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We are literally weeks away until we return to Wentworth for it’s seventh season on Foxtel and this morning, a brand new trailer dropped showcasing the crazy that’s coming our way. Check it out below!
This seventh season looks set to be a Rita (Leah Purcell) versus Marie (Susie Porter) showdown with Rita now an official inmate at Wentworth Correctional after she killed Marie’s muscle Drago (Natalia Novikova) at the end of season six. Meanwhile it seems Marie is locking herself into a love triangle with herself and Allie (Kate Jenkinson) and Will Jackson (Robbie Magasiva) all the while governor Vera (Kate Atkinson) struggles to control the women and her pregnancy.
Never a dull moment in Wentworth!
Season seven begins 8:30pm, Tuesday May 28th on FOX Showcase via Foxtel
Back in January we got word that (Marty Abrams Presents) Mego Corp we’re coming to Australia. After a multi-decade hiatus, Mego re-emerged with a swag of vintage pop-culture goodness that was bringing back fans of old and bringing in new fans into a world of 8″ and 14″ figures with licenses from Charlie’s Angels to KISS, Brady Bunch to Jimi Hendrix.
All we knew back in January was that Mego were in talks with a local distributor and that was it. Now, in early May, I’ve got your sneak peek of what Aussie Mego fans can expect and when to expect it!
While there’s been no official word on who will be distributing Mego here, Australian based distributor Headstart International were showcasing the Mego line at the Australian Toy Hobby and Licensing Fair in March, though the Mego brand is still yet to be listed on their product line website.
So what’s coming our way? While the early waves of Mego figures don’t seem to be coming (possibly due to them being Target US exclusives) it seems we’re still in for a treat of what’s on offer. Please note, the categories listed below are 100% correct information of what is coming our way. The figures within those categories are pure speculation and are based off what is currently on offer in the US.
*8″ Mego Figures Horror Assorted: Possible inclusion – Dracula, Frankenstein, Freddy Kruger, The Invisible Man, Wolf Man and Count Orlock.
*8″ Mego Sci Fi Assorted: Star Trek based with Captain Kirk, Mr. Spock plus a possible addition of Lt. Uhura and Romulan Commander figures.
*8″ Mego Movies/Legends Assorted: Muhammed Ali, Farrah Fawcett, Bruce Lee, Marilyn Monroe, Joe Namath and Elvis are all featured here.
*8″ Mego Music Assorted: Jimi Hendrix is the only figure currently released under Mego’s ‘music’ line though we may be treated to some KISS in this line.
*14″ Mego DC Hero Assorted: The likelihood appears that the first waves of Mego’s DC Heroes (Batman, Wonder Woman, Superman, Poison Ivy etc) will not be coming our way, instead, it looks like we’ll be given the later wave of 14″ heroes which include Wonder Woman (New 52 Uniform), Superman (New 52 Uniform), Batman (New 52 Uniform), Black Manta and Aquaman (Classic Uniform)
*Wizard of Oz Two Pack and Star Trek Two Pack: Sadly, The I Dream of Jeanie, Bewitched and Full House double packs are not coming our way. However, the Dorothy and Wicked Witch two pack is (along with a solo carded Cowardly Lion)is plus a Star Trek Mirror Universe Spock and Kirk double pack.
The Mego Wizard of Oz Two Pack with Dorothy and the Wicked Witch. (c) Mego Corp
So now the question begs…when? Looks like the solo figures could be here as early as July while the two pack figures, we’ll have to wait a little longer for…possibly around September.
No word yet though on who will be stocking these but watch this space! Mego IS coming to Australia!
Update May 12th 2019.
Two images have begun floating around the Mego Facebook groups showcasing two single carded Wizard of Oz figures – The Wicked Witch and Dorothy.
It appears that these two figures are coming our way thanks to Australia Post who will be selling these figures via their physical stores as part of the Wizard of Oz’s 80th anniversary celebration. This release will be the first time both Dorothy and the Wicked Witch have been released on single cards since Mego’s return last year and are slight variances on the double pack due in September! No word on when to expect these though.
