Pop culture from Southern California and beyond.
Star Wars Night a solid hit at Dodger Stadium
Star Wars Night is back at Dodger Stadium this evening. It's a celebration of all things Star Wars, which the Dodgers have been putting on for several years now. The Dodgers are taking on the Cincinnati Reds. No word if they'll be in Imperior Guard red, though it is an appropriate battle of Star Wars good guy colors (blue) versus bad guy colors (red).
The man who's built the current leg of his career on his nerd persona, Chris Hardwick, is throwing out the first pitch. He got ready for it by working on batting practice with a Stormtrooper (and hyping his Course of the Force charity relay race ending at San Diego Comic-Con):
Limited edition Star Wars ticket packages in a special Star Wars fan section of the stadium, complete with special Star Wars T-shirt, sold out in advance, but there are still regular tickets left if you want to go.
Actor Topher Grace makes his own version of the 'Star Wars' prequels
Max Nash/AFP/Getty Images
File: Topher Grace arrives for the European Premiere of his latest film 'Valentine's Day' in London's Leicester Square February 11, 2010.
Star Wars fans may be known to be a bit obsessive, often going to elaborate lengths in service to their fandom. There's a large community of fans who make their own edits of the films, with notable versions like "The Phantom Edit" and the "Despecialized Edition". Well, there's now a celebrity to add to their ranks: Topher Grace (of "That '70s Show" fame).
Topher decided to reedit the three Star Wars prequels into one 85-minute movie, which is 51 minutes shorter than even the shortest of the prequels ("Episode I: The Phantom Menace"), and 333 minutes shorter than the three put together (something for all you numerology fans out there).
He screened it in Hollywood for filmmakers, editors, actors and press friends in what's at least allegedly a one-time-only screening. I am now rooting for this piece of obsession to make its way online somehow, but given harsh words George Lucas has previously had for fan edits and how publicly this is tied to Mr. Grace, I'm pessimistic about getting a prequel of a more sane length than the ones that were actually made.
Glee does Whitney Houston's 'I Will Always Love You' and Chris Brown's still a jerk
Wayne Dorrington
Star Wars as an infographic
- My least favorite Glee character ("Why am I not getting a solo here?!" every episode forever) did an excellent job rocking some "I Will Always Love You" on "Glee" last night, eerily close to Whitney Houston's death. But it was the kind of epic performance that was also a perfect tribute, so I'm cool with it. Now if you'll excuse me, there's dust in my eye. Like, a lot of it. (Hat tip: Jezebel)
- You can check out some other excellent "I Will Always Love You" covers here.
- In NOT appropriate Whitney tribute news: the National Enquirer hired someone to pose in a re-creation of the hotel room where Whitney died.
- How was your Valentine's Day? Well, 15,000 Southern California Edison customers spent it in the dark — thanks to a metallic Valentine's Day balloon. Oops. On the bright side, perhaps it made for a more romantic evening?
- Chris Brown decided that it would be super awesome to yell at everyone on Twitter about how it's OK for them to hate because he won a Grammy.
- Comedian Louis CK is a trendsetter once again: Jim Gaffigan is following his model and self-releasing his next special as a $5 download. (Hat tip: The Comedy Bureau)
- Feeling funny? Well, too late, you missed the auditions "Saturday Night Live" is holding this week, but hey, keep at it kid! With Paul Brittain leaving midseason and Kristen Wiig and Jason Sudeikis reportedly leaving at the end of the season, looks like we may be getting a wave of new late night comedy blood. Whether they actually get used in any sketches is a different story.
- Finally, there's a preview above, but you should go check out the full image of what "Star Wars" would be if it was an infographic. (Pretty.)
James Franco trashes USC, LA Kings learn how to be famous and MLK Day: The Movie
Alberto Pizzoli/AFP/Getty Images
- If you haven't seen it yet, James Franco's controversial new series "Undergrads" paints USC in a not-so-flattering light:
- UCB's Neil Campbell and Mike Hanford teach the L.A. Kings how to be famous:
- If you want a peek at the actual life of the L.A. Kings, watch this behind the scenes video of the Kings driving to a game:
- Famed designer Vera Wang talks about L.A. in a new Bazaar interview. She lives in Beverly Hills and says the city is a "zen escape." She also shows off that, even at 63, she's still in better shape than the rest of us. (Hat tip: Los Angeles I'm Yours)
- Celebrate the Year of the Dragon geek style at a new Giant Robot art exhibition; the opening reception is Saturday. (Hat tip: The Comics ReporterCan we be done with the S--- _______ Says meme? Please? But hey, since it's where we live, here's one more with S--- Hollywood Says.
- If you didn't see the "New Year's Day"/"Valentine's Day" parody "Martin Luther King Day" on last night's "30 Rock," get on it!
- Oh boy, a Kinect Star Wars game! And it's coming out in just... 11 months?!
- More Star Wars: George Lucas not only hates fans, but apparently journalists too, as instead of being interviewed by adults, he's asked reporters to bring children to interview him about the rerelease of Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace in 3D.
1930s mugshots of women, Crystal clears Oscar jokes, Star Wars cello battle in our daily roundup
(via the Ebert Club)






















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