News & Press Releases

ABC Television Star Tim Allen talks comedy, sobriety & family with AARP

Published

11 years ago

September 18, 2012

As a comedian best known for playing the everyman, Tim Allen is surprisingly introspective. In an exclusive interview with
AARP The Magazine, the Golden Globe® winner discusses his fresh
outlook on marriage and family, as well as his career successes. Allen
also touches on his sobriety, losing his father at a young age, and
other personal struggles from which his accessible
brand of comedy was born. Allen is currently headlining a stand-up act
at The Venetian in Las Vegas through the beginning of November.

On 14 years of sobriety:

“Seeing
the worst parts of my behavior helped me to understand the better
parts. So while I’m still more anxious than I want to be most of the
time,
I’m far less anxious than I used to be.”

“I
was doing comedy clubs, concerts, movies and TV, and didn’t ever
realize how fatigued I was or how much I was missing in my life.”

On his thoughtful new presence:

“Oh, please, don’t say
sensitive. It will kill my image.”

On his home life:

“I
used to live an isolated existence, even in relationships, but now my
family knows me for who I really am. Mostly, that’s a good thing.”

On his new passion for motorcycles:

“I
always wondered about those high-speed turns where the bike lays down
almost on its side. I’m really close to achieving that.”

On really being present in one’s life:

“I
suggest it to everybody to engage as much as you can in life. Most
human beings are disengaged all day, every day. You’re doing one thing
but you’re
thinking about your dry cleaning or ‘I’ve got this on Friday.’ It takes
energy. God knows I’m not the Dalai Llama, but if you’re not careful
and don’t find your center point, you end up sorta drifting through life
sideways.”

“Yesterday
I was swimming with my 3 year-old, and I looked up and thought, ‘How
wonderful this world is.’ We’re always searching for something, but
it’s going to be all right. Stop fretting so much.”

On his friendship with Steve Jobs:

“I
tried to act like hanging out with Steve was not a big deal, but it was
a tremendously big deal. Your impulse is to kiss up to him or go, ‘Hey,
I’m very smart, too.’ But soon enough, our personalities came through,
and I started asking him legitimate questions. All the way through our
relationship he would say, ‘No one’s ever asked me that.’”

“When Steve got sick, I sent a gift basket. It was all stuff I knew he would never eat, because he ate only healthy food.
I sent him cold cuts and soda pops. I also sent all these magazines about PCs.”

Julie Bowen on Allen’s charm:

“Tim’s the everyman that men wish they were, which is why he’s so popular. He’s funny, charming and attractive without
being too much of any of those things. Tim makes you think, ‘I could be that guy.’”

On losing his father at age 11:

“It changed everything forever.”

“Part
of me still doesn’t trust that things are going to work out all right. I
knew my father was dead, but I was never
satisfied with why he was dead. I wanted answers that minute from God.
‘Do you think this is funny? Do you think this is necessary?’ And I’ve
had a tumultuous relationship with my creator ever since.”

On his early prison term:

“It
finally dawned on me in prison that I worked harder being a crook than I
ever worked legitimately. I was doing 12-hour days running from the
police
and screwing up lives. Once I got that I could make money doing
something legal, I turned it around.”

John Pasquin, director on Home Improvement and Last Man Standing, about Allen’s success:

“Comedy is often drawn from anger, and I think that’s true in Tim’s case. He’s able to joke about what really ticks him
off.”

On evolving with age:

“What
I wanted more than anything was clarity, and I still do. That’s what I
appreciate about spending time with older people. My wife and I have
befriended couples in their 70s, 80s and 90s, and they’re so clear
about who they are. They teach us humility and gentleness. Maybe their
bodies don’t work the way they once did, but they’re right there. That’s
how I want to be as I get older.”

“You don’t want the end to come and say, ‘I wished I’d loved more, I wish I smelled more roses.’ You have to do that now.”

News & Press Releases

Disney Will Bring D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event to Anaheim, California in August 2024

Published

1 day ago

September 9, 2023

Nancy Stadler

Expanded Disney Fan Experience Will Feature New and Exciting Events Across Multiple Locations, Including a D23 Takeover of the Happiest Place On Earth, Evening Entertainment at the Honda Center, D23 Day at Angel Stadium, and Much More

Fan Favorites Including Exhibits, Panels, Shows, and Shopping Will Dazzle Disney Enthusiasts at the Anaheim Convention Center

D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event is a one-of-a-kind fan experience like never before with spectacular shows, new venues, and multiple days of entertainment that will bring together the best of Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, and more!

Highlightswill include:

Sunday, August 4: D23 Day at Angel Stadium, where D23 fans are invited to attend the Los Angeles Angels vs. New York Mets game.
Thursday, August 8: D23 kickoff celebration at Disneyland Resort.
Friday, August 9 – Sunday, August 11: Shopping, exhibits, panels, and presentations will take place at the Anaheim Convention Center during the day, with the fun extending into the evening at the Honda Center, the bigger home to marquee shows.

