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As far as Universal Studios Hollywood is considered, this was the Summer of the Simpsons. " The Simpsons Ride ," to be exact. Photo by Shelly Smith But now Autumn's on its way. Which typically means that this is the start of the slow season for Southern California's theme parks. A time when you push...

I wonder if you've ever had an experience like this: The other day, I was feeling blue. Alice had just gone home after spending almost the entire summer up here in New Hampshire. And I was missing my daughter something fierce. Which is why I decided that I'd try & cheer myself up by watching...

As Summer gives way to Fall, Disney executives are now reviewing the revenues that the Studio's films produced over the past few months. And to be honest, the sharp pencil boys aren't all that happy. Everywhere you look, there are disappointments. Be they big (" The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian...

It's one of the main reasons that people just can't stop talking about " WALL-E ." And -- no -- I'm not talking about the opening weekend grosses for this new Andrew Stanton movie (Though -- now that we've broached this subject -- while "WALL-E" didn't earn the $70-million-plus that Mouse House officials...

Peter S. writes in to say: Jim I caught the midnight show of " Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull " last night. And for the most part, I agree with your review of this film. "Crystal Skull" wasn't nearly as good as " Raiders of the Lost Ark " was. But it wasn't as bad as " Temple of Doom...

If you were to ask David A. Price when Pixar Animation Studios first came on his radar, he'd probably tell you about this tech conference that he attended in the late 1980s where the work-in-progress version of "Tin Toy" was shown. "Tinny had just gotten stuck in that box," Price recalled. "And as he...

Was your darling daughter one of those tweens who helped make that " Hannah Montana and Miley Cyrus: Best of Both World Concert " film such a smash this past weekend? If she just can't get enough of Ms. Montana, then you may want to schedule a trip to Disney's Hollywood Studios in the not-so-distant...

"Maybe Tuesday will be my good news day ..." -- lyric from "The Man I Love" by George & Ira Gershwin Well, if you worked on the Miramax Films side of the Mouse House, Tuesday definitely was a "good news day." Disney's art house arm snagged Academy Award nominations for four of its most recent releases...

How many of you know the story of the blind men and the elephant ? I bring up this ancient Indian fable because ... Well ... I have to admit that I was highly amused by what happened last Wednesday. When the on-line animation community went completely bananas over those "Bolt" pre-release images . Copyright...

There's this genuinely eerie passage in Karen Paik 's " To Infinity and Beyond! The Story of Pixar Animation Studios " ( Chronicle Books , November 2007), which talks about how a single book basically changed the course of John Lasseter 's life. In ninth grade, Lasseter was searching the art section...

Everyone out there enjoying the day after Thanksgiving? Particularly all of those delicious leftovers that you've got stashed in the fridge? Not me. I mean, sure. I'll get to them eventually. But first ... I have to choke down a rather large portion of crow. By that I mean ... Have you seen the international...

Given that gossip is basically a form of currency within the Broadway community, it's almost refreshing to run into someone like Kissy Simmons . Who really does know how to keep a secret. Take -- for example -- what happened when I asked this talented young actress (Who's currently appearing at the Minskoff...

"Hakuna Matata ! What a wonderful phrase. Hakuna Matata ! Ain't no passin' craze ..." If ever there's anyone on this planet who understands that Disney's " The Lion King " ain't no passin' craze, it's Danny Rutigliano . For almost a decade now, he's been appearing in the Tony Award-winning stage version...

Given that " The Game Plan " was No. 1 at the box office for the second weekend in a row, I'd imagine that Oren Aviv (i.e. the president of production at Walt Disney Pictures), is feeling pretty happy right about now. Of course, that's probably because this Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson comedy was the very...

How are you supposed to celebrate Columbus Day anyway? I mean, I suppose -- if Walt Disney Animation Studios had actually completed that Mickey Mouse featurette back in the early 1990s (You know? That half-hour-long film in which the world's most famous mouse was supposed to have portrayed Christoper...

This is probably going to seem like a very weird request. But -- if you could -- I'd really like it if you guys could buy up a bunch of copies of " Walt Disney's Cinderella " (Disney Press, August 2007) Copyright 2007 Disney Enterprises, Inc. All Rights Reserved "And why should we do that?," you ask...

This was NOT your typical press event. I mean, how many times are celebrities asked to stroll down the black carpet? Photo by Nancy Stadler But given that yesterday's event at the Loews Boston Common was to help promote DreamWorks Animation 's " Bee Movie ," the folks at AMC Theatres went all out. Decorating...

You want proof that this is a very different Walt Disney Company now that Bob Iger is in charge? Then take a look at the cross promotional campaign that Mickey's marketing staff has put together for the studio's big Holiday 2007 release, " Enchanted ." Copyright 2007 Walt Disney Pictures. All Rights...

By late Friday night, the headlines read " Disney Stands by High School Musical Star ." Which meant that -- in spite of what a Mouse House spokesperson called " ... obviously a lapse in judgment" -- the Walt Disney Company wasn't going to distance itself from Vanessa Hudgens. Punish this tween favorite...

When you're the creator of a popular television program, It's always a somewhat bittersweet experience to put the finishing touches on a series finale. Well, for Robert Schooley and Mark McCorkle , working on "Graduation" (i.e. the two-part " Kim Possible " closer that airs on the Disney Channel tomorrow...