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Saturday, June 16, 2012

Supanova Pop Culture Expo Hits Sydney, Australia - 16th June 2012

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The Supanova pop culture expo has returned to Sydney, Australia, and has warmly embraced the pop culture phenom which is taking place at Olympic Park, Homebush, in Sydney's west.

It's a 3 day pop culture mania bringing together fans, actors, game players, information and tons of merchandise and collectables. Make no mistake - this is big business, but also lots of fun. It brings out the kid lurking inside all of us, no matter what our age.

Witnessing the general public dress up as their favourite hero, heroine or monster was just as much fan as the official exhibitions.

Coming to the expo to join in the fun (and big business) are over 40 international stars from various shows, films, franchises and worlds including Christopher Lloyd (Back To The Future’s Doc Brown), Yvonne Craig (the original Batgirl), Natalia Tena (Nymphadora Tonks in the Harry Potter series, Osha in Game Of Thrones) and Verne Troyer (Mini-Me from the Austin Powers films).

Even our favorite real life superheroes of Australian pro wrestling - AWF Wrestling turned up and put on some very solid chain wrestling and brawling to the delight of the crowd. The wrestlers were also a big favorite with the media and the brawlers got somewhat crowd mobbed with famed actor Verne Troyer (Mini-Me) from 'Austin Powers' fame joined in the fun and games.

The Christopher Lloyd question and answer session was very entertaining and educational, and was a much sought after attraction for both news media and fans. Lloyd shared stories from his illustrious acting and show business career, much of which has been pop culture included such as  'Back To The Future' franchise, where he portrayed Dr. Emmett Brown. Lloyd even talked about the cult film fav 'Suburban Commando', which also featured pro wrestling living legend, Hulk Hogan (not known for great acting), but a very entertaining showman, none the less. Lloyd told the crowd of 500 plus that he enjoyed working with Hulk and that he was a really nice guy and didn't pretend to be a great actor. One lucky fan asked Lloyd if he could have a "high five", and the actor obliged, which got a nice reaction from the jam packed crowd.

More news...

Buffy Star also at Supanova Sydney...

Star of Buffy, Mercedes McNab, has come Down Under for Supanova and is loving it.

The blonde is in Sydney for the Supanova Pop Culture Expo at Sydney Showground, Olympic Park.

Best known for playing mean girl Harmony Kendall on 'Buffy The Vampire Slayer', McNab has enjoyed a successful career as a modern day scream queen.

From the popular Hatchet horror movie franchise to spooky shows such as Buffy and Angel, the 32-year-old says she has come to feel comfortable within the genre and loves "a good death scene".

"It’s hilarious. I never thought I’d be considered a scream queen, but I guess I’ll take it.

"I think I gravitate more towards comedy and comedy can sometimes be in a darker vein, like sarcasm."

The edgy stuff started early for McNab, with her big screen debut opposite Christina Ricci's Wednesday Addams in The Addams Family movie and its sequel.

At the age of 16 she auditioned for a supporting role on Joss Whedon's Buffy The Vampire Slayer, a move that would change her life.

"We were on a brand new network and the show was based off a B-movie," she says.

"No one expected a spin-off to come of it or such a great fan reaction. No one could anticipate how welcomed and received the show was.

"In the beginning we never knew whether if we were going to get killed off.

"You’d get the script and skip to the end to make sure you weren’t going to die."

McNab experienced quite a character turn on Buffy when her superficial character was transformed into a vampire and eventually went on to join the spin-off series Angel.

"I was flattered".

"To have Joss call you and have him ask you to be a part of anything he does is pretty awesome."

Now that Whedon has found mainstream and box-office success with the hit of the year - 'The Avengers' - McNab says his loyal friends couldn't be happier.

"He’s such a genius. He's just proved to the industry what he can do."

Supanova Pop Culture Expo is on today and Sunday at Sydney Showground, Olympic Park.


Promo...


Our Hero is no longer Expendable. Eric Roberts is “The Master” of Supanova!

In a career spanning five decades, Eric Roberts has become recognisable to millions of film and TV fans. He has appeared in almost 200 movies and in countless TV shows including Heroes, The Drew Carey Show, Frasier, Oz, Touched By An Angel, Law & Order: SVU and even in a Doctor Who telemovie as the Doctor’s nemesis, The Master.

He has filmed in over 17 countries, including Australia (in The Coca-Cola Kid), and received critical acclaim for his performances in Star 80,  It’s My Party and Truman Capote’s In Cold Blood. In 2008, Eric joined the cast of Batman: The Dark Knight as Gotham gangster Sal Marone; in 2010 he appeared alongside Stallone, Lundgren, Statham and Li in The Expendables.

Fans of comics and animation know him as the voice of Mongul in the Justice League cartoons. He’s such a familiar face that he has appeared as himself in 63 productions, often making light of his notoriously chequered movie-star lifestyle. Brother to Julia Roberts and father of teen actress Emma Roberts, Eric is a true Hollywood veteran.

He’s therefore also the perfect guest to kick off festivities for Supanova’s TENTH ANNIVERSARY at the Sydney expo, in addition to the Perth expo the following weekend, with an exclusive Q&A and special appearance at each of our Friday evening Preview Nights which are exclusively for full weekend ticket holders (SUPA FAN PASS), in helping us celebrate a decade of successful Supanova Expos; something we couldn’t have done without your wonderful support.

Eric will then spend the weekends meeting fans, signing autographs and posing for studio portraits. (Supernova)


Nintendo Flies High at Supanova with Kid Icarus: Uprising!...

If you’re heading to Supanova this weekend, Nintendo are hosting a Kid Icarus: Uprising Multiplayer Battle Challenge! Bring along your Nintendo 3DS and copy of Kid Icarus as it’s the perfect opportunity to StreetPass with other Nintendo 3DS owners and enjoy some friendly multiplayer fun with the Nintendo community.

Nintendo 3DS consoles and Kid Icarus: Uprising games will also be available to use on the day so everyone is welcome to join in the fun!

Exclusive Kid Icarus: Uprising AR Cards only available at this event will be a special bonus for those who play. These AR cards are very exclusive and availability is strictly limited so please ensure you are there early to ensure you get your hands on one.

Some 25 years after the original Kid Icarus game for NES captured the hearts and imaginations of gamers worldwide, Kid Icarus: Uprising brings the action and adventure of this beloved series to new heights – and new visual dimensions – on the Nintendo 3DS system. The dark goddess Medusa and her Underworld Army have returned, and they’ve got their sights set on the heroic angel Pit. With the aid of Palutena, goddess of light and guardian of the human race, Pit must fend off this malevolent threat. The richly immersive graphics of the Nintendo 3DS system offer incredible depth as Pit battles enemies by air and by land. (Supernova)


Special guests appearing at Supanova Sydney and Perth include:

Jeffrey ‘Chamba’ Cruz
Street Fighter II: Turbo, Udon Comics,

Stanislav Ianevski
Viktor Krum in Harry Potter and The Goblet of Fire

Bevan McGuinness
Slave of Sondelle

Jim Cheung
Scion, New Avengers, Avengers: The Childrens Crusade

Suzie Plakson
Lt. Selar, K'Ehleyr, the Female Q, Tarah, in TNG, Voyager and Enterprise

David Mack
Artist on Kabuki, Daredevil, Avengers

Andrew Constant
Author of Torn.

Wolfgang Bylsma
Gestalt Comics

Juliet Marillier
Author of the 'Seven waters' trilogy.

Yvonne Craig
Batgirl in the 60's Batman Series, Orion Slave girl 'Marta' in Star trek

John Viener
Family Guy, The Cleveland Show.

Garth Nix
Author of Sabriel, Lirael and Abhorsen.


Artists Alley promo...

Supanova is all about supporting the local industry and providing a spotlight for the local comic creators. That spotlight is Artists Alley; the place where the fans can meet the creators and explore worlds they may never have known existed before. Whether its a 25 page self-printed black and white comic, or a full color, fully bound graphic novel, or even stunning computer art prints, you’ll find something to astonish in Artists Alley.

The artists are approachable and always willing to give constructive feedback on artwork. As such, Artists Alley can be a fantastic tool for the emerging artist to improve their skills or make new  connections and possibly take their first leap into the professional industry! (Supernova)

Special thanks...

Thank you to all involved in the promotion and success of Supernova. We look forward to seeing you all out there again tomorrow. As Marvel Comics living legend Stan Lee says, Excelsior!



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Friday, June 15, 2012

Entertainment, Gaming, Casino and Hollywood News Report: Marvel Entertainment, WWE, Movies, James Bond...

Entertainment, Gaming, Casino and Hollywood News Report: Marvel Entertainment, WWE, Movies, James Bond...

Promotion: PartyCasino.com Marvel Slots - New players get up to $3000 sign up bonus



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Sony Pictures May Emulate Marvel’s Strategy and Tie ‘Venom’ to ‘The Amazing Spider-Man’ and Other Films...

Some people including some studio executives scoffed as Marvel Studios began to build a franchise of films that would lead up to The Avengers. The team movie was ambitious, and the result of so much planning that it was easy to suspect may fail. We know now, of course, that The Avengers did anything but fail — it is one of the most financially successful films ever released - currently around 3rd most successful of all time.

