May 7, 2004

So, did everyone enjoy “The One That Stretched Itself Out To An Hour Even Though Nothing Unexpected Or Particularly Interesting Really Happened?”

It’s been a long week. And all we get to show for it is freakin’ Van Helsing. Well, at least Harry Knowles had a good time.

The two big controversies of the week are fading away as we head into the weekend. The Spider-Man 2 basepath promotion with Major League Baseball was backed away from by the league and Sony before the week was over. And Michael Moore’s spin on the choice by Disney not to have any of its arms distribute Moore’s Fahrenheit 911 started to lose steam as the foundations of his argument – particularly the idea that the decision was made recently and that Moore would have trouble finding alternative distribution – started to crumble. That doesn’t mean that there will not be another wave of spin for a crowd anxiously wanting to believe that a company like Disney would be happy to be a political censor. But the heat is flickering away.

MGM’s deal to sell the studio to Sony is, indeed, steaming towards completion with few surprises so far. Cannes is coming. And the summer movie season is upon us. (My much promised next summer column at MCN will have to wait for the weekend so I can finish crunching enough numbers to make the effort worthwhile.)

It’s long week’s journey into zzzzzzzzzzzzz.

So enjoy the weekend. The only sport in town will be seeing whether Friday’s Van Helsing number is $15 million, $20 million or $25 million. Sit back, relax and have some burgers. I had some delivered this week (see this).

And remember… I’ll be there for you.

READER OF THE DAY: DA FISH wrote in to rebut Wednesday’s ROTD and in fairness to Canada, I’m running it. He starts by quoting: “Moore's hatred and ugliness of everything American is sickening. Maybe Canada will take him back?
Sure. Why not. Canada isn't an nation of pussies and chickenhawks who shoot first and ask questions later. In Canada they have elections with REAL paper ballots that get counted with verifiable results within hours, no Diebold execs or Supreme Courts necessary. Canada is a nation that doesn't like getting involved in ruinous UNNECESSARY wars. Canadian Prime Ministers don't act like Jihadists doing the work (read: killing) of their personal God. Canada doesn't threaten the rest of the world with With-Us-Or-You're-With-The-Terrorist" rhetoric. One suspects that Canadians expect their leaders to give them the honest unvarnished truth about costs and body-counts, and doesn't start banging-the-drum manufacturing lies and then smearing facts as being treasonous. Why is it that Michael Moore -- and freedom of speech -- is a bigger problem in 21st century America than a president who coddles and protects the same Saudi criminals who financed the worst attack against civilians in American history? Why? Who's the real "hater"? What is this "ugliness"? Is it simply Michael Moore, or 80% of the rest of the world who is disgusted by this War Party White House administration and their rank lies and hypocrisy?? Wake Up America.

E ME: Now, now… play nice! Does Van Hel Sing or Zing? Let me know.