Sometimes, even with countless cable channels and streaming platforms and different ways to watch stuff, it boggles the mind that they keep making new shows. Especially when those new shows are just new versions of old shows!

We’re getting new He-Man shows, new Avatar shows, and now we’re getting a new Transformers show. Two of them, in fact!

On Thursday, Hasbro announced a brand new Transformers animated series that will live on Nickelodeon, and it will focus on the interaction between a brand new species of Transformers and the humans they befriend. As well as some well-known characters from the past.

“As soon as I read the creative concept, which at its core is about family, I knew we absolutely had to tell this story with our good friends at eOne and Hasbro,” said Ramsey Naito, President, Nickelodeon Animation. “The series will tell a reimagined story featuring both original characters and fan-favorites for a whole new generation of kids and families.”

Meanwhile, Netflix announced a new animated comedy series called Transformers: BotBots, which focuses on mischievous little robots who disguise themselves as ordinary objects and wreak hilarious havoc.

“We are delighted to partner with Netflix to bring an all-new Transformers story to life and explore a whole new universe with BotBots,” said Olivier Dumont, Hasbro eOne’s President of Family Brands. “Transformers storytelling has expanded into so many new avenues and we can’t wait to surprise both existing fans and new fans coming to the franchise for the first time with these fun bots who are definitely more than meets the eye!”

The toys, and their accompanying shows and movies, have been around since 1984, and it doesn’t sound like they’ll be going away anytime soon.

Unlike my Optimus Prime toy that the evil Ms. Giovine confiscated when I wouldn’t put it away during third-grade math.

They’ve been trying to get Superman right for years.

Ever since Christopher Reeve embodied the character in Richard Donner’s classic (and its classic sequel), Hollywood has been trying to recapture that magic. It was gone as early as Superman III and hasn’t really been back.

Maybe you love Dean Cain or Tom Welling’s TV versions, maybe you ride for Zack Snyder’s gloomy, homicidal hero, but none of those versions have erased Reeve’s seminal take or brought the hero back to prominence. He continues to take a backseat to Batman, Spider-man, and most recently, the Avengers.

It’s time for some new blood, and now we’re gonna get it.

Ta-Nehisi Coates, the celebrated black writer who helped shape the MCU’s Black Panther and has been at the forefront of America’s discussions about race for the past decade-plus, has been tapped by DC and Warner Bros to write a new Superman movie. The movie is being produced by JJ Abrams, who once wrote his own controversial script for a Superman reboot before Bryan Singer and Brandon Routh revived Richard Donner’s version with 2006’s Superman Returns.

“To be invited into the DC Extended Universe by Warner Bros., DC Films and Bad Robot is an honor,” Coates said in a statement. “I look forward to meaningfully adding to the legacy of America’s most iconic mythic hero.”

The first question that’s going to come up is: are we getting a black Superman now? No one knows. They don’t have a script or a director yet, and casting is a long way away. But just because they’ve hired a black writer does not mean he has to write a black character (in fact, aside from the celebrated take on Black Panther, Coates also wrote a recent series for Captain America). Especially when that character is an alien inherently different from, and often at odds with, the culture he adopts. That said, a black version would certainly be a change of pace, and would offer some interesting opportunities.

“Ta-Nehisi Coates’s ‘Between the World and Me’ opened a window and changed the way many of us see the world,” said Toby Emmerich, chairman of Warner Bros. Pictures Group. “We’re confident that his take on Superman will give fans a new and exciting way to see the Man of Steel.”

Either way, there is plenty of metaphorical space to explore with this character, who was conceived by marginalized Jewish artists as a representation of American, and human, ideals and whose own outsiderness has been used to comment on plenty of societal issues, including immigration, civil rights, and more. As a symbol for America, the Big Blue Boy Scout is well within his rights to engage with the modern state of the country, and the world. And Ta-Nehisi Coates is a gifted writer with a keen eye for human issues, and will surely write a compelling character, whether they end up casting Michael B. Jordan or some blue-eyed kid from Riverdale.