That means other studios are now willing to consider emulating Marvel’s strategy. Warner Bros. and DC Entertainment haven’t laid the groundwork for a team film in the same fashion Marvel did, but they’re attempting it with Justice League anyway.

And Sony has the rights to some Marvel characters, notably the Spider-Man and Ghost Rider families. And it seems like the character spin-off Venom, which Chronicle director Josh Trank may make, could be designed to fit in with the new wave of Spider-Man movies that begins with The Amazing Spider-Man. Question is… to build up to what?

Hollywood.com talked to The Amazing Spider-Man producers Avi Arad and Matthew Tolmach, who said Venom is being developed with connectivity in mind.

What I’m trying to say to you without giving anything away is hopefully all these worlds will live together in peace someday…Look for the worlds to make sense with one another.

Avi Arad explained what they’re trying to do with Venom, in basic terms:

It’s an Eddie Brock story. We want to be as close to the comics as possible. Especially in Eddie Brock’s story. But again, pseudo-sceince is becoming science. All these tidbits about webs, artificial webs, is a huge industry now. Spiderwebs have unique qualities that will be huge for communications, fibers, and so forth. So we have taken the approach that we want to make the huge amazing movie about Eddie.

The Brock character was played in Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man 3 by Topher Grace, but this will be a new take, presumably with a new actor. Brock will be “a journalist. He had the wrong story, he got in trouble for it, he got fired,” explains Tolmach.

Making the films play nice together makes sense, but now the question will be: can we expect a Ghost Rider reboot that places that character in the same universe? In general, is it reasonable to expect that any Marvel characters held by Sony will get films that are connected in at least some vague way? Sony can’t quite make The Avengers, but it could build up to something like the old Marvel Team-Up comic series.


Spiderman comes to South Korea...

A new face of Spider-man came to Seoul on Thursday (June 14) to premiere Parker's untold story, the latest saga of the Spider-Man franchise.

One of this summer's most eagerly awaited blockbusters, "The Amazing Spider-Man" delves into the origins of teenager Peter Parker, a.k.a. Spider-Man, and tells of the superhero that the 17-year-old eventually becomes.

The new spider-man, Andrew Garfield, appeared on a news conference stage with a smile, but he was more than serious when he spoke about the new saga of the Spiderman series.

"There is such a long legacy to honour, and to do justice to, and I think our intention was to start from there, and make sure we were doing justice to these timeless mythical characters that Stanley created," said Garfield at the news conference.

Spider-man's latest instalment reboots the modern movie franchise that began with 2002's "Spider-Man", starring Tobey Maguire as the comic book crime fighter.

Over three films, the franchise amassed around 2.5 billion U.S. dollars in ticket sales, and for the fourth movie, its creators decided to take a fresh look at the series, bring in a new director and hire 28-year-old Garfield to replace Maguire, 36.

Talented actor Garfiled advised wearing a Spiderman suit and mask wasn't very easy, but it was also his dream come true.

"No one wants to wear spandex, but Peter has to for many reasons, so yeah, it was a challenge, but of course wearing the suit itself was a dream of mine since I was three years old, so being able to put it on every day," said Garfield.

Emma Stone, 23, who has been linked romantically with Garfield off-screen, portrays Parker's first love interest, Gwen Stacy, in the flick.

She said Gwen is different from Mary Jane Watson from the previous series.

"She's involved in helping Peter save the day as Spiderman of course, and so there are a lot of differences there, she doesn't sit idly by and she doesn't let him being a superhero stop the relationship from continuing or complain about it, she becomes a partner," said Emma Stone.

The movie director Marc Webb, well known in the country for his romantic comedy movie "500 Days of Summer," said the characters and romance made the blockbuster actions more appealing.

"You'll believe in that action more, you'll experience it in a more profound way if you care about the characters, and I think the only way I know how to create that empathy is through finding relatable characters and finding those little tiny moments between, whether it's between Peter and his aunt or uncle, or between Peter and Gwen, obviously romance interests me in cinema," said the film director Marc Webb.

About a thousand of fans gathered to see the new Spiderman and his girlfriend on a red carpet, and a fan couldn't hide his excitement for seeing the hero in person.

"I'd never imagined to actually meeting him like this, so I'm so honoured to see him in person. I got an autograph signed by Andrew Garfield himself.

I love him!!" said South Korean fan Lee Kyung-hoon.

South Korea's popular girl group '2EN1' was also attending the red carpet event to promote the movie.

"The Amazing Spider-Man" opens on June 28 in Seoul.

No official word yet on when the new movie will hit Australian big screens, but it should be around the same time as Korea.


Comics film gives legend respect...

Many people put Marvel creator Stan Lee in the same ranks as Walt Disney and Jim Henson. This is exactly the reason William Lawrence Hess and Nikki Frakes decided to make a documentary about the comic book legend.

“When I met Stan, I began to realize how big the things he created and stories he told were,” Hess says during a recent phone interview. “I’m into history and with Stan, there’s a rich history in what he’s done. You can tell he’s one of the 20th-century creators that people look up to.”

The duo’s result was the documentary “With Great Power: The Stan Lee Story.” The film will screen at 9 tonight at the KiMo Theatre, 420 W. Central.

Lee will introduce the film and then sign autographs during the Albuquerque Comic Expo, which runs today through Sunday at the Albuquerque Convention Center.

The documentary took nearly four years to complete. Hess says production began at Comic Con in San Diego in July 2006.

“We shot about 40 hours of footage right before that,” he explains. “When the project was over, we had 480 hours of footage that we managed to fit into an hour and a half documentary.”

Hess says the editing was tiring, but what softened the blow of cutting so much content out was the ability to make bonus footage.

“Nikki worked really close with the editor in carving it down,” he says. “It was a big process to go through, but it worked out in our favor.”

Frakes says it was important to show the man behind the mask.

“He invited us into his house and we got to see what he’s like with his wife,” she says. “It was important that we captured that and tell the story of how he came to be this icon in the comic industry.”

The duo led a team that searched archives and interviewed people associated with Lee. One of the prized interviews was with “Captain America” co-creator Joe Simon, who died in December 2011.

“Joe was basically Stan’s boss six decades ago,” he says. “We wanted to get inside the inner workings of the comic book industry. There were plenty of heavy hitters that came along in the ’40s. This was a huge interview for us.”

Yet for both filmmakers, comics weren’t the first thing they read. Frakes didn’t read them, but says when she learned more about Lee’s story, she wanted to help tell it.

“A lot of people think that he’s an overnight success,” she says. “He’s overcome a lot in his life and managed to become this cultural icon. He’s worked hard to get to his status.”

Hess, who grew up in New Orleans, was introduced to “X-Men” comics and later the Saturday morning comics that Lee participated in.

“I can still hear him saying ‘Stay Tuned Because We’ll be Knee Deep in Danger’ before the commercial break,” he says. “I appreciate that he’s been able to make an impact like that on me.”


'Black Panther' movie rumour: Marvel Studios...

Entertainment Weekly’s inside sources at Marvel Studios advise the news report is no true, however studio representatives declined to comment on the hot rumour.

A news report from the movie website Latino Review by writer El Mayimbe stated Marvel Studios has committed to making one of its next projects a picture based on Black Panther, the leader of the fictional African nation and the character widely regarded as the first major black superhero.

Marvel Studios and its parent company Disney did not immediately comment on the rumor, which has circulated far and wide, causing a buz among comic book movie fans. But now inside sources at Marvel have told EW that it’s simply not true that Black Panther will be one of their next films.

Black Panther is not just a cool codename, it’s the title bestowed on the Wakandan king. In the comics, T’Challa, a Wakandan prince and warrior, passed the trials necessary to ascend to his nation’s throne, thus earning the mantle of Black Panther. Coincidentally, he also fell in love with Ororo Munroe, a.k.a. the weather-controlling Storm from X-Men, during his journeys, but don’t expect her to show up in any Marvel Studios film about him. She remains a part of X-Men mythology still owned by 20th Century Fox.

Black Panther first appeared in a 1966 issue of Fantastic Four, and the name only coincidentally mirrors that of the militant civil rights political party, created that same year. (He also fought as part of The Avengers, which could factor into any sequel for that blockbuster.)

If the look of the character recalls DC Comics’ Batman, the two characters actually have similarities beyond the costume. T’Challa’s superhuman powers are his acute senses of perception and strength, but he is also a brilliant scientist, and as heir to the throne of Wakanda he is every bit as wealthy as Bruce Wayne.

Wakanda was the site of an ancient meteor crash which scattered the element vibranium throughout the land. That fictional element, of course, is one of the rarest and strongest minerals on earth, and is used in the creation of Captain America’s shield. Black Panther’s prime nemesis is Ulysses Klaw, a physicist who murders T’Challa’s father to gain access to the precious vibranium deposits, which he uses to craft a weapon that can create solid objects out of sound waves.

Being the first mainstream black superhero, there were also political elements to Black Panther’s story. In the mid-1970s, comic book story arcs sent him to the American South, where he clashed with the Ku Klux Klan. Black Panther also ventured into an Apartheid-ruled South Africa depicted in the guise of a Marvel nation called Rudyarda.

The Black Panther script was revealed last January, with documentarian Mark Bailey (The Fence, Ghosts of Abu Ghraib, and Pandemic: Facing AIDS) crafting the story — an unusual choice, but not if Marvel would like to add a dose of social commentary to the action hero’s story.

