Posts Tagged ‘Entertainment’
|The Wiz that Was©2011 Lynn Rebuck
Saturday, July 23rd, 2011
Friday night I went to the movies to watch Harry Potter 7.2, the latest and final release in the box office film franchise that has magically been able to open the wallets of millions of muggles.
After feeling mugged by the teenage concessionaire at the local cinema, where I shelled out big bucks for a box of Reese’s peanut-flavored corn syrup pieces, a large cup of carbonated corn syrup, and $10 for a movie ticket, I went to find a seat. I had hoped to see the 3-D IMAX version of the film, but it was sold out. Left to choose between the regular 3-D and the 2-D version, I opted for the one that was going to be least realistic. This would, of course, enhance the fantasy element of the film.
I had no idea what evil lurked in the theater, and I’m not referring to He-Who’s-Name-Cannot-Be-Reprinted-without-Paying-Royalties.
In the restroom I discovered that an evil spell had been cast on everything mechanical. I waved my wet hands at the paper towel dispenser and nothing happened. Apparently I needed to wave a magic wand and repeat some Latin incantation like, “towelus producis,” which, oddly enough, worked when I waved my straw at the machine (the straw chooses the slurper, according to Potter’s mentors). The woman next to me encountered an uncooperative soap dispenser, which responded to a flick of my wrist and the directive, “soapus latheris slatheris,” which caused all of the dispensers to squirt in unison.
For those of you who did not make it to any dimension of theater yet to see the film, I’ll summarize it for you here (spoiler alert!). Luke, Leia, and Han Solo cannot return to Hogwarts because it has been taken over by the evil Darth Voldemort. Snape cut a deal with the creature whose nose job was done by the same doctor who did Michael Jackson’s plastic surgery so that the City in the Clouds would never come under Imperial Rule.
Unfortunately He-Whose-Name-Must-Not-Be-Mispronounced did not count on how surly a bunch of boarding school students become after seven and one-half films without a lot of speaking parts. The kids revolt against the evil lord and bravely fight to protect Potter, quidditch (which is a type of quiche made from squid), and to stop all those pesky owls from flying over the lunch tables.
In an epic battle that rivals a double trilogy and a half of Star Wars, the battle between the forces of good and evil culminates with a furious clash of light from dual-color dueling wands reminiscent of another film that did well at the box office, When Harry Met Sally. Obiwan/Gandalf/Dumbledore says off camera “Use the force, Luke,” and Princess Leia kisses Hagrid.
The scariest scene of the film came at the very end when the demented director shows us the effects of 19 years of married life on Harry Potter without He-Who-Kept-the-Young Wizard-In-Shape around.
It was shocking, but it would have been far scarier in 3-D.
Lynn Rebuck is a national award-winning humor columnist whose column appears weekly in the print, online, and on Amazon Kindle Blogs. She is currently writing the fourth book in a trilogy. Email her at Lynn@LynnRebuck.com, read her blog on www.LynnRebuck.com, follow her on Twitter, and fan her on Facebook. ©2011 Lynn Rebuck
Tags: 3-D, comedy, Deathly Hallows, Entertainment, film, films, funny, Harry Potter, humor, Michael Jackson, movies, Parody, Star Wars
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Stuck on “The Middle”
Wednesday, May 4th, 2011
April 7-14 there was only one network sitcom that made the Parent Television Council’s list of best picks: ABC’s family comedy “The Middle.”
pulse of the throbbing vein in every parent’s forehead. Tackling subjects from a grade-schooler’s
discovery of the Internet (their youngest is a bibliophile who searched for a book
with unexpected consequences) to the dilemma of an underage daughter
sneaking into an R-rated film, “The Middle” does something that other sitcoms
do not: it shows the reality of raising kids without demeaning dialogue, sexual
scenes, or caustic cynicism.
or desiring the products placed strategically by sponsors. There is clutter, chaos, and a nuclear family trying to keep from imploding. It’s a lot like home, except there is brand-name product placement in my
kitchen for which I should be compensated. One of my favorite episodes was the
season one Valentine’s Day show. It was an entertaining true-to-life depiction
of the difficulties of celebrating a romantic holiday in the middle of the
challenges of parenting.
portrays parents as partners in parenting despite differences and
disagreements. Patricia Heaton and Neil
Flynn play Frankie and Mike Heck, middle class parents of three children. Both
actors have had successful sitcom careers (on Everybody Loves Raymond and Scrubs,
respectively) yet each explores new territory with these characters. They
portray a truth, transparency, and unity rarely depicted on sitcoms. Unlike the family on the Cosby show, where
the father was a medical doctor and the family was affluent, the Heck family
struggles with issues to which a majority of Americans can currently
relate—financial struggles, budgeting woes, and job loss. And if that wasn’t enough to deal with, they
still have to raise three kids—Axl, Sue, and Brick— who each have their own issues.
real-life fiascos, well-intentioned parents, and kids with three different
personalities amid the challenges of work,
technology, and peer pressure (for parents and teens). This is a show that families can watch
together. Parents can engage their children about the pressing topics depicted
like texting, inappropriate movie content, and bullying. “The Middle” is a win-win for families in a
television world where families are usually the biggest losers.
