Video: Masi Oka Talks Volunteering, Return of Heroes
Masi Oka of Heroes talks about his involvement with the Red Cross for the Gifts That Give Back program. Masi says that donating blood or volunteering for the organization are both great ways to give back. Masi, who plays our favorite character Hiro on Heroes, says the show returns Monday night with six new episodes before the Winter Olympics. He says Hiro needs to find Dr. Suresh, find his missing girlfriend Charlie, and deal with his brain tumor. He says all the issues will be resolved, but what does that mean? We will be most displeased if Hiro dies.
Take a look:
Star Masi Oka says his terminally ill character "Hiro" on Heroes has a bucket list. Masi Oka says if they all of sudden say Masi Oka's illness is easy to get over like the "common cold" then it would be unfair to the audience. He says it is important to "reinstall" a "sense of danger" and finality in the new season.
There will be no killing off of Hiro. We will not stand for it. Instead of "Save the Cheerleader" it should be "Save the Time Traveler!" No Hiro, No Heroes. Take a look:
A new online world called Champions Online is set to debut September 1st. The superhero based massively-multiplayer game contains no superheroes from Marvel or DC comics. Players get to create their own superheroes from scratch. The game promises "billions of character options." Currently, a six-month subscription costs $59.99 and a lifetime subscription costs $199.99. Take a look:
Hereos Star Greg Grunberg Cofounder of iPhone Shopping App Called Yowza
Twittering Heroes star Greg Grunberg (@greggrunberg) also has an interesting mobile phone project going called Yowza. Greg is indeed one of the cofounders of Yowza along with his partners August Trometer and Rick Yaeger. Yowza is an iPhone app that helps you locate nearby deals when you are out shopping.
You can read a text interview with Greg Grunberg about Yowza
here
on CrunchGear. Geakbrief.tv has a video interview with Greg Grunberg. You can also find out more information about the deal spotting app at GetYowza.com.
Dania Ramirez is the Newest Face of CoverGirl Cosmetics
Dania Ramirez, who plays Maya on Heroes, is the
newest face of CoverGirl cosmetics.
Dania joins Queen Latifah, Ellen DeGeneres and Drew Barrymore as a Cover Girl.
The 29-year old beauty, best known for her role as Maya on Heroes, jokes that while her deal may have just come to fruition this summer, in her mind "it"s been in the works my whole life. I've always dreamed of being a CoverGirl." Not that it's always been an easy path for the Dominic Repbulic-born actress. She tells People that she's especially excited about becoming a CoverGirl spokesmodel because, "I'm bringing my story, a story of struggle and hard work. Not speaking the language [when I got to America] and trying to figure out my definition of beauty, you learn to recognize the beauty in all of us. It takes a strong person to get where I've got."
But of course, that doesn't mean that Dania doesn't love the girlier things in life, like her CoverGirl Outlast Lipstain. "If I could walk around telling people how great it is, I would!" she enthuses. "It adds color to your lips and lasts so long, but doesn't make [your lips] sticky."
Dania will star in print and television ads starting in January, 2010.
Tyler Shields has a new celebrity video portrait out. This one is of Zachary Quinto fiercely emoting as someone pours milk on him. Zach can really do the angry. It's kind of like what might happen if someone decided it would be a good idea to hurl a gallon of milk at Sylar from Heroes. Of course we all know what Sylar would do next in that situation: goodbye to the milk-thrower. Take a look:
We loved the Heroes football trailer they aired during the Super Bowl. Nathan Petrelli (Adrian Pasdar) uses his flying powers during the game, but takes a nasty hit. Claire Bennett (Hayden Panettiere) also gets tackled, but uses her healing powers to snap back to life. And the day is saved by Hiro (Masi Oka) who stops time to get the ball. But the NFL Allstars have a surprise Hero on their side in John Elway. Be sure to watch for Sylar's (Zachary Quinto's) appearance. Take a look:
You can see more of the Super Bowl ads we liked here.
Christina Aguilera performed her hit "Beautiful" at the CNN Heroes gala and she was absolutely amazing. Some critics weren't thrilled with her AMA performance, but she was in top form for this performance. She received a standing ovation, which was well-deserved. Take a look:
Chocolate Couture Superheroes at NYC Chocolate Show
This year's 11th annual Chocolate Show in New York City featured a chocolate fashion show with a superhero theme. The concept sounds like a cross between Top Chef and Project Runway. ITN has some highlights from the chocolate fashion show in the video below. How about that chocolate leather Xena Warrior Princess outfit? The designer of this costume used chocolate leather which is a combination of chocolate and corn syrup. She says it would taste like a tootise roll if you were to eat it. More highlights from the Chocolate Show's fashion show can be found here, here, here, here, here, here and here.
In a surprise move, NBC executives summarily firedHeroes executive producers and writers Jeph Loeb and Jesse Alexander. We love Heroes and have been a bit since last season when the writers introduced so many new characters and storylines. Lots of fans decided the show was losing its way and made their thoughts known -- the ratings have dropped. So, heads had to roll.
Their departure comes at a watershed moment for Heroes, which has taken a serious hit in the ratings amid complaints by critics and fans alike that the show has lost its zeitgeist-tapping appeal. The drama is averaging 9 million-plus viewers this season, down from last year's 11.6 million average.
Loeb and Alexander are celebrities in their own right among the fanboys. Loeb is an author of many comic books, including Batman, The Hulk, and Superman For All Seasons, which inspired the creation of Smallville. Loeb joined the then-WB drama in its second season. Alexander was previously a co-exeutive producer on Lost and Alias. It's unclear whether Heroes creator/executive producer Tim Kring will replace the two writer/producers.
We don't understand why the writers went so crazy with all the subplots. That entire thing with Maya and her brother running through Mexico accidentally killing people was just awful. Thank goodness Maya exited the show last week. And don't even get us started on Mohinder! He was cute. He was the nerdy scientist who was looking for answers. In a few short episodes they turned him into The Fly -- or something. It's just annoying: his skin is peeling off, for Pete's sake. That is so not hot. We like that Claire Bennet (Hayden Panettiere) is becoming an action hero in her own right and that Sylar (Zachary Quinto) has a good side. We love Hiro (Masi Oka) and Ando's (James Kyson Lee) storylines. And we liked when Hiro went back in time to Japan. Good times.
But we hate the fact that Niki Sanders (Ali Larter) has two more twin sisters -- please, enough with her and her boring storylines. More Peter Petrelli (Milo Ventimiglia). More Sylar. And more HRG (Claire's dad Noah Bennet played by Jack Coleman, known to fans as Horned Rimmed Glasses or HRG). And why did they have to kill off Adam Munroe? We've loved David Anders since he (as Mr. Sark) bedeviled Jennifer Garner on Alias.
This is the same problem that got Lost, well, lost. Too many characters. Too many subplots. The new writers need to tighten up the scripts, and pare down the number of characters and storylines. Save the cheerleader, save this show. We're feeling quite grumpy about the whole situation.
Bruegger's is getting into the Fourth of July spirit by offering New York-style, hot-from-the-oven red, white and blue swirled bagels. A portion of the proceeds from the sale of patriotic bagels will benefit the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund, is a nonprofit organization that has provided close to $60 million in support for the families of military personnel lost in service to our nation, and for severely wounded military personnel and veterans.
The patriotic bagels will be available Thursday, July 3 and Friday, July 4.
You can find your nearest Bruegger's bakery, visit the Bruegger's website.
Twittering Heroes star Greg Grunberg (
