DCOM Goes to Boogie Wonderland (Don't Look Under the Bed)

Disney  Halloween 

              Don't Look Under the Bed  is another older Disney Channel original movie. It premiered on Disney Channel on October 9, 1999. There's a fun note of this being a TV-PG original movie, instead of the typical TV-G on Disney Channel, because it was scary. This is also when PG meant something.   

         The movie was directed by Kenneth Johnson who also created "The Bionic Woman", "The Incredible Hulk" TV show , produced shows like the TV version of "Alien Nation"  and worked in films, he also directed the first "Zenon" movie. 

            The movie starts with narration by main character Frances Bacon McCausland (someone was having fun, right Ferdinand Magellan Jones?) she lives in a town called  Middleberg which is supposed to be like a normal boring town you see in movies and think of with America. But guess what? It's not! (I hope nothing spooky happens) 

             Frances is the middle child of her family and everyone seems to waking up early because the clocks for some reason say it's 7:23am, but it's 4:23am.   In fact everyone's clocks were wrong, which is strange. There are dogs on the roof. Frances is starting high school a year early, that's important.  Anyway, she sees a guy sitting on a rock, one of those  other people can't see people things going on.  The missing eggs thing comes into play as eggs are being dropped on one car.  The guy also shows up a few times make us wonder who he is.

When Disney Channel chose to rerun the movie 3am/ Copyright Disney 

            Frances is able to see him and he's surprised.  I like how this movie uses it's camera angles to really make you feel confused and disoriented. It's also holding the tension well as we don't see much of the creature that's doing the strange things around the town. There's also the mystery of the other guy who it is.  I don't know why the dad looks one step from murdering his family, the town, and then taking out himself, it's kind of strange. Then there seems to be things that make it look like Frances is behind the strangeness. 

I don't know why you screenshotted this. There's no one there, Frances! / Copyright Disney 

        The story is forcing Frances' character who is grounded in science and in logic to have to accept strangeness and the lack of logic. It's taking its time well to build up the tension and does it well. Finally, Frances is able to talk to the guy that's been hanging around.  His name is Larry Houdini.  He's played by Ty Hodges who would later play Larry Beale on Even Stevens.  [Strange he played a guy named Larry in two different Disney things] He's a good contrast to Frances as he's wild and silly, and says he's an imaginary friend. He says the one that's doing all the strange things is the Boogieman, which she finds really outlandish. 

        The real horror of this movie is people accusing her for stuff she didn't do and thinking she's losing her sanity. It does bug me when a character figured out that no one can see someone still tries to show people, try a new strategy. Larry says he's sent there to help her.  Odd Barry Manilow joke. Her mother was called in and they just drop a line that her younger brother, Darwin, had cancer but is in remission. (He got off lucky, in other Disney movies he'd be dead or their mom would be dead, or everyone is dead) 

         

Would be more interesting if the kids were actually the adults imginary friends/ Copyright Disney

        

            I love how this movie feels like a horror film in theory.   The mom thinking that mind control is a reason why strange things are happening is not something you'd expect.   Darwin mentions something about the boogieman and says a guy named Larry told some kids.  There's a lot of jump scares in this too as we get monster build up.   It's also interesting that young children can  see him, but Darwin can't. (hmm, I wonder)  I also like that Larry acts like a kid at times since he is a childhood imaginary friend. 

 

       Also, I'm once again asking Frances that if no one can see and hear him then stop thinking people will hear him. There's also a parallel of a the young children listening to the Peter Pan story and talking about believing in something.  That's right movie, I see what you are doing.  I don't know the librarian is mad, she doesn't know that the library put on a story for kids that also has interaction in it? 

I don't know why these kids are so happy, there's no one there/ Copyright Disney

        In this movie called "Don't Look Under the Bed" Frances goes to look under her bed. I think the creepy doll moving her head is a bad sign.  Larry jump scare.  Darwin comes into the room to for the movie to do a lost your marbles misdirection statement joke.  This is where Larry and Frances figure out that, that younger boy can't see him.  Frances says he doesn't believe in things like imaginary friends, then Larry turns scary after she says that she's the reason Darwin doesn't believe in him.  Frances says that she was helping him.  Then Larry asks why didn't she give Darwin some of her bone marrow , as earlier it was said that the older brother, and Larry leaves. Like, I said the cancer thing came up. 

         The movie was doing a good job of doing the "Jaws" thing of making sure we don't see the monster.   The boogieman is putting Christmas lights up?  This is a Christmas movie. (Change the labels)   Then we see him, he's dressed in Victorian style. I like his design, I can see how this is movie is seen as scary by kids or people who were kids when they saw it.  

Let us thou boogie/ Copyright Disney 

    Boogie makes the power go out  except at the house here where he turns on the Christmas lights because uhhhhhh reasons?   The house has ended up on the newspaper. It's funny because somehow the paper had the time to do this story as their front page news, the TV news is there too, and the story is about the house being the only one with power, so who's watching that?  Also, the dad is one step from snapping and killing everyone on Earth and then himself.   

This is  Christmas movie then/ Copyright Disney 

          Larry was Darwin's old imaginary friend and Larry says that Darwin still needed him. Interesting. Keep that note.  The movie shifts to back and white for a Frankenstein homage. Larry's nails are getting long  like a boogie man. (hmmm)  There's also a misdirection bust joke, I see what you are doing movie. The school phycologist is over at the house for a family dinner and probably because the dad thinks his daughter is losing her mind.  Larry is making boogie goo at the wrong time because of course he is. The mother finds out and explains she's concerned about Frances.  Frances wonders if there's something wrong with Larry.  He's turning into a boogieman.

