Chris Hardwick's Blog, page 1840
February 11, 2018
McDonald’s Makes a Diamond Ring For Big Mac Lovers
Are you part of a couple that loves each other as much as you love your Big Macs? If so, then McDonald’s may have the perfect ring for you. Behold the glory of the Bling Mac, an 18K, seven-layer stackable ring that was created by fine jewelry designer Nadine Ghosn. It was made to resemble an actual Big Mac, except with layers of diamonds filling in for the beef, the lettuce, and the special sauce. The Bling Mac’s estimated cost is $12,500, which makes it the opposite of a “nothingburger,” but it could be yours if you enter McDonald’s Valentine’s Day contest.
Via Design Taxi, McDonald’s is running a giveaway for the Bling Mac, which will go to the fan who manages to impress the chain with their most hilarious and creative “vows of love” to the official McDonald’s twitter account while using the #BlingMacContest hashtag. The video below explains everything, while also providing a closer look at the Bling Mac.
Love is in the air! Literally. With the aroma of the 3 Big Mac burgers.
STAR WARS Characters As ANIMAL CROSSING Villagers Deserve All the Bells
If I were given the option to transport myself into any video game, Animal Crossing would be a contender for my new home. Interacting with the friendly, if a bit demanding, villagers every day would be a delight. I’d make all sorts of anthropomorphized animal pals, which sounds like heaven. But this idea gets even better when I imagine all those villagers merged with characters from Star Wars. This brilliant notion didn’t even cross my mind until I viewed the work of a fan artist named Desmond on Twitter, that gives sequel trilogy characters such as Captain Phasma and General Hux Animal Crossing makeovers.
Since Domhnall Gleeson recently reminded the world Hux is the most beloved character in all of Star Wars, let’s look at him first. He is a ginger, grumpy cat–as he should be.
The Resistance members are bears, except Poe Dameron, who is a cool looking dog.
The collection’s rounded out with First Order fiends Phasma and Kylo Ren. They’re wolves, because of course they are.
You can view the entire line-up of Star Wars characters as Animal Crossing villagers in the gallery below.
Follow Desmond on Twitter so you’re in the know when he makes more awesome Animal Crossing and Star Wars fan art. And if you want to purchase stickers of all these cutie characters, Desmond has made them available.
Which Star Wars character would make the best Tom Nook? Which characters do you hope Desmond tackles next? Share your thoughts in the comments.
Images: Desmond
Amy Ratcliffe is an Associate Editor for Nerdist. She likes Star Wars a little. Follow her on Twitter.
More galactic fan art!
Luke and Leia swap roles in this art.
Calvin and Hobbes meets Star Wars.
Black and white Star Wars portraits.
Wearable INFINITY GAUNTLET Toy Image Revealed
For the last decade, we’ve watched the Marvel Cinematic Universe slowly build to the climactic battle with Thanos over the Infinity Stones in May’s Avengers: Infinity War. From the Tesseract to the Eye of Agamotto, everything has revolved around the power of these items. Now you’ll be able to see their power first hand, as Heroic Hollywood is reporting via 219Collectibles’ Instagram that the Infinity Gauntlet will be a part of its Marvel Legends roleplay series.
A post shared by 219 Collectibles (@219collectibles) on Feb 9, 2018 at 10:44pm PST
Following in the footsteps of the Iron Man helmet and Captain America’s shield, the Infinity Gauntlet looks like it came right from the MCU itself. It features articulated fingers so you can punch OR slap Iron Man right in the facemask, and has all six Infinity Stones adorning it. Now, according to 219Collectibles, the Gauntlet is currently sold out and runs for 149.99. But think of the irony. If you are able to get your hands in one of these things (pun intended) before the movie comes out, you’ll do with some money and time what Thanos couldn’t do with alien armies and super-powered beings. Granted, the trailer indicates he made up for lost time, but it would still be a win in our book.
