The Loud House: Season 1: Snow Bored/ Sleuth or Consequences

The Loud House Nickelodeon 

  

      I think it would be nice continue a look at "The Loud House" . I did this back in May where I used my "Arthur" model where I'd use a randomizer to look at two different 11 minute episodes of the "Loud House" from one season and look talk about them. So, here we are again with a look a couple episodes from season 1.   

  We start with the last episode of Season 1 "Snow Bored" which came out in the US on November 8th 2016,  it's not the last episode of the season, in production that was "Homespun".

   
      The Louds are hoping for a snow day because it's snowing outside and the weather man  gives them their wish.  Lisa has announced that she is going to eliminate the snow but the others decide to help her see that snow days can be F.O.N fun. (don't ask). The next day, Lisa (who has awesome winter wear) tries to see how much fun a snow day.  Lisa doesn't seem as interested in this weather.  After her looking at the others' activities she finds no interest in them and decides to do her plan.  Lana decides to  throw  a snowball at Lisa ,which sets off the rest of the episode.

Moment before tragedy starts /Copyright Viacom 

       Lisa decides that she has found something that she likes about snow days after all, and that's throwing snowballs.  That evening she tells Lincoln she enjoyed the snow day and then plays God and causes a second snow day.  So, the next day she goes a little crazy with snowball weapons, and starts crazily shooting them at her family members. (Why does Lisa have all these weapons, what is she planning, hello FBI, I'd like report someone please!)

Weapons of mass destruction/ Copyright Viacom 

     Evenutally, the others run to the safety of inside the house but, she ends up even shooting snowballs in the house.  This causes the Louds to wish it didn't snow but she plays God some more and causes it snow day again.  They ask  Lisa to use her invention from the earlier to stop the snow.  Apparently this was Lisa's plan was to make them not want snow days for awhile.  Lincoln is confused as I was here.

Don't ask me/ Copyright Viacom 

   

     My thoughts brought to you by Lisa's Snowzooka , you too can learn to wipe out people with snow! : There's not a sister I don't dislike the series, I do like Lisa,  it's nice thing to see her acting a little more like a 4 year old would and going silly over snow and her being a genius makes her going over the top  even more fun. I do enjoy the snow activities and them trying to get Lisa interested in the things. Also, I love her laugh in this episode.   I do fault the part where Lisa wants to deny her siblings a snow day because it's something they would enjoy  and the ending where I think she did this as an elaborate trick  to make them hate snow days.  I can see (overthink?) that cares about her family's well being and their mental/educational well being being part of that.   It's not an awful episode , to give it a  number value between 1% to 100%  I'd give it a 77%.

more after the jump

The Lookback: Christmas: Yes Virginia , There is a Santa Claus

Christmas  The Flashback 

          "Yes Virginia , There is a Santa Claus" is probably one of the most famous Christmas stories and the fact that it's a true story even makes it more appealing to adapt into media. This time, we look at the 1974 special for ABC of the same name based off the story of Virginia O' Hanlon who at the age asked the The New York Sun newspaper  if Santa Claus was real and the newspaper  gave a philosophy instead.   The media we are looking at is an animated short based off this story.   This special must have been good it won a prime time Emmy in 1975 for outstanding , Children's program  beating "Be My Valentine, Charlie Brown", "The Easter Beagle, Charlie Brown", and "Dr.Seuss Hoober Bloob Highway". (All great programming)  There is a connection to the two Charlie Brown specials to this special as well, you will notice how it looks, and Bill Melendez was a director and producer in this special so, he had at 75% of winning the award that year. (That's how you do it)

            So here we go.

           It starts with the narrator telling us that he wishes all things on Earth were as easy to fix as that crooked "h" spelling Earth was.    Meanwhile. at school in the 1890's  the teacher, Ms. Taylor, wants her class to write an essay about Christmas.  Virginia says she is going to write about why she believes in Santa Claus and the other kids laugh at her. (Because 1890's kids were  also mean like children are). The teacher tells them to pipe down(that's our words not hers) and let's Virginia continue. Virginia says she is unsure that Santa exists or not.

