Can a ten-year-old plot and discontinued TV show about four New York bachelor girls find true happiness in a 2008 movie remake? The producers would like to think so and they're willing to gamble that fans of Sex and the City will be willing to spend millions of dollars to see their favorite show on the big screen. An even more interesting question—can fifty-two year old Kim Cattrall, aka Samantha Jones continue to carry off the role designed for her thirteen years ago as a man eating nymphomaniac? Then again she does look good an evening gown.
The typical Hollywood public relations mill is willing to put a lot of money into press parties and media events, etc. to pump up interest in what would be considered a rehash of the TV's Golden Girls that aired in 1985. You don't look a gift horse in the mouth, at least one the could bring you a tidy return on your investment or can you beat a dead horse to the finish line? My apologies to any inferred reference to Barbaro or Eight Belles.
Dedicated Sex and the City fans will love it, accountants will spend countless hours tallying up the results and make up artists will more than earn their keep. Making those four stars look years younger should earn this movie an Oscar as well as a walk on part at the Society of American Magicians' annual meeting. Readers, can you say abra-cadabera?
K.
Showing posts with label Celebrities. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Celebrities. Show all posts
Sunday, June 1, 2008
Sunday, January 6, 2008
Remember When We had TV Writers?
When I first moved into my house, the neighbor across the street was on strike; he worked for 3M Vinyl Coatings Division that made walnut style coatings used in automotive manufacturing. While he was on strike, the company decided it was not going to cope with a strike and put money into renovating an outdated facility, closed its doors forever. Nobody really won in that stalemate.
On August 3, 1981 nearly 74% of the 17,500 Air Traffic Controllers walked off the job. President Reagan responded with an ultimatum to return back to work within 48 hours or face termination. 1,200 controllers crossed the lines and went back to work. The results were: non-striking workers, supervisors and military personnel helped out with reduce airline traffic. Within a few months, the flying public found 80% of the amenities were back to normal. By October of that year the Federal Labor Relations Board decertified the union. The union had lost its battle with the government, its entire dues paying membership and millions of dollars in fines.
The Writers' Guild of America strike began November 5, 2007. Dire forecasts predicting loss of good television never materialized. The longest WGA strike to date was for five months during 1988. Television produces not wishing to become overly dependant on writers began to develop some interesting "reality" styled programs. Among them have been "Cops," "Court TV" and my favorite "Chases on the Los Angles Freeway."
Then came "Style Court," "Judge Wapner" and "Judge Judy" staring Judith Sheindlin, former supervising family court judge in Manhattan, NY. Judge Judy's famous un-scripted remark was "no point talking about how best to approach the problem (of needle exchange) since the solution is simple. Give them dirty needles, and let them die. I don't understand why we think it's important to keep them alive."
Of course we still have "Oprah" and "Doctor Phil" and the game shows, which are all un-scripted, all popular. Among the Reality shows were "The Bachelor," "The Bachelorette" and the "Real World" series. And then there are the reruns, err Syndication and then syndication of reruns where we can watch the good old days.
Writers Guild of America members, stay home, or keep picketing, who cares; maybe you will become one of those lost bygone features of ancient television. I'm having too much fun watching YouTube.
K.
On August 3, 1981 nearly 74% of the 17,500 Air Traffic Controllers walked off the job. President Reagan responded with an ultimatum to return back to work within 48 hours or face termination. 1,200 controllers crossed the lines and went back to work. The results were: non-striking workers, supervisors and military personnel helped out with reduce airline traffic. Within a few months, the flying public found 80% of the amenities were back to normal. By October of that year the Federal Labor Relations Board decertified the union. The union had lost its battle with the government, its entire dues paying membership and millions of dollars in fines.
The Writers' Guild of America strike began November 5, 2007. Dire forecasts predicting loss of good television never materialized. The longest WGA strike to date was for five months during 1988. Television produces not wishing to become overly dependant on writers began to develop some interesting "reality" styled programs. Among them have been "Cops," "Court TV" and my favorite "Chases on the Los Angles Freeway."
Then came "Style Court," "Judge Wapner" and "Judge Judy" staring Judith Sheindlin, former supervising family court judge in Manhattan, NY. Judge Judy's famous un-scripted remark was "no point talking about how best to approach the problem (of needle exchange) since the solution is simple. Give them dirty needles, and let them die. I don't understand why we think it's important to keep them alive."
