Halloween: Our Hero, Dracula

Halloween The Flashback 

 

         So, I did this special before in 2016, but that post is kind of a mess, and instead of just fixing the pictures and stuff on it, I thought, I'd just do the whole thing over again. That's this post. 

          This special has two names , it was originally called "The Halloween that Almost Wasn't" when it premiered on ABC  on October 28,1979.  When it got released to VHS it was retitled, "The Night Dracula Saved the World" which I think is the cooler title.   This special starts Judd Hirsch,  who you may know from such TV shows as Taxi  and Dear, John. 

I wish there was a spinoff series with Dracula and Igor

             The special starts with  Igor and Dracula (when did they get together?)  watching TV when a convenient news report comes on and it's about Count Dracula having a conference that they think he's going to cancel Halloween. Dracula who is watching this is confused since he's not planning to that. Meanwhile in Transylvania, a family is also watching the same news report. It's funny they are a normal human family in Transylvania.  The special wants to give Halloween traditions. Apparently, people think Count Dracula has the power  to just end holidays. (I wish) 

Living in Transylvania is good it has low taxes and good schools 

            Dracula is confused, and the news is just spreading rumors (so normal then)  and Dracula decides he has to fix this.  Now Dracula gets the monsters to join him like the Wolfman (he was a good radio DJ), Frankenstein's monster (Copyright safe version so Universal couldn't sue, ha ha ),   Zabaar the Zombie, (didn't know Zombies had a king, that's random) , a mummy called "The Mummy". (When you are dead you lose your name) and a witch.  

            

She's not happy because she has no name 

     

More after the  jump 

The Lookback: The Peanut Butter Solution

The Flashback   Joshuaonline Canada 

      We can call segment random stuff we found on Tubi TV, which sadly is not a sponsor, but we'll mention them anyway. Unless it's a few years from now and this movie isn't on there anymore, good we wasted our time on that. 

            Today we are looking at a movie, that's kind of well-known but too well known, that's kind of weird to say. It's an 80's family film called "The Peanut Butter Solution" from 1985, it's  a movie part of a series of books and movies called "Tales for All" the second one.  It's a fantasy movie from Canada. 

      

    The movie starts with narration  by our main character named Michael Baskin, mentioning his   sister  named Susan who is making a smoothie and wearing an oversized robe because  its their mother's who has  oh well this is a movie so ...died?  Oh no, she's just away tending to her dead father's needs in Australia.  (what a twist) I wonder if that will be part of the plot in anyway later on. 

                         There's raw egg in that drink / Copyright Les Productions La Fête

         Their father is a stressed artist who is stressed because he is an artist and his wife is missing (that might do it).   Michael's friend, Connie, comes over because we have to introduce the cast. They also mention that Michael plays soccer.  A house had a fire, it's an old spooky house.  This movie feels like it is all introspective then goes back to what it was doing. It's trying to be artsy. (Yes artsy) 

Standing here and wondering that's the sent of Al Orange/ Copyright  Les Productions La Fête

More after the jump

Arthur 25: Season 24: D.W's New Best Friend/ Freaky Tuesday

Arthur PBS 

            We  have made it to season 24, which for our marathon series of posts is the last aired season of new episodes until season 25 airs, which actually will be the final season. These episodes aired in 2021.  This season has 3 episodes or 5  segments, including a special that's a re-done episode.  So it only made sense to just two segments and get it done with instead.   So I picked "D.W's Best Friend" and "Freaky Tuesday" which are part of episode 3. I do have admire that Arthur's theme  intro is still just over a minute, they never cut it so that's good. Anyway to the episodes.

     

 

   Cold Opening:   D.W and Bud, wait what's he doing here, they were supposed to have moved away, did they forget him?  Oh huh? What?  Not mad, just confused. Anyway, D.W and Bud are riding in a minivan, (apparently the Reids got a mini van at some point) to a puppet making thing. 

     The Episode:   The puppet making class is taught by an eight grader (which to 4 or 5 year  olds is old) named Hana (they spelled it that way, don't yell at us).  The episode really sets up awkwardness where the young kids are baffled by the 13-year-old, like the adults writing the episode. D,W and Bud didn't seem to have fun with the class.  

