The Flashback Essays
"Sabrina the Teenage Witch" the series that ran from 1996 to 2003 , actually has two finales. ABC ran the series from 1996 to 2000 and they ended it with that episode where spoiler? Harvey finds out that she is a witch. The WB network decided that Sabrina was right thing for their channel and picked up the show and there it aired for 3 more seasons. What I am going to talk about is the finale from the final season.
The finale is chosen because I am a fan of the series personally and it's an example of a finale that has a big two part story and ties up something that was arc in the series.
"Sabrina The Teenage" finale aired on the WB network on April 24th, 2003 as a two part episode called "What a Witch Wants" and "Soul Mates".
Spoilers ahead. (Warning)
Background first: In this season , Sabrina and her college friends have moved into the house together , the aunts have left. To a point there's been an arc where Sabrina was dating a man named Aaron and they plan to get married which leads us to the episode "What a Witch Wants".
What a Witch wants is Sabrina going out for her bachelorette party and that episode focuses on her and friends proving they they have a strong friendship. So the episode I am more going to focus on is the last last episode "Soul Mates" It's now Sabrina's wedding day and she has little cold feet, and since this show's humor sometimes goes into the literal humor , she has ice blocks on her feet. (get it?) Salem tells her that there's a reason this happened. (need to turn the AC down a bit there)
Also for a series finale they brought back some of the show's past stars like her cousin Amanda (played by Melissa Joan Hart's real life sister) , her mom , which is big because of the show's lore of she not being able to see her mom. Her Aunt Hilda returns (Caroline Rhea). Her father, also makes another appearance. Sadly, Aunt Zelda doesn't make a reappearance. (in human form) Amanda ,who is also a witch finds Harvey to get him to come to the wedding. Doubt appears yes in literal form and tells her that there's doubt around and gives her Aaron's soul stone and tells her that she doubts that they are soul mates.
Sabrina searches for her soul stone at the North Star and wants to see if her stone matches with Aaron. Do they match? Well no. The Wedding eventually starts after some snags ,but she's having some doubt still so it gets stalled again. Her aunt and mother tells here that everything is not against the wedding , she is so she tries again to get married. At the vows she stops again and tells Aaron that she doesn't want to get married to him after all. (Not getting that deposit back) She leaves the church were she sees Harvey with a soul stone of his own. They kiss and ride off on his motorcycle. The two stones fall on the ground and they match. Guess what they did something for those who've been watching the show since the start, the 12:36 time where she and Harvey first met.
One thing about the show is that Harvey and Sabrina seem to be a big thing of the series. This finale kind of finishes where these characters who seemed to made for each other end up together. Much of the series showed us how much they cared for each other even when they broke up so, it doesn't feel as some sort of weird they did that because they were a couple once and so stick them together. In fact , it felt more that way with Sabrina and Aaron in the last few episodes of the season that he kind of just shows up in the series and then they announce to get married.
Is it a good finale? Yes, it gives us a good wrap up of the series with most of the characters that were big on the show a chance to return. (-3 pts for no Aunt Zelda) It gives its fans a satisfaction that yeah it's over but it ended in away that would make him feel it ended on a good note. It gives us a little drama too, where we honestly don't know how it ends until it ends.
Next time, a series finale that takes a whole show and makes you go WHAT?
Tune in next time when we find soul stones and start a dating service.
Welcome to Joshuaonline
Hello and Welcome to Joshuaonline , we like to look at the TV and Media here it's not updated everyday but we try have a few posts each month, hope you enjoy and thanks for visiting
Tuesday, May 22, 2018
Friday, May 18, 2018
TVLookFall2018: 2017-18 Review , 2018-19 Preview
TVLOOKFALL2018
Trying something different for the TV upfront week. A look at what's happened and review of what's to come.
ABC
One thing ABC changed in the 2017-18 TV season was Sunday and trying to figure out what to do with it. So they've gone with more reality/game/variety programming instead of drama, except in the last hour slot. A Change for the next season is instead they've gone with no drama on Sunday at all and focused on the other mode that worked for them. "American Idol" gave them a saving hope for Sundays and they've expanded on that with "Dancing With the Stars : Juniors" (kind of joining NBC on the kid train.)
