So much Benedict Cumberbatch. And I’m not even getting tired of him at all. Because every new Cumberbatch story is a gift, a sparkling gem of Cumbertasm, so lovely and pure. First off, the BBC released 30 new images from Sherlock Season 3. I’m including nine of the most Batch-y in this post, but you can see the complete set here. The photos made me so excited, wistful, and a little sad. Sad because we’re only getting three episodes. But I have faith that the episodes will be amazing.
Next up, Benedict appeared on Jimmy Kimmel’s show last night. Kimmel convinced Ben to do a dramatic reading of R.Kelly’s new song, “Genius”. It is going to cause a lot of loonie meltdowns.
He’s a great winker. How did I just discover this about him?! “Imma hit that thing again” is probably the best dramatic line-reading of all time. *mic drop*
And if you’re interested in the full interview, I’m including the videos below. General thoughts: his hair is too slicked-back, I need more Cumbercurls. And of course he talks about his mum. He’s such a mummy’s boy. He talks about the difference between American audiences and English audiences and how he loves LA and all that good stuff:
Photos courtesy of the BBC via Buzzfeed.
If he did that album, I am sure he would sell more copies than R. Kelly!
Definitely one of the best Cumberthings so far … oh, the man is so adorable.
I hope we don’t see the return of the slick-back though.
I’m with curlsunited for curls.
Gah! The pic of him lying on the floor, curls asunder! Pleaseyesmore!
Everything about this interview was the best thing ever. It was fabulous.
Oh. My. God. I just died. DIED. And was revived by him again.
That was awesome but OMG Cumby is starting to look like Thomas Gibson from Criminal Minds. Look at that pic of him and Kimmel standing and then look click on the link and look at pics of Gibson.
http://www.starpulse.com/Actors/Gibson,_Thomas/
He def. looks like him I couldn’t work out who but that’s him. He does look good there but less gel is better.
Oh dear. I definitely see it.
It was pretty good. The audience was just looney over him………I didn’t realise he was that big of a deal?
As much as I want to melt into a puddle of nothingness whenever he talks, I couldn’t help but laugh my arse off. I haven’t laughed this much since Charles Dance read a chapter from ’50 shades of Grey’ for Big Fat Quiz of The Year.
I was laughing hysterically through the R Kelly reading so I missed the wink. That was pure gold though.
The part when he said “my fandom” was ADORABLE. Yes, Benedict, we’re yours. Come and get us.
I literally was just watching this on pajiba. When the video finished and I wiped the tears of joy from my cheeks I thought ‘Kaiser’s gonna be all over this!’ and I was right. Now all we need is Tfanty to make an appearance and everything will be complete
I do hope Tfanty is okay. Perhaps she saw this and fainted. She might need someone to go over to her house and fan her with a velvet scarf until she revives.
I don’t have access to the Hedgehogs either. *frowns* That would revive her.
And destroy her house but that might be a sweet revenge that Miss Eyre would appreciate….
Omg the look in his eye. He’s feeding the flames on Tumblr and he totally knows it.
IKR? I just about died when I saw that. I love how the audience couldn’t stop themselves from cheering, too.
Yesssss……
Yaaaaassssssssssssssssss….
Also, dude can make a mint doing spoken-word albums, lol.
MissMary, if you haven’t heard Cumby read the dirty bits from ‘Casanova,’ you haven’t lived.
Conan’s next! Exciting.
Thank you for this. It’s 7 in the morning and -7 F outside, and Benedict’s wink just warms the cockles of my cold, cold heart!
I don’t like the slicked back look, but I think that means he’s growing it out, so I’m willing to suffer through. Remember pretty much all of his STID press? Too long to do anything with but too short to wear curly and probably didn’t want to be all Sherlock-y while he was supposed to be Khan. Maybe Hamlet has long hair?
I think he likes to go for the easiest to style — a ‘no fuss’ look but it’s not always the most flattering.
I console myself it’s not that horrid black colour anymore. I mean there is that to be thankful for.
Okay, Kaiser, I owe you an apology for spouting off about your putting so many Cumby articles on this site. Stills don’t do a thing for him!! I watched him last night on Jimmy Kimmel. I don’t normally watch this show but knew that Cumby was going to be on and wanted to see what all the ooohs and aaahs were about. While I still don’t want to hit it, I do see why he is so well liked. He has a sensational sense of humor and I agree–his wink is so sexy. So continue on with the Cumby articles. I’m a convert.
