#Danny’s drama was inherited

[noras-dc-shenanigans]

Adoption | Learn

“So let me get this straight.”

Danny stared at the group of vigilantes in front of him, a look of utter disbelief etched onto his face.

“Batman had a baby with Catwoman, she hid it from him, gave the baby up for adoption, and that baby is me. And you’re all here because Batman’s other ex also had a hidden pregnancy, but she’s a homicidal maniac who wants to make sure her son is the only blood child because of some weird cult rules?”

If they’d been in a cartoon, there’s be crickets chirping. He continued, voice growing less disbelieving and more angry as he went.

“And because some cult wants to kill me, I have to give up my whole life, cut off all contact with my family and friends, go live in a state 900 miles away, and stay cooped up— for an unknown amount of time— in Bruce Wayne’s mansion, because that’s who Batman really is.”

A stilted silence filled the room of the safe house Danny had been dragged to a few hours ago, sans the unnecessarily long explanation he’d just summarized.

After a few more moments, Nightwing stepped forward and smiled gently at him an oh, that rankled Danny. He did not need whatever kid gloves the guy was about to pull on. Before Bluebell had a chance to open his mouth, Danny channeled his inner Jazz and raised his hand for silence. Nightwing paused, and Danny proceeded to give them all a single, flat, unimpressed look, and then stated factually,

“I’m not leaving, I’m not staying with yet another frootloop billionaire, and I’m not in the least concerned with dying. So. You can all go back to where you belong, I’ll stay here, where I belong, and if any cultist come knocking I’ll deal with them just like I’ve been dealing with every other threat in this town the last six months: alone. Because apparently the entire Justice League is too busy to respond to calls for help about inter-dimensional threats popping in and out of my parents basement on a daily basis.”

… Okay, so Danny may have been yelling a bit by the end, but it was justified! And oh, Danny really wished his life was a cartoon right now, because that cricket chirping would be been perfect. He’s pretty sure he broke a few of them. Nightwing looked ready to cry.

Good. Danny was too tired to deal with this sh*t.

Thanks to the whole Pariah Dark thing last month, Danny was apparently immortal now anyways, so even if the cult people managed to completely destroy his body, he’d just reform in the Zone. Because he was now connected to it, and only another ghost could End him like he had Pariah, because of some weird dimensional rules. Apparently, since humans couldn’t rule the Infinite Realms, they just, like… didn’t qualify to kill him. That went for aliens, demons, gods, and other non-human beings of sentience.

So Danny’s got that going for him at least. About time something useful came outta this whole disaster of a school year.

But he’d gotten off track. Before him stood a truly ridiculous number of vigilantes, and they all looked like he’d just slapped them with a fish and then played violin with it. For a few minutes, Danny just basked in the stuttering and bewildered looks, before he noticed Nightwing drawing himself up in righteous determination and decided that yeah, he was done now.

At this point, being a dramatic a**hole to people (or ghosts) who were annoying him was just second nature, so he straightened to attention, raised his hand in a salute, and then let himself sink through the floor, perfectly stoic.

The stuttering turned to panicked shouts, and Danny’s last view of his apparent siblings was a few people lunging for him and missing, winding up tangled together on the carpet.

‘Ahhhh, yesss, I will treasure that memory always! Ah well, time to get home! Maybe I should scout out for those cult people, mess around with them. Maybe follow them back sometime, meet my half-brother. That could be fun, me and Ellie can make a road trip of it this summer! Maybe by then, the Justice Losers will have gotten their heads out as their butts.’

Meanwhile, back at the safe house, several frantic calls were being made about the dimensional threats and the League of Assassins and the possibly meta human, definitely vigilante brother.

Amity Park was about to get a lot more chaotic.

#DPxDCFamilyWeek #Danny Felton #Batfamily #Danny’s drama was inherited #Danny is a little sh*t #you tell ‘em Danny!

[hotvintagepoll]

I am adoring all of these polls and gif sets and just being fed so many hot vintage people. As someone who really hasn’t watched very many classics, are there any movies you’d recommend for someone just starting to dip their toes in older media but unsure where to start?

Sure! I don't want to sway any voting, but I'll put an incomplete list of favorites that involve hot men not still in the bracket below the cut.

Something to note that applies to most of these old movies—older movies have different pacing than modern movies, so some of these might seem really slow or weird to start. There are also different ways of framing gender and agency, for better and for worse. I've italicized the ones that I think are the best for starting with, but go with whatever genre/aesthetic sounds best.

The Court Jester (Danny Kaye, Basil Rathbone)—a circus performer working for a quasi-Robin Hood infiltrates the royal court. Fun comedy that's incredibly accessible and still so light on its feet. Swordfighting, glamorous medieval costumes, court intrigues, and silly accents.

Singin' in the Rain (Gene Kelly)—fun polyamorous musical comedy. The dancing is incredible, but so is the sense of joy and camaraderie between Gene Kelly, Donald O'Connor, and Debbie Reynolds. Genuinely captures the feeling of hanging out with your best friends. 1920s Hollywood, big movie studios, backstage drama, goofy hijinks.

The Adventures of Robin Hood (Errol Flynn, Basil Rathbone)—classic swashbuckler/romance. It could read a little slow to modern tastes but the action scenes are absolutely killer, as is the sentiment of seeing little guys pull down big capitalists evil monarchs. Swashbuckling, labor activists merry men hanging out in the woods, hot men in tights, social commentary swords, a Maid Marian who really holds her own and falls in love with the socialist

Charade (Cary Grant)—thriller/romantic comedy. Audrey Hepburn's husband dies and leaves her a hidden inheritance, and she's racing some skeevy characters to find it. A little bit scary but mostly charming and gorgeous, and you can find it high quality virtually anywhere because they fucked up the copyright trademark in the opening credits. Romance, murders, Paris, 1960s fashion, chases in the night.

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (Dick Van Dyke)—this movie is divisive for some reason—I personally like peace, love, and joy, so it makes the list. This is a James Bond movie if James Bond had two kids, lived in a windmill in the south of England, and was into cottagecore inventions more than martinis and racism. This is very much a kids' movie so go in with that expectation, but enjoy the gorgeous production design, the wonderfully silly performances, and Lionel Jeffries pulling out every stop as an insane old man. Dick Van Dyke has excellent DILF energy. Magical cars, big musical vibes, fun inventions, and romantic fantasy.

To Be Or Not To Be (Jack Benny)—comedy/drama. A ragtag Warsaw theatre troupe stands off against the Gestapo after the invasion of Poland. TW for Nazis, obviously, but overall this is a comedy with some heft, and kind of shocking to be this ballsy about fucking hating Hitler's guts in the 1940s. Hambone actors, Shakespeare, spies, 1930s gowns. It's been a minute since I watched it so I don't think there are any TWs here, but go forth with caution.

Witness for the Prosecution (Tyrone Power)—mystery/legal drama based off an Agatha Christie story. The performances are campy fun and the twist would be at home in something like Knives Out. Big dramatics, hambones, lots of talking, a bit of a mindbender.

The Lady Vanishes (Michael Redgrave)—mystery/suspense/romantic comedy. It's a little slow to start but roll with it—once the action moves to the train the pacing really picks up. This gets slotted as a thriller sometimes but it's much funnier and gentler than that. There's some period-typical snarkiness directed at anyone Foreign™ by some of the British characters; the British characters are also made fun of. Trains, British people, international shenanigans, mystery, and humor.

All About Eve (absolutely none of these hot men, lots of hot women though)—a legendary actress fights for her life against the rising star who supplants her. Big drama, big performances, lots of gasp! and dahling! and vicious little quips. New York, theatre pronounced theahhtah, drama queens and plotting.

The Philadelphia Story (James Stewart, Cary Grant)—talk-heavy comedy, lots of quick banter and period transatlantic accent fun. It's a bit shouty and conflict-heavy at times, but I don't think James or Cary have ever been hotter, and Katherine Hepburn is just wow. Very funny dialogue, relatable characters, incredibly hot across the board. There is one instance of a racial slur (not directed at anyone but still there) and one shove. Some people won't like the discussion of Hepburn's character's choices as a daughter and a wife. With all of these movies you'll see a a range of how female characters are presented and treated, and while some period movies fall hard for sexist tropes, I personally think the performances, direction, and subtext of many of these films actually prioritizes the experiences of the female characters and shows them as living, breathing people, even if they're not framed the way they would be today.