       Later on, kids make fun of Virginia some more.  A kid named Billy tells her that his older brother says there's no Santa because he's 14 and knows everything. (So a normal 14 year old) Virigina tries ask some kids if any of them believe in Santa. So far, none of them believe in except a couple.  So, she asks a policeman and he doesn't know Santa Claus is real then he calls his Sargent but that doesn't work. Then she asks the candyman if he knows if there's a Santa. I don't think this works. Then the Chinese restaurant man , he's no help either. ( Also what? )  She then asks her father and he says that people are out there have always been out there don't believe in anything they don't see. Just because you don't see something doesn't mean it's not there.

            The paperboy believes in Santa.  He also says the  same thing her father says too, and he suggests that you ask the editor of the New York Sun about Santa he'll give the definitive answer. (That's some paper)  We also find out the paper boy doesn't go to school because 1890s.  Her father thinks that is also a great idea to write the paper. 

    So, she decides to write the letter.  Meanwhile. editor Scrooge (he gives the words Bah humbug)  even his sectary calls him that, doesn't want to read an eight year old girl's letter.  Virginia waits for her letter to be in the paper, her father says just wait. The  paperboy from earlier named Tommy Keegan comes into Mr.Church's office , that's the editor, and convinces him to take the letter and write back.

      Mr.Church stews over what to write for awhile. While Virginia waits for answer. Then eventually,  at the school the Teacher reads the editorial that answers the question that Virginia asked.  The special does the full editorial , of course.  The other kids apologize to her. 

   There's an addendum where they talk mention some of the figures are real people and their names weren't changed to protect the innocent. Also, Santa was the narrator.
   

       That's it. I think it's an alright special it does do a nice take on the famous story that works well to keep you interested.   This special did fall off the television way side at some point. The story was also later used for 1990 movie which I am not sure how they took something kind of short and made it longer than this one tried, and there  was a CGI special in 2010.  

   That's our lookback tune in next time, when we wonder if there is a New Year's goblin. 

   If this is our last post before Christmas , then we Wish You A Merry Christmas from us here at Joshuaonline.  

NBC Midseason 2019: Four Returning Series and 2 New Series

NBC  Midseason 2019

           NBC has announced their mid season premiere dates for 4 returning shows and 2 new dramas. 

       The Voice returns  on Monday, February 25th at 8-10pmet. Tuesdays will run a little different with it  airing Tuesday episodes from  8-9pmet ,  on February 26th and March 5th, then no new Tuesday episodes until April 23rd.    

    Following, The Voice is  a new drama called ,The Enemy Within it premieres on February 25th at 10pmet.  World of Dance returns on Tuesday, February 26th from 9-11pmet,  and the it's regular  Sunday, March 3rd 8-10pmet,.  Airing Sundays 8-10pmet.    Good Girls returns on Sunday, March 3 at 10pmet.  A.P Bio returns Thursday March 7 at 8:30pmet.   New series The Village premieres March 12th at 10pmet, it moves to 9pmet on April 2nd. 

   Details 

   

Mondays starting Monday, February 25  

8PM  The Voice  (season premiere) 

10pm The Enemy Within (series premiere)

Tuesday, February 26

8PM  The Voice  

9PM  World of Dance (premiere)  

Sunday, March 3

8PM  World of Dance (regular time slot) 

10pm  Good Girls (season premiere) 

Tuesday, March 5

8PM The Voice 

Thursday, March 7

8:30pm A.P Bio  (season premiere)

Tuesday, March 12

10pm  The Village (Series premiere)

Tuesday, April 2

9pm The Village (time period change) 

Tuesday, April 23 

8pm The Voice (back on Tuesdays) 

 

press release after the jump

Christmas and Arthur : Arthur's Perfect Christmas

Christmas   The Flashback

 
     We return to an old friend, "Arthur" so they give us a Christmas special  interestingly enough, not one based off the book "Arthur's Christmas".  This one is called "Arthur's Perfect Christmas".   This special came out in 2000, why did they wait nearly 4 years into the series to have a Christmas special?  Why did they not use the book?  Nobody knows. To place the special in the "Arthur" cannon it was aired during or around the 5th season. I think it's the first Arthur hour long special as well.  This was the final time the original voice of Arthur Read, Michael Yarmush, voiced the character.

