Nostalgia Nook: It Takes Two

Welcome to Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen month! Those adorable twins first captured America’s hearts when they shared the role of Michelle Tanner on “Full House.” As they grew up, they started to garner more and more attention until it felt like they were being shoved down our throats. So they went from the little screen to the big screen. And we’re going to start with one of those outings—“It Takes Two.”

SPOILER WARNING!

2012 in Review: The Top Ten Stories

And so here we are at the end of the year 2012. Hard to believe. I finished a novel and am in the process of editing it. But enough about me. I’ve put the monkeys in my head to work again to come up with the Top Ten Stories of 2012.

10. All Things Royal and British.
If you thought last year was the best year for Britain’s monarchy (what with Prince William tying the knot with Kate Middleton), this year beat it soundly. Queen Elizabeth II celebrated her Diamond Jubilee (60 years on the throne) in style. Family members spread out to visit all corners of the Commonwealth. Even though Prince Philip ended up in the hospital, festivities continued and Britons celebrated their queen. Then the scandals began to hit. First, Prince Harry is caught on camera in the middle of naked romp in a Las Vegas hotel room. And then Kate, Duchess of Cambridge, was caught topless while vacationing with William in France. They were published in a few magazines and the Royal family sued. Things have calmed down…well, with one exception. But that’s for later!

The Return of the ABC Soaps?

ABC Daytime fans may have gotten an early Christmas gift. It’s been reported that Prospect Park is looking to revive “All My Children” and “One Life to Live” sometime in 2013.

For those who forgot or didn’t know, ABC announced these two long running soaps were cancelled. But shortly after, Prospect Park announced they had bought the rights to the two shows and planned to continue them online. Actors from both shows signed on to continue their roles and things were swimming along. “All My Children” still ran a week wrapping up the show but then, on Friday, had a deranged JR Chandler (Jacob Young) fire into a party filled with the entire cast. Then the screen went blank, with the promise of finding out who JR shot when Prospect Park got the show back up and running.

The Hobbit: A Long Expected Movie

One cannot deny people have been waiting for this movie for a long time. Pretty much since “The Return of the King” left the theaters, if we’re honest. But there were delays and issues with directors but finally, it is here: “The Hobbit.”

“The Hobbit” is a prequel to the “Lord of the Rings” films, set 60 years prior. Bilbo (Ian Holm, reprising his role) is writing this story for nephew Frodo (Elijah Wood again) to read. He tells about the fall of Erebor, the great dwarf city, and how it was taken by the dragon Smaug. Years later, the wizard Gandalf (Ian McKellan, naturally) comes to the Shire to speak to Bilbo (now played by Martin Freeman). Later that night, a large amount of dwarves arrive and rattle up Bilbo’s peaceful evening. Their leader is Thorin (Richard Armitage) and they are going to reclaim Erebor. Gandalf has decided Bilbo will be a member of their company. Bilbo has decided Gandalf is insane.

Nostalgia Nook: “The Christmas List”

There are plenty of things I can rely on in the holiday season: My mother breaking something on Thanksgiving, me in the mall hours before Christmas, A Charlie Brown Christmas, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, Christmas carols ad nausem, Hallmark movies, parties, food, and my father taping “The Christmas List.”

Oh, yes, he loves the movie. And that’s why I made it this month’s topic.

So, what’s on my Christmas list? SPOILERS!

The March Sisters at Christmas

Time for another made-for-cable Christmas movie review! I told you my family lives on them this time of the year. But this one is from Lifetime, not Hallmark.

So sit back with some hot chocolate and enjoy the SPOILERS!

A Very Merry Smashmas

I posted this on my tumblr. But I think it deserves a bigger post.

One of the things that makes me sad I have to wait until February 5th for new episodes of “Smash” (besides the fact I have to wait until February 5th for new episodes of “Smash”) is that we won’t get a Christmas episode! And I feel cheated; all those great talents and we don’t get to hear them sing some Holiday classics?

So I asked on tumblr what songs my followers would like to hear them sing. But this is my blog and so I’m going to tell you my choices!

Game On: A Review of “Wreck It Ralph”

Pixar made its name by animating what happens when we leave our toys alone. Now, over a decade later, Disney Animation Studios has imagined what happens when they power down the arcade games for the night. The result is “Wreck It Ralph,” Disney’s holiday offering.

Insert coins and press SPOILERS!

Before the Parade Passes By…

Tis the season! You know what that means! Hallmark trots out its collection of Christmas movies. And my family will watch them. Yes, they are cheesy and formulaic but by God, they are endearing. We love them. And that includes “Love at the Thanksgiving Day Parade,” which seems appropriate for today.

Prepare for the arrival of SPOILERS!

ANTM: One False Step

Last time on “ANTM”: The final four had to write a commercial for the Jamaican Tourism Board. And then perform it on horseback. Leila has a freakout while Laura is a natural. But Kiara wins the challenge. Then they shoot an ad for “Dream Come True.” At panel, Kelly and Rob argued a lot. Kiara and Leila made it to the finale while Laura and Nastasia made it to the bottom two. In the end, Laura rounded out the finale three while Nastasia was sent packing.

After a season of more WTF-ery than usual from P’Trique to Bryanboy to social media to Victoria, it’s time to reveal who will be America’s Next Top Model. Will it be Laura, the daughter of a soap star and model who has had her ups and downs? Or Kiara, who had a rough childhood and has pulled herself up to succeed? Or Leila, who was eliminated but brought back by viewers’ votes? Find out!

Wanna be on top?

