(Video link) Considering how long we've known about Martin Freeman starring in both The Hobbit and The Office, I'm a little surprised I didn't see this sooner. However, I am not at all surprised that Gareth was cast as Gollum. I hope there are three parts to this! By Eager Beaver Productions. (via Slate)

Co-creator of The Venture Bros. Jackson Publick was kind enough to update everyone on the status of the upcoming fifth season of the show. And while we'll be waiting a little longer than expected for the premiere -- March or May, due to the production of the first hour-long episode last -- we were treated to some preview screen shots and a list of special guest stars!

Publick posted the images on his Tumblr and LiveJournal, where he provides his semi-regular updates on all things Venture, as well as some things non-Venture. And as we get a little bit closer to the fifth season finally hitting the airwaves, he has more to tell us, including an array of new and returning guest stars: "J.K. Simmons, Larry Murphy, Paget Brewster, John Hodgman, Wyatt Cenac, Tim Meadows, Gillian Jacobs, Bill Hader, and the kicking-ass-on-SNL-this-season Kate McKinnon!" Hodgman, Hader, and McKinnon have all appeared before, but J.K. Simmons, Tim Meadows, and Gillian Jacobs doing voice work should be something to really, really look forward to this season. I don't even want to know what kind of parts they'll be playing. I want to be delightfully surprised.

But that's not even all Jackson (aka Christopher McCulloch) had to share with us. In addition to revealing that he's seen every episode of the fifth season (and that it all looks "great"), he also mentioned a long-form episode tying not just the fifth and sixth seasons together, but any loose ends from the previous four seasons, "and start a few new ones in the process." He also said they're hoping to have less of a waiting period between seasons (like the two-year wait we're currently enduring, excluding the two stand-alone specials), but I'll believe that when I see it. (Personally, I'm happy to wait for an amazing season for a long time than settle for a mediocre season that was rushed.)

Here are a couple of the new screen shots, which feature many appearances by dinosaurs!

For more screen shots, visit Jackson's Tumblr page or his LiveJournal, Publick Nuisance.

(via Venture Bros. Blog

All images via Jackson Publick

We filmed the bottle episode in chronological order so this was the first line that we shot and I remember sitting at the monitors at 7am on the first day thinking, "If they call action and no one runs in here screaming 'stop the TV-equivalent of presses,' then I will have written a line that will appear on a television show. I'll be a television writer." And the director did call action–as they do–and so I was. Just like that. ...

This isn't the end of me and Greendale. Community was my world for four seasons and my job for three, and has hold of my whole heart like a bad-news high school boyfriend. I'll never really get away. The chemistry is too perfect and the writing room couches aren't really that uncomfortable to sleep on and I just can't stop writing for Britta. Plus I still have to do my editing pass on the finale. I think I left a box in my office, too. Bobrow probably misses me. Better stop by on my way home.

Ganz's voice on Community will definitely be missed, but I prefer to see her gainfully employed rather than suddenly silenced or underutilized. I will probably also really, truly have to start watching Modern Family now.

(via Splitsider)

Photo of Megan Ganz and Annie's Boobs via Community Wiki

The incredibly fun-sounding new animated series from IFC, Out There, has assembled a heck of a great cast to voice its characters. In addition to series creator Ryan Quincy, who is providing the voice of the lead role of Chad Stevens, here is who else has come on board and who they'll be playing (via press release):

Out There chronicles the coming-of-age misadventures of socially awkward Chad (Ryan Quincy), his little brother Jay (Kate Micucci) and his best friend, Chris (Justin Roiland). Living in the small town of Holford, the boys wander its surreal, bleak landscape waiting out their last few years of adolescence. Along the way, viewers meet Chad’s conservative parents, Wayne (John DiMaggio) and Rose (Megan Mullally), as well as Chris’s single mother, Joanie (Pamela Adlon) and her disastrous boyfriend, Terry (Fred Armisen). They also meet the object of Chad’s affection, Sharla (Linda Cardellini).

I don't know about you, but where John DiMaggio and Pamela Adlon go, I'll follow, to say nothing of Armisen, Micucci, and Mullally. Here's to a brand new year of more silly, weird cartoons! Out There premieres on Friday, February 22 on IFC.

Anthony Bourdain has some hard-hitting questions about the characters on Nickelodeon's tween favorite iCarly, and he asked them on Twitter last night. Among his inquiries: "Does Spencer have a job? Besides hanging out with underage girls?" and "[W]hat's Marvin Marvin's story?" Perfectly valid things for a renowned traveler/chef/middle-aged man to wonder in front of an audience of millions. I think he should consider live-tweeting an entire day of programming on The Hub, but that's just me. (via Warming Glow)

(Video link) If you've caught any of the commercials for Portlandia's upcoming third season premiere (this Friday, January 4 at 10:00 PM EST on IFC), then SPOILER ALERT: you may have already seen parts of this new preview clip, entitled "Spoiler Alert," which means you've already been spoiled. SPOILER ALERT: It contains spoilers. (via IFC)

(Video link) Bronies + Trekkies = Brekkies, and then geekdom exploded into sparkles and lasers! Happy New Year, everypony! Live long and prosper! (via Eric Kwun on Twitter)

Related: WATCHPONIES: Watchmen/My Little Pony mashup

We all know about the time-honored tradition of Syfy's Twilight Zone New Year's marathon. But in case you're not into a 24-hour trip into another dimension and still want to watch a buttload of TV today and tomorrow, here is a short list of other TV marathons that might interest you!

