The Loud House Season 1: The Sweet Spot/ A Tale of Two Tables

The Loud House Nickelodeon 


 Previously : The Louds commit a coup but like all coups it failed. You can read about those episodes Here now we continue with episode 4's pair of segments.

    Episode 4A: The Sweet Spot 

     So the Louds have a really old van that can fit all of them and the condition of the seats are varying this means Lincoln's quest is obtain a spot he thinks is best, or in his words "The Sweet spot",  and the segment starts simply enough Lincoln is packing up for a family trip the next day.  He mentions each seat's problem and how he figured out which seat is the best.  Anyway, his plan is to sleep in the van until morning he ends up there and everything is fine.

   He contacts Clyde who puts into his mind another wrench in the gears, asking who will sitting next to in the car, so he goes back inside and figures that Leni would  the best person to sit with in the car. Everything is solved oh wait, Clyde once again puts another wrench in the gears.  This time who is sitting behind Lincoln?  So, he figures Lisa would be the best even though she likes to talk about the dangers of car riding.  Lisa. later talks to him and now she wants to make sure Luna doesn't sit next to her then sets in the motion of moving everyone around. He finally gives up on Clyde. 

   Now the bridge into the rest of the episode is when the girls find out that he was trying to get the best spot in the van.  This turns into a mess where the characters starts fighting each other in the literal sense causing the mother to make them stay in and not be anywhere near the van until 7AM. (4  in the West)  When it hits 7AM they start an all out battle with each other causing the van to even get destroyed.  The trip was canceled and they now have to sit in the living room.

     Time to  play "OVER THINK IT"  : All Lincoln really should have done was ignore Clyde in the first place and sleep in the spot until morning, then hope for the best which sister sits next to and behind him. Oh well. 

          Unlike the past few episodes where it seems the mold was character learns something at the end  this one, nope not at all which I am fine with, really, the reason being that not every episode needs to have a lesson and it doesn't mean everything is worse for the wear.  I think the episode is entertaining and I don't get a sense they are doing it in spite or hatefulness  it's just they all really want something that before Lincoln even thought of it they didn't know they wanted.  It does show that yeah sometimes they love and hug other times they fight over stupid stuff like normal people.   It's not a gold star episode oh no,  but there was some comedy in the episode that I enjoyed  it gave me some laughs so 7.7/10.

            More after the jump

The Loud House Season 1: Driving Miss Hazy/ No Guts No Glori

The Loud House  Nickelodeon 


    Our Journey through Loud House season 1 continues , if you missed the past post you can check that out here. Now on to the pairing for episode 3.

    Episode 3A: Driving Miss Hazy 

             The character of Leni is one of those dumber characters but this show does do more to her character than just make her the "dumb one" which is a nice welcome change.   In the series canon Lori is 17 years old and the next oldest sister Leni, is 16-years-old and is also legal to drive that drives (boo!) our plot for this episode.  In the Loud House, Lori likes her power to be able to drive as the only Loud child who can legally drive. This means when the others want to have a ride she makes them pay with different thing like having Lincoln do her laundry., Lisa doing her calculus, and Lucy do a poem. 

    Lincoln remembers that Leni is old enough to drive but apparently Leni has a Spongebob problem meaning she has failed her driver's test 12 times.  This episode gives us the first glimpse of a parent as well. This show was feeling a little Peanuts there anyway, Lincoln decides to help Leni learn how to drive by using a video game. (Not Grand Theft Auto, that'd be strange ,right?)  Leni does prove to be a tough case to teach.  Apparently, Lincoln thinks that her doing well on a video game is good enough for a real test and she goes to do another test.  Lincoln thought wrong she did tackle an old lady though.

     Lori makes fun of Lincoln for trying to teach Leni how drive and Lincoln tries again.  Leni is also good at making a bed. The others in the family decide to also in tune their help with making sure Leni knows how to drive.  After some more problem Lincoln decides the best way to teach Leni how to drive speaking the way she speaks.  This works.