#hotvintagethoughts #asks #recs

[p1nkshield]

Chapter 10

Hi! Its been a while! But I'm about to take a break from school so I'm finally allowed enough time for hobbies :) I hope you enjoy!

J'onn had not drawn from his experience as a school teacher in quite a while so when approaching this meeting he felt some semblance of reminiscence and slight rustiness.

"Have been informed that you are in need of guidance on your phasing abilities."

Jason looked at his old teacher pointedly.

"Yes, I don't do well with vague instructions."

"Hey!"

Danny was far too engrossed in tinkering with whatever gadgets he had found around the bat cave to really be insulted.

"Its not my fault you don't understand my weathered, ancient advice."

"'Try not to fall' is not good advice man!"

"Not if you're a genius like me!"

"You still haven't caught on that Alfred leaves old tech around the cave for you to find!"

"I-"

"..."

"..."

J'onn's face remained neutral as they bickered but those who truly knew him would be able to catch the slight tinge of amusement in his voice.

"May I resume?"

Jason straightened his posture at the question and turned his attention to Martian Manhunter.

"From what I have been able to observe your intangibility occurs involuntarily at random intervals throughout the day." J'onn began.

Jason cringed at the apt description before catching himself as he nearly phased through his seat.

"My intangibility differs because it is a voluntary process. My practice was initiation of the ability and subsequent control. Yours will be on cessation and then control."

Jason nodded along with this lesson.

"Sometimes involuntary use of powers has a subconscious aspect to them. If one truly believes in their own abilities it can become second nature to use them."

Jason's receptiveness receded a bit. Subconscious aspects?

"I know that there is a certain discomfort surrounding allowing another to peer into your mind in earthen cultures but it may be helpful to be able find the reason why you are struggling with control over your intangibility."

Jason did not like this idea. Introspection is already uncomfortable enough he did not want someone else to witness it. Jason was at his wits end though, and he couldn't stand this lack of control much longer. He was tired.

"Okay."

"Thank you for trusting me. I will try to remain as close to your surface thoughts as possible."

J'onn began to approach.

"Wait."

Jason looked into the eyes of the hero.

"Please don't tell anyone what you find."

J'onn nodded.

Jason gripped J'onn's wrist hard enough that his fingertips left pastel green imprints in his skin.

"Please don't tell Batman what you find."

J'onn paused and then assured him.

"Your thoughts will remain confidential I promise."

Jason truly did not like vulnerability. It very rarely ended well for him. But his life has changed so much in the past few weeks that maybe that streak of luck might have changed too? Maybe.

Jason let go.

So perhaps Dick had inherited some of his adoptive father's intense vigilance. Was there really a problem with that? He was better than his father. He communicated with others and allowed his teammates to participate in planning. He clued people in. His contingency plans were known of by his teammates so there was no drama, no betrayal. He learned from Bruce's mistakes. So when he saw a considerable increase in temperature in the cave he did so not because he was secretly monitoring the lesson out of worry but out of routine. He sprinted, very calmly mind you, to the nearest cave entrance. What he found was outside his expectations and expertise.

A Martian writhing on the floor in immense pain.

A Ghost boy looking rather sallow as he attempted to keep the room cool with his ice powers.

And his brother lying on one of the examination tables whilst ON FIRE!

FIRE?

FIRE!

At some point Dick heard a plea for help from the only conscious person in the room.

"I can't keep this up for much longer! I also can't wake up Mr. J'onzz!"

Dick's communications skills may have taken a significant blow but he was able to communicate everything that came to mind.

"WHAT HAPPENED?!"

@boo-ghosties @skulld3mort-1fan @addie-lover-of-stories @isaactheautobot @krzys2000 @ectoradiation @worthlesswall @mewzaque @mnemovoid @phantom-dc @justwannabecat @kitty-page @cutelittlebeanie @meira-3919 @amyheart19 @scarlette-foxx @thegatorsgoose @farmercale

#dc x dp #At the Core Fic #Jason can't catch a break Todd #Richard has no idea what to do with this situation #Dick: I leave for all of TWO MINUTES! AND EVERYTHING IS ON FIRE. #I know j’onn probably doesn’t normally do the thing where pressing his skin makes it go pale #but I like to think that he does earthly stuff like that to make distressed earthlings more comfortable

[thenightling]

I freakin' love this show a lot more than I expected to.

Wednesday is the Netflix series spin-off of The Addams Family. Unlike the original sitcom, this is more of a drama / comedy, dealing with an older Wednesday Addams (played by twenty-one-year-old Jenna Ortega) attending Nevermore Academy, a school for the "Gifted." And by gifted I mean supernatural.

It's a bit like Monster High. The students entail werewolves, vampires, Sirens (mermaids), and Gorgons, as well as some miscellaneous monsters like two faceless children.

Wednesday turns out to have some psychic / witchy powers that she inherited from Morticia so that is why she attends the school (That and she got expelled from ordinary school when she sicked trained piranas on the swim team for bullying Pugsley).

The showrunner is none-other than Tim Burton with music by composer Danny Elfman.

The first season is a murder mystery who-done it where Wednesday has to figure out who is the killer.

There have been some whiners insisting there was nothing supernatural about the original Addams Family but I urge those people to pay more attention to previous incarnations of The Addams Family because they have...

Psychic visions come up in multiple incarnations.

A disembodied sentient hand

Cousin It

The Broadway musical had a conga line with ghosts

Their front gate and house is self-aware

Uncle Fester is immune to electricity

Grandmama and Morticia were practicing witches along with Aunt Ophelia

Aunt Ophelia has plants growing out of her scalp.

Santa Claus is real in The Addams Family 1960s TV series.

Wednesday can read minds in the animated movies.

Uncle Flambe has flame hair.

Grandmama has successfully cursed people and brewed potions.

There's a sentient tree on their property named Ichabod

"Their Goth game is just that Good."

Anyway, here's the opening title sequence of the show Wednesday. I loved this show a lot more than I expected.

#Wednesday #Netflix's Wednesday #Netflix's Wednesday Addams #Wednesday Addams #Netflix #Youtube

[ausetkmt]

June is Black Music Month, and if you’re looking for music documentaries or series about your favorite artists, ABS has got you covered.

This week’s What to Watch list focuses solely on a variety of music-related movies and miniseries that highlight the contributions of Black musicians.

The music scene has definitely changed over the past few decades, but fans are always looking for unique or historical facts about their favorite artists. Spend time learning about their history, culture, and more.

Tyrese Gibson Fans Are Happy Seeing the Actor and His Youngest Daughter on a Ferris Wheel Together Following His Ugly Child Support Battle

Tyrese Gibson Fans Are Happy Seeing the Actor and His Youngest Daughter on a Ferris Wheel Together Following His Ugly Child Support Battle

0 seconds of 6 minutes, 54 secondsVolume 0%

If you’re looking to hear the two powerhouses go at it vocally, tune in to “Dreamgirls” and “The Fighting Temptations.” But if you need a laugh, check out the only Black “Annie” movie ever made, starring singer and actor Jamie Foxx.

Check out this list of series and documentaries to enjoy this weekend in honor of Black Music Month.

Amazon Prime 

Dreamgirls (2006) Beyoncé also starred in the dazzling adaption of the Broadway musical about a 1960s girl group. She played Deena and Jennifer Hudson played Effie White, the latter for which Hudson won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress. The film also starred Jamie Foxx, Eddie Murphy, Loretta Devine, Danny Glover, and Anika Noni Rose as the group’s third member, Lorrell. The film details their development as artists and singers.

Respect (2021) In this autobiographical film, Hudson played the lead as the legendary Aretha Franklin. The movie documents her adolescent years singing in her father’s church choir to her rise to international fame. Marlon Wayans plays Franklin’s ex-husband and former manager, Ted White, and Mary J. Blige portrays vocalist Dinah Washington. 

