Being an internet refuge for Graeme McMillan
A recent study found that many Americans are lost when it comes to tech-related terms, with 11% saying that they thought HTML — a language that is used to create websites — was a sexually transmitted disease.
From here.
In the same story: “23% thought an ‘MP3’ was a ‘Star Wars’ robot. It is actually an audio file.”
Written for Wired, and left unpublished for reasons I can’t explain — there was excitement behind the scenes for it, but it never ran. Who knows?
We’re still some distance away from Star Wars: Episode VII — Two years away, in fact — with production on the movie still months away from getting started over in London. You might assume that that would mean there’s little to say about the movie at this point, but you’d be wrong; for months now, we’ve seen wave after wave of “exclusive” reports announcing the involvement of one actor or another, of some plot development that will almost certainly be happening in the movie, and so on. Let’s be honest: It’s gotten more than a little exhausting.
With that exhaustion — and your limited schedule, dear reader — in mind, we’ve decided to offer the all-purpose Star Wars: Episode VII casting rumor report. Simply delete and fill in the blanks as applicable. You can thank us later.
Our exclusive anonymous sources from deep within [LUCASFILM/DISNEY/THE GENERIC MOVIE INDUSTRY] have revealed to us that [ACTOR WHO WAS IN AN EARLIER STAR WARS MOVIE/ACTOR WHO WAS NOT IN AN EARLIER STAR WARS MOVIE BUT IS A RECOGNIZABLE ENOUGH NAME TO GET CLICKS] will appear in the next Star Wars movie as [THE SON/DAUGHTER/CLONE/GHOST] of [INSERT NAME OF FAN FAVORITE CHARACTER FROM EARLIER STAR WARS MOVIE].
[ACTOR’S NAME] has secretly been in discussions for the role for months, with director J.J. Abrams [EAGER FOR THEM TO REPRISE THEIR ROLE FROM THE EARLIER STAR WARS MOVIE/EXCITED TO WORK WITH THE UP-AND-COMING STAR/A BIG FAN OF THEIR WORK IN ANOTHER SUCCESSFUL MOVIE OR TELEVISION SHOW]. Our sources tell us that [ACTOR’S NAME] is so excited for the opportunity to [RETURN TO THE FRANCHISE/BE PART OF THIS HISTORIC MOVIE SERIES/WORK WITH ABRAMS AGAIN BECAUSE WE ALL KNOW THERE’S A GREG GRUNBERG IS IN STAR WARS STORY DUE ANY MINUTE NOW] that [INSERT SOMETHING ABOUT GIVING UP SOME OTHER OPPORTUNITY IN ORDER TO FREE UP THEIR SCHEDULE].
While [NEGOTIATIONS HAVEN’T FINISHED YET/NOTHING HAS BEEN SIGNED/SOME KIND OF GET-OUT CLAUSE TO COVER US WHEN THIS SCOOP TURNS OUT NOT TO BE TRUE], it should be noted that [ACTOR’S NAME] has previously [INSERT LINK TO PREVIOUS STATEMENT ABOUT HAVING ENJOYED, GROWN UP WITH OR HAVING SOME FORM OF POSITIVE EMOTIONAL EXPERIENCE CONNECTED WITH STAR WARS IN SOME WAY] in the past. Keep watching this space for even more Star Wars: Episode VII exclusive news!
David Mazouz (Touch) has been cast as the preteen Bruce Wayne, sentenced to a solitary life after the tragic murder of his wealthy parents. Serious and soulful, young Bruce relies on the guidance and protection of Alfred Pennyworth and James Gordon.
(Note: As has been reported previously, GOTHAM is the origin story of Commissioner James Gordon and not a “Batman” show. Please note for stories that David is playing the young Bruce Wayne — not Batman.)
Recently Watched: House of Cards Season Two | The World That’s Coming
So, I finished House of Cards season 2 this weekend.
Over at my rarely-updated own site, I gripe about the second season of House of Cards. Really, I should’ve inserted spoilers, but I didn’t. The Internet has trained me too well.
The 10 Best Moments From Seth Meyers’ First Week on Late Night
If 12:30 is too late for you to stay up to catch Seth Meyers’ first week as Late Night host, here’s your handy recap.
As with the first week of Fallon’s Tonight Show, I did a tl;dr clip round-up for Seth Meyers’ first week on Late Night. I touch on it in the piece, but to be more blunt here: This was a rough first week, and the show’s not gelled in the slightest yet. But I’m very curious what it’ll turn into (including whether or not Meyers gets more comfortable as late night host).
Lena Dunham to Pen Archie Comics Arc
Archie Andrews has a new pal in Riverdale, but this one is going to shake things up far more than any fight between Betty, Veronica and Cheryl Blossom over Archie’s heart. As revealed by the New York Times, Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa has been named as the new chief creative officer at Archie Comics.
Ignore the (oft-evolving) headline – this is me talking to Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa about his new gig as Chief Creative Officer for Archie Comics (Yes, Lena Dunham’s writing gig is mentioned in the story, but it’s a very, very small part thereof. But, as that detail gained traction, it gained prominence in the headline…).
This article was amended on 3 March 2014. The original stated that Bradley Manning took Ellen’s selfie. In fact, it was Bradley Cooper. This has been corrected.