Christopher Don Talks Richard Grieco's Minutes to Midnight Character

Last week, I talked with Minutes to Midnight writer/producer Christopher Don about Richard Grieco's role in the upcoming thriller.

In case you're just hearing about the film, here's the short description:

On the countdown to the New Year, seven friends and a mysterious backpacker form an alliance at a desolate mountain ski lodge where they are methodically hunted down by ruthless, sadistic masked men with an unknown agenda.

I had some questions about Richard's character, Sheriff Wyatt. The married, long-time Sheriff described in the original script didn't exactly bring Grieco springing to my mind. He's said many times that he accepts roles based on interest in the character AND he's repeatedly asserted over the past couple of years that he's pulling back form acting to focus on his artwork...so, what was he doing in this part?

Don cleared up all of those doubts for me in minutes. First, when I asked him what had brought Grieco to mind for this part, he said, "Richard is the ultimate badass. He knows how to be tough but also show an emotional side."

I'm no wrestling fan, but there's no
denying that this guy is pretty.

He went on to say that the character had evolved a bit since Richard had come on board: Wyatt is no longer married and is "not purely good." Ah, a character with personal demons that we'll uncover as the movie progresses--that sounds more like Richard. (I mean, let's be honest...you kind of thought he might turn out to be the killer, didn't you?)

Don also said that since Richard had signed on, they'd "beefed up the role big time." And--added bonus for Grieco fans--those personal demons he mentioned earlier play a role in the sequel.

Under other circumstances, I'd say talking sequels was a bit optimistic at this stage of the game. But with loaners from two mega-franchises already on board (Kane Hodder of Friday the 13th fame and John Morrison from the WWE), those ambitious plans may just be realistic.

As you may have guessed from the design above and the whole "New Year's Eve hiking" theme, filming requires snow. Don says they'll be shooting in late February or early March, regardless of the outcome of the IndieGoGo campaign in progress.

More to come as updates are available. I'm definitely looking forward to seeing this one.

Hoops in Vegas, 1998

Hat tip to some guy who calls himself "doesntmattr" on Tumblr for this one: I can't share the pics here, but IMDB has some great shots of Richard from the 1998 Hard Rock Cafe Hoops in Vegas event.  I'm assuming this was a charity event, but I haven't been able to find any information about it.

The most interesting thing about these pictures is that they show Richard in basketball gear just months after the filming of A Night at the Roxbury, a role for which he famously packed on about 40 pounds to cultivate a "past his prime" kind of look.  In these pics, taken just a few months after Roxbury filming wrapped, there's no sign of those extra pounds or the "didn't that guy used to be..." look he achieved for the film.

View the slideshow here: 1998 Hoops in Vegas

Sexual Predator

I've mentioned Sexual Predator in passing as I worked my way through a sampling of Richard Grieco's movies and wrote about some of them. I haven't said too much about this one for a couple of reasons. The first is that this movie involves a lot of sex between not-very-attractive people whom I'd have preferred not to see naked.

The second is that despite being mere millimeters from porn, this is, in my view, one of Richard's better movies. I'm not sure what that says about either of us.

Grieco is credited as an Executive Producer on this film, and his character is compelling. The plot includes a few twists, one of which actually took me quite by surprise. All in all, this one is worth watching (I watched it a second time to be sure), but not while the kids are around.

Here's the trailer:

 

Be a Part of Richard Grieco's Next Movie

Kane Hodder is in this movie,
too. I may know who the killer is.

Earlier this evening, I got a message from Minutes to Midnight writer/producer Christopher Don. He wanted me to let you know that the Minutes to Midnight team had launched an IndieGoGo campaign for the film. Obviously, we all want to see Richard in this film, which is reason enough to lend your support...but there's more.

Here are the top reasons I think you should pop over and make a donation to the campaign:

1. There's more to this movie than Richard Grieco. Though casting is still underway, they've already assembled an impressive team, including a horror icon and a hot wrestler. And, producer Steven Kaplan has promised to 'scare the piss out of you".

2. You will actually get to see this movie--and I don't just mean because you'll be helping ensure that it gets made. You know that not everything that makes it onto film ends up in the theater...or in our living rooms. Remember Cats Dancing on Jupiter? No? Too busy wondering if/when you're going to get to see A House is Not a Home? Well, it only takes a $10 donation to earn you a digital download of this movie--so, think of it as an insurance policy.

3. You've always wanted to be in a movie with Richard Grieco, right? Okay, it will cost you big bucks if you want to land the one actual role in the movie that's up for grabs, but you can see your name in the credits at a much more reasonable level. If you've never seen your name roll up the screen at the end of a movie, you should try it. It's kind of fun.

That's my pitch, but probably you should hear what the guys who are actually behind the film have to say:




After you've made your donation, don't forget to share the link on Facebook, Twitter and anywhere else you have friends and followers who might be interested in helping out.

Richard Grieco 21 Jump Street Interview

I can't tell when this Australian interview is from; it was just posted last month and it's obviously fairly recent, but the haircut and shades are reminiscent of a look we saw on Richard a couple of years ago. I'd like to read into the fact that he's being interviewed about 21 Jump Street, but all signs point to this interview having taken place around the time of the 21 Jump Street movie premiere in the spring of 2012.

 

1991 Academy Awards

Just a little blast from the past to brighten up your day.

In 1991, during the filming of Mobsters, Richard Grieco and his cast mates, Patrick Dempsey, Christian Slater and Costas Mandylor presented an award--all spiffed up in their handmade tuxedos.  It's short, but they look good.

 

Film News Interview with Richard Grieco

This interview from the UK website Film News overlaps quite a bit with the Art Catalogue by the Sea piece I posted yesterday, but there are a few additions. And, in addition to the bonus questions, it's always nice to see word spreading in a variety of venues.

Of course, every new foray into the public eye brings out the good and the bad: though Richard is getting a lot of great coverage for his artwork and those in the industry seem to have only good things to say, the celebrity gossip crowd isn't always so kind. Example: yesterday's Warm Glow piece, "Richard Grieco Would Like to Sell You a Bottle He Painted for $1800."

Seems to me before anyone gets too amused, they might want to take a peek at the "Sold" page on Grieco's website...even I was surprised by how many times I had to click that "Show More" button to get them all to display.

Richard Grieco Interview in Art Catalogue by the Sea

You may recall that shortly after Richard's gallery opening in September, Gallerie Sparta shared a photo from an "art magazine shoot." Print magazines have a long lead time, so it wasn't until this week that the interview surfaced. It's well worth the wait.