Ray (2004) Embattled actor Jamie Foxx portrays the life story and career of legendary R&B and blues musician Ray Charles. The biographical musical follows his impoverished beginnings in the South to touring under Jim Crow laws as a successful artist. He goes on to get married and have children, but his addiction to heroin never strayed too far away. After a series of arrests and a rehab stint, Charles regained his strength to make a brave comeback and enjoy decades of music success.  

School Daze (1988) Spike Lee wrote and directed the musical comedy starring Laurence Fishburne, Tisha Campbell, Samuel L. Jackson, Jasmine Guy, and many others. The Morehouse graduate explored the socio-political and economic issues surrounding students at historically black colleges and universities. 

The Fighting Temptations (2003) Beyoncé and Cuba Gooding Jr. star in this musical comedy about an ad executive who loses his job and leaves the Big Apple. He heads to Georgia to collect his aunt’s inheritance, where he leads a gospel choir to victory in a citywide competition. Other supporting cast members include LaTanya Richardson, Mike Epps, Chloe Bailey, Steve Harvey, Melba Moore, Shirley Caesar, Ann Nesby and Angie Stone. 

Apple TV 

Carmen: A Hip Hopera (2001) An oldie but goodie is this musical drama starring Beyoncé, Mekhi Phifer, Mos Def, Bow Wow, Erykah Badu, Wyclef Jean, Da Brat, Jermaine Dupri, Fred Williamson, and more. A beautiful woman with a hypnotizing face and body can have any man she wants. She chooses a cop who loses his job after spending one night with her. They both end up on the run from the police, but the biggest dreamer doesn’t make it out alive. 

Purple Rain (1984) Minneapolis native Prince plays a young artist with an abusive at-home living situation. The club singer creates a band to compete with a rival singer and explore new love. The film’s name is the same as the late singer’s sixth studio album.

 The Wiz (1978) The beloved feature film includes an all-Black cast, compared to its original 1993 film starring Judy Garland in the lead role of Dorothy. In the musical drama, Diana Ross plays Dorothy, Michael Jackson plays the Scarecrow, Richard Pryor as the Wiz, Nipsey Russell as the Tin Man, and Ted Ross as the Cowardly Lion. They work together to get to overcome obstacles and meet their destinies at the end of the yellow brick road. 

Tina Turner What’s Love Got to Do With It (1993) Two months before her passing, Tina Turner praised Angela Bassett’s portrayal of her in the biopic. It was based on Turner’s 1986 autobiography, “I, Tina: My Life Story,” and depicted her years of abuse during her marriage to her then-husband Ike Turner, played by Fishburne. Despite being the actress being snubbed an Oscar for her role, Turner said she felt “honored” by Bassett’s portrayal in the film.

BET+ 

The New Edition Story (2017) The three-part miniseries about the legendary R&B group begins with five childhood friends who become international sensations while growing up in Boston. As they quickly emerge into the spotlight, various obstacles strain their finances, friendship, and future. The film led to “The Bobby Brown Story.”

Disney Plus

Black Nativity (2013) Forest Whitaker, Angela Bassett, Tyrese, Jack Latimore, Jennifer Hudson, and more shocked fans with their vocals in their musical adaption of Langston Hughes’ 1961 play. In the all-Black cast film, a teen from Baltimore moves in with his estranged grandparents. Unhappy with their strict rules, he goes out into the street to find his own way.  

Let It Shine (2012) This film’s cast includes a few veteran actors and a bevy of actors who are being given flowers. “Abottt Elementary” star Tyler James Williams plays Cyrus, a teenage rapper looking to impress Roxie, played by “ICU” singer and ‘Bel-Air” actress Coco Jones. He battles his nemesis under an alias and wins with a rhyme about his lady.  Sadly, he gets no credit for it but ultimately wins Roxie’s heart.

HBO Max

Straight Outta Compton (2015) Based on a true story about the rap group N.W.A., “Straight Outta Compton” sees six men in Compton, Los Angeles, who pushed the boundaries and revolutionized hip-hop culture with gritty rap lyrics and their dealings with Suge Knight. O’Shea Jackson Jr. stars as the younger version of his father Ice Cube in the biographical drama, alongside Corey Hawkins, Jason Mitchell, Neil Brown Jr., Aldis Hodge, and Brandon Lafourch to make up the famed group.

Hulu

Cadillac Records (2008) Cedric the Entertainer plays music artist Willie Dixon and is the narrator of the rock ’n’ roll film full of great acting and great music. It details the rise and fall of Chess Records, the Chicago blues label owned by a Polish immigrant played by Adrien Broady’s character Leonard Chess. He launched the careers of late great musicians such as Muddy Waters, Chuck Berry, and Etta James, the latter of whom was portrayed by Beyoncé.

Chasing Trane: The John Coltrane Documentary (2016) This passionate story tells the portrait of an unconventional jazz musician whose music refined music and continues to impact, influence, and transform other people’s lives. It features more interviews and little anecdotes about his life with narration from Denzel Washington.

Summer Of Soul (2021) Questlove made his filmmaking debut after premiering this movie at the Sundance Film Festival. The music documentary features six weeks of footage taken in the summer of 1969 in the aftermath of Black Creativity and the civil rights movement. The classic concert film looks back at a group of blues, gospel, and rock ‘n’ soul artists who performed at the Harlem Cultural Festival at Mount Morris Park. It includes performances from Nina Simone, Stevie Wonder, B.B. King, Mavis Staples, Sly & The Family Stone, and more.

Netflix

Get On Up (2014) Actor Chadwick Boseman portrayed the legendary James Brown in the biopic that explores Brown’s life, music, and presence on stages worldwide. It follows the music legend’s journey from humble beginnings to becoming of the most influential artists of the civil rights movement.

Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom (2020) This marks Boseman’s last movie before his unexpected passing. The new adaptation of August Wilson’s play tackles hard issues like race, art, and the exploitation of black artists in the 1920s. Viola Davis gave viewers a riveting performance as Ma Rainey, who never failed to hold back when she wasn’t satisfied with a song. Most of the film is recorded in a studio as she prepares to record new music for an album while clashing with white producers.

Sparkle (2012) Jordin Sparks made her feature film debut in this remake of the original 1976 film alongside industry vets like Derek Luke, Mike Epps, and the late singer Whitney Houston. She plays a child prodigy who sings in a group with her two sisters. Set in 1968, Detroit, the musical trio have hopes of signing a record, which seems far in the future due to one sister’s drug habit and Houston’s role as an over-protective mother. The “I Wanna Dance With Somebody” singer died in February 2012, months before the film was released in theaters. The original “Sparkle,” starring Lonette McKee and Irene Cara — also is available to stream, on Amazon Prime.

The Get Down (2016) The hip-hop-themed drama is set in the South Bronx, known as the birthplace of hip-hop and has been since the 1970s. It follows a small crew of teens who dance or create music. Production reportedly spent over $120 million to make the film, making it the most expensive production in Netflix history. Each episode takes a deeper dive into the rise of hip-hop and disco music.

Starz

Annie (2014) The musical starring Jamie Foxx finds Quvenzhané Wallis as the first Black Annie. The orphan unexpectedly meets wealthy businessman Will Stacks, who uses her to help with his mayoral campaign. The funny satire has quiet moments, sad moments, and performances of “Tomorrow” and “Hard-Knock Life.” She eventually moves in with Stacks, and the two build a bond similar to the one depicted between Annie and her benefactor Daddy Warbucks in the 1932 “Little Orphan Annie” classic.

YouTube

The Jacksons: An American Dream (1992) In the film, Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs and Angela Bassett play Joseph and Katherine Jackson, the parents of Michael Jackson and his nine siblings. The five-hour miniseries tells the captivating story of how five Jackson siblings became one of the most iconic boy groups in music history. Their unique sound came out of Gary, Indiana, and took over the music industry for years.

#Black & Streaming: From ‘Dreamgirls’ to ‘The New Edition Story #’ Here Are 22 Documentaries to Celebrate Black Music Month this Weekend #Black Music Month 2023 #Black Music Month

[einsteinsugly]

Proof that others see the characters as cut-out versions of the OG gang, via the reviews...

