Jason Haskins's Blog, page 49
May 13, 2015
Mad Men Finale Predictions
Get ready to say good-bye to Don Draper for the final time. At least in non-rerun form.
The series finale of Mad Men is set to air on Sunday, May 17th. Created by Matthew Weiner, Mad Men has taken viewers on a fantastical, deprecating, misogynistic, touching, and sometimes downright depressing journey through the 1960's. The main story follows Draper (Jon Hamm) and his rise and fall through the advertising world, among other things. This highly crafted and intelligently written series was a critical darling throughout its run and helped turn AMC into a premier network.
As with most well regarded television shows, much speculation has been tossed around as to how this show will end. Will Draper find his peace? Is he the man falling from the building in the much talked about opening credits?
In preparation, I have decided to toss my hat into the ring with my own predictions. I did this with Lost finale and figured I'd visit the prediction well again. Let's see if I can do better this time around.
*Warning: The following may contain spoilers related to the final season and previous seasons of "Mad Men". Read ahead at your own risk.
1.) Much like the "On the Next Mad Men" previews that hardly provide insight to the next episode, the final episode will be a series of short scenes featuring a major character. No scene will last more than five minutes, leaving viewers upset and disgruntled. Roger Sterling (John Slattery) will last be seen in his bathroom, all alone, and shaving his mustache. Peggy Olson (Elisabeth Moss) will not have a final scene. Instead, her final scene from the episode "Lost Horizon" will just be shown on a loop for five minutes. Pete Campbell (Vincent Kartheiser) will land in Kansas just in time to be swept away in his Lear jet by a tornado. Joan (Christina Hendricks), in all of her kick-ass glory, leaves no stone unturned in making the men at McCann Erickson miserable. Don Draper, last seen at a bus stop in Oklahoma, makes his way to Seattle. He assumes the name Jerry Fandango (David Denman, "The Milk and Honey Route" episode) and decides to get in the gourmet coffee business. The last words of the series are spoken by Don, who simply says, "Let's call it Starbucks".
2.) Don Draper sits alone at the bus stop in Oklahoma. A car approaches. As the car gets closer, he sees that it is a Jaguar. The car stops. Don stands. The passenger side window rolls down, revealing the ghost of Lane Pryce (Jared Harris). Don, skeptical but intrigued, gets in the car. In the backseat are the ghosts of Bert Cooper (Robert Morse) and Don's brother, Adam Whitman (Jay Paulson). Don thinks "Hmm. That's weird. I didn't know a Jaguar had room for two passengers in the backseat." On a spirited road trip to California, the ghosts talk about smoke, fog, and how the best things in life are free, all while Don is buying any sort of drug he can get his hands on. After careful evaluation of his life, Don reaches the coast of California. He steps outside and the Jaguar is gone. Don walks onto the beach and just keeps walking into the water, disappearing forever.
3.) This is the Sci-Fi/Action/Horror version of the finale. Roger Sterling shows up to the office building, shirtless and carrying a flame thrower (and most likely on acid). He decides he can't take it anymore and decides to take a flame thrower to the entire McCann Erickson staff. He has also made enough name plates with the name STERLING etched on them and attaches them to the door of every office. Sterling, trapped in his own office, chugs a bottle of gin and flies out the window... Meanwhile, Joan and Peggy have concocted a mind game of willpower (imagine a puzzle/game you'd see in Saw) This involves an elaborate trap in which Jim Hobart (H. Richard Greene) must decide between saving his money or castrating himself. Pete, on his way to boarding a plane to Wichita, is stopped by Ken Cosgrove (Aaron Staton). "Pete, I just want to say congratulations," Ken tells Pete as he shakes his hand. "Thank you, Ken." "Oh, and one last thing," Ken says smugly. In Kill Bill style, Ken snatches out one of Pete's eyeballs. He drops it to the ground as Pete writhes in pain. "Now we're even," says Ken as he walks away. Oh, and Don says something witty, sweats a lot while drinking, and goes to work for Pepsi.
4.) Don sits at a bus stop in Oklahoma. The war vets pull up, deciding they haven't had enough. They knock around Don with a phone book again, rendering him unconscious. When he awakes, he sees a familiar face. It is Betty Draper (January Jones). Disoriented, he mumbles "Betty?". She replies, "Phil. You hit your head pretty hard when you fell off the billboard." Don replies, "Who's Phil?" "You are, silly," says Carol (Kristen Schaal, who also appeared on Mad Men). The camera reveals that Don is actually Will Forte and you've been watching The Last Man on Earth for the past eight years. Forte, who plays Phil Miller, has been dreaming this world the entire time. A world in which he is a womanizer, a charmer, and the suavest man around. All things that he's not. Viewers have just partook in the longest con of all time on television in which by watching Mad Man for eight years you have been tricked into watching The Last Man on Earth.
5.) Don sits alone at a bus stop in Oklahoma. The bus takes him to his destination and he places a call to Sally (Kiernan Shipka). She informs him that Betty is dying. Realizing what he must do, he gives up his journey west and begins the trek back to New York City. Roger, after realizing that most of the people he truly cares for have left him, decides to tragically end his life by jumping from the 26th floor of the McCann Erickson building. Pete arrives in Wichita and immediately has eyes for the waitress while at a family dinner. Joan gets her happy ending despite Roger's death. Peggy finally admits her love for Stan Rizzo (Jay R. Ferguson) and the two decide to elope in Paris, thus making Peggy's dream of going to Paris come true. Don makes it home and promises to care for the children and give them the one thing he never had. The final shot is of him looking in at all three kids asleep in their mother's arms on the couch in the Francis living room. Don smiles. He has finally found his purpose in life.
Mad Men. Characters you love and characters you love to hate. Thanks for the ride.
The series finale of Mad Men is set to air on Sunday, May 17th. Created by Matthew Weiner, Mad Men has taken viewers on a fantastical, deprecating, misogynistic, touching, and sometimes downright depressing journey through the 1960's. The main story follows Draper (Jon Hamm) and his rise and fall through the advertising world, among other things. This highly crafted and intelligently written series was a critical darling throughout its run and helped turn AMC into a premier network.
As with most well regarded television shows, much speculation has been tossed around as to how this show will end. Will Draper find his peace? Is he the man falling from the building in the much talked about opening credits?
In preparation, I have decided to toss my hat into the ring with my own predictions. I did this with Lost finale and figured I'd visit the prediction well again. Let's see if I can do better this time around.