The biggest question isn’t what Superman looks like, it’s how he acts, and what kind of tone the film has. For the past 10 years, the cinematic version of the most famous superhero of all has been focused on darkness, and grit, and inner turmoil. I think it’s time to move on from that.

Superman can exist in a complicated, troubled world without succumbing to that darkness himself. He should be a hero who strives to lead by positive example, who inspires us to be better, who shows us all what we can be.

No matter what color he is.

“The Silence of the Lambs” was partly about a man named Buffalo Bill who entertained a guest in his home. OK, he may have been a serial killer and the guest may have been kidnapped, but the new owner of the home featured in the film is hoping that will give it just enough charm for people to want to pay money to stay the night. Buffalo Bill’s house is becoming a Bed and Breakfast.

The new owner of the house, who bought it earlier this year for nearly $300k, plans to do some small renovations to make it more accommodating but will be keeping all of the creepy old-wallpaper, pocket doors, wood trim, and other furnishings that will remind fans of the movie.

The basement does NOT, however, have a well to torture victims in. The owner WILL, however, be adding said well. Though he claims it’s mostly for photo ops.

The three-story, four-bedroom house just outside Pittsburgh looks just as creepy as you remember it from the movie. And the timing is good, in a sense, as the film nears its 30th anniversary and the franchise receives a revival of sorts with the new “Clarice” show.

One of the previous owners of the home was an FBI agent, which is a fun little fact for such a creepy home. And soon you will be able to (try to) sleep in that creepy home.

‘Silence of the Lambs’ house in Pennsylvania becoming bed and breakfast https://t.co/FfA5GQvYv4 pic.twitter.com/f9eJnAiCpm

— WKBN 27 First News (@WKBN) February 19, 2021

Guests will be sure to receive only the finest lotion to put on their skin, and a sleepless night full of nightmares.

The Mighty Ducks was one of the greatest trilogies in sports movie history (because honestly, how many were there really) and the beloved franchise is just weeks away from making its return. “Mighty Ducks: Game Changers” hits Disney+ on March 26 and we have our first full trailer for the series.

It starts by establishing one team in the area as a dominating powerhouse of hockey. One kid who is cut from the team, and a mom who just wants youth sports to BE FUN, tries to start their own team, but they need a coach. Enter a greatly reluctant Gordon Bombay (sound familiar?).

Only this time, The Mighty Ducks are the powerhouse, fun-draining youth hockey program. And Emilio Estevez gets dragged onto the ice this time by a mom, not by a judge.

Still, there’s a lot to like from the first trailer. If it sounds like the first movie, well, that formula rocked, and it was great. Plus, youth sports has only gotten vastly more ridiculous since the early 1990s, meaning there is a lot more to lampoon and play with. One of the parents in the trailer brought a trainer AND a sports psychologist to her kid’s hockey practice, which seems over the top but also not by that much.

Youth sports ARE supposed to be fun, a point Lauren Graham’s titular mom character makes repeatedly in the trailer. And seeing Gordon Bombay step back onto the ice is like seeing Luke Skywalker pick up a lightsaber again. The nostalgia alone is going to make it a must-watch.

Happy Gilmore is one of Adam Sandler’s most memorable films. And now the two stars of the movie are talking sequel, only a short 25 years after the original. Add in the fact that anything that could possibly make any money is being rebooted, and we’ve never been closer to the reality of a Happy Gilmore 2.

Adam Sandler kicked off the hype for a revival after he recreated the iconic Happy swing on the golf course in honor of the film’s 25^th anniversary. “That’s for your, Shooter!” he yelled. Shooter McGavin himself (in character) didn’t take too kindly to it and responded with his own social media post.

Happy loves you all! Thanks for everything! pic.twitter.com/p1aY9JcFWh

— Adam Sandler (@AdamSandler) February 16, 2021

My response @AdamSandler pic.twitter.com/Wa4Y8lh6rJ

— Shooter McGavin (@ShooterMcGavin_) February 16, 2021

The original clip from Sandler was viewed more than 17 million times, and the two stars were on Dan Patrick’s show talking about the movie and were asked point-blank if they’d make another. Both Sandler and Chris McDonald (Shooter) straight up said they’d love to do another.