IGN: "Leia is endearing as the wallflower – basically the girl version of her father as a teen. Nate and Nikki, like Michael Kelso and Jackie, are the shallow, incompatible couple. Ozzie is the queer Asian kid living in Wisconsin who is comparable to Fez (Wilmer Valderrama), who was also seen as an outsider. Gwen is very much the rebel like Eric’s best friend Steven Hyde (Danny Masterson). And Jay is a dopey version of Donna, the love interest. If the formula worked before, it should work again, right? To some extent, sure. The characters individually are comical – especially Ozzie, whose sardonic one-liners were amusing – but as a group, they lack the chemistry to believe in their relationship drama." Collider: "The new series brings back many of the original's hallmarks and archetypes. Gwen is a lot like Hyde; Nate and Jay are basically both Kelso; Nikki (as we mentioned) is similar to Jackie, and Ozzie fulfills more or less the same function as Fez." The Ringer: "Creating a new teen ensemble with the same chemistry as the original cast was always going to be a tall order, but more than anything, That ’90s Show suffers from a lack of imagination. Many of the characters exist as stand-ins for the old crew: Gwen has the same rebellious sensibilities as Hyde, and there’s another Kelso (Mace Coronel) who is frequently described as a “man-whore.” (Unlike Kutcher’s lovably idiotic Michael Kelso, his son, Jay, actually has some brain cells to go with his libido.) But if the new ensemble feels one-note and underwritten compared to the original, that may just be a sign of the TV-making times." The Hollywood Reporter: "Leia has inherited some of her dad’s dorkiness, and ditzy jock Nate (Maxwell Acee Donovan) feels even more like the new version of Ashton Kutcher’s Michael Kelso than the actual new Kelso, Michael’s smooth-talking son Jay (Mace Coronel)."

#that 70s show #that 90s show #my essays #more like plopping up quotes to prove my point

[cyarsk52-20]

10 of the best and 10 of the worst TV shows that came out this year

This year brought a new lineup of comedies, dramas, thrillers, and docuseries.

Some of the worst-reviewed shows of the year included "Queen Cleopatra" and "Saint X." 

But critics recommended "Drops of God," "A Small Light," and "Cunk on Earth."

Plenty of new series entertained fans this year. But according to critics, some were better than others.

Here are the best and worst TV shows of 2023, according to critic scores.

Critics loved the highbrow drama “Drops of God.”

Rotten Tomatoes: 100%

Summary: After a titan in the wine industry passes away, his estranged daughter Camille (Fleur Geffrier) is forced to compete against her father's greatest student (Tomohisa Yamashita) to earn her inheritance.

The Apple TV+ drama was received as an intelligent, fast-paced series with rewarding plotlines.

"The writing, acting, directing, and cinematography all hit the right notes," Randy Myers wrote for The Mercury News.

“A Small Light” added new layers to the legendary story of Anne Frank. 

Rotten Tomatoes: 100%

Summary: On the National Geographic series, Dutch woman Miep Gies (Bel Powley) takes in Anne Frank's (Billie Boullet) family at the height of World War II.

Critics admired "A Small Light" for handling a delicate subject with grace and faithfulness.

"'A Small Light' finds a fresh way into this tale of courage, resilience and tragedy and, in doing so, may well pass the story on to yet another generation," Rebecca Nicholson wrote for The Guardian.

The mockumentary “Cunk on Earth” had critics rolling with laughter. 

Rotten Tomatoes: 100%

Summary: Philomena Cunk (Diane Morgan) travels the world, speaking to experts about untold secrets as she investigates the history of the human race.

Morgan's dry humor kept critics laughing from start to finish.

Michael Phillips wrote for the Chicago Tribune, "It's the funniest thing I've seen in months, and not just on Netflix."

The Australian comedy “Deadloch” offered a refreshing change of pace for crime fans. 

Rotten Tomatoes: 100%

Summary: After a dead body washes ashore in their town, by-the-numbers Sergeant Dulcie Collins (Kate Box) is paired up with rough-and-tumble investigator Eddie Redcliffe (Madeleine Sami) to solve the case.

Critics said viewers who take a plunge into the oddball Amazon Prime series will find a refreshing take on crime procedurals.

"It might sound a little cliche to say you'll be guessing all the way to the end, but you really will, with unpredictable pace-propelling twists rolled out from go to whoa," Luke Buckmaster wrote for The Guardian.

Critics tore through “Beef” in a matter of days. 

Rotten Tomatoes: 98%

Summary: After a road-rage incident, art curator Amy Lau (Ali Wong) and struggling contractor Danny Cho (Steven Yeun) are caught in an escalating rivalry that threatens to spill over into their everyday lives.

Critics said Netflix's "Beef" was a binge-worthy drama with an explosive finale that will leave viewers hungry for more.

"With addictive performances, stellar writing, and an innovative tone throughout, 'Beef' will undoubtedly garner a dedicated viewership on Netflix due to its sheer originality," Anna Miller wrote for Discussing Film.

“Gen V” expands on the world of “The Boys” with dark wit. 

Rotten Tomatoes: 97%

Summary: On the Amazon Prime spin-off for "The Boys," young college students with superpowers compete to earn a spot in the coveted Seven.

In the age of reboots, sequels, and spin-offs, critics were genuinely charmed by the worldbuilding of "Gen V."

"'Gen V' has the same irreverent, iconoclastic sense of humor as 'The Boys,' and introduces a new cast of superheroes with creatively designed powers that capture the audience's attention right off the bat," Audrey Fox wrote for Looper.

Critics said “I’m A Virgo” was bursting with creativity. 

Rotten Tomatoes: 96%

Summary: On Amazon Prime's "I'm A Virgo," 13-foot-tall Cootie (Jharrel Jerome) leaves his sheltered home and tries to accept his larger-than-life self.

Critics agreed it was a charming, weird, and wonderful series from "Sorry to Bother You"(2018) director Boots Riley.

"'I'm a Virgo' is a whimsical 'Alice in Wonderland'-style fantasy," Jeanine T. Abraham wrote for Medium.

“Telemarketers” pulled back the curtain on a nationwide con. 

Rotten Tomatoes: 96%

Summary: On HBO's docuseries, Sam Lipman-Stern looks back on his time working as a telemarketer for a suspicious corporate conglomerate.

Critics said that the scrappy early-2000s footage grounded the series in realism and added a grittiness that's noteworthy among a sea of glossy docudramas.

"It feels like a rebellious artifact, realized in real-time and with a kind of earnestness and zeal that the endless stream of glossy true-crime docs peeling off the streaming-service presses lack," Alison Lanier wrote for Pajiba.

Critics said period drama “Transatlantic” had a classic Hollywood flair. 

Rotten Tomatoes: 95%

Summary: In 1940 Marseilles, France, Mary Jayne Gold (Gillian Jacobs) and Varian Fry (Cory Michael Smith) help European refugees fleeing from Nazi Germany to the US.

Critics praised the Netflix period drama — which was based on a true story — for blending several plotlines in a riveting, cohesive way.

"While the show isn't afraid to get as dark as its circumstances require, it's also not afraid to embrace the occasional moment of levity, from funny misunderstandings to romantic drama to even an unexpected musical number," Liz Shannon Miller wrote for Consequence.

The charm of “Platonic” was undeniable. 

Rotten Tomatoes: 93%

Summary: After a long rift, best friends Will (Seth Rogen) and Sylvia (Rose Byrne) reconnect when they need each other most.

Critics said Rogen and Byrne effortlessly carried their chemistry from the "Neighbors" film series over to the Apple TV+ show.

"'Platonic' works because Byrne and Rogen are such joys to watch together, and because viewers want to spend ten half-hour episodes watching them spend time together," Sarah Ward wrote for Concrete Playground.

On the other hand, critics were completely split on “Digman!”

Rotten Tomatoes: 57%

Summary: In a world where archaeologists are worshiped like heroes, Rip Digman (voiced by Andy Samberg) tries to reclaim his former glory a decade after being fired by the Smithsonian.

Critics were split on Comedy Central's "Digman!" Some called it a funny Saturday-afternoon cartoon, but others felt it was something to skip.

"'Digman' misses the mark in essentially every department," Brittany Vincent wrote for Decider. "Its jokes fall flat, its premise can't hold up an entire series, and the word 'arky' is overused to a maddening degree."

Critics felt like a great cast was wasted on “Secret Invasion.”