*This post will be updated as more correct information comes my way.
A couple of weeks ago, Netflix quietly dropped a new ‘Netflix original’ series called Black Summer that has everything you need to fill that zombie void until The Walking Dead and Fear The Walking Dead returns.
The series (apparently set within the same world as Z Nation – which I am yet to watch), all bleak and depressing in its stark blue wash, kicks off in the American suburbs only a few short weeks after the onset of a deadly outbreak where people are striving to make it to ‘the arena’, a military zoned rescue point. This is where we first meet our series heroine Rose (Jamie King) as she, her husband and daughter attempt to make it to the evacuation jeeps. But things don’t go to plan and it’s not long before Rose is flying solo, trying to get to her final destination.
The series introduces several other key figures along the way including *possible* criminal on the run Spears (Justin Chu Cary), Kyungsun (Christine Lee) a non-English speaking Korean woman and Lance (Kelsey Flower) who may possibly be the one character to offer a glaringly realistic view of just how an everyday Joe may go about trying to survive in a zombie apocalypse.
And this zombie apocalypse is different to the world in which we’re used to seeing. The zombie’s aren’t your slow-assed Sunday stroll zombies either. These buggers can run. Like fast. And turning them doesn’t take hours after death. It’s literally instantaneously as introduced in the opening episode.
While Black Summer makes for an engaging edge-of-your-seat show, there are a few misses scattered among the many hits that makes the show so great. The eight episodes are all scattered in length making some feel like they ended a little too quickly while others, a little too long. The pilot episode runs for just on 44 minutes allowing for character introduction and a decent look at the world they’re living in while the finale wraps up in a short 20 minute outing forcing the story line to jolt to a somewhat open ended finale.
And don’t be too worried if you feel like your’e missing an episode between 5 and 6. Episode five (Diner) is set entirely within an abandoned diner where the characters bicker and fight while Episode six (Heist) finds the same characters partaking in an extremely detailed heist on an underground warehouse. It’s a situation that is some cause of confusion considering the importance the heist plays on the rest of the season.
Black Summer series trailer
In the end, Black Summer is a series that is always on the go, even in the quietest of moments, there’s a sense of urgency, a sense of needing to keep moving as enemies both dead and alive are right around the corner. And its this constant tension that not only sets Black Summer apart from other zombie apocalypse shows but also makes for entertaining viewing.
Black Summer season one is not available to stream on Netflix.
it looks like Barbie is set to get her superhero on again with some rumblings that several characters in the X-Men and Star Wars franchises are to be given the Barbie treatment.
Spain based, family owned toy and pop culture shop “Toys Damaso SL” have listed pre-orders for six brand new dolls that include some surprising additions to the Barbie catalog.
Three characters from X-Men’s upcoming Dark Phoenix have been listed for pre-order – Jean Grey, Storm and Mystique along with three characters from Star Wars – Princess Leia, Darth Vader and strangely enough R2-D2.
It’s a surprising announcement considering FOX’s staunch stance on any kind of toy/action figure merchandise for it’s X-movies.
Each pre-order states the following:
WE DO NOT HAVE PHOTOS. WE DO NOT KNOW THE DATE OF RECEPTION, IT MAY TAKE MONTHS TO RECEIVE
The Star Wars collection are currently listing for $220 AUD while the X-Men collection for $103 AUD
Currently, there is no official word from Mattel on these releases and Toys Damaso SL is the only site online with this information.
While this may be the first time Barbie has gotten her pristine plastic hands on these characters, it’s not the first time they have been immortalized in plastic. Princess Leia and Darth Vader have been produced in doll form numerous times over the years through Hasbro. Storm, back in the late 90’s got the 12″ doll treatment thanks to ToyBiz while Tonner doll company released two version’s of it’s 16″ Jean Grey/Phoenix doll. Mystique is the only character never to have been released in any kind of doll format before.
As stated, no official word as yet on release date, availability worldwide or price point.
