Author: Rob

Co-host of The Paunch Stevenson Show
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Michael Bay Is Writing Transformers 2 Himself

sad Autobot symbol

Rotten Tomatoes – Michael Bay Says He Already Wrote Transformers 2

As the Writers Guild of America strike comes to an end, Transformers (2007) director Michael Bay has revealed that he’s already written the sequel himself, despite the fact that his screenwriters – Alex Kurtzman, Roberto Orci, and Ehren Kruger – were not allowed to work on the project during the strike.

“I’ve been writing Transformers 2,” Bay said. “I want to make my date. I’m not going to let the strike take me down.”

Could Michael Bay be the first to win our Lame Idiot of the Year Award two years in a row?

Transformers 2 is currently scheduled for release in the U.S. on June 26, 2009.

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America’s Most Miserable Big Cities

Forbes – America’s Most Miserable Cities

“We looked at only the 150 largest metropolitan areas, which meant a minimum population of 371,000.”

1. Detroit, MI – Ranked number 1 in violent crime with an annual rate of 1,251 crimes per 100,000 residents. Ranked number 2 in unemployment at 8.5%.

2. Stockton, CA – It’s population increased 28% from 1997 to 2007, which caused home prices to increase 158% between 2000 and 2005. Now, it has one of the highest home foreclosure rates in the country.

3. Flint, MI – More and more people have been leaving Flint since 1990 due to unemployment. On the bright side, home prices have decreased to an average of $104,000.

4. New York, NY – Ranked number 1 in highest income tax rate (10.5%, which is more than twice the U.S. average). Ranked number 1 in worst commuting time at an average of 36 minutes each way.

5. Philadelphia, PA – Ranked in the top 20 in worst commuting time, violent crime, and number of toxic waste sites.

6. Chicago, IL – Long commuting time (an average of 31 minutes each way), a high violent crime rate (619 crimes per 100,000 residents), and freezing-cold winters.

7. Los Angeles, CA – Constant traffic, high income tax rates, and severe air pollution. Beautiful weather, though.

8. Modesto, CA – Ranked number 1 in unemployment at 8.7%.

9. Charlotte, NC – Very high violent crime rate (838 crimes per 100,000 residents).

10. Providence, RI – Ranked number 2 in highest income tax rate (9.9%). Roughly 20,000 residents have left Providence each year for the past four years.

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Val Kilmer is KITT

William Daniels, Will Arnett, and Val Kilmer

Variety – Val Kilmer voices Knight Rider

On Sunday, February 17, 2008, NBC is airing the new made-for-TV movie Knight Rider. If all goes well, NBC will turn it into a TV show.

From 1982 to 1986, William Daniels played the voice of the car KITT in the original Knight Rider show. Now, the honor goes to Val Kilmer. NBC originally wanted Will Arnett from the TV show Arrested Development and the movie Let’s Go to Prison (2006), but his contract with General Motors prevented him from accepting the part.

Ford is providing cars for the new Knight Rider and is taking an active role in the marketing and branding of the movie. GM found out about the Ford connection and asked Arnett to decline.

“I was very excited at the prospect of playing the part of KITT,” Arnett said. “However, because of a long relationship with General Motors as the voice of GMC Trucks, I had to respectfully withdraw from the project.”