The Blogboard Jungle

Retired magician and escape artist James Randi, best known as "The Amazing Randi", invites film makers into his life to tell the story of his mission of truth. An Honest Liar is a very well done documentary hosted by Randi where he takes viewers down memory lane of some of televisions biggest myths he helped bust. He does so while revealing some truths about himself.  Randi looked to help expose those that would deceive people out of greed. Faith healers, psychic frauds, and anyone else looking to take advantage of anyone by being untrue. Randi, a magician by trade truly believes in using his skills for entertainment only. Those that do otherwise are grifters and scam artists. If you are a child of the 70's and 80's you'll remember some of Randi's appearances on The Johnny Carson Show and some of the people he took on such as Uri Geller. What Randi reveals to those that watch this film may be a bit shocking as things that happen in his personal life...

Another podcast featuring  +The Blogboard Jungle  very own Ed Carbajal (AKA @Carbazel on twitter) and Chris Asbrock at his FTI  Combat Sports Podcast where they preview UFC 190.

When the show first premiered it came at a good time when a lot of shows are on hiatus. USA has had a lot of winners with that formula and this will definitely be another for the cable network. When  +The Blogboard Jungle  first mentioned Mr. Robot it was referred to as a mix of Fight Club and Clockwork Orange . You can add American Psycho to that to make for a show a lot of people are watching. One unique thing about the show is that every episode begins with no opening montage. The episode just starts and music slowly creeps up until the title sequence hits the screen. The main character Elliot always talks to us, the viewing audience.  Something that was present during Fight Club. Episode five even had Elliot accuse us viewers of not being real, just like Tyler Durden wasn't real. We're calling it here, Mr. Robot played by Christian Slater, is probably not real. Unoriginal? Sure. It still makes for a good story line. If you look at the films mentioned that m...

Photo: Justin Lubin/AMC The Walking Dead on AMC has become the network's biggest success. Even if fans of the books have issues with the way the show went the network is bringing something for them too. Fear the Walking Dead is a spin off show that is original for television so there will be nothing to spoil for anyone. New characters, new location, and it is an outbreak story. Photo: Justin Lubin/AMC That's right. Want to know what happened the whole time Rick Grimes was comatose? This show will attempt to fill in a gap not explained in the books or TV show. It will be a fresh look at a genre loved here at  +The Blogboard Jungle  but is in danger of being played out. Sneak Peak photos from official site Fear the Walking Dead | AMC

Photo by: Brooke Palmer/NBC While one could make the argument for the show not being renewed for another season , NBC's Hannibal has had a weak season up until the most recent episodes. Fans of the show, fans of any show will be patient unless the show gets hard to catch over scheduling issues. That is besides the point, Hannibal is going somewhere and fans of show are sticking with him until the end. Photo by: Brooke Palmer/NBC This season has been slow up until  recently, bringing in Mason Verger is a good way to save the show's story and fix some plot hiccups from previous seasons. If you remember from the film of the same name, Hannibal (2001) , Verger was the antogonist that had a lot of money and a bone to pick with Dr. Lecter. This was touched upon during the last season and in the film, but no details were really given on what the beef between the two actually was. It looks like we get to see it now and that should make for good TV, NBC may have jumped the gun...

Photo: Jeff Sherwood/Sherdog.com Fight fans get a nice one-two punch from two of Page2Sports MMA analysts this week.  Things discussed in the Carbazel MMA Podcast are the ascension and dominance of T.J. Dillashaw, UFC 190, and the possible aftermath of this coming weekends event between Rousey and Correia.

Photo: Michelle Faye/AMC The character of Cullen Bohannon must have the hardest TV life of any fictional character on a show. This episode had him near death once again, in the cold, hanging on for dear life. That was just the beginning. The episode brings back the story a few days before he winds up in his predicament so we, watching at home can see how he got there. Photo: Michelle Faye/AMC The Swede faces the dangers of the cold as well when we see him and the other Mormon's face work in the freezing conditions with poor equipment. Gunderson (The Swede) has had to bargain for survival before and he uses his skills to find a way to keep himself close enough to Bohannon to agitate him. Whatever he is up to for future episodes, it can't be any good. Photo: Michelle Faye/AMC Fong and Bohannon bond over their railroad progress on the mountain and share a secret before we find them where we saw them in the beginning. If you have not guessed the secret before watc...

Photo: Michael Gibson/FX Something about a show that connects the fiction to reality makes fans connect really well. If you're on the east coast and in NY/NJ this episode was really easy to relate to based on where many things happened. The book does the same thing for the readers and the changes being made for the show are more pluses than minus. Photo: Michael Gibson/FX The city has declared war against Strigoi and will not go down without a fight. An example was made of many of the masters turned to let him know humans will be fighting back. Fet's plan to cut off the transportation underground of the villainous vampire strain. Meanwhile, Vaugh is helping Augustin refine his vampire slaying skills. Photo: Michael Gibson/FX Setrakian's health was fading so he had to do something drastic to get his strength back to continue his battle with The Master. He has been using the worms to prolong his life to continue his mission by boiling their essence i...