Tickets for D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event will go on sale in Spring 2024, with ticketing options to be announced later for access to the Anaheim Convention Center and the Honda Center. Admission for D23 Day at Angel Stadium and the D23 kickoff celebration at Disneyland Resort will be available as separate ticketed events. Additional details for D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event will be announced in early 2024.

You can get updates by staying connected to D23 via social media (@DisneyD23 on Facebook, Instagram, X), D23.com, and our weekly D23 FanFare email (sign up for free as a D23 General Member at JoinD23.com).

About D23

The name “D23” pays homage to the exciting journey that began in 1923 when Walt Disney opened his first studio in Hollywood. D23 is the first official club for fans in Disney’s nearly 100-year history. It gives its members a greater connection to the entire world of Disney by placing them in the middle of the magic year-round through its quarterly publication, Disney twenty-three; the latest news and stories on D23.com; member-exclusive offers and discounts; the popular D23 Inside Disney podcast; and special experiences for D23 Members throughout the year.

Fans can join D23 at Gold Membership ($99.99/year), Gold Duo Membership ($129.99/year), and General Membership (complimentary) levels at D23.com. To keep up with all the latest D23 news and events, follow DisneyD23 on Facebook, Instagram, X, TikTok, and YouTube.

News & Press Releases

Star Wars Spoof: Space Robots in Outer Space Ep X: Battle for the Halcyon: The Last Starcruiser

Published

4 months ago

May 4, 2023

Jim Hill

Sure, Star Wars is cool and all. But let’s not forget about that other multi-part sci-fi cinematic spectacular, “Space Robots in Outer Space.” In fact, Hank Lonely (Hollywood’s ultimate hyphenate — actor / producer / director / writer / guy who makes sure the Porto Potties are kept squeaky-clean) just announced that there’ll soon be a 10th installment of this … Well, not exactly beloved. How about we say “admired from afar” instead? … series coming to a theater near you. In fact, here’s the highly anticipated teaser trailer for that project. Which is supposed to be titled “Space Robots in Outer Space X — Battle for the Halycon: The Last Starcruiser.”

Okay. Now the real story … In honor of Star Wars Day (i.e., May 4th. As in “May the Fourth Be With You”), Len Testa and I are sharing something that we produced with the help of all the nice folks who joined us last month aboard the Halycon.

We turned the Galactic Starcruiser as well as Black Spire Outpost into the backdrop for an affectionate send-up of all things Stars Wars. We hope that you (more importantly, the legal team at Lucasfilm) take this faux trailer in the spirit with which it was intended. Special thanks to Aaron Adams for so skillfully stitching all of this footage together. Also thanks to the team at Storybook Destinations, Touring Plans and the talented cast & crew aboard the “Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser” for making this “Disney Dish” fan event so memorable.

News & Press Releases

Disney’s New Trailer Reveals How Ralph & Vanellope Get to the Internet in “Ralph Breaks the Internet: Wreck-It Ralph 2”

Published

5 years ago

June 4, 2018

Jim Hill

When “Wreck-It Ralph” opened on Nov. 2, 2012, it turned in the highest opening weekend ever for a Walt Disney Animation Studios film at the time of release. Now Disney is hoping Ralph will not only break the Internet but the 2018 Thanksgiving boxoffice records as well.

The film re-teams the original director, producer and co-writer behind “Wreck-It Ralph.” The screenplay is currently being written by Phil Johnston and Pamela Ribon. Director Rich Moore, producer Clark Spencer, and co-writer Phil Johnston partnered with fellow director Byron Howard and co-writer/co-director Jared Bush to create the Academy Award®-winning blockbuster feature “Zootopia.”

ROYAL REUNION – In “Ralph Breaks the Internet: Wreck It Ralph 2,” Vanellope von Schweetz-along with her best friend Ralph-ventures into the uncharted world of the internet. When she finds herself surrounded by Disney princesses, she’s surprised to learn that she actually has a lot in common with them. The scene, highlighted in a new trailer for the film (below), features several of the original princess voices, including Auli’i Cravalho (“Moana”), Kristen Bell (Anna in “Frozen”), Idina Menzel (Elsa in “Frozen”), Kelly MacDonald (Merida in “Brave”), Mandy Moore (Rapunzel in “Tangled”), Anika Noni Rose (Tiana in “The Princess and the Frog”), Ming-Na Wen (“Mulan”), Irene Bedard (“Pocahontas”), Linda Larkin (Jasmine in “Aladdin”), Paige O’Hara (Belle in “Beauty and the Beast”) and Jodi Benson (Ariel in “The Little Mermaid”). Featuring Sarah Silverman as the voice of Vanellope, “Ralph Breaks the Internet: Wreck It Ralph 2” opens in theaters nationwide Nov. 21, 2018.