PSAs: Farms are dangerous stay away!

PSA  Joshuaonline Uk 

           Last time we went through a long public information film, we saw children being run over by trains in various ways. (From January 2017)  This was a way to make sure that people never ever even breathe near a train again.  Now we need children to stay away from farms that brings us to our topic today. 
 
  Our 27 minute film  was released in 1977 and is called "Apaches".   It was produced by Graphic Films (which is a great name)  and Central Of  Information.  So now we look at this film meant to make sure to tell you that farms don't play. 

  Let's take a look at the 1977 public information film called "Apaches".
 
  It starts with dramatic intros like you are about to watch some cowboys fight some Indians in a film from 1954.  It's narrated by a child while we see some children playing as Apaches hence the title.

Now we need to introduce the kids in this film.
  First there's Kim , she's eight , Sharon she's 9, Michael , he's daft  because Apaches didn't wear red (guess his age doesn't matter) and our narrator who is telling us this information is named Danny,  there's also Tom and Robert, there's no more information about them. ( I see how Danny feels about them)

 pictured: Kim, Sharon, Michael, Danny,Tom and Robert

   Danny says that his mom and dad are getting ready for a party as it cuts to a scene with a table being clothed.  Now the kids are at farm still playing their  game.  There's a tractor doing farm stuff. The children decide to charge the tractor that's pulling a trailer because reasons.  The farmer actually plays with them by "shooting" at them while they shoot.    Kim was standing on the trailer jumping  when she falls and gets crushed by the big wheel and the shot changes to a school where Kim's coat hook is without a coat while a man takes her name off the wall near the hook.
       

Also the names might be in first name order, not surname , so interesting. 

   Danny talks about his mom and dad prepping for the party while the other remaining kids are talking in a barn.  Danny gets bored of this and they all go to play as soon as they figure out what to do. They settle on playing kick the can. There's a lot of running around the farm while the children are  trying to hide from being tagged by Danny.  Tom runs and falls into a pit called a slurry pit, which is fit with animal waste and other organic material and is quite liquid. He calls for help  but sadly drowns.  The school shot is used again this time a desk being cleaned out the belongings being put into a bag with Tom's name on it.

 The party is mentioned again and Danny talks about how adult parties are boring as we see a table being made with flat ware.   The children are playing at the farm again , though now there are four. Sharon even mentions that there are only four them making their game of Calvary and Indians hard.   The farmer even play shoots back at them again as they "shoot" at  his tractor. (alright then) After the "Apaches" take their win they decide to celebrate.  In a barn there's a bottle that's unmarked but they are at least smart to be wary of it as it might be poison.  Sharon says they should mime it. So they fake a drink  except Sharon whom accidentally swallows it bit spits out some.   Sharon starts feeling strange as she goes home and spends the night in pain. (The screams are harrowing)The next shot is a bedroom being cleaned and emptied.

Yeah don't do that? 

   

    Back to the party thing, Danny wonders why adults drink.  Back at the farm, the 3 remaining  children  play again. Michael almost gets run over but, this film isn't going to repeat a run over. (Does make you think he will be though) They are pretending to be "Starsky and Hutch"  Michael and Robert pretend to be the duo as they are chasing Danny.  When Michael jumps from behind a metal gate that was on a wall it falls on Robert. (The film shows his body while bleeding instead of implying it like the last few) The film cuts back to the party  as guests start showing up.
               

Starskey and Hutch remake is weird man

    There are now two children left, Michael and Danny. They play another game  as the Apaches. Danny decides to jump on a tractor to fake drive it  while the farmer says "be careful" he accidentally hits the parking brake and the machine moves he screams for help  it falls off a cliff and it cuts back to a woman in a room while a man walks in.  To find out that this party is not a party but funeral for Danny. Michael of the six is the only one left as he's at the funeral.   Danny narrates that it's a nice party that's where we find out that Michael is his cousin.  The film ends with names of children who were killed in farm accidents.

       more after the jump

2021 Golden Globes Awards nominations

Golden Globes  Awards 

   The 78th annual Golden Globe Awards nominations have been announced , the awards air February 28th at 8/5pmet on NBC.   It will be hosted by Tina Fey and Amy Poehler.   

