible," explains the 'indie rap entrepreneur'. To launch the label, he has enlisted close friend/confidante/peer WEERD SCIENCE (a.k.a. Josh Eppard, ex-Coheed & Cambria/current drummer for rock band Terrible Things) to have the debut album to bear the Horris Records imprint. "I couldn't have signed a more amazing artist and I am going to help him blow up because I love him and his work so much." Weerd Science's SICK KIDS comes out today, May 17, 2011.
A very tangible and encouraging indication of support MC Lars has with his fans and the indie rap culture is the incredible success of his Kickstarter campaign he launched in April 2011. With the initial goal of raising $5,000 to fund "video production, touring, mixing, mastering and sick merch," Lars raised a whopping total of $23,282 - close to five times his goal (his original amount was shockingly doubled in the first 48 hours alone). "It's crazy," he says excitedly. "Who needs the inefficiency, bureaucracy, and general ineptitude of a label when you can reach out to your fans on the internet and get a $23,000 advance for your next album based on your reputation alone?"
Named after a character from a classic 1987 movie called Monster Squad, Horris Records symbolically reflects Lars' own life (for accuracy sake, the film character's name was spelled "Horace"). "In Monster Squad, Horace gets bullied throughout the whole movie, but at the end, he whips out his gun and says, 'My name is Horace,' and no one messes with him anymore. It's a perfect metaphor for my experience in the once elusive and exclusive hip-hop game," explains Lars about the affront he experienced being a punk-based white rapper. "Weerd Science has a similar background and goals as me - a rock kid who played in bands but truly wanted to make hip-hop since that is his real love. I've been a fan of his since 2005."
With Weerd Science making the "artist introduction", Lars will be releasing a mixtape in June as a "label introduction," featuring KRS-One, Sage Francis, Grieves, Sole, MC Frontalot, Rittz, Scroobius Pip, Weerd Science... and his father. "The mixtape is the first in what I hope to be a series of free projects that highlight the diversity and my ability to network within our subgenre of rap," he says. "All of the rappers featured are people I reached out to directly and they all bring a different take to my 'post-punk laptop rap' style. The project features a bunch of collabs, including one with my dad, a California poet and spoken word artist known as MC Bob Nielsen."
With one release out today and the mixtape out next month, Lars is already strategizing and planning ahead. "The short term goal is to help Weerd Science brand himself as one of the dopest MCs in the game; the long term goal - notoriety for many years to come," he laughs. "I'm dropping my third official studio album, LARS ATTACKS! this Summer and plan to put out many more albums. I'm also putting together a pilot this Fall for a hip-hop themed kids' TV show, featuring artists' friends as guests. It's going to be Pee-Wee's Playhouse meets Yo Gabba Gabba meets Sesame Street with a whole new twist. I'm stoked and I know you're going to love it!"
Horris Records' debut release Sick Kids by Weerd Science is out now. MC Lars and Weerd Science are currently touring the UK together and will be performing on the 2011 Vans Warped Tour all Summer long. Information on the mixtape, LARS ATTACKS! and future releases to come shortly!
There are quite a few (probably pretty obvious) reasons why this made my ears perk up like Lindsay Lohan catching a whiff of coke. For one, the idea of “DIY” is one that I’m a very obvious champion of. Technology has afforded artists to get out from under or, in this case, even completely bypass the domineering corporate label system that has been the bane of creativity for decades. It also turns out that, in the words of Dave Mustaine, ”the system has failed,” which may leave up-and-coming artists (or those with the foresight and desire to abandon the corporate system) with no choice but to strike out on their own.
The creative freedom afforded to them is much more abundant and, as an added bonus, the money they make doesn’t have to be repaid to a label thanks to a ridiculous system where the artist owes the label much more for “advances” and “costs” after they’ve already done their part in making and promoting their record.
Think about it - how fair is it for someone to give you money up front for doing your job, but that money has to be spent on doing your job and your first several months (years?) of pay goes back to the company to repay that money you were given to do your job. With interest. How would any other company get away with that? Yet major labels have for decades - only now artists that are smarter to the system and that realize they can do it without that tyranny hanging over them. So, they do. And the end result is often much better in terms of product quality and fan service.
