Freeform Announces Their 25 days of Christmas programming

Freeform  Christmas 

   Even with a name change ,the long tradition that started with Fox Family of 25 Days of Christmas continues and Freeform has announced their schedule.

Here it is :

Thursday, December 1
3:30PMET   Willy Wonka &The Chocolate Factory
6pmet            The Year  Without a Santa Claus
7:05pmet       National Lampoon's  Christmas Vacation
9:15pmet        The Santa Clause
11:20pmet    Tim Burton's  The Nightmare Before Christmas
12:55amet     Rudolph's Shiny  New Year

Friday, December 2
11AMET        Jack  Frost (1979)
12PMET        Willy Wonka &The Chocolate Factory
2:30PMET     The Year  Without a Santa Claus
3:35PMET      Tim Burton's  The Nightmare Before Christmas
5:10PMET       Disney's  A Christmas Carol
7:15PMET    The Santa Clause
9:20PMET      The Polar Express
11:25PMET   Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

Saturday , December 3
7AMET        Mickey's Once Upon a Christmas
8:30AMET  Mickey's Twice Upon a  Christmas
10AMET    Richie Rich's Christmas Wish
12pmet        Disney's  A Christmas Carol
2:05pmet     Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
4:40pmet      The Polar Express
6:45pmet       Arthur Christmas
8:50PMET     Elf
10:55PMET   The Holiday

Sunday, December 4
7AMET  'Twas the Night Before Christmas   (one time showing )
7:30AMET  Nestor , the Long-Eared  Christmas Donkey
8AMET   Richie Rich's Christmas Wish
10:05AMET  Rudolph and Frosty's Christmas in July
12:10PMET     I'll be Home for Christmas
4:30PMET      Santa Claus is Comin' to Town
5:35PMET     The Year Without a Santa Claus
6:40PMET      Elf
8:45PMET    National Lampoon's  Christmas Vacation
10:55PMET   Santa Claus is Comin' to Town

Monday, December 5
4PMET   The Year Without a Santa Claus
5PMET    Jingle All the Way
7PMET      National Lampoon's  Christmas Vacation
9PMET     Scrooged
12AMET   Snowglobe

Tuesday, December 6
5PMET  Scrooged
7PMET   The Polor Express
9PMET   The Santa Clause

Wednesday, December 7
5PMET  The Polar Express
7PMET   The Santa Clause
9PMET   Elf
12AMET  The 12 Dates of Christmas

Thursday, December 8
3PMET   Holiday Joy
5PMET   Deck the  Halls
7PMET  Elf
9PMET  Disney's A Christmas Carol
12AMET  Holiday in Handcuffs

Friday, December 9
11AMET   Frosty's Winter Wonderland
11:30AMET Holiday Joy
1:30PMET   Home Alone 3
3:35PMET     Santa Buddies : The Legend of  Santa Paws
5:40PMET    The Search for  Santa Paws
7:45PMET      Santa Paws 2: The Santa Pups
9:50PMET    Snow Buddies
11:55PMET    Rudolph and Frosty's Christmas in July


Saturday,  December 10
7AMET  Mickey's Christmas Carol
7:30amet  Santa Buddies : The Legend of  Santa Paws
9:30amet  The Search for  Santa Paws
11:35AMET  Santa Paws 2: The Santa Pups
1:40PMET   Snow Buddies
3:45PMET   Disney  Pixar's  Toy Story
5:45PMET    Toy Story 2
7:50PMET    Toy Story 3
10:20PMET   Toy Story : That Time Forgot
10:50PMET   Arthur Christmas
12:55AMET   The Year Without a Santa Claus

Sunday, December 11
7AMET       The Little Drummer  Boy
7:30AMET   Home Alone : The Holiday Heist
9:35AMET    A Dennis the Menace Christmas
11:40AMET   The Year Without A Santa Claus
12:45amet     Arthur Christmas
2:50PMET   Disney  Pixar's  Toy Story
4:50pmet    Toy Story 2
6:55PMET   Toy Story 3
9:25pmet    Disney Pixar's Toy Story That Time Forgot
9:55pmet    The Polar Express

Monday, December 12
5:30PMET  Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas
7PMET    The Polar Express
9PMET    Elf
12AMET  Christmas Cupid

Tuesday, December 13
3PMET    Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas
4:30pmet   Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory
7PMET    Elf
9PMET    National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation
12AMET    Three Days