I don't feel so un boogie/ copyright Disney 

            Frances finds out that if a child stops believing in an imaginary friend too early then they turn into a boogieman.  He's looking very boogie. (I'm scared)  There are shots in the movie that are one step removed from being a slasher film.  Under the bed in Frances' room is glowing as something grabs Darwin.  One step from being a slasher film, indeed.  Darwin is under the bed, he's in the boogie world, which is different than boogie wonderland. (and way different than Funky Town) 

            I do like how Larry is concerned about Darwin even as he changes is amazing, I love that touch.  I think it's ironic that this movie was actually not liked by some parents groups for being too scary, when one of the messages of the movie is that people get scared and that fear should be confronted. She tries to go Boogie World, but we get a father jump scare and thankfully her story made him leave to give her time to go the the world. 

            She ends up what would be a cool screen saver on Windows 95.   I like how it looks it's kind of like a dreamscape with a sense no logic and random assortments of whatever. It's good contrast to the more normal world of Frances, though her world isn't that much normal, and her sense of wanting logic. She is able to find her bother and oh it's the boogie man.  Larry is turning into one even more. I love their designs.  Frances convinces Darwin to believe in Larry the movie does some of that Peter Pan stuff and gets Larry to turn back to normal.  He's missing most of this fun though. 

                Larry and the boogieman fight each other and fight is kind of silly, there's a man with pointy nails fighting a man with a big pen for a moment.   Frances uses jumper cables attached to the boogie man's nails and we get a fake out of him being defeated. She tells him she's not afraid of him anymore.  Then we get a twist that this boggieman was also her imaginary friend named Zoey.  They make it back home and the boogie man is back to her woman non scary form. 

We boogied too hard/ copyright Disney 

             The parents apologize to  Frances for thinking she was doing the strange things and there's apparently a town called Centerville. (I'm not moving there)  Frances explains that she gave up on Zoey when Darwin got sick and that's why Zoey was turning.  Larry and Zoey both go to Centerville to help fix the problem there, which would be a good spinoff series. Where's that?  Frances finds out that she won't see Larry and Zoey anymore because it's not her time anymore.  Also a kiss, they really went hard on the Peter Pan allegory.  It ends with a nice scene with Darwin and Frances.  

             This is the only Disney Channel movie to end with Boogie Wonderland.  

            I can see why this movie would be scary to children  and it has some feelings of the real TV PG and rated PG movies when that meant something. I'm not sure if I would have been scared of it, but I can see how.  This movie has some good layers to it. The main idea I saw was that it was about letting fear not be in control.  Frances, rightfully, felt fear for her little brother when he had cancer and her best way to push aside her fear was  to help her brother not be in fear. There's also a slight message of letting time hit right, not try to grow up too fast.  There was the idea that she and Darwin tried to push away childhood things too early. 

           The movie has interesting shots and a look to it, I liked how it made everything feel a little off kilter.  It's also a movie that doesn't seem to waste anything that it brings up, though you could say if there's one thing it doesn't use much is Frances being moved a grade up. I think the only thing that fits with that into the story is the concept of Frances trying to be mature or more disconnected from childhood things in awkward times, but that's only tangential.  

              I do like how the movie knew to use quiet moments as effective and it was used.  The other parts of the movie is that it's mostly Frances point of view, so we don't really know much about how Darwin was effected by having cancer and he's well and seems to be alright by the time this movie happens. I think there was way too much Frances doesn't believe that Larry is real or that other people can't see him, where even if she's trying logic it, there's a point and point earlier that she would accepted it more.  I'm also a little lost on the whole thing about Frances feeling bad about not being able to give marrow but her older brother was, it's brought up twice and it's kind of random. They slightly try to tie it to her fears at the time, but yeah. 

                 It's a good movie, but it does have some pieces that kind of feel a little lost or had good ideas not explored. I did enjoy it, there was some fun charm to it and some moments felt almost slasher and horror like.  

         That it's for now, tune in next time when we come up from the bed to scare you. 

So Weird: Drive

Disney  So Weird 

           This time in "So Weird" I jump into the second episode of season two. The concept of a car being alive isn't new and was also a book and movie, plus a non-Christine related thing in an episode of "The Twilight Zone" and the sitcom "My Mother the Car" where Dick Van Dyke's brother's character buys an old car that happens to be his dead mother who came back as a car.  

               So the episode we are looking at today called "Drive" has something do to with that idea.   There's a man he hears a noise at night and decides to get up with baseball bat and hope they aren't a random pitcher ready with a ball. (Or a guy with a gun) He sees a car , A For d Mustang, and it seems to be moving by itself hitting the garage door.  The man pulls the keys and nothing happens. I feel like I have been baited by a TV show.  If this was any other show that car would have killed that man. 

I'm part actual mustang / Copyright Disney 

             Back to the characters,  Jack and Clu tell Molly , Jack's Mom, that they have money to buy a [used] car.   I wonder what car that could be....  Season 2 of "So Weird" has a difference where the group is on the road less as Molly is busy recording. This anchored the show more to a location, seems this is a thing in many shows that start with traveling. I thought  I mention that here.  Anyway back to the episode. I wonder what car, hey it's a blue Mustang.  That man wants to sell it, but he wonders if he should, but agrees to the money.  

People always sell their cars in robes right? right? / Copyright Disney 

            Molly is right to be worried about Jack driving a car, but not for the reasons she's thinking.  He's trying to get ready for his test and the car seems to be doing some strange things. Fi notices that the turn signal lever by itself, and it moves by itself.  Fi wonders about the car as she always thinks the strange things are strange out of the realm. She goes to talk to the man who sold the car.  

This doesn't say anything about the car being alive/ copyright Disney

         The man explains that he worked hard on the car, it was a wreck when he bought it.  He doesn't mention the whole moving by itself thing.  Jack doesn't want to hear anything about and he's very tense.  Fi talks to her mom to help with figuring out the car's history. They find out it was in an accident a man died in a crash he was taking his wife to hospital because of a heart attack.   She looks up on the internet and talks to Clu and notices that the car started acting strange around the hospital route. The idea is the car feels guilty feels about not making the trip.   