On top of all that, look at some of the names involved in this: MC Lars. Joshua Eppard (great guy to talk to). MC Frontalot. KRS-ONE. All very talented and dedicated to the art. This seems to already be in pretty good hands.
At the end of the day, all manner of artists in all manners of genres and styles are looking to make their own mark on their own terms. That particular mindset - not a specific type of artist or a personal favorite or only an exclusive genre - is what Count3rCu1ture is about. It’s about breaking barriers and crossing lines in order to make your mark, and to see a record label dedicated to that very mindset is right up my alley.
So, with that said and done...yeah, I’ll be interviewing both Lars as well as Eppard very soon. I’m curious to see what they have to say - Eppard about his time after
Oh, and don’t think I’m not chasing down KRS-ONE, either. I’ve wanted to talk to that man for years now, anyway.
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
Examining Marc with a C: Discussing "MFers Be BSin" Part 02 - Orlando rock music | Examiner.com
Examining Marc with a C: Discussing "MFers Be BSin" Part 02 - Orlando rock music | Examiner.com
Marc with a C continues our discussion on his new album, “MFers be BSin” including the album’s concepts of technological paranoia, the message that should be taken away from it, and where Marc’s career heads from here.
Marc with a C continues our discussion on his new album, “MFers be BSin” including the album’s concepts of technological paranoia, the message that should be taken away from it, and where Marc’s career heads from here.
Music Review: Pet Shop Boys - Concrete and Battleship Potemkin - Blogcritics Music
2 reviews for the price of one!
...and both pretty good records, too. But then I'm always a sucker for some "classic alternative".
...and both pretty good records, too. But then I'm always a sucker for some "classic alternative".
Monday, May 23, 2011
Examining Marc with a C: Discussing "MFers Be BSin" Part 01 - Orlando rock music | Examiner.com
Part 01 of an in-depth interview about the new album...
...and I told you yesterday it was comin', didn't I?
Enjoy. And stick around for Part 02 tomorrow as well.
...and I told you yesterday it was comin', didn't I?
Enjoy. And stick around for Part 02 tomorrow as well.
Sunday, May 22, 2011
Ring of Honor Steps Up
Is this a hell of a weekend for wrestling or what?
As far as the mainstream side of the planet goes, it’s mourning Randy Savage. However, under their noses, another huge story has broken that could bode very well for the third-largest wrestling promotion in the country and ultimately change the face of the industry as we know it now.
Ring of Honor announced yesterday that the company has been sold. Lock, stock, and barrel. Ring of Honor is now owned by Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc., “one of the largest television broadcasters in the country and which owns and operates, programs, or provides sales services to 58 television stations in 35 markets across the United States.”
I won’t lie - when I first saw this, I was terrified. That was my knee-jerk reaction. Because, let’s face it, the last wrestling promotion that was bought out didn’t fare so well after that. the one before that fared a little better, and even made a comeback of sorts, but it’s days were numbered once it was bought out.
Not just that, but even outside the realm of pro wrestling, corporate media as a whole terrifies, disgusts, and exasperates me - more often than not all at the same time. That feeling is at the crux of damn-near everything I’ve written, said, shot, and put out there for public consumption for over 7.5 years and counting. It is also one of the primary reasons that the show/brand/idea of Count3rCu1ture was conceived and created. So, yeah, reading that a smaller wrestling promotion had been bought by a media corporation scared me. Until I read more in to this story.
First, it helps that Steve Marks, COO of Sinclair’s Television Group is actually excited about the property his company has picked up. He even said so!:
”We are very excited about this acquisition. Television and professional wrestling have a long history of successful partnerships and driving viewership. Unfortunately, the broadcast networks have not protected that relationship, allowing professional wrestling to migrate to cable network distribution. We believe that the powerful promotional platform that our TV stations provide, coupled with our 22% share of the U.S. TV households, will allow ROH to achieve name brand recognition and grow its share of the wrestling market. When you consider the makeup of our station mix and the number of CW, MYTV and FOX affiliates we operate, this is a perfect fit for our viewer demographics. Longer-term, we can envision syndicating ROH wrestling to broadcasters in markets where Sinclair does not have a presence, and even internationally.”
