Something next to normal, that's the thing I'd like to try

Hiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii guys!!!!! I have been in Chicago, so there's LOADS to catch up on. Which means you probably already saw these links two weeks ago when they were new, but in case you haven't, here they are:

( Under a cut because it's super-long )

Yes, I am typing this post on my shiny new Toshiba laptop. \o/ After four years, my poor Samsung has officially kicked its bucket, so my mother and I took a trip to Best Buy while she was here this weekend to get a new one. And I managed to do it without endlessly spamming y'all like last time, so good job me.

I also managed to acquire some kind of medieval plague this weekend, so that's fun. Apparently it disturbs Chelsea, if the withering stare at my death rattle is any indication. Earlier, I hacked up a lung and she went and hid under the piano. WHO'S GOING TO FEED YOU WHEN I'M DEAD, YOU UNGRATEFUL CAT.

oh god she'll probably just gnaw on my corpse

* Teaser for season 6 of Community on Yahoo.

* Outlander has already been renewed for a second season. I've only watched the first episode, but I like it so far, so yay? The Leftovers, which I've seen enough of to like, also got a second season renewal.

* There are neurological reasons why we're so attached to the music we listened to as teenagers. Maybe that's why the Guardians of the Galaxy soundtrack hit #1, despite being a literal mix-tape of previously released songs.

* If it makes you as happy as it makes me, enjoy dancing baby Groot.

* Will Guardians of the Galaxy's success make Marvel too cocky?

* A biologist uses science to explain how to make superheroes.

* A spectator shot a possibly spoilery video of Agents of SHIELD filming season 2.

* Here's a handy round-up of links for historical context for Steve Rogers as a dude from the 1940s.

* NBC is developing a TV musical version of Robin Hood.

* Director Rob Marshall talks about the Into the Woods movie, ostensibly to reassure us that he's being faithful to the original, but actually mentioning even more changes (the flashbacks, no "Ever After," retooling the second act) I hadn't heard reported before.

* Tom Hiddleston is being considered for a remake of Ben-Hur.

* George R. R. Martin doesn't understand why women want him to write more gay sex scenes, because apparently he (and they) have never heard of the internet.

* Paul Bettany talks about playing the Vision. I kind of get the sense he misses showing up for 45 minutes and walking away with a bag of cash? lol

* Kevin Feige talks about Age of Ultron, Ant-Man, and other Marvel stuff.

* Karen Gillan talks about Guardians of the Galaxy and her new TV series, Selfie.

* Another perspective on the Age of Ultron footage shown at Comic-Con.

* Here is a pretty thorough round-up of video interviews with the cast.

* Here is also the full playlist of Nerd HQ videos. So far, I've only watched the Orphan Black panel (which is even more off the chain than last year's - seriously, pants come off and Zachary Levi curls into the fetal position, possibly in horror at what he hath wrought).

* This post-finale video from the TVD panel is pretty hilarious. Ian: "Nuh-uh. I've been killed off a TV show before and this is not how they do it." Paul: "Does this mean that I get more money?" CANDICE'S SANDWICH. And Nina knocking down walls to expand her dressing room, lmao.

* Completely non-Comic-Con related, Audra McDonald talks about playing Billie Holliday and her previous attempted suicide, which I never knew about before, wow. Like, when I first saw the headline, I thought it meant Billie, because that seemed more likely, but no. Audra, who went on to be a Tony-winning goddess.

I will put the rest of this under a cut, because it has precisely zero newsworthiness, and is entirely the cast of Avengers being ridiculous and adorably goofy together.

( I fucking love these dipshits )

I swear to God, with all the advances we have made in medicine and science and technology, how is it possible that they cannot create a colonoscopy prep solution that does not TASTE LIKE ASS?

Yep, had my colonoscopy yesterday. (Result: I still have Crohn's disease.) Today my abdomen feels sore like I did sit-ups or something, which I don't think is normal. The doctor did say that one section was so narrowed due to inflammation that he couldn't even get past it because he didn't want to rip up my intestinal wall with the scope. AWESOME.

It's weird, though, because it's not the usual sharp pain or cramps from the Crohn's, it legit feels like a muscle type ache, which... I don't generally think of a colonoscopy as an ab workout. But maybe? I didn't get that from the last two colonoscopies, even the one that hurt like a bitch while it was happening, and my mother - who is basically a colonoscopy expert after six - says she's never heard of that.

Also, it's hazy, but I'm pretty sure that when I woke up afterward, I asked the nurse for more anesthesia. \o/ MOAR DRUGS PLZ. I CAN HAZ NAPTIEM?

Anyway, linkspam:

* Here's the teaser for season 4 of Homeland. I admit, I am curious how/to what extent the show will reinvent itself post-Brody, and whether they'll take the opportunity to fix the things that have been... less than good in the last couple seasons. I doubt it, but I'm curious.

