#anne robinson

[humiliation4brenda]

[backtonormallife]

APB and Anne Robinson - a lesson

"The pair are thought to have been dating for about 20 months but have gone out of their way to avoid being seen together in public. Not for nothing is Mr Parker Bowles known for his discretion.

Yet their unlikely romance has been an open secret within certain society circles in the Cotswolds, where both maintain their own homes."

The notion of telling everyone and anyone that one is dating is not for everyone. The upper crust of Britain goes about their days not really caring about who's zooming who. It's why Charles & Camilla could mostly go about their lives pre-marriage with minimal fuss. Well, until a Grosvenor wants to get married and follows whatever protocol is accepted at the time.

[ampd]

<1982> George Winston - December

2020.01.28 WEB, Dancing Cat Records

Design by William Ackerman & Ann Ackerman [Anne Robinson]. Photography by Greg Edmonds.

[sootygifs]

The Weakest Link - "Puppet Special" (2007)

[harveyguillensource]

Harvey in good company at the 2024 Disney Upfronts!

[citizenscreen]

Ann Robinson (left) is learning to shoot from real policewomen Pat Wright and June Howard as instructor Sergeant Roy Bean gives direction. Robinson is preparing for her role in Jack Webb’s DRAGNET (1954).

[fyblackwomenart]

Ann Lowe by Erin K. Robinson

“I wanted to prove that a Negro can become a major dress designer.” 

[selfieignite]

2024.09.09

The Interview: Julie Anne Robinson

The director of 17 television pilots, including "Bridgerton," shares about her creative process, mindset, and what her success is like.

Full interview here

Excerpt about Selfie (2014):

In terms of representation, I'm really proud to have pushed for more diversity in my casting. For example, the character of Henry Higgins in “Selfie” was written as a part for an upper-class English guy, and we cast John Cho, and he was fantastic. I’m still proud of that. 

[dinosaurwithablog]

The Case of the Scandalous Sculptor has many famous people in the cast...

Sue Ann Langdon...

Jay Drury...

And the lovely, June Lockhart...

[hellooldsmelly]

[peggy-elise]

Yul Brynner and Anne Baxter as Pharaoh Ramesses II and Nefretari in The Ten Commandments 1956 🐍

[stellarred]

ANYONE REMEMBER THIS?

Anyone remember the show, The Weakest Link? In 2001, I think, they had guests from Star Trek playing for charity.

I remember John de Lancie, Wil Wheaton, Robert Picardo, Denise Crosby, William Shatner, Levar Burton, and a few others were on it.

Anyway, I remember that I felt bad for John de Lancie because I honestly thought he looked SO uncomfortable onstage, answering questions. He gave the correct answer to the question about what the "e" in email stood for, but his answer of "Wyoming" to the question about "What state is America's last frontier?", was incorrect. It was a good guess, though, John.

Unfortunately, JDL got eliminated first, but he raised a couple hundred dollars for his charity.

William Shatner in typical fashion, joked Kirk-style and even kissed Ann Robinson. He got eliminated soon after JDL did.

The winner was Levar Burton, whose answer "Antebellum" to the question about what term describes a period of time before the American Civil War was correct. Burton is a smart guy, for sure! He raised around $125,000.

[cryptgrrrl]

Ever since I was a kid, I’ve been obsessed with the spooky, the macabre, and the downright eerie. It started as forbidden fruit, thanks to my religious upbringing, but what can I say? Tell me something’s off-limits, and I’ll dive headfirst into it. My curiosity first led me to an ancient Egypt phase (because who doesn’t go through that one?) and, of course, a Greek mythology obsession. But then Twilight hit, and I was done for. I mean, who didn’t read Twilight, sip on Big Red, and pretend it was blood? Just me? Fine.

Now that vampires are making a comeback in media from AMC's Interview with the Vampire to What We Do in the Shadows to the recent Nosferatu remake I thought it’d be fun to dive into the vampire powers we don’t see enough of in books and films. These aren’t your run of the mill fangs and bloodsucking; these are the lesser-known abilities that make vampires truly terrifying. And hey, we’ll even look at some of the quirks and vulnerabilities that keep them from being totally unstoppable. Let’s sink our teeth in. 🧛‍♀️✨

Shadow Manipulation: Fear in the Darkness

Vampires controlling shadows is an underrated ability that deserves more love. Picture it: a room darkened by shadows that twist and move as if alive, trapping victims in place or camouflaging the vampire in plain sight. It’s giving Melisandre’s shadow babies from Game of Thrones. Shadows in folklore often symbolize fear, duality, and the hidden self—perfect reflections of a vampire’s predatory nature.

Classic works like Carmilla (shoutout to the first sapphic vampire icon 💅🏻) and Dracula hint at this, but modern media takes it to the next level. What We Do in the Shadows has fun with this concept, particularly with Nadja’s ghostly doppelgänger—part haunting, part sass, all shadowy mischief. It’s equal parts creepy and comedic, proving that shadow manipulation can terrify and entertain.

Blood Alchemy: Power in Every Drop

Why just drink blood when you can weaponize it? This reminded me of blood bending in Avatar: The Last Airbender like come on, that's some serious missed opportunity right there. This lesser-known ability explores the idea of turning blood into poisons, healing agents, or even explosive substances. Folklore often treats blood as the essence of life and magic—like the divine ichor of Greek gods. This taps into Gothic literature’s obsession with the soul (looking at you, Edward Cullen, and your eternal angst over having one. Yawn).

Games like Vampire: The Masquerade nail this with “vitae,” a supernatural blood source that powers spells and abilities. Imagine vampires creating blood-bound weapons or using their own essence to destroy enemies. I've never actually gotten into Vampire The Masquerade though, let me know if it's worth checking out. 