Like for Happy Gilmore 2. RT for @ChampionsTour featuring Happy and Shooter.@AdamSandler and @ShooterMcGavin_ joined the @dpshow today. @Peacocktv pic.twitter.com/2OxL1RPIus

— Golf Channel (@GolfChannel) February 24, 2021

Sandler said there isn’t a current discussion about making another, but Netflix will let the guy do whatever he wants, so if both stars are on board, it’s an easy sell. Given the amount of social media buzz just off a few clips, it’s enough to make any studio salivate, and a sequel wouldn’t be hard to pull off.

In this era, everything that’s old becomes new again. Disney is pulling The Mighty Ducks playbook back verbatim, it seems. Netflix already rebooted Full House, a beloved (yet boring) sitcom from the 90s, and Peacock brought back Saved By The Bell (this reboot is actually funny).

Put Happy and Shooter on the senior tour, and go crazy with it. If you build it, they will come. It might be the only thing that could get people excited about Subway again.

Another day, another new streaming service.

The latest platform to debut is Paramount Plus, which lands March 4th and is actually just CBS All Access rebranded and will be home to a bucket-load of movies and TV shows from Paramount Pictures and a variety of networks, including BET, CBS, Comedy Central, MTV, and Nickelodeon.

There have already been a handful of movies announced that will eventually land on the platform, including A Quiet Place 2, Mission: Impossible 7, and No Time to Die, and yesterday news broke about an exciting new revival that 90s kids are sure to be excited about.

Rugrats!

That’s right, the beloved animated series featuring Tommy, Chuckie, Angelica, Susie, Phil, and Lil is coming to Paramount Plus as soon as this spring, and it will feature the entire original cast! This time in CG instead of 2D because it’s 30 years since its 1991 debut and times have changed.

“Rugrats is one of the most iconic cartoons recognized by fans around the globe, and this original version is one we are taking great care and pride in creating for a brand-new audience,” said Ramsey Naito, President, Nickelodeon Animation. “Having the voice cast behind these special characters come together is one of the essential pieces to making the show recognizable and we can’t wait to watch this talented group bring them to life again.”

Neither can we!

Check out a clip from the new series:

Over the past few months, there has been endless speculation about the future of the MCU. This extends from the movies that have been delayed by the pandemic, like Black Widow and Inhumans, and the TV universe that kicked off with WandaVision and its continuing surprises.

One of the most obsessed over properties is the forthcoming Spider-Man 3 movie, which may or may not dive deep into the multiverse. The rumors have been flying about Tom Holland’s third (and final) feature film as Peter Parker, from Dr. Strange’s role (the wizard also has a multiverse-focused sequel in production) to the potential appearance of characters from other studio Spideys, like Jamie Foxx’s Electro and both Tobey Maguire’s and Andrew Garfield’s Spider-mans (Spider-men?).

Now that speculation has extended to the film’s possible title.

Three of the movie’s cast members, Tom Holland, Zendaya, and Jacob Batalon, ignited social media by sharing the first set photos from Spider-Man 3, and teasing fans with their own ideas about what the title might be. The first movie was called Homecoming, the second was Far From Home, and now the third is expected to feature another spin on the theme.

But it’s probably not one of the ones they shared on their IG accounts.

Each of the cast took to Instagram to share the “news.”

Holland shared a set photo of the trio, which included a mock-up title card for one potential, 80s inflected title (Spider-Man: Phone Home), then Zendaya did the same, but her title had a 90s-slang kinda feel (Spider-Man: Home Slice), and Batalon’s casts the project in a very different, Fatal Attraction sort of light (Spider-Man: Home Wrecker).

As usual, social media took it all in stride.

Zendaya, Tom and Jacob really woke up and chose violence #SpiderMan3 pic.twitter.com/Jtkn1NDBGv

— giuls ◟̽◞̽ (@Giuls2828) February 24, 2021

Obviously, the cast was having some fun, and playing up the constant breathless rumors that have been swirling around this movie, and the MCU in general, for years now.

Unfortunately, there’s no real word on what the actual title might be. But with this clearly coordinated social media goof, some real news must be on the horizon. Maybe even a teaser?