* Doctor Who also now has a full trailer featuring Peter Capaldi.

* Update on one of Aaron Tveit's movie projects - he is playing a character named "Johnny Manicotti." Bless.

* First Community, now Enlisted might be coming back, too? Don't toy with me, Yahoo.

* Zachary Levi talks about this year's Nerd HQ at Comic-Con.

* I don't understand why anyone would want Karen Gillan to not be Scottish.

* Don't expect the Emmy category shenanigans to change any time soon.

* Christopher Walken will be playing Captain Hook in NBC's live broadcast of Peter Pan. Alas, Kristen Bell will not be playing Peter.

* Yeah, Gus from The Fault in Our Stars really IS the guy version of the Manic Pixie Dream Girl.

* Orange is the New Black parody with kittens. No, really.

* The premiere of Better Call Saul has been pushed back to 2015, but it's been renewed for a second season in the meantime. Hey, AMC? I think you're doing that backwards.

* The Game of Thrones creators talk about the season 4 finale, as well as hints of what's to come in season 5.

* Stephen Sondheim revealed that the Into the Woods movie will have significant plot changes due to Disney-ification, which pretty much completely misses the point of the musical in the first place. (My new favorite description of this show is now "a dark, disturbing musical, where cherished heroes of classic fairy tales are systematically murdered.") I gotta go with my mom's reaction: "Ewwww. Well, we can still go see it to mock it."

* The one bright spot here is that all the Into the Woods talk this week pointed me toward a fascinating article from when the show first opened on Broadway in 1987.

* Mark Ruffalo was asked about a Hulk movie again - they're still "considering it," shocker - but the trailer for his new movie also looks pretty good.

* Oooh, I hope that All the Way, the Broadway play starring Bryan Cranston as LBJ, gets made into a movie with Bryan Cranston. Also, can't wait for his memoir.

* The newest Guardians of the Galaxy trailer actually gives us some sense of the plot of this thing, but it also makes the movie seem a lot more serious.

* The creator of Enlisted still has hope the show will continue on another network/platform. I would love to see it, but I'm not optimistic.

* I had not previously heard of Netflix's new series, Grace and Frankie, but now Martin Sheen will be starring in it, along with Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin.

* I kind of think the delay of the 5th Bourne movie is just because Jeremy Renner is juggling about twelve movie franchises, but there are rumors that Matt Damon is coming back.

* Robert Downey Jr.'s movie The Judge now has a trailer.

* Spoilery tidbits about Age of Ultron, Ant-Man, and Star Wars Episode VII. Plus, some footage of Age of Ultron filming in Norwich.

* Here's a list of Snowpiercer screenings. "Arlington, VA - Shirlington 7" Yesssssssssssss.

...while I am binge-watching Orange is the New Black.

* Here's an interview with the OITNB creator, cast, and Piper Kerman. Also, key differences between the show and Kerman's real-life experience.

* Howard Stark will apparently be part of the Agent Carter TV series, though it's unclear in what capacity. (Also, I don't see why the AV Club is making a big deal about Dominic Cooper and John Slattery both playing the role. They look reasonably similar, given that they're playing the character 30 years apart.)

* The Doctor Strange movie has a director, as does Ant-Man (again) finally.

* Clark Gregg talks about his movie Trust Me and Agents of SHIELD.

* The Fantastic Four reboot has been downgraded from "gritty" to "not as goofy as the original."

* Of course Mad Men would have the best "For Your Consideration" ads.

* Lupita Nyong'o and Gwendoline Christie have been cast in the new Star Wars film. Lupita also has another new project in the works. Glad to see she's getting good post-Oscar roles. I was worried for a bit there.

* Kind of an odd pairing, but here's an interview with Emmy Rossum and Tatiana Maslany. I don't know why they would tease us with the existence of a "Someone To Watch Over Me" duet and then not provide video of it, but whatever.

* Video from a panel discussion with the cast and crew of The Americans.

* Apparently, people mock the Tony Awards because "the contenders are unknown to the public and that theater-going is an elitist, esoteric habit." LOL I feel like this would be more believable in a year when the nominees didn't include such unknowns as Woody Allen, Bryan Cranston, and Neil Patrick Harris, in shows no one's heard of, like Les Miserables, Aladdin, or Shakespeare. But whatever, the point is, people should appreciate the Tonys and the theater, which is good.

* ABC Family is developing a musical comedy TV series. Because that has worked out so well in the past.

* I had never heard of Outliving Emily until Jeremy Jordan was cast, but it sounds like an intriguing premise, and the cast is pretty great.

* Robert Downey Jr. is producing a new series about recovering addicts in a rehab facility for Showtime.

* This baby goat was cracking me up all day in work yesterday.