She created headlines in the 90’s then left the hugely popular series only to return for its first reboot in 2008 and then faced a massive and brave battle against breast cancer but where was Shannen Doherty when news dropped the original Peach Pitt Pals were once again reuniting?
Her name, along with teen heartthrob, the late Luke Perry were major omissions the news with fans wondering was the blood really that bad between Doherty and the rest of the gang? But no need to worry as Doherty herself dropped the news that she is infact coming back the the iconic 90’s zipcode.
So yes!! Brenda Walsh, 90201’s original bad girl is back!!
Here’s the official synopsis of the reboot is as follows:
Having gone their separate ways since the original series ended 19 years ago, Shannen, Jason, Jennie, Ian, Gabrielle, Brian and Tori reunite when one of them suggests it’s time to get a ‘Beverly Hills, 90210’ reboot up and running. But getting it going may make for an even more delicious soap than the reboot itself. What will happen when first loves, old romances, friends and frenemies come back together, as this iconic cast – whom the whole world watched grow up together – attempts to continue from where they left off?
No word as yet if the show will acknowledge the existence of the 2008 reboot and as it stood, Perry had not signed on for any involvement with the show prior to his death.
The 90210 reboot is slated to air later this year on FOX in the USA
A TV series based on last year’s breakout romcom movie hit Love, Simon has been given a straight-to-series order on Disney’s new streaming service called Disney+.
While the movie Love, Simon came direct from author Becky Albertali’s best selling Simon Vs The Homo Sapiens Agenda book, this new series will take place from the third book in Albertali’s ‘simonverse’ trilogy titled Leah on the Offbeat which follows Simon’s best friend Leah and takes place only a short while after the end of Simon’s story.
In the book, while Bram is trying to navigate the perfect promposal to Simon, Leah goes off on a road trip with newly single Abby to scout out perspective collages. The book that sits between Simon and Leah is titled “The Upside of Unrequited” and takes a huge sidestep from Simon and his friends and focuses on Abby’s cousin Molly Peskin-Suso.
While the series will continue the Love, Simon story line, principal cast including Katherine Langford (Leah) and Nick Robinson (Simon) are not attached to the series, though Love, Simon screenwriters Elizabeth Berger and Isaac Aptaker will return to serve as showrunners on the Disney+ series. It should also be noted that director Greg Berlanti will not be involved due to his deal with Warner Bros Television.
The right’s to Albertali’s Simonverse characters are now in the hands of Disney after their acquirement of 20th Century Fox.
Update: April 13th 2019
Simon Vs The Homo Sapiens Agenda author Becky Albertali took to Instagram to not only share the news of the Love, Simon series but to also clarify some major misinformation that is being attached to the series. According to Albertali, the Love, Simon series is not a remake of the movie nor is it going to follow the book sequel Leah on the Offbeat. The series will in fact be a spin-off and will be set within the world of Simon. No word on casting though of yet.
Schitt’s Creek (streaming on Netflix here in Australia and on ABC Comedy) has gradually become one of those word-of-mouth shows that has, rightfully so, over it’s current five season run, found itself holding that rare ‘iconic cult’ status among fans new and old with its quick wit script, stellar cast (including Eugene Levy, Catherine O’Hara, Dan Levy and Annie Murphy) strong character development and meme worthy moments that happen from literally every single episode. FYI, Schitt’s Creek has made my “best of” two years running in 2017 and 2018.
As we near towards the end of Season Five, co-creator and star Dan Levy announced that our beloved Rose family and residents of Schitt’s Creek will be back for a sixth season, but that sixth season will also the shows final one with Levy taking to his socials to make the announcement.
“We are very excited to announce that ‘Schitt’s Creek’ is coming back for a sixth season on CBC and Pop in 2020,” Levy posted. “We also wanted to take this opportunity to let you know that we have decided Season 6 will be our last. We are so grateful to have been given the time and creative freedom to tell this story in its totality, concluding with a final chapter that we had envisioned from the very beginning. It’s not lost on us what a rare privilege it is in this industry to get to decide when your show should take its final bow. We could never have dreamed that our fans would grow to love and care about these characters in the ways that you have.”
