Theme Parks & Themed Entertainment

Ruminations

Sometimes, you get the column. And other times, like this one, the column gets you… It’s been an interesting week for Roger … so, it’s a change in plans as he heads off in a completely different direction than expected. Watch out for topic drift ahead!

Published

21 years ago

November 11, 2003

Roger Colton

A short week suddenly got a longer…

It started last Friday morning with a news note about Disneyland.

I’ll not repeat what others have said, but instead add that my thoughts are still with the families and friends of those injured. Kudo’s to the CM’s and other folks at the DLR for doing what they needed to, and doing it so well. Props to the folks at LP and MP, and the Bronx cheer for our favorite curmudgeon…

Then came the news about Leon Janzen.

I only met him once for a few moments, but I have tremendous respect for both he and his brother, Jack. Their production of the E-Ticket is, in my opinion, nothing short of, well… I can’t find the words to describe it. Most fanzines come and go in a couple of issues, maybe a year or two at most. Yet they manage to keep informing us with the best in Disneyland history, issue after issue.

Thanks to both of you for sharing your passion for the work of the people connected with the place that we enjoy so much. You have and will continue to make a difference in this fandom through your fine example.

And yesterday, was the second anniversary of 9/11. Somehow, I find much of the remembrances simply hollow gestures. The losses we suffered as the world is much more than many want to admit, but life still goes on.

What a week…

So, here is a tale from the road last weekend.

My dad’s a member of the Jaguar Associate Group, and usually they have some kind of driving event once a month during the better weather out here. In what has almost become an annual event, he has led a drive from somewhere in the Bay Area to Lake Tahoe. I have helped out on several occasions by finding a route and then pre-running it to make sure there aren’t any surprises along the way.

A favorite trip is to take State Highway 70 through the Feather River Canyon. While planning a trip using that way, we discovered that Cal Trans (our lovely and talented highway department) was in the midst of the post summer construction blitz for a fair piece of that road. With one-way controlled traffic, seven-days-a-week until the end of October in no less than eight places (each with a minimum of 10 minutes in delays) we opted not to go that way to the Lake.

So break out the maps, and let’s see what the possibilities are. We began by eliminating the most obvious. Highway’s 80 and 50 both go to Tahoe — one to the north and the other to the south. There simply is no challenge in driving them.

One of the more adventurous routes we used before was State Route 4 across Ebbetts Pass. While it’s a fun road, we wanted to offer something different this time out.

So starting in Vacaville, we all met bright and early, (okay, it was 10 o’clock…) last Saturday. In years gone by, this was a favorite stop on the way from the Bay Area to the Lake. The Nut Tree was a great place for families to get out of the car and stretch for a few minutes. There was a great toy store with a miniature train ride out and back through the orchards. Shopping was good with a fine variety of local products, and even a special area devoted to airplanes. Throw in an airport out back, and this was a busy place.

Across the Interstate, the same folks opened the Coffee Tree. It’s the usual kind of coffee shop you might expect anywhere along an interstate route. Busy and popular with travelers, yet it’s closing the doors after almost forty years, with claims of “un-profitability”. So after a hurried breakfast, we gathered the faithful (ten assorted Jags worth) out in the parking lot to lay out the day’s journey.

Our route today would give folks a great look at the scenery of California. Starting out in what used to be orchards, and now is home to an outlet mall, we headed off across the Sacramento delta and into the Sierra Foothills. (Our route? Something like this. 113 to 12 to 99 to 12 to 88 to 89 to 50 to 28 to 267.) With a couple of stops along the way to regroup now and then, it was clear sailing. Weather was great. Lots of sun, and temps in the upper seventies. Perfect for the convertibles.

A stop for lunch along the way was made near the Bear River Lake Resort. Some folks enjoyed a picnic under the pines along the roadside, while others ventured off the highway down to the resort. As usual, one of the cars needed to take a break for an overheating problem. But in less than an hour, we all were back on our way.

Now the last time I had been in this part of the Sierra was about thirty years ago while part of a Boy Scout 50-mile hike along the Pacific Crest Trail. It’s still spectacular scenery as it was then. Crossing the Carson Pass, at almost 8000 feet is a challenge at any time of the year. But Smithsonian had a great look at what it takes in the heart of winter. The highway passes right next to Caples Lake in one of the most scenic parts of the trip.