      Here's the list 

Best Television Series – Musical or Comedy

“Emily in Paris” (Netflix)

“The Flight Attendant” (HBO Max)

“The Great” (Hulu) 

“Schitt’s Creek” (CBC) 

“Ted Lasso” (Apple TV Plus) 

Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series – Drama

Jason Bateman (“Ozark”) 

Josh O’Connor (“The Crown”) 

Bob Odenkirk (“Better Call Saul”)

Al Pacino (“Hunters”) 

Matthew Rhys (“Perry Mason”) 

Best Performance by an Actress in a Limited Series or Motion Picture Made for Television 

Cate Blanchett (“Mrs. America”) 

Daisy Edgar-Jones (“Normal People”)

Shira Haas (“Unorthodox”) 

Nicole Kidman (“The Undoing”) 

Anya Taylor-Joy (“The Queen’s Gambit”) 

Best Director – Motion Picture

Emerald Fennell, “Promising Young Woman” (Focus Features)

David Fincher, “Mank” (Netflix) 

Regina King, “One Night in Miami” (Amazon Studios) 

Aaron Sorkin, “The Trial of the Chicago 7” (Netflix) 

Chloé Zhao, “Nomadland” (Searchlight Pictures) 

Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy 

Maria Bakalova (“Borat Subsequent Moviefilm”) 

Kate Hudson (“Music”)

Michelle Pfeiffer (“French Exit”) 

Rosamund Pike (“I Care a Lot”)

Anya Taylor-Joy (“Emma”) 

Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama

Riz Ahmed (“Sound of Metal”) 

Chadwick Boseman (“Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom”) 

Anthony Hopkins (“The Father”) 

Gary Oldman (“Mank”) 

Tahar Rahim (“The Mauritanian”)

Best Television Series – Drama 

“The Crown” (Netflix)

“Lovecraft Country” (HBO Max) 

“The Mandalorian” (Disney Plus) 

“Ozark” (Netflix)

“Ratched” (Netflix)

Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series – Drama 

Olivia Colman (“The Crown”) 

Jodie Comer (“Killing Eve”)

Emma Corrin (“The Crown”) 

Laura Linney (“Ozark”) 

Sarah Paulson (“Ratched”) 

Best Performance by an Actor in a Limited Series or Motion Picture Made for Television 

Bryan Cranston (“Your Honor”)

Jeff Daniels (“The Comey Rule”) 

Hugh Grant (“The Undoing”) 

Ethan Hawke (“The Good Lord Bird”) 

Mark Ruffalo (“I Know This Much Is True”) 

Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy 

Sacha Baron Cohen (“Borat Subsequent Moviefilm”) 

James Corden (“The Prom”)

Lin-Manuel Miranda (“Hamilton”) 

Dev Patel (“The Personal History of David Copperfield”) 

Andy Samberg (“Palm Springs”)

Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama

Viola Davis (“Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom”) 

Andra Day (“The United States vs. Billie Holiday”) 

Vanessa Kirby (“Pieces of a Woman”) 

Frances McDormand (“Nomadland”) 

Carey Mulligan (“Promising Young Woman”) 

Best Motion Picture – Drama 

“The Father” (Sony Pictures Classics) 

“Mank” (Netflix) 

“Nomadland” (Searchlight Pictures) 

“Promising Young Woman” (Focus Features) 

“The Trial of the Chicago 7” (Netflix) 

Best Actor in a Supporting Role in Any Motion Picture

Sacha Baron Cohen (“The Trial of the Chicago 7”) 

Daniel Kaluuya (“Judas and the Black Messiah”) 

Jared Leto (“The Little Things”)

Bill Murray (“On the Rocks”) 

Leslie Odom, Jr. (“One Night in Miami”) 

Best Original Score – Motion Picture 

“The Midnight Sky” (Netflix) – Alexandre Desplat 

“Tenet” (Warner Bros.) – Ludwig Göransson 

“News of the World” (Universal Pictures) – James Newton Howard 

“Mank” (Netflix) – Trent Reznor, Atticus Ross 

“Soul” (Pixar) – Trent Reznor, Atticus Ross, Jon Batiste 

Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series – Musical or Comedy 

Lily Collins (“Emily in Paris”)

Kaley Cuoco (“The Flight Attendant”) 

Elle Fanning (“The Great”) 

Jane Levy (“Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist”) 

Catherine O’Hara (“Schitt’s Creek”) 

