POPi: Eye On Pop Culture

At NBC, there'll be a Doctor in the house: David Tennant

2009-11-04T22:32:00Z

I'm sure there was someone happier to be in front of a Comic-Con audience than the outgoing Doctor of "Doctor Who," David Tennant. The smiley, wiry Tennant and the equally delighted creator of the current incarnation of the "DW" franchise, Russell T Davies, couldn't have been more thankful for the support from American fans of their BBC endeavor.

Tennant was saying goodbye to the role he owned in seasons 2 through 4 and ongoing specials, and was fresh off a well-received turn as Hamlet for London's Royal Shakespeare Company over the summer.

Another project was ahead of him, and now we know what that is: a pilot for lowly NBC, titled "Rex Is Not Your Lawyer." The Hollywood Reporter. says Tennant will play the titular Rex, a Chicago lawyer who starts having panic attacks and coaches his clients to represent themselves. David Semel (Heroes, Life) will direct the pilot.

Sounds a little like a cross between "Monk" and "The Sopranos," but if anyone can pull it off, it's Tennant. The only thing that makes me nervous: Will he have to go with an American accent?

Next week, I'm going to see Hugh Jackman and Daniel Craig, an Aussie and a Brit, trying to pull off Chicago accents. I'm hoping it's not too painful an experience.

And I'm hoping David Tennant can be a Chicagoan by way of his native Scotland.

Meantime, catch his final frames as the Doctor in "The Waters of Mars" on BBC America Dec. 19.

Comic-Con founder Sheldon Dorf dies in San Diego

2009-11-04T20:43:00Z

Above: The first committee members of the San Diego Comic-Con, in a picture taken in the fall of 1969 at the home of Jack Kirby. Left to right: Dan Stewart (holding drawing), Bob Sourk, Richard Alf, Barry Alfonso (in front, holding drawing), Jack Kirby, Shel Dorf and Wayne Kincaid. (Wayne was not a Comic-Con member; he was just along for the visit.) The photo comes from the collection of Richard Alf.

Saw the sad news that Sheldon Dorf, who founded Comic-Con International in San Diego, has died at age 76 from kidney failure. He had diabetes and had been hospitalized for about a year.

Dorf, a freelance artist and comic strip letterer, led a group including then teen-age Barry Alfonso, now of Swissvale, in starting a modest convention of comic-book lovers. The con now attracts more than 120,000 fans to see not just their comic-book idols, but TV and movie stars, filmmakers and show runners, who launch their biggest genre projects there.

Mr. Dorf's longtime friend, Greg Koudoulian, told the Associated Press that Dorf was friends with comic greats such as Marvel artist Jack Kirby and "Peanuts" creator Charles Schulz. He says Dorf was also instrumental in helping budding artists find audiences.

In a July remembrance for the Post-Gazette, Alfonso described the alliance with Dorf and Jack Kirby that helped Comic-Con take form:

In the fall of 1969 ... I was living in San Diego, and I had placed an ad in the local Pennysaver looking to buy old comic books. One of those who responded was Shel Dorf, a 37-year-old Detroit transplant and veteran comics aficionado. I bought some choice back issues from him and, more importantly, I put him in contact with Richard Alf, a teenage comic-book dealer whose ad I'd seen in the back of a Marvel comic. Dorf met with Alf, who in turn introduced him to Mike Towry and other key players in the origins of the convention.

It turned out that Dorf was no ordinary fan -- he had helped to put on the Detroit Triple Fan Fair, a multifaceted comics and science fiction event. He had a vision for launching something similar in San Diego.

I was invited to join the meetings of the group that formed around Dorf and Alf. At first, we debated whether there was room for another convention, especially one far away from the New York-based comics industry. Remember, in 1969 comics fandom was a fairly small and insular world, still considered something of a disreputable hobby for kids.

