Morning Meme: "Glee" Casting News, Joss Whedon Reacts To "Buffy" Reboot, and Matthew Mitcham Gets Poked

Early reviews of Elling, starring Denis O’Hare, are not particularly kind. It finds O’Hare twitchy, and complains that his costar Brendan Fraser bellows every line. Complaining of a lack of subtlety from Brendan Fraser seems a bit like complaining that water is wet.

That really creepy looking The Nutcracker in 3D that I showed you? It cost $90 million to make, making it the most expensive independent film ever produced.

We mentioned that Julia Louis-Dreyfus was thinking about starring in HBO’s comedy Veep, about a Midwestern Senator who becomes Vice President only to find out the job isn’t what she expected. Now it’s official.

Netflix is going to charge more to mail you DVDs. But the U.S. is finally getting a cheap streaming only plan. That’s enough to make me sign up. Assuming I had time to watch TV.

Our friends at The Bilerico Project give a deeply personal account of why anyone who supports gay rights should give money to just about anyone except the Salvation Army. Those bell ringers were out in force on November 1^st.

Both houses in New Jersey passed sweeping anti-bullying legislation on Monday, and did it almost unanimously. I wonder what that lone dude who voted “no” had as a reason?

Discovery Channel and the BBC have teamed up to tell History of the World in only eight episodes. Frankly, unless Mel Brooks is involved, I probably won’t watch.

According to TV Guide, who spoke with him at the American Music Awards Sunday night, Darren Criss says people keep telling him that he’s coming on as a regular, but as far as he knows that’s not official.

In case it makes you feel any better, the Department of Justice has found it difficult to defend DOMA and Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell. So at least we know they feel bad about keeping us second class citizens.

In case you were wondering how Joss Whedon felt about the new big screen version of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, well, despite the humor in his response, he doesn’t sound like a fan.

Gossip Girl is taking Little J out of play. I’m really torn about this news. On the one hand, I really dislike the character, and I’m not terribly fond of the actress and her recent antics. But since Eric’s screentime seems tied to Jenny, I’m worried he’ll be even more barely there than he already is.

The Pentagon says that no one was discharged under Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell in the last month, since the court uncertainty has come into play. I suppose that’s a good thing, but still scary to the gay men and women serving.

Grey’s Anatomy is doing a musical episode. Think about that for a while.

Lost’s Jorge Garcia has been cast in J.J. Abrams’ new series Alcatraz. Abrams is starting to become the Tim Burton of television the way he recycles writers and actors.

Glee begins production on the Super Bowl episode next week, and Brad Fulchuk is directing it himself. It’s football centric (come on, that’ hardly surprising or a spoiler), and they’re casting for some hot male athletes for the team, and one could be recurring or permanent. Maybe Strando (I know!) is for Kurt? There also appears to be casting for performers for a half time show that will rival anything the Black Eyed Peas do on the real game.