Media Man Culture Blog
Flashback In Time
Gaming related content will redefine entertainment and I am looking forward to leading the way. - Dr. Disrespect
Wrestling Flashback
Brock Lesnar targets WWE: The Undertaker and "Stone Cold" Steve Austin, by Greg Tingle - 14th October 2011UFC and former WWE man monster, Brock Lesnar, is ready to rock, roll and rumble, this time back into the gaming industry.
The former heavyweight champion (UFC and WWE), along with his manager / agent, Paul Heyman, are also interested in suitable business opportunities, and Australian based media agency, Media Man, took the initiative to test the waters in Asia Pacific via some online media exposure and tactics.
As far as we know, the only time Lesnar has ever actually set foot on Australian soil to date was back in 2002 as part of the WWE 'Global Warming Tour', after taking Hulk Hogan's spot on the card, Lesnar having injured Hogan's back (so the storyline went). Hogan didn't make the 2002 Australian tour, but finally got down under in November 2009 with his 'Hulk-A-Mania' tour, but that's another story brother... and sisters.
The Minnesota monster, who left the world of pro wrestling to brawl as a pro mixed martial artist, rocketed to pinnacle of the heavyweight roster in the Ultimate Fighting Championships and realised his dream of becoming the undisputed heavyweight champion after only four career matches.
The title reign ended in Lesnar's third title defence, when he was stopped dead in his tracks inside the first round by Mexican American Cain Velasquez.
As Lesnar told the media: "On any given day anyone can beat anyone. It happened to me too".
He's currently on the comeback trail to the UFC following a illness, yet Lesnar has told the press in a number of US interviews that he may be tempted back to the WWE... yes, the pro wrestling circus. Well, we don't really think its a circus, but some detractors do.
Quizzed if he would return to the WWE for one more match, Lesnar told ESPN, "I think under the right circumstances I will."
"I think if Vince McMahon and I were able to sit down at the same dinner table and break some bread that we could come up with some kind of game plan...I think a lot of things have to fall in the right places for something like that to happen."
Lesnar's ties with the WWE media and marketing machine have been re-established with the news that he will feature in their upcoming video game, WWE 12, and he has also featured in a viral video to help promote the launch of the game.
The ex WWE champ has hinted that he'd very much like to take on The Undertaker (Mark William Calaway), who has never lost at the showcase event WrestleMania.
"There's a guy that's been on a winning streak for a long time that somebody needs to step up to the plate and finish the winning streak," Lesnar told IGN.
Shawn Michaels, Big Show, Jake "The Snake" Roberts, Ric Flair and a host other others have all tried and failed. Yes, we know that pro wrestling has predetermined winners, but suspend disbelief with us if you will.
And he had some special words for one of the most popular WWE stars of all time, "Stone Cold" Steve Austin.
"There's another side of me that says if there was a chance for me to come back to fight a guy, it would be the guy that I was supposed to fight that chicken-sh**ted out on me and didn't show up, and that would be 'Stone Cold' Steve Austin."
"At the end of the day, my life, my character and my profession - I take them very seriously. At the end of the day, if it doesn't help me or my family out, and it doesn't make sense for me to do, then I don't do it. Everything would have to fall in the right place, but would I consider it? Absolutely."
Lesnar is due to return to mixed martial arts action and face off against former Strikeforce Heavyweight Champion and K-1 Grand Prix kickboxing champion, Alistair Overeem, in a heavyweight superfight at UFC 141. The match will headline the event at the famous American entertainment and gaming venue, the MGM Grand Garden Arena, in 'Sin City' Las Vegas on December 30th. Lesner will be looking for his jackpot Christmas present - the big win.
We can also confirm that Lesnar in interested in other gaming and branding opportunities, perhaps following the lead of fellow monsters Hulk Hogan, Ric Flair, Kevin Nash and the late, great, Andre The Giant. He is also understood to be keen to further explore online gaming opportunities. The Wrestling News Media network is following up for more details. Don't change your dial.
The Star Casino Hosts Leonardo DiCaprio; Casino VIP Super Whale With Models
Pop Culture flashback
Media and insider reports state Leo is dating Sydney model Alyce Crawford, Murdoch's The Daily Tele... that Leonardo DiCaprio has been gifted a whole floor at The Star (formally Star City Casino) to live in during his four-month stay.
He's been bunkered down there since passing on his former Vaucluse digs because of privacy issues (unwelcome paps), casino spies have revealed that Echo Entertainment top brass Larry Mullin was so keen to get DiCaprio under their roof that a whole floor was transformed into a luxury super-suite.
"Mountains were moved," said our friend at The Star, who reckons the famous actor has a private entrance to his Astral Tower pad to evade the paparazzi.
"The entire thing was refurbished and rebuilt from scratch. It cost a fortune but the directive was 'spare no expense'."
Asked about the plush situation for 'Our Leo' at Star, Tabcorp: "No comment."
DiCaprio does apparently say G'day on occasion with casino workers and others who cross his path.
"He was spotted in Black By Ezard and kept his cap on and head down and didn't engage with anyone. And a few nights later Hugh "Wolverine" Jackman was in there and couldn't have been nicer," said the deep throat.
"He was chatting to staff and taking pictures and having a great time. It was interesting to see the difference."
