Dec. 1, 2020

Vader's Helmets Bogus Journey

Vader's Helmets Bogus Journey

On the sci-fi edition, The Darksaber is a toy that shouldn't be played with, Anson Mount wants to contact an ET, The FCC Chairman calls it quits and we remember Star Trek Producer Herb Solow and Darth Vader David Prowse All That and More on the scifi edition of Multiverse Tonight!


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Transcript

Tonight! The Darksaber is a bad toy, Anson Mount wants to hear from outer space, Ajit Pai goes bye and we remember Star Trek Producer Herb Solow and Darth Vader David Prowse All That and More on the scifi edition of Multiverse Tonight!


Hello and welcome to episode 104...



Star Wars’

The High  Republic series will feature at least one familiar face, Yoda, albeit one that’s a couple of hundred years younger. IDW released a preview of the much Younger Yoda in the first issue of Star Wars The High Republic Adventures number one, aboard a ship called The Star Hopper, taking some Padawans on a field tri[p, when the ship is called out on a rescue mission, Youda has to guide his students through the problem. The issue is written by Daniel Jose Older with art by Harvey Tolibao and colors by Rebecca Nalty and comes out in February.


The Force is with one Darth Vader helmet, the screen used helmet was recovered by police according to TMZ. Police arrested a 38-year old man for allegedly braking into JJ Abrams Bad Robot Productions building in Santa Monica California, the man made off with a pile of Star Wars memorabilia including a Stormtrooper helmet and the Vader helmet. Th eman was easy to find as he was pushing the stolen goods down the street in a shopping cart not far away. All of the items were returned to Bad Robot unharmed.


The Star Wars Rise of the Resistance ride has won an award from the Themed Entertainment Association. TEA said about the ride that it was quote the most technologically advanced theme park attraction in existence today… the entire attraction, from front to back, is one massive magic trick that leaves riders gobsmacked and represents the absolute pinnacle of how our industry can entertain an audience at a theme park.” unquote The ride win Florida has been opened with restrictions, but the California version has been closed as the State has kept Disneyland closed for most of 2020.


Hey Mandalorian producers, Anthony Daniels would like to speak with you. The C3P0 actor told comicbook.com that he would love to make an appearance on THe Mandalorian or any Star Wars show. The legendary actor said quote "I would like to appear in all of them," Daniels shared. "In all the new shows, I would like to appear in The Mandalorian... Dave Filoni should be listening to us now. You have to realize, there is something coming up before Christmas but I am not allowed to say anything about anything until it happens, okay? So, the fact that I was in a studio some months ago is a little surprising and Disney will be cutting off my feed any moment for even mentioning the word 'studio' and 'project,' but I haven't said what it is. So, that's for this year and who knows about next year. Stay tuned." unquote 


The Mandalorian Darksaber toy has found itself on a dubious list. Every year WATCH which stands for World Against Toys Causing Harm Inc. put out it’s 10 worst toys of 2020 list. ON the list this year is MArvel Avengers Vibranium Power FX Claw has rigid, plastic “power FX” claws, “inspired” by the famous comic book character, Black Panther, are sold for 5 year olds. The manufacturer includes a caution prohibiting “hit[ting] or swing[ing] at people or animals''.


The Calico critters Nursery Friends This set of cute “critters” is labeled for ages “3+” on the throw-away packaging, however “flocked animals”, regardless of labels, are appealing to oral-age children, as recognized by the industry small parts regulation. The Calico Critters collection includes small parts, such as a pacifier, with the potential for choking injuries.


Missile Launcher from Toysmith 5 year old children are advised to “GO! Launch” this “missile” with the provided slingshot-like launcher, and “watch it soar…up to 75 ft!” The warnings and cautions make no mention of potential for eye or facial injuries. Moreover, the act of initiating launch occurs near a child’s face, as depicted on the packaging.


Gloria Owl by Jellycat This cuddly, plush owl is sold for babies as young as 12 months old. Nevertheless, even the manufacturer recognizes the toy’s long, fiber-like hair may not be adequately rooted, and is prone to “shredding”. The hair, once separated, presents the potential for ingestion or aspiration injuries.


WWE Jumbo Superstar Fists These “jumbo” size fists are sold to enable 3 year old children to emulate pro wrestling “superstars”. No warnings or cautions are provided regarding the potential for blunt force or impact injuries.


Scientific Explorer SciFi Slime This ``supreme slime lab” is marketed for children to create “GLOBS of gross gloppy goop!”, further identified as “magnetic”, “atomic”, and other types of “slimes”. There are numerous warnings and cautions on the box, package inserts, and the included chemicals and ingredients. For example, the zinc sulfide pouch warns that its contents “[m]ay cause eye, skin, and respiratory irritation. Harmful if swallowed….”


