Croissant de Triomphe
Hobbit Tickets: Acquired!
Singin' in the Rain
Bert or Ernie? Beaker or Animal? Elmo or Oscar?
Here is Google's doodle for the occasion.
The Duel from The Good, The Bad and The Ugly
Henson started his puppeteering career when he was in high school, performing for a children's show on a local TV station. In college, he majored in home ec so he could take craft and textile courses, and parlayed his early TV experience into his own five-minute show, which he produced daily with another college student. The show, called Sam and Friends, introduced him to two of the most important figures in his life: His collaborator became his wife, and one of his puppets, a green lizard-like creature that Henson made from his mom's old coat and a dissected ping-pong ball became Kermit the Frog.
Kennedy Center Honors
Yo Yo Ma, cellist
Barbara Cook, opera singer
Neil Diamond, pop musician
Sunny Rollins, saxaphonist
It's the birthday of comedian Bob Hope (1903), born Leslie Townes Hope in Eltham, near London. His family moved to the United States when he was four years old, and he grew up in Cleveland, Ohio. His first successful show-biz venture came at the age of 10, when he won a Charlie Chaplin look-alike contest. By 1940, after working in vaudeville, Broadway, and radio, he was one of America's most popular comedians. His comedy was verbal, not physical, and he usually played unsympathetic characters that the audience could feel superior to.
He never won an Oscar for his acting — "Oscar Night at my house is called Passover," he once quipped — but the Academy nevertheless honored him five times, with two honorary Oscars, two special awards, and a Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award. The Guinness Book of World Records named him the most honored entertainer in the world, with 2,000 awards and citations, including 54 honorary doctorates and a knighthood from his native England.
In 1941, he performed his first show for soldiers, a group of airmen stationed in March Field, California. It was the beginning of nearly 60 years of shows at military bases at home and abroad. Congress unanimously passed Resolution 75 in 1997 to make him the nation's first Honorary Veteran, and he considered this his highest achievement.
Bob Hope died in 2003, two months after his 100th birthday.
May the Fourth be with you.
Today is Star Wars Day.
According to the online resource Wookieepedia, it is typically celebrated by sci-fi fans the world over with parties, movie marathons, Star Wars-themed toys, the occasional light-saber duel, and movie-quote exchanges on Twitter. You could also celebrate by reading one of the many Star Wars-related novels, playing a video game, or gazing at your collection of action figures in their original packaging. “It’s nice that this particular date seems to observe and celebrate the power of the Force, and we’re thrilled that Star Wars fans continue to find new ways to connect with a galaxy far, far away,” said a Lucas Films spokesperson.
Gandalf is Tested
Ian McKellen: Principal photography of The Hobbit began on 21 March, without me ... The wizard still had to be tested.
Sound Man
The Art of Foley
SoundWorks Collection: Gary Hecker - Veteran Foley Artist from Michael Coleman on Vimeo.
Another good Super Bowl commercial
Happy 70th Birthday, John Lennon.
Go to the Google start page to see a neat tribute to Lennon.
May the 3D Force be with you!
Dr. Seuss Converse Collection
Converse has created a collection of Chuck Taylor canvas shoes embellished with a variety of favorite iconic illustrations by beloved children's author Dr. Seuss.
Today is Ringo's Starr's 70th birthday. What does he want for his present?
Starr’s birthday wishes are on the record: For his 70th, he wants “peace and love.”
Oprah got one too...
"I find aging a lousy deal...I'm 74 now. You don't get smarter, you don't get wiser, you don't get more mellow, you don't get more kindly....Your back hurts more. You get more indigestion. Your eyesight isn't as good. You need a hearing aid. It's a bad business getting older, and I would advise you not to do it."Woody Allen
"1stBank Center is unquestionably the best of the bunch."
Newly remodeled 1stBank Center (formerly Broomfield Events Center) opens with a crowd-pleasing show.
With such a strong opening night, we have high expectations for 1stBank Center, which already has a busy schedule ahead of it. And while some have questioned its projected success from the start, you need only look to the companies behind it — Phil Anschutz's AEG and Stan Kroenke's KSE — to realize that this arena is a major player that is here to stay.
Ricardo Baca, Denver Post Pop Music Critic
A blast from the past!
The Denver Roller Dolls are coming to Broomfield! They will have several bouts at the Odeum Colorado Events Center starting in March.
Strange name...?
The Broomfield Events Center has been re-named The Odeum and will begin booking acts starting next year.
"I'm on a HIGH!"
Mouse Circus
Coraline, the movie, opens today. The New York Times has a review.
Can they do the Kessel Run in less than twelve parsecs?
Kite flying season is a couple months away, but these 3-D Star Wars kites are pretty cool. I'd like to see the X-Wing go up against the TIE-fighter in an aerial battle. "They're coming in too fast!"
In theatres February 6th
Neil Gaiman's Favorite Trailer
End of an era
And she'll be able to talk now, too
Always a bit player in the past, Tinker Bell will now be the star of several new Disney-Pixar films. The series will be called Disney Fairies and will aim for the success of Disney Princesses.
Angus MacLane, the supervising animator on Wall E, talks about the secrets of Pixar, the joys of Lego, R2D2 and his love for James Camerons' AliensAngus MacLane of Pixar: The Den of Geek interview
Turn off the lights!
You can make it with LEGO!
Today is the 50th anniversary of the first Lego brick! Here is a timeline of the brick's evolution, and here is informaton on how they're made.
Books to Film
Huh. I didn't realize that they were making a Nancy Drew movie. Wonder if it will increase interest in the books?
Star Wars in a New Light
A New Sith, or Revenge of the Hope
Reconsidering Star Wars IV in the light of I-III
If we accept all the Star Wars films as the same canon, then a lot that happens
Bond not a Turkey
Last night Cameo and I went to see the new James Bond film "Casino Royal". The movie is an attempt to reboot the franchise by portraying Bond as a new agent - in affect it's his first assignment as he'
Who?
Tonight Cameo and I will be seeing The Who play at Pepsi Center. They are touring to promote their new album, so we'll hear some old classics along with ne
I attended "The Lion King" last night at Denver's Buell Theater. It was as visually beautiful as all the reviews had said. The music and plot were not as good as the Disney movie cartoon version (in my opinion) but the incredible puppetry and stage set
Zatoichi
Last night Cameo, May, and I watched Zatoichi the Blind Swordsman - the 2003 version by Takeshi Kitano. Zatoichi has a long cinamatic history: 2
Pixar's magic man. A long, but informative, interview with John Lasseter, and how Pixar will be bringing changes to animation at Disney. Counter tha
Mirrormask
Last night we finally got to see Mirror Mask on DVD (we checked it out from the library). The movie, written by Neil Gaiman and Dave McKean, was produced by the Hensen Company and released
Muppets take the Smithsonian
Doh!
Primer
Last night Cameo and I watched Primer on DVD (imdb record). It's a short, independent sci-fi film that won the 2004 Grand Jury award at Sundance. This film does
Sarah, Ben, Cameo, and I went to see Narnia today. It was a fine show - the kids enjoyed it but I thought it dragged in the second act - and well attended. Because it was filmed in New Zealand, and because the special effects was done by WETA (the folk
Electric Boogaloo
For years now Disney has been exploting their back catalog, coming up with "sequals" to their old classics - Lady and the Tramp II, Cinderella II - bu
Then came Rock paper Scissors Spock Lizard (my favorite variant)
Now, gaze upon the glo