Chris Hardwick's Blog, page 2033

A.I. Generates The Ridiculous Inspirational Posters That We Need Right Now

The pinnacle of mankind’s inspirational posters has long been the cat dangling from a tree, with the words “hang in there” reminding us to keep fighting. It’s cute, it’s succinct, it’s nurturing, and it works. But the age of man will soon be at an end. And when that day comes, the machines will do the thinking for us, including generating all new pictures featuring warm images paired with uplifting slogans.

But it looks like that day is still far away, at least based on the totally insane creations of this artificial intelligence inspirational poster maker.

InspiroBot is “an artificial intelligence dedicated to generating unlimited amounts of unique inspirational quotes for endless enrichment of pointless human existence.” We don’t know about any sort of enrichment of our existence, but they definitely make us laugh.

They range from totally ludicrous…

…to strangely thought provoking…

…to weirdly counterproductive…

…to obviously delusional…

…to…..uh…we don’t know what to make of this one.

Is that true? What kind of interest rate are we talking about?

Doesn’t matter, we don’t have time to look it up, not after wasting waaaay too much of our day playing around with InspiroBot. And believe us, so will you. How can you not when every time you hit “generate” you can end up with something like this?

It’s no “hang in there,” but truer words were never spoken by a silly A.I. inspirational poster generator.

We can’t get enough of this, so head over there yourself and then let us know in the comments below about the best posters you generated with it.

Images: InspiroBot

Zoos Are Pairing Nervous Cheetahs With Support Dogs And It’s Adorable

Zoos sometimes get criticized because they can be seen as imprisoning animals solely for human enjoyment. But what people may not realize is that many zoo animals are there because they wouldn’t have been able to survive in the wild on their own, and human intervention is necessary for their survival.

For example, Kumbali is a cheetah cub at the Metro Richmond Zoo, and as a newborn, the cub was losing weight because its mother wasn’t producing enough milk to feed her litter. Once Kumbali was cared for and brought back to health, his family rejected him, but the anxious cat, very social by nature, still needed a friend. That’s where Kago, a companion dog, came in.

The lab mix puppy, which was given to the zoo by a shelter, and cheetah cub were apprehensive of each other at first, but as they started to feel each other out, they quickly became friends and are now growing up together, happy and healthy. In a post about the animal friends, the zoo notes that while this relationship isn’t typically what you’d see in nature, it does more good than harm in this scenario:

This symbiotic relationship would never happen in the wild; however, we believe the positive outcomes outweigh any negative. As the two grow up together, they create a bond that becomes almost inseparable, sibling-like. They provide companionship for each other. The dog has a calming influence because the cheetah will take behavioral cues from the dog– learning not to fear his surroundings, but instead embracing them with confidence. The dog normally becomes the dominant figure  in the relationship by becoming the protector and leader. The cheetah will not hurt or kill his friend.

The best part of the story: If you find yourself near Moseley, Virginia, you can check out Kumbali and Kago for yourself, since they’re in the zoo during the day. Check out the video of their story above, and let us know if you’re as *heart eyes emoji* over this as we are.

Featured image: Metro Richmond Zoo/YouTube

Make Your Own IRON MAN Suit with a DIY Course

Iron Man‘s suit of armor doesn’t exactly look like an easy build. We’ve seen how much Tony Stark’s toiled over making the perfect suit in the comics and in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. It’s a commitment, one that cosplayers regularly sign up for. Given that the Iron Man armor is a complex build, it would be nice to have someone walk you through the steps with complete instructions. That’s what Christian Trejo is doing with TheIronSuit.com.

Trejo made an Iron Man suit of his own for Halloween one year and realized he’d like to help others do the same. To that end, he’s put together an online course to guide ambitious makers through the process. It includes a material list (with easily accessible items), a guide, 3D design files and the software necessary to view them, video tutorials, and more.

An example of what the finished armor could look like (there are options for customization as you build):

I mean, it would make for a great “what I did over summer break” essay. I think it would be neat if this was a school project, actually. I bet an enterprising student could sell a teacher on this idea.