We’re dying to find out what’s in store for us with the multiverse, and everything else, in Spider-Man 3: Homey Don’t Play That!

Ryan Reynolds is at it again. He and his wife Blake Lively, have donated another $1 million to food banks, in an effort to help those that need it most during the pandemic.

Pandemic fatigue is a real thing, but with several entire industries still locked down or facing restrictions, there are still a lot of people hurting. The tide is beginning to turn when it comes to vaccines and fighting the virus, but there’s a lot more to be done to combat the economic damage the pandemic wreaked.

Reynolds and Lively split the donation between Feeding America and Food Banks Canada. The duo gave $500,000 to each charity at the beginning of the pandemic as well (crazy that we can write sentences like that, but hey, we’re a year into this thing, so these times are now “precedented”). They also recently donated $400,000 to New York hospitals and $500,000 to charities helping at-risk youth in Canada.

Food Banks Canada tweeted heartfelt thanks for the donation, calling Reynolds their “favorite Canadian and their favorite superhero (sorry, Hugh Jackman).”

Our heartfelt thanks to @VancityReynolds and @blakelively for pledging another $500K in support of Food Banks Canada and @FeedingAmerica‘s COVID-19 Response Funds! You continue to be not only our favourite Canadian, but also our favourite superhero 😉 (sorry, Hugh Jackman) pic.twitter.com/7DCbni7qrs

— Food Banks Canada | Banques alimentaires Canada (@foodbankscanada) February 15, 2021

Reynolds responded appropriately, saying “never apologize to Hugh Jackman.”

Never apologize to Hugh Jackman.

— Ryan Reynolds (@VancityReynolds) February 16, 2021

Feeding America thanked the couple for being their “hunger-fighting dream team.”

Thank you, @VancityReynolds and @blakelively
for being our hunger-fighting dream team! Your second $500k gift will make a big difference for people across the country. 🦸🦸‍♀‍ pic.twitter.com/QywDAKHXCy

— Feeding America (@FeedingAmerica) February 15, 2021

This news, revealed not by the couple but by the charities, comes just days after Reynolds (and famous pals Diddy and David Beckham) pledged $1 million to help out-of-work bartenders.

Ryan Reynolds, superhero on and off-screen, we salute you.

The wheels keep on turning as the live-action Twisted Metal TV series hires on some big talent.

As reported by Variety, the “high-octane action comedy” series will be written by Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick, who previously worked on both Deadpool movies and Zombieland.  The series will be led by executive producer Michael Jonathan Smith, who also produced and wrote for Netflix’s mega-popular Cobra Kai.

“We love Twisted Metal in all its twisted insanity,” said Glenn Adilman, executive vice president of comedy development for Sony Pictures Television. “Michael Jonathan Smith hit it out of the park with an action-packed, brilliantly funny adaptation and we are grateful for the support of Rhett, Paul, Will and our friends at PlayStation.”

While casting is currently up in the air, rumors continue to swirl around whether Will Arnett will be voicing Sweet Tooth in the series.  One thing we do know though is that it will be based on an original story in the Twisted Metal universe about “an outsider trying to better his own life. Rather than competing in a tournament where the winner gets their biggest wish granted, the protagonist instead has to deliver a mysterious package across a post-apocalyptic wasteland alongside a trigger-happy car thief. On the road, the outsider must face marauders with vehicles capable of intense destruction, along with other open road dangers and a crazy clown with a recognizable ice cream truck.”

Personally, I think this is pretty awesome news for Twisted Metal fans.  If anyone can bring the madness and carnage of Twisted Metal to life, the writers behind the voice of the “Merc with a Mouth” should be able to with ease.

As far as the games go, we haven’t seen a new Twisted Metal release since 2012 on the Playstation 3.  If the TV series builds up enough hype, maybe Sony will take notice and we’ll see the classic car combat franchise return to form on the PlaySstation 5.

There are Christmas movies and there are Halloween movies and they rarely intersect. There are a few Christmas horror flicks (Gremlins, Krampus), and a few horrifying Christmas flicks (Christmas with the Kranks), but they don’t overlap all that often.

