Jason Haskins's Blog, page 26

Performers crossing over in the Law and Order universe

A power franchise since 1990, the world of Law & Order has seen its fair share of performers grace the screen, many who have appeared as multiple characters in the Law & Order universe.Its opening is iconic. The music notes. The classic voice providing the intro, laying the groundwork for what the series is about. From the flagship Law & Order to the upcoming Christopher Meloni led Law & Order: Organized Crime  -- and everything in between -- memorable faces have highlighted the last 30 years of Dick Wolf's television world.
The three main shows in the Law & Order universe -- the original, Criminal Intent, and SVU -- have totaled 1129 episodes (and counting). Law & Order: Criminal Intent had the shortest stint of this trio, lasting 10 seasons and 195 episodes. The original Law & Order made it an astounding 20 seasons and 456 episodes, a feat surpassed by SVU, which is currently at 21 seasons and 478 episodes.
With so much content that has been produced during this span, it's only logical that producers and casting directors have dipped into the same talent pool to bring back a performer as the years pass. Even as the three shows, along with other short-lived forays like Trial by Jury and Law & Order: LA , reside in the same universe, these performers have played different characters, sometimes even in the same series. There have even been instances where performers play a criminal then come back years later as a series regular, working on the "right" side of the law.
Is this a Law & Order multiverse we're living in? Does Detective Benson (Mariska Hargitay) not remember that she once arrested the man who has now joined her unit as a detective? I won't have these answers here today -- though I do believe it must be a multiverse that Law & Order is living in. Instead, we will look at a few notable performers who over the years have made their mark as multiple characters in the Law & Order world.
*Warning: Possible spoilers aheadThe regularsOnly two years prior to her run as Novak, however, Neal first appeared in this television universe. Neal played Amelia Chase in the episode titled "Ridicule" and, as it turned out, was one of the criminals in the episode. To come back a few years later as an assistant district attorney is quite the feat. And to have no one in the squad remember you is even cooler! (On a side note, Paige Turco also appears in this episode and shows up ten years as a different character.)
Neal also appeared as Novak in an episode of Law & Order: Trial by Jury. 
Being a criminal is also helpful when you want to become a detective in New York. This is the case for one Scanavino played four different characters across four shows, starting with Trial by Jury. He then made it over to Criminal Intent and had an appearance on the original series in 2009. Then, a year before making it into the SVU unit, Scanavino was getting arrested by his now-boss Benson. A wild ride for Carisi and it's good to see he was able to put his haunted -- and busy -- past behind him in order to solve crimes. 
Even Jerry Orbach started off as another character, appearing as an attorney before making detective. The real MVPOne performer has hopped from world to world in the Law & Order universe, making waves and disrupting the lives of characters along the way.
He is Way back in 2005, Schreiber made his Law & Order debut on Criminal Intent, popping up two years later in the same series as a different character. In between, he landed a role on the original series and did so again in 2008.
Schreiber's most notable role occurred on SVU. His second role on the series, in fact. Schreiber had a 2007 appearance in which he was ultimately cleared of the crime the episode focused on and was even on track to get his life together.
He never appeared again as this character. Instead, fans were treated as Schreiber's turn as William Lewis, a character he would reprise over the course of eight episodes in 2013-14. Lewis was the bane of SVU's existence, leaving a trail of bodies in his wake, and tormented Benson until he met his demise. 
Schreiber gave memorable turn after memorable turn within this universe so much so that his portrayal of Lewis is one of the more iconic villain roles of the series. A few other notablesGiven these shows have been on the air for so many years, plenty of guest stars have done one-episode appearances. Names like Robin Williams, Alec Baldwin, and Carol Burnett.
Recurring characters are also highlight, playing judges (Judith Light), lawyers, priests, and activists (looking at you Daveed Diggs and Leslie Odom Jr.) in many episodes.
And others altogether are like the performers previously discussed: making appearances in the Law & Order world while playing different characters.
Topping this list is current Stranger Things star Bettering Harbour's five episodes was the late, great Reg E. Cathey. Cathey appeared in seven episodes over the years, four of which were as the character Barry Querns. (Not sure if this was intentionally done by the writers or not, but Cathey's character in Oz was named Martin Querns. Long lost relatives across worlds?)
As an added bonus, Cathey also appeared in Homicide: Life on the Street, the very show in which Richard Belzer originated the role of John Munch. (Suddenly, so many "six degrees" threads are unraveling). 
Also a veteran of Homicide: Life on the Street, Gloria Reuben, too, made the jump into the Law & Order world. She played two different characters on SVU, with a three-episode stint as Assistant U.S. Attorney Christine Danielson between 2007 and 2011.
It wasn't across the pantheon of shows, but Hayden Panettiere played two different characters within the SVU world. (This was prior to the entire "save the cheerleader, save the world" phenomenon took off). 
This are just a handful, of course. SVU tends to have the most crossovers, mostly because it's been on the longest (and also the series I've seen the most episodes of). Who are some of your favorite performers that have had multiple roles in this television universe? Talk about your favorites below.
photo credit: commons.wikimedia.org

*Update: Caught an end of a 'Law & Order' episode to see Dallas Roberts, who played Greg Yates in four episodes of 'SVU' (and two episodes of 'Chicago P.D.', to boot). After looking, seems he made two other appearances as different characters in 'Law & Order', plus an appearance in 'Criminal Intent' and on other appearance as a different character in 'SVU'.