            The next day, Hana knows about D.W's character she's trying to make because she was a fan of it when she was younger. She uses a word that will be outdated by people in the future when this episode reruns in 2033. (If there is a year 2033)  This quickly turns D.W to like Hana as they bond over scars the toys caused them, which is something. 

This is the future of clothing/ Copyright WGBH

      Through out ride in the van D.W mentions Hana multiple times. Later in the grocery store, D.W meets Hana and her friends. (Hana is the only that stands out)  D decides to start liking things Hana likes.  Anyway, D.W with Hana's help makes D.W's  puppet into a making a bug princess. 

   Katinka Mink, the favorite singer for  Hana, is coming to town and D.W tells her on the phone. D.W thinks the girl is her best friend (hence the title)  and decides to start dressing up kind of like Hana. 

    At the puppet class, and D.W finds out that Hana doesn't consider a best friend in the way D.W thought she would. She's heart broken, and presents her puppet as sad.  Then the episode goes into a song. Yep it's animated sequence of D.W as her a bug princess  singing about being rejected. I guess Hana got the message and apologizes to D.W and it works. She and Bud make up and the end.

     That was alright, simple episode. There's not much more to really add for me.  

More after the jump

Arthur 25: Seasons 23 When Duty Calls

Arthur PBS 

    Welcome to our penultimate post in the  Arthur Marathon, this time we are heading to season 23, and this time we are doing a 30 minute special because why not, and the fact that seasons 23 and  24 are very short. I  have a belief that seasons 22, 23,  and24 were done around the same production and just broken up into their own little seasons. They did also add new 1 hour specials around this time as well. (The money from viewers like you is lacking somewhere, give them more money , you!) 

  

       I picked this 30 minute special, even though I haven't done the introduction episode of the character that is focus of this episode, and well one day, I probably will. 

 

   "When Duty Calls" first aired on October 16, 2019.

            The special two-parter breaks from the normal set up of a cold opening so we just head right into the episode.  Arthur, Buster, Muffy, Fern, and Ladonna are having a story making thing together. Ladonna and Fern had been working together on something and it was Ladonna's turn her story ends with  a character named "Lafonna" was carried away and "Vern" never saw each other again.  This stuns Fern, then Ladonna says she thought it would be good to end the book since she won't be working on it anymore.

Our book is about ourselves/ Copyright WGBH

    

        Ladonna then announces that her father is being transferred to Oregon and she's moving away.  Since her family is a military family and has moved before, including to Elwood City. Fern seems more upset than Landonna was. Meanwhile, Bud, Landonna's little brother, is going around D.W's room and saying goodbye to stuff. 

             Bud seems sad that he's moving while D.W seems to be sad too.   While Fern, seems confused, Ladonna comes up to the treehouse and gives back stuff she borrowed.  They are kind of sad because they wanted her to keep it. The episode remembers that Buster went away for awhile (a while season almost!)  They decide to use Buster's experience,  with ice cream. (That's how something works) 

Actually my Dad is CIA and we have to leave or.../ Copyright WGBH

            It kind of works, Buster mentions he now remembers that he was afraid that his friends would forget him and there's a nice Arthur and Buster hug.(bros for life) Fern guesses that Ladonna is worried about them forgetting her. Muffy intercepts an idea and suggests they make a video. Since this is Muffy, I'm sure it will be an extravagant and over the top.

      D.W is trying to dictate a letter for Bud to her Dad to write, this is hard.  D.W decides to try other ideas, we'll see how that works. Muffy puts together a  video and it goes well as something Muffy makes something. Muffy's video is a mess. (Muffy's self awareness is dead) 

More after the jump

The Lookback: Arthur : Seasons 21 and 22 : Sue Ellen and The Last Page/ When Rivals Came to Roost

Arthur PBS 

    We've headed towards the 21st and 22nd seasons and this is nearly the end of our long marathon of posts. (If you are reading this when we do in order or something) 

  

        We head to season 21, with episode 3b, now we've covered episode 3a  .  This is "Sue Ellen and The Last Page" that first aired in October 2017. 

