Month: December 2004

“Mr. Magoo’s Christmas Carol” – Review

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Unsightly Christmas Movie

I swear to God, if I hear “razzleberry dressing” once more I’m going to scream.

Originally broadcast in 1962, Mr. Magoo’s Christmas Carol was the first animated holiday special made solely for TV. Jim Backus voices the UPA character as he plays Scrooge on Broadway.

Things begin with your typical Magoo-ish sight (or lack thereof) gags, but quickly move to a very standard performance of Dickens’ classic, and, oddly enough, it’s the faithful rendition that really cheesed me off.

Where’s the fun?! Not once in the entire Christmas Carol portion is Magoo really Magoo. I mean he’s counting stacks of coins for crying out loud! Somehow Magoo is able to give a brilliant performance on stage, but once he’s off he’s back to walking into the women’s’ dressing room?! What gives?!

Honestly, what’s the point of having a Magoo special if you’re not going to take advantage of the comic possibilities? Why not just do a non-Magoo version and save me the disappointment? (Gerald McBoing-Boing as Tiny Tim is irritating too, but still not as bad as Magoo.)

Sadly, not only did they drop the ball character-wise, but decided to make it a musical to boot. Jules Styne’s and Bob Merrill’s music is grating at best. Take this lyric, sung by thieves looting Scrooge after his death – “We’re reprehensible / we’ll steal your pen and pencible!”

“Pencible?!” What the hell is that?!

And the “razzleberry dressing” and “wooflejelly” stuff simply made me want to beat little Gerald McBoing-Boing to a pulp. Seriously, I can see myself walloping Tiny Tim with his own cane as we speak.

A lot of people have told me they have fond memories of this special, including the librarian that recommended it to me (curse you librarian!), but for the life of me I can’t fathom why – Mr. Magoo’s Christmas Carol is about the least special Christmas special I’ve ever seen.

Bah humbug!

“Christmas With The Simpsons” – Review

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I do so love The Simpsons!

Christmas With The Simpsons is a collection of five Christmas-related episodes. Well, four really. “Mr. Plow” takes place in Winter, and there’s that snappy Mr. Plow theme song, but as far as I can tell there are no holiday references.

The other four episodes are as follows:

“Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire” -The episode that started it all!

“Miracle on Evergreen Terrace” – Bart burns down the family’s plastic Christmas tree and then lies about it. When the truth is found out, the town, as usual, resorts to angry mob justice.

“Grift of the Magi” – When the school is run by a private company, the children are used to design the next big Christmas toy.

“She of Little Faith” – Lisa converts to Buddhism after the church becomes commercialized thanks to Mr. Burns. This episode contains one of my favorite Simpsons quotes: Lovejoy – “That is a false analogy!”, Lisa – “No, it’s not. It’s apt. APT!”

There’s also another Simpsons Christmas DVD available, but neither has one of my favorite Christmas Simpsons, “Marge Be Not Proud” where Bart steals the video game. How’d they miss this one?!

Anyway, if you’re a big Simpsons fan you’re probably buying the boxed sets of the seasons, but if you’re a casual Simpsons junkie, then Christmas With The Simpsons is probably for you.

Posted in TV

Mark Anderson – Inside the Cartoonist’s Studio

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Inside the Cartoonist's Studio

Well, Christmas is coming, and as my gift to this blog’s readers (both of you!) I’ve decided to put myself in the Inside the Cartoonist’s Studio hot seat!

Enjoy!

1) If you were to cast a movie entirely with cartoon characters, what movie would it be and who would star in it?

A Christmas Story cast as follows:

Ralphie – Dexter from Dexter’s Laboratory (The accent might be a problem, but he’s already got the glasses.)

Randy – Calvin (I’d love to see him show “how the piggies eat!”)

Mrs. Parker (Mom) – Wilma Flintstone (Normally I’m a Betty guy, but Wilma just works here.)

Mr. Parker (Dad) – Yosemite Sam (As if there’s any other choice for non-sensical swearing.)

Flick – Bill the Cat (He costs more if you need to use the tongue, but it’s worth it.)

Schwartz – The Yellow Kid (Imagine a snow suit on him and you’ll see I’m right.)

Scott Farkus – Lucy Van Pelt (OK, the gender’s all wrong, but I stand by my pick.)

Grover Dill – Pointy-haired Boss (The perfect toady!)

Bumpus Hounds – Snoopy, Astro, Farley, Howard Huge, Marmaduke, Satchel, Santa’s Little Helper, Odie, Fred Bassett, Sandy, Pluto, Dogbert, Huckleberry Hound, Underdog, Dyno-Mutt, Scooby-Doo, and Steiner’s “On the internet, nobody knows you’re a dog” dog

2) You’re a syndicate editor launching a new comic strip. What’s the worst possible title you can think of?

“Mighty Morphin Annie”

3) A light bulb over a cartoon’s head signifies an idea, while a string of random characters denotes swearing. Invent a new cartooning icon and what it means.

A green cupcake over the character’s head signaling schadenfreude. If the green cupcake also has sprinkles, then it’s heralding St. Patrick’s Day upcoming arrival as well.

Well, you can’t say I didn’t try, because obviously I did! It’s all right there! Plenty of me trying!

See you all next Monday for a new ITCS! Enjoy the rest of this week’s blogs and have a happy holiday!

Patricia Storms’ Tart

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Sex in the Witty

Just over a month ago I’d posted a blog entitled “Do Comics Need Shaking Up?” I asked if there was “room for something new and, dare I say it, adult in the comics?” Well my prayers have been answered by Patricia Storms and Tart!

Foul-mouthed, libidinously healthy, and occasionally deliciously low-brow, Tart is a real breath of fresh air when most comics have more a musty funk about them. I can tell you about it, but I honestly can’t do the comics justice. Just go read them, I’ll wait here.

(Twiddling my thumbs and whistling.)

Hee-hee-hee! See what I mean?! The drinking! The sex! The crotch itching! Funny funny stuff!

I love that it’s brazen and honest and exciting and odd, and above all, funny!

Where most comics are content, heck, even proud, to be bland, it’s nice to sink my cartoon teeth into something Tart!