Art Catalogue by the Sea's multi-page spread on Richard Grieco includes an in-depth interview, several photos of Richard with and creating his artwork and images of many of his paintings.

While fans will have heard much of the background before, Richard talks at length about what art means to him. And, perhaps most interesting to me, he shares the story of how his Soul Bottles came into being and how his process with them differs from the way he paints on canvas.

The piece is well worth a read whether you're a fan from the television days or an art enthusiast--and, if you discovered Richard during his 21 Jump Street days, you'll probably like his new look. Added bonus: the publication is filled with gorgeous artwork from others, as well.

Was Booker a Mistake?

Hollywood.com has included Booker on a list of spin-offs that shouldn't have been. Though I agree with several of the selections, I can't get on board with this one (and that has nothing to do with the whole "just an excuse for Richard Grieco to get naked" thing).

Unlike some shows that made the list (Joey, for example), the writer doesn't actually criticize Booker. Rather, the argument seems to be that it would have made more sense to keep Dennis Booker where he was, as added "edge and man candy" on 21 Jump Street.

Yep, I've totally posted this before...in my very first post.
You know you wanted to see it again.

While I'm sure none of us are going to argue with that characterization, I think that 21 Jump Street ran its course, and I don't think I agree with the writer's suggestion that Grieco's continued presence could have kept the show aloft after Johnny Depp's departure.

What do you think? Did Fox make a mistake spinning Dennis Booker off into his own series? If so, was it an "ugh, that show really sucked" kind of mistake or more of a "wow, 21 Jump Street was so much more awesome before you pulled that character out of it" kind of mistake? Would the original series have lasted longer with Richard to hold our attention?

Minutes to Midnight Update

Last month, we learned that Richard Grieco had been cast as the Sheriff in the upcoming thriller / horror flick Minutes to Midnight. At that point, we knew that Kane Hodder and WWE's John Hennigan would also appear in the film, that the story centered on a series of murders in a ski lodge on New Year's Eve and that Friday the 13th franchise composer Harry Manfredini had signed on for the score.

This week, joblo.com told us that Bill Mosely and John Kapelos had also joined the cast.

More interestingly, the update also included new plot details, including the fact that one of the villains is a painter who uses human blood in his work, to capture the souls of his victims. Though it's a fairly unusual niche, this won't be the first time Grieco has portrayed a character investigating a murderous artist. In The Apostate, Richard stars as a priest drawn in to the investigation of a serial killer when his younger brother becomes a victim.

That role, as you may know, turned out to be life-altering for Grieco. It was co-star Dennis Hopper (the murderous artist) who persuaded Richard to go public with his real-life artwork, now emerging as the cornerstone of his creative and professional life.

Richard Grieco's Roses

If you haven't seen Richard's 1991 appearance on the Arsenio Hall Show, you're going to love this video. (Hey, let's be honest...if you saw it 22 years ago, you're still going to want to watch it again.)

The opening bit where Arsenio basically calls Richard a liar when he claims to grow roses is funny, and you'll pick up some charming confirmation that Grieco is not a celebrity at heart.

 

Minutes to Midnight

Not to be confused with After Midnight, which was completed last month--Richard Grieco has a brand new film in the works.

This one co-stars Kane Hodder of Jason X fame and John Hennigan, better known as the WWE's "Johnny Nitro".

There isn't a lot of information available about Minutes to Midnight just yet, but it's classified as a horror film and the high-level story line involves a group of people targeted by a killer in a ski lodge on New Year's Eve.

I've commented before on how often Richard plays a dangerous man, but in this one he's the good guy.  Or, at least, he's the Sheriff. I suppose that doesn't entirely rule him out as the killer.

Another interesting note: the film will be scored by Friday the 13th franchise composer Harry Manfredini.

More information to come as it's available!

Director Thunder Levin Talks about Filming in the Jungle, Richard Grieco and Really Big Spiders

Technology in the jungle: Richard Grieco, Adrian Paul and
AE Director Thunder Levin play back a shot on set in Costa Rica

I wanted to talk to AE: Apocalypse Earth Writer/Director Thunder Levin after the film released at the beginning of the summer, but Levin's life got a little crazy soon after the release, when Sharknado became an overnight sensation. 

As soon as the flying sharks started to die down, Levin agreed to answer a few questions about working with Richard Grieco, plate-sized cave spiders in the Costa Rican jungle and what’s coming up next.

I've heard you filmed AE: Apocalypse Earth under rough conditions. What was it like taking actors like Adrian Paul, Richard Grieco and Bali Rodriguez--accustomed to more upscale accommodations--into the jungle to work?

It’s funny, you include Bali in this list and my first thought is, “Wait, she’s Costa Rican, we didn’t take her anywhere!”  But of course, we did.  She’s no more a jungle girl in real life than Adrian is a soldier, or Richard a starship captain.  The answer to your question though, is that they were all great about the conditions.  I made it very clear in our first conversations that it would be a physically demanding shoot in difficult conditions, and I never really heard any complaints.  There was one scene where Bali was lying on the ground for quite some time and bugs started crawling on her, but we still got the shot, she  would just jump up after every take to knock them off.  The cave scene was pretty difficult because the floor of the cave was covered in about a foot of bat shit.  Adrian and Richard were lucky because their characters wore boots.  But Bali and the “Humanoids” were in open sandals.  But after the initial “Eew”’s and “Oh gross”’s, everyone handled the conditions like troopers.

Tell us about the bugs. In the film's commentary, Richard talked about encountering "dinosaur bugs" in Costa Rica.

We frequently encountered scorpions and poisonous snakes on location.  Fortunately, we had Roberto, our Costa Rican version of Crocodile Dundee.  He and his son would go into every new location before us and literally beat the bushes, to drive out any lurking dangerous creatures.  And if something deadly slithered or crawled onto our set they would quickly dispatch it with a machete.  I think the dinosaur bugs that Richard was probably thinking of were the plate-size cave spiders.  Here’s a photo of Robert showing one off.

What did you learn about Richard during this shoot that his fans would like to know?

Well, he’s very different from the image I’d had of him before we met.  He’s actually a very quiet, sensitive, thoughtful, artistic man.  The Hollywood Bad Boy that I’d imagined was nowhere to be seen.  He’s also very funny.

Dude--you took Richard Grieco into the jungle with a camera and kept his abs covered the whole time. What's up with that?

Honestly, I had no idea the kind of shape he was in until one day in the middle of the shoot he had his shirt off at lunch time (it was very hot & humid).  I joked with him that we weren’t doing a GQ photo shoot.  But the boring answer is that his character is injured for the first half of the film, and after he recovers he’s a Captain trying to maintain command.  Having him shirtless just didn’t seem appropriate.

