MOVING: The Leshock Value has gone primetime!

Just wanted to let all of you readers know that I am now blogging on wgntv.com/leshock. Make sure you bookmark it to keep track of everything going on in the Leshock world and around Chicagoland.

VIRAL VIDEO: The Parking Ticket

The funniest thing I've seen today, once again from Joe Avella. Warning NSFW language:

VIDEO: Where to watch the Blackhawks tonight!

Maybe you don't have a ticket to see the Chicago Blackhawks beat the Detroit Red Wings tonight? You should still come out to cheer, perhaps at one of these bars we featured on last night's WGN Evening News at 5:30 p.m. (cough, *plug*, cough). Watch the clip here.

LeSHOCK Value Review: Terminator 4 a bore

COMMENCE BOMBING OF SKYNET!

Michael Ironside belts out this gem from deep beneath the ocean in a nuclear submarine. Yes, humans still have those in their fight against the machines, who are once again out to kill John Connor's father in "Terminator: Salvation."

T4 opens with a shot of Marcus, a convict on death row for killing his family. He's talked into donating his body to science by a cancer-stricken Helena Bonham Carter. He does so for a kiss, to which he adds gracefully, "Now I know what death tastes like."

Needless to say, a decade later Marcus turns up in a post-apocalyptic earth, where man is fighting machine and John Connor is leading the resistance. Marcus winds up fighting on the same side of the battlefield, until Connor finds out Marcus is more metal than man. Can he really trust a robot? What about a robot with a beating heart? A robot who just wants a second chance to right the wrongs of his life, wrongs that sent him to the death house? Oh the chrome-plated humanity! It's 2018, and not even a nuclear holocaust can wipe about sad blockbuster sap.

As far as the Terminator mythology goes - NOTHING HAPPENS. And when I say nothing happens, I literally mean that nothing happens. There's something that happens at the end of the film that leads you to believe that maybe all of this is coming to a close and either man/machine (won't spoil which one) has finally got the upper hand. But then, a character provides a few lines of narration just before the closing credits that tells us "Hey, all of that stuff you just watched? That pretty much didn't mean anything. Thanks for watching us spend $100 million blowing s--- to high heaven. See you in two summers."

"Terminator: Salvation" is just a dumb movie. I was shocked that somebody like Christian Bale, known for taking his time picking his scripts and making big-budget movies with brains, would sign on for something this silly. How many times does he need to tell characters to "get to the transport?" Or how about "run?" If there's a seven foot man of metal storming at you, can't people figure it out for themselves?

On the positive side, at least the effects are pretty solid. There's a fun scene with a towering harvester bot picking people up one by one, even though it's directly ripped out of "Transformers." I still don't understand why machines would want to collect humans, wouldn't they focus their time on developing better, stronger machines? And don't even get me started on the talking computer!

The tagline for "Terminator: Salvation" seems to be "Everybody deserves a second chance." I'm willing to grant this to Mr. Bale, but to the film's director Mr. McG? I think this would be more like a 5th chance. I'll take a pass on that.

A ticket to "Terminator: Salvation" will cost you $10. I think that's way too much money. T4 gets a LeShock Value of $2 out of $10.

2/10

VIDEO: Mancow waterboarded

In his latest on-air stunt, Eric "Mancow" Muller was waterboarded on his WLS Radio show. Here's the video:



I can see the value of undergoing waterboarding. Maybe you want to see how the human body reacts to such treatment and personally report the results to better educate your audience (I posted a much calmer video weeks ago featuring a Playboy reporter who went through the same treatment). In this case, it just kind of creeps me out to use waterboarding for entertainment value. Yet it worked, I was glued to my radio on my drive to work, wanting to know how long Mancow could last.

I've gone back and forth on this, but I can say that I enjoy most of Mancow's work. I think he's pretty funny. There are certain days I hate him, others I really love him. But in this case - does captivating a large audience make something right? It can certainly make you rich. You decide.

Mancow will be live on WGN-TV at 12 Noon to talk about the experience.

