David Tennant and Billie Piper Confirmed for DOCTOR WHO's 50th Anniversary

And here we go...

Just hours before the premiere of "The Bells of Saint John," the BBC has announced some of the major guest stars for Doctor Who's 50th anniversary special this November.  As expected, former Tenth Doctor David Tennant will be returning along with Billie Piper, who played his companion Rose Tyler.  They will join current Eleventh Doctor Matt Smith and his companion Clara Oswin Oswald, played by Jenna-Louise Coleman.

This will be their first return to Doctor Who since Tennant's final episode, "The End of Time, Part Two," on January 1, 2010.  However, as diehard Whovians know, it's possible that Tennant may not be reprising the Tenth Doctor.  In the episode "Journey's End," Rose remained on a parallel Earth with a half-human duplicate of the Tenth Doctor and Tennant could potentially reprise this Doctor instead.

Also announced as a guest star was the legendary actor John Hurt, famous for his roles in Alien, V for Vendetta, Hellboy, the Harry Potter films and Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy.  Hurt's role in the 50th anniversary special is currently unknown.

Filming for the 50th anniversary special begins this week in the UK, written by Doctor Who showrunner Steven Moffat and directed by Nick Hurran.

This may be just the first of a series of major announcements, so here's hoping that Christopher Eccleston, Paul McGann, Sylvester McCoy, Colin Baker, Peter Davison and Tom Baker soon follow.

THE WOLVERINE Full International Trailer Debuts

After some pointless 6-second and 20-second teasers, the full international trailer for James Mangold's The Wolverine finally debuted online this morning.  The film essentially serves as a sequel to both X-Men Origins: Wolverine and X-Men: The Last Stand, featuring Hugh Jackman's Wolverine in Japan in an adventure based on the classic four-issue Wolverine mini-series Chris Claremont and Frank Miller.

"Eternity can be a curse," begins a rich Japanese businessman, possibly Shingen Yashida.  "The losses you have had to suffer...A man can run out of things to live for...lose his purpose."

We see a hairy, mopey Logan/James Howlett about to get into another bar fight until Rila Fukushima's Yukio interrupts and tells him not to bother.  "I've been trying to find you for over a year," she says, as we see Logan accompanying her on a private flight to Japan.  "My employer is dying.  He wants to thank you for saving his life.  It's an honor to meet the Wolverine."

"That's not who I am anymore," replies Logan, now more cleaned up to his typical scruffy-looking appearance.

We see Logan arriving in Tokyo, Japan and Yukio leading him inside a large temple.

"I didn't send for you only to thank you, Logan," continues the businessman as we cut to a lab with various equipment and see Svetlana Khodchenkova's Viper wearing a protective breathing mask. "I wanted to repay you.  A gift to equal the life you gave me.  You have struggled long enough.  Our company can do anything.  I can make you...mortal."

Logan is shot in the stomach by one of the temple priests and seems to be having trouble healing from the wound.

"I'm not healing like before.  What the hell is happening?"

We see Viper ripping off a thin facial mask followed by a shot of Wolverine fighting ninjas.  This is followed by shadowy glimpses of him fighting Will Yun Lee's Silver Samurai and then someone else armed with a dagger atop a moving train.

"What they did to me -- what I am -- can't be undone."

"Don't be so sure..."

If you'd like to view the trailer, you can check it out below thanks to TheWolverineUK on YouTube...



The Wolverine is scheduled to arrive in theaters on July 26, 2013.

DOCTOR WHO Reveals How Strax Survived Demons Run

Okay, admit it.  While watching the 2012 Doctor Who Christmas special, "The Snowmen," you were a little annoyed that there was no explanation of how the Sontaran warrior Strax survived the Battle of Demons Run after being pronounced dead in "A Good Man Goes to War."

Well, wonder no longer.  In a nearly three-minute mini-episode titled "The Battle of Demons Run: Two Days Later," we finally find out what happened to Strax and how he came to assist Silurian detective Madame Vastra and her wife Jenny Flint in 1890s London as the Paternoster Gang.  The mini-episode is currently free to download on iTunes and Amazon in the United States, but you can view it below thanks to Dailymotion user John Smith...

"This planet of which you speak...London...What do you do there?"

