Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Classic Nick Wed. 13 – Which Nick Shows To Remade?


Today’s Classic Nickelodeon Wednesday will be a little different. Recently I was asked to do an interview in regards to my Classic Nickelodeon Fan Blog ( http://classic-nickelodeon-fan-blog.blogspot.com/ ) and today I am just finishing up my interview questions but I thought one of them might be fun to post here then when Patricia and Kevin post my interview on their blog I will post the link here for all of you to read. (It’s very long, like 8 pages – far too long to post here.
So that being said here is one of my interview questions with my answer then all of you can post your answers after mine. Have fun!!!
  
Q) Recently I (Patricia Miranda) did a podcast of the top 20 Nickelodeon shows that need to be remade. What shows from Nickelodeon do you want to see remade?

 A) This is such a great question because I had already started thinking about this around 2008 when I first saw H2O Just Add Water. Now these are in no particular order so here we go.

The Third Eye
I totally agreed with you on this one. I think they should either remake the original shows that aired on it or add new ones or both. That being said did you know that Under the Mountain has been remade into a new movie? I’ve seen it; I own it and I love it! It’s a little different than the original with the twins being older and Sam Neill now plays the mysterious “Mr. Jones”. The Wilberforces are back in full force and just for us Classic Fans, Kirsty Wilkinson, who portrayed Rachel Matheson from the original "Under the Mountain" on television, made a cameo appearance in the film as Mr. Jones' Neighbor and Bill Johnson, who portrayed the original Mr. Wilberforce also made a cameo appearance in the film as Mr. Carpenter. I have to admit that even I had to go back and check that one. LOL The one, and pretty much only, problem I have with this new film is that almost every scene with the male cousin he was all over his girlfriend! And I don’t care if it is an update, that kind of behavior was totally uncalled for in this movie especially when it was supposed to be (more or less) a kids movie!!!

I love the charm of The Haunting of Cassie Palmer and Children Of The Stones; I don’t have a problem with bad acting or perhaps a few moments of thin scripting because that’s what makes them classics. I own all four of the original stories, including the Under the Mountain remake and except for Into the Labyrinth, which I didn’t care, for I love them but  I do think that with today’s technology they could all be updated and made even creepier than the originals.

Now here’s my twist to this, I would also like to add new programs to this line up. I think H2O Just Add Water, House of Anubis, The Sarah Jane Adventures and Alien Surf Girls would all fit very well into the creepy style of The Third Eye. In fact that was the very statement I made to my mom when we started watching all of these shows. (Yes she watches all of the same shows I do and she loves them all just as I do. I have such a cool Mom!!!)

Also one quick note, The Witches and the Grinnygog was announced as part of The Third Eye lineup but never aired, it was actually shown as part of the Special Delivery program.


Pinwheel
This long time favorite is a perfect candidate for an update, but not just an update, I think it should be a continuation of the original series. I think all of the new characters should be related to all of the original characters but with one small change. Defiantly bring back an “Aurelia” type character to run Pinwheel House; perhaps her great niece except that she should be a human character not a puppet.

Jake and Kim’s nieces, cousins or even their children could come to stay at Pinwheel house just like their family members before them. (Not have Jake and Kim married to each other but to different people and their children come back.) Just the same as Sal and Smitty’s son with is new wife could come back and revive the old “Daily Noodle” that his parents use to run.

Puppeteers Craig Marin and Olga Felgemacher could easily reimagine new puppets for the show and could recommend others to fill in the other characters. But I think The Muppets should be left completely out of it; this needs to be totally separate from The Muppets organization.

I also think that the cartoon / stop-motion shorts could all be updated and refreshed. I would still want to see traditional animation, very few computer cartoons, and we should defiantly keep all of the various stop-motion animations, “puppettoons”, claymations and all of the building block sequences. They all have such a charm to them and it would be ashamed for a new generation of children to loose out on that.




 Today's Special

Just think of how many new things Jeff could lean in the world today!!!







You Can't Do That On Television

This show screams “update” because again, like Jeff, think about how many new things they’d have to talk about these days! But stick to the “real kids” cast like the original cast was. One of the things I didn't like about the 1990’s version of The Mickey Mouse Club was that the kids were all singers and dancers and I would HATE to see that happen to YCDTOTV. Also, keep the slime thick and lumpy!!! None of that neon green oil that they try to pass off as “slime” these days! – WE WANT OUT REAL SLIME!!!!!



Double Dare & Legends of the Hidden Temple are both perfect for updating but yes keep the “bare bones” of the shows. Update the rooms and the giant props and of course the stories and questions. Find a great host and they’d have it made. Both are still awesome even to this day but they could also stand a little refreshening.


Kids' Writes

I would LOVE to see Mr. Mairs bring back this show on any network. It was so innovative and creative and it really helped children to learn how to use not only their imagination but also their writing and spelling skills. Have the exact same type of set, bring back Mr. Mairs and have a new cast. This show could ABSOLUTELY work for today’s kids and now that we have the Internet kids would be able to email their stories in as well as physically mail them in.