And if you’re not about being a mechanic, Trejo has options for purchasing a complete set of armor. Visit TheIronSuit.com to get all the details

Imagine you could build any version of Iron Man armor. Which would you choose and why? Propel yourself to the comments and let us know.

Images: TheIronSuit.com

7 Weird Things That You Probably Didn’t Know About BLADE

Marvel’s iconic vampire human hybrid Blade started the modern comic book movie boom in 1998’s smash hit R-Rated action horror classic. With Kevin Feige sparking the flames of fan theories everywhere with his recent comments about Blade “One Day” returning to the MCU, per his conversation with Joblo, we thought we’d look back at the badass bloodsucker slayer’s past, collecting some deep cut dives from his comic book history. So here are some things you might not know about Blade!

He’s Actually British

Born Eric Brooks in a London brothel in Soho’s famous red light district in 1929, the Blade of the comic books is a far cry from Wesley Snipes’ modern half-vamp half-human hybrid. When Eric’s mother had troubles during his birth, a doctor was called. But that doctor just happened to be Deacon Frost, an evil vampire who feasted on Blade’s mother and killed her. Through some kind of classic comics symbiotic-in-utero-transference, Blade received his vampiric powers.

He Was Raised in a Brothel

Frost would’ve killed Blade too, but his mother’s fellow sex workers fought off the evil vampire. They then raised Eric in Madame Vanity’s, the brothel where he was born. It’s rare to find a male comic book character who was raised by women, but then again Blade is a pretty unique comic book creation.

He Was Trained by a Jazz Musician

Whilst walking home from school one evening, Eric came across a man being attacked by a group of vampires. Eric ran to help and, together, the two defeated and killed the bloodsuckers. The man Blade saved was Jamal Afari, a jazz trumpeter with a silver headed cane who moved into Madame Vanity’s and trained Eric in the ways of vampire hunting and, of course, music. It was his training with Afari that gained him his name Blade due to his proficiency with knives and daggers.

He Was Introduced by Another Famous Vampire

Blade’s first appearance was in the Marvel monsters title The Tomb of Dracula #10 in 1973, created by Marv Wolfman and Gene Colan. He was envisioned as a heroic counterpoint to the king of vampires, and this introduction would set up Blade’s ongoing battle with Dracula. Blade appeared as a side character in these books for around a year until his first solo story in the black-and-white horror comics magazine Vampire Tales #8. His bloodsucker centric adventures continued with a 56-page solo story written by legendary X-Men writer Chris Claremont.

He Only Exists Because the Comics Code Was Relaxed in the ’70s

The Comics Code defined much of the post-1954 American comics landscape, having been created after the notorious Senate hearings where Frederic Wertham, the author of The Seduction of The Innocent, made the case that comics were obscene. This landmark ruling led to the Comics Code Authority, which was a set of restrictions comic publishers had to follow to be widely distributed. The CCA was finally relaxed in 1971, allowing comics publishers to reintroduce some of the monsters who’d once been so popular, including vampires.

His Creator Sued Marvel

When the smash hit movie Blade was released under the now defunct “Marvel Dark Knights” studio imprint, everyone from fans to Marvel execs were incredibly happy with the outcome. Everyone except perhaps Blade’s co-creator Marv Wolfman. Wolfman sued Marvel over ownership to the rights to the Blade character, stating that he never signed a “work for hire” contract, which meant the character technically belonged to him. In 2006 a judge found in Marvel’s favor, citing that the film version was different enough from Wolfman’s vision to separate it from its comic book origin. Maybe that’s why we never saw an early century Blade with a London accent?

