Cartoon Sunday: Beetlejuice! Beetlejuice! Beetlejuice!

How's it going lurkers? I don't have any Easter specials to share, unless this qualifies:

Mallrats "Jay & Silent Bob Attack The Easter Bunny" (1995)

 

Please forgive me Lord, for I have sinned just before you arise from the grave and fight the Easter Bunny on your day. I hope you don't swear vengeance on me.

Meanwhile, this Cartoon Sunday, I present to you Beetlejuice!

Beetlejuice [Cartoon] (1989)

In case you haven't already heard, nearly 3 decades later, Tim Burton is working on a sequel for the movie, Beetlejuice.

Beetlejuice [Movie] (1988)

Burton has been trying to make the sequel, since 1990. However, the filmmaker's plans have always been backburned. He created 22 FILMS, since 1990. When Burton did not assign his screenwriters to write for different movies, there were other screenwriters, who rejected his idea of making a sequel called, Beetlejuice Goes Hawaiian.

In fact, Kevin Smith rejected Warner Bros. Entertainment's offer to rewrite the script 18 years ago. Smith asked, "Didn't we say all we needed to say in the first Beetlejuice? Must we go tropical?"

Kevin Smith has a valid point. Regardless if Beetlejuice Goes Hawaiian would've been made 2 decades ago, it would've sucked ass. It's not that I hate watching all of Tim Burton's films because I don't. 

The man has produced some brilliant movies, over the years. At the same time, Burton has this tendency to turn something classic into a contrived laughingstock.

Take the original 1966 Gothic Soap Opera Dark Shadows, for example. Not every show or novel is meant to be a Comedy. Tim Burton should learn when to leave something alone by NOT ruining it with contrived tomfoolery.

Luckily, Beetlejuice was never meant to be a Drama. The movie and the cartoon both had their moments in history.

Why create a sequel almost 30 years later? Is he that desperate for cash?

Apply those same questions to every single reboot/remake, that has been released throughout this last decade. Michael Keaton and Winona Ryder may be excited to reprise their roles as Beetlejuice and Lydia Deetz, but I don't think they want their characters and acting careers to be total jokes. 

Winona really doesn't need and want anymore public humiliation. Wasn't her shoplifting scandal enough?

Since we are on the topic of Beetlejuice, the cartoon was somewhat different from the original Beetlejuice movie. Some characters were removed and some character roles were reassigned. 

Alec Baldwin and Geena Davis played The Maitlands, in the movie yet were non-existent in the cartoon.

Originally, The Maitlands were Lydia Deetz's dead friends, who pranked her father and step-mother's friends. Even though The Maitlands and several other characters from the movie were removed, they were replaced by additional characters in the cartoon.

All the while, Beetlejuice became Lydia's dead prankster friend and his character was softened in the cartoon. In the movie, Beetlejuice was her perverted and antagonistic groom. Lydia Deetz also went from originally having more of a pessimistic, Emo Goth personality to being more optimistic.

On the other hand, Lydia's parents went from originally being aware of Beetlejuice's existence in the movie to being oblivious to him, in the cartoon. At least Burton kept Beetlejuice as being a scamming, shapeshifting, Poltergeist, Lydia as a kooky Goth photographer with a fascination for what was called all things "strange and unusual," and kept her father and step-mother's characteristics the same.

When Beetlejuice released in the movie theaters, I was nearly 6 years old. By the time the cartoon originally premiered on ABC, I was 7. Beetlejuice falls under the categories of Dark Humor, Slapstick, and Horror Fantasy Adventure.

Honestly, I believe that Beetlejuice overall triggered my "inner Goth," at an early age. 

Just like I dressed as Pizzazz from Jem for Halloween during the 1980's, I dressed as Lydia Deetz for Halloween as well as, during the early '90s.

BTW: I still have my talking Beetlejuice doll, that my mother bought for my 7th Christmas in 1989.

Mike Mozart's Talking Beetlejuice Doll Review (2011)

Woah! It's like my life just flashed before my eyes. With all that I've said, this Cartoon Sunday, I present Beetlejuice's pilot episode, "Critter Sitters." Simply click on the following link:

Beetlejuice Pilot "Critter Sitters" (1989)

As a bonus, I'll leave you all with the dinner scene from the movie, Beetlejuice. In the following scene, The Maitlands possess Lydia's parents and her step-mother's friends.