Your career took kind of a crazy turn not long after AE, when Sharknado became an overnight sensation. What's next for you?

It’s really been kind of surreal.  I signed with a very prestigious agency within a week of Sharknado’s release and I’ve been meeting with many studios, networks, and production companies that I didn’t have access to before.  I’ve got a couple of TV series I’m trying to get set up, and several feature films.  We’ll see which one gets the most interest.  And of course, there’s Sharknado 2 which we’re just getting started on.

A Walk on the Beach with Richard Grieco

Here's another flashback--from the 1991 Summer Movie Preview. Mobsters is the last film previewed (beginning at 5:26) and the host takes a walk on the beach with Richard to talk about Bugsy Seigel, his penchant for violence and his way with women.

Sin and Redemption

Quite by accident last night (no, I mean it this time), I discovered another of Richard's old movies available in full on YouTube--and it's one you probably haven't seen unless you happened to catch it on television back in 1994.

Richard Grieco in Sin & Redemption

Embedding is disabled for the video, so if you want to watch the movie you'll have to go to YouTube. I haven't watched it yet, but it's based on a fairly shocking true story in which a young waitress is raped by an unseen attacker. Her ultra-religious father doesn't believe her and insists that she put the baby up for adoption, but a good-looking young man from a wealthy family who frequents her place of employment sweeps in and offers to make an honest woman of her.

Probably, you can see where this is going, but I won't spell it out for you. You can watch it for free. I mean, Richard Grieco is in it--how wrong can you go?

If you want a little more information before diving in, here's a news story from when CBS aired the movie in the spring of 1994.

Richard Grieco "Artist in Residence" at Gallerie Sparta

Richard Grieco often sports interesting jewelry.
For opening night, he was decked out by Mark Lash.

The premiere Los Angeles showing of Richard Grieco’s artwork at Gallerie Sparta ran from August 10 to September 8, but gallery owners Stephan Sparta and Lee Bowers want you to know it’s not really over.
The gallery is representing Grieco, and plans to keep his paintings on display for the foreseeable future. That means that if you’re in the Los Angeles area, you can stop by to check out Richard’s artwork any time during regular gallery hours—and maybe take a piece home with you.

By email last week, Bowers told me a bit about the pair’s history with Grieco and what the future holds. The relationship began when Bowers and Sparta met Grieco at and AIDS Project Los Angeles (APLA) auction earlier this year. (You may recall that this wasn’t Richard’s first involvement with APLA—some of the first widespread coverage of Richard’s artwork came after he donated a painting for the organization’s 2012 auction.) A week after this year’s event, Bowers and Sparta visited Richard’s studio to see more of his work.

I asked Bowers what it was about Richard’s work that made them want to represent him, and she said, “The energy and color and texture of his paintings in person are powerful and emit emotion.” The fact that Bowers made this distinction about seeing Grieco’s work “in person” intrigued me, as I’ve found online images of the paintings plenty compelling. After this discussion, I’m even more interested in seeing Richard’s artwork “live”.

On the red carpet, Johnny Mathis said he'd come
out to the opening to support his golf buddy.

Bowers also weighed in on the question I posed in an earlier post, saying that she believes Richard’s prior celebrity has had a positive impact on the reception of his artwork. Richard himself said recently that he hates the celebrity label. But, whether he likes it or not, decades of name recognition and a solid network of Hollywood connections put him in a different position from the typical artist premiering his work.

Fortunately, there seems to be general agreement that the work stands on its own. So, if you're going to be in the LA area, don't miss the opportunity to see it in all its glory. Gallerie Sparta is located at 8641 Sunset Boulevard.

A House is Not a Home Wins Best Horror Feature at Burbank International Film Festival

A House is Not a Home is interesting for a number of reasons. One is that Richard is listed as "co-producer," on the film, a role he hasn't played often in his movie career. Another is that A House is Not a Home star Gerald Webb, in his interview on the red carpet at Grieco's recent gallery opening, said the film was the first-ever straight horror film with a primarily black cast.

No word yet on a general release date for the movie, but it premiered last week at the Burbank International Film Festival and walked away with the award for Best Horror Feature Film. Richard's appearance in the trailer is brief and creepy and we haven't heard a lot about his "character," so this one should hold some surprises. Here's the trailer, in case you haven't seen it. I'll update with additional festival and/or general release information.

Richard Grieco on Conversations LIVE

Richard talked with Cyrus Webb on Blog Talk Radio this week. One thing I'm really enjoying about this round of interviews is that there's been something new in each one. In this discussion, Grieco talks about his early artistic inclinations, his motivation to move beyond the working-class town where he grew up and even offers some advice for those chasing their own dreams.

Listen here: Richard Grieco on Conversations LIVE with Cyrus Webb

Blue Jean Red Auction Update

As I reported earlier this month, Gallerie Sparta is auctioning a very special piece of Richard Greico's artwork. While a number of Richard's paintings are on sale in the gallery through September 6, Blue Jean Red is unique--and is being offered separately through a silent auction.

You probably know by now that Richard incorporates a variety of materials into his artwork. In Blue Jean Red, he's incorporated a souvenir he's been holding on to for more than two decades: pieces of the pair of jeans he wore during his last episode of 21 Jump Street.

If you're a fan of Richard's artwork and Dennis Booker, this is the perfect opportunity to own a one-of-a-kind piece of both. 

Bidding currently stands at $16,600, and increases in increments of $1,000. That means if you'd like to take the painting home, your next bid is $17,600. 

You can check the current bid on the painting, view the piece and submit a big through Gallerie Sparta's website.

BIDDING CLOSES AT MIDNIGHT PACIFIC TIME ON SEPTEMBER 6, 2013.

In case you missed it the first time around, here's the painting:

Richard Grieco on Teens Wanna Know

This video has a couple of things going for it.  The first is the teen interviewer, who is better prepared than many of his adult colleagues are at this type of event and does a great job interviewing celebrities across three or four generations.

The second is the moment when Richard imitates his pet squirrel.

Okay, I liked when he kissed the wolf, too, but I didn't want to give everything away.

Side note: Mackenzie Bourg, who appears in this video and the Phat Magazine interview, has a Kickstarter running to get his first CD out. If you're reading this before September 4 and want to give him a boost, you can donate or share his page here: http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/mackenziebourg/everyones-got-a-story-ep

Richard Grieco Talks to Phat Magazine

I've been gathering up coverage of Richard's opening at Gallerie Sparta, but it's becoming clear that there's going to be far too much to summarize and share in one post.  That's great news--Grieco's artwork is getting a lot of attention from far-flung corners of the media.

