Art Appreciation Moment of the Day: Richard F. Outcault

In keeping with our 100 theme this week, the first comic strip artist (in American newspapers), Richard F. Outcault, gets a nod for his Yellow Kid – a character well over 100 years old.

The Yellow Kid was a bald, snaggle-toothed child with a goofy grin in a yellow nightshirt who hung around in a ghetto alley filled with equally odd characters, mostly other children. The kid wontedly spoke in a ragged, peculiar ghetto argot printed on his shirt, a device meant to lampoon advertising billboards

(Click for 1152x788 image)

(Click for 1152x788 image)

ABC to Resurrect V

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Oh boy, if there was ever a weird sci-fi mini-series, that turned into a full blown series, that featured alien Nazi Reptilians invading Earth, and rounding up humans for food, and was then canceled after one season, it would have to be V.  ABC has given a greenlight nod to a remake of the series that had audiences glued to their television screens in the 1983.

The new “V” centers on Erica Evans, a Homeland Security agent with an aimless son. When the aliens arrive, her son gloms on to them — causing tension within the family.

I wonder if the Nazi theme will pop up again, or if all of that will be swept under the table.  I for sure want to see red jumpsuits and aliens eating live rodents.  No word if Robert Englund will make an appearance and rip his human face off to reveal our new lizard overlords.

via Variety

Human Target Gets Pilot Nod

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Fox Television is close to giving the DC Comic series Human Target the television treatment as it begins to announce the pilots for the new television season.

Based on the cult DC Comics book and written by “Jericho” co-creator Jonathan Steinberg, it centers on a mysterious security expert who goes undercover to protect clients in danger.

Will admit I’ve never read the comic, but the premise doesn’t sound any worse than other shows Fox has greenlit.  Prison Break anyone?
via THR

New Frontiersman Site Launches, Nod to Fox?

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One of my favorite moments of 2008 was all the viral marketing that sprang up around the various movies and major events in comics.  Even though the Watchmen movie is in turmoil at the moment, that hasn’t stopped the viral machine from launching The New Frontiersman website to hype the movie.

The New Frontiersman is Rorschach’s newspaper of choice, so why not have a website dedicated to this bit player in the movie?  The website is only a dummy page at the moment, but it may spring to life as the release date (whenever that might be) draws near.

I’m not all that much into those inkblot tests, but does that look like a smiling fox to you?  Could this be yet another dig at 20th Century Fox by Warner Bros?  The domain is registered to the Picture Production Company out of the UK, which creates viral campaigns for a variety of companies.  The company does list Warner Bros. as one of its clients.

via The New Frontiersman

Heath Ledger Earns Golden Globe Nod, Dark Knight Snubbed

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“We thank the Hollywood Foreign Press Association for honoring Heath’s performance in ‘The Dark Knight,” said Ledger’s family in a statement. “This nomination is deeply appreciated and is not lost on those of us who continue to love and miss him. We are so proud that our boy’s work is being recognized in this way.”

Well cool.  Unfortunately, The Dark Knight was snubbed under the feature film categories.

via Variety

Fables Gets Pilot Nod From ABC

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This is probably the best Monday morning news that I’ve seen in a while. Looks like ABC has given a pilot nod to Bill Willingham’s Fables.  The show will be produced and written by Stu Zicherman and Raven Metzner.  David Semel will direct the fairy tale series set in the mundy world.

“We set up a structure to allow any fairy tale character to show up in any one episode,” Metzner said.

The fairy tale characters will keep some of their trademark characteristics. For instance, Prince Charming will be handsome, while Big Bad Wolf will have to shave a four-day shadow from growing back every day.

But overall, “they are just like real people in the real world who live and breathe and look just like you and me,” Metzner said.

The writing team looks to be off to a good start as they are adapting the first story arc that follows Bigby and the rest of Fabletown investigate the apparent murder or Rose Red.

via THR

Emmy Nod for DC’s New Frontier

Yesterday the Emmy nominations were announced with the incredibly awesome HBO series John Adams receiving the most nominations (23).  Further down the list, DC’s New Frontier made it on the Animated Program (One hour or more) list alongside Family Guy’s Blue Harvest and South Park’s Imaginationland episodes.

Hands down New Frontier should get the award, but everyone in H’wood seems to be in love with Seth MacFarlane, so don’t be surprised if the Star Wars parody walks away with the award.

via Variety