From that hike years back, I fondly recalled Fourth Of July Lake. This trip report from a September 2002 visit by Kevin Gong shows some of the beauty of the area, south of the Carson Pass. Someday, I’ll get off my butt and walk back into the area there.

Arriving at Pickett’s Junction (Highway’s 88 and 89 meet here), we all turned left and spotted the cars for a group photo. A few minutes later and we were off headed for what passes as “civilization” or South Lake Tahoe. We bypassed most of it using the Pioneer Trail, but still were seduced by the siren’s song of the stateline casinos. One car pulled in here as they were spending the night, while the rest of the group headed east along the lakeshore.

We finished up the trip with a nice ride along the east side of the Lake, passing the Ponderosa Ranch (remember the reference from the cowboy column…) on our way again to Crystal Bay and another crossing of the Nevada/California stateline.

It’s a classic Fifties postcard view of Crystal Bay, Nevada.
From the collection of Roger Colton.

That night we all enjoyed a fine meal at the home of one of the club members in nearby Truckee.

Some of you might recall a tale or two of that town from my earlier columns. This weekend was “Truckee Railroad Days” with the folks from the Feather River Railroad Society in nearby Portola having brought some vintage equipment for display (courtesy of the Union Pacific Railroad). Amtrak also brought one of it’s Capitol Corridor cars, and California Rail Tours had it’s dome lounge “Plaza Santa Fe” and lounge “Royal Gorge” open for tours. The UP also provided two locomotives from its historical fleet along with a modern day freight locomotive. FRRS had a variety of other cars on display including cabooses and a former UP business car.

We passed by early Sunday to check out the festivities. Things were pretty quiet so we took a detour to visit nearby Squaw Valley. Now this is the site of the 1960 Winter Olympic Games. In all my years of going to the Lake, I had never been into the valley proper. It doesn’t take to much to imagine what it must have been like back then. Things were pretty much undeveloped out here. There were a few buildings (shaped like snow flakes — of which two survive today) where food was sold to the hearty souls who made the trek here, and the Olympic village to house the athletes. The skating rink was out in the open in the middle of the valley floor.

There’s a Disney connection here as well. Walt was convinced to step in and help out with the opening ceremonies for the games. And in what has to be a classic moment, the inclement weather that threatened to spoil the event was parted by rays of sunshine — as if Walt had ordered it so — only moments before it was scheduled to start.

Now that’s not all… the Village at Squaw Valley could pass for a northern cousin to the Grand Californian at first glimpse from the outside. I’ll have to make plans to come back and check it out in detail. It looks to be a good mix of retail shopping and dining along with hotel accommodations as well as homes within the Village.

We continued on our way to the Lake, following the Truckee River to Tahoe City. Lots of water running for this time of year. A bike path alongside of the river follows what used to be the right of way for the Lake Tahoe Railway and Transportation Company. In the late Thirties, the Southern Pacific acquired this narrow gauge railroad and upgraded the line. For a few years before the war, the Espee used it as a feature in their advertising.

Wooden speed boats at the Lake!
From the collection of Roger Colton.

At Tahoe City, the railroad used to run out onto a pier where steamboats, most notably the “Tahoe” would carry travelers to the various resorts around the Lake. At the end of their careers, the steamboats were scuttled and now rest on the bottom of the Lake, mostly intact. Various schemes have come up from time to time to refloat one of them, but none have ever progressed past the talk stage. A local video company, Skyfire offers this video of the “Tahoe” at rest (at 372 feet down) as well as other images from the lake bottom.

There was a fair amount of traffic on the road that Sunday morning as we headed east along the shore. But it wasn’t automobiles, it was bicycles. The Tour de Tahoe, at 72 miles over 6000 feet, offered the stout of heart a chance to enjoy a challenging ride around the Lake. In my younger days, I contemplated taking the trek, but I got better before I ever got such a chance. We saw more than a few riders pick up their bikes and walk up some of the more intimidating hills along the way from Tahoe City to Carnelian Bay.

That was our destination. Brunch at Gar Woods has become something of a tradition for my father on these trips. With this menu, there is something to tempt almost anyone. I particularly enjoyed the Grand Marnier French Toast and the Beer Steamed Prawns. It was warm in the sun on the deck outside, even though a breeze was up on the lake.