   When Leni goes to bed, Lori decides in a moment of madness to corrupt Leni by putting a recording into Leni's head of driving instructions. Now, umm this is bad idea because you know, she could get Leni killed if this was different show, in fact when Lincoln finds out that Lori  did this he mentions that she really could have gotten Leni hurt.  Lori does explain that she would feel unneeded if Leni gets her license. They rush to go check on her and she's not hurt but she did fail her test.  Lori lets the truth out to Leni and makes it up to her by teaching her how to drive.

     Again, this show did a nice job of making the "dumb character" archetype work and giving Leni more than just that as her personality where she has genuine sweetness to her. The episode itself was great as well.  I give this episode 9.7/10.

 More after the Jump

Scooby Doo 50: Scooby Doo and Guess Who?: First Look

Scooby Doo 50 

             Back in the post about "The New Scooby Doo Movies" I mentioned that they are going to be bringing back this format idea in a new series called "Scooby Doo and Guess Who?" at some point in 2019.  Well, that series has come out and being released  (as of late June 2019) a weekly series on the Warner Brothers owned Boomerang app.  The first episode came out June 27, 2019 and this post is more to talk about that first episode to give what we think about it.

         This is Scooby Doo and Guess Who? With the episode, "Revenge of the Swamp Monster".

                     I must say the theme song is a nice call back the original theme with the title cards matching "The New Scooby-Doo Movies", the only complaint is that it's short.  (Longer Theme Songs 2020)   The animation design fits off their more original designs as well it's nicely done to fit that aesthetic. Though this series takes place in our modern times.

       This episode starts with two guys golfing , when one of the guys worries about a swamp monster hears a crow and runs away then the other golfer is taken away by the swamp monster.  Later, Shaggy gets  a call and some rich guy takes them away in his helicopter.  They also point inward jokes at  themselves on the things Scooby is known for , the guy in the costume and the famous "I would have gotten away with it if it wasn't for those meddling kids and their dog (variant)". 

        Since the format of the series is to have a guest star in each episode this one has basketball player Chris Paul who wants Shaggy to help caddie him for a charity golf thing. Ok pay attention, he is doing the golf thing to save an art school so he can teach kids bowling. (Yes?)  Apparently, it's built on a swamp land. Is that teacher the monster? Is that teacher the monster?   Anyway, I'm going mention that the other golfers are introduced with the strangest intros ever.

         They've gone for comedy in this series and I'm glad they have.  They also have the classic Scooby Doo chases as well it's like a love letter to the original formula. (I'm glad they did) We explain how Chris Paul saved Shaggy's life, guess how he did that? 

     This was a fun episode and I liked how it followed the hallmarks for what we expect in Scooby Doo.  I think it might be fun series, so check it out on the Boomerang streaming service/app.  Might talk more about this series in the future.

       Tune in next time, when we have a guest star show up!

ABC announces Fall 2019 Premiere Dates

ABC TVLookFall2019 

    ABC has released their fall TV programming premiere dates.  They are premiering most of their line up during the "so-called" premiere week.  ABC starts their season off on Monday, September 16 with a new season of  "Dancing with the Stars". 


 Here's there full premiere dates , all times ET unless otherwise noted

    Monday, September 16
    8-10pm Dancing with the Stars  (season premiere)

    Monday, September 23
      10PM  The Good Doctor (season premiere)

     Tuesday, September 24
      8PM    The Conners (Season Premiere)
      8:30     Bless This Mess (Season Premiere; new time)
      9PM      Mixed-ish  (Series Premiere)
      9:30PM    Black-ish (Season premiere)
      10PM       Emergence (Series Premiere)

     Wednesday, September 25
      8PM The Goldbergs (Season Premiere)
     8:30pm  Schooled   (Season Premiere)
     9PM     Modern Family (Season Premiere)
     9:30pm   Single Parents   (Season Premiere)
    10pm   Stumptown   (Series Premiere)