A.B.C = All Big Comedy ? ABC has in recent years been focused on comedy where 2/3rd of Tuesday and Wednesday are comedy series. Meaning 4 hours a week of their schedule are devoted to comedy. They had Friday nights but had to move a drama off Sunday , "Once Upon a Time" and Friday was there. Read why "Last Man Standing" and "Dr.Ken" ended. In the next season they are replacing the long running "The Middle" (which was part of ABC's double down on comedy) and replacing a show they tried but they felt didn't work. read: "Alex Inc." Friday gets comedy again with long runners , "Fresh off the Boat", and "Speechless". They like to use strong comedy as a launch pad for new series. The series that followed "Modern Family", the series that followed "The Middle" for example. "The Goldbergs" and "Black-ish" say hello. The new seasons of "Roseanne" is their well high rated series , and so of course use that as a lead series. "The Kids Are Alright" gets that honor. "Black-ish" isn't being used as a launch pad this season because the series following it proved it's chance already. "Splitting Up Together". Wednesday has it's lead comedies of "The Goldbergs" and "Modern Family". A returning series takes the slot after The Goldbergs - "American Housewife" , while after 'Modern' is a new series so, once again being used as a launch pad. "Modern Family" isn't getting younger. Also Brad Garrett is back on network TV.
Tuesday 10/9c. ABC has had a hard time with that slot , so there is once again a new drama in that slot. "The Rookie" Question is will this be a charm for them?
The Good Doctor, sometimes a series takes off and this was one of them , so of course ABC wasn't going to mess with that even keeping it in its slot of Mondays 10/9c.
Shondaland continues. "Grey Anatomy" keeps on going and Thursdays still have Shondaland series. This year they've gone with a spin-off of 'Grey' but with fire fighters. "Station 19" while "How to Get Away with Murder" finishes up the night as per tradition. There's only 1 other series left from her company that's "For the People" , which ABC renewed," look for that at mid-season. Since Shonda Rhimes has made a deal with Netflix , that is the last new series for ABC better hold on tight.
For the most part ABC kept it the same and focused on what's reliable and what works for them.
More after the jump
Trying something different for the TV upfront week. A look at what's happened and review of what's to come.
ABC
One thing ABC changed in the 2017-18 TV season was Sunday and trying to figure out what to do with it. So they've gone with more reality/game/variety programming instead of drama, except in the last hour slot. A Change for the next season is instead they've gone with no drama on Sunday at all and focused on the other mode that worked for them. "American Idol" gave them a saving hope for Sundays and they've expanded on that with "Dancing With the Stars : Juniors" (kind of joining NBC on the kid train.)
A.B.C = All Big Comedy ? ABC has in recent years been focused on comedy where 2/3rd of Tuesday and Wednesday are comedy series. Meaning 4 hours a week of their schedule are devoted to comedy. They had Friday nights but had to move a drama off Sunday , "Once Upon a Time" and Friday was there. Read why "Last Man Standing" and "Dr.Ken" ended. In the next season they are replacing the long running "The Middle" (which was part of ABC's double down on comedy) and replacing a show they tried but they felt didn't work. read: "Alex Inc." Friday gets comedy again with long runners , "Fresh off the Boat", and "Speechless". They like to use strong comedy as a launch pad for new series. The series that followed "Modern Family", the series that followed "The Middle" for example. "The Goldbergs" and "Black-ish" say hello. The new seasons of "Roseanne" is their well high rated series , and so of course use that as a lead series. "The Kids Are Alright" gets that honor. "Black-ish" isn't being used as a launch pad this season because the series following it proved it's chance already. "Splitting Up Together". Wednesday has it's lead comedies of "The Goldbergs" and "Modern Family". A returning series takes the slot after The Goldbergs - "American Housewife" , while after 'Modern' is a new series so, once again being used as a launch pad. "Modern Family" isn't getting younger. Also Brad Garrett is back on network TV.