Did that first trailer for Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice make you want to see the movie? It was okay, but no much. The latest trailer however, made much more of an impact although Jesse Eisenberg looks to be mixing a little Joker into his Lex Luthor portrayal. What did you think of the latest trailer? 2016 is long way off...

Final season has begun. The final season of one of the best westerns on television since Deadwood began airing this Saturday. If you have not watched this show, record the final season and watch it on Netflix. It takes place during a pivitol part of America's history, during the reconstruction after the Civil War. Cullen Bohannon played by Anson Mount It follows the hard, sad life of Cullen Bohannon played really well by Anson Mount. The characters in this show have been memorable and big screen worthy. Show's that take place in any period tend to be costly and fans of the western genre are really lucky to see this one come to a close. New villain Chang This season seems to have introduced a new villain now that our protagonist has made it to the west coast. He also encounters the villain that has been a thorn in his side since the first season. They have an interaction at the end of the episode that will leave you wondering, why not finish him off there...

Good time to be a fan of the sport of MMA. Have a listen to the latest Carbazel MMA Podcast if you missed any of last week's action and want to get a quick recap/review.

This show is still pacing things a lot better than the book. However, the need to throw romance in arbitrary scenes out of the blue still exists. Perhaps they need to do one every season, either way, as long as they stay focused on the big picture the show should do well. Setrakian is still looking for his book, Fet is killing strigoi and getting laid, Eph is right where he should be, out of the way. We also see Palmer's juices are flowing after meeting the young lady he met with Eichorst when looking for new property for The Masters plans. He hires her, to keep her close for his own interests most likely due to the rejuvenated vigor from having The Masters blood in him. The flashbacks in this one finally let fans know about the cane-sword Setrakian carries and its significance to The Master, who used to be known as Joseph Sardu. Setrakian's mind and what he seeks seems to be the biggest weapon they have against the vampire strain and The Master's ultimate goal....

Photo: Official Facebook page. This film stumbled onto  +Netflix  large collection of documentaries, and does a nice job of mixing comedy with some historical detective work on the origins of the popular dish. If you are not a vegetarian you have probably ordered the chicken dish in any Chinese restaurant near you. Photo: Official Facebook page. The Search for General Tso gives you some history on the famed General, and tracks the dish down to its inception on the culinary circuit as well as its influence on other dishes. Foodies will love watching this and want to run out and grab an order. However, there is a nice culturally historical lesson in the film. Other dishes and their origins are featured in the film and you'll be surprised that most Chinese food as you know it, is actually American. Do yourself a favor, in the upcoming dog days of summer if you can't get to the beach, check out this film. Then, go grab yourself some chicken. Official website| The ...

Right at the Expo entrance You have probably been to some type of convention or expo before, but never one like this. Have a listen to the Carbazel MMA Podcast and mark your calendar for the next one if you're a fight fan.

Photo from FX Networks The Strain is back on FX to gross up your Sunday Nights again. Season two picked up where we left our team of Strigoi slayers from season one. The Master is mortally wounded by Setrakian, Eph is back to drinking, and some really good flash backs gave the audience some history on the race of vampires in this story. This episode had a lot of action and back story that if you have not jumped on this show by now, this may be the one that grabs you. Even fans of the book will be pleasantly surprised with the changes made for the show. Especially with the history of The Master and how he came to be along with his connection to Setrakian. Setrakian is hellbent on finishing off his long time rival and it would seem he would partner with The Elders to do it. The Elders are other Strigoi that seem to have a problem with The Master's way of doing things, and vice-verse. A book exists that could have the solution but in his advanced age, Setrakian will nee...

In keeping with capitalizing on the off season of television, the USA network kicked off another show along with Complications this summer. Mr. Robot , has the feel of Clockwork Orange , mixed with Fight Club , on a weekly TV series that is sure to draw in a strong fan-base. Rami Malek, plays Elliot, a tech worker in a giant cyber security at a big company. Christian Slater also stars as the title character, Mr. Robot, who runs F-society a group similar to Anonymous. He and Elliot look to bring down Wall Street, government, and the corporations that seem to buy politics. Something seems off about everyone in Elliot's life though. It seems he feels he's being watched around every aspect of his life. You, the viewer, are aware of this because the show features narration from Elliot with the audience. So far, there has only been two episodes but +The Blogboard Jungle can safely say Mr. Robot is on the watch list. If you have not checked it out yet, now is the ...

Photo: Official Facebook page If you were born in the mid 70's or early 80's the Rocky films were not only the source of your favorite work out soundtracks, but a sense of your manhood. Sylvester Stallone's Rocky Balboa had a very dear friend and rival. Apollo Creed, played by Carl Weathers who's character was killed in Rocky IV.  He did have kids, and a wife that seems to make an appearance in the trailer. It is a nice way to renew a franchise.  The trailer seems to hint that Rocky does not know Apollo's son, but they seemed very close after the third film so we'll have to see how they explain that. Check out the trailer for Creed below: