'Supernatural's' Jensen Ackles On The Unprecedented Finale
Author: Jaimie Etkin
It's a good week for "Supernatural" fans. Friday is the Season 7 finale (9 p.m. ET), and the CW just announced that next season, the long-standing series will move from its Friday death slot to Wednesdays, behind the network's much-anticipated newcomer, "Arrow."
At The CW upfronts presentation in New York on Thursday, "Supernatural" star Jensen Ackles teased the Season 7 finale, which will see the Winchester brothers (Ackles' Dean and Jared Padalecki's Sam) attempt to take down the Leviathans -- and Dick Roman -- for good.
"We will find Dean in a situation at the end of the season that he's never been in," Ackles told HuffPost TV.
"Two of the fan favorites find themselves in a massive predicament," the actor added. "There's a big attempt to handle the Leviathan situation once and for all. Whether that works or not is yet to be seen. It definitely gives us somewhere to go in Season 8. There's a lot of loose ends that could get tied up."
But, some things will remain untied, which is a difficult balance Ackles said "Supernatural" has mastered. "That's a very delicate process, but I think it's something that we've been able to accomplish in the past and I have no doubt that we'll pull it off this time, as well," the star said about resolving storylines and throwing in some cliffhangers.
As for the series' new timeslot (Wednesdays at 9 p.m. ET in the fall), Ackles gave the passionate "Supernatural" audience all the credit, and admitted that he thinks it will do the show good.
"It's a great pat on the back that they moved us out of Friday -- which, you know, we were doing fine, it's just a really tough time slot. And a lot of times, it can be considered the night that shows go to die. So not only did we not die, we survived and we grew and I think that that's a big testament to the fans and how supportive they are and how loud they can be about our show," Ackles said. "So now, we're moved back to mid-week and we're paired with another comic in 'Arrow' -- I think we really found our legs when we were paired with 'Smallville,' and even though 'Supernatural' wasn't originally a comic, we now have a comic ... So the fact that we're going back and getting paired with something of that genre, I think is only going to do good."
The Season 7 finale of "Supernatural" airs Friday, May 18 at 9 p.m. ET. "Supernatural" will return with Season 8 on Wednesdays at 9 p.m. ET in the fall.
Check out photos from The CW's new 2012-2013 series below.
Influential Banjo Player Dies At 75
Author: AP
NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Doug Dillard, an influential banjo player who helped shape rock `n' roll and introduce the nation to bluegrass music during a popular run on "The Andy Griffith Show," died Wednesday in Nashville. He was 75.
Lynne Robin Green, president of Dillard's publishing company, said he died due to a lung infection.
Dillard, a founding member of family band The Dillards out of Salem, Mo., was influential in several ways. Dillard, his brother Rodney and two band mates moved west in 1962, rather than taking the usual route to Nashville. They discovered the burgeoning folk scene in Southern California and helped inspire the country rock movement. They were among the first to attempt to modernize bluegrass music, electrifying their instruments and experimenting with rock elements.
Dillard also helped introduce bluegrass to TV viewers as a member of the unusual family band "The Darlings," who made multiple appearances on "The Andy Griffith Show" in the mid-1960s. He split with the band in the late `60s and eventually began a solo career.
The Dillards were inducted into the Bluegrass Hall of Fame in 2009.
The group influenced and worked with key members of the Southern California rock scene who spread their ideas to bands like The Eagles, The Byrds, The Flying Burrito Brothers and The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band. John McEuen of The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band was 16 when he first met Dillard.
Patrick O'Neal: In Defense of Dad
Author: Patrick O'Neal
I'm sick of the low blows, the kidney punches, and the shots after the bell and on the breaks. I'm sick of all the trash talking. From Vanity Fair, The Today Show and The View just to name a few. From mean spirited bloggers who say my father is an awful man, and would be better off dead. That's my dad you're talking about and I don't like it. Not one bit. All this nasty criticism you throw at my dad reminds me of the guy that throws the sucker-punch. The weakling that hits someone when they aren't looking, and then disappears into the crowd because they're scared they might get punched back, or the coward that kicks someone in the head when they are already down. For no other reason than to be hurtful I suppose, but none of you have any idea what you're talking about. I do. I'm actually an expert on the subject.
My name is Patrick O'Neal, and my father is Ryan O'Neal and I'm here to stick up for my old man. I love him. I always have and I always will.
Tatum wrote a book. I wish she hadn't. Keep it in the locker-room I say. Griffin has gone on TV talk shows for decades demonizing our father, and has sold countless stories to the tabloids trashing Ryan so that he could profit. To partially quote Michael Corleone from The Godfather, I would tell them, "Tate, Griff, you are my older sister and brother and I love you. But don't ever take sides with anyone against the family again. Ever."
Is our family different than most? Sure. Have there been documented problems with Ryan's children? Yes. But not all of his kids have made the list. Nope, there is one of em that's doing okay. He has a cool job, a dream job actually, and pays his bills and loves his daughters. That's me. This guy right here. Am I interesting copy because I haven't been arrested? Hell no, that doesn't sell, and how does that support the fact that Ryan (according to everyone) has ruined all his kids lives?
Usually Ryan only has three children, but when I do get mentioned there's the thought, "Well, Patrick must not have ever spent any time with his Dad, he had to have been only raised by his mother, and that's the reason he hasn't gotten into trouble, says everyone." Cue WRONG buzzer sound effect please. Yes I went to summer camps and three years of boarding school in high school. Sure, I had countless positive influences in my life from my mother Leigh Taylor-Young, the nicest woman in the world, and a great actress to boot, to my grand-parents Don and Pauline and Patsy and Blacky, Aunt Dey and Uncle Lance, and teachers, coaches and counselors. But my dad was my hero.
My parents split up when I was three, but my dad was there to pick me up every weekend. And I couldn't wait for him to pull up in the Rolls and honk his horn. The coolest man ever. And he was my Dad. Talk about a lucky son. He was one of the biggest movie stars in the world. It was unreal how famous he was. He was the Golden Boy! The MAN! This is Rodney Harrington from Peyton Place, Oliver Barrett from Love Story, Howard Bannister from What's up, Doc?, Moses Pray from Paper Moon, Redmond Barry from Barry Lyndon, and The Driver!
That's his legacy! Those movies will last forever. And when people look back 50 years from now, when my kids tell their kids, that's what they'll remember. Not Barbara Walters interrogating him on The View. "Why are you such a lethal father?" asks BaBa Wawa. Please lady, get a clue. You don't know a thing about the type of parent my dad was. What, because he makes jokes with you and others in his interviews? That's how my dad has done interviews since 1965. Everything is a quip or a one-liner, and it always has been. In interviews or at parties or just with his friends, my dad is always making jokes. He makes light of everything, even in the darkest of moments. He likes to make people laugh. Some hit, some don't. Hey, my dad dominated TV and movies for two decades. He supported his family, everyone, from the time he was twenty-one. This is the most generous man in the world. Way too generous in my opinion.
