Blog Archives
Happy Monday
Stranger things are certainly happening in 2017.
But let’s not forget that weird events started occurring back in 1983…
The Screen Actors Guild spotlighted the nostalgic powerhouse Stranger Things as the winner of “Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble” during last night’s ceremony. The Netflix show has been accurately described as Steven Spielberg meets Stephen King. Playing by the new rule of non-network TV (10-episode seasons released all at once), Stranger Things has captivated audiences (myself included) that a season 2 order was going to be a sure thing just weeks after Netflix watchers binge-watched all of season one’s hour long episodes.
And ladies and gentlemen, for any TV show, that’s an impressive feat.
While the award is nice (and yes, the speech by the show’s heroic Chief Hopper and Winona Rider’s wide-ranging facial expressions constructed the viral highlight of the night for the Netflix sensation), let’s celebrate the overall awesomeness of Stranger Things by seeing and listening to portions of the show’s incredible synthesized soundtrack…
as performed by three cello players.
Those string things are pretty cool.
Have a Better Week Than Last Week.
Happy Thanksgiving!
It’s a day when we say thanks, eat a grand feast with family, watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade…
and are reminded that Detroit has a professional football team.
Today is a wonderfully chaotic celebration. Delicious food is eaten and entertaining anecdotes are shared. As my mom would say with a grin, it’s a day for “forced family fun.” It’s also a day for surprise fun with friends.
And yes, that includes everybody’s favourite group of friends.
Here’s to you having a “The One With” kind of Thanksgiving!
Uncle Phil’s Final Curtain Call
Sadly, actor James Avery did not get to ring in 2014.
For those who may not be familiar with the name James Avery, he may be known not only as the former voice of Shredder and Splinter in the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles television series from the late 1980s and early 1990s, but more famously remembered as Uncle Phil from the 1990s sitcom The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.
According to the Washington Post article, “James Avery, television and movie actor, dies,” Avery passed away at the age of 68 on Tuesday, December 31st. The cause seems to be related to complications from a major surgical procedure.
Millions of fans from around the world watched (and watch in reruns) Avery entertainingly portray Uncle Phil in The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air for 6 seasons. His character was the moral center of the show. He provided plenty of laughs and moments of sincerity and heart, as well as important life lessons for the show’s viewers.
For 30 minutes a week, he was everybody’s uncle.
Below is a clip featuring some favorite moments from the popular sitcom The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. There is one portion that starts at 3:26 that embodies so much of what so many loved and will miss about everybody’s Uncle Phil (however, it is recommended to watch the entire video).
The background to the scene is that Will went against his uncle’s stern warnings to not go to the pool hall. Will disobeyed and thought he could beat an older gentleman who turned out to be one of the pool hall regulars. Deep in debt, Will was forced to use his uncle’s Mercedes/his ride as collateral until his debt could be paid. Panicked, Will managed to convince his furious uncle to go back to the pool hall to discuss with the hustler a way to get the car back alongside his trusty butler Geoffrey/”G.”
Uncle Phil has lost a couple games to Will’s nemesis…and badly. However, Uncle Phil is able to negotiate one more game at the steep price of $100 a ball…
Smart. Loving. Funny. Role Model. A Hustler for Good.
Now, the “Big Guy” is with The Big Guy.
Rest in peace James Avery/Uncle Phil.
Jimmy's Daily Planet 