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The Goldbergs Have “The Right Stuff”

Spoiler Alert: The following content is featured in the January 7, 2015 episode of The Goldbergs

At some point or another, we all feel like ‘the new kid on the block.’ Whether we’re a Jonathan, Jordan, Joey, Donnie or Danny (I consider myself a Joey), the world can seem unfair and too big to cope in. That’s where sweet tunes and rad dance moves come into play.

Plus, we can’t forget the cut-off jean jacket and cool black hat.

As the youngest boy in the family, having two older sisters was awesome, stressful, rewarding and chaotic growing up. In fact, it still is awesome-stressful-rewarding-chaotic with the same continuous stream of zings and playful jokes. Truthfully, this sibling dynamic is not all that different than Adam and Barry’s relationship with their older sister Erica. Pranks were plentiful and we always tried try to top each other. All in good fun, of course, we are relentless to get that perfect jest. In the case of the Goldberg household, a cardboard avalanche revealed a secret from Erica’s past that would publicly humiliate her…and strangely possess Adam and Barry.

While a long-lost VHS tape sparked a gathering of Adam and Barry’s friends for a personal showing of Erica’s eternal love for the boy band New Kids on the Block (NKOTB), Murray was shoulders deep in a battle with wife Beverly over the priceless/overvalued (depending on who you ask) works of art drawn and glued together by their children…as in literally every single thing ever made by their three delicious children packed in boxes stacked throughout their garage. It got to the point where parking their one car was no longer an easy guarantee.

We all know Einstein glued jelly beans to a colored piece of paper…

After saving a trunk’s worth of his children’s art for Beverly, accidentally giving it to the trash man, rummaging through a mountain of trash and recovering and framing a random Spanish family’s drawings to pass as original Goldberg masterpieces, Murray finally discovered the truth, thanks to the wisest of them all: Pops. Yes, Beverly had paid the trash people to deliver all of the boxes to a storage unit. After this revelation was disclosed, an argument ensued. Surprisingly, a glaring spelling error melted Murray’s heart to a puddle of babby love. Now understanding (and seeing) Beverly’s point about the art, he succumbed to her outrageous behavior once again and re-stacked their garage from wall-wall and floor-ceiling because he finally saw that priceless writing on the wall/painted paper.

We’ll see how long this moment lasts once spring arrives (March 20th, March 20th!) and that annual cleaning fever hits.

Back to those new kids on the block and speaking of a specific type of fever…

In a golden Goldbergs sequence of events, Adam and Barry (after making fun of Erica’s obsession with NKOTB) hilariously embraced and embodied that famous boy band from the 1980s. They dressed like them, danced like them, sang like them (well, the right lyrics anyways) and thankfully filmed and choreographed a homemade tribute video. It was, quite honestly, the right stuff! Accordingly, Erica found their hidden video and proceeded to make fun of them with a private showing of her own with a VHS video premiere. Payback was served: ’80s style. The table had been tilt back in her favor. But it was only then, with a heart-to-heart exchange of describing their love for that boy band they shouldn’t love, when Erica realized her true place amongst her siblings.

Growing up with two older sisters, it was sometimes difficult to relate to them beyond our perfectly-timed jokes at home and on vacation. However, just as Erica did last night, I had a sister who loved a boy band. It was/is Backstreet Boys. Specifically, Nick Carter. Once when we were in New York, we visited the NBA store and Nick and his brother Aaron were shooting hoops. True story: after getting his autograph, my sister stole his used Powerade bottle. She still has it to this day. So, I understand what that love for a boy band looks like…and possibly even sounds like.

(FYI – Anyone who says that, “I Want it That Way” isn’t a great song is lying!)

Anyways, my sister brought herself to go to a concert (or two) with her goofy younger brother because she knew how important it was to him, all joking aside. Back then, it was The All-American Rejects and Hoobastank in Indianapolis. She even went backstage with me to meet the latter group. They were better known then as Doug, Dan, Chris and Markku. I’m definitely a Doug.

It’s amazing how a show based in 1980-something can so perfectly kick-off the new year in 2015. The Goldbergs: Beverly, Murray, Erica, Barry and Adam.

Which one are you?

Bond’s Summit

They say a picture is worth a thousand words.

(AP: Daniel Craig (007) and  Léa Seydoux (Bond Girl)

[AP: Daniel Craig (007) and Léa Seydoux (Bond Girl)]

How about a thousand jumps for joy? (A safe distance from the edge, of course).

007 standing tall atop the Austrian alps with his gorgeous girl by his side reveals a nostalgic return to classic Bond locales, luxury and action. While the details are still obviously unknown for Bond’s 24th movie, the anticipated excitement continues to grow with each new released detail and photograph (cast, locations, car, style). Skyfall undoubtedly generated tremendous buzz and pressure, specifically because it was the famed Broccoli spy franchise literally rising back from the debt dead. The Sam Mendes-directed Skyfall impressed audiences worldwide. And Mendes’ return to his chair with his name on it for Spectre has taken Bond-hype to a new high. Many suspect he will add the necessary 21st century advancements (cars, gadgets, etc.) and storytelling methods/modern twists and turns, while incorporating vintage, fan-favorite Bond humor and wit.

Jimmy’s Daily Planet expects Spectre to be on the same cinematic level as the phenomenal Casino Royale from 2006 starring Daniel Craig seen above, except better!

The sky is the limit for Spectre…literally and figuratively.

Happy Monday!

Before the happy comes the sad.

Yesterday morning, iconic and revolutionary SportsCenter anchor Stuart Scott passed away after a long battle with cancer at the age of 49. This was devastating news to start the day. It hit everybody hard, including fans of SportsCenter from back in the day when it was on channel 11. Generations of sports fans grew up with him and his electrically charged commentary, quick wit and unforgettable catchphrases.

“Boo-Yah!” anyone?

He solidified in people like me that there were adults who felt the same unbridled excitement about sports that I did. It was an unthinkable thrill and reality. There was a place in this world for people like me when it came to my perfectly unhealthy obsession with sports. During countless lazy summer mornings, countless people woke up early/woke up to hear Stuart Scott illuminating the nation with a home run, a dunk or a random Tar Heel reference.

Stuart Scott was inspiring to kids like me who dreamed of being paid to talk about sports on television for a living.

And Stuart Scott was inspiring because of his courageous battle against cancer while maintaining a genuinely positive outlook on life.

He truly was, “as cool as the other side of the pillow.”

RIP Stuart Scott.

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A month and a half ago, the marketing team from Jurassic World released the very first trailer for their 2015 summer blockbuster. Incorporated perfectly into this long-awaited tease was the delicately slow piano rendition of the infamous John Williams Jurassic Park theme song. In a word: sublime. In more words, fans have technological tools at their fingertips that can produce some very memorable results.

So, how did dinosaur fan Jared Pelletier do with his clever video editing?

Bottom line: Jurassic World (no matter how you cut it) looks amazing!

Have a Roaring Good Week!

Happy Monday!

As we prepare to ring in the new year later this week, it’s important to have the right attitude. Entering 2015 with the proper mindset is paramount to achieving all those resolutions we’re planning (well, at least 1 or 2 of them anyways). Among other characteristics, confidence and bravery are quintessential to success. Perhaps no other family demonstrates these traits quite like the Crane boys:

How will you spell “winning” in 2015?

Hopefully not, “Charlie Sheen.”

Enjoy the Final Monday of 2014!