The web pages for this popular bar and grill also detail some of the history behind the place. Garfield Woods was known for his fine pleasure craft, some of which still ply the Lake on occasion today. The Sierra Boat Company is located right next to Gar Woods, and this summer hosted the 31st annual Tahoe Yacht Club Foundation’s Concours d’ Elegance. The 2004 event planning is underway, and you can find more details here.

After having stuffed ourselves, it was time for the ride home down Interstate 80. Maybe it was because this was the first weekend after the long Labor Day holiday, but traffic was light the whole way down the hill and back to the Diablo Valley. We made it back in time to watch the Forty-Niners have their way with the Chicago Bears on national television.

Changing gears, you may recall a classic Victorian structure at the Magic Kingdom in Orlando. The Crystal Palace (as reviewed on MousePlanet) is somewhat based upon a classic San Francisco structure, The Conservatory of Flowers. After an epic windstorm in 1995 damaged the structure, many of the rare plants were moved to other locations. After a complete restoration, this classic glass and redwood structure is about to reopen to the public on Saturday, September 20, 2003.

When my mother’s parents lived just outside Seacliff on Twenty-Ninth Avenue, we would pass by the Conservatory both to and from their house. Seeing what the display in front of the building had been changed to was always something we looked forward to. It is truly one of the most special things in Golden Gate Park.

So there you have another column done. Apologies again for not telling the tale promised, but I’ll have that soon for one and all.

Now, if you’ll pardon me for a moment, I’m going to stand on my soap box and give you a short bit of opinion. Thanks to the California Department of Motor Vehicles, I had no choice but to go see my doctor and get my various health issues under control. So as a result, my diabetes is under control (blood sugars where they should be), cholesterol is where it should be) and my blood pressure is down dramatically. That’s the one we’re still working on.

I feel better, and I’m told, look better as the result. It took a few changes to my lifestyle that were not all that hard to make. (I can enjoy a cocktail now and then, thanks! Try one of these sometime!) Had I not made these changes, I was undoubtedly heading for major health problems in the not all too distant future.

As annoying as a visit to your doctor can be (and boy, have I had a few winners!) the alternative is something we would rather avoid. Just ask my pal, Jeff Ferris, all about his bypass surgery last year. Had he taken a few more visits to his doctor, it might not have been so dramatic and surprising an event.

So that the cautionary part of today’s little tale. Stepping down from the soap box, now… Here’s something a bit more whimsical.

A classic over the counter medication. Or it should be!
From the folks at Joy of Tech.
Click to view larger version of image.

In a final commercial moment, I still have a place or three left on our one-day private car excursion for Saturday, October 18 from Oakland to Bakersfield and back again. Check out our web pages for more information.

So that’s all for this week. If Roger can get back on track, he should have a piece on San Francisco’s Presidio — what may become the future home to the pieces of the Lucas empire. Stay tuned…

Like what you’ve read? Why not drop a buck or two in Roger’s Amazon Honor System Paybox and keep him where he belongs, safe behind the keyboard, at work on next week’s effort!

Television & Shows

The Untold Story of Super Soap Weekend at Disney-MGM Studios: How Daytime TV Took Over the Parks

Published

1 week ago

April 24, 2025

Jim Hill

Super Soap Weekends at Disney-MGM Studios

A long time ago in a galaxy that … Well, to be honest, wasn’t all that far away. This was down in Florida after all. But if you traveled to the WDW Resort, you could then experience “Star Wars Weekends.” Which ran seasonally at Disney’s Hollywood Studios Disney World from 1997 to 2015.

Mind you, what most folks don’t remember is the annual event that effectively plowed the road for “Star Wars Weekends.” Which was “Super Soap Weekend.” That seasonal offering — which allowed ABC soap fans to get up-close with their favorite performers from “All My Children,” “General Hospital,” “One Life to Live” and “Port Charles” — debuted at that same theme park the year previous (1996).

So how did this weekend-long celebration of daytime drama (which drew tens of thousands of people to Orlando every Fall for 15 years straight) come to be?

Michael Eisner’s Daytime TV Origins and a Theme Park Vision

Super Soap Weekend was the brainchild of then-Disney CEO Michael Eisner. His career in media began with short stints at NBC and CBS, but it truly took off in 1964 when he joined ABC as the assistant to Leonard Goldberg, who was the network’s national programming director at the time.