He Almost Had a Daughter

Blade: The Hunter was announced at San Diego Comic-Con 2015, a brand new Marvel title which would focus on Blade’s daughter, a new incarnation of the daywalker. Though fans were excited about the concept, there were questions as to why Marvel–who’ve notoriously struggled with representation on and off the page–hired a white male writer to bring this new character to life. Writer Tim Seeley left the book after stating that he’d listened to the criticism and thought the book should have a black woman as the writer. Rumors abound as to why the book is still delayed, with said conversations accentuating Marvel’s across-the-board resistence to hire black women to write their books (there have only been three in the history of the company and the first, Nilah Magruder, wrote her story in 2016.) But there have been rumblings that the company have decided to introduce Blade’s daughter into their movies or TV shows, hence the book’s delay.

Images: Marvel Comics, Marv Wolfman

BUFFY: 20 Years of Slaying Fan Event Coming To SDCC

It may be hard to believe, but this year marks the 20th anniversary of Joss Whedon’s seminal television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer. To celebrate two decades of Sarah Michelle Gellar dusting the undead with style, Twentieth Century Fox is hosting the Buffy the Vampire Slayer: 20 Years of Slaying Fan Event in San Diego during Comic-Con.

There will be an evening of Buffy-themed giveaways, trivia, and cosplay contests. On top of all that, Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment has announced the Buffy the Vampire Slayer: The Complete Series 20th Anniversary Edition DVD Boxed Set will be available for preorder at San Diego Comic-Con. (what, no Blu-ray??)

The “Buffy the Vampire Slayer: 20 Years of Slaying” fan event will be held Saturday, July 22 from 6-9 pm at Side Bar in the Gaslamp Quarter (exact address is 536 Market Street in San Diego). Buffy fans interested in attending can register on the official Buffy Facebook page here. A portion of this event will also be live-streamed to the page, too—perfect for folks who can’t make it to the big event.

Among the activities at the event will be a Buffy Fandom Feud Trivia Contest, where fans will get the opportunity to win Slayer Swag as they team up to show off their Buffy knowledge. There will also be a Buffy Cosplay Contest (hosted by Damian Beurer, the co-host of Super Power Beat Down). At the party, fans can show off their improv skills when they get to reenact their favorite Buffy show moments. Attendees will also be treated to themed appetizers and a Buffy 20th anniversary cake as they sip on signature Slayer drinks.

In addition, there will be a photo opportunity with a life-size image of The Gentlemen from one the series’ most beloved episodes, “Hush.” And folks who share on social media will receive an exclusive spell in a small glass vial from the forthcoming book Buffy the Vampire Slayer: The Official Grimoire (coming from Insight Editions in October).

There will also be—are you exhausted yet by the options?—various stations and activities, including an in-person Buffy tabletop board game competition and a wall-sized Buffy coloring book pages from Dark Horse Comics. Fans will be able to color and create their own Buffy art for a special digital mosaic in celebration of #BuffySlays20. You can check out some of the Buffy the Vampire Slayer products which will be available in our gallery below, from companies like Funko, Hot Topic, Insight Editions, Dark Horse, and Jasco Games.

Are you planning on showing your love for all things Buffy at this event at SDCC? Be sure to let us know down below in the comments.

Images: Twentieth Century Fox / Dark Horse Comics / Insight Editions / Hot Topic / Funko / Jasco Games

A Talking Dog Voiced by Sam Elliott Grants Wishes in This Surreal Short Film

If your day is too normal, Will Blank’s latest short film will turn that right around. Limbo is a desert-set tale of distance, regret, and a wish-granting dog that looks like Falkor.

The dog, voiced by the leather-throated Sam Elliott, is dying of thirst in the wasteland when a young man (Raul Castillo) stumbles upon him (her?) and offers some water. The canine grants him a wish and, in doing so, offers a genuine existential crisis to a man already at a crossroads in his life. Maybe the worst thing you can give someone with regret is a second chance.

LIMBO from Will Blank on Vimeo.

First of all, just check out that design. It’s a balanced blend of the real and the fantastical, giving what could have been an outlandish figure the weight and heft it deserves. Naturally, there’s just a hint of absurdity, winked at by the filmmakers, even as both Castillo and Elliott offer arid deadpan. The silliness is human; when pressed with the possibility of getting anything you want, burritos might be the first thing that come to your mind, too.