prime-time offerings is that the parents and kids are not the brunt of the
jokes; life is, with all its myriad complications and conflicts. In one episode
Frankie was torn between attending two simultaneous sporting events: a
cross-country meet (where her daughter got lost on the trail) and her son’s
football game, where she would have the rare opportunity to escort him onto the
field. Did she make it?
which sitcom viewers have become trained. In fact, it’s a lot like real life. As
we root the characters on to the finish, they often fail, fall short, or are disappointed
in ways to which we can all relate. The
message of the episodes, and of the series, is one of hope, encouragement, forgiveness,
perseverance, and family love. It’s a message worth hearing week after week as
we write our own sitcoms at home. As
parents, it’s nice to know we’re not the only ones struggling. ABC’s “The
Middle” reminds us that parenting is one Heck of a ride.
nationally award-winning humor columnist, former television producer, journalist, and speaker
who is passionate about helping parents navigate the issues of
media and technology. To contact Lynn about speaking to your group, email her at LynnRebuck@gmail.com. For more information about Lynn and to
read her blog, go to www.LynnRebuck.com . © 2011 Lynn Rebuck< ?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = “urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office” />
Tags: ABC, Axl, Entertainment, families, family, Neil Flynn, parenting, Patricia Heaton, reviews, sitcom, Television, The Middle
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Sad State of TV Sitcoms© 2011 Lynn Rebuck
Monday, April 25th, 2011
This past Saturday I had the privilege of addressing a group of parents at a church about youth, media, and technology. As a former television producer, media researcher, and mother of three, it is a subject about which I am very passionate. Some would call me rabid. Those would be my children.
Not only did I address pressing issues about social media, cell phones, safeguarding families, and music (don’t even get me started on Lady Gaga), but I talked about television. Frankly, there are things that TV producers don’t want you to know.
Consider this statistic: according to a 2005 study, an overwhelming majority of television shows contain sexual references, and situation comedies appear at the top of the list with 87 percent containing sexual content. The sitcoms show scenes of sexual content at an average rate of almost 9 scenes per hour. That was six years ago; the trend has only worsened, IMHO (that’s text-speak for “In My Humble Opinion” for those parents who have yet to attend one of my seminars).
Clearly, what’s happening to sitcoms isn’t funny.
The terrain of television is vastly different than years ago. We have gone from one deserted island (Gilligan’s)to another (Lost). Ozzie and Harriet were replaced by Ozzie and Sharon. Television is now about “Leave it to Cleavage.” What would June and Ward think?
In all honesty maybe we should reframe how we look at the above statistic and at television in general. Perhaps researchers should state how many of the sex shows on television contain humorous references. It’s time we wake up to what is really happening right in front of us, in living color, and in many homes, on very large screens . Things that were considered pornographic not long ago make up the mainstay of broadcast television and commercials. The CBS eye is looking the other way and the NBC peacock is burying its head in the sand.
The Parent Television Council is an organization that cares about what kids are seeing on television. They evaluate shows for content including sex and violence. The PTC provides a color-coded, easy-to-read weekly guide to television shows that evaluates shows based on content. For the week of April 7-14, there was only one network sitcom that made their list of “best picks” for family viewing: ABC’s “The Middle.”
While the scarcity of family-friendly fare came as no surprise, the fact that there is only one network program deemed worthy of watching should be a point of shame for television producers and network executives.
I have been a fan of “The Middle” since last year, when it began its first season. The show airs on Wednesday evenings at 8 p.m. on ABC. It appeals to my warped sense of parental humor which you likely share if you enjoy reading my column. It’s real life, and it’s funny. Check it out and let me know what you think. I’ll share my thoughts on the show next week.
Lynn Rebuck is a nationally award-winning former television producer, journalist, and speaker who is passionate about helping parents navigate the issues of media and technology with their teens and tweens. To contact Lynn about speaking to your church or community group about these or other issues, email her at LynnRebuck@gmail.com. For more information about Lynn and to read her blog, go to www.LynnRebuck.com. © 2011 Lynn Rebuck
Tags: ABC, Entertainment, media, motherhood, NBC, Neil Flynn, parenting, Patricia Heaton, sex, sitcoms, teens, Television, The Middle
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And the Lost Shall Be First©2010 Lynn Rebuck
Monday, May 24th, 2010
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The first episode of “Lost” that I watched was, ironically, the last episode. I admit that I am a bit behind on my serial television viewing. Frankly, I still don’t know who shot J.R.
I’m not keen on making long-term commitments right now (I can’t even agree to making a 3-minute egg) so I avoid watching shows that will likely suck me into their weekly time-slotted world. When I learned that “Lost” was coming to an end, I figured it was safe to watch the final episode.
I am not sure how the whole “Lost” phenomenon escaped me, but in a way, I’m glad it did. After the series ended Sunday night with a 2 ½ hour finale seen by an estimated 13.5 million viewers, my friends who were avid fans began posting comments on Facebook suggesting they might actually regret sacrificing six years of their lives only to be stranded, in the end, by the show’s producers.
Apparently the final episode left behind many unanswered questions.
Tags: ABC, Entertainment, Final Episode, funny, humor, Lost, Parody, Television
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