*Warning: The following may contain spoilers related to the final season and previous seasons of "Mad Men". Read ahead at your own risk.
1.) Much like the "On the Next Mad Men" previews that hardly provide insight to the next episode, the final episode will be a series of short scenes featuring a major character. No scene will last more than five minutes, leaving viewers upset and disgruntled. Roger Sterling (John Slattery) will last be seen in his bathroom, all alone, and shaving his mustache. Peggy Olson (Elisabeth Moss) will not have a final scene. Instead, her final scene from the episode "Lost Horizon" will just be shown on a loop for five minutes. Pete Campbell (Vincent Kartheiser) will land in Kansas just in time to be swept away in his Lear jet by a tornado. Joan (Christina Hendricks), in all of her kick-ass glory, leaves no stone unturned in making the men at McCann Erickson miserable. Don Draper, last seen at a bus stop in Oklahoma, makes his way to Seattle. He assumes the name Jerry Fandango (David Denman, "The Milk and Honey Route" episode) and decides to get in the gourmet coffee business. The last words of the series are spoken by Don, who simply says, "Let's call it Starbucks".
2.) Don Draper sits alone at the bus stop in Oklahoma. A car approaches. As the car gets closer, he sees that it is a Jaguar. The car stops. Don stands. The passenger side window rolls down, revealing the ghost of Lane Pryce (Jared Harris). Don, skeptical but intrigued, gets in the car. In the backseat are the ghosts of Bert Cooper (Robert Morse) and Don's brother, Adam Whitman (Jay Paulson). Don thinks "Hmm. That's weird. I didn't know a Jaguar had room for two passengers in the backseat." On a spirited road trip to California, the ghosts talk about smoke, fog, and how the best things in life are free, all while Don is buying any sort of drug he can get his hands on. After careful evaluation of his life, Don reaches the coast of California. He steps outside and the Jaguar is gone. Don walks onto the beach and just keeps walking into the water, disappearing forever.
3.) This is the Sci-Fi/Action/Horror version of the finale. Roger Sterling shows up to the office building, shirtless and carrying a flame thrower (and most likely on acid). He decides he can't take it anymore and decides to take a flame thrower to the entire McCann Erickson staff. He has also made enough name plates with the name STERLING etched on them and attaches them to the door of every office. Sterling, trapped in his own office, chugs a bottle of gin and flies out the window... Meanwhile, Joan and Peggy have concocted a mind game of willpower (imagine a puzzle/game you'd see in Saw) This involves an elaborate trap in which Jim Hobart (H. Richard Greene) must decide between saving his money or castrating himself. Pete, on his way to boarding a plane to Wichita, is stopped by Ken Cosgrove (Aaron Staton). "Pete, I just want to say congratulations," Ken tells Pete as he shakes his hand. "Thank you, Ken." "Oh, and one last thing," Ken says smugly. In Kill Bill style, Ken snatches out one of Pete's eyeballs. He drops it to the ground as Pete writhes in pain. "Now we're even," says Ken as he walks away. Oh, and Don says something witty, sweats a lot while drinking, and goes to work for Pepsi.
4.) Don sits at a bus stop in Oklahoma. The war vets pull up, deciding they haven't had enough. They knock around Don with a phone book again, rendering him unconscious. When he awakes, he sees a familiar face. It is Betty Draper (January Jones). Disoriented, he mumbles "Betty?". She replies, "Phil. You hit your head pretty hard when you fell off the billboard." Don replies, "Who's Phil?" "You are, silly," says Carol (Kristen Schaal, who also appeared on Mad Men). The camera reveals that Don is actually Will Forte and you've been watching The Last Man on Earth for the past eight years. Forte, who plays Phil Miller, has been dreaming this world the entire time. A world in which he is a womanizer, a charmer, and the suavest man around. All things that he's not. Viewers have just partook in the longest con of all time on television in which by watching Mad Man for eight years you have been tricked into watching The Last Man on Earth.
5.) Don sits alone at a bus stop in Oklahoma. The bus takes him to his destination and he places a call to Sally (Kiernan Shipka). She informs him that Betty is dying. Realizing what he must do, he gives up his journey west and begins the trek back to New York City. Roger, after realizing that most of the people he truly cares for have left him, decides to tragically end his life by jumping from the 26th floor of the McCann Erickson building. Pete arrives in Wichita and immediately has eyes for the waitress while at a family dinner. Joan gets her happy ending despite Roger's death. Peggy finally admits her love for Stan Rizzo (Jay R. Ferguson) and the two decide to elope in Paris, thus making Peggy's dream of going to Paris come true. Don makes it home and promises to care for the children and give them the one thing he never had. The final shot is of him looking in at all three kids asleep in their mother's arms on the couch in the Francis living room. Don smiles. He has finally found his purpose in life.
Mad Men. Characters you love and characters you love to hate. Thanks for the ride.
May 9, 2015
May the Ninth be with You
The sun is out. The weather is warming up. The outdoor world beckons. The enticement of being outside often gets in the way of writing. That's where being close to a river helps out a lot. I'm only a short walk a way from combining writing and being outside. It's a win-win situation.
Welcome to the updates, May edition.
I finally took the time to create my own website. Here, I hope to house links to all of my published works and also short descriptions of other works I've written. I will still be posting the occasional updates within this blog but for the most part updates related to published works, produced plays, etc. will announced via the website. There will also be hopefully a "News" section up and running soon. All depends on when I decide to sit down and do that portion.
Alley Repertory theater, the theater I am resident playwright for, will be having a play reading series this summer. Plays from the Alley focuses on the works of Idaho playwrights or playwrights with a strong connection to Idaho. The deadline to submit an original, full length play is June 1, 2015. For more info, just head on over to the site.
The Blue Gem, the follow up book to The Dragon Princess, is coming along slowly. I have just over 34,000 words written and have finally picked up some momentum with it over the last week. My goal is to have a first draft completed by the end of July.
My third full length play, The Latitude of Life, is in the process of an edit. I have submitted previous versions to a few theater companies/contests, but am currently in the process of doing a first Act re-write before submitting anywhere else. My first two plays, Solace and Poison, are both being submitted across this fine land of ours in hopes of a production.
I am also attempting to finish up a t.v. script in hopes of submitting to writer's program run by ABC/DISNEY. The deadline is near the first of June. I should probably get going on that and spend less time on this blog post.