   Anyway let's take a look, is Arthur's Christmas perfect? Ehhh.

       It's starts with Christmas happening around Elwood City  so you know that it's Christmas time.  Then it's Arthur playing piano and he starts singing. (I'm out, get back over  you will finish this!)   It's his fan tasty and also he hates tinsel. (I'm out) Arthur wants his Christmas to be perfect (hense the title)  Oh it's 3 Days before Christmas.  D.W asks Arthur to help her write her wish list to Santa. I guess she does because the next cut she's mailing something.

Don't confuse him with Santa Claus in the east pole/ Copyright WGBH 

       Tina the talking tabby.  Now we are at the elementary school with Muffy and Francine. Muffy is going to have  a Christmas party and Francine keeps trying to say she can't go but, Muffy doesn't listen. So, why can't Francine go?  Let's have Arthur ask her.    Her family celebrates the last night of Hanukkah.  Arthur states the obvious but, again Muffy doesn't listen.  George talks about Christmas in Sweden.  Binky  talks about his Christmas tradition of helping at a soup kitchen and mmm pecan pie. (He needs to shell them)  Mr. Ratburn, the teacher, has decided to still give homework because he's addicted to teaching.   Buster has a problem his mother keeps waking him up early thinking it's Christmas because she's nervous that she might miss it. (She should watch the news first to find out the date)

Merry Not Christmas/ Copyright WGBH 

more after the jump

Christmas : Charlie Brown Christmas Tales

Peanuts  Christmas  


            "Charlie Brown Christmas Tales" is not really a Peanuts special as much as it's filler that is used to fill in ABC's broadcast of "A Charlie Brown Christmas" If you want Charlie Brown Christmas  to be aired without any cuts because, commercials can't be cut?, is to fill in a gap that needs to be filled in that's "Charlie Brown Christmas Tales"
 
              The special is 18 minutes long (minus commercials) meaning that it fits in with the broadcast of the original special which usually runs from :00 to :32-34 past the hour.  The special first aired in 2002 , the second year ABC had rights to Peanuts specials.

    It's like Peanuts strips that were brought to animation. They were lifted from the comic strip and just animated.  It is split into different segments based on different characters: Snoopy, Linus,Sally, Lucy, and Charlie Brown.  Even though, the special doesn't have a plot and is usually just the hour filler I think it has a charm to it. There are some entertaining things in this special. 

 Look how they spelled Santa Claus / Copyright Peanuts 

      I had this sentiment in my "It's Christmastime Again, Charlie Brown"  nothing will match up to the original Christmas special and that's fine.  It really is fun to see the Peanuts characters celebrating Christmas in different ways in these specials.    One of the segments I love in this special, is the one where Sally just stares at a Christmas tree hoping it falls down and it does. 

Yeah she's  a witch! 

     I think it's an alright special because it exhibits a kind of fun you get from the strips The animation is fine and there are moments.  I mostly say watch this when it airs on TV, not really go out and seek it out unless you buy a DVD and it's somehow included or want to own all the specials. I think it's alright and really it's filler but it's tasty filler around the good  cookies of the original special.  

    

Tune in next time when we wonder what do we do with all the trees that we looked at and fell over. 

Christmas : The Small One

   
 There are some things that I think get kind of lost in the track of memory or  time. This time I want to talk about a Disney animated special called "The Small One"  , I've kind of wanted to talk about this special for sometime, I never got to it though.  I found out that this year is it's 40th anniversary , so I thought this would be a good time talk about it.  The special comes from a book of the same name and was dircted by Don Bluth. It came out as a short with Pinocchio  when that movie was re-released in theaters (something done before home sales were a thing).  Here's our look at this special.

         It's a 26 minute in length special meaning that people most likely watched this while waiting to see "Pinocchio" (imagine that).  It takes place in countryside near Nazareth during biblical times of course.  There's a donkey named Small One, who is beloved by a boy named , uhh, Boy.  Small One is getting older and weaker and  past what his purpose is at a farm that needs donkeys for plowing and etc.   There's a montage of the father noticing this about Small One, especially when Boy chooses do some of the donkey's work.  His father tells him that Small One can't do work enough to pay of his food so, it's time to sell him.