I have a feeling this blog could go on forever with performers playing different characters in the 'Law & Order' universe.

Looking back at LOST: An ode to Dr. Arzt

The television show Lost recently passed the ten-year mark of being off the air. It's time to take a closer look regarding a certain character's contribution to the story."Really? Then you explain to me why Kate gets the best pieces of wreckage to build her shelter?"
In an episode that began with an essential sermon on the mount regarding trade winds, Dr. Leslie Arzt (If only we had been given the chance to spend much more time with him, for his departure happened almost as quickly as he had arrived.
Arzt -- or Arntz, as Hurley (Jorge Garcia) continually called him -- arrived with a bang and left with a literal one as well. Six weeks the survivors of Oceanic Flight 815 had spent on this island and it wasn't even until "Born to Run" that Arzt made an appearance. And yet there he is, orating a passionate plea for Michael (Harold Perrineau) and the others to not set sail on the raft they've so diligently building.
Former science teacher and marrying man (three ex-wives, as we come to learn), Arzt turned out to be a voice for the other survivors on this island; the ones we never really got to know but were always there, hanging out for big speeches or burials. He was a know-it-all who I imagine rallied these characters and would have led a mutiny if he weren't allowed to go on the journey to the Black Rock to help retrieve the dynamite.

He was an expert whose hubris led to his ultimate death. But his legacy remained and lived on, given more to do in coming seasons. This included the smaller mobisodes, where fans were treated to peeks into moments between the larger story lines, and where Roebuck was allowed to shine as Arzt even more. And sure, maybe these were designed to help bridge gaps between plot holes, but the more Arzt, the better, even as we were well aware of his fate.
Arzt was indeed integral to more of the story, popping up in a flashback at the airport and later appearing in the final season as a co-worker of one Dr. Linus (Michael Emerson). Destiny would end there, however, for Arzt as he was not part of the series finale.
A shame above all shames for this man who made his mark Cassandra-style, warning of raft trouble (which, by the way, he was right about. Just not in the way expected). The man who was full of quips and brought a different style of comedy to those few episodes he was in. Dr. Leslie Arzt had a memorable impact on Lost. If only he'd been given more time.to showcase his talents.A sacrificial lambTruth be told, the character of Arzt was likely never intended to be around for too long. Gearing up for a season one finale, capping off a highly-successful first season, the creators and writers likely needed a death. Considering one of the main characters, Boone (Ian Somerhalder), had only recently met their demise, there was a slim chance death would happen to another main character. 
That's where Dr. Arzt entered the picture.
The season one finale aired on May 25, 2003 and later that evening In between, Roebuck appeared as Arzt in nine episodes, four of which occurred in the final season, whether as a brief glimpse or an important player. Arzt was in Australia for what turned out to be an internet date gone bad. By chance Arzt, as with many of the characters, decided to forego exploring what Australia had to offer and caught an early flight back to the States.
For a character who made such an impact -- and we were treated to a rich background for -- Arzt did not appear in the finale. 
Perhaps it was because in the flash sideways episode "L.A.X. Part 2", Arzt narrowly avoided being hit by a cab and thus keeping him "alive". (Ten years after the fact and I'm still not really sure how this metaphysical world works. But I'm getting closer.)
The arc of Arzt ended, at least in this universe, in the episode titled "Dr. Linus". Arzt received plenty of screen time colluding with Ben Linus, while Locke (Terry O'Quinn) was also lurking as a substitute teacher. 
One could have imagined much more of Arzt. Considered my many to be a minor character in the Lost realm, Arzt carried much more weight than previously realized. Whether in the flashbacks or the flash sideways stories, Arzt was part of the Lost web. He bantered with Hurley, engaged with Sawyer (Josh Holloway) and parlayed with Dr. Linus. Arzt was the true bit player: gone too soon but one who should be truly remembered.
"He just.  Exploded.  In front of us." - Hurley, re: Arzt
photo credit: commons.wikimedia.org

NBA season set for a restart. Should it be?