I do feel guilty, that was truly Chevy behavior / Copyright Disney 

         Hey the show seems to be taking place in Colorado, neat!   Jack is on his driver's test and the poor guy is tense. He also doesn't know he's a in a possessed car.  The car messes with Jack's test as it has decided to take over the driving. (In "So Weird" car drives you) Fiona ends up as she rides with Clu to tell Jack to let the car drive itself.   It stops at the hospital where it seems to be the final goal the car wanted to make in the first place. 

Me at the end of episode/ Copyright Disney 

             Jack did fail his test, sadly. But Fiona says that the car feels better now.  There's also the background that Clu is leaving for college soon.  Which will be a season set up thing for a while. 

            I think it's interesting the episode didn't take the creepier approach with the car. I think "Goosebumps" or  "Are You Afraid of the Dark" , or especially "The Haunting Hour" would have gone for the creepier approach. I like the idea of the car being guilty because the brakes being broken and killing a man and his wife because of that and wants to complete the mission to atone.  I think it would have been slightly better if the car ended up helping someone who needed to go the hospital, instead. Like Jack and Clu had to help a pregnant woman [Children's show, so something that's not gruesome] to get there and the car drives itself there, it'd be kind of a full circle thing helping bring life in the world.  It went for a slightly comedic thing with goofy things making a driving instructor question his life decisions.    

             The episode is pretty fun and I did enjoy it.  The episode was lighter than expected , especially for the season known as the darker season. It did play with the expectation like the car not being evil and/or possessed by like the original driver or something. Jack's story fit in well  as it was about him trying to reach this milestone with some worry, and fitting with his mom's worries too, after her husband died in a car accident.  

        That's it for now, tune in next time, when a Chevy drives us into a levy. 

                

The Jungle Book : 2016 Edition

Disney 

             The strangest thing I find about Disney doing remakes of their animated films, but in live-action is that it seems more unnecessary in a different way. Many of the stories Disney uses aren't their own. They add their own things to them, but they didn't overtly create them.  That's actually what public domain's amazing existence is for. Disney added their own touches to these stories to make them memorable.  So to me, Disney can , and actually in the case of "The Jungle Book"  make a second/third etc. movie based off a public domain story not having to tie into their original animated movie.  I think that would have softened the blow on some of the reactions to some of the remakes, they shouldn't have been remakes.  

A Good Disney Remake: Pete's Dragon (2016)

Disney  

    

        Sadly, this is an evergreen part of the post, though I wish it wasn't The Disney remake. Specifically, Disney has taken an animated movie and decided to remake it in live-action form and whatever 2019 The Lion King was.

         I could write about how a remake was bad, like totally bad, but that probably has been done and also be like beating a dead goat. (what?)  I'd like this blog to do things that stand out somewhat, just because. This time, I'm making the case for a good Disney remake. Funny enough, it's not a remake of an animated film turned live-action. It's a remake of a live-action/ animation hybrid into live action/animation hybrid. (Though, I'm here for a Disney live-action turned into animation remake)  

         Pete's Dragon is a 1977 Disney movie that seemed to take a long time for Disney to even think about putting together in concept in the first place.  It's not a bad film either, that's also me having a soft spot for 1970's Disney live-action movies in general. (Like Freaky Friday) This film is pretty fun and a charming musical. It also has Helen Reddy so yes, The original movie did make money, but it didn't seem to be big in the Disney canon. It is kind of a surprise they wanted to remake it, but they did. 

Pete's Dragon 1977 /Copyright Disney 

         In 2013, Disney announced they were going remake this movie. There was going to be some differences to the original film. One thing, it wasn't going to be a musical - Disney, minus Disney Channel, wasn't into the whole musical thing, and we really don't get musicals in theatrical movies anymore. (Though, yes, Disney did take High School Musical and put a film version in theaters with the third film) This is kind of a remake in the sense that the title was taken and there's a boy named Pete and there is a dragon, but all the rest was going to different , making a new story.  That's interesting.  

       The movie  is written by David Lowery and Toby Halbrooks. Lowery also directed. The duo worked on indie films. Sometimes even together. Funny enough, Lowery had been asked to work on remakes before, but turned them down, but something made him want to jump at  the chance. Disney seemed to want make a remake but in mostly name only. The movie changes from it's original, beyond not being a musical, by having the movie not take place pre-depression era or in New England. Instead, it's the Pacific Northwest and maybe the 70's or 80's but leaving space to not feel hooked to a time.  There still would be Pete and a dragon (duh).   (Source) 

           To note on that, I'm big remake person, in general. There can be ways or something that can hook me into one, but that's something that has to work for me. The concept of it being something different from the original is something interesting. That also makes it hard because that can also be something that can be a turn off , so even that depends. Though, I do have to note that doesn't take away the original existence - unless they somehow wipe it out. (odd statement) 

         Pete's Dragon, the remake, came out in 2016.  Which is also interesting that's the same year The Jungle Book remake came out.  Disney was going for some theme. That one came out first, just like how Jungle Book came out before Pete's Dragon. (Time is a  cube)  I will not be doing any comparisons to the 1977 film  because that'd be unnecessary, but I will remark on surface similarities- like having a boy named Pete. (duh) 

           The movie starts and you can already tell, something bad is going to happen. It's parents in a station wagon with their young boy, Pete, and yeah oh no no. (Might as well just stick a sign on the screen the yelling THIS IS GOING TO NOT GO WELL, THERE WILL BE DEATH)  Pete, who is 5, in this starter is learning to read and is reading a book about a puppy named Elliot. (I'm going  to mention that someone on Wikipedia thinks the movie starts in 1977, which would be a good touch and a fun Easter egg)  Remember that. 

What a wonderful day to be alive, I hope nothing makes us not alive soon/ Copyright Disney 

            Having writers who worked in indie films before this, can be seen in the core of the film. Actually, if you strip away the Disney logo at the start, it wouldn't feel out of place to think of it not as a Disney film. The movie starts quiet and gentle as it builds up to the bad thing that's going to happen and start the story.  