So what do you think? Will you try to get your own Infinity Gauntlet before Thanos? What other cool Marvel accessories would you like to see Marvel Legends release? Let me know on Twitter @donnielederer or sound off in the comments below.
Images: Marvel Studios/219Collectibles
Looking to play more dress-up?
Real Life Deus Ex sunglasses.
Terrifying Beetlejuice-inspired masks.
A Black Panther helmet for adults.
Pimple-Popping Toy Lets You Bust Zits With Satisfaction
We all remember fidget spinners, right? The little toys that kept people’s hands busy for about a week before they ended up in a drawer somewhere? Well folks, we’ve found a new way for you to occupy your fingers, and it revolves around popping a little silicone sponge full of faux zits. (We know plenty of you out there just thought of that oh-so-satisfying pop! didn’t you?)
Boing Boing picked up on the little zit popper, which has been dubbed the PoP iT Pal by its creator, Bill Pierce. Pierce came up with the idea while driving with his wife, who asked the question, “How awesome would it be if we could make a pimple that felt real and the pop was huge, just like those videos we watch?” Pierce, a serious pus-bulb buster himself, felt she was onto something.
The result of that little epiphany was the Pop iT Pal you see in the clip above. It’s made of a skin-safe silicone and has 15 pores for all your pimple-popping pleasures. It can also be refilled with “natural puss [sic],” which sounds both intriguing and hugely disgusting.
A post shared by Our Unique Obsessions (@pop_it_pal) on Feb 1, 2018 at 9:01am PST
On the Pop iT Pal site, Pierce notes that he has been a habitual pimple buster for some time, throwing down the two-thumb scrum on any little thing that provides a satisfying pop. But presumably the hope here is to replace that habit with this habit. Which would be great for all the people who do indeed relish in the bursting of little sacks of dead skin cells, oil, and bacteria plugged into a pore that will form some little empty space on the dermis once it’s been freed from its gross overlord.
The Pop iT Pal costs $19.99 and is free of shipping costs. It’s on backorder for six to nine weeks because, apparently, Mr. Pierce is not the only one who loves really grinding out those whiteheads.
What are your thoughts on this little pimple popper? Do you think this is a reasonable substitute for the real thing, or do you really need that painful release that comes from popping the real zits? Give us your disgusting thoughts in the gross comments below!
Images: Pop it Pal
If this is zit!
Remember the Garbage Pail Kids movie?
Who wants a pimple-popping cake?
Add “i” and you get ziti, which are more appetizing.
BILL MURRAY is Crowdfunding a Line of Bell-Bottoms
Bill Murray is a national treasure. From being the best part of any movie he is in, to surprising fans in the most random of ways (like showing up to a karaoke party and buying everyone drinks), Murray can always bring a smile to everyone’s face. He’s already taken over our hearts, now he’s about to take over the golf fashion world. Bill and his William Murray Golf Company are teaming up with Betabrand to crowdfund and bring back everyone’s favorite guilty pleasure of pants, the bell-bottoms.
The aptly named “Bill-Bottoms” are made with ultralight 4-way stretch fabric. They are 95% polyester and 5% spandex, making them moisture-wicking and water-resistant. 95% polyester. 0% cotton. If that doesn’t SCREAM the ’70s, I don’t know what does. The pants are adorned with the “Lucy the Caboosie” print, inspired by Murray’s mother, whose favorite flower was the peony.
When you’re on the course, both the front and back pockets are oversized to accommodate carrying all your golfing needs while trying to line up or shot or drop your 12th mulligan in a row. It also features a supportive elastic waistband just in case you decide to celebrate a little too much after finally beating your best score.
While I am sure golfing (and smoking for that matter) is prohibited in most grocery stores, wearing these silly-yet-awesome-looking pants is not. You can check out more pictures in the gallery below. The campaign for the “Bill-Bottoms” runs about another four weeks, and you can pre-order them for $100.30. Sport a pair of these during your next foursome, and you’ll be saying “Gunga galunga, gunga gunga lagunga” in no time.