     

   Cold Opening:   YouwhoTube, their version of Youtube, that Muffy is on becasue I'm sure many people are just interested in Muffy's life, just like millions. Sue Ellen wants Muffy to show the library and Sue Ellen 

  

    The episode:  This is an episode from 2017 , that's important.  Since the show ebbs and flows with being with modern times, it was always has, the funny thing is that show had been on for so long that early episodes that were modern for their time have some outdatedness just by the factor of time. The funny thing is that Arthur ends every airing with a message to check out "Arthur" books and other books at your local library. 

        

Libraries are scary/ Copyright WGBH

            This episode is about the library possibly shutting down. The city council wants to cut the funding because there aren't as many patrons as before due to the internet. Sue Ellen wants the place to continue. Her idea is get many people in support of the library to the council meeting.

      

    Oh this episode isn't trying to present the new era is bad and that modern people should feel bad because they might have ignored libraries for a few years. (That'd be a different show)  They instead are showing civic investment.  That you, the viewer, (the kid viewers mostly) if they feel something   is wrong to work for what they feel is right.  In this case, work for the something you care about, like the library. 

 

       During the meeting, Sue Ellen gives a speech to plead for the library. (I like that she mentions that's been in town for just about a year, which is true for the series, but also feels funny since the show has been on the air so long)  Anyway, ironically Sue Ellen finds out from a newspaper that the library will be closing down.  

 

         Because Muffy likes internet hits, she's happy that her recording of Sue Ellen's speech got hits.  Sue Ellen sees that Muffy modified the speech  but says that are supportive comments about the library and  they get the idea to raise money for the library. (It's weird to see an episode mention hashtag)   They also find out that libraries also do other things.  (they do?) 

           Then Sue Ellen and Muffy find out that the library used to dances, and even though the place was saved, there's going to be some cutbacks, even with some of the money raised. Muffy, thanks to seeing the picutre of her parents dancing at the library gets an idea.  Her father has sponsored new computers for the place. Then there's dancing. 

          

         They kind of pull a big save for the episode thanks to having a rich guy help, maybe the moral is find a rich guy to help.  The episode was fine, it was presented more neutrally with the idea of working to save something you care about was  a good one.  

  More after the jump

The CW Holiday Programming 2021

Holiday Christmas CW 

    The CW has released their holiday programming, and pretty early to announced and that's because they are also doing some Halloween/ October specials as well.  The return of  "Grandma Got Runover by a Reindeer" of course. 

  

  Here's the schedule. (All Times ET/PT, Denver and Saint Louis) 

           Friday, October 29 

8pm  Scooby Doo, Where Are You Now! 

  Saturday, October 30 

9pm  World's Funniest Animals : Halloween 

   Friday, November 26 

8pm Masters of Illusion: Christmas Magic 2021 

9pm Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer 

Saturday, November 27

   8pm  Whose Line is it Anyway?  (Encore) 

 8:30pm   Wellington Paranormal    

Sunday, November 28

8pm  The Waltons' Homecoming 

Wednesday, December 1 

8pm Beebo Saves Christmas 

9pm  World's Funniest Animals: Christmas

Saturday, December 4

8pm Silent Night- A Song for the World (Encore)

Wednesday, December 8

8pm  Christmas Around the Word 

Friday, December 10 

8pm  Penn & Teller : Merry Fool Us  (Encore) 

Sunday, December 12

9pm  Greatest Holiday Commercials  Countdown 2021 

Wednesday, December 15

8pm I Heart Radio Jingle Ball 2021

Thursday, December 16

8pm Dogs of the Year 2021

Friday, December 17

8pm  The 89th  Annual Hollywood Christmas Parade 

Saturday, December 18

8pm  Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer 

Tuesday, December 28 

8pm Popstar's Best of 2021 

Press Release after the Jump  

The Lookback: Arthur 25: Seasons 19 and 20: Mr. Ratburn's Secret Identity/Arthur and the Whole Truth

Arthur PBS 

     We've made it to seasons 19 and 20 as our Arthur turns 25 marathon continues.  Back when we did the 20th year, Season 20 didn't start yet , Season 19 was the last season we did for that run. Eventually, Season 20 did get a post  and thankfully we get to do a partner episode for that one. 

