Manny’s new posh digs, Rob Thomas’ TV comeback, Super Mario coming to your smartphones and other bits that made your feed sizzle.
Jimmy Fallon’s ‘Lip Sync Battle’: from segment to series
“The Tonight Show” host Jimmy Fallon’s “Lip Sync Battles” with stars like John Krasinski (“The Office”), Joseph Gordon-Levitt (“500 Days of Summer”), Emma Stone (“The Help”), Stephen Merchant (“Hello, Ladies”) and Paul Rudd (“This is 40”) were such viral hits on the Internet that it’s going to become a standalone TV show on Spike TV.
Krasinski and Merchant will be executive producers, with LL Cool J hosting, and the show is scheduled to air sometime in April. A trailer featuring Anna Kendrick, Dwayne Johnson, Taylor Swift, John Legend and Jennifer Lopez was recently released.
We’re hoping one of our networks picks it up.
‘Insurgent’ blazes onto the big screen
The second installment of the “Divergent” series opened this week. The film adaptation of Veronica Roth’s best-selling series picks up with Tris (played by Shailene Woodley) trading in her long Abnegation tresses for a meaner, leaner Dauntless crop. More mysteries are uncovered, and a shocking reveal that we can’t wait to see on film.
The return of Rob Thomas
Rob Thomas, the writer who gave us our beloved Veronica Mars, is back on TV (yay!) with another snarky sleuth in Liv Moore, the new undead heroine of “iZombie.” The TV adaptation of the graphic novel with the same title (“I, Zombie”) focuses on a zombie-fied medical examiner who absorbs the memories and personalities of each cadaver brain she consumes. Fooling a detective into thinking that she is psychic instead, the two go on to solve episodic mysteries. “iZombie” airs here onWarner TV.
‘Community’ returns
After being saved from TV network death, collegiate comedy “Community” is back, resurrected as a Web series produced by Yahoo as one of the Internet giant’s pilot programs for Yahoo Screen, its videostreamin service. To access the show, download the Yahoo Screen app for free (iOS/Google Play).
‘Cinderella’ movie
“Have courage and be kind,” the mother in this new “Cinderella” movie says, as if it were treated like the normal kiddy fairy tale. But a good friend warns: “I felt like an innocent 10-year-old girl and a horny slut at the same time,” and he is a guy. We’ll be watching it soon to verify that information.
Toni Gonzaga under fire
Who did not hear about this hot-button issue relating to the TV host’s gig on #BBPilipinas2015?
From the outrageous Michael Cinco gown that, she herself noted, was as heavy as their house, to her banter later on the show (someone called it “condescending”), she was a risk-taker. At some points, her jokes worked, and we just laughed our hearts out.
E. Lockhart in Manila
E. Lockhart, author of “We Were Liars,” “The Boyfriend” series and “The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks” will be in Cebu and Manila to sign books for National Book Store on March 21 and 22. Follow National Book Store on Twitter/Instagram (@nbsalert) for details and updates, and hashtag your posts with #ELockhartinPH to join the conversation online.
Nintendo for smartphones
After stubbornly eschewing smartphone gaming and sticking to their proprietary consoles, Nintendo has finally seen the light and will start making smartphone versions of their hits. Expect new versions of “Super Mario,” “Pokemon” and (please, please) Zelda.”
Wyn’s win denied
And of course, this other trending topic: “Why did Winwyn’s beautiful message of peace not get her a crown?”
News came out that the Best in National Costume, Best in Talent and She’s So Jag winner was OK with it, then another reported that she was in grief. These are confusing us, but we think that if it were really a result based on the final answer, she should have won a crown.
Free Facebook and Internet from Smart and Facebook
Smart has partnered with Facebook to launch the Internet.org app, an initiative that offers users basic mobile Internet services. The Facebook-initiated cause aims to connect more users to the Internet, especially those who are in developing countries.
Apart from free access to Facebook and Messenger, Smart, Sun and Talk ‘n Text subscribers also get free access to news and education sites, including Inquirer. Download the free Internet.org app on Google Play or text Internet to 9999.
New kid on the block: Pacquiao
Thanks to his popularity, Manny Pacquiao just acquired a new 930-square-meter property in upscale Beverly Hills. According to reports, the owner preferred to sell the mansion to him even if two other bidders offered to buy it for a higher price. We’re jealous that Pacquiao has those perks, of course, but not to the point that we don’t want him to win versus his longtime Instagram bully, Floyd Mayweather Jr. Go, Pambansang Kamao! (Or should we say “Beverly Hills Cuff”?)