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influencermagazineuk · 1 year ago

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From Descendants to Drama: Thomas Doherty's Versatile Roles

Source: IMDB Thomas Doherty, a Scottish actor and heartthrob, has journeyed from the whimsical realms of Disney to embracing diverse, dramatic roles in movies and TV shows. His evolution as an actor has showcased his adaptability and talent in capturing a wide range of characters. Hailing from Edinburgh, Doherty embarked on his acting career with determination and skill. Initially recognized for his captivating performances in Disney's "Descendants" series, Doherty quickly proved his mettle beyond the bounds of family-oriented entertainment. Thomas Doherty's movies and TV shows represent a versatile acting range that extends far beyond the fantastical world of Disney. Early Career and Breakthrough Doherty's foray into acting began modestly but with immense promise. He stepped into the limelight through smaller roles and theatrical productions, gradually honing his craft and gaining recognition in the entertainment industry. However, his portrayal of the cunning and charismatic Harry Hook in Disney's "Descendants" franchise propelled him to fame. As the son of Captain Hook, Doherty brought a magnetic allure to the character, captivating audiences worldwide and establishing himself as a rising star. Transition to Dramatic Roles Beyond the realms of Disney, Doherty embarked on a journey to explore more challenging and diverse roles in TV shows and films. His transition from youthful, light-hearted roles to more mature, multifaceted characters showcased his acting prowess. Doherty dared to venture into genres outside his Disney roots, seeking roles that pushed the boundaries of his capabilities. Notable Performances of Thomas Doherty movie and TV shows Doherty's career trajectory saw him undertake roles that underscored his versatility and acting depth. His performances in various projects, especially those diverging from his Disney image, have drawn attention and accolades. The portrayal of multifaceted characters in TV shows and films such as ‘The Lodge’ demonstrated his ability to adapt to different roles, winning the praise of critics and audiences alike. 1. "High Fidelity" (2020) In this Hulu series, Thomas Doherty starred as Liam Shawcross, a music enthusiast and the charming love interest of the main character Robyn "Rob" Brooks, portrayed by Zoë Kravitz. On the basis of the novel by Nick Hornby, the show explored the intricacies of love and relationships, while Doherty's performance as Liam added depth to the series. 2. "Catherine the Great" (2019) Doherty appeared in this historical drama miniseries as Ovstrovsky, a Russian nobleman, starring alongside Helen Mirren as Catherine the Great. The series delves into the later years of Catherine's reign and her tumultuous love affairs, with Doherty's character contributing to the intricate web of court intrigue. 3. "Legacies" (2018) Thomas Doherty guest-starred in this supernatural drama series, another spin-off from "The Vampire Diaries" and "The Originals." He played the role of Sebastian, a vampire who returns to the Salvatore School for the Young and Gifted, adding an enigmatic and mysterious presence to the storyline. 4. "The Little Mermaid" (2023) Doherty stars in the live-action adaptation of Disney's "The Little Mermaid," directed by Rob Marshall. He portrays the role of Prince Eric, marking a significant milestone in his career by being part of this highly anticipated adaptation of the classic tale. 5. "Descendants 2" (2017) Thomas Doherty portrayed the character of Harry Hook, the son of Captain Hook, in this Disney Channel original movie. His performance as the charismatic and mischievous pirate gained attention and added depth to the fantasy musical film. 6. "Descendants 3" (2019) Doherty reprised his role as Harry Hook in the sequel "Descendants 3." Once again, he brought his singing and acting talents to the character, captivating audiences with his portrayal of the son of the infamous Captain Hook. 7. "High Strung: Free Dance" (2018) In this dance romance film, Thomas Doherty played the character Zander Raines, a talented choreographer. The movie follows the journey of young dancers competing for a spot in a prestigious Broadway production. 8. "The Lodge" (2019) Thomas Doherty starred in this psychological horror film as Sean, one of the main characters. The story revolves around a young woman staying in a remote lodge with her boyfriend and his children, where eerie events unfold. Impact and Future Prospects Thomas Doherty's transformative journey in the entertainment industry has left an indelible mark. His ability to seamlessly transition from his Disney roots to more challenging and diverse roles showcases his dedication and skill as an actor. As he continues to explore various characters and genres, Doherty's future in the industry appears promising, hinting at further groundbreaking performances and projects. Conclusion: In conclusion, Thomas Doherty's evolution from his breakthrough in Disney's "Descendants" series to his current array of diverse roles underscores his growth as an actor. His ability to captivate audiences spread across genres and platforms positions him as an artist of immense potential and versatility. With his talent and commitment to expanding his repertoire, Doherty's journey in the world of movies and TV shows is one to follow closely. Read the full article

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photolover82 · 3 years ago

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The Masked Singer Season 6 Costumes (Ranking & Opinions/Guesses)

Hello everyone! We are back baby! Welcome (or welcome back) to Ana's Masked Singer recap, where I, Ana, talk about this not so little show called The Masked Singer, not sure if you have heard of it lol. IT’S SEASON 6 TIME EVERYONE, which means that when a new season is upon us, we gotta rate some costumes (hey, I do make the rules, and that’s a special tradition we do here in case you are new… if you are new, hi, welcome, have a seat, get a cookie, some dinner, whatever you would like, and relax we are about to go on a ride of sorts with costumes). Having said that, let’s get started!

Preface: The show will air September 22 and 23 as a two night premiere and costumes are being revealed little by little at the moment (When I am writing this, idk how many contestants there will be in total so this might be more than 1 part long)

Preface over… introducing the new costumes! *INITATE DRUMROLL PLEASE*

1. Banana Split 🍌🍨

Thoughts: It’s a cute idea ngl…. It kinda makes me sad that there was already a banana costume and an ice cream costume and they just kinda put it together, but it’s still an adorable idea. I love pair costumes on the show, so this is very cute, the cartoon nature of it is super fun.

Prediction: (I am gonna put a prediction on who I think it could be, like whether it’s an athlete, musician, a pair of siblings, a couple, etc.) I think they are a couple, probably married or played a married couple on TV… I am also gonna dream cast this for fun: my dream cast for Banana Split would be either Kristen Bell and Dax Shepard or Fran Drescher and Charles Shaughnessy (who played Fran and Max on The Nanny, who were love interests/a married couple on the show)

First Clue: 3 pair of 🎲 with the numbers adding to 6

Rating: 10/10

2. Hamster 🐹

Thoughts: it’s soooo fluffy and cute omg I love it… I really hope this is a good singer because I just love this costume, it is too cute to be sent home the first week (I’m looking at you Gremlin). Everything about this costume is so cool and whimsical, any child (and me) would go crazy for the hamster.

Prediction: My brain automatically goes to an athlete who can sing (hopefully) but from experience with the show, this seems like an athlete would be under this mask… but another part of me thinks it might be an actor, so I am torn between the 2: actor or athlete (hopefully who can sing ok)… probably male I predict. Dream cast actor wise would be Jack Black and athlete wise I have no idea because I know close to nothing about sports and I don’t wanna embarrass myself here with names

First Clue: A whistle

Rating: 10/10!

3. Cupcake 🧁

Thoughts: This is a costume I have been waiting for a while… I love I so much. It reminds me of the cupcake float from Victorious (if anyone knows that reference I applaud you) and I really love it honestly.

Prediction: An actress or/and singer (female), I low key want it to be like one of the actresses I grew up on like anyone who used to be on Nickelodeon or Disney Channel… so my dream cast would be between Liz Gillies (who played Jade on Victorious), Victoria Justice (Tori also on Victorious) or Sabrina Carpenter (from Girl Meets World on Disney Channel)

First Clue: 🧭 pointing North

Rating: 10/10!

4. Mallard (Duck) 🦆

Thoughts: Wow, this one is really dope and dapper looking, it kind of reminds me of Giraffe from season 4, I really like the look of it. Also, I heard from the preview that he can sing a mean country song, so I’m excited, I hope he’s good, fingers crossed.

Prediction: From what Robin Thicke said in the preview, perhaps a country singer or an actor who can sing country. My dream cast would probably be Keith Urban, Jason Aldean, or LeAnn Rimes’s husband (who was on that Netflix show about country music so I guess he can do a country song idk) Eddie Cibrian

First Clue: Red telephone ☎️

Rating: 10/10

5. Dalmatian 🐶

Thoughts: This one is also pretty cool, I really hope someone in sports isn’t under there because that would be way too predictable… it reminds me of last season’s Bulldog mask which ended up being Nick Cannon… but like cooler for some reason

Prediction: I’m gonna go off the cuff here (since those kind of responses work for this show lol) and I think it might be a rapper of some sort, similar to like Frog or Chameleon. My dream cast for this one would probably be Kendrick Lamar, Snoop Dogg (lolll get it… probably not tho), or Chance the Rapper

First Clue: Eagles 🦅

Rating: 9/10

6. Octopus 🐙

Thoughts: This is my first time seeing the octopus, since it was just revealed today… but I really like the vibe, even though it is a bit of an unconventional twist on an octopus. I like the idea of an octopus for this season since so many international versions have it and the American one really needed it. It’s cool ngl, I was hoping for more of an authentic octopus tentacle thing instead of just the pants but it is cool regardless

Prediction: I think this is a male actor or singer, someone a bit older or someone popular from the 80s or 90s. I am in between like a member of Boyz 2 Men, Ted Danson, or Lance Bass for a dream cast.

First Clue: Cookie 🍪 dunked in milk 🥛

Rating: 8/10

7. Bull 🐂

Thoughts: I really like what Masked Singer did with the bull, making it look like a Spanish matador which is super cool and also ironic in a funny way. It looks really cool, kinda reminds me of the Dragon from season 4. I like it a lot tbh.

Prediction: I think this might be a male actor or musician… I am thinking similar my prediction to Octopus, either older or popular from the 80s-90s. Again, dream cast wise, I would say someone from Boyz 2 Men, AJ McClain from Backstreet Boys, or like a legend like Paul McCartney

First Clue: Lions and Tigers

Rating: 9/10

8. Queen of Hearts 🫀

Thoughts: It’s a dope costume, but the one eye and the mouth is kinda creepy looking tbh. I do like the idea of an actual heart with a crown being the Queen of Hearts instead of like a similar thing to Alice in Wonderland’s Queen of Hearts.

Prediction: Probably a female actress or TV personality (probably from reality TV perhaps), age wise I am not too sure but it might be a shorter girl. Dream cast wise I would say Liza Koshy, Nicole Richie, or Paris Hilton.

First Clue: Horses

Rating: 8/10

9. Baby 👶🏼

Thoughts: Damn, that’s a creepy baby and Masked Singer confirmed on Instagram that it was their biggest costume yet, which their previous biggest one was 7 feet, so a huge baby makes it even more terrifying like wow! However, having said that, part of me is pretty intrigued to see who the hell is under this mask. I’m sure they cannot sing tho…

Prediction: My mind straight goes to an male athlete because that would be so funny and kind of a troll on Masked Singer’s part… and that’s most of the big people we have seen thus far. So, dream cast wise, you are allowed to laugh at me but my mind immediately went to Shaq (Shaquille O’Neal) because he’s huge and if you are gonna go big for someone, it would be for Shaq.

First Clue: "This pacifier sucker never claimed to be classy, especially when I get gassy"

Rating: 6/10

10. Beach Ball 🏖

Thoughts: Yeah, there is no way a human could fit in that thing, but it’s cool regardless… I also saw that it has two faces. That’s super interesting to me honestly, it reminds me of Snail from last season who ended up being a Muppet, so this is a bit reminiscent of that. I like it, this is the most intriguing one thus far.

