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MTV SESSIONS: TEMPER TRAP [REVIEW]

May 272013

Courtesy of MTV Asia/Aloysius Lim

Are the first words that come into your minds and out of your mouths the same as mine? “Sweet Disposition”? Or, to be precise, “sweeeeet dissssspooooositionnnnn”?

The MTV Sessions is an MTV Asia original series which showcases intimate sessions with the featured artiste and a studio audience, consisting primarily of contest winners, typically die-hard fans. Previous featured artistes include a dynamic Vanness Wu, a charming James Morrison, a very clickable Kyle Patrick, a sweet indie songstress by the stage name of Russian Red, a “make-the-girls-go-wild boy that is other than Bieber” Greyson Chance, and to join the niche gang, Australia’s very own indie rock favourite The Temper Trap.

THE MTV SHOW

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Apr 192013

“The MTV Show” Season 2 Premieres Saturday, 20^th April 2013

Two weeks ago, Power of Pop was invited to the preview of the second season of The MTV Show at the Waterfront Studio at Resorts World Sentosa (RWS). MTV’s popular original series, The MTV Show, a weekly music and lifestyle show that features top-rated music videos, movies, celebrity news and popular culture, returns for its second season with a new format. The refreshed programming format enables its millennial viewers to determine what goes on the show, through active social media engagement.

GEEK OUT! LOVING THE SERIAL KILLER

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Apr 092013

You might say it began with Dexter.

Remember how it felt all those years ago when you first watched Dexter? You mean, the hero of the show is a serial killer? Mind-blowing, wasn’t it?

Considering how unique and groundbreaking Dexter was, it’s rather amazing that it’s taken almost seven years for more tv series involving serial killers to show up. In 2013, we’ve had The Following, Bates Motel and Hannibal take up Dexter’s challenge. Truth be told, it’s been a mixed bag so far from these three offerings.

The Following actually presents us with an entire cult of serial killers led by the charismatic Joe Carroll (James Purejoy) and pursued by the FBI and former agent Ryan Hardy (Kevin Bacon). The series started out promisingly enough but since then has degenerated into a totally implausible tale, where the FBI is constantly represented as incompetent and helpless whilst Carroll, is somewhat portrayed as an infallible super-villain! Utterly preposterous – the inherent flaw in the plot requires that Carroll never be caught which results in ridiculously unrealistic stories. What is truly amazing is that the series has been renewed for a second season already! Now that is a crime…

Bates Motel is obviously based on elements taken from Alfred Hitchcock’s seminal Psycho movie. A prequel of sorts but set in modern times (the movie was, of course, filmed in the early 60s), Bates Motel is a strange beast and so far rather mystifying. There is a general creepiness about the town in which the Bates (mother Norma and young son Norman – not forgetting older son, Dylan) reside in and there is a sense of a dark underbelly to the town in question. The leads (Vera Famiga and Freddie Highmore) do credible jobs with their respective roles and there is enough brand awareness to keep viewers interested (as evidenced by the series being renewed for a second season) but overall, I am waiting for the series to deliver a more than average impact.

Although only the premiere has aired thus far, Bryan Fuller’s re-imagining of Thomas Harris’ Red Dragon holds the greatest promise of the trio. Focusing on the relationship between special FBI investigator Will Graham (Hugh Dancy) and psychiatrist Hannibal Lector (Mads Mikkelsen), there is much to admire in Hannibal. The genuine attempt made to connect the audience with Graham’s fraught psycho-analytical experiences and Mikkelsen’s deliciously dark portrayal of the sinister Lecter, makes Hannibal one of the more surprisingly successful TV series revolving around a serial killer.

With Dexter on its last legs, I am betting on Hannibal to deliver the thrills, spills and yes, the kills, in the weeks to come.

