Off The Record...
Full Devil Jacket
Full Devil Jacket
Opening up with the blazing metal of Wanna Be Martyr, complete with grating vocals and a thunder riff that would be at home on a Sevendust disc, Full Devil Jacket sound like they're ready to come out swinging as nu-metal contenders. Vocalist Josh Brown just as easily slips into a radio-friendly vocal croon that would work on a Bush tune. Full Devil Jacket is brought to you by Tom Zutaut, famed A&R dude who signed GnR and Motley Crue. People should dig this, since FDJ will sound cool on the radio compared to most of the other same old being
shot out at us, and for that we shall be grateful.
 

On The Air...

WWF

Although wrestling has been around for decades, never has it reached such mass popularity.  Bigger than life superstars like the Rock, Triple-H, The Big Show and Stone Cold Steve Austin have propelled the WWF into one of the most watched live and pay-per-view events ever. So where does the appeal lie? It’s old-fashioned good versus evil, where fans can boo the bad guy and cheer for the hero. With Vince McMahon himself adding the special angle that allows watchers to vent their feelings for their bosses, there is no telling how far this phenomenon will go. The WWF calls it sports entertainment, accurate, although there is a great deal of soap opera lines and Saturday morning action serial mixed in.  Watch it once and you will be hooked.

On Video...
Being John Malkovich
Commercial and music video director Spike Jonze has put together an incredibly offbeat and original movie. A street puppeteer (John Cusack) takes a filing job on the 7 1/2-floor of a New York office building, where the ceilings are so low that workers must hunch over to move. One afternoon he discovers a door which leads to a portal that enters the consciousness of actor John Malkovich. Soon his friends partake of the weirdness inside Malkovich's head. A remarkable comment on identity, longing and emotional fulfillment.

The Buzz...

A 7-year festival has a new name and a harder direction. X-Fest (formerly Edgefest) is set to go down in Somerset WI this Memorial Day weekend with an edgier lineup than ever.  Look for Stone Temple Pilots, Sevendust, Powerman 5000, Everclear, Godsmack, Three Doors Down, and Slipknot to perform along with a few dozen other of today’s top talents.

On June 11, the Cartoon Network will be presenting The Lost Cartoons ToonHeads Special, which will feature nine classic toons never before seen on the cable network. The special will include the first talking cartoon, a selection of World War II-era shorts produced by the U.S. Army, and behind the scenes clips featuring some of animation's best-known creators.

Universal Pictures and Imagine Entertainment will pay author and screenwriter John Ridley a $1 million advance to write a live-action adaptation of his online animated series Undercover Brother. The hero of Ridley's nettoon is an afro-sporting dude cooler than Shaft who routinely uses his unassuming alter ego to fight the establishment.

Toronto based Imax saw revenue leap 54 percent to $56.5 million last quarter, based on the debut of Disney's Fantasia 2000, as well as continued popularity of other releases like T-Rex: Back to the Cretaceous and Galapagos.

After 50 years, the Pentagon will honor Beetle Bailey creator Mort Walker with its highest civilian award for distinguished service.

The current season will be the last one for the successful cable series La Femme Nikita, starring Peta Wilson in the title role.

Two major Chicago-based retailers recently said they’d stop all sales of M-rated video games nationwide. Montgomery Ward and Sears Roebuck and Co. told the federal government last week they'll go beyond the government urging to curb sales to those under 17 and just ban them outright.
 
Marvel.com has a new Flash site up that promises games, contests and movie news. The site is sponsored by the Coalition for the Eradication of the Mutant Species. Many of the features have yet to be posted but the beginning looks promising. Check it out!

Nickelodeon and Mattel Inc. announced that they have signed a multiyear licensing deal that will allow the manufacturer to make toys based on the cable network's TV and film properties. The agreement covers action figures, dolls, games, plush toys, and preschool toys based on Nick's programming.

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