Archive for October, 2008

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The Jonas Brothers get a ripe idea

Thursday, October 30th, 2008

I can’t stop laughing.

It’s just so… so… horrible, really, but still—I can’t stop laughing.

Look; we’re fans of the Walter the Farting Dog series of books by William Kotzwinkle and Glenn Murray. Who isn’t? These books have their place in literature, and by that I mean they inspired legions of reluctant readers to love books. That they’ve done so through flatulence and the never-ending hilarity it affords, well, so be it.

The fact that there’s going to be a Walter the Farting Dog movie is… weird enough. But then yesterday I saw that Fox has landed the Jonas Brothers to appear in the film:

The title character in the “Walter” books is a fat dog with severe flatulence. The brothers play musicians whose parents are asked to care for the dog by an aunt just before she passes away.

“By the time they’ve driven the dog home, everybody’s head is out the window of the family station wagon but Frankie, and only because he has a serious sinus problem and doesn’t notice the stench coming from Walter,” said Peter Farrelly.

While his brothers play music, Frankie and the gaseous hound get involved in a plot that involves liberating a koi fish and thwarting jewel thieves.

Really? Really? That sounds so dreadful. And also like my kids will absolutely love it.

Posted in Movies | 6 Comments »

More Iron Man, and Avengers, too

Wednesday, October 29th, 2008

Well, the early buzz about Iron Man was right on, and the movie was a box office hit. So it’s only natural that Marvel would plan to ride the tide and make a sequel, right?

But how much of the movie’s success was script, production, etc., and how much as of it was their leading man?

Turns out, Marvel’s willing to bank on Robert Downey Jr.; they’ve just inked a deal with him that cements his role as Iron man for not just one but two more movies, as well as another role:

In addition to starring in “Iron Man 2,” Downey has agreed to return as billionaire Tony Stark and his crime-fighting alter ego in “The Avengers” and a third “Iron Man” installment, guaranteeing the thesp a superhero-sized payday and his own ongoing franchise as part of a four-picture deal with the comicbook company.

Jon Favreau, who is set to helm the second “Iron Man” pic, will also exec produce “The Avengers,” which is skedded for release on July 15, 2011. Pic will unite the Iron Man, Captain America, Thor and the Incredible Hulk characters.

Oh, man. Do you suppose they’ll manage to keep The Avengers rated PG? I sure hope so. I think the kids would enjoy that. And I’ve heard enough about what a horrible mother I am about not letting them see Iron Man.

(Of course, I just realized that in 2011 I’ll have a kid who’s actually old enough for a PG-13 movie. Wow. Between that and what Downey Jr.’s speculated to earn over this 4-picture deal with Marvel, I may need to go lie down.)

Posted in Movies, Of Industry Note | 2 Comments »

Getting your Halloween on… on TV

Tuesday, October 28th, 2008

Every year about this time, I wax rhapsodic about the brilliance that is It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown. Sure, you could buy it on DVD and watch it any time; heck, it’s probably even out there on YouTube. And yes, kids’ animated shows today are much more sophisticated. I know all of that. I get it.

Still, The Great Pumpkin is an American institution. I watched it every year, and so help me, my kids are going to watch it and appreciate it, too. Or I’ll start telling them all about how hard life was back then in the olden days, when I had to go out trick-or-treating in a cardboard box. (True story.) Which is why we’ll be tuning in tonight at 8:00 p.m. on ABC.

[Basically, if my kids don't instantly know what I'm talking about when I look inside a bag and say "I got a rock," I feel that I have failed as a mother. I'm just sayin'.]

Of course, there are other institutions when it comes to Halloween specials and television, I suppose. Wired’s Geekdad discusses his top five—including The Great Pumpkin—and mentions that the Simpsons’ Treehouse of Horror specials “changed the game.”

Which brings me to only the most awesome new ever: Best Week Ever tells us that this year’s Treehouse of Horror episode includes a Mad Men opening credits montage (see the BWE post for more screen caps like the one above). I can’t wait! (Technically, though, I’ll have to wait—the Simpsons special won’t air until next week, after Halloween.)

