Now, normally I don’t like to do this, but let me break you off with a little taste of the Open Thread.
First, for the comic book fans, Chris Evans has been cast as Captain America in the upcoming movie of the same name. Reaction has been mixed in the fan community. Yours truly liked him as Johnny Storm in The Fantastic Four: he had just the right mix of cockiness and likability. But neither of those are essential qualities for Captain America, unless they’re planning on updating him for the 21st century (OH SNAP, TAKE THAT AMERICAN EXCEPTIONALISM, YEAH WHAT).
Question: we asked whom you’d cast as Captain America in an earlier open thread, so you can answer that if you like. But I’ll make it tricky: presuming you have to use Chris Evans in an Avengers movie, which Avenger would you cast him as?
Now nothing says Captain American CAN'T have pouty lips.
Second, recurring OTI subject James Cameron made the news this week when he challenged FOX News’s Glenn Beck to a debate. The arch-liberal director known for his temper and the reactionary demagogue known for his conspiracy theories would, in theory, debate on political and environmental issues. Jeff Labrecque of Entertainment Weekly’s PopWatch blog suggested that Cameron and Beck should instead fight it out in “Avatar’s exoskeletal AMP suits during halftime of the Super Bowl,” which really strays into OTI turf (DICK MOVE, LABRECQUE; YOU DON’T SEE US COVERING CELEBRITY GOSSIP, DO YOU?).
Question: We can all guess that Cameron’s next project will feature an obvious Glenn Beck stand-in who will die grotesquely, because that’s the sort of man Cameron is. What will the project be, who will play the Beck-alike, and how will he meet his end?
And finally, we doff our hats in memory of Robert Culp, who died of injuries sustained in a fall this week at the age of 79. A veteran TV and film actor, Culp was most famous for starring opposite Bill Cosby in “I SPY,” a high-budget espionage/action drama from the 60s. Episodes are still up on Hulu; you owe it to yourself to watch some of them. Sci-fi geeks might also recognize Culp from the Harlan Ellison-penned 1964 “Outer Limits” episode, “Demon with a Glass Hand” (AND YET ELLISON STILL LIVES; DAMN YOU CRUEL WORLD).
Now that is badass.
Finally, a reminder that Overthinking It will be at PAX East, Penny Arcade’s Boston convention and expo, this very weekend! In fact, we might be there right now! As you read this! If you’re attending and want to say hi, send a tweet to Overthinking It.
Question: Are you attending PAX East? Well, are you?
Do you think Captain America (as played by Robert Culp) would appear on the Glenn Beck Show? Or do you have something else to pontificate about? Then sound off in the comments, for this is your … open thread.