Rotten Tomatoes: 53%

Summary: On the Disney+ Marvel series, Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson) teams up with old friend Talos (Ben Mendelsohn) to stop rogue aliens from taking over Earth.

The phenomenal cast — Jackson, Mendelsohn, Olivia Colman, Kingsley Ben-Adir, Emilia Clarke — was commendable, even if critics were weary of franchise fatigue.

"'Secret Invasion' is the epitome of the Marvel TV and film franchise," Richard Ferguson wrote for The Australian. "Even an armed chase through the streets of Moscow seems stunted, fake and without life."

“Citadel” had high ambitions but felt clunky to critics. 

Rotten Tomatoes: 50%

Summary: Former spies and lovers Mason Kane (Richard Madden) and Nadia Smith (Priyanka Chopra Jonas) reunite after learning that a syndicate of adversaries wiped their memories.

Critics wanted to let their guard down and let the Amazon Prime series take them on a fun adventure ride. But its overstuffed plot and rushed CGI proved too distracting to ignore.

"Audiences for action movies are willing to suspend disbelief if the payoff is worth the cost, but 'Citadel' never closes the sale," Brian Tallerico wrote for The Playlist.

Critics were left unimpressed by the “True Lies” reboot. 

Rotten Tomatoes: 42%

Summary: On CBS' reboot of "True Lies," secret agent Harry Tasker (Steve Howey) tries to balance work and marriage when he invites his wife Helen (Ginger Gonzaga) to Paris on a spy mission.

Reviewers agreed that the series failed to translate any of the fun and spark of the 1994 movie that inspired it.

"Your eyes would be well advised to look for something better too," Pat Stacey wrote for the Irish Independent. "'True Lies' is truly dire — and that's no lie."

Bad reviews rolled in left and right for “Velma.” 

Rotten Tomatoes: 39%

Summary: On Max's reimagining of "Scooby-Doo," high-school-age Velma Dinkley (voiced by Mindy Kaling) is forced to prove her innocence after a murder is pinned on her.

Critics came to a consensus that "Velma" reworked "Scooby-Doo" so radically that it lost all its most lovable ingredients.

"It's an empty shell of a farce that's not clever or engrossing. Just gross," Erin Maxwell wrote for LA Weekly.

Critics called “Florida Man” an overstuffed crime drama. 

Rotten Tomatoes: 22%

Summary: Ex-cop Mike Valentine (Edgar Ramírez) promises to track down a mobster's girlfriend in Florida. But the gig spirals into something more sinister.

Critics said Netflix's "Florida Man" tacked way too many ideas to its storyboard, and lost a strong throughline in the process.

"'Florida Man' is a muddled show that has some interesting characters and story points, but they're lost in a show that's far too crowded," Joel Keller wrote for Decider.

With countless superhero shows on the market, “Gotham Knights” fell to the bottom rung. 

Rotten Tomatoes: 21%

Summary: After Bruce Wayne dies, his adopted son Turner Hayes (Oscar Morgan) is framed for his murder and forced to go on the lam with the children of Batman's greatest enemies.

"Gotham Knights" earned poor reception, with critics agreeing that there were much better superhero offerings than the CW show.

"There's too much other quality content based on comic book universes populating the broadcast and streaming landscape to make this feel like anything other than an embarrassing afterthought," Zaki Hasan wrote for The Wrap.

Critics said “The Idol” lacked any semblance of self-awareness. 

Rotten Tomatoes: 19%

Summary: After her last tour ended in disaster, pop star Jocelyn (Lily-Rose Depp) tries to piece her fame back together with self-help guru Tedros (Abel "The Weeknd" Tesfaye).

Critics felt like the Max drama was desperately trying to be edgy — and ultimately fell short of anything boundary-pushing or fresh.

"'The Idol' tries so hard to be edgy and coolly shocking that you start to feel sorry for the show," Craig Mathieson wrote for The Age.

“Saint X” left critics unsatisfied on many levels. 

Rotten Tomatoes: 19%

Summary: Based on the book by Alexis Schaitkin, "Saint X" follows Emily Thomas (Alycia Debnam-Carey) as she tries to solve the mystery of her sister's (West Duchovny) brutal death in the Caribbean 20 years prior.

Reviewers pointed to clunky dialogue and head-spinning plotlines while giving the Hulu thriller low marks.

"Unfortunately, its execution muddles the message on almost all levels," Adrian Horton wrote for The Guardian. "The timeline-switching is chaotic, the acting wooden, the pace doleful and the aesthetic cheap-looking."

Critics didn't know what to make of “Queen Cleopatra.”

Rotten Tomatoes: 18%

Summary: On Netflix's dramatic miniseries, narrated by Jada Pinkett Smith, the legacy of Queen Cleopatra is brought to life through reenactments and expert interviews.

Across the board, "Queen Cleopatra" received poor reviews from critics who said the series suffered from an identity crisis.

"With no distinctive aesthetic point of view on offer and nothing intellectually novel to engage with, 'Cleopatra' swiftly becomes a test of patience before it even reaches episode two," Joseph Fahim wrote for Middle East Eye.

Sent from my iPhone

[anotherdayinsimworld]

Danny Fabulous, the teenaged son of Izzy and Diego Fabulous. His hair was originally brown as a child, which I took as an indication that he inherited Izzy's purple hair but the game doesn't have purple as an available hair color for kids so I changed it manually when he hit puberty.

He ended up graduating from high school early and so now he does drama full time. It helps that his dads are global superstars and one of them won the lottery so they are also simillionaires.

#sims #sims 4 gameplay #my sims #sims 4 #willow creek #pendula view #umbrage manor #Danny Fabulous

[stargazer1682]

Quantum Leap II – Season 1 Episode 3 – Someone Up There Likes Ben

A few things I find I’m missing from the original series:

The theme song.  Iconic.  Obviously not the season 5 redub, although it had it’s moments. I know most main stream US shows don’t do theme songs anymore, but as a fan of Doctor Who, this feels like a missed opportunity to tie the old with the new.

I also find I’m missing the voice overs.  It’s easy to take for granted, and it was a conceit of the original series, because Sam’s narration was presented as if he were talking directly to the audience, as opposed to his own inner monologue.  But it was an effective way of sharing the main character’s insight with the audience, and helped share in his unique experience.  This makes me realize something else; because we’re spending comparatively less time on the leaps themselves (which arguably should be the main point of the series), we hardly get to know Ben; what he’s like, what he’s going through, why we should like him as a protagonist.  Once again, we only get a superficial look at the story, while they drag out manufactured drama at Project Quantum Leap…

Case in point, episode three of the new series.  Within the first ten minutes we get one expositional dump after the next, but it mostly just skims the surface.  Ben’s leaped into a boxer, his coach is his brother, his brother put the gym on the line, he’s got a girlfriend; oops, the girlfriend is with the rival he’s about to box.  But most these points go nowhere.  We see the girlfriend twice and only for a few seconds in those first 10 minutes; only long enough to establish she’s interested in “Danny,” whom Ben has leaped into; and no sooner do they flash the title, we see her with his rival at the weigh in. 

This is “plot twist” such as it is, is quickly used force a confrontation with… checks notes… the person Danny already has an antagonistic relationship with, being boxing rivals.  We get no further interaction between Ben and Angela prior to this confrontation, and it quickly escalates to underscore the problems Darryl has since coming back from Vietnam.  But aside from one or two brief moments of Ben talking to Darryl about it, the story itself is superficial. 

Ben gets himself arrested, which gets Darryl out of jail faster, because Angela – Danny’s sort of girlfriend – bailed them out.  And she wants Darryl to understand, she loves his brother.  Okay, but we’ve literally only seen you twice this episode prior to this scene; and you with the other guy in one of them; and we’ve been given nothing to build this supposed love on.  But she wants Danny to win and she’s throwing the other guy over, because… reasons.

I will give the show points for original thinking by proposing the idea that Ben is applying the slingshot trajectory method to time travel; building up so-called momentum to allow him to travel further through time than he should be able to.  As a time travel fan, I like it.  I just wish the show had brought up a core part of the show’s mythos – that the leaper can only leap within his own life time – before episode 3; especially if it’s going to be a major plot point.

