Author: Heath Andrews

Oh, the fall season. As we mark the end of summer, we also usher in a new season of television. If there has been one constant over the last 47 years of tv, its been “Saturday Night Live.” The program itself is a perennial lynchpin of NBC’s line-up, with a ever-changing list of guest hosts and musical acts. And now, we know who’s kicking off season 48! The season premiere on October 1st will feature Miles Teller, fresh off his success in “Top Gun: Maverick.” If you can’t get Tom Cruise to appear, might as well get his co-star, right?…

It’s hard to imagine growing in a world that didn’t have some form of Scooby-Doo in it. The original cartoon premiered back in 1969 is still being re-ran, and it’s hard to count the number of spin-offs that have followed. There were subsequent direct-to-video animated films, like “Scooby-Doo on Zombie Island” (1998). You could easily argue the film helped reinvigorate the franchise, and ultimately led to 2002’s live-action “Scooby-Doo” feature film. It was later followed up with “Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed” in 2004. Maybe you have fond memories of these films, maybe you never watched them before. Either way, you’ll…

Mike Flanagan is Netflix’s hot hand in horror these days. Over the last couple years he’s brought to us his interpretation of Stephen King’s “Gerald’s Game” as well as an updated version of the Shirley Jackson classic, “The Haunting of Hill House.” In 2021 he created his own series “Midnight Mass” exclusively for the streaming platform. Now. we have a spookily substantive trailer for his next project, “The Midnight Club.” And unlike the too often, short, uninspiring teasers we tend to get, this one is two and a half minutes of chilling set-up. Best of all, it’s premiering soon. The…

Some of you reading this may be old enough to remember the cable channel Tech TV. It was around for only a few years, from 1998 to 2004. It eventually merged into G4, becoming G4tech TV, and eventually G4. Both networks were noteworthy for skewing towards younger adults ,and featuring programming that featured on technology, computers, video games, and the intersection of technology and life. (Also live-streaming from major events like SDCC.) Ultimately, G4 would meet its end in 2014 as a shell of its former self. The network was relaunched in 2021, much to the nostalgic delight of many.…

Cheating in competitive events is nothing new. The New England Patriots were accused of deflating footballs, Lance Armstrong admitted to doping his way to victory in the Tour de France. Even video game speedrunning has seen rampant cheating. Why then should the world of chess be immune to such chicanery and deception? Turns out, it’s not immune, and good golly are people allegedly going to great lengths to find ways to success. By “great lengths,” we mean using vibrating anal beads to signal which move to make. Hans Niemann is a 19 year old chess player who has very quickly…

There are a lot of upcoming films and television projects that we’ve kept our eyes on lately, all being adaptations of video games. Sony has been throwing everything they have at this kind of multi-media expansion with “The Last of Us,” “Twisted Metal,” and “Days Gone” all set to be either series or films. Also among these is “Gran Turismo,” Sony’s premiere driving simulation game, with “District 9” director Neill Blomkamp behind the wheel. While the film’s lead may seem like a bit of an odd casting choice, one could say that uh, “Stranger Things” have happened! “Hellboy” star David…

When the subject of modern horror classics gets brought up, one of the most frequently mentioned titles is “The Strangers.” The slasher elements and the story of a home invasion don’t make the movie as cerebral as something like “Midsommar” or “The VVitch,” but it doesn’t have to be. The fairly basic premise and atmosphere was enough to make it not only a surprise box-office success in 2008, but also a cult classic in the years since. While it did get a sequel 10-years later, it wasn’t nearly as well received, which seemed to put the property down for the…

When future generations look back on what we’ve done, they will no doubt see “Frasier” as the pinnacle of our accomplishments. Sure we did great things like invent Pilot G-2 pens, computers, the airplane, and Rice Krispies Treats- but none of them can really compare to the misadventures of Frasier Crane. You scoff at what I just wrote, but, it was the first sitcom to win five consecutive Emmy awards for Outstanding Comedy, and that feat has only been tied, never bested. Thanks to the wonders of technological advancement, you can finally see “Frasier” the way it was meant to…

If we have learned anything from the streaming wars, it’s that nothing is safe or sacred when it comes to networks and programs. 2022 has been a lot- mass cancellations at The CW, Warner Bros. Discovery trashing big things “for tax write-offs,” and the ups and downs for Netflix this year. In short, network and cable are wounded and/or dying depending on the particular network. Even with all of that having happened, sometimes we still get caught off guard. Such is the case with the latest news cabler SHOWTIME may be shutting down its streaming service, shifting its original content…

The “Halo” franchise has been what Microsoft built the Xbox brand upon. When games are called a “system seller,” there is no more definitive example of that than 2001’s, “Halo: Combat Evolved.” When original developer, Bungie, moved on from the franchise after Halo: Reach, 343 Industries was created to continue making games in the series, starting with Halo 4. Company founder Bonnie Ross is stepping down from her position as the head of the developer. The announcement of Ross’s departure came from her Twitter. Citing a family medical issue, she expressed her gratitude for being able to be a part…