         Pete asks his parents what 'adventure' is (alright, there is a part of this movie that's being too on the nose, calm down).  Anyway, Bambi gets revenge, a deer runs in front  of their station wagon and that apparently causes them to swerve to death. (I'd hope a Live-action Bambi movie, would have Bambi going on a revenge mission and takes out people in their cars) Three things: 1) Cutting to the deer as it seems to be watching in delight of it's murder is something, 2) 70's station wagon crash kills parents, but young boy in only a lap belt, because 1970's car is alive, 3) I'm going to assume Pete knows what death is. Just going to assume that. 

"Yeah I killed them, I'll kill again," /Copyright Disney 

        This movie was filmed New Zealand, instead of the actual Pacific Northwest, the actor for young Pete was Levi Alexander who is from New Zealand.  Being filmed in New Zealand but not in PNW is not a knock against the movie, just found that an interesting tidbit. 

           Anyway, little Pete is then surrounded by wolves. (Hey Wolves, don't eat the boy, there's a deer I need you to talk too). I would say the wolves seem a little to excited to want to eat a human boy there, like one licked its chops. The cinematography for the movie is good, it's well done.  This part is dark, because it's almost night and dark because well there's danger right there as Pete could possibly die. The only thing that might take away from the urgency is that it's called Pete's Dragon and that probably means he's not going to be wolf food at like 4 minutes in.  (unless... [don't you start]) 

            

It was from that day, Pete swore his revenge on deer / Copyright Disney 

            In speaking of Pete's Dragon, the dragon shows up and scares off the wolves.  (Hey we got Pete and the dragon in under 5 minutes, good work!)  I like Pete's question to the dragon, asking it if it was going to eat him, expecting an answer.  He didn't ask the wolves that, but I guess they made their intentions clearer.

         The original film, the dragon was animated like an animated movie at the time, but put into live action. Since this modern times, we have technology.  So yes, computer generated dragon. Which to bring up "The Jungle Book" 2016 that movie also was using computer animals as it was all animated except of Mogwai and you can see Disney is working some tech here, that would probably lead into a 2019 film of some Lion sort thing going on.  Also fuzzy dragon. I like the idea of it being fuzzy, it's different, and kind of gives him a more friendly vibe that fits for a movie where the dragon won't be wiping out Seattle. (You can read the reason why he's fuzzy here and that's good reason)  

I ate that deer for you, let's be friends/ Copyright Disney 

           The part where the dragon [I'm holding off on using his name to remark on it later] stretches out it's paw? paw? for Pete to get on in a trust moment was nice too.  Let's see we got Pete, and the dragon so roll the title card. (I was wondering what movie this was) 

            The movie skips ahead six years.  That's where you can join us after the jump. 

DCOM Does Sequel To Horse Film but on an Island: Jumping Ship

Disney The Lookback 

      

            Previously. I wrote about the 1999 Disney Channel Original Movie, Horse Sense, which starred Andy Lawrence and  his brother, Joey, as cousins.  That movie did really well to the point Disney Channel wanted to do a sequel.  Though, that movie really had seemed to wrap things up, pretty well. This is the days when movies- especially TV movies- don't expect sequels as part of the game.  Disney had a lot of the youngest Lawrence brother, he was the voice of TJ on Recess, was in the 2000 DCOM, I covered -The Other Me  - and he'd do another DCOM later.  I'll get to the rest of the cast, in a few. 

                Back to the sequel element. The idea of a sequel to Horse Sense is kind of hard to think about except Andy and Joey Lawrence. Joey's character, Michael Woods, went through character development in the movie, as one would expect, so the worry here would be the 2nd movie would ruin some of that because 2nd movie.  

                Jumping Ship first aired on Disney Channel on August 17, 2001. That date will also be important for something else soon. play attention.  Also, look how quickly that turnaround is, the last movie was out in November 1999. (wow) 

Hello, we're calling about your horse warranty/ Copyright Disney 

            How does this movie start? With Montana, horses, Andy's character of Tommy, just to remind you that is Horse Sense 2.   It also shows that Michael has grown a bit in character and is "farming" in his backyard... by the pool. (As you do)  Also, thanks to Tommy's mother talking to Michael on the phone we know they are going Australia. (Random)  Michael tells Tommy that's going to charter a private yacht to during their trip.  I'm happy that this movie hasn't reset Michael's character just for sake of 2nd movie. It does show that he's not good with spending money still, which is a good way have a conflict and not have it be the problem from first movie. His father tells him he's spending money he doesn't have and tells him he has to pay him back and he has to find a job or he'll have to work with his Dad- as a file clerk. 

Son, I'm going to have to sue you / Copyright Diseny

            There also seems to be a new conflict for Tommy, since the ranch was saved, he doesn't want this neighbor guy to like his mother and she kind of likes him too, and doesn't want to be part of this, because doesn't want a new Dad.  

               Michael and Tommy are now on an island as they are on vacation. This movie gives you the Lawrence Brothers doing a great job and makes an enjoyable performance. A lady runs into Michael on purpose and she steals his wallet without him noticing because plot. The duo get to be on a nice boat, oops wrong boat.  Oh the woman meets up with a guy on a yacht and he looks through the wallet.  So if Michael wasn't so showy three people wouldn't want to be after him now. (there's a moral here, somewhere) 

Good thing he didn't notice me stealing his wallet, that I'm holding out here for everyone to see / Copyright Disney 

            The duo find their boat and guess what? You thought this movie would only have two Lawrence brothers, well, you were WRONG.  (ooh I'm sad now) That's right. Matthew Lawrence, the middle brother between Joey and Andy shows up as a character named Jake Hunter.  Which is funny. You see, in later seasons of Boy Meets World , Lawrence played Jack Hunter a character who was Shan  Hunter's half brother on that series.  The other fun part is Boy Meets World , ended it's run 1 year before this movie aired, but reruns were on Disney Channel.   One Boy Meets World's production companies was: Touchstone Television, which was owned by Disney.  It's fun. Fun fact 2: this movie was filmed in Australia for real.  

