2015 Anniversaries

How has it been 20 Years since 'Toy Story'?

Can you believe we are already halfway through the 2010's? 2015 unbelievably kicks off the second half of this decade, even though many of those Back To The Future II predictions didn't come true (although some did, like big flat screen TV's and video chatting).  There are also some hard to believe anniversaries this year.

2010, 5 Years Since... Lebron James joined the Miami Heat and oddly became a media "villain". Cavs fans burned his jersey, but now that he's made his return to Cleveland, love him again. Funny how sports work. The Chilean miners were freed and one famously kissed his mistress. The double rainbow also became a hit viral video, and now everyone searches for one.

2005, 10 Years Since... YouTube debuted. Before 2005 it was harder to find shareable videos where you can watch people make fools of themselves. You could still find them, though you had to search a bit more depending on which site people used. YouTube made it easy for everyone to use one site. Xbox 360 was launched, and its still going strong today despite the updated generation of video game consoles being released recently. August will see the 10th Anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, one of the most devastating natural disasters in American history.

2000, 15 Years Since... The last Subway Series. I mean the real Subway Series, during the World Series, not that interleague stuff. The Mets and Yankees squared off in the first Subway(All New York) World Series since the 1950's. Looking back, this was also New York in the final year before 9/11, and America as a whole was a different place in 2000. People also said "The Year..." before 2000. Why did so many people say "The Year 2000" again?

1995: 20 Years Since... Toy Story. That's right, this fall will mark 20 years since Toy Story hit theaters and launched Pixar into the huge studio it is today. Feels like yesterday when it came out and jaws dropped at the sight of the first fully computer animated movie. Clueless also came out, and perfectly encapsulates the style and lingo of the time. It was also the year of the OJ Simpson trial, one of the first times a trial became a television phenomenon thanks to cable news, and people are still obsessed with these today.

1990: 25 Years Since... Home Alone. The Christmas favorite will be a quarter of a century old. I wonder what Buzz's girlfriend looks like now? East & West Germany finally reunited. And now we get Angela Merkel pantsuits. "U Can't Touch This" was released and popularized parachute pants. Thankfully those have not stood the test of time.

1985: 30 Years Since... Live Aid took place on July 13, 1985, simultaneously from London and Philadelphia, becoming one of the biggest TV broadcasts and satellite link-ups ever. Bono sported quite the show stealing mullet when he moved down to the crowd during U2's 14-minute performance of "Bad".  The Breakfast Club and The Goonies came out. It has really been 30 years since the Truffle Shuffle.

1980: 35 Years Since... John Lennon was sadly shot in December 1980, but his timeless music and memory live on today. The Empire Strikes Back took over the world and had people waiting in long lines for tickets, which is a rare thing now thanks to the internet and apps.

1975: 40 Years Since... Saturday Night Live began, launching many careers and providing some late night laughs. Sonny and Cher divorced, which made "I Got You Babe" a bit awkward. Jaws started the summer blockbuster movie craze and scared tons of people from going in the water.

1970: 45 Years Since... The Beatles broke up and released their final album, Let It Be. I'm sure lots of people were sad, but they all went on to have successful solo careers anyway. Jimi Hendrix and Janis Joplin both dies at age 27, which gave rise to the "27 Club" of famous musicians who tragically passed away at the same young age.

1965: 50 Years Since... The Beatles performed at Shea Stadium and the New York World's Fair took place in Queens. The NY World's Fair was not a money maker, but still has become quite a famous event which is still talked about.

'Toy Story of TERROR!' Thrills

Pixar is known for their outstanding feature films and award winning shorts, but they finally hit the realm of TV with 'Toy Story of TERROR' on ABC. The Halloween special, Pixar's first, was a nice Television debut for the studio and a great supplement to the 'Toy Story' film series. There were plenty of callbacks to the films throughout the half hour special to please fans, which helped form the basis of the story rather than just be throwaway moments.

The biggest of these callbacks was the addition of Combat Carl (voiced by Carl Weathers), who showed up to help Jessie save the day. If you forgot, a Combat Carl was blown up by that douche Sid in the first 'Toy Story' movie back in 1995. He was missing his hand for most of this special. Poor guy can't catch a break (until the end, of course!) 

Jessie (Joan Cusack) was the star here, facing her fear of being trapped inside an enclosed space in order to save Woody (Tom Hanks). The origin of her fear is referenced by Mr. Potato Head (Don Rickles) from when she was abandoned in a box of old things by her original owner Emily in 'Toy Story 2'. No depressing Sarah McLachlan song this time around. 

Other characters featured were Rex (Wallace Shawn), Buzz Lightyear (Tim Allen), Trixie (Kristen Schaal), and Mr. Pricklepants (Timothy Dalton). The group get stuck at a motel after Bonnie's mom's car breaks down. They are then picked off one by one courtesy of an iguana, who brings them back to the motel owners office. He apparently is a creep who steals toys and sells them online. It seemed like a variation of the 'Toy Story 2' plot, but it works for this as well. My favorite scene was when the cat shaped Pex dispenser threw up a pez when Jessie stuck her hand in the Iguana's mouth to retrieve Potato Head's missing arm.

