Today is quite a special day. 32 years ago, a young man was born and is now embarking on a writing career. As with most artistic careers, it has been a bumpy road but still creatively satisfying. For today, I want to share with you, my readers, a very special Birthday blogpost. I want to dedicate this post to all the special people who were born on this day. Below, I have listed 25 amazing, important, influential and dynamic people who each contributed something to the world in their own way (be it through the arts, entertainment, sports, politics or anything else!). So let us see which people (besides yours truly!) have helped make September 24 a very special day.
BORN ON
John Marshall (1755-1835): The longest serving Chief Justice in U.S. Supreme Court history was one of the leading Federalists in the early 19th Century.
Franklin Clarence Mars (1883-1934): Founder of the prominent candy company Mars Inc., along with his son created the timeless candy classic M&M's.
Blind Lemon Jefferson (1893-1929): The "Father of the Texas Blues" influenced blues legends from Robert Johnson to B. B. King.
F. Scott Fitzgerald (1896-1940): One of America's most celebrated writers lives on through his works, especially his most enduring: The Great Gatsby.
Audra Lindley (1918-1997): Best known as Mrs. Roper from Three's Company, one of the most popular sitcoms of the 1970s.
Jim McKay (1921-2008): For over 30 years, he hosted ABC's Wide World of Sports as well as hosted 12 Olympic Games and many other sports (ranging from the Kentucky Derby to the Indy 500!).
Theresa Merritt (1924-1998): This lovable character actress of Stage, TV and Film is perhaps best known for her title role on the 1970s cult series That's My Mama!
Sheila MacRae (1924): Actress and singer who was married to the late Gordon MacRae and (most famously) played the role of Honeymooners' Alice Kramden on Jackie Gleason's late '60s variety show.
Anthony Newley (1931-1999): British actor, singer-songwriter and all-around performer is best known for is work in films like David Lean's Oliver Twist and the 1967 Doctor Dolittle as well as his songs for Goldfinger, Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory and the Broadway hit Stop the World-I Want to Get Off!
Chick Willis (1934): A controversial jazz & blues singer who started by working for his famous singer-cousin Chuck Willis.
Jim Henson (1936-1990): One of the most influential creative minds of all-time (jn my humble opinion!) made millions of people happy with his Muppet creations especially the lovable Kermit the Frog.
Linda McCartney (1941-1998): She served as Paul McCartney's muse, especially during his Wings period, and we are all thankful that she made him "Amazed."
Lou Dobbs (1945): The former CNN anchor who now works for the FOX Business network worked as CNN's money and business reporter since its inception in 1980 but left in 2009 due to issues stemming from his conservative-leaning political beliefs.
Joe Greene (1946): Known to the world as "Mean" Joe Green, the retired Pittsburgh Steeler is now best remembered for a famed 1980 Coca-Cola commercial.
Gordon Clapp (1948): Emmy Award-winning character actor for his work on the landmark ABC series NYPD Blue also received a Tony nod for his work in the 2005 revival of David Mamet's Glengarry Glen Ross.
Phil Hartman (1948-1998): The famed Saturday Night Live comic actor who also did brilliant work on shows like The Simpsons and NewsRadio was sadly murdered by his wife who then killed herself.
Kevin Sorbo (1958): He started as a model, jumped to acting in the late 1980s (auditioning for the leads on Lois & Clark and The X-Files) and got his big break as TV's Hercules on the cult favorite Hercules: The Legendary Journeys.
Steve Whitmire (1959): This protege of Jim Henson was the Henson family's choice to take over the role of Kermit the Frog upon Jim Henson's death in 1990 and he has performed him ever since.
John Logan (1961): This Tony-winning and Oscar-nominated playwright/screenwriter has worked on several critically-acclaimed films (like Gladiator, The Aviator, Sweeney Todd, Rango, Hugo and the upcoming Bond film Skyfall).
Nia Vardalos (1962): She let us into a little bit of her life and family with her hilarious one-woman show turned hit romantic comedy movie My Big Fat Greek Wedding.
Rafael Palmeiro (1964): He was a popular left fielder for teams like the Chicago Cubs, Texas Rangers and Baltimore Orioles until it was discovered in 2005 that he tested positive for steroids, pretty much ending his baseball career.