Eisner quickly advanced through the ranks. By 1971, he had become Vice President of Daytime Programming at ABC. That meant he was on the scene when One Life to Live joined the lineup in July 1968 and when All My Children made its debut in January 1970. Even after being promoted to Senior Vice President of Prime Time Programming in 1976, Eisner stayed close to the daytime division and often recruited standout soap talent for ABC’s primetime shows.

Fast forward nearly two decades to July 31, 1995. The Walt Disney Company announced that it would acquire ABC/Cap Cities in a $19 billion deal. Although the acquisition wasn’t finalized until February 1996, Eisner was already thinking ahead. He wanted to use the stars of All My Children, One Life to Live, and General Hospital to draw people to Disney’s theme parks.

He had seen how individual soap stars were drawing huge mall crowds across America since the late 1970s. Now he wanted to bring dozens of them together for something much bigger.

Super Soap Weekend Takes Over Disney-MGM Studios

The very first Super Soap Weekend was announced in June 1996, just a few months after the ABC deal closed. The event was scheduled for October 19 and 20 at Disney-MGM Studios and was a massive success.

The weekend featured panel discussions, autograph sessions, and photo opportunities with the stars of ABC’s daytime dramas. Thousands of fans packed the park for the chance to meet their favorite actors. Due to the overwhelming response, the event became an annual tradition and was eventually moved to Veterans Day weekend each November to better accommodate attendees.

Longtime fans like Nancy Stadler, her mom Mary, and their close friend Angela Ragno returned year after year, making the event a personal tradition and building lifelong memories.

West Coast Events and the ABC Soap Opera Bistro

Disney even tried to recreate the event out west. Two Super Soap Weekends were held at Disneyland Resort, one in April 2002 and another in June 2003.

At Disney’s California Adventure, Eisner also introduced the ABC Soap Opera Bistro, a themed dining experience that opened in February 2001. Guests could dine inside recreated sets from shows like General Hospital and All My Children, including Kelly’s Diner and the Chandler Mansion. The Bistro closed in November 2002, but for fans, it offered a rare opportunity to step into the world of their favorite soaps.

SOAPnet, Port Charles, and the Expansion of Daytime TV at Disney

Eisner’s enthusiasm for soaps extended beyond the parks. In January 2000, he launched SOAPnet, a cable channel dedicated to prime time replays of ABC’s daytime dramas.

During his time at Disney, General Hospital also received a spin-off series titled Port Charles, which aired from June 1997 to October 2003. The show leaned into supernatural plotlines and was another example of Eisner’s commitment to evolving and expanding the soap genre.

The Final Curtain for Super Soap Weekend

In September 2005, Eisner stepped down after 21 years as head of The Walt Disney Company. Bob Iger, who had previously served as President of ABC and Chief Operating Officer of ABC/Cap Cities, took over as CEO. While Iger had deep ABC credentials, he didn’t share Eisner’s passion for daytime television.

In the fall of 2008, Disney hosted the final Super Soap Weekend at what was then still called Disney-MGM Studios. That same year, the park was rebranded as Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and Disney began shifting away from television-focused experiences.

Within the next five years, the rest of Eisner’s soap legacy faded. One Life to Live was canceled in January 2012. SOAPnet was rebranded as Disney Junior in February 2013. Later that year, All My Children ended its 41-year run on ABC.

Only General Hospital remains on the network today, the last standing soap from the golden age of ABC Daytime.

A New Chapter for Daytime TV and Super Soap Fans

The soap genre may have faded from its former glory, but it’s not gone. On February 24, 2025, CBS premiered a brand-new daytime drama called Beyond the Gates, marking the first new soap launch in years.

Meanwhile, All My Children alum Kelly Ripa has been actively working on a revival. In September 2024, she mentioned a holiday-themed movie set in Pine Valley that would bring back many original cast members. The project was in development for Lifetime, though its current status is unclear.

And what about Super Soap? Fans like Nancy and Angela still hope Disney will bring it back. Even if it only featured the cast of General Hospital, it would be a welcome return for longtime viewers who miss that one weekend a year where the magic of Disney collided with the drama of daytime TV.

If you want to hear firsthand what it was like to be part of Super Soap Weekend, be sure to listen to our I Want That Too podcast interview with actor Colin Egglesfield. He shares behind-the-scenes memories from his days as Josh Madden on All My Children and what it meant to be part of one of the most unique fan events in Disney park history.

History

The Super Bowl & Disney: The Untold Story Behind ‘I’m Going to Disneyland!’