If Latino Review’s report proves to be true, the next big questions are who would star and who would direct.

In breaking the scoop, Mayimbe proposed Nate Parker, who got high marks from critics for Red Tails (even if the movie itself did not) and garnered lots of praise at Sundance for a powerful turn opposite Richard Gere in the Wall Street thriller Arbitrage.

Parker’s a solid choice, but The Wire‘s Idris Elba would also supply endless intensity for the character. Chiwetel Ejiofor has the kick-ass-professor vibe down, and Anthony Mackie, although a little slim physically, could build some muscle for the role. If we’re talking pure star power and charisma, Jamie Foxx could be a good choice, and will be riding high after Quentin Tarantino’s Django Unchained debuts this year.

Marvel Entertainment movie fans.. if the rumour turns out to be true it sure will be excelsior!


Pro Wrestling News...

The debut of Steve Austin’s Redneck Island on CMT (in the U.S) this past Saturday scored a 0.42 rating with 665,000 viewers. It was the highest rated show for the day. Austin wrote the following about the show last night:

“It’s a damn crying shame that Canada, Australia, England, and other great countries cannot get CMT Redneck Island. A damn shame. Spreading Redneck Island around the globe is my newest task. Yes…To provide quality entertainment and content across the globe. #CMT #BSR”

- Despite what WWE says in the lawsuit from TNA, most people within WWE believe that "The Nature Boy" Ric Flair will return to the company as soon as he is legally able to and that WWE officials would love to have him back at the 1,000th RAW in July.


Wrestling companies square off in Nashville, USA court...

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Lawyers for World Wrestling Entertainment have told a Nashville judge the company has not and will not use confidential information from rival Total Nonstop Action Wrestling.

The pledge came during a hearing last week over a lawsuit TNA filed last month against pro wrestling giant - WWE, claiming WWE had obtained secret contract details in an attempt to poach TNA's wrestlers.

Attorneys for WWE told Chancellor Ellen Hobbs Lyle that the company has not contacted any of TNA's contracted personnel. The attorneys also said WWE has returned the only copies of the confidential information to TNA.

Lyle dissolved a May 24 temporary restraining order against WWE that had prohibited it from using the information to solicit TNA wrestlers, but she made no ruling on the merits of the case. Another hearing will be July 12.

TNA, based in Nashville, claimed in the suit that WWE apparently had already tried to hire away veteran wrestler Ric Flair. According to the court record, WWE lawyers said the company "has no intention of doing so."

TNA alleged that one of its former employees, Brian Wittenstein, went to work for WWE and provided his new employer with contract details. WWE said he was fired when he gave them the information.

A TNA suit against Wittenstein is still pending.

Jerry McDevitt, an attorney for Connecticut-based WWE, said Tuesday the company will file clarifying details with the court. He said the latest order "speaks for itself."

Dixie Carter, president of TNA, said in a statement Tuesday that the company "will vigorously protect TNA and its brand from damage at the hands of any and all sources, no matter who is involved." TNA was founded by wrestler Jeff Jarrett.


WWE Legal Letter To TNA Legal Counsel...

WWE Attorney Jerry McDevitt recently sent a letter to TNA legal counsel Erika Blonquist. The letter was filed with the court last week and can be read below:

First, and as I advised you orally on the phone during our recent conference call, WWE has not solicited Ric Flair to leave TNA and enter into a contract with WWE. WWE has made no offer to Flair and has no intention of doing so.

Second, as I also advised you, WWE has not solicited any other current TNA talent to repudiate their contracts and enter into a contract with WWE. WWE has no interest in current TNA talent.


The Ultimate Fighter: Australia vs. UK To Air On FX...

TUF: Australia vs. UK broadcasts on FX in Australia this fall

"The Ultimate Fighter: Australia vs. U.K." will air on FX in Australia in the fall as the latest installment of the reality series from the Ultimate Fighting Championship.

UFC officials announced the news yesterday.

Tryouts for the upcoming season of "TUF" are currently underway, featuring fighters from both Australia and England. The coaches for the season have not yet been named, though an official announcement is expected soon.

"We're excited to be part of the FX family in Australia," UFC managing director for international development Marshall Zelaznik stated. "When the first series of 'The Ulimate Fighter' debuted in the United States seven years ago, it brought in millions of new fans who tuned in each and every week to watch their favorite fighters. I have no doubt that 'The Smashes' will do the same in Australia."

"The Smashes" is the title given to this season, referencing a cricket rivalry ("The Ashes") between the two countries.

While the season will air in Australia, no plans have been announced for those hoping to view in the U.S. Fans could watch "The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil" online earlier this year as it was taping in Brazil, but the season did not broadcast on national television until FUEL TV began airing episodes just recently.

Are you ready? Are you ready? Let's get it on!


KA By Cirque du Soleil And Marvel Entertainment Bring Epic Story From Stage To Page With All-New Comic Book; KA #1 Released to Fans at Comic-Con International in San Diego 2012...

LAS VEGAS, June 13, 2012 - KA by Cirque du Soleil, the spectacular production at MGM Grand Las Vegas, and Marvel Custom Solutions team up to tell the story of this acclaimed live production through an all-new, collectible comic book.  KA #1 will debut at the Marvel booth (#2329) during Comic Con International in San Diego, July 12 – 15, 2012.

"To see our live KA performances transform from the theatre to ink on pages in a comic book is an incredible opportunity for our entire team," said Marie-Helene Gagnon, Artistic Director of KA. "By aligning ourselves with the premier brand of comic book creators, we have produced an illustration of KA that depicts the story very vividly and stays true to the plot. Marvel and its team of creators have been great to collaborate with and have embraced the story of KA and the expectations of Cirque du Soleil."

"Marvel's proud to bring the exciting, out of this world action and adventure of KA to life in this all new comic book," said Axel Alonso, Editor in Chief, Marvel Worldwide, Inc. "This is a great comic for fans of all ages, whether they're long-time fans of Marvel, KA or new to both exciting brands of storytelling."

KA fans attending Comic Con International can take home the heroic journey of Imperial Twins separated by war who encounter adventure and peril at every turn on their quest to reunite their kingdom.

"What's more jaw-dropping, the majesty of the Imperial Court...the dynamic dance of their martial arts display...the overwhelming might of the invading archer army...the desperate fight for survival in the storm-tossed seas...or the tantalizing glimpses at the future threats that await the Twins?" said Marvel Editor Bill Rosemann. "Readers can decide for themselves when they feast their eyes on the all-out spectacle that writer Bryan J.L. Glass, artist Wellinton Alves and cover artist Michael Del Mundo have crafted in this world premiere debut issue."

KA #1 will be distributed at Comic Con International in San Diego at the Marvel booth in July. A limited amount of books also will be available at comic book stores in select markets. In addition to the print copy of the comic book, fans will be able to access the KA customized comic book by utilizing Marvel's cutting-edge digital comics reader.

Fans can get an inside look at the making of the comic book by visiting www.kacomicbook.com.  Featuring sneak peeks and behind-the-scenes information, including line art, storyboards and more, this site will serve as a hub for details on the collaboration. Fans will be able to receive information on how to get their own copy of the comic book. On Twitter, fans can tweet about the collaboration to @Cirque and @Marvel using the #KAComicBook hashtag.

About KA:

KA by Cirque du Soleil is a heroic journey of love and conflict set within ever-changing theatrical landscapes that conjure an entire empire on stage. Presented exclusively at MGM Grand Las Vegas, KA unfolds on a colossal, 360-degree rotating stage which forms the backdrop for this cinematic journey of aerial adventure and perpendicular acrobatics. For more information visit www.ka.com. Like us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/KA and Tweet us: @Cirque #KA.

About Marvel Entertainment:

Marvel Entertainment, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company, is one of the world's most prominent character-based entertainment companies, built on a proven library of over 8,000 characters featured in a variety of media over seventy years. Marvel utilizes its character franchises in entertainment, licensing and publishing.

To find a comic shop near you, visit www.comicshoplocator.com or call 1-888-comicbook. SOURCE Cirque du Soleil


Macquarie takes a stake in Echo...

Investment firm Macquarie Group has bought a five per cent stake in casinos operator Echo Entertainment Group.

Echo said in a statement to the Australian Securities Exchange on Wednesday that Macquarie had become a substantial shareholder in Echo on June 7, having acquired about 35.1 million shares, or about 5.1 per cent of Echo.

Echo announced on Tuesday that it proposed to undertake a capital raising - the amount of which was undisclosed - and its shares are currently in a trading halt.

The company last week lost its chairman John Story after Crown's James Packer launched a public campaign against him.

Crown is Echo's largest shareholder, with a 10 per cent stake.

Echo owns The Star casino in Sydney, the Jupiters casinos on the Gold Coast and in Townsville, and Treasury casino in Brisbane.

Shares in Echo last traded at $4.49 before going into a halt.


Crown Undecided on Support for Echo Capital Raising...

Crown Ltd. (CWN), the casino operator controlled by billionaire James Packer, hasn’t decided whether it will buy new stock in a planned capital raising by Echo Entertainment Group Ltd. (EGP)

Echo, based in Brisbane, will seek to raise between A$400 million ($399 million) and A$500 million in a rights offering being managed by UBS AG and Macquarie Group Ltd., according to a person with knowledge of the matter. The details may be announced as early as tomorrow, the person said, asking not to be identified as the information is private.

