One of us took the Movie Homework serious. One of us is doing it wrong. Last month Ammon and Law decided to have a contest to see who could show their kids the most Jim Carrey movies. From that we get to discuss DUMB & DUMBER, ACE VENTURE: PET DETECTIVE, ACE VENTURA: WHEN NATURE CALLS, BATMAN FOREVER, LIAR LIAR, and LEMONY SNICKET.
Then we discuss what our family movie schedule looks like for the Summer and next episode’s homework, which I can’t remember but I think it involves pirates.
It’s been a busy few days in the sports world with the crowning of two new champions, the Chicago Blackhawks and the Golden State Warriors. So, the decision was pretty easy this week as I invited a big Blackhawks fan in Kupka, and a big Warriors fan in Garrett to join me for this championship edition of the Binge SportsCast.
Over the course of this very entertaining show, the three of us obviously discuss the Blackhawks and Warriors, but we also hit on a few topics within those topics as well. Garrett shares some great stories of attending Golden State games with his father, and I discuss my connection to them as well as I once again revisit playing basketball in my driveway with a young Shaun Livingston. On the hockey side, we discuss the term “dynasty”, what it means, and our feelings on the topic in general.
It’s also US Open week in the golf world, so we spend a few minutes at the end discussing the interesting golf course where this year’s tournament will take place. And I also make an announcement near the end of the show about an upcoming appearance I’ll be making next week.
These shows just keep getting better and better, and this week’s is no exception. If you’d like to let us know what you thought, or if there’s something you’d like me to hit on next time, catch me on Twitter @BingeSports and/or @THElukenorris. And you can catch Kupka @jekupka and Garrett @GarrettCollin13. Enjoy. You’ll be hearing from me soon.
If you’re a Louis CK fan, you’re currently living in his “golden age”. The man is, in my opinion, consistently delivering quality comedy without compromising his voice, evident on his most recent SNL hosting gig. It was no surprise to me that by the end of Season 5 that Louie has settled in as being one of my favorite shows on TV right now. Granted, a lot of what he does here doesn’t make sense, but the surreal edge he brings to the stories he tells is incredibly fascinating to me. I love his little quips, like naming one of his daughter’s sleepover friends “Afghanistan” like it’s completely normal. While it was a short season this year I have to say the quality hasn’t really dipped off for me. I heard some complaining about the content of some of this year’s episodes being a little softer than last year’s but I don’t think that’s the case at all. In fact, it’s almost as if this season is him working out bits for his next performance, in a sense, which I would assume is one of the main reasons he keeps making the show, and in that way Louie retains its title as the most unique program in comedy right now. I loved this season, as I’ve loved the last 4, and I look forward to whenever Louis decides to give us a little more.
It’s finally over. At a count of 145 hours in the bank, last night I completed The Witcher 3. How did it feel, getting all the way to the end of this long and arduous tale? Fantastic. I’ve read up online about some of the different endings you could have gotten and I have to say I’m very satisfied with mine. The way this game cultivated relationships, not only with love interests but also with acquaintances and fellow Witchers, was truly inspired writing, the likes of which I can honestly say was better than most movies. Part of me is sad to see the game is over but at the same time I’m happy that I’ve cleared the ledger in anticipation of Batman Arkham Knight next week. This is probably the last time I’ll write about Witcher 3 but as far as ratings go, it gets my highest marks: 10/10.
I’ve been craving a film like Ex Machina for years, I just hadn’t realized it. What a film. I know some were underwhelmed by the lack of action and others had issues with some of the character choices but to me this was a fantastic allegorical sci-fi masterpiece. I’ve always been a huge fan of films like 2001 A Space Odyssey and Blade Runner and have found that certain sci-fi movies grab me and give me tons of things to hypothesize and talk about. Ex Machina absolutely is one of those films. From the slow roll of the conversations with the AI to the film’s brilliantly deceptive structure this film goes the distance and then some. Oscar Isaac is great here, further proving with the choices he’s making that he is determined to be one of the greats, and honestly if he keeps taking roles like these it will come sooner rather than later. Domnhall Gleeson is also great in his role at the center of the experiment, questioning everything around him at every turn yet never fully understanding his role in the proceedings until the very final moments of the film. I was very honestly enthralled with the flick and gave it an 8/10 initially but I think I’ve got to bump it up to a 9/10. A small story, a small cast, an amazing soundtrack and some truly inspiring uses of special effects make Ex Machina one of the year’s best.
