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It’s one of the most durable licenses in comics: the WWE. And this time, Boom! is doing the honors, as revealed in the LA Times with a John Cena illo by Jamal Campbell. “Here at Boom! we’re thrilled to be a part of WWE’s return to the comic book medium,” said Boom! Studios Editor-in-Chief Matt […]

The USA Network held its “upfronts” at which pilots are announced, and the big news was Smackdown is coming HOME to the USA Network as the WWE rolls out a more millennial friendly and aspirational “For the Hero in All of Us” program. But also, a show based on an unannounced upcoming Vertigo series is in development:

AMPED
When a neurotic family man buys an online “smart pill” to increase his focus and jolt him out of his slump, he gets much more than he bargained for.  To his surprise, the pill gives him incredible strength and power.  The project examines both the mighty highs and humiliating lows of being a real-life super hero.  AMPED is based on the characters created for an upcoming comic book by Eric Kripke (“Supernatural,” “Revolution”) for DC Entertainment’s Vertigo imprint.  Kripke will serve as executive producer/writer of AMPED, from Kripke Enterprises in association with Warner Horizon Television.

Lots of other shows announced, including the return of Tough Enough (probably not with my beloved Al Snow) and a show starring Sawyer from Lost and Lori from Walking Dead for the ultimate crossover.

Also promoted at the press event were “Colony,” a futuristic drama starring Josh Holloway and Sarah Wayne Callies as the head of a family of resisters in alien-occupied Los Angeles; and “Complications,” starring Jason O’Mara as a doctor drawn into a deadly gangland saga when he saves a kid from a random shooting.

Peter Lazarus, USA’s ad sales chief, said they’re now focused “educating the marketplace about WWE’s positive attributes.” Those include the fact that it is mostly DVR proof through its live weekly airings and continuing storylines, and the fact that it draws a healthy amount of family viewing. The push to polish up the WWE reflects the wide-ranging new deal that NBCU and the wrestling giant struck last year, one that gives NBCU more control over advertising sales for the programs.

A LOT of the shows in development have futuristic-y SF-y elements, or in other words “USA Network fare.” Why they even need to try this when Fox had to take Almost Human off the air is beyond me.

–Yr grumpy old TV fan

Do you know how to exercise your brain? By reading, of course!

First Book has teamed up with WWE to promote the importance of reading through the WWE Wrestlemania Reading Challenge.  WWE Superstars and Divas are on the road visiting schools and showing kids throughout the country the power and strength of being a reader.

Just last week, WWE’s Jimmy and Jey Uso visited Johnson Elementary School in Denver, Colorado to share the joy of reading.  Check out the video below to see their fun-filled visit.

The post Creating Strong Readers with the Wrestlemania Reading Challenge appeared first on First Book Blog.

First they took our Cocoa Pebbles, and now they want our cartoons!

It was announced back in August that WWE (Worldwide Wrestling Entertainment) was teaming up with Warner Bros. to make a new Scooby Doo movie guest starring several wrestling superstars and divas.

Yesterday the WWE sent a survey to its fans (posted below) which – if you read between the lines – might say something its future plans in animation… Wrestlers versus The Justice League? The Smurfs? The Looney Tunes?

They also ask about non-Warner characters such as The Rugrats, He-Man and Alvin and The Chipmunks (???).

We all remember Space Jam. Sports figures and cartoons – What’s your opinion?

“Thank you for participating in the survey. Your complete and honest answers will help us better serve you and other members of the WWE Universe in the future.

What is your exact age?

Do you have any children under the age of 18 living in your household who are WWE fans?

How many times in an average month do you watch cartoons or animated programs?

Do you like any of the following cartoons or animated programs?
The Smurfs
The Rugrats
Alvin and the Chipmunks
The Flintstones
Justice League
He-Man and the Masters of the Universe
Looney Tunes
Scooby Doo
Tom and Jerry
None of the above

Does your household own any of the following cartoons or animated programs on DVD? Select all that apply.
Looney Tunes
Alvin and the Chipmunks
The Rugrats
Tom and Jerry
The Smurfs
Justice League
Scooby Doo
The Flintstones
He-Man and the Masters of the Universe
None of the above

WWE will co-produce an action packed Scooby-Doo animated movie that will feature WWE Superstars and Divas including Triple H, John Cena, Kane, The Miz, Santino Marella, AJ, Brodus Clay, Sin Cara and WWE Chairman Mr. McMahon. These WWE Superstars will appear in an animated form helping their friends Scooby, Shaggy, Velma, Daphne and Fred solve an exciting mysterious case at WrestleMania.