Crown, which owns 10 percent of Echo, will wait for details of the share sale, Chief Financial Officer Ken Barton said by telephone from Melbourne today.

Packer agreed to cease a campaign against Echo after Chairman John Story stepped down June 8, Acting Chairman John O’Neill said yesterday. Crown is seeking regulatory approval to increase its holding in the operator of the only casino in Sydney above the current 10 percent limit as Genting Singapore Plc (GENS) built a stake of 4.9 percent.

“We’ll wait to see what they’re proposing,” Barton said.

Trading in Echo shares was halted yesterday, ahead of the capital raising. Spokeswomen for UBS and Macquarie in Sydney declined to comment.

Brad Schmitt, a Sydney-based spokesman for Echo, declined to comment on the fundraising plan in an e-mailed statement. The Australian Financial Review reported that Echo is planning to raise A$400 million earlier today, without saying where it got the information.

Genting’s stake may make it harder for Crown to take control of Echo and increases the chances of a bidding war, according to Gary Pinge, Macquarie Group Ltd.’s regional head of gaming and consumer research. Though a joint bid by the two companies is possible, Crown won’t want to see Genting “entering its backyard,” he said.

Story resigned after Crown, which owns casinos in Melbourne and Perth, called a meeting to vote on his removal and ran advertisements in local newspapers criticizing the company’s “underperformance” under his leadership. Packer has now withdrawn his request for a shareholder meeting.

Echo owns the Star in Sydney as well as three casinos in the state of Queensland.


Hot Body of 2012...


ELLE MACPHERSON

Admit it: 48 never looked this good! The Aussie model, known around the world as "The Body," ignited bikini envy from a whole new generation of beachgoers when she flaunted her fit form in the pages of PEOPLE. "I do get jitters," says Macpherson of donning a two-piece 20-plus years after gracing four Sports Illustrated covers. "I was comfortable [at the shoot]. But I had to get my self-conscious 'maybe I don't look my best' head out of the way and go with, 'Let's celebrate where I'm at.'"


James Bond turns 50...

James Bond turns 50 this year but you'd never know it by looking at him. Despite hundreds of skirmishes with the world's scariest villains, not to mention a diet heavy on shaken-not-stirred martinis, the man in the Aston Martin still cuts a dashing figure.

In October, it will have been five decades since 007 -- in the form of Sean Connery -- first sauntered onto movie screens in "Dr. No." And he's still going strong. The Bond movies are not only the longest continuously running series in cinema history but also the most successful, with more than $5 billion in box-office receipts. Take that, George Lucas.

Daniel Craig, the sixth actor to play the world-saving spy, will step into Bond's shoes once again on Oct. 26 with "Skyfall," the 23rd film in the series. Also this October, MGM will celebrate 007's birthday with a 22-disc Blu-ray set that finally makes all of the movies available in high definition.

The movies, which will be presented in 35 mm prints, include "Goldfinger" (June 17), "GoldenEye" (June 26), "The Spy Who Loved Me" (July 2), "Dr. No" (July 10), "On Her Majesty's Secret Service" (July 16), "Live and Let Die" (July 24) and "From Russia With Love" (July 30).

The Bond film franchise began in 1962 with "Dr. No." It was not only a worldwide smash but also turned out to be a big influence on popular culture. Think "The Man From U.N.C.L.E," "Our Man Flint," "Get Smart" and "Mission: Impossible."

So where did the idea come from? Ian Fleming, of course. A former journalist and British Naval intelligence officer, he conceived of the book series in 1952 while vacationing in Jamaica in a holiday home he called Goldeneye.

James Bond made his first appearance in "Casino Royale," which was published in 1953. Thirteen more Bond books by Fleming followed.

Since the release of "Dr. No," we have never gone more than five or six years without a new Bond flick. Connery played him five times 1962-1967 and then again in 1971 and 1983. In between, there was a one-off appearance by George Lazenby. In 1973, Roger Moore took over for seven outings.

Next came Timothy Dalton for two films beginning in 1987. Pierce Brosnan got the job in 1995 for four features. The latest Bond is Craig, who has played him in series re-boot "Casino Royale," "Quantum of Solace" and the upcoming "Skyfall."

Did we mention that Bond also enjoys a good game of poker and baccarat and often the stakes have been life or death. Would you like to play with Bond? That's what we thought.

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Thursday, June 14, 2012

Media Man Network accepting approved advertisers and campaigns

Media Man Network accepting approved advertisers and campaigns





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The Media Man Network is currently accepting approved advertisers and campaigns - both online and traditional campaigns.

Media Man is primarily a media, publicity and internet portal development company.

They were established in 2001 and are a multi-time award winner.

Ranked in the Hitwise Australia top ten (entertainment - personalities category), Google 'Best Of The Web', and AllExperts (TV and Radio).

Campaign portfolio includes WWE, UFC, Messages On Hold, Human Statue Bodyart, PartyCasino, Virgin Games, Marvel Entertainment, Aston Martin, Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, PlatinumHD, Ric Drasin, Eva Rinaldi Photography, Music News Australia, Richard Bradley Productions, Gizzi's Cafe, Frank Sinatra Enterprises, Palazzo Versace, IGT and Endemol.

The Media Man website network currently attracts approximately 5 million hits per month.

Media Man is regularly quoted in mainstream media including The Sydney Morning Herald, The Age, The Daily Telegraph, B&T, The New York Times blog, Gambling911, Street Corner and News Limited blog websites.

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Kid Mac 'No Man's Land' national headline tour of Australia

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It's about to be announced that Sarah McLeod will be special guest performer at Kid Mac’s national tour launch at the Standard on June 29.

Sarah features on Kid Mac’s debut album on a track called Don’t Look Back which will be the next single release. They are shooting the video clip on Sunday. When Russell Crowe heard the song he tweeted about it a few times saying it was a total hit..

2 weeks ago Kid Mac won Artist Of The Year and Video Of The Year and the MusicOz Awards held at the Sydney Opera House.

The album No Man’s Land has surprised many with it showcasing his ability to cross musical genres of urban/rock/pop. Squashing the perception that he is purely a hip hop artist.

Here is a video bio he recently made for media to get to know him a little better - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3MmdSO7jdzE


KID MAC – NO MAN’S LAND TOUR ANNOUNCEMENT

Kid Mac’s No Man’s Land tour kicks off on June 29 to celebrate the release of Mac’s highly anticipated album released on May 4.

Having just won ARTIST OF THE YEAR and BEST VIDEO at the 2012 MusicOz Awards held at the Sydney Opera House, Mac will take his No Man’s Land Tour around the country – see dates and venue details below.

Kid Mac delivered his first track off the album in April - the super punchy ‘SHE GOES OFF’ featuring US artist Mickey Avalon. She Goes Off has already clocked over 130,000 views on youtube and features cameo’s from Snoop Dogg, Steve Aoki and Sarah McLeod. The song is getting airplay on Nova nationally and MTV. It’s just a taste of what’s to come from one of Australia’s emerging talents.

“It's been a long time coming and something I have been working towards for several years. I feel like I've taken my time with it and as a result have found a sound that I am comfortable and proud of. The material in the record is a good representation of me but also something a lot of people will relate to.” Kid Mac

No Man’s Land reviews are starting to pour in with media embracing the album:

Rolling Stone Mag - “Sydney MC impresses on long-awaited debut... The Sydneysider’s gritty, edgy, punk-esque hip hop is not only fraught with pep, but it’s also accessible”.

Rave Magazine: “No Man’s Land is slick and shiny, but most importantly, it’s fresh.”

At the back of an Australian tour with Mickey Avalon, Kid Mac will head off on his headline tour. Details below:

Kid Mac headline shows – NO MANS LAND TOUR

Friday 29th June
The Standard
NSW
Doors open 8pm

Saturday 30th June
The Great Northern Hotel
NSW
Doors open 8pm

Friday 6th July
The Westernport Hotel
Doors open 8pm

Saturday 7th July  
The Espy – Gershwin Room  
VIC
Doors open 8pm

Friday 13th July  
Alhambra Lounge
QLD
Doors open 8pm

Saturday 14th July  
The Northern
NSW  
Doors open 7.00pm

Friday 20th July    
Mojo’s
WA
Doors open 8pm

Saturday 21st July
Settlers Tavern
WA
Doors open 8pm

**END OF TOUR**

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Mafia rat who inspired Goodfellas had real-life criminal career steeped in blood - 14th June 2012

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Gangster turned informant whose life and crimes were immortalised in the film Goodfellas

Henry Hill, who has died aged 69, was a mobster whose nefarious exploits with the Lucchese family on the New York crime scene of the 1970s were made famous by the Martin Scorsese film Goodfellas (1990).

In the film, an adaptation of the book Wiseguy by the journalist Nicholas Pileggi, Hill, played by Ray Liotta, is the narrator and central figure, running the gamut of mob crime over a 25-year period from 1955.

Among many other misdeeds, he dangles a tardy loan repayer over the lion's den in a zoo and helps organise a robbery at JFK airport in New York, known as the Lufthansa heist, which nets millions but results in a bloody feud between the thieves.

But though Hill's real-life criminal career was steeped in blood, he insisted that he never "whacked" anyone himself. "I never killed anybody," he said last year. "I was a money man." He did, however, confess to burying "a lot of bodies". As for the film, he was happy to admit that it was "99.9 per cent dead on". His character's opening line is: "As far back as I can remember I always wanted to be a gangster."

Henry Hill was born on June 11 1943, one of eight children in a poor family in Brooklyn, New York. His father, also Henry, was Irish-American, while his mother, Carmella, was of Italian extraction. Henry Jr's mixed heritage meant that he could never become a "made" man in the Mafia, a status which offers certain protections and privileges.

He began his criminal career innocently enough, running errands for Paul Vario, a capo in the Lucchese family who ran a cabstand near the Hills' house. But soon Henry was being given glimpses of the mob lifestyle, learning how Vario ran loan sharking operations and protection rackets. He was awed by the easy money on display.

By the time he was 14 he had dropped out of school, and his position with Vario was formalised when he was made a member of a local construction union, which allowed him to collect a salary for a no-show job. He became a youthful mascot for the Vario crew, which included Jimmy Burke, the charismatic and brutal gangster played by Robert de Niro in Goodfellas.

Henry's first major crime came after he was ordered to put a rival cab rank out of business. Smashing his way into the opposition taxis, he doused them in petrol and set them on fire. But he was not arrested for the first time until 1959, when he attempted to buy goods with a stolen credit card. He was soon released, however, and his unwillingness to talk during his detention only added to the affection in which he was held by the Vario crew.

For three years, between 1960 and 1963, Hill served with the 82nd Airborne Division of the US Army. It is not clear whether this was an attempt to "go straight", but in Wiseguy Hill claims that the move to Fort Bragg was made to wait out the "heat" of police attention.

On his return to New York he duly picked up the threads of his old life, enjoying the perks of the mob life. Perhaps the most celebrated scene in Goodfellas is a single shot which shows Hill and his girlfriend Karen (later to be his wife) bypassing the long queues outside the Copacabana nightclub by greasing many palms until they are sitting right in front of the stage. "What do you do?" she asks him, dazzled. "I'm in construction," he lies.

In 1972 Hill and Burke went to jail, sentenced to 10 years for extortion. But life inside did not dent his mob career. Hill peddled drugs and made books and, in 1978, was released for good behaviour.
Back on the outside Hill, along with Burke and Tommy DeSimone (played in the film by Joe Pesci), made ever more money, notably robbing trucks and fencing stolen goods. But as the stakes grew higher, so the mutual mistrust and fear of betrayal, never far beneath the surface, rose. "The money," Hill recounted in an interview recently, "was unbelievable. We never robbed nothing small."

The biggest job of all, the Lufthansa heist of 1978, started with Hill. He had previous experience of robbing the cargo terminal at JFK airport, having stolen $US420,000 in 1967 with DeSimone from the poorly-secured Air France lot. Eleven years later a Lufthansa worker at the airport, with serious gambling debts to a bookmaker called Martin Krugman, revealed that the airline regularly moved millions of dollars in cash destined for US servicemen in Germany. Krugman told Hill, and Hill told Burke, who planned the theft, to be carried out by a team that once again included DeSimone.

It was a success beyond the gangsters' wildest dreams. They scooped more than $US6 million, a sum now equivalent to $US20 million, making the robbery one of America's biggest ever. Within days, however, the fallout had begun. With the FBI scrutinising their every move, the robbers assumed one of their number would crack, and began to turn on each other. Edward "Stacks" Parnell, a getaway driver who had failed properly to dispose of his truck, was the first to go, shot on December 18, a week after the raid. Over the next six months, at least eight more mobsters connected with the robbery would die, as Burke launched a vicious campaign to stamp out potential "rats".

As the body count mounted, Hill feared he too would be "whacked". He escalated his drug dealing, and - a cardinal sin in the Mafia - eventually became addicted himself. It was this business that got him arrested, in April 1980. When the police moved in, they played Hill wiretaps of his erstwhile allies in the mob, Vario and Burke, discussing the need to kill him. Hill, who had said that he would rather "put a gun in my mouth" than become a "snitch", recognised that "the whole crew were homicidal maniacs" and agreed to become an informant.

His evidence helped secure 50 convictions, earning Hill and his family a place in the Witness Protection Program. That is where Goodfellas ends, with Hill looking out of a bland housing lot in Omaha. In fact, his life subsequently remained anything but placid. The Mob continued to hunt him. One of the 10 moves he had to make was completed with just a few hours' notice. On each occasion Hill would have to assume a new identity. Peter Haines and Martin Todd Lewis were two of the names he used.

His problems with drink and drugs endured. He was arrested in 1987 on drugs charges and, though he recognised that the FBI "kept me safe when I didn't know how to keep myself safe", he left witness protection in the early 1990s.

He reassumed the name Henry Hill, but few of his adversaries were left to track him down. Vario had died in 1988, and Jimmy Burke was in jail, where he would die in 1996. None the less, Hill was always looking over his shoulder for "some punk kid trying to make a rep for himself".

The money had all gone. "The government said a couple of hundred million dollars went through my hands," he revealed. "But I just blew it on slow horses, women, drugs and rock-and-roll. We partied five, six nights a week and I was making $US15,000 to $US40,000 a week. But I was a degenerate gambler. I could lose $US40,000 in a week."

He made several hundred thousand dollars from Goodfellas and turned himself into something of a consultant for mob films and television series. Recently, when asked if the Mafia might kill him, he replied: "The mob? They don't care about me anymore. Are you kidding? They send me their scripts and treatments to sell in Hollywood."

He continued to be a victim of his various addictions, making regular visits to the tables at Las Vegas and having to check in and out of drying-out clinics. Unlike many of his fellow mobsters, however, he died in bed, in a Los Angeles hospital.

Henry Hill married, in 1965, Karen Friedman. They divorced in 2002, and he subsequently married Kelly Alor and then Lisa Caserta. He is survived by a son and a daughter of his first marriage.

Henry Hill, born June 11, 1943, died June 12, 2012.


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Wednesday, June 13, 2012

Sydney pair pull Beastie Boys stunt at MCA - NineMSN



It was the perfect tribute. Almost.

When Sydney creative duo James Beswick and Dan White decided to honour the memory of late Beastie Boys member, Adam "MCA" Yauch, they could not think of a venue more perfect than the Museum of Contemporary Art (MCA).

"It was the perfect location to do a bit of sabotage", Mr White told ninemsn.

And the perfect tribute? A guerrilla-style art installation complete with a human statue and fake artist's statement.

"Their brand was about being a bit anarchist as well and that’s why everyone loved them," Mr White said.

Mr White and Mr Beswick hired Kim Staton, from Human Statue Bodyart, to strike a quintessential MCA pose beside the artworks that line the walls of the museum.

Mr Staton managed to hold the pose for 20 minutes without moving, even with people trying to make him laugh and posing for photos with him.

The creative duo was able to film him, and the various reactions, after managing to sneak a camera inside the museum.

"He was a really talented guy. He didn't break once," Mr White said.

Mr White said the saboteurs weren't thrown out of the museum — a security guard even seemed to enjoy their work.

"It kind of doesn't add to the anarchist element," he said.

The tribute was performed in aid of The Cancer Council, which Mr White and Mr Beswick are raising money for.

To donate to their cause, visit their fundraising page or take a look at their Facebook page.

Author: Ali Best. Approving editor: Fiona Willan

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Tuesday, June 12, 2012

Rock Of Ages: Sydney, Australia Red Carpet Premiere at Bondi Junction - 12th June 2012

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Tonight Rock Of Ages, the movie, enjoyed it's Sydney, Australia movie premiere at Bondi Junction, and no, before you ask - Tom Cruise wasn't there, but a few of the regular Sydney red carpet celebs came along.

The film has received mixed reviews in the United States, but its a pretty safe bet that if your a fan of music and entertaining movies, you will enjoy the flick.

It's understood that the following celebrities attended... James Mathison, Rob Mills, Barry Southgate, Dan Ewing, Dan Mansour, Nacho Pop, Jessica Napier, Jonathon Coleman, Jenna Lind, Jordan Rodrigues, Jordan Loukas, Kym Wilson, Lisa Gormley, Lucy Durack, Michael Falzon, Nathan Page, Rodger Corser, Tessa De Josselin, Trent Baines, Andrew Reid and Aaron Buchan.

Summary...

Rating M (Sexual references and infrequent coarse language)

Release Date Thursday, 14 June 2012

Length 2hrs 3min

Main Cast: Tom Cruise, Julianne Hough, Diego Boneta, Bryan Cranston, Paul Giamatti, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Alec Baldwin, Russell Brand, Malin Akerman, Will Forte, Kevin Nash, Mary J. Blige

Movie Director: Adam Shankman

Distributor: Roadshow

Big city musical based in late ’80s LA, set to the glam rock tunes of Styx, Bon Jovi, Twisted Sister, Poison and more. Includes a lofty line-up of co-stars: Tom Cruise, Paul Giamatti, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Russell Brand and Alec Baldwin. From the director of Hairspray. Based on the broadway show, Rock of Ages follows the romance of small town girl Sherrie (Julianne Hough, Footloose) and city boy Drew (Diego Boneta, 90210), who meet in Hollywood while pursuing dreams of stardom.