Tuesday 10/9c. ABC has had a hard time with that slot , so there is once again a new drama in that slot. "The Rookie" Question is will this be a charm for them?
The Good Doctor, sometimes a series takes off and this was one of them , so of course ABC wasn't going to mess with that even keeping it in its slot of Mondays 10/9c.
Shondaland continues. "Grey Anatomy" keeps on going and Thursdays still have Shondaland series. This year they've gone with a spin-off of 'Grey' but with fire fighters. "Station 19" while "How to Get Away with Murder" finishes up the night as per tradition. There's only 1 other series left from her company that's "For the People" , which ABC renewed," look for that at mid-season. Since Shonda Rhimes has made a deal with Netflix , that is the last new series for ABC better hold on tight.
For the most part ABC kept it the same and focused on what's reliable and what works for them.
More after the jump
Thursday, May 17, 2018
Upfront 2018: The CW
The CW Upfronts TVLookFall2018
The CW has released their fall schedule. We have the details here.
The CW has released their fall schedule. We have the details here.
- Sundays are back for the CW almost 10 years after they gave up on the night. It's not as long as they used to do but it's there.
- With an extra night they've made some moves. "Supergirl" moves to Sundays with the remake of "Charmed" coming on after it.
- "Arrow" moves to Mondays at 9/8c with "D.C's Legends of Tomorrow" taking the slot before it.
- "iZombie" , "Crazy Ex Girlfriend", and "Jane the Virgin" are ending after their seasons wrap up
- Midseason: "The 100", "iZombie", "In the Dark", "Roswell, New Mexico"
Here's the schedule , all times ET, new shows highlighted in Blue
Monday
8pm DC's Legends of Tomorrow
9pm Arrow (New Time Slot)
Tuesday
8pm The Flash
9pm Black Lightning
Wednesday
8pm Riverdale
9pm All American
Thursday
8pm Supernatural
9pm Legacies
Friday
8pm Dynasty
9pm Crazy Ex-Girlfriend (new time slot)
Sunday
8pm Supergirl (new time slot)
9pm Charmed
Press release after the Jump
Wednesday, May 16, 2018
Upfront 2018 : CBS
CBS Upfront TVLookFall2018
CBS has released their fall schedule. Here are some details
CBS has released their fall schedule. Here are some details
- On Mondays they have cut back on comedy by an hour and adding in drama instead
- Mondays start with two new comedies , followed by the remake of "Magnum P.I" and a new time night for "Bull"
- "Murphy Brown" comes on after Mom on Thursdays
- This is the first year in a few where CBS won't have Thursday Night Football
- Midseason : "The Code", "Elementary", "Fam" , "Instinct", "Life in Pieces," "Man With a Plan", "The Red Line" , "The Amazing Race", "Blood & Treasure" , "Big Brother". "Big Brother Celebrity Edition".
Now here's the schedule , all times ET, new series highlighted in blue
Monday
8PM The Neighborhod
8:30 Happy Together
9PM Magnum P.I
10PM Bull (new time slot)
Tuesday
8PM NCIS
9PM FBI
10PM NCIS :New Orleans
Wednesday
8PM Survivor
9PM SEAL Team
10PM Criminal Minds
Thursday
8PM The Big Bang Theory
8:30 Young Sheldon
9PM Mom
9:30pm Murphy Brown (revival season)
10pm S.W.A.T
Friday
8PM MacGyver
9PM Hawaii Five-O
10PM Blue Bloods
Saturday
8PM Crimetime Saturday
9PM Crimetime Saturday
10PM 48 Hours
Sunday
7PM 60 Minutes
8PM God Friended Me
9PM NCIS: Los Angeles
10PM Madam Secretary
Press release after the jump
Tuesday, May 15, 2018
Upfront 2018: ABC
ABC Upfronts TVLOOKFALL2018
ABC has released their fall schedule. Here the details first.
- "Roseanne" is ready to going to be ready to go in the fall.
