Good news, Boing Boing readers: There is going to be a 2013! Not only that, but tons of cool stuff is coming in the way of entertainment. Here is my list of ten of the cooler things hitting screens both big and small, according to my own personal preferences (and perhaps yours)!
The new season of The Venture Bros.
Our long wait (two years, not counting the Shallow Gravy special) is nearly over! News came out in little dribs and drabs, but we will finally be getting a new season of Adult Swim's The Venture Bros. in early 2013. Some signs even point to January, which would be pretty sweet (birthday present for me), but just knowing that they're coming is news enough for some of us. You can be sure to see an official season premiere date at BB. In the meantime, Jackson Publick and Doc Hammer were kind enough to grant me an interview at New York Comic Con and give me some details.
Anchorman 2
Can Adam McKay & Co. produce a worthy successor to the 100 percent quotable Anchorman? Sequels are a tricky game, but would even a bad sequel to Anchorman be that bad? The entire original main cast is on board, maybe even Kristen Wiig. The people who wrote the first movie are writing the second one. And it's not as if this move came hastily; the original arrived in 2004. I think there is every reason to look forward to this, even if it doesn't top its predecessor. I just want to see what kind of lines they'll come up with.
Community finally returning
It's going to feel awkward, like talking to someone your best friend stopped dating because you still like them and consider them a friend. But even without Dan Harmon running the show, Community fans are very, very eager to see their favorite show again. And after a bit of jerking around, we finally will on Thursday, February 7! We'll have to say goodbye to 30 Rock first, but it's good to see NBC try to nurture one of its most well-received comedies.
The conclusion of The Walking Dead Season 3
On a somewhat similar note, given the recent news of a showrunner change, just a few days after the return of Community is the return of The Walking Dead on Sunday, February 10! This season has been extremely kickass, having taken several twists and turns while having no mercy on its main characters. And now that David Morrissey's Governor is ready to become completely unhinged, it's going to be pretty insane. Also worth getting excited about: the new hour-long version of The Talking Dead hosted by Chris Hardwick! You won't even have to wait an hour and a half to see it, because it'll air right after the new Walking Dead — the way it always should have!
Bates Motel
Hear me out on this one, because I think it might actually be kind of cool, despite my affection for the movie Psycho. Part of that affection does not include the "explainy" end to the movie, when we're treated to a paragraph of why Norman Bates did what he did. Bates Motel is going to give us this story by showing, not telling. We're getting a young Norman Bates (Freddie Highmore), we're getting Mother Bates (Vera Farmiga), and we're going to see one extended theory on why Sonny Boy became a murderer. The teaser trailers make the show look like it'll be weird, spooky, and maybe even creepy on a level that people won't want to watch it before going to bed at night. (Finger crossed!) I just really, really hope that it's good.
The new Evil Dead
Again, hear me out: I was just as skeptical as the next die-hard Evil Dead fan, and like many devoted Evil Dead fans, I don't want a new movie overshadowing the original for the younger generation. But going by the first stills and trailers, Fede Alvarez's Evil Dead looks like it's just plain going to be a good horror movie. While it doesn't have the low-budget charm of the original, maybe the only solution is to stop the comparisons. Yes, it has the same title, but as Bruce Campell — who produced this movie with Sam Raimi and Rob Tapert — has been insisting, it's not a remake. It's a new entry in the Evil Dead series. The first three movies will never leave their special place in my heart, and I'm ready to keep an open mind.
Arrested Development on Netflix
I don't think there is anything in pop culture (heavy on the "cult") more anticipated than new episodes of Arrested Development arriving in the spring, with the entire original cast, creator, and writers, as if they'd never prematurely left us after three seasons. Not only is it great news for AD fans, but it's probably the best news Netflix has gotten in a really long time. Much like an Anchorman sequel, this was not a last-minute idea to make money. This was something that had been floating around in Rumorville for years without any real evidence of being true, like Bigfoot. And then suddenly, one day, Bigfoot held a press conference and declared its existence.
Star Trek Into Darkness
(Video link) I'll admit to only being an amateur Trekkie, but the first J.J. Abrams movie got me to finally watch Star Trek: The Original Series, and I'm hooked. I love the theorizing about who Benedict Cumberbatch is really playing and where this might lead into future movies. But mostly, I'm looking forward to seeing a Star Trek movie in a movie theater for the first time. I hope the die-hards will accept this very enthused newb.
Amazing awards show hosts for generally lame awards shows
Read any blog, tweet, or Facebook post during awards season: according to all the coolest kids, awards shows are lame, yo. Establishment, rich people, etc. etc. But we are getting three awards shows that, despite their lameness, will be hosted by awesome people. In January, the Golden Globes will be hosted by Amy Poehler and Tina Fey at the same time. The following month, Seth MacFarlane will probably do a silly musical number and offend people at the Oscars! And in April, Rebel Freaking Wilson will host the MTV Movie Awards. You don't have to like awards shows. In fact, all of the hosts I just mentioned will be mocking the ceremonies the entire time they're performing their hosting duties. And this — plus, maybe some booze — will make for great awards show parties.
The Heat
(Video link) Holy crapcakes, Melissa McCarthy and Sandra Bullock in the first buddy cop movie starring two women? I cannot tell you how badly I want this to be good. Seriously, a part of my soul will break into pieces if this is bad, even though I have a hard time thinking it will be.
What are you guys excited about in 2013?