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The Voice news media report; Hordern Pavilion, Moore Park, Sydney, Australia - 12th June 2012

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The Voice enjoyed a media conference at Hordern Pavilion, Moore Park, this morning, with Voice coaches and finalists there to help promote the smash hit TV show, as the finals approach via Channel Nine.

Update...

The culling of eight singers from The Voice last night has set the stage for a controversial finale Channel Nine's talent comp.

Rachael Leahcar, Sarah De Bono, Darren Percival, and Karise Eden will battle it out in next week's grand final.

Only one singer per team was permitted to go through and critics and viewers took to Twitter to complain about the final line-up.

The ruling meant fan favourites on the same team were culled.

Both Leahcar and Percival battled a virus as well as the high-pressure nerves, which told in their limited vocal performances last night.

Good Charlotte rock god Joel Madden, who had culled Prinnie Stevens and Layken Heperi, chose Sarah DeBono over popular lad Ben Hazlewood.

During the show's preamble, Madden likened the semi-final line-up to The X Men: "We all have super powers. No one is better than anyone else."

The final performances will be on Sunday, with each contender performing one cover and one original song. The winner revealed on Monday night, no doubt to massive TV ratings, the likes of which have not been seen by Nine for years, is the inside word.

Each contender will perform one cover and one original song.

May the best man or woman win, and hopefully its also a win for the Australian entertainment industry.


News...

Australian TV Report With Ratings - The Voice leads...

The Voice leaped to 2.13 million viewers as the talent show heads towards to its finale.

That figure (based on actual broadcast time - not the preliminary figure of 2.15 million) is up on last Monday's 1.90 million audience in the capital cities and it appears the two finales on Sunday and Monday should hit around three million viewers for Nine.

The program gave Nine a 29.6 per cent channel share against Seven's 21.0 per cent and ABC1's 13.3 per cent, with its current affairs line-up led by 736,000 viewers for PM Julia Gillard's appearance on Q&A.

A key result for Nine was Tricky Business's performance into its fifth week. Preliminary figures from OzTAM demonstrate the Aussie drama rose to 1.091 million viewers, higher than its launch episode in May. But the actual figures based on broadcast times show the drama starring Gigi Edgley averaged 682,000 viewers with its number rocketed by The Voice's over-run as "Team Seal" decided its contestant for Sunday and Monday's finale.

Seven News came in second for the night with 1.55 million viewers and rare wins over Nine in Sydney and Melbourne. The Block continued to build for Nine, up to 1.49 million in the 7pm slot, besting Masterchef Australia (1.08 million), ABC News (1.05 million) and Home and Away (1.01 million).

Revenge continued its awesome run for Seven with 1.218 million viewers.

ABC1 had a stronger Monday night than usual, led by Q&A. Four Corners was up to 734,000 viewers, Australian Story 719,000 and Media Watch 712,000, all well up on their 2012 averages in the 600,000 region.

Fox Sports Monday Night Football match between the Panthers and Warriors bested the platform, with 278,000 viewers while 210,000 watched the afternoon AFL match between Melbourne and Collingwood. Seven's AFL figures were not yet available for publication.


OZTAM OVERNIGHT RANKINGS FOR MONDAY JUNE 11, 2012

1 THE VOICE Nine 2,154,000

2 SEVEN NEWS  1,549,000

3 THE BLOCK Nine 1,485,000

4 TODAY TONIGHT Seven 1,296,000

5 NINE NEWS  1,279,000

6 REVENGE Seven 1,218,000

7 A CURRENT AFFAIR Nine 1,137,000

8 TRICKY BUSINESS Nine 1,091,000

9 MASTERCHEF AUSTRALIA Ten 1,082,000

10 ABC NEWS ABC1 1,053,000

11 HOME AND AWAY Seven 1,006,000

12 THE FORCE - BEHIND THE LINE Seven 998,000

13 BORDER SECURITY - AUSTRALIA'S FRONT LINE Seven

14 TEN NEWS AT FIVE Ten 837,000

15 BILLY CONNOLLY'S ROUTE 66 SNEAK PEEK Seven 799,000

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Billy Connolly in Sydney, Australia for Brave Red Carpet Event - 11th June 2012

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Comic genuius and actor Billy Connolly is in town and he plays a large hairy Scotsman in Disney Pixar latest release Brave.

Rain didn't stop fans and media lining up the red carpet at George Street's Event Cinemas to meet the 69-year-old comedian, a regular visitor to our shores.

Connolly shares his voice to a 10th Century King named Fergus in the new Disney/Pixar collaboration, about a rebellious, flame-haired princess (Kally Macdonald) who rails against her intended fate - to unexpected result.

Sydney Film Festival director Nashen Moodley described Brave, set against the dramatic backdrop of the Scottish Highlands, as "a wonderfully feminist story about a young princess who defies the rules to find her own bravery and do something incredible."

Promo...

Determined to make her own path in life, Princess Merida defies a custom that brings chaos to her kingdom. Granted one wish, Merida must rely on her bravery and her archery skills to undo a beastly curse.

Directors: Mark Andrews, Brenda Chapman

Writers: Mark Andrews (screenplay), Steve Purcell (screenplay)

Stars: Kelly Macdonald, Billy Connolly and Emma Thompson

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Monday, June 11, 2012

WWE RAW 1000th Episode To Be Massive; Aiming For Mega Rating And To Rocket WWE Into Future

Media Man Entertainment, Gaming and Wrestling News Update, WWE RAW, Marvel Entertainment, Celebrities, Hollywood, Australia, Casinos, Games...

Promotion: PartyCasino.com Marvel Slots - New players get up to $3000 sign up bonus



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WWE RAW 1000th Episode To Be Massive; Aiming For Mega Rating And To Rocket WWE Into Future...

As the Media Man agency has been reporting WWE creative have been advised to treat the July 23rd (U.S date) 1,000th RAW as a major pay-per-view event. The majority of the writing team and officials’ time and effort at the moment is not so much focused on the WWE No Way Out pay-per-view on June 17th but the celebratory RAW that begins a permanent move to three hours.

Wrestling bible, the Wrestling Observer Newsletter reports that WWE creative are being pushed hard to come up with a huge angle that will dominate the summer, similar to how the Nexus and CM Punk angles caught on with fans in the past two years. Specifically they have been told to devise a "knock your socks off" type angle that will broaden interest to fans who haven’t watched WWE regularly for the past year.

Many fans are calling for Ric Flair to head up a new breed of Four Horseman clique, as well as a potential DX reunion. Internet chat indicates fans want to see "The Showoff" Dolph Ziggler get a major push, and be managed by "The Nature Boy" (if or when he returns to the WWE). Flair recently left TNA Wrestling under a cloud of controversy, not showing up for bookings.

WWE officials currently feel the current product is stagnant and are concerned about the poor ratings, as well they should be.

Media Man reports that tickets to the live WWE RAW world tour in Australia has been "fairly show", and is a reflection upon things getting stale, as well as longtime fans wanting more mega stars on the international supershow down under, such as The Rock and Brock Lesnar (both of which are not possible at this time). It's unknown if Flair could make the Australian tour, and even if he did, it would be in a non-wrestler capacity. Flair's star power alone would be enough to kick and chop some new life into the current WWE product, plus would offer a massive boost to merchandising.

The Observer's Dave Meltzer also reports that WWE Legends Gene Okerlund, Dusty Rhodes, Roddy Piper, Sgt. Slaughter, Gene Okerlund, Hacksaw Jim Duggan and Jimmy Hart are among those who have been contacted to date about returning for the 1000th episode of RAW.  WWE are also looking are other former stars who they haven't used in a long time.

One name that has been mentioned is Bobby "The Brain" Heenan but that would depend on his health. Jesse "The Body" Ventura would also be a hit, even though he's most associated with the Hulk Hogan championship period of WWE, rather than the RAW brand. Unfortunately a number of former RAW legends have passed away such as Randy "Macho Man" Savage, Brian Pillman "The Loose Cannon", Yokozuna and "The Wolverine" Chris Benoit.

WWE are currently planning the an old school production feel to the show. As mentioned previously, The Undertaker is constantly being talked about regarding making a special one-off return appearance on the show in the hopes that it may significantly boost ratings and be the shot in the arm that the RAW brand so urgently needs.

WWE top brass (and rarely seen on screen talent, Vince McMahon and daughter, Stephanie McMahon), are also rumoured. Triple H, husband to Stephanie, almost a lock for the much anticipated show.

WWE are under huge pressure to deliver a strong rating in the three-hour RAW and if they don’t deliver, the switch to a permanent three hours may look like a failure before. To help prevent this from happening, the WWE are looking to follow the formula they use for pay-per-views, i.e. advertising in a three week TV build, announcing a pay-per-view quality line-up ahead of time and ensuring they have a solid card for match quality.

New talent is also likely to appear on the show however the names of who they are interested in introducing are currently unknown.

One thing is for sure - wrestling fans are buzzing about the upcoming 1000th RAW and Australia is buzzing, judging by the internet chat on sites such as the official WWE Facebook.



Marvel Studios Begins Production On Third Installment Of The Blockbuster Franchise "Iron Man"
Marvel's "Iron Man 3" Commences Principal Photography In Preparation for May 3, 2013 Film Release...