When I was fifteen I moved in with him and Farrah, this would be in 1984 and Tatum and Griffin had already moved out, so I was the only kid in the house until little Redmond was born in 1985. I spent some important formative years with just my father as my caretaker, since my Mom had moved to New York. So there goes the theory that I wasn't around.
Oh, I was around. If you add up the number of sporting events my dad and I watched together on TV over the years, we are talking tens of thousands of hours. If you add up the number of Frisbee throws back and forth on the beach, it would be over a million. Add up the number of racket ball games we played, it's well over a thousand. And my dad won more than half, probably 75%, so he has the bragging rights. Plus he used to spot me ten points in the early years. But towards the end of our battles on the court, I closed the gap. I'm partly responsible for his two replaced knees, because I had a secret pleasure running him side to side and up and back.
It was fun and competitive. Very competitive, and there's nothing wrong with a little competition. My dad got me in shape and stressed exercise. I'm glad he made me do those fifty sit-ups on the slant board every day. I'm glad he pushed me to run the five miles to the pier and back on that soft sand. I was good at sports because of him. I have an awesome job as a sportscaster because of what he taught me. I am a loving parent because of him. When the three of us were little we used to wrestle him for hours. We would attack him from all angles. We would spend days in the pool, and he would throw us from side to side, over and over and over. It was so much fun, the most fun I ever had. I've heard there are some kids that didn't get to toss the ball around with their Dad and I feel sorry they missed out on that love, because I cherish the memories.
Shame on Vanity Fair for the article after Farrah died. What, they couldn't write a tribute to one of the biggest stars ever? Farrah was just an amazing person, and so darn beautiful inside and out. She was one of a kind. For being so famous, she never acted like she was. She was nice to everyone. Especially me. But Vanity Fair writes just a trashy article, not about Farrah, but more about my dad and anything negative this writer could think up. "Beautiful People, Ugly Choices" was the headline. What a disgrace that piece was. I had thought Vanity Fair was a quality magazine, but it's more like a trashy tabloid actually.
My whole life I have avoided getting involved in the public disputes, but The Today Show changed that for me. My dad did an interview with Matt Lauer to promote his book Both of Us about his life with Farrah, and when Matt asked if he was a bad parent, Ryan answered "I guess so, look at my work." Matt asked the questions people wanted him to ask. Just doing his job. But the next day The Today Show torched Ryan during their "Professionals" segment.
The subject was "Ryan O'Neal's Family Drama"; only Ryan O'Neal wasn't there to defend himself. It was Dr. Nancy Snyderman saying "there is a window into the dysfunctionality and sad parenting and frankly what seemed like a very traumatic childhoods for these kids. And also I don't know why you come on television with a band-aid on your nose."
Wait there's more, "these kids may have been genetically programmed for some level of drug use." Okay, he had a band-aid on his nose because he had melanoma surgery. And is there actual proof that drug addiction is genetic? I didn't know that. There are a lot of people that do drugs in this world, and I'm not sure any of us really know the answers as to why they start or continue to use. I suppose it could be lots of reasons, addiction being the main one. It's irresponsible for a doctor to make that statement.
Then there's Donny Deutsch. Here's what he said: "Clearly these kids are so messed up, and that is clearly a guy that should not have had the license to have kids." He wasn't done there, "as a father he made me want to puke; as a man I don't have any respect for him." So here's a guy from New York named Donny taking a cheap shot at my dad. Well, Donny, I sure am glad he had a license to have kids, because I'm here and my amazing daughters Sophia and Veronica are here, and thank God for that. I would like to revoke Donny's license for saying ignorant and damaging things on TV.
And I'll tell you something about my siblings. Tatum O'Neal is incredible. When I was six she was winning an Academy Award, and she was a freaking movie star. She is funny, athletic and a great actress. And she loves her three kids. I adored her growing up, and who wouldn't? I was very popular at school because of Tatum, let me tell you. Every kid wanted to know what she was like and if she really was throwing that curve in Bad News Bears. Yep, it was Tate. She was always very kind and generous to me. We had some fun times together. Tatum rocks.
I couldn't wait to play with Griffin on those weekends. We did everything together. Griffin is a musical genius. Self-taught. He was the best surfer on the beach. We were always in the ocean. We got into some trouble together. Griff was always looking for trouble. He was a tough one for my dad to handle. Ryan did his best. Griff was very close to starring with my dad in The Champ. My dad dropped out when Griff didn't get it at the last minute. Griffin would've been great in that movie. I remember them running their lines for the auditions. They were good, let me tell you. And then as a young teen he starred in a couple of movies. Too bad he wasn't able to fly straight. He was one talented guy. I hope Griff does good time, and get's out and takes care of himself and his family.
And Redmond was my little buddy. I love him and I'm sorry it's been so hard for him to get clean and stay clean. I pray that he can make it happen, because he has a wonderful chance to make a difference in this world. He has the financial means to help others, to travel, and enjoy the rest of his life. I love you Red, I know you can do it!
For the record, my dad did not "hit" on Tatum at Farrah's funeral; I was there, so just erase that from your mind. I know it's hard to let it go, because it just seems so juicy, but you can do it.
I haven't been a perfect son or brother. I have been busy trying to be a good father to my girls, and do the best job I can as a broadcaster. I haven't always been there for my dad or my brothers, sister, nieces and nephews. For that I'm sorry. I believe in family, and I believe in our family. That's why I wrote this, it's about FAMILY. I love you all. And Dad, thanks for everything you have done for me over the years. I'm sorry I disappeared from time to time. I was trying to make my way in this world -- not always easy. I made mistakes, and hurt your feelings along the way, and I'm sorry for that. I'm sorry you are going through a tough time right now. I know you miss Farrah and you're dealing with some physical and emotional pain. Please hang in there because we still make a good paddle tennis team, even if I have to carry us. Team O'Neal forever!
FIRST LOOK: Sigourney Weaver's 'Political Animals'
Author: Chris Harnick
Want to see Sigourney Weaver as the new secretary of state in USA Network's upcoming miniseries "Political Animals"?
The "Alien" star headlines USA's new D.C. series as Elaine Barrish Hammond, the ex-wife of a former US president and current secretary of state, and you can take a look at Weaver's new role in the trailer below.
Hailing from Greg Berlanti and co-starring Ellen Burstyn, Dylan Baker, Roger Bart, James Wolk and Carla Gugino, "Political Animals" tells the story of Elaine's friendship with a journalist who knows the family all too well.
"I took this job as secretary of state because I feel I can make a difference," Weaver says in character in the new trailer. "Eleanor Roosevelt, Cleopatra, Elizabeth I, that's the kind of company I want to keep."
Check out the trailer of "Political Animals," debuting July 2012, below.
