CliqueClack

Finding Carter’s titular character jumps off the screen

Considering the multitude of networks – and websites – that are in the business of creating scripted television these days, sometimes it is easy to see the announcement of a new show, but sadly lose track of it while it transitions from pilot to production. So, when the marketing for MTV’s Finding Carter ramped up a month or so ago, it was like Christmas morning in June. MTV trotting out a concept you’d expect on ABC Family combined with a killer cast quickly jumped the show up on my summer list of “most excited about” right next to Starz’ Outlander.

Win tickets to see Monty Python Live (mostly) in Riverside, CA or Germantown, MD

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CliqueClack has partnered with Fathom Events and Picturehouse Entertainment to give readers in the Los Angeles, CA and Germantown, MD areas an opportunity to win free tickets to the theatrical screening of Month Python Live (mostly) on Sunday, July 20th. Tickets will also be available for the rebroadcast screenings on July 23 and 24 for the Germantown screening only.

For the first time in over three decades, comedy legends Monty Python will be performing live on stage together at London’s famed O2 Arena. At a combined age of just 361, John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, Terry Jones and Michael Palin will once again perform some of their greatest hits, with modern, topical, Python-esque twists.

Monty Python are rightfully regarded as among the world’s finest-ever comedians. They influenced a generation and revolutionized comedy. Their eagerly awaited reunion promises to be among the biggest live events of 2014. Unless you are one of the lucky few with tickets, Fathom will provide the ONLY, and likely last, chance for Monty Python fans to see the group perform together live.

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Win free passes to see The Fluffy Movie in Long Beach or Boston

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CliqueClack has partnered with Open Road Films to offer readers in the Long Beach, CA area an opportunity to attend an advance screening of the new stand-up comedy film The Fluffy Movie starring Gabriel Iglesias.

The Fluffy Movie captures worldwide comic phenomenon Gabriel “Fluffy” Iglesias in never-before-seen footage from his sold-out “Unity Through Laughter” tour. Spanning over 23 countries, and more than 400 cities, this is the summer’s must-see big screen comedy event.

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Bad Words, The Raid 2, Nymphomaniac, and more come to home video

Hollywood took the week off leading up to the July 4th holiday in the US, holding back any major theatrical releases from the home video market. This week gives us a few interesting titles but still no big guns. At the top of the head is Jason Bateman’s directorial debut, the occasionally funny Bad Words. A critically hailed action sequel, The Raid 2, also comes to home video along with the extremely controversial Nymphomaniac — in separate volumes or as a single collection of the two films — and the interesting documentary about a movie that never was, Jodorowsky’s Dune. And if you didn’t get enough of Bad Grandpa the first time around, you can enjoy more or Irving’s antics in Bad Grandpa .5. Classic movies coming to Blu-ray this week include the original The Time Machine, Lake Placid, Southern Comfort and Bloody Birthday. These titles and more are available July 8, and you can see all of the week’s highlights in our handy shopper’s guide. Click on a link to get more information or to make a purchase.

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I got suckered by AMC and Talking Dead’s Chris Hardwick

I was fooled.

The wool was pulled over my eyes. I was deceived. Snowed. Flimflammed. And when it comes right down to it, I have no one to blame but myself.

It began with The Walking Dead “Dead, White And Blue” marathon over the 4th of July weekend. The marathon was nice, diversionary white background noise tuned on in the background. Occasionally I’d plop on the couch in the cool of the house to take in part or all of an episode. No harm in that, I figured.

I’d seen enough chapters of the show, multiple times over and reviewed them. I’m familiar enough with all of them to hold my own in an in-depth discussion should one ever come ’round. So it was nothing more than a guilty pleasure to revisit an episode here and there or a favorite scene when it popped up. Adding to some of the hype was a recent article I read about the music used throughout the show, tunes which have become fan favorites or which punctuated characters or situations. That, too, was another nice little aside between various chores and duties and I took note of the music a bit more closely as a few of the mentioned tunes played out during the broadcast.

I even learned a thing or two, things I’d either forgotten completely or additional pieces of information I could tuck away as little asides: Lizzie’s dangerous prison monkey business in leading a walker down a walkway with Hershel’s subsequent rescue of her when things got out of hand. (There were tons of references throughout the show when it came to her delusions about the undead. I’d completely forgotten this particular one.) The revelation of the Governor’s surname, courtesy of his adviser Milton. (It’s “Blake” if you didn’t know, the same as in the comic series.) Hershel’s bit parts and sage advice, all adding legacy to his character throughout his time on the show. Little tidbits here and there that make The Walking Dead all the more enjoyable. Continue reading 'I got suckered by AMC and Talking Dead’s Chris Hardwick' »

The Guardians of the Galaxy sneak preview was awesome

Marvel is either really worried about Guardians of the Galaxy or totally gung ho. You really can’t forgive them for being slightly worried since the movie is based on one of their lesser known comics series filled with characters who aren’t Iron Man, Thor, Captain America or any of the other Avengers. So what better way to get the public excited about the movie than to present 17 minutes of the film at a special IMAX 3D screening?

