So, I’ve said a lot of negative things about the upcoming Green Lantern movie in the past. The early footage and the awful looking costume have had me worried. Now, I like Ryan Reynolds and a LOVE that the movie is really spotlighting the GL Corps. I could easily see a studio wanting to eliminate the Corps and cosmic elements of the comic and just focus on GL as a normal hero. The last trailer gives me a lot more hope, in the very least we’ll have a different kind of superhero movie. And I really dig this new poster…

DC relaunches their superhero universe on June 17th. How long until Justice League?

Check out these Green Lantern related products…

What do you get when you cross Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde with Jack the Ripper? A really badass idea that I can’t wait to check out. Dark Horse comics presents The Strange Case of Mr. Hyde #1 written by Cole Haddon with art by M.S. Corley, both newcomers to the business. Over on the Dark Horse blog, Haddon says the book started as “a homage to Hammer horror” and quickly turned into “a love song to the whole of the gothic horror… from silent horror movies, to Universal’s monster movies and producer Val Lewton’s horror oeuvre, to directors Tod Browning and John Brahm, to Mario Bava’s terrifying and often twisted works.” Personally I’m a huge fan of classic horror movies and monsters and it is really nice to see a throw back to those times and themes.

Here is Dark Horse’s official description of the first issue of the series:

Sometimes good police work just isn’t enough, as Inspector Thomas Adye of Scotland Yard finds out when he’s assigned to the Jack the Ripper case. He’ll need the guidance of imprisoned madman and amoral libertine, Dr. Henry Jekyll, whose mind-splitting serum Jack might be using to commit his bloody murders. Part 1 of Hyde sets in motion events that will pit London’s two greatest monsters against one another. Will Adye — and his soul — survive intact?

The Strange Case of Mr. Hyde #1 hits stand tomorrow, April 27th.

Okay, so I’ll try to post something other than a “save this show” type of article tomorrow, but today I could not help it. Mondays are Chuck and it seems like the “We Give a Chuck” Twitter campaign has had some positive responses with retweets by Pepsi and Diet Pepsi. We will see if any other sponsors were impressed by the fans.

Due to my lack of Internet connection, I have not really been able to respond to the announcement by ABC that they would be canceling All My Children in September followed by One Life to Live in January. I think this is a huge mistake and would make one of the most unique forms of entertainment even closer to extinction. If you love them or hate them, there is no denying that Soap Operas are special. Most of the ones left have been on the air close to or longer than 40 years. Continuing stories that have never taken a break, new every weekend of the year with towns of characters that grow and evolve over time. Sure, the stories might be over the top, and sometimes downright bizarre, but soaps have also had groundbreaking stories dealing with everything from teenage pregnancy to rape, and even featured interracial couples well before anyone else had the guts to. They have been endlessly entertaining for countless fans.

These two classic shows are being replaced with talk shows. Cheap to produce cookie cutter garbage. This is obviously just the network’s desire to cut costs regardless of the product they put out. Well, it looks like it might slightly backfire, as one of ABC’s sponsors is also a big fan of AMC and OLTL. Hoover has pulled all of their advertising from ABC programs and has issued this statement:

To all the loyal ABC soap fans,

I want you to know from me personally that we hear you loud and clear. My wife and mother are both passionate viewers of All My Children and One Life to Live, as are many of my colleagues here at Hoover. We were and are as disappointed with this news as you are.

In fact, we will discontinue our advertising with ABC this Friday, 4/22. We’re making every attempt to pull our spots from these programs sooner.

Because we feel that’s not enough, we also want to help get your voice heard with ABC. So, we’ve set up a special email address, SaveTheSoaps@Hoover.com, to help pull together the mass emotional outpouring of support for our beloved ABC soaps and get it to our contacts at ABC. Please, send your emails to us at SaveTheSoaps@Hoover.com, and we’ll get every, single last one of them to ABC.

We’re 150% committed to doing what matters most to you – so if there’s anything else we can do to help or you have any ideas, please email this address, and we will respond to you personally.

Thank you for standing up for what matters to you! We need more of that in this world.

Brian Kirkendall
Vice President of Marketing
Hoover

With companies like Hoover getting behind fans, there might actually be a chance that we could save AMC and OLTL. We have some time before they’ll be over, but the question is, how do we go about saving them?

Well, it is that time again, time to get together and rally to save what I think is the most enjoyable show on TV, NBC’s Chuck. The gang over at We Give a Chuck have an all new plan underway. Sorta like how fans targeted Subway to save the show in the past, this time the site is trying to get people to message sponsors via Twitter during the show’s commercial breaks to get their attention and let them know that a lot of Chuck fans might not have Nielsen boxes, but they are watching.

