* Well now, here’s a treat: A very, very entertaining interview with Michael Emerson, aka Ben from Lost, by the Daytona Beach News-Journal‘s Tom Iacuzio. It’s full of both spoilers and speculation, so be careful, but the adorable thing is that the speculation comes from Emerson himself rather than the interviewer! Emerson also has some interesting things to say about Deadwood and Battlestar Galactica. And then there’s this wonderful little exchange:
What kind of reaction do you get from fans on the street?
Mostly people react to me with pleasure but in general it’s a kind of guarded pleasure. They are happy to see this face and voice that they know belongs to a character that they enjoy but part of them can’t fully disassociate me from the part I play. So they worry a little bit that I might actually be somewhat dangerous.
Do you ever just shoot them that patented Ben stare?
(pause) I don’t even know what you’re talking about.
Read the whole thing. (Via The Tail Section.)
* Buncha Marvel movie news that has me kind of excited. First, there’s a film adaptation of Runaways on the way, with a screenplay by series writer and Lost ass-kicker Brian K. Vaughan himself. (Via JK Parkin.) Second, displaying an admirable level of cluefulness, Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige sez the upcoming movie versions of Captain America and Thor will take place during World War II (entirely) and in Asgard (partially) respectively. Sweet.
* Artist Robert Burden is selling prints of his awesomely over-the-top portraits of action figures! (Via Uncrate.)
* You’ll never not be entertained while reading Rick Marshall talk about Wizard.
* CRwM of And Now the Screaming Starts has some really interesting things to say about torture porn, specifically regarding how the audience is implicated by the events taking place, and whether we who debate the term agree at all on what we’re referring to when we use it. Since a chunk of it is based on an interpretation of my definition of torture porn, I respond and defend myself here.
* Finally, Kali Ma!
Michael Emerson is obviously having the time of his life, and messing with the media seems to bring him great pleasure. He actually managed to make Best Week Ever entertaining for almost 3 minutes.