The Original Boomerang Interactive Stunt UFO Children are encouraged to “PERFORM AMAZING STUNTS & TRICKS!” by “tossing” it into the air. Despite warning about potential propeller “damage”, the manufacturer urges users to play “catch” by “pass[ing] the UFO back and forth to friends….”


Boom City Racers Starter Pack The “BOOM CITY” race cars are sold with a ripcord “launcher” so children as young as 4 years old can use the “stunt set” to “RIP, RACE, [and] EXPLODE!” these miniature vehicles. The manufacturer provides numerous warnings and cautions, including not to aim at “eyes or face.”


My Sweet Love Lots to Love Babies Minis This “mini” baby comes with a feeding set, sold for 2 year olds as “[a]ccessories for doll use only”. The slender, rigid plastic spoon is approximately 2¾” long with the potential to be mouthed and occlude a child’s airway.


And the Star Wars Mandalorian Darksaber Young children are encouraged to “SWING FOR BATTLE….!” with this “ancient, black bladed lightsaber” made of rigid plastic, with the potential for facial and other impact injuries.



Star Trek

Strange New Worlds Captain Pike, Anson Mount is joining a real search for Alien Life. Mount has announced that he’s joining the board of METI which stands for Messaging Extraterrestrial Life. The international non profit research organization creates and transmits messages out into space searching for life on other planets. IN as statement Anson said quote "It is a distinct privilege to be asked to join the outstanding scientists, artists, and innovators that make up the METI team," Mount said in a statement. "I look forward to helping this organization expand its footprint in our cultural landscape and educate the general public about our endeavors to connect with extraterrestrial intelligence through scientific methods as we continue to grapple with the implications of this work. As a Starfleet Captain, it brings me unbridled joy to be able to say that I am actually sending out a hail." unquote METI is an extension of SETI, the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence..


Noah Hawley’s Star Trek movie won’t be happening anytime soon, the director told Deadline dot com in an interview. He told the site when asked if Star Trek was still in the cards at the new Emma Watts run Paramount and he said quote It doesn’t appear to be in my immediate future. I think when Emma came in, she took a look at the franchise and wanted to go in a different direction with it. But you know, life is long, we were very close to production but in this business that doesn’t mean much. You got to get out of the gate to be in the race if you know what I mean. unquote . I take that to mean, don’t hold your breath, Star Trek is probably going to be just a tv bound enterprise for the foreseeable future.




Sir Patrick Stewart and Eugene Rod Roddenberry have been honored by The Young Artist Academy. Patrick Stewart was given the Lifetime Achievement Award, which was presented by Johnathan Frakes, Rod Roddenberry and Sir Ian McKellan and Rod was honored with a Contribution to Science Award presented by George Takei, The Young Artist Academy is a non profit organization dedicated to educating, protecting and mentoring young artists in Hollywood. The virtual presentation is on Youtube.


ViacomCBS said this past Wednesday that it has agreed to sell book publisher Simon & Schuster to Penguin Random House for 2.175 billion in cash.  Simon and Shuster is home to authors like Steohen King , RL Stine, and Star Trek books for decades. Under the new ownership, Simon and Shuster will be run as a separate entity.


https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/viacomcbs-to-sell-simon-schuster-to-penguin-random-house-for-2-175b



Geek

Blade Runner will be getting an origin comic in a new series from Titan Comics. The comic series will be called Blade Runner Origins and will be set a decade before the events of the Ridley Scott movie.  The year is 2009 and LADP detective Cal is investigating the suspicious death of a scientiest insde teh Tyrell Corpotraion, which might not be the suicide it was reported as. 


The series is written by Mellow Brown , K Perkins and Mike Johnson with art by Fernando Dagnino. Daginino told the Hollywood Reporter quote "The cyber noir world developed in this masterpiece movie has forged my imagination ever since I was a kid,”. “As an artist I feel privileged to be expanding this dark and complex universe and honored to be part of its history, contributing, together with a fantastic team of creators, to imagine this unique prequel that will not only answer questions to the origins of the series, but also link — as any speculative sci-fi story should — with modern day conflicts and concerns." unquote Blade Runner Origins comes out in comic book stores and digital format on February twenty fourth.


FCC chairman Ajin Pai will be leaving when the new Biden administration takes office on january 20th. Pai has been on teh Federal Communication Commision since 2012, becoming chairman during teh Trump administration. Mr. Pai’s most controversial move during his term has been the scuttling of net neutrality rules, it’s expected that the new Democratic Majority on the commision will reinstate the rules.