Teresa Giudice Might Have Some Regrets About Joining 'Housewives'
Author: Alex Moaba
When the hosts of "Fox & Friends" (weekdays, 6 a.m. ET on Fox News) asked "Real Housewives of New Jersey" star Teresa Giudice if she had any regrets about joining the reality show, she took a telling pause before answering.
"You know what? Of course, being on TV, there's good and bad," Giudice replied, before awkwardly trying to segue back to her new cookbook, "Fabulicious Fast & Fit."
Giudice also defended her husband Joe from allegations that he's been too aggressive and combative with the other people on the show this season, particularly the Gorga family. "He's sticking up for me, the poor guy. Usually he always stayed out of it, but now, it's like, it's bothering him. Especially because it's out there in America," she said.
TV Replay scours the vast television landscape to find the most interesting, amusing, and, on a good day, amazing moments, and delivers them right to your browser.
Five Reasons Jennifer Lopez Is Having The Best Week Ever
Author: The Huffington Post
Jennifer Lopez is used to being on top of the world, and this week was no exception. From fashion to a Forbes magazine ranking, here are 5 reasons the Puerto Rican superstar is having the best week ever!
1). She's The Most Powerful Celeb In The World: Forbes just announced its annual list of the 100 Most Powerful Celebrities and wouldn't you know it—our girl J.Lo made the list at number one. Lopez beat out Oprah, Rihanna, Justin Bieber, Lady Gaga and Kim Kardashian for the top slot. Even more impressive than her number one ranking is the fact that last year, Forbes ranked Lopez 50th on the same list. Way to go, J.Lo!
2). She's 'Expecting' More Good News: For the first time in years, one of J.Lo's movies has everyone talking. Promotions for "What To Expect When You're Expecting," which premieres in theaters nationwide tomorrow, are everywhere . (The ad avalanche may help the film do quite well at the box office). Plus, Jennifer looked all kinds of fierce at the film's premiere earlier this week!
3). She Looks Great In A Swimsuit: This week, Vogue released a new fashion spread featuring Lopez, 42, in five sexy designer swimsuits. One word: WOW!
4). They Like her...They "REALLY" Like Her: Amid reports that Jennifer will not be returning to "American Idol" next season, Idol producer Nigel Lythgoe told TMZ he really wants Lopez to return to the show. "We want her back. I want her back," he said.
5). She's Sexy And She Knows It: On Thursday, J.Lo performed her new song "Dance Again," on "American Idol," and it was hot, hot, hot! Check it out here!
MORE PHOTOS OF J.LO
John Travolta's Second Accuser Hires Gloria Allred Amidst Flurry Of New Allegations
Author: Curtis M. Wong
High-profile attorney Gloria Allred is now set to represent two of the alleged victims to come forward with claims they were sexually harassed by John Travolta.
TMZ reports that Allred is now representing John Doe #2, the second of two anonymous masseurs to charge Travolta with sexual battery and assault, but notes "it's unclear exactly what Allred is doing with him."
The news comes one day after Allred confirmed she'd taken on the case of John Doe #1, who is described in court documents simply as a Texas-based masseur. Late last week, John Doe #1 was dropped by his legal counsel, Los Angeles-based attorney Okorie Okorocha, after the alleged victim revealed he'd gotten the date of his supposed encounter with the "Pulp Fiction" star wrong when filing suit.
As TMZ reported earlier, John Doe #2 -- said to be a masseur at an undisclosed Atlanta-based resort -- followed suit by firing Okorocha, and announcing plans to dismiss the original case. Okorocha, who previously suggested that there were other alleged victims seeking to bring cases against Travolta, is quoted by the site as saying he didn't know why his second client called it quits.
"We believe that the lawsuit should be filed in another court and, therefore, the lawsuit was dismissed without prejudice," Allred is quoted by TMZ as saying. "We will be conferring with our client regarding what will happen next in this case."
Both John Doe #1 and John Doe #2 had reportedly been seeking $2 million in damages.
Unfortunately for Travolta, the Allred news arrives the same day as a National Enquirer report, which claims the actor once tried to perform oral sex on a sleeping Jeff Conaway, his co-star in the 1978 classic "Grease," who died in 2011. (That report is not available online, but has been excerpted byThe New York Post).
"Jeff told me that John and Kelly’s marriage was an arrangement," Conaway's former fiancée, Vikki Lizzi, is quoted by the Post as saying. "Jeff said that Kelly knows that John is gay, and that’s why she’s OK with it."
The Enquirer also apparently cites another massage therapist, Luis Gonzalez, who claims to have willingly had sex with Travolta at the Ritz-Carlton hotel in Laguna Niguel, Calif. after giving the actor a massage in 1997. "He’s a great kisser,” Gonzalez gushed to the publication. "Travolta may not identify himself as a gay man, but it doesn’t dismiss the fact that he likes sex with men... and he’s experienced at it. I know because I had sex with him, and he loved it."
Meanwhile, Travolta's attorney Marty Singer blasted the fresh round of allegations. "This spate of recklessly published tabloid stories is just part of a malicious tabloid agenda to boost lagging sales by running outrageous defamatory stories about my client sourced by people seeking notoriety or a payday," he told to E! Online.
Allred, of course, is no stranger to high-profile clients. Among those who've sought her legal advice are transgender beauty queen Jenna Talackova, who was initially disqualified from the Miss Universe pageant, Melanie "Scary Spice" Brown, Britney Spears' former bodyguard and Scott Peterson's mistress Ambey Frey.
Take a look at some of Allred's best-known cases below:
Howard Barbanel: The Last Dance: Donna Summer (1948-2012)
Author: Howard Barbanel
A couple on months ago, I read the following advice inscribed inside a fortune cookie: "Whatever you want to do, do it. There are only so many tomorrows." For Donna Summer, the Queen of Disco, Thursday was the last dance as she unfortunately passed from this earth far too young, at just 63, apparently of lung cancer.
Summer set the worlds of dance and pop ablaze in the 70s and 80s -- at one time having three consecutive LPs hit number one and she was the first female pop artist with four number one singles in a 13 month period.
The early to mid 70s saw the birth of disco, which has since morphed into several categories of dance music -- dance dominates the Top 40 even today. We may take that for granted now, but in the mid 70s we lived in a Rock and Roll world. Disco wedged its way in through the cracks of wall to wall rock and the fading embers of Motown and soul. The country was in transition from the Nixon-Ford/Watergate/Vietnam years to the hyper-inflationary era of Jimmy Carter "malaise," and disco seemed like a beacon of light through the endless miasma of the 70s.
Summer was second only to Madonna in dance hits and output -- scoring 19 number one dance hits and was one of the two "divas" that defined the era -- paving the way for the likes of Whitney Houston (who also tragically died this year) and Mariah Carey. Summer's songs peppered the soundtracks of iconic films of the time such as Flashdance and Fast Times at Ridgemont High. She was honored with five Grammy awards and another 12 nominations.
