Wednesday Odds & Ends: King, Holmes, Greatest American Hero, typewriters and prodigies

+ Stephen King is mulling over ideas for a sequel to "The Shining," which would follow creepy Big Wheel-riding kid Danny Torrence as an adult. I get chills just thinking about that damn movie.

+ Back in my day, when projectors were powered by steam and popcorn cost half a penny, we didn't like having our seats shaken during movies. Now, though, ten theaters across the U.S. will be equipped with special motion seats that will jostle you around during bits of the new "Sherlock Holmes" movie. Hmm, vibrating seats and a Robert Downey Jr. movie...I can see a certain audience appeal for this.

+ If you're of a certain age -- say, mine, for example -- you quite possibly have fond memories of a TV show called "The Greatest American Hero," which is now available on Hulu. Now, you can relive the glory -- or be sadly disappointed that it doesn't live up to your memories. Either way, it'll kill 45-minutes of your work day.

+ Brilliant writer Mindy Kaling, aka Kelly on "The Office," is teaming up with fellow "Office" writer Brent Forrester to pen a script for a new film called "The Low Self Esteem of Lizzie Gillespie." The movie follows the story of a woman whose low self esteem has her thinking she can only date losers.

+ In sad Luddite news, Cormac McCarthy's 50 year old typewriter finally gave up the ghost, no doubt yielding to depression after logging an estimated five million words for the cheery author. McCarthy is auctioning the typewriter, which is estimated to sell for $15,000 to $20,000. It's okay though - McCarthy's purchased a new typewriter for $11 so he's going to break even.

+ Were you a brilliant child? There's hope for you yet! Check out this list of "Nine Child Prodigies (Who Actually Ended Up Doing Something)." If only I was nine years old and a genius, that story would totally make me feel better. Maybe if I pretended to be nine years old....well, I suppose my husband would go to prison. Okay, scrap that.

So how's your day going? Read any good books lately?

Friday Odds & Ends: Tennant, Amelia, Havel and Holmes...the world's finest law firm

+ First off, welcome to all the new readers this morning. I'm absolutely tickled pink (which has given me a rare healthy glow) that you guys are enjoying the "How to Woo" list. I hope you'll take a few moments to check the place out and kick the proverbial tires. It's great to have you here!

+ Mo Ryan at the Chicago Tribune did a wonderful interview with David Tennant in conjunction with tomorrow night's BBC America debut of "The Next Doctor," the first of Tennant's last five specials. No, I'm not crying...there's just some dust in the air this morning...really, it's nothing...

+ The new trailer is out for "Amelia," the upcoming flick about Amelia Earhart starring Hilary Swank. I'm not a big Swank fan but I've been looking forward to this movie for a while now -- and not just because it also stars Ewan McGregor and Christopher Eccleston. Okay, a little bit because of that. Anyway, here's the trailer:



+ What a show-off! Vaclav Havel is showing again that he can do just about anything. (Except summersaults. I've heard the man is terrible with his tumbling.) The former playwright and president of the Czech Republic is set to make his directorial debut with a new movie called "Pic," described as "an absurdist look at the life of an ex-politician."

+ And in other Eastern European intellectual news, Jeri Ryan, formerly of "Star Trek: Voyager" will be joining the cast of TNT's "Leverage" playing a con woman. The best part about this item is that the only comments under the story were one, someone typing "no" in all caps for half the page and two, someone advertising "the first and largest cougar mingle site." Okay, then!

+ Den of Geek is showcasing new character posters for "Sherlock Holmes." Shall we perhaps begin our Friday morning with a gazing-upon of Robert Downey Jr.? I think so.

Odds and Ends for Friday

+ Some time in the 1990s, I visited Ottumwa, Iowa against my will so that the guy I was traveling with could visit an ex-girlfriend. All I remember is that there was a chicken processing plant and we went to a weird house where the only furniture was a tanning bed. Anyway, this town keeps turning up in the oddest places. A few years back, it turned out to be the site of the largest book theft in the United States and now it's lobbying to become the Official Video Game Capital of the World...which would no doubt give the guy with the tanning bed a reason to go outside. Actually, Ottumwa has a long and storied history in the video game world. Also, they have a Wal-Mart. I know because I bought a day-glo tennis racket there. Just FYI.

+ Do you like comic books? Have I got a site for you! Some fine gentlemen friends of mine have created a new blog called SeeBelow* which is chock full of news and opinion on all things comic book-y. Check it out if you have a few free moments today...

+ USA Today had a cool preview of the Robert Downey-Jude Law "Sherlock Holmes" flick scheduled for release this Christmas. I don't know why I'm so excited about this movie but I really, really can't wait to see it.

+ Speaking of movies, here's a new preview for "Transformers," one that just confirms my belief that if ever left in Shia LaBeouf's presence, I would become the world's worst cougar:



+ I leave you with this gift of awesomeness: "My Little Pony: Reign of the Buttercup Sprinkles." Oh my God, this cracked me up. You'll notice more than a few passing nods to the "Transformers" preview above. "They shall come in a rainbow of colors..." Hee.



Have a great, "Star Trek"-filled weekend everyone! Look out for ponies!

Odds and Ends

+ What better way to start the morning than with Robert Downey Jr. eye candy? New photos have been released from Guy Ritchie's upcoming Sherlock Holmes flick and well, I'd say female viewership will be very high:

+ The "Twilight" sequel has a release date already: November 2009. Just in time to exsanguinate some holiday poultry! Vampires love that.

+ I've never been a big Stargate fan, but I might have to tune in for the latest incarnation -- Stargate: Universe. Why? Because it's going to star the wonderful Robert Carlyle. Plus, the plot sounds kind of intriguing:

(The show) follows a group of soldiers, scientists and civilians left to fend for themselves when forced through a stargate after their hidden base comes under attack.