2012 – THE YEAR IN REVIEW

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Dec 292012

Point of order. Despite the title above, this is not a year-end ‘best-of’ review of 2012. Why? It’s simply too much effort and after years and years of putting these features together, it all becomes pretty tedious and pointless. Fast. As you can guess from the featured photo above, pop culture is getting increasingly ridiculous with each passing year, so here’s my attention deficient summary of the year that we say farewell to in a matter of days…

Lunarin – The Midas Session, Nada Surf – The Stars Are Indifferent to Astronomy, Laneway Festival (Laura Marling, Feist and Girls), Jeff Litman – Outside, Cheating Sons – Time Trails (Live at Esplanade Recital Studio), Lambchop – Mr M, Sweet Diss and the Comebacks – Emerald City Love Song, Brad Brooks – Harmony of Passing Light, Friendly Fires (live at Avalon), The Observatory – Catacombs, Shelves – s/t, OMD (Live at Esplanade Theatre), Orbital – Wonky, James Morrison (interview), Bitch Magnet reissues, Music Matters, ShiGGa Shay – They Call Me ShiGGa, Rick Murname – Wednesday Child, Pugwash – The Olympus Sound, Keane – Strangeland, Marvel’s The Avengers, Fringe Seasons 4 & 5, Pink Floyd: The Story of Wish You Were Here (DVD), The Newsroom Season 1, Hot Chip (live at Avalon), Empra – s/t, Amazing Spider-Man, SING A NEW SONG, Prometheus, Breaking Bad Season 5 (Part I), Indus Gendi – I’ll Be Good If You Say Yes EP, Stone Roses (Live at Indoor Stadium), The Dark Knight Rises, Rufus Wainwright – Out of the Game, Peter Lacey – Worlds End Amateur Melodramatic Society Ball, Metric – Synthetica, Baybeats Festival, The Beach Boys (live at Indoor Stadium), Cosmo Jarvis – Think Bigger, Peter Doggett – The Man Who Sold the World: David Bowie and the 1970s, Metric (Live at the Esplanade Concert Hall), The Pretenders (Live at F1), Joe Bonamassa (Live at Esplanade Concert Hall), alt-J (∆) – An Awesome Wave, Regina Spektor – What We Saw From the Cheap Seats!, The Whigs – Enjoy the Company, Nelson Bragg – We Get What We Want, Ingrid Michaelson (Live at the Esplanade Concert Hall), Alan Moore/Kevin O’Neill – League of Extraordinary Gentlemen: Century: 2009, The Sam Willows – s/t EP, Kate Miller-Heidke – Nightflight, Looper, Mumford & Sons – Babel, Simon Townshend – Looking Out, Looking In, Chromatics – Kill For Love, Thunder Band Slam, The Bootleg Beatles (Live at Marina Bay Sands), Jersey Boys Musical, Christmas in Singapore, Fred Perry 60th Anniversary Party, Classic Albums: Peter Gabriel – So (DVD), Sarah Cheng De-Winne – Brand New, Troy Chin’s Bricks in the Wall, Tay Kexin – Get Set Go EP, Uncanny Avengers, Regina Spektor (Live at Esplanade Theatre), Another Sunday Afternoon – The Bookmark, The Smashing Pumpkins – Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness reissue.

*whew*

…still there’s more…

GEEK OUT! GAMES OF THRONES: SEASON THREE [TEASER]

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Nov 242012

NICKELODEON’S ALL-NEW TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES TO HIT TV SCREENS IN SOUTHEAST ASIA [NEWS]

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Oct 272012

(Nickelodeon Press Release)

Nickelodeon launches an all-new, CG-animated Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles series on Friday, November 16 at 6.30pm (SG/MY) in a special thirty-minute television event, bringing the turtles up from the sewers with the mythology and comedic sensibility for a new generation of fans.

GEEK OUT! ARROW: FIRST LOOK AT DEATHSTROKE [NEWS]

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Oct 152012

I was rather intrigued by the pilot of the Arrow TV series, based on DC Comic’s Green Arrow. It appears that the producers are intent on making the series as grim, gritty and realistic as possible whilst being true to the DC Universe in which Oliver Queen/Green Arrow inhabits. IGN revealed this exclusive first look at one of DC’s favorite villains- Deathstroke – and it’s encouraging to see the character’s mask accurately depicted as well. Very promising!