That’s a relief to hear. It’s as though Marks feels there’s a programming hole to fill, and his company is willing to do it. Second piece of good news is that Sinclair is willing to do it without radically alter the company. Hell, there will be barely any changes at all, really.
The front office staff, including former owner Cary Silkin, will all remain in their positions to work alongside Joe Koff of Sinclair (now the promotion’s Chief Operating Officer) and Gary Juster as Vice President of Operations. Yes, that’s the same Gary Juster who used to work as a promoter for Jim Crockett and later WCW, will be the Vice President of Operations. He also happened to broker this deal with Sinclair and RoH.
Outsuide of that, Jim Cornette will remain as Executive Producer and Hunter Johnson will remain on as a creative executive. Johnson and Cornette now also share talent relations and creative duties.
Kevin Kelly, “the voice of Ring of Honor on internet Pay-Per-View”, will also remain in that position, as well as become the lead commentator when the Ring of Honor syndicated television show debuts all over the Sinclair Group’s television stations in September. Oh yeah - that’s piece of good news number three - a much bigger television outlet for the company come this fall. In fact, this past weekend at Roh's Supercard of Honor VI in Chicago, the company announced its first television taping for Sinclair would be in that same city on August 13.
That, in and of itself, is fascinating. When RoH walked away from HDNet after that two-year deal expired, many were wondering how, when, or even if Ring of Honor would be back on television. The question that was posed to whomever in RoH was interviewed was basically, “hey, if it happens, it happens.” The answer, in the eyes of the company, was that they were looking for more than just being “back on television”, and they’ve got it.
Now, this isn’t an immediate presence or a giant leap to compete with WWE. My old stomping grounds 411 Wrestling gave more details - Sinclair broadcasts in roughly 22% of the country and there some huge markets that are not part of the equation. (411 also has the full list of their stations here) Even still and as already noted, they already have a bigger presence in the national market provided previously by HDnet.
If you ask most anyone in RoH, they’re not looking to compete with WWE or evenTNA Impact Wrestling. Their product is completely different; Jim Cornette described it in the press release as, “...[N]ot old-school wrestling, and it’s not sports entertainment...This is wrestling for the 21st century, a new style developed by fresh, young stars that incorporates wrestling, mixed martial arts and high-flying, high-risk action with unique personalities, and it’s showcased by a sports-based presentation completely different from any other product out there.” That description fits very well, and it’s the main reason I’m such a fan of Ring of Honor.
What happens now should be a show in and of itself. It’s no secret the pro wrestling is in a stagnant state, while MMA (and especially UFC) is hotter than ever right now. The reasons are simple: MMA took the presentation and basic ideas of pro wrestling and added them to a much more realistic product, while the biggest wrestling companies in the world have are hell-bent on producing anything but wrestling. Many have speculated that, for wrestling to once again thrive, that it would have return to basics and produce a much more realistic and athletic product on a larger scale. Ring of Honor is that product, and now they have that larger audience. That theory of where the wrestling industry heads from here is about to be tested, big time.
But that’s another discussion for another time. As for now, Ring of Honor, as a result of being owned by another company, finds itself in a much better position now than it has at any time in its nine years of existence. It’s a thrilling time to be associated with and a fan of Ring of Honor. All the best in the world is hoped for as they move forward with a new venture and hopefully now become the little promotion that redefines wrestling.
As far as the mainstream side of the planet goes, it’s mourning Randy Savage. However, under their noses, another huge story has broken that could bode very well for the third-largest wrestling promotion in the country and ultimately change the face of the industry as we know it now.
Ring of Honor announced yesterday that the company has been sold. Lock, stock, and barrel. Ring of Honor is now owned by Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc., “one of the largest television broadcasters in the country and which owns and operates, programs, or provides sales services to 58 television stations in 35 markets across the United States.”
I won’t lie - when I first saw this, I was terrified. That was my knee-jerk reaction. Because, let’s face it, the last wrestling promotion that was bought out didn’t fare so well after that. the one before that fared a little better, and even made a comeback of sorts, but it’s days were numbered once it was bought out.