Robert Irvine (1965): The Food Network chef/host has an abrasive and honest style that serves him well when helping restaurants turn their business around on his popular shows Dinner: Impossible, Restaurant: Impossible and Worst Cooks in America.
Stephanie McMahon (1976): Daughter of the famed Vince McMahon, who owns the Worldwide Wrestling Entertainment company, has made a name for herself as a wrestler and dominant "McMahon" personality.
Morgan and Paul Hamm (1982): The twin American gymnasts who made names for themselves during the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens where they (along with the US Men's team) won a Silver medal and Paul earned the All-Around Gold medal (despite some controversy).
With the new Fall Season looming, I of course have various thoughts on the new crop of shows the major networks are offering the public. Some of the Dramas look interesting (Elementary, Last Resort, Nashville), some of them look ho-hum (The Mob Doctor, half of The CW's new shows), others are more in the middle (Revolution, Vegas, Chicago Fire) and others look downright awful (666 Park Avenue, Made In Jersey, the other half of the The CW's new shows).
But the real issue I'm having trouble with this Fall is the new batch of Sitcoms four of the major networks are giving us. Let's face it: the Sitcom is dying. While shows like Modern Family, Parks and Recreation and The Big Bang Theory are trying their hardest to save the art form from its life support status, cable shows and network "dramedies" are definitely changing the face of TV Comedy. Which is why it saddens me that with 9 new Sitcoms premiering on Broadcast TV this Fall, only about a third of them look like they have the potential to be the next 30 Rock (which is sadly saying "Goodbye" to us after this year!). And believe me when I just say "have the potential." Based on what I've seen, even the ones that can be called "Good" have a long way to go before they reach the status Tina Fey's gem has. So today, I want to take you through the 9 new Sitcoms and give you my first impressions of them based on their trailers, network promotions and (in some cases) their first episodes (5 of the new Comedies have their pilots available on Hulu.com and I will let you know which ones!).
Let's start with CBS! Partners Premieres: September 24 Regular Time Slot: Mondays at 8:30 PM Premise: Two friends/business partners, one straight and the other gay, are closer with each other than with their significant others (in other words, a bro-mance!). Impressions: If this seems like familiar territory for a Sitcom, it certainly is for its creators: Dave Kohan and Max Mutchnick, the minds behind Will & Grace (who have had a close friendship ever since they wrote for Seinfeld and Friends). The cast seems likable: Numb3rs' David Krumholtz and Ugly Betty's Michael Urie play the best buds; while One Tree Hill's Sophia Bush and Superman Returns star Brandon Routh play their respective significant others. And it seems like it will fit in with CBS' other hits like The Big Bang Theory, How I Met Your Mother and last year's break-out 2 Broke Girls. Yet there is something about this show that just seems like "Been there, done that." It is basically Will & Grace, where "Grace" has been changed to "Greg." It could pass for decent, however it could really tank. It's on a delicate precipice. Grade: B-/C+
That's it for CBS' new Sitcom (yes they only have one new Sitcom!). Let's move on to ABC! The Neighbors Premieres: September 26 Regular Time Slot: Wednesdays at 8:30 PM Premise: A typical suburban family is thrown for a loop when they realize their seemingly nice new neighbors are space aliens. Impressions: This just looks horrible. It looks like a bad version of a bad 1980s Sitcom (like a bad version of ALF, which is odd because I always thought ALF was the bad version of ALF!). It even stars Square Pegs' Jami Gertz! Maybe this IS a bad 1980s Sitcom! Wait a minute...has Disney finally perfected Time Travel?!?! It certainly seems that way! Grade: D
Malibu Country Premieres: November 2 Regular Time Slot: Fridays at 8:30 PM Premise: Country superstar Reba McEntire plays a country singer who, after a divorce, moves her family from Nashville to Southern California (and the SPOILER is her character's name: Reba!). Impressions: As much as I like Reba McEntire and her forays into "acting" (her turn on Broadway as Annie Oakley earned her well-deserved raves!), she never seems to be able to play any character that isn't a variation of herself. And while I found her previous Sitcom quite charming (it's becoming more and more popular in Cable syndication!), this one should just be titled Reba in L.A. or Reba Takes On Hollywood or some variation that involves Reba and the Greater Los Angeles area. We'll have to wait until November to see if this show can survive. On a side note: It is always great to see the brilliant Lily Tomlin. And Sara Rue and Jai Rodriguez are each charming enough to get some laughs and attention. I will say Reba has an eye for getting good co-stars (more on that later!). Grade: C