More after the jump 

Weekendering: The Weekenders: Season 4: Episode 5: Tino's Dad

The Weekenders  Disney 

                                          Episode 5: Tino's Dad 

Series Finale 

     So it has come to this, the final episode of the entire series.  "The Weekenders" started on ABC on February 26, 2000 and ended after 39 half hours on February 29, 2004, on Toon Disney.  Yeah, season 4 really is that short only 5 half hours with 3 of them having 2 segments, 1 full length Halloween episode and this one.

        As part of the end, I think it's fitting to run with a thread that appeared a few times in the series- Tino's Dad.  Tino's Dad is coming for the weekend and there's the set up of conflict where Tino's dad has planned the entire weekend, but Tino wishes that his dad and him could just do stuff together without other people.

            There's also a plot where the group wants to watch a comedy show but the price of tickets are big money. That means they are going to get jobs. Tino's not going to tell his dad how he just to spend time with him so going to rush Saturday with that list and try to do his own things on Sunday. The other three are going to do some work to get money for the tickets. 

            The pizza shop seems to have become way more unhinged this season, was the stress getting to the poor guy? Is he alright? Help? It's alright to cry buddy.  

        There's a Tino's Mom and Tino moment now, she hasn't seen the man in eight-years either and is nervous.  Now, we the viewer get out first ever image of his Dad. Well he has... well Tino got his hair. Tino is more sun tanned because he's in California.  Tino's Dad also fears bugs. We all shall fear bugs, we are the open for our day of reasoning soon, the bugs will rise up, huh what? Sorry. His Dad is also apparently a clean freak, so I think there's one sign of why they got divorced. 

         So far, I think it's interesting to see how they portray T-Dad , yeah I'm tired of writing that out,  because we don't know much about him. I do like the  the mom and dad are amicable with other -not forced- but they have a respect for each other.  

                Carver and Lor help clean up an attic and Mrs. Weems is still there to help them while living her memories with the objects. She was also just messing with them and that's great!   Tish has gone to tutor Carver's little brother, and another kid that she didn't know about before! 

More after the jump 

Weekendering: The Weekenders: Season 4: Episode 4: Laundry Day/ Penny McQuarrie

The Weekenders Disney 

Previously,  You are listing to the best radio station the station that ROCKS [here] 

Episode 4a: Laundry Day 

        Lor wants her friends to help her with laundry day, as part of her every six months she has to do it, it takes 2 days. They really don't like the idea of helping because this is a strenuous job.  She asks maybe they could help her get out of it.  Lor thinks the best idea is take them to a laundromat and leave them there to get clean while she wonders off. This is not the best plan. 

        Tish is worried, very worried, and Lor said what could do wrong? Something will go wrong.  Tish keeps yelling at Lor that she's asking for trouble, and Lor keeps saying it's alright.( Run Tish Run for home. ) Something went wrong, the Laundromat has closed.  Then the next day, the group comes over again and Lor finds out that she should read all the terms and conditions. If you don't watch your loads, stuff gets donated. 

         They have to go to the Helpers Helping The Help-less rummage sale. Uh oh, the plot says some clothes have sold.  Tish is just having too much power fun in this episode, it's kind of funny. Anyway then the episode goes Yada Yada and we see that Lor has to do work for Mrs. Dawong at HHTH, Lor had to tell her Dad about what happened, so something happened here.  Her brothers did get some random clothes, I guess something happened here.  

         Yeah the ending just decides its tired of itself and skips on to Lor learning a lesson. While I do think we were robbed of a fun clothes hunting around the town journey , I guess I have to admire they went for a realistic idea of oops things didn't go very well sometimes.  Especially since it was Lor should have really watched her family's stuff in the first place type of thing.  Tish was also a highlight in the episode as much as she kept warning  was funny.  The random pizza ninja moment and the piggy bank funeral just were funny and just of nowhere. Maybe that's why they yada'd the ending there.  It's a fun episode though, and a better outing for Lor than one where she's trying to impress Thompson , for another time.   7.3/10. 

Weekendering: The Weekenders: Season 4: Episode 3: Radio Free Carver/Dinner Party

  The Weekenders   Disney 

Previously,  Lor decides to write a will, and leaves you nothing [Here] 

Episode 3a: Radio Free Carver 

            The episode skips right into Sunday,  did we use the wrong tape?  I'm scared.  The pizza shop is also a little confused  and Carver seems excited about being a radio jock on KQXR radio.  Which is funny since that's actual radio station in Boise that also happened to play rock, like Carver says this station does. I'm still lost though. He gets to go on the radio every Sunday and talk. (Why not this Sunday?) 

        Also if you are liking something Tino's mom cooked, don't ask what it is.  It's time for Carver's radio appearance. He was confident until he had to actually radio and then it goes  bad.  We get a Next Friday, ooh different. Carver has been avoiding his friends all week. (Nice of him to bump into them when we see him again) Also odd how other kids make fun of him also this many days later. Sometimes the show's format does kind of have weak points. Carver is really down. 

            Of course the friends have come in to help him. They try different ideas to help him. This goes as well expected. He decides he wants to quit. He meets the radio DJ who knows that he's going to quit.  He tells him about a guy named Rudy who messed up and quit and maybe he should try again and practice.  He gets his chance to try again and it worked. 

         A simple idea. This episode starting on Sunday then going to the next Friday was something different for the show, but they also showed  a weakness the format has.  That doesn't take away from the episode itself. I like Carver stories because they can take his personality and show how his over confidence can be his un doing.   

          It's a good episode that works simple and gives good moments 7/10. 