But at least they remembered that, unlike say, the fact that THEY DON’T FUCKING LEAP INTO THE OTHER PERSON’S BODY!

They made that clear throughout the original series. It was Sam’s body, and it was just the aura of the people he leaped into that they see.  There were times people saw Sam for Sam.  There was the time he leaped into someone with no legs, but he still had his legs.  When he leaped into a chimp (stay with me) he could still swim, where a chimp couldn’t.  And, oh, yeah, he father a fucking child who inherited his IQ and was working at PQL!

But the show ignores the fact that the person he leaps into arrives in the future in the waiting room, so… 🤷‍♂️

The rest of the episode is meh.  More PQL intrigue bullshit.  Al’s daughter is drugging her mom for some reason (yeah, to get the handlink, whatever; because it was apparently necessary to go that far to do it).  The Leap itself is mostly an afterthought.  It takes hardly any effort to get his brother to agree to go to therapy if he wins, which he doesn’t dither on afterwards. It’s no surprise that the plan to take advantage of some opening in the second round doesn’t work; and also not surprising that Ben pulls a win out of his ass anyway, despite very little training.  And just as with the last episode, where the show doesn’t know the meaning of doing anything small, Ben/Danny becoming heavyweight champion of the world…

The episode was basically a rip-off of two episodes from the original series, both done much, much better.  The main framework of the episode seems to be a rip-off of “The Right Hand of God,” where Sam literally leapt into a boxer, completely with a subplot about the romance of the person Sam leaped into; which was done better by virtue of doing literally anything with it.  And then there’s just a little dash of “Heart of a Champion,” where Sam leaped into a professional wrestler, whose brother died during a fight; so Sam convinces his brother to get a complete physical (because Sam knew he had a heart defect) contingent on Sam winning the match, which he does.  And here again, the original does it better by actually digging into any detail about the characters and their relationships.

[h50fics]

The Recovery of Reflection Job

by enblackink

December 2011. Reese may be recovering but the Numbers don’t stop coming, the latest has Harold and Reese undercover as a couple for a company party. Team Leverage heads for Montserrat for much needed R&R and definitely not looking for a job while Team Five-0 avoids an explosive Christmas, Will Ingram may have found a new calling, and Steve and Danny finally get that date.

January 2012. Reese and Finch must protect a grifter after her plan to steal cash from a regent dispensary fails. Steve loses the Champ Box, Matthew gets sentenced, Chin sees Malia again, Will returns to New York to speak with his Uncle Harold and Carter finally gets a sit down but the month isn’t even over yet.

February 2012. The rest of Team Leverage finally makes it to Montserrat only to end up on a job. Parker is having feelings that have nothing to do with emeralds. The latest Number turns out to be five months old and Steve and Chin head off into the forest to protect a witness while Danny is called away.

Words: 26768, Chapters: 1/3, Language: English

Series: Part 4 of Inheritance

Fandoms: Person of Interest (TV), Leverage, Hawaii Five-0 (2010)

Rating: Mature

Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply

Categories: F/M, M/M

Characters: Team Machine (Person of Interest), Team Leverage, Five-0 Team (Hawaii Five-0 2010), Irrelevant Number(s) (Person of Interest), Will Ingram

Relationships: Harold Finch/John Reese, Alec Hardison/Eliot Spencer, Steve McGarrett/Danny "Danno" Williams, Sophie Devereaux/Nathan Ford, The Machine & John Reese

Additional Tags: First Dates, Case Fic, Hurt/Comfort, Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, POV Multiple, Alternate Universe - Soulmates, Crossovers & Fandom Fusions, Crossover, Fake/Pretend Relationship, Injury Recovery, Developing Relationship, Drama & Romance, Sappy, Implied Sexual Content

via AO3 works tagged 'Steve McGarrett/Danny "Danno" Williams' https://ift.tt/P18LTVS

#IFTTT #McDanno #H50

[five-rivers]

Okay so i've now decides ur my guide into all things Danny Phantom lmao, i just have one more question: //the ships// what even is the shipping culture here, i've seen basically NOTHING. Is just because they're all underage and the fandom is mostly grown (is that even true??) If so, that is one hell of a feat good job guys

This is actually really funny to me, because our shipping culture is, uh.  Really weird.  Even from the inside.  Like, apparently we inherited some extreme strangeness from the Early Phandom Days.  We have unique ship names for just about every conceivable pairing, and some that... should honestly not be conceived of.  This is the most complete list I’ve found.  Thankfully, most of these are jokes and do not have fics.  As far as I know.  (This isn’t a challenge, guys.)

But, yeah.  Shipping isn’t a huge part of our phandom culture overall.  It’s kinda just in the background.  I think this is partially because we have a high percentage of ace people, but IDK.  We put all our shipping energy into making communal OCs, I guess.

As far as phandom ages go, I think someone did a survey a year or two back, and most of the people who answered were teens.  I wish I could find the survey to show you, but I never reblogged it.  On the other hand, a lot of the more active members are in their twenties.  A lot of people on the rec list I sent you are adults.  I’m in my late twenties myself.  

If you value your sanity and don’t want to click on that link, I’ve got a list of the most prominent ones and associated drama below.

Danny/Sam aka Amethyst Ocean.  This is the canonical endgame ship.  Has both good points and bad points that have been extensively explored in fic.  The most likely one to show up in the background of gen fics.  Often paired with Valerie/Tucker (Hunter Silly).

Danny/Valerie aka Gray Ghost.  This is also a canon ship.  A dating catwoman situation, since Valerie hates and often fights Danny when he’s Phantom.  I think this and Amethyst Ocean had some drama back in the day, but I wasn’t there for that.  There’s still a little tiny drama because some people who ship this also bash Sam.  Also very popular.  Often paired with Sam/Tucker (Veggie Burger).

Danny/Paulina aka Shallow Sapphire or Pink Astronaut.  Which name gets used depends on both time and how the person feels about the ship.  Sort of canon?  But it’s the typical mean popular girl crush thing in canon.  People who like it usually flesh out Paulina a lot and add in a lot of Mexican or Spanish cultural stuff, depending on where they think Paulina is from, which is cool.  

Danny/Tucker aka Savant Par.  No idea why it’s called that.  Kind of rarer compared to the Amethyst Ocean and Gray Ghost, but there’s still a respectable number of fics.  

Danny/Dash aka Teddy Ghost.  Often gets some discourse when it comes up, because Dash is a bully in canon, but some people like it a lot.  I think I see art for it more often than Savant Par, but I don’t have stats.  

Danny/Wes aka Unidentified Flying Ship.  Yes, we ship Danny with our phandom conspiracy theorist OC.  Yes, it’s weirdly popular.  

Danny/Sam/Tucker aka Everlasting Trio.  We love our poly ships.  I have never seen even a little drama attached to this.  I think I’ve seen Valerie get added, sometimes, but I don’t think there’s a name for that.  

Maddie/Jack aka Brain Cookies aka Moronic Genius.  Again, canon, and is usually in the background of whatever else is going on.  Assume it’s there if Jack and Maddie are there.  

Maddie/Vlad aka Spurned Affection.  Because sometimes people like to see the bad guys win.  

Maddie/Vlad/Jack aka Family Breakfast.  Again, we love our poly ships.  The solution to all love triangles.

And then, sadly...  Because you can’t have fandom without sketchy ships...

Danny/Ghost Writer aka Iambic Prose.  I have mixed feelings about this one, because it’s usually a teenager and a theoretically immortal ghost of unclear age, but the people who write for it do it well.  

Danny and Vlad.  Aka Po/mpous P/ep.  (Backslashed because I don’t want tumblr’s algorithms to get a hold of it).  The fact that this exists, let alone that there are so many fics for it, bothers me.  Evidently caused great drama back when the phandom still had contact with Butch and the show was ongoing.  Continues to cause drama when it comes up because it’s just... gross.  People will list it in their DNIs.  

This isn’t even getting into platonic and parental ships, some of which are even bigger and more popular than the romantic ones.  I don’t think any of them are super active right now, but, like, if you’re going back in the archives, there’s a lot of contact.  

#danny phantom #phandom #ask #answer

[rbr-seb]

DTS Episode 1 commentary

Note: These are all personal opinions. Do not take srsly.

