Tag Archives: BBC

Is That Ian McKellen?

1 Apr

April 1, 2017

Sir Ian McKellen, in addition to being one of the great actors of our time, is also one of the most recognizable. This is partly due to his roles in a pair of hugely popular franchises.

As Magneto in the X-Men franchise

As Gandalf in The Lord of The Rings

So it was a surprise when, after sitting through Disney’s new, live-action Beauty and the Beast movie that I discovered that Ian McKellen had a prominent role in the story. He played Cogsworth the clock and the vast majority of the part was just voice-over work. I didn’t recognize his voice- in fact, I was sure I did, but I didn’t think it was McKellen. I thought it was either Leo McKern (better known as Number Two in The Prisoner and as Rumpole of the Bailey) or the guy who played Mr. Tebbs on Are You Being Served, an old BBC sitcom from the 70’s. Problem is, both men died decades ago.

And when the clock turned back to a human at the end of the film (spoiler alert!- oops, too late) and Ian McKellen appeared in person, not only did I still not recognize him but I was more sure than ever that he was either McKern or James Hayter (Mr. Tebbs from Served.) Take a look at Magneto above and Cogsworth below and tell me if any of you would have recognized McKellen.

Separated at birth?

Now take a look at the other men. Is it any surprise that I thought that it was either of them? I have to hand it to Ian McKellen. He is such a good actor that I was prepared to believe that it was anyone but him in the movie. Even a couple of dead men.

 

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NewsFails July 2015

23 Jul

July 23, 2015

Dear The Dean of NYU School of Journalism:

Hi. I am a lifelong New York resident who would love to attend your school or university. I think that I can write some things pretty good, and I am willing to learn how to write some other things. If you accept me to your fine school or university, I promise that I will never write anything like these things below that I am going to show you.

Thank You Very Much,
Regards
Sincerely.

Bruin Z. Othello

newserw1

“Loon lake?” This article was about a loon on a lake, if you ask me.

Look, it is pretty simple. Most cats are not seafaring cats. They do not like the water. Taking a cat on a canoe is just asking for trouble. I bet that cat turned the man to kibble and kitty litter before he was 3 feet away from the dock.

newserw2

Sorry Dina, porn does not count.

I wonder if any of the offers were for her to be in a snuff film? Not that I’m saying she’s a bad actress (OK, yeah, I’m saying it) but she wouldn’t even make a convincing dead body.

The Metro is, I think, free here in NYC. They hand it out near subway stations, yet has the best headline writer of the bunch.

newserw3

Evann Gastaldo, how do you do it? How do you keep a straight face? Even the cat in the canoe article was credited to anonymous editors and staff. Glad you’re proud of this.

“So a priest, a rabbi, and a farting drummer walk into a bar.” Got it. I just wonder what it would have cost if the window was closed? Would paramedics have been called?

newserw4

I am sure that a couple of surveillance cameras would have been far less expensive.

At times like this, I am jealous of the highly trained journalists at Newser. When I write about people pooping a warehouse it is for laughs. When they do it, they get paid. If I got paid for every article about poop I wrote I’d be a millionaire. (Wait, what does that say about my blog? Uh…)

And here we are, the highlight of the month. This article was so good that I had to run it in its entirety. Here he is, The World’s Sexiest Gorilla. And wouldn’t you know it, this story comes out of Japan. (Click to enlarge.)

newserw5

Dear The Dean of NYU School of Journalism:

I think I changed my mind. I don’t want to be associated with any of this. Please send my application over to Hamburger University instead.

Thanks
Your Pal

Bruin Z. Othello

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