Linc for Your Commute: Yoda Wins Star Wars Madness, Dark Horse's Future, Doctor Who News, and S.H.I.E.L.D

Good morning, one and all! It seems like Spring has finally sprung in the Big Apple. And there's plenty of buzz in the air about this morning's geek-related news.

1. Yoda Wins Star Wars Madness, Does Several Hundred Backflips in a Row

Size matters not....punk.

Everyone's favorite Jedi Master turned swamp-dweller is the winner of this year's first Star Wars Madness! He handily beat Darth Vader by a margin of 60%-40%, a whooping decades in the making. And so, for the next 365 days, His Greenness has been declared the most popular Star Wars character. Check out the full bracket and stats, as well as Vader's lament, over at StarWars.com

2. Dark Horse Comics Founder and Editor Talk "The Star Wars" and the Fate of the Franchise At Dark Horse

With the acquisition of Lucasfilm by Disney, many have been wondering whether or not future Star Wars comic titles will continue to be published by Dark Horse Comics, or return to their ancestral homeland of Marvel. Dark Horse founder Mike Richardson and editor Randy Stradley recently sat down with Entertainment Weekly to discuss that as well as the latest (and yet oldest) outing into the GFFA. In terms of future titles, Richardson had this to say:

"We have it for the foreseeable future, though, so we’re just going about business as usual. It is what it is. Look, from day-one we always knew it was a possibility that someday we might not have the license. We’re prepared for it. We have other franchises to move into that space, but we got involved with publishing in part because we loved Star Wars and so sure it’ll be disappointing on a business level, but probably more disappointing on a personal level."

And while a decision seems to be a bit of a ways off (Stradley says they'll hear by next year), we know that this summer we will see a comic book adaptation of George Lucas' original draft of "The Star Wars". 

The Starkiller Family

The story is familiar yet different all at the same time. We'll see an older General Luke Skywalker, the hero Annikin Starkiller, the planet Utapau, a decidedly un-Sithly Darth Vader, a lizard-like alien named Han Solo, and the epic struggle between the Jedi Bendu and the Knights of Sith. I read the original script a while back and it really took hold of my imagination, but it was a little hard to follow simply on the page. I can't wait to read this come September.

3. Doctor Who 50th News and "Cold War" Trailer

New cast members keep cropping up for the Doctor Who 50th Anniversary Special. Jemma Redgrave will reprise her role as Kate Stewart, the daughter of longtime ally Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart (played by the late, incomparable Nicholas Courtney), and current head of UNIT. Also cast as a UNIT scientist (and apparent in-universe fan), Ingrid Oliver will be playing a character called Osgood (any link to Oswald?). Here she is walking with the Doctor wearing a pretty familiar-looking scarf:

Tom Baker's looking good these days

More pictures from the set show Matt Smith hanging on for dear life to the underside of the TARDIS as Jenna-Louise Coleman looks on. UNIT forces have converged by the Tower of London (apparently their new base of operations)...but are they there to help or arrest the Doctor?

It stinks when you can't have fun at work...

"Heyyy guys....what's up?"

You can also check out a behind the scenes video of Jemma, Ingrid, and Jenna-Louise and some impressive Tower guards on location here:



And one more video for you to feast your eyes upon. Check out the latest trailer for this Saturday's episode "Cold War". The Doctor seems to have overshot Las Vegas and landed on a nuclear submarine that is being attacked by an Ice Warrior (or, more politically correctly, a native Martian).



 In the classic series they spoke in creepy whispers, but this one seems to be imitating Dr. Claw from Inspector Gadget. "I'll get you next time Doctor, next time!"

4. Joss Whedon's S.H.I.E.L.D. TV Series Gets New Title and Description

The self-proclaimed Tom Hagen of the Marvel Universe, Joss Whedon, has been pretty busy as of late. His latest project, a TV series following the adventures of Agent Coulson (Clak Gregg) and his team has a new name and description. Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D has yet to be picked up by ABC, but it seems extremely likely that the deal will be done in the near future. Here is the new synopsis:

"Joss Whedon shows us not all heroes are super with “Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. 

Fresh from his role in the summer’s box office smash, Marvel’s The Avengers, Agent Phil Coulson (Clark Gregg) returns to the worldwide law enforcement organization S.H.I.E.L.D. He puts together a small, highly trained, team of Agents to tackle the cases that haven’t been classified yet, the new, the strange and the unknown. That team consists of straight arrow Agent Grant Ward (Brett Dalton), an expert in combat and espionage; pilot and martial artist Agent Melinda May (Ming-Na Wen); and brilliant if socially awkward scientists Agent Leo Fitz (Iain De Caestecker) and Agent Jemma Simmons (Elizabeth Henstridge). They’ll be joined by civilian new recruit and computer hacker Skye (Chloe Bennet). 

