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Sunday, August 8, 2021
Friday, May 7, 2021
Movie Pitch – Home Improvement
Movie Pitch – Home Improvement
If any classic sitcom deserved a big screen follow-up it’s Home
Improvement. It’s the pinnacle of 90s sitcoms as well as one of the last
decent three camera formatted shows. Over 30 million people tuned into
the last episode, a rating total that is almost impossible to achieve in the
DVR age of television. Unlike most TV shows that become movies and get a
completely new cast, Home Improvement is in a position to be a feature that utilizes it’s original cast and follows-up with its characters where the
show ended.
The film would open like most episodes did, with a huge
construction stunt caused by the clumsy more power driven Tim the Tool Man
Taylor on the set of his show Tool Time. Since we last saw him in 1999
he’s grown to be a bigger hit than his nemesis Bob Villa. This is all
thanks to becoming a YouTube sensation after all his wacky accidents were
uploaded to the video website. From there his show has gone national via
cable TV and he’s a modestly popular celebrity. Al is still Tim’s assistant
on the show and still one of the most popular personalities with Tool Time
fans.
Tim’s personal life appears to be as great as ever. His
marriage is happier than ever, his kids are all grown with their own families
and careers. The only thing missing in Tim’s life is his friend and
former next door neighbor Wilson Wilson. Wilson passed away a few years
ago and Tim has been a bit lost on an emotional level without his friend and
confidant to advise him on life’s struggles.
After the big opening stunt and Tool Time wraps a person from the
audience named John approaches Tim and reveals he’s Wilson’s illegitimate
son. He’s in his late 20s and decided to track Wilson down after the
passing of his mother. Wilson had a fling with a woman at some point in
the 90s and unknowingly had a son with him. While the John was trying to
find his father he discovered Wilson passed away and the bulk of his estate was
left to Tim Taylor. Tim invites John over to his house for dinner later
to talk things out.
From there we’re reintroduced to Jill who’s prepping for their
youngest son’s Mark’s wedding and is a complete crazy person. Jokes ensue
via Tim at the expense of his son and his future wife. Randy arrives to
the house with his wife and new born child. They had planned on staying
in a hotel but due to some sort of comedic issue they now have to crash at the Taylor
home.
We learn that Randy is a successful environmental lobbyist in
Washington DC. He still has his quick wit but is big on going green
whenever possible. Almost the complete opposite of Tim’s more power
stance in the world. It’s also revealed that Randy and Brad had a falling
out.
Brad lives in the same town a few blocks away. He’s worked his way
into a middle-management position at Binford Tools. He’s married to his
childhood girlfriend Jennifer and they have a 5 year old daughter and 2 year
old son.
As they all prep for Mark’s wedding we learn that Mark is the
regional manager of Harry’s Hardware which has expanded from a local mom and
pop shop to a midsized chain in the Midwest. It’s also a store Al is part
owner of. Mark’s future wife is an amateur female wrestler with some
silly name we can hash out later.
Al is Tim’s assistant on Tool Time and is the most popular
personality on the show. His marriage failed and he was cleaned out in the
divorce with the exception of Harry’s Hardware which Al turned into a small
retail empire thanks to the popularity of the show. Al is single and looking
for love, he is a bit selective because he does not wish to be with a Tool Time
fan and also doesn’t want another failed marriage. Al’s popularity causes
him to receive an offer to host his own show. Tim tries to persuade Al to
stay with Tool Time stating that the show is only successful because of their
team dynamic and solo they are lost. Eventually Tim offers Al a co-host
title which Al gladly accepts as their show transitions into a larger
market.
As Tim navigates the different relationships in the coming weeks
to his son’s marriage, he starts to develop a bond with John and tell him
stories about his late friend Wilson. Remembering Wilson, bleeds into
Tim’s life as he advises his family in his Tim Taylor way.
Tim reconciles Brad and Randy, he helps Al find new love, helps
Mark who is having marriage doubts, and befriends his future wrestler daughter
in-law and her coworkers with comedic results, and he develops a relationship
with Wilson’s son John.
