Would you like Fry with that?
Ever since I discovered "Q.I." and the joys thereof, I've been a huge fan of Stephen Fry. He's funny as well as insightful, plus he's got that unique British ability to say the most ribald things and make it sound like it came from a seminar at Oxford. Anyway, this week I drew a cartoon hightlighting his doing some voicework for the upcoming game, "LittleBigPlanet" on the PS3. I also found out his voice will be heard as a character in the upcoming release, "Fable 2." Further, while looking for amusing clips for posting about him, I discovered he's got a travelogue DvD about America coming out soon. He's almost immune from Google bombing, such is the volume of his knowledge and work. When debating whether or not I should inflict the image accompanying this post on an unsuspecting public, a quick search brought up this archived podcast from BBC4 where Stephen gives us an in-depth look at the groaniest form of humor and why it's so very British.
I almost think someone needs to make a second version of the venerable "Steve-O-Meter" with Mr. Fry in mind. :)
Touching on things semi-British, the remake of "Eleventh Hour" aired this week, and I have to say I miss Patrick Stewart, who starred in the original. The US version has Marley Shelton playing Dr. Hood's FBI bodyguard. Her delivery was wooden enough to make me think her screen test must have had "she's pretty" written in the comments section. I'm going to give this one a few more episodes (or, at least, some that aren't retellings of the original 4-episode run on ITV) to decide whether or not it gets TiVo'ed. It also, according to i09.com, does several disservices to science, which most TV shows do, to be frank.
I'm hoping that, much as "Battlestar Galactica" got a decent upgrade, the new version of "V: The Miniseries" will get some similar treatment on ABC. All I ask is that they ditch the "mall hair" of the original but keep the creepy opening theme instead of the synthesizery one that came later. I also wouldn't mind if they brought someone like J. Michael Straczynski on board. If you've never read the opening pages to his script treatment for a "V" sequel called "Rebirth," it's a pretty good setup for a new story.
And now I make my websurfing tax deductable:
- I might have to make my wife drive on our next road trip if I can get a hold of this gaming prototype that uses the passing scenery as part of the game. I wonder if some Optical Character Recognition software could let you play "Highway Alphabet" against the computer?
- Here's a Cthulhu Specimen Case, created by artist Alex CF. I might have to break out the ol' soldering iron and art supplies someday m'self and create a few oddities...
- Air combat from the age of steam & cannon is the subject of Air Battle. Pop your opponent's balloons, collect coins, and avoid plummeting to your doom!
- Though the new "Knight Rider" show is... what it is... "Mythbusters" took a look at if a car could go up a ramp into a semi while moving at highway speeds. I had a high school science teacher who was convinced they filmed the shots in reverse, as KITT would surely have smashed into the front of the trailer. This also means the "Spy Hunter" video game was accurate, right?
- (A small language warning on this one) Batman must have made inappropriate remarks to Lois Lane or something. He can console himself that Supes doesn't realize he installed his prank backwards, but the point was made.
- The zombies will one day rise up, so our nation would be well advised to teach our children about it via Lego.
- Speaking of monsters, if you're stuck for a pumkin design to frighten the monsters laying seige to your home until they pillage your candy, here's a page of some pretty clever Jack-O-Lanters. Mouse over the small photos to change the three large ones at the top.
- Back to Britain for a look at a giant mechanical spider that attacked Liverpool recently (thanks to alert reader Daniel). I now know what I'm buying the second I win the lottery! :)
- And from the comments of last Wednesday's entry, Weird Al has a parody out of Whatever You Like by T.I. Al's version, seen & heard here is a bit more reflective of our economic times.