Prediction: As I kind of hinted at in my thoughts, I feel like this is a Muppet or puppet of some kind, round two! There might be more than one puppet in there because of the two faces, but I am gonna assume one for dream cast reasons, I really want it to be Miss Piggy because it would be funny with Kermit being there last season.

First Clue: 2 band-aids shaped like an X

Rating: 8/10

That’s it for part 1! Stay tuned for part 2 for more costumes and predictions! See you guys then! 👋🏼

* This post was edited on September 13th to add the 1st clues from the sneak peak episode that aired on September 12th but even though some of my thoughts have changed (especially with Queen of Hearts), I will not be changing them and I can elaborate better when the episode airs *

#the masked singer #themaskedsinger #celebrities #hollywood #music #tv shows #the masked singer season 6

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betweenthetimeandsound · 3 years ago

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Three Minutes to Eternity: My ESC 250 (#230-221)

#230: Dschinghis Khan -- Dschinghis Khan (Germany 1979)

"Die Hufe ihrer Pferde, die peitschten im Sand Sie trugen Angst und Schrecken in jedes Land Und weder Blitz noch Donner hielt sie auf"

"The hoofs of their horses, they lashed in the sand They carried fear and horror in every country And neither flash nor thunder stopped them"

One of my favorite songs to jam to is Boney M's "Rasputin". A disco-influenced song about the life of "Russia's greatest love machine", it's energetic while telling that of a myth. I mention this because Dschinghis Khan is compared to this often, in all the ways.

Only this time, it's about the great conqueror Chinghis Khan, who took over the whole universe (and lasted for a very long time). From how he struck fear across the steppe to fathering seven children in one night, he is seen as the embodiment of masculinity.

While entertaining, sometimes I'm put off by the gimmickry. It can be argued that it wouldn't age that well today, because it can be seen as culturally appropriative or mocking Mongolian culture. But for what it's worth, it's enjoyable and still a classic today.

Personal and actual ranking: 4th/19 in Jerusalem

#229: Louisa Baïleche -- Monts et Merveilles (France 2003)

“Oh, mon amour Où es-tu, mon amour?” “Oh, my love Where are you, my love?”

A definite case of love at first listen for me—Monts et Merveilles is a calming ballad, albeit with sad lyrics about the end of a relationship. The instrumentation is quite nice; it reminds me of songs that stood out on the charts during that time. It also had the "ethnic style" percussion in the bridge, which made me think that France Televisions wanted to mix what worked in the last two years (ballads) with the ethnic sounds from the 1990s (as Louisa is half Kablye, an Algerian ethnic group)

Despite it, it got a pretty low result—though it may be because 2003 was a stronger year songwise compared to the two years that came before it. Or it maybe because of the hair getting into her face that took away from the experience...

Personal ranking: 5th/26 Actual ranking: 18th/26 in Riga

#228: Hakol Over Habibi -- Halayla (Israel 1981)

"הלילה, הלילה, יהיה זה הלילה נאמר דברים שלא אמרנו מעולם"

"Tonight, tonight, it will be the night We’ll say things we’ve never said before"

On a random note, whenever I would search up Idan Raichel's "Hakol Over", Hakol Over Habibi would be one of the first search items that pop up. I would completely ignore it until now, when they actually participated in Eurovision!

That said, Halayla is very groovy song which plays with the disco vibe of the 1970s and the highly energetic choreography that would define 1980s Israeli Eurovision entries. The instrumentation is quite awesome, with the mix of piano, strings, and I think accordion setting up the vibe. (And it switches well from minor to major and back again , which can go awry when done wrong).

The members seem to have a ball on stage, and Kikki looks beautiful in her dress, which was fitted that way because she was pregnant at the time!

Personal ranking: 5th/20 (though it jumps around often...) Actual ranking: 7th/20 in Dublin

#227: Wind -- Laß die Sonne in dein Herz (Germany 1987)

"Manchmal bist du traurig und weißt nicht warum Tausend kleine Kleinigkeiten machen dich ganz stumm Du hast fast vergessen wie das ist, ein Mensch zu sein Doch du bist nicht allein"

"Sometimes you feel sad and you don’t know why Thousands of little reasons are making you dumb You nearly forgot what it’s like to be a human being But you are not alone"

Wind has the interesting distinction of participating three times and coming in second twice out of those three. The first one, "Fur Alle" was seen as such as a big contender that there were bets made against it winning. And then it didn't.

Laß die Sonne in dein Herz didn't come that close to winning in 1987, but I can argue it's the better song of the the three.

It catches you right away with the reggae influences, which creates a relaxed vibe throughout the song. It builds up well with every key change--it does get repetitive at times (especially with the choruses), but never boring. And while it shares a similar theme to Fur Alle, it doesn't come off as either derivative or charitys-single like.

(That said, I did grow to like Fur Alle eventually, but this one was more instantaneous.)

Personal ranking: 7th/22 Actual ranking: 2nd/22 in Brussels

#226: Charlotte Perrelli -- Hero (Sweden 2008)

“This is a story of love and compassion Only heroes can tell.”

The better Charlotte song, in my opinion. The song she won with, “Take Me to Your Heaven” is a complete vintage track, almost influenced by ABBA-nostalgia going on at the time. “Hero” , while still on the same schlager vein, modernizes the production a little bit, to the point I imagine it would be a good pop song of that era.

Alongside that, Hero has some compelling lyrics, one which could summarize the hero's journey in general. I wouldn't be surprised if somebody were to write a Eurovision jukebox musical, they would use this in some format.

That may be the case on why l like it better, but it could also be because it should’ve done better in the contest. The fact the jury wildcard saved Charlotte is a reason why they're around, but the fact there was a wildcard which kicked out the actual tenth placer (North Macedonia's Let Me Love You) could be totally flawed too.

Personal ranking: 6th/43 Actual ranking: =18th/25 (with France) in Belgrade

#225: Carlos Paião -- Playback (Portugal 1981)

“Podes não saber cantar nem sequer assobiar, Com certeza que não vais desafinar, Em play-back, em play-back, em play-back,”

“Maybe you don't know how to sing or even how to whistle But you won't sing out of tune for sure, In playback, in playback, in playback”

This is so modern and infectious it’s unbelievable. From the introduction to Carlos’ biting lyrics to the choreography, it makes one wonder why it got neglected in the voting. 1981 was a strong year, sure, but this song is definitely one of the best of that field.

Playback, as the title suggests, is about the pervasiveness of lip-synching in the music industry. One day, nobody will have to learn how to sing because the playback will save them. They can all focus on the performance without taking note of the song.

It's eerily relevant to Eurovision today, considering we don't use live music anymore and backing vocals can be mimed. I have mixed feelings about the latter, because one side argues it allows different genres of music to appear, but the other argues it reduces artistic credibility. I prefer having live vocals; if a delegation wants to use them on the track (e.g. looping), it should be on a case-by-case basis.

Maybe that's why it somehow made the ESC250 the last two years...

Personal ranking: 4th/20 Actual ranking: =18th/20 (with Turkey) in Dublin

#224: Emma -- La mia città (Italy 2014)

“E dimmi se c’è davvero una meta O dovrò correre per la felicità”

“And tell me if there really is a destination Or I have to run for happiness”

The black sheep of Italy’s post-comeback output, and coincidentally the only song completely chosen internally. That being said, La mia citta is still a good song, and for me it’s better than some of the fan-favorites out there.

Admittedly, I prefer the punchy verses to the chorus, with the latter reminding me of something out of P!nk's discography, but I revel on Emma’s energy and her letter to the city of Rome. We have struggles about the place we are from, but still try to sing its praises when we can!

The staging was a bit tacky at times, but I did like the aesthetics of it—particularly her laurel wreath. Her costume had a good concept also, but is also overdone it in terms of the bejeweled top.

(As for the Sanremo winner that year, Contravento, it feels like a bit of a grower. The clarinet intro really takes one in, but there has to be a whimsical, sweet staging to accompany the hopeful song. Had they done so, a left-side finish would've waited for them)

Personal ranking: 6th/37 Actual ranking: 21st/26 in Copenhagen

#223: Brigitta -- Open Your Heart (Iceland 2003)

“Everything you share with me Turns a little darkness into light And that is how we’re meant to be Truth will keep the light shining brighter”

Also known as, the woman who originally came from Husavik! The difference is that Birgitta was the lead singer of the group Irafar. Open Your Heart reminds me of songs that end up on DCOM (Disney Channel Original Movie) soundtracks—it can actually work in the end, but also in the beginning to introduce the characters and/or their circumstances. The random running order really helped it with being first, haha! Beyond that, it's an optimistic song, helped with the guitar influences which ground it in the era. Plus, the production and lyrics add to this feel, encouraging even the shiest to open up their feelings. Also, I like the flowery aesthetic that Birgitta has, from one in her hair to the larger one (which I think is real?) on her microphone. Personal ranking: 4th/26 Actual ranking: 8th/26 in Riga

#222: Tomas Ledlin -- Just nu! (Sweden 1980)

“Han vill dra iväg, kanske ner till Paris Och hitta äventyret på något vis Inte sitta här på stans konditori Och låta tankarna, bara fladdra förbi” “He wants to go away, perhaps down to Paris And find adventure somehow And not just sitting here at the local café Just letting the thoughts flutter by” The 1980s saw the genre New Wave come to vogue, and Just Nu was a valiant attempt on the genre, especially considering the direction Eurovision would go later. From the opening notes, I got the punkish notes from the instrumentation, and the lyrics definitely add to the feeling of being free from societal expectations, crying out "right now"! (which is funny, because I learned Romanian at one point and nu means no in the language. So I keep thinking it's "just no!" against conformity) Tomas also shows quite the attitude on stage--he just struts into the stage with a boyish charm and kickstarts the song. With his looks and usage of the microphone stand, he portrays this rebellious character well, though the orchestration could’ve been improved with the strings and flute. Personal ranking: 2nd/19 Actual ranking: 10th/19 in Den Haag

#221: Lea Sirk -- Hvala, ne! (Slovenia 2018)

“Moje ime je Lea in/Za vas imam nov lik!” “My name is Lea/ And I have a new character for you!”

I love the opening lines for this song—it immediately sets the tone and has a strong statement alongside it. She's Lea, and she won't let anything down on She asserts that she can’t be sold out, and has a great attitude to accompany the trap beat, which reminds me of a K-pop song for some reason. The staging fits the song to a T--though it didn't need any changes from the NF, haha. As for the fake break, I don't have any strong opinions on it, but it definitely kept up interest for the song. A nicer touch was the Portuguese line in the end. Either way, it was a surprise qualifier in its semi that year, and it was one surprise that I greatly welcomed. Hvala da!

Personal ranking: 8th/43 Actual ranking: 22nd/26 GF in Lisbon

#esc 250 #esc top 250 #esc germany #esc france #esc israel #esc sweden #esc portugal #esc italy #esc iceland #esc slovenia #three minutes to eternity #eurovision song contest

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lovemesomesurveys · 4 years ago

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Are you still in quarantine/under stay at home order? (if you're taking this during Covid-19, that is) The state isn’t, but I am.

Has stuff been opening back up where you are? Yeah. Although, now dining in isn’t an option again in my area.

What have you missed most that you haven't been able to do due to Covid-19? I didn’t do much even before all this, but I did like going grocery shopping with my mom and going to the movies, which we did quite often. And now with it being summer I’m really sad I can’t go to the beach. Beach days were the only thing I liked about summer. I could still go shopping with my mom and go to the beach, but I just don’t feel safe or comfortable going out in public and being around people right now when the number of cases are still so high and continue to rise. It makes me extremely anxious and scared. It doesn’t help that my state is a hotspot.