An Out Of Control movie would be fun. The cast could get word that their old studio is about to be torn down so they go back to save it? Hummm, I’ll have to email this to Marty (Schiff who played “Hern Burford”) and see what he and Dave (Coulier) think about it.


The Tomorrow People

Now this is a tricky one since there have already been two updates to this show and a third one has now been scheduled.

The first update came in 1992 and was very unsuccessful. The show had none of the charm of the Original Series (OS) and indeed seemed to go in a totally new direction. The characters were flat and undeveloped, there was no Lab, no Jaunting Belts or Bands, nothing that tied it to the original show and it was canceled after three years.

Big Finish did the second update in a series of Audio Dramas (AD) that were, in my opinion, very successful. They returned to the roots of the show, brought back several of the original characters, brought us new characters and brought us story-lines that were thought provoking. When I listen to my ADs I can “see” the story in my mind and it’s so brilliant. Yes they are a bit edgier but they are so very well written and because of that I didn't mind it. If you are a fan of the OS TP, and if you can find them, I would highly recommend this series.

Now the CW Network has announced another update of this series and it both excites me and terrifies me. I’m excited because if the producers are true fans as they claim to be and will cater to both an old and new audience and if they stay true to the basic story I think it will be wonderful. However the idea of an American network taking over is that they will try to turn it into another teenage soap opera with slutty teenagers (male and female) with no morals, no values and who do nothing more than sleep around and back talk their elders. If the CW follows this route the show will be an epic failure; or at least in my eyes it will be.

Saturday, November 17, 2012

In Search of Saturdays



Welcome to “In Search of Saturdays" a weekly advertising space designed to help our members find those long lost movies, cartoons, TV shows, toys, games and anything else that we’ve all been looking for for a very long time.

The instructions are simple. Post your personal “looking for” list in the comments box. I encourage all of you to post what you’re looking for.

If you can’t remember the name of a show or toy that’s alright, post what you can remember and maybe someone here will be able to tell you what it is. Also please remember that if you are listing television shows or movies please let us know if you are looking to purchase these shows or if you just want to watch them online. Then we, the members of the group, will help try to help each other and go “in search of” those items for our fellow members.

A good places to start our searches is iOffer ( http://www.ioffer.com/ ) which, in my opinion, is better than eBay b/c you can find lots of shows there that you can’t find anywhere else.

My Want List
This is a list of the Classic Nickelodeon programs that I’m looking for to purchase. Please note that I am a private collector who does not copy and resell my collection. The videos and DVDs that I collect are for my own private viewing here in my home or my Mother’s house where I originally saw them. If you have any of these and would like to sell me copies – for my private viewing – please contact me at peggysueclay@hotmail.com     Also, IF you contact me via email PLEASE PUT THE NAME OF THE SHOW IN THE SUBJECT LINE. Thank you.


***** NON VIDEO ITEMS *****
Muppets Magazine 1982
People Magazine – recent issue – no date – Marc Summers’ article
Any 80’s women’s or children’s magazines
Early to Mid 80’s TV Guides


REGULAR PROGRAMS
Dusty's Treehouse
Hocus Focus
Kids’ Writes
Livewire
Nick Rocks Video to Go
Pinwheel – more than just the 6 hrs that’s currently available
Science International (aka) What Will They Think of Next?
Spread Your Wings
Standby...Lights! Camera! Action!
Studio See


PINWHEEL CARTOONS
The Adventures of the Mole
Bunny in the Suitcase
Charlie's Climbing Tree
Emily (Emilie) (my favorite)
Hattytown Tales
Magic Coco
The Magic Roundabout


SPECIAL DELIVERY
Beware, Beware My Beauty Fair
Clarence & The Ottaway (staring Billy Hufsey)
Kids’ Writes
Silver City (The Righteous Apples special)

Wednesday, November 14, 2012

Classic Nick Wed. 12 – CW Tomorrow People


Greg Berlanti and Julie Plec To Produce 
CW Adaptation Of UK Show ‘Tomorrow People’
By NELLIE ANDREEVA | Tuesday November 13, 2012 @ 9:30am PST


The co-creators/ executive producers of the CW‘s two top-rated series, Arrow and The Vampire Diaries, have teamed for a new project at the network — a series adaptation of the cult British 1970s sci-fi series The Tomorrow People. Arrow‘s Greg Berlanti and The Vampire Diaries‘ Julie Plec will executive produce the project, written by Phil Klemmer (Chuck). In the vein of X-Men and Heroes, Tomorrow People is the story of several young people from around the world who represent the next stage in human evolution, possessing special powers, including the ability to teleport and communicate with each other telepathically. Together they work to defeat the forces of evil.