Beetlejuice Dinner Scene (1988)

Early Song Saturday: Drain STH {Double Dose}

How's it going lurkers? Since I will be really busy this weekend, I've put a rush on Song Saturday and Cartoon Sunday. I'm sure it's already Saturday in other countries. It just turned Friday in America, several hours ago. 

I must shop for both my mother's and youngest aunt's birthday presents. Their birthdays are next week. On Easter, we are going to dinner with family. Therefore, I'm sharing Song Saturday and Cartoon Sunday early.

Earlier this week, I debated whether or not to publish a Song Saturday blog about Type O Negative (since Monday was the 4th anniversary of Peter Steele's death), or Drain STH. 

Because most people have never heard of Drain STH in America and overseas, this Song Saturday will be focused more on them. 

Drain STH was a female Swedish Grunge/Metal band that formed in the 1990's. 

In fact, the band performed at Ozzfest in 1997 and 1999 with Type O Negative and other bands. Both of Drain STH's albums, Horror Wrestling and Freaks of Nature, were released those same years and I own both of them. 

On 101.7 WIPZ, I mostly played songs from the Swedish Grunge/Metal band's debut album (Horror Wrestling), 11-12 years ago. I especially got someone, who I was "sorta seeing," 10 years ago, to love Drain STH. 

As soon as he heard their debut single, "I Don't Mind," he put Horror Wrestling into his CD burner. Wow! It's amazing how time flew!

Maria Sjoholm, who happens to be married to Black Sabbath's guitarist, Tony Iommi, was the vocalist of Drain STH. They met, while working on Drain STH in 1996 and married in 2005. 

Hmm, this makes me wonder if they're still married. Some of us consider Drain STH to be the female, Swedish version of Alice in Chains. Whenever I hear Drain STH's song, "Mind Over Body," I cannot help thinking about Alice in Chains, since Drain STH was highly influenced by them. This does not surprise me in the slightest.

It's like I said last Song Saturday, Alice in Chains heavily influenced many bands of the past and present.

Drain STH disbanded in 2000. It's a shame they never completely mainstreamed. I don't recall of MTV ever airing their music videos. However, I sometimes heard Drain STH's single's "I Don't Mind," "Crack the Liar's Smile," "Enter My Mind," and "Simon Says," as a teenager on Rock stations. 

From both albums, it seems like "Crack the Liar's Smile" and "Simon Says" were played the most. 

Years ago, I read that Drain STH were dropped from their record label and never became mainstream simply because the chauvinistic Metal masses said they were "too pretty" to be taken seriously. 

Talk about some chauvinistic, superficial, Boys Club Only, bullshit!

According to the Metal Edge Magazine's 1999 Readers' Choice Awards, Drain STH was voted "Female Performers of the Year" and "Most Underrated Band."

So... Where is Drain STH, Now?

Maria Sjoholm completely retired from music. Meanwhile, drummer/backup vocalist Martina Axen sang in Snake River Conspiracy and is currently recording a solo album. 

Guitarist Flavia Canel currently manages Sonic Syndicate and stopped professionally playing guitar. 

Lastly, bassist Anna K. joined Hanzel Und Gretyl, Revolting Cocks, and Opiate for the Masses. 

Now, Anna is working on a Stockholm, Sweden based project, which involves the members of Clawfinger and Skintrade.

This Song Saturday, I present the only 2 music videos that I have ever seen from Drain STH. "I Don't Mind" and "Crack the Liar's Smile" are both from the band's debut album, Horror Wrestling.

Watching "I Don't Mind" automatically reminds me of their Horror Wrestling album cover. Well, enough about the band. Here's Drain STH's "I Don't Mind" and "Crack the Liar's Smile."

1) Drain STH "I Don't Mind" Horror Wrestling (1997)

 

2) Drain STH "Crack The Liar's Smile" Horror Wrestling (1997)

Song Saturday: Layne Staley Tribute Block

How's it going lurkers? Last Saturday (April 5th) was the 20th anniversary of Kurt Cobain's suicide and the 12th anniversary of Alice in Chains, Mad Season, and Class of '99's vocalist's (Layne Staley) death by a drug overdose.