Published

3 months ago

February 6, 2025

Jim Hill

One of the highlights of the Super Bowl isn’t just the game itself—it’s the moment when the winning quarterback turns to the camera and exclaims, “I’m going to Disney World!” This now-iconic phrase has been a staple of post-game celebrations for decades. But where did this tradition begin? Surprisingly, it didn’t originate in a stadium but at a dinner table in 1987, in a conversation involving Michael Eisner, George Lucas, and aviation pioneers Dick Rutan and Jeana Yeager.

The Unlikely Beginning of a Marketing Sensation

To understand the origins of this campaign, we have to go back to December 1986, when the Rutan Voyager became the first aircraft to fly around the world without stopping or refueling. Pilots Dick Rutan and Jeana Yeager completed the nine-day journey on December 23, 1986, flying over 26,000 miles before landing at Edwards Air Force Base. Their historic achievement earned them national recognition, and just days later, President Ronald Reagan awarded them the Presidential Citizen Medal at the White House.

Meanwhile, Disney was gearing up for the grand opening of Star Tours at Disneyland, set for January 12, 1987. Following its usual playbook of associating major theme park attractions with real-world pioneers, Disney’s PR team invited astronauts Gordon Cooper and Deke Slayton to the launch event. But in a twist, they also invited Rutan and Yeager, who were still making headlines.

A Dinner Conversation That Changed Advertising Forever

After the Star Tours opening ceremony, a private dinner was held with Disney CEO Michael Eisner, George Lucas, and Eisner’s wife, Jane. During the meal, Eisner asked Rutan and Yeager, “You just made history. You traveled non-stop around the planet on a plane without ever refueling. How are you ever going to top that, career-wise? What are you two gonna do next?”

Without hesitation, Jeana Yeager replied, “Well, after being cramped inside that tiny plane for nine days, I’m just glad to be anywhere else. And even though you folks were nice enough to fly us here, invite us to your party… Well, as soon as we finish eating, I’m gonna go over to the Park and ride some rides. I’m going to Disneyland.”

Jane Eisner immediately recognized the power of Yeager’s statement. On the car ride home, she turned to Michael and said, “That’s a great slogan. I think you should use that to promote the theme parks.” Like many husbands, Michael initially dismissed the idea, but Jane persisted. Eventually, Eisner relented and pitched it to his team.

The Super Bowl Connection

With Super Bowl XXI just around the corner, Disney’s PR team saw an opportunity. The game was set for January 25, 1987, at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena—just miles from Disney Studios. What if they convinced the winning quarterback to say, “I’m going to Disneyland” live on-air?

Disney quickly struck a deal with both quarterbacks—Phil Simms of the New York Giants and John Elway of the Denver Broncos—offering each $75,000 to deliver the line if their team won. Simms led the Giants to victory, making history as the first athlete to say, “I’m going to Disney World!” on national television.

A Marketing Triumph

That year’s Super Bowl had the second-highest viewership in television history, with 87 million people watching Simms say the famous line. The next day, Disney turned the clip into a national commercial, cementing the phrase as a marketing goldmine.

Since then, “I’m going to Disneyland” (or Disney World, depending on the commercial) has been a staple of championship celebrations, spanning the NFL, NBA, and even the Olympics. What started as a casual remark at dinner became one of the most successful advertising campaigns in history.

A Lasting Legacy

Jane Eisner’s keen instinct and Disney’s ability to act quickly on a great idea created a tradition that continues to captivate audiences. The “I’m going to Disneyland” campaign remains a testament to the power of spontaneous inspiration and smart marketing, proving that sometimes, the best ideas come from the most unexpected places.

To learn more about Disney’s ties to the world of sports, check out I Want That Too: A Disney History and Consumer Product Podcast.

Television & Shows

How the Creators of South Park Tricked A-List Celebrities to Roast Universal – “Your Studio & You”

Published

4 months ago

January 12, 2025

Jim Hill

Universal Studios has a rich and storied history, but few moments are as peculiar—and as hilariously cutting—as the creation of Your Studio & You. This 14-minute parody film, commissioned in 1995 to celebrate Universal’s new ownership under Seagram’s, brings together an all-star cast, biting humor, and the unmistakable comedic fingerprints of Matt Stone and Trey Parker.

Long before South Park debuted on Comedy Central in 1997, Stone and Parker were already carving out a reputation for their irreverent style, and Your Studio & You perfectly encapsulates their knack for turning even the most corporate project into something delightfully subversive.