These are the things I look forward to about Halloween. Almost more than mini Twix bars, in fact.

Posted in Kid Stuff, Random acts of television | 1 Comment »

Yo Gabba Gabba has arrived at Ty’s Toy Box!

Monday, October 27th, 2008

My name is the Toy Box Mommy, and I like to DAAAAAAAAANCE!!!

Well, okay, I’m probably not nearly as cute as those kids you get to see rocking out to Yo Gabba Gabba’s music, on television, but I have to admit that they do set my toes to tappin’. Even if no one wants to watch me dance. (Especially my children. “Mooom! You’re so laaaaaaame!” they lament. And sadly, they are correct.)

Don’t worry—I’m not going to dance. I’m pretty sure it’s in my contract somewhere that I will refrain from “bustin’ a move” here on the blog. Or even referring to it as “bustin’ a move.” Um. Oops!

Anyway, my dance skills—or lack thereof—are not the issue, here. The issue is this: The Yo Gabba Gabba Store is now open at Ty’s Toy Box! It’s your one-stop destination for everything Yo Gabba Gabba, including Dancey Dance Brobee, which is just about guaranteed to be more fun and less annoying than whatever this year’s tickle-me-Elmo does. (Yes. I said it.)

And check it out: In addition to the great Yo Gabba Gabba fun for kids available on the dedicated Nick Jr. site and the Official Yo Gabba Gabba Site, I’ve just discovered the Gabba Friends fan site (check out the baby dressed as Muno!) and Yo Blogga Blogga!, the Yo Gabba Gabba production blog. So there’s plenty of places to go when you need a little more DJ Lance and pals in your day.

Erm, I mean, when you’re being an excellent parent and selflessly finding the stuff your kids like. Naturally.

Posted in Ty's Stuff, Yo Gabba Gabba | No Comments »

Halloween is almost here — got costumes?

Thursday, October 23rd, 2008

It seems impossible to believe, but Halloween is just about a week away. If you’re like me, you’ve been assiduously preparing for the impending holiday by completely ignoring it and more or less pretending that it’s still September. (Why yes, I did win Mother of the Year, why do you ask?)

There’s a story I love to tell about the year my oldest was about eighteen months old, and I got it into my head that the only suitable costume for my Widdle Precious was one that I made myself. Nevermind that I don’t sew, am not even the slightest bit crafty, and have the attention span of a gnat. I was going to make her the perfect costume, darn it!

I found an “easy” costume in Family Fun magazine (and I do love Family Fun, so understand that this is about my stupidity and not about anything being wrong with their directions) which said it would take about an hour.

It took me three weeks.

The good news is that the costume turned out great—my daughter wore it for two years, and then my son wore it for two years, so I certainly got my money’s worth out of it. The bad news is that I’m pretty sure I invented at least a dozen new curse words while I discovered the joys of hand-sewing fake fur.

Learn from my mistakes; whether you’re still inventing your own new expletives during a costuming project gone awry, or whether you’ve only just realized you only have a week left, Ty’s is ready to come to the rescue! The Costume Shop has everything from Animal Planet to Wizard of Oz, and hundreds of options inbetween. They’re all gorgeous, ready to ship, and—perhaps most important of all—made by someone else.

Learn from my mistakes, people.

Posted in Kid Stuff, Ty's Stuff | No Comments »

It’s National Fire Prevention month

Wednesday, October 22nd, 2008

I love the concept of having a certain month designated for something like Fire Prevention. I mean, on the one hand: Yes! Good! Let’s raise awareness and make sure people have fire safety plans and all of those good things. On the other hand: Don’t you want to prevent fires all year ’round?

But I guess I’m quibbling.

If you haven’t already talked about fire safety with your kids, now might be a good time to do so. We’ve come a long way since the days of “Stop, Drop, and Roll” being the extent of a kid’s fire safety training. (Though I’m pretty sure that’s still good advice.) Don’t avoid discussing what to do in the event of a house fire with your child for fear of scaring him—it’s important that he know what to do so that he’ll be less scared when it counts.

