The Joker Uses A #2 Pencil, Mike Myers Flops And More Of Our Favorite Summer Movie Moments

Five superhero movies, four-spot animated films, three $300 million blockbusters, two Brendan Fraser movies and 1 partridge in a pear tree by and by, summer 2008 is finally winding down.

What was the best of the summertime season? Forget rankings or official lists � we decided instead to handwriting out a whole slip of crazy awards to our favourite moments, performances and movies from the past deuce-ace months.

Summer's Biggest Hero, Inanimate Object Division

The refrigerator. Not only does a fridge shield Indiana Jones from a nuclear blast, thereby saving his life, but a electric refrigerator also protects a plant in "Wall-E," signaling to humans that the planet is ready for mankind's return.

Summer's Biggest Villain, Inanimate Object Division

The pencil. Used by the Joker in "The Dark Knight" for his "thaumaturgy trick," and by an extra to commit felo-de-se in "The Happening," the writing utensil has more than confirmed kills than "Hulk" villain Emil Blonsky and "Iron Man" villain Obadiah Stane combined.

Best Performance, Comedy
James Franco, for his stoner-turned-action-hero Saul in "Pineapple Express."

Best Robert Downey Jr.-Assisted Cameo, "Tropic Thunder" Division

In a movie chock full of cameos, Tobey Maguire gets the biggest laughs aboard Robert Downey Jr.'s Kirk Lazarus as a gay medieval monk in a trailer for the postiche movie "Satan's Alley."

Best Robert Downey Jr.-Assisted Cameo, Non-"Tropic Thunder" Division

Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark at the ending of "The Incredible Hulk." This scene (which film director Louis Leterrier called "the first scene of 'The Avengers' ") likewise doubles as the best setup in recent memory.

Most Inexplicable Trend

Sending animals to space in animated movies, seen twice within a month with the releases of "Space Chimps" and "Fly Me to the Moon."

Idea That You Thought Was Going to Be Lame, But Turned Out to Be Awesome

The Joker explaining his backstory in "The Dark Knight."

Idea That You Thought Was Going to Be Awesome, But Turned Out to Be Lame
Karen Allen returning as Marion Ravenwood in "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull."

The "I Bet You Didn't Know I Was a Box-Office Record Breaker" Award
"Mamma Mia," which will shortly surpass "Grease" as the highest grossing musical in history.

Most Intentionally Funny Cultural Stereotype
John Turturro's deliciously extraordinary performance as Palestinian terrorist the Phantom in "You Don't Mess With the Zohan."

Most Unintentionally Funny Cultural Stereotype

The ambiguously gay Hutt, Ziro, in "Star Wars: The Clone Wars."

Best Dismissive Attitude Toward a Character's History

Agent Scully, whose child is done away with in one line of dialogue from "The X-Files: I Want to Believe."

Biggest Fall for a 2007 Oscar Nominee in the Category of Best Supporting Actor (Runner Up)
Mark Wahlberg, for talk to a plant, realizing he's talking to a plant, and then continuing to talk to a plant in "The Happening."

Biggest Fall for a 2007 Oscar Nominee in the Category of Best Supporting Actor
Eddie Murphy, for all of "Meet Dave."

Best Two Minutes of the Summer

A drunken Hellboy joining a heartbroken Abe Sapien to sing Barry Manilow's "Can't Smile Without You" in "Hellboy II: The Golden Army."

Worst Two Minutes of the Summer

Mutt Williams (Shia LaBeouf) vacillation through the jungle like Tarzan in "Indiana Jones."

Most Human Romance

The love between Wall-E and Eve � two robots � in "Wall-E."

Funniest Quote of the Summer
Seth Rogen's Dale, around a peculiarly pungent batch of weed: "It smells like God's vagina" from "Pineapple Express."

Most Unexpected, But Much Welcome, Comeback
Woody Allen, who is receiving strong reviews and even Oscar talk for "Vicky Cristina Barcelona," his first really great flick in years.

Most Unexpected, But Much Welcome, Failure
Mike Myers, who had a massive misfire with "The Love Guru."

