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Lots of stuff is going on in the world of entertainment. The NBC late-night drama continues, shows are coming and going, and Avatar is finally being challenged at the box office. Welcome to The Pit.

  • The Denzel Washington and Gary Oldman post-apocalyptic thriller The Book of Eli managed to edge out James Cameron’s Avatar out of the top spot at the domestic box office on Friday  by about a million dollars. Can it beat it on Saturday and Sunday to take the weekend? Maybe.  I have a feeling that Avatar might keep the top spot thanks to the 3D and Imax showings.
  • Earlier this week it was announced that Peter Sarsgaard was in final talks to take on the villainous role of Dr. Hector Hammond, a villain that I never really cared about in the comics. He is a great actor, I just wonder where they are going to go with the character.  I’m still not sold on Blake Lively as Carol Ferris, she seems too young and just not suited for the role.  Today it was revealed that Mark Strong is up for the ultimate GL villain, Sinestro. That my friends, could be perfect casting.  Strong vs Ryan Reynold’s Hal Jordan in a space battle with two of the most powerful weapons in the universe? Badass.
  • Meryl Streep and Sandra Bullock full on kissed at the Critics Choice Awards after they tied for Best Actress. Ewwwwww.

Moving on to TV, there have been lots of renewals, included in the mix is:

  • ABC: The Middle, Cougar Town, Modern Family
  • CBS: The Good Wife, NCIS: Los Angeles
  • Fox: Glee
  • Starz: Spartacus: Blood and Sand
  • TNT: Men of a Certain Age

What is really interesting about this is the second season pick-up for Spartacus: Blood and Sand, which hasn’t even started its first season. The show looks like a pretty cool cross between 300 and Gladiator and co-stars Lucy “Xena” Lawless.  If I got Starz, I’d totally watch it, but as it is I’ll have to wait for it to come on Netflix.  None of the other listed shows are really surprising, I love Glee and ABC’s new comedies have been doing good.  Modern Family is hysterical and has an awesome cast.  Men of a Certain Age hasn’t been killing in the ratings, but with the talent behind it I’m not surprised that it is continuing.

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This really has been a strange week in entertainment. The off-screen drama has been a lot more interesting and contrived than anything that can be written.

  • For example, NBC’s late night debacle.  If you haven’t heard (but I’m sure that you have), NBC is moving Jay Leno out of prime time after 4 months of horrible ratings and putting him back into his old 11:35pm time slot.  To do this, they have to push back their whole line up, including The Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien, and Late Night with Jimmy Fallon (yeah, that Carson Daly guy also). They will also be cutting Jay’s show to a half an hour, aka just airing his opening monologue. Cheers to you NBC, for entertaining us on and off the screen.  I’m sitting on the edge of my seat to see how this will play out. I enjoyed Jay’s Tonight Show, but the series had its time and ended. I love Conan and hope to see where he takes the show over time. I just hope he gets that time.
  • I just want to take a moment to say that I loved James Cameron’s Avatar. I saw it in Imax 3D and it reminded me about what going to the movies could (and should) be.  This is an event film that had a little bit of everything, from mind blowing special effects and a completely new world perfectly rendered, to characters that I could actually care about. Was the plot predictable? Sure, but it didn’t take anything away from the film.  I honestly hope Avatar passes Titanic to become the number 1 Box Office grossing film of all time. It is that good. A Mini Review has been added to the archive.
  • Chuck comes back tomorrow (Sunday, 01/10/10) with a special two hour episode! Then it takes its normal timeslot Monday at 8pm on NBC (see, the Network can do something right). You can catch up on Chuck by watching last season’s finale, “Chuck Versus The Ring”, by heading over to NBC’s official website. We fought long and hard to save the series, now make sure to watch it and tell a friend to watch it to make sure we get multiple new seasons. And don’t forget to get your 5 Dollar Footlong from Subway.
  • Blake Lively has been cast as Carol Ferris in Green Lantern. Now, don’t get me wrong, I like Ms. Lively. I actually watch and (used to) enjoy Gossip Girl.  But this is horrible casting. She does not fit the role at all, not look wise or the right kind of attitude. Nor is it believable that she could be running the Ferris Airfield. Will they be de-aging the character to college aged? *shakes head* They hit the nail on the head by casting Ryan Reynolds as Hal Jordan, but this is a misfire. I just hope it doesn’t bring down the film or cause another sequel (lead female) recasting like Nolan’s Batman series.
  • In TV News, Miley Cyrus has quit Hannah Montana. The next season will be its last. Yeah, I think I’ve said enough about that.
  • Bill Paxton is hoping to revisit his 1996 hit Twister with a 3D sequel.  Don’t movies usually wait until the third entry into their series to go the 3D route? RE: Jaws 3D, Friday the 13th Part 3D, Amityville 3D. How else can they seamlessly blend “3D” into the title? All kidding aside, I love Twister and I’d be down for a sequel. We don’t have many event films like it anymore. Man vs nature (now in 3D).
  • Have you checked out Hollywood the Game recently? It is an online Hollywood Simulation Game and Community, where you write, cast, advertise and release virtual films. Do you have what it takes to become a mega producer?