"Solve crimes..."

"Protect the Empire..."

"There's quite a lot of running..."

"Some spectacular dresses..."

"And an awful lot of fun."

Enjoy...


The Battle of Demons Run: Two Days Later by docjohnsmith

Robert Redford in Talks for CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE WINTER SOLDIER

Okay, hands up who saw this one coming.  Yeah, I thought so.

Deadline announced today that movie legend Robert Redford is in talks to appear in Captain America: The Winter Soldier, the 2014 sequel to Captain America: The First Avenger that stars Chris Evans.  Redford is famous for such films as Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, The Sting, All the President's Men and The Natural, as well as his Sundance independent film festival.

According to the article, Redford would play a senior leader in S.H.I.E.L.D., the Marvel Comics' intelligence and operations organization.  Presumably, he would be ranked higher than Samuel L. Jackson's character Nick Fury, who serves as Director.  This character may be one of the supervisors that Nick Fury spoke with at the end of the first Avengers film.

The article also mentions that Redford is likely to appear in other Marvel Cinematic Universe films, as other characters tend to do, although it seems doubtful that he would appear in the S.H.I.E.L.D. television series being developed for ABC.

Captain America: The Winter Soldier will be directed by Joe and Anthony Russo from a script by Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely.  The movie is scheduled to arrive in theaters on April 4, 2014.

George R.R. Martin Discusses GAME OF THRONES Season 3 and THE WINDS OF WINTER

With the acclaimed HBO series Game of Thrones about to return for Season 3 on March 31st, the Academy of Arts and Sciences hosted "An Evening with Game of Thrones" a couple of nights ago.  Creator George R.R. Martin was in attendance, along with stars Peter Dinklage (Tyrion Lannister), Kit Harington (Jon Snow) and Maisie Williams (Arya Stark).

The Huffington Post caught up with Martin on the red carpet and asked him to discuss what's coming up in Season 3 and what's going on with The Winds of Winter, his sixth book in the "A Song of Ice and Fire" series that Game of Thrones is based upon.

Concerning Season 3, Martin remarked, "I've actually only seen the episode that we premiered last night, because I've been very busy this past year.  I wanted to make it over to the shoot to see some of it being shot as I've done in previous years, but I wasn't able to do it this year.  I had too many other commitments and too many other deadlines.  So I wrote my own script, which is Episode 7, 'The Bear and the Maiden Fair,' but even there I haven't seen any footage.  I just know what's in the script.  Last night was the first time I'd seen any actual footage, which was very exciting. I loved it."

He then went into further detail about "The Bear and the Maiden Fair," saying, "There's a bear and a maiden fair, and a song.  That scene, if you know how television production works on a series like this, you're shooting the scenes and they don't always go into the episode they're originally scripted for -- some episodes are running long, others are short, sometimes scenes get moved around.  So the irony is, the scene with the bear was not written by me -- even though it's in my script -- it was written by David [Benioff] and Dan [Weiss] and was moved into my episode when they reshuffled a few scenes around, which then became the logical title for that.  It's a great scene and it's a great bear. Bart the Bear, you can see his audition on YouTube.  He's so cute.  I wanted to take him home and have a bear myself -- a 1,200 pound bear in the backyard."

As for his next novel The Winds of Winter, Martin admitted the release date was still a long ways away.  "I am working on it, " he said.  "It will be a long time coming.  I have many many more pages to do, but I have some great stuff planned for it -- a lot of blood and fire and death and devastation and ravens coming home to roost."

Duing the panel discussion, executive producers David Benioff and Dan Weiss admitted that Martin has already told them who ultimately ends up on the Iron Throne, which surprised the cast.  "There’ll be a few people sitting on it before the end," Martin teased.

There was also some discussion about deviations from the novels.  "As bloodthirsty as I am in killing characters," said Martin.  "David and Dan are killing some characters who are still alive in the books!  Their body count is higher than mine.  When they say no one is safe in the series, that's literally true.  There are characters in book five and who are gonna be in book six who are dead on the TV show."