Prepare for an epic adventure that showcases the hope and wonder of the human spirit. This is a world of Super Heroes, aliens and the unusual – of action, spectacle and world spanning stories. The show will speak to the human condition through the lens of our very human, non-powered S.H.I.E.L.D agents – that together we are greater than we are apart, and that we can make a difference in the world.
Executive Produced and co-written by Joss Whedon, Jed Whedon & Maurissa Tancharoen (“Dollhouse,” “Dr.Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog”), Jeffrey Bell (“Angel,” “Alias”) and Jeph Loeb (“Smallville,” “Lost,” “Heroes”) comes Marvel’s first live-action TV series, “Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.”

As reported in an earlier post, Coulson has gotten a full-on resurrection and I can't wait to see how the sharp-tongued world-policing agent will use his second chance at life.

Just lots and lots of sass. 

And that's it for now, friends. Hope you all have a safe trip home!

-Joe

Doctor Who "The Bells of St. John" Review

Alrighty folks, this is no post-April Fool's joke. Better late than never, so here's a dynamite review for one of the best shows on television. And no, I'm not talking about "The Neighbors".

No...not you....never you.

Doctor Who: The Bells of St. John

Before we jump into the first new Doctor Who episode in three months (guh...), I have to mention the unbelievably exciting news that David Tennant and Billie Piper will reprise their roles as the Tenth Doctor and Rose Tyler for the 50th Anniversary Special! 

Seriously, try not to squeal.

Whether or not Tennant will actually play the Doctor or the meta-crisis, hand-grown, one-hearted, overly-hyphenated version remains to be seen. Either way, I'm more pumped for the big 5-0 than ever before!. Allons-y!

Back to the present (if you believe time is linear) and Saturday's episode "The Bells of St John." I thought it was a fabulous re-introduction to the series and a great third "first" appearance by Jenna-Louise Coleman. The two have such a great dynamic and play off of each other really well. It's fun to see the Doctor so intrigued by Clara, only to have the new companion put him off his stride with a quick remark.

The episode was really interesting. Once the monk ran to get the Doctor, I knew immediately that "The Bells of St. John" had to be the ringing of the TARDIS phone (which, technically, isn't a real phone). That's something we haven't seen since the Ninth Doctor episode "The Empty Child".

Get it??

And so we come to the first mystery of the the second half of Series 7. Just who is the woman in the shop who told Clara to call the TARDIS number? River Song? Sally Sparrow? Rose Tyler (and thus setting up the 50th)? Hopefully that wasn't just a one-off comment....and knowing Steven Moffat, it probably wasn't.

When Clara is attacked by one of the newly-minted monsters, the Spoonheads, it takes the form of a character from Clara's favorite childhood book....which is written by none other than Amelia Williams.

Why...why did you have to leave me?

The Doctor comes to the rescue and, together, the two embark to discover exactly what is taking people's souls into the WiFi. I really enjoyed how Miss Kizlet hacked into and used the people of London to interact with the Doctor. It gave the episode a sense that they were facing a real villain who had them playing right into her hands. Of course, we learn later that Miss Kizlet is being controlled by none other than our old friend, The Great Intelligence, who has ditched the snowglobe (so 1800's) and taken on the form of Dr. Simeon.

Peek-a-GAH!

There were some other really cool bits thrown in for the fans as well. Making the WiFi password "rycbar123", Clara tapping into her inner geek by saying "Oswald for the win...Oswin!" and adding more layers to Clara's secret. Where does the leaf in her book come from and why is it "page one?" Speaking of "101 Places to See"...did anyone notice that two ages are missing from the book?

Must have been during her goth phase...

Ages 16 and 23 are somehow left unwritten. Could these be the ages of Clara and Oswin in "The Snowmen" and "Asylum of the Daleks" respectively? Does it mean that this Clara, the "woman twice dead", is the same person as the others? We'll just have to wait and see.

"I wonder just how long I have to wait to say 'April Fools'?"

Overall the episode was really exciting. Between great actions scenes on the plane and on the motorbike (especially when the Doctor-Spoonhead races up the Shard), and classic Doctor Who tropes ("bigger on the inside", donning of a new costume, asking of "The Question") there was a lot to enjoy about the return of the Time Lord. The creepiness of the Spoonheads turning their heads around, the arch-villainy of the Great Intelligence, and the furthering of the mystery of exactly who Clara is, made the Bells of St. John very intriguing.

Now run you clever boy (and girl)...and remember....to tune in next week!

