In all the years that I have been a gamer, there are three things that I have noticed about video games that are based off of Saturday morning cartoons, movies, and other pop culture references.
1. In 95% of all of these video game releases, the gameplay stinks.
2. The video game sprites often look nothing like the characters that are actually in the movie.
3. The game usually takes less than 90 minutes to complete.
Playing video games that were based on movies and cartoon games, I can definitely agree with this. If you have ever played the NES versions of 'Back To The Future', 'Home Alone', or 'Ghostbusters', you know exactly what I mean. The games are pointless, hard to control, and by the end of it, you'd rather have all of your teeth pulled out than replay the game ever again. And, we won't even begin to talk about the travesty of the infamous E.T. video game, where that game was blamed as one of the factors for the video game crash of 1983.
There were some notable exceptions to this though. The Looney Tunes video games were pretty fun to play (specifically pointing out Bugs Bunny's Crazy Castle as being one game that was challenging, but entertaining). Who Framed Roger Rabbit was a surprisingly fun game to play, considering that the company that made it also gave us 'Back To The Future', easily the worst video game I've ever played. Even 'The Simpsons Hit & Run' was an adventure to play from start to finish.
And then there are video games that seem more like you're playing a live action, interactive television commercial for the product that the character mascot.
It seems hard to believe, but a lot of corporations felt the need to market their product to children and teenagers by every means possible. This included taking popular mascots and having them star in their own video game. These games were released on a variety of consoles over the years. Atari, Nintendo, Sega, PlayStation, XBOX 360...no console was immune to these 'television commercial games'.
Over the years, such sponsors of these video games have been Cheetos, McDonald's, Burger King, M & M's, 7-UP, Coca-Cola, and even Purina Dog Food! Most of them have been forgettable, but a couple were decent enough. I've played a couple of them, and wasn't overly impressed, but then again, it did serve a purpose in mind, and they were fun enough, I guess.
There is one company that I have left out though, mainly because it's the subject for today's blog. And it stars this...um...cute? No, wait...ah, hell, let's just show it.
This little guy is what one calls a Noid. For many years, he was the claymation mascot of Domino's Pizza. You may remember him in various commercials that aired over the years, such as this one.
So, I suppose you're wondering why the company would have a mascot that seems hell bent on destroying the very pizzas that Domino's was hoping to sell to consumers all over the world? Maybe it was to prove that Domino's pizza was so delicious and tasty that it deserved to be enjoyed, and not destroyed. Or, maybe we just got satisfaction over seeing the Noid get thwarted yet again. The formula worked before as thousands of heartless kids prevented the Trix rabbit from getting his paws the disgustingly phoney-tasting Trix cereal, so I guess Domino's wanted to capitalize on the same success in humiliating and demoralizing its mascot as well.
Just for the record, I'd have just given the rabbit his stupid Trix. And, while I don't mind Domino's Pizza on the occasion, there are other pizza places that I find much better. If the Noid wanted to destroy the pizza, no skin off of my nose.
Anyways, the Noid actually ended up starring in two different video games. The first one came out in 1989, and it was simply called 'Avoid The Noid', much like the slogan that Domino's used in its commercials for years. The object was to deliver pizzas in a Noid infested building in '30 minutes or less'. Unfortunately, I've never played that game, so I can't really determine whether it was worth playing or not.
I have played the second game, released in 1990.
In 1990, the video game 'Yo, Noid!' was released in North America. It was classic promotion by Domino's Pizza. The weapons used in the game strongly resembled some of the weapons the Noid used in the television commercials. There were plenty of pizza references throughout the game, and the instruction booklet included coupons for a one dollar discount from the next pizza ordered from Domino's.
If this sounded like a marketing plan by Domino's to get more kids eating their product...well...that's because it was.
But here's the kicker. Having played Yo, Noid years ago, and remembering the gameplay and the challenge level that the game boasted, I admit that the game was a lot more challenging and much more fun than I initially believed that it was.
Above is a screenshot of the very first level of the game. As you can see, the graphics were pretty advanced for a 1990 video game. Of course, this was before the days of the Super Nintendo, and when the Sega Genesis was still brand new on the market. The video game company that made the game was Capcom, a video game company which had a previous reputation for coming up with video games that had fantastic graphics and believable sound effects. Notice how lifelike the Noid character actually looks here. No longer were commercial themed characters made to look like a whole bunch of computer pixels. Instead, you had an actual lifelike representation.
The levels were a lot more challenging than it was made to let on. In my previous experience with games that have marketing mascots as stars, the various levels were dull, unchallenging, or incredibly difficult to gain much control with. Not really so, as this video will show some of the gameplay.
It may look simple and easy, and not very challenging. Consider the following.
Each of these levels have a time limit. Sometimes the time limit is generous, other times, not so much. You run out of time, you have to start again, minus one life. You also do not have such a thing as a life meter, so you really have to be careful where you jump or how close you get to enemies, because if you so much as lay one inch of the Noid's ears on an enemy, or fall into a pit, well, it's your funeral.
Fear not though. Magic scrolls are littered all over the landscape, so you can use magic skills to kill off the enemies. As well, you're armed with your trusty yo-yo to kill enemies off. Later levels will allow you to employ such devices as the pizza crusher pogo stick, a gyrocopter, and a skateboard. And in case you need them, you can get an extra life for every 20,000 points you score, and given the mechanics of the game, scoring 20,000 points can be done as early as the first couple of levels.
You might also notice that there are little cards with bottles and roman numerals stamped on them. You'll want to get these cards in your journey. For after every odd level (Level 1, 3, 5, etc), you'll have to take part in a little card game that doubles as a...pizza eating contest?!?
Now, wait just a minute...isn't the Noid supposed to HATE pizza? I mean, he spends so much time trying to ruin or sabotage Domino's Pizza that for him to suddenly take part in eating the very things that he despises...it just doesn't make sense.
But it will if I tell you that Yo, Noid was a completely different video game release in Japan. Don't believe me? Now, here's the proof. Take a look at the pizza eating segment in the Japanese version...
Looks a bit different, eh? Instead of pizzas, you had weapons and other things. They both worked the same way. You had to score a higher score than your opponent to win the level. If you didn't win, you had to start over again from the beginning, though I don't quite remember whether you lose a life or not as a result. It's been years since I played the game, so my memory is a bit fuzzy. The pizza eating mini-game wasn't all that difficult, and it was fairly easy to win. You could also sabotage your opponents by doubling the pizzas that you could eat with the roman numeral cards, or using the bottle cards to spice up your opponent's pizzas to the point where they became inedible.
But the original name of the game was Kamen no Ninja Hanamaru (loosely translated, it means Masked Ninja Hanamaru), and it was a totally different game from Yo Noid. The mechanics were kept the same, and the music was more or less unchanged, but the design of the levels, and the storyline were tweaked. The game's object in Yo Noid became one where you battled against the Noid's evil twin Mr. Green through the streets of New York City.
As a result of this change in story, there did become some parts of the game that made no sense, such as the Noid's sudden craving for pizza. It was somewhat loosely explained that the Noid was eating the pizza as the main reason for trying to get Mr. Green out of town. I might believe it if the motivation behind it was for the Noid to get the main baddie out of the way so that he along could destroy Domino's Pizza from the inside out, but that never came to be. This prevented the game from being as good as it could have been.
Nevertheless, the Yo, Noid game was a fun distraction. It almost made me forget that the video game was more or less a commercial for Domino's Pizza, because of the skill level and the patience needed to fully beat the game. I have a confession to make here. There's fourteen stages in the game, and I only managed to make it to level eleven. It was really tough. I imagine that if I played it now, I could win, but as a nine-year-old, it was frustrating, as most games by Capcom tended to be.
Now, if you excuse me, I have to leave...I think I hear the pizza delivery boy now...
Thursday, August 04, 2011
Wednesday, August 03, 2011
Across The Pond and Beyond: Small Talk
You know, I've always been fascinated by game shows and quiz shows. From an early age, I can remember always being fascinated by such shows as Jeopardy, Wheel Of Fortune, The Price Is Right, Family Feud, and Press Your Luck.
(Although the last one was because of those delightful little whammy creatures.)
The point is that whenever a game show was on, I would always be glued to the television. As I alluded to in the entry for Wheel Of Fortune that I did last month, one of the things that is on my bucket list is to appear on a television game show of some sort. I don't even need to win (though it would be nice). I just want the chance to go on one.
Game shows can be funny shows in that people can experience every sense of emotion when one tunes into them. They can cheer right along with the contestant for winning $100,000 on Wheel Of Fortune's bonus round. They can make a home viewer laugh every time a contestant tries to bear hug Drew Carey (or Bob Barker in the olden days) on The Price Is Right. They can make a person feel terrible for the person who missed winning Family Feud fast money by seven points. They can even make a person feel smarter after a contestant misses the first question on 'Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?'
A whole mixed bag of emotions comes with the territory of watching a game show, but for those of us who may be lucky to have been on a game show, I can only imagine how much greater those emotions can be.
In some ways, watching a game show is similar to watching a soap opera, or a really exciting movie. There's a whole bunch of twists and turns, and you never know how it's going to end. Sometimes, the endings are satisfyingly happy, and people walk away with enough money to change their lives. Sometimes, the endings are sad, where contestants end up with nothing but a copy of the home version of the board game based on the show.
At least, that's definitely what I think about game shows.
Some of the more interesting game shows that I've seen are ones that originated in the United Kingdom, because in many cases, a lot of them ended up on American television. Two I can name right off the bat are Who Wants To Be A Millionaire and The Weakest Link. I think that a lot of the ideas for the game shows there were so unique, and so interesting to watch that I couldn't help but do my blog entry for today on one of these shows.
I first began watching this show on the Canadian cable channel YTV. A lot of the shows that YTV aired on late nights and weekends were from overseas, so we got a lot of British, Irish, and Australian programming. The quiz show that I am featuring is one that could be classified as a peculiar hybrid of 'Hollywood Squares', 'To Tell The Truth', and 'Kids Say The Darndest Things'. Yet, it was a combination that made for an entertaining show that originally ran from 1994-1996 on BBC1.
Hosted by Ronnie Corbett, the show Small Talk debuted on July 24, 1994. The premise of the show was that you had three contestants trying to predict whether a group of nine or ten schoolchildren knew the correct answers to a question asked of them by the host of the show. They would win points based on how correct they were, and the person with the most points got the chance to play in the bonus round for the chance to win cash and prizes.
It was a simple question/answer game, but it was so much more than that.
For starters, each of the contestants had to decide whether the majority of the children knew the correct answer to the question. If they believed it, they would say yes. If not, they would say no. When the answer was revealled, those who got the correct answer would get ten points right off the bat. Then, each of the contestants would be set loose on the puzzle board, selecting a child, and deciding whether the child was right or wrong in answering the question. If they were right, more points would be added to the total. And, as you'll see, some of the children's answers range from slightly incorrect to a massive gigantic blooper!
In round two, the rules were exactly the same as round one, only the points were of greater value.
Now, after this round, the contestant who had the lowest score in the game was unfortunately asked to leave the show, and the top two competitors were allowed to play. Each question was worth 40 points, and the question round was more of a head-to-head competition. The one left with the most points at the end of the round would play the bonus round.
When we got to the final bonus round, the contestant would have to select five different children from the board. Each child had a point value that ranged in between 50 and 500 points. The children were asked questions, and the contestant as always had to guess whether the child knew the answer or didn't know. If they got the answer correct, they won the points. The object was to get over 500 points to win the grand prize. If they did not get 500 points, they would get one pound per point minus the amount of points needed to win.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N4-xJS3RfOY&feature=related
That last one I had to post the link on, as YouTube was being kind of tempermental with me.
The point is that the show was a cute little game show that I found myself strangely glued to. It proved that little schoolchildren from Britain had an interesting way of looking at the world, and honestly, if more shows could showcase the innocence and thought-processes of little kids in such a manner, I think it would make television a lot more fun.
(Although the last one was because of those delightful little whammy creatures.)
The point is that whenever a game show was on, I would always be glued to the television. As I alluded to in the entry for Wheel Of Fortune that I did last month, one of the things that is on my bucket list is to appear on a television game show of some sort. I don't even need to win (though it would be nice). I just want the chance to go on one.
Game shows can be funny shows in that people can experience every sense of emotion when one tunes into them. They can cheer right along with the contestant for winning $100,000 on Wheel Of Fortune's bonus round. They can make a home viewer laugh every time a contestant tries to bear hug Drew Carey (or Bob Barker in the olden days) on The Price Is Right. They can make a person feel terrible for the person who missed winning Family Feud fast money by seven points. They can even make a person feel smarter after a contestant misses the first question on 'Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?'
A whole mixed bag of emotions comes with the territory of watching a game show, but for those of us who may be lucky to have been on a game show, I can only imagine how much greater those emotions can be.
In some ways, watching a game show is similar to watching a soap opera, or a really exciting movie. There's a whole bunch of twists and turns, and you never know how it's going to end. Sometimes, the endings are satisfyingly happy, and people walk away with enough money to change their lives. Sometimes, the endings are sad, where contestants end up with nothing but a copy of the home version of the board game based on the show.
At least, that's definitely what I think about game shows.
Some of the more interesting game shows that I've seen are ones that originated in the United Kingdom, because in many cases, a lot of them ended up on American television. Two I can name right off the bat are Who Wants To Be A Millionaire and The Weakest Link. I think that a lot of the ideas for the game shows there were so unique, and so interesting to watch that I couldn't help but do my blog entry for today on one of these shows.
I first began watching this show on the Canadian cable channel YTV. A lot of the shows that YTV aired on late nights and weekends were from overseas, so we got a lot of British, Irish, and Australian programming. The quiz show that I am featuring is one that could be classified as a peculiar hybrid of 'Hollywood Squares', 'To Tell The Truth', and 'Kids Say The Darndest Things'. Yet, it was a combination that made for an entertaining show that originally ran from 1994-1996 on BBC1.