Wednesday, December 14
3PMET  Home  Alone 3
5PMET   National Lampoon's  Christmas Vacation
7PMET   Arthur Christmas
9PMET    The Santa Clause
12AMET   Santa Baby

Thursday, December 15
7:30AMET  Holiday Joy
11AMET   Snow Buddies
1PMET   Home Alone 3
3PMET   A Dennis the Menace Christmas
5PMET   Arthur Christmas
7PMET   The Santa Clause
9PMET    The Search for Santa Paws
12AMET   Santa Baby 2 : Christmas Baby

Friday, December 16
7AMET  A Dennis the Meance Christmas
9:10AMET  Jack Frost
11:15AMET  The Search for Santa Paws
1:20PMET   Santa Paws 2 : The Santa Pups
3:25PMET    Home Alone : The Holidy  Heist
5:20PMET    Jingle All the Way
7:35PMET   National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation
9:45PMET    The Polar Express
11:55PMET    Disney's  A Christmas Carol

Saturday, December 17
7AMET   Rudolph's Shiny New Year
8AMET   Nestor , the Long-Eared Christmas Donkey
8:30amet    Jingle All the Way
10:30Amet  Happy Feet
1PMET    Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas
2:35PMET   The Polar Express
4:40PMET   National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation
6:50PMET  The Santa Clause
9PMET       Disney's Frozen
11:30pm   Charlie and the Chocolate Factory


Sunday, December 18
7AMET  Happy Feet
9:30AMET  Richie Rich's Christmas Wish
11:30AMET   Mickey's Christmas  Carol
12PMET   Tim Burton's The Night Before Christmas
1:35pmet  Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
4:10pmet     Disney's Prep and Landing
4:40pmet     Disney's Prep and  Landing : Naughty vs Nice
5:10pmet   The Santa Clause
7:20pmet    Disney's  Frozen
9:50pmet    Elf

Monday, December 19
7AMET  Mickey's Once Upon a Christmas
8:30AMET   A Dennis the Menace Christmas
10:30AMET   Richie Rich's Christmas Wish
12:35PMET  Home Alone 3
2:40PMET   The Search for Santa Paws
4:45Pmet    Santa Paws 2: The Santa Pups
6:50PMET    Elf
8:55PMET    National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation
12AMET   Just Friends

Tuesday, December 20
7AMET   The Search for Santa Paws
9:10AMet  Santa Paws 2: The Santa Pups
11:15AMET  Home Alone 3
1:25PMET   The Holiday
4:30PMET   Santa Claus is  Comin' to Town
5:35PMET    The Year Without a Santa Claus
6:40PMET   National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation
8:50PMET    The Santa Clause
12AMET    Holidaze

Wednesday, December 21
7AMET  Snow  Buddies
9AMET    Santa Buddies : The Legend of Santa Paws
11:05AMET  Happy Feet Two
1:10PMET   Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town
2:10PMET   The Year Without a Santa Claus
3:15PMET   The Polar Express
5:20PMET    Disney's Prep  and Landing
5:50PMET   Disney's Prep and Landing : Naughty Vs. Nice
6:20PMET   Toy Story  That Time Forgot
6:50PMET    The Santa Clause
8:55PMET   Elf
12AMET    The Mistle-tones

Thursday, December 22
7AMET  Happy Feet
9:30amet Happy Feet Two
11:30amet  The Little Drummer Boy
12pmet     The Polar Express
2:05pmet    Jack Frost
4:10PMET   Frosty's Winter Wonderland
4:40PMET   Toy Story  That Time Forgot
5:10PMET   Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas
6:45PMET   Elf
8:55pmet   Jingle All Way
12AMET  Disney's  A Christmas

Friday , December 23
7AMET  Frosty's Winter Wonderland
7:30AMET   Jack Frost  (1998)
11AMET  Richie Rich's Christmas Wish
1PMET   Jingle All the Way
3PMET     Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas
4:35PMET   Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town
5:40PMET   The Year Without a Santa Claus
6:45PMET    Disney's A Christmas Carol
8:50PMET   The Santa Clause
12AMET   Home Alone : The Holiday Heist

Christmas Eve
7AMET  Jack Frost  (1979)
8:05AMET   Mickey's Once Upon a Christmas
9:40AMET   Mickey's Twice Upon a Christmas
11:15AMET   Santa Claus is Comin' to Town
12:20PMET  The Year Without a Santa Claus
1:25PMET    Arthur Christmas
3:30PMET    The Polar Express
5:35pmet  The Santa Clause
7:40PMET   Elf
9:45PMET  National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation
11:55pmet   Scrooged