Best Television Limited Series or Motion Picture Made for Television 

“Normal People” (Hulu/BBC) 

“The Queen’s Gambit” (Netflix) 

“Small Axe” (Amazon Studios/BBC) 

“The Undoing” (HBO) 

“Unorthodox” (Netflix) 

Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Series, Limited Series or Motion Picture Made for Television 

John Boyega (“Small Axe”) 

Brendan Gleeson (“The Comey Rule”) 

Dan Levy (“Schitt’s Creek”) 

Jim Parsons (“Hollywood”)

Donald Sutherland (“The Undoing”) 

Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy 

“Borat Subsequent Moviefilm” (Amazon Studios) 

“Hamilton” (Walt Disney Pictures) 

“Palm Springs” (Neon) 

“Music” (Vertical Entertainment)

“The Prom” (Netflix) 

Best Actress in a Supporting Role in Any Motion Picture 

Glenn Close (“Hillbilly Elegy”) 

Olivia Colman (“The Father”) 

Jodie Foster (“The Mauritanian”)

Amanda Seyfried (“Mank”) 

Helena Zengel (“News of the World”)

Best Motion Picture – Foreign Language 

“Another Round” (Samuel Goldwyn Films) 

“La Llorona” (Shudder) 

“The Life Ahead” (Netflix) 

“Minari” (A24) 

“Two of Us” (Magnolia Pictures)

Best Screenplay – Motion Picture 

Emerald Fennell – “Promising Young Woman” (Focus Features) 

Jack Fincher – “Mank” (Netflix) 

Aaron Sorkin – “The Trial of the Chicago 7” (Netflix) 

Florian Zeller, Christopher Hampton – “The Father” (Sony Pictures Classics) 

Chloe Zhao – “Nomadland” (Searchlight Pictures) 

Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series – Musical or Comedy 

Don Cheadle (“Black Monday”)

Nicholas Hoult (“The Great”) 

Eugene Levy (“Schitt’s Creek”) 

Jason Sudeikis (“Ted Lasso”) 

Ramy Youssef (“Ramy”) 

Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Limited Series or Motion Picture Made for Television 

Gillian Anderson (“The Crown”) 

Helena Bonham Carter (“The Crown”) 

Julia Garner (“Ozark”) 

Annie Murphy (“Schitt’s Creek”) 

Cynthia Nixon (“Ratched”)

Best Original Song – Motion Picture

“Fight for You” from “Judas and the Black Messiah” (Warner Bros.) – H.E.R., Dernst Emile II, Tiara Thomas 

“Hear My Voice” from “The Trial of the Chicago 7” (Netflix) – Daniel Pemberton, Celeste

“Io Si (Seen)” from “The Life Ahead” (Netflix) – Diane Warren, Laura Pausini, Niccolò Agliardi 

“Speak Now” from “One Night in Miami” (Amazon Studios) – Leslie Odom Jr, Sam Ashworth 

“Tigress & Tweed” from “The United States vs. Billie Holliday” (Hulu) – Andra Day, Raphael Saadiq

Best Motion Picture – Animated 

“The Croods: A New Age” (Universal Pictures) 

“Onward” (Walt Disney Pictures) 

“Over the Moon” (Netflix) 

“Soul” (Walt Disney Pictures) 

“Wolfwalkers” (Cartoon Saloon) 

WGN America to Rebrand as NewsNation

Cable TV News WGN America  NewsNation 

 

      Nexstar Media Group's WGN America will be rebranding as News Nation, on the 6th month anniversary launch of "News Nation" also on that date , they are adding two new live hours of programming.  

  

    On  March 1st, cable network WGN America, will be full rebranding into NewsNation.  Weekdays live programming which currently runs from 8-11pmet/ 7-10pm CT will be expanding to start at 6pmet.  

  

    NewsNation Early Edition  will launch  at 6pmet , Nichole Berlie, who currently co-anchors the weekend  version of NewsNation  will be the anchor of this new hour.  

       

        The Donlon Report    current co-anchor  of the weeknight version of NewsNation , Joe Donlon will host his own hour long program weeknights 7pmet.  This program will have a  mixture of news and interviews. 

         The current News Nation program will be branded as NewsNation Prime;  Marni Hughes and Rob Nelson, who have been part of the anchoring team since launch will continue to anchor that. The program will be cut to 2 hours as , the previously announced,  Banfield program launches that evening at 10pmet. 