His ex-girlfriend Blake Lively has moved on, as has Bar Refaeli, with the model photographed in an embrace with Pierre Sarkozy, 25, the son of French Prez Nicolas Sarkozy, at the Paris nightclub Rasputin.
Stay tuned as Media Man and its ever growing "spy" network. As 'Our Leo' says, 'Catch Me If You Can' (and no, it won't likely be at The Star casino).
*Media Man is primarily a media, publicity and internet portal development company.
Summernats 2012
The 25th Summernats festival reved up things for Canberra again today as it continued on with parade of show cars.
It wasn't just about cars as event co-owner Andy Lopez told the press. It was more about entertainment and a more family atmosphere, but make no mistake - it was mainly about the cars...and a good dose of loud music - as if the roar of the engines wasn't enough to burst your eardrums (earplugs are provided upon entrance to the festival - satisfying OH&S regulations).
Event numbers are understood to be up this year, approaching 90,000, up at least 10,000 from the last Summernats Festival.
Mr Lopez said "People are going to get see something really terrific...two hundred cars in convoy, beautifully managed, well presented, a complete range of all the types of vehicles that Summernats has to offer and I think pretty much the community is excited about it."
Canberra has had a bit of a love - hate relationship with Summernats over the years, but this year there was plenty of love to go around. There were loads of car lovers, even love-mobile muscle cars, and of course the Ms Summernats competition - and not to be outdone, Fever Australia girls gave the Ms Summernats young ladies a run for the money with photographers and news crews.
No, there were not any riots and a good number of police and event organisers were quick to defuse any potential incidents before they started.
New co-owner Andy Lopez, who purchased Summernats said it's another sign the event has turned a corner.
"This isn't a choir convention, but at the same time we're not like a gathering of satanists either," he said.
"Ninety-nine-point-nine per cent of people that go to Summernats are there because they love what the event is about and if there is anyone else who is looking to cause trouble then we're going to deal with it."
Mr Lopez, originally had little interest in cars, said 2012 is shaping be the most successful Summernats yet.
"We want this to be the premier street machine, modifier event in the world," he said.
"We'll have 1200 people watching our burnout competition and that's something you can't do anywhere else in the world.
"If you win the summernats burnout competition, you are the undisputed champion.
"That's what we want the Summernats to be about."
Summernats attracts many of the nations most talented motor and mechanical craftsmen, artists and all matter of other folks who are in the business of hotted up cars. They also attract news media from from across the country - and this year its been mainly positive, with the festival being pro active to remove the more troublesome aspects of years gone by. The festival also adds a much needed boost to the ACT economy, with nightclubs, hotels and restaurants all reporting business definitely being up since the car-show hit down.
Some of our favourite aspects of Summernats 2012 included:
The burnouts - big congratulations to Peter and Debbie Gray (burnout masters and celebrated husband and wife team).
Miss Summernats contestants - Canberra local Sabrina Damiano, 25, who took out the Miss Summernats honours this year from a field of 14 contestants.
Show N Shine - car enthusiasts shinned up their toys and showed them off to thousands of adoring fans
Radio Revhead - great show put on by John McCoy-Lancaster and special guest in from Utah 1060AM U.S - J.C Hackett
The music - rockin with the massively talented Heaven The Axe (fronted by Phoebe, who is a bit of a Joan Jet - Angus Young (AC/DC) hybrid in our estimation. Phoebe and her crew absolutely rock and they reved up a storm at the Jim Beam Bar
Unexpected attendance by SBS entertainers / actors Rob Shehadie and Tahir (from Fat Pizza fame)
Body ink comp and display
Sidcrome tools display
The super cool personalised number plates which accompanied all show-cars
Top 60 finalist (car) show
A big thank you to Tom and the media crew for being so helpful, and to the other great people who worked so hard to make this years event such a massive success.
It's not too late to enjoy Summernats - it runs through to the 8th, and you don't have to be a rev head to enjoy it. Get your set of wheels and join in the action, and please drive safely.
2012
Tonight's the night for the Australian entertainment industry... especially television land. Ok, it's arguably Australian TV's second most important night, being that for the TV Week Logies Nominations.
Rupert Murdoch owned News Limited has leaked a list of Gold Logie nominees we understand. You want to know who is on the list...here goes, but this is speculation, not actually face, so here it is...
Esther Anderson
Carrie Bickmore
Hamish Blake
Adam Hills
Asher Keddie
Karl Stefanovic
Last year News Limited also disclosed a list of Gold nominees ahead of time and was pretty close to the mark, but not quite a hundred percent, by tipping Carrie Bickmore as a Gold nominee for 2011.
Check in with us again in a few hours when we can disclose the full list of nominees, with no guesswork or Chinese whispers required.
We would like to say a big thank you to everyone who made The Logies Nominations a success, and a big thank you to The Lantern Group. We'll see you on the red carpet again soon... most likely at the 2012 Logies.
The 2012 TV Week Logie Awards will take place on April 15 at Melbourne's Crown Casino, and US rapper Flo Rida is tipped to open the festivities. No word yet on whether Mr and Mrs James Packer (top brass of Crown Limited) will attend, as they are usually lurking in the shadows... so to speak, rather that looking for the spotlight - which we're sure many stars will be seeking out.