In the clip below, Phat Mag talks with Richard and a number of the guests on the red carpet. I'll leave you to judge for yourself just how late in the evening Richard's interview might have taken place.

 

Much more to come; I have about a dozen write-ups and videos from the opening to share, not to mention information about the two non-profits the show supports. 

Looks Like Someone Got a Haircut...

I'm holding off writing about Richard's art opening for a couple of reasons: one is that he's getting plenty of press on that subject right now (great to see) and the other is that I'm waiting for some information I want to include.

In the meantime, I thought I'd share the link to this photo posted by Gallerie Sparta this afternoon. Apparently, it's from a photo shoot for an art magazine, and Richard's shy several inches of hair compared with opening night.

I kind of miss the messy locks, but the new look has a certain air of dignity about it. Check it out here, then let me know what you think.

What's in a Name?

If you're a regular reader of this blog, you probably noticed that I changed the masthead a few days ago.

When I started blogging here back in January, it was mostly because I was sick and had a lot of time on my hands. The whole effort was a bit tongue-in-cheek, and the original title, My Love Affair with Richard Grieco, was intended to fit the humorous, slightly self-mocking tone of the blog.

Then, things changed.

In my search for blog content, I learned a lot more about Richard Grieco and his history. I took a close look at his artwork. At the same time, I was starting to feel stronger and more like myself, and one day I realized that I wasn't kidding anymore. You'll still see the occasional tongue-in-cheek post. But somewhere along the way, Richard became (in my mind) a serious contender for the subject of my next book.

Then, as I researched and wrote a bit more, the focus and format of that book crystallized in my mind, along with a title. Richard Grieco: Intersections will be the title of that book, if and when it comes to pass. I promise you, it will be nothing like the one book published about Richard, back in the Booker days.

The title fits the format I established with my first celebrity book, Rick Springfield: A Lifetime in Music--both in structure and in its multiple meanings. And, for the moment, book or no book, it much better fits the things I have to say about Richard Grieco. He, like Rick Springfield, runs much deeper than his pretty face and instant popularity led the world to believe.

The book in my head is a good one, and the popularity of this blog tells me there's an audience for it. So, Richard, if you're reading this...we really should talk.

Richard Grieco at the LA Sharknado Screening

No, Richard Grieco wasn't in Sharknado, but he did show up for the LA screening. Whether that's just because Richard loves movies (he's said so many times, and he attends a lot of premieres) or because he recently worked with Sharknado writer Thunder Levin on AE: Apocalypse Earth.

I'm mentioning this for only one reason: I think you might enjoy the photo of Richard at the event, decked out as usual in a nice shirt, hat, jewelry...and a pair of jeans bearing a fairly significant quantity of pink paint. (You'll have to scroll down through the photos to see it)

Good to see that now that Grieco's out of the closet, he's showing his inner artist everywhere he goes.

Own a Piece of Richard Grieco's 21 Jump Street History

Blue Jean Red contains a piece of 21 Jump Street history--scraps of jeans that Richard wore on the show.

If you love Richard Grieco's artwork and were a fan of Booker, you have the opportunity to obtain a one-of-a-kind painting that's also a rare bit of memorabilia. A news article yesterday mentioned that these jeans were on set with Johnny Depp, but I'm sure if you're reading this blog, you're more interested in where else they've been ;)

I love that Richard kept these jeans for more than 20 years, and what it seems to say that two decades later, he cut them up and incorporated them into his artwork. 

You can't just walk in and buy this painting, though. Demand is expected to be high, and it's going to the highest bidder in a silent auction. 

Bidding starts at $16,600. You can bid by email to GallerieSparta@gmail.com. 

It's not clear at this point how long bidding is open, but I'm trying to obtain that information and will update as soon as possible.

A high auction price should bring some well-deserved media attention to Richard's artwork, so please share!

New to Richard Grieco's artwork? View the gallery here: Richard Grieco Fine Art

UPDATE: According to Gallerie Sparta co-owner Lee Bowers, bidding closes at midnight Pacific time on September 6. See the current bid or submit a bid at: http://www.galleriesparta.com/silentauction.html

And, on the Flipside...

It's only been a couple of days since I complained about Fox News's sneaky little dig in the context of a generally positive article about Richard Grieco's artwork, so I'm happy to be able to show the flipside tonight.

This piece from The Levity Ball is so good that I'm not even going to comment--but you won't want to miss it:

Iconic actor Richard Grieco is Back...on Canvas!

The Origins of Richard Grieco's Painting

In honor of the fact that Richard Grieco's Los Angeles premiere officially opens tomorrow with a red carpet event at Gallerie Sparta on Sunset Boulevard (his work is on display from August 10-September 6), I wanted to share this article from last year, in which Richard talks about when and how he started painting.

The magical turning point he describes took place during filming of If Looks Could Kill, and it sounds as if painting has been Grieco's first love since. Though it's only been the past few years that Richard says he's been pulling back from acting in order to focus on his painting, this story makes me wonder whether this drive in another direction might have played a role in some of his much earlier career choices, as well.

Richard Grieco of 21 Jump Street Blows His Cover: He's a Serious Painter Now, No Joke

Here's hoping tomorrow brings the recognition that Grieco clearly deserves as an artist.

Random References

Just happened to run across this and thought I'd share. It's an odd song called "Shorty Said" by an artist called Das Racist with a number of pop culture references, including this little batch:

Shorty said I look like Richard Grieco

[Kool AD]
Grieco or Greco?
Shorty said I look like Art Deco
Shorty said I look like the gecko from the Geico commercials

I can't say I'm zipping over to iTunes to find out whether I can download this gem, but I do find it interesting how often Richard's name pops up in such a wide range of apparently random places.

Run across any of these references lately? Please share!

So, Fox News is Kind of an Asshole...

I'll cop to it right up front; I've never been a fan of Fox News and there are far more significant reasons than the one I'm about to share. But when it comes to non-news, Fox has had some good and even progressive programming. And, though I'll admit that I'm far from a regular viewer/reader of the network, I hadn't previously noticed tabloid-style nastiness (I'll be interested to hear from more experienced viewers whether this is the norm).

Earlier today, Fox posted this piece about Richard Grieco's artwork. It's not a bad article,and in it Richard talks about the inevitable comparison between his career path and former co-star Johnny Depp's and says that while he's happy for Johnny, he likes his own shoes.