GEEK OUT! GAME OF THRONES

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Jun 062012

Season 2

At the end of Games of Thrones Season 1, fans were given the iconic image of a naked Daenerys Targaryen standing with three baby dragons having survived her husband’s funeral pyre. That final scene was the perfect icing on the cake for a very successful first season and set up great expectations for the second.

Now, from the standpoint of having finished up ten episodes of Season 2, I have the sense that the show has somewhat lost the plot or to be more accurate, has come up with too many plots that makes it difficult to follow even for a wizened geek like me, never mind a casual viewer.

GEEK OUT! THE SACRED ORDER OF GEEKS

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May 192012

Source:

GEEK OUT! FRINGE SEASON 4

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May 122012

AND THEY ALL LIVED HAPPILY TOGETHER…

(Spoilers abound, so beware!)

About a year ago, I grumbled and lamented that the Season 3 finale had been so disappointing. Basically, I opined that removing Peter from existence did not make any sense whatsoever and was wondering how the writers would resolve this in Season 4. Well, over the course of the 22 episodes of the excellent Season 4, I’ve had to eat my words numerous times.

ELVIS COSTELLO

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May 092012

PEACE, LOVE AND UNDERSTANDING!

ELVIS COSTELLO & THE SPECTACULAR SPINNING SONGBOOK CONCERT

TO PREMIERE ON CABLE’S PPV AND VOD

Special Pay-Per-View Concert Performance with Surprise Guest Stars & Surprise Songs

Will Air Exclusively On Cable Starting May 7

Elvis Costello and The Imposters’ unique concert style wows audiences when he allows his set-list to be chosen by The Spectacular Spinning Songbook, a monumental game-show type wheel spun by fans. Now, for the first time, cable audiences around the country can join the fun with his first-ever Pay-Per-View (PPV) and Video On Demand (VOD) special, Elvis Costello & The Spinning Songbook, an hour of surprise guests and surprise songs. It premieres on May 7 in High Definition PPV* and starts May 24 on VOD. The PPV concert will be available throughout May and June at various times in both SD and HD. (Highlights of the PPV and VOD schedule below).

LEWIS BLACK

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Mar 132012

(Press release)

EPIX, the premium entertainment service available to subscribers on television, video-on-demand, online and consumer electronic devices delivers another high profile original comedy event in March as comedian Lewis Black marks his return to the premium service. The new special follows up his Grammy winning special, Stark Raving Black, which continues to be a top performing original event on EPIX.

Filmed at Minneapolis’ historic State Theatre, In God We Rust features Black’s inimitable comedy tirades as he jumps up and down and wags his finger at the absurdities of our lives. With topics taken from the front pages, Black leads the audience on a hilarious, cathartic journey from politics to Valentine’s Day to Facebook’s popular application, Farmville. “People do this, because really, everybody’s always dreamed of having a fake farm,” says Black.

“Lewis Black connects with our audience,” said EPIX President Mark Greenberg, welcoming the return to EPIX of the bestselling author and The Daily Show contributor. “His last special continues to draw heavy viewership on the network, on demand and online. Now, as EPIX expands to Internet connected devices like Xbox, Roku and others, we are providing fans with even more ways to see him.”

“I’m thrilled to be back,” Lewis Black added. “I don’t claim to understand the technology behind EPIX and all the platforms, but I’m thankful that they do. And I’ve been told by people barely out of diapers that it’s actually not complicated.”

In God We Rust joins a growing roster of A-list comedy events on EPIX which include “Craig Ferguson: Does This Need to be Said;” “Louis CK: Hilarious” (nominated for two 2011 Emmy awards); “Believe: The Eddie Izzard Story” (nominated for a 2010 Emmy); Lewis Black’s “Stark Raving Black” (which received a Grammy nod) and shows featuring David Cross, Seth MacFarlane, Janeane Garofalo and Kevin Smith. Music related events have included exclusive concerts by Britney Spears, Usher, Bon Jovi, Black Eyed Peas, and Madonna.

Check out what Lewis Black has to say about… Farmville.