Hosted by Ronnie Corbett, the show Small Talk debuted on July 24, 1994. The premise of the show was that you had three contestants trying to predict whether a group of nine or ten schoolchildren knew the correct answers to a question asked of them by the host of the show. They would win points based on how correct they were, and the person with the most points got the chance to play in the bonus round for the chance to win cash and prizes.
It was a simple question/answer game, but it was so much more than that.
For starters, each of the contestants had to decide whether the majority of the children knew the correct answer to the question. If they believed it, they would say yes. If not, they would say no. When the answer was revealled, those who got the correct answer would get ten points right off the bat. Then, each of the contestants would be set loose on the puzzle board, selecting a child, and deciding whether the child was right or wrong in answering the question. If they were right, more points would be added to the total. And, as you'll see, some of the children's answers range from slightly incorrect to a massive gigantic blooper!
In round two, the rules were exactly the same as round one, only the points were of greater value.
Now, after this round, the contestant who had the lowest score in the game was unfortunately asked to leave the show, and the top two competitors were allowed to play. Each question was worth 40 points, and the question round was more of a head-to-head competition. The one left with the most points at the end of the round would play the bonus round.
When we got to the final bonus round, the contestant would have to select five different children from the board. Each child had a point value that ranged in between 50 and 500 points. The children were asked questions, and the contestant as always had to guess whether the child knew the answer or didn't know. If they got the answer correct, they won the points. The object was to get over 500 points to win the grand prize. If they did not get 500 points, they would get one pound per point minus the amount of points needed to win.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N4-xJS3RfOY&feature=related
That last one I had to post the link on, as YouTube was being kind of tempermental with me.
The point is that the show was a cute little game show that I found myself strangely glued to. It proved that little schoolchildren from Britain had an interesting way of looking at the world, and honestly, if more shows could showcase the innocence and thought-processes of little kids in such a manner, I think it would make television a lot more fun.
Tuesday, August 02, 2011
Be A Fly On The Wall Of The Big Brother Blog Entry!
It seems a bit of a stretch to bring up a book that I read in high school English class and tie it to a popular reality program that I myself admit to being shamefully addicted to. This time, is an exception.
Has anyone heard of the George Orwell book Nineteen Eighty-Four? It's a book that is set in a dystopian future where an entity known as 'Big Brother' can spy on the dictatorship he has created through people's television sets. The people of the world had to be sure to mind their P's and Q's at all times, because as the slogan of the book stated, 'Big Brother Is Always Watching'.
In 1997, a group of Dutch producers and showrunners were in a brainstorming session at an independent section of the Endemol television production company, and the idea for a reality show came into place. Loosely based on the Orwell novel, the idea was to take a group of complete strangers, lock them inside a house filled with dozens of cameras and compete for the chance to win money.
The television show debuted in 1999 in the Netherlands, and immediately became a huge hit in the country. Other countries would soon follow suit with their own versions, including Britain, Australia, Brazil, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United States.
When the first season of the American version of Big Brother premiered on July 5, 2000, it came in with mixed reactions. In the year 2000, reality television was a fairly new trend. MTV's The Real World was well established, and Survivor had premiered a little over a month earlier to huge ratings. Hosted by CBS news personality Julie Chen, Big Brother hoped to have similar success as Survivor, but it took a while for it to get there.
It almost seems like a whole different show, doesn't it? That's because in the first season of the show, there were no bells and whistles, no food competitions, not much of anything other than ten people in a house. Each of the houseguests were locked away inside a house with cameras on them twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, for three months. Depending on how well the houseguests got along with each other, the three months could fly by quickly, or they could be a living nightmare.
During the first season, houseguests were nominated for eviction (or banishment as it was called the first season), and home viewers could phone in their votes to evict someone from the house. It was the way that most of the current seasons of Big Brother perform their eviction ceremonies, and it seemed a good idea in theory, except that due to the public vote, the more colourful personalities were banished first, leaving the dull as dishwater houseguests remaining.
As a result of this, Big Brother's ratings weren't as strong as they really should have been. Beginning in the summer of 2001, when the second season of Big Brother premiered, there were some major changes, and by season seven, you had what was pretty much the game that American viewers are seeing now, with a few twists along the way, which has helped the show make it to its thirteenth season. A season that is currently on the air right now.
So, what were these changes?
Beginning with season two, the game added the Head of Household room (abbreviated HoH). There would be a competition after each eviction to determine who would be the head of household each week. With the position came a lot of perks. They could have their own private room, a whole bunch of goodies, letters and photos from home, and they were guaranteed safe for the week. However, they were also responsible for choosing two houseguests for eviction. Unlike the first season, where the houseguests were voted off by America, the houseguests themselves got to decide who was going to go home. In earlier seasons, the votes were pre-recorded, but later on, the votes were made on live television.
The very next year, in 2002, the show introduced the Power Of Veto. A competition was held for this advantage as well, and the winner could choose to take someone who was nominated off of the block while guaranteeing their own safety (Veto holders could not replace people who they removed off the block). Later on, the veto power would become golden, which meant that nominees could take THEMSELVES off of the block. Either way, the HoH would have no choice but to put up a replacement nominee.
Another change over the years have been to the food competitions. In season one, the houseguests had to win money for food by competing in challenges. By season two, the rules were changed. Sometimes, you'd have situations where the houseguests were divided up into two teams, and the winning team would get food for the week. Or, sometimes, houseguests would play for foods for each of the seven days, and if they missed it, they would not get food for that day.
Instead of getting food, losers would be subjected to a diet of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches up until season seven. Beginning with season seven, the PB&J was replaced with the often vile concoction known as Big Brother slop. And when season eleven premiered, the food competitions became Have/Have Not competitions where losers would be eating slop, sleeping in discomfort, and taking chilled showers.
There's been a lot of seasons of Big Brother over the years, and it seemed like with each season came a new twist. Big Brother 4, for example, reunited people with their ex-lovers. Big Brother 6 had secret partnerships. Big Brother 11 divided people into stereotypical high school cliques. And last season was the Summer Of Sabotage, where we had not one, but two saboteurs wreaking havoc in the Big Brother house.
I'm not exactly sure why I got so addicted to this show. I've watched every season since season one, and each year definitely has high points and low points. I guess maybe it's because it allows us to really peep into the souls of others, and I think maybe we get to see what makes people the way they are. Through the show that airs thrice weekly, as well as the live webcam feeds that people who have a lot of money and/or free time can engage in, we really get to know the people inside. Unlike a lot of reality shows which seem scripted, Big Brother is the ultimate in realism, and it's difficult to hide who you really are in front of all those cameras.
Would I want to do Big Brother? Absolutely. Television cameras don't freak me out in the slightest, and I could totally play the game to win. If only I weren't Canadian, I'd gladly send in an audition tape. For now, I'll just have to write about it here.
Of course, I can't end this blog on Big Brother without talking about some of the people I loved (or hated) on the show's history. Some of the people were ones that I could relate to, and who I would have loved to have seen win (and in the case of a couple, they did). Others were incredibly stupid and annoying, and just plain evil.
So, let's meet some of these contestants over the years who I liked...and some who I disliked.
LOVED: Big Brother 2's Dr. Will
You can't really have a Big Brother entry without mentioning one of the greatest players of all time. Dr. Will Kirby appeared on season two of the series (as well as the All-Stars season five years later), and immediately, his gameplay was that of being a smooth operator. He lied to people's faces, and he used his charm to make people vote the way that he wanted people to vote. Early in the game, he formed the Chilltown alliance with Mike Boogie and Shannon Dragoo, and when the alliance was mostly voted out, Dr. Will changed his strategy. He purposely made himself the most annoying person in the whole house, and purposely told people he was going to lie to their faces. Why? Because he had the idea that it would get him to the final two, because he made everyone in the house believe that if they took him to the final two, they would automatically win. He purposely never won HoH because he wanted others to do his dirty work for him. In the end, Will was in the final two with Nicole. Because Nicole played the game far too emotionally, and screwed up her answers to the jury in the final episode, Will ended up winning the whole game. He tried to employ this strategy in All-Stars, and it almost worked, but he ended up coming in fourth. But nobody can match the success that Will had in the game, and I doubt anyone else will.
DESPISE: Big Brother 2's Justin
Remember Justin Sebik from Big Brother 2? No? Well, he ended up being the first person kicked off of the second season, but not by the houseguests. He was expelled from the game by producers.
During the first week of the show, Justin's behaviour was very erratic. He threatened to kick houseguests, and punch female houseguests in the stomach. Class act, he was. The final straw came during a late night conversation that he was having with Krista Stegall. For some reason unbeknownst to anyone, Justin picked up a knife, held it to Krista's throat and asked her if she would still love him if he killed her.
Not the smartest thing to do in front of dozens of camera's. Justin was called to the diary room, and was expelled on the spot. Meanwhile, Krista launched a lawsuit against CBS for what Justin did (even though she seemed to go along with it, causing her stock to fall with me as well).
Justin was the first person to be expelled from the game...but certainly not the last.
LOVED: Big Brother 3's Danielle
During season three, before the jury was sequestered in a separate house, the jury members got to go home and watch the diary room feeds by the final two. Unfortunately, Danielle was incredibly mouthy in her diary room confessions, outrightly making fun of houseguests and calling them stupid. It ultimately landed Danielle the second place position in the competition because the jury saw Lisa as more personable.
So, why do I still love Danielle? Because she made it to the final two in what could be considered to be the show's best secret alliance. Before The 4 Horsemen and the Brigade alliance, Danielle formed an alliance with Jason. Over millions of games of chess, they stuck together, bringing people in to give them votes and cast them aside once they were done. Not one houseguest suspected Danielle and Jason working together until the very end. Danielle spearheaded the alliance, and rode it all the way to the final two. Although Jason ended up being the only one who voted for her to win, it was still a valiant effort. She also appeared on the All-Stars season.
FACEPALM MOMENT: Marcellas REFUSES to use the Veto to save himself
Did you know that the Golden Power of Veto made its debut the same season as the Power of Veto? The very first golden power of veto appeared at the very end of season three. As I said before, the person who held the power could take himself/herself off of the block. Marcellas was on the block with Amy, courtesy of then HoH, Jason. As it so happened, Marcellas ended up winning the Golden Power of Veto. It was perfect. He could use it to take himself off the block, Jason would be forced to put up Lisa (since he would never put up Danielle), and either Lisa or Amy would be going home.
Except MARCELLAS NEVER USED THE VETO!!!
Marcellas mistakenly believed that he was being used as the decoy by Jason to ensure Amy's ouster. He believed this so much that he felt as though he didn't need the veto. As a result of this, Jason't decision was made easy, and Marcellas was kicked out of the house.
After witnessing that act of stupidity, let's move on to an act of brilliance:
THUMBS-UP MOMENT: Nakomis' 6-Finger Plan
Upon first glance, Nakomis doesn't really seem all that threatening, greenish yellow hair aside. She actually looks like someone that you'd want to know. But, she implemented one of the greatest plans ever during the week she won HoH on season five of the show.
One of Nakomis' biggest threats in the game was Jase. Jase was in a strong alliance (one that included her long lost brother Michael 'Cowboy'), and he had won the Power of Veto twice, saving himself and his showmance Holly from the chopping block. Because of these wins, his attitude and ego grew to the point where he was becoming a nuisance, and Nakomis had enough.
Because Nakomis won the HoH power shortly after, she knew that she had to make two decoy nominations so that when the veto was used, she could instead put Jase up, ensuring his exit. The very first case of backdooring someone successfully, if all went well.
She had an alliance with six people. Karen, Will, Diane, twins Natalie and Adria, and Drew (who had been floating between Nakomis' alliance and Jase's alliance). Jase was on the other side with Michael. Marvin was a wild card, so Nakomis decided to make him one of the nominations, with Diane being the other one.
Diane was pulled off the block by Veto winner, Drew (since Drew was in a showmance with Diane), and Nakomis wasted no time in putting Jase up. Jase was shocked, but figured he was safe since he assumed Marvin was the target. Instead, Jase got the shock of his life when Nakomis' alliance kicked him out instead.
It was a risky plan, and it wasn't exactly foolproof, but it got Nakomis' biggest threat out, and it was brilliance the way it went off.
WORST ALLIANCE EVER: Season 6's Friendship Alliance
Now, I won't go on to say that the entire Friendship alliance was all that bad, at least in my opinion. I liked Maggie (the eventual winner of BB6), and Beau was funny as hell to watch. But, the way the alliance came together was pretty much a disaster, and the level of gameplay was so ridiculous that is it any wonder why people didn't like them? Sure, Maggie won the game, but at least she made some moves that got her farther in the game. Ivette was an emotional basketcase, April got into a war of words with Howie and Janelle, and Jennifer betrayed Kaysar by putting him up after promising him that she would keep him safe. The biggest joke of all? The alliance had hoped to prove that by building friendships, they could survive the game. Nice idea in theory, but only one person can win the prize. Maggie ended up winning because she kept her cool and stayed calm under pressure, while April, Ivette, Beau, and Jennifer buckled under pressure, got into fights with people who could have awarded them the money, and even turned on each other! Still friends?
LOVED: Big Brother 6's Janelle and Rachel (no...not THAT Rachel)
There's really not that much to say about Janelle. At first, I really wasn't all that fond of her, mainly because I found her to be somewhat on the abrasive side. But as my disgust for the Friendship alliance rose, so did my respect for Janelle. She won more individual competitions on Big Brother 6 than any other houseguest, and she ended up winning several 'America's Choice' competitions based on sheer popularity. Part of the reason for her popularity was that unlike some of the other houseguests in the house, she never let friendships cloud her judgment. She had her eye on the prize, and she ALMOST succeeded in getting it.
But, I also liked a lesser-known houseguest from Big Brother 6. Rachel was actually my favourite BB6 houseguest. She was beautiful, intelligent, and she had to have a lot of patience if she agreed to bring Howie as her secret partner! But, what immediately drew me in to rooting for Rachel was how clever she was. She won the first HoH, and she was also the one who found the secret room in the Big Brother house, and was often the voice of reason when it came to the various bad blood between the houseguests. Unlike Howie and Janelle, Rachel didn't get involved in the house drama as much, and when she was evicted, even most of the Friendship alliance (save for Ivette) had positive things to say about her. I really wish she could have gone farther, because Rachel was definitely a breath of fresh air.
WORST CAST EVER: Big Brother 9
This was in my opinion, the WORST CAST EVER. Let's see...of all the houseguests I actually LIKED...well...Sharon wasn't too horrible. Sheila could have her moments, but I wasn't as annoyed by her. Amanda was a bit annoying with the bueno thing, but I grew to admire her by the end. And, well...that's it. Here's some info for you.
The winner of BB9, Adam is now in jail for drug trafficking. Another houseguest, Matt, was his accomplice, who is also in jail.
Joshuah was probably one of the meanest S.O.B.'s in the history of the show, doing and saying some rather disgusting things to Amanda and Natalie.
Chelsia had a mini-breakdown, and James had a meltdown, and Natalie was just insane.
It just was a terrible, terrible season.
BEST CAST EVER: Big Brother 10
Compare the cast that appeared after Big Brother 9's cast of criminals and insane asylum patients, and well...there is no comparison. With a couple of exceptions, Big Brother 10 was one of my favourite casts to appear on the show. The casting was so diverse, ranging in age from 22 to 75 years of age. The cast of characters were quite fantastic. Memphis and Dan ended up making it to the final two, and had the best game strategies out of all the previous players, and Dan ended up winning it all. Memorable contestants included sweet Keesha, sassy Libra, adorable Renny, and...well...the guy below, who entertained me for all the wrong reasons...
DO NOT EVER WANT TO SEE AGAIN: BB10's Jessie and BB11's Chima
My first impression of Jessie when he appeared on Big Brother 10 was 'whoa...what muscles he has...in his head!!!'
Normally, I'm not one to make wisecracks like that, and honestly, I'm not one to make judgment calls on looks. Certainly, Jessie was proud of his body, and it showed. But his attitude was incredibly immature and juvenile. He claimed to be 23, but in reality, he acted like he was a spoiled eight-year-old child. He threw temper tantrums when he didn't get what he wanted, and he acted like he was God's gift to women.
He was invited to join the cast of Big Brother 11, and when he was evicted, his harem of women (Chima, Natalie, and Lydia) reacted like this.
Good riddance. And, since I brought up Chima, I may as well include her here too. Remember how I said that Justin wasn't the only houseguest to be kicked out of the Big Brother game? Watch Chima's self-destruction below.
Note to all of you out there...if you ever appear on Big Brother, don't destroy their property.
BEST BIG BROTHER ROMANCE: Jeff and Jordan from Big Brother 11
There's really very little to say about Jeff and Jordan. They were one of three couples brought back to play on Big Brother 13, but their relationship actually began on season 11. Unlike most showmances which fizzled out, this couple has been together for almost two years. They fell in love, developed a relationship, and ended up competing on The Amazing Race together. Part of the reason this couple works is because neither one of them let their relationship affect their gameplay (and vice versa). They love each other, and they respect each other, and aren't threatened by other people, which is why I think their relationship will last longer than...
WORST BIG BROTHER ROMANCE: Brenchel from Big Brother 12
Sadly, these two (Brendon and Rachel) were brought back to season 13 after a tumultuous Season 12. They ended up developing a romance in the Big Brother house, only they were nowhere near as cute as Jeff and Jordan. Rachel and Brendon strike me as being perfect for each other but for all the wrong reasons. They're both insecure. They both pitch fits when they don't get what they want. They're jealous of other people interfering with them (Rachel accused all the people who were evicted of getting in between her and her man as the reason behind why she wanted them out).
The only plus they both have is that they are very good at competitions, and can usually pull off a win when their backs are against the wall. Unfortunately, their 'devotion' to each other often rubbed others the wrong way, and often, their tendency to play the game emotionally lead to hurt feelings and angry confrontations.
Just ask Ragan from season 12.
As of this writing, Rachel and Brendon are now on the block together after they ganged up on Daniele (who originally appeared on Big Brother 8 with her estranged father, Evel Dick), and Daniele took the opportunity to bust up Brenchel for the second time.
Guess in the end, Daniele got in between her and her man. :D
So, there you have it. Highs and lows of Big Brother. Agree with the list? Disagree? I'd love to hear from other Big Brother addicts on your thoughts!
Has anyone heard of the George Orwell book Nineteen Eighty-Four? It's a book that is set in a dystopian future where an entity known as 'Big Brother' can spy on the dictatorship he has created through people's television sets. The people of the world had to be sure to mind their P's and Q's at all times, because as the slogan of the book stated, 'Big Brother Is Always Watching'.
In 1997, a group of Dutch producers and showrunners were in a brainstorming session at an independent section of the Endemol television production company, and the idea for a reality show came into place. Loosely based on the Orwell novel, the idea was to take a group of complete strangers, lock them inside a house filled with dozens of cameras and compete for the chance to win money.
The television show debuted in 1999 in the Netherlands, and immediately became a huge hit in the country. Other countries would soon follow suit with their own versions, including Britain, Australia, Brazil, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United States.
When the first season of the American version of Big Brother premiered on July 5, 2000, it came in with mixed reactions. In the year 2000, reality television was a fairly new trend. MTV's The Real World was well established, and Survivor had premiered a little over a month earlier to huge ratings. Hosted by CBS news personality Julie Chen, Big Brother hoped to have similar success as Survivor, but it took a while for it to get there.
It almost seems like a whole different show, doesn't it? That's because in the first season of the show, there were no bells and whistles, no food competitions, not much of anything other than ten people in a house. Each of the houseguests were locked away inside a house with cameras on them twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, for three months. Depending on how well the houseguests got along with each other, the three months could fly by quickly, or they could be a living nightmare.
During the first season, houseguests were nominated for eviction (or banishment as it was called the first season), and home viewers could phone in their votes to evict someone from the house. It was the way that most of the current seasons of Big Brother perform their eviction ceremonies, and it seemed a good idea in theory, except that due to the public vote, the more colourful personalities were banished first, leaving the dull as dishwater houseguests remaining.
As a result of this, Big Brother's ratings weren't as strong as they really should have been. Beginning in the summer of 2001, when the second season of Big Brother premiered, there were some major changes, and by season seven, you had what was pretty much the game that American viewers are seeing now, with a few twists along the way, which has helped the show make it to its thirteenth season. A season that is currently on the air right now.
So, what were these changes?
Beginning with season two, the game added the Head of Household room (abbreviated HoH). There would be a competition after each eviction to determine who would be the head of household each week. With the position came a lot of perks. They could have their own private room, a whole bunch of goodies, letters and photos from home, and they were guaranteed safe for the week. However, they were also responsible for choosing two houseguests for eviction. Unlike the first season, where the houseguests were voted off by America, the houseguests themselves got to decide who was going to go home. In earlier seasons, the votes were pre-recorded, but later on, the votes were made on live television.
The very next year, in 2002, the show introduced the Power Of Veto. A competition was held for this advantage as well, and the winner could choose to take someone who was nominated off of the block while guaranteeing their own safety (Veto holders could not replace people who they removed off the block). Later on, the veto power would become golden, which meant that nominees could take THEMSELVES off of the block. Either way, the HoH would have no choice but to put up a replacement nominee.
Another change over the years have been to the food competitions. In season one, the houseguests had to win money for food by competing in challenges. By season two, the rules were changed. Sometimes, you'd have situations where the houseguests were divided up into two teams, and the winning team would get food for the week. Or, sometimes, houseguests would play for foods for each of the seven days, and if they missed it, they would not get food for that day.
Instead of getting food, losers would be subjected to a diet of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches up until season seven. Beginning with season seven, the PB&J was replaced with the often vile concoction known as Big Brother slop. And when season eleven premiered, the food competitions became Have/Have Not competitions where losers would be eating slop, sleeping in discomfort, and taking chilled showers.
There's been a lot of seasons of Big Brother over the years, and it seemed like with each season came a new twist. Big Brother 4, for example, reunited people with their ex-lovers. Big Brother 6 had secret partnerships. Big Brother 11 divided people into stereotypical high school cliques. And last season was the Summer Of Sabotage, where we had not one, but two saboteurs wreaking havoc in the Big Brother house.
I'm not exactly sure why I got so addicted to this show. I've watched every season since season one, and each year definitely has high points and low points. I guess maybe it's because it allows us to really peep into the souls of others, and I think maybe we get to see what makes people the way they are. Through the show that airs thrice weekly, as well as the live webcam feeds that people who have a lot of money and/or free time can engage in, we really get to know the people inside. Unlike a lot of reality shows which seem scripted, Big Brother is the ultimate in realism, and it's difficult to hide who you really are in front of all those cameras.
Would I want to do Big Brother? Absolutely. Television cameras don't freak me out in the slightest, and I could totally play the game to win. If only I weren't Canadian, I'd gladly send in an audition tape. For now, I'll just have to write about it here.
Of course, I can't end this blog on Big Brother without talking about some of the people I loved (or hated) on the show's history. Some of the people were ones that I could relate to, and who I would have loved to have seen win (and in the case of a couple, they did). Others were incredibly stupid and annoying, and just plain evil.
So, let's meet some of these contestants over the years who I liked...and some who I disliked.
LOVED: Big Brother 2's Dr. Will
You can't really have a Big Brother entry without mentioning one of the greatest players of all time. Dr. Will Kirby appeared on season two of the series (as well as the All-Stars season five years later), and immediately, his gameplay was that of being a smooth operator. He lied to people's faces, and he used his charm to make people vote the way that he wanted people to vote. Early in the game, he formed the Chilltown alliance with Mike Boogie and Shannon Dragoo, and when the alliance was mostly voted out, Dr. Will changed his strategy. He purposely made himself the most annoying person in the whole house, and purposely told people he was going to lie to their faces. Why? Because he had the idea that it would get him to the final two, because he made everyone in the house believe that if they took him to the final two, they would automatically win. He purposely never won HoH because he wanted others to do his dirty work for him. In the end, Will was in the final two with Nicole. Because Nicole played the game far too emotionally, and screwed up her answers to the jury in the final episode, Will ended up winning the whole game. He tried to employ this strategy in All-Stars, and it almost worked, but he ended up coming in fourth. But nobody can match the success that Will had in the game, and I doubt anyone else will.
DESPISE: Big Brother 2's Justin
Remember Justin Sebik from Big Brother 2? No? Well, he ended up being the first person kicked off of the second season, but not by the houseguests. He was expelled from the game by producers.
During the first week of the show, Justin's behaviour was very erratic. He threatened to kick houseguests, and punch female houseguests in the stomach. Class act, he was. The final straw came during a late night conversation that he was having with Krista Stegall. For some reason unbeknownst to anyone, Justin picked up a knife, held it to Krista's throat and asked her if she would still love him if he killed her.
Not the smartest thing to do in front of dozens of camera's. Justin was called to the diary room, and was expelled on the spot. Meanwhile, Krista launched a lawsuit against CBS for what Justin did (even though she seemed to go along with it, causing her stock to fall with me as well).
Justin was the first person to be expelled from the game...but certainly not the last.
LOVED: Big Brother 3's Danielle
During season three, before the jury was sequestered in a separate house, the jury members got to go home and watch the diary room feeds by the final two. Unfortunately, Danielle was incredibly mouthy in her diary room confessions, outrightly making fun of houseguests and calling them stupid. It ultimately landed Danielle the second place position in the competition because the jury saw Lisa as more personable.
So, why do I still love Danielle? Because she made it to the final two in what could be considered to be the show's best secret alliance. Before The 4 Horsemen and the Brigade alliance, Danielle formed an alliance with Jason. Over millions of games of chess, they stuck together, bringing people in to give them votes and cast them aside once they were done. Not one houseguest suspected Danielle and Jason working together until the very end. Danielle spearheaded the alliance, and rode it all the way to the final two. Although Jason ended up being the only one who voted for her to win, it was still a valiant effort. She also appeared on the All-Stars season.
FACEPALM MOMENT: Marcellas REFUSES to use the Veto to save himself
Did you know that the Golden Power of Veto made its debut the same season as the Power of Veto? The very first golden power of veto appeared at the very end of season three. As I said before, the person who held the power could take himself/herself off of the block. Marcellas was on the block with Amy, courtesy of then HoH, Jason. As it so happened, Marcellas ended up winning the Golden Power of Veto. It was perfect. He could use it to take himself off the block, Jason would be forced to put up Lisa (since he would never put up Danielle), and either Lisa or Amy would be going home.
Except MARCELLAS NEVER USED THE VETO!!!
Marcellas mistakenly believed that he was being used as the decoy by Jason to ensure Amy's ouster. He believed this so much that he felt as though he didn't need the veto. As a result of this, Jason't decision was made easy, and Marcellas was kicked out of the house.
After witnessing that act of stupidity, let's move on to an act of brilliance:
THUMBS-UP MOMENT: Nakomis' 6-Finger Plan
Upon first glance, Nakomis doesn't really seem all that threatening, greenish yellow hair aside. She actually looks like someone that you'd want to know. But, she implemented one of the greatest plans ever during the week she won HoH on season five of the show.
One of Nakomis' biggest threats in the game was Jase. Jase was in a strong alliance (one that included her long lost brother Michael 'Cowboy'), and he had won the Power of Veto twice, saving himself and his showmance Holly from the chopping block. Because of these wins, his attitude and ego grew to the point where he was becoming a nuisance, and Nakomis had enough.