  

           NewsNation launched on September 1st 2020 on WGN America, Nexstar purachased WGN America along with it's parent company, Tribune, in 2019.  News Nation is viewing themselves as a news service to against the opinion filled cable news channels on American TV.   

 Currently, WGN America airs reruns of dramas and sitcoms through the day with News in the evening, it does come to wonder what happens to those on March 1st as the rebrand happens, or is Nexstar doing a piece meal approach and will wait a while to expand further? 

Press release after the jump 

The Lookback: Degrassi Jr. High

The Lookback Joshuaonline Canada 

        Previously on Joshuaonline, we looked at Degrassi's very first piece of media called "Ida Makes a Movie" which was part of  the first Degrassi series called "Kids of Degrassi Street" which I would love to do more of, I hopefully one day will.  This time, we are skipping ahead to what became a follow up series called "Degrasi Jr. High". 

       

        Degrassi Jr. High followed up "Kids of Degrassi Street" meaning it premiered and a year after the other series. Following along with the concpept of what "Degrassi" was about, it was a series that really depict childhood in a close to accurate way or at least, be accurate to relate to a child. In this series' case was to relate to middle schoolers.   

     

        This series is not a direct sequel to "Kids" even though some of the actors did move on to this series in different roles. This series was a sequel in the sense that they took place at a Degrassi school on Degrassi street.  This series premiered on CBC on January 18, 1987 and ran 3 seasons until 1989. The series made it to United States where it ran on PBS (yes, PBS)  which was a bump from being on  premium cable the predecessor series was placed.   It also ran on other channels in other countries. 

      

     The first season was 13 episodes, this series amassed a total of 43 episodes.  I'm going to talk about the very first episode, in this post, and maybe come back to this series in more depth even more in the future.  This is really to give a feel for what the series was, (and coming back means I can  talk about a very specific episode important in Degrassi history) 

      The first episode is called "Kiss me, Steph".

            The episode starts with a boy named Arthur trying to get the attention of a girl named Stephanie, who pretends she doesn't know him because they are brother and sister because reasons. They also don't live together because their parents are divorced.  (very expositional intro)  She's a grade 8 and he's a grade 7 student.  The theme song is very 80's  like too 80's for the 80's. (I'm scared) 

Hey wait! / Copyright Wild Brain 

          It's a brand new school year (wonderful!) The show's atmosphere fits more like camera is just following kids around kind of like how "Kids of Degrassi Street" felt.    While Steph goes in all confident and exuding her know how of how things are done, her brother is new at the school is going through it like a lost puppy in a mall. (what?)   Steph hears the school is doing a school election, because we are getting that plot on the very episode, and decides she should run for president. 

Markers are most used during elections than any other thing / Copyright Wild Brain

        There's a boy named Joey who fake helps Arthur find his class, instead directing him to a janitor's closet. (Arthur was naive enough to let this  happen and Joey is dumb enough to let this work) A boy finds Arthur locked in the closet and they are both trying to find the right class room.  They find her. (That was easy)  

Yes, you are here/ Copyright Wild Brain 

            The episode flies by in time apparently, because Steph has already started campaigning and making posters and other election-y election stuff.  The background music during this show is interesting, not bad, maybe that depends on taste, just slightly interesting.  There's another person running, his name is Snake. (Oooh, those who know will know, I'll say nothing otherwise)  

Rock n' Roll President / Copyright Wild Brain 

      Joey is back he's weird and maybe creepy.  So then a dumb campaign offer comes up, read the title of the episode. Steph offers free kisses for votes. (what the heck? )   Voula, her best friend, doesn't like this plan at all, because it's dumb plan. She kind of just goes along with after being convinced slightly.  She's also losing the girl vote and gathering the horny boy vote. (There's no other way to put that)  Steph thanks Joey, forgetting her own friend. (I hope Voula does something to screw this election up for Steph. ) 

I will not forget this/ Copyright Wild Brain

       Now it's election results time. (Shorter than our election)  Steph wins the election ( I thought this was going go some other direction, oh well)  Before the strange kissing stuff, Steph was really being helped by Voula in her speech making for example, and guess who's mad at her?  (George?)  She does help her brother not get stuffed in a locker by Joey.  Voula tells Steph off for how she treated her, throws the friendship bracelet back at her. 