- ABC relies on game shows and reality shows on Sunday again "Dancing With the Stars: Junior" will air Sundays , followed by "American Idol" in the midseason.
- "The Alec Baldwin Show" will air on Sundays as well.
- ABC brings back comedies to Fridays. After canceling "Last Man Standing" , and "Dr.Ken" at the end of the 2016-17 season and with FOX picking up the first show. "Fresh off the Boat" and "Speechless" move to Fridays
- "Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D" does return but it's been pushed to midseason
- Also ABC is loaded with comedy airing 2 hours on Tuesdays and Wednesdays and 1 hour on Fridays means they have 5 hours a week of Comedy
- "Grey"s Anatomy"'s spinoff , "Station 19" gets a Thursday slot right after it's parent show.
- Midseason returns : "American Idol", "The Bachelor", "The Fix", "For the People", "Grand Hotel", "Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D", "Schooled', and "Whiskey Cavalier".
Here's the full schedule all times ET , new series highlighted in blue
Monday
8PM Dancing With the Stars
10PM The Good Doctor
Tuesday
8PM Roseanne
8:30 The Kids Are Alright
9PM black-ish
9:30 Splitting up Together
10pm The Rookie
Wednesday
8PM The Goldbergs
8:30 American Housewife (new time slot)
9PM Modern Family
9:30 Single Parents
10PM A Million Little Things
Thursday
8PM Grey's Anatomy
9PM Station 19
10PM How to Get Away with Murder
Friday
8PM Fresh Off the Boat (new time slot)
8:30 Speechless (new time slot)
9PM Child Support (new time slot)
10pm 20/20
Saturday
8PM Saturday Night Football
Sunday
7PM America's Funniest Home Videos
8PM Dancing with the Stars :Juniors
9PM Shark Tank
10PM The Alec Baldwin Show
Monday, May 14, 2018
Upfront 2018 : FOX
FOX TVLookFall2018 Upfronts
Fox has released its fall schedule and we have the details. But first, some notes.
Here's the schedule all times ET , new series highlighted in blue
Monday
8PM The Resident (new time slot)
9PM 9-1-1 (new time slot)
Tuesday
8PM The Gifted (new slot)
9PM Lethal Weapon (new time slot)
Wednesday
8PM Empire
9PM Star
Thursday
8pm/ 5pt Thursday Night Football
Friday
8pm Last Man Standing
8:30PM The Cool Kids
9PM Hell's Kitchen
Saturday
8PM College Football
Sunday
8PM The Simpsons
8:30PM Bob's Burgers (New Time Slot)
9PM Family Guy
9:30PM Rel
Press release after the jump
Fox has released its fall schedule and we have the details. But first, some notes.
- "Last Man Standing" returns after a year off from cancellation on ABC where it aired Fridays at 8/7c the show is taking the same night and time.
- "The Cool Kids" is new comedy coming and it will air Fridays after "Last Man Standing"
- "9-1-1" moves to Mondays after "The Resident"
- "The Gifted" moves to Tuesdays at 8/7c
- "Lethal Weapon" is back and has a new actor.
- "The Orville" returns December 30th after an NFL Double Header and then moves to its Thursday Night slot
- FOX now has the rights to the simulcast of Thursday Night Football
- "Gotham" returns for a fifth and final season is coming to midseason , along with a new drama, "The Passage".
- A new "Cosmos" limited series will air in the spring.
- "LA to Vegas" and "Ghosted" are still TBD if renewed or not.
- "Bob's Burgers" moves from 7:30/6:30c ot 8:30/7:30c
- Midseason : The Four, Beat Shazam, Gordon Ramsay's 24 hours to Hell and Back, Love Connection, Masterchef, MasterChef Junior , Showtime at the Apollo, The Passage (new) , Proven Innocent (new) .