NBA owners, by a 29-1 vote, agreed to a plan on Thursday (June 4) to restart the 2019-20 season later this summer in Orlando.The pain strikes deep -- ball is life, after all -- but I need to say it: The NBA should have gone ahead and canceled the remainder of the 2019-20 season. 
Forget a 16-team playoff. Forget giving 22 teams a chance to play regular season games before the playoffs start. Scrap it all, put an asterisk next to the season -- it will get one anyway -- and focus on getting procedures in place to play a full 2020-21 season.
The courts have been devoid of squeaking sneakers, trash talk, blaring horns and raucous fans since March 11, when the COVID-19 pandemic put the season on hold. Nearly three months have passed since that day and 4.5 months will have gone by before games start up again.
That's basically an entire off-season in and of itself.
With a plan on the table to have eight "seeding" games before a standard 16-team playoff, the NBA plans to finish the season starting July 31 and ending by Oct. 12.
Where does that leave the 2020-21 season? This is something I haven't seen much about since the early days of the hiatus, when it was floated the season would start at Christmas. In recent reports, December 1, 2020 is being floated as a possible start date.
If that's the case, the teams in the NBA Finals have to turn around and start camp roughly a month later. And eight teams aren't even getting the chance to continue their season, meaning it will be close to nine months since their last regular season game. 
The NBA draft has also been moved back, now slated to be held October 15. According to this article, the NCAA has said that August 3 is now the deadline for players to withdraw their names or stay in the draft. Do these players enroll in school in case they decide to come back? Do the coaches hold their roster spots? Do these players get to work out with their teams over the summer while also prepping for the NBA draft?
Change can be good. If December -- or Christmas -- are start dates of the regular season going forward and solid procedures for college athletes are put in place, then by all means start this new tradition.
I love basketball, both playing and watching. I'll still be right there watching when the season starts up again. At this point, however, I really would have preferred a cancellation of the season while the league fully prepared to give us a full slate of games in 2020-21.A thrill, interruptedThe 2019-20 playoffs were gearing to be some of the most exciting we'd seen in ages. Out west, the Los Angeles Lakers and Los Angeles Clippers were dueling, with star-filled, City of Angels matchup envisioned for the Western Conference Finals.
Of course, the Denver Nuggets, Utah Jazz, Oklahoma City Thunder, and Houston Rockets would have had something to say about. On March 11, only four games separated the 2nd-seed Clippers and the 6th-seed Rockets.
Out East, the Milwaukee Bucks were having a season for the ages with a record of 53-12. The Bucks were running away with things, a mere 14 games separating them and the sixth-seed Philadelphia 76ers. 
Now, while you can't necessarily throw all that out the window, you can certainly see different outcomes taking place. Teams have had players who have healed, returning them to full strength. Momentum might not be recaptured. Contained in this short window, anything can happen, more so than we might have seen during the normal course of the playoffs.
A certain rhythm needs to be developed. Players need to get back into game shape. While the month of July will be used for that, I foresee more upsets than a normal season and a different kind of excitement than we were first expecting. And if that is to be the case, perhaps the league could have tried something completely different altogether. A Modest ProposalBefore the announcement today, there was one thing I might have really got behind the league proposing: A 30-team World Cup style tournament.
July is usually reserved for summer league play and the chance for the newly-drafted (and others) a chance to showcase their skills. Have a tournament with all 30 teams with full rosters and have some fun with it by setting it up World Cup style.
A simple layout of eight groups, with six of the groups having four teams and two groups with three teams. This might be a little lopsided, with the two groups having smaller margin for error to advance, but hey, this is a pure hypothetical situation.
Hand the teams with the eight best records the top seed in each group. From there, draw teams at random. Give each team a warm-up game or two before starting, let the players get their legs underneath them, and start the ball rolling with a round robin. Like the World Cup, each team would play the other in their group, with the top two teams in each group advancing. 
From there, it's a 16-team, single elimination tournament. More suspense, more drama, and the need to be perfect every game. 
To me, that's a more fitting end to the abbreviated 2019-20 season. Then the timeline of regular NBA activities could have resumed, all 30 teams could have participated, and college players wouldn't have to wait so long to make a decision as to withdraw their name from the draft or not.
As it is, basketball will be back. And though it will be different and something to get used to, in the end, I'll be right there watching. 
I just know it won't feel the same.
photo credit: goodfreephotos.com

Will they or won't they: An examination of NBC's character pairing in the 1980's, 90's and beyond