Because Nakomis won the HoH power shortly after, she knew that she had to make two decoy nominations so that when the veto was used, she could instead put Jase up, ensuring his exit. The very first case of backdooring someone successfully, if all went well.
She had an alliance with six people. Karen, Will, Diane, twins Natalie and Adria, and Drew (who had been floating between Nakomis' alliance and Jase's alliance). Jase was on the other side with Michael. Marvin was a wild card, so Nakomis decided to make him one of the nominations, with Diane being the other one.
Diane was pulled off the block by Veto winner, Drew (since Drew was in a showmance with Diane), and Nakomis wasted no time in putting Jase up. Jase was shocked, but figured he was safe since he assumed Marvin was the target. Instead, Jase got the shock of his life when Nakomis' alliance kicked him out instead.
It was a risky plan, and it wasn't exactly foolproof, but it got Nakomis' biggest threat out, and it was brilliance the way it went off.
WORST ALLIANCE EVER: Season 6's Friendship Alliance
Now, I won't go on to say that the entire Friendship alliance was all that bad, at least in my opinion. I liked Maggie (the eventual winner of BB6), and Beau was funny as hell to watch. But, the way the alliance came together was pretty much a disaster, and the level of gameplay was so ridiculous that is it any wonder why people didn't like them? Sure, Maggie won the game, but at least she made some moves that got her farther in the game. Ivette was an emotional basketcase, April got into a war of words with Howie and Janelle, and Jennifer betrayed Kaysar by putting him up after promising him that she would keep him safe. The biggest joke of all? The alliance had hoped to prove that by building friendships, they could survive the game. Nice idea in theory, but only one person can win the prize. Maggie ended up winning because she kept her cool and stayed calm under pressure, while April, Ivette, Beau, and Jennifer buckled under pressure, got into fights with people who could have awarded them the money, and even turned on each other! Still friends?
LOVED: Big Brother 6's Janelle and Rachel (no...not THAT Rachel)
There's really not that much to say about Janelle. At first, I really wasn't all that fond of her, mainly because I found her to be somewhat on the abrasive side. But as my disgust for the Friendship alliance rose, so did my respect for Janelle. She won more individual competitions on Big Brother 6 than any other houseguest, and she ended up winning several 'America's Choice' competitions based on sheer popularity. Part of the reason for her popularity was that unlike some of the other houseguests in the house, she never let friendships cloud her judgment. She had her eye on the prize, and she ALMOST succeeded in getting it.
But, I also liked a lesser-known houseguest from Big Brother 6. Rachel was actually my favourite BB6 houseguest. She was beautiful, intelligent, and she had to have a lot of patience if she agreed to bring Howie as her secret partner! But, what immediately drew me in to rooting for Rachel was how clever she was. She won the first HoH, and she was also the one who found the secret room in the Big Brother house, and was often the voice of reason when it came to the various bad blood between the houseguests. Unlike Howie and Janelle, Rachel didn't get involved in the house drama as much, and when she was evicted, even most of the Friendship alliance (save for Ivette) had positive things to say about her. I really wish she could have gone farther, because Rachel was definitely a breath of fresh air.
WORST CAST EVER: Big Brother 9
This was in my opinion, the WORST CAST EVER. Let's see...of all the houseguests I actually LIKED...well...Sharon wasn't too horrible. Sheila could have her moments, but I wasn't as annoyed by her. Amanda was a bit annoying with the bueno thing, but I grew to admire her by the end. And, well...that's it. Here's some info for you.
The winner of BB9, Adam is now in jail for drug trafficking. Another houseguest, Matt, was his accomplice, who is also in jail.
Joshuah was probably one of the meanest S.O.B.'s in the history of the show, doing and saying some rather disgusting things to Amanda and Natalie.
Chelsia had a mini-breakdown, and James had a meltdown, and Natalie was just insane.
It just was a terrible, terrible season.
BEST CAST EVER: Big Brother 10
Compare the cast that appeared after Big Brother 9's cast of criminals and insane asylum patients, and well...there is no comparison. With a couple of exceptions, Big Brother 10 was one of my favourite casts to appear on the show. The casting was so diverse, ranging in age from 22 to 75 years of age. The cast of characters were quite fantastic. Memphis and Dan ended up making it to the final two, and had the best game strategies out of all the previous players, and Dan ended up winning it all. Memorable contestants included sweet Keesha, sassy Libra, adorable Renny, and...well...the guy below, who entertained me for all the wrong reasons...
DO NOT EVER WANT TO SEE AGAIN: BB10's Jessie and BB11's Chima
My first impression of Jessie when he appeared on Big Brother 10 was 'whoa...what muscles he has...in his head!!!'
Normally, I'm not one to make wisecracks like that, and honestly, I'm not one to make judgment calls on looks. Certainly, Jessie was proud of his body, and it showed. But his attitude was incredibly immature and juvenile. He claimed to be 23, but in reality, he acted like he was a spoiled eight-year-old child. He threw temper tantrums when he didn't get what he wanted, and he acted like he was God's gift to women.
He was invited to join the cast of Big Brother 11, and when he was evicted, his harem of women (Chima, Natalie, and Lydia) reacted like this.
Good riddance. And, since I brought up Chima, I may as well include her here too. Remember how I said that Justin wasn't the only houseguest to be kicked out of the Big Brother game? Watch Chima's self-destruction below.
Note to all of you out there...if you ever appear on Big Brother, don't destroy their property.
BEST BIG BROTHER ROMANCE: Jeff and Jordan from Big Brother 11
There's really very little to say about Jeff and Jordan. They were one of three couples brought back to play on Big Brother 13, but their relationship actually began on season 11. Unlike most showmances which fizzled out, this couple has been together for almost two years. They fell in love, developed a relationship, and ended up competing on The Amazing Race together. Part of the reason this couple works is because neither one of them let their relationship affect their gameplay (and vice versa). They love each other, and they respect each other, and aren't threatened by other people, which is why I think their relationship will last longer than...
WORST BIG BROTHER ROMANCE: Brenchel from Big Brother 12
Sadly, these two (Brendon and Rachel) were brought back to season 13 after a tumultuous Season 12. They ended up developing a romance in the Big Brother house, only they were nowhere near as cute as Jeff and Jordan. Rachel and Brendon strike me as being perfect for each other but for all the wrong reasons. They're both insecure. They both pitch fits when they don't get what they want. They're jealous of other people interfering with them (Rachel accused all the people who were evicted of getting in between her and her man as the reason behind why she wanted them out).
The only plus they both have is that they are very good at competitions, and can usually pull off a win when their backs are against the wall. Unfortunately, their 'devotion' to each other often rubbed others the wrong way, and often, their tendency to play the game emotionally lead to hurt feelings and angry confrontations.
Just ask Ragan from season 12.
As of this writing, Rachel and Brendon are now on the block together after they ganged up on Daniele (who originally appeared on Big Brother 8 with her estranged father, Evel Dick), and Daniele took the opportunity to bust up Brenchel for the second time.
Guess in the end, Daniele got in between her and her man. :D
So, there you have it. Highs and lows of Big Brother. Agree with the list? Disagree? I'd love to hear from other Big Brother addicts on your thoughts!
Monday, August 01, 2011
Monday Matinee: Ernest Goes To Camp
Leadership is a quality that some people seem to possess naturally. In a lot of cases, if you were to stand in a room with a group of strangers, chances are you could separate leaders from followers, right?
Ah, but sometimes, it's not quite so cut and dry.
Sometimes a person can look at someone and think that there is no chance in hell of them ever showing any sort of leadership. Whether it be physical appearance, background, or even how they handle emotions, some people are automatically dismissed as being capable of leading a puppy to a fire hydrant, let alone an entire group of people.
Sometimes though, it just takes one slim chance for a person to really prove himself or herself as a capable leader. Sometimes, they have to be in the right place at the right time. Sometimes, it takes a crisis for people to shed their inhibitions and take charge in order to make a difference.
There's one person I can think of who stepped up in all of the above situations.
Take Ernest's very first movie, Ernest Goes To Camp. The movie, which was released in theatres on May 22, 1987, takes place at Kamp Kikakee, a summer campground which has ties to a native tribe that lived in the area long ago. There, Ernest works as the camp's maintenance man. Although he does his best (and by best, I mean that his intentions were good, though his work was often shoddy), maintenance isn't what Ernest wanted to do. Deep down inside, he wanted to become a camp counselor in hopes of being a leader and a friend to a group of young campers.
Unfortunately, he is forced to take on mundane and often disgusting tasks.
However, Ernest happened to be around at the time of this, and Ernest managed to pull Moose to safety, securing the first bond of trust between Ernest and the delinquents. Eventually, after Ernest was assigned to be the boys counsellor after Stennis' fall, the other boys reluctantly agreed to give Ernest a real shot.
Although, poor Ernest's attempts at being a good counsellor to the boys didn't exactly start off so...swimmingly.
Things did gradually improve though, and it was Ernest's enthusiasm for the outdoors that seemed to be infectious to the boys as well. When the camp hosted a model building contest, Ernest helped the boys build a full Indian teepee. Afterwards, Ernest and the boys gathered around a campfire, along with Chief and Nurse St. Cloud. It was here that Nurse St. Cloud told them the legend of the blade, the stone, and the arrow, where loosely translated meant that if a warrior was pure of heart and strength, none of the weapons could harm him.
Though I won't spoil the ending entirely for you, this legend plays a very key role in the ending.
After the campfire session, the delinquents are heartbroken to see that the teepee that they built had been doused in flammable liquid and set ablaze. When all signs pointed to Pennington and Brooks, the delinquents retaliated in such violence that it almost cost Ernest his counselling job. Fortunately, he was given one last chance to get the boys straightened up, and after a pep talk, the gang was more than willing to rebuild what the other campers took away from them.
Unfortunately, shortly after this, Krader Industries tries once more to get the chief to sign over his land, but he's just as stubborn. Cruelly, Krader decides to use Ernest's ability to communicate with the chief through the Kikakee sign language. He tells Ernest that the paper the chief is signing was a petition to conserve the land, when in reality, it was to seize control of it. The chief, going by what Ernest was signing him, signed the paper, bringing an end to Kamp Kikakee.
Or, so they thought.
While Nurse St. Cloud insisted that they could fight Krader in the court system, Ernest knew that the proceedings could take a long time, and by the time they got through, the camp would already be in shambles. Ernest and the gang made the decision to confront the foreman of Krader, where he promptly received a huge beating for his trouble. The group of boys were extremely disappointed that Ernest couldn't fight back against the foreman. Even Moose, who was Ernest's biggest supporter, sadly admitted that there were some fights that you just couldn't win.
Afterwards, Nurse St. Cloud tended to Ernest's injuries, and Ernest was beating himself up for allowing Krader to get as far as they had. More importantly, he felt as if he failed his campers for not being able to do more. Despite Nurse St. Cloud's efforts to cheer him up by commending him on his bravery, Ernest wanted to be alone. It's here that the most touching moment of the film occurs.
What they wanted was a hero, all I needed was a friend. That gets to me every time.
That's all Ernest really wanted to be...he wanted to be a friend to those who really needed one. Ernest took a chance on six boys that were essentially by themselves. Everyone around them had given up on them. Their parents. Their peers. Even other campers and counsellors had turned their backs on the group of misfits.
Not Ernest. Ernest would have given up his life for theirs in a heartbeat. He saved Moose from drowning, he taught the boys the meaning of teamwork, and he helped the group of boys form a real brotherhood amongst themselves. He helped show them that when times got tough, they could count on each other to get through. More importantly, he used the power of leadership to make it happen.
Imagine. Ernest P. Worrell. A leader.
So, when Nurse St. Cloud heard the boys (save for Moose) badmouthing Ernest, and calling him dumb, she completely lost it, and told the boys a few home truths, saying how they were dumb for not knowing who their real friends were, and how Ernest had sacrificed so much for them so that they could have an inkling of what a life without crime and fear could be like. She pretty much called them selfish little twits, which looking back on the movie was a label that befit almost all of them.
The boys realize that they were a little too hard on Ernest, and together, they set out to find Ernest so they could apologize to him for the way they treated him. Ernest graciously accepts the apology, and the group of misfits no longer really see themselves as such.
There was still the matter of trying to force Krader off of Kikakee grounds. Nurse St. Cloud was insistent on trying to use the legal channels to fight the battle, but Ernest was quite clear that 'they ain't gonna get this camp'. Ernest, Moose, Bobby, Crutchfield, Vargas, Chip and Danny immediately used their skills learned by building the teepee project to build a giant catapult that was capable of launching lantern bombs, fire, and other...nasty surprises.
Ah, but sometimes, it's not quite so cut and dry.
Sometimes a person can look at someone and think that there is no chance in hell of them ever showing any sort of leadership. Whether it be physical appearance, background, or even how they handle emotions, some people are automatically dismissed as being capable of leading a puppy to a fire hydrant, let alone an entire group of people.
Sometimes though, it just takes one slim chance for a person to really prove himself or herself as a capable leader. Sometimes, they have to be in the right place at the right time. Sometimes, it takes a crisis for people to shed their inhibitions and take charge in order to make a difference.
There's one person I can think of who stepped up in all of the above situations.
Certainly, Ernest P. Worrell (played by the late Jim Varney) was never the...how you say...sharpest tool in the shed. He was klutzy, simple-minded, personification of a Southern redneck if ever there was one. Yet, in a lot of cases, a lot of brilliance was inside young Ernest's heart. It just took certain moments for it all to come out.
Take Ernest's very first movie, Ernest Goes To Camp. The movie, which was released in theatres on May 22, 1987, takes place at Kamp Kikakee, a summer campground which has ties to a native tribe that lived in the area long ago. There, Ernest works as the camp's maintenance man. Although he does his best (and by best, I mean that his intentions were good, though his work was often shoddy), maintenance isn't what Ernest wanted to do. Deep down inside, he wanted to become a camp counselor in hopes of being a leader and a friend to a group of young campers.
Unfortunately, he is forced to take on mundane and often disgusting tasks.
So, yeah...needless to say that Ernest's dream of becoming a camp counselor wasn't exactly in the cards.
Although, that didn't stop Ernest from giving one hundred and ten per cent into the job he had. He became really close with the granddaughter of Chief St. Cloud (the tribal chief who owned the land that Kamp Kikakee was built on), who was a nurse at the camp. Through his friendship with her (and despite his dislike for shots), he learns the Kikakee sign language so that he can be able to communicate with her grandfather.
One day, the head counselor at Kamp Kikakee received word that six boys from a detention centre were going to be placed at the camp for the summer as part of a rehabilitation program for juvenile delinquents. Due to the boys previous criminal records and misdemeanours, no counselor at Kamp Kikakee wanted to have anything to do with them, except the ruthless Counsellor Stennis. The decision was made for Ernest to drive the camp bus to the detention centre to pick up the six boys.
Unbeknownst to Ernest, this would be the first step in his ability to prove himself as a leader. It was just that nobody knew it. Even Ernest himself didn't realize it.
At any rate, we meet the six boys at the detention center. Bobby Wayne, Crutchfield, Vargas, Danny, Chip, and Moose. Each one of them were responsible for different crimes, and five out of six of them had very little respect for authority. Only the youngest one, Moose, even so much as attempted to show some respect towards Ernest. This proved true when the gang played a game with Ernest where they covered his eyes while he drove the bus and almost plowed into a dump truck from Krader Industries. Luckily, Ernest and the boys made it to the camp in one piece, though Ernest's credibility was tainted momentarily for allowing himself to be distracted.
At the same time all this was going on, Krader Industries was hatching an evil plot of their own. Since Krader Industries was a mining company, all they were interested in was extracting rich deposits of a valuable metal to sell for a huge profit. They went to great lengths to get what they wanted, even employing a rough and burly foreman (played by the late Lyle Alzado) to forcibly evict families out of their homes so they could knock them down to get the metal.
Problem was that the biggest area that had the most to extract was located directly underneath Kamp Kikakee, and Chief St. Cloud had made it clear that he was NOT selling his land, no matter how much the company paid him.
Back at the camp, the delinquent boys were not received well by the other campers. In particular, two campers named Pennington and Brooks were especially hard on the group, antagonizing and berating them at every opportunity. The boys also tangled with the staff. They even went so far as to shove a lifeguarding tower that Counsellor Stennis was seated on into the water, causing Stennis to suffer as broken leg (though to the boys credit, they only reacted after Stennis threw Moose into the deep end of the water despite his cries that he could not swim.
However, Ernest happened to be around at the time of this, and Ernest managed to pull Moose to safety, securing the first bond of trust between Ernest and the delinquents. Eventually, after Ernest was assigned to be the boys counsellor after Stennis' fall, the other boys reluctantly agreed to give Ernest a real shot.
Although, poor Ernest's attempts at being a good counsellor to the boys didn't exactly start off so...swimmingly.
Things did gradually improve though, and it was Ernest's enthusiasm for the outdoors that seemed to be infectious to the boys as well. When the camp hosted a model building contest, Ernest helped the boys build a full Indian teepee. Afterwards, Ernest and the boys gathered around a campfire, along with Chief and Nurse St. Cloud. It was here that Nurse St. Cloud told them the legend of the blade, the stone, and the arrow, where loosely translated meant that if a warrior was pure of heart and strength, none of the weapons could harm him.
Though I won't spoil the ending entirely for you, this legend plays a very key role in the ending.
After the campfire session, the delinquents are heartbroken to see that the teepee that they built had been doused in flammable liquid and set ablaze. When all signs pointed to Pennington and Brooks, the delinquents retaliated in such violence that it almost cost Ernest his counselling job. Fortunately, he was given one last chance to get the boys straightened up, and after a pep talk, the gang was more than willing to rebuild what the other campers took away from them.
Unfortunately, shortly after this, Krader Industries tries once more to get the chief to sign over his land, but he's just as stubborn. Cruelly, Krader decides to use Ernest's ability to communicate with the chief through the Kikakee sign language. He tells Ernest that the paper the chief is signing was a petition to conserve the land, when in reality, it was to seize control of it. The chief, going by what Ernest was signing him, signed the paper, bringing an end to Kamp Kikakee.
Or, so they thought.
While Nurse St. Cloud insisted that they could fight Krader in the court system, Ernest knew that the proceedings could take a long time, and by the time they got through, the camp would already be in shambles. Ernest and the gang made the decision to confront the foreman of Krader, where he promptly received a huge beating for his trouble. The group of boys were extremely disappointed that Ernest couldn't fight back against the foreman. Even Moose, who was Ernest's biggest supporter, sadly admitted that there were some fights that you just couldn't win.
Afterwards, Nurse St. Cloud tended to Ernest's injuries, and Ernest was beating himself up for allowing Krader to get as far as they had. More importantly, he felt as if he failed his campers for not being able to do more. Despite Nurse St. Cloud's efforts to cheer him up by commending him on his bravery, Ernest wanted to be alone. It's here that the most touching moment of the film occurs.
What they wanted was a hero, all I needed was a friend. That gets to me every time.
That's all Ernest really wanted to be...he wanted to be a friend to those who really needed one. Ernest took a chance on six boys that were essentially by themselves. Everyone around them had given up on them. Their parents. Their peers. Even other campers and counsellors had turned their backs on the group of misfits.
Not Ernest. Ernest would have given up his life for theirs in a heartbeat. He saved Moose from drowning, he taught the boys the meaning of teamwork, and he helped the group of boys form a real brotherhood amongst themselves. He helped show them that when times got tough, they could count on each other to get through. More importantly, he used the power of leadership to make it happen.
Imagine. Ernest P. Worrell. A leader.
So, when Nurse St. Cloud heard the boys (save for Moose) badmouthing Ernest, and calling him dumb, she completely lost it, and told the boys a few home truths, saying how they were dumb for not knowing who their real friends were, and how Ernest had sacrificed so much for them so that they could have an inkling of what a life without crime and fear could be like. She pretty much called them selfish little twits, which looking back on the movie was a label that befit almost all of them.
The boys realize that they were a little too hard on Ernest, and together, they set out to find Ernest so they could apologize to him for the way they treated him. Ernest graciously accepts the apology, and the group of misfits no longer really see themselves as such.
There was still the matter of trying to force Krader off of Kikakee grounds. Nurse St. Cloud was insistent on trying to use the legal channels to fight the battle, but Ernest was quite clear that 'they ain't gonna get this camp'. Ernest, Moose, Bobby, Crutchfield, Vargas, Chip and Danny immediately used their skills learned by building the teepee project to build a giant catapult that was capable of launching lantern bombs, fire, and other...nasty surprises.
And, would you believe that Ernest's gang weren't the only ones involved in the fight? You also had the goofy chefs at Kamp Kikakee taking part with their food catapult (and where their signature dish of Eggs Erronious proved to be the substance that finally knocked a peg or two off of the burly foreman at Krader). You even had a couple of surprise comrades that decided to stick around camp to help the team out. You'll probably figure out who I mean if you read this blog entry closely.
Not bad for someone who even doubted his own leadership abilities.
Admit it...upon first glance at Ernest fixing the Kikakee sign (on an upside down ladder), you really didn't expect Ernest to be much of a leader.
But, give him the right time with the right people, and you'd be surprised to see what he could do. He not only managed to kickstart the battle of Kikakee vs. Krader, but he took six boys who really had no shot at making it in life, and transformed them into confident young men who had a brand new outlook. They never did a proper sequel to Ernest Goes To Camp (unless you count the adventures where he saved Christmas, went to jail, and was scared stupid), but I'd like to think that those boys grew up to be fine, respected pillars of the communities where they would end up, and that every summer, they all got together at Kamp Kikakee to remember the one person who never turned their back on them when everyone else did.
Ernest P. Worrell. Camp counsellor. Hero. Friend.
Leader.
Sunday, July 31, 2011
Sunday Jukebox: Oops I Did It Again by Britney Spears
Although my one and only experience with higher learning ended up without a degree and with a fourteen thousand dollar debt, I will say that the experience of going to university wasn't all bad.
I mean, would I have liked to have gotten a piece of paper saying that I was a university graduate? Yeah, I admit that it would have been nice. At the same time though, I knew that my being at that particular school at that particular time would not have amounted to anything because I was in a program that I knew wasn't going to get me a job that I wanted. I wish it could have been different, but alas, it just wasn't for me.
To tell you the truth, if I had to do it all over again, I probably would not have gone to an expensive university where classes were a thousand students and professors purposely graded on a curve to weed out the competition. No, I would have probably gone to a community college or a technical school where I could learn something that I could actually use in life, and maybe make a decent living someday.
That's the good thing about entering my thirties. I find that it isn't too late to go back to school, and I'm really looking into options where I can do exactly that. My debt load isn't all that much now, and I am in the position where I can probably take a two or three year course in something relevant. I'm really serious about doing this, especially when you live in a town where the average person is a senior citizen, and there isn't a lot out there for people my age. I want to feel like I have a future out there in this world doing what I love. Certainly while writing is something that I love doing, and would ideally like a career in, I realize that I need a back-up plan. Something to fall back on should the writing dream not come true.
I may have had my 'Oops, I Did It Again' moment eleven years ago, but then again, don't we all have at least one during our lifetimes?
The subject of today's blog certainly has had her share of those kinds of moments. Heck, her second album was called 'Oops, I Did It Again'. And the title track just happened to be the first release from that album. Not only that, but it happens to be the subject of today's blog!
At the beginning of 2000, Britney's star was shining brightly. Following her successful 1998 debut album which spawned several hits and popular music videos which were requested on MTV and Muchmusic throughout 1999, Britney had to follow up with an album that was just as powerful as the first.
The song Oops, I Did It Again was a huge success, and many of Britney's fans consider it to be her signature song. The song's message wasn't anything special. The lyrics basically tell a story about a girl who treats love as if it is a game, and plays those mind games with her lover, claiming that her innocence is sorely lacking. Not exactly the most positive message for a song, but I suppose if you believe that the guy is a duplicitous cheater who verbally abuses the girl, one could say he had it coming.
Nevertheless, the song, while only making it to number nine on the American charts, reached the top spot in no less than eleven different nations between April and June 2000. It more or less solidified Britney's position on the music charts for the next five years. Part of the reason for the success of Oops, I Did It Again was the accompanying music video, which showed Britney in outer space, getting in a relationship with an astronaut. The video showed Britney in a skintight red outfit, which was quite provocative for the singer, who had turned eighteen three months prior to the song's release.
It was certainly a far cry from the days in which she starred in the Mickey Mouse club in the early 1990's. Above is a cast photo of the group. If you look really closely, you can see other famous faces in the mix. There's Christina Aguilera, Justin Timberlake, Ryan Gosling, and although she isn't in this picture, Keri Russell was a part of the group too.
For Britney (the girl in the lower right hand corner), the Mickey Mouse club was really her first foray into stardom. A few years after that, she would record her first album, and ironically enough, she was the opening act for the boy band NSync, which had her former Mickey Mouse club co-worker Justin Timberlake as one of the members.
Britney's success began almost immediately upon the release of '...Baby One More Time.' The song reached number one right off the bat, and the album was just as successful. Oops, I Did It Again was another success, and by then, word had gotten out that Britney Spears was now dating Justin Timberlake.
Britney and Justin's relationship was one that both fans and tabloids seemed to be very much interested in, and it wasn't uncommon for the pair to be photographed together at awards shows and other gatherings. Both their careers were well on the rise. Justin Timberlake released his first solo album in 2002, whereas Britney had just released a third album and was eagerly working on her fourth.
Then towards the end of 2002, the union between Timberlake and Spears was over, and it seemed that the break-up was anything but amicable, especially given the release of Timberlake's 'Cry Me A River'.
It's hard to say whether her break-up with Justin triggered Britney's string of Oops, I Did It Again moments, or whether it was something else that made Britney's star dim substantially, but upon retrospect, it very well could have been a part of it.
Beginning in 2004, and peaking around 2007, Britney's life was like a gigantic 'Oops I Did It Again' moment. Some of the lowlights include marrying a childhood friend, only to get the marriage annulled less than three days later. She had an accident on the set of the music video for 'Outrageous', where she underwent surgery and was sidelined for a while. She got married again to Kevin Federline (which was controversial, considering that Federline had left his pregnant girlfriend for Spears), and they had two children together. During this marriage, Spears was photographed in rather precarious situations, and one famous snapshot showed her driving around in a car holding her son in her lap instead of strapped in a car seat. It was a rocky road for sure, but that was peanuts compared to what was to come next.
By the end of 2006, the marriage between Britney Spears and Kevin Federline had all but busted up, and in early 2007, Britney lost her beloved aunt to cancer. It was a very stressful time for her in her life, and one day in February, the stress got to her and she lost control.
On February 16, 2007, Britney had checked herself into a rehabilitation center, but checked herself out the same day. Later that night, she had her ultimate Oops, I Did It Again moment.
I'm sure that almost everyone in the world knows of the moment that Britney Spears shaved off all of the hair on her head that crisp February night. Shortly after that, she attacked the paparazzi with a beach umbrella, and with those two incidents, it seemed as though any positive stock and credibility that she had was clipped away.
To top it all off, her appearance at the 2007 MTV Video Awards was a complete disaster. She was slated to perform the first release from her 'Blackout' album entitled 'Gimme More', but the whole performance was to say the least a huge disappointment. Her heart just wasn't into the performance, you could tell that she was lip synching the words, and the audience in the arena looked very uncomfortable being there.
Yet another Oops, I Did It Again moment for Britney.
But, in all seriousness, we all have had those moments in our lives. The unfortunate part about Britney's moments were that they were all televised, or in print for everyone to see. Thankfully, most of us haven't had our Oops, I Did It Again moments broadcast in nearly a public venue as she had.