       After school, Arthur thanks her for helping earlier and offers to help her with her speech to the PTA since Voula won't.  So, she takes the offer.  The episode just kind of ends there.. like just stops and ends there.  The show has continuity , so the next episode, Voula is still mad at her in the next episode and it seems if they are going to make up, it's going to take some time. 

        

         The idea of the show is to have some contained plots but also continuity meaning, nothing goes straight back to normal/ status quo in the next episode. This is the start of what Degrassi did as a series.  The plot of this first episode is relatable to viewers in many ways and the idea of doing anything for popularity is shown well here. I think showing the arc with Steph and her  brother, showing that she does care about him and maybe at least patched something with him, was a nice touch to show she isn't too far gone.   One day, we'll return to Degrassi and even more return turn to Degrassi Jr. High. 

      

                 

FOX News Channel revamps daytime and 7pmet Line Up

Fox News channel   TV News 

    Fox News Channel on Monday has announced big changes to their daytime  and early evening fringe line up, starting January 18th. Notably, the 7pm ET switches to an opinion-based show, and a reversal of a change made in January of 2020.  

       First off, Bill Hemmer, who replaced Shepard Smith in January 2020 in the 3pmet slot, will be moving back to the program he co-anchored from 2007-2020, "America's Newsroom" which will also return to being 2 hour long program.  Co-anchoring with  Hemmer will be Dana Perino, who currently hosts  2pmet, and is part of the early-evening show, "The Five".   This program aiirs from 9-11AMET

      Second, Harris Faulkner, who currently co-hosts the noon et program, "Outnumbered" and hosts the 1pmet program "Outnumbered: Overtime" will be moving to 11amet, with "The  Faulkner Focus", she will also still be on "Outnumbered".

       

     Third,  Current, co-anchor of "America's Newsroom" , Sandra Smith, is moving to co-anchor a new 1-3pmet program  called "America Reports" she will be joined by current Chief White House correspondent, John Roberts.   

    Martha MacCallum's program, "The Story", moves from 7pmet  to 3pmet.   

  The 4-7pmet hours stay the same.

 At 7pmet, a new opinion show "FOX News Primetime" will premiere, it will start with a rotating set of hosts until a permeant  host is announced. 

press release after the jump 

Girls Last Tour : Another Look: This time Episode 9: What is Life?

Anime  

     I think it's time to talk about "Girls Last Tour" again. I've talked about episode 5 and Episode 1, int that order, So it's episode 9 time. That makes sense.   

       One of the magical things about this show is the atmosphere and sound space as I mentioned in episode 1, this episode starts with the girls on their kattenrad and through this building. You can hear the machine riding on the metal, and the pipes are making their sounds, it's great sound building that this series does so well.  In the background of the series even without fully mentioning it, is death. This series has the background of the concept of death in it. The world is pretty much decimated, you don't see much living creatures of any sort, there's no trees, the buildings are old some are falling apart. It's called Girls' Last Tour for a reason. The line where Yuu asks "Hey, what does "alive" mean?" is main of idea of this episode.

   

          There's a giant robot thing that they don't know what it is.  Yuu questions is it a life form, and Chito answers by saying  that machines aren't alive. They end up seeing a fish, showing that his place was a fishery.  There was one fish, still alive, then a  robot talks to them. The robot says that they can't eat the fish because he's the manager of the place.  (Yuu really wants to eat the fish)

           The place was once  a fish farm, but now there's only fish left. (the one we saw earlier) The robot says that can swim in any of the non used tanks. The robot mentions that its job is to maintain everything even without people aren't around.  Chito almost drowns (woah, this is Girls' last tour not Girl's last tour, don't die)   Yuuri does save her before this show gets dark, well more dark. 

         Instead of trying to eat it, Yuu maybe wants to friends  with the fish.  The robot says that it was programmed with empathy, meaning it can connect with humans, which is why its been so accommodating to them. During their sleep, they are awoken by the giant robot who is now dismantling the spot.   The smaller robot "talks" with the bigger one for the girls and  it says it won't stop. In a turn from earlier, Yuu worries about the fish and fears for its life. 

         Yuu goes to explode the robot while, Chito wonders if it's wrong to "kill" it because it's "alive".  The idea of what life is comes through her mind as she tries to understand.  The robot is destroyed and the smaller robot says that the fish and he will live a little longer. Though, all things will die one day.   Maybe life means that something has to end.