INTERVIEW: Director Pete Docter of Disney/Pixar's "Up"

"Up" doesn't open until next Friday, May 29. So far I've only been able to see a rough-cut screening that was missing the opening and ending credits. But based on that, I can tell you "Up" is set to be one of my favorite films of 2009. I was able to talk with the film's director Pete Docter (also of "Monsters Inc.") shortly before I left "metromix on CLTV." Here's the interview:

SPORTS: Broken Backboard Bonanza!

Props to the Zoner for pointing out Slam Online's feature of the Most Destructive Backboard Slams Ever! Maybe you caught big boy Dwight Howard destroying some Cleveland property last night. If not, watch:



But Slam shares this video from YouTube. My favorite dunk goes down at 2:07. I love how the guy just trots away as glass showers into the faces of the other team. Eye damage? More like "Eye Don't Care" damage! Boo ya indeed!

VIDEO: Sherlock Holmes trailer is out!

Stuff blows up! In England!

MOVIES: Cameron Crowe's Top 10 Music Moments in Film

This is a great list put together by one of the masters. Director Cameron Crowe has always been known to take a great song and turn it into something altogether different. Who could forget John Cusack holding up that boombox blaring Peter Gabriel's "In Your Eyes" in "Say Anything?" What about the revival of Elton John's "Tiny Dancer" in "Almost Famous?"

But being the gentlemen, Crowe omits his own work in putting together his list. Glad to see "Once" makes an appearance, but I'd probably put a few more Quentin Tarantino tracks in the mix ("Didn't I Blow Your Mind This Time" from "Jackie Brown" makes an appearance, but no Steeler's Wheel in "Reservoir Dogs?" Hmmm).

Regardless, a great list. Check it out here.

FOOD: Great Lake pizza named best in America by GQ

Lou who? Gino what? GQ Magazine's Alan Richman traveled 20,000 miles to find the best pizza in America. Chicago only landed one pizzeria in the Top 25, one many of its residents have yet to try - Great Lake in Andersonville, specifically the Mortadella Pie.

You can read Richman's full description here, but just to be brief:

"...topped with fresh garlic and mortadella, the dirigible-sized Italian sausage that looks like bologna, tastes like salami, and is usually cut into chunks. He sliced the meat very thin and laid slices of it over the pie the moment it came out of the oven."

OK I'm sold. I have yet to eat at Great Lake, but it's known for its long wait times (which Richman labels a good thing because of the care put into each pie). Looks like those wait times will be even longer now - because myself, everyone else and their mothers will be lining up to get a taste of this bad boy. I'll let you know the results after I get my hands on one.

What do you all think about the list? Any favorite Chicago pizzeria left off? My favorite remains Louisa's in Crestwood. It's a deep pan pizza but never too soggy, cooked in a very high temperature oven from both sides. I'm salivating just thinking about it.

SPORTS: Brewer Rickie Weeks out for season

Milwaukee Brewer second basemen Rickie Weeks has all the potential to be an all-star - he's got power, speed, and big play ability. But for some reason he always manages to come up short.

I know this because I've consistently placed Weeks on my Fantasy Baseball team. He's one of those attractive players who always teases you just enough, and then WHAM! He has a "tear in his left wrist." Who "tears" their wrist? Seriously. From the AP wire:

"Weeks hurt himself while striking out Sunday in St. Louis. He had an MRI exam Monday, and it revealed the startling injury. Weeks was hitting .272 with nine home runs and 24 RBIs."

Weeks will miss the remainder of the 2009 season, a big shocker up in BeerCheeseCity. It's never good news when somebody gets hurt, but this should help the Cubs. As for hope on my Fantasy Team? The honorable Fred Gwynne said it best - "Sometimes dead is better."

SNL: Will Ferrell, Tom Hanks return for Celebrity Jeopardy

Just minutes ago I was asking Tom Hanks to show me some life. My prayers have been answered.

SPORTS: Blackhawks Adam Burish escapes death

Yesterday's game wasn't too fun for Blackhawks fans, but there was some good news. Winger Adam Burish nearly had his head taken off by a skate, but ducked backwards just in time. The cringe inducing highlight here:

Monday Movie Quarterback - 5/18/09

It must be an interesting morning to be Tom Hanks.