Perhaps the best example is The Nightmare Before Christmas, the Henry Selick-directed (and Tim Burton produced) stop-motion musical about Jack Skellington and Halloween Town.

I’m not even going to get into whether or not it’s a Christmas movie or a Halloween movie or what; we can have that debate when the sequel comes out! In book form.

That’s right, a sequel to the beloved musical was just announced, in the form of a young adult novel to be written by Shea Ernshaw. It will pick up after the first movie. Jack and Sally are now married, and Sally gets Halloween Town in hot water when she accidentally releases a villain.

“This new book, written from the point of view of Sally, takes place shortly after the movie ends. It’s the yet-to-be-told love story of Sally and Jack. But it’s also a coming-of-age story for Sally, as we see her navigate her new royal title as the Pumpkin Queen of Halloween Town[. It] will hopefully give fans a long-awaited second dose of Sally, Jack, and all the familiar residents of Halloween Town, while introducing a new cast of grim, strange characters, that I hope readers will love.”

Ernshaw laid out the themes of the story in a Q&A on io9, explaining that he “really wanted to explore Sally’s identity, and better understand not only who she is now that she’s fallen in love with Jack and taken on the role of the Pumpkin Queen, but also understand how her past has affected her present desires, doubts, and dreams.”

Sounds like there’s a lot to work with, and perhaps a lot to make songs out of someday, if Hollywood decides to get involved and make another movie out of this universe. Hopefully, if they do, they bring back the same creative team that makes the first movie so beloved.

“The Office” has a special place in sitcom history after a successful initial run, but the show reached the next stratosphere after becoming a SMASH on Netflix. It’s one of the highest viewed shows or, was, given it moved off the platform. And, in a testament to the show’s enduring power, Kevin Malone, accountant extraordinaire himself, is the top-earning celebrity on Cameo, the personalized video service.

Cameo’s CEO broke the news in an interview with the New York Times that actor Brian Baumgartner is the top-performing personality as he will bring in more than $1 million in bookings. That is a LOT of messages to fans, for everything from congratulatory messages to birthdays and other special greetings.

Cameo is a cool service, and there are a lot of…interesting people on there. But, there are also some legit famous people on there, who are much more well-known than Baumgartner. So what does that tell you? Two things; The Office rules and he was hilarious as Kevin AND it tells you he goes above and beyond to deliver for every video he’s paid to make.

Cameo’s top earner of 2020 is The Office’s Kevin Malone https://t.co/VBrf1dHOPU pic.twitter.com/AprGJpTkbP

— The A.V. Club (@TheAVClub) December 11, 2020

“He really takes a lot of pride in his craftsmanship of the videos,” the CEO said. “And I do think the quality of the Cameo is something that is really important to people. And he just is somebody that really takes it seriously and does a great job.” He said he’s very reliable, very funny, and can turn his videos around really fast.

While he commands a hefty price tag ($195 at the time of publication), he definitely delivers, as he has nearly 2,000 reviews and an incredible 5-star rating. You can check out some of his videos on his page.

If a Cameo isn’t up your alley, but you still want more Office content, he also hosts an Office podcast for Spotify. He’s had great interviews with Steve Carrell, John Krasinski, Jenna Fischer, Rainn Wilson, Ellie Kemper…the whole dang crew.

If you love The Office, you gotta respect a fan favorite like Kevin who is still going above and beyond for the super fans.

For many of us, COVID changed the way we work, the way we socialize, and the way we stay entertained. The shift was especially difficult for parents trying to balance work and parenting simultaneously, keeping kids focused on remote learning and still staying productive. Out of necessity, families have found new ways to have fun at home and for some, this spur-of-the-moment creativity has led to incredible results – projects that never would have happened without a bit of desperation.

Alex and Jacqueline Zane are both attorneys, and early on in quarantine, they developed a system for balancing work and parenting. Alex would care for their two kids in the morning while Jacqueline worked, and in the afternoon, they’d swap. One morning when Alex Zane was scrambling for ways to entertain 5-year-old Matilda and 1-year-old Holden, he was hit with unexpected (but extremely welcome) inspiration.