From the House of Mouse to the House that Rupert built, next up is FOX! Ben and Kate Premieres: September 25 Regular Time Slot: Tuesdays at 8:30 PM Premise: The title characters are brother and sister. They have a bond that no one (including their quirky behavior) can break. Impressions: Initially, when I saw the trailers back in May, this was the show I wanted to root for and wanted to like. It's trailer isn't overwhelmingly impressive, but its premise is the most intriguing. I have yet to watch the full pilot, but I have seen plenty of clips. And overall, it seems like the show will ultimately be Kate (the extremely likable Dakota Johnson) meeting wrong guy after wrong guy week after week; while her clownish, irresponsible brother Ben (a somewhat hilarious Nate Faxon) ineptly tries to care for her wise-beyond-her-years young daughter (We Bought a Zoo's adorable Maggie Elizabeth Jones). I have hopes, but they could easily be dashed. Airing between FOX hits Raising Hope and New Girl certainly couldn't hurt! Grade: B-
The Mindy Project Premieres: September 25 Regular Time Slot: Tuesdays at 9:30 PM Premise:The Office supporting player Mindy Kaling steps into the spotlight as a top doctor whose love life needs the kind of work she puts into her career. Impressions: Of all the new Sitcoms, this is the ones the critics say to watch. I have seen half of the pilot and she certainly is a star. Yet I am getting this strange "Déjà vu"feeling. It feels like when they offered her this Sitcom, they told her they wanted to see her as a Meg Ryan-ish Ally McBeal type. And that genre has never really thrilled me (though I initially adored Ally McBeal back in its first few years and When Harry Met Sally... is still rightfully lauded as a hallmark of the genre!). If this Sitcom is to be a hit, it will have to be on the shoulders of its Grade A star (who honestly was one of the best parts of The Office over the last few years!). And it is possible, FOX was able to do it last year with New Girl and its Emmy-nominated star Zooey Deschanel! Maybe some of that magic can rub off on Mindy (let's hope!). Grade: B
Both shows' pilots are available for viewing on Hulu.com.
And lastly, the network with the most new Sitcoms this Fall: NBC! Go On Premieres: September 11 Regular Time Slot: Tuesdays at 9 PM Premise: Matthew Perry stars a sports radio show host who, after the loss of his wife, must attend several hours of group therapy. Impressions: After watching the pilot in August (NBC gave a sneak peek during the Olympics!), I can safely say that this new show has the most impressive cast of the Fall season. In addition to Perry (who hasn't had a TV hit since a little show called Friends!), the therapy group features Tony-winners Laura Benanti and Julie White, Everybody Hates Chris' Tyler James Williams (who is growing into a really good actor!) and always delightful character actors Suzy Nakamura and Bill Cobbs. Harold and Kumar's John Cho has a small supporting role as Perry's sarcastic and bottom-line boss. This show has the most potential of all the Sitcoms this Fall, which means it will probably get cancelled before it can really develop. Grade: B+
The New Normal Premieres: September 11 Regular Time Slot: Tuesdays at 9:30 PM Premise: From Glee creator Ryan Murphy, a gay couple enlists the help of a single mother to expand their family. Impressions: Ryan Murphy has proven he is good at launching an interesting series (Nip/Tuck, American Horror Story and, of course, Glee). It's just that once you get passed the usual excellent first episodes, the bloom comes off the rose faster than you can say let's do a Led Zeppelin and Barbra Streisand Mash-Up! The cast (which includes National Treasure's hilarious Justin Bartha, The Book of Mormon star Andrew Rannells and the amazing Ellen Barkin) is certainly not something to overlook. And the characters seem like typical Murphy-like characters (Barkin is like a richer, snobbier version of Sue Sylvester, if that exists!). However, Murphy likes to get message-y. Glee has become a referendum on teen bullying and expressing who you are (and why it makes you special!). This show seems to be along the lines of what defines a family and all children need is love to grow into the best they can be. We've heard all this before, yet in an Election year where both parties are putting "family values" on the table, it seems like we all need to hear it more often. Grade: B-