Christmas
7AMET  The Search for Santa Paws
9:10AMET  Santa Buddies : The Legend of  Santa Paws
11:20AMET   Arthur Christmas
1:25PMET   The Polar Express
3:30PMET  Santa Claus is Comin' to Town
4:35PMET  The Year without a Santa Claus
5:40PMET   Elf
7:45PMET  National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation
9:55PMET    Scrooged


press release after the jump

The Lookback : Jack O Lantern (from Rankin Bass)

Halloween The Flashback 

          One thing Halloween is known for is Jack O Lanterns , so of course we need a special about them, and the kings of Christmas, Rankin Bass, were the ones to do so. From their series of specials called  "Festival of Family Classics" , which featured many fairy tails and children's stories as animated specials did a special called "Jack O Lateran" and that is our Lookback.

      Two kids visit their grandpa and ask him to tell a story about Jack O' Lateran ,(well good job special right to the point) , so Grandpa tells the story of when he was a kid. (In my day , we had to ...)

Grandpa please tell us about the war/copyright Rankin Bass

His family was very poor trying to farm the land , that grandpa still lives on.  Michael (Grandfather's name) and Coleen , his sister want to help make the farm work..  Michael gets the idea to take a pumpkin and make a head for a scare crow.  (Also the animals talk , not the humans but you get the point)   The pumpkin starts talking (with an Irish accent, for some reason) because it's not a pumpkin it's a leprechaun named Jack O' Lantern. (what am I watching?)

Hmm farming is hard/copyright Rankin Bass 

fear me Children !/Copyright Rankin Bass 

     Jack tells the kids them that a witch, ghost, goblins, and a warlock are messing up their crops , not the crows, because they want the land. Jack says he will help them with their problem. Around (a very well lit ) midnight  the kids and Jack wait for the arrival of the mass of spooks.  Jack counters the witch's attacks.  The Witch sets the brush on fire and Jack counters that with a rain storm.(Water 1 Fire 0)  She later tries some frost  and Jack uses the midnight sun from the north pole (what?)  to get rid of the frost.  The Witch figures it out that it's Jack O'Lantern.  (Either that or Santa)

Not the happiest of couples/ copyright Rankin Bass

    The Witch decides to target the kids  to get Jack out of her way , as Jack hides the kids when starts her plan. The Witch's reluctant husband  takes the kids while Jack is distracted.  She reveals that she has Michael and Colleen captured, her goal is his pot of cold or the kids, so he accepts this and gets out of the pumpkin.  Billy the goat (don't ask)  rams the warlock into the barn wall and the cow gets them out of the ropes.  Jack gets back into his pumpkin and fights off the ghosts and the witch and warlock.

They get all tied up/ copyright Rankin Bass 

     Jack makes a deal with the kids , in return for a nice warm home  he will give them a nice well flourished land.  Michael  says ever since then Jack has stayed with the family at farm.  The two grand kids don't believe it , then Jack talks.

Classy dress nights/copyright Rankin Bass

   That's the special, now our review: It was a  wonderful special with some of the nice Rankin Bass specials animation. It does remind me of their "Twas the Night before Christmas" special in animation.  The story was interesting and simple but that doesn't hurt it,

That's the lookback , tune in next time when we search our pumpkins for Leprechauns , and their pot of gold. we aren't going to take it mind you.

The CW announces their Holiday Programming

The CW  Christmas 

mychiller Christmas 

   The CW has announced their holiday programming. 

Friday, November 25
8-9 p.m. Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer
9-10 p.m. Penn & Teller: Fool Us (Encore)

Monday, December 12
8-9 p.m. Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer (Encore)
9-10 p.m. Greatest Holiday Commercials Countdown 2016

Wednesday, December 14
8-9 p.m. The Top 12 Greatest Christmas Movies of All Time

Thursday, December 15
8-9:30 p.m. iHeartRadio Jingle Ball 2016
9:30-10 p.m. Whose Line Is It Anyway? (Encore)

Friday, December 16
8-10 p.m. The 85th Annual Hollywood Christmas Parade

Tuesday, December 20
8-9 p.m. Terry Crews Saves Christmas
9-10 p.m. Greatest Holiday Commercials Countdown 2016 (Encore)