A Boy and his donkey , to be separated by circumstance /Copyright Disney

      That brings us the main plot of the special. Boy is unhappy that Small One has to go.  Boy decides that he should be the one to take him, his father says yes but he has to be sold. Boy promises that he will find Small  One a good , gentle, and kind owner.  The next day, they set out to the city to see who wants a donkey.  The city guard recommends someone who turns out to be a tanner meaning that he wouldn't want S.O as a friend.   They have to go find someone else who doesn't want to make the donkey into a car seat, or whatever people did with leather then.  Another montage of people not really wanting the donkey.

Does it look like I want a Donkey?/ Copyright Disney 

 
     Oh there's some music in the special as well.  One song is Boy telling Small One that he'll  find a kind gentle owner.  Also, a song with some merchants or whatever who cut a long a song with Boy singing "Small One for Sale".  I think they help him by saying he should go the auctioneer instead.   This doesn't help because nobody wants the scrawny donkey and also not a horse.  The auctioneer decides to spend his time making fun of the donkey and keeps pulling his tail but when he pushes Boy the donkey gets angry and pushes the auctioneer of the platform.

You mess with the small one, you get kicked by the donkey/Copyright Disney 

      While the two of them spend their time dejected a man  talks to him. The man offers him a coin and promises that he will have a good home. Boy and Small One part their ways and the man takes him.      The purpose the man has for the donkey is to take his wife to Bethlehem.  It ends with a shot of the famous Christmas star.

     You could probably presume that the man was Joseph and his wife would be Mary.

   I don't why this special really hasn't been 'loved' by Disney. Now, first there are ways to get this you can buy it on prime video (when this post was written) and some other streaming formats. Maybe Disney will put it on their own service when that comes out. (This is really going to date this post) They have it on "Mickey's Christmas Carol" DVD as well.  It hasn't aired on TV though, in the United States  not on Disney Channel, Freeform, Disney XD, Disney Junior, ABC , Toon Disney (when that existed), Soap net (when that existed) , anywhere. I don't now why really. Before someone says well it's relgious, I would like to add that Freeform has aired Rankin Bass'  "Nestor, the Long-Eared ,Christmas Donkey" which has a similar story about a donkey that end up being Mary's riding donkey.    They have also aired "The Little Drummer  Boy" which also has a religious tone to it. 

   I think this special , I think it paces pretty well. I can feel the boy's pain and struggle when he's trying to figure out the right person for Small One, you can see that he's trying hard to see if he can help.  He wasn't being immature trying to keep the donkey  he understood that since the farm uses donkeys as work animals for their lively-hood he knew he had to give him up.  He also could have just given his donkey to the first person but, he really felt that Small One deserves something better I think that his decision to do the hard thing both times really shows something in his character.   I do tear up at the end watching when the two of them separate.
 
     That's our lookback , tune in next time  when we find a  Christmas special  that has  a boy having to give up his cow for the greater good. 

ABC mid season premiere dates

ABC  Mid Season Primetime 

        ABC has released their mid season premiere dates and times.  

             "A Million Little Things" moves to Thursdays , if you like America's Funniest Home Videos and Shark Tank well then there's more coming.  Return dates for all your favorite shows. 

  Friday, January 4

  8pm Fresh off the Boat 

  8:30pm Speechless

 9pm   20/20 (NEW time) (2 hours ) 

  Sunday, January 6 

   7-9PM   America's Funniest Home Videos (2 hours) 

    9-11pm   Shark Tank (new time) (2 hours)

  Tuesday, January 8

  8PM The Connors

  8:30pm  The Kids are Alright Right 

   9pm   Black-ish 

   9:30pm Splitting up Together 

   10pm  The Rookie 

  Wednesday, January 9

  8PM The Goldbergs 

   8:30pm  Schooled (Series premiere) 

   9pm  Modern Family 

   9:30pm  Single Parents 

  10pm   Match Game  (Season Premiere) 

Thursday, January 17th

8pm  Grey's Anatomy 

9:01pm  "A Million Little Things" (New Day and Time) 