* I never saw Avatar, so I don't really care about the sequels, but James Cameron's explanation of writing three movies simultaneously is very interesting, and perhaps something more franchises should attempt.

* I hope you are watching the last four episodes of Enlisted, airing this month.

* Jennifer Lawrence gives another typically Jennifer Lawrency interview.

* i had thought Michelle Forbes would make an excellent President Coin (a role which went to Julianne Moore), but at least she'll be in Mockingjay.

* The Tony nominees for Best Actress in a Musical sat down for a chat. (For the record, I think Idina Menzel would make an amazing Witch in Into the Woods.)

* Another interview with Sutton Foster about Violet. I realize probably no one else cares about this show, but it is so different and she is SO GOOD in it, I will keep linking, lol.

* In addition to a live Peter Pan musical, NBC will also at some point attempt The Music Man.

* Galavant, ABC's new "comedy musical fairytale" looks delightfully cracktastic.

* People knowing who Megan Hilty is continues to be the best thing that came out of Smash.

* LOL someone cut together the identical scenes from the Broadchurch trailer and its American remake, Gracepoint. Seriously, why even bother? And I don't know if it's because he's saying basically the exact same lines in a different accent, but David Tennant's American accent is SO OFF-PUTTING. Meanwhile, it's been announced that he's returning to Broadchurch for season 2, along with Olivia Colman and Arthur Darvill.

* Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Elizabeth Olsen talk about Avengers: Age of Ultron.

* I don't actually read a lot of Brian Michael Bendis (though "The Confession" is far and away the best writing of the Civil War comics and I do have Alias sitting on a shelf waiting to be read), but this interview kinda makes me like him.

* Here's the first image of Ben Affleck as Batman.

* Season 2 hasn't even premiered yet, but Orange is the New Black already has a season 3.

* I haven't read the books, so tell me, do you agree that Game of Thrones is doing a better job of telling the story? Just from what I've heard, it doesn't surprise me to hear that the series is benefiting from the show's paring down and refocusing of the narrative.

* Sarah Baker talks about her role in last night's pretty incredible episode of Louie.

* An oral history of The West Wing OMG. (Also, Joshua Malina is the greatest troll of all time.)

* Hey, so here is the ACTUAL trailer for Gone Girl.

* I don't know, you guys. I just read The Fault in Our Stars, so I was all ready to love the movie, but this clip does not fill me with hope. Better actors would probably help, but what sounded cheesy but cute on the page is just cringeworthy when said out loud.

* LOL at Paul Bettany being all "Dammit now I have to do work," now that he's playing an actual character with a body in Age of Ultron.

* This is a cool comparison of Captain America: The Winter Soldier with almost identical scenes from the comics.

* I don't understand why they didn't just start with an Agent Carter series in the first place, rather than Agents of SHIELD, but I hope it goes well...

* Here's an interview with Orphan Black's showrunner. "So when you’re comparing her to Breaking Bad, are you saying that by season four, Alison will be running a global drug empire?" SEEMS LEGIT.

* The real-life "Alex" of Orange is the New Black talks about what's true and what's creative license on the show. Plus, trailer for the new season!

* The Americans has been renewed for a third season.

* Bryan Fuller talks about Hannibal. (Sidebar: My parents were visiting for the weekend, and I made them watch Hannibal on Friday. Well, my dad fell asleep long before it started, but my mom was sort of watching, and LOL of course this is the ep with the turducken... thing. I can only imagine what she thinks of my TV preferences now.)

* Sutton Foster's new show Younger just got picked up. Wonder how that will impact her Broadway run. I just saw her in Violet, and although I haven't had a chance to write about it yet, she is outstanding and made me cry, so it'd be a shame if she left so soon. Also, here's her talking about going totally makeup-free on stage.

* Speaking of musicals I saw but haven't written up yet, here's a video from the cast of The Most Happy Fella. Which was also good, but a little less my style of musical. (But holy talented actors, Batman. Laura Benanti and Heidi Blickenstaff FTW.)

* There's now a trailer for the Clint Eastwood-directed Jersey Boys adaptation.

* Gone with the Wind is getting a prequel novel about Mammy (whose real name, it happens, is Ruth). Which reminds me, I never posted my GWTW meta/reaction post that I started writing last summer and never finished. I should maybe get back to that sometime.

* It never occurred to me that Winnie the Pooh needed an origin story film, but apparently he's getting one anyway.

* Coulson's cellist is finally making an appearance, and she looks a lot like Amy Acker.

* Over the last week or so, I've been binge-watching Brooklyn Nine-Nine. I watched the pilot back when it first premiered and wasn't really feeling it, but after hearing people rave about it for a whole season, I decided to give it another shot and I liked it! So here's an interview with Mike Schur, the co-creator. Plus, what the show can learn from Parks & Recreation.