NBC ruled the airwaves back in the 1980's, '90's and part of the 2000's, thanks in large part to shows that relied on a good, old-fashioned, "will-they-or-won't-they" trope involving main characters.The characters you'll likely know by first name only. Ross and Rachel from Friends  became synonymous with the will-they-or-won't-they question, helping the sitcom become one of the most watched shows ever.
It wasn't the first time, however, that NBC trotted out this trope on one of their television shows.
In fact, for a good stretch, the network paraded out this types of relationships on hit-show, after hit-show. It started back in the 1980's and stretched into the 2000's with a bevy of characters many of us are on a first-name basis with.
Sam and Diane (Ted Danson and Shelley Long) from Cheers. Sam and Rebecca, for that matter (Danson and Kirstie Alley). There was Joe and Helen from Wings. Skippy and Mallory (Marc Price and Justine Bateman) from Family Ties. Okay, maybe not the last pairing. Theirs was a dynamic more like if Ross (David Schwimmer) and Rachel (Jennifer Aniston) had never progressed past their high school personas. Plus, Mallory had Nick (Scott Valentine).
These shows were much more than the burning question of "will-they, won't-they" but it was a key in what kept audiences watching from week to week. In-between the stolen kisses and petty disagreements, the characters grew and changed while slowly circling towards each other to bring finality, one way or the other.
Fans rally around these relationships for a myriad of reasons. Maybe they see themselves in one of the characters, identifying with traits and mannerisms. Maybe they harbor thoughts of seeing a friendship in their own life grow into something more, idealizing a series of events that will lead them to true love.  Or it can be as simple as fans find these characters intriguing and entertaining
Characters built in this regard are still around today. Rooting for a certain pairing of characters -- or shipping, as the kids call it today -- is part of the fun and interest in certain television shows. It's not as prevalent in today's sitcom world, but that's partially because what we once thought of a standard sitcom has mostly gone out the window.
Once upon a time, NBC relied heavily on these pairings, even as some failed to find momentum once the talked about characters finally cemented their relationship. Still, NBC had the market cornered in regards to television shows and the water cooler gossip of will-they-or-won't-they.
As it turns out, NBC had something going because all of these were hit shows for the network.They love me, they love me notIf something works, why stop doing it? Must See TV turned NBC into a powerhouse, thanks in large part to Cheers, Friends, Seinfeld , and so many others that helped pave the way prior to these sitcoms.

During this span, it was Cheers that really captured the movement. This sitcom is one of the fantastic ones in the last 50 years and, even with an outstanding ensemble cast, it was the early chemistry of Danson and Long that drove this show. Debuting in 1982, the early seasons were a constant back and forth between Sam and Diane, matching brawn with wits, with romance sprinkled in. This dynamic was so central to the story, creators James Burrows and Glen and Les Charles attempted to duplicate the success when Long left the show in 1987. Alley was brought in and the Sam-Rebecca stories barely missed a beat.


Later, it was only natural to see Frasier, a spin-off of Cheers, find comfort in the same trope. While it didn't necessarily revolve around Frasier (Kelsey Grammer) -- even as there were likely Frasier-Roz (Peri Gilpin) shippers out there -- it was a will-they-or-won't-they between Niles (David Hyde Pierce) and Daphne (Jane Leeves) that was represented here.
Before Frasier, it was Wings that helped continue the trend. Initially, the idea of a love triangle was sprinkled throughout the early episodes of the sitcom. Brothers Joe (Tim Daly) and Brian (Steven Weber) Hackett chased after their lifelong friend Helen (Crystal Bernard). In season 2, however, Joe and Helen began dating, the first steps of a story extending over seasons to see if these two would ultimately end up together.
It made sense that this trope would be used, considering creators David Angell, Peter Casey, and David Lee all worked as writers and producers on both Cheers and Frasier. 
In 1994, however, the beginning of Ross and Rachel on Friends took hold, launching ten seasons of on-again, off-again romance and frustration. Creatively, writers found ways to keep these two apart, and developed a nice rhythm when it came to one character pining for the other. They were able to get the most mileage out of these two characters, even as the series lost some of its luster in the back half of the shows. (Or, as I like to call it, the latter part of the "Monica/Chandler being a couple" seasons.)


NBC sitcoms did not lose the trope, either, with new shows in the 2000's. J.D. (Zach Braff) and Elliot (Sarah Chalke) were given the nod here, with their love and troubles stretched out over the run of the show.

And perhaps the most popular will-they-or-won't-they on NBC in the 2000's belonged to Pam (Jenna Fischer) and Jim (John Krasinski) on The Office. This show was a perfect example of how tricky it can be to get these characters together in the middle of a series run and consistently finding obstacles to throw in their way to keep fans interested.

Looking back, this structure wasn't limited to simply the sitcoms on NBC's docket. There was the juggernaut that was ER, with the back and forth between Doug (George Clooney) and Carol (Julianna Margulies). We even saw to an extent the same parrying of hearts between Mark (Anthony Edwards) and Susan (Sherry Stringfield).

Aaron Sorkin's The West Wing in the late 90's had its own will-they-or-won't they couple and it was a trope replicated in the one season of Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip, where two sets of couples were thrown into the swirl. We can even journey all the way back to Remington Steele in 1982, where Pierce Brosnan and Stephanie Zimbalist where thrown into the same cauldron of romance, friendship, irritation, and jealousy.
Other networks in recent years had television shows with similar success that used the same dynamic. From The Mindy Project to New Girl and even ABC's Lost, characters in a will-they-or-won't-they situation help drive the action. As to whether or not it's the main focus or helps drive the popularity, well, I'll let the success of NBC shows do most of the talking there.
What are some of your favorite shows -- past and present -- that use the "will-they-or-won't-they" mechanism? Were you happy with the end result of the characters you rooted for? 
photo credit: flickr.com

