Pac-Man game show to exist in reality

Image: Adapted from E3 2006 Namco's Pac-Man and Ms Pac-Man costumes by popculturegeek.com under a CC-BY license.

Namco is teaming up with Merv Griffin Entertainment to turn Pac-Man into a reality/game show type TV series.

The new waste of time is being hyped as a “big, crazy Wipeout-type event with a lot of energy.” “Wipeout” in that sentence is apparently referring to an existing TV series similar to Most Extreme Elimination Challenge, without the good parts, not the futuristic racing video game franchise.

As for how the show will actually work, Merv Griffin’s Roy Bank claims it will “bring what is essentially the world’s biggest game of tag to television.” In other words, a bunch of morons will be running around in foam mazes trying to figuratively eat each other.

If the world truly needs a Pac-Man TV series, I’d have preferred a fictionalized neo-noir take on Billy Mitchell’s life, in which a mullet man in a yellow trench-coat battles evil spirits in the night, and tries to cope with his own demons by munching pills during the day.

Source: IGN

Michael C. Hall is Comin’ to Town

Image: Dexter promotional image. Copyright Showtime.

Here’s something I meant to share with you all a while ago. Earlier this month, Michael C. Hall, star of the TV series Dexter, appeared on Jimmy Fallon’s late night show.

Fans of the show will have a Dextergasm over this little song, and non-fans will probably be just as creeped out. Enjoy the melodious tones of serial killer Dexter’s calming voice. They might be the last you hear…if you were bad this year.

SpikeTV Video Game Awards Drinking Game 2010

SpikeTV’s Video Game Awards will be airing 6pm Mountain time tonight. What I like to call “the annual abortion” will be hosted by living god Neil Patrick Harris, who has explained that this year’s sets will be digital, and that he plans on getting through the night by drinking. “I try to be as drunk as Dean Martin, that makes it all go away much faster,” says Harris. Wise words. That’s why we at Shufflingdead have decided to put together a set of drinking game rules for the evening, thus propelling the rest of us suckers through the night as well.

Remember, Shufflingdead will be live-blogging the event when it airs, so check back here later today.

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Conan O’Brien is back: Andy, hair, beard, and all

If you missed Conan’s re-debut and are in the US, you can see his first episode in full here. If you’re in Canada, you can watch here.

Conan’s new show, conveniently called “Conan,” opened strongly. Considering the hype, it shouldn’t come as much of a surprise that his new show beat out Leno, Letterman, and Stewart on Monday.

The episode has received generally positive reviews for Conan’s assault on his former employer, NBC, as well as plenty of jabs for his new network, TBS. I have, however, noticed a few comments in my internet travels disappointed with O’Brien’s strict adherence to the classic late-night formula of monologue-sketches-guest-guest-band.

Remember, this is TV we’re talking about. If you want Conan to succeed in his new spot, you’re going to need to tune in again tonight. And then again the night after that. On and on forever, just like the old and decrepit who keep tuning in for Leno despite the total irrelevancy of his humour.

Source: MTV

Jiffy’s Lazy Links: Ocarina Jam Session Edition

In the spirit of Halloween, I would like to remind everyone that The Walking Dead TV series debuts tonight.

Nintendo has finally announced that they will be bringing the Super Mario Collection to North America on December 12. This is the Super Mario All-Stars port the rest of the world already knew it was getting a long time ago. It’s $30 and you get an art book and CD along with the games. Maybe it’s worth it as a collectible, I don’t know. Newbs tells me he already owns most of the games in the package about six times over.

In a strange turn, the great bloviator Rush Limbaugh has decided to support video gaming in its battle against the state of California. The Supreme Court will soon hear arguments in the debate over a state’s right to limit the sale of certain video games to minors. Nice try Rush, but you would love to limit many rights to many people in all kinds of other ways, I still hate you.

Self-described “troll” Colm Coss of Manchester has been jailed for 18 weeks after he trolled Facebook memorial pages. Another indication that the internet is leaking into reality.

Steve Jobs wasn’t too happy about Microsoft’s purchase of Halo maker Bungie. He even called up Steve Ballmer to complain as soon as he got the news.

Battlestar Galactica spin-off Caprica has been cancelled. The good news is that Syfy has ordered a pilot for a new BSG series called Battlestar Galactica: Blood and Chrome, which will follow the antics of young William Adama during the first Cylon war.

Finally, I should probably mention that Chicagoans had a few chances in October, and will have more in November, to go see “Boobs and Goombas: A Super Mario Burlesque.” Could be hot.