I Wish You Well

Academy Award-nominated actor Joaquin Phoenix has announced he will retire from acting after his next movie. He wishes to focus on a singing career, an ambition born from playing Johnny Cash in the biopic "Walk the Line," a role which earned him his second Academy Award nomination. (His first was for "Gladiator"). Good luck with the new career!

Also, actor David Tennant has announced he will be leaving popular British sci-fi show "Doctor Who" in 2010. Tennant has played the tenth incarnation of the time-traveling alien since 2005, taking over for Christopher Eccleston. There will not be a proper series (or season, in American terms) in 2009 due to Tennant's involvement with the Royal Shakespeare company. To accomodate for this, the BBC ordered four specials to be made which will be broadcast throughout 2009 and 2010. When the fifth series/season resumes, creator/producer Russell T. Davies will also be replaced as head writer by Steven Moffatt.

Tennant has been one of my favorite aspects of Doctor Who though I do agree it is time for him to move on. Perhaps though, neither he nor Eccleston will object to a special with whoever the new Doctor is--a la "The Two Doctors" or "The Five Doctors" from the original series. It will be interesting to see how the regeneration occurs...

And of course, who will play Eleven? Any ideas?

Also, Happy Halloween! I'm still waiting for a good ghost story...

Until We Meet Again...

Mattel and American Girl will retire Samantha Parkington, her best friend Nellie and all their clothing/accessories from the stories and catalogues according to a press release on Mattel's website.

Samantha is one of the original girls introduced in the American Girl collection when it debuted in 1986. She is a young orphan growing in 1904 New York, being raised by her wealthy Victorian grandmother. Through her eyes, girls learn about the deep divide between the wealthy and the poor at the turn of the century. She also experiences deplorable factory conditions through her friendship with Nellie and watches as the twentieth century proves to already be one of change.

In the press release, American Girl president Ellen L. Brothers addresses Samantha's retirement: "Moving Samantha to the American Girl Archives allows us to preserve her honored place in American Girl's history and make it possible for us to introduce new characters and product offerings for our customers to enjoy."

The company does stress that the Samantha book series will still be available at stores, allowing girls to read her story. Fans of the doll can share memories of Samantha on the American Girl website.