She broke on the scene with "Love to Love You Baby" in 1975, the long version of which practically invented the single-song LP. Other big hits included "I Feel Love," "Last Dance," her dance cover of "MacArthur Park" "Heaven Knows," "Hot Stuff," "Bad Girls," "No More Tears (Enough is Enough)," "On the Radio," "She Works Hard for the Money" and even "Unconditional Love" (with Musical Youth). This is just a smattering of her output over a fecund and prolific 35-year career.
Her brightest lights in the music firmament were the eight years between 1975 and 1982 after which her time and prime seemed to be usurped by The Material Girl but regardless of hit production, her songs dominated the dance floors from discos to bar mitzvahs well into the new millennium and her tracks were all "on the radio" without interruption.
It's hard to imagine that Summer was a mother of three and a grandmother of four as the image of her by most people is perpetually as the hot young disco diva surrounded by the swirl of endless particles of light reflected and refracted off that whirling ball suspended from the ceiling.
For people now in their 50s, Summer was a meme of onetime youth -- one which is slipping inexorably away as we now find ourselves attending not our friends' weddings but rather, those of their children. The march of time waits for and spares no one. Money, power and fame are no guarantors of a long life. Just ask Steve Jobs, Davey Jones or the aforementioned Whitney Houston. Waistlines expand, hair recedes, knees ache a bit and dancing is now confined to private moments in one's bedroom or den, just as it was when we were teenagers.
Donna Summer worked hard for the money and overall she was treated right. But heaven knows it's not the way it should be -- she should have lived a much longer life but no one can say that she frittered away or squandered her time here. All she asked "is that you dance with me," and dance we did. Donna Summer, the voice of an era, gone at 63.
Author: Michael Vazquez
Exactly three weeks from my favorite festival, herewith, a scrapbook of old clips and thoughts from Bonnaroos past. As always, ignore all typos. NUDITY ALERT: PAINTED NIPPLES
CRYSTAL CASTLES, BONNAROO 2009
My microphone got kicked off my camera during the first of several stage dives, hence the dense audio... The fearless AG made it through these waves safely, but broke her ankle onstage in Tokyo a year later, which led to her gamely hitting subsequent gigs in crutches.
All of which makes the effort by a fan who reached up to hoist her aboard the good ship Bonnaroo for a quick crowd-surf on her fifth dive (of about a half-dozen) during this dynamite set, all the more poetic (and prescient), as said fan's arm was in a major cast. I adore the girl who is heard (during the end credits) after a particularly swirly group effort, testifying "So much B.O. SO MUCH B.O.!" Yes, in darkness our senses are heightened, making for a particularly memorable Tennessee night, which had her fellow concert-goer, right next to her, also emerging afresh from the human current-stir, hooting: "Oh My God! We are SO FUCKIN' LUCKY!" Perhaps this is the tale of fate they'll share with their progeny...
MGMT, BONNAROO 2008
Taking the first of two victory-laps, here's MGMT at ROO '08 playing a Thursday night set from which they would graduate to play the What Stage a year later, in a scene which became a total festival hang-out, capping off a wild year between 'Roo appearences. But before MGM's big adventure in the music biz went really wild, here they are proving again that on festival time, Thursday is the new Friday. The mighty Battles were also part of this line-up and they are one of the bands I am most looking forward to seeing this year, along with the legendary Bad Brains, who I last filmed during the final days of CBGB.
DAVID BYRNE BONNAROO 2009
DB is one of the few cats who could seriously challenge the late, great Ian Curtis to a spazzy dance-off. Byrne has also been known to argue with meat-headed security (not at Bonnaroo) about them stopping folks in the audience from shooting. Beautiful set, 'nice moves, here's two songs from Bonnaroo's fort ever artist in residence. "Life During Wartime" oddly reminds me of my post-collegiate self living on the Lower East Side in the late 80s, selling art on St. Mark's and not being able to walk home down Avenue A because of police clashes with squatters which culminated with a tank appearing in the Lower East side. I had met a really cool New Zealander chick from one of the squats, she hand-painted bras. I looked her up years later and she was doing okay, but things were never the same in my hometown again, as the gentrification that folks have bemoaned for generations really kicked in, irreversibly.
NEON INDIAN, BONNAROO 2010... NIPPLES ALERT!
'Always clutch, the way Bonnaroo uniquely curates the classic with the contemporary in THAT TENT (that's its proper name): Phoenix, MGMT, Dirty Projectors, Santigold, MIA, Sigur Ros, along with stone cold legends, like the late great Solomon Burke (to whom Jagger did a tribute at the 2010 Grammys) Elvis Costello, Patti Smith, Kris Kristofferson have played my favorite stage at any festival anywhere... you could just spend the day @ THAT TENT and be straight.
MIA, BONNAROO 2008
Here's an '08 flashback including my thoughts at the time on a controversial New York Times story on MIA. As an editor at URB mag (which is not in print anymore), we had done several cover stories on MIA, who I'd first heard in a sweaty basement at a Fader magazine party in Miami where it was interesting to see the crowd's reaction to her; one could easily guess she was going to be a star, as it were.
"This is my last show evaah, and I'm glad I'm spending it with all my hippies... I'm leaving on a peaceful note, alright?" Must be MIA @ Bonnaroo, circa 2008...This particular show found her on the verge of deportation and about to announce a pregnancy, which makes a very nice visual metaphor out of the smiley beach ball she carried against her belly, as the lights flood through, but I digress...Hearing her sing the words "you got the people? you got the power!" reminded me of hearing Patti Smith just a few years earlier singing "People Have the Power" in this same tent (where I've had more favorite Bonnaroo moments than any other tent.) That Patti Smith show also saw the largest quotient of bared breasts I've ever seen at a festival...funny to see a frat dude look at a topless radical lesbian...anyway, I kinda could make the comparison (if that's what writers do to occupy space) twixt Smith and MIA...both were called out by some for comments they'd made, both were hated on by highly presumptuous folks espousing bogus arguments about musicianship, and hell, both had relationships with powerful/famous men. And both, no matter what went down in the press, had audiences who'd fully bonded with their music in very personal ways, as manifested here by the deafening extra-distorted roar of the crowd.
Thinking of Patti Smith during the people/power chorus also got me thinking of how MIA's day-glow green-orange was a kind of tribal remix of The Pistols' sherb 'n lime, and how she is in that tradition of British art college hustlers fostering an at-times contradictory sense of rebellion while getting funky and utilizing a pop culture context to out the contradictions on our planet which are always worth pointing out, be they within religion or corporate geopolitics...
And by way of revisiting a subject that was visited much tho perhaps not examined completely: if the New York Times waited a year to discuss what they clearly see as contradictions within MIA's identity and public speech and aesthetic, why would they, when getting their subject live and direct, choose to employ a base, "fly-on-the-wall" journalism which is best described in the eminently worthy compilation of literary journalism The Art Of Fact, as potentially "heavy-handed and it can be deadly dull, as countless practitioners have demonstrated." -- why not instead ask directly about whether the artist feels any inherent conflicts between their own circumstances and the circumstances of others about which they speak publicly? I mean even if it had only occurred to the writer during the interview to ask the question, she should have asked it, and in doing so, created a forum, rather than a caricature of both writer and subject. Otherwise what's the point?
