DanTaylorBlog

To know me is to know that Scrubs is one of my all-time — if not all-time — favorite television show(s). Sure, it may not go down in the annals of the greatest television shows in history such as M*A*S*H, Cheers, The Mary Tyler Moore Show, The Simpsons, All in the Family, and Seinfeld (just to name a few). But, from the very first episode that I viewed I was a die-hard Scrubs fan.

Over the last eight seasons I have been a devotee of Scrubs to the point that I’m surprised that I don’t have my own chart and medical records at Sacred Heart Hospital. I’ve even printed up my own t-shirt of Dr. Cox (actor John C. McGinley) with the line “People are just bastard covered bastards with bastard filling.” (Which I know isn’t 100% accurate — I was paraphrasing.) I’m honestly surprised that I don’t have a Sacred Heart Hospital tattoo. I’ll admit that not every episode has been comedy-drama gold — and, a couple of seasons as a whole didn’t achieve the bar set by the earlier seasons. The seventh season was a rough one when it was announced that NBC was not going to renew the season. In actuality, NBC never really gave Scrubs a chance from the beginning. The show was bounced from one time-slot to another and received very little promotion from the network. It appeared that NBC was going to fall the victim of being the network’s unwanted ugly stepchild and drop off the air without given the opportunity for a much deserved and appropriate sign-off. That is when ABC stepped in and bought the rights to Scrubs and welcomed it with open arms for an eighth season.

Scrubseighth season was much a return to the shows format of the earlier season with poinant episodes that still contained off-beat humor. I was happy that the show and characters were going to have the much deserved opportunity to say goodbye on their terms. I very much enjoyed the eighth season of Scrubs.

Now, it has been announced that Scrubs will not only be returning for a ninth season with ABC, but will undergo a change in location. Scrubs regular characters Dr. Perry Cox and Dr. Christopher Turk (Donald Faison)  will have new duties as med-school instructors and the action will shift from the hospital to the classroom. This is according  Michael Ausiello at EW.com. Executive producer and show creator Bill Lawrence stated, “It’ll be a lot like Paper Chase as a comedy. It’s going to be a different show. It’ll still be life-and-death stakes, but if the show is just Scrubsagain in the hospital with a different person’s voiceover, it would be a disaster and people would be mad.” Apparently the hospital will still be featured occasionally, as will the previous shows vets Zach Braff (who was originally the central character, John “J.D.” Dorian), Sarah Chalke (Elliot Reid), Judy Reyes (Carla Espinosa), and Ken Jenkins (Bob Kelso) – all of which will make guest appearances.

Will I be on board? Hell, yes! Go ahead and admit me to either the school or the hospital. Do I have some concerns or reservations? A bit. But, I stuck with Scrubs good times and bad (which was easy for me since most of the times were all good). A change in location, a shift of character focus, or even a new title (that will supposedly still feature Scrubs in some way) isn’t going to scare me away. If Bill Lawrence’s “new” Scrubs is anything like the original I fell that it’ll be in quite capable — and entertaining — hands. But, I do have one cautionary word: AfterMASH.

It’s that time of the year once again, the  Comic-Con International: San Diego will be upon us before we know it. In fact, I’ve installed a little countdown widget to the right there to remind me just how long I have to wait — or how little time I have to prepare — for the ultimate nerd event.

2009 marks the 40th anniversary of the San Diego Comic Con (SDCC). For me 2009 marks my 12 anniversary for attending the show. The very first year I went I was only able to attend for three days (Friday thru Sunday) and it was as a fan. It was in 2002 that I showed up with my very first self-published issue of (then Super) Hero Happy Hour. It was during that pilgrimage to the mecca of geekdom that artist Scott Morse asked me, “How’s it feel?” I replied, “How does what feel?” His quick response, “To be a pro.” In 2003 GeekPunk (my self-publishing company) had an actual exhibitor table and the first three issues of Super Hero Happy Hour available for sell to the masses.

A few years later I was working as an editor for IDW Publishing and I spent my next three years at SDCC working in that capacity. I’ve been on a number of panels at the show over the years — focusing on self-publishing to promoting Star Trek and Transformers. Now, when I attend San Diego Comic-Con it’s as a writer/creator looking for possible gigs. But, it’s also as a fan — it always has been. As this year’s event grows closer I have to decide how much of my trip will be devoted to my pursuits of furthering my career as a writer of comic books, or simply enjoying the event as the fanboy nerd that I am.

I’m currently across the street from my workplace, enjoying some chicken noodle soup and free wi-fi at Panera Bread on my lunch break. One of these days I’ll have to be adventurous and get my chicken noodle soup in the sourdough bread-bowl. I get an hour for lunch and it’s about a seven minute walk each way from my office to Panera, so that gives me about 45 minutes to order, eat and surf the interwebs on the netbook. If I’m feeling particularly motivated I might even write a little bit, but it’s hard to get rolling in such a limited window of allotted time. It’s generally the time that I catch up on emails, twitter, and newsbytes regarding comics, movies, and such. Now, I’ll hopefully also use this time to update my blog more regularly. These will typically be shorter posts of random rambling, but at least posts nonetheless.