What state do you live in? California.

Do you personally know anyone who has had Covid-19? Yes. She actually ended up recovering from that, testing negative later on, but she died recently from complications caused by it. She was on dialysis and after she got sick, even though she got better, it affected her kidneys and she had to stop dialysis. Once that happens, it’s not long after that you pass away. She was my grandma’s best friend, thus a very close family friend. :( She was the sweetest, caring, kindhearted person.

Have you had it? (or think you might have?) No, not so far. Although, whenever I feel crappy or cough for any reason my mind automatically goes there. It’s not unusual for me not to feel well and have days where I’m feeling extra crappy, but nowadays I have to play the game: is it my normally crappiness or something else? :/ I also have dry mouth and my throat tends to get dry in the summer anyway and ugh again it’s something normal for me but I have to wonder about that, too.

Do you know anyone who is a healthcare worker? No. Well, apart from my doctors obviously.

Have you still been working these past few months or not? I don’t have a job. I wasn’t working prior to this either.

If you weren't working, are you still in school? No, thankfully. I graduated UC 5 years ago, so I’ve been done way before this started. What is/was your major in college? I majored in psych.

Or if you're not in college yet, what do you want to study?

If your school closed due to Covid-19, do you miss it?

What are you most excited about when life goes (somewhat) back to normal? It’s hard for me to even see that point right now. I know people think I sound like a Negative Nancy, but I think I’m just being real. It’s goings to be a long time before we get to a point where we don’t have to have this virus looming over our heads everyday. It’s been kicking our ass. It’s never going to go away, it will likely be like the flu in that we have a covid season, but I pray we get to the point where we can get under control and managed. A point where there’s a vaccine and effective medication. But like I said, that’s going to take time. Masks may be the new way of life for many of us.

Did Covid-19 impact any major plans you had for this spring/summer? No beach trips or birthday vacay. :( That’s not important, I know, but I am still sad about it.

Do you collect anything? Key chains and giraffe stuffed animals and knicknacks.

What's the name of your favorite restaurant? (chain or local) Wingstop.

What is your favorite thing to order when you eat there? I get takeout, but anyway I love their boneless garlic parm and lemon pepper wings with their ranch.

Have you still been able to get food from there during Covid-19? Yes. I always got takeout anyway, so that hasn’t been any different for me.

Are you planning on eating there anytime soon when they reopen? I’ll say it a 3rd time haha I just get it to go and eat at home.

Have you discovered any good new music during quarantine? Yeah, but not because I’m in quarantine. That implies I’ve done so because I’ve been home and had more time to do so or only did so because I didn’t have anything to do. I’ve spent most of my time at home the past few years, not just this year.

What's a new song you've been loving lately? (not necessarily newly released, just something you've recently discovered) Lately I’ve been getting new music from TikToks. A couple recent ones are Dream Girl by Ir Sais and Summer Days by Martin Garrix ft. Macklemore and Patrick Stump.

Have you been able to keep in touch with friends during this time? I don’t have any friends, so that hasn’t been an issue.

What is your favorite Starbucks drink? White chocolate mocha, caramel macchiato, and their fall and winter seasonal drinks.

Do you prefer Starbucks or a local coffee shop? Just give me coffeeee.

What was your favorite TV show when you were a kid? do you still ever watch it? I had a lot of favorites. Some I still watch like Boy Meets World, Full House, Family Matters, Disney Channel shows like That’s So Raven, Lizzie McGuire, The Proud Family, Hannah Montana, etc (thanks to Disney+) and old Nick shows like Rugrats, Doug, and Hey Arnold. I recently found out Hulu has Step by Step, so I’ll be watching that again at some point.

Have you been watching a lot of movies during quarantine? >> No more than I would be usually, since my daily life didn’t change as dramatically as most people’s did. But yeah. <<< Yeah, I’ve gotten into a few new shows and binge watched a few old ones during this time, but again I wouldn’t contribute that to quarantine cause I would have been home majority of the time still anyway.

What is your favorite Disney movie? Alice in Wonderland, Winnie the Pooh, and Toy Story are among the top

Do you have Disney plus? Yep. That’s how I watch those old Disney shows I mentioned before.

Are you a fan of Hamilton? I’ve never seen it.

Are you planning to watch Hamilton on Disney plus? I have thought about checking it out, so we’ll see.

Have you seen Hamilton live? (Broadway or elsewhere) Like I said, I’ve never seen it.

What is your favorite musical? Sweeney Todd.

Have you watched any musicals online recently? No. Or ever.

What was the last live performance you went to before quarantine? I saw Phantom of the Opera 3 years ago.

What was the best concert you've ever been to? All the concerts I went to were awesome. Man, it’s been over 10 years now since my last concert I really miss ‘em.

Do you volunteer anywhere? No. I’ve volunteered at a few places in the past, though.

What is your favorite movie on Netflix? >> ??? There are... so many movies on Netflix. <<<

Did you relocate due to Covid-19? No.

What is one positive thing about the past few months for you? Uhhh.

Do you prefer streaming music or buying it? I stream it.

Do you use Spotify? Yep.

What was the last book you read? I recently started The Girl and the Deadly End by AJ Rivers. It’s the final book in a 7 book series.

Have you been baking during quarantine? Nope.

What is your favorite thing to bake? It’s been a few years since I’ve done any baking. I used to love it during the holidays.

Do you enjoy doing crafts? I think they can be fun, but they’re not something I do very often at all. I lack the artistic ability, creativity, inspiration, motivation, and energy.

Have you ever done crafts for money? No.

Do you shop on Etsy? Yes. I love Etsy.

Have you ever sold anything on Etsy? Nope.

What song are you listening to right now? I’m not listening to music, I’m listening to an ASMR video.

What genre of music is your favorite? I like a variety of music.

Can you speak any foreign languages? Not fluently, but I know some Spanish.

What is/was your favorite class in school? I always enjoyed English and then later on in college I enjoyed most of my psych classes as well.

Who was your favorite teacher most recently? I’ve been done with school for 5 years now.

What is the lock screen and home screen on your phone? The lock screen is a photo of the ocean with a Bible verse on it and my home screen is a rose gold background.

Do you play Animal Crossing? Yeppp.

Do you have any pets? What kind? What is/are your pet(s) name(s)? I have a 3 year old German Shepherd/Lab mix named Princess Leia. <3

what is a song lyric you love? >> Right, I’m definitely not going to think of that off the top of my head right now. <<< Haha, right. Not to mention, I have a ton of favorite lyrics.

Have you done anything recently to support Black Lives Matter? I’ve signed petitions.

Are there any songs you feel transport you to a world that doesn't exist? Jason Mraz songs were kinda like that. Haha. It seemed like he lived in some whimsical fantasyland.

What songs do that for you? “but my breath fogged up glass, and so I drew a new face and I laughed” lol okay Jason Mraz. Haha that’s the only thing coming to mind right now. It’s almost 7AM okay I can’t think.

What is your favorite ethnicity/cuisine of food? Italian.

What are some popular things that you don't like/aren't interested in? Hmm. What’s even popular right now? I’m out of the loop.

When was the last time you got a haircut? Back in February.

What was the last movie (or musical) you watched? Ferris Bueller’s Day Off the other day.

What was the last movie you saw in the theatre? The Invisible Man.

How soon are you planning on going back to work? (If you've been off) I don’t have a job, remember?

What is an item you own that means a lot to you? I’ll always cherish my giraffe stuffed animals and knickknacks.

Do you have a favorite t-shirt? All of my graphic tees.

What other proshot musicals would you love to see streaming online? You sure love musicals. I like a few musicals, sure, but I’m not super into them like you seem to be. There aren’t any right now that I want to see that I can think of. Well, apart from maybe checking out Hamilton. What is something you're looking forward to? Summer being over.

How do you plan on celebrating Covid-19 being over, whenever that is? >> The problem with this idea is that... it’s not that simple? From what I understand, it’s not like one day we’re all gonna say “that’s it! we’ve officially eradicated this virus from the earth and we will never have to worry about it again!” I’m guessing it’s going to be a slow process of reopening with a lot of false starts and rollbacks (as new waves crest and protective measures have to be re-implemented). Even that first day that I go out to a restaurant is probably going to feel really weird and even a little “wrong”. I’m not sure how much celebrating is really going to be happening. <<< All of this. Like I said earlier, it’s not ever going completely go away or be over. We’ll hopefully get it under control at some point and find an effective vaccine and medications and not have the fear of it constantly looming over us, but we got a long way to go. And when that does happen, I’ll still be cautious. It’s sure going to feel weird when I do feel comfortable to go out again, though. It felt so weird just going outside for a bit recently one night cause it was the first time I had been out of the house at all since my doctor appointment back in May. That was really weird and scary for me. Prior to that I hadn’t gone anywhere since early March. Sooo yeah. I clearly won’t be rushing out anywhere anytime soon.

#personal #text #survey #surveys

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moviepower · 4 years ago

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Why do people criticize Jojo Rabbit?

We'd say that this is uncharted territory for distributor Disney, but the company did previously give us their futures face. Hmm. I saw Jojo Rabbit in the best place I could for movies, in my opinion.

For this list, we're looking at why Tyco ITTS 2019 black comedy has proven. So polarizing for critics just to clarify the critical reception thus far has been mostly positive and even watch mojo gave the film a rave review following its TIFF premiere.

Nevertheless, we can definitely see why a movie like this. Wouldn't win audiences over everywhere. Hey Joe, Joe, my old friend. Hi adults. Number 10, the controversial premise. I don't think I can do this last. Of course you can simply by reading it synopsis, you can tell why Jojo rabbit has stirred up so much controversy.

In the midst of world war II, a young German boy named Joe Joe dreams of becoming a Nazi upon learning that his mother has been harboring a Jewish girl in the attic though, Jo Jo begins to reevaluate his outlook on life. I tell them you will be in big trouble throughout this coming of age journey. Our titular character is guided by his imaginary friend.

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Is it worth to watch Jojo Rabbit full movie

Who just so happens to be a flamboyantly incompetent, Adolf Hitler, as inventive as the premises, it was guaranteed to ignite passionate feelings. Critics are unsurprisingly split as to whether the film's premise is inspired or irresponsible. I wish more of our young boys had your blind fanaticism. Okay.

Number nine, how it stacks up to other satires and this world is ruined for everyone and the good earth is rich and can provide for everyone. The way of life can be free and beautiful, but we have lost the way Jojo rabbit. Isn't the first film to satirize Hitler or Nazis 1940 twos to be, or not to be was criticized upon release for its farcical, spin of Nazi occupied Poland.

But today is viewed as a comedy classic. I know you're quite famous in London kernel. They call you concentration camp Earhart. Yes. Yes, we do the concentrating and the poles do the camping Hitler. Technically isn't the protagonist and the great dictator. It's obvious who Charlie Chaplin was parodying. We can learn more about actress playing mother Jojo on Wikipedia.

Arguably the most famous sendup of Nazi Germany is Mel Brooks. The producers. In which two con men put on an intentionally horrible musical entitled springtime for Hitler. Practically a love letter to this own run a week week. Are you kidding display? It's got the close on page four. Some critics are ready to place Jojo rabbit alongside these revolutionary respected comedy.

What do critics write in reviews about Jojo Rabbit?

Others, however, would claim that the film has more in common with the bridge sit-com Hile, honey I'm home, which was so misguided and tasteless that it only lasted one episode. Oh 10 night. You will make an schnitzel. What a joke. You must be real mad at me, honey. I'm a very, very bad Hitler. Number eight, what's going on in the real world right now?