By way of two hypotheticals:
So Mr. Machiavelli, your book is a bracing examination of the attainment, conservation, and preservation of power; it's almost, well, apolitical to coin a phrase -- but how do you reckon its nearly clinical analysis, with your gushing, almost sycophantic dedication to Mr. de' Medici?
OR:
So, Mr. Basquait, how do you feel you've remained true to the spirit of the streets and of your New York experience, while finding yourself in increasingly in circles ever more removed from those origins?
Anyway, I would've loved to read an interesting conversation with MIA. Maybe next time. For now here's video from two Bonnaroos ago. In the first clip she announces a retirement from the live show, and an imminent deportation; the second clip is really the first, when she takes the stage...both clips are shot in a single winding take with deafening audio and edit-free save for a slo-mo and the opening announcement which is from actually from later in the clip...
PHOENIX, BONNAROO 2010
As the band build momentum with "Love Like A Sunset, Part 1" which they perform herein with a rolling Feelies-ish tone that makes for a nice variation on the album version, the lead singer, who looks kinda like Monty Python's Eric, lays Idle, throbbing under the red light, glowing like an ember in the Tennessee night -- the stage is actually thumping wildly because of the hard stomping of musicians keeping time amidst the chaos that is life onstage.
Ultimately he rises like a, uh, Phoenix and "Love Like A Sunset, Part 2" feels more like a midnight sunrise, marking the dawn of a beautiful new day right in the middle of the night...When they hit their stride on "1901", all those chiming guitars needed were some sleigh bells and it woulda been Christmas under that Tennessee moon, albeit with a rail-thin Santa Claus, wading into the crowd with a reprise of the "falling, falling" chorus, capping off a brilliant set which proved once again that anything is possible on this stage -- make it That Stage, where I've filmed some of my very favorite shows at Bonnaroo over the years...there are just some places where magic happens and That Stage at Bonnaroo is a place I'm sure I'll leave a few ghosts.
Talking to folks in the crowd, I was surprised at how many persons who love the new Phoenix album hadn't heard the first, which remains for this fan a stone cold classic -- their repeat to form on this third LP has made for one of the nicer musical moments of 2009...I gotta give it up to them for staying on the case.
ERYKAH BADU, BONNAROO 2009
Erykah Badu taking one of the biggest festival stages on the planet, filmed by DG Loral.
This is the only show in this posting that I did not shoot, and it is one of my all-time favorite Bonnaroo clips. From the second she came out onstage, Badu owned the crowd in a way that few performers do at any festivo, and with a genuine, live musicianship -- that voice -- that puts you in the moment, in a state of grace. I'll always brag about he fact that I'm the guy who told her, at about 3 a.m. many moons ago during an interview at Jimi Hendrix's old studio, that she should play Bonnaroo...and she did, and this was a legendary show on WHAT STAGE (that's its proper name) -- we're talking about the biggest stage 'Roo has -- and by definition one of the biggest festival stages in the world.
You can watch my prior Bonnaroo Flashback with Led Zeppelin's Joh Paul Jones, Ben Harper and The Roots' ?uestlove HERE
More information on Bonnaroo 2012 which takes place from June 7 to June 10, can be found HERE
FLORENCE & THE MACHINE, BONNAROO 2011
I'll end this with a favorite from last year... I'd filmed Flo several times before -- and since -- this, her Bonnaroo debut, which was also the first date of her breakthrough U.S. tour, and it remains the most vital set I've ever seen by her and her crew.
Daniel J. Schultz: 'Weight of the Nation': To Win, We Have to Lose
Author: Daniel J. Schultz
As a child, I once overheard my grandma discussing how big I had gotten - and she wasn't referring to my height. In high school, I would get winded trying to run even a half of a mile, and remained dance-less at my sophomore Valentine's Day dance. I often turned to junk food to help fill emotional stresses and social vacancies. My parents, like many, did not know what to do or how to improve my health. I was a product of our obesity epidemic. At the age of 16, I reached my peak weight of 250 pounds and was in the obese category for BMI at 33.9 .
HBO and the Institute of Medicine (IOM), in association with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) have partnered to create an important new documentary entitled The Weight of the Nation. The four-part series, which started the 14th of May, delves into the obesity issue by focusing on: Consequences, Choices, Children in Crisis, and Challenges. Each section explores different aspects of the obesity epidemic and various implications and solutions.
The Weight of the Nation helps to put human faces and stories to the familiar striking statistics from the CDC, NIH, and IOM. I related to the discussion of the desperation of searching for a diet that works, the biological and physical forces working against maintaining weight loss, and the struggle of growing up in a toxic food environment.
"You've got to start somewhere" is a quote from The Weight of the Nation that brought me back to the beginning of my own lifestyle change. Released over eight years since my journey began to overcome obesity, The Weight of the Nation beautifully encapsulates all the biological, environmental, and economic variables that promoted my own obesity, as well as breaking down the answers and solutions that helped me lose and maintain my weight loss.
At age 16, I vowed to myself that I would change and live the life that I wanted to have. I started small by doing what I knew at the time. I gave up soda and other sweetened beverages, started running and exercising almost everyday and stopped eating at fast food restaurants. Through these small steps I began to see results and it encouraged me to continue on this path. By the beginning of my senior year of high school, I had lost 65 pounds. It's now been six years since then and I have maintained my weight and have expanded my lifestyle with running, completing six half-marathons and one full marathon. The solutions mentioned in The Weight of the Nation for weight-loss maintenance align perfectly with what helped me begin (and continue) my lifelong lifestyle change.
There are many heartbreaking statistics highlighted throughout the film, but one that struck me the most was in the "children in crisis" section. The Bogalusa Heart study found that "77% of... participants who were obese as children remain obese as adults." This is why the new, national, non-profit program that I'm now serving for -- FoodCorps -- is so vitally important.
The Weight of the Nation demonstrated that issues with childhood obesity are caused in part by a lack of nutrition education, school food lunches that look like something you would order at a mall food court, the overwhelming access to nutrient-poor foods everywhere you go in our society, and how video games and computers have replaced afterschool organized sports.
FoodCorps aims to help change this toxic environment through teaching nutrition education through hands-on activities; building and tending school gardens; and providing healthy and wholesome food from local farmers for school lunches. All across the country, FoodCorps service members are running afterschool cooking and gardening programs, connecting local farmers to their school food district and building gardens to encourage their students to eat their vegetables. I know the struggle and challenges that are involved with losing and maintaining weight and the emotional and health consequences that can come from childhood obesity. FoodCorps knows how important it is to start children off on the right foot with a healthy relationship to their food.