We get keyhole glimpses into the man’s situation–flashes that offer us a foundation (a young woman played Anahi Bustillos) and a tormenting, unheard phone message that demand we fill in our own blanks.

I love that it toys with an ancient myth of wish-fulfilling beasts in a fresh, somber way. That it places a man not fit for making any kind of decision in a position to make the largest one of his life. It’s also shot with great poise and beauty, happy to let us spend unrushed time with the man and the dog, surrounded by nothing.

Check it out and let us know what you think!

Image: Will Blank

The First Season of POKÉMON Is Now Streaming in HD

If you still remember all the words to the Pokérap and aren’t afraid to show it, you’re in luck. As of today, the entire first season of the Pokémon anime series, also known as Pokémon: Indigo League, is available for purchase in HD (!!!) on iTunes, Google Play, and Amazon.

Pokémon: Indigo League follows Ash Ketchum as he takes up the mantle of Pokémon trainer alongside his buddies Misty and Brock, and, most importantly, his trusty starter Pokémon, Pikachu. It’s been nearly two decades since the season’s original U.S. run—first in syndication, then on the WB—in 1998 and 1999. The show has all the hallmarks of dubbed and kid-targeted anime of that era: morality lessons, goofy humor, over-the-top animation, and ample cuteness. There are also the interactive elements of Who’s that Pokémon? (which isn’t as easy as you remember—a lot of those original 151 look a lot alike in silhouette) and the aforementioned Pokérap.

If you caught Indigo League when it popped up on Netflix a few years back, you’ll know that it’s a nostalgic road worth traveling. Groundbreaking television this is not, but it’s a whole lot of fun, the dubbing isn’t actually that bad (how could it be when so many featured players can only say their own names?), and the Pokémon battles between Ash, Misty, Brock, and their rivals make for genuinely exciting animated sequences.

Individual episodes of Pokémon: Indigo League cost $2.99, making the full-season price of $21.99 quite a bargain. So if you weren’t already subliminally convinced to catch ‘em all, episode-wise, you should do that anyway.

Who’s your starter Pokémon, and why is it Charmander? Let us know in the comments!

Images: Warner Bros.

The Writers Panel #340: The Americans

Fresh off the heels of The Americans‘ penultimate season, creator/showrunner Joe Weisberg and executive producer/showrunner Joel Fields reflect on the gripping, nail-biting journey of the Jennings family across the last five years, as viewers prepare themselves for the final episodes of FX’s critically acclaimed drama. Moderated by Variety‘s Debra Birnbaum.

Recorded at ATX Television Festival on June 10, 2017.

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We Feel Old: HARRY POTTER Turns 20

Want to feel as old as Professor Dumbledore? Harry Potter And The Philosopher’s/Sorcerer’s Stone is officially 20 years old today. Strap into your favorite broom and join Nerdist’s senior editor Dan Casey on today’s episode of Nerdist News Talks Back to take a retrospective look back at one of the most important book series of all time. Joining Dan are Nerdist News writer Joan Ford and Mothership writer Amy Vorpahl, who will also discuss  Sony‘s Spider-verse minus Spider-Man and the announcement of the SNES Classic.

There’s been a lot of buzz lately about Spider-Man and his rogues gallery: will Sony’s Venom and Silver and Black films take place within the Marvel Cinematic Universe, work alongside the MCU but use Tom Holland’s Spider-Man, or act as their own separate cinematic universe entirely? We finally have confirmation that Sony’s Marvel Universe will not take place within the MCU. Instead, the likes of Venom, Black Cat, and Silver Sable will grace the silver screen without their web-slinging nemesis. The biggest question we have is how that is going work. One possibility is that Venom will simply play the hero and act as a stand-in for Spider-Man.