Even though Nirvana was the most popular Seattle Grunge band during the 1990's, several others such as Pearl Jam, Screaming Trees, Soundgarden, and Alice In Chains held their own. 

Here it is 2 decades later, and I still enjoy Classic Alice In Chains. This Grunge band had a VERY distinct sound with musical themes, which focused on death, depression, and drug abuse. 

Unlike Nirvana, Pearl Jam, and Soundgarden for 3 examples, Alice In Chains was apolitical. Not that Nirvana, Pearl Jam, and Soundgarden were terrible bands, but Alice In Chains was a Grunge band that was able to resonate with me a lot better than the other Seattle Grunge Rock bands regarding issues such as death and depression.

During the Grunge era, Alice In Chains was somewhat atypical for a Grunge band. Most Grunge bands had only 1 vocalist, whereas they always had 2 lead singers.  

As a co-lead vocalist, Jerry Cantrell had the ability to harmonize with Layne Staley's blues vocals.

The media NEVER praised Alice In Chains the way they praised Nirvana.

Even though Kurt Cobain was highly uncooperative, divisive, and instigated fights with Guns N' Roses' Axl Rose, Kurt remains placed on "The Grunge God" pedestal by Nirvana sycophants and zealots.

In comparison, Layne Staley was more articulate, showed versatility, and worked collaboratively with other bands. This included Layne forming 2 "supergroups," while being a hardcore drug addict. Maybe his collaborations did well because he seemed more humble, versatile, and had a likable personality compared to Kurt Cobain.

Not to speak ill of the late Kurt Cobain, but he rubbed a LOT of other musicians the wrong way with his insane antics.

Layne Staley collaborated with at least several musicians in the Rock Industry ranging from different Rock genres and sub-genres. In the past, Staley collaborated with vocalists and bands such as Heart's Ann Wilson, Rage Against the Machine, Jane's Addiction, Porno for Pyros, and A Perfect Circle/Puscifer/Tool's vocalist, Maynard James Keenan, to only name a few.

I am actually surprised that Maynard chose to collaborate with Alice In Chains, since he has the tendency to view drug addicts as scum. It appears Maynard James Keenan contradicted himself, AGAIN.

As I was saying, Staley collaborated with other Rock bands. In addition, Alice In Chains was featured on movie soundtracks and toured with some popular '80s Metal bands, during Alice In Chains' earlier years like Megadeth, for example.

Alice In Chains' sound may have been niche, but their music still heavily influenced other bands. I will dare to say, that Alice In Chains may have influenced Twisted Sister's Dee Snider. Dee Snider created the theme song to the '90s cartoon, The Terrible Thunderlizards.

2 decades later, I still believe that The Terrible Thunderlizards theme song sounds very similar to Alice In Chains' "Man in the Box."

The Terrible Thunderlizards Opening Theme Song (1993)

Layne Staley may have been dead for these last 12 years, but the following vocalists and bands have paid tribute to him within the last decade:

Cold, Staind, Adema, Black Label Society, Kat Bjelland, Theory of a Deadman, Metallica, Godsmack, Eddie Vedder, etc.

Rather than dwelling on Layne Staley's drug addiction, I chose to do a Song Saturday Tribute to him.

1) Alice In Chains "We Die Young" Facelift (1990)

 

2) Alice In Chains "Bleed The Freak" Facelift (1990)

3) Alice In Chains "Man In The Box" Facelift (1991)

4) Alice In Chains "Would?" Singles, Dirt (1992)

5) Alice In Chains "Angry Chair" Dirt (1992) 

6) Alice In Chains "Nutshell" Jar of Flies (1994), MTV's Unplugged (1996)

7) Mad Season "River of Deceit" Above (1995)

Let me know if you agree with me about The Terrible Thunderlizards' theme song resembling "Man In The Box."

RIP LAYNE STALEY!!!

What Are My Latest Thoughts About Girl Meets World?

How's it going lurkers? A decade ago, ABC still used to air its TGIF  block on Friday nights. Those of us adult viewers remember, when Boy Meets World was a part of the same block for years. 

This summer, The Disney Channel is premiering Boy Meets World's new spinoff, Girl Meets World.

Girl Meets World Sneak Peak (2014):

According to Hypable, Girl Meets World will focus on Cory and Topanga Matthews' 7th grade daughter, Riley and her friend, Maya in NYC. 

Cory will be Riley and Maya's History teacher, while Topanga will be the owner of a so-called "trendy after-school hangout that specializes in pudding."

What the hell did the writers do to Cory and Topanga's stories, again?!

Whether you're an adult, "tween," or teen, who watched the original Boy Meets World series, Cory, Topanga, Shawn, and Eric left Pennbrook and headed straight to NYC on the series finale. Topanga was offered a so-called "dream internship" at a law firm.

How did Boy Meets World end with Topanga interning at a law firm to NOW  being an owner of a teenage hangout, specializing in pudding on Girl Meets World?

I hope the writers explain this huge change between both shows. Boy Meets World fans already stated their overall opinions about Girl Meets World, as well as Cory and Topanga's new stories. 

On Hypable, here's what some of Boy Meets World's fans said:

RealOnigokko: "Cory's a middle school teacher and Topanga runs an after-school joint and they can afford a high-society New York City apartment? Ima go ahead and call bullsh*t."

Chris: "'Riley’s mom who owns a trendy after-school hangout that specializes in pudding.' so she's not a lawyer? Guess they wanted to make it "fun" for the kids who will be watching it........"

skecchi: "Nice to see the series get a spin-off. I fear though that because the show is for disney channel, it wont be well received by a wide audience range. If it were on ABC, the tone of the show can be adjusted and would be fitting for mature and young audiences."

Daniel Rubin: "To me, Corey was the lamest part of the show. By the end, he was like a 70-year-old man. Shawn, Mr. Feeney, and especially, Eric, were the best. Feenay! Fuh, fuh, fuh, Feenay!"

You can read more of the comments in the following link: 

First ‘Girl Meets World’ teaser trailer released: Make your own world

Last night, I talked to some of my former Xangan friends/subscribers on Facebook about Girl Meets World. Neither of us have any high hopes for this series, nor do most of Boy Meets World's veteran viewers. 

I am completely aware that Girl Meets World is meant for the female "tween" demographic much like Boy Meets World mostly pandered to the younger male demographic. 

However, Cory and Topanga's stories have been re-written WAY  too many times. This can most definitely be said for Topanga Lawrence-Matthews. 

Regardless of the age and gender of viewers watching Girl Meets World, Boy Meets World's fans will be disappointed. The writers did NOT  stay mostly true to the original characters, stories, and themes. 

Taking that into consideration, this only shows that those writing Girl Meets World at ABC Disney have very little integrity, IF  they actually DO have any.

Whether or not the writers choose to acknowledge Boy Meets World's fans, we will still be the main viewers watching Girl Meets World. 

The spinoff won't necessarily win over our viewership. Reading Girl Meets World's synopsis alone is enough to repulse the original audience.

Hopefully, the "tween" actresses on the spinoff will have enough acting skills and charisma to carry the weight of their own characters, along with such poorly re-written Boy Meets World stories. 

Cory and Topanga each have their own history, as well as the original show's history. With Girl Meets World premiering on The Disney Channel compared to ABC like Boy Meets World, Girl Meets World has a lot more adversities to overcome. This is all I have to say, for now.

Anyway, what are your thoughts? Do you think Girl Meets World has a fighting chance or do you expect it to be canceled?

Let me know what you think!

Song Saturday: Kurt Cobain Tribute

How's it going lurkers? Today is not only Song Saturday, but also the day of 2 tragic deaths from Grunge Rock vocalists. 

On April 5, 1994, Nirvana's Kurt Cobain supposedly committed suicide and in 2002 on this same day, Alice In Chains' Layne Staley died from a Heroin/Cocaine overdose. So tragic yet bizarre all at once.

Both of these '90s Grunge vocalists from Seattle, WA happened to die 8 years apart from each other on April 5th. If memory serves me right, I believe Kurt and Layne were both friends. Cobain has been dead for 20 years whereas Staley has been dead for ONLY  12 years. It is quite fascinating, that BOTH of their deaths were estimated to have been on April 5th and 8 years apart from each other. 

Kurt Cobain's death wasn't announced, until 3 days later in 1994. Compared to Cobain's, Staley's death was not announced until April 19, 2002.