Not just that, but even outside the realm of pro wrestling, corporate media as a whole terrifies, disgusts, and exasperates me - more often than not all at the same time. That feeling is at the crux of damn-near everything I’ve written, said, shot, and put out there for public consumption for over 7.5 years and counting. It is also one of the primary reasons that the show/brand/idea of Count3rCu1ture was conceived and created. So, yeah, reading that a smaller wrestling promotion had been bought by a media corporation scared me. Until I read more in to this story.
First, it helps that Steve Marks, COO of Sinclair’s Television Group is actually excited about the property his company has picked up. He even said so!:
”We are very excited about this acquisition. Television and professional wrestling have a long history of successful partnerships and driving viewership. Unfortunately, the broadcast networks have not protected that relationship, allowing professional wrestling to migrate to cable network distribution. We believe that the powerful promotional platform that our TV stations provide, coupled with our 22% share of the U.S. TV households, will allow ROH to achieve name brand recognition and grow its share of the wrestling market. When you consider the makeup of our station mix and the number of CW, MYTV and FOX affiliates we operate, this is a perfect fit for our viewer demographics. Longer-term, we can envision syndicating ROH wrestling to broadcasters in markets where Sinclair does not have a presence, and even internationally.”
That’s a relief to hear. It’s as though Marks feels there’s a programming hole to fill, and his company is willing to do it. Second piece of good news is that Sinclair is willing to do it without radically alter the company. Hell, there will be barely any changes at all, really.
The front office staff, including former owner Cary Silkin, will all remain in their positions to work alongside Joe Koff of Sinclair (now the promotion’s Chief Operating Officer) and Gary Juster as Vice President of Operations. Yes, that’s the same Gary Juster who used to work as a promoter for Jim Crockett and later WCW, will be the Vice President of Operations. He also happened to broker this deal with Sinclair and RoH.
Outsuide of that, Jim Cornette will remain as Executive Producer and Hunter Johnson will remain on as a creative executive. Johnson and Cornette now also share talent relations and creative duties.
Kevin Kelly, “the voice of Ring of Honor on internet Pay-Per-View”, will also remain in that position, as well as become the lead commentator when the Ring of Honor syndicated television show debuts all over the Sinclair Group’s television stations in September. Oh yeah - that’s piece of good news number three - a much bigger television outlet for the company come this fall. In fact, this past weekend at Roh's Supercard of Honor VI in Chicago, the company announced its first television taping for Sinclair would be in that same city on August 13.
That, in and of itself, is fascinating. When RoH walked away from HDNet after that two-year deal expired, many were wondering how, when, or even if Ring of Honor would be back on television. The question that was posed to whomever in RoH was interviewed was basically, “hey, if it happens, it happens.” The answer, in the eyes of the company, was that they were looking for more than just being “back on television”, and they’ve got it.
Now, this isn’t an immediate presence or a giant leap to compete with WWE. My old stomping grounds 411 Wrestling gave more details - Sinclair broadcasts in roughly 22% of the country and there some huge markets that are not part of the equation. (411 also has the full list of their stations here) Even still and as already noted, they already have a bigger presence in the national market provided previously by HDnet.
If you ask most anyone in RoH, they’re not looking to compete with WWE or even
What happens now should be a show in and of itself. It’s no secret the pro wrestling is in a stagnant state, while MMA (and especially UFC) is hotter than ever right now. The reasons are simple: MMA took the presentation and basic ideas of pro wrestling and added them to a much more realistic product, while the biggest wrestling companies in the world have are hell-bent on producing anything but wrestling. Many have speculated that, for wrestling to once again thrive, that it would have return to basics and produce a much more realistic and athletic product on a larger scale. Ring of Honor is that product, and now they have that larger audience. That theory of where the wrestling industry heads from here is about to be tested, big time.
But that’s another discussion for another time. As for now, Ring of Honor, as a result of being owned by another company, finds itself in a much better position now than it has at any time in its nine years of existence. It’s a thrilling time to be associated with and a fan of Ring of Honor. All the best in the world is hoped for as they move forward with a new venture and hopefully now become the little promotion that redefines wrestling.