However, Martin seems reconciled to the changes for television made by Benioff and Weiss.  "I trust them, I do," he said.  "I know it's a useful tool to keep the actors from asking for raises.  I've been on the other side of it.  In a perfect world, I would like more hours each year.  I would like more money so that each episode had the budget of a Peter Jackson film, but I don't think this is very likely and given the realities of production, it's incredible, what they do."

DOCTOR WHO's Jenna-Louise Coleman Chats with Craig Ferguson

As if we needed another reminder that Doctor Who continues to move on, actress Jenna-Louise Coleman, who plays enigmatic new companion Clara Oswin Oswald, appeared last night on CBS' The Late, Late Show with Craig Ferguson.  This was Coleman's first appearance on the late night talk show, as part of her week in the United States to promote Doctor Who Series 7B that begins on Saturday, March 30th on BBC America.

Ferguson introduced the segment with a brief clip from the opening episode "The Bells of Saint John," featuring Clara and The Doctor riding a small motorbike across Westminster Bridge in present-day London.  He then remarked to Coleman about how she is in the series as Clara.  "You're the sauciest of all the Doctor's companions, if you don't mind me saying so."  He then added, "And by saucy, I mean, I don't just mean, you know, 'Oooh lovely, look at her, she's saucy.'  I mean, like saucy as in you've got a bit of yeah, a bit more moxie."  "She's not afraid to ask why," replied Coleman.

Ferguson then complimented Coleman on her accent, observing that she was from the north in England.  Coleman confirmed that she was from Blackpool, Lancashire, which Ferguson described as "The Las Vegas of Britain, sort of, a little bit."

He then shifted the conversation back to Doctor Who, but mispronounced the series as Doctor Hugh, which encouraged him to explain as "It's like Doctor Who except it's Hugh Laurie."  Coleman remarked that Hugh Laurie was a doctor as well, so Ferguson followed up with "Well, he played House, so it's like Doctor Hugh.  He doesn't travel through time but he goes to the hospital and back again to his house."

Ferguson then mentioned the small TARDIS replica he keeps on the corner of his desk.  "I didn't just put that there for you," he said to Coleman.  "I'm a big fan of Doctor Who and that one there is bigger on the inside."  When Coleman asked to look inside, Ferguson initially rebuffed her because she wasn't his companion, but soon relented.  "But you need to update it.  See, we have a new TARDIS now," said Coleman, pointing out that the TARDIS interior was recently changed in the Christmas 2012 episode "The Snowmen."  "Well, this one will be fine," Ferguson replied.  "It gets the job done.  Thanks for criticizing my TARDIS, new girl on Doctor Who."

When asked if she watched Doctor Who when she was little, Coleman said that she didn't because it was never on.  Ferguson realized this was during the years between the series being cancelled in 1989 and its eventual return in 2005.  "I was denied that privilege as a child," said Coleman.  Ferguson noted, "So you won't know what to look out for -- Daleks, Cybermen, the statues that when you blink they kind of come at you..."  "I know about them (The Weeping Angels)," replied Coleman.  "Steven (Moffat) has one in his garden."

Ferguson finished the segment up with a traditional awkward pause, which Coleman remarked was one of her biggest fears growing up because awkward silences make her twitch.  "Really?" asked Ferguson ominously.  "Then's let's lean into it a little more, shall we...?"  After more awkward pausing, Coleman slightly whimpered, "I feel so uncomfortable."  Ferguson smiled and replied, "Then you've finally arrived at this show."

If you'd like to catch the full segment, you can view it below thanks to YouTube user lipgallaghers...

DOCTOR WHO Travels to Comic Relief 2013

It's always fun when Doctor Who's Matt Smith reprises the Eleventh Doctor for special televised events such as the Proms or Children In Need, so it's good to see him do it once again for yesterday's Red Nose Day/Comic Relief 2013.

In a brief Funny for Money sketch for the charity program, the Doctor encounters the cast from the BBC period drama Call the Midwife somehow in the present day documentary series One Born Every Minute, as the TARDIS materializes to the current Doctor Who theme music.

"Nuns and midwives, smashing!" grins the Doctor excitedly, wearing his original Series Five costume.  "Oh, yes, Evangeline, since when did you become a nun?  You know, I will never forget 1934...Oh, you saucy minx!"  Sister Evangeline blushes at the memory.

