Blog Archives
Happy Monday!
Now that we are firmly in 2014 with 2013 in the rear view mirror, we can focus our attention on what we want to accomplish in this new year. There will be new goals, new aspirations, new dreams and hopefully (for those looking) new love.
Yet, there are perhaps a couple past traditions that will be welcomed back with open arms and a nice glass of wine or sherry…
Last night was the first time in more than a month that a particular show returned to its weekly reruns on the Hallmark Channel for what appears to be another year of exceptionally witty dialogue, fancy tastes, heartache, love and countless laugh-out-loud moments.
Ladies and gentleman, the moment has come once again to serve those tossed salads and scrambled eggs!
Hey Baby, I Hear that Jimmy’s Daily Planet is Wishing You a Happy Monday…Mercy!
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.
The One Night We Should All Raise a Glass
The final day of 2013 has arrived, which is when we collectively reflect on what this year has meant to us, as well as the people we care about. We will think about the good and the bad scratch that: only the good!
It’s New Year’s Eve: the special, global celebratory moment (depending on the time zone) when the lens through which we see the world shows us that anything is possible in the upcoming new year. The sky is the limit. And let’s be honest, there’s really only one thing you can and should be doing tonight.
And it goes a little something like this…
Happy New Year’s Eve!
…Sorry, I Just Zoned-Out for a Minute
The mere passing of time has a funny way of evolving the things in our daily lives. Add in the fact that humans have long proven they will innovate to varying degrees (and yes, I am aware of The Dark Ages) during a certain amount of time. Whether in days, weeks, months, years or decades, familiar things change. Incentives arise. Reality is altered for the future. This can pertain to a myriad of items or even entire environments.
It can also involve stories.
The Secret Life of Walter Mitty is not a new story by any stretch of the imagination. However, the version known to a particular generation varies. For instance, there are two movies derived from the famous James Thurber short story of 1939 of the same name, one in 1947 and one recently released in 2013.
Same title, different interpretation.
Part of this distinction between the two major motion pictures is due to the year it was produced and the world we lived in and are currently living in at the moment. Another prominent factor is not only the technology available, but also filmmakers trying to define who Walter Mitty would be back then and today. Where would he live? What would he do for a career? What or who does he dream about and why?
Below are two trailers for the two film adaptations of the Thurber classic.
Same character, different time.
Do you know a Walter Mitty? Are you Walter Mitty?
Only time will tell.
FYI: Friday is a pretty good day to find out either way…
P.S. Walter Mitty in 2013 is well-worth daydreaming about in a movie theater for a couple hours.
Jimmy's Daily Planet 