The Amanda Doll: This Season's Hot Children's Toy

I'm not one to jump on bandwagons. A decade ago you did not see my rushing out to buy a "Tickle Me Elmo."  Cabbage Patch dolls were never my thing, either. But now that I'm the mother of young children, I do tend to keep my eyes open for the latest "hot" toys.

This Christmas my daughter wanted the "Amazing Amanda" doll, a doll that talks and poops and recognizes her "mommy's" voice. A quick price check at Target showed that the thing cost 90 dollars. Ouch!

At first I was angry. How dare Nick Jr. air ads for 90 dollar dolls? That's just plain rude. Most people can't afford such an expensive doll-- us included! When it was time to write a letter to Santa (actually an email),  all my daughter kept asking for was "the Amanda doll." Nothing else? No, just the Amanda doll. So of course Santa had to bring it.

The doll arrived Christmas morning as scheduled, and my daughter was thrilled. Unfortunately, Amanda called for 3 "C" batteries. We only had one. My husband found some old batteries in a toy in the playroom, so we inserted them. My daughter gave Amanda'a hand a squeeze and the doll started talking. Then....ffffffftttzzzzzzzz. She sounded like she shorted out. Alas, it was just the batteries!

We bought new ones and then began the (tedious) process of "programming" Amanda to "understand" my daughter's voice. Talk about painful.  It took forever and we kept making mistakes and had to start over. A few times Amanda said my daughter didn't sound like her mommy. My little girl was very sad when that happened.

Finally, we got everything programmed and we got to play with Amanda. My daughter was so dear, caring for and coddling her new doll. Feeding her, putting her on the potty, singing songs with her..... it was almost worth the 90 dollars! That was on the 26th. Amanda has been laying asleep on my daughter's bed since then. She doesn't want to wake her, she explains. Guess she realizes that playing with Amanda is a lot of work indeed.

'Reunion' is canceled and I'm lambasting FOX

Lambast (verb). Call on the carpet; reprimand; lecture; bawl out (Websters)
I have never in my life used the word "lambast," but for some reason that is the only word I can think of to describe what I want to do to the FOX network.

OK,  so we all know the show "Reunion" wasn't the greatest. The writing was medicore, there were too many characters, too many twists, etc. etc. Still, when you draw viewers in with an intricate murder plot, dropping new clues each week, isn't it only common courtesy to finish out the series?

FOX has cancleled "Reunion"-- mid series. So the viewers will never know who killed Samantha. I have wasted weeks on this show, hours of my life, and now I'm left hanging??? The writers can't even come up with a quickie way to wrap up the plotlines;  it's too involved, there are too many characters we haven't met yet, etc. I guess I can't blame them for being bitter.

So thanks, FOX. Guess "Reunion" will stay stuck in the year 1995 or so. Which may be what FOX's problem is after all.

Holly Jolly Holiday Spirit

OK, so the new season of "The Simple Life" has started shooting. Am I the only one who thinks it's preposterous that Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie are being paid mega bucks to do a show together-- yet they won't even speak to each other? Not even two words. In the "real" world, if you can't get along with a coworker, then someone's got to go. I wish that were the case here. But no, instead the producers of the show are shooting around the girls' feud. They won't even be in scenes together. Seems kind of silly to me. Spoiled rich girls.

In other news, this weeks episode of "Grey's Anatomy" was the best one yet. I just love "Grey's." I love how Izzie tried to get everyone in the Christmas spirit and they were all a bunch of Grinches. I cried over the little boy who needed a heart transplant. And I can't get that Sixpence None the Richer version of "It Came Upon a Midnight Clear" out of my head. I immediately downloaded it on  iTunes and I've listened to it over and over and over ever since. The best part? At the end of the episode when Izzie, Meredith and George were laying under the Christmas tree looking up at the twinkling lights.

"What are we doing?" George asked.

"Lights," Izzie said, dreamily.

Yes, we could all use a few more lights in our lives.

Merry Christmas to you and yours.

photo credit: ABC Television Network

Carver and Wyeth and a long lost love

I wrote some AC articles this week on two talented men that I wish were still alive today: Raymond Carver, my all time favorite writer, and NC Wyeth, one of the most talented painters to ever walk this earth.

There's not a lot of info about Carver available on the Internet. I would like to try to find a copy of a book about him, "Carver Country." There's no bio of his life as far as I know. Still, I pulled out my old copy of "Where I'm Calling From" and read "A Small, Good Thing" and a couple of others. This man's work inspires me every time. I need to get on my own writing-- if I could only find the time.

NC Wyeth-- I do own a couple books on his life. He was a fascinating man and I want to take a trip-- soon-- to the Brandywine Rover Museum and the tour of his house and studio. I swear, when you're in his studio you can feel his presence. It's been quite a while since I've been there.

On a totally unrelated note (because I'm in the mood to ramble today), recently my mother stumbled upon a geneology website of a man who broke her heart years ago, before she met my dad. There are pictures of this man on the site, including one that she carried in her wallet for years before her cousin Vince made her burn it. Now that same picture is on the Internet, plus pics of him now as an old man. She's freaked out by the whole thing, seeing him now as an old man when it's been almost 50 years since she last saw him. Sometimes too much information is not a good thing, but in this case it was. They've rekindled an old friendship.

And life keeps whizzing by....

Rock Star INXS: Who Will Win?

I really enjoy the show "Rock Star: INXS,"  mainly because they actually sing GOOD music on that show. That is, until this week. On tonight's episode, poor Marty has been saddled with the Britney Spears pop song, "Baby One More Time."  Why oh why? Weren't the ratings high enough with Jordis's rendition of Nirvana's "Heart Shaped Box"?

I knew the good music was too good to be true. In any event, I think the whole competition is becoming pointless. It is obvious to me that Mig will be the winner.

Why will Mig win? He has all the elements needed to be a rock star. He has the look (funky hair, lean long body, tight striped pants). He has the rock star voice and moves. He doesn't cause any conflicts with the other singers (unlike JD). Plus, he's Australian, as are the members of INXS. Let's face it, Mig is a shoo-in.

So why continue this silly farce? It's still good entertainment. Yes, I am dreading the day when big-hearted, big-smiled Ty Taylor gets the boot. He is by far the best singer out of all of them, but do you really envision INXS being led by a mowhawked theater-loving singer? No, Ty will move on to bigger and better things and I will still be a fan.

JD, on the other hand, has tons of talent but has caused so much conflict and burned so many bridges with the others that I think he has ruined his chances of winning. He is my personal favorite-- he's nice to look at and has a sexy voice and charisma. Still, I think it's too little too late.

Jordis is my favorite as far as the women go, but come on-- do you really think INXS is going to choose a chick to front their band? Highly unlikely. Jordis is very young and has a lot to learn, so she should take this experience for what it is. I do love her voice, though.

So that's my prediction: Mig. In a few more weeks we'll know for sure.

UPDATE: I was totally wrong. JD Fortune won! Ha!

The Unreal World

OK, so I've been watching MTV's "The Real World" religiously since the show first started airing in 1992. Back then it was such a new concept: reality TV, seven strangers picked to live in a house together, etc. Actually the first season they lived in a loft. In New York City.

Back in '92, the seven strangers all seemed to have pretty good heads on their shoulders and all seemed to know what they wanted to do when they grew up. There was Eric, the model; Julie the dancer; Kevin the writer; Becky the singer, Norm the Artist; Heather the rapper; and Andre the rock musician.

OK, so sure,  there were some arguments and racial tensions and hookups and drinking. But mostly it was a show about the youth of the early '90s and where they were headed. The kids seemed to have had their thinking caps on, at the very least.

Fast forward to 2005. "The Real World" has been steadily going downhill, in my opinion, since they garnered huge ratings during the "Hawaii" season and Ruthie's alcohol storyline. The last few seasons, "RW Las Vegas" in particular, have been all about sex and drunkfests. The kids don't talk about their futures-- they just get plastered and sleep with each other. There are no thought provoking storylines, no interesting or colorful characters like Puck or Teck or San Fran's Rachel. There's no pre-med students like Pam, no fencers like Kat, not even a lumberjack like Sean. In fact, in most cases I don't know what any of the kids on today's "Real World" does.

I have faithfully hung in there with "The Real World" all of these years, watching each season all the way through, but I'm afraid even I am giving up this time. I tried to get through the premiere of "The Real World Austin", but the cast was so darn bland and predictable that I just gave up and read my In Style Magazine until "Pimp My Ride" came on.

It's like they've filmed the same show over and over again for the past five seasons. The cast members are interchangable. Too much drinking, too much sex, not enough storyline.

Are the kids of today really that shallow or is it just the producers at Bunim/Murray? I don't know and, sorry, for once I ain't sticking around to find out.

Two Parises, Double the Yawns

Am I the only one who finds Paris Hilton to be a big, blonde bore? She's planning her wedding to another Paris-- Latsis, to be exact.  Will it actually happen? That remains to be seen. (What are the chances of two Paris's marrying, anyway?) I saw her bridal registry online. Tiffany's, of course.

http://www.tiffany.com/registry/registry_pur.asp?registryID=403955&mysid1=642C95D094534E3AB91F9344E7A77463&cntry1=-1

I'm surprised the dinner plates she wants are only $45.00 each. Maybe she's not planning to ever do dishes and will just use them as diposables.

Atually, I believe the "Tiffany's" registry is a hoax. Something tells me Paris already has all the dishes she'll ever need. Anyway, here's my predication: I predicted it about Britney Spears. (See my review of Spears' asinine reality show, "Chaotic" here: http://www.televisiondepot.com/2005/06/chaotic-reality-tv-with-britney.html.) I knew Brit would somehow use her marriage to Kevin Federline as bait for a reality show and voila-- nine months (and one bun in the oven) later I was right.