A void where the sports world used to be

Sports, and the leagues and athletes we watch and follow, can be an altogether rewarding and heartbreaking experience. It's a void in entertainment not easily filled.Trace the path of memories, finding the hazy shadow of an image that lingers. Pinpoint that moment when sports entered your life.
Three memories sink their claws in, each forever etched in the soul. There is the tender age of four, grasping a basketball, dad feet away, whistle planted between lips while the high school players run sprints.
A second is years later, a post t-ball game celebration where gumballs are handed out, tiny words corresponding with the best hit collected during the game. It's the first time the yellow gumball with the phrase "home run" landed in tiny, dirty hands.
A third is ripe with disappointment. The 1986 World Series, in which a simple ground ball bouncing through legs whipped up tears in a matter of seconds, not yet realizing there was still one game left to bring even grander sadness.
These are moments that define.
Sports have been a huge part of society -- especially on a large scale -- for a long while now. Participating in sports reached an apex for me back in high school. There was of course an occasional basketball league or soccer rec league, but on a whole, my career ended with the final bus trips my senior year of baseball.
Being a sports fan is deeply imprinted on my soul. I may not lace up the sneakers or swing a bat anymore, but my love for the game(s) has not waned. Watching sports, in person or on television (or phone, computer, etc.) have always been a nice escape. A passionate way to spend five minutes or five hours in a day, which is an exhausting feat in and of itself.
All of that has been temporarily been put on hold and, with it, a realization of how much sports are truly missed.A world on pauseRoughly six weeks have passed since sporting events were canceled or put on hold. Normally, mid-April is prime for flipping the channel to a baseball game, letting it play out in the background before settling in for a few innings of intense watching.
This would have come after thrilling NCAA tournament action, where the Dayton Flyers might have made an improbable run on the men's side. Or, on the women's side, a Boise State Broncos women's team looking for their first win in their fourth-straight appearance.
On the horizon would have been the opening of the NBA and NHL playoffs, mixed in with the Masters and upcoming Kentucky Derby. All were the precipice of the Summer Olympics to happen in July.
All have been postponed, cancelled, or up-in-the air for a restart of some sort. The Olympics have been moved to the summer of 2021. There has been talk of the Masters in November and the NBA playoffs starting in July. Major League Baseball continues to try and find alternatives. College athletes have lost their spring seasons as have many high school athletes.
About the only thing hold sports fans attentions at the moment are the upcoming NFL and WNBA drafts. Both are going on as scheduled, though all done over phone calls and video conferencing. 
Fans are so thirsty for anything sports related they'll watch a competition of H.O.R.S.E. between current and former NBA and WNBA players. No matter how thrilling, it will never top the greatest game of H.O.R.S.E. in the history of sports: 

Sports irrevocably changed trajectory, possibly for at least the next season or two because of the coronvirus pandemic. We'll see a shorter baseball season and an abridged NBA playoff format, if the latter happens at all. And it's entirely possibly fans will not be allowed to attend events live, something we've already seen here in the United States and in some places worldwide.Finding ways to entertainThe majority of sports leagues are in sleep mode, a hiatus with no restart on the horizon. And then there's pro wrestling. 
Organizations like the WWE and AEW are still putting on shows, albeit taped ones in secure, closed locations. The WWE did return with a live show on Monday, a day before they were inexplicably deemed an essential business in the state of Florida. (Then on Wednesday, the WWE laid off upwards of three dozen superstars and staff.)
Wrestlemania 36 was a two-day event, matches taped ahead of time mostly at the Performance Center in Florida. A chance to lock in and really focus produced two of the best segments seen in a long time for the product. The Boneyard Match between the Undertaker and A.J. Styles capped off Saturday night with a bang, while Sunday's show we witnessed a Firefly Fun house match between Bray Wyatt and John Cena (a glorious spectacle that has to be seen to be believed).
When so much of a match depends on a crowd reaction, there were simple joys of wrestlers still dedicating so much energy and spirit in their matches. Some, like Nikki Cross, continued normal antics of stomping on the apron and screaming in effort to rile up her teammate.
While wrestling forges on without fans, baseball has returned in parts of the world coping with this new model as well. In China, games have started in empty stadiums, but players are still having fun with it:

Hilarious move by this #RakutenMonkeys player. Dude hit a home run, then gave a curtain call and launched a pack of masks into the empty stands. pic.twitter.com/IUMXPCGn6L

— Ben Porter (@Ben13Porter) April 15, 2020

Trace the memories, arriving in present day. Games and leagues may very well be played without fans to cheer and boo, at least in the immediate future. Every squeak of the shoe will be heard, the crack of the bat crisper than usual. It will be a new normal that will take getting used to.
In the end, there is a true realization that the sports are simply entertainment. There is no level of importance to say how much it means that sports leagues became unified in closing down shop. In the grand scheme of life, the safety of society takes precedence. And one day, generations of fans will again have the opportunities to form memories of their own, to find those moments of bliss in relation to their favorite sport. It may not be as soon as fans desire, but slowly, surely, the leagues will return.
Until then, we wait. We stay safe. Sports may not an end all, be all in life, be we sure do miss it.