ANTM: No More Horsin’ Around

Last time on “ANTM:” Kristin was nastier than usual. The remaining five went on a photoshoot for Cedella Marley and Leila got attacked by a dolphin. But she still won the challenge. Next, Tyra took pictures of the girls in a waterfall. At panel, Leila and Kiara rose while Laura and Kristin fell. After a confrontation between Kiara, Leila and Kristin, the latter was sent home. Four girls remain, who is eliminated tonight? Find out!

Wanna be on top?

Nostalgia Nook: Squanto A Warrior’s Tale

Thanksgiving is my father’s favorite holiday. He feels it’s overlooked and not overblown. I like it was well. Everyone comes over and there’s a lot of food. Turkey, potatoes, rice, pies, etc. We talk, laugh, play games, and collapse in a turkey coma. Yet, there aren’t many Thanksgiving movies.
Besides the Peanuts Thanksgiving specials, the only other one that comes to mind is “Squanto, A Warrior’s Tale.” It aired on the Magical World of Disney during the 90s. I remember Michael Eisner introducing it while wearing this awful sweatshirt.

Warning, a cornucopia of SPOILERS!

The Good Witch Series

The idea was for this to come out on Halloween. Of course, I decided to start this the day before Sandy made landfall. And I was in the impact zone. I am fine, as is my family and friends. Most of us escaped with only loss of power. But there are others who didn’t fare as well. Please, consider donating to the Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers foundation. It's an organization I knew and trust. And I know and trust the money will be spent on hard-hit Staten Island. Thanks! 

Anyway, over the weekend, I had two of my wisdom teeth taken out. The pain wasn’t too bad but I was sore. So I spent the rest of the day on the couch with my blanket and chocolate pudding. And TV. Namely, the Hallmark Channel. And what was on? The Good Witch movies!

Right now, there are five of them. The Good Witch, The Good Witch’s Garden, The Good Witch’s Wedding, The Good Witch’s Family and The Good Witch’s Charm. So how are they? Let’s look.

The Good Witch’s SPOILERS!

ANTM: Attack of the Dolphin

Last time on “ANTM”: Tyra revealed Leila was the girl coming back into the competition. The others girls were sent home while the final six went to Jamaica! Male models met them and Kiara fell for Korey. They competed in a dance competition, which Nastasia and Kiara won. Losers Kristin and Laura just spent the episode badmouthing everyone else in confessional. Then they posed with Rob and one of their male models on a raft. At panel, Nastasia rose to the top while Kiara and Victoria fell to the bottom two. In the end, Victoria was eliminated. Five girls remain, who goes home tonight? Find out!

Wanna be on top?

ANTM: Jamaica!

Last time on “ANTM”: The girls went on go-sees! Brittany and Victoria booked nothing though they only showed Victoria going on about it. And she confronted the other girls about calling her out at panel. It all got very middle school, very fast. Next, Kiara had to relive her shoplifting past when the photoshoot was done inside a prison. Laura rose to the top while Brittany and Victoria fell to the bottom. Brittany was eliminated BUT went into another judging with the other eliminated girls to see who comes back into the competition. Five girls will become six tonight. Who stays? Who goes? Find out!

Wanna be on top?

ANTM: Crimes of Fashion

Last time on “ANTM": Bryanboy sent the girls on a road trip to Palm Springs. Along the way, they had to do some random acts of modeling and make videos for Nylon TV. Kiara swore Victoria sabotaged her while Victoria thought Kiara wasn’t being fair. Their team didn’t win and Laura won the challenge overall. Johnny showed up to direct their photoshoot where they had to be nasty, dirty girls. Back at home, the girls worry about Victoria’s eating habits. Victoria herself admits she’s stressed and that food has no taste. At panel, Tyra listens to the girls’ concerns and warns Victoria. Nastasia received best photo while Laura and Allyssa landed in the bottom two. Clearly, Allyssa was the choice to be booted. Six girls remain, who gets eliminated tonight? Find out!

Wanna be on top?

Best Disney Romances: Results!

Check them out on my tumblr. The Top 10 will be revealed over the next few days...

ANTM: Finger-Licking Eww

Last time on “ANTM”: Everyone was reeling over Leila’s elimination. Except Brittany, who was steamed because she thought Bryanboy was upset she stayed over Leila. Why she cared what he thought, God only knows. He’s not even a real judge anyway. The girls met Chrissy Teigen, did some motion capture for a video game, Laura won the challenge and Victoria was annoyed with a low challenge score. Next, they did a steampunk-inspired shoot with an owl. While on set, Yvonne’s annoyance was taken out on Bryanboy. So at panel, while Laura flew high, Yvonne and Victoria fell into the bottom two. And Yvonne got kicked off. Seven girls remain, who gets eliminated this week? Find out!

Wanna be on top?

Nostalgia Nook: Double Double Toil and Trouble

It’s October! You know what that means! Ghosts, goblins, witches and other creatures come out to play. And our nostalgia nook has witches galore!

And it has Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen. Yes, those pint-sized twins who dominated the 90s. Especially if you were a girl. From “Full House” to their mystery series to their other movies, they were everywhere. And in one place was the movie “Double, Double Toil and Trouble.”

Fair is foul and SPOILERS are fair.

Best Disney Romances

I'm surprised I didn't put a link up here. Anyway, back in August and through September, I was running a poll to determine the Top 10 Disney Romances for my Disney tumblr. It ended with several couples tied for multiple places. So I'm having a runoff vote to determine who gets slots 3 to 10.

Please vote!