The Doctor smacks his own face to focus himself as the dramatic sounds of Murray Gold's "I Am the Doctor" score begins to play.  "Right!  Concentrate, Doctor, get a grip!  Right, Dawn...I am here to tell you that in precisely seven minutes and twelve-point-zero-six seconds, you will give birth to twins.  You will call them Jonathan and Edward and individually, they will be lovely, healthy children.  But combined, they will form a being scarier than a Weeping Angel, a creation more terrifying than a Cyberman, and a monstrosity more vocally-annoying than a Dalek.  It is imperative they are kept apart, because otherwise, otherwise, they will become...Jedward."

Everyone else cries "Noooooooooo!  Take us back to 1958!"  Sister Evangeline, meanwhile, lustfully asks, "Take me back to 1934..."

The sketch was followed by Matt Smith appearing on stage in his costume from "The Snowmen" with Comic Relief hosts Dermot O'Leary and Claudia Winkleman.  Matt uses the Sonic Screwdriver to keep uber-fan Claudia at bay.

If you'd like to see the two sequences, you can view them below on YouTube thanks to doctorwhotvcouk...

DAMN Good Comics -- BATMAN AND ROBIN #18

Comic book deaths, especially ones involving superheroes, rarely get the treatment they deserve.  They're often reduced to little more than cheap shock value or quickly brushed aside in order to move on to the newest status quo.

When Damian Wayne, son of the Batman and the latest to serve as his partner Robin, was abruptly killed off two weeks ago in the pages of Batman Incorporated (vol.2) #8, there wasn't much of an emotional impact.  One minute, Damian is there and the next, he's killed off by his overgrown genetic clone. 

Hunh.  Okay.  Oh, and thanks for spoiling it in advance for everyone, New York Post.

So in a series of follow-up stories known as "Requiem," it's up to the other Batman titles to show how Damian's death has affected the Batman Family.  The best of those released this week is easily Batman and Robin, appropriately enough, considering the series regularly featured Damian more than Batman himself.

In an entire issue without dialogue, writer Peter J. Tomasi constructs a powerful story titled "Undone" that is just filled with sadness, grief and raw emotion.  Bruce sits with Damian's dog Titus inside Damian's room and discovers small pieces of his son's life that were left behind.  Faithful friend and butler Alfred Pennyworth grieves privately over an unfinished painting of the Wayne family.  And after donning his Batman uniform, Bruce is reminded over and over of the time he spent with his son fighting crime.  This quickly becomes too much for Bruce to bear, causing him to lash out in a completely unexpected manner that reveals how deeply this latest death is affecting him.

With a silent issue, the heavy lifting naturally falls to penciller Patrick Gleason, inker Mick Gray and colorist John Kalisz.  To say their work here is effective would be a tremendous understatement, because this story wouldn't have nearly the same weight without such a talented artistic team.  Gleason's style is very clean and refined, even a bit animated at times, but his heavy use of shadows and silhouettes help to make each heartbreaking sequence feel like a solid punch to the gut.

All of this results in the strongest issue of Tomasi and Gleason's Batman and Robin run and "Undone" will probably find its way into several Greatest Batman Stories Ever lists and collections many years from now.  If you're a Batman fan, or just find stories of loss and grief compelling, you owe it to yourself to pick this one up.

Billy Dee Williams Asked to Return for STAR WARS EPISODE VII

You old smoothie...

Now that we pretty much have confirmation that Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher and Harrison Ford are set to reprise their roles for Star Wars Episode VII, fans have been wondering if Billy Dee Williams will be joining them once again as the gambling, entreprenuing and Death Star-destroying Lando Calrissian.

Well, it seems Film Buff Online had the chance to speak to Williams at the Monster Mania convention this past weekend in New Jersey.  They claimed that Williams said that he had been asked but that he hasn't decided yet if he's going to return.

Normally, this would be a no-brainer, but Williams turns 76 next month and it's certainly possible the film shoot could be too much for him.  Or perhaps this is simply a contract negotiating ploy for more money to lose at sabacc, who knows?  Williams has embraced his time as Lando, appearing in a number of episodes and specials for the Adult Swim series Robot Chicken and also in Fanboys, a 2009 film which was centered around a group of Star Wars fans.

