Napoleon Dynamite - The Animated Series

If you've seen a little movie called Napoleon Dynamite and have worn a Vote for Pedro shirt at some point, you might be glad to know that there will be an ANIMATED series on FOX in 2012. 

I have no idea what took so long for this to happen, but I think it just might work. Another bonus is that the original movie cast are also voicing their respective characters. Yay!

Here's a teaser trailer...

Creators/Executive Producers: Jared Hess, Jerusha Hess, Mike Scully

Voice Cast: Jon Heder as Napoleon Dynamite, Aaron Ruell as Kip, Efren Ramirez as Pedro, Tina Majorino as Deb, Sandy Martin as Grandma, Jon Gries as Uncle Rico, Diedrich Bader as Rex


Based on the hit film, NAPOLEON DYNAMITE is an animated series that follows the continuing adventures of America's most awesome awkward teenager and his quirky family and friends as they struggle to navigate small-town life in rural Idaho.

The original cast from the film -- Jon Heder, Aaron Ruell, Efren Ramirez, Tina Majorino, Sandy Martin, Jon Gries and Diedrich Bader -- will voice their characters in the series, and many new characters will be added along the way.

NAPOLEON DYNAMITE (Heder) is a 16-year-old boy convinced -- for no apparent reason -- that he is destined for greatness and blessed with unlimited "sweet abilities." He spends his days practicing ninja moves, drawing ligers, soul dancing and bragging about his "girlfriend in Oklahoma" whom nobody has ever seen. Napoleon's brother, KIP (Ruell), is an unemployed 32-year-old who lives at home and believes he would be an amazing catch for any girl who would respond to his online come-ons. The Dynamite brothers live with GRANDMA (Martin), a crusty woman who can often be found four-wheeling with her lady friends at the local sand dunes.

Napoleon's allies include PEDRO (Ramirez), his unflappable best friend who has recently been elected class president; and DEB (Majorino), an incredibly sweet girl who sees the good in Napoleon and dreams of someday being his wife. Napoleon's UNCLE RICO (Gries) lives out of an orange custom van, where he obsesses over his botched high school football career and dreams up ways to become rich and famous. Then there's REX KWON DO (Bader), a self-proclaimed martial-arts master who runs the local dojo.

Guest voices in the debut season include Jennifer Coolidge ("American Pie," "Legally Blonde"), Sam Rockwell ("Choke") and Jemaine Clement ("Flight of the Conchords").

NAPOLEON DYNAMITE is a 20th Century Fox Television production. The series is created and executive-produced by Jared Hess and Jerusha Hess ("Napoleon Dynamite," "Nacho Libre"), along with Emmy Award-winning writer/producer Mike Scully (THE SIMPSONS, "Everybody Loves Raymond," "Parks & Recreation"). The animation house is Rough Draft Studios ("Futurama," "The Simpsons Movie").

Watch Rocco's Dinner Party to Meet Rocco

If you're a fan of Rocco DiSpirito and have been following his TV career, you would know that he's got a new show on Bravo called Rocco's Dinner Party.

To celebrate Rocco's Dinner Party, there is a "Watch and Win" competition on Facebook where one winner and their guest will get to meet Rocco himself and also to assist him during the NYC Food & Wine Festival in October. Prizes include a round trip airfare for two, two nights hotel stay in New York, and not forgetting tickets to the festival itself.

To participate, just tune in to Rocco's Dinner Party on Wednesday nights 10PM ET/9C, and answer three weekly questions about the episode in question. The more questions you answer, the higher the chances of winning! The contest goes live July 20th.

To find out more about the contest, click here.

Sadly, for legal reasons, the Watch and Win contest is for US residents only.

Ted Danson on CSI?

REALLY?

Okay, that is one bit of casting news I did not expect. That might have more to do with me not having seen him in a more dramatic role like, EVER. I haven't really seen him on TV since Cheers and Becker, and yes I know he was on Damages.

Other news sources are saying that he'll be replacing Laurence Fishburne, but his character will be as the new grave yard shift supervisor, which most fans will know is what Marg Helgenberger's character Catharine Willows been doing since Grissom left, who is also on her way out.

Man, I really thought George Eads would be the new supervisor after Catharine - seriously. Huh. That sucks.

Related articles

• Fishburne not going back to CSI (mytv-rants.blogspot.com)
• 'CSI' Season 12 Casts Ted Danson To Replace Laurence Fishburne (screenrant.com)

The Mentalist and ANZ

Okay, I know full well that Simon Baker is an Australian actor who happens to make a living (at the moment) playing an American on an American TV show (The Mentalist), which he does reasonably well. (Even you have to admit, no actual American man would actually ACT like Patrick Jane in real life). 

But Patrick Jane, spokesperson for an Australian bank? Seriously? At least Simon Baker had some of his actual Aussie accent in the Samsung TV ads (debatable), but he's in full Mentalist get up in these ads - American acent and all - Does he know something we don't? Is The Mentalist coming to an end? Is that why he's doing this? Wouldn't ANZ need permission from the show's big wigs to use the Patrick Jane character in this manner?

Here's a few of those TV spots.

 From using the Samsung phone in the Samsung ad to an iPhone in this ad? Ouch.

 Does anyone else think the use of different accents in this spot a little weird? Where are they supposed to be - America, or Australia? It's so non-specific.

 Am I the only one who thinks the whole thing is a little odd? The video below thinks so too, haha.

Adios, Good Eats

I don't know how it took me so long to find out that my favourite long-running Food Network show, Good Eats, has come to an end 249 episodes and (about) 12 years later. Never mind that I only discovered the show myself only five years ago, but I believe I caught up since then. 

This does explain why they can confidently only put out 3 Good Eats books (Early Years, Middle Years and Later Years), the last instalment due out in a few months. 

But to be fair to Alton Brown - he has been doing the show for over 10 years and with him so busy with other stuff like Iron Chef America and what not, he might need to move on. Besides, Good Eats reruns will be on the Food Network forever. 

Goodbye, Good Eats - it's been great knowing ya. 

*off to buy the books now*

Hugh Laurie for L'Oreal

I know this is not exactly TV related, but as Hugh Laurie is still a TV star, so it counts.

I was floored when it was announced that he was going to be a L'Oreal spokesperson; I don't think I can watch any of his TV spots with a straight face, based on this video... 

I hope he was worth it, L'Oreal.

America's Next Great Restaurant no more

After the colossal waste of time that was America's Next Great Restaurant (which I'm glad will not be coming back for a second season), the winning concept restaurant Soul Daddy closed after a couple of months in the Mall of America outlet.

While I'm glad Saucy Balls didn't win, but I thought the Indian concept was the one to beat until he Chipotl-ise his idea... oh well.

(Source)

Related articles

• 'America's Next Great Restaurant' ... CLOSED!!!! (tmz.com)