So for now: Have a happy May and thank you all for your continued support (whether it be financial, inspirational, motivational, or all of the above, I really do appreciate it).
"I dream my painting then I paint my dreams."-Van Gogh
Welcome to the updates, May edition.
I finally took the time to create my own website. Here, I hope to house links to all of my published works and also short descriptions of other works I've written. I will still be posting the occasional updates within this blog but for the most part updates related to published works, produced plays, etc. will announced via the website. There will also be hopefully a "News" section up and running soon. All depends on when I decide to sit down and do that portion.
Alley Repertory theater, the theater I am resident playwright for, will be having a play reading series this summer. Plays from the Alley focuses on the works of Idaho playwrights or playwrights with a strong connection to Idaho. The deadline to submit an original, full length play is June 1, 2015. For more info, just head on over to the site.
The Blue Gem, the follow up book to The Dragon Princess, is coming along slowly. I have just over 34,000 words written and have finally picked up some momentum with it over the last week. My goal is to have a first draft completed by the end of July.
My third full length play, The Latitude of Life, is in the process of an edit. I have submitted previous versions to a few theater companies/contests, but am currently in the process of doing a first Act re-write before submitting anywhere else. My first two plays, Solace and Poison, are both being submitted across this fine land of ours in hopes of a production.
I am also attempting to finish up a t.v. script in hopes of submitting to writer's program run by ABC/DISNEY. The deadline is near the first of June. I should probably get going on that and spend less time on this blog post.
So for now: Have a happy May and thank you all for your continued support (whether it be financial, inspirational, motivational, or all of the above, I really do appreciate it).
"I dream my painting then I paint my dreams."-Van Gogh
April 30, 2015
The Climb
One step. Two steps. Three steps. More.
The barricades mount. The path is not straightforward and clear of debris. A sliver of light momentarily shows the glory and is immediately buried. Massive boulders, barbed wire, thick bush, and heaps of dirt build up in desperate efforts to weaken the soul. The shovel I brought gets smaller, seemingly disappearing in what is now my massive hand. Perhaps a pick axe and wire cutters are the true solution.
Going around the barricade would take too long. Or would it? Perhaps there is a way around I haven't sought yet. The long way and bull rushing full steam ahead can't be the only options. The light must be expanded to fight the ensuing darkness.
The peak gets further away. One barricade is passed only to be replaced with a steeper climb and more obstacles. The feet do not move, stuck in the quicksand of a constantly moving mountain. The struggle only makes it worse. Rapid movements and fighting lead to sinking of a different kind. I'm not buried under the sand but the lungs already grasp for air.
Is the peak even achievable? What would I do if I reached the peak? Does one immediately go back down the side of the mountain after achieving the goal? The thoughts build and build while the body becomes still. Time is in a stasis of hope as the quicksand settles around weary legs.
The mind is calm. The thought of laying down the tools creeps in. Just let the climb stop and leave the barricades, obstacles, and peaks to another naive soul. This climb has crushed many before and will crush many after. Let another make the fight and relieve yourself of this stress, worry, and pain.
The mind returns to the moment. Feet have moved unwittingly. The steps have moved me closer to the peak. There is no light. The hands do their job and move the smaller stones. The boulder will not budge. Yet. A little more exertion and, even if that boulder moves an inch, a small victory will be had.
The climb continues. One step. Two steps. Three steps. More. More. More. More
The barricades mount. The path is not straightforward and clear of debris. A sliver of light momentarily shows the glory and is immediately buried. Massive boulders, barbed wire, thick bush, and heaps of dirt build up in desperate efforts to weaken the soul. The shovel I brought gets smaller, seemingly disappearing in what is now my massive hand. Perhaps a pick axe and wire cutters are the true solution.
Going around the barricade would take too long. Or would it? Perhaps there is a way around I haven't sought yet. The long way and bull rushing full steam ahead can't be the only options. The light must be expanded to fight the ensuing darkness.
The peak gets further away. One barricade is passed only to be replaced with a steeper climb and more obstacles. The feet do not move, stuck in the quicksand of a constantly moving mountain. The struggle only makes it worse. Rapid movements and fighting lead to sinking of a different kind. I'm not buried under the sand but the lungs already grasp for air.
Is the peak even achievable? What would I do if I reached the peak? Does one immediately go back down the side of the mountain after achieving the goal? The thoughts build and build while the body becomes still. Time is in a stasis of hope as the quicksand settles around weary legs.
The mind is calm. The thought of laying down the tools creeps in. Just let the climb stop and leave the barricades, obstacles, and peaks to another naive soul. This climb has crushed many before and will crush many after. Let another make the fight and relieve yourself of this stress, worry, and pain.
The mind returns to the moment. Feet have moved unwittingly. The steps have moved me closer to the peak. There is no light. The hands do their job and move the smaller stones. The boulder will not budge. Yet. A little more exertion and, even if that boulder moves an inch, a small victory will be had.
The climb continues. One step. Two steps. Three steps. More. More. More. More
April 15, 2015
The Life of Loyalty
Loyalty.
One simple word can be applied to a handful of occasions, situations, and instances in life. The word itself appears in the tiniest of circumstances yet at the same time can carry the burden of a person's world.
Loyalty can be applied to family. They are blood. They are the lifeline of existence. Through thick and thin, one will do for family. In most cases it is a loyalty to uphold the beliefs of the people that have been present in your life from the beginning.
That same loyalty can spread to close friends and members of your inner circle. Many of the same trials and tribulations can be applied to these close friends. Battles have been fought and won with these friends. Trenches have been dug, disagreements have been had, and success has been achieved. These long time and close friends are a backbone of a life created. People may not always agree, the friends may not agree, but loyalty is a credo that will last until the very end.
Loyalty is seen through love and carried out with a significant other. The same rules apply as previously mentioned. It may be a treacherous, difficult road but in the end, loyalty will lie down in traffic and do whatever it takes to soothe, care for, defend, and provide for a lover or significant other.
Loyalty can be seen in a company, from employee to employer and back again. From the office to a sports field, the loyal person garners more respect for sticking it out; for not jumping ship at the first sign of weakness or failure. The loyal person will battle and often, in the end, will see the fruition of their labor and loyalty be rewarded with success.