10pm  How to Get away with Murder 

Tuesday, February 5

8PM   American Housewife (new time 

Wednesday, February 27 

10PM  Whiskey Cavalier 

Sunday, March 3 

7PM  America's Funniest Home Videos (One Hour ) 

8PM  American Idol (new season) 

10:01pm Shark Tank (new time)

Thursday, March 7

9:01pm Station 19 (new season ) 

10pm  For the People (new season) 

Monday, March 18

10PM The Fix (New series) 

Monday, June 17th 

10pm  Grand Hotel (new series) 

Full press release after the jump 

Christmas Flashback : Feels like the very first Christmas to me How Sponge bob Celebrates Christmas

Nickelodeon  The Flashback Christmas 

                This blog post was made before the sad news of the passing of the creator of "Spongebob" but  we dedicate it to  Stephen Hillenburg, the creator of Spongebob  (1961-2018) Thanks for the memories and for bringing us this great series.   


      It's kind of funny that I haven't really talked about Spongebob Squarepants on this blog , really ever.  It's such a big show , and is still popular in it's nearly 20th year running, yet I haven't really touched it. Well this time for Christmas I look at Spongebob for a blog post, where we see what happens when Spongebob finds out what Christmas  is.

 
      The theme song is even done in Christmas choral version with a the addition of the word Spongebob Christmas special.   The episode starts with Patchy the pirate doing some Christmas stuff of his own and he is our host for this special since all specials need hosts.  He tells us what the inhabitants of Bikini Bottom are doing for Christmas and his flying bird wants his cookie dough.  3 Bells ring and that means fan letters. (yay?!)  The letter brings Patchy to talk about them not always having Christmas in  Bikini Bottom bring us to our main plot of the special.

Bird mail/ Copyright Viacom 

     Since Sandy was a land dweller she knows about Christmas which leads her to explain what it is to Spongebob who doesn't know.  He then spreads the message to the other people in Bikini Bottom. Including who Santa Claus is , and Mr. Krabs likes this because free stuff.   Everyone seems enthusiastic  but Squidward of course. So, Spongebob sends all the letters of the various citizens into above the sea where they kind of just float above. Now we get  a song, which is something that I very much remember from this special and even used part of the lyrics in the title of this post.  This is probably one of the best  "Spongebob" songs.

can you hear it? / Copyright Viacom 

       The song segways us to Christmas Eve but Spongebob realizes that Squidward hasn't written a letter to Spongebob , but Squidward doesn't want it, and he doesn't believe in Santa Claus.  Everyone else waits for Santa to come and sing all night but then Santa doesn't come.  ( I will also note it is very interesting that Sandy isn't seen in this special after she tells Spongebob about Christmas.)  Everyone leaves angrily while, Spongebob says he's just running late and tries to wait some more.  Squidward wakes up and makes fun of Spongebob , who is depressed. This special also does  a great job of doing a subtle joke you get when you get it .  Spongebob starts crying but he gives Squidward a gift so he wouldn't feel left out.  It's a nice clarinet made of driftwood by hand. (Spongebob has many talents)

Made with love/Copyright Viacom 

       That makes Squidward feel guilty  and he decides to make it right. Which gives us a great Squidward moment in the entire series. He pretends to be Santa Claus to surprise Spongebob and make his Christmas great.   It doesn't stop there, a little kid asks Squidward Claus if he has gift for her, and so he ends up giving away something from his house. This continues where ends up giving pretty much everything he owns to the people of Bikini Bottom.  The real Santa says thankyou to Squidward in a letter than he shows up and goes insane. 

he's lost it! / Copyright Viacom 

 Patchy ends up unable to end the special so French narrator  does instead. 

            Spongebob's Christmas is  a fun Christmas special that has a sweetness to it. Spongebob is the most optimistic character and was willing to spread Christmas around Bikini Bottom. Squidward plays a good foil to the sponge with his normal grumpiness. He does become quite mean to him but when he feels bad after Spongebob gives him the gift he really embraces that Christmas spirit and in great way.   The main song is great and very re memorable. Patchy's segments are also quite fun and not too much to take away from the plot of the main special.  I think this is a great special for Christmas watching.

  Tune in next time, we tell all the animals of the world about Christmas  .