@briargal: Hello dear, converts are always welcome.
Please, do tell us if eventually you want to hit it.
Promise? *winks *
Oh dear. I hate to break it to you but melting along with us is next. As is the desire to hit that man with *all* your might.
But in the meantime Welcome! And let Benedict continue to work his CumberMagic on you….
😉
Oh Benedict.. he’s so delightful 🙂
THIS. “Delightful” is a perfect word to describe him. You may not really want to hit it, but he’s so witty and antic and erudite and game for anything (R. Kelly lyrics? Hysterical.) that you cannot help but be totally charmed by him. Add that to the fact that he’s a fantastic actor and well – just say he’s a man for the ages and leave it at that.
Sigh…always lovely to have some Cumberbatch with my morning coffee.
He seems really relaxed and actually more rested here, it’s nice to see.
Goodness, where is that picture of him lying on the ground from?
From S3 of Sherlock.
Thank you! See it in the credits now, too..
Yes, it was genius! I laughed the entire time. He seems like he has a great sense of humor. Jimmy Kimmel is a good interviewer too and he didn’t ask any questions that made me cringe. Loved it.
He seems to be getting better about taking this ‘sexy’ label in stride and is having fun with it, mocking himself more.
Yes he does, doesn’t he? Not as awkwardly uncomfortable as he was with it initially. I can understand how it would be uncomfortable but he seems to have found a middle ground between accepting it (because it’s not going away anytime soon), and being self-deprecating about it.
That read of R. Kelly’s song was hysterical. Love him!
I was shocked at how nuts the audience went when he came on.
I just fell off my chair. I need a moment to get it back together. How the hell am I supposed to go to work and get anything done now??
Exactly. You need to pick up your purse & go home! Make some tea & watch him read the R. Kelly lyrics again. Again, again.
You know EsCon, you could get revenge on your nuns with that R Kelly reading….
I’m back! I survived by telling people to check this out all day. Not a single person had ever heard of him. I asked them to report back tomorrow. They are all very intrigued. I’m so nervous!
@O’Angie: You’ll have to tell us what they thought. And if they are now afflicted with the virus caused by CumberMagic. 😉
Several weeks (months?) ago, Fallon had him reading old-school rap lyrics as Alan Rickman and it’s hilarious!
http://izismile.com/2013/10/14/benedict_cumberbatch_does_alan_rickman_impressions_with_jimmy.html
This Kimmel interview of Cumby has topped every other interview of him for sure. Conan you got pressure son to not disappoint me next week lol.
Where do I begin? my boyfriend was also turned on a little when he read those lyrics…his voice is just pure sex. He was his jovial self and enjoying it all. though the screaming fans kinda scared him lol but what did you expect Cumby after reading off such sexual lyrics heehe.
Jimmy and him seemed to have jell along pretty well I must say considering it was their first time meeting each other….dare I say it was better than Fallon’s interview. Jimmy has been Cumberbatched as well.
Now all I want is him hosting SNL and I can die happy
He would be fantastic at SNL! Dude has plenty of theatrical experience, so he can just go with whatever unexpected thing happens on stage. He’s also good at self-deprecating humor, so I think he’d have a ball.
I think he would be fantastic in just about any other program, but I’d love to see him on Daily Show or the Colbert Report.
Funny you say Colbert Report—I’ve been hoping for that to happen. I think Colbert’s schtick would be perfect for Cumby’s schtick & they would be a wonderful blend.
But I’d want a *complete* hour of both Stephen and Benedict!
A full hour would be fantastic, but it might also be overkill. Like, too much of a good thing, if that’s even possible!
I also thought he would be great on Sesame Street. No, seriously, he would!
Can we just change the name of this site to cumberbitchy already? He may be a wonderful human being, but for god’s sake would any of you stop for a second look if he wasn’t famous? Honestly?
Cumberbitchy!! I am all for that.
@Rhiannionkk
Not only a second look, but a third & a fourth, ad infinitum—trust me, God & the bitch of fame don’t have a damn thing to do with it.
