Post by Talon Karrde on Feb 11, 2007 19:08:17 GMT -5
The story you are about to hear is true. The names have been changed to protect the innocent. Dum da dum dum. Dum dah dum dum dummmmmm! Just the entertainment, ma'am!
Here's what's new this week:
The Commercials of Super Bowl XLI - Melissa Minners reviews the commercials featured during this year's Super Bowl.
Excerpt: "Most people tune in to the Super Bowl to watch the most important football game of the year. Still others tune in for the spectacular performances featured in the half-time show. But have you ever heard of anyone watching the Super Bowl for the commercials? If you're an ad exec, you may have to, but some folks actually couldn't care less about the game – they'd much rather watch the ads. The most coveted advertising spots are on Super Bowl Sunday, during the one game throughout the year that millions of viewers tune in to see. Thus, companies spend cartloads of cash for the privilege to advertise during the Super Bowl. Millions of potential buyers viewing your product – what more could you ask for? A snappy ad!...Let's take a look at some of the most memorable ones..."
American Idol Addendum: The Song Continues - Jon Minners continues his discussion of this year's American Idol.
Excerpt: "Last week, based on auditions at the time, G-Pop made an attempt at sorting through the highlights and coming up with the top talent believed to warrant a shot at American Idol immortality. Since then, two more audition shows were aired. The cream always rises to the top and several talented singers piqued our interest, warranting an addendum to the previous story, as we flex our pop culture know how and aim to pick the next American Idol. In addition to those mentioned before, these singers may have what it takes to be pop icons suitable to have their music illegally downloaded by millions all over the globe..."
Dark Wisdom: The Magazine of Dark Fiction: Issue #10 - Melissa Minners reviews the 10th issue of the dark fiction magazine.
Excerpt: "Here it is – a brand new year. A chance to start anew – to clean the slate and begin afresh. We all make resolutions about how we plan to change our lives in the new year. Most of us never keep those resolutions, but a select few of us manage to keep the promises we make to ourselves and pull off something miraculous. I think the folks at Dark Wisdom: The Magazine of Dark Fiction decided to do just that with their first offering for the new year. Issue #10 is perhaps the best issue I have read and a perfect way to open 2007..."
Rocky Horror Picture Show / Shock Treatment - Ismael Manzano Turns Back the Clock to review the Rocky Horror Picture show and it's sequel, Shock Treatment.
Excerpt: "I was first introduced to the Rocky Horror Picture Show several years ago by an old high school friend of mine. I'd heard of the movie, but had never seen it at the time, and all I'd known about it was that it starred Tim Curry and he was in drag. Other than that, I had no idea whether it was a comedy, horror, or what. Being the opened minded chap that I was—and still am—I checked out the movie, and while my friendship with said high schooler has since gone awry, my love for the movie has not faltered and probably never will. This Christmas I was treated to a double feature—the Rocky Horror/Shock Treatment, two pack DVD. I don't have to tell you that I went straight home to watch my old favorite and its sequel..."
The Twelve Kingdoms: Sea of Shadow - Jon Minners reviews the first volume of the hit Japanese fantasy fiction series to make its debut in the United States.
Excerpt: "Leading youth-oriented publisher TOKYOPOP is about to unveil, for the first-time ever in English, the best-selling hit Japanese novel series The Twelve Kingdoms, the latest addition to the company's rapidly growing line of serialized youth novels, releasing under the company's Pop Fiction banner. The Twelve Kingdoms, which would go on to inspire a 45-episode anime, is an epic saga in the vein of Lord of the Rings, full of drama, complex mythology, exciting battle sequences, and a masterfully executed, character-driven plot about Yoko, a shy high school girl thrust into the role of reluctant hero when she's swept away into another realm and told she's destined to rule. Created by Fuyumi Ono, the legendary Japanese Twelve Kingdoms novels have sold more than 7 million copies worldwide, but have never been available to U.S. audiences in the English language ... until now..."
Where the Heart Is - Justine Manzano reviews the dramedy starring Natalie Portman and Ashley Judd.
Excerpt: "When your friends start to get pregnant, you begin to imagine that they will give birth at the worst time. When my co-worker was pregnant, I felt sure she would give birth right there in the office. When my friend was pregnant, I was almost certain that she would give birth while her husband was driving. When another friend was pregnant, I was sure it would be when her husband was dangerously drunk. It's a weird feeling. You start to wonder how that would change things. All three of my friends gave birth in the hospital…the one in the middle gave birth on Christmas Eve of this year. The thing is, after re-watching the movie Where The Heart Is, I found I didn't worry so much anymore…at least I never knew someone who had given birth at a Walmart!..."
