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Wow, this makes me actually kinda like Up now

http://www.deadline.com/2010/07/breaking-ellen-out-of-idol/

Ellen Degeneres has been let out of her American Idol contract a season early and freakin’ Jennifer Lopez will be taking her spot at the judge’s table. Apparently, Ellen just didn’t really like the whole Idol thing from the start… Simon pissed her off by always being late and she never really had any fun with the job. So, Ellen’s people went to FOX two months ago to ask the powers that be to let Ellen go. FOX said that they needed to search for a replacement before they could let her out of her contract… and now that Jenny from the Block is on board, Ellen can escape.

On top of this madness, it now sounds like Kara DioGuardi may be fired from the show. This news seems to fit in with producer Nigel Lythgoe’s belief that a 3 judge panel makes a whole lot more sense for the show than 4 judges. If Kara does end up going away, that only leaves two judges… J-Lo and Randy Jackson. The search is on to find someone to replace Simon Cowell. Apparently, Elton John is a favorite, but he’s asking for too much money. There’s also rumor that an offer is out to Steven Tyler.

Anyone disagree that American Idol is on its way out. Shit like this is a PERFECT sign of the once mighty show’s demise. I mean come on… Jennifer Lopez? Could there be a more fitting mascot for failure than the star of The Backup Plan and recording artist of the hit song Louboutins?

Check out the Nikki Finke article linked above for more details behidn the madness.

http://www.mymodernmet.com/profiles/blogs/mesmerizing-mixed-media

Florian Nicolle (that has to be a fake name… come on… 2x L’s in her last name?) uses pen, watercolors, and Chinese ink and a little Photoshopping to create the fantastic portraits you see below.

Is this first one the dude from (500) Days of Summer and Criminal Minds?

The first trailer for Zack Snyder’s Sucker Punch has hit the web… and so far, I’m a lot less impressed than I hoped to be. Granted, it’s a very limited look at the flick, but it feels really generic so far.

The October issue of Vanity Fair will include a DVD insert containing the entire first episode of FOX’s new drama, Lone Star (it’s the one with the guy living a double life directed by the guy who directed 500 Days of Summer… not the one with the annoying cowgirl cop like I thought… that one is called Chase and it’s on NBC). The issue hits the shelves 9/7, nearly 2 weeks before the 9/20 premiere on FOX.

In addition to the Lone Star episode, the disc will also include a trailer for the upcoming FOX sequel, wall Street: Money Never Sleeps.

iPad owners who purchase a digital copy of the October Vanity Fair will receive the episode digitally for the first two weeks the issue is out. After that time, a Lone Star extended preview will replace the full episode.

This had me all kinds of worried… but now my fears have been curbed.

At Comic Con, Guillermo del Toro announced that he would be working on a film adaptation of the Disneyland ride, The Haunted Mansion. For most Disney/movie fans, this thought stirs up painful memories of Eddie Murphy’s goofy ass destroying the iconic ride… the prospect of this metaphorically pissing on Disneyland coming around again is a terrifying thought… but, now we have some more info from del Toro that makes it sound like this may end up being a very very good thing.

Apparently, del Toro is a HUGE Haunted Mansion nerd. He has statues, original concept sketches, actual pieces of wallpaper from the ride, and uses a ride on the Mansion as a way to calm down and think.

His Mansion film sounds like it will tap into this nerdy vein, focusing around a cult figure in Disney lore, The Hatbox Ghost (see photo way down below).

After doing a little digging around, here’s what I learned about this Hatbox Ghost. The ghost was originally installed on the ride right before you leave the attic of the Mansion (this is when you see the glowing ghost bride. The grinning figure held a large hatbox at his side and was illuminated via blacklighting. The ghost’s head would disappear from atop his shoulders and reappear in the hatbox. There was a problem though… the figure relied on lighting and completely darkening it’s head to make it “disappear,” but the figure stood too close to passing “Doom Buggies” and ambient light made it impossible for the head to ever get dark enough to look completely gone. So, The Hatbox Ghost was only there for cast member previews… it was removed from the ride prior to the public opening of the attraction. Since then, nerdy Disney fans have come to be obsessed with the ghost and have created quite a fuss over him.

Being the Haunted Mansion nerd he is, del Toro would like to use hatbox toting ghosty as a main character in his new film. del Toro will write and produce the film, with a director to be named later.

Check out the video below and let me know your thoughts… does this whole thing sound like a good idea?

Movie Trailers – Movies Blog

If you haven’t had a nice “wow. I’m old” feeling in a while… here you go.

I’m particularly bothered by the fact that he is wearing a Guinness shirt.

Jeff Bridges getting mobbed by the press at last night’s Tron Party at Comic Con.

Just met Taylor Lautner at Comic Con. Less douchey in person.