Your Morning Linc: Best April Fool's Pranks from Around the Web

Updated: Karen Gillan to appear in Episode VII and the New Star Wars animated series is revealed!

Good morning, everyone! I'm back from Easter break and I hope you and your family had a great holiday. Not a lot of time until later to get into my Doctor Who and Game of Thrones recaps, so I thought I'd collect a few of the best April Fool's jokes from around the web

1. Google Nose

Because "smelling is believing", Google unveiled the beta for their latest project, Google Nose. According to the video, your olfactory senses will be your guide to the world wide web. "Photo olfactory sensory convergence", as it's called, will no longer be relegated to the realm of science fiction! Click the "Try Google Nose" button and watch the people over at Google celebrate their triumph in their own special way.

 



2. George Takei Will Star in Episode VII

The leader of the "Star Alliance" has revealed that he will be starring as Jedi Master Ceti Maru in Episode VII: Galactic Empire. While not the best attempt at an April Fool's joke, you gotta love the picture he posted:

Oh Myyyyy

3. The Joke I Wish Was Most True: Karen Gillan to Join Episode VII Cast

This one hurts to know that it's a prank. The Big Shiny Robot people thought it would be funny to give fanboys (and girls) everywhere a giant let down by posting today of all days that Karen Gillan will be starring in Episode VII. The fiery Scottish companion of the Eleventh Doctor, Gillan would have been perfect for just about any role in anything ever.

Come along, Pond, indeed.

4. YouTube to Shut Down til 2023 to pick "Best Video Ever"

The folks at YouTube let the world know today that they will be shutting down until 2023 in order to cull through the millions upon millions of videos in order to select "THE BEST VIDEO EVER!" An all-star panel has been organized to select the video, including Antoinne Dodson of "Bed Intruder" fame. Check out the announcement below:

 

5. Doctor Who to Re-Design the TARDIS

Our friends over at Doctor Who TV Blog posted a great prank article detailing the demise of the famous blue police box. According to their article, showrunner Steven Moffat will be trading in the old model for something "hipper, cooler, and sexier" for the show's 50th anniversary. They thank contributor "Ali Forlop" for the scoop.

This actually would be an upgrade.

6. Apple Announces iPlay Game Console

Not to be outdone, the group over at IGN has released a video detailing Apple's new iPlay console. The tech giant wants to compete with the big boys in the world of gaming and they're going to do it with simplicity and style. And you'll be pleasantly surprised at the game they have decided to solely dedicate their console to. Check out the video here:

 


7. New Star Wars Animated Series to Feature Jar Jar Binks and Col. Gascon

Get ready folks! Star Wars Underworld, in their exclusive report, reveals that the successor to The Clone Wars will feature none other than everyone's favorite(?) diminutive Republic officer, Colonel Meebur Gascon!

Actual size.

The series will reportedly follow Gascon and the lovable(?) droids of D-Squad on their many adventures throughout the galaxy. Laying it on thick, SWU also reports that the series will feature Jar Jar Binks, whose absence in the Original Trilogy will be explained and who will make a big comeback in the Sequel Trilogy. Adding to that the possible cameo of Matt Smith and Jenna-Louise Coleman from Doctor Who, and you have one hell of an April Fool's post!



That's all for now, guys. Hope you this made the Monday return to work a little bit better.

-Joe

Your Evening Linc: Episode VII rumors, Clone Wars Team Disbanded, Clara on Craig and More!

So there's been a lot of really interesting Star Wars news and I couldn't wait until tomorrow to share it. Punch it, Chewie!

This is my Chewie, and today is his birthday.

1. Han Solo Might Return To Face a Disciple of Palpatine With His Kids

In an interview with WGN, Harrison Ford sounded confident that everyone's favorite smuggler turned Rebel will return for Episode VII. This jives pretty well with what George Lucas said in a Bloomberg a few weeks ago. And, according to a source for Cosmic Booknews (yes, the Cosmic Booknews....) Han will be joining his kids in an adventure 30 years after the events of Return of the Jedi. The Jedi Order has been rebuilt with Luke at its head, and a "disciple of Emperor Palpatine aims to rebuild the Sith Armies of the Old Republic and destroy the Jedi." Moreover, the Skywalker/Solo children must confront their dark lineage and exactly what it means to be the grandchildren of Anakin Skywalker.

"I am so, so sorry." - Shmi Skywalker

This actually sounds like a pretty cool storyline. First, we won't have a resurrected Emperor, and so it is completely conceivable (especially when considering the EU) that Darth Sidious would have a few acolytes in the wings just in case Darth Vader proved unworthy. I also like the idea of the next generation having the shadow of Anakin cast over them. How do you deal not only with having famous parents, but an infamous grandfather?