 This is a look at season 19 , episode  9a.  (You can read about season 19 episode 9 b here) 

      The Cold Opening :   It starts with Arthur and Buster leaving a movie and talking how people don;'t notice  how a superhero, Dark Bunny, looks like his non super counter part. (Oldest topic ever) While superhero things happen around them without noticing. If there was a superhero in their city they'd notice, they said.

     The Episode:  First in class his portable telephone rings (his words not ours) and he has to leave the class with a movie while he takes care of something. Arthur and Buster wonder what's going on because it was so out of character for him.  Buster claims Mr. Ratburn is a super hero. (They also reference season 1 where they thought he was a vampire) 

        Mr. Ratburn was talking to Principal Hainey about  Sir. Chester Whimple is coming to town, who is a great opera singer. He's coming to guest star at the community theater.  Buster walks by the teacher's lounge and sees Mr. Ratburn singing and looking like he's flying since it's one of those doors that only has a window that can show shadows. 

  

            Buster imagines a whole super hero scene where Ratburn and he take down aliens. Oh yes, the episode gives away that Ratburn is not a hero early on, and decides to mess with Buster and now Ladonna when they see him carrying a giant rock thinking it's real.  Ladonna imagines that she is in the swamp, and Mr. Ratburn a swamp creature superhero.  Arthur doesn't believe Ratburn is a super hero.  

  

Take me to Park Avenue ! / Copyright WGBH

        While he goes to the man's house, convenience comes into play again when  Mr. Ratburn decides to go outside and leap around in tights and the door getting closed by the wind and locked. (Because that's how these shows have doors work)  He sees an open window to scale back into the house and now Arthur is convinced. Arthur now imagines Mr. Ratburn as Silkworm man. (what?)  Arthur is Larva lad. (what?)  This episode is weird. They start to act weird around the teacher and they found out he's a costume designer.  

 

           It's funny that season 1 episode is mentioned because it's kind of re-tread of that one where kids think Mr. Ratburn is something he's not, this time Arthur tries to doubt and prove differently buts into is as well. It's slightly entertaining to see though, the episode uses convenient moments to as the joke and to make things seem as they aren't.   

More after the jump

The Lookback: Arthur 25: Seasons 17 and 18: Binky's Music Madness/Fountain Abbey

Arthur  PBS

      ,    We head to seasons 17 and 18 now, and wow Arthur is a long running show and many of you were surprised that Arthur has been this long.  We've covered the partner episodes before, which were actually part of our wrap up during 2016. That post covers 3 episodes from seasons 17-19 because 20 hadn't come out yet, so we stuck 3 together, we won't be doing that this time. 

    Now to season 17,epsiode 10a, "Binky's Music Madness" 

             

      The Cold Opening: Arthur explains that Binky can play almost any kind of music you can think of. (Even Freeform Jazz?)  Arthur tries to play a piece of music, Binky comes down and warns everyone not to listen to it, it will get stuck stuck in your head. Arthur hits play and the episode starts. 

       The Episode :   Francine and Muffy are at a music show with a group called Bang on A (sideways) Can Allstars.  Apparently Francine liked their music.  They meet the group and Francine asks if they could come to their school. It's funny to watch Muffy try to cover up from not liking their music. Meanwhile, Arthur seems to have enjoyed the music he heard on Francine's player, the line about how it must feel to be Buster was funny.  Binky listens to the music and apparently it makes him trip into a different mind set.

Woah man/ Copyright WGBH

      Binky wants to reject it but he doesn't know what to do. The music apparently made him hear music in everything. (We also don't question how the kids with ears on top are listening to music on the side of their heads.)  He tries to play his clarinet but the noises mess with him and he decides to go to sleep. 

   

      The he as a dream of his friends being zombie like wanting him to listen to the music. He tries to play his clarinet then it makes quack sounds.  Then he wakes up and gets the idea to record random sounds; then make his own music with those sounds.  He makes up his own music group name and plays it for his friends.   Apparently, the friends liked it.  Binky reveals that he made it and reveals he took 3 days and nights to make it, and they still like it.  Bang on a Can All stars show up and they like Binky's music.  They decide to add more to his music. It ends with them all playing together. 

     

       The message that music can be anything is really nice, and the episode is pretty fun to enjoy. Also this is a real music group in real life so that was a nice addition as well. 

  More after the Jump