The Disney Channel

It started out as a sort of family channel, airing programing that everyone could relate to and enjoy. Now, it seems just for kids and teenagers—-which is why I feel old now—-at just 26!

Yeah, thanks for selling out, Disney! You don’t even pay respects to your animation anymore, and have closed down your animation schools! Disney himself was probably rolling in his grave over that! The channel has changed so much, I don’t even bother with it now! There’s no reason for it to even bare the Disney name! It should be honest about its transformation and just get renamed. Cause the channel that exists today IS NOT what the disney channel was meant to be!

A branding lesson un-learned---from Nick at Nite

I remember when Nick at Nite was all about classic, safe TV. It prided itself on being unrealistic but sweet—-an often black and white safe haven from the stresses of reality.

And, I must say that its branding and slogans, etc. was really genius. Cause it got even kids interested in often corny b&w TV. Cause Nick at Nite had a way (with it’s fun adverts and branding) of making those shows seem cool. I was able to watch shows on Nick at Nite that I’m not even interested in seeing now. And, that was the genius of the old channel. It was as though just being on Nick at Nite made the show better! That’s why it’s sad that they didn’t stick with what they were founded for.

Clinton (TV documentary, 2012)

Oh my gosh! The first half of the  Clinton (TV 2012) documentary on PBS was freaking AMAZING! And MOVING! And INSPIRING!! Say what you want, but I like the fella! “Let he who is without sin cast the first stone.”
—-♥ Bill Clinton and his rock, Hilary Clinton!” Verdict on the 2nd and final part of the Clinton (TV 2012) documentary: Fan-freakin’tastic! Just as moving as the first (albeit with a tragic tinge to it). Yes, he’s highly sexed, yes, he denied it, yes, he’s flawed. But, there’s another thing he is too, and that’s a man who deeply loves this country and it’s people. And I love him for it!

He was a romantic, who took the statement “Make love, not war” a little too literally, but if I have to chose between leaving his private affairs between he and the women in his his life—-EVEN IF IT MEANS HE’S IN THE WRONG, I’d choose that over a venomous, gridlocking, vengeful scandal, any day! The man spent 2 years just trying to survive hateful attacks! Who knows what he could have accomplished, if he didn’t have to keep answering to his heartless enemies, every step of the way! And, he still left office with the gov. in better shape than it had been—-in 4 decades!! So, is Clinton a great husband? Maybe not. But, was he a great (not perfect) president? Heck yeah! So, the whole scandle was stupid, no matter how you feel about adultery. If is so-called more vertuous enemies really gave a darn about the country, they would have backed off…for the greater good. But, no, they had to spew hate all over the place! And, it only succeeded in shaking up the country and hurting our image in the word. But, I ask his enemies this: what harm would it have done just to leave it a private matter? NONE! At least then, the world could have gone on smiling just a little longer. I mean, if you want to call it a fairy-tale, then, okay. But, if it makes a better world to glamorize the president, then, why not?

William Jefferson “Bill” Clinton and Hilary Clinton, you’ve got a friend in me. And, Linda Tripp, Newt Gingrich, Ken Starr, etc., you all may have been right about a lot of things, but I WILL NEVER forgive you, for being back-stabbers. Trouble makers have no place in a peaceful, good world. Scandal should only be exposed for the greater good, not at the expense of it!!

The mixed-blessing of Ted Turner's colorization of films...

In a way, I am so thankful for Ted Turner! B/c before he started colorizing b&w films, in the 1980s, people didn’t seem to have a care in the world about film preservation. But, suddenly, here comes this man (who’s intentions were essentially noble but reasoning was flawed) who has these very touchy plans, and suddenly, people cared. Shortly after, the National Film Preservation Act was passed by Congress—-which was AMAZING! In short, this:   led to… This: …which led to This: (a film preservation guide) Now, isn’t that wonderful?!

I certainly hope that the Act includes a clause about the horrid practice of pan and scan (i.e. “this film has been modified to fit your TV) because even though our new wide-screen TVs have made the practice relatively outdated, it doesn’t change the fact that some films can now only be viewed in that butchered condition—-like the highly under-appreciated Perfect (1985), for example.

To me, cutting off up to 40 % of a film’s picture is just as bad if not worse than colorizing! Maybe someone should come along and publicly threaten to do that to all films—-then, you’ll see what you’ve been missing…up to 40% of the picture!

I used to like VHS, but after I discovered that almost all films on home-video have been “modified” I can’t wait to trash my whole collection in favor of the better, “un-cut” DVDs.

The charm of the TCM brand

I’m not sure why… but I really don’t like watching black and white movies online (on Netflix, I only want to watch color!) but take those same films and put them on Turner Classic Movies: TCM, and I’ll probably enjoy them immensely. Sometimes, I’m just ridiculous!

Lets Make Love (1960)

Oddly enough, I think that Marilyn Monroe was at her most stunning just before her death. Saw her 1960 film, “Lets Make Love” last night… Her movies have never been my favorites, but there’s just no denying that “wow” factor that only increased the older she got… makes you wonder…

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Gb2AJN4YL0?wmode=transparent&autohide=1&egm=0&hd=1&iv_load_policy=3&modestbranding=1&rel=0&showinfo=0&showsearch=0&w=500&h=375]

Slightly eerie and hauntingly beautiful song song by Dame Julie Andrews, with music by the late, great Henry Mancini (who’s musical jewls include the famous 1962 “Moon River” as-well as the Pink Panther theme and many others…).

This is the theme from Julie’s widely panned movie, “Darling Lili”. Just saw it for the first time, last night. And, it’s really not so bad (though the best thing about the film may be this song—-which says something…). And, if you’re at all interested in WWI and the legend of Mata Hari, you might want too give it a watch—-turns out, this film is a (confusing!) spin on the life of stripper-spy, Mata Hari! I know, pretty weird, right? But, clever, nonetheless.

(Source: http://www.youtube.com/)