BlogCritics.org - Sunday Morning Coming Down 05.22.11
"Cut The Live Feed!": Online Streaming May Soon Become A Felony - Blogcritics Music
In talking with Marc with a C, he kinda thanked me for paying attention to the business side of things and finding items like this. My response was to the effect of me expressing how I thought it was my duty.
I mean, there are already stories out there of Lady GaGa making public appearances in a see-thru dress (no link to that BS) and several hundred people already paying attention to her and how she may either be the new Madonna or the destruction of Pop Music as we know it. And then there are stories like this, where our government is further seeking to limit our freedoms to enjoy the arts because some lobbyists have them in a back pocket.
Sadly, not enough people are paying enough attention to stories like the latter. Stories much more important than Katy Perry covering Rebecca Black on stage. I told Marc that, hey, someone has to do it because things like this should not go unnoticed.
Speaking of Marc, he was recently a guest on the Nerdy Show, talking about his new album...which I can print the title of here...Motherfuckers Be Bullshittin'. There are three things that need to be done. By you, I mean. I've already done two of them.
Go take a listen to the Nerdy Show podcast now, then tune in to 8Bit FM tonight (Sunday, May 22) at 10:00 pm to hear the entire album. And some surprises at the end. Then, keep an eye on the Orlando Rock Music Examiner page starting tomorrow (Monday, May 23) for a two-part interview with Marc that goes in to the making, concept, story, and meaning of Motherfuckers Be Bullshittin'. (And please note that, because Examiner.com is in bed with Walden media, that I won't be able to print the title of the entire album there.
Oh, and in a little bit here, there will also be a completely unrelated article here as well. Stay tuned and be good, or else no cookie for you after dinner.
In talking with Marc with a C, he kinda thanked me for paying attention to the business side of things and finding items like this. My response was to the effect of me expressing how I thought it was my duty.
I mean, there are already stories out there of Lady GaGa making public appearances in a see-thru dress (no link to that BS) and several hundred people already paying attention to her and how she may either be the new Madonna or the destruction of Pop Music as we know it. And then there are stories like this, where our government is further seeking to limit our freedoms to enjoy the arts because some lobbyists have them in a back pocket.
Sadly, not enough people are paying enough attention to stories like the latter. Stories much more important than Katy Perry covering Rebecca Black on stage. I told Marc that, hey, someone has to do it because things like this should not go unnoticed.
Speaking of Marc, he was recently a guest on the Nerdy Show, talking about his new album...which I can print the title of here...Motherfuckers Be Bullshittin'. There are three things that need to be done. By you, I mean. I've already done two of them.
Go take a listen to the Nerdy Show podcast now, then tune in to 8Bit FM tonight (Sunday, May 22) at 10:00 pm to hear the entire album. And some surprises at the end. Then, keep an eye on the Orlando Rock Music Examiner page starting tomorrow (Monday, May 23) for a two-part interview with Marc that goes in to the making, concept, story, and meaning of Motherfuckers Be Bullshittin'. (And please note that, because Examiner.com is in bed with Walden media, that I won't be able to print the title of the entire album there.
Oh, and in a little bit here, there will also be a completely unrelated article here as well. Stay tuned and be good, or else no cookie for you after dinner.
Saturday, May 21, 2011
R.I.P. Randy Savage
Because, really...what the hell else needs to be said?
Rest in peace, Randy. You'd already gone down as one of the greatest in the game a long time ago.
Rest in peace, Randy. You'd already gone down as one of the greatest in the game a long time ago.
Thursday, May 19, 2011
Count3rCu1ture News Desk: 05.19.11
Welcome to a new semi-regular feature here at Count3rCu1ture. This is not designed to be a daily occurrence, but will rather happen every few days or so as news and other cool stuff comes up.
These posts will spotlight news, events, new music, announcements, and various other items fitting under the umbrella. These posts will feature a handful of items each with a short blurb or video to accompany them and will give you a better idea of what encompasses the world of Count3rCu1ture. Think of this as the official Count3rCu1ture News Desk...
Come to think of it, that’s a great name for these...