I just wanted to point out to you readers that not only was this the week in which I CONTINUED to stomp all y’all bitches in the Hottie League with my glorious Pitch Perfect 2/Jurassic World points (two films in which all three of my actresses star in) but it is also the week my New England Patriots were given their Super Bowl Rings, signifying the true end of celebrating that glorious accomplishment and moving on to next season. We’re only a few months away now from slinging that pig skin, and the countdown is on. Enjoy your week and, as always, Binge On!
It’s all over folks. Season 5 came and went as fast as Reek growing a new pair of nuts. Or perhaps something faster. I’m not good with metaphors. While we did have some issues, and do consider this season to be the weakest to date, we are still happily going along with the show. No disenfranchised book/show fans here.
Hope you guys and girls enjoy the commentary, and we’ll see you next year.
Lots of points to report so pay attention. Total Film gave a bunch of cover love, two weeks worth of box office action, and our very first body double negative. Ammon is actually on the board also so hold on to your butts, literally, he will bang anything that moves right now. Brian D jumped three spots to tie for the lead in the Banderos division while Epidsode IV continues to back up his shit talk over in the Babadiiick conference. Hit the link below for the entire spreadsheet.
This week’s show has tales from Ammon’s Korn roadie days, a couple great voicemails and tons of talk about Game of Thrones, JURASSIC WORLD, SOAKED IN BLEACH, SUPERMENSCH, A.I., SUCKER PUNCH, INGLORIOUS BASTARDS, TAXI DRIVER, and BETTER OFF DEAD. I wish this summary could be longer but I’m a giant hungover polar bear that hates life right now. Take it or leave it. Don’t leave it, we love you. I can’t stop pooping.
Welcome to a super edition of Working the Weekend with Luke. Okay, so that’s a pretty cheesy opening line, but as you can see from the picture above, I just spent a few days down at the Superman Celebration in Metropolis, Illinois, and I’ve gotta tell you, it was an absolutely amazing experience.
Speaking of experience, before reading any further, I invite you to check out The Luke Norris Experience and a piece I wrote entitled “A Super Trip With Pop”. It will give you a better understanding of what this weekend’s trip was about and why that place is so special to me.
Since I’ve been a kid, I’ve always been a Superman guy. Despite all of the other superheroes that were around and are now constantly in our face at the movies, I continue to be. Need a little proof? Since you’re all such loyal and faithful followers of mine here, here’s a few pictures of a young Luke Norris. What a Binge Media exclusive, right?
See, Superman has always been a big part of my life. So when my calendar opened up for a few days, I decided to take the five hour drive down south and check out the celebration. I’ve been to the town a few times, but never for the actual event, and this year seemed like the perfect time.
I jumped in the car on Thursday morning and hit the road, arriving at my hotel around 4:00, an hour before the opening ceremonies. As I drove in, the streets were already filled with people heading to Superman Square for the festivities. Adults and children alike in full costumes, ranging from Superman to Batman to Spiderman. Honestly, while this whole thing is based around the Man of Steel, it’s an excuse to put on your favorite superhero gear and have a little fun.