Minners Commentary Corner and Badseed's Bottomline are all new:
Minners Commentary Corner: Things You Never Forget: Revenge Was Sweet - "Watching what used to be one of my best friends go out with the girl I still loved was very hard on me. Working with him was harder. Pretending, for the sake of my friends, that everything was ok was a depressing experience. Being asked to cover for Christina so she could go out on Valentine's Day with Brian made me a saint. Watching them come in together before a big date nearly killed me. It was the worst experience at Carvel and I don't know how I survived it..."
Badseed's Bottomline #410: A New Era - "Hey yo!! It's amazing how the times have done changed since the old days of wrestling. So, I was watching RVD lose another match this week and I realized that he is still more over than anyone else on the roster despite losing each and every week. Jobbing a wrestler out does not have the same affect it did years ago. Turn on Wrestling Challenge and you saw Big Bossman lose to Doink and it made you think…oh God, Big Bossman sucks. He just lost to a clown. That's pathetic. Then you turn on WCW a month later and Big Bossman is there and you think…why did WCW sign him…he sucks!!! And fans lose interest in losing characters and hence why Big Bossman became The Boss, The Guardian Angel, Big Bubba Rogers and Ray Traylor before finally going back to the WWE as Big Bossman. Jobbing used to be able to change the perception of what the fan thought of a wrestler..."
Original Writing:
New poetry by Joy Garcia: Challenge Me!
New Top Ten Page:
Don't forget to check out the new Top Ten Page which offers not one, but two lists - the top ten requested articles and the top ten staff picks!
Writers Wanted:
Are you an aspiring author looking to get your work out there for the world to see? Have you recently published a novel and are looking for some publicity? Have a band with a demo tape / CD and a desire to spread the word? Are you involved with the entertainment industry and looking to spread the word about your client or project. If so, send your submissions to submissions@g-pop.net. We're always looking for new talent.
Shop 'Til You Drop!:
Christmas is over, but the shopping continues at the G-POP.net store. Just head on over to our shop page at Shop@G-POP! Shop at terrific online stores like Overstock.com, Amazon.com, GameStop, Barnes & Noble, and Things From Another World, Fossil, Illuminations, OfficeMax, MagazineMaster, iTunes, Netflix, David's Cookies and more! Stores are added on a regular basis, so be sure to check us out!
Here's what's new this week:
The Commercials of Super Bowl XLI - Melissa Minners reviews the commercials featured during this year's Super Bowl.
Excerpt: "Most people tune in to the Super Bowl to watch the most important football game of the year. Still others tune in for the spectacular performances featured in the half-time show. But have you ever heard of anyone watching the Super Bowl for the commercials? If you're an ad exec, you may have to, but some folks actually couldn't care less about the game – they'd much rather watch the ads. The most coveted advertising spots are on Super Bowl Sunday, during the one game throughout the year that millions of viewers tune in to see. Thus, companies spend cartloads of cash for the privilege to advertise during the Super Bowl. Millions of potential buyers viewing your product – what more could you ask for? A snappy ad!...Let's take a look at some of the most memorable ones..."
American Idol Addendum: The Song Continues - Jon Minners continues his discussion of this year's American Idol.
Excerpt: "Last week, based on auditions at the time, G-Pop made an attempt at sorting through the highlights and coming up with the top talent believed to warrant a shot at American Idol immortality. Since then, two more audition shows were aired. The cream always rises to the top and several talented singers piqued our interest, warranting an addendum to the previous story, as we flex our pop culture know how and aim to pick the next American Idol. In addition to those mentioned before, these singers may have what it takes to be pop icons suitable to have their music illegally downloaded by millions all over the globe..."
Dark Wisdom: The Magazine of Dark Fiction: Issue #10 - Melissa Minners reviews the 10th issue of the dark fiction magazine.
Excerpt: "Here it is – a brand new year. A chance to start anew – to clean the slate and begin afresh. We all make resolutions about how we plan to change our lives in the new year. Most of us never keep those resolutions, but a select few of us manage to keep the promises we make to ourselves and pull off something miraculous. I think the folks at Dark Wisdom: The Magazine of Dark Fiction decided to do just that with their first offering for the new year. Issue #10 is perhaps the best issue I have read and a perfect way to open 2007..."
Rocky Horror Picture Show / Shock Treatment - Ismael Manzano Turns Back the Clock to review the Rocky Horror Picture show and it's sequel, Shock Treatment.