Matt Stone & Trey Parker Before South Park

Stone & Parker were already known out in Hollywood as funny guys. Thanks largely to “The Spirit of Christmas,” which was this video greeting card that they’d crafted for a Fox executive – who then distributed this infamously funny thing (which had Our Lord Jesus Christ & Santa Claus literally duking it out for the holiday affections of Cartman, Kenny, Stan & Kyle) to friends & family.

This was the early 1990s. No internet. Each copy of “The Spirit of Christmas” was made on VHS tape and then mailed. Went viral the old-fashioned way. It’s rumored that George Clooney made over 300 copies of “The Spirit of Christmas” and passed these VHS taps along to friends and family.

Things didn’t move as fast as they do today. “The Spirit of Christmas” still became a sensation out West.

Zucker Brothers

Matt & Trey also had other supporters in the entertainment industry. Among them David Zucker, who was one of the members of ZAZ (i.e., Zucker Abrahams Zucker), the talented trio that made “Airplane!” in 1980, “Top Secret!” in 1984 and the three “Naked Gun” movies.

The original “Naked Gun” in 1988
“Naked Gun 2 & 1/2 : The Smell of Fear” in 1991
and “Naked Gun 33 & a 1/3: The Final Insult” in 1994

All five of these parody films had been made for Paramount Pictures. But in the Late Winter / Early Spring of 1995, Universal had persuaded the Zucker Brothers to come over and set up shop in a bungalow on their lower lot. With the hope that – at some point further on down the line – David & his brother Jerry would start making funny films for Universal.

Zucker Brothers featured in "Your Studio and You"

And it’s during this same window of time (We’re now talking April of 1995) that news breaks that Seagrams (Yep, the adult beverage company. Who – at the time – was making an absolute fortune on the sales of wine coolers) was about to buy a majority stake in MCAUniversal. We’re talking control of 80% of that company’s stock. Which would effectively make Seagrams the new owners of Universal Studios.

Edgar Bronfman

And Edgar Bronfman – the owner of Seagrams – knew that Universal had had a tough time with its previous owners – which had been the Matsushita Electric Industrial Co. of Japan. Matsushita had bought MCA back in November of 1990 for $7.5 billion but had never really understood the entertainment industry.

This is why – after repeatedly butting heads with Lew Wasserman & Sidney Sheinberg (i.e., the heads of Universal Studios & the Universal theme park respectively) when it came to creative control of this company – Matsushita decided to wash it hands of the entire enterprise. Agreeing to sell their holdings in MCA to Seagrams for $5.7 billion (effectively taking a nearly $2 billion loss on this investment).

And Bronfman … He knew that some bad feeling had developed between Hollywood’s creative community and the Japanese owners of Universal. The thinking was that executives at Matsushita Electric had just not gotten what it took to make movies & TV shows.

And Edgar? Right from the get-go, he wanted to show that Seagrams was NOT going to be Matsushita Electric Redux. Bronfman was looking for a way to send a clear message to Hollywood’s creative community that Universal’s new owners got it. That they were willing to work with Hollywood to make the best possible movies & TV shows at Universal.

And how did Edgar decide to get this message across? By making a funny movie.

Zucker Commissions Trey Parker for “Your Studio & You”

Mind you, Bronfman himself didn’t make this film. The owner of Seagrams reached out to David Zucker. Who – after initially agreeing to produce this introduction-to-Universal film – then farmed out the production of the actual project to Trey Parker. Who – just two days before shooting was supposed to star on the Universal Lot – persuaded Matt Stone to come help him on this project.

Which brings us to “Your Studio and You.” Which is a parody of an educational film from the 1950s, right down to being shot in black & white and featuring a very generic soundtrack.

Now what’s amazing about watching “Your Studio and You” today is that this 14-minute-long film features some of the biggest names working in Hollywood back in the mid-1990s. We’re talking about people like recent Golden Globe winner Demi Moore, Sylvester Stallone, Michael J. Fox and Angela Lansbury. Not to mention two of the most powerful men in all of Hollywood, Steven Spielberg & Jeffrey Katzenberg.

And what’s especially interesting about watch “Your Studio and You” is that – as you watch these performers go through their paces in this motion pictures (which – most of the time – involves doing some innocuous task while holding a Seagram’s wine cooler) – you often get the feeling that this star is not in on the gag.