And I predict this about the two Parises: Somehow their wedding or the planning thereof will become a reality show. Hilton likes to keep her name in the spotlight and honestly, her 15 minutes has got to be just about up, so she needs to strike while the iron is hot. So look for it come next winter or spring,  the Paris/Paris reality show. Behind the scenes and all about the fairytale wedding of the century. Wake me when it's over.

And hey, if I'm wrong, I'll buy her one of those $45.00 plates. I promise.

Bewitched Today

I've been a lifelong fan of the television series, "Bewitched."  Starring the ever-so-gorgeous Elizabeth Montgomery, the show premiered on September 17, 1964. And while I as too young to watch the first-run episodes of  the series, I've been a syndication superfan.

Over the years, I've always watched "Bewitched" reruns, but I was thrilled when Nick at Nite and TV Land started airing the classic series in primetime. They even dug up the first two seasons of black and white episodes, shows I had never seen.

There were so many classic episodes of "Bewitched" that I can't possibly list them all here, but a few of my favorites include any episode that featured the great Marion Lorne as Aunt Clara; any episode that featured Endora (Agnes Moorehead) tormenting Durwood, er, Darrin;  all of the Christmas episodes. And the classic episode that was the first one to ever air in color, when Samantha discovers that her baby daughter, Tabitha, is also a witch.

And then there's the Stephens' house at 1164 Morning Glory Circle. (I told you I was a fan). The layout of the Stephen's house is my all time favorite TV house. (OK,  maybe it's a tie with the "Brady Bunch" home.) I liked how the Stephens' house flowed, how they took you through the whole thing.

So remember those black and white episodes I told you about? Well, when they were released on DVD, I ordered them through Amazon.com, but I have a confession to make-- I ordered the colorized version.

Yes, even I , the biggest "Bewitched" fan around, like to keep up with the times.

Glaring Omissions on the VH1 Child Stars Series

I was loving VH1's "100 Greatest Kid Stars" series last week. It gave informative updates on former child stars I had all but forgotten about, stars like Quinn Cummings ("The Goodbye Girl," "Family"), Lara Jill Miller ("Gimme a Break") and Cynthia Nixon, who I knew from "Sex and the City" but had no idea she was also a child star, featured in one of my favorite teen movies, "Little Darlings."

Still, there were some blatant omissions on the show. I know, I know, they can't name every child star from the past 40 years, but some of the stars that they forgot about clearly should have been included. For example:

-- Jay North. The original Dennis the Menace from the TV series. That kid was a McCauley Culkin way before Culkin's time. He was adorable and a great actor. And they didn't even mention his name.

--Leif Garrett. And Donny Osmond, for that matter. Yes, VH1 did include some teen singers in their countdown, but they chose to include New Kids on the Block's Joey McIntyre in lieu of truly great pop stars. Crazy, I tell you!

-- Kim Richards. The greatest child star of the '70s and early '80s. She starred in Disney films like "Escape to Witch Mountain' and television series like "Nanny and the Professor." I expected her to make the top 10 and she didn't even make the top 100?

--Johnny Whitaker. Red-haired child star of "Family Affair" fame and then Saturday morning's "Sigmund and the Sea Monsters," this kid was a bona fide poster child for child stars in the '60s and '70s. Remember him? VH1 sure didn't!

--Billy Mumy. The ultimate child star, in my opinion. Watch any TV show from the 1960s-- from "Bewitched" to "Twilight Zone" to "My Favorite Martian" -- and this kid has guest starred on it. VH1 didn't deem him worthy, but Cindy Brady makes the list?

I'm still scratching my head over that one.....

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Where have all the child stars gone?

Have you seen the VH1 series "The 100 Greatest Kid Stars of All Time?"  For a pop culture enthusiast like me, it's a great little package of interesting tidbits. And a nice walk down memory lane.

It's a five-part series, so I've only seen the first two night's worth, but I've already learned a ton.
For instance, did you know that Peter Olstrum (the kid who played Charlie in the 70's film "Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory") is now a veterinarian on a dairy farm? And Alison Arngrim (aka Nellie Olsen) does a one woman comedy show, rehashing her "Little House on the Prairie" days. Lara Jill Miller, the youngest daughter from the show "Gimme a Break," was a lawyer for a while, but now she does cartoon voice over work. And Candace Cameron Bure, formerly DJ on "Full House", is HOT now-- and she's a mom of three to boot!

So far they've showed the first 40 people on their list, and I can't help but wonder who the other 60 will be. How can they choose a mere 100? Because there's been so darn many great kid stars over the years!. ike, whatever happened to that adorable kid Ricky Segall from "The Partridge Family?" Will he be remembered? And what about the girl who played the annoying Margaret on "Dennis the Menace?" And how many Bradys will make the list? No doubt about it, this show is a pop culture fanatic's dream come true!

Stay tuned.....