Guys With Kids Premieres: September 12 Regular Time Slot: Wednesdays at 8:30 PM Premise: The title pretty much says it all. It's about fathers and their daily life as dads. Impressions: This Jimmy Fallon-produced show has a few things going in its favor. It's a Family Sitcom in a day and age where not many of those exist. It features the very likable Anthony Anderson alongside blast-from-the-past Tempest Bledsoe (Vanessa from The Cosby Show) as his loving and patient wife. However, in 2012, playing with the "Guy taking the Mommy role" stereotype just comes off as un-appealing. If this were back in the 1980s, on the heels of the Feminist movement, it might have had a fighting chance. But here we are in the 21st Century and: Yes, men can be responsible Fathers without looking like complete and utter morons. But what can I expect from the same company that idolizes Jimmy Fallon? Grade: C-
Animal Practice Premieres: September 26 Regular Time Slot: Wednesdays at 8 PM Premise:Weeds' Justin Kirk stars as a House-like veterinarian who loves animals but just can't stand people (maybe PETA can sponsor the show!). Impressions: What can you say about a show where a theatrically trained, Emmy-nominated actor gets to recite one-liners to a character named Dr. Monkey?!?! Not even the very charming Joanna Garcia-Swisher (who co-starred on Reba as McEntire's cheerleader daughter!) can save this train wreck. But as I like both Kirk and Garcia-Swisher (and the sneak peek had great ratings the night of the Olympics Closing Ceremonies!), this show might have a chance of making it through a full season before it gets chopped next May. Grade: D+
Both Go On and Animal Practice aired their pilots during the Summer Olympics, so they are available on Hulu.com. NBC has also made The New Normal pilot available on Hulu.
There you have it. The new Sitcoms that the major networks hope will help save the dying genre. I don't know what that says about Audience taste or Network standards, but it definitely feels like there is some apathy in the air. I guess that old saying is true: Dying is easy, its Comedy that is hard!
It is that time of year again! Yes, it is time for that ever-anticipated Back to School season (at least in the United States). For most schools, the last two weeks in August and/or the first week of September serve as the beginning of a new year for teachers, faculty, students and parents. So as we are steep in the middle of this (often) chaotic time, I wanted to do something that would celebrate it. And what better way to celebrate it than to devote an entire 10 FAVORITES to films about school?!?! When I was putting my list together (with the help of my Father, who is an Elementary school principal and an avid film buff!), I decided that I would limit the films that I chose. First of all, I felt College films shouldn't count (I mean, I don't need a list to share with everyone any appreciation I have for Good Will Hunting and Animal House!). Second, I wanted the films to mainly feature the school in a primary way (not just as a setting, but as a plot point or even a character within the film!). And lastly, and probably most importantly, I wanted the films to be good. Now I realize that when you put a qualification like that on any movie or TV show, it is completely subjective. But it's my list so get over it. However, that does not necessarily mean that a film that doesn't make the list is bad or horrible, it is just a distinct possibility. With that said, on with the list.
THE BEST "BACK TO SCHOOL" FILMS
HONORABLE MENTION Grease (1979)
I'm not a huge fan of this film. I don't hate it, but I don't necessarily love it. Why is it here then? I just cannot deny the popularity of this musical phenomenon. Wherever you go, people have seen Grease and they have strong feelings about it (be they positive or negative). It is performed everywhere from High school to College to Broadway (the musical has endured two hit revivals and constantly tours!). It is a freakin' juggernaut that cannot be ignored.
MOVIE #10 (TIE) Mr. Holland's Opus AND Dangerous Minds (both 1995)
I put these two movies together because they came out in the same year and they had both had a similar premise. Yes, Dangerous Minds is about Michelle Pfeiffer inspiring her students in an inner-city school through poetry and literature, while Mr. Holland's Opus is about Richard Dreyfuss inspiring his students (each different in their own way) through music and art. But the major point is that both films were about the effect a teacher can have on their students, especially if they care in the way both Pfeiffer and Dreyfuss' characters do. Both films were received well and Dreyfuss even netted an Oscar nomination for his work. And Pfeiffer featured prominently in Coolio's hit music video for the film, "Gangsta's Paradise."