March Madness movie tourney and 40 years of box office champs: the final 4

The March Madness movie tournament has been whittled down, now only a few days away from selecting a favorite film from the box office champions of the past 40 years.And then there were four.
We started with 64 films, taking the top-16 domestic box office earners from each decade (starting in 1980) and pitting them against one another.
There will be no "One Shining Moment" played at the end of this tournament -- there is no video footage of me typing at the computer or users clicking a button on Twitter -- and yet here we are.
Four films. A representative from each decade spanning the 1980's, 1990's, 2000's and 2010's. There were surprises, upsets, and a couple of close calls. And yet the four films in the final four are all worthy of inclusion.
One half of the match-ups has the 1980's region taking on the 1990's region. The other: the 2000's vs the 2010's.
Take a glance below at the skinny for the final four films (box office totals taken from Box Office Mojo). 1980-1989 winnerFilm: Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back

Seed: #3

Domestic box office: $290,271,960

Films defeated: Rain Man, Ghostbusters, Return of the Jedi, Raiders of the Lost Ark




1990-1999 winnerFilm: The Lion King (animated)

Seed: #3

Domestic Box Office: $422,783,777

Films defeated: Mrs. Doubtfire, Independence Day, Beauty and the Beast (animated), Forrest Gump




2000-2009 winnerFilm: The Dark Knight

Seed: #2

Domestic Box Office: $535,234,033

Films defeated: Transformers, Finding Nemo, Shrek 2, Iron Man




2010-2019 winnerFilm: Avengers: Endgame

Seed: #2

Domestic Box Office: $858,373,000

Films defeated: Dark Knight Rises, Star Wars: The Last Jedi, The Black Panther, Infinity War




Pick your favorites! Voting for the semifinals will take place on Twitter (@jasonrh_78) starting at 7 pm (MT) on March 23. The final match will take place beginning roughly 24 hours later, on March 24. *Facebook doesn't have the "polls" option anymore so feel free to leave comments regarding your favorite(s) if you don't have a Twitter account. Your comments will be counted as votes.
Thanks for indulging and playing along over the last couple of weeks. Happy voting and happy film watching!
photo credit: commons.wikimedia.org

Part 1: Part 2: Part 3: Marvel mania
Part 4: The Lion King and other animated films

Down to 8 films in box office movie madness tournament

The March Madness movie tournament rolls on as the final eight films lock horns in deciding the favorite of the box-office champions from the last four decades.A dose of "Hakuna Matata" is something we could all use here in the month of March 2020.
And maybe that's why The Lion King  is the last animated film standing in the "40 years of box office champions" tournament.
Well, that, and the film is dear and near the hearts for  those of us who grew up in the 1990's.
The Lion King was one of ten animated films to make this tournament. Many were eliminated in the early rounds as only two others reached the round of 16. Shrek 2 was bounced out by The Dark Knight on the other side of the bracket, receiving only 15 percent of the votes.
Beauty and the Beast was the other animated film to make it that far, only to have to face The Lion King. Belle and company, thanks to making more at the domestic box office, held the number two seed. However, The Lion King won safely with 67 percent of the vote.
The 1990's saw the resurgence of quality animated films from Disney (and later, with even better stories, Pixar). The first two Toy Story films were part of the 1990-1999 region along with The Lion King and Beauty and the Beast. 
As these original Disney films are getting the live-action remake treatment, we should remember how special they were to us. They were not without problems, but there were reasons that films like The Lion King, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, Pocahontas, Mulan, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, and Hercules were popular among children and adults alike. The films made us laugh, tugged at our heartstrings, and usually had at least one song that stuck with a person for days on end (or years). These films are tales as old as time, told in the circle of life, and, ones that hopefully opened up a whole new world (or two).
On with the show...1980-1989 regionA battle of George Lucas, if you will. Okay, to be exact, we have Steven Spielberg vs George Lucas. Here are two filmmakers who defined a generation, who in ways changed movies and the box office itself. And only one will advance to the final four to represent the 1980's.(5) Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark(3) Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back1990-1999 regionForrest Gump marches on, thanks to a victory over Titanic with 58 percent of the vote. Titanic was the last number one seed left so it's anyone's game at this point. There is nothing short of a final four berth on the line to represent the 1990's when it takes on The Lion King.(5) Forrest Gump(3) The Lion King2000-2009 regionTwo superheroes will vie for the chance to represent the 2000's region in the final four. Both won their round of 16 matches in overwhelming fashion, each finishing with over 80 percent of the vote. (16) Iron Man(2) The Dark Knight2010-2019 regionThe Black Panther breezed through the first couple of rounds, knocking off two fellow Marvel films en route to reaching the round of 16. It finally met its match with Avengers: Endgame, garnering only 27 percent of the vote in defeat.
The other match pitted Rogue One: A Star Wars Story vs Avengers: Infinity War and boy was it a doozy. After the initial 24-hour voting period produced no winner, a three-hour overtime was needed. In the end, Infinity War prevailed by a two-vote margin.(4) Avengers: Infinity War(2) Avengers: EndgameVoting for the round of eight will take place on Twitter (@jasonrh_78) beginning at 4 pm (MT) on March 21. Facebook doesn't have the "polls" option anymore so feel free to leave comments on your favorite(s) if you don't have a Twitter account.
I'll see you at the polls!
picture credit: sketchport.com
Part 1:

4 decades of box office champions tourney down to 16 films

The March movie madness tournament to crown the best of the all-time domestic box office winners from the last 40 years continues with the round of 16.The film industry is Marvel's world and we're just living in it.
At least that's how it looks when you glance down the list of top-grossing movies at the all-time box office
Four of the top ten are Marvel based, led by the number two film, Avengers: Endgame. Immense popularity follows these films around, so much so that Captain Marvel, which made nearly 427 million dollars at the domestic box office, wasn't even one of the top-16 grossing films since 2010.
This film, starring Brie Larson as Captain Marvel, currently sits in 25th-place and barely missed out on joining this tournament. That's because 17 of the 25 highest-grossing films have all been released since 2010.
All told, there were six films from Marvel -- the Spider-Man movies from the 2000s were released by Sony and still owned by the company -- in this tournament. Four still remain among the final 16, a number that might have been greater had Black Panther not eliminated Age of Ultron and The Avengers.
Films from the The somewhat of the surprise winner here is Iron Man. As a 16th-seed, Robert Downey and company have taken down Avatar and, by one vote, Lord of the Rings: Return of the King.

Which films will advance? Choose for yourself as voting continues on Thursday, March 19.
1980-1989 regionThe number one seed in this region, E.T., fell to Back to the Future, which won handily with 64.7% of the vote. Michael J. Fox and Christopher Lloyd might have their work cut out for them as this film is the lowest seed remaining in the region.(8) Back to the Future(5) Indiana Jones and Raiders of the Lost Ark(3) Star Wars: Empire Strikes Back(2) Star Wars: Return of the Jedi1990-1999 regionIf it weren't for Forrest Gump's win over Jurassic Park, the top-four seeds would all be around. Instead, seeds one thru three are present, including the only number one seed remaining, Titanic. As the fifth-seed Forrest Gump is the outlier of the group, but could still make waves to advance to the final eight.(1) Titanic(5) Forrest Gump(3) The Lion King (animated)(2) Beauty and the Beast (animated)2000-2009 regionAlong with the two animated films in the 1990-1999 region, animation has only one other shot to win it all. And that film is Shrek 2. The lovable ogre defeated it's sequel, Shrek the Third and had a comeback victory over Passion of the Christ to reach the round of 16. The road ahead is a tough one, however.(16) Iron Man(5) Spider-Man (2002)(3) Shrek 2(2) Dark Knight2010-2019 regionThe looming question over this region: Will Black Panther pick up its third-straight win against a fellow film from the Marvel universe? It might be a taller task this time around but I am definitely interested to see how this plays out.(9) Rogue One: A Star Wars Story(4) Avengers: Infinity War(3) Black Panther(2) Avengers: EndgameVoting will be on Twitter (@jasonrh_78). Facebook doesn't have the "polls" option anymore so feel free to leave comments on your favorite(s) if you don't have a Twitter.

I'll see you at the polls!

Part 1 ~ Part 2 ~
photo credit: en.wikimedia.org

March Madness movie tournament: Star Wars universe and round of 32

The NCAA tournaments are canceled but that doesn't mean the bracket-bustin' has to stop. Onto the round of 32 as we look at the top box office winners of the last four decades.It was inevitable that films from the Star Wars universe would be eliminated from this tournament early on.
Losing a number-one seed in the first round, however, was not something I quite predicted as Star Wars: The Force Awakens was eliminated right out of the gate in the 2010-2019 region. The film fell behind early and couldn't quite compete the comeback during the 24-hour voting period, falling to Toy Story 4 by one vote.
All told, four of the eight films in this tournament from the Star Wars universe were eliminated in the opening round. One elimination was always going to be a given as The Last Jedi squared off against The Rise of Skywalker (winner: The Last Jedi, by a comfortable five votes). Another, The Phantom Menace, I assumed would be a first-round upset as the second-seed in the 1990-1999 region. And it was, falling to Beauty and the Beast (the animated version).
Also dropping from the tournament was Revenge of the Sith, which was on the losing end in the 2000-20009 region to Lord of the Rings: Return of the King.
Empire Strikes Back, Return of the Jedi, and Rogue One joined The Last Jedi in advancing on to the round of 32.