Lewis Black‘s In God We Rust Premieres on EPIX March 17

GEEK OUT! COMIC BOOK MEN

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Mar 062012

Nerds of the Square Table

It’s been awhile since I’ve posted a GEEK OUT! but watching the new AMC reality series Comic Book Men has inspired a return of sorts to all things geek at Power of Pop. What’s Comic Book Men about? According to AMC, it’s an unscripted one hour series, which dives deep into fanboy culture by following the antics in and around master fanboy Kevin Smith’s New Jersey comic shop, Jay and Silent Bob’s Secret Stash. The series also features features Secret Stash employees Walt, manager and de-facto leader; Mike, a comic book virtuoso; Ming, the store’s technical expert and go-to whipping boy; and Bryan, who doesn’t actually work at the Stash, yet can always be found perched on a stool behind the front counter.

Having worked at a comic book store in the mid-80s (and enjoying every minute) this is like a geek fantasy/reality show and will definitely appeal to all the hardcore geeks out there. So far four episodes have aired and the latest one where Ming pitches his idea of a Zombie-themed store promotion to Walt is probably the one I’ve enjoyed the most. The show intercuts scenes from the store and the round table discussions, which includes Smith as well. Along the way, customers will be featured either buying or selling comics or toys to/from the store. An interesting segment found Walt actually paying top dollar for rare John Buscema Silver Surfer original artwork.

It’s a lot of fun with loads of laughter and even if you’re not a comic book fan, you will appreciate the banter amongst the various characters and of course, Smith is always good for a laugh or three! Only two more episodes before the first season wraps up – hopefully there will be more to come… Check out the trailer below.

MTV EMA 2011

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Nov 072011

I watch award shows because I feel the need to keep abreast of current pop culture affairs. And as far as music is concerned, they don’t get much glitzier or crazier than the ones put together by MTV. The EMAs represent Europe’s own music awards for each year and this year’s show was par for the course.

Host Selena Gomez was well, boring, and frankly a waste of space and a needless pandering to the pre-pubsecent out there in TV-land but I guess being Justin Bieber’s lesbian lover does have its perks! The performances were also varied in quality. I personally enjoyed Jessie J (mainly for her figure hugging costumes and big… voice) and the Red Hot Chili Peppers and everyone else was lackluster. Well, Lady Gaga did what she does best with a top notch dance production – that woman is hot!

However, the best bits (!) of the show will be something you probably won’t get to see. Basically, a streaker invaded the stage whilst Hayden P-the cheerleader from Heroes – was presenting. Quite obviously the whole thing was a setup (surely security cannot be that easy to breach) and for a rather long time, we were ‘treated’ to the spectacle of pale white Irish junk!

In any case, the primetime re-telecast happens tonight at 10pm Starhub Ch 533, sadly without the Irish junk. If you’re watching it, you can follow my commentary on twitter timeline this morning at http://twitter.com/#!/powerofpop. Just keep scrolling down…

Thanks again to Dawn and Cammie for being great hosts at this morning’s broadcast.

MTV EMA 2011

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Nov 062011

You know the drill. Melissa @melloasis and I @powerofpop will be tweeting about the (delayed) telecast of the MTV EMA 2011 tomorrow morning from about 10am. So if you have decided to sleep at a reasonable hour tonight (or even if you did not) make a date with us online and with StarHub TV Ch 533.

Seriously.

MTV VMA 2011

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Aug 292011

MTV VIDEO MUSIC AWARDS 2011

What greases the wheels of the record machine in 2011? As the compact disc goes the way of the dinosaur and the buzzword is now the ‘cloud’, the marketing of pop music has undergone numerous reviews and reconsiderations. Music sales will continue to plummet making revenues from live performance more important than ever to the pop music artist. Gone forever are the days of the recording artist who does not tour – well, nowadays said artist would simply starve. So pop music is still important but the question is now the platform of delivery.

MTV continues to be a vital cog of the record machine though less so as a music video channel but largely through shows like the Video Music Awards, in which pop music stars and wannabes obtain critical exposure not only for their music but also their public image. The annual VMA has gained a reputation for notoriety and controversy which at times overshadows the musical performances themselves. Hardly surprising as reality TV programming has audiences demanding more and more shock value from scripted realism. So surprisingly enough, there was very little of that in VMA 2011.