    Thursday, September 26
      8PM  Grey's Anatomy (Season Premiere)
     9PM   A Million Little Things (Season Premiere)
     10PM   How to Get Away With Murder (Season Premiere)

     Friday, September 27
    8PM    American Housewife (Season Premiere; new day and time)
    8:30PM Fresh Off The Boat ( Season Premiere; new time)
    9-11PM   20/20

   Sunday, September 29
    7PM    America's Funniest Home Videos (Season Premiere)
    9PM    Shark Tank (Season Premiere )
   10pm   The Rookie  (Season Premiere; new day and time)

    Sunday, October 6
     8PM   Kids Say the Darndest Things  (Series Premiere)

Press release after the jump

The Loud House Season 1: Heavy Meddle/ Making the Case

The Loud House  Nickelodeon 


         Our journey through "The Loud House" season  1 continues. Previously we looked at episode 1 if you want to read that , you can check that here.  Now on to episode 2's segments so come along and join the fun! (woah, don't leave!)

       Episode 2A: Heavy Meddle 

           Lincoln has sisters who care about his well being but sometimes care about his well being a little TOO much.  It's understandable when there's a kid picking on him he doesn't want them to find out because they might react in a way that might make matters worse.

         When a bully leaves gum in Lincoln's hair he tries to hide it from the sisters. He describes it like a weather report and sneaks around the house to the fridge to get peanut  butter. (This is the part where I wonder why the heck the Louds have peanut butter in the fridge why? why? why? oh my gosh why? why?)  I guess he thinks peanut butter gets gum out hair some how?  Doesn't matter there's no peanut butter so instead he gets scissors.

    His plan gets derailed though as his mother's voice demands he puts the trash out now. (Bad timing , voice lady) Now he as to do more hiding from sisters but Lisa finds that he has gum in his hair and figures that he didn't put in there. He begs her not to tell anyone but genius girl ends up telling others because she didn't want to keep that info in her head. (what?)

        The gaggle of sisters all run to his room and try to figure out what's going on with him. Lincoln begs them to stay out because they'll make it worse.  Lincoln does have time to break the fourth wall to do more fake weather relating to his sisters.  They suggest multiple weird things to confront the bully.  Lynn grabs a random boy ( who now should sue)  and then he reveals that it's a girl.


        Do they a) still continue the course and decide they should take her because they are girls and boys can't hit girls so they'll do it?  b)  tell Lincoln they can't beat her up because she's a girl  or c) think that it's  a crush because this is a cartoon and of course the answer is c and I wasted my time with this game show like question instead of continuing the episode's talk?   They all get excited and say that it means one thing "that when a girl picks on you, she likes you".  Now they suggest thet he needs to kiss her because sure alright.

        After some prodding from Clyde he lets into the madness and lets the girls him so, he can kiss the girl.   He goes outside to kiss and she punches him (probably because he just walked up and kissed her) the girls feel bad. He tells them not meddle any more but the episode needed a littlemore time and the girl named Ronnie Annie throws her phone number through his window proving the sisters were right.

        Yes  the cliche' that if a girl is bullying a boy that means she likes him is really an over played thing in media. It's my personal opinion, but this episode here has 10 girls (some how a baby too?) saying this like it's a universal fact of truth that if a girl is mean to a boy it's because they like him. That doesn't make sense especially for a show where there are 10 girls that have different personalities and interests.  I'm nor saying that some could express their liking that way, but that's not a universality and again, this is  a show seems like it wants to break stereo types yet, there we go.
 
        The episode does provide some entertainment, minus that, and if I was going to be pedantic I'd mention you shouldn't put raw meat on your face either. At least it ended where the sisters figured not to meddle with Lincoln so much, even thought the episode kind of goes out of its way to say they are right because they want to go with that message that yeah sure, it's a universality and there we go. It's an alright episode but,  I can't give it more than  7/10 though.

