Alexa and Jorge Narvaez on America’s Got Talent!

The cuteness train keeps rolling with Jorge and Alexa Narvaez, who I fell in love with with their viral video cover of “Home” by Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros.  Here’s their appearance on America’s Got Talent this week!

(Green) Arrow TV Series Picked Up – My High School Geek Reappears

I’m back from the dead! And so is Oliver Queen.

When I rediscovered superhero literature/media in high school a few years before Batman Begins, I knew the big names – Batman, Superman, Spiderman, Green Lantern. But one character always intrigued me, and grew to be one of my favorites of all time.

Oliver Queen, a.k.a. Green Arrow.  Frequently considered to be somewhere between a B- and C-list hero by popular media, but somewhere between B- and A-list for serious DC fans because of his frequent presence in the Justice League, his ability to piss off Hawkman, and most importantly, his acclaimed, political co-run with Green Lantern in the Bronze Age of the 1970s.

When Smallville featured Green Arrow as another hero in the show’s universe, it took me little time to figure out why him and not some bigger name: A Robin Hood-esque guy with a bow that has an odd, if sort of endearingly similar backstory to Bruce Wayne/Batman, having precision skills of the noble pursuit of archery.  He hits the Dark Knight notes while looking cool in his own way, some social justice angles available for use long term, all keeping the special effects budget down. (Imagine if the Aquaman pilot got picked up… $!$!$! to make that one!)
Being a huge Ollie fan (he even made spicy chili that everyone groaned about, like me!), this. was. AWESOME. Green Arrow beat so many other heroes to TV!

Well, Smallville eventually ended and I thought that’s the last I’d see of Ollie (though I never gave up on the excellent, if radio-silent idea of Supermax – and I still won’t. Superhero films aren’t going away any time soon).

However, at the beginning of 2012… things started happening.  And now, thanks to the Upfronts this week… we now have the first footage of Arrow, a take on the character that’s a bit remixed but still seems to hit on most of the major beats of the character’s history.

This is not the Justin Hartley Green Arrow from Smallville, instead a new take on Ollie that just calls himself “Arrow”.  Wondering if he’ll adopt the full moniker over time…

From the footage so far, it feels like Green Arrow: Year One hits Longbow Hunters.  I’m cautiously optimistic, and just hope that the CW doesn’t ruin it by being the CW.  I’m hoping for more Smallville and less Birds of Prey.