The film would end with Tim realizing that Wilson isn’t gone
because his advice follows Tim around in all his decisions and the wisdom he
passes along to his friends and family. Tim accepts his role as the new
Wilson with his own more power spin to it. He invites John to celebrate
his son’s wedding with him stating that Wilson was family to him and by
extension his son is now family too. The film will end with some comedic
wedding shenanigans and Tim going nuts with more power gags and wreck the
wedding,
The ultimate sell of the film is the physical comedy related to
all the stunts Tim pulled off. So the gags would be similar to the TV
show but on a much larger scale. Tim would wreck office buildings, damage
million dollar equipment, blowup stuff, annihilate cars, cause hilarious
catastrophe at a wedding.
Written by
Joseph Ammendolea
Owner/President
“I Like To Play With Toys” Productions®
Friday, April 30, 2021
Looking Back At All Who Die in 2016 part 4
OCTOBER
23 – Pete Burns, Singer/Songwriter – founded the band Dead or Alive, “You Spin Me Round (Like a Record)” – age 57
We’re only talking about him so we have an entry for October.
Actual effect on the world? None.
NOVEMBER
07 – Janet Reno, Attorney General of the United States 1993-2001 nominated by President Bill Clinton – age 78
It’s all good because Will Ferrell can stand in as a more feminine version of Janet Reno.
Actual effect on the world? None, we still have Will Ferrell.
11 – Robert Vaughn, Actor – Napoleon Solo in “The Man from U.N.C.L.E. (1964-’68) – age 83
The dude was in the final season of The A Team.
Actual effect on the world? No more creepy bug eyes.
24 – Florence Henderson, Actress / Singer – Carol Brady on “The Brady Bunch” (1969 to 1974) – age 82
The Gen Xers mom is now with Mike Brady.
Actual effect on the world? There is hope for A Very Brady Funeral.
25 – Fidel Castro, Dictator – Prime Minister then President of Cuba from 1959-2008 then gave same powers to his brother – age 90
Good riddance to this communist piece of shit!
Actual effect on the world? It’s for the better. It’s a shame freedom won’t ring out in Cuba. It also showed how much of the liberal media failed to condemn him for how violent and horrible of a dictator he was.
25 – Ron Glass, Actor – Det. Ron Harris on “Barney Miller” (1975-1982) – age 71
Sheppard Book from Firefly/Serenity was a character that was never fully hashed out. This lack of clarity made the fans wanting more.
Actual effect on the world? Since they killed him off in the Serenity there was no fear of a reprisal so minimal impact, unless they wanted to do a prequel.
DECEMBER
08 – John Glenn, WWII & Korean War Fighter Pilot. Marine Colonel. NASA Astronaut. Senator from Ohio (1974-99). Married for 73 yrs – first American to orbit the Earth (1962) – age 95
A phenomenal American, a hero all around.
Actual effect on the world? Space travel is mankinds greatest achievement and he made America believe in its value.
13 – Alan Thicke, Actor – Jason Seaver, the father on “Growing Pains” (1985-’92) – age 69
This is a bigger loss than David Bowie.
Actual effect on the world? Some of the greatest TV Theme songs were written by this man. He might have had a few more in his belt.
18 – Zsa Zsa Gabor, Hungarian Actress and Socialite – Moulin Rouge (1952), married nine times to mostly wealthy men – age 99
Who didn’t love that accent?
Actual effect on the world? Ones less hottie in the world.
24 – Richard Adams, Author – Watership Down, The Plague Dogs – age 96
The dude wrote a book that killed too many bunnies.
Actual effect on the world? Less bunny genocide is a good thing.
25 – George Michael, Singer/Songwriter – #1 hits; “Faith”, “I Want Your Sex”, “Careless Whisper” – age 53
Was he the straightest gay man in the world or the gayest straight man in the world?
Actual effect on the world? Now we will never find out what that lewd act in the bathroom was.
27 – Carrie Fisher, Actress – Princess Leia in “Star Wars” (1977) and four sequels – age 60
George Lucas, Harrison Ford, Mark Hamill, and Carrie Fisher were the blockbuster film equivalent of The Beatles. Jaws may have started the blockbuster but Star Wars perfected it. Fisher dying is like George Harrison dying. She was a strong female film character when few existed. Her contribution to one of the biggest pop culture films reverberated throughout the world.
She also was a prominent script doctor in the 80s and 90s.