* Matthew Weiner talks about Mad Men and is actually interesting, even though he still gives nothing away.

* Bryan Cranston talks Breaking Bad and his new role as President Lyndon Johnson on Broadway.

* Here's a recap of the Community panel at PaleyFest.

* Dan Rydell was temporarily resurrected when Josh Charles made an appearance on Keith Olbermann's show.

* Revisiting possibly the greatest thing HIMYM has ever brought us, Neil Patrick Harris and Jason Segel once again sing "The Confrontation" from Les Miserables.

* Here's a sneak peek at Captain America's new uniform, which is changing yet again for Age of Ultron. (Also, am I displaying my obsessive nerdery if I point out that's clearly a stunt double and not Chris Evans, as the article states?)

HI GUYS. I went to San Diego and didn't tell you. And I missed SO much TV, including the Oscars, which I've had to piece together from GIFs. (Funny story: we actually kind of considered having an Oscar watching party, but we're all idiots from the eastern and central time zones who forgot that it started at 5PM on the west coast, so we're out at a restaurant eating dinner and someone's like, "Uh, guys, the Oscars are kinda half over...?") Not that I saw any of the nominated films, except Gravity. You better believe that we were Travoltifying our names when we were bored at work, though. Luka Bailerey, at your service, btw.

We also forgot that Tuesday was Mardi Gras, and apparently San Diego REALLY loves Mardi Gras, so... that was interesting. Certain coworkers of mine now refer to me as "Princess."

ANYWAY. Let me know if I missed anything awesome on the interwebs. Now I'm back and have oodles and oodles of links that you've probably already seen. Separated into categories for easier organization.


Oscar stuff first:

* Lupita Nyong'o gave an amazing speech about beauty and skin color, and then continued her flawlessness with her acceptance speech. Plus, visual proof that she can (and does) rock any color dress.

* Anna Kendrick kept a diary of her Oscar weekend.

* An interview with an Oscar seat-filler reveals what goes on behind the cameras.

* Ellen interviewed the winners on her show. Here's Cate Blanchett and Lupita part 1 and part 2. The pizza delivery guy also went on Ellen to collect his tip.

* Tired of Frozen's Oscar-winning song, "Let It Go"? Then this is the parody for you.


TV stuff:

* Ground Floor has been renewed for a second season, while The Mindy Project has been renewed for a third.

* Community's Joel McHale and Jim Rash take on True Detective.

* FML. I thought I was done with HIMYM, but now Krysta Rodriguez is starring in the spin-off, which means I'm gonna have to watch it.

* Julia Stiles has a new legal drama coming to TNT.

* John Oliver's new HBO show, Last Week Tonight, has a trailer.

* Emmy Rossum talks about season 4 of Shameless, which has been fantastic.


Marvel stuff:

* I'm all for Chris Evans pursuing more directing gigs, but I hope he finds projects he can also star in, because otherwise I'd miss him as an actor.

* Speaking of, OMG this Captain America: The Winter Soldier clip! My bb! \o/ Plus, here's two new ads with new footage, and some speculation about the future of S.H.I.E.L.D. (and therefore Agents of...) in the MCU.

* Scarlett Johansson is pregnant, which will almost certainly impact filming for Avengers: Age of Ultron.

* Other Age of Ultron news: Marvel is locking in Thomas Kretschmann, who will appear as Baron von Strucker in AoU, in case they want to use him again, and adding Korean actress Kim Soo Hyun to the cast, in a yet to be announced supporting role.

* Not really a link, but I finally saw Thor: The Dark World. I don't have much to say about it because, other than Thor and Loki being adorably brotherly, I don't really have ~feels? Thor is probably the least interesting Avenger to me, Thor/Jane does nothing for me, and I'm mostly in it for the supporting characters, so as long as there's enough laughs, I don't mind that the plot's a bit of a mess. But yay for Zachary Levi joining the MCU!

* Marvel is airing a one-hour special on ABC about... themselves, basically. It's a one-hour commercial for their TV show and the 3 new movies coming out in the next year and a half. Which I will watch because I am a sucker for new footage.


Movie, musical, and movie musical stuff:

* Veronica Mars has been added to the Kindle Worlds legal fanfiction list. Plus, lots of photos from the movie (one week, you guys!). You can actually watch the first two minutes of the movie, but before you get excited, it's basically a "previously on" summary of the TV series.

* Steven Spielberg wants to remake West Side Story. I know people get tetchy about remaking classics, but maybe this time they'll cast lead actors who can actually sing?

* Speaking of movie musical remakes, Quvenzhane Wallis is freakin' adorable in the trailer for the new Annie.

* Into the Woods is getting an off-Broadway revival. Not sure how I feel about this "stripped-down" version.