Where wolf?

There, wolf.

The fourth season of True Blood starts on Sunday and, although I'm no marketing expert, I think I've started to pick up on a very subtle, yet consistent, promotional theme over the past two seasons...



There is no actual blood used in their marketing photos.



I know it sounds like a madcap conclusion to draw, but I've done extensive research to prove my theory. Just bear with me...

Besides the latest Muscle and Fitness and Entertainment Weekly blood-free cover articles, look at these other recent examples...



The new GQ article...hemoglobin-free.





Muscle & Body magazine...bloodless.





Vanity Fair...not a wound in sight.



Cosmopolitan magazine...zip.



Men's Fitness...plasma-free.



US Weekly...dry.



I really think I'm on to something here...it's the only consistent visual theme that I've noticed in every one one of these articles.

Perhaps they thought that having blood in the title and then blood on promotional materials may have been too obvious and, perhaps, off-putting to the viewing audience. So, they went in the complete opposite direction hoping that Joe-public wouldn't be on to their scheme.

HBO, you may not think we are sophisticated enough to notice these kinds of things...



But we do.

We notice.

Speaking of noticing, one of my favorite blogs JoeMyGod, linked to my research today. I'm very honored and glad that countless others will now have access to this very important marketing and PR study. Thanks Joe!

Also...Towleroad posted Joe Manganiello's Werewolf Workout video from Details magazine...again, splatter-free.



My arduous research continues...

Evangeline Lilly as Tauriel in The Hobbit

Entertainment Weekly recently released one of the first images of Evangeline Lilly as the new elf, Tauriel, in the upcoming two Hobbit sequels.

Here is what she has to say about her character...

“She’s a Sylvan Elf, which means she’s of a much lower order than the elves we all became acquainted with in The Lord of the Rings. She doesn’t hold the same kind of status that Arwen or Galadriel or Elrond or Legolas do — she’s much more lowly. She sort of goes against the social order of the elves a little bit. She will definitely have a love story. 

I can’t give away too much about it. It’s not a huge focus but it is there and it is important and it does drive Tauriel and her story and her actions. Tauriel’s relationship with Legolas is significant. They’ve known each other since they were children, and Legolas’ dad, [Elven king] Thranduil, has a soft spot for Tauriel and sees something very special in her. So if you grow up side by side, and your dad has a very special spot in his heart for this young woman who’s a fantastic warrior, I think it’s hard not to notice her. That’s probably as much as I can say." 



Total Film Magazine also released a couple photos and a bit of information about her character...

Evangeline Lilly is playing an entirely new character (ie. not in the book) in the upcoming Hobbit sequels, so it should come as no surprise to find out that the former Lost actress scores a place on our list. 

“She’s a very, very young elf,” Lilly told us. “She’s only 600 years old, unlike Legolas who’s like, 1,900 years old and Thranduil who’s about 3,000 years old. She doesn’t have quite the wisdom and pose that those two boys do; she’s a little more... gritty. A little more spontaneous, passionate perhaps.”  

Taking her bow in The Desolation Of Smaug, Tauriel is a fighter who makes a mess with finesse. “To play this character I need to have a certain amount of grace,” said Lilly. “But I’m also supposed to be an absolutely ruthless, deadly killer."



I really liked her on Lost, so am looking forward to her popping up in the next two Hobbit sequels.

She looks pretty good for 600 years old.

It's hard to believe she and Joan Rivers are almost the same age.

Double-Header

A photo of Sarah Paulson from the upcoming season of American Horror Story: Freak Show was revealed in Entertainment Weekly.



That, along with the creepy trailers...



Means only one thing...it's gonna be disturbing.

I'm in.

Updating Things

The new issues of Entertainment Weekly features the cast of Stranger Things and gives some good insight into the new season (and, obviously, a new curly-doo for Seven)...

Stranger Things season 2 begins nearly a year after the first installment, on Halloween in Hawkins, Indiana. (The boys are going as the Ghostbusters, naturally.) Will has rejoined his pals after being rescued from Things’ alternate dimension, the Upside Down. But all is not well with young Mr. Byers, as evidenced by the slug he coughed up in season 1’s final moments. “He seems to be seeing images from the Upside Down—the question is whether they’re real or not,” says co-creator Matt Duffer. “So it seems like he’s having some sort of post-traumatic stress disorder.”



If you haven't watched the first season yet on Netflix....DO.