Actual effect on the world? The new movies are short an important character. Will they recast, kill her character off, CGI her? More to come.
28 – Debbie Reynolds, Actress – Kathy Selden in “Singin’ in the Rain”, Mother of Carrie Fisher – age 84
It was stated a stroke killed her but everyone knows what really did her in. This wouldn’t get a big mention except for the fact that it was the day after her daughter died. Most people probably thought she was already dead. The media enjoyed the tragic story of a mother dying of a broken heart after her daughter died.
Actual effect on the world? Since she was already in Abe Vigoda status not much.
Written by
Steve Rogers
Writer
“I Like To Play With Toys” Productions®
Friday, April 23, 2021
Making a Trekkie 101
Making a Trekkie 101
The word Trekkie is a term of endearment
or a stigma depending on which clique you travel in. For the people that
deem Trekkie in the negative connotation it’s likely because they have never
watched a Star Trek show before. Many of their complaints have to deal
with the campy technology limited 1960s TV series or the overly obsessed
cosplayers that have made Star Trek the pop culture dynamo and stigma it is
today. There was the woman who won the right to wear her Star Trek uniform
while serving jury duty. Then there was the stated his wife died during a transporter accident. Being a Star Trek fan is harder than being a Star Wars
fan. Star Wars is universally accepted in society because of its
simpler good versus evil theme. Star Trek’s larger vision of the future, of
humanity is a tougher concept to grasp.
If you come across a Star Trek hater it’s likely
they have never seen any form of the franchise and are hating on the super
fanatics.
The haters will always hate, so let’s just toss
them aside. There are however many people who’ve just never seen
anything Star Trek and admittedly are open to the concepts. You have
sci-fi and comic fans, those are the easy conversions, then there are the
clueless pop culture fans, they want to become fans or something but don’t know
how. In either scenario there is a tried and true method for making a trekkie.
It starts with Star Trek II: The Wraith of Kahn.
The original series films offer the best
evaluation on whether a person can truly appreciate Star Trek.
If Wraith of Kahn is a hit immediately push Star
Trek III: The Search for Spock. It’s the perfect follow-up.
It’s a logical progression to Star Trek IV: The
Voyage Home.
There is a bit of a speed bump with Star Trek V:
The Final Frontier, if the person appreciates Shatner overacting this is a
great film for them. If you get the impression the potential Trekkie is
not amused then it may be best to avoid this film and move right onto Star
Trek: VI: The Undiscovered Country.
If you have a person who can sit through 4 of the
6 original series films they are well on their way to becoming a full blown
Trekkie. If they fail at any point during the film phase then all hope is
lost and find a new friend.
Warning
Whenever Star Trek: The Next Generation is
shown you must make it a point to either skip the first two season or watch
them in fast forward and only show selected scenes or episodes. If you’re
a true expert that start from season 1 episode 1. Most cannot manage this
so just give a synapses of the first 2 seasons, explain who Q and Tasha Yar are
and start with Season 3. If they enjoy their TNG experience you’ve
gotten yourself a Trekkie. Immediately Show then Star Trek Generations
and Star Trek: First Contact. Do not show them Insurrection or Nemesis.
From there it’s an easy move to Star Trek: Deep
Space Nine (the best Star Trek series ever), then Star Trek Voyager (ekkk), and
if they are still hanging on you swing right into Star Trek: Enterprise.
After they have been fully educated in Star Wars
lore it’s no big whoop to show them JJ Abrams Star Trek.
Alternately, if they hated Wrath of Kahn you can
skip all of that and just show them JJ Abram Star Trek which is more action
themed and probably makes them more of a fan of Star Wars than Star Trek.
Which is fun for parties but not for deep long discussions about life.
Once all the more lovable Star Trek media has
been exhausted it’s very easy to go back and show them all the bad Star Trek
you shielded them from throughout their Trekkie training. If they begin
to complain about how painful the bad is be sure to just respond with “I don’t
want my pain taken away. I need my pain. If we lose that we lost
ourselves.” Make sure to overact it. If they are a true Trekkie they’ll appreciate
it and you’ll know you’ve signed another one up for the cause.
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Written by
Joseph Ammendolea
Owner/President
“I Like To Play With Toys” Productions®
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