In fact, overall, the main theme was dressing down as highlighted by Lady Gaga’s star turn as her male alter-ego Joe Calderone. Dressed in white tee and dirty suit, she launched the VMA with a raucous You & I and even paraded Queen’s Brian May (never forget where the Lady got her name from) for a glorious tribute to anthem rock. As always, Gaga went against the grain in a show that was as usual largely dominated by garish outfits and inane hip hop. Better still, Gaga stayed in character throughout and never appeared in a attention seeking costume this time out making Katy Perry and Nicki Minaj look over-dressed! This out-maneuvering by Gaga was a delight to witness proving that she is the undisputed Queen of pop, not Perry, Minaj or even the newly-pregnant Beyonce.

Apart from Gaga’s show-stealing antics, highlights were slim but for those who want to catch the repeat telecast, do look out for -
1. Brit singer Jessie J’s intermission appearances

2. Adele’s under-stated brilliance

3. Justin Bieber’s non-plussed reaction to Joe Calderone

4. Tyler the Creator’s obscenity-laced acceptance speech for Best New Artist

5. The fake Beastie Boys viz. Will Ferrell, Jack Black and Seth Rogen!

REPLAYS:

Monday, 29 August 7pm (WIB), 8pm (SIN/HK/PH), 9pm (MAL)

Tuesday, 30 August 2pm (WIB), 3pm (SIN/HK/PH), 4pm (MAL)

Wednesday, 31 August 9am (WIB), 10am (SIN/HK/PH), 11am (MAL)

Thursday, September 1 10pm (WIB), 11pm (SG/HK/PH)

Friday, September 2 12am (MAL)8pm (WIB), 9pm (SG/HK/PH), 10pm (MAL)

Saturday, September 3 7pm (WIB), 8pm (SG/HK/PH), 9pm (MAL)

Sunday, September 4 2pm (WIB), 3pm (SG/HK/PH), 4pm (MAL)

Thanks to the kind folk at MTVAsia (Dawn, Cammie, Mitchell, Utt & Holly) who made us all feel right at home.

MTV VIDEO MUSIC AWARDS 2011

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Aug 272011

Melissa and I will be tweeting live during VMA Awards to give you our 2cts worth of comments. As usual, mine will be extremely rude. Follow us @powerofpop @melloasis so that you don’t miss out on the action. Details below.

PREMIERE: Monday, 29 August LIVE! 8am (WIB), 9am (SIN/HK/PH/MAL)

REPLAYS: Monday, 29 August 7pm (WIB), 8pm (SIN/HK/PH), 9pm (MAL)
Tuesday, 30 August 2pm (WIB), 3pm (SIN/HK/PH), 4pm (MAL)
Wednesday, 31 August 9am (WIB), 10am (SIN/HK/PH), 11am (MAL)
Thursday, September 1 10pm (WIB), 11pm (SG/HK/PH)
Friday, September 2 12am (MAL)8pm (WIB), 9pm (SG/HK/PH), 10pm (MAL)
Saturday, September 3 7pm (WIB), 8pm (SG/HK/PH), 9pm (MAL)
Sunday, September 4 2pm (WIB), 3pm (SG/HK/PH), 4pm (MAL)

More info

EPISODES: SEASON ONE

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Jun 132011

With the rash of Brit TV comedies being adapted by American networks (Office and Shameless being prime examples), it seems logical that sooner or later, some bright spark is going to produce a comedy about a Brit TV comedy being adapted by an American network!

MTV MOVIE AWARDS 2011

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Jun 062011

The MTV Movie Awards show is notorious for its outrageousness – as the above picture perfectly illustrates. Obviously aimed at your average American teen, the awards gives you a good indication of what is popular amongst American teens. Thus, infantile gags and the Twilight saga rule (not necessarily mutually exclusive, mind you!). Still, it is a fascinating glimpse as to what currently shapes our popular culture and often it is not a pretty sight!