The sixth and final season will see the show continue for another fourteen episodes due to premiere in 2020 in Canada and the US while for local Aussie fans, season five is due to hit Netflix sometime after it’s initial run on US and Canadian screens finishes up while the first three seasons are currently available on free-to-air via ABC Comedy
Side note, if Schitt’s Creek does not end with Alexis saying “Eww David!” then we riot! It’s only acceptable way to send off this amazing show!
Project Runway is back for it’s seventeenth season and while the format is mostly the same, the absence of familiar faces brings about big changes in the design competition show that (mostly) bring a freshness to the long running series.
So what’s different? Former host Heidi Klum and mentor favorite Tim Gunn, two names synonymous with Project Runway, have jumped ship to start their own show on Amazon Prime Video. Hosting duties have now been passed over to model Karlie Kloss while mentorship is now with former Project Runway contestant Christian Siriano (who also takes a judges chair) who has built a rather reputable name within the industry since his stint on the show.
Two new judges are also joining the fold, journalist and Teen Vogue editor Elaine Welteroth along with fashion designer Brandon Maxwell. Thankfully, Nina Garcia has stuck around to keep a familiar face on the show though it feels like she keeps looking around hoping Heidi and Tim will pop out and surprise them all.
The work room has also been given a makeover with the familiar white room now replaced with a more industrial NYC loft feel.
Aside from that, Project Runway moves quickly into its rhythm, contestants jumping quickly into their first challenge, a trip to Mood, a tearful breakdown and designers shining while others fail to micro manage their time well enough to put a garment down the runway. The models, like more recent seasons, are of all shapes, colors and sizes and includes the shows first ever trans model Mimi who has a touching moment with her designer Kovid.
The new workroom and new faces help freshen up Project Runway but the first episode really does suffer from any lack of chemistry between the the judges. That spark between Heidi and Tim just isn’t there with Karlie and Christian, but then again, this is something that could develop over time.
Arena are fast tracking episodes from the USA with express screenings on Fridays at 1:35pm and then again at 8:30pm. Episode one (which has already aired) is available on repeats with episode two hitting our screens this coming Friday, March 22nd.
The magazine may be a slowly dwindling media format thanks to the internet and its ability to provide up-to-the-minute breaking news easily shared through various social media channels, but throwback to pre-world wide web, where prime time television shows like Friends and Melrose Place were bringing in 20 million viewers weekly and magazines were selling just as many copies of issues where exclusive interviews with A-listers would be accompanied by ‘that’ magazine cover photo.
Whether it be scandalous, beautiful or emotive, magazines in the 90’s provided some of the most iconic covers that still could go toe-to-toe with the likes of Kim K on Paper Magazine or Caitlin Jenner on Vanity Fair. Take a look below at some of the most iconic magazine covers from the 90’s.
Such uproar occurred from this photo of a 28 year old Demi Moore, naked and heavily pregnant on the cover of Vanity Fair’s August 1991 issue that some supermarket’s pulled it from shelves while others hid it, treating it like an issue of Playboy. The pose however would be later recreated by such stars as Natalie Portman, Britney Spears and Serena Williams
It was a mere twelves months later when Demi Moore returned to create another iconic cover for Vanity Fair, once again shot by Annie Leibovitz, once again naked, this time however, covered in a painted on three piece suit.
Magazine: Vanity Fair | Date: August 1993 Issue | Cover Star: K.D Lang and Cindy Crawford.
Vanity Fair cover for August shows model Cindy Crawford giving a shave to singer K.D. Lang. (Photo by PA Images via Getty Images)
Cindy Crawford clad in a tight black swimsuit shaving a suited up K.D Lang who is happily nuzzled into the cleavage of the supermodel. In 1993, the controversy writes itself with the two women, photographed by Herb Ritz, causing a stir with the gender bending image of Lang who had recently come out as a Lesbian.