So how did Matt & Trey get away with this? Simple. There was never actually a script for “Your Studio and You.”

Filming “Your Studio & You” at Universal Studios Hollywood

Mind you, David Zucker would always insist that there was. Especially when he’d phone up celebrities on the Universal Lot and say “Hey, I’m sending over a couple of college kids later today. They’re working with me on a new parody film. It’s something that we’re doing for the new owners of Universal. I need just a half hour of your time. We’re shooting something special for the party we’ll be holding when the Seagrams people first arrive at the Studio. Absolutely. You’ll definitely get an invite to that party. So can I count on you to help these kids out? Beautiful. They’ll be over there later this morning.”

And then Matt & Trey would show up and say “… Dang, Miss Lansbury. We’re sorry. We must have left our copy of the ‘Your Studio and You’ script back in our office. Which is clear on the other side of the Lot. So – rather than waste your time – why don’t we do this instead? Follow us over to the Psycho House. Where we’re then going to get footage of you painting the front porch on Mother Bates’ house while you say ‘Gosh, with all of the wonderful improvements going on around here, everyone is going to want to work at Universal.’ Oh, and can we also get you to wear this button on the front of your blazer which reads ‘Universal is A-OK’ ? “

And over & over again, the biggest names who were working for Universal at that time took part in the production of “Your Studio & You” because A) David Zucker vouched for Matt Stone & Trey Parker and B) this was something that was being made for the new owners of Universal. And it’s just natural to want to get in good with the new boss.

Steven Spielberg, Jeffery Katzenberg, and Jaws

But no one at Universal anticipated that “Your Studio & You” would wind up being as sharp edged as the finished product turned out to be. I mean, it’s one thing to bite the hand that feeds you. But “Your Studio & You” ? It doesn’t just bite the hand. It takes the hand off at the wrist.

It’s a brutally funny film. With one of the meanest moments reserved for Steven Spielberg, who plays a driver on the Universal Studio Tour who’s trying to persuade a tram full of bored tourists (one of whom is played by Jeffery Katzenberg) that the “Shark Attack” scene down by Jaws Lagoon is actually exciting.

Spielberg actually says lines like “ … Whoa, whoa. What is going on here? Ladies and gentlemen, this never happens. Look out! It’s a shark! Whoa, that is one big scary shark.”

Mind you, as footage of this mechanical shark repeatedly coming up out of the water is shown, “Your Studio & You” ‘s off-screen narrator (who is voiced by Trey Parker says):

“But what about tomorrow? If we don’t keep in step with the times, things that were once neat and thrilling can become old and stupid.”

“Your Studio & You” Reception

This film was supposed to be shown only once at the welcoming party for Seagrams executive on the Universal Lot. And I’m told that – when Edgar Bronfman saw the finished product at that party – he reportedly turned to David Zucker and said “ … That’s a little more mean-spirited that I think it needed to be.”

And with that, “Your Studio & You” was supposed to go back into the Universal vault, never to be seen again. But when “South Park” debuted on Comedy Central in August of 1997 and then became a sensation for its biting humor, there was suddenly a lot of interest in what else Matt & Trey had done. Which is why copies of “The Spirit of Christmas” began to circulate. And – over time – copies of “Your Studio & You” began to bubble up.

Which – as Stone & Parker have repeatedly pointed out – was just not supposed to happen. Largely because none of the celebrities who appeared in “Your Studio & You” had never signed releases for Universal’s legal department. Because – again – this was for a movie that was only going to be shown once at a private function on the Universal Lot.

Matt mentioned (as part of a career retrospective at the Paley Center in LA back in 2000) that “ … they wouldn’t even let us keep a copy of the finished film.”

It’s a funny but brutal movie. And worth taking a look at today especially if you’re a theme park history buff because it shows Universal Studios Hollywood’s “Jurassic Park: The Ride” still under construction on the Lower Lot. That attraction would finally open to the public in June of 1996.

“Your Studio & You” became a lot easier to see after Seagrams sold off its share of Universal to Vivendi in 2000. Copies began propagating online after that. Though Universal Legal will periodically make an effort to get the latest copy of “Your Studio & You” taken off the Internet because – again – none of the performers who appear on camera ever signed the proper releases and/or were paid for their efforts.

That said, if you’re up for a mean-spirited laugh, “Your Studio & You” is well worth 14 minutes of your time. That said, once you watch this thing, be warned: