Jul 19, 2008

Just Came Back From "The Dark Knight"

Wow.

Just . . . wow.

Too much to process right now. Review at The X Bridge this Monday . . . unless Cristobal forms down in the Carolinas crippling the interweb for yours truly.

Jul 17, 2008

The Force is Strong With The Emmys.

Today, nominations for the 60th annual Primetime Academy Awards were made. The complete list can be found here.

Among the notable animated highlights, both Star Wars-themed episodes of fan-favorite shows, Fox/[adult swim]'s Family Guy and [adult swim]'s Robot Chicken (I know Cartoon Network are livid about the main network's name is mentioned in the category instead of the block network, but a nomination's a nomination), were nominated for Outstanding Animated Program, but won't compete against each other. Family Guy is nominated in the category for shows an hour or more while Robot Chicken is in the category for shows under an hour. It must give Cartoon Network and TNT a little pause about the Clone Wars series coming next month (plus, the microseries is already a two-time Emmy winner). Also, Justice League: The New Frontier was nominated, which I believe is the first time an on-demand presentation is a nominee.

One last note. The Coca-Cola Super Bowl ad with floats of Underdog and Stewie Griffin "running" around town to grab a Coke also got nominated for Outstanding Commercial.

And here are the nominees (animation-related nominees in bold):

Outstanding Animated Program (for Programming Less Than One Hour)

Creature Comforts America • Don't Choke To Death, Please • CBS • Aardman Animations production in association with The Gotham Group

King Of The Hill • Death Picks Cotton • FOX • 20th Century Fox Television in association with 3 Arts Entertainment, Deedle-Dee Productions & Judgemental Films

Robot Chicken • Robot Chicken: Star Wars • Cartoon Network • ShadowMachine Films

SpongeBob SquarePants • Inmates of Summer / Two Faces of Squidward • Nickelodeon • Nickelodeon with United Plankton Pictures, Inc.

The Simpsons • Eternal Moonshine of the Simpson Mind • FOX • Gracie Films in association with 20th Century Fox

Outstanding Animated Program (for Programming One Hour or More)
Blue Harvest (Family Guy) • FOX • Fuzzy Door Productions in association with Fox Television Animation Studios

Imaginationland (South Park) • Comedy Central • Central Productions

Justice League: The New Frontier • Warner Bros. on demand • Warner Bros. Animation

Outstanding Special Class - Short-format Animated Programs

Camp Lazlo • Lazlo's First Crush • Cartoon Network • Cartoon Network Studios

Chowder • Burple Nurples • Cartoon Network • Cartoon Network Studios


Outstanding Commercial

Brother Of The Bride - Hallmark
PYTKA, Production Company
Leo Burnett, Ad Agency

Carrier Pigeons - FedEx
MJZ, Production Company
BBDO New York, Ad Agency

Delivery - Travelers
MJZ, Production Company
Fallon, Ad Agency


It's Mine - Coca Cola
MJZ, Production Company
Wieden + Kennedy, Ad Agency


Swear Jar - Bud Light
Hungry Man, Production Company
DDB Chicago, Ad Agency

Outstanding Original Music And Lyrics

Disney's Phineas And Ferb • Song: 'I Ain't Got No Rhythm' • Disney Channel • Walt Disney TV Animation in association with Disney Channel

Flight Of The Conchords • Song: 'The Most Beautiful Girl (In the Room)' • HBO • Dakota Pictures and Comedy Arts in association with HBO Entertainment

Flight Of The Conchords • Song: 'Inner City Pressure' • HBO • Dakota Pictures and Comedy Arts in association with HBO Entertainment

Jimmy Kimmel Live • Song: 'I'm F***ing Matt Damon' • ABC • Jackhole Industries in association with ABC Studios

MADtv • Song: 'Sad Fitty Cent' • FOX • Girl Group Company

Outstanding Music Composition For A Series (original Dramatic Score)

Family Guy • Lois Kills Stewie • FOX • Fuzzy Door Productions in association with Fox Television Animation Studios

House • Guardian Angels • FOX • Universal Media Studios in association with Heel and Toe Films, Shore Z Productions and Bad Hat Harry Productions

Little People, Big World • Roloff Road Trip: Grand Canyon • TLC • Gay Rosenthal Productions in association with TLC

Lost • The Constant • ABC • ABC Studios

Pushing Daisies • Pigeon • ABC • Living Dead Guy Productions, The Jinks/Cohen Company in association with Warner Bros. Television

The Simpsons • Treehouse of Horror XVIII • FOX • Gracie Films in association with 20th Century Fox

My early picks/who will probably win:

Outstanding Animated Program (less than 1hr):
Robot Chicken/The Simpsons - If Creature Comforts USA wins, that'll be an upset for sure, but Robot Chicken beating all the nominations would be a true upset. KOTH could be the spoiler in the end. A little ticked that Avatar couldn't at least get a nomination this year, but that's probably Nick's own fault. You know, delaying episodes could make people forget it's on. The Simpsons is a safe bet, but the episode nominated was actually a pretty innovative one this season.

Outstanding Animated Program (1hr or more):
Family Guy/South Park - I'm not picking JL because it wasn't on a traditional channel, but I would be happy if they won. More critical buzz has swarmed around the Imaginationland episode like flies around scat. Readers already know I'm not a South Park fan, so I'll say no more. However, I'd love for Blue Harvest to squash the smug arrogance of Trey and Matt just this once.

Outstanding Special Class - Animation Short:
Chowder/Chowder - It's a fan favorite. It's a critical favorite. Cartoon Network will be pushing for this show's win.

Jul 10, 2008

A Celebration and Murphy's Law

Today is July 10, 2008.

Ten years ago today, I launched The X Bridge.

I had uploaded a brand new layout, new articles, new sections, and other newness to the site. BUT, and this is a big but, my site's host, Toon Zone, went down. It's currently undergoing a server move. Still, the principle of Murphy's Law comes into being today. What can go wrong usually does.

The only day when it wasn't lightning and pouring down rain was today. The lightning returns later. Oh well. Stuff happens. And there is another day.

Still, it's not everyday your webpage turns 10. It's a rarity in this day and age of the blog. To all of you who had been a part of the readership over the last decade, I thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Check out The X Bridge . . . whenever the server move's complete. I hope you'll enjoy the changes.