On with the first edition:
The Fight Network Vs. Colt Cabana and Steve Corino
Courtesy of I Want Wrestling.com comes a pair of interviews from The Fight Network out of Canada. John Pollock (also of Live Audio Wrestling and Review-A-Wai fame) caught up with both Colt Cabana and Steve Corino before the recent Ring of Honor show in Toronto, Canada.
Cabana talks about his Wrestling Road Diaries documentary (I so have to get that soon!) as well as the tribute match that he and Delirious had planned for the late Larry Sweeney and the success of his podcast, “The Art Of Wrestling” (which is required listening each week).
Meanwhile, Corino discusses his roles in both the RoH locker room and the beyond-awesome Kevin Steen / El Generico feud from last year, as well as the t-shirt and catchphrase that are sweeping the nation...”Thumb in the Bum”.
As for the Kevin Steen / El Generico feud, for those that may not know, both Corino and Cabana were involved in that. You can see a small sample of that below - although, be warned, the clip below is totally NSFW due to blood. The clip is an example of not only how violent, but the psychological depth of the program. This feud not only lasted for a year, but stayed engaging for that entire time - something unheard of in an attention-deficit world of not just wrestling, but pop culture as a whole.
Henry Rollins is Kilowog
Damn straight.
Henry Rollins gave an interview to Comic Book Resources recently about his involvement in the “Green Lantern: Emerald Knights” animated movie, set for release June 7. Just in time to be a nice companion to the live-action movie (that hopefully won’t turn out to be a disappointment).
If there’s a “Renaissance Man” for this generation, Henry Rollins is him. The fact that he puts over comics as a more-than-viable medium despite not being that much in to them is awesome:
So, how hard was it for Rollins to get the character of Kilowog? Not very, according to him:
I assumed what the character needed before we went in. I said, “Andrea (Romano), this guy has a flat top, thick neck, but he’s a good guy and if you get past all the yelling, you know he's got a good heart.” She said, “You got it. That's, that's the guy.” So I kind of had him dialed in and then we went forth.
Whether or not Ryan Reynolds can pull off Hal Jordan remains to be seen, but I already know Rollins can pull off Kilowog. Not 100% sure which one I'm more excited to see...
Keanu Reeves Says No to Kaneda
Finally, CBR also reports that Keanu Reeves has passed on the live-action remake of AKIRA*.
Two words for this one, folks: thank God.
First, thank God Reeves bowed out of it. I’m not in love with Reeve’s work, but I don’t hate him, either. I simply don’t see what role someone 47 years old could feasibly play in a movie that features 90% teenage characters. The only role Reeves could have pulled was The Colnel (and, admittedly, that might have been pretty cool), but the news item mentioned the project having trouble “finding a lead”...which is a teenager.
The news item also hints that the whole project could be shut down with the trouble it’s had finding a lead - which is perfectly fine by me. I don’t think a live action AKIRA is the greatest idea in the world. There are quite a few scenes that I can’t see being done no matter how far CGI has brought us.
New Performers Unlocked
(Apologies to the Nerdapalooza site for the headline, but, really...what else fits?)
The lineup for Nerdapalooza 2011 was already looking really cool before this morning's announcements. Now they've announced that the pre-party will be at the Marriot with the Oneups headlining. Also, Koo Koo Kanga Roo, fresh off tour with Reel Big Fish, will also be there.
Most exciting news, personally? The Bossfights are coming back. I'm so glad to know that, as I missed them last year and wanted to kick myself for it. Now I have another chance to see them - and they have a new album coming out June 10! Schweet!
Oh, and while you're at it, feel free to vote for Orlando Weekly's Best of 2011. Also feel free to go here for a list of suggestions.
Last But Certainly Not Least...
Interested in a preview of CEO 2011? Check out Peaceful Jay's Justin.tv channel tonight at 9:00pm EST for Jay's first SCO Tournament. None other than CEO head Alex JeBailey himself will be one of the competitors, so tune in tonight for just a small taste of what's ahead at CEO 2011, happening June 10-12.
