The Middleman: The Pilot Episode Sanction (series premiere)
“I think Jughead’s a real hoot.” - Wendy Watson
From the beginning, I can tell this show is going to be pretty campy. That always tends to make me nervous. There are very few shows that can do camp and still be truly entertaining. I consider Batman to be one of those shows, although I know there are many who disagree. The corny looking mutant, the cheap special effects, the conversation about dating; all these things point straight towards camptown, but it’s only the first three minutes.
Generally, I am not a fan of shows with quickly spoken dialog. It reminds me of how great Bruce and Cybill did it on Moonlighting. However, when it’s done right, it not only sets a tone for the show but also gives the characters more freedom to have fun with the script. In the case of Middleman, I think it really works. Matt Keeslar and Natalie Morales have a nice rapport and their serious tone is a nice juxtaposition to the outrageous situations. One more point for the show.
One of my pet peeves in sci-fi or fantasy shows is when one of the characters can’t believe what they’re seeing. It’s really annoying when twenty minutes of the show is taken up by one character trying to convince the other that what they’re seeing is actually happening. On this show, it wasn’t even an issue. Not only did Wendy not question what she was being shown, she didn’t really seem to care. That was kind of neat.
I really liked the explanation of the title and how there really is no explanation for who’s in charge, but it was the homage to The Avengers that got me hooked. A montage that includes, fencing, kicking and doing the swim is the perfect recipe for a good, campy show.
It’s as if the producers heard me saying, “The only thing this show is missing is Mary Lynn Rajskub.” I really like the fact that most of the actors on this show are so unknown, even a pseudo-celebrity like Mary Lynn can stand out.
Another aspect of the show that I appreciate is the respect it pays to the graphic novel (aka comic book). Not only does the show use comics as the blueprint for how their world works (evil scientists and monsters trying to take over the world) but they also give plenty of shout outs (Wally West, Gorilla Grodd, Jughead). I love a show that knows how to reference pop culture without overdoing it.
There’s a real simplicity to this show that makes it a perfect fit for for ABC Family. It’s plenty wacky and funny enough for youngsters but the references are clearly aimed at their parents. I’ll have to watch an episode with my daughters first but The Middleman may be the first show on ABC Family that the three of us can actually enjoy together.
I’m not going to say that the show was brilliant or anything but I will admit that it was much better than I expected. There’s plenty of room for improvement but the first episode had more than enough to get me to tune in again.
Favreau Totally Blogs, Questions Iron Man II Date
So this is how it works in Hollywood, now? You direct a huge summer blockbuster, you get a greenlight on your sequel and then have to bitch about your bosses…on your MySpace page?
Iron Man director Jon Favreau has been deftly fielding fanboy questions on a MySpace forum this week and has also lobbed open complaints about the ambitious schedule laid out by Marvel execs. The April 2010 release date for Iron Man II doesn’t sit well with him, and here’s what he said:
“Neither Robert [Downey Jr.] nor I were consulted about this and we are both concerned about how realistic the date is,” he writes. “We owe it to the fans to have a great version of IM2 and, at this point, we would have less time to make it than the first one.”
See, after Iron Man’s huge debut this summer, Marvel announced a jam-packed lineup assembling the classic Avengers superhero team, including Thor (2010), Iron Man II (2010), Captain America (2011) and The Avengers (2011). Favreau says he’s keen on directing The Avengers, too, and feels he won’t have time. “It’s been five weeks,” he writes, “since the one and only phone call my reps have gotten from Marvel.”
Other revelations from the thread:
- Favreau has plans for classic baddie/martial-arts master The Mandarin: “[He is] Iron Man’s nemesis and will be incorporated in the sequel.” As will ironclad buddy War Machine.
- While Downey Jr., as Tony Stark, shows up in this week’s The Incredible Hulk, Favreau sees a Hulk cameo in Iron Man II.
- Longtime Iron Man geek Ghostface Killah shot a cameo for the film, and it should surface as an outtake on the DVD.