            The episode's question is what is life? Are the robots alive, or are they just working machine's like the kattenrad.  The difference is the robots (at least the smaller one) can talk and move on their own.  After all that wondering what is alive, they decided to pick a fish over the large robot, mostly because Yuu grew more attached to it. The episode attaches the idea of mortality to it more than the others, have  done because it also ties in the girls two lives. Chito almost drowns, again death, her life was that close to ending. The one great equalizer for the robots, the girls, the fish is death.  Does  make a person think without saying what would be the right then to do. 
 
        The smaller robot mentions that death will come to all at some point.  I think this episodes shows more how this wonderful series can make a person enjoy what's going on and think about what the situation. The music and the sound effects were great through  and really added to the composition of the show.  This another stand out episode in a stand out anime.


   That's it for now: tune in next time when don't eat that fish.



         
         

       

Christmas: For Better or For Worse: The Bestest Present

Christmas 

                  I have done three "For Better or For Worse" specials. They are based of the comic strip by the same name.  Those specials are part of six that ran the 1990's they even a Christmas special I've written about. But there is another, we are going to be looking at a special from 1985  called "For Better or For Worse: The Bestest Present" another Christmas themed special, this would be the first and the first animated appearance of the comic strip characters.   The special ran on CTV in Canada and on HBO/ Disney Channel in the parts of the US that didn't get Canadian  TV. 

 

         The thing about this comic strip was that it followed time in more real time meaning the characters would age, compared to other strips where characters stay static in time and age. So this special being from the 80's would be different from the special from the 90's . This also means April wasn't born yet, so the only kids in the Patterson Family were Michael and Elizabeth.  They would also be slightly younger than the 90's specials, fitting with the age and looks during the 80's comic strips. 

            Michael comes home from school, it's raining, anyway the family minus Dad are going out to eat.  Because For Better or for Worse plays things in a more realistic way  this special follows some more realistic things. It does have some comedic moments.   

Don't fight for the front seat around me

          Michael and Elizabeth look at the toy department of the store . I like how it simple it is depicting Christmas at a department store, there's  a little touch you really can't see anymore due to this modern age. Also Elizabeth's bunny is missing, we saw it fall on the floor at the store. Her father actually dedicates his time to go back to the store to find the bunny.  (That's dedication and love) He misses the bunny by walking right past it because a security guard frowned at him. 

    

It' Right there look down! Look down! Please look down! 

         It was a special bunny because it was made by her grandmother.  John, the father, tells his daughter the sad news about the bunny. (With a song!)   There's a janitor at the store who seems annoyed about the aspects of the commercialism of Christmas. He's found the bunny, and somehow figures out it was made by a grandma.(I didn't know that was a thing to tell) He talks to the rabbit and knows that someone misses it. 

           

           Michael suggests they put an ad in the newspaper for the bunny, his mother doesn't think it will work, but she'll do it anyway. It's sweet to see him care for his little sister that way, this special is being too sweet.  Anyway , another song because it snowed !   Janitor guy sees the ad in the newspaper, and thinks the kids who put the ad are spoiled because reasons. 

  

Abandoning  a bunny is crime here in Canada 

         It's Christmas Day, I think the dog may have given away a hint before. The brown paper package in mail the day before that came, had the bunny inside. Liz is happy.  With some phone calls they figure out it was the grumpy janitor named Walter.  We see that Walter is alone on Christmas day when John calls him to thank him.  The family decides to invite him over for Christmas dinner, it such a sweet ending.  Walter decides against the big reward, he's happy enough to be invited. 

She got her bunny back! 

              The big thing I really like from "For Better or For Worse" specials is the atmosphere. It's not over the top, it's understated but feels nice. The Christmas at the store felt like Christmas at a store, at least a more classic style department store, it's nostalgic in a way , but that's because this special came out years and years ago.  The pacing is slow but it's not overly boring slow, it's fitting a natural pace of time and makes this special comfy.  The plot was simple but I like it, and it ends well. 

Happy ending for all 

     It's a nice alternative to louder Christmas specials and it's really something enjoyable.  

 That' s it for now tune in next time as we look down better. 