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It is that time again, sit back, relax and enjoy your weekly Pit!

  • The 2009 San Diego Comic-Con’s Wednesday Preview night will include sneak peek screenings of the pilots for Human Target, V, and The Vampire Diaries. While The Vampire Diaries looks like it is taking all of the horrible things about Twilight and making it into a TV series, the comic adaptation Human Target and the remake of the alien invasion V actually look really interesting.
  • Fox has hired Kyle Ward to pen a script for Hitman 2, a sequel to the studio’s abomination that they tried to pass off as an adaptation of the hit game. Variety describes the plot of the sequel as a time that “catches title character, Agent 47, at a low point.” Funny enough, the first Hitman movie was the title character’s low point!
  • With the casting of Ryan Reynolds as Green Lantern, Warner Brothers and DC Comics better get their act together with their other superhero properties. The Marc Guggenheim penned GL script features a cameo by Clark Kent. Will the WB use this to tie together a movie DC Universe? Will they continue forward with Brandon Routh as Clark Kent? Tom Welling? Or start fresh again.  Would it be very jarring to cast a new Clark Kent who we don’t know before a new Superman film has even had any development? For once, I really wish the WB and DC could take a page from Marvel Studio’s book .
  • While on the subject of Marvel, their comic side has posted a new free issue online, Captain America Reborn: Prelude. As the title says, it is a prelude to their currently running Captain America Reborn limited series which showcases the return of the classic Captian, Steve Rogers.  Check it out at Marvel’s website.
  • I guess I’m going to keep this week’s Pit completely geektaskic. TheWB.com has posted all 13 episodes of the Blade TV spin-off. I missed it in its original run, so I’m excited to be able to watch it whenever I want online, for free. With all this recent talk about a possible Blade movie prequel and Ryan Reynolds getting another comic book role, I’ve been back in the mood for the vampire hunter.
  • Previewing this week’s comic preview… BOOM! Studios is releasing the first issue of Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?, a straight book to comic adaptation of the classic Philip K. Dick novel that inspired Blade Runner. The series will run for 24 issues.

Ryan Reynolds is Green Lantern, Ryan Reynolds is Green Lantern

Earlier tonight, Hollywood Reporter broke the news that Ryan Reynolds would be slipping on the most powerful weapon in the universe and would now have the burden of protecting Sector 2814. That’s right, Ryan Reynolds will become Hal Jordan (aka the Green Lantern) for DC Comics, Warner Brothers, and director Martin Campbell.

I love Reynolds, but I am completely shocked at this casting. I had completely ignored the news a few days back that the WB narrowed the casting of Hal Jordan to three (Bradly Cooper, Justin Timberlake, and Reynolds of course). I dismissed it because Reynolds had just signed on the dotted line to bring a more faithful Deadpool to life in a spin-off film from X-Men Origins: Wolverine, and in the past he co-starred in Marvel’s third Blade movie as Hannibal King, a vampire hunter. Add to that the fact that he has been DC Comic’s (and fans) top choice to star as Wally West (aka the Flash) for years.

Before he turned into the Green Lantern, Hal Jordan was a man without fear. Originally he was a test pilot, but in alternate versions he has also been portrayed as a United States Air Force pilot. I’d expect them to go with the Air Force pilot version for the film. Do we even have test pilots anymore?

Reynolds is a strong actor with a lot of faces, and without a doubt he has the built and look for Jordan/Green Lantern. This dude is huge, he looks like a superhero.  I just hope and pray that he doesn’t portray a comical or annoying Hal Jordan.  He should be a larger than life superhero. More of a strong, silent type.

Casting Reynolds is a small step in the right direction for this flick, but Martin Campbell still has a lot to do to prove that he is the right man to helm this project.  I want an epic Green Lantern film, not a forgettable action movie.

Check out these Green Lantern related products…

A new poster for X-Men 4 X-Men Origins: Wolverine has been released. And if you didn’t know yet, every mutant ever created is featured in the film…

X Men Origins Wolverine starring Hugh Jackman

The epic action flick hits theaters on May 1st, 2009.

Ain’t It Cool News scored a new cast promo shot for the upcoming X-Men spin-off flick X-Men Origins: Wolverine. The image features Hugh Jackman as Wolverine, Liev Schrieber as Sabertooth, and Taylor Kitsch as Gambit (as pictured above), along with Ryan Reynolds as Deadpool and Lynn Collins as Silver Fox. You can check out the full image and a message from Hugh Jackman about the films current reshoots by heading here.

The film, directed by Gavin Hood, hits theaters on May 1st, 2009.

Just posting a quick update to let everyone know that FOX has posted an official trailer for X-Men Origins: Wolverine! You can check it out here. Thoughts?