Get in there Lewis! Woooo!

Karate chop Red Bull urgh

No Mikey in the first episode? Come on. Toto smashing headphones? Sexy.

Things I like to hear: Lewis Hamilton is a 7time champion of the world

Mark Webber!

Things i hate to hear: Christian Horner- shut the fuck up. HOW ABOUT YOU DOING THE SHUTTING UP

Stereotypical Arabian music pch

Lando defluffing

Will Buxton eww

Este And Nando!

Yuki and Mick! So cute!

Nice synthwave track. A plus music change

Seb and his beloved water bottle :)

CHECOOO

Toto roasting Danny ricc lmfao

Sharl my babycito

Charlos demon chaos himbos.

Ah yes Mercedes comes in and boss music plays

Fuck you will Buxton

YES YOU ARE LEWIS YOU ARE.

Toto you goof

Gunther lmfao

Otmar gives me tired dad vibes

Zak Brown! Ayy! Love to see the confidence

Toro is such a poser

Please fuck you and your 'REaL chAmPioNShiP' like build better cars?

Mmmmm the sound of the engines during up yess baby

Damn that's a bad spin.

'He's moaning and bitching', please Christian what are you doing?

What. The. Fuck. Christian literally said Toto inherited everything? Excuse me? Who's given lectures at Harvard Business School? Where are your 8wccs Horner please share

You wish you were riding bottas Christian. Please.

Bahrain is pretty!

Piarles baby <33

The more horner speaks teh more i want to * him

Excuse me no sustained challenge? 2017-18 Ferrari? Where was RedBull then?

Yuki walking in like he's the king of the paddock

Everyone wants RedBull to win it's terrible.

The drama is crazy here lmfao

Sure Yuki. You are the sweetest tiger :)

Ah yes mazepin with the shortest debut race ever.

Poor pierre can never catch a break.

Bono is just so calm.so chill. Unbothered. Moisturized. Sexy.

Go YUKIII!

Fuck you for stealing Bono's line

Against all odds? Interesting words Toto...

Biggest thing in formula one? EXCUSE ME HORNER. Did you forget about your four consecutive WCCs? WDCs? Sebby? 13 consecutive win? My baby?

Overall rating: 5/10 for too much horner.

#dts #dts liveblog #f1 #formula 1

[formula-one-thoughts]

2020 British Grand Prix - Race Review

The 2020 British Grand Prix was for the most part a relatively calm race, bookended by drama. The trend of chaotic and intense final laps continued, the race culminating with one of the craziest endings to a Grand Prix I’ve ever seen. Nico Hulkenberg unfortunately was not to be part of it though. Having been called in to replace Sergio Perez at Racing Point following the Mexican’s positive Covid-19 test, his whirlwind weekend ended in disappointment as he failed to make it onto the starting grid, his race over before it even began. Lewis Hamilton led into the first corner and held his position at the front of the pack for the race’s duration. Leclerc almost got the better of Verstappen, but Max managed to hold onto third. Unfortunately that was as much wheel-to-wheel action between the pair we’d be treated to, with Max escaping Charles to run a very lonely race. Behind them Norris and Stroll swapped places with Sainz and Danny Ric. After a promising start Kevin Magnussen’s race came to an abrupt end after he clashed with Alex Albon, bringing out the first safety car of the afternoon. After clipping a kerb Magnussen wobbled a little and Albon went for an overtake into the final corner. The gap wasn't quite there though, and Magnussen ended up in the gravel, missing a tyre. For me it was a racing incident, but if blame was going to be placed anywhere, it was Albon who was more at fault, and the 5-second time penalty he was handed was justified. His car appeared to be in OK form but after the safety car came in complaints of vibrations resulted in an early pit stop for hard tyres, placing him firmly at the back of the field.

Pit stops from the other drivers were triggered by the biggest crash of the season so far. Daniil Kvyat collided dramatically with the barriers at Maggots-Becketts, fortunately getting out of the car unharmed. The Russian was quick to blame himself for the incident, but it appears he may have suffered a right-rear tyre puncture. In the wake of the crash the majority of cars from Ricciardo in P6 filed into the pits, with the top five plus Stroll joining them in switching to the hard tyre. Haas seem to be gambling with every strategy call they make this season, and while it paid off in Budapest, leaving Grosjean out until lap 36 didn’t prove to be the smartest choice. Whilst he did manage to hold onto his position at the front of the midfield for a while, he was on faster tyres and pulled off several classic ‘sketchy’ Grosjean moves, much to the displeasure of Ricciardo and Sainz, and received a slap on the wrist from race control as a result. He eventually pitted and returned to the track in last position.

Pierre Gasly had a great race that featured a brilliant battle with the Ferrari of Vettel, the other Scuderia of Leclerc having much more success, running steadily in 4th. The Renault car took a shine to Silverstone and injected excitement into the midfield, both through Ocon’s fight with Stroll and Ricciardo’s battles with the Mclarens. The greatest excitement though came on lap 50, when the tyres that had been troublesome for the majority of the race finally gave up on a handful of cars, in spectacular fashion. The gaps between Hamilton, Bottas and Verstappen that had stayed consistent throughout the race started to change, with Bottas sliding away from his teammate and into the reach of the Red Bull. He dramatically slowed down when his front left tyre completely delaminated and Verstappen snuck past. Unfortunately for the Finn he had just past the pit entrance and hence had to nurse his car round and entire lap, eventually re-joining with fresh rubber in 11th. Next to be betrayed by his tyres was Carlos Sainz, whose puncture promoted Ricciardo into 4thand his teammate into 5th. In the wake of Bottas’ disaster, Red Bull decided to make the most of a free pit stop, protecting against a potential puncture of their own and giving Verstappen new tyres to set fastest lap with. What they couldn't have predicted was that Hamilton too would get a puncture! In scenes that had many a fan (myself included) screaming at their television, Hamilton achieved the impossible, bringing home his three wheeled Mercedes to win his 7thhome Grand Prix, with Verstappen all the time gaining on him but ultimately finishing a good 5 seconds behind. In the midst of all this madness, Albon managed to move his car up to 8thand Leclerc inherited 3rd.

It was race that will go down in history as one of Hamilton’s finest, and footage of him dragging his car across the finish line will be seen on highlight reels for years to come. Any fear that this weekend’s race will be a carbon copy of its predecessor has been strongly dispelled by the tyre drama, the hotter conditions and softer compounds for the 70thAnniversary Grand Prix necessitating a two stop strategy in what is sure to be super race.

#f1 #formula1 #formualone #Silverstone #British Grand Prix #lewis hamilton #max verstappen #charles leclerc #mercedes #red bull #ferrari #alex albon #valterri bottas #lando norris #carlos sainz #daniel ricciardo #motosport #f170

[aion-rsa]

Kung Fu: Inside The History of a Martial Arts Classic

https://ift.tt/2Q3B4LS

It’s been a long journey for The CW to snatch that Kung Fu pebble from the master’s (Warner Bros.) hand, but the new reboot of Kung Fu could not have come at a better time.

Issues of diversity and representation have been at the forefront of our cultural conversations for years now. The rise in Asian hate crimes – nearly a 150% increase in 2020 – has made #StopAsianHate a frequent trending topic on social media. For The CW to launch a show with a Chinese leading actress and a largely Asian cast right now makes a bold statement for inclusivity that lives up to the network’s longstanding slogan “Dare to Defy.”

What’s more, Kung Fu is promoting itself as an Asian family drama which could fill a newly opened gap. Two wildly successful Asian family sitcoms just went off the air – ABC’s Fresh Off the Boat ended its six-season run in 2020 and Kim’s Convenience announced that their final episode after a five-season run will be April 13, 2021 (In the wake of Kim’s Convenience, CBC is launching a spinoff series, Strays, following the character of Shannon Ross, the only white actor credited in show’s opening). This leaves the door wide open for Kung Fu to capture fans of Asian family dramas. Plus it’s The CW, a network that thrives on soap opera-esque dramas. 