Despite this opinion, we knew that comic art could achieve high aesthetic value. An example we could point to was the work of Jack Kirby, creator of Captain America, Fantastic Four and the Incredible Hulk. Dorf knew Kirby, who had recently moved to Southern California. One of the first things we did as a Comic-Con planning group was to arrange a visit with the legendary Kirby, King of the Comics.

Kirby showed us royal hospitality and submitted to our sometimes obsessive questions about his characters. . . . [He] showed us that our heroes were accessible and even eager to share their artistic secrets. He became the patron saint of the Comic-Con.

Oregon festival booms while Simon's 'Memoirs' goes bust on Broadway

2009-11-02T21:57:00Z

Broadway can't hold onto Neil Simon, but Oregon is going full steam ahead with Shakespeare and friends.

It was sad to read that the revival of Simon's "Brighton Beach Memoirs," lauded by critics, had closed after just nine performances. An L.A. Times story blamed the producers: "The reason “Brighton Beach Memoirs” closed early and “Broadway Bound” was aborted in previews was, not surprisingly, all about money. As dated as Neil Simon’s plays are -- and let’s face it, they were almost dated back when they were written, though it didn’t stop them from being hits -- what was even more dated was the producer’s business plan."

Other stories blamed the fact that the show could boast no big Hollywood names in a season when Jude Law, Hugh Jackman, Daniel Craig and Sienna Miller are all on Broadway stages.

How then to explain the booming success of the annual Shakespeare Festival in Ashland, Oregon?

With the recession cutting back travel and entertainment spending, the Oregon Shakespeare Festival was anticipating a tough 2009 season — so much so that it cut the budget $1 million and actors tripled-up on roles, The Associated Press reported.

But the repertory theater today reported record attendance of 410,034 — 89 percent of capacity for the three theaters — and revenues of $17,098,115.

Executive director Paul Nicholson called the turnaround "astonishing," and credited loyal festival patrons.

Among the most popular plays of the season were a modern adaptation of a 250-year-old Italian farce, "The Servant of Two Masters"; the quirky "Dead Man’s Cell Phone," and the classic American musical, "The Music Man."

Wind, cold and Tom Hanks in Evanston

2009-11-02T02:33:00Z

Just back from a weekend in Chicago, my first trip there, with my family. We stayed in Downtown Chicago while visiting Northwestern University, taking the usual university tour and staying on Saturday for the Penn State game.

It was Halloween so we were treated to a "Thriller" -- a re-enactment of the Michael Jackson song and dance -- and the band forming a perfect "N" before the game at Ryan Field in Evanston.

The windy city was blustery this day, and it was bone-chilling. Thank goodness the sun was out or we never would have lasted until Penn State started it's second-half surge against the pesky Northwestern Wildcats. We were sitting with the PSU fans, and they were stunned when Northwestern played their team even to the half. Things collapsed from there, when NU's Mike Kafka went down with an injury . . . and what does this have to do with pop culture?

When I picked up the Chicago Tribune the next day, the lead about the PSU win over the hometown team was all about Tom Hanks. The actor was in town as part of Parents Weekend, the story said.

All that time in on campus Friday in the rain and Saturday in the wind and cold, and not one sighting! Oh well.

We did eat at Cafe Spiagga, the casual cousin of the Obama's fave date-night spot, Spiagga. The long narrow space overlooks the design houses that line Michigan Avenue -- the Maginificent Mile -- where Niketown, Eddie Bauer, Crate & Barrel and others have key locations alongside Cartier, Gucci, Chanel and the like. The wind died down enough to walk back to our hotel, past the

A sunny Sunday morning in Chicago was much prettier, but it was time to come home. Wish we had more time to explore.

Ashford, Hayes and Chenoweth make 'Promises, Promises'

2009-10-26T19:06:00Z

As promises go, this is so good you have to say it twice:

A revival of "Promises, Promises," starring Kristin Chenoweth (left) and Sean Hayes (right), is planned for a Broadway opening in April 2010. Point Park's Rob Ashford will direct and choreograph the musical, which is based on the Academy Award-winning movie "The Apartment."