Of course, Fox topped off the story with a "Where are they now?" photo line-up of the stars of 21 Jump Street--and chose, for some reason, to feature this photo as Richard's "now" shot. It's impossible to believe that this was anything other than a deliberate attempt to find the worst relatively recent photo of Richard available, particularly when you compare it with the "now" shot of Johnny Depp.

I'm sure everyone (except, apparently, the person who put this story together) is bored to death with the 25-year-old "rivalry" between these two men, but Fox appears to have done as good a job of spreading misinformation with its choice of illustration as it does with its news reporting.

Thus far since the article went live earlier today, about 150 brand new visitors have come to this blog, the vast majority of them on the search terms "richard grieco drugs" and "richard grieco drug problem". For variety, a handful have entered on terms like "richard grieco plastic surgery" and "richard grieco troubles".

The power of the media is impressive and disturbing; without a single negative word, Fox has managed to convey an impression that has people all over the country hitting search engines to get to the root of a problem even they haven't directly suggested exists.

If you're one of them, check out this post to see what Richard Grieco actually looks like in the present--not his best or worst pictures, but an actual sample of photos from different events over the past couple of years.

Will Richard Grieco's Fame Help or Hurt His Career as an Artist?

Richard Grieco's fans from the old days have jumped right on board as cheerleaders for his artwork. That's not surprising: his fan base appears to be very loyal and his artwork is damned good. But will those fans and Richard's early fame be good or bad for his career as a painter?

Since I once made my living in Internet marketing, my first thought was that Richard's fan base was a gold mine in terms of spreading the word. He (or someone) has done a great job of getting press coverage for his artwork, but in the era of social media that coverage is only as good as its dissemination. From that viewpoint, having thousands of people invested in promoting your work is a definite benefit.

But, of course, the world of marketing and public relations is rarely so simple. Perception is sometimes more powerful than reality, and the unfortunate fact is that many, many celebrities dabble--some of whom should probably keep their hobbies private. It seems, sometimes, that every actor in Hollywood is in a band on the side and every actress is publishing a children's book. The same gallery showing Richard's work features Jane Seymour on their website, and Rick Springfield has a novel coming out next year.

As I've mentioned before, talented people tend to be talented. Many of those celebrities do, in fact, have other talents, and their work in other fields is quite good. And you already know that I strongly believe that Richard is not an actor who took up painting but an artist who happens to do some acting. But I'm not a critic, and I'm not a collector.

Is Richard's name recognition a blessing or a curse as he unveils his work to the world?  I'm not sure, and I'm hoping to hear your thoughts in the comments or the forums. For the moment, I'm holding my breath a little.

Absolution - Maybe Not So Much

Possibly I should have known, when I paid $5.90 for this movie, that it wasn't going to be the best Richard Grieco movie I'd ever seen, but sometimes there are hidden gems in those forgotten archives. The fact that it had a 3.1 IMDB rating gave me a little more pause, particularly since that rating was bolstered by the 18-29 year old male category (almost certainly because Jaime Pressly gets naked). More than 30% of users rating the film gave it a 1. Though I'm sure that's far from unheard of, I don't recall ever having seen quite such a preponderance of single-star ratings before.

I'm not going to go so far as to say this movie was a 1, but I didn't finish it. And, you may recall, I went on and finished Against the Law. Most of the screen time in this movie went to the younger generation--specifically, to a handful of young male "cadets" who didn't seem to get fully dressed very often. They didn't do a whole lot for me, though, and apparently I wasn't alone--women gave this film an average of 1.8 stars.

Though Grieco's role was significant, we didn't see nearly as much of him as we did Mario Lopez and his scantily-clad squadron. And, Richard's character (the despotic and possibly somewhat crazy commanding officer) was a bit over the top, barking and shouting more than he spoke.

I'm slowly working my way through Richard's whole catalog, but I can't in good faith recommend this one--unless you happen to be an 18-29 year old male, in which case you'll probably find it mediocre.

Josh Hutcherson is Addicted to Gigolos

That's right: The Hunger Games star confessed that Richard Grieco's Gigolos was his "guilty pleasure" and called the show addictive. I wouldn't normally out a guy on a thing like this, but Hutcherson didn't exactly 'fess up over one too many drinks--he shared his fascination with the show with Cosmopolitan UK.

He may also have used the word "horrible"--apparently the life of a male escort isn't for Josh, since he also quickly responded, "Not Gigolos!" when asked which reality show he'd like to appear on. But, hey...he's watching.



And he's not alone. Though the first season of the series drew a 30% Metacritic rating, the New York Times said it was "almost impossible to watch," and TVGuide's critic wonder aloud how it could be legal, it was in its second season when Josh Hutcherson confessed to being a reluctant fan. As of this writing, the fourth season just wrapped. IMDB user ratings stand at 5.2, and that's the weighted average--the arithmetic mean and median are significantly higher. Ratings are significantly higher from overseas users than Americans, and viewers aged 30-44 (male and female) posted the highest ratings.

Bottom line: say what you will..someone is watching this show. And liking it.

When Time Expires

I'll be honest: I chose When Time Expires to watch next because I also have a blog about Mark Hamill and I figured I could double up on my "homework".  I'm not actually a big sci fi fan, which creates a bit of a challenge for me in much of my research. I'm more interested in characters than complicated weaponry or learning to pronounce inter-galactic names.

I kind of enjoyed this movie, though. It opens amusingly, with Richard suddenly appearing naked in the middle of the desert. Though it's wide open spaces for miles around, the female lead (played by Cynthia Geary from Northern Exposure) is naturally present to witness his arrival.

She responds as any red-blooded American woman would if Richard Grieco suddenly materialized in front of her (naked) and pretty soon they're in his hotel room...except the whole inter-galactic dating thing turns out to be a little complicated.

The fact that Grieco's mission on earth turns on putting a quarter into a specific parking meter at exactly the right moment also adds a humorous touch, particularly when he and Hamill gather around the parking meter to consider it. It's pretty much like every other parking meter in the United States.

When Time Expires Pictures

Of course, there are additional complications involving assassins and the risk of altering the future and a double-cross or two and even one moment that took me by surprise. All in all, the plot was pretty predictable (for an intergalactic story about a parking meter), but that wasn't fatal. This wasn't a bad way to pass 93 minutes.

Reviews were mixed and the weighted average rating on IMDB came in at 4.7.  Once again, middle-aged women gave this film the highest ratings, followed very closely by both men and women aged 18-29.

Richard Grieco is back in the spotlight to premiere his revolutionary art!

Though I've already written about Richard's upcoming show at Gallerie Sparta, I decided to share this press release as well because it offers some additional information, and, frankly, because I'm happy to see the professional promotion behind this event. 