In the Expanded Universe series of novels set after the events of Return of the Jedi, Lando Calrissian gets married to Tendra and engages in a series of mining enterprises until the invasion of the Yuuzhan Vong.  Afterwards, Lando retires to private life and he and Tendra have a son, Lando Jr., who is nicknamed "Chance."  Whether any of these post-ROTJ details will still be considered part of the official continuity for Episode VII is currently unknown.

Kyle MacLachlan Does the TWIN PEAKS Harlem Shake

I have no idea where this YouTube video will lead us, but I have a definite feeling it will be a place both wonderful and strange.

Okay, I'm a bit late to the dance party on this one, but a few weeks ago, Official Comedy released a short video of actor Kyle MacLachlan doing the popular internet meme based around Baauer's song "Harlem Shake."  Well, everyone has jumped on this bandwagon of late, including The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, The Simpsons and Saturday Night Live, so if there's another one, it must be a day ending in the letter Y.

This particular Harlem Shake, however, features MacLachlan back in the hellish Black Lodge from Twin Peaks, with various other people referencing a number of things from the cult classic 1990-91 ABC television series.  MacLachlan, who starred as Federal Bureau of Investigation Special Agent Dale Cooper, starts off the video bopping along and wearing the mask worn by the Jumping Man from the movie Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me in front of the familiar Red Room curtains inside the Black Lodge.

All at once, the image cuts to the unmasked MacLachlan smiling and holding a cup of damn good coffee, surrounded by Laura Palmer wrapped in plastic, the Little Man from Another Place, eyepatch-wearing Nadine Hurley, someone holding the Log Lady's log, someone holding up a picture of an owl, someone holding up the deer's head that was resting on a table inside the Twin Peaks police station, and someone holding a plate of doughnuts beloved by Cooper and Twin Peaks police officers.  MacLachlan even takes a sip of coffee and spits it out in a recreation of Cooper uttering the line "Damn good coffee...and hot!" that obviously inspired the name of this very blog.

If you'd like to check out the video, and who wouldn't, you can see it below thanks to Official Comedy...

Peter Davison Discusses DOCTOR WHO's 50th Anniversary

To days to come...

In a new Q&A interview with The Independent at this past weekend's Sci-Fi Weekender convention in North Wales, actor and Fifth Doctor Peter Davison was asked about the fiftieth anniversary of Doctor Who and how the series still factors into his everyday life.

On the enduring appeal of Doctor Who, Davison remarked, "Well, there are several enduring appeals really.  I think one is that science fiction has itself a very strong appeal because it’s almost limitless in its imagination.  It can be doing all sorts of different stories.  It can be doing a period story, a futuristic story, an alien invasion story, a story on other planets, and I think that appeals to those younger people with imagination.  I think they’re drawn to it.  It helps of course that we’ve managed to have several actors play one part, unlikely we could have got one to go on for 50 years.  I was probably the first Doctor who grew up watching Doctor Who.  Although he’s from another planet, it’s a strangely British character."

With the 50th anniversary special about to begin filming, Davison was also asked how he will be marking the anniversary.  "I suppose I’m attending some functions like this," he replied.  "I’m involved in some Big Finish 50th anniversary specials.  Apart from that I don’t know.  I do have a meeting with the producer of Doctor Who just to talk about events, things at Bafta.  There’s a big celebration on the weekend when the series went out originally which strangely falls on the same weekend, that’s as far as I know."

Davison's son-in-law David Tennant was also the Tenth Doctor, so he was asked if they discuss Doctor Who often.  "Doctor Who features quite highly in what we talk about but usually our experiences with it and whatever happens to be going on now.  Both our children – he’s got a son Ty, I’ve got two boys 11 and 13, but they all love Doctor Who."

Freema Agyeman, who played David Tennant’s companion Martha Jones on Doctor Who, was on Law & Order: U.K. with Davison.  Did they talk about Doctor Who?  "That was weird, we did.  It almost becomes like a little family, the whole Doctor Who thing even if you’ve never worked with them and I hadn’t worked with Freema before that but I’d met her at various functions.  It’s just very nice."