Wednesday, December 21
8-9 p.m. Terry Crews Saves Christmas

Thursday, December 22
8-9 p.m. Terry Crews Saves Christmas

Friday, December 23
8-9 p.m. Terry Crews Saves Christmas
9-10 p.m. Terry Crews Saves Christmas

Monday, December 26
8-9:30 p.m. iHeartRadio Jingle Ball 2016 (Encore)
9:30-10 p.m. Whose Line Is It Anyway? (Encore)

Friday, December 30
8-10 p.m. iHeartRadio Music Festival – Night 1 (2016) (Encore)

Monday, January 2, 2017
8-10 p.m. iHeartRadio Music Festival – Night 2 (2016) (Encore)

ABC Announces their Thanksgving, Christmas, and New Year programming

ABC  Thanksgiving Christmas New Year 

Highlights:

•  "A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving"  will air Thanksgiving Eve , November 23rd at 8pmet; along with "This is America,Charlie Brown: Mayflower Voyages".  
•  "Santa Claus is Comin' to Town" will air The day after Thanksgiving, November 25th at 8pmet.  
•  "CMA Country Christmas" will air Monday, November 28th at  8pmet. 
• "A Charlie Brown Christmas" will air Thursday,  December 1st at 8pmet , 
• "Frozen" makes it's broadcast TV premiere, Sunday, December 11th at 8pmet 
• "I want a Dog For Christmas , Charlie Brown" will air Saturday, December 17th at 8pmet
• "Happy New Year , Charlie Brown" will Air Monday, December 26th at 8pmet; along with "She's Good Skate ,Charlie Brown". 
• "Rudolph's Shiny New Year" airs on December 26th at 9pmet. 
• "Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve with Ryan Seacrest 2017" airs at 8PMET-11pmet and 11:30pmet-2:13amet on December 31st. 
•  The Great  Christmas Light Fight" returns December 5th  airing Mondays at 8pmet in December 
• "The Great American Baking Show" airs Thursday December 1st at 9pmet-11pmet. 

 The full details in the press release after the jump:

Let's look at Frankenweenie (2012)

Halloween  

   Last year, I looked at the original  30 minute movie "Frankenweenie" that came out in the 1980's.  You can read that post here .

   In 2012,  Tim Burton got a chance again (well it was made before 2012 ) and got a chance to be a feature length film.  This remake is by the same guy so it's more like the first movie was his first draft and this was his another crack at it.

  First off visually , the film does the same thing the first did be presented in black and white , which is a nice touch, and really gives the movie  an atmosphere that  honestly would feel wrong in color. (Like the Munsters)  Unlike the first, this movie is stop motion presented instead of real humans.  The movie's music is great background and doesn't over power it.  

Second,  this remake  being a feature length movie means that it can flesh out it's story lines .  In the original they had to have everything done in  a little over 30 minutes,  (or it's free!) and that's not bad it made the story a simple one, not have to veer off it's main plot focus.   The first 20 minutes of the movie we get the characters backgrounds a little more fleshed out , and relationship of Victor and his dog .Sparky.  Of course, the main event where Sparky is hit by a car happens at the end of the first 15 minutes.   This leads to the whole reason for the naming of this movie , where  Victor  Frankenstein brings his dog back to life.  


Third, the original movie being 30 minutes , as I stated, really had the one single form plot agenda , The A,B,C A: Sparky is killed B, Sparky brought back to life and the events that happen surrounding C. the Climax and end.    In the remake movie there was a chance to add more characters and more subplots.  There's a science fair plot and the results of people finding out that Victor can bring  dead animals back  to life is  little different than the original. Spoilers here:  The added plotline is with the science fair some other kids ,who want to win, find out from  Edgar , a classmate of Victor's , tells them that Victor brought his dog back to life , they want to figure out how, and this causes the big problem int his movie where other kids reanimate animals and cause monsters.

copyright Disney

    Victor , like in the first movie, is interested in film making and science, it's more expressed that he has a joy of science in this movie.  For a movie like this , it's also nice to see where the kid is not having a bully problem or people being jerks to him because reasons , it was also keeping with the original's style, where they didn't have enough time for him to have any of that.
Victor's parents in this movie are very supportive of their son and foster his love of science. His father does seem to want him to do other things , but also doesn't try to force him  to give up science. When they find out about Sparky, like in the first movie , they are shocked and  a little apprehensive  but accept Sparky.  In this movie when they find out about Sparky , he runs away , they go out and help find him.
     They did keep Elsa Van Helsing  name from the first movie in this one, but she was more fleshed out as a character here , where again in the original , due to time , was more just background , when  needed. She  lives with her uncle, like the first movie , who is neighbor of the Frankensteins . She is nice and cares about Victor, and her uncle makes her miserable.  She also has a poodle, that Sparky has dog crush on.
  Edgar , is supposed to remind us of the classic character Igor , spoiler:  his main point for the story was to pretty much  accidentally reveal that Victor  re animated Sparky , so the other kids could re animate some animals that become monsters.