Thanks for stopping by the Count3rCu1ture News Desk. Be sure to be back...probably in a few days...for more news. As Chevy Chase and Garrett Morris (via some old-school Weekend Update) would have said, "Good night and have a pleasant tomorrow."
These posts will spotlight news, events, new music, announcements, and various other items fitting under the umbrella. These posts will feature a handful of items each with a short blurb or video to accompany them and will give you a better idea of what encompasses the world of Count3rCu1ture. Think of this as the official Count3rCu1ture News Desk...
Come to think of it, that’s a great name for these...
On with the first edition:
The Fight Network Vs. Colt Cabana and Steve Corino
Courtesy of I Want Wrestling.com comes a pair of interviews from The Fight Network out of Canada. John Pollock (also of Live Audio Wrestling and Review-A-Wai fame) caught up with both Colt Cabana and Steve Corino before the recent Ring of Honor show in Toronto, Canada.
Cabana talks about his Wrestling Road Diaries documentary (I so have to get that soon!) as well as the tribute match that he and Delirious had planned for the late Larry Sweeney and the success of his podcast, “The Art Of Wrestling” (which is required listening each week).
Meanwhile, Corino discusses his roles in both the RoH locker room and the beyond-awesome Kevin Steen / El Generico feud from last year, as well as the t-shirt and catchphrase that are sweeping the nation...”Thumb in the Bum”.
As for the Kevin Steen / El Generico feud, for those that may not know, both Corino and Cabana were involved in that. You can see a small sample of that below - although, be warned, the clip below is totally NSFW due to blood. The clip is an example of not only how violent, but the psychological depth of the program. This feud not only lasted for a year, but stayed engaging for that entire time - something unheard of in an attention-deficit world of not just wrestling, but pop culture as a whole.
Henry Rollins is Kilowog
Damn straight.
Henry Rollins gave an interview to Comic Book Resources recently about his involvement in the “Green Lantern: Emerald Knights” animated movie, set for release June 7. Just in time to be a nice companion to the live-action movie (that hopefully won’t turn out to be a disappointment).
If there’s a “Renaissance Man” for this generation, Henry Rollins is him. The fact that he puts over comics as a more-than-viable medium despite not being that much in to them is awesome:
So, how hard was it for Rollins to get the character of Kilowog? Not very, according to him:
I assumed what the character needed before we went in. I said, “Andrea (Romano), this guy has a flat top, thick neck, but he’s a good guy and if you get past all the yelling, you know he's got a good heart.” She said, “You got it. That's, that's the guy.” So I kind of had him dialed in and then we went forth.
Whether or not Ryan Reynolds can pull off Hal Jordan remains to be seen, but I already know Rollins can pull off Kilowog. Not 100% sure which one I'm more excited to see...
Keanu Reeves Says No to Kaneda
Finally, CBR also reports that Keanu Reeves has passed on the live-action remake of AKIRA*.
Two words for this one, folks: thank God.
First, thank God Reeves bowed out of it. I’m not in love with Reeve’s work, but I don’t hate him, either. I simply don’t see what role someone 47 years old could feasibly play in a movie that features 90% teenage characters. The only role Reeves could have pulled was The Colnel (and, admittedly, that might have been pretty cool), but the news item mentioned the project having trouble “finding a lead”...which is a teenager.
The news item also hints that the whole project could be shut down with the trouble it’s had finding a lead - which is perfectly fine by me. I don’t think a live action AKIRA is the greatest idea in the world. There are quite a few scenes that I can’t see being done no matter how far CGI has brought us.
New Performers Unlocked
(Apologies to the Nerdapalooza site for the headline, but, really...what else fits?)
The lineup for Nerdapalooza 2011 was already looking really cool before this morning's announcements. Now they've announced that the pre-party will be at the Marriot with the Oneups headlining. Also, Koo Koo Kanga Roo, fresh off tour with Reel Big Fish, will also be there.
Most exciting news, personally? The Bossfights are coming back. I'm so glad to know that, as I missed them last year and wanted to kick myself for it. Now I have another chance to see them - and they have a new album coming out June 10! Schweet!
Oh, and while you're at it, feel free to vote for Orlando Weekly's Best of 2011. Also feel free to go here for a list of suggestions.