BURBANK, Calif., June 4, 2012 - Following in the footsteps of the record-breaking Marvel Studios' release "Marvel's The Avengers," production on the highly anticipated film "Iron Man 3," directed by Shane Black, has commenced production in Wilmington, North Carolina. The production schedule will also include locations in Raleigh/Durham, North Carolina, Miami, Florida and China.

Based on the ever-popular Marvel comic book series, first published in 1963, "Iron Man 3" returns Robert Downey Jr. ("Iron Man," "Marvel's The Avengers") as the iconic Super Hero character Tony Stark/Iron Man along with Gwyneth Paltrow ("Iron Man," "Iron Man 2,") as Pepper Potts, Don Cheadle ("Iron Man 2") as James "Rhodey" Rhodes and Jon Favreau ("Iron Man," "Iron Man 2") as Happy Hogan. Set for release in the U.S. on May 3, 2013, Marvel's "Iron Man 3" marks the second feature to be fully owned, marketed and distributed by Disney, which acquired Marvel in 2009.

"Iron Man 3" continues the epic, big-screen adventures of the world's favorite billionaire inventor/Super Hero, Tony Stark aka "Iron Man."  Marvel Studios' President Kevin Feige is producing the film.  Executive producers on the project include Jon Favreau, Louis D'Esposito, Alan Fine, Stan Lee, Charles Newirth, Victoria Alonso, Stephen Broussard and Dan Mintz.

The creative production team on the film includes two-time Oscar®-winning director of photography John Toll, ASC ("Braveheart," "Legends of the Fall"), production designer Bill Brzeski ("The Hangover," "Due Date"), editors Jeffrey Ford, A.C.E. ("Marvel's The Avengers," "Captain America: The First Avenger") and Peter S. Elliot ("Fantastic 4: Rise of the Silver Surfer"), and costume designer Louise Frogley ("Quantum of Solace," "Contagion").

Marvel Studios most recently produced the critically acclaimed "Marvel's The Avengers," which set the all-time, domestic 3-day weekend box office record at $207.4 million. The film, which is currently in release, continues to shatter box office records and is The Walt Disney Studios' highest-grossing global and domestic release of all time and marks the studios' fifth film to gross more than $1 billion worldwide.

In the summer of 2011, Marvel successfully launched two new franchises with "Thor," starring Chris Hemsworth, and "Captain America: The First Avenger," starring Chris Evans. Both films opened #1 at the box office and have grossed over $800 million worldwide combined. In 2010 "Iron Man 2," starring Robert Downey Jr., Gwyneth Paltrow, Don Cheadle, Scarlett Johansson and Mickey Rourke, took the #1 spot in its first weekend with a domestic box office gross of $128.1 million.

In the summer of 2008, Marvel produced the summer blockbuster movies "Iron Man" and "The Incredible Hulk."  "Iron Man," in which Robert Downey Jr. originally dons the Super Hero's powerful armor and stars alongside co-stars Terrence Howard, Jeff Bridges and Gwyneth Paltrow, was released May 2, 2008, and was an immediate box office success.  Garnering the number one position for two weeks in a row, the film brought in over $100 million in its opening weekend.  On June 13, 2008, Marvel released "The Incredible Hulk," marking its second number one opener of that summer.

ABOUT MARVEL ENTERTAINMENT: Marvel Entertainment, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company, is one of the world's most prominent character-based entertainment companies, built on a proven library of over 8,000 characters featured in a variety of media over seventy years.  Marvel utilizes its character franchises in entertainment, licensing and publishing. For more information visit www.marvel.com. SOURCE Marvel Entertainment, LLC

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Sunday, June 10, 2012

Media Man Entertainment, Gaming and Wrestling News Update, WWE RAW, Marvel, Celebrities, Hollywood, Australia

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Australian Celebrities: Most loved and most hated...

TV programs, ad campaigns and brands are at the mercy by the faces fronting them and a new list has revealed just which celebrities Aussies love and hate.

Well respected media and entertainment monthly Encore Magazine has put more than 700 local stars to the test using a special numerical formula combining recognition and likeability.

The number one most popular local celeb? 'Our' Hugh Jackman.

In a massive victory, Wolverine crawled up the competition, scoring 426, compared with runners-up Rebecca Gibney (266), Michael Caton (264), Adam Hills (244) and Eric Bana (242).

Celebrity agent Mark Morrissey said the list proved that long-time familiar faces and nice guys always come out on top.

“If you look at the top people in that list, they're the sort of people that you would adore to have dinner with,” Morrissey said. “They’re the sort of people that you would be thrilled to meet, to find out a little more about.

“They’re people you aspire to and all of them are intelligent, open, honest people that represent all those values.”

Morrissey advised it was Jackman's family values that struck a chord with Aussies.

"He's a beautiful man and a fabulous family man,” he said. “His values speak for themselves. It’s also the choices of his films - everyone in the family can sit down together and enjoy them.”

The Media Man agencies Greg Tingle agreed with the sentiment. "Its well known that Hugh Jackman is a really nice bloke and his diverse body of talented work wins over a multitude of Australian. He's a genuine guy who has not let Hollywood go to his head and his wonderful humanitarian work also helps cement his place as most loved (and respected). The public are not as dumb as some brands and companies think and consumers vote with ratings, money and with popularity polls when the opportunity comes up. Hugh's Wolverine charater is the Marvel Entertainment franchise is such a loveable guy, as is the real guy beneath the claws".

As for the most hated celebrities, Kyle Sandilands nabbed the number one spot, ranking as being "hated" by 37 per cent of respondents, compared to 34 per cent for Matthew Newton (second), 28 per cent for Sam Newman (third) and 23 per cent for Ben Cousins (fourth).

Brynne Edelsten who ranked fifth was more of an anomaly to the controversial men, with 24 per cent expressing their serious distaste for her.

Morrissey said public faces like Sandilands, Alan Jones and Pauline Hanson - who all appeared in the bottom ten - were there because they traded on their unpopularity.

"The love to hate is intentional with a number of those,” he said. “That’s what they do, that’s what they sell, what they represent and it hasn’t hurt their careers, so they’re being true to their cause."

Encore’s managing editor Brooke Hemphill said the overall results demonstrated that popularity was not always about who appears the most in the media.

"It takes a level of trust, longevity and natural charisma to win over the public,” Hemphill said.

Rebecca Gibney, who ranked as the second most-liked of the celebrities said she was humbled and quite surprised by her positioning.

"I can only think it’s because I have been around for so long,” Gibney said. “I think I’m kind of comfy, like an ugg boot.

"Australians are very down to earth. They want to relate to someone who is also down to earth and accessible. People want to feel as if they could chat to you in the street and I always try and be open to that.”

The top 10 most liked celebrities as judged by the Australian public:

1. Hugh Jackman
2. Rebecca Gibney
3. Michael Caton
4. Adam Hills
5. Eric Bana
6. Magda Szubanski
7. Olivia Newton-John
8. Geoffrey Rush
9. Simon Baker
10. John Clarke

The most disliked personalities are:

1. Kyle Sandilands
2. Matthew Newton
3. Sam Newman
4. Ben Cousins
5. Brynne Edelston
6. Pauline Hanson
7. Brendan Fevola
8. Alan Jones
9. Deni Hines
10. Alex Perry



Genting takes stake in Australia's Echo, sparks takeover talk...

Singapore gaming operator Genting (GENS.SI) said on Friday it had taken a stake in Echo Entertainment (EGP.AX), raising the prospect of a battle for control over the $3 billion (1.93 billion pounds) Australian casino company with billionaire rival James Packer.

Packer, who wants to use Echo's licence to build a new casino complex in Sydney to attract more Asian high-rollers, has been agitating for change at Echo after building a 10 percent stake in the company, and on Friday succeeded in ousting the company's chairman.

Analysts speculated that Genting, Southeast Asia's largest gaming group, was preparing for an acquisition, having built up a war chest of S$3.9 billion, and said Echo's casinos were in cities where Genting had attempted to win licences in the past.

"At this juncture it does seems like a possibility... They have that war chest and will have to deploy it soon," said Loke Wei Wern, a CIMB Research analyst based in Kuala Lumpur.

A Genting spokeswoman declined to comment on whether the company was considering a takeover offer or to disclose its stake, but Genting said in a statement the total value of its investment in publicly quoted securities was S$298 million. The Australian newspaper said earlier that Genting had built up a 4.9 percent stake in Echo, which runs Sydney's Star casino and Jupiter's on the Gold Coast of Australia.

A full takeover would cost more than A$3 billion and both Packer and Genting would face tough regulatory scrutiny.

Echo said separately that its chairman, John Story, has resigned, bowing to a destabilising campaign run by Packer who owns a rival casino operator and wanted to sack the chairman.

"(John) Story going is more like a soap opera. The money in this saga is with Genting being on board," said Richard Colqhoun, a portfolio manager at Antares Capital, which owns shares in Echo.

Shares in Echo topped the gainers in a broadly weaker S&P/ASX 200 Index .AXJO, rising as much as 4 percent to value the company around $3 billion.

Genting Group, whose biggest assets are Malaysia's Genting Highlands casino complex and Singapore's S$6.6 billion Resorts World at Sentosa, also has stakes in Resorts World Manila and several UK casinos.