Mr. Rzykruski , is the science teacher the Victor is inspired by and he is very eccentric , but genuinely loves science and wants his students to  be creative. Though this gets him fired because two kids were inspired they were doing something on the roof of their house and apparently that means teacher should be fired. (editorialized last part)

  A very memorable character without  a name , she is a spooky girl that who thinks that her cat , Mr.Whiskers can give predictions. 

  I am not going through all the characters , most of them where there to drive the plot along, though I did point out Edgar. 

Spoiler:   The climax of the movie veers from the first , where Victor when looking for Sparky is now trying to stop these monsters that the other kids created by reanimating creatures.  The other part, the town's people chasing Sparky , like in the first movie. The reason why is a little different and the same, It's the same because they think Sparky is a monster ,though with seeing the other creatures they might in the right  , at least in theory. In the original, the townspeople were chasing the dog because they thought he was a monster  and misjudging the fact the dog was still the same just undead,where they learn their lesson when they help bring Sparky back to life again.  Both movies have this windmill scene where Victor ends up in one, and it's accidentally set on fire by the mob.  In this movie, Elsa is in the windmill , but Victor saves her. Sparky goes to save Victor  while he's fighting this monster and is knocked unconscious , Sparky saves his life.  Sparky is dragged inside by the cat bat ,that was formerly the weird girl's cat. After the windmill breaks down ,once again Sparky is dead.  We do get the get the jump-start scene again where the town works together to bring back Sparky. 

    I think this is a good movie,  nice and spooky and it was a nice to  expand upon the 30 minute original while keeping the story the same. The animation is wonderful and love that went with black and white like the original.  They didn't do any unnecessary padding/filler and everything paced well.   

Freeform Announces their Countdown to 25 Days of Christmas schedule

Freeform Christmas 

        As promised, even though ABC Family has rebranded they are keeping their old programming blocks around , like the annual Countdown to 25 days of Christmas programming, this year it starts on Thanksgiving Day , November 24th.
New movies include :"The Odd Life of Timothy Green" (network tv premiere) ,"Boxtrolls (network premiere) , and "Cinderella Story: If the Shoe Fits".

Thursday, November 24
11:30AMET  Charlie and The Chocolate Factor
2:05 PMET   Disney's Mulan
4:10PMET  Disney/ Pixar's  Brave
6:20PMET    Toy Story
8:20PMET       Toy Story 2
10:30PMET   Toy Story of Terror!
12AMET  Dennis the Menace (1993)


Friday, November 25
11:30AMET   Little Rascals (1994)
1:40PMET   The Odd Life of Timothy Green (Freeform Premiere)
4:10PMET    Toy Story
6:10PMET   Toy Story 2
8:20pmet    Toy Story of Terror!
8:50PMET     Despicable Me
12AMET        Happy Feet 2

Saturday, November 26
7AMET    The  Odd Life of Timothy Green
9:30AMET  Happy Feet 2
11:30AMET  Another Cinderella Story
1:30PMET    Matilda
3:55PMET   The Boxtrolls (Freeform Premiere)
5:40PMET  Despicable Me
7:45PMET   Tangled
9:55PMET    Wreck-It-Ralph
12AMET      Tooth Fairy

Sunday, November 27th
7AMET   Another Cinderella Story
9:10AMET  Tooth Fairy
11:15AMET  Matilda
1:25PMET  The Boxtrolls
3:35PMET  Wreck-It Ralph
5:45PMET  Tangled
8PMET   Cinderella Story: If the Shoe Fits (Network TV Premire)
10PMET   Disney's Snow White

Monday, November 28th
5:30PMET   Fred Claus
8PMET   The Holiday (Freefrom Premiere)
12AMET    Scrooged