Last But Certainly Not Least...
Interested in a preview of CEO 2011? Check out Peaceful Jay's Justin.tv channel tonight at 9:00pm EST for Jay's first SCO Tournament. None other than CEO head Alex JeBailey himself will be one of the competitors, so tune in tonight for just a small taste of what's ahead at CEO 2011, happening June 10-12.
Thanks for stopping by the Count3rCu1ture News Desk. Be sure to be back...probably in a few days...for more news. As Chevy Chase and Garrett Morris (via some old-school Weekend Update) would have said, "Good night and have a pleasant tomorrow."
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
The New UFC
Let me start with a simple statement that will make a whole lot more sense in a few paragraphs: I have nothing against MMA at all. In fact, I kinda like it.MMA, of course, would refer to the sport of Mixed Martial Arts. Or, if you prefer, UFC. Or Strikeforce. Or Bellator. Or any other promotions out there. Or a combination thereof. Mostly, though, the most well-known and preferred brand/league is, of course, UFC. Kinda like WWE for pro wrestling fans.
As a Wrestling fan (we’ll save the “Sports Entertainment” debate for another time, but we know it as Wrestling in these here parts), I can certainly appreciate how UFC has appropriated what makes Wrestling so popular and adapted that to an actual sport where matches are not choreographed or pre-determined. Totally cool with all of that.
I don’t follow UFC all that much; I certainly thought about it at one point, but I just never really got in to it on a regular basis. I prefer my sports scripted, thank you; that’s just how I am. It’s much easier to guarantee solid action and the right outcome according to my tastes.
As for how I prefer competition, that has become an entirely different story. I’ve actually discovered a happy medium between Wrestling and MMA. The hype and pageantry are lavish; the personalities are all unique and charismatic; the rivalries and struggles are very real and very fierce; fans have their favorites that they cheer and boo; and, best of all, no one gets hurt.
The participants don’t lace up any boots or wear any trunks. They train for hours and days on end, but rarely a sweat is broken. Reflexes and strategy are key, but the combatants throw no blows. They control others who do that for them – and those warriors are much more colorful, flamboyant, and compelling to watch. The moves they are programmed to perform are stellar enough to defy gravity and physics, making the matches much more exhilarating to watch. With enough training and talent, the field is much more open to new blood as there is no physical preparation involved at all.
It’s official: the world of professional video game competition is my UFC. More specifically, the annual EVO Championship Series. Want a good summary? Check out, right under this, the Finals of EVO 2010:
You can probably tell by the above video that the EVO Championships focus specifically on fighting games. No Halo-like shooters or Gears of War-type multiplayer battles. These focus (at least this year) on games like Super Street Fighter IV, Marvel Vs Capcom 3, Mortal Kombat (9), and games of that type. Where one player faces another with the winner advancing and the loser going home until all of the tournaments held around the world lead to the crowning of a new champion each year.
Whereas UFC fans cheer for Cain Velasquez, Brock Lesnar, Georges St Pierre, or Wanderlei Silva, those that follow the EVO Tournaments follow the exploits of stars such as Justin Wong (the subject of a documentary called King of Chinatown), Daigo, Ricky Ortiz, Mike Ross, and Gamerbee. These are the competitors that a new breed of video game and fighting sport enthusiasts have made quasi-celebrities among a smaller – but ever-growing – set of fans.
This year, Orlando hosts one of the EVO Tournaments. Set to happen June 10-12 at the Wyndham Resort on International Drive, CEO is proud to present not only the road to the EVO Championships, but also a screening of the King of Chinatown documentary (see the trailer below). King Of Chinatown is a fascinating look at the world of professional video gaming that goes a long way in helping explain the whole phenomenon.
The tournament is presented by one of its players, Alex JeBailey, head of CEO. Alex has been gracious enough to let Count3rCu1ture be a part of CEO 2011 and I will be taping from the event that weekend. Along the way, it may help to explain why so many – including myself – substitute the letters UFC with EVO.
Be on the lookout for Count3rCu1ture coverage of CEO 2011 the week of June 13-17 as we open the doors to the that Tournament and to the world of EVO.
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
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