Here's the schedule all times ET , new series highlighted in blue
Monday
8PM The Resident (new time slot)
9PM 9-1-1 (new time slot)
Tuesday
8PM The Gifted (new slot)
9PM Lethal Weapon (new time slot)
Wednesday
8PM Empire
9PM Star
Thursday
8pm/ 5pt Thursday Night Football
Friday
8pm Last Man Standing
8:30PM The Cool Kids
9PM Hell's Kitchen
Saturday
8PM College Football
Sunday
8PM The Simpsons
8:30PM Bob's Burgers (New Time Slot)
9PM Family Guy
9:30PM Rel
Press release after the jump
Sunday, May 13, 2018
Upfront 2018: NBC
NBC TVLookFall2018 Upfronts
NBC released their fall schedule for the 2018-2019 season. There are some changes for the season and we note those now.
- Law and Order : SVU moves to Thursday Nights following the comedy block
- The Chicago series of shows get their own night , Wednesdays
- "Midnight, Texas" moves from summer to fall
- "Brookyln Nine-Nine" is coming to NBC in the mid season
- "The Blacklist" returns in mid season
- Also, moving from summer is "World of Dance" which will take Sundays after Football.
- "A.P Bio" and "Good Girls" are back in midseason.
- "Good Girls will air after "World of Dance" on Sundays and "The Blacklist" returns January taking the 9PM ET slot.
- "Abby's" , "The Enemy Within" , "The Village" ,and "InBetween" are set to come in mid season.
Full schedule below (new shows highlighted in blue)
All times ET
Monday
8PM The Voice
10PM Manifest
Tuesday
8PM The Voice
9PM This is Us
10PM New Amsterdam
Wednesday
8PM Chicago Med (new time)
9PM Chicago Fire (new time)
10PM Chicago P.D
Thursday
8PM Superstore
8:30 The Good Place
9PM Will & Grace
9:30 I feel Bad
10PM Law &Order : SVU (new night)
Friday
8PM Blindsport
9PM Midnight Texas (new time slot )
10pm Dateline
Saturday
8PM Dateline Saturday Night
10PM Saturday Night Live (encores)
Sunday
7PM Football Night in America
8:20 NBC Sunday Night Football
press release after the jump
Thursday, May 10, 2018
A Charlie Brown Lookback: It's Spring Training, Charlie Brown
Peanuts
Charlie Brown has a lot of baseball specials. This is our second one in a row to cover. We are looking "It's Spring Training, Charlie Brown". This special came out in 1996 it was the only special that aired on TV didn't premiere on a network. It was supposed to air on CBS in 1992 but CBS changed their minds and it never aired then it came out on VHS in 1996 with Nickelodeon airing the special in 1998. (If Nick didn't air it, this would have been the the a third special that never aired on TV) Did CBS pass this up for a reason? Let's find out.
The special begins with snow. (What ? It CAN snow in spring you know) Charlie Brown is shoveling the snow and then starts on a snow mound to be a pitcher's mound because he's really into baseball. Charlie Brown keeps yelling that it's spring training. (Poor CB is losing it) All his player leave and he starts talking to a a snowman.
Now it's not snowing and well it's now really time for some spring training . Though, I am not sure how well the team will do. Hey, there's Leland ,a minor character from the comics, who apparently might be Freida's brother. (In this special he apparently is) Leland wants to try out for a baseball team and he of course, goes to Charlie Brown's team. Leland also thinks Lucy is pretty. (awww) He asks Charlie Brown to try out and C.B gives him a chance. (Honestly, Leland is a good as the other players on that team)
I'm going to note music here, because why not? This is also the last special not have any scoring music written by Vince Guaraldi. Other specials after this one did reuse cuts or had other music but still used Guaraldi's cuts as well. The music in this special for example when Lucy and Charlie Brown are practicing sounds very early 90's like the two of them are about to start rapping kind of sound. This was the last special where Judy Munsen was a composer for , she worked on 14 Peanuts specials and two movies.
Lucy also wonders why the team doesn't have uniforms. (She didn't watch Charlie Brown's All Stars) Linus says that Lucy is right (I'm scared) they are the only team without uniforms. Inspeaking of Charlie Brown's All Stars, Mr.Hennessey is back. Yep, the hardware store owner says he will sponsor the team's uniforms if they win. (He's not a gambling man) They visit his hardware store where Snoopy gets attacked by hardware. To be exact they have to win the first game of the season. Off note: When did Marcie leave Peppermint Patty's team to join CB's team?