1) Your new movie "Angels & Demons" opens to number one at the box office with $48 million, probably because you toned down your ridiculous man-mane from previous film "The Da Vinci Code."

2) Your new movie "Angels & Demons" barely beat out last week's winner "Star Trek," and fell $30 million short of the $77 million opening weekend haul of the previous installment "The Da Vinci Code." Probably because you cut your sexy, flowing hair. Bad idea.

Overall, I would say it was a good showing for "Angels & Demons." Although I was among critics who did not like the film, you have to respect the monstrous $152 million worldwide box office total this weekend. Dan Brown seems to be on to something with these thrillers soaked in religious conspiracy. The lovers and haters are turning out in big numers to have an opinion.

Why I didn't like the film? Like "The Da Vinci Code," it's just flat. Tom Hanks floats through this thing as uninterested as ever. His Robert Langdon is a man strolling around Rome (or in a slightly brisk jog) pointing at statues and spouting off trivia. Dan Brown's Robert Langdon seemed to get a thrill at encountering priceless artifacts - think Chris Matthews entering the Obama Library for the first time. Hanks' Langdon looks like he's doing his chores.

I wish Ron Howard's take on these Dan Brown books played the excitement and wonder factor up a bit more and stopped reminding us how dire and serious the subject matter is. But then again, this isn't "Indiana Jones." Too bad.

Memorial Day weekend should be interesting at the box office. We have "Terminator 'Oh, Good For You' Salvation" entering the ring, but that won't matter. Ben Stiller's "Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian" will dominate and be a clear number one. I'm guessing people will go see Terminator and make it #2 (I'm checking it out tonight), but could the T factor be played out by now? Here's my prediction on how things will shake out:

1. Night at the Museum (only family fare for a mile, HUGE numbers coming)

2. Terminator Salvation (could be shaky showing)

3. Star Trek (word of mouth could keep it in Top 3 for a while)

4. Angels & Demons (shouldn't have cut that hair, Hanks)

5. Wolverine (why people continue to go see this movie? One of those strange paradoxes)

*DISCLAIMER: The Monday Movie Quarterback is all in fun, because who really cares about box office numbers? When did society reach a point where we cared how much money some Hollywood corporation cleaned up over the weekend? If you want to see a film, go see a film, regardless of how many people have or haven't seen it. Also, if too many people have seen a really bad film, pointing fingers and heckling is always accepted and/or encouraged. The LeShock Value is not responsible for any physical or property damage that may occur as a result of your overreaction/heckling.

THE PAT DOWN: Texting Pedestrians

WGN's Pat Tomasulo is at it again. If you ever text/talk/blog while walking, this one is for you.

You can watch previous Pat Downs at wgntv.com/thepatdown.

SPORTS: Chicago Blackhawks - THE MOVIE!

ESPN 1000 has put together an awesome list of who would play our Chicago Blackhawks in a Hollywood flick. My personal favorite has to be Carrot Top as Brian Campbell.

However, Haley Joel Osment as Patrick Kane is a close second. Check out the rest of the list here.

VIRAL VIDEO: Twitter, what is it good for?

Once again props to the Zoner for finding this gem. Video of the day, and to admit, I am a tweeter. Jokes on me, I guess.

VIDEO: Marcus interviews America's Next Top Model winner Teyona

Last night was the big finale for America's Next Top Model (which happened to be one of the most watched hours of the night), but more importantly, it was my big debut on WGN News. I got a chance to talk with Cycle 12's winner Teyona in New York - check it out!

SAD: Keifer Sutherland's downward spiral continues

Kiefer Sutherland is one of my favorite actors. His raspy Jack Bauer always gives me a good thrill and sometimes an unwarranted chuckle on "24." But lately, Kiefer's off-screen behavior has been the real tragedy.

Just a few months after serving jail time for a DUI arrest, Kiefer hit Chicago and partied it up at Angels & Kings. From RedEye's Liz Crokin:

The next night he returned to A&K for more refreshments. Eyewitnesses tell me the "24" star was very animated and even kissed a dude on the lips!