I’m debating whether or not to maybe go see a late showing of The Hangover tonight, or an early showing of Land of the Lost tomorrow with a probable hangover. It’ll more than likely be the latter.

Lunch break observation today: There is a guy here having a cup of soup and half sandwich that almost has the complete ultimate villain look. He’s got crazy stark white hair and a scar that runs from the left side of his forehead, over his left eye, and about half way down his left cheek. It would be complete if he had his eye was some unnatural color or if he was at least wearing an eye patch.

Each month I try to take a look at a handful of movies that I’m personally looking forward to seeing for one reason or another. This month features debauchery, dinosaurs, delerium, and Decepticons for the pick flicks of June.

The Hangover — June 05, 2009

Starring: Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms, Zach Galifianakis, Heather Graham, Justin Bartha, Jeffrey Tambor
Director: Todd Phillips
Screenwriters: Jon Lucas, Scott More
MPAA Rating: R (for pervasive language, sexual content including nudity, and some drug material)

This flick has two things going strong for it right out of the gate. One, it’s a movie about Las Vegas. Two, it features Heather Graham as a stripper. I dig the city of Las Vegas. I always have, since the very first time I went just over two decades ago. And, I dig movies about Las Vegas (for the most part). When done right the city itself actually becomes a character — from a minor role in Swingers (which Heather Graham was also in, but not in the part featuring Las Vegas), to the centerpiece in Martin Scorsese’s Casino. Hell, even the best episodes of television’s COPS take place in Las Vegas.

The premise is about three groomsmen that mange to lose the groom during his bachelor party — a night that none of them can recall. The reason why “what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas” is that whatever happened is usually not remembered due to alcohol induced blackouts. We’ve all been there, right? Note: Seth Rogan, Paul Rudd, Jason Segel, or Johah Hill — even if it does sound like a Judd Apatow flick.

Official Website: Hangovermovie.com

Land of the Lost — June 05, 2009

Starring: Will Ferrell, Danny R. McBride, Anna Friel, Jorma Taccone
Director: Brad Silberling
Screenwriters: Chris Henchy, Dennis McNicholas
MPAA Rating: PG-13 (for crude and sexual content, and for language including a drug reference)

Alright, let’s get this out of the way. If you know me, then you know that if there’s anything more than I love than debauchery in Las Vegas, it’s the original Land of the Lost television series. Other than the title, the name of the main character, Rick Marshall (played by Will Ferrell), the time travel aspect, dinosaurs, Sleestaks, and a Pakuni. To say that I’m a bit cautious about this movie is an understatement.

I’ve kept it no secret that Land of the Lost is one franchise that I’d love to get my hands on to adapt as a comic book series. I feel that the key elements that made up the original series are perfect for a comic book treatment. Now, would I remain a hundred percent faithful to the original material? Not exactly. But, I also wouldn’t veer as far away as the the filmmakers apparently have here. I would still tell the story of a family — Rick Marshall and his children Will and Holly. They would still be lost in a land of dinosaurs, menaced by Sleestacks, and shrouded in mystery. But, I would mix it up a little bit, modify a couple of things, but essentially keep it similar to the original — much like how J. J. Abrams did with the new Star Trek. When I first heard that this movie was going to feature Ferrell and be played for laughs I couldn’t help but feel impending dread. But, advance word make me think that while it might not be “my” Land of the Lost, it won’t be all that bad.

Official Website: Landofthelost.net

Moon — June 12, 2009

Starring: Sam Rockwell, Kevin Spacey, Dominique McElligott, Rosie Shaw, Kaya Scodelario, Benedict Wong
Director: Duncan Jones
Screenwriters: Duncan Jones, Nathan Parker
MPAA Rating: R (for language)

The premise definitely doesn’t ring of “feel good movie of the year”. Astronaut Sam Bell is near the end of a three year contract that has kept him isolated on the far side of the moon. A broken satellite does not not allow him to have live communication with home and he has to get by with taped messages from his wife and three-year-old daughter. Abruptly, he begins to suffer painful headaches and hallucinations that lead to a meeting of a younger and angrier version of himself — another Sam Bell that claims to be there to complete the same contract.

When I first saw the trailer for this movie another film came to mind — Silent Running. Like Moon, Silent Running also deals with a lone individual in the vacuum of space and is a movie that has resonated with me since I first saw it some thirty years ago. Moon’s director, Duncan Jones, is David Bowie’s son — Space Oddity indeed.