Loyalty can be a tough road to navigate. Morals can get in the way. Life can get in the way. Loyalty is all part of the unwritten code of life. A loyalty to someone or something can lead down a bad road or lead to a rewarding life or in some cases, both. Loyalties are not always going to lead to the ultimate success, but loyalty should be valued as a high priority in life.
Right and wrong decisions are going to occur especially when loyalty draws a line in the sand. No matter what side of the coin a person lands on, loyalty is a driving factor in the choices one makes. That even means being loyal to oneself and living a life that measures up to the standards you've created during your existence.
Loyalty is friendship. Loyalty is love. Loyalty is doing something for someone, even if that person has done you wrong in some way. The shared experiences of the past can help put aside differences for only the briefest of moments. Loyalty to the past can turn a foe into a friend for even the tiniest flashes of time.
Loyalty. The word can be better described at the end of the series finale of Justified. Creator Graham Yost (with the aid of story originator Elmore Leonard) and his team of writers ended the series with dialogue that is sticking with me. Words that bring loyalty to the forefront without even mentioning the word.
In brief, Raylan (Timothy Olyphant) has come to prison to deliver some news to Boyd (Walton Goggins). The two grew up together and have been on opposite sides of the law for the six seasons of run of the series. Though Raylan is ultimately lying about the news he delivered to Boyd, the scene is so good and powerful that one forgets that Raylan is lying. Boyd asks why Raylan came all this way to tell him the news in person.
"I suppose if I allow myself to be sentimental, despite all that's occurred, there's one thing I wander back to."
"We dug coal together."
"That's right."
Four words sum it up perfectly. "We dug coal together."
Loyalty. It sticks with you. One way or another.
One simple word can be applied to a handful of occasions, situations, and instances in life. The word itself appears in the tiniest of circumstances yet at the same time can carry the burden of a person's world.
Loyalty can be applied to family. They are blood. They are the lifeline of existence. Through thick and thin, one will do for family. In most cases it is a loyalty to uphold the beliefs of the people that have been present in your life from the beginning.
That same loyalty can spread to close friends and members of your inner circle. Many of the same trials and tribulations can be applied to these close friends. Battles have been fought and won with these friends. Trenches have been dug, disagreements have been had, and success has been achieved. These long time and close friends are a backbone of a life created. People may not always agree, the friends may not agree, but loyalty is a credo that will last until the very end.
Loyalty is seen through love and carried out with a significant other. The same rules apply as previously mentioned. It may be a treacherous, difficult road but in the end, loyalty will lie down in traffic and do whatever it takes to soothe, care for, defend, and provide for a lover or significant other.
Loyalty can be seen in a company, from employee to employer and back again. From the office to a sports field, the loyal person garners more respect for sticking it out; for not jumping ship at the first sign of weakness or failure. The loyal person will battle and often, in the end, will see the fruition of their labor and loyalty be rewarded with success.
Loyalty can be a tough road to navigate. Morals can get in the way. Life can get in the way. Loyalty is all part of the unwritten code of life. A loyalty to someone or something can lead down a bad road or lead to a rewarding life or in some cases, both. Loyalties are not always going to lead to the ultimate success, but loyalty should be valued as a high priority in life.
Right and wrong decisions are going to occur especially when loyalty draws a line in the sand. No matter what side of the coin a person lands on, loyalty is a driving factor in the choices one makes. That even means being loyal to oneself and living a life that measures up to the standards you've created during your existence.
Loyalty is friendship. Loyalty is love. Loyalty is doing something for someone, even if that person has done you wrong in some way. The shared experiences of the past can help put aside differences for only the briefest of moments. Loyalty to the past can turn a foe into a friend for even the tiniest flashes of time.
Loyalty. The word can be better described at the end of the series finale of Justified. Creator Graham Yost (with the aid of story originator Elmore Leonard) and his team of writers ended the series with dialogue that is sticking with me. Words that bring loyalty to the forefront without even mentioning the word.
In brief, Raylan (Timothy Olyphant) has come to prison to deliver some news to Boyd (Walton Goggins). The two grew up together and have been on opposite sides of the law for the six seasons of run of the series. Though Raylan is ultimately lying about the news he delivered to Boyd, the scene is so good and powerful that one forgets that Raylan is lying. Boyd asks why Raylan came all this way to tell him the news in person.
"I suppose if I allow myself to be sentimental, despite all that's occurred, there's one thing I wander back to."
"We dug coal together."
"That's right."
Four words sum it up perfectly. "We dug coal together."
Loyalty. It sticks with you. One way or another.
April 5, 2015
First Published Play
I mentioned this earlier in my March updates and it is now officially up on the website...
My one act play, One Night Stand, has been published through a company called Heartland Plays. You can read about it all here.
The play was originally intended to be part of a trilogy of one-acts that I was going to call the Trinity Plays. While I completed one other one-act called Right Hand of the Father, I never finished the third one so the idea kind of fell by the wayside.
Perhaps I will resurrect that third play and one day get all of it completed.
As for now, I'm very thankful to Heartland Plays for publishing One Night Stand and appreciate the opportunity.
My one act play, One Night Stand, has been published through a company called Heartland Plays. You can read about it all here.
The play was originally intended to be part of a trilogy of one-acts that I was going to call the Trinity Plays. While I completed one other one-act called Right Hand of the Father, I never finished the third one so the idea kind of fell by the wayside.
Perhaps I will resurrect that third play and one day get all of it completed.
As for now, I'm very thankful to Heartland Plays for publishing One Night Stand and appreciate the opportunity.
April 2, 2015
Full House for an Old Era
Whatever happened to predictability...
Reports are flying out of Hollywood that Full House, the iconic show from the late 80's/early 90's is set to shoot a 13-episode reboot starring Candace Cameron Bure (D.J. Tanner) and Andrea Barber (Kimmie Gibbler). Is this an April Fool's Day hoax arriving a day late? Don't bet on it. In today's entertainment world of trying to make what was popular once popular again, it's a good bet that Netflix is truly making this happen.
We have been ushered into a new era. One led by the great Jimmy Fallon. He who has brought together casts from Saved By the Bell and other favorite shows he grew up with. I'm not saying he is to blame but he can certainly be seen as the leader of the Nostalgia generation. These are 28-40 year-old people that are attempting to recreate and recapture their lost youth. People that want to continue and bring back the movies/t.v. shows they grew up on. They are the nostalgiaists. (I know it looks funny. How about Nostalgia-ists. Easier?)