Regardless, I haven't really been a fan of kicking someone when they were down unless they did something so reprehensible that forgiveness wasn't even an option. And, even then, I'd feel more pity for them than anger. And as far as Britney Spears goes, I do think that too many people kicked her at her lowest point, and it probably didn't help matters much at all.
As I said, we have all had moments in which we consider major Oops moments. My decision to leave university without a degree but with a massive debt was one that I considered to be a huge Oops moment. After leaving school, I really did hit a period of rock-bottomness. 2003 was a year that I considered my rock-bottom moment. I was a university dropout, I was unemployed for almost a year and a half, and stuck in a town that seemingly had nothing to offer. It wasn't the first time though. 1997 was another rough year for me. The death of my grandmother in 1991 was another bitter pill to swallow. And let's be honest, almost dying from an infected gall bladder made the first few months of 2011 a living nightmare.
But, that's what life is. Life is all about experiencing the highs and lows of life. 1991, 1997, 2003, early 2011...they were all extremely low points in my life that I would have not lived at all. But, the thing is, I did, and I'm a lot stronger because of it.
Besides, there were some great moments as well. 2000 was a good year for me, because I was finally leaving the school that had caused me a lot of drama in my life. I enjoyed 2004 because it was the year that everything began to get better for me, including a couple of job and volunteer placements before landing my current job in December of that year. And 2009 was actually one of my favourite years ever, for it was that year that I did a lot of soul-searching, and made a lot of healthier decisions that have benefitted me in the long run. Even though 2011 started off horribly, it's shaping up to end a lot better than it began.
So, you see, I certainly have not let my Oops I Did It Again moments define who I was. They're a part of who I am, but they no longer take over my whole life. There are ways to work through those moments, and have a comeback whenever you want.
Britney Spears certainly had that comeback. Though her 2007 appearance on the MTV Video Awards was a bust, her 2007 'Blackout' album was on fire. In many ways, it was deemed her comeback album of sorts, and it brought her back into the mainstream. Then came 2008's 'Circus', and 2011's 'Femme Fatale', which have resurrected her once floundering music career. Britney's also made an effort to get back on her feet and try to be a great mother to her kids. She still has a way to go yet, but she is definitely looking a lot better than she did a few years ago.
Britney's gotten another chance to get it right.
And, you know...I think I could learn something from Ms. Spears.
I mean, would I have liked to have gotten a piece of paper saying that I was a university graduate? Yeah, I admit that it would have been nice. At the same time though, I knew that my being at that particular school at that particular time would not have amounted to anything because I was in a program that I knew wasn't going to get me a job that I wanted. I wish it could have been different, but alas, it just wasn't for me.
To tell you the truth, if I had to do it all over again, I probably would not have gone to an expensive university where classes were a thousand students and professors purposely graded on a curve to weed out the competition. No, I would have probably gone to a community college or a technical school where I could learn something that I could actually use in life, and maybe make a decent living someday.
That's the good thing about entering my thirties. I find that it isn't too late to go back to school, and I'm really looking into options where I can do exactly that. My debt load isn't all that much now, and I am in the position where I can probably take a two or three year course in something relevant. I'm really serious about doing this, especially when you live in a town where the average person is a senior citizen, and there isn't a lot out there for people my age. I want to feel like I have a future out there in this world doing what I love. Certainly while writing is something that I love doing, and would ideally like a career in, I realize that I need a back-up plan. Something to fall back on should the writing dream not come true.
I may have had my 'Oops, I Did It Again' moment eleven years ago, but then again, don't we all have at least one during our lifetimes?
The subject of today's blog certainly has had her share of those kinds of moments. Heck, her second album was called 'Oops, I Did It Again'. And the title track just happened to be the first release from that album. Not only that, but it happens to be the subject of today's blog!
ARTIST: Britney Spears
SONG: Oops, I Did It Again
ALBUM: Oops, I Did It Again
DATE RELEASED: March 27, 2000
PEAK POSITION ON THE BILLBOARD CHARTS: #9
Now you know that Britney Spears is one of those artists that has reached both highs and lows. When she was riding high, she was very, very high, but when she was low, she crashed and burned.
At the beginning of 2000, Britney's star was shining brightly. Following her successful 1998 debut album which spawned several hits and popular music videos which were requested on MTV and Muchmusic throughout 1999, Britney had to follow up with an album that was just as powerful as the first.
The song Oops, I Did It Again was a huge success, and many of Britney's fans consider it to be her signature song. The song's message wasn't anything special. The lyrics basically tell a story about a girl who treats love as if it is a game, and plays those mind games with her lover, claiming that her innocence is sorely lacking. Not exactly the most positive message for a song, but I suppose if you believe that the guy is a duplicitous cheater who verbally abuses the girl, one could say he had it coming.
Nevertheless, the song, while only making it to number nine on the American charts, reached the top spot in no less than eleven different nations between April and June 2000. It more or less solidified Britney's position on the music charts for the next five years. Part of the reason for the success of Oops, I Did It Again was the accompanying music video, which showed Britney in outer space, getting in a relationship with an astronaut. The video showed Britney in a skintight red outfit, which was quite provocative for the singer, who had turned eighteen three months prior to the song's release.
It was certainly a far cry from the days in which she starred in the Mickey Mouse club in the early 1990's. Above is a cast photo of the group. If you look really closely, you can see other famous faces in the mix. There's Christina Aguilera, Justin Timberlake, Ryan Gosling, and although she isn't in this picture, Keri Russell was a part of the group too.
For Britney (the girl in the lower right hand corner), the Mickey Mouse club was really her first foray into stardom. A few years after that, she would record her first album, and ironically enough, she was the opening act for the boy band NSync, which had her former Mickey Mouse club co-worker Justin Timberlake as one of the members.
Britney's success began almost immediately upon the release of '...Baby One More Time.' The song reached number one right off the bat, and the album was just as successful. Oops, I Did It Again was another success, and by then, word had gotten out that Britney Spears was now dating Justin Timberlake.
Britney and Justin's relationship was one that both fans and tabloids seemed to be very much interested in, and it wasn't uncommon for the pair to be photographed together at awards shows and other gatherings. Both their careers were well on the rise. Justin Timberlake released his first solo album in 2002, whereas Britney had just released a third album and was eagerly working on her fourth.
Then towards the end of 2002, the union between Timberlake and Spears was over, and it seemed that the break-up was anything but amicable, especially given the release of Timberlake's 'Cry Me A River'.
It's hard to say whether her break-up with Justin triggered Britney's string of Oops, I Did It Again moments, or whether it was something else that made Britney's star dim substantially, but upon retrospect, it very well could have been a part of it.
Beginning in 2004, and peaking around 2007, Britney's life was like a gigantic 'Oops I Did It Again' moment. Some of the lowlights include marrying a childhood friend, only to get the marriage annulled less than three days later. She had an accident on the set of the music video for 'Outrageous', where she underwent surgery and was sidelined for a while. She got married again to Kevin Federline (which was controversial, considering that Federline had left his pregnant girlfriend for Spears), and they had two children together. During this marriage, Spears was photographed in rather precarious situations, and one famous snapshot showed her driving around in a car holding her son in her lap instead of strapped in a car seat. It was a rocky road for sure, but that was peanuts compared to what was to come next.
By the end of 2006, the marriage between Britney Spears and Kevin Federline had all but busted up, and in early 2007, Britney lost her beloved aunt to cancer. It was a very stressful time for her in her life, and one day in February, the stress got to her and she lost control.
On February 16, 2007, Britney had checked herself into a rehabilitation center, but checked herself out the same day. Later that night, she had her ultimate Oops, I Did It Again moment.
I'm sure that almost everyone in the world knows of the moment that Britney Spears shaved off all of the hair on her head that crisp February night. Shortly after that, she attacked the paparazzi with a beach umbrella, and with those two incidents, it seemed as though any positive stock and credibility that she had was clipped away.
To top it all off, her appearance at the 2007 MTV Video Awards was a complete disaster. She was slated to perform the first release from her 'Blackout' album entitled 'Gimme More', but the whole performance was to say the least a huge disappointment. Her heart just wasn't into the performance, you could tell that she was lip synching the words, and the audience in the arena looked very uncomfortable being there.
Yet another Oops, I Did It Again moment for Britney.
But, in all seriousness, we all have had those moments in our lives. The unfortunate part about Britney's moments were that they were all televised, or in print for everyone to see. Thankfully, most of us haven't had our Oops, I Did It Again moments broadcast in nearly a public venue as she had.
Regardless, I haven't really been a fan of kicking someone when they were down unless they did something so reprehensible that forgiveness wasn't even an option. And, even then, I'd feel more pity for them than anger. And as far as Britney Spears goes, I do think that too many people kicked her at her lowest point, and it probably didn't help matters much at all.
As I said, we have all had moments in which we consider major Oops moments. My decision to leave university without a degree but with a massive debt was one that I considered to be a huge Oops moment. After leaving school, I really did hit a period of rock-bottomness. 2003 was a year that I considered my rock-bottom moment. I was a university dropout, I was unemployed for almost a year and a half, and stuck in a town that seemingly had nothing to offer. It wasn't the first time though. 1997 was another rough year for me. The death of my grandmother in 1991 was another bitter pill to swallow. And let's be honest, almost dying from an infected gall bladder made the first few months of 2011 a living nightmare.
But, that's what life is. Life is all about experiencing the highs and lows of life. 1991, 1997, 2003, early 2011...they were all extremely low points in my life that I would have not lived at all. But, the thing is, I did, and I'm a lot stronger because of it.
Besides, there were some great moments as well. 2000 was a good year for me, because I was finally leaving the school that had caused me a lot of drama in my life. I enjoyed 2004 because it was the year that everything began to get better for me, including a couple of job and volunteer placements before landing my current job in December of that year. And 2009 was actually one of my favourite years ever, for it was that year that I did a lot of soul-searching, and made a lot of healthier decisions that have benefitted me in the long run. Even though 2011 started off horribly, it's shaping up to end a lot better than it began.
So, you see, I certainly have not let my Oops I Did It Again moments define who I was. They're a part of who I am, but they no longer take over my whole life. There are ways to work through those moments, and have a comeback whenever you want.
Britney Spears certainly had that comeback. Though her 2007 appearance on the MTV Video Awards was a bust, her 2007 'Blackout' album was on fire. In many ways, it was deemed her comeback album of sorts, and it brought her back into the mainstream. Then came 2008's 'Circus', and 2011's 'Femme Fatale', which have resurrected her once floundering music career. Britney's also made an effort to get back on her feet and try to be a great mother to her kids. She still has a way to go yet, but she is definitely looking a lot better than she did a few years ago.
Britney's gotten another chance to get it right.
And, you know...I think I could learn something from Ms. Spears.
Saturday, July 30, 2011
Saturday Comic Special Edition: Kevin Keller From Archie Comics
Normally, I would use this spot to talk about Saturday morning cartoons, why I miss them, and what life lessons that I have learned along the way from watching them as a child. Today's blog entry kind of goes along with that, as the subject is a comic book character. You might even recall that when this blog began, the Sunday Jukebox section used to be called the Sunday Funnies special. The reason I changed it was because I felt it redundant to have two separate days dedicated to basically the same thing. Quite a few cartoons were either made from comic strips, or got their start in comic books.
Recently though, there's one comic character that is still being talked about, even though he was created almost a year ago. Some of the reactions to this comic character inspired this very post.
I'd like to introduce you all to Kevin Keller. Nice looking guy, isn't he? All-American looks, clean cut appearance. The last thing I would describe him as is threatening, or a disgrace, or even disgusting.
Yet, that's exactly what some people out there seem to think of him. Without even so much as reading the comic books that he appears in, they have made these judgment calls about him. Some have called for his character to be removed from the series he appears in. Some have claimed that he is a threat to their children. Some have even accused the company of ulterior motives just based on the creation of this character alone.
I suppose you're wondering what the heck this character has done to warrant such a controversial reaction from a group of people who claim to be fans of the comic. Why is Kevin Keller the subject of such hatred and disgust from people who won't even take the time to get to know him?
Alas, I'm getting to that. But first, a little bit of background information.
To get to the story of how Kevin Keller came to be created, we have to go back in time all the way to the first few months of 1989.
1989 was a year of change for Archie Comics. It was the year that the company released eleven new titles to join the more classic selling 'Archie', 'Jughead', and 'Pep' comic books that kids had bought for decades. There were plenty of risks that the company took, and many of the new creations that Archie comics had come up with for the 1989/1990 fiscal year were doomed from the start. Among the list of the titles that failed were;
Archie 3000!
Archie's Explorers Of The Unknown
Archie's R/C Racers
Dilton's Strange Science
Faculty Funnies
Jughead's Diner
Jughead's Pal Hot Dog
Jughead's Time Police
There were some that lasted longer, and only two are still being published. The Betty and Veronica Annual Digest managed to last until 1997, and Jughead's Double Digest just released its 172nd issue.
And, then there's this other survivor.
In early 1989, the decision was made to give Veronica Lodge her own title. It was quite a move for Archie comics, as Veronica was the last of the core five to get a solo title of her own (Archie, Jughead, and Betty currently have their own titles, while the last one Reggie had ended in 1995).
And it has been successful ever since.
The Veronica title has sold steadily since 1989, and more than two hundred issues have been published. Over the years, the Veronica title has evolved. The first eighteen issues of the Veronica title showed her gallovanting around the world having exciting adventures in each place. In the first issue, she visited Paris, France, but she went to other places. She went to American places such as Texas, Hollywood and New York City. Sometimes, she visited international cities, like Rome or London. She even took trips to Canada, Africa, Greece, and the Bahamas. In fact, if you can find copies of the Veronica's Passport Digest Magazine, you can see some of these adventures in reprint form.
