July, 2017

If you look around the Web today, you'll see that there are lots of Disney fans who are expressing sorrow at Marty Sklar's untimely passing . But I wonder how many of these folks would ever admit that they were among those who - just two weeks ago today - actually booed this Disney Legend. All because Marty - at the "Disney Pirates of the Caribbean: 50 Years of Swashbuckling Adventures in Disney Parks" panel at this year's D23 EXPO - dared to defend Imagineering's recent...

Through his various " Star Trek " productions, Gene Roddenberry shared his dream for a far more hopeful future. One where humanity eventually rose above all of its petty squabbling and began to travel to the stars. Gary Berman & Adam Malin had a dream too. An admittedly far more earth-bound one. One where they'd take your typical trip to a comic book convention (which was - and still is, in certain corners of fandom - infamous for its long lines and rough treatment of attendees...

Everyone has a bad hair day every now and then. Well, imagine what Ashley Priselac - the studio manager for Madame Tussauds Orlando - has to deal with. Especially on those mornings when she arrives at this I-Drive attraction to do her usual 6:30 a.m. walk-thru and then discovers that a good percentage of the 75 - 80 wax figures that are on display here now have disheveled 'dos. "Sometimes - just by looking at the figures during morning walk-thru - it's easy to tell that we'd had...

I know, I know. You don't have tickets for Comic-Con this year. Which means that you can't partake in all of the cool, pop cultural stuff that's going on down in San Diego right now. And that's making you blue, right? Copyright Disney Pixar. All rights reserved Well ... What if I were to tell that that's not entirely true? Copyright Disney Pixar. All rights reserved I mean, sure. If you want to do something like meet Michael Giacchino (i.e., the guy who won an Academy Award for...

What with the introduction of the Toucan Tracker wristband system back in 2014 (which can virtually hold one's place in line outside of Hall H. Which means that most Comic-Con attendees can now go back to their hotel rooms & get a good night's sleep -- more importantly, bathe - prior to seeing one of those super-popular film panels inside of this 6500-seat venue), there just isn't as much camping out in Plaza Park as there used to be. Mind you, inside the San Diego Convention Center...

Back when he was promoting "Zootopia" 's theatrical release, screenwriter Phil Johnston shared this great behind-the-scenes story about one of the more memorable / infamous moments from that 2016 Walt Disney Animation Studios production. You know the scene that I'm talking about. The one where Chief Bogo (i.e., the gruff old water buffalo character who was voiced by Idris Elba) tries to persuade office Judy Hopps (i.e., the naïve new hire voiced by "Once Upon a Time"...

For the better part of a year now, theme park fans have been closely watching as all sorts of steel has been rising up in the northwestern corner of Disneyland Park . Photo by Jim Hill Mind you, it's common knowledge that this construction was being done for Star Wars Land, which is supposed to open in Anaheim & at Disney's Hollywood Studios in the Spring of 2019. But what isn't as well known is what this 14-acre addition to those two theme parks would actually entail. Well, all that...

Two years ago, just prior to when the original "Descendants" premiered on Disney Channel, director Kenny Ortega told me he wished this musical fantasy would do extremely well in the ratings. That way, he and the cast (not to mention the creative team behind this Disney Channel Original) might then get the chance to make a sequel to this particular TV production. "The Descendants world really is a wonderful place to play in. I think - were you to ask the cast and the crew - they'd...

How do you like your Ghost Town? Virtual or extra-lively? Because - this summer -- Knott's Berry Farm actually gives you options. You can either experience a VR version of this theme park's historic Old West section (where you'll then get to battle robots in an immersive 360 shooter). Or you can explore Ghost Town Alive! where the streets of Calico are filled with dozens of performers dressed in authentic western garb. Who then - with the help of Guests who are visiting the farm for the...

Sure, for some folks, the Fourth of July is all about fireworks. But for the 75% of all Americans who own a grill or a smoker, the Fourth is our Nation's No. 1 holiday when it comes to grilling. Which is why 3 out of 4 of those folks will spend some time outside today working over a fire. But here's the thing: Though 14 million Americans can cook a steak with confidence because they actually grill something every week, the rest of us - because we use our grill or smoker so infrequently ....

There are TV programs where you can watch any one randomly-selected episode and then immediately know everything that you need to know about that particular set of characters & the world that they live in. And then there are shows like " Doctor Who ." Copyright BBC. All rights reserved I bring this up because ... This past weekend, BBC America aired " World Enough and Time ," the first part of "Doctor Who" 's Season 10 finale. And I have to admit that I kind...