Now, I don't necessarily have a problem with Jimmy Fallon and his reunions. In fact, I have previously written on how I have enjoyed these sketches/shows. An eight minute sketch is fine. It provides that nostalgic euphoria that can be associated with seeing these casts/story lines back together. At some point, though, it is time to move on and continue to work on creating new shows and movies.
Over the last few years, we have seen on television the return of Beverly Hills 90210, Girl Meets World, and The Odd Couple to name a few. In the works are new episodes of Coach, The X-Files, and Twin Peaks. Now, you can argue that Girl Meets World is on the Disney Channel and aimed at younger viewers. This is true. And it is great that many parents who grew up with Boy Meets World probably watch this show along with their children. No problem. The thing is, there is nothing wrong with simply showing the children the original show and letting them appreciate that. And yes, it's definitely okay to let them watch both shows.
Twin Peaks is a show that was very popular upon its first viewing over twenty years ago. It lasted roughly two seasons. Now, there was a lot of studio intervention during it's run, contributing to its early demise. A cult following has remained dedicated to this show and I do understand why the creators would want to take another crack at it. Creatively, it hadn't run its course so there is valid reason for its return. I'm not saying it's necessarily the right choice, but the fan base is there validate at least a limited run.
Turning our attention back to Full House, though, what can we possibly learn that we don't already know. I can already imagine a 13-episode run filled with cameos, flashbacks, and canned laughter. With a boon plethora of creatively excellent shows airing on television (and on streaming services such as Netflix and Hulu), why go back to a well that was dry during the last seasons of its original run? Surely Jeff Franklin and the other producers of Full House (producers that dominated television in the late 80's/early 90's) can come up with an original idea for a sitcom and still have these actors involved.
Don't get me wrong, I still watch reruns of Full House. I am not above being a Nostalgiaist. It takes me back to a simpler time when the life's problems could be solved within thirty minutes. Not once have I ever wondered what this fictional family was up to now. Of course, many viewers probably have. In that case, I say let them use their imagination and create their own world. Let viewers think for themselves.
Who knows? Maybe viewers want to see Donna Jo Tanner and find out what she's doing these days. Maybe she married Steve. Maybe her and Kimmie are married to each other; raising three kids of their own in San Francisco. Uncle Jesse still runs the Smash Club and his two boys are bouncers at the club. Stephanie has married Teddy and Michelle still lives at home with Danny because he wasn't able to ever let his youngest daughter go. Joey is still chasing that dream of being a comedian and is currently appearing on America's Got Talent in between gigs in Reno. Becky is still the host of "Wake Up, San Francisco". And...
Wait a minute. Did I just write the pilot episode? Are they still looking for writers? I think I'd make a perfect addition to the writing team, seeing as how I know way more than any person not directly involved with the show should know about Full House. Perhaps I'll start sending tweets to John Stamos and he can make this happen.
Until then, I have to get to work on spec scripts for reboots of Family Matters, Perfect Strangers, Sabrina the Teenage Witch, and Step by Step. I'm sure Patrick Duffy needs the work since the reboot of Dallas got cancelled.
Welcome to the Nostalgia generation, folks. Buckle up. It's going to be a long ride.
Reports are flying out of Hollywood that Full House, the iconic show from the late 80's/early 90's is set to shoot a 13-episode reboot starring Candace Cameron Bure (D.J. Tanner) and Andrea Barber (Kimmie Gibbler). Is this an April Fool's Day hoax arriving a day late? Don't bet on it. In today's entertainment world of trying to make what was popular once popular again, it's a good bet that Netflix is truly making this happen.
We have been ushered into a new era. One led by the great Jimmy Fallon. He who has brought together casts from Saved By the Bell and other favorite shows he grew up with. I'm not saying he is to blame but he can certainly be seen as the leader of the Nostalgia generation. These are 28-40 year-old people that are attempting to recreate and recapture their lost youth. People that want to continue and bring back the movies/t.v. shows they grew up on. They are the nostalgiaists. (I know it looks funny. How about Nostalgia-ists. Easier?)
Now, I don't necessarily have a problem with Jimmy Fallon and his reunions. In fact, I have previously written on how I have enjoyed these sketches/shows. An eight minute sketch is fine. It provides that nostalgic euphoria that can be associated with seeing these casts/story lines back together. At some point, though, it is time to move on and continue to work on creating new shows and movies.
Over the last few years, we have seen on television the return of Beverly Hills 90210, Girl Meets World, and The Odd Couple to name a few. In the works are new episodes of Coach, The X-Files, and Twin Peaks. Now, you can argue that Girl Meets World is on the Disney Channel and aimed at younger viewers. This is true. And it is great that many parents who grew up with Boy Meets World probably watch this show along with their children. No problem. The thing is, there is nothing wrong with simply showing the children the original show and letting them appreciate that. And yes, it's definitely okay to let them watch both shows.
Twin Peaks is a show that was very popular upon its first viewing over twenty years ago. It lasted roughly two seasons. Now, there was a lot of studio intervention during it's run, contributing to its early demise. A cult following has remained dedicated to this show and I do understand why the creators would want to take another crack at it. Creatively, it hadn't run its course so there is valid reason for its return. I'm not saying it's necessarily the right choice, but the fan base is there validate at least a limited run.
Turning our attention back to Full House, though, what can we possibly learn that we don't already know. I can already imagine a 13-episode run filled with cameos, flashbacks, and canned laughter. With a boon plethora of creatively excellent shows airing on television (and on streaming services such as Netflix and Hulu), why go back to a well that was dry during the last seasons of its original run? Surely Jeff Franklin and the other producers of Full House (producers that dominated television in the late 80's/early 90's) can come up with an original idea for a sitcom and still have these actors involved.
Don't get me wrong, I still watch reruns of Full House. I am not above being a Nostalgiaist. It takes me back to a simpler time when the life's problems could be solved within thirty minutes. Not once have I ever wondered what this fictional family was up to now. Of course, many viewers probably have. In that case, I say let them use their imagination and create their own world. Let viewers think for themselves.
Who knows? Maybe viewers want to see Donna Jo Tanner and find out what she's doing these days. Maybe she married Steve. Maybe her and Kimmie are married to each other; raising three kids of their own in San Francisco. Uncle Jesse still runs the Smash Club and his two boys are bouncers at the club. Stephanie has married Teddy and Michelle still lives at home with Danny because he wasn't able to ever let his youngest daughter go. Joey is still chasing that dream of being a comedian and is currently appearing on America's Got Talent in between gigs in Reno. Becky is still the host of "Wake Up, San Francisco". And...