As I already said a couple of Song Saturdays ago, the mainstream media LOVES to publicize Nirvana and Kurt Cobain's death more than Layne Staley's because Kurt was "The Hype Guy," who acted as a so-called "political activist."

Even though the man was a total junkie and kook with phenomenal artistic abilities, he knew how to arouse his fans on stage. Kurt Cobain had a lot of sycophants and zealots as well as average fans.

Looking back as a woman in her early 30's and not as a preteen from the early to mid-90's, Nirvana sycophants and zealots put this particular Grunge vocalist on a gigantic pedestal. Nirvana supposedly "paved the way" for so many Grunge bands, especially for other Grunge bands like Alice In Chains, for example.

Today I won't focus too much on Layne's death because I intend to discuss his death, next week.

Returning to Kurt Cobain, I remember the exact date 20 years ago, when his suicide hit the airwaves. The news announced Kurt's suicide on a Good Friday, which was on April 8, 1994. I was only 2 months away from turning 12 years old. 

At the time, a local Hard Rock/Metal radio station of ours in Milwaukee, WI did a Nirvana tribute. That tragic news report about Kurt Cobain's suicide left me feeling completely shell-shocked. 

The radio station broadcasted Dave Grohl's voice with him discussing Kurt's suicide and about Nirvana wanting to disband. 

Even though I was only in my preteens, it was a very surreal and intense moment. MTV News anchor, Kurt Loder most definitely announced that Kurt Cobain committed suicide. 

In addition, MTV News premiered news specials specifically about Cobain's suicide and shared suicide hotlines.

MTV News: The Day Kurt Loder Announced Kurt Cobain's Suicide (1994)

20 years ago, I never really heard about musicians committing suicide, until I reached puberty. 

Had I been a little older, would Kurt Cobain's suicide had a bigger impact on me as a fan? 

I was a Nirvana fan but I wasn't an sycophant or zealot.

Shortly after his death, there were some Nirvana fans committing suicide because they viewed Kurt Cobain as their "God." This was something he never wanted. Kurt Cobain really hated the fact, that he and Nirvana became famous.

Throughout these last 2 decades, I watched some Nirvana documentaries. Over the most recent years, I read and heard, that Cobain hated the way Nirvana fans and the media misinterpreted their music. That's not including music critics over analyzing Nirvana's songs.

Honestly, it wasn't until I had my own TV with closed captioning on it, that I was able to understand what Kurt Cobain said in Nirvana's lyrics. That was 2 years after his suicide.

My mother restricted me from buying any Nirvana albums yet I could buy a Megadeth or Metallica album. Gotta love it.

Kurt Cobain was NOT  the most articulate vocalist. Before his suicide and after Nirvana became famous, I saw parodies about the Grunge Rock band. 

Weird Al, for example, did a parody of Nirvana's "Smells Like Teen Spirit." He joked about Kurt not knowing what he was saying in his lyrics.

Yesterday, I went onto good ol' Wikipedia to learn more about Cobain's background. Supposedly, mental illness, substance abuse, and suicide ran in his family line.

This was besides Kurt having a rough time coping with his parents divorcing, being bullied by his peers over it, and witnessing his mom's boyfriend inflicting domestic abuse upon her.

To make matters worse, Kurt Cobain became withdrawn, defiant, transported from house to house, having foster parents converting him into being a devout Christian, and renouncing Christianity to follow Buddhist and Jainist philosophies.

Kurt also felt persecuted for his Liberalistic views, since he received death threats, began resenting so-called Nirvana "fans," who refused to acknowledge their political views, etc, etc.

Cobain started abusing drugs, when he was 13 years old and had stopped for a while. 

Then, he really started abusing drugs as an adult. This was epecially when Nirvana reached its pinnacle. What I find the most interesting is the Butthole Surfers connection.

I'm not necessarily bringing this particular band up to purposely blame them for Kurt Cobain's addiction. 

However, this is the 2nd time, I have read about a vocalist from a famous Alternative/Grunge Rock band having connections with this specific band.

About a few months ago, I read about Stone Temple Pilots' Scott Weiland touring with Butthole Surfers. Years ago, they introduced Scott to Heroin. When I read more about Kurt Cobain, he and Courtney Love met at an L7 and Butthole Surfers tour.