I quickly checked into the lovely Harrah’s Hotel & Casino, nestled neatly on the Ohio River, threw my bag in my room and made my way to the square. I will say that the 95 degree heat made the walk a little uncomfortable, but all was well as I trekked up and down the streets of Metropolis, blocks and blocks of food stands, vendors, and the craziest mix of fans I’ve ever seen. I’ve never been, but I imagine this is a very dialed down version of what a Comic-Con would look like. After a quick tour, I headed back to the Superman statue for the opening ceremony, finding a front row spot on the rail. It was absolutely delightful. After a welcoming speech from the Chamber of Commerce and the mayor, a small skit was performed with Superman himself and a cast of villains led by Darkseid. The kids absolutely ate it up, and I found myself being a kid again as well. It’s a nice feeling when that happens.
I walked around for a little while longer, but the heat really was unbearable, even as the day came to a close. I found a nice little bar and found a cold beer and some dinner before heading back to the hotel for a long and insanely refreshing shower. Feeling clean, I headed downstairs to watch the NBA Finals and had a few more beers before heading into the casino to basically break even after a few hours. That was before the blackout, which literally took out power to the entire town. The casino naturally kept running through a generator, but it was pretty cool to see darkness sweep over the entire town. Naturally, there were cries of “Lex Luthor did this”, which was actually pretty damn funny. I may have had the same thought for a moment. I knew Friday was a busy day, so I headed upstairs for some shuteye.
I awoke Friday with the feeling that even if I left right then and there that the trip would have been worth it. Seeing all those smiling faces of the children at the square and revisiting the sites that my dad and I went to all those years ago put me in a good place. But I knew there was more for me to do today. I had looked at the itinerary for the day in the booklet, and I saw that a big Superman collector and wrestling legend, Jerry “The King” Lawler, was in town signing autographs, taking pictures, and would actually be wrestling in a small show later that night. For more on that story, check out the latest wrestling version of the Binge SportsCast, which I posted earlier today, or you can just click HERE.
There were a few more people at the Autograph Zone, but the line was very long and there were more things that I wanted to get done, so I passed them up, but I’d get a chance later (more on that in a bit). Before heading to the wrestling show, there was one more place that my dad and I had visited that I hadn’t gotten to yet, The Super Museum. It’s fantastic, and only five bucks to get in. It’s full of memorabilia from the movies, TV shows, comic books, and just about everything you’d ever want to see from the world of Superman.
Believe me, I could have put up a ton of more pictures, so I just chose a few to share with you. It really is a great place, especially for a Superman fan. I headed over to the wrestling show, met some nice people, and headed back to the hotel. It was a glorious day that had a little bit of everything for somebody like me. A little wrestling, a lot of Superman. Are you kidding me? What a day. I was ready for a beer, not realizing that the best part of my day was about to happen.
Remember how I said that there were a few other celebrities signing autographs? One was John Shea, who portrayed Lex Luthor in Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman. Beyond that, he’s an Emmy winner with an unbelievable list of credits as an actor, writer, and producer. A small part of that list includes Missing, Mutant X, Law & Order, Eight is Enough, and more, which you can view HERE.
Another person signing at the event was Stacy Haiduk, who Superman would know as Lana Lang from Adventures of Superboy, which ran from 1988-1992. Besides that, she had a starring role in Seaquest 2032, and has appeared in shows such as Heroes, The X-Files, Prison Break, True Blood, and has done voice work for a few Star Wars video games. You can check out the rest of her work HERE.
And yes, those eyes are that blue. I suppose if you’re in town for an event that you have to stay somewhere, and lucky for me they were staying right there in my hotel. As I came downstairs after a quick rest in my room for another cold beer, I noticed the two of them standing and talking by the elevator from my seat at the hotel bar. Not one to be starstruck or one to interrupt famous people just to bother them and say hello, I sat and drank a nice Schlafly stout and minded my own business. Only a few minutes later, they sat down right next to me. Stacy asked the bartender for a nice dark beer, which immediately caught my attention. I told her that her only option was the beer I was drinking and being the gentleman I am, I told her that this one was on me. I extended John the same courtesy, which he refused initially. Stacy and I would gradually get him to drink with us. We all introduced ourselves to each other and the conversation was off and running.