Need some help approaching the topic with your child? No worries; there’s plenty of resources at the ready:

However you choose to make sure your family is prepared, start with changing the batteries in your home’s smoke detectors. It’s one easy way to keep everyone safe.

Posted in Kid Stuff | No Comments »

Nickelodeon kids elect Obama president

Tuesday, October 21st, 2008

Did you see the news last night? Did you? I mean the news on Nickelodeon, of course, with Linda Ellerbee. Because they let the kids vote for president, and the votes are in: The kids’ choice is Senator Barack Obama!

According to the press release I received just minutes after the announcement was made:

Senator Barack Obama has been declared the winner of Nickelodeon’s 2008 Kids Pick the President “Kids’ Vote”. A record-breaking number of votes — upwards of 2.2 million — were cast in the network’s online poll. Nickelodeon has held a “Kids’ Vote” every election year since 1988, and kids have correctly predicted the winner in four out of the last five U.S. presidential campaigns.

In this election year’s Kids Pick the President “Kids’ Vote”, Senator Obama received 51% of the vote (1,167,087), and Senator McCain received 49% (1,129,945). The Nickelodeon Kids Pick the President “Kids’ Vote” is not a scientific poll. [...]

“Nickelodeon has a long history of empowering kids and providing them with an opportunity to voice their opinions,” said Cyma Zarghami, President, Nickelodeon Kids and Family Group. “The Kids Pick the President campaign has introduced them to the voting process, and hopefully will make them want to be active participants when they are old enough to vote.”

Did the kids pick correctly this year? We’ll know in a few weeks.

Posted in Kid Stuff | 2 Comments »

Get ready for High School Musical: Senior Year

Monday, October 20th, 2008

Did Disney know, when they created the first High School Musical, that it would become a teen and tween phenomenon? I’m sure they hoped, but I also doubt anyone could’ve known the rabid popularity with which the music swept the country. My daughter seems to know all the songs, and I’m not sure she’s ever even seen either of the movies. Probably it’s just osmosis (and being a tween in America).

And by all accounts, Disney is about to bring it on home again with the HSM crew: This weekend High School Musical 3: Senior Year will open nationwide.

Can they score big for a third time? It sure sounds like it:

Advance ticket sales in the United Kingdom — where the film opens Wednesday (October 22), two days before its stateside bow — have broken records set by “Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire” in 2005, and online ticket sales reports in the United States signal a bumper opening weekend box office.

Donna Martin graduates! Whoops, wrong series. Sorry ’bout that. (It feels about that big, though, doesn’t it?)

Don’t forget to visit the High School Musical Store here at Ty’s for all your HSM needs, including costumes for Halloween!

Posted in High School Musical, Movies | 2 Comments »

Oscar the Grouch champions trash next week!

Thursday, October 16th, 2008

Actually, I guess I should say he champions less trash: Next week (October 19th – 25th) is Waste Reduction Week in Canada. And who better to address a nation about trash than Oscar the Grouch? No one, that’s who.

I, for one, was very pleased to see that they haven’t changed Oscar’s basic sunny disposition for this campaign, either.

I don’t know if it will get more people recycling, but it did make me chuckle a little.

Don’t forget to check out the Sesame Street Store here at Ty’s!

Posted in Kid Stuff, Sesame Street | No Comments »

She’s got my vote

Wednesday, October 15th, 2008

As our nation heads into an uncertain time, and as we prepare to watch the third and final presidential debate this evening… I think the election is weighing heavily on everyone’s minds.

It can be rather all-consuming.

But between you and me, I know exactly who I’m voting for next month:

Becky, of course. Was there ever any doubt?

(Hope you enjoyed the clip and a moment of levity. You can enjoy the full WordGirl episode “Vote for Becky” on Tuesday, November 4th on your local PBS station.)

Posted in Random acts of television | 1 Comment »

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