Fuck man. The house, although world war II is in the past. The same, unfortunately can not be said about bigotry. Nowhere was this more apparent than at the 2017 unite the right rally in Charlottesville, which attracted several hate groups, including neo-Nazis. Since prejudice and discrimination remain prevalent in today's world.

It's obvious why various critics would object to a film that makes light of Nazi Germany. Nevertheless, satire can reflect modern times as well as history in ways that straightforward drama can't. Some might argue that now isn't the right time for a Nazi satire, but others would debate that society needs a movie like Jojo rabbit. A great story about the Irishman is here.

Now more than ever, you're not to nuts. Jojo, tenue kids likes dressing up in front of you. If somebody wants to be part of a club. Number seven, the humor, the best weekend ever.

Soundtrack in the highest level of production

Wow. Your enjoyment of Jojo rabbit will hinder on how hard you laugh. Or of course, if you laugh, the film didn't tickle. Roger Freedman. Funnybone who wrote in his showbiz four one, one review Jojo rabbit is actually borderline antisemitic offensive on many levels and not even funny. Sam Adams of slate couldn't have disagreed more proclaiming for Jojo rabbit comedy.

Isn't a means to minimize, but to analyze wise, to pry at the way, hateful ideologies can be embraced as a comfort and how beneath their promise to. Blame how the world really works is an understanding no more sophisticated than a child's it's time to buy some books. Since humor is subjective, we guess there isn't always going to be a clear line between what's offensively funny and what's just plain offensive.

Oh God. Number six. Jewish jokes. Did you know, Jews can Z to each other's mind. So tell us, you know, who saw one? They could look just like us of Tyco. ITT satire is clearly the Nazis. However, the director who's of Jewish and Maori heritage also pokes fun at Judaism. Hi, well, the real Jordan Rumi was horrified by the audience's reception at the screening he attended.

Writing, you have no idea how it is to be surrounded by thousands of people laughing at jokes, specifically directed at Jews. That being said, Rumi seemed to be in the minority of a group that found the film. Hilarious. As with Borat and South park, many would argue that the humor and Jojo rabbit isn't intended to mock the Jewish faith, but to criticize how ignorant and Semites are a cute number five, the life is beautiful comparison, right?

Jojo Rabbit's reaction to mom's death

Yeah. Critics have stocked a Jojo rabbit up against numerous other films. But life is beautiful. Seems to be the one that's invited the most comparisons this 1997, Italian dromedy also presented world war II through a lighthearted lens, centering on a Jewish man who uses humor and imagination to shield his son from the horrors of the Holocaust. It's interesting what they write about this movie on Amazon.

Well, the film won an Academy award for best foreign language film, and even got nominated for best picture. There were those who found the movies comedic tone, inappropriate. Over two decades later, we will continue to debate if the movie is a life affirming fable or a dated misfire. It's actually eerie how much these two films have in common, especially since both one TIFs peoples choice award.

That is the strongest thing in the world. Number four, is it shocking enough? I was your age. I had an imaginary friend come in so much stuff even before the first trailer dropped Jojo rabbit was being built up as one of 20 nineteens most controversial movies. Weirdly enough though, some critics have expressed disappointment that the film isn't more shocking.

Well, audiences have arguably gotten more sensitive with time. There are still patrons who crave comedy that pushes the envelope to its limits. It's time to burn some books. Brian Talarico of the Chicago sun times felt Jojo rabbit played it too safe. Writing the final scenes of Jojo rabbit are too easy for a film that needs to be dangerous and daring.

Are the best scenes already included in the trailer?

Even if the film doesn't go all out with its edgy concept. Seeing Tyco, ITT dresses, Adolf Hitler will be more than enough to make a few jobs drop. What am I going to do? No idea. Going down the house in Glen Winston church one, negotiate number three. It's depiction of Nazis. The playlist Charles romesco took issue with the films, humanization of antisemites writing.

YTT concedes that a good percentage of Nazis really do hold hate in their heart. But maintains that at least some of them aren't you two seem to be getting on. Well, it doesn't seem like a bad cost. How much pain and suffering the Nazis caused many audiences will understandably struggle with this message.

However, if Ron Jones proved anything with his third wave social experiment in 1967, it's that even ordinary people can get swept up in the dangerous ideals of fascism. Likewise, Jojo rabbit poses, a challenging question. If we're not willing to acknowledge the bad and the good in people, how can we ever rid ourselves of prejudice?

Nothing makes sense anymore. Yeah, I know. It's definitely not a good time to be a Nazi. Number two it's message. And mother took me. She's kind me like a person, whatever your thoughts on Jojo rabbit, Tyco ITT clearly wanted to spread an anti hate message. YTT also claims that he started writing the screenplay before Nazis regained relevance in the media.

There's little doubt that why TTS intent was noble, whether or not the final product successfully gets his message across is where critics are split. A doubt of the a V club felt that making fun of Nazi Germany had been done before. Thus taking away from the movies, broader anti hate theme. Peter Howell begged to differ in his Toronto star review writing Taika YTT knocks it out of deer park with the meaningful lunacy of his anti hate satire, which is equal parts.

Adolf Hitler's thread in the movie

Mel Brooks, West Henderson, and own whimsical brilliance growing up too fast. Ten-year-olds and the celebrating war and talking politics. Before we continue, be sure to subscribe to our channel and ring the bell to get notified a better latest videos. You'll have the option to be notified for occasional videos or all of them.

If you're on your phone, make sure you go into your settings and switch on notifications. Number one it's depiction of Hitler. Well, they call me a scared rabbits. Okay. Let's address the giant rabbit in the room. Tyco YTT spends most of his screen time prancing around in a Nazi uniform and toothbrush mustache. If you want, you can read here about preparations for making a movie and other curiosities.

Without a doubt, YTT, didn't set out to deliver a serious or dignified portrayal of Hitler. Rather YTT aspired to make the fewer look as goofy and idiotic as possible. Oh, . Just painting Hitler as a wacky, even likable buffoon desensitized us to the atrocities. He committed though. Some may say yes while others may argue that it leaves audiences more informed and open-minded.

At the end of the day, everyone is going to have a different opinion of Jojo. Let them say whatever they want. People used to say a lot of nasty things about me. Oh, this guy's a lunatic. Oh, look at that psycho. He's going to get us all killed. Do you agree with our picks, check out this other recent clip from watch mojo and be sure to subscribe and ring the bell to be notified about our latest videos.

#jojo rabbit #movie #movies #netflix #hbo

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alexsfictionaddiction · 5 years ago

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‘Life itself is the most wonderful fairytale of all.’

If you missed my announcement post last week, you may not know that I am a co-host of a wonderful readathon that will be taking place from 11th-18th August. My co-hosts are BookTubers Sam, Becky, Erica and Jordan and I would love if you could subscribe to all four of their channels. They are all fantastic creators and their videos deserve a LOT of love!

Today’s post aims to give you some inspiration for your FairytaleAThon TBR. The challenges for this round are in the above image and I’ve selected a few books that fit each one, which you’ll hopefully be interested in. FairytaleAThon encompasses original fairytales, myths, folktales and retellings of them so the possibilties are almost endless! Here are my very best recommendations:

1. THUMBELINA: Read a fairytale or retelling under 250 pages.

ELLA ENCHANTED BY GAIL CARSON LEVINE: 240 pages.

This very funny and sweet retelling of Cinderella is perhaps better known as a cute Anne Hathaway film but the source material is definitely worth the read. It follows Ella, who was given the curse of obedience by a fairy, when she was a baby. This means that she has to do anything that anyone tells her -fight monsters, let down her friends and even deny that she’s in love with the prince. However, there is a beautiful feminist resolution that is sure to delight modern fairytale lovers!

THE SNOW QUEEN BY HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN: 96 pages.

The story that inspired Frozen is over 200 years old but this beautiful new edition from independent publishing house Pushkin is worth picking up for the coverlust alone! The original tale is quite different to Disney’s version but it is still an epic story of love and loyalty in the harsh landscape of the snowy North. When a magic mirror breaks and curses Kay to be blind to all of the good in the world, he is taken by the Snow Queen and locked in her ice palace. It’s up to his friend Gerda to trek across the icy plains and rescue him and his frozen heart.

THE BROKEN SWORD BY POUL ANDERSON: 237 pages.

Inspired by Norse mythology, The Broken Sword is a dark high fantasy that has somehow been packed into just over 200 pages. Skafloc is a human boy who has been raised by elves amidst their war with the trolls. The elves require the use of the sword Tyrfing, which the mighty Thor broke in order to stop it destroying Yggdrasil -the tree that brings the earth, heavens and underworld together. Only the giant Bolverk can fix it and it’s Skafloc’s job to persuade him. As well as this huge undertaking, Skafloc also needs to face his dark changeling self! This is ideal for Tolkien fans who need a quick whimsical adventure in a strange land.

THE WILD SWANS BY HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN: 64 pages.

I’m aware that this is the second Christian Andersen Pushkin edition in this post but LOOK AT THEM! The Wild Swans is a little-known story about a princess whose 11 brothers are turned into swans by their evil stepmother. Despite being determined to break the curse, the stakes are high and huge sacrifices will need to be made to reunite the siblings. It’s a heartbreaking story about familial love and loyalty.

2. GENTLE GIANTS: Read a fairytale or retelling over 500 pages.

CRESS BY MARISSA MEYER: 560 pages.

This sci-fi retelling of Rapunzel is actually the third book in the Lunar Chronicles series. Although each book is a retelling of a different fairytale, the characters do overlap and therefore it is best to read them in order. The good news is that you have plenty of time before the readathon to read both preceding books -Cinder and Scarlet. The series is incredibly unique, quirky and funny with some truly shipworthy romances and madcap adventure.

COMPLETE FAIRY TALES BY BROTHERS GRIMM: 1019 pages.

Ok, so this may be cheating a little BUT what would FairytaleAThon be, if you didn’t dip into some classic original stories at some point? This Penguin Vintage Classics edition of the tales collected by the Brothers Grimm is a simple yet beautiful chunk of a book that I believe should be a staple in any fairytale lover’s library. Featuring the original gruesome versions of classics such as Hansel and Gretel, Little Red Riding Hood, Twelve Dancing Princesses and so many more, there is bound to be more than a few of these 279 twisted, disturbing stories that you love!

CHILDREN OF BLOOD AND BONE BY TOMI ADEYEMI: 544 pages.

It was one of the biggest books of last year and its sequel is on its way next year. Children of Blood and Bone is inspired by the Orisha (deities) of West African mythology. It follows Zelie, a young girl with magical powers in a world where magic has been taken away and people like her are hunted by a tyrannical king. However now she is on a quest to avenge her dead mother and restore magic to her homeland. Followed by her brother Tzain, a rogue princess Amari and enemy prince Inan, this is a truly unique YA fantasy that I found completely unputdownable.

WICKED BY GREGORY MAGUIRE: 512 pages.

This prequel to The Wizard of Oz is best known as a hit West End and Broadway musical but the source material is also a fantastic read. Elphaba has been an outcast and persecuted all her life because of her green skin and this doesn’t change when she starts at Shiz University, where she meets the beautiful, queen bee Galinda. After a reluctant start, they soon form a friendship and band together with Munchkin boy Boq and quiet Vinkus prince Fiyero to put the injustices of their world to rights. Spanning over years of Elphaba’s life, Wicked features forbidden love, high-stake drama and challenges your idea of what evil really is.

3. IF THE SHOE FITS: Read any fairytale or retelling on your TBR.

Of course you should use your own TBR for this challenge but I’ve chosen some popular releases over the last couple of years that just might be on your TBR anyway.