I particularly liked the Veronica series at the beginning of its run, because not only was it fun to see Veronica react to world culture, but it also made lots of historical and cultural references along the way. Imagine that, a comic book that could be educational. Go figure.
Beginning with issue #19, Veronica stopped her world travelling excursions, and decided to stick closer to home, having adventures in Riverdale, U.S.A. She'd occasionally travel in the series, but not as much. During the next few issues, Veronica continued to have adventures that the rest of the gang wished they could partake in.
She got to finance her adventures with a big bank account...
She got to meet celebrities.
She even met the president.
But, there would be one character that would be introduced to Veronica's world that kickstarted this whole blog post in the first place.
In September 2010, the Veronica title would be the one where Kevin Keller would be introduced. Veronica #202 was slated to be like any other story you may have come across. Veronica is walking by Pop's Chocklit Shop, when she is called inside to witness a hot-dog eating competition between Jughead and Kevin. Veronica is immediately smitten by this new guy...so much that she doesn't even care that he has mustard on his face. She introduces herself to Kevin, and Kevin seemed receptive to it, but every time Veronica tried to impress Kevin, she felt he didn't quite get the hint.
Kevin was popular enough. Archie and Betty liked him well enough, and after Kevin beat Jughead in the hot-dog eating competition, Jughead had a whole new respect for him. In fact, Jughead seemed to notice that Kevin wasn't as reciprocating towards Veronica as Veronica was towards him. To Jughead's surprise, Kevin admitted that he was aware of what Veronica was doing, but he just wasn't interested.
And here's why.
Yep, you saw it right here, folks. Kevin Keller is gay.
Actually, Kevin Keller is the very first openly gay character to ever appear in Archie comics. When it was revealled that an openly gay character was being brought to the world of Riverdale, the reactions were quite strong.
Many people welcomed the addition, saying that it was long overdue for a gay person to appear in the comic books, and many praised the company for showing diversity of all kinds in the comic serial. Here's a little video commemmorating the event.
You might have noticed that in the video that you saw a description of Kevin as one who 'despises musicals, loves comic books, and adores eating challenges. And really, that's all that we really need to know about him. I like the idea that Archie Comics isn't making a big deal out of him being gay. It's just one of the things that makes Kevin who he is, which is a typical teenage boy who hates High School Musical, and loves competing in eating challenges.
I also happened to find this interview with the man behind the creation of the Kevin Keller story, Dan Parent. I think this will give you more of an idea behind why Kevin was created. It starts around the 2:50 mark.
Let me tell you some stats about Veronica #202. The comic completely SOLD OUT. And, I can attest to this because I myself could not find a copy of Veronica #202 (though I have read the story in online format). In fact, for the first time in Archie history, Veronica #202 issued a second printing of the comic. Never before had that happened in its 70-year-history. It just goes to show you just how much of an impact Kevin Keller had upon his creation.
Kevin Keller reappeared in Veronica #205 to continued critical success.
And beginning with Veronica #207, the title was temporarily changed to Veronica Presents: Kevin Keller, as a four-part miniseries starring Kevin debuted. It's slated to last until Veronica #210. Then beginning in 2012, Kevin Keller is slated to get his own solo title.
So I think it's a safe bet to say that Kevin Keller will be staying in Riverdale for a while yet.
Unfortunately, not everyone has been as receptive to the idea of Kevin Keller being in the town of Riverdale, and it's that dissent that prompted me to write a rebuttal of some form.
If you log on the Facebook page for Archie Comics and click on any link that has to do with Kevin Keller, you'll likely see one of three things. You'll see a whole bunch of people clicking on the 'Like' button. You may also see some people praising the story because it promotes diversity, and because having a gay person in the comic book serial was long overdue.
Then you see comments that are attacking both the character and the company. People saying that the introduction of Kevin is not appropriate for their children to be reading. People who have sworn never to buy another Archie comic again because they are not as 'innocent and pure' as they once were. People who have gone on the offensive and called anyone who support this venture sick.
Things really hit the fan when it was announced that in the Life With Archie Magazine, Kevin Keller would make an appearance by showing him marrying another man (since the issue of gay marriage has been in the media lately, it makes sense that the topic would be covered). Apparently, it spurned yet another backlash of the character, saying that the company is forcing its beliefs on them unwillingly, and that the idea of promoting gay marriage in Archie comics is disgusting and that the company should be boycotted.
Well, I have my own opinion on the storyline and the character, and I will state my opinion below, as well as some thoughts towards some of the people who have commented on this storyline.
I am a 30 year old, heterosexual white male from Canada, who has been a fan of Archie comics for twenty-five years. I come from a conservative minded family and live in a very small town filled with like-minded conservative people.
And I'm in agreement with those who want Kevin Keller to stay in Riverdale.
Just based on my own experiences with the world of Archie comics and the world of Riverdale, part of the reason why I was so drawn to Archie comics is because to me it was the ideal place to live. It was a place where neighbours looked out for neighbours. Where teachers taught students life lessons in addition to math lessons. Where kids of various backgrounds, economic status, and ethnicity could hang out together and be friends.
Where people were judged by how well they treated others.
That to me was what drew me in. Riverdale was a town that I wanted to live in because it was a place where everyone got along. I knew that whenever I had my feelings hurt, or that I didn't feel like I belonged anywhere, I could always pick up an Archie comic and temporarily escape to a world where everyone fit in, and everyone was friendly with one another.
Well, provided you didn't hit on Midge, and then you'd have Moose on your tail.
The fact is that I applaud the company for deciding to bring in Kevin Keller, and I applaud Dan Parent especially for creating a character that has blended into the town of Riverdale beautifully. The whole purpose of introducing Kevin Keller to Archie comics was not to promote a political agenda (a common argument that the anti-Kevin camp like to bring up). What I find awesome about the way Kevin was introduced was the fact that his being gay seemed to be a secondary character trait. He was gay. That's it. Instead of focusing on that, they developed other aspects of his personality. And to me, that was exactly the way to go. I certainly have a couple of gay friends in my inner circle. I certainly didn't become friends with them because they were gay. I became friends with them because they had qualities that I liked having in friends. They were compassionate. Kind. Fun to be around. That should be what matters most in friendship. In fact, if you look at the conclusion of Veronica #202, everyone was very receptive of Kevin, and Veronica and Kevin ended up forging a great friendship out of the deal.
In all honesty, I think the creation of Kevin Keller is a fantastic addition to the serial. In recent years, we've seen several teenagers and young adults commiting suicide over being harassed over their sexuality preference, or because they were outed by someone who had no business outing them in the first place. So to have Kevin Keller appear in a comic book and be accepted by his peers and his community...it may give teenagers who might be confused about their sexuality or who are afraid of admitting that they are gay to their loved ones an idol to look up to.
I always said that there's some character in Archie comics that anyone can have an idol in. Certainly, my idol growing up was Jughead because we were both offbeat characters who had way different interests than anyone else we knew. But I always figured that if Jughead could make his eccentricities work to his advantage, then I could very well do the same.
So, maybe if a gay teenager sees that someone like Kevin can find love and friendship in the town of Riverdale, then maybe s/he can believe that the same thing will happen to them.
Kevin Keller brings people hope that everyone can be accepted for who they are.
It would seem that quite a few people agree with this. There are small pockets of dissent though, and yes, I plan on dissecting each and every one of them because it is my blog, and I can say whatever I please on my blog.
First off, to the people who say that the introduction of Kevin is inappropriate for children, I ask this. Why do you feel this way, exactly? Are you worried that if your kid reads about the adventures of Kevin Keller that s/he will end up gay or lesbian? Do you just want to keep them in a bubble-like world where everyone acts the same? Do you not want the responsibility of explaining what being gay is to a child? Seriously, what is the big deal?
I would think that you would be thrilled at the idea of Kevin being introduced into the comics. He's a great character. He can beat Jughead in eating contests, and he's the only male character who doesn't swoon over the sight of Veronica Lodge. That alone can make for some funny storylines. Of course, those are storylines that you'll never enjoy because you've already censored the books he appears in and making judgments about him WITHOUT READING THE STORY FIRST.
I have read the story, and I do not see anything for parents to be worried about. Nothing. But, hey, apparently some people see the idea of loving people for who they are and not judging them for what they may be as 'inappropriate' for children, so what do I know, right?
Then there's the argument that the comic series isn't as innocent as it once was.
Innocent? Really?
Some of those people making those shots really must revisit the world of 1960s and 1970s Archie to fully understand why I find this argument a little lopsided. Earlier Archie stories were a lot more grittier in nature. Sure, they had the classic Archie slapstick comedy and Archie/Betty/Veronica love triangle. And, they were still a great read. However, some of the comics that came out around that time make current Archie stories sound like Sesame Street segments in comparison. Earlier Archie stories showed more instances of nudity (though it was still slightly covered), more violence, more guns, and there was even one memorable story where Archie and Jughead happen to find a bag of drugs inside a trash can, and they get involved in a police operation.
I'm not making this up. It really existed. Of course, reprints of these stories have been altered to make them seem more family friendly (which is another issue altogether), but the point is that at one time, the comics were a bit more risque and got away with things that they couldn't get away with now.
But, yet, having a gay character in the series is a threat to the innocence of children?
So, lemme get this straight. You won't allow your children to read a comic book that has a gay person inside of it being treated by his peers with respect and love. Yet, you have no problem with letting your kids read older Archie comics where people pull weapons on people, where women in hysterics get slapped, and where teenage characters go off to war, or find themselves in the middle of a drug operation?
Good to know.
Oh, and all those people who have planned to never buy another Archie comic again because of Kevin? Good. Don't buy them. That leaves more copies for the REAL fans anyways.
The argument that the company is forcing its political beliefs on us is another argument that is absolutely unfounded.
Above is the cover of Archie #616, showing Barack Obama sharing a soda with...Sarah Palin?!? Love them or hate them, they do represent both sides of the political spectrum in the United States, and both politicians were fairly portrayed, so nobody can accuse the company of political bias. This really has nothing to do with the Kevin Keller theme, just wanted to state that there is no bias within the company.
And, even so, the topic of gay marriage and the gay lifestyle has been in the news for quite some time. It was only inevitable that Archie comics would tackle the subject. The sad thing is that it would have been a Catch-22 situation for the company anyway. Had they chosen to ignore it, the company would have been accused of being stodgy, and ignorant to gay rights. Instead, they're being attacked by conservative groups who claim that the addition of gay people in the comic book is morally wrong. Damned if they do, damned if they don't.
I know they made the right decision though.
What I find really telling is that the majority of the ones who are opposed to the storyline and who seem to be using the forum as a way to attack the storyline and those who defend the storyline seem afraid to use their own personal accounts to say it. They hide behind faux Facebook accounts, or screennames to spew bile, hatred, and vitriol about Kevin Keller. I mean, if you're going to have a strong opinion, whether or not people agree with you, at least have the cojones to own it.
What probably angers me more are those people who try to justify their anti-gay stances with assertions that they don't have a problem with gay people, but they don't want to be forced into seeing media 'throwing gay people in their faces'.
News flash. People who think like that DO have a problem with it. And no amount of sugarcoating, backtracking, or cries of being misunderstood can change the writing on the wall, really.
I'm certainly not going to try to change anyone's opinion on how they feel about this storyline. I could argue with them until I was blue in the face for all the good it would do me. When someone has a belief in their head, it's nearly impossible to get someone to back down from it.
I certainly don't hate anyone for having the opinion that gay people don't have a place in Archie comics. I may not like the stance they take (and believe me, I disagree completely with the closed-mindedness that they possess), but there's very little I can do about people having that opinion. It's when they use that stance to verbally harass others, and to bully people who think differently from them that I do not find okay. I cannot stand it when people hide behind moral codes and religious beliefs as an excuse to act like a complete jerk to someone else. I will NOT respect or support that.
In closing, I will say that this blog entry will knowingly have an effect on the readership following this blog through Blogspot or Facebook or wherever else links to this entry are posted. I imagine that some of you will be okay with the idea of Kevin being in the comic book, and some of you won't be. I will just state this right now. Any derogatory comments towards me or anyone else who comments on this entry either on here or my Facebook page will immediately be deleted. I'm all for healthy debate, but not when people get hurt in the process.
I will also state that Kevin Keller may be one of the most controversial characters in the Archie world, and it's hard to predict just how much staying power this character will have.
Just personally speaking, Kevin Keller has made an impact in the world of Riverdale, and in the real world as well. He's showed all of us that anybody can be accepted, and that anyone, whether it be gay, straight, or whatever can find a place in this world.
As long as Kevin can continue to thrive in the series, and be proud of himself for the person that he is, he is welcome to stay in Riverdale for as long as he wants to.
Recently though, there's one comic character that is still being talked about, even though he was created almost a year ago. Some of the reactions to this comic character inspired this very post.
I'd like to introduce you all to Kevin Keller. Nice looking guy, isn't he? All-American looks, clean cut appearance. The last thing I would describe him as is threatening, or a disgrace, or even disgusting.
Yet, that's exactly what some people out there seem to think of him. Without even so much as reading the comic books that he appears in, they have made these judgment calls about him. Some have called for his character to be removed from the series he appears in. Some have claimed that he is a threat to their children. Some have even accused the company of ulterior motives just based on the creation of this character alone.
I suppose you're wondering what the heck this character has done to warrant such a controversial reaction from a group of people who claim to be fans of the comic. Why is Kevin Keller the subject of such hatred and disgust from people who won't even take the time to get to know him?
Alas, I'm getting to that. But first, a little bit of background information.
To get to the story of how Kevin Keller came to be created, we have to go back in time all the way to the first few months of 1989.
1989 was a year of change for Archie Comics. It was the year that the company released eleven new titles to join the more classic selling 'Archie', 'Jughead', and 'Pep' comic books that kids had bought for decades. There were plenty of risks that the company took, and many of the new creations that Archie comics had come up with for the 1989/1990 fiscal year were doomed from the start. Among the list of the titles that failed were;
Archie 3000!