Full details:

This Monday night at 8pm EST, Chuck will begin. One of our awesome teammates will be tweeting from the @WeGiveAChuck twitter handle. As each commercial runs she will tweet about that commercial to both the advertiser and NBC.

Example:
@Sponsor just saw your ad on @NBC’s #Chuck. Thx! You support Chuck, I’ll support you PS-I use the Sponsor all the time! #NotANielsenFamily

As these tweets go up, we are asking viewers (that’s you!) to send out tweets of your own, similar to ours, but with a little variation. Throw in your own fun fact for the advertiser. If Toyota runs a commercial and your family has one, let them know! End all tweets with #NotANielsenFamily

Of course I’ll be attempting to go along with this tonight, but it does seem overly complicated.  Do we message every sponsor? Or just the big ones? Different cites have different sponsors, so our messages will be all over the place. I don’t see how we could have the power to get anyone’s attention if we’re not targeting a few select sponsors, rather than whatever happens to be on in the local station by you. Their heart is in the right place for this effort to help save Chuck, but I think we have to do something bigger and more focused to save the show.

Hey everyone, sorry for the slowing down of updates lately, but we’ve had some Internet connection issues we’ll we have been traveling. Things should stabilize soon (…hopefully). In the meantime, here is an all new Pit!

After a pretty epic Wrestlemania match, Edge shocked WWE fans by retiring. Taken out of the game by a reoccurring injury that has been getting worse with every match. The fan favorite has had a pretty awesome career and if he is being forced to retire, at least it is after an impressive last match.  Hopefully he stays with company and on camera as a GM or announcer. But there are a ton of roles he could ultimately take on, including as a trainer, road agent, manager, etc. Whatever he decides to do, we wish him all the best and thank him for years of entertainment!

Scream 4 came out this past weekend and I can’t express how happy I am to have a horror movie that is not torture porn in theaters. I’m a big fan of the series and Ghostface, and to see them on the big screen after so many years just felt great. Big props to Wes Craven, Kevin Williamson and everyone involved for delivering an entertaining thrill ride. Finally, a worthy end to the series.

Out of all of Neil Gaiman’s works, American Gods wouldn’t by my first choice to get adapted for TV, but regardless it is on its way to becoming a fantasy series for HBO. Gaiman is working with Oscar-winning cinematographer Robert Richardson to bring the series to life. Sadly, there is no new word about a Sandman series coming at us anytime soon. Maybe if Gods does well enough?

After taking American Wedding off, Chris Klein will be returning for the next theatrical American Pie flick, American Reunion. He joins Jason Biggs, Seann William Scott, Eugene Levy and Alyson Hannigan, who have all signed on to return. The franchise has been releasing a steady stream of American Pie Presents… titles straight to DVD, but this is the first sequel to go the theater route since Wedding in 2003. I can’t wait to see the gang get back together.

Want to impress clients with your production office, then Install hardwood floor and make them remember you!

I’m a big fan of the X-Men and I enjoyed what Bryan Singer did to craft their world on film in X-Men and X2: X-Men United. Sadly, after he left the series things quickly went downhill with Brett Ratner’s horrible follow up X-Men: The Last Stand, which not only killed off key players, but depowered others and the ones that were left were written so out of character that they might as well have been killed also. To make matters worse, Fox then brought us X-Men Origins: Wolverine. Not only the worst movie of the series, but one of the worse comic movies of all time. The only saving grace was that Hugh Jackman really is awesome in the role, and even in a awful movie he is still good. The movie didn’t even try to fit into continuity, and I don’t even want to get started about the ending and how they made Logan lose his memory. But finally there is a glimmer of hope…

Bryan Singer has returned to help guide the franchise as they pull back to the origin or Professor X and Magneto with X-Men: First Class, with Matthew Vaughn directing. The movie isn’t based on any storyline in particular from the comic’s long history, but is pulling in a bunch of characters we have yet to see including Sebastian Shaw, Havok, and my favorite character in recent years, Darwin. We’ll also finally be seeing the Hellfire Club, and will have a proper introduction to Emma Frost, perfectly cast with January Jones of Mad Men fame.

Now comes word that Singer and Vaughn are eager to keep making films in the X-Men universe and want to show mutants through time, working through the end of the 60s, the 70s and the 80s. That could be interesting, but I’m more keen on Singer returning to the present day X-Men and fixing what Ratner broke. Thankfully producer Lauren Shuler-Donner agrees with me and told Empire Magazine that she plans to produce X4 and X5, which follow Last Stand. Death is never final in the X-Men universe, so there are lots of ways to negate the wrongs of the third X-Men movie and get the series back on track. There is no lack of talent with the actors and now we have real talent behind the camera again, so I have faith that we might see the X films that we deserve. I guess we’ll have to wait and see.