CIRCE BY MADELINE MILLER

Not only is it a beautiful book but the story inside is truly captivating, bewitching and heartbreaking. This is a feminist retelling of the Greek myth of Circe, the sorceress living alone on the island of Aiaia with a talent for potion-making and a penchant for turning sailors into animals. In this version, Circe is banished to Aiaia by Zeus when he feels threatened by her unique brand of magic. There she develops her craft, tames the animals, grows herbs and even encounters travellers such as Daedelus, Icarus and Odysseus. After angering both mortals and gods, she needs to decide where she truly belongs to protect the thing she loves most. Madeline Miller is a gorgeous writer and Circe is a masterpiece.

THE HAZEL WOOD BY MELISSA ALBERT

Although not a fairytale or a retelling, The Hazel Wood has many fairytale elements and therefore, I feel it more than qualifies for FairytaleAThon. It follows 17-year-old Alice who has spent most of her life moving around with her mother because bad luck and disaster seems to follow them around. Alice’s grandmother is the author of a book of dark fairytales set in mysterious Hinterland. When her grandmother dies and her mother goes missing, Alice has almost nothing to go on. She teams up with classmate Ellery Finch, who also happens to be a superfan of her grandmother’s stories, to find her mother and discover the secrets of her grandmother’s creation. It’s the perfect remedy if you’re craving some fast-paced, whimsical action. THE SILENCE OF THE GIRLS BY PAT BARKER

Ok so it’s ANOTHER Greek myth retelling but this is another book that should really be on your radar. The Silence of the Girls tells the story of the women affected by the Trojan war, who have been largely ignored by the original myth. It focuses primarily on Briseis, a Trojan queen who became a concubine to Achilles after he murdered her husband and brothers. Her life in the Greek camp is a world away from the one she led in Troy and she is now a slave to the army. When commander Agamemnon wishes to claim Briseis as his own prize, she finds her fate entirely at the mercy of the two most powerful men of Greece as the war wages on. It’s an engaging accessible version of the story with some lovely female friendships, intricate and illicit romances and an ending that will definitely touch your heart.

GEEKERELLA BY ASHLEY POSTON

This quirky, nerdy YA romance is enormous fun to read! Vegan food-truck worker Elle is a superfan of hit sci-fi series Starfield, a love she shared with her late father. When a cosplay competition is announced to celebrate the upcoming movie reboot, Elle has to enter. The prize is a ticket to the Cosplay Ball at the fandom’s convention ExcelsionCon and a meet and greet with the new Prince Carmindor. However, when it’s announced that the role will be played by teen idol Darien Freeman (who her stepsisters are obsessed with) Elle isn’t hopeful he’ll do the part justice because surely a pretty boy actor doesn’t know the first thing about Starfield, right? Told through the viewpoints of both Elle and Darien via alternating chapters, it’s full of dramatic irony and the subtle similarities to the story of Cinderella are so fun to pick out. Our group book for this round is its recently released companion The Princess and the Fangirl, so what better reason to pick up Geekerella if you haven’t already?

4. CREATURES OF THE DEEP: Read a book with mermaids, sirens or sea monsters.

As this is a summer round of FairytaleAThon, my co-hosts and I decided that we wanted to dedicate a challenge to stories that feature cool blue waters. We agreed that this book doesn’t have to be a fairytale, folktale or retelling; it just has to feature a mythical aquatic creature.

TO KILL A KINGDOM BY ALEXANDRA CHRISTO

This dark retelling of The Little Mermaid sees Princess Lira as a ruthless collector of princes’ hearts. However, when she kills a fellow siren, the Sea Queen punishes her by turning her into a human and taking away her singing voice. She needs to bring back the heart of Prince Elian in order to return to the sea. Prince Elian is himself a siren-hunter and when he rescues a drowning Lira, she promises to help him destroy all sirens but of course, she has her own motives for getting close to him. Although I’ve seen mixed reviews for this book, I really enjoyed it for the concept. Lira is a much more powerful, more formidable figure than Ariel and the story is much more brutal. I’d definitely recommend it for anyone who feels like Ariel deserved more.

THE PISCES BY MELISSA BRODER

The Pisces is an incredibly strange novel about Lucy who has recently split from her long-term partner and is lacking inspiration for her thesis. In the hopes that it will help her forget her problems, she agrees to spend the summer in LA, looking after her sister’s house and foxhound. While there, she goes on a string of grisly Tinder dates, attends a therapy group for love addiction and falls in love with a mysterious but gorgeous surfer dude… who appears to have scales over the entirety of his lower body… It’s funny, it’s weird, it’s sad in parts but it’s also somehow bloody brilliant. Be warned that there are some pretty graphic sex scenes, so perhaps avoid it if you’re sensitive to that!

THE GLOAMING BY KIRSTY LOGAN

This is a wonderfully charming magical realism book following Mara and her family, whose island is surrounded with magic and stories. When tragedy strikes her family, Mara finds solace in enigmatic Pearl who introduces her to a new way of life and possibilities she never dreamed of. Torn between the traditions of her island and the ever-changing course of the sea while still haunted by the past, Mara needs to decide which is the best path for her to take. Kirsty Logan is a lyrical genius so if you like beautiful imagery and strange diverse storylines, The Gloaming is a great choice for you.

THE MERMAID AND MRS HANCOCK BY IMOGEN HERMES GOWAR

Set in the 18th century, The Mermaid and Mrs Hancock is a beautifully written and surreal read that will appeal if you’re looking for a more literary, social history-led mermaid book. Merchant Jonah Hancock learns that one of his captains has sold his ship for what is apparently a mermaid. Naturally this piques the curiosity of the area and he is soon thrown into upper class circles, where he meets the beautiful, accomplished Angelica Neal. Soon enough, both of their lives take a new course at a high price. It’s a pretty big book so I wouldn’t necessarily recommend it if you’re not already a historical fiction reader but it’s definitely a unique story of obsession and intrigue with bags of wit.

5. TRY THE GREY STUFF: Read with a yummy treat.

Naturally, your choice of reading snack is ENTIRELY your choice but these are four of my favourites to get your tummy rumbling!

ICE CREAM

The perfect treat for a hot day. Just don’t let it drip onto the pages!

Is there anything more tasty than a plate of warm, gooey, freshly baked cookies? Pretty sure there isn’t!

POPCORN

If your book is painting beautiful cinematic images in your mind or the drama is getting a little tense, you might want to grab some popcorn to add to the experience. MOZZARELLA STICKS

Possibly my favourite savoury snack ever. A few mozzarella sticks dipped in sweet chilli sauce is simply delicious!

6. A WHOLE NEW WORLD: Read a fairytale or retelling with a diverse character.

ASH BY MALINDA LO

This bisexual retelling of Cinderella is one of my favourites ever. Ash dreams of being taken away from her miserable life with her stepmother by fairies so when she meets handsome but dark fairy Sidhean, she thinks her life is about to change. Then she meets beautiful huntress Kasia and begins feeling things she hasn’t felt in a long time. But how can she choose between true love and her fairytale escape? It’s sexy, enchanting, incredibly intense and I absolutely devoured it.

A CURSE SO DARK AND LONELY BY BRIGID KEMMERER

This was our group book for the last round of FairytaleAThon, so if you joined us then, there is a good chance you’ll have already read A Curse So Dark And Lonely. It’s a recently released Beauty and the Beast retelling which has been getting a lot of hype in the book community. It follows Harper, a teenage girl living in Washington DC with her ailing mother and dismissive older brother. When she intervenes in a street incident, she finds herself being pulled into Emberfall, a broken kingdom ruled by Prince Rhen, who has been cursed to relive his 18th year until a girl falls for the vicious beast he has become. With evil forces at work, Harper and Rhen need to defeat more than a curse to save the people of Emberfall. Harper has cerebral palsy and as a result, she has developed a strength and feistiness that I don’t think I’ve ever seen in YA fantasy. It’s a must read for anyone who loves cursed hearts, easy-to-root-for characters and page-turning tension.

EVERY HEART A DOORWAY BY SEANAN MAGUIRE

The first in the Wayward Children series of novellas, Every Heart A Doorway is the perfect twisted fairytale. The premise explores what happens to the children who have been to magical lands on their return to the real world. Ever-changed by their experiences, they are often take to Eleanor West’s Home for Wayward Children, where everyone is seeking a door to the fantasy world they’ve left. When Nancy arrives, darkness and tragedy are just around the corner. There are asexual and transgender characters, multiple ethnicities represented as well as plenty of dark whimsical adventure. It’s certainly a strange little series but once you start it, you’ll be hooked.

THE WRATH AND THE DAWN BY RENEE AHDIEH

A retelling of an Arabian Nights story, The Wrath and the Dawn tells the story of the young king Khalid who murders a new wife every night. When her best friend becomes one of the slain, Shahrzad volunteers to be his next bride with every intention of not being the one who ends up dead. Through the power of storytelling, she survives night after night and inexplicably finds herself falling in love with Khalid, who appears to be nothing more than a tortured soul -much like the rest of his palace which seems to have more than a few secrets. It’s a novel full of tradition, elegance and fantastic world-building. You’ll definitely get swept up in this one!

7. RAGS TO RICHES: Read the group book.

THE PRINCESS AND THE FANGIRL BY ASHLEY POSTON

Our group book this round is The Princess and the Fangirl and I can’t wait to dive into it! It’s set in the same fandom as Geekerella but is not a direct sequel, so you can technically read it if you haven’t read the previous book. It follows fangirl Imogen who is on a mission to save her favourite Starfield characters Princess Amara from being killed off. However Jessica, the actress who plays her, is desperate to shake off the pressure and intensity from the fandom and would actually quite like to bow out of the series. I don’t want to know too much more about it but I know it involves an F/F romance and I’m guessing there’s a case of switching places or mistaken identities at some point, given that it has been touted as a retelling of The Prince and the Pauper. I am INCREDIBLY excited for this one and I hope you’ll be picking it up too!

Hopefully I’ve given you some ideas for your own TBR. I’ll be posting my own next week, so look out for that. This round looks like a good one!

#fairytaleathon #readathon #recommendations #book recommendations #fantasy #ya #mythology #mermaids #fairytales #books #bookworm

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kismetconstellations · 6 years ago

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This post has been a long-time coming, and I apologize a million times over for any concern or distress I may have caused in delaying getting it out there.

Since creating my Fanfiction.net account in May of 2009, and this Tumblr account in August of 2011, I have been, primarily, a member of the High School Musical fandom. The vast majority of my blog’s contents, including my first few posts, were images and gifs of High School Musical characters. This franchise, and, more specifically, two of its characters, have been a major part of not only my online presence, but my life, itself, for over a decade. Just last year, if you had asked me, I would have said that I saw myself sticking around and maintaining my place in this fandom, however small it is, for the long haul.

But, if there is one constant in life that any of us can rely on, it’s that everything changes.

I first began to seriously question my place in the High School Musical fandom back in 2016, when a certain fiasco pertaining to the first film’s televised ten year anniversary special, happened. The disgusting sense of immaturity and entitlement that lead to select individuals attacking the character of a troubled and real person over his absence at the reunion for a- let’s be honest, folks, subpar, at best- fictional Disney Channel Original Movie, had me feeling very much at odds with myself and the community claiming to love these films and the people involved with their creation. When these attacks escalated in vitriol and hostility, some people even taking to their Twitter accounts to call for this person’s death, thanks to an outright libelous article that maliciously twisted his words to make him seem ungrateful for the film that, in essence, launched his career, I found myself sickened to the core to have anything in common with people who would conduct themselves in such an outrageous manner.