Let’s see, since my other obsessions are Gabriel Byrne, Aiden Quinn and Patrick Stewart…yes, I would stop for a second look if he wasn’t famous. If he was talking as I passed by, I’d be a good girl and follow him home.
Yes, I would—because this guy has personality plus. He’s smart, witty & has a fabulous sense of humor. He can joke about himself, & no one who’s worked with him has had anything bad to say about him.
Yes, it has been Cumberbitchy around here for some time now. But if you watched his recitation of R. Kelly’s lyrics, can you not see a little why so many women like him?
I can totally appreciate his acting chops, his personality, et al., but ( hides) he is not hot
Oh yay! No thread about Cumberbatch is complete without at least one person coming on and saying how they don’t understand how anyone could find him attractive. You either get it or you don’t. Beauty is a subjective thing and always in the eye of the beholder.
There are hundreds of other post, but God the magical forces of Cumberbatch blinds them so they only see those about him. *Serious side-eye*
We know he is not traditionally or conventionally handsome, but I find him quite striking. Those eyes…
Fame really has nothing to do with it nor does his Sherlock persona (saw him in other projects years before Sherlock).
He is has a very quick and dry wit, is very bright, reasonably well-adjusted, well brought up, kind, doesn’t take himself too seriously, can be a bit of a dork, can be a charming little tit, loves the fuck out of his parents, and has talent to burn. So what’s not to like?
I can name a myriad of other people, famous and not so famous who are truly gorgeous but who are about as interesting as watching mold grow.
Henry Cavill comes to mind.
Honestly his voice alone would do it for me famous or not. I have been known by my friends to date some people others thought were “below” me lookswise, but honestly, looks truly are not everything. It is how they make love, how they treat you, and if we can just talk and talk together. I like being stimulated intellectually before being stimulated sexually. I think Cumberbatch would fit the bill for me quite nicely!
Agreed on all counts. I want someone that makes me tingle all over — including my brain.
Thanks, Kaiser, for this early gift post from St. Nick. It’s BC at his inspired best & well worth the price of admission—though undignified, am sure I would have been screaming too. We need him to do more texts with winks. Enough of the hero roles whether in or out of jungles! He should climb down from his bar stool & find another sexy lady for another scandal. Heaven knows, I am ready to be scandalized. Must now hurry back to the top to drool over the videos again.
Agreed. I’ve said this here before, but I’ll say it again. He can act his face off in any role, but I wish he’d change it up a bit. I would love to see him in a rom-com of sorts, especially one with an interesting twist or a bit of edge to it. He’d rock it!
I agree, GreenGirl. He & his agent ought to put their alien heads together & get Cumby some comedy roles because he is very very funny.
I think the same of Hiddles. I feel that Tommy was born for comedy & I wish he’d get a rom-com going already.
Do you think either/both TA and Cumby want to stay away from rom-coms for fear of being typecast? It seems like they both have good management and won’t take just any role offered, but I wonder if they’re worried they’ll only be offered rom-coms after doing one.
BC has said he wants to do it all. I think he’d love just the right rom-com because he really likes variety in his work.
Very funny and I didn’t realize it,but R. Kelly’s songwriting kind of sucks.
Even with Benedict reading it didn’t quite cover up that the words left a lot to be desired. Lol Hopefully the music is better (but who can top THAT reading?).
Oh, ladies, where do I start?
As I mentioned earlier this week, I was in the audience, and the experience did not disappoint.
Kimmel’s PAs said they’ve never seen an audience line up so early. Only Justin Timberlake’s fans came as close, apparently. We sounded like a group of loonies because we were comprised of about 190 Cumberbitches and 10 dudes. Of course, the group skewed a bit young. I’m no old lady, but my (blonde, Russian, ha!) friend and I were definitely among the older audience members.
I was sitting on the side of the studio immediately facing the spot where Cumby read the lyrics. That is really close, and holy crap, photos do not do the man justice. In person I’d say he’s less alien, more masculine. Like most celebs, he’s got an overly large head. His slicked back hair looked less severe in person. He has great skin. He does not appear smaller in person, like most celebs (I’ve lived in LA for 10 years, so I’ve seen plenty of them, and they are small 95% of the time). Cumby in person is pretty much what you are hoping for, only better.
On his way out, Cumby, while waving goodbye to the crowd, looked right at my friend and I and smiled. I’m not some squealy teenager, so I’m embarrassed to say this, but I was on Cloud 9 for the rest of the night.