Best Movie Not Yet Mentioned
"Kung Fu Panda"

The Poochiest, Most Unnecessary Character Added to an Already Beloved Franchise For No Sane Reason Other Than to Appeal to Younger Viewers Only to be Universally Hated � Bronze Medal
Jennifer Hudson's character, Louise, in "Sex and the City."

The Poochiest, Most Unnecessary Character Added to an Already Beloved Franchise For No Sane Reason Other Than to Appeal to Younger Viewers Only to be Universally Hated � Silver Medal

Shia LaBeouf's character, Mutt Williams, in "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull."

The Poochiest, Most Unnecessary Character Added to an Already Beloved Franchise For No Sane Reason Other Than to Appeal to Younger Viewers Only to be Universally Hated Award � Gold Medal

Ahsoka Tana, Anakin Skywalker's spunky Padawan learner in "Star Wars: The Clone Wars."

Best Performance, Drama
Heath Ledger, for his definitive portrayal of the Joker in "The Dark Knight."

The "I Guess I Picked the Wrong Week to Quit Acid" Award
"Speed Racer," which assaulted the senses with video game visuals, speedy cuts, cartoon colors and clunky dialogue.

The Most Unnecessary Romantic Subplot (Runner Up)

The non-canonical relationship between Prince Caspian and Susie in "The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian."

The Most Unnecessary Romantic Subplot
Charlize Theron and Will Smith in "Hancock," who are revealed to be ancient, immortal lovers.

Best Superhero Beatdown

When Iron Man, using his suit for the first time, raids a terrorist camp, killing several shooters with his computerized targeting system before leaving the last unitary for the villagers to take forethought of themselves.

Best Movie Nobody Saw
"Man on Wire," a documentary about tightrope walker Philippe Petit's high-wire routine performed between the Twin Towers.

Best Movie Everybody Saw

"The Dark Knight"

Best Movie Some People Saw, Brendan Fraser Division
"The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor," slightly above "Journey to the Center of the Earth."

Agree or disagree with our choices? Got some of your possess? Sound off below.

For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more � updated around the clock � visit MTVMoviesBlog.com.

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Rolling Stone magazine shrinking

Rolling Stone magazine volition be promulgated in a smaller, standard-sized format start with its Oct. 30 issue, according to Mediaweek.

Rolling Stone editor in chief Jann Wenner reportedly said the new size will be an elegant and classifiable design, chronic the magazine's 40-year organic evolution with the times. And Wenner Media chief marketing officer told Mediaweek the reformatted trim size will afford advertisers even more than opportunities to reach a large audience of edward Young readers.

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Over the years, Wenner has tested smaller trim sizes, which reportedly evoked negative reactions from ad buyers. In 2001, buyers said a conventional-looking Rolling Stone would lose its distinctiveness with advertisers.

The magazine reportedly well-tried a smaller version of the July 10-24 double issue with subscribers, advertisers and newsstand operators. Apparently, the subsequent survey of reactions warranted a permanent move to the standard 8 x 10 7/8 format.

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Angie Stone

   
Artist: Angie Stone

   Genre(s): 
R&B: Soul
   Other
   

---

Discography:


   
 The Art of Love and War

   Year: 2007   
Tracks: 14


   
 Stone Love

   Year: 2004   
Tracks: 17


   
 Mahogany Soul

   Year: 2001   
Tracks: 18


   
 Black Diamond

   Year: 1999   
Tracks: 15


   
 Pure Session

   Year:    
Tracks: 17

---

A isaac Bashevis Singer, a self-taught keyboardist, and a fertile songwriter, Angie Stone's showtime claim to renown was being the lead vocalizer on Vertical Hold's smooth urban saltation track "Seems You're Much Too Busy." An R&B Top 40 hit during the summer of 1993, it finally lED to a solo career, and her debut album Black Diamond was issued in 1999 by Arista. In sise years, Stone had unquestionably gained an old school, autobiographical vibe, exemplified by her come to lay "No More Rain (In This Cloud)," which has samples from Gladys Knight and the Pips' "Neither One of Us (Wants to Be the First to Say Goodbye)." Contributors included Lenny Kravitz and late Tribe Called Quest phallus Ali Shaheed Muhammad as producers, and Stone's ex-boyfriend D'Angelo as a vocal guest on "Everyday."