More after the jump

Weekendering : The Weekenders: Season 4: Episode 2: Brain Dead/ Lor's Will

The Weekenders  Disney 

           Before I start the season, I've already kind of did. The first episode of season 4 was "Nevermore" a Halloween themed episode, and I've written about that episode around a Halloween.  (Here) 

      Let's get to season 4.  The series seemed to be on the move through its time it started on ABC then with season 3 it ran on UPN.  Season 3 ended on December 2, 2001.  Things had happened by this point outside of this show.  Disney had decided to purchase Fox Family Worldwide, which included Fox Kids, the Fox Kids block was set to end in 2002, along with that  Disney decided that One Saturday Morning  on ABC was no longer their main draw. They were premiering new shows and now even new cartoons on Disney Channel instead.  It was rebranded as ABC Kids in fall 2002.  ABC Kids did premiere a new series that feels like they had a contract and couldn't change the spot, that would be Filmore [also a good show]  This show was running on UPN. The  Disney One Too block name was dropped and became no named block, but UPN was almost done too.  Disney decided to move  The Weekenders  to Toon Disney, which probably was they were done with it and wanted to burn it off.  It's not even Disney Channel. 

        The final season only has 5 half hours and they seemed to take forever to air it as "Nevermore" aired in 2002, and the rest of the episodes -minus the final episode- in late 2003, then the finale in 2004.  This means this show has  39 half hours.  We are on the journey of the final season. 

 Basic premise of the show in case you want to jump into season 4 without reading about seasons 1,2 and 3  is 4 friends hanging out and doing things on the weekend. The show mostly takes place from Friday afternoon to Sunday night. The episodes are about middle schoolers named Tino Tonitini, Lor McQuarrie, Carver Descartes, and Tish Katsufrakis who hang out and life lessons on the best days of kid life.


The episodes are mostly self contained, but may call back to the past things if they want to. So, now let's dip into season 4.  

Episode 2a: Brian Dead 

            Tish has gotten a B in her grades. (It's over, there's no hope, turn around)  She seems to have accepted it and taken it pretty well. The teacher is even concerned. The others don't seem to be taking it well. This is kind of different to see her not be all be annoyed by this.  They are worried that Tish will lose her characteristic. (The show has become self aware run, run run!)  Even the parents mention they all have a trait.  

           Thanks to a dream she starts to worry about if she's not "the brain" what she would be. ( Pinky?)    The next day she works on finding a new thing.  Bluke has all the jokes here. The panel seems to agree that Tish should be the exotic foreigner. Ooh. I think don't think she likes this idea. (Never ask a panel or hinge your thoughts from a guy who made one of  his answers "Hello, I am Bluke") 

            Her parents like the look, but knows that she hates the look.  Her parents decide to help her and tell her a story about her test as a 3-day alive baby. We get to see Tish annoy a doctor. The test  said she was the dumbest baby in the world and said her name should be Goosh. That's some test there.  They took her home and found she was smart and changed her Petratishconvnya [spelling] which means girl with one nose. She gets what they mean from the story that they didn't want her to be known for one thing (except having one nose, apparently). 

            She goes back to normal. She tells her friends that she's going to be herself.  She then tells her friends they are all more than one thing. 

    Pretty good episode, I like how it's not Tish going and being worried about her grade for the episode. It's focused on the idea of being known for one thing and letting other characteristics be hidden or pushed aside. It's also layered where the show works that way too. The main group has their characteristics and the show never let one characteristic take out another. Including Tish who is very smart, but also has interests beyond academics, she loves arts, she sometimes gets caught up in herself, and more. 

         It's a good message and it's an entertaining episode.   8/10.   

More after the jump 

Weekendering: The Weekenders: Season 3: Episode 12: Croquembouche/Imperfection

The Weekenders  Disney 

Previously,  Tino's unperfected Step Father Test doesn't work [Here] 

Episode 12a: Croquembouche 

            This episode has a name you'd hear on Martha Stewart's 90's show, that's  Croquembouche pronounced like croak- am- boo-ssh. [Also glad that spell check knows this word]  Which is French cake.  They are in a foods of the world competition, first price is free admission to every museum in their town for year. (Interesting prize)  Tino wants to give the oral presentation but the others want to choose someone in a system of voting. (Weak)  Then Carver wins. I don't think Tino is very happy.  Tino's mom figured it out pretty quickly. (She's read ahead again) 

        Tino also finds out they don't want to do a Napoleon theme either.  Unhinged losing his mind Tino is fun Tino.  The next day, after Tino stormed away the other three are feeling down with out him. I think he psyopsed them.  Meanwhile, Tino is down too and doesn't want to go. Dixon comes in because now Tino gets double teamed. (I'm scared) Dixon also finds away to make Tino see things differently.  He does it in a scary way too wow! 

        I think Bluke is confused. Anyway, it's competition time for the gang, but not yet for them to present.  Ruby was  before them and put on an amazing report and  Carver is now nervous. Tino shows up and now they want Tino to do the presentation, but Tino does a pep talk for Carver and encourages him to do it.  

        We didn't find out if they won. Well that's sad.   Episode was fun. Again, unhinged Tino is fun, I don't care what anyone thinks it's just fun when he's unhinged.  Dixon and his Mom both proving their power is too much in a well done way.  It even makes sense why the others would pick  Carver he have a big confidence in himself and the idea that Tino gets in his mind they were turning against him fits his character too.  Fun episode. 7.5/10.  

More after the Jump 

Weekendering: The Weekenders: Season 3: Episode 11: Clown/Testing Dixon

The Weekenders Disney 

       Previously, Tish is a star for a few minutes [here]  

   Episode 11a: Clown 

             

            Tino is a afraid of clowns, especially even more thanks to a movie. He's not doing to well  and his friends are trying to figure out how to help. Even the pizza shop has decided to join the theme of the episode. Even the mall had deiced, also lot of Tino rolling going on this episode. 