I asked how the rest of their day was, and they were both full of great stories from fans throughout the afternoon. Actually, when I was standing in line, I watched John take a cigar from a fan in full Superman costume and recreate a face-to-face picture that he had taken with Dean Cain. It was great to hear both of them talk how humbling and cool the experience was for them. While they’re obviously so much more, each of them portrayed an iconic character in the Superman universe and this was a way to show their appreciation to their fans. And they were legitimately genuine about it.
In fact, both were genuine about everything. After a while, I explained that I had been in line, but didn’t get the chance to say hello. John pulled out his phone and asked for my address to send me some things. He certainly didn’t have to do that, but he did. So John Shea has my address. If he actually follows through, great. If not, that’s okay too. He’s a busy guy, but even just the gesture was nice.
They asked if I’d ever been to the celebration before, and I told them I hadn’t, but explained that the town of Metropolis had been very instrumental in saving the relationship between me and my father (if you read the attached article from my website, you understand), and they could have just let it go, but they didn’t. They asked questions, and when the conversation went deeper, they were encapsulated. They listened intently as my life story became the topic of conversation, but it never got too deep. We had fun with it, as I’ve learned to do. Some of the things are just so unbelievable, it’s hard sometimes not to find the humor in it. The three of us talked about life, kids, their experience in the industry, and so many other things over the next hour or two. Hell, right there in the middle of the bar, John took a picture of the tattoo on my right shoulder as Stacy marveled at my daughters’ handprints that I have tattooed on my chest. It was great when John mentioned how many guys want to take their shirt off in front of Stacy. And again, yes, her eyes are that blue. She’s absolutely beautiful. My young writing career came up and they were both willing to offer advice and after telling them my story, they both agreed that I had something there and John had already broken the things I had told him into a three-act script. They both told me that I was right to follow my dream, and not that I need validation from anybody, but it was great to hear from two people who’ve had some success in a tough industry. And before you knew it, we’d shut the bar down.
It was an absolutely incredible night that capped off an amazing two days. I met so many wonderful people, including a ten minute conversation with the mayor that I didn’t even get to. As the first trip was with my father, this trip was exactly what I needed at this point in my life, and meeting and talking with John and Stacy was just an added bonus and I sincerely thank them for taking time to sit and chat with me. It was truly a great and unforgettable experience. I wonder who I’ll meet next year.
Thoughts? Comments? As always, you can leave them below or follow me on Twitter @THElukenorris. I’ll be back later in the week with yet another all-new episode of the Binge SportsCast and possibly making a debut appearance on another show next week, so stay tuned. Hope you enjoyed reading this today as much as I enjoyed writing it.
It’s a sad day in the wrestling world, but the show goes on. The tag team podcast champions of the world, Batch and Luke, are back with an all-new wrestling version of the Binge SportsCast. Only this time, they’ve got help in the form of Garrett Collins in his first appearance on the show, and what a great fucking show it is.
With the passing of Dusty Rhodes this past week, the boys spend a lot of time talking about their earliest memories and favorite moments of this legendary figure, and also how his death could benefit Cody Rhodes as it pertains to business.
Luke also talks about his trip to Metropolis, IL and meeting another icon in the business, Jerry “The King” Lawler, and watching the legend wrestle in an alley in front of 300 people.
After Luke and Batch pitch Garrett on the beauties of the WWE Network (for only $9.99), they finish up the show by talking the Money in the Bank PPV, Kevin Owens vs John Cena, and their favorite cash-ins of all time.
Movie Homework makes it’s glorious return to our airwaves with Ammon, Moreno, and Law studying the fine intricacies of VERTICAL LIMIT. People jump. People explode. People cry. People do other stuff. Ammon has already experienced the greatness of the film many times but for Law and Moreno, this is the first viewing. Consider our cherries popped. Check it out and try not to get sexually aroused as we discuss the badassery of Scott Glen. Impossible. Get to it!