Since the arrival of Star Wars: A New Hope back in 1977, Star Wars films have had a firm grip on the box office. Even in the more recent years, as this fictional film universe has expanded and voices of dissent got louder, the films continued to rise up the box office charts.
Only three in this film universe failed to crack this tournament. A New Hope was outside of the scope of this tournament. Solo and Star Wars: Attack of the Clones each raked in the dough but not enough to crack the top-16 in each region.
Now, it's down to four. Are we headed to a Star Wars vs Marvel final? Will an animated film carry the weight? Find out as voting continues Monday to see who advances to the sweet 16.1980-1989 regionThis region was the region in which all of the higher-seeded films advanced, sans one. And there were plenty of routs, as E.T. secured a victory with 100 percent of the votes, while Return of the Jedi and Raiders of the Lost Ark each had over 90 percent of the votes in their matches.(1) E.T.(8) Back to the Future(5) Indiana Jones and Raiders of the Lost Ark(4) Batman(6)Ghostbusters(3) Empire Strikes Back(10) Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom(2) Return of the Jedi1990-1999 regionOutside of the aforementioned upset loss of The Phantom Menace, there were no other lower seeds to advance. All won fairly comfortably so it will be interesting to see what transpires in the round of 32.(1) Titanic(8) Home Alone(5) Forest Gump(4) Jurassic Park(6) Independence Day(3) The Lion King (animated)(7) The Sixth Sense(15) Beauty and the Beast (animated)2000-2009 regionIn a scene reminiscent of the Voting will be on Twitter (@jasonrh_78). Facebook doesn't have the "polls" option anymore so feel free to leave comments on your favorite(s) if you don't have a Twitter. 
I'll see you at the polls!
Part 1 ~ photo credit: pxhere.com

No shining moment in time

Derrick Coleman's missed free throw opened the door for the Indiana Hoosiers, with plenty of time left to get up a final shot. The offense stalled, then flowed, with the ball finding the hands of Keith Smart. Smart took advantage, hitting a baseline runner with mere seconds remaining to put the Hooisers up 74-73. He sealed the victory by intercepting one last, desperate pass, giving the Hoosiers and head coach Bob Knight the national championship.

To this day, even without the aid of the clip, I have vivid memories of the 1987 title game between the Hoosiers and the Orange.
Clips and even full-length games are available for replay on YouTube. But -- in the words of an old-timer -- back in my day, we relied on the virtual world-changing technology of the VHS cassette. This was something I took advantage of for these national title games, thanks to my dad's love of recording said contests.
Starting in the 1980's and stretching into the early 90's, dad recorded the majority of the NCAA men's national championship games. I grew up watching Georgetown/Villanova, Georgetown/Houston, Kansas/Oklahoma, Michigan/Seton Hall, and the above-mentioned Syracuse/Indiana, plus others, on repeat. This is where I was taught how to do a shot chart, collect stats, and the meaning of an assist. No matter how many times I'd seen the games, for the longest time I'd still slide a piece of paper on a dark brown clipboard owned by my parents, draw a basketball court on it and fill out the games shot chart.
This time of year, as I grew accustomed to watching both the men's and women's tournaments, will always hold a special place in my heart. Heroes are born and no-names become the talk of the town, if only for one weekend or four weeks. Hearts are broken, as are wallets and bank accounts.
And in 2020, we'll be missing that, as March proceeds with empty basketball courts, the unique sound of sneakers squeaking gone silent across the nation. There will be a few weeks with the crack of the bat in baseball and we'll be missing out on the piped in sounds of birds at Augusta.
Sports, as it turns out, has a lot bigger of impact on lives than we could have ever imagined.A shutdown like no otherRarely has the world seen such a disruption in the modern-age like we're seeing now during the COVID-19 pandemic. Schools have shut down and concerts, plays, and other social events have been canceled. Sports, from the pro leagues on down through high school have been either suspended or canceled through the spring.
The safety and the health of the community are rightfully a concern surrounding these events. An effort to curtail the spread of the coronavirus is the reason behind this; a drastic measure to some and, to others, a measure that should have been implemented earlier. The abrupt shutdown has affected so many, monetarily and otherwise. Why should we care about sports?
Many of these athletes, notably at the college and high school levels, especially the seniors, did not get their final chance to play their last game or their last season. In college basketball, there is a team like Rutgers, whose program hadn't reached the NCAA tournament in 29 years and were poised to do so in 2020. Or Oregon's Sabrina Ionescu, who will not get the chance to cap a stellar college career by attempting to win the title that had thus far eluded her.
Further down the ladder, it's the players on a high school team who won't get to play their last season. For most, their sports careers are now over without the last hurrah, where plenty of memories would have been made on and off the field.
Sports and athletics are a tiny blip on the radar in the grand scheme of life. For many, though, these events have always held a nice escape. It might have been by participating in or simply a spectator of, but sports are a lifeblood; a way to connect to the world, whether it be between family, friends, or a stranger on the internet.
And for me, sports, theater, or whatever the event might be, it's a memory that connects the past and my present. One that will have me celebrating what I safely can in regards to public events, and will eventually end with me popping a VHS tape into the VCR, once again looking for the one shining moment I know by heart, but is definitely already embedded for a lifetime.
photo credit: flickr.com