Asked if there was any apprehension when he first took on the role of the Fifth Doctor, Davison responded, "Yes, there was apprehension from two points of view.  One is that I grew up watching it and it’s very weird to be offered a part that you’ve been watching as a fan.  I felt young, the original Doctors were quite old and in my head that was a fixed thing, so I thought ‘Am I too young?’  And then of course, it is a large responsibility, a heavy responsibility in a way to do that part because it is an important character for a lot of children.  But it’s not really a children’s programme.  So, it’s almost like a father figure.  I felt the responsibility of taking that on.  So, it took me a few days to say yes.  But I kind of knew in my heart that I would."

Naturally, the subject of the Fifth Doctor costume's creation and the celery adorning the lapel was brought up.  "Well, I had the idea that it should be based around a cricketing outfit," said Davison.  "My idea was then taken away and developed by the costume designer into something that was actually very comfortable to wear.  I love it but it really wasn’t based on a cricketing outfit by the time they finished with it apart from the cricket jumper and slightly stripey trousers.  The celery was a thing suggested by the producer and my only proviso was that it would be explained before I left the series.  We got the very last episode and I remembered that they hadn’t explained it.  So they inserted something into the last story to the effect that the Doctor was allergic – would have a fatal reaction to a certain gas in the Praxis range – and the celery is an antidote.  In fact when the gas is present it will turn purple and then if I eat the celery I will be saved."

And how did Davison feel when he heard the show was being brought back in 2005?  "I always thought it would come back because it seemed to me like it had lost its way a bit I think, as things do after that amount of time.  It got a bit tired in certain areas and I think it lost its focus – that’s the main thing.  When I heard it was coming back under the auspices of Russell T. Davies, I thought that it was just in good hands.  I knew he was a big Doctor Who fan and I know he’s a brilliant writer.  It seems to me where it has its advantages now over the classic series is that it’s being written by all those people who grew up watching it.  It’s Russell T. Davies first of all, then Steven Moffat the producer, Mark Gatiss who is a big Doctor Who fan and they’re fantastic writers and they’re all writing marvellous stories.  Of course David, who was a big fan of the series growing up becomes the Doctor and so now it’s really being run by the people who were the fans."

Asked if he watches the new series with current Doctor Matt Smith, Davison replied, "I do watch the new series, yes, because my children watch it and I love watching it.  I’ve got to that age now.  Douglas Adams who was a script editor on Doctor Who once said to me ‘The trick about Doctor Who is making it simple enough for the adults to understand and complicated enough to hold the children’s attention.'  And I think I’m now getting to that point where I think I’ve moved into the older bracket, obviously I have, but in brain as well because I do find myself turning to my children saying ‘What’s going on?  What?  Can you explain that?’ They go ‘Oh, Dad, what’s happened is his…’  So, I’m now in that bracket which has to be simple for dad to understand."

SNL Hungers for a Decent WALKING DEAD Sketch

In the zombie apocalypse, the fear of being considered racist is more important than the fear of the undead.

Yes, that was the so-called joke premise of Saturday Night Live's parody sketch of AMC's The Walking Dead that aired last night.  Featuring comedian Kevin Hart as host, the episode aired a nearly four-minute sketch with SNL regulars Bill Hader (Daryl Dixon), Taran Killam (Rick Grimes), Nasim Pedrad (Carl Grimes) and Kate McKinnon (Maggie Greene).

The sketch opens with the group on the move but stopping for a night's rest.  "All right, we'll camp out here for the night and head back for the others in the morning," begins Rick.  "Be careful, this place is probably crawling with walkers."

"Dad, you want me to take first watch?" offers Carl.  "I'm twelve now, so I'm totally ready to kill.  I'm good at killing and I feel emotionally fine after I do it."

At that moment, the group hears some rustling and aims their weapons in the direction of an African-American man who begs them not to shoot.  "My name is Lyle," he says, "and I don't want any trouble.  I'm just trying to survive the zombie apocalypse."

Rick asks Lyle if he's been bitten, which he denies, so Rick asks Lyle to hold on for a moment while he conferences with his group about taking in a stranger.  Of course, while the group turns away to conference, Lyle is bitten in the neck by a zombie, played by SNL cast member Tim Robinson.