Stone, a native of Columbia, SC, began vocalizing gospel music at a thomas Young years at First Nazareth Baptist Church. Her beginner, a member of a local gospel foursome, would take his only small fry to see performances by gospel singing artists such as the Singing Angels and the Gospel Keynotes. During her youth, she wrote poetry, played sports, and, after high school graduation, was offered college basketball scholarships. While working cul jobs, Stone began saving money to record her own demos at a local studio called PAW. She united Gwendolyn Chisolm and Cheryl Cook in the rap trio the Sequence, wHO recorded hits for Joe and Sylvia Robinson's Sugarhill label -- "Funk You Up," a remaking of Parliament's hit "Tear the Roof Off the Sucker" called "Funky Sound (Tear the Roof Off)," and "I Don't Need Your Love (Piece One)." Soon later, Stone was working with futuristic rappers Mantronix and rocker Lenny Kravitz and formed the neo-soul trio Vertical Hold, wHO showtime charted with the Criminal single "Summer." Besides "Seems You're Much Too Busy," the group's self-titled A&M record album spawned another charting exclusive, "ASAP." She affected to J-Records in 2001 for her second record, Mahogany Soul, and the record loony the Top 40 thanks to the pop/R&B hit "Brotha." Three years later, her third track record Stone Love became her biggest hit, with a number 14 placing. In 2004, Stone Love was issued, followed by a live recording of her superlative hits in





Gus Gus

Lucy in Space with Diamonds

   
Artist: Lucy in Space with Diamonds

   Genre(s): 
Trance: Psychedelic
   

---

Discography:


   
 Emerald City

   Year: 2003   
Tracks: 11

---

 





Rihanna, Ne-Yo, Hudson coming to BET Awards

Lene

   
Artist: Lene

   Genre(s): 
Dance: Pop
   

---

Discography:


   
 Play With Me

   Year: 2003   
Tracks: 12

---

 





Impaled Northern Moon Forest

It's Hard Out Here For a Chimp

It is one of the greatest injustices ever perpetrated in Hollywood -- Cheeta the chimp is not on the Walk of Fame.

The legendary 76-year-old star (yes, 76) of "Bedtime for Bonzo" and "Tarzan" is on a one mammal mission to get his name on a star on Hollywood Blvd. Not only does he have his own website, the artistic simian is coordinating an online petition to get him on the Walk, publishing a book, putting a single on iTunes and starring in a new movie!

Kermit, Lassie and Godzilla have theirs -- give the chimp a chance.





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Simpsons cast gets a hefty raise

The standoff between The Simpsons voice cast and series producer 20th Century Fox TV is over.

After months of negotiations, the cast of Fox's long-running animated series reached a new four-year deal with the studio during the weekend.

Under the pact, the top actors will be paid nearly $US400,000 per episode.

While this is lower than the reported $US500,000 the cast originally sought, it remains a significant increase from their current paychecks of about $US300,000 an episode.

By contrast, Charlie Sheen is the highest-paid sitcom star, reportedly earning $US350,000 per episode in 2006.

Additionally, Dan Castellaneta, who voices Homer Simpson and has penned several Simpsons episodes over the years, is being named a consulting producer.

Castellaneta and most of the other key Simpsons voice players - Julie Kavner (Marge), Nancy Cartwright (Bart), Yeardley Smith (Lisa) and Hank Azaria (Moe) - are slated to begin work on the upcoming 20th season.

As of Monday, the status of Harry Shearer, who voices Mr Burns and Ned Flanders, among other characters, was unclear.

Because of a last-minute snag, his deal did not close with the other cast members', and it was not clear if he would show up for work on Tuesday.

As a result of the drawn-out contract negotiations, the upcoming season of The Simpsons has been reduced by two episodes to 20.

While the deal makes the voice cast available for four more seasons, Fox has yet to order the animated comedy beyond season No. 20.

The Simpsons cast and 20th TV have been down this road before.

Most recently in 2004, the actors held up production of the 16th season by skipping two table reads during negotiations.

They ended up more than doubling their previous salary.





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