LOS ANGELES, July 29, 2013 -- /PRNewswire/ - Richard Grieco, known as a cultural icon for his masterful performance in the hit 80's sensation 21 Jump Street among other acting credits including If Looks Could Kill, Mobsters and A Night At The Roxbury, is excited to announce the opening of his one-man art exhibit, Sanctum of a Dreamer!

After a break from the industry to hone his craft on canvas, Grieco has returned as the premier artist who coined the phrase 'abstract-emotionalism'. Remarking about his style and momentous pieces, Grieco comments, "My work is capturing lightning in a bottle, it's a pure unbridled emotion. I am a painter who puts his emotions on canvas and honestly my work is as much part of my life as breathing."

Grieco, along with celebrity friends and art enthusiasts, will showcase his historic, one-of-a-kind paintings on Thursday August 15th during an opening night red carpet event at the new French international art gallery, Gallerie Sparta (8641 Sunset Blvd.) in West Hollywood on the famed Sunset Plaza. Gallerie Sparta's owner Stephan Sparta states, "Richard's passion for painting, focused over a twenty year period of personal exploration has developed into his own emotional visual language. We have been following his ascent and are excited to be the exclusive gallery to premier his explosive paintings in Los Angeles."

A portion of proceeds from sales throughout the exhibit will be donated to the Wolf Connection Foundation, a rescue sanctuary seeking to strengthen the instinctual bond between youths and animals.

For further information, media inquires or opening night media accreditation, please contact Zack Teperman - zack@lexiconpublicrelations.com

SOURCE Lexicon Public Relations

Mobsters on VHS

Back near the beginning of this journey, I watched Mobsters via Amazon streaming video. Not long afterward, though, I heard that the VHS version included footage that hadn't made it to the DVD cut for some reason. I was curious about the missing scenes for two reasons.

The first was that I'd heard Richard say in an interview, I believe on Steve Benz's The Blend, that Mobsters had been conceived as a much longer movie and that they'd filmed quite a bit more than actually made it to the big screen.

The second was that I'd read specifically that the scene in which Richard Grieco removes a woman's dress with an ice pick was considerably extended in the VHS version, and I thought that might be kind of hot was curious about how that would compare with the straight razor scene in Sexual Predator.

Bottom line: I didn't see anything new that made a big impression on me. If you've already seen the DVD version, I don't think there's anything in the VHS to warrant going out looking for it (and that includes the infamous ice pick scene.

I did like this movie, but as far as I could see the two cuts were pretty interchangeable. It's possible that if you're Serious About Film you'd catch differences that I didn't (and care about them), but for the average viewer it just didn't make a difference.

Richard Grieco at Gallerie Sparta in August

Photo courtesy of Richard Grieco. (c) 2013

If you're one of the many who have been clamoring on Twitter and in other social media outlets about wanting to see Richard's artwork in all its full-scale glory, you're in luck--at least, if you're in the Los Angeles area or willing to travel.

The Gallerie Sparta will be showing Richard's paintings from August 10 through September 1. Location and hours are posted on the Gallerie's Facebook page.

If you're not familiar with Richard Grieco's paintings, I'd strongly suggest that you take a few minutes a couple of hours to browse his website, Grieco Fine Art. Back in February, I posted about my initial response to Grieco's artwork, but even in that relatively short period of time, the paintings Richard is posting have evolved.

What intrigued me most back in the winter was that so many of his paintings appeared to have an underlying layer that had been at least partially obscured by masses of fine lines. For me, this brought to mind a person writing down his secrets and then covering them over, so they'd been poured out onto the page but remained secure. Those paintings aroused my curiosity, creating some sense that if I looked closely enough I might be able to read pieces of that obscured message.

I really liked that batch and was a little sorry to see that period fade away so quickly, but the variety that's emerged since has been just as compelling. I was recovering from surgery when Looking Through Forest Blind appeared, and I was pretty sure that I'd heal faster with that piece on my wall.  Though the title suggests that it might not have been intended this way, the fine lines and light, bright colors gave me a sunny, hopeful feeling. On the other hand, pieces like Richard's recent Self Portrait # 1 make me worry about what's going on inside the man.

The vast majority, though, simply convey bold emotion in a way that makes it clear that, whatever other talents Grieco might have, pouring his soul out onto canvas is what he was born to do. If you're interested in these paintings because you were a 21 Jump Street fan or because you happen to have noticed that the artist himself is really freaking beautiful, you're missing something. They'd hit you just as hard on the wall of a little gallery in Provincetown or a coffee shop in Chicago.

Point Doom

Like a lot of Richard's movies, this one involved a little more blood and gunfire than I usually favor. Given that, the reviews took me a little by surprise--at first.  The film has an overall 3.5 rating on IMDB, though top users (the ones who watch and review a lot of movies and therefore have a bit more perspective and consistency) rated it a little higher.  What came as a surprise, though, was that women rated the film higher than men.

Initially, I was a bit taken aback.  Drug deals, shootings, self-mutilation, tough-guy posturing and multiple strip-club scenes generally skew more toward a male audience. So does Angie Everhart. This is definitely not a chick flick.

Then, I looked a little more closely at the breakdown. The highest average, by far, came from women over the age of 45.

With that realization, I suddenly saw this not as a movie about stolen drugs and money, about gang members chasing down their disloyal brothers, or even about a relatively normal professional man getting dragged into a world he was entirely unprepared for.  No, this was a movie about a beautiful damsel in distress being...well...rescued by Richard Grieco.

He didn't just swoop in and save her life, either.  No, he whisked her away to a beautiful house, took her for a walk on the beach, made her tea, offered her his bed and then ended up sharing it with her. On further reflection, the appeal wasn't lost on me.  And even the new millennium hard-spiked hairdo couldn't quite make him look bad.

On the downside, Andrew Dice Clay was--perhaps for the only time in my experience--not funny even for a minute.  Props to Angie Everhart, though, for taking on the role of the allegedly not-so-hot sister and playing it convincingly.

Watch Richard Grieco on Celebrity Ghost Stories

The actor portraying Richard  in the  re-enactments.

If you missed Richard on Celebrity Ghost Stories, you can now watch the full episode here: Richard Grieco on Celebrity Ghost Stories.  Richard's segment is first and he gets about the same amount of time as the other two celebs combined.

Contrary to the episode description, Anthony Michael Hall does not make an appearance. The episode consists of Richard's story, a story from Ana Ortiz (Ugly Betty) about moving into a house in which two teenaged brothers had killed one another and Barry Bostwick recounting an incident in which a ghost child appeared to be sharing his son's bedroom.