The Weight of the Nation encapsulates all the issues that are challenging our nation as a whole and comes to the plate with helpful solutions for our obesity epidemic. I believe just like with other public health campaigns of the past we can change and The Weight of the Nation is an important film to help encourage success and long-lasting maintenance against this obesity epidemic.
Judge Gives 'Spider-Man' Stuntman A Boost
Author: AP
NEW YORK — Producers of Broadway's "Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark" were ordered Thursday to turn over any relevant information to a stuntman who claims he suffered a concussion, whiplash and two holes in his knees while performing as the comic book hero.
Justice Ellen M. Coin of State Supreme Court in Manhattan granted Richard Kobak's request that 8 Legged Productions, the producers of the $75 million show, hand over any memos, emails or any other evidence as he weighs pursuing a negligence lawsuit.
A spokesman for the producers did not immediately return a request for comment.
The stuntman's lawsuit is but one piece of unfinished business from the past that still hangs around a production that has turned the corner and this week welcomed its 1 millionth audience member. The show, which routinely makes more than $1.2 million a week, has become one of Broadway's top earners and won two Tony Award nominations, for best scenic design and costume.
Kobak, who was one of multiple actors playing Spider-Man on stage from December 2010 to April 2011, claims he suffered the leg injuries in 2010 while filling in for another injured stuntman at the most expensive show in Broadway history.
He alleges that the rigging he used for the show's aerial acrobatics wasn't recalibrated for him and, as a result, he made 70 hard landings on stage during performances and rehearsals. He says the hard landings created a 1.4-millimeter hole in his right knee and a 9-millimeter hole in his left knee.
He also alleges that a computer program controlling one of his jumps from a balcony sent him flying into a wall on April 5, 2011. He says he suffered two herniated discs, whiplash and a concussion.
Kobak's court papers seek memos, emails or any other evidence about the computer program and the equipment, copies of accident reports prepared by producers and any other relevant papers to "determine if there is a viable claim."
During the production's rocky start, several accidents marred performances. One actor, Christopher Tierney, suffered a fractured skull, a fractured shoulder blade, four broken ribs and three broken vertebrae during a fall on Dec. 20, 2010.
In November, fired director Julie Taymor slapped the producers – led by Michael Cohl and Jeremiah J. Harris – as well as Glen Berger, her former co-book writer, with a federal copyright infringement lawsuit, alleging they violated her creative rights and haven't compensated her for the work she put into the $75 million show. In January, the producers filed a counterclaim asserting the copyright claims are baseless.
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Online:
http://spidermanonbroadway.marvel.com
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Follow Mark Kennedy on Twitter at http://twitter.com/KennedyTwits
REPLY ALL: Michael J. Fox On His Worst Fear, The Best Advice He's Received, And His Secret Dream
Author: Jessy Whitehead
Marlo Thomas checks in with the beloved TV and movie star turned philanthropist.
If you could write a personal slogan that you live by, what would it be?
If you focus on the worst case scenario—and it happens—then you’ve lived it twice.
If you hadn’t become what you are now, what would your fallback profession have been?
I like to think I’d be a high school teacher. English and/or drama
What profession or job would you never want to do?
Mortician
How would you describe yourself in high school?
Five feet tall with my head in the clouds
Who or what always makes you laugh?
Esmé, our youngest
What is your greatest fear?
Being separated from my family at a moment of crisis
What gives you goosebumps?
A perfect acting performance—Meryl Streep in "Sophie’s Choice"—Jack Nicholson in "Chinatown"
What's the most useless piece of advice you've ever received?
Golf instructors have told me repeatedly "stay still over the ball".
What is always by your bedside?
One novel and one non-fiction book
What gets you out of bed in the morning?
Seeing Tracy, the kids and the dogs
Name three films you love.
"Local Hero"
"Chinatown"
"Breaking Away"
What are you obsessed with?
"Staying still over the ball"
Which of the seven deadly sins is your favorite?
Have to be LUST
What is always in your refrigerator?
HP (English brown sauce)
What makes you want to throw the remote at your TV set?
Fox news
What do you find sexy? What turns you on?
My wife on the beach…and not on the beach
What is the sexiest thing about you?
I don’t know…my chi?
What do you remember most about your first kiss?
In the woods by the school, fifth grade, S.M., long silky black hair—terrifying
What’s the most embarrassing thing that ever happened to you?
Sitting next to Princess Diana at the Royal Premiere of Back to the Future—and having to pee the whole time
If you were a stripper, what would you choose for your stage name?
Mike Fox.
What specific food will you never, ever, develop a taste for?
Watermelon.
What would really surprise people to know about you?
I’m an introvert
What is your secret dream?
To visit the 7 wonders of the world
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Weekly NewsletterMunira Syeda: The Dictator Misses the Point
Author: Munira Syeda
The Dictator is nothing more than silly comedy with crude sexual content and a regurgitation of a century old anti-Muslim depictions.
In my community advocate role of liaising with the entertainment industry, I attended an advanced screening of the new Sasha Baron Cohen film earlier in the week. Afterward, I was glad I saved myself 12 bucks and a trip to the theater.
Following the historic Arab spring, Cohen makes a film about the ever-despised Middle Eastern dictators. But he damages any noble attempt to expose these tyrants by generously incorporating anti-Muslim stereotypes into the script: the Arab culture is presented as uncivilized, violence-prone and denigrating toward women; and the Arab people are portrayed as camel-jockeys and Jew haters.
An opportunist, Cohen also bashes Asians and feminists, and disrespects a dead body in his film. But he largely depends on simplistic and shallow anti-Muslim and anti-Arab depictions (rivaled only by the crude sexual imagery), to sell his latest entertainment product to audiences.
Prior to the film's release, The Dictator scored a 67 percent on Rotten Tomatoes (The Hunger Games scored 84 percent in comparison).
Now, I understand... some in Hollywood go straight for the shock value. Others rely on the tired ethnic stereotypes for material. In The Dictator, Cohen depends on both (one film reviewer called him the "antithesis" of Charlie Chaplin).
But, isn't it possible to be entertaining, humorous and intelligent all at the same time? We appreciate thought-provoking, envelope-pushing entertainment; Muslim and Arab communities are not above that.
"The media can be an instrument of change: it can maintain the status quo and reflect the views of the society or it can, hopefully, awaken people and change minds," the widely respected Katie Couric said. I agree 100 percent.
However, kindly spare us the racist stereotypes and the absurd 9/11 jokes (my community will be quick to point out that we were doubly attacked on 9/11, first as Americans, and second when we suffered considerable backlash as American Muslims).
I'm not looking to a Brit to make American Muslims and Arabs look more attractive on U.S. screens. An emerging crop of Muslim writers, comedians and filmmakers has been tackling that challenge in recent years, and quite impressively.
Instead, I aim to challenge any writers and directors dying to incorporate Muslim/Arab images into their material by helping get their creative juices flowing. In an effort to be helpful, here are some examples of success on the tube.