So what do you think? Will you help Bill Murray bring bell-bottoms back? Let me know on Twitter @donnielederer or receive total consciousness in the comments below.
Images: Betabrand
You can never have enough Bill Murray.
Here he is singing Van Morrison.
Here’s his music video with Paul Shaffer.
Here he gives a really candid interview.
Japan’s Best KIRBY Plush Comes With Adorable Treats to Eat
For the better part of three decades, Nintendo’s Kirby has charmed fans all over the world as he weaponized his appetite in defense of Dream Land and the planet Pop Star. Last year, Kirby was even honored with his own snack dish in Japan, which seemed like a cute and fitting tribute. Now, Kirby is getting a brand new plush that may illustrate the downside of Kirby’s ability to inhale almost anything.
Via Polygon, Bandai has released a gigantic Kirby plush that is almost two-feet tall and weighs 12 pounds. That may be a bit bigger than Kirby’s size as presented in his classic Nintendo games. But it does look like it’s a lot of fun to have around.
What could have caused Kirby to become so big? Bandai actually put together a series of images that explain the origin of this Kirby plush. We can’t read the text, but the basic idea appears to be that Kirby stuffed himself with snacks after he lost control of his appetite. Consequently, Kirby has finally reached the point where he can’t eat anything else.
You may have noticed that one of the snacks is permanently attached to Kirby’s hand. According to Polygon, that is a manju, “a beancake-like dumpling.” Bandai is including a box of Kirby-branded manju with its Kirby plush, to give fans something to snack on as well.
Bandai is selling the Kirby plush and manju combo on its Japanese site, and it’s approximately $142 before shipping. However, it’s not likely to be shipped outside of Japan because of the perishable food items. So if you really want one of these Kirby plush toys for yourself, then you’re going to have to find some way around that restriction. It helps if you have a friend in Japan!
What do you think about this Kirby plush? Let us know in the comment section below!
Images: Bandai
More video game news!
The horror of this Jigglypuff controller.
Eight video game mascots time forgot.
Super Mario, but with cats.
February 10, 2018
A LEGO Zombie Horde Is the Most Fun of Zombie Hordes
Zombies are some of the most terrifying monsters out there, and when you think about it, a zombie story (even the campiest zombie story) is pretty dark. The recently reanimated dead–friends, family, and acquaintances–coming back to life to destroy towns and eat your brains (or just rip you limb from limb, depending on what zombie lore you adhere to)? It’s completely bleak and terrifying, right?
YouTuber Nixolas decided to take the zombie genre and add a bit more whimsy to it. Instead of giving a bunch of human actors some undead makeup, they made a zombie horde out of LEGO figures. It’s a quick animated video featuring a horde running at a wall…and things don’t go great for the horde. As it turns out, zombie LEGO figures don’t have a great deal of structural integrity.
Our friends over at Laughing Squid first tipped us off to this video, and they also posted a video from Nixolas‘ Instagram that shows the animation process that went into creating this hilarious horde.
A post shared by NIXOLAS (@nixolascrowd) on Jan 11, 2018 at 4:32am PST
I don’t know about you, but this is definitely the funniest zombie horde I’ve seen in some time. Of course, I think the real unsung hero of this video is the zombie that immediately gets distracted by the LEGO pizza and runs around it until the trip over some debris. A lot of people like to imagine how long they’ll survive in a zombie apocalypse, but I think if we’re all honest, most of us would just immediately turn into the Pizza Zombie, right?
We love this video, but it isn’t the first time that Nixolas has created a unique video like this. A quick perusal of their YouTube and website, and you’ll see that they have done a lot of really cool work with 3D animation. The Nixolas YouTube is full of creative and fun videos as well as some great tutorials on the site that can help aspiring animators. Be sure to check it out!
What do you think of this LEGO zombie horde? What are some of your other favorite Nixolas videos? Tell us in the comments!
Feature Image: Nixolas
Zombies, zombies, everywhere, and not a brain to think…
Skillet like to punch zombies.