Visuals aside, Richard's story was the most interesting of the three on its own merits, though you may come away wanting to ask him some hard questions about the choices he made.  And, based on a Tweet he sent to Celebrity Ghost Stories after the episode first aired, there's apparently a piece of the story missing...one that,oddly enough, involves cookies.

Richard Grieco Unleashes Something Evil

If you missed Richard on Celebrity Ghost Stories last night, this clip from AOL may hold you over until you get to see the actual episode. Many seem to be posted in full on Biography's website, so I'm hopeful that the complete episode will eventually be available.

Meanwhile, you can see Richard telling one of his creepy stories in this video.  When I looked at the site, the clips were mislabeled, so if you click on the clip that says it's Richard Grieco and it isn't, look for Ana Ortiz's name (but his photograph).

It was also interesting to see the actor they chose to play Richard in days gone by--not dead on by any stretch, but I could see why they picked him.

Richard Grieco's Celebrity Ghost Story - July 6 on Biography

I'd never heard of the Biography show Celebrity Ghost Stories before this week, so I have no idea what to expect from Richard Grieco's appearance on the show this Saturday...except the little bit they tell us in the episode description: "Richard dabbles in the dark arts and pays a horrifying price."

I'm pretty sure they're not talking about his escapades in Almighty Thor.

The episode will air twice this week:

•      Saturday July 6 at 9:00PM EDT
•      Sunday July 7 at 1:00AM EDT
• That's all I have to say until we've all seen the story, but I'm pretty intrigued by that whole "horrifying price" thing, aren't you?
• 
  

The Origins of Gigolos

You can buy this mug on Showtime's website if you want to.

If you listened to Richard on Matty P's Radio Happy Hour last month, you already know the story that underlies this post: in a nutshell, a guy picked Richard up at a blackjack table in Vegas, turned out to be a gigolo, and his life so intrigued Richard that he decided to stay for a couple of weeks, get to know the guy's friends and, in the end, make a television show about that world.

I haven't written about Gigolos before because I've never seen the show and don't know anything about it beyond some brief information I've found online: apparently, the guys featured are real male prostitutes, but the gigs we witness don't happen in the ordinary course of business--no big surprise, since I'm guessing that the average woman who hires a gigolo isn't open to that encounter being televised. My only personal conclusion about the show has been that, based on the photographs I've seen, the show's creator / producer is far more...um...salable...than the gentlemen on the auction block.

I enjoyed the "how it all began" tale Richard told on this radio show much more than the canned, "Why does it always have to be about women pleasing men?" kind of philosophical justification I've read in a lot of previous interviews about Gigolos, but if this story raised questions in your mind, you're probably not alone.  I mean, it doesn't take a lot of creativity to boil this story down to "Richard Grieco met a male prostitute in Vegas and ended up staying a couple of weeks."  'Cause, you know, that's apparently what happened.

To Richard's credit, he didn't append any "not what it sounds like" disclaimers to this story, though I'm pretty sure it wasn't what it sounded like.

All in all, this explanation of where the idea came from made me a bit more interested in actually checking out the show. If you've seen it, I'd love to hear your thoughts in the comments or forums.

The Dinosaur Bugs Did Me In

If you've been with me from the beginning, you may recall that I didn't come to this party a Richard Grieco fan.  In fact, back in December, I couldn't have picked Richard out of a line-up, and I didn't even know he'd been on 21 Jump Street. In fact, back when I started this blog and my daughter was making a half-hearted attempt at intervention, she actually said, "It would be different if you liked him."

Well, I've crossed the line. It happened during the "making of" segment on the AE: Apocalypse Earth DVD.    Richard was still waggling his fingers to illustrate how he'd searched Google to learn more about Costa Rican bugs before the shoot when I said, "Okay, I've crossed over.  I definitely like him."

Probably this didn't come as a surprise to my kid, since our DVD shelf now features about a dozen Richard Grieco movies and she still hasn't regained possession of the third season of 21 Jump Street.  She didn't mention any of that, though. She just said, "Huh.  Who knew it would be the dinosaur bugs?"

Who knew, indeed?

Now, excuse me while I go watch that video clip again.

Richard Grieco Denies Having Been Paid for Sex

Dear Radio Guys:

Just so you know, "have you ever been paid for sex?" is not actually a normal or appropriate question to ask your celebrity guest. I draw this conclusion not only from basic common sense, but because I've never heard an interviewer ask any celebrity other than Richard Grieco this question. Just to be sure, though, I asked around a bit. The only possibly affirmative response I got was, "Maybe Howard Stern."

So, why have I heard Richard asked this question two or three times just in the past few months?

I mean, yes, I've seen him. And yes, he did start out bartending while waiting to break into the acting business and probably didn't have a lot of money. And yes, he even bartended at a nightclub that was as hot as he was, populated by people with money to throw around and judgment-decreasing substances coursing through their veins.

But, none of that is very unusual for an up-and-coming star.

Here are some theories I've put together as to why you might keep asking Richard Grieco this question:

• For some reason, you just look at him and think, "That guy has taken money for sex."
• For obvious reasons, you look at him and think, "People have offered that guy money for sex."
• You like to ask provocative questions and he seems like a guy who won't kick your ass or hang up on you if you cross the line.
• You're kind of hoping to find out you can rent him.
• You know he's consistently said that he "never went that route" on other programs and are hoping to cut your journalistic teeth by getting him to admit to something.
• You want to be Howard Stern, but don't really have the nerve to try it with most people.
• You're thinking that since Richard produces a "reality show" about gigolos, he must have some personal tie to the industry.
• You're thinking that since Richard produces a "reality show" about gigolos, you can get away with asking the question.

I'll admit, the Gigolos connection seems most likely, but come on...didn't the guy JUST tell us that show was the result of a chance encounter with a male prostitute in Vegas? (But that's another story for another day, right?)

Of course, I suspect that you're as unlikely to share your true motivation for asking this question as Richard is to admit that he's been paid for sex.  If that ever happened. Which it didn't, right? He clearly said it didn't. But, you know, keep asking.

Richard Grieco on Matty P's Radio Happy Hour

You're right--this picture has nothing whatsoever to do with this post. It's just my way of sneakily pimping AE: Apocalypse Earth one more time even as we've moving on to other subjects. 

It's been nearly a month since Richard called in to Matty P's web-based radio show, but I didn't get a chance to listen to the program until yesterday.

It's a 3-hour show, but approximately the first hour is devoted to Peter Weller.  Just shy of the hour mark, "Voice with No Name" marks the transition.

