Cows as a security hazard and JJ Abrams on Star Wars

Bonnie scored yet another cool interview.  This time, she talks to JJ Abrams; he of Lost and Fringe and of another small series you might have heard about.  (Star Trek, people!  Not Felicity.)

So apparently JJ found out that you can’t take cows across the border from Canada.  It had to have an American stand-in.  And he loves creating interactive websites that expand his shows.

And as a long-time Star Wars fan, he had a really cool idea for StarWars.com:  how about an online Galactic Senate where fans could debate issues?  Star Wars fans love to debate things!

The fandom minute: A tee, some bad dialogue, a couple political analogies and the totally random

The Ratings Game – Clone Wars Rocks, Heroes Tanks

Entertainment industry strikes have an interesting way of shaking up the following season.  This one is no exception.

  • Heroes is steadily dropping with each episode:  down 18% from the already-sluggish season premiere.  However, according to EOnline, it’s doing really well on Hulu.  (Have you people learned nothing from Stargate?  TV execs and advertisers don’t understand this whole alternative viewing thing, yet.  Watch it live if you want to keep it!)
  • Sarah Connor is, according to SyFyPortal, on the verge of cancellation, but also thriving in the alternative market.
  • Chuck is holding on, but has also dropped 11%. 

So let’s focus on the happy, shall we?

  • Clone Wars set a new record for Cartoon Network with 4 million viewers.
  • Fringe won the coveted 18-49 demographic
  • And even Sanctuary drummed up strong numbers for SciFi with 2.7 million viewers.  (Although I suspect this will be another that soon bleeds off to online and DVR viewing.)

Remember, fellow geeks, only you can save TV shows:  watch them live!

Star Wars (and everyone else) makes it on Empire’s 500 greatest movies

Lists are all well and good, but Empire’s list of the 500 greatest movies of all time is ridiculous. Luckily for you, I skimmed it so you can have that half-hour of your life to do with as you will.

Episode V is #3The original trilogy makes a nice showing, with Empire Strikes Back at #3, A New Hope at #22 and Return of the Jedi at #91. (Plus, Raiders of the Lost Ark is #2.) The prequel trilogy clocks in with The Phantom Menace at #449 and Revenge of the Sith at #330.

As for other movies of interest: Serenity (#383,) Clerks (#361,) Shaun of the Dead (#231,) The Princess Bride (#122,) Batman Begins (#81,) Evil Dead (#49,) The Matrix (#39,) Terminator 2 (#35,) Aliens (#30,) Blade Runner (#20,) 2001 (#16,) and The Dark Knight (#15.) I think all of LOTR was in the top 100 too, but I lost track because 500 MOVIES IS RIDICULOUS.