Mid-Week Odds-n-ENDS

Free Comic Book Day Brings STARGATE Exclusive to Stores


EDITOR'S NOTE: I'VE ALWAYS WANTED A PLASTIC RICHARD DEAN ANDERSON FOR MY VERY OWN. UMMM..... INSIDE VOICE? OUTSIDE VOICE?

In partnership with this spring's Free Comic Book Day event, comic store customers should be on the lookout for an exclusive Stargate action figure when they visit their local comic book stores on Sunday, May 6th. Available only during this promotion, a limited General Jack O'Neill action figure will help bring new customers to comic book stores across the country and raise awareness of Stargate action figures.

Part of Diamond Select Toys' upcoming Stargate SG-1 action figure line, the Free Comic Book Day exclusive General Jack O'Neill figure depicts the SGC leader wearing a black t-shirt as opposed to the uniformed version due to be released later this spring and will be handed out to customers visiting any participating comic book store!

"Free Comic Book Day helps introduce new customers to the world of comics and collectibles every year," stated Michael Leavey, Marketing and Sales Coordinator for Diamond Select Toys. "We're very excited to be a part of this year's event in addition to offering a great exclusive figure." EDITOR'S NOTE: SO WILL THIS BE FOR FREE? (RICHARD DEAN ANDERSON, AND WE DON'T EVEN HAVE TO PAY FOR HIM?) OR, MAYBE NOW THAT HE'S KINDA OLD, HE'S ON SALE AT LEAST?

TWC floats VOD plan for hit net shows

Time Warner Cable reportedly is in preliminary discussions with ABC, CBS, Fox and NBC to offer their hit primetime series in a subscription-based video-on-demand package, a spokesman for the cable operator confirmed Monday.

The New York Times first reported the development, which proposes making episodes of top-rated programs from competing networks available shortly after their original airdate for a monthly fee. EDITOR'S NOTE: HMMM....ELIMINATING MY ANNOYING VHS BACKLOG STASH? WONDER HOW LONG THEY WILL MAKE EACH EP AVAILABLE?

SAG agrees to new cable ani contract

SAG and industry negotiators have tentatively agreed to a new basic cable animation contract that will raise residual payments by 20%, the union said Tuesday.

The announcement came on the same day that bargaining resumed on a separate but similar contract for live-action basic cable series, where SAG is prepared to strike if they do not get an acceptable hike in residuals.

Those talks have become tense as SAG has objected to the industry's offer of an overall 14% raise in residuals.

Both contracts were last negotiated 16 years ago when cable television was a relatively new medium, and SAG negotiators were clearly proud of their gains in the animation contract.

"The performers who work under this contract have waited a long time for these well-deserved gains, particularly in the area of residuals," SAG president Alan Rosenberg said

NARNIA on DVD
Walt Disney Pictures and Walden Media will release THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA: THE LION, THE WITCH AND THE WARDROBE on DVD and PSP™ on April 4th.

NARNIA is Walt Disney Pictures’ third highest grossing live-action film of all time. It will be available as a single disc DVD with outstanding bonus features, and as a Special 2-Disc Collector’s Edition DVD.

The Special Edition takes viewers on a deeper adventure into the world of Narnia with nearly ten hours of bonus features – including a behind-the-scenes tour with the film’s child stars, director’s diary, ‘cinematic storytellers’ film diaries, multiple audio commentaries, 3-D map, interactive timeline, featurettes on the creatures and much more. The “Narnia” DVD production team worked with the filmmakers from the very start of the film’s production, resulting in exclusive, never-before seen bonus features that deliver unprecedented access into this cinematic blockbuster. EDITOR'S NOTE: I DON'T KNOW THAT I NEED TO OWN THIS ONE. (CHARMING, BUT NOT SURE I REALLY CARE ALL THAT MUCH). BUT I LOVE FILMMAKERS THAT GO INTO THE FILMING PROCESS THINKING ABOUT THE DVD. BRAVO!

Simon ready to 'Surprise' with Eno

NEW YORK -- After several years of work, Paul Simon is finally ready to share his long-awaited collaboration with producer Brian Eno (U2, Talking Heads) with the listening public.

The 11-track project, dubbed "Surprise," will be released May 9 in North America via Warner Bros. and a day earlier internationally.

Among the songs set to appear on "Surprise" are "Sons and Daughters," "How Can You Live in the Northeast," "Outrageous" and "Father and Daughter," Simon's contribution to 2002's "The Wild Thornberrys Movie" which was nominated for the best original song Academy Award.

Guest appearances include guitarist Bill Frisell, drummer Steve Gadd and pianist Herbie Hancock, whose 2005 album, "Possibilities," featured a new recording with Simon of the latter's "I Do It for Your Love." "Surprise" is Simon's first studio album since 2000's "You're the One."EDITOR'S NOTE: I STILL HAVEN'T EVEN GOTTEN THE ONE FROM 2000, AND ALREADY HERE'S ANOTHER ONE. (OOO....DAD...WANT SOME PAUL SIMON FOR FATHER'S DAY? WANNNA LET ME LISTEN TO IT AFTER WE BUY IT FOR YOU?)