 

The Loud House Season 1: Left in the Dark/ Get the Message

The Loud House  Nickelodeon 

     Very long preface first. The Loud has been covered on this blog in a different way where I've not been doing the episodes in episodic order I've been them using a randomizer site  and picking two 11 minute segments to talk about them that way. (Or using seasonal episodes to cover seasonal moments)

           For this period I'll be doing the episodes in order.   When I do get to an episode I've done already from "The Loud House" I'll  mark that with a link to that post then skip to the segment I've not done     

         Just in case this is an introduction post to those who don't know what the Loud House  the here's a short explanation.  The series is a ,as of this writing, a currently running Nickelodeon network animated series about an 11 year old boy named Lincoln Loud who is the middle sibling in a family with 10 other children who are all girls.  The series (mostly) follows the exploits of this boy doing his daily life   That's the very short explanation.

  Episode 1A  : Left in the Dark.

          The plot of a character wanting to watch the TV but having to share it with their other siblings is one I wasn't expecting in a series that seems to take place in a modern time where you normally wouldn't think of that as a thing as much as it still might be a thing. Either that or many modern shows don't want to do that type of plot any more.   That's not fully what this segment is about but I thought it was interesting to note that part of it was that.
 
            Since this is the first full episode of the series, which was originally promoted with shorts, this episode has the purpose of also introducing us to our cast of characters and with 11 of them it has to do that quickly for 11 minutes and still get on with the plot.   Lincoln wants to watch his favorite show  Arrgh! which is like those ghost hunting shows that Travel Channel used or kind of still does do , or really any of those ghost hunting show.  It's having a live finale episode.

         Something shown in the shorts carries on this episode as well, where Lincoln talks to the audiece showing that will be a main feature of the series. (as he stares in your soul.)  Lincoln  explains yes it is hard to watch a show in a family with 11 kids but he has plan for this time.  Clyde, his best friend, is introduced as well as well that kid who has a crush on Lincoln's eldest sister, Lori.  The first segment also introduces what will be a running gag in the series Lincoln doing a really long name operation and even acknowledging it's a long name.  ( Operation write a blog post about The Loud House and make a joke in the margins again when we haven't even gone past the 2:12 mark in the episode and not even know how to finish up this joke so, we just cut it off with a )

        Now Lincoln puts his plan into action. First, there are the twin sisters who are six,   we (the people) get an introduction into the characters' personality traits. Lola likes tea parties, Lana likes frogs. Luan likes to record stuff for the internet (what ever happened to that? oh yeah distracted from the episode again) Lisa likes big words and science (every series needs a young genius) , Lynn likes sports, Leni likes beauty, Luna likes music, Lori likes her phone (because teenager), Lilly is a baby.  Lucy is the spooky sister and he offers her an old TV set to watch her show on black and white TV.  (nice)

          Lincoln plugs the TV in and the power goes out.  We also find out that Luan likes to make jokes and puns.  They added the series running gag of Lucy making characters jump because they didn't know where she was and the response of sighs and moans when Luan makes a joke. Anyway, they all seem to get nervous about  the darkness and Lincoln decides to just go down an turn the lights on himself.

         Now the the power is on, Lincoln makes it first to the TV and missed his show (because some how it took them 30 minutes or an hour to turn on the lights?)  The sisters cheer him up and it's nice happy ending.

    Introducing the audience to the family and using a nice simple plot is a good start to the series. The show's aesthetic is pleasing and the animation style itself is simple yet well done. I think it was fine segment and really brings delightful experience to introducing anyone to the show. 10/10.


 More after the Jump

We look at Stitch and Ai

Disney  

            Remember when I talked about the anime series "Stitch"?  Which I thought was an alright series, I did think that we were done. Disney did announce they are making a live-action Lilo and Stitch movie because Disney has nothing better to do or something.  I found out later that there was another Lilo and Stitch, well Stitch, series and this time from China.  