*The Daily Show with Jon Stewart
* The Simpsons "Mypods and Boomsticks" episode
* Little Mosque on the Prairie (Canadian production)
True creativity is difficult precisely because it requires discarding the craving for quick box office hits and adding credits to one's name in favor of intelligent, imaginative content.
In the case of two great recent films The Help and Avatar (yes, different genre but the principle applies here nonetheless), such conviction paid off with huge dividends.
So, whether you head for the theater, wait for your DVD to arrive in the mail, or decide to opt for something else entirely is your decision.
But, I would like to hear from you. What are your thoughts on The Dictator?
'Nikita' Finale: Maggie Q & Shane West Talk Deaths & Big Decisions
Author: Jaimie Etkin
The season finale for The CW's "Nikita" (Fridays at 8 p.m. ET) Season 2 airs on Friday and now that it's been announced that the series has been renewed for Season 3, the audience can simply enjoy the action-packed, suspense-filled final episode of Season 2.
At The CW upfronts presentation in New York on Thursday, "Nikita" stars Maggie Q and Shane West teased the finale, which will see "Team Nikita" banding together to take down Division, the oppressive black ops agency that trained them, and its ruthless director of operations, Percy, once and for all.
"There are gonna be a couple deaths and they're necessary to move forward," Q, who plays the title role, told HuffPost TV. "It's like death and rebirth. Nikita can't be reborn until she has some loss, so there's got to be some loss."
West, who plays Nikita's on-screen, on-again-off-again boyfriend Michael, joked to HuffPost TV, "I'm really trying to whet everyone's appetites as well, so maybe it's four deaths ... Maybe it's three. Maybe it's five. Maybe we all die."
The "Nikita" star teased the double death earlier this week, but can't say much more.
"I just don't want to say how close the characters are; if they're separated, if it's a hero and a villain, two heroes, two villains, or whatever it might be," West added. "I might get into exclusive trouble if I continue."
Still West did tell HuffPost TV that the Season 2 finale is even more exciting than last year's "wow"-worthy outing. "I think our Season 2 ender is not necessarily plot-wise the same as the ending of Season 1, but it is because we're closing a lot of doors and opening a lot of doors. And I think, with this ending, if we didn't get picked up and that was it, some of the fans would have been satisfied at least with the way that we ended the season because it could let you know what might happen to the characters in the future -- you may have to think of that on your own, you might have to imagine those things, but here's a good way to kind of finish it off. But if it's not -- and thankfully, it's not -- then it's a great opener. I'm actually a little more excited for Season 3 than I had been ever on the show -- because of this ending."
Despite his zipped lips, West did have a bit to say about what to expect. "With what's actually happening at the end of this year, it's 'Team Nikita' now -- it's these five or six people together and more of like how are they going to interact in the next year. I'm very excited to see what happens with Michael and Nikita as well, with their estranged relationship. It seems like they're back on, but I'm sure they'll be back off again next year."
So what exactly is West looking forward to in Season 3? "It's hard to say what I'm really excited for because it's pretty much the ending of Season 2 and it would give away too much," West said. "But it would be: What is their future going to be like, in the current situation that they're at? And I can't say exactly what that situation is yet, but there are plenty of awesome ways to go from it."
As for Nikita and her longtime nemesis, Percy, Q told HuffPost TV, expect a showdown. "I mean, there's gotta be. Those two have been at each other for two seasons. She is so sick of fighting him. She is so sick of running from him. So she genuinely is done with it."
What's to come for Nikita in Season 3? "People will see the finale and understand that she's kind of come full circle this season, which is nice, in a way," Q explained. "There's fear about the future for sure, regarding the very big decision she makes at the end of the finale. But at the same time, I'm excited for her to just be on a new journey. But she's going to be from what she's done in the first and second season."
Though it was a bit of a longshot for the series to even see a Season 3, Q knows there are many people to thank for the pick up, including the fans. "I've never experienced anything like this in my life. I've never been on television. This is my first show. I was shocked that I even got my own show," Q said with a laugh. "You just work on these relationships so hard. With the writers and everything, we're just trying to create something that will affect people and when it does, it's all kind of magic. You throw everything in a pot and you hope. You can have the best actors and the best storyline and the chemistry may not work. There's lots of factors involved. So somehow, this all kind of came together."
The season finale of "Nikita" airs Friday, May 18 at 8 p.m. ET on The CW.
Gregory Weinkauf: The Science Behind Battleship
Author: Gregory Weinkauf
Rihanna is quite good in her big-screen debut.
Now that I have your attention, this article is actually about the extraterrestrial concepts which inform the big new movie Battleship. For those three people in Borneo who've missed the marketing onslaught, let me give you a quick primer.
Battleship is based on the legendary Hasbro board game (indeed, targeting grids are played, and "peg"-like missiles imbed themselves in big grey navy boats). It's also the story of a youngish rapscallion (Taylor Kitsch, making Keanu look like Olivier) who joneses hard for a blonde hottie (Brooklyn Decker, blonde, hot). Seeking to impress her patriarchal Admiral dad (Liam Neeson, who could mumble the periodic table and I'd go twice), the husky-voiced ruffian takes charge of a besieged, very small fleet in Hawaii -- thus to combat extremely hostile space aliens with much larger and more devastating ships best described as giant rabid robotic leaping water panthers.
This is essentially a Michael Bay movie sans sillies (though directed by Peter Berg). Stuff blows up for two hours in so utterly rocking a manner that afterward you may have weird dreams about AC/DC being a primary component of volatile naval skirmishes. (And Rihanna, though limited to shouting one-liners -- "Mahalo, motherf-!" -- confidently presses those buttons to make things go boom.) Yet somehow, with Tom Morello's mega-guitar noodles atop everybody squinting and growling like Batman atop stunning ILM effects atop the loudest and most relentless movie explosions ever, this thing works. I was particularly impressed by the elder veterans and a disabled veteran (Gregory D. Gadson) striving on land and sea to combat their common alien foe -- even if the aliens do look and sound remarkably like Stone Temple Pilots in Iron Man suits.
It was this theme -- what do we really know about who's out there? -- which led me to Dr. Seth Shostak, a consultant on the movie whose day job as Senior Astronomer at the SETI Institute (Search for Extra-Terrestrial Intelligence) involves scanning space for signs and signals of anybody out there who might want to talk with us. Since those sorts of interviews could be a long way off, I spoke with the eminent and presumably human Dr. Shostak -- both before and after his screening of Battleship. He advocates all sorts of methods of searching, from optical and radio telescopes to training our focus on distant stars, lest alien construction fleets get busy around them. First I ask him where in the cosmos we'd be most likely to find intelligent alien life. "We don't know," he candidly replies. "Not yet.
"We do know now, it seems, according to results that have been published in the last month or so, that most stars have planets, but of course not all planets are suitable for life. A planet like Mercury, no matter how clever the aliens are, they're probably not going to eke out an existence on a planet like Mercury -- or for that matter, Neptune, or any of those. So we want to know how many of those planets are out there which are sort of like Earth, and where they are, and we're just beginning to learn that, thanks to the NASA Kepler telescope."