MOVIE #9 Doubt (2008)
John Patrick Shanley adapted is riveting Pulitzer Prize-winning play into a sublimely acted film that keeps the audiences talking. Screen icon Meryl Streep takes on the polarizing role of principal Sister Aloysius Bouvier as she tries to discover the truth about the new priest at the parish, dynamically played by Phillip Seymour Hoffman. The film also features brilliant performances from Amy Adams (as the innocent schoolteacher Sister James who is placed in the middle of Streep and Hoffman's battle) and Viola Davis (as the mother of a boy who has problems but may have a "protector" in Hoffman's character). Shanley's smartly written dialogue is played to full effect by this enigmatic cast.
MOVIE #8 Mean Girls (2004)
Yes, it may very well have been the last "good" film Lindsay Lohan ever made. And when you have Tina Fey as a co-star and writer, you really can't go wrong. What this film has, besides a delicious performance from Rachel McAdams, is a sharp-tongued look at the way girls (in particular, High school girls) behave towards each other. This film is so popular and well-liked that the whole "Mean Girls" idea has become its own thing. I mean, go to any school and you can spot the group of "Mean Girls" right off! You don't even need a school to find the "Mean Girls" in life. They're everywhere!
MOVIE #7 The Bells of St. Mary's (1945)
In a sequel to a film I've already spoken about, Bing Crosby dons the collar again as Father O'Malley and this time he plays off of a great performance from the amazing Ingrid Bergman as a strict yet extremely understanding nun who serves as principal of St. Mary's School. The two give equally good performances and their scenes with the children make the movie funny and extremely poignant.
MOVIE #6 Election (1999)
Like Mean Girls above, this film has a following that at times surprises me. Not only does this movie cleverly satirize school politics, High school stereotypes and popularity, but it also serves as a kind of cautionary tale. Reese Witherspoon's over-ambitious and hyperactive Tracy Flick is a character we've seen before and since (look at Glee's Rachel Berry!), but she's also a Type-A personality we see in many of the people in Pop Culture (and dare I say Politics!). That being said, I did get a kick out of this film when I first saw it and I knew that this role would make Reese Witherspoon a star.
MOVIE #5 Fame (1980)
Growing up in the 80s, I knew several kids who wanted to go to the school featured in Fame. They wanted to be one of those kids dancing on taxi cabs or playing synthesizers. The film represents what kids do best and that is dream. And the kids featured in this movie have big dreams.
MOVIE #4 Blackboard Jungle (1955)
This film certainly was the most controversial in its debut. Its subject matter and its use of Rock N Roll music certainly put several people up in arms over it. But the film is a classic and it is pointed to as the beginning of a change in the way films were presented and the way youth are portrayed in films. It also came out the same year as the James Dean classic Rebel Without a Cause and the two films combined caused a stir that is still felt in Hollywood to this day.
MOVIE #3 Fast Times at Ridgemont High (1982)
Some of the best movies are about a year in the life of a group of people. And when you're dealing with school as your primary setting, you have a plethora of characters to showcase. This film features some of the most memorable characters and it has one of the most interesting ensembles in film history. The (mostly young) cast features Sean Penn (as the iconic Spiccoli), Jennifer Jason Leigh, Judge Reinhold, Ray Walston, Forrest Whitaker, Phoebe Cates and (in smaller roles) Eric Stoltz and Nicolas Cage. That's a pretty impressive list when you compare it to the likes of Dazed and Confused (which really only has Matthew McConaughey and Ben Affleck in small roles!).
MOVIE #2 Stand and Deliver (1988)
When it comes to films about inspiring teachers, this film was a must in my house. Edward James Olmos dynamically plays Math teacher Jaime Escalante as he readies his East L.A. students for an important Calculus exam. He is met with obstacles at every turn, including the reluctance of his students (which include a powerful performance from Lou Diamond Phillips as a rebellious teen). Olmos' Oscar-nominated performance drives this film to its inspiring end and makes you want to go out and try something new. Which is exactly what teachers are supposed to do.
AND... MOVIE #1 The Breakfast Club (1985)
This film is a great favorite in my family. It features great performances from (at the time) young talent. It has some great 80s music. But its story and characters are entirely relatable. The school not only serves as a setting, but it serves as another character in the plot. The way the kids interact is because of the school. The effect that each of the students' roles has on themselves and on each other plays an integral role in the plot. In a way, it basically IS the plot. The late John Hughes certainly captured a generation with this film and for those of us who grew up with this generation, it makes for great entertainment.