MTV MOVIE AWARDS 2011

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Jun 032011

The MTV Movie Awards tries its best always to be the most entertaining awards presentation program out there in TV land. The highlight for me has been the spoofs/parodies concocted of notable films of the year. The awards show is a little more tongue in cheek and fun than most shows so it’s often good for a laugh. How else do you account for awards like Best Kiss and Best Fight, eh? Although the award of Most Kickass Asian Sidekick is terribly racist, don’t you think? Personally, I’d give it to Jamie Chung (Sucker Punch) but that’d make me sexist as well…

Well, the 2011 edition will be telecast live from LA on the night of Sunday, 5th June. Singaporean viewers will get to catch the show live from 9am on MTV channel. And… I will be tweeting live commentary of the show from the Starhub Convergence Room, courtesy of MTVAsia. So even if you cannot watch the show live, you can get the wackiest comments from the fevered imagination of yours truly. @powerofpop of course!

See you online…

FRINGE SEASON 3

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May 072011

I have been championing Fringe quite a bit for its daring exploration of alternate realities within the scifi TV drama. But this season 3 finale left me cold. At the end of the last episode, Peter Bishop finally got into the Doomsday Machine and re-appeared 15 years into the future. Was this another alternate realty or did Peter’s consciousness move forward in time? Disappointingly it turns out to be the latter.

CALIFORNICATION SEASON 4

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Mar 302011

At the end of Season 3, our (anti)-hero Hank Moody (David Duchovny) had confessed to the love of his life Karen (Natasha McElhone) that he had sex with then-underaged Mia (Madeline Zima), way back in the series pilot episode. Obviously Karen freaked out, Hank is arrested for previously assaulting Mia’s scumbag boyfriend/manager and subsequently punching out a police officer.

FRINGE SEASON 3

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Feb 082011

Episode 12: Concentrate and Ask Again

We return to the standalone scifi horror mystery that was the norm back in the first two seasons. This time, it is a bio-engineered toxin that disintegrates human bone in seconds. Straightforward really. Rather boring even.

FRINGE SEASON 3

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Feb 032011

Episode 11: Reciprocity

A very good episode of Fringe but that is now expected from this sci-fi TV series. Plot twists kept proceedings very interesting throughout. Whilst it seemed at first that Walternate was disposing of shape-shifters to prevent information from being attained, in fact, it was the work of Peter Bishop!

FRINGE SEASON 3

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Jan 232011

Episode 10 – Firefly

Well, Fringe is back… hooray! Unfortunately, Firefly turned out to be one of the most cryptic episodes yet… and that’s really saying something. Instead of always hiding in the background of events, the Observer called September inserted himself into human affairs in order to test Walter Bishop. Apparently, the point of September’s intervention – and it involved a rather prolonged convoluted thread of unrelated circumstances – was to see whether, if push came to shove, Walter could sacrifice Peter’s life for (presumably) the greater good.

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MTV SESSIONS: TEMPER TRAP [REVIEW]

THE MTV SHOW

GEEK OUT! LOVING THE SERIAL KILLER

2012 – THE YEAR IN REVIEW

GEEK OUT! GAMES OF THRONES: SEASON THREE [TEASER]

NICKELODEON’S ALL-NEW TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES TO HIT TV SCREENS IN SOUTHEAST ASIA [NEWS]

GEEK OUT! ARROW: FIRST LOOK AT DEATHSTROKE [NEWS]

GEEK OUT! GAME OF THRONES

Season 2

GEEK OUT! THE SACRED ORDER OF GEEKS

GEEK OUT! FRINGE SEASON 4

AND THEY ALL LIVED HAPPILY TOGETHER…

ELVIS COSTELLO

LEWIS BLACK

GEEK OUT! COMIC BOOK MEN

Nerds of the Square Table

MTV EMA 2011

MTV EMA 2011

MTV VMA 2011

MTV VIDEO MUSIC AWARDS 2011

MTV VIDEO MUSIC AWARDS 2011

EPISODES: SEASON ONE

MTV MOVIE AWARDS 2011

MTV MOVIE AWARDS 2011

FRINGE SEASON 3

CALIFORNICATION SEASON 4

FRINGE SEASON 3

FRINGE SEASON 3

FRINGE SEASON 3

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