24 Hours of Portlandia (IFC), starting tonight at 6:00 PM (EST)

(Doctor) Who Year's Eve (BBC America), last episode airs at 5:00 AM (EST) tomorrow morning

MacGyver marathon (Cloo), last episode airs tomorrow morning at 5:00 AM (EST)

New Year's Hercul-Eve Marathon (The Hub), 10 episodes of Hercules: The Legendary Journeys starting tonight at 8:00 PM (EST)

How Do They Do It? marathon (Science), last episode airing at 1:30 AM (EST) tomorrow morning, followed by a Fringe marathon

The Walking Dead Season 3 (AMC), starting tonight at 9:00 PM (EST)

Mysteries At the Museum (Travel Channel), starting at 9:00 AM (EST) tomorrow morning with a special, followed by regular episodes

Photo credit: IFC

Let's end 2012 with some truthiness: gossip site Oh No They Didn't got wind of some new details concerning the fourth season of Arrested Development and its upcoming premiere on Netflix. Apparently, a publicity site for Fox prematurely posted a new image, a May 4, 2013 premiere date, and a list of episode titles before taking it all down. A few sites have reported this as the official release date, but Vulture contacted a Netflix representative who said the date "is wrong."

A debunked rumor is not the most fun way to start out a year of heavily-anticipated entertainment, but at least we know it's on its way! (I'd still count on a May premiere. Seems like it would make a lot of sense -- just as all the network shows are ending, the Bluths swoop in and save us all from summer programming.)

Photo credit: Entertainment Weekly

(via Cinema Blend)

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?

(Video link) Before signing off tonight, I strongly urge you to set aside whatever bad news you may have seen today and watch this adorable video of a three-year-old boy named Kieran asking Santa Claus for Spider-Man and then having his Christmas wish immediately granted. The video was created by Sean Ward, a long-time friend of Kieran's family and the filmmaker behind the extremely popular (and hilarious) series of Toronto Batman videos. Way to end a great year on a heartwarming note! (Thanks, Sean!)

After turning around a flailing sophomore season for AMC's The Walking Dead, the network announced that on the heels of an amazing third season start -- and a fourth season pickup -- Glen Mazzara will be stepping down as showrunner after the current season is over. Mazzara, who replaced original showrunner Frank Darabont, said: "I have told the stories I wanted to tell and connected with our fans on a level that I never imagined. It doesn’t get much better than that." Here is the full statement from AMC:

Today, AMC announces the season 4 pick-up of The Walking Dead.

AMC also jointly announces with Glen Mazzara today that for future seasons, the two parties have mutually decided to part ways. Glen guided the series creatively for seasons 2 and 3. AMC is grateful for his hard work. We are both proud of our shared success.

Both parties acknowledge that there is a difference of opinion about where the show should go moving forward, and conclude that it is best to part ways. This decision is amicable and Glen will remain on for post-production on season 3B as showrunner and executive producer.

Well, this news is like getting a delicious cake and then being told it was made by a person who can no longer bake for you. The Walking Dead returns to AMC on Sunday, February 10 at 9:00 PM.

Walking Dead Renewed, Parts Ways With Showrunner Glen Mazzara Over 'Difference of Opinion' [TVLine]

Photo credit: AMC

It's Christmastime, and if there's anything that can unite a nation, even one that doesn't universally love the holidays, it's a collection of wonderfully weird vintage Christmas videos. And even if you don't like the holidays, you'll probably still enjoy these strange (but fun) attempts at whimsy and festivity.

The video is freakish not for the video itself, but for how freakishly progressive it was when it was made -- in 1913!

The Insects' Christmas ("Rozhdestvo obitateley lesa") (1913)

(Video link) Vladislav Starevich, born in Russia to Polish parents in 1882, started as a documentary filmmaker who worked for a natural history museum in Lithuania. He eventually developed a knack for stop-motion animation using dead animals. "The Insects' Christmas," which was originally silent (what you hear are selections from the soundtrack for Edward Scissorhands), is a classic example of Starevich's filmmaking accomplishments, along with "The Beautiful Leukanida" (1912) and "The Cameraman's Revenge" (1912). Witness the seasonal beauty as well as the horror when someone loses their head at the 5:13 mark!

Santa in Animal Land (1948)

(Video link) This short only reinforces my fear of puppets, and it could have easily gone the way of Dead Snow. But more troubling: Felix the Frog(-like creature)'s unacknowledged cocaine problem.