Here's to hoping Pixar gives us a Thanksgiving and/or Christmas special! And you can expect 'Toy Story of Terror' to air every year around Halloween just like 'It's The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown'. 

Hysterical 'General Hospital' Scene

I don't watch daytime soap operas, but this is why we need them to keep churning out daily episodes. Yes, the jobs they create are important as well, but funny clips are the main reason. On the July 5th episode of General Hospital on ABC, a little girl named Emma hands her precious doll Baby Ariel to this woman named Britt. What happens next is pure genius, and if you don't laugh at it then you don't have a sense of humor. Or you have a very poor one.



Yes...the doll "pees" on Britt, she tosses it in the air, it lands on the grill, which suddenly ignites. Then the little girl Emma screams in horror as "my baby is on fire!!!" Someone else yells "I'll call 911!" I actually wouldn't be surprised if someone called 911 for a doll though, considering all the morons who call 911 at fast food restaurants when their order is wrong.

This type of campy humor is undoubtedly fun to watch and can bring anyone out of a funk. Now if only the doll had come alive once it hit the grill like Woody in Toy Story, that would've really been something.

Pixar Announces 'Finding Dory'

Finding Nemo 2 has a new name: Finding Dory. I remember joking that this would be the title, and now it actually is! It didn't take rocket science to figure that might be the idea of the sequel, since they have to find someone. The original Finding Nemo crew is back together. Andrew Stanton will once again direct the sequel, Ellen DeGeneres will be back as Dory, and Albert Brooks will return as Marlin. One can assume the plot will focus on Dory getting lost. Stanton also said the film will take place a year after the first and take place on the California coast. Our favorite characters are back, as well as new ones who are part of Dory's life.

"I have waited for this day for a long, long, long, long, long, long time,” said DeGeneres. “I’m not mad it took this long. I know the people at Pixar were busy creating ‘Toy Story 16.’ But the time they took was worth it. The script is fantastic. And it has everything I loved about the first one: It’s got a lot of heart, it’s really funny, and the best part is—it’s got a lot more Dory."

Finding Dory will hit theaters on November 25, 2015 in time for Thanksgiving. 

Toy Story 4 & Finding Nemo 2

Ellen DeGeneres is getting her wish. Pixar & Disney will be releasing "Finding Nemo 2" and "Toy Story 4". Andrew Stanton will be back to direct "Finding Nemo 2", and Ellen DeGeneres will presumably be back to voice Dory considering she has been pushing for them to make a sequel on her hit talk show. Currently it is set to be released in 2016, which can always be changed.

"Toy Story 4" is also in the pipelines apparently. There was some doubt since the trilogy was wrapped up nicely with Toy Story 3, including two wins at the Academy Awards (Best Song, Best Animated Film) and a nomination for Best Picture. But the hit film made over a billion dollars at the worldwide box office, and attained a ton of praise from critics and fans. Now "Toy Story 4" has not been officially confirmed by Pixar, but Tom Hanks recently said it is happening and now with the "Finding Nemo 2" news, many a speculating this will be announced next. So the "Toy Story" news might still be false, but I doubt Hanks would have said anything if it wasn't happening. So if it's false, then blame Mr Hanks.

So excuse my french here, but children must get the fuck out of my way when these films come out, they're mine (and yours, of course).

Academy Awards Predictions

So I might watch most of it since the Oscars seems like they are trying to make the Oscars less boring this year. I hope there are surprises, it seems like the Academy Awards are always very predictable.

Best Picture- Will Win: The King's Speech. Should Win: Toy Story 3. The King's Speech is the type of film they usually go for. An animated movie has never won before, and if Toy Story 3 doesn't win then one probably never will. With the Oscars wanting a bigger audience though, and going younger with Anne Hathaway and James Franco hosting, Toy Story 3 could be ripe for an upset that would make big headlines. They could honor the franchise that put Pixar on the map, and one of the most emotional movies of the year that famously had adults crying. Probably not though. The King's Speech will probably win, but it doesn't seem all that special. Toy Story 3 will stand the test of time, while The King's Speech may fade away like so many other Best Picture winners. [Surprising fact about this category...The Kids Are Alright is the only nominee that was filmed in Los Angeles. LA losing it's touch? Probably just too expensive to film there.]

Leading Actress- Will Win: Natalie Portman. Should Win: Natalie Portman. Black Swan deserves something and Natalie Portman is one of the reasons it was so great.

Leading Actor- Will Win: Colin Firth. Should Win: Colin Firth. Colin Firth has never won an Oscar before, and this has been the most obvious choice. Much like Sandra Bullock, he is very popular and will get his award.

The funniest Oscar moment: South Park creators Matt Stone and Trey Parker spoof the infamous Jennifer Lopez dress.