      But it's not a knock-off series because  Disney was involved in making it or at least endorses it because it's even on the Disney Now service in the United States. (Not even "Stitch" gets that respect) So this series is called "Stitch and Ai" (Pronounced like "I" or eye) where once again Lilo is not involved because what is she done acting, did she quit?   I also thought that maybe Stitch had given up on Yuna, from the anime", but apparently this happens before Japan?  The series ran for 13 episodes in 2017,  first on China state television network on CCTV-1 and CCTV-14 eventually making it to Disney Channel Southeast Asia with an English dub.  

     

        The first episode in English is called  "Hello-Goodbye".( I like that song too) So our not Lilo character is narrating where she lives in the  Huangshan mountains.  A real mountain range in China so, we are learning geography today!  Our main character is named Wang Ai Ling but she says you can call her Ai.   Her English voice is by  Erica Mendez so, Disney really has gone all out on this.  The theme song fits China as much as the first series theme fits Hawaii and the other series, Japan. "Lilo and Stitch the series" has the most catchy theme of all of them.
                                  

      Stitch has been kidnapped by space criminals.  His English done this time by Ben Diskin  who was the voice of him in the English dub of "Sitch" he's also done voices in anime such as "Digimon Fusion" (why we picked that credit, nobody knows), and he was the voice of Nigel Uno in "Codenamed Kids Next Door" , plus more but we aren't IMDB.  Then because everybody loves Stitch another space gang goes after the first space gang to steal him and while they try to get him he escapes.  He crash lands on Earth (with visions of Lilo in his head) and lands guess where?
                         

     Ohio. (Well, you know where he lands)  The Huangshan mountains, but let's see what Ai is up to.  So she doesn't want to go somewhere.  So very much like Lilo, Ai's parents are dead and she's being looked after by her sister,Jiejie. There's an aunt named Daiyu who wants Ai to live with her to be the city because she's mean.   Also, Jiejie and Daiyu are voiced in English by Laura Post, who recently has done the voice of Isabella in "The Promised Neverland" dub.

Here's a picture of Ai and her sister/ Copyright Disney because it's not a knockoff series 

   

      The series Mertle is Meiying who apparently just walks into people's houses as Peanuts characters do. Ai sees star in the daytime and thinks to make a wish on it.  Ai runs out and sees that that star is Stitch.   The bad guys come back and chase Stitch and Ai.  Plus in episode 1, I  have to point out that guy with Ice Cream seen in the original series is in this episode with ice cream!  Meanwhile, Stitch and Ai don't die falling off a cliff and the bad guys are still after them.  The bad guys get stopped and I wonder if we will see them again.  The aunt who wants to move Ai out is trying to still  get Ai out, also Sitch can write Chinese so, he's versatile. 

Woah/ Copyright Disney 

         More after the jump

My Network TV's fall Line Up 2019

My Network TV 

    The FOX owned service, My Network TV has released their fall line up.   The network that acts as a syndication service to bring programming to local stations continues for the 2019-2020 season.


 The return of "Law and Order :SVU" is part of the line up, other series like "Law and Order :CI", "Dateline", "Chicago P.D", and "CSI :Miamai" make their return as well. Meanwhile, "The Good Wife" is leaving the line up.  The New line up starts September 23.

        Full schedule all time eastern/central many affiliates air programming in their own time slots so check listings in your area. 

  Mondays 
  8/7c Law & Order : SVU
 9/8c  Law & Order: SVU

 Tuesdays
 8/7c  Chicago P.D.
 9/8c  Chicago P.D.

 Wednesdays
 8/7c  Dateline
 9/8c  Dateline

Thursdays
8/7c  Law & Order :CI  (new night)
9/8c  Law & Order :CI

Fridays
8/7c  CSI: Miami
9/8c  CSI: Miami