The group is headed by Lim Kok Thay, who is chairman and chief executive of Malaysia's Genting Bhd and executive chairman of Genting Singapore, and knows Australia well.

The Malaysian Genting Group was a founding shareholder in the Burswood casino in Perth, which is now owned by Packer's company.

A source familiar with the situation said the board of Echo had not had any discussions with Genting ahead of the news about its stake.

Packer, who has stakes in casinos in Australia, London and Macau, wants to boost his company Crown Ltd's (CWN.AX) 10 percent stake in Echo and win a board seat. Crown had put forward a resolution to remove Story at a July 20 shareholders meeting.

Packer has attracted several former politicians to help with his lobbying cause, including former Victorian state premier Jeff Kennett as Packer's nominee to the board of Echo.

Echo said in a statement on Friday that Story wanted the shareholders to vote on his position, but accepted the board's view that he should resign ahead of the meeting.

"The board of Echo has formed the view that the ongoing disruptive campaign concerning the resolution proposed to be put to an Extraordinary General Meeting of Echo for the removal of Mr Story was damaging to the company, and that it was in the best interests of shareholders that Mr Story not contest the resolution," Echo said.

Crown had argued that Echo was underperforming under Story's leadership.

Echo completed a costly A$870 million refurbishment of its Sydney Star casino last year but has not yet seen a substantial pick-up in revenues, according to analysts.

Crown owns casinos in Melbourne and in Perth, and about a third of Melco Crown Entertainment (6883.HK), which has casinos in Macau. It wants Echo's casino licences in Sydney and the Gold Coast because they are more likely to attract Asian high-rollers than Melbourne and Perth.

Echo's licences are "irreplaceable," said UBS analyst Sam Theodore, adding that Sydney and the Gold Coast would be especially attractive to international VIP players.

Perpetual Investments, Echo's second-largest shareholder after Crown, said it does not intend to support Crown's push for a board seat, according to the Australian Financial Review.




WWE RAW 1000th Episode To Be Massive; Aiming For Mega Rating And To Rocket WWE Into Future...

As the Media Man agency has been reporting WWE creative have been advised to treat the July 23rd (U.S date) 1,000th RAW as a major pay-per-view event. The majority of the writing team and officials’ time and effort at the moment is not so much focused on the WWE No Way Out pay-per-view on June 17th but the celebratory RAW that begins a permanent move to three hours.

Wrestling bible, the Wrestling Observer Newsletter reports that WWE creative are being pushed hard to come up with a huge angle that will dominate the summer, similar to how the Nexus and CM Punk angles caught on with fans in the past two years. Specifically they have been told to devise a "knock your socks off" type angle that will broaden interest to fans who haven’t watched WWE regularly for the past year.

Many fans are calling for Ric Flair to head up a new breed of Four Horseman clique, as well as a potential DX reunion. Internet chat indicates fans want to see "The Showoff" Dolph Ziggler get a major push, and be managed by "The Nature Boy" (if or when he returns to the WWE). Flair recently left TNA Wrestling under a cloud of controversy, not showing up for bookings.

WWE officials currently feel the current product is stagnant and are concerned about the poor ratings, as well they should be.

Media Man reports that tickets to the live WWE RAW world tour in Australia has been "fairly show", and is a reflection upon things getting stale, as well as longtime fans wanting more mega stars on the international supershow down under, such as The Rock and Brock Lesnar (both of which are not possible at this time). It's unknown if Flair could make the Australian tour, and even if he did, it would be in a non-wrestler capacity. Flair's star power alone would be enough to kick and chop some new life into the current WWE product, plus would offer a massive boost to merchandising.

The Observer's Dave Meltzer also reports that WWE Legends Gene Okerlund, Dusty Rhodes, Roddy Piper, Sgt. Slaughter, Gene Okerlund, Hacksaw Jim Duggan and Jimmy Hart are among those who have been contacted to date about returning for the 1000th episode of RAW.  WWE are also looking are other former stars who they haven't used in a long time.

One name that has been mentioned is Bobby "The Brain" Heenan but that would depend on his health. Jesse "The Body" Ventura would also be a hit, even though he's most associated with the Hulk Hogan championship period of WWE, rather than the RAW brand. Unfortunately a number of former RAW legends have passed away such as Randy "Macho Man" Savage, Brian Pillman "The Loose Cannon", Yokozuna and "The Wolverine" Chris Benoit.

WWE are currently planning the an old school production feel to the show. As mentioned previously, The Undertaker is constantly being talked about regarding making a special one-off return appearance on the show in the hopes that it may significantly boost ratings and be the shot in the arm that the RAW brand so urgently needs.

WWE top brass (and rarely seen on screen talent, Vince McMahon and daughter, Stephanie McMahon), are also rumoured. Triple H, husband to Stephanie, almost a lock for the much anticipated show.

WWE are under huge pressure to deliver a strong rating in the three-hour RAW and if they don’t deliver, the switch to a permanent three hours may look like a failure before. To help prevent this from happening, the WWE are looking to follow the formula they use for pay-per-views, i.e. advertising in a three week TV build, announcing a pay-per-view quality line-up ahead of time and ensuring they have a solid card for match quality.

New talent is also likely to appear on the show however the names of who they are interested in introducing are currently unknown.

One thing is for sure - wrestling fans are buzzing about the upcoming 1000th RAW and Australia is buzzing, judging by the internet chat on sites such as the official WWE Facebook.



Marvel Studios Begins Production On Third Installment Of The Blockbuster Franchise "Iron Man"
Marvel's "Iron Man 3" Commences Principal Photography In Preparation for May 3, 2013 Film Release...

BURBANK, Calif., June 4, 2012 - Following in the footsteps of the record-breaking Marvel Studios' release "Marvel's The Avengers," production on the highly anticipated film "Iron Man 3," directed by Shane Black, has commenced production in Wilmington, North Carolina. The production schedule will also include locations in Raleigh/Durham, North Carolina, Miami, Florida and China.

Based on the ever-popular Marvel comic book series, first published in 1963, "Iron Man 3" returns Robert Downey Jr. ("Iron Man," "Marvel's The Avengers") as the iconic Super Hero character Tony Stark/Iron Man along with Gwyneth Paltrow ("Iron Man," "Iron Man 2,") as Pepper Potts, Don Cheadle ("Iron Man 2") as James "Rhodey" Rhodes and Jon Favreau ("Iron Man," "Iron Man 2") as Happy Hogan. Set for release in the U.S. on May 3, 2013, Marvel's "Iron Man 3" marks the second feature to be fully owned, marketed and distributed by Disney, which acquired Marvel in 2009.

"Iron Man 3" continues the epic, big-screen adventures of the world's favorite billionaire inventor/Super Hero, Tony Stark aka "Iron Man."  Marvel Studios' President Kevin Feige is producing the film.  Executive producers on the project include Jon Favreau, Louis D'Esposito, Alan Fine, Stan Lee, Charles Newirth, Victoria Alonso, Stephen Broussard and Dan Mintz.

The creative production team on the film includes two-time Oscar®-winning director of photography John Toll, ASC ("Braveheart," "Legends of the Fall"), production designer Bill Brzeski ("The Hangover," "Due Date"), editors Jeffrey Ford, A.C.E. ("Marvel's The Avengers," "Captain America: The First Avenger") and Peter S. Elliot ("Fantastic 4: Rise of the Silver Surfer"), and costume designer Louise Frogley ("Quantum of Solace," "Contagion").

Marvel Studios most recently produced the critically acclaimed "Marvel's The Avengers," which set the all-time, domestic 3-day weekend box office record at $207.4 million. The film, which is currently in release, continues to shatter box office records and is The Walt Disney Studios' highest-grossing global and domestic release of all time and marks the studios' fifth film to gross more than $1 billion worldwide.

In the summer of 2011, Marvel successfully launched two new franchises with "Thor," starring Chris Hemsworth, and "Captain America: The First Avenger," starring Chris Evans. Both films opened #1 at the box office and have grossed over $800 million worldwide combined. In 2010 "Iron Man 2," starring Robert Downey Jr., Gwyneth Paltrow, Don Cheadle, Scarlett Johansson and Mickey Rourke, took the #1 spot in its first weekend with a domestic box office gross of $128.1 million.

In the summer of 2008, Marvel produced the summer blockbuster movies "Iron Man" and "The Incredible Hulk."  "Iron Man," in which Robert Downey Jr. originally dons the Super Hero's powerful armor and stars alongside co-stars Terrence Howard, Jeff Bridges and Gwyneth Paltrow, was released May 2, 2008, and was an immediate box office success.  Garnering the number one position for two weeks in a row, the film brought in over $100 million in its opening weekend.  On June 13, 2008, Marvel released "The Incredible Hulk," marking its second number one opener of that summer.

ABOUT MARVEL ENTERTAINMENT: Marvel Entertainment, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company, is one of the world's most prominent character-based entertainment companies, built on a proven library of over 8,000 characters featured in a variety of media over seventy years.  Marvel utilizes its character franchises in entertainment, licensing and publishing. For more information visit www.marvel.com. SOURCE Marvel Entertainment, LLC

Websites

Media Man Int

WWE website

Marvel Entertainment

Echo Entertainment

Media Man Entertainment

Website Network

Media Man International

Media Man

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Media Man Entertainment

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