Tuesday, November 29th
5PMET  The Holiday
12AMET  Jingle All the Way

Wednesday, November 30th
7pmet   Jingle All the Way
9PMET  National Lampoon's  Christmas Vacation
12PMET  Deck the Halls


We will have the 25 Days of Christmas schedule when that is released

The Lookback : Our newest Hero, Dracula

The Flashback   Halloween 

          It wouldn't be Halloween with out Dracula (though honestly, I want a Dracula Christmas special) and so there's a Halloween special , that we found that is about Dracula and Halloween. It's called " The Halloween that Almost wasn't" or " The Night Dracula Saved the World" , which I think is much cooler title. It came out in 1979 and first aired on ABC. It starred Judd Hirsh, who you may know from the 1989 sitcom , "Dear John", or more famously  "Taxi".  So let's lookback (boo ...no sorry I am not being a ghost I am booing that )

       Dracula and Igor (who apparently keeps getting hired away from Dr. Frankenstin in these movies)  see a news report that Count Dracula  has called all the other monsters of the world (well  that universe is indeed dusturbing) and this confirms a rumor that Halloween is going away. (Judging from the title  it almost  wasn't,)  Dracula is perturbed by this.  There is a family watching in Transylvania (what? they have great schools)  and they also hear the news that Halloween could be gone soon.  The parents explain to their kids , and I guess indirectly us the audience (Yeah  you are being watched!)  about how old is Halloween, why their are jack-o-laterns , why people get dressed up.  Dracula is un happy that they are suggesting that he wants to end Halloween  ,because he wouldn't do that because that's his "National Holiday".
                 

"Really good tax rate, as well" 

   The other monsters start to appear at Dracula's  , like a wolfman , Herman Munster ...ok kidding Frankenstein's monster , the king of the living dead who is a zombie (ok then ) , a mummy (not sure which one ) ,and a witch played by Mariette Hartley. Dracula makes his grand appearance to tell the monsters that they aren't scary anymore. (To be fair , the Mummy stopped being scary when it was going so slow)   He wants to be their "horrible selves" or be replaced.  The Witch  says that she quits. Her reason is that she is tired of being a witch, the jokes ,tired of not being loved  (awwww) and tired of Dracula, it was her who started the rumor about Dracula's Halloween ending plan.  The Witch has a list of demands that she wants ole' Drac to  follow.

"I want better health coverage , Dracula" 

   

     The Witch wants to be an all the marketing (well that's a thing, what universe is this?) , to be sweet to be the other monsters and be sweet to them, become co-leader of the monster world. Dracula says no and she leaves.  Dracula turns into a bat to talk to her , but she tells him that he will be dead because of the sun. (his one weakness)   The next night, the monsters are watching the news  who apparently  has been watching this movie too says that unless the witch flies past the moon tonight, there's no Halloween anymore.  (Wait why? , what ? how? Ummm  why place so much power in a witch for a holiday? uhhh what?)  The monsters and Dracula go to the witch and capture her. Dracula wants to have a chat with her but she  makes the three musketeers appear   from her painting (well that's a thing).  Igor takes her broom (I hope she doesn't have  a spare) she's in a room and Dracula is trying to get in, and Igor needs to whisper next time, because everyone can hear him.  Dracula  turns into a tiny bat  and sneaks into the room ,but since she heard the plan she was ready to chase him out.
       

 It's Dracula!!!!

      The next plan is to send Igor to try the window route, but these guys don't understand  the idea of whispering their plans to make sure she can't hear them. Dracula gives into her demands , including disco dancing. (aww the 70's) The Witch changes her mind , she says she doesn't want to be a witch anymore because she wants to be loved. Well then a random kid appears at her door (what I am watching?) and begs to her please don't make Halloween to get canceled. It's the kids from the family we saw and they are really there.  She opens the door and kids tell her that they love her. (gets these onions out of here) The Witch agrees to do her ride .(yay!)
     

Hmm that moon looks fake ....

    Since it's the 1970's the special ends with Disco dancing ... with Dracula and the witch. The other monsters are dancing there too.
                                    
                                                       Dance Dance away !

     That's the special, it did give me some genuine  laughs  and it had some great timing, and  the acting for Dracula was great. It's a nice special to watch with the family and ends with disco, so I was pleasantly surprised.  
That's the lookback tune in next time when  Herman Munster and  Sabrina the Teenage witch offer demands to Dracula for better parking.