A real human being’s livelihood and well-being should never come in second place to a piece of fiction, however great of an impact this piece of fiction may have had on its audience. I firmly stand by this sentiment.

Though very rattled by these incidents, I continued to create fanmade content for the High School Musical series and the characters and ship I love which hailed from it. At some point down the line, however, the joy and excitement I once derived from creating this content just... withered away. I would be too crippled by anxiety and my vast insecurities regarding my storytelling abilities to type a single sentence. I’d spend days, weeks, questioning my interpretations of these characters and their relationships, and relentlessly beating myself up in my mind for being “wrong” about everything. Seeking out other people’s fanmade content brought me no joy and only deepened my apprehension, because I was the only one actively creating content for my ship, and had been for years.

Perhaps the timing was a factor. I was still reeling from the recent passing of my cat and best friend of nineteen years, as well as the untimely death of my pet turtle. Or, perhaps I am much too sensitive and thin-skinned to handle the backlash that comes with touting unpopular opinions, and people misinterpreting the intentions of my posts. In any case, the happiness, the magic, the spark, was gone for me.

Then, in late January of this year, I saw The Greatest Showman in theaters. I left the cinema, that night, more ebullient than I had been in months. I fell in love with the film’s soundtrack, and, though I initially resisted, a historically inaccurate but wonderful ship involving the whimsical though morally ambiguous lead and his business partner. It was much to my pleasant surprise when I sought out the fandom for both this film, and the ship that won my heart, and found it to be an overwhelmingly positive place, teeming with love for the actors, the writers, the choreographers, any and every person who had a part to play in making this movie happen. My stories were getting a wholly unprecedented warm reception, gifs that I made were receiving note counts beyond anything I ever anticipated, and I no longer dreaded members of the fandom stopping by my inbox for a chat.

So much of the healing process involves letting go of things that no longer bring you joy or fulfillment, that no longer encourage your growth, and instead weigh you down and leave you swamped, stifled, and lost at sea.

I know it was jarring for many of you, but, after much hard and painful deliberation, I made the choice to change my URL after five years of being boltonevans and proudly wearing my affiliation with the HSM fandom and series on my sleeve for all to see.

As much love as I still have, and will always have for Ryan Evans, Troy Bolton, and their beautiful, wholesome, healthy, and tragically under-appreciated relationship, and as much as I hate leaving a work I poured so much time, and love, and so much of myself into, I think it’s time to close the book on that chapter in my life.

I will always hold great love in my heart for the High School Musical series for bringing so many wonderful, incredible people who wound up becoming so very precious to me, into my life. And, maybe, in the future, I might find myself returning to at least give After the dream the conclusion it deserves. But, for the time being, I think it’s for the best that I let this go.

The HSM content will remain on my blog, and I will still accept and answer questions pertaining to the films and characters, but this is my quiet resignation from the fandom as a whole.

Thank you to every single person who supported my work, and made me feel as though I was making a difference. If it weren’t for you guys, I never would have stuck it out as long as I did. I hope that, even if you don’t follow me into my new fandom, the trails you walk bring you joy, growth, and fulfillment.

#Boring stuff about the blogger.#HSM Shitstorm #HSM Shitstorm: Part Deux #A Farewell Letter #of sorts.

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undertheinfluencerd · 3 years ago

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Warning: SPOILERS for Afterlife of the Party.

Here’s a full guide to Netflix’s Afterlife of the Party soundtrack, which delivers a short list of poppy, upbeat party songs by American pop and R&B singer Spencer Sutherland and one score track by composer Jessica Rose Weiss. Starring actress Victoria Justice of Nickelodeon fame (VICTORiOUS) as Cassie, a fun-loving, albeit irresponsible social butterfly, Afterlife of the Party follows Cassie into a purgatory-like afterlife after a freak accident kills her, where she’s offered the opportunity to right all her unresolved wrongs on Earth, thus earning passage to the “Above” (heaven) or, if she fails, to the “Below” (hell).

Matching the Afterlife of the Party‘s comedic “death-but-fun“ premise is a 5-track EP soundtrack that errs more on the side of fun than death. Put another way, while Cassie is stuck in the In-Between, a limbo state between heaven and hell, the album has both feet firmly planted in heaven. In fact, the album is exclusively upbeat and danceable, featuring four original songs performed by Sutherland, who stars in the movie as the famous fictional singer Koop whom Cassie idolizes; one of which includes a duet with Sutherland and Justice. Though Cassie’s fangirl obsession with Koop is repeatedly made obvious throughout the film, what’s understated about their budding connection is how, despite the chasm separating life and death, their separate journeys seem to have always pointed towards each other, with a charming twist ending that sees the two entering a “pearly gates” of sorts hand-in-hand.

Related: The Kissing Booth 3 Soundtrack Guide: Every Song

For his feature film debut, Sutherland’s character has more of ambient presence in the movie, whereas the real-life pop singer Sutherland plays a more central role to the Afterlife of the Party soundtrack. Pop music fans may know Sutherland as a contestant on the UK version of The X-Factor in 2017, performing Marvin Gaye’s sultry “Let’s Get It On” for his audition and James Arthur’s “Say You Won’t Let Go” in a group performance. Sutherland has also released multiple singles starting with “Heartstrings” in 2013 up to “Freaking Out” in 2019, before landing both an acting and singing role in Afterlife of the Party.

At the helm of the Afterlife of the Party soundtrack, Sutherland is the movie’s musical heart and soul. On the topic of entering the movie industry through the channel of music, Sutherland expressed in an exclusive interview with Alexisjoyvipaccess his eagerness to take on more acting roles: “I’ve found such a passion in acting now from this, and I would love to do a lot more in acting, but also a lot more in musical acting, because it was very cool to tie the two together. It was amazing.“

Whether or not that means we’ll see Sutherland in more musical acting roles in the future remains to be seen. Nonetheless, his performance in Afterlife of the Party is key to the “party” aspect of the story, and it seems likely that Netflix will continue along this pop musical trajectory with its future titles. With that in mind, here is a breakdown of each song on the movie’s soundtrack, as well as an additional song heard in the movie.

“Blush” by Spencer Sutherland – Played multiple times throughout the story, Sutherland’s “Blush” (or, rather, Koop’s “Blush” from the character’s perspective) is arguably the main theme song of the movie. Introduced by a radio DJ voiceover as “the number one song of the day” at the movie’s opening when Cassie is considering various outfits in front of her mirror, “Blush” is soon after described by Cassie and her best friend Lisa (Midori Francis) as “their song” when it’s heard playing at a dance club. This is significant when later, after Cassie dies, Cassie fulfills her role as Lisa’s spectral wing-woman by trespassing into Max’s (Timothy Renouf) apartment, Lisa’s hunky neighbor, to sabotage his record-player into accidentally playing “Blush” during a chance encounter between Max and Lisa, who is wearing a “KOOP” shirt at the time. Max takes advantage of this “coincidence” to ask Lisa on a date to see the music video set of a Koop song.

“Drive” by Spencer Sutherland – While hanging out in Lisa’s apartment, Lisa initiates an “impromptu dance party” with her deceased friend Cassie after commanding Google to “play ‘Drive’ by Koop.” It’s revealed during this exchange that Lisa introduced Cassie to Koop’s “greatness,” further suggesting of the importance of Koop’s music to their bond.

Related: Every Song In Cinderella 2021

“One Look” by Spencer Sutherland – The music video Max refers to when asking Lisa on a date, Sutherland performs “One Look” in the flesh (as Koop) while standing in front of a blue convertible with a surrounding team of backup dancers. Taking advantage of her ghostly transparency, Cassie transports herself onto the music video set, much to the awe of Lisa, and she starts dancing in front of Koop, who seems vaguely and nonchalantly aware of her presence. During the song, Cassie approaches Koop for a kiss before she’s abruptly snapped back to the In-Between headquarters, where she’s chastised by her quirky guardian angel Val (Robyn Scott) for neglecting her purgatorial responsibilities.

“Home” by Spencer Sutherland & Victoria Justice – Breaking up the Sutherland monopoly on the Afterlife of the Party soundtrack is a duet track with both Sutherland and Justice, heard during the story’s end after a recently deceased Koop and Cassie meet in an elevator ascending to the Above (heaven). As the two walk hand-in-hand towards Above’s idyllic, flowery mountain range, the song starts as the end credits roll, signifying that Cassie and Koop are finally “home.”

“Score Suite” by Jessica Rose Weiss – The one non-Sutherland song on the movie’s soundtrack, “Score Suite” is the only listed track on the list attributed to the composer of the film. While somewhat more somber in parts, at least in relation to Sutherland’s dance tracks, “Score Suite” is predominated by a majestically whimsical tone familiar to many rom-com scores.

“I Only Have Eyes For You” by The Flamingos – Not listed on the official Afterlife of the Party soundtrack, “I Only Have Eyes For You” by The Flamingos plays from the record-player in Max’s apartment, presumably as intended by Max this time, to set a romantic mood for him and Lisa, as they cheers to “regret” over wine, confess their feelings for one another, and kiss.

Next: F9 Soundtrack Guide: Every Song Explained

#marvel #avengers #marvelcomics #spiderman #mcu #ironman #comics #captainamerica #thor #avengersendgame #marvelstudios #xmen #dc #marveluniverse #art #cosplay #tomholland #hulk #disney #comicbooks #dccomics #peterparker #tonystark #blackwidow #marvellegends #endgame #deadpool #marvelcinematicuniverse #loki #bhfyp

The post Afterlife Of The Party: Soundtrack Guide (& Spencer Sutherland Songs) appeared first on undertheinfluencerd.net.

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onestowatch · 3 years ago

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Say Goodbye to Quarantine and Hello to Endless Realities With Polo & Pan’s ‘Cyclorama’

Photo: Joe Cruz

Let’s say you are vaccinated, mask-less, and feeling extra grateful as the sun beams down on you and all your friends at the beach. Just as you pop open a cold one, your friend hands you the aux cord (or rather, reveals the Bluetooth name). What do you play?

Polo & Pan (Paul Armand-Delille and Alexandre Grynszpan) have just unveiled Cyclorama, their sophomore album made precisely for such situations, both imagined and in reality. In theatre, “cyclorama” is defined as the “background device employed to cover the back/sides of the stage and used with special lighting to create the illusion of sky, open space, or great distance,” a very fitting title for an album inspired by the duo’s love for French cinema.

While Polo & Pan’s debut album, Caravelle, took listeners on an expedition aboard their caravel (a small, highly-maneuverable sailing ship) from the Brazilian tropical forest to the banks of the African Congo River, Cyclorama transcends the idea of space altogether, constructing an infinite gateway through time and reality.

The Parisian duo’s blend of house, pop, disco, and psychedelia never allows itself to fall under one genre label but rather can be described as a journey through time, a sonic portal to other countries, cultures, eras, and fictional lands. With Cyclorama, Polo & Pan have somehow managed to surpass the precedent they set with their highly-acclaimed Caravelle, describing the transition in their own words, “It’s a musical odyssey through the steps of human existence from birth to adulthood to death… and transcendence! After our first journey in space with ‘Caravelle,’ we can’t wait to take you on a hedonistic excursion through time with ‘Cyclorama.’”

The album opens with “Côme,” a proper Disney-esque intro into the various soundscapes to come. If Cyclorama was Alice In Wonderland, then “Côme” would certainly be the soundtrack to Alice’s descent down the rabbit hole. We’re immediately catapulted into Polo & Pan’s magical world with “Ani Kuni,” which Alexandre Grynszpan (Pan) wrote for his son “as a tribute to [their] favorite childhood lullaby, a timeless Native-American song that has touched generation after generation all around the world.” Complete with a vibrant visual that doubles up as an enchanting lyric video, “Ani Kuni” is certainly an early standout on Cyclorama.