Christmas: A (Ocean Spray) Cranberry Christmas

Christmas 

     I was shifting through my DVD-R's and found one that was filled with recordings from November to December 2008. It had random stuff filling it's six hours, but one thing that popped out to me was a recording from ABC Family in December a special called "A Cranberry Christmas" .  This special I vaguely remember it's like a special that exists then disappears so it's forgotten.

    The special is based off a 1976 book of the same time. This special is more than though. You see, Ocean Spray, the company known for cranberries decided to make this into a special. For some reason. Like, they never  made one before or since. They even roped in getting Barry Manilow because Barry Manilow. I wonder how that meeting went. It was presented by Ocean Spray on ABC Family meaning everyone else some how passed up this glorious special and they went to basic cable instead. It was commercial free because Ocean Spray. 

            Even the recording has an introduction by the then Ocean Spray ad campaign of two guys. They tried to make it look like a picture book but Ocean Spray didn't splash out their cash.  They have a narrator who is also Barry Manilow. (Hey Barry, while you are here doing the songs, could you also narrate, k thanks)  The animation isn't something to write about, 1960's Hanna and Barbera would think it's too stiff.  

  

         The first song is Barry Manilow signing that Christmas is just around the corner. (It's waiting around for you to come by and take your cash)   We meet the two main characters named Maggie, a little girl, I think and her Grandma named Grandma.   There's an old man named Mr. Grape who says he owns a pond.  Then another guy, with a beard, named Mr. Whiskers. (Really!) says no that' s his bog not a pond. I hope you like them going back and forth between saying cranberry pond and cranberry bog.   Maybe they could  pop open  a bottle of Ocean Spray 100% Cranberry Mango juice and talk it over. 

I'm a Jets fan you idiot, the Patriots suck!/ Copyright Ocean Spray (I think)

            Whiskers says that his father grew cranberries there and so did his grandfather and people before him. How else you do you think we get delicious Ocean Spray 100% cranberry pomegranate juice?  (yes)  Grandma goes out stops the men from fighting, and they apparently, are scared of her power.

I said dance/ Copyright Ocean Spray 

          She offers them cranberry cookies. (Made with real Ocean Spray  Crasins(R) )  Grape hates cookies. Grandma tells the two men to search for the deed to prove it's their property.  Could have thought of that earlier, but they might be idiots.  (Just like you would be if you don't buy Ocean Spray's fresh black berries that's right they sale other fruits!)  Whiskers' house is a mess and Mr. Grape figures out he might not have rights to the pond. (bog) He just wants peace in winter, but children like to skate on the bog (pond) and annoy him.  He could just move but alright. (He should really try Ocean Spray Cranberry sauce, it's good for any occasion and calms you down with it's soothing jiggle) 

Santa doesn't look so good/ Copyright Ocean Spray

            Cyrus Grape gets the smart idea , by smart I mean stupid,  to make sure that Whiskers doesn't find the deed. Whiskers is already having a hard time himself because his house is a mess anyway. (He really should take an Ocean Spray Cranberry + Health supplement to clear his mind and clean up)  Magge comes over to Mr. Whiskers' house to check on him. (He might have died from not drinking Ocean Spray 100% Grapefruit juice)  Maggie an envelope from Mr.Whiskers' sister who lives in the city, she is coming over on Christmas Eve (she has no concern over her brother might be busy or something, and eating his Ocean Spray Crasins (R) with Blue Berries)  

       He also needs to check his mail more anyway his sister says she will somehow make him live with her in the City. (what?)  No sure how she can do that, they are both adults, he could say no, kick her off his property and have her arrested if she doesn't leave. (Then drink a fresh glass of Ocean Spray Cran-Engregy drink) Thanks to Grape being creepy, he can over hear everything and try to mess up things. (Arrest him too and take away his Ocean Spray sparkling Cran-Raspberry juice)  

      Grandma thinks it makes sense that an adult woman can take an adult man and force him to the city.(she's not been the same since that reindeer ran her over)  Now Cyrus Grape does more creepy things by standing outside Maggie and Grandma's house. He also breaks an entry and messes up Whiskers' house. They also have Barry Manilow sing a knock off "You're a Mean one, Mr. Grinch". Really though, do arrest this man. (and make sure he can never have Cranberry spicy enchiladas  again ) 

Dear Brother, I have no name so I don't remember yours so /Copyright Ocean Spray

       more after the jump