Wait a minute. Did I just write the pilot episode? Are they still looking for writers? I think I'd make a perfect addition to the writing team, seeing as how I know way more than any person not directly involved with the show should know about Full House. Perhaps I'll start sending tweets to John Stamos and he can make this happen.
Until then, I have to get to work on spec scripts for reboots of Family Matters, Perfect Strangers, Sabrina the Teenage Witch, and Step by Step. I'm sure Patrick Duffy needs the work since the reboot of Dallas got cancelled.
Welcome to the Nostalgia generation, folks. Buckle up. It's going to be a long ride.
March 23, 2015
Marching on in March
Finding a job.
The battle to find that job that you know will keep you satisfied all while staring at the bank account thinking "maybe I should just apply at Del Taco. They have a 'now hiring' message on their marquee."
Just over nine months ago, I quit my very stable job to concentrate on writing full time. A risky endeavor, yes, but one that needed to be done in order to keep my sanity by perhaps finding a job more closely related to my love of writing.
I have had accomplishments over the last nine months. For that, I am thankful. I only hope to continue to expand on these accomplishments and opportunities I've received.
That bank account, though. That's the glaring harbinger of life that continually follows me around. One needs to have money to survive; to have shelter and food.
That's why the job hunt continues. To find that balance of what I love to do and what I need to do. In time, those things will coincide with one another. That's the ultimate balance I believe all souls are in search of. Maybe not as the primary focus of life, but a focus that leads to being content. A healthy love affair between the career you've chosen and life.
Where it ends, who knows? That's the half the fun, though, right? Exploring, trying, failing, and hopefully succeeding.
Rejection letters and emails mount. For every ten of those, there is at least one positive in return. My one-act play One Night Stand has been recently selected for publication. Waiting on the finishing touches to announce the publisher, but it is something positive.
My work being presented at the Treefort Music Festival in Boise, Idaho. (7pm on 3/28 and 5 pm on 3/29 at Camp Modern, if you're out and about and want to see some original monologues produced by Alley Repertory Theater and performed by talented local actors). Another positive...
Spray Paint Atlas, a film written and directed by the talented Trevor Campbell, was selected to be part of the Tupelo Film Festival. I say this as more of congratulations to him and the rest of the cast but it is still a positive tangent that provides hope.
Keep the positive. Let the rejections make you stronger. Continue to write. Continue to submit. Continue to meet new people and have new experiences. That's the beauty of life.
Now, about that bank account...
The battle to find that job that you know will keep you satisfied all while staring at the bank account thinking "maybe I should just apply at Del Taco. They have a 'now hiring' message on their marquee."
Just over nine months ago, I quit my very stable job to concentrate on writing full time. A risky endeavor, yes, but one that needed to be done in order to keep my sanity by perhaps finding a job more closely related to my love of writing.
I have had accomplishments over the last nine months. For that, I am thankful. I only hope to continue to expand on these accomplishments and opportunities I've received.
That bank account, though. That's the glaring harbinger of life that continually follows me around. One needs to have money to survive; to have shelter and food.
That's why the job hunt continues. To find that balance of what I love to do and what I need to do. In time, those things will coincide with one another. That's the ultimate balance I believe all souls are in search of. Maybe not as the primary focus of life, but a focus that leads to being content. A healthy love affair between the career you've chosen and life.
Where it ends, who knows? That's the half the fun, though, right? Exploring, trying, failing, and hopefully succeeding.
Rejection letters and emails mount. For every ten of those, there is at least one positive in return. My one-act play One Night Stand has been recently selected for publication. Waiting on the finishing touches to announce the publisher, but it is something positive.
My work being presented at the Treefort Music Festival in Boise, Idaho. (7pm on 3/28 and 5 pm on 3/29 at Camp Modern, if you're out and about and want to see some original monologues produced by Alley Repertory Theater and performed by talented local actors). Another positive...
Spray Paint Atlas, a film written and directed by the talented Trevor Campbell, was selected to be part of the Tupelo Film Festival. I say this as more of congratulations to him and the rest of the cast but it is still a positive tangent that provides hope.
Keep the positive. Let the rejections make you stronger. Continue to write. Continue to submit. Continue to meet new people and have new experiences. That's the beauty of life.
Now, about that bank account...
March 11, 2015
Stray Observations of Pop Culture Favorites
Reading my Archie Digest (Betty and Veronica, No. 120, 2004) on Sunday morning (yep, you read that correctly), I discovered something very interesting. Something that will change entire viewpoints on a beloved television show from the late 90's/early 00's. Something that might make your head spin or might make you say "I already knew that." Here it is: Characters from That '70s Show were based off characters from the Archie Comics.
Here's how it began: The premise in this story was that Veronica, deciding it was time to test Archie's loyalty, went ahead and blackened a few of her teeth, thus creating the illusion that she was toothless. She was testing Archie to see if he still loved her even if her beauty was gone. A classic storytelling point if there ever was one.
This got me thinking and I realized I'd just seen this on an episode of That '70s Show. Jackie (Mila Kunis) was testing Kelso (Ashton Kutcher) to see how deep his love for her went. Classic Jackie.
Classic Jackie. Classic Veronica. Wait a minute. Both of these women can be superficial, rich, and perhaps stuck up. Both are constantly vying for affections of a certain boy. Both think they are better than the friends they hang out with.
Kelso can't be Archie,you say? Well, you're correct. Kelso is more of a Reggie Mantle. Handsome, vain, and the slightest bit doofy. Both think they are the best at everything and both always end up in trouble because of their love affair with chasing girls. Practical jokes are another thing these two have in common. Both are not above having a little fun at the expense of...
Forman (Topher Grace). Or Archie, in Reggie's case. Both Forman and Archie are skinny and kind of on the nerdy side. Both are prone to accidents (or being a little clumsy in life). Despite their shortcomings, both seem to always luck out in the end. Both have girlfriend(s) that are a bit out of their league.
Which leads us to Donna (Laura Prepon). Or Betty, as I like to call her. Both are smart and sweet. Donna started out with red hair, but eventually she went blonde, just like Betty. Both are strong willed, self-sustaining women. Though Donna doesn't have to compete for Forman's love with another woman, their relationship still has its battles, much like Betty has her battles in trying to be with Archie.