By the way, I encourage you to take this great big heaping grain of salt with any rumor until Lucasfilm/Disney confirms anything.

2. Clone Wars Team Disbanded?

Another rumor that makes the Truth-O-Meter go all wonky is the one coming from Rebelscum.com that the entire team of the Clone Wars (cast, crew, janitors) has been completely disbanded and dismissed.  This dramatic downsizing will result in further projects being handed over to existing Disney television operations.

Ahsoka has been seen begging on the streets of Coruscant.

What this means for the Season 6 material we were promised, I have no idea. What's for sure is that this is one crazy, turbulent time for Star Wars. More on this as it develops.

3. Jenna-Louise Coleman Chats with Craig Ferguson

Now turning once again to the world of Doctor Who, new companion Jenna-Louise Coleman stopped by Craig Ferguson where he labeled her the "sauciest ever companion". Check out the whole interview here, including Jenna-Louise schooling Craig on having to update his TARDIS:

 

4. Been Testing Out The New Facebook Design....And It's Pretty Cool

Before the wailing and gnashing of teeth commence when Facebook fully switches over to its new design, allow me to say this: It's actually really cool.



From a user standpoint, I think it eliminates the clutter of the current home page. Most of the real estate is taken up by the Newsfeed, with statuses and especially pictures coming in much bigger and more clearly. Everything else you need is in a convenient sidebar. I switched over this morning and it only took a few minutes to really get used to the layout. There is a much more natural flow to the page and it actually feels more intuitive.

Now, I can't stop everyone from bemoaning the death of Facebook as they know it (which is not how they first knew it), but hopefully this will ease the transition a little.

Until next time, friends!

-Joe

St. Joseph's Day Lincs: Star Wars March Madness, JAT Says Farewell to the Clone Wars, Goodbye to the Office, and Doctor Who 50th

Happy St. Joseph's Day everyone! While not as popular as some other saint's day this past weekend, today is a very big deal for Italians and for my family (we have a lot of Joe's). So Viva la Tavola di San Giuseppe! And now let's get down to business:

1. Star Wars March Madness Brackets

Because who needs basketball when you have a good blaster at your side? StarWars.com is hosting its own March Madness and is asking fans to pick their favorites as they go head to head for the top spot. Head on over and cast your vote!

2. James Arnold Taylor Bids Farewell to the Clone Wars, Proves Once Again Why He's The Man

Please....don't.....leave us.

The voice of Obi-Wan Kenobi (and Plo Koon), James Arnold Taylor spoke with IGN about the show's cancellation and what the future holds. He has already published a very touching and heartfelt letter on his website, and apparently is now on a mission to make every fan cry. Here is part of what he said on the fan reaction to the show's untimely demise:

"[I]t really is a touching, heartfelt, wonderful thing to read people's posts and comments on social media outlets and blogs. To get that outpouring of people saying how much they believed in the show and how they loved it and shared it with their kids and families."

I've had the pleasure of meeting James a bunch of times over the past few years. He is an absolutely incredible person who loves his job, his family, and his fans. In the Star Wars community, when you think of Obi-Wan you now think: Alec Guiness, Ewan McGregor, and James Arnold Taylor. He's been overseas to entertain the troops, hosted Celebration VI and Star Wars Weekends at Disney World, and has been performing his one man show "Talking To Myself" to the delight of many. No doubt we'll hear more from the man behind the galaxy's most famous beard. Thanks, James, and May the Force Be With You.

3. Speaking of Goodbyes....The Office Has Filmed Its Final Episode

The hit NBC show is saying goodbye this season, and I'm really taking the loss hard. I went to the University of Scranton, in the city where The Office is set. The show premiered when I was a sophomore, and by the time I was a senior not only did most everyone in the country know about Scranton, but the cast actually came to visit! Thousands of students lined up on the Commons at 3 AM to be part of Al Roker and the Today Show's coverage of the weekend-long event.

Bob Vance and Stanley being eyed by the giant Dwight head

Daryl leading a chant of "Scranton WHAT?"

Angela and (a much younger) me, just chillin

Creed, Meredith, and Oscar taking it all in

So when the HuffPo posted the tweets of all the actor's thoughts on their last day, I couldn't help but feel sad. I've been out of college for five years, but my pride in the University and my passion for the city remains strong. With the end of The Office, I feel like I'm losing a connection to that place I love so much. Just hearing the references to the Steamtown Mall or Cooper's (all real places!) and seeing the University blanket behind Pam (and now Erin) made me smile. When I drive back up to Scranton for alumni events or to visit friends, I always put on The Office theme as I pass by the "Scranton Welcomes You" sign. So while the country might be losing a show, I feel that we are all losing a connection that that charming town in Pennsylvania. That jewel of NEPA known as:

Scranton! WHAT? The Electric City!