CW’s reboot is a complete reimagining of Kung Fu, but what of the legacy of the original franchise? Will this new version bring honor to the Kwai Chang Caine a.k.a. Grasshopper? The original Kung Fu series was groundbreaking in its own way. The show garnered critical acclaim including three Primetime Emmys and two Golden Globe nominations. Even though David Carradine’s Kwai Chang Caine would be called out for whitewashing today, with its heavy reliance on Daoist philosophy, Kung Fu provided many Americans with their first taste of many aspects of Chinese culture, especially Shaolin martial arts. It also had the largest Asian supporting cast of any show for decades to come. 

The Shaolin Temple Days

When the original Kung Fu premiered in 1972, it was the right time too. The pilot was such a big hit that the network decided to show it again (remember this was long before the invention of VHS – back then your only chance to see a show was to watch it when it was broadcast). However, the second showing was preempted by President Richard Nixon shaking hands with Chairman Mao Zedong. China was opening its bamboo curtain to America at the same time Kung Fu was telecast. 

Kung Fu ran for only three seasons on ABC and yet it holds a special place in the hearts of its long standing fans. Kwai Chang Caine was a barefoot half-Asian mendicant monk from the Shaolin Temple who travelled the old west in search of his long-lost half-brother, Danny Caine (Tim McIntire). Caine was a wanted man because he took revenge. He killed the Emperor’s nephew who killed his beloved blind master, Master Po (Keye Luke). Beyond casting almost every Asian actor in the business back then, Kung Fu had an astonishing list of guest stars like Gary Busey, Jodie Foster, Harrison Ford, William Shatner, and many others. 

The Chinese Connection: Bruce Lee Vs. Kwai Chang Caine

For decades, it was rumored that Kung Fu was ripped off from martial arts legend Bruce Lee. Lee had written a treatment that was remarkably similar – a story of Chinese immigrant martial arts master who landed in America during the Wild West era. However, in the definitive biography Bruce Lee: A Life, biographer Matthew Polly uncovered substantial evidence that Warner Brothers already had Kung Fu in development prior to Lee’s pitch. Nevertheless, Lee’s daughter, Shannon Lee, claims that her father auditioned for the part of Caine and was rejected because, ironically, he was Chinese. She went on to develop her father’s treatment into Cinemax’s Warrior (another recent show with a predominantly Asian cast that was cancelled last year).

After the original show ended, Carradine returned to the iconic role of Caine several times. In 1986, Kung Fu: The Movie aired on ABC, reuniting Carradine with Keye Luke and introducing Caine’s estranged son Chung Wang. Even more ironic, Chung Wang was played by none other than Bruce Lee’s son, Brandon Lee. 

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Kung Fu: The Movie was a steppingstone towards a spinoff series attempt, Kung Fu: The Next Generation, with Brandon Lee playing Johnny Caine. Carradine was not involved in this series. Set in modern times instead of the Old West, Johnny Caine was the great grandson of Kwai Chang Caine, but not the Kwai Chang Caine of the original series. The TNG Kwai Chang Caine was named for his great-grandfather – Carradine’s original character – and played by David Darlow. Brandon Lee was cast as both Kwai Chang Caine’s son and his great great great great grandson. Kung Fu: The Next Generation was not picked up. It was only telecast on an unusual short-lived TV showcase called CBS Summer Playhouse, which ran failed pilots every week. Six years later, Brandon Lee died in a tragic on set accident while filming The Crow.

Twenty years after the original series, David Carradine reprised the role of Kwai Chang Caine, or rather the grandson of Kwai Chang Caine, also named Kwai Chang Caine (not the father of the TNG Kwai Chang Caine because the failure of the pilot removed it from canon). That was the first real reboot of the series – Kung Fu: The Legend Continues. Set in modern times again, Caine was paired with a new son, Detective Peter Caine (Chris Potter). The series ran for four seasons, logging twenty-four more episodes than the original. 

After that, Carradine never returned to Caine. He went on to promote martial arts with his book, Spirit of Shaolin, which he wrote in 1991, and some instructional Kung Fu videos that he made in the mid-90s. Carradine was never able to completely shake being typecast by the iconic role of Caine. Over the course of over 200 roles, a few more Carradine parts echoed Grasshopper. Fans were delighted to see him play the flute as Bill in Tarantino’s Kill Bill films (the flute was Caine’s signature accoutrement). Tarantino also referenced Kung Fu in Pulp Fiction when Jules (Samuel L. Jackson) tells Vincent (John Travolta) that he plans to walk the earth like “Caine in Kung Fu.”

In 2008, Carradine played “Crane”, a martial art monk just like Caine, in Kung Fu Killer, a two-part mini-series for Spike TV. Carradine claimed that the role was based on an actual historical figure, which he alleges is how the production worked around Warner Bros.’ copyright on Caine. But Carradine was never able to provide the name of that historical figure. He believed that Crane and Caine were ‘diametrically opposed’ but aside from being more violent (in one fight, Crane knocks an opponent so hard that his spine graphically bursts out of his back) viewers are hard pressed to separate them. The series was slated to have three more installments, but those never happened.

The Barefoot Journey to The CW

Kwai Chang Caine had to walk a lot of rice paper before the character could become this new incarnation of Nicky Shen (Olivia Liang) for CW’s reimagining of the franchise. The first major talk of reboot was back in 2011 (on Halloween no less). Bill Paxton (Aliens, Predator 2) was in talks to direct a screen adaptation. John McLaughlin (Black Swan, The Patriot) was tapped to write the script. The production was from Legendary Entertainment and plans were being made to shoot in China. Paxton said they had intended to follow the original story more or less – Caine ventures across the American West of the 1870s in search of his birth father instead of his half-brother. Paxton claimed that his new production would enrich the scale and grandeur to the level that the show always deserved. This was to be feature films under Warner Brother’s Chinese cooperative venture, Legendary East. As the project developed, other writers who became associated with the reboot film included Cory Goodman (Priest) and Rich Wilkes (xXx)

In 2014, Baz Luhrmann (Romeo + Juliet, Moulin Rouge!) was in talks to direct Kung Fu for Legendary. If the deal had been signed, Luhrmann planned to rewrite McLaughlin’s script. Paxton died in 2017 but his name had faded from talk of the reboot prior to his passing. 

In an unexpected twist, Universal announced that it was opting Kung Fu for a feature length film in early 2020. At the helm is none other than stuntman-turned director David Leitch (John Wick, Deadpool). Leitch has also been attached to a remake of Bruce Lee’s Enter the Dragon (another property with a long history of attempted remakes). However, since the initial announcements, there’s been no information on the further development on either project from Leitch. 

On the TV side of things, Fox grabbed Kung Fu in 2017 for a new series. Greg Berlanti (Arrow, The Flash) came on board to produce with Wendy Mericle (Arrow, Desperate Housewives) penning the script. This incarnation was the first mention of changing the gender of the main protagonist. The new lead was to be Lucy Chang, a Shaolin nun. Instead of being set in the Old West, she was to be living in the 1950s. And instead of searching for her half-brother, it was her kidnapped child. 

In a successive treatment, Lucy was set in modern times. She was to inherit her father’s Chinatown Kung Fu school, only to discover that it secretly operated as a center to help those in desperate need. Lucy was partnered with a Korean War veteran named J.T. Cullen. The reboot moved to the CW in 2019 with Christina M. Kim (Blindspot, Hawaii Five-0) taking over as writer and producer and Berlanti still attached as a producer. The story is reimagined with Nicky Shen as a young Chinese American woman in contemporary times, who leaves to find herself at a monastery in China, and then returns to her family in America.

In the pilot, there’s no explicit connection given between Nicky and Kwai Chang Caine so far (save for the quick appearance of a grasshopper). Kung Fu is a complete re-imagining, so all bets are off. But as the season progresses, who knows what references and homages are possible? Reboots thrive on their Easter eggs nowadays, and even if Nicky isn’t within the Caine bloodline, Kung Fu will be well served by tucking some call-backs to the original show. 

Will Nicky have to walk rice paper and snatch pebbles from her master’s hand? Will she get those classic Shaolin Dragon and Tiger forearm brands? If she does then perhaps Kung Fu will be the right show for its time while still honoring what came before it.

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Kung Fu premieres on the CW on April 7, 2021.

The post Kung Fu: Inside The History of a Martial Arts Classic appeared first on Den of Geek.

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