Excerpt: "I was first introduced to the Rocky Horror Picture Show several years ago by an old high school friend of mine. I'd heard of the movie, but had never seen it at the time, and all I'd known about it was that it starred Tim Curry and he was in drag. Other than that, I had no idea whether it was a comedy, horror, or what. Being the opened minded chap that I was—and still am—I checked out the movie, and while my friendship with said high schooler has since gone awry, my love for the movie has not faltered and probably never will. This Christmas I was treated to a double feature—the Rocky Horror/Shock Treatment, two pack DVD. I don't have to tell you that I went straight home to watch my old favorite and its sequel..."
The Twelve Kingdoms: Sea of Shadow - Jon Minners reviews the first volume of the hit Japanese fantasy fiction series to make its debut in the United States.
Excerpt: "Leading youth-oriented publisher TOKYOPOP is about to unveil, for the first-time ever in English, the best-selling hit Japanese novel series The Twelve Kingdoms, the latest addition to the company's rapidly growing line of serialized youth novels, releasing under the company's Pop Fiction banner. The Twelve Kingdoms, which would go on to inspire a 45-episode anime, is an epic saga in the vein of Lord of the Rings, full of drama, complex mythology, exciting battle sequences, and a masterfully executed, character-driven plot about Yoko, a shy high school girl thrust into the role of reluctant hero when she's swept away into another realm and told she's destined to rule. Created by Fuyumi Ono, the legendary Japanese Twelve Kingdoms novels have sold more than 7 million copies worldwide, but have never been available to U.S. audiences in the English language ... until now..."
Where the Heart Is - Justine Manzano reviews the dramedy starring Natalie Portman and Ashley Judd.
Excerpt: "When your friends start to get pregnant, you begin to imagine that they will give birth at the worst time. When my co-worker was pregnant, I felt sure she would give birth right there in the office. When my friend was pregnant, I was almost certain that she would give birth while her husband was driving. When another friend was pregnant, I was sure it would be when her husband was dangerously drunk. It's a weird feeling. You start to wonder how that would change things. All three of my friends gave birth in the hospital…the one in the middle gave birth on Christmas Eve of this year. The thing is, after re-watching the movie Where The Heart Is, I found I didn't worry so much anymore…at least I never knew someone who had given birth at a Walmart!..."
Minners Commentary Corner and Badseed's Bottomline are all new:
Minners Commentary Corner: Things You Never Forget: Revenge Was Sweet - "Watching what used to be one of my best friends go out with the girl I still loved was very hard on me. Working with him was harder. Pretending, for the sake of my friends, that everything was ok was a depressing experience. Being asked to cover for Christina so she could go out on Valentine's Day with Brian made me a saint. Watching them come in together before a big date nearly killed me. It was the worst experience at Carvel and I don't know how I survived it..."
Badseed's Bottomline #410: A New Era - "Hey yo!! It's amazing how the times have done changed since the old days of wrestling. So, I was watching RVD lose another match this week and I realized that he is still more over than anyone else on the roster despite losing each and every week. Jobbing a wrestler out does not have the same affect it did years ago. Turn on Wrestling Challenge and you saw Big Bossman lose to Doink and it made you think…oh God, Big Bossman sucks. He just lost to a clown. That's pathetic. Then you turn on WCW a month later and Big Bossman is there and you think…why did WCW sign him…he sucks!!! And fans lose interest in losing characters and hence why Big Bossman became The Boss, The Guardian Angel, Big Bubba Rogers and Ray Traylor before finally going back to the WWE as Big Bossman. Jobbing used to be able to change the perception of what the fan thought of a wrestler..."
Original Writing:
New poetry by Joy Garcia: Challenge Me!
New Top Ten Page:
Don't forget to check out the new Top Ten Page which offers not one, but two lists - the top ten requested articles and the top ten staff picks!
Writers Wanted:
Are you an aspiring author looking to get your work out there for the world to see? Have you recently published a novel and are looking for some publicity? Have a band with a demo tape / CD and a desire to spread the word? Are you involved with the entertainment industry and looking to spread the word about your client or project. If so, send your submissions to submissions@g-pop.net. We're always looking for new talent.
Shop 'Til You Drop!:
Christmas is over, but the shopping continues at the G-POP.net store. Just head on over to our shop page at Shop@G-POP! Shop at terrific online stores like Overstock.com, Amazon.com, GameStop, Barnes & Noble, and Things From Another World, Fossil, Illuminations, OfficeMax, MagazineMaster, iTunes, Netflix, David's Cookies and more! Stores are added on a regular basis, so be sure to check us out!