It's a show with great pedigree: a book by Neil Simon and a score by Burt Bacharach and Hal David. Songs include "I'll Never Fall in Love Again," made popular by Dionne Warwick.

Hayes, who made a splash as the man-child Jack on "Will & Grace," will make his Broadway debut as an ambitious insurance company employee who lends his apartment to company executives for romantic flings. Jack Lemmon played the role in the 1960 Billy Wilder film, which co-starred Shirley MacLaine.

Chenoweth, who seems to be everywhere these days, will tackle the MacLaine role. The Emmy winner (for "Pushing Daisies) and Tony winner (for "You're A Good Man Charlie Brown") also starred as Glinda in the original cast of "Wicked."

Lloyd Weber treated for prostate cancer

2009-10-25T17:09:00Z

Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber has been diagnosed with early-stage prostate cancer, a statement from his publicists said. "Andrew is now undergoing treatment and expects to be fully back at work before the end of the year," said the statement, released today.

Lloyd Webber recently announced that he would revisit the musical "Phantom of the Opera" in a new version called "Love Never Dies," to be set in Brooklyn's Coney Island amusement park. It is scheduled to open in London in March and follow on Broadway in November. Rehearsals begin next year.

Sir Andrew has won seven Tony Awards, three Grammy Awards, a Golden Globe and an Oscar. In 2006, he was awarded the Kennedy Center Honor. Lloyd Webber was knighted in 1992 and named to Britain's House of Lords in 1997.

Photo: Getty Images

Latest 'Star Trek' gag reel hits the Net

2009-10-13T19:49:00Z

I admit to having seen gag reels from the original "Star Trek" series a few times, including once at a Trekkers gathering in Nassau Coliseum on Long Island. Creator Gene Roddenberry faced the adoring crowd, armed with just a microphone and a giant projection screen. After showing some video, including the gag reel, he took questions from the thousands of fans in the audience.

The gag reel, if you’ve never seen it, is a hoot, filled with sexual innuendo (Captain Kirk and Yeoman Rand finally hook up) and off-color remarks, plus a lot of doors on the Enterprise failing to open or close at the proper time.

And just as "Star Trek" has gone on to many new lives for new generations, so has the latest gag reel now making the rounds on the net.

PG TV editor Rob Owen sent over a link to a new gag reel that had been tweeted by Green Tree’s Zachary Quinto. He’s the star of NBC’s "Heroes" who also plays the young Mr. Spock in J.J. Abrams’ summer smash version of "Star Trek."

The six minutes-plus reel has a door incident or two, but mostly it’s a lot of cracking up (particularly by Quinto as the supposed-to-be stoic Spock) and goofing around. On talk shows, Quinto has said he couldn't keep a straight face around Simon Pegg's Scotty, and that's made evident in the video.

We also learn that Abrams likes to tap his director's mic for a bongo-drumb effect, and at one point gives the great direction: "While it will feel ridiculous, it will look awesome."

An apt description of this latest "Trek" reel.

"Chuck" may get a break with early return

2009-10-09T21:40:00Z

Above: Cast of "Chuck" celebrates show's fans at Comic-Con in July.

Best news of the day -- though perhaps not for NBC:

Michael Ausiello of EW.com reports that the third season of "Chuck" might get to premiere sooner than the March date that's been bandied about thus far, and it could be as early as late October. The reason: NBC's continued ratings woes and the cancellation recent of "Southland" before new episodes aired. The Peacock network is looking for some ray of hope somewhere, and they've turned to one of my favorite shows -- a show that had been on the fence for renewal.

If "Chuck" does come back sooner rather than later, Ausiello writes, the chances of NBC ordering additional episodes beyond the 13 it initially commissioned increases. "And they increase further if it performs solidly… which for NBC, at this point, means my cat, Mr. Scooch, sits down to watch with me. (Seriously, anything above a 2 rating in the 18-49 demo should do the trick.)"