Flashback: March 28, 2010. My Hollywood Dream posted a guest column of predictions for Wrestlemania XXVI. Little did anyone know what that column would become. Let’s see what’s changed since then, shall we?

First off, Batista was in one of the main event matches last year. He’s since retired, perhaps for good. Also defending a world championship was Chris Jericho, now off dancing with stars. Shawn Michaels lost a retirement match that night and has kept to his word and not wrestled since unlike my icon Ric Flair. Triple H made one of his last appearances until just recently when he faced Sheamus. These days Sheamus is lucky to have a midcard title and his last encounter with HHH left him humiliated. The streak is on the line once again as HHH gets a second chance nobody wants to mention is a second chance.

Remember when Bret Hart was back on TV? I do. I saw him win the United States Championship live and I would never have thought I’d be able to say that.

CM Punk has gone from the Straight Edged Society to the New Nexus to facing Randy Orton alone at Wrestlemania tonight. Edge is a champion, instead of a challenger. Heck, a year ago Alberto Del Rio didn’t exist he was still Dos Caras Jr. And nobody dreamed Mistico would sign with WWE and change his name to Sin Cara. Cody Rhodes was in a triple threat with Randy Orton and Ted Dibiase Jr. And everyone thought Dibiase had more upside. Now Ted’s not even getting on TV while Cody has a red hot feud with Rey Mysterio to settle in one-on-one action.

We still had a Money In The Bank match last year. We had no Rock, no Austin, no Snooki and Jerry Lawler had still never wrestled at Wrestlemania. The Miz was in a tag team with The Big Show. Now The Miz is in the main event and Show is in an eight-man tag along with a comedy duo and an awkward, face turning, Kane. Kane didn’t have that bad a year though as he held the World Heavyweight Championship for a decent run and got several victories over The Undertaker. Last year Vickie Guererro was actually wrestling. At least that’s improved.

But enough about last year. On to Wrestlemania XXVII and my live blog recap!

6:59 still short two guests.

7:00 We’re on with Kari Hilson singing America the Beautiful.

7:03 Rock time.

7:07 we get the preliminaries out of The Way and The Rock speaks.

7:13 I fall behind as guest #3 arrives. Justin and Mitchell are now here and only Nicole is expected. She’s stuck at a family gathering for now. Rock draws a “Fruity Pebbles” chant.

7:17 Justin “If he were to face it up any more he would kiss a baby.”

7:18 Rock gets all his catchphrases out and gets the crowd fired up then takes off while a video starts.

Mitchell “It’s a small African country’s budget worth of pyro for the opening.

Alberto Del Rio, who won the Royal Rumble, gets stuck in the opening slot. Christian is out for the match too. $1000, Bentley and the huge screens show us his estate. There’s Brodus Clay too.

Edge’s taped arm is, of course, the early target. Mania level bumps are coming early.

Mitchell “Oh Brodus Clay, you are too ugly for Wrestlemania.”

Justin gets in the first “Shut up Cole!” of the night.

Action on the outside between Christian and Brodus Clay.

Nicole arrives.

Edge hits a Spear and actually wins. Edge winning at Mania? I’m stunned. Edge tries to beat up a Rolls Royce. Normally one would use a weapon for this. So here’s Christian with a tire iron and a lead pipe.

Cody Rhodes is up next. Mysterio is in Captain America gear. Someone I forgot was coming shows up.

Mitchell “Nerve pinch is a sign of a bad match.”

We talk tsunami.

Rhodes survives the 619. Rey steals Cody’s mask. But it’s not enough as Cody Rhodes wins using the knee braces as a weapon. I’m 0-2 on predictions so far.

Snoop Dog and Teddy Long. Bad talent competition to get lower card people and Roddy Piper on the show. HORNSWOGGLE RAPS! Real words! Wow! That was worth part of the price of the show.

8-man tag time. The Corres versus Kane, Big Show, Santino and Kozlov. Except Kozlov is still out from the previous beating so Kofi Kingston takes his place. Better! It’s very short and Heath Slater takes a Cobra and Big Show punch and the faces win and I finally get one right.

Rock and Eve. Mae Young! Austin!

Time for Punk/Orton. And it’s just a great match. Orton is really selling the leg. Ring Psychology is a rare thing now. Orton’s knee gives out on the punt, the Punk just escapes an RKO. Then Punk attempts a high flying move and Orton RKOs him out of midair.

Rock is with Mean Gene. And John Cena’s #1 fan is coming to confront Rock. It’s Pee Wee Herman. But Rock convinces him to change sides.