It's the big game day. The best way to start a baseball game is the hockey pokey then Franklin raps. It's the most 90's scene ever.
After all that, the game begins. Woah wait a minute , back to that thing: What's Franklin doing on Charlie Brown's team? He's on Peppermint Patty's team , did they trade? I need a back story! Alright back to the game. In standard Charlie Brown team fashion it doesn't go well. Then it starts going well. (They did that on purpose) Then it's Leland's turn. Poor fellow gets two strikes then the ball gets stuck in helmet and he makes it to home, The team wins 27-26.
Now his team gets their uniforms. Leland quits the team because his uniform is too big. They play another game but it goes in normal Charlie Brown team fashion and they lose. (27-25)
Charlie Brown has a lot of baseball specials. This is our second one in a row to cover. We are looking "It's Spring Training, Charlie Brown". This special came out in 1996 it was the only special that aired on TV didn't premiere on a network. It was supposed to air on CBS in 1992 but CBS changed their minds and it never aired then it came out on VHS in 1996 with Nickelodeon airing the special in 1998. (If Nick didn't air it, this would have been the the a third special that never aired on TV) Did CBS pass this up for a reason? Let's find out.
The special begins with snow. (What ? It CAN snow in spring you know) Charlie Brown is shoveling the snow and then starts on a snow mound to be a pitcher's mound because he's really into baseball. Charlie Brown keeps yelling that it's spring training. (Poor CB is losing it) All his player leave and he starts talking to a a snowman.
Now it's not snowing and well it's now really time for some spring training . Though, I am not sure how well the team will do. Hey, there's Leland ,a minor character from the comics, who apparently might be Freida's brother. (In this special he apparently is) Leland wants to try out for a baseball team and he of course, goes to Charlie Brown's team. Leland also thinks Lucy is pretty. (awww) He asks Charlie Brown to try out and C.B gives him a chance. (Honestly, Leland is a good as the other players on that team)
Leland is an icon/ Copyright Peanuts
I'm going to note music here, because why not? This is also the last special not have any scoring music written by Vince Guaraldi. Other specials after this one did reuse cuts or had other music but still used Guaraldi's cuts as well. The music in this special for example when Lucy and Charlie Brown are practicing sounds very early 90's like the two of them are about to start rapping kind of sound. This was the last special where Judy Munsen was a composer for , she worked on 14 Peanuts specials and two movies.
Lucy also wonders why the team doesn't have uniforms. (She didn't watch Charlie Brown's All Stars) Linus says that Lucy is right (I'm scared) they are the only team without uniforms. Inspeaking of Charlie Brown's All Stars, Mr.Hennessey is back. Yep, the hardware store owner says he will sponsor the team's uniforms if they win. (He's not a gambling man) They visit his hardware store where Snoopy gets attacked by hardware. To be exact they have to win the first game of the season. Off note: When did Marcie leave Peppermint Patty's team to join CB's team?
See Marcie randomly there/ copyright Peanuts
It's the big game day. The best way to start a baseball game is the hockey pokey then Franklin raps. It's the most 90's scene ever.
After all that, the game begins. Woah wait a minute , back to that thing: What's Franklin doing on Charlie Brown's team? He's on Peppermint Patty's team , did they trade? I need a back story! Alright back to the game. In standard Charlie Brown team fashion it doesn't go well. Then it starts going well. (They did that on purpose) Then it's Leland's turn. Poor fellow gets two strikes then the ball gets stuck in helmet and he makes it to home, The team wins 27-26.
ummm great team names/ copyright Peanuts
Now his team gets their uniforms. Leland quits the team because his uniform is too big. They play another game but it goes in normal Charlie Brown team fashion and they lose. (27-25)
Yay Uniforms though/ Copyright Peanuts
more after the jump
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