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Next summer will see the opening of the most famous theme park. No, how about wildlife preserve. That doesn’t quite work either.
Come June 12, 2015, everyone is invited to experience the adventure of a lifetime! Ladies and gentlemen, it’s the Jurassic World poster:
(“The Park is Open” on Slash Film Online)
“The Park is Open”
Who opened it? Where is it located? Why was it built and created two decades later?
Enter chills and a countdown clock: Only 240 days away!
This entrancing movie poster made the rounds late last night. It’s clear that mysterious, yet recognizable danger lurks behind the “supposedly” electric fences of this prehistoric paradise/entertainment destination that will turn into an exhilarating and dangerous escape for survival from familiar (and likely a couple unfamiliar…) dinosaurs. The smoky feel projects that something truly epic and surprising awaits the entrants of this John Hammond-inspired place. Plus, the design and movie title demonstrates a serious, purposeful new story that returns us all to the greatest idea for a park that’s ever been genetically re-engineered. This is not Jurassic Park 4. This is Jurassic World. This film doesn’t appear to be linked to and/or compared to the second and third films in the franchise, but instead to the original 1993 masterpiece, more on its own.
Yes, it’s happening. Yes, the poster produces one hell of a seductive reverie on all Jurassic Park fans. And yes, director Colin Trevorrow has officially dared the world (and himself) to again dream of a surreal, modern world in which we co-exist with dinosaurs.
To paraphrase Dr. Ian Malcolm, “this story, 22 years in the making, found a way…”
P.S. Notice anything familiar with the release date? Jurassic Park opened in theaters on June 11, 1993…This just keeps getting better and better!
Happy Monday!
This past weekend, Saturday Night Live was in some rare form: it was funny. While that may seem harsh, it’s really not that harsh. However, the triumphant return of Bill Hader and former cast-mate and now co-star in the film, The Skeleton Twins, Kristen Wiig provided genuine laugh-out-loud moments: impressions ranging from Kathie Lee Gifford to a war veteran mastering puppetry and, of course, you know who…
One word, one name: Stefon!
FYI – When watching this clip, notice that when Bill starts to laugh about the mention of a certain individual multiple times (plus a doorman zinger), it’s not rehearsed. Part of the story with Stefon is that the co-creator and co-writer of the character is John Mulaney and he would frequently try to trip his buddy up during the live show with new jokes/changes handed to him as he was walking out to the Weekend Update desk. Some of these changes and jokes, however, come without warning. This was one of those segments.
Need proof?
This was John Mulaney’s twitter post from the weekend: “Sent to Rob Klein last night. Apologies for misspelling Cortese. They didn’t tell Bill about any of it before air.”
http://www.hulu.com/watch/698990
Here’s to hanging out with Dan Cortese this week (apparently, the odds are pretty good)!
It’s Live and From New York, But Is It New?
“New York’s hottest new club is called, ‘Copycat.’ And it has everything: Glow sticks, red bouncy balls, women dressed like Lloyd Christmas and Harry Dunne, Spud Webb and a Ground Mine.
What’s a Ground Mine?
It’s when someone watches a funny sketch by The Groundlings and they say ‘mine!'”
There have been reports this week that sketch giants Saturday Night Live (SNL) stole a Tina Turner routine they performed last weekend from the famed Los Angeles sketch comedy group The Groundlings. After watching the skits side-by-side, it seems virtually indisputable that SNL didn’t lift the sketch. In normal circumstances, it could possibly be a coincidence. Well, actually, not true. But the reason why this is such a big deal right now is that SNL (celebrating its 40th anniversary) has been barely treading water the past couple years. This creative comedy problem has been exacerbated by the departures of Kristen Wiig, Bill Hader, Andy Samberg, Jason Sudeikis, Fred Armisen, Nasim Pedrad and head writer/Weekend Update anchor Seth Meyers.
Plus, the co-creator of Stefon and veteran SNL writer John Mulaney left the show to write and star in his Sunday night FOX sitcom Mulaney with SNL alum Pedrad.
Despite the major cast shakeup following the end of last season, SNL still has some quality performers, like Kenan Thompson, Jay Pharoah, Taran Killam, Vanessa Bayer, Bobby Moynihan and Aidy Bryant. However, Weekend Update newcomer Michael Che is far too amused by his own jokes and the cast (in a broad sense) is lacking that special spark that fans tune in for on a late Saturday night. The expectation for gut-busting laughs is at a very low, low level. The writing has also been geared more towards flat-out opinions with an agenda about certain topics and people instead of playful, cleverly disguised comedic jabs at anybody and everybody.
Fortunately, impressionist extraordinaire Bill Hader is hosting this Saturday night with musical guest Hozier. This means (in 99.99% likelihood) a return of Stefon to the Weekend Update desk. Thank goodness! And it also means that the sketches including Hader should be laugh-out-loud hilarious, with a possible surprise guest star or two (cough-cough, his movie co-star Kristen Wiig…)?
Unfortunately, such a quick return from Hader indicates that SNL is trying to rejuvenate its audience with a past favorite. To be fair, Hader did just release a critically acclaimed drama, The Skeleton Twins, so the booking is legit and appropriate timing wise. However, like the sketch scandal, it just appears like SNL wants to stop treading water for a couple hours and instead climb into Samberg’s nearby boat with its recently departed cast members for some relaxed laughs for a change.
And judging by SNL’s current struggles, they have to be hoping that 40 turns out to be the new 30.
(P.S. Look for Saturday Night Live to lampoon itself over the scandal with The Groundlings this weekend)
The Carlton: Defining the Unusual
Carlton’s log: I’m about to dance America back to the ’90s!
Jimmy’s Daily Planet is a big fan of the 1990s sitcom hit, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. The acting and the writing was fantastic. Plus, it was a show that achieved the right tone with teenagers and parents alike in terms of the appropriateness of the jokes and the content in general. And it was coupled with valuable life lessons.
Of the many memorable scenes, episodes, zings and lessons learned, there is one particular dance that remains a treasured favorite. It’s iconic. “The Carlton” expresses a love not only for the smooth voice of singer Tom Jones, but also a feeling that allows anyone to literally throw caution to the wind and move like no one’s watching.
Except people are always watching (and doing) that dance with ecstatic delight, especially when it’s performed by its original sitcom lead on prime-time television on a major network.
Alfonso Carlton, you know what to do:
Thank You Alfonso!
Jimmy's Daily Planet 