What it does have is the vilain Thanos, whom we got the briefest of glimpses of at the end of the first Avengers movie but has been missing in action ever since. But Thanos will be the big bad of Guardians of the Galaxy as voiced by Josh Brolin. The film also has Chris Pratt, the unlikeliest of actors to play a Marvel hero, but we’ve all seen his new, buff physique so he’s actually pretty perfect for the role with his ability to play the dim but likable hero.

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Checking Out the Green Lantern: The Animated Series Blu-ray

I’m a fan of Green Lantern: The Animated Series. I said as much when I wrote about the Cartoon Network series several times here on CliqueClack during it’s painfully short run (two big space epic storylines in just 26 episodes). And it took over a year since it was canceled, but the complete series Blu-ray finally came out this past spring. I had been slowly rewatching the series through the Blu-ray and with the Independence Day weekend, I sat down watched through to the end. Turns out that I’m still very much a fan of this show.

Win passes to see The Purge: Anarchy in Chicago or Indianapolis

ALL PASSES HAVE BEEN CLAIMED. COMMENTS ARE CLOSED. FOLLOW CLIQUECLACK ON TWITTER, FACEBOOK, GOOGLE+ and TUMBLR FOR CONTEST ALERTS, REVIEWS and BREAKING NEWS.

CliqueClack has partnered with Universal Pictures to offer readers in the Chicago and Indianapolis areas an opportunity to attend an advance screening of the new action thriller The Purge: Anarchy starring Frank Grillo, Carmen Ejogo, Zach Gilford and Kiele Sanchez.

The New Founders of America invite you to celebrate your annual right to Purge. The Purge: Anarchy, the sequel to summer 2013’s sleeper hit that opened to No. 1 at the box-office, sees the return of writer/director James DeMonaco to craft the next terrifying chapter of dutiful citizens preparing for their country’s yearly 12 hours of anarchy.

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Sleep Number bed: When did people go soft?

We went soft long ago. A long, long time ago.

I can’t put my finger on where, exactly. It’s not possible to pinpoint any specific moment for the event. The best I can figure, it happened at some time in the 1950s with modern conveniences and blossomed from there. The amenities grew, slowly and methodically, and then the 90s really kicked things into gear and softness took off and began growing exponentially. I’ll chalk up a big chunk of the reason people went soft to the massive leaps and bounds of digital technology. That’s as good a place as any.

Understand, it wasn’t the technology in and of itself that caused people to go soft … but our ever-growing reliance on that technology.

And no one you know is immune to it. Not even me. Let me give you an example:

Before cell phones (yeah, I know … they’re called “mobile” phones … get off me) I used to be a walking encyclopedia of information when it came to names, numbers, address and personal information such as birthdays and anniversaries. That went out the window when I finally got one. (Side Note: I fought a massive battle in an effort to prevent myself from ever getting a cell phone. That confrontation lasted a good year; yes, I eventually lost the battle.) Now? I have but a dearth of the know-it-all-ness I once had. Ask me someone’s phone number and I’ll probably have to look it up. When a birthday comes up in casual conversation, there’s a 1 in 10 chance I’ll know the date. Address? Yeah, right … good luck. Today? Virtually everything is in my phone, conveniently accessible via touch pad and easily forgotten. All that information was once comfortably tucked away in the recesses of my mind. But now? I no longer need to remember it.

So, on that front, I’ve gone soft. Continue reading 'Sleep Number bed: When did people go soft?' »

Attend a special screening of Red Band Society in Chicago

You and a guest are invited to attend a special advance screening of the pilot episode of Fox TV’s new fall series Red Band Society in Chicago.

From Steven Spielberg’s Amblin Television and starring Academy Award-winning actress Octavia Spencer (The Help), Dave Annable (Brothers & Sisters) and a charismatic cast of fresh faces, Red Band Society is a provocative, unconventional and unique coming-of-age drama about a group of unlikely and rule-bending friends and the adults who mentor them through the ups and downs of adolescence in Los Angeles’ Ocean Park Hospital. Exploring everything from strong friendships, first loves, humorous mishaps and heartbreaks, the series is a story of life, with an edgy comedic tone all its own.

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