The early stages of Kurt and Courtney's relationship consisted of drug abuse. I cannot help noticing a common connection among Kurt, Courtney, Scott, Butthole Surfers, and Heroin Addiction.

Granted, Kurt Cobain was already exposed to Heroin in 1986 by a local drug dealer in Tacoma, WA. 

Supposedly, Kurt used Heroin to self-medicate his stomach pain and by the end of 1990, he developed a hardcore addiction to it.

Overall, Kurt Cobain's Heroin Addiction seriously destroyed him, his performances, relationships, AND Nirvana when we look back at some of Nirvana's interviews, concert performances, and music videos from the '90s. 

Whenever I watched Kurt's interviews 2 decades ago, he usually seemed somewhat sober, while smoking his cigarettes. 

Then, there were times when he physically looked, sounded, and acted really high. 

Learning more about Kurt Cobain's background yesterday, really makes me believe, that he committed suicide.

Most had speculated that Courtney Love either killed Kurt Cobain, or set him up to be killed, 20 years ago. Her band, Hole became famous shortly after his death. 

Love is known for dating other famous musicians and actors, having a violent temper towards men (not that Kurt didn't himself), constantly being in and out of drug rehab, etc.

That reminds me, when I originally heard the news about Kurt Cobain's death on the radio, DJ's claimed an electrician found him with a suicide note, his clothes placed in the bathroom, and was lying naked with a gun to his head.

New York Daily News released pictures of Kurt and Courtney's previous apartment, drug paraphernalia, and his corpse 2 weeks ago. 

New York Daily News: New photos of Kurt Cobain's Los Angeles apartment surface (2014)

Kurt Cobain's Corpse (April 1994)

  

 

 

The preceding picture of Kurt Cobain's corpse doesn't match the news reports I heard on the radio about his death multiple times, 20 years ago.

Yesterday, I just stumbled upon his notorious suicide letter on Wikipedia. I remember MTV airing Courtney Love partially reading it to Nirvana fans, during his funeral.

Kurt Cobain's Suicide Letter (April 1994) 

Last month, the Seattle Police Department re-opened Kurt Cobain's case. According to the police, they received at least 1 weekly request, mostly via Twitter to re-open his suicide case.

After re-investigating Cobain's report, the Seattle Police Department reclosed it. There wasn't much to their discovery. It's rather convenient, that they chose to reopen this investigation.

This Thursday, April 10th, Nirvana will be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

"Breed" and "Drain You" are 2 of my favorite Nirvana songs. 

Several years ago, Otep did a cover of Nirvana's song "Breed." 

After all that I have said for today's Song Saturday, here are 2 of my favorite Nirvana songs, which can be heard on their Nevermind album.

1) Nirvana "Breed" Live At Reading (1992)

2) Nirvana "Drain You" Live On Nulle Part Ailleurs In Paris, France (1994)

RIP KURT COBAIN!!!

How About Scheduling Time For Writing?

How's it going lurkers? Since last weekend, I have been really busy. No need to worry. I should be able to publish more Song Saturday and Cartoon Sunday blogs over the weekend.

When it comes to writing, I wonder how many writers have been experiencing the same issues, that I have been facing.

Every time I plan to add more to my latest story, "All Of Chastity's Men" I keep backburning it for sleep, sinuses, blogging, social networking, watching TV, people throwing monkey wrenches into my original plans, and simply PROCRASTINATION.

Yes, believe it or not, I do seem to procrastinate, when it comes to adding more to "All Of Chastity's Men." I think I already have about 15 handwritten pages.

Am I writing a novel?

To be honest with you, I don't know yet. I am basically playing it all by ear. "All Of Chastity's Men" could become a short story, novella, or a novel. It is all a matter of writing everything onto paper. Then, going from there.

I recently subscribed to Marie Forleo's page on Stalkbook Facebook. She is great at giving advice. Earlier, I browsed through her YouTube Channel.

Suddenly, I stumbled upon this video about how to write a book, while being too busy making money. Currently, I am unemployed. Even though I'm unemployed, I can still try applying what Marie says in her vlog to my time management. Also, I thought I would share this vlog with all my readers.

Marie Forleo is informative, as well as entertaining to watch. Anyway, I'll cut to the chase and let you watch this informative yet entertaining vlog by her.

Marie Forleo's Advice For Scheduling Time To Write (2011)