4. Doctor Who: Rumors and Teases from The Cast and Crew

One thing is for sure, we may be losing some great shows, but Doctor Who is going to be around for a long time to come! (Or...has been around...will have been around? Wibbly wobbly and all that...)

"Oh, you ride a motorcycle to pick up chicks? That's cute."

Current Doctor Matt Smith shares his thoughts on the freshly completed script for the 50th Anniversary spectacular:

"I read it and I clapped at the end...I think it's hilarious and I think it's epic - but you will not be disappointed"

I don't know about you, but I trust the Time Lord. And the Grand Moff himself, showrunner Steven Moffat, has said that we will learn more about what's waiting for the Doctor on the fields of Trenzalore. It all goes down November 23.

That's it for now, so go enjoy some sfingi di San Giuseppe!

Take that, Irish soda bread.

-Joe

Linc at Lunch: Star Wars, Doctor Who, TMNT, Game of Thrones, and The Big Bang Theory

Well, it's been tough not being able to blog the last few days, so I'm back with tons of stuff for make up for it! Let's dive in, shall we?

1. Dave Filoni Involved In "New Star Wars Content"

This should be welcome news to fans who don't want to see Filoni's time at Lucasfilm end. According to Disney Channel Worldwide president Gary Walsh, The Man with the Hat is working with him, Lucas, and Kathleen Kennedy to "explore new content for our platforms" which will be detailed later this year. This might have something to do with the new animated series that was mentioned in the press release for the cancellation of the Clone Wars. Can't wait to see what's next!

2. Gentle Giant To Release Grand Admiral Thrawn Mini-Bust

I am a huge collector of the Gentle Giant Star Wars mini-busts. Their detail and craftsmanship are incredible, and they always bring out the best qualities of the character. I started collecting a few years ago at Celebration V, and I couldn't be more excited to say that the folks at GG will be releasing a mini-bust of everyone's favorite Chiss, Grand Admiral Thrawn!

Ladies?

Because nothing says chic like ysalamiri

"But, it was so artistically done."

 Introduced in Tim Zahn's "Heir to the Empire" the Imperial Grand Admiral, whose full name is Mitth'raw'nuruodo, was a cunning tactician who studied the art of  his enemies in order to gain an advantage. During the early years of the New Republic, Thrawn laid siege to the galaxy in an effort to bring together the dissipating factions of the Empire. He almost succeeded, but was assassinated by his own Noghri bodyguard. His dying words, "But, it was so artistically done." are some of the most memorable of the EU.

3. Billy Dee Williams Approached To Reprise Lando in Episode VII

A whole shipload of cool might be on its way back to the Star Wars Universe. Billy Dee Williams recently said that he has been asked to come back for the new movie, but hasn't made up his mind. C'mon Billy Dee! You still owe us for betraying Han!

4. Jenna-Louise Coleman To Return for Season 8 of Doctor Who

The ever-intriguing Clara Osin Oswald, played by the lovely Jenna-Louise Coleman, has confirmed that she will return for Season 8 of the BBC sci-fi show. What this means for her character and for the good Doctor remain to be seen!

It will most likely involve souffles. 

5. New Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Game to Be Based On the Hit Nickelodeon Show

Longtime fans of the Heroes in a Halfshell have been raving about the new cartoon on Nick. I personally haven't seen much of it, but I did like what I saw. But this game looks like it will be really awesome, and just might be what I need to jump into the series. The game sees the Turtles fighting the Foot in New York City and will be out this summer and downloadable on all platforms. Have a look at the trailer below:

 

6. The Big Bang Theory Cast Shares Secrets at PaleyFest

The entire gang of the Big Bang Theory shared stories and secrets from the show at this year's PaleyFest. They delved into the origins of "Bazinga!" and "Soft Kitty" as well as a very "revealing" moment for Melissa Rauch while she was dressed as Smurfette. Check it all out here at The Hollywood Reporter.

7. Hercules and Xena Would Be Proud: Game of Thrones 1995-style Intro

YouTube user hunterslanders created a fantastic opening for Game of Thrones as if the show was made in the mid-90's. It's so classic that I feel like I must have seen this on the WB at some point in between Felicity and Seventh Heaven. Get ready to feel both anticipation and nostalgia all at the same time:

 

And that'll be it for now, friends! Thanks again for continuing to make this blog an extraordinary success!

-Joe