Hall of Fame introduction by Howard Finkel. Abdullah the Butcher is Canadian. HBK overshadows all the rest. Sunny looks great.

Now Cole and Lawler are up. Booker T and Jim Ross take their places on commentary. We get a lot of action on the outside before the match officially wins. Swaggerr interference lets Cole actually get in offence. An-Cole lock doesn’t win it and, when Jerry turns it around Swagger tries to throw in the towel. Swagger ends up with a Stunner instead. Fist Drop by Lawlwer but he breaks his own pin at two. Instead of a Piledriver Lawler put on an Ankle Lock of his own. Cole taps immediately but Austin makes a long show of confirming he wants to quit before ringing the bell. Swagger carries Cole away as Austin and Lawler drink in the ring. Booker joins them for a Spin-a-roonie only to get a Stunner for his trouble. But the RAW GM thinks the referee went too far and DQs Lawler retroactively. In a clear case if shooting the messenger Josh Matthews also eats a Stunner just for delivering the news.

HHH and Undertaker comes before Snooki? Hunter enters to Metallica’s For Whom The Bell Tolls and has a phalanx of legionnaires in front of him.

Mitchell “He can turn water into mist! He’s a wizard!”

Undertaker’s entrance has no druids or flash but still takes 4:17. JR and the King are back together again calling the match. They wreck the Cole Mine. Falcon Dive by Undertaker! Nota good looking one though. There goes the Spanish Announce Desk as Taker is slammed through it.

Mitchell “Man, these guys are wrestling like they only do it once a year.”

This is underwhelming so far. It’s like spot then a nap before another spot. HHH survives a Chokeslam, Taker kicks out of a Pedigree. Now Hunter kicks out of a Last Ride as well. Then he kicks out of a Tombstone Piledriver. Hunter gets a reversal and DDTs Taker on a chair. A second Pedigree doesn’t get the job done. Not even a third can do it. Hunter tries a steel chair. Even a chair shot to the head. They almost never allow that. Triple H even steals the Tombstone but it’s still not enough to stop Taker. Sledgehammer time! But before he can use it Taker counters with Hell’s Gate. Trips struggles for a long time. He almost manages to use the sledgehammer but loses it as his strength fades. In the end he feebly taps out and the streak reaches 19-0. That would have been good if a little of the filler had been trimmed out. Taker collapses after the match. It takes a stretcher buggy to get him out.

Snooki match is up. When will we see Daniel Bryan and Sheamus? Trish does most of the work. Morrison is never legal and Snooki amazes with the two moves she does before getting the pin.

I guess Bryan and Sheamus was a dark match because next The Miz gets an amazing entrance video. But Cena gets an all-black gospel choir. He also has a new red shirt. The early match is another series of spots with no story. Miz escapes an STF, Cena avoids a Skull Crushing Finale. The ref gets knocked out, Cena hits an Attitude Adjustment, but Riley hits Cena with a briefcase. Cena survives the return of the ref yet Miz also kicks out of a second AA. Both men spill over the barrier on the outside and we end up with a double countout. It’s all an excuse to bring in The Rock. Rock blows off the E-GM and restarts the match with no DQs and no countouts. But Cena gets Rock Bottomed and Miz wins the match and retains. Wow my predictions sucked. Miz doesn’t escape Rock’s wrath either. He ends up taking a People’s Elbow and Wrestlemania ends with The Rock on the turnbuckle raising an arm for the crowd.

I can’t say I’m really pleased with this. Everybody worked hard but the most spectacular moves were by Snooki and one dive by The Undertaker. Rock and Austin were little more than nostalgia acts and some matches went too long and some too short. Stacked up against other Wrestlemanias this one looks to be sub-par.

So that’s it. It’s been a fun year but a lot has changed in my life and recapping wrestling is more than I have time to do. I’ll still be watching. But I want to be able to just watch, and on my own schedule, not trying to see it ASAP to get these columns written. I know few people read this but I know, for some, it’s their only source of WWE information. And you know something? Once you accept that the Attitude era is dead and gone and we’re living in the PG-era now WWE programming is worth watching these days. With summer reruns about to descend like locusts it’s a good time to check out shows that run all year. Heck, you might even try giving TNA a chance. Or watch NXT on the web. I think Superstars is on there too. Maybe, just maybe, I’ll recap a PPV or send a note about something interesting every once in a while. I hope everyone continues to read the other fine articles at My Hollywood Dream. I could also do the occasional movie review. And who knows? The next time I find myself between jobs I may be right back here smarking out.

It’s been a pleasure taking this year-long ride with you. Goodnight and goodwrestling!