5. Star Wars Darth Vader Computer Sitter
Advanced form of Bobble Head that watches over you while you work.

4. Flash Gordon Ming the Merciless
Because seriously, how often do you see Flash Gordon toys anymore?

3. Star Wars Slave Princess Leia
Love the expression, how bored is that Bobble Head?

2. Star Trek Khan Talking Wacky Wobbler
Utters the phrase, “You are in a position to demand nothing, sir,” a great sentiment for home or office.

1. Twilight Zone Talky Tina
She utters the ever popular, “My name is Talky Tina, and I’m going to kill you,” along with four other endearing phrases.

All of these Bobble Heads are available at Entertainment Earth as well as other novelty toy retailers.

Photos: Entertainment Earth

Post from: SF Universe

Yeah, exactly. I can still hear Queen in my head: “Flash! Ahhhh!” Just another reason to fear the remakes. They’re remaking freakin’ Barbarella. When, oh when will this madness end, I ask?

Maybe I’m just clinging to memories of my childhood. Or maybe, just maybe, when these remakes are Speed Racer-bad we’ll all meet back here to commiserate.

Image courtesy of Newscom.

Post from: SF Universe

With the surprising success of Iron Man, the word in Hollywood is that execs are looking even harder at potential comic-based franchises. The 1980 Flash Gordon movie has become a cult classic in spite of a cheese factor that included so-so special effects, a virtual unknown in the lead role and second-worst James Bond ever Timothy Dalton in a major role.

It was miles better than Sci Fi Channel’s short-lived revamp that even network brass have gone on record panning.

Image courtesy of Newscom.

Post from: SF Universe

Word has gotten out that SciFi Channel’s attempt at reviving Flash Gordon is no more. The confirmation came not from an official announcement (fans of the Dresden Files will tell you SciFi doesn’t do those) but from an offhanded comment from the channel’s president admitting the revival sucked.

SciFi President David Howe told Variety the network didn’t treat the iconic hero the way he deserves to be treated. Howe didn’t rule out a future attempt at fixing Flash but said it wouldn’t happen now.

I’m not really sad about this one. I watched it a time or two but it never became appointment TV for me. I don’t remember it being particularly good or particularly bad, I just don’t remember it. That’s never a good sign for a show. Even a show like Baywatch can generate some buzz just by how bad it really is.

Here’s what I would have done: a Black Flash Gordon. Before Battlestar Galactica launched, all the talk was about a female Starbuck. Not all of it was positive, actually most of it wasn’t. But in entertainment there is really no such thing as bad publicity. Thousands more people would have tuned in just to see what the fuss was about, including a lot of African-Americans who might have never given the show a glance otherwise.

Their origin for Flash was a well-known track star. I’m not going to go off on any ill-advised “Jimmy The Greek” tangent about what race produces the best athletes. But even a cursory view of the Summer Olympics will show a very culturally diverse group. I’m not saying there aren’t blond-haired, blue-eyed track stars but for whatever reason, they are in the minority these days.

I am not advocating casting the nearest Black actor/rapper. I’m really not advocating casting any more rappers. I wouldn’t recommend trying to make Batman, Superman or Spider-Man African-American. I hated it when Marvel realized there were no major Black characters in Daredevil and opted to make the villainous Kingpin Black. Thanks for the favor, guys, thanks for the favor.

People know Bruce Wayne, Clark Kent and Peter Parker are White. The average teenager these days likely hasn’t even heard of Flash Gordon. With a character that hasn’t been relevant to pop culture in better than 20 years, it would have been a good time to take a risk. Hey David call me, we’ll have some coffee, we’ll talk.

SCI FI Photo: James Dittiger

Post from: SF Universe