        This episode is weird.  Whilst Tino has held himself up in his room, the friends try to figure out how his fear of clown started and she mentions that he was kissed by his aunt who has a clown like appearance. This episode is weird.  They decide the best idea is to have Tino go to clown school to help him get over his fear of clowns. The idea of exposing yourself to the think you fear to get over the fear. (Don't try this with death or the oddly specific fear of being eaten by 28 rabbits)  We also find out that Lor is afraid of cauliflower. 

            Tino agrees in a surprise, and the friends have decided to also join him, but he says needs to fight this on his own. The others find other classes that fit circus fun. Tino gets a clown name of Scream-o.  There's a strange moment where it seems Tino goes into some weird clown trip out.  The next day, the other three have somehow stopped their circus classes and apparently Tino has embraced clowning.  

      He says he can live with clowns, but hasn't fully gotten over his fears.  Then it's over.

            That's a good ending where it shows something different where he's not totally over his fear but has at least contained it a bit, that's a nice reaction for something that happens over a very short time, in this show's format. 

         This episode also seems to just go for it's plot dropping the viewer into it then showing him being in fear and some running gags. The part with the clown school doesn't come into nearly 7.5 minutes (without theme song) into the episode. So we do miss out on seeing how the three did just cutting to them saying they all failed.  

          Though the idea of showing Tino being afraid of clowns and really going far with that does seem to be longer than needed to get the point, it wasn't a un-fun episode though. It had some funny moments, like Tino sticking his head out of the bus window and the friends rolling him, etc.    7/10 

Weekendering: The Weekenders: Season 3: Episode 10: Celebrity

The Weekenders Disney 

    Previously,  I have an experiment and if you didn't read the last episodes this your chance [here] 

   

Episode 10:  Celebrity 

        This episode is a two-parter, interesting. Also, we used to be a real country where you could bonk your TV when a problem happened. The gang is watching an episode of the in universe favorite show Teen Canyon. Tish introduces this episode and takes us back two months to an episode of the show being taped in their town.  They were watching it happen and also funny that the actor forces the people on the show to figure out a reason why he has his shirt off, he really wants people to see his abs. 

    They need a kid for the show and they have chosen  Tish.  I'm going to assume a show production couldn't just grab a random kid to be in their show without some paper work or something, but I guess we need to hurry up a bit. I also like that Carver is annoyed that Tish was called cute one. (we Tino fans were robbed)   Tish didn't really say anything and they dubbed over her with some weird  speech, I'm sure that's how kids talk, they say "ever so" right? right? (I don't know)  Carver is ever so not jealous. 

           Then back to the present and they've watched the episode.  Tish starts to get phone calls where other kids have seen the show and other people who ask if she can do something for them. Tish starts to think of herself as a star. Hmm I wonder if it will get to her head? That's usually how these things go. The next day, small town so the press is following Tish around because small town.  An old lady asks Tish to sign her teeth,  and the Pizza place has gone Tish themed. Tish is feeling overwhelmed.  She's even gotten her own TV show special about her. (Things need to calm down) 

            So this episode could have easily just got Tish getting a big ego because of the fame , but they went a different route and probably something better with Carver than him just seething for the whole thing.  He tells her that she's being a celebrity wrong. Like being nice (and following people on Twitter?)  and he says he going to teach her how to be one. Lor and Tino have seen the script already and know things are going to go wrong.  

Weekendering: The Weekenders: Season 3: Episode 9: The Tao of Bluke/An Experimental Weekend

The Weekenders Disney 

        Previously, Lor needs a Tutor, but we learned something instead [Here]  

Episode 9a: The Tao of Bluke 

            This episode decides to jump right into Saturday (can they do that?) and also Bluke is hanging out with the group (can they do that?).  The first minute of this episode is already winning by how it's going.  Tino can't catch us up on what's going on so he brings an a professional announcer , voiced by Jeff Bennett, to catch us up to speed. Then the episode rewinds to Friday. (Can they do that?) The group was at helpers helping the helpless to win a prize of a pool table.  They have to find 7 clues (Blue's Clues?) and bring them back and that will help them win.  Also use of the term Generation Z back in 2001, we're zooming. 

            In a twist, Bluke has been added to their team  and that's why he's hanging out with the friends.  The group is worried that he'll drag them down and they'll lose. Tino says they will not and they will help him out and the announcer is knocked out.  Their working with Bluke seems to be going not very well. There's a plan B, one of them is going to have to keep Bluke distracted for Sunday  and that ends up being Lor. 

         But first, Tino's Mom time!( YEAY)  She says that sometimes people will surprise you , if you let them. (She's just handing out the moral of the episode)  Lor is with Bluke helping him pick out overalls. The other three get to work on clues. (I've got my handy dandy notebook out)   I think there's a hard time finding one clue.  Bluke and Lor now having matching overalls. Which is fun.  They meet up with the other three. He reads the hard to solve clue and he found the 2nd clue, and the 3rd one, and the rest of them.

            The winners of the pool table isn't our Weekender group, but they pizza. He says it was good they didn't win because it's hard to split a pool table 5 ways, a pizza is easy. (He's right) The answer was fine.  Tino let's Bluke break the 4th wall, but that goes somewhere else. 

       This was a really fun story, like really fun. Bluke gets a nice spotlight and  he makes for an interesting side character. He's kind hearted and quirky but not in a way that seems annoying or over the top,  it's nice.  Tino's Mom does give the moral away a little too early here too early, but it is nice to see how he surprises by finding the clues by hearing the clues and seeing how he figures them out.   I also like how the episode has fun with the format of the show and the announcer part was fun.  This was a warm episode like Bluke and there's a lot to enjoy here, the funny moments worked well  and everything was well done. 9/10.  

More after the jump 

One Shot Posts: Future-Worm!