How fast would a zombie apocalypse really happen?
How Iron Man saved Civil War from having zombies in it.
The Story Behind the “What BLACK PANTHER Means To Me” Hashtag
Black Panther is very nearly upon us, and to say the anticipation is high is something of an understatement. This isn’t just another Marvel Studios movie, at least not for millions of people who have waited to see someone who represents them be the center of a mainstream superhero narrative for the first time. As much as Wonder Woman was important for women last year, then so is Black Panther the exact same thing for African-American audiences.
Sure, Marvel’s Blade made it to the big screen 20 years ago, but that trilogy was as much R-rated horror as superhero action. In other words, you couldn’t take your kids to see it, much less have it be something that inspires them. Black Panther is different. Black Panther is inspirational and aspirational.
And if you’ve been on social media lately, you may have seen the hashtag #WhatBlackPantherMeansToMe. The hashtag was the brainchild of Kayla Sutton, director of online marketing for Black Girl Nerds, who quickly realized the cultural significance of Black Panther releasing at this moment in time. Here’s what she had to say on just why she created the hashtag in the first place:
“This was inspired by a question that I asked my son yesterday. He has been reading the comics (like me) and as a young black male with autism I wanted to know what this movie meant to him. It got me thinking about the impact this movie is going to have on so many. And how much it means to us internally at BGN and to my personally as a black woman.”
“This film is so unapologetically black and growing up on the outside of the nerd community as an “other” to have a film filled with people that look like me and my family is the most amazing gift. I feel that this film is going to open the door for more comic characters of color to have their stories on the big screen and other groups can have a movement that mirrors the #BlackPanther hype.”
Since then, the hashtag has blown up, with hundreds of people sharing their personal feelings regarding the release of the film. You can check out our collection of some of the best uses of the #WhatBlackPantherMeansToMe hashtag from around Twitter down below.
You can’t tell me that representation isn’t important. You just can’t. #WhatBlackPantherMeansToMe pic.twitter.com/mAmPvtNrN8
— Princess Anastasia (@anamarbo88) February 8, 2018
#WhatBlackPantherMeansToMe? That black folk get to be portrayed cinematically as our true heroic selves instead of as afterthoughts, diluted by the limited minds behind the casting process. Black actors usually gotta audition twice; for the role, and against skewed notions of us.
— Cyrus McQueen (@CyrusMMcQueen) February 6, 2018
#WhatBlackPantherMeansToMe It means that my kids and young black kids everywhere will see themselves as heroes capable of leading their own narratives. #ReprsentationMatters
— Matthew A. Cherry (@MatthewACherry) February 6, 2018
The Disney Princess I’ve been waiting my whole life for. #BlackPanther
#WhatBlackPantherMeansToMe pic.twitter.com/6RehaNhhUG
— Neysha (@La_Ney_sha) February 7, 2018
When they see superheroes that look like them…it tells them “Yes You Can”! #foreverwakanda #blackpanther
If you are in #Brisbane and you want to watch this movie with us on Friday 16 February, let me know. I am hosting a screening.#WhatBlackPantherMeansToMe #africanaustralian pic.twitter.com/1j98DB7gru
— sharon orapeleng (@Sharonora) February 8, 2018
#WhatBlackPantherMeansToMe
Everything.
I cried when it was announced. I cried at the visuals. I cried at the #SDCC Marvel booth.
I cried in joy. Their blackness is mine. My blackness is theirs.