These guys had clearly done their homework, and the show was not only entertaining throughout, but I learned some things I didn't know. Don't get excited, though, when you read the description of the show: though they affirmatively state that Richard is going to appear in the upcoming 22 Jump Street, he did not say that on the show.  In fact, they tried hard to steer him in that direction and he just kept going back to statements like, "I know it's being discussed."  Whether that's because it's an open question or because he's not allowed to talk about it is anybody's guess, but you did not miss a big announcement.

Other highlights:

• The boys run down a list of women they want to know whether Richard has "hooked up" with.  He denies nearly everyone and they don't seem to believe him.
• Richard talks about working with Andrew Dice Clay on Point Doom; apparently, there's not much point in bringing your script.
• Richard describes how Gigolos came about.  You have to hear this for yourself.  It's interesting, but it's also highly entertaining because...well...sometimes he just doesn't seem to think through what he's saying.  It's a good thing he doesn't seem to give a damn what anyone thinks.
• Apologies to those of you who arrived here by Googling things like "what kind of woman does Richard Grieco like?"): Richard makes a casual, passing reference to his girlfriend--the first such reference I've seen/heard since I started this blog.
• Absolutely loved that when asked whether he watched Honey Boo Boo, it was obvious that he had no idea what in the hell the interviewer was talking about.

This only scratches the surface; this one is well worth a listen.  If you're not busy, you should just click this link and listen to it right now:  http://www.blogtalkradio.com/rockydennisface01/2013/05/24/peter-weller-richard-grieco-live-on-matty-p-radio-happy-hr 

Richard Grieco and the Dinosaur Bugs

Last week, I dug into the details surrounded the release of AE: Apocalypse Earth and how The Asylum "knock-off" starring Richard Grieco and Adrian Paul was basically kicking Will Smith's ass.  It's a heartening story and definitely worth checking out if you haven't read it, but...let's not forget why we're here. 

In the interest of getting back to the overarching, "Richard Grieco is really freaking cute" theme we have going on here, I watched the special features on the AE: Apocalypse Earth DVD last night, and (I know this is going to come as a shock), Richard was really freaking cute.  If you don't already own this DVD, you should order it now, because I am almost certain that you will want to watch Richard talk about the "dinosaur bugs" in Costa Rica more than once.

See that picture above? He's showing us how he Googled the bugs of Costa Rica before making the trip.  You know you want to see it. You know you love the baseball cap.  Just buy it.  The movie's not bad, either.

Looks Like The Asylum is Winning this Round

Back when I watched The Asylum's Almighty Thor, I wrote a bit about how I'd developed an entirely new perspective on the company.  As I said then, it appeared that The Asylum knew exactly what it was doing and was having fun and making money without a damned bit of concern for what other people thought about its business model.

Now, it looks like the company famous for its "mockbusters" may have gone one better.

Last week, Will Smith's $100M+ "summer blockbuster" After Earth hit theaters on May 31.  True to its standard practice, The Asylum got its knock-off, AE: Apocalypse Earth, out on video a few days ahead of the larger film's theatrical release.

Then, a couple of very interesting things happened.  The first was that the Will/Jaden Smith film tanked at the box office.  Yes, when I say "tanked," I mean that it only grossed $27 million opening weekend...but that's the worst opening performance we've seen from a Will Smith vehicle in 20 years (and that includes Wild, Wild West).  The second is that the Richard Grieco/Adrian Paul film generated some interest.

Obviously, there's an apples-to-oranges element in this comparison, given that one of these films was a large-budget picture with a theatrical release and the other had an estimated budget of $1 million and went straight to DVD.  But the comparison is worthwhile, nonetheless.

Viewer Ratings of After Earth and AE: Apocalypse Earth

Because of the differing distribution, not every rating site has viewer ratings for both movies, so I'll start with IMDB.  AE: Apocalypse Earth currently has a 3.4 overall rating on IMDB.  Not stellar, to be sure, but After Earth isn't far ahead with a 4.6.  Considering that the After Earth budget was more than 100 times the AE: Apocalypse Earth budget, that's not much of a lead.

On Rotten Tomatoes, The Asylum's film isn't rated, but After Earth has an average rating of 3.8/10.  The fresh to rotten ratio is 17:132 and fewer than half of viewers said they liked the movie.

Since After Earth isn't yet available on DVD, it's not rated on Amazon--but AE: Apocalypse Earth has an average 3 stars out of 5.

Neither film is setting the world on fire, but to the extent that it's possible to compare, they seem to be running virtually neck and neck in viewer reaction: the primary difference seems to be that one of these films still needs to earn another $100 million to reach the break-even point.

Who's Attracting More Attention?

Obviously, After Earth is getting more and bigger press.  But, let's take a look at some trends.

As of today, Richard Grieco is the 1,585th most searched actor on IMDB--that's up from somewhere in the 6000s just ten days ago.  Adrian Paul comes in today at 1,059, and although I don't know exactly where Paul was ten days ago, I know that number was greater than 4,000.  In other words, the two lead actors in AE: Apocalypse Earth have attracted a lot of attention over the ten-day period since the film's release.

Of course, that doesn't put either in competition with Will Smith, who's sitting at # 10 today. However, Smith has made several appearances in the top ten over the past several years and has dipped outside the top 100 only briefly in the past 7 years.

On the other hand, aside from a brief flurry surrounding the release of the first 21 Jump Street movie, Grieco is higher on the list today than he's been since 2000.  Likewise, Paul hasn't come in so high since late 2001.  But the attention the two lead actors are enjoying in the wake of the AE: Apocalypse Earth release pales in comparison to the rank the movie itself is posting.

After Earth is currently the 8th most searched movie on IMDB...and the "mockbuster" version comes in at # 47.  Levin's "knock-off" is just behind the popular television series Dexter and ahead of The Avengers on the most-searched film list, and is one of only two feature films in the top 50 with a budget of less than $10 million.  The other is a Warner Brothers picture with a $9.48 million budget.

So...go Asylum!  I haven't seen the film yet because DHL seems to think that California and Kansas are between Illinois and Illinois, but I hope to soon (estimated delivery date, June 24???)  More when I've seen it. Until then, I'll revert to my recent assessment: this is a company that knows exactly what it's doing.

Update: After this post was published, AE: Apocalypse Earth director Thunder Levin contacted me to advise that the actual budget for his film was less than half of the estimated $1 million that's been widely reported.  That means After Earth's budget was actually near 250 times what Levin had to work with, making the comparisons above all the more impressive.