I was severely Cumberbatched last night, so I’m still in a haze, but am willing and happy to answer any Cumberquestions you might have.
Joanie, I am compiling a list of questions for you! You lucky girl. This looked like one of his better appearances on an American talk show because he seemed to be relaxed & there was’t the awkwardness we’ve seem before between him & the host.
Also, I think it’s inspired to get him, a dramatic actor with such a voice, to read silly lyrics. I am holding my breath until he does a “Grinch Who Stole Christmas” Special & reads lots of Dr. Seuss.
Oh! Cumby and Dr. Seuss would be wonderful!
He was very charming, but scratched and rubbed his thigh constantly, which is his nervous tick. You only see it once or twice on camera during the show, but he did it quite a lot.
Lucky girl! Glad you had a good time.
It was quite a night. As my friend said on the way out, ‘Watching him is just so pleasing.’ Understatement of the year!
OMG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! *faints*
Are his eyes as GLORIOUS in person? Could you even see his eyes clearly? Can you maybe breathe into a bag and mail it to me? Cuz then I would have breathed the same air as him which would be awesome!!!!!!!!
My that was a very fangirl moment.
CaribbeanLaura:
Yes, glorious, LOL. Very blue, and sharp, the way intelligent people’s eyes are sharp. You know, with a twinkle? Like that. I’m very attracted to smart men with a twinkle in their eyes, so when he fixed those pretty peepers on me, I went all a-flutter for a second.
I was struck by how pronounced his brow bone is – not in a caveman-y way, though. In a testosterone-y way. He does the ‘aw shucks’ thing well in interviews, and I’m sure he’s still bemused by his fame, but he has definitely settled into it.
I’ve read several accounts about how he has quite a presence in person, and I agree completely. Elegant and masculine. You can’t not look at him.
Girl, I am SO jealous!
I really like how you comment that he comes across as more masculine than what we see. I think a lot of British men struggle to be seen as masculine here in the States. Ya know?
But what makes you say he looks less alien? I ask that because, invariably, someone mentions that. It’s interesting to see/hear from someone that has seen him in person. Also, do you think he’s nervous in interviews? People think he might be an introvert — any impressions about that?
I, too, have a thing for intelligent men. They get me every time. *sigh*
Thanks again for sharing!
😀
LadySlippers,
I’m still getting over the whole experience! Got a perma-grin on my face today.
You know how in still photos he can look kind of stiff, and a bit austere? I think that’s part of where the alien comments come from. That, and the fact that he has such small eyes in a long face, and a surprisingly thick neck…even his fans admit he looks better in motion (isn’t that how most of us were converted? Haha).
When you see him in person, full body, all the parts work together like RAWR. His presence is a bit earthier than you would think, and the zygoma were ON POINT, like whoa. His movements are very fluid and his posture is perfect. Very in control of his instrument (insert dirty joke here). It’s hot.
I think he is very introverted, but he just happens to be a talkative introvert (they exist). I really think he enjoys spending time alone (from what I’ve read), curled up with a good book. And of course, some whiskey, lol.
I liked it that Joanie pointed out that all of his parts work together. I could see that about him in Star Trek into Darkness (especially in the scenes where he’s evading Spock). He’s very coordinated! And I can tell that he has a strong presence and is very confident.
All and all, he just seems like a really cool guy. Love him!
LadySlippers, I agree with you about the issue with British men and their perceived masculinity (or lack of) here in the US. I think a lot of it is cultural.
LadySlippers, I think he’s ‘on’ when he has to be, and quieter in his spare time. I read recently that when shooting Sherlock Series 2, he stayed in a different hotel than the rest of the cast and crew, and was often seen walking alone in Cardiff during his time off. I think he just needs to balance out and re-center when he gets any (increasingly rare) periods of time off. He left Kimmel immediately after his segments were done.
Oh and a fun fact – after he was done taping, that’s when he took the Instagram photo with Jimmy. The audience squeed when he did the pointing thing – it’s such a recognizable Cumby signature now.
I second and third the SNL host idea. He would kill it. Dead. Like me after watching the Kimmel videos. Thank you, Kaiser…you made my day.