We discuss a term used in Battleship -- "Goldilocks planet" -- where "the porridge is just right" for life. And this leads to the notion that if there were life out there, would it resemble Hollywood aliens, friend or foe?
"We tend to imagine them as being anthropomorphic, that they sort of look like us, because in the movies they usually do," muses Shostak. "They're humanoid, but something terrible has happened to them, if you will, and they've had parts of their bodies replaced with things that look a little odd to us. But of course Hollywood is somewhat compelled to do that, because if they looked like bicycles or something like that, you wouldn't know how to relate to them. So for storytelling reasons, they assume that they'll look something like us. And there are some scientists who agree."
Shostak names Simon Conway Morris, of Cambridge University, who believes the human form to be optimal for a thinking being. Noting that, unlike Morris, he's not an evolutionary biologist, Shostak nonetheless politely disagrees: "All you have to do is go to the zoo, and look at what's there. And those are all Earthlings, those are all things that share a lot of our DNA, the fish, the snakes, and all, and they don't look like us."
I ask about inorganic intelligence. Like, for instance, are there free-roaming clouds of intelligent electrons? "There are clouds of electrons floating around, plenty of 'em!" he assures me. "Even in the Earth's atmosphere. But they're not particularly clever, because to be clever requires a certain degree of organization, and clouds of electrons are not very well organized."
Okay, this is a fun conversation. Shostak also probes the notion of intelligent clouds of gas, but leans toward the far likelier A.I., Artificial Intelligence. "We don't have that here on Earth yet, but there are plenty of people in plenty of places working on artificial intelligence, and while they haven't succeeded, they fully expect to succeed." He cheerfully continues with an eerie concept: "Now let's say that it takes another hundred years. Nobody knows, but you have to say that's really very interesting, because it means that from the point that we developed technology, within a few hundred years of that, we've invented thinking machines. And so if the aliens have done that too, then they've invented their own replacements, if you will. Or if not replacements, at least successors.
"So it could very well be -- and I think this is a very reasonable hypothesis -- that the majority of the intelligence in the cosmos is in fact not organic, it's artificial intelligence. Because once you invent that, then it can design its own successors, and do a much better job of i
t that we could. And beyond that, it's not stuck with Darwinian evolution anymore -- as we are. So it sounds to me like that's the way to go."
I turn us to the matter of Battleship's "Beacon project," which is the sort of thing against which Steven Hawking recently warned, i.e., deliberately transmitting messages into space, hoping to contact aliens. Shostak posits that the sort of alien this is likely to attract wouldn't be the cobbler who sits around back in Barcelona fixing shoes -- but rather the Conquistadors firmly bent on territorial conquest. "If aliens were to come to Earth," he suggests, "I would not be surprised if the ones you met would not be the friendly ones."
Hm. But have we sent such signals? He notes that as recently as 2008 (to celebrate their 50th birthday), NASA beamed the Beatles' "Across the Universe" out to Polaris, the North Star, 431 light years away. Do we expect anybody to sing along? "Who knows," laughs the astronomer, "maybe the aliens don't like the Beatles." Funny, as much as I love "Across the Universe," I'd say the aliens in Battleship would definitely lean Stones. Meanwhile, Dr. Shostak heads off to see the movie, and then our conversation resumes.
"It was pretty enjoyable, actually," he later opines. "You know, it's an action film, and it's not going to change my philosophy of life. But I have to say I enjoyed it." The scientist continues: "I'll be honest, when I saw the film tonight, it was the battle that interested me, more than the problem with the misbehaving young officer trying to date the Admiral's daughter. Those are stories we've seen many times. Whereas seeing the U.S. Navy take on the aliens, we've never seen that." As a veteran of digital animation himself (via DIGIMA, the company he founded in the Netherlands), he adds, "the visuals were pretty darned impressive."
We also discuss the diversity of the sailors. Shostak grew up in Arlington, Va., with the Pentagon a stone's throw away, amongst many government and military people. "There's a lot of variety in the characters being portrayed. And here we are at Pearl Harbor, and the Japanese are on our side. And you could say, 'Oh, isn't that trite, or clichéd?' -- but I'll tell you, the audience at this screening tonight, they cheered, not just at one spot in the film. They cheered and they applauded many times in the film." He notes, "My wife enjoyed the film, and she's not big on sci-fi."
Then we get down to the science of connecting with extraterrestrials. We have a few light laughs over highly serendipitous interstellar reception and radio waves made to look like bright blue triangulating laser beams, and Shostak gets frank: "I think it does handle a few things. Once again, it suggests that aliens could be anthropomorphic, they could look like us -- because these guys looked like guys out of a retirement home, with prickly goatees." The movie also closely paraphrases Hawking's warning: "Mind you, that has been debated in the SETI community, too: Is it safe to transmit? That's a legitimate issue, and it was certainly highlighted in the film."
Our discussion spans classic '50s sci-fi, the moon landings of the '60s and '70s, and the scuttling of manned Mars exploration in favor of "sending motorized skateboards to Mars." Shostak is an insightful fellow, and these topics prove bountiful, but we steer toward something more soulful: How does space exploration, and research in general, benefit our world which is already beset with so many problems?
"'Why are we spending money on this?' It seems so frivolous to some," explains Shostak. "So I have to answer that question fairly frequently. I think it is essential to do basic research -- you know, Europeans are spending five billion on finding the Higgs bozon; if you were to ask the next person you meet on the street what they think of the Higgs bozon, I'm sure it would be nothing.
"It's because of curiosity. And curiosity sounds like something that's very superficial: 'We can't afford curiosity. We have to deal with real social problems, or war and peace, or the climate,' or whatever. But the facts are that curiosity is, in the end, what saves us, every time. Because basic research always pays off, and if you don't do that, if you don't have that curiosity, that dynamism, then you're going to be like ancient Egypt -- which was a very static society for three thousand years. And in the end it was very fragile and vulnerable. The Greeks took it over, and then the Romans, because it was a static society.
"Even the government has reckoned that for every dollar they spend on NASA, the civilian economy eventually gets ten dollars back. It sounds to me like if you want to stimulate the economy, just put the whole federal budget into NASA: 'Get ten dollars back for each dollar!'"
Beats funneling it all into war machines, I offer. Unless of course scenarios like that of Battleship come our way. (I'd take that risk.)
We close on a chuckle over something Shostak firmly does not do, which is to confirm U.F.O. encounters. Apparently a third of the population of the U.S. believe that we have been visited (which the good Doctor does not believe), so I ask why so many of these flying saucers tend to find their way to this country specifically.
"They usually come to the American Southwest, you see," laughs Dr. Seth. "They really like the Tex-Mex cuisine."
Battleship opens this Friday across America.
Battleship photos courtesy of Universal Pictures.