Black Friday 1983: What to Get a Hacker for Christmas!

(Video link) "I know it seems boring, and I know it seems pointless..." Man, technology was adorable in the '80s, wasn't it? I wonder whatever became of Wendy Woods, Computerized Pet Whisperer.

A Visit to Santa (1963)

(Video link) I'll admit that since this was featured at the 2009 RiffTrax Live Christmas Shorts-travaganza, the silly commentary may have tricked me into thinking this video was weird. But I watched it sans commentary, and it is still pretty weird, in a wonderful way. You won't believe this, but none of these people are professional actors!

The Rapture: Are You Ready For the End of the World? (1941)

(Video link) "Housework will be left undone because Christian maids have been promoted to higher realms!" And no milk. None.

Runners-up: The pleasant but racist The Shanty Where Santy Claus Lives and the 1905 silent film, The Night Before Christmas, allegedly the first film adaptation of the famous poem.

A white fur-trimmed Santa hat tip to XmasFLIX for their excellent compilation!

The series finale (sob) of 30 Rock will air Thursday, January 31 on NBC. And just in time for your to restock your tissue supply, Community will come back! It's the most bittersweet two weeks in sitcom history!

Here is the full cast and crew of 30 Rock, gathering for a group photo. Perhaps the last group photo. Sniff...

Thanks for sharing these, Dot Com! Will we ever have another TV show with a character named Dot Com? Probably not. And if we do, it just won't be the same.

(via UPROXX)

If there was any reason to look forward to this exact time next year (besides the fact that no one will be talking about the Mayans), it's this: Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues will hit theaters on December 20, 2013. Let the year-long party start NOW. (via Vulture)

(Video link) Usually this time of year, a different Frank Capra movie starring Jimmy Stewart is the topic of conversation. But since filibuster reform is still hiding in the news, here is an alternate ending to Capra's Mr. Smith Goes to Washington -- featuring Jimmy Stewart impersonator and New York-based comedian Matthew Robert Gehring and directed by Zach Goldbaum -- that contains oodles of NSFW language, courtesy of the songwriting talents of Cee Lo Green. Teacher says, "Every time fake-Jimmy Stewart drops the f-bomb, an angel gets its wings!" (via YouTube)

CBS TV Studios wants to hop on the genre TV train! News broke today that the studio has hired Bryan Singer to serve as executive producer for a(nother) new version of The Twilight Zone, though it's still in the very early stages of development. With the success of horror-themed shows like The Walking Dead and American Horror Story -- not to mention the upcoming prequel series, Hannibal and Bates Motel -- you can't really blame them for trying, but will an anthology series (as opposed to a serial) still attract the audience they want? The most recent attempt (2002) only lasted for one season, and previous one (1985) also struggled to gain traction. But a new Twilight Zone could probably go to much creepier places these days, making it a little more worth our while. Possibly.

In the meantime, you can just tune in to Syfy's annual Twilight Zone marathon on December 31 and January 1. It's a holiday tradition!

(via IGN)

Because "nothing says 'the holidays' like slaves and whores," Samuel L. Jackson and Anne Hathaway -- stars, respectively, of Django Unchained and Les Misérables -- have taken part in a joyous and spirited debate about whose movie this Oscar season is more depressing and bleak. (Language NSFW.) (via Funny or Die)

If you're a fan of Wes Anderson movies because you felt you could relate to the characters, then this is the infographic for you! Follow this flow chart (created by Jennifer Lewis at Flavorwire) to find out which Wes Anderson character you are. (For the record, I'm Steve Zissou. I haven't decided how to feel about this yet, but it's Bill Murray, so I'm leaning towards "tickled.") (via Flavorwire)

Photo credit: Victor Cruz on Twitter

We don't see a lot of Gillian Anderson lately, but when she's coming back to genre television, that's pretty noteworthy! After a ten-year absence from American television, the former X-Files star is set to play a recurring role as Hannibal Lecter's therapist on NBC's upcoming Hannibal series. I like this news. I like it bunches. And not just because Anderson will get to wear better blazers onscreen. (via CNN's The Marquee)

(Video link) Robot Chicken has done its fair share of childhood-ruining. Now ADHD -- Animation Domination High Def -- has lampooned the sacred holiday chestnut, A Charlie Brown Christmas, and imagined the Peanuts Gang as grownups. Boring, dissatisfied grownups with several health issues, which just so happens to be one driving force of the FX sitcom Louie! I can't say this mashup is as whimsical as Cthulhu Snoopy, but it does have Homeless Pigpen, who I'm sure has many whimsical thoughts in his head. (via Laughing Squid)

As part of its first comedy issue -- or as I like to call it, "The Sexiest Humans Alive" issue -- Vanity Fair has featured a photo shoot and (unembeddable) interview with the lads of The Lonely Island, Andy Samberg, Akiva Schaffer, and Jorma Taccone. They provide exactly zero information on their future plans and talk about fake cookbooks instead, and I'm okay with that. (via Vanity Fair)