Rick informs Lyle, "All right, we've decided to let you camp with us tonight, but know this, Lyle -- If you get bitten by a walker, I will not hesitate to kill you."

"Or I'll do it," interrupts Carl.  "I shot my own mom when she was turning into a zombie...and it didn't screw up my head at all."

Lyle thanks the group but begins to growl uncontrollably for a moment, causing the group to aim their weapons once again.  Lyle shrugs off the growl.

"You're one of them," remarks Rick.

"Excuse me?" asks an offended Kyle.  "One of them?  Oh, my God...This is so racist right now!"

Rick quickly and awkwardly denies the accusation.  "No, no, we're not racist.  It just seemed like you were turning into a zombie."

"Oh, okay, I see how it is.  So when someone comes from a different cultural background than you, they're automatically a zombie.  That's what you're telling me?"

Rick continues to deny the accusation of racism and asks Maggie to help their new friend get some water.  Lyle begins to follow Maggie but growls again and starts dragging his left leg.

"Hey, you didn't have a bum leg when we first met you, did you, fella?" asks Daryl suspiciously.

"Okay, you ain't never seen a classic pimp walk before?" replies Lyle.  "It's called swag, son!"  Lyle then proceeds to rotate around to demonstrate and Daryl apologizes for the confusion.

Carl notices that Lyle is eating Maggie by the neck, and after Rick pulls Lyle off of her, Lyle looks around innocently at the others and asks what's wrong.

"You're eating our friend," Daryl responds.

"Oh, okay, I'm sorry, would you rather I just eat some fried chicken or some watermelon?"

Daryl apologizes again, causing Rick to sigh in exasperation.  "Well, we're terrible people."

"Dad, that guy's a zombie," Carl exclaims.  "I mean, come on, he's doing the Thriller dance."

"Carl, Thriller is a very special dance for many African-Americans."

"This is ridiculous, Dad!  His foot fell off!"

"Diabetes," Lyle explains.

"See?  Diabetes," Rick says to Carl.  "Are you embarrassed?  You should be.  Carl, we're going to accept Lyle with all his differences."

At that moment, Lyle growls again and lunges at the group.  "Rrrrr!  White people brains!"

Carl takes out and shoots Lyle through the head.  "Told you he was a zombie."

"Good work, Carl," replies Rick.  "I knew we weren't racists.  Let's move."

The three turns to leave, but Daryl has one final concern.  "Uh, can we discuss the fact that Maggie just died...?"

If you'd like to check out the sketch, you can check out below thanks to Hulu...

White House Doubles Down on STAR WARS/STAR TREK Gaffe

It's as if a million Trekkies cried out in terror and were suddenly silenced.

In one of the biggest geek faux pas in recent memory, President Barack Obama used a mixed sci-fi metaphor today while addressing reporters about the budget sequestration that will automatically force drastic budget cuts at midnight.

The President remarked, "I know that this has been some of the conventional wisdom that’s been floating around Washington that somehow, even though most people agree that I’m being reasonable, that most people agree I’m presenting a fair deal, the fact that they don’t take it means that I should somehow, you know, do a Jedi mind meld with these folks and convince them to do what’s right."

And lo, an internet meme was born.

The confusion of mixing up a "Jedi mind trick" from Star Wars with the "Vulcan mind meld" from Star Trek sent Twitter snark engaging at Warp Factor 10.  Star Trek Into Darkness screenwriter Damon Lindelof posted "Obama just said 'Jedi Mindmeld.' That sound you heard was Picard face-palming."  Meanwhile, Leonard Nimoy, the original Spock from Star Trek, added "Only a Vulcan mind meld will help with this congress. LLAP."

Knowing all too well that the only real way to deal with that kind of social gaffe is to own it quickly, the White House tweeted its own comment, posting "We must bring balance to the Force. #Sequester #JediMindMeld pic.twitter.com/lIZlgavhuR" with the image shown above containing a Star Warsish font followed by a classic Star Trek font.  At last, someone besides J.J. Abrams to finally bring Star Wars and Star Trek fans together!

Oh, and the www.whitehouse.gov/jedimindmeld listed at the bottom of the photo?  If you click on it, it brings you to the President's plan to avert the sequester and reduce the federal deficit.

Well played, White House.  Well played.