Magazine: Rolling Stone | Date: May 19th 1994 Issue | Cover Star: Laura Leighton, Heather Locklear and Josie Bissett
The Melrose Place ‘bod squad’ featuring Laura Leighton, Josie Bissett and Heather Locklear, all clad in night-times whites, tousled hair and alluring stares. The cover was hot but caused a stir when it was revealed the other two stars Daphne Zuniga and Courtney Thorne-Smith were hidden under a flap. This shoot and resulting cover was brought up in the Unofficial Melrose Place Story created by Lifetime that mentioned Leighton contacting her agent with her concern about her co-stars not making the cover.
Magazine: Rolling Stone | Date: May 16th 1996 Issue | Cover Star: David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson
HOT. HOT. HOT. No other words to describe this Rolling Stone magazine cover that sent a million X-Files nerds into boner frenzy. A topless Gillian Anderson offering some side-boob, draped over a topless David Duchovny, arms wrapped tightly around each other. The image played heavily on the public’s want of their on-screen alter ego’s FBI Agents Mulder and Scully to hook up.
Magazine: Rolling Stone | Date: April 15th 1999 Issue | Cover Star: Britney Spears
Coming off the back of her number one hit “Hit Me Baby One More Time”, 17 year old Spears, wound up on the cover of Rolling Stone magazine wearing not much at all. The photos, shot by David LaChapelle caused outrage from the parents of her tween fans while In 2008, the singer’s mother, Lynne, explained how her daughter ended up posing for the controversial photos. “We were in shock at what was going on, and we were in awe. We didn’t have any choice in the pictures. We had no one that could tell us what we were supposed to be doing.”
Magazine: TIME| Date: April 14th 1997 Issue | Cover Star: Ellen Degeneres
42 million people in the USA alone watched Ellen’s alter-ego Ellen Morgan, come out as a lesbian. It was unheard of and the moment became an iconic one in television history. TIME’s magazine cover featuring Degeneres, herself, coming out as a lesbian proved too much for America in 97′ which eventually saw Ellen lose her show and become an unwanted talent in Hollywood.
Magazines were feeding into the public frenzy that was the untimely death of Princess Diana in 1997. Covers showing grainy paparazzi snaps of the crash scene or of Diana pre death were everywhere. People’s tribute issue featured a touching black and white photo of the peoples princess, smiling brightly, allowing us to remember the woman so loved by the public. The issue became the magazine’s highest selling issue (3.1 million) until the 2001 9/11 attacks.
For anyone who was pop-culture loving teenager in the 90’s, the name George Lange might not sound that familiar, but his work as a photographer should be more than burned into your teen psyche as Lange’s photographs graced not only the covers of major magazines world wide but also many a teenage bedroom wall (certainly mine) with his iconic photos with the casts of Seinfeld, Melrose Place, Dawson’s Creek, The X-Files and Buffy the Vampire Slayer – just to name a few.
Those iconic photos featured the cast of Friends all dressed in black and white, perching precariously in white shadow boxes on a red backdrop, the cast of Seinfeld, dressed in their character garb, posing under an umbrella with pigeons, X-Files star Gillian Anderson perched high on co-star David Duchovny’s shoulders and Merlose’s Marcia Cross and Thomas Calabro playing in copious amounts of feathers while Laura Leighton shot out of a television dressed in a slinky silver mini.
While these photos iconic and a flashback to the heights of prime time television that was the mid 90’s, these images slowly faded into fond memories perhaps found years later on a dusty Entertainment Weekly cover found in the attic and as Lange even notes on one of his Instagram posts, they become buried under the weight of history.
For 2019, Lange though, is taking a new positive approach to his archives with a new collection of his classic prints and embracing the work that he was once afraid to look into for fear of being unable to move forward. The collection, titled ‘First Run ReRuns’ offers a look at the never before printed images from some of Lange’s most memorable work. The photos that didn’t make the cover or included in the photo spread.
‘First Run ReRuns’ opens on March 7th at The Dairy for the Arts in Boulder, Los Angeles and runs until April 14th. For those wanting to know more about the images, sessions and Lange’s process can attend an evening with George Lange on March 20th where you can check out scenes from actual photo shoots, hear from those who admire his work and get an inside look at his dynamic process.
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