R.I.P. Ken Russell

It was bound to happen some day...

British film director Ken Russell - who brought us such movies as Tommy (1975), Whore (1991) and Women In Love (1969) - has indeed passed away, at age 84.

He was often under-rated because while he aimed for a rather intellectual cinema, he had an obsession with displaying vivid, crude sex scenes, many of them of the homosexual persuasion or featuring religious figures (nuns, for one).

But a storyteller is a storyteller, and he was a good one.

When Bad Cops Become Oh So Good.

His name is John Pike. He is a lieutenant in the UC Davis police force in Oakland.

He is now a web meme.

Demi Moore Is Single Again

It's true, the talented beauty is getting a divorce.

Ah, Demi Moore. One of my childhood fantasies. Who knew I had a better shot when I was a child? (I kid, I kid)

Video Of The Week: The Ting Tings

We are in the age of studio bands and computer-made music - and I don't mean in the Motown or Kraftwerk variety, either. Even the crappy acts are catchy as hell, and it's hard to make your mind up about what is good and what isn't, except to go with your gut and look for what feels real.

And I don't profess to know where to put The Ting Tings in the grand scheme of things, either, but I've had this song in my head all day and, thus, plan on infecting you as well.

A British, studio-born ''band'' of two - Katie White and Jules de Martino - both multi-intrumentalists, at least - are a singles-led act, primarily. Indeed, they released 3 singles before their debut album was even finished, including this massive hit song from May 28th, 2007; it would make it to the top (yes, #1) of the U.K. charts on May 18th... 2008. The album itself, We Started Nothing, was released on May 16th, 2008. They have already released two singles (Hands in 2010 and Hang It Up in 2011) for a record that may come out in 2012.

Best Movie Poster Ever?

 Certainly the busiest. And the one with the most 1980s action stars on it.

Could use some Ving Rhames, Timothy Dalton, Samuel L. Jackson, George Clooney and Milla Jovovich, for some 90s feel (and some Kiefer Sutherland and Matt Damon for a 00s touch), but, uh, on a budget, a schedule and a plot - hopefully - it is quite the feat.

Happy Thanksgiving

                                               (thanks to Yan Basque for the picture)


... if that's how you say it. Sounds weird to be all giddy about giving thanks and being grateful.

But enjoy the turkey, my American friends.

Will Kat Dennings Save TV?

Talk about putting pressure on yourself...

The wonderful Kat Dennings, now starring in the TV sitcom 2 Broke Girls, claims:

The show's not just a ha-ha machine. I grew up watching The Golden Girls, The Nanny – I want to bring the sitcom back.

Big words for such a reclusive young girl. Then again, she's not that reclusive. But at 25, we won't hold any of that against her.

And in an era when many decent TV shows such as Pan Am and Parks & Recreation are probably doomed to disappear because dumb TV execs don't factor in TiVo recordings nor DVD/Blu-ray sales when counting a series' viewership, audience numbers are seemingly stalling.

But as fine shows such as Arrested Development and My Name Is Earl have shown, network bosses have no idea how today's fans react and how passionate they can be. I hope 2 Broke Girls finds its niche.

I, For One, Could Never Pay That Fine

The Samoa rugby team manager Tuala Matthew Vaea - infamous for his borderline-tolerable behaviour - was fined for his antics during the last World Cup:

100 pigs.

I wonder if he already owns them or if he'll have to purchase them, then hand them away.

The Popularity Of Congress

At three times less than fuckin' Richard Nixon during Watergate and fucking banks; twice lower than BP during the oil spill (!) and Paris Hilton (!!); tied with Hugo Chavez and 4 percentage points ahead of Fidel Castro (further proof that Americans know nothing about international politics...), Congress has never been less popular.

Good.

Oklahoma State And The Number 10 (R.I.P.)

10 months after Oklahoma State commemorated the 10-year anniversary of a plane crash that killed 10 men associated with the school's men's basketball program, another plane crash killed its women's team's head coach Kurt Budke and assistant coach Miranda Serna.

I'd say the irony is killing me, but I'm not going to tempt Fate on this one.