You can watch it here  (look for parts 2 and 3)

The Lookback: The Flintstones Meet Rockula and Frankenstone

The Flashback

       October has Halloween in it , so  of course we are looking at Halloween or something related to Halloween , specials. That brings us to the Flintstones, our favorite pre-historic family,  and a special that first aired on NBC in 1979 , and repeated later in the 90's on Cartoon Network and Boomerang , that is our lookback.

    Fred and Wilma are going on  TV game show  called "Make a Deal or Don't" (the most passive aggressive title in TV history) in costume (somebody at H&B liked 'Let's Make Deal')  Barney and Betty are also going.   At the game show Monty Marble  picks Barney to  play. The Offer is trade in $1,000 for what ever behind the curtain. (OZ?) After Betty yells keep the money, he decides to keep the money, Fred is annoyed at that.  Monty called Fred up  he gives Fred  $1,000 (that's it I am leaving)  or the choice what is behind the curtain ,and he picks what is behind the curtain, and that would be a free trip for 2 to  Rocksylvania (the confusing thing is that Pennsylvania or Transylvania because what?)  where they get to spend it at the home of Count Rockula. (hey title drop)  Monty Marble lets Barney choose again , if he turns in the $1,000 him and the wife can go to Rocksyvania too. (That's how games shows work? Or plot device time!)  Betty says take it , and Wilma does too. Barney takes the deal.  (Though, I do wonder why the host is so willing to give away trip)

Looks Romantic to me .../copyright Hanna and Barbera

     The Rubbles and Flintstones are in Rockyslvaina , which looks creepy and spooky. (and positively oooky)  Igor picks them up and on the way he talks about how Count Rockula was scared of werewolves so he was working in his lab on to make a Frankenstone's monster. (Well that's a plan)  Though Igor might be putting on act.  At the hotel there's a costume party which will go all night long (all night).  Fred and Barney find a secret passage slide that takes them to a laboratory , as they get out of there lighting strikes some whatever those things are , and powers up a Frankenstone (we are using the special's term) and it starts to wake up and growl. (He's not an evening person)  The creature goes to a secret passage to a casket to wake up Rockula, who has been alseep for 500 years. (He had gotten a new sleep number coffin or he was dead tired )  Rockula hears the party and the music and decides to check it out.
       

      I wake up looking this good/ copyright Hanna and Barbera

       Count Rockula and Frankenstone miss Fred and Barney because  they were going to sleep, and they are see the party and the count yells at them to leave his house at once. (Get off my Castle , darn kids and their parties)  Count Rockula turns into a bat and starts to terrorize the party  and everyone starts to leave. Count Rockula and Frankenstone check if anyone is still left around (we know that the Flintstones and Rubbles are still there). Fred notices it's too quiet ,but Wilma thinks nothing of it and goes back to sleep.  Rockula does check the room that  he made for his bride and this is the room that Fred and Wilma were using and he sees Wilma thinking it's his bride.  Fred goes  to see if the food is still there from the party and Barney is there too.  Rockula wakes up Wilma and she thinks it's the hotel manager (because he was wearing the costume of count Rockula)  and he takes her away.

 You are too un dead for me/Copyright Hanna and Barbera

     Fred notices that Wilma is missing  so he and Betty go searching for her , while she is with Count Rockula and not very happy.  Count Rockula turns into a bat to prove that he is not the manager and she tells him that she's not his bride. Rockula decides he must make her , his bride anyway and she she tells him she's married. He says that it's illegal to Marry a woman who is already married (well then that's a comment) so he wants to make her a widow. (gasp) Wilma escapes and out runs them so they have to search for her.   Rockula and Frankenstone catch up to  Fred, Betty, and Barney and out run them.  The trio finds Wilma and she tells them that Count Rockula wants Fred dead. (ha rhyme) Luckily a werewolf  mask falls on Barney and this scares Count Rockula.
 

                                        That is quite scary/ copyright Hanna and  Barbera

      The four of them escape ,but Rockula turns into a bat and catches up to them and stops them at the gate, Wilma has Barney fake being a rooster to scare him to think that the sun was coming up so Rockula flies back to his casket. (whimp)  The train shows up and they make it back home  (well that was an ending?)  But wait we have about 4 minutes of run time so... something is going to happen?  Yep, Count Rockula followed them in bat form (still a wimp) and surprises Wilma in the kitchen. Rockula pleads that she should be his wife ,and says that he will have servants to wait on her hand and foot and a nice fancy place to live. (take the deal! , what? Don't look at us like that)   Rockula offers to build a castle in Bedrock. Wilma says she will consider when he says her word will be his command. (she took the deal!) Then her conditions are : to stop sleeping all day, and other things he should do, this makes the count leave. (I see what her plan was )  It ends all happy with a Yabba Dabba do!
   