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Next up is “Magic,” an uplifting tune which fans originally heard in Polo & Pan’s Home Sweet Home, an hour-long mixtape released May 2020 that certainly saved many from the bleak depths of quarantine. “Attrape-rêve,” “Feel Good,” and “Peter Pan” were all released as part of the duo’s Feel Good EP in July 2020, embodying the whimsical, free-spirited French escape that we so desperately needed. Victoria Lafaurie, who also performs live with the band, lends her ethereal vocals to “Attrape-Rêve,” which appropriately translates to dream catcher.

The pair shared more on their creative inspiration for Feel Good, “The more we have traveled, both geographically and from a sonic point of view, the larger the canvas. Imagination is memory and by listening to thousands of songs, syntheses are formed in our creative process. We exchange our ideas and choose the best without ever listening to our ego. We let our fantasies speak. ‘Feel Good’ takes us sailing on the Nile or exploring across the Amazon.”

The album transitions from a daytime beach party to a European nightclub circa four a.m. with “Tunnel,” featuring the seductive vocals of none other than Compton-bred rapper, singer, and producer Channel Tres. Armand-Delille and Grynszpan shared on the collaboration, “[Channel Tres] guided us wisely on our first incursion into urban musical territory and ensured we delivered a razor sharp sensual club track together.”

“Requiem” feels like an intermission of sorts, a medley of cinematically- arranged synths leading listeners into the next stage of Polo & Pan’s fantastical voyage. Following the sing-along summer anthem “Feel Good,” we re-enter otherworldly French-kissed territory with “Melody,” “Oasis,” and “Artemis.” “Jiminy” and “Bilboquet (Sirba)” are bouncy, playful, and multi-textured, giving rise to the most romantic track on the Cyclorama, “Les jolies choses.” The song conjures a vignette of Paris in black-and-white with a palpable lust for life and love in the air. The pair expanded, “It’s an unabashedly romantic description of the beautiful moments of a relationship set in the sandy dunes of ‘Cap-Ferret’. A nostalgic postcard of the French way of life and love.”

“Peter Pan,” the album’s closing track, encapsulates Polo & Pan’s resistance to “growing up” and accordingly, plays out like a lullaby into the endless imagination.

You can expect Polo & Pan’s Cyclorama to take on an even more elevated, bass-heavy sound on their upcoming tour, hitting major cities in Europe and North America through mid-2022. Take it from someone who was lucky enough to see the duo live twice: this is a show you do not want to miss.

Listen to Cyclorama below:

#polo & pan #polo and pan #cyclorama #dance #electronic #album reviews

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wozman23 · 3 years ago

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An Ode To Conan (AKA Conan Ode’Brien)

The year was 1995... or maybe '94... or at least sometime around then, give or take a year. I had just entered, or would be entering middle school, at age eleven... or twelve. With a new school came a later bedtime. So around that time I discovered two things: Saturday Night Live, and Late Night with Conan O'Brien. That was when my world changed.

For as long as I can remember, I've been a silly kid. My parents even used to throw an extra letter in my name and call me “Jokey.” Occasionally, they still do. But now, looking back, nearly 25 years later, I don't know if I'd have ever predicted just how much of my joking nature I'd be able to maintain at this point in my life. Today, at 37, if you ask me to sum up my personality in two words, they'd be “weird” and “funny.” As most age, they lose those traits. They'd instead define themselves as a “Personal Trainer” or a “Civil Engineer.” But I'm still just “weird” and “funny” - a goofball rebelling against the notion of “growing up.” I stubbornly keep the letter 'y' on the end of my name when most Josephs my age pick a more mature alternative. I have little interest in being anything else, and aspire for nothing more.

Much of that is thanks to a tall, freckled, red-headed idol I found on the late night airwaves of NBC, who danced as if he had strings on his hips and let people touch his nipple. I grew up watching cartoons like Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Disney movies with comedic voice actors, and blockbuster movies like Ghostbusters and Mrs. Doubtfire, but I'd never seen anything as wildly experimental as Late Night. The (arguably) grown man at the helm still retained such a whimsical, silly, absurd outlook on life. He was a big kid, just having fun. It blew my mind. I was hooked. And it showed me that even if I was weird, I wasn't alone.

The absurdity of Conan and Late Night continues to be unrivaled, even to this day. There was a Masturbating Bear, who just went to town on this oddly nondescript jock strappy looking thing, Preparation H Raymond, an overly goofy looking character, with buck teeth and massive ears, who sang songs about applying a cream to irritated buttholes, and Triumph The Insult Comic Dog, who eviscerated Star Wars nerds and crashed the Westminster Dog Show. Clutch Cargo bits, where moving mouths were inserted into pictures of Arnold Schwarzenegger, Michael Jackson, and Bill Clinton, always brought the laughs in the early days, with both Robert Smigel's impressions and the disregard for making things look authentic. The In The Year 2000/3000 bits provided the rapid fire jokes of randomness that I aspire to write today, one of my favorites being: “Babies will start listening to dance music when Lady Gaga teams up with The Goo Goo Dolls to form the super group, Gaga Goo Goo.” Other recurring bits like Celebrity Survey, SAT Analogies, and Made-For-TV Movie Castings provided similar repeatable formats that brought laughs night after night, as did Actual Items, a swipe at Leno's Headline's bit. If They Mated provided us with the horrors of what the love child of two celebrities would look like, in worst case scenarios. Desk driving bits and car chase spoofs with model towns and cars always delivered. There were the silly Satellite TV Channel bits, with the standout, the Men Without Hats Conversation Channel, as well as the truly pointless – yet my all-time favorite character – Cactus Chef Playing ‘We Didn’t Start the Fire’ on the Flute, created solely to poke fun at the criticism that the show was absurd. Conan Sings A Lullaby was always some macabre fun. At one point, The Walker Texas Ranger lever swept the nation, ultimately resulting in one of the oddest clips ever to grace television. “...Walker told me I have AIDS.” Constant cameos delighted, with frequent appearances from Larry King and Abe Vigoda, who were both always willing to go the extra mile for a laugh. And occasionally, my beloved comedy worlds would combine with someone from SNL like Will Ferrell showing up, dressed as a sexy leprechaun, or engaging in some other antics. Jim Gaffigan birthed the Pale Force cartoon. Hornymanatee.com became a thing. Remote bits, like Conan playing old timey baseball, were always instant classics. Plus, the show birthed the idea of travel shows, with trips to places like Finland and Toronto - the second of which has one of my other favorite remote bits, Conan training with the Toronto Maple Leafs. So much memorable, silly, recklessly avant-garde stuff happened in those years of Late Night. And all the best moments happened when Conan acknowledged the astronomical stupidity of it all. It was always a pleasure to watch, and it all felt expertly crafted just for me.

In the end, a program that got off to a rocky start, fighting off cancellation time and time again, blossomed over the course of fifteen years into a comedy juggernaut and bastion of brilliant buffoonery for my generation. It was practically perfection.

Then the first transition happened...

Like many, I was apprehensive about the switch to The Tonight Show. It was great to see Conan inherit what was formerly known as the pinnacle of late night talk shows, but I wondered if America was ready to watch a bear play with his dick at 11:30pm, especially the demographic that had enjoyed Leno's far more traditional approach. I think we now have that answer. NBC managed to repeat their past mistakes, and fumbled another smooth transition of hosts. Things got kind of ugly, but Conan managed to land on his feet at TBS, where his show continued to run for another eleven years, giving him and his employees - who had relocated to Los Angeles at the start of The Tonight Show - steady work.

The one issue with the migration was that Conan no longer retained the rights to any of his intellectual property. Exceptions were made, but most of this bits and characters were absent from the now titled show, Conan. There was also one less show a week. However, new bits were concocted regularly, like Coffee Table Books That Didn't Sell, Basic Cable Name That Tune, and NBA Mascots That Should Never Dunk. New characters were spawned, like Minty, the Candy Cane That Briefly Fell on the Ground, Punxsutawney Dr. Phil - The best Dr. Phil bit since Letterman’s Words of Wisdom - and Wikibear. Will Forte showed up atop a stuffed buffalo as network owner, Ted Turner. Experimental stand-up sets, like Tig Notaro pushing a stool around or Jon Dore & Rory Scovel being double booked provided some of the best stand-up sets ever. Embracing a digital, web-based format, they introduced new segments like Clueless Gamer, catering to my love of video games. There was Puppy Conan, and Mini Conan. Plus, they doubled down on travel shows, creating the Conan Without Borders series, which I believe to be Conan's best work to date, and a shining example of who he is as a person. There were Fan Corrections, which allowed me to influence his show for five minutes, and throw my own zaniness into the world, and back at the man who stoked the funny fire in me. At some point in life, I may achieve greater things, or have children, but I may still always say that the greatest day of my life was the day I was on Conan.

So Conan did have bright spots, but to me things were never quite the same. They were still good, but not amazing. Slowly it felt like things were beginning to decline. Longtime writer/performer Brian McCann left to return to New York. A while later, so did Brian Stack, finding a job with Colbert. The show was eventually cut to a thirty minute format. They spun it like it was a good change for the show. I however had my reservations. While I'd hoped for more experimental comedy, it seemed like the first half of the show was cut in favor of still getting in sizeable celebrity interviews. The band was gone, as were the options for nightly music acts. That meant no more fantastic moments like me discovering Lukas Graham with his subdued “7 Years” performance. Stand-up was pretty much gone too, which meant no more killer sets like Gary Gulman's bit on state abbreviations or Ismo's foreign take on the use of the word “ass” in English linguistics. Occasional product placement reared its ugly head. They had to keep the lights on, and they found a way to. So I continued to watch practically every show over the course of the eleven years.

When the pandemic hit, I found myself with more free time. So I decided to check out the Team Coco podcasts, cherry picking from the best guests of Conan O'Brien Needs A Friend, The Three Questions with Andy Richter, and Inside CONAN: An Important Hollywood Podcast. Never having paid attention to any podcasts, I found a love for them. And sometime amidst the pandemic, watching Conan interview some random celebrity, from some show I probably didn't care about, through Zoom, I kind of became at peace with the idea of a nightly Conan program ending.

From middle school, to high school, and then to college, I tuned in when I could. Without the luxury of the internet in its currently glory, or DVRs, I'd tape episodes on a VCR. Barring two or three episode of Conan that I missed while working two jobs, I've seen every episode of Conan, every Tonight Show, and a good streak leading into the end of Late Night. But I will admit that towards the end, it has sometimes felt like a chore.

One thing I didn't drag my feet on was attending tapings. It was one of the first things I did when I came to LA. Over the past few years I was fortunate to get to attend three tapings of Conan. In hindsight, I probably would have went more often. I brought family and friends along with me when they visited, but the treat was primarily for me. When he announced that the final few weeks of shows might have an audience, I knew I must go. I put in for two tapings, and fortunately the stars aligned for the third to last show with Seth Rogen. I was hoping for Ferrell, or Sandler, but it was great! It was the first show where masks were optional and it went recklessly off the rails. Like Conan, I've never been into pot. It's another of the things I enjoy about him. Like him, I don't really have a problem with it, but I've never tried it because I don't think it's for me. I’m the same way with alcohol. With a friend in town this week, I tried one of the beers he bought. I hated it, but I struggled through it. I’ll occasionally drink some fruity wine cooler but that’s about it. So seeing him reluctantly try the joint Seth handed him because he didn't care since the show was wrapping was great. Unseen in the TV edit was that after that segment, Conan and his producer, Jeff Ross, had a lengthy discussion as the band played. As the band wrapped up, Conan came back up and said to expect a rough edit on the show since they wouldn't be able to air them smoking. Turns out they could, which made for good TV. It was a symbolic moment where a man who's spend his entire career blazing his own trail – no pun intended - did so once more, knowing he had nothing to lose. I also put in a ticket request for the last show on the morning of because registration reopened for some reason, but I never got a confirmation. I'm excited to watch it tonight, but also sad to see things come to and end. But at least I can say I was there in the end.