Black Panther is a love letter, a celebration, and a victory march for the diaspora
— Chelsea of the Dora Milaje. WAKANDA FOREVER! (@IfIWereMagneto) February 6, 2018
Being able to see women and girls like myself designing the most advanced technology and weapons the world has every seen. #WhatBlackPantherMeansToMe pic.twitter.com/4nZ97Um6d6
— Netia McCray (@netiamccray) February 6, 2018
#WhatBlackPantherMeansToMe I was the only black person that graduated with a degree in Chemistry in 2014. At times I was the only black person in the lab. To see Shuri and other black scientists working on groundbreaking technology that is fully theirs means everything to me. https://t.co/CQOziSApim
— Your Royal Blackness. (@MsPowerGranger) February 6, 2018
#WhatBlackPantherMeansToMe having complete confidence in a film, secure in its direction and creation, knowing it will leave me breathless with pride, in awe of the kingdom they’ve built. to see the screen reflect a vision greater than myself and important to our time. pic.twitter.com/9QaKm068h6
— mellowscorpio
Jimmy Fallon and Paul Rudd Recreate Go West’s “King of Wishful Thinking” Video
Somehow, in Hollywood’s never-ending sea of remakes, no one has gotten around to revisiting Pretty Woman, the 1990 comedy that made Julia Roberts into a movie star. But 27 years later, Jimmy Fallon and Paul Rudd came together to film a shot-for-shot recreation of Go West’s “King of Wishful Thinking,” one of the signature songs from the Pretty Woman soundtrack. Their video debuted on The Tonight Show, and it even included a woman wearing Roberts’ outfit from the film’s official poster.
For comparison’s sake, it’s only fitting that we watch the original video for context. Go West’s titular duo, Peter Cox and Richard Drummie, were at the peak of their popularity when “King of Wishful Thinking” was on the airwaves. Their music video is still pretty fun to watch, so it’s easy to see why Fallon and Rudd chose to remake it.
Back on The Tonight Show, Rudd and Fallon spent some time laughing about some of the most random elements of the video. According to Fallon, it to took a few days to finish the remake and he thanked Rudd for spending so much time on it. Naturally, Fallon’s version of gratitude consisted of showing off clips of Rudd faithfully recreating Cox’s dance moves from the original video, even at a moment’s notice. But perhaps the funniest moment came when Rudd revealed how his son reacted to a picture of him from the shoot.
What did you think about Fallon and Rudd’s remake of “The King of Wishful Thinking”? Let us know in the comment section below!
Image: NBC
More music is always good.
Fullmetal Alchemist has a music video.
John Carpenter’s music video for Christine.
Katy Perry sure does like memes.
Hot Toys’ BLACK PANTHER Figure Features a Light-Up Suit
It’s less than a week until Marvel’s latest blockbuster, Black Panther, is released in theaters (you can read Marc Bernardin’s review here). Making a huge splash in 2016’s Captain America: Civil War, Chadwick Boseman’s T’Challa looked ready for the spotlight right from the start. Hot Toys definitely saw this, and have made an amazing 1:6 scale figure to prove it.
Based on the new suit featured in the movie, the Black Panther figure stands 31.5 cm tall and looks even more menacing than he did in Civil War. Featuring over 32 points of articulation, T’Challa can be put in any state of catlike readiness the fans so desire.
If you are more of a fan of the regal side of the Black Panther, fear not, as the figure also comes with an interchangeable head sculpt of Boseman. To be honest, whether the mask is on or off, I definitely would not want to mess with the King of Wakanda.
The coolest aspect of this figure (and what sets it apart from its Civil War predecessor) is that thanks to 2 specialized LED light units, the figure can show off the more technical elements of the new suit, as (in the movie) it shines purple when the suit absorbs a kinetic energy hit.
The figure also comes with 7 interchangeable hands, a spear, two eyepieces, and a specialized stand. No, it does NOT come with the cool looking Lexus from the Super Bowl commercials. We can dream, though.
You can check out more photos of this awesome figure in the gallery down below, and you can pre-order it from Sideshow Collectibles for $259 on their website here.
So what do you think? Will the Black Panther be the next figure in your Hot Toys collection? What other characters from the film would you like to see get their own figure? Let me know on Twitter @donnielederer or sound off in the comments below.
Images: Sideshow Collectibles/Hot Toys
Hot hot hot Toys!
This Emperor Palpatine figure is “Good…Good!”
We’d fly through space with this General Leia.
Aquaman makes us want Mo, Mo…Ah!
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