That's the special : Well it's not scary but it's the Flintstones so I guess it won't be it is quite pacey for a  46 minute special it doesn't drag.  It has some funny moments , and love the breaking 4th wall moments of Wilma and Frankenstone.  It's a great play off the Dracula and Frankenstein's Monster characters and  they are great characters.  It's a great watch you can find it on DVD  in the Flintstones:Prime-time specials collection -Volume 1, which also includes a few other specials.

 That's the lookback , tune in next time when the Flinstones meet Scooby and the Gang and learn to take off Count Rockula's mask.




   

List of 10 : Ten Great Former Soap Opera Themes or Intros

Soaps    List of 10 

   We have looked at a lot of Soaps here on Joshuaonline , this time we thought we do a rarity for this site a List.  Since the list  has the word great  in it, that means it's  mostly subjective  so your results may very in agreement. Though if you have a favorite you can tell us .  For this list  we have decided to do soaps that are no longer running , and American Soaps.  We may do later lists of UK soap intros and of ones that are still running. We may have included one primetime , American soap in here too because they are rarer and you'll see.   Let's get started.

10. Dark Shadows   

We've written about this soap before , it's the most interesting thing . The soap is about vampires and other supernatural things  so it's theme really fits , it has the  dark haunting feel to it. I can compare the  sound it makes to ghosts. It does have a feel to it that makes it stand out. 

9. Passions 

   For a Soap that did it's own thing  and could get dark  even supernatural ...the theme song really could throw you off.    The theme song is called  "Breathe" By  Jane French , it is really a great theme and deserved that daytime Emmy.

   here is the full theme 

8.  All  My Children  (Early 90's theme) 

This one was a hard one because this show has a lot of Themes that I love , but in the frame of this top ten list this is the one that goes into the list.  The Drum and piano bring into the theme then the sax takes care of the rest. I love the mixture it fit All My Children Well.

7. Guiding Light  (1975 theme/intro ) 

    This one is light and simple , it feels like  a summer afternoon which is something  of an interesting affect for a  a Theme song. The Intro around this time is short and sweet. It's the sun coming  through some tree leaves and branches.
 
    I chose the closing for the featured video because it's longer  , you can see the intro here .

6.As The World Turns (1990's Theme) 

    As The World Turns  themes seemed to be the classiest themes I've heard in a soap  , this was a harder choice but I feel the 1990's theme has a simpleness to it ,yet a grandeur which is a lot to say for a soap theme. It's not long  in the intro but it does it's job and feels so well done. 

      
     That it's I am calling that number.  I chose the ending credits, glad I found one without the annoying voice over ,gosh networks shut up sometimes.   Here is an intro from the same period 

    

5.Ryan's Hope

   This is  a soap we have covered in a Lookback .   "Ryan's Hope" Theme is a happy  and optimistic sounding theme it may  even through you off  from the what comes after it ,which could be happy or not. The theme really captures you into the show.
  As the note the theme didn't change really through the show's history , but the opens did the open I picked was from 1980 and even the images of New York seem happy and optimistic it fits the music well.

                           

4. The Edge of  Night 

        We have covered this soap before  in a lookback , but theme , well the more famous theme is interesting one. It has a spooky haunting sound with an ominous feel too it.  For a crime and mystery soap the theme fits very well.   

   

                           For a bonus here is the theme with words to it .     If I were to  put this seperate it would be on this list as it's own the Jazzy disco version is amazing. Here 

3.  Sunset Beach (First theme) 

      We've written about Sunset Beach here before . It's theme is amazing , it has a great melodrama sound . It really gets you ready for the soap , the intro itself doesn't do much  just showing you the faces of who is on the show , so the music really brings the flare.
 
                      

2.   One Life To Live  (Mid 80's theme) 

     This one is also my favorite  themes of One Life to  Live , the music is upbeat and lively (maybe the pun was intended) It's a catchy one , It gets stuck in my head where it can at any point randomly just  pop in my head and I hum it.

                             
               Also the closing credits  of course have more you listen to that here 

Now there is more after the Jump including my  number 1 pick.