John Barrowman will be returning to Doctor Who for this year's Christmas Special. Barrowman’s Captain Jack Harkness hasn’t been seen since Torchwood ended in 2011. Although he did make a brief appearance in Season twelves fifth episode, Fugitive of the Judoon. This year's special will be called Revolution of the Daleks and will see Captain Jack helping out the Thirteenth Doctor and her companions as they uncover a plan by the Daleks With The Doctor locked up in a space prison, it is up to Jack to save the Earth. In a statement John Barrowman said quote  “Putting on Jack’s coat and setting foot back on the set of ‘Doctor Who’ was just like going back home,” “It’s always thrilling to play Captain Jack. He’s a character very close to my heart who changed my life, and to know the fans love him as much as I do makes his return even sweeter. I hope everyone enjoys Jack’s heroic adventure with Thirteen.”


Director and screenwriter Chirs Columbus speaking with Collider revealed that he has a script for Gremlins III all written and that if he were to make it the Gremlins would remain performed by puppets and not be done in CGI, he said quote "I would love to do it," Columbus says. "I wrote a script, so there is an existing script. We're working out some rights issues right now, so we're just trying to figure out when the best time to make that film would be. I would still do it the same way – I would do it as tangible puppets, not CGI. Maybe having — you know we had one stop-motion scene in the first Gremlins, but I don't think I'd use much CGI in Gremlins 3." unquote So far there’s been no movement toward a third movie, however a prequel series called Gremlins Secrets of the Mogwai is currently in development at HBO Max and will debut in 2021.


The 2021 Hugo Awards, which are handed out at the 79th World Science Fiction Convention will have a new category, Best CVideo Game. This special category was created by the 2021 organizers of the con, DisCon III. DisCon III co chari Colette Fozard in the announcing statement said quote "Since early 2020, many of us have spent more time gaming than we ever expected," DisCon III co-chair Colette Fozard said as part of the announcement. "This award will offer fans an opportunity to celebrate the games that have been meaningful, joyful, and exceptional over this past year." unquote  The Hugo Study Committee is considering making the category permanent.  The 79th World Science Fiction Convention will take place in Washington DC from August twenty fifth to August twenty ninth, 2021.




And finally tonight, Star Trek Producer Herbert F.  Solow has passed away at the age of 89. Herb will best be known as the producer who sold NBC on Star Trek. He had been hired by Lucille Ball to revive Desilu Studios after she had divorced Desi Arnaz. During his tenure there, he produced Star Trek , Mission Impossible and Mannix. Mission Impossible and Mannix, he sold those to CBS, but CBS already had Lost in Space, so they weren’t interested in Trek, so he turned to NBC, where he had previously worked as talent agent and Director of Daytime Programs and sold the show to them. Solow was a believer in Gene Roddenberry’s vision for Star Trek and helped him refine the show pitch, even when other Desilu execs warned Lucy that the show would be an expensive disaster, he and Gene convinced Lucy to proceed with it. He later worked for MGM Studios In 1996, Herb along with Robert Justman wrote Inside Star Trek The real Story.


Herb Solow died on November nineteenth at the age of 89.


We also remember the original Darth Vader, David Prowse. David was born in Bristol England on July first 1935, David was disadvantaged when it came to schooling, but he soon found a passion for bodybuilding and went on to win the British weightlifting championship several times in the sixties. His broad physique and towering figure would lend well to his new role in acting. He first appeared in the 1956 episode of The Edge of Night, during his pre Star Wars career he acted in the 60’s Casino Royale, The Beverly Hillbillies, the Saint, the horror of Frankenstien, A Clockwork Orange, Doctor Who, The Tomorrow People, Little House on the Prairie and Space 1999. In 1977, he would play his most famous role as Darth Vader, he was offered the choice of Vader or Chewbacca because he didn’t understand the character of Chewbacca and that villains are always remembered. He was physically perfect for the part, but his English accent was deemed less than ideal, so his lines were dubbed by American actor James Earl Jones. He would come back to play Vader for Empire and Jedi, but even though he was told that he would finally be seen in Return of the Jedi, he was replaced in the big unmasking scene by Sebastian Shaw.  Even though he suffered those indiginities, he was a big supporter of the Star Wars fan community, even being named an honorary member of the famous 501st Legion costuming club.


Other than Star Wars he appeared in The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, the Benny Hill SHow, and many more. His final acting appearance was a show called Mission Backup Earth in 2016.


In 2000, he was made a Member of the Order of the British Empire for service to charity and to road safety. 

Prowse suffered from arthritis for much of his life and in 2001, his arms became paralzed and he was nearly killed by an infection, He also had a battle with prostate cancer in March of 2009. He retired from public appearances in 2016.


According to his daughter, Prowse passed away this past Sunday after a bout with CoViD 19, he was 85. 


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Thanks for watching the SciFi edition of Multiverse Tonight,  we will be back in two weeks with the comic book edition. Now please exit the universe in an orderly fashion. Good Night!  Multiverse Tonight is a production of Half-Baked Genre Productions. Copyright 2020  All Rights Reserved.