Disney 

             I kind of wonder how Disney XD will be seen in the future, it was Disney's attempt at making a male focused network, because of Disney Channel ending up on female skew, then they changed things to focus on animation, then gave up. I liked the network; it was always
more interesting than its sister Disney branded Channel to me.   

          With all that, it might be remembered for Gravity Falls, which is where that show was moved and had sucess with it. It was the home of a many of 2010's Disney Television animated shows that weren't for preschoolers that is. 

      I'm going to talk about a gem of a show for our One-Shot Posts this "Future-Worm!" 

      
    "Future-Worm!" was a Disney XD original animated series that premiered as shorts in 2015, then the full series started on August 1, 2016. Which is important for the fact that the show was running at peak Disney XD is your Disney Channel for animation (and still boys getting a spot too).  

       "Future-Worm!" was created by Ryan Quincy who worked on South Park and later crated a show for IFC called "Out There" (not be confused with any non 2013 non IFC series of the same name). Like this show, Out There was also animated, but that was going for more an adult audience, whilst I will say this was for a younger/child audience that doesn't mean it feels limited by that.  

        The basic premise of the show is a boy named Danny Douglas, has invited a time traveling lunch box and meets worm named Future Worm (very easy name) with great titanium reinforced abs (which we have to mention by law) and they go on adventures. 

       Danny is voiced by Andy Milonakis which is the most interesting and yet perfect casting choice for a character.  Future-Worm or Fyootch is voiced by James Adomian who brings a great voice that makes the worm sound like a gruff action character, which is great for our titanium abs, with bullet proof beard and a photo receptor visor. They are our main characters.   

                                 

          This show has 21 episodes as half hours (with ads) and most of the episodes are broken up into 3 segments , instead of the traditional 11 minute segments or a full 22 minute thing. This allows the show to vary the lengths of segments usually at 11 minutes, 7 minutes and 3 minutes.  Minus the final episode which does a full 22 minute single story. 

         Most of the time the segments are un related to each other and do their own different stories.  That doesn't mean the show is fully self contained stories, it does reward you for watching episodes and remembering things when you watch a different episode, calling back to certain things and details. This also pays off in the finale, as a reward for watching the series.    

  

           The first segment, "Long Live Captain Cakerz!" introduces some stuff that appears in the show like seeing the stake-based superhero show. (That's one of the weirdest thing I've mentioned.)  We also meet Danny's parents for a bit, they aren't big in this yet. We (because they already know) also meet a girl named Bug (voiced by Jessica DiCicco, which is ironic, she once voiced an actual bug in a cartoon). Bug's interesting it seems they are friends but not close and she wanted to go with them in the lunchbox, but they leave her. The plot is about  Danny wanting his favorite cereal, and wondering where all the boxes went. This is simple premise, but the fun part of the show is to see how it accelerates into madness. 

          There are some other hallmarks and long running gags, I'm not going to mention them all, but they are fun.  Anyway, madness, gloop aliens have taken over the world apparently, so the simple plot of using time travel to get cereal turned into aliens taking over the world, they shot the cereal into the sun. Then Neil deGrasse Tyson shows up (voiced by Neil deGrasse Tyson)  that's also something that will be said more than once for this show.  Neil knows Future-Worm because sure, and he explains the aliens are made of sour milk and good thing Danny has hidden the cereal in the backyard to fight them.  I love how this escalated. 

        The 2nd segment , "Healin' Touch with Dr. D" is shorter story where Danny has brain freeze and Fyootch brings him to a TV doctor in the year 3000 and the doctor happens to be a T-rex.  That all I'm going to say, because I do want you to watch the show. I will say, it uses it shorter time to give a story without feeling to bogged down.  

      The final segment, of episode 1 is "Terrible Tuber Trouble". Fun fact: this episode has Justin Roiland voicing a character, ironic to those who call this a "Rick and Morty" for kids or family or whatever.  The show takes a simple idea, having to make the parents dinner to cash in a coupon, and having something accurate in a strange way. 

More after the Jump 

Weekendering: The Weekenders: Season 3:Episode 8: Careers/ Tutor

The Weekenders  Disney 

 Previously, Lor's the boss [Here] 

Episode 8: Careers 

               It's one of those career episodes that seem to happen in shows but I'm not sure what happened in real life ever. The group has taken a career test to find out what would be good for them. Tish gets librarian which she thinks is not a fit for her at all.  Lor gets experiential physicist, which she finds to be a good fit for her.   Tino gets announcer, which he thinks would be a good fit.  Carver gets gym teacher, advertising executive, or animal trainer.  I like how there's no imagination spot for Carver to think of his life a gym teacher.  

            The others tell him that he doesn't have to do the jobs on the list, but he remarks the tests are destiny.   The next day, Tino pretends to be an announcer and Tish is annoyed about being pointed in the direction of a librarian. Carver tries gym teacher but maybe he won't be good at that.  Next, he tries the advertising  thing.  (Wait, do whales have lips?) 

            I enjoy Tish doing library things but still denying it, Lor doesn't do the best science though. Carver's parts provide the funniest parts of this episode, this episode is very funny. He's going to try the animal trainer thing. The family dog doesn't seem to like Carver. He decides to give up and says he'll be world famous shoe designer. His imagination spot there is funny.  

             Coach Colson shows up and tells them that the tests were suggestions of what jobs could work for them. Lor looked at the wrong column she got more appealing suggestions, Tino finds out his says " except radio or TV" which seems like a rude test.  The coach tells him that he if wants to do TV or radio go for it! Other people show up to say how their tests went  Coach laughs at Carver's test thing at gym teacher. 

        This episode  was fun. I think it had some really funny moments especially with Carver trying ads or Carver's future spot. It was a well paced and pretty interesting episode. There was blend of how they responded to the tests.  Lor thinking it would be fun to be a scientist was nice and then finding out the real careers she really lucked out there too.  Good message too.   8/10. 

More after the jump