Created by Roger Price, The Tomorrow People, ITV’s answer to BBC’s Dr. Who, ran on the commercial broadcaster for eight seasons from 1973-1979. It developed a strong cult following and was a favorite of Berlanti and Plec, who are good friends from college. They had been chasing the rights to Tomorrow People for more than a decade, finally tracking them down to FremantleMedia, which rarely licenses its formats to other studios. But, given the level of auspices and Berlanti and Plec’s passion for the project, the company made an exception and will co-produce the adaptation with Warner Bros TV and studio-based Berlanti Prods. Berlanti, Plec, Klemmer and Berlanti Prods’ Melissa Berman executive produce, with SVP Scripted Programming Tony Optican overseeing for Fremantle. This is not the first attempt to reboot The Tomorrow People. ITV tried it in the early 1990s, with the new series running for three seasons.

Berlanti has credited Plec with convincing him to go back to writing when he had given up on his Hollywood dreams after a year of odd jobs and a string of rejections by agents and studios. Years later, the two briefly worked together on Dawson’s Creek and sold a feature, Her Leading Man, to Universal, with Dawson’s Creek creator and The Vampire Diaries‘ co-creator/exec producer Kevin Williamson attached to direct. Klemmer recently worked with Berlanti Prods on Berlanti’s USA drama Political Animals as well as the company’s midseason CBS series Golden Boy. Berlanti and Plec are with WME.


**Related Articles**

Greg Berlanti, Julie Plec Adapting U.K. Series 'The Tomorrow People' for CW

9:30 AM PST 11/13/2012 by Lesley Goldberg




CW To Remake UK '70s Sci-Fi 'The Tomorrow People'

Published Tuesday, Nov 13 2012, 4:31pm EST | By Paul Martinovic

Wednesday, November 7, 2012

Classic Nick Wed. 11– At Last, Children’s Programming That’s Fit For Children


This week I’m posting an article I from the Toedo Blade from February 21, 1980.

At Last, Children’s Programming That’s Fit For Children

Toedo Blade – Feb. 21, 1980



The debate about what kids watch on TV continues. Certainly everyone is concerned about it. And experts on both sides of the issue will, undoubtedly, continue to juggle their ways through research studies and case findings to arrive at their respective conclusions. But that still leaves the kids caught in the middle.

          That is, until now.

          We, at the CableSystem, are proud to announce that the void in solid children’s television has been filled.

          The CableSystem is now offering a selection of 10-11 hours of daily, Nickelodeon. Children’s programming experts convinced us that the best way to get kids away from the violence and commercials they’re constantly subjected to on regular TV is by offering them something they like better.

          They’ll like Nickelodeon better.

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PINWHEEL
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10:00 - 3:00 weekdays
9:00 - 2:00 weekends

          Pinwheel is the nationally acclaimed creation of a talented group of professionals including veterans of the Children’s Television Workshop. Specially tailored to the interests and attention span of the preschooler, each Pinwheel segment averages about three minutes. Blended into the format are award wining animated films as well as live action films.





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VIDEO COMIC BOOKS
-  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  - 

3:00/4:30 weekdays
3:00/4:00/ 6:30 weekends

          The half-hour Video Comic Books show is a unique reading experience for children. Starring favorite super heroes like Green Lantern and Space Ranger, this show is devoted to paging through comic books panel by panel. The visuals with printed captions are arranged for easy reading and viewing. Voice-overs and sound effects are used with the exception of one comic adventure per show during which the children are compelled to read the dialogue for themselves.





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CHILDREN’S CLASSICS
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7:00-7:30 weekdays
2:30-4:00 weekends

          Children’s Classics are high-quality presentations from the British Broadcasting Company. With universal appeal to children of all ages. BBC Children’s Classics include such timeless tales as “The Prince and the Pauper,” Robin Hood,” “Heidi,” and “David Copperfield.”




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AMERICA GOES BANANAZ
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6:00-7:00 weekdays

          America goes Bananaz is a teen variety show offering a multitude of happenings molded to meet the needs of the American adolescent. In addition to being an entertaining talent showcase for young artists, it also provides a great information service providing a stimulating array of





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HOCUS FOCUS
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3: 30/7:30 weekdays
5:30-6:30 weekends

          Seven to twelve year olds explore the world around them through the eyes of the host character Kryspen, a medieval time traveler who comes to learn about life in the 20th Century.
         


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FIRST ROW FEATURES
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5:00-6:00 weekdays
4:30/7:00 weekends

          First Row Features are special one hours children’s films broadly ranging from comedies and adventures to dramas and semi-documentaries.




AT LAST.
          Now, you can breath your sigh of relief. Worry no more about what the kids are home watching.

          There’s loads of healthy, educational commercial-free viewing enjoyment for your kids on Nickelodeon. And it’s available at no additional charge to our regular subscribers. The usual monthly charge of $7.50 (plus installation) gets your kids Nickelodeon and your get all the great entertainment variety the CableSystem offers you.

          See for yourself. Call 535-0081



Article Picture Link Provided by Chris 

Article Picture Link – http://i.imgur.com/oHMOU.jpg