For 28 years Conan and cast have delivered the show they wanted to make. Contrastingly, compared to the other late night shows, its always been far more apolitical, which I appreciate. Comedy to me is about dissociation. It's why I favor and write left-brained jokes about random subjects. No one really needs to hear another hackneyed Trump or Biden joke. Regardless of the state of the world, I could tune in to Conan for a mostly unbiased, silly outlook on the world. Conan always seemed to bring out the best in the guests too, making his show the premier show to tune into when someone was out in the circuit promoting something. Even the stereotypical animal segments or cooking segments provided ample laughs.

Most of the talk will be about Conan himself. But a very large part of what has always made Conan's shows great wasn't even him. A large cast of stellar writers and performers brought countless characters to life. Brian McCann and Brian Stack were longtime favorites. There was the No-Reason-To-Live Guy with his kayak, Hannigan the Traveling Salesman, Artie Kendall the Singing Ghost, and The Interrupter, to name just a few. Even people who had no business performing were utilized brilliantly, like original announcer Joel Godard or Max Weinberg both acting like creeps and perverts, trombone player Richie "LaBamba" Rosenberg being a dolt, and graphic designer Pierre Bernard in his deadpan Recliner of Rage segments. Jordan Schlansky was a comedy well. Andy Richter also deserves more praise. His quick wit makes him the perfect sidekick. I can't even begin to enumerate the amount of instance in which he was lightning fast with a witty response to someone or something. His more recent Sports Blast segments were absurdly stupid, and his Hillbilly Handfishing remote stands out as one of the best.

The late night talk show concept is built around volume. With 4368 episodes among three iterations of shows, there's a lot of time to fill. Things didn't always work, but most of the time they did. That's what you get when you experiment and evolve the medium. I've been thinking a lot about my history with the show, and it's amazing just how many silly bits, characters, and moments still bounce around in my noggin. I've only covered a small sample of the many great moments over the years. It's always seemed really weird to me that Conan has kind of been the underdog. To me, no one holds a candle to his brilliance. I can only liken attending his tapings to a few other experiences: the time I finally got to see Michael Jordan play as a Wizard, or Rush's final R40 tour – three great entities who may not have been at the height of their careers, but were still massively impressive none the less. Conan concluding tonight is very bittersweet. The future is uncertain. The details for his HBO Max show are nebulous. It's going to be far more small scale. I've always admired how much Conan has taken care of his cast and crew. He paid his writers during the strike, and his entire crew during the pandemic. But they will certainly fracture now. Will any of the writing staff follow? Will longtime performer Dan Cronin be there? Will Andy be back? Time will tell, but until then, television, the internet, and the world of comedy, will be a little less funny. In many ways, I wish we lived in a world we he still hosted Late Night, or a successful Tonight Show. But the late night landscape has changed a lot in the last few decades, so who’s to say this wasn’t the better timeline. If there’s one thing I cling on to that keeps me hopeful about the future, it’s Conan’s closing monologue from Late Night. Especially its ending: "It's time for Conan to grow up... and I assure you that's just not going to happen. I can't. This is who I am, for better or worse. It's just, I don't know how."

That hits me just as hard as it did in ‘09, if not harder. The more things change, the more they stay the same. The guy that started hosting in ‘93 is the same guy we see today. He’s still just as childish, just as absurd, just as brilliant, and a man of integrity. And as long as he is, so too will I be.

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perfectirishgifts · 4 years ago

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Holiday Gift Guide 2020: Best Travel Gifts For Movie Fans

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Holiday Gift Guide 2020: Best Travel Gifts For Movie Fans

Can you remember the time of year and where you were sitting when you first saw your favorite film? Just the opening scene of a movie can instantly take you back to another place and time, and films can bring back floods of memories. Watching movies with loved ones or simply by yourself can be a transformative experience. No wonder frequent travelers often find comfort in movies during their journeys. If you are looking for just the right present for the feature film lover in your life, consider these gift ideas.

Just the Ticket: Ticket Stub Organizer

Just The Ticket: Ticket Stub Organizer

What movie fan wouldn’t enjoy looking back over memorabilia from times spent going to see their favorite flicks? Just The Ticket: The Ticket Stub Organizer is a great gift for the traveler who always finds the cinema everywhere they go. This guided journal from Peter Pauper Press empowers the recipient to preserve tickets from movies as well as other concerts and trips. It has 20 acid-free plastic pages that are ideal for preserving movie tickets without causing fading or other damage. It also has lined paper inserts where the user can write about their thoughts and experiences with each film. It holds up to 80 movie tickets. Price: $15.99 on Amazon.

Fairuza Balk’s Armed Love Militia ‘Raw Live Lo-Fi’ EP

Armed Love Militia – Raw Live Lo-Fi EP

Fairuza Balk is a dynamic actress who has starred in films like Return To Oz, The Craft, and The Waterboy, to name just a few. Any film fan likely has enjoyed her performances, and she has wowed fans with her many other talents, too. On her website, Fairuza.org, Fairuza offers her original EP with Armed Love Militia called “Raw Live Lo-Fi”. The CD is an awesome companion to any road trip, flight, or train expedition. She also offers merchandise on her site so you can wear a button or patch to remind you of the star and her celebrated music. Fairuza’s original artwork, art prints, and autographed photos are sure to please a movie fan, too. You can get the EP on CD or cassette, and you can choose to have it autographed directly to the movie fan in your life. Price: $30 for the autographed CD, $10 for the CD with no autograph from Fairuza.org.

The Polar Express Bracelet by Alex and Ani

Alex and Ani

Fans of The Polar Express, the whimsical, groundbreaking holiday film, are likely to appreciate this Alex and Ani bracelet with beautiful bangles inspired by the movie. The Rafaelian Silver bracelet expands from 2 to 3.5 inches. One of its bangles has a charm with the title of the movie under the depiction of the beloved train from the film. The second beaded accent bangle adds an extra bit of pizazz. Price: $59 from Alex and Ani.

Gateway 10.1” Tablet

What more could a movie fan want than a way to stream their favorite films from anywhere? They can download their favorite streaming apps and use this tablet to watch them. This Gateway tablet is easy to pack and carry for travel and has the Android 10 Go operating system. With a front and rear camera, the recipient can use it to make some short films of their own or simply chat with family and friends while they are traveling. Price: $109.99 at Walmart.

IGLOO Star Wars The Child Cooler

IGLOO Star Wars The Child

Few things are cuter than Baby Yoda! Anyone who has fallen in love with the world of the Star Wars movies will love seeing this cooler. Yes, this character is Grogu or “The Child” from the Disney series The Mandalorian, but he’s affectionally known as Baby Yoda by all fans from the Star Wars movies. The magic of this phenomenon started in 1977 with the original Star Wars movie, and the character is instantly recognizable as Yoda even among people who’ve never seen any of the movies or shows. This 16-quart cooler with the image of “The Child” can hold up to 30 cans or a nice mix of food and drinks. Price: $49.99 from IGLOO.

ISlide ‘The Shining’ Maze Sandal

The Shining collection of sandals from ISlide are eye-catching and sure to spark joy in any fan of the classic Stanley Kubrick film and the captivating Stephen King novel that it’s based on. You can customize the sandals with a name or other message for the recipient. The rubber and fabric slide sandal is officially licensed and has a print that pays homage to the creepy maze in the movie along with the film’s logo. Whether the recipient is at home or in a hotel room, these sandals would be fun to wear for a double feature of The Shining and its sequel Doctor Sleep. Price: $49.99 at ISlide.

Gift Card to Movie Locale Red Rock Casino

Red Rock Casino is a Vegas destination.

With the 25th Anniversary of the Movie Casino this year, a fun gift for any movie buff is the present of experienced Las Vegas for themselves after the pandemic when travel is safe again. You can now give them a gift card to the Red Rock Casino where the hit gambling movie 21 was filmed. By giving them a gift card, you’re empowering them to travel to the fun destination in the future at the time of their choosing. It’s a gift that will be remembered well beyond this holiday season. For an additional $3,95 in addition to the gift card amount you choose, the recipient will receive a card in the mail with your personalized message. Price: Your choice of price points from Red Rock Casino.

Bruce Lee Roots of Fight T-Shirt

The Bruce Lee collection from Roots of Fight features the legendary film star and martial artist who appeared in over 20 movies in his career. The Asian-American action hero created Jeet Kune Do, which notably inspired modern Mixed Martial Arts (MMA), and he was also an entrepreneur and devoted father. His life was cut tragically short when he was only 32 years old, but his legacy continues as his prolific career is celebrated by generation after generation. This Bruce Lee shirt celebrates Bruce Lee’s 80th birthday in 2020, and it’s a good option to wear when catching a flight. After all, it will be a great conversation starter. Price: $48 from Roots of Fight.

Heat Holders Festive Fairisle Socks

Whether someone is at home or in a hotel room to watch a favorite holiday flick, there’s nothing better than being warm and cozy for the presentation. These socks are perfect for business travelers, especially since they cannot always control the temperature when they’re away from home. Heat Holders socks have been tested to be four times warmer than regular cotton socks. The Festive Fairisle pattern is perfect for the holidays, and many other options are available if you want something more subtle. Price: $19.99 from Heat Holders.

Movie Buff: The World’s Greatest Movie Trivia Game

Movie Buff: The World’s Greatest Movie Trivia Card Game

The Movie Buff: The World’s Greatest Movie Trivia Card Game is a well-designed game for those who are really into the history and fascinating details of cinema. Since it’s a compact card game, it’s also convenient for frequent travelers to take with them wherever they go. It contains 160 trivia and strategy cards. The game is for 2 to 16 players, so you can have fun playing it with just two of you or a group at a party. Price: $19.95 from Amazon.

Hallmark Movies Ornament

If the movie fan you love has an affinity for Hallmark movies, this ornament is sure to bring them comfort and joy during the holidays. It sends a sweet message, “I heart Hallmark Channel and Flannel”. The ornament is sturdy and made of metal. If someone is traveling during the holidays, it’s small and easy to bring along as a reminder of some of their favorite things to do during the season no matter where they are. Price: $9.99 from Hallmark.

MadeGood Chocolate Chip Granola Bars

Movies and great snacks go hand-in-hand. The MadeGood Chocolate Chip Granola Bars taste indulgent like any movie theater snack you can find, but they are also nutritious. They’re also vegan, organic, kosher, and allergy-friendly. If you’re looking for a tasty treat for the business traveler in your life, this would be a great gift to pair with a blu-ray of a travel film like Up In The Air or a fun holiday film like A Very Brady Christmas. Price: $3.99 from Target.

Movie Marquee Planner Stickers

Any film lover on the go can enjoy these movie marquee planner stickers. That way, they can plan which movies they want to watch on their travels, or they can carry them along with their planner to add when they watch an impromptu film on a plane. These marquee stickers come in a pack with different colors, including red, green, gold, and silver. Price: $3.25 from Pink Leaf Prints on Etsy.