Is this just a big coincidence? Maybe. Did the creators of That '70s Show blatantly base for their major characters on characters from Archie Comics? Who knows. Are characters on That '70s Show just variations on characters that have been portrayed/written for hundreds of years? Most likely.
There is one thing I know for sure: Archie and his gang still got it. That Jughead is a riot...
*I am in no way accusing the creators of "That '70s Show" of stealing. I enjoy the show.
** "That '70s show" is a production of the Carsey-Werner Company and 20th Century Fox
*** Archie Digest is brought to us by Archie Comics Publications, Inc.
Here's how it began: The premise in this story was that Veronica, deciding it was time to test Archie's loyalty, went ahead and blackened a few of her teeth, thus creating the illusion that she was toothless. She was testing Archie to see if he still loved her even if her beauty was gone. A classic storytelling point if there ever was one.
This got me thinking and I realized I'd just seen this on an episode of That '70s Show. Jackie (Mila Kunis) was testing Kelso (Ashton Kutcher) to see how deep his love for her went. Classic Jackie.
Classic Jackie. Classic Veronica. Wait a minute. Both of these women can be superficial, rich, and perhaps stuck up. Both are constantly vying for affections of a certain boy. Both think they are better than the friends they hang out with.
Kelso can't be Archie,you say? Well, you're correct. Kelso is more of a Reggie Mantle. Handsome, vain, and the slightest bit doofy. Both think they are the best at everything and both always end up in trouble because of their love affair with chasing girls. Practical jokes are another thing these two have in common. Both are not above having a little fun at the expense of...
Forman (Topher Grace). Or Archie, in Reggie's case. Both Forman and Archie are skinny and kind of on the nerdy side. Both are prone to accidents (or being a little clumsy in life). Despite their shortcomings, both seem to always luck out in the end. Both have girlfriend(s) that are a bit out of their league.
Which leads us to Donna (Laura Prepon). Or Betty, as I like to call her. Both are smart and sweet. Donna started out with red hair, but eventually she went blonde, just like Betty. Both are strong willed, self-sustaining women. Though Donna doesn't have to compete for Forman's love with another woman, their relationship still has its battles, much like Betty has her battles in trying to be with Archie.
Is this just a big coincidence? Maybe. Did the creators of That '70s Show blatantly base for their major characters on characters from Archie Comics? Who knows. Are characters on That '70s Show just variations on characters that have been portrayed/written for hundreds of years? Most likely.
There is one thing I know for sure: Archie and his gang still got it. That Jughead is a riot...
*I am in no way accusing the creators of "That '70s Show" of stealing. I enjoy the show.
** "That '70s show" is a production of the Carsey-Werner Company and 20th Century Fox
*** Archie Digest is brought to us by Archie Comics Publications, Inc.
February 18, 2015
Man Turns Ash Wednesday into Own Personal Mardi Gras
EMMITSBURG, MD- Mardi Gras and Fat Tuesday celebrations were had all across the United States yesterday. Whiskey was drank, beads were given out, and breasts were shown.
For one man in Emmitsburg, all of that was missed.
Mark Davis, 31, of Emmitsburg, awoke Wednesday morning as he would every other day. As he brewed his coffee, Mr. Davis realized that today was Ash Wednesday. He had been to Church just three days prior but paid no attention to the service times for Ash Wednesday so he hopped on the internet. As he searched for local services and times, Mark had another sudden realization.
He'd slept through Fat Tuesday.
Ever since he'd turned 21, Mark had not missed a Fat Tuesday celebration. He had always looked forward to it. This was a day when he could drink as much as he wanted and stare at women's breasts without being judged . It was Mark's personal Christmas and this year it had completely slipped his mind.
The empty void in Mr. Davis' heart was still with him as he waited in line at Church to receive the sign of the cross in ash upon his forehead. He was devastated. He couldn't believe he'd have to wait an entire year to enjoy Mardi Gras.
Then, as if the blessed Lord came down to him, Mr. Davis had an epiphany. He would make Ash Wednesday his own personal Mardi Gras.
After receiving the customary ash upon his brow, Mark ran straight to the sacramental wine. According to witnesses, Mark chugged the entire chalice, spilling much of it down the front of his white shirt. He yelled out, "Happy Mardi Gras" to the stunned crowd, stole rosaries from at least four unsuspecting elderly women, and ran from the church screaming "Free Boobs!".
Mr. Davis, according to sources, made stops at a liquor store and a party supply store. A bottle of whiskey in hand, Mr. Davis became irate when discovering the party store was out of beads. In defiance and frustration, Mr. Davis opened the bottle and began to chug the whiskey.
After agreeing to leave the store, Mr. Davis began to offer Rosary beads to people passing by in exchange for a quick peek at their breasts. Women and men alike were asked but not a single soul accepted his offer. This led to Mr. Davis calling everyone, "A bunch of losers."
Mr. Davis Ash Wednesday destruction did not stop there. Frustrated that no one would join him in an Ash Wednesday bar crawl, Mr. Davis begin to turn over trash cans, dumping the trash cans into the street.
With a trail of fast food bags and newspapers behind him, Mr. Davis stepped into his favorite Fat Tuesday bar, Hollys. Noticing the previous day's decorations had already been taken down, Mr. Davis quietly ordered a beer and a shot. He chugged both and then proceeded to litter the bar with streamers he had purchased at the party store. Gold streamers were tossed about haphazardly and Mr. Davis reveled in the joy of his own Mardi Gras.
After being taken to the curb by the owner, Mr. Davis ripped off his shirt and sprinted down the street screaming, "Ash Wednesday, bitches!"
Mark was later tracked down by authorities, passed out drunk in front of St. Joseph's Catholic Church, where his night had began. A near empty bottle of whiskey in hand, Mr. Davis was still shirtless, sans five Rosaries around his neck. He had also found time to write "Go God" on his chest in ketchup.
No charges were filed, though Mr. Davis agreed to return the Rosaries to the elderly women and to pay a small fine. "I feel bad for him," said Officer Keith Mitchell. "The man slept through his favorite day of the year. That has to be agonizing."
When asked for comment, all Mr. Davis had to say was this. "I'm sorry I missed Mardi Gras. You better believe that I won't miss St. Patrick's Day. It's already marked on my calendar."
February 14, 2015
The Lost Art of Romance
(Warning: The following post is more of a personal post. About romance and feelings. If this doesn't fit your fancy, please feel free to scroll down and look to your right. Plenty of other posts to choose from...)
