Following last week’s reveal of some fascinating Aladdin Sane outtakes, yet another set of alternative stills from a David Bowie album cover shoot have turned up, for 1977’s “Heroes”. Shot by Bowie comrade and collaborator Masayoshi Sukita, the collection of discarded cover images features the iconic musician (and professionally trained mime) expressing a variety of emotions, from serious to mischievous to frightened, in poses that look very different from the bizarre, robotic portrait that ended up on “Heroes”. If you like what you see below, be sure to check out Sukita’s forthcoming limited-edition book, Speed Of Life, which chronicles his 40 years of collaborations with Bowie. Read More »

Today at Flavorpill, we visited Jay-Z’s “Stash Spot.” We heard what Jamie Foxx had to say about Roman Polanski, namely, “If it had been my daughter who was barely a teenager — my daughter is 15 — Roman Polanski would be missing … period.” We discovered ten similarities between Grand Theft Auto and Inherent Vice. We wondered which male castmember gets killed off of Heroes. (Don’t roll your eyes. We’re still watching.) We found out that Tyra Banks is rolling in it. We wanted to design a Flavorpill flag. We got really excited for The House of the Devil. And finally, we learned which bands will be playing the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver. We find that way more exciting than the sports part.

Today at Flavorpill, we poured over these amazing photographs from Iran. We were intrigued by the teaser poster for the upcoming season of Dexter. In other TV news, we were surprised that Bryan Fuller is already leaving Heroes; it seems like the series can’t get a break. We were lamed out by Chris Brown’s plea deal. We watched the Perez/Will.I.Am smackdown. We were mesmerized by the baseball infographics over at Flip Flop Fly Ball (and also, the name). We had to go back and read this Ray Bradbury article. We laughed out loud at this… and then we realized we don’t have a book and got jealous. We made a mental note never to let Kate Moss near our laptops — especially when we’re in a rock band and recording an album. And finally, we drooled all over this interview with True Blood‘s Stephen Moyer. It’s our favorite show on TV right now.

Today at Flavorpill, we laughed at this New York Times piece on the etiquette of texting at the dinner table. Especially the dad who didn’t want to give up his iPhone. Remember when it used to be scandalous when families would eat in front of the TV? We geeked out over this NSFW Lonely Island/Heroes mashup — especially the Sylar parts. We couldn’t believe that Chris Brown would break his silence with such horrid grammar. We cheered for Tom McGeveran, the new editor of the New York Observer. Thanks for helping us still believe. We loved these ladies for reminding us of that scene in Big, and we puked over these giant earthworms, which reminded us of that childhood song about eating worms. We made plans to hit up some NYC food festivals and we loved this pretty transparent NYC map. And finally, we flipped out over this upcoming Simon Pegg movie, which will star Seth Rogen, Bill Hader, Jane Lynch, and Jason Bateman. Holy comedians, batman.

When Vulture announced yesterday that they’d no longer be recapping Heroes, we felt both surprised and betrayed. While we’ll be the first to admit that as Will Leitch points out, “The first season completed with a profoundly unsatisfying non-ending at Kirby Plaza, the first warning sign that this show might have had a great premise but nowhere to go with it,” we can’t believe that he’s giving up on the show before Bryan Fuller has a chance to return from his Pushing Daisies exile and whip things back into shape. Leitch, you have to stop walking away from your destiny!

Why are we putting our eggs in Fuller’s basket? Because of the master plan he laid out for Michael Ausiello. Some choice tidbits after the jump.

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Today at Flavorpill when we were supposed to be busy working… we judged a few books by their covers; we imagined playing the Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon game in the music world; we channeled Kanye West by taking a minute to celebrate his new BFF, the Auto Tune; we fell asleep watching a DVD (OK, not really, but this funny site will make you feel like you did); we found a surefire way to save Heroes from it’s current Season 3 suckfest; we discovered Uncyclopedia, the content-free encyclopedia that anyone can edit, and found out that Bush had saved the world; we decided that French little kids are definitely the cutest little kids in the world; and we fell head over heels in love with these creative coffee napkins.

SPOILER ALERT. You have been warned.

Last night a peripheral character on HEROES – Usutu, a future painter — was beheaded at the end of the episode. We didn’t know enough about where his storyline was going to get too upset about his hasty departure until we realized that with Isaac dead as well, this could signal the end of all the amazing work by comic book artist TIM SALE on the show.

After the jump Sale gives Flavorwire the scoop on his involvement with the series in a post-JEPH LOEB world, the creation story behind the Heroes font, and a possible direction for CHRISTOPHER NOLAN’s follow up to THE DARK KNIGHT.

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30 Rock and Mad Men to collide: Don Draper making out with Liz Lemon — no, seriously. NBC has tentative plans to have MAD MEN’s JON HAMM do a multi-episode arc on 30 ROCK, where he would play TINA FEY’s love interest. The network is currently in advanced talks with Hamm, but sources sound pretty sure that this is going to happen. [EW]

Heroes axes two producers: After struggling in the ratings during its third season, HEROES fired co-executive producers JESSE ALEXANDER and JEPH LOEB yesterday. NBC was allegedly frustrated with the direction of the show’s creative production. Both producers have worked alongside creator TIM KRING since Season 1.

Maybe now someone will finally die. [Variety]

Gossip Girl season extended: The CW has asked for more episodes of GOSSIP GIRL, ONE TREE HILL and 90210 this season. Over the weekend, the network informed executive producers JOSH SCHWARTZ and STEPHANIE SAVAGE that Gossip Girl will now consist of 25 episodes. The other two shows will have 24 episodes each. Three extra episodes of Blair and Chuck? What more could anyone ask for? [EW]

Weiner rumor just a rumor: LIONSGATE shot down a Defamer rumor late last week that they were looking to replace MAD MEN creator MATTHEW WEINER for Season 3. Weiner allegedly asked for $10 million a year, and the company was said to call around looking for other options, such as AARON SORKIN. But an insider crushed the rumor, saying that Weiner is the show. Thank God. [NY Magazine]

It’s November sweeps season: Get your spoilers while they’re hot. [TV Squad]

-Iza Wojciechowska

In his latest casting scoop roundup ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY‘s MICHAEL AUSIELLO spills the beans that STEPHEN TOBOLOWSKY, who played KRISTEN BELL’s skeezy dad on HEROES, has “joined the cast of FOX’s upcoming musicomedy.”

The one-hour series called GLEE “centers on a Spanish teacher (Broadway star MATTHEW MORRISON) tasked with taking over a high school glee club.” [EW]

It’s the brainchild of NIP/TUCK creator RYAN MURPHY, a fact that we find totally weird because that show that doesn’t suck.

After the jump, our list of five TV shows from the past decade that were almost as Glee sounds; feel free to chime in with any we missed.

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His hard to pronounce name: Zeljko Ivanek.

And if he seems familiar it’s because you recognize this Emmy award-winning actor’s face from over 20 years of random (and usually villainous) recurring roles on hit shows like Frasier, Ally McBeal, Lost, 24, The Practice, Oz, Bones, ER, NYPD Blue, CSI, Law & Order, The West Wing, Cold Case, Damages, The Mentalist and beginning early next year, Heroes.

He’ll play a character called “The Hunter” who will be introduced in the show’s fourth volume, Fugitives. Read more about that here.

So, now you know.