- Favreau liked the Hulk movie. “I saw it last night,” he writes, “and it was a lot of fun.”
So how will Marvel execs respond? We’re keeping on eye on their Facebook wall to find out…
Marvel Studios Too Cheap To Pay Jon Favreau For Iron Man 2?
UPDATE 06/11/08: Let’s just say that if you want Fav aboard for Iron Man 2, umm, it’s a good time to let Marvel know.
And everything was going so well! Today, Peter reported on director Jon Favreau’s moderately disconcerting statement to fans regarding Marvel Studios‘ proposed 2010 release date for Iron Man 2. In summary: Sounds like a rush-job, there’s no script, and like a shady GF/BF in the summer Marvel hasn’t called him in weeks! We haven’t speculated on the reasons for why Fav is not yet signed for a sequel, but after consulting with inside sources IESB just called out the studio for being cheap (and crazy).
“So bottom line, Jon Favreau has not been locked in to direct Iron Man 2 for the simple reason that Marvel is being cheap - this is 100% accurate folks, no bullshit.”
Bold statement. Their latest source (who is said to work for Marvel) says that Marvel Studios Chairman, David Maisel, believes that a sequel to the smash hit (and top 3 comic book movie all time imo) will be a huge success with another director, no big deal. So…is Fav asking for the world (and all its sushi and eight Jacuzzi limos)? Apparently not, he just wants a reasonable “bump” in his paycheck, the “regular standard director’s fee.”It’s well known that Fav, coming off the disappointment of the big budget Zathura, didn’t receive major moolah for the first film, so a bump would be common sense and totally warranted in most eyes.
It’s too early and the info is too vague to send the Net’s dark fanboy cloud to hover over Marvel, but Fav continues to go public, thereby sending out code to the studio, with his feelings about the situation. There’s already pro-Fav thunder in the Slashfilm comments. Marvel announced the release date for the sequel without consulting him, and they also revealed their intricate plans for The Avengers, a flick that Fav had expressed interest in directing, without his knowledge as well. One of the many enjoyable aspects of Iron Man was that it felt effortless, and the tonal balance—light but badass to speak plebe—was perfect. When one thinks Marvel Studios, one instantly thinks quality/summer fun because of Fav’s vision and labor. Why go against the grain? More as it develops…
Captain America To Be Set During World War II
Marvel Studios President of Production Kevin Feige revealed today that the Captain America movie will be a period film, set during World War II. I’ve never read any Captain America, but some of my friends who are really into the series have insisted that a WWII period setting would be the only way to do the story justice.
This basically confirms that Marvel will be sticking close to the original origin story which involved Steve Rogers volunteering to be a test subject in Operation: Rebirth, a top-secret defense project for the U.S. Army. Rogers took a Super-Soldier serum which altered his physiology, turning him into a “nearly perfect human being”. Unable to duplicate the process, the United States government turned Rogers into a superhero who served as “both a counter-intelligence agent and a propaganda symbol to counter Nazi Germany’s head of terrorist operations, the Red Skull.”
The First Avenger: Captain America (and not Captain America: The First Avenger, which sounds infinitely better) is scheduled to hit theaters in May 6th 2011, just weeks before Marvel’s superhero team-up film The Avengers hits screens in July. It’s assumed that the film will likely end with a cliffhanger. In the comic series The Avengers discovered Steve Rogers’ body in a block of ice in the North Atlantic years after his supposed death, and were able to revive him. It’s assumed that a similar situation will probably happen to bridge the two movies, especially considering that The Avengers takes place in modern day. But Feige promises that you won’t need to see any of the other films to understand The Avengers:
“Each of them have to stand on their own,” Feige said. “You won’t have to have seen any of the films to understand The Avengers… but it will help.”
Feige also confirmed that Matthew McConaughey is not in consideration for the film adaptation as was rumored on CinemaBlend weeks back. That should make fans happy. You can read more about Feige’s “State of the Marvel Address” on CHUD.