Politics boring you? Sick of hearing about #thirdworldproblems? Tired of seeming like an ignorant slob? Off The Wire compiles the world’s quirkiest news to help avoid that uncomfortable lull in conversation.
Gonzo journalism at its sexiest
Vice, a NYC based Canadian magazine home to college favorites like Hamilton Morris and Slutever (Karley Sciortino), will now have its own weekly show on HBO. Bill Maher, sexy, aged host of his own news(-ish) TV show will executive-produce the show hosted by Vice co-founder Shane Smith. Vice formerly focused on superficial yet delicious pop-culture nuggets (“hey, that’s the name of the show”) and has recently been moving towards more important stuff like, you know, North Korean slave labor—while still retaining the nonchalant airs favored by yours truly.
All along the spooftower
And it would seem that everything pop-culture can be referenced half-heartedly back to 30 Rock: like Jenna Moroney’s failed dreams of playing Janis Joplin—excuse me, Jackie Jormp-Jomp—in a biopic about her life, Andre 3000 will be portraying Jimi Hendrix, and the creators are faced with the similar conundrum of not having any of the rights to his songs. The movie is in production in Ireland as we speak, so something’s gotta turn around. Or else it’ll just fail—let’s be real here.
Disappointed? Not even a little bit, not even at all.
Gil Junger, most notably known for his directorial debut of tween (who am I kidding, we all love it) favorite 10 Things I Hate About You starring the late (incredibly Australian and handsome) Heath Ledger, is coming out with a sort of sequel to the movie that made everyone think they new everything about angry grrrl rock and ska: 10 Things I Hate About Life. To star Haley Atwell whose suicide attempt provokes a chance encounter with another suicidal-yet-delightfully-wry-person.
Re-reinventing Axl Rose
In news everyone’s already heard, Tom Gabel, lead singer of Florida “punk” band Against Me!, has recently come out as transgender. Gabel plans to start living with her wife, Heather, under the new name of Laura Grace Jane and has plans to start hormone therapy and undergo electrolysis treatments. The Leader is most certainly not Against You!, Laura (*rolls eyes*).
You’re gillin’ me, Cameron
As evidenced by his blockbuster, Aquaman, starring the beautifully dark Vincent Chase (does anyone here watch Entourage? Anyone?), James Cameron is totally all about the ocean and wants to take a break from the narrative film. Contracted to direct the next two Avatar films (like, what more can you say?), Cameron’s first love is undersea documentaries, having already filmed five documentaries in the last 10 years (plus Aquaman, of course…. Anyone?), and will continue to create more. Oh, shit, Titanic! It all makes sense, now!
Illustration by Tyler Kerr.