“I desperately needed activities and structure to maintain my sanity and get through the days,” Alex Zane told The Dad. “At one point I lugged a large plastic car inside the house for my kids to do a car wash with in the shower. They loved it but of course it took me a few weeks to bring the plastic car back outside. The plastic cozy coupe sat in our living room for a week and one day Matilda climbed on top of it and tried surfing. Something clicked and I was reminded of Teen Wolf and Mike J Fox surfing on top of the van.”

Zane taught Matilda the proper way to play air guitar, then snapped a photo of Matilda on top of the Cozy Coupe. Zane sent the photo to his friend Andrew Kelly, a photographer with expert Photoshop skills.

“I asked him if he could make her look like a werewolf. Without any follow up questions or hesitation he immediately transformed her into a werewolf and we posted it on Facebook. We got pretty good feedback and we decided we’d try to do one a day five times a week. We somehow did that for eleven straight weeks.”

 

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Since the pair started their creative journey, Matilda and her dad have recreated over 80 iconic movie scenes and accumulated nearly 40,000 followers on Instagram. The duo’s creations are both nostalgic and brilliant (and on a $5 prop budget per shoot, with Matilda’s mom stepping in as the on-scene hair and makeup expert), inviting the next generation to appreciate some of the best films of all time.

 

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A post shared by Alex Zane (@tot_for_tot_remakes)

“It’s fun to try and figure out a way to kidding an unsettling scene and suck all the weight and dread out of it,” Zane explained. “The best part of this is getting to introduce Matilda to some 80s and 90s classics that age might have otherwise missed – she’s pumped when her scene pops up in a film. We pause it and she screams and screams.”

 

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A post shared by Alex Zane (@tot_for_tot_remakes)

Scrolling through Zane and Matilda’s Instagram page (which you absolutely need to do), it’s immediately evident that some scenes aren’t exactly – uh, child friendly. And as kids do, Matilda asks seemingly endless questions about each scene. Zane has expanded his creative range outside of the photos themselves, weaving stories that seem plausible enough to a 5-year-old to end the line of questioning.

“One time she was showing a cousin some of the photos and I heard her say ‘thats about a wizard who took his mouth away …’ I had to look over to realize she was telling them about The Matrix. I can’t stress enough that she thinks silence of the lambs is about a man who accidentally dropped a quarter down a well…”

We truly cannot get enough of these photos, and fortunately, the Zane family is still going strong.

I won’t lie, I love The Karate Kid.

When I say “The Karate Kid,” I mean the original 1984 movie that I saw in the theater a half-dozen times (one of those times was because my dad wouldn’t let me see Red Dawn with my older brother).

The series has diminishing returns from there, with The Karate Kid III paralleling Rocky V as the most unintentionally funny sports movie sequel. I’ve never seen the Hilary Swank flick and the Jaden Smith remake has already been forgotten. But the original has not, as evidenced by the success of Cobra Kai on Netflix.

Now, in the midst of this Karate Kid revival, which includes a new documentary on the life of Pat Morita, comes a remarkable artifact: video of a full, pre-production rehearsal of the entire movie, with the full cast but without most of the trappings that make a movie a movie.

Actor Andrew Kevin Ralston posted the video, taken by director John Avildsen on a classic 80s camcorder, to YouTube.

The caption reads: “Incredible rare video rehearsal footage from John G. Avildsen. He shot the entire movie with a video camera before using a frame of film. I downloaded all of the clips he had on his personal Youtube channel and consolidated them into one 2 hour clip. The curator side of me was worried that since John died in 2017, this footage could eventually be lost.”

It’s all there, if decidedly lo-fi.

From Daniel and Ali practicing soccer on the beach before Johnny interrupts:

Daniel getting chased and beat up during the Halloween dance before Mr. Miyagi interrupts:

Mr. Miyagi showing Daniel that all his chores have not been in vain:

And the legendary crane kick:

The production value is lacking, obviously, but the movie is all there, down to the remarkably choreographed fight scenes that the cast has down pat. Check it out!