"Kissing a dude on the lips?" Hey, to each their own. It's the "more refreshments" that's getting to me. Weeks after a late night bender in Chi-town, Kiefer was on to New York where he got into a scuffle at another party - this time leaving in handcuffs after allegedly headbutting a fashion designer. Today Kiefer pal Brooke Shields is coming to his defense, after all, he was just headbanging in her honor.

But here's the problem. Kiefer is serving five years probation for his California DUI incident. Something like this can land him in even more trouble. What the media seems to be ignoring is Kiefer's alcohol addiction - reminder here, and here.

At this point I've heard everything from people who have met Kiefer. Things like, "Oh, it's OK, he's a functioning alcoholic." Or "hey, the guy just likes to drink. He's an adult. Leave him alone."

Question - do any of Kiefer's friends (you know, the ones frequenting these late night barhops with him) have the guts to sit him down and say, "Listen, Kiefer, we're really worried about you?" Or maybe they're not worried - riding on the coat tails of an international celebrity on a collision course with death.

I hope there's someone close to Mr. Sutherland who can convince him to get some real help. Alcoholism is a devastating addiction that destroys individuals and families all over the globe. "24" is one of my favorite television programs - let's hope the real Jack Bauer can save his own world one more time.

SPORTS: Blackhawks advance to conference finals!

What a game in a year of "what a games." First the Bulls take Boston to 3 OT's, now the Blackhawks light up Vancouver goaltender Roberto Luongo for 7 goals in a must-win situation? The Hawks have quickly become the most exciting team in Chicago sports.

Now they move on to face either the Detroit Red Wings or Anaheim Mighty Ducks. I had a laugh at all of the meatballs calling into the morning radio programs. "Come ahn, let's take on 'dem dead wings, den." Let's get back to reality here - the Stanley Cup has been the only thing moving into Detroit over the past decade. I'd rather see the Wings go away, have the Hawks get home ice against the #8 seed Ducks, and continue a nice Detroit rivalry next year with Big Stanley sitting on the Hawks bench.

Another quick thought - at just 20 years old, Hatrick Kane won't be able to drink out of the Stanley Cup. Here's some links to more Hawks talk:

The Rosenblog has a thrill going up its leg.

Barry Rozner says the Hawks deserve time to take a nap, after giving Vancouver a dirt nap! Heyoooo!

And finally, Robert Luongo gets emotional after the Hawks send him home packing...

PHOTOS: Your Prom Pictures

Good morning! Just stumbled upon this Chicago Tribune photo gallery of Prom photos past and present (1988 Mundelein High Prom seen above). Really got me thinking - this year will be my 10-year high school reunion. I'm getting closer to having kids go to the prom than me being at the prom. Whoa.

You should check out all of these pictures, starting with my favorite, #18.

Fast Food Review - Quizno's Toasty Torpedo & KFC's Grilled Chicken!

So KFC tried to give out their Grilled Chicken for free, and you all know what happened. But is it really worth mailing in your coupon to get a rain check? Find out in my latest Fast Food Review! Mom always said to never play with my food. Obviously, I never listened.

Marcus leaves CLTV for WGN TV!

Big news here - I've taken on a new position at WGN-TV as a feature reporter! Tomorrow is my first day and I am very excited about this new opportunity. Read more about my move in TV Newsday.

I will miss many things about CLTV, but if you haven't heard the news, CLTV is in transition - the entire station is moving into the WGN building. So if you are a hardcore CLTV-er, you can probably expect me to make more than a few appearances on the channel in the months to come. "metromix on CLTV" will now be hosted by Jackie Tranchida, who will do a fantastic job and make the show must-watch-tv. I have to admit, walking out of CLTV wasn't nearly as hard as I thought it would be (considering the station will be following me in just a few months). But apparently it wasn't so easy for others....



More good times to come. See you on Channel 9.

VIDEO: Phil Mickelson's backwards golf shot

Thanks to the Zoner. I'm going golfing this weekend and might try this one out. So if I'm on 17 and you're on 16, you might want to look out.