Archie's Explorers Of The Unknown
Archie's R/C Racers
Dilton's Strange Science
Faculty Funnies
Jughead's Diner
Jughead's Pal Hot Dog
Jughead's Time Police
There were some that lasted longer, and only two are still being published. The Betty and Veronica Annual Digest managed to last until 1997, and Jughead's Double Digest just released its 172nd issue.
And, then there's this other survivor.
In early 1989, the decision was made to give Veronica Lodge her own title. It was quite a move for Archie comics, as Veronica was the last of the core five to get a solo title of her own (Archie, Jughead, and Betty currently have their own titles, while the last one Reggie had ended in 1995).
And it has been successful ever since.
The Veronica title has sold steadily since 1989, and more than two hundred issues have been published. Over the years, the Veronica title has evolved. The first eighteen issues of the Veronica title showed her gallovanting around the world having exciting adventures in each place. In the first issue, she visited Paris, France, but she went to other places. She went to American places such as Texas, Hollywood and New York City. Sometimes, she visited international cities, like Rome or London. She even took trips to Canada, Africa, Greece, and the Bahamas. In fact, if you can find copies of the Veronica's Passport Digest Magazine, you can see some of these adventures in reprint form.
I particularly liked the Veronica series at the beginning of its run, because not only was it fun to see Veronica react to world culture, but it also made lots of historical and cultural references along the way. Imagine that, a comic book that could be educational. Go figure.
Beginning with issue #19, Veronica stopped her world travelling excursions, and decided to stick closer to home, having adventures in Riverdale, U.S.A. She'd occasionally travel in the series, but not as much. During the next few issues, Veronica continued to have adventures that the rest of the gang wished they could partake in.
She got to finance her adventures with a big bank account...
She got to meet celebrities.
She even met the president.
But, there would be one character that would be introduced to Veronica's world that kickstarted this whole blog post in the first place.
In September 2010, the Veronica title would be the one where Kevin Keller would be introduced. Veronica #202 was slated to be like any other story you may have come across. Veronica is walking by Pop's Chocklit Shop, when she is called inside to witness a hot-dog eating competition between Jughead and Kevin. Veronica is immediately smitten by this new guy...so much that she doesn't even care that he has mustard on his face. She introduces herself to Kevin, and Kevin seemed receptive to it, but every time Veronica tried to impress Kevin, she felt he didn't quite get the hint.
Kevin was popular enough. Archie and Betty liked him well enough, and after Kevin beat Jughead in the hot-dog eating competition, Jughead had a whole new respect for him. In fact, Jughead seemed to notice that Kevin wasn't as reciprocating towards Veronica as Veronica was towards him. To Jughead's surprise, Kevin admitted that he was aware of what Veronica was doing, but he just wasn't interested.
And here's why.
Yep, you saw it right here, folks. Kevin Keller is gay.
Actually, Kevin Keller is the very first openly gay character to ever appear in Archie comics. When it was revealled that an openly gay character was being brought to the world of Riverdale, the reactions were quite strong.
Many people welcomed the addition, saying that it was long overdue for a gay person to appear in the comic books, and many praised the company for showing diversity of all kinds in the comic serial. Here's a little video commemmorating the event.
You might have noticed that in the video that you saw a description of Kevin as one who 'despises musicals, loves comic books, and adores eating challenges. And really, that's all that we really need to know about him. I like the idea that Archie Comics isn't making a big deal out of him being gay. It's just one of the things that makes Kevin who he is, which is a typical teenage boy who hates High School Musical, and loves competing in eating challenges.
I also happened to find this interview with the man behind the creation of the Kevin Keller story, Dan Parent. I think this will give you more of an idea behind why Kevin was created. It starts around the 2:50 mark.
Let me tell you some stats about Veronica #202. The comic completely SOLD OUT. And, I can attest to this because I myself could not find a copy of Veronica #202 (though I have read the story in online format). In fact, for the first time in Archie history, Veronica #202 issued a second printing of the comic. Never before had that happened in its 70-year-history. It just goes to show you just how much of an impact Kevin Keller had upon his creation.
Kevin Keller reappeared in Veronica #205 to continued critical success.
And beginning with Veronica #207, the title was temporarily changed to Veronica Presents: Kevin Keller, as a four-part miniseries starring Kevin debuted. It's slated to last until Veronica #210. Then beginning in 2012, Kevin Keller is slated to get his own solo title.
So I think it's a safe bet to say that Kevin Keller will be staying in Riverdale for a while yet.
Unfortunately, not everyone has been as receptive to the idea of Kevin Keller being in the town of Riverdale, and it's that dissent that prompted me to write a rebuttal of some form.
If you log on the Facebook page for Archie Comics and click on any link that has to do with Kevin Keller, you'll likely see one of three things. You'll see a whole bunch of people clicking on the 'Like' button. You may also see some people praising the story because it promotes diversity, and because having a gay person in the comic book serial was long overdue.
Then you see comments that are attacking both the character and the company. People saying that the introduction of Kevin is not appropriate for their children to be reading. People who have sworn never to buy another Archie comic again because they are not as 'innocent and pure' as they once were. People who have gone on the offensive and called anyone who support this venture sick.
Things really hit the fan when it was announced that in the Life With Archie Magazine, Kevin Keller would make an appearance by showing him marrying another man (since the issue of gay marriage has been in the media lately, it makes sense that the topic would be covered). Apparently, it spurned yet another backlash of the character, saying that the company is forcing its beliefs on them unwillingly, and that the idea of promoting gay marriage in Archie comics is disgusting and that the company should be boycotted.
Well, I have my own opinion on the storyline and the character, and I will state my opinion below, as well as some thoughts towards some of the people who have commented on this storyline.
I am a 30 year old, heterosexual white male from Canada, who has been a fan of Archie comics for twenty-five years. I come from a conservative minded family and live in a very small town filled with like-minded conservative people.
And I'm in agreement with those who want Kevin Keller to stay in Riverdale.
Just based on my own experiences with the world of Archie comics and the world of Riverdale, part of the reason why I was so drawn to Archie comics is because to me it was the ideal place to live. It was a place where neighbours looked out for neighbours. Where teachers taught students life lessons in addition to math lessons. Where kids of various backgrounds, economic status, and ethnicity could hang out together and be friends.
Where people were judged by how well they treated others.
That to me was what drew me in. Riverdale was a town that I wanted to live in because it was a place where everyone got along. I knew that whenever I had my feelings hurt, or that I didn't feel like I belonged anywhere, I could always pick up an Archie comic and temporarily escape to a world where everyone fit in, and everyone was friendly with one another.
Well, provided you didn't hit on Midge, and then you'd have Moose on your tail.
The fact is that I applaud the company for deciding to bring in Kevin Keller, and I applaud Dan Parent especially for creating a character that has blended into the town of Riverdale beautifully. The whole purpose of introducing Kevin Keller to Archie comics was not to promote a political agenda (a common argument that the anti-Kevin camp like to bring up). What I find awesome about the way Kevin was introduced was the fact that his being gay seemed to be a secondary character trait. He was gay. That's it. Instead of focusing on that, they developed other aspects of his personality. And to me, that was exactly the way to go. I certainly have a couple of gay friends in my inner circle. I certainly didn't become friends with them because they were gay. I became friends with them because they had qualities that I liked having in friends. They were compassionate. Kind. Fun to be around. That should be what matters most in friendship. In fact, if you look at the conclusion of Veronica #202, everyone was very receptive of Kevin, and Veronica and Kevin ended up forging a great friendship out of the deal.
In all honesty, I think the creation of Kevin Keller is a fantastic addition to the serial. In recent years, we've seen several teenagers and young adults commiting suicide over being harassed over their sexuality preference, or because they were outed by someone who had no business outing them in the first place. So to have Kevin Keller appear in a comic book and be accepted by his peers and his community...it may give teenagers who might be confused about their sexuality or who are afraid of admitting that they are gay to their loved ones an idol to look up to.
I always said that there's some character in Archie comics that anyone can have an idol in. Certainly, my idol growing up was Jughead because we were both offbeat characters who had way different interests than anyone else we knew. But I always figured that if Jughead could make his eccentricities work to his advantage, then I could very well do the same.
So, maybe if a gay teenager sees that someone like Kevin can find love and friendship in the town of Riverdale, then maybe s/he can believe that the same thing will happen to them.
Kevin Keller brings people hope that everyone can be accepted for who they are.
It would seem that quite a few people agree with this. There are small pockets of dissent though, and yes, I plan on dissecting each and every one of them because it is my blog, and I can say whatever I please on my blog.
First off, to the people who say that the introduction of Kevin is inappropriate for children, I ask this. Why do you feel this way, exactly? Are you worried that if your kid reads about the adventures of Kevin Keller that s/he will end up gay or lesbian? Do you just want to keep them in a bubble-like world where everyone acts the same? Do you not want the responsibility of explaining what being gay is to a child? Seriously, what is the big deal?
I would think that you would be thrilled at the idea of Kevin being introduced into the comics. He's a great character. He can beat Jughead in eating contests, and he's the only male character who doesn't swoon over the sight of Veronica Lodge. That alone can make for some funny storylines. Of course, those are storylines that you'll never enjoy because you've already censored the books he appears in and making judgments about him WITHOUT READING THE STORY FIRST.
I have read the story, and I do not see anything for parents to be worried about. Nothing. But, hey, apparently some people see the idea of loving people for who they are and not judging them for what they may be as 'inappropriate' for children, so what do I know, right?
Then there's the argument that the comic series isn't as innocent as it once was.
Innocent? Really?
Some of those people making those shots really must revisit the world of 1960s and 1970s Archie to fully understand why I find this argument a little lopsided. Earlier Archie stories were a lot more grittier in nature. Sure, they had the classic Archie slapstick comedy and Archie/Betty/Veronica love triangle. And, they were still a great read. However, some of the comics that came out around that time make current Archie stories sound like Sesame Street segments in comparison. Earlier Archie stories showed more instances of nudity (though it was still slightly covered), more violence, more guns, and there was even one memorable story where Archie and Jughead happen to find a bag of drugs inside a trash can, and they get involved in a police operation.
I'm not making this up. It really existed. Of course, reprints of these stories have been altered to make them seem more family friendly (which is another issue altogether), but the point is that at one time, the comics were a bit more risque and got away with things that they couldn't get away with now.
But, yet, having a gay character in the series is a threat to the innocence of children?
So, lemme get this straight. You won't allow your children to read a comic book that has a gay person inside of it being treated by his peers with respect and love. Yet, you have no problem with letting your kids read older Archie comics where people pull weapons on people, where women in hysterics get slapped, and where teenage characters go off to war, or find themselves in the middle of a drug operation?
Good to know.
Oh, and all those people who have planned to never buy another Archie comic again because of Kevin? Good. Don't buy them. That leaves more copies for the REAL fans anyways.
The argument that the company is forcing its political beliefs on us is another argument that is absolutely unfounded.
Above is the cover of Archie #616, showing Barack Obama sharing a soda with...Sarah Palin?!? Love them or hate them, they do represent both sides of the political spectrum in the United States, and both politicians were fairly portrayed, so nobody can accuse the company of political bias. This really has nothing to do with the Kevin Keller theme, just wanted to state that there is no bias within the company.
And, even so, the topic of gay marriage and the gay lifestyle has been in the news for quite some time. It was only inevitable that Archie comics would tackle the subject. The sad thing is that it would have been a Catch-22 situation for the company anyway. Had they chosen to ignore it, the company would have been accused of being stodgy, and ignorant to gay rights. Instead, they're being attacked by conservative groups who claim that the addition of gay people in the comic book is morally wrong. Damned if they do, damned if they don't.
I know they made the right decision though.
What I find really telling is that the majority of the ones who are opposed to the storyline and who seem to be using the forum as a way to attack the storyline and those who defend the storyline seem afraid to use their own personal accounts to say it. They hide behind faux Facebook accounts, or screennames to spew bile, hatred, and vitriol about Kevin Keller. I mean, if you're going to have a strong opinion, whether or not people agree with you, at least have the cojones to own it.
What probably angers me more are those people who try to justify their anti-gay stances with assertions that they don't have a problem with gay people, but they don't want to be forced into seeing media 'throwing gay people in their faces'.
News flash. People who think like that DO have a problem with it. And no amount of sugarcoating, backtracking, or cries of being misunderstood can change the writing on the wall, really.
I'm certainly not going to try to change anyone's opinion on how they feel about this storyline. I could argue with them until I was blue in the face for all the good it would do me. When someone has a belief in their head, it's nearly impossible to get someone to back down from it.
I certainly don't hate anyone for having the opinion that gay people don't have a place in Archie comics. I may not like the stance they take (and believe me, I disagree completely with the closed-mindedness that they possess), but there's very little I can do about people having that opinion. It's when they use that stance to verbally harass others, and to bully people who think differently from them that I do not find okay. I cannot stand it when people hide behind moral codes and religious beliefs as an excuse to act like a complete jerk to someone else. I will NOT respect or support that.
In closing, I will say that this blog entry will knowingly have an effect on the readership following this blog through Blogspot or Facebook or wherever else links to this entry are posted. I imagine that some of you will be okay with the idea of Kevin being in the comic book, and some of you won't be. I will just state this right now. Any derogatory comments towards me or anyone else who comments on this entry either on here or my Facebook page will immediately be deleted. I'm all for healthy debate, but not when people get hurt in the process.
I will also state that Kevin Keller may be one of the most controversial characters in the Archie world, and it's hard to predict just how much staying power this character will have.
Just personally speaking, Kevin Keller has made an impact in the world of Riverdale, and in the real world as well. He's showed all of us that anybody can be accepted, and that anyone, whether it be gay, straight, or whatever can find a place in this world.
As long as Kevin can continue to thrive in the series, and be proud of himself for the person that he is, he is welcome to stay in Riverdale for as long as he wants to.
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