No word on whether it would return on Mondays to a pair again with the underperforming "Heroes."

Song teases new 'Phantom' set in Coney Island

2009-10-08T21:31:00Z

The second coming of "Phantom of the Opera" will be set in . . . Coney Island?

Composer Andrew Lloyd Webber announced today that a long-awaited sequel to his massively successful "Phantom" will haunt the Brooklyn amusement park not far from where I went to high school.

Cool.

The Associated Press said that Lloyd Webber didn't want to call it a sequel, though. "It's a standalone piece," he said.

"There's unfinished business," he told journalists assembled for a teaser -- a new song featuring the Phantom, played by Iranian-born Canadian Ramin Karimloo, and his love interest, Christine, played by American actress Sierra Boggess.

The new musical will be called "Love Never Dies." It is due to open in London in March and then staged in New York beginning in November 2010.

The musical picks up a decade after the original's conclusion, and has the Phantom trading his customary hideout beneath the Paris opera house for Coney Island.

It kind of makes me laugh because Woody Allen also used Coney Island as a setting -- in "Annie Hall," his family lived under the monster roller coaster called the Cyclone. And the submerged Wonder Wheel signalled the end of the world in Steven Spielberg's "A.I."

Lloyd Weber said he wanted to set the piece at Coney Island because, at its turn-of-the-century heyday, it was "the eighth wonder of the world."

"Think of Vegas and then triple it," he said.

Here's what else AP had to say:

Lloyd Webber said he wanted to produce another musical because the original's ending, which sees Christine leave the brooding Phantom for his rival, Raoul, was unsatisfactory.

He sketched out an outline of the plot, saying the Phantom made his way to Coney Island after losing Christine. The Phantom rises from one of the attractions at a freak show to control the entire complex, without ever losing his love for Christine.

Other characters from the original also reprise their roles.

The original hit musical, a longtime fixture on the London and New York stages, featured elaborate staging and songs such as "The Music of the Night," and "All I Ask of You."

"Love Never Dies" had a difficult birth. Lloyd Webber abandoned a previous attempt at a sequel more than decade ago, saying the story wasn't right. Frederick Forsyth, who Lloyd Webber said helped him with the idea, eventually published a novel, "The Phantom of Manhattan," in 1999.

Director Jack O'Brien acknowledged that tampering with such a wildly popular music and theater franchise was dangerous.

"No one's going to thank us for doing this," he said. "We're playing around with people's memories."

But he defended the sequel, saying the years of back-and-forth made it a more solid work.

Arts critic Norman LaBrecht said Lloyd Webber was taking a risk by putting on such a massive show in the middle of a recession.

"This is a very difficult time to go putting something on in the West End," he said.

A success would be another coup for the musical megastar, whose hits include "Jesus Christ Superstar" and "Evita." Lloyd Webber's entertainment empire has made him one of Britain's richest men, with an estimated wealth of 750 million pounds ($1.2 billion), according to The Sunday Times of London Rich List.

So could there ever be a sequel to the sequel?

Karimloo, who plays the Phantom, said he wasn't against the idea.

"Maybe somewhere warm," he said, joking that the Phantom "seems like an L.A. kind of guy."

Lloyd Webber was less enthusiastic.

"There isn't going to a sequel set in Tahiti," he said. "I don't see how the story could possibly continue."

Reports: Injuries force DeLay to depart 'DWTS'

2009-10-06T21:08:00Z

The stress (fractures) got to former House Republican Whip Tom DeLay, who is reported to be leaving "Dancing With the Stars."

According to E! Entertainment and People, the 62-year-old DeLay will announce his departure from season 9 of the ABC reality competition on the results show at 9 tonight.

Stress fractures in both of DeLay's feet had recently turned serious enough for the show's producers and medical staff to advise him not to perform in Monday night's show. DeLay danced the samba with a sparkly elephant on the back of his jacket anyway.

DeLay is pictured during the Sept. 21 show.