Official website: Moonthemovie.com

Transformers: Rise of the Fallen — June  24

Starring: Shia La Beouf, Megan Fox, Josh Duhamel, Tyrese Gibson, Kevin Dunn, Julie White, John Benjamin Hickey, Ramon Rodriguez, Isabel Lucas, John Turturro
Director: Michael Bay
Screenwriters: Ehren Krugr, Roberto Orci, Alex Kurtzman
MPAA Rating: PG-13 (for intense sequences of sci-fi action violence, language, some crude and sexual material, and brief drug material)

The badguys, the Decepticons, are back. Once again, it’s up to Sam Witwicky (Shia LaBeouf) and his incredibly hot girlfriend (Megan Fox) to team-up with the Autobots to save humanity. While I doubt that this movie will claim the title of my favorite flick of ‘09 — that going to Star Trek, which was also penned by Transformers scribes Orci and Kurtzman — it is going to be a huge cinematic event.

The first Transformers movie surprised the hell out of me, and having been one of the editors at IDW Publishing at the time I had had the screenplay sitting on my desk for over a year before the movie came out and had worked on the the Transformers comic book movie adaptation. I expect much of the same with this movie — intense action, big explosions, eye-popping and mind boggling special effects — and, why not? No need to fix what ain’t broke.

Official Website: Transformersmovie.com

It’s been awhile since I’ve mentioned anything new coming down the tap line in regards to Hero Happy Hour, the comic book created by artist Chris Fason and yours truly. I figured with the new blog and all that now was as good as time as any.

There are more rounds of adventure in store for the gang of super hero regulars that hang out at the Hideout Bar & Grill. While I don’t want to spill too much — and no one should want to spill anything while bellying up to the bar — I have been receiving some fantastic art by Grant and Eva Perkins a “top secret” Hero Happy Hour currently in the works.

As much as I want to display more artwork at this time, for now I’m going to show some restraint and offer the image below depicting psionic endowed super heroine Psiren standing victorious over the powered armored, soliloquy speaking super villain Krimson Klaw.

DanTaylorBlog V.2 wasn’t the only new wonder to hit the interwebs yesterday. Interview Project began over at DavidLynch.com. What is Interview Project? It is a 20,000 mile road trip over 70 days across and back the United States in which 121 random individuals were interviewed with a new episode premiering every three days.

The first interview features Jess, a man that was found sitting on the side of the road in Needles, California. As David Lynch himself explains it, “People should watch Interview Project because they’re going to meet hundreds people.” I also like the fact that Mr. Lynch states that these interviewees were found by “going into bars and going into different locations, and there they were.” As a practitioner of going into new bars the people that you discover is an extra bonus. Interview Project looks to reward these bonuses without running up numerous bar tabs and adding wear and tear mileage the ol’ vehicle.

The other new site to premiere on the interwebs yesterday was the Rich Johnson project Bleeding Cool - featuring comic book industry news, gossip, rumours (yes, the extra “u” was added because it comes to us from the outskirts of London) reviews, previews, features, interviews, and general tomfoolery. I’m sure there will be some “interesting bar-types” there as well.

If you happen to have visited the old DanTaylorBlog.com during the month of May you’re probably well aware that the site was quite lacking in the update department — the last post being May 4th. I wish I had a justifiable excuse for my prolonged lackluster blogging. Something along the lines of I was busy writing the “Great American” screenplay, or that I was working on a top secret six-issue comic book story arc for a soon-to-be-announced Spider-Man major event would work dandy — but alas, not true. (Yet.) No, the reason for me being a bump on a blog was that I was just unispired, unmotivated, and really didn’t have much to say.

But, then as the last weekend of May came upon me I suddenly decided that maybe my blog needed new digs with a new look — sort of a feng shui makeover of my cyberspace. (Yeah, I just used the term “cyberspace”. That is so 80s.) So, I moved my blog from the free space at WordPress.com and purchased some real estate on the GoDaddy.com servers. It wasn’t that I was displeased with the services available at WordPress.com, far from it. In fact, I’m still using WordPress software for this blog. I just felt that with all of the various extended features that are out there for WordPress, yet not available just yet on hassle-free hosting service, that maybe it was time to get out there and experiment a little more with various features and design. And, this of course would lead to more inspired blogging. Right?

So, I’m kicking of the month of June with a brand new blog — which will probably still feature much of the same ol’ crap, but hopefully a healthy dose of new and more frequent material. I’ll still be covering the nerdy pop culture things such as comic books, movies, and television. I’ll be blogging about my writing, as well as featuring some of it here (I hope). And, then there’s the randomness that I either stumble upon or just feel compelled to share.

I don’t think I’ll be moving my previous posts from DanTaylorBlog.com V.1 over to the new digs. I’ll leave it be and start a bit fresh here. But, the new blog is far from complete. I’ll be experimenting with new widgets, extras, add-ons, etc… Alright, I’m off to tinker with more features and such. Be sure bookmark and check back often. I might surprise a few of you. Thanks for the support.