Of course we still have "Oprah" and "Doctor Phil" and the game shows, which are all un-scripted, all popular. Among the Reality shows were "The Bachelor," "The Bachelorette" and the "Real World" series. And then there are the reruns, err Syndication and then syndication of reruns where we can watch the good old days.
Writers Guild of America members, stay home, or keep picketing, who cares; maybe you will become one of those lost bygone features of ancient television. I'm having too much fun watching YouTube.
K.
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
"I've always wanted to have a neighbor just like you." Fred Rogers
Question Number 27--Do you think Mr. Rogers really was a pervert or do you think he just really liked kids?
Obviously the author of this blog questionnaire has absolutely no knowledge of The Reverend Frederick McFeely "Fred" Rogers or they would have never included it in their survey. One item most people didn't know is that Mr. Rogers was an ordained Presbyterian minister. Beginning in 1954 and continuing for the next eight years Mr. Rogers left his WQED TV studio during his lunch breaks to study theology at the nearby Pittsburgh Theological Seminary.
Some people found it difficult to believe that the gentle, soft-spoken host of "Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood" was exactly what he seemed, but he was. There were a lot of false stories about Fred Rogers:
. He had 42 confirmed sniper kills (in Korea?).
. He served three tours of duty in Vietnam as a sniper and was credited with kills in excess of 1500 meters.
. He was the number three Marine sniper in Vietnam. One of the reasons he always wore long sleeve clothing is because his arms were covered in tattoos.
. He was a master in small arms and hand-to-hand combat, able to disarm or kill in a heartbeat.
After graduating from Rollins College in Florida with a degree in music in 1951, he immediately embarked on a broadcasting career—a career that continued uninterrupted for nearly 50 years, even while he studied for a Bachelor of Divinity degree, eventually becoming an ordained minister in 1962. This is far from hiding a secret past as a trained killer.
Here is an anecdote that appeared in TV Guide. "Apparently, Mr. Rogers had been driving the same car for years, an old second-hand Impala. It was stolen from its parking spot near the WQED studio. Rogers filed a police report, the story was picked up by local news outlets, and general shock swept across town. Within 48 hours, the car was back in the spot where he left it, along with a note saying, 'If we'd known it was yours, we never would have taken it!' "
Fred Rogers was a truly gentle soul who devoted his entire adult life to educating and bettering the lives of children, and this is the manner in which he should be remembered.
K.
Obviously the author of this blog questionnaire has absolutely no knowledge of The Reverend Frederick McFeely "Fred" Rogers or they would have never included it in their survey. One item most people didn't know is that Mr. Rogers was an ordained Presbyterian minister. Beginning in 1954 and continuing for the next eight years Mr. Rogers left his WQED TV studio during his lunch breaks to study theology at the nearby Pittsburgh Theological Seminary.
Some people found it difficult to believe that the gentle, soft-spoken host of "Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood" was exactly what he seemed, but he was. There were a lot of false stories about Fred Rogers:
. He had 42 confirmed sniper kills (in Korea?).
. He served three tours of duty in Vietnam as a sniper and was credited with kills in excess of 1500 meters.
. He was the number three Marine sniper in Vietnam. One of the reasons he always wore long sleeve clothing is because his arms were covered in tattoos.
. He was a master in small arms and hand-to-hand combat, able to disarm or kill in a heartbeat.
After graduating from Rollins College in Florida with a degree in music in 1951, he immediately embarked on a broadcasting career—a career that continued uninterrupted for nearly 50 years, even while he studied for a Bachelor of Divinity degree, eventually becoming an ordained minister in 1962. This is far from hiding a secret past as a trained killer.
Here is an anecdote that appeared in TV Guide. "Apparently, Mr. Rogers had been driving the same car for years, an old second-hand Impala. It was stolen from its parking spot near the WQED studio. Rogers filed a police report, the story was picked up by local news outlets, and general shock swept across town. Within 48 hours, the car was back in the spot where he left it, along with a note saying, 'If we'd known it was yours, we never would have taken it!' "
Fred Rogers was a truly gentle soul who devoted his entire adult life to educating and bettering the lives of children, and this is the manner in which he should be remembered.
K.
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