Dream Invasion: Masters of the Mind

There’s nothing more intimate—or more terrifying—than a vampire invading your dreams. This power blurs the line between seduction and fear, making it perfect for the vampire’s predatory allure. Think succubi and incubi, but with fangs. Dracula and The Vampire Chronicles both play with this, blending waking visions and nightmares to confuse and manipulate their victims.

Netflix’s Dracula miniseries gave us a particularly chilling example: Jonathan Harker dreams of his fiancée, Mina, only for her face to morph into Dracula’s. Pure nightmare fuel. And in What We Do in the Shadows, Nadja’s uncanny ability to invade her victims’ thoughts—with hilarious results—turns this terrifying concept into dark comedy gold.

Spirit Communication: Ghosts of Victims Past

How’s this for creepy? Vampires communicating with the spirits of their victims. Whether it’s for information or torment, this ability ties into folklore where the undead act as intermediaries between life and death.

Dracula and The Vampire Chronicles hint at this connection, showing vampires as creatures haunted by the lives they’ve taken. What We Do in the Shadows brilliantly leans into the absurdity of this, we briefly catch a glimpse of this in The Interview with a Vampire series where Armand is basically hitting reject call on Lestat trying to contact Louis through the Ether. God, what a petty bitch. This haunting dynamic adds depth to vampires, showing them not just as predators but as beings forever connected to their past.

Weather Manipulation: Nature’s Fury

Storms, fog, bone-chilling winds—vampires controlling the elements is as terrifying as it is cinematic. Folklore often links vampires to nature’s darker forces, with storms masking their movements or fog shrouding their presence.

Dracula famously amplified his menace with tempestuous weather, and What We Do in the Shadows plays with this in its own chaotic way. Remember the fog-filled scene where the vampires try to look mysterious, only for everything to go hilariously wrong? It’s a perfect mix of traditional lore and modern comedy.

Time Manipulation: Eternal Perspective

Vampires are timeless in more ways than one. Imagine them slowing down time, pausing it entirely, or manipulating moments to their advantage. This power emphasizes their detachment from mortality and adds to their mystique.

Anne Rice’s vampires, particularly in The Vampire Chronicles, explore how immortality shapes their perception of time. What We Do in the Shadows flips this concept on its head, with the vampires hilariously struggling to keep up with modern life despite their eternal existence.

Mirror Portals: Gateway to the Unknown

Forget the old “vampires have no reflection” trope. What if vampires used mirrors as portals to escape or spy on their enemies? Mythology often sees mirrors as gateways to the supernatural, and vampires using them to manipulate reality feels like a natural evolution.

Classic lore like Dracula and The Vampire Chronicles plays with the eerie symbolism of mirrors. Growing up, I was told never to have a mirror facing my bed because it could invite malevolent entities. Maybe vampires are the ultimate malevolent entity, lurking just beyond the glass…I wish.

The Night is Endless

Whether you’re into brooding heartthrobs like Damon Salvatore or prefer the more monstrous vibes of Count Orlok, vampires are endlessly fascinating. These lesser known abilities; shadow manipulation, dream invasion, weather control, and more add layers of depth to the mythology. They remind us that vampires are more than just bloodsuckers; they’re creatures of mystery, power, and fear.

So, what’s your favorite vampire ability? Do you prefer the classic lore or modern twists? Let me know in the comments, and if you’re new here, don’t forget to follow for more dives into the strange, dark, and supernatural. Until next time, stay curious—and maybe keep some garlic or a wooden stake handy, just in case. 👀

[mametupa]

[malkaleh]

“Mistress Fisher, I hardly think it the opportune moment for such conversation.”

“On the contrary your grace, I find it perhaps the only moment that is opportune. And know I do not ask this for curiosities sake but because I must know if I am to find His Highness - who was John Norwich to you?”

The Duke of Essex shifts against his bonds, somehow still elegant despite their current conditions (tied up in a run down warehouse in the worst corner of London, soon to be worse)

“I suppose you might call him the monster beneath my bed. But he is dead, Phryne - what relation would he have to this?”

(It would take a very intelligent and observant ear to hear the desperate fear in the level voice but Phryne knows her gifts very well and can hear it. She does not comment upon the matter).

“Contacts. Those who perhaps, have lost profits that came from him. And there is somewhat else here, is there not?”

“His secretary. And the Hexham family. You think they were also benefiting and now wish to take vengeance?”

Never let it be said that His Grace was not equally as quick. Phryne once again cursed that his heart was so firmly elsewhere - he truly was beautiful.

“I cannot image that…the secretary would - he might smart from the loss of profit but above all he looks to his own survival - why would he become involved in such dangerous treasons?.”

“Perhaps he had no choice. Perhaps the Hexhams know somewhat that would lead to his extremely unpleasant demise in a dark alley. Perhaps they know exactly how much he assisted in your pain, Your Grace, as much as your escape.”

“I told him he could have me, if he let me leave. I knew even then, somewhat of how to play such matters - though I have no appeal myself I knew that he yearned after that which his master had. I knew he would easily shift the blame to the other servant who had…hurt others.”

(For @nocompromise-noregrets - an in universe bit of dialogue from the Tudors OT3 verse version of the Miss Fisher TV show (in this case Mistress Fisher. Phryne is a widow which is why she has so much freedom. She may or may not have helped her husbands unwilling mistress stab him. She also has two stepdaughters)

[citizenscreen]

Ann Sothern and Edward G. Robinson photographed by George Hurrell for Lloyd Bacon’s BROTHER ORCHID (1940).