Following the sold-out success of the NES Classic, Nintendo has announced the SNES Classic. Sporting 21 games, the SNES Classic collects some of the greatest video games of all time into one box. If you’ve been itching to go back and play the likes of Super Mario World or Earthbound, you’re in luck. The console also contains the never-before-released Starfox 2! I’d do a barrel roll to get my hands on that game.

Harry Potter turns 20 years old today! Well, Harry’s birthday is July 31, but Harry Potter And The Sorcerer’s Stone is celebrating its birthday today. The series that introduced an entire generation of kids to reading and made lapsed readers fall back in love with the medium was first published on June 26, 1997. Harry Potter stands as one of today’s most beloved franchises, even 20 years after its inception.

You can watch and interact live with Nerdist News Talks Back every weekday at 1:00pm PST on YouTube and Alpha, and catch up with the archives just after the show!

Image: Marvel, Nintendo, Warner Bros.

THE X-FILES is Coming Back, But Its Writers’ Room Hasn’t Left the ’90s

When The X-Files came back to confirm that the truth was still out there in 2016, even diehard fans were nervous—and with good reason. While the show seemingly kicked off the trend of ’90s small-screen darlings getting resurrected for a limited season (Twin Peaks, anyone?), it was tough to know heading in if executive producer Chris Carter and co-leads Gillian Anderson and David Duchovny would be able to recreate the magic of the original series. But even with generally negative reviews from critics and fans alike, the show was picked up for an eleventh season by Fox, kicking off production for another 10 episodes this summer.

With over a year until its return, the question then turned to who, exactly, would be brought on to write season 11—and how many of The X-Files‘ most familiar names would contribute to the writing. Darin Morgan, Glen Morgan and James Wong, writers of some of the most famous X-Files episodes in the show’s history (from “Clyde Bruckman’s Final Repose” to the controversial and disturbing “Home”), have all been recruited for season 11, as well as three new writers. The only downside? They’re all men.

As Indiewire reports, Gabe Rotter, Benjamin Van Allen and Brad Follmer have also joined the writers’ room for season 11, with the first two graduating from writers’ assistant jobs on the season prior. That’s not to say that the show shouldn’t be promoting from within if writers have earned their stripes, but what’s most unfortunate is something that Indiewire notes as well: a big-name drama series on a major network with an all-male writers’ room in 2017 speaks to something that has permeated The X-Files‘ writing staff since the show first aired back in 1993.

Over a total of 202 episodes, two feature films and the six-episode revival, only six women have earned writing credits for The X-Files. Three of them share a byline on the episode in question, and one happens to be Gillian Anderson herself, who wrote the Dana Scully-centric episode “All Things.” But when it comes to the names that were repeatedly tasked to write big episodes—or even the writers most fans can name—all of them are men. Glen Morgan and James Wong. Vince Gilligan, in his pre-Breaking Bad career. John Shiban. Frank Spotnitz. Naming a female writer off the top of one’s head becomes much trickier.

Speaking to Indiewire about the revival, Carter said the reason he’d hired from the same pool he’d originally worked with for season 10 was partly because he didn’t want to “take a chance” that the veteran writers might have to “recover a script” if a new writer wasn’t able to capture the tone of the original series: “If it’s not there to begin with, it’s very hard to manufacture quality.” It’s tough to say whether Carter’s response to the criticism is a result of genuine unawareness or something else entirely, but one thing The X-Files could undoubtedly use for season 11 is some fresh blood—or at the very least, some fresh ideas.

Time should certainly be less of an issue for Carter this time around: the show has had over a year to bring on new writers, so it’s a bit disappointing to see a lack of diverse perspectives among the names tasked with crafting Mulder and Scully’s next set of adventures. And when other networks like The CW are sprinting miles ahead with 67% of its shows being helmed by female showrunners, it makes any response sound like a lame excuse. It’s 2017 and Agent Dana Scully still doesn’t have a desk of her own in the basement of the FBI—or a nameplate, for that matter—and that’s just one of the reasons why The X-Files needs to seriously shake things up before they run the risk of stories turning stale.

What do you think of the revelation? Let us know in the comments below.

Images: FOX