4th and 5th ++++ the SNL. BC is SO funny in Cabin Pressure, Starter for 10, etc. He would kill.
Cabin Pressure is wonderful! I just finished up season 1. I’ve read that he’d like to do a romantic comedy and I think he’d be fantastic. He played pure comedy in Starter for 10 and was brilliant, but he’s got the looks and voice to pull off the romantic part easily. Can you imagine the female meltdown that would occur if it was just the right script and cast…it might be one of the signs of the apocalypse.
He’s seriously almost double my age but I would hit it SO FREAKING HARD. That voice. Holy effffffffff. Tumblrs going to have a melt down. He knows the effect he has on us.
To be honest, every time I saw a Cumber post I kind of had the eye roll, but after reading this post, I now think Cumby is the cutest EVER. Bring on the Cumby posts!!!
Welcome to the fold!
Oh my GOD. I was dying watching this on my laptop with headphones on- I was laughing and clapping so hard my colleague came running to see what I was up to 🙂
It would be great if Kimmel made this an ongoing joke with Cumberbatch reading other ridiculous lyrics.
I wanna get with both Cumby and Jimmy K. Dreamy!
I was seriously put of by the reading . At first I thought he was being sardonic especially as I did not know the author and was not sure if it was a very bad poem with a very poor delivery or the lyrics to some twee pop song.
The rest of the interview was okay but I was amazed at how beautiful his mum was considering he is not conventionally attractive. I did recognise her from something. He reminded me of Vincent Philip D’Onofrio from criminal intent.
@icerose
Condescension is not a good look.
Lol never change, icerose.
IceRose, He was reading R Kelly’s bad lyrics. It was a skit that Kimmel asked him to do so of course it’s cheeky.
Here’s me thinking Kimmel explained clearly where the lyrics came from and that the laughter and delivery clearly emphasised it was a joke.
Oh that’s right…it did.
Hey, I gave her the benefit of the doubt.
I’m far too cynical I think 😉
I have a feeling if it was another British actor that read it, Icerose would think it was amazing…it’s just a hunch.
Lindy, I have to agree with you, unfortunately.
Have you seen the latest Cumbercupcakes?
http://sodelightfully.tumblr.com/post/69082176629/cumbercupcake-the-epic-wink-and-our-reaction-lol
Oh my god those are fantastic. That chick is talented.
Those are amazing! And hilariously accurate!
Omg. Hilarious.
Of course I like to hear that the man is even more attractive in person as I am for some weird reason convinced that I will meet him. Looking forward to this. Just one thing, from someone who identifies with an intellectual urban European point of view. What is this cult about “masculinity“ exactly? I just love how he can be masculine, androgynous, alien and a dragon, and still the ageless starchild that he used to be from Thirtysomething up to Third Star etc. just reverse it and think about demanding of a complex personality that she has to be extra-feminine all the time and if she is not, you will not like her – you would say that this is just an old and stifling stereotype. The amazing thing about that glorious reading: it was a parody of a macho thing to end all macho things. That can only be done by a layered personality who can turn on the „masculinity thing“ and have complete distance from it at the same time. I am saying this as someone who does not see any sense in pimping him up as the hyper-masculine type when there are enough he-men hunks around already but rarely someone as complex and rich as he is.
‘I just love how he can be masculine, androgynous, alien and a dragon, and still the ageless starchild that he used to be from Thirtysomething up to Third Star’
Preach it, sister.
Americans have a bias against British men – they’re seen as a bit fey. Someone even made a joke about it at the BAFTA Britannia Awards, saying how Idris Elba had achieved the impossible in his career – he’s both British and masculine. It’s a cultural bias that comes from our shared history with England.
Personally, I’m a bit of an Anglophile, so serve up that tasty goodness and I’ll eat two helpings.
I am so sick of seeing this lizardman!! He’s everywhere.
+1000000000000000000000
And yet you bothered to click on this page just to tell us that. I see hundreds of articles on here about the Khardashians but I choose to ignore them rather than commenting and adding to the hits.
Isn’t it great that we are not all attracted to the same types of people and isn’t it great that most people respect that.
Funniest thing I have seen in awhile! And btw, I am an American living abroad who loathes the hyper-masculine attitude some men in the States have. It is gross to me and I will never date such a man. Probably why I have always wanted to date a British man! 😉