It's fun and pretty awesome.

Season 2 will premiere on October 31st.

Wonder Woman photos

Entertainment Weekly printed a couple of new pictures from the upcoming Wonder Woman movie...

She doesn't seem very happy to be chatting with Chris Pine (who plays Steve Trevor).

Maybe she didn't care for Star Trek Into Darkness either.

Closet Break

Actor/writer Wentworth Miller came out yesterday in a letter that was in response to an invitation he received to a Russian Film Festival in Florida.

During the filming of Prison Break, he claimed that he was straight, which is not uncommon in Hollywood. However, several sources have reported over the years that he has been dating Luke MacFarlane (from the TV series Brothers and Sisters) since 2007.



I'm sure People and Entertainment Weekly are already scheduling their "in-depth" interviews, so expect to see him gracing the covers in your mailbox very soon.



Frankly, I'm more surprised to find out that he wrote the feature film Stoker (which starred Nicole Kidman) than finding out he's gay.

That's just a nice bonus.

Super Men

Entertainment Weekly interviews the new Superman, Henry Cavill, about his audition for the role.

Henry Cavill has said that he was made to wear a replica outfit worn by Christopher Reeve in the 1978 Superman movie during his audition for the lead in the reboot.

I would think that would be like trying on underwear you find in a thrift store.

No, thanks.



Channing Tatum is on the cover of GQ magazine talking about his career.

On landing bigger and better roles. “No one’s calling me for lawyer roles. I still have a lot to do to prove myself.”



Yeah...that photo doesn't really scream "I object, your Honor!"

And, here is the first photo of Kellan Lutz, as sea God Neptune, in the upcoming movie Immortals.



Kellan and Channing wouldn't make believable lawyers.

Unless they were representing Matthew McConaughey.

Ryan on Ryan

Ryan Reynolds interviews himself in the new Entertainment Weekly and, from what I've read so far, it sounds pretty funny...

On moving to L.A.: “After moving to Los Angeles at the tender age of 19 - armed with only $600 and a rape whistle - he quickly established himself as one of Hollywood’s most dynamic and immensely talented waiters.”

Also, I saw the new Green Lantern movie over the weekend and, although it's no Schindler's List, it's actually a pretty fun summer movie and not nearly the train-wreck that some of the critics seem to be calling it.

I liked it better than the new X-Men and Thor movies.

So....there.

Double Doodie

Entertainment Weekly has issued two different "Star Trek" covers this week, which is nice. Although, since only one cover is mailed or for sale in any particular state or region, I can't seem to find both of them (I need the Kirk/Uhura one above).

The "helpful" EW customer service folks said that, although they printed and sold both covers, they couldn't actually confirm that I'd get the cover that I wanted...I'd just have to "take my chances and hope for the best".



I know that someone tracks those covers to see which sells better, so I don't think it should be that difficult to track down a particular cover for someone who wants to buy one. So, I'll continue to bug their customer service department and, if they don't help, then on to the corporate peeps.

Corporate offices always love to deal with little stuff like this. I imagine they look something like these disturbing Burger "King-ons"....



So, if anyone out there is able to find the Kirk/Uhura EW magazine at their local Piggly Wiggly and grab one for me...I'd really appreciate it.

A little bit of box office info: Since 91% of all online tickets for "Star Trek" on Fandango have been sold (far exceeding last weeks pre-sell of "Wolverine"), Paramount Studios moved up the opening of the film from tomorrow to TONIGHT at 7:00 pm in all theaters...so that's very cool. I already have my tickets for the midnight show tonight at the big Cinerama Dome theater in Hollywood.

I'm taking my camera in case some of the kids dress up, which is always entertaining.

Avengers: Age of Ultron - First Look

Entertainment Weekly got the scoop on the first pics from Avengers: Age of Ultron.













Very cool and I'm really looking forward to this opening May 1st of next year.



Also, I would like to have access to that rack for Halloween.

Comic-Con preview

Entertainment Weekly has dedicated their latest issue to all things Comic-Con, which includes some good insight into the upcoming Batman v Superman movie as well as some new pics.









The movie opens in March of 2016.

Can't. Wait.

New Hobbit Pics

Entertainment Weekly is about to release their Comic-Con preview issue which features a great cover, some new photos, and a visit to the set of the upcoming Hobbit movie.




















I can't wait to see this in December!!