Romance is dead...
...to me?
Yes. I leave the question mark there on purpose. It is not a typo.
Let's go back in time. I was once a hopeless romantic. My beliefs about love and romance were based on finding that one person to spend your life with. I believed in grand gestures and surprises and the whole nine yards. It was truly my belief that no matter what happened, love would find you in the end. If that man or woman was truly the love of your life, then love would find a way.
My young heart was shaped not only by the love I saw between my parents, but by t.v. shows and movies. The love story of Cory and Topanga from Boy Meets World rivals any of those love stories throughout time. Theirs was one of fate and destiny. They had their issues (Topanga moving away. Cory cheating on Topanga) but in the end, love figured out a way. They were meant to be and they made it work.
These are just a few examples of what I looked up to. Perhaps I lived in a fantasy world. In my eyes, though, art imitates life and these stories must have been taken from true life experiences. I truly believed that when I found "the one", the story would work itself out no matter the obstacle. This didn't help either:
Jerry Maguire produced by Sony Pictures
As it is, as time went by, I became a bit on the jaded and bitter side. What happened? Well, a lot happened. I got older. I saw the world in a different light than my younger self did. I lost that everlasting belief in love, hope, and the human spirit.
It wasn't one thing that did it. The soul got fractured over the years. Break-ups do that to a person. Self-doubt creeps in and only grows with each corresponding heartbreak. Walls are built up. Just as another would chip away at these cement fixtures, letting my past hope creep back in, failure would occur. In turn, the wall would be built up higher and thicker.
Lost first loves. Cheating. Indecision. Trust. Missed connections. Misunderstanding. All things that happen in relationships across the world. The aforementioned, along with miscues and mistakes of my own, have led me down this path of pushing love and romance to the background of life.
Over the years, I lost the sense of romance. After putting so much into earlier relationships, I pushed romance to the side. I was tired of putting in the effort to only watch the relationship deteriorate down the line.
Take Valentine's Day, for example. In college, in my first real relationship, I was very broke. Instead of just using this as an excuse, I went through the effort of creating a scavenger hunt for my girlfriend. One that led to some homemade gifts/cards and perhaps a rose or two. Nothing too grand, mind you, but something I put some thought into.
Last Valentine's Day, it was a card I printed off the internet and a piece of chocolate. Very little thought put into it.
What a difference 13 years makes.
Yet here I am today. Chipping away at that bitterness. By myself. Because I finally realize that, yes, I have had my heart broken. Yes, I am tired of giving myself over completely only to have it end in misery. Being bitter and jaded by the opposite sex is no way to go through life.
I am slowly finding my way back into the youth I once was. There is hope out there for love and romance. There is hope that eventually I will find that one person who I am destined to spend my life with. I need that hope in my life. There may be a certain naivete to it, but I don't care. We all need something to believe in.
It's not there yet. That will take time and eventually the test of being in another relationship to see if I've regained that sense of wonderment and romance. The rejection of the past has forged who I am. For once, I am using that as a good thing and not as a reason to build up walls.
Romance is not dead to me. It just took a little break for awhile to let me realize how much I missed it.
"Please travel lightly
Caring takes a lot of time
The soul is fragile"
Romance is dead...
...to me?
Yes. I leave the question mark there on purpose. It is not a typo.
Let's go back in time. I was once a hopeless romantic. My beliefs about love and romance were based on finding that one person to spend your life with. I believed in grand gestures and surprises and the whole nine yards. It was truly my belief that no matter what happened, love would find you in the end. If that man or woman was truly the love of your life, then love would find a way.
My young heart was shaped not only by the love I saw between my parents, but by t.v. shows and movies. The love story of Cory and Topanga from Boy Meets World rivals any of those love stories throughout time. Theirs was one of fate and destiny. They had their issues (Topanga moving away. Cory cheating on Topanga) but in the end, love figured out a way. They were meant to be and they made it work.
These are just a few examples of what I looked up to. Perhaps I lived in a fantasy world. In my eyes, though, art imitates life and these stories must have been taken from true life experiences. I truly believed that when I found "the one", the story would work itself out no matter the obstacle. This didn't help either:
Jerry Maguire produced by Sony Pictures
As it is, as time went by, I became a bit on the jaded and bitter side. What happened? Well, a lot happened. I got older. I saw the world in a different light than my younger self did. I lost that everlasting belief in love, hope, and the human spirit.
It wasn't one thing that did it. The soul got fractured over the years. Break-ups do that to a person. Self-doubt creeps in and only grows with each corresponding heartbreak. Walls are built up. Just as another would chip away at these cement fixtures, letting my past hope creep back in, failure would occur. In turn, the wall would be built up higher and thicker.
Lost first loves. Cheating. Indecision. Trust. Missed connections. Misunderstanding. All things that happen in relationships across the world. The aforementioned, along with miscues and mistakes of my own, have led me down this path of pushing love and romance to the background of life.
Over the years, I lost the sense of romance. After putting so much into earlier relationships, I pushed romance to the side. I was tired of putting in the effort to only watch the relationship deteriorate down the line.
Take Valentine's Day, for example. In college, in my first real relationship, I was very broke. Instead of just using this as an excuse, I went through the effort of creating a scavenger hunt for my girlfriend. One that led to some homemade gifts/cards and perhaps a rose or two. Nothing too grand, mind you, but something I put some thought into.
Last Valentine's Day, it was a card I printed off the internet and a piece of chocolate. Very little thought put into it.
What a difference 13 years makes.
Yet here I am today. Chipping away at that bitterness. By myself. Because I finally realize that, yes, I have had my heart broken. Yes, I am tired of giving myself over completely only to have it end in misery. Being bitter and jaded by the opposite sex is no way to go through life.
I am slowly finding my way back into the youth I once was. There is hope out there for love and romance. There is hope that eventually I will find that one person who I am destined to spend my life with. I need that hope in my life. There may be a certain naivete to it, but I don't care. We all need something to believe in.
It's not there yet. That will take time and eventually the test of being in another relationship to see if I've regained that sense of wonderment and romance. The rejection of the past has forged who I am. For once, I am using that as a good thing and not as a reason to build up walls.
Romance is not dead to me. It just took a little break for awhile to let me realize how much I missed it.
"Please travel lightly
Caring takes a lot of time
The soul is fragile"