If WWE Superstars were to appear in another animated program, which of the following properties would you be most interested in seeing partnered with WWE?
The Smurfs
The Flintstones
Looney Tunes (e.g., Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Elmer Fudd, etc.)

Which of these three properties would you be most interested in seeing partnered with WWE?
The Rugrats
Justice League (e.g., Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, Green Lantern, etc.)
Alvin and the Chipmunks

And which of these three properties would you be most interested in seeing partnered with WWE?
Tom and Jerry
Scooby Doo
He-Man and the Masters of the Universe

Of the three animated programs you selected, which would you be most interested in seeing partnered with WWE?
He-Man and the Masters of the Universe
The Rugrats
The Flintstones

What is your race / ethnicity?

Which of the following ranges best describes your total annual household income (before taxes)?”

(via Wrestling, Inc.)

Today we bring you another installment of Youth Media Movers and Shakers. We’ve culled through industry publications looking for the recent executive placements we think you should know about. If you have executive news that you want us to... Read the rest of this post

DVD sales continue to tank (while household spending on streaming video services, such as Netflix, and DVD rentals from Kiosks, such as Redbox, continues to rise. Much of this trend is driven by Millennials who are less concerned with owning media... Read the rest of this post

By Edward Zelinsky

I live in Connecticut. The Nutmeg State’s 2010 election campaign is a prime example of the emerging domination of American politics by self-funding multimillionaires. This troubling trend has been exacerbated by what is euphemistically called campaign finance reform. The law of unintended consequences strikes again. There is, I suggest, a better way.

Former Connecticut congressman Rob Simmons had been the front-runner for the GOP nomination for the U.S. Senate until Linda McMahon declared her candidacy. Mrs. McMahon has never held public office. She is, however, along with her husband Vince, a founder of World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) and a multimillionaire. Having spent so far over $20 million of her own money on her campaign, Mrs. McMahon is now favored to win the primary for the Republican nomination for the U.S. Senate.

A similar story is playing out in the contest for the Democratic nomination for Governor of Connecticut. The polls indicate that the front-runner for the Democratic nomination is Edward (“Ned”) Lamont. Like Mrs. McMahon, Mr. Lamont is a multimillionaire, the great-grandson of the legendary J.P. Morgan partner, Thomas W. Lamont. In 2006, Mr. Lamont spent roughly $14 million of his own money to defeat incumbent Joseph I. Lieberman for the Democratic nomination for the U.S. Senate. Mr. Lamont has to date spent almost $2 million of his fortune on his 2010 gubernatorial campaign.

Current polls also indicate that another multimillionaire self-funding his campaign leads in the race for the Republican nomination for Governor. Thomas C. Foley, the former U.S. ambassador to Ireland, outpaces Lt. Gov. Michael Fedele (who is participating in Connecticut’s program of publicly-subsidized campaign finance) and businessman Nelson (“Oz”) Griebel (who is not).

What is occurring in Connecticut is emblematic of broader, nationwide trends. It may well be that Mrs. McMahon, Mr. Lamont and Ambassador Foley are qualified to hold the offices they seek. There is, however, no doubt that their currently strong positions are principally attributable to the personal funds they have deployed to advance their respective candidacies.

Of course, the candidate who spends the most doesn’t always win. In earlier ages wealthy individuals were politically prominent. George Washington and Ben Franklin were both wealthy men. The U.S. Senate was a millionaires’ club at the end of the 19th century – as it is again today.

Nevertheless, the contemporary political dominance of self-funding millionaires in Connecticut and in other states is disquieting. Moreover, this trend is exacerbated by the very campaign finance “reforms” intended to reduce the impact of money on our political life. This is the law of unintended consequences striking with vengeance.

Consider, for example, former Stamford Mayor Dan Malloy, Mr. Lamont’s chief competitor for Connecticut’s gubernatorial nomination, and Lt. Gov. Fedele, Ambassador Foley